Rock Music and Joe Perry free essay sample

After that ,he started to play with such bands as Flash, Just Us, Plastic Glass, and the Jam Band. Later on, Joe Perry first time met Steven Tyler(then named Steven Tailor)in 1 969,and they would play with their bands at Sunapee. Afterwards, his bands Aerostatic was formed. But they didnt stick very well, hard drugs finally destroyed their friendship, and clouded their eyes deadly. According to the argument between Perry and Steven Tyler, Perry left ruing the recording of 1 asss Night in the Ruts, and made his own band which was called The Joe Perry Project.The original band supported him, and issued a song which was called l_et the Music Do the Talking, but it was a tragedy for the first show. A year later, they caught up their old habits again, drugs, although they were promising. But Perry still carried on and after that, they issued two more so-so albums with his band members. We will write a custom essay sample on Rock Music and Joe Perry or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page According to their bad status, Perry decided to patch up his new ideas with Tyler, and combined with their old band members by 1 984. At the late asss,Aerostatic finally got on top of the rock world again.Joe Perry was the greatest Rock and Roll guitarist, especially his hard rock and album rock. He was inspired by bloodsuckers The Yardarms and John Mammal when he was little, but on the other hand, he also inspired them as well, Perry made them into his style. Perry continuously inspire teens to pick the guitars. His fiery signature sound is unique and ETC is happy to be able to contribute to it. Joe Perrys last solo album Mercy earned him a Grammar nomination in the Best Rock Instrumental Performance category (2005).The song is about the pain and the issues he had before and showed how helpless and loneliness he was. He was so sick and tired of living in a lie. Then he saw the light and it was amazing, he knew that he would be alright. Life is hard, he realized that he had to learn to crawl before he learn to walk. He was out on the street and tried to survive, scratching to stay alive.

Reptiles Essays - Sphenodontia, Living Fossils, Reptile, Amniotes

Reptiles Reptiles are vertebrate, or backboned animals constituting the class Reptilia and are characterized by a combination of features, none of which alone could separate all reptiles from all other animals. The characteristics of reptiles are numerous, therefore can not be explained in great detail in this report. In no special order, the characteristics of reptiles are: cold-bloodedness; the presence of lungs; direct development, without larval forms as in amphibians; a dry skin with scales but not feathers or hair; an amniote egg; internal fertilization; a three or four-chambered heart; two aortic arches (blood vessels) carrying blood from the heart to the body, unlike mammals and birds that only have one; a metanephric kidney; twelve pairs of cranial nerves; and skeletal features such as limbs with usually five clawed fingers or toes, at least two spinal bones associated with the pelvis, a single ball-and-socket connection at the head-neck joint instead of two, as in advanced amphibians and mammals, and an incomplete or complete partition along the roof of the mouth, separating the food and air passageways so that breathing can continue while food is being chewed. These and other traditional defining characteristics of reptiles have been subjected to considerable modification in recent times. The extinct flying reptiles, called pterosaurs or pterodactyls, are now thought to have been warm-blooded and covered with hair. Also, the dinosaurs are also now considered by many authorities to have been warm-blooded. The earliest known bird, archaeopteryx, is now regarded by many to have been a small dinosaur, despite its covering of feathers The extinct ancestors of the mammals, the therapsids, or mammallike reptiles, are also believed to have been warm-blooded and haired. Proposals have been made to reclassify the pterosaurs, dinosaurs, and certain other groups out of the class Reptilia into one or more classes of their own. The class Reptilia is divided into 6 to 12 subclasses by different authorities. This includes living and extinct species. In addition, a number of these subclasses are completely extinct. The subclasses contain about 24 orders, but only 4 of these are still represented by living animals. Of the living orders of reptiles, two arose earlier than the age of reptiles, when dinosaurs were dominant. Tuataras, of the order Rhynchocephalia, are found only on New Zealand islands, whereas the equally ancient turtles, order Chelonia, occur nearly worldwide. The order Crocodilia emerged along with the dinosaurs. Snakes and lizards, order Squamata, are today the most numerous reptile species. The Rhynchocephalia constitute the oldest order of living reptiles; the only surviving representative of the group is the tuatara, or sphenodon (Sphenodon punctatus). Structurally, the tuatara is not much different from related forms, also assigned to the order Rhynchocephalia, that may have appeared as early as the Lower Triassic Period (over 2 000 000 000 years ago). The tuatara has two pairs of well-developed limbs, a strong tail, and a scaly crest down the neck and back. The scales, which cover the entire animal, vary in size. The tuatara also has a bony arch, low on the skull behind the eye, that is not found in lizards. Finally, the teeth of the tuatara are acrodont - i.e., attached to the rim of the jaw rather than inserted in sockets. Chelonia, another ancient order of reptiles, is chiefly characterised by a shell that encloses the vital organs of the body and more or less protects the head and limbs. The protective shell, to which the evolutionary success of turtles is largely attributed, is a casing of bone covered by horny shields. Plates of bone are fused with ribs, vertebrae, and elements of shoulder and hip girdles. There are many shell variations and modifications from family to family, some of them extreme. At its highest development, the shell is not only surprisingly strong but also completely protective. The lower shell (plastron) can be closed so snuggly against the upper (carapace) that a thin knife blade could not be inserted between them. A third order of the class Reptilia is Crocodilia. Crocodiles are generally large, ponderous, amphibious animals, somewhat lizardlike in appearance, and carnivorous. They have powerful jaws with conical teeth and short legs and clawed, webbed toes. The tail is long and massive and the

10 Compare and Contrast Essay Topics on IT from an Academic Perspective

10 Compare and Contrast Essay Topics on IT from an Academic Perspective An information technology expert is among every company’s most prized assets these days. However, there aren’t many academic institutes that have effectively integrated IT studies in their curriculum. If you’re looking to write a compare-and-contrast essay on IT from an academic perspective, this guide is a good place to start. This is the first section of a three-part guide and in this here you’ll find interesting facts that’ll help you in the research aspect of your essay. After youre done reading, you can head on to the second part of the guide 20 topics on it in the academic perspective for a compare and   contrast essay, which will help you zero in on a topic. Here are 12 facts on IT from an academic perspective for the purpose of writing a good compare and contrast essay.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Teaching and the basic concept of learning will be entirely changed if IT is included in academic curriculums, and this change is inevitable, despite different schools of thoughts in the academia. Just as the printing press changed the face of education and academics, IT will drive a similar change, as new technology can help teachers deliver education much more efficiently. Unfortunately, many institutions are hesitant in this regard, and this unwillingness to accept change stems from the mindsets of ‘old-school critics’ who believe the education system can thrive without IT. They also feel the transition from the current system to the new one will take a lot of time.   Ã‚  Ã‚  IT is all about economies of scale, meaning the initial investment might possibly be a bit high, but after a while, the cost per student will become very low when it comes to delivering information. The real cost saving is when a student can access thousands of libraries at a near-negligible cost, as that cost is far less while exposure to knowledge is a hundred times more. Good teachers tend to keep notes on every student, making sure how much progress they’ve made throughout the year; through customization capabilities that come with integrating IT into a school’s curriculum, it can become easier to maintain files and records on individual students.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Through integrating IT with academia, certain key teaching practices can be changed; i.e. the faculty won’t be asked to multitask as the best teacher or lecturer from all over the country will just be a click away. A larger pool of teachers can provide counseling, mentoring, guidance, teaching and awarding certifications. This is an investment in delivery systems, knowledge codification and assessment practices and it will finally separate the learning from certification. This way, new methods of learning and delivery of education will be introduced and more students will enroll to get an education that’s easily deliverable.   Ã‚  Ã‚  One of the biggest barriers towards the adoption of IT whole heartedly in academics is the traditionally set institutional norms such as teaching methods, concept of productivity and teaching staff’s autonomy; traditional concepts of educational system such as student-to-teacher ratio, class cap limit and teaching loads. If IT is to be incorporated in the educational system, the institutions’ workforce needs to accept this changing and evolving system. Through this IT integration, teachers will be able to decide when and where they teach, which is actually a direct threat to faculty autonomy, if we think about it.   Ã‚  Ã‚  A teacher might work for 30 years while the timespan of a workstation is a little less than five years until they need replacement or upgrades. Also, workstations are not bound by any ‘tenure obligations’. Reprogramming a workstation or more generally any kind of IT equipment is less expensive, far less difficult and more reliable, and the same can’t be said about retraining a teacher who’s served a lengthy tenure at an academic center. Over time, departments in an institute will have much more flexibility once the ratio of capital-labor grows.   Ã‚  Ã‚  One of the biggest advantages of information technology is that it reduces the contact time between students and faculty members. The time saved can be used to discuss the implications of what independent learning a particular student has done. Academic sessions can be held where students won’t feel the need to ask codified-knowledge related questions, there will be other platforms from where their questions can be answered and this will result in educational discussions rife with meaningful topics. If the traditional structure of courses is replaced entirely with a masterful learning format, then even better results can be achieved. Costs compared to traditional courses can be high in the beginning due to the investment aspect, but it will pay off tremendously in the long-run. Through information technology schools can level up to the standards of research universities. This will give birth to a new wave of innovative leaders that will be capable of doing great things from an undergraduate level. Even nontraditional education providers can come up with better ways to deliver high level education because of IT integration at very competitive prices. Information which wasn’t even accessible to graduates until a few years ago can now be given to students at an early age.   Ã‚  Ã‚  IT can give birth to a lot of automated systems that can deliver structured-knowledge with performance measurement indicators, all very easy to understand. For one thing, graduate-level education will become accessible to every student.   Ã‚  Ã‚  One of the main advantages of IT integration is the reduction in time and resources when a teacher has to prepare for an hour-long lecture beforehand. This becomes not only time consuming but leads to unnecessary and extra work. Once there is integration of IT in the educational system, the structure that exists in the course can be amplified through an interactive online portal. This will provide much needed relief to both students and teachers, but students particularly because they won’t feel any additional burden to keep up with classes.   IT will help save costs in the long-run. While older teachers may have problem getting use to the IT system, new generation is already used to operating computers and can easily use them to deliver lectures, reducing training time and cost as well. Plus, with teachers catering to more students in the same time, overall cost would reduce as well. Now that you have some facts in hand, you can move to our topics section or part three called: how to compare and contrast in an essay on information technology. References: The role of Information Technology in Education Fedena Blog. (2015). Retrieved July 19, 2016, from fedena.com/blog/2015/10/the-role-of-information-technology-in-education.html The Role of Information Technology in Education Hitachi Foundation. (n.d.). Retrieved July 19, 2016, from hitachifoundation.org/our-work/business-and-work-grants-program/initiatives/past-initiatives/24-the-role-of-information-technology-in-education Using Information Technology to Enhance Academic Productivity. (n.d.). Retrieved July 19, 2016, from https://net.educause.edu/ir/library/html/nli0004.html Bouwman, H. (2005). Information and communication technology in organizations: Adoption, implementation, use and effects. London: SAGE. Need and Importance of Information Technology in Education. (n.d.). Retrieved July 19, 2016, from http://wikieducator.org/Need_and_Importance_of_Information_Technology_in_Education Alrafi, A. (n.d.). Information systems adoption: A study of the technology acceptance model.

The eNotes Blog Social Media and the Classroom How to UseVine

Social Media and the Classroom How to UseVine Social media is already transforming classrooms. If you teach, theres a good chance youve used Twitter, Facebook, and even Pinterest to draw your students attention to their work in exciting new ways. But now theres a new app on the scene: Vine. Luckily the blog at OnlineUniversities.com was on hand to help us all become a little more familiar with this new social forum and figure out how to implement it in our ever evolving classrooms. Take a look and let us know what you think! What is Vine? Vine, a mobile app created by Twitter, allows users to create and share short video clips. Like Twitter, brevity is valued and video clips can’t exceed six seconds in length, so users have to be quick about getting their point across. Vine is a pretty new addition to the social media canon. The service was founded in June of 2012, but just launched to the public in January of 2013 as a free app on the iPhone and iPod Touch. In this time, Vine  has seen amazing growth, with users tweeting an average of 2,300 Vine videos every hour. Below is an example of the creativity one can bring to the app. Why Vine is Special Just like Twitter, Vine imposes limitations on how much content users can generate. While this might seem constricting at first, if Twitter has proven anything it’s that it’s easy to say a lot with very little. Limitations, in this way, aren’t always a bad thing. In fact, the constraints may actually force users to get to the point more quickly and to be more creative and innovative about how they present their content. Even though Vine has only been available for a few months, people are already using the application in a wide range of creative ways. This bodes well for its staying power and the future role Vine may play in all aspects of social media communication. It also shows how diverse a simple, six-second piece of media can really be, as everyone from  Paul McCartney  to Cadbury have begun using it to connect through ideas and experiences. It’s the combination of the simplicity and the social aspects of Vine that may just lead it to be a serious force going forward in education and beyond. Vines Potential in Education Looking to learn how to use Vine and get a better idea of how to use it in the classroom? Dr. Justin Marquis, a professor of educational technology, offers his take on Vine’s use in the higher education classroom in this informative video for educators. Educators can also challenge their students to express their understanding of materials in a Vine. Imagine the depth to which students would need to know something in order to convey it in only six seconds. The creativity and understanding that it would take for students to encapsulate the major theme of a work of literature or the seminal achievement of a great scientist or mathematician in six seconds can help them develop exactly the kinds of skills that they need to be successful in a fast-paced, hyper-connected global economy. Tips for Using Vine Not sure how to begin your Vine explorations? Here are some tips to get you creating, sharing, and loving Vine. Get creative.  While you may only have six seconds, there’s a virtually limitless number of ways you can use that time. Don’t be afraid to get creative and try something new. Who knows, you may just spark a rash of copycats. Check out Twitter or the Vine app to see how others are using Vine.  If you’re not sure what Vine would be good for or how others are using it, then check out the app itself or search for  #vine  on Twitter. You’ll see some examples of everyday people using Vine for a wide range of purposes. Know Vine’s limitations.  The  limitations of Vine  can inspire creativity, but do inhibit functionality, so it’s important to know what the app can and can’t do. That way, you won’t be surprised if you can’t use it in the way you’d like. Get inspired by businesses.  Businesses have been some of the  most creative  early adopters of Vine. While not educational per se, you can use their videos to inspire your own lessons that appeal to your demographic (students). Use it to market your lessons.  Marketing techniques  can not only help businesses to sell products, but they can also help you â€Å"sell† information to students. A Vine video may engage students in a new way, or inspire them to check out information related to what you’re studying in class. Integrate Vine into your current Twitter usage.  Vine, while a separate app, is a part of Twitter, so if you plan to use it, try to simply integrate it into the ways you’re already using Twitter in the classroom. It can help to make things more visual and fun for students. This post provides an excerpt from an excellent article over on the OnlineUniversities blog. To read the full article, which includes basic tutorials for getting started on Vine and helpful reading material, click here. What are your thoughts on using Vine in the classroom? Does it inspire creativity and advance knowledge? Or is it possibly unfeasible to facilitate given its constraints? Wed love to hear your thoughts in a comment below.

Proposal Research Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Research Proposal Example Hacko limited a company that deals with production of stationary and office accessories to other companies in the market. Company sales have been falling due to competition from other players in the market. Low production has also affected the company due to the loss of human hours due to parental leaves. The company has two hundred workers of which a third of the work force are women. Building a nursery in the company will enable the company to save almost a third of its staff from prolonged parental leave (Cohen 52). The company owns a building thus needs only to create a small facility in to house the nursery. The cost of furniture and fittings will be around300 dollars for a facility that can easily cater for sixty workers in the company. The facility will cost the company 200 dollars on a monthly basis for running the facility. This is not comparable to the 2000dollars lost every month due to low sales and loss of business to the competition. Using the cost factor to evaluate the efficiency of the proposal, it is evident that the company is likely to save almost 1700 dollars by implementing the proposal. A more active workforce is likely to be the benefit of the nursery. The parents can take time to check on their kids thus knowing that they are okay will increase their efficiency in the work place. The proposal drastically cuts short the man hours lost during the parental leaves by half. The company gives the mother four months maternity leave while the father two moths. With the introduction of the nursery, the company will be able to cut the leave period by half to save on work force (Porter 112). I have studied economics and social behaviour and experience in my previous work place shows the method proposed will lead to increased productivity in the workplace and also employee satisfaction. Adequate research has also been conducted in the area to ensure

Taking FYC TO The Next Level Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Taking FYC TO The Next Level - Essay Example Numerous companies usually utilise the intranet however they do not make complete utilisation of the intranet and this is mainly due to the reason that it does not work in sync with the objectives of the company (Kennedy & Dysart, 2007). An extranet has been defined as, ‘An extranet is a private network that uses Internet technology and the public telecommunication system to securely share part of a businesss information or operations with suppliers, vendors, partners, customers, or other businesses’ (Search Enterprise, 2009). The company has two types of customers, i.e. retail and wholesale. The company can use the extranet for the wholesale customers. The customers can be provided with complete access to the extranet where they can also make orders and keep the company updated with the requirements online. The extranet can also be used as a reorder system where inventory can be reordered automatically (Kennedy & Dysart, 2007). The company should also allow each store to log into the system and share their details of the existing stocks, the trend of sales, exchange documents and make comments. FYC can use the extranet and intranet for several different purposes which include a wide range like the production processes, sourcing and supply chain departments, operations and admin teams, human resources team and the customer service teams. The customer service team can use these as a faster mode to respond to customer queries and to assist customers in a more effective manner. In terms of the sourcing and the supply departments the company can use the extranet to communicate the needs for the raw materials, and all the procurement processes. In terms of the human resources teams the company can use the system to create a centralised system which will allow the company to ensure a complete balance and also a centralised payroll for all stores which will help the finance teams directly as it will be effective and easier for the invoice creation

Top Secret America Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Top Secret America - Assignment Example Since the hits against American targets were essentially intelligence failures, there was great need to beef up the current intelligence arrangements inside American borders. Historical performance of the intelligence mechanisms proves that internal intelligence failures need to be tackled at the earliest in order to guarantee the American way of life. The intelligence apparatus in operation in the First World War was unable to avert multiple internal intelligence failures such as the Black Tom incident1. The creation of the Office of Secret Services (OSS) and the subsequent restructuring as the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has been essential to avoid internal and external threats since the Second World War. The recent restructuring of the intelligence community must be seen in the context of the previous restructuring efforts and their results. If the American government had failed to restructure its intelligence apparatus following the First World War and the Second World War, there are chances that the American way of life would have disappeared in the face of rising Communist aggression2. The commentary provided by The Washington Post relating to intelligence community expansions in recent years fails to see the bigger picture. The emphasis of â€Å"Top Secret America† lies in proving that the intelligence community is out of control for the federal government. ... In a similar manner, the July bombings in London as well as other similar terror related incidents involved execution by elements located inside the borders of a country3. Moreover, these elements were indistinguishable from the general public. The Washington Post’s interpretation considers eavesdropping and filtering of common messages and other information as being contrary to basic civil liberties. However, what the authors have failed to account for is that these very activities alert the counter terrorism agencies in time to take positive action. People such as Ramzi Yousaf and Aimal Kansi roamed the streets in America without hindrance for years, gathering intelligence for their ringmasters. In case that an intervention based intelligence and security apparatus had existed in America prior to 9/11, there would have been much lower of a chance for such incidents. The lives lost in 9/11 and since it are all due to a failed intelligence mechanism. Years of peace following t he undeclared end of the Cold War led successive American governments to cut down on defense spending. Most of the cuts in the defense spending originated from areas that provided intangible outcomes such as intelligence cues. Eras such as the Reagan administration or the Clinton administration saw massive increases in overseas defense spending compared to decreases in intelligence spending at home. The subsequent erosion of resources from the intelligence community meant that intelligence spending decreased significantly in the decades following the Cold War. Consequently, a weakened intelligence mechanism gave perpetrators a chance to operate on local soil to eliminate local targets.

Asset Manager Discussion Post 3 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Asset Manager Discussion Post 3 - Assignment Example The two questions will assist in determining the best investment plan for the customer, one that will suit his income, expenses, and the plans he has (Mentz, CWM, CAM & CTEP, 2009). Considering the client has an interest in portfolio, it is essential that he consider diversifying his investments. The move is critical because of risks of loss of investments in the future. For this case, the client will combine investments with negative or low correlations and eliminate some risks unique to a given portfolio. Another way of handling speculative risks is through insurance, which gives the investors an assurance of safety of their wealth (Godfrey, 2005). The companies work in a way that they compensate clients in cases of a loss. It is a means of ensuring financial stability and continuity of business. If the customer wishes to have a guaranteed financial safety, he should consider insuring his invested property. It, as a result, follows that risks are inevitable for all investments, which planners must plan to curb in the process of advising

Organisation Behaviour Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Organisation Behaviour - Case Study Example The disadvantages would be that collective forward progress is slower and lack of personal creativity due to compliance to common ideals. General Electric (GE) is one of the well-known corporations of the world. It is an enormously diversified company with its products ranging from telecommunication fibre optics to large Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machines capable of projecting 3-D images of the human brain. It makes immense aircraft engines to and advices public to reduce their energy bills. Its ability to innovate and maintain impeccable quality has helped GE to remain a market leader and function as a successful organisation. Bureaucracy has been exhaustively discussed in organisational concepts. Ideally bureaucracy is symbolised by authority relations, recruitment by competence, and fixed salaries. Max Weber described it as technically superior to all other forms of organization and hence indispensable to large, complex enterprises. Weber's Principles of Bureaucracy proclaims the following of the principles of Divide labour into specialized expertise areas throughout the organization, Pyramid position defined by a hierarchy of authority and an explicit chain of command, Formal rules governing decisions and actions of everyone that allows continuity in event of personnel changes, Be detached with employees so that sentiments do not distort objective judgment and Select workers by their technical utility to rule out friendship or favouritism is ruled out, and advancement is by seniority and achievement. Rigid documentation is followed to keep tabs on progress and evaluate. However, bureaucratic organisations seem to stifle worker creativity since omni-present rules and regulations create no room for innovation and improvisation by the workers. The inability take quick decisions due to lack of authority also results in reduced productivity. This downside of bureaucracy especially in large organisations has made it questionable as to its rationality and efficiency. Its principles have also attached a connotation of disapproval to the terms bureaucratic and bureaucracy due to its incompetence and a lack of broad-mindedness. However, although it sounds improbable considering its successful image and culture today, GE was a struggling bureaucratic organisation in the 1990's. Too many layers and no decision-making capabilities characterized it. The organisation lagged behind in making timely strategic decisions. This success is attributed to what was essentially a single managerial decision made by Welch back in the mid-90's. Jack Welch joined the General Electric Company (GE) in 1960. Welch started work as an engineer in the plastics division. However although his immediate work environment was fast paced and exciting, he felt smothered by the bloated bureaucracy of the company. He could not function to his full ingenious limits, had to wait for management decisions on the smallest of tasks. He felt under valued, and was highly dissatisfied with the standard bonus he received. He found another job and almost quit but was persuaded to stay on by Reuben Gutoff, who saw his immense potential. Although he stayed on, Welch had not changed his mind about GE's administration, which he saw as unresponsive at best and debilitating at worst. Welch carried this experience in heart and his tenure at GE was the struggle

Animal Representation of Dogs Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Animal Representation of Dogs - Research Paper Example This paper compares and contrasts three perspectives of dogs as represented in film, literature, and psychiatry. More specifically, the paper examines how the dog is presented as a teacher and father figure, as a helper, as well as, as a human in disguise. The paper provides an evaluation of the rationale behind these representations, as well as, the practical consequences of these representations. Â   The Novel, A Boy, and His Dog tell the story of Vic and Blood, two survivors of a war. Vic, the central human character in the film is in is the company of his dog Blood and they work together for their survival (Ellison and Corben 1-128). Together, the two characters search for food, clothes, and ammunition that is to be used for their survival. In the novel, the dog blood is represented as having telepathic abilities, which in turn, assist the two in their communication with each other. To understand the representation of the dog in the novel, one must also consider the human character Vic as his character assists in the representation of the dog. Accordingly, Vic is an orphan who understands neither the importance of ethics, nor the need for morality, and for that reason, he lives to satisfy his immediate needs (Lee 450). Portrayed as a telepathic dog, blood steps in to assist Vic in living a proper life. For that reason, the dog is portrayed as being a teacher and father figure. Blood educates Vic on and his sole purpose in life is identified as being the protection of Vic so as to keep him away from any possible harm or danger. Additionally, blood is highly intelligent, thus qualifying him for the representation s a teacher and father figure (Sanders 121). To build on his representation as a father figure, Vic is highly rebellious, a character that is common to children. In a way, Blood is represented as having superior characteristics to his human friend.

Gibson and Fender Marketing Mix

Gibson and Fender Marketing Mix Introduction 1.1. Background A guitar is an indispensable musical instrument for playing a variety of music, such as jazz and pop music. Because of Chinese economy grows and an increasing number of consumers interest in music develops, China is becoming an essential market for guitar companies. Most guitar users own at least one guitar which can provide them their favorite tones. For the demand for different types of guitar making dissimilar tones, there are many producers that have been manufacturing guitars for a number of years such as Ibanez and ESP. However, the two quality makers, Gibson and Fender, stated by Gearpipe (2007), have the best sales volume at a high price. Gibson Guitar Corp (2010 a) mentions that Gibson is an American establishment which began in 1904 whose main product is electric guitar. Another leading guitar company is Fender. According to Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (2010 a), Fender began in 1946 in The USA which is not only adept at making electric guitars, but electric basse s and other products as well. 1.2. Theory 1.2.1. Market Segmentation All about economic on the web (2010) shows that as peoples different needs and wants, market segmentation is becoming increasing stable for business. The definition of market segmentation is dividing a market into a number of sub-markets based on some sort of particular features. 1.2.2. Marketing Mix According to Hall et al (2008), marketing mix is the elements of a market which are designed to satisfy consumers needs and wants. There are basically four Ps of marketing mix. The four Ps are product, price, promotion and place. 1.3. Aims There are three aims of this report. The initial one is to analyze the market segmentation of Gibson and Fender for Chinese consumers and comparing the marketing mix from different angles in the findings part. Moreover, evaluating and comparing these two firms from both positive and negative ways is another target in the discussion. Finally, recommendations in the conclusion show suggestions of development for Gibson and Fender companies in China. Findings 2.1. Market Segmentation The market segmentation of Gibson should be guitar players who are affluent and interested in old fashion music. Gibson Guitar Corp (2010 b) demonstrates that Gibson guitars are much more expansive than its competitors. In addition, Gibson electric guitars are almost all be designed in the same style which can often attract buyers who are the big fans of old fashion style. Fender mainly aims at attracting electric guitar and bass players who are wealthy and crazy about nowadays music. Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (2010 b) shows that its products are costly which are designed in an extremely popular style with modern tone. 2.2. Marketing Mix 2.2.1. Product Gibson is a world-wide guitar company. According to Gibson Guitar Corps (2010 c) demonstration, the major product of this company, undeniably, is the electric guitar. The Gibson Les Paul and the Gibson SG are the most salable and classical types of product that are always in the same shape with limited colors. Gibson targets guitar players who play heavy metal. Therefore, the tone of Gibson electric guitars sounds highly heavy and quite suitable for performing heavy metal. Guitarz (2008) introduces that the famous lead guitar player Angus Young who was playing in a heavy metal band, ACDC, is using a guitar made by Gibson. Fender is also a well-running guitar establishment. Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (2010 c) explains that despite the electric guitar, Fender is also well-known for other products such as modern styles electric basses and amplifiers. Fender has been trying to make its products can be used to play jazz, blues and pop-rock. Thus it is found that Fender guitars tone is awfully soft and clean. An example of musician who is using Fender to play pop music is Eric Johnson (Eric Johnson, N.D.). 2.2.2. Price By analyzing data from Smarter (2010), Price of Gibson merchandise is frequently higher than other guitar producers. The same as Gibson, Fender products cost consumers considerably. Undoubtedly, with such a high price, the quality of products from these two businesses is usually better than other companies for their unique technique. However, Gibson and Fender not only make high quality guitars to the rich. Both of them own subsidiary companies (Squier and Epiphone) for making lower-quality guitars for green hands playing guitar and who find that it is difficult to afford the guitars which are completely pricey(Fender Musical Instruments Corporation, 2010 d; Gibson Guitar Corp, 2010 d). 2.2.3. Promotion Gibson Company has only one effective major promotion that is product endorsement by asking famous rock stars to use its guitars. One example is, Gibson Guitar Corp (2010 e) states that Slash Les Paul which is shown in the picture is designed for a famous rock guitar player, Slash. This is such an impactful measure to promote Slashs fans to buy this guitar. (Gibson Guitar Corp, 2010 f) Similarly, Fender promotes in the same way. For instance, in the picture, there is Roger Waters Precision Bass which is a late-model electric bass of Fender that is named for a celebrated bass player, Roger Waters and recommending his fans to spend money on this bass (Fender Musical Instruments Corporation, 2010 e). What is more, Fender Centre (N.D.) reported that Fender frequently do public relations for promotion such as donates to poor children which is such a nice way to obtain public approval. (Fender Musical Instruments Corporation, 2010 f) 2.2.4. Place Selling place for Gibson and Fender are not even slightly different. There are mainly to locations types are involved. Firstly, is provision of products to retailers so that consumers can buy them which are displayed in musical stores. However, in China, there are few musical stores selling their products. As a result, another approach is to sell their merchandise online which is a convenient shortcut for customers who live in places where musical shop do not exist. Their online shops are available on their respective web-site. Discussion Comparing the market segmentation, Gibson pays mass attention on making guitars providing to metal and hard-rock players who fancy old style. The obviously edge is that Gibson can manufacture professional electric guitars to win more market share. However, Changing of fashion or other factors may cause a sharp decline of demand. By contrast, Fender is radically different. It has been making diverse musical equipments for an amount of fanciers of jazz, blues and pop-rock who are following the up to date fashion. The vantage is the problems caused by diversification of consumers taste and popularity will never be faced. A serious drawback is making the market over-broad. Further, the marketing mix is analogous between these two companies instead of their products considering their distinctive brand culture causing characteristic products. Additionally, Fender might achieve more public praise for its effort to public relations. Conclusion 4.1. Recommendations Although Gibson and Fender have obtained a high market share and public praise, it is still necessary to have further improvement. By do surveys to obtain information from 60 guitar players, there are three suggestions for each company depending on the surveys result which is shown below. 4.1.1. Recommendations for Gibson There are three recommendations for Gibson. First of all, it is applicable to manufacture guitars into dissimilar shapes and colors. The changeless shape and boring colors cannot satisfy today consumers. Additionally, it is practicable to make an effort to produce other musical instruments. Whats important should be done is to make more lower-level product for most Chinese are not wealthy enough hoping to buy their first guitars of good quality. Although there is Epiphone as the subsidiary company producing elementary product for novices, customers still hope to buy Gibson rather than Epiphone. (Reasons for refuse to buy Gibson products) 4.1.2. Recommendations for Fender There are three suggestions are provided to Fender. One method is to make products which can be not only high quality, but also unusual and special catching buyers eyes to gain more market share from competitors. What is more, Fender should focus on Chinese market by selling its merchandise to more retailers so that consumers can buy Fender products easily. Marking lower-level products as cash cows with affordable price to segment consumers who are interested in guitar but have not enough money is an acceptable strategy to improve sales volumes as well. (Reasons for refuse to buy Fender products) 4.2. Summary To sum up, both Gibson and Fender are immensely successful. The most essential factor for Gibson to achieve the success is to concentrates on electric guitar and making Les Paul and SG becoming world-wide triumphant. For Fender, the most momentous reason should be a broad enough market for with generally higher quality and public relation than its competitors. Other factors causing success, such as product endorsement, are notable too. It is firmly believed that as Chinese market becomes increasingly important, Gibson and Fender may find more methods to take on this market.

An Overview Of Video Game Addiction Sociology Essay

An Overview Of Video Game Addiction Sociology Essay In this assignment, I will be talking about video game addiction, why do teenagers suffer from this. does this game addiction only affects teenagers? what are the causes and reasons that led them to be addicted? The term addiction is used in many contexts to describe an obsession, compulsion, or excessive psychological dependence, such as: drug addiction (e.g. alcoholism), video game addiction, crime, money, work addiction, compulsive overeating, problem gambling, computer addiction, nicotine addiction, pornography addiction, etc. The term addiction is also sometimes applied to compulsions that are not substance-related, such as problem gambling and computer addiction. In these kinds of common usages, the term addiction is used to describe a recurring compulsion by an individual to engage in some specific activity, despite harmful consequences, as deemed by the user himself to his or her individual health, mental state or social life. Or more broadly video game overuse, is excessive or compulsive use of computer and video games that interferes with daily life. Instances have been reported in which users play compulsively, isolating themselves from, or from other forms of, social contact and focusing almost entirely on in-game achievements rather than broader life events. There is no diagnosis of video game addiction, although it has been proposed for inclusion in the next version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). Video game addiction is not included as a diagnosis in either the DSM or the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems. However, effects (or symptoms) of video game overuse are similar to those of other proposed psychological addictions. Video game overuse may be, like compulsive gambling, an impulse control disorder. In 2007, the American Psychological Association reviewed whether or not video game addiction should be added in the new DSM to be released in 2012. The conclusion was that there was not enough research or evidence to conclude that video game addiction was a disorder. A report by the Council On Science And Public Health to the AMA cited a 2005 Entertainment Software Association survey[10] of computer gaming players, and noted that players of MMORPGs were more likely to play for more than 2 hours per day than other gamers. In its report, the Council used this 2-hour-per-day limit to define gaming overuse, citing the American Academy of Pediatrics guideline of no more than 1 to 2 hours per day of screen time. It may be worth noting that the ESA document cited in the Council report does not contain the 2-hour-per-day data. In a 2005 Toms Games interview, Dr. Maressa Orzack estimated that 40% of the players of World of Warcraft (an MMORPG) were addicted, but she did not indicate a source for the estimate. She may have derived the estimate from the informal survey managed by Nick Yee at the The Daedalus Project,[14] who notes that caution should be exercised when interpreting this data.[15] A 2006 lecture reported by the BBC indicated that 12% of polled gamers reported at least some addictive behaviours. The lecturer, Professor Mark Griffiths of Nottingham Trent University, stated in another BBC interview that addicts are few and far between. Michael Cai, director of broadband and gaming for Parks Associates (a media/technology research and analysis company), said in 2007 that Video game addiction is a particularly severe problem in Asian countries such as China and Korea. Results of a 2006 survey suggested that 2.4% of South Koreans aged 9 to 39 suffer from game addiction, with another 10.2 percent at risk of addiction. A 2007 Harris Interactive online poll of 1,187 US youths aged 8-18 gathered detailed data on youth opinions about video game play. About 81% of youths stated that they played video games at least once per month. Further, the average play time varied by age and sex, from 8 hours per week (responses from teen girls) to 14 hours per week (responses by teen boys). Tweens (8-12 year olds) fell in the middle, with boys averaging 13 hours per week of reported game-play, and girls averaging 10. Harris concludes that 8.5% can be classified as pathological or clinically addicted to playing video games, but did not explain how this conclusion was reached. Since the American Psychological Association decision in 2007, studies have been conducted at Stanford University School of Medicine related to video game play. Researchers found evidence that video games do have addictive characteristics. An MRI study found that the part of the brain that generates rewarding feelings is more activated in men than women during video-game play. In August 2005, the government of the Peoples Republic of China, where more than 20 million people play online games, introduced an online gaming restriction limiting playing time to 3 hours, after which the player would be expelled from whichever game they were playing. In 2006, it relaxed the rule so only citizens under the age of 18 would face the limitations. Reports indicate underage gamers found ways to circumvent the measure. In July, 2007, the rule was relaxed yet again. Internet games operating in China must require that users identify themselves by ID numbers. After 3 hours, players under 18 are prompted to stop and do suitable physical exercise. If they continue, their characters gain 50% of the usual experience. After 5 hours, their characters gain no experience at all. In 2008, one of the 5 FCC Commissioners, Deborah Taylor Tate, stated that online gaming addiction was one of the top reasons for college drop-outs. However, she did not mention a source for the statement, nor identify its position in relation to other top reasons. Excessive use of video games may have some or all the symptoms of drug addiction or other proposed psychological addictions. Some players become more concerned with their interactions in the game than in their broader lives. Players may play many hours per day, gain or lose significant weight due to playing, disrupt sleep patterns to play, play at work, avoid phone calls from friends and/or lie about play time. Relationships with family and friends, and performance at work or school, may suffer. Theorists focus on the built-in reward systems of the games to explain their addictive nature.[42][43] In reference to gamers such as one suicide in China, the head of one software association was quoted In the hypothetical world created by such games, they become confident and gain satisfaction, which they cannot get in the real world.[44] Researchers at the University of Rochester and Immersyve, Inc. (a Celebration, FL computer gaming Think-tank) investigated what motivates gamers to continue playing video games. According to lead investigator Richard Ryan, they believe that players play for more reasons than fun alone. Ryan, a motivational psychologist at Rochester, says that many video games satisfy basic psychological needs, and players often continue to play because of rewards, freedom, and a connection with other players.[45] Michael Brody, M.D., head of the TV and Media Committee of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, stated in a 2007 press release that there is not enough research on whether or not video games are addictive. However, Dr. Brody also cautioned that for some children and adolescents it displaces physical activity and time spent on studies, with friends, and even with family.[46] Dr. Karen Pierce, a psychiatrist at Chicagos Childrens Memorial Hospital, sees no need for a specific gaming addiction diagnosis. Two or more children see her each week because of excessive computer and video game play, and she treats their problems as she would any addiction. She said one of her excessive-gaming patients hasnt been to bed, hasnt showeredHe is really a mess.[3] Prevention and correction Some countries, like South Korea, China, the Netherlands, Canada, and the United States, have responded to the perceived threat of video game addiction by opening treatment centers. Because few clinical trials and no meta-analyses have been completed, research is still in the preliminary stages for excessive gaming treatment. The most effective treatments seem to be, as with addictions or dependencies, a combination of psychopharmacology, psychotherapy and twelve-step programs.

Hunger and Poverty Essay -- essays research papers

Hunger and Poverty Hunger and Poverty During the course of this particular essay, I will prove to you many points. Maybe not to the extreme that it will change one’s thought processes on the subject of hunger and world poverty, but enough to form a distinction between moral obligation and moral capacity. What I will not mention is the fact that Peter Singer’s outdated material (1971), though thorough in the sense of supporting his view on hunger and world poverty as well as examining this school of thought, is unconvincing to say the least. As our recent past has shown us, using Somalia and Rwanda as models, no amount of money or time on earth can come between a civil war. Terrible things happen, innocent people are slain in the names of either freedom or captivity, and land is destroyed, burned by the flames of either righteousness or wrath. But placing the burden of attempting to heal these wounds on the â€Å"well off† is not only immoral in itself, it is crazy. To consider an a ct a moral obligation, it must have an end that fits within the realm of reason. If someone is obligated to do something, then the purpose of that action holds meaning, therefore making the act a meaningful act. A characteristic of a meaningful act is a justifiably important end, that is, an end that which holds a higher purpose than the action against the obligated act. One can argue, using history as an example, that ending world poverty and hunger is not a reasonable goal. Singer uses the term â€Å"mora... Hunger and Poverty Essay -- essays research papers Hunger and Poverty Hunger and Poverty During the course of this particular essay, I will prove to you many points. Maybe not to the extreme that it will change one’s thought processes on the subject of hunger and world poverty, but enough to form a distinction between moral obligation and moral capacity. What I will not mention is the fact that Peter Singer’s outdated material (1971), though thorough in the sense of supporting his view on hunger and world poverty as well as examining this school of thought, is unconvincing to say the least. As our recent past has shown us, using Somalia and Rwanda as models, no amount of money or time on earth can come between a civil war. Terrible things happen, innocent people are slain in the names of either freedom or captivity, and land is destroyed, burned by the flames of either righteousness or wrath. But placing the burden of attempting to heal these wounds on the â€Å"well off† is not only immoral in itself, it is crazy. To consider an a ct a moral obligation, it must have an end that fits within the realm of reason. If someone is obligated to do something, then the purpose of that action holds meaning, therefore making the act a meaningful act. A characteristic of a meaningful act is a justifiably important end, that is, an end that which holds a higher purpose than the action against the obligated act. One can argue, using history as an example, that ending world poverty and hunger is not a reasonable goal. Singer uses the term â€Å"mora...

Activity-Based Costing ( ABC ) Essay -- GCSE Business Marketing Course

Activity Based Costing ACTIVITY BASED COSTING AND MANAGEMENT : AN OVERVIEW Activity Based Costing (ABC) is more relevant than traditional costing in companies, where product mix is diverse in; batch sizes, physical sizes, degree or complexity, and raw material characteristics. ABC will also provide more decision useful information for the service industry, characterized by diversity in range of services provided. If the products in a plant or services provided posses similar characteristics, wither volume based or an activity based cost driver will provide reasonably accurate costs. The strategic goal of ABC is to provide decision useful cost and profitability information for optimal pricing decisions, appropriate product mix, and operational improvements by focusing on activities and cost drivers. (Burch 1994) ABC provides a closer approximation of the cost of product, than that provided by the traditional volume based costing method. The use of ABC in itself will not lead to better profitability management uses information provided by ABCs to decide the optimal product-mix. The action of the management will lead to improved results. What is ABC ? There are several elements worthy of note. First is that activities happen because an input has triggered them, e.g., an activity such as "purchase supplies" is caused or triggered by a requisition, secondly, we see that resources are consumed by an activity. Resources are the things that an organisation pays for, such as people, machines and equipment and facilities. We can measure the consumption of resources by activity for example, the activity "purchase supplies" consumes one hour of an employees time per requisition. Activities can be associated with the outputs or cost objects of the organisation examples of a few of the cost objects for service organisations that we have worked with include such things as mortgages, chequing accounts, railcar movement from point A to point B, or B to C. Cost objects consume activities in much the same way that activities consume resources consequently, we can measure how much of an activity such as "purchase supplies is required by an organisations service output such as "engineering training course". The measurement of consumption is called an activity- cost driver. Of significant note here is that different cost objects do consume activities " in diffe... ...self rather than using the cost of the final products only. The cost drivers that trigger the activity are also identified and monitored. These cost drivers may be different from the resource or activity drivers. In addition performance measures are developed and monitored to judge the efficiency at which the activity is being performed. These measures may be financial or non-financial variables such as cost per units of activity driver, defects per million items produced or time taken per unit of item produced. These measures then provide a sound basis to the control the performance of the activity with accurate information about the costs involved. ABM has number of benefits to offer. Here, the focus of attention is an activity rather than a department. A department may have a number of activities which if not segregated may diffuse the vision of the managers while making a particular decision. The areas where specific benefits have been derived from ABM are following A. Determination of product/service costs B. Improvements in performance and activities C. Cost cutting and downsizing D. Other applications. Number of benefits are high and harmful effects are less.

Dubai Residents Nowadays Spend Too Much on Shopping

Yes it is agreed as it is a young modern city transformed from a desert, hence has taken the best of the cities to make it the best . As a result the bench mark of lifestyle is high for e. g. : cars, designer labels are imported as Dubai doesn’t manufactures it, therefore consumer has to pay if he wants. These luxuries are a necessity be it as a means of travel etc. However the city is new and has many multicultural populations hence results in various demands. There are various reasons for shopping in Dubai such as brand addiction, status symbol etc, another reason is that the activities are limited and visits to shopping malls results in shopping. Growing trends of shopping noticed in dubai in last few years in resident of dubai. Every person who lives in dubai now are more into the shopping phobia. Above statement is stated on use of following attributies : 1. Financially Stable Country 2. Highest Salary Graph 3. Brand Abundance 4. Geographical Location 5. Fashion In The Air 6. Unlimited Advertisement. 1) Dubai is nowadays people around the world are seen seeking interest in setting up their business entities in Middle East and mostly Dubai . Furthermore according to H. H Shk Muhammad Bin Al Rashid Al Makhtoum (Vice president and ruler of Dubai ) stated that in previous two years people are having more confident to invest their money in Dubai as it has been financially stable during the recession whch took place in 2008 , the evidence to it is that however there was recession in the country but it did not effect the ambition and addiction of residents on shopping , it was seen that shopping malls were seen crowded every season , which makes one say that Dubai is Financially Stable Country . ) The Second reason of why Dubai Residents spend too much money on shopping is that the salary graph is noticed to be increasing day by day which is cause of getting addicted to shopping , it can also be referred as excess of money , however because of this increasing salary residents are addicted to buy branded product to maintain their status in society. Studies have established that UAE has the regions highest individual spenders, with each of its 8. 2 million people spending an average amount of $21,577 (Dhs 79,522) per annum . (Arab Monetory Fund 2010). The world highest apparel sales per capital is at $785 (Dhs 2,865) . At kearney’s Global Retail ) . Furthermore most of the Housewives in Dubai spend their time in kitty parties and other social activities , and for these activities they spend a bunch money on brands , beauty saloon , spa , designer label clothes etc . However these are afforded only because there is increase in salary which eventually increase the addiction to shopping. Hence the salary graph plays an important role in shopping addiction among the residents of Dubai . 3) Brand Abundance is said to be one of the major cause of over expenditures on shopping attitude in Dubai residents. As the financial stability hits the region of Dubai every major brand outlet is easy to find in Dubai , due to number of malls and various brands stores. This makes Dubai resident more brand conscious and as a result overexposure to labels , brands and novelties are found in Dubai. Which maintains the habit of shopping among Dubai Residents. This also makes a reson for every brand to target Dubai as the consumption is seen more in this part of Middle East. Such is the case with Bloomingdales , Parada , Nichols and many other brands . ) Geographical Location is Excessive shopping happened in dubai is because of geographical location. The geographical location of the city also favors excessive shopping. Dubai has a hot and moist type of weather. For that cause, people are ambitious to the big air-conditioned shopping malls. There, they are over depiction to the advertisement and charisma of the major brands and that makes them shop more. Brands here are merely profit-oriented, and do n ot run environmental campaigns in the park or on the beach, but in the mall. Also, as it was previously talk about Dubai is a shopping hub due to the city’s geographical location. People from China, Saudi Arabia and Europe visit Dubai on a holiday or simply on a shopping extravaganza from corner to the malls. It seems that this propensity for shopping is reflecting on Dubai residents as well. Whenever you go out, and that means most of the time to the shopping mall, you see beaming tourists carrying a multitude of glossy shopping bags. 5) Fashion in the Air A number of power events like Dubai World Cup horse racing or the Oil Barron’s Ball, and never-ending product launches require attendants to dress to the occasions where often they are judged on their outfits by the rest of the crowd. As a result, people have become highly fashion conscious and this is another reason why are Dubai residents addicted to shopping. 6) Unlimited Advertisement is advertising during the past few years become repressive, obtrusive and time-consuming for most of the people who live in Dubai. Since the moment you awake and turn the radio on, you get attacked with offers and promotions. When you drive around Dubai, you see advertisement everywhere and in all forms, from billboards to TV screens. Public transport is one of the major source the brands are using for their advertisements. Such as; * Nowadays, the movies in the Reel Cinema start 25 minutes later, because the cinema makes huge chunk of profit by showing its public a rich variety of advertisements. * This is understandable, but up to some extent! Five ads at the time are quite enough for most of the people, but in Dubai you get to see 35 or more various advertisements before the film starts. The inferior advertisement seller is the TV network. A TV show that is supposed to last 35 minutes, for example, consists of approximately 21 minutes advertisement and 14 minutes content. In addition, the TV ads are literary stuffed by 20 or even 25 in blocks of approximately five minutes each. For example, during â€Å"The Entrepreneur† TV show of 35 minutes, you can watch 4 or 5 times the same advertisement for Coca-Cola. This is no longer even an effective advertisement, because it doesn’t inspire you to drink Coca-Cola, but boars you. In many countries around the world, TV advertisement is regulated by law. Industry experts say that in the United Kingdom, for every one hour of TV program viewers should see 9 minutes of advertisement. In the United States, the norm is stretched to 17 minutes of ads for each hour of show or film. (London Hilton mall—- 2011 Peoples from dubai spends around 100 million pounds due to Olympics 2012 last year they are unable to get more business from the same gentry but currently they are expecting 150 million pounds business from these peoples in 2013. ) According to a survey Only one in five people, or 35 percent of UAE respondents, said luxury was â€Å"over and above what you need†, the Synovate survey of 8,000 people in 11 countries found. This attitude comes from the large number of designer shops, high-end hotels and plush shopping malls in the emirates, said Per-Henrik Karlsson, Synovate’s business development director in Dubai. â€Å"This creates aspirational behaviour among expats, tourists and locals alike. It starts even before you arrive, as the Emirates Airlines pre-landing video about Dubai is all about shopping, luxury cars and hotels,† â€Å"And once on the ground, it's everywhere: the main highway is full of billboards advertising luxury brands. Even eating out in Dubai is part of this lifestyle, with some luxury brands operating their own food and beverage outlets in malls. The Middle East mass luxury goods sector is set to grow 10 percent a year, Bahrain's Investcorp said earlier this year, boosted by the region’s young population and relative wealth. The survey found the UAE was also among the top locations for logo-branded goods, with 58 percent of residents saying they preferred to buy designer items. The other two countries were India, with 79 percent and Hong Kong with 68 percent. The country with the lowest percentage of people preferring logos was the UK with 46 percent. â€Å"Showing off logos is not seen as bad taste; whether it's old or new money doesn't matter nearly as much as simply having money! In fact, another newly popular trend here is buying brands that sport oversize logos, like certain shirts – the more ostentatious, the better,† Karlsson said. Another statistic to come out of the survey, published in December, was that 14 percent of people in the UAE most value the feeling â€Å"that I have something my friends and colleagues do not have†. Twenty three percent of UAE residents said they purchase luxury items â€Å"As soon as I decide I want it, I buy it† – the second highest figure behind India with 28 percent. However, consumer confidence was reported to have slipped for the first time in the UAE since March, the latest quarterly survey by Bayt. com and YouGov Siraj found. (ByElsa Baxter , Tuesday, 12 January 2010 8:03 AM , business . com ) Thus it can be concluded stating that though the addiction of shopping is seen in Dubai residents but however it is increasing the economy of Dubai as there is more consumption and every one in Dubai is buying them whether it be a person of any classified category , the biggest reason which seen and heard it that to maintain the status in society .

Professional Athletes Are Overpaid

Athletes are talented human beings but are they worth the millions that they are paid? Male athletes are among the most highly paid people in the world. Especially in basketball and football, every player is enormously paid. Though economics is the key to understanding why these athletes earn such tremendous salaries, still, it fails to explain why they actually do deserve it. Giving athlete’s high wages does not only distort them, but also bring downfall to clubs and the country’s economy. The growth and the development of a sport maybe reflected from the wages of the athletes and that is all it does.In conclusion, Team owners pay more to keep athletes on the team to be a winning streak, but whether the drive to win is justifiable remains in doubt. Giving these athletes high wages does not only distort the players, but it also bring downfall to clubs, the country’s economy, and even to the game itself. A normal, typical professional basketball player makes more money playing for only fifteen minutes of a game than a professor can make in the whole year. In addition, that player may perform badly and his only discipline is less playing time.He still receives the same amount of money despite how much he plays, while people Who have the â€Å"real† jobs has to perform well or else they will be dismissed from their place of work. This spoils some athletes and makes them believe that they are special and are above the law. An example of a â€Å"spoiled† athlete is Patrick Ewing, a basketball player who is making millions of dollars per year. He once makes a very absurd comment that said, â€Å"With the money I’m making now, I can’t afford to support my family. † In addition to spoiling the athlete, high wages also cripple the football club itself.For example, the Italian football league, with millions of watchers and viewers, used to be called, â€Å"the greatest league on the planet. † However, they ar e suffering from giving players too much money than they deserved. Up to this date, the clubs in the league face numerous and countless amounts of debts. Many clubs have gone bankrupt and forced to be sold out. In addition, many clubs have quickly gone from thrilling and successful to boring and troubled. Moreover, the football game itself has been disturbed. The pressure to win at any cost means the absence of coaches and ways for new ones.Few coaches are allowed to stick with a club long enough to build a solid, unified team. Many coaches are forced to play a defensive style because playing an open game with risks of losing is not as important as playing for a tie and a job security. The result is hideous and tedious football. In Italy does this not only happen, but also even to the most successful league today, the English premier league. In the summer of the year 2003, a Russian oil-tycoon, Mr. Roman Abramovich, bought an English football club, Chelsea, for one hundred million p ounds.In addition, three hundred million pounds were paid on clearing debts, another one hundred-eleven million pounds for buying new players for the club and of course, outrageous wages for players. Take into consideration that the price of winning the premiership is a measly 15 million pounds, so is it worth buying a club for mil In today's society, many will argue whether or not professional athletes are overpaid. In the present time, athletes are being paid phenomenally large amounts of money for their entertainment.It is my claim that all professional athletes are overpaid because they do not offer society an essential function that improves or enhances our world in comparison to other professionals such as medical doctors, lawyers, and teachers. Society does not value entertainment enough to warrant such high salaries such as those of many professional athletes. There is no reason that these athletes should demand these tremendous amounts of money. This is why you have to put into question their reasoning for demanding such high salaries.When addressing the value of entertainment, there is without a doubt, that we as a society value entertainment highly. Nevertheless, there is no reason that these athletes, who are here merely to entertain us, are paid higher wages than those that save our lives and teach us such as medical doctors and teachers. I find it ridiculous that players make millions of dollars a year, and yet demand more. The entertainment that these athletes provide is solely entertainment; it is not essential to the function or productivity of society.If I were to become a professional football player, I would not complain about my salary for many reasons. I am playing the sport that I love and being paid for it. The minimum wage for football is well over $100,000 a year, as is for many professional sports. These reasons by their lonesome are enough to warrant that the salary professional athletes are paid is suffice. Athletes are paid large amounts of money. It can also be argued whether or not these large sums of money have somewhat â€Å"spoiled† these athletes into settling for nothing less then what they think is a sufficient contract.In an article from the New York Times Patrick Ewing quotes â€Å"with the money I'm making now I can't afford to support my family. † (E13). This comment is ridiculous; there is no way that a multi-millionaire should have a problem supporting their family. These athletes have to set their priorities logically and realistically, a person does not â€Å"need† a multi-million dollar estate they just want one; this is what angers me. Another aspect that can be touched upon is whether they respect the people who provide their paychecks; those being their fans.Athletes argue that they are role models for children and endorse products. This is true, but it is what goes along with the job. I would be prodding if I knew that billions and billions of young impressionable ch ildren wanted to be just like me. You should not have to be paid to be a role model, there is no reason that one should be negative, commit crimes, and do â€Å"bad† things regardless of you being an athlete or not. It should be an honour to be praised and loved by billions; this is why I feel the reasoning of the professional athletes that demand higher wages are illegitimate. .Although sports are a major contribution to our society’s source of entertainment, it is not essential. Medical doctors and teachers, who are essential to the development of our society, do not demand outrageous pay; they can be described as underpaid people. The fans of these athletes are the means of which their paycheck is provided. Some of these overpaid athletes do not respect their fans, so why should they demand higher pay when they do not respect the provider of their 0paycheck. Athletes are role models, this is true, but there are many other societal figures that are role models.I feel that every person should try to be a role model, and inspire the younger generation to be successful. Professional athletes also endorse items such as sneakers, clothing, etcetera; but they chose to do so, it is not forced upon them. The athletes that do endorsements make money from the products they endorse, thus adding to their income. These athletes cry poverty, meanwhile they have various sources of income, and it is just ridiculous. Athletes do have to endure injuries, but that is the risk they have to take when they decide to play a professional sport.They should have acquired other skills that will enable them to enter another profession if they are injured while participating in a professional sport. Athletes have higher standards of living by choice; if for example, a single parent can raise three children on an inadequate salary, there is no reason an individual cannot survive on well over 100,000 dollars a year. I am not saying these athletes should lower their standards to be equal with the level of an indigent, but they should be realistic when saying they cannot survive on several millions of dollars per year. In conclusion, my proposal to this problem is arbitration.Not all of the professional athletes demand outrageous contracts. In many sports, there are already salary caps, which will help remedy this. The athletes have to agree to settle for less and in compensation a possible retirement plan or some form of benefits should be assembled. The only athletes that I truly disagree with are the ones that cannot differentiate between â€Å"needs† and â€Å"wants†. Luxuries are wants, and necessities are needs; if they could settle for less (yet still reasonable) money they would avoid lockouts and holdouts, and continue to entertain our society, which is their whole purpose.The American lifestyle is one in which one is encouraged to obtain as much success as they are willing to pursue. Athletes for example, are earning millions of d ollars a year to perform what many people consider being hobbies or leisure activity. Gone are the days where one played for the â€Å"love of the sport. † Instead, athletes are constantly searching for a new outlet to earn a profit whether it is deserved or not. These individuals are earning nine figure salaries, yet such a contract has become a common procedure and the public has accepted this as reasonable.Unfortunately, the salaries of athletes have become outrageous and beyond the point of just enough to live comfortably. Hitting a baseball three hundred feet does not justify owning ten million dollar mansions on each coast of the United States. Therefore, there should be a system implemented in which professional athletes are limited to a specific salary depending on their performance. Their salary cap can then be adjusted to earn more or less, if one’s production has increased or declined. While the probability of this occurring is uncertain, there is at least o ne certainty.Athletes are some of the most overpaid individuals today in modern society. If athletes truly deserve the money, they make, then why are other professions helping the lives of others and yet make only a small fraction of these gifted men and women. Doctors, police officers, and teachers spend their careers saving lives or educating future generations who will â€Å"hopefully† accomplish great things themselves. Yet, they earn measly paychecks and have few benefits or days off. Athletes would not be half of their potential without a coach or teacher to educate them towards peak performance.An athlete is being paid for entertainment and audience turnout. This has no benefit to others, besides a few hours of reality escape. Somehow, that legitimizes a Nike contract worth ninety million dollars in the sports industry†¦. Every young child who has ever been involved in athletics has dreamed of being a Professional in sports. Why do you think that everyone wants to be a professional athlete? Sure, it is because they get to play for a living. In addition, they get the big bucks. Why Would a person not want to get paid millions and millions of dollars just to play a Sport.Many professional athletes are highly overpaid though. When they sign these 20 and 30 million dollar contracts they are getting paid hundreds of times more than a school Teacher or even a police officer or firefighter. This is ridiculous. They are giving us nothing but entertainment. They are giving us nothing that could help us in the future. When a Player signs a big multi million-dollar contract; it seems that it always has a downfall To it. When this happens, there is an incredible amount of pressure put on the athlete.Once they are paid, the big bucks they are instantly changed from blue collar hard workers To overpaid millionaires. The players might not have changed at all, but everyone’s Perception of them has. They are now expected to make every tackle, get a ba se hit every time and make every jump shot. No one can do this no matter how much money they are Being paid. If players were not being paid so much money then organizations would not Have to charge such incredibly high prices for tickets to the games and for concessions. This can also cause turmoil on the team.If a player is making the millions of dollars And not performing the way that he should be, then the player next to him who is Performing at a higher level is thinking why I cannot get this big money. How greedy are These players when they ask for more money when they are already getting paid 2 million Dollars a year. Ninety percent of the people in this world would give anything to be paid two Million dollars a year. Many people seem to forget that these athletes are doing work That is a game that people played for recreation when they were younger.Sure anyone Admires a man who can hit a baseball 500 feet or can throw a football 75 yards with Incredible accuracy, but should t hese people be getting paid millions of dollars for this. Here is an example of how much some players are being paid these days. Michael Jordan will make up to $300,000 a game and $10,000 dollars a minute assuming he plays 30 Minutes a game. He will also make $52,000 every night he sleeps for 7 hours. Also Consider the $40 million dollars that he makes in endorsements per year. He will be making $170,000 a day. That is a little absurd don't you think.Professional sports have become no more than a human auction where men are bought and sold like inanimate objects. Don't get me wrong I love professional sports and to this day still have the Dream of one day playing them, but lets be serious these guys are drastically overpaid In addition, some of the money should be going to the hardworking every day people. Not to Say that these guys have not worked there entire life for where they are now and they Should be commended for it, but not by paying them millions of dollars for playing a G ame.The richest of the rich in our country are not the hardworking businesspersons anymore, but rather our professional athletes. The salaries of these athletes have grown considerably over the last 20 years who now make obscene amounts for playing a sport. Professional sports athletes should not be paid as much as they now earn. Right now, the President of the United States makes around $200,000 a year. In 1997, in Major League Baseball, the average salary was $1. 4 per year, though that is only the average. Barry Bonds, one of the highest paid in the league, earned $11. in a two-year contract made in 1998. Once again, the President of the United States makes $200,000 a year†¦. not $5. 75 million. Professional athletes create an entire market of supply and demand in the sports obsessed world of some Americans. Teachers, fire fighters and police officers and are jobs that earn salaries of less than $50,000 a year. An athlete is running around playing a simple game, and winning the adoration of fans everywhere while teachers, the most important job above all, receive no respect and barely enough money to live on.Even secondary athletes, not the starters, but the ones you see warming the bench, earn close to what the primary athletes earn, for doing nothing. While the President of the United States is protecting our country, working hard so that we Americans are safe, he is earning a mere $200,000 a year. Is our country worth a meagre $200,000 while our football games are worth $1. 5 million? The athletes’ salaries do not end at their on-field work, but rather with the continuous flow of advertisement and endorsement deals. Spectators have done this to themselves.As they live for sports and create the supply, the demand will always be there for more money. The economy in the sports world is like a never-ending black hole that sucks up everything in its path. As the demand for sports is ever increasing, so will the prices of athletes and sports entert ainment. This high price of talent from athletes causes prices of tickets to rise as well because the sports managers need to bring in more money to feed the greed. At this rate, the only spectators at sporting events will be their fellow athletes. Professional athletes are not overworked and underpaid, but rather under-worked and overpaid.The President of the United States is an example of someone who is overworked and underpaid, not someone who does what they love all day and grosses up to 10 times that of the leader of our country, who defends our liberties so that we are able to have sports at all. Sports will continue to dominate and professional athletes will rule. Spectators create the addiction to sports, and in turn, there will be games to watch and teams to root for. With Thanksgiving football coming near, just remember: is Drew Bledsoe really worth $10. 3 million dollars a year?When our country is in need of millions of dollars, why not take some from the sports-entertain ment business; it seems they have money to burn. Sports athletes are paid outrageous amounts of money to produce the simple entertainment of a game, while the most respected positions in society are robbed of the money that they deserve. Running a country seems to be a lesser duty than kicking a field goal, but if the public wants it, you can watch it. The supply and demand factor will continue as long as the demand is there; but when will our society put an end to this obscenity? Some people complain that professional athletes are paid more.They note that they are paid more that lawyers and doctors who often have many years of formal education. Other people point out that there are relatively few professional athletes compared to the number of members that other professions have and that professional athletes have short careers. Thus, in conclusion professional athletes are overpaid. The issue of whether the professional athletes are overpaid is categorically a perplexing question. Nevertheless, if we look deeper into this question, I believe that the professional athletes do not deserve to be overpaid because of number of reasons that are to be delineated in this essay.Yes, professional athletes are overpaid just like any other professionals such as lawyers, doctors and executives even though they do not have many years of formal education like other professionals from other area of study. Professional athletes are being over paid while hard working Americans are being paid a lot less. Athletes don't offer society anything that will help improve our economy, unlike doctors, the military , firefighters, and other jobs that are needed on an everyday basis. Being a professional athlete is just a waste of time and money.Many Americans believe that athletes are not overpaid; they say that their jobs are harder than ours are and we would not be able to survive [pic] Photo credit: Shirley L. , Chino Hills, CA Author's comments about this article: a day in their sho es. Then you ask yourself this, would someone who plays a professional sport be able to survive a day in your shoes? Do they believe that all of our jobs mean nothing and they are harder? No, we work just as much as or harder than they do. Sports players do not spend their day saving people’s lives from burning buildings, or fighting a war across the world people who believes that athletes are not overpaid there only reason is that they are being paid what they are worth, and how much their contract is worth. If your saying they are paid based on their contract then people whose jobs are more important should have been offered some close or more than their salary. There saying that Americans that have jobs that are needed in today’s society are not worth much at all. If we were to get rid of all the professional sports from being a job, we would not be at wits end, but if we get rid of the jobs that improve ever day life and kept the professional athletes.Then how woul d they get supplies when they get sick who would help them if there house caught on fire or someone broke in, and who would they send over there to fight the war. Professional athletes would not be able to survive in this world and continue doing their job if there was nobody caring for them. Why is it that some children aspire to be a professional athlete? It might be because you have a fun job, but what about the money? The average professional athlete makes over a million dollars a year. That might be why some children want to be athletes.It is unnecessary for someone who plays a game to make that much money (Hoffman, Greenberg, 3). Most parents plan what they want their child to be, so the child grows up liking that not giving any other professional a solitary thought when children are little and they tell you that they want to be a football player or a basketball player. Do you really think that it is for the money, fame or just because it something they like to do. Most childr en see them playing on television and that is the main thing that interest them. They do not get a chance to see all the other hard workers, because they are not worried about being on television.They are worried about doing what is important, stretching the little money they have each day to make sure that there family is fed and taken care of. Hard workers are living pay check to pay check, while athletes are worried about not making as much money as the next sport is making. People are not recognized enough for the jobs they do they way professional athletes are. You might hear about them in the news for a week about what type of tremendous jobs they did of saving thousands of people’s lives, but you never hear about each person individually like you do when some athlete core an unbelievable touchdown, or a slam dunk. If hard workers were making half as much money as pro athletes were than more people would be willing to work at different places all around the world. We wo uld be able to have more job openings. More people would be interested in starting their own business, making a name for themselves somewhere other than in the sports business. Their name will live on, and not die off when your career is over because; you had an injury that made you unable to play for the rest of your life. Where is all the money coming from?The answer is sports fans like you. We pay for the tickets, T-shirts, and apparel of these teams. They can afford to sign new players when they are charging anywhere from $45 to $55 dollars a seat for football and anywhere from $25 to $12 for a basket ball game (direct essay). By paying this amount of money, you are saying that there is nothing wrong with the amount of money they are paying the athletes even though you are not making nearly as much. Sport fans are contributing to the athlete’s paycheck without even knowing it. They might as well be flushing all of their money down the drain.The bad part about it is that i s if pro sports players get a reduction in pay then they will raise all kinds of no =sense saying that they will quit if they don’t get their money. One other thing is that most athletes only do charitable work because it looks good on their half. Do not get me wrong there are plenty of athletes that do good deeds because they have been through just as much as thoughts people are going through now so, they are trying to reach out and let them know that they are there. Nevertheless, that doesn’t give them a reason to get paid more plenty of people who participate in those activates daily that every day.They are just never recognized for them good they do just like fire fighters and police officers as mentioned before. They money that is made at basket ball games and football and any other pro sports should be given to the people who are in need not who are in want. †¢ Professional athletes are exciting to watch, this is no doubt. However, when it comes time to unde rstand and realize how much it is that they make to play the game, whether it be baseball, football and basketball, our heads have to be swimming. This has to be especially true while the United States, if not the world over is in a terrible economic and financial collapse. pic]Granted, we are beginning to see signs that we are coming out of the recession. This only means that the sports team owners and their players are going to continue to make millions more for what they do for only a certain period of time. Professional athletes are well over-paid for what they do. Take baseball for example. Baseball consists of one hundred and sixty games. These games are played between April and October. Granted, some teams go to the playoffs and then two teams battle it out in what we call The World Series. Talking with some people who somewhat like baseball, say, they find it boring.The games can go on for hours upon hours until one team has at least one more run than the other. Most profess ional baseball players, especially those who sign a contract worth ninety million dollars, say for an eight-year run, only perform with a mediocrity that we cannot stand it. So, what do we fans do? We still pay the exorbitant prices of tickets so that we can go and scream and holler to get them to either play better or hope that the umpires get glasses. Professional athletes have to come to a realization that most do not think about. What happens if they are injured? Oh, forgive this writer.They still are paid. What if they are injured and it is a career ending injury? Most still is paid, some do not. Over the years, we have also seen overpaid professional athletes get way over their heads and get caught doing illegal drugs or end up drinking and getting into car accidents or we hear that they have a domestic disturbance because they just cannot handle the success that they have come upon. There are professions out there, which are much more important than a professional athlete is. For instance, there are police officers and firefighters whose lives are on the line each day. They make a mediocre salary.Then there are those who are called soldiers, aviators, sailors, marines and coastguardsmen who put their lives on the line for our freedom and get paid â€Å"peanuts† for doing so. We tend to forget what it is that they do. However, when the ball game comes on television, we cannot wait to make the popcorn, the hotdogs and the apple pie and sit our rear ends down on the couch and again, scream and holler and tell them to go, go, and go. There has to be some kind of overhaul of the professional sports pay plan. If the government can tell us how much we can make when it comes to our salaries, why not tell professional athletes to do the same.Professional athletes are among the most wealthy and well-known people in the United States and around the world. Millions of people for their impressive athletic abilities admire all athletes such as Derek Jeter, Mic hael Jordan, Peyton Manning, and Tiger Woods. Most professional athletes are very talented, dedicated, and very hard workers. However, do they truly deserve all the praise people give them and multimillion dollar contracts simply because they are good at playing sports? Some athletes truly do not, because even while knowing thousands of young boys and girls are looking up to them, they still set bad examples.However, regardless of if they are good role models or not, no one should be paid millions of dollars merely because they are good at playing sports. Most professional athletes worked very hard throughout their lives to end up on the teams they are on today. Then once they make the team, they most likely still work very hard by exercising vigorously in practice and weight rooms, trying their hardest on game days, and doing what they can on a regular basis to improve themselves. Although this takes much commitment and hard, physical work, they do not deserve millions of dollars f or it.This year, the median salary in the NFL is around $770,000 for one season! The Washington Redskins have the highest payroll at $123 million and the New York Giants have the lowest at $76 million. The national average that a teacher makes in one year is $53,000. It is not logical for someone who is playing football, basketball or any other sport to be making hundreds of thousands more a year than a teacher who helps other people on a day-to-day basis. Professional athletes do nothing to improve the lives of others—other than themselves and their teammates when they do their jobs. All they do for other people while on the job is to entertain.Other professions such as a nurse, firefighter, police officer, or teacher help others on a daily basis, possibly risking their own lives, and still do not get as much credit, respect, or money as people who play sports for a living. However, too many Americans, sports and entertainment have a greater priority over these people and th erefore professional athletes are well paid and well known. As a result, professional athletes are treated like celebrities, and unfortunately can get away with doing practically anything. One example was when a NFL player murdered a man and only received an insignificant punishment.In June of 2009, Dante Stall worth of the Cleveland Browns was sentenced to thirty days in jail for manslaughter after making a confidential, financial settlement with the family of the victim. Dante was driving after a night of drinking in Miami Beach and hit Mario Reyes, age 59 while he was on his way to the bus stop after getting off from work. Although this was an accident, it was an accident that was caused by and illegal action by Stall worth. He could have faced up to fifteen years in prison, but because he co-operated and had the money to make a settlement, he was treated differently.Unfortunately, cases like this occur all the time with professional athletes and rich and famous people. It is not fair for people to be treated differently (especially when it comes to the law) only because they are rich and famous. If anyone else in the public, who was not wealthy, had committed the same crime, they would have had to carry out the jail sentence. Something needs to be done to stop these kinds of things from happening because this is not true justice. Also, professional athletes need to be more aware of what they are doing because there are millions of people—including young children—who look up to them.Professional athletes are role models for young boys and girls everywhere and should consider those before they do things they really should not be doing. Several athletes have set bad examples for children by doing drugs, being involved in shootings, taking steroids, and participating in many other illegal activities. One example was when Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps was caught in a photograph of him smoking marijuana. The picture was released three months after he won a record of eight gold medals in the Beijing games and it was broadcasted on the news and online everywhere.Either many young children most likely saw this and were disappointed or it may have encouraged some to try it because they just witnessed their favourite athlete doing it. Although, several professional athletes learn from their mistakes and usually turn them around by correcting their behaviours. Others do not even do anything wrong at all and make great role models for kids. Several professional athletes make great role models by performing well in games, expressing good sportsmanship, donating to charities, and getting involved in their communities.All professional athletes should behave this way because they have such great influences on the lives of other people. Although even if they are great athletes and role models, they still do not deserve to make as much money as they do and they should not be treated differently than the public when it comes to the law. I t is sad that in society today our priorities are so messed up that we give those who play sports for a living, hundreds of thousands more a year than other people who make a difference in the world every day.If we lived in a world without professional sports to entertain us, life would be a little more boring, but we would live on. But if we lived in a world without doctors, firefighters, policemen, teachers, or construction workers, life as we know it would cease to exist. Paying professional athletes as much as we do is ethically wrong and we should give other people such as teachers the respect and payroll they deserve, because they make a difference in the lives of others every day. Would not it be great to make nearly $111 million a year simply to play a game?Many professional athletes, such as Tiger Woods, apparently think so; or else they would not be cashing their paychecks. However, do these athletes really deserve all that money? In my view, not. If you ask me, profession al athletes are making far more than they deserve, and in a society where salaries and wages are traditionally based on the value of one’s work, that seems wrong. I believe a person should be paid according to the job’s economic importance and value to society. Take education, for instance. Teaching is one of the most economically important occupations if you really think about it.Our future economies rely on how well we educate our youth, and yet teachers are paid a mere fraction of what a professional athlete receives. If you were to calculate how much Kobe Bryant is paid for every basket he scores, I am sure it earns him the equivalent of the average teacher’s yearly salary. That is simply outrageous. Yet, some would argue that the teacher only provides service to a single classroom, while superstar athletes like Kobe Bryant are entertaining fans all around the world; bringing them both excitement and relaxation with their athletic exploits.Perhaps those maki ng such an argument are not aware that Kobe Bryant’s salary also dwarfs that of the president of the United States, Barrack Obama, who only makes approximately $400,000 a year. Obama’s critical decisions affect the entire world every day, as he is hard at work trying to revive our nation’s economy and protect our nation’s security, and yet the newest unproven rookie in the NBA will earn more than the president this year. Again, simply outrageous when you really think about it. Moreover, teachers aren’t the only ones deserving of higher wages.Police officers, firefighters, and doctors throughout the country both risk their lives and save the lives of others for a fraction of what many sports, stars make. Those in the military leave their families at home for months at a time to defend and protect our country’s freedoms, knowing they may never return, and all for a pittance compared to what even many scrubs in the NBA make. If you ask me, it i s a shameful that these heroes aren’t given the same recognition by society that is afforded Brett Favre, Michael Jordan, or LeBron James.Do not mistake what I am saying for some sense that these athletes have had it easy getting where they are, either. I fully understand that making it to the pros isn’t an easy thing to accomplish. It takes a tremendous amount of dedication and talent on the part of the athlete, not to mention an incredible number of hours of hard work every day just to earn the privilege. However, in the end, all athletes do is entertain. Is that actually worth the price we pay them?I believe it’s not, and that at the very least, that if these athletes want to continue to reap the rewards of their fame, they must begin to prove they can be positive role models for both future athletes to follow, and the children who grow up admiring and practically worshipping them. They must begin to show that they are more deserving of the fortune that (I be lieve) is unfairly bestowed upon them by our society. How often have we heard about an athlete drinking and driving, using drugs, or sexually harassing some woman?If you ask me, there should be a zero tolerance policy in every single sports league for such behaviour, precisely because they are so highly paid. Simply put, if Alex Rodriguez (or any athlete) believes he deserves to make, as much money each year as he does, then he must also recognize that he should be allowed to cheat and take steroids. This is because if we, as a society allow that, then what we are teaching our children is that it’s okay to use illegal substances such as steroids, because in the long run it will pay off.In order for these high-priced athletes to gain more respect, they will need to have a more significant impact on their communities. They will have to become more involved, and willingly give back in terms of time and resources to those who have made it possible for them to live in such luxury. In addition, a system needs to be put into place that prevents players who have never even really proven their value in professional sports from hijacking teams for all they can get.Now, of course the owners themselves are partially to blame, as they just keep on spending and spending, but something must be done. Take the case of JaMarcus Russell for instance. The former No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft, despite being recognized as being one of the biggest busts in NFL history, will still walk away an incredibly wealthy man. That is because the deal he was given by the Raiders when he came into the league (a six-year $68 million contract) included $31 million in guaranteed money.Simply put, this person did nothing for the Raiders whatsoever, and is walking away a multi-millionaire. Again, that is outrageous. In any job in the real world, if you don’t perform to your employer’s expectations, you’re fired, and there’s no guaranteed money (unless of course you’re the CEO of BP or Enron). Finally, it all comes down to the fact the system of paying professional athletes is broken. They are swimming in money, much of it totally undeserved or unearned, and it needs to stop. When asking people whether they think athletes are paid excessively much money, most agree with me. Do you?