...CTAC02 4/13/07 17:20 Page 10 Laura Ashley Holdings plc: The Battle for Survival On February 1, 1999 Ng Kwan Cheong took over as chief executive of Laura Ashley Holdings. Cheong was the company’s seventh CEO since the death of Laura Ashley in 1985. Indeed, the longevity of Laura Ashley CEOs was shortening. John James was CEO from 1976 to 1990, Jim Maxmin from 1991 to 1993, A. Schouten from 1993 to 1995, Ann Iverson from 1995 to 1997, David Hoare from 1997 to 1998, while Cheong’s immediate predecessor, Victoria Egan, had held the job a mere 5 months. Top management turmoil coincided with a downward spiral for the company. In the financial year ended January 31, 1999, sales were down 17% on the previous year, and the bottom line showed a net loss of £33 million. Ng Kwan Cheong was one of the senior management team of MUI Asia Group – a diversified Malaysian corporation that acquired 40% of Laura Ashley’s equity in May 1998. He had been chief executive of MUI’s retailing arm, Metrojaya Berhad, as well as holding board positions with several other Malaysian companies. However, despite considerable senior management experience as well as familiarity with the UK (Cheong was a graduate of Middlesex University), little in his prior career could have prepared him for the situation at Laura Ashley. Despite a succession of restructurings and strategy redirections since 1990, the company continued to bleed cash – cash outflow from operations was £11.4 million during the...
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...rewards. For example, if you were to escape but had to sacrifice your loved ones and run away from a wide array of problems. When Tom escaped, he left Amanda and Laura behind along with any issues he might've had while he was still...
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...His mother is dead and his father is no good. He’s the rotten model that parents hold aloft as a warning: This is how you’ll end up if you’re disobedient. Jasper Jones is the example of where poor aptitude and attitude will lead” The simple use of the Metaphor used to compare Jasper to things such as a ‘thief’ and a ‘Liar’ show the peoples perspective of Jasper when they truly don’t understand the situation he is in but also judge him from his background and his parents which shows the poor attitude of acceptance and diversity in Corrigan. “Bloody hell. Listen, Charlie, we can’t tell anyone. No way. Specially the police. Because they are going to say it was me. Straight up. Understand?” So here we see that Charlie has just seen the body of Laura and is working out solutions to solve this problem and suggests they should do the right thing and tell the police but unfortunately this isn’t the case, Jasper knows for a fact that people will say he was the one who did it without a doubt although the police are the ones who are supposed to be there for Justice and rights for people but for Jasper not one chance. The rhetorical question here suggests that there is no chance of them getting the police to help them and that this is serious and he needs to know if Charlie understands why he can’t just go to the...
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...The Ashley Treatment has been considered as a controversial set of medical procedures that was first undergone by a Seattle child, Ashley. Ashley had a normal birth, but her mental and motor faculties failed to develop for reasons doctors could not determine. Ashley, called the “pillow angel,” by her parents, suffers from a developmental brain condition known as static encephalopathy (P Clark). Ashley’s parents decided to keep her small through some medical treatments which included high-does estrogen therapy to limit height and weight, hysterectomy to remove the uterus and prevent menstruation, breast bud removal to halt breast development, and an appendectomy (P Clark). Argument 1: I argue that the Ashley Treatment improve the patient who is similar to Ashley and her family’s quality of life that aligns with the Utilitarianism Theory. The surgical procedures will prevent potential discomfort from menstrual cramps and any possibility of pregnancy in the event of rape (P Clark). The treatment also avoids the discomfort of large breasts while lying down in the wheelchairs. By getting the treatment, the patient’s family could take care of the patient at home instead of spending all of their time in the hospital. The patient can enjoy the opportunity to be around by her family, the inclusion of family activities, and the comfort of her home, which fulfills the Beneficence Principle. The surgical procedures also revolve around Consequentialism Concept because the benefits...
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...The Ashley Treatment has been, and still remains, controversial. A statement written by Ashley’s mom and dad stated that “Ashley had a normal birth, but her mental and motor faculties did not develop. Over the years, neurologists, geneticists, and other specialists conducted every known traditional and experimental test, but still could not determine a diagnosis or a cause. Doctor’s call her condition ‘static encephalopathy of unknown etiology’, which means an insult to the brain of unknown origin or cause, and one that will not improve.” The “The Ashley Treatment” is now a generic phrase coined in the health profession that refers to growth-stunting procedures for children with severe disabilities. This name was given in reference to a collection of medical procedures done for the improvement of Ashley’s quality of life. The treatment includes growth attenuation through high-dose estrogen therapy, hysterectomy to eliminate the menstrual cycle and associated discomfort to Ashley, and breast bud removal to avoid the development of large breasts and the associated discomfort to Ashley. The combination of the surgery and the estrogen therapy attracted a ton of public attention and ethical analysis in early 2007, both supportive and judging. The parents state that they sought such treatment for the best interests of their daughter, namely, to enable them to personally continue constant care for her at home; to maximize her inclusion in family activities; to avoid the cramps and...
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...“The Killing of Laura” In “The Killing of Laura” Carolyn Weaver asserts that in Laura’s romance relationship with John O’Neil, Johns will is what killed Laura and defeated her will of power. In this case of murder there were two factors that led to Laura’s death, cultural and personal. Traditional male socialization provoked the killing and Laura’s attitude and insecurity towards life made her an easy target. Social attitudes facilitate domestic violence. On the twenty-fourth day of October, 1977 Laura Ellen Weaver was murdered by her ex-boyfriend, John Oneil. Laura was dressed in her pajamas, in her parents’ kitchen, sitting at the table trying to sort out the details of her numerous attempts to end her relationshoip with John, her past lover and aggressor for the past year. Her previous attempts were unsuccessful. Laura had informed her friend the day before that she was bad at confrontation, and so this is why she was in such a predicament. Her contemplation was inteerupted by a tap to the window caused by John. She opened the door to talk to him; having broken up with the man, she still cared for him as a friend. Laura had no notion that hidden in John’s jacket pocket was a knife he had taken from his home. Laura’s father went downsatirs to turn off the kitchen light, unaware anyone in his home was awake. He stumbbled upon John and Laura’s conversation. He told John to go home and talk to Laura tomorrow, for it was far too late in the day. Her father returned upstairs...
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...Introductory Exercise- Ashleys Treatment The case of Ashley X caused huge controvosy worldwide. I will be giving my opinion on the case and look at the for and against arguments and come to an opinion. I will also explore the laws in the Uk and the US in relation to this case and conclude if the UK would allow the procedures that took place in the Ashley X case. Ashely was born in 1997 with a severe brain impairment termed a "static encephalothy". The word static is used as her condition will not improve. As a nine year old girl she is unable to walk or talk. It is said that her brain function was that of a three month old baby. Due to the severevity of ashleys condition maximising care is her treatment. Ashley lives in the US with her parents and other siblings. After what must have been a tremondously difficult decision, Ashleys parents decided to put a freeze on her development using several very complex procedures. It was the opinion of her parents that by stopping Ashelys phsyical development it would enable them to care for her more effectively and minimise discomfort and pain. The procedures that were proposed would stop Ashley from reaching puberty and to stop her physical growth. It was suggested that if Ashley reached puberty it would become more difficult to care for her and extremely uncomfortable. The suggested treatment would avoid the discomfort associated with menstruation, large breasts and reduce the complications that get worse with size such as pressure...
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...Sports Direct Under Fire Over Work Conditions At Company’s Derbyshire Headquarters Ambulances were called out to the Shirebrook, Derbyshire Sports Direct warehouse more than 81 times in the last 2 years. An investigation has been ongoing regarding the work conditions at this firm. BBC has revealed that there were 36 incidents that happened to be life threatening, which was said by staff that were afraid to take time off for being sick. The sportswear company that was founded by Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley, has been criticized for employing 20,000 workers on zero-hours contracts, which accounts for around 90 per cent of the workforce. Among many of the serious incidents that were revealed in the investigation, was a 52 year old man who suffered a stoke at the warehouse’s canteen. His daughter revealed to BBC news that her father was not willing to take the day eve though her had flu like symptoms. She said: “He was so worried about his job he was even scared to take one day sick. What is happening there is not normal.” She added that the family does not blame Sports Direct for his stroke, which left him partially paralyzed. She said people felt they had to work despite feeling unwell for fear of a “six strikes” policy, in which anyone who gets six warnings in six months will lose their job. It is alleged that warnings are issued to workers for taking long toilet breaks, excessive chatting and for having time off for sickness. The chairman of the company, Keith Hellawell...
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...procedures undergone on a baby born in Seattle . Her name is Ashley X (last name unknown). She was born with severe developmental disabilities. All of this was due to Static Encephalopathy of unknown etiology. After a month of life is when she was diagnosed and her parents had to make the decision to help or not to help and just let it be. They did what they had to do. What lead up to the choice that they made was what the hospitals said to them. In the opinion of her physicians Ashley was never going to be able to sit up, roll over, grasp objects, or speak. She will be fed through a gastrostomy tube to help her eat. Fast forward Ashley is 15 years old, and going through life with the cognitive resources typically available to a 3-6 month old baby. Her parents state that they sought such treatment for the best interest of their daughter. That is why they agreed with the procedures that are as followed. Surgical removal of her Fallopian tubes and uterus. Removes of her breast buds. Surgical removal of her appendix immediately. Also the immediate arrest of physical growth through massive doses of estrogen. All of this to make Ashley live a comfortable life. That is why her parents went forward with all these procedures, but in the...
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...Far up in the mountains of Canada, there is an old abandoned log cabin. Once it was occupied by a young couple who wanted to distance themselves from the chaos of this modern world. Here they were miles away from the nearest town. Bob, the husband, made the occasional trip into town to buy supplies whereas Jan, his wife, spent her free time by the fire, sewing. Their life was simply idyllic. Then, one midwinter's day, Jan woke up from bed with a strange ache in her bones. Putting it down to overwork, Bob shooed her to bed and made sure she rested. Though Jan was impatient to get to her chores, Bob soothed her, "Relax, Sugar. You're overdoing things. All these chores will be here when you recover." However, Jan seemed to be getting worse instead of recovering. By evening, she was running a high fever and in greater pain. In spite of his best efforts, Bob could not manage to ease her suffering. And then suddenly, she started to lapse into unconsciousness. It was then obvious that she was seriously ill. What could Bob do? He had no experience in treating the sick and Jan was getting worse by the minute. He knew that there was an old doctor in town but he lived three miles away, downhill. Pot-bellied and obese, there was no way the doctor could make it up to their cabin. Something had to be done quickly! Bob racked his brains but to no avail. The only thing left to do was to go to the doctor. In Jan's condition, she could never walk that far in the waist-deep snow. Bob...
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...The topic that I chose to detect media bias was national politics, and The First Lady, Michelle Obama. The internet search engine I chose was Yahoo.com, the University Library search I performed contained an article from The Washington Post. The article on Yahoo.com seemed more interested in what Michelle Obama was wearing rather than the itinerary that was planned. Twice in the article it told of the clothing Mrs. Obama was sporting, and spoke of the outfit that Chinese First Lady, Peng Liyuan wore. Yahoo.com downplayed the visit by stating that Michelle Obama would use “soft diplomacy” to focus on building “goodwill” between China and the United States. The articles continue through explanation of the places that The First Lady, her children, and Mother will visit, but does not go into any detail on the good will that Michelle Obama expressed. The article reported by The Washington Post contained an informational description of the visit, which did not include a description of what the two women wore. This article focused more on the purpose of the visit, which was to concentrate on educating young people, obesity, youth empowerment, all of these issues remain a consistent theme for Mrs. Obama. The Washington Post also describes our First Lady with using “soft diplomacy,” but goes on to explain her reasons for doing so. In the article posted on Yahoo.com, the description of “soft diplomacy” made it sound as if Mrs. Obama was on vacation rather than her exact purpose...
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...McWilliams CLN4U Laura Secord An idol is a woman of memorable heroism or power, respected for her bravery and honorable qualities; Laura Secord clearly qualifies and exceeds this description. Her initiative, intelligence and physical strength have been inspiring people since her story became widely known and the affects her actions had on the war of 1812. Laura Ingersoll Secord deserves a place of honor in Canadian history because of her remarkable courage, fearlessness and gallant act which made an important impact on the outcome of the battle at Beaver Dams. Laura Ingersoll was born on September 13th 1775 in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. Laura never recognized the true meaning of a lighthearted childhood. At the age of eight her biological mother, Elizabeth Dewey, passed away leaving her to look after her three younger sisters. This was difficult seeing as her father, Thomas Ingersoll, was an American Officer and constantly beckoned for duty. Her father married twice and had numerous children for which Laura helped care for. In 1795 her father grew to dislike the American government and decided to move the entire family to Upper Canada. When Laura was eighteen the family moved to Bustling Port which was near the Niagara River. After Laura relocated she met a young man named James Secord who she eventually married in 1797 under the Church of England. They were a very wealthy family. By 1812, the Secord’s had five children and moved to Queenston. Laura did not pursue a...
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...Comparative essay- Animal Farm Animal farm- Paragraph 1- manipulation by the pigs State they are educated elite, use intellectual superiority to manipulate the other animals. Quote shows them as apathetic and meddlers. State how Orwell is criticising Stalin and his Government. Paragraph 2- Propaganda by the pigs State Napoleon uses propaganda through squealer to push his ideas and implement his plans. Quote shows that Napoleon uses propaganda to get what he wants. State that Orwell is criticising Stalin’s manipulation of the Russian society a big ally of the propaganda is the animal’s ignorance and false memory Paragraph 3- Power of Napoleon State that Napoleon, whom represents Stalin, only gained and keeps his power through cruelty, treachery and making the other animals scared of him. Show that after the rebellion, Napoleon has taken the place of Mr Jones (seen through quote) State that the quote shows that Napoleon has dominance over the farm like Mr Jones. State that Orwell is criticising that after a rebellion, inevitably someone will rise to power over all and everything will be the same, maybe worse. Quotes- For manipulation- ‘Does it not say something about never sleeping in a bed? ... It says, ‘no animal shall sleep in a bed with sheets.’ (cynicism) For propaganda- When squealer assures the animals about trading with humans- ...
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...Martin Scorsese’s 1976 film, Taxi Driver, seen through the maladjusted protagonist, Travis Brickle, is both of seeing and of being. Taxi Driver affirms Laura Mulvey’s idea of the “male gaze,” a combination of the interaction of looks, fetishism, voyeurism, and pleasure in (Hollywood) cinema. Mulvey outlines three different looks within film: of the director and camera, of the spectator, and of the male protagonist. Film, as Mulvey argued, perpetuates the “male gaze.” In the film, emblematic of the “male gaze,” Travis is presented as the dominant male while most female characters are treated and seen as objects of sex and desire—cheapened, eroticized, submissive—though he one female, Betsy, is treated and seen with reverent affection. In addition,...
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...brought to light in the case of the Winslow family, The family consists of a group involved in incredibly questionable home behavior. The demise of several family members occurred on the fateful day on May 5, 2005. The Winslow children's distant cousin, Steve Urkel, walked into the Winslow's house unannounced as usual. In the foyer, he bent backwards with his stomach facing upwards and his hands and feet touching the ground, and crawled like a spider upstairs to Laura's room. He knocked on the door with his head and Laura Winslow came out naked expecting Richie (her direct cousin) to be there. She screamed when she saw Steve poised like a spider. Steve responded by quickly standing upright like a toothpick, unzipped, and pulled out his fun sized Almond Joy candy bar. Immediately, he tried to feed it to one of Laura's mouths. To Steve's displeasure, Richie came around the hallway corner driving by in his tricycle and took a bite out of Steve's candy bar before Laura even had a chance to. Out of embarrassment and sheer desperation, Steve tried to gain a bloody entrance to Richie's back door. Moments later, a jealous Waldo (a friend of Laura's brother, who had been spying on her long before Steve arrived) jumped out of the wall, palmed Steve's head, and smashed it into the wall. After that, he grabbed Richie by the legs and used him like a bat to severely beat Steve to death with. It did not take long for him to notice the enormously large puddle of blood next to Steve's carcass,...
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