What is the meaning of Responsibility

The ultimate word in life is â€Å"responsibility†. What is responsibility you ask? Responsibility is â€Å"doing the right thing†. Doing the right thing means living a life where every move or decision you make is all your own and you do things that will not harm others. It is a moral belief that as individuals we must behave ethical and be accountable for our actions, and be conscious of our decisions and the impact it has on society. In today’s world I believe we have even more responsibilities then our ancestors. If we do not take responsibility for our actions innocent people can be hurt. You will be frowned upon and will lose the trust of others. Behaving in a responsible way can improve our quality of living. In life we all want freedom and with freedom comes responsibility. So many people today do not want to take responsibility for their actions and the impact it has on others. I know as a child, my mother, repeatedly told me that I must take responsibility for my actions, which I should always think twice before I do something, because my actions could result in a negative outcome. As human beings we are given by God free will. If we make certain choices based on our free will, we must be willing to take responsibility for the effects our decisions may have on the people around us, as well as ourselves. So many people think that if you are a responsible person, you may be a boring person. That is just not true. Just because you choose to be a responsible person, you can still have fun and contribute interesting things to the world. I remember another famous quote by Abraham Lincoln, he stated, â€Å"One cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today†. I remember a famous quote from Albert Einstein that states â€Å"Man must cease his problems to the environment, and learn again to exercise his will – his personal responsibility†. Sometimes freedom can be dangerous and could destroy our society. So many people believe freedom means you have the right to do as you please, however, that is not 100% true. As soon as you stop taking responsibility for what you do in life, it is almost certain you will be doing things that will be harmful to others. This is why it is so important to have laws that society must abide by. As an example, let’s say you are having a get together and you have you stereo on a little too loud. To you and the people attending your party the music is just fine, but to your neighbors it is entirely too loud and disruptive. Wouldn’t you be a responsible person if you made sure that the music was loud enough for you and your guests to enjoy, but not too loud that it would annoy your neighbors? When one recognizes that they are 100% responsible for their life, they will soon see the great achievements that come with being a responsible person. Responsibility is a very valuable trait in all that we do. Taking responsibility for one’s self leads to a more optimistic life and one is able to accomplish all that they want. Sometimes taking responsibility can be a very difficult thing, but in the end one is usually happy that they did. If one chose’s to lead an irresponsible life, they will soon see that they will be living a much uncontrolled life and therefore grow to be very pessimistic. One’s health is also affected by the choices one makes. When we choose to blame others for the wrong doings in our life, we soon see that we have no control. Everyone wants to be in control of their own lives. One must remember that when we are responsible we are willing to accept the outcome be it good or bad. People who take responsibility in life are confident and will have a very high self esteem. The thing we have to remember is what happens to you in your life, or where you may end up at in your life is a result of either taking responsibility or not taking responsibility of one’s actions in the past. We all have the right to choose our own destiny. Another great example is what if we didn’t have laws that we had to abide by and everyone was a loud to just do as they wanted and when we committed crimes, no one would be held accountable. Can you imagine the amount of destruction that would be taking place in this world? So as you can see from my examples, it is very important to be a responsible person.

Does rap and rock music cause increased violent or promiscuous behavior Essay

Rock and rap music have been perceived by some people to be the cause of increased violent and other anti-social behavior especially to the young people. Some argue that such perception is an overstatement as there are many other factors inbuilt in human beings that precipitate their misbehaviors. Crime in society is caused by a wide variety of factors. According to Michael Moore an Oscar award winner and author of Bowling for Columbine, the system has been organized in a manner that it attracts and perpetuates crime in the society. The US has a record of so many deaths due to gun use. Extensive fear is imposed on the masses. To Moore, the current killings are not due to poverty, unemployment or diversity in ethnicity. The mass media can be blamed for the situation. It is responsible for instilling in the people’s mind that violence is appropriate. Development of a gun culture is also to blame for the increase killings. It is very easy to access and own a gun in US. The system has enabled extensive gun ownership on the grounds of self-defense. (Moore M, 2002) However, this viewpoint is contradictory as other countries have easy access and ownership of guns but they do not experience the rates of killings that the US faces. The blame could be put on action movies, rock stars with their music and video games but other societies have this too. Rock artists like Marilyn Manson do not agree that music is to blame for increased deaths. Marilyn is blamed on the increased violence especially in schools. Though the music does not actually cause the death per ser it instills hostility in the children minds as it could be misinterpreted. Parents are failing in their role to raise responsible children. It is irresponsible to delegate the guidance role to the media. Guidance ought to be given to such children so that they can rationally sieve what is right from what is wrong from the media. Inequalities between the rich and the poor is a clear problem in the US where by more concerns are raised when the impact is on the rich. It creates the impression that poor is worthless and deserves no respect. Proponents of rap music argue that rap music does not in any circumstance command or direct people to choose violence. Liability to distinguish what is false or fiction from reality would lead to more youths being engaged in crime or other anti-social behavior. People should be rational enough to see the effects of their behavior on the society at large. (Moore M, 2002) Some rap music portrays women as the weaker sex and they are viewed as prostitutes to be used as sexual objects. Some artists can be bad influence though not all. The generalization that all rock or rap music causes criminal activities is an understatement as some sing on values and morals that are needed for good citizenship. Rap music can encourage promiscuous behavior especially because most artists use vulgar language on sensitive issues and they also portray nude women. Some teenagers may identify themselves with the women in such movies or videos resulting to increased promiscuity. Women in such movies who are depicted as whores do so to earn their living and they cannot be crucified for that. Respective government ought to work hard to improve their system to accommodate more people in the job market. (Wingwood et al, 551) The youthful generation is thrilled by the entertainment sector. Music influences behavior regardless the age gender or ethnicity. Greater impact is on those with little or no determined values. Some rappers are considered â€Å"cool† and are consequently very influential on attitudes on fashion, sex and violence. Poor children or youngsters from the minority groups lack proper role models as they grow up. They may turn to music for values determination and identification. Parents should install morals on their children so that the music has no space for that. Homes that are not well organized contribute to change in internalizing morals. Bad company at school and the teenagers exposed to vulgar information are more likely to engage in sexual activities at an earlier stage. However this viewpoint is counteracted by the argument that those who allow music to form their reasoning were initially affected. This is to say that rap music would add ‘promiscuous’ behavior to those already in that capacity. (Anderson A et al, 90) Rock music has since a long time ago been associated with the youth and antisocial behavior like rebellion. It was initially meant to create more awareness in the society. Rock and roll was feared to promote aggression, bigotry deviant sexual behavior, homicide and drug use. Rap music has its roots in the African music and hence viewed as rising to fit their appropriate needs or to raise their needs. Rap music has been blamed for not only degrading women but also for the increased sexual behavior among youngsters. This has other effects like unwanted pregnancies and spread of diseases. Increased sexual behavior could be due to the words used in the songs as well as the obscene pictures. Men are portrayed as sexually insatiable and sex is seen as inconsequential. Teenagers may act on the messages communicated, as they are very specific on the sex roles. Girls repeatedly exposed to these songs are likely to take submissive roles and allow the disrespectful treatment from their partners. Boys are likely to internalize the portrayed roles of exploiting girls and consider such acts as normal. (Stephens D & Few L, 251) Censorship would be inappropriate for the young adults but parents should offer guidance to their children as a step to install morals. Listening to their side of story so that the communication is 2-way would help them better understand the content of such music and thus enable them react accordingly. Although allowing the African America musicians to have a voice was a way of accepting and respecting the views of a minority race, the content of their songs was alarming and raised much attention. Exposure to these songs before children are of age will have detrimental effects on the children. (Hayes G, 12) According to a research by Ralph J.  Diclementle, PHD of Emory University School of public health, girls who listened to rap music or watched rap videos were more likely to indulge in anti-social behavior. (Fox R, 2) Many teenagers are attracted to hip hop and rap music especially from artists like Kanye west, Snoop Dogg and Timbaland. The hip hop music is attractive due to its beats and catchy rhythms. Rap music consists of more rhymes and poetry. Hip hop is more attractive because the beats are attractive. Most of the teenagers are attracted by the beats and the fact that it is danceable. The lyrics are also quite catchy. Rap music can have positive effects on the listeners for instance it can cause a creative mindset and incorporate different styles and trends. Rock music is popular to people of all ages. Its beats, lyrics and tones attract a number of people. Many parents disregard hip hop music and link it with discrimination against women, bad influence and violence. However many parents accommodate rock music because they are familiar with it as most of them grew up with it. Rock music is not as danceable as hip hop and most people sing it along or listen to it. Hard rock is loud and preferred mostly by the young people while many due to its softness prefer soft rock. Rappers are accused of not producing quality music since they do not emphasize on information or educative music. They instead of clearing the stereotype reinforce it by their music for instance Notorious BIG’s song that he is ‘considered a fool because he dropped out of high school’ others claim to ‘drop out of school for the big wallets’. They offer confusing information to the young generations who may think that there is an easy way of life. This could precipitate violence when such people become over ambitious but lack the means to attain their goals. However not all rap artists discard education, some like J- Live who was previously a teacher knows the value of education and instills it to his listeners through his music. Unlike BIG, J-live tells the young to ‘load their brains’. (Johnson J et al, 30) Some rap music can be beneficial. It teaches people using real life experience. This way people can be able to learn from other people’s mistakes or good deeds and hence respond accordingly. Some rap artists warn on the effects of drug use while insisting on the advantages of hard work. This instills on the teenager or youths the importance of hard work. It can be inspirational as it tells of never quitting regardless of the tough times a head. Gangster rap portrays the way of life in the urban nature, which is at times violent. It tries to impose that to survive in this kind of environment people need to consider their own self interests which at times entails taking the law in their hands. Money and power are portrayed as basis for respect in society. Gangsta rap praises the evildoer who does not abide to laws or regulation. It results to increased violence because it seems to praise or support crime, drug and killings. (Anderson A et al, 965) The answers to whether rap music affects behavior depend on who is answering it. Supporters of rap like the artists would claim that their music only portrays what is actually happening in the society. However the effect of rap music on behavior is similar to the effects of pornography and video games. Lack of evidence that rap music actually results to violence or promiscuous behavior makes the claim quite weak. These music creates a resigned mode where there seems to be no hope for society due to an adamant attitude towards social change. It could have positive impacts if people thought of what became of their society and what can be done to improve. The rap music containing violence may affect youth’s behavior; it may create a greater acceptance of the use of violence where they embrace it as a way of life or something normal. Rappers advocate for their songs by saying that being silent about what is actually happening in the society does not solve the problem. To them the music is a reflection of the frustration and pain that is faced in the ‘ghetto-life’. Music artists are viewed as heroes and teenagers, yearn to be like them. Some end up committing suicide, homicide on public shootings to prove they can be like their heroes. Research has showed that excessive exposure to sexual activity influences the teen’s perception to sex and this could lead to more indulgence in risky and sexual activities. Music does affect people’s behavior in many ways including the subconscious mind and consequently influences people’s view on the society. Music can be used to alter moods. Just as it is used to encourage or motivate athletes it can increase violence. To the rappers the music reflects, distills and amplifies the social realities at its primary or basic level and then reincorporates it into that reality. To them the outsiders or those away from the ghetto cannot understand them since the do not understand their plight. The society has maintained inequalities that have adverse effects on its people. Teenagers who listen to lots of music especially rap which may consist of degrading sexual messages are more likely to start sex indulgence earlier than their counterparts without such exposure. Rock and rap artists are at times convicted of violence. For instance Snoop Dogg had an incidence with the law enforcement officers due to violence. Since the young people may consider him a hero they may indulge in violent activities to ape him. A research by a Rand Corporation and published by the American Journal of Public Health, found that adolescents who listened more to this music progressed faster into indulging to sexual behavior than those who did not listen to such music. Listening to such music affects all adolescents regardless of their gender or ethnicity. Music therefore plays an important role in the psyche of young adults. (Barongan C & Hall GCN,195) A research also showed that teenage African American girls who were exposed to rap videos or music were more likely to abuse alcohol and engage in promiscuous behavior. Their body image would be negative and the chances of having multiple partners could be higher. Greater awareness and education is needed on the risks involved or associated to the media exposure. Evidence of more African American involved in violent or criminal behavior can be seen in their numbers in prison. Rap artists are disgusting to some when they talk of women degradation when they boast of having enough women at their disposal. The adolescent age is where teenagers are establishing their identity and the kind of music they listen to affects their identity. Peer influence reinforces the trend of music teenagers will be accustomed to. Another aspect that rap music portrays is killing of the police and black-to-black violence where killing-using guns is deemed appropriate. It is considered racist music that tries to fight corruption and discrimination from the dominant white society. The community so created is hopeless and results to drugs violence and promiscuity, which in turn results to teen pregnancy. (Anderson A et al, 85) Several scholars’ doctors and researchers did the study on African American women in 1996-1999 and the effect of music. Girls exposed to rap music were more likely to take drugs, have problems with the law and are prone to sexually transmitted diseases. According to the researchers, girls who were more exposed to rap music were more likely to hit a teacher, get arrested and have sex with multiple partners. Parents’ failure to monitor the teens and the frustrations of lack of job opportunities precipitated the violence further. (Wingwood G & Disclemente L, 433) Sociologists have also established that music affects the health, attitudes and behavior of teenagers. They not only listen to the music but also live it. Music is used to express ideas or narrate stories. On average teens listen to music approximately 40 hours in a week. The hours daily provide ample time to change their perception about life. Not all teens understand what the music really means and different teens have varied meanings to the words in such songs. Censoring such music to protect the innocent teenagers would not bear much fruit. This is because it would be faced by much protects on the grounds of hindering or being against the freedom of expression rights. Again, even when the music is not played in the radio stations it is still played elsewhere and thus it is still accessible. Due to peer influence it would be hard to monitor and prohibit what one’s children listen to. An appropriate measure would be to explain the consequences of what the music is all about and engage the children in critical thinking. For music to have a positive or negative effect on an individual, the individual must have a certain degree of affinity in it. Personal choice forms a critical part in such decision-making. However, the use of visuals reinforces what is heard. Studies show that rap music could affect men’s perception towards women to the extent where after women are raped they could argue that the women provoked the men by way of dressing. A study carried out in a college campus in the U. S where men and women were exposed to rap music both hard and soft that involved questionnaires on their perception to songs that were gender biased. Men were proved to react more to stereotypes after exposure to such music and videos. Women proved to be more accommodating and submissive to the male. Words commonly raised include bitches and whores and this attracts the attention of quite a number of people. Exposure to rap music comprises of violence for instance murder. (Cole J & Gy Shefall, 40) In 2000, the American academy of pediatrics issued a joint statement on the effects of violence through entertainment means on children. It made this conclusion connection between aggressive character and violence in the media. In the studies reports were made from the general office as well as the mental health department that the government should put in place policies that would protect its people, as the media violence would ruin it. (AAPCC, 315) According to Leonard a psychologist the effects of violence of the TV and aggression is cumulative. The effect of rap music leads to aggression in one’s later life. However it is difficult to tell if music actually influences sexual promiscuity, drug use or violent behavior in cases where the teens do not comprehend the meaning of the lyrics.

Bad Habits

Nose Picking Everybody picks their nose at times. Not everybody picks their nose in a public place where others might see them. Many people really dislike seeing someone pick their nose. It’s particularly offensive when the nose picker picks with relish, as though he were embarking on an exploring expedition to some unknown land. If you need to pick your nose, you should do it in private to avoid upsetting anybody else. Bear in mind that your car is not a public place. If you decide to pick your nose on the commute to work, people in other vehicles on the freeway will see you digging for gold. . Gross Eating A lot of people cannot abide bad table manners. They get offended if someone chews with their mouth open, talks while eating, clangs the cutlery against their teeth, or makes vile noises when masticating. Nobody wants to hear the noise of food slopping around inside your mouth, or listen to a sound that is reminiscent of someone stirring a pot of soggy semolina. Nothing you have to say is so important that it justifies showing other people the chewed up piece of steak you are currently attempting to eat. If you are eating in the presence of other people, it’s worth using some manners if you don’t want to annoy anyone. 3. Repetitive Noises Some people have the bad habit of making some kind of repetitive noise. For instance, you might tap your foot, flick your teeth, hit your pen against the side of the desk, sniff, or make a funny throat clearing sound. If a person has to listen to another individual make the same noise again and again day after day, it can start to get on their nerves fairly quickly. The repetitive noise you like to make may comfort you on a subconscious level, but it isn’t soothing for anybody else. 4. Stinking Farts Everybody has to pass gas at some point, but that doesn’t mean that other people want to smell the contents of your colon. Nobody likes to smell a fart. This is particularly true of a fart that is smelled in the public domain. Nothing is worse than walking down the aisle in a department store and finding yourself immersed in a cloud of someone else’s ghastly rectal gas, or standing in an elevator that smells like a recently-used toilet. If you have to break wind and you know you’re probably going to stink, go to the bathroom or at least do it in an empty space. 5. Constant Interruptions Some people just love to talk. They love to talk so much that they cannot let anyone else finish a sentence, or watch a movie in peace. When you are trying to say something and someone else cuts in all of the time, it gets annoying very quickly. If you interrupt someone in mid-sentence, you might as well tell them to shut up because what you have to say is more interesting. When you talk during a movie, you stop other viewers from being able to relax and enjoy it. Is what you have to say really so important that it’s worth annoying others and giving the impression that you are thoroughly rude? 6. Shouting Down the Cell Phone Cell phone technology is not new. It is now unusual not to have a cell phone. Thus most people have encountered at least one individual with an inclination to shout conversations down their cell phone while in a public setting such as an airport departure lounge or a restaurant. Cell phone shouters can be very irritating when you are trying to relax and enjoy your day. It almost seems as though they think their personal business is so enthralling that everybody wants to hear about it when the truth is that nobody else cares. When you must answer your cell phone in public, try to move to a quieter setting. For instance if you are in a restaurant, go outside to take your call. If you cannot go anywhere else, at least try to keep your voice down. 7. Mindless Chatter There are some people who are obviously uncomfortable with silence. In fact silence makes them feel so uneasy that they feel compelled to fill it with the sound of their own voice, even though they don’t have anything remotely important or significant to say. For a person that likes their own space and revers peace and tranquility, such mindless chatter can be incredibly vexing. If you sometimes feel inclined to converse about nothing in particular, or repeat something you said ten minutes ago just because nobody has said anything for a while, then don’t. Go and read a book or find something else to do. There is such a thing as companionable silence.

Risk Management Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Risk Management - Case Study Example The server has been assigned an impact value of 100, and a control has been implemented that reduces the impact of the vulnerability by 75 percent. There is an 80 percent certainty of the assumptions and data. Operator use the MGMT45 control console to monitor operations is the server room. It has no password and is susceptible to unlogged misuse by the operator. Estimates show the likelihood of misuse is 0.1. There are no controls in place on this asset, which has an impact rating of 5. There is a 90 percent certainty of the assumptions and data. From the above data, the three assets for the company are extremely valuable. The following is how the organization will approach in evaluation and additional of more controls. Switch L47 has 2 vulnerability. Vulnerability 1 Switch L47 connects a network to the internet should be evaluated first, and additional controls put in place to secure the internal network from external attacks. This asset is extremely significant since there are many attackers constantly trying to access the company information. Therefore, securing switch L47 is important. It has percentage impact (90%) with high uncertainty of 25%. There is no any control in place to secure this asset hence it should be given priority. Server WebSrv6 Hosts should be the second one to be evaluated and additional measures put in place. It has high impact rate and 20% of uncertainty rate. It is second to be evaluated although it has 100 impact value because it has a control in place already. The MGMT45 control console to should be the last one to be evaluated since it has low impact value of 5 with a low rate of uncertainty (10%). It can be evaluated and secured last. There is only one source of risk which the operator hence it is easy to evaluate and provide appropriate measures. This is a very essential decision support tool with high capability to analyze and help users in making decisions. It was developed by Agena Limited. It is can

Businesses are not Behaving Ethically Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Businesses are not Behaving Ethically - Essay Example Also, if a company follows ethical practices in its operations it is able to gain customer loyalty. And it is not necessary that to be ethical a company incurs more costs than one that doesn't. It's a win-win situation for ethical companies (Rupal). There may be numerous reasons for businesses to be considered as acting unethically. Actions used to cut down costs, access more resources, raise their profit earnings, or simply to enter into a new market could be taken in an unethical manner. The prime example could be of Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart has captured the U.S. market for retailers. But in its search for cheaper products to beat out its competition with, it offers its laborers in developing countries with barely subsistence wages due to which laborers put in hundreds of man-hours yet still earn an income which could barely support them (Nassar). Their entrance into foreign markets bring business to that country but the conditions of the people living there do not improve as they are still below their poverty line and there is no rise in their gdp/capita. To provide their consumers with the cheapest products in the market Wal-Mart is abusing its workers and providing them with miserable working conditions. A similar sweatshop case was witnessed when people found out that the "lovable" Disney franchise was using laborers working in miserable conditions to manufacture the products which helped sustain the multi-billion dollar industry that relied on Disney products such as their clothing line and the other products sold at their theme parks. In our immediate present we can see how Lehman Bros. helped cause the economic collapse which sent tremors all over the world. By giving mortgages to people who could not afford them they created the sudden defaults which would later cause a chain reaction which would not only affect the U.S. but the entire world. Whole economies collapsed and the tax payer's money was diverted towards the protection of these banks rather than on any infrastructural projects for which they should have been spent. Immense unemployment arose worldwide, countries had trouble importing items since they did not have sufficient funds, defaults in payments for national debts, and fall in investments were observed. This whole incident single handedly brought down the GDP of many European nations as well as the U.S. The state of our national healthcare system is ample proof that businesses on a whole are unethical if given the choice and freedom to be. Given the slightest laxness from the government and the assurance of no action to be taken on them on legal grounds corporations begin to adapt behaviors which are unethical. Why Act Unethically Most businesses act unethically when they know that their actions would result in no consequences to harm them. If they had the fear that they would be persecuted or that they might face negative opinions in the market then they would not resort to unethical means to jump ahead of their competition. This could probably be a reason why unethical practices are observed more in developing countries where the government regulations are weak and corruption

Compare Rule 101of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX, 2002) and Standard Essay

Compare Rule 101of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX, 2002) and Standard 1100-Independence and Objectivity - Essay Example embers to have such independence, so that they can monitor the activities of the organization as per the scope of audit and not be restricted for the same in any manner. Auditors are also required to remain objective towards the manner in which the audit processes are carried out. This includes them to be highly professional and not indulge in the development of personal relations. Internal auditors must diligently maintain the quality of their work by remaining unbiased and impartial with any aspect of the organization. Objectivity also requires mangers to maintain the confidentiality of the audit related matters (Muqattash, 2013). The Sarbanes-Oxley Act contains a number of provisions which impact the key elements of capital formation and audit. For auditors the Sarbanes-Oxley Act has established a revised set of rules which provides auditors with a new structure of private oversight and a revised set of rules related to independence and public reporting. In case of managers, the act provides adequate scope of safeguarding interests and reporting and exposure of internal control. The disclosure requirements have also been revised for managers. The act also lays emphasis on the ever expanding role of audit committees in respect of corporate reporting framework. The act also states that auditors have a direct responsibility towards supervising the external audit process. It also establishes revised rules in respect of the preapproval of all audit and non-audit services. Financial expertise, independence and monitoring are also covered under different titles of the act. It is expected that the act will improve t he manner in which audits are performed and improve financial disclosure, thereby preventing accounting fraud. One of the most important rules established under the section is that which is in respect of auditor independence. Various sections in respect of auditor services and rotation have also been discussed vividly. The rules established under the title

Summary the artical Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Summary the artical - Assignment Example There are special circumstances in which stakeholders are forced to elect new directors mid-term. For instance, if one of the directors passes away, stakeholders can consult state law while seeking to appoint a new director. For formal meetings to be held there has to be a quorum of officials before the conducting of any transactions. In any corporation, the members of the board of directors have different rights. They have the right to participate in all business meetings and operations, carry out inspections, indemnification, and compensation. They serve the stakeholders by furnishing them with corporate dividends, ratifying major organizational policies, overseeing the process of hiring and firing corporate personnel, and determining financial decisions. Below the board of directors in a company’s hierarchical structure are the corporate executives and officers. Corporate officers are expected to be familiar with the rules and regulations of their corporation as they are often tasked with delegating different tasks to other corporate workers. Their responsibilities are quite serious as they can be penalized for mistakes that they or their workers commit. Shareholders are the individuals who own the corporation. They do not take part in running the daily operations of the corporations they invest in but can effect serious changes in terms of the hierarchical structure as well as executive appointments. They exercise their powers by voting for their preferred candidates. Shareholders may hold certificates that outline their ownership status, and are usually awarded stock warrants, pre-emptive rights, dividends, and inspection rights. Professional boards serve a distinct purpose when they are included in different organizations. The collapse of respected financial business establishments triggered a global recession that adversely affect many global citizens and underscored the need for more stringent

The Rise of the Soloist documentary from MyMusicLab Term Paper

The Rise of the Soloist documentary from MyMusicLab - Term Paper Example Rarely in popular music does one see a group performing without highlighting the work of one performer. Most often, the vocalist drives the music, expressing himself through the lyrics and the sound. As well, one can see the break away of the drum, guitar, or bass soloist as they create an interlude between the verses. If one thinks about it, most music is now created from the advent of this rise in popularity of solo performers. The many pieces from the period reflect this shift, but the way in which most music is created in modern popularity has the soloist focus so that the emotional content is given to the audience through focus on one person. The instrumental background becomes secondary to the focus that the audience puts on the work of the soloist. After all, when Elvis hit the stage, who was cheering for the band? In many ways, this shift in focus could signify the single most significant change that influenced modern music. Creating expressive music through the use of the point of view of one individual is the core of the modern sound. While a soloist was not new, the idea of a freely emotional expression from a single person did seem to form during this time. Period. The use of the voice, or any other instrument, as a focal point that set the tone, mood, and tempo, slowing and speeding up as his or her interpretation allowed has allowed the audience to go on the journey that the soloist creates. This journey is a far more personal event with the freedoms that were discovered in the Baroque

Daughters of Liberty Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Daughters of Liberty - Research Paper Example Besides, the spreading of religion was another motivation behind colonization. On the other hand, the Native Americans have remained loyal to the British imperialists for â€Å"156 years after the settlement of Jamestown in 1607† supporting the English people fight many wars.1 However, many of the policies of the British Empire were so stringent and intolerable, which made the Americans to revolt against them. The most significant of the causes that triggered the revolution is the imposition of â€Å"new taxes and restrictions† by the English authorities on â€Å"colonial manufacturers and commerce.†2 Legalization of the Catholic Church, transplanting of the French with the Catholic Spaniards and their banning of American flatboats as well as the threat to close New Orleans Port, etc., also forced the Americans to embark on the path agitation. The American women, with their grit and selfless dedication, have played a major role in the revolt against British Imper ialism and helped the country in winning its freedom through their sacrifices. The spirit of freedom of the Americans makes them still remember with veneration the sacrifices of the men and women whose unrelenting determination and constant struggle have fetched them independence. These men and women have helped Americans to know the value of freedom and to transform the â€Å"bloodshed, division and violence† of the war and its ravages to â€Å"symbols of unity and cohesion.†3 Thus, the spirit of freedom that Americans celebrate today is the legacy of the men and women who have struggled and died for the American Independence. Women, though considered as lower in patriarchal societies, have always played a key role in the development of nations and evolving the history and cultures of countries. Similarly, in the Colonial America also women had a key role to play, not only in terms of tending to the families but also in the context of their involvement in national mov ements, culture, arts and literature. Mary Washington was one of the prominent women who made significant legacies to the cause of American Revolution. George Washington, her son and one of the most prominent leaders of America always emphasized that he â€Å"owed everything to his mother – in the education and habits of his early life.†4 Here, it becomes relevant that significant contribution from women towards any particular cause derives not merely from their participation in that event but through facilitating the grooming of the next generation to take up the mission and sustain its spirit in the future. Mary, who lost her husband early in life, had to fend for her children, with very limited economical sources. Despite this, she brought up her son, imbibing in him the right values and morals that enabled him to be the leader of such a nation and his ultimate elevation as its chief executive. Esther Reed is another woman who contributed immensely to the cause of A merican Revolution, despite her being a London born British national of French origin. During the Lexington and Bunker’s Hill episodes, she helped by channeling funds through her own agency for â€Å"relief of the sufferers in New England.†5 However, after she became a mother and her husband joined the revolutionary soldiers, her life endured many a turmoil. While her husband toiled in the â€Å"

Significance of chapter 5 in Frankenstien Essay Example for Free

Significance of chapter 5 in Frankenstien Essay Look at the significance of Chapter Five to the novel as a whole. Focus on the relevance and effect of writers use of language to describe setting, character and what it shows about social and historical influences. When Mary Shelley was writing Frankenstein, she was heavily influenced by events going on in society at the time. She was married to Percy Shelley, who also influenced her with his romantic poetry. Mary Shelley wrote the novel for many different reasons. One of the reasons was said to have been that she was playing a game to see who could write the scariest horror story; this is where she began writing the basics of Frankenstein. Chapter Five is a crucial moment in the novel because this is where Frankenstein brings the monster to life. The chapter opens with It was a dreary night of November. This is building up an atmosphere, and it shows that it is dark, gloomy and that potential events are ahead. Frankenstein is feeling very emotional at this time, when he says How can I describe my emotions at this catastrophe. This is because he thought that bringing the monster to life would be great, even though it turns out to be a big disappointment and too much for him to handle. Therefore he rejects the monster and abandons him. Consequently, this results in events such as; The monster feeling lonely and rejected, and ends up killing Elizabeth (Frankensteins future wife) because he wanted a companion for himself, and also to get revenge on his creator. In Chapter Five, you get to know understand the character of Dr Frankenstein much more. He is shown as many things, such as; Obsessive- I had worked hard for nearly two years, for the sole purpose of infusing life into an inanimate body, which means he had spent all his time trying, and being determined to create the monster. He also is shown as anxious- With an anxiety that almost amounted as agony, which shows that he his worried about what he had done. On the other hand he is shown as nai ve, when it says The beauty of the dream vanished, which means he finds it impossible to face up to what he has done and he doesnt take responsibility for his actions. This is a significant moment in Chapter Five because of the language used to describe the character. Mary Shelley uses language to develop an atmosphere in Chapter Five. She wrote things such as The rain pattered dismally against the panes, which shows that the setting is gloomy and using the word dismally means that it is also wet and miserable. She also said It was on a dreary night of November, (refers to the Gothic ideas in the novel) which shows that it isnt light outside- she uses this to show that it isnt a happy setting. The emphasis on her language describing the setting and atmosphere shows the importance of Chapter Five in the novel. In Chapter Five, one of the key themes linked to society in the 19th century is science. This is because people didnt know much about it and it was new to them. Frankenstein says, Two years for the sole purpose of infusing life into an inanimate body, which links to the industrial period, because he tried to do something that hadnt been done before. Another key theme used in the novel is nature, and that links to science, because Frankenstein is trying to break the boundaries of nature by trying to create life unnaturally. This makes Chapter Five significant because it shows the social and historical influences at the time. In conclusion, studying Chapter Five has given me a better understanding of the 19th Century life, and it has also given me a better understanding of why future events in the novel happen.

The Concept Of Teaching Practicum

The Concept Of Teaching Practicum Teaching practicum concerns preparation of teachers and its use has embraced all the learning experiences of student teachers in schools. The purpose of reviewing related literature is to explore ideas of teaching practicum. This review will discuss three main ideas, namely, overview of the concept of beliefs and teaching practicum, theoretical framework and related research studies. 2.1 The concept of teaching practicum Teaching practicum is almost universally accepted today as the climax of a teachers professional preparation in pre-service teacher education programs. According to the studies of Gower Walters (1983), the teaching practice programme is the major essential component in professional education. Teaching practicum is defined as those periods of continuous practice twelve weeks (depends on the particular teacher training college or university) in school constitute an obligatory part of the course in colleges or universities of education. This period of practical experience is also called by various term, clinical experience, student teaching, teaching practice as well as practicum. During the teaching practicum, student teacher conducts classroom lessons and performs the duties of a teacher in school. According to the Teacher Training Division Guidelines on practicum for pre-service teacher training (2005), teaching practicum provide opportunities for student teacher to practice theories in teaching and learning practices and to develop individual teaching and learning theories. The main aim of teaching practicum is to produce effective school teachers and not merely classroom teacher. Student teachers are also provided with opportunities for a variety of encounters with children in schools. This means that student teachers are not only know how to teach effectively in class but are also able to handle co-curricular activities as well. In short, teaching practicum programme is to equip future teachers with the essential experiences which can lead to the development of their professional competencies. Teaching practicum aims for student teachers to master and practice all the concepts, principles, skills and values in order to become a professional teacher. 2.2 What is belief ? According to Michaela Borg (2001), belief is a proposition which may consciously or unconsciously held, is evaluative in that it is accepted as true by the individual, and there imbued with emotive commitment; further, it serves as guide to thought and bahaviour. On the other hand, Fishbein and Ajzen (1975) define belief as information, factual, and nonfactual cognitions. Cognition is described as what someone knows or assumes to be true (Berkowitz, 1980, p. 275). No matter what is ones belief, the beliefs still play an important role in many aspects of teaching, as well as in life. It is because these beliefs help individuals make sense of the world, influencing how new information in perceived, and whether it is accepted or rejected. Nevertheless, beliefs differ from knowledge, although they are related to each other, in that beliefs do not always represent the truth. Beliefs are not only considered as discipline-dependent (Tsai, 2002), but beliefs also include understandings, assumptions, images or propositions that are felt to be true (Kagan, 1992 Richardson, 1996). 2.3 Theoretical framework 2.3.1 Teachers Beliefs Shulman (1986) claimed that a teacher needs to know about the subject matter, to know a variety of general instructional strategies, and to know about the specific strategies necessary for teaching particular subject matter. Most of us would also agree that the good teacher transforms curriculum goals and guidelines in such a way that a particular student is able to master and understand the related content. Dan Lortie states that ones personal predispositions are not only relevant but, in fact, stand at the core of becoming a teacher. Teachers belief is a term usually used to refer to teachers pedagogic beliefs, or those beliefs of relevance to an individual teaching. The areas most commonly explored are teachers beliefs about teaching, learning, and learners; subject matter; self as a teacher, or the role of a teacher (Calderhead, 1995). Besides that, teachers beliefs do play a central role in the process of teacher development. Those beliefs form part of the process of understanding how teachers conceptualize their work as a teacher. Tattos (1996, p. 155) important work on beliefs concluded lay cultural norms among enrollees are strongly ingrained and that most teacher education, as it is currently structured, is a weak intervention to alter particular views regarding the teaching and management of diverse learners. Another study shows that a persons belief system has pervasive effects in different spheres of activity- ideological, conceptual, perceptual, and esthetic (Rokeach, 1960, p. 288). In addition, Brown found that certain philosophical beliefs and educational beliefs were effective in predicting agreement-disagreement with experimentalism of classroom practice. Indications were that professed educational beliefs had a generalized effect on teaching behavior; specific fundamental beliefs were most powerful in influencing specific classroom behaviors (Brown Webb, 1968, p. 215). To support those beliefs, Clark and Peterson (1986) proposed that: The most resilient or core teachers beliefs are formed on the basis of teachers own schooling as young students while observing teachers who taught them. Subsequent teacher education appears not to disturb these early beliefs, not least, perhaps, because it rarely addresses them. If teachers actually try out a particular innovation which does not initially conform to their prior beliefs or principles and the innovation proves helpful or successful, then accommodation of an alternative belief or principle is more possible than in any other circumstance. For the notice teacher, classroom experience and day to day interaction with colleagues has the potential to influence particular relationships among beliefs and principles, and, over time, consolidate the individuals permutation of them. Nevertheless, it seems that greater experience does not lead to greater adaptability in our beliefs and, thereby, the abandonment of strongly held pedagogic principles. Quite the contrary in fact. The more experience we have, the more reliant on our core principles we have become and the less conscious we are doing so. Professional development which engages teachers in a direct exploration if their beliefs and principles may provide the opportunity for greater self-awareness through reflection and critical questioning as starting points for later adaptation. The teachers conceptualizations of, for example, language, learning, and teaching are situated within that persons wider belief system concerning such issues as human nature, culture, society, education and so on. Consequently, teachers belief about the importance of teaching have a great impact on their teaching practices (Salmon, 1988). The next section will look at teachers belief about teaching practicum. 2.3.2 Teachers belief about teaching practicum The term practicum is used generically to refer to the different types of school attachment; namely, school experience, teaching assistantship, teaching practice and so forth that pre-service students will be undergoing as part their initial teacher preparation programme. The school-based practicum is designed to enable student teachers to observe a teachers real work of work, and to apply and refine the knowledge and skills acquired through course-work in classroom teaching. Student teachers are to use the opportunities during the practicum to integrate education theory and practice and to widen their practical experiences. In the context of teaching practicum, a student teacher is expected to apply what they have learned theoretically. To maximize the utility of practicum, it is important that teacher trainers actively promote the effective learning during the practicum period. Effective learning should be concerned with the learning of organized wholes of knowledge. It is a process that involves developing the ability to identify the objectives one is seeking and, within a flexible framework, optimizing a programme to meet these objectives, in line with individual learning attributes. Effective learning also needs to achieve transference of knowledge from the artificiality of a training course, to practical application where the trainees adapts acquired knowledge to the perceived needs of a particular problem or situation (Robotham, 2003). Many researches claim that teaching practicum is a central element in most pre-service teacher education programmes. Many also debates about the assessment of the practice of student teachers often reflect ongoing philosophical debates about the nature of teacher education (Brown, 1996) and traditional barriers between teachers and academics (Groundwater-Smith, 1997). A set of written criteria used to assess the competence of pre-service secondary teacher education students during practicum. The dimensions of the assessment protocol did not appear to be based on any articulated theory of good teaching practice, and there were significant doubts about the extent to which the various groups of stakeholders had a shared understanding of the standards implied in the criteria. In education what we label as standards are socially constructed and frequently fuzzy (Sadler, 1987) and require the shared understanding of a construct in a community of practice (Wiliam, 1996). 2.4 Related Research Studies 2.4.1 Pre-service teachers beliefs about teaching practicum Prior to actual teaching experiences, pre-service teachers derive their initial views on teaching from at least two sources. Firstly, it comes from their personal experiences as students, consisting of their interactions with and exposures to various teachers throughout their school life, with such factors having a tendency to influence their reasons for career choice, as well as beliefs and practices on their professional lives (Ben-Petetz, 2003; Bramald, Hardman, Leat, 1995; Saban, 2003). Secondly, it results from pre-service teachers forming their conceptual repertoires as they undergo the formal training provided by teacher educational programs (Bermald, 1995; Dunkin, Precian, Nettle, 1994; Nettle, 1998), initially consisting of theoretical knowledge through foundation and methods courses, and eventually progressing or culminating into the application of such theories via the so-called practice teaching. Few studies have been done in pre-service teachers. The following assumptions are fundamental to a justification of practice as a part of the training of teachers: Teaching is behavior, and as behavior is subject to analysis, change, and improvement. Much of the habitual behavior which individuals have developed in other contexts is inappropriate for the teaching situation. Under present conditions, much teaching is conducted under conditions of stress. Teaching is an extremely complex kind of behavior, involving the full range of thought processes, communication and physical action. Teachers, through practice can learn to analyze, criticize and control their own teaching behavior. Practice has the dual purpose of training and the elimination of the unfit. Practice provides the experience which gives meaning to many other aspects of instruction in education (teaching). The beliefs of pre-service TESL teachers have may merit their own exploration. These beliefs may influence students in acquisition of knowledge, selection and definition of specific teaching tasks, and interpretation of knowledge, and interpretation of course content. Puchta (1999) asserts that beliefs are guiding principles of our students behavior and strong perceptual filtersà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ they act as if they were true. On the other hand, Dunkin (1994) claims that how student-teachers views on teaching may be influenced by formal teaching practicum programme. Kennedy (1996) hypothesizes that real and effective change in teachers practices can only occur through a change in their beliefsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ the way teachers behave.

Product Layouts and Group Technologies Essay -- Operations Management

Product Layouts and Group Technologies In today’s world of operations management, layouts of manufacturing processes play a key role in achieving and maintaining long term goals. These layouts need to be well thought out and carefully planned for they can effect the cost or producing goods and delivering services for many years into the future. Layouts are dependent on the technology utilized and product type manufactured. There are four typical layouts: process layout, product layout, fixed position layout and combination layout. A combination layout is a layout that shares properties of two or more layouts. Such as a group technology layout that shares characteristics of a process layout and a product layout. They’re similar in that the cells are designed to perform a specific set of processes, and it is similar to product layout in that the cells are dedicated to a limited range of products. Each layout usually involves compromise and balancing of the process variables and it’s always debatable whether the perfect layout actually exists. â€Å"The purpose of layout planning is: to maximize the efficiency and profitability of a manufacturing operation to allow consistency and quality in products to be produced to allow flexibility and ease of adaptation for machinery and production personnel to products as required by the market†(Anonymous 2). Some characteristics of a good layout would be minimum material movement, workstations close together, easily adjustable to changing conditions and one plant floor so that everyone can see what’s going on. To define and explain, a product layout is a product-orientated layout that is appropriate for producing one standardized product in typically large volumes. Each unit being produced requires the same sequence of operations from beginning till end. During times when product demand is high enough and sustainable over a long period of time, it is usually cost effective to rearrange resources from a process layout to a product layout. In certain cases the equipment layouts are arranged so that the product in manufactured in a sequential and continuous arrangement. A good example would be an assembly line. Assembly lines can vary widely either they can be virtually 100 percent parts assembly by workers or by a transfer line where all the work being done is by machine. An assembly line is ... ...erformance. For example the decision to adopt a process layout which often groups workers according to skills may not be compatible with an operation requiring some persons of all skills to produce a variety of different products. For process and product layouts, the design begins with a statement of the goals and facility. Preliminary layouts are then designed to meet these goals. After initial designs have been developed, improved designs are sought through numerical analysis and discussion with the users. The development of a layout should involve everyone that it is effecting. Computer based models can be used for preliminary estimations to create some preliminary layouts using CAD or similar drawing software. The layouts then can be analyzed against the goals of the facility and improvement made if necessary. In summary while there are a lot of tools for good layout planning and each layout are dependent on the type of products and external variables impacting on the manufacturing process. A skilled layout planner working with manufacturing staff and management should work through objectives and options to determine the optimal solution for a given facility. Product Layouts and Group Technologies Essay -- Operations Management Product Layouts and Group Technologies In today’s world of operations management, layouts of manufacturing processes play a key role in achieving and maintaining long term goals. These layouts need to be well thought out and carefully planned for they can effect the cost or producing goods and delivering services for many years into the future. Layouts are dependent on the technology utilized and product type manufactured. There are four typical layouts: process layout, product layout, fixed position layout and combination layout. A combination layout is a layout that shares properties of two or more layouts. Such as a group technology layout that shares characteristics of a process layout and a product layout. They’re similar in that the cells are designed to perform a specific set of processes, and it is similar to product layout in that the cells are dedicated to a limited range of products. Each layout usually involves compromise and balancing of the process variables and it’s always debatable whether the perfect layout actually exists. â€Å"The purpose of layout planning is: to maximize the efficiency and profitability of a manufacturing operation to allow consistency and quality in products to be produced to allow flexibility and ease of adaptation for machinery and production personnel to products as required by the market†(Anonymous 2). Some characteristics of a good layout would be minimum material movement, workstations close together, easily adjustable to changing conditions and one plant floor so that everyone can see what’s going on. To define and explain, a product layout is a product-orientated layout that is appropriate for producing one standardized product in typically large volumes. Each unit being produced requires the same sequence of operations from beginning till end. During times when product demand is high enough and sustainable over a long period of time, it is usually cost effective to rearrange resources from a process layout to a product layout. In certain cases the equipment layouts are arranged so that the product in manufactured in a sequential and continuous arrangement. A good example would be an assembly line. Assembly lines can vary widely either they can be virtually 100 percent parts assembly by workers or by a transfer line where all the work being done is by machine. An assembly line is ... ...erformance. For example the decision to adopt a process layout which often groups workers according to skills may not be compatible with an operation requiring some persons of all skills to produce a variety of different products. For process and product layouts, the design begins with a statement of the goals and facility. Preliminary layouts are then designed to meet these goals. After initial designs have been developed, improved designs are sought through numerical analysis and discussion with the users. The development of a layout should involve everyone that it is effecting. Computer based models can be used for preliminary estimations to create some preliminary layouts using CAD or similar drawing software. The layouts then can be analyzed against the goals of the facility and improvement made if necessary. In summary while there are a lot of tools for good layout planning and each layout are dependent on the type of products and external variables impacting on the manufacturing process. A skilled layout planner working with manufacturing staff and management should work through objectives and options to determine the optimal solution for a given facility.

The Industrial Revolution and Great Britain Essay -- The Industrial Re

Since the advent of man, the human race has gone through many changes throughout history. One of the greatest and most crucial changes was the Industrial Revolution of Great Britain. Although the Industrial Revolution did have a few drawbacks, the positive outcomes of the Revolution far outweighed the negative effects. It pushed Great Britain fifty years ahead of other European countries and morphed the country into one of the strongest nations of its time. The Revolution improved the overall state of Great Britain mainly through the innovation and invention of new technologies, improvement in communication and transportation, and enhancing the lifestyles of the British commoner. During the time period of the Industrial Revolution, Great Britain saw rapid change. Many new inventions and innovations drastically improved both the economic state of Britain and the lives of the people. The introduction of better farming practices and inventions of new farming tools such as the wheat drill, which was a â€Å"sowing device that positioned and covered seeds in the soil† , made farming a lot more efficient and required less human labor. As a result people moved to cities in search of jobs, thus providing a large workforce for factories. During the industrial revolution â€Å"many people left their rural communities to work in towns and cities...working in a factory† . These factories became the powerhouses of the industrial revolution. â€Å"Never before had people been put to work in such a well-organized way† as they had been in factories. This new method of manufacturing goods exponentially increased the economy of Britain as new machines we re introduced. These new machineries enabled cheaper labor and mass production of goods at lower costs, a... ... Heath, 1983. Print. 3) "British Industrial Revolution." British Industrial Revolution. Web. 28 May 2012. . 4) "Canal History." Canal History. Web. 28 May 2012. . 5) "The Fabulous Story of the Postage Stamp." Arpin Philately. Web. 28 May 2012. . 6) "How the Steam Engine Changed the World." LiveScience.com. Web. 28 May 2012. 7) Mooney, Carla. The Industrial Revolution, White River Junction, Nomad Press, 2011. print 8)"The Open Door Web Site : History : The Industrial Revolution : The Development of Roads." The Open Door Web Site : History : The Industrial Revolution : The Development of Roads. Web. 28 May 2012. .

Iron Absorption From The Whole Diet: Comparison Of The Effect Of Two D :: essays research papers fc

Iron Absorption from the Whole Diet: Comparison of the Effect of Two Different Distributions of Daily Calcium Intake Hypothesis - If a woman distributes her daily intake of calcium by having less of it in her lunch and dinner meals and more in her breakfast and evening meals, then this would reduce the inhibitory effects calcium has on heme iron and nonheme iron absorption. Background Information - This experiment is one of many that addresses calcium’s inhibitory affects on iron absorption. In 1994, the Consensus Development Panel in Optimal Calcium Intake suggested an increase of the current Recommended Dietary Allowances of calcium(Whiting, p.77). This goal of this increase was to aid in the prevention of osteoporosis and other bone diseases. Unfortunately, this attempt at prevention could have an adverse affect on the human body’s ability to absorb iron.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Recent studies have shown that eating a normal daily allowance of calcium cuts iron absorption by as much as 50-60%(Hallberg et al. p.118). Other studies examine the affect of iron bioavailability on menstruating, pre- menopausal, and post-menopausal women(Rossander-Hulten et al and Gleerup et al). One of the fears of an increased amount of calcium intake is the increased possibility of anemia in women who are already susceptible to this condition. The iron inhibition by calcium is a classical example of how the correction of one nutritional problem can be the cause of another.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The physiological mechanism of this calcium-iron relationship remains a mystery, however there are two feasible theories. One states that calcium competes for an iron binding site on intestinal epithelial cells. It is believed calcium binds to the protein mobilferrin on the epithelial cells, which is the iron transport protein(Whiting, p.78). Another group of scientists theorizes that iron is able to be transported into the epithelial cells without problem, however the iron then has trouble getting into the blood stream. The presence of calcium inhibits iron’s ability to leave the epithelial layer.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Another very interesting theory is not on the microscopic level but in the evolutionary plane. Eaton et al. state that one possibility for this phenomenon could lie in the Homo sapiens genetic ancestry. As little as 200 years ago humans had almost double the amount of calcium intake as they do in the present, because humans evolved in a high-calcium nutritional environment. With the decrease in calcium, there has also been a large decrease in physical activity(Eaton et al.). The inhibitory effect of calcium on iron absorption could be related to the low intakes of iron and calcium in conjunction with the present low-energy lifestyle(Glerrup et al. p. 103). Terms - Extrinsic radioisotopic iron tracer - Radioisotopes of iron (59Fe and 55Fe)

Environmental Scanning: Identifying Threats and Opportunities

Organizational environment consists of both external and internal factors. Environment must be scanned so as to determine development and forecasts of factors that will influence organizational success. Environmental scanning refers to possession and utilization of information about occasions, patterns, trends, and relationships within an organization’s internal and external environment. It helps the managers to decide the future path of the organization. Scanning must identify the threats and opportunities existing in the environment.While strategy formulation, an organization must take advantage of the opportunities and minimize the threats. A threat for one organization may be an opportunity for another. Internal analysis of the environment is the first step of environment scanning. Organizations should observe the internal organizational environment. This includes employee interaction with other employees, employee interaction with management, manager interaction with othe r managers, and management interaction with shareholders, access to natural resources, brand awareness, organizational structure, main staff, operational potential, etc.Also, discussions, interviews, and surveys can be used to assess the internal environment. Analysis of internal environment helps in identifying strengths and weaknesses of an organization. As business becomes more competitive, and there are rapid changes in the external environment, information from external environment adds crucial elements to the effectiveness of long-term plans. As environment is dynamic, it becomes essential to identify competitors’ moves and actions. Organizations have also to update the core competencies and internal environment as per external environment.Environmental factors are infinite, hence, organization should be agile and vigile to accept and adjust to the environmental changes. For instance – Monitoring might indicate that an original forecast of the prices of the raw m aterials that are involved in the product are no more credible, which could imply the requirement for more focused scanning, forecasting and analysis to create a more trustworthy prediction about the input costs. In a similar manner, there can be changes in factors such as competitor’s activities, technology, market tastes and preferences.While in external analysis, three correlated environment should be studied and analyzed — †¢immediate / industry environment †¢national environment †¢broader socio-economic environment / macro-environment Examining the industry environment needs an appraisal of the competitive structure of the organization’s industry, including the competitive position of a particular organization and it’s main rivals. Also, an assessment of the nature, stage, dynamics and history of the industry is essential. It also implies evaluating the effect of globalization on competition within the industry.Analyzing the national e nvironment needs an appraisal of whether the national framework helps in achieving competitive advantage in the globalized environment. Analysis of macro-environment includes exploring macro-economic, social, government, legal, technological and international factors that may influence the environment. The analysis of organization’s external environment reveals opportunities and threats for an organization. Strategic managers must not only recognize the present state of the environment and their industry but also be able to predict its future positions.

Coolest thing i ever did Essay

The coolest thing I’ve ever done or should I say the dumbest thing I ever done was run my mother’s car into our house. It was the end of summer starting my freshman year at Destrehan High School and I wanted to do something that would have made me seem cool to the kids around the neighborhood so I decided to steal my mother’s car. My mom owned a 2002 Nissan Pathfinder that she didn’t really use, usually just my step dad would use it to go to work and my mom used the truck so I didn’t see a problem with them riding together one morning so I can have the car for myself for the day. One morning during the beginning of the week my step dad had set the key down on the table and it was just a key so I could have easily took it and have everyone else think he misplaced it. For two days straight my parents was looking for the key and I acted as though I had no idea of what they was looking for but he just used the spare key. The third day I woke up and I looked out my window and I saw the car outside knowing I still had the stolen key under my mattress. I was a little too anxious because I knew I had the car to myself and I couldn’t get caught for taking it. It was around eleven o’clock when I got up and went get in the car. A free adventure I took and I thought I was a grown driver driving on the road with other drivers but I wasn’t it was very illegal but I didn’t care†¦ I felt cool. An hour went by and I traveled all over Destrehan I felt like my cool patch should have been given to me that day because it took a lot out of me to do something that crazy. I arrived back to my place without being stopped by the police or pulling up to the truck in the driveway, I felt so bad even hammer couldn’t touch me. My step dad always parked the car really close to the end of the driveway so that was my goal to do, I pulled in, parked the car, and got out. Then I realized I wasn’t close enough and they would have notice something funny. So I decided to get back in the car and park it correctly. Backing up I didn’t notice that I was that far away so I pushed on the gas because our driveway was more of a hill so I needed a little help getting up there. When I pushed the gas I went to fast and had hit the trash can that was in front the house, I thought it was funny and didn’t really worry about it because I could have switched it out with someone else’s. I got out and I noticed I parked the car correctly so that was a good thing but when I walked towards the trash can I heard some noise behind it and I saw that the front window was shattered, that’s when I realized things just got real. I started to panic and come up with lies to explain the window since the car didn’t look damage. My friend Shawn came outside and stared making fun of me because he knew I was going to get in trouble. As he walked in my house to go get something to drink he noticed something that I should have took a look at. His exact words were â€Å" umm Laci I think you should come take a look at this† I know I was inside but I couldn’t understand why I could see outside, that’s when I knew I was dead but I still felt cool for some reason. Explaining this to my mom wasn’t easy at all so I stayed a few feet away from her. When my step dad arrived home he did a little bit more investigation and saw that not only did I brake the trash can, the window, and ran the car through the wall but I also smashed the hose pipe that was connected to the house inside the bricks so there was no water in the house at all. It took them a long time to forgive and trust me again and it also took a lot of butt whippings to relive all that anger out of my mom. Out of all that happened in that week in a weird way I still felt pretty cool for that since it was a fun story to tell to the class. So I am glad to say that was the dumbest, scariest, and coolest thing I ever done.

An Analysis of Counterfeit Culture in Fashion Essay

Among the social constructs that exist in most cultures and societies, fashion is probably one of the most ambiguous; it can be purposive yet frivolous, essential yet expressive, and functional yet influential.   What started as mere protection from the elements has become a global industry that defines generations and mindsets, producing lifestyles and preferences that are adhered to by large segments of world population.   This phenomenon is linked to the creation of brands and branding—symbols of a particular lifestyle choice that may reflect certain values and beliefs, which ultimately translate into an economy marked by persuasion and aspiration. Popular culture has appropriated fashion and its related concepts in a multitude of ways, and has contributed to the growth of a significant number of brands.   An excellent example of this is the practice of celebrity endorsement, wherein brands are assigned to famous individuals—those who have gained success and equivalent reputations in their chosen areas of expertise—and fashion is probably the most visible.   The lure and appeal of these celebrities instantly affect consumer behavior, and assure economic success for the fashion brand owner. Likewise, a celebrity increases his or her status by being associated with brands that have a positive, aspirational image—which is then communicated to the consumer.   This is perhaps the single most important reason why certain brands are coveted; and such desire is measured in its practical effects:   increased sales, brand growth, and higher tag prices.   However, these results also correlate with negative practices, and one of the most controversial is the production of counterfeit goods. The journey of the garment, which is the basic unit of fashion, traces a long road from its beginnings in the mind and hands of its creator—the designer—who must have included the necessary components for protection and expression, combined with style.   Now, a single garment already connotes bigger concepts of identity and socio-political notions; but the dangers of counterfeiting threatens to redefine the social and political aspects associated with an original creation, as well as the stripping of its unique identity. If the goal of counterfeiting is to help individuals with their status and self-esteem issues, then the act could be evaluated on the level of psychological support and alternative means of coping; but since counterfeiting fashion goods is not ever likely to have this altruistic objective at its core, there can be no other way to define it but downright stealing and infringement. Counterfeiting, as evident in its proliferation worldwide, is a profitable business; people involved in it—the producers and consumers—are liable for their actions.   While consumers could be incorrectly seen as passive participants in the transaction, producers have no other reason to be in it but to claim rights and profits meant for the original source. II.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Practice of Counterfeiting Fashion Counterfeit goods are defined by Rutter and Bryce (1146) as â€Å"those which illegally imitate, copy or duplicate a good or use a trademark without authorization†, and thus are subject to certain parameters and criteria that will reveal its true source.   The practice of counterfeiting is a trade no longer new, but its occurrence in fashion and its high-profile industry has produced effects that delve not just on appropriating someone else’s ideas—it is now an industry in itself, founded on the copied factors of design and appeal, and, most importantly, on the deliberate attempt to claim the benefits originally meant for the source. Key in this discussion is the level of desire associated with a particular fashion item, which necessarily stems from the popularity and reputation achieved by a brand.   In order to sustain this kind of exclusive image, most fashion brands use leverage on price and availability—the more expensive and limited, the better chances they have for assuming desire, apart from the given quality and originality of design. Therefore, if a fashion item is deemed unreachable or exists in limited quantities, it almost always translates to promoting want and desire in consumers.   Take for instance the Hermes Birkin, an ordinary-looking ladies’ handbag that uses the strategy of exclusivity; with its hefty tag price and buying procedure of having prospective buyers on a list that may be addressed after months—even years—the item has realized its status as a must-have for the status seeker. Counterfeiting enters the picture at this point, taking advantage of the limited production and availability.   Fake Birkins are now introduced, which greatly diminishes the value placed on the original, whether or not marks of identification are put in place.   International fashion brands have become victims of the counterfeiting trade, based on the documented $15.8 billion in terms of losses in total sales of all counterfeited products (Rutter and Bryce 1148).   The original standpoints on the social and political meanings of fashion within the areas of identity and culture have now been taken over by the issues of equality and class. III.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   China and the Economy of Counterfeiting The process of counterfeiting in its affinity with controversy would not have reached great heights if not for the participation of the producer and the consumer.   News and information in recent years have pointed to specific locales where counterfeiting originates on a large scale, and China—the biggest among several countries involved in the practice—is perhaps the most significant player in the industry. With its huge land area and population, the ascent of China toward economic superiority is apparent, and is acknowledged as the potential determinant of world fashion and its future (Mead 419).   However, its issues regarding its history and politics have pushed the Chinese toward a work ethic of hardship and the idea of quantity (Mead 424), believing that this attitude equates to a richer, better life.   Its sheer size and the persevering quality of its people have made China a major target of international companies, in the same way acknowledging that China has the capability of producing any random commodity required by the market (Pang 120). These two factors, size and capacity, are the same factors that have allowed the Chinese to take on jobs that pay less than required by their Western counterparts, thus making them the perfect players in the goal of mass-producing consumer goods.   Apparel brands such as Nike and Adidas (Pang 129), to name a few, have been manufactured in China for some time; the presence of these coveted brands in the same work environment can eventually give rise to their counterfeit versions. China should not be mistaken as a country that disrespects ownership and originality of ideas; in fact, its history should always be appropriated, and the connections between the past and present should be made.   Work and production were the landmarks of Maoist China, and its recent adoption of capitalism has resulted in a fanaticism for Western brands. Putting these two together would allow one to understand the motivations behind the culture of counterfeiting in China—as it is but a product of opposing cultural and social values informed by history.   However, countries like China and other bastions of counterfeiting will not be able to justify their business any longer; stricter rules on counterfeit goods have been put in place in major locales around the world, and arguments of tradition and historical events will soon become passe and inconsqeuential. IV.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Fashion Consumer in the Counterfeit World The consumer of counterfeit goods in general is often referred to as the ‘other’ (Rutter and Bryce 1149), and rightly so—for the consumption of products already known to be fake and copied reveals a statement that corresponds to the consumer’s social, political, and economic status, as well as ideology.   These are people who have been excluded from the privilege of affording merchandise that may be too costly or unavailable, yet possess a desire to achieve the same effects gleaned from ownership.

Prohibition

Issue #10 Was prohibition a failure? In 1919, the Volstead Act outlawed alcoholic beverages with an alcoholic content over 0. 5 percent. This topic is debated in the book, Taking Sides; there are two opposing sides to the question, â€Å"was prohibition a failure? † David E. Kyvig argues that the Volstead act did not specifically prohibit the use or consumption of alcohol beverages and that liquor was still being provided by gangland bootleggers to provide alcohol to the demands of the consumers.Regardless of the efforts to enforce the law the federal government failed to create an acceptable institutional network that insured the obedience of the people. Even though the consumption of alcohol did drop significantly during the 1920s, the legislation failed to eliminate drinking. On the other hand, J. C. Burnham argues that the enforcement of the prohibition laws were effective in certain areas. The enactment of the prohibition laws led to several positive social significances. For example, during the 1920s, there were fewer people arrested for public drunkenness and fewer people being treated for alcohol related diseases. He concludes that the prohibition was more of a success than a failure. Prohibition led to the first and the only time an Amendment of United States Constitution was repealed more than once. Personally, I think that the Volstead Act of 1919 was a failure and the prohibition laws gave rise to speakeasies and organized crime. David E. Kyvig states that the prohibition was a failure.When the Volstead Act was passed not every American felt obligated to stop drinking alcohol. The consumers were being supplied at first in small amounts but as time progressed they were being supplied in excess amounts of alcoholic beverages. The Volstead Act banned manufacturing of â€Å"intoxicating liquors for beverage purposes† but it did not state that they could not transport, sale, import, or export intoxicating liquors, thus making it legal to pur chase or use and it was not a crime to do so. It allowed people to continue to possess intoxicant beverages prior to prohibition.The act outlawed all beverages with alcoholic contents over the set amount of 0. 5 percent. People in many different parts of the United States voluntarily obeyed the Eighteenth Amendment; citizens elsewhere deliberately chose to ignore it. These kinds of violations seemed to significantly grow in small towns as well as large cities. National prohibition quickly gained an image, not as a law which significantly reduced the use of alcoholic beverages, but relatively as a law that was broadly disobeyed by many.As alcohol became more in demand it created an opportunity for bootleggers to make money off of supplying to the demands made by the people. Crime rates escalated greatly as well as violent outbreaks between those competing for territory. In the 1920s the prisons contained a little over 5,000 inmates, after ten years the number of inmates in prisons co ntained over 12,000, more than 4,000 of those inmates were incarcerated for liquor violations. The court systems were so overwhelmed by the national prohibition and were overworked with all the trials they had.Prohibition may have reduced the consumption of alcohol in the United States, the law fell substantially short of all expectations it had. J. C. Burnham counter argues that Prohibition was quite effective in many places. He goes on to say that prohibition began well before 1920, in addition to the local wide spread of the local prohibition laws, federal laws greatly restricted the production and sale of alcoholic beverages mostly in the beginning in 1917.Manufactures of distilled spirits beverages as an example, had been forbidden for more than three months when the congress passed the Eighteenth Amendment. The Eighteenth Amendment was created to prohibit the manufacturing, selling, importing, or transporting of â€Å"intoxicating liquors†. It was designed to kill all t he liquor businesses and the saloons in particular. The Amendment did not prohibit people from possessing or drinking alcohol. Burnham reinforces his position by stating that the prohibition had a positive impact on society.The prohibition cased a decrease of arrests for public drunkenness, fewer hospitalizations for alcoholism and less incidences of other alcohol related disease, like cirrhosis of the liver from 1918 to 1920-1922. The most substantial evidence that prohibition did not fail was in the mental hospital admission rates. People who had to deal with alcohol related mental diseases were impressed with the recent reviewing of New York state hospitals mental hospital admissions rate was only 1. 9 percent for 1920. With the topic question, Was prohibition a failure? David E.Kyvig made a clear, well defined and easy to understand argument compared to J. C. Burnham. Burnham’s argument was difficult to understand where he stood in his argument. He would say a few reasons how prohibition failed in on aspect but then he would give on reason why it did not. It was hard to keep track when he was defending the side he was on. Kyvig, on the other hand made it very clear how prohibition failed in certain aspects and he explained exactly how it failed. He gave specific reasons as to why people would ignore and break the law to get their alcohol.He explains the negative effects the prohibition had on society. How prohibition created an opportunity for bootleggers to make money by supply what the people were demanding. He clarifies how crime rates went up as well as how violence broke out due to bootleggers fighting for territory. David E. Kyvig gave a more in depth explanation than J. C. Burnham; he was able to support his claims and had provided clear and precise answers. He gave you statistics to prove what he was stating. With all the evidence that he was able present he persuaded me into believing that in reality prohibition did fail.The question is, wa s prohibition a failure? I must agree with Kyvig, prohibition did in fact fail in many ways. The prohibition law was not favored by many people and that was proven by the high crime rates, the high amount of court hearings relating to violations of the prohibition law, and the failure of Congress to provide enough enforcement. Even when the Eighteenth Amendment and the Volstead Act were passed people never stopped drinking. Physicians were able to legally prescribe alcohol to their patients, 57,000 pharmacists obtained licenses to dispense liquor.As the law enforcements began cracking down on the consumption of alchol it opened a door for bootleggers to come into business and make money off of those who demanded alcohol. Bootleggers like Al Capone became very successful in his dispensing of alcohol. He says that prohibition was just a business to him and he supplied what was being demanded. Violence became evident as more bootleggers began compete with other groups for territory. As these fights over territories became more and more prominent, many people were being killed due to the rival gangs. However I do believe that there were some ood out comes from prohibition. There were fewer drunkards out in public, less alcohol incidents and hospitalization due to alcoholism. I think the prohibition laws could have worked if there weren’t so many loop holes for people to get away with things. So all in all, both sides of this topic had very good, valid point. David E. Kyvig proves that the prohibition law failed. He does acknowledge that the consumption rate of alcohol has decreased but that it was inevitable to stop everyone from drinking alcohol ever. So really this was a noble experiment but evidently failed.

Global Financial Meltdown Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Global Financial Meltdown - Essay Example 2) The downfall of Iceland In the case of Iceland, it was a perfect place for a family to live till the government decided to deregulate the banks and let multinationals exploit their natural resources. The result was a disastrous impact on the environment and the banks collapsed due to which unemployment tripled and many of the people lost their life savings. When the largest banks were privatized, they borrowed money totaling to 120 billion dollars which was roughly ten times the size of the economy. These banks and their activities were supported by American auditors such as KPMG and credit rating company which rewarded them highest form of grading; Triple A’s. In the end, regulators formed the role of mere spectators and did nothing. 3) Destructive growth of United States financial sector After the Great Depression, the financial sector was strictly regulated; most of the banks were local and were not allowed to use depositor’s money for any sort of investment. But then the investment banks went public and that is when the financial sector went berserk. The investment bankers now were owners of huge amounts of public money. When President Reagan came into power, he with his treasury secretary who was a CEO of Merrill Lynch, began a thirty year deregulation plan. The first firms to be deregulated were savings and loans companies. These firms were deregulated which provided them with a permit to use depositors’ savings for risky speculation purposes. They failed and many went to jail. Deregulation continued in Clinton’s era and by the late 1990’s you could identify the major financial firms. The deregulation activity was overseen by a Harvard economic professor Larry Summers, an economist Greenspan and Robert Rubin a former CEO of investment bank Goldman Sachs. This clearly shows us how economics was exploited for personal gains, politics was being influenced by the financial sector and the academia corrupted. Further on, th e documentary (Ferguson, â€Å"Inside Job†) informs us about how financial firms became so strong that they could breach a law, be exempted by it for a year and then a new law is passed to facilitate their interest. The merger between Citicorp & Travelers is a mirror image of the above statement. While the financial sector continued to become powerful, the internet bubble crash gave the economy a huge blow. We realize through the documentary that the internet bubble was pre-planned because investment banks were involved in promoting firms which they knew would surely fail. Conversations between the personnel of investment banks termed those firms as useless while they were describing them as perfect investment opportunity to the public. With deregulation taking place and the technology advancements occurring; derivatives entered the economy. They were engineered in order to make more profit, but in reality it was explosive material that would make the market highly volatile. In order to avoid any discussion over its regulation, a bill was passed in favor of de-regulation of derivatives. As the industry was even more powerfully dominated by a few gigantic investment banks, security and insurance companies and credit rating agencies than before; financial sector became even more complicated. 4) Complicated financial products engineered to grow profits Inside job gives

The East Asian Financial Crisis in 1997 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

The East Asian Financial Crisis in 1997 - Essay Example There is much to be done on the Asian financial status and more so the financial architecture. It was believed that the crisis would only take few months but it surpassed this ideology and what are observed are cases of unemployment and the deterioration in the Gross National Produt (GNP). The crisis has gone beyond East Asia and other countries like Russia, South America and South Africa are also experiencing it. The development of advanced technology like the use of computers had a significant impact on the financial status of East Asia. However, Asia adopted the use of computers in carrying out its transactions and in which it was at a much higher rate than normal. On the other hand, screening of the repercussions of the global financial systems was zero and it rather encouraged it (Borthwick pp 121). East Asia also accepted the idea of interconnection of markets across the world and development of big institutional financial players. The combination of all this resulted into tremendous shocks and instability. Thailand as an example was struck by the crisis rapidly and within a short time, it crossed all over East Asia. The carrying out of this financial liberalization was done at a wrong time since its institutions did not have an idea or rather it was not prepared for any outcomes or consequences over it. In addition, the transaction that the country was making was at a high speed and in return it affected the short-term capital flowing across the boarders where by there were high and quick returns. "Only one to two percent is accounted for by foreign exchange transactions relating to trade and foreign direct investment. The remainder is for speculation or short-term investments that can move very quickly when the speculators' or investors' perceptions,"(Director Para 6). What took place in East Asia was not unique because even other countries across the world have already experienced the very problem, especially from the Latin America and this is to say, there is need to check on capital inflow so us to avoid the shocks and instability and also discouragement to the large institutional investors and players. Rumor had it that, East Asia currencies were being over valued but observation made stated market over-reaction which consequently led to overshooting of these currencies beyond unjustifiable levels by fundamentals. "A report ... revealed that hedge funds made big profits from speculative attacks on South East Asian currencies in July 1997", (Director para 12). The sudden depreciation of the currency of East Asia, led to short term debts which appeared to pose the threats. The depreciation was caused by the speculators attacks and reduction in their foreign reserves. As a result of these problems, the country's capability to repay the loan was deterred and the debt accumulated correspondingly. The foreign reserves dropped drastically and could not repel off the speculative attempts. The short term foreign funds also begun to fall too destabilizing further the reserves and this consequently affected the country terribly in a way that it could not manage to clear away the debts, oblig ation and the calamity necessitated assistance which finally it obtained from IMF. It is argued that financial crisis in East Asia was as a result of

How should one understand the classical structure of marriage, Essay

How should one understand the classical structure of marriage, divorce, and the main differences of marriage, divorce in the islamic schools like sunni and shi'a - Essay Example Marriage was very important and both partners were subjected to rules that would help keep the marriage peaceful. Marriage was very important and could not be dissolved easily. In most ancient societies, family members and those concerned would mediate on issues before initiating a divorce. In some cultures, the women had to get permission before divorcing. Some of the reasons for initiating a divorce in the classical times would be infidelity, political interests, and loss of wealth and lack of sex. Marriage had a strong and deep meaning. It involved families and not just the individuals getting into the union. Islamic schools like Sunni and Shi’a view marriage as a sacred institution that should be protected. Marriage was taken as a means to protect people from acts of indecency like adultery (Rapport, 30). Marriage is expected to provide protection, children, status and sexual satisfaction. In these laws, divorce would be initiated by the man or the woman. However, it is important to note that it is very difficult for a woman to be granted a divorce request. The couples would be given time to settle their differences before the divorce is finalized. Family members and relatives would be allowed to settle the matter before the divorce is finalized. It is essential to note the Shi’a are stricter on divorce than the Sunni. In some cases, the Sunni can allow a divorce without passing through the waiting period. This is not acceptable to the Shi’a. This implies that marriage holds a much stronger sacred meaning among the Shi’a. In conclusion, the understanding of marriage in Islam and classical times is similar in many ways. In both cases, marriage is a source of sexual satisfaction, protection and children. The importance of marriage is emphasized in Islam and in the classical cultures. In both cases, divorce is not easily granted except in civilized cultures like