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Discussion 2. Reasons for Smoking 3. Harmful Health Effects of Smoking 4. Solution to Smoking Discussion Smoking is the inhalation and exhalation of substances or fumes that come from burning tobacco. In the past, smoking was believed to be risk-free, but medical studies have recently reported that tobacco smoking has about 4000 chemical elements. These chemical elements contain toxic components. This presentation provides harmful health effects of smoking, reasons for smoking, and solutions to smoking. Reasons for Smoking 1. Advertising causes mainly young people to smoke. Cigarette smoking is advertised several times more than any commodity apart from cars. Several tobacco advertisements are carried out in attractive and amusing places. For young people to be part of these gorgeous places, they might consider the necessity to buy that product. 2. Another reason is the “everybody’s doing it” attitude, where during adolescent stage, teenagers are urgently attempting to squeeze in and be cool. 3. For some young people, smoking might signify independence or freedom. One key development role of teenage stage is to declare independence from their parents or guardians through building personal identity. 4. Weight control is a significant concern among adolescent girls and is demonstrated in cigarette adverts and posters. Adolescents are not at all shown what cigarette smoking does to teenagers’ lungs and heart. 5. Adults smoke for certain motives. They may have numerous stress and pressure cases due to financial and private difficulties. 6. Finally, most lifetime smokers state that they love smoking. Smoking offers them enjoyment and only makes smokers have a sense of happiness. Harmful Health Effects of Smoking 1. Thousands of tobacco users die around the world annually due to smoke-related illness. 2. Some tobacco users are reported to die due to their habit, where most deaths occur in middle age. 3. The combination of carbon dioxide and nicotine substances in all cigarettes that are being smoked momentarily raises blood pressure and heart rate. This damages the blood vessels. 4. Smoking can result in stroke and heart attacks since it hinders blood flow, interrupting oxygen to various parts of the body, such as feet and hands. 5. Introduction of cigarettes with low tar does not reduce these effects since smokers often prefer deeper puffs and hold the smoke in lungs for a long period. This smoking practice draws the tar deeper into the deeper parts of the lungs. 6. Carbon dioxide takes away oxygen from muscles, body, and brain tissues, this process makes entire body, particularly the heart, work extra hard. Eventually, the airways puff up and allow inadequate air, especially oxygen, into the lungs. 7. Tobacco usage during pregnancy raises the possibility of low birth weight, unplanned abortion, prematurity, and prenatal mortality in women. This has been considered by medical practitioners a fetal cigarette smoking disorder. Solution to Smoking 1. Nicotine substitute substances are accessible through medical professions and health clinics, which comprise doses, nasal sprays, and transdermal. Most smokers believe that smoking is more economical to relieve desires while they concentrate on taking away the psychological position of the addiction. 2. Mentally organizing yourself to give up smoking allows the smoker to adapt to the concept of becoming a nonsmoker. Smokers should take some time to cope with the concept rather than making instant decision in quitting smoking. 3. NRT raises the success rate for smokers under cessation sessions since every form of NRT has been reported to be efficient. They have minimal or no severe side effects to smokers. 4. Combination therapy that engages the drug Zyban, the concurrent using of NRT (bubble gum) and counseling of smokers under smoking cessation program appear to be an efficient solution for most tobacco users. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Swea by Zora Neale Hurston Review Essay Table of Contents 1. Introduction 2. A touch of her own life 3. Delia and her travails 4. Conclusion – writing the Hurston way 5. References Introduction Of all the great writers, artists and other literary figures who dotted the landscape of the Harlem Renaissance, Zora Neale Hurston is one of the most well known woman-writers, known for her searing portrayals of Negro life at the time. There was a certain rawness in her characters that left you in no doubt about their intense feelings of shame, hurt, repression and resignation that characterised their difficult lives. Sweat is no exception. R.S. Gwynn has put together as much of a literary treat as possible, by combining texts with helpful notes and other relevant information. A touch of her own life Hurston’s early life and initial experiences of racial discrimination have found their way into the story. There are quite a few similarities that are portrayed: one is the area in which the principal character of the book, resides. It is largely similar to the town in which Hurston spent her childhood, Eatonville. It was here that the White and Black communities were deeply mindful of the racial lines that were sharply drawn. The area in which the White people lived was inaccessible to those of the other community. It was a dream location where money flowed freely and one did not have to slog with chores at home or elsewhere for that matter. The second similarity is the relationship that Hurston shared with her employer – one of dependence that was based on this unquenchable thirst for recognition and acceptance. This is a recurring theme throughout the book. Delia and her travails Sweat is about the life and times of Delia, a black woman who does people’s laundry for a living. A church-going dutiful wife, she puts up with the all the abuse (both mental and physical) and philandering of her husband of fifteen years. She is literally at the end of her tether when her husband Sykes flaunts his latest woman on the one hand and exhibits sadistic traits by bringing a rattlesnake into the house, on the other. There are moments of revelation and surprise when Sykes realises that Delia could also be assertive, at times. The people of the town are witness to this appalling situation where cruelty and lack of feeling seem to be the principal emotions that are played out, day after tiring day. The story ends with Sykes being paid back in his own coin: the rattlesnake he brought in to scare his wife finds its way into his bed, only to fatally attack him. Delia does nothing to help him, though she is aware of his suffering and inevitable death. Sykes’ finally realizes that his wife is aware of his unavoidable death. Conclusion – writing the Hurston way By portraying Black life in all its stark reality, Hurston has developed an inimitable style of writing that recreates southern Black life as it existed then. Effects of racial prejudices, marital discord, one-upmanship and a host of other negativities are liberally sprinkled not just in Sweat , but in almost all other works of Hurston. The grit that Delia displays in the face of all this oppression is the symbol of Black resistance that characterised the entire Harlem Renaissance – a theme that was closest to the heart of Zora Neale Hurston. References Gwynn, R.S. Literature: A Pocket Anthology. (Penguin Academics Series) III Edition. Longman. 2006. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Choice of Visuals: Reasons 2. Visuals and the Intended Message: Support 3. Expected Reaction: Assumptions 4. Appendix A Choice of Visuals: Reasons The reasons for choosing the pictures above as the support for the text conveying the message are quite basic. The images (see Appendix A) were chosen to create a mild yet noticeable contrast between the message that the textual part of the visual contains and the image that serves as the support. As a result, the audience will be able to receive a nuanced piece of information and approach it from different angles when processing it. Visuals and the Intended Message: Support Each of the visuals in question supports the message substantively at the same time provoking a discussion. For instance, the billboard shows that the modern concept of beauty is often used at its most superficial level in order to cater to the target audience. The photo, in its turn, allows for an in-depth analysis of modern clichés of attractiveness. Combined with the message, the picture allows the audience to conclude that the lack of details serves as a boost for the viewer’s imagination and, therefore, helps build an attractive image based on a comparatively small number of characteristics. The video comments on the controversy of the contemporary concept of beauty whereas the screenshot displays clearly that the problem of the modern beauty concept has not been explored fully yet. The drawing, however, displays quite evidently that the current concept of appearance and beauty, though shaped significantly by the uniform set of principles foisted on people by modern media, is still affected significantly by the unique viewpoint of an individual. Moreover, the drawing makes it very clear that the concept of physical attractiveness is flexible enough to be seen in the images that are typically interpreted as failing to comply with the contemporary attractiveness standards. More importantly, the visuals discussed above allow suggesting that the phenomenon of beauty cannot possibly exist outside the society. The combination of the five visual aids provided above helps understand the modern culture of beauty. As a result, a better understanding of where the line can be drawn between attractiveness and the lack thereof is provided. Specifically, the tools for marking the characteristics that make a certain object, person or idea attractive can be identified. Expected Reaction: Assumptions It is expected that the reaction of the audience is going to occur at least at two stages. First, the audience will understand the contextual meaning of the message and consider it from the perspective of their culture. It is assumed that the members of the audience will perceive the information in different ways depending on their age, gender, ethnicity, and social background. The differences in the message perception can be attributed to the variety of prejudices that will make the target audience view the message through the goggles of specific social standards. E.g., women may consider the message in question as clichéd whereas men may assume that it promotes a positive image of a woman. The second stage of the audience’s reaction can be defined as recognizing the underlying ideas of the message and the double meaning that it contains. Last but definitely not least, the reinforcement of the message in question with the help of the font characteristics is expected. Particularly, it is expected that some members of the audience will display clearly positive emotions as the message becomes increasingly evident, whereas others, on the contrary, may become irritated as the message is being rubbed in. However, no neutral attitudes to the message in question are expected. Appendix A Billboard Photo Video Drawing Screenshot | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Introduction 2. Main body 3. Conclusion 4. References Introduction In the article, the group of researchers examines and analyzes the issue of giftedness and of talent. They pay special attention to two questions (1) the existence of innate talents and (2) the role and importance of initial conditions in the further development of a talented child. The research is based on a detailed analysis of literature and existed theories including Anastasi (1958), John B. Watson (1924), Ceci, Barnett, and Kanaya (2003), etc. Using the theory of Dickens and Flynn (2001), the researchers create a model of inherited and non-inherited personal taints which influence the giftedness and talent of an individual. The research concludes that both inherited and non-inherited taints have an equal impact on personality development and his unique talents. Main body The strength of this research is that it provides readers with a detailed review and analysis of theoretical perspectives used to form a sample. Using Dickens and Flynn’s approach, the researchers construct a hypothetical model which demonstrates that “as the number of traits that are required for a competency increases, an individual moves to a higher group corresponding to different initial conditions” (Papierno et al n.d.). The authors argue that there has long been general agreement that personality factors are important in creative achievement and talent. Even in the matter of measuring unique abilities, there have been persistent and recurrent indications of genetic predispositions to talent. The weakness of the research is that it does not use a true experimental study and real-life results. This factor increases the subjectivity of the research and question its scientific value. Thus, this hypothetical model can be tested (or rejected) by other researchers in a true experimental study. The value of the study is that the researchers analyze and evaluate previous research results and create a new model and explanation of talent. They conclude that “innate talent, in the form of genetic predispositions for domain-relevant skills, may be one initial condition for expertise, [but] it is not the only one for a pathway to exceptional ability” (Papierno et al n.d.). Ability alone cannot produce outstanding accomplishment. This requires a confluence of various non-intellective facilitators such as motivation, a secure self-concept, the capacity to stay on task, sound mental health, the desire to show and share one’s talent, and many others. Conclusion The results are consistent with the hypothesis that innate talents and initial conditions are crucial for the development of a talented personality. Thus, a careful inspection of real-life results is needed. Future research on this topic will help to expand the existing knowledge and test the hypothesis. The researchers identify many environmental influences which dictate not only the degree to which the child’s ability will be permitted to develop but even the kinds of talent that a society is willing to honor. These environmental influences include not only the child’s family, peer group, school, and community, but also expertise. Expertise features to some degree in all talent areas because different levels of intellectual ability are required for various kinds of accomplishment. For an individual to emerge as gifted, his or her reasoning ability must be anchored in some specific area of performance (music, sport, art). The researchers state new questions and issues which would help to investigate the nature and roots of talent. They single out the importance of: “the exploration of specific combinations of traits and proximal processes influence the development of expertise” (Papierno et al n.d.). The overall presentation of the material and research is good. References Papierno, P. B. et al The Nature and Nurture of Talent: A Bioecological Perspective on the Ontogeny of Exceptional Abilities. The Prufrock Press Inc [on-line]. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
The Origins of the Criminal Justice System in America Coursework The criminal justice system comprises government institutions and systems operating simultaneously to uphold social control, mitigate and deter crime, and sanction lawbreakers with rehabilitation and criminal penalties within the confines of the constitutional laws. In the U.S, the evolution of the criminal justice system can be traced from the President’s Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Justice of 1967 with the famous “The Challenge of Crime in a Free Society” report which made several recommendations including the formal establishment of a state Criminal Justice System (Walker, 1992). This report coined the phrase, “criminal justice system” and described it as the periphery of enforcing standardized conducts aimed at protecting society and an individual. Generally, this system strives to align society towards justice and confidence to law-abiding citizens (Walker, 1992). Within the realms of the American laws, the criminal justice system comprises of the law creators (Legislative), courts (adjudication), and correctional facilities such as probation, parole, prisons, and jails (Walker, 1992). Until the late 1960s, the focus was only on police. This abruptly changed in the 1970s following surging crime rates across America with the introduction of the Warren court. This Supreme Court redefined altered powers of the courts and the police. In addition, it redefined the rights of an individual. These changes were inspired by Law Enforcement Education Programs of the late 1960s (Walker, 1992). The introduction of detention centers was inspired by the Quaker movement though it was necessary as part of correctional measures. In addition, predominant Civil Rights movements of the 1960s necessitated the change from mere policing to the introduction of responsibilities and definitions for other organs forming part of the Criminal Justice System (Walker, 1992). References Keller, G and Mary, A. (2002) Evolving Strategy of Policing: Case Studies of Strategic Change . New York: National Institute of Justice. Mutchnick, R. (2009) Criminal Justice Interactive: Companion Text . New York: Prentice-Hall. Schmalleger, F. (2010) Criminal Justice Today: An Introductory Text for the 21st Century . New York: Pearson Prentice Hall. Walker, S. (1992). Origins of the Contemporary Criminal Justice Paradigm: The American Bar Foundation Survey. Justice Quarterly Journal , 9.1, 1953-1969. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
The Physics of Gun Recoil. Scientific Background Essay Table of Contents 1. Introduction 2. Body 3. Conclusion 4. Personal Evaluation 5. References Introduction Recoil is the backward momentum of a gun after a bullet has been discharged. It is sometimes referred to as: kick, kickback, or knockback. On most occasions, this movement of a gun causes discomfort to the shooter since reduces the accuracy of the target. There are numerous occasions when a shooter is thrown backward after shooting, especially in Hollywood movies. This backward force is what is termed as recoil (The Ballistician, 2002). Newton’s principle of momentum conservation best explains the recoil of a gun. This principle states that every action has an equal and opposite reaction. Momentum is the ability of an object to resist any change in its motion. Linear momentum occurs when an object moves in straight line. Angular momentum occurs in rotational motion. The basic principle in the two cases remains to be conservation. According to Newton, objects that are moving tend to keep on moving and those at rest continue at the same state unless an external force is applied. This work tries to explain the physics behind gun recoil. What makes this happen? And how can this be reduced to minimize the injuries that are caused by recoil? What are the main parameters that can be changed to make a gun efficient and with little recoil? This is a physical science operation that can easily be dealt with to reduce its impact. This can only be done with an in-depth understanding of the scientific background surrounding it. Propositions can later be deduced on ways of reducing the impact of gun recoil. Body A gun at rest is affected by three types of forces. These are the weight of the gun pushing downwards, the normal force exerted by the shooter upwards, and the point of contact with the shoulder. Firing the gun allows for the projection of a bullet by force. This causes another opposite force that pushes the gun backward. Most importantly, it should be remembered that the principle of momentum conservation holds at any moment of the process. Therefore, when the firing has been done but the explosion of the gun powder has not taken place, the gun and the bullet (though in motion) have a zero net force (Pinizzotto et. al., 2004). The law of conservation still must hold as the bullet jets out of the gun. If we assume the bullet has a mass of m b and a speed of V b then the momentum P b will be given by P b = m b V b . As the bullet moves in the forward direction, there must be a balance in the momentum, something that gives the gun-bullet system momentum of zero. This is an equal and opposite momentum equated by: P b =- P b . This opposite momentum is what causes the recoil. It has to take place to maintain the principle of momentum conservation which must be zero to keep the balance (The Ballistician, 2002). Up to this point, someone may be having a question as to why the recoil does not have the same velocity as the bullet. This is the verdict: according to Wallack’s report entitled American Rifle and Design Performance (1977), the bullet has a small mass but large speed thus enabling the large momentum with which it is released. This is unlike the gun which has a large mass. This makes it have a very small speed thus low momentum. Nevertheless, this recoil is always enough the push the shoulder of the shooter strong enough. This means that a heavier gun is expected to produce lower recoil than a lighter one. There are two types of recoil. Primary recoil is the one described above. A secondary coil occurs when gases outflow from the muzzle. The latter is always the most dangerous coil for the shooter (Wallack, 1977). Conclusion Gun recoil is inevitable. As mentioned above, this is a physical science phenomenon that is part of gun manufacturing. Unfortunately, the principle of conservation of momentum has to be adhered to to ensure that the efficiency of any gun is achieved. The gun-bullet system must have a net momentum of zero. Therefore, the amount of recoil will depend on the weight of the gun and other specifications. To come up with guns with less recoil, these specifications have to be dealt with by the manufacturers and other stakeholders. Personal Evaluation I strongly believe that guns should be made in a way to produces less recoil. The recoil causes a lot of discomfort and even injuries to the shooters. When a shooter predicts the recoil of a gun, he can avoid pulling the trigger appropriately hence missing the target by choosing to jerk the trigger. The discussion above has clearly shown that having the correct balance of the weight of a gun and that of the bullet can help reduce the recoil. Another issue is on the gun powder. Manufactures should produce battles with fewer outflows of gases hence reducing chances of the secondary coil. References Pinizzotto, A. et. al. (2004). “One-Shot Drops Surviving the Myth”. FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin (Federal Bureau of Investigation). The Ballistician, (2002). What is recoil and how is it calculated ? Web. Wallack, L. (1977). America Rifle Design and Performance . NY: Winchester Press. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Ibsen’s A Doll House and Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex Essay Ibsen’s A Doll House and Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex have some characteristics in common. These plays deal with two people whose lives change dramatically in a few moments as their past contains some secrets. Both Oedipus and Nora live without knowing their selves properly. Of course, the most suggestive similarity of the two plays is that recognition and reversal occur simultaneously for protagonists as they learn an important thing about themselves and this knowledge changes their life completely forcing them to leave their homes. First, it is important to trace the parts of the plays where recognition and reversal occur. As for Oedipus, he learns all the truth and really accepts it when the shepherd tells about his past deeds and Oedipus’ past and origin. The king finally understands and exclaims, “Ah lost! At last it’s blazing clear. / Light of my days, do dark”. (Sophocles, 1996, p. 67). He learns the truth and he also understands that it is unbearable to keep living knowing the whole truth. As far as Nora is concerned, she sees her husband’s true colors when he finds out about the loan she took. The woman sees that her husband is not the man she thought him to be. Nora tells to her husband that she was waiting for some ‘wonderful things’ to happen to see that he was the man she loved but she adds, “when the wonderful thing did not happen; then I saw you were not the man I had thought you were” (Ibsen, 2013, p. 64). The woman understands that her husband is a hypocrite who loves himself more than anyone in the world and only cares about his reputation. This makes her consider suicide or leaving home to be able to understand what to do with her life. Importantly, recognition and reversal also have similar outcomes as the protagonists choose to leave the place where they lived in ignorance. Oedipus laments, “I am driven from my native land by my own flesh and blood. / I can return no more. I am a parricide” (Sophocles, 1996, p. 123). For Oedipus, his secluded existence is certain kind of redemption and, at the same time, an attempt to protect people from the curse he cast on his family. Nora decides to leave her husband and she stresses, “I must stand quite alone, if I am to understand myself and everything about me” (Ibsen, 2013, p. 62). The protagonist’s seclusion is an attempt to understand who she really is. She also thinks that she will protect her children if she is far from them. It is also important to add that both protagonists committed a crime in their past. Of course, Oedipus’ crimes are much more serious than Nora’s forgery is. However, there is an important mitigating circumstance. Thus, Oedipus never knew that he killed his own father and married his own mother. Importantly, Oedipus did not intend to kill Laius but the fight started and Oedipus had to kill the man. At the same time, Nora took the loan (in an illegal way) to spend it on the trip that her husband needed to improve his health. The woman did her best to pay the debt back and forget about it. In conclusion, it is necessary to note that the protagonists of the two plays in question find out the truth that changes their lives, as they cannot live in the same way they did. The past of Oedipus and Nora makes them see the wrongs of their lives. The two people are forced to leave their homes to come to terms with themselves. Oedipus and Nora committed some crimes and, after many years, they learnt the horrible truth about themselves. This recognition makes them immediately change their lives dramatically. Reference List Ibsen, H. (2013). A doll’s house . North Charleston, SC: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. Sophocles. (1996). The Oedipus plays of Sophocles: Oedipus the King; Oedipus at Colonus; Antigone . New York, NY: Plume. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Peniel (2010) examines how President Baraka Obama rose to power and became president of the US. The author views Obama’s successful ascend to power as result of activism by black males. Throughout, the authors talks about three men namely: Malcolm X, Stokely Carmichael, and Baraka Hussein Obama (Penile 2010, 26). The author provides a background of Barak Hussein Obama who was abandoned by his father, raised by a single mother, and later sent to live with his grandmother. In fact, Baraka Hussein Obama was among the first men to benefit from Black power activism (Peniel 2010, 23 ) . This book shows the contribution made by male gender towards attaining democracy in the United States. The first chapter of the book dubbed “Re-imagining Black power movement” looks at Obama’s rise to power as a defining moment in the US. Obama’s rise to presidency paves way to multiculturalism and diversity in the US. Penile (2010) explains that Obama is a son to a Kenyan immigrant and a European descendant; he has an Asian sister, two black daughters and a white grandmother. Considering that Obama has relatives with different culture, this notion brings mainstreaming and contributes to Obama being accepted by different people in the US. The author perceives Black power as an international force developed by Students, trade unionists, and tenants’ rights activists (Penile 2010, 77). Intellectuals including artists and politicians influenced by the ideas of Malcolm X and Carmichael also formed part of this group. Joseph Peniel explains how the work of Black power in the US helped in expansion of American democracy. He adds that, out of the Black power activism, participatory democracy was born. This was necessary for American dream. Indeed, Abraham Lincoln had a dream for “government of the people, by the people, for the people” (Penile 2010, 166). Motivated by this message, activists like Martin Luther King, Fredrick Douglass and others demanded for abolition of the slavery system in the US. The author associates democracy gained at this time with the existence of Obama in the white house. Penile (2010) points out that, Fredrick Douglass and Martin Luther had qualities similar to those of Carmichael and Malcolm X. Because of these qualities, democracy and mainstreaming of all middle class Americans was acquired. Black power was not a movement restricted for Black Americans only. However, Black power was a movement that led to integration and mainstreaming of all middle class people from all races. Carmichael coined the term “Black power”, which meant unity of people in the service of elected political power (Penile 2010, 365). The Black power sought for a new political background that would ensure eradication of brutality, poverty, conflict, and hopelessness. The author observes that Carmichael and Martin Luther had great concerns for people. Carmichael had a passion for social equality and healing of racial wounds for the southern people. In the chapter “Stokely Carmichael and America in the 1960s,” Peniel covers the life of Carmichael in a holistic manner. Joseph Peniel brings a new perspective, which many history writers had not achieved without issues of discrimination. He gives an insight on Carmichael’s life as a local organizer and his international activism (Penile 2010, 211). In the chapter “Malcolm, Harlem, and American Democracy,” Joseph Peniel examines the life of Malcolm X beyond what people knew in the beginning. He describes Malcolm as a competent social organizer and an international activist. He also shows Malcolm’s relationships with writers such as John Henrick Clarke, James Baldwin, Lorraine Hansberry, May Angelou, Albert Cleage, and Rosa Guy (Penile 2010, 312). Penile (2010) talks of how Malcolm changed his name to Hajj Malik El Shabazz. He observes that apart from Malcolm being an activist in the US he also had a lot of international influence. Malcolm X attended major international events such as the Afro-Asian conference in Indonesia and the New York visit of Cuban president Fidel Castro. Peniel (2010) explains the connection between the cold war and liberation of Africans and African Americans. According to Penile (2010), the liberation was attributed to Malcolm’s international politics. Apart from Malcolm’s international influence, his cultural and scholarly leadership changed America after the cold war. Malcolm worked hard to redefine democracy in the US. It is his leadership style and democratic change in the US that has given power to African-American leadership over the years. Malcom’s efforts as an activist laid a foundation to the rise of the first black president in 2009. In conclusion, the book Dark Days, Bright lights looks at Black power activism from 1960s until the time when the first black president was elected to power. The author reveals how the Black power contributed to change in democracy and mainstreaming of people from all races in the US. This book portrays Barak Obama as a fulfillment of Americans icons’ dream such as Malcolm X, Martin Luther among others. Black power did not only advocate for end of the slavery system but also for eradication of hopelessness, racial conflicts and cruelty in the society. Black power sought to liberate all people from class discrimination by redefining democracy and advocating for class and gender mainstreaming. Works Cited Penile, Joseph. Dark Days, Bright Nights: From Black Power to Barack Obama . Sidney: ReadHowYouWant.com, Limited, 2010. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Minitab Tools for Statistical Analysis Essay This discussion allowed one to have an excellent opportunity to try Minitab’s tool for data analysis using the example of a simple data set. Descriptive statistics help nurses identify the properties of the data set. According to Heavy (2019), the main methods of this statistical analysis are central tendency and the spread of variables from the central value. For example, the mean of the participant’s age is 36 years old, while the median age is 33.5. Hence, the researcher may conclude that the majority of participants are around the age of 36, which can be later used to draw conclusions based on their responses, despite the fact that some respondents are younger and some are older. For the “cringe” variable, the mean is 3.2, and the median is 3.5. Next, the “uneasy” variable has a mean of 3.7 and a median of 4, which shows that more participants feel uneasy as opposed to “cringe.” For the variable “afraid,” both the mean and the median are 3.5. The mean for “worried” is 2.5, while the median is 2.6. From examining this value, one can see that being “worried” is a much lesser concern for the participants as opposed to others. Finally, the responses for the “understand” variable have a mean and median of 3. This basic statistical analysis of the data helps understand some of the core properties of this data set. The mean value in this data set shows the average value of the response, while the median is the middle value within the response if they are arranged in sequence (Heavy, 2019). With this approach, the researcher can determine which of the variables is of more concern to the participants by looking at the highest mean value. The histogram displayed in Figure 1 represents the variability of the data in this data set. The purpose of this statistical tool is to give a researcher a visual representation of data for analysis and see the number of data points that correspond to a specific range of values (Heavy, 2019). Specifically, it shows the relationship between the participant’s age and the factors reviewed in the survey, which is “cringe, uneasy, afraid, worried, and understand” feelings. Histograms are a helpful visual tool since they allow one to analyze the data by looking at the graph quickly. For example, when creating a histogram for each variable in this data set, one can see that as people age, they feel more uneasy but less worried. Figure 1 is a histogram created based on the variables “age” and “uneasy.” Based on it, one can assume that people between the ages of 40 and 60 report the highest levels of the “uneasy” feeling, which allows drawing some hypotheses as to the reasons and age-specific factors. Notably, people below the age of 30 report having this feeling less often than those of other ages. In summary, working with Minitab’s tools for statistical analysis makes the process of data analysis easier because this software is designed for the purpose of statistical analysis and has built-in tools for it. With this data set, the descriptive statistics allowed us to determine basic characteristics of data. Both descriptive statistics and a histogram can help perform a basic analysis of data and evaluate its basic properties. Figure 1. Histogram for “uneasy” The created histogram shows how frequently the respondents choose each option (ranging from 1 to 5) when answering the “uneasy” question. In particular, the most common indicator 5 was selected seven times, and option 4 was chosen six times. Then, reducing the frequency, option 2 was elected four times, 3 – two times, and finally, 1 – only once. Such ranking demonstrates respondents’ confidence in their answers – they are not focused on the average position. The total response frequency of high scores (4 and 5) is thirteen, as opposed to the sum of the frequency of 1, 2, and 3 – only seven times in total. This fact means that the responders’ majority’s answers are leaning towards high frequency, demonstrating mainly the consistency and common opinion of interviewees with respect to the discussed indicator. Reference Heavy, E. (2019). Statistics for nursing: A practical approach (3 rd ed.). Jones & Bartlett. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Discussion of the Pricing Policy of Hotels in Saudi Arabia Essay The findings of the study indicate that the managers in Saudi Hotels pay attention to several criteria when development the pricing policies. In particular, they focus on the level of demand and the competition. For example, their prices can fluctuate depending on the changes in the number of visitors during a year. Nonetheless, there were some exceptions to this rule. Some business administrators paid attention such criteria as the cost of service and expected profitability. Nevertheless, these hoteliers were not in the majority. It should be noted that many respondents emphasized the impact of false information and unforeseen events. For example, one can mention the rumors about the epidemic of swine flu in the country. Furthermore, it is possible to mention the political unrest in various countries of the Middle East. These factors make hoteliers to change their pricing policies. It is not permissible to overlook these circumstances since they can profoundly influence the performance of a hotel. On the whole, the managers were aware of the fact that there is no perfect strategy for setting prices. It should be taken into account that scholars also provide various recommendations about the most optimal pricing strategies. For example, one can speak about the so-called cost-plus model. It implies that managers should take into account the operational expenses of a hotel and its expected profitability (Pride & Ferrell 11). One can argue that this model was adopted by some of the business administrators interviewed during this study. Nevertheless, researchers can argue that this framework does not take into consideration the fluctuations in demand and supply (Pride & Ferrell 11). By relying on it, one can miss the opportunities for increasing the profitability of hotel. Furthermore, this strategy cannot help avoid losses. Furthermore, researchers pay attention to such a factor as competition. In their opinion, hotel managers should remember about such issues as the pricing policies of other hotels and the intensity of competition in the field. Finally, one should remember about such a concept as dynamic pricing. It implies that hoteliers should focus on the available market information such local events, competitors’ strategies, historical records, customer surveys or the data provided by travel agencies or airlines (Talluri and van Ryzin 25). This approach is beneficial since it ensures the flexibility of pricing policies and helps managers to retain clients (Talluri and van Ryzin 25). This is its major strength. Overall, it is possible to say that the respondents are familiar with the recommendations offered by scholars. In some cases, they may not necessary use the concepts that researchers mention in their works. However, in most cases they are aware of the challenges discussed by scholars. For instance, they usually avoid pricing policies that are based only on organizational costs. Furthermore, they are not willing to enter price wars with other hotels. As a rule, these professionals are familiar with the practices adopted at other hotels. These are some of the main aspects that can be identified. These cases suggest that hotel managers in Saudi Arabia attach great importance pricing policies. In their opinion, this aspect of yield management is critical for the profitability of a hotel. Furthermore, they apply different tools while doing their work. This approach is critical for the profitability of these hotels and their long-term sustainability. Works Cited Pride, William, & O. Ferrell. Foundations of Marketing , New York: Cengage Learning, 2011. Print. Talluri, Kalyan, & G. van Ryzin. The Theory and Practice of Revenue Management , New York: Springer, 2005. Print. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Risk Assessment and Safety Planning Research Paper Introduction Risk refers to the probability of harm befalling on an individual. Risk assessment refers to the identification of things or situations that can cause harm to individuals or structures to employ suitable preventive measures and precautions (Health and Safety Executive). This is because everyone has a right to protection from all possible dangers. Incidences at workplace or home can lead to loss of lives, destruction of tangible assets, increase insurance expenses, and in the end, lead to a financial loss where businesses are concerned. Risk assessment consists of five steps (Health and Safety Executive). The first step involves identifying hazards. A hazard refers to anything that can cause injury and includes such things as chemicals, cabinets, electricity, and so on. Identifying hazards involves walking around a workstation to see what can cause harm, inquiring from staff members, contacting trade organizations, and checking instructions from manufacturers. The second step involves coming up with a list of those people who are at risk of hazards identified in step one. Such a list would consist of staff members, members of public as well as suppliers (Health and Safety Executive). The thirds step, evaluation of risks, involves looking at the origin and nature of risks and how to eliminate or control such risks. The fourth step involves documenting and executing findings from previous steps as well as sharing with all stakeholders (Health and Safety Executive). Execution involves such things like labeling, erecting warning signs, and carrying out emergency drills. The last step involves a constant review of the whole process to assess progress or lack of progress to take necessary steps. Safety planning involves coming up with a method of avoiding risky situations or things (Health and Safety Executive). Generally, there are various areas considered risky both at home, school, and in workstations. These places include entrances and exits, windows, floors, walls, ceilings, furniture, cribs, storage units, bathrooms, and toys. Rungs and entrance slopes should have strong handrails with proper levels for all people to use. Doors should be unlocked to ease access to and from the building. Also, hallways should be lit properly and be clear of any obstacles to make it easy to get to an exit door in case of emergency (Hendricks). It is tempting to look outside through the windows, especially in floors beyond the ground. Several cases of people falling several floors down are common, and the causes range from accident to premeditated occurrences like suicide. As such, it is advisable to design barriers on windows to prevent such incidences. Grills are quite suitable as barriers through the use of limited window opening also assists in preventing people from falling through windows. Also, it is advisable to clear any cords that may cause strangulation (Hendricks). Depending on the type and texture of a floor, it is important to ensure that floors are free from any objects that may lead to incidences like tripping over. Where floors are slippery, those in charge should erect visible warning signs so that users apply necessary precautions (Hendricks). In case carpets are in use on some floors, those concerned should ensure that all edges are flat to avoid obstructions. Those responsible should maintain tiled floors to make sure that replacement or fixing of tiles takes place promptly. Lastly, floors should be free of any protruding objects like nails (Hendricks). Constant maintenance of walls is inevitable. Such items like electrical exits, wall coverings, notice boards, and any wall hanging need be inspected. Those in charge should cover every electrical exit and especially that which is not in use to avoid incidences of electrical shock. Wall hangings should be light in weight while notice boards should be firmly fastened to walls. Those charged with operating notice boards should ensure that materials used for sticking notices are harmless (Hendricks). Ceilings with removable tiles need constant checking to ensure that all tiles are safely in place. Also, it is important to check for leaks from the roofs because such leaks cause damage to ceilings and with time, tiles that make up a ceiling may fall on people using a particular house. It is advisable to place smoke gadgets in the ceiling, and this calls for regular testing of such devices to ensure that they assist those in the house in case of urgency. Any item hanging from the ceiling should be quite light to avoid surging the ceiling board or loosening of tiles making up the ceiling (Hendricks). Furniture with projecting screws is a health hazard, and caretakers should ensure that such projecting nails or screws are cleared. Also, it is advisable to have rounded furniture instead of sharp-edged furniture. It is important to secure shelves, chests, and drawers on the walls to prevent them from falling and causing harm to people around or in the house or workstation (Hendricks). Works Cited Health and Safety Executive. Risk Assessment . Web. Hendricks, Charllote. How Safe Is Your Classroom? Identifying Hazards Before Accidents Happen. Web. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
How Serfdom Saved the Woman’s Movement Essay How Serfdom Saved the Woman’s Movement is a masterpiece written by Caitlin Flanagan, an author and an editor. The most outstanding issue in this writing is what happens when a mother works. According to Flanagan, “…because it reveals the unpleasant truth that life presents a series of choices, each of which precludes a host of other attractive possibilities—is that when a mother works, something is lost” (Behrens & Rosen, 309). Flanagan has gone to extend of expounding this and to state exactly what is lost when a mother works. One of the most important things that are lost in this case is the relationship between children and their mother. Flanagan states that, “…small children develop an immediate and consuming passion for the person who feeds and rocks and bathes them every day. It is in the nature of the way, they experience love” (Para. 20). Therefore, as mothers become absentees, children tend to channel their affection to the nannies. Even though some people try to refute these claims, Flanagan states that it is natural that children will try to develop strong chords with the people who take care of their physical needs and spends more time with; talking, laughing and sharing their trial and tribulations. All working mothers lose freedom and they share one thing in common, oppression, regardless of whether they are professional or not. The nannies themselves feel oppressed because they cannot give enough time to their own children, while the working professionals suffer the same brunt of not spending quality life with their children. “All working mothers, let us remember, are oppressed, and the oppression of the wealthiest is somehow more important, more urgent, more remarkable, than the oppression of the poorest” (Flanagan Para. 63). Studies show that some women go to work out of duty, not that they love what they do. In this case, they lose the worth of living. Instead of living, they start surviving. A study carried out to determine to what extent women wanted to work revealed that most of them would really love to stay at home and tend their children. “All three of the factory workers said they’d wanted to stay home with their children when they were small (and one of them, whose teenage daughter became pregnant, fervently wishes she could have been home during the girl’s adolescence). However, perhaps these wish were better left un-granted” (Flanagan Para. 126). Nevertheless, the writer of this article does not totally agree with Flanagan. To some extent, Caitlin Flanagan is right to claim that something is lost when mothers work. However, Flanagan raised some critical issues in this paper, which we cannot look. One of the books quoted by Flanagan states that “Indeed, becoming a mother is the single best way a woman can elevate her risk of living in poverty” (Flanagan Para. 138).This notwithstanding, mothers who work and employ nannies to look after their children are providing a form of employment. Given the current economic situation, for a mother to work is no longer a choice, but a necessity. Studies also show that working part time reduces the stress that comes with motherhood. Therefore, even though Flanagan maybe right in her claims, the writer begs to differ on some matters of principle as mentioned above. After all, working is fun and it is secure to work. Given the fact that under traditional marriage the father takes away all the benefits after divorce, it is advisable for mothers to work especially in these times when divorce has become a common place in our society. Works Cited Behrens, Laurence, & Rosen, Leonard. “Writing and Reading across the Curriculum”. New York: Longman. 6 th Ed. 1996. Flanagan, Caitlin. “How Serfdom Saved the Woman’s Movement.” The Atlantic. 2004. Web. https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2004/03/how-serfdom-saved-the-women-s-movement/302892/ | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Quality and Safety Education for Nurses Essay Table of Contents 1. Introduction 2. Importance of Safety-Enhancing Technology 3. Improving the Use of Safety-Enhancing Technology 4. Training Nurses and Improving Equipment Design 5. Conclusion 6. References Introduction Quality and safety education for nurses is an important aspect of the learning process. It is important to learn QSEN competencies in order to ensure the safety of nurses and patients. QSEN enables nurses to provide quality health care service to patients. QSEN enables the prevention of accidents in the workplace. It is imperative to apply QSEN to understand the limitations of safety-enhancing technologies. Importance of Safety-Enhancing Technology Safety-enhancing technology includes the use of bar code medication administration; computer provider order entry; electronic handover tools; patient monitors and alarms; and ventilator and anesthesia machines (Galliers, Wilson, Randell, & Woodward, 2011). Safety-enhancing technology lowers the probability of risk as it reduces the element of human error. Machines and computers are oblivious to fatigue. Nurses can program computers to perform repetitive tasks. The repetitive action has no effect on computers. However, repetition increases the risk of fatigue in humans. Safety-enhancing technology is not only meant to eliminate the repetitive nature of nursing work. Safety-enhancing technology is also meant to increase efficiency and accuracy in the transmission of information. In the health care profession the integrity of the information is a critical component in the delivery of competent care. An error in recording can lead to irreparable harm. One of the most important aspects of nursing care is the handover stage. It is the transition point in patient care “where one individual or team passes responsibility for, and information about a patient to another” (Galliers et al., 2011, p. 501). According to one commentary, “These transitions cross boundaries of space and time” (Galliers et al., 2011, p. 502). The patient progresses from the care of one team to another. At the same time, healthcare professionals change shift and this requires the transmission of information from one group to the next. Two of the most popular mobile devices used in the handover of patient information are the iBleep and the MedicMate (Galliers et al., 2011). Improving the Use of Safety-Enhancing Technology The rationale for using medical devices and safety-enhancing technology is to reduce the risk of human error. However, researchers discovered that it is impossible to eliminate the human element in nursing care. For example, the handover of information has been found to be the starting point of communication problems. Upon close examination, researchers discovered that nurses use symbols to simplify the communication process. However, the standardization of symbols and notations was lacking in the healthcare profession. For example, different symbols were used to express the same concept (Galliers et al., 2011). This type of communication problems resulted in poor transitions (Galliers et al., 2011). According to one commentary, several cases of poor handover “have been implicated in incidents of patient harm, poor outcomes, and ineffective work practices” (Galliers et al., 2011, p. 500). It imperative that nurses and healthcare professionals must be aware of the potential ambiguities in using symbols and notations (Galliers et al., 2011). Furthermore, nurses and healthcare professionals must develop a list of recommended symbols. They must promote the standardized symbols. The proponent of this study personally witnessed the problems that occurred as the result of poor handover of patient information. Training Nurses and Improving Equipment Design Safety-enhancing technology are usually limited to providing information, alerting nurses on critical activities, provides warning signs, and reminding health care workers about urgent tasks. But when it comes to administering medicines, encoding information on mobile devices, and pressing the increment button, a nurse has to do these things. Robots are not yet a part of present day health care facilities. It is the human element in the utilization of safety-enhancing technology that is oftentimes the root cause of error. For example, a bar code medication administration alerts the nursing staff to split the tablet in order to administer the correct dosage. However, there are cases wherein the nurse on duty forgets to split the tablet before administering the same to the patient (Mattox, 2012). Another good example is the error in using electronic alarm systems. In one case, the nurse attempting to silence the alarm system erroneously pressed the increment button that changes the infusion rate of the delivery of drugs into the body (Mattox, 2012). Nurses must undergo training in order to learn the correct application of safety-enhancing technology. Furthermore, nurses must study the potential problems inherent in safety-enhancing devices. Conclusion It is important to apply safety-enhancing technology in order to reduce the probability of human error. Computers and medical devices are oblivious to fatigue. However, researchers discovered that it is impossible to remove the human element in nursing care. Safety-enhancing technology can only go as far as improving the flow of communication. However, human activity is still needed when it comes to encoding information and the performance of certain tasks. In the case of encoding information, nurses utilized symbols and notations that have never been standardized. As a result human error is introduced in the handover of patient information from one group to the next. In order to solve this problem, health care professionals must standardize the meaning of the symbols that are utilized within the nursing profession. It is also important to train nurses not only on how to use safety-enhancing technology, but also the inherent problems associated with a particular technology or device. References Gallier, J., Wilson, S., Randell, R., & Woodward, P. (2011). Safe use of symbols in handover documentation for medical teams. Behavior & Information Technology, 30 (4), 499-506. Mattox, E. (2012). Medical devices and patient safety. Critical Care Nurse, 32 (4), 60-68. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Improving communication, collaboration, and teamwork is necessary to avoid the negative results associated with these issues. In particular, team-building exercises, orientation and training programs, and recognition and reward programs will help in preventing burnout and adverse patient outcomes. Both poor job satisfaction and understaffing have a profoundly negative impact on the functioning of the hospital. Shortage of personnel increases workload quantitatively and makes it harder qualitatively, as nurses have to perform custodian or managerial tasks, which are inconsistent with their training (Yahchus, Ohler, Crowe, Teclaw, & Osatuke, 2017). This tendency relates directly to the second issue – namely, reduced job satisfaction that results in high rates of expected turnover. High workload and abundance of clerical tasks, both produced by understaffing, lead to lower satisfaction and a greater possibility of turnover (Hudgins, 2016). These two factors lead to adverse patient outcomes, lower patient satisfaction, and burnout among the personnel (Yahchus et al. 2017). To prevent these negative impacts and maintain and improve the quality of care in the hospital despite the existing challenges, it is necessary to address both issues. Improved communication, collaboration, and teamwork have the potential to reduce or even eliminate the negative impacts of understaffing and reduced job satisfaction. Collaboration between the employees is crucial, as the job satisfaction among nurses is known “to be influenced by the work climate and work relationships” (Hudgins, 2016, p. E63). In particular, the employees are likely to experience greater job satisfaction when they perceive “a strong association between ethical behavior and career success in the organization” (Hashish, 2017, p. 159). This correlation means that communication is also pivotal for addressing potential turnover, as it ensures that the management and employees share the same vision of the working climate in the hospital. Finally, teamwork is likely the most important component of addressing both issues, as it is conducive to higher job satisfaction and retention and better patient outcomes at the same time (Yahchus et al. 2017). Therefore, bolstering teamwork, collaboration, and communication in the hospital is a necessary prerequisite of improving quality care and addressing staff shortage and poor job satisfaction. Team-building exercises, orientation and training programs, and recognition and reward programs are the two techniques recommended to address the current challenges. With the hospital understaffed, the primary way to maintain a high quality of care is to improve the effectiveness of teamwork. Team-building exercises lead to better clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction – for instance, they reduce patient falls by approximately 60 percent – meaning that they have considerable potential to compensate for the impact of understaffing (Yahchus et al. 2017). Additionally, team-building exercises have a side effect of increasing job satisfaction and, consequently, reducing potential turnover rates (Yahchus et al. 2017). Recognition and reward programs are also essential for job satisfaction, as they are a crucial retention strategy, especially for nurses (Hashish, 2017). As for orientation and training programs, they provide education “for both management and clinical staff,” thus ensuring that all personnel shares the same vision of how the hospital should function (Hashish, 2017, p. 163). Hence, team-building exercises, orientation and training programs, and recognition and reward programs are suitable interventions to address current understaffing and poor job satisfaction issues. To summarize, staff shortage and low job satisfaction resulting in high turnover rates are both critical problems in the hospital. To prevent their negative impacts, such as adverse patient outcomes, burnout, and turnover, it is necessary to bolster communication, collaboration, and teamwork. Team-building exercises, orientation and training programs, and recognition and reward programs lead to better job satisfaction and partially compensate for understaffing, which makes them suitable techniques to promote a shared vision and address current challenges. References Hashish, E. A. A. (2017). Relationship between ethical work climate and nurses’ perception of organizational support, commitment, job satisfaction and turnover intent. Nursing Ethics, 24 (2), 151-166. Hudgins, T. A. (2016). Resilience, job satisfaction and anticipated turnover in nurse leaders . Journal of Nursing Management, 24 , E62–E69. Web. Yanchus, L. J., Ohler, L., Crowe, E., Teclaw, R., & Osatuke, K. (2017). ‘You just can’t do it all’: A secondary analysis of nurses’ perceptions of teamwork, staffing and workload. Journal of Research in Nursing, 22 (4), 313–325. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Avoiding & Settling Disputes Under Sales Contract Law Essay The case of Raymond Smith illustrates the conflict which can arise after signing the contract of sales. The major peculiarity of this problem lies in the following: the seller of the car officially disclaimed any liability for the injuries and repair costs caused by defects in the vehicle. A month later the buyer, Raymond Smith, received serious injuries due to the damage in the steering mechanism. The most important task is to determine what would happen if Smith sues the dealer for the breach of warranty. Overall, it is hardly possible to give a conclusive answer to this question because much would depend on the specific circumstances. To analyze this situation, we should first define sales and lease contracts and identify the major components. As Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) states the contract of sales is the agreement according to which a seller passes the title to a specific good to the purchaser for a specific reward (The American Law Institute, § 2-106, unpaged). A leasing agreement implies practically similar terms with the exception that the lease is temporary. It should be borne in mind these types of contracts “impose an obligation on each participant that the others expectation of receiving due performance will not be impaired” (Beatson & Friedmann, 505). In other words, each person receives what he expects to receive. We can apply this principle to the case. Raymond Smith hoped to acquire a new and well-functioning car but his expectations were not fully met. This is one of the reasons why disclaimers of the dealer may be treated as unlawful. In this respect, we need to discuss such a notion as the warrant of implied merchantability. The term merchantability can be interpreted as the suitability of the product for a particular purpose (The American Law Institute, § 2A-213). If we are speaking about cars or any other vehicles we should also mention such criteria as safety. Naturally, the dealer did not give any express warranty but contracts of sale usually imply this warranty. Scholars call it a reasonable expectation (Jennings, 426). This example indicates that Raymond Smiths expenses should be compensated. However, this case cannot be discussed only from the perspective of the buyer. We need to consider the dealers standpoint. He may argue that that the defect in the steering mechanism was caused by the clients actions and under such a scenario the clients claims would be groundless and he will be eligible for no legal remedies. So, it is quite probable that Raymond Smith would receive no indemnity. To give a definite answer to this question, we also need to know whether the dealer has specified that the car had a defect. If he did so, his disclaimers are fully legal. Raymond Smith cannot be considered as a “good faith customer” because he was informed about the hypothetical problem. Again, we do not know these details; this is why it is rather difficult to predict the outcomes of the trial. Thus, we can conclude that existing legislation does not offer precise guidelines for such cases. Most likely, Raymond Smith will be able to withstand his rights in court because there was an implied warranty of merchantability. But, there is also a great likelihood that his suits will be of no use. This can happen if the damage was due to his fault or the dealer warned him about the problem with the car. In this paper, we have just identified the major facts which should be taken into account by the participants of sales contracts, lawyers, and judges to avoid or settle such disputes. Works Cited Beatson, Jack & Friedmann, Daniel. Good faith and fault in contract law. Oxford University Press, 1997. Jennings, Marjanne. Business: its legal, ethical, and global environment . Cengage Learning, 2005. The American Law Institute. Uniform Commercial Code . Cornell University Law School, 2004. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Macro Economic Strategy of AT&T Evaluation Essay Introduction Macro environment refers to forces outside an organization that are not within its control. These factors influence the industry and the organization within the industry. Macro environment analysis is an important component of strategic management. This is because it produces much of the information required to assess the outlook for the future. The macro environment factors are technology, legal, economy, social cultural and political. Mission According to the company website, the mission of AT&T is “to exploit technical innovations for the benefit of AT&T and its customers by implementing next-generation technologies and network advancements in AT&T’s services and operations” (Phillips, 2012) Marketing goals AT&T aims at closing the gap in its marketing goals. This is by focusing more on human experiences. AT&T has a brand flagship whose main goal is on services provided rather than the handset itself. The firm also aims at mobile applications. It has made use of television marketing and it aims at establishing itself in the market. They claim to have the largest coverage in North America. They use Television to show their cell phone models, promotions by giving free phones, billboards across the country and social media Hooley, Piercy & Nicoulau (2008). Economic This refers to exchange rates applied, the rate of interests, inflation, taxation, and level of economic growth. High economic growth boosts the demand for AT&T products, while high rates of interest reduces the level of investment due to high prices. Inflation leads to higher wage demands from employees and this raises costs. Strong currency is detrimental as it makes exports expensive. The economic debt crisis and the US levels of debt have forced AT&T’s clients to cut their spending on the firm’s products. AT&T survived the economic downturn, and the business is booming after the recession. The currency is performing well compared to other major currencies, which makes export cheaper for the company Hooley, Piercy & Nicoulau (2008). Political Laws characterize the political environment and regulations set out by the government that show the extent to which government can intervene in the industry. AT&T is subject to American laws and regulations. The regulations that they make affect the other factors such as economic and technological environment. The laws include taxation policy, environmental friendly policy and, product manufacturing policy. The taxation of telecommunication gadgets is another intervention made by the government, which hurts the industry. Legal Law is an important component of the macro environment. AT&T makes sure that it complies with all the laws that govern the industry as set out by the country. Law has the effect of rendering some services obsolete. Changes in legal position can stop certain services and this can make a firm to have huge losses. The company may be facing legal battles in courts, which if they were successful would lead to huge cash outflow, which would affect the company’s balance sheet position (Cravens and Piercy, 2009). Social-Cultural This refers to the shared beliefs of the population. When there is a change in social trend, it affects the total demand for a company’s products. Consequently, it affects the willingness and availability of people to work. AT&T is a leader in social trends as it not only follows trends, but it starts them. People may have beliefs that use of telecommunications gadget leads to health complications such as cancer. This erodes the revenues of AT&T. Technological environment With a rapidly changing technological environment, AT&T has managed to move with the change. Development and introduction of new technologies has led to revolution in new product development, reducssed costs, and improved quality. Technology reduces costs incurred by reducing wastage, it improves quality of work done, and it leads to innovation. The technological development helps the organization as well as the consumers. AT&T, being more of an electronic industry has succeeded in technology, and it has a competitive advantage because of its revolutionary products such as 4G technology and wireless growth (Cravens and Piercy, 2009).. Conclusion The macro environment affects the firm’s operations positively and negatively. The firm needs update on macro environment. AT&T is in a dynamic environment with many players. The rapidly changing factors like level of technology, demographics, and economic conditions have not spared the firm. However, the firm has managed to stay aloof of others due to its strategic decisions concerning macro environment. Therefore, analysis of macro environment factors is necessary for the success of the business. References Cravens, D. W., & Piercy, N. F. (2009). Strategic marketing (9th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. Hooley, G., Piercy, N. F., & Nicoulau, B. (2008). Marketing strategy and competitive positioning (4th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson. Phillips, J. (2012, February 25). Mission & Vision . Retrieved from AT&T Enterprise: https://about.att.com/innovation/technology_research_museum | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Analysis of the Quote of Ben Stein Essay Oftentimes, people say that we want everything we can get out of life. Lofty dreams and ambitions are part and parcel of surviving the daily grind and gives each of us an objective to live from day to day, in pursuit of the seemingly unachievable goals. Yes, I said seemingly unachievable. That is because we all want things that can be achieved if we only knew how to get them. I believe that is what Ben Stein was trying to impart upon us when he was quoted as having said that ” The first step to getting the things you want out of life is this: Decide what you want.” Why should a person decide upon what he wants out of life? Mainly because by deciding to achieve what you want, you consciously move towards achieving that goal. By deciding upon what you want to achieve, you assure yourself of personal satisfaction and happiness once you reach the goal that you set for yourself. I would like to offer myself up as an example of this quote. Being a typical teenager, my life is full of consumer-driven needs and wants. I want the latest iPod, I want the latest fashion, the latest gadgets, I want everything. But, I also know that my parents have financially limited capabilities and can only provide so much for me in terms of my whims and caprices. So then I had to stop and ask myself, ” What is it that I really want? Am I prepared to do anything to get it? How do I plan to pay for it? Will it be worth it in the end?” Taking paper and pen in hand, I listed down my needs as opposed to my wants and decided that my needs outweighed my wants in life. It turns out that what I really needed was also something that I wanted to have. I needed a new computer to replace the run-down one that I had been using in the past. After careful analysis, I decided that the computer I needed and wanted was a laptop. Having decided upon what I wanted, I was now in a position to look into how I could afford to purchase the item I want. I had some money in savings and earned a decent amount of pocket money doing after-school chores, and after talking to my parents, they agreed to shoulder a portion of the cost as well. So off I went and purchased the laptop after 3 months of saving up my share of the amount I had agreed upon with my parents. Now, I am happy to report that I have achieved a sense of personal satisfaction and accomplishment from being able to decide upon what I wanted in life, going for it, and eventually getting it. I am happy because I have learned that all-important first step in figuring out how to get the things I want out of my life. Throughout the steps I took in order to decide upon what I want to have in life and how to achieve it, I learned lessons in differentiating between needs and wants, learned how to handle my finances in order to achieve an end goal, and finally, got my feet wet in the pool known as independence because I learned how to make a responsible decision and how to live up to my commitments in the process. Indeed, by deciding upon what I wanted to achieve in life, I learned how, in the future, I can achieve even more. I just have to make one decision at a time and follow it through to the very end of the process. It isn’t hard to do when you put your mind to it, Right Mr. Stein? | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Human Understandings of Gender and Sex Essay (Critical Writing) Table of Contents 1. Sex and Gender: Distinctions 2. Personal Observations 3. Examples of Gender and Sex 4. The lesson for Young Children 5. Importance 6. Conclusion 7. References Human understandings of gender and sex have been evolving over the past two centuries. Since 1970, many young people have been developing new concepts and ideas about the concept of gender. These new understandings have led to the evolution of the term, thereby encouraging different individuals to undertake social roles, responsibilities, and activities that would have been identified as inappropriate. This reflection paper describes the outstanding distinctions between gender and sex. Sex and Gender: Distinctions Sex and gender are two terms that many scholars use interchangeably. However, Woods (2017) defines “gender” as a social construct that determines how individuals view themselves. Experts use conceptions of functions, roles, and tasks attributed to women and men to understand gender positions. The term focuses on females and males in an attempt to understand their unique expectations and interests. The concept is expanded further to describe the ethnic background, wealth, age, and health. However, researchers use the word “sex” to refer to the existing biological differences between women and men. The concept also denotes the presence of mobile gametes in males and immobile ones in women. People can determine sex by examining the absence or presence of Y chromosomes. Personal Observations The completed class materials have equipped me with new ideas about the above concepts and their differences. I understand that sex can be subdivided into these two categories: men and women. I also acknowledge that there are individuals who should be labeled as transgender. This is the reason why some countries allow members of this third sex type to pursue their interests. I currently have a broad knowledge of gender. I identify it by focusing on the positions, roles, careers, and expectations of different individuals. For example, the term dictates the hierarchies of men and women in their respective societies. In many regions, men tend to monitor the directions of their families. People can use the term to analyze the existing differences among females and males based on wealth or age. Examples of Gender and Sex I have engaged in different conversations revolving around the concepts of sex and gender. For example, there was a time when I was discussing with my relatives the distinctions between the two concepts. I observed that the majority of them had a clear knowledge of sex. However, I noted that they used gender to refer to the biological differences existing between females and males. This is a clear indication that such terms were being applied incorrectly. The reasoning behind such an argument is that there is a significant difference between gender and sex. I also had conversations with professionals in the fields of sociology and psychology. Such experts understood the meanings of gender and sex and used them correctly. They also defined sex using the unique features possessed by men and women. This means that the two terms were being applied appropriately. I have viewed different television programs and movies in an attempt to understand the differences between gender and sex. For example, the film, “She’s the Man” narrates the story of a young girl who joins her brother’s learning institution. She pretends to be a boy in an attempt to join the school’s soccer team. From this film, I observed that Viola Hastings’ sex of that of a female. However, she managed to pursue a duty that was associated with boys and men. The video revealed that the concept of gender roles was changing in different parts of the world. Although women’s sexes remain unchanged, their duties have merged with those of men (Woods, 2017). The applications of these terms in such observations, films, and programs are correct since they focus on all the key aspects associated with them. The lesson for Young Children My proposed lesson targets children aged between 12 and 15 years. The first aspect of the plan is the definition of sex. The learners will be encouraged to give their views about the concept. The lesson will then define sex as biological and physical differences. Diagrammatic representations of reproductive systems will also be helpful throughout the learning period. The next section will focus on the definition of gender. Learners will be enlightened about the differences between these two terms. The idea of gender will be discussed using social functions and family positions. Changes experienced in the definition of gender roles will also be described. Finally, the learners will have to complete several assignments. Importance All people need to have a clear distinction between these towns. This kind of knowledge can guide them to pursue diverse careers and roles that fulfill their goals. It will also ensure that young people are prepared for the technological and career changes experienced in the world today (“Study finds,” n.d.). More people will also be willing to fight for gender equality. Conclusion The above personal reflection has revealed that people use sex and gender used interchangeably. Sex denotes the biological and physical differences existing between females and males. Gender is a socially constructed term focusing on people’s social responsibilities and duties. It is, therefore, appropriate for people to have a proper understanding of these distinctions to minimize stereotypes and pursue their career goals. References Study finds gender brain differences. (n.d.). Bloomberg News , p. A36. Woods, J. T. (2017). Gendered lives: Communication, gender, and culture (13th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publication. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Emirates Airline’s Online and Mobile Strategies Research Paper Table of Contents 1. Introduction 2. Emirates Airline: Social Media Strategies 3. Concluding Remarks 4. References Introduction Companies are identifying and implementing new technologies to communicate with their customers. One of these technologies is social media. Emirates Airline has embraced the benefits of social media platforms in an attempt to deal with increased competition (Emirates, 2015). This discussion gives a detailed analysis of Emirates Airline’s mobile and online presence. Emirates Airline: Social Media Strategies Emirates Airlines is a leading player in the global aviation industry ( Emirates Airline takes mobile strategy to new heights, 2016). The number of passengers traveling from one place to another has increased significantly within the past decade. Emirates Airline focuses on the best approaches to create awareness, guide clients, and educate its stakeholders. The airline company has partnered with Havas Media to come up with a powerful mobile platform. The name of this platform is Millennial Media. This platform is characterized by creative solutions aimed at addressing the needs of the targeted travelers. The mobile-based initiative showcases the luxurious and unique amenities offered by the company. The traveler can sample several engaging videos ( Emirates Airline takes mobile strategy to new heights, 2016). The platform informs the clients about the company’s products and services. This social media platform explains why Emirates Airlines successfully communicates with its targeted market. The information makes it easier for customers to make the best decisions. The company has gone further to drive conversations using social media. This strategy has played a positive role in generating the required engagement on different platforms such as Instagram. The firm achieves this objective through the use of two branded hashtags. These include #EmiratesAirline and #HelloTomorrow (Shrivastava, 2016). The hashtags have made Emirates Airlines one of the top aviation companies in the globe. The initiative encouraged more people to use the company’s services especially after it acquired the Airbus A380. The hashtags encourage more people to talk about the firm’s superior offerings. The company supports its brand using a positive tone, beautiful images, and superior services. This strategy resonates with every targeted customer across the globe. The use of the hashtags is critical towards ensuring that the intended content reaches the right people (Shrivastava, 2016). This strategy has made it easier for Emirates Airlines to attract many clients. When the target market is informed about the existing services using these hashtags, it becomes possible for the company to achieve its business goals. Emirates Airline has gone further to improve its online presence. This new avenue for exposure addresses the changing needs of targeted customers. In 2015, the aviation giant extended its customer service on Twitter. The ultimate goal was for the firm “to provide 24-hour support” (Emirates Airline, 2015, para. 1). The airline has gone further to provide timely support in both English and Arabic languages. Such channels are used to address the needs of the company’s passengers (Emirates, 2015). The clients receive timely assistance whenever traveling from destination A to B. Many people have also benefited significantly from the company’s online-based services. Additionally, the customers can get in touch via other platforms such as mobile phones and emails. Concluding Remarks This discussion shows conclusively that social media has revolutionized how companies communicate with their customers. The use of mobile-based and social media platforms has made it possible for Emirates to communicate with its target market. Emirates Airline’s presence on Twitter and Instagram is a powerful approach that addresses the needs of the targeted customers (Emirates, 2015). These outlets continue to make it possible for the firm to communicate effectively with its customer base. References Emirates Airline takes mobile strategy to new heights . (2016). Web. Emirates. (2015). Emirates’ Social media customer service now provides 24-hour support in English and Arabic . Web. Shrivastava, T. (2016). 5 Proven Instagram hashtag strategies from the airline industry . Web. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Accessibility of Arts or Exhibitions to Minorities Essay Introduction According to modern surveys, fewer and fewer people belonging to ethnic minority groups are visiting museums. This is why it is a museum manager’s task to make museums more attractive not only to the wide public. Rising to this challenge requires a museum leader to perform a number of tasks, whereof we will give examples in this paper. Main body Firstly, the cultural heritage of ethnic minorities must not be underrepresented in a museum. Museums should position themselves as advocates of diversity. The goal of a leader is to change the overall perception of a museum by adapting it to non-traditional audiences. To attract such visitors, a museum must not be solely an exhibition of “white” and European artifacts, since any individual will be more inclined to visit a museum to learn about his or her own heritage and culture. One may also note that minority art is not very well researched, that is why a museum manager needs to seek aid from historians, interested in community history or immigration, in order to make a comprehensive review of minority artworks, exhibited in the museum or a compilation of course materials about minority art to supply local universities. A great amount of time should be dedicated to cooperation with local minority establishments and councils in order to seek funding or individuals willing to cooperate in organizing events dedicated to minority art. Various factors can prevent an individual from visiting a museum. One of them is the lack of knowledge and cultivated taste. There are also cases when an individual has no established tradition of visiting a museum. Both are influenced by cultural background and education level. The solution lies in an extensive interaction between museum managers and school managers. Studying museum artifacts of all ethnic groups should be integrated into classroom curricula as historic examples, thus making it of relevance for any racial group. Some children claim that museums are boring, that is why entertaining activities for children in the museum are crucial for altering children’s negative perception. Conclusion One of the reasons that prevent an individual or a group of people from visiting a museum is financial hardship. This problem can be partly dealt with by raising awareness about free visiting hours, available discounts, pass giveaways, etc. This review is not comprehensive, since museums are enterprises, which bear a substantial, yet unresolved potential. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Under What Situations Might Outsourcing of EC Services Not be Desirable? Research Paper Everyone wants to outsource some works to third parties. It is necessary when business owners want to focus on their high-level jobs. However, there are certain situations under which outsourcing may not be desirable. Reasons may vary from one organization to another (Turban and King 549). High costs No firm would want to outsource EC business when the cost of outsourcing is too high. In most cases, businesses outsource some jobs in order to cut costs related to permanent staff and training of IT staff. However, under rare situations, the cost of outsourcing could be expensive, especially for startups. Core business competencies Firms should not outsource their core business competencies. This is where the competitive advantage of a company is. Firms use such competitive advantages to achieve their strategic objectives and missions. Thus, any attempt to delegate or transfer such jobs to a third party could compromise the main reason for business existence. Dynamic business functions There are business functions, which are highly dynamic and difficult to predict in terms of risk factors. For instance, customer service has become unpredictable as customers have become demanding and dynamic. Thus, such services should remain in-house because the service provider may lack the capacity to meet such challenging and dynamic roles. Changes in management Outsourcing should not take place during shifts among top executives. The incumbent team is the best for facilitating implementation of the process because it understands the company’s core business and the need for outsourcing. Outsourcing is an undertaking that requires dedicated resources like time, finance, planning, and implementation with supportive leadership. Thus, firms should put on hold all outsourcing plan when there are changes in management team, until the new executive articulates business mission and the need for outsourcing. Restructuring Some firms undertake major restructuring. This might not be the best time to outsource services. Usually, when the economy is weak, some organizations may embark on internal restructuring as a way of cutting costs, reducing hierarchies, eliminating unprofitable units, consolidating, transferring staff, and refinancing operations among other initiatives. On the other hand, firms may start new operations in a strong economy without negative impacts on the business. When firms undertake such restructuring programs, they should avoid any outsourcing without adequate orientation. Under such situations, any attempt to outsource services could result in high risk by distracting employees, executives and introducing complications in the system. Thus, any outsourcing plan should be under the management plan of senior executives so that they can have adequate concentration, stable operations, and adequate time to allow them to achieve the desired results from outsourcing. Knowledge-based functions Firms should not outsource knowledge-based functions. This is an intellectual capital, which should stay in-house. A knowledge-based economy depends on a competitive advantage. Thus, any organization must be able to control its internal business secrets and develop new concepts out of experience and skills. Core functions that do not require any form of risks Some risks may hamper the delivery of core functions to a firm. This is risky in situations where foreign firms provide outsourcing services. For instance, countries with political risks may undermine attempts to deliver services and payment. Thus, the firm must have special ways of mitigating and managing risks. Although such risks could be manageable, they may consume time and other resources. Works Cited Turban, Efraim and David King. Electronic Commerce 2012: Managerial and Social Networks Perspectives. 7th ed. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 2012. Print. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
For example, it is possible to foster self-regulation abilities by promoting the use of techniques for calming down, for instance, deep breathing, the use of imagination, and finding appropriate distractions to cope with stress (Best Start Resource Centre, 2020). Other skills include understanding the concept of causes and consequences and using life experiences and analytical abilities to predict the outcomes of risky behaviors, such as interacting with an angry animal (Healthy Children Magazine, 2014). Additionally, to achieve the specified goal, it is essential to teach the basics of self-care skills to children, including healthy lifestyles, accepting one’s emotions, and “realistic optimism” (Best Start Resource Centre, 2020, p. 17). By promoting the listed abilities, education professionals can teach children to mobilize their internal resources to withstand everyday challenges without developing unrealistic and illogical views of life. Teachers should make sure to select strategies and approaches that provide benefits for learners and do not undermine their parents’ beliefs. Firstly, expressions and conversations that leave students with the thought that their parents have done something wrong should be avoided. For instance, the professional may find out that the child’s parents have taught him or her to see threats everywhere. In this case, explaining the difference between pessimistic, optimistic, and realistic attitudes to life to the student is more productive than criticizing the child’s parents. Secondly, strengthening parent-teacher partnerships and promoting parent education is a viable strategy to prevent conflicts (Couchenour & Chrisman, 2013). By using credible pedagogical research and their own knowledge, teachers can inform parents about the harmful consequences of imposing one’s fears on children, thus promoting positive change. Moreover, partnerships and parent engagement enable the opportunity to learn more about families’ views on upbringing children, which helps to remain respectful. References Best Start Resource Centre. (2020). Building resilience in young children: Booklet for parents of children from birth to six years . Author. Couchenour, D., & Chrisman, K. (2013). Families, schools, and communities: Together for young children (5th ed.). Cengage Learning. Healthy Children Magazine. (2014). Building resilience in children . Web. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
It is said that humans do follow the empirical approach to find answers for their queries, but even before finding the truth, their minds structure the truth. When a car is stopped suddenly, the driver can say that it stopped for no reason, but even without checking the engine, the passenger knows that there has to be a reason for its malfunctioning. It is because of the prior experiences or truths that the passenger has already structured about the truth before knowing the truth. The author uses Kant’s Method of reasoning to explain the human thought process. This method comprises of three critiques. The first is the Critique of Pure Reason . This explains that a human mind gathers all past facts and knowledge to build up a logical reason. The second is the Critique of Practical Reason which connects the effect of something with possible actions for it. The author explains in the chapter that all human desires are connected with actions to achieve, and that forms the basis of defining laws and principles. The third is the C ritique of Judgement , and that is another important aspect in forming human perception for truth. It links human experience and intuition, defining that humans’ personal interest, feelings, and imagination can alter the nature of their judgements. In the later part of the chapter, the author elaborates Kant’s concept of the noumenal and phenomenal world. Humans are aware of the phenomenal world, knowing that they are intelligent beings, and the truth is what can be seen or assessed. However, the unaware reality that truth is not separated from human senses and morality. It is not seen either accessible, but it is present and has a profound influence on all reasoning made in the phenomenal world. Works Cited Kupperman, Joel J., editor. “Kant: The Need for Reason to Dominate.” Theories of Human Nature, and, Human Nature: A Reader , Hackett Publishing, 2010, pp. 125–37. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Introduction 2. Rhetorical Analysis 3. Conclusion 4. References Introduction Effective communication involves using rhetorical techniques to sway an audience’s attention. Excellent orators like Nelson Mandela and Malala Yousafzai use ethos, pathos, and logos in their touch. Ethos enables the orators to establish their authority making their message credible. Logos involves a logical argument that shows the rationale for the speech. Meanwhile, pathos enables the orators to sway their audience emotionally. Nelson Mandela and Malala Yousafzai demonstrated effective communication in their speeches: “I am prepared” and “Nobel Peace Prize speech.” The two orators used ethos, pathos, and logos to appeal to their audience. Rhetorical Analysis Nelson Mandela gave his speech in the South African courtroom during the Rivonia trial in 1964 during the apartheid era. During this time, apartheid opponents were being tried for resisting government laws (Msamati, 2017). The purpose of his speech to his audience was to demonstrate apartheid’s injustices. Malala Yousafzai delivered a speech at the United Nations on the value of education on the 12th of July (Yousafzai, 2014). She employs her personal experiences and her broad knowledge of terrorism disasters to persuade her audience of the arguments and message she was attempting to convey (Yousafzai, 2014, 9:47). When the Taliban took control of Pakistan in October 2007, they forbade females from attending school. Both speeches are works of art in verbal and non-verbal communication. The speakers employed rhetorical elements making their speeches memorable and impactful. Nelson Mandela employs ethos to emphasize his qualifications as a credible speaker and reveals his successes to counter people’s perceptions of him as a prisoner. Mandela said that he was the first accused with a Bachelor’s degree in Arts and practices as an attorney (Msamati, 2017, 00:57-2:30). Furthermore, Mandela told his audience that he was a convicted prisoner for five years (Msamati, 2017, 2:40-3:00). He also uses the same rhetorical strategy to take advantage of other people’s credibility. He recounts his journey with the ANC, saying that he “met with sympathy…and promises of help” for their venture in South Africa (Msamati, 2017, 1:44-2:30). Mandela’s speech on struggle and oppression is credible since he was among the prejudiced Blacks. Malala uses ethos to demonstrate her familiarity with the subject when she says, “Dear Friends, on the 9th of October 2012, the Taliban shot me on the left side of my forehead. They thought the bullets would silence us. But they failed (Yousafzai, 2014, 5:30-6:30).” She has direct knowledge of the issues that women’s rights and girls’ education suffer because she was shot for speaking out about them. Malala treats the audience as if they were on an equal footing when she says, “we”, “Brothers and sisters”, “us”, and “we are all together, united for the cause of education” (Yousafzai, 2014). By utilizing these lines, she engages the audience and treats them as equals because she believes they must band together to fight for education. Both speakers employ logos to appeal to their audience’s reasoning and build logical arguments. Nelson Mandela defends his violence by explaining why the ANC’s fundamental peace beliefs were ineffective in bringing about change (Msamati, 2017). He says, “fifty years of non-violence had brought the African people nothing but more… repressive legislation and fewer rights (Msamati, 2017, 2:20-3:40).” He also directs the audience’s attention to the government’s wrongdoings and the consequences of the ANC’s movement (Msamati, 2017). He says,” it showed that a government that uses force to maintain its rule teaches the oppressed to use power to oppose it (Msamati, 2017, 2:20-3:00)”. Therefore, Mandela justifies why a regime against apartheid and violence was necessary for South Africa. Yousafzai emphasizes her research when she provides readers with basic knowledge of other countries and the issues they face daily. The audience understands her speech’s context and relates it to their life situations. Her concrete facts also give her more credibility when speaking about such subjects (Yousafzai, 2014). She says, “In many parts of the world, especially Pakistan and Afghanistan; terrorism, wars, and conflicts stop children from going to their schools… In India, innocent and poor children are victims of child labor. Many schools have been destroyed in Nigeria (Yousafzai, 2014).” The use of logos demonstrates that Malala wanted to express her gratitude to everyone before moving on to her speech’s main point. Both speakers employ pathos to appeal to their audience’s emotions and be part of the desired change. Mandela used words like “fight” and “struggle” in the closing paragraphs to create feelings of violence and war (Msamati, 2017, 11:48-13:57). He sends the message that his arrest does not signal the end of the push for national reconciliation. Meanwhile, Malala used statements like “Dear Friends, on the 9th of October 2012, the Taliban shot me on the left side of my forehead” and “And that is why they killed 14 innocent medical students in the recent attack in Quetta” to provide listeners with a sense of comfort and reliability through statistics and other factual information (Yousafzai, 2014, 11:30-15:30). Malala and Mandela’s speeches evoke a struggling feeling among their audience. Conclusion Rhetorical elements are crucial in a speech since they help the speakers effectively communicate. Furthermore, the rhetorical features enable the speakers to connect to their audience and call them into action. Nelson Mandela recounted the African’s struggle during the apartheid. Meanwhile, Malala recounted the children’s struggles at the hands of terrorism. The speaker’s speech encouraged the audience to participate in the fight for social justice. Therefore, pathos, ethos, and logos allowed Malala and Mandela to communicate effectively. References Msamati, Lucia. “ I Am Prepared to Die ”. Almeida Theatre , 2017. Web. Yousafzai, Malala. “ Malala Yousafzai Nobel Peace Prize Speech ”. Malala Fund . 2014. Web. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Socioeconomic Status and Health Relationship Essay Socioeconomic variables have a significant impact on community’s overall health. Poverty has been shown to harm wellbeing, with many health risks being found to be linked to socioeconomic status. The biological and physiological aspects of medicine are typically the subject of healthy lifestyles. These considerations include salary, job prestige, and educational attainment, among others. This paper aims to identify socioeconomic factors and clarify why they are harmful to one’s health. Since income affects an individual’s access to healthcare, it forms an essential component of socioeconomic status (SES). Mehraj et al. (2018) states that money enables people to live in a clean, safe neighborhood and purchase nutritious foods. The SES is a significant determinant of healthcare coverage. Low-income individuals are more likely to be Medicaid beneficiaries or uninsured, seek medical attention less often, and receive poor-quality health insurance (Mehraj et al., 2018). Individuals with higher income may obtain quality healthcare more conveniently, live in better housing, and eat more healthy foods, both of which are linked to overall health. On the other hand, more educated people are more likely to learn about healthy habits (Rodrigues et al., 2021). Well-educated patients will identify their healthcare needs better, obey orders, advocate for their families, and interact efficiently with their doctors than the less educated. SES is inextricably linked to racism, which has hampered minority community members’ socioeconomic advancement. The fact that whites are more likely to undergo a wide variety of specialized medical procedures than African Americans is one form of prejudice. African Americans often experience unfair medical procedures compared to other ethnic groups. Despite the recent focus on reducing health inequalities, this aim cannot be met without concurrent decreases in social class challenges, as social class differences influence racial disparities. Different legal interventions can provide support to eliminate such health inequalities. For example, the interventions can include free medical treatment and checkup for the elderly and low-income families. Other ways the interventions can help is by providing a cheaper medical insurance, which is affordable to all social classes. Therefore, legal interventions will limit or eliminate cases of inequalities and issues related to difficulties in accessing healthcare facilities and services across all racial groups. References Mehraj, V., Cox, J., Lebouché, B., Costiniuk, C., Cao, W., Li, T., Ponte, R., Thaomas, R., Szabo, J., Baril, J., Trottier, B., Cote, P., LeBlanc, R., Bruneau, J., Tremblay, C., … Routy, J. (2018). Socio‐economic status and time trends associated with early ART initiation following primary HIV infection in Montreal, Canada: 1996 to 2015. Journal of the International AIDS Society , 21 (2). Web. Rodrigues, A., Struchiner, C. J., Coelho, L. E., Veloso, V. G., Grinsztejn, B., & Luz, P. M. (2021). Late initiation of antiretroviral therapy: Inequalities by educational level despite universal access to care and treatment . BMC Public Health , 21 , 389. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Until the recent time, the main hero was a male young, able-bodied, white, and heterosexist. Now the rules of political correctness forbid open and concealed propaganda based on sexual orientation, sex, and race. But still, if the main character may be Afro-American (Beverly-Hills cop, Matrix (Morpheus), the nutty professor, etc), the homosexual will never be able to become the all-mighty, sharp-minded, cruel but just for the enemies and kind for everyone else. Even if such a movie appeared, it would definitely fail, as watcher never wants to see “a nancy boy” on the screen, as the man who wants to escape from male obligations, taking into account that he was born as a male is no longer such, and is regarded to be a handicapped human. The fact is that some of the early Hollywood movies magnate themselves distinguished that films can be propaganda. For instance, Theodor Adorno actually argued, that it is necessary to think of the movie as the supreme of all the media for propaganda that may even serve to eradicate war among the states. Also, as stated above, some foreign leaders distinguished the indispensable origin of movies. Lenin, again intended that the movies for the most part should supply the new innovative regime with its most effective weapon of agitation, propaganda, and education. In comparison with the art-house movies, which are claimed to violate the set societal norms, and give the alternative worldview, Hollywood films depict the concoction of the ideal life (ideal ending, if to be more precise), and give the watcher a chance to dive into a flood of illusions, dreams, and reverie. Art-house, vice versa, show life closer to reality, and partly because of that are not so popular. Moreover, the issues of alcohol, drug-taking, homosexual contacts, explicit bedroom sceneries are not so interesting to the average watcher as car races, gun fires, thrilling plots, beaches full of girls with perfect figures, and so on. As for the matters of propaganda, it is necessary to mention, that some notions on propaganda – Theodor Adorno was once quoted as saying that the “arranged social and religious connections of our time are at work to encourage individual man not to come into his confidences by his own thoughts but to accept as his own, such convictions as they keep ready-made for him.” As Max Horkheimer argued, “mass influence is not controlling when it offers admittance to the applicable facts, but on the other hand, it is controlling when the appeal to emotion is applied to the prohibiting of pertinent data.” Various false principles about U.S. film production are regularly socialized as assumptions by some sociology researchers. On certain matters associated with film commerce, Hollywood is the key propagandist of the main American values and promotion of the American dream. Other principles or beliefs are regularly and constantly set forth and pre-assumed truths in frequent Hollywood movies. References Fleras, A. Mass Media Communication in Canada Harcourt Brace Canada, 2003. Adorno, T., Horkheimer, M., The culture industry: enlightenment as mass deception. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Advanced Practice Nursing in the United States of America Essay The difference in Licensure, Accreditation, Certification, and Education (LACE) in the States While the laws governing the practice of APNs are almost similar in various states of the United States of America, they demonstrate some differences. Fundamentally, the differences of APN roles related to the scope of practice, licensure, accreditation, certification, and education (Lugo, O’Grady, Hodnicki, & Hanson, 2007). In the state of Washington, licensure requires one to be a holder of a license as a registered nurse. The requirement is compulsory for all individuals who intend to practice as advanced practice nurses in Washington State. In the state of Illinois, licensure and certification can materialize if one is a holder of a doctorate, masters, or a Ph.D. degree in nursing. The requirements advanced by the state of Illinois compel individuals to pursue high levels of education and be smart in the field of nursing before receiving accreditation. Betancourt, Green, Carrillo, and Iia (2003) allude that although the state acknowledges the fact that all APNs are nurses, its provisions clarify that registered nurses with high-end skills qualify to be APNs. Consequently, LACE requirements in California dictate that individuals should be holders of RN license before them becoming practicing APNs. Moreover, the state needs accreditation from the certification board so that one qualifies to be an APN in the region. Before commencing work as an APN in California, one has to acquire a license as an active registered nurse. Restricted Practice for APNs in the States The states of California, Washington, and Illinois have different rules that govern the operations of their APNs. Although these rules follow a similar pattern, they have differences. Practically, states such as Washington have relaxed rules, which broaden the spectrum of APN operations. On the other hand, California falls among the states that limit the scale of activities that APNs can undertake in various medical facilities. Consequently, the state of Illinois compels APNs to work together with doctors when delivering healthcare services to patients. The restrictions limit the roles of APNs and compel them to undertake their activities under the guidance of a doctor. Avery, Germano, and Camune (2010) assert that the difference in operations emanates from the rules laid down by the various boards that determine the requirements of the healthcare sector in the respective states. In California, the regulations come from the Board of Registered Nursing, whereas in the state of Washington the rules governing APN operations come from the Nursing Commission. Evidence-based Strategies that Will Lead to Seamless Continuity between APN Practices in the United States of America The difference in the rules of operation governing APNs in the United States of America is one of the factors that prevent the seamless execution of healthcare. While some states allow the full practice, others limit the operations of APNs to reduced practice. According to Betancourt et al. (2003), the rules applied by different states in the United States of America are perplexing since the same APNs limited by some states exercise full practice in other states. The resultant of the different roles is a disparity in the expertise demonstrated by APNs working in various states. It is chief to explain that APNs have been engaging in unlimited administration of healthcare and have executed their roles effectively. Therefore, by limiting and restricting them to collaborate with physicians, the state confines the scale of care that patients could receive in the event of their full practice. In the perspective of Avery et al. (2010), various states need to review their rules concerning the roles of APNs and ensure that they rhyme with those in other states. The need to have consistency in the rules transpires because of the absence of seamless service delivery across the various states in the country. References Avery, M., Germano, E., & Camune, B. (2010). Midwifery practice and nursing regulation: Licensure, accreditation, certification, and education. Journal of Midwifery& Women’s Health, 55 (5), 411-414. Betancourt, J., Green, A., Carrillo, J., & Iia, A. (2003). Defining cultural competence: A practical framework for addressing racial/ ethnic disparities in health and healthcare. Public Health Reports, 1 (118), 293-302. Lugo, N., O’Grady, E., Hodnicki, D., & Hanson, C. (2007). Ranking state NP regulation: Practice environment and consumer healthcare choice. The American Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 11 (4), 8-24. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
The Theological Concept of Luke-Acts Essay Deciphering the messages conveyed in the Bible must be one of the hardest and the most controversial aspect of studying the Bible. It is important to keep in mind that, in most cases, the reader deals not with the source material, but with its translated copy and, therefore, has greater chances of getting lost in the wrong translation. In addition to the fact that the reader has to use the translated medium, for the most part, the fact that the Biblical scriptures can be interpreted in a number of ways also creates a considerable obstacle in the way on the reader’s path to learning about God. As De La Torte put it, It is not my intention to try to convince the reader of the validity of scriptural interpretations arising from the depths of oppression. Instead, the book provides persons of the dominant culture with a window into a world with which they are unfamiliar, even when this world is but a few blocks away from where they live. (De La Torte 11) However, by trying to read the Bible “by the margins” (De La Torte, xi) as De La Torte suggests, and to interpret the events and characters described in it from a neutral point of view, one can possibly shape a relatively clear idea of what the narrator was trying to say. Applying the given idea to such stories from the Bible as the so-called Luke-Acts, one can possibly read between the lines of the well-known stories and see the Biblical stories through the lens of its authors, possibly learning to separate the wheat from the chaff. One of the hand, it can be assumed that the so-called Luke-Acts have been forged for some reasons – mostly, under the Hellenistic influences (Powell 20) – and that they have nothing to do with the actual Scripture. Indeed, there is historical evidence that Christians started adding new writings to the Bible (Powell 51). On the other hand, even though there are reasons to suspect that the Luke-Acts do not belong to the actual Biblical person, one should ask to what extent the given addition to the traditional Bible defaces the original. Indeed, the fact that later changes were added to the original text could seem a sacrilege. However, the Luke-Acts never actually say anything terrible in the Biblical context – on the contrary, they chime in with the rest of the Scriptures rather naturally. Therefore, it can be assumed that the authenticity of the Luke-Acts does not need to be looked into anymore. Therefore, another reading of the Luke-Acts definitely questions the authorship of the texts. Arguably, the given part of the Bible could be written by the person who had little to do with the events and the people of the time. The given issue, therefore, begs the question concerning the significance of the authorship. If the stories told in the “Acts” feel authentic, are in chord with Christ’s teachings and raise religious awareness in many people, then their authorship might not be that relevant. Even Powell, who is an acclaimed theologist, makes it clear that he omits a traditional step of telling the students “which ideas and positions ought to be accepted” (Powell 11) because he did not “find it helpful for the textbook to make such determinations” (Powell 11). With that being said, one might agree that true or false, Luke-Acts bear no harm and can be accepted as a part of the Bible. Works Cited De La Torte, Miguel A. ”Preface.” Reading the Bible from the Margins . Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 2002. xi-xii. Print. De La Torte, Miguel A. ”Chapter 1.” Reading the Bible from the Margins . Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 2002. 1-20. Print. Powell, Mark Alan. “Preface.” Introducing the New Testament: A Historical, Literary, and Theological Survey . Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academy, 2009. 9–13. Print. Powell, Mark Alan. “The New Testament World.” Introducing the New Testament: A Historical, Literary, and Theological Survey . Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academy, 2009. 15–45. Print. Powell, Mark Alan. “The New Testament Writings.” Introducing the New Testament: A Historical, Literary, and Theological Survey . Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academy, 2009. 47–62. Print. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Therac-25 Radiotherapy Machine Research Paper Therac-25 system is a radiation therapy machine that is used for cancer treatment. “The machine was quite advanced because the computer software made the system far easier to use. Basically, the operator only needed to enter the prescription on a computer terminal and the machine did the required adjustments automatically, reducing the setup time” (Wwwwolf, 2003, para.1). The computer of the system is controlled by an operator. But, the computer has its sensors and information by which it can find out the errors and inform the operator. “The sensors in the machine reported on, among other things, the placement of the turntable and the strength and shape of the beam” (What therac-25 software did: Real-time software, n.d., para.10). There are various levels of computer control. Therac-25 selects a system of control in which the computer proposes an action, and if asked by the operator, this action is implemented. The sensors and information help in providing error messages. The computer asks the operator if an action is to be performed to resolve the error that occurred. If the operator gives the command to do this action, the computer will implement the action. Under various conditions, the system implements different levels of control. There occurs a condition when the system produces an error message and the computer allows the operator to repeat the action by pressing a key. In this case, the computer proposes action and if the operator wants that action to be done, the computer will implement it. This is better than a condition in which the system is suspended if any error occurs and will continue its function only if the entire data is inputted again. In such a condition, the operator will have to do everything. Another condition is that the machine checks the system on its own with the help of the data inputted and does the actions accordingly. In this case, all functions are done by the computer by the action data given by the operator. This condition is better than a condition where the operator has to verify all the settings of the system. In such a condition, the operator has to do everything. The level of computer control implemented in the Therac-25 system is suitable for the maximum efficient operation of the device because it performs the function without causing any injurious and poisonous harm to the human body. This machine provides safety and ease for the operators to perform the treatment inefficient manner as it is controlled by the computer system. With the usage of earlier radiotherapy machines, many cancer patients die during the treatment due to the overdosage of radiation from the machine. This happens because there is no safety system to control the machine. In the earlier radiotherapy machine, radiation spreads all over the air when it generates and it enters the non-cancerous tissues of the human body. Moreover, the high beam of radiation causes burn over the treated part and most probably the wounded patient dies due to the poison of radiation. The patients do not get cured well because the electric beam needed to destroy the cancerous tissues does not reach fully and deeply into the cancerous tissue. Computer control is implemented in a therac-25 system to get a more efficient operation of the system. This machine is kept in a secured room and treatment is done and controlled by the operator from outside the treatment room. There are several hardware and software mechanisms in therac-25 systems which make the safety of the machine certain. These mechanisms help operate the machine inefficiently manner without any risk. The safety operation of the machine is mainly controlled by therac-25 software. The entire management of the function of the machine is done by the software which also detects the problem in the machine and reports instantly. It directs the machine to produce the beam of the electron at a safe level and prevents the generation of overdosage and low dosage of radiation. The computer system informs the operator of the appropriate action to be performed in the patient because the treatment to be given to the different patients is different. The patients may require a high dosage of radiation or a low dosage of radiation to destroy the cancerous tissue. So, this computer system informs the correct amount of electric beam to be applied to the patient. Thus, this computer-controlled therac-25 system helps the patients from dangerous injury by the overdosage of radiation. “Therac-25’s computerization made this laborious process much easier for operators, and allowed them to spend minimal time in setting up the equipment” (Thera-25 for treating cancer: Therac-25: a computer-controlled medical linear accelerator for treating cancer, n.d., para.5). The therac-25 machine does all the operations without any human involvement and not much time is needed to set the machine for performing the treatment. Therac-25 is a complicated machine. The errors in the machine have caused several accidents. Accidents were mainly due to a huge amount of radiation. These high radiations were caused due to errors in programming, lack of proper interaction between the operator and computer, etc. The errors in the codes of programs can cause problems in the system. The system should be well designed for the avoidance of errors. Software plays an important role in the design of the system. Thus, to avoid errors in the system, the software should be well implemented. References Thera-25 for treating cancer: Therac-25: a computer-controlled medical linear accelerator for treating cancer . (n.d.). Computing case.Org. 2010. Web. What therac-25 software did: Real time software . (n.d.). Computing case.Org. 2010. Web. Wwwwolf. (2003). Therac-25 . Everything2. Web. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Communicable Diseases and Precautionary Measures Essay Brief description of communicable diseases Communicable diseases refer to the diseases that blow out from one person to another. These diseases are caused by agents like bacteria, viruses or through body fluids like saliva, blood among others. These diseases are also called contagious infections. Each communicable disease is unique in its properties like symptoms, incubation period, mode of treatment, and mode of prevention. Usually, the outbreak of communicable diseases spreads at a higher rate than other classifications of diseases (Healey 89). Further, these diseases can be classified according to their spreading mode. For instance, diseases that spread through air refer to air-bone diseases while those transmitted through water refer to waterborne diseases. Some examples of communicable diseases include malaria, tuberculosis, cholera, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, influenza among others. Care of the communicable diseases Communicable diseases spread at a faster rate calls for immediate control measures. In this regard, communicable diseases are also referred to as reportable diseases. In this sense, an outbreak must be reported to the appropriate department that handles the spread of communicable diseases. Once there is outbreak of diseases in the country, the person should report to the relevant department that controls or manages the spread of the disease (Healey 78). The aim of reporting the outbreak of such diseases is to find out the best solution to the spread of the disease. In essence, these diseases are manageable at their earlier stages of development. The department that deals with reportable diseases in Gilbert Arizona The body that responds to the outbreak of communicable diseases in Gilbert Arizona is known as the division of emergency medicine in Arizona. The department responds by providing medicine to the affected persons. Some of the communicable diseases dealt with in this department are TB, Malaria, HIV/AIDS, and Hepatitis C among others (Heymann 58). Equally, this department provides the precautionary measures on the spread of the disease. The department that deals with communicable diseases in the city of Iowa in Iowa Division of Infectious Diseases in Iowa is the department that controls the spread of diseases in Iowa. The division provides people with skills in health services to assist in the control of communicable diseases (Heymann 109) The division is responsible for advising the affected population on how to prevent the outbreak of diseases. Secondly, the division is charged with the responsibility of doing research on how to handle the outbreak of communicable diseases. Precautionary measures on the communicable diseases There should be measures to control the spread of communicable diseases. The measures range from the affected person to the officers in charge of controlling the disease. The health officer should observe safety measures while handling the affected parties. For example, he should have gloves to prevent direct contact with the skin, cleaning of skin surfaces after examining patients, and be careful while disposing of the wastes. In addition, people should observe the risks that could facilitate the spread of the diseases (Heymann 105). For example, application of disinfectants, using hot water in washing of households, corrects disposing of the glass and other sharp materials. Situations that expose individuals to communicable diseases include using dirty utensils, and failure to wash the skin surfaces after being exposed. Therefore, is advisable to use clean utensils and wash the skin surfaces after being exposed. When the effect persists, one is advised to report to the department in charge of managing exposures. Departments responsible for managing exposures * Center Of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) * Division of Infectious Diseases in the City of Iowa * Division of Emergency Medicine in Arizona Works Cited Healey, Justin. Communicable Diseases . Thirroul, N.S.W.: Spinney, 2004. Print. Heymann, David L. Control of Communicable Diseases Manual . 19th ed. Washington, DC: American Public Health Association, 2008. Print. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Measures of Central Tendency and Dispersion Research Paper Aim of the paper The paper seeks to carry out a descriptive analysis of a data set. Specifically, the data will focus on estimating the measures of central tendency using SPSS. Analysis of the result generated from SPSS The results generated from SPSS shows that the mean age in the data set is 54.633 years while the mean marital status is 1.833. Further, the age that falls in the middle is 55 years while the median marital status is 2 (married). Also, it can be pointed out that the most occurring age in the data set is 55 years while the model marital status is 2 (married). The modal marital status can be explained by the fact that a large percentage of the data comprises of older people. The results also show that the age deviates by 10.33 from the average age, while marital status deviates by 0.74664 from the mean. The maximum age in the data set is 78 years while the minimum age is 27 years. This generates a range of 51 years between the two extreme values. On the other hand, the maximum measure of marital status in the data set is 3 while the minimum measure of marital status is 1. This generates a range of 2 between the two extreme values (Baltagi, 2011; Blank, 2011). A summary of the descriptive statistics is presented in exhibit 2. Graphical representation of data The data set can also be analyzed using graphs. In this case, a pie chart will be used to display the frequency of occurrence of the various values in the data set. The pie charts are presented in exhibit 3. Exhibits Exhibit 1: Data The data set contains two variables. The first variable is age. Age is measured as a continuous variable. The second variable is marital status. The marital status is measured on a nominal scale that lies between 1 and 3, where 1 represents single, 2 represents married while 3 represents divorced people in the data set. The data were collected from a sample of thirty people (Blank, 2011). The table presented below shows the data used in the analysis. Age Marital 1 54 2 2 65 3 3 41 1 4 52 2 5 47 2 6 51 1 7 43 2 8 66 3 9 68 2 10 42 1 11 54 2 12 58 2 13 55 2 14 59 3 15 56 1 16 51 1 17 63 2 18 55 2 19 55 2 20 58 1 21 43 3 22 27 1 23 62 1 24 69 1 25 65 3 26 59 2 27 45 3 28 50 1 29 78 1 30 48 2 Exhibit 2: Descriptive statistics Age Marital Mean 54.63333 Mean 1.833333 Median 55 Median 2 Mode 55 Mode 2 Standard Deviation 10.32734 Standard Deviation 0.74664 Range 51 Range 2 Minimum 27 Minimum 1 Maximum 78 Maximum 3 Exhibit 3: Pie charts The pie chart for age shows that the most frequent age in the data set is 55 years at 9.7%, while the least percentage is 3.2%. A number of ages in the data set occur only once. The figure presented below shows the pie chart for age (Baltagi, 2011). On the other hand, the pie chart for marital status shows that the data set contains a high percentage of married people, that is, 41.9% followed by single people at 35.5%. Divorced people take the least percentage in the data set, that is, 19.4%. The figure presented below shows the pie chart for marital status (Verbeek, 2008). References Baltagi, B. (2011). Econometrics. New York, United States: Springer. Blank, K. (2011). Business statistics: For contemporary decision making . New Jersey, United States of America: John Wiley & Sons. Verbeek, M. (2008). A guide to modern econometrics . New Jersey, United States of America: John Wiley & Sons. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Biostatistics in Public Health Essay Introduction Public health refers to a science aimed at improving the health of people in the community. This is through the provision of health education and conducting research for upcoming diseases and ailments and seeking ways in which they can be prevented. Public health professionals conduct an analysis of the effect of genetics on health and the environment (Friedman, Furberg and Demets, 1998). This enables them to come up with programs that protect the health of the community and solve the existing health issues. In line with public health and education, biostatistics, which involves the use of statistical methods in scientific research in public health helps in the identification of the causes of diseases and injuries. It involves studies on the environment and genetics as well as clinical trials and observational studies. Resistance of Drug-Defying germs in India Drug-Defying germs from India may be reported to speed the post-antibiotic era. This is according to the World Health news published on 1 st June 2012 by Jason Gale Narayan. According to the article, $12.4 billion which represents a third of the world’s antibiotics get manufactured by the pharmaceutical industry. These become liberally used to the extent that the bacteria develop immunity to the drugs. Some of these resistant bacteria have entered the water and sanitation systems, while the super bacteria have taken up in hospitals. Here, they pose a threat to patients as their care and attendance become compromised a fact that has put India’s image at risk as it gets known to be one of the best medical tourist destinations. The drug-resistant bacteria spread wildly and cause about 25,000 deaths in Europe. The bacteria also tend to be multiplying rapidly due to a gene NDM-1, which stands for New Delhi metallo-beta-lectamase-1, which gets carried on mobile loops of DNA referred to as plasmids. These spread easily and fast across many types of bacteria and infiltrate most of the species of bacteria. Germs empowered by NDM-1 also muster a number of ways of destroying the world’s most potent antibiotics. Use of Biostatistics in Drug Resistance Biostatistics is essential in this case as it offers knowledge to clinicians and other medical staff about medical services before they get into the market. This helps in demonstrating the effectiveness as well as safety of products on human health before they can be released for use by humans. Biostatistics is an essential aspect of the clinical research process as it assists in the designing of protocol and its development, recruitment of patients, allocation of treatment, measuring differences in treatment and analyzing the rate of treatment response (Wang, & Bakhai, 2006). This helps an immense deal as the doctors, researchers and clinicians are able to monitor the cause of an illness and hence devise ways of handling it. Researchers are also able to discover ways of dealing with resistant drugs and bacteria in order to provide a cure for given diseases. This saves the community and population at large from suffering from diseases that have no cure at all, leading to massive deaths across the world. Use of Biostatistics in educating people on Public Health matters To educate the public about this issue, I would use biostatistics to explain to the public how treatment can be allocated. This is in reference to recorded statistics on the spread of the disease, how it gets transmitted and ways that may be used to control and eradicate it (Kirkwood and Sterne, 2003). It also helps in measuring the difference in treatment which enables the audience to know the effectiveness of certain drugs on given diseases. Conclusion Public health is vital as it provides information to people about upcoming health issues. This helps them to protect themselves from exposure to certain diseases. This can be made possible and easy by biostatistics which provides details concerning diseases and ailments and how they can be prevented and cured. As a result, people should be concerned about public health matters and implement the use of biostatistics in public health education. References Friedman, L. M., Furberg, C. D. & Demets, D. (1998). Fundamentals of clinical trials, (3 rd ed.). New York: Springer Verlag. Kirkwood, B & Sterne, J. (2003). Essential medical statistics, (2 nd ed .). Oxford: Blackwell Publishing. Wang, D. & Bakhai, A. (2006). Randomization. In: D Wang & Bakhai, (Ed.), Clinical Trials: A Practical guide to design, analysis and reporting. London: Remedica. 81. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Capital Investments for American Public Education Essay One of the diversified organizations that provide online higher education for military and the public service communities is the American Public Education Inc. It is comprised of the American Military University and the American Public University. It provides affordable online education for students who pursue military studies and intelligence, homeland security, criminal justice, technology, business administration, liberal arts and public health. The organization is looking to invest in long- term projects that will ensure stable payoffs with minimal risks. For them to be successful, they need to consider various investment strategies before making their decision (Hagstrom, 2010). The use of proper capital finance and budgeting heightens the success of organizations since they have increased chances of growth with minimal losses. They will need to study the diversity of their portfolio and work towards its strengths. After an evaluation of other alternatives, they should make sure that the cash receipts are higher than the expenditure. They should consider the venture with the expectation of long-term returns. The planning of the projects should include a SWOT analysis of the venture, highlighting the strengths, weaknesses and the opportunities and threats involved in the decision to invest in real estate. They should evaluate their financing plans and ensure that the risks do not exceed payoffs, in order to have an effective debt management plan (Peter L Bernstein, 1998). Real estate investing is the purchasing, management or ownership of real property for profit, for sale or rent. It is a capital intensive with high- return cash flows over the short and long terms. It is recommendable for the stakeholders who are looking for long time ventures. Investing in real estate for a university has the potential to yield high payoffs in the long- run with minimal risks of losses (Riley, 2010). The recommended strategy for the universities is the ‘buy and hold’ investment strategy, because of the concept that long- run equity gives a good return. The risks involved are from the fact that the real estate markets are not as organized as other liquid instruments. Locating property to invest in is a major challenge, and there are transactional risks. Thorough inspections are necessary to ensure the worth of the venture is real to reduce losses due to the risk from the uncertainty to appreciate the risk. Fluctuations in prices are also a substantial risk factor to consider before investing in the real estate. Diversity in the portfolio and the use of professional real estate managers eliminate most of the threats posed by the risks. The returns from the real estate would benefit the university in various ways. The investments double in value over long-term periods since they have an appreciating nature. The university can acquire property at current market values and with minimal changes gain the ability to increase its value. The university can benefit from renting out the property in time before it has matured for sale. It can also expand some of the activities using the property e.g. land and buildings to increase the student numbers and earn more money from tuition. The decisions they make during (Edwin J. Elton, 2009)is the determinant of the returns that the investment will yield. They should build a strong portfolio with different strengths in location, age and yield. References Edwin J. Elton, M. J. (2009). Modern Portfolio Theory and Investment Analysis. Hoboken: John Wiley and Sons. Hagstrom, R. G. (2010). The Warren Buffett Way. New York: John Wiley and Sons. Peter L Bernstein, A. D. (1998). Investment Management. New York: John Wiley and Sons, 199. Riley, R. (2010). Real Estate. New York: Infobase Publishing. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Lessons From Plato’s Book ‘the Apology’ Essay In his book ‘The Apology’, the Greek philosopher Plato provides a version of Socrates speech during his trail a courtroom in Athens. Plato, being Socrates’ wrote the Apologetics to show how the great philosopher defended himself against the charges brought to the court by his accusers around 399 BC. [1] Socrates was accused of several accounts of corrupting the youth and heresy. Plato’s account of the speech remains a modern inspiration and source of philosophical lessons to philosophers and scholars in the contemporary world. Though called ‘apology’ by Plato, the speech is not actually an apology- Socrates was attempting use his wisdom to justify his teachings and beliefs, and not to apologize for his actions. [2] First, his concise and clear explanation of his beliefs and the facts that led to his accusation are an indication of Socrates’ ability to defend himself against his accusers basing his arguments on the wisdom he had rather then attempting to discredit his thoughts. In this way, Socrates portrays his reputation he had developed from his great philosophical wisdom by discrediting the pre-Socratics and sophists. He argues that his wisdom originates from an oracle given to Chaerephon by Delphi that he (Socrates) would be the wisest man on earth. [3] Secondly, philosophers learn that a perfect understanding of human knowledge does not exist. Consequently, a perfect understanding of some terms such as virtue, justice and piety does not exist. In Plato’s ‘The Apology’, Socrates claims that although he possessed super wisdom that was not comparable to that of the Athenian wise men, poets and teachers, he humbly accepted his wisdom and knew that it could not be the most perfect. [4] Unlike the politicians, poets and craftsmen, Socrates’ arguments provide the modern philosophers with a model of a true and just philosophy. [5] For instance, he accepts the antipathy and resentment, and goes to an extent of risking death rather then diverting from his own wisdom and discourage the students who had believed in him. The ‘Apology’ shows that Socrates was willing to face death rather than deny his wisdom. It is evident that Socrates’ love for wisdom outweighs human fear of death. He argues that he does not fear what he does not know (death), but fears human lack of knowledge and ignorance as portrayed by his accusers, the jury and the Athenian wise men. In addition, Socrates speech is a motivation to modern philosophers in that his wisdom consists of ultimate, clear and precise thinking and presentation of ideas. This uniqueness portrayed by Socrates aims at teaching modern philosophers that questioning and clarification of human knowledge is a vital thing than affirming to the knowledge. In addition, the speech shows that the role of the philosopher is not to be a critic; rather a philosopher must present the ideas in a concise and precise manner. The important thing is to present the ideas in a manner that describes the cause, process and effect of a given social, scientific and cultural problem. [6] In what appears to be the most inspiring argument in the field of philosophy, Socrates argues that if he was corrupting the youths in Athens and destroying the society, then the whole society would be corrupt and in the process he would destroy himself. He argues that he was not so foolish to an extent of using his knowledge to hurt his own society. This is an indication that philosophers should be responsible of their knowledge and arguments since the society can easily act according to philosophers’ arguments. Bibliography West, Thomas. Plato’s Apology of Socrates . Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1979. Footnotes 1. Thomas West, Plato’s Apology of Socrates, (Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1979), 54 2. West, 57 3. West, 64 4. West, 72 5. West, 77 6. West, 84 | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
“300” by Zack Snyder Film Analysis Essay (Movie Review) Table of Contents 1. Summary 2. Initial Impression 3. Emphasis on Masculinity and Physical Perfection 4. Examining the Film within the Context of American Cinema 5. My Views on the Movie Summary The movie “300” is a retelling of the Battle of Thermopylae where King Leonidas fought against the incursion of the Persian army into Greece. Initial Impression I have to stay that the movie was incredibly impressive since, from a cinematography standpoint, it was unique due to the manner in which the locations, characters and weapons had a “faded” and historic feel to them. It was as if I was really looking back into the past and viewing all the events that lead up to the great battle where Leonidas and his army of 300 Spartan warriors lost their lives. Emphasis on Masculinity and Physical Perfection There was a definite emphasis on masculinity within the film where the various warriors were shown in nothing more than leather briefs while holding weapons that were made of bronze. This of course contrasts with general common sense since during the time when ancient Sparta was in existence, its warriors did in fact wear substantially more protection that the skin on their backs. It is based on this that when viewing the movie, it is obvious that the director wanted to depict the “manliness” and bravado of the Spartans. This was intended to build upon the historical knowledge that Spartan warriors were not only strong but resolute when it came to their dedication towards war. The warrior culture of the Spartan state was emphasized not only in the scenes depicting their military and governmental infrastructure but also in the way in which they placed a considerable amount of importance on physical strength and health. The scene where the Spartan babies that were deemed as “unworthy” and were thus thrown off the cliff showcases just how far the Spartan culture was willing to take their concept of physical perfection to its utmost limits. Examining the Film within the Context of American Cinema It is undeniable that American cinema places a considerable amount of focus on action, adventure, violence, battles and destruction. The movie “300” is merely another iteration of this proclivity towards developing action films. In fact, it can even be stated that Hollywood tends to take such a behavior a bit too far. This can be seen in the movie “Noah” where a bible story was subsequently combined with numerous action sequences involving fighting and death. However, it should be noted that the reason why American cinema produces so many films in this category is due to the fact that audiences simply enjoy watching movies such as these. Action movies are often the highest grossing films, both in the U.S. and in international markets. As such, it is likely that Hollywood will continue to make films such as these because it makes them a lot of money. My Views on the Movie Overall, I have to say that the movie was brilliant both in the acting and general cinematography that was employed. The dialogue, the scenes and the background music that was utilized mesh perfectly into a seamless theatrical experience. There was never a dull moment in the film and I could not help but be absorbed into the world of the ancient city states. I have to say though that while I thoroughly enjoyed the movie, I could not help but notice the various historical inaccuracies since there was actually a fort instead of just a mountain pass during the Battle of Thermopylae. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Ethnography as an Approach to Studying Culture Essay You correctly pointed out why ethnography is the workable approach to studying culture and is suitable for exploring people’s interaction remotely or in a hospital setting. It is necessary to assess the influence of participants’ backgrounds and the methodologies used by the nurses to assist. You also stated that “one challenge of the research project is how to gather the mothers’ perspective on how their labor went.” Indeed, the expectations may not coincide with the actual conditions, or unexpected changes could influence labor (O’Brien et al., 2018). You were right by mentioning that qualitative research purposes and results might be perceived differently, but a detailed explanation of the design and solid theoretical background can help avoid misleading conclusions. For instance, the alternative perspective to your research is to include a more specific condition, such as the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on mothers’ choice to deliver naturally. Adding questions to the interviews with the participants can add quantitative value to research as the number of positive and negative experiences would be analyzed (Boelig et al., 2020). Furthermore, there are specific guidelines for nursing personnel related to the pandemic, and their implications influence the decision-making about natural childbirth and the use of medication (Boelig et al., 2020). The grounded theory methodology would be appropriate for such a study because it will help describe social and cultural processes. I have experience studying cultural research necessary for particular decisions, and the more tests and statistical observations it includes, the more solid foundation for conclusions it develops. Based on the evidence and exploring similar scientific works, the suggestion can be to expand the study for retrieving additional evidence which can influence the original theory’s validity and reveal patterns that lead nurses to suggest natural childbirth or apply medication. Studies exploring healthcare delivery practices for particular locations such as a large tertiary hospital in Jamaica are crucial for retrieving narrow and evidence-based recommendations for their unique conditions. You correctly selected phenomenological research and semi-structured interviewing as a method of gathering information because they will provide the most detailed results possible. Ranse et al. (2020) claim that “phenomenology is concerned with the essence of things as they are appearing in the conscious awareness of the first person” (p. 946). You mentioned the issues of that kind of qualitative study as “some participants may be reluctant to sign the informed consent, though they do not have a problem participating in the research.” Indeed, the individuals’ perception and biases towards scientific work might damage the entire process, and therefore maximized trustworthiness must be provided. The alternative perspective for your research can be to structuring the information before it is gathered. The phenomenological methodology would obtain broad knowledge about nurses’ experiences and perceptions of their job and workplace. Consequently, setting several obligatory parts of interviews to retrieve specific information is necessary to further create a quality of care assessment strategy for the emergency department in a large tertiary hospital in Jamaica (Nelson & Cavanagh, 2018). Furthermore, nursing experiences in the given location can be studied through the participants’ perception of their work and overall environment (Nelson & Cavanagh, 2018). I explored narrow researches about the state I had an internship and concluded that such works are rare and include a few participants, yet provide a broad description of specific place operations. Evidence gathered from phenomenological research and my experience suggest you design interviews to help participants give information that could be well-structured during the analysis. References Boelig, R. C., Manuck, T., Oliver, E. A., Di Mascio, D., Saccone, G., Bellussi, F., & Berghella, V. (2020). Labor and delivery guidance for COVID-19 . American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology MFM, 2 (2), 100110. Nelson, J. W., & Cavanagh, A. M. (2018). Development of an international tool to measure nurse job satisfaction by testing the Healthcare Environment Survey beyond Jamaica and the United States to Scotland: A cross sectional study utilizing exploratory factor analysis . International Journal of Healthcare Management, 11 (4), 314-318. O’Brien, L., Duong, J., Winterton, T., Haring, A., & Kuhlmann, Z. (2018). Management of hypertension on the labor and delivery unit: delivering care in the era of protocols and algorithms . The Permanente Journal, 22, 17-170. Ranse, J., Arbon, P., Cusack, L., Shaban, R. Z., & Nicholls, D. (2020). Obtaining individual narratives and moving to an intersubjective lived-experience description: a way of doing phenomenology. Qualitative Research, 20 (6), 945-959. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
It is a document which describes a companys activity throughout the whole year. It is made and published for customers to see what important processes occur in the company and to decide whether to continue commanding its services. That is why, companies are interested in creating bright and informative annual reports for people to chose them. Taking it into account, it is possible to analyze annual reports of the 3i Group plc and 888 Holdings plc and to compare the main ways of its organizing and methods to draw readers attention. At the first gaze, it becomes obvious that the report of the 888 Holding is brighter and, as a result, more attractive for a common reader. First pages are made in a very provocative manner, with a lot of colors and images. That is why, it is possible to say that this annual report is richer in visuals, than the report of the 3i Group , though there are also a lot of images in it but they are not so bright and striking. Both these reports are filled with information. However, it is presented in a simple manner, with a lot of graphs, diagrams and tables for a reader to see it more distinct. The report of the 3i Group contains more graphs and diagrams than the second report, however, each portion of the information presented with their help is explained and a clear summary is given (3i Group plc, 2013). That is why, statistics is clear and understandable there. Moreover, one more fact should be mentioned. Both reports are easy to understand. The language is simple and friendly. The main purpose of these reports is to engage a reader to use services of the company, that is why simplicity of language is one of the main remedies for a customer to understand the message of the report. It should also be mentioned, that some unpleasant moments are presented in the way which can confuse a reader and make him consider these phenomena to be positive. 888 Holdings is the most popular online gaming entertaining company that is why, it is obvious that there are some risks of losing money while using its services. However, the report presents this fact like one of the main advantages of this company, stating the fact that money can be lost only while playing, but not because of some drawbacks in the work of the company (888 Holdings plc, 2013). Both reports being rather clear, it should be said, however, that the report of the 888 Holdings is easier to understand. It is mainly due to the character of services which both companies provide. 3i Group is a financial company and it is obvious, that the information connected with finances is more difficult to understand. Moreover, this fact also influences the level of interest of the reports. The issue of games and entertainment is more interesting to investigate and analyze. Taking it into account, it is possible to say that the report of the 3i Group would be more interesting for people which have knowledge in the field of finances, while the second one is interesting for a common reader. Having read these two annual reports, it is possible to say that the information is presented in a very clear and understandable way and they are both rather convincing. They promote services of the companies in a proper way. References 3i Group plc. (2013). 2013 annual report of the 3i Group plc . Web. 888 Holdings plc. (2013). 2013 annual report of the 888 Holdings plc . Web. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Real Estate Investment and Financial Stock Report (Assessment) Table of Contents 1. Abstract 2. Introduction 3. Description of the Article and Event 4. Analysis of the Event 5. Conclusion 6. Reference Abstract The paper discusses the connection between stock and real estate markets and refers to the event, which has to take place at the end of this week and implies a separation of these economic environments. In the first place, a combination of the article and knowledge acquired during the lectures revealed that REITs were popular due to their high return on investment. Nonetheless, the changes in the economic environment, governmental interventions, shift in sales of new homes, and need to support the banking reasons were the primary causes of REITs decrease in popularity. Thus, a mixture of these factors emphasized the importance of the separation to ensure the stock exchange and minimize the impact of REITs on the banking sector. Introduction Nowadays, financial market experiences substantial changes in its functioning, as it is dependent on various factors. The interdependence between the real estate and trade is one of them, as it determines whether any of these markers can offer favorable conditions for prosperity and investment. Consequently, it is critical to discuss the role of Real Estate Investment Trusts (REIT) in the economic stability and their separation from the financial market at the end of this week with the help of the article Why an Obscure Change in Market Indexes Will Add to the Turmoil This Week by Lahart (Lahart, 2016). Description of the Article and Event As it was mentioned earlier, the article tends to focus on the event of dividing real estate and stock markets into two separate entities. In this case, S&P Dow Jones Indexes and MSCI proposed the need for creating two autonomous markets for stocks and real estate (Lahart, 2016). In this case, the author vehemently refers to the nature of REITs and their beneficial impact on the economy. The primary advantages were related to the liquid share in the real estate market and a high percentage of return on investment (Lahart, 2016). Additionally, they ensured high-income levels and defined the popularity of REITs among the investors. REITs long-term orientation and rates assured their success and profitability in the recent past (Lahart, 2016). Nonetheless, the alterations in the economic trends were the primary reasons for defining the necessity for intervention. According to the article, the major changes were associated with the actions of the Federal Reserve to improve the condition of the banking sector (Lahart, 2016). Simultaneously, the new homes’ sales experienced a dramatic shift (Lahart, 2016). A combination of these aspects damaged the profitability and image of REITs and implied the need to separate stock and real estate markets. Analysis of the Event Despite the clarity of the provided arguments reflected in the article, it is critical to conduct the profound analysis and assessment of the event. In the first place, determining the reasons for the popularity of REITs is vital, as they are the primary connectors between stock and real estate markets. Apart from the causes mentioned in the article, the success of REITs pertains to the low prices for mortgages and high rent rates. Consequently, investing in this segment guaranteed a high and rapid return on investment (Lahart, 2016). In this case, low sales in the real estate market were the primary definers of their popularity among investors. The interdependence between these economic sectors was reflected during the class and assisted me in identifying a critical reason for the popularity of REITs. One cannot underestimate the need for change, as it was discussed during the class that the government is a pivotal agent in finding the economic balance. Consequently, in this case, it is important to refer to the fluctuations related to different stages of economic development. The Federal Reserve tended to focus on the policies that will protect the banking sector by increasing the overnight rates (Lahart, 2016). This aspect will decrease the profitability of REITs due to the domination of the banking sector in the stock market. It was possible to understand this connection with the help of rules of supply and demand and rivalry of firms discussed in the class. Simultaneously, any economic changes have a dramatic impact on the stock’s market-leading to its fluctuations, and this fact implies that governmental intervention is necessary. Due to the variations in the effectiveness of REITs and the rise of new homes’ sales, the continuation of this coexistence will pertain to the market instability. It will ensure the stability of stock exchange and create favorable environmental conditions for banks to regain their market shares. Based on the factors provided above, the stabilization of the national economy is one of the primary rationales for S&P Dow Jones Indexes’ and MSCI’s actions associated with separating real estate from the stock market. It will ensure the equilibrium of supply and demand sides, help enhance the country’s GDP, offer support to the most profitable sectors, and comply with the theoretical knowledge acquired during the lectures. Conclusion Conducting an analysis of the events contributes to the understanding of the impact of various factors such as political intervention and changes in demand and supply curves’ slopes in other markets. The event of separating real estate from the stock market by S&P Dow Jones Indexes and MSCI. In the first place, the coexistence of these markets was associated with the financial profitability of REITs. With the help of the knowledge acquired during the class, it was possible to understand the interdependence between different components and participants of market interactions. It revealed the significance of governmental intervention in the functioning of the national economy and the influence of the stock market on the banking and real estate sectors. Reference Lahart, J. (2016, September 11). “ Why an obscure change in market indexes will add to the turmoil this week .” The Guardian . | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
The Water Cube Project and Design-Build Approaches Case Study The key features of the Water Cube that enhance economic, social and economic sustainability The Water Cube design helped to reduce the cost of building materials while guaranteeing a stable structure by substituting glass materials with ETFE. The designer’s employed techniques to ensure optimal utilization of sunlight, which would help to reduce the cost of electricity for lighting and heating the swimming pools and building. The ETFE allows a significant amount of light into the building, which the engineers can harness to serve various energy requirements. The design would reduce energy consumption by 30 per cent for heating purposes and 55 per cent for artificial lighting. Despite the variety of designs that the engineers could use in the construction, the choice of a Water Cube helped to embolden the Chinese culture in the building. The design of the floor emphasized the theme of peace and stability in society. The designers adopted techniques to maximize water conservation through reuse and recycling in consideration of water scarcity in Beijing. The key challenges facing the Water Cube project One of the key challenges facing the Water Cube project was a dispute regarding the use of ETFE. The Chinese authorities had concerns that the material would be unable to mute external noise. The architects had to identify a perfect structural geometry for the construction of the Water Cube. Modifications in the placement of the ETFE cladding helped to realize a structure that could insulate sound effectively. Cultural differences caused a stalemate in the selection of the shape of the Water Cube in the early stages of designing the building. While the PTW architects favoured a wave-shaped structure, the Chinese architects preferred a rectangular shape. The stalemate between the two groups almost caused the project to halt. Arup could not maintain a supervisory role during the construction of the Water Cube and ensure the implementation of the intended design. The organization had to develop a design and submit it to the Chinese authorities. The key success factors of the Water Cube project Structural experts estimate that the design and material used to build the Water Cube will guarantee the building a lifespan of about 100 years. ETFE has a high thermal efficiency, which protects the steel members of the building from corrosion. The friction coefficient of ETFE is such that the dust does not accumulate and form layers, which are difficult to clean. The Water Cub behaves like a greenhouse with appropriate climate and humidity to support various events. The architects installed vents to regulate indoor temperatures depending on the season of the year. The ETFE material would shrink during a fire outbreak to vent smoke out of the building and ensure people’s safety. The greenhouse will rely on its water supply system created using sophisticated techniques of water reuse and recycling. Differences between Arup’s approach and traditional design-build approach Arup’s approach challenged the conventional designing of structures, which does not take into account the need for structures and nature to exist harmoniously. Traditional architectural designs restrict structures to boundaries that promote energy consumption and inefficient use of resources such as water, air and sunlight. Traditional architectural designs encourage the installation of energy-consuming systems such as air conditioning systems and artificial lighting. The designs do not integrate systems for harnessing natural resources within a building. The architects demonstrated that it was possible to redesign a structure to fit its natural environment. The Water Cube incorporated the culture, environment, economic and social aspects of the people of Beijing. The building serves as a monument that encourages people to adopt environmental-friendly practices for conservational purposes. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Assessment of the Managers’ Moral Reasoning Essay Table of Contents 1. Introduction 2. Background Information 3. Summary 4. Evaluation 5. Conclusion 6. Reference Introduction Weber discussed the issue of ethics in business in his article titled adapting Kohlberg to enhance the assessment of managers’ moral reasoning . In the article, at least four issues are explained, one being balancing between less familiar and the more familiar ethical problems. The second issue entails analyzing and following up issues that have the potential of affecting the manager’s reasoning while focusing on the major organizational principles. In the article, the issue of drafting questions and applying the most reliable interview method is looked into and the dilemma is whether to utilize oral or written interviews. Finally, the author insists on using a simpler evaluation method, but it has to be reliable in order to capture the reasoning of the manager effectively. In this paper, the views of the author are analyzed in detail with an aim of establishing whether they help in assessing the moral judgments and reasoning of organizational leaders. An overview of the article proves that a manager is charged with various responsibilities when serving the organization, but the most important is observing ethics because this would determine their successfulness. The article suggests further that the manager is likely to miss the major organizational aims and objectives in case ethics are not taken into consideration. The views of Weber are valid since the manager has to consider the various stages in analyzing an event on whether it is ethical or not. Background Information The ideas of Kohlberg support the views of previous scholars, such as Piaget concerning moral development. In their various analyses, the scholars concentrated on giving some of the reasons that influence the decisions on whether an action is morally just and preferable. Kohlberg termed these reasons as indicators or stages that lead to moral maturity. It is clear that people vary as far as judging events is concerned since one action could be considered just or morally upright while for some people, a similar scenario or action could be viewed as unjust. Kohlberg noted that various factors influence the morality of the action, including an individual’s orientation to the world, organizational culture, and the personal principles (Weber, 1991). The first level of personal growth, according to Kohlberg, is pre-conventional, which has two stages including the punishment or obedience orientation and the instrumental relativist orientation. The second level is conventional whereby an individual is referred to as a nice boy or a good girl in the first stage, depending on the behavior and law and order is emphasized in the second stage of the level. The third level of moral development in human beings is post-conventional and the social-contract legalistic orientation is the first stage while the universal ethical principle is the second stage in the level and the last in the entire cycle. Summary As discussed in the introduction section, the article looks at four major points and each of them is critical to the reasoning of the organizational employee, especially those at the position of influence. First, the author underscores the fact that various dilemmas exist in the sense that some are more familiar to the individual while others are complex meaning they are less known. In such a scenario, a manager is likely to make sound decisions on the ones that he or she understands better while the type of decisions made on the complex issues would be questionable. The second major issue in the article entails probing the moral reasoning of the manager whereby questions should be designed to interrogate the thought process of any leader. The author expresses difficulties on the method of administering questions in the third point and the problem lies in whether to utilize written or oral interviews. The fourth point analyzes the most preferred evaluation method in determining whether the organizational leader is effective. If an individual wishes to capture the views of the manager, choosing the most reliable, but simpler method of recording and identifying the stage of reasoning, is critical. Evaluation The article achieves its goal of convincing the reader to believe that moral reasoning is critical to the success of the manager by employing a scientific study whereby proper research tools and instruments are applied. The article tends to suggest that a manager or any organizational leader has no option other than applying moral reasoning in making decisions. To achieve this, the use of interviews, both oral and written, is important in obtaining the manager’s views and opinions. One of the strengths of the article entails the use of a scientific method in making an inquiry. Through scientific methods, such as interviewing, an individual probing is likely t arrive at a better conclusion as opposed to judging something by simply looking at it. Unfortunately, the article does not consider other options as far as moral judgment is concerned because it simply suggests that obtaining the views of the manager through a questionnaire is enough, which is not true. The article gives various experiences, including conducting research to obtain first-hand information in resolving a problem. Conclusion The stages of moral reasoning are applicable in strengthening the decision-making process in the organization. This means the manager has to consider the available options before attempting to come up with a final verdict. However, the article presents research gaps that should be filled through continuous research. For instance, it does not discuss the role of culture in personal development in the organization. Reference Weber, J. (1991). Adapting Kohlberg to enhance the assessment of the managers’ moral reasoning. Business Ethics Quarterly , 1 (3), 293-319. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
AAAHC is one of the key organizations in the United States that contributes to the achievement of managed care. Based on the support it has received from major healthcare organizations in the United States, AAAHC has become an accreditor of thousands of healthcare organizations in the United States and across the world (AAAHC, 2010). As the leading accreditor, this essay seeks to examine its purpose, impact on patients, the process of accreditation, key standards and their validity, and publication of surveys, as well as their importance to patients. The Purpose of Accreditation The primary purpose of accreditation performed by AAAHC is to improve the quality of healthcare services and the safety of patients in ambulatory centers. To achieve its purpose, AAAHC identifies, evaluates, reviews standards, and recommends evidence-based practices, which are critical in the delivery of healthcare to achieve quality outcomes and guarantee patient safety (AAAHC, 2010). Through its surveys, which are voluntary and consultative, AAAHC advises and accredits healthcare organizations. Owing to its diversity of healthcare professionals, AAAHC amasses its wealth of knowledge, experience, and resources and uses them in the development of updated standards. AAAHC also uses robust expertise in educating and training healthcare professionals to provide quality care and assure patient safety. Quality of Care The process of accreditation has enhanced the quality of care that patients receive from healthcare organizations because AAAHC reviews standards and recommend evidence-based practices. Accredited healthcare organizations provide the best care and assure the safety of patients because they adhere to strictest standards, apply evidence-based practices, and employ robust expertise. Recommendations by AAAHC have improved the quality of care in ambulatory surgery centers as indicated by enhanced patient outcomes and safety. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recognizes AAAHC as a reliable accreditor since it meets all conditions for coverage in ambulatory surgery centers. AAAHC improves quality of care by coordinating management, providing preventive care, improving access to care, offering quality services, reducing adverse events, and decreasing costs ( AAAHC ROI survey, 2018). Hospitals that have achieved the accreditation provide quality care and generate better outcomes than uncredited ones. Process of Accreditation The process of accreditation in ambulatory care centers entails seven steps, namely review of standards, self-assessment, request for a survey, assessment of the survey request, preparation for the survey, performance of survey, and accreditation outcome (AAAHC, 2019). A healthcare organization that requires accreditation has to familiarize itself with the current standards of care by reviewing them in AAAHC Handbook. Subsequently, an organization undertakes self-assessment to determine if it can meet its stipulated standards before making an official request for AAAHC to carry out a survey. Upon receiving the request, AAAHC conducts reconnaissance to familiarize with the organization, estimate the number of surveyors required, approximate costs, and fix the date for the survey. The organization prepares for the survey by ensuring that it adheres to all standards before allowing AAAHC surveyors to conduct their assessment. Ultimately, AAAHC analyzes survey data and generate findings, which indicate the outcome of the accreditation process. Key Standards When they are surveying, AAAHC surveyors look for key standards, which covers numerous aspects of healthcare and meet Medicaid conditions for coverage (Bindman, 2018). These key standards are patient rights and responsibilities, governance, quality of care, quality management, health records, infection prevention, facilities, and environment. Moreover, it entails standards in the delivery of healthcare services, such as anesthesia, surgery, pharmacy, diagnosis, and radiology. Validity of Standards The analysis of key standards shows that they are rigorous and comprehensive because they cover a broad aspect of healthcare services in an organization. The standards cover patients, management, healthcare providers, facilities, and the environment. Additionally, these standards cover diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases. Publication of Surveys Since the purpose of the survey is marketing, healthcare organizations that meet and exceed key standards often publish their outcomes (Duhig, Saha, Smith, Kaufman, & Hughes, 2018). AAAHC publish outcomes of surveys in their websites by listing healthcare organizations that have received accreditation. Moreover, healthcare organizations display their accreditation certificates for patients to seek and make informed choices about their treatments. Benefits of Publication The publication of survey outcomes is important because it enables patients to assess the credibility of organizations and procure quality healthcare services. Consequently, patients would achieve quality services and improved outcomes, resulting in the reduction of morbidity and mortality rates. Additionally, the publication of survey data would enable patients to access healthcare services at reduced costs in line with the objective of managed care. Conclusion AAAHC plays a significant role in the accreditation of ambulatory care centers and the achievement of managed care. The primary purpose of AAAHC is to improve the quality of healthcare services, enhance patient outcomes, and assure safety. The process of accreditation comprises of review of standards, self-assessment, request for a survey, assessment of the survey request, preparation for the survey, performance of survey, and accreditation outcome. Key standards considered in the survey are rigorous because they cover numerous aspects of healthcare in an organization. AAAHC and healthcare organizations publish survey outcomes for patients to make appropriate choices when seeking medical services. References AAAHC ROI survey identifies reasons to seek accreditation. (2018). Healthcare Purchasing News, 42 (3), 1-8. Web. Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC). (2010). Introduction. Web. Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC). (2019). Steps to accreditation. Web. Bindman, A. (2018). Redesigning Medicaid managed care. Journal of the American Medical Association, 319 (15), 1537-1538. Web. Duhig, A., Saha, S., Smith, S., Kaufman, S., & Hughes, J. (2018). The current status of outcomes-based contracting for manufacturers and payers: An AMCP membership survey. Journal of Managed, 4 (5), 410-415. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Instead, Herzog is devoted to exploring the truth, reality, and its limits. This film director’s works are filled with altered realities and stretched time and space boundaries. Reality and truth are abstract notions for Herzog. They exist in tight connection with the viewer. Just like in the story he told in his “On the Absolute, the Sublime, and Ecstatic Truth” lecture. In that story, he witnessed himself; the people of one Peruvian village had no notion of the ocean that existed on the other side of the Andes. Their doubt was so strong that they had to send two representatives to collect salty water from the ocean and bring it back to the village as proof. Herzog explores the subjective perception of truth, which significantly alters people’s reality. For example, in the reality of the whole Peruvian village, the Pacific Ocean did not exist for a long time. Anti-verite techniques employed by Werner Herzog in his films are designed to reflect the constant presence of the viewer, who is the filmmaker. This way the audience never gets to forget about the camera and the film. The whole work looks as if observed by someone. This is required to create the feeling of being involuntarily dragged into the course of the events in the audience. Werner Herzog’s film called “Invincible” was released in 2001. The plot of this film is carefully organized around the concept of truth. From the very first scene, one of the main characters admits that his perception of truth and reality was altered when the White Warrior turned out to be real. Within the first ten minutes of the film, a character that calls himself Truth appears demonstrating supernatural powers and taking over the important artifact. Even the meaning of eternity starts to be questioned in the dialogues of the characters when one of them implies that there is more than one eternity. The effect of presence in “Invincible” is achieved through the movement of the camera. Many scenes are shot as if they are observed by the filmmaker secretly. The space between the camera and the characters contains obstacles such as fire, walls, glass, gates, and fences. The camera is often located behind one of the characters, shooting from above the shoulder, increasing the feeling of secret observation. To create more disconnection between the perception and the reality, the filmmaker combines concepts that are not perceived as matching in normal life, for example, the two twin women dressed as geishas singing an indie-sounding song in duet. In the scene where the main anti-hero hypnotizes a security guard, his face is viewed through a blurred lens, so the viewer is put on the side of the victim. Sound effect employed in the film also present anti-verite techniques when in some scenes, the voices of the characters are distorted, as if the filmmaker is overhearing them. The film’s plot is the exploration of truth and the alteration of reality through the ways of its perception. The main protagonists of the film are the outsiders, and the whole course of events develops in the most common locations but features very uncommon actions and happenings. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Increasing the Consumption of Healthy Food Products Analytical Essay Goals and Objectives The health of human binges depends on the fluids, beverages, and foods they consume. This marketing strategy seeks to introduce healthy food products such as low-fat milk and whole-grain carbohydrates. The project will educate people in the society about the importance of positive health practices and proper dietary intakes. Main Goal The main goal behind this marketing project is to increase the consumption of low-fat milk and whole-grain carbohydrate sources. Measurable Objectives 1. To educate over 80 percent of the targeted population about these foods and has access to low-fat milk and whole grains. 2. The second objective is to educate the population about the importance of low-fat milk and whole grains within the first six months. 3. The third one is to introduce new sources of whole-grain carbohydrates and low-fat milk in the market. 4. The fourth is to market these foods to the targeted customers. Selected Audience The targeted audience mainly includes parents who have small children and teenagers. These groups can benefit the most from these products and teachings. The marketing project will also target adults and senior citizens. From this discussion, it is clear that the marketing strategy will make it easier to inform more individuals in the society about this project. Core Strategy and Evaluation A proper marketing should have the best core strategy in order to be successful. The first thing to consider during the marketing process is “price”. The marketers will educate more people about the importance of proper dietary intake and health practices. They will also avail these products to them at a cheaper price. The customers will also have to reduce most of their medical bills and expenditures because of better health practices. The other aspect of the core strategy is “product”. This marketing strategy will introduce two “products” in the market. The first one is “behavioral change” whereby the marketers will encourage the targeted audience to embrace the consumption of whole grains and low-fat milk. The second one includes the “products” themselves. This aim of the project is to inform more individuals about the targeted behavioral changes proper dietary intakes. The strategy will also ensure the population gets the best milk and whole grains. The third aspect is “promotion”. The marketers will use of various social media sites such as Twitter.com and Facebook.com. The approach will inform more people about these food products and their health implications. There will be promotional events to educate more people about low-fat milk and whole grains. The marketers will encourage people to ask questions and purchase these products. The other core aspect is “place”. The recruited marketers will also ensure every single location receives these food products. It will also be necessary to visit as many places and locations as possible. We will also collaborate with celebrities, businesspeople, religious leaders, and politicians. The approach will make the marketing plan successful because these individuals will present their knowledge and material support. Finally, the marketers will evaluate the strategy in order to address any challenges and make quicker decisions whenever the marketers encounter new problems. Possible Oppositions and Countermeasures Some of the major oppositions will include lack of financial support and insensitive audiences. In order to make the strategy successful, we will look for financial backups from various groups and sponsors. The approach will help us reach out to many regions. The proposed marketing strategy will ensure every individual gets the best ideas about proper health practices. These practices and countermeasures will make the marketing strategy successful and improve the health conditions of the targeted audiences. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
R. Skloot’s “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” Essay (Book Review) Table of Contents 1. Background 2. Themes, Formative Influences, and Social Identification 3. Differences 4. Insights 5. Conclusion 6. Work Cited The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks written by Rebecca Skloot raises various contradictions that still have not been eradicated from the contemporary society. In addition, the writing dwells upon the birth of bioethics. This dramatic scientific research has resonated strongly in society, and it inevitably affects everyone who reads the book. The purpose of this paper is to consider the topics raised by this research and to analyze its core underlying messages. Background The book tells about a woman named Henrietta Lacks. One day it turned out that she was sick and the doctor providing services to Henrietta took her cells without the woman’s consent. Later, these cells became an important medical tool and caused a major breakthrough in the industry while their owner died without knowing about the contribution she made to the lives of future generations (Skloot 370). Themes, Formative Influences, and Social Identification It should be stressed that this book has covered many critical topics. One of them is the theme of suffering. The family of Henrietta Lacks had to face the consequences of slavery and the outcomes of institutionalized racism. As the family was poor and society was full of prejudice, it was impossible to break the circle of poverty and harassment. Many of the family members, as well as Henrietta, were uneducated people; consequently, they were limited in their opportunities (Skloot 299). The formative influence of legal system on the lives of common people resulted in the number of barriers that the family had to overcome. Another theme is morality and ethics. Although Henrietta was diseased, she did not give her consent for removing the cells for research purposes (Skloot 298). Although she did agree to have the cancer cells to be removed, the woman was not aware that they would be given away for experimentation. The ethics of scientific research lies in the fact that the patient has to be knowledgeable of everything that will happen to his or her cells and Henrietta only knew that cancer cells would be cut away. This difference reveals the ethical violation performed by the scientists. Notably, the social identity of the family evolves throughout the story. Initially, the family was questioning why scientists were making huge money on Henrietta’s cells whereas they were unable to receive any benefit from them. Nonetheless, Deborah Lacks revealed another perspective on this issue when she expressed her concern that her mother was never officially acknowledged as a person who made all the discoveries implementable (Deborah 301). The financial aspect did not play any significant role since the family wanted that Henrietta’s role in scientific research was recognized. Also, the theme of race intensifies the ethical dilemma. The woman’s background had a direct impact on the doctor’s unethical decision-making. With the development of the plot, both the family and the readers could comprehend that it was their race that prevented the family from gaining equal access to education and resulted in the improper treatment of individuals from the side of scientific community (Deborah 107). The emphasized exploitation of African-Americans by the scientific world for the sake of financial benefit is the leitmotif of the entire story, and this understanding reveals the core of social identification by this population and all the other groups that still face racial prejudice. Importantly, the coping mechanisms employed by the family are drastically different. Henrietta lived in a place, which was very close to a setting where Ku Klux Klan used to operate (Deborah 76). The social desensitization by the main character might be considered a form of coping strategy, but it only stressed the process of adaptation to inequity. In their turn, the family tried to fight it, which implied that they were no longer eager to perceive discrimination and consider it tolerable. Differences The main difference between my life and the life of the Lacks family is that I have the similar access to education as many other people do. It provides an opportunity to become an educated person who can contribute to the development of society and evolve as a person through learning and cognitive processes. Nevertheless, unfortunately, there is a similarity with the book characters as well. In the contemporary society, there is still place to racism, prejudice, and inequalities since the extermination of these phenomena is a lengthy process, which requires the joint effort of all people inclusively. Insights The book pushes towards social action since it is a vivid display of inequality, injustice, and unethical behavior based on prejudice. Not only African-American people still face oppression but also the representatives of other national, cultural, and religious groups. Therefore, it is of paramount importance to combat the existing harassment and abuse. All the people should have equal opportunities to education, healthcare, and services envisaged to the population by the state. Moreover, all people inclusively should be sole owners of their bodies and minds despite their origin or background. Therefore, it is the role of everyone to assist those who are oppressed in fighting for security and social justice. Conclusion Thus, the work by Rebecca Skloot is a dramatic story about the fate of an ordinary woman who gave her immortal cells to the world and the way dishonest doctors have influenced the development not only of healthcare but also the life of society in general. One of the most important issues raised by the book is whether people themselves or anyone else (doctors, scientists) are full owners of their bodies and whether other individuals have the right to impose on other people’s rights and freedoms. The book is a valuable and reliable source of information on social injustice, and it drives readers to become active participants in changing society towards becoming harmonious and secure for everyone. Work Cited Skloot, Rebecca. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks . Pan Macmillan, 2011. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Innovation and Its Positive Impact on the Society Essay Innovation is the process through which new ideas, products and methods are introduced. This new ideas and products are believed to have a positive impact on the society. Governments from all over the world have been encouraging their citizens to be innovative, especially the youth. In order to encourage innovation among young people, governments have come up with curriculums that encourage innovation. We are all encouraged to embrace innovations that will be able to help us change our lives in a positive way. The statement “I never did anything by accident, nor did any of my inventions come by accident, but by working hard” goes to show that innovations just don’t occur by accident. People work hard and invest a lot of money and time. Innovation is a process that requires a lot of patience and creativity. Innovation is a process that has ups and downs. An innovative person never gives up. A good example in this case is Thomas Edison who invented the light bulb. Before inventing the light bulb, Thomas went through a hard time. He was forced to work hard and would spend some of his nights working instead of resting. He failed a lot of times but he never gave up. He kept on working hard and with time he was able to invent the light bulb. It was then that he came up with the now famous quote in which he says that he never failed and that he only discovered 10000 ways through which a light bulb cannot work. It was through hard work, patience and persistence that he was able to invent the light bulb. By inventing the light bulb he was able to change the lives of many people. Role of strategic gateways Research has shown that most companies have problems bringing in new products into the market even after spending a lot of money in the development and launching of these products. Research has shown that these products fail while in the market. Some of these products never even make it to the market. A stage gate model is a system that that is supposed to help move a new product from an idea to the launch of the product. The Stage gate model divides this process into various activities (stages) and decisions points (gates). Why and when it is used? The stage gate model is used to manage the risks that are associated with the development of new products. This is because the product development and innovation process faces a number of risks. It is through this model, that these risks can be assessed. The stage gate model also minimises the chance of something going wrong along the way. How does it work? The system works by managing the risks associated with product development and product innovation. The people in charge of the project will gather information needed to move the project from one stage to another. The information gathered will range from financial information to market information. The expenditures incurred will increase as the project moves from one stage to another. Key stages of the project are separated to help the management understand the product innovation and development process. The proposed product is carefully scrutinised at each stage and the management is advised on when to abort the project if it fails to meet the set objectives. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
The Values of the Religious Groups Essay The quest for the standardization of global values and the application of the fundamental moral values in personal beliefs can be attained by harmonizing the values of the various religions in the world. The themes of human freedom and justice in the society are present in the teachings covered by the scriptures in different religions. The different religions can work together to save humanity from the adverse effects of the globalization concept. The global society needs to develop binding values that foster goodness among the entire population. According to the Catholic Social Teaching, participation among the people in the community is one of the themes that should be pursued by individuals. The different religions should have their respective congregations taking part actively in the delivery of justice through their advocacy for rights and responsibilities. Human dignity should be protected through the efforts of religious leaders in different religious groups, and their followers. Different religious groups have different religious values, but they have mutual agreements on the social values that should be portrayed by individuals. For instance, all religions emphasize on the attainment of the common good for the entire population. These values are emphasized by the religious scriptures, and the followers are obliged to meet the demands of their religious teachings. Islam and Christianity share common interests in social justice. The two religions are also against the secularization of their beliefs; hence, the religious groups in the current world are facing similar challenges. This mutual problem indicates that the members of the religions must integrate their efforts to fight against social injustices, politicizing of religion, and moral degradation in the global society. In the view of globalization, most of the religions of the world have attained parallelism in their core beliefs about the society and how individuals should conduct their lives. According to the CST, God is portrayed as the liberator of the poor and oppressed in the society, but he does so through his people. In most social settings, the rich and the poor are treated differently, but before the eyes of God, the CST and the Holy Scripture indicate that all humans should be equal. The Catholic Social Teaching reveals that the poor should be helped by the rest of the community unconditionally. Humans have the obligation to care about God’s creations by ensuring there is fair treatment for humans and animals, and they should also emphasize on environmental sustainability. Humans form kingdoms in which there are sections of the society that are oppressed and dominated. It is the obligation of the religious leaders of the society to ensure that the oppressed and dominated are liberated from their miseries. In the current world, the principles of capitalism have taken effect on the global economy, and their results are the development of inequality. The poor should be helped to liberate themselves from their oppressed status. Poverty is propagated by greed and exploitation of some of the individuals in the society. Political leaders are the main instigators of this behavior, and they should be compelled to uphold the values shared by various religions with respect to equality. The CST indicates that Christians must be concerned about the wellness status of everybody in the society. They are charged with the responsibility of ensuring the leaders in the society uphold their responsibility to protect the fundamental rights of the poor. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Animal Abuse as a Public Health Issue Analytical Essay The condition of public health in a society depends on many factors. To achieve good standards in this sphere, it is crucial to identify harmful factors, introduce effective laws that would deal with these factors, and to realize these laws in practice. In this paper, we will attempt to identify one of such factors, the level of cruelty towards animals, show its relation to public health, and offer some legal tools that might prove useful in addressing the problem. The problem of animal abuse is significant for the public health of a society. Despite the fact that public health legislation does not include this issue (for instance, in Baltimore County Code the article concerned with animals (#12) is separate from the article concerned with public health (#13) (American Legal Publishing, 2015)), the problem of cruelty towards animals has an important correlation with the area of public health, or, more precisely, with one of its parts – behavioral health. Indeed, it is evident that violence towards animals is, in most cases, related to violence against humans. For instance, Flynn (2011) argues that “animal abuse is linked to a variety of interpersonal violence, including bullying, juvenile delinquency, adult violent crimes and other nonviolent offenses”; it has been shown that cruelty towards animals often “co-occurs with woman-battering” (p. 454). Therefore, the link between animal abuse and public health exists, and it demands both public and legal attention. The prevention of cruelty towards animals is a major factor that might contribute to preventing interpersonal violence; for example, Flynn (2011) argues that ending violence against animals “is an important step in ending all violence” (p. 454). It is stated that in 2013 many police officers did not consider animal abuse a vital problem, treating it “as a minor property crime” (Smith, 2015); many of them consider it a “Fluffy-Muffy issue”, not worth worrying about (Siebert, 2010). Even though there exists legislature protecting animals in Baltimore County (American Legal Publishing, 2015; Baltimore County Government, 2014), it is apparent that it needs to be adjusted in order to enable law enforcers to elicit the facts of animal violence and prevent them more effectively. The law should also make the change in the officers’ attitude towards the problem possible on the institutional level; for instance, it might establish specific training programs elaborating the importance of the issue. It is also possible to legally introduce anti-violence programs into the school curriculum (e.g., into primary schools). Clearly, such programs need to be carefully designed and well-implemented to be effective. As we have seen, the problem of animal abuse, being linked to interpersonal violence, is directly related to the sphere of public health. Battling animal abuse is vital to address the problem of behavioral health of the society. To do this, it is possible to introduce legislation which would allow the law enforcers to protect animals more effectively, as well as to create laws that would introduce the explanation of the issue to schoolchildren. References American Legal Publishing. (2015). Baltimore County Code . Web. Baltimore County Government. (2014). Animal laws and policies . Web. Flynn, C. P. (2011). Examining the links between animal abuse and human violence . Crime, Law and Social Change, 55 (5), 453-468. Web. Siebert, C. (2010). The animal-cruelty syndrome . Web. Smith, V. (2015). A dog in the fight: Baltimore’s enforcement of animal-cruelty laws is getting some bite . Web. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Abortion Principles – Case of George and Linda Essay Table of Contents 1. Comparison 2. Contrast 3. Recommendations 4. Works Cited Comparison According to Linda, the decision of having the abortion was extremely lonely regardless of the fact that the husband supported her. The abortion came as an option since the birth of a new child was unexpected and would come with additional burdens. The husband would also be barred from changing his fourteen years job. The woman was also visualizing the difficulties regarding baby care and how much work she could be able to do. The youngest child was finally ready for school and it would be difficult to raise another one. The men at the Women’s Services were uncomfortable and embarrassed. According to George, there was no emotional distress after the first abortion. In Linda’s case, there was no emotional distress at the beginning since the couple had come to the conclusion that abortion was the best option considering the circumstances they were in. However, Linda was bothered when her name was called and the doctor was injecting her (Francke 34). Similarly, George kept thinking about women’s rights and the ethical guidelines of what he was doing. The women at the waiting room were silent since they were ashamed that they were going to kill innocent souls. After the abortion, Linda and her husband did not talk but held hands. They were guilty as they tried to hide everything from their children by pretending that life was normal. The woman was concerned about her modernity and the fact that she was about to kill regardless of the great care she had given to her other children. Just as Linda was guilty after the abortion and felt that there was a space for another child, George felt sympathy for young college ladies and anger for married couples. It reached a point where George was gravely bothered and he started questioning his sensitivity. At home, he was embraced by his children while he engaged in abortions at his workplace. George was horrified for playing with a child he wanted to abort seven years earlier. Linda felt that there was a space for another child, which implies that she was unlikely to engage in any more abortions (Flesh par 4).Furthermore, she would return to the clinic to have an IUD inserted. Similarly, George eventually became too bothered about his Christian values. He felt that his spiritual aspirations and intellectual integrity were at stake. This made him stop doing any more abortions. Contrast George was extremely tortured after doing 2 nd trimester abortions. Consequently, he stopped doing these. On the other hand, the experts in Linda’s case do not portray any emotional distress. On the contrary, they were busy advising women on family planning so as to stop further abortions. They also seem to be encouraging the women by assuring them that the pain would not last for long. George cares more about the young women abandoned by their boyfriends. The gratitude the women have gives George great satisfaction after carrying out the minor operations. On the contrary, he was distressed after extracting parts of foetus one by one during second trimester abortion. Recommendations In both cases, it is important for George and Linda to have realised from the beginning that abortion is a grave sin. One is bothered for the rest of his life since the memory of the abortion is never erased. In my opinion, every person should value life and keep away from abortion, which deals with destroying innocent and vital lives. The religion should offer stringent guidelines regarding abortion. Works Cited Flesh, George. “Why I Stopped Doing Abortions.” 1991. Web. Francke, L. Bird. The ambivalence of abortion . London: Random House, 1978. Print. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Volkswagen Company’s Emissions Scandal Essay Table of Contents 1. “Dieselgate“ 2. Ethics Parameters 3. Conclusion 4. Works Cited One of the most scandalous incidents in 2015 was the Volkswagen emissions case. In September 2015, it was revealed that the company purposefully rigged the diesel engines software. The latter ensured that emissions were always at the necessary level for the diesel car to pass the emissions test in the United States. Eventually, the company admitted that the software was supposed to recognize when the vehicle was being tested (Hotten para. 1). “ Dieselgate“ The incident leaked into the news on the 18 th of September 2015 and was dubbed “Dieselgate”. This matter affected not only Volkswagen but also Audi, Skoda, and Seat, adding up to 11 million vehicles implicated in the scandal. According to Spence, the Volkswagen software allows for passing the laboratory tests, but while driving, the emissions controls are deactivated (Spence para. 2). This means that when on the road, Volkswagen-manufactured vehicles emit pollutant substances, such as nitrogen oxide, nearly forty times the legal limit. The software was developed explicitly for the purposes of regulating the emissions according to the situation. The algorithms of the software determine the steering patterns, engine use, air pressure, and other key features that help identify whether a vehicle is being tested. The laboratory tests involve putting the vehicle on a stationary rig, which is detected by the software and a so-called safety mode is switched on, where the emissions are reduced to the legal limit. The software was dubbed a “defeat device”. In many countries, including European states, investigations are being carried out to determine the extent of the damage caused by the Volkswagen’s policy regarding the emissions of pollutants. As a result, the company faces significant problems. First and foremost, Volkswagen betrayed their customers’ trust thereby losing their loyalty. The company’s reputation is significantly damaged. It will be rather difficult to regain the clients’ loyalty and reestablish the company as trustworthy. Moreover, Volkswagen incurs significant losses that amount to 2.5bn euro, as well as 12bn euro of penalties. Multiple fines and lawsuits filed by certain civil groups exacerbate the company’s position. The situation was aggravated when the public found out that the cheating software has been in use for six years. Now, many people are apprehensive of all manufacturers of diesel cars, as they fear that similar tricks could have been employed. It is a valid reason for concern, as such morally dubious practices as demonstrated by Volkswagen entail not only fines and penalties for the company but also major inconveniences for the owners of the cars in question. Spence emphasizes that the owners will eventually have to pay higher fuel bills because of this scandal (para. 6). Moreover, even though the company offered to make amends, the cars that are rewired will not run in the same way as it was promised prior to the purchase. Ethics Parameters The ethical decision model comprises several stages, the first of which, “Determine the Facts”, is outlined above. It was specified what the company has actually done to damage its reputation to such a great extent, as well as what repercussions will subsequently follow. In order to identify the ethical issues involved in the given context, it is necessary to specify which actions of the company should be under scrutiny. The main decision of the company’s management that is ethically questionable is the decision to invest in the development of the described software. A clear dimension of right and wrong is visible in this case, as the company knowingly made such a decision, admitting their fault when the scandal was publicized. Moreover, the ethical dimension is multifaceted, as the unethical decision to rig the laboratory tests had a negative impact on many parties, including the customers, the stakeholders, the environment, and the company itself. The stakeholders that were affected by Volkswagen unethical policies can be divided into several groups: customers and suppliers, financial market, employees, governmental agencies, NGOs, and research institutions. In the fourth stage of the ethical decision model, it is necessary to indicate what alternative courses of action could be taken. It is reasonable to suggest that the first alternative would be for the company to abandon the unethical practices before they became a public matter. It was already mentioned that Volkswagen continued falsifying the laboratory tests for six years. The immorality of their chosen policy should have been acknowledged before the scandal, and steps should have been taken to curtail the cheating mechanisms, as well as modify the software. Another alternative course of action could have entailed refraining from the discussed decision at the very beginning. The suggested alternatives would be beneficial for the stakeholders, as their losses would be reduced or eliminated and their trust would not have been lost. In the case of the first alternative scenario, a certain degree of harm would have been done nonetheless, but the damage would be minimized. Legal regulations stipulate a certain limit of emission of polluting substances in diesel cars. Thus, Volkswagen’s unethical decision-making led them to commit a crime, which is also affecting stakeholders. Conclusion The decisions made by Volkswagen were unethical and disrespectful to the customers and stakeholders of the company. Every person involved was negatively affected by the company’s policies regarding emission levels. Moreover, a negative influence on the environment was exerted. When considering the phrase “All solutions just create different problems”, it is evident that in the case of Volkswagen emission test, adopting a different approach would clearly minimize or eliminate the losses incurred by the company and the stakeholders, as well as save the company’s reputation. Works Cited Hotten, Russell. Volkswagen: The Scandal Explained . 2015. Web. Spence, Peter. VW Emissions Scandal: What’s It All About? 2015. Web. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Emotional Regulation in Early Childhood Case Study Introduction There is no need to stress the significance of high-quality care for children. Without the proper resistance to most of the harmful outside effects, which most adults develop by the time that they adapt towards the impact of their environment, children are extremely susceptible to potential threats to their well-being. Hence, efficient childcare services must be provided for children. However, efficient child care services are not available to the representatives of all social classes. According to the data provided by Shore (Larett, 2003), a child can be exposed to many threats in a high-risk neighborhood, which means that childcare services are crucial for the well-being of a child. Apart from suffering from the inability to be properly cared for, children in low-income families also have to deal with a number of challenges, the key one being the lack of finances. It should be mentioned, though, that communities address the given problem. Single mothers with lower income can get financial assistance from the corresponding childcare services, as well as have childcare specialists make sure that children are able to report on the instances of abuse that may possibly occur to them in high-risk neighborhoods (Friedlander, Larney, Skau, Hotaling, Cutling & Schwan, 2003). Situations differ depending on the neighborhood, however. For example, in my school district, children from poor family backgrounds are offered a number of advantages, such as free lunches in the school cafeteria, the ability to talk with the school counselor without making an appointment beforehand, financial assistance, etc. Personally, I would try at the very least to raise awareness regarding the risks that children from low-income families or poor family backgrounds have to face on a regular basis. The more people know about the issues in question, the better; perhaps, a charity fund for providing children from a poor family background with decent care can be established. Analysis Promoting moral development in children is another crucial element of upbringing that every parent should keep in mind. As long as a child is capable of defining the difference between what is good and what is bad, (s)he has the chance of integrating into society successfully. Therefore, it is imperative that a child should have at least a basic idea about morals and what they are intended for. While it must be admitted that the concept of morals is not easy to define, one still has to agree that morals perform a very important function in society. In fact, morals can be defined as a set of values that defines the boundaries of people’s social behavioral patterns (Larett, 2003). It should also be mentioned that not only parents but also educators are supposed to help children learn the basic concept of morals. Even in families where parents are able to provide their children with enough care, love, and understanding, parents may be unable to teach their children specific moral values efficiently. Children from families with lower income and less stellar background, in their turn, have even fewer chances for learning the definition of moral and immoral. Another peculiar question concerns the children from bicultural families. Although it is quite hard to help children learn the principles and values of both cultures, it is desirable that they should. The given experience will help children not only adapt to a particular environment but also shape it. For example, out of two children, one with diverse family background, and the other one from a traditional one, the latter is more likely to ostracize a new student together with the rest of the class, being afraid to lose his/her authority. A student from a diverse background, on the contrary, will be able to voice his/her objection, win the battle against ethnic/racial prejudice, and, perhaps, even become a new leader. Reference List Friedlander, M. L., Larney, L. C., Skau, M., Hotaling, M., Cutling, M. L., & Schwan, M. (2003). Bicultural identification: Experiences of internationally adopted children and their parents. In M. Shore (Ed.), The many faces of childhood: Diversity in development (pp. 237–240). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson College Division. Larett, R. L. (2003). Successful parenting in high-risk neighborhoods. In M. Shore (Ed.), The many faces of childhood: Diversity in development (pp. 122–126). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson College Division. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Scale Modeling of Compartment Fires for Structural Fire Testing Essay (Article Review) Table of Contents 1. Study Design 2. Problem and Objective 3. Literature Review 4. Sample 5. Data Collection 6. Measurement and Analysis 7. Conclusion 8. References Study Design The research under analysis uses a purely experimental design to collect the data and present its findings. The considered research also makes use of independent and dependent variables, with the former being the scaling rules, and the latter being the effectiveness of fire scaling in experimental and realistic conditions. The analyzed research was conducted as a combination of the empirical experiments and descriptions of experimental studies carried out by prior scholars. The rationale for such a research design was to establish certain scaling rules that would allow testing the fire resistance of objects in realistic conditions. Problem and Objective The authors of the research under analysis argue that the necessity of scaling rules to scale the fire threats and model the fire resistance of objects in realistic fire conditions is rather vital. Accordingly, the primary goal of this study was to find out what are tests, if there are any, would allow making the fire conditions as much closer to real fires as possible. The findings of the analyzed study were viewed as actual help to the fire fighting departments in their assessments of fire risks and potential damages. Moreover, the findings of this study can be viewed as a step forward in developing adequate scaling rules and systems for fire tests. Literature Review The literature review of the study under analysis addresses first of all the ideas expressed by prior scholars regarding the applicability of various fire tests. One of the research works examined in the literature review focuses on the methodology that allows developing appropriate fire testing systems for testing the fire resistance of structural components. Further on, the research examined in the literature review addresses the issues of half-scaled and fully-scaled tests and discusses the pros and cons of each of the testing approaches. Apart from mere summarizing of the previous research findings, the authors of the analyzed study address the point of the inappropriateness of some of those findings for the experiments intended for their research. At the same time, instead of recommending some further research to be carried out, the authors move on to conducting their own experiments. Sample The notions of sample and sampling are obviously not applicable to the article under analysis. It does not deal with people, their perceptions, attitudes, or ideas. Instead, the research by Wang, Perricone, Chang, & Quintiere (2008) focuses on various ways in which fires can develop in natural conditions. Therefore, the only way to apply the idea of sampling to the analyzed study is to consider the phenomena of heat loss through vent and heat loss through compartment walls as the studied research samples. Data Collection The method used for data collection was the purely experimental one. The researchers constructed two different compartments to test the “small” and the “large” fires as the ones burning for 15 and 60 minutes respectively. The compartments have sizes and materials proportionate to the burning time of the fires they were designed to test. Measurement and Analysis The measurement and analysis of the research findings are carried out using two scales, the first one to measure the burning time of the compartment materials, and the second one to independently measure the temperature in every compartment. Visual aids including graphs, scales, and pictures are used to make the analysis of research findings more comprehensible for the readers. Conclusion The authors carried out reliable and well-documented experimental research, during which they managed to reject the theories by prior scholars and provided evidence that supports their experimentally proved ideas. Although the findings of the analyzed study are rather credible and convincing, I suggest that further research should be carried out in the area of scaled fire testing to ensure the universal applicability of the findings of the research under consideration. References Wang, M., Perricone, J., Chang, P., & Quintiere, J. (2008). Scale Modeling of Compartment Fires for Structural Fire Testing . The Journal of Fire Protection Engineering, 18 (8), 223 – 240. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
There are many factors that contribute, either directly or indirectly, to job satisfaction. For purposes of data analysis in this study, I have chosen employee position and extrinsic factors. Based on data available in this study, position held by an employee is described as hourly employee or salaried employee in which case only the former is eligible for overtime work. This aspect is likely to affect the level of job satisfaction since it places restrictions to employees based on their position ascription. Besides extrinsic factors such as working environment, team members, leadership style at workplace and office location are likely to contribute directly to job satisfaction. I believe these two variables are the most appropriate in this study. Findings from data examination Position Position as represented in this data is a qualitative. Such a data set can only be analyzed using mode to describe the frequency of the distribution (Bartz, 1971). Mean and median are not applicable in this case since this is a coded data set referring to only two situations. For this reason, computation of mean and median will be misleading. Measures of variability are equally not applicable in this case since they are computed from mean, a measure which has already been disputed. This data set has a mode of 1; meaning that majority of employees interviewed in this study are hourly employees. This shows that most employees are comfortable working as hourly employees with the guarantee of paid overtime as opposed to being salaried employees. Figure 1.1 clearly illustrates these findings. Figure 1.1: Job Satisfaction by Position Source: Researcher Extrinsic Job Satisfaction Extrinsic job satisfaction arises from factors external to the job itself. Extrinsic job satisfaction as represented in this data is a quantitative, hence can be analyzed both by measures of central tendency as well as variability (Bartz, 1971). Sample mean computed from this data set is 5.421875. This reflects a high level of job satisfaction arising from extrinsic factors. On a scale of 1-7, the majority of those interviewed recorded their satisfaction level above the average figure thus resulting into a high mean score. This can also be explained from the median and mode point of view. This data set has a median and mode of 5.6. Median is the central figure that separates the two halves, i.e the lowest-value side and the highest-value side, in a frequency distribution (Bartz, 1971). A median of 5.6 represents a positively skewed data since it is higher than the mean. The mode which describes frequency distribution also falls at 5.6, clearly indicating that the majority of those interviewed recorded their level of satisfaction at 5.6 slightly higher than the mean score hence a positively skewed data. Figure 2.1 depicts a visual illustration of this information. Figure 2.1: Job satisfaction by Extrinsic factors Source: Researcher. Apart from the central measures of tendency, measures of variance can also provide an insight into this data. Both the standard deviation and variance are measures of trend characterizing the dispersion among various measures in a population. They show how tightly all the values are clustered around the mean in a data set ((Bartz, 1971). They express the inconsistency of the population by showing how far away from the mean the data points tend to be (Bartz, 1971). A small value, of both, reflects a distribution in which most data points tend to be close to the mean as evidenced in this data set. This data set has a variance of 0.232732 and a standard deviation of 0.482423. In addition, standard deviation is a measure of confidence levels in empirical conclusions. An acceptable empirical error margin is at two standards deviations from the mean resulting into 95% confidence level. This data set is normally distributed since 68% of the values are within one standard deviation from the mean ranging between 4.9 and 5.9 and 95% of the readings fall within two standard deviations ranging between 4.5 and 6.4. This information is visually portrayed in figure 2.1. If the bars were to be joined by a line, then a bell shaped diagram would result. The significance of charts/graphs in conveying information Charts and graphs help readers to have a better understanding of the meaning of data. They convey information in a manner that can be easily understood (Bartz, 1971). Besides, through the use of graphs and charts, differences between separate pieces of data can be clearly illustrated in a clear method. Lessons learnt from the results The importance of descriptive statistics as a first step in data analysis comes out clearly in this study. Although the results reveal very little concerning the subject of study, much is learnt about the frequency distribution and the nature of population dispersion thus forms a benchmark against which other detailed data analysis can be done. The results from this study can lead to the conclusion that both position and extrinsic factors play a key role in influencing employees’ job satisfaction. Reference Bartz, A. E. (1971). Basic descriptive statistics for education and the behavioral sciences (4th ed.). Oxford, UK: Burgess. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
“Heat” Environmental Documentary by PBS Essay (Movie Review) When going over the video “Heat” it revealed the problems that are currently surrounding the use of fossil fuels as an energy source. The video showed that the inherent issue in utilizing fossil fuel-burning power plants is the resulting carbon dioxide waste that gets expelled into the atmosphere. It must be noted that increased amounts of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere especially in areas where there are few natural ways for the resulting gases to be absorbed results in a significant accumulation in the air for quite some time which has the potential to cause various respiratory diseases. China, which possesses one of the world’s most extensive power grids, which utilizes dozens of fossil fuel-burning power plants has seen a rise in respiratory diseases as the amount of smog in the air continues to accumulate. Based on current estimates of the amount of energy needed by the country within the next 5 to 10 years or so, it can be expected that the number of carbon emissions in the atmosphere will increase as a result of the country compensates for this need by creating more fossil fuel-burning power plants. In terms of the number of pollutants released into the atmosphere both solar and wind turbine facilities have next to no carbon footprint due to the fact they do not produce any CO2 emissions. It is due to this that they would be a far better means of energy production as compared to utilizing fossil fuels. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Transportation today is a crucial aspect of our lives, which affects immensely such spheres as economy, politics, production, communications and consumption. Automobiles are one of the most popular modes of transportation in the contemporary world. The majority of the modern individuals cannot imagine their lives without transportation or travelling by means of automobiles. It goes without saying that automobiles carry a large number of benefits for the human society, but at the same time this technology is also the source of some negative influences on the society and the world in general. Among the main advantages brought by the automobiles to our life is the ability of humans to affect their natural environments. First of all, people can easily change their environments by moving from one place to another. Besides, automobiles significantly speed up the process of moving around, so if an individual lives far away from their workplace or some other destination point, an automobile can help to change that issue. Due to automobiles many places that used to be deemed hard to reach are now accessible and populated. One very important influence of modes of transportation such as automobiles is their stimulation of the process of globalization. Vehicles of various sizes and kinds deliver goods and carry people making travelling and trades faster and more advanced, this strengthens the world’s economies and at the same time provides high rates of people and capital movements and migration. In the earlier times, the process of import of goods from abroad could take months and was highly dangerous because the vehicles carrying the goods were often monitored and attacked by pirates and bandits, besides, they were not resistant towards sudden weather changes or happenings such as hurricanes, heavy rains, extreme low temperatures. The modern vehicles are not only resistant to various kinds of weather, they are also much faster, which makes them not easy targets for the robbers, and they are able to protect the goods they carry from getting spoiled or damaged. One of the negative impacts of vehicles is that they provide their leisure class owners with an ability to walk less, this may increase the rates of obesity or heart diseases in the society. It is a well known fact that cars negatively affect the environment producing greenhouse gases, ozone depletion, creating noise and reducing water and air quality (Impact of Cars on the Environment 2014). A running car engine produces several types of gases harmful for the environment, among then there are carbon dioxide, emissions known as carcinogens, nitrogen and sulfur oxides, these gases destroy our atmosphere (King 2014). Smog produced by cars contains carbon monoxide and harms human health. Fluids such as antifreeze, gasoline, oil, windshield-wiper fluids and refrigerants are also toxic for people and animals. Besides, fuel for the vehicles for various kinds occurs from the extraction of natural resources of our planet, which are limited. In the twentieth century the automobile industry significantly influenced some of the aspects of the American society. For example, automobiles altered the understanding of labor and jobs. As the cars started to be produced “for the great multitude” the degradation of work occurred, because car building structure and process started to hire many people for simpler monotonous occupations (Meyer 2004). Yet the appearance of easily accessible automobiles in the society immensely changed the employees’ productivity, for example, any delivery or transportation business today is based only on the work of cars, without them the productivity of such companies would drop to zero. The introduction of automobiles to the human society caused some ethical social issues. For example, as soon as the first cars appeared on the market, they immediately became luxury goods and demonstrations of the financial and social status of their owners (Vercillo 2014). Today, many cars are bought not only for their practical qualities, but for the concept they represent and for prestige. Some of the most expensive cars produced these days such as Bugatti or Lamborghini have very little practical use; they are purchased by the celebrities and rich people because of their trendy appearances. Many wealthy individuals are even known to collect cars or have a big variety of expensive and outstanding items in their garages. Privatization of transportation modes in the society caused the rapid growth of the gap between the rich and the poor and resulted in more severe social division into classes. The modern society is often divided into people that can afford a car and people that cannot afford a car. All in all, the automobile technology changed the human society significantly, it introduced us to faster and safer ways of travelling, it provided delivery of goods for trading, it made moving around easier, it speeded up the work processes of many industries, and it affected social and economic aspects of the world’s society. Reference List Impact of Cars on the Environment 2014, RACV , Web. King, J. 2014, How Does Car Pollution Affect the Environment & Ozone Layer? Web. Meyer, S. 2004, The Degradation of Work Revisited: Workers and Technology in the American Auto Industry, 1900-2000, Web. Vercillo, K. 2014, How Do Cars Affect our Lives? Web. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Polysaccharides in Foods Report Introduction This experiment aims to determine the presence of different polysaccharides in different food types. This experiment seeks to determine of the presence of beta-glucan and how its contents differs in several glucose polymers. The investigation also explores the role of beta lichenase in determining the beta-glucan content. The experiment determines the significance of standard procedures in determining the quantity of individual food constituents. Therefore, the experiment’s overall aim is to investigate some of the analytical methods used for plant-based food polysaccharides. Methods Procedure 1: Determination of amylose in potato starch Approximately 20 mg of potato starch sample was weighed into a 10 mL glass tube. 20 mg of three calibration standards were also weighed into separate 10 mL (0% amylose/100%, 25% amylose/75%, 50% amylose/50% amylopectin). Accurately, 2 mL of 2 M of NaOH was added to the samples and the standards. The tubes were capped and heated in a 95 degrees water bath while constantly shaking for 20 to 30 minutes. The samples were cooled, and 4 mL of deionized water was added with vortex mixing. 0.1 mL of each solution was taken and put into uncapped glass tubes, and 5 mL of 5% trichloroacetic acid (TCA) was added to each glass tube. 0.05 mL of I 2 -KI solution was added (0.13% I 2 and 0.3% KI). The mixtures were incubated at room temperatures for 30 minutes. The absorbance of the samples was read at 620 nm against a water blank. The percentage amylose in the content was then calculated. Procedure 2: Determination of β-glucan in cereals The cereal samples were ground separately into flour using a pestle and mortar (approximately 2.0 g each). 100 mg of each sample was weighed into 15 mL centrifuge tubes. 0.2 mL of 50% ethanol was added to the tubes and swirled to mix. 4.0 mL of sodium phosphate buffer (20 mM, pH 4.0) was added and vortexed gently, and placed in a water bath for 60 seconds. The tube was vortexed moderately and was returned to the boiling water for another 2 minutes. The tube was removed out of the water bath and vortexed again. The tube was placed in a 50 degrees Celsius water bath to equilibrate. 0.4 mL of lichenase was added to the contents in the tube and swirled to mix. The tube was covered with parafilm and incubated at 50 degrees Celsius for 30 minutes. The contents of the tube were mixed 2-3 times during the incubation period. 5.0 mL of sodium acetate buffer (200mM, pH 4.0) was then vortexed and incubated at room temperatures for 5 minutes. The parafilm was removed, and the tube was centrifuged at 3,000 rpm for 5 minutes. Two 0.1 mL aliquots of each sample were transferred to two clean test tubes. 0.1 mL of β-glucosidase was added to one of the tubes 0.1 ml of sodium acetate was added to another tube to act as a control. The tubes were then incubated at 50 degrees Celsius for 10 minutes. A glucose standard curve was prepared by adding 0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.15, and 0.2 mL glucose to five tubes. The contents were made to volume (0.2 mL) with 50 mM sodium acetate (pH 4.0). 3.0 mL of GOPOD reagent was added to all the tubes and incubated at 50 degrees Celsius for 20 minutes. The absorbance of the samples and the standards was read at 510 nm against a water blank. The β-glucan content of the samples was then calculated. Method 3: RVA analysis of various starches Pasting properties of starch. Discussion Polysaccharides are a macro-portion of our food constituents, and their analysis and determination of their contents are helpful (Van Dam et al. 2017). In this experiment, the determination of their presence and their content was the objective. In the first experiment, the determination of amylose in potato starch, the experiment’s result was positive. The absorbance results determined that there was a substantial amount of amylose in potato starch (Lemos et al. 2019). In the second experiment, the absorbance results showed the presence of β-glucan in both oat and barley samples. The β-glucosidase hydrolyses the oligosaccharides to free glucose (Zielke et al. 2018). The results found in this experiment test positive for the presence of glucose. The third experiment is the Rapid Visco Analyzer experiment used to test for starch’s viscoelasticity in various food samples (Balet et al. 2019). The viscosity results in the experiments indicate that there is a presence of polysaccharides in the samples tested. Reference List Balet, S., Guelpa, A., Fox, G. and Manley, M., 2019. Rapid Visco Analyser (RVA) as a Tool for Measuring Starch-Related Physiochemical Properties in Cereals: a Review. Food Analytical Methods , 12(3), pp.1-17. Lemos, P., Barbosa, L., Ramos, I., Coelho, R. and Druzian, J., 2019. Characterization of amylose and amylopectin fractions separated from potato, banana, corn, and cassava starches. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules , [online] 132, pp.32-42. Web. Van Dam, J., Van den Broek, L. and Boeriu, C., 2017. Polysaccharides in Human Health Care. Natural Products Communication Journal , [online] 12(6). Web. Zielke, C., Stradner, A. and Nilsson, L., 2018. Characterization of cereal β-glucan extracts: Conformation and structural aspects. Food Hydrocolloids , 79, pp.218-227. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Social Psychology of Attraction Research Paper Table of Contents 1. Introduction 2. Appearance 3. Familiarity 4. Similarity 5. Self-Disclosure 6. Conclusion 7. Works Cited Introduction Since individuals do not live in a vacuum but are integral components of society, they establish a variety of relationships with each other. This paper aims at discussing attraction, a factor that contributes to some of those relationships, such as friendship and romance. The understanding of the determinants of attraction may help people to explain their feelings toward others and supply them with strategies to increase their attractiveness. The research into the issue of interpersonal attraction shows that appearance, familiarity, similarity, and self-disclosure influence how individuals view others. Appearance Perhaps, the most obvious factor influencing interpersonal attraction is appearance. When seeing a person for the first time, people usually pay attention to the clothing, facial features, and expression, as well as overall neatness and cleanliness of his or her looks. It is quite natural that appearance is the first thing that determines whether an individual will be liked or not because other characteristics of a personality take time to be discovered. Research shows that people find beautiful individuals attractive not only because they are pleasant to the eye, but due to the perceived positive traits ascribed to them (Daffin and Lane 230). It is called the halo effect, meaning that physically appealing people are regarded as more interesting, kinder, smarter, and happier (Daffin and Lane 230). As a result, beautiful individuals have an advantage over their unattractive counterparts in many fields, including the workplace, where they tend to be hired and promoted more readily (Daffin and Lane 230). Thus, people should not disregard the importance of appearance because it can help to make a good first impression and win others’ sympathy. Familiarity Familiarity, which means seeing a person more than once, is another factor contributing to interpersonal attraction. Research shows that mere exposure to a stimulus increases its attractiveness to a person (Daffin and Lane 229; Finkel et al. 6). For example, in one study, participants were exposed to several different faces, some of them being shown more than once (Daffin and Lane 229). The participants found repeatedly shown faces more attractive than those that they saw only one time (Daffin and Lane 229). Moreover, faces with typical features were evaluated as more appealing than those having distinctive characteristics (Daffin and Lane 229). Another study used character traits instead of faces to test whether a person described in more detail would be regarded as more attractive (Finkel et al. 6). Surprisingly, this research discovered that the more information about an individual was provided to participants, the less they tended to like that person (Finkel et al. 6). Although the results of the studies are contradictory, it may be concluded that familiarity has a positive impact on people’s perception of someone’s physical attractiveness. Similarity The next factor influencing interpersonal attraction is illustrated by an old saying, “birds of a feather flock together.” People usually prefer those who resemble them in terms of “religious and political beliefs, values, appearance, educational background, age, and other demographic variables” (Daffin and Lane 231). It happens because the similarity in beliefs serves as social proof when a person sees that someone has come to the same conclusions as he or she did (Daffin and Lane 231). Furthermore, people tend to form couples based on the likeness of their appearance to that of their partners (Daffin and Lane 231). One can use this information to increase one’s attractiveness by adopting new interests that can be shared with other people. Self-Disclosure One more significant contributor to interpersonal attraction is self-disclosure and intimacy. If people reveal themselves to their companions, they are more likely to win them over, while those who restrain themselves from frank communication are considered less attractive (“Interpersonal Attraction”). It happens because self-disclosure serves as an indicator that a person trusts and likes his or her interlocutor, which evokes reciprocal sympathy (“Interpersonal Attraction”). Revealing oneself not only attracts other people but also causes the speaker to like the listener more (“Interpersonal Attraction”). However, one should be careful when using this strategy to enhance one’s attractiveness because there is a risk of over disclosure (Daffin and Lane 232). It may happen when a person shares too intimate details with someone not very familiar, which results in the reduction of attractiveness (Daffin and Lane 232). Thus, self-disclosure is an effective tool for increasing one’s attraction, but it should be used wisely. Conclusion To sum up, appearance, familiarity, similarity, and self-disclosure contribute to interpersonal attraction. Good-looking individuals are usually more appealing and are believed to possess various positive traits. Familiarity implies that the more often people see someone, the more attractive they find him or her. Furthermore, individuals are prone to like those who share their beliefs, interests, and other attributes. Finally, disclosing oneself increases the attraction of both the speaker and the listener. These findings can be used to boost one’s attractiveness by being mindful of one’s appearance and sharing one’s thoughts with others. Broadening one’s horizons may help to find common ground with other people more easily. To use the factor of familiarity, a person can arrange meetings with the target more frequently. Works Cited Daffin, Lee, and Carrie Lane. Essentials of Social Psychology . Washington State University, 2019. Finkel, Eli J., et al. “When Does Familiarity Promote Versus Undermine Interpersonal Attraction? A Proposed Integrative Model from Erstwhile Adversaries.” Perspectives on Psychological Science , vol. 10, no. 1, 2015, pp. 3-19. “ Interpersonal Attraction. ” Encyclopedia.com . 2019. Web. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Michael Schwirtz View on Russia’s Ethnic Reprisal Essay (Critical Writing) Abstract In the November 16, 2011 New York Times article, Michael Schiwirtz discusses the Russian government’s retaliatory expulsion of ethnic Tajik migrant workers from Russia. The Russian government deported more than 300 ethnic Tajik workers. Russia’s Federal Migration Service was tasked to expel the ethnic Tajik workers. In response, the innocent ethic Tajik workers and residents complain they are being unjustly persecuted by the Russian government. The reprisals started when the Tajikistan government incarcerated two Russian pilots. The Tajik worker’s remittances represent 35 % of Tajikistan’s gross domestic production (Kireyev, p. 7). In terms of manner or style, the writer writes excellently to bring out the realities of ethnic discrimination. In terms of emotions, the author vividly describes the animosity of Russia’s expulsion policy on its ethnic Tajikistan population. On the side of Russia, President Medvedev and his political stalwarts’ actions are aimed to force the Tajikistan government to release the Russian pilots. In terms of character, the author correctly shows the strong will of the Tajikistan government to implement its laws. Personally, Tajikistan should bend to the wishes of Russia to release the Russian Pilots. In return, Russia’s expulsion will stop the expulsion. Both governments will come out politically and economically happy. Analysis of article Ethnic discrimination is a significant political problem. The research focuses on an article discussing one Russian ethnic conflict. The research focuses on the reasons for Russia’s targeting of ethnic Tajik residents and workers. Russia’s targeting of ethnic Tajik residents and workers can be remedied through diplomacy. The article (Schiwirtz 1) is written in news format style. The reader feels the writer offer facts, not fiction. The story focuses on the Russian political stand to expel ethnic Tajik residents from Russia. The story clearly shows that over one million Tajik migrant worker enter Russia to find jobs. The article indicates the expulsion was sparked by the Tajikistan government’s arrest of Russia’s two airplane pilots. The writer excellently shows the effect of Russia’s expulsion of the ethnic Tajik migrants. The author explains the economic disaster of the expulsion on Tajikistan. The article affects the reader’s mind. The reader feels the report focuses on the delicate political system between two governments. Russia expels the Tajik workers to avenge the detention of their Russian pilots. In response, the Tajikistan government is forced to release the Russian prisoners. The expulsions precipitate from the Tajikistan government’s refusal to release the incarcerated Russian pilots. The pilots should be incarcerated for violating Tajikistan’s laws. The article touches the reader’s emotions. The reader feels the innocent ethnic Tajik residents are discriminated, politically. The innocent ethnic Tajik individuals feel they used as pawns in the continuing political misunderstanding between the two governments. In terms of Tajikistan’s economic picture, the expulsion will trigger a 20 percent decline in Tajikistan’s GDP (Schiller, p. 15). Russia’s political leader, Konstantin Romodanovsky is heartless in leading the severest implementation of Russia’s political reprisal. Schiwirtz (p. 1) correctly mentioned Russian President Medvedev’s rightfully announced “This is a problem that worries a large number of people and, unfortunately, frequently leads to tensions, and even to classes on the basis of ethnic divisions. We cannot close our eyes to this.” The reader feels diplomacy, initiated by Russian President Medvedev, is the best way to resolve the current stalemate. Based on the above discussion, ethnic discrimination is an influential political problem. The Russian government should not target the ethnic Tajik residents and workers for expulsion. The arrest of Russian pilots is correct because Tajikistan’s laws were violated. Indeed, Russia’s targeting of ethnic Tajik residents and workers can be resolved through diplomacy. Works Cited 1. Kireyev, Alexei. The Macoeconomics of Remittances: The Case of Tajikistan. N.Y.: International Press, 2006. Print 2. Schiller, Bradley. The Economics of Poverty and Discrimination. N.Y.: Irwin Press, 2001. Print 3. Schiwirtz, Michael. “With a Russian in a Tajik Jail, Moscow Aims Its Reprisal at Migrant Workers.” New York Times 2011: LZO1. Print | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Differentiating the Fungal Phyla Essay Traditionally, the kingdom Fungi consists of four phyla known as Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, Chytridiomycota, and Zygomycota, though the classification of the fungi has shifted tremendously in recent decades to include Glomeromycota as a new phylum for the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, as well as the elimination of the oomycetes, plasmodiophorids and slime molds from the fungal into the christen and protist kingdoms (Voigt & Kirk, 2011). This paper aims to demonstrate that all fungi are not the same by differentiating among three fungal phyla (Zygomycota, Ascomycota, and Basidiomycota) in terms of their reproduction methods, means of obtaining nutrients, and importance to humans. In Zygomycota, existing literature demonstrates that there are in excess of 1000 species of Zygomycetes that reproduce asexually or sexually (Tortora, Funke, & Case, 2012). The dimorphic zygomycetous ( Benjaminiella poitrasii ) and Gilbertella persicaria fungi, for instance, reproduce asexually by uni-to-multispored sporangia charged with the responsibility of producing nonmotile, single-celled sporangiospores. The common black bread mold ( Rhizopus stolonifer), which is an example of a zygomycete species in Zygomycota phyla, reproduces sexually when hyphae of two dissimilar mating strains get together, create gametangia, blend, and consequently breed a diploid zygosporangium and zygospore which eventually goes through meiosis to produce haploid sporangia (Voigt & Kirk, 2011). Ascomycota (sac fungi) have around 65,000 described species and reproduce either sexually through the production of ascosphores (by meiosis and mitosis) in sac-like asci, or asexually through projecting conidiophores which creates conidia spores. They include cup fungi, powdery mildew, morels, black knot, Morchella, yeast, penicillium, and conidiophores. In contrast, Basidiomycota comprise around 25,000 species that reproduce sexually by forming elaborate fruiting bodies referred to as basidiocarps; these bodies hold millions of tiny, club-shaped cells (basidia) that produce four sexual spores each. Basidomycetes come in all shapes, sizes and colors, and include mushrooms, coral fungus, conch fungus, puffballs, jelly fungi, bracket fungi, gills, and the human pathogenic yeast Cryptococcus (Tortora et al., 2012; Voigt & Kirk, 2011). Zygomycota, Ascomycota and Basidiomycota obtain their nutrients through parasitic means and establishing symbiotic relationships with hosts. All of these fungi develop on or inside their host and obtain nutrients via absorptive, heterotrophic nutrition, which is made possible by secreting potent digestive enzymes that break down organic materials into minute fragments which are then absorbed into the cell. In symbiotic relationships, all the three fungi are known to gain nutrients from the host while providing essential sterols and vitamins. In parasitic relationships, the fungi are known to account for most of the animal and plant pathogens by mostly compromising the immune systems of their main source of nutrients. For example, an ascomycete known as Pneumocystis carinii is responsible for deadly pneumonia in human beings by compromising the immune system as it seeks nutrients inside the host (Tortora et al., 2012; Voigt & Kirk, 2011). Lastly, there is compelling evidence indicating that all the three fungi discussed in this paper have varied levels of importance to humans. Some species of Zygomycota are not only used to ferment various food items, hence contributing substantially to their nutritional value, but also to decompose dead plant matter and to produce important industrial products including lactic acid, amylases, rennin and organic acids. Although most zygomycetes are generally harmful to human beings by virtue of their association with disease-causing pathogens, some are being tapped for use in the biological control of specific insect pests due to their parasitic nature (Tortora et al., 2012). Ascomycetes have many beneficial outcomes for humans, including serving as choice edibles (e.g., morels, truffles and lobster mushrooms), production of antibiotics ( Penicillium chrysogenum ) to kill bacteria and immunosuppressant agents ( Tolypocladium niveum ) to prevent rejection of vital organs during transplantation, development of useful proteins such as insulin and human growth hormone, and in making of bread, beer and wine ( Saccaromyces cerevisiae ).Basidiomycota are useful to human beings in terms of decomposing dead plant matter, including wood and leaf litter, and also for serving as important sources of food (e.g., mushrooms) and other bioactive compounds used in traditional and alternative medicine (Voigt & Kirk, 2011). References Tortora, G.J., Funke, B.R., & Case, C.L. (2012). Microbiology: An introduction (11th ed.). San Francisco, CA: Benjamin Cummings. Voigt, K., & Kirk, P.M. (2011). Recent developments in the taxonomic affiliation and phylogenetic positioning of fungi: Impact in applied microbiology and environmental biotechnology. Applied Microbiology & Biotechnology, 90 (1), 41-47. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Packaging and Product Liability for Unilever Essay The European Union is always viewed as a model of regionalism or regional cooperation because of its developed units and agencies. The Union has always influenced member states to follow the provided strictly, especially on matters related to the environment. The European Union is determined to preserve the environment through the idea of sustainable development. Directive related to the management of packaging waste was first introduced in the late 1980s. The directive affected the performance of many companies, including Unilever because they had to readjust their packaging systems to comply with the new law. In particular, directive 85/339/EEC specifically covered the packaging of liquid products for instance beverage containers. Any product to be consumed by humans was to be packaged in a container (Dams 2008, p. 17). However, the policy was considered ineffective to bring about the synchronization of policies of various member states. Member states expressed their concerns over the law because it affected their industries in several ways. This paper explains the effects of the directive on the introduction of new sustainable packaging. The paper also looks at the relevance of the directives in Europe. This is accomplished by describing the process through which the laws are formed. It is noted that many companies, including Unilever, were affected greatly because they had to come up with laws that were a complaint to the provisions. In 1992, the commission charged with the responsibility of overseeing policies related to packaging proposed a comprehensive policy on packaging and waste management. The council of ministers and the European Parliament adopted the proposal and enacted it as directive 94/62/EC. The directive influenced the packaging system of companies because its main aim was to harmonize national measures to respond to the standards of the commission. Unilever had to come up with extensive policies to cope with the new challenge because it had to observe the environmental laws when designing the packaging materials. Other companies that were threatened by the presence of Multinational Corporations had an advantage since the new law aimed at safeguarding them from the unnecessary competition. The law ensured that the internal markets of member states were functional implying that they could not rely on external markets for production. Unilever was affected since it relied on other countries for the supply of packaging materials (Noel 2009, p. 20). The law provides extensive policies on packaging waste, reuse of packaging materials, and recovery of packaging waste. The law was evaluated in 2004 because of the loopholes witnessed in many markets. The new law clarified the term packaging. It also gave a clear definition of the term to include recycling of packaging waste. In 2005, some member states complained that they did not have time to adjust to the new laws. The law was amended to include a transitional clause, which allowed members to adjust to the new policies with time (Solomon 2010, p. 19). The directives play a critical role as far as the regulation of packaging materials is concerned. This means that the law was created to protect the interests of the consumer. It is observed that the consumer has always suffered in the hands of manufacturers because they are provided with goods that are not packed by the health standards. The law made it a mandate of all companies to consider the effects of the packaging materials on the health of consumers. The laws are created through consensus. It is widely accepted that consumer security and environmental degradation are some of the global problems meaning that they are global commons. The European Parliament is concerned with the passing of the laws. The laws are drafted by the council of ministers and are taken to the parliament for subsequent approval. List of References Dams, A 2008, Law for business students , Pearson Longman Harlow. Noel, H 2009, Consumer behavior, AVA Academia, Lausanne. Solomon, M 2010, Consumer behavior: a European perspective, Prentice Hall, Harlow. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Hewlett-Packard Company’s Supply Chain and Rebates Case Study HP Design for logistics encapsulates three concepts. These are economic packaging and transportation, concurrent and parallel processing, and standardization. In the case of HP, the problem they have is that there is a weakness in demand forecasting procedures, manifesting as either understocking or having dead inventory in various markets (Kopezak & Lee, 1994). The use of economic packaging and transportation will result in a greater carrying capacity to help develop and maintain safety-stock to forestall shortages. Concurrent and parallel processing will improve the rate at which HP can produce the required products without the need to wait for a particular product to move through the production line. Finally, standardization will ensure that the company can concentrate its innovative efforts towards fewer components hence increasing the benefits of economy of scale. Delayed differentiation is a production concept that applies to a specific product range that results from a generic model. In order to apply delayed differentiation, there must be a way of reorganizing the production process to bring in the differentiators in the final stages of development. It allows a company to aggregate demand and later on in the production process, to respond to the specific demands within a much shorter time. HP can use delayed differentiation by standardizing the parts used in its printers and fitting in the specific model requirements in the last stage of production. There is a specific challenge in quantifying the advantages of delayed differentiation that comes from the cost of implementing measures to enable delayed differentiation. Delayed differentiation results in a higher per-unit production cost. In order to quantify its advantages, it is necessary to look at the benefits that accrue, which normally includes increased sales volume because of a better response to consumer demand. Traditionally, manufacturers involve suppliers after the completion of the design in order to get materials needed for the manufacture of the product. However, there is a strong case for involving suppliers early on during the design process. The benefits that accrue from involving the suppliers early on include getting better prices for the materials, getting higher quality materials, and benefitting from the advice of the suppliers. Involving suppliers early also helps companies to find out what their key competencies are in order to concentrate on their strengths. Mass customization is a sort of hybrid concept that resulted from the combination of two different manufacturing models. In the past, managers made a choice between the mass production of a narrow range of products in order to compete on price, and custom-made products, which competed on uniqueness. Mass customization attempts to give a business the capacity to develop highly customized parts with the efficiency of mass-production methods. The application of this concept relies on the development of very efficient work teams and production modules, which can produce unique parts within their area of specialization. Upon receiving an order, the work teams are able to produce a unique product at a very competitive cost. The role that supply chain management plays in the development of effective mass customization is the development of strategies that ensure the smooth work of various work teams. It is the role of supply chain management to define the requirements for the work teams in order to create the environment necessary for the effective implementation of mass customization. The Great Rebate Runaround Offering rebates on products gives the manufacturer a greater amount of control over their cash flow as compared to reducing wholesale prices. Rebates come after a customer spends the full amount on the product’s price tag. The catch then is to apply for a rebate within the given time. What happens is that many customers, up to forty percent, simply do not claim the rebate resulting in increased revenues for the manufacturer. On the other hand, decreasing the wholesale price locks out the potential revenue the manufacturer would get on unclaimed rebates. It still makes a lot of sense for manufacturers to offer rebates because it improves their cash flow, and hence the health of their business. More importantly, it locks the customers in, making it possible for them to make further promotional advances on the customer. The other reason is that customers tend to feel less pain when making a buying decision if they believe they will receive part of the money back. The reason that Best Buy, rather than the big suppliers would like to eliminate rebates is the backlash from customers who are against rebates. Rebates formed the number one customer complaint at Best Buy. Best Buy deals directly with customers, it is important for it to listen to their complaints. Failure to do this may lead to the loss of customers. Big suppliers do not deal directly with customers, and the complaints they get do not deal with pricing models but the performance of their products. In addition, they have multiple outlets for their products. However, they understand that rebates have a significant effect on the buying decision of the customers. They therefore would like to see them stay. Reference Kopezak, L., & Lee, H. (1994). Coordinated Product and Supply Chain Design. Case Study , 331-404. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
It is a handy book for any one who wants to know some basic elements about the interrelation of these three different, but some how interrelated subjects. As the dean of the School of Architecture and Planning, he is the ideal candidate of writing such a book. As a review, it can be stated that in the book, the writer fails to deal with the inter-relationship of internet and architecture in much detail. There are not many details in the book for the readers who are already very fluent in using the internet. In addition, the book lacks in important aspects, like, how one can use the internet in drawing the virtual landscapes. This is an important element of modern architecture and the book should have covered this aspect. However, the book has its strong aspects too. The book is compact and short. The writer talks about number of internet based applications that help architecture and urban planning in modern days. May be, the traditional readers will not like Mitchell’s style as they might complain that the book is too easy, and may be, “breezy”. However, the book will be a treat for the new internet users who are thinking to take up architecture. In addition, the book is cheap by today’s standards. It will surely introduce the readers about the manner new developments in technology can change our lives. The summary of the book is simple. It states that although electronic communication is developing in a rapid pace in recent times, still direct and interpersonal communication is preferred mode in any cases. However, they cannot replace each other completely. In the age of Globalization, electronic communication is an important communication system, and in some cases, it is the only option. Generally, and traditionally, architecture was concerned to buildings and other construction works, but now; it also applies in the sphere of making the electrical connections. With the help of computers, one can make various types of architectural models that can surely enhance the study of architecture. The progression in technology has also changed the way the studies were conducted. Now, all the studies are mainly based on the computer applications. In the age of computers every thing is getting changed or even going through a transformation process. From entertainment to the prison system, from accounting to library work, every thing is now concerned with the proper use of computers. The invention, and up gradation, of computers is probably the most important social element after the Industrial Revolution. Many works of a man, which were essentially outdoor based and oriented, are changing its main nature, and becoming centred to our homes. Now, with the help of computers, we can shop from home. We can also do the necessary banking from the home. In the concluding scrutiny, we can say that the computers are an integral part of the modern life and they are making life simpler in many cases. In the final analysis, we can say that, internet is one of the backbones of the modern society, and it can be applied to all the aspects and spheres of our life. The author does a commendable effort to show the importance of it in the book. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Coaching Approaches. Separation by Target and Source Data. Essay Introduction According to Frederic Hudson (1999), there are several approaches of coaching. Originally, all the approaches differ by the aim of coaching, the required objectives and initial data. It means that depending on the student and his / her abilities the approach will be selected. However, there are approaches which differ in the issues of methodology. Directed Coaching To begin with it is necessary to mention that direct coaching was selected as the most universal approach with the extensive experience basis. It is the fast and incisive process, which is aimed to direct the ideas of the trainee towards the traditional developmental spheres, which entail the principles of stimulation trainee’s thinking process on the matter of the situation. This approach is more suited for coaching people on the issues of getting what they wish to get. The fact is that, it is based mainly on self-stimulation, and self search of the basis and roots of the problem. Thus, this approach offers quick and accurate image of where the trainee currently is in comparison with where he / she wants to be in the achievement process. The timeframes of this approach should not exceed 6-8 weeks, however, successful trainees cope within shorter time frames as the space for timetable violation is left. The trainee may get everything he / she needs during the first 3-5 lessons, while the others would require 30 lessons. During a full-on session the approach is aimed to help the trainee make sense of all the data he or she has got and choose the following strategy and the direction of further attempts. As Hudson (1999) emphasizes, direct coaching is concentrated on personal goals, passions, and purposes. Whether the trainee is attempting to advance his or her career, reach a life goal, improve a relationship, or discover the real purpose in life — directed coaching is elaborated to kick-start this discovery. The trainees should take into account that they will be required to meet with their coaches on the regular basis, in spite of the fact that the realization may come rather quickly. One-on-one coaching is all about the trainee — where the coach will ask a trainee to challenge old and limiting thoughts about the personal life and preferences and the life situation that may be holding the person back. Direct Life Coaching provides personal and group coaching also concentrated on stress management. Peltier also emphasized the appearing of stress management program aimed to Arise Life Skills. Originally, this program is mainly delivered to juvenile improvements facilities in several US states. Peltier incorporated these same principles and filled his program within corporate surrounding principles, public workshop activity rules, and individual requirements in the process of one-on-one training. This program may be perfectly incorporated in the program of Directed Coaching in order to cope with anger and stress from a deeper and personal perspective that permits the trainees to not only gain tools for keeping their emotions under control, but also provide a basis for making better life choices in every sphere of their lives and businesses. References Hudson, F. (1999). “The Handbook of Coaching. A Comprehensive Resource Guide for Managers, Executives, Consultants, and Human Resource Professionals”. Jossey-Bass; 1 edition. Peltier, B. (2001) “The Psychology of Executive Coaching” Sussex: Brunner-Routledge. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Immigration Debate in the US Essay According to Mathews, there are at least 11 million undocumented immigrants in the US. However, this number has elicited a heated debate. Some people maintain that apart from being a security concern, immigrants are a burden to the US economy (Moses). In contrast, others argue that immigrant workers are important to the US economy. In affirming Moses’ statement, Hogan states that studies conducted on cities near the US-Mexican border show that there is no evidence that immigrants are a source of insecurity. Most importantly, a group of senators are about to present an immigration reform package to the senate (Mathews). This essay, therefore, revisits the US immigration debate. The cost of undocumented immigrants is one of the most contentious issues in the US immigration debate (Moses). Moses adds that this cost will influence future immigration polices. Undocumented immigrants are regarded as a drain on the US’s national resources. Moreover, these immigrants are seen as a source of insecurity to the US public. For instance, drugs and people with questionable characters are said to be trafficked across the border with Mexico. Violence and kidnapping cases are also a common occurrence in the US-Mexican border. Most immigrants are employed as manual laborers in occupations such as construction and production. Some are also employed as domestic workers and attendants in nursing homes. Therefore, if the US tightens its immigration policies, employers will be faced with a shortage of cheap labor. Immigrants are, thus, employed in sectors that are unpopular with American citizens. As a result, employers will have to raise salaries to attract American citizens to these sectors. Citing Phillipe Legrain, Moses states that “free movement of people is as beneficial as free movement of goods and capital” (p. 3). The US citizens, thus, benefit from documented and undocumented immigrants. Moreover, the foundation of the US’s economy was laid on immigrant labor (Moses). For that reason, it is hypocritical for the US to spend billions of dollars on blocking immigrant labor. Interestingly, crime rates in cities bordering Mexico are falling. Therefore, there is no significant proof that the porous US-Mexico border increases violence in the US (Hogan). According to Matthews, in the next few days, an immigration reform package will be presented to the house by a group of bipartisan senators. This package contains a path through which all undocumented immigrants will become citizens. In addition, the legislation will provide suggestions on how the immigration system will be modernized. Hesson claims that salaries of immigrant workers increased after an immigration bill, in 1986, legalized 2.7 million workers. Similarly, an immigrant-friendly bill will do the same to current immigrants. Furthermore, legalized workers will be able to acquire gainful employment. It can be concluded that immigration is a contentious issue in the US. Opponents of immigration claim that it is a source of insecurity and a drain on the US’s economy. On the other hand, supporters of immigration allege that it provides cheap labor to the US economy. Additionally, a group of senators are about to present a bill to the senate that aims at streamlining immigration. Majority of Hispanics and African Americans voted for president Obama (Volsky). It is worth noting that these ethnic groups are products of immigration. Accordingly, the current immigration debate is set to shape politics for a long period of time. Works Cited Hesson, Ted. “What Happens if Immigration Reform Ignores Future Workers?” abcnews.go.com . ABC News. 2013. Hogan, Michael. 2013. Immigration Reform 2013: Does the U.S. Actually Have a Border Security Problem? Web. Matthews, Laura. “Immigration Reform Bill 2013: Gang of Eight Expects Agreement by Week’s End. ” ibtimes.com. IB Times, 2013. Moses, Jonathan. “The Politics of Immigration: Introduction to a Special Issue on US Immigration.” European journal of American studies 4.1 (2009): 457-479. Print. Volsky, Igor. 2012. Republicans Claim Obama Won Re-election Because Blacks and Hispanics Wanted More Handouts . Web. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Magic Trick Phenomena in Attention Psychology Essay Table of Contents 1. Video Analysis 2. Attention Theory 3. Personal Experience 4. Conclusion 5. References Many human functions are associated with the ability to recognize objects and judge their qualities based on previous experience. Many of these processes are associated with attention. Failure to trace changes in items, discussions, or other situations may result in a low accuracy of judgement. The inability to focus one’s attention on significant happenings is used by magicians and those who perform magic tricks. This paper discusses the magic trick phenomena, as well as the aspect of attention affected by it. Video Analysis The YouTube video called Color Changing Card Trick features an experiment associated with human attention (Quirkology, 2012). A man shows a pack of cards, all of which have blue backs. An assistant then pulls out one card that is shown to still have a blue back, while all others now have red ones. As explained in the video, the trick, in fact, is not in the cards at all. The camera focus changes along with the sequence of the experiment, showing either the whole scene or only parts of it. Details such as the performers’ clothes and background color change, yet it is difficult for viewers to notice since all of their attention is on the cards. The comment section below the video proves that almost none of the viewers detected the gradual change of setting in the video. However, it is easy to recognize changes the second time the video is watched because the whole process has already been explained. This experiment demonstrates that people tend to be very attentive to a certain object and ignore the surrounding environment that may sometimes play an important role in the outcome of the situation. This fact has much to do with the theory of attention as a resource. Attention Theory There are several theories that seek to explain the phenomena of attention. One of the most logical opinions regarding this subject is provided by Kahneman’s capacity model of attention (Friedenberg & Silverman, 2015, p. 102). According to this theory, attention is a resource like all other features of a human body. Despite this resource being mental in nature, it is measurable and has its limits. The amount of attention that can be used at any specific time is variable and is affected by various environmental factors. In the case of the card trick video, viewers also possess a limited amount of attention. They watch the cards themselves and thus are not able to notice changes in the environment. In fact, the principle of all magic tricks is to have the participant concentrated on the object itself. A game with three cups and an object under one of them holds the viewer’s attention solely on those cups, which makes it easy to change other things that go unnoticed. The human brain cannot process two different packages of information at the same time; instead, people have to receive and evaluate pieces of information one after another. In a situation with limited time, people tend to make more mistakes. For instance, there is a famous test designed by John Ridley Stroop that is based on reading out loud the text of a color word instead of the color it is written in (Weiner & Craighead, 2010, p.1712). Different things around us have to be processed by various brain parts, which becomes a difficult task, especially if one is closely watching only one element instead of spreading attention across several of them at the same time. Personal Experience I have had a similar experience as the video discussed above, just as many other viewers have. In my case, I tried to build a logical explanation regarding the sequence of events shown by the performers because I suspected that there would be a point when they had to do something suspicious that would identify the nature of the trick. However, I also have other examples with the opposite structure. For instance, when someone who I believe to be an authority, like a leader or a friend, is explaining a complicated cause-and-effect sequence, I tend to follow the story without noticing inaccurate or irrelevant details. This often happens because I cannot do two things at the same time, so I cannot closely follow the story and also analyze whether all facts are correct. This issue mostly concerns long pieces of spoken information, when there is no possibility to go back and check the correspondence of certain elements. Besides, I often concentrate on conclusions, and it is difficult to process the whole path when there are many elements related to the story. Conclusion Magic tricks are based on the unique features of human psychology. They rely on the inability of people to pay attention to and process several packages of information at a time, especially when viewers are focused on just one of them. Attention is a resource that has a limit despite its non-material nature. The presence of several story lines and numerous facts make it difficult to judge the credibility of the whole event. References Friedenberg, J., & Silverman, G. (2015). Cognitive Science: An Introduction to the Study of Mind (3 rd edition). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. Quirkology. (2012). Color changing card trick . Web. Weiner, I. B., & Craighead, E. (2010). The Corsini encyclopedia of psychology (Vol.4). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Last Night I Dreamed of Peace book Analytical Essay Dang Thuy Tram’s masterpiece Last Night I Dreamed of Peace is a captivating informative chef-d’oeuvre that demonstrates the author’s love for her country based on the sorrowful situation that the country is undergoing. As young as 23 years, she associates with the communists’ party in her quest to ensure that the Vietnamese people do not encounter the same situation (National Library Board Para. 3). Love and idealism, as well as the sense of shared humanity, all of which form part of today famous subjects, are crucial lessons with roots in Tram’s work. Tram makes the decision to go to South Vietnam because of her love and youthful idealism that she has for her kindred. Despite the deadly circumstances and appalling conditions that her patients undergo, she opts to make the dreadful decision. In spite of the fatal situation, she vows to sacrifice her own life to secure the lives of the patients who have faced attacks and injuries from the American soldiers. Her idealistic nature also plays a vital role in her decision to move to the South of Vietnam. She wishes to see her country in peace despite her age. She aligns herself with the communist party. It proves a tremendously difficult and trying time especially when the war rages on, kills, and destroys people without valid reasons. In fact, referring to the war, Tram says, “it spares no one, not a baby or an old woman, and the most hideous thing about it is the bloodthirsty Americans” (149). Therefore, Tram makes the choice of moving to South Vietnam to extend her hand in saving the lives of those injured. She also makes her decision to move to South Vietnam because of her spirited heart of humanity, love, longing for the end of the war and the sufferings subjected to the citizens of Vietnam. Her compassion and wish to see the war end also makes her risk her own life to go to the South of Vietnam. She wishes that the war and the fighting in South Vietnam ended to allow people to have their peace and unity. If Tram were alive to day, she would automatically qualify as one amongst the liberators and the heroes of Vietnam history, who assertively sacrificed, not only their time, money, and relationships, but also their own selves solely to cultivate freedom to the Vietnamese citizens. Though dead, Tram speaks volumes and volumes through the marks she left to the people of Vietnam. She has contributed significantly towards the making of the country’s history, as it stands today. It seems quite unfortunate that she succumbed to death at that tender age. Tram stands out as a liberator who, from the evidence of her diary and documentation, shows that she had a vision and a passionate concern to her country. Furthermore, she is worth acknowledging based on her thought and wish for an end of the inhumanity and brutalities that people of Vietnam were facing. It proves rather sad as Tram expresses her sympathy and concerns by noting that the people of Vietnam remain subjected to invalid pains and sufferings despite their innocence. Therefore, Tram passes for a hero. If she could be alive, she could have gone in the records for understanding and having the courage to liberate the people of Vietnam from the unnecessary pains and killings (Guthrie Para. 3). She refers the Americans people to as merciless and thirsty of other people’s blood, descriptions that she notes bitterly and with sorrow. Therefore, in no doubt, Tram stands out as a true hero. Vietnamese people who enjoy the freedom of today remember and appreciate Tram’s tireless works by acknowledging the cost attached therein. It cost the lives of protagonists such as Tram. Works Cited Guthrie, John. Last Night I Dream of Peace by Dang Thuy Tram, 2007. Web. National Library Board. Last Night I Dream of Peace: The Diary of Dang Thuy Tram, 2008. Web. Tram, Thuy. Last Night I Dream of Peace . New York: Random House, 2008. Print. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
African Dance Taught by Rujeko Dumbutshena Essay In this dance class, from a series by the Kennedy Center Education Digital Learning, Rujeko Dumbutshena teaches how to use the concept of dancing on the clock to learn African Dance. She is accompanied by Farai Malianga, a Djembe drummer who is also from Zimbabwe. With a positive and engaging attitude, Rujeko introduces “dancing on the clock,” the practice that allows easier positioning of the feet for learning dance moves. Rujeko Dumbutshena is a Zimbabwean dancer and dance teacher who radiates positivity and inspires those that encounter her. According to the News Archive at the University of Washington, where she is currently the Assistant Professor in the Dance Department, Rujeko’s choreographic experiments combine her childhood memories and her cultural heritage (Kwak). Furthermore, she finds inspiration in other African artists and performers, acknowledging and embracing the evolution of African Dance (Kwak). However, as a pedagogue as well as a performer, Rujeko also makes use of strategies such as the one described in this reflection to make African Dance accessible to her students. In the short YouTube class, Rujeko introduces her two in-person students, as well as the online audience, to the concept of “dancing on the clock,” as mentioned above. The concept refers to drawing an imaginary clock around the dancer’s feet and orienting one’s steps according to the hands of the clock – for example, left foot on six o’clock, meaning right behind. Rujeko highlights the importance of counting, numbers, and direction in dancing as she prepares the audience for her class (Dumbutshena). She then continues to demonstrate a few steps, first showing them slowly, then speeding up and repeating them (Dumbutshena). Rujeko also emphasizes the importance of dance in African culture and its health benefits (Dumbutshena). In a very non-intrusive way, she introduces a new style of learning the steps, as well as references her culture and background. The clock trick allows the dancers to visualize their steps easier, facilitating practice and learning of the movement. While most dance training consists of the repetition of movements as shown by the teacher, it can be difficult to visualize how the movements translate to one’s position. However, with the clock tactic, the bearings are easier to find, therefore facilitating the dancers’ learning. However, the directions of the steps, just as their count, are merely the skeleton of the dance itself. Knowing what the moves are and how to achieve the standard shown by the professionals allows the dancers to reach enough confidence and freedom to express themselves, to show a bit of themselves. The concept of dancing on the clock is even more interesting in the metaphorical sense. As discussed in class, dance is a live artform in the sense that instead of canvases or paints, the dance medium is the human body, an alive organism. Therefore, the dancers are always in a way dancing on the clock , meaning that they, unlike paintings or photographs, are far from timeless. The dance choreographies, however, can be passed through generations and generations, changing through the years but remaining in existence. Although the clock the dancers are using in Rujeko’s teaching is imaginary, in reality, they themselves perform outside the clocks, as each instance of the dance is unique to the particular moment. Dancing performance and practice, although exuberating at times, can be exhausting and grueling, and hence the emphasis Rujeko puts on the convenience of learning is very helpful. Without taking away from the aesthetic or expressive nature of the dance, she makes it more accessible to individuals that want to participate in this art form. Works Cited Dumbutshena, Rudjeko. “Five(ish) Minute Dance Lesson – African Dance: Lesson 3: Dancing on the Clock” . Youtube , uploaded by Kennedy Center Education Digital Learning, 2012, Web. Kwak, Lisa. “Rujeko Dumbutshena; Zimbabwean, Guinea West African, and Congolese Dance.” University of Washington: Department of Dance News Archive, 2021, Web. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Social Justice Leadership and Supervision Essay (Critical Writing) The question of social justice in mental health institution supervision is addressed by researchers from the perspectives of existing causes of discrimination against individuals with mental illness history and the strategies for solving this problem. The readings’ analysis allows for identifying a significant difference between social justice practices implementation within mental health institutions and in society and communities. Although the implementation of social justice practices seems feasible in the health care setting, it is much more challenging to pursue social justice in communities. While the concepts of leadership and supervision tend to be referenced within the clinical contend and primarily apply to the responsibilities of the professionals in mental institutions, the issues articulated in the article and chapters are more generalized and address the life of “psychiatric survivors” in society (Finkler, 2013, p. 221). Indeed, in chapter 16, Finkler (2013) refers to sanism as a discriminatory pattern that diminishes the dignity of the mentally ill. However, the author analyzes the perception of mental illness as a social identity and diagnosis, which predetermines prejudiced attitudes without indicating how these issues might be resolved. Similarly, White and Pike (2013), in chapter 17, discuss the importance of encouraging mental health literacy among Canadian citizens as a way of eliminating discrimination. However, the increased attention to the problems of the mentally ill might become an intimidation factor for increased psychological distress when socializing. Within the same perspective of a psychiatric survivor, Wipond (2013), in chapter 18, analyzes how mad individuals’ identity is associated with deviance and crime. Although the author emphasizes the necessity of eliminating the under- and mi-representation of the mentally ill in media, the practical side of finding a solution is vague. Indeed, the improvement of social justice realities associated with the life of psychiatric patients after treatment might be addressed from the perspective of community-based programs and interventions as introduced by Costa et al. (2012). However, the issues raised in the readings are social justice supervision. At the same time, the practices of shifting the perception from opposing us from them and improving mental health literacy might be effective methods of ensuring social justice in mental health institutions. References Costa, L., Voronka, J., Landry, D., Reid, J., McFarlane, B., Reville, D. & Church, K. (2012). “Recovering our stories”: A small act of resistance. Studies in Social Justice, 6 (1), 85-101. Finkler, L. C. (2013). “They should not be allowed to do this to the homeless and mentally ill”: Minimum separation distance bylaws reconsidered. In B. A. LeFrancois, R. Menzies, & G. Reaume (Eds.) Mad matters: A critical reader in Canadian mad studies (pp. 221-239). Toronto, Ontario: Canadian Scholars’ Press. White, K., & Pike, R. (2013). The making and marketing of mental health literacy in Canada. In B. A. LeFrancois, R. Menzies, & G. Reaume (Eds.) Mad matters: A critical reader in Canadian mad studies (pp. 239-253). Toronto, Ontario: Canadian Scholars’ Press. Wipond, R. (2013). Pitching mad: News media and the psychiatric survivor perspective. In B. A. LeFrancois, R. Menzies, & G. Reaume (Eds.) Mad matters: A critical reader in Canadian mad studies (pp. 253-265). Toronto, Ontario: Canadian Scholars’ Press. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Dorothy E. Smith and Feminist Theory Development Essay Table of Contents 1. Introduction 2. Feminist Theory 3. Conclusion 4. References Introduction Gender inequality has been an issue that has raised a lot of discussion since the early 19 th century. Most societies during this time had incidences of male chauvinism and women were referred to as the weaker sex which in real sense isn’t true, this was witnessed even among the minor and oppressed races e.g. among the slaves as Harriet Jacobs says about her life experiences as a slave. She was a freed slave that most sociology scholars that advocate for gender equality refer to as a woman who had great impact in influencing women with potential to claim share of the cake in the male dominated society. Some of these scholars include Dorothy E Smith, Sandra Harding, Patricia Hill Collins, Carol Gilligan, Joan Jacobs Brumberg among others (Lord et al 2011). This essay mainly focuses on the contributions and the impact of a sociologist, Dorothy E Smith, to the development of feminist theory. Feminist Theory This theory was developed after female scholars noticed that most theories, including sociological theories, were developed by male scholars and researchers and they mainly focused on the social issues that affected men. The few that involved women only talked about women but they were not for women. As we know men and women face very different and diverse challenges in life and therefore developing a theory that is supposed to suggest solutions to these problems of both men and women is supposed to look at both sides of the coin i.e. both the men’s and women’s point of view (Sociology 319, 2006, pp 3-5). Experience is said to be the best teacher, sociologists of the early times did not put this in to action since no woman was consulted. Female sociologist claimed that they were male centered and this frustrated them as Abigail Brooks suggests that “the sociological theories and methods being taught did not apply to what was happening as the female students experienced it” (2006, p 4). This made the women develop new theories like ‘feminist standpoint theory’. This suggested that scholars place women at the center of sociological research since they would offer the best starting point for developing knowledge. This would also be the best method of solving issues of exclusion and misrepresentation of women in the society. Including their experiences feelings and thoughts would be airing their grievances for them to be attended to. In other words ‘interactive approach’ would be the most effective method of consulting women. Abigail suggests that women personal experiences can used as a lens in viewing the problems and challenges of the society and even developing challenges that solutions to the identified problems. This is in accordance with Dorothy’s work which reveals to us how women in early have been taking care of children and helpless people in the society. Previously only women used to take care of their own children and close family members, this changed over time and some women were employed and they had to live their young one on the care of other women while they were away during the day. This was the main reason why Dorothy suggested that the personal and life experiences of women can be considered as a lens of viewing societal problems. In other words the women experienced all kind of problems when raising their children and those of others. They witness all the challenges and problems that the children face sine the time when they are born to when they grow up and mature as opposed to men who witness very little (Brooks 2006, p 7). Men would be referred to as the ruling class while women as the subordinate class. This can be proved by the fact that men were the key decision makers and policy implementers. The decisions and the policies though they were meant to solve societal problems as a whole they were though indirectly formulated in such a way that the protected the interests and position of men as the ruling class. This clearly tells us that all the interpretations of the societies that were made were either biased or twisted to favors men. Therefore if one needs a clear understanding of the society it should come from the women since they are the oppressed and they have no interests or position to protect as we have seen above. The hardships that they face can be used as a motivator for finding possible solutions to the problems as Abigail Brooks quoted, “Their pain provides them with a motivation for finding out what is wrong, for criticizing accepted interpretations of reality, and for developing new and less distorted ways of understanding the world” (2006, p 15). Conclusion As we have seen the best most effective way of eliminating male chauvinism in the society is by involving women in the development and formulation of policies which will be in accordance with their experiences, feelings and thoughts. By not letting men perform entire investigation and research on issues that involve both women and men and solely relying on their recommendations would be the first step towards eliminating male dominance. Women are more exposed to pain and other kinds of social hardships, this puts them at a better position of having the urge to find solutions to their challenges. References Brooks, A. (2006). FEMINIST STANDPOINT EPISTEMOLOGY. (p 4) Retrieved from: https://www.sagepub.com/sites/default/files/upm-binaries/12936_Chapter3.pdf Lord, M., Greiter, A and Tursunovic, Z. (2011). Feminist Theory . Web. Sociology 319. (2006). “Contemporary Social Theories: Feminist Standpoint Theory – Dorothy Smith” Retrieved from: http://uregina.ca/~gingrich/319m2206.htm | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
The End of Writer’s Block for Harold Pinter Essay (Critical Writing) A masterpiece, “One for the Road” ended a painful period of writer’s block for Harold Pinter in a manner swift and strange and led to an explicitly political agenda of his subsequent plays, “Mountain Language” and “Ashes to Ashes”. This turn in his writing career took place immediately after a party in which Pinter met two “extremely attractive young and intelligent Turkish women” who were indifferent to the use of torture in their own country supposedly modern and civilized. Enraged at this blatant example of man’s inhumanity to man, he felt like strangling the two women, but instead took pen in hand and proceeded to write “One for the Road”, which strikes the critics as “a mesmerizing, terrifying, brilliantly controlled piece”, which distills the anger that inspired it. It is now regarded as “a flawless, richly resonant miniature masterpiece. Pinter’s subsequent plays, “Mountain Language” and “Ashes to Ashes” are described as “sketchy, paranoid and self-righteous”, although just as politically inspired as his masterpiece. A plus for Director Robin Lefebre’s production for Dublin’s Gate Theatre is that Harold Pinter himself stars in the leading role as a state interrogator of an oppressive unnamed region. This added attraction convinces his viewers that if he had not embarked on a writing career, he would have achieved equally great fame as an actor. He convinces his audience with the power of his wonderfully rich, resonant voice and a tremendous stage presence. Pinter portrays the character of Nicholas, a self-proclaimed civilized man who runs the sinister state institution where the action is set and tries to give his victims the impression that he is a nice chap who happens to be ruling the country. He has brought in a family of three for questioning, all the while remaining civilized and urbane as though talking to guests at a dinner party. The three family members are the husband Victor, his wife Gila, and their seven-year-old son, Nicky. Nicholas seems to occupy an important position in government – perhaps Head of the Secret Service or chief of Police – a high-ranking authority in a country where the army overrules democracy and where those adjudged enemies of the states are fated to suffer rape, torture, and death. In successive scenes, the three- Victor, a presumed dissident intellectual, has been tortured, his wife Gila, repeatedly raped is brought again to the office of Nicholas. The fate of their vulnerable child hangs in the balance until the devastating end of the play. Harold Pinter is well-known for his views on foreign politics especially and for his views on tyranny, oppression, and the involvement of the world’s leading countries in the politics of smaller ones (The Financial Times, 2001: n.p.). The play, “One for the Road” lasts some 32 minutes long clearly shows all the talking in every sense calm, urbane, suave, and self-righteous, belying the fact that this seemingly restrained and intelligent figure is in reality, mindless, corrupt, and cruel “A quality of lethal surprise is necessary in “One for the Road”. In four brisk scenes, we see Nicholas, a high-ranking state official, confronting three imprisoned members of a family: the silent, ultimately mutilated Victor, his raped wife, Gila and their vulnerable son. The play has incremental horror. But it needs shade and color in the playing of Nicholas if it is not to seem a straightforward condemnation of state brutalism.” (Billington, 2001: n.p.) The interview of the prisoners by Nicholas suggests that the torturer is tortured himself despite his smooth manner as shown by the urgency to imbibe whisky and his perturbation when alone. “There is a sense of terrible loneliness, of a man who serves the state because he has nothing and no one else. His victims are his only friends…. As well as offering a hideously persuasive account of the psychological torture and the apparatus of state repression, ‘One for the Road’ takes you right into the heart of one man’s wasteland.” (Spencer, 2001; n.p.) And yet, Victor, Gila, and their son in the play highlight the strange paradox of all, that this tortured family has some secret quality that escapes Nicholas’ understanding. In his later stage and screen scripts, Pinter criticized current widespread persecution in the institutions of the state from hospitals (Hothouse) to prisons (One for the Road). Pinter’s plays reached beyond the world of the theatre and became part of the starkly political 1980’s social and cultural scene. “Pinter’s mature plays of the 1980’s and 1990’s received hostile criticism, especially “One for the Road”. The critics failed to see that his plays represented his political involvement (both internationally and as an opponent of Thatcherism) and his interest in wider social issues.”(Inan 2005: 34). By this time, he was participating actively in questions of human rights, censorship, and the US foreign policy in Central America. After many years of silence, Pinter realized it was time to name the guilty with “One for the Road”, the directress of his political views was obvious from then on. Despite the clear political statements, he was still concerned with time, memory, sexuality, loss, separation, and solitude. In his political plays, individual freedom is suppressed by established authority. The plays of the 1980s, particularly “One for the Road” explores a political “no man’s land characterized by political schizophrenia and social repression in the contemporary world. He wrote bout the 1980’s social and cultural scene as he discovered an explored the workings of police power, official secrecy and the insidious state censorship. It s interesting and gratifying to note how Pinter’s “One for the Road” awakens public consciousness to the issues of the times. Works Cited 1. Billington, M. “Pinter, the Author’s Muscular Authority”, The Guardian, 2001. 2. Inan, D. “Public Consciousness Beyond Theatrical Space: Harold Pinter Interrogates Borders and Boundaries., Nebula, 2005 3. “One for the Road”, The Financial Times, 2001. 4. Spencer, C., “Pinter’s Miniature Masterpiece”, The Daily Telegraph, 2001. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Science in the Preschool Classroom Essay Nowadays, the importance of incorporating science into the preschool curriculum cannot be underestimated. Children should be provided with a number of opportunities to get to know the physical world, reflect on the events taking place in it, and develop the basics of scientific thinking (Barnett & Morran, 2002). There exist many practical ways and strategies to assist children in studying science in the preschool classroom. Below, a few practical ideas regarding this will be discussed on the basis of the findings made by the authors of the given readings. In their article, Barnett and Morran (2002) suggest that children in the preschool classroom may benefit greatly from the studies of the phases of the Moon and lunar and solar eclipses. They propose that children may have short play-based studying sessions on a daily basis devoted to basic astronomical knowledge. To make such study beneficial, preschool teachers may use visual aids, reference materials, and video films. The studies may be held both indoors and outdoors. It is important not to make such environmental studying sessions too long because it would be tiresome for children, and, thus, will fail to attain its aim. Basile and White (2000) advise that the main goal of environmental studies should be to ‘establish a sense of respect for all living and nonliving elements of the natural world” (Basile & White, 2000, p. 2002). This article proposes to incorporate the following elements into the preschool curriculum including (1) teaching about the facts on how living systems work; (2) encouraging students’ respect for all living things; (3) facilitation of critical thinking regarding environmental matters; and (4) facilitation of environmental stewardship. To put these recommendations into practice, teachers may organize daily environmental sessions outdoors. They may help children familiarize themselves with living beings of the surrounding world such as insects, birds, animals, and plants. Besides, teachers may organize daily debate sessions when students may ask them different questions regarding the functioning of all living creatures and natural phenomena. One more idea on how to incorporate environmental studies into the daily curriculum is daily tracking the weather. Charlesworth and Lind (2010), and Robbins (2005) concentrate on the importance of the studies of maths and science in the preschool classroom. They recommend facilitating scientific and math experiments into the curriculum with the purpose of developing an ‘outside the box’ way of thinking. Furthermore, on a daily basis, maths studies can be incorporated into the curriculum in play form. In particular, students may build with blocks and count them, sort objects within the frames of different games such as ‘Find it first’, count toy money during a game of shopping, etc. References Barnett, M., & Morran, J. (2002). Addressing children’s alternative frameworks of the Moon’s phases and eclipses. International Journal of Science Education, 24 (8), 859–879. Basile, C., & White, C. (2000). Respecting living things: Environmental literacy for young children. Early Childhood Education Journal, 28 (1), 57-61. Charlesworth, R., & Lind, K. L. (2010). Math & science for young children (6th ed.). New York: Thomson Delmar Learning. Robbins, J. (2005). ‘Brown paper packages’? A sociocultural perspective on young children’s ideas in science. Research in Science Education, 35 (2), 151-172. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Definition Foreign Exchange refers to the contract to sell or buy a specific amount of currency in return for another. The delivery and settlement takes place at a specified time and rate of exchange or price. Foreign exchanges have no particular physical centre of exchange. The trade is mainly conducted by banks. The foreign exchange markets provide a system that converge sellers and buyers and supply information on prices and the exchange activities of players (Eiteman, Stonehill, and Moffett, 2010). Foreign Currency Derivatives Foreign currency derivatives refer to financial derivatives whose advantage is pegged on the exchange rates of foreign currencies. The instruments are used for speculation and hedging foreign exchange exposure. Spot Contract This refers to an agreement to sell or buy a currency for delivery. The payment or settlement is made at the spot date. This is usually two business days following the trade date (Eiteman, Stonehill, and Moffett, 2010). The payment and delivery rate is known as the spot rate or price. Where there lays an option for immediate payment, the spot contract would be the most suitable. The buyer will need 15205.4253 Chinese Yuan to purchase US$100000 worth reams of paper. Settlement for the contract would take place within two working days. Forward Contract A forward contract refers to an agreement to sell or buy a particular asset at a predetermined future date and at a rate agreed upon presently (Eiteman, Stonehill, and Moffett, 2010). Suppose the buyer wants to purchase the reams of paper thirty days from now. Assuming that a Chinese company has $100000 worth reams of paper, which it wishes to sell thirty days from now. Both participants can agree on a forward contract. Suppose the parties settle for a sale price of $102000 in thirty days, they will have entered into a forward contract. In thirty days, the buyer and seller have an obligation to honour their respective duties at the set price (Reh, 2013). Future Contract Futures refer to standardized contracts where those involved go into an agreement to purchase or buy a specific asset that has a standardized quality and quantity. The present price is used while delivery and payment is made on a future date. Future contracts are entered into in future exchange. The seller and buyer are said to be “long” and “short” respectively since the seller expects the price to go down in future while the buyer hopes it will rise (Butler, 2004). Bid or Ask Spread The bid refers to the largest amount that a bidder or buyer is willing to pay for an asset. The ask or offer price refers to the price stated by the seller of a currency or any other asset. The variance between the bid and ask prices is known as the bid-ask spread or simply the spread (Carbaugh, 2004). Illustration: Currency Spread Supposing the present USD/CYN bid price is 6.5766 and the present ask price is 6.6000, it implies that one can sell USD/CYN at 6.5766 and acquire it at 6.6000. The difference between the two quotations is the spread (0.0234). If the USD/CYN currency pair is trading at 65.766/100.0000, this implies that the bid price for USD/CYN is 65.766 and the ask price is 100.0000. Therefore, the holders of United States dollars can sell one United States dollar for 100.0000 Chinese Yuan and investors have to part with 100.0000 Chinese Yuans for every United States dollar. Currency Options Currency Options is a contract that gives a currency bearer the right as opposed to the duty of selling or buying a currency at a particular exchange rate within a specified time frame. The broker receives a premium for the right to be granted. The premium will fluctuate in respect to the volume of contracts bought. Currency options are suitable for covering against weird exchange rate movements. A call option is the right to acquire a currency or an asset at a set price and date (Carbaugh, 2004). A put option is the right to give out an asset or currency at a particular agreed price and date. Investors hedge against exchange rate exposure by buying a put or call currency option (International Investing, 2012). Illustration: Currency Option Suppose the trader expects the USD/CYN exchange rate to increase from 6.5766 to 6.6 in thirty days. This implies that the Chinese Yuan will be more expensive for the United States trader to acquire. The trader would, therefore, prefer to purchase a call option on USD/CYN in order to stand a benefit from the rise in USD/CYN exchange rate. If the trader expects the USD/CYN exchange rate to decline, for instance from 6.5766 to 6.5000 in thirty days, he or she would acquire US$100000 now and enter into a put option. On the expiry of thirty days, the trader would dispose the 100000 US dollars at the rate of 6.5766 dollar per Yuan that amounts to 15205.4253 Chinese Yuan. The trader would pay less in the put option scenario as opposed to the amount payable at the thirty days spot rate (15384.6153 Chinese Yuan). References Butler, K. (2004). Multinational finance (3rd ed.). Mason, OH: Thompson South-Western. Carbaugh, R. J. (2004). International Economics (9th Ed.). Mason, OH: Thomson. Eiteman, D., Stonehill, A., & Moffett, M. (2010). Multinational Business Finance (12th Ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. International Investing. (2012). In U.S. Security and Exchange Commission . Web. Reh, J. (2013). Cost- benefit analysis . Web. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
The Issues of Privacy, Targeted Advertising, and Consumer Trust Essay (Critical Writing) Today the successful development of many modern industries depends on the effective advertising. That is why advertisers try to use all the opportunities to present the information about their goods to the public. Tendencies of using the Internet resources as a source for setting ads are in a constant progress. Thus, the Internet and online technologies changed the ordinary meaning of the notion ‘targeted audience’ and began to use all the advantages provided by these innovations. However, new approaches to advertising also revealed such controversial issues as the question of privacy and consumer trust which are widely discussed nowadays. What makes people buy this or that product? What is the role of the targeted audience for effective selling definite goods? The answers to these questions are significant for those people who are involved in working out targeted advertising with the help of the Internet resources. The possibility to use the information which is fixed in the websites when persons visit certain pages and click the links made the revolution in the advertising industry. It was the chance to use the current data about the preferences and interests of the public, work out and extend the ads according to this information. Thus, the effectiveness of this method is supported by the statistical evidences provided by the advertising companies. Nevertheless, in spite of the obvious efficiency of targeted advertising, this phenomenon depends on definite social and legal issues connected with the problem of consumer’s privacy. Thus, when you visit your favorite site and observe the ads which can prevent you from the effective and quick search, it is necessary to remember that it is you to whom the information is addressed, and it is you on whose data the ads are based. However, was it the consumer’s desire to present such type of the information to website publishers and advertisers who have used it for developing their ads? The problem of privacy is discussed on different levels. Nevertheless, it is impossible to state strictly if the consumers’ concerns about their privacy have the base because of the peculiarities of the programs used for the interpretation of the information provided by consumers. Targeted advertising can be considered as beneficial for consumers when we focus on such aspects as the appropriateness of ads for different groups which can be classified according to a number of criteria. The use of targeting advertisements may be both beneficial for the customers and sellers when customers are searching for the necessary item, and sellers are ready to propose it with the help of the advertisements. However, trying to organize all the strategies in the company on the principles of targeting, advertisers can use the private information accessible in the sites inadequately, without paying much attention to the ethical issues. In this case, such a policy can be considered as ineffective and dangerous for the company which can break the law about privacy. To create an ad for the targeted audience, it is important to get as much information about the potential customer as possible, but to find oneself successful in the process of collecting data about the customer, it is better to follow the principles of the privacy safety. That is why it is important to implement definite norms and rules which should regulate the processes in target advertising in such a way they could not be challengeable for the questions of the consumers’ privacy. Moreover, if the consumer thinks that the data about him is used with breaking the privacy laws, the level of consumer trust can decrease. This process is rather disadvantageous for the website publisher and for the advertiser because there can be a number of restrictive norms for the site and the advertiser which the consumer can use with the help of his advocates in order to protect his rights. To follow the ads offered in the Internet and do online shopping, consumers should trust the information which is given in the resources. Consumer trust is also based on the level of the popularity of the site. It is important for advertisers to remember this fact while setting the ads on the sites. Moreover, if there is the information about the facts of breaking the privacy policy associated with the activities of definite sites, consumers’ interest and trust also decrease. Advertisers have a lot of possibilities to provide their goods in the markets with the help of modern technologies and the Internet. The advantages of these processes can be considered as obvious for consumers who form the targeted audience. However, to use all these resources effectively, it is necessary to pay attention to the control of definite procedures which are safe for the consumer only until they are connected with his interests and the privacy issue. If website publishers and advertisers use the definite information according to the norms of the law, they create the situation which is beneficial for both sides of the process. Nevertheless, when the data is used inappropriately, it is the risk not only for consumers, but also for the advertiser. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Ethical Issues in Criminal Justice Essay Code of ethics and moral values are integral components of criminal justice system and both lawyers and their clients have to comply with these components for justice to prevail in courtrooms. The basic legal ethics call for lawyers to prioritize the interests of their clients as they guide and consult over legal issues. Since clients are independent, the legal ethics guard them against unfair treatment or representation by their lawyers. Therefore, in legal ethics, lawyer-client relationship is fundamental in administration of justice by the criminal justice system. Banks asserts that, “the progress of lawyer’s work should be evaluated at regular intervals in the context of the lawyer’s aims and interests, and relationship should be client-centered, involving shared decision-making responsibility and the mutual participation of both lawyer and the client” (2004, p.81). In essence, the lawyer should always advocate for the interests of the client. Given that the interests of the client take precedence, it is utterly unethical for a lawyer to reveal his/her client’s confidential information for monetary gain. It is legally unethical for a lawyer to reveal confidential information relating to a client. In view of this, there is a case scenario where a lawyer with immense experience of over twenty years in law revealed confidential information of client to the media to get monetary gain. According to legal ethics, lawyer has ethical duty of ensuring that client’s information is confidential and thus should always advocate for the interests of the client. Banks argues that, keeping client’s information confidential “is a fundamental ethical duty imposed on lawyers … breach of this would run afoul of other principles such as acting in the client’s best interests and not personally benefitting from the information given by the client” (2004, p.82). Therefore, the lawyer went against ethic’s fundamental principle of acting in the best interest of the client and further revealed client’s information for personal interests. In this case, the lawyer is liable to prosecution for breaching legal code of ethics. Moreover, given the experience of over twenty years in practicing law, it means that the lawyer deliberately breached the code of ethics, the experience and clear ethical stipulations notwithstanding. It further means that the lawyer did not want to act in the best interest of the client because revelation of confidential information is an insult to the client. The lawyer pursued selfish interests over ethical requirements of duty, implying that the act was quite unethical and unprofessional. Banks further argues that, “disclosure is permitted to the extent necessary to prevent a client from committing a criminal act that the lawyer reasonably believes is likely to result in imminent death or substantial bodily harm” (2004, p.83). In this case scenario, the client did not intend to commit another crime, hence, the lawyer has no reasonable justification for revealing client’s information except for monetary gain. Ultimately, the lawyer is guilty of breaching code of ethics, which ensures that client’s interests take precedence, protects confidentiality of the information coupled with abhorring exposure of information for monetary gain. Fredrick concludes that, “lawyers must take reasonable precautions to ensure that their clients’ confidential information remains secure” (2010, p.7). Whether lawyers disseminate clients’ information deliberately or unintentionally, the fact remains that they have a moral responsibility of acting in the best interest of their clients by ensuring confidentiality of the information. Hence, the lawyer who revealed client’s information for personal gains is guilty and liable for persecution. References Banks, C. (2004). Criminal Justice Ethics: Theory and Practice . New York: Sage Publishers. Fredrick, P. (2010). Client Confidentiality and Lawyers. American Bar Association , 6, 1-11. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Essay (Book Review) Everyone wants to be valued, heard and respected but, only some people succeed in achieving their objectives. James Lukaszewski, an established internationally recognized advisor, coach and crises management consultant, has effectively explained the attributes successful advisors develop and implement on their way to success. Why should the Boss Listen to you? The seven disciplines of the trusted strategic advisor shows the process of understanding leader’s expectations and further elaborates the way to shape consultant’s perspective to match leader’s requirement. It is a must read book for managers, executives and consultants who aspire to become champion strategic advisors. The book is essentially divided into two parts. First part focuses on understanding leaders and established advisors; Lukaszewski asserts that the first and foremost step for an advisor is to know his leader, the environment and leader’s goals before offering any kind of advice. Advisor should know the decision making approach of the leader and the way leader manages his time. He further explains the process in detail by quoting seven steps to know leader’s expectations and five steps to offer effective advice. The trait of analyzing and formulating effective and crisp questions, focusing on important problems and providing useful feedback follows next. Finally, he gives five reasons leading to failure and five reasons leading to the success of a leader. In its second part, the book elaborates crucial seven disciplines to acquire and hold leader’s confidence. Seven disciplines include “Be trustworthy, be verbal visionaries, develop a management perspective, think strategically, be a window to tomorrow, advice constructively, show the boss how to use your advice” (Lukazewski 5). Lukazewski says that in order to build successful relationship between the leader and advisor it is very important for the advisor to build trust: the leader should find his advisor honest and sincere. Offering clear and focused suggestion depends on honed verbal skills comprising future orientation, instructional abilities and storytelling. “Focus on tomorrow and take from yesterday only the positive, useful constructive ideas that can move the process forward, promptly. Focusing on future allows you to build tomorrow free of problems, misunderstandings and crippling assumptions of the past” (Lukazewski 9).He has laid special emphasis on developing analyst perspective and the need to align it with the leader’s goals. Lukazewski states that the advisor should see the organization as a whole and check if it is in the same lines as desired by the leader further orienting the analyst’s mindset to the leader’s viewpoint. Explaining seven virtues of strategy and five fatal flaws, the book polishes strategic thinking and elaborates utility of analyzing patterns and forecasting events towards the end. Why should the Boss Listen to you? is written in very simple language using systematically explained points in brief steps that make them easy to remember. It is a very useful and important book for professionals and becomes all the more necessary in today’s scenario when companies operate on a global level bringing people to work together from several culturally and geographically diverse regions. Reading the book has made me analyze my presentation and advising skills. It has made me reconsider and improve the attributes I neglected otherwise. I had always aspired to become a verbal visionary but, never knew how; the book has provided useful guidance and steps helping me achieve the same. I will strongly recommend this book to people who aspire to become successful advisors. Works cited Lukazewski, James E. Why should the Boss Listen to you? The seven disciplines of the trusted strategic advisor . San Francisco: Jossey-bass, 2008. Print. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Fat- and Water-Soluble Vitamins Report (Assessment) Overall, the classification of vitamins is based on such a criterion as their solvability. One can distinguish two broad groups, in particular, fat-soluble vitamins such as A or E and water-soluble vitamins like folate or biotin (Grosvenor & Smolin, 2012). Certainly, these organic compounds can be divided into other classes; for example, one can use such a criterion as the functions that they perform. However, the first approach is more widespread. Vitamins play a critical role for the growth and functioning of the body at various pre-natal and post-natal stages. For example, they are involved the chemical reactions that are vital for the formation of bones. In this case, one should speak primarily about vitamins D and K. In turn, its shortage of these chemical compounds can impair the development of a fetus. Secondly, vitamins are necessary for normal blood-clotting (Insel, Ross, McMahon, & Bernstein, 2010, p. 388). Apart from that, they are important for many cognitive functions such as memory or attention. For example, the shortage of B vitamins can impair the functioning of the brain. One should also remember that vitamins act as antioxidants that shield the organ from the detrimental effects of free radicals (Insel et al., 2010, p. 388). These examples indicate that these compounds are involved in various physiological processes. Overall, fat-soluble vitamins can be viewed as lipid-like molecules which can be solved in fat (Insel et al., 2010, p. 388). For instance, one can mention vitamins A, E, D, or K. These chemical substances can be derived from various types of food. For instance, vitamin A can be found in dairy products such as milk or butter. Additionally, fish is an important source of vitamins A and D. Moreover, vegetables like carrots or broccoli can contain fat-soluble vitamins. These are some of the main sources that can be identified. One can also discuss the specific role of fat-soluble vitamins. For example, vitamin A performs such roles as gene transcription, bone metabolism, and anti-oxidation. Its deficiency can lead to such problems as hyperkeratosis, night-blindness, and keratomalacia (McClatchey, 2002, p. 444). In turn, the toxicity of vitamin A takes place when the intake exceeds 500,000 milligrams per day. Its overdose is associated with such symptoms as nausea, intracranial pressure, or muscle weakness (McClatchey, 2002, p. 444). These are the main detrimental effects that can be mentioned. Apart from that, one can speak about vitamin D. One of its roles is to activate the innate immune systems. Secondly, it reduces the risk of a cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, its deficiency is associated with such as disorder as rackets (McClatchey, 2002, p. 445). Provided that a person ingests excessive amount of this vitamin, he/she can develop hypocalcaemia (McClatchey, 2002, p. 445). This is the main toxic risk that should be taken into account. Furthermore, one should speak about water-soluble vitamins. They are stored in the watery compartments of different foods. One of their distinctions is that they do not require lipoprotein carriers (Insel et al., 2010, p. 388). This group includes vitamins of the B group, and vitamin C. These nutrients can be found in meat, vegetables such as avocados or broccoli, fish, and dairy products. One can provide several examples of examples of water-soluble vitamins. In particular, vitamin B 1 or thiamine is related to various physiological activities such as carbohydrate metabolism, the transmission of electrolytes, or various enzyme processes. Among its major deficiency risks, one can distinguish Korsakoff’s syndrome or dry beriberi (McClatchey, 2002, p. 445). It should be mentioned that the toxicity of thiamine is very low. However, the daily intake of this nutrient should not exceed 7000 milligrams per day, because this overdose can lead to headache and insomnia. In turn, riboflavin or vitamin B 2 is important for the production of blood cells and body growth. Its deficiency is associated with such risks as anemia, cheilosis, or glossitis (McClatchey, 2002, p. 445). At present, researchers have not identified the toxic effect of this nutrient. Finally, one should speak about vitamin B 3 which is also known as niacin. This organic compound performs several functions. In particular, it is involved in the production of the DNA. Secondly, it reduces the accumulation of plaque in the arteries. Moreover, it facilitates the reactions, which are necessary for the work of the digestive system. Its major deficiency risks include pellagra as well as dementia (McClatchey, 2002, p. 445). This vitamin can also become toxic, and its overdose can result in such problems as histamine release or pruritus (McClatchey, 2002, p. 445). Reference List Grosvenor, M. & Smolin, L. A. (2012). Visualizing Nutrition: Everyday choices (2th ed.) . Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley. Insel, P., Ross, D., McMahon, K., Bernstein, M. (2010). Nutrition . New York, NY: Jones & Bartlett Publishers. McClatchey, K. (2002). Clinical Laboratory Medicine . New York, NY: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
The Necessity of Religion Essay Table of Contents 1. Introduction 2. Main body 3. Conclusion 4. Works Cited Introduction Religion has been a significant part of society for centuries. Since ancient times, people have appealed to the higher power, praying for a good harvest, cursing their enemies, wishing health upon their family, and more. In some countries, the vast majority of the population is religious, and the government supports religious teachings through laws and policies. Nevertheless, the necessity of religion is an issue that can be debated. Whereas some believe that religion is needed for the benefit of society, others think that the concept of religion is outdated and that contemporary society no longer requires religious guidance to prosper. The present essay will seek to argue that religion is not only unnecessary but harmful to society, as it restricts people’s freedom and creates barriers to communication. Main body First of all, religion has been used to restrict people’s freedom and abuse human rights for centuries. For example, Islamic religion affects women’s rights, defining norms of conduct for women and restricting their power in socioeconomic and political spheres. In the Western world, many people use religion to promote homophobic views and fight against women’s rights movements. There is no doubt that religious texts, such as the Bible or Koran, can be interpreted in different ways, and thus their meaning can be twisted to promote certain views or support particular opinions. Therefore, religion can be used by governments to control people and influence their behavior. Secondly, religion has been widely used to excuse and justify violence. Crusades are an excellent historical example of how the government used religion to frame the war on an independent nation as ‘holy’. There are also numerous examples of religion being used to facilitate terrorism and genocide. Although many people believe that this feature is only true for Islam, other religions have been tied to terrorism, too. For instance, Buddhist terrorism against Muslim populations in Burma is a significant issue that is often overlooked by major news channels of the U.S. and European countries (Pellot). Overall, religion is often used against society, which is why it is harmful and unnecessary for people. Another important argument against the necessity of religion in society is that religion creates barriers between people. There are many different religions in the world, as there are many different nations and languages. However, in the global age, communication barriers can be harmful to society and its people. For example, people who migrate to other countries may feel alienated if their religion is different from the official one. Moreover, differences in religion can cause prejudice and discrimination. In particular, Muslim people living in America or Europe often face discrimination due to the fear of Islamic terrorism (Green). When religion forms the foundation for prejudice, hate, and alienation, it causes a divide in society and is thus harmful. One of the main arguments that people use in favor of the necessity of religion is that it is necessary for guiding people’s actions and establishing moral principles. This argument would be valid if crimes were only committed by atheists. Nevertheless, both religious people and atheists can commit crimes. Moreover, many people who are not religious life by a personal moral code or abide by the law, which has the same effect on the society as religion intends to have. Conclusion Overall, historical and modern examples show that religion is often used to harm people instead of protecting or improving society. Moreover, the importance of religion to social order and people’s morality is highly overrated. Therefore, religion is unnecessary for society, and many people would benefit from the abolition of all religions. Works Cited Green, Emma. “How Much Discrimination Do Muslims Face in America?” The Atlantic , 2017, Web. Pellot, Brian. “Buddhists Can Be Terrorists, Priests Can Abuse: Why Religion Doesn’t Preclude Inhumanity.” Religion News , 2014, Web. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Blatter’s Remarks on Ronaldo and Its Impact for Real Madrid Proposal Essay FIFA president Sepp Blatter’s “light-hearted” comments on Real Madrid’s forward Christiano Ronaldo could not have come at a worse time. Although the Swiss have since personally apologized to the Real Madrid player for his “unacceptable hair expenses” comment when he was asked to compare Ronaldo against Lionel Messi during his address to the Oxford Union last week, the football club is reading malice especially coming at a time when players for the prestigious Ballon d’Or award were awaiting nomination (Aspin para. 1-4). It is common knowledge that Real Madrid has been preparing for the occasion to overthrow Barcelona during this year’s FIFA’s World Player of the year presentation. Both Christian and Messi have been nominated to compete for FIFA’s Ballon d’Or, along with other European soccer heavyweights such as Gareth Bale, Franck Ribery, Arjen Robben, Andrea Pirlo, Andres Iniesta, Philip Lahm and Bastian Schweinsteiger (Ingle para. 1-7). Although Messi has been outstanding this year, though not to the level and shape he was between 2009 and 2012 when he rocked the world by being crowned the most prolific and professional player four years in a row (Ingle para. 20), Ronaldo’s exceptional form in recent times means that the player could be on spot to topple the Argentine International. Such an achievement definitely means much for Ronaldo, but so much more for Real Madrid. It therefore came as a surprise for Real Madrid when last week FIFA’s president Sepp Blatter admitted openly to preferring Messi over Ronaldo, and went further to describe Messi as “good boy” before going on to say, in perceptible reference to the Portugal international, that “one has more expenses for the hairdresser than the other” (Aspin para. 5). The FIFA boss didn’t stop there; rather he went a step further to liken Messi to “a good boy who every mother and father would like to have at home”, and Ronaldo to “a commander on the field of play” (Aspin para. 17-19). It is these remarks that have catapulted Real Madrid’s president Florentino Perez into branding Blatter’s comments as unacceptable, disrespectful and unfair to a professional football player who has a wide fan base around the world (Aspin para.1-7). The Portuguese Football Association also reacted angrily to the comments and called upon Blatter to provide an explanation on what he really meant. Although Blatter’s original descriptions of the two players came during a question and answer session at a university event, Real Madrid is reading much more that the “light-hearted comments” explanation provided by Blatter when he was apologizing to Ronaldo, particularly coming only a few days before Ronaldo was nominated as a candidate for FIFA’s World Player award along Messi and other players. The dynamics of such unconcealed comments on the character of a player of international repute such as Ronaldo, in the view of Perez, could influence the voting pattern for the Ballon d’Or, with the Real Madrid forward hoping to put to an end Lionel Messi’s domination of the coveted award (Aspin para. 2). This view is validated by the fact that although the judging panel for this year’s Ballon d’Or – comprising national coaches, captains, and journalists – are supposed to vote sorely on professional achievements of soccer players, reputation will inevitably play a critical part during selection (Ingle para. 3). Drawing from the reputation theory, it is not difficult to understand why Real Madrid’s president reacted angrily to the comments, and also why the club may not share in the joy of having one of its key players selected as FIFA World Player of the year early next year. Going by the fact that Messi’s reputation will definitely count for him should it matter during the selection process (Ingle para. 9), the last thing Real Madrid needs right now is an affront to the character and reputation of it No. 1 contender – Christiano Ronaldo. Not only did Blatter express a preference for Messi over Ronaldo, but his comments could be considered as an affront to the character and reputation of Ronaldo in his bid to overturn Messi’s winning streak in previous FIFA’s World Player awards, particularly in light of the fact that the shortlist for the 2013 FIFA Ballon d’Or for both players and managers has already been announced (De Menezes para. 1). As an influential figure in FIFA, Blatter should have known better than to provide comments that would later be construed as a serious slight on Christiano Ronaldo in particular and Real Madrid in general (Aspin para. 3). The FIFA boss may have dispatched a personal apology to Ronaldo, but it appears that the damage to the reputation and character of the player has already been done going by the reactions of the club’s president, Coach Carlo Ancelotti, as well Portuguese Football Federation (Rogers para. 1). Real Madrid needs Ronaldo to win the coveted FIFA World Player of the year come January 2014 and prove the critics wrong, but such comments coming from the man at the helm of the world football governing body are counterproductive to healthy competition for the prize. Tellingly, the comments may mean more for Ronaldo’s and Real’s attempt at the coveted prize than the mere “light-hearted” postulations of the FIFA boss. Works Cited Aspin, Guy. “FIFA President Sepp Blatter Apologizes to Christiano Ronaldo after Real Madrid Anger over Unacceptable Hair Expenses Comment.” The Independent . 2013. Web. De Menezes, Jack. “FIFA 2013 Ballon d’Or Shortlist – The Run Down of the 23 Men Nominated for the World Player of the Year Award.” The Independent . 2013. Web. Ingle, Sean. “Ballon d’Or 2013: Lionel Messi any not Have It All His Own Way This Year.” The Gurdian . 2013. Web. Rogers, Iain. “Blatter’s Ronaldo Remarks Prompt Angry Response.” Reuters . 2013. Web. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Discussion on Women and Gender Studies Essay The film has had an overwhelming influence on cultural perception and the social dynamism of people worldwide. Typically, “Real women have curves” is a 21st-century comic film cast in 2002 to portray how movies can impact social order. The theme of cultural dynamics is one of the major concerns highlighted in this piece of work. Anna showcases a hybrid of cultural identity by conquering almost all family ties, social duties, economic struggles, and environmental exposure. Although her family endures poverty, Anna remained determined to achieve a college education. Her mother remained hesitant to let Anna pursue her ambitions even though her father was for the idea. She can balance the pressure of home chores and economic struggles to continue performing in her classes. In essence, her attributes are evident in becoming a better woman different from her siblings. Over time, Anna adapts to the cultural demands of working hard like men to make things work her way. Concurrently, she considers every opportunity that comes her way as a ladder to society’s next stage of life. Ideally, much of her determination emanates from the struggles endured in all aspects of poverty. Anna ends up in New York with much confidence as things open up her way. There are several instances in communities that tend to derail and curtail women’s growth by narrowing their space to home duties and chores. However, she does not give up and continues her pursuit. To conclude, the film presents Anna’s character as a dedicated female whose presence in action highlights the plight of cultural dynamism. Accordingly, the author uses such attributes to enable the audience to relate to contemporary issues about women and gender concerns. Anna manifests the hybrid type adapting to all challenges and meandering her way up to achieve life dreams. Thus, it is possible to break loose from all the socially perceived cultural barriers and norms to become a better person as a woman. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Changes and Principles of Adaptation Essay Table of Contents 1. Abstract 2. Introduction 3. Change is Insufficient 4. Principles of Adaptation 5. References Abstract There is a sudden embracing of change in every sector in our life. Global warming, corporate change in the advent of technology and change in the cultural setup of people. All these have begged many questions regarding dynamism. This paper tries to analyze the diverse perspectives regarding the change. Whether it brings about adaptation is one of them. It also looks at principles of effective change brought forth by different people and makes comparisons. Introduction Change has become the norm everywhere; people, organizations, governments, activists and even individuals are adapting to the dynamism that is everywhere. Glover, et al.(2002) in their contribution to the Organization Development Journal give principles of being adaptive and argue that change is not enough. This paper tries to analyze their arguments on this topic with comparison to others. Change is Insufficient Changing is one thing, adapting to it is another thing and coping with the overall transition presents an even bigger challenge. This seems to be the bottom line of part one of the Organization Development Journal by Glover, et al. (2002). They believe that some change initiatives are maladaptive than adaptive. A U.S Navy officer who underwent training of different kinds but saw no change is one perfect example. In their book, Leicester and O’hara (2009) argue, on the contrary, that change will bring adaptation. Once the change is there adaptation will present itself unknowingly or coercively. Global warming is one particular example. Since most people cook using firewood in third world countries, the vagaries of global warming are going to force a change or there will be no firewood anymore and unknowingly people are going to start using other forms of energy. The advent of the failure of some American companies has brought about the debate on conceptual emergency. The argument put forth by Leicester and O’hara (2009) is that changing the ownership of the companies and nationalizing them will make no difference because adaptation will present a whole new challenge. The people affected do not have to avert their investment orientations since adaptation to a new environment is a challenge (Trompenaars and Hampden-Turner, 2001). Principles of Adaptation Glover et al. (2002) put forth four principles of adapting to a new environment. Knowledge management is one of them is the process of identification, creation and representation strategies and practices. These are ways of doing things adopted in an organization to help them cope with the changes that may come their way and help new employees acclimatize (Northouse, 1997). They also suggest that being aware of the cultural setting is another tool for adapting to a new environment. For instance, it is illogical to sell pork in a Muslim environment. Therefore to be able to survive in a new setting the issue of the beliefs of the people must be considered, whether you are an individual or an organization that seeks to engage in business (Haeckel, 2002). To be an effective leader a person has to have the power to reap the best from the setting that he finds himself in as much as it is filled with multiple and diverse people. Reaping the best from diversity is the pillar upon which a prolific leader is founded. A country like Kenya has so many tribes and only one tribe from the Rift Valley province produces the glory that Kenya always basks in at the Olympics and other track events. Others have the capacity to do other things only if not led to disintegration like the one witnessed after the country’s general election in 2007 (Leicester and O’hara, 2009). An effective leader should also be able to see beyond the obvious and what is normal to everyone and scan the horizon for more. This is termed as adaptive vision and is argued by Glover, et al. (2002). This entails waiting for and predicting future conditions that affect the sustainability of the present or the future. References 1. Glover, J. et al. (2002). Adaptive leadership: when change is not enough: Four principles of being adaptive . Organization Development Journal, 20(7), 1-34. 2. Haeckel, S. (2002). Adaptive Enterprise. Boston: Harvard Business School Press. 3. Leicester, G., and O’hara, M. (2009). T en Things to do in a Conceptual Emergency. London: Oxford Press. 4. Northouse, P., (1997). Leadership: theory and practice . Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. 5. Trompenaars, F., and Hampden-Turner, C. (2001). 21 Leaders for the 21 st century. Oxford: Capstone. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
The Business Overview: A Short History of S&S Recycling 2. About the Service: Efficient Recycling Is What Matters 3. Concerning the Market Opportunity: Target Customers 4. Competition: Facing the Rivals 5. Competitive Advantage: The Secret Weapon The Business Overview: A Short History of S&S Recycling S&S Recycling is a company that collects recycled material and offers it to the companies that produce their goods from recycled resources. S&S Recycling is going to provide various companies with recycled material for further production. Offering only high-quality material, the company is bound to earn quite a reputation in the course of its service. About the Service: Efficient Recycling Is What Matters Focusing on recycling various materials that can be re-used in producing various items, S&S recycling offers the delivery of recycled materials. The company offers such materials as foam, pad, washers, dryers, refrigerators, water heaters, 100% nylon carpet, some metal, and aluminum items. It is essential to add that the items are sorted out into different collection bins, thus, saving the customers’ time and money. Collecting the material for free and providing free bins, S&S Recycling is a perfect service to choose for any company that deals with recycled materials. Concerning the Market Opportunity: Target Customers One of the most important tasks of the company is to define its target clientele. In the case of S&S Recycling, the preferred market is carper and furniture companies. On the one hand, when it comes to furniture and carpets production, recycling hardly seems the appropriate practice. However, when considering the issue a bit closer, one will find out that, to keep the world greener, it is necessary to use recycled material instead of wood, which means that S&S Recycling will be quite helpful in the given sphere. With such a slogan as “Helping the world stay green,” S&S Recycling will doubtlessly succeed in the chosen field. Competition: Facing the Rivals S&S Recycling is bound to be a huge success, mainly because the significance of recycling is emphasized so greatly nowadays. However, due to the importance of the issue, several similar companies offer their services to the target audience, which means that S&S is likely to face a lot of competition. According to the results of the recent market exploration, there is a company that offers similar services and is located.5 hours away from S&S Recycling. It must be admitted that the given entrepreneurship does look like a dangerous rival. However, these are not the local companies that S&S Recycling should beware, but the competition with individuals who also collect metal and scraps. Giving the latter to the junkyard for money, such people pose a serious threat to the S&S Recycling business. To make sure that these people will not hinder the business, the company needs to come up with the means to forestall the given individuals. Competitive Advantage: The Secret Weapon As it has been mentioned above, the competition rates are quite high in the given field. However, there are ways for S&S Recycling to prosper. The first advantage of the S&S to consider is the pricing policy. Offering the clients to clean the locations without any charge and providing free bins, S&S Recycling conducts a much more flexible policy than the rest of the companies. Even as the company passes the time test and establishes itself as a perfect service provider, the company policy concerning free bins and garbage collection will remain the same, attracting even more clients. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Introduction 2. Health Disparities 3. The variation in health indicators 4. Causes for the variations in the health indicators 5. How to eradicate health disparities 6. Conclusion 7. References Introduction Although the Millennium Development Goals from number four to seven address the issues of universal health care in the world, the issue on the causes of health disparities especially due to ethnic and racism is still a problem. Health Disparities Health disparities are the variations and frequent occurrences of deaths, diseases, or health problems in a particular group or population due to racism or ethnicity. The population may also be discriminated according to the gender, education status, level of income, and physical/emotional disability. The variation in health indicators There is a wide variation of health indicators between the whites and other minor races like the Africans, Indians, Latinos, Asians, and Hispanics in America. In comparison to the whites, the most hit minor races are African American and the Indians in America. Although the infant mortality rate in the U.S is relatively low, the number of African American infants who die each year still stands high doubling that of the whites. Africans who suffer and die from cardiovascular diseases are about 40% higher than the whites are, while African American cancer patients are 30% more than the whites are. Thus, the two commonest cancers; prostrate and breast; mainly affect Africans despite a similarity in the screening rates. In addition, deaths among African Americans from the HIV/AIDS pandemic are about seven times higher than in the whites (CDC, 2010). Finally, homicide cases in Africans remain high when compared to the whites. Diabetes, high blood pressure, tuberculosis, and obesity cases are high in Hispanic Americans than the whites. About 20% of T.B patients in the US are Hispanic. Additionally, infants born to Hispanic parents have low birth weight (CDC 2010 Par.4). The Indians in America also experience high mortality rates, diabetic cases and they record high number of deaths/injuries from accidents and homicides/suicides. However, Asians are the only minority group with good health in the US when compared to the whites. Unfortunately, women from the pacific island (Vietnam) record high cases of cervical cancer in the US. Causes for the variations in the health indicators The health disparity in the United States is due racial discrimination whereby the minority cannot readily access health services. For instance, the minority face obstacles in securing health insurance policies thus raising the cost of medical care. Due to high cost of treatment of chronic diseases, most of the patients succumb to death. Furthermore, the lack of quality education also denies the minority good employment opportunities, which leads to low income. Consequently, they will be unable to afford the essential commodities in life especially goods pertaining to health. Moreover, a healthy living is parallel to good health, therefore when the minority groups do not eat healthily; they become susceptible to most diseases leading to high mortality rates. Finally, the inability to eradicate racism and ethnicity in the U.S is the major cause of the health disparities. How to eradicate health disparities The eradication of racial/ethnic discrimination and promotion of equality in the US will allow the minority to access medication (Satcher, 2000, p.2864). Health providers should concentrate on the diseases/conditions that cause deaths while the US government should monitor closely the health of the minority groups. Conclusion The health disparity among the minority groups, especially the blacks, is the main problem, which has contributed to unequal healthcare accessibility in the U.S. but eradication of racism/ethnicity will solve the problem. References Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2010). National Center for Health Statistics, Minority Populations . Web. Satcher, D. (2000). Eliminating global health disparities. Journal of American Medical Association, 284 (22), 2864. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Introducing Math Concepts and Thinking for Students Essay Table of Contents 1. Introduction 2. Directions for Parents 3. Explanation 4. Resources 5. References Introduction Mathematics is a critical part of life; not only do we interact with numbers every day when we plan our expenses, keep score in games and sports, or follow a diet; many concepts, from the most advanced topics of science to music and cooking, can be expressed through math. Because of this, teaching math early creates a foundation on which children will be able to build new skills as they grow, learn and develop (Baroody, et al., 2019). This project is aimed at fostering an understanding of how math applies to day-to-day life and an appreciation for how it can help understand other subjects. In particular, it creates an opportunity to practice multiplication and division skills (Learning standard CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.3.OA.C.7) There are many situations in one’s daily life, professional skills, and hobbies where math, particularly multiplication and division, are important. By collecting these examples, put in a real life context, we expect to both help children develop an interest in various areas of life, as well as encourage them to see mathematics in the world around them. As you collect these examples, you will not only contribute to your child’s development, but also create educational and inspirational material that can be shared with other children. A narrative, or story, describing how mathematics help or is necessary in a particular job, hobby, or life situation, is more engaging than a series of abstract equations. Directions for Parents To achieve this goal, we urge parents to include mathematical principles and expressions to represent concepts and things with which children can interact. For example, a person’s age can be represented as “four times as old as Joey,” representing a multiplication problem. For children interested in music, concepts such as notation or tempo can be represented as mathematical expressions. Finally, common real-world applications of multiplication and division, such as determining prices, also make good examples. We encourage you to work with their skills and their children’s interests to create examples and narratives that are both realistic and interesting. Das, S. [@Sulakshana_dxb] (2018) Designing games…Math in everyday life… Math Day Fun [Tweet]. Twitter. Web. When creating a narrative, or story, there is no need to embellish any details or alter the facts. However, since these stories are aimed at children, please involve yours into the project. Sometimes, children are their own best teachers, and they can help guide your narrative to things they find interesting. Encourage them to take part in the process and work together to create stories that will be attractive to other children. Allow them to tell it in their words, draw illustrations, or ask questions to guide the narrative. These questions can also inspire interest in these subjects in other students. Explanation The aims of this project are not limited to introducing and reinforcing math concepts in students. It also aims help develop general mathematical thinking by attaching mathematical tasks to everyday activities, professional skills and hobbies. This approach turns math from an intimidating abstract academic activity into an approachable subject one uses in their daily life. Furthermore, by highlighting the math in many real-world applications, we aim to help children learn to apply it in their lives outside of academic settings, thus feeding into a holistic approach to early education (Hyson & Douglass, 2019). This approach provides a strong foundation on which the child will be able to develop academic and life skills as they grow and learn. Resources Different children approach math problems such as multiplication and division differently. Illustrative methods are helpful in teaching strategies to solve such problems and building students’ confidence in their emerging math skills. A selection of such methods for addition, subtraction, multiplication and division is available at https://www.understood.org/en/school-learning/learning-at-home/homework-study-skills/9-new-math-problems-and-methods You can take different approaches to teaching multiplication. Games and learning toys can be created from regular household items. You may find some ideas and suggestions on these approaches at https://www.weareteachers.com/22-fun-hands-on-ways-to-teach-multiplication/ References Baroody, A. J., Clements, D. H., & Sarama, J. (2019). Teaching and Learning Mathematics in Early Childhood Programs. In C. P. Brown, et al. (Eds.), The Wiley Handbook of Early Childhood Care and Education (pp. 329-355). John Wiley & Sons. Hyson, M. & Douglass, A. L. (2019). More than academics: Supporting the whole child. In C. P. Brown, et al. (Eds.), The Wiley Handbook of Early Childhood Care and Education (pp. 279-300). John Wiley & Sons. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Reasons for Academic Cheating Essay Introduction Cheating among student in collages is on the rife today and this is one of the serious challenging factors in most learning institution. According to the article written by Lawrence Himan, ‘How to Fight College Cheating’, he reports that about 74% of the students in colleges have accepted cheating in one or more of the several exams they undertake. He also reports that the evolution of electronic devices have made is possible for the students to accelerate cheating and this includes gadgets like cell phones and PDAs (Anderman, Eric, and Tamera 86). It should also be noted that various colleges are enacted punitive measures to help curb the menace of academic cheating. Failure in the academic paper, forfeiting of the degree course, and a poor recommendation for future jobs are some of the repercussions of cheating in colleges (Anderman, Eric, and Tamera 111). Thesis statement: Is academic cheating expected to be on the rise following the advancement made in the IT sector; Cell phones, I pads, and online assistance. The acquisition of the cell phones which is essentially used for communication has been turned into academic assistance gadget, the cell phones have been made in away that they are able to access internet and this has provided students with the easiest means of reaching useful information regarding academic writings. Student in most parts of the world have been found to engage cell phones widely in accessing information and pasting them in pretense that they are there own (Cizek 146). In this reference, most institutions have banned entrance of the exam room with any device that is internet enabled as this alone is tantamount to suspension as well as expulsion from studies in the institution (Cizek 177). In the other way, the student have used I pads to plagiarize their papers. With the assistance of this device, the students are able to access already similar papers in the various sites in the internet at a fee. Today several sites are on the internet and have presupposed on the possible various papers the students might be expected to give a write up on and do the papers in prior for the students to purchase (Davis, Patrick, and Tricia 123). This kind of arrangement has increased the complacency level among the students and most of the student wait and procrastinate until the last minute that they endeavor to beat deadlines. In this way, the students are able to submit papers not of their original work but in disguise (Davis, Patrick, and Tricia 158). Online assistance also plays a major role as it segments another huge their cases online to freelancers who then undertake to deliver the papers on the time indicated at a cost. The online assistance has equally made it possible for the student to keep postponing their program as they are assured of assistance even in the shortest deadline (Lathrop, and Kathleen 44). Technology has therefore made academic cheating very technical and no one can be apprehended of cheating as the source can not be ascertained. The learning institutions will therefore be forced to devise other methods that are equal to detecting even the far fetched academic cheating sourced even from the online assistance otherwise, the war against academic cheating will remain a mirage. The question one may ask is, why do student cheat in exams?, the possible answers for the question may be as follows; most of the student are paid for the studies by the parents, this scenario makes it obvious for the parent to exert certain pressure form the students to reciprocate by giving viable grades that commensurate the fees paid for the students for their studies. The students are on the other hand have to yield for the pressure and the easiest way of enabling this is by cheating in the examination. Procrastination is another reason as to why the students do involve themselves in academic cheating, in the colleges; the students get to be carried away with other extra-curriculum activities that are not linked to academic work taking place in the collages (Lipson 92). In this case, the students get to be ambushed with the examinations and thus resort academic cheating. The students in a bid to keep cheating at a bay should then balance their time in collages to sit both of their requirements appropriately. Finally, the students find it easier to engage in cheating at the expense of doing the real academic work (Spiegel, and Bernard 142). This is detrimental academically as it shutters the dream of the individual professionally as they will not be endowed with academic wealth as opposed to those who honestly earn their grades. The act of cheating also inculcate the sense of no confidence in an individual owing to the fact that they are aware that their earned grades are not their own. This low self esteem has also impacted negatively on the student in their various place of employment and this has resulted into high cases of doubt by the employees in some student and sometimes this leads to degradation of institutional status. Works Cited Anderman, Eric M., and Tamera Burton Murdock. Psychology of academic cheating . Amsterdam: Elsevier Academic Press, 2007. Print. Cizek, Gregory J. Cheating on tests: how to do it, detect it, and prevent it . Mahwah, N.J.: L. Erlbaum Associates, 1999. Print. Davis, Stephen F., Patrick F. Drinan, and Tricia Gallant. Cheating in school: what we know and what we can do . Chichester, U.K.: Wiley-Blackwell, 2009. Print. Lathrop, Ann, and Kathleen Foss. Student cheating and plagiarism in the Internet era: a wake-up call . Englewood, Colo.: Libraries Unlimited, 2000. Print. Lipson, Charles. Doing honest work in college: how to prepare citations, avoid plagiarism, and achieve real academic success . 2nd ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2008. Print. Spiegel, Patricia, and Bernard E. Whitley. Academic dishonesty . Mahwah, N.J.: L. Erlbaum, 2001. Print. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Planning in Business and Project Management Essay Why planning is important for businesses? Such a project as introducing a new product will benefit from the existence of a thorough plan. While planning, the project manager outlines the major aims of the project, i.e., to make the product known. When there is a specific aim, it is easy to understand what exactly is necessary to achieve the goal. It is easy to identify certain steps to reach the goal, e.g., identify advantages of the product, identify the target audience, develop an advertising campaign, etc. Having specific steps to undertake will help remain consistent and nothing will be missed. It is also easy to understand when and what went wrong, which can help diminish possible negative effects. Finally, it is possible to evaluate the effectiveness of the project as well as the effectiveness of the plan and to make some changes if necessary to be able to use the plan in other projects. Implementation of the plan on how to improve sales in the coming quarter Firstly, I will make sure all the stakeholders are aware of the plan and the major goals. Secondly, I will also make sure all people involved know exactly what to do. Thirdly, I will develop a form of a brief report, which will be completed at certain stages. Furthermore, there will be several checkups to understand whether all deadlines can be met. Finally, I will evaluate each stage, and I will make some changes in further stages if necessary. Five tools important in planning First, communication is essential in planning. All stakeholders should take part in this process as each employee or department is aware of the peculiarities of certain tasks. Besides, motivation is very important. Each employee should understand the benefits of the project implementation. Understanding goals may not be enough, and such stimuli as promotion, bonuses, etc., may be helpful. Availability of information is crucial as employees should have all the necessary data to develop a plan. While planning, it is important to take risks into account. Thus, risk management is an important part of planning in any business. Finally, it is also important to remember that any plan may need changes, so it is necessary to be able to make the changes at any stage of planning or implementation of the plan. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Nationalism in the Context of Globalization Essay Table of Contents 1. Introduction 2. Main body 3. Conclusion 4. Works Cited Introduction The modern world is becoming increasingly globalized, reflected in how major businesses, markets, and economies merge into a large international arena of interests, demands, and supplies. The same principle can be observed in social and political aspects since one nation’s goals, and interests are ultimately intertwined with the globe. Thus, nations are imagined communities, whereas states are politico-social, and globalization is antagonized by nationalism. Main body It is important to understand the idea of nationalism through the relationship between the concepts of state and nation. The first major concept, which can be used to further the overall comprehension of these concepts, is Benedict Anderson’s nation-states called imagined communities. The historian and scholar challenged the idea of nationhood by stating that it is mostly arbitrary and comprised of similar binding forces, such as city-states. It is stated that certain elements “were central to a sense of “nation-ness”—imagining, restoring, remembering, dreaming” (Bergholz 519). In other words, nations are a group of individuals who share a sense of communion despite not knowing each other. The whole notion is tied to the foundation of statehood, which led to the development of nationhood (Bergholz 520). In other words, nations are imagined, but states are the primary drivers of such arbitrary bonding. Therefore, a nation is mostly psycho-cultural, whereas states are political-legal because the former is comprised of common history, religion, language, land, and culture, whereas the latter consists of government, territory, population, and sovereignty. Globalization is currently the major force of changes and shifts in the international landscape, which is constantly leaving its mark on national cultures, national economies, and national benefits. It is stated that “while the global era denotes a cosmopolitan vision, economic insecurity, growing inequality in wealth distribution, as well as cultural change and shifts in traditional values and norms have brought about a broader concern that globalization” (Flew and Iosifidis 7). The main reason is due to the fact that globalization “is associated with a shift of power to transnational elites, whose impact upon common people’s lives and experiences is not fully acknowledged” (Flew and Iosifidis 7). In other words, the crisis of citizenship is rooted in the notion of the disappearance of elements that comprise a nation. National cultures are becoming global, and people are no longer contained in a state since it is easier to relocate and immigrate. Economies are no longer isolated because transnational companies can operate in several nations at once. Even political and legal elements are becoming multinational, such as the EU. However, nationalism serves as a force of resistance against globalization. It is stated that “social protection has an ’embedded nationalism’ effect, awakening worries that globalization may undermine hard-won provisions, thereby deepening anti-globalization” (Rathgeb and Busemeyer 50). In other words, the erosion of many elements, which comprise a nation, resulted in nationalism becoming more antagonistic to global shifts by focusing on emphasizing the importance of culture, economy, and identity. Populism spread the message of unity within a nation and isolationism from foreigners (Flew and Iosifidis 7). It does so by highlighting the inequalities and injustices of globalization. Conclusion In conclusion, nations and states are interconnected, but they mean different notions. Nations are people with common elements, and states are political-legal entities. Globalization threatens nationalism by eliminating these elements, which is why nationalism fights back with the use of populism, national identity, and culture. Works Cited Bergholz, Max. “Thinking the Nation: Imagined Communities: Reflections on the Origin and Spread of Nationalism, by Benedict Anderson.” The American Historical Review , vol. 123, no. 2, 2018, pp. 518–528. Flew, Terry, and Petros Iosifidis. “Populism, Globalisation and Social Media.” International Communication Gazette , vol. 82, no. 1, 2020, pp. 7–25. Rathgeb, Philip, and Marius R. Busemeyer. “How to Study the Populist Radical Right and The Welfare State?” West European Politics , vol. 45, no. 1, pp. 1-23. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
The department of labor is in charge of enforcing these federal laws. The law that greatly affects the compensation plan of firms is the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act (FECA). This law is concerned with compensation for workers who are exposed to death or injury during their duties. This law provides compensation for loss of wages due to injury, disability, or death. The compensation package involves covering all medical and rehabilitation costs for the injured party. A person who is injured during the performance of their duties at the workplace is entitled to proper compensation. The contractor who has employed us should be notified of the injury within 30 days of the occurrence of that injury. The person who has been injured resulting in partial disability and cannot earn any income should fill forms provided by the labor department. One of the relevant examples of an injury that can occur during the performance of duties is falling down a staircase. It can cause a very serious injury to an employee. They will be given compensation if they are federal employees and will have to follow all the necessary procedures to claim for compensation. There are more than enough laws guiding the total compensation of employees. The government should come up with a few concrete laws that have no loopholes in them. The laws, which affect compensation include state laws, federal laws, tax laws, and local employment laws. All these laws work in a way that will govern the amount an employee gets in terms of benefits, total pay, and deductions. The Fair Labor Standards Act is the law, which widely affects the compensation of employees. This law applies to all employers. It addresses the issues of minimum wages, equal pay, payment of overtime, keeping of proper records, and the matter of child labor. From my point of view, such a comprehensive law should dig deeper it should prevent us from having laws, such as the Equal Pay Act. The Fair Labor Standards Act should contain this. Many of the laws regulating compensation are mostly repetitive and do not cover the topic fully. It is what has prompted the repetition of these laws repeatedly under different topics. Employees should read many laws that affect them. It enables a smooth running between employees and employers. It should not be the case because many employers may use the ignorance of employees by showing them clauses in areas that are unexpected. It will result in a conflict between employers and employees (Martocchio, 2002). The law guides the compensation for employees. A company has to take into account all the provisions in the law when coming up with a strategic compensation plan. The compensation plan should enable the company to attract quality employees, have low employee turnover, and offer employees rewards for their work. The laws in this country are somehow bloated with the rules that should be followed when coming up with a compensation plan. The majority of employers claim that employees have proper knowledge of the laws that manage their remuneration and compensation. With these laws and policies communicated clearly to employees, no unfair labor practices are bound to occur in that firm. Many firms have these laws and policies signed by the employees that have understood what is expected of them. It reduces any wrongful practices. References Martocchio, J. J. (2002). Strategic Compensation: A Human Resource Management Approach . Mason: Prentice Hall. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Executives’ Pay and Rewards in the US Auto Industry Case Study Introduction Rewards offered to employees in most organizations are based on their roles and performance at their place of work. The rewards are determined by the decisions made by the management with regards to the kind of work assigned to each of the employees. Rewards take different dimensions. They include salaries and bonuses offered to the workers. All these elements are determined by the management. The benefits vary in terms of rank and the position occupied by the employee in the organization. In addition, they do vary from one firm to the other. It is noted that CEOs and members of the executive earn more than the other employees. However, some critics argue that the rewards given to these officers should be reduced (Snell, Morris, & Bohlander, 2015). In this paper, the author will review a case study of the rewards given to CEOs in the American auto industry. The questions are related to the case study titled “United States auto industry back on to of CEO pay”. Among others, the paper will analyze whether or not the executives are worth the pay packages they receive. The arguments put forth by Peter Drucker and the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act will also be reviewed. A Case Study of Executives in the American Auto Industry Chief Executive Officers and other Corporate Executives Deserve the Large Pay Packages they Receive Decision making is the major determinant of success in any business. The decisions are part of the innovative ideas brought forth by the executives and the CEOs of any organization. Ensuring the success of the business through improved management of resources in an organization is the major responsibility of the executives and the CEOs. According to Snell et al. (2015), executives have the power to turn around the business and maximize profits. A case in point is the performance of the executives in the American auto industry. For example, Allan Mullally of Ford turned around the profits of the company. His efforts earned him $56.5 million worth of stock. Under his watch, the shares of the company increased from $1.56 million to $14 million (Snell et al., 2015). The corporate executives deserve the large pay packages they receive. The reason is that they put a lot of effort into the organization to make it grow. It is also indicated that the performance threshold is a major aspect of the pay plan offered to employees. As such, an executive who works to uplift the company deserves more pay (Snell et al., 2015). Another factor justifying the hefty benefits offered to CEOs and executives is that the organization cannot afford to lose a skilled and performing manager. Losing such an employee to the competition will dent the performance of the firm. Peter Drucker is Right: The Pay of Corporate Executives should be Regulated According to Peter Drucker, the compensation package offered to corporate executives should be pegged on the pay of hourly workers. I agree with this argument. The reason is that in most instances, the amount of resources utilized by organizations is directly proportional to the output. In this regard, it is reasonable to argue that the overall performance of a firm relies on the number of resources and the efforts put in place. Human resource management, which is a major determinant of the performance of the business, is a major function of the CEO (Snell et al., 2015). As such, the recruitment and management of employees reflect the outputs desired by the executives. In spite of the critical role played by the CEOs, the economic strain associated with their wage bills makes it important to regulate their compensation packages. To this end, their rewards should be determined by the ‘hourly pay-off’. The aim is to balance and regulate the offers provided to all employees. When this happens, the organization will ensure that other employees do not demand unreasonable packages, which may be unsustainable (Snell et al., 2015). The Impacts of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act on Executive Pay The Dodd-Frank Act is one of the most important legislations in the human resource field. It shields firms from the inflated salaries offered to executives in the corporate sector (Snell et al., 2015). The act is likely to influence the size of packages offered to executives in the future. The legislation gives the shareholders a right to determine the salaries of CEOs through a vote. It gives the shareholders the authority to approve the rewards given to the management team. Consequently, the act will have significant impacts on the size of the packages offered to the CEOs. According to Snell et al. (2015), all the firms listed on the securities market are required by law to disclose the salary of its employees. In light of this, the shareholders are expected to determine the rewards offered to the executives. As such, conflicts with the auditing and regulatory bodies are averted. It is also noted that the accounting standards require companies to record stock options for purposes of creating financial statements. The statements should not be manipulated as they are used during auditing. Conclusion Corporate executives and CEOs determine the success or failure of a business. As such, they should be given attractive packages to motivate them and improve their performance. However, as noted in the case study analyzed in this paper, the system of assigning the packages should be controlled. When this happens, all the employees can benefit from the success of the firm. Reference Snell, S., Morris, S., & Bohlander, G. (2015). Managing human resources (17th ed.). Mason, OH.: South-Western College Publishers. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Race, Gender and Socially Constructed Rules Essay Race and gender are intrinsic traits of society and should not be considered either strictly biological or solely socially constructed. Both race and gender, or biological sex, have well-defined biological manifestations. Women differ from men in many physical aspects, while members of different races have their own unique physical characteristics. Thus, it can be argued that sex and race stem from biology. However, as most people in the world live in communities and belong to broader society, these notions also accumulate socially constructed characteristics. Throughout the centuries, the view on women and their place in society changed significantly in most countries. However, in some Muslim countries, including Saudi Arabia, women are still viewed as the property of their families and are not allowed some freedoms that men have (Lacey, 2011). This attitude towards women should not be viewed as strictly biological or strictly social but rather a combination of two. The culture and the religious influences condition this behavior, but biology also plays a substantial role. Considering prompt B, I believe the long-term employee does not have a valid point in claiming that their Mediterranean ancestry and natural biological impulses prevent them from trying to court the new employee. I agree that their age, biology, and culture have contributed to a specific worldview being formed. However, society also constructs certain rules that people should observe. The freedom of one person ends, where the liberty of another begins. I would argue that the long-term employee infringes on the freedom of the new person in the company. Their heritage should not be used as an excuse for unacceptable behavior. Furthermore, a workplace is not an appropriate place for courting, and such unwarranted attention can prevent the new employee from performing their best. I would argue that with this excuse, the long-term worker disregards the socially constructed rules of the country and their place of employment. Reference Lacey, R. (2011). The precarious modernity of Saudi Arabia [Video]. YouTube. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Introduction 2. Optoelectronics 3. Fiber Optics 4. Conclusion 5. References Introduction Optical storage is a type of tertiary storage, which comes after a computer’s RAM and Hard Disk. CDs and DVDs are two types of Optical storage, which are low cost, removable, optical storage media. Hard disks are fixed storage within the computer. This is the usual concept whereas there are people who use optical storage similar to hard disks by fixing them inside the computer and thereby making them secondary memory. Optical storage is different from magnetic storage like magnetic tapes, hard disks and floppy disks, and flash memory that makes use of electrical charges. Optical storage media come in various forms depending upon the material, storage size and technology however it is much cheaper than other storage devices. Though hard disk can store large amount of data, it is not considered conveniently movable due to its size and since it is wired to components inside the computer. Optical media is very convenient and has higher recording compactness than other storage media yet they cannot replace a hard disk due to capacity constraint. CDs, DVDs, Laserdiscs, HD-DVDs, Blu-Ray discs etc are some of the popular existing and upcoming optical storage media. According to their usability / reusability the currently used optical media can be categorized as – DVD-ROM, DVD-Video, CD-ROM and CD which are read only (ROM means Read Only Memory); the write-once DVD-R and CD-R (R means Recordable), which use Write Once Read Many (WORM) technology; and DVD-RAM (RAM means Random Access Memory), CD-RW and DVD-RW which are re-writable(RW means Rewritable). CDs are the most widely used optical storage media. A laser ray touching the surface of the CD accesses the data in it. Phase-change disk, which is a sub-type of optical disks, uses a substance that can solidify into either a crystal or some formless shape. Rewritable media such as DVD-RWs and CD-RWs are usually made of Phase-change disks. Magneto-optic disks are composed of magnetic recordable substance but utilize optical technology like laser to write the data (Optical Storage: The Basics). Optoelectronics All machines and tools dependent on light come under Optoelectronics. Thus optical storage devices and fiber optics are covered under Optoelectronics (What is optoelectronics). Technically Optoelectronics is the blend of microelectronics and photonics. When they combine, they have the power to create, transfer and control data at exceptional rates. Optoelectronics has become a vital part of Information Technology, Communication and Entertainment businesses. Optical fibre is becoming more popular due to its low cost, weight, data loss and scattering and with the invent of optical fiber amplifier, it is being widely used in local networks and as compressed packaging substitute for electronic equipments. Optoelectronics packaging characterize a key-enabling technology for a broad range of electronic merchandise such as CD players, faxes, DVD players, LCD displays, LAN routers, Digital cameras, laptops, high performance computers, scanners and CD ROMs. A very common use for Optical fiber is for routing a DVD player’s digital audio output to an amplifier’s digital video input. Optoelectronic system consists of an electrical conductor, light emitting sources such as Light Emitting Diode (LED) or Laser Diode (LD), light transmission medium which includes course-plotting and coupling components and channels such as waveguide, free space or optical fiber, light detectors such as photodiode, photo transistors or photo conductors, and amplifiers such as lenses and diffractive components and electrical receiver (Tummala, 2001). Fiber Optics Fiber Optic cables transfer data through small wires at the speed of light. Radically different from copper cables, fiber optics present high data broadcast rates over extended distances due to high bandwidths and low attenuation. Light transmits via fibre cables in concurrence with the theory of total internal reflection. There are 3 types of fibre optics which are commonly used – single-mode, multi-mode and graded-index the use of which will depend upon the requirement. Fibre optic amplifiers have contributed to its extensive use in the field of long distance data transfer and voice communication. Fibre optics is also used in military, medical, scanning, sensing and imaging applications and fibre optic illumination (Azzawi, 2006). Conclusion Fibre optics and Optical storage devices have changed the phase of data transfer and storage, communication and medical treatment extensively. The hard disk data can be conveniently carried in a single or set of DVDs which may or may not be modified. It has proven to be a far more convenient and cost effective method of data storage and backup media. With fibre optics being widely used in local and wide area networks, data and voice communication has become less expensive and more reliable. The optical cables weigh much less than the earlier copper cables and the attenuation rate is also far lesser. With the invent and development of laser in 1960s, Optoelectronics have developed to such an extent that it has become an integral part of IT, communication, entertainment, military, security and more importantly medical usages. Scanning and Laser correction are the most important aspects of present medical treatment which owes a lot to the development of Optoelectronics. References 1. Azzawi. A.A. 2006. Fiber Optics: Principles and Practices. Boca Raton: CRC Press. 2. Optical Storage: The Basics . (online). Web. 3. Tummala, R.R. 2001. Fundamentals of Microsystems Packaging. New York: McGraw-Hill Professional 4. What is optoelectronics . (online). Web. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
It is a real sensation and one of the longest-running musicals on the American Broadway stage. “A Chorus Line” is the winner of the nine Tony Awards, in such nominees as the “Pulitzer Prize” for drama and “Best Musical.” In order to better understand the roots of this musical, it is necessary to remember the “Dark Age,” generally known as the ’70s. It might be associated with the burnt–orange and wide-lapelled leisure suit, shoes with the two-tone platform, and big gold chains. It was a time of Gremlin cars, glance photos, Leo Sayer, and “Charlie’s Angels.” Nowadays, “A Chorus Line” is back. From the high coign point of retrospect, it is actually hard to believe that this musical bested dark-hearted masterpiece – “Chicago” of Kander and Ebb, and “Pacific Overtures” of Sondheim for a best musical Tony. Musical’s deep confessional tone and really shocking disclosing about sex, childhood trauma, and also about the freaks of showbiz seem so, well, old 1975. Recently appeared new national wide touring production of the musical “A Chorus Line,” which already opened on Thursday at the Los Angeles’ Ahmanson Theatre. This musical was directed by Bob Avian. He closely worked with Michael Bennett on his famous choreography for the previous original production. These led the “A Chorus Line’s” 2006 Broadway revival to be considered by many as a worthy assignee. It directly reproduced the show’s then – the novel’s written conception, with its incredible backstage story, intimate and also painful told by striving dancers, and strong reveal of the grimmer sides of show business. These all are told on a stage free of anything save a gathering of revolving upstage mirrors. The touring musical brings along just two of the picked members from the Broadway renewal. They are Michael Gruber as Zach, the Svengali – “with – a – heart-of-gold” director who actually puts the auditioning dancing people through their life paces. There is talent affluence in this musical, notably Emily Fletcher, who plays angry and aggressive Sheila, also Natalie Hall, who plays Val. But there are also some big weaknesses in key roles. Nikki Snelson does not have enough dancing skills to make Cassie’s “I just wanna dance” solo indeed leap off the musical’s stage. Gabrielle Ruiz, who plays Diana, “the Bronx bombshell with a voice as big as her attitude,” does not actually have the needed pipes to knock “What I Did for Love” right out of the park. She has some problems with the timbre. As for Gruber, he captures Zach’s “laserlike” drive, but he is too aristocratic to be a “cutthroat” choreography director in the Jerome Robbins vein. The greatest difficulty to enjoying this musical, though, is the annoying weaknesses of the story. Here rises a question about why Zach grills everybody from the sound booth about their darkest fears and childhood while his voice is booming a sort of some power-mad. All these raise the following question if there is a needed “method acting” to make a good kick-step line. The audience never knows the show they are working on; what they get are repeated variations of Marvin Hamlisch’s signature song called “One.” It might seem from the first view that the audience knows what this story of a small and conflicted man – Paul will be from that moment when they see him for the first time. Nevertheless, Kevin Santos is able to bring certain pathos to this character without stretching out the musical. What is the best of “A Chorus Line” is the choreography of the well-known late Mr. Bennett. Restaged by Baayork Lee, this dancing captures the bravura of Bennett. He mixed coiled sexual energy of Fosse with the classiness of Robbins – and, thus, he died too young. It should be outlined that “A Chorus Line” musical is a certain fitting, if flawed, legacy. Works Cited Adler, Steven. On Broadway: Art and Commerce on the Great White Way. Carbondale, IL: Southern Illinois University Press, 2004. Hischak, Thomas S. Stage It with Music: An Encyclopedic Guide to the American Musical Theatre. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1993. Wren, Celia. “Without Missing a Step: ‘A Chorus Line’ Returns to Broadway.” Commonweal. 2008. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Interpersonal Style Inventory Test Results Essay Table of Contents 1. Introduction 2. Improving communication skills 3. Conclusion 4. Reference Introduction An effective communicator must possess five interpersonal components (Agarwal, 2010). The components are sufficient self-concept, the capability to be a fine listener, the ability to articulate one’s opinions and ideas evidently, and the ability to reveal oneself to other people honestly and freely. In the past few years, several research systems and plans have been created in the field of interpersonal communication. One of the methods involves the use of interpersonal communication survey inventory. The interpersonal communication style inventory tries to calculate common inclinations in interpersonal communication. The survey can be employed as a psychotherapeutic tool, as an education kit, as an enhancement for an interview, by management, or in researches. The inventory can aid an individual to recognize the attributes that arise as he or she interrelates with anyone. If individuals recognize more about their characters, they will be able to find out how they can associate with other individuals with ease and come up with wiser decisions. In this article, the results of my Interpersonal communication style inventory test are analyzed. Improving communication skills After reading through my results and thinking back on my overall course progress, I learned that active listening is a crucial skill an individual can ever aspire to possess. I learned that how people pay attention has a huge impact on the effectiveness of their daily activities and their relations with other individuals. As such, active listening can enable us to obtain accurate information, understand the facts, and learn new ideas (Agarwal, 2010). Concerning my test results, I earned 28 scores in section one, 25 scores in section two, 26 scores in section three, and 21 scores in section four. Cumulatively, I earned 100 scores in the whole test. This implies that I am a skilled active listener. As indicated in the inventory, moderate MBA students score way below my marks. Thus, I have benefitted a lot from my communication classes. At the beginning of this course, I had many communication issues. I have managed to tackle and improve on these issues by doing a lot of researches and exercise on how to better my skills. I believe that my enthusiasm has paid off. Despite this success, I acknowledge that I still have enormous tasks to ensure that I perfect my active listening skills to the desired level. Conclusion Based on my scores, I earned 28 marks in my first section. The results indicate that I am above average student concerning avoiding interruptions. As such, the marks indicate that I let my respondents complete their statements before interrupting. In the second section, I earned 25 points. As in the first section, this section indicates that I am above the average student concerning maintain interest. I have mastered how to attract the respondent’s interest. The art has enhanced my intercommunication skills to a great extent. In the third section, I scored 26 marks. Based on these results, it is apparent that I have a high tendency to keep an open mind and avoid evaluating my respondents’ remarks until they are complete with their statements. Like the previous section, I am above an average MBA student concerning postponing evaluation. In the last section, I earned 21 marks. The marks were the least compared with the other results. Thus, I have to enhance my skills in organizing information. Reference Agarwal, O. P. (2010). Effective communication . Mumbai : Himalaya Pub. House. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
How Setting Affects Reader’s Impression of Poems Essay The setting is an essential part of any story as it helps readers explore the context and provides authors with a space to add details critical for delivering the point of their view. Descriptive sentences about locations, scapes, and scenes often influence a reader’s impression, making the characters’ actions more understandable. Setting in poems and stories can strengthen a conflict or brighten the emotional aspect of the narrative (Carbery, 2019). Indeed, Whitman’s “I Hear America Singing” includes multiple scenes, and they are vital to correctly perceive the author’s message about the American triumph. This paper aims to discuss how a poem’s setting affects readers’ impression and understanding of its central point. Poetry is the lyric genre where emotional context is more crucial than the characters’ actions. Consequently, the setting becomes a tool for making readers feel what the author wanted to tell in their poems. Whitman’s poem describes Americans of different professions, and locations play a valuable role in emphasizing the hopeful mood of the working nation (Whitman, 2017). The places mentioned in “I Hear America Singing” are rather abstract and tied to the citizens’ jobs. The poem includes boats, streets, carpenters’ services, shoemakers’ benches, and other locations that a reader can imagine by reading about the actions people perform (Whitman, 2017). The same activity, such as signing, is an important detail to consider because it shows that people experience the same mood regardless of what they are doing. Moreover, the context of unity can be understood through the absence of specific states, counties, or other locations (Carbery, 2019). Whitman tailors the message that everyone is singing and helps the reader feel the nation’s triumph. The settings affect the reader’s impression of the poem, making it more emotional and addressing the context of the historical period it describes. Whitman includes multiple scenes in “I Hear America Singing,” emphasizing the uplifting mood’s wideness (Whitman, 2017). It makes the reader feel that the entire nation, regardless of social status, job, or gender, is full of hopes for the prosperity America strives for. Whitman (2017) wrote that “the delicious singing of the mother, or the young wife at work, or of the girl sewing or washing, each singing what belongs to him or her and none else.” These lines include three settings that lead a reader to the impression that women of all ages and roles enjoy their life and work to help their nation thrive. Furthermore, scenes are described through actions, making the poem more dynamic and interesting to read. A poem’s setting is crucial for making the right impression on a reader, and the authors use it to deliver their message correctly. In “I Hear America Singing,” Whitman does not include any particular descriptions of places, yet makes them clear by creating dynamic scenes of people doing their jobs. As different professions require unique settings, and the citizens are united by singing, a reader understands the hopeful and triumphal mood of the entire nation. Whitman also helps develop the right impression by eliminating mentions of certain states or cities. Combined with describing the activities of people in various professions, men, women, and children, the setting reveals the context of the prosperous period of American history. The dynamic scenes of citizens doing their jobs and singing in various places nationwide make a reader understand the main point correctly and create the right impression of triumph. References Carbery, M. (2019). Coming to terms with the American long poem: Introduction. In Phenomenology and the Late Twentieth-Century American Long Poem (pp. 1-35). Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. Web. Whitman, W. (2017). I hear America singing . Poetry Foundation . Web. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Process and Secular Theological Schools of Thought Essay Theology refers to the rational and systematic study of religion and the factors that influence religion. There are two schools of thought that aptly define theology; process theology and secular theology. Different theologians have based their philosophies on either of these two categories. This paper will address the connection between process theology and the thoughts of theologian Paul Tillich. Additionally, the paper will discuss secular theology and the relation it has with the philosophy of Bonhoeffer. Finally, the paper will discuss the validity of the views on God as presented in process theology and secular theology. Process theology, refers to the school of thought that was developed by Alfred North Whitehead. It is therefore greatly influenced by his philosophy of metaphysical processes. Process theology considers God to be fully involved in temporal processes. Additionally, the theory supposes that God is affected by such temporal processes. The traditional notion of theism differs from process theory in several ways. First it suggests that God is eternal and unaffected by temporal processes (non-temporal). It also suggests that God is immutable (does not change), impassable and not affected by temporal processes. However, process theory does not completely deny the fact that God possesses aspects of immutability and impassibility. However, it does not concur with the classical view that suggests the temporality and mutability of God (Grenz and Olson 1993). Paul Tillich, a Christian existentialist philosopher expresses two sentiments about the nature of God. To begin with, Tillich suggests that God is a ‘being’ and that God is the ultimate concern for man. Tillich views the ultimate concern as a means of describing the greatest commandment of all; “the Lord our God, the Lord is one; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with your entire mind and with all your strength.” According to him, this commandment requires the complete devotion and dedication of man to God. Secular theology is a theological school of thought that combines both theology and secularism. It goes against the idea that holiness can only be attained through the church. It suggests that people can attain holiness through other avenues that are worldly and have nothing to do with the church. It is advanced by several theological philosophers such as John Shelby Spong, Soren Kierkegaard and Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Secular theology supports a nuanced view of the scripture rather than the blatant biblical literalism proposed by the church. However, it argues that the nuanced approach be accompanied by compassion and scholarship which are consistent with Christian values and an understanding of the universe. Secular theology argues that it is no longer credible to consider theism as a valid means of conceiving the nature of God. Furthermore, it denounces the idea of a personal God. It however accepts Christology, Jesus Christ and eschatology as myths in Christianity, however, without a historical basis. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, one of the major secular theologians, argued that, “the world had come of age” and that it was time for, ‘a religion less Christianity.’ In relation to secular theology, such ideas suggested the end of pious religiousness. Pious, theological words could no longer be used to inform people about everything. Therefore, according to Bonhoeffer, the task at hand was to lead a Christ-like life, as if God did not exist (Hordern, 2002). Secular theology supposes the inexistence of the supernatural while process theology supposes the existence of the metaphysical. Proponents of process theology believe in the omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent nature of God. However, according to secular theologians, the idea of God is untenable. Due to the lack of a common ground between the two schools of thought, the debate on the nature and existence of God continues to rage on. References Grenz, S. J., & Olson, R. E. (1993). 20th-Century Theology: God & the World in a Transitional Age. Westmont, IL: InterVarsity Press. Hordern, W. E. (2002). A Layman’s Guide to Protestant Theology . Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock Pub. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Teens notoriously join a criminal lot to gain esteem and identification either in school or within their social circles. This is mostly combined with individuals who are seeking consideration or lack the joint closeness at home. They contend that it enables them fit in the neighborhood, and gives a rationale in life. People join banned gangs early in life when they are probing for self. Joining a gang thus gives them an opportunity to find out more about themselves and showcase their abilities. Unfortunately, there are some who connect to it as a form of rebellion against parents or the administration, while some are plainly curios. There are other children who are threatened, or are weak and so join such organizations to achieve security. Racism and poverty have also coerced kids to join such groups. Poverty may designate an individual to adhere to a criminal union in order to make money. This will enable them meet their corporeal and emotional needs, hence develop delight. When a section of the society is denied some privileges, they resort to forming traditional unions, which will uphold their cause. Do you believe the Juvenile Justice system should support gang summits that claim to be working toward peaceful, lawful ways to improve the situation of gang members? It is tolerable to allow children join such groups as long as their ambitions are constructive. Some groups encourage their members and bring out the best of their talents. Such groups help juveniles develop in a healthy environment in which they can discover their potentials. Gang summits which employ prevention and intrusion approaches to improve the situation of gang members should be supported. Such organizations take a stand in reducing the patterns and levels of gang activities. They identify the reasons why kids think of joining such groups, for example, substandard parenting or poverty, and formulate necessary measures to stop them. The established gang members, who may be in such associations because they are broke, are offered substitute sources of pay and rehabilitative measures which better their future Should the police be in the schools as a crime prevention method? Why or why not? The. presence of justice enforces reduces temptations to commit a crime to a certain extent. Crime prevention basically entails the police being aware that a crime would occur, predict its form, know its location, and take measures to reduce its incidence. A wrong-doer must have the craving, aptitude and opportunity to commit an offense. While the enthusiasm and talent of one may not be barricaded, having no opportunity significantly reduces misdeeds. However, there are other methods of preventing crime in schools. Effective methods can be through offering children with incentives for finishing school or otherwise endowing them with job skills. Joe, a 13-year-old White male, has been apprehended by a police officer for stealing a bicycle. Joe took the bicycle from the school grounds shortly after a program at the school by the police on “Bicycle Theft Prevention.” Joe admits to taking the bicycle, but says he only intended to “go for a ride” and was going to return the bicycle later that day. Joe has no prior police contacts that the officer is aware of. The bicycle has been missing for only an hour and is unharmed. What should the officer do in handling the incident? The validity of Joe’s statement cannot be established unless the setting of the fictitious misconduct is established. Many cycles are stolen because they are not kept under lock. The administrator must thus determine where the bike was stolen from and whether it was locked. Do you think the bicycle theft prevention program is worthwhile? Why or why not? The investments in the theft prevention program have not been productive as crime levels still continue to grow and offenders are not efficiently rehabilitated. It would be difficult to stop criminals from engaging in bicycle theft; more emphasis should therefore be placed in educating the owners on how to prevent theft. Removing the bicycle seat or a tire usually discourages would-be-offenders. References Hess, K. (2009). Juvenile justice. Belmont: cengage learning. Krisberg, B. (2005). Juvenile justice: redeeming our children . London: SAGE. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
E-learning as an Integral Part of Education System Report Education as such is recognized as one of the basic necessities for the overall growth of the individual and society. It is considered a fundamental human right, as explained in the United Nation’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Human Rights Covenants. The traditional system of education has been catering to the needs of the society for centuries. But when it was found that the demand and supply gap is widening in this field, educationists started exploring other viable means of delivering education. Online education is one such mode in which education is delivered at the doorsteps of the student. Technological advancement plays crucial role in this mode of education. Over time, the approach of looking at the means of education has changed a lot. Now computers and internet are considered very much as an integral part of education system. E-learning is another term describing this form of education. Key features of online education are; * Asynchronous mode of learning: In a classroom teaching-learning environment, if for some reason, a student is not able to attend the class; s/he misses the day’s lecture. But in online education system, student can access the lessons whenever s/he has time for it. Therefore this kind of education system is also suitable for a working professional, who wishes to acquire higher education or wishes to upgrade his/her skills. This helps in career advancements and pursuing the professional goals * Wider choice to the student: In the traditional form of education, seeking admission in a college outside city or country would involve a huge expenditure on logistics. But thanks to the online platform, we need not worry about these things, because the universities from around the globe are within easy reach for us through internet. * Skill development: With the onset of globalization, demand for appropriately skilled workforce has increased manifold. In fact, globalization has proved to be key driver in stimulating the growth and demand for higher education, training and development. The online platform has also made it possible for corporate houses and MNCs to enter into strategic tie-ups with universities and institutions for upgrading the skills of their existing workforce. Many governments around the world are also in the process of reforming the education system, so that they can include the online platform also in the mainstream of their education system. * Interactive learning: The online platform also makes it possible to present examples, computer simulations, live videos etc. to the learner. This helps in making the process of education interactive and interesting. * Industry’s participation in the education system: E-commerce plays an important role in education. With collaboration of industry and educational institutions features like streaming video/ audio, real-time computer conferencing, audio broadcasting, video broadcasting, real time telephony and of course real-time business can be added to the online platform. * Helps in bridging the digital divide: Online learning also helps in reducing the digital divide between those having access to the advanced technological aids for effective education and those without it. The planned lessons will be uniformly accessible to students in the US as well as in far off countries places like Africa or India. It is therefore worth emphasizing that online education is indeed very much helpful for the students in general, and we must explore the possibilities of upgrading our qualification and skills through this cost-effective and flexible mode of learning. From my personal experience I’d like to suggest to fellow students that online learning provides a wonderful opportunity to seek quality education at affordable prices at our own convenience. As far as gaining admission in online courses is concerned, indeed there should certain minimum criteria for a student to ensure his/her active participation. The minimum criteria can be in the form of minimum academic qualification, ability to make use of certain technologies etc. Such criterion also helps in enhancing the acceptability of the qualification on offer from the online university. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
What will our new normal feel like? Hints are beginning to emerge . The New York Times. Web. The article by Fisher (2020) focuses on demonstrating the potential consequences of social life after the COVID-19 pandemic ends and massive restrictions and quarantines are lifted. The author compares examples from history with the current epidemic and notes that global practice proves people’s ability to adapt to new living conditions, including those that appeared during their life in isolation (Fisher, 2020). Different perspectives are considered in relation to the industries of public service, tourism, and other sectors that have been particularly affected by the pandemic. Fisher (2020) draws attention to the impossibility of returning to life before the epidemic that seized the world in the same regime as it was before because entrenched social habits are essential constraints. Fear of new infections and anxiety for one’s and loved ones’ health are regarded as the main factors that determine the subsequent way of life of people in different countries. Acceptance is a basic feature that explains adaptation and resilience to such constraints. Subconscious survival instincts will influence social communication, and despite the improvement in the situation, the world is unlikely to remain the same. The global crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has transformed people’s understanding of safety. Fisher (2020) cites the example of the siege in Sarajevo in the 1990s, when people were isolated for almost four years, and notes the similarity of the modern epidemic to the Bosnians’ way of life. Another important observation is the inability to return to a past lifestyle due to the changed views on the importance of constraints. As Fisher (2020) notes, the cancellations of many mass events have proven that the value of human life is the highest, and people themselves are unlikely to endanger themselves or loved ones. The changes are supposed to affect not only people’s thinking but also the official regulations and conditions of control over various social sectors. According to Fisher (2020), constant observation will be maintained, and health parameters will be monitored continuously to avoid a repeat of the pandemic in the future. Finally, resilience will be developed, which is one of the significant factors of socialization. Adopting a new lifestyle is inevitable, and the best way to achieve this is through adaptation to a new safety mode. The choice of the article under consideration is due to the relevance of the proposed topic and the fact that COVID-19 has already affected almost every inhabitant of the planet to a certain extent. With regard to sociology as a discipline, Fisher’s (2020) article reveals the features of interpersonal interaction from the perspective of changed traditional norms of communication under the influence of external factors, in particular, the pandemic. Today, tens of millions of people have already been ill with the new coronavirus, but the danger remains, and for any person, the assessment of the consequences is relevant so that to protect one’s health. The facts and reasoning presented are valuable in the context of the current pandemic stress. I support the proposed views on the transformed principles of social interaction and the preservation of specific aspects of the new way of life in the future. The analysis of adaptive characteristics can help find valuable advice on the importance of adopting changes and the role of self-regulation in keeping oneself and loved ones healthy. The article is not outdated, and the idea of rooting individual constraints in society is logical. Reference Fisher, M. (2020). What will our new normal feel like? Hints are beginning to emerge . The New York Times. Web. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Expert Witnesses and Testimony in Four Court Cases Essay An expert witness is an individual with either specialized skills, knowledge, or training who testifies for the defense or prosecution. Expert testimonies are complex and technical facts presented to the court system when there is no expert knowledge in a court case. Expert testimony is different from other types of testimony (Freckelton, 1996). Expert witnesses cannot be compelled to testify. Besides, expert witnesses are compensated for the services provided. Expert witnesses can be professional witnesses who have perfected their performance in the court through rehearsals to present their evidence and accomplish the optimal effect. Contrary, normal witnesses do not have incentives for presenting their testimony in favor of either side (defense or prosecution). Like the normal witness, expert witnesses take an oath to present what is true regarding the case (Robertson, & Vignaux, 1995). However, the experts have pressure to make the case favorable to the party instructing them. Due to the pressure, experts may present testimony that is either deliberately false or, though accurate, deceptive by omission. The first case that was linked to the admissibility of expert evidence was Frye v. the United States, in 1923. In Frye, the court held that for a specific scientific testimony to be admissible as evidence, the testimony should be recognized in the scientific community. The second case was Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, in 1993. In this case, the court held that expert evidence should be based on a reliable footing and applicable to the issue at hand. The third case was General Electric Company v. Joiner , in 1997. Joiner reinforced the authority of the judge in issues of expert testimony by providing a deferential abuse of discretion standard. The fourth case was that of Kumho Tire Co. v. Carmichael , in 1999. The Kumho case expanded the use of Daubert and Joiner guidelines to any expert evidence. One significant standard addressing the admissibility of evidence is Evidence Rule 702. Evidence Rule 702 presents a guideline for qualifying expert witnesses and eliminating bias in expert testimony. Besides, Rule 702 expresses the need for reliability function against the design rule to balance the necessities of upholding an adversarial system and eliminating bias. The rule prevents judges from using speculations presented by experts because speculation is unreliable. References Freckelton, I. (1996). Court experts, assessors, and the public interest. International Journal of Law and Psychiatry , 18 (2), 161-188. Robertson, B., & Vignaux, G. A. (1995). Interpreting evidence . Butterworths, Durban: John Wiley. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Although they rely on the problem of difficult choices, they are a number of differences in their viewpoints on philosophical conception of life. In particular, The Road not Taken focuses on the events that influenced the narrator’s choice and provided the rationale for his actions. In contrast, A Question deliberates on what has already been done. Specific attention requires the question about the value of death and life, as well as about the reflection on previous experience. Hence, the leading aspects and themes discussed in both poems are associated with the difficulties in decision-making, influence of life experience on the choices, and consequences of our actions. All these themes are represented from the viewpoint of the narrator who is concerned with the problems of being. The structure and size of the poems differ significantly. In particular, The Road not Taken is a four-stanza poem with five lines each. The rhythmic pattern is iambic tetrameter which coincides the ABAAB scheme. Rhymes are masculine and straight, except for the last line where the stress is put on the last syllable. A Question has only one stanza with four lines, but it also has iambic structure. Although the poems are from different collections, they indicate similar features in terms of themes, characters, and philosophical outlooks on life. Biographical features in both verses are explicitly illustrated. Although the author focuses on natural phenomena, most of subjects relate to the human feelings, experiences, and emotions. Description of life experience is, probably, at the core of all literary works introduced by Frost. According to Bloom, “Frost’s verse is often so apparently paraphrasable as to seem the précis for some short story: a domination of plot that takes up the slack seemingly left by an overly straightforward, honey, and blunt language” (87-88). Presence of metaphysical elements, as well as reflection on the sense of existence, is also associated with autobiographical features of Frost’ poetic work. Decision-making is, apparently, the prevailing theme in Frosts’ poem because both literary pieces focus on this issue. The problem is highlighted almost in similar figurative manner because Frost refers to the ideas of decision-making through representations of metaphorical comparisons. Thus, in the first poem, the author compares choices with paths in the forest: “Two roads diverged in a yellow wood/And sorry I could not travel both” ( The Road not Taken 9). While interpreting this, the author assumes that an individual cannot made two opposite decisions, just as it is impossible to take roads simultaneously. Similar to this poem, A Question also relies on metaphorical comparisons while deliberating on the matter of choice: “…tell me truly…if all the soul-and-body scars were too much to pay for the birth” ( A Question 45). In the passage, the author compares “soul-and-body scares” with the consequences of the decisions that people made during their lives. Influence of life experience on people’s choice is also brightly demonstrated in both verses, but at different angles. In particular, both poems refer to such feelings as regret and frustration while questioning the outcomes of the choices made. At the end of The Road not Taken , Frost makes use of the word “sign” to render his disappointment with the decision he made in life: “I shall be telling this with a sigh/…I Two roads diverged in a wood and I – I took the one less traveled by” (9). At the same time, negative experience is interpreted in the second poem, in which the poet compares human knowledge with “soul-and-body scars” that should be paid off. With regard to these metaphorical interpretations, it should be assumed that both verses unveil the author’s viewpoint on the concept of life, in which experience defines the goals of human existence. It also creates understanding of what role free will and fate play on our lives. Consequences of our actions shape our future. Frost refers to human lives with irony because all our decisions are largely limited by the existence of choices in front of our paths. In the majority of cases, people are under the influence of circumstances that make them choose the path they go. Nevertheless, Frost constantly questions the inevitability of the choices made and justifies the chosen solutions in life. At the same time, he thinks that people are not the only ones to blame in their searching. In particular, there are other supernatural powers that do not depend on circumstances created by humans. In both poems, external powers are represented, but in different capacities. In conclusion, Frost’ verses analyze the role of decision making in human lives, as well as how it is affected by personal wisdom and external circumstances. Although both novels relate to different epistemological dimensions, they discover such problems as the matter of choice, importance of life experience, and consequences of human actions. While investigating these topics, the emphasis has been placed on literary devices that the author employs, including metaphors and irony. Works Cited Frost, Robert. “A Question”. A Witness Tree. Robert Frost. US: J. Cape. 1943. 45. Print. Frost, Robert. “The Road not Taken” Mountain Interval. Robert Frost. US: Henry Holt, 1916. 9. Print. Bloom, Harold. Robert Frost. US: Infobase Publishing, 2003. Print. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Voting as a Method of Political Choice Essay Voting is a method by which a group of people expresses their opinion or their decision followed by debates, discussions or election campaigns. Voting is more commonly known as election when used in representative democracy in which the electorate elects among candidates for office. The electorate elects their representatives in government in political voting. The individual act in voting is called Vote, by which a person expresses his support to a particular resolution or motion, a candidate, or a political party. The person may express his disapproval of a particular policy, candidate or political party by voting against it. There are various types of voting like the plurality voting system in which a voter selects his most preferred candidate using a single vote. In Approval voting, multiple votes can be cast. There are also other types of voting like preferential voting, scored voting, multiple-winner system and others. People select based on their knowledge what policy, policymaker and government are best for them through voting. It is the most important part of a democracy, in which power is with a common man not just with the top leaders, elites or rich because in voting there is no consideration of status, race, sex or other factors. The perception of South Africans in casting votes is different especially the poor citizens. This is due to the belief of people that no political party is truly representative. And this lead to the campaign of “No Land! No House! No Vote!” which could be seen and heard easily in days of the election. Voting is the right of the citizen, hence he should never misuse this authority because the future of the country depends on the elected political party. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Children in At-Risk Families Response Essay Responses to the questions Overall, the course readings and my personal experiences suggest that much attention should be paid to the problems of at-risk families. In this case, one should refer to those households that can be affected by such adverse factors as poor living conditions, low income level, disability of parents, unemployment, and so forth (Eisenstadt, 2011, p. 39). This is one of the main issues that should be considered by educators and social workers. As a rule, these professionals focus on the need of families with children whose development can be significantly impaired if no support is offered to these households. Policy-makers apply the concept of risk when developing early childhood programs. In particular, they focus on the ability of parents to take care of children. As a rule, they attach importance to such criteria as educational opportunities, relations between parents and children, housing conditions, and other indicators which can be used to determine whether the need of children can be met by parents (Gray et al. 2009). If a family does not reach certain standards set by the government, it is considered to be at risk. Apart from that, one should remember about such threats alcoholism, substance addition, or domestic violence since each of them can adversely affect a child or a teenager (Eisenstadt, 2011). On the whole, social workers strive to ensure their mental, social, and physical development of children or adolescents (McArthur & Thomson, 2011). This is one of the main aspects that can be identified. It is important to mention that social workers often should act as educators in order to assist at-risk children. For example, they can tell parents how they can protect their children from such threats as early pregnancy, drug abuse, alcoholism, or participation in criminal activities. Moreover, they can explain adults how they can develop parenting skills. There are some of the main tasks that can be identified. If these goals are achieved, a great number of problems can be managed effectively. Comments on the posts of other students It is possible to say that the posts of other students throw light on the importance of working with at-risk families. Their comments contain both personal reflection and analysis of the academic literature showing that social workers and educators can play a vital role in helping families that can be affected by alcoholism, addiction, or abuse. Apart from that, other learners were able to identify some of the main tasks that social workers should do. One of them is to observe children’s behavior and detect possible risks at an early state. In my view, such approach to this problem enables various professionals reduce a great number of threats to the wellbeing of children. Moreover, the posts of other students indicate at the importance of creating partnerships between at-risk families, educators, and social workers. These stakeholders should not perceive each other as stakeholders because this approach is not productive. On the whole, the posts of other learners indicate that a great number of threats such as unemployment, alcoholism can be minimized if parents and educators join their efforts and share their concerns with one another. In my opinion, this strategy is helpful for avoiding various risks because it makes parents more informed about the physical, mental, and social development of children. Reference List Eisenstadt, N. (2011). Think Family: A new approach to families at risk, Family Matters , 87(1), 37-42. Gray, M., Edwards, B., Hayes, A. & Baxter, J. (2009). The impacts of recessions on families . Family Matters (83)1, 7-14. McArthur, M. & Thomson, L. (2011). Families views on a coordinated family support service. Family Matters , 89(12), 71- 81. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
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