Abstract This paper provides a critical analysis of Alfie Kohn's "No Contest: The Case Against Competition" including key concepts, critical analysis and implications for Total Quality Management (TQM) environments.
From the Paper "Competition is an integral part of daily life in the United States; indeed it is so commonplace that most of us do not consider how pervasive competition has become ..."
Tags: No contest, case against competition, competition, TQM, total quality management, Kohn, Alfie Kohn, book review
Abstract The paper asserts that the prize offered by the online site, Mobility Today, focuses on a more minor facet of the product base of Mobility Today and the way in which the winner was 'honored' was not an effective way of generating traffic and revenue for the site. The paper explains that contests are really a form of promotional communication between buyers and advertisers and are not merely a way of giving a nice, extra bonus to consumers. The paper then discusses why McDonald's Monopoly games contest was an effective contest.
From the Paper "The online site Mobility Today sells mobile technology, and other forms of high-tech gear that is highly desirable to teens and twentysomethings who want the next new thing in computer printers, keyboards, GPS navigation devices and other high-tech accessories and gadgets. The online site must function in a highly online competitive environment where consumers have ample opportunities to shop for products from other vendors and to compare prices of the same product. To generate user interest and traffic Mobility Today recently hosted a 'Slingbox' Giveaway contest offering a Slingbox to the winner. A Slingbox is a device that enables a user to watch his or her home, cable television channels from his or her computer anywhere in the world."
Abstract This paper describes the unfair contract terms the "American Idol" participants enter into when joining the show. It argues that the production company exploits its contestants and persuades prospective players not to enter such television programs.
From the Paper "There is no doubt that "American Idol" has attracted the interest of viewers. The viewing figures for the final episode confirm the popularity of the show. The show is also based on viewer interaction, with viewers deciding the winner. It is important then, for viewers to understand what they are really voting for. If the winner is being unfairly exploited, as the article argues, then this should be known by the public. This information could allow for public opinion to alter the terms of the contract so that the contestants are treated fairly. If conflict of interest is also a problem, as the article claims, then action could be taken to prevent this occurring. Finally, with the popularity of the program, it is likely there will be future versions. It is important that future prospective contestants are aware of what they are entering into."
Abstract This paper examines how the shipping industry is not homogeneous, but consists of several discrete sectors, each of which operates in different commercial and regulatory regimes, whose needs serve different types of purpose-built vessels. The three main sectors are passenger shipping service, liner cargo services and bulk cargo-carrying services. It provides an analysis of bulk shipping and liner shipper sectors through the comparison of their characteristics, discussing their contestability in transportation market. A recommendation for improving both sectors contestability is also given.
From the Paper "Since bulk ships usually are designed for particular types of cargoes, they are unsuitable for other commodities. This is quite different from the liner sector, where all kinds of containerised cargoes can be carried on cellular container ships. This causes those containerisable cargoes to be diverted to be transported by liner shipping instead of bulk shipping because of the great efficiency in port of the cellular system and its inter-modal capability. This has given such a competitive advantage that it will in due course dominate the whole sector, leaving only a small volume of physically non- containerable cargo for residual services."
Abstract This paper describes the reality TV show "Big Brother" as a twenty-four hour display of humanity living in a social group environment The author stresses that this show is not reality because the participants are in an elimination contest to win $500,000. The emotional baggage the contestants bring to the group living environment, combined with the range of personalities, tends to make human beings look very bad. The paper traces the history of reality TV and concludes that these shows present a society that has surrendered its right to privacy altogether.
From the Paper "Anyone who thought that reality TV was a phase that television viewers were going through, and one that would fade as quickly as it debuted, is no doubt sadly disappointed these many years later following the debut of the first reality show, "Survivor", which demonstrated how shallow and nasty cold human nature could be. Still, that show, like "Big Brother", it, too, has survived since 2000, and audiences show no sign of growing tired of the increasing number of reality shows ranging being the object of Donald Trump's abuse, to a group of young women competing for some cow herder's affections."
Abstract This paper reviews two books of the post-colonial genre: "Half a life" by V.S. Naipaul and "The God of Small Things" by Arundhati Roy. It looks at the books? respective comments on the culture and values of the authors. The thematic commonality of culture acceptance in the books is explored, as is the phenomenon of the ?push-pull contest? between cultures. The paper concludes with a list of similarities and differences between the two novels.
From the Paper "The post colonial era in most areas provided the residents with a confusing state of existence. The old cultures were still in force, with all the traditions, beliefs and values that they held in the past, however the new cultures also had their place among the people. The post colonial era was a push and pull styled existence with the people living them caught in the middle of the apparent tug a war between cultures. The opposites of the cultures were handled in postcolonial writing by displaying the constant push-pull contest that seemed to be the norm for the time. Two popular works of fiction provide classic examples of this phenomona taking place for those who embrace the area as their home. In "Half a life" written by V.S. Naipaul and "The God of Small Things" by Arundhati Roy, the reader is treated to a wonderful comparison of ways that these opposite situations can be displayed and enjoyed through the way it is expressed by the author."
Abstract The stories, "An Occurrence at Owl Creek" by Ambrose Bierce and "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" by Mark Twain, are significant because they emphasize qualities of human nature. This paper discusses how, through his unique style and setting, each author reflects on social customs dealing with the issue of slavery. Through colorful characters and intense detail, Bierce and Twain display some of the most common characteristics of humanity. This paper examines the style, setting, and social and literary contest of each story.
From the Paper "The style of "An Occurrence at Owl Creek" is dramatic and very gripping. Bierce successfully engages us from the very beginning of the story with drama when we are told that a man is standing on a bridge "looking into the swift waters twenty feet below" (Bierce 92). Elaborate detail is Bierce's style and he successfully keeps us engaged until the end of the story. For example, when Farquhar is falling, he "awakens" to extreme pain in his neck. We are also told how "these feelings were unaccompanied by thought" (96) and the loud "plash" of hitting the water causes him to realize the rope has broken and he has fallen into the water. Farquhar's instinct to free himself and his ultimate success place us on the edge of our seats, hoping for his escape. Even as Farquhar raises to the surface of the water, his senses become "preternaturally keen and alert" (97). In Farquhar's dream, we too can see the individual trees and the ?veining of each leaf,? as well as the "insects upon them, the locusts, the brilliant-bodied flies" (97). With such attention to detail, Bierce is slowly pulling us into Farquhar's dream. The narrator's convincing interpretation of every moment convinces us that Farquhar has indeed fallen into the water. We are even convinced of Farquhar's escape by his mental faculties. For example, when Farquhar realizes that the scouts would not shoot at him again, they "will use the charge of a grape" instead. (98) Additionally, Bierce convinces us that Farquhar has reached land as he digs his fingers into the sand and blesses it. Bierce continues this dream by having Farquhar wonder through the woods with the thought of his wife and children urging him on. This is an excellent technique because we have no reason to suspect that what he is imagining is not happening."
Abstract This paper discusses why national beauty contests emerged in America and Australia, among other nations, in the 1920s and why they declined
in popularity by the 1980s.
From the Paper "The withdrawal of US network television from the Miss America pageant marks a new low in the steady decline of a once great institution: the national beauty contest. From being shared communal events that embodied the hopes and dreams of a sizeable section of their populations and played a role as flag-waving occasions of national pride, events such as Miss America have become just one part of the fragmented multimedia world that is entertainment today, and a distinctly tawdry and unfashionable one at that. The same story of marginalization revealed by ABC's withdrawal from Miss America is repeated across the world, with national contests no longer shared national events."
Abstract This paper explains that plea bargain is primarily a negotiation between the defendant and his or her attorney on one side and the prosecutor on the other, in which the defendant agrees to plead "guilty" or "no contest" to a crime in return for benefits such as the reduction of the severity or dismissal of the charges. The author points out that plea bargaining has become so pervasive because it is an out of court settlement, which helps reduce the high volume of cases facing the judicial system, provides a win-win scenario for both the prosecutor and the defendant's attorney and obtains the defendant's willingness to testify for the prosecution in other associated cases. The paper relates that the negative side to plea-bargaining includes (1) overcharging the defendant, (2) forcing an innocent person to confess to a crime that he or she has never committed, (3) allowing confirmed convicts to get their punishment reduced or even get out of jail and (4) forfeiting an individual's Constitutional rights, which is a danger to the society as a whole.
Table of Contents
What is Plea Bargaining?
Authorization and Procedure of Plea Bargaining
Rules Regarding the Breach of Plea Agreement
Why is Plea Bargaining so Pervasive in our Society?
Benefits of Plea Bargaining
Disadvantages of Plea Bargaining
Conclusion
From the Paper "In most cases, judges do authorize a plea bargain if the defendant makes a knowing and voluntary waiver of his or her right to a trial, the defendant understands the charges, the defendant understands the maximum sentence he or she could receive after pleading guilty, and the defendant makes a voluntary confession, in court, to the alleged crime. Even if a defendant agrees to plead guilty, a judge may decline to accept the guilty plea and plea agreement if the charge or charges have no factual basis. It is also highlighted here that the judge does not play any part in the plea bargain discussions between the defendant's attorney and the prosecutor. Moreover, the prosecutors have discretion whether to offer a plea bargain or not. However, a prosecutor should not discriminate in making or accepting an offer of plea bargain based on an unjustifiable standard such as race, religion, or some other arbitrary classification."
This paper analyzes Proposition 86 of the State of California to add $2.60 in taxes to every pack of cigarettes, which could raise the price of the average pack to $7.
Abstract This paper states that the anti smoking Proposition 86 is one of the most hotly contested propositions in California's legislative history. The author points out that the proponents argue that it will reduce smoking, improve health care services, and provide valuable tax revenues for the state. The paper reports that the opponents stress that the tax is a back door funding of the health care industry, is an irresponsible use of taxpayer money and financial punishment for millions of adults in the state who decide of their own volition to smoke, an activity that is still legal in the United States.
From the Paper "California is currently home to about 9% of the total population of smokers in the United States. This is a significant portion of the total population of cigarette smokers who will all be affected drastically by the tax increase on packs of cigarettes via Proposition 86. The immediate effect of the tax will be to decrease sales of packs of cigarettes in the state. This is basic economics. If the price of a pack of cigarettes increases so dramatically, by more than 50% in this case, it will inevitably lead to decreased sales as more individuals have difficulty absorbing the increased overall cost of smoking (never mind the long-term health costs)."
Abstract The paper discusses the importance of the cultural practice of the beauty pageant, in particular the Miss America beauty contest. The paper discusses how although there has been scholarly aversion to studying the phenomenon, it is clear that this apparently frivolous cultural practice is enormously significant in shaping how sexuality, gender and race are shaped within the broader fabric of power relationships in our society. The paper also demonstrates how this cultural practice has spread across the world during the twentieth century to become a global phenomenon.
From the Paper "The topic of "beauty" and, in particular, "beauty pageants" is a highly controversial one in contemporary academia. In the wake of late twentieth century feminism, scholars in the fields of sociology and anthropology "often see beauty contests as somehow trivial, frivolous, or vulgar" (Cohen 5). In large measure, this scholarly response reflects the widespread controversy over addressing the cultural construction of "beauty" in the modern context. While feminist critics have led the debate over the scholarly analysis of the construction of beauty, scholars in other fields have tended to avoid discussion of the issue and the cultural practice of beauty contests. As one critic observes of this scholarly aversion: "The failure to grant beauty pageants serious attention may reflect a reluctance to deal with beauty itself as a serious matter" (Cohen 6)."
A comparison of James Axtell's "The Invasion Within: The Contest of Cultures in Colonial North America" and William Cronon's "Changes in the Land: Indians, Colonists and the Ecology of New England".
Abstract The paper compares how James Axtell and William Cronon analyze in their respective works, "The Invasion Within: The Contest of Cultures in Colonial North America" and "Changes in the Land: Indians, Colonists and the Ecology of New England", the essential aspects of the first interaction between the Native-American peoples of North America and the Europeans that colonized them. The paper explains that both authors aim to analyze the way in which this first contact between the Natives and their colonizers influenced the future development of America as a nation. The paper shows how Axtell focuses on the spiritual history of the two nations, while Cronon concentrates on the outer, external aspects of the meeting between the Natives and the colonizers. The paper posits that although the two authors manage their argumentation very well and make very interesting points about the history of the colonization, Cronon's book seems more remarkable in terms of argumentation and originality.
From the Paper "Axtell's book, as its title indicates, focuses on the way in which the three main ethnicities, the Native Indians, the English and the French attempted a mutual conversion, each struggling to impose its cultural identity over the identity of the other. Axtell thus advocates that ethnohistory is the best instrument for the examination of the confluence between the three cultures, Indian, English and French. He focuses therefore on the way in which each of the three nations perceived the others, and how they struggled to impose their own views over the others. "
Abstract This paper serves as an audit report of the Nevada Athletic Commission. According to the paper, the Nevada Athletic Commission (NSAC), first established in 1941, is a five-member body appointed by the State Governor for a three year term. It reports that the role of the NSAC is to regulate all contests and exhibitions of unarmed combat within the state of Nevada. This is accomplished through the issuance of licenses to hold contests or exhibitions where an admission fee is charged, and to contestants, promoters, boxers, seconds, ring officials, managers, and matchmakers who participate in a professional contest or exhibition.
Outline:
Brief Description of Nevada Athletic Commission
The Findings of the Audit Report
Why was the Audit Requested?
Who was this Audit Reported to?
From the Paper "Due to lack of adequate guidance in the Commission's regulations and procedures, the process of computing and collecting the promoters' event fees has become overly complex. The complexity has resulted in the fees not being always computed correctly. For example, the report found that when determining event fees, regulations allow promoters to exclude complimentary tickets totaling up to 4% of the seating capacity, but the procedures in place do not provide sufficient guidance on how the exemption is to be applied. This leaves room for errors, inconsistency, and inaccurate calculation of the payable fee. As a result, some promoters paid more than the required amount while some others paid less. In one instance, the Commission had allocated the exemption to the most expensive seats, thus reducing the amount paid for an event; in other instances, two promoters did not get the complimentary tickets exemption for not having provided sufficient detail, while two others who had provided the same level of detail were allowed the exemption. The auditors, therefore, recommended a standard fee reporting form."
Tags: Executive, Budget, State, Treasurer, inspector, fees, promoters, sport
Abstract Two legal briefs are presented for two different cases in this paper. One is a case of someone contesting a suspended driver's license for DUI, and the other is a defendant contesting a charge of escaping from custody after he fled a courtroom during sentencing.
From the Paper "Police pulled over Hyle because he was observed crossing the double yellow lines and running a red light. Hyle admitted having a couple of drinks. Hyle was given a number of field ..."
Abstract In this article, the writer analyzes the show 'Deal or No Deal', which is a game show that allows the contestant to select one of twenty-six suitcases that has one million dollars. The writer demonstrates that looking at this television show from the Marxist viewpoint will show that it emphasizes the role of the media in promoting materialism. The writer points out that most of the contestants come from the people with high income promoting cultural status quo, false consciousness, and among the values taught is "luck" is the name of the game.
From the Paper "Deal or No Deal is a game show that allows the contestant to select one of twenty-six suitcases that has one million dollars. The contestant continues to select suitcases to eliminate the suitcases that have different monetary values in them ranging from one cent to one million dollars. "
