My Own Performance Essay

During the course of the project, I feel that I have worked well independently to produce an excellent set of products. I found it fairly challenging at times but I think that I have put in a lot of effort and work into creating products that are of a high quality. I made sure to listen well in lessons so I could fully understand the tasks, and I focused hard when creating the products to ensure that they would be of a high standard. For me, time management was the key to having a successful project, so in lessons I made sure that I worked quickly and effectively. However, this meant that some of the products were rushed so I spent a lot of my time improving them. Even though it allowed me to improve the products and make them as good as possible, other areas in the project such as the product evaluations, were rushed. I also had to prioritise the project above my other subjects, so I had to put a lot of hard work into making sure the project was satisfactory, whilst still completing homework for other subjects. One thing that the project has helped me with is time management. I spent a lot of time improving products and this left little time for improving my evaluations, and this is an area I could focus on if I did the project again. Personally, I believe that if I had created a plan with a list of tasks and deadlines for them, I think the project I have produced would be much better and all the areas would’ve been covered accurately. Upon completion of the project, my time management skills have improved significantly and I am more likely to complete homework on time in my other subjects. Without a doubt, my test user, Julie Bircham, has been invaluable to me during the project. She has given me some outstanding feedback, and her comments have influenced me to improve my products, come up with new ideas and make decisions. Having a test user was a great thing to have because without her opinion, I think that the products I have created would be of a lower quality than what they are now. The comments that Julie gave to me assured me that my project was good, and were extremely useful to me when creating evaluations of products. I think that if I had to complete a similar project again, I would ask more people for test user feedback, because it would be good to get varying opinions as opposed to the same person all the time.

Sample Autobiography

When I sit back and consider the significant events in my past, the important aspects of my current life, and my future goals, the underlying theme is one of appreciating diversity, especially across ethnic and socioeconomic class lines. I was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, the product of a Catholic father with roots in Italy and a Jewish mother of Russian and Austrian ancestry. In my early years of education, the frustration with teachers mispronouncing my last name seemed as though it might never end. I remember how my father would approach the administrators of my elementary school before Honor Roll ceremonies to be sure they would pronounce it correctly as I walked across the stage for my moment of glory. The terror did not end until the seventh grade when I had my first course in Spanish, at which point my teacher had some experience with â€Å"exotic† names and got â€Å"you-zee-nee† correct on the first try. I believe that I grew more, emotionally, socially, and intellectually, during my four years of high school than during any other period of time thus far. Midwood High School at Brooklyn College attracted students from every part of New York City. Indeed, it provided a rigorous academic environment, and with one college advisor for each graduating class of nearly 700 students, I managed to learn some important lessons about dealing with â€Å"the system. Midwood continues to prepare its students well; it has consistently placed among the top 50 in national rankings of high schools. It was at Midwood that I found my academic strengths and was given the tools to pursue them to the fullest extent possible. Because I was placed in a situation with few of the resources many students had in other better-funded schools, I learned how to make the best of the situation. I began to search for a way to address my own concerns about the racial tensions. Within a few years I would find myself at Texas A&M University, bringing another drastic change in my lifestyle and the culture I would have to adapt to. The past few years have been a very enjoyable experience, satisfying all of my intellectual and social needs. I have focused the next few years on developing a solid research program dealing with I have also put forth as much effort as possible in attempting to diversify the future of our profession. social psychological approaches to social issues, especially racial and ethnic relations.

Arthur Miller’s Symbolism of the Illuminati Mark as Portrayed in His Play, The Crucible

Arthur Miller’s Symbolism of the Illuminati Mark as Portrayed in His Play, The Crucible Survival is key to living, so what will you do for it? I have come to realize that our world is very corruptive that even who we thought was the good can be the bad. Even the innocent will change to the impure just for survival. This symbol of the illuminati sign represents all the evil roaming through Salem Massachusetts and how the illuminati is a group that claims to be the higher and the key to survival. This connects with how everyone in Salem began to start believing that there are witches and siding with this girls will be there only way to survive. This symbol is mainly towards the people who believe there is witchcraft and is accusing others so they aren’t accused even when they know what is right from wrong. The elements in this symbol represent that people will join evil to survive. Arthur Miller shows evil within The Crucible, by showing it through the people of Salem. For example Abigail a girl from Salem knows she has done wrong, but she can’t seem to admit it so she blames it on Tituba a Barbados slave who she knows no one will believe. Abigail says â€Å"I never called him! (Speaking about the devil) Tituba, Tituba† (42). Abigail is blaming Tituba for her actions making it seem as if Tituba has forced her upon the devil and caused her to do her wrong, so she seems harmless and innocent in everyone eyes. Abigail is one of the main reasons of the cause of everything she is in control of everything and seems to be manipulating everyone and mostly the other girls and she tends to control their actions and what’s she says goes because they all are afraid of her. Abigail is what you call a sociopath because she feels without emotions and some say it’s because of her childhood. But Abigail shows that she is a sociopath because when she hurting others she feels without emotion and to her it normal. She is the ring leader and Abigail is in control and she will make everyone fear hear so they can join her This drawing also shows the evil I the eyes of unspoken ones and the ones who speak to be survive. In the town everyone believes there seems to be witches. When Hale begins to integrate Tituba about being a witch. Hale says to her â€Å"who came to you with devil, two, three? Four? How many?† (46). this all started with Abigail accuse he believes that Tituba is a witch and so are many others. Out of cruelty Hale gets some of the town leaders and they began to whip Tituba to have her speak of what she knows. Even though Tituba is truly not a witch out of scare she says what she can only say to save herself, and she says â€Å"There was four, there was four†. Even though Tituba knows that’s not true, but she also knows that was the only ways she could be free out of death. This is when everything begins and other names start to come up, but most of the people who are being accused are not liked nor have no power to stand up for themselves. The main point of this symbol is to represent the cruelty all around Salem, form he accuser to the unspoken. This symbol represents that a lot of people will side with what is wrong from to save themselves rather than do the right thing and stand up to what they believe and know is right. Also it shows that people tend to follow a ring leader and in this case the ring leader is Abigail. She in control of Salem right now and everyone is eating out of her palms so she doesn’t accuse them. In Salem there happens to be witches, these witches are people being accused of something they never done and they are being accused because they are mainly not like by the girls. So there comes where everyone has to justify and say what they believe and everyone begins to side with these girls because they believe the only way to survive this horrifying tragedy is to side with the. This all show that people will side with evil if their life is on the line.

Play review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Play review - Essay Example The play depicts how a virtual hell breaks loose and how an amusing situation is created as the two couples not only fight with each other but also exchange sides. At times the battle is between partners and at times it appears to be between boys and girls with the least level of introspection or admittance of accountability by any of the parties (Reza, 2009). But nevertheless, the play takes visitors through ninety minutes of wonderful comedy and entertainment although it never gets deep enough for the viewer to think of watching a second part of the play. Alan and Annette is one couple and belong to the upper middle class. They are reasonably well off while the other couple, Michael and Veronica is extremely rich. Michael is a successful attorney while Veronica is a self appointed writer and works part-time in a book shop. Both couples could have met at a party or function but they have been brought together because of their sons who are both about eleven years of age. The two boys had a fight in which Alan’s son beat up Michael’s son, causing him severe injuries. The arguments between the four adults relative to the fight between their sons becomes a contest that drags on excessively far in considering the context of the two marriages and the qualities of the four characters. The play virtually becomes a battle of wits in which the characters probe the details of each others’ lives and it appears for some time the couples will remain together but soon the partnerships begin to show signs of wavering. It becomes perceptible that none of the partners are happy with each other and the play is enjoyable to watch as the four repeatedly come in conflict and get ready to fight with each other. They go on throwing insults at each other and loyalty seems to become a weak aspiration. Both pairs of husbands and wives accuse each other; they create new alliances at one moment and drop them in

Introduction to Psychology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 5

Introduction to Psychology - Essay Example There is a decrease in breathing and heart rate. At the final stage/paradoxical sleep, the EEG recordings increase as those of stage 1 and 2 due to increased brain activity. Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep is experienced here. The EEG pattern is like that of a person who is awake. Generally, there is deeper sleep in the early cycles but in the later cycles there is more time in the REM. Sleep disorders result in distorted sleep which can affect a person’s live and career. It reduces the optimal functioning of a person and increases the chances of accidents during work. They result from psychological, biological and environmental factors. Insomnia: This refers to a condition of unsatisfactory quantity or quality of sleep. Continued lack of satisfactory sleep leads to inability to sleep on time, arousals during sleep, early awakening. Sleep Apnea: This affects the upper respiratory system. There is a stop in breathing during sleep hence emergency hormones are secreted causing the person to awake so as to breath (Gray, 2010). Narcolepsy: The person affected experiences periodic sleep during the day. When they sleep, they enter REM sleep immediately so they experience vivid dream images and terrifying hallucinations. Muscle weakness or lack of muscle control can be experienced under emotional excitement causing the person to suddenly fall. This causes negative psychological and social impact. Somnambulism/sleepwalking: While asleep, the person leaves their beds and walk around. It is associated with NREM sleep. Children learn both spoken and gestural languages. A child can be said to have fully acquired language when they have reached a stage of being able to analyze and recognize the units of sound and the meaning of that language. They should also be able to organize sounds into words and derive meaningful sentences from these words and participate actively in coherent conversations. The first step in language

Car insurance Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Car insurance - Research Proposal Example Many purchasers simply sign on the bottom line without asking many questions or reading the policy. Let’s face it, insurance policies aren’t compelling reading material. They even make an attorney’s eyes glaze over. There are simple steps to take, however, to avoid being scammed. Most insurance scams begin by offering rates that seem ‘too good to be true.’ Guess what, they usually are. These low rates then suddenly jump up to higher than average sums a month or two into the policy’s duration. The insurance company blames some type of human or computer error and doesn’t honor the original quote. To lessen the chance of being scammed, confirm that the company is licensed by the state, as required by law. Ask questions about the coverage and obtain a copy of the policy. If the agent cannot sufficiently answer basic concerns, move on to the next company. Ask companies about their competitors, inquire to friends and neighbors regarding their insurance companies, never sign blank forms or pay in cash, many more people than you’d think are scammed after paying cash (â€Å"Insurance Scams† 2006). Choosing the best insurance company to fit the individual’s specific needs can be difficult and confusing. From national companies such as Allstate, Farmers, Geico, etc, to locally owned insurers, the choices are many but there are guidelines that help making an educated decision. Each state has a department that oversees insurance companies. If there are questions regarding licensing or if a person has issues with their insurance carrier, this state agency should be contacted for assistance. Prices vary widely among different insurance companies. Shopping around takes little time and can save a person hundreds of dollars a year. Phoning different companies and researching prices on the internet is well worth the time spent. Experts suggest getting at least three quotes before deciding. Most state’s insurance

Comparing the 1962 Version of The Manchurian Candidate with the 2004 Essay

Comparing the 1962 Version of The Manchurian Candidate with the 2004 version - Essay Example The movie-making industry is inseparable from the political and historical conditions, in which it operates. Even fantastic movies and horrors cannot escape the dramatic influence of historical and political realities. The Manchurian Candidate was first created in 1962. Featuring Frank Sinatra, the movie was a compound product of multiple historical, social, and technical influences. The fear of Communism, the rapid spread of McCarthyism, and the Cold War altogether contributed to the development of a sophisticated vision of war, which, taking place thousands of miles from the American continent, profoundly alters the American political landscape. On the social background, an evolutionary nature of a social role a woman plays in the society is evident. At first, in the version of 1962 year, the main character was a manipulative woman, but there was no essential political influence of this heroine. In the version of 2004 year, this character becomes a Senator. Therefore, it is clearly seen that social factor has contributed greatly to the social accents set in the new version of the film. Moreover, there is a lack of sensual transfer of intimate relations between the main characters. Thus, for example, Lansbury’s character kissing Shaw inspires the audience and creates a romantic atmosphere. In the modern version there is no such kind of a romantic aura between the characters. Political Differences-The concept of â€Å"fear† is integrative for both films. Two great powerful machines that are consuming contemporaries are presented with the same powerful manner: in the first version of the film there is an atmosphere of fear in the face of communism and in the second film the characters are afraid of being absorbed by a powerful corporate machine. Therefore, it is evident that historical events and periods of films’ creation influenced the main conceptual framework of both film versions. The influential and powerful factor of fear in the face of communism (in 1962 version) was substituted by another fear factor in the version of 2004. Another political factor that is rather controversial in the modern version is the way assassination is represented. A great emphasis is made on a â€Å"programmed nature† of assassinator’s mind. At this point we can see an intricate interconnection between political and technological factors. This i nterpretation of assassination is justified in the modern version as it is strongly backed up by the modern technological developments. Moreover, another explanation is provided. The matter of natural/unnatural changes of human behavior is explained in terms of technological advancements or as a result of mental disorders. This director’s intention can be interpreted in the following way: whether modern technologies are able to re-program human mind or not, the latter would be either way perverted by his own psycho. The Manchurian Candidate (1962) is probably one of the brightest and memorable products of the American moviemaking industry. Featuring Frank Sinatra, The Manchurian Candidate is a movie, where â€Å"the stepson of a presidential candidate turns out to have been a prisoner of war who underwent interrogation at the hands of Chinese communists† (Delgado 23). The soldier is brainwashed and programmed to assassin a Presidential Candidate.

Model of Albert Memorial Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Model of Albert Memorial - Essay Example Built around 1863 by Sir George Gilbert Scott, model of the Albert Memorial still remains to be an authentic emblem of neo-Gothic architecture till date. The plastered and gilt model neatly wears a polished gander testifying to the facsimile of the original Memorial tower located in Kensington Gardens in the English capital.2 The model was commissioned by Queen Victoria to commemorate Prince Albert, her beloved husband who passed away in 1861. This essay is going to discuss the key points related to the model of Albert Memorial and not the Memorial itself. These points will pertain to the designing and production of the object as well as the technical aspects of the neo-Gothic style of architecture. The literature studies will involve exhaustive analysis of relevant sources, including images, critiques, historical accounts and other informative data. The model of Albert Memorial depicts a seated figure of Prince Albert shielded by a covering which is adorned with symbolic figures of angels. It is topped by a cross and positioned on a platform having ornamented horizontal bands between the architrave and the cornice. Figures of poets, painters, architects and authors are carved on the friezes with moulded plaster. ... It was orchestrated by the fact that middle class segment of the society gained ascendance following steady decline of the aristocratic upper class. The Industrial Revolution that shook the whole of Europe during this time also opened up new job avenues for the skilled craftsmen. Subsequently, both the elite class and the growing middle class could share a common point of interest ahead of the revivalistic phase during Queen Victoria's regime. In essence, the Industrial Revolution captured the spirit of the Aesthetic movement in the British society.4 Veblen (2004: 194) argues that the flurry of products conforming to the genre of industry arts was not caused by some arbitrary movement in aesthetic competence. Rather it was very much an acquired skill mastered through proper grooming of the workers within a systematic framework.5 Thus it would be justified to claim that the deployment of skilled workforce by Queen Victoria for the task of building the Albert Memorial model corresponde d to the norms of the transition from the Elizabethan to the Victorian era. Figure 2. Red House, Kent: Aesthetic Movement (Strickland and Handy 2001: 101) Mainly cast plaster is used to build the model, with a metallic framework to provide support. As far as decoration is concerned, an array of architectural techniques is incorporated to make it look like the original Memorial. The triangular gables beneath the covering are affixed with gilded and pied paper works representing mosaic. Granite effect is created through a scagliola-like decoration vested in the column shafts, the model floor, bases of the four corners, and the steps. The sculptured band around the base and other portions of the model are painted with a thick layer of

Oef oif Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Oef oif - Research Paper Example As a matter of fact, veterans coping with PTSD need to be adequately cared for. This topic will help in conducting an extensive research to help in understanding their problems and look for the possible ways of serving them (VA Office of Public Health and Environmental Hazards, 2010). PTSD is a common problem facing the war veterans world over. It results from their exposure to traumatizing war conditions such as seeing the seriously wounded or dead bodies; being shot at by their enemies; being ambushed; knowledge of the slain colleagues; or getting a mortar fire. On the other hand, women veterans might be of higher risks of suffering from this condition because of their vulnerability to Military Sexual Trauma (MST) that come as a result of repeated sexual cases of sexual harassment and assaults experienced during the peacetime, training and war. Since these conditions pose a prolonged effect on the mental health of these veterans, a comprehensive health care scheme needs to be implemented. Healthcare provision to the Iraqi and Afghan veterans with PTSD has become an issue of concern today. It is has posed a great challenge to different health care providers in the country. Hence, the Department of Veteran Affairs should take it so seriously. A lot should be done to help these patriots to cope up with such a stressful condition. Otherwise, it might interfere with their mental health and eventually paralyze their interpersonal relations (Rothschild, 2000). So, this research will strive to unearth more information about these veterans and look for measures through which they can be assisted. To achieve this goal, the research will have to advocate for the improvement in the quality of health care offered to them and recommend the use of amore comprehensive approach. These include, but not limited to, the use of social services,

Just Another Lionel Messi Essay Example for Free

Just Another Lionel Messi Essay Standing at just over 5 feet 6 inches tall , and with an age of just 24 , Lionel Messi is touted to be one of the greatest players of all time , maybe even the greatest . Maradonna famously termed him his ‘successor’ , and although Pele finds reasons not to call him the greatest of all time , its probably ‘cause he’d rather not give up his title to someone else. Human nature, you could say,but well,he’s going to have to agree sooner or later. Cristiano Ronaldo has it all. He has the stats, he has the ability, he has the strength. There is no doubt in the fact that Cristiano Ronaldo has been grossly underestimated when it comes to comparisons with Messi. Messi cant head the ball like Ronaldo. Ronaldo can probably do everything that Messi can with his feet. But then what is it that Messi has that attracts every single person to the beautiful game? The fact that he lives for the game. Once he gets the ball , he will not leave it until he has done justice to his ability with the ball. All incredibly skilful players, Ronaldo , Nani , you name them, dive at the first opportunity presented to them . Lionel Messi never dives. If you’re wondering what I mean by ‘dive’, and I’m assuming you probably are , it is the practice of falling to the ground ,pretending to be injured, appealing for a foul, and then ,once the purpose is fulfilled, ending up running around the field without any hint of injury. Lionel Messi hardly ever does it . In fact he never does it . Messi is humble, probably the humblest ‘great’ of all time . After scoring seven goals in the past week, and being on the verge of becoming the all-time highest goalscorer of Barcelona, he still credits the club’s run of success,as well as his , to coach Pep Guardiola. Lionel Messi never dives. He plays fair. And when he does,he makes sure we all know , that he was born to play this game .

Ethical Issues in the UK Government

Ethical Issues in the UK Government Part 1: Case study analysis[D1] Question 1:  Describe the main activities pursued by government. The UK government is a democratically elected entity that has jurisdictional rule over Great Britain and Northern Ireland forming what is commonly known at the United Kingdom. This government is led by the Prime Minister and consists of a tripartite system of a legislative, executive and judicial branches in order to rule consistently and fairly. In the case of the UK government, the legislative branch consists of the Cabinet, which is made up of government ministers who are responsible for making and deciding laws. The executive and legal branches represents the two Houses of Parliament; The House of Commons and The House of Lords respectively. The House of Commons carries out laws and represents peoples (constituencies) interests and the House of Lords scrutinise, amends and evaluates laws. There is also the Supreme Court, which also deals with judicial matters. The UK government also has a monarch figure head in the form of the Queen, who reads out decisions made in her speech. The UK government is responsible for protecting and providing both the economic and social systems of UK society by implementing decent laws for financial stability in UK markets and for providing public services including health care, education and transport for all members of society and including decent legislation to safeguard the quality of jobs and the welfare of citizens. Housing could be incorporated into that list as housing issues are a current concern in the UK. (Jonn Elledge 2017). Some say housing should be top priority for the government. (DCLG priority objectives, 2015 to 2020). The debates around housing vary between demands for the government to build more homes to combat the housing deficiencies around the country, due to densely populated towns and cities. Arguments around redeveloping inner cities and building new social housing on existing brown field sites, or capping private rental fees are all feasible with some ingenuity and forward planning by a willing gove rnment. Discuss the role of government in the case study provided. On the other side of the spectrum are the super-rich who, over many years, have been able to spend small fortunes on acquiring houses in London and other parts of the UK. The case study analysis (Booth, 2016) shows that the UK government has woken up to the fact that some rich millionaires are taking liberties by buying up properties in the UK, using money from questionable sources. The article shows the government has acted proactively and quite boldly to establish a legal framework to put new anti-corruption rules cracking down on offshore secrecy (Booth, 2016) in place to allow for a more transparent process when wealthy investors buy up expensive UK properties. This action by the government to ensure overseas investors and offshore companies have to join a public register of beneficial ownership (Booth, 2016) will reduce corruption in the housing industry. Implementing this legal framework will act as a precedent in safeguarding the UK housing market. It is a bold move by the gov ernment because the article points out many extremely affluent people may sell up their homes and relocate elsewhere as they will lose their anonymity in the UK once this new legislation becomes law. Question 2:  Describe how supply and demand interact to shape prices and  discuss how this applies to Londons property market. The property market is extremely unique in regards to supply and demand concepts. In the property market demand outstrips supply and some of the determinants of this is due to the increases in population, the obtainability of available property and stamp duty costs. There is a lack of Ceteris paribus meaning that all is not equal or held constant in the UK property market at the moment. (Alessandro Sancino, 2015) Before the economic crisis in 2008, house prices continued to soar at unprecedented levels allowing the equilibrium of supply and demand in the property industry to go off track. The economic crash brought with it opportunities for regulating the property market, and allows the elasticity of demand to fall back in line with supply and bring the levels of equilibrium back to an level playing field for the UK property market. Question 3:  Using one theory of ethics, describe the key ethical issues in the case and what you think the Prime Minister should do. A theory of ethics that is relevant for this discussion would be the ethics around justice in organisations and societies. Justice is an ethical perspective that takes account of how benefits and resources are distributed in a society, or even within an organisation. It asks one to think about how one might design just opportunities and the distribution of wealth. (Owain SmoloviĆ¡-Jones, 2015). This theory of ethics would be ideal for the UK government to consider when implementing regulation of the housing market. Ideas around the distributive justice is imperative for a democratic government. I think that this type of ethics is important in regulating the property market because it gives young people a better chance to own their own home and not be priced out the housing market for the foreseeable future. The government that was in power when the case study was written was run by the Conservative Party and led by David Cameron. That government has overtones of having a ca pitalist perspective, which holds that justice is determined by the benefits generated through work which should be distributed according to contribution. In order to apply to a greater demographic of society, that particular government incorporated elements of justice through a socialist perspective to gain greater appeal. This may have been the thinking behind regulating the housing market in the fashion they chose as highlighted in the case study. (Booth, 2016) So that not only the super-rich would benefit from future home ownership in London. This thinking was right in order for the government to show that they are listening to the concerns about the need for regulation in the property sector being generated by MPs, who have been speaking on behalf of their constituents. Question 4:  Identified two human rights that are important in the case.  Explain why these are important and how the Prime Minister should respond. There are two human rights from the Declaration of Human Rights charter (1948) that are relevant for discussion here. The first, Article 12, states that No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks. (Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948). The UK government should factor in this human rights article in regards to the implications of regulating the London housing market because the case study (Booth, 2016) shows that the super-rich could abandon plans to buy homes in Britain, as they would lose their anonymity once they join the public register for foreign home ownership in the UK. The government should respond to these concerns by putting plans in place, maybe through an advisory board, to make sure the public register, although public, is not used as a tool by the media to scapegoat the super-rich and scaremonger the wider public with tales of unfair home ownership by foreign investors. As undoubtable, the super-rich do make substantial contributions to the UK economy that the government would not want to lose. The second, Article 17 states that everyone should be able to purchase property in their home country (Human Rights Declaration, 1948). This is self-explanatory and affords the government leverage to act on behalf of the interests of British citizens without breaking any discriminatory laws. Currently house prices are soaring at an increasing extent and arguments widely heard include that buying homes are becoming increasingly difficult for first time buyers, and young people to purchase. Due in part to the huge deposits needed to secure a mortgage and the ominous increases in the private rental market. The UK government could use this article to their advantage by stating that this regulatory measure will be used as a stepping stone for further regulation of the housing market and look to tackle these other issues as the next priority. Activities could include working with private sector businesses through Public Private Partnerships to build more homes on existing brownfield sites and factor in through further legislation that only a third of those homes can be sold to foreign investors, whilst two-thirds are ring-fenced for British citizens using, on this occasion, the controversial concept of positive discrimination in regards to British citizens seen as priority over foreign investors. References Sancino, A, Readings 37-45 (2015), Open University. Booth (2016) Super-rich may quit London homes under new anti-corruption rules Open University. Department for Communities and Local Governments (DCLG) single departmental plan. Priority objectives for 2015 to 2020. [online] (Updated 2 September 2016). Available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dclg-single-departmental-plan-2015-to-2020/single-departmental-plan-2015-to-2020. Elledge, J (2017) Britains housing crisis could be solved if only the government wanted to. The Guardian, 30 January 2017 [online]. Available at https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/jan/30/britain-housing-crisis-solved-social-housing. SmoloviĆ¡-Jones, O (2015), Readings 46-55, Open University. Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) [online] Available at http://www.un.org/en/universal-declaration-human-rights/. [D1]I note straiught awqay that you have not used the full word count. You appear to be short by several hundred words. Please ensure you use the full allowance in your EMA. While quantity doies not guarantee quality, by missing out on so many words there will be an effect on the quality fo your work.

Encouraging our Children to Read :: Reading Education, early education, elementary

Reading is widely labeled as a very important factor to reach fruition in education. The rising question is whether we should encourage our children to read whatever appeals to them. Personally, I firmly believe the good impact of reading to the children’s taste. To begin with, reading whatever they like help children feel more relaxed, fascinated and much more confident with reading - a most educated form of entertainments that is dying with the prevalence of other new mass media such as cable televisions, internets and so on. Reading has been proved to be very useful for children’s good performance at school and especially their life later as throughout the process of active reading their mother tongue language capacity in general is much more improved especially the communicative skills and social interaction manner. Secondly, if the children are encouraged to read whatever appeals to them, they are self motivated to read much more. Consequently, the more they read, the more they can widen their own knowledge about the world around them in an easy way and then the more perfect their personalities can be. For example, with children who spend lots of time reading interesting fairy tales, fables or history legends the moral lessons can be instilled naturally into their minds and will be remembered much longer as they are not as dry and dull as sentences like you should do this or you are not allowed to do that uttered by their parents day by day. Furthermore, being read to their likings can arouse the children’s sense of aspiration and exploration. The children’s imagination and creativity is lifted to a higher level as some children take their time reading exciting non-fiction books, detective stories or colorful cartoons. More tellingly, in this way both emotional thinking and logical thinking of the children are intensely provoked. And maybe in the future they will be excellent painters, imaginative writers or radical journalists. However, it is argued that if the children are free to choose what they read satisfying their curiosity it will be very dangerous. That is to say, children are obviously allowed or encouraged to approach bad source of information such as violence, sex and so on. Admittedly, by nature children are likely to be absorbed and imitated by things that are strange and attractive to them.

Analysis of Kubla Khan by Samuel Taylor Coleridge Essay -- Kubla Khan

Analysis of Kubla Khan by Samuel Taylor Coleridge 'Kubla Khan' by Samuel Taylor Coleridge reveals the power of the imaginative poetry. This poetry has the ability to create kingdoms and paradise. In this poem Coleridge is expressing heaven and hell through his own eyes just as the aplostles did in the ?Bible? and Milton did in 'Paradise Lost'. The poem begins with a mythical tone, ?In Xanadu did Kubla Khan/ A stately pleasure dome decree.? The poem does not give specifics to the construction of the palace. It just states that Khan decreed the palace be built and then begins describing the palace. The poem?s method of creating a vision of the ?pleasure dome? is similar to the biblical tale of the creation of the Garden of Eden. As Eden was created by God, the ?pl...

Brave New World :: essays research papers

The Loss of Individuality The peak of a writer’s career should exhibit their most profound works of literature. In the case of Aldous Huxley, Brave New World is by far his most renowned novel. Aldous Huxley is a European-born writer who, in the midst of his career, moved to the United States and settled in California. While in California, he began to have visions aided by his usage of hallucinatory drugs. His visions were of a utopian society surviving here on earth. In his literature, Huxley wanted to make this utopian society as much a reality as possible. "In framing an ideal we may assume what we wish, but should avoid impossibilities." This quote, written by Aristotle, perfectly describes Huxley’s attitude towards the creation of his imaginary utopia. His only problem was establishing a value system that would not seem too unattainable. Huxley has two novels that have the theme of utopia, Brave New World and Island. Brave New World , which was written bef ore Island , has ideas that are quite far-fetched, but in Huxley’s eyes, still close to reality. Huxley’s first portrait of utopia involves having a controlled society of people all being alike. The year is A.F. 632 (After Ford; Ford is the equivalent to God in Brave New World ) and with the available technology, citizens are mass produced. Island is a product of the rethinking of Huxley’s utopia. The ideas are a lot more real because the people are just ordinary human beings. Both of these novels have an underlying theme in common. The stability of Huxley’s utopian societies are centered around the loss of individualism. Individuals are considered a threat in Huxley’s utopian novels. In the novel Island, the utopian society is on a small island, named Pala. The leader of the utopian society, Murugan, is an individual apart from the community. His plans are to modernize and charge the way the people of Pala live. The reason he has thoughts that are different from the rest of the community is that he was raised outside of Pala. He grew up in Switzerland and the neighboring island Rendag, both of which have been modernized and corrupted by the outside world. Therefore, Murugan’s mind has been corrupted by his staying in those two places. "Pala is thus threatened by the outside world," explains critic Frank Magill, because Murugan is introducing the modern way of life to this small island and it is damaging the stability of the community.

John Proctor the Tragic Protagonist

In The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, the protagonist John Proctor is caught in the middle of the Salem witchcraft trials in 1692. The accusers are a bunch of young girls led by Abigail, who wishes to be with john proctor by having his wife hanged at the gallows. John Proctor attempts to bring an end to the lies and corruption spawned by Abigail and her group of followers.Trough these attempts to bring justice to the court of Salem, his efforts to save his his wife Elizabeth Proctor from being hanged for witchcraft, and through his perseverance to protect the honor of his name by not falsely admitting to witchcraft, John Proctor establishes himself as The Crucibles’ Tragic hero. John Proctor realizes the girls making accusations of witchcraft in Salem are lying and pretending. Proctor first learns of Mary Warren, his servant, who making false accusation in the court. John proctor realizes Mary Warren and Abigail, the women John proctor had an affair with, are conspiring to have Elizabeth hanged for witchcraft. Proctor realizes this when Mary Warren makes a poppet for Elizabeth that mimics a voodoo doll and lands Elizabeth an arrest for witchcraft. This when John Proctor decides to go to court to expose the truth. In court while trying to accuse the girls of lying, Mary Warren puts on act to make the court think John is bewitching her, and he ends up being accused himself. This is a tragic quality of The Crucible because John Proctor in the act of trying to save his wife’s life and expose the truth gets himself convicted of the very same crime. Proctor’s wife, Elizabeth Proctor, is accused of witchcraft by Abigail, who claims she used a voodoo doll on her. Mary Warren had constructed the doll in court and John Proctor knows this and wishes to save his wife’s life. He argues with Mary Warren and forces her to testify to the court that the girls were all lying. Mary Warren ends up testifying and then turning on Proctor accusing him of witchcraft. Proctor denies his charge of witchcraft and even shames himself by admitting to the court having had committed lechery with Abigail. The Court brings out Elizabeth to confirm John Proctor’s confession of lechery. Thinking to protect her husband she denies it to the court. This is tragic because in trying save Elizabeth John himself becomes accused and in Elizabeth’s will to save her husbands image she only further convinces the Judge to arrest John Proctor. When John Proctor is accused of witchcraft, he denies all charges and his thrown in jail. He his marked to be hung. On the day of his hanging he is persuaded by Elizabeth and his own conscience to confess in order to save his life. He confesses to the judge and his confession is copied onto a confession statement to be posted on the church. John Proctor does not want his confession posted on the church because he wants his name to retain its honor, especially since he has a family and children. He is told unless his confession is posted on the church it wont be accepted. John Proctor in a moment of self righteousness decides to uphold his honor and denies the charge of witchcraft and allows himself to be hanged in the gallows. Tragedy strikes here because a good person dies while evil prevails. These events show that John Proctor is a tragic hero. He is an honest man and when he realizes the seriousness of girls’ lies he acts to bring truth to the court. He tries to protect his wife from certain death and instead receives the same fate she does. Finally Proctor tries to salvage his name out of the wreckage of the witchcraft trials but cannot do so without dying. These are all examples of why John Proctor is truly The Crucible’s tragic hero.

A History of Violence, Released in 2005

â€Å"A History of Violence,† released in 2005, is an American crime thriller which demonstrates and relates to numerous topics discussed in Psychology: An Exploration. Different psychological disorders and theories can be seen throughout the film. Tom Stall, the main character, kills two robbers in self defense and becomes a hero. However, his over night popularity thrusts him into the spotlight and causes members of an organized crime family to begin harassing Tom and his family. The mobsters claim Tom is not who he portrays himself to be. In the beginning of the film, two sought after criminals nonchalantly murder motel workers and a young girl. They exhibit no regret or emotions after the killings and continue on their crime spree. Next they are shown casually plotting a robbery to obtain cash and a free meal. The two men walk into the restaurant, demand service, and attempt to assault and murder the workers and patrons within. However, their scheme is abruptly ended when Tom Stall, the restaurant owner, kills both robbers. Both of these criminals displayed antisocial characteristics. In chapter 12, Psychological Disorders, an antisocial person or sociopath is defined as â€Å"lacking in conscience or morals; users and con artists who experience no regret or strong emotions. † This definition defines the robbers psyche faultlessly. Intermediately in the film, Tom Stall’s son, Jack stall is shown being bullied. Bobby has continually harassed and bullied Jack for no apparent reason. Usually Jack tells jokes and ignores Bobby’s constant harassment. However, in this particular scene, Jack has had enough and retaliates. Bobby is an adolescent and may be dealing with a psychosocial crisis discussed in chapter 7, Development Across the Life Span. Erikson’s identity versus role confusion is defined as the â€Å"fifth stage of personality development in which the adolescent must find a consistent sense of self. † Bobby may have come into this stage without successfully completing the earlier four stages. The aftereffect of such an occurrence may be a juvenile delinquent like Bobby. His acts of bullying may be his way of â€Å"fitting in† or being â€Å"cool. † Tom also has a daughter, Sarah Stall. In one particular scene Sarah is awakened in the middle of the night by a bad dream. She wakes up screaming and expressing her concern of monsters being in her room. Tom rushes to his daughter’s aid and the rest of the family soon follows suit. Tom and others comfort the little girl and emphasize that she is safe and has nothing to be afraid of and should go back to sleep. Sarah eventually calms down and is able to go back to sleep. Chapter 7 discusses numerous parenting styles. One of those styles is authoritative parenting which is defined as a â€Å"style of parenting in which parents combine warmth and affection with firm limits on a child’s behavior. † Although Tom’s first instinct was to comfort Sarah and ease her mind he also made it clear that it was bedtime and time for her to quiet down and rest. Tom displayed a perfect example of authoritative parenting. After repeatedly denying accusations and claims of being an ex-gangster named Joey, Tom finally admits to his wife Edie that he was indeed involved in organized crime. Edie is disgusted by Tom’s confession and becomes ill. She lashes out and says, â€Å"What are you? Like some multiple personality schizoid! † Tom is stunned by her anger but replies by saying â€Å"I went out to the dessert and I killed him (Joey). I spent three years becoming Tom Stall! Schizophrenia is defined chapter 12 as a â€Å"severe disorder in which the person suffers from disordered thinking, bizarre behavior, hallucinations, and inability to distinguish fantasy and reality. † Although Tom’s life as a small town restaurant owner was completely false, he knew this and could distinguish the difference between fantasy and reality. Tom may have somewhat displayed symptoms of Schizophrenia but a different delusional disorder may be a better diagnosis.

Proverbs Essay

Proverbs Essay A Man of Wisdom The book of Proverbs describes what a wise man is and what his behavior grants him. A man of wisdom has many characteristic aspects that make him ‘wise’, these are made very clear in the book of Proverbs. King Solomon, being granted the wisest man, was the author to most of the proverbs that offer the descriptions of both a wise and unwise man. Some of the aspects to a wise man are hard to honor, but that is what makes a man wise, and gives him the benefits and good fortune in his life. The beginning of Proverbs gives general advice and guidance for children.These are known as Solomon’s Wise Lessons. In this section of the book the verses are aimed at children being taught a lesson by his or her elders. The few stories consist of rejecting wisdom, benefits of wisdom, and warnings against adultery/adulteresses and folly. If you reject wisdom, then you chose not to fear the Lord as well, and will be filled with your own ways. â€Å"Si nce they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the Lord, since they would not accept my advice and spurned my rebuke, they will eat the fruit of their ways and be filled with the fruit of their schemes. (NIV, Proverbs 1:29-31) The other main point in the beginning of the book was the warnings against adultery. A wise man is to keep just to his wife, and only his wife, even though the adulteress is very persuasive and crafty. â€Å"Say to wisdom â€Å"you are my sister,† and call understanding your kinsman; they will keep you from the adulteress, from the wayward wife with her seductive words. † (NIV, Proverbs 7:4-5) The men that did subdue to the adulteress were throwing their lives away. The second section of the book of Proverbs is all proverbs from King Solomon. In these proverbs he describes a wise man and an unwise man.A lot of the time he refers to them as simple and righteous. He demonstrates how a righteous man would act compared to a simple or unrighteous man in lots of different situations. These situations include ones like â€Å"The wise in heart accept commands, but the chattering fool comes to ruin. † (NIV, Proverbs 10:8) â€Å"A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret. † (NIV, Proverbs 11:13) â€Å"A mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but the knowledge comes easy to the discerning. † (NIV, Proverbs 14:6) These are just a few of them; I could keep going and going.Proverbs 10:8 means that the wise people will listen and be obedient to the Lord. This obedience will be shown through God, and will bring them good fortune. If you refuse God’s commands then that shows your true character. Those that choose not to obey, and instead rebel, while thinking that they are standing up for their proud heart, will be going against their best interests. Proverbs 11:13 is saying that we should not trust people who gossip or spread stories about other people. And, if we do trust these gossip ing people then we can be considered to be fools because we could not trust them with the secrets that we tell them.Basically, choose your friendships carefully, and make sure they have the same values as you do. Proverbs 14:6 means that those seeking for wisdom without the right reason, lets say for pride or only when they need it instead of for the glory of God don’t receive wisdom. God doesn’t want to reveal the wisdom to anyone unless they are there to serve him and are humble. Someone who has an attitude that is bashful against the spiritual truth and that only picks which truth he wants to hear in order to profit himself is the scorner, and will not be granted his wishes.According to Providence Baptist Ministries, â€Å"The right attitude makes learning easy. † That is very understandable to me. As children, most people would say that their parents taught them the ‘golden rule’. The golden rule being, ‘treat others as you would like to b e treated’. I think that this rule applies a lot to the book Proverbs in the Bible. If you act well and not in sin then you get good fortune and a good afterlife, but if you don’t act in such a way, then you will get bad fortune and a bad afterlife.The book of Proverbs is known as a book of wisdom and is taught as in a classroom setting, as if you are learning valuable life lessons while reading these books. It’s this setting and perspective that allows this book to be so effective in teaching what the characteristics are and how to become a ‘wise man’. If you just follow these simple tasks that are outlined for you then you can live a happy life in prosperity and health. Works Cited â€Å"Bible Study Courses. † Proverbs Chapter 10. Providence Baptist Ministries, 2004. Web. 16 June 2012. . â€Å"Bible Study Courses. † Proverbs Chapter 14. Providence Baptist Ministries, 2004. Web. 18 June 2012. . Linda. â€Å"Proverbs-A Bible Study. â €  : Proverbs 11: 13 Gossip vs. A Faithful Spirit. N. p. , 17 Sept. 2009. Web. 16 June 2012. . â€Å"New International Version of The Holy Bible. † The Book of Proverbs. Published in Grand Rapids, Michigan. 1984. Print. June 16-18, 2012.

Bill French Case Essay

1. What are the assumptions implicit in Bill French’s determination of his company’s break-even point? * He has assumed that there is just one breakeven point for the firm (by taking the average of the 3 products). * He has also assumed that the sales mix will remain constant. Total revenue and total expenses behave in a linear manner over the relevant range. * Since the capacity is being expanded to increase production of Product C, it could be assumed that this increase should be allocated to this product. Production of Product A is to be scaled down, but its level of fixed costs has been assumed to be unchanged. * Constant dividends are paid out to the company’s stockholders. * Labor union will not significantly affect cost structure. No substantial changes in product prices. 2. On the basis of French’s revised information, what does next year look like? a. What is the break-even point? The break even unit for the aggregate production is 1,035,686 units. Calculation of the break even points using the new estimates: Breakeven points have been calculated using the formula: Breakeven number of units = Fixed costs / Contribution margin per unit, where Contribution margin per unit = Selling price – Variable cost per unit b. What level of operations must be achieved to pay the extra dividend, ignoring union demands? To pay the extra dividend of 50% and to retain the profit of 150,000 we need to have the profit after taxes as 600,000. As half of the revenues go to the government as taxes therefore the total revenues before tax deduction should be equal to 1,200,000. c. What level of operations must be achieved to meet union demands, ignoring bonus dividends? d. What level of operations must be achieved to meet both union demands & bonus dividends? 3. Can the break-even analysis help the company decide whether to alter the existing product emphasis? What can the company afford to invest for additional â€Å"C† capacity? Break even analysis can be used to decide whether to alter the existing product emphasis or not. In this case, based from previous year’s data, it is not feasible to manufacture product C at 2.40 / unit. Below table provides checking whether the company can afford to invest in additional C capacity. 4. Calculate each of the three products’ break even points using Exhibit 3. Why is the sum of these three volumes not equal to the 1,100,000 unit’s aggregate break-even volume? The sum of three break even volumes does not equate the aggregate break even volume because of varying fixed costs. It is illustrated in the below table: Question 5: Is this type of analysis of any value? For what can it be used? Break-Even analysis explains the relationship between cost, production, volume and returns. It can be extended to show how changes in fixed cost, variable cost, commodity prices, revenue will affect profit levels and break even points. Break even analysis is most useful when used with partial budgeting, capital budgeting techniques. The break even analysis helps understand and formulate the relationship between costs (fixed and variable), output and profit. The technique can be used to set sales targets and/or prices to generate target profits. In a wide product range, the analysis helps to find out which products are performing well and which are leading to losses .It is also versatile enough to include items like donations, wage increases, etc. that directly or indirectly affect costs.

The Process of Product Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Process of Product Analysis - Essay Example Watermelon is a nutritional fruit known to have originated from West Africa. Popular belief has it that watermelons are generally made up of water and sugar. However, studies have shown that it is a nutrient-dense fruit. Watermelons have high amounts of vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals. It is generally a low-calorie fruit which explains the high consumption rates in the US. The nutritional values are beneficial in curing various diseases like high blood pressure, cancers, asthma, hydration, and inflammations. Watermelons are readily available in the US as they are easily grown and don’t require lots of input. Most Americans grow them in their backyard. They generally thrive in hot and dry weather. A ripe watermelon is more sweat compared to those that are less mature. The popularity of the fruit is more during the summer and picnics due to their sweetness and their aid in combating the heat. There are different types of watermelons: seedless, yellow, orange, seeded and min i which is also known as personal. Seeded watermelons are the most popular type in the US. They are fairly cheap ranging between $2 and $4 per watermelon. Watermelons can take up to a week if well stored. The perishability of them is higher compared to other fruits like oranges and passion fruits. Watermelons are popular in the restaurants as they provide a good dessert. Restaurants offer watermelons in their menus in various forms. Watermelon can be blended to make juice and smoothies.

Issues in the Management of Human Resources Essay

Issues in the Management of Human Resources - Essay Example Towards this purpose, there can be several strategies that can be used and the best of those are highlighted in this report. The first strategy which can be recommended is to make work and project teams which are geared to the diversity of the client. Brown (2005) discussed this strategy as it was applied by the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) which was seeking a more diverse clientele and started with creating diverse teams for the sales force. The company quickly discovered out that attracting diverse clients requires diverse leadership and a diverse workforce as well. Simply targeting minorities in advertisements and billboards is not a guarantee for a diverse clientele since the human resources of the company at all levels must be made out of a diverse population (Torrington et. al., 2002). The president of MBA is reported to have said that diversity is not merely about connecting with a new customer market, it is a requirement for survival in the upcoming markets. Brown (2005) acknowledges that diversity programs and initiatives often fail because if used incorrectly, they can potentially waste time, money and other resources for the company. Therefore, if our company finds the client coming with a diverse team, the individuals which are selected to deal with the client should be selected with diversity in mind. DuPont is seen as a radiant model of a company which has managed to enlarge its customer base considerably by embracing diversity as a business tool. The company takes diversity as a business essential which is vital for the renewal of business and strategic competitiveness (Lockwood, 2005). This philosophy is made very clear by the variety of strategies used for creating and maintaining diversity at the company. DuPont emphasised its process of diversity with three elements, the first of which is accountability. Accountability for the leadership of a company has been mentioned by Yuki (2006) as a vital aspect of creating commitment to a

Analysis of an Extract from Joseph Townsends Disseration on the Poor Essay

Analysis of an Extract from Joseph Townsends Disseration on the Poor Laws (1786) - Essay Example An important piece of work in this matter is the paper by Joseph Townsend titled, A Dissertation of the Poor Laws (1786). Here, he emphasizes that it is the basic law of nature that the poor should be in a state of improvidence to some extent so as to make sure that there is a perpetual need to accommodate the most servile positions in society. He further notes that in this way, the cup of human happiness remains overflowing, while the so called â€Å"delicate† breed of aristocrats are set free of ever experiencing any kind of drudgery, and the scope of employment is lost so as to spare them the misery of working. In this way, they are at liberty to pursue activities which they feel like, and which are important for the functioning of the state. Regarding the poor, he has said that they should adopt the policy to take up the most menial tasks and the most laborious works, as well as those activities that involve maximum danger. In the meantime, they may entertain themselves with the hope of any reward for undertaking risks and hard work. Without these standards rules of poverty, the fleets and armies of a country face a serious dearth of soldiers and of sailors. This kind of a situation will also exist if sensitivity towards the poor were to universally prevailed. This is due to the reason that it is only distress and poverty which can prevail upon the lower classes of the people to encounter all the horrors which await them on the waves of the ocean, or in the bloody fields of battle. It is a well known and well acknowledged fact that no man who has seen an easy life would be willing to fight in the army or take up risky ventures. Further, he talks about the fact that there must be a degree of pressure, so as to make sure that hunger is either felt or feared. This will fuel the desire of earning one’s daily meals to quietly adjust the mind to undergo the greatest hardships, which will

Jacksonian era Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Jacksonian era - Essay Example This societal approach evolved into a misogynistic approach that has carried over in some small social groupings to this day. Initially the idea was not meant to see the women as unfit for other roles or as less than men. It simply meant that because they bore the children and were the nursemaids naturally they were assumed to be better in that role, and as a result the idea became tradition which made it difficult to break when technology changed and made physical labor a part of industry and not the entire industry. Wage differences for women and men when working were generally drastic with very few exceptions to this. As a result of the poor conditions and rate of pay several successful labor unions for women were formed. One in 1863 was called the Collar Laundry Union; as a result of going on strike they won an increase in wages. Another was called the Daughters of St. Crispin and was formed in 1869; it was a group of women shoestitchers and was recognized as the first national w omen’s union. (Lewis 1) The advent of women’s unions helped shed light on the deplorable conditions and low pay suffered. The Lowell System was a brilliant system implemented by the mill owners in Lowell Massachusetts.

Labor Economics Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Labor Economics - Research Paper Example No matter how effective the human resource managers are in the selection and recruitment process, it appears that they still have to invest in employee training to optimize employee productivity. The essence of this article is to carry out an analysis of the two sources of employee knowledge and to provide a fact-based reaction on the same. Employee training refers to the provision of extra education to employees after the recruitment process as a way of enhancing their productivity by equipping them with knowledge that is relevant to the organizational activities. On the other hand, on-school training refers to the kind of knowledge that potential employees gain in school depending on the subjects and the topics they pursue in part of their career specialization. Most economists have failed to reach a concession on which of the two is more effective or which would be more beneficial to the organization in terms of profit turnover. Dostie (2008) is one of the researchers who have eng aged in an empirical research to investigate the effectiveness of the two sources of employee knowledge. The findings of her research indicate that there is a particular advantage in obtaining employees with proper school training rather than investing on on-job-training. It is indisputable to appreciate that each of the two types of training has its pros and cons and as it seems both are important to the firm. In supporting school training, Dostie (2008) points out that the subjects provided in school are optimized and are best suited for diversified for job opportunities. Consequently, employees will have a good background that will enhance their productivity while in the employment sector. In addition, employees who have adequate training will require little adapting to various work environments much quicker and hence reach the expected production rate almost after they are assimilated in the company. However, the major weakness in school trained employees is that they have littl e diversified knowledge while companies have specific operational activities that may be unique from one organization to the other. In short, although school training outputs an effective labor force, they may have shortfalls in terms of specialization and work orientation. On the other hand, the on-job-training is efficient in orienting new employees to the specific tasks that they are supposed to undertake in an organization. The strength of worker training lies in its ability to model the employees to fit their job description more efficiently and quickly whose cumulative effect is to improve their productivity. However, Dostie (2008) points out that employee training consume a lot of company capital that cannot be recovered by the impact of the process on employee productivity. From this point of view, on-job-training may have a negative impact on the turnover value of the company, which is contrary to the company’s aim of effecting this strategy (Goux & Maurin 12). In es sence, employee productivity can only be measured from their net contribution to the revenue turnover of the firm at the end of the fiscal year rather than their gross production rate. The main goal of any organization is to achieve maximum profits by optimizing employee productivity and minimizing the expenditure in terms of either salary or other priced business operations. The graph below

Valero Energy Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Valero Energy - Research Paper Example Valero Energy Valero Energy is known for its commitment to excellence, challenging work environment and commitment to community. The company has a policy of using state-of-the-art technology to provide cleaner-burning gasoline. The company manages its innovation process by focusing on alternative energy and latest technologies. It has invested in wind farms outside its McKee Refinery in the Texas Panhandle. The innovation process gets tremendous boost through such investments as energy is generated without environmental concerns. The 3 examples of product innovation are: investments in new infra-red technology to quickly find and repair leaks of gaseous hydrocarbons, investments in new flare-gas recovery systems which is an emission-reducing technology and meeting the challenge of greenhouse gas reduction through scientific, economic, and technological analyses. Product innovation consists of either improving the present product or acquiring technologies for environment-friendly alternative energies (Valero Energy Corporation). Critically evaluate whether Valero Energy is a learning organization. In your answer discuss 3 examples of how the company's leadership structure has affected the degree of learning that occurs within the company The Board of directors of Valero Energy consists of men and women of substantial experience and qualify for a learning environment in the company. As qualified and experienced members, they are in a position to foster a learning environment in the company to encourage innovation and growth. Thus, the company's leadership has succeeded in establishing an attitude for competitive and healthy growth with a socio-economic thrust that balances social needs with economic advantages. The company ranks number one on Fortune magazine's listing of the nation's Best Big companies to work for two consecutive years. It also ranks number five among petroleum refining companies on Fortune magazine's listing of America's most admired companies. It is also ranked at number seven on Fortune's magazines listing of most admired companies worldwide. Besides these, the company has secured many other environmental and safety awards. Such accolades on a continuous basis every year bespeak the company's enlightened leadership in learning. The company is also involved in philanthropic activities and generously donates for volunteer activities and educational support programs. Needless to add, these recognitions can only mean that the culture of learning in the company is sufficiently high to merit them (Valero Energy Corporation). Critically evaluate the competitive dynamics of the industry Valero Energy is in. Provide 3 examples in your answer of how Valero Energy can utilize an entrepreneurial strategy to compete more effectively globally The petroleum industry is a fast evolving industry because of environmental issues. On the one hand, petroleum is required for transportation, power and a host of other economies. On the other hand, the use of petroleum has to be minimal because of its greenhouse gas emission that makes it important to adhere to technologies that reduce air pollution. The company has bolstered its image and revenues through social commitments and growing national network of distributors. Gasoline is a product of universal demand. The only way to grow in the gasoline industry is through achieving technological breakthroughs to address environmental

Compliance and Coding Management 1 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Compliance and Coding Management 1 - Assignment Example The current staff of the hospital includes: coders in the HIM department for coding inpatient services; a front office employee phone answering, helping the person who walks in without having an appointment, retrieving and filing the records of the health departments of hospitals; the CFO who does various jobs which includes organizing budgets, organizing accounts, evaluating operational outcomes, and making income tax returns; nursing staff; hospital charge master coordinator who is just enjoying the position and get the information of hospital through phone call while staying at home. Basis of clinical database in hospital is produced by the coded data. Several departments of the clinics and hospitals use the abstracted information that is gathered for every patient. For instance, for clinical analysis, improvement in services of the hospital as well as usage of the provided services the department of quality management uses such information daily. A database produced by gathering of financial and clinical data is called a decision support system. Such systems render important data regarding the business of hospital in both financial and clinical conditions. For instance, information could be collected in order to compare the actual money spent and the hospital service charges cost. This information is further utilized by the financial for forecasting and budgeting. Persons with insurance contracts could use this financial and clinical data to discuss contract’s payment. Therefore, the use of codes for decision support provides helpful information regarding the business of the organization in both financial and clinical. This coding process can provide help to the coders that are in the department of health information management (HIM) and enables them to do their jobs with the essential information for exact coding. In the give scenario there are only threes, therefore the manager of the HIM department

Gender and Religion in South East Asia Term Paper

Gender and Religion in South East Asia - Term Paper Example Various religious beliefs predominated over the places for centuries and the recent forms of religions like Christianity, Buddhism and Islam came to these lands. The advent of the new religions shifted the position of the females too. Earlier the position of female in these places was held high and they enjoyed a prominent role in the society. As time passed by, there witnessed change in these two aspects. The present essay plunges an anthropological study into the matter of gender and religion at the Southeast Asian regions. Throughout the ages, religions and gender of South East Asia have got some kind of significance. Both these play a vital role in the anthropological development of the places. The article, ‘Transgenderisn and Gender Pluralism in Southeast Asia since Early Modern Times’ by Michael G. Peletx takes the words of Reid (1988,146) that â€Å"in the South East Asia the history tells that women predominated in a good many ritual contexts associated with agriculture, spiritual, and other religious powers that men could not match† (Peletz, 2006, 312). The women folk had a close association with the control of the society. The transgendered individuals (male bodied but dressed in female dress) too had taken a key position in the rituals of the people. High levels of sexuality and erotic attributes were associated with such transgendered individuals.... â€Å"The lowlanders occupy the plains and valleys and cultivate wet rice; they are organized into stratified societies and states traditionally headed by divine kings† (Winzeler, 2008, p.271). Among the major lowlanders include Thai of Thailand, Lao of Laos, Khemer of Kambodia, Shan of northeastern Burma, Vietnamese of Vietnam and Burmese of Burma. Owing to the influence of India and Hindu- Buddhist traditions the lowlanders were turned to be ‘Theravada Buddhists’ (Theravada being the southern tradition, or the â€Å"smaller vehicle† of Buddhism) (Winzeler, 2008, p.271). The highlanders live at the mountains and â€Å"were traditionally organized at the village level as tribal societies rather than states, are generally egalitarian, and migrate frequently† (Winzeler, 2008, p.271). These highlanders are more influenced by China and so they stick on to their own native beliefs which usually included shamanism (Winzeler, 2008, p.271). The entry of the Western world had its effect in the land. Some of the ethnic religious beliefs gave way for Christianity. The dominance of the Christianity has paved way the change of religion in some of the places. The post colonial aspects of gender have played a crucial role in the socio political milieu of the countries which are commonly called as Southeast Asia. As most of the south eastern countries have embraced Theravada Buddhism which gave a new outlook for the women folk of the religion. The female ascetics were honored well in the society. In comparison with the female monks of the other nations like Japan, China, and India the feminine gender of the Southeast Asian countries enjoyed supremacy in their total procedures as women. The

America and Vietnam Essay Example for Free

America and Vietnam Essay Olsen and Roberts are both history professors who are fascinated with the ways by which the American government made the situation of the war with Vietnam a fearful yet victorious even for the reputation of the said country. The authors were then able to contribute their thoughts about the situation thus seeing the situation of the past wars a manifestation of the reputation of the American society in the world account of recognized countries of war and reconciliation. Their book â€Å"Where the Domino Fell† actually pictures the actual situations that happened during the American-Vietnamese war during the 1960’s and how the said history particularly affects the relationship of the two countries involved. About the Book [Content and Summary] The overall content of the book is highly recommended for reading and teaching as it gives a clear yet critical approach in assessing the US policy that controlled the Vietnam society from then until the present. Undeniably, the book of Olsen and Roberts is an awakening material that helps the human mind realize the importance of being diplomatic and lawful even when in the middle of distress. Surprisingly, the American society was able to steel a fine reputation out from all the oppression that they have already implicated upon the Vietnamese society during the war years. Through the critical assessment of the situation, the authors intended to give the readers a fine picture not only of what is or what has been obvious but also a glimpse of the truth behind the scenes of historical accounts written in books today. Implications of the Reading As it has been noted earlier, the reading gave a clear depiction of what has happened and why the said events happened during the American-Vietnamese war in the 1960’s. With the insightful informations that the authors posted through their book, they were able to help readers realize what the facts are and how they particularly affect the present relationship that exists between the said countries. Critique of the Writing Approach As for the writing approach of the authors, it is undeniable that the informations that they posted through the reading were carefully assessed thus giving out validated facts that support their explanations of the said historical event. The clarity of the implications of the reading has been strengthened by the documentations that the authors used to show the authenticity of the reading. The utilization of other researches that supported their claims and opinions made the book a must read not only for professors and students, but also for those individuals who endeavor reading books under the typical yet critical approach of understanding history and American politics. Within the context of the book lies a less-traveled path among the historians of the present times. Olsen and Roberts certainly made it clear that history is a human account needed to be understood and learned from through critical observation of the past. Reference: James S. Olson and Randy Roberts. (2006). Where the Domino Fell: America and Vietnam 1945-2006 [ILLUSTRATED]. Blackwell Publishing Limited; 5 edition.

Audience Studies in Media

Audience Studies in Media The study of the audience has been very important in the media studies, since the power of the media in relation to the media audience could form how the society would work, what the public opinion would be and what political ideals would dominate. That is why the relationship of the audience and the media has been studies by scholars and academics since a very long time ago, leading to many theories about the subject to be developed and to a certain debate between the conceptualizations of the media audience. This essays aims to give a brief explanation of what the audience is, why it should be studied and then critically compare two conceptualisations of the media audience, the passive and the active one. The comparing will be done by presenting each theory’s main thesis and comparing them by analysing specific studies and approaches that were conducted to support each theory. Any group of people who are gathered in the same place and act as observers or spectators of something are considered an audience (Media and Communications course, Lecture 6: Media Audiences/lecture slides). Audience has existed since ancient times, particularly in Ancient Greece where people gathered in town centres to discuss about community problems. What we nowadays refer to as a media audience has been developed through the years as a result of industrialization, technological developments and several changes in people’s everyday lives. When people started to massively move from villages to industrialised cities, a mass society began to develop so it also became important that this new form of audience had to be studied in relation to the media of its time. What influence the media had on the audience, how the audience used the media in their everyday lives and how the media industry could attract more audience for their own profit (Williams,2003, McCullagh,2002) The main views on the mass society or mass audience research, that first appeared in the 1920s-1930s (McCullagh, 2002) were that the audience was consisted of a large public of consumers of mainstream media texts who were influenced by the rapid changes in society, the unstable family ties due to urbanization and the anonymity of the crowds (McCullagh, 2002), thus they became a vulnerable mass of ‘isolated and defenceless individuals’ (Williams, 2003). This situation positioned the media in a place where it could easily manipulate the unsuspected audience. That is why the media were used by authoritarian governments, like Hitler’s Nazi Party, for propaganda purposes. They would pass on their ideologies, usually political ones, and the audience would believe them without questioning. People were so passive that they would easily believe anything they would hear on the radio or read in a newspaper. Probably the most famous incident that proves this was the public pa nic that occurred in Los Angeles, when a radio broadcast of a science-fiction book called War of the Worlds was aired in 1938 (McCullagh, 2002). When people heard the broadcast they actually believed that a Martian invasion was happening and some of them tried to escape and save themselves. This incident is a great example of the Hypodermic Needle Theory that existed at the time. This theory parallelises the media as a needle that injects a message straight into the passive audience, which is immediately affected by it (Croteu, Hoynes,1997) and like drug-users lose their control and judgement once they are injected with drugs, so does the audience lose its critical judgement when injected with ideas and beliefs by the media (McCullagh, 2002). As the years passed by though and even more technological developments were invented, like film and television, researchers started to question the traditional effects research of the mass society. New studies and experiments on how the audience interprets media texts resulted to several researchers to conclude that the audience is not passive and vulnerable but instead is an active and differentiated audience consisted of groups or individuals and not masses. This new theory, the Active Audience theory concentrated on how audience interprets and makes meaning of media texts based on several factors, such as gender, age, social background, education, ideals, beliefs or family position (Williams, 2003, McCullagh, 2002). As McCullagh put it ‘media audiences are consisted of different individuals who turn to the media to gratify their needs’ (2002). Gradually new theories were developed that replaced the Hypodermic Needle theory and made it antiquated. Stuart Hall developed the Encoding/Decoding theory in 1973, with which he questioned the traditional effects theory and concentrated more on how ‘the content of media texts is encoded ideologically by the audience’ (Williams, 2003). He suggested that media producers encoded what appeared to be a ‘preferred meaning’ in media messages and then the audience was supposed to understand and decode it (Williams, 2003), thus making the relationship between media and audience more like a collaboration or an interplay. As it was obvious though a media text could not be decoded the same way by everyone, due to people’s differences in several aspects, so he concluded that there were three kinds of decoding a media message: the dominant, the negotiated and the oppositional (Williams, 2003, McCullagh, 2002, Deveraux, 2003). As Williams puts it ‘this model emphasises the interaction between the audience and texts as well as the social context within which such interaction happens ’ (2003). The development of the new theories, not surprisingly, led to debates between the active audience theorists and the traditional effects theorists. The new theory of Uses and Gratifications was an approach to understand how and why people use the media to satisfy certain needs (McCullagh, 2002). In comparison with the Hypodermic Needle theory, the Uses and Gratifications not only does not ignore people’s free will, personality and cultural background (The New Audience Research in Media Studies, http://www.le.ac.uk/oerresources/media/ms7500/mod1unit6/page_02.htm, 05/01/2015), it considers them to be active with the power to choose what media they consume. The audience ‘use programme content for purposes other than what might be predicted from their content’ (McCullagh, 2002), which leads to media producers or industries to compete with each other over who will offer the best way for the users’ needs to be gratified. In that way the audience is definitely not considered a passive one which completely accepts the media’s intended message, as the Hypodermic Needle theory suggested. Nevertheless, the debate between the active audience and the traditional effects theorists still goes on, with some of the researchers arguing that the new active audience approaches are ‘too behaviourist and functionalist’ (McQuail, 2010) and that their conclusions lead to an elimination of media power, which was considered essential for ‘shaping the knowledge, understandings and beliefs of the audience’ (Williams, 2003). Also, Kitzinger(1999) wondered whether the audience’s resistance on media messages, as a form of resistance to the status quo, should be praised, since that way people would also easily reject good messages provided by the media, such as safe sex advertisements or campaigns against violence. Even though audience is not considered a mass of ‘couch potatoes’ (Williams, 2003) anymore, whether we are aware of it or not, we all have some certain beliefs and ideals that have been somehow shaped by different types of media, such as the idea of the perfect body that is being advertised today by several model agencies or women magazines. But that does not mean that people do not have the intelligence to make decisions for themselves about what to believe (Williams, 2003). Despite the on-going criticism by the traditional effects theorists, the new audience researchers developed new methods of studying the audience, which focused more on the qualitative rather than the quantitative approach (Williams, 2003). These methods, referred to as the ethnographic turn in media studies, concentrated more on how people were involved with the media and the research was done mostly with participant observation techniques. Unlike the traditional effects research that used surveys o r questionnaires, researchers spent time with the people they were investigating observing their experiences with the media (Williams, 2003). However, there has been criticism on this approach too. Ruddock (2001), for example noted that ‘ethnography requires participants to make personal feelings public. As a result there is a considerable tendency towards self-censorship’, implying that the conclusions resulting from ethnographic research could not possibly present the real truth from the audiences’ perspective. He also questioned how the research questions could be generated in a way that they would respect the natural world of the audience and be appropriate with the field of study in general (Ruddock, 2001). Even though there are many theories that support each thesis, the debate between the traditional effects studies and the active audience theory has been intense and is still on-going (McCullagh, 2002, Williams, 2003). If we were to think about which conceptualisation would best represent today’s society and people, I would say that the active theories concerning this study, including the Uses and Gratifications and the Encoding/Decoding model, position the audience in an active place, where not only it is not exploited by the media, it can even have power over it. Media producers take people’s preferences into consideration so they can produce what would satisfy their audience more (Williams, 2003, McCullagh, 2002, Deveraux, 2003, McQuail, 2010). And since there are arguments that suppose that media takes over people’s lives thus making them ‘couch potatoes’ in another sense of the term (Williams, 2003) the rebuttal would be that nowadays the audienc e knows what it wants in a way that the different types of media work as e ‘menu’ for them to choose from, in order to satisfy their needs to escape their daily routines, educate themselves or even interact socially (Williams, 2003, McCullagh, 2002). Always based on their individual needs and preferences, which is closer to our modern and liberal society. To sum things up, it is now obvious that the study of the audience has been a big chapter in the book of media studies, with many scholars and academics finding themselves engaging with this study. That explains all the experiments, studies and research that have been conducted on the subject, since it concentrates on two different types of audience, which in relation to the media could easily shape the way our society would work. Whether the media would dominate over the audience or the other way around. Since the debate of the subject is still on-going and the opinions diverge, the answer of which model would be the best cannot be absolute. Maybe a combination of the two could function well in the future, but until then the active audience theory seems to be the one closest to our society’s standards nowadays.

The Basis of Utopia Essay -- Utopia Utopias Essays

The Basis of Utopia An impractical scheme for social improvement. This is the third definition of the word utopia in the Mirriam-Webster dictionary. Anatole France says it best with this quote regarding utopian societies, „Without the Utopias of other times, men would still live in caves, miserable and naked. It was Utopians that traced the lines of the first city · Out of generous dreams come beneficial realities. Utopia is the principle of all progress, and the essay into a better future.„ The world has been constantly changing over time, new ideas pave paths that lead to better living. Most of the ideas are expressed through science fiction stories written by authors looking to change the world in some way or another. Authors begin with an idea, and then move towards placement of thought and scheme into somewhat of a reasonable reality. Authors such as Charlotte Perkins Gilman and Octavia Butler use the stories they write as ways to express their problems that they have with the present world. Advances in the present day world can only be reached through dreams and desires. These dreams and desires come to life as authors present their ideas on paper. Take for example, the story „Herland.†° It was written by a women‚s activist writer named Charlotte Perkins Gilman in 1915. The story is written about a secret society of women that have been kept separate from the rest of the world. The women reproduce by natural childbirth, therefore no father is needed to create life. This is known as Parthogenesis, or spontaneous conception, much like the way Mary was impregnated in the bible. To most people during the time the story was written, this was not viewed as anything near a perfect world. However, to a woman involved in the ea... ...the faults of humans in thinking we are the superior race, when in doing so, we neglect the beings that are „beneath us.†° While the idea of the word utopia is universal, the actual stories that derive from that idea can be very different in nature. The outcome, or even the basis of the story, relies completely upon the authors, or readers view of a prefect society. This is how progress is made, through ideas and thoughts of revolutionary writers in stories we have come to call "utopian." Bibliography Butler, Octavia ." Bloodchild." The Prentice Hall Anthology Sscience Fiction and Fantasy. Ed. Garyn Roberts. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 2001. 1035-1048. Personal Site. Henry W. Targowski and Charly Jungbauer. <http://www.euro.net/mark-space/index.html> Perkins Gilman, Charlotte. Herland. Mineola, New York: Dover Publications, 1998.

Pathology Arises Out Fo The Ex Essay -- essays research papers

Concepts of pathology, as treated by the traditions of clinical psychology and psychiatry, define what is ‘normal’ and ‘abnormal’ in human behaviour. Various psychological paradigms exist today, each emphasising diverse ways of defining and treating psyopathology. Most commonly utilised is the medical model which is limited in many respects, criticised for reducing patients problems to a list of pathological symptoms that have a primarily biological base and which are to be treated behaviourally or pharmacologically (Schwartz & Wiggins 1999). Such reductionistic positivist ways of viewing the individual maintain the medical discourse of ‘borderline personality’, schizoid’, ‘paranoid’ or ‘clinically depressed’, often failing to address the wider socio- ltural environment of the individual. Pilgrim (1992) suggests that such diagnostic pidgeon-holing does not enhance humanity, nor aid those who are dealing with the distressed individual to find meaning. It also neglects to consider life beyond the physical, failing to address the more philosophical questions that abound from our very existence. Existential psychiatry and psychology arose in Europe in the 1940’s and 1950’s as a direct response to the dissatisfaction with prevailing efforts to gain scientific understanding in psychiatry (Binswanger 1963). Existentialism is the title of a set of philosophical ideas that emphasise the existence of the human being, the lack of meaning and purpose in life and the solitude of human existence. Existentialism stresses the jeopardy of life, the voidness of human reality and admits that the human being thrown into the world, a world in which pain, frustration, sickness, contempt, malaise and death dominates (Barnes 1962). How one positions oneself in that world becomes the focus for existential notions of pathology, a responsibility that is present for every human being, not one confined to the ‘mentally ill’. In this sense the human being is ‘response-able’ to the existential predicament that is life and the necessary struggles that arise through negotiating these conditions in every lived moment. In this essay I will give a brief outline of the history of existential thinkers, then discuss how t... ...  Lowrie). Princeton: Princton University Press Laing, R. D. (1960). The Divided Self. Harmondsworth: Penguin Lewis, C. S. (1943). The Abolition of Man. Oxford: Oxford University Press May, R. (1969). Love and Will. New York: Norton. May, R. & Yalom, I. (1984). Existential Psychotherapy. In Corsini, R. J. (ed.), Current  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Psychotherapies. Itasca Illinois: Peacock Owen, I. R. (1994). Introducing an existential-phenomenological approach: basic   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  phenomenological theory and research- Part 1. Counselling Psychology   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Quarterly, 7, (3) 261-273 Pilgrim, D. (1992). Psychotherapy and Political Evasions. In Dryden, W. & Feltham,C. (Eds.) Psychotherapy and It’s Discontents. Buckingham: Open University Press Satre, J. P. (1951). Being and Nothingness. (Trans. H. Barnes) Methuen: London Schwartz, M. A. & Wiggins, O. P. (1999). The Crisis of Present-Day Psychiatry:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Regaining the Personal. Psychiatric Times, 16, 9. Yalom, I. (1989). Love’s Executioner: And Other Tales of Psychotherapy. New York:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Harper Collins

Graduation Speech: Use Your Strengths to Help Others :: Graduation Speech, Commencement Address

Wow! 12 years of hard work, 12 years of perseverance, 12 years of dedication! A great king once said, "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man is he who listens to counsel." We each have mentors in our life who give us this counsel. What we choose to do with it determines if we are considered foolish or wise. Naturally, we tend to think we are always right, and even on the occasions when we are right, there is always something to learn from a second opinion. Take just a second to think back over the last 18 years of your life. Think of all the second opinions you've received. These opinions and the people who shared them go you to this point. While you may think you got here through your own doing, think a little harder and consider those days when all you wanted to do was climb trees, play with Barbie dolls or watch "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" all day long. What changed that? Was there one day when, suddenly, in your most mature five-year-old voice you said, "Mom, Dad, I've made a decision. I want to start saving for college. Could you please put my allowance in a bank account for me?" Personally, I can say that I did not have one of those days. As diligent as you may think I am to my studies, I can say for certain that I would have loved to just play outside all day and stay up late watching movies. However, as much fun as I would have had, I would not have gotten very far. Thankfully, I had numerous people in my life who showed me, at just the right times, how to grow. Think of your teachers, preschool through high school, who cared enough each day to come to school to a class of at least 30 kids who each had their own agenda and were able to make each child's agenda important. Think of your friends, brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, grandparents and others who have showed you how to be a good friend and how to grow in relationships, simply by being there. Think of coaches and instructors you've had who pushed you to do things you didn't want to do so that you would achieve the things you wanted to achieve.