CRJS472IP3 Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

CRJS472IP3 - Research Paper Example This implies that the investigating agency must have an original sample from the person to work with if they require accurate results. However, samples are also important in unintended recordings. The agency can get an individual original voice recording by securing a court order demanding the suspect to do so (FBI n.d). In high secretive missions, voice recorders are planted in strategic places in order to identify the speakers. For example, police may plant recorders in the body of an undercover agent to capture the conversation between drug dealers, arms dealers and terrorist. The device captures the voices that can be analyzed and used as evidence before a court of law (Becker 2009). Voice recognition works effectively when the police or the investigating agency has an authentic voice sample of a suspect. Analysis is then done on the sample with the original sample as a reference. Analysis is done using high-tech computer programs. The programs identify modification in the voices that are meant to disguise the conversation by use of personal voice tracts that cannot be compromised. The most used source of voices is telephone conversations. This method entails recording and listening to selected telephone conversations. The conversations are passed across a voice recognition system whereby speakers are likely to be identified. In this method, the speakers must speak for some time for analysis and authentication to be complete. The timing is usually pegged at thirty seconds; however, it is impossible to control the length of the conversation in cases where the investigator is not part of the conversation. Voice recognition has been used in investigations involving drug dealers in the USA. Drug cartels are highly secretive thus it is very hard to nab them with their cargo. As such, the police and FBI use telephone conversations and undercover agents to obtain voice samples of the criminals. The voices are then analyzed

Several language techniques Essay Example for Free

Several language techniques Essay From the perspective of soldiers we experience what men suffered during World War I. Through the vivid imagery and the dramatic language in the poems Attack and Exposure, Siegfried Sassoon and Wilfred Owen share their views on war. That all war is- is fear, misery and death. Sasson descibes a battlefield where men are on the attack. They follow behind a tank, fighting their way up a scarred slope, clambering over barbed wire, right into the hands of death. The use of alliteration and rhythym (eg. Smouldering through spouts of drifting smoke that shroud) conveys the sense of urgency and excitement. Personification plays a major role in Attack, eg. glowring and barrage roars gives the poem a tone of anger/rage. The use of onomatapoiea helps the readers experience what the battlefield was like for the soldiers. Lines such as bristling fire, makes the readers imagine the sound of machine guns firing and Tanks creep and topple forward to the wire, creates a powerful image of tanks slowly making their way upto the barbed wire. His climax is a perfect example of the kind of emotive sentences he uses, O Jesus, make it stop! fills the readers with the despair, anger, fear and helplessness that the soldiers feel. Yet, Sassoon also gives the poem an unemotional tone (eg. They leave their trenches, going over top.) to emphasize the fact that the fear, panic and death happened everyday. But none of these things were what war was conveyed to the people not involved with the fighting as back then. Men who went off to war thought that it was a way to prove their masculinity and that to die for your country was a glorious thing. None of these men knew of the fear that would strike their hearts, or of the desperate, panicked need to return home- alive. None of these men knew that it was not just bullets and bombs that killed, that the horrible conditions were just as much their foe as the men who fired at them. Owen describes a cold uneventful night on the battlefield. The use of personification (eg. Iced east winds that knive) immediately conveys the sense of an icy wind that bites like a knife would nick the skin. He uses rhetorical questions well, lines such as What are we doing here? and Is  it that were dying? pulls the readers into the tangled web of fear, regret and weariness that surrounds the mind of a soldier. Although onomatopoiea is not used much in Exposure, the sentences that do contain onomatapoiea words are very effective (eg. whisper, curious, nervous) gives the voices in the readers mind a whispery hush. The use of similes (eg. Line twitching agones of men among its brambles) and emotive words such as cringe and poignant helps the readers understand what the soldiers were experiencing. But nothing happens. was a very effective ironic sentence, because althought nothing officially happened, men still died and had to be carried away to be buried. This sentence was repeated to emphasize this fact. These poems along with many others that were written about World War I, helped the people who werent involved with the fighting understand what war was life for the soldiers and that all war caused was fear, misery and death.

Outpatient Treatment for Mental Health in New York

Outpatient Treatment for Mental Health in New York Michael Woodworth   For many individuals in the United States, mental and behavioral illness is something they must deal with on a daily basis. For many of those, the depression, anxiety, and feeling of powerlessness has become the norm due to a lack of treatment options. As the number of affected individuals grows, outpatient clinics are becoming the treatment of choice for many Americans and in New York this trend also holds true. With the third highest population in the United States, New York is home to over one million individuals suffering from mental illness. According to the 2015 census, the number of individuals suffering from mental illness had reached an all-time high of 900,000 adults and 528,000 adolescents (Friedman, Woods, LaPorte, 2016, p. 4). Despite the alarming increase in numbers, less than 20% of those affected by mental illness receive adequate, if any treatment at all (Friedman, Woods, LaPorte, 2016, p. 4). Although this may be partly due to the individual choosing not to receive care, I believe there is a direct correlation between the policies and procedures New York has put in place that govern the access, cost, and quality of mental health care. The New York State Office of Mental Health currently has over 50 categories of policies and procedures that govern treatment options, approved providers, medication, and criteria patients must meet to be treated, just to name a few (Office of Mental Health, 2017). As a result, many individuals choose to self-medicate or simply ignore their symptom rather than deal with the bureaucracy that surrounds behavioral health as well as the negative stigma associated with anyone receiving the treatment. Of the 20% of individuals receiving mental health services in New York, nearly 71% are through outpatient treatment services. Outpatient treatment exist as a way of providing access to individuals who are suffering from disorders that may not require intensive inpatient treatment. They are capable of treating disorders such as depression, anxiety, grief, phobias, trauma, and so forth. Overview on Outpatient Care Systems Outpatient care can provide a wide variety of services to individuals seeking assistance with their mental and behavioral health. These services include, but are not limited to: individual counseling, group therapy, acupuncture, massage therapy, DBT, art therapy, interventions, couples and family therapy, and alcohol and drug detox. These services are based on severity and need and are often delivered by peer advocates, licensed counselors, nurse practitioners, case managers, clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, and medical doctors. New York State offers two main avenues of treatment to those seeking outpatient care; these are the hospital systems and the health programs available within the community. For many people in New York, there are only two ways into these outpatient programs. The first being through a referral from a qualified healthcare professional (QHP). This can include a primary care physician, clinician, psychologist, nurse practitioner, among others (Friedman, Woods, LaPorte, 2009). The second is through court mandated supervision and treatment, and with one in 52 adults in New York on probation or parole, this accounts for many outpatient treatment referrals. The question now becomes, with such incredible services available why are only 20% able to get them? The answer lies within the policies. Although the policies do provide expectations and restrictions regarding cost and quality, the majority of outpatient policies focus on access. These policies not only determine who is eligible to receive services, but also what services are covered by Medicaid and other insurance. So lets take a look at just how these policies hinder so many New Yorkers from receiving adequate services. Hospital Systems With the hospital system, as with any business, accessibility comes down to resources; and in many hospitals the resources are limited. As a result, outpatient care is reserved for those that will not only benefit from it the most, but also those who will bring the hospital the most profit. Most of the individuals in New York who are receiving mental health treatment are covered by Medicaid. Those covered by Medicaid are by definition poor, and despite the need for the treatment are unable to pay the out of pocket expenses associated with it (Garfield, 2016). This fact has had significant influence on the policy makers to establish a list of criteria that must be met in order for Medicaid to pay for the total treatment. In addition, they developed a list of reasons that a hospital can deny mental health services to patients. Unfortunately in New York, many of the hospitals have a board of directors that have little to no medical experience. Instead they are comprised of wealthy and powerful business professionals from within the community. For example, one prominent hospital in Upstate New York has a board of directors that consists of several CEOs and presidents of companies that have direct ties to the local congressmen and assemblymen. One of the members of the board is actually a longtime friend of the current Governor of New York. These ties to politicians along with a lack of medical knowledge often result in policies and decisions being made for the sole purpose of profit rather than care and in turn make access much more difficult. Community Based Services The second healthcare system is that of community based resources. This is where the bulk of outpatient mental health treatment occurs. Many of these resources are non-profit organizations that rely heavily on funding from the state. Accessibility to these resources are governed by the overall state budget and is solely based on where the money needs to be allocated that year. As a result, many community resources are limited in the number of patients they can treat due to the limited annual funds available. Much like the hospitals, this causes the community resources to deny service to many individuals that need treatment. In general, these services are delivered in three ways and are typically based on the severity of the need. Hospitals offer outpatient mental health counseling for individuals who may require a higher level of intensity. Hospitals often utilize psychiatrists who have the ability to recommend and prescribe psychotropic medications for those suffering from severe mental disorders such as schizophrenia. The second option for patients is a privately or publically run outpatient clinic. These facilities usually employ licensed clinicians who are supervised by a clinical psychologist. Although they can offer the same level of counseling services as the hospital, they are not equipped to prescribe or monitor medications. These facilities are primarily used to focus on the less intensive mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, and addiction. The third option is counseling and guidance through a religious leader. Although this option can provide assistance with minor mental health issues, it is seldom covered under insurance. This is due to the fact that in most cases, the religious leader does not possess the required education or credentials to be recognized by the state as a legitimate form of mental health treatment. However, as a result many religious leaders choose to pursue degrees in mental health so they can better serve their congregation. Barriers to Care New York has several different levels of care which include intensive outpatient treatment, outpatient treatment, step down treatment, continuing day treatment, and assertive community treatment (Friedman, Woods, LaPorte, 2009, p. 12). Each of which is a step within the continuum of care provided by New York State Office of Mental Health. Generally speaking, these steps are effective when utilized appropriately by the patient and followed through with by the provider. Unfortunately the greatest barrier falls in the follow through of both the patient and the provider. With over 380,000 adults and 575,000 adolescents in New York suffering from severe and persistent mental illness (Friedman, Woods, LaPorte, 2009, p. 12), it is easy for a patient to fall through the cracks of the system. Many providers have limited time and resources to track down a patient that missed an appointment, or just check in on a regular basis to see if they are alright. As a result, many patients will feel unsupported and stop treatment all together. As previously stated, outpatient is usually reserved for those with a professional referral and as such the access can at times seem quite limited. In the clinics that I have worked in, a patient could arrive only after a referral had been received. After they have arrived, they would undergo several interviews and assessments to determine if they would benefit from the treatments the clinic offered. If they would, then they could begin treatment. If however they were thought to not benefit, they would be referred to another clinic or to the local hospital for further consideration. In New York, the need for mental health services are far greater than the resources available and therefore every clinic and outpatient service does seem to have an extensive waitlist for services. I was a case manager for a supportive living program working with veterans suffering from mental health disorders as well as addiction and chronic homelessness. My program was a 12 month intensive treatment program and had 24 beds/apartments available. At any given time, the waitlist for this program had well over 50 individuals listed on it. Outpatient access is a serious concern in New York and so far has left much to be desired. For many individuals who require outpatient mental health services, access comes with three major barriers: Finding a clinic, getting approval from Medicaid and insurance, and physically getting to the clinic. Far too often these barriers hinder individuals from receiving adequate, if any services they so desperately need. With the constant change to Medicaid waiver services and insurance, it is difficult for clinics to accept every patient in need. With private insurance, managed care, and straight Medicaid placing strict eligibility and billing restrictions on the clinics, it is amazing that they are able to stay open at all. These regulations are causing the clinics to become more business focused instead of focusing on the real reason they exist. As a result of the clinics focusing more on the business, they are more inclined to accept patients that they can profit from the most. This ultimately tends to sway more towards those with private insurance as they are more likely to get approval for ongoing treatment. This leaves the majority of individuals suffering from mental health disorders to fend for themselves. As with any treatment, a referral is required to receive treatment in an outpatient setting. Attempting to get this referral poses the second struggle to accessibility. Many of those suffering from these disorders do not have a primary physician and are likely to go to free clinics if they seek assistance at all. As a result, many individuals are simply prescribed medications like Zoloft by the attending physician and told that they have a cookie cutter diagnosis of depression or anxiety. On average, it takes nearly six months of trial and error in medication before a referral is given and accepted by insurance or Medicaid. In far too many situations, the individual has given up on treatment before reaching the six months. Getting to a clinic often poses a barrier to those in a low income bracket. These individuals are unable to purchase transportation on their own and rely heavily on others or public transportation to maintain mobility. This requires them to find clinics that are on bus or subway line if they live in the city, or friends and family if they live in a more rural location. This causes unnecessary instability in treatment due to the patients inability to commit to a treatment schedule. For the more than 30 million adults in the United States that require but do not receive mental health services, 45 percent claim that the cost is the biggest deterrent. The average outpatient service can cost between $100 and $5,000 based on the service and the credentials of the provider (Babakian, 2013). In New York City the average rates for outpatient services are as follows: $80 $120 for a 45-55 minute standard counseling session (Babakian, 2013). $200 $300 for a 45 minute session with a psychologist or psychiatrist (Babakian, 2013). $60 $100 for group sessions facilitated by a licensed provider (Babakian, 2013). $300 $ 460 for individual art, music, and/or recreation therapy sessions with a licensed provider (Babakian, 2013). As with any healthcare service these can be paid for using self-pay, private insurance, and government insurance such as Medicaid and Medicare. Unfortunately due to the restrictions imposed by the mental health policies in New York, many individuals are forced to pay a significant amount out of pocket. As a result, many outpatient providers offer patients sliding scale charges which can be 30 percent lower than standard fees, payment plans with and without interest, and in some situations income based fees (Babakian, 2013). Although outpatient treatment is covered by most insurance, it is seldom covered in full. This causes many patients to stop treatment as a result of an inability to pay the deductible or co-pay. At this time, New York does not offer any additional assistance with co-pays or medical bills for individuals receiving outpatient services. However, if the patient were to be admitted to an inpatient clinic as a result of a mental hygiene arrest or emergency room visit, it would be covered in full by many insurance providers including Medicaid. This creates a situation that is counterproductive in that we do not offer treatment as an early intervention but rather offer it after the individual has reached a breaking point. In order to get an insiders opinion of the current barriers within outpatient care, I was able to interview Megan Cortese, LCAT. Ms. Cortese is a licensed art therapist and senior clinician in a very prominent outpatient clinic in Rochester, NY. During the interview I simply asked her what she sees as a barrier to her current and future clients. When asked what she would want to change about the overall way mental health services are provided, she had the following to say. The current system of mental health services has two major flaws; funding and accountability. Ms. Cortese stated that due to budgetary restrictions, lack of government funding, and overall economy struggles the quality of care is becoming lower. She stated that the clinical staff are underpaid and told to meet with as many clients as possible in a day. She stated that this causes many clinicians to burn out and therefore provide a subpar level of treatment. Ms. Cortese also stated that the lack of accountability from patients on Medicaid is ridiculous. She stated that when a patient on Medicaid does not show to an appointment that there are no penalties to the patient such as the cancelation fee that those of us with private insurance would have. Ms. Cortese stated that this causes patients to continuously miss appointments and therefore miss out on beneficial treatments. Quality of Care As for quality of care, New York does seem to excel at regulating the providers and clinics. The New York State Justice Center monitors, regulates, investigates, and enforces all policies regarding the fair treatment of individuals under care. As a result, every clinic is held to the same standards and accountability in regards to the treatment of patients. Although this is beneficial in providing adequate and proper treatment to all those involved in outpatient clinics, it is only effective if the patients are able to receive services. Policy and Influence So now that we have reviewed how these polices can hinder treatment, we must next understand not only how the policies come to be, but also who has the power to influence them. Health policy in todays modern world poses several complex legal, ethical, and social questions and as such require qualified individuals to write, approve, and integrate them into the current healthcare systems. As with the nation as a whole, New York relies heavily on Government officials to accomplish this objective while simultaneously respect and protect the rights of patients. As a result, several highly diverse and complicated groups are tasked with the oversight of these policies. Healthcare policies in New York are developed through the three branches of government; the judiciary, legislature, and executive branches. The judiciary branch is responsible for overseeing new policies to ensure that they do not violate any human rights as well meet all legal and financial guidelines. The legislature reserves the right to conduct hearings in an attempt to gather sufficient data from all parties involved with the policy. This ultimately provides additional checks and balances to ensure the legality and effectiveness of the proposed policy. The executive branch, or Governors office retains the power to sign the new proposed policy into law after it has made it through the checks and balances from the judicial and legislative branch (Gostin, 1995). Now despite a significant set of checks and balances within New York, policies are not always reviewed as they should be. Far too often members of the three government branches are influenced by outside factors and groups. As previously mentioned, outpatient treatment in New York has many governing bodies; which along with providers, insurance companies, and several special interest groups all have a way of influencing the current policies. Each of these groups have a significant impact on the access, cost, and quality of care that patients receive while participating in outpatient services. The real question is who has the power and are they using it to benefit the patient or are they simply looking out for their bottom line. So lets start from the bottom of the hierarchy and work our way up. At the bottom of the outpatient ladder are the small and seldom heard from special interest groups. In New York these are groups such as; NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness), NMHA (National Mental Health Association), as well as smaller support groups located throughout the state. The main focus of these groups is to educate the public, influence change and improvement, and advocate for the patients. Many of these groups rely heavily on petitions and public outcry to influence change and policy at the higher levels of the state government. Even though these groups do not carry the influence of some other groups, with a mass of concerned voters behind them, they are usually quite effective. Sitting on the next rung of the ladder are the providers who influence treatment and policy by acting as a deciding factor as to what if any treatment is recommended. The providers are in essence the frontline of the outpatient world. The providers conduct the assessments that provide the information to choose the most beneficial treatment option. The providers are able to influence policy by simply choosing a course of action. If the majority of providers choose the same treatment for a particular diagnosis, then it is likely that the governing bodies will consider that to be the go-to treatment. Once this is the case, it is very likely that policies will be rewritten to reflect this treatment as the acceptable one. Sitting on the next rung is the insurance companies. The insurance companies have significant influence over policy simply because they pay for it. Insurance controls who gets treatment, where they get treatment, and what quality of treatment they can receive. This is of course all based on what tier level the patients insurance plan is on. Ultimately, the insurance company has the ability to approve or deny treatments simply based on the overall cost and as a result many patients are unable to access necessary treatments and medications. Now, at the top of the ladder is the state agencies such as Department of Health (DOH), Office of Mental Health (OMH), State Legislature, and the Governor. It is implied that these people have the ultimate influence over access, cost, and quality of outpatient mental health treatment. Policy recommendations are delivered from the DOH and OMH to the legislature who then agrees and passes them along to the Governor, or disagrees and sends them back to the agencies for revision. Once in the hands of the Governor, the policy is either approved or denied. As most healthcare in New York is Medicaid funded, the Governor has significant influence over who gets treatment and what treatments are offered simply by approving the state budget. If the Governor approves a policy that allows more access to treatment, he must also approve an increase in taxes to maintain funding. However, if the Governor does not pass a policy for increased care, they may lose ratings and therefore votes. As a result, it is a very complex balancing act when influencing health care policy. Although the aforementioned groups seem to have the most influence over health care in New York, I stumbled across a group of individuals that seem to have influence over the Governor himself. The United Healthcare Workers Union (1199SEIU) is a union of pharmacists, nurses, and physicians located throughout the nation. The influential power of this group is astounding. In 2009, the full power of this organization was felt by then Governor David Paterson. With a severe surge in Medicaid costs in New York, Governor Paterson proposed $3.5 billion in cuts to the Medicaid program. The Governor proposed shifting monies away from inpatient hospitals and into outpatient clinics which were significantly less expensive (Eide DiSalvo, 2015). This would have resulted in a 2% loss in revenue for the inpatient hospitals annually. Medicaid is the primary source of funding for the inpatient hospitals which employ a majority of 1199SEIU members. The union responded to the Governors proposal with a serious ad blitz which cost over $1 million per week. After a month of adds belittling the Governor, Paterson retreated and instead approved tax increases and cuts to other programs (Eide DiSalvo, 2015). As a result of the serious influence by the 1199SEIU, the overall quality, access, and cost of care suffered. In an act that simply secured their own interests, the patients suffered. Overall, the diverse and effective variety of outpatient treatments available in New York is quite impressive and could provide much needed assistance to many individuals. However, the lack of accessibility and increasing out of pocket costs create significant barriers to those individuals who need the treatment the most. In order for New York to effectively serve those needing mental health treatment, it is necessary for the policymakers to begin thinking in terms of care rather than profit. References Babakian, G. (2013, December 17). How Much Does Mental Health Care Cost? Retrieved from Clear Health Costs: https://clearhealthcosts.com/blog/2013/12/how-much-does-mental-health-care-cost-part-1-series/ Cortese, M. (2017, January 29). Outpatient Barriers. (M. Woodworth, Interviewer) Garfield, R. (2016, October 19). The Coverage Gap: Uninsured Poor Adults in States that Do Not Expand Medicaid. Retrieved from Kaiser Family Foundation: http://kff.org/uninsured/issue-brief/the-coverage-gap-uninsured-poor-adults-in-states-that-do-not-expand-medicaid/ Lawrence Gostin, J. L. (1995). The formulation of health policy by the three branches of government. Retrieved from The National Academies of Sciences Engineering Medicine: https://www.nap.edu/read/4771/chapter/17 Michael B. Friedman, G. W. (2009). New York States Mental Health System. New York: Mental Health Association of New York City. Office of Mental Health. (2017, January 1). OMH Official Policy Manual. Retrieved from Office of Mental Health: https://www.omh.ny.gov/omhweb/policymanual/contents.htm Stephen Eide, D. D. (2015). The Union That Rules New York. The City Journal.

Music as an Indicative of the History of Puerto Rico :: Culture cultural History Puerto Rican Essays

Music as an Indicative of the History of Puerto Rico During Dr. Lise Waxer’s October 29th lecture she characterized "music" as being indicative of the history of a people, a way of establishing social relations, and being a forum for dialogue. However, upon a critical analysis of the claims within her lecture and the issues discussed within Ruth Glasser’s My Music is My Flag, I believe that modern studies of Puerto Rican popular culture reveal more about the present state of Puerto Rican identity than the historical subjects themselves. It is clear that above all else Puerto Rican musical history, from its evolution on the island and in the diaspora, was created and conditioned by the US colonial system. Therefore, any attempt to elevate its significance may be more of a classed-based attempt to elevate their social position within the context of colonized historical reality. Before embarking upon this analysis it is important to note that Ruth Glasser is not Puerto Rican. Although she is "a nice Jewish girl" studying the history of Puerto Rican music, the fact that she is not Puerto Rican does not exclude her from misinterpreting the significance of her findings (xv). From the onset of her analysis she presents herself in opposition to "the traditional historian’s" assumptions about Puerto Rican history. She claims that "many popular and scholarly assessments suggest that Puerto Rican musicians have left their own ostensibly meager musical resources behind and [have]‘merely’ adopted Cuban sounds" (3). This opinion, she claims, characterizes Puerto Rican musical culture as being "imported," meaning that it has no self-sustaining historical traditions of its own. Such a claim would also challenge Lise Waxer’s claims which characterize Puerto Rican music as a manifestation of Puerto Rican national history. Glasser in turn proceeds within her study to describe the numerous historical traditions of Puerto Rican music. Most prominent among these traditions is the fact that many of the early bands under early US colonial rule began as military bands during the First World War. Indeed, the US army band soldiers were examples of the first musical experience during the Puerto Rican Diaspora because their travels to Europe allowed some musician form "a particularly prominent part of the United States Army’s most famous musical ensembles. [For example] the 369th Infantry "Hellfighters" Band" (54). As professional musician these people benefitted greatly by gaining access to more traditional forms of musical skills.

Gatorade †Every Game Needs a Hero Essay

The commercial is about the new Gatorade commercial entitled Every Game Needs a hero. The commercial uses stop motion to feature an ongoing game. With its monochromatic form, the only thing that can be viewed in full color is the Gatorade item that can be found on the side where the water jug must be put in.   The commercial uses the song O-fortuna by Therion, which is a very famous song used as soundtrack in a lot of suspense, actions, and adventure movies. Several sports were featured like baseball, basketball, football and tennis. Finally, the commercial made its subjects moved by exemplifying the climax of the game, hand in hand with inspirational short phrases. Moreover, a grand finale is set by showing the Gatorade logo in the end. By watching the commercial, it is indeed clear that the commercial is a type of brand Advertising. In this case, Gatorade has promoted its brand by using famous sports personalities to persuade people to buy its product. Gatorade is an energy drink suited to fight dehydration. Every athlete exerts their full force when playing a game and because of that, they partially or fully lose the water levels in their body causing them to dehydrate. With Gatorade’s goal, to re-hydrate, replenish and refuel, it is certainly effective to use some sports personalities to endorse its product. In their website, they are fully promoting that Gatorade is faster to absorb that water in rehydrating an active person’s body. The commercial, in my opinion as the bystander, is very easy to like. When I first watched it, it is undeniably eye-catching. The commercial implies a lot of curiosity in which a viewer will not hesitate to watch it until the end. The special effects used in this commercial, although not new, were very effective. The opening scene was stunning especially when everyone can relate to the visuals presented on the first frames of the commercial. When it comes to the music used, I personally like it, not to mention I am a big fan of the band Therion, but also because it is very familiar to everybody’s ear. The music used as part of the effects of every game was very effective. On the other hand, there are still some aspects in the commercial in which I, as the viewer will be able to dislike. If I didn’t see the Gatorade jug on a part of the commercial and instead, jumped on the middle or latter part of it, I would never have thought that it’s from Gatorade. The stop motion thing is good but was poorly edited or visually criticized. Also, the Gatorade thing in this commercial was poorly emphasized as well as the message is quite vague. The theme every game needs a hero is quite fuzzy as delivered in the commercial. It comes in a way in which leaving me, as a viewer confused by finding out who the hero was, is it Gatorade or the sports personalities? I may even think that the hero is me. By interpreting all the thoughts gathered in watching this Gatorade commercial, I have come to a wrap-up thought that Gatorade is just simply emphasizing that everyone can become like any other sports personalities just by putting Gatorade beside them. The commercial put a lot of energy in me, in which I would not hesitate to watch it over and over again.   It affects most to those who really love sports. In contrast, it may minimally affect those who have no heart for any sport activities. However, the commercial is stunning especially is viewed first time. All in all, I could say that the commercial is exceptionally effective.

Luxury vehicle Essay

1. Cadillac introduced it’s new luxury SUV that is called the Escalade, and they had no idea in what direction it would lead to. To their surprise, it becomes a instant classic and the most popular truck on the market. They weren’t set out to target a specific customer base, they just wanted to keep up with the SUV craze. They saw other companies putting out similar vehicles, so they wanted to dip into that market. Once it released, it seemed to become a staple in the hip hop community, sports world, and for regular customers looking for a luxury SUV. It became most prominent however in the hip hop and sports cultures. You see tons of athletes arriving to the games in their escalades, and a lot of hip hop artists have them featured in their music videos. For some reason, it just excelled in the market, and there is really no particular reason for it. It could be because of how unique it looks, the luxurious features, or just off the time it was released. The music and sports industry started to boom so there was a lot of money to be spent and the Escalade was the newest and hottest item on the street. 2. The Escalade became so popular I believe for the power it represents. I feel that if you own a Escalade, you have a sense of power in a way. Whether it shows that you have money, a sense of style, or anything else, it just brings off a certain type of vibe. It shows some type of boldness as well, because you think of personality when you think of an Escalade. When you look at one, you notice first how the shiny grill stands out and just how luxurious the car is. I think in a way Cadillac has extended its appeal because now a lot of the Cadillacs feature the shiny grill. You also see its influence on other vehicles, because a lot of competitors base their models off of it and try to make some similarities. 3. Other companies have a lot to learn from the Escalade. If they do it right, maybe they can become the leader in luxury SUVs. It’s all about whom you have to endorse your product and how you market it out to the public. Cadillac know it has many endorsers that are famous and widely known throughout the world. When you have people of that magnitude openly using your products, you gain a tremendous amount of recognition. Also, before you come up with a new concept or design, you should allow potential customers to see the product to see if it would be something they would like. If you market your product correctly, there is a good chance that it will be successful just like the Cadillac Escalade. Case Study Cadillac is one of the most popular vehicle brands in the United States to this date. As Americans, we tend to treat it differently because it is the luxury brand of our Country. Since it is an American made car, we take a sense of pride in it, and owning one is something special. In 1998 there started to be a craze for mid size SUVs, and just like every other vehicle company, Cadillac had some thoughts in mind. They released their brand new line of the Cadillac Escalade, a large luxurious SUV. When they originally released it, they felt that their market would be traditional customers, but boy, where they wrong. In fact, it was the complete opposite. The Escalade seemed to become nationally recognized when it was constantly featured in hip hop videos, commercials, and the sports industry. While Cadillac didn’t intend to get into those specific markets, I’m sure they aren’t complaining because of how much recognition it gave them. However, it does seem to brush off a certain bad image when you see it featured in some of those ways. When you see a Escalade in a hip hop video that has drugs, half naked women, and curse words, it may rub some of your other customers off. It can be seen as a gang car, and you certainly don’t want to be driving one of those in certain areas. A regular family can be in the market for a SUV, but they may get a negative vibe from the Escalade because it may come off as being too â€Å"hood† or â€Å"ghetto† for them. I’m not too sure how a car can gain that characteristic, but I understand by it being featured and abused in certain ways, it can portray a negative image. Cadillac can feature their products in certain ways, and be able to be seen as a positive vehicle that is made for everybody. They can limit their exposure in hip hop videos if they feel that is necessary. When you see certain commercials you notice that the brand symbol is blurred out. If Cadillac saw this as a dilemma, they can gain access to have their emblems blurred out in rap videos that feature bad behavior. They can still gain national recognition by more of a formal type of commercial. This way, you do not offend any particular race, and show that the vehicle is suitable for people of all ages, color, and race. Cadillac has become on of the mot powerful and influential car brand, that I feel they don’t need to do too much to market themselves. They already have a tremendously large market.