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Should I continue my toddler's hated physical therapy?
November 18, 2010
Should I continue my toddler's physical therapy for lagging gross motor skills?
My 18 month old son has been getting physical therapy through our state's early intervention program for three months now. He was flagged at 12 months old for the therapy because he was crawling incorrectly and was having trouble pulling up to standing.
It took awhile to arrange his evaluation and he ended up starting to walk before they even came over to assess him. Nevertheless, he qualified to receive the services based on where his milestones had been at 12 months.
Now it's been three months and I wonder if we're seeing any benefits. He hates his physical therapist, won't let her touch him, and says "No no no!" when she arrives. She is not playful and has a no-nonsense persona, so I don't see her growing on him anytime soon. Sometimes she is able to coach me through the interventions from a distance, but some sessions he hides in another room while she tells me what to work on, and then I email her videos of him to show how his skills are coming. Looking through the videos, I seems to me that his improvements over these three months are modest. He crawls properly now; he walks steadily but still with a bit of a babyish gait; and he hesitates at thresholds and low curbs before stepping over them. (His communication and fine motor skills are good.)
I work on his skills every day, taking him to indoor gyms and outdoor playgrounds, playing games to encourage climbing and muscle building. I've spent hundreds of dollars on walker toys and ride toys and indoor climbing toys. He walks for blocks and blocks. The therapist agrees that he hasn't made any great strides towards catching up with his peers, but when I asked her what else we could do, she said, "If he would let me touch him, we could then increase services to weekly." (Currently, she comes every two weeks.)
His pediatrician, who had been the one to initially recommend we look into services, saw him yesterday and thought his walking was appropriate for having started at 15 months. When I said we have been working on stairs in PT, the pediatrician implied that we needn't be worried about his stair skills yet.
I don't want to negatively impact his development in any way, but I really wonder if the therapy is having any benefit. A part of me thinks it may be a racket -- just like back when I mentioned to my mental-health therapist that I felt finished, she wanted me to start coming twice a week.
One last detail is that my son is a chubby boy. He has been 100th percentile for weight (50th for height) since he was three months old. (There was a big weight gain in infancy, due, I think, to breastmilk oversupply, but since then his growth follows the curve, just across the top of the chart.). He weighs 32 lbs now, so certain gross motor skills are harder for him than they'd be for a lighter baby. The pediatrician has not told me to put him on a diet, but tends to recommend low-calorie foods like oatmeal and vegetable soup.
So, dear readers, I can:
1. Quit the therapy and continue working with my son on my own, but do I need the expertise of a therapist to notice things I'm not trained to see?
2. Request another therapist, in hopes that liking him/her would enable my son to get more out of the experience?
3. Restrict his diet (stricter portion control, cut out carbs), assuming that the key to his catching up is weight loss.
4. Chalk it up to natural differences in ability and just leave him be.
posted by
Health & Fitness
(14 answers total)
2 users marked this as a favorite
If this were me, I would request another therapist. I think a warm, kind therapist could make all the difference here. If by chance you are near Portland, OR and you are interested, you can memail me for a recommendation.
posted by
on November 18, 2010 [
1 favorite
I would recommend find a new therapist, one who will be more playful and fun with your son. This should be like playing for him.
As far as his diet, responsible medical professionals do not recommend dieting for toddlers. They need fat and calories for brain development. You may want to look into the Ellyn Satter method for family feeding. Essentially, Satter says that the best way to teach children to respond to their own hunger cues and eat well without developing food-related issues is to practice a division of responsibilities. You, the parent, are responsible for deciding what foods will be available to your child and when feeding will take place. You should prepare healthy meals containing a variety of foods and serve meals and snacks on a regular schedule. Your child, regardless of age, is responsible for determining whether to eat, which foods to eat out of the ones you've prepared, and how much of each food to eat. That means that if your kid wants to eat his macaroni and not his broccoli, or vice versa, that's ok, but if he wants peanut butter instead of the meal you've served, you say no. There's no fighting over how many bites to take of which foods, no denying second helpings, and no using sweets as rewards for good behavior. It's nerve-wracking for parents sometimes when kids don't eat what the parents think they "should," but it means much less stress at mealtimes for kids, and it teaches kids to listen to their own bodies and trust themselves in a way that many of us have trouble with as adults.
I wish you all the best!
posted by
on November 18, 2010 [
9 favorites
My four and a half year son has gross motor delays. I'd strongly encourage you to find a new physical therapist and continue with physical therapy. Physical therapy definitely made a difference to our son, and the therapists he's worked with have been great kid people: friendly, warm, fun, and playful. He doesn't generally love physical activity, but he almost always enjoys playing with the physical therapist.
posted by
on November 18, 2010 [
1 favorite
I'd go a step beyond what others are saying and go out of my way to complain about the therapist to her employer. As mentioned, this should be like playing for the kids, and somebody who can't put on a good "I'm playing with toddlers" face has no business working with small children.
posted by
on November 18, 2010
Could you maybe sit down and have a conversation with the therapist, or with your pediatrician, about best-case/worst-case scenarios if you continue the treatment, or if you stop it?
For instance, stopping language therapy with a child who's language-delayed could lead to a vocab deficit, which could lead to problems with reading, which could lead to academic problems, which could affect grades, which could affect career prospects, so I'd tend to err on the side of over-intervention where language issues are concerned.
On the other hand, I'm at a loss to identify what the long-term risks might be if your child stays slightly delayed in gross motor skills. Nobody's saying he might not be able to walk and make love and drive a car as an adult, so what exactly is at risk? His chances of ultimately having a major-league football career? (Disclaimer: IANAD, but I'd think yours should certainly be able to address this question.) If the physician can explain how stopping the therapy might have deleterious consequences
(as opposed to consequences
), then consider continuing, possibly with a new therapist. Otherwise, I'd probably write the therapy off as one of the many expensive and tiresome instantiations of the modern impulse to optimize our children.
Anecdata: my daughter was also a bit behind on gross motor skills-- crept late, crawled late, pulled up late, etc. The pediatrician did recommend that we contact early intervention when she still wasn't walking at 15 months, but since fine motor skills, language, socialization, and so forth were on track, we never did. She finally started walking at 17.5 months, still hesitates at thresholds, but seems on the whole to be a smart, happy little girl. Time will tell, but I haven't noticed that the delay has really impacted her in any major way.
posted by
on November 18, 2010
I would call your program and request a new service provider. A good pediatric therapist should make the session feel like play for the child. If she can't even touch your son, you and your son are not getting what you need from this person. Ask for a new therapist.
Whoever evaluated your child saw something to be concerned about and that qualified your son for services. Please do not take this lightly, what looks like a minor delay now could become something more involved in the future. Or it may not and your child may be fine and it sounds like you're doing all the right things with him. Just in case, I would try to stay with the program. I've watched a number of parents leave the Early Start program and then they come back 6 months to a year later when the child's delays have only progressed or new delays show up.
As a side note in the interest of disclosure, I am a manager of an Early Start program in my state. We usually keep kids in the program until 24 months, even if they seem to be doing well. The 24 month cut off is because at that point we can get a better picture of the child's language development and we can make sure that the kiddo is caught up in all areas of development. We do have several kids who do catch up and graduate. Also 1x a week is pretty standard for treatment, you should be asking for at least that level of frequency. Most of our therapists agree that 1x a week is a minimum for the intensity required to help a child make developmental gains.
I'm also the mom of a kid with motor delays. We have an OT who is fantastic, my son actually asks to go to her clinic every week. If he didn't work with her, he wouldn't be making progress. After every therapy session she has new ideas for things we could be doing at home to help him. She had made a huge difference in our lives, and yes her trained eye catches things I didn't.
Ask for a new therapist and ask for your services to be increased to 1x a week. While you're asking for stuff, also ask to have a Sensory Profile done with your child. He may actually benefit more from an occupational therapist (OT) who specialized in sensory-motor needs if he has some balance issues that are related to his ability to process where his body is in space (which from what you've written here sounds like a strong possibility).
Good luck to you and your little one! It sounds like you're doing great work with him.
posted by
Palmcorder Yajna
on November 18, 2010 [
6 favorites
I'm confused about what delay you're experiencing? Our daughter didn't walk until almost 17 months, is still wobbly, definetly hesitated at curbs, etc.. She was evaluated at 17 months to make sure she didn't have hip/leg issues that were keeping her from walking (she was fine). No one has suggested, since she started walking, that she's delayed. So I personally vote for number 4 based on what you said, unless I'm missing something?
If you do want to keep it up, because you think he is delayed, then by all means, request a new therapist. And if you do it on your own, can you request periodic review from your doctor in case your missing something?
posted by
on November 18, 2010
"(There was a big weight gain in infancy, due, I think, to breastmilk oversupply, but since then his growth follows the curve, just across the top of the chart.)"
And 32 lbs?
My kid was nearly that at 18 months and he wasn't chubby. Granted he's taller.
But I don't think that breastmilk oversupply "caused" his weight, FWIW.
posted by
on November 18, 2010
With the info you've provided I'm inclined to option 4, feel pretty sure the issue in option 3 is not causal and the suggested course is not conducive to good development, I could probably be persuaded on 1 or 2 i, but we option 4ed on our sons immature gate with no ill result at 8 years old.
posted by
on November 18, 2010
I'm a speech therapist, and in the world of speech therapy, three months is not a big amount of time to see more than modest gains, especially if sessions are every other week, and with rapport/difficulty transitioning to a new person, due in part to your son's young age. You should both be commended for working with what you have--using video resources and having the therapist describe exercises for you to do is great! As his mom, you know best and should trust your gut. I know with some early intervention programs, changing therapists is not an option, but nothing strikes me as deal-breaking on the therapist's part yet from your description.
As for your pediatrician's guidance, it should be a comfort to you that your son is not far off target motor-wise. However, I have had many pediatricians refer preschoolers to me for articulation issues that are inappropriate, such as saying "wabbit" for "rabbit" at age 3. PTs are like specialists for developmental norms for motor skills, whereas pediatricians have to know the whole broad medical realm of kidness. I would be reassured by the pediatrician, but trust that the PT is using more specialized developmental guidelines specific to motor development.
You get definite mom props for doing everything you can to help your son!
posted by
on November 18, 2010 [
1 favorite
she said, "If he would let me touch him, we could then increase services to weekly."
That makes it sound like it's his fault. If she were any good,
would suggest you find someone else.
posted by
Obscure Reference
on November 18, 2010 [
3 favorites
If the therapist hasn't been able to build rapport with your son in three months, that's a problem with her and not with him. Definitely request a different therapist.
posted by
on November 18, 2010 [
1 favorite
I haven't read all the comments, but seriously, I'd like to hit that therapist. After a few meetings, something should be going on. She is obviously grossly lagging in her therapist skills.
Your son sounds fine to me. My son was large for his age, and still is (at 11, he is 5'9). I think when he was young, holding up his skeletal weight before having the muscle control may have delayed some of his motor skills. It's hard not to worry as a parent, but I'd kick that therapist to the curb.
posted by
on November 18, 2010
I'm inclined to think #4 and am violently opposed to #3. Children absolutely require higher levels of fat to develop properly - not getting that amount of fat leads to developmental delay.
I'd be concerned that the paediatrician is okay with his walking (and it sounds like it's totally and completely normal) but the therapist is making a big deal out of it. Combined with her lack of empathy, I would AT LEAST change therapists.
But in all seriousness, why is barrelling into stairs and over obstacles a milestone? Almost every kid I know does it to a certain extent.
posted by
geek anachronism
on November 18, 2010
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Name Last modified Size Description
Parent Directory 10-Feb-2013 19:28 - changelog.txt 18-Nov-2010 17:44 1k deleteqtcalappointme..> 18-Nov-2010 17:44 1k ics2qtcal.pl 18-Nov-2010 17:44 15k ics2qtcal.sh 18-Nov-2010 17:44 1k install_dependencies.sh 18-Nov-2010 17:44 1k remotesync4ics2openm..> 18-Nov-2010 17:44 1k sync4ics2openmoko.sh 18-Nov-2010 17:44 1k
This program transfers the content of an ical file (.ics) into the calendar application of QtMoko It currently does not have any user-interface, and is written with a mix of Perl and shell script. I'm not an expert in those languages : the code can probably be improved (suggestions and help are welcome!) It can run on a standard computer, or on the phone itself In current version, it downloads one ore several .ics files through HTTP, and stores their content into the SQLite database (/home/root/Applications/Qtopia/qtopia_db.sqlite , replacing existing appointments). It also creates the Note files for each appointment description, in the directory where they are expected : /home/root/Applications/Annotator/ Usage on QtMoko (tested on v26): - Copy all the files in a directory of your phone - Install the necessary Perl packages by running install_dependencies.sh on the phone - Run the script sync4ics2openmoko.sh [-u user] [-p password] fileurl1 fileurl2 ... The optional user/password is given to the HTTP server if it needs authentication Example : sync4ics2openmoko.sh -u myuser -p mypassword https://myserver/mypath/myfile1 https://myserver/mypath/myfile2 https://myserver/mypath/myfile3 Usage on a standard computer (tested on Ubuntu 10.04) : same steps, except that you need to use remotesync4ics2openmoko.sh instead ics2qtcal.pl is where the hard job is done. This script has several options and you can use it alone sync4ics2openmoko.sh and remotesync4ics2openmoko.sh automate the operations described above. They are targeted on my own usage, but you can modify them if you wish. Idea and guidelines taken from http://wiki.openmoko.org/wiki/PIM_Storage#Import.2FExport_of_Calendar_Data_for_PIM-Storage by Niebert. Some code inspired or copied from http://cpansearch.perl.org/src/BSDZ/Tie-iCal-0.14/samples/outlooksync.pl . The iCal RFC implementation (http://www.faqs.org/rfcs/rfc2445.html) is quite incomplete in this script, but it covers the most common options Please send any suggestion/bug report to email@example.com License : This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation, version 3 of the License. This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License for more details.

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Coming off a 4-3 victory over the Auburn Tigers in the 2014 MAX Capital City Classic, the Alabama Crimson Tide (6-5, 0-0 SEC) will host the Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils (0-12, 0-4 SWAC) for a three-game series this weekend. The series starts on Friday, with first pitch scheduled for 6:05 p.m. CT from Sewell Thomas Stadium. Game two will be Saturday at 2 p.m. CT, and the series wraps up on Sunday with first pitch at 1 p.m. CT.
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New apps and services on display at Sibos financial services conference2014-09-29
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(Video segment.)
BRAD SMITH: Good morning. Thank you for joining us. I'm Brad Smith. I lead the Department of Legal and Corporate Affairs here at Microsoft.
I'm really delighted to be joined here in this room in Redmond, Washington, with Steve Ballmer our CEO, and with some of the great nonprofit leaders in the world that also happen to work in our backyard. We're here to share some news, and share it with people literally across the country and around the world about some of the new steps that we're taking as a company, but by no means alone, in partnership with so many other groups across the United States, and in over 100 countries around the world.
What we're going to do this morning is spend a little bit of time first talking a bit about the problem that we're focused on trying to solve, to hear a little bit from people who are leading important nonprofit efforts, and from young people themselves who really have, I think, a first-hand perspective that is informative for us all about the state of the world and what we can do to help address it.
What we're here to talk about is, in fact, a growing problem that we at Microsoft have had the opportunity to witness first-hand, and to really see in many countries around the world. One of the really interesting things about the work that Steve does, and that I get to do, is it gives us the opportunity to travel, and to hear from people in business, people in the nonprofit sector, people who work in government, and young people themselves. And it just makes all too clear that the world has changed, the global recession has had quite an impact and, in fact, it's really young people who perhaps have been the hardest hit of all.
Across the world, we have a burgeoning population of youth. There are over two billion people today globally between the ages of six and 24. But this is a group of people that is definitely feeling challenged. If you look at the global unemployment rate today for workers under the age of 25, these are typically people who are between the ages of 16 and 25, the unemployment rate for them is 12.7 percent worldwide. That's more than double the unemployment rate for workers as a whole.
And as we've had the chance to connect with people and talk to nonprofits that are working in this space, the challenges that young people face have become increasingly clear. Increasingly there is an opportunity divide that really separates young people who are getting access to the skills and education they need, and other people who are not getting that kind of access.
Around the world today, it's still the case that 40 percent of young people don't have the opportunity to go to a secondary school. There are still 100 million people in the world in this age group that actually don't have the opportunity to go to any school at any point in their life. And even in countries like the United States, or up and down the Americas, or across Europe, where people have plentiful access to secondary education, we still see a real challenge for young people, people who are having a harder time either going to college, or getting through college, or getting the skills that they're going to need to connect with the jobs that the workplace of tomorrow is, in fact, already creating today.
In our industry, we see this first-hand. Every day we actually open up new jobs, but the reality is that across Microsoft and our industry, and many, many companies, we're simply creating jobs that have become increasingly difficult to fill. In fact, the number of unfilled jobs is rising faster than the number of filled jobs. And it's not just the tech sector, and it's not just the United States.
The World Bank recently estimated that in Brazil 40 percent of all of the companies in the country are struggling to find and recruit and hire qualified people to fill the jobs that they're creating.
So, the opportunity divide is a real problem. It's a problem for young people, and it's a problem for economies as a whole. But the other thing that we've had the opportunity to see first hand is the difference that one can make when you happen to work at a technology company and have the chance to partner with the right nonprofits, and reach the right people around the world.
There were a couple of people that I had the chance to meet over the last year that definitely brought this home for me. One is a young woman in Mexico City, her name is Ignacia (ph). She works on a farm, a small farm that her family owns where they grow tomatoes. She was a young woman with a dream. She wanted to find new ways to help her family do a better job of making the big opportunities that she thought their farm represented.
Well, it so happened that Ignacia was lucky, she connected with a terrific nonprofit in Mexico that we've been really fortunate to work with for a number of years, and we were able to provide the technology training that this young woman put to some amazing use. She went through these courses, and she applied what she learned. And she worked with her family to change not only the work they do to grow tomatoes, but even more importantly to connect and pursue better opportunities to see what they create, literally, to the world.
As a result of what she's done, her family now has a contract with one of the biggest retailers in the United States. And it has started to put her and her entire family on an exciting path.
Another really great illustration of this is three young men who graduated from a university in Brazil just two years ago. They graduated with a big dream. In some ways, it wasn't all that different from the dream that some of the young people had when they started this company at Microsoft. They wanted to start an online business, and go into the e-commerce field and start selling tickets online. So, they created a company called Zechs (ph). Now, they were just three guys, but they recognized that with the Windows Azure-based cloud service, and a program that we have called BizSpark that provides technology tools to startups, they could, in fact, jumpstart their business.
And so what they did a year ago is provide all of the online ticket sales to one of the biggest events that takes place every year in Brazil. It's called Rock on Rio. And I know from the people I've talked to in Brazil that they know how to rock on in Rio. And so, what these guys did is launch their service, and over the course of less than 48 hours last year, they sold over half a million tickets online. And they were able to use that to really put their business on a sound footing and move it in the right direction.
It's those kinds of things that have really caused us, and inspired us to focus our corporate philanthropy and more across our business on helping to close this opportunity divide. We really do believe it's one of the most important steps that we can take as a company in this field. So, that's really what we're here to talk about a bit this morning.
We've had the chance over the last 18 months to learn from a lot of people, including some of the people in the room today, and people like them who work in every continent except save Antarctica. And what I think is really exciting is to hear a little bit from them, and then Steve will talk a little bit about where we're going, and the new programs, and the new commitment, and the big stake in the ground that we're putting in place today.
So, I would like to welcome, and spend a few minutes with two individuals who happen to be here today, Calvin Lyons, Calvin is the CEO of the Boys and Girls Club in Puget Sound; and Jennifer Corriero, who is the executive director of Taking It Global. So, Calvin and Jennifer, if you could join me.
Now, before I begin, Jennifer, I've heard a rumor that your connection with technology in fact, goes back to high school years when you were doing some testing on Microsoft Office, is that right?
JENNIFER CORRIERO: Yes. We did some incredible consulting work with Microsoft back in '99.
BRAD SMITH: That's great. Well, you all play important roles in the nonprofit community. I was wondering if you could tell us a little bit from your vantage point how you see the opportunity divide for youth manifest itself and how do you see this having changed over time?
CALVIN LYONS: Thank you, Brad. Thank you for your time. Thank you for the support that Microsoft gives to the Boys and Girls Clubs, and the community. We appreciate it.
I would say from the vantage point of the Boys and Girls Club we see opportunities when kids come to our club and they are introduced to technology for the first time. In many cases their skill sets may not be up to that of their peers, but we have a very talented and nurturing staff that takes those opportunities and attacks them to close the opportunity divide. We also find that these kids are beginning to take these opportunities and learn how to do research and study. So, we're seeing great benefits, but the need is so great. So, we're as a Boys and Girls Club we're in it for the long fight. So, we're excited.
BRAD SMITH: That's good.
JENNIFER CORRIERO: From my perspective, back in 1997, I was a teenager involved in community and technology-based projects. And I became aware of this divide that I saw sort of ahead for my generation when I was at a book launch for "Growing Up Digital." And I became very concerned for the generation of young people that I was part of, but also for future generations of youth about this gap. And so that's what motivated me to start Taking It Global with my cofounder, Michael Furdeck. And we've launched an online community to reach millions of young people, over 20 million since we first launched. We have over 400,000 members of our site that's in over 13 languages.
Now, what we see in recent years is a rise in youth unemployment. And we all know that this creates social and political and economic instability, but I think the greatest risk is a generation of hopelessness. And so that's where I think it's really critical to harness the passion and the talent that young people have and their capacity to make the world a better place.
BRAD SMITH: That's really helpful as a broad perspective. As we think about trying to make a difference, I mean, Calvin are there particular programs that the Boys and Girls Club has launched that you think are most important?
CALVIN LYONS: Sure. By all means, our president and CEO, Jim Clark has tasked us to ensure that kids receive the skills, the knowledge and access to achieve a great future. That is part of our marketing. And to do that what we're doing is instituting programs like the Formula For Impact. The Formula For Impact helps us to identify the kids who need us most, to apply research-based youth development programming, and then to measure the outcomes in three priority areas. And those include academic success, good character and citizenship and healthy lifestyles. And we're doing a great job with that, but again, the war goes on. And we're in a war to save kids.
BRAD SMITH: Well, as you think about also helping to win that war, Jennifer, can you tell us a little bit about some of the specific programs that you're pursuing?
JENNIFER CORRIERO: Yes, well, over the past decade we've had the privilege to work with hundreds of non-profit organizations, over 10 U.N. agencies, various government agencies, different companies like Microsoft, and philanthropic foundations. And what we've seen is just how critical it is to create spaces where young people can imagine and envision the future and have concrete support to develop their skills and to pursue their dreams and their ideas. And so we've created a range of programs, different webinars, workshops, online training, mentorship opportunities supporting youth with their ideas through seed funding, to really help people get their ideas going.
One example, Sara, she had this idea living in the suburbs of how much wasted space there is in backyards. And so she started this young suburban growers' network and they've created learning gardens. And they're bringing people into the gardens. They're growing herbs and vegetables, and they're giving them to the local food bank. Another example of a project from Latin America is a young person who is creating mobile technologies and apps to help encourage people to donate their blood. So, young people are bursting with ideas and they just need support.
BRAD SMITH: Well, I want to thank both of you for being here this morning, but more importantly, we really appreciate the opportunity that you've given us as a company to work with you. It's great to see you take some of the technology that we create and put it to uses that I'm not even sure we would have imagined, but for the opportunity to work together.
CALVIN LYONS: Thank you.
BRAD SMITH: So, we really appreciate it.
JENNIFER CORRIERO: Thank you so much.
BRAD SMITH: We also want to take a few moments to hear from some of the inspiring young people we've had the chance to meet. Let's start with a short video that tells the story of a very impressive woman from Kenya.
Now, please welcome two new guests, Brian Hughes, who helps as the technology coordinator for the Boys and Girls Club in our backyard, in Bellevue, and from Mombasa to Redmond, Mary Mwende, a participant in the Global Give Back Circle. Thanks to both of you. Mary, I think for any of us who have had the opportunity to visit Kenya I can see why you love it. And it's great to have you in our country here today.
I wanted to ask you a couple of questions. Brian first, can you tell us a little bit about how you came to get involved in the Boys and Girls Club, your experience there and what you do now as a mentor for others?
BRIAN HUGHES: Sure, so I grew up in a low-income housing project not too far from here actually. And there was not much parent involvement, no adults that really cared. Kids kind of just did whatever they wanted. When I was going to middle school the Boys and Girls Club came right into our apartment complex. First I was like, more people trying to tell me what to do… And I gave it a chance. I kind of went in there and checked it out and I realized not only was it really fun, but there were adults that cared about me in there. And the one thing that really pulled me in was computers. And I used those computers and I did stuff like using Club Tech programs, and learning all about computers, and now it's brought me to where I am today as a technology coordinator. I'm able to give back to the kids at the Boys and Girls Club.
BRAD SMITH: That's great.
Mary, we obviously learned a little bit about you from the video. But, now you're doing some amazing things yourself in the Global Give Back Circle. Can you tell us a little bit about what you're doing?
MARY MWENDE: Most definitely. The Global Give Back Circle, first of all, to begin with, it's an empowering and enablement process that makes sure that girls back in Kenya get through high school into the gut (sic) period, which is the period between high school, once you graduate high school and into university. There's a gut period there, which the government is trying to actually reduce it, but there's still much more to be done. And into university and finally into the workforce, that's what the Global Give Back Circle makes sure that all the girls do not fall back into the cracks of poverty and back into the vicious circle.
And this is done through actually mentoring, and also financial enablement, because, come to think of it, if you just empower a girl, if you just only mentor a girl, it doesn't yes, it will make a difference. I will be empowered. A lot of girls will be empowered. Then what next, what happens after that? Then the Global Giveback Circle makes sure that the girls not only get empowered, but they get enabled actually to join the workforce afterwards.
BRAD SMITH: That's great. You each have had different experiences, but there are probably some similarities between what you've experienced as well. When you think about what you've each gone through, are there things that you've learned about what's needed to help young people be successful?
BRIAN HUGHES: In my experience, I've learned it was so much easier to do the right thing when I had an adult that cared, when I had people that cared about what I was doing. And it really made me want to do the right thing. So, I think one thing that's really important in the development of youth is having people that care about what they're doing.
BRAD SMITH: Mary?
MARY MWENDE: I would say the same thing as Brian would say. Just imagine what would happen to a youth or, to make it more real, a girl who is out there in a world without resources and during a gut period, what would happen to that youth to any person who is young, what would happen to them during that period when they have nothing to do and they do not have the resources.
One of the things I've learned is that we need resources. We, as young people, we need all kinds of skills. We need mentorship. We need things to do. We need skills to engage ourselves. We have so much potential in us. We have so many ideas that we want to put out there to the world, but we don't know how to do it. And if you do not have the right resources, and the right skills to actually put your ideas forward, then you can't do it. But if you have people who care, adults who care, as Brian said, and then you have adults who are actually, organizations who are actually giving you the resources to actually realize your dreams, then you can definitely make it.
So, I believe that in the development of youth, skills, education, and just adults who care, and mentoring is really, really required.
BRAD SMITH: If there's one piece of advice that you could offer to other young people based on what you've learned, what would you say to them?
BRIAN HUGHES: So, I would say, just because you don't have adults immediately surrounding you, maybe parents or something like that that care about, don't give up, because there are all kinds of organizations like Boys and Girls Club, and many others, that are there just to help youth, and just to help us get where we're going. I think it's really important to seek that out.
MARY MWENDE: I would say if you dream it, if you imagine it, if you believe it, you can definitely do it. It doesn't matter where you are, it doesn't matter how many few resources you have, and it doesn't matter who is around you; if you believe it, imagine it, dream it, you'll definitely do it someday.
BRAD SMITH: I think that's probably great advice for all of us. So, thanks to both of you for joining us.
MARY MWENDE: Thank you.
BRAD SMITH: Well, I would now like to ask Steve Ballmer to join us and talk a little bit about what we're going to be doing as a company over the next few years to help address these challenges.
Steve, thank you for being here.
STEVE BALLMER: Well, thanks, Brad. Certainly thanks to Jennifer, to Calvin, to Brian and Mary, and it's wonderful to have a chance to be here today.
Lately we've talked a lot at Microsoft about big, bold bets that we're making, Windows 8, Windows Phone 8, our new Office product, and a number of other flagship product releases. Today I do also want to talk about a big, bold bet that the company is making, a different kind of bet, a bet to close this opportunity divide that we've been discussing for a target of 300 million young people around the world.
Today, I'm thrilled to have a chance to announce to you a new program that we call Microsoft YouthSpark. YouthSpark is a company-wide initiative to create opportunities for 300 million young people around the world in the next three years. Bold, ambitious, we hope achievable. We're focusing our citizenship efforts and other company resources on connecting young people with opportunities for education, employment, and entrepreneurship.
To achieve this bold goal, we're doing three things. First, we're going to focus our corporate cash giving on nonprofits that are working with youth, including forming new strategic partnerships with major NGOs around the world. Second, we're going to introduce a number of new citizenship programs focused squarely on empowering youth. And, lastly, we're going to go beyond our philanthropy work to deliver global programs like Skype in the classroom, like our Office 365 for education offer much more broadly.
In short, we're mobilizing our company to create opportunities for youth, and we think we're uniquely positioned to make a major impact. Well, 300 million is a big number, so why would I be so confident? To start, this is in our DNA. We made a commitment 30 years ago as a company, Microsoft did, to philanthropy. And since then, have developed very deep partnerships and gained a breadth of experience across the world. We are a global company with a passion for local impact. We have employees, customers and partners all over the world with meaningful connections to local communities.
Altogether, there are 100 countries with Microsoft Citizenship programs already underway. We're going to tap into those established relationships to drive this kind of real change. Beyond what Microsoft can do, we have our partners, our business partners and our NGO partners, but we also have a group of other 90,000 individual employees who came to Microsoft to change the world. They're passionate about making a real difference with phenomenal technology as well as making a real difference in their communities. I'm incredibly proud of our people.
All in all, we think we're very well positioned to spark this change through our new YouthSpark Initiative. YouthSpark is about empowering young people to imagine and realize their full potential. We're committed to using our technology, our talent, our time, and our resources to help tackle the issues facing young people around the world.
If you didn't know it beforehand, you certainly have heard today, this is a complex problem and a big challenge. However, I know we have the right vision and partnerships in place.
Take a look at Calvin and the work the Boys and Girls Clubs are doing to empower young people through Club Tech. The work that Jennifer is doing, outstanding work, Take It Global of course I like to say that, taking IT global, which is really correct to cultivate a community of young leaders and entrepreneurs. I'm inspired by Brian's story, I really am, and how he was once a member of his local Boys and Girls Club, and now is a mentor and leader. It's an exceptional, exceptional story. I'm inspired by Mary and her journey from Mombasa to being on stage with President Clinton in New York, and the work she's now doing to give back to others.
We've seen the amazing things that young people can do when they get an opportunity, underscore that. A lot is made of the opportunities young people get who have opportunities. We have to make sure more people get the opportunity. We need to work to give these 300 million young people who might not have gotten an opportunity, we need to work very hard to give them the same opportunity that other young people will have.
It's an incredibly exciting time to be at Microsoft. I think we'll look back at this year, this year specifically, 2012, and we'll see it in many ways as one of the most important years in our history. We'll probably remember it first for Windows 8, and the wave of remarkable products, but I hope we'll also look back and remember this is a year we made a decision that impacted in a very unique way the lives of the 300 million additional young people around the world.
Thanks to Brad, thanks to Mary, to Brian, to Calvin, to Jennifer for being an important part of this day and thanks to all of you joining us both here in person and on the webcast. We look forward to great partnership, great work, and great impact as we all spark the youth of the world. We appreciate it and thanks.
BRAD SMITH: Thank you, Steve.
In closing I just want to give a bit more detail about some of the new programs that we're announcing today. You heard Steve talk about a few. There's also three new things we're launching today. One is called Give For Youth. This is a global micro-giving online marketplace that's focused on raising funds for NGOs that support youth around the world.
A second is what we call the Microsoft YouthSpark Hub. This is an online space where young people can access all of the services and all of the programs and resources provided by Microsoft and select NGO partners. And this obviously focuses on and makes available the kinds of resources that we're talking about here, resources that are really focused on providing young people with education, skills, employment and entrepreneurship.
And third, we're launching what we call Innovate For Good. This is a global online community, a social effort, if you will, that's designed to enable youth directly to collaborate with each other, to inspire each other, to support each other all while using technology that itself can make a difference.
This is a big step for our corporate philanthropy. But, as Steve said, Microsoft YouthSpark is really about more than philanthropy. It is about bringing together a range of new, existing and enhanced programs all focused on empowering young people. As Steve said, this includes Office 365 for EDU, or education, so that young people, students around the world get free access to the best productivity solution on the planet.
It's about Skype in the Classroom, which is a free service that we're very proud of that enables classrooms anywhere in the world to connect with another classroom anywhere in the world to find each other and make that connection and to connect with other people who can serve as a teacher for a day, if you will. It includes our DreamSpark, and our BizSpark programs that we have already found to be very impactful and that we think we can take to yet another level.
We obviously face a lot of challenges. And we know that no single company can even remotely dream of solving this problem by itself. But, we are determined to have a real impact. We decided to step forward and to step up. So, in the world of corporate philanthropy I do think that we're putting quite a stake in the ground when, as you heard Steve say, we're going to focus on trying to reach 300 million people in the next three years.
We're investing half-a-billion dollars of the company's money over the next three years to deliver services and tools and software that will have a fair market value that, in effect, amounts to a multi-billion dollar contribution. As proud as we are of the investment that we're making and the tools that we've created, we know full well, as you've heard today, that it's people who bring it to life. It's people who work in non-profits. It's the people who work with non-profits and make their opportunity real. We know that three years from now we're still going to have some big problems to solve. But we are very optimistic about the opportunity working with others we will make between now and the middle of this decade.
Thank you to everybody who has joined us. Thank you for the people here in the room. Thank you for joining us to the people around the world who we get the opportunity to work with every day. We have some big things to do and we're really excited to go do them.
Feature Stories:
Microsoft YouthSpark Grants to Encourage Youth to Do Great Things - Sept. 20, 2012
Press Releases:
Microsoft Mobilizes to Create Opportunities for 300 Million Youth Around the World - Sept. 20, 2012
Blog Posts:
Creating Opportunities for 300 Million Young People in the Next Three Years - Sept. 20, 2012
Microsoft YouthSpark: A new chapter in Citizenship at Microsoft - Sept. 20, 2012
Microsoft Resources:
Citizenship Newsroom
Microsoft YouthSpark


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Welcome! Let's Get Started with The Debt Snowball
Step 1: What is a Debt Snowball?
The debt snowball is a proven and effective way of paying off debt. Watch this quick 2 minute video for a simple explanation of the debt snowball:
Basically a debt snowball consists of 4 steps:
- Step 1: List your debts from smallest to largest
- Step 2: Determine the minimum amount that you have to pay towards your debt each month
- Step 3: Look at your monthly budget and determine how much you can pay towards your debt each month. For the debt snowball to work correctly, this number needs to be bigger than the minimum amount that you have to pay per month.
- Step 4: Pay the minimum payment on all of your debts and put the leftover cash towards the smallest debt. Continue with this process until the smallest debt is paid off and then start putting whatever cash you have left over towards the next smallest debt. As you continue to pay off each debt the debt snowball will move faster and faster.
For a more in depth explanation check out this post.
Step 2: Budget
In order for your debt snowball to work, you need to have a budget! Your budget will help you know how much money you can afford to put towards your debt snowball. Below you can download a free budget template that will help you to know how much money you are spending each month. This budget temple is completely free for you to use. It is a Microsoft Excel file. All you need to do is click the link below and complete the purchase process. Don't worry, even though you go through the purchase process, you are not required to give any credit card information. The file is 100% free.
The following are a few pictures of what the budget template looks like:
Step 3: Start the Debt Snowball
Once you have your budget set up, you are ready to start with your debt snowball. Get started with the steps talked about in the video and listed above.


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Which sex is the worst about washing up? Why is it so important? We've got the dirty truth on how and when to wash your hands.
Information and Resources
Types of Blood Disorders
Blood Disorders Affecting Blood Plasma continued...
Hypercoaguable state (hypercoagulable state): A tendency for the blood to clot too easily. Most affected people have only a mild excess tendency to clot, and may never be diagnosed. Some people develop repeated episodes of blood clotting throughout life, requiring them to take a daily blood thinning medicine.
Deep venous thrombosis: A blood clot in a deep vein, usually in the leg. A deep venous thrombosis can dislodge and travel through the heart to the lungs, causing a pulmonary embolism.
Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC): A condition that causes tiny blood clots and areas of bleeding throughout the body simultaneously. Severe infections, surgery, or complications of pregnancy are conditions that can lead to DIC.
WebMD Medical Reference
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When I reached the hotel, I compared it with photos of the hotel on the internet, I found that I was so different . The rooms are very small and can barely walk on it . A pretty typical 2 star hotel with old architecture that has been renovated. Quality windows to avoid sound so bad. The glass room not... More
- Reservation Options:
- TripAdvisor is proud to partner with Expedia, Booking.com, Hotels.com, Priceline, Tingo, Agoda, Odigeo, TripOnline SA and Venere so you can book your Princess Old City Hotel reservations with confidence. We help millions of travelers each month to find the perfect hotel for both vacation and business trips, always with the best discounts and special offers.


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Mr.Obama will wear a black suit with blue tie, and First Lady a blue dress.
I like Mary Lincoln's flowers and ruffles and hoops. She looks happy in the dress.
adoro il modo di vestire di Jaqueline è senza dubbio la più elegante!
For me, the most memorable inauguration fashion moment was the one-shouldered Galanos gown that Mrs. Reagan wore in 1981. While I mostly disagreed with President Reagan politically, you can't deny that he brought a new era of glamour to the White House when he took office. Nancy's fashion choices were almost always impeccable. The Galanos gown was daring and stunning, and I remember being fascinated by it as a 15-year-old! Several years later I visited the Smithsonian's Museum of American History, where one of the docents explained to my friend and me how difficult it was to display Mrs. Reagan's gown. The beading on it is so heavy, it tends to pull the dress down, stretching and causing damage to the underlying fabric.


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Are you saying that we're only as good as our weakest link? That we're only as good as CNN?Bill O'Reilly • Criticizing Stewart and CNN in one fell swoop, to which Stewart says, "we have to help them!"
I have decided that I will not be able to serve a second term as a Successor Fellow of the Yale Corporation. I am reexamining my professional life and I have recognized that, in order to focus on the core of my work, I will have to shed some of my other responsibilities.Time and CNN journalist Fareed Zakaria • Revealing to Yale President Richard C. Levin his plans to resign from the school's governing board, weeks after he received a major professional scare — getting suspended from his two main gigs after getting caught plagiarizing. (Both CNN and Time eventually accepted him back.) Zakaria likely had too much on his plate: "My service at Yale is the single largest commitment of time, energy, and attention outside of my writing and television work," he also wrote in his note. Levin graciously accepted the note and thanked the journalist for his work.
If this is something young women look at and say, 'I can do this,' I think, 'Absolutely, you can do this,' I am all for that. But I think, first, I am a journalist, and this is just an amazing opportunity as a journalist…. And I am a girl.CNN host Candy Crowley • Regarding her chance to host the second of three presidential debates later this fall — a big deal because she's the first woman to do so since the 1992 elections. ABC's Martha Raddatz will also moderate the lone vice-presidential debate.
Zakaria's apology:
"Media reporters have pointed out that paragraphs in my Time column this week bear close similarities to paragraphs in Jill Lepore's essay in the April 23rd issue of The New Yorker. They are right. I made a terrible mistake. It is a serious lapse and one that is entirely my fault. I apologize unreservedly to her, to my editors at Time, and to my readers."
Time Magazine's statement:
TIME accepts Fareed's apology, but what he did violates our own standards for our columnists, which is that their work must not only be factual but original; their views must not only be their own but their words as well. As a result, we are suspending Fareed's column for a month, pending further review.
The otherwise well-regarded journalist was caught copying parts of a New Yorker article on gun control without offering proper credit.
EDIT: CNN is also suspending the host, saying he used a portion of the TIME column in a blog post, complete with plagiarism.
"We have reviewed Fareed Zakaria's TIME column, for which he has apologized. He wrote a shorter blog post on CNN.com on the same issue which included similar unattributed excerpts. That blog post has been removed and CNN has suspended Fareed Zakaria while this matter is under review."
Into his conference call, the CNN producer says (correctly) that the Court has held that the individual mandate cannot be sustained under the Commerce Clause, and (incorrectly) that it therefore 'looks like' the mandate has been struck down. The control room asks whether they can 'go with' it, and after a pause, he says yes.SCOTUSblog's Tom Goldstein • Looking back at what caused the mistaken reporting of the Supreme Court's Affordable Care Act decision, in a minute-by-minute breakdown. In case you need something very epic to read, here you go — Goldstein's post, which he claims is his first effort at "real journalism," is 7,000 freaking words long. Or, you know, longer than the usual article we link. (ht Dave Weigel)


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Chocolate and peanut butter, oil and vinegar, cream and coffee – these are things that go well together. A sink built into a toilet, however, seems to contradict hygienic logic. Unless of course you've got a killer case of food poisoning causing you to excrete fluids from all ends or provided your apartment bathroom is ultra small.
The W+W is from Roca and if you didn't guess it stands for Water Closet and Washbasin.


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- Conversion Rate Optimization & Marketing Blog | FutureNow - http://www.grokdotcom.com -
They're Suave, They Sprint, They're "In The MotherHood"
Posted By Holly Buchanan On November 28, 2007 @ 11:12 am In Articles,Branding,Marketing to Women | 4 Comments
Have you ever tried to get a coffee stain out of a cashmere sweater? It's not easy. In fact, I've given up trying, and have instead decided to bill the replacement cost to the fine folks at Suave and Sprint. It's all their fault. I was watching their original online webisode series, In The MotherHood. This isn't just giggle-to-yourself funny. It's laugh-out-loud, spit-coffee-all-over-your-sweater funny.
Lots of folks have predicted short-form webisodes could have a huge future on the Internet. But I haven't found a whole lot of brands that have A) done it well, or B) found a way to make money from it. Then along comes InTheMotherHood.com [1], sponsored by Suave and Sprint. [One quick note to the sponsors: I know there's an MSN (aka Microsoft) tie-in, but nobody using Firefox, Safari or browsers other than Internet Explorer can view the content on the homepage, including the videos. You're missing a sizeable chunk of your audience.]
In The MotherHood is the first scripted Web series by moms, for moms and about moms. Conceived by Suave and Sprint, the story will be written in part by YOU, based on your funny, comical and no-holds-barred experiences of motherhood.
I love this concept for so many reasons. But before I explain, take a look…
How many moms have hilarious stories about their kids? Because of the heavy involvement of real moms, other moms see bits of themselves in these characters. They can relate to and bond with them. And moms can vote on their favorites. It's a very interactive and collaborative effort that includes the audience rather than just talking at them.
The sponsors are building authenticity into the script. And best of all, the webisodes are really well done. I don't know what the budget was for producing these, but I'm guessing it is a wee bit smaller than Desperate Houswives [3]. In The MotherHood may not super-slick, but it does not come across as super low budget either.
The short format makes it easy to digest in-between other online activities. There are forums, discussion boards, articles, and more to engage visitors. And there are lots of chances for Suave and Sprint to advertise in this content. But there are also advertiser tie-ins that make sense. There's a section where you can meet the cast. I liked the characters and wanted to know more about them. On each character's page, they have a "playlist." I checked out "Heather's playlist" and was taken to the sprint website with a list of songs we'd expect to find on Heather's mp3 player. You can even click on a song and download it as a ringtone! Sprint has obviously woken up and realized moms like to download customized ringtones, too.
Now, I realize not everyone has the time or budget to create webisodes of this caliber, but I'm telling you, this short-form online format is going to be a huge winner with time-starved women. Mothers are looking for a quick laugh; a way to connect, and a way to see parts of themselves and their lives reflected back to them in a positive and humorous manner. It's so rare that you see this in advertising, or even on TV — and that's why In The MotherHood is real treat.
The other takeaway from this project is how to find better ways to integrate advertisers or sponsors into your content. Sprint wanted to promote downloadable ringtones. But instead of starting with what they were interested in, they started with what women are interested in. Women are interested in the show. Women are interested in the relatable characters. They want to know more about the characters. They can click to meet the cast. They can click on the character's playlist. They can see songs the characters enjoy. They can download those songs as ringtones on their own phones. Brilliant job.
Check it out. Great short videos, viral opportunities where you can send the video to a friend, and quality branded content that isn't heavy-handed. InTheMotherHood [4]is a real winner. Just have a bib ready.
[Editor's note: Anyone else find it offensive that Microsoft hasn't optimized InTheMotherHood.com for browsers it doesn't own? In order to find the video to share with you, we had to leave the website and go to a search engine, where we eventually found it on AOL, which was able to embed it on their own, iVillage-branded site thanks to YouTube, which is owned by Microsoft's competitor, Google. Thank you, Google.]
Article printed from Conversion Rate Optimization & Marketing Blog | FutureNow: http://www.grokdotcom.com
URL to article: http://www.grokdotcom.com/2007/11/28/in-the-motherhood/
URLs in this post:
[1] InTheMotherHood.com: http://www.inthemotherhood.com/
[2] click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkewJlZRKPo
[3] Desperate Houswives: http://abc.go.com/primetime/desperate/index?pn=index
[4] InTheMotherHood : http://www.inthemotherhood.ocm
Click here to print.
Copyright © 2009 FutureNow's GrokDotCom / Marketing Optimization Blog. All rights reserved.


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For work or well-dressed play, a fine watch that offers reliable, multi-function quartz analog movement with sleek, timeless style. Its rich goldtone bracelet works beautifully on its own but fits in easily with bangles, too.
- Watch case: 38mm, Quartz Analog Japanese Movement
- Tonal Roman numerals
- Fold-over clasp closure with push-button release
- Plated stainless steel bracelet, nickel and lead-free
- Water resistant; not submersible
- 2 year limited warranty
- Imported
This item is not eligible for International Shipping, Expedited Shipping or delivery to HI, AK, APO, FPO & DPO.
looks pretty, not functional I bought this watch in 2012 and it stopped working after 10 month. Looks very pretty but I wish the movement had better quality! February 22, 2014
Awesome alternative to the Michael Kors I bought this watch because I loved the thick, gold, chunky watch. I've been wanting a Michael Kors one for the longest, however, couldn't justify the price tag. This is a great alternative! I will say, it's a lot lighter than the one I was wanting, but I believe that quality makes it more comfortable. I did have to get at couple links removed. I love my watch!! May 26, 2013
Very Versatile! This watch i perfect it can be dressed up with cute bangles or left alone for a wear to work watch!!! I call it my perfect wear all the time "man" watch!!! gold tone is nice too not too yellow! April 1, 2013
Compliment magnet I am always getting compliments when I wear this. It is so versatile, I can wear it with my jeans or a dress. It completes my look. March 26, 2013
CHEAP!!!!! I have always been skeptical about buying gold tone watches but this one really caught my eye and I gave in against my better judgement. I bought it in January and by March(after only a couple of wears) the color started to change and the metal was showing. Needless to say, I sent the product back and will never buy another gold tone watch again. March 23, 2013


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Introduction to Marketing
Clear Float
This pane clears float!
|Course Number:
|Course Name:
|Introduction to Marketing (Online)
|Course Description:
|The study of marketing encompasses the activities involved in anticipating, managing, and satisfying demand via the exchange process. Activities include environmental analysis, marketing research, consumer analysis, product planning, distribution planning, promotion planning, price planning, and marketing management. The dynamic nature of marketing, the complex environment surrounding today's marketers, and various marketing functions, performers, and strategies are examined.
|Online (This course is also offered in print.)
NOTE: The information below is representative of the course and is subject to change. The specific details of the course will be available in the Desire2Learn course instance for the course in which a student registers.
Additional Information
Learning Outcomes
Learning acquired in this course can be applied to a wide variety of marketing problems in the real world. Learning is not a passive endeavor ; it requires that you be active in you pursuit of knowledge. The process of learning naturally involves errors . To learn from your errors you need to become aware of the error. Awareness of the error is the beginning of learning. Learning should be more than knowing new information; it involves the application of that information. Upon completion of the course and its four unit examinations, you will be able to apply the concepts in each unit to personal, real life situations. Course Objectives Specific objectives are as follows:
- To identify customer needs and how to satisfy those needs.
- To design goods and services that meet customer needs - the extent to which a firm fulfills a consumer's needs, desires, and expectations.
- To understand how organizations communicate information between seller and potential buyer or others in the channel to influence attitudes and behavior.
- To analyze how organizations provide goods and services to customers at the right place and time in order to meet customer needs.
- To evaluate the modern marketing concept, an organization aims all its efforts at satisfying its customers-at a profit . Appling it to day to day activities of an organization.
- To understand how to set prices, - the amount of money that is charged for "something" of value, for goods and services that will meet customer ability to purchase.
- To learn how to provide important goods and services to consumers that will result in customer satisfaction.
- To acquire a basic knowledge of marketing.
- To identify the complexity of environmental forces that impact marketing.
- To identify and study the criteria and methods of the business decision making process in marketing.
- To develop an awareness and appreciation of marketing and learn of career opportunities in marketing.
Unit Descriptions
Unit 1: The World of Marketing
Unit 1 presents marketing as a central part of every business firm. You will learn about basic marketing and why it is important to you. The contents of this unit will help you develop an understanding of marketing and the marketing concept in today's business environment. In this unit you will learn about marketing strategic planning for competitive advantage and how to evaluate new marketing opportunities in the changing marketing environment.
It is also important to understand marketing segmentation--the process of dividing the market into meaningful, relatively similar, and identifiable segments or groups.
The material in Unit 1 should also help you understand the importance of marketing. Marketing is the performance of business activities that direct the flow of a company's goods and services to consumers or users in more than one nation for a profit. Marketing affects not only businesses and nations, but also individuals. As consumers, we are affected through marketing by product choices offered in the marketplace.
Consumers evaluate marketer's needs satisfying offerings decisions by voting for the product that best fills those needs, with their purchasing dollars, by buying the product that best meet their needs.
Unit 2: Analyzing Marketing Motivations and Opportunities
Understanding consumers and organizational buyers and how they are motivated to buy is a key concept in planning you marketing strategy.
In Unit 2, you will learn why consumer analysis is essential. In this unit, we discuss the consumer decision-making process and analyze the factors that influence consumers when they make purchases. You will learn about business marketing of goods and services to individuals and organizations for purposes other than personal consumption. We also take a look at how the business customer differs from the consumer, and the individual characteristics of each. Chapter 8 focuses on the heart of the marketing and information gathering process. Accurate and timely information is one of the building blocks of the marketing decision model. Good information can help organizations use their scare resources effectively.
Product management and the new- product development are key to the success of any business. New product planning is a systematic decision making process relating to all aspects of the development of a firm's products. New product development in organizations is important because firms use products to sustain growth and foster differential advantages. This unit describes new product development processes and measures why new products fail. In addition to new product management, this unit also discusses the importance of services. Services are one of the fasting growing segments of the U.S. economy.
Unit 3: Product, Place and Promotion Decisions
This unit covers marketing channels and the physical distribution concept in supply chain management. Selecting a marketing channel is a systematic decision in marketing. You will understand the different functions intermediaries fill in the channel of distribution.
Unit 3 discusses the role of retail as well as trends in retailing, types of retailers and the expanding role of internet sales.
Chapter 14 introduces promotion- communicating information between seller and potential buyer or others in the channel of distribution to influence attitudes and behavior. Then develops the concept of promotion through Integrated Marketing Communication and the adoption process.
Unit 4: Promotion, Pricing Decisions and Ethical Marketing
Unit 4 expands on the promotion concepts with personal selling and use of the internet. If a firm wants to remain in business, its products and services must be priced to sell at a profit over the long term. Therefore, an understanding of pricing objectives, strategies, and methods is important. Pricing also is one element of the marketing mix that is "owned" by multiple groups within a firm. As a result, pricing decisions must be viewed as an interactive process. This unit presents pricing concepts, price setting, and the importance of technology marketing.
Unit 4 will also help you to develop an understanding of marketing ethics. Marketing ethics is one of the most important--and at the same time one of the most misunderstood--concerns in the field of business today. Concerns about ethical wrongdoing are almost epidemic today. Studying marketing ethics will help you to identify ethical issues and recognize the different approaches to resolving them.
Grading Information
Your final grade is based on the total points that you accumulate from the unit examinations and learning activities. These factors shall be assigned the following points:
Unit 1 Chapter 2 Activity: 10 points
Unit 1 Examination: 100 points
Unit 2 Written Activity 10: 20 points
Unit 2 Written Activity 11: 20 points
Unit 2 Examination: 100 points
Unit 3 Written Activity 12: 20 points
Unit 3 Examination: 100 points
Unit 4 Written Activity 17: 20 points
Unit 4 Examination: 100 points
Discussions: 100 points
Total Points: 590 points
Grading Scale A = 90-100% of total points possible
B = 80-89% of total points possible
C = 70-79% of total points possible
D = 60-69% of total points possible
F = 60% (and below) of total points possible
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Sunday, March 13 2011
Jukebox the Ghost: Everything Under the Sun
This is the best pop album of last year. Need I say more?
Thursday, December 2 2010
Barenaked Ladies + Jukebox the Ghost: 3 November 2010 - Houston, TX
BNL still knows how to put on a show, but they are definitely struggling to deal with the lack of Steven Page onstage, even after a year of concerts as a four-piece.


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A federal committee has published a draft of the nation's third climate assessment report, a comprehensive analysis of the latest and best peer-reviewed science on the extent and impacts of global warming on the United States.
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Aneolia - abiss® instruments's curator insight, September 8, 1:13 PM
interesting data about obesity in the USA
Rob Duke's curator insight, September 10, 11:29 AM
How do we get this kind of food security/urban garden project going in Fairbanks?
askdrmaxwell's curator insight, September 1, 2:23 PM
Minimize your exposure to harmful chemicals in food by making whole food the bulk of your diet.


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Welcome to J Beverly Hills
We take pride in providing our clients with a serene and personal experience at our salon. We have a full team able to provide all your beauty needs while offering education to recreate your personal style. We are a J Beverly Hills concept salon providing you with quality products and color to achieve any modern or classic look you want.


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Lincoln, Congress, and Emancipation
Paul Finkelman talked about the bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln's birth. He talked about the position that Lincoln continues to… read more
Paul Finkelman talked about the bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln's birth. He talked about the position that Lincoln continues to have in the national consciousness, his role in the creation of the Emancipation Proclamation, the implications of the Proclamation in American history, and his life long opposition to the institution of slavery.
The United States Capitol Historical Society's 2009 Annual Symposium, "Lincoln's Washington: Abraham Lincoln in Congress and the Presidency," was held in the Russell Senate Office Building. close
*The transcript for this program was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.
People in this video
- Paul Finkelman Distinguished Professor Albany Law School->Law and Public Policy
- Donald R. Kennon Vice President U.S. Capitol Historical Society->Scholarship and Education
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The world heard the Beetle name for the first time back in 1938 and with 73 long and impressive years tucked away nicely under their belts, Volkswagen has never really strayed away from their original design. The appeal for the Beetle never really faltered because it was, in fact, a unique design, but Volkswagen has made the decision to reignite the passion for the Beetle with efficient engines and innovative features combined to obtain a 'modern classic' in the 2012 Beetle. The vehicle will make its first appearance in China, at the Shanghai Motor Show, and then it will be brought to the 2011 New York Auto Show. Sales on the North American market will begin this autumn, while Europe sales will start in early 2012.
The new Beetle shares its platform with the new Volkswagen Jetta and will be 1,808 mm wide (84 mm wider), 1,486 mm tall (12 mm lower), and 4,278 mm long (152 mm longer). Thanks to the new proportions, the roof is extended further, the front windscreen shifted back, and the rear section follows the contour of the original Beetle.
US customers will have the possibility to choose from three trim levels - "Beetle", "Design," and "Sport" - and three engines - one diesel and two petrol.
UPDATE 05/03/13: VW has just announced a mid-model-year change for the Beetle Turbo, which includes a nice power hike and some exterior updates.


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Why We Cheer: Why do we all love the Cubs?
We all became Cubs fans for different reasons and God knows it's not because of the winning. It either has to do with family reasons, being from Chicago, the greatness of BWF as it is called on this site or because of the copious amounts of Cubs games on national tv via WGN. For me it was a combination.
The summer (1991) before I was to enter the 1st grade my mother decided to go back to work. Therefore, daycare was needed for my brother and I. Sidenote: My parents moved to Dallas from Chicago in 1982. I was born Oct. '85 in Dallas and was promptly ditched with the neighbors on a January Sunday of 1986 while my parents went to New Orleans for a few days to see a beatdown of epic proportions in SB XX. Sidenote 2: As a born and bred Dallasite I'm a Cowboys fan so go ahead and hate me. I digress. Continuing, my mother did not trust any daycare places so we were left in the care of my recently retired and transpanted to Texas grandfather (played minor league ball for the Sox in the late 40s before blowing out his arm). My grandfather was the Cubs fan that epitomizes all Cubs fans. Even took his daughters out of school early for every Friday day game. I was able to play with friends in the morning, eat lunch, then work on my reading until the Cubs game started. I would then spend the next 3 hours learning about baseball and the Cubs. Greg Maddux and Ryno and the Hawk and Gracie had me hooked. But, this isn't really about me, all of us have a story about a player or a season that got us hooked. For me it was just spending time with my grandfather, which is getting to my point. After the 1992 season when the Cubs refused to resign the reigning Cy Young winner, he finally gave up on the Cubs. Swore them off completely. Became a Braves fan. Even went as far as to buy a new Maddux Braves jersey and a few years later replaced Ryno with Chipper Jones as his favorite player. I, on the other hand had not experienced the misery of being a Cubs fan or the disappointment of being let down my management for the umpteenth time. I still had no idea about the College of Coaches or the undying frugalness of the Tribune Company, so my love for the Cubs lived on. Instead my grandfather left me alone while watching the Cubs in the afternoon and we had our baseball bonding times during Braves night games (the only ones I'd watch were when Maddux pitched). This went on throughout the '93 season. He never once discussed the Cubs with me. So the '94 season rolls around and he's still my afternoon babysitter. I come home from school on opening day around 3 PM and lo and behold there is my grandfather watching the Cubs. He played it off like he didn't care and accidentally stumbled upon them and left it on "cuz it was a baseball game." Over the next 2 seasons this became a frequent occurance. My grandmother even found him cursing at Cubs score in the paper the next day on occasion. Even when the Braves won in '95 he couldn't be happy about it because even he knew he was still a Cubs fan. But as stubborn as they come, he refused to admit it. In '98 when the Cubs played the Braves he was pissed when the Cubs lost. Which brings me to my point.
Once the Cubs grab ahold of us there is nothing we can do. They are like a dibilitating, addictive drug. They torture us, make us cry, make us angry. And we are powerless to stop it. It doesn't matter how badly they hurt us, we keep coming back for more. We love the Cubs despite them not returning the favor. They are our family and we could never truly turn our back on them. Through all the pain and misery I have never spoken to one Cubs fan, no matter their age, that wishes they rooted for another team. The Cubs are huge parts of our lives. Most of us watch a lot of them games, spend hours discussing them (I spend roughly 2 hours a week talking Cubs with my dad), reading blogs about the Cubs. Hell, after games like today's which I watched in it's entirety, I made sure to catch the highlights on sportcenter, rewatch Geo's HR a dozen times on Cubs.com, and read all kinds of blogs about the game. We all love the Cubs because they make our lives better. Plain and simple. Through the good times and the bad, they enrich our lives. They give us something to believe in. We know they will eventually win it all and it would have all been worth it. Even if they don't ever win we will still have had the times of our lives at BWF, meeting new people, going on roadtrips, etc that we never would have experienced were it not for the Cubs. While I don't think I could honestly handle living the rest of my life without us winning the Series, I wouldn't want to be a fan of any other team.
My gradfather passed away in 2002 without ever seeing the Cubs win a World Series, but I know he's still watching every game. The bond I shared with him over the Cubs I have shared with my father ever since. The Cubs are a genetic disease in our family that I hope I eventually pass on to my kid.
Great thoughts
Maybe I should feel lucky that Wayne Drehs didn't know about you, Stantwone. Your thoughts are eloquent, and they're exactly what he would've been looking for. Plus, you were actually born in the 80's.
It's like I've said before... the pain we experience will never be paid for in full, but a WS win would certainly have made all of our sorrow worth the thrill. And I have to believe that your grandfather will know when it happens, but keep that one away from the scientists on this blog
Your post was dead on. I live on the Southside and I remember my dad taking me to Wrigley field via the L train. My dad worked nights and I remember coming home from school and watching the rest of the Cubs game with him in the afternoons. He passed away in 2002 also, never having seen the Cubs win a World Series.
I sometimes feel so disgusted when the Cubs lose that I want to stop watching them just as your granddad did, but by the next day I'm all excited and can't wait for them to come on TV. I truely think that Cub fans are a rare breed and hopefully we will get to see this team do what our fathers and grandfathers before us never got to see, a World Series Championship on the Northside.
Thanks for putting into words how I think most Cubs fans feel about this franchise.
Nice work...
Your 2008 is my 1984. My 1984 was my dad's 1969. My dad's 1969 was my grandfather's 1945.
In between those years there were the College of Coaches, the Fanzone/Mitterwald/Biittner/Franks Years, the Elia tirade and the Don Baylor Era to gnaw on. It truly is generational - win or lose.
It's a rare passion that few have or will experience.


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Spicy Nutmeg Carrots
More From Southern Living Cooking School
Recipe Time
Cook Time:
Prep Time:
- 1 (16-ounce) package baby carrots
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper
- Salt to taste
- 1. Cook carrots according to package directions.
- 2. Stir together butter and next 3 ingredients in a small bowl. Pour mixture over carrots, tossing to coat. Salt to taste. Serve immediately.
My Notes
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Spicy Nutmeg Carrots Recipe at a Glance
- COURSE: Side Dishes/Vegetables
- CONVENIENCE: Entertaining, Kid-Friendly, Quick/Easy
- MAIN INGREDIENT: Vegetables
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Deal of the Day
You could hit dozens of shopping sites looking for deals and coupons, but why? We're continuously scouring the web and posting the best deals on clothing, travel and everything in between.
Found 1 active deal in Special Occasion.
Macy's: Buy any gift from a wedding registry, get $20 off $50 or more
At Macy's, buy any gift from a wedding registry and receive a $20 off coupon for a future purchase of $50 or more, via the directions below. That's the first such offer we've seen from Macy's this year. Some conditions apply. Deal ends September 30. To get this deal:
- Purchase any gift off a couple's wedding registry
- you'll receive an email confirmation; click "get your code" on the banner on right-hand side
- within 72 hours, you'll receive another email with the "Give a Gift, Get a Gift" unique coupon code


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- Mohammad Mohammadipour
- Tehran
- Iran
This conversation is closed.
What makes a genius?
Could you have come up with Einstein's theory of relativity? If not – why not?
Are geniuses an extreme version of ourselves?
Or, are their brains fundamentally different?
Topics: genius
Showing single comment thread. View the full conversation.
May 15 2012: Walking where others fail to see the path. Not being stuck in a specific field of study or school of thought . Being autistic and having a busted brain thats wired wrong. Being Alone because you think different. Having weak social skills. Having LOW EQ. Being exposed to prescription drugs at a young age because doctors like making machines out of people. Having a father who sucked up a bunch of agent orange and spit out a kid with pudding pops for legs and eyes that were jacked up and shitty DNA.
Some genius is born out of less then pleasant conditions as a survival mechanism or conditioning process. Too real for ya. Sorry my apologies and some insight to my condition http://youtu.be/7sRHhzNLKb4 just a form of art i tap out manual unlike no other in the world a simple visual jazz manual tap tap tap lots out wires. Feelings that are void in personal engagements with others.
Doing art and avoiding having anything in common with any other artist and hiding out because its more comfortable to create a reality then fit into one.
Showing single comment thread. View the full conversation.


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Thu, Jan 12, 2012
A contract valued at $23 million has been awarded by Spirit
AeroSystems to General Dynamics and Technical Products to produce
winglets for commercial business-jet aircraft.
General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products will produce
and deliver composite winglets to Spirit AeroSystems, which then
will assemble them onto wings for delivery. Production of the
winglets will begin immediately at the company's Marion, VA,
facility, with deliveries starting in the third quarter of
"This production contract highlights the advanced composite
capabilities and aerostructures experience General Dynamics brings
to its customers in the commercial aerospace market," stated Jim
Losse, vice president and general manager of the company's advanced
materials operation.
General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products' advanced
materials operation designs and manufactures advanced composite
structures and radomes for several types of military aircraft and
for select commercial aerospace customers. The Marion facility
employs approximately 450 people.
Airborne 09.29.14: Young Eagle Tragedy, Overdue Hoover Honors, Paper Plane Record
Aero-TV: More Good News For GA -- AEA's Paula Derks Analyzes 2Q/14 Sales Data
Airborne 09.26.14: A320neo First Flight, Aspen ESV Trial Approved, Garmin Flies G5000/Beech400A
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Pure Hotness!!
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Army Sergeant who is Retiring, due to injuries. Injuried my back shortly after returning back from a 15 month long deployment to Iraqi, and of all ways I got injuries was the most thing I enjoyed doing and that was running in PT. Now that I can't run, or stay in the best shape I used to be in, it's brought on some other ailments, gotta stop ! Still to hard! Update in hrs or days
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Love at first site, damn!!
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Ricardo Manelli.
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September 17, 2014
Concert Pharmaceuticals Announces Initiation of
CTP-730 Phase 1 Clinical Trial Under Celgene Collaboration
August 26, 2014
Concert Pharmaceuticals Achieves $2 Million Milestone for AVP-786 Under Avanir Pharmaceuticals Collaboration
August 12, 2014
Concert Pharmaceuticals Reports Second Quarter 2014 Financial Results and Provides Company Update; Conference Call Scheduled Today at 8:30 a.m. EDT, Including Discussion of Positive Results from Phase 1 Brain Imaging Trial of CTP-354
Concert Pharmaceuticals is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company. We apply our extensive knowledge of deuterium chemistry to discover and develop novel small molecule drugs.
In the News
Mass High Tech BioFlash: Concert -Good news for two of its partnered drugs
September 22, 2104
MedChem News
Deuterium Medicinal Chemistry: A New Approach to Drug Discovery and Development Read more
Issued U.S. Patents
Concert is building a broad patent estate. View List
Concert has presented at a number scientific meetings. View Poster presentations


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Red wines that are more fruit-forward and lighter in tannin and body.
Medium bodied reds that go down easy, with smooth tannins and supple fruit.
Wines where earthy and/or spicy dominate the flavors – typically medium to full body.
Full bodied wines that have concentrated fruit and are higher in alcohol and/or tannins. Some need age.
The 2005 vintage is a prime example of the outstanding quality of Washington
Cabernet. The wine opens with bright aromas of raspberry, rhubarb, and cherry.
It is ripe and fruity on the palate with a touch of clove, cinnamon, and lavender.
A complex wine, it has a saffron character in the firm tannins, truffle and earth
notes, and a long, dense, cocoa finish. Match this Cabernet with hearty entrees
such as pepper steak, beef stew, or lasagna.
The Hogue Cellars, founded in 1982 by Mike and Gary Hogue, is located in Eastern Washington's Columbia Valley, the premier grape growing region of the state. The climate and soils of the Columbia Valley produce grapes with intense fruit flavors and high natural acidity. The wines have a liveliness and ripe, zesty fruit flavors that make them ideal complements to a wide range of foods.
Columbia Valley is the largest of Washington State's wine growing regions, with almost 11 million acres. It encompasses a number of smaller regions, including Yakima Valley, Walla Walla Valley, Red Mountain and more. The vast area consists of a range of climates, allowing viticulturists to plant a diverse selection of grape varieties. Most wineries plant rows sparsely, which...Read More About Columbia Valley
(cab-uhr-NAY sow-veeh-yawn) King of Red Many refer to Cabernet Sauvignon as the king of red grapes. Perhaps that title is due to its ability to grow worldwide in a number of climates, or to the fact that it produces wine with such character yet such diversity. Either way, this grape is responsible, as a whole or a partner, for some of the greatest wines in the world. In Bordeaux,...Read More About Cabernet Sauvignon
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