My Wrist Watch Essay

My watch means a lot to me, and is one of my most cherished possessions which I’ve ever had. It came about on a beautiful day I decided to escort â€Å"shade† my girlfriend to the Mall for some window shopping. That same day was my birthday. I had never celebrated my birthday, and I still didn’t see any reason to do so that day. We checked as many things as we could in most stores, although we had no money to purchase one single thing. We walked into this particular jewelry store which Shade had always talked about in the past. I really had no love for jewelries, so for me, going or not going to that jewelry store, really made no difference at all. Along the line, we ended up at this jewelry store Shade had been talking about. Inside the jewelry store I felt so bored, and gazed into the thin air, like I really had something I took serious notice of; but in reality I was looking through the jewelry and its shelves. At this point I really felt like a soggy cow, forced to the river. Just about ten minutes in this store, my eyes caught sight of this object on the jewelry shelf. About five feet away, it looked so attractive and seemed as pretty as a Mona Lisa painting. Something really made this object outstanding compared to other objects on the shelf. Moving closer, and about a foot away from the jewelry shelf, I could conclude that this glittering object was a watch. From where I stood I could conclude that this watch was manufactured from solid yellow gold bars of about eighteen karat gold and stainless steel. it had about a 40mm case and about a 20mm bracelet. It had this unique feature of having an independent setting for the hour hand, and further featured the date function at the 3 o’clock hour of the face. It also had a crown laid at the 12 o’clock hour, which at that juncture, made me connect with the reality that I was standing in the presence of a brand of an almighty Rolex watch.  Within a split second, one of the sales ladies walked up to me and offered me assistance, but what could she offer me, except for name and the price of the watch, which I immediately asked her for. She let me know the name of the watch was a Rolex Thunderbird, and it would cost me about $800 to purchase it. At that point $800 registered in my brain as two times my monthly rent. All the same the watch still looked to me like it worth more than that amount. Standing close to the door was Shade; she looked like she had been standing there for close to twenty five minutes. I immediately met up with her, and I thought I heard her say she was surprised and thought that I never loved watches. I know I never really loved watches, but there was really something different and special about this watch that could not add up. Shade dropped me of at my apartment and hurriedly left, which was unlike shade that would always like to spend some time with me before leaving. Well for me, that was not a problem, because at the moment, the only immediate problem I had was where on earth I could get $800 to purchase the Rolex watch I saw back there at the jewelry store. As much as I could remember, I never expected Shade to came back to my apartment that night, as I was about to go to bed. But as she came back, this time she came with a birthday gift. Since I knew shade, she had never given me a birthday gift, nor had she ever remembered my birthday. Well on unwrapping the gift, and then opening the black box, there laid a Rolex Thunderbird wrist watch, which was exactly the same wrist watch, I saw at the store much earlier in the day. Nobody had given me a birthday gift in the past 20 years. This was the greatest gift of my life, and which till this day, remains an important piece of my life.

Critical Thinking Reflection Essay

Of the topics that I could choose from, I chose to discuss how to reduce poverty in the United States. Poverty in the United States has been something that I have been personally hearing about since I was a child. It has always been a topic during every Presidential debate that I can remember. While growing up, I have always pondered ways of helping others that were less fortunate than myself. This had led me to believe whole-heartedly that the poverty rate can be reduced through several avenues. The first way that poverty can be reduced is by increasing the minimum wage. The current minimum wage is $7.25. â€Å"In the late 1960s, a full-time worker earning the minimum wage could lift a family of three out of poverty† (Vallas, 2014). If the minimum wage back then was indexed to inflation it would be $10.86 per hour today (Vallas, 2014). If the United States would raise the minimum wage to $10.10 per hour, it would bring more than 4 million Americans out of poverty (Vallas, 2014). Another major way I feel that the poverty rate in the United States can be decreased is by taxing wealthy a lot more than they are currently being taxed. As of 2010, the lowest 20% of Americans paid an 11.1% tax rate while the top 1% paid only 5.6% (Waldron, 2013). The lowest percentile is paying nearly twice as much in taxes compared to the top 1 percentile. If the taxation of the rich was at a higher percentile then the monies accumulated could go toward programs that could help lift the less fortunate above the poverty line. It may be my personal opinion, but I do feel that the 1% can â€Å"afford† the higher taxes due to them not being affected by it as much as the lower and middle class. Even Warren Buffet stated, â€Å"I would suggest 30 percent of taxable income between $1 million and $10 million, and 35 percent on amounts above that† (Buffet, 2012). If we choose to change these two particular aspects, not only will poverty decrease greatly, but our economy would continue to flourish. Unfortunately, the legislature has the final say so when it comes to taxation of the United States populace. I just hope that one day that everyone can have the same goal in mind and find a way to bring up our fellow Americans from poverty. The critical thinking process I used in regards to formulating a resolution to lowering the poverty rate in the United States is quite similar to the process that we have been using throughout our studies in the classroom. The first step is to â€Å"State the Problem†, which is â€Å"How can we reduce the poverty rate in the United States†. The second step is to â€Å"State the alternatives†, which I described in my reflection above. The third step is to â€Å"Identify the Pros/Cons of each alternative. I will admit that I did skip this step because I felt that the 4th step clarified everything. Step 4 is â€Å"What is the solution†. I truly believe that a raise in minimum wage and the increased taxation of the wealthy would greatly reduce the poverty level within the United States. Step 5 is â€Å"How well is the solution working†. This can’t be evaluated until Congress passes laws to substantiate my alternatives that I put forth. As I stated in a previous assignment, critical thinking can be used in all areas of life. From making decisions regarding your children to that big decision at work, critical thinking can play a pivotal part in the success or failure of a person. Even though critical thinking is a great tool in making decisions, sometimes your â€Å"gut instinct† will overrule logic. It’s just human nature. We, as humans, are emotional at times and can make decisions based off of those emotions. This is the only feasible reason I could see the critical thinking process not working properly. As far as steps that I can take to continue to use critical thinking in the future, I feel that always taking a step back and weighing all options in any situation would require me to think critically. For me to be successful, I must make wise decisions and that comes from using the critical thinking techniques I have learned throughout this course. With these critical thinking techniques â€Å"under my belt†, I have all the necessary tools to  succeed and prosper in today’s society. Reference Page 1. Buffet, W. (2012). A Minimum Tax for the Wealthy. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/26/opinion/buffett-a-minimum-tax-for-the-wealthy.html?_r=1& 2. Vallas, R. (2014). The Top 10 Solutions to Cut Poverty and Grow the Middle Class. Retrieved from https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/poverty/news/2014/09/17/97287/the-top-10-solutions-to-cut-poverty-and-grow-the-middle-class/ 3. Waldron, T. (2013). ‘Fundamentally Unfair’: How States Tax The Richest 1 Percent At Half The Rate Of The Poor. Retrieved from http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2013/01/30/1514461/states-tax-rich-half-poor/

Imlementing strategy Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Imlementing strategy - Coursework Example However the government also exercises the use of central control measures and the exertion of control on workers who are reluctant to abide by the set policies. Leaders of public service organizations tend to underestimate change complexity and instead focus on tools, strategy and structure instead of relating to individual employees (Karp & Helgo, 2008). Such practices are seen as archaic, driving out talented personnel or causing them to underperform on the job. It is therefore important to understand the dynamics of change that takes place in an organization. The diagram that follows is a graphical model of the process of change. It begins with (1) a vision and articulated goals, against which (2) the current model is assessed. Out of this assessment and mindful of the vision and goals, (3) the desired model is formulated and defined, for which (4) operational plans are designed. Finally, (5) the operational plans are implemented, and the result of this implementation is fed back and compared against the vision, and the cycle is repeated. At some point, the change adoption would be considered either completed or unfeasible, at which case routine management techniques take over again. The process described is viewed from an organizational perspective; from the perspective of the human element, the transition process is not as straightforward. The second diagram below depicts the more complicated process of changing people’s minds and hearts to adapt to the change. The human subject is seen to go through a roller coaster of emotions that can end in either denial, disillusionment, hostility, or full acceptance and even advancement of the change measure. Because it refers to employees’ reactions, the transition process is encountered in the implementation of the change, and the simultaneous objects and agents of change are the organization’s staff. 3. Current literature on the process of managing strategic change. The following are recent fi ndings by researchers published in academic journals: 3.1 The main external drivers for change include customer requirements, demand from the stakeholders, regulatory demand, market competition and the shareholders; the internal drivers include the need to improve operational efficiency, the quality of service and processes (Oakland & Tanner, 2007). 3.2 Some reasons change efforts fail include four findings: first, too little effort is exerted by leaders into convincing employees of the merits of change; second, change is often seen as a single event when in truth it is an iterative process; third, leaders often conduct change with a top-down, rather than a bottom-up, approach; finally, organizations and leaders lack the flexibility to effect successful change (Manikandan, 2010). 3.3 Public service organizations, such as fire and rescue service units, operate in a complex environment that are constrained to respond to dynamic changes in society; furthermore, they are rich in people diversity, processes and culture, making change management extremely complex (Karp & Helgo, 2008). 3.4 Transformational change is anchored upon people skills, involving the articulation and internalization of a common shared vision by employees. Creating a shared vision is the most positive way of unfreezing

Chavin cultural and ceramic influence on the Moche Essay

Chavin cultural and ceramic influence on the Moche - Essay Example In addition, the Chavin also engaged in metalworking as evident in the production of hammered gold items or ornaments. On the other hand, it is the elements derived from the Chavin civilization that influenced the Moche culture. The Moche are recognized for various art form which include sculpture and pottery, and their design provides a history of how the Moche civilization progressed in phases. Through the objects they incised on their pottery, it is evident that the Moche civilization was popular and their main aim was to amass power and wealth.1 Moche vessels appeared to be flat-bottomed, and their stirrup-spouted jars are a product of the Chavin prototypes. These pots were decorated using a bichrome slip; however; early vessels made by the Moche were molded to using the hands and not potter’s wheel that helped in fashioning later vessels to form two-piece molds. The Moche pottery later focused on refining their vessels; thus, narrowing the vessels and making them smaller compared to the Chavin vessels. Furthermore, the Moche ceramics were produced through molding and had standardized shapes in addition to their distinct decoration. There exists nine different shapes of Moche ceramics documented in literature and this includes vessels such as flared bowls and stirrup-spout bottles. It is through these vessels that artists illustrated complex paintings and figurative scenes. Moreover, Moche vessels are considered to represent an infinite and different variety of subjects, whereby among the identifiable zoomorphic figures involves reptiles, bats among other figures. Moche pottery is viewed as varied and mainly focuses on mold technology, which facilitates the production of various forms of ceramic vessels. In addition, Moche pottery is unique in terms of theme and the shape and most of their social activities have been documented in their pottery work. Moche ceramics which were produced at around 150-800AD illustrates the use of a limited palette; furt her, their coloration is viewed as simple, and the pottery they produce often appear to depict actual individuals.2 Stirrup- Spout Vessels were a common ceramic form during the Pre-Columbian period and these vessels were available in various designs or elegances; however; their shared characteristic was a handle or a spout. In essence, these vessels represented a window into the traditions that were practiced by the Pre-Columbian cultures. These vessels depicted various aspects of life such that of animals, plants whereby some of these animals represented deities or portraits symbolizing daily life events. The first produced vessels in Pre-Columbian period can be associated with the Chavin culture, and were later duplicated by other cultures that emerged after the Chavin demise. Vessels produced by the Chavin consisted of large chambers, a surface relief, a dark burnished color and a spout. Furthermore, Chavin vessels contained both aggressive and powerful images and they had decora tions that were crudely incised. These Stirrup- Spout vessels became more popular with the emergence of the Moche culture and they relied on various techniques to create vessels. On the same note, a common feature with the Moche ceramics involved the use of red colorings and cream. In addition, the incised objects depicted symbols that represented deities, animals and anthropomorphization of various figures undertaking different

Are organizations likely to find better solutions to information Case Study

Are organizations likely to find better solutions to information overload through changes to their technical systems or their social systems -- or both Why - Case Study Example Most of the media present it as a problem of the lucky members of the society who had have a chance to secure jobs or have access technology and communication systems. However, work has to continue and it is up to such people to separate useful information from redundant, outdated and uninteresting information (Liu, & Errey, 2006). Most of these organizations are concerned about the effects that information overload has on their employees. Changing both technical and social system within an organization is likely to yield the most sought after solution to information overload currently being experienced by different organizations. This essay will therefore analyze reasons why organizations require changing their social and technical systems to achieve a solution to information overload that currently affects them. A solution is considered sufficient if it is complete and exact. Such solution will address all dimensions of the problem under consideration and provide sufficient measures to tackle the current and any consequential problem. The current information overload that organizations are complaining of is a result of human behaviors and the nature of current information systems. This indicates that both the social systems and information systems within an organization must be considered in order to develop an appropriate solution to the problem. The aspect of social systems within an organization that is significant to the topic of information overload is the patterns of flow of information within the organization. Human beings are the main source of problems that affects them. The need to establish orderly flow of information has left organizations vulnerable to bureaucracy. This is the main factor that has contributed to information overload in most organizations. In some severe cases, two people working in the same office find themselves requiring

Project Execution Case Study (Blue Spider Case) Essay

Project Execution Case Study (Blue Spider Case) - Essay Example uliar race for grabbing the power/ business and in this melee, at times, the interests of human resources/ employees, ethics are not accorded the priority that should ordinarily be associated with such decisions. As is quite apparent, from the case study, in order to have a pie of the Army’s Spartan program, Parks Corporation wanted to be a subcontractor of Lord Industries at any cost. Henry Gable, the Director of Engineering, wanted to entrust the responsibility of heading the project program to Gary Anderson, an able Engineer with Parks. But an ethical dilemma hit Gary at the very beginning when it was known that Parks doesn’t have the requisite components operating through the temperature range of -65 0F to 145 0F. Designs of Parks could not have withstood beyond 130 0F. Henry was coerced by his boss, Mr. Gable not to divulge this fact to Lords and he told Henry to go in for manipulation. Well, it is worthwhile here to mention that, this sort of practice can get some temporary gains to an organisation, but ultimately truth prevails. Particularly in these times when there’s widespread talk of business ethics and customer satisfaction, manipulating the facts, that too for a product of such strategic importance appears to be quite an aberration on the part of Gable who is leading the project. Leaders are understood to have the most important and powerful influence on the culture of an organization and are responsible for creating credibility and trust. There is more to work than is commonly assumed. There is rich opportunity for leaders to appeal to more than just the material rewards. In addition to ethical issues arising out of changing norms and contrasting social theories, ethical dilemmas plague everyone, even individuals who are honest and confident in their moral stance. Gary faced the dilemma even before the start of the project. Conflicts result from day-to-day business decisions that are intrinsically influenced by factors such as loyalty to the

The Trail of Tears Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

The Trail of Tears - Term Paper Example Between 1814 and 1824, Andrew Jackson became useful in negotiating 9 out of 11 treaties whose intentions were to divest Five Civilized Tribes, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Cherokee, Seminole and Creeks, of their eastern lands in exchange for free lands in the west. As a result of these treaties, the US was able to control three quarters of Florida and Alabama as well as parts of North Carolina, Mississippi, Kentucky, Georgia and Tennessee. This was a period characterised by voluntary Indian migration. However, only a small percentage of Cherokee, Choctaws and Creeks moved to the new lands . Around the same time, that is, during the 1820s, there was the creation of the Indian Territory which is the current-day Oklahoma. This marked the genesis of the reservation system for aboriginal Americans. In 1827, the Cherokee adopted their own written constitution declaring themselves to be an independent, sovereign nation and the Congress felt threatened by this. In 1828, there were three major things that contributed toward the creation of the Indian Removal Act. First, Andrew Jackson was elected to become the president of the US. In his campaigns, Jackson had made promises one of which was to â€Å"free land† later to be given to white settlers. The land specifically was to be in the southern frontier states. His appeal was primarily directed to settlers of Georgia. At that time, the Cherokee Indians occupied a total of 35,000 acres in Georgia. The second contributing even in 1828 was that the Georgian legislature passed a legislation incorporating or annexing all Cherokee country within the borders of the state. The state legislature also abolished all existing Cherokee customs and laws, and commissioned surveyors to map out 160-acre land lots out of Cherokee land. These lots were to be distributed through public lotteries to white citizens residing in Georgia2. The third contributing event was the discovery of gold near Dahlonega. This was a region located in northern Georgia and it was in the middle of the Cherokee territory. This led to tensions between the residents of Georgia and the Cherokees. President Jackson used this tension to pressure the Cherokee community to sign a removal treaty34. Jackson had no desire to protect the Cherokees using the powers vested in the national government5. In his First Annual Message to the Congress in 1829, Jackson called for the displacement of the Indian community from their nativ e lands. The same year, John Ross, who was the leader of the Cherokee, travelled to Washington D.C. in order to protest against the actions of the Georgian legislature, and plead for justice for the Cherokee community. While in Washington, Ross found sympathizers among the members of the Congress but unfortunately, most of them were anti-Jackson. Ross

CORPORATE RESEARCH PAPER Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

CORPORATE - Research Paper Example As of the financial year 2011, Chevron generated a sales value worth $244 billion and the net income attributable to the company during the same period was $27 billion. The profitability of the company can be gauged from the fact that the net income per share of the company during 2011 was $13.44, while the company also paid cash dividends worth $3.09 per share. The return on capital and the return on equity of Chevron during as of 2011 were 21.6% and 23.8% respectively (Chevron, 2012). Though the company is instituted in California, in the United States, Chevron has business activities throughout the world in over 120 countries. The following figure represents the geographic reach of Chevron across the world, by means of onshore operations, offshore operations, pipelines or refineries. Figure 1: Global Reach of Chevron Corporation (Juhasz, 2009) In 2011, the average net production of Chevron was 2.673 million oil barrels for every day, of which around 75% of the volume was produced from countries other than the United States (Chevron, 2012). This can be lucidly illustrated from the following figure: Figure 2: Geographic Segmentation of Chevron’s Production (Chevron, 2011) Chevron is present in various countries, such as the USA, the UK, Canada, Malaysia, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Nigeria, Singapore and Australia to name a few. Chevron Corporation has a number of subsidiaries and associates for managing and operating its worldwide operations. Some of them are Chevron U.S.A. Inc. (CUSA), Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LLC, Chevron Transport Corporation Ltd. (CTC), and Tengizchevroil LLP (TCO) among others. Even though every subsidiary of Chevron is accountable for its individual affairs, Chevron Corporation handles its investments in its subsidiaries in addition to their affiliates. The operations and business activities of Chevron are categorised into two business divisions, namely, Upstream and Downstream. The upstream business segment comprise s of sale of crude oil and natural gas produced by the company itself, in addition to the sale of natural gas produced by other companies. On the other hand, the downstream segment comprises of activities related to the processing and marketing of various forms of petroleum products. The United States of America is the principal country of operation of Chevron Corporation. Hence, in its annual reports, the company presents its geographic breakdown of performance in terms of two categories, i.e., the United States, Chevron’s domicile nation while other countries where the company operates reported as ‘International’ (outside the United States). The following table represents the breakdown of sales, assets and income of Chevron Corporation for the year 2011, in terms of the above discussed segments: Year 2011 Sales Assets Earnings Upstream United States 27,738 37,108 6,512 International 55,098 98,540 18,274 Downstream United States 91,078 22,182 1,506 International 123,221 20,517 2,085 All others United States 1,598 8,824 - International 46 17,661 - Total United States 120,414 68,114 8018 International 178,365 136,718 20,359 (All values in millions of US dollars) (Chevron Corporation, 2011) In this context, it is should be noted that excluding the United States,

International Business - World Trade Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

International Business - World Trade - Essay Example Also the governments' interest in the health or the profits of the industry as well as the capitol flow which in turn affect the states' economy is highlighted in this case study. With regards to the civil aviation industry, the various products, their launch aid from the governments and other agencies directly or indirectly through favoured contracts and subsidies and tax cuts and waivers on loans also called soft loans are among the issues discussed in the case study. However, the direct and indirect support and patronization by the governments are also subject to some of the World Trade Organization's provisions prohibiting any support from the governments under the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures (SCM), the European Union (EU) and the US governments' Agreement on Trade in Large Civil Aircrafts which restricts the governments to cap the direct or indirect financial aid to the companies producing these aircrafts; are all related to the issues relating to the governments protectionist policies as these are in one or the other way related to international trade as well as the economies of the respective states. Each government has identified their need to provide support to the large and complex civil aircraft industry as investing in it can give them an advantage and also create as they observe employment for their skilled and unskilled resource while help build new technologies and generate huge amounts of corporate taxes for the state's revenue. However, the international trade responsibilities of each country or state have also been looked into with respect to the affect of the different governments supporting the industry at various levels. The trade practices themselves are questioned as relating to the governments protectionist policies which are interested in protecting their interests. Further, the EU governments' public policies identify the need for providing key services like healthcare, public transport, banking, etc. which enable them to play a strong role in building the economy of the nation. Hence, EU governments consider greater intervention in the market is necessary for building a growing economy. France took steps in this direction by regulating the private sector work hours to a minimum of 35hrs a week and also increasing the corporate taxes, along with Germany. Owing to the governments intervention in the markets, civil aviation in the US and EU has benefited. Boeing received huge orders from the US Department of Defence during World War II and the Cold war which helped it to consolidate its position in the market. Further, after 9/11 it is being supported by tax money through subsidies and soft loans. On the other hand, the EU governments have formed alliances to found Airbus to make large civil aircrafts as part of their public policies. France, Ger many, Britain and Spain hold stock in the company jointly and sanction subsidies and soft loans individually. In the early 2000s the Airbus annual sales for A350 exceeded that of

Causal Factors Regarding Students with Emotional and Behavioral Essay

Causal Factors Regarding Students with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders - Essay Example Emotional and behavioral disorders may exist at the same time with other disabilities within an individual student. From the biological domain, there exist certain factors that could cause emotional and behavioral disorders. These may include affective disorders, schizophrenic disorders, anxiety disorders or any other persistent conduct maladjustments that undesirably affect educational outcomes of the student. These could be identified through self-directed and over controlled emotional and behavioral factors such as somatic problems, anxiety, social withdrawal or isolation and depression (Merrell & Walker, 2004). Within the school context, disruption, noncompliance and aggression constitute factors that could cause emotional and behavioral disorders in students. These may be identified through lack of focused attention, continued disruption of other students, isolation and avoidance or escaping demands of class work and assignments. These students may also not carry out tasks and assignments as expected of them. From the context of the family, health factors, physical symptoms and pervasive mood constitute causal factors of emotional and behavioral disorders. Poor health status, depression, unhappiness remain identifiable features of these causal factors. Furthermore, social isolation, comprise the cultural context. These causal factors would be identified through the inability of these students to build and maintain acceptable interpersonal relationship with others. In addition, they have fear, engage in antisocial and deviant behaviors, lack remorse and select or develop their own set of be havioral rules that govern their conduct (Merrell & Walker, 2004). ... These causal factors would be identified through the inability of these students to build and maintain acceptable interpersonal relationship with others. In addition, they have fear, engage in antisocial and deviant behaviors, lack remorse and select or develop their own set of behavioral rules that govern their conduct (Merrell & Walker, 2004). Criteria of identifying causal factors in EBD Several methods have become suggested by different researchers of emotional and behavioral disorders as applicable to the identification of the factors causing the disability. In this regard, the use of the Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) technique would be appropriate in identifying these causal factors in students. The use of this technique involves the identification of the relationship between causes and effects in relation to a specific behavior and environmental incidents. Applied Behavior Analysis technique also takes into account other characteristics that could be put into consideration w hile identifying causal factors. Such characteristics include the ability of behavior to be learnt, changed and be influenced by environmental consequences. Moreover, the technique focuses on the behavior rather than the disability and entails the use of game plans in changing behavior. The use of behavioral principles, behavior change measurement and exclusion of emotional relations as underlying cause also forms part of the criteria employed in Applied Behavior Analysis technique (Yell et al., 2009). Impacts of causal factors on students with EBD The characteristics of behavior may be determined by their outcomes on behavior. Causal factors that remain as unconditional or conditioned have considerable impacts on the behavior of

How to Break Bad Habits and Create Positive Ones Essay Example for Free

How to Break Bad Habits and Create Positive Ones Essay Everyone has one: a bad habit (or habits†¦) we wish we could break. Unfortunately, breaking a bad habit — as anyone who has ever bitten their nails, smoked, or mindlessly snacked in front of the TV knows — is not that simple. Breaking habits is hard, but with a little determination, it is achievable. There is a reason habits are hard to break. The majority of our habits are good for us, allowing our brain to complete certain tasks on autopilot which frees space for decision making, creativity, and quick action. But the brain does not discriminate between good and bad habits; once something becomes a routine, whether it’s helpful or harmful, your brain will perform it automatically, which can make it hard to stop. Step 1: Identify the habit All habits serve a purpose. Brushing your teeth first thing in the morning prevents cavities, stopping at a red light prevents car accidents, and eating cupcakes when you’re feeling low can deliver comfort. To make positive improvements, start by identifying your problem habit and its underlying cause. Step 2: Replace it Once you’ve identified your habit and its trigger, find something positive to take its place. If you eat to wind down after a long day of work, replace food with a walk or yoga. If you bite your nails, try chewing gum. If you smoke to relieve stress, try meditation. Step 3: Keep the commitment Once you’ve decided to break your habit and replace it with something positive, write it down. Keeping a journal of your progress can hold you accountable while serving as a great progress marker. If you’re truly  committed to making your new positive habits stick, complete your new habit daily for 30 days. The more consistent you are, the easier it will be to continue. Step 4: Be prepared for hiccups Through this process, it’s important to remember that habits are habits for a reason — they serve a purpose and our mind is trained to complete them with little to no effort. Be kind to yourself and be patient; all of your attempts to change habits will not be successful immediately. Expect bumps along the way but continue to push through. When in doubt, think positively. If you are at wit’s end and the only thought in your head is â€Å"I can’t do this†¦Ã¢â‚¬ , make it a positive. â€Å"I can’t do this, but it will get easier.†

Evidence Based Healthcare Research Social Work Essay

Evidence Based Healthcare Research Social Work Essay Evidenced Based Healthcare and Research: Appraisal. In the United Kingdom the concept of Independent Living and Self-directed Support has become an established approach for the delivery of health and social care services, that it is currently the preferred residential alternative for people with learning disabilities (Binnie Titchen 1999). Independent living can be defined as enabling independence by receiving the right support how and when it is required (Morris 2004). It has now become a key principle in various government policy documents such as the Valuing People Now Strategy (UK Department of Health, 2009) and the Personalisation through Person-Centred Planning initiative (UK Department of Health, 2010). This assignment aims to present a detailed critique of a qualitative study entitled How adults with learning disabilities view independent living (Bond Hurst 2010). A critique can defined as a balanced evaluation of the strengths and limitations of a research article, in order to determine its credibility and/or applicability to practice (Gamgee 2006). This study is a welcome contribution to the current health and social care research domain because whilst independent living is the preferred residential option, it is not at all clear whether it is suitable for all people with learning disabilities, moreover if there is in fact sufficient empirical evidence to support this notion. It is therefore imperative to establish a sound evidence base that draws upon the lived personal experiences of those with learning disabilities. Using an acknowledged framework A Step by Step guide to critiquing a quantitative study (Coughan et al., 2007) the relative worth of the evidence in support of i ndependent living will be judged systematically. As well as exploring the significance of independent living as an essential nursing intervention and its application to modern clinical practice. Ryan-Wenger (2003) suggests that in analysing published articles it is important to ascertain two fundamental aspects of a critique which can be subdivided into elements that influence the robustness of the research methodology also known as integrity variables and elements which influence the believability of the research such as writing style, author(s), report title and abstract otherwise known as credibility variables. The latter seems to be the most logical place to commence. Evaluation of the Journal Article Polit and Beck (2006) state that writing style should be such that it attracts the reader to read on; this paper is well written, comprehensive and concise. The structure and layout of the paper is well organised with a logical consistency and free from jargon in comparison to some papers where the author(s) can be opaque in their approach. However slight reservation is reserved concerning the level of proof reading as there seems to be some grammatical and typographical errors which can be found on pages 288 and 289. Both authors appear to have a sound background in learning disability from both a social context and educational settings. As indicated in the acknowledgements the authors qualifications indicate that they have a degree of knowledge in this field and this piece of research seems to be a part of a taught component of their masters programme. The report tile seems to be descriptive and succinct, although it lacks specificity of the research methodology used in the study. This can be very useful for others who are searching for this type of paper. Although the term qualitative research is mentioned under keywords the title itself could be more specific. As a result the report title is ambiguous and merely eight words in length. Meehan (1999) states that a title should be between ten to fifteen words long in order to clearly identify the purpose of the study for the reader. This paper presents both an accessible and detailed version of the abstract, but are both helpful? The accessible form includes information on the subject and the number of participants, whereas the detailed form provides an outline of the methodology used, ethical framework, findings and recommendations. On balance the summaries present a clear overview of the study, however it does beg the question in what sense is the accessible form accessible? and to whom? It seems that the authors are trying to be politically correct rather than logical because how many service users actually read the British Journal of Learning Disabilities?. It seems that this is a knee jerk reaction which has been applied incorrectly; it would be more suitable if the document was aimed at informing an audience with learning disabilities such as Valuing People (UK Department of Health, 2001) which caters to a wide range of readers. The easy -read version is aimed at service users whilst the denser version is aimed at professionals and service providers. Having identified and analysed variables that affect the credibility of the research presented, how believable the work appears, the authors qualifications and their ability to undertake and accurately present the study. The robustness of the research methodology and the integrity of the findings will be appraised in order to determine the trustworthiness of the study and its applicability to nursing practice. The authors state the aim of the study is to explore the views of nine people with learning disabilities who have already achieved independence and wish to contribute to the debate of independent living. The authors suggest that this style of living is now viewed as desirable, but what is the reality for people who live with learning disabilities? This concept of desirability is held as problematic by the authors who choose to study and present the reality of living independently as opposed to the notion of general and conventional wisdom. A study conducted by Barlow Kirby (1991) concluded that people in receipt of self-directed support had more life satisfaction than those in residential care. This finding is further supported by the publication of Independent Living (HM Office for Disability Issues, 2007). The decision to suspend judgement about independent living is justifiable and is supported by other researchers in the field of learning disabilities; as there are several impli cations for service users, professionals and service providers. This is for a number of reasons for instance promoting choice and control (OBrien, 2002), health issues (Priest Gibbs, 2004), vulnerability (Cooper, 2002) and the ability for those with learning disabilities to access services (Jansen et al., 2006). The literature review conducted by the authors demonstrates an appropriate depth and breadth of reading around independent living. The majority of studies included are of recent origin being less than five years old; the few historical studies included put the concept of living independently into context. The authors successfully identified conflicts between the literature by comparing and contrasting findings (Burns and Grove., 1997), because although evidence exists to show people who have moved from larger institutions prefer smaller group homes (Forrester-Jones et al., 2002) there is still no accurate data detailing the number of people with learning disabilities living independently (Beadle Brown et al., 2004). However the authors failed to mention how they conducted their search and information on the databases used to gather papers in their review. The authors did however, use primary sources of information as opposed to secondary sources and anecdotal information, which attes ts to the integrity and value of the study presented. Bond Hurst (2010) ascertained the narratives of nine people with learning disabilities via the use of semi-constructed interviews within their methodology. The authors are to be commended for their attention to detail in terms of their ability to design and structure interviews so as to accommodate the needs of the participants. As well as conducting interviews at times and venues convenient to them. The interview structure included open-ended questions to assist understanding as communication emerged to be a key barrier for some people with learning disabilities. The authors report on a number of theoretical issues that have been adapted for the participants in order that they might fully participate in the research process. The structure of the interviews was devised using the Canadian Model of Occupational Performance (Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists, 1997), but is this model applicable to the United Kingdom population and to which care setting? Bond Hurst (2010) adopted thematic analysis within their methodology in assessing the narratives. The data collected was audio taped and later transcribed into coded themes, which is acknowledged in general research literature to be good practice. On balance, the authors adhered to the steps in the research process and it is conveyed between the fluidity of phases. The critique subsequently moves onto considering the ethical framework. This research paper was supported by the local ethics committee and all participants in the study gave informed consent. Although it is not clear whether or not it was an National Health Service (NHS) ethics committee. However, the authors sought to ensure their working methods complied with the Data Protection Act (1998) but not with all government legislation applicable to the study such as the Mental Health Act (1983). Although there is mention about accessibility, the authors failed to ensure the participants had the capacity to make informed decisions as defined in the Mental Health Act (1983). In relation to the number of participants, the sample size is small and therefore may not be reflective or wholly representative for all people with learning difficulties. Small samples are more likely to be at risk of being overly representative of small subgroups within a target population (Coughan et al., 2007). Th erefore slight reservation is held as the authors did not mention whether they sought to remove overall bias by generating a sample that is likely to be representative and generalisable to the target population. Parahoo (2006) states that for a sample to truly reflect of the population it represents the authors must generate a probability sample. The participants in this study were recruited via convenience sampling using a third party (Melton 1998); however several variables could have an affect on the sample which can lead to it being distorted such as the vast age range. The authors are to be commended however, in their efforts to maintain the confidentiality of their participants by offering them the choice to provide their own pseudonyms. In the discussion the authors identified seven themes from their data analysis which reflected the views of all the participants and in turn addressed the aims of the study. Their findings supported the four key principles as stated in the Valuing People policy document, and ways in which people can be supported to achieve this includes increasing social inclusion, increasing autonomy and choice for people and raising awareness of the vulnerability of those with learning disabilities. However the study also highlighted that the majority of participants struggled with the more complex aspect of living independently, such as money management and budgeting. The government has recently introduced Direct Payments as part of a nationwide transformation in social care services, which involves paying money directly to an individual in need to take control of their own support and care services. This initiative will aid finance management as it enables service users to have control over the c are they receive and how they receive it. The majority of participants maintained that when comparing their current lifestyle of independent living to that of their previous lifestyle it was clear that they wanted to remain living independently. Application to Clinical Practice This section will explore the significance of independent living as an essential nursing intervention and its application to modern clinical practice. Gates Atherton (2001) state that there is a need for evidence of effectiveness in health and social care. The most important aspect of being a practitioner regardless of ones vocation, is that collectively we as professionals seek the best evidence available on which to base our practice (Coughan et al., 2007). The evidence in support of independent living is limited and not entirely accurate, therefore when evidence is presented it should not be taken on face value. As Cullum Droogan (1999) put it not all research is of the same quality or high standard therefore as a learning disability nurse and social worker it is important being a care provider that although a paper has been published it can be critically appraised. This paper is of central relevance to our practice in ensuring that the lifestyles of people with learning disabil ities are informed by valid and reliable evidence. This research paper adds value to the current literature available in support of independent living however caution must be expressed as it is not solely about living independently. The concept of independently living cannot be advocated for everyone; each person is different and therefore require different levels of support which will meet their needs. The publication of Valuing People (UK Department of Health, 2001) the key document that prompted a change in the way health and social care services operate. The paper made Person-Centred Planning a central component of service reform, and outlined four key principles namely: Human Rights, Independence, Choice and Social Inclusion (Mansell and Beadle-Brown, 2004). This means that people with learning disabilities should be valued members of society, treated with dignity and respect whilst having the same rights and choices as everybody else (OBrien, 2002). Furthermore, people with le arning disabilities should feel empowered to take control over the care that they receive in order to plan and live their lives independently. Previously, people with learning disabilities were shunned away from the community and susceptible to abuse. The Community Care Act (1990) was introduced as a result of both political and social changes in attitudes towards the treatment of people with mental illnesses. In line with Mental Health Act (1983) the aim was to remove the stigma associated with mentally ill people away from isolation towards social inclusion (Social Role Valorisation, Wolfensberger, 1983). But does independently living mean that you get social inclusion? Currently we are seeing a culture of people who require support being effectively excluded from society, waiting for the next support worker to cook their meals, help with personal hygiene and general cleaning. This is a downward spiral in our society which is putting a demand on our system. As a care provider in line with the General Social Care Council and the Nursing and Midwifery Codes of Conduct (2008), it is our duty to advocate in the best interest of the client at all times but who is actually making the decisions? Bond Hurst (2010) highlighted how closely health was linked to independent living and that many of the participants suffered from chronic conditions such as asthma, diabetes and arthritis. Is it a case of compromising funding for services at the expense of overlooking health issues? It seems that the authors make a plausible case that people with learning disabilities are being seen as not a priority as they carry a disproportionate burden of health inequalities among our population. The reality for people with learning disabilities is far from the projected lifestyle of independence (Emerson UK Literature). It is a challenge to support people with learning disabilities, several factors need to be considered to prevent potential disregard. Jansen et al., (2006) points out the need to adopt integrated care approaches in treating those with learning disabilities. This will involve working with different agencies (interagency team working) and different types of professionals (multidis ciplinary team working) in order to provide an holistic service to meet their needs. Current research shows that a disabled person is likely to be in contact with at least ten different care professionals in their lifetime (UK Department of Education, 2003). Issues can arise through out this time which may lead to lack of continuity and communication. Therefore, a sufficient amount of training and awareness is needed to ensure that all staff are qualified and skilled to ensure equity of service provision. When caring for patients it is essential as a practitioner to adopt the current best practice. To determine what this is one must be able to critically appraise evidence that is presented to them (Basset and Basset., 2003). This paper focused on the lived experiences of nine people with learning disabilities about the reality of living independently. In critiquing this paper, the authors successfully highlighted the importance of independent living as an essential nursing intervention however there were also some limitations, the most important being limited verification of the data. Furthermore the narratives of the participants were highly subjective and findings non-generalisable, thus the notion of independent living is not to be applied to all that have a learning disability, or vulnerable adults with complex needs. As recommended by the authors, further accurate, reliable and valid research is needed that will add value to the evidence-base domain. Total Word Count: 2,452 Excluding Headings and References

Safeguards and Policies to Protect Children from Harm

Safeguards and Policies to Protect Children from Harm Protecting children from harm When children are attending school, their parents and carers expect them to be learning and enjoying their day in a safe and secure environment. The Health and Safety at work Act 1974 has been put into place to ensure the environment the children work in is safe and well maintained and safe for children to move around in. The environment in which the children and adults are working within should be safe and clean, and any equipment and resources that are being used by the children should be safe and in good working condition to ensure they are protected from any harm. Children should be able to learn in a safe environment and being able to learn and thrive to their full potential without the risks of illness or injury. Safeguarding is not just about protecting children from harm it also includes issues such the following. Children’s health and safety Bullying Racist abuse Harassment and discrimination Use of physical intervention Meeting the needs of children with medical conditions Providing first aid Drug and substance misuse Internet safety Safeguarding children is the responsibility of all school staff members and governors. They should do the following to protect children from harm. Provide an environment where children feel secure, are encouraged to talk and are listened to Ensure children know that there are adults in school who they can approach with any concerns Provide information that enables children to develop the skills they need to recognise how to stay safe and free from harm Children should be able to feel safe and secure in the school setting. Staff should receive the sufficient training relating to safeguarding children and should identify signs of abuse in order to protect the child from any harm. Children who are protected enjoy and thrive at what they like to do best and this motivates them and gives them a self belief of all the things they enjoy. Children who are not protected in the school setting lack self esteem issues and this would also have a negative impact on their development. Safe guards have been put into place to ensure the following. Protects children and young people from harm and abuse Enables staff to know what to do if they are worried Shows that the group is responsible and has pride in its work Prevents children from under developing Builds children self esteem and self belief Builds confidence in the child Gives the opportunity for the child to enjoy childhood and have no worries that they should not have Gives them a good start to life Prevents them from being under bad influence that could cause long term effects References/bibliography www.gov.uk www.safeguardingchildren (3.4) Policies and Procedures In a school environment there are a range of policies and procedures in place to protect the children and the adults who are working at the school. Policies and procedures are important in schools because they help to ensure that staff and children know what is expected of them, they would receive fair treatment and enjoy the safest conditions possible. Safety in schools is better assured when clear policies and procedures exist. Everyone works better when there are rules that are understood clearly. Policies and procedures set out the rules that must be followed and if not followed there would be consequences. Children behave and perform better when they know the guidelines and when teachers are consistent with enforcing the rules. Some of the procedures set in a school are. Safeguarding and welfare of children policy Safeguarding and school security procedures Statutory school policies School health and safety procedures School improvement policies School support and healthy lifestyle policies General school policies Special educational needs policies School premises policies Educational policies are rules that are used in schools to effectively and efficiently teach children and keep them safe. Policies and procedures enable schools to make good decisions that optimise well being. Schools do this by the following. Involving children in school decision making about governance and policy Involving children and parents in the regular review of school policies and procedures and the determination of computer use, class and playground rules Encouraging children to take active steps in tackling bullying, prejudice and other behaviours that have a negative impact on wellbeing Aligning policy and curriculum References/bibliography www.safenetwork.org.uk (3.5) Reporting poor practice When working with children it is very important that any concerns regarding poor practice are reported. Also to ensure those who’s behaviour is causing concern is reported to protect those who have reported the concern are protected. Reporting concerns about poor practice is very serious and needs to be dealt with as soon as possible. Within the school setting there will be procedures put into place for reporting concerns. When discussing poor practice with the manager poor practice should be accurately identified and if possible, include dates, times and situations when the issue occurred. It is essential to provide as much information as possible. Whistleblowers are protected by law as long as certain criteria are met. The types of whistle blowing eligible for protection (called qualifying disclosures), they include when someone reports the following. That someone’s health and safety is in danger Damage to the environment A criminal offence That the company is not obeying the law That someone is covering up wrongdoing Whistleblowers are protected by law as long as they believe that what they are doing is right and that it is in the public interest. The human resource department will usually play a large role in ensuring that the correct procedures are followed. The human resources department will provide information on the employee’s rights, including their right to representation. If a young person or adult has concerns, it is important that they are able to report them to someone at the school. It is therefore important that the school know how to respond, and who will do this. Once a concern has been reported, it is important that appropriate action be taken. It will not be the school’s responsibility to decide if action needs to be taken, unless a child is at immediate risk of harm. It is however the schools responsibility to respect the concerns appropriately in accordance with the policies, procedures and systems that have been put into place. When someone is reporting their concerns the following should be used to help the situation. Stay calm Reassure the person reporting their concerns that they have done the right thing in telling you Keep an open mind Listen carefully to what is said and take them seriously Explain that the information would have to be shared with others and do not promise to keep secrets. Child abuse can and does occur inside and outside the family environment. It is not always easy for teachers to identify where abuse has occurred. However, all teachers working with children have a duty of care to be vigilant and respond appropriately to suspicions of poor practice, abuse or bullying. Whistle blowing is the process of disclosing wrong doing. Within the school setting this may mean exposing a member of staff to poor practice or behaviour. This could be a member of staff bullying a pupil or a colleague. The way a worker can blow the whistle on wrong doing depends on whether they feel they can tell their employer. A worker cannot be dismissed because of whistle blowing. If they are, they can claim unfair dismissal they will be protected by law as long as certain criteria are met. The following people are protected. Employees A agency worker People that are training with an employer Self employed workers Work in a school A worker will be eligible for protection if They honestly think what they’re reporting is true They think they are telling the right person They believe that their disclosure is in the public interest Reference/bibliography www.whistleblowing.uk www.gov.uk (3.6) Protecting yourself during everyday practice In the school setting there are various policies and procedures in place which support assistants must adhere to in order to protect themselves. The safeguarding if children are usually covered within the induction programme and this will inform teaching assistants of the roles and responsibilities with regard to children and how teaching assistants can be protected against unwanted allegations. Policies within the school setting should be followed to protect you from harm. This includes health and safety policies for example, not standing on the tables to pin a poster on the wall. If an incident is witnessed by another member of staff, they should be asked to document what they have witnessed, sign and date it as evidence When a school trip has been arranged, the teacher and support assistant will usually carry out a risk assessment to ensure that the venue is safe for the class to visit. They will usually need to do the following. Ensure the risk assessments are completed and when appropriate individual safety plans and safe working practices Support the governing body in any decision on approval Assign competent staff to lead and help with trips Verify that all accompanying adults have been CRB checked Make sure that all consent and medical forms are obtained Keep records of visits and provide after visit evaluation to aid future visits All relevant risk assessments must be carried out by the teacher before any proposed visit or activity takes place. Key issues from the risk assessment or safe working procedures completed for the trip must be communicated to all adults before the visit commences. Risk assessments must also be completed for the transport. When hiring a coach or minibus drivers of the transport must have received training within the last four years. The risk assessments are completed to ensure the safety of the teachers and children and are covered if anything does go wrong (insurance). References/bibliography www.gov.uk

Socialist Equality of Opportunity Essay -- Politics, Free Market Syst

Each of us is inherently conditioned into a particular way of life by our community and the politics that govern such a society. At any current time, the organization of political principles, such as democracy or distributive justice, has been a predetermined result. We blindly accept that our ancestors were correct and ignore the possibility of objections. Yet, this is a grave mistake, especially considering the fact that our lives and the way society is organized are so intertwined. This means â€Å"we cannot avoid thinking of our political practices as alterable, and even (if only in retrospect) as possible objects of choice† (Bird 3). To some, one of the â€Å"alterable† political practices of distributive justice, in Socialist Equality of Opportunity (EOP), may seem extreme. The word Socialism has developed into a â€Å"meaningless word† that serves as a synonym to tyranny (Orwell 4). Yet, a specific form of socialism, equality of opportunity, has many meri ts over common, currently practiced systems and should be considered as a legitimate ideal for distributive justice. To realize the aforementioned thesis it is important to first define equality of opportunity. Within the definition, many reasonable objections will surface, but through disputing common theories on distributive justice, it will be relatively simple to recognize the following: EOP is the most rational form of distributive justice given the inherent nature of society, it eliminates a vast number of inherent inequalities, and is the most efficient form of distributive justice if equality of opportunity can be granted. The task then is to adequately define Socialist EOP. This in itself, like defining most distributive justice schemes, is a complex matter. However, it may he... ...n my opinion, the nature of society includes a communal ideal that does not let those less fortunate suffer irrationally. Within Socialist EOP, the decisions of any individual remain intact so long as everyone starts out with the same chance for success. Although, what might come out of this is complexity, Socialist EOP fosters a true sense of justice and fairness by catering to the true sense of society. Economic efficiency shouldn’t matter, so long as the aforementioned ideals are held up by the state. The consequence will be a more just and perhaps a more efficient society. Compared to other polarized schemes, Socialist EOP truly represents the best chance at success, by eliminating a broad range of inequalities based on arbitrary factors, including luck. Only in eliminating all of these factors can a society, forged on a true sense of justice, be realized.

Evolution Of Society In The Mi :: essays research papers

The New Way of Thinking   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The height of the Middle Ages signified a revolutionary way of thinking among the people. The people of the day were breaking out of the old, controlled lifestyle, to which they were accustomed, and they began expressing themselves in many different ways. The people began breaking out of the normal, monotonous lifestyle and they began becoming individuals. The women began taking on new roles. They became independent and lived on their own. The soldiers began losing their prestige, and their life drastically changed. The clergymen took on more of a secular role, which prompted a new way of thinking toward the church. During the Middle Ages, peoples’ ideas began changing, which prompted a whole new outlook on society.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The role of women drastically changed in the Middle Ages. Women became more independent. Society became more focused on money. So women also became very focused on money, â€Å"†¦going to bed with a nice young man and earning your first mina? And I’m going to spend some of it right away to buy you a new necklace† (Turner, p. 39). Women became interested in jewelry and clothes, â€Å"†¦you’d soon be able to support me, and buy your own jewellery, and have lots of money and servants and gorgeous clothes† (Turner, p. 39). Instead of women relying on men to subsidize their major needs, if women were unmarried or widowed, they began taking care of their own needs, â€Å"When he died, I sold his hammer and tongs and anvil for two minas, and that kept us going for a while. Then I did various jobs like dressmaking and spinning and weaving, to scrape together enough for us to live on. But all the time I was struggling to bring you up, this was what I was hoping for† (Turner, p. 39). Women became fascinated with trying to keep the attention of men, even if it meant making them jealous, â€Å"†¦if he thinks someone rich is after you. He’ll be more upset, and start offering you better terms. He won’t want his rival to outbid him† (Turner, p. 42). So women began taking on a more independent role. Their fascination with money and prestige grew, and they wanted the attention of men, no matter what the cost. The role of women in society drastically began changing in the Middle Ages and a new way of thinking towards women developed. Evolution Of Society In The Mi :: essays research papers The New Way of Thinking   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The height of the Middle Ages signified a revolutionary way of thinking among the people. The people of the day were breaking out of the old, controlled lifestyle, to which they were accustomed, and they began expressing themselves in many different ways. The people began breaking out of the normal, monotonous lifestyle and they began becoming individuals. The women began taking on new roles. They became independent and lived on their own. The soldiers began losing their prestige, and their life drastically changed. The clergymen took on more of a secular role, which prompted a new way of thinking toward the church. During the Middle Ages, peoples’ ideas began changing, which prompted a whole new outlook on society.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The role of women drastically changed in the Middle Ages. Women became more independent. Society became more focused on money. So women also became very focused on money, â€Å"†¦going to bed with a nice young man and earning your first mina? And I’m going to spend some of it right away to buy you a new necklace† (Turner, p. 39). Women became interested in jewelry and clothes, â€Å"†¦you’d soon be able to support me, and buy your own jewellery, and have lots of money and servants and gorgeous clothes† (Turner, p. 39). Instead of women relying on men to subsidize their major needs, if women were unmarried or widowed, they began taking care of their own needs, â€Å"When he died, I sold his hammer and tongs and anvil for two minas, and that kept us going for a while. Then I did various jobs like dressmaking and spinning and weaving, to scrape together enough for us to live on. But all the time I was struggling to bring you up, this was what I was hoping for† (Turner, p. 39). Women became fascinated with trying to keep the attention of men, even if it meant making them jealous, â€Å"†¦if he thinks someone rich is after you. He’ll be more upset, and start offering you better terms. He won’t want his rival to outbid him† (Turner, p. 42). So women began taking on a more independent role. Their fascination with money and prestige grew, and they wanted the attention of men, no matter what the cost. The role of women in society drastically began changing in the Middle Ages and a new way of thinking towards women developed.

The Atkins Diet as Treatment for Children with Epilepsy :: Exploratory Essays Research Papers

The Atkins Diet as Treatment for Children with Epilepsy   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Eric H. Kossoff and other scientists at the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions published the article â€Å"Efficacy of the Atkins diet as therapy for intractable epilepsy† which describes their experiment using the Atkins diet as therapy to reduce the number of seizures for children with epilepsy. Along with a variety of medications, the Ketogenic diet is also used as therapy to help epileptic patients control their seizures. The Ketogenic diet is similar to starvation in a sense that it only allows patients to consume an approximate of 1,500 calories a day, which is 25% less than the recommended daily allowance of 2,000 calories. Patients that use the Ketogenic diet consume a high fat, moderate protein, and low carbohydrate diet to induce a medical condition called ketosis. This condition is caused when the body does not have enough carbohydrates to complete the metabolism of fat leaving ketone bodies and it is believed that ketosis is responsible for controlling the seizures from occurring so frequently. The Atkins diet is much more flexible restricting only carbohydrates and allowing unlimited consumption of fats, proteins, and calories; therefore inducing the same medical condition, ketosis. Since both types of diet produces the same ketotic state and serves the same function to reduce the frequency of seizures, Kossoff and the other scientist hopes that the Atkins diet can be used as an alternative than the Ketogenic diet for children with epilepsy.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Four patients under the age of 18 were involved in the experiment conducted by Kossoff and other scientists at John Hopkins to test if the Atkins diet can be used as a substitute instead of the Ketogenic diet to stimulate ketosis. In order to help all the patient transit smoothly the scientists did not change any of the medications that the patients were already on for the first two months. To assess the difference between the Ketogenic diet and the Atkins diet, scientists recorded the weight and

The American Revolutionary War

One of the greatest reasons as to why there was the revolution in the America during the regime of British colonization was as a result of excessive taxation by the British.The British government implemented this idea of excessive tax on the American citizens after realizing that they had a great debt, which resulted from the expenses they incurred during their war with France and India. In the North America the British had many troops at the end of the Indian and the French war.The British government in the long last realized that it had been using a lot of its money to defend its colonies. A big force was required to protect the colonists from the attacks by the Indian troops. At the end of the war the British had a debt worth 140 million pounds.To solve this problem the British government came up with two solutions. Firstly, the British government had the view of strengthening the existing taxation laws together with introduction of additional taxes on the colonists. Such taxes in cluded the: 1773 tea act, 1764 sugar act, and 1765 stamp act.This was to be done so as to enable the government to cater for the cost of the troops which were stationed in the North America. Secondly, the British government gave out new proclamation to prevent the further encroachment of the Indians by the colonists.[1]They believed that this action if is put in place would eliminate the war between the colonists and the Indian, and thus the number of the troops would go down. The first measure by the British government of strengthening the tax laws and introducing additional tax act was to be implemented by passing the Revenue Act of 1764. This act was referred to as the Sugar Act by the colonies.The Act on Sugar really cut down the molasses tax, which was by then the key colonies’ import. The enforcement of the previous tax was not done by the British government.1 With the introduction of the new sugar act brought in strong enforcing methods on the molasses tariffs. Under t he same Revenue Act additional items such as wine, silk and potash were subject to import tax.The American colonists reacted to the new law on the taxes with outrage. They employed all the means and the mechanisms to render such a law useless. The colonial government officials were very corrupt to extend that they allowed the entrance of molasses and other commodities to America without payment of the required import tax on them.The American colonists resisted openly the new act of revenues by the British government as much as they could.A good example on this is the sloop Polly case. Immediately after the law was passed by the parliament, she moved to a port known as Newport carrying molasses load. Despite the fact that, the indication on the tax payment were matching with the new government new revenue act, it was realized later by the port officer that the load was twice the one indicated on the shipment documents. The ship was seized under the new Revenue Act.[2]This was the fir st evidenced American colonists’ defiance on the British government Revenue Act. Many of the American colonists just accepted to pay such taxes under the new Revenue Act as it was inevitable for them.The taxation itself did not case an alarm to the American colonists; however the methods which were employed to collect the taxes by the British government caused anger among the colonists.   Other issues that caused anger among the colonists were that: during the enactment of the Revenue Act concerning the taxes, they were not involved in this process.Also the taxation methods barred the American colonists in engaging in trade. On the second measure by the British government to reduce its burden of the cost they incurred in Indian and the French, was received by the American with a lot of anger and disdain.This was because it limited and interfered with their economic growth. According to the Americans the issue of protecting the Indians encroachment by the colonists had a lit tle chance to be enforced. They had the feeling that, there was no means by which the colonists’ natural movement would be stopped by such proclamation.5The Revenue Act aimed at increasing the Revenue to the British government through increasing the taxes, was the major cause of the revolutionary war in America.The issue of taxation cleared the path towards the revolution. Not only did it bring the issue of resistance, but also it stimulated the thoughts of politics the resulted into the revolution. A good example is that of James Otis who resigned and went to court on the behalf of the merchants of Boston to protest the Assistance Writs.The writs of assistance gave powers to the officials of customs to break into ships, warehouses, and homes that were thought to be carrying any goods which were not transacted in the correct order based on the new Revenue Act.[3]According to Otis the British unwritten constitution fundamentals were violated by these writs. Otis was for the id ea that, despite that it was the British government that passed these writs, the local government was not supposed to enforce them. In his case Otis lost, but the writs issue which the revenue act enforcement brought forth resulted to be an expanding colonial list of grievances against the British colonial government.[1] Reich Jerome. British Friends of the American Revolution, London, Macmillan, 1998, pp. 121 Reich Jerome. British Friends of the American Revolution, London, Macmillan, 1998, pp. 19[2] Revolutionary War. History Central. Copyright Multi-Educator , 1998, Retrieved on 12th January 2009 from http://www.historycentral.com/Revolt/index.html5 On the American Revolution. The American Inquisition. Retrieved on 12th January 2009 from, http://americaninquisition.blogspot.com/2008/05/on-american-revolution.html[3] Hatch Louis. The Administration of the American Revolutionary Army, London, Longman Green and Co., 1994, pp. 70   

India Super Power Essay

More than sixty years ago, in the summer of 1948, the Indian nation, then newly-born, was struggling for its very survival. India is a unique and unlikely democratic state because it is not constructed according to the classical European principles of â€Å" one language, one religion one common economy† .India contains an enormous diversity in language, religion and culture; and the state is not built on uniform nationalism, but embraces pluralism. Few Indians now alive know how uncertain our future looked in the summer of 1948. The question then being asked everywhere was ‘Will India Survive? . Now, sixty-four years down the road, that fearful query has been replaced by a far more hopeful one, namely, ‘Will India Become a Superpower?’. My vision as a citizen of India would be to make India a superpower, both in economic and military terms. The endeavour to be taken to herald this result would be tremendous and not without pain. One may wonder why India has not achieved this goal yet and what has prevented India from achieving this goal. Many reasons point back at us the root cause is paved by the citizens themselves. Too much focus is given on social and religious outputs which eventually lead to the election of leaders that are more focused on these aspects rather than on the economy and well-being of the country. On the other side of the coin, India faces more problems like proper infrastructure facilities, low agricultural output, high illiteracy rate and poverty. Major factors which act as a barrier for India to become super power are.., 1. Population: India’s increasing population is a big hindrance in India’s becoming a Super power. Rising population has affected the quality of life of the people for sure as imparting access of basic amenities and education to bigger population becomes more difficult. In the last several decades, fertility control policies in India have failed to promote a sustainable solution to the problem of overpopulation. India needs to take strict measures to counter the prevailing birth rate in the country. 2. Corruption: India is one of the most corrupt countries on the world map. Corruption in India has assumed such large proportions that public have come to believe that it is impossible to get rid of this malaise. We need variety of strategies to fight corruption, ranging from the simplification of rules and procedures and the application of information technology to specific steps such as trapping corrupt public servants. Open and transparent political systems are must at all levels. 3. Decline of public institutions: Key institutions like —politics, universities, judiciary, bureaucracy, police etc. are witnessing deterioration on the matter of accountability and productivity. In India, average incomes have risen fourfold and yet public institutions have not improved. Indian policy makers need to come up with number of public institutional reforms steps to counter this malaise. In India political parties are transformed into family firms in the past two decades. This result in nepotism; possibilities and success are dependent on one’s relationship with the ruling families. It causes the functional decline of public institution. 4. Naxal and Maoist menace : Extremism in the form of the Naxalite movement has to be checked. Stern and sincere steps should be taken to rein in the menace. Rehabilitation programme has to be launched to bring the Naxalites into the mainstream and at the same time police force should be given modern training and equipments to counter ultras. 5. Social inequality and Unequal distribution of income across society: India needs to address growing unequal income distribution and need to narrow the gap between the poor and rich .The impressive growth rates of the Indian economy reflect the growing industry and commerce. This produces a group of extremely rich people like Mukesh Ambani who recently commissioned a 2 billion 27 story house for his family of five. The rich do not seem to care about the dark side of their wealth. This disparity has only increased over the years. Economic policy makers need to work on this. The present global financial crisis is bound to make matters worse unless long-term structural reforms are adopted. 6. Environmental degradation: The social inequality is destructive nature; rural communities profit little from the economic growth and farmers in the country side are being forced from their land to make way for multinational corporations who exploit the soil and the forests. Economic development without environmental considerations can cause serious environmental damage in turn impairing the quality of life of present and future generations. The degradation is impacting people’s lives in very real ways, whether in the form of massive depletion of underground aquifers, chemical contamination of soil, death of rivers, loss of species etc. 7. Religious extremism : Current trends shows Religious extremism has risen sharply in Indian society and if not taken care of, they have potential to completely destroy the secular and democratic fabric of the nation. Religious riots, communal clashes and bombings in every nook and corner of the country are hindrance in the set up of secular fabric, scientific advancements, technological breakthroughs in the country. Matured democracy and vibrant, fast-growing economy like India  have to deal with this issue ASAP. 8. Media Apathy : In India most of the media belongs to the political parties, so they failed to cover all relevant and real issues revolving around our society.The media seem to have given in completely to the wealth and entertainment industry of the higher class. The media are financially dependent on the rich because of advertising and are therefore not critical of the corruption in the public domain and government. Since the 90’s journalists barely have any attention for issues like environment; most of them were retrained to be financial analysts. Media needs to come up with the coverage of real and main issues like social inequality and environment degradations. Media has to play an active role in spreading awareness among masses towards major issues of the society. 9. Political chaos : In the last two decades no single party has obtained an absolute majority.The political fragmentation across central and regional levels makes it very difficult to forge sustainable long term policies in the realm of health, education, infrastructure etc.Moreover, small parties choose the most profitable ministries for ‘short-term corruption’ . 10. Border conflicts: India’s unresolved border disputes, especially in Kashmir and the North East (Nagaland and Manipur) which indicates that there are parts of India that are not comfortable with being part of India. India needs to take proactive steps to resolve the conflict and fasten the development in these disturbed territories. I believe that India would make it to the top of the world as Indians are among the most intelligent people of the world. India has all the human and material resources that are prerequisite to become a superpower. It is only question of administration and supervision. The country proudly holds immense resource of experienced, high caliber professionals in all spheres of knowledge and technology. India is deemed as a â€Å"sleeping tiger† due to its capabilities in different fields like nuclear technology, space technology, agricultural research and software development. If provided with proper support, they would be able to implement any task that a developed nation may or may not be able to do.

Big City

â€Å"Big Fish in Small Pond† An Argumentative Essay on Big City v. s Small City __________________________________ Introduction They say that it is always better to be a small fish in a big pond than being a big fish in a small pond. While this brief discourse is certainly not on the topic of either fishing or ponds, it is similar in the way that the experiences of being somebody in an unknown town and being a â€Å"nobody† in a big town mirror this proverb. While there certainly are many advantages to living in a small town, the question that begs to be asked is whether or not these advantages far outweigh those of living in a big city.Further, living in a small town means that one is residing in a relatively small community and that the people manifest a certain familiarity that goes beyond normal conversations. The town grocer or shopkeeper may remember one’s name and the local physicians may actually even know one’s entire medical history. The crime r ate is much lower than a big city and it is safer to take walks at night without worrying about getting mugged. Yet, can one say that life has truly been lived and experienced based on the happenings in a small town?There is so much that the world has to offer and only a small part of that can be experienced in any small town (Steves, 2007). Analysis In cases as that aforementioned, one may take to imagine the delight of those who reside in Istanbul, Turkey—fine and simple—yet possess all the wonders a certain place would ever possess. Churches, mosques, palaces, dashing synagogues, castles and towers are few of the land marks which connote the ideal definition of Istanbul—a big city rich with â€Å"big† entities.Being Turkey’s most populous city, and considerably the center of economics and culture for that instance, the rise of crime rate would be inevitable to contain, hence, this connotation is admirably contained by this big city, compared to that which seemingly occur in other â€Å"small towns† such as the increasing crime rate in Tijuana, Mexico—the inhabitants under such jurisdiction itself are paving their way on the streets for the â€Å"plague of the society† to be expunged, for that instance.What tends to be the predicament of the case falls basically on the fact that there will always be challenges living in a ‘big’ city—although there appears to be an excitement and a favorable delight offered in the arena of satisfaction—the challenge which serves as a pre-requisite to this extent lies on the premise that the â€Å"larger the scope, the bigger the probability, the lesser the chance to catch the best fish. In a big city, there are numerous jobs offered, hence, there also exists numerous individuals who are as competent as you are—one may be the best in their respective small towns, but the competition in big towns far more serve as a bigger arena for the c ompetition.Aside from that, unlike the possessions that a person may have in a small town, it is hard to achieve these things in the light of an urbanized vicinity—take for example a car bought in a small town may have been the â€Å"funkiest† but in the larger arena of a big town, it only belongs to the standard toys for the big boys—the emotional belligerence is what swallows the individual by then—no satisfaction is attained. Conclusions and further remarksLiving in a big city on the other hand presents far more challenges and rewards. Nobody has ever claimed that living in a big city is easy. It is fraught with dangers and opportunities but for those who are able to overcome the challenges and take advantage of the opportunities there lies a certain satisfaction that one can never derive from the experiences of living in a small town; the triumph in knowing that one has achieved something that has made one a better person (StudyAbroad.Com, 2002). The advantages of living in a big city have little to do with financial status or even material wealth. There is another factor that indeed matters and it is the knowledge that life has been lived fully—the knowledge that even though one never did become the big fish in the big city, one did become one tough fish after all. Big City â€Å"Big Fish in Small Pond† An Argumentative Essay on Big City v. s Small City __________________________________ Introduction They say that it is always better to be a small fish in a big pond than being a big fish in a small pond. While this brief discourse is certainly not on the topic of either fishing or ponds, it is similar in the way that the experiences of being somebody in an unknown town and being a â€Å"nobody† in a big town mirror this proverb. While there certainly are many advantages to living in a small town, the question that begs to be asked is whether or not these advantages far outweigh those of living in a big city.Further, living in a small town means that one is residing in a relatively small community and that the people manifest a certain familiarity that goes beyond normal conversations. The town grocer or shopkeeper may remember one’s name and the local physicians may actually even know one’s entire medical history. The crime r ate is much lower than a big city and it is safer to take walks at night without worrying about getting mugged. Yet, can one say that life has truly been lived and experienced based on the happenings in a small town?There is so much that the world has to offer and only a small part of that can be experienced in any small town (Steves, 2007). Analysis In cases as that aforementioned, one may take to imagine the delight of those who reside in Istanbul, Turkey—fine and simple—yet possess all the wonders a certain place would ever possess. Churches, mosques, palaces, dashing synagogues, castles and towers are few of the land marks which connote the ideal definition of Istanbul—a big city rich with â€Å"big† entities.Being Turkey’s most populous city, and considerably the center of economics and culture for that instance, the rise of crime rate would be inevitable to contain, hence, this connotation is admirably contained by this big city, compared to that which seemingly occur in other â€Å"small towns† such as the increasing crime rate in Tijuana, Mexico—the inhabitants under such jurisdiction itself are paving their way on the streets for the â€Å"plague of the society† to be expunged, for that instance.What tends to be the predicament of the case falls basically on the fact that there will always be challenges living in a ‘big’ city—although there appears to be an excitement and a favorable delight offered in the arena of satisfaction—the challenge which serves as a pre-requisite to this extent lies on the premise that the â€Å"larger the scope, the bigger the probability, the lesser the chance to catch the best fish. In a big city, there are numerous jobs offered, hence, there also exists numerous individuals who are as competent as you are—one may be the best in their respective small towns, but the competition in big towns far more serve as a bigger arena for the c ompetition.Aside from that, unlike the possessions that a person may have in a small town, it is hard to achieve these things in the light of an urbanized vicinity—take for example a car bought in a small town may have been the â€Å"funkiest† but in the larger arena of a big town, it only belongs to the standard toys for the big boys—the emotional belligerence is what swallows the individual by then—no satisfaction is attained. Conclusions and further remarksLiving in a big city on the other hand presents far more challenges and rewards. Nobody has ever claimed that living in a big city is easy. It is fraught with dangers and opportunities but for those who are able to overcome the challenges and take advantage of the opportunities there lies a certain satisfaction that one can never derive from the experiences of living in a small town; the triumph in knowing that one has achieved something that has made one a better person (StudyAbroad.Com, 2002). The advantages of living in a big city have little to do with financial status or even material wealth. There is another factor that indeed matters and it is the knowledge that life has been lived fully—the knowledge that even though one never did become the big fish in the big city, one did become one tough fish after all.

Marketing Week 2 Journal

The components of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) are the basic major forces driving the economy. This is because an increase in the amount of these components also means an increase in the GDP of a certain country. A high GDP means a high income of a country. These are: personal consumption, investments, government spending and net exports (the value of exports minus the value of imports) (Costales, 2000). Personal consumption is the expenditures of households on basic necessities in which receipts are being issued. A no-receipt purchase or something that is not registered to the government as a business is not included, as it is a part of the black market. Investments, on the other hand are capitals that are being used in businesses. These are non-financial product purchases. Government spending is the expenditures of the government in providing goods for the public, wages for the public workers and purchases of sectors of the government. However, it does not encompass social security or benefits. And last, is the net exports, the difference of the exports, goods produced for out of the country consumption, and imports, goods that come from other countries for consumption. There are also new forces driving the economy. These are breakthroughs that were discovered as time passed by and prove true to improve economic performance. Specifically, these are: technology and entrepreneurship. Technology has now been a great help in the development of the economy because of its benefits (Henry and Cooke, n.d.). Development of new technology makes costs lower for the producers and provides means for businesses to transact among others. On the other hand, entrepreneurship is the one who thinks of innovations that may be pursued. This is because introduction of new things prove useful to both consumers and producers. They also initiate job growth as they employ employees. References Costales, A. C., A. E. Bello, M. A. O. Catelo, A. C. Cuevas, G. I. Galinato and U-P. E. Rodriguez. Economics: Principles and Applications. Quezon City: JMC Press, Inc. â€Å"Information Technology Industries – of Growing Importance to the Economy and Jobs†. Retrieved October 25, 2007 Tesreau, K. and Gielazauskas, V. Entrepreneurship: A Driving Force in the New Economy. Retrieved October 25, 2007

Textile industry in India Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Textile industry in India - Essay Example In this case, the paper has defined the Indian and Vietnamese textile industry’s macro-economic environment through a an economic analysis in order to illuminate the key factors that can be utilized to maximize the efficiency and competitiveness of the industry. Up to the point where the Indian economy was liberalized, the textile industry in the country was essentially disorganized. However, the industry has now risen to being the second biggest textile industry in the world; second only to China. In this way, textiles account for 38% of total exports in the country; therefore making textiles an industry of extreme importance upon which a great deal of India’s economic strength relies upon (Singleton, 2007, p. 22). Comparatively, the textile industry in Vietnam is one of its largest industries; as well as a key economic contributor. Textile exports from Vietnam, despite the economic difficulties facing the country, have continued to improve with present goals aimed at becoming the third largest textile exporter after China and India. The factors discussed in this paper affecting the Indian and Vietnamese textile industries such as political factors are vital since lack of stability would adversely affect it. Because the economies of Vietnam and India are dependent largely on the manufacture and export of textiles, which accounts for 29% and 27% of foreign exchange respectively, social and economic factors are also important as factors of influence (Nash, 2007, p. 21). Analysis of Macro environment in India & Vietnam Firstly, with respect to the GDP of these systems, the researcher can readily note that Vietnam represented a 2011 GDP of approximately 129 billion USD whereas India represented a GDP for the same period of approximately 1.85 trillion USD. Although the overall size of the Indian economy dwarfs that of Vietnam, this cannot be understood in and of itself as a defining factor or differential between the two. Ultimately, the extreme diffe rential in GDP can be understood as a function of the overall population differential that is extant between the two nations. Whereas India represents a population of well over 1.24 billion, Vietnam only boasts of a total population of around 88 million individuals. As a function of this differential, is it easy for the researcher to understand why the overall GDP differential is as expansive as it has been represented in the figures displayed. Comparatively, Vietnam has experienced a rapid rise in per capita income over the past decade. Whereas just a few brief years ago Vietnam struggled with massive amounts of poverty with many of its citizens earning less than 150 dollars per year, the rapid rise in the growth of Vietnam’s middle class and a high level of industrialization and trade has meant that the average per capita income has risen to nearly 1,130 per year by 2010. This rapid rise in the average per capita income in Vietnam can be attributed to a host of factors; how ever, for purposes of this analysis, it would not be unreasonable to assert that the rapid growth in the textile industry in Vietnam has been one of the main contributing factors to spurring economic growth and benefitting the overall quality of life for many