Macroeconomics Homework 1 Essay

Principles of Macroeconomics Homework 1 Please write down your answers as clearly as possible. 1. Below are some data from the land of milk and honey. Year 2008 2009 2010 Price of Milk $1 $1 $2 Quantity of Milk 100 quarts 200 200 Price of Honey $2 $2 $4 Quantity of Honey 50 quarts 100 100 a. Compute the nominal GDP, real GDP, and the GDP deflator for each year, using 2008 as the base year. Calculating nominal GDP: 2008: ($1 per qt. of milk ï‚ ´ 100 qts. milk) + ($2 per qt. of honey ï‚ ´ 50 qts. honey) = $200 2009: ($1 per qt. of milk ï‚ ´ 200 qts. milk) + ($2 per qt. of honey ï‚ ´ 100 qts. honey) = $400 2010: ($2 per qt. of milk ï‚ ´ 200 qts. milk) + ($4 per qt. of honey ï‚ ´ 100 qts. honey) = $800 Calculating real GDP (base year 2008): 2008: ($1 per qt. of milk ï‚ ´ 100 qts. milk) + ($2 per qt. of honey ï‚ ´ 50 qts. honey) = $200 2009: ($1 per qt. of milk ï‚ ´ 200 qts. milk) + ($2 per qt. of honey ï‚ ´ 100 qts. honey) = $400 2010: ($1 per qt. of milk ï‚ ´ 200 qts. milk) + ($2 per qt. of honey ï‚ ´ 100 qts. honey) = $400 Calculating the GDP deflator: 2008: ($200/$200) ï‚ ´ 100 = 100 2009: ($400/$400) ï‚ ´ 100 = 100 2010: ($800/$400) ï‚ ´ 100 = 200 1 b. Compute the percentage change in nominal GDP, real GDP, and the GDP deflator in 2009 and 2010 from the preceding year. For each year, identify the variable that does not change. Explain in words why your answer makes sense. Calculating the percentage change in nominal GDP: Percentage change in nominal GDP in 2009 = *($400 − $200)/$200+ ï‚ ´ 100 = 100%. Percentage change in nominal GDP in 2010 = *($800 − $400)/$400+ ï‚ ´ 100 = 100%. Calculating the percentage change in real GDP: Percentage change in real GDP in 2009 = *($400 − $200)/$200+ ï‚ ´ 100 = 100%. Percentage change in real GDP in 2010 = *($400 − $400)/$400] ï‚ ´ 100 = 0%. Calculating the percentage change in GDP deflator: Percentage change in the GDP deflator in 2009 = *(100 − 100)/100+ ï‚ ´ 100 = 0%. Percentage change in the GDP deflator in 2010 = *(200 − 100)/100+ ï‚ ´ 100 = 100%. Prices did not change from 2008 to 2009. Thus, the percentage change in the GDP deflator is zero. Likewise, output levels did not change from 2009 to 2010. This means that the percentage change in real GDP is zero. c. Did economic well-being rise more in 2009 or 2010? Explain. Economic well-being rose more in 2009 than in 2010, since real GDP rose in 2009 but not in 2010. In 2009, real GDP rose but prices did not. In 2010, real GDP did not rise but prices did. 2. What components of GDP in this year (if any) would each of the following transactions affects? How about total GDP in this year? Explain. a. A family buys a new refrigerator Consumption increases because a refrigerator is a good purchased by a household. Total GDP increases by the same amount. b. Aunt Jane buys a new house Investment increases because a new house is an investment good. Total GDP increases by the same amount. c. Ford sells a Mustang from its inventory 2 Consumption increases because a car is a good purchased by a household, but investment decreases because the car in Ford’s inventory had been counted as an investment good until it was sold. The increase in consumption cancels the decrease in investment, so there is no change to the total GDP (recall that GDP does not include the value from sale of used good) d. You buy a pizza from a local Pizza place. Consumption increases because pizza is a good purchased by a household. Total GDP increases by the same amount. e. California repaves Highway 101 Government purchases increase because the government spent money to provide a good to the public. Total GDP increases by the same amount. f. Your parents buy a bottle of French wine Consumption increases because the bottle is a good purchased by a household, but net exports decrease because the bottle was imported. The increase in consumption cancels the decrease in net exports, so there is no change to the total GDP (recall that GDP does not include the value of foreign produced goods) g. Honda downsizes its factory in Marysville, Ohio Investment decreases because some structures and equipment were put away. Total GDP decreases by the same amount. h. A senior lady in Cleveland receives social security from the government. Neither any of the components nor the total GDP is affected. Because social security is a kind of transfer payment, which is not included in GDP. 3. Explain a. Why a closed economy’s income must equal its expenditure? A closed economy’s income must equal its expenditure, because every transaction has a buyer and a seller. Thus, expenditure by buyers must equal income by sellers. b. Why do economists use real GDP rather than nominal GDP to gauge economic wellbeing? Economists use real GDP rather than nominal GDP to gauge economic well-being because real GDP is not affected by changes in prices, so it reflects only changes in the amounts being produced. Because it measures the economy’s production of goods and services, it reflects the economy’s ability to satisfy people’s needs and desires. But nominal GDP is affected both by quantity and price. You cannot determine if a rise in nominal GDP has been caused by increased production or higher prices. Thus real GDP is a better gauge of economic well-being than is nominal GDP.

Multiculturalism In Canada: The benefits of a multicultural society Essay

Canada is a very interesting country, mainly due to its diversity. The weather in Canada can be both freezing and very hot. Some land is rocky and mountainous, while other places are composed of flat, rolling hills. And in Canada, you can find many different races, from Asian to Latin, African to Indian. Canada is the most multicultural country in the world, and a lot of Canada’s development and success can be attributed to immigrants coming into Canada (Samuda, 1984). Yet not all people agree that multiculturalism has had only positive effects on Canada. There are some drawbacks that are due to Canada’s policies on immigration and multiculturalism. However, by examining key points and facts concerning multiculturalism in Canada, it is evident that Canada’s policies on multiculturalism have had mainly positive effects on Canadian society. Canada was the very first country in the world to introduce a multicultural policy (Satzewich, 1992). In 1969, the Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism heard many ethnic spokespersons argue that Canada should adopt the idea of a â€Å"cultural mosaic†, where different cultures would each contribute to Canada, making the country unified through each culture’s uniqueness. This was a different concept than the United States idea of a â€Å"melting pot†, where there would be many different cultures, yet they would all have â€Å"American values†, which would be the main factor that united them as a country. The Royal Commission agreed with this proposed policy, and presented it to the Government of Canada. Two years later, the policy was accepted while Pierre Elliot Trudeau was Prime Minister. In 1982, the policy became law, which helped to settle any racial and ethnic problems (Satzewich, 1992). In 1997, the Department of Canadian Heritage restructured the federal Multicultural Program. The renewed program worked towards three main goals: identity – fostering a society in which people of all backgrounds feel a  sense of belonging and attachment to Canada; civic participation – developing citizens who are actively involved in shaping the future of their various communities and their country; social justice – building a nation that ensures fair and equitable treatment and that respects and accommodates people of all origins (Internet Site, http://www.communication.gc.ca/facts/multi_e.html). The Multicultural Policy in Canada states that all people are equal, and can participate as a member of society, regardless of racial, cultural, ethnic, or religious background. Multiculturalism strives to preserve people’s cultural identity, while at the same time ensuring that common Canadian values are upheld (Reitz, 1980). Canada’s policy on immigration has changed over the years, reflecting societal views and economical conditions. Yet no matter how much the policy changed, the effects of this policy are very evident. Close to 10% of the adult population of Canada are visible minorities, and this amount is expected to double within the next twenty years (Satzewich, 1992). Visible minorities are â€Å"persons, other than Aboriginal peoples, who are non-Caucasian in race or non-white in colour† (Employment and Immigration Canada, 1987). This means that the immigrants coming into Canada are not only from European descent; rather, they are coming from other continents, such as Africa, South America, and Asia. Before 1961, 90% of the immigrants coming into Canada were of European descent. Yet in 1981, Europeans only constituted for 25% of the immigrants coming into Canada (Satzewich, 1992). This means that 75% of immigrants coming into Canada in 1981 were from Asia, South America, etc. It is obvious that Canada’s policy on multiculturalism has had a profound effect on Canada and its people. However, does this mean that multiculturalism in Canada has had a positive effect on society? Many will argue that Canada would be better off without its lenient attitude towards immigration and multiculturalism. There are several negative factors that are attributed to Canada’s multicultural policy. One of the main reasons why people believe that Canada’s multicultural policy does more harm  than good is because it creates racism. By putting many different races together, all of which have different cultural and value differences, acts of discrimination and racism are bound to occur. Also, some immigrants bring with them histories of conflict in their home countries to Canada, which leads to  problems that could include violence, hatred, and discrimination (Bibby, 1990). Rather than unite Canadians, these factors would only divide Canadian society. Another main reason as to why some people view multiculturalism in Canada negatively is because it creates confusion and misunderstanding. Many people that come to Canada know only their native tongue, and their own countries rules and laws. Being introduced to Canadian laws, language and customs can prove to be quite the challenge. A third reason as to why not everyone supports multiculturalism is because of the fear of eroding traditional British heritage. Canada has close ties to its mother-nation Britain, and many believe that by allowing immigrants of different ethnic backgrounds into the country, the link between Canada and Britain will only weaken (Satzewich, 1992). These are all examples of downsides to Canadian multiculturalism, yet there are many benefits that result from multiculturalism as well. The benefits of multiculturalism in Canada make up for the drawbacks. One of the downsides to multiculturalism was that it leads to racism. However, one of the positive effects of Canada’s policy is that there is, over time, less racism. This is due to the fact that once many different ethnic groups have been living with each other for some time, they begin to understand each other more, and therefore feel closer and more connected to each other (Samuda, 1984). This results in less racism and prejudice towards one another. Another positive effect is that since there are many different cultures living with each other, people will benefit because they will learn more about different races, and will develop a greater understanding of the  cultures around them (Samuda, 1984). For instance, a Hindu who only knows his own religion and way of life will see the way that other races live, and therefore his knowledge about other religions, countries, values, etc. will grow. This in turn allows the Hindu to have more freedom, because he now sees other ways of living, and can choose however he wants to live. This is a very important aspect of Canadian society: the ability to live freely, and to choose whatever religion and way of life you want. Another positive effect that multiculturalism has had on Canada is that Canada is now a country so diverse and so rich in culture, that there are now vast amounts of ideas, opinions, and lifestyles to explore. Without multiculturalism, Canada would not be so rich in art and cultural traditions (Samuda, 1984). All of the above benefits that multiculturalism has had on Canadian society are important, yet the main positive effect that multiculturalism has had on Canada is that it has basically shaped Canada into the country that we now know it as today. Without Canada’s multicultural policy, not very many immigrants would be coming to Canada. And without immigrants, Canada’s population would be very small, and its economy weak. Immigrants that come to Canada are beneficial to Canadian society because: they  pay taxes, create jobs, and they add to Canada’s economy, among other things. Immigration into Canada is the main reason as to why Canada has become a successful country (Reitz, 1980). Evidently, Canada has benefited from its multicultural policies, in particular its policies towards immigration. However, what is society’s attitude towards immigration? Back in the early 1900’s, foreigner’s were mostly seen as inferior. They were not treated the same as white people were (Bibby, 1990). So the question that should be asked is why were so many immigrants even allowed into Canada, if they were not wanted there? They were allowed to come simply because Canada needed workers. An easy solution to the increasing demands for labourers in Canada was to allow immigrants to come into the country to work (Bibby, 1990). After a few decades, these  immigrants had contributed a large amount of their time, work, and money to Canada, and their efforts were not left unrecognized. This was around the time when Canada’s Multicultural Policy was composed, and later put into effect. Attitudes towards multiculturalism and immigration in Canada changed significantly while Canada’s economy was expanding after World War II. Canada needed workers, and many flocked into Canada, only this time, not all were labourers. Many were professors and well-educated people, whom were fleeing their home country, coming to Canada as refugees (Satzewich, 1992). Over the next few years, Canadian attitudes towards multiculturalism became more welcoming, while the last racial and ethnic barriers to Canadian immigration were removed. With immigrants mainly moving into large cities in Canada such as Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal, cultural diversity was becoming increasingly evident in these major urban areas (Satzewich, 1992). Most immigrants moved into large cities because of two reasons: work was easier to find, and other people of the same ethnic background as them would be living there as well. Today, 90% of foreign-born Canadians live in one of Canada’s fifteen largest urban centers (Reitz, 1980). Over the years, attitudes towards multiculturalism and immigration have changed, with many people now recognizing the benefits of a multicultural society. People are now looking towards the future, trying to see what effects multiculturalism will have on society within the next few decades. Of course, Canada’s policies towards immigration and multiculturalism will be affected by changes in social values and the economy over the next few decades. Throughout history, it is evident that immigration into Canada becomes more open and welcome when there is a need for a larger labour force (Bibby, 1990). No matter what policy is put into effect, one thing remains clear: the more Canadian society becomes culturally and racially mixed, the greater the need for tolerance and acceptance for one another as fellow Canadians. A multicultural policy that  meets the needs of both long-time residents and the newly arrived will prove to be the most successful policy (Samuda, 1984). After reviewing this information about multiculturalism in Canada, one can clearly see that multiculturalism is an important aspect of Canadian society, and society has benefited immensely due to Canada’s policies towards immigration and multiculturalism. While there will always be negative opinions towards multiculturalism in Canada, the majority of Canadians recognize the importance of Canada’s multicultural policies, and support them in their entirety (Bibby, 1990). Because Canada’s population is composed of so many different racial backgrounds, the future of Canada depends on the commitments of all its citizens to a strong and unified Canadian identity, while still keeping their own culture and unique way of life. As it does so presently and as it has done so in the past, multiculturalism will continue to benefit Canadian society, making the quality of life better and more fulfilling to all Canadians. Bibliography 1)Bibby, R.W. (1990). Mosaic madness: The poverty and potential of life in Canada. Toronto: Stoddart. 2)Employment and Immigration Canada (1987). Employment Equity Act, Regulations and Schedules. Ottawa. 3)Reitz, J.G. (1980). The survival of ethnic groups. Toronto: McGraw-Hill. 4)Samuda, Ronald J. (1984). Multiculturalism in Canada: Social and Educational Perspectives. New Jersey: Prentice Hall. 5)Satzewich, Vic (1992). Deconstructing a Nation: Immigration, Multiculturalism and Racism in ’90s Canada. Toronto: Fernwood Books. 6)Internet Site: Facts on Canada: Multiculturalism in Canada. http://www.communication.gc.ca/facts/multi_e.html, Minister of Public Works and Government Services, 2001.

Introduction to Accounting and finance -- Economics, Finance and Assignment - 3

Introduction to Accounting and finance -- Economics, Finance and Management - Assignment Example They are very disturbed with months like September recording a high sales volume and November recording a low sales volume. This could prove to be an issue for the working capital in the long run and the concept of going concern. (Fields. E., 2002). It would be better if the manager’s focus on achieving uniform sales targets every month so that the working capital available could be more consistent giving way for better planning. 3. If the company would continue with bulk purchases and not go for investing further in machinery, there could be a possibility of maintaining obsolete machinery. As it is, the company has only machinery worth  £25,000 and further non-investment may prove to be a hindrance to exploring newer avenues of market creation. (Clemmer. J., 1995). However, it needs to understand that its retained earnings which represent the profit over the years are quite high. They almost represent double of the owner’s equity. This means that the company’s overall profitability is commendable. Cash, on the other hand, represents the revenue or liability of that company. Revenue is generated by sales of that company. This is explained in the trading account of the firm. The other way to generate cash is to take up a liability. This is shown in the balance sheet of the firm. In the case of Hide to seek ltd there is a negative liquidity possibility for two months. This is because the company is planning to purchase materials in bulk. These materials are further sold in the coming months. There is no incidence of purchases in the next six months. Bulk purchases ensure discounted price. That means, while cash reserves are decreasing for two months, there is an indirect increase in profits in the next 3 months. This is the strategy to withhold benefits to gain higher of them in the future. This has to be given as an explanation in the footnotes to the financial statements. (Lander. P.G., 2004). If Hidetoseek ltd decides to investigate

Whitman V. America Trucking Associations, Inc Essay

Whitman V. America Trucking Associations, Inc - Essay Example In a review conducted by EPA, it revealed that public health can be improved by lowering emission standards for ozone and particulates. The fine particles found in air pollution can cause premature death and chronic bronchitis. On the other hand, ozone can cause lung inflammation and prolonged exposure may cause permanent damage to the lungs. Both pollutants are considered as health hazards since they are closely associated with increased hospital admissions and can cause respiratory problems like asthma and respiratory tract infection. EPA lowered the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) which was challenged by industry groups for failure to account the cost of compliance. The Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the industry groups. Hence, appeal was made by EPA. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of the constitutionality of EPA’s delegated power to set national air quality standards for the protection of the public from harmful effects of air pollution, without conside ring the economic costs of implementing the standards. The quality standards set forth by EPA is imbued with public interest for the protection of the nation’s health and safety. The High Court ruled that there was no violation of the non-delegated doctrine and EPA acted within the bounds of the delegated power. The key issue in this case is whether or not the (EPA) National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) has the delegated legislative power to enact new regulations and set national air quality standards for the protection of the public from harmful effects of air pollution. Under Section 109(b)(1) of the CAA (Clean Air Act) enacted by Congress, it empowered the EPA to set ambient air quality standards and promulgate regulations for identified air pollutants.  When the EPA reviewed this information after five years, the EPA issued an amendment to the Act in Section 109(b)(1), requiring the EPA to set air quality standards necessary for the protection of public health à ¢â‚¬Å"the attainment and maintenance of which are request to protect the public health with an adequate margin of safety.† Plaintiff American Trucking Associations, Inc. brought suit in the District Court for the District of Columbia and argued that the amendment is unconstitutional while at the same time questioned the delegated legislative power to the EPA. The district court held that the CAA did not provide any â€Å"intelligible principles† to the EPA for enacting new regulations, and suggested that the EPA could avoid unconstitutionality by adopting a more restrictive version of Sec. 109(b)(1). The Court of Appeals (D.C. Circuit Court) ruled otherwise by stating that the standard making procedure delegated by Congress to the EPA to set air quality was an unconstitutional and runs counter with Article I, Section I of the U.S. Constitution because it found that the EPA had construed the statute to afford no "intelligible principle" to direct the exercise of authorit y of the agency. EPA misinterpreted the statute believing that the agency can exercise of authority and implement a national ambient air quality standard. The district court remanded the regulation to the EPA for review, and the agency appealed. The Court of Appeals agreed with the district court, thus, prompting Whitman and the EPA appealed to the US Supreme Court. The ruling of the Supreme Court found that degree of agency discretion that is acceptable varies according to the scope of the power conferred to it by the legislature. Administrative agencies, like EPA, are not given full discretion and blanket authority when faced with all-encompassing regulatory

International Finance Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

International Finance - Assignment Example These are bills of exchange with a period of maturity of about three months. The bills used for international payments. Credits required by importers to have possession of goods, after which they sell them and pay off their bills (Eighth 2012, pp. 10-12). Hedging happens when importers and exporters engage an agreement to buy and sell goods at a future date in current prices. The significance of this is avoidance of losses that caused by variation of exchange rates (Eighth 2012, pp. 10-12). It is an agreement between two parties in order to exchange currencies. The transaction carried out once for commercial customers and on the subsequent business day for the inter-bank traders (Eighth 2012, pp. 7-8). It is a more refined form of transaction. A technique shelters the borrowing a currency on a collateralized basis (Eighth 2012, p. 5). For instance, the dealer sells  £18,000 forward for dollars. The delivery is in three months at $ 2.4531/ £. The dealer simultaneously buys 18,000,000 forward for the delivery in a subsequent four months at a $ 2.4331. The difference accrued due to the difference between the selling and buying price has an equivalent rate differential. Terms and the number of units of foreign currency that is required to purchase a dollar are most common denominator in foreign currencies (Eighth 2012, pp. 10-12). For example, the exchange rate between the US dollar and the Swiss

The Patriot Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Patriot - Movie Review Example Imdb (2009) says that one of the reasons Harrison Ford to decline the leading role was because he has got the feeling that the Revolutionary war is depicted as "one-man's-revenge". I believe that even though the plot of the film is centered on the American Revolution, the film focuses around the personal drama of the main character, rather than accurately describing the historical events. Even though the character of Benjamin Martin is slightly based on real life of the soldier Francis Marion, the film resembles a melodramatic performance by Gibson (Harvey 2000). Garabedian (2009) comments that the film gets too personal and does not maintain the balance between the film's action and the main character's revenge. The director missed to represent the historical events in depth. Instead the audience witnesses ongoing bloody battles, where people are chopped off and killed all the time (Garabedian 2009). The bloodshed seems to be endless. What is ignored is some brief explanation about the historical background that the movie is representing. The fighting scenes are very unsettling. Harvey (2000) observes that the overuse of slow motion photography in most of the battles distort the senses of the viewer, as they can witness soldiers being struck by musket ball and the blood that spatter. Such a super slow motion was not necessary. Why do you think the film was made when it was, and for what underlying purpose, if any I believe that the film was filmed in order to instigate pride in Americans and to show how they built up their patriotism. The underlying purpose for me was also to see the Revolution through the eyes of one man who was led to take part in the war, out of his duty to protect both the land and the people from the British. What do you think might have been happening in the contemporary climate when the film was made that could have influenced how the movie portrayed the past The movie release data was in June 2000. If the movie was filmed two years from then, I presume that the focus will not be on one man only. After the events of September 11, I think that the patriot theme will concentrate around how the whole nation fights against its independence, instead of showing one evil man - Col. William Tavington against the inspiration of the good - Benjamin Martin. What does the movie say both about the historical past it depicts and about the historical present when the film was made In my opinion the movie goes too much into personal details and melodrama, interpersonal conflicts and aspirations rather than clarifying the historical circumstances that led to the American Revolution. The fight for freedom is not the fight of a nation, but the fight of a family, or several people trying to intercommunicate why they do it. The film reminds us that it is made is modern times, thanks to the violent, battle scenes that can shock any viewer. However, filmmakers beautifully recreates the atmosphere of the late 1700 with original South Caroline landscapes and cottages. How receptive do you think audiences at the time might have been to see a movie like the one you

London Olympics 2012 - China Diving Team Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

London Olympics 2012 - China Diving Team - Essay Example It is worth mentioning that London was the first country to have hosted the modern Olympic Games event three times having previously done in 1908 and 1948. With the growing competition amid different nations at the global level, strategies are also being made to excel in field of education and sports. China as a leading global sporting nation is considered to be the most populated country, which has over the past two decades established a successful niche for itself in the Games. The subsequent results that are evidently showing in Olympic Games from Chinese participants especially diving team has been propagated by significant contributions from the government which is taking adequate steps to develop and convert the inherent skills of the sports persons to successful results and medals through a precise focus on team development. In this regard, it is observed that ‘Team Success/Failure Model’ is a crucial determinant and continuum to ascertain to inherent perspectives related to a team’s strengths and team members characteristics. The China diving team has been able to create history in the Olympic Games in the year 2012. The diving competitions in the Olympic Games (London) took place at the Aquatics Centre. It was one of the most attractive aquatic sports that took place at the games. Apart from diving, China also took part in other aquatic sports that comprised synchronized swimming, water polo and swimming. However, the China diving team was able to become the most successful country that topped the medal table with six gold, one bronze and three silver in total (BBC, â€Å"Medals in Diving†). THESIS STATEMENT The main objective of this study is to analyze the different facets associated with Chinese Olympic diving team which participated in 2012 summer Olympic Games with a special focus on synchronized diving. The study will be evaluated based on ‘Team Success/Failure Model’, which will enable to determine the key constituents of success achieved by the Chinese diving team. TEAM GOAL OR TASK Diving is considered to be a sport that primarily involves leaping or dropping into water from a raised area or launch pad on occasion while executing acrobatics. Diving is an internationally recognized sport since it acceptance in the Olympic Games in 2000. Although it is viewed that countries such as the United States ruled worldwide competitive diving events in the twentieth century however the sport is being accepted by many countries after it gained international recognition from IOC in the year 2000. China is observed to be one of the leading sporting nations, which has excelled in the sport of diving. The sport was accepted by the people when it was transfigured by national coach Liang Boxi (International Olympic Committee 1-9). Other noted counties that are adapting significant amount of strategies to uplift the sport include Russia, Great Britain, Italy and Australia among others. China is consi dered to be among the most revered participating nations in diving in the Olympic Games since the early 1980s. China won its first Olympic medal in diving in the 1984 Los Angeles Games. Again, in the year 1988, the nation gained two out of four gold medals in the diving category in Seoul which continued to grow as it was able to gain five gold medals from Sydney and six in Athens. Chinese divers quickly became accustomed to victory having

Advanced mechanical design analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Advanced mechanical design analysis - Essay Example The structure given for analysis is simply supported using the rollers at both the ends.The beam element consists of three separate pieces.Two pieces of longer span both connected to the end portions while the middle piece the smaller one, connects both the longer pieces using an assembly of pin joints. The loads to which the beam is subjected consist of three concentrated loads, one having a magnitude of 26 KN acting at the centre while the loads of magnitude 18 KN and 20 KN acting at 0.9 m and 1.1 m from both the ends. The connection provided in the members undertakes the roles of transfer of loads from one member to the other besides acting as means of support. As the connections are specified as pinned the members are given the freedom to rotate. The pinned connections are provided to facilitate the large deflection possible in the bridge element. In case stiff connection like welded connections are provided it would create additional stress in the body due to the induced rigidit y of the connections. As the rigidity in the pinned connections are every low the members wouldn't experience any stress concentrations created by rotational effects or reaction forces.The objective of the problem is to determine the stresses in the four different beam cross sections and also the deflection caused when different beam cross sections are used. The beam theory is adopted whenever the structural analysis is required on a member characterized by significant span, L, comparable depth, D, and width, W. Thus the bending theory says that M/I = f /y= E/R. Where M is the maximum bending moment, I is the moment of Inertia, f is the maximum fibre stress, y is the depth to the outermost fibre from the neutral axis, E is the modulus of elasticity and R is the radius of gyration. The stresses and the deflection caused in the beam from the external loads depend on length of the beam or span and the depth of the beam. Also, the stresses and the deflections in the beam shall be expres sed as the functions of shear force and bending moment. Thus it is very necessary to obtain the shear force and bending moment diagram. For the given problem the shear force and bending moment diagram shall be determined, it is shown separately as the hand calculations. The finite element analysis was undertaken using the MYSTRO AND LUSAS finite element software where the FEA models were formed using the command files than CAD interface systems. This approach even though was a little tedious and complex was described by separate set of commands. The success of FEA technique lies in the planning and preparation of suitable mesh arrangement for the problem to be addressed. The objective is to identify the most optimum mesh size arrangement that gives the most accurate stress distribution with in reasonable time for analysis. The region of high stress in the beam could be meshed very fine and those outside the region could be discretised using coarse mesh. The elements used for the discretisation is arrived based of variety of trial models. The elements that are used in the final analysis is three dimensional hexahedral elements which has eight nodes with each node having three degrees of freedom. These elements are geometrically linear and has an assu med internal strain field. They are sued to model the beam flanges and connecting plates. The beam webs are modelled using the three or four noded elements having 5 degrees of freedom and the connections are also modelled using hexahedral elements. The material used is assumed to behavior in the linear field. The modulus of elasticity and poisons ratio given in the problem could be used for the analysis. The beam is restrained to move in the vertical direction. The roller supports provided would give the model a free movement along it longitudinal direction. Three dimensional beam element refers to the element that have two nodes and each node having six degrees of freedom. Three translation motion and three rotational motion are the

Internet and UK Tourism Industry Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 8000 words

Internet and UK Tourism Industry - Coursework Example It has been used for various transactions from information transfer to interpersonal communications. Businesses have greatly improved with the onset of internet usage. The utilization of internet has come to the point of it becoming a necessity rather a luxury. The popularity of the internet usage has made it a subject of various studies not only in the academe but including industries that nowadays depend on it. The properties, advantages as well as the disadvantages have been the focus of these studies. The introduction of internet as one of the modes of communication has made significant changes in the lifestyle on the people. It began in the 1980s as the Computer Revolution and now it became the Computer and Internet Revolution. During the computer revolution, the computer usage has increased rapidly and between 1985 and 1999, the usage of computers at work or at home increased from 30 percent to 70 percent as the increase in computer ownership rose from 15 percent to 60 percent (Kim, 2001). Consequently, these factors have made businesses change their strategies. They introduced e-commerce in which consumers can exchange goods and avail themselves of the services offered by companies thru the internet. E-commerce follows the same basic principles as traditional commerce that, buyers and sellers come together to exchange goods for money. But unlike traditional commerce in which the consumers go to a particular place to avail necessary products, they can visit the web sites of multiple vendors anytime, any day to compare prices and make purchases online. But this does not only benefit the consumers, the sellers as well can cut costs and expand their market. Because they sell over the internet, which can be accessed globally, they have the potential to market their products or services worldwide and are not limited by the physical location of a store. At the same time, internet technologies also permit sellers to track the interests and preferences of their customers with the customer's permission and then use this information to build an ongoing relationship with the customer by customizing products and services to meet the customer's needs. Nielsen (2005) wrote that there is an upward trend in global online shopping. Popular items purchased on the internet are books at 34%, videos and games at 22%, airline tickets and reservations at 21% and clothing and accessories at 20%. The study also showed that even one percent of the total population purchase using the net does not necessarily mean successful online sales but it is still important for retailers big and small to understand the factors that drive brand equity and site usage. It also shows that sites and brands with higher brand equity attract higher visitation and sales. But e-commerce has also its downside; some costumers are reluctant to buy products which need actual assessment such as furniture and appliances. Some also consider shopping a social experience; they may be going to a store with family or friends. Security and assurance of transactions are also some factors why some consumers are apprehensive to use the internet for purchases (Microsoft Encarta 200 7). According to a survey by HM Revenue and Customs, web users especially in the UK are using the internet to make their lives easier. The surveys shows that the top three uses of internet are researching

The development of petroleum refinery Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The development of petroleum refinery - Essay Example of the first oil well in 1859 at the state of Pennsylvania where developing larger-scale processing systems were sought to refine massive quantities â€Å"rock oil†. Basically, petroleum refinery is established to perform the core duty of fundamental distillation by which the components of ‘crude oil’ are separated into fractions when crude oil is heated in the distillation column after which different hydrocarbon products may be obtained at varying temperatures. Under low temperatures conditions, light distillates at the top of the column include liquid petroleum gases (LPG), ‘straight run’ gasoline, and naphtha. Out of the middle streams are recovered moderately heavy products such as kerosene and jet fuel whereas the through column’s bottoms are distilled the heaviest of yield being the residual fuel oil. Since production is chiefly concerned with an optimum output, schematic plant and equipment designs for refinery are developed such that desired products are maximized at minimum operating costs as much as possible. On this ground, certain refineries customize plant structure in such fashion as to recycle streams particularly those at the bottom to be fed back to lines where lighter products are processed in order that heavy distillates may be taken advantage of further upon conversion to less heavy form. Manufacturers may also opt to decide on the feasibility of adjusting other factors that directly or indirectly impact the efficiency of distillation such as the number of column plates or stages, the type, design, or number of auxiliary equipments used if necessary, and more essentially, a strategic approach with separating components to remedy relatively close boiling points for the purpose of increasing percent purity of the desired yield. Moreover, refineries of crude petroleum have become enhanced through a system of downstream processing facilities utilized to change the molecular structure of the input whether by catalytic or non-catalytic

Fmla Persuasive Speech Essay Example for Free

Fmla Persuasive Speech Essay THESIS: American families will benefit from Family Security Insurance. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: If your like me, youre getting a college degree to not only provide your self with an income, but also to take care your family members in their times of need. STATEMENT OF CREDIBILITY: I have found through researching work and family in the United States, that we as a country are doing a poor job supporting parents, and I have found a policy that I believe would help. PREVIEW OF MAIN POINTS: First, well examine why working families need a better safety net today than working families have in the past, second, well take a look at how current laws are not doing enough to protect families from hardship in the current workforce, and finally, well understand how a modest proposal will make a dramatic difference for the lives of American families. BODY I. Working families need a better safety net in todays workforce. A. The problem is that todays workplaces have not caught up with societal changes. 1.The work-life balance is getting increasingly harder for women because the current economic situation requires two earners. 2.Bankruptcy expert Elizabeth Warren stated that two-incomes are needed to make ends meet for middle class families in a 2006 article for the Social Science Research Council. B. This problem has the consequences that more children and women living in poverty. Elizabeth Warrens 2003 book The Two-Income Trap, she states that having a child is now the single best predictor that a woman will end up in financial collapse. The US Census Bureaus 2011 data show among women who head families, 4 in 10 lived in poverty (up from 38.5 percent in 2009). The child poverty rate, already high at 20.7 percent in 2009, jumped to 22.0 percent last year. More than half of poor children lived in female-headed families in 2010. C. This problem started when health insurance, middle class taxes and housing prices experienced a sharp increase, yet incomes remain flat. 1. Warren illustrates that there is a paradox, because families make more, yet have more money but less income to save. 2.The addition bump in income has placed families in a higher tax bracket giving them another financial burden. The cost of child care is another financial burden. D. This problem has the largest impact on middle class and poor families. 1.Joan C. Williams writes in her 2010 book Reshaping the Work Family Debate that many single mothers are one sick child away from being fired. 2. Elizabeth Warren points out that now, more children will live through their parents bankruptcy than their parents divorce. TRANSITION: Now that I have shown you that working families need a better safety net, let me tell why todays workplaces is placing families in a precarious position. II. Working families are going to workplaces where the current laws dont do enough, and rules still represent the outdated society of the 1960s. A. The current law, Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) doesnt go far enough. 1. Under the current Family and Medical Leave Act, parents are only offered legal protection from getting fired for taking a leave of absence to care for newborn or sick family members. 2. According to a 2010 report from Georgetown University Law Center and the University of California Berkeley, the FMLA protections reach only half the workforce because it excludes small businesses. 3. The FMLA provides protection for workers to take only unpaid leave, which many workers cannot afford. B. Few are advocating for changes in FMLA, so working mothers often quit their jobs when they have a baby or there is a family crisis, which is making America fall behind in the global market place. 1. According to Edward E Gordans 2009 book Winning the Global Talent Showdown a lack of family friendly workplaces is causing a stampede of new mothers out the office door. 2. Gordon concludes that Americas inability to retain talented women is making America less competitive in a global economy. C. Working families today are still working under workplace norms from the 1960s. 1. Joan C Williams notes that in the 1960, only 10 percent of mothers worked and only 10 percent of couples divorced. 2. Today, 70 percent of American children live households where both parents work and 40 percent of couples divorce. 3. Today, many families will end up in economic ruin if only one spouse works. TRANSITION: Finally, since the workplace norms and current laws have not caught up to our changing society, lets look at a policy that could provide some relief to families. III. Working families would benefit greatly from Family Security Insurance (F.S.I.) policy initiative co-authored by researchers at Georgetown University Law Center and the University of California at Berkeley in 2010. A. Family Security Insurance would provide paid leave to both men and women for health and care-giving reasons. The policy could be implemented by the State or Federal Governments The policy would pay a federal minimum wage for up to 18 weeks. a. This pay is taxable, b. We could also provide baby bonus (appox. $5000.) to parents who dont take the leave to offset the cost of child-care. c. This policy has already been implemented in Australia in 2010. B. Lew Daily of Newsweek, Aug 3rd, 2009 published 2007 study from McGill University found that out 173 America is â€Å"among the worst† for supporting families. 1.We stood with only Liberia, Swaziland, and Papua New Guinea as the only countries providing no paid maternity leave. 2. Of all the wealthy countries, excluding ours, parents are entitled to up to 47 weeks of maternity leave. 3. Australias 2011 Paid Leave Scheme is the most modest; least costly of all industrialized nations family leave acts. C. Some would argue that implementing a broader family leave act would hurt businesses. 1. A broader family leave act will lead to better business outcome. 2. It would retain talented workers who have families. Paid time off for sick employees would aid in full recovery causing less chronic conditions saving businesses money on healthcare. 4 Recent research at Georgetown University Law Center and U of C Berkeley found parents receiving paid leave to care for a new born came back to work afterward and were more productive overall. D. How to help Washington State lead the way with Family Security Insurance. 1. Write your congresswoman, Jaime Herrera Beutler, expressing your concern for the families of Washingtons 3rd district. 2. Raise awareness by talking to your friends and family. 3. Call your parents and say thank you for whatever choices they have made to get you here. CONCLUSION REVIEW OF MAIN POINTS: Today, we have first examined why working families need a better safety net in the current workplace, second we have looked at how the current laws are not doing enough to protect families in 2012 from financial hardship , and finally we understand how a modest proposal could go a long way toward making American families more secure.

The Inferno And The Perfection Of Gods Justice Religion Essay

The Inferno And The Perfection Of Gods Justice Religion Essay The Inferno was written in the early fourteenth century by Italian politician Dante Alighieri, the book is the first part of the epic poem the Divine Comedy and it is followed by Purgatorio and Paradiso. The book Inferno, which is the Italian translation for Hell, narrates the journey of its author through what he believes is Hell, consisting of nine circles of suffering underneath the earth. In his journey Dante is guided through the nine regions by the poet Virgil, who represents Human Reason, each circle in the book represents a different type of sin with a different type of punishment, varying according to the degree of offense they committed in life. In his trip through every one of these circles, Dante realizes and emphasizes the perfection of Gods Justice and the seriousness of each offense towards the creator of all life. Certainly, Dante as a Christian realizes the perfection of Gods justice; he is able to create a connection between a souls sin on Earth and the punishment he or she receives in Hell. In Inferno, Dante explains that God created Hell by justice, a specific example of this, might be when he was entering the Gates of Hell, he read on the entrance of the gate the sign that said, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Sacred Justice moved my Architect I was raised here by the Divine Omnipotence (Alighieri Canto III, 5) undoubtedly, attributing the creation of Hell to God and his divine justice, and Gods divine justice is exactly what shapes Dantes nine circles of Hell and their punishments, depending on the severity of the sin, the soul is send farther away from God and closer to the Devil. In addition, Dante is conscious of the qualities of God, first that He is just, according to the Bible in Exodus 34:7, He will by no means clear the guilty also that He is merciful à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦For God is love(Kershaw 1 John 4:8) and, in accordance with the Bible, it is also stated that Gods Justice is described as fair, when people receive justice, they receive the penalty they deserve, or they are repaid for the damages done to them, in the bible, justice is related to the Law of Moses, which the Lord gave to the people of Israel as a gift for their protection and well being in the Old Testament of the Bible(Justice). Psalms 96: 13 tells us that à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦He [God] is coming to judge all people on earth with fairness and truth.(Kershaw) No doubt, Dante praises Gods justice in Hell O Sovereign Wisdomà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.How justly doth Thy power judge and assign!(Alighieri Canto XIX, 10-13) however, he will still along his journey show pity for the souls,à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦how could I check my tears, when near at hand I saw the image of humanity distortedà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.Certainly I weptà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦(Alighieri Canto XX, 21), and fear to Gods punishmentsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦and there we saw what fearful arts the hand of Justice knowsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦(Alighieri Canto XIV, 17), projecting to the reader an image of a vengeful and cruel God, who was punishing harshly all those sinners, these reactions from Dante makes Virgil scold Dante assuring him that Gods justice is divine and perfect. Who is more impious than one who dares to sorrow at Gods Judgment?(Alighieri Canto XX, 30).Therefore, as consequence of the magnitude of the offenses that are being punished in Hell, it is understandable that Dante depicts Hell as a place of perpetual pain and suffering. Starting on the Dark Wood, the Perfection of Gods Justice revolves around the entire journey of Dante. In the first circle with all the non-Christian adults in addition to unbaptized infants, Dante depicts the mercy and justice of God, many of the great heroes, thinkers and creative minds of ancient Greece such as Homer, Horace and Lucan are located in this circle, although they do not suffer, because of the honor and merits they gained in Earth and Heaven, they are hopeless and cannot gain their way into heaven, yet some of the major figures from the Hebrew Bible, according to Virgil, were liberated by Jesus following his crucifixion. In the second circle, Dante analyzes the power of love over desire; He describes God as merciful and caring, but Gods justice is more important, the lustful are located in this circle, they are the first ones to be truly punished in Hell, the souls are blown about to and fro by the terrible winds of a violent storm, without hope of rest. From the souls that are being punish here, Dante concludes that love should not be confused with sexual desires, even if the line that separates both of them seems really thin. Furthermore in the third circle are place those that are given out to carnal desires too, the gluttons who are to forced to lie in a vile slush produced by ceaseless foul. In this circle Virgil tells Dante that the souls trapped here will not rise again until the Day of the Final Judgment where he also describes God as just and fair à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦on which the host shall come to judge all menà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦(Alighieri, Canto VI,90). In the fourth circle the Hoarders and the Wasters, are being punished according to their sins in the same circle, they are carrying enormous weights, rolling them at one another, then in haste they rolled them back, and start all over again creating a vicious cycle. In this region Dante starts to feel pity for those souls and is shocked for the first time at the power of Gods justice. In the fifth circle are the two forms of anger located, the anger that is expressed and the one that is repressed, Gods Justice in this region is seen when Philippo Argenti is attacked by the other souls after he tried to grab Dante, much to Dantes liking, and when God sends his angel to open the gates of Dis. Dante learns from Virgil that as the story progresses himself has been less inclined toward pity, and thus the text asserts the infinite wisdom of divine justice, where sinners receive their punishment in perfect proportion to their sin and to pity their suffering is to demonstrate a lack of under standing. In level six begins a much more serious descent into the realm where the sins turn into more severe and the punishments are harsher. In this area are located the heretics, they are tormented in fiery tombs because of their denial of the souls immortality when they were alive, showing the reader once more how the seriousness of the offense towards God decides how He proportionally assigns the punishment. In the seventh circle, are located the violent, these sinners are separated in three forms, given that each kind of violence is different to the creator, one are the violent toward others, for example killing someone, these souls are punished in a river of blood, another are the violent against themselves, these are the ones that commit suicide, they are punished more painfully than the previous sinners, they change into trees and they can only speak if a limb is broken off and they bleed, as in life they sought relief through pain, they are now suffering in Hell and are constantly being hurt seeking relief. The third group of violent sinners, are the violent against God, these souls are the most painfully tormented souls of the group of violent, the blasphemers, sodomites and the usurers are placed on a burning plain while they are tormented by a rain of fire from heaven ceaselessly. Consecutively, the eight circle is basically full of malice and forethought , the majority of the souls that are located in this circle are evil and when they were alive they knew they were being evil, and did nothing to change their ways, therefore the seducers, panderers, simoniacs, fortune tellers and diviners, grafters, thieves, hypocrites, evil counselors, sowers of discords and falsifiers are place in this level, most of them serve painful punishments, Dante permits the reader to observe the perfection of Gods justice, because even when all these souls are in the same circle, they are punish in accordance to the severity of their sins. For instance, the fortune tellers and diviners are permitted to walk only with their heads backwards; the evil counselors are sentenced to walk inside a flaming tongue and the thieves are bitten by snakes and burst into flames until ashes remain, and from the ashes the sinner reforms painfully. As Dante gradually descents through every level of Hell, he finally finds himself in the ninth circle, this is the last circle and the most evil of all, the traitors and the Devil are located here, Dante divides this level in four regions, the Caina, the Antenora, Ptolomea and Judecca. The Caina is named after the biblical Cain, who was the first son of Adam and Eve, and who killed his brother out of envy (Kershaw Genesis 4 1-17). The second region is Antenora, is named for the Trojan prince Antenor, one of those in favor of returning Helen to the Greeks for the good of Troy, the third zone is Ptolomea, this region is named after the captain of Jericho, Ptolemy, who murdered his guests while they were being honored, and finally the last region is Judecca, Dante chooses this name because of Judas Iscariot, the apostle who betrayed Jesus the Son of God. In this circle Divine Justice doesnt have exceptions, because whether they betrayed their families, country, guests or the Son of God, they are all encased in ice, however their punishment is proportional, some of the souls are covered up to their necks, others up to their eyes, only Judas is covered up to his head completely in ice. Nevertheless, we cant evade the fact that Gods justice in the Inferno is created by a medieval mans intellect, and that his point of view on Divine Justice is influenced by his religious views, however, Dante, during his journey changes his attitude and he finally starts to observe the perfection of Gods Justice, he acknowledges how Divine Justice doesnt punish the souls in Hell harshly and cruelly, but the punishment is definitely a mirror of their sins, which ironically creates an eternal torment for the hopeless souls trapped in Hell. In conclusion, Divine Justice takes many forms in Dantes work, but each punishment is proportional to the seriousness of the souls crime, Dante started his journey feeling compassion toward the sinners and fearing Gods Justice, he descends through the nine circles of Hell, where he reflects, and begins to acknowledge the Perfection of Gods Justice. Each of the levels is different; the souls are punished according to the gravity of their offenses toward God, after Dante reaches Cocytus, which is the center of Hell, He continues to the Purgatory. The Inferno is only the first part of Dantes Masterpiece The Divine Comedy, and it is in this journey through Hell where Dante realizes the perfection of Gods justice, he will later experience in Heaven Divine Grace from God himself. Works Consulted Alighieri, Dante. The Inferno. New York, New York: NAL PENGUIN INC, 1954. 288. Print. This book describes Dantes visit to the lower realms of the next world BCC Writing Lab. Writing a Literary Analysis. Bellevue College, n.d. Web. 17 May 2010. . This source explains how a literary analysis should be written; it provides examples of different works and discusses how a thesis should be written. Birky, Beth. Literature and writing essay resources Analyzing a passage. Literary Analysis Guide. Goshen College, 08 2009. Web. 24 May 2010. . This source discusses ways to analyzed a literature piece and helps you to show more understanding of the text that is being read. Cachey, Theodore, and Louis Jordan. Renaissance Dante in Print. Main Exposition of Dantes Renaissance. Universtity of Notre Dame, n.d. Web. 17 May 2010. . This exhibition presents Renaissance editions of Dantes Divine Comedy from the Zahm, Dante Collection at the University of Notre Dame. This exhibit constitutes essential primary sources for both the history of Dantes reception during the Renaissance and the early history of the printed book. Cruz, Kristen. Literary Genres. List defines each of the genres included in Recommended Literature: Kindergarten Through Grade Twelve. California Department of Education, 30 Nov 2009. Web. 17 May 2010. . This source provides a brief description of all literary genres, does not offer links or details; additional sources needed Dantes Inferno. Dantes World. University of Texas at Austin, n.d. Web. 17 May 2010. . This source is an integrated multimedia journeycombining artistic images, textual commentary, and audio recordingsthrough the three realms of the afterlife (Inferno, Purgatory, Paradise) presented in Dantes Divine Comedy. Justice. American Bible Society. American Bible Society, 2010. Web. 17 May 2010. . This web site discusses the definition of Gods Justice according to the bible Kershaw, Simon. Bible The New Revised Version. Oremus Bible Browser. Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America, 03 Mar 2008. Web. 17 May 2010. This source provides information about the bible with some verses helpful to comparing Gods Justice in the bible to Dantes book. MHS Composition Guide. Philosophical and Religious: The religious and ethical climate influences writers and their texts. Merryville School, n.d. Web. 17 May 2010. . This source provides basic descriptions of a variety of criticism techniques Wiehardt, Ginny. Types of Characters. Types of characters in Fiction. About.com Guide, n.d. Web. 17 May 2010. . This source provides the information we need to know about every type of character we need to know as we study literature

Effect of Low Income School on Parent Involvement Article

Effect of Low Income School on Parent Involvement Article (Smith 2006, p. 43) in her article has tried to measure the impact of strategies undertaken to involve parent in child education at a low income school using qualitative research methods. Aims of Article The main aims of this article are to: Define how a low-income school defines intentional parental involvement strategies Define effects of those strategies The Methodology The above article is done as a qualitative research. Qualitative research is done to gain a deep understanding of a specific event, rather than a description of a large sample of a population. It is also called ethnomethodology or field research. It helps create information about human groups in social settings. Qualitative research aims to provide a better understanding of a phenomenon through experience, correct reporting, and quotations of actual conversations. It aims to provide an understanding about how participants tend to interpret their surroundings, and how their interpretations influence their behaviors. The main methodology for conducting this research was conducting a study at a low income school whose new structure was replacing an outdated structure in 2002. During the planning stage of the school community members, parents and agency professionals were involved in development of the new school structure to cater for the needs of low income families and of programs to involve parents in students education at the school. The efforts were then measured using qualitative data collection methods such as participant observation, interviews and document reviews. Participant observation is a period of intensive social interaction between the researcher and the subjects, in the latter's environment. It becomes the full-time occupation of the researcher. Participant observers are trained in techniques of observation, which distinguishes them from regular participants. Interviewing is one of the most commonly used methods for gathering data in qualitative research. Qualitative interviewing is usually different from quantitative interviewing in a number of ways. Interviewing tends to be much less structured in qualitative research. In quantitative research, interviews are usually kept much more structured in order to provide a valid measurement of key concepts that can answer some specific research questions. In qualitative interviewing, deviating is encouraged to give insight into what the interviewee sees as important. This is however discouraged in quantitative research. In qualitative interviewing, interviewers can significantly change the schedule and guide of the interview. In qualitative interviewing, The questions of interview get detailed answers; in quantitative research the interview generates answers that can be processed and statistically analyzed quickly. Researchers supplement qualitative research methods such as interviewing and observation with gathering and analyzing documents produced specifically for the research at hand . As such, the review of documents is an unobtrusive method, rich in portraying the values and beliefs of participants in the setting. Sampling was done using snowball sampling technique. A snowball sample is anon-probability sampling techniquethat is appropriate to use in research when the members of a population are difficult to locate. A snowball sample is a sample in which the researcher collects data from the few members of the target population they can find, then they ask those members from whom the data is collected to provide information on the location of other members of that population whom they know. Snowball sampling hardly leads to a representative sample, but sometimes it may be the best option available. For instance, if you are studying people smoking cannabis, you are not likely to find a list of all the people smoking cannabis in your city. However, if you identify one or two people smoking cannabis that are willing to participate in your study, it is likely that they know other cannabis smoking people in their area. However snowball sampling can be avoided if data about something is readily available. Source: http://www.northumbria.ac.uk/static/images/schoolimages/ar_images/cetl/gilldavisondiagram1.jpg The Setting The setting for this research was Clark Elementary School which was situated beside a city park in a small community surrounded by large industrial complexes. Most of the residents in neighborhood were low income. During the 2003-2004 school year, 5% of the students were American Indian, 3% of the students were Asian, 7% were Black, 19% were Hispanic, and 67% were White. According to the Clark Elementary School website, as of October 1, 2003, the languages spoken were 79% English, 11% Spanish, 6% Russian, 3% Ukrainian, 1% Vietnamese, and 2% other. In 1998 the district began to build a new school in order to replace the old one. A advisory group was formed consisting of members from community organizations, government agencies, the local church, the neighborhood association, the Clark Parent Teacher Organization (PTO), educators from Elementary School, and school district personnel to provide input for development of new school. The school was finally completed in 2002. Data Collection This research was qualitative in nature. Data was collected from the participants in three ways: Observation Interviews Document Reviews Observation:The author acted like a participant observer for before and after school programs, Read and play programs and awards assembly to which all families had been invited. Interviews: Semi-structured, open-ended interviews were conducted with educators, family workers, and parents from Clark Elementary School. 4 administrators were interviewed including the principal, the district consultant, The family Liaison coordinator and the Family Services coordinator. 6 teachers were interviewed, 6 parents were interviewed. For interviews snowball sampling was used. Source:http://www.featurepics.com/FI/Thumb300/20090704/Interview-1236952.jpg Document Reviews: Documents reviewed pertained mostly to the development process for the new school. All materials collected during the design process were examined and all references to the school in the local paper were reviewed. In addition, the school website and monthly newsletters were reviewed. source:http://blogs.adobe.com/acrolaw/files/2011/01/00_quick_review_illustration.png Findings A Foundation of Understanding: Since the school architecture and its programs were developed keeping the opinions of the communities, parents and members of community associations. After the school opened teachers and staff were made to understand the life circumstances of school families. This helped teachers understand parents more and reduced the probability of teachers blaming parents when their children faced academic difficulties and instead has increased the desire for teachers to assist the children. A Broad Definition: A definition of parental involvement emerged at the school which recognized a wide array of behaviors of involvement such as receipt of social services or picking up food or clothing at Family Resource centre. These behaviors also included the learning activities families engaged in while at home. Creating Intentional Parental Involvement Strategies: The intentional parental involvement strategies were designed in two distinct ways: Strategies to Provide Services: During initial meetings after considering the needs of neighborhood families it was decided to make the school in a community center style so as to provide services for low income families. The family resource center in the school helped connect parents with the various activities in school and also provide them with many facilities including computers, free food and clothing provided by government agencies. Strategies to Enhance Parental Involvement: The Clark Committee had designed parental involvement plans based on broad definition of parent involvement and on foundation of understanding. These strategies included inviting parents to school conferences, family nights and access resources offered by Family Resource Centers. All these services were found to have a positive impact of parent involvement and hence positively impacted Clark Elementary School. Benefits of Parental Involvement: Interviewers described better parent involvement leading to academic success. Teachers found that students were more motivated and had better self confidence as a result of parent involvement. Parents also were found to have other benefits of involvement other than academic ones and they could feel themselves part of a community. Recommendations Following things are recommended in this study: In order to develop strategies for parent involvement in low income schools it would be better to input the advice of neighbors and interested agency representatives in order to understand the lives of people the school shall serve. If we can get a clear understanding of the lives of their school families, we ought to encourage definition of parental involvement which would acknowledge a wide list of parental behaviors that lead to academic success. Educators serving low-income populations must consider offering services to the families of their students, thereby bringing parents into the school buildings. Full-service schools can provide services based on the understanding of the needs of the neighborhood, intended to meet the needs of low-income school families. Educators should invite the input and participation of community agencies, businesses, and faith-based groups in any efforts to meet the needs of school families. Offering the opportunity to provide input can encourage them to own the process and make them have a long term participation in the process Educators need to accept that parents may not choose to be involved in education in commonly accepted ways. Conclusion The main point of the article is that a better understanding of the community needs is a must for forming a better definition of parent involvement for the community. Hence, Educators working in low-income communities need a willingness to learn about their student populations and a high degree of commitment to school families in order to better formulate parent involvement strategies in schools. The author has used qualitative research methods to show a relationship between better understanding of the community by the school for introducing steps to increase parent involvement at the college. However, the main problem lies here in the sampling for interviews. Here snowball sampling is being used. This should have been avoided as snowball samples are hardly representatives of target populations and are just used for exploratory purposes. Since data for teachers and parents could have been made available by the school I this case, Using that data could have lead to a better sample cou ld have been prepared that would have been more representative of the population at hand. As it stands the study can be considered a good starting point of research for introducing steps for parent involvement in low income schools. Bibliography Smith, J. G. (2006). Parental Involvement in Education Among Low-Income Families: A Case Study. School Community Journal , 43.

Personality Disorders Essay examples -- Papers

Personality Disorders Personality disorders indicate the presence of chronic rigid and maladjusted personality traits, through which the person's interpersonal or professional functioning is negatively affected, or which lead to personal unhappiness and problems (Louw, 1990). Discuss this statement from a biopsychosocial frame of reference and refer to one personality disorder in any cluster to illustrate your answer. The Biopsychosocial model: ========================== The biopsychosocial model (Engel, 1980, cited in Paris, 1993) suggests an integrated approach that understands psychopathology in terms of multiple causes, none of which is sufficient on its own for the development of the disorder. These factors could include biological vulnerability, the psychological impacts of life experiences and the influence of the social environment all of which may factor as risk variables or protective variables. The biopsychosocial model differs from more linear cause and effect approaches such as heredity in that it is only the cumulative interactive effects of the multiple variables can produce the overt disorder. Personality disorders ===================== Personality disorders are characterised by inflexible and longstanding maladaptive personality traits that cause significant impairment and subjective distress for the individual. The signs of a personality disorder display in adolescence or early adulthood. Individuals differ to the extent that they possess Personality traits and it may be difficult to decide whether the trait exists to an extent that can be considered pathol... ...tice, 10, (2), 161-165. Hayes, S. J. (2002, Mar) Acceptance, mindfulness and science. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 9, (1), 101-106. Klein, M.H. (1993, Spring). Issues in the assesment of personality disorders. Journal of Personality Disorders. Supplement 1, 18-33. Morey, L.C. (1993, Spring). Psychological correlates of personality disorder. Journal of Personality Disorders, Supplement 1, 149-166. Paris, J. (1993). Personality disorders: A biopsychosocial model. Journal of Personality Disorders, 7(3), 255-264. Sue, D., Sue, D, W. & Sue, S. (2000). Understanding abnormal behaviour. (6th ed). USA: Houghton Mifflin Vincent, K.R. (1990). The relationship between personality disorders, normality and healthy personality: Personality on a continuum. Social Behavior and Personality, 18(2), 245-250.

Landfills :: essays research papers fc

It has long been believed that the largest entity brought upon the Earth by humankind is the Pyramid of the Sun, constructed in Mexico around the start of the Christian era. The mammoth structure commands nearly thirty million cubic feet of space. In contrast, however, is the Durham Road Landfill, outside San Francisco, which occupies over seventy million cubic feet of the biosphere. It is a sad monument, indeed, to the excesses of modern society [Gore 151]. One might assume such a monstrous mound of garbage is the largest thing ever produced by human hands. Unhappily, this is not the case. The Fresh Kills Landfill, located on Staten Island, is the largest landfill in the world. It sports an elevation of 155 feet, an estimated mass of 100 million tons, and a volume of 2.9 billion cubic feet. In total acreage, it is equal to 16,000 baseball diamonds [Miller 526]. By the year 2005, when the landfill is projected to close, its elevation will reach 505 feet above sea level, making it the highest point along the Eastern Seaboard, Florida to Maine. At that height, the mound will constitute a hazard to air traffic at Newark airport [Rathje 3-4]. Fresh Kills (Kills is from the Dutch word for creek) was originally a tidal marsh. In 1948, New York City planner Robert Moses developed a highly praised project to deposit municipal garbage in the swamp until the level of the land was above sea level. A study of the area predicted the marsh would be filled by the year 1968. He then planned to develop the area, building houses and attracting light industry. Mayor Impelliteri issued a report titled "The Fresh Kills Landfill Project" in 1951. The report stated, in part, that the enterprise "cannot fail to affect constructively a wide area around it." The report ended by stating, "It is at once practical and idealistic" [Rathje 4]. One must appreciate the irony in the fact that Robert Moses was, in his day, considered a leading conservationist. His major accomplishments include asphalt parking lots throughout the New York metro area, paved roads in and out of city parks, and development of Jones Beach, now the most polluted, dirty, overcrowded piece of shoreline in the Northeast. In Stewart Udall's book The Quiet Crisis, the former Secretary of the Interior lavishes praise on Moses. The JFK cabinet member calls Jones Beach "an imaginative solution ... (the) supreme answer to the ever-present problems of overcrowding" [Udall 163-4]. JFK's introduction to the book provides this foreboding passage: "Each generation must deal anew with the raiders, with the scramble to use public resources for private profit, and

Early Sartre: Unsatisfactory Account of Alterity :: Philosophy Philosophical Essays

Early Sartre: Unsatisfactory Account of Alterity ABSTRACT: This paper critically examines the way in which Sartre dealt with the problem of alterity in his early works, proposing that Sartre presented an unsatisfactory account of alterity in his first philosophical work entitled The Transcendence of the Ego, though his study of imagination offers ample opportunities to re-examine the question of alterity and to arrive at a more adequate formulation of the way in which the self relates to the other. I therefore begin by demonstrating that the Transcendence of the Ego perpetuates the Cartesian tradition where the self is defined primarily in terms of thinking-that is, self-consciousness and immanence. Next, I turn to the Sartrean Psychology of Imagination to find another way of conceptualizing the problem. I inquire into his general theory of the imaginary consciousness defined as a 'picture consciousness' and argue that it reduces the alterity of the imaginary object to sheer absence. As such, the theory of imagination does not allo w us to bring the fundamental character of alterity to light. Still, we uncover a more adequate way of dealing with alterity in the context of the imaginary life. I show that the notion of the 'picture itself' allows us to conceptualize alterity as the radical withdrawal of the other. Finally, I make evident that the imaginary subject is necessarily divided between itself and itself as another and due to that internal split, can grasp the alterity of another person. The first properly philosophical work written by Sartre-The Transcendence of the Ego (1) -is an investigation into the problem of otherness, of alterity or-to use Sartre's terminology-of transcendence. Sartre develops the notion of transcendence in a radical opposition to that of immanence i. e. of a uniform and homogenous sameness. His ultimate aim is to arrive at the notion of immanence purified of any transcendent elements and to use that notion as a clue for his definition of subjectivity. That is to say, to the question: "What am I?" Sartre would reply: "I am an immanence without transcendence. I am a pure stream of consciousness without any contents. I am an absolute transparency without opacity. I am no more than the temporal unity of my life-which means-a pure self-contained flow that no alien element can interrupt or contaminate". The idea of pure self-transparent subjectivity has a long history behind it. It originated in the philosophy of Descartes and was further developed by Husserl.

Looking for patterns in elements of life Essay

Looking for patterns in elements 59 of the 92 naturally occurring elements had been discovered by 1850. Much of the work of trying to search for patterns in the elements was done by Johann Dobereiner and Lother Meyer in Germany John Newlands in England Dimitri Mendeleev In Russia Mendeleev’s Groupings Group1 Group2 Group3 Group4 Group5 Group6 Group7 Group8 Period1 H Period2 Li Be B C N O F Period3 Na Mg Al Si P SCl Period4 K/Cu Ca/Zn / Ti/ V/As Cr/Se Mn/Br Fe,Co,Ni Period5 Rb/Ag Sr/Cd Y/In Zr/Sn Nb/Sb Mo/Te /I Ru,Rh,Pd. Indicates element yet to be discovered Mendeleevs groupings were seen as more credible than previous attempts to find patterns in element. Unlike newlands, mendeleev left gaps in his table. They allowed for the discovery of new elements. He predicted the properties of an element called eka-silicon. He predicted that the element would go between silicon and tin in his table. The element was discovered in 1886 and called germanium. Since mendellevs death in 1907:   8 elements have been discovered   24 elements have been made in the laboratory the modern periodic table is based on mendellevs original table. See: Assignment 3 Activity EL3. 1 Activity EL3. 2 Activity EL3. 3 Ideas 1. 2 Ideas 11. 1 Ideas11. 2.

Stock Market and Stock Option Plan

Should the company implement the proposed employee stock option plan? In a typical stock option plan, the employee is offered a specific number of shares which he/she can exercise (buy) at some specified time in the future. The price at which the employee can buy the stock is equal to the market price at the time the stock option was granted (grant price). The employee's gain is equal to the market value of the stock at the time it is exercised, less the grant price. If the market price of the stock remains the same or decreases relative to the grant price, then the stock option is worthless. Stock options are typically offered to managers, most technical individual contributors and about half of the other professionals. Smaller organizations offer stock options more widely, in some cases to all employees In THTF case, stock options are offered to the former category. There are various factors that Tsinghua Tongfang should consider before implementing the proposed employee stock option plan. Future growth Stock options are appropriate for small companies where future growth is expected. Being a young company, THTF looks to be well posed for future growth. Cultural differences In China, there is high importance attached to feeling valued and having a sense of belonging. This results in Chinese companies having to maintain a good reputation for treating their employees well or risk unwanted attention. In the current economic climate, competitions for key employees are extremely fierce. Options, to a certain extent, do inspire loyalty and commitment and provide employees with a sense of ownership which is a unique and potentially powerful compensation tool. However, research (Economist’s article â€Å"False Options†) has shown that unlike the US counterparts, the Chinese rarely exercise vested stock options during their tenures at the firm. This may be due to the perceived notion in China where cashing out stock option may suggest disloyalty to the firm since once the options are cashed, the alignment of ownership and management no longer exists. Thus, options become an ineffective measure. Hence, there may a need for the company to consider the level of understanding among its Chinese employees with regard to options. An option may become an ineffective measure as seen from above. Educating employees is one resolution but the cost and logistical burden of such undertaking may outweigh the potential benefits for company and its employee. In THTF’s case, as the key management are pushing for the implementation of the stock option, it can be inferred that they do understand the usefulness of stock options. Retention Retention of employees is of great interest especially in the high-tech industry THTF was based in. Key management were highly sought after. Stock options can serve as a retention mechanism as stocks options will motivate employees to remain with the firm as they can see their investment grow. Stocks options will also encourage less risk-averse and optimistic employees or have employees that can increase value to work at the firm. This may be aligned with THTF interests. Therefore, stock options can help to retained and attract suitable people to work at the firm. However stock options can fall underwater due to bearish stock market conditions rather than poor firm performance and cause major morale and retention problems. This may lead to stock options not having their intended effects. Still, in this THTF’s case, they are currently in a robust and high-growth economy, thus stock prices are unlikely to fall. From an incentive point of view, employees benefit when stock price goes up, so stock options motivate employees to increase their company’s price. This si aligned with the shareholders interest as when stock price goes up, presumably value has been created. The stock options may get the employees to think like shareholders. Nonetheless, this may not be the case. An option holder does not share the downside in holding the stock. If the stock loses value, the option holder will simply just fail to exercise the option and thus avoid the loss. Risk that would scare off a shareholder is a matter of indifference to an option holder. This may lead management taking too much risk as the upside to taking the risk gives high paybacks whereas there is virtually no downside. In THTF, other measures need to be put into place to make sure of the interests’ alignment before implement stock options compensation. Employees From the employee’s point of view, receiving stock options is a huge benefit as the employee can reap financial success from the firm. But is it really so? The executives may suffer from the more volatility then the market as they are too under diversified with their stake too over concentrated in a irm. Employees should not put their eggs – instruments and salary – into one basket. Thus, this will lead to the undervaluing of options by the employees. This shows that options are wasted on employees. Market Paranoia Stock options compensation may also lead to the market being deeply suspicious of the corporation. When top executives are paid in stock options compensation, they get huge compensation packages which are hidden away from public scrutiny. Furthermore, stock options also dilute shareholders. Management may also manipulate the market before the stock options grant date to get a better deal for themselves which would lead to excess volatility. Thus, having stock options compensation may lead to distrust from the market, having long term adverse effects on the stock prices. Conclusion Given the current restrictions and ambiguities of the Chinese laws and regulations applicable to options, THTF should take a conservative approach to such practice. If THTF determined that the use of options is immediately necessary for the recruitment and retention of employees, the options should be granted.

Benjamin Franklin Essay

I. INTRODUCTION Benjamin Franklin was born in Boston as the son of a candle maker. From humble beginnings, he grew into a renowned figure of American history. â€Å"He became famous for being a scientist, an inventor, a statesman, a printer, a philosopher, a musician, and an economist†. Today, Americans recognize him for being one of our Founding Fathers and a prominent citizen of the city of Philadelphia. In his autobiography, Franklin shows that he desired self-improvement and in pursuit of this goal focused on improvements of four different types: intellectual, moral, business, and social. II. BODY Franklin’s intellectual improvements were numerous. As a child, he had a thirst for knowledge. He exhibited a readiness to learn and read at an early age, and while in school, he rose to the head of his class and then skipped a grade. After Franklin’s father pointed out that he had a poor manner of writing, Franklin resolved to improve not only his manner of writing but also his arrangement of thoughts in his written work. His ambition was to become a good English writer. In his young age, he also was intent on improving his language and when he got older he taught himself French, Italian, Spanish, and Latin. He used the library as a means of improvement by constant study of one to two hours per day here. Franklin went to great lengths to achieve moral improvement. As a young man, Franklin developed a plan regulating his future conduct in life that he adhered to even in his old age. He wrote a list of moral characters that he would like to possess such as temperance, fr ugality, and humility. He had thirteen categories in all that he wrote down in a book to carry with him. He had a separate column for each day of the week. He would pull out the book and mark which virtues he felt he had committed a fault in that day so that he may examine them and improve upon them. During the course of this practice, Franklin said that he found himself fuller of faults than he would have thought, but he had the satisfaction of seeing those faults diminish. His actions also showed that he strove for moral perfection. He thought excessive drinking was a detestable habit and abstained from doing so when his coworkers drank all day long. He spent no time in taverns, playing games, or displaying antics of any kind. He also believed in the importance of frugality and did his best to save money on housing. During the eighteen months he lived in London, he worked hard and spent little on himself except for the occasional play or book. It was his practice of frugality that lead to his wealth and distinction later in life. Benjamin Franklin had a Quaker friend that pointed out that he thought that Franklin had a problem with pride and so Franklin endeavored to be more humble. He attributed his humility, or sometimes his appearance of humility, with allowing him to hold so much weight with his fellow citizens. Franklin also strove for truth, sincerity, and integrity in all of his business dealings. Not only did Franklin improve intellectually and morally but he also made improvements in business. In little time after becoming an apprentice to his brother, he exhibited great proficiency in the printing business. He was able to take a failing newspaper and make it profitable by developing a better type and better print which led to an increase in the number of subscribers. He made a mold to be used in printing houses to combat the problem of equipment deficiencies. He also made a copper press to print paper money. He filled the spaces in Poor Richard’s Almanac with proverbial sentences for the benefit of its readers. Similarly, he made use of newspapers to communicate instruction. Franklin also contributed greatly to social improvements in his day. He formed a club of mutual improvement called JUNTO. He started the Philadelphia public library which was an institution that was imitated by other towns. He laid the ground work for a more effective city watch and started the first fire company. He established a Philosophical Society in Pennsylvania and also an academy that grew into the University of Pennsylvania. He invented a more efficient and economical stove known as the Franklin stove. He helped in the establishing of a hospital in Philadelphia and also in streets being paved. Franklin was generally successful in his attempts at self-improvement, excelling from an early age. He attempted to be the best person he could be and genuinely desired to help others. He convinced coworkers to stop drinking and spend their money of food instead and also loaned money to them. He loaned money to his friends, Collins and Ralph, even though they took advantage of him and never repaid their debts. He recognized that Keimer was only using him to train his workers and then was going to fire him, yet Franklin still cheerfully put Keimer’s printing house in order. Franklin was also always eager to help young beginners. He further demonstrated that he was not a self-promoter when he had a chance for a better business deal but declined because of the obligations he felt he had with his current partners. III. CONCLUSION Franklin has long been revered as one of the great figures of American history. As a Founding Father, he was instrumental in the early days of shaping the American government. Throughout his lifetime, he strove for improvement in intellectual, moral, business, and social areas and was successful in his attempts in each of these areas. He was a benevolent individual who desired to help others, and he authored his autobiography in the hope that posterity would follow his example and reap the same benefits References Benjamin Franklin: Glimpses of the Man. 1994. The Franklin Institute Science Museum. http://www.fi.edu/franklin/ (accessed June 4, 2012). Franklin, Benjamin. 1909. The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. Ed. Charles W. Eliot. New York: P F Collier & Son Company.

Atheism †my personal response Essay

I can’t see how one can claim that atheism is a religion, it is impossible by the very definition. Agnostic would be more apt. A quote from a letter sent to Ruth Crowley seems fitting; â€Å"Calling Atheism a religion is like calling bald a hair colour.† It simply cannot be done. I don’t think religion doesn’t have a place in today’s society, I just think that in many cases we would be better off without it. As far as I’m concerned Jesus is just the word of choice, substitute it for any name. It works just like any superstition. While religion at its fundamental core might have some important values, there is simply no need for the complimentary ideals that churches teach. Yes it may be an onerous expectation that schools teach it, but minus parents, they seem the next logical choice. I think it goes without saying, also, that schools and religion should be kept as separate as religion and politics should be. Art has never been, and likely ne ver will be, my forte. Beyond being aesthetically pleasing, for the most part; I see a limited shelf-life for art, as anything more then that, in modern times and would happily go so far as to question its purpose beyond the aesthetic in the past. As to this notion of the afterlife, I hate to say it, but it makes me want to laugh. It is easy to see how the myth evolved. People are reluctant to accept that someone or even something (A pet) they knew and loved is gone. Bernard Shaw sums up the reality of the matter: â€Å"The fact that a believer is happier than a sceptic is no more to the point than the fact that a drunken man is happier than a sober one. The happiness of credulity is a cheap and dangerous quality.† While you may have learnt skills and acquired knowledge that you have used. From my perspective, in a correct world, religion should be separated to such a degree that those who choose not to partake in it will have no occasion to have to do so. Why must a legal marriage be accompanied with a religious ceremony? Why not have a separate civil union? Allowing for the legalisation of gay unions and also for a separate â€Å"marriage† which is purely religious and confined to the actual places of worship, churches. I can’t fathom this concept of semi belief in religion, and, as of yet, no one has been able to explain it to me in such a way that I can even accept it as a logical belief. Simply, you either believe or you don’t, I can’t see how you can fall in between. If you were to say you were unsure as to which religion then I can concede that. But to simply use religion as a mental appeasement for your actions, I cannot grasp. The capacity for religions to inspire violence between each other is one of the fundamental issues I have with religion. They are at the core reasoning, or at least a participant, of almost every conflict in the recorded history of our existence on this planet. On the idea of butterfly’s being a work of god I think Douglas Adams truly epitomised my beliefs when he said; â€Å"Isn’t it enough to see that a garden is beautiful without having to believe that there are fairies at the bottom of it too?† To end, I can’t but help to agree once more with Douglas Adams when he said; â€Å"I find the whole business of religion profoundly interesting. But it does mystify me that otherwise intelligent people take it seriously.† Sorry for the doubly long response.

Patient satisfaction from physicians' communication Essay

Patient satisfaction from physicians' communication - Essay Example To this end they emphasis on the patient care model which places great emphasis on open enquiry, reflective listening and empathy as one of the most effective and important ways of responding to the diverse patient needs. In the HCPC Standards of Proficiency   (2013 p.8) Standard 8, ‘Be able to communicate effectively’, 8.3 states that a   physiotherapist must:   â€Å"Understand how communication skills affect assessment and engagement of service users and how the means of communication   should be modified to address and take account of factors such as age,   capacity, learning ability and physical ability.† As a result, this paper attempts to establish why effective communication between the patient and doctor is crucial by examining different case scenarios and evaluating the role communication plays, not only just in the physiotherapist context, but also in the healthcare system in general. Verbal communication between doctors and their clients is r ecognized as a core part of care and in conventional scenarios it is easy to decode and analyses, and this is because it is discrete in nature and has clear endpoints. However, for doctors to be effective at it, they must have good interpersonal skills such that they can make the patient feel at ease and encourage them to open up with alarming them, sounding rude or stereotypical.  Ã‚   In their discourse, they should ensure they show empathy and attention to the patient’s situation and be capable of managing the patient’s expectations without discouraging them (Larsen and Smith 1981).