Dos and donts when searching for a new job

Dos and donts when searching for a new job Attention millennials: Are you gearing up for a job hunt?  As someone who’s young and relatively new to the world of work, you may just be starting to realize that the level of competition for available positions out there is intense- which means that you’re going to have to be at the top of your game when searching for a new job and there’s zero margin for error if you want to be taken seriously by potential employers, hiring managers, and HR professionals (AKA, the job gatekeepers). The Balance recently published an article highlighting the uphill battle millennials currently face in the job market today, along with practical job searching tips they can employ as young workers in the constantly evolving professional landscape.According to the article, â€Å"Even as the job market has recovered following the Great Recession, unemployment for millennials continues to remain high when compared to older, more experienced workers. Some classic job search advice- like  avoid job-hopping- isn’t applicable to millennials, who are frequent targets of layoffs and victims of industry instability.†Obviously, millennials need a specific and targeted set of job hunting dos and don’ts when searching for new jobs. Take advantage of the following list of guidelines to make your next hunt as successful as possible.Job Search DosDefine your goals.  When you get started on your next job hunt, you should kick things off by envisioning a primary goal for yourself. This may be a challenging task if you’re just getting started in the professional world and haven’t pinpointed what exactly you want to do, but you should try your best to focus your job hunt as precisely as possible.Why is this so crucial? Your goal will help you target your cover letters and resume, and focus your job search. Also, hiring personnel love a confident young potential hire who knows exactly what she or he wants to do with their life. If you have a goal for your next job hunt, then great- run with it! If not, consider asking yourself the following questions to help you define your goals and purpose:What am I passionate about?Why do I do  what  I do?Which values are driving my goals?What’s my purpose?What vision do I have for my career over the next 1, 3, 5, or 10 years?Target your audience.  Now that you have some clearly defined goals for your job hunt, you can begin to target your audience- this includes the industries, insiders, and companies that you want to connect with in an effort to help you achieve your stated goals. Some of you may already feel as if you know everything there is to know about the position or industry you’re looking to break into. If so, then great. If not, then do some research and get to know as much as you can at the onset of your job hunt.Consider asking yourself the following questions when you’re trying to figure things out:  Are there specific companies I’ m interested in?Am I aiming to secure a position in a specific industry?What advantage or benefit does this position bring to their business?What will the company be lacking or missing if there’s no one in this position?Consider some of the struggles and obstacles facing the employer and the industry. Make a list of the most critical ones, and reflect on times in the past when you’ve confronted similar challenges.Define your potential value.  With a clearly defined goal and audience, you can begin crafting your targeted resumes and cover letters- and demonstrate your value as a potential hire. What can you potentially offer employees if you were hired? How can you help them meet their specific needs?If you need some guidance to help you define your potential value, including what makes you stand out from the job hunting crowd, ask yourself the following questions:What benefit or contribution do I add?What key accomplishments or successes have I delivered time and tim e again?What would I say is unique about myself and how I do what I do?What are my greatest strengths?What do others see as the value I add?How have I positively influenced others?What would others say is fascinating, compelling, or interesting about me?What benefit would an employer or company get from choosing me over another candidate?What benefit or value did I bring to my previous employers?You should also reach out to friends, family, and your network and ask them which words they would use to describe you.Know where to look.  The job hunt landscape has changed drastically from what your parents might remember, so consider passing them by for advice. The article by The Balance has some excellent targeted advice for conducting an effective job search: â€Å"Millennials are the social media generation, and your network of friends and acquaintances on major social media platforms can do more than like statuses. Connections are valuable- from sharing a job description that hasn ’t been posted to making an introduction, your connections can help with your job search greatly.†They suggest the following targeted tips for kickstarting things:Sign up for LinkedIn: Make the most of this targeted site, designed specifically for making career connections and job hunting. A basic account is free, so there’s really no reason not to take advantage of it.Clean up your existing social media: Make sure there’s nothing embarrassing or offensive that might pop up on the social media sites you use, should potential employers check them out.Use your college career office: Another great free resource, take advantage of the services your college career office provides to get a step up on the competition.Attend industry events: Events designed for folks in your target industry to connect are excellent opportunities for you to meet key people and possibly network your way into your next great career opportunity.Job Search Dont’sDon’t ign ore the basics.  Many of the fundamentals of an effective job search have not changed over time, so overlook them at your own peril:Follow instructions provided when applying to each job.Make sure your resume and cover letter are free of errors.Follow the rules of proper interview etiquette- be polite, dress appropriately, display good body language, and turn off your phone!Don’t get too cute with your resume and cover letter.  Sure, you want to stand out from the competition, but do so through the impressive content of your documents- not by using wacky designs, crazy fonts and colors, or any other overly creative flourishes. Chances are, you won’t be taken seriously as a potentially candidate, and unless it’s asked for it isn’t worth the risk.Don’t let frustration get the better of you.  Job searching today can be a long and protracted experience full of disappointment, especially for millennials, who are used to instant gratification. This can be frustrating for job seekers, but don’t let that frustration defeat or derail you from your ultimate goal- keep things in perspective and find a way to maintain your composure, motivation, and drive during this process.If you’re a millennial on the hunt for a new position, make the most of these dos and don’ts to jumpstart your job search and land your next big professional opportunity. Good luck!

The Rather Interesting History of Speak and Spell

The Rather Interesting History of Speak and Spell The Speak and Spell is a handheld electronic device and educational toy with a very interesting place in history. The toy/learning aid was developed in the late 1970s by Texas Instruments and introduced to the public at the Summer Consumer Electronics Show in June 1978. Its claim to fame is that the Speak and Spell was the first commercial product to use a brand new technology, called DSP technology. According to the IEEE: the Speak and Spell digital signal processing (DSP) innovation in audio processing is the starting milestone for the huge digital signal processing industry that has a more than $20 Billion market today. Using digital signal processing has grown tremendously with the development of analog to digital and digital to analog conversion chips and techniques. Digital signal processors are used in many of the consumer, industrial, and military applications. Digital Signal Processing By definition, DSP (short for digital signal processing) is the manipulation of analog information into digital. In Speak and Spells case, it was analog sound information that was converted into a digital form. The Speak and Spell was a product that was the result of Texas Instruments research into the area of synthetic speech. By being able to speak to children, the Speak and Spell was able to teach both the correct spelling and pronunciation of a word. Research and Development of the Speak and Spell The Speak and Spell marked the first time the human vocal tract had been electronically duplicated on a single chip of silicon. According to the manufacturers of the Speak and Spell, Texas Instruments, research on the Speak and Spell began in 1976 as a three-month feasibility study with a $25,000 budget. Four men worked on the project in its early stages: Paul Breedlove, Richard Wiggins, Larry Brantingham, and Gene Frantz. The idea for the Speak and Spell originated with engineer Paul Breedlove. Breedlove had been thinking about potential products that could use the capabilities of the new bubble memory (another Texas Instrument research project) when he came up with the idea for the Speak and Spell, originally named The Spelling Bee. With technology being what it was at that time period, speech data required a challenging amount of memory, and Texas Instruments agreed with Breedlove that something like the Speak and Spell could be a good application to develop. In an interview conducted by Benj Edwards of Vintage Computing with one of the Speak and Spell team members, Richard Wiggins, Wiggins reveals the basic roles of each of the team in the following way: Paul Breedlove originated the idea of a learning aid for spelling.Gene Frantz was responsible for the overall product design: spelling words, case design, display, and operation.Larry Brantingham was the integrated circuit designer.Richard Wiggins wrote the voice processing algorithms. Solid State Speech Circuitry The Speak and Spell was a revolutionary invention. According to Texas Instruments, it used an entirely new concept in speech recognition and unlike tape recorders and pull-string photograph records used in many speaking toys at the time, the solid-state speech circuitry it used had no moving parts. When it was told to say something it drew a word from memory, processed it through an integrated circuit model of a human vocal tract and then spoke electronically. Made specifically for the Speak and Spell, the Speak and Spell four created the first linear predictive coding digital signal processor integrated circuit, the TMS5100. In laymans terms, the TMS5100 chip was the first speech synthesizer IC ever made.

Article Summary Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Summary - Article Example In addition, authors contend in the case where a study involves large-group design there is a need to apply multifaceted approach by taking average (Miller, Besser & Vigna, 2011). This is to aggregate all findings from other researches with the intention of obtaining exact results, which is extremely hard if one utilizes one method approach. Aggregation also includes taking data of diverse and numerous subjects with the intention of producing a group mean (Miller, Besser & Vigna, 2011). Contrary to single case researchers, whose intention encompasses addressing only external validity of a study; multifaceted approach normally takes in a wide varied of replication to exhibit all essential facts. This is evident in Miller, Besser & Vigna (2011) study that extends over a period of five years. Hence, allowing a large study examined in a single and small scope though its approach is multifaceted besides having replication of numerous researches and subjects (Miller, Besser & Vigna, 2011). In this article, the author contends adopting of mixed methods approach plays a significant role in advancing beyond unclear hypothesis; hence ensure effective understanding of the highlighted aspects in a given study. This is especially in studies that involve innovation whose relaying of ideas entails to win the acceptance of the users (Wu, 2012). Wu utilized a mixed method in his research mainly because this mode of research ensures the researcher learn issues from a wider a scope. Mixed method approach utilizes both qualitative and quantitative methods of research, which in the end enables Wu effectively, evaluate all aspects concerning the subject of research (Wu 2012). According to Wu, mixed method enables a research to shift from unclear state of data or study to usefulness† and â€Å"ease of use†, which is essential in understanding varied aspects

NIKE Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

NIKE - Case Study Example the years, Nike has not only augmented its technological expertise as well as marketing know-how to develop into the world’s biggest footwear and apparel business, but has also outperformed potential players like Adidas and Reebok (Keller, 2008, p.125). Being a colossal corporation it towers above every competitor in its sector with such a stupendous effect that regardless of the sport, it is likely that Nike along with its ‘swoosh’ logo will be there (Frisch, 2008, p.5). Taking into consideration Nike’s astounding track record, this report will aim at shedding light on various branding issues associated with it. Nike’s headquarters, located in Portland, provides a snippet view of the company’s strong brand image. The World Campus of the sports and apparel powerhouse that sprawls over an area of 75 acres does not have a nameplate on its entrance. The occupants of the site can be identified by the red ‘swoosh’ – Nike’s globally renowned logo – which also appears on all the physical entities within the premises (Stonehouse, Campbell, Hamill & Purdie, 2004, p.440). However, Nike’s outstanding stature may be justified by the fact that out of a strong sense of loyalty to this company, some of the employees have tattooed a ‘swoosh’ on their bodies. It goes without saying that Nike has a robust brand image which is bolstered further due to the company’s reputation for innovation as well as unmatched quality. Constant product development, which takes place at Nike because Knight considers that the industry has 7 year brand cy cles, makes the company outstanding (Stonehouse et al., 2004, p.441). The figure appended above illustrates the value chain of Nike in terms of its production and supply chain. While the research and development (R&D) functions of the organisation are centralised, most of its production facilities are located in Europe and Asia. However, during late 1990s, dubious employment practices coupled with low wages as well as

Husayn-McMahon Essay Example for Free

Husayn-McMahon Essay McMahon-Hussein Correspondence refers to an exchange of letters between Sharif Husayn Ibn Ali of Mecca and Sir Henry McMahon of Britain detailing the future of the Arab world in the face of a possible annexation by the Ottoman Turks. The background to this communication can be traced to early 1914 when Sharif Husayn’s son, Amir, paid a visit to the then British Consular in Egypt, Lord Kitchener, seeking British assurance that they would offer their support incase Arabs opted to revolt against Turkey. While at first Kitchner was reluctant to make any commitment, his successor in the region, McMahon, upon sensing the dwindling British fortunes in the Middle East, made hefty promises to garner the Arabs support during the First World War. It is during this period that McMahon would initiate correspondence with Husayn. The Husayn family emerged to be an influential force in the Middle East as it lay claim to be the descendant of Muhammad and held the mantle leadership of a number of kingdoms in the region (Daly 215). The issue of McMahon-Hussein correspondence has emerged highly controversial and is held to be at the core of the crisis in the Middle East. It is regarded as an important correspondence by the Palestinians as it was seen as a commitment by the British of granting them independence. In these series of letters, Husayn had asked for Arabs independence, he outlined these areas to be the Arabian Peninsula, Palestine and Iraq amongst others. McMahon on the other hand made a commitment to ensure the independence of a number of territories which would not damage the existing cordial relations with France. Arabs in the Middle East have maintained that British had promised independence to the Palestinians; on the other hand, Britain claims that this was merely a declaration of intent that was not legally binding and cannot be used to lay claim of independence to the Palestinians (Mack 123).

Editorial-why Conan O Brian Is :: essays research papers

Ask kids today what late night show they watch, and the answer will invariably be Conan O’ Brian. There is an extensive amount of proof that shows more young viewers are tuning in to “Late Night';, than the “Tonight Show';, with Jay Leno. For one, Conan is considerably funnier than Leno. The original jokes written by Conan give his monologue the edge over Leno’s obvious cracks about celebrity foibles. Also, O’ Brian does an enormous amount of original skits that give the show a much-needed break away from “mainstream'; comedy. Lastly, Conan has one thing that puts him infinitely ahead of Leno, and that is one Andy Richter. This incredible comedic duo has turned a low-budget, virtually unknown late night show, into a national obsession. With so many years of experience writing for such shows as Saturday Night Live, and even producing the longest running cartoon series, “The Simpsons';, Conan knows comedy. This knowledge is evident in his opening monologue. With his well timed one liners, and hilarious gestures and facial expressions on stage, he draws the audience in. And once I’m tuned in, I am unable to look away. Conan’s jokes are endlessly funnier than Leno. One reason for this is that Leno’s humor is so expected. He takes the easy way out of jokes. Where as O’ Brian’s humor is off the wall, and straight out of left field, and unexpected. This is why I laugh. Conan is continually coming up with new ideas for the show. What I find most appealing about the program, is its ability to be continuously original. One thing that makes it able to do this is the skits that he creates. With such skits as, “Triumph, the talking dog';, and “Pimpbot 5000';, I never know what hilarious escapades are going to happen on the show. Whereas Leno, has the same boring skits that are played out to the extreme. There is only so many times I can look at typos in the newspaper, and listen to the babbling idiots on California’s streets. The last thing I feel puts Conan O’ Brian over the top of Leno, is the one and only, Andy Richter. These two, when put together, are the Abbot and Castello of the 21st century. Andy brings an enormous amount to the show. It’s double the comedy, if Conan is not making a joke, Andy is right there with it.

The Founding Father of Jazz: Louis Armstrong

Foundations of the Founding Father of Jazz: Louis Armstrong Being heard in movies, the radio, television, and even elevators, jazz music has made its mark in just about every single location of the world. As popular as jazz is around the world, its original roots and foundations in the African-American culture are often forgotten. One of the most influential jazz musicians, Louis Armstrong, also known as Satchmo or Pops, is considered to be among the founding fathers of jazz music. His career launched in the early 1900s, where his legacy would form early to create a sound foundation for early jazz music that was quite exceptional.Louis Armstrong was such an essential part of the jazz age during the 1920’s that his music created a firm foundation, paving the way for Jazz musicians everywhere. His influential singing, along with his great dexterity, intricate lyrics, and profound melodies make it easy for him to claim his title as â€Å"The Founding Father of Jazz. † Taki ng his first breath in the world on August 4, 1901, Louis Armstrong was born to William and Mary â€Å"Mayanne† Albert Armstrong in the â€Å"Battlefield† of New, Orleans, Louisiana – one of the poorest areas of town (Old 15).Shortly after his birth, he was abandoned by his father, a factory worker, to be left with his mother, struggling to make ends meet (Old 16). Armstrong’s childhood was rather tough considering the fact that he had been abandoned by his father. Also, as times worsened, he was abandoned by his mother as she turned to prostitution to earn additional cash. He and his younger sister, Beatrice Armstrong Collins, were often left in the care of his maternal grandmother, Josephine Armstrong and their Uncle Isaac (Old 16).At age five, he moved back to live with his mother and relatives and very rarely saw his father. Armstrong had much respect for his mother; he wrote, â€Å"She held up her head at all times†¦What she didn’t have, she did without. † (Old 22) As a youngster, Armstrong was often seen singing in the streets with his friends to earn money. He was a very smart boy, but he often made the wrong decisions. He skipped from kindergarten into the second grade and grew up in a rough area where he would learn to shoot dice for pennies and play blackjack (Old 23).He attended the Fisk School for Boys in 1906 where he was first exposed to a large variety of music and brought in extra money as a paperboy, selling food to restaurants, and hauling coal to Storyville. However, he was not able to help his mother from turning to prostitution. Often times, young Armstrong explored local dance halls where he would soak in various aspects to the music business, including the music itself, performances, and dancing. The infamous Storyville is where Armstrong often listened to bands and musicians which included Joe â€Å"King† Oliver and other famous vocalists (Old 36).A fast forward to the year of 1912 b rings us to the beginnings of Armstrong’s involvement in instrumental music. In this very year, he dropped out of the Fisk School for boys and began to make a living by singing on the streets of New Orleans with a quartet group. During the time Armstrong performed with the quartet, Joe â€Å"King† Oliver taught him how to play the cornet. Because Armstrong did not have much family support, he was often left to his lonesome. However, a very kind Lithuanian-Jewish family, the Karnofskys, who gave him odd jobs from time to time took him in and treated him as their own.Eventually, the Karnofskys loaned him money for his first very own cornet, which would give him one of the necessary tools needed to be a successful musician – an instrument (Morgenstern 100). Although Armstrong’s positive image and career outlook began to develop in a great way that soon took a change in 1914 when he was sent to the New Orleans Home for Colored Waifs, a delinquency home (Old 2 7). During that time, he was most known for his arrest due to firing his stepfather’s pistol into the air at a New Year’s Eve celebration.While at home, he was appointed to be the band leader for The Home band as they played all around New Orleans at the age of 13 years old. His musical career became more popular as he gained attention from the public eye for his evident cornet playing skills. At the age of 14, Armstrong was released from the home, returned to live with his father and stepmother, and soon to live with his mother again. Moving back with his mother put him in an environment that led him back to performing on the streets and being tempted by the red-light district lifestyle.Shortly after moving in with his mother, he got his first dance hall job (Henry Ponce’s) where he hauled coal by day and played cornet at night, making his skills well-known once again. Armstrong frequently performed as a cornet player which eventually helped him develop his own style and a more serious attitude toward music. He played in the city’s brass band parades, riverboats and steamboats, and took notes from other musicians with every change he got. Perfecting his craft was something that was very important to him.Some influential musicians that affected Armstrong’s career included Buck Johnson, Buddy Petit, Kid Ory, and Joe â€Å"King† Oliver. King soon became a mentor and somewhat of a father figure for the young musician who seemed to have no relevant family relationships or strong ties. His participation in playing on steamboats around New Orleans led him to travel with the popular band, Fate Marable. As he and the well-regarded band toured up and down the Mississippi River, much experience was gained by working with written musical pieces and arrangements.In 1917, Armstrong began playing with Kid Ory’s band until 1919 when Joe Oliver decided to move north and resign his position in the band. 1919 marks the year Armst rong became an official band member and replaced the â€Å"King. † Also, in that year, he became the second trumpeter for the Tuxedo Brass Band in New Orleans. In between his time playing with Kid Ory, Armstrong married Daisy Parker (Gretna, Louisiana) on March 19, 1918 (Old 39). Around that time Louis’ cousin, whose mother, Flora, died shortly after giving birth, had been taken in by the newlyweds.The three-year-old boy, Clarence Armstrong, who was mentally disabled, became one of Louis’ main responsibilities. Although both Daisy and Louis were parenting Clarence, the marriage did not last very long. They quickly separated and filed for divorce. However, Parker died shortly after the divorce. As Armstrong’s career began to develop even more, some adjustment had to be made to perfect his craft even more. In 1921, Louis Armstrong learned how to efficiently read music. His improvements led to great advancements as he joined Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band in Chicago in 1922.While working with the band, he took interest in Lillian (Lil) Hardin, the pianist, and they soon got married. His marriage with Lil lasted much longer than his first and they accomplished great things together. Although Louis Armstrong is renowned for his incredible jazz records, it is not widely known that many of his greatest hits were written and arranged by his wife at the time. She played the piano, composed, and arranged music for most of the important bands from New Orleans at the time.Lil Armstrong was a major contributor to her husband’s success as she composed hundreds of records and created musical successes (Kallen 32). In 1923, as paychecks continued to roll in, Armstrong’s career began to take a turn for the better. His lucrative career provided the proper finances for his lavish lifestyle maintained in Chicago, where he met Hoagy Carmichael. A mutual friend, Bix Beiderbecke, introduced the two to each other and they later collaborated on several projects. Jazz music began to circulate and spread through speakeasies, ballrooms, and dancehalls of Chicago (Kallen 30).It was very important that Armstrong would move to Chicago during the 1920s in order to keep up with the times. African-Americans moved away from the South to industrial states in the North; this was known as the Great Migration (Kallen 28). The city nicknamed â€Å"Chi-Town† became the major hub for gangsters, illegal nightclubs (speakeasies), and illegal liquor trade. The speakeasies were a major launching place for black musicians because they provided a place for the musicians to perform, earn lucrative paychecks, and led to a golden age of innovation (Kallen 28).Although Armstrong thoroughly enjoyed working with Oliver in Chicago, his wife suggested that he seek more advisement in order to develop and expand his newer style which was quite different from Oliver’s. Listening to his wife, Armstrong left Oliver’s band, and began to play in Fletcher Henderson’s band in Harlem, New York, 1924. The Henderson band, being highly respected, played in only the best venues and often for white-only crowds. While in Henderson’s band, he adapted to their controlled sound and style of play and incorporated storytelling and singing into his acts.Armstrong also made many side recordings which included the likes of Bessie Smith, Ma Rainey, and Alberta Hunter. Many of these collaborations were arranged by an old friend back in New Orleans, Clarence Williams. Although he made quite a name for himself in the big city, his stay in New York did not last long; he eased on down back to Chicago in 1925 in hope of boosting his career, increase income, and gain more publicity. Introduced as â€Å"the World’s Greatest Trumpet Player,† Armstrong began to play with the Lil Hardin Armstrong Band but eventually began to record under his own name instead of joint projects with his wife.He recorded under Okeh a nd worked with his own groups, the Hot Five and the Hot Seven. Popular hits during this time include â€Å"Potato Head Blues,† Muggles,† and â€Å"West End Blues. † Several hits, including â€Å"Muggles† had references that indicated Armstrong’s long-time fondness of recreational plant use with marijuana. After working with the groups Hot Five and Hot Seven, Armstrong went into great ventures forming another band – Louis Armstrong & the Stompers. The band toured with the classic musical, Hot Chocolate, and had notable performances.He also made cameo appearances as a vocalist, often taking the spotlight with his rendition of â€Å"Ain’t Misbehavin. † Armstrong’s version of the song was quick to gain popularity and became his biggest selling record of all time. Armstrong eventually moved to Los Angeles in 1930 and played in the Cotton Club with elaborate floor shows and celebrity guests. At the Cotton Club, he had notable s uccess with his vocal recordings and even renditions of other famous songs. His recordings took a chance of course with the introduction of the RCA ribbon microphone in 1931.Intrinsic music style change showcased Armstrong’s unique vocal style and gave him a more innovative approach to singing. It would not be long before Armstrong would make appearances in film. In fact, in 1931, he appeared in his first movie, Ex-Flame. However, shortly thereafter, he was convicted for possession of marijuana, induced conflict upon himself with the mob, moved back to New Orleans, and eventually fled to Europe. As a comeback attempt, which was successful, Armstrong and his band worked with Joe Glaser to record with the Mills Brothers, Louis Jordan, Tommy Dorsey, and even Ella Fitzgerald.He later appeared in the film, â€Å"Pennies from Heaven† with Bing Crosby in 1936 and in 1937, he became the first black to host a sponsored, national radio broadcast. Louis Armstrong’s career began to rise again; however, his marriage did not experience the same thing. After having a variety of issues with his wife, Lil, they decided to divorce in 1938 and he began his third marriage with a woman named Alpha and his image to the public became a major concern. In addition to Armstrong’s marijuana usage, he loved to eat food and write in his journal.Several journal entries range from implicit to explicit notes which include several accounts regarding his sex life, music, childhood memories, and even a few jokes. He also went into great detail to describe food – the taste of it, the smell of it, the textures, and the way it made him feel on the inside. Food truly made him a soulful man with a smile on his face. However, his love for food became a problem when it came to health concerns. Armstrong was at major risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and even obesity.It became his primary goal to control his weight. Often times, he would be seen ta king laxatives and offering them to his band mates. It was very important to him to maintain a certain image that he would be perceived as a fit man; being in many films inspired him to do so. Some who worked with him also recalled times he would purge him in order to control weight. Armstrong’s life as not only an entertainer, but a leading personality, made him a great man adored by Americans in the 1900s. He gave even the greatest performers something to learn from.His influential jazz styles along with his loving personality gave him the career of a lifetime and truly a great experience. Louis Armstrong and his legacy as a Jazz musician continue on. â€Å"The Founding Father of Jazz† left a mark in music history that cannot be erased. Works Cited Armstrong, Louis. Satchmo: My Life in New Orleans. New York, NY: Da Capo, 1986. Print. Bergreen, Laurence. Louis Armstrong: An Extravagant Life. New York: Broadway, 1997. Print. â€Å"Jazz . Jazz Greats . Louis Armstrong | PBS KIDS GO! †Ã‚  Jazz . Jazz Greats . Louis Armstrong | PBS KIDS GO!PBS Kids, n. d. Web. Nov. 2012. . Kallen, Stuart A. The History of Jazz. San Diego: Lucent, 2003. Print. â€Å"Louis Armstrong. †Ã‚  Musician (Trumpet) @ All About Jazz. N. p. , n. d. Web. Nov. 2012. . â€Å"Louis Armstrong. †Ã‚  Musician (Trumpet) @ All About Jazz. NPR, n. d. Web. Nov. 2012. . Old, Wendie C. Louis Armstrong: King of Jazz. Springfield, NJ: Enslow, 1998. Print.

Got Milk Essay

In the fast paced world of today, advertisers have to keep up with the times. One of the best ways they do this is through the â€Å"Got Milk† advertisements. Milk is a part of everyday life. The â€Å"Got Milk† campaign is seen in all types of magazines from sports to beauty, featuring many different kinds of celebrities selling their product. By putting familiar faces on magazine advertisements and using interesting television commercials, the company sell their products. It also gets people to drink more milk and it is a very effective campaign. They are trying to reinforce that the calcium in milk keeps bones strong and helps prevent osteoporosis but is that the way everyone views the ads and commercial advertisements? The first Got Milk advertisement ran on October 29, 1993, and featured an extreme history buff receiving a call to answer a radio station’s $10,000 trivia question , â€Å"Who shot Alexander Hamilton in that famous duel? † The man’s apartment is shown to be a sort of museum to the duel, packed with artefacts. He answers the question correctly, but because his mouth is full of peanut butter and he has no milk to wash it down, the radio station couldn’t make out his answer and he ran out of time. For most, this commercial would have been just funny and comical but others weren’t so amused. Some history buffs said this was a disgrace to the Alexander Hamilton and said that it was mocking him. This just goes to show we all see things differently. Irony is the secret weapon to get the point across for this advertisement. There is a green eyed blonde with a low cut â€Å"little black dress† caressing her flawless body with her arm around a martini glass filled with milk. She is seductively leaning against a glass covered wooden bar with a luring gleam in her eyes. Her and the milk are the main focus of this advertisement. In the background is faded liquor and wine bottles. While looking at her you cannot take your eyes off of her milk mustache and the milk martini glass that got to touch her full pink lips. The irony of this advertisement is that out of all the handsome tall liquor bottles, she chose the thin lean martini with milk in it. Now maybe next time the viewer of this advertisement is consuming alcohol they will think about having a nice cold refreshing glass of milk when they get home. Even though that’s what the message of this cosmopolitan magazine was, some mothers made complaints saying that their daughters read their magazines and that it was promoting drinking alcoholic beverages with the martini and wine glasses all over the advertisement. Surely not all people have the same views and opinion. Another â€Å"Got Milk advertisement I would like to examine is the Superman advertisement. When you think of superman what comes to mind? Do you think of his ability to fly? Maybe, you think of his attractive face? Or possibly, you think of his rocking physique? Superman is a heroic icon known by people of all different types. They see him as a credible character that devotes his life to saving the damsels in distress. At one moment or another in most people’s lifetime, they dream to be the hero in some situation. They hope to be recognized for their good deeds and give credit to those that they look up to. Whether they are young or old, people do their best to imitate the actions of their icon, superman, every day. In this advertisement, the author is trying to get people to drink more milk by making them believe that in order to be like superman they have to drink milk. The advertisement depicts superman floating high in the crystal blue sky surrounded by fluffy white clouds. Superman is made to be the center of this picture because he is enlarged compared to the background. Although his tights and the sky are a similar shade of blue, the bold red makes him stand out. Superman also makes a statement because of the body language he displays. In the midst of this calm and serene background superman stands with his arms crossed, looking powerful and bold with a milk mustache. Although he looks a little silly with the milk mustache he has a very serious look on his face. The underlying message is that if you want to be as powerful and strong as superman you have to get down to business and drink your milk. In the depicted advertisement the author is trying to persuade everyday people by making it seem as though the only reason superman has strong bones is because he drinks milk. The point of the advertisement is to make people think that if they drink milk they will feel great and have super strong bones like superman. This is exactly why comic book fanatics were furious over this ad. They said his strong bones and super powers came from his home planet â€Å"Krypton† and not from drinking milk. We see this as silly but when someone is passionate about something they stick to it and don’t let it go. Even something so fictional can have an effect on how a person takes an ad. In conclusion the â€Å"got milk† campaign is a very well organized and structured campaign that makes others want to drink milk from seeing their role models with their milk mustaches. Eighteen years ago this campaign started and it is still grasping the attention of viewers. The population is getting healthier from drinking more milk therefore these got milk advertisements must be working. The â€Å"Got Milk† campaign and there white mustaches will be around for a very long time encouraging people to drink more milk but if people see the innocent â€Å"Got Milk† campaign as offensive then there will always be people that don’t like what their lo.

The Royal Oman Police Traffic Safety

The Royal Oman Police Traffic Safety Introduction A social problem can be defined in different ways. Definitions by policy analysts have momentous consequences, both political and economical. An accepted definition of a social problem will dictate the actions taken to solve it. An incorrect definition mandates an inappropriate policy instrument to address it and therefore government policy is likely to be ineffective.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Royal Oman Police’ Traffic Safety specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Thus, the correct problem definition is the key element to policy analysts’ success in policymaking. David and Roger (1993) suggested this by stating that â€Å"problem definition is fundamental to public policymaking, intertwined as it is with the political process throughout the activities of issue initiation, program design and legislative enactment† (p. 58). They also argued that problem definition was a political expression that provided the answers to all essential questions regarding policy. Nature of the Traffic Safety Problem in Oman Severity Severity depicts the seriousness of the problem of traffic safety and its consequences. The occurrence of traffic accidents in Oman has helped in putting this problem in the limelight and give it public attention. Websites such as the Salim and Salimah (2005) ‘Safe and Sound Road Safety’ rules, the royal Oman police traffic safety and social websites like the Traffic Safety Oman Facebook page have acted as tools to show the severity of this problem. Admitting the existence of the problem, the policy analysts officially characterized it as a catastrophic and noted that it deserves taking corrective measures. This has led to the formation of the road traffic institute of Oman, which trains drivers and provides driving test exams. Incidence The scope of people affected and those at risk of being affected by this problem is probably the mo st contributing factor to making the definition of this problem less debatable. The problem of traffic safety is growing and at an exponential rate. For example, in 92 road accidents were injured about 39 people. PDO and the ROP are aimed at changing behavior of drivers and ultimately saving lives.Advertising Looking for essay on public administration? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Novelty When a traffic serious mishap occurs, the attention it gets is overwhelming. However, as time passes, it fades from the public and media and policy analysts’ minds. This is only true to that particular mishap because another one occurs almost immediately or even before the public recovers from the first one. Actually, traffic safety is an issue that lacks a particular solution, only tips and bits. These include mandatory wearing of seat belts, obeying road signs and traffic lights and not driving while being drunk (obeying traffic rules). However, this only helps in reducing the damage caused by an accident or tries to prevent the problem. Thus, tension arises as the issue is publicized and onlookers expect resolution, yet no consensus exists within the political system on how to tackle the problem (David Roger, 1993). Although these solutions bring about the unnecessary and impractical concerns such as traffic lights, it can cause traffic jams that are unnecessary. Safety belts may lock and when a car is on fire can trap people in a vehicle. According to a survey conducted, results suggest that Oman has one of the highest rates of traffic accidents worldwide. Nearly 6000 people have been severely injured – some of them were disabled for the rest of their lives (David Roger, 1993). Novelty thus has helped in convincing policy analysts that traffic safety is a problem worth defining in order to find a long lasting, if not permanent solution. Proximity The problem of traffic safety is a proble m of every individual. 72% of the GUtech students and staff have relatives or friends who died because of road accidents. The post trauma suffered by the family is usually overlooked when accidents occur. The need for more professional advisers has been made necessary due to the need to help family members heal from the pain brought about due to loss of their loved ones. The proximity of this problem to everybody has made it indispensable thus worth defining. Crisis Traffic safety requires corrective action, according to the Royal Oman Police (ROP), 42% of the dead and injured were children under the age of 25 years (Salim and Salimah, 2005).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Royal Oman Police’ Traffic Safety specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The statistics are grim: during an eight-year period, more than 6,500 people were killed and more than 75,000 injured in auto accidents on Oman’s roads. With a p opulation just under three million, this sultanate on the Arabian Peninsula has one of the worst reported road crash fatality rates in the world, according to Al Mustadaama (‘Sustainability’), an independent Omani social research enterprise. Causes of the Traffic Safety Problem in Oman The major cause of traffic safety problem in Oman is an individual behavior of drivers. Human error and carelessness of drivers cause the majority of accidents. A lecturer in GUtech was surprised by the interest of students of the school as they visited the Traffic Safety Institute to find out more about the causes of accidents and the reason why they are escalating. The main causes of car crashes on Omani roads are careless driving, over-speeding, bad driving, the use of mobile phones during driving and the lack of seatbelts (Salim and Salimah, 2005). The weather is also to be blamed. Unfavorable weather, such as sandstorms, causes poor visibility, thus accidents. Some roads are in poor conditions due to the failure by institutions mandated to maintain them carrying out their responsibilities e.g. potholes, these roads can cause tire bursts. Some roads are also either narrow, slid, and or have sharp bends. The internal roads in the Wilayat of Al Seeb, which were damaged during last year’s weather conditions, remain in dreadful condition. Several cracks and potholes can be seen on these roads posing a serious threat to drivers. Some of the roads in this area connecting coastal areas are totally cut and some of the roads in residential areas are yet to be repaired. Residents in these areas have urged the Muscat Municipality officials several times to take urgent steps to repair the faulty roads. Residents say that motorists face several problems during rush hours. People living near the Al Seeb police station also complained about the terrible road conditions. Social and problematic conditions, e.g. drunk driving have also acted as a multiplier to the traffic safety problem, according to (Salim Salimah, 2005), it has been argued that the main cause of accidents is not the roads condition, but the careless mistakes by the humans. This is cause by their negligence and lack of prudence. Driving under the influence of alcohol can be likened to an avalanche – it is the most dangerous.Advertising Looking for essay on public administration? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Characteristics of the Problem Population Since the main cause of road accidents is human error, the target population here is mainly the drivers. Everybody is also part of the problem since the pedestrians or passengers may not obey traffic signs or do not wear seat belts. The affected population is, surprisingly, children. This is according to Salim and Salimah (2005), 96% of all children killed (180,500 in 2002) because of road traffic injuries. Even if the children are not directly involved, it is their breadwinners and guardians that are. These two populations are different in such a way that the affected population is the one, which actually depends on the target population to provide a solution. Possible Policy Solutions Problem definition cannot be done based on one fact. It is ambiguous and is based on social indicators. Policy making depends on the problem definition, for example, observers may define the problem of road safety as one of severity in nature caused by poor i nfrastructure and affecting motorists, while participants who have been affected define it as one of crisis in nature caused by institutional failure, and/or a health hazard and national disaster to children. The first definition, which is strategic, if accepted by policy makers will lead to the repair of roads, road signs, road building and increasing of vehicle standards of safety. The building of driver training institutions, will directly lead to the economical advantaging of certain companies. Technical studies for a bulk of the massive project are still being carried out, but Omani officials say they are close to announcing the winners of a bid to begin the first 45km of the project. If policy makers embrace the second definition, it will probably trigger public education, institutional overhauls and free treatment of accidental victims, especially children. Summary and conclusion In conclusion, problem definition is so far the most indispensable tool to policy analysts and ma kers in creating solutions. The definitions given will exclusively dictate the pathway to the solution and therefore this should be made impartially not to fit economical and political motives. However, it would help the affected population and educate the target population. The commitment to make the roads safe is a sign of humanness. It shows that people have respect for others. Road safety is something that people should ensure for the others (salim salimah, 2005). References David, A. R., Roger, W. C. (1993). Problem Definition, Agenda Access, and Policy Choice. Policy Study Journal, 21(1), 56-71. Salim, A., Salimah, J. (2005). Road traffic crashes. Oman: Al Mustadaama, LLC.

The Best Way to Approach ACT English Passages

The Best Way to Approach ACT English Passages SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips The format of the ACT English ispretty weird and unusual, compared to most of your high school English tests(though the new SAT Writing is fairly similar). If you want to succeed on this section, you have to know how to approach its unique passage-based structure. "And how," you ask, "do I do that?"Always, always, have a plan. In this guide, I'll show you the best way to read and answer ACT english questions when you attack the passage. These strategies come from my experience working personally with nearly a hundredstudents. You should apply themin your own ACT English practice to help you prepare thoroughly for test day. Why You MUST Have a Plan The structure of the ACT English is weird. That's just a fact. It's unlike anything you'll have seen elsewhere, it has a lot of questions, and it gives you a lot more information than you actually need. Because of its strange format, a lot of students find this section confusing. They make two main mistakes: rushing through the questions so quickly that they endup with a lot of extra time at the end and skipping between the underlined sections without looking at the context. By far the best way to combat these issues is to have a plan of attack that you employ in the exact same way every time. Your exact approach will depend on what works for you,but anygood strategy will ensure that you always read the entire sentence surrounding an underlined portion before trying to answer the question. Consistency is key: once you pick a strategy, you should use iton every ACT English practice passage andtest. The Best Strategy for Reading the ACT English Passages Though, as I mentioned, every student is different, there is one strategy that I recommend everyone at least tries: we'll call itthegraf-by-graf strategy. For this approach, youread each paragraph, and then go back through and answer the questions in that paragraph. Simple enough, right? This strategy is ideal because it gives you a clear sense of the passage and forces you to read full sentences before answering questions about them. It can be a little time-consuming, so if you struggle with running out of time, you may want to consider one of the alternatives listed below. But make sure to try this one first- you might be surprised! Let's go through how the graf-by-graf approachworks on an actual ACT English section: In this example, you start by reading the first paragraph, until you reach the purple line, and then answer the questions that are marked with purple boxes. You can see how having read the entire paragraph makes answering question 26, which asks for the sentence that "most effectively introduces the information that follows," much easier. Questions 27 and 28 are still a bit tricky since they appear in the same sentence- in these cases, make sure to look at both underlined portions and consider whether the answer to one will affect the answer to the other. Once you've completed the two-step process for the firstparagraph, you move on to the next one. Read down to the green line and then answer the question marked in green. On a real ACT English section, you would repeat this process for each paragraph in each of the five passages. 3 Alternative Passage Strategies Graf-by-graf is generally the best approach, but maybe you've tried and it really doesn't work for you- you're consistently running out of time or find yourself getting distracted by parts of the passage that aren't really that important. In that case, there are three other possibilities you can try, depending on what exactly you're struggling with. Strategy 1: Answer as You Go In this approach, you read through the passage and when you come to an underlined passage you continue past it to the end of the sentence, and then go back to answer the question before moving forward. This strategy is straightforward and quick, so it's great if you're running out of time with only a few questions left on the graf-by-graf approach or if you find yourself getting distracted or overwhelmed with multiple passes involvedin that strategy. However, it gives you a less thorough perspective on the context, which can make answering questions about transitions or about a paragraphas a whole more challenging. It also has the potential to fail completely if you don't implement it strictly: you must always read to the end of the sentence or you will miss questions. Let's walk through how to use this strategy correctly. For this strategy, you would start by reading the pink highlighted sentence and then answering question 26. However, 26 asks how best to introduce the rest of the paragraph, which makes it bit tricky. You can either takeyour best guess based on your knowledge of the passage in general (for example, you can rule out G and H because the passage, and the previous paragraph, is about the narrator's relationship with Rosie, not just facts about tortoises), read a few additional sentences before answering, or skip it and come back after doing 27-29. The next step is to read the green highlighted portion, and then answer 27 and 28. As we discussed above, whentwo questions appear in the same sentence, you need to pay attention to whether they affect each other- although, in this case, they don't. The next step is to read the rest of the first paragraph (highlighted in blue), and answer 29. Finally, read the purple sentence and answer number30. Since this is the last question for the passage, you don't need to worry about reading the res of that paragraph. As you can see, this strategy is more streamlined than the graf-by-graf approach. However, there's also more room for error, so if you struggle with consistency, I wouldn't recommend tackling passages this way. Strategy 2: Sentence-by-Sentence For the sentence-by-sentence approach, you only read the sentences that include underlined portions. This strategy isn't ideal since youwon't get as clear an understanding of the overall context, which can make answering the rhetorical skills questions harder. Also, like the answer as you go strategy, this approach can be challenging to stick to. I don't recommend using it if you are shooting for a score higher than a 25. However, if you are running out of time by a lot using the graf-by-graf approach, whether because you get distracted by irrelevant details or because you struggle to read the full paragraphsquickly enough, this strategy may be a good option for you. Just remember that you always have to read the entire sentence. Let's look at an example to see how this works in practice. First, read the blue highlighted sentence. 26 is a big picture question, solike with the Answer as You Go strategy, you'll need to either make your best guess or skip it and come back. (I recommend the latter option.) Next,look at the pink highlighted sentence and answer 27 and 28. Then, readthe yellow sentence and answer 29. (This is a good point to go back to 26, since you'll now have a good sense of the paragraph it's asking about.) Finally, read the green sentence and answer 30. For a full ACT Englishsection,you just follow the same pattern for all 15questions in each passage. Strategy 3: Passage First The last approach is to skim the entire passage first, and then go back through using sentence-by-sentence to answer the questions. This strategy is the most thorough, and if you find yourselfmissing most of the big picture questions toward the end of passages because you don't really understand the passages, it might be a good fit for you. For most students, however, this approach is more trouble, and time, than it's worth. (In case you're curious, the correct answers for the example questionsabove are as follows: 26. G, 27. D, 28. F, 29. A, 30. G) Finding the Right Strategy for You and Employing It Effectively We've just covereda lot of different ideas, but don't panic!I'm going to give you a step-by-step plan to figuring out the best ACT English passage approach for you and putting it into practice. Step 1: Try Graf-by-Graf Everyone should start by trying out the best strategy. Maybe you'll hate it or maybe you'll love it, but, either way, you need to try it and see. Step 2: Analyze Why You're Missing Questions and Decide on the Best Approach After you finish the practice section, got over it carefully and analyze whichquestions you missed and why. (For a more detailed take on how to review practice tests, check out our walkthrough of the process.) Then consider the following questions as you decide which strategy to use: Did you run out of time? If so, by how much? If you're running out of time with five or fewerquestions left, try the answer-as-you-go approach. If you're running out of time with six or more questions left, try sentence-by-sentence. Do you have time left over? How much? If you have more than 3-4 minutes left at the end, you are probably rushing and need to slow down. Make sure you're reading the passage and the questions thoroughly. Did you miss a lot of the big picture questions that ask about entire paragraphs or the passage as a whole? Did you miss a lot of questionsabout sentence fragments, parallelism, or run-ons? Missing a lot of questions on these topicsoften indicates that you aren't looking at the whole sentence before answering the question. If you're struggling with the concepts themselves, check out our guides on sentence structure and parallelism. Make sure you always read to the end of the sentence before picking an answer- if you have a hard time remembering to do so with the strategy you're using, consider trying another. Based on your answers to these questions, decide which of the four strategies is best for you, and then try it out. Sometimes it takes a couple of tries to figure out what works best. Step 3: Practice, Practice, Practice Once you've decided on a strategy, you have to use it every time you practice. Because the primary goal of these strategies is to ensure that you approach the passages in a methodical way, they're only effective if you use them consistently. If you're having a hard time doing so, consider trying a different approach. It may take a while to find the right strategy for you! What's Next? Need some tests to practice on? You can find five free official PDFs right here. Maybe you've decided on your approach to the passages, but are struggling with some of the specific question types. Take a look at our overview of everything tested on the ACT English. If you're looking for more big picture ACT English strategies, check out the 5 key ACT English tips or these 9 strategies to get a 36 on the ACT English. Not sure whether to take the ACT or SAT? Get the lowdown on the difference between the ACT English and the SAT Writing. Want to improve your ACT score by 4 points? Check out our best-in-class online ACT prep program. We guarantee your money back if you don't improve your ACT score by 4 points or more. Our program is entirely online, and it customizes what you study to your strengths and weaknesses. If you liked this English lesson, you'll love our program.Along with more detailed lessons, you'll get thousands ofpractice problems organized by individual skills so you learn most effectively. We'll also give you a step-by-step program to follow so you'll never be confused about what to study next. Check out our 5-day free trial:

Respond to the discussion about Aristotle (for online Essay - 2

Respond to the discussion about Aristotle (for online class-introduction to Ethics) - Essay Example And yes, she is already being virtuous by helping the underground escape group. That is indeed, in itself, a very risky job to do. 2. Your perspective is right, but your interpretation is slightly controversial. I agree with you that by remaining silent, she is doing a right thing. However, you must realize that she will be in no less pain if she gives a â€Å"shut up† call to the bookstore owner for humiliating her religious beliefs. Whether she speaks up, or she remains silent, she is bearing pain either way and is being courageous and virtuous as long as her intention is to save other Jews that depend upon her for help. 3. You have provided a very comprehensive analysis of either of the two decisions, the lady could have made, and have rightly justified the benefits of remaining silent in comparison to opening up. However, I do not agree with you when you tend to make the lady join the bookstore owner in his malicious intentions and wording against the Jewish community, be that apparent or for a positive reason ultimately. As the case explains, the lady is only a low level worker at the bookstore. Therefore, if she tries to let the owner know that she holds similar views about Jews, it will only make the owner suspicious about her.

Role of tracheotomy in ventilator Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Role of tracheotomy in ventilator - Article Example Tracheotomy is commonly performed for critically ill, ventilator-dependent patients to provide long-term airway access. The benefits commonly ascribed to tracheotomy, compared to prolonged translaryngeal intubation, include improved patient comfort, more effective airway suctioning, decreased airway resistance, enhanced patient mobility, increased opportunities for articulated speech, ability to eat orally, and a more secure airway. Conceptually, these advantages might result in fewer ventilator complications (eg, ventilator-associated pneumonia), accelerated weaning from mechanical ventilation, and the ability to transfer ventilator-dependent patients from the ICU. Concern, however, exists about the risks associated with the procedure and the costs involved. The impact of tracheotomy on the duration of mechanical ventilation and on ICU outcomes in general has been examined by several different study designs, none of them ideal. Most studies are retrospective, although a few prospect ive studies have been performed. A serious problem is that many studies assigned patients to treatment groups on the basis of physician practice patterns rather than random assignment. Those studies that used random assignment frequently used quasi-randomization methods (eg, every other patient, every other day, hospital record number, or odd-even days). Studies have compared patients undergoing tracheotomy vs those not undergoing tracheotomy, and patients undergoing early tracheotomy vs those undergoing late tracheotomy.... decreased airway resistance, enhanced patient mobility, increased opportunities for articulated speech, ability to eat orally, and a more secure airway. Conceptually, these advantages might result in fewer ventilator complications (eg, ventilator-associated pneumonia), accelerated weaning from mechanical ventilation, and the ability to transfer ventilator-dependent patients from the ICU. Concern, however, exists about the risks associated with the procedure and the costs involved. The impact of tracheotomy on the duration of mechanical ventilation and on ICU outcomes in general has been examined by several different study designs, none of them ideal. Most studies are retrospective, although a few prospective studies have been performed. A serious problem is that many studies assigned patients to treatment groups on the basis of physician practice patterns rather than random assignment. Those studies that used random assignment frequently used quasi-randomization methods (eg, every other patient, every other day, hospital record number, or odd-even days). Studies have compared patients undergoing tracheotomy vs those not undergoing tracheotomy, and patients undergoing early tracheotomy vs those undergoing late tracheotomy. The definition of early vs late tracheotomy varies between studies. "Early" may be defined as a period as short as 2 days after the start of mechanical ventilation to as late as 10 days after the start. Patient populations included in studies also vary widely between investigations and include general surgical and medical patients in some studies and specific patient groups (eg, trauma patients or head-injured patients) in other studies. Most studies have design flaws in the collection and analysis of data, foremost of which