Political Socialization Essay

So what is Political Socialization? Our text book explains it as the way people acquire their political beliefs and values: often including their party identification, through relationships with their families, friends, and co-workers. To put it more simply, it’s our experiences with our parents, friends, school and society. It’s what we were taught in school about patriotism, and being civic minded. It’s also how our morality judges those experiences and is shaped by those experiences. Political Socialization is how we express ourselves in daily politic or if we express ourselves at all. It’s who and what we align ourselves with in order to feel we have a voice for our concerns in the larger public. The who, is usually a political party that we feel best represents our political believes and standpoints. There are several key elements in determining the level of political socialization which are important to outline. Political knowledge: just how much do you know about whom represents you and the current issues? People with high political socialization will generally know whom their representatives are in government and have at least a modest understanding of the major issues. They also know how to find out more about individual issues. How much do you discuss current issues with people: family members, friends, acquaintances? People with a high political socialization tend to discuss political issues that are important to them more than people with very little political socialization. Political Efficacy: what is your sense about your ability to impact government? Do you believe that if you get involved you can achieve your goal? Or do you believe that your voice will have no effect on current affairs. People with higher political socialization tend to feel that sense of efficacy. That if they get involved they can achieve their desired outcome. They don’t feel that they are just floating along with an inability to change their world. Political socialization tends to give people a tolerance for diversity. This means that people are not offended by opinions that don’t match their own. This reminded me of a conversation I had with a fellow student in my Geology lab last semester. We were ending a field trip and talking about various political topics (sitting in a pizza place in Berkeley of all places). My friend was telling me his opinion on a political subject, on which I did not agree. Instead of getting angry with him I simply said, ‘convince me’ and smiled. I wanted to see what the foundation of his argument was. I still wasn’t convinced. But, at least I understood better where he was coming from. This is an example of high political socialization leading to tolerance for diversity. Instead of being insecure about my own viewpoints, I was curious about his. This comes from a deeper understanding of what I believe. Political socialization brings a higher respect for other cultures and other systems. One may realize that other political systems while probably different are not inherently good or bad. You realize that the American political system is just one way of doing things. Each country has its own political identify which is the culmination of its’ history. People with higher political socialization tend to follow the action of the police and courts more. They tend to get less publicly enraged trusting that the justice system will work in the case of police misconduct or a court ruling that does not make sense. Last, people with higher political socialization tend to get involved in campaigns and elections believing and wanting to make a difference in their world. Who is the U. S. electorate? That’s us. It’s everyone in America. Whether you vote or not, whether you have the right to vote or not. You have the ability to speak and be heard by government. The voice of the electorate is what drives government. If we the citizens of the United States and of which ever state you live in say nothing to our elected officials, eventually they run out of things to do. Before we can know how to add or detract from the Madisonian Model, we must know what it is. The Madisonian Model is the model of government developed by James Madison which defines the balance of power in our government. Our government is divided into three main branches; the executive branch, the legislative branch and the judicial branch. Each branch is independent of one another and can override each other by constitutional procedure. The idea was to create a system of government where no part of the government could become too powerful. Does political socialization add to the functioning of the Madisonsian Model? Generally yes. But when Madison framed this model he was worried about just how much of the electorate had little to no political socialization. Madison and the Federalists saw the common man as an uneducated hoard that act out of emotion rather than logic. The Federalists did not want direct Democracy. They did not want everyone regardless of education level (especially in politics) in a direct position to make policy. They, Madison and the Federalists, wanted Representative democracy so that someone who had a high degree of political socialization could come and speak for a larger group. So political socialization adds to the Madisonian Model; the higher your political socialization the more active you generally are in politics and the more you take advantage of our Republic to voice your opinion.

Homosexuality in America

Despite the United States progress toward homosexual liberation in the past few years, anti-gay and lesbian attitudes are still showing their ugly faces. Violence towards homosexuals is on the rise, conversion groups are popping up everywhere, conflict over homosexuality innateness is high, religious and personal discrimination is rampant: all this in a time when more and more gays and lesbians are coming out and their coming out at younger ages. It is a time in America when we need to support the homosexual community. Jamie Nabozny, now an openly gay man, was a troubled teenager who ttempted suicide three times and had frequently stayed in psychiatric wards. In high school he was tortured with emotional and physical violence from his peers. On one occasion in his freshmen year, two boys attacked him in the bathroom. He fell into the urinal and the boys proceeded to urinate on him. I just remember sitting there, waiting for it to get over with, recalled Nabozny (Jerome, 1). The school did nothing to prevent the harassment. Later, in his junior year, he was beaten so severely that he had to undergo exploratory abdominal surgery. Nabozny decided to sue the school district. The case was thrown out, but when he appealed to the federal courts, they decided a school could be sued for not preventing harassment. The district settled out of court, paying Nabozny $900,000 (Jerome, 5). Willi Wagner, a gay teenager who came out in ninth grade, was also harassed. Most of the time the abuse was verbal, and he was always ready with a comeback. Theyd call me a faggot and Id call them a hick, Wagner said. However, things did become violent. When Wagner and some friends were walking down the street, two vehicles stopped beside them and eight boys jumped out. Five of the boys formed a circle around Wagner, while the others beat him, leaving him with two black eyes, a broken nose and many bruises. I could feel my nose crack. It wasnt a good feeling, Wagner said of the incident. Two of the boys were put on probation for the incident; not near enough punishment for the crime (Jerome, 3). Incidents like these are quite common. In fact, one study showed that while the overall crime rate decreased four percent, anti-gay crimes rose seven percent (Peyser, 1). Another study, conducted by the Massachusetts Department of Education, found that, for homosexuals, the igh school years are filled with abuse, some of it self-inflicted. Gay and lesbian teenagers are five times more likely to use cocaine or skip school out of fear for safety than straight kids. Over thirty six percent of homosexual teens will attempt suicide each year (Jerome, 1). Conversion groups, usually run by religious denominations, are becoming more widespread. The goal of these groups is to convert homosexuals into heterosexuals, and in the meantime save them from the pits of hell. Conversion groups thrive on the idea that homosexuality is a choice, something about a person that can be changed. Some programs include butching up the men and feminizing the women. This is done by taking the males to sporting events and having make-up or shopping parties for females, or by pairing them with heterosexual mentors to show them the way to act. Others have gays and lesbians imagine members of the same sex as diseased, or perform exorcisms.. These programs say they have about a one-third success rate, success being when a homosexual is cured, that is when he or she no longer acts on urges (Schoofs, 2). Often, however, these therapies end up doing more harm than good, as hey did for Jeffrey Coates. He had been raised to believe that gay men go to hell. So after his first sexual experience with a man, Coates joined a twenty week conversion program called Desert Stream. He was recognized for making excellent progress in his group, even though he admitted that he felt absolutely no different inside.. He continued to try to become heterosexual until he finally decided suicide was less of a sin than same-sex relationships. He drank heavily one night and drove home on a narrow road, hoping to drive into the canyon. Fortunately, he made it home alive (Schoofs, 1). Now Coates is comfortable with his sexuality and does not regret his conversion experience merely because it helped him come to terms with himself. Another man, Brandon Bauer, could not be accepted as gay by his Mormon peers. He attempted suicide at age seventeen, and soon after, he was admitted into therapy under a Mormon psychologist. He told Bauer that he was under Satans influence, that Satan was making him believe that he could not change. Bauers parents were instructed to remove all magazines that might contain male underwear models and to time his showers to prevent im from masturbating. He was told that God could forgive a murderer, but He could never forgive a homosexual. It haunts me to this day, he said. Bauer began to live a double life, one as a heterosexual with kids and a wife, and another as a homosexual who drinks and has sex. Despite the fact that he now accepts his sexuality, he admits that conversion therapy has permanently scarred him (Schoofs, 3). Many people wonder if these therapies actually work. This issue was addressed by Ariel Shidlo and Michael Schroeder, two New York psychologists. In their study, they found that five out of one hundred and fifty people tested are happy with their conversion, but each of these people still have homosexual urges (Miller, 2). It may be concluded that homosexuals are not cured but merely suppressing their feelings. Often, as in the case of Kelly Kirby, the attendees end up meeting their future partners at the conversion meetings (Schoofs, 4). These ministries actually act as a transition place for many people to come out and accept their gayness, says Jeffrey Coates (Schoofs, 5). The gay curing movement is spreading because of actions like the Christian Coalition and the Family Research Councils joint effort in launching a $200,000 ad campaign. The full-page ads feature photographs of ex-gays, talk about the physical and spiritual consequences of sin and offer the solution of conversion therapy. This kinder, gentler homophobia was the brainchild of Janet Folger, who on Nightline, confessed to supporting laws that criminalize homosexual sex, proving to some the true anti-gay hate behind the facade of Christian love (Schoofs, 1). In a study administered by Gallup, only thirteen percent of Americans onsidered homosexuality as innate in 1977. By 1996, that number had climbed to thirty one percent. The study also found that Americans are twice as likely to accept homosexuality if they believe it was not a choice (Schoofs, 2). So, is it a choice Scientific evidence says no. The evidence we now have strongly suggests that this is determined. Its not purely genetic, but there doesnt seem to be any choice in the matter. One thing that is clear is that the brain of homosexuals and heterosexuals appear to be different. Studies suggest that homosexuals in many cases developed neurologically in a ay that made them more likely to become homosexual, reported University of Massachusetts (Amherst) professor of neuroscience Geert J. De Vries (Jerome, 2). More simply put, Ask some straight guy to imagine what it would be like if he was told, You cant love women and now youre going to have to love a guy. Tell em that, and then they get it, says Dave Lemon, a man who tried for years to become heterosexual (Schoofs, 2). If it were a choice, why would someone choose it Despite improvements in openness, such as the public coming out of Ellen Degeneres, many still say homosexuality is wrong. They might point to anatomy. Our bodies are not made for homosexual sex, says Michael Johnston, president of the Kerusso Ministry, The anus was not to be penetrated (Schoofs, 3). What most people dont seem to realize is that many heterosexuals practice anal sex, and that many gay men (not to mention lesbians) never do. Joseph Nicolosi, cofounder of NARTH, a secular psychological organization, said, I think the penis was made for a vagina: I dont think it was made for another mans rectum. When Nicolosi was asked if the penis was made for the hand or the mouth, other body arts where the penis is often found, he answered sharply, I dont want to get into that (Schoofs, 4). Some insist it is morally wrong or they point to the Bible, taking the Scripture literally, and say it is a sin. Many believe marriage and relationships are to be between a man and a woman. Some Americans are concerned that the homosexual community will encourage their children to be gay or lesbian. The Boy Scouts recently fought to ban gay scoutmasters. Scout spokesman Gregg Sheilds said, A homosexual is not a role model for traditional family values (Peyser, 2). As for the religious iscrimination, The gay and lesbian community is still the community you can blatantly attack and then hide behind the Bible, said Rebecca Isaacs, political director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (Revival of Hatred, 1). America is currently in a period of backward thinking, the one step back after our two steps forward. Tolerance is the only way the United States can become united at all. We must overcome our differences, end discrimination and join this fight together. No one deserves to be mistreated as homosexuals are today. Remember that all men were created equal- even gay men.

Counselling Skills

The purpose of this essay is describing the counselling practices that I did in my class room. I n this reflective essay, I will describe the style of counselling that I used so far , the actions I had taken, the area of skills where I need further improvement, my perception about the feedbacks from other students and faculty supervisor . By discussing this particular experience in detail, I can start to aware of the specific skills and technique which counsellor may use in different situation of the client in order to boost the client to take positive action by her or himself . As part of community welfare curriculum, I need to role paly 20 minutes of counselling session with my colleague. Before the final role play I had done few days of practice sessions with my colleague. I was getting feedback from rest of the classmates and teacher as they would be the observers of the counselling sessions. I found the practice sessions challenging because my friend was acting as client. Even though I was playing the role of counsellor, my mind was struggling to consider my friend as client. Before embarking upon my reflection regarding counselling, I would like to contribute a brief description of about the client. My client was 52years of old lady who was looking after her 72 years of old mother. She (mother of the client) was suffering dementia. The client hast two kids who are studying. As she was working seven days, she wasn’t getting time to ventilate her feeling to anyone. Actually she came to me with complaints of stress. She was afraid to tell her mother she was contemplating nursing home care. Basically I was really focused on my micro skills rather than therapeutic skills† as they plays pivotal role in counselling skills more â€Å"I belief. The micro skills such as empathy, questioning, minimal encourages, paraphrasing , summary, eye contact, body language, voice, structure, observation, listening and reflection of feeling could germinate the pathways to motivate the clients to ventilate his or her deeper feelings and more over could help the counsellor to build up purposeful relationship with client. However I tried to involve bit of cognitive behaviour therapy specifically downward arrow and questioning technique. As a counsellor my intention was to challenge her (client) about her irrational belief’ the mother would be upset when I tell about the need of nursing care ’. I tried to confront the client with the reality of situation by supporting the client to think of probable consequences such as â€Å"what‘s the worst that could happen if tell your mum about nursing home rehabilitation? † And a part from that used technique of universalization by describing similar kind of experiences but it was not enough for my client get enough courage to face her issue. I tried the empty chair concept which I was extracted from gestalt therapy (Patterson, 1986). The empty chair was failure, even though it nurtured the idea of asking the client â€Å"how would to response to a friend of having the same scenario†? That was the turning point as it brought insight to the client that I was anticipating her mother’s response and that was I worried more about rather than agony related to send mother to nursing home. All the counselling sessions were challenging because it was very hard to consider the colleague as a client and more over I was unsure in the beginning where to start, what I would ask, how in depth the session would be and so on. On the basis of the feedback that I got, in the first few days of the counselling role play I was expressing insufficient empathy as I was not acknowledging properly the scenario of the client. The posture wasn’t good enough because I was swinging on my chair. According to my point of view I need to avoid giving advice or tendency of giving solutions as it violates the self-determination right of the client. The comments from my colleagues were very helpful as it helped me to stick in the main stream of counselling structure. In my counselling interventions, the tendency of asking more questions and collecting information (exactly same as case history taking) was not uncommon. The tendency might be because I had taken many case histories before as part of social work studies. It was confusing rather than focusing on the client’s issue. For instance once the client told about the need of rehabilitation for her mother, I was diverted from her (client) stress and started to thinking of certain strategies to deal her mother’s issue (dementia) . Therefore I just need to train myself to focus on the client issue. Feedback has a very good role in improving the skills of the counsellor. It helps to determine the area where improvement or modification is needed. For example I employed empathy but not enough to acknowledge the feelings of the client. The suggestions from my mates demonstrated the way we express empathy towards client’s feelings and also illustrated lots of relevant questions which I could ask to the client. From the brief explanation of self-reflection of counselling skills, counselling mproves personal effectiveness (Narayana Rao, 2002). The counsellor aims to bring about positive action on part of counselee and change the perception or understanding (irrational belief) by him or her shelf. The counsellor should be skilful in employing micro skills and the practical application of some sort of therapies from the counsellors could be helpful to provide self-direction to client or client. The feedbacks or comments from clients, colleagues, supervisors and other organizational staffs bring improvement or development of skills among counsellors. The counsellors themselves learn from experiences. Counsellor education and training or role plays stress the need of consistent approach in terms of counsellor’s experience, personality all reflects in his or her counselling. The practical sessions brings eligibility to counsellors to choose the style, ideas, principles, techniques and methods that appeal to him as meaningful and useful. The new insights from feedback enable the client to re-evaluate the ideas, principles, methods and modify or change according to client’s situation. This role paly session was very helpful for me because it improved my skills of developing counselling relationship with client. Now I hope I know thoroughly how would start? Howe would motivate the client to ventilate his or her feelings? How would I approach therapeutically the client? And also I could learn how could use the technique ‘silence’ effectively? So over all this counselling role paly was a great opportunity to get insight into my advantage and dis advantage of counselling skills. Therefore I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere thanks to my faculty supervisor and my colleagues. Counselling Skills The purpose of this essay is describing the counselling practices that I did in my class room. I n this reflective essay, I will describe the style of counselling that I used so far , the actions I had taken, the area of skills where I need further improvement, my perception about the feedbacks from other students and faculty supervisor . By discussing this particular experience in detail, I can start to aware of the specific skills and technique which counsellor may use in different situation of the client in order to boost the client to take positive action by her or himself . As part of community welfare curriculum, I need to role paly 20 minutes of counselling session with my colleague. Before the final role play I had done few days of practice sessions with my colleague. I was getting feedback from rest of the classmates and teacher as they would be the observers of the counselling sessions. I found the practice sessions challenging because my friend was acting as client. Even though I was playing the role of counsellor, my mind was struggling to consider my friend as client. Before embarking upon my reflection regarding counselling, I would like to contribute a brief description of about the client. My client was 52years of old lady who was looking after her 72 years of old mother. She (mother of the client) was suffering dementia. The client hast two kids who are studying. As she was working seven days, she wasn’t getting time to ventilate her feeling to anyone. Actually she came to me with complaints of stress. She was afraid to tell her mother she was contemplating nursing home care. Basically I was really focused on my micro skills rather than therapeutic skills† as they plays pivotal role in counselling skills more â€Å"I belief. The micro skills such as empathy, questioning, minimal encourages, paraphrasing , summary, eye contact, body language, voice, structure, observation, listening and reflection of feeling could germinate the pathways to motivate the clients to ventilate his or her deeper feelings and more over could help the counsellor to build up purposeful relationship with client. However I tried to involve bit of cognitive behaviour therapy specifically downward arrow and questioning technique. As a counsellor my intention was to challenge her (client) about her irrational belief’ the mother would be upset when I tell about the need of nursing care ’. I tried to confront the client with the reality of situation by supporting the client to think of probable consequences such as â€Å"what‘s the worst that could happen if tell your mum about nursing home rehabilitation? † And a part from that used technique of universalization by describing similar kind of experiences but it was not enough for my client get enough courage to face her issue. I tried the empty chair concept which I was extracted from gestalt therapy (Patterson, 1986). The empty chair was failure, even though it nurtured the idea of asking the client â€Å"how would to response to a friend of having the same scenario†? That was the turning point as it brought insight to the client that I was anticipating her mother’s response and that was I worried more about rather than agony related to send mother to nursing home. All the counselling sessions were challenging because it was very hard to consider the colleague as a client and more over I was unsure in the beginning where to start, what I would ask, how in depth the session would be and so on. On the basis of the feedback that I got, in the first few days of the counselling role play I was expressing insufficient empathy as I was not acknowledging properly the scenario of the client. The posture wasn’t good enough because I was swinging on my chair. According to my point of view I need to avoid giving advice or tendency of giving solutions as it violates the self-determination right of the client. The comments from my colleagues were very helpful as it helped me to stick in the main stream of counselling structure. In my counselling interventions, the tendency of asking more questions and collecting information (exactly same as case history taking) was not uncommon. The tendency might be because I had taken many case histories before as part of social work studies. It was confusing rather than focusing on the client’s issue. For instance once the client told about the need of rehabilitation for her mother, I was diverted from her (client) stress and started to thinking of certain strategies to deal her mother’s issue (dementia) . Therefore I just need to train myself to focus on the client issue. Feedback has a very good role in improving the skills of the counsellor. It helps to determine the area where improvement or modification is needed. For example I employed empathy but not enough to acknowledge the feelings of the client. The suggestions from my mates demonstrated the way we express empathy towards client’s feelings and also illustrated lots of relevant questions which I could ask to the client. From the brief explanation of self-reflection of counselling skills, counselling mproves personal effectiveness (Narayana Rao, 2002). The counsellor aims to bring about positive action on part of counselee and change the perception or understanding (irrational belief) by him or her shelf. The counsellor should be skilful in employing micro skills and the practical application of some sort of therapies from the counsellors could be helpful to provide self-direction to client or client. The feedbacks or comments from clients, colleagues, supervisors and other organizational staffs bring improvement or development of skills among counsellors. The counsellors themselves learn from experiences. Counsellor education and training or role plays stress the need of consistent approach in terms of counsellor’s experience, personality all reflects in his or her counselling. The practical sessions brings eligibility to counsellors to choose the style, ideas, principles, techniques and methods that appeal to him as meaningful and useful. The new insights from feedback enable the client to re-evaluate the ideas, principles, methods and modify or change according to client’s situation. This role paly session was very helpful for me because it improved my skills of developing counselling relationship with client. Now I hope I know thoroughly how would start? Howe would motivate the client to ventilate his or her feelings? How would I approach therapeutically the client? And also I could learn how could use the technique ‘silence’ effectively? So over all this counselling role paly was a great opportunity to get insight into my advantage and dis advantage of counselling skills. Therefore I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere thanks to my faculty supervisor and my colleagues. ï » ¿Counselling Skills P1: Describe processes for initiating, maintaining, developing and concluding a helping relationshipA helping relationship is a relationship between the professional and the patient/client which aims to help the client get through difficult situations and encourage the client to overcome their issues.Gerard Egan’s 3 Stage Skilled Helper Mode 1994, provides a basic guideline on how helping relationships should be carried out. It is important that helpers take into consideration the steps provided in the Egan’s mode as it provides structure and positive support to clients.The 3 stages are:1. The Present Scenario 2. The Preferred Scenario 3. Getting ThereWithin each stage there are additional steps which provide detailed guidelines that will help the client achieve the next step in the model.The Present Scenario – Stage 1Expansive 1a. the StoryThis step is to encourage the client to tell the story, the helper should demonstrate good listening skills and support the client tell a detailed and topic related story. It also encourages the client to get side tracked and maintain focus on the problem.Challenging 2a. blind spotsAt times it may be hard for the client to tell the story which got them conflicted. The helper should guide the client to see the situation from different perspectives through empathetic reflections and challenging questions to encourage the client to push oneself to fill in gaps that may be missing from their story.Focusing 1c. leverageThis is the last section of the first stage; at this point the client may feel overwhelmed after telling the helper what the problem is. The helper should aid the client on concentrating on a part of their story that they feel they have the energy to change and resolve.The Preferred Scenario – Stage 2Expletory 2a. possibilitiesAt this stage the helper should encourage the client to think what way they would want their situation to be. The helper should avoid over analysing or judging the client regardless of what the client describe as their perfect scenario. The client should be pushing the client to open their mind and see the bigger picture outside the problem and how they prefer things to be.Reality Testing 2a. change agendaAfter the client expresses how they wish their situation to be, the helper should encourage the client to think of realistic goal (SMART goals) that can be achievable. The client should be thinking of a time frame which they can reach within a certain time limit. The helper should support these and be a mediator for the client when they are setting their goals.Committing 2c. commitmentThe aim of the final step of stage two is for the helper to evaluate the commitment level displayed by the client to achieving their goal. The helper should encourage the client to evaluate the benefits and costs of dedicating oneself to the goal and show their determinacy to achieving it.Getting There – Stage 3Creative 3a. Possible ActionsThe first step of stage 3 aims to encourage the client to brainstorm possible places, people, organisations; actions and attitudes that would them achieve their set goals. The helper should encourage and motivate the client to think widely on possible strategies to achieve their goal (101 ways to achieve the goal).Selecting 3b. best fit strategiesAfter the brainstorm the client will be left with many strategies, the helper should set in to guide the client to select the best and most fitting strategy to achieve their desired goal. The helper should also guide the client to analyse the internal and external factors that may affect the way their strategy is carried out.Moving Forward 3c. pointEgan’s Model final step, this aims to help the client plan their next steps. The plan of action should be broken down into small sections and the client should be confident and positive when explained their action plan to the helper. The helper should be encouraging the client to turn wishes into goals, but avoiding on pushing the client on creating goals that they have no desire of achieving.To conclude Egan’s Model proves to be a concise and important part of a helping relationship as it provides helpers with a structure and guide on how to conduct sessions and how to track improvement from client when reaching a new stage.

Controlling as the Vital Function of Management Essay

Controlling as the Vital Function of Management - Essay Example Controlling functions and techniques are exercised in all functional areas of management such as finance, marketing, human resource, production, etc. The process of control is very much associated with planning, the primary function of management. Both these functions are complementary to each other in the sense that either of these has no meaning unless the other is performed. In simple terms, controlling is the process of ensuring that all activities are in conformity with what has been planned already. It is the act of identifying any deviation from the standard performance by comparing it with the actual performance. Controlling function is not complete once the deviations are identified. Correcting the deviation, if any, is also under the purview of controlling process. It is a four-step process of establishing performance standards based on the firm's objectives, measuring and reporting of actual performance, comparing the two, and taking corrective or preventive actions, if necessary. Henry Fayol defines controlling as " in an undertaking, control consists in verifying whether everything occurs in conformity with the plan adopted, the instructions issued, and principles established, It has for an object to point out weaknesses and errors in order to rectify them and prevent recurrence. It operates on everything-things, people actions." Performance standards are ... Corrective action is warranted only when actual performance is below standards to ensure that the problem will not recur. On the other hand, if the performance is greater than or equal to standards, the behavior or system because of which it happened will be reinforced. Characteristics of Controlling Process Controlling is a never-ending process. Organisations which strive for improved performance will keep on controlling the activities of all areas. The exercise of controlling process is cyclical in nature which permanently observes the discrepancies of actual performance and corrects such deviations. Controlling is inseparably associated with planning function as the former cannot be exercised without the latter. In other words, planning is pointless unless it is accompanied by controlling. Because, mere establishment of standards alone will not bring success in business, rather, it must be compared with the actual continuously. Controlling is both anticipatory and retrospective. It expects problems and takes preventive action. With corrective actions, the process also follows up on problems. It employs a number of techniques based on the nature and area of problems. Controlling process ensures successful and efficient performance from executors who are held responsible for discrepanci es. However, employees are reluctant to have a control mechanism in the organization as it constantly evaluates their performance in terms of what is needed by the organization.

Response to Be Virus Free Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Response to Be Virus Free - Article Example Can we cure a viral disease? Of course, through proper medication, which involves mainly vaccination, it is possible to cure some of the diseases. However, the fact remains that whether humans could be ‘totally virus free’? At this stage, I would like to draw your attention to an advertisement that appeared in your journal, titled, â€Å"Be Virus Free†. The afore said advertisement advertise on an alternative healing method which require no drugs, is effective, permanent and seems to guaranteed to be an ‘once only treatment for complete protection from viruses’. It also lay claim to have received a ‘1999 Australian achiever award’ and is ‘highly commended’. In my point of view, this advertisement is not based on any scientific reasoning or on any concrete research finding which can ensure a complete virus-free status. An in-depth study on the behavior of infectious viruses and the resulting diseases implies that such a ‘virus free’ status is yet to be achieved. Before proceeding further, it may be advisable to explicate the characteristics of major viruses and the mechanism of viral attacks to clarify why a totally virus-free status is still hard to achieve. A virus is a portion of DNA or RNA, wrapped in a protein. It can replicate only when it is inside the cells of a living organism and thus, they are a virulent agent with highly infective nature to ensure their survival. Basically, a virus causes cell lyses where the cells of the host organism break open which cause subsequent cell death. These viruses use the important metabolic system of the host cells for their replication and reprogramme the host cell to produce new viruses, and for this, use the proteins of the host cell. The mechanism of viruses in producing a disease in a human (or any organism) is mainly based on the viral species (Table 1) and it is interesting to note that some

Answering Questions Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 11

Answering Questions - Research Paper Example Suspense keeps readers on the article besides boosting their understanding of the effects of the illicit trade as he explicitly develops them. Causal analysis refers to the process through which a writer espouses on the issues related to the cause of a problem or issue. Gardner is analyzing the cause of violence in major American cities which he identifies as the trade in illicit drugs. However, she does not simply put this boldly in the beginning of either the page or the essay because, in the process of identifying the cause to the problems, he builds the problems as well. He achieves doing this by drawing the larger picture of the frequency of the violence and the nature of the very violence. It is only after satisfactorily discussing the issues that he brings the cause into context. Causal argument, on the other hand, refers to the articulation of points to ascertain that in deed the stated reasons are the cause to the problem under scrutiny. Gardner identifies the cause of the violence as the illicit trade in drugs. To prove these, he gives reasons and alternatives to what may occur without the drug peddlers in the eq uation (Gardner 266). Drugs and drug peddling is in deed a menace in the country and in the city of Vancouver. However, pushing for legalization of the very drugs would be akin to anarchy. Currently, the drug peddlers are not known and are considered criminals by the state. They operate in the shadows and in dark alleys. The crimes they commit are brought about by betrayals within their circles. Briefly, the peddlers kill or hurt their fellow peddlers. Legalizing the drugs would mean legalizing the trade of the drugs. Entrepreneurs of all sorts will flood the drug industry; this dilutes the trade and reduces profits for the investors. Secret elimination of competition is more likely to result and it may result in the loss of very many innocent lives. The drug business does not simply begin and end with the traders. It

REading Response Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

REading Response - Assignment Example They assert that there should be an equitable assessment of both kinds of students. The article by National Association for the Education of Young Children (1995) is an accurate expression of the importance of roles of families and educators in providing linguistically and culturally diverse children with equal learning opportunities. Families must support educators in recognizing their children’s potential. As for Soleno-Flores and Trumbell (2003), I believe that it is very important for the educators to design such polices that give a bit flexibility to students whose first language is not English, so that they are tested fairly. They cannot be tested on equal grounds with students with English as primary language. I believe that the article by National Association for the Education of Young Children (1995) can be helpful for educators in building classroom communities where all children are encouraged to collaborate with each other while accepting each other’s linguistic and cultural background. A classroom community is a place where children from all backgrounds are encouraged to learn through collaboration and group-based learning. The recommendations presented by Soleno-Flores and Trumbell (2003) can be very helpful for second language learners. Classrooms where diverse population is present, educators can make use of these recommendations to cater to their students’ individual needs. National Association for the Education of Young Children. (1995). Responding to Linguistic and Cultural Diversity: Recommendations for Effective Early Childhood Education. Retrieved March 12, 2014, from https://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/PSDIV98.PDFhttps://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/PSDIV98.PDF Soleno-Flores, G., & Trumbell, E. (2003). Examining language in context: The need for new research and practice paradigms in the testing of English-language learners. Educational Researcher, 32(2),

Technology as Symptom and Dream Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Technology as Symptom and Dream - Essay Example And I do not feel as lonely as when I started getting out of my room. Yes, I have a family who, just like me, must be thinking about me, or other family members, about how we could placate the distance that kept us for days and months. "Through those thin wires which stretch from pole to pole outside my house, wires whose fragility is marked by their mobements in the wind generate an invisible electric web which knits together our entire globe, creating a 'global village' so that here on this island at night, when there is only the sound of the wind across the marsh and the startlight of the black sky, one can soften the isolation and believe that one is not alone." (p 1) Technology. How I appreciate the wonders it can do! Of erasing distance, and bridging time that heals. I know of many individuals who have been separated just like me from their loved ones and how difficult parting must have been. But as we all turn to the gifts human technology brought, departing is lightened up with the hope that at one point in time, I may connect with my loved ones, no matter how many miles set us apart from each other. Nevertheless, as distance may make the heart grow fonder, it has a haunting power that reminds us such as "ghosts come to visit us and perhaps, depending on one's turn of mind, to haunt us in our isolationtechnology can fill us with a false sense of understanding which robs us of the awe-ful experience which technology provides" (p 1) September The visit to the museum was one of the rare things I do. Except for school requirements, of which I had several museum visits, I have visited the place just once, or my first All tourists brochures (at least all those which I got hold of) boast of the museum, I dropped by after my meeting with a prospective business partner. There was a twisted, unglamorous and ugly sculpture I want to call a piece of distortion that reminds me of a Picasso painting. I abhor those stuffs some people have the temerity to call art at all. I heard somewhere, I don't know how reliable my source was --- Gucci an artist, but he sure did paint planets better than Picasso well, Gucci said that Picasso was like a social climber who befriended most of the elite in his time and sold them his products ugh! The distorted sculpture exorcised my irreverent thoughts, so personal, unfit for secondary viewing or reading about an artist much renowned, or maybe, respected. But I hate Picasso and his monstrous works, if there is a way that separates them. I am not sure his three-dimension style should be used as a reference at all for the development of space notions and astronauts. It just can't seem so. Maybe, I'd prefer Dali and his melting watches. "a Picasso canvas in which multiple perspectives appear simultaneously, the latter remains for us abstract and unreal while the former defines for us what is real and what is natural" (pp 32-33) September I stare at the image before me, and it stared back knowingly. My troubles are piling up, and the eyes that stared back at me reflect how insurmountable they seem to be. Would I make it through this school semester What if I won't Will my family be disappointed What about my standing in the institution where I work Would it take me back if I fail Or present them with so-so school rating I have been working like a zombie, a half-alive half-dead creature trying to blend, get accepted, or maybe, even appreciated where there seem to be nothing to appreciate at all

Social economics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Social economics - Essay Example Improving the social being is one of the prime concerns of the governments and devotes a lot of interest to achieve economic prosperity. But economic prosperity may not bring improved social well being for all as well being is not directly related to income. The aspects of social capital can act to reduce transaction costs and also encourage behavior and trust. The different sources within the community can be thought of as the origination of social capital. Social capital can operate and emerge in families and educational institutions and also in business and local community. Social capital can have both positive and negative impacts on the society. On the one hand it creates social division and on the other leads to social and economic well being at least for some sections of the society. There are mainly five mechanisms by which social capital can affect the outcomes. A distinction can be made between the formal and informal forms of social capital. Formal social capital refers to patterns of behavior, exchange norms, networks which are formally defined. The networks operating outside this formal system refer to informal social capital. The usefulness of this distinction lies in illustrating the problems arising in operations of social capital. The first kind of social capital can be found in the extent of civil society while the second form can be difficult to find as it requires household surveys. At the national level poverty refers to a country’s lack of resources necessary towards education, health and infrastructure. This may give rise to political unrest. In the developed countries poverty is one of the social problems. Poverty alleviation has been one of the guiding principles for most of the governments. The role of economic growth and development in creating employment avenues has clearly been recognized. Some specific sectors have been chosen by most administrations and growth oriented approach has been undertaken.

Internal weaknesses that impacted the Islamic Societies during the Essay

Internal weaknesses that impacted the Islamic Societies during the Crudades and Mongol Wars - Essay Example Even though the early crusades were named and were quite successful in realizing the desired objectives, majority of the crusades that took place in the later years were ineffective and thus they were defeated by their counterparts, the Muslims. The Mongols on the other hand invaded Muslim land in the thirteenth century. They moved from one Islamic region to another slaughtering all the Muslims they came across. In just a single city, they slaughtered almost 2 million people. Such had immense effect on the locals in terms of their political power, economy, social life, culture, religion and population as explored in this paper. Soldiers in hundreds of thousands became crusaders through taking of vows, with the Pope granting these soldiers Plenary Indulgence. The emblem of the soldiers in the war was a cross, as the term crusade was derived from a French phrase, â€Å"taking the cross†. Most of the crusaders were from France, calling themselves ‘Franks’ that eventually became a common term among the Muslims. By this time, Christianity was yet to divide into large numbers of intermingled geographical regions which later formed the eastern churches of Byzantine Orthodox and the Western Roman Catholic. The Crusaders just considered themselves as Christians but not as Muslims. They had immense impact on Middle East, and particularly to Islamic religion. Crusades Background Among the powers that medieval popes had was the ability of requesting the kings and monarchs to be provided with troops as well as money to facilitate what they deemed as holy wars, such as the Crusades. The Crusades were fought because of geopolitical, economic and religious conflicts between the Muslims and the Christians.3 The spark for the initial Crusade came in year 1095, at the time when the Byzantines within the European Christians for military assistance against Turks, and Seljuk who had recently captured the city of Jerusalem. In order to increase their chances of receiving more aid, Byzantines exaggerated the rumors of Holy Land atrocities from the Turkish people. Pope Urban II immediately responded by summoning of the Council of Clermont, calling upon the European Catholics knights to recapture the city of Jerusalem because of the religious value that they placed to the Holy Land. In 1096, an army of Crusaders traveled headed to the Middle East through Constantinople, fighting the Muslim forces that they encountered along the way. The army reached Jerusalem two years later, 1099. They placed the city under siege, and they butchered almost every single Jew and Muslim within the walls of th e City. In the process, the Crusaders massacred a significant number of Christians whom were mistaken for Muslims. Because of lack of unity among the Jews, Turks and Muslims, they suffered immense loss and defeat from the Crusaders.4 Crusades in Islamic Society Much of the most important works of histories of crusades are being published and the settlements that have been established within their wake are concerned with the 13th and the 14th Centuries, while the great vistas are providing an opening in the sixteenth centuries.5 The Crusades, which were launched upon the holy land of Middle East from Urban II Speech that took place in 1095 at the Council of Cl

Mix Racial and Cultural Groups Are Growing in the United States Essay Example for Free

Mix Racial and Cultural Groups Are Growing in the United States Essay Mixed Racial and Cultural Groups is increased by a marginal number in the United States. The growth of these multiracial groups started to surface through migration of different ethnics and raised most of their families in the United States even through marriage. These are some of the issues that have been raised by individual people of having an entity separation of mixed race and cultural or to considered them as Americans without a hyphen. Thinking about this issue myself, and thinking of my two children who married to a different ethnic rather than Samoans. These questions come to mind about this issue: How, Why, and what the three words that needs a big explanation about this matter. According to multiracial Americans, Americans whose identity as two or more races identifies with just one group culturally and socially. From statistics that I got from online, stated that about 2. 9% of the population in the year 2010 are self-identified as multiracial. The identity or the classification of the people’s identification is generally according to the culture they were raised in. Social segregation in many areas of the country is forming interracial unions or cultural group. The diversity of social conditions through migrations brought new groups of people to the United States. Through these migrations, mixed races started to rise when interracial marriage were born and started to increase in the United States. The movement of multiracial identity by more than one ethnicity has taken place and strong. Statistics from the year 2010 census in the United States shows that the largest multiracial groups were white and black which is 1. 8 million. The other 1. 7 millions are white and some other race, white and Asian is 1. 6, white and American Indian and Alaskan Native is 1. 4 million. I have learned that the largest growing group in multiracial is white and black which is about 134%. That is more than 1 million people. MIX RACIAL AND CULTURAL GROUP According to Susan Saulny of the New York Times, title Race Remixed, said that â€Å"sea of change is how we think about race, ethnicity and its place in society†. I believe that a challenge to trend towards multiracial from a sociological perspective is a leap that we should take. The understanding of racial and ethnic categories of their boundaries can be a problem to other multiracial groups. I think that ancestry is the biggest influence in identities through a number of generations through migrations. I also believe that each multi mix or racial group should be treated the same regardless of their identity. If they are legally citizens of the United States, they have the right to be treated equally. I believe that they have contributed to the wellbeing and welfare of the United States through their services in employment within the government, military or private companies. Regardless of the race and ethnicity, they should be treated and considered Americans. President Obama is good example of what I mean about treating them the same no matter what color of their skin or where they are from. I know that some of these mix race entities are trying to separate themselves with-in the United States but when they travel to other countries of the world, they considered be call Americans. As a citizen of New Zealand, I am proud to call myself to be an American and I respect the land that my children were born. What can the United States or these multiracial groups gain from wanting to be separated from their identity. Through my search online, I came across Mrs. Karissa Sulliva’s draft and she said that ancestry influences identities. She said that socialization is the crucible of racial and ethnic identity formation. Farley in 2002, construct racial and ethnic classifications which was adopted by the government for each race or reconsidered themselves to either refuse to identify their own race and ethnic category. MIX RACIAL AND CULTURAL GROUP. I believe that mix racial and cultural groups are increasing daily by the number throughout the United States. However, research shows that children with an original multiracial identity grow up to be happier than those of single-race identity. Some of the statistics shows that another addition to the growth of mix race is through adoption of children from countries outside of the United States. According to Fact’s for Families 2010, parents are coping with these pressures in having open communications with the families about their culture and race. Encouragement and support in every multicultural group for families to be familiar with their language, traditions and customs within their families. They have to support and try to establish a good relationship by creating a network for their children, parents, family member, relatives and the community. In conclusion, the separation and classifications between mix racial and multicultural groups is not an easy task or thing to do. Two of my children are married to different ethnic. My oldest daughter is married to an African American and my son is married to a girl who is beautiful and white but has about four or five mix blood in her. I believe in democracy and the United States is nowhere in having a separation of any mix race and cultural group who are living in the United States. God Bless America, God bless the people of the United States. References: Perez, Anthony Daniel, Hirschman, Charles. The Changing Racial and Ethnic. http://www. ncbi. nlm. nih. gov/pmc/articles/PMC2882688/ The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (March-2011). Facts for Families, no. 71 Multiracial Children. http://www. aacap. org/galleries/FactsForFamilies/71_multiracial_children. pdf Dr. Nicole Martinez and Mrs. Karissa Sullivan. May 6, 2013 .docx.

Basic approaches to the study of cultural diversity Essay Example for Free

Basic approaches to the study of cultural diversity Essay With rapid scientific and technological progress, advanced means of communication and transport, more and more people travel abroad, and the range of purposes they tend to achieve, enlarged as well. Many people now travel to share organizational and business experience, study abroad to come back home, many people travel just to see and study cultural background of other countries, some of them come to other countries with peace missions. Unfortunately, political and economical conditions in many countries of the world make many people move abroad as immigrants or refugees. But, regardless of the travel purposes, the notions of cultural contact and cultural shock are relevant for all categories of travelers. (Hoerder) Before examining this phenomenon it’s necessary to give a strict definition of it. At first, it’s necessary to mention that there are some titles to define this phenomenon: â€Å"cross cultural relations†, â€Å"between society culture-contact†, â€Å"cross-cultural interaction† etc. Here is the definition of this phenomenon provided by Bochner: â€Å"between society culture-contact refers to individuals who travel beyond their countries of origin for a particular purpose and for a specified period of time, and the relationships they establish with members of the host society†. (1986, p. 23) There are also some necessary terms used to describe these relations, for instance â€Å"sojourner†. This term is used to refer to â€Å"culture travellers, indicating that they are temporary visitors intending to return home after achieving their aims†. (1986, p. 33) On the contrary, people of the visited society are called â€Å"host-society members†. It’s evident that changing society background in any case demands some contact on personal level, when the representatives of various societies interact. From the part of sojourner it demands much effort to integrate into unusual social and cultural patterns. This may cause stress, especially in the case of immediate and unexpected transition, and this condition is defined by the specialists as â€Å"culture shock†. (Bochner) Cultural identity conflicts are usually called intractable, and thus they are not possible to be resolved through the traditional approaches. The frames of the individual identity are extremely influenced by the cultural identity and cultural surrounding. The differences in culture often become the ground for the cultural conflict, as the difference in cultural ideas and preferences may be taken by the other side as not simply an outrageous idea, but ridiculous and unreal understanding of the world. For the better cultural communication it may be suggested, that the attitudes towards other cultures should be more tolerate. The cultural ideas and beliefs expressed by the representatives of the other culture should not be taken as unreal or unacceptable. Differences in culture between people will always exist, and thus for the more effective communication it is important to understand and accept the significance of the traditions, which are valued by the other culture, as well as try to better explain the traditions into which the newcomer would wish to assimilate. However, and what is more important, it is not allowed to break the cultural identity of the person; the difference in cultural views does not mean they are wrong. The issue of cultural identity was always urgent, and with the growing opportunities for migration, this issue will not soon lose the necessity of being discussed. However, it is important to understand one thing in relation to cultural conflicts: the differences between cultures should not and won’t be erased; they should be treated with tolerance. There are some concepts and approaches used to investigate the nature of this phenomenon. They are as follows: regional comparison, holocultural analysis, controlled comparison, and coding. Regional comparison was worked out by Driver and Kroeber. This approach lies in determination of cultural classification and then making assumptions about the processes of interconnection in the limits of one region of culture. Holocultural analysis is also called worldwide cross-cultural analysis. He was worked out by Tylor, Sumner, Keller and Murdock. Levinson describes it as a study â€Å"designed to test or develop a proposition through the statistical analysis of data on a sample of ten or more

Women And The Criminal Justice System

Women And The Criminal Justice System The aim of this work is to define the role factors such as gender, class, familial structure and prior victimization have in the awarding of justice to the female offender. It was found that the criminal justice system has traditionally been more lenient to the female offender based on two factors: gender and class and family structure. However, the criminal justice system finds itself in a legal and moral bind when it comes to prior victimization of the offender, and in differentiating between true victimization leading to a violent crime and the misrepresentation of such a previous state by the defending attorney. These findings should give an overall understanding of the criminal justice system with regards to female offenders and should form a framework within which such inequalities and discrepancies can be discussed. Introduction To better understand the criminal offender, it is necessary to understand the role the backgrounds of the offenders play in their path towards crime. The percentage of female offenders has increased in the recent past, and sociologists, criminal experts and the judiciary have grappled with the damning statistics. Various theories have been put forth to better understand the role race, class, family structure and victimization of the female offender have to play in the rise in crimes by the female gender. While a lot of work had gone into research into these themes individually, a deeper understanding of all these factors and the role they play in the treatment of women by the criminal justice system remains to be analyzed. This essay aims to explain these factors and the role the criminal justice system has to play in offering justice, and support to the female offender. The criminal justice system and the female offender According to sentencing statistics, nearly a third of women sentenced for indictable offences in 2000 received a community sentence compared with just under a quarter of men . It can be seen that the criminal justice system has traditionally been lenient on the female offender. In delivering justice, the background of the defendant, the role factors outside the purview of the crime that have contributed to the psycho-social development of the defendant are considered. However, various social and developmental factors also contribute to the low rates of serious crimes by women . While men are not socially connected and do not traditionally worry about children, women are bound to their home and hearth and thus desist from violent crimes. This difference is important to the jury, who consider previous crimes and delinquent history when considering their judicial stance on the offender. Thus, women tend to have less severe judicial outcomes in the criminal justice system. The role of race and the female offender According to Koons-Witt and Schram: Two findings are notable in terms of offending differences among females: (a) race conditioned the relationship between offending group and victim(s) sex for robbery incidents and (b) race conditioned the relationship between offending group and the social distance between victim(s) and perpetrator(s) for aggravated assaults. The race of a person has a major role to play in the psycho-social development of the female offender. Racial characteristics such as social conditioning, parenting style, opportunities for education and social development and interaction with other races have always played a major role in the development of the offender. The criminal justice system has also traditionally, not only discriminated on the basis of gender, but also on the basis of race when awarding punishment for crimes, both non-lethal, and lethal. However, in the context of the female offender, unlike gender, race has not played a role in the severity of senten ce for a crime, which remains a factor only for the male offender. The effect of race is conditioned by gender while the effect of gender is not conditioned by race. However, the harsher treatment of racial minorities by the criminal justice system is confined more to men, and the lenient treatment of women is found for minorities and whites alike . Class and family structure and the female offender Women from the lower and working class have been a priori been excluded from the middle class in their expectations and prior social programming. While the women from the socially backward classes have never been placed in the good girl category, dissimilar to their middle class counterparts, the criminal justice system considers the class of the women while deciding punishment for a crime. Like race, social conditioning of women offenders depends largely on their social class and existing family structure. Social scientists have long associated class and life-expectations of women in work, at home and in the social context. Delinquency and crime are also associated closely with the class of the offender. The criminal justice system has always considered the class of the female defendant to award punishment. Victimization and the female offender Vieraitis, Kovandzic and Britto state: ..womens absolute status is significantly correlated with female homicide victimization rates by intimate partners.. . The role of victimization leading to crime by the female offender cannot be overemphasized. In many cases, the victim turns criminal and the psychological effects of the crime of the woman are an important parameter in understanding the development of the criminal mindset. In many violent crimes committed by women, the victim is mostly the intimate partner who has, in the past, been violent towards their partner. This progression of crime has a major role to play in the psychological and criminal development of the offender and makes it a tough case for the defending attorney and the criminal justice system. The fine delineation between preexisting conditions that lead to the crime and the absence thereof makes the awarding of justice difficult and at time, morally challenging. Conclusion The female offender is shaped by her gender, class, familial background and prior victimization. These factors have a major role to play in the psycho-social development of the offender. While the criminal justice system has traditionally been lenient to the female offender, the rise in crime by women has brought to light these differences and how justice is served to these offenders. A larger meta-analysis of the problem would yield sociological and psychological constructs that may help streamline the justice system to recognize and eliminate errors in jurisprudence.

Automatic Robot Forklift Essay -- Robotics

Robotic Forklift Background Our final project is a semi-automatic Robotic Forklift, which will receive directions of where to go from a remote control and be autonomous from then on. The robotic forklift system is designed for use by companies dealing with medium to large sized inventories, including warehouses and storage facilities. Companies with large inventories in warehouses need to be able to quickly and easily transport these goods within the warehouse without concerning human operators with the monotonous task of operating forklifts. Storage companies have a similar need; they must take in and store large inventories while also being able to quickly and easily access these items on demand. The use of human operators can be costly and wasteful. By eliminating human operators companies are able to lower labor costs and increase efficiency. Human factory employees need to be paid and given benefits like health insurance and paid vacation time. Since robots don’t need breaks and vacations! and are not paid, they are able to operate with more speed than humans in the long run and at lower costs. The first mass storage in human history was the granary, usually a large building used to store threshed grain or animal feed in pottery containers, and often situated off the ground to keep the stores away from water. The earliest known granary was found in the Jordan River Valley, and was estimated to have been constructed around 9500 B.C.E. ("Granary", Wikipedia) Buildings used for storage have greatly evolved in both form and functionality in the time since then, but for the most part, they have always been stocked and managed by human beings, albeit with the help of lifting devices such as the forklift. Only ... ...dvantage, these wholesale stores could also use the forklift to restock the shelves. Resources/Works Cited: "Introduction to robots and android humanoids".11/24/2005. 7/24/2006. Raithel,Tom . "Robots Replace forklift drivers.". CourierPress. 5/14/2005. accessed through: Robot Gossip drivers.html>.7/24/2006 "Automated Warehousing" 7/24/2006 â€Å"Bertello S.p.A† 7/24/2006 Corecon. â€Å"Robotic Forklifts for Industry† 7/24/2006 & 8/3/2006 â€Å"Granary†7/24/2006 â€Å"Warehouse†7/24/2006

Graduation Speech: Its Our Turn :: Graduation Speech, Commencement Address

After 18 long years of waiting, it is finally our turn. After 13 years of schooling, some difficult, some not, it is finally our turn. After this last, excruciatingly long year of waiting, hoping, dreaming, it is finally our turn. This day has been in the back of our minds since our first day of kindergarten, all those years ago. This year, amidst bouts of senioritis, today was all we could think about, that final day when it would finally be our turn to graduate. However, it is not only our turn to graduate, but also our turn to assume full responsibility for the direction our lives will take. From this day forward, our lives are our own. We will now make decisions about our futures. For some of us, that decision will take us to college, possibly a two or four year degree. Some of us may even go further. For others, it will be work, setting out to make a living for themselves, perhaps attending college later on, perhaps not. Some will join the military, shipping out to a far off and exotic location, or maybe even defense on the homefront. Some will even take a year or two off for travel, or to stay at home and relax. No matter what choice you make, it is important to remember that it is our time to make these decisions. For these things, it's our turn. Our turn to play in the sandbox is over. No more playing tag in the park or with GI Joes. No more showing off the latest outfit on your Barbie or your newfound skill at riding a two-wheeled bike for the first time. We have learned our ABCs and 123s, said goodbye to Mr. Rogers and Sesame Street. Most of us no longer watch Saturday morning cartoons and we haven't had recess in seven years. Our turn for these things is at an end. Now it is our turn to complete our education and begin our careers, wherever they may take us. It is our turn to become our own person in society, to make a difference in this world, to begin our new lives, and to succeed. Ladies and gentlemen, it is finally our turn.

Essay on Narrator and Point of View in Yellow Wallpaper and Story of an

Narrator and Point of View in The Yellow Wallpaper and The Story of an Hour  Ã‚      Both Gilman's and Chopin's stories are, in effect, stories of women who feel "trapped" by the men in their lives. Gilman uses first person narration to reveal a woman's "creeping" loss of reality to her readers, while Chopin allows us to experience the joy Louise Mallard felt upon hearing of her husband's death through third person narration. Interestingly, neither story would have been able to reveal either woman's psyche to impact the reader as successfully as both did had their individual narrations been attempted through another form. In "The Yellow Wallpaper," Gilman's point of view is expressed through first person narration, which provides her readers with brief glimpses into the other characters' perception of her and her perceptions of them (which essentially enlightens readers), as well as the main character's active dissemination of what is occurring in her mind. First person narration can at times be considered biased or naive within the context of their perceptions and projections of other characters. Not so with the woman in "The Yellow Wallpaper." She seems to offer an almost unbiased perspective of husband John, which the reader notes from the beginning as she goes back and forth from justifying his attitude and behavior towards her--"Dear John! He loves me dearly, and hates to have me sick" (324)--to eventually becoming mistrustful of him: "The fact is I am getting a little afraid of John" (326). One ends up viewing John as completely oblivious yet superior in his lackadaisical attitude and treatment of his wife. Therefore one has little sympathy for John in the end (which I believe is also intended), when he finally realize... ...r V. Roberts and Henry E. Jacobs. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall Inc. Simon Schuster/ A Viacom Company, 1998. 542-553. Gilman, Charlotte Perkins. "Why I Wrote 'The Yellow Wallpaper'" Ed. Catherine Lavender; The College of Staten Island of the City University of New York, Fall Semester, Oct. 1997. (25 Jan 1999)  Ã‚   http://www.library.csi.cuny.edu/dept/history/lavender/whyyw.html McChristie, Pat. "Women Need to Work" Copyright: 1998. Cyberwoman (30 Jan 1999) http://www.cyberparent.com/women/needwork.htm Wyatt, Neal "Biography of Kate Chopin" English 384: Women Writers. Ed. Ann M. Woodlief Copyright: 1998, Virginia Commonwealth University. (26 Jan. 1999) http://www.vcu.edu/engweb/eng384/katebio.htm "Why are Women Leaving Marriage in Droves?" Marriage. Copyright: 1998. Cyberwoman (30 Jan 1999) http://www.cyberparent.com/women/marriage1.htm

BATTLE OF THE ALAMO

ALAMO, BATTLE OF THE ALAMO, BATTLE OF THE. The siege and the final assault on the Alamo in 1836 constitute the most celebrated military engagement in Texas history. The battle was conspicuous for the large number of illustrious personalities among its combatants. These included Tennessee congressman David Crockett, entrepreneur-adventurer James Bowie, and Mexican president Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. Although not nationally famous at the time, William Barret Travis achieved lasting distinction as commander at the Alamo. For many Americans and most Texans, the battle has become a symbol of patriotic sacrifice.Traditional popular depictions, including novels, stage plays, and motion pictures, emphasize legendary aspects that often obscure the historical event. To understand the real battle, one must appreciate its strategic context in the Texas Revolution. In December 1835 a Federalist army of Texan (or Texian, as they were called) immigrants, American volunteers, and their Tejano all ies had captured the town from a Centralist force during the siege of Bexar. With that victory, a majority of the Texan volunteers of the â€Å"Army of the People† left service and returned to their families.Nevertheless, many officials of the provisional government feared the Centralists would mount a spring offensive. Two main roads led into Texas from the Mexican interior. The first was the Atascosito Road, which stretched from Matamoros on the Rio Grande northward through San Patricio, Goliad, Victoria, and finally into the heart of Austin's colony. The second was the Old San Antonio Road, a camino real that crossed the Rio Grande at Paso de Francia (the San Antonio Crossing) and wound northeastward through San Antonio de Bexar, Bastrop, Nacogdoches, San Augustine, and across the Sabine River into Louisiana.Two forts blocked these approaches into Texas: Presidio La Bahia (Nuestra Senora de Loreto Presidio) at Goliad and the Alamo at San Antonio. Each installation function ed as a frontier picket guard, ready to alert the Texas settlements of an enemy advance. James Clinton Neill received command of the Bexar garrison. Some ninety miles to the southeast, James Walker Fannin, Jr. , subsequently took command at Goliad. Most Texan settlers had returned to the comforts of home and hearth. Consequently, newly arrived American volunteers-some of whom counted their time in Texas by the week-constituted a majority of the troops at Goliad and Bexar.Both Neill and Fannin determined to stall the Centralists on the frontier. Still, they labored under no delusions. Without speedy reinforcements, neither the Alamo nor Presidio La Bahia could long withstand a siege. At Bexar were some twenty-one artillery pieces of various caliber. Because of his artillery experience and his regular army commission, Neill was a logical choice to command. Throughout January he did his best to fortify the mission fort on the outskirts of town. Maj. Green B. Jameson, chief engineer at the Alamo, installed most of the cannons on the walls.Jameson boasted to Gen. Sam Houston that if the Centralists stormed the Alamo, the defenders could â€Å"whip 10 to 1 with our artillery. † Such predictions proved excessively optimistic. Far from the bulk of Texas settlements, the Bexar garrison suffered from a lack of even basic provender. On January 14 Neill wrote Houston that his people were in a â€Å"torpid, defenseless condition. † That day he dispatched a grim message to the provisional government: â€Å"Unless we are reinforced and victualled, we must become an easy prey to the enemy, in case of an attack. â€Å" BATTLE OF THE ALAMO ALAMO, BATTLE OF THE ALAMO, BATTLE OF THE. The siege and the final assault on the Alamo in 1836 constitute the most celebrated military engagement in Texas history. The battle was conspicuous for the large number of illustrious personalities among its combatants. These included Tennessee congressman David Crockett, entrepreneur-adventurer James Bowie, and Mexican president Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. Although not nationally famous at the time, William Barret Travis achieved lasting distinction as commander at the Alamo. For many Americans and most Texans, the battle has become a symbol of patriotic sacrifice.Traditional popular depictions, including novels, stage plays, and motion pictures, emphasize legendary aspects that often obscure the historical event. To understand the real battle, one must appreciate its strategic context in the Texas Revolution. In December 1835 a Federalist army of Texan (or Texian, as they were called) immigrants, American volunteers, and their Tejano all ies had captured the town from a Centralist force during the siege of Bexar. With that victory, a majority of the Texan volunteers of the â€Å"Army of the People† left service and returned to their families.Nevertheless, many officials of the provisional government feared the Centralists would mount a spring offensive. Two main roads led into Texas from the Mexican interior. The first was the Atascosito Road, which stretched from Matamoros on the Rio Grande northward through San Patricio, Goliad, Victoria, and finally into the heart of Austin's colony. The second was the Old San Antonio Road, a camino real that crossed the Rio Grande at Paso de Francia (the San Antonio Crossing) and wound northeastward through San Antonio de Bexar, Bastrop, Nacogdoches, San Augustine, and across the Sabine River into Louisiana.Two forts blocked these approaches into Texas: Presidio La Bahia (Nuestra Senora de Loreto Presidio) at Goliad and the Alamo at San Antonio. Each installation function ed as a frontier picket guard, ready to alert the Texas settlements of an enemy advance. James Clinton Neill received command of the Bexar garrison. Some ninety miles to the southeast, James Walker Fannin, Jr. , subsequently took command at Goliad. Most Texan settlers had returned to the comforts of home and hearth. Consequently, newly arrived American volunteers-some of whom counted their time in Texas by the week-constituted a majority of the troops at Goliad and Bexar.Both Neill and Fannin determined to stall the Centralists on the frontier. Still, they labored under no delusions. Without speedy reinforcements, neither the Alamo nor Presidio La Bahia could long withstand a siege. At Bexar were some twenty-one artillery pieces of various caliber. Because of his artillery experience and his regular army commission, Neill was a logical choice to command. Throughout January he did his best to fortify the mission fort on the outskirts of town. Maj. Green B. Jameson, chief engineer at the Alamo, installed most of the cannons on the walls.Jameson boasted to Gen. Sam Houston that if the Centralists stormed the Alamo, the defenders could â€Å"whip 10 to 1 with our artillery. † Such predictions proved excessively optimistic. Far from the bulk of Texas settlements, the Bexar garrison suffered from a lack of even basic provender. On January 14 Neill wrote Houston that his people were in a â€Å"torpid, defenseless condition. † That day he dispatched a grim message to the provisional government: â€Å"Unless we are reinforced and victualled, we must become an easy prey to the enemy, in case of an attack. â€Å"

Francis Bacon and Plato Essay

The arguments presented by both Francis Bacon and Plato both call for different approaches in pursuing knowledge. In doing this, one must be accurately point out the important facets present in each argument and deduce what style is appropriate for an individual’s use. Looking at Francis Bacon’s arguments, it can be said that he is focused on the progression of ideas that will lead to the acquisition of knowledge. However, the ‘form’ that Bacon advocates differs to the original meaning proposed by Plato. He further advocates that the ‘form’ must be attained to gain knowledge. As long as man continues to strive for the form, knowledge will soon follow. On the other hand, Plato’s dialogue focuses on the way knowledge is achieved through the process of remembering the past. Socrates used this analysis in checking the validity of such argument. He makes a philosophical connection between knowledge and virtue. Thus, it has been contended that knowledge is virtue – creating the possibility of teaching. Seeing the two approaches in a nutshell, I believe that there must be a collaborative consensus between the two theories. It may be true that we must constantly strive for the form that Bacon advocates and at the same time use natural forces and mechanisms that can help achieve knowledge. However, Plato’s arguments can also shed some important light in the analysis of obtaining knowledge. But seeing that I must choose between the two, the argument presented by Francis Bacon I believe presents a more valid approach. I believe my answer is correct since believe that man continues to struggle for existence. Man continuous life depends on each one’s ability to grasp knowledge through mechanisms and processes that will help each one to survive. The different laws that govern us remain to be manifested and shown. The tendency of man to move forward and accept challenges should be the case. This is contrary to the view of Plato that one must look back to gain knowledge. In conceiving a central purpose in human life, there must be a conscious effort by an individual for continuous development to cope with the changing times. In my own perspective, I feel that the central purpose of living a life is continuous learning by acquiring knowledge and experiences that will benefit my individual growth as time passes. This event can only take place if the individual is continuously aware that he/she has the capability of shaping his/her personality. Looking at this, it can be argued that there are several characteristics of a well-lived, fulfilling life. In my own opinion, a well-lived fulfilling life must create opportunities for each individual to constantly struggle and be victorious. This is because for every success and failure in a struggle, certain inputs are obtained by an individual. These are experiences distinct only to individuals which foster the creation of knowledge. Another characteristic is that individuals must constantly strive for their betterment. We do not become stagnant and a waste in the society and community. Another characteristic of knowledge is that it can create a degree of completeness to an individual. By gaining knowledge, the questions that men aspire can be answered or attained. The pursuit of knowledge is attaining these purposes because of knowledge capability to raise and increase the quality of thinking by individuals. Continuity is thus necessary in creating the environment for knowledge for individuals. In addition, by gaining knowledge, we expand our purpose and existence. It may be known that during our conception, the only thing we cater is our own. But as we continually grow in age and maturity, the levels of understanding and knowledge extend not only in scope but also each one’s abilities. In the end, knowledge gives individuals the opportunity to explore more what life has to offer.

Belmont Report

Ethics are an important aspect of doing any n’ everything in one’s life. Be it your daily routine tasks/chores or your job or business environment. We should keep our integrity intact by providing consistency in goods & service. Secondly we should also abide by the regulations and restrain from un-ethical practices during any phase of our businesses in a socially responsible manner so that we can inculcate a sound business environment with least implication and externalities towards the surroundings.Overview:The Belmont Report states the duties of the National Commission on Health about different types of business practices and the ethical issues involved. The report provides a guideline as to how to prevent issues which harm the elements of the environment (including animals). Following are some major targets of the report; ? The basic ethical principles that should be taken into consideration while conducting any type of biomedical and/or behavioral research which inv olves any human subjects. ? To develop the guidelines to be complied so as to assure the particular research study is being conducted in accordance with those principles.The commission was also directed to consider; ? The boundaries between biomedical and behavioral research and the accepted and routine practice of medicine, ? The role of assessment of risk-benefit criteria in the determination of the appropriateness of research involving human subjects, ? Appropriate guidelines for the selection of human subjects for participation in such research, & ? The nature and definition of informed consent in various research settings (Folkman, 2000). Nonetheless scientific research has often produced substantial benefits to the society.It has also raised some problematic ethical questions. Public awareness grew on these issues due to reported abuses of human subjects in certain biomedical experiments (Saunders, 2004). This involved the physicians and scientists who had conducted biomedical experiments on war prisoners. This led to the legislation being made about any type of research involving human subjects that it would be carried out in an ethical manner. Three traditionally accepted principals regarding the implications are; Respect for Persons:Respect for a person includes two ethical convictions i. e. the individuals should be treated as autonomous elements/agents and that people with diminished autonomy should be given protection. Beneficence: Respect for people as individuals isn’t enough. We should also be considering making efforts to secure the well being of individuals. Justice: No individual or group of individual should be denied justice with regard to their right to have it. The benefit therefore to all individuals should be given in a ‘just’ manner without any bias and/or discrimination. Conclusion:Thus the Belmont Report provides a complete and detailed guideline to direct the way how research is being conducted and experimentatio n been done on any of the human subjects and strictly attempts the organizations to abide by it. References 1. Saunders William L. (2004) Lethal experimentation on human beings: Roe's effect on bioethics: An article from: Fordham Urban Law Journal. 2. Engelhardt H. Tristram (1988) The Use of Human Beings in Research: With Special Reference to Clinical Trials: Springer. 3. Folkman Susan (2000) Ethics in Research With Human Participants: American Psychological Association.

Character Sketch of Anne Frank Essay

â€Å"In spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart.† These were the last words that Anne Frank wrote in her diary before she was taken away by the Nazis and shipped off to a concentration camp where she would later face her inevitable death. Anne was a person of many personality traits. Anne was hopeful, caring, fun loving, determined, enthusiastic and, a bit annoying. Despite her slight annoyingness, those who knew Anne couldn’t help but to love her. Anne was hopeful because she had many things to hope for. She hoped for the war to end and for her family to be safe. She hoped that her friends would all pull through the war as well. She hoped that Peter would get to like her when she first moved into the annex and she hoped that she and her mother would get along better. Perhaps she was so hopeful because all she could do at that point in her life was to hope. Anne was an extremely caring person. She cared for her family, of course and she cared for the Van Daans while they were in hiding together. She cared for her friends and she even cared for people she didn’t know, if they were in need of help. Anne vas extremely fun loving. She hated being cooped up in the annex. All she wanted to do was be a normal girl again so she could go out and play like everyone else. She saw through all the hardships that were going on in the annex and tried to get everyone to laugh and have a good time instead of being so tense all of the time. She hated the tenseness and was good at cutting through it. She helped everyone really come together at Hanukah time by getting everyone gifts, that they never would’ve expected. She got them all singing the Hanukah song that night, and they all enjoyed it. Anne was indeed a very determined person. Once she had her mind set on something she wanted, she wouldn’t let go. An example of this is her relationship with Peter. When the Franks and the Van Daans first moved into the secret annex together, Anne and Peter did not get along well at all. Anne got it set in her mind that she would improve that particular relationship very early, however, and by the end of their time at the secret annex Peter and Anne were going together. Anne was a very enthusiastic person, even when it seemed as though no one else was. She would always bring happiness into a room with her and always got someone smiling in no time. She didn’t let the negativity of a situation get her down one bit. She would let her enthusiasm guide her everywhere, just as long as she had something to live for. Anne was, undoubtedly, an annoying person. Most of the time not purposely by any means. Sometimes it was her unending enthusiasm and fun lovingness that annoyed people. However, other times it was just because she was an annoying person. She talked a bit too much, and this got on the inhabitants of the annex’s nerves very much so. â€Å"Why aren’t you nice and quiet like your sister Margot? Why do you have to show off all the time? Let me give you a little advice young lady. Men don’t like that kind of thing in a girl. You know that? A man likes a girl who’ll listen to him once in a while†¦a domestic girl, who’ll keep her house shining for her husband†¦who loves to cook and sew and†¦Ã¢â‚¬  This was once said to Anne by an aggravated Mr. Van Daan. His rant was cut short by Anne who rejected his ‘advice’ and said she’d sooner cut her throat. I’m sure there are many other good personality traits that Anne had. I only chose to write about these few, however, because they are the ones that stood out to me. I’m a bit like Anne. I’m caring, determined, fun loving, and I can be pretty annoying. I think the traits that I mentioned were very important to Anne’s personality. If she didn’t have them, she just wouldn’t be Anne Frank.

Modern History – Nazism as Totalitarian

Germany was a totalitarian state, however, only to an extent due to differing perspectives Nazi Germany did not fit the universal criteria of what constitutes totalitarianism. It is unarguably necessary that Germany was ran by a single party, had absolute control over mass communication & media, had a systematic terror & police control as well as total control over the army. However, many have argued that Nazi Germany was not totalitarian as it did not have total control over the economy and Hitler’s role in regime of the Nazism played a significant role in whether or not Germany was totalitarian. Views of Hitler’s role in the Nazi state concerning whether or not Germany was totalitarian changed over time, from when Hitler was the absolute centre and in complete control of Nazism to the view of ‘Working towards the Fuhrer’. Germany was a totalitarian state to an extent. Joseph Goebbel was the Minister for Enlightenment and Propaganda, who strictly repressed all public communications such as censoring all aspects of newspapers, heavy censorship of films, events that were organised to place Nazis’ message in a positive light as well as the effectively using the radio. Radios were cheap and when manufactured, they were preset to Nazi stations only. Through this aspect, civilians were constantly exposed and brainwashed to believe the righteousness of the principles of Nazism such as broadcasting Hitler’s speeches in full and placing glorifying Nazis. Newspaper editors were told daily of what stories were to be published, opinions to be expressed and even graphics. The ‘Fuhrer Myth’ played a significant role in Nazi propaganda: it portrayed Hitler to be a man who was born to lead Germany, ordinary yet extraordinary. Hitler had ended the Depression; he was anti-Marxist, thus he would save Germany from Communism; and he was willing to take action to save Germany from hated aspects such the Treaty of Versailles. The image portrayed was propaganda and was more or less a lie, thus proving that Nazi Germany was a totalitarian state. Hitler had learnt a lesson in 1923, to gain power and popularity he must gain it through the legal processes. After the series of events that lead to Hitler’s appointment as Chancellor, he legally pushed out any parties that had any possible means of opposition out of the framework of Nazi Germany, therefore leaving no room for individuality. The sworn personal allegiance of the army to Hitler is also another factor that confirms that Nazi Germany was a totalitarian state. It is evident to understand that there are concepts in which Nazi Germany is not considered to be a totalitarian state. There are different viewpoints of Germany that determines whether or not Germany was a totalitarian state during the Nazi regime. One viewpoint is that Hitler was the absolute centre and in complete control of Nazism. This idea established that all aspects during his rule went with the direct consent from Hitler himself, no policies were made without the reference of his ideology and all successes & problems could be Hitler’s responsibility. This aspect showed historians that Nazi Germany was a totalitarian state: Hitler had detailed understanding of specific situations, the public’s grievances, Europe’s fear of communism, gaining power through legal proceedings and the importance of the link between terror and propaganda in which he used to his advantage to seize control over the entire country. This perspective is contrasted with the modern viewpoint of ‘Working towards the Fuhrer’. Hitler was not interested in the day to day running of things, his attention was mainly concentrated on his ‘will’ and his plan for Germany which was a basis that took Germany forward. Often, Hitler would not make decisions hence leaving situations pending. Due to this issue, policy makers had to create or amend programs and policies that followed the in line of Hitler’s way of thinking. This concept explained the reasons why the regime become more radical as time wore on. Hitler’s beliefs such as ridding the Jews, destroying the Bolsheviks, creating the Aryan race lead to such events such as the Night of the Broken Glass and killings of those who did not fit the criteria of the Aryan description. The idea that Hitler was seen to above the day to day running of things, played a part in demonstrating the ‘Fuhrer Myth’ proved that he was beyond reproach thus, his followers must followed his line of thinking. This viewpoint shows that despite having complete control over media and communication, Germany was a totalitarian state, only to an extent. Another aspect that constitutes a totalitarian state is that it must have an official ideology. Nazi Germany, despite every civilian owning ‘Mein Kampf’, did not have an official ideology like the Soviet Union, which in theory, wanted a classless society. Nazism was a cluster of disassociated ideas that were tied together by Hitler whereas the Soviet Union had Marxism and Communism. As a result of this failure to fill the point of having an official ideology, it shows that Germany was not a totalitarian state. Significant aspects of Nazi Germany proves that it was a totalitarian state, such as its complete control over media and communication, Germany’s evident systematic terror and control as well as power over the army. However, due to differing perspectives, it is clear that Germany was a totalitarian state, only to an extent as it did not have an official ideology, and total control over the economy