The Use of Nuclear Power Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

The Use of Nuclear Power - Assignment Example In recent times, various developments have been realized in not only the adoption of nuclear energy as an alternative to fossil fuels but also in related nuclear reactor technology, which has also contributed to the debate. Social implications are obvious and have also been discussed in the current literature. This is a literature review that is focused on the discussion of the adoption of nuclear energy in the world, the recent developments in nuclear reactor technology, and social implications of this type of energy. The 1930s saw the beginning of a long journey to the production of nuclear energy when the understanding of the atom was propagated by Curies, Ernest Rutherford, and Bohr. Prior to the Second World War, there emerged a large incentive and funding, which precipitated the popular Manhattan project. This is the same project that saw the materialization of the first nuclear reaction to be controlled by the man in 1942, which took place at the University of Chicago (Mahaffey, 2010). The development of nuclear reactors was inspired by this historical breakthrough, which saw further efforts directed towards more funding in an effort to advance the creation of advanced reactor technology as well as the developments of the fuel cycle and nuclear material. This development saw the installation of the first nuclear power plant in the United States, which was established in Shippingport, Pennsylvania, the operations of which kicked off in 1957 (Mahaffey, 2010). A major issue that occurred at the plant resulted in its complete closure and decommissioning in 1982, which involved vehement contaminations and extremely low thermal efficiency compared to the energy it was producing – thermal efficiency was 29 percent. The original reactors were Pressurized Water Reactors (PWR), which functioned by keeping liquid water around the core fuel reactor.This literature review has been focused on the development of a basic understanding of nuclear power and how it has developed since its discovery in the 1930s. Recent developments have various social, economic, and environmental implications. An important dimension that this review has taken to account is that do design, which has been used and will be continued to be used in future in dealing with social, economic, and environmental problems related with nuclear energy. In this regard, the problems mentioned, for instance, in the Fukushima Daiichi case, can be avoided in the design phase. Â  

Labor Econ Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Labor Econ - Essay Example pecting that women will go out of the labor force during and after pregnancy, bosses are hesitant to give women the best training possible, which can simply be explained by the cost and benefit analysis. The intermittent attendance of women in the labor force would mean less return for the employer for every training and additional knowledge that it has given a female employee. The lack of training on the part of the women explains this difference in wages. Another inevitable result of the intermittent attendance of women to the labor force is their inability to be promoted to higher position as this would mean greater chaos in the office every time the women leave for child-bearing and child-rearing. The popular books on labor economics agree on this very important explanation for the male-female wage difference. With all other determinants equal, the reason why women are still promoted to lower position and still receive lower salaries than men is discrimination. The gender discrimination is not only observed in large countries like the USA but also in small but booming countries such as the Singapore, particularly observed in the form of pre-existing structural differences, sexism and male protecting their success by excluding women from high-paying jobs (Lee). 2. The comparable worth law is defined as â€Å"A theory holding that compensation for job classifications filled chiefly by women should be the same as for those classifications filled chiefly by men if the jobs, albeit dissimilar, are regarded as having equal value. According to this theory, workers salaries should be calculated on a scale of socioeconomic value that transcends traditional supply and demand† (Answers.com). The impetus of the law is to demolish any form of gender discrimination against women. But women having a low salary and coming from a different job than men may not neccesarily be a form of discrimination. What can be seen clearly as discrimination is the unequal pay between

Internet Freedom of Speech and Censorship

Internet Freedom of Speech and Censorship The United States, a bastion of democracy to the world, has long recognized the importance of freedom of expression to safeguard democracy and grow as a nation. It is a right enshrined in the very first provision of the United States Constitution. The First Amendment of the United States Constitution, adopted in 1791, provides that Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. Although freedom of speech enjoys heightened protection from the government, this protection is not really absolute. The Supreme Court imposes some very narrow restrictions which are deemed not fully protected under the First Amendment. These include advocacy of imminent illegal conduct, defamation, obscenity, and fraudulent misrepresentation. In any of these categories, the speech should be suppressed because of its harmful content (Wang, page 1). Freedom of speech is equally a dangerous right because with it goes the freedom to deviate against established rules and norms or to go against the status quo and advocate change. As such, all over the world, it is also the most threatened right. Many in the United States today, that include several citizens groups with specific advocacies, are pushing for censorship of the freedom of speech which interestingly finds expression in many varied forms. The internet is one arena that has lately been the target of these efforts as it provides practically everyone with the ability to communicate their ideas to wide audiences and conveniently escapes the ability of the state to control it. The internet, composed of millions of computers and telephone lines that are inter-connected and networked, have scant rules regarding what can be said and done with no one tasked to supervise the users as well no certain authority that controls it Time and again, court cases have ruled against censorship but many still continue to fight to limit the freedom of expression. Government, for one, regularly undertakes efforts to regulate, restrict, or even prohibit a great many types of speech, often with popular support from the public. One reason for censorship of speech that is gaining strong following among the citizenry is the widespread proliferation and publication of extremely offensive materials that glorify violence and pornography. In his essay â€Å"Censorship Can Be Beneficial,† Thomas Stork says, â€Å"Now if we can identify certain evils and if advocacy of those evils seems likely to encourage people to commit them, then why should we not take the next and logical step and prohibit such advocacy†¦ Must the authorities be helpless to restrain the source of the evil?† (As cited in Planet Papers, page 1). The general American public certainly wants not only to be protected from violence, but they also want to keep material out of the hands of those who are unable to handle the ideas and themes presented in such material. For instance, it can not be argued that small children do not have the maturity to view pornographic material or be exposed to extreme violence on television and that exposing them to such kind of â€Å"entertainment† is detrimental to their development. Many believe that pornography is equally harmful to adults. The issue of censorship versus free speech has been, since time immemorial, a hotly contested subject.  With the dawn of the electronic age, the birth and progress of the internet and the increasing use of electronic media for the dissemination of information, new questions over First Amendment rights are being raised.  A lot of issues and concerns have been raised that borders around Web access to pornographic materials by minors, gambling on the Internet and the posting of abusive content on newsgroups. Web sites have been created promoting censorship in the Internet like â€Å"Filtering Facts†, an online source for information on making Internet access in libraries safe for children and communities and â€Å"Enough is Enough† which aims to protect children and families from illegal pornography on the Internet. Filtering, rests on the premise that technology can solve the problem technology created. Filters block out Web sites with offensive content, usually based on keywords or lists complied by the filter developer. Filter supporters say the technology is ideal because it empowers parents and blocks out speech without silencing the speaker. In February 1996, Congress moved to pass a law, the Communications Decency Act (CDA) which prohibited the posting of indecent or patently offensive materials in a public forum on the Internet including web pages, newsgroups, chat rooms, or online discussion lists. The Children’s Online Protection Act, tried to ban material harmful to minors and In 2000, the U.S. Congress passed the Childrens Internet Protection Act (CIPA) which requires schools and public libraries receiving federal funding to install internet filters or blocking software. Another way of making Internet communications more secure is encryption, which is a technique for encoding messages, making the person who has the encryption key the only one who can read the message. These programs have been available for years, but law enforcement officials were concerned that criminals and terrorists will use the programs to send messages they cant break. Under heavy pressure from the technology industry, and after a 1999 appeals court ruling that said creating encryption programs is a form of free speech, the federal government essentially gave up trying to control encryption technology. In the wake of Sept. 11, the debate over encryption has been reopened, and Congress has made it easier for authorities to use electronic surveillance. Forums and Chatrooms frequently have moderators, who will edit or remove material against the rules of that community. The scope of these rules varies from community to community some will want material to be suitable for a specif ic audience, whilst others only require discussions to be kept within the law. In a landmark decision on June 26, 1997, the Supreme Court ruled that the Internet is a unique medium entitled to the highest protection under the free speech protections of the First Amendment giving it the same free speech protection as print. It was a victory for the Citizens Internet Empowerment Coalition (CIEC), a broad coalition of library and civil liberties groups, online service providers, newspaper, book, magazine and recording industry associations, and over 56,000 individual Internet users which represents the entire breadth of the Internet community. The CIEC was assembled in February 1996 to challenge the CDA on the grounds that the Internet is a unique communications medium, different from traditional broadcast mass media which deserves broad First Amendment protections. Rejoicing with the CIEC in their victory are the Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT) which has been promoting the future of the First Amendment and free expression in the Information age and the Electronic Frontier Foundation which protects rights and freedom in the electronic environment. Clamor for censorship of the freedom of speech, whether in broadcast or print media, in television or motion picture, in culture or arts, or in the electronic medium of the Web or the Net, are mostly based on moral and ethical considerations which can be highly subjective depending on the individual’s beliefs, culture, principles, and many other factors. However, if we are to read and understand every word in the First Amendment, there was no mention of any restriction whatsoever; the emphasis rather was on providing equal rights to everyone. If this is so, neither the government nor individuals have the constitutional right to censor the other on the basis that his or her statements may be hateful or prejudicial because the law guarantees the right to express one’s thoughts vocally or in writing without fear of retaliation. What one may say need not be popular or correct. I really do not think that censorship is a solution to the atmosphere of violence, obscenity and other social concerns pervading American society today. Censorship may even be harmful as it gives a temporary feeling of false security. Freedom of speech is just among the many rights guaranteed under the Constitution. The risk, however, is allowing our other rights to be diminished in the end. This is in contravention to the fundamentals of democracy and right to dignity which have been specifically enshrined in our Constitution for us to exercise our liberty and live without fear and prejudice. Today, millions of people are combating internet censorship through writing Blogs as well as by forming organizations that raise the people’s awareness regarding Internet censorship. An example would be the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) which opposes Internet censorship and as such, has filled several lawsuits against censorship laws. In 2007, the Childrens Online Protection Act (COPA) which made information that can be harmful to minors illegal even if the same information is necessary to adults, was brought to the federal court by the UCLA saying that it was unconstitutional. The development of a new medium always creates new anxieties. Gutenbergs press prompted two centuries of debate over whether the spread of books would corrupt society. Privacy and free speech are already among the nations most difficult social issues; and it would be startling if the Internet did not raise new concerns about both of them. Even the Internet itself is only the beginning. The electronic age is creating an entirely new medium, one that combines the interactive Internet with older media like TV, radio, print, mail, and the telephone. he questions of how to balance personal privacy and public safety have become all the more urgent since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The â€Å"war on terrorism† evolves daily, even as the technology continues to evolve. The publics opinions about this medium are in flux and their views on free speech and privacy were far from settled to begin with. A Planet of Publishers Press critic A.J. Liebling once said that freedom of the press is guaranteed only to those who own one. Thanks to the Internet, millions of individuals now have the power that formerly only belonged to the owners of printing presses and broadcast licenses the power to spread their views, whether profound or profane, to a worldwide audience. That has prompted a remarkable burst of creativity, but it has also provided hate groups and pornographers with a low-cost way of spreading their messages to anyone, including children, with a personal computer. So far, the U.S. government has supported two approaches to dealing with offensive content: regulation and filtering. Two major attempts at regulation have been struck down by the courts, either in whole or in part. The first, the Communications Decency Act of 1996, would have made publishing indecent or patently offensive material on the Internet a federal offense. The U.S. Supreme Court, in ACLU vs. Reno, came down firmly on the side of granting the highest free-speech protection to the Internet and struck down the indecency portions of the law. A second law, the Children’s Online Protection Act, tried to ban material harmful to minors. The Supreme Court sent the law back to a lower court for further review in May 2002, effectively blocking enforcement for the time being. The other tactic, filtering, rests on the premise that technology can solve the problem technology created. Filters block out Web sites with offensive content, usually based on keywords or lists complied by the filter developer. Filter supporters say the technology is ideal because it empowers parents and blocks out speech without silencing the speaker. Critics say filters are a crude tool at best because they depend on keywords that could crop up on perfectly legitimate sites devoted to breast cancer, AIDS prevention, or the novel Moby Dick. A third federal law would have required all public libraries to use filters, but a federal court threw out the law in 2002, saying filters would block porn and protected speech alike. Your Personal Fish Bowl The Internet itself may seem anonymous, but it is far from private. E-mail can be easily intercepted by anyone with enough technical skill, and Web sites can track substantial information about users, either by voluntary registration or involuntarily through the use of cookies files quietly stored on a visitors computer that will identify them to the Web site on their next visit. One way of making Internet communications more secure is encryption, the technique for coding messages so they can only be read by someone who has the encryption key. Encryption programs have been available for years, and businesses contend that strong encryption is critical to keeping online commerce secure. But even before Sept. 11, law enforcement officials were concerned that criminals and terrorists will use the programs to send messages they cant break. Under heavy pressure from the technology industry, and after a 1999 appeals court ruling that said creating encryption programs is a form of free speech, the federal government essentially gave up trying to control encryption technology. In the wake of Sept. 11, the debate over encryption has been reopened, and Congress has already made it easier for authorities to use electronic surveillance. But the ability of Web sites and hackers to collect information pales next to the newfound power technology gives to governments and marketers. Data warehouses are able to mix information from different sources to create a single, detailed profile of an individual, including vital statistics, how much they earn, what they buy, the state of their health, their interests, what they read, and more. And all of that information is for sale to direct marketers, current and potential employers, or just anybody willing to pay for it. Already, as part of the war on terrorism, the federal government and financial services companies are discussing how to use their databases to flag suspicious activity. Current privacy laws are rarely enforced and would offer spotty protection even if they were. The Supreme Court has upheld a federal law barring states from selling information they collect, such as voter registrations and motor vehicle records, to direct marketers. References: Communications Decency Act. Center for Democracy Technology. 2008. 2 May 2008 . â€Å"Speak Your Mind: The Censorship Controversy in American Culture. Planet Papers. 2006. 1 May 2008 http://www.planetpapers.com/Assets/5616.php â€Å"Supreme Court Rules CDA Unconstitutional.† Citizens Internet Empowerment Coalition. 2008. 2 May 2008 . Wang, Xinyi. Freedom of Speech in the United States Constitution. Perspectives. 30 Apr 2001. 2 May 2008 .

Porter Analysis of the Zara Fashion Chain Essay -- Business Analysis R

Porter Analysis of the Zara Fashion Chain The Zara fashion chain, with 546 stores in 30 countries today ?from which 340 are outside Spain- and ?2914,3 millions of total sales in 2002, is undoubtedly the group?s locomotive (Inditex, 2003). In 2002 it represented 33% of the group?s total stores, accounted for 72% of the group?s total sales and contributed to the holding?s total profits for ?540.4 millions (Inditex FY2002 Results Presentation, 2003). Moreover, Zara with 75-90 new stores within 2003 takes the lion?s share in group?s current year store openings (total openings for 2003: 260-315). The purpose of the Porter analysis is to analyse the competitiveness of the market. Threat of entry Threat of entry to the apparel industry is medium. Economies of scale play the moderate role (as stated in the case study), capital requirements for entry vary, distribution channels are available, threat of retaliation is medium and government legislations play only a moderate role. On the other hand market experience and differentiation play the vital role. Threat of substitutes Threat of product-for-product substitution on this market is very high. It comes from other apparel retailers, designer clothes and tailor houses. Substitution by need is unlikely. Generic substitution can take place as well as ?doing without?. Power of buyers Power of buyers on the market is moderate because there are many small buyers, retailers differentiate and are of big size, alternative sou...

Tertiary Preparation Essay

I am applying to QUT to study the Bachelor of Design – Architectural Studies because I have a passion for design. I haven’t known I wanted to go down this career path long, possibly only six months. I have always had a passion for the same area of work although I haven’t been able to pinpoint the career I really want until recently. Once completing this degree I would like to complete my masters in architecture then create my own business designing sustainable, environmentally friendly and carbon neutral housing. I am fully aware of the impacts that tertiary study will have on my life. With an estimated forty hours a week of study ahead I have secured a well paying and completely flexible job for the oncoming years to assure that I have ample time to attend uni and study the various subjects. I have also saved enough money over the past year to pay for the first year of University and rent for 6 months all textbooks, stationary and all other necessities relevant to tertiary study. I have a home office in my current accommodation that is isolated for uninterrupted study and or work, including a computer, printer, internet, etc. I realize that with a four year gap between school and the present day I will have some knowledge and skill deficits. The main one for myself is reading, writing and interpreting text to great depths. To try and combat this I have always tried to read as much as possible, be it a novel while in bed or even a websites blog, I feel this has kept me from falling too far behind in this area. Tertiary Maturity I will become an architect whether or not I am accepted this year. When I put my mind to something it happens and I don’t quit even after adverse objections, as each challenge should teach you something new and valuable. I have always been the type of person that goes about work very strategically, finding the most efficient, easiest and most practical way to complete the task ahead. This works to my advantage as a carpenter and also when completing computer based work By the second year of my apprenticeship I was going to jobs by myself and dealing with the clients and organizing other tradesmen. I feel that being thrown in the deep end as I was, really tested me. I was then responsible for the performance of the job, including time and money restraints. The last three years I have been working away from home doing shift work which placed me in a heavily routine workplace and home life. In this time I have travelled to work in many different areas; Townsville, Tully, Roma and Bundaberg and Mitchell to name just a few. Working in very isolated areas has made me very adaptable to the ever changing surroundings. I am fully committed to tertiary study, I feel ill will be very suited to architecture because of a combination of my love for the environment, passion for art and design and my heavy involvement and interest in the building industry. Even if I am not accepted into architecture this year I will be trying to register for a different university course and trying again next year. Independent Learning Strategies I am predominantly a kinesthetic learner. I get distracted easily and I am sometimes forgetful with short term information. These are my main flaws, by knowing my flaws I work on ways to fix them. To aid me in this I have several different fixes, one being a diary which all work related items get placed in, linked phone and computer calendars and the most helpful of all, a routine. At the start of each working day I check over my diary and calendars and produce a list of what tasks I have ahead, how long each one will take and I mark them as I go. I use these methods to help me in work and day to day life. Working two jobs, my apprenticeship and my own handyman business has taught me how to manage time effectively, how to prioritize tasks by importance, time restrictions and deadlines. To manage my stress levels I like to exercise, as it calms me down and keeps  me focused. I am up at 4:30 am every weekday and heading to the gym, it also clears my head of all stray thoughts so I can start each new day fresh. I also listen to and create music and draw as it calms me down and allows me to think straight when I am stressed. Interpersonal and Communication Skills As mentioned previously I have been running my own handyman business while completing my apprenticeship. It was by no means at all difficult work although it taught me more about interacting with different types of people from various walks of life. After working this business I found that I had much improved professional people skills. Having to deal with clients and the real estate agent on a regular basis it was necessary for me to be clear and concise with all forms of communication between the two otherwise it was far too easy for sticky situations to arise. While working for Ambrose Building as a carpenter I was working as part of a team for seventy percent of the time. I often paired up with another lower ranked apprentice. Teaching and working with an apprentice is a great test. I needed to be able to express my thoughts logically and within reason without confusing them as most of the work and information is completely new to them. I believe that my oral communication skills are proven to be very adequate as I would not of excelled in any of the jobs I have had up until now as they all have required enormous amounts of communication in a wide variety of situations. This is further reassured by both of my references the one from Karen Hornsby mentioning my maturity beyond my years in conversation and in the reference from Brett Ambrose my abilities when dealing with clients and sticky situations at work are praised. As I have not been in an office type job or any heavy study since school my writing abilities are probably not to the same standard as most of the other university students. I believe that years of having to communicate often via emails for work in a highly professional manner and that this PCA is some proof that I have adequate writing abilities. Achievement and Experience In 2009, while I was in year twelve at Mansfield State High School, I was picked to be part of a team that was to build a house to be the main exhibit at that years HIA Expo in Brisbane. The project was called the Adapt House by Latemore Design. It was a great experience in which I was included in all facets of the construction process, from welding the subfloor together through to putting on the roof. During this project is where I started to develop keen interest in the building industry and in modular housing as it was my first real involvement in it. After the Adapt House I was certain that I wanted to work in the building industry. I had a fascination with the mighty structures that man could build. I just didn’t know what part of the building industry I wanted to work in. Once finishing school I started my carpentry apprenticeship. I worked the majority of my first year building new homes in the Brisbane area and found not a lot of interest or challenge to it at all. I then requested a transfer to a different company hoping I will be able to learn and participate in a wider variety of work. That was the best move I could have made. I ended up working for Ambrose Building, a large insurance builder with an impeccable reputation for quality and satisfaction assurance. I worked my fingers to the bone for them and after a couple of months my hard work started to pay off. At first I was given minor tasks to organize jobs, predominantly work by myself. I showed a lot of initiative and drive while doing these and I thoroughly enjoyed what I was doing. Because of this, I was handed larger and more complicated tasks where I was not only organizing myself but other trades as well. Halfway through the second year of my apprenticeship I was teaching one of the estimators at work a few computer literacy basics. Seeing that I had skills in the field I was asked to help develop and improve their estimating programs. To do so I requested to be able to learn more about what I was trying to improve. For a couple of weeks I tagged along with another estimator learning the basics, asking as many questions as I could and trying my best not to make too many mistakes. I caught on quickly and was soon heading to sites estimating jobs ranging between $10 000 and $100 000 by myself. After a couple of months I had shown great improvements and was then able to go on estimating larger jobs going up to around $400 000. During each day of estimating I would take notes on different features and procedures on the program and how they needed to be added, removed or improved. This was all then brought up at the weekly office meetings that the estimators would have. The program ended up working cleanly and concisely, with very few faults overall. I really enjoyed this part of the job and I was good at it. From then on still in my apprenticeship I was asked to supervise jobs estimate when they had too much work and also complete carpentry work. It was quite the balancing act but I managed, first priorities being the supervising, followed by the estimating and then the carpentry work as we always had plenty of carpenters for labor work. While going through the rest of my apprenticeship I was slowly groomed to become a fulltime estimator once I had finished my apprenticeship. The only really solid factors that stopped me from pursuing that career path was the lack of creativity involved and the repetitive nature of the work. Therefore I found Architecture very interesting and was keen to explore this. I have also completed various low grade first aid courses through St Johns. This training has been quite useful while I have been working on construction sites. Working for Ambrose Building I was the unofficial first aid officer I just didn’t have to deal with any of the paperwork side. I would always get contacted first when an emergency situation was in motion and people were unsure of what to do as I have knowledge and a bit of experience in the field. A few major worksite injuries that I have had to temporarily treat were snake bites, a broken arm, broken wrists and ankles and lacerations via knives and an angle grinder. I have always really enjoyed helping people like this and it gives me great satisfaction when they have been properly taken care of. Due to my enjoyment and interest in  first aid I still plan to study further into the field. After I qualified as a carpenter I left my job for Ambrose Building due to the fact that I had worked away from home for three years straight and need a break and my social life back. I then started at a building firm in Brisbane called Carpentology. I was working on a multi-million dollar upgrade to a mining magnates property. While there I was mainly building the two aircraft hangers there. It was excellent to learn more of the commercial side to the building industry as I have not had all the much to do with it. I learnt more about the forces that applied to large structures, the different materials and products used in commercial work and the incredible designs that can be engineered to millimeter precision. I have packed my life full of work in the past four years and doing so I have had to sacrifice a few personal pastimes and hobbies. One of these being AFL which I achieved quite well in. I played for the Springwood Pumas FC for seven years, getting heavily involved the the club. While there my team won three division one premierships and were runners up for another two. During my years there I won a few awards being, best and fairest twice, most improved once and the one pecenter on two other occasions. Although I haven’t played now for four years I try to stay an active member of the club. Skills and knowledge I haven’t completed a study skills course or any formal training for university preparation although I don’t believe that this will disadvantage me as I have ample self-discipline, the ability the apply myself very well and I know how to use the library to its fullest, I am very computer literate and the most important of all, I want to learn. As I am computer literate, proof of this can be found in the attached letter of recommendation from Brett Ambrose and in this typed and printed essay. Not only am I proficient in those areas on the computer but I am also quite competent on a few design programs such as Revit and Google Sketchup. I enjoy drawing different urban designs as experimentation and I have so since  starting my apprenticeship. I have always wanted to design and build my own house. I usually try to take ideas and inspiration from different types of living situations and environments (urban and rural), current buildings I have worked on and from places I have visited here and overseas. I then use the different programs to create a 3d image of the building. Being a qualified carpenter I also like to try and design different tools for around the worksite that would make life easier and safer. I feel it is one thing to sketch drawing but it really comes to life when you can create the 3d model. I also use Photos hop which might come in handy through architecture although I currently only use it for photo editing to my own pictures as photography Is another hobby of mine. As for academic ability, the only real academia that I have been involved with, is what was required at TAFE, the STAT test that I participated in this year and the first aid certificates. Although I did not do extremely well in the verbal reasoning section of it, a percentile rank of 54, I feel I did quite well in the quantitive reasoning with a percentile rank of 97. I think that this will aid me with my future studies as all building design and anything to do with the constructions industry is always heavy on mathematics. The aforementioned duties such as supervising for Ambrose Building helped me with my problem solving skills. Being solely renovation work we always have to match existing materials and appearances which can be sometimes difficult, especially when working on heritage buildings. For example the Hubringer Hall museum in Cardwell which was destroyed in Cyclone Yasi. We had to completely rebuild the structure to modern regulations whilst also retaining the heritage listing of the building as it was built in the 1890’s. The project took longer than expected but ended up a great success. My abilities to analyse, organise information, evaluate and interpret issues were honed when I was estimating for Ambrose as mentioned beforehand. If I wasn’t able to create an accurate estimate based on the property and circumstances, the company would suffer financially on the project when going to undertake the works. Going through my carpentry apprenticeship as I did and picking up all the extra skills and knowledge I have in the building industry and the maturity and experience I have from working in the real world, I feel it gives me a huge advantage over others applying for architecture. I think everyone should know how a house is built before they try and design one.

Crimes that deserve the capital punishment Essay

Nowadays when one hears about recent news, filled with constantly growing reports of crimes and atrocities he may wonder whether we live in a world where strong moral principles and justice fades. The causes of such situation may be diverse, ranging from weak and incompetent law or the state of society which promotes the pursuit of material wealth at all costs. It is often highlighted that punishment sentences are not adequate to the crimes and it’s not uncommon to see brutal and outrageous felonies penalized with a mere few years of imprisonment. That said, aside from whether these unlawful offenders manage to rehabilitate themselves, the fact that after the incarceration, the most hardened murderers and thugs are at liberty again raises doubts about the effectiveness of law and may lead certain individuals to think that they are practically unpunishable. This problem doesn’t concern prevailing part of the States of America, because in 32 out of 50 States the death sen tence is a possible method of dealing with the most ignoble cases of trespassing a law. Historically speaking the death sentence was a part of common English law and as such became a part of the English colonies law, but as soon as the Declaration of Independence was proclaimed and United States began to form, certain States had different views on this punishment. Offences that were penalized with it and methods of the executions also varied. The breakthrough in the judicial treatment of this matter was a case ruled in 1972, known as Furman v. Georgia. The defendant charged robbery and murder was sentenced to death, but the verdict was never carried out. That’s because the opinion of court was that the current death penalty is in this case a cruel and unusual punishment. This led to the mortification of capital punishment for 4 years, until the Greg v. Georgia in 1976 and unification of the death penalty. As for now, in almost every big state, death penalty is legal. Texas is currently known as having performed the highest number of executions, which is not surprising, as it has the second highest population rate. The debate over capital punishment is continuing to this day, but is very controversial. There is a definite tendency to abolish this penalty over introducing it, as seen in  Connecticut and Maryland. These states abolished death penalty in 2012 and 2013. The moral issue is whether it is possible for human to decide over the other human death or life, but also if certain crimes deserve the capital punishment. Again, is it really just for certain offenders to live in confinement at the expense of the taxpayers even for the rest of their lives? In my opinion the feelings of the family and close acquaintances of the victims should be taken into account. It is only natural for them to wish the dangerous murderers dead. Furthermore I think that notorious criminals and particula rly brutal killers should be sentenced to death. Another moral controversy stems from the fact that there were cases in which convicts were posthumously proven to be not guilty. The contemporary judicial process allows for such wrongful convictions but this number is statistically low. On the other hand a system which allows execution when there is even a doubt about the defendant’s guilt can be considered inhumane and barbaric for such advanced and progressive country as the United States of America. The recent case of Troy Davis, who was believed of being innocent of murder brought much attention to the subject in 2011. The Death Penalty Information Center reported much higher than anticipated opposition to the current situation, because the American society was seen majorly as in favor of capital punishment. From the economical viewpoint the death sentence has its benefits and drawbacks. Firstly, the most felonious offenders could spend a set number of years or the rest of their lives doing the hard labor, but there is possibility that they will not work or deliberately do a bad job. Currently in the United States the penal labor is not required, b ut the convict who refused to work usually gets smaller food rations, longer sentence or other restricting sanctions. It seems like it’s the good solution but would it be enough to compensate for their sustenance, particularly when they live to the old age and can’t work? Next issue is connected with the high costs of exceptionally long trials. If there is insufficient evidence about the defendant who is in the death row the law is in a fix. There is little to do in such situation unless the new methods of interrogation or criminal research become viable. To summarize, this topic offers a great number of controversies and has no easy and direct approach. In the past the capital punishment was a part of every society, but now in almost every country in the world it is abolished or under the moratorium,  which shows that we, the human kind are progressing as a sentient and civilized beings. The United States of America is one of the most industrialized and populous countries today that still practice the death penalty, others being for example China, Japan and India. This makes one wonder if these countries can be considered civilized, but the capital punishment still has a very strong support. One of the most reasonable argument is that under the threat of the most severe consequences people will not commit crime. In the end, whether it is justifiable to take the other’s life in the name of law or not, I am in favor of such possibility and America’s approach. In my opinion there are some crimes that deserve the capital punishment.

The Ugly American essays

The Ugly American essays The Ugly American explained in graphic detail the reasons why American diplomacy was failing in Southeast Asia in the 1950s and the reasons why communism was succeeding. As a list of events for the struggle for influence in Asia, it caused quite a diplomatic rage. Its lessons seem urgent today because of what is going on in Central America and in the Middle East. Whether the foreign policy mistakes this book overstated have been corrected is an important question. The novel begins with the Honorable Louis Sears, ambassador to the country of Sarkhan, a small underdeveloped country in which communist and American interests are competing for control. Sears has assumed his post as a political substitute is over. Between three terms in the Senate and a predicted federal judgeship with a long tenure, hes simply filling time in a cushy job with a large entertainment funds and providing living conditions, in a country he had never heard of, serving people he thinks of as little monkeys. A cartoon drawn of Sears as a crying mule was published in a local Sarkhanese newspaper, making it obvious just how the American ambassador seemed to be. Sears is the example of the ugly American. In the following chapter the novel presents the Russian ambassador to Sarkhan, Louis Krupitzyn, a professional whose two-year training period has included instruction in the language and the traditions of the country he has been sent to work in. His entire staff is fluent in Sarkhanese and the culture is somewhat different, which make the Sarkhanese people unique. The Soviet ambassador makes himself into the ideal Sarkhan. He diets, losing forty pounds; he studies ballet, reads Sarkhanese literature and drama, and becomes a skillful nose flute player in which all as an introduction to an actual diplomacy. With his countrys big political goals for Sarkhan and a clear plan, the ambassa...

THE NEWS essays

THE NEWS essays Before this assignment I had never studied news coverage before, like I did now. Studying the news that is put out by different news media's is just incredible, because in each type of news service, they are different. The Headlines are usually close to one another but they are not always the exact same. Take the headline for Monday October 19, 1999, CNN Headline News uses "New North Carolina flooding feared", while the MSNBC News Headlines are "Clinton, GOP in budget showdown", and lastly Lycos News used "Computers that Read Your Shifting Moods." Although none of these headline stories are the same, we see what different media outlets believe their headline stories are! I choose three different media outlets they were CNN Headline News, MSNBC Headline News, and one of the search engines Lycos News. The reason why I picked these three different media's is because I thought that they were going to be the most diverse, and the most similar. Because I picked two big media outlets, MSNBC, and CNN Headline News, I thought that these two would probably be closer too each other than Lycos News. The reason why is because each of those two outlets have people everywhere, in the White House, in Bosnia, where ever there is a story they will send people to go. While Lycos is not as dominant as the other two are, I wanted to see how big Lycos really is compared in news coverage. As I said earlier the first report on CNN Headline News was Flooding in North Carolina, the way that CNN had reported this was by two news anchors and a reporter in North Carolina. Because of the time usage of that particular story I as well as other could not believe how big of a story it was. I thought that it was going to be the top story everywhere. I was wrong because MSNBC did not agree with me, because their first story dealt with President Clinton vetoing a 12.6 billion-dollar foreign aid bill. The way MSNBC covered this was by having a reporter...

Shakespeares Ultimate Valentines Day Poem

Shakespeares Ultimate Valentines Day Poem Are you looking for the most romantic Valentine’s Day poem ever? Then look no further than Shakespeare’s greatest, most heart-tingling sonnet. It’s perfect for a Valentine’s Day poem! We are of course talking about Sonnet 18: Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer’s Day? ... considered by many to be the greatest love poem ever written. Sonnet 18: The Ultimate Valentines Day Poem The sonnet’s reputation is well deserved because of Shakespeare’s ability to capture the essence of love so cleanly and succinctly in only 14 lines. He compares his lover to a beautiful summer’s day and realizes that while summer days may fade and fall into Autumn, his love is eternal. It will last all year round – year in, year out – hence the famous opening lines of the poem: Shall I compare thee to a summers day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate: Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May, And summers lease hath all too short a date: (...) But thy eternal summer shall not fade. Why not copy out the full text from the link below and leave it under a loved one’s pillow this Valentine’s Day? Here are the only two links you need this Valentine’s Day: Sonnet 18 - Read the full textSonnet 18 – A study guide to help you better understand the poem If you are looking for something shorter, then our list of the top 10 Shakespeare love quotes will surely set your heart aflutter.

Stabilization Wedges Game Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 2

Stabilization Wedges Game - Assignment Example The predicted impacts may also include the loss of the West Atlantic Ice expanse and the possibility of the unbounded increase in the incidence of category-five hurricanes. The effect of injecting carbon dioxide and other gases into the earth’s atmosphere – results in changes in the climate. This takes place, through the effect of sunlight passed onto the earth’s atmosphere, which results to the warming of the planet – as these gases hinder the transmission of the accumulated heat into outer space. This phenomenon is called the greenhouse effect, which results, most times, from the burning of fossil fuels – which are mainly composed of carbon and hydrogen. As a result, the consequence is the injection of more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. As the situation is, the Earth’s atmosphere contains an approximate amount of 800 billion tons of Carbon in the form of Carbon dioxide. From the burning of fossil fuels, the carbon dioxide produced inj ects an extra 7 billion tons of Carbon into the universe every year. The accumulated carbon dioxide is removed from the universe through two main ways, these including that taken up by growing forests and that which is dissolved into the surface of the ocean. Unfortunately, these two channels are only, able to remove half the Carbon emitted into the atmosphere leaving the other half accumulating at an approximated rate of 4 billion tons every year. This, typically, means that the accumulated amount of carbon in the universe is increasing year after year (Socolow, Stephen & Jeffery 10). The injection of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere started at the onset of the industrial revolution. This can be proved from the figures – indicating that before the onset of the industrial revolution, the atmosphere contained approximately, 600 billion tons of carbon, which are 200 billion tons less than the presently accumulated amount.  Ã‚  

Critique of Outside Speaker ( Various speeches 4 pages each) Essay

Critique of Outside Speaker ( Various speeches 4 pages each) - Essay Example He did not make any overwhelming gesture or aggressive style to draw the attention of listeners. In order to draw interest of listeners the content of his speech was very aggressive, full of hope and courage. He delivered each sentence very carefully and gave pauses to receive the applause. He never consulted written material and always looked into the crowd. 2. How were the main points organized? How were they supported (facts?, examples? Testimony, narratives?) What types of reasoning did the speaker employ? The main points were organized skillfully. Each point was linked with previous point maintaining a rhythm throughout the speech. The speech started with thanks to previous President. Speaker showed humbleness and acknowledged sacrifices of older generations. He did not mention exact events but made a reference to difficult times and admired resolve of American nation in overcoming every difficulty. He mentioned about war against terrorism and difficulties being faced and showed resolve to win this war. Without giving specific details he mentioned issues of poor economy, joblessness, deteriorating education and healthcare issues. He highlighted all major issues that confront American nation however did not mention details or their solution. He just stressed his resolve and hope to overcome all the problems. The audience liked his hopeful language and courageous style with occasional applause. He took this opportunity to reaffirm enduring spirit. He did not mention any facts or figures and only made two references to events of history. These events were migration of people to America and hardships borne by them to develop this land in peace and war. He made a second historic reference towards the words uttered by founding father during civil war ( Obama Inauguration Address ). He touched upon common heritage despite diversity and gave a message of hope to poor nations. He also gave a tough message to enemies without naming them. 3. Comment on the speakerâ⠂¬â„¢s delivery, noting both positive and negative aspects. The delivery of speaker was consistent, confident, extempore and fluent. Throughout his speech he never fumbled or forgot. He kept in mind the audience which was beyond doubt the whole world. Pitch and tone of his voice followed the words and suited the occasion. Delivery of speech was classic and memorable. The speaker knew his topic very well. There was no pressure of audience on speaker and he did not fumble even once. The speaker was loud, clear, maintained eye contact with the crowd through out the speech, remained calm and composed. His words were emotional at some places but he did not get carried away with emotions. He used spaces between topics very well. His standing on stage was perfect and calm. President Obama displayed presence of mind and command over his subject. His gestures were few but these were well received by the audience. He maintained a serious tone and never used humor or loose words. His body lang uage showed that he meant what he said. His delivery was spontaneous, natural and impressive. On the down side, at few places The President did not give enough pauses for the applause of audience. Had he not committed this mistake his speech would have appeared much popular. At very few places he switched topics rather abruptly which affected continuity of the speech. 4. What was the audience’

VIsiting Los Angeles County Museum of Art Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

VIsiting Los Angeles County Museum of Art - Essay Example There were lots of permanent art collections, art galleries and dress exhibitions which I got an opportunity to see Matisse in one. In one building, the Ahmanson, the modern art collections displayed works that went all the way from back in 1900. I loved most David Hackneys’ works which ranged from paintings which spoke a thousand words about people and all the more to nature. I also was intrigued by the truth in art being everywhere. I discovered this as I moved from one piece of art to another and nature, people, common objects, Paintings, music and films revealed art. This is something I had learnt in class though I had really doubted. This visit ascertained this without a doubt. I did not however enjoy this one aspect where every piece of art had a placard giving its name though it did not give sufficient information concerning the art and the artist behind it. And can you imagine I had to pay $11 for iced tea and a bun! This was not funny at all. A serious stereotype I had before I visited this place was that it is a cultural wasteland and it made me not even think about visiting it for such a very long time. Through this project, I discovered that this is just but a lie and that contrary to it; this place is so beautiful and is so rich in culture. Am actually planning to visit it again now that I can’t say I explored it to my

Ethical Issues in Qualitative Research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Ethical Issues in Qualitative Research - Essay Example It may for example compromise doctrines of justice and beneficence in a research (Lo, 2012). Research with vulnerable and protected groups is another ethical dilemma. It arises from the doctrine of justice that established the need for protecting the participants. The rules however restrict a researcher’s freedom to explore a research problem from a systematic approach and therefore tempt the researcher to breach the rules. The use of self as a research subject is another ethical dilemma in qualitative research. This is because of associated self-interest in the research together with increased chances of biasness that arises from the subjective nature of a qualitative research, factors that undermine potential advantages of the approach to research such as a researcher’s rich experiences as a cheap and readily available source of data (Krishnaswamy, Sivakumar and Mathirajan, 2009). The scope of my study that involves exploration of human experiences is susceptible to e thical issues such as â€Å"autonomy, beneficence, and justice† (Academic Conference, 2010). Developing a research methodology and proposed methods for implementing a research is one of the fundamentals to a successful research. Ensuring an ethical research by providing for ethical considerations and implementing the considerations in a research process is however a challenge. This is because the ethical requirements restrict a researcher and scope of a research. I have therefore realized that the need to conduct a thorough research may force a qualitative researcher to compromise ethical

Case study 9B Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Case study 9B - Assignment Example 1. The first word that attracts attention in the statement is â€Å"digging up†. The ways to â€Å"sig up† the information can be different and not always ethical. Also, persuasiveness of delivering the news the way it is put in the statement strikes the eye as well. The matter is that while some interpret the statement as it is, others may find implications there and use them for their own benefit and to the damage of others. Sometimes the desire to be persuasive while delivering information results in extensive appeal to reader’s emotions, which can lead to the distortion of the information perception. In this case, an aggregator may act as a watchdog over the information; however, this means that it performs tasks uncharacteristic of it, meaning it will act like a critic rather than content placer. 2. The main difference here is the fact that the Associated Press licenses the content and then sell it to the authorized parties, which means the work is paid for. The Huffington Post, in its turn, simply rewrites the content and buries links using quite an aggressive approach to news aggregation. 1. Despite the fact that today many people tend to speak about the ethical side of the problem, for example, the infringement of a copyright, for the long-standing cooperatives, such as the Associated Press, the issue is mostly of economic nature. The matter is that because of news aggregation, such cooperatives lose significant sums of money while aggregators, such as the Huffington Post or Google News, profit from the information other gathered at great cost. If the aggregators paid for content, that might eliminate the ethical side other problem; at the same time, other problems might appear, mostly those associated with the changed character of such projects. 2. News is everywhere and is free; in fact, no one owns the news. It is rather the medium is owned by certain companies. The media

Urban Planning - General Plan Anaylsis Research Paper - 1

Urban Planning - General Plan Anaylsis - Research Paper Example These people come from all over the world and are joined together in the work place thus making the work place the most culturally diverse institution followed by schools. In a typical work place it is obvious and somewhat normal to find an African, an Arab, a European, a Buddhist, a Christian or a Hindu and many others. Cultural diversity has become the norm of the contemporary society such that lack of it is considered weird and it is highly encouraged since it is a way of learning. Indeed there is lack of understanding of cultural diversity in various places. These places include at home, workplace, and in public. For example at the work place certain people because of their cultures do not condone certain behaviors while others are okay with them. In a case of bowing down while speaking to your boss or employer is considered respectful by the Asian community; this is the opposite in the American culture. In public the Arabic community never allows their women to dress in short and provocative dressing in public and insists on the traditional dress code yet many cultures allow women to put whatever they want. At home in an African setting a child is not allowed to talk back at adults even if they are wrong but some cultures like the American culture encourage children to express themselves especially if they are right or feel exploited or misunderstood. In order for people to get along well in workplace and be productive there is a need for understanding the concept of cultural diversity. This calls for training of cultural diversity in the work place. Different resources and training provides for workplaces to better understand cultural diversity. These resources include language: non English speaking workers can be taught English by the natives and fluent L2 speakers talking to them in English and correcting them when they make mistakes(Kim, &Mattila, 2011). Secondly, the employers can organize small weekend

Case study 9B Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Case study 9B - Assignment Example 1. The first word that attracts attention in the statement is â€Å"digging up†. The ways to â€Å"sig up† the information can be different and not always ethical. Also, persuasiveness of delivering the news the way it is put in the statement strikes the eye as well. The matter is that while some interpret the statement as it is, others may find implications there and use them for their own benefit and to the damage of others. Sometimes the desire to be persuasive while delivering information results in extensive appeal to reader’s emotions, which can lead to the distortion of the information perception. In this case, an aggregator may act as a watchdog over the information; however, this means that it performs tasks uncharacteristic of it, meaning it will act like a critic rather than content placer. 2. The main difference here is the fact that the Associated Press licenses the content and then sell it to the authorized parties, which means the work is paid for. The Huffington Post, in its turn, simply rewrites the content and buries links using quite an aggressive approach to news aggregation. 1. Despite the fact that today many people tend to speak about the ethical side of the problem, for example, the infringement of a copyright, for the long-standing cooperatives, such as the Associated Press, the issue is mostly of economic nature. The matter is that because of news aggregation, such cooperatives lose significant sums of money while aggregators, such as the Huffington Post or Google News, profit from the information other gathered at great cost. If the aggregators paid for content, that might eliminate the ethical side other problem; at the same time, other problems might appear, mostly those associated with the changed character of such projects. 2. News is everywhere and is free; in fact, no one owns the news. It is rather the medium is owned by certain companies. The media

Mistake and Creativity Essay Example for Free

Mistake and Creativity Essay Assignment: What is your opinion on the relationship between mistakes and creativity? Since the natural propensity of human makes a trend to possess a notion of newness and deviation, intelligence beings patiently seek to response those demands with the result of new creativity. Simultaneously, mistakes of any forms apparently are inherent to creativity either during or after process of creation. Such relationship between creativity and mistakes has generally illustrated in the biography of prominent and famous scientists, Robert J.  Oppenheimer and Thomas Edison. To satisfy and improve the prosperity of life on the Earth, the scientist, Oppenheimer, has a prosperous goal to advance the technological frontiers of man in nuclear physic, and has desire to succeed in controlling nuclear reaction. Ultimately, his creativity according to his goal and desire is atomic bomb. Oppenheimer’s creativity, in contrast, deeply connects him to a serious mistake in his life. His new innovation was seriously responsible for the immense destruction of the death of ten thousands people in Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II. Therefore, this destruction can be identified conspicuously that creativity is able to provide mistake in return. While creativity is a necessary thing for mankind, mistake can be seen as a material to pursue that creativity. Taking another famous scientist into consideration, Thomas Edison is isolated himself from the other in order to discover a furtive innovation on electricity. He finally invented electric bulb after trying 1000 times. However, his 999 failures are 999 mistakes that drive him to achieve his ultimate succession. Then, mistakes in this context are root and driver to definitely create innovation. In conclusion, the relationship between mistakes and creativity is a form of complement that affects or dominates each other. Hence, this relationship is a theory, which can also be applied to daily life of each people in the creation’s process.

Critical Reflection on current clinical knowledge and development

Critical Reflection on current clinical knowledge and development Within this assignment I will critically reflect on my clinical knowledge to date and consider my future development needs with a focus on my final management placement and future career as a registered nurse. I have chosen two areas which I feel are relevant to my future development needs namely Quality Assurance and Multidisciplinary/Agency team working and using the Gibbs model (fig. 1)as a framework will reflect upon my own learning experiences and achievements to date and write an annotated reflection highlighting my development needs from which I will formulate a Personal Development Plan. This undertaking demonstrates my commitment to the need for continuing professional development in order to enhance my knowledge, skills values and attitude needed for effective nursing practice (proficiency 4.1) and will address deficits in my knowledge and skills and identify any shortcomings within my own or others practice and help me cope with practice related issues experienced within m y previous placements. I have chosen Gibbs reflective model as a basis for reflection as I feel it is easily understood and encourages a clear description of the situation, analysis of feelings, evaluation of the experience, conclusion and reflection upon the experience to consider a solution if the situation arose again (Brooker Nicol 2003). It has been advocated that reflective practices are a method of bridging the gap between nursing theory and practice, and as a tool to develop knowledge embedded in practice (Chong 2009). Furthermore in reflecting on the way we deliver care we can identify weaknesses, build on strengths and develop best practice (Myser et al 1995, Johns 1996). However, there are those who are sceptical of the practice and the idea of reflection in nursing is ambiguous and confused and not based on discipline related evidence based research (Gustafsson et al (2007). Some studies however, have shown a positive response from practitioners who have attributed refl ective practice to changes in their practice (Paget 2000, Cooke Matarasso (2005). In consideration of these views my approach to reflection as a means of recognizing strengths and weaknesses in my learning and practice to enable me to make positive changes to my future practice will be unbiased. Therefore my reflective account will include an open and honest description of what I have gained from the experience In conclusion, my main aim is to enhance my professional development by reflecting upon past education and clinical experience using the Nursing and Midwifery proficiencies as a benchmark. Furthermore by utilizing the reflective model I will not only identify my strengths and weaknesses but also recognize potential opportunities or threats which will enable me to prepare for my future development and alert me to any threats allowing me to overcome any difficulties I may encounter. Teekman (2000), states that throughout the literature it is well emphasized that reflective practice is an effective tool to reduce or eliminate the perceived theory-practice gap. I will therefore endeavour to utilize this exercise to transform my theoretical learning into evidence based practice. By doing this I can substantiate my claim to having knowledge of evidence based care to ensure safe practice (Proficiency 2.5) Gibbs Reflective Cycle Description What happened? Action plan If it arose again what would you do? Feelings What were you thinking and feeling? Conclusion What else could you have done? Evaluation What was good and bad about the experience? Analysis What sense ca n you make of the situation? Fig. 1 REFLECTIVE SELF-ASSESSMENT 1ST DRAFT Gibbs (1988) model begins with asking the question What happened? and asks What were you feeling. This allows me to give an account of the events that occurred, and in order to add significance to the narrative I will relay my feelings about the event directly after explanation about the incident. During the course of my placement whilst working in an acute psychiatric in-patient I was delegated some responsibility for particular patients by senior members of staff. In addition I was often allowed to facilitate both group and one-to-one sessions supervised by a trained member of staff. However, due to other demands within the ward environment staff were often unable to run the groups and one-to-one sessions with the patients could often be time limited. However, on one particular day I was approached by a patient for whose care I was given responsibility He appeared very agitated and complained that over the previous few days he had become frustrated by the lack of attention he was been receiving from nursing care staff the lack of information he was being given in respect of his care. He also complained that he had been informed that he would have regular access to therapeutic groups and this was not happening. This patient had show a keenness to participate fully in his care to facilitate a quick recovery and discharge from the ward I was aware that staff had been busy but felt uneasy at his distress and afraid to tell him that staff had been too busy therefore unable to run the groups. In addition I did not feel confident enough to explain his treatment plan. I was quite annoyed though that he had not been consulted or involved in this previously, therefore I consulted with his named nurse voicing my concerns and asked if she could alleviate his concerns. (NMC Proficiency 2.6) was achieved by my articulating my own emotional and psychological responses to situations with colleagues in a professional manner. By also being aware of my own limitations at the time I achieved (NMC proficiency 1.1). The nurse took him into a quiet room and in my presence explained the situation to him apologising for the apparent lack of attention he had received. She assured him that the therapeutic group would be commencing later that day and allowed him to vent his feelings and concerns about his care and anxieties about his illne ss. She reviewed his plan of care with him taking account of his wishes and desired outcomes. On listening to how she handled the session, I felt quite inadequate afterwards thinking I should have been able to deal with the situation as I was competent at formulating care plans. Following the session I decided to approach my mentor to ask to discuss the situation and we agreed that I would take the time to read through the Integrated Care Pathway of each patient under my care and become familiar with their use by suggested I attend and participate in multi-disciplinary meetings. By recognising this I was adhering to the code of professional conduct (NMC) 2008, to consult with a colleague when appropriate and work within the limits of my competence. Moreover, I achieved (NMC Proficiency 4.1) by demonstrating a commitment to the need for continuing professional development and personal supervision activities. In addition a multi-disciplinary meeting was arranged for the patient and his father and my mentor allowed me to co-ordinate this and provide feedback on his progress in order that I gain experience in multidisciplinary working. Prior to the meeting I scrutinized his ICP to familiarise myself with his situation and plan of care to enable me to identify his needs and achieved (NMC Proficiency 2.2) by providing relevant and current health information to the patient during the meeting. Rees et al, (2004) informs us that ICPs are tools which map out the pathway of clinical events and activities for all professionals involved in a specific patient group. The ICP helped clarify my roles and responsibilities as well as improve team working and communication. This enabled me to become more informed and also provide the patient with information on his plan of care which would be carried out throughout his journey from admission to discharge In attendance at the meeting were the Consultant Psychiatrist, Named Nurse, Pharmacist, Community Psychiatric Nurse, Occupational Therapist and myself. I provided feedback on the patients progress to the Consultant Psychiatrist and other team members, and highlighted the patients concerns about his treatment demonstrating (NMC proficiency 3.2)by working collaboratively with multi-disciplinary team members to enable the delivery of effective patient care, prior to the patient and his father attending. This provided the Consultant Psychiatrist with an overview of the patients mental health and progress to date. The patient and his father were then invited to attend the meeting the patient was given the opportunity to tell the Consultant Psychiatrist how he was feeling and discuss any issues he may have. He was also given the opportunity to talk about his prescribed medication and ask questions which were answered both by the doctor and pharmacist. The pharmacist also gave some advice a bout his present dose of prescribed medication making suggestions to the doctor about possible changes due to a complaint by the patient that he was experiencing stiffness in his legs. The patient was allowed to discuss his involvement in therapeutic groups he had attended and their benefits. The patients father was also given the opportunity to ask any questions and voice any concerns he may have. Discussion between me, the consultant and patient provided clearer picture of the situation I and felt more at ease having further clarified the process of his care would be while on the ward. I felt more confident and satisfied that the patient was now more at ease and satisfied with his present care and was able to meet (NMC proficiency 2.4) by updating the patients plan of care following the meeting. The next stage Evaluation Gibbs model making sense of the situation and asks What was good or bad. I was pleased to see a positive outcome which was due to inclusion of the patient in his plan of care and collaboration within the multidisciplinary team meeting which alleviate the patients concerns. I was not happy at my own lack of confidence to initially deal with the clients concerns and the fact that the patient had to complain before being fully involved in his care. Having this awareness of my own emotions and of weaknesses in my practice and consulting with the patients named nurse assures me that I am managing myself, my practice and that recognizing my own abilities and limitations (NMC Proficiency 1.1) and resolving this by taking action to improve in this area of practice. In conclusion, stage five of the Gibbs (1988) model, I feel the more experience I gain in the ward environment and more I learn about ICPs I can improve patients quality of care and collaborating with other members of the multidisciplinary team I will gain knowledge and confidence to enable me to take that step from being a student to becoming a confident registered nurse and deal complex situations such as described above. In the final stage of Gibbs reflective model the question is asked If the situation arose what would I do? I will continue to utilize reflective practice to improve on my knowledge and skills and develop my Personal Development Plan to highlight gaps in my knowledge. I will use my personal development plan within my final placement to address my weakness and build on my strengths whilst seeking opportunities for further development taking account of any threats. EVIDENCE BASED RATIONALE I have used the two main areas within my recent practice where I have identified both strengths and weaknesses. Although multidisciplinary working and the quality assurance tool Integrated Care Pathways are interlinked they will be discussed separately to maintain coherence and facilitate separate Personal Development Plans. I will therefore begin by discussing Integrated Care Pathways as a quality assurance measure, what I have learned to date, highlighting my development need, and why this is important to my practice. Integrated Care Pathways Evidence Based Rationale My experience of Integrated Care Pathways during my training has been limited, therefore I require to improve my knowledge and participation in undertaking and documenting a comprehensive, systematic and accurate nursing assessment of physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs of patients. It is necessary therefore require to further enhance my knowledge and the requirements of (NMC proficiency 2.3) as part of my development needs. ICPs have not been implemented within any of my placements in the community or long term ward settings. However, an Integrated Pathway for admission and discharge has been implemented within an acute ward setting where I was placed. This has been implemented to standardize practice across every psychiatric admission ward within Lanarkshire (Kent Chalmers 2006), and to facilitate better co-ordination of discharge planning and facilitate continuity of treatment in the community (NHS Lanarkshire 2007). The purpose of Integrated Care Pathways has bee n defined in different ways within the literature. Quality Standards Scotland (2007) highlights the quality assurance aspect indicating that ICP standards will support service improvements in relation to the process or care and outcomes for individuals. PLANNED ACTIVITY METHODS OF EVALUATION FOR PDP

Agatha Christie :: essays research papers

In the murder mystery by Agatha Christie, Murder on the Orient Express, her style of writing can be described as one of Christie’s best works, having an international trend, and being a genius with detective fiction. Murder on the Orient Express was a great book and should be read by all.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  “Agatha Christie is the world’s best known mystery writer.'; (Harper) All of her novels are known around the world as being very excellent. No one has read a Christie murder mystery they have not liked. Murder on the Orient Express is one of her most famous books. “This book is famous because it turns on a piece of misdirection and a solution which, in their day, were startlingly innovatory.'; (Lejeune) Throughout the whole novel, your thoughts are changed numerous amounts of time. You never know what is going to happen next. Agatha Christie knows just how to keep you interested in the story and to keep you wanting to read more and more. If you had to choose one of Christie’s novels to read, you should pick Murder on the Orient Express. Not only is she the best known mystery writer, but she is also known around the world.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  “She is the most widely published author of all time in any language, outsold only by the Bible and Shakespeare.'; (Harper) All of Christie’s works are sold around the world and also known to have an international trend. She puts a variety of characters in all of her novels. Murder on the Orient Express has characters from all over, such as Germany, Istanbul, France, America, Britain, and England. “This international trend in Christie’s views can be noted in Murder on the Orient Express. A slight shift is perceptible here in the British stock characters, and men like Christie’s Colonel Padgett 2 Arbuthnot one of the Orient Express passengers, are already beginning to seem quaint and old-fashioned.'; (218) She makes her stories even more interesting when she uses people from all over the world. When she writes using these people, she also adds in the language in which these people speak as well as placing them in different countries than from where they are originally from. When she mixes different people and cultures together, it makes the stories more fun and it even helps to make them more mysterious.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  All of Christie’s novels even contain the same characters. There are a variety of stories other than Murder on the Orient Express that contains the popular detective Hercule Poirot. Agatha Christie :: essays research papers In the murder mystery by Agatha Christie, Murder on the Orient Express, her style of writing can be described as one of Christie’s best works, having an international trend, and being a genius with detective fiction. Murder on the Orient Express was a great book and should be read by all.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  “Agatha Christie is the world’s best known mystery writer.'; (Harper) All of her novels are known around the world as being very excellent. No one has read a Christie murder mystery they have not liked. Murder on the Orient Express is one of her most famous books. “This book is famous because it turns on a piece of misdirection and a solution which, in their day, were startlingly innovatory.'; (Lejeune) Throughout the whole novel, your thoughts are changed numerous amounts of time. You never know what is going to happen next. Agatha Christie knows just how to keep you interested in the story and to keep you wanting to read more and more. If you had to choose one of Christie’s novels to read, you should pick Murder on the Orient Express. Not only is she the best known mystery writer, but she is also known around the world.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  “She is the most widely published author of all time in any language, outsold only by the Bible and Shakespeare.'; (Harper) All of Christie’s works are sold around the world and also known to have an international trend. She puts a variety of characters in all of her novels. Murder on the Orient Express has characters from all over, such as Germany, Istanbul, France, America, Britain, and England. “This international trend in Christie’s views can be noted in Murder on the Orient Express. A slight shift is perceptible here in the British stock characters, and men like Christie’s Colonel Padgett 2 Arbuthnot one of the Orient Express passengers, are already beginning to seem quaint and old-fashioned.'; (218) She makes her stories even more interesting when she uses people from all over the world. When she writes using these people, she also adds in the language in which these people speak as well as placing them in different countries than from where they are originally from. When she mixes different people and cultures together, it makes the stories more fun and it even helps to make them more mysterious.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  All of Christie’s novels even contain the same characters. There are a variety of stories other than Murder on the Orient Express that contains the popular detective Hercule Poirot.

Ethical Considerations in Customer Relationship Management Essay

Abstract Due to issues such as managed care contracting, and the financial impact of indigent care, healthcare providers find themselves in competition for patients with adequate health insurance, or the ability to pay cash for services provided to try to maintain fiscal solvency. E-health applications serve not only to advertise the services of a facility, but also to help the health care provider identify potential patients for the services they offer. In this paper I will explore the ethical considerations of Consumer Relationship Management (CRM) applications and services, which are increasingly being utilized to help target potential consumers for health care providers. When inquiring about a health condition on the internet, do internet users give up their expectations for privacy regarding their healthcare information? Although consumers may not expect the information they provide to get into the database of marketing firms, this is often exactly what happens. Consumer Relationship Management (CRM) software firms or service providers are a growing industry. The purpose of CRM software in the healthcare field, is to assist providers in identifying potential customers for a service based on information they have supplied. This information can be provided in a number of ways. In some cases, the consumer has knowingly supplied the information to the actual provider via an inquiry sent from the provider's website. In other cases the provider determines a marketing target based upon mining information in their own database by linking relationships which may help identify a potential need. Yet in another scenario, identification of a potential consu mer is based on information they provided at another website, which was ... ... an Innovative CRM Solution for Health Care Organizations. Retrieved July 29, 2007, from DM Review Web site: http://www.dmreview.com/editorial/newsletter_article.cfm?nl=dmdirect&articleId=1066948&issue=20423 CPM-Solutions. Retrieved July 29, 2007, from CRM Health Portal Web site: http://www.cpm.com/providers/solutions/emarketing.cfm Poulsen, Kevin (2007, May 14). Attorneys General demand that MySpace give up sex offenders. Wired, Retrieved July 29, 2007, from http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2007/05/attorneys_gener.html Richards, Johnathan (2007, July 25). Sex offenders can use social sites say police. Times Online, Retrieved July 29, 2007, from http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/the_web/article2137973.ece WebMD Privacy Policy. Retrieved July 29, 2007, from WebMD.com Web site: http://www.webmd.com/policies/about-privacy-policy#part7c Ethical Considerations in Customer Relationship Management Essay Abstract Due to issues such as managed care contracting, and the financial impact of indigent care, healthcare providers find themselves in competition for patients with adequate health insurance, or the ability to pay cash for services provided to try to maintain fiscal solvency. E-health applications serve not only to advertise the services of a facility, but also to help the health care provider identify potential patients for the services they offer. In this paper I will explore the ethical considerations of Consumer Relationship Management (CRM) applications and services, which are increasingly being utilized to help target potential consumers for health care providers. When inquiring about a health condition on the internet, do internet users give up their expectations for privacy regarding their healthcare information? Although consumers may not expect the information they provide to get into the database of marketing firms, this is often exactly what happens. Consumer Relationship Management (CRM) software firms or service providers are a growing industry. The purpose of CRM software in the healthcare field, is to assist providers in identifying potential customers for a service based on information they have supplied. This information can be provided in a number of ways. In some cases, the consumer has knowingly supplied the information to the actual provider via an inquiry sent from the provider's website. In other cases the provider determines a marketing target based upon mining information in their own database by linking relationships which may help identify a potential need. Yet in another scenario, identification of a potential consu mer is based on information they provided at another website, which was ... ... an Innovative CRM Solution for Health Care Organizations. Retrieved July 29, 2007, from DM Review Web site: http://www.dmreview.com/editorial/newsletter_article.cfm?nl=dmdirect&articleId=1066948&issue=20423 CPM-Solutions. Retrieved July 29, 2007, from CRM Health Portal Web site: http://www.cpm.com/providers/solutions/emarketing.cfm Poulsen, Kevin (2007, May 14). Attorneys General demand that MySpace give up sex offenders. Wired, Retrieved July 29, 2007, from http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2007/05/attorneys_gener.html Richards, Johnathan (2007, July 25). Sex offenders can use social sites say police. Times Online, Retrieved July 29, 2007, from http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/the_web/article2137973.ece WebMD Privacy Policy. Retrieved July 29, 2007, from WebMD.com Web site: http://www.webmd.com/policies/about-privacy-policy#part7c

Compare and contrast between persepolis war and vietnam war Essay

Graphic Novels showing conflict of war can be described in different ways. These ways are determined by the target audience and the authors decision of mood.The imagery in Persepolis and the vietnam story are affected by these choices made by the author. There are differences in the style of this book in which the reader uses to show emotion such as the target age group, the emotional aspect as well as the realism of the story. The imagery which detail is displayed in a complex or simple way can both give the reader insight while portraying a different perspective at the same time. Persepolis and the vietnam imagery both use a black and white graphic weight creating a dark feeling shown by the subjective style. They use detailing in the background like the shadowed soldiers in the Vietnam images or bright flashes of gunshot in Persepolis, thus giving the reader a different perspective. The vietnam images provides a more in depth style that provides in order to show the author’ s message. However, the simple imagery used in persepolis is to get a point across using symbolic images and a straightforward style rather than in the vietnam images the sketched lines and detailing brings out a specific emotion. The target audience in which the author and/or illustrator wants to reach out to affects the type of imagery and message they want to send out,such as a story about the conflict of war to children can be subtle rather than show a harsh reality yet can both depict a mood of conflict and struggle. These two graphic styles can both get across the subjective opinion of war being undesirable by the emanata of struggle seen with the characters to the reader. They both compare the harsh reality without being too gruesome. Persepolis uses a more cartooned illustration to portray a childlike perspective thus having a target audience of young readers. In contrast, the Vietnam imagery’s perspective differs in the point of view. This shows the difference in fighting in the war rather than suffering the consequences, demonstrating an adult understanding. War can convey many emotions depending on the authors/illustrators mood they want to convey to the readers by using simple and/or complex emanata and graphic weight in similar and different ways. Persepolis and the vietnam both inflict a sympathetic emotions by showing  the struggles shown by their stressed emotions and facial styles. As well as their similar use of contrast between light and darkshows a emotional aspect of the conflict of war. To contrast the Vietnam images uses shading and shadows to add more tension and grit displaying a impactful emotion. The Persepolis imagery uses thick heavy blacks and whites without any shading making the images simple and the emotions it portrays to the reader shallow and not as complex. In conclusion these two works of graphic reading can be contrasted and compared by only three categories of realism, target age groups, and emotions. These both shared the struggles of the conflict of war as well as portraying different views and perspectives. As well as displaying an obvious age target. Even though they are similar they are both different in showing the conflict of what goes on in a war.

Answer to Chapter 1 Introduction to Derivatives & Risk Management, Chance, Brooks.

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION END-OF-CHAPTER QUESTIONS AND PROBLEMS 1. (Market Efficiency and Theoretical Fair Value) An efficient market is one in which prices reflect the true economic values of the assets trading therein. In efficient markets, no one can earn returns that are more than commensurate with the level of risk. Efficient markets are characterized by low transaction costs and by the rapid rate at which new information is incorporated into prices. 2. (Arbitrage and the Law of One Price) Arbitrage is a type of investment transaction that seeks to profit when identical goods are priced differently. Buying an item at one price and immediately selling it at another is a type of arbitrage. Because of the combined activities of arbitrageurs, identical goods, primarily financial assets, cannot sell for different prices for long. This is the law of one price. Arbitrage helps make our markets efficient by assuring that prices are in line with what they are supposed to be. In short, we cannot get something for nothing. A situation involving two identical goods or portfolios that are not priced equivalently would be exploited by arbitrageurs until their prices were equal. The â€Å"one price† that an asset must be is called the â€Å"theoretical fair value. † 3. (Arbitrage and the Law of One Price) The law of one price is violated if the same good is selling at different prices. On the surface it may appear as if that is the case; however, it is important to look beneath the surface to determine if the goods are identical. Part of the cost of the good is convenience and customer service. Some consumers might be willing to pay more because the dealer is located in a more desirable section of town. Also, the higher priced dealer may have a better reputation for service and customer satisfaction. Buyers may be willing to pay more if they feel that the premium they pay helps assure them that they are getting a fair deal. It is important to note that many goods are indeed identical and, if so, they should sell at the same price, but the Law of One Price is not violated if the price differential accounts for some economic value. 4. (The Storage Mechanism) Storage is simply holding the asset. Some assets, like commodities, require considerable storage space and entail significant storage costs. Others, like stocks and bonds, do not consume much space but, as we shall see later, do incur costs. Storage enables us to more adequately meet our consumption needs and, thus, provides for a more efficient alteration of our consumption patterns across time. For example, we can store grains for the winter. In the case of stocks and bonds, we can store them and sell them later. The proceeds from the sale of the securities can be used to meet consumption needs at the later time. Likewise, storage enables speculators to hold goods and securities in the hope of selling them later at a profit. In addition, storage plays an important role in defining the relationship between spot instruments and derivatives. 5. (Delivery and Settlement) In futures markets, delivery seldom occurs. Since delivery is always possible, however, an expiring futures contract will be priced like the spot instrument. The knowledge that futures prices will eventually converge to spot prices is important to the pricing of futures contracts. 6. The Role of Derivative Markets) Derivative markets provide a means of adjusting the risk of spot market investments to a more acceptable level and identifying the consensus market beliefs. They make trading easier and less costly and spot markets more efficient. These markets also provide a means of speculating. 7. (Criticisms of Derivatives Markets) On the surface, it may be difficult to distinguish speculation from gambling. Both entail high risk w ith the expectation of high gain. The major difference that makes speculation somewhat more socially acceptable is that it offers benefits to society not conveyed by gambling. For example, speculators are necessary to assume the risk not wanted by others. In gambling, there is no risk being hedged. Gamblers simply accept risk without there being a concomitant reduction in someone else's risk. 8. (Misuses of Derivatives) Derivatives can be misused by speculating when one should be hedging, by not having acquired the requisite knowledge to use them properly by acting irresponsibly when using derivatives such as by being overly confident of one’s ability to forecast the direction of the market. 9. The Role of Derivative Markets) The existence of derivative markets in the United States economy and indeed throughout most modern countries of the world undoubtedly leads to a much higher degree of market efficiency. Derivatives facilitate the activities of individual arbitrageurs so that unequal prices of identical goods are arbitraged until they are equal. Because of the large number of arbitrageurs, this is a quick and efficient process. Arbitrage on this large a scale makes markets less capable of being manipulated, less costly to trade in, and therefore more attractive to investors. The opportunity to hedge also makes the markets more attractive to investors in managing risk. ) This is not to say that an economy without derivative markets would be inefficient, but it would not have the advantage of this arbitrage on a large scale. It is important to note that the derivative markets do not necessarily make the U. S. or world economy any larger or wealthier. The basic wealth, expected returns, and risks of the economy would be about the same without these markets. Derivatives simply create lower cost opportunities for investors to align their risks at more satisfactory levels. This may not necessarily make them wealthier, but to the extent that it makes them more satisfied with their positions, it serves a valuable purpose. 10. (Return and Risk) Return is the numerical measure of investment performance. There are two main measures of return, dollar return and percentage return. Dollar return measures investment performance as total dollar profit or loss. For example, the dollar return for stocks is the dollar profit from the change in stock price plus any cash dividends paid. It represents the absolute performance. Percentage return measures investment performance per dollar invested. It represents the percentage increase in the investor’s wealth that results from making the investment. In the case of stocks, the return is the percentage change in price plus the dividend yield. The concept of return also applies to options, but, as we shall see later, the definition of the return on a futures or forward contract is somewhat unclear. 1. (Repurchase Agreements) A repurchase agreement (known as repos) is a legal contract between a seller and a buyer, the seller agrees to sell a specified asset to the buyer currently as well as buy it back usually at a specified time in the future at an agreed future price. The seller is effectively borrowing money from the buyer at an implied interest rate. Typically, repos involve low risk secur ities, such as U. S. Treasury bills. Repos are useful because they provide a great deal of flexibility to both the borrower and lender. Derivatives traders often need to be able to borrow and lend money in the most cost-effective manner possible. Repos are often a very low cost way of borrowing money, particularly if the firm holds government securities. Repos are a way to earn interest on short-term funds with minimal risk (for buyers) and repos are a way to borrow for short-term needs at a relatively low cost (for sellers). 12. (Derivative Markets and Instruments) An option is a contract between two parties—a buyer and a seller—that gives the buyer the right, but not the obligation, to purchase or sell something at a later date at a price agreed upon today. The option buyer pays the seller a sum of money called the price or premium. The option seller stands ready to sell or buy according to the contract terms if and when the buyer so desires. An option to buy something is referred to as a call; an option to sell something is called a put. A forward contract is a contract between two parties—a buyer and a seller—to purchase or sell something at a later date at a price agreed upon today. A forward contract sounds a lot like an option, but an option carries the right, not the obligation, to go through with the transaction. If the price of the underlying good changes, the option holder may decide to forgo buying or selling at the fixed price. On the other hand, the two parties in a forward contract incur the obligation to ultimately buy and sell the good. 13. (The Underlying Asset) Because all derivatives are based on the random performance of something, the word â€Å"derivative† is appropriate. The derivative derives its value from the performance of something else. That â€Å"something else† is often referred to as the underlying asset. The term underlying asset, however, is somewhat confusing and misleading. For instance, the underlying asset might be a stock, bond, currency, or commodity, all of which are assets. However, the underlying â€Å"asset† might also be some other random element such as the weather, which is not an asset. It might even be another derivative, such as a futures contract or an option.