Tuesday, December 24, 2019

What Is The Problem Of Freewill - 1495 Words

What is the problem of freewill? Outline and defend your favoured solution to the problem. The problem of freewill concerns whether it is possible to retain agency in a world where events are necessitated. For the sake of clarity, my definition of freewill is â€Å"the power of acting or not acting without constraint†. Universal causation or hard determinism (both terms I shall use interchangeably) is the belief that â€Å"events in the future are fixed, as a matter of natural law, by the past†. Indeterministic theories such as libertarianism preserve freewill by maintaining that not all events are determined by preceding causes. Both indeterminism and determinism are incompatibilist theories as they imply that universal causation erodes the prospect of freewill. Compatibilist theories, like agent-causalism assert that causation doesn’t necessarily mean we do not have free will. There are compelling experiential and anthropological arguments that strongly support universal causation. Using these arguments, I will defend it as the most plausible solution to the problem of freewill, while considering the alternatives such as compatibilist and libertarian theories and pointing out their core weaknesses. The implications of universal causation are wide-ranging. Its truth means we don’t have freewill nor moral responsibility, rendering our entire justice system and conception of ethics inherently flawed. However, as this essay progresses, it will become apparent that this is aShow MoreRelatedEssay on One Way of Arguing Determinism is False1334 Words   |  6 Pagesthesis of freewill is the view that as human beings, regardless of a cause, we could have acted or willed to act differently than we did. Determinism therefore, states that the future is something that is fixed and events can only occur in one way, while freewill leaves the future open. Obviousl y a huge problem arises between these two theses. They cannot both be true as they contradict one another. In this essay I hope to find a solution to this problem. One way I could solve the problem is by denyingRead MoreWould an All-good, All-powerful, All-knowing God Allow Evil to Exist?864 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction: This essay features the discussion of the problem of evil in relation to the existence of god. Specifically outlining two sections where the problem of evil is discussed from atheist and theistic viewpoint. Statement: The problem of evil features an argument questioning the existence of god in relation to evil, attributing both atheistic and theistic replies. First reply to problem of evil: (atheist). If god was all good, all powerful and all knowing, he would not allow theRead MoreEssay on Staces Views on Freewill732 Words   |  3 Pages Freewill Through the Eyes of Stace I can most relate with Stace’s views on freewill. I feel that the freewill argument is more about definition and the word’s true meaning. I also agree with his statement of, â€Å"if there is no free will there can be no morality.† Stace believes that is doing what we want to do and not being constrained from doing so. Morality is a good argument of why we do what we do. Then there is the idea that we have choices and choices are made by the individual and not by outsideRead MoreEssay on Ayer, A.J. Freedom and Necessity.972 Words   |  4 Pagessolution so far. According to A.J. Ayer, the problem of free will is the result from the conflict of two different assumptions, which are men acting freely while being morally responsible for their actions, and that human behavior comes from causal laws. Ayer begins by attacking the determinist for the most part. Determinism is the view that there is no freewill, and all events and actions are determined by causal laws. Causal laws cast doubt on freewill because a person may not act freely if theirRead MoreThe View Of Human Nature1476 Words   |  6 Pagesevents, they have freewill to do whatever it is they want to do as a result of that experience. Individual’s Freewill The ultimate choice is yours. People have freewill to do what they want, whether good or bad. The definition of freewill is â€Å" the ability to choose how to act, the ability to make choices that are not controlled by fate or God† (Freewill, n.d.). This definition stands out for many reasons. First, the addition to God in the definition, even God gives us freewill. The many scripturesRead MoreRelationships, Fate, And Freewill Essay1196 Words   |  5 Pages Sophomore Honors English Summer Assignment Period 3 Relationships, Fate, and Freewill Relationships aren’t just a romantic pairing between two people. A platonic friendship can be a form of a relationship. Student and teacher, boss and employee, business owner and customer are all examples of relationships. I feel that this thematic unit will represent relationships between different types of people, and also different type of relationships such as physical and emotional. For me, relationshipsRead MoreFree Will v. Determinism Essay850 Words   |  4 Pages Do we really have Freewill? nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The topic of freewill vs. determinism has always been something that has interested me. I follow the Christian faith very strongly but my views on the subject vary almost daily. The concept of freewill and determinism is something that, as a Christian, I often struggle with. By no means do I think that I have all the answers or that I am right. I believe that in order to find the truth or what is right you have to be willing to accept thatRead MoreEssay on Utilitarianism1264 Words   |  6 Pageswhich rule-utilitarianism tries to overcome them. As well one must look at the obstacles that rule-utilitarianism has on its own as a theory. The problems of both act and rule utilitarianism consist of being too permissive and being able to justify any crime, not being able to predict the outcomes of ones actions, non-universality and the lose of freewill. Act-utilitarianism is a theory suggesting that actions are right if their utility or product is at least as great as anything else that couldRead MoreThe Beliefs of Philosophers and The Belief in God1594 Words   |  7 PagesThe beliefs I have, and what has given me strength is combined with what I have been taught and what I have researched. Throughout this paper, there are five questions that has me describe life, but also describes the person I have become. The three philosophers I chose were all different, and all have something in common. What they all have in common is that they all stand by what they believe in. The three I have chosen are Aristotle, because I enjoy happiness and he believes it is the key toRead MoreFree Will and Moral Responsibility1037 Words   |  4 Pagesbeginnings, the problem of free will has been connected with the question of moral responsibility. Most of the ancient philosophers on the problem were trying to show that humans have sufficient control over their decisions, that all actions depend on them, and that they are not pre-determined by logical necessity, arbitrary gods, fate, or even by natural determinism. The problem of free will is often described as a question of reconciling free will with determinism. The problems of free will are

Monday, December 16, 2019

Inside Job Free Essays

Inside Job Summary Inside Job is a documentary by Charles Ferguson, about the causes of the global financial crisis and revealed what was going on inside the U. S. financial industry during the first decade of the 21st century. We will write a custom essay sample on Inside Job or any similar topic only for you Order Now The movie highlights the effects of a series of causes beginning in the Regan Administration. These causes most prominently include deregulation that allowed excessive and reckless actions in finance, fraud, and conflicts of interest. Deregulation allowed the financial sector more freedom and less discipline, which provided more opportunity for profit and risk. Reflecting the profit growth resulting from deregulation, investment banks went from small, private firms to public companies. The movie illustrates the growth of the financial sector beginning in the 1970s and continuing into the early 2000s, considering that from 1978-2008 the average salary in the United States in every profession other than investment banking rose by 25% and the average salary in investment banking rose by 150%. In early 2000 another method mortgage lending was developed that allowed for excessive risk and allowed for incentives to bet against the system for personal gain. The system was called the Securitization food chain and loans were mixed with other types of debt, such as car loans and credit card debt, given a rating, and investors would include these mixes in their funds depending to their rating. Since each party was removed from risk by selling the debt, lenders could extend absurd loans that were highly unlikely to be repaid, rating agencies could grade the absurd debts highly without consequence and the result was the opportunity for virtually anyone in the US to receive a home loan and purchase a home. Which sent home prices incredibly high and since the financial sector was profiting from this procedure through the Securitization Food Chain no one cared about who was holding the bag. The rest is history. The financial industry knew that the meltdown was going to occur. Records show that internally they were betting AGAINST their own offerings. The bubble bursts resulting in people losing their illusory homes and their previously tangible jobs. The financial sector lost their businesses. An incredible, sweeping wildfire of foreclosures and bankruptcies. The US government claimed that if these major financial institutions that caused the crisis were allowed to fail, the effect on the global financial system would be catastrophic. The US government said these firms were ‘too big to fail’ and paid out several hundred billions of taxpayer money to save these firms. The unemployment and inflation from these rescues is still accumulating today. How to cite Inside Job, Papers Inside Job Free Essays Where would we be today if the â€Å"decision makers† would have made more acceptable decisions that affected the economy prior to the market crashing? Millions of middle-class Americans have been left jobless, and even homeless, as a result of the major corporations getting bailed out, while certain individuals were benefiting millions of dollars in bonuses. Following the Great Depression, the United States did not have a single financial crisis. However, according to Charles Ferguson, who is the director of Inside Job, the progressive deregulation of the financial sector since the 1980s gave rise to an increasingly criminal industry. We will write a custom essay sample on Inside Job or any similar topic only for you Order Now In fact, many executives and leaders that were involved in this meltdown refused to answer questions, and some refused to interview for the documentary all together. The financial crisis of 2008 left many of us with many unanswered questions wondering how the most powerful nation in the world ended up with a destructed economy. The documentary Inside Job hunts down the culprits of the major financial institutions that had the biggest effect on the nation’s economy. The film attempts to provide a comprehensive understanding of the most important subject we have yet to face as a country; which is the worst financial crisis since the Depression, as well as holding those accountable who destroyed our financial system. Inside Job exposes the shocking truth behind the economic crisis. Throughout the film, you feel yourself cringing more and more by each interview. This documentary not once uses the word ‘capitalism’, although it is implied throughout the entire duration. The underlying message about capitalism in the movie is that it mainly benefits the elite, and that it is a corrupt world of finance. The big banks and financial institutions molded the government policies in their favor. As the economy came crashing down, the owners and leaders of financial institutions walked away from the crisis with their personal accounts untouched, and in superb condition for what the entire global economy was going to face next. Joe Boustead, of Socialist. et, states â€Å"The truth is that in a capitalist mode of production anarchy rules, this in turn led to a massive crisis of overproduction, there were simply too many commodities being produced to be consumed as the individuals could either not afford them or simply had no need for them. † One by one, the big banks came crashing down, and more debt was being added to what would become the worst economic crisis in history. Out of the various philosophers, Friedrich Nietzsche would be inclined to agree with the behavior of the Wall Street moguls and the politicians who were responsible for the â€Å"Great Recession. Nietzsche is the philosopher of the will to power, seen as vital creation and fulfillment. He believed that humans and animals seek to live only to exert power and that each person should establish their own moral codes. As Nietzsche believed, â€Å"A living thing seeks above all to discharge its strength—life itself is will to power; self-preservation is only one of the indirect and most frequent. † As evidenced in the documentary, the government and executives sought to discharge their strength by partaking in self-preserving behaviors. While Inside Job exposed the criminal culture of Wall Street, a culture of lies, trickery, and corruption for power, it also exposed the widespread abuse of cocaine and prostitutes. Jonathan Alpert, a psychological counselor for Wall Street executives and professionals in the film, tells us that these practices â€Å"go right to the very top. † Nietzsche valued individualism above all else. He spoke negatively of anarchists, but he believed that only certain individuals should attempt to break away from the â€Å"herd. † That is the main reason I believe he would agree with the behaviors shown in this film. He would be inclined to believe that only certain individuals would be intelligent enough to take advantage of certain laws implemented by government, and somehow twist them into their own benefit, which is exactly what these Wall Street moguls did. If I were to propose legislation to address the problems and issues presented in the documentary, I would use John Stuart Mill’s philosophical view as a basis for the legislation. Mills believed in utilitarianism, which claimed that â€Å"one should assess persons, actions, and institutions by how well they promote human happiness. James Mill claimed: The desire, therefore, of that power which is necessary to render the persons and properties of human beings subservient to our pleasures, is the grand governing law of human nature [Essay IV; cf. Essay V]. I would use utilitarianism as a standard of conduct. Mills believed in the common good for the greatest number. This legislation would not have allowed the senseless, selfish acts that were committed which resulted in a recession that the entire nation had to deal with. Utilitarianism would have avoided the issues that were addressed in the documentary. It would maximize happiness and reduce the suffering of millions of people. I would also implement Sartre’s â€Å"bad faith†, or better known as his existentialism philosophy. Existentialism is a concept where a human would be under pressure from society and acts authentically. These CEOs and leaders knew what they were getting not only their institutions in, but also the economy. Instead of acting authentically and making decisions that would later on benefit the greater amount of people in the world, they chose to act unconsciously. It is a fact that the recession could have been avoided. The wrong decisions were purposely implemented in order to cover certain individuals and maintain power, and of course wealth. Jean-Paul Sartre believed that one should be held responsible for his own actions, and that all individuals should act authentically. From Sartre’s view, we are all â€Å"conscious† when we make decisions. He focused on three modes of being: being-for-itself, being-in-itself, and being-for-others. The â€Å"being-for-itself† would be better described as the being of consciousness. All of these problems that we are facing today, would not be occurring if the decision makers would have acted with consciousness, rather than cruelty, and greed. The people who purposely made calls to somehow sabotage the economy for their own interest should be held accountable, and prosecuted, just as any criminal. Inside Job does an amazing job of informing the audience of what happened behind closed doors to end up where our economy is today. It goes back in history far enough to explain where this economic downfall started, and who there is to blame. The economic crisis could have been avoided if the correct course of action were taken, but instead the middle-class ended up in a situation that was never thought of. Due to greed, this country has to work harder to clean up the mess of the power and money-hungry executives that allowed the economy to get to this state. Inside Job is an informing documentary that leaves us disgusted, but yet informed of the unethical moves people are willing to make in order to stay in power and wealthy. At the end of this documentary, we are left wondering, where would we be today if greed didn’t partake in people’s every move? What is next to come to America, what was once the most powerful country in the world? These moguls are roaming free enjoying their millions of dollars, rather than behind bars for leaving the nation in the worst state we have ever been in as a nation. While the less-powerful, and innocent, are figuring out where the next meal is coming from, or finding a way to get their children to college, the rich are feeding off of every dollar that was benefited and controlled. The truth always comes to light, and in this case, regardless of how hard these folks tried to hide it, the research was conducted to find out what exactly happened. How to cite Inside Job, Papers

Sunday, December 8, 2019

Management Accounting Manufacture of the Goods

Question: Discuss about theManagement Accountingfor Manufacture of the Goods. Answer: Main use of the Product Costing System Product costing system can be described as the system utilized by the management of various organizations to have a hold on the cost of product of the manufactured goods or done with an aim for resale purpose. The cost of goods done before the sale is known as product costs. When it comes to the manufacture of the goods, it is the expense done during the process of manufacture. Moreover, there might be a case when the goods are purchased then the product cost can be said to be the expenses done to purchase the inventory and other expenses incurred such as a carriage, freight, etc for the inventory purchase (Drury, 2013). Once the assessment of the manufactured products is done, the further costs needed to seal the products are added to the manufactured cost of products and the product cost in total ascertain the cost of sales. The overall process is defined as the product costing system (Lacoma, 2016). The main aim of the product costing system is to evaluate the above-discussed cost s in a chronological manner so that it becomes easy to compute the total cost of sales and final profit can be computed with ease. Further benefits that are derived from the product costing system is that it enables smooth computation of the manufactured cost of goods manufactured per product, ascertainment of the cost that pertains to various level of production, differentiation of the cost incurred on the product with the budgeted cost and the deviation can be traced with ease (Horngren, 2011). Moreover, it supports the management in policies formulation, selling price fixation, shedding light on the profitability in a product wise manner. The under and over application of overhead is properly traced with the help of this system. Product costing system is the need of the hour because the costs are left unchanged to the service or product as per the scenario. Such a scenario can be witnessed in the case of job costing or service sector costing (Lister, 2016). When the product costing system is deficient in an organization then there might be an issue of unrecorded expenses or income that are overstated that projects a bad impression for the financial condition of the company as it will influence the profit either an understatement or overstatement will happen. Further, under pricing of the product might happen or inflation of the profits (Lacoma, 2016). The product can be either under or over priced that will affect the companys goodwill. Product pricing is mainly concerned with the manufacturing business, however, the application can be witnessed in non-manufacturing industries. When it comes to merchandising companies, it contains buying, as well as transportation of merchandise in the product cost (Vanderbeck, 2013). For example, the producers of inventorial goods, agricultural products, and mining products consider the cost of producing the goods. The product cost role in such companies is same as that of the manufacturing firms. When the process of product costing happens, the management considers the overhead that needs to be incurred. During the process of manufacture, there might a difference in terms of the actual cost being incurred with that of the estimated costs. These estimated costs are applicable to various processes of manufacturing by utilizing an overhead rate that is pre-determined. The differences are spotted by the accounts team when the production process ends (Horngren, 2011). The differences lead to under or over application of overheads. Over application of the overhead is a scenario when the applied overheads surpass the overhead that is actual. On the other hand, when the actual overhead exceeds then it is said it be a case of under application of overheads. It needs to be noted that the concept of over or under application creates a variation in the profitability that the organization estimates at the start of the season and is followed by the maximum of organization (Lanen et. al, 2008). To minimize the difference, the management requires time, as well as efforts so that the rate of overhead can be ascertained with an enhanced level of accuracy as the pre-determined rate is the chief ingredient in the application of overhead. If over or under application happens then the organization have to deal with certain scenarios. The difference is written to Profit and loss account When this method is put into implementation then the over or under application is moved to the profit and loss account so that the treatment is done in the same accounting year. The major loophole of this method is that the inventory figures gets inflated or understated because the under or over application needs to be distributed between finished goods work in progress and cost of sales (Lanen et. al, 2008). Treatment in Reserve accounts When this method is used, the over or under applied costs are tuned to the reserve account and projected in the balance sheet. However, this method should not be used as the adjustment for over or under applied overhead must be done in the same accounting year and not be carried forward (Needles, 2011). Inventories adjustment Work in progress, as well as finished goods and cost of sales is done so that the accounts is brought into connection with the actual cost. The overheads that are applied in excess or low must be distributed to the supplementary rate in work in progress, the cost of sales and the finished goods. Adjustment of over or under application in the cost of sales The cost of sales is determined by the accumulation of all the expenses that pertains to selling and distribution and then the addition is done to the cost of goods sold. In the case of an under application or over application, the same gets shifted to the cost of sales account. It can be done in a monthly manner or annually. ABC even known as activity-based costing is a mechanism that is used to assign products, tasks, or acquisition that is based on activities that flow into them and resources consumed by such activities. ABC can be contrasted with the traditional mechanism of costing that sometimes assigns cost by utilization of the hypothetical allocation percentage for overhead that is termed as indirect costs. Therefore, ABC estimates the cost of goods sold and gross margin in a different manner for different products. ABC should be introduced into the organization (Charles, 2012). The cost accountants have a clear understanding that the traditional system of cost conceals information when it comes to an individual product and services. Hence, a shift to ABC will lead to understating the real cost of the products, as well as services in an accurate manner. The implementation of ABC is done by the companies by identification of the products on an individual basis that is not profitable, ascertainment of the true costs so that pricing policy can be supported and revealing costs that are unnecessary so that it can be eliminated with ease. Firms that use ABC attain the objectives in an effective manner (Shim Siegel, 2009). The main benefit of ABC lies in the fact that the same accounts are influenced however different perspective is used. ABC helps in bringing enhancement in the margin hat is reported and even the profitability. Such an outcome is possible when ABC projects where to adjust the models of pricing. The areas where ABC can show vast improvements and benefits are cost accounting, budgeting, financial accounting, etc (Venanci, 2012). ABC scores over traditional method but needs to be noted that ABC is not free from deficiencies. References Charles, T.S 2012, Cost Accounting: A Managerial Emphasis, Pearson Education Drury, C. M 2013, Management and cost accounting, Springer. Horngren, C 2011, Cost accounting, Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: Pearson Australia. Lanen, W. N, Anderson, S Maher, M. W 2008, Fundamentals of cost accounting, NY: Hang Loose press Lacoma, T 2016, The Advantages Product Costing Offers in Financial Accounting, viewed 20 May 2017 https://smallbusiness.chron.com/advantages-product-costing-offers-financial-accounting-24883.html Lister, J 2016, Product Costing vs. Cost Accounting, viewed 20 May 2017 https://smallbusiness.chron.com/product-costing-vs-cost-accounting-37642.html Needles, S. C 2011, Managerial Accounting, Nason , USA: South-Western Cengage Shim, J. K Siegel, J G 2009, Modern Cost Management and Analysis, Barron's Education Series Vanderbeck, E J 2013, Principles of Cost Accounting, Oxford university press Venanci, D 2012, Financial Performance Measures and Value Creation , State of art . New York: Springer.

Sunday, December 1, 2019

The High School Education Reform an Example by

The Need for American Public High School Education Reform Stakeholders in the United States education system continue to be concerned with the perceived low quality of public high school education and the inability of schools to produce students who are well-prepared to meet the demands of higher employment standards and a more competitive, continually changing, global labor market. Hanson observes how the United States trails behind Japan and Germany in terms of educating the average student, the person who will be the backbone of the future workforce (27). Indeed, tremendous changes in the global economy, and the changing nature of skill, work, and jobs, wrought largely by the impact of technology and by high performance work organizations, (Lewis 13) have called attention to the deficiences and weaknesses of the United States public high school education system in supplying the countrys increasing need for a more competitive workforce that is crucial in maintaining or even furthering the United States economic advantage and global compet itive edge. (Hanson 26) Need essay sample on "The Need for American Public High School Education Reform" topic? We will write a custom essay sample specifically for you Proceed In response, the United States government has sought to institute changes in the education sector through policy reforms such as the enactment of the No Child Left Behind Act in 2002 which emphasized standards-based K-12 education and mandated the annual assessment of childrens progress in learning. (Gaddy, Dean, & Kendall 1) Accordingly, States were encouraged to develop their own benchmarks and the means to measure school achievement of grade-level expectations. Likewise, the No Child Left Behind Act also encouraged efforts to implement technology integration in curriculums and in the classrooms in the aim of developing higher order thinking skills among students. (Gaddy, Dean, & Kendall 6) Despite such efforts at improving student learning outcomes, a lot of work clearly needs to be done to transform both the primary and secondary education systems. Weller argues, for instance, that the rapidly changing face of the global economy and the rapid development of technology necessitates schools that emphasize critical and high quality thinking skills, the use of and instruction in the latest technology, the use of teams and cooperative learning strategies to solve problems and make decisions, and the ability to adapt and work in fluid, changing environments. (251) In high school education, this entails aligning curriculums and learning expectations with the changing demands of the labor market in order to provide students with meaningful knowledge and skills appropriate for actual employment. Consequently, the most important change that the government must institute in public high school education is curriculum restructuring particularly in career and technical education courses to adequately prepare students for employment after graduation. Lynch observes that while the government has initiated a partial reform in vocational course teaching and approach in public high school education, there remains a need to redefine the concept of career and technical education in American high schools to address competing expectations from the public and private sectors. (4) In particular, the reform of career and technical education must satisfy the students need for relevant, contemporary career information, knowledge, and skills. (7) To this end, Lynch suggests the implementation of a career and technical education program that enables students to engage in career planning, supports intellectual as well as technical training and preparation, and emphasizes contextual and work-based instruction and learning strategies. (8-10) Clearly, there is a need for educational reforms that would improve the capability of American high schools in producing graduates that would be an asset to the countrys workforce and economy. In this aspect, changes in the quality of the career and technical education courses being offered in public high schools is crucial in education reform. Such changes have address societal expectations in increasing workforce competencies while at the same time responsive to the learning and training needs and expectations of students. Work Cited: Gaddy, Barbara D., Dean, Ceri B., and Kendall, John S. Keeping the Focus on Learning. Aurora, CO: McREL, 2002. Hanson, Lee. K-12 Education for Empowerment: Beyond the Mental/Manual Divide to a U.S. Technician Class? Empowerment in Organizations 3.4(1995): 26-35. Lewis, T. Toward the 21st Century: Retrospect, Prospect for American Vocationalism (Information Series No. 373). Columbus: The Ohio State University, ERIC Clearinghouse on Adult, Career, and Vocational Education, 1998. Lynch, Richard L. High School Career and Technical Education for the First Decade of the 21st Century. The Journal of Vocational Education Research 25.2 (2000) Weller, L. David. Unlocking the Culture for Quality Schools: Reengineering. International Journal of Educational Management 12.6(1998):250-259.

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

The Critical Role of informati

The Critical Role of informati The Critical Role of Information Systems Today?s information systems are both technical and social in nature. Management must understand the importance of information within the organization. It is management?s job to understand how information is collected, processed, and distributed. We are all extremely affected by information systems and must be willing to understand and work with them. Our global economy does not allow us to depend on face to face transactions like in the 1980?s. Today, few managers can ignore the importance and impact of how information is handled by their organization. Information systems play a critical role in today?s business organization and society (Laudon 5).Since the emergence of the global economy, the success of firms today and in the future depends on their ability to operate globally. The American economy depends on imports and exports. Foreign trade, both imports and exports accounts for a little over 25 percent of goods and services produced in th e United States, and even more in countries like Japan and Germany.Financial Management SystemThis percentage is currently and will continue to grow in the future (5).Globalization of the world?s industrial economies greatly enhances the value of information to the firm and offers new opportunities to businesses. Today, information systems provide the communication and analytic power that firms need to conduct trades and manage businesses on a global scale. Globalization and information technology also brings new threats to domestic business firms. This is brought on by the customer?s ability to shop in a worldwide marketplace, obtaining the price and quality information reliably, 24 hours a day. The worldwide market place brings competition to a higher level than ever before, forcing all businesses to play a part in this global economy. In order to become a profitable player in a worldwide market firms, need powerful information...

Friday, November 22, 2019

How Mandatory Drug Sentencing Laws Came to Be

How Mandatory Drug Sentencing Laws Came to Be In reaction to an increase in the amount of cocaine being smuggled into the United States and cocaine addiction epidemic proportions in the 1980s, the U.S. Congress and many state legislatures adopted new laws that stiffened the penalties for anyone convicted of trafficking certain illegal drugs. These laws made jail terms mandatory for drug dealers and anyone in possession of certain amounts of illegal drugs. While many citizens support such laws many view them as inherently biased against African Americans. They see these laws as part of a system of systemic racism which oppresses people of color. One example of mandatory minimums being discriminatory was that possession  of powdered cocaine, a drug associated with white businessmen was sentenced  less harshly than crack cocaine which was more associated with African American men. History and the War on Drugs Mandatory drug sentencing laws came about in the 1980s in the height of the War on Drugs. The seizure of 3,906 pounds of cocaine, valued then at over $100 million wholesale, from a Miami International Airport hangar on March 9, 1982, brought about the publics awareness of the Medellin Cartel, Colombian drug traffickers working together,  and changed U.S. law enforcements approach towards the drug trade. The bust also sparked new life into the War on Drugs. Lawmakers began to vote more money for law enforcement and began to create stiffer penalties for not only drug dealers, but for drug users. Latest Developments In Mandatory Minimums More mandatory drug sentences are being proposed. Congressman James Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.), a proponent of mandatory sentencing, has introduced a bill to Congress called Defending Americas Most Vulnerable: Safe Access to Drug Treatment and Child Protection Act of 2004. The bill is designed to increase mandatory sentences for specific drug offenses. It includes mandatory sentencing of 10 years to life in prison for any person age 21 or over who attempts or conspires to offer drugs (including marijuana) to someone younger than 18 years old. Anyone who has offered, solicited, enticed, persuaded, encouraged, induced, or coerces or possess a controlled substance, will be sentenced to a term not less than five years. This bill was never enacted.   Pros of Mandatory Drug Sentencing Laws Supporters of mandatory minimums view it as a way to deter drug distribution and use by extending the time that a criminal is incarcerated therefore preventing them from committing more drug-related crimes. One reason mandatory sentencing guidelines are established is to increase sentencing uniformity- to guarantee that defendants, who commit similar crimes and have similar criminal backgrounds, receive similar sentences. Mandatory guidelines for sentencing greatly curtail judges sentencing discretion. Without such mandatory sentencing, defendants in the past, guilty of virtually the same offenses under the same circumstances, have received vastly different sentences in the same jurisdiction, and in some cases from the same judge. Proponents argue that a lack of sentencing guidelines opens up the system to corruption. Cons of Mandatory Drug Sentencing Laws Opponents to the mandatory sentencing feel that such punishment is unjust and does not allow for flexibility in the judicial process of prosecuting and sentencing individuals. Other critics of mandatory sentencing feel that the money spent in longer incarceration has not been beneficial in the war against drugs and could be better spent on other programs designed to fight drug abuse. A study performed by the  Rand Company  said such sentences have proven to be ineffective in curtailing drug use or drug related crime. The bottom line is that only decision makers who are very myopic would find long sentences to be appealing, said study leader Jonathan Caulkins of Rands Drug Policy Research Center. The high cost of incarceration and the small results that it has shown in fighting the war on drugs, show that such money would be better spent on shorter sentencing and drug rehabilitation programs. Other opponents to mandatory sentencing include Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, who in August 2003 in a speech to the American Bar Association, denounced minimum mandatory prison terms. In too many cases, mandatory minimum sentences are unwise and unjust, he said and encouraged the bar to be leaders in the search for justice in sentencing and in racial inequities. Dennis W. Archer, former Detroit mayor and Michigan Supreme Court Justice takes the position that it is time for America to stop getting tougher and start getting smarter against crime by reassessing mandatory sentencing and irrevocable prison terms. In an article posted on the ABA website, he states, The idea that Congress can dictate a one-size-fits-all sentencing scheme does not make sense. Judges need to have the discretion to weigh the specifics of the cases before them and determine an appropriate sentence. There is a reason we give judges a gavel, not a rubber stamp Where It Stands Because of cuts in many state budgets, and overcrowded prisons due to mandatory drug sentencing, lawmakers are facing a financial crisis. Many states have begun to use alternatives to imprisonment for drug offenders- usually called drug courts- in which defendants are sentenced into treatment programs, rather than jail. In states where these drug courts have been established, officials are finding this approach to be a more effective way of approaching the drug problem. Research shows that drug court alternatives are not only more cost-effective than prison sentences for defendants who commit non-violent crimes, they help reduce the rate of defendants who return to a life of crime after completing the program.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Dating paragraph Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Dating paragraph - Essay Example I currently work as support staff in the I.T department where most of my duties revolve around creating systems and getting applications and software that ensures operations efficiently. I work at a pharmaceutical company that brings in medicine and medical equipment from Europe and Asia mostly and sells to retailers within the country. My other hobbies include reading legal drama novels (in another life I would have probably pursued a career in law), dance/trance music and indie rock, and a good old-fashioned meal of fries and a cheeseburger. Things I am not too fond of include loud-mouthed and intolerant people, that is, people who cannot accommodate people that are different from them whether in physical appearance or social background, reggae music, celery (I don’t care how healthy it is, it tastes unpleasant!) and brown bread. That being said, I should point out that I do try to eat healthy and keep fit though I am not much of a runner. My choice of exercise is swimming thus warm weather places appeal to me, and cycling. My favorite alcoholic drink is vodka mixed with club soda and I indulge in this when I am out partying only, I generally do not enjoy drinking at home maybe an occasional glass of sweet red wine. This brings me to another revelation; I have a sweet tooth, which has cost me many visits to the dentist! I am looking for an outgoing girl to complement my laid-back nature who enjoys TV and movies as most of my free time is spent watching comedies and legal drama stuff. It would be a plus if she can bake, as I like to indulge my sweet tooth from time to time. Men should look for a girl that brings out their good parts and helps them become better. I am a good listener and I believe this is important in relationships as it makes communication easier. However, I hate confrontations, this makes me walk away from any potential arguments, and I will more likely than not let things slide when they should be aired out. I am working on this and at

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

To What Extent might Globalization be seen as Disadvantageous to Our Essay

To What Extent might Globalization be seen as Disadvantageous to Our Society - Essay Example Before moving on, there is a dire need to define what globalization, in essence, is - globalization is a term which encompasses a number of difficult series of economic, social, technological, cultural and political changes that have been happening from time to time on the global front. These changes have seen some serious strides that have been made with regards to increasing interdependence as well as mergers and interacting units between people from different locations and companies with diversified interests. The term started to take form in the year 1944 but it was not before the year 1981 that the economists actually started using it. The main person responsible for coining the term globalization is considered to be Theodore Levitt. Furthermore, in an economic zone, globalization plays a significant role in increasing trade on an international front which as compared to the global economy, is much faster and ahead of its time. In addition, one can predict an increase in the flow of capital that has been coming from the global regimes which might include the foreign direct investment as being one part of it. Moving on, there are the agreements which are signed on a global scale that eventually lead to world bodies like the World Trade Organization (WTO) and others. Global financial systems also come to light as their developmental work gets thumbs up. International transactions speed up as the world bodies like WTO, WIPO, IMF and the like play their role in a more coherent and active manner. Economic practices like global sourcing or outsourcing as we know of it, off-shoring and others increase courtesy the multinational concerns. Hence poverty-driven mechanisms are enacted but not followed to the extreme core, t hus resulting in the poor masses which are spread in every nook and corner of the world today. Â  

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Future of Montserrat Essay Example for Free

Future of Montserrat Essay The island of Montserrat is situated upon an underwater volcano created by a destructive plate boundary, with the volcanos peak protruding from the south side of the island by the name of Chances Peak in an area entitled Soufriere Hills (in the Caribbean). For 350 years the volcano had remained dormant; however a few weeks ago, Chances Peak became active again and began to emit dust and ash – warning signs that an eruption was almost imminent. On July 20th 1995 (yesterday) the anticipated eruption occurred, producing numerous quandaries for the surviving residents of Montserrat. Montserratians will experience the social impacts of the eruption; these may be the most direct of all the predicaments they encounter and therefore the most challenging to face. Since the volcanos on the island are perceived as unpredictable, the inhabitants are fearful of another eruption. Though they are presently being transferred to a temporary safe region, it is unknown whether a subsequent eruption would be more severe than the first and raise the figures for the injured or killed (19) unnecessarily. Hence the many who have left the island to reside (maybe permanently) in neighbouring islands, the UK or the USA, however this only applies to the populace that possess sufficient funds to do so. The safe regions are reportedly extremely crowded; consequently, with the low sanitation levels, the spread of disease will accelerate. Also, farmers are unable to farm due to constricted land and the devastating environmental impacts of the volcano. If the more wealthy (we can assume the more educated) no longer choose to reside in the island, a ‘brain drain’ will transpire, leaving farmers and communities with small businesses that rely on tourism on Montserrat, though if eruptions cease and the volcano becomes dormant again, life for the farmers could improve as over time the soil of the area would be very fertile. As a result of the ‘brain drain’ there would be an absence of teachers; therefore the children on Montserrat would not be able to learn for a period of time. Moreover, a deficiency of doctors and hospital personnel would leave many people in need of medical help unattended to. Furthermore, persons already residing in the north of the island would have to compromise with the new displaced people; this may cause some feuds over pace etc†¦ The GDP and GNP of Montserrat are predicted to face dramatic cutbacks due simply to the loss of people on the island, and the lack of income from farmers who do not have access to land they can farm on, or businesses that have been destroyed – which is common as many companies were positioned in Plymouth – a city that was completely covered by ash and soon after finished off by deadly pyroclastic flows. If the GDP and GNP do fall, citizens who have decided to stay will be significantly poorer, and therefore may not be able to pay taxes. In addition, a vast sum would have to be paid in damages to property and the building of temporary displaced peoples camps. Due to ash clouds, airports would be closed down, and airlines would have to pay massive amounts in lost revenues. Conversely, industries for other forms of transport (such as shipping companies) would benefit, as passengers search for alternatives to flying. The frequency of imports and exports would not decrease massively as a mere 1% of trade in the UK occurs on flights. Also, (elaborating on the point of aid given by other countries above) since the Montserrat was included in the Federal Colony of British Leeward Islands, the UK may offer some financial support to help improve the islands economy if the damage to it is serious enough. Additionally, the volcano has had colossal impacts on the environment (both positive and negative). Firstly, the ash has suffocated many of the flora and fauna, furthermore, the pyroclastic flow and lahars have killed all life (excluding human) within a 2km radius. Carbon dioxide emitted from the volcano is predicted by scientists to contribute to the greenhouse effect, sulphur dioxide expected to cause environmental issues as sulphur in the stratosphere is the main cause of acid rain. Nonetheless, as a result of two thirds of the islands population predicted to leave the island) the flora and fauna may flourish as there will be less human activity and settlements, leaving nature to itself without interference from machines, factories, and other forms of pollution. The land and soil affected by the volcano will also become fertile, which will, in turn, enhance the growth of plants and trees after an amount of time, and allow them to regrow. The slopes of Chances peak after the eruption are reportedly steeper than before, which will promote growth of delicate, and rare plants can grow with the protection of the slope. The volcano is also expected to alter the weather around Montserrat, causing rain, thunder and lighting. Sea temperatures have reportedly risen, killing some species that rely on specific living conditions, also silting in rivers or lakes has forced boats to stop navigating them as the depth is insufficient. On political terms, and elaborating on the point made above concerning tax and its correspondence with the lack of people on the island, the amount of tax received by the government would decrease too, resulting in a government prone to corruption. Moreover, the government may not be considered fit to run the country by its people, and may be voted out. The government of Montserrat may be forced to relinquish their independency, and amalgamate with another country to become part of their nation (a plausible example would be Montserrat re-joining Britain). On the topic of short term needs, a few that exist are food and drink, and temporary residency areas. Since the eruption would have most likely demolished many of the populace’s properties, and belongings, they will need an alternative place to stay such as the safe zone which has been arranged in the north of the island and is one third of the islands size, compressing hundreds into a tiny space. The government would also be burdened with the task of providing sufficient food and drink for the residents as they would have no means of income, or a market area to buy their own. Medical aid has also become necessary, however not as much as expected as (thankfully) most who occupied the most affected areas had been evacuated before the eruption. Long term necessities will help sustain lives devoid of poverty and hunger for the people of Montserrat. An example of a need which will help the populace in the ‘long run’ is loans to restart businesses and companies citizens had lost in the pyroclastic flows or ash. Furthermore, the government or a country aiding Montserrat could assist by building an early detection system or research facility, to identify when future eruptions may occur, therefore allowing time to prepare. MEDC’s like the USA or the UK might be reviewing plans to assist through the means of creating rehabilitation programmes, or even allowing the people of Montserrat to apply for permanent residency; this would solve the problem or relocating people to live their lives in a safe location.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Virginia Woolfs Use of Moments of Being Essay -- Biography Biographie

Virginia Woolf's Use of Moments of Being      Ã‚   Virginia Woolf is recognized as one of the great innovators of modern fiction. Her experiments with point of view and her use of stream of consciousness have influenced many writers that followed her. But one particularly interesting technique that does not seem to receive much attention is her use of "moments of being."    She first mentions moments of being in her essay, "A Sketch of the Past," which was to be the beginning of her memoirs. She begins with one of her earliest memories: a night in the nursery at St. Ives. She vividly recalls the way the blinds fluttered in the wind, the light coming through the window and the sound of the sea. She had a feeling of "lying in a grape and seeing through a film of semi-transparent yellow" (65). This memory is so strong that when she recalls those sensations they become more real for her than the present moment. This observation leads her to wonder why some moments are so powerful and memorable--even if the events themselves are unimportant--that they can be vividly recalled while other events are easily forgotten. She concludes that there are two kinds of experiences: moments of being and non-being. Woolf never explicitly defines what she means by "moments of being." Instead she provides examples of these moments and contrasts them with moments of what she calls "non-being." She describes the previous day as:      Ã‚  Ã‚   Above the average in 'being.' It was fine; I enjoyed writing these first   Ã‚  Ã‚   pages . . . I walked over Mount Misery and along the river; and save that   Ã‚  Ã‚   the tide was out, the country, which I n... ...ople. When the cotton wool is rent, when one experiences a moment with full consciousness, one experiences the true intensity of life. These moments of being can be read as brief poems hidden among the trivial details of life that some characters--and readers with them--are fortunate enough to experience.    Works Cited    Winterson, Jeanette. "A Gift of Wings." In Art Objects: Essays on Ecstasy and Effrontery. New York: Vintage Books, 1995.    Woolf, Virginia. Between the Acts. New York: Harcourt Brace & Company, 1969.    -------. Mrs. Dalloway. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1981.    -------. To the Lighthouse. New York: Harcourt Brace & Company, 1981.    -------. "A Sketch of the Past."In Moments of Being.Ed. Jeanne Schulkind. 2nd ed. New York: Harcourt Brace & Company, 1985.

Monday, November 11, 2019

Elder Abuse Essay

Elder abuse is a horrible problem: during people’s sunset years, they should relax and be comfortable, not have to worry about abuse from family members and caregivers. However, the issue of people abusing the vulnerable elderly is a growing one in the United States. What causes it? This essay explains a growing theory that accounts for the causes of elder abuse. According to Quinn and Tomita (1997), there are five main hypotheses for elder abuse (Quinn & Tomita, 1997, pp. 86-87). The first is simple power: some people simply focus on dependency issues (Quinn & Tomita, 1997, pp. 86-87). Others are acting out due to the stress of acting as a caregiver; this is particularly common within family caregiving settings (Quinn & Tomita, 1997, pp. 86-87). Another hypothesis states that elder abuse is simply caused because some individuals have grown up in families that solve problems with violence (Quinn & Tomita, 1997, pp. 86-87). Another hypothesis claims that some are related to ind ividual abuser’s problems, such as substance abuse and depression (Quinn & Tomita, 1997, pp. 86-87). Finally, the last hypothesis states that in some societies, elders have lost their personhood due to greed, lookism, and hatred of the disabled. Most other studies support at least one of these hypotheses. For example, Brandl and Raymond found that the most common cause of elder abuse was caregiver stress, regardless of whether the caregiver was a family member or professional; they also emphasize the role of the elderly person: an abused child may abuse their parent once the parent is frail, for example; this connects to Quinn and Tomita’s hypotheses of violent families and individual abuser’s problems (Brandl & Raymond, 2012). Nerenberg, too, claims that caregiver stress is the main cause of elder abuse (Nerenberg, 2002). She emphasizes the perspective of the caregiver, particularly the first-time caregiver, as these individuals are more likely to engage in elder abuse (Nerenberg, 2002). Meanwhile, Hawes focuses on professional caregivers’ abuse of the elderly in long-term care facilities (Hawes, 2003). Hawes does not offer many causes, but hints at them by discussing the low pay and high-stress nature of caregiving jobs (Hawes, 2003). Thomason ascribes the causes of elder abuse to a changing society in which people live longer and are ill-prepared for caretaking (Thomason, 2011). He emphasizes the social  causes of elder abuse, focusing on the need to make everyone aware of the issues related to elder abuse and aging (Thomason, 2011). In contrast, and by focusing on the individual level, Vetere emphasizes caregiver burnout as a major cause of elder abuse (Vetere, 2011). Bronwell addresses the causes of elder abuse only implicitly, but presents data on the low pay and long hours in the caregi ving industry and also discusses the aspects of burnout and frustration that can cause family-based elder abuse to occur (Brownwell & Podnicks, 2005). In addition to discussing the elderly abusing themselves by failing to engage in self-care, they also offer data that some risk factors mean one is more likely to become an abuser: a low level of education, mental retardation (by the caregiver), substance abuse by either the elder or the caregiver, a prior history of violence or psychiatric issues, and stress (Gorbien & Eisenstein, 2005, p. 282). Gorbien and Eisenstein (2005) proposed five archetypes for abusers of the elderly, which are the overwhelmed, the impaired (e.g., mentally or physically), the narcissistic, the bullying, and the sadistic (Gorbien & Eisenstein, 2005, p. 284). In keeping with the overall causes mentioned by Quinn and Tomita, these archetypes offer reasons individuals may turn to abuse (Quinn & Tomita, 1997). Thus it can be said that a theory for the causation o f elder abuse is that within a context of a society that is poorly equipped to deal with the elderly, and within an individualist, looks-oriented society that discriminates against the disabled, many people are ashamed or frustrated by their relatives’ (or clients’, in the case of professional caregivers) decline. This feeling of helplessness and disgust, combined with stress and burnout – exacerbated due to the poor preparation most family caregivers have, and the long hours and poor pay offered to many professional caregivers – creates a context in which abuse is likely. Additional factors, like abuse from the elders themselves (e.g., bitter about losing capacity, holding long grudges against family members, aggression due to cognitive decline such as through Alzheimer’s) can spark an abusive incident. Moreover, if an individual has any of the characteristics noted by Gorbien and Eisenstein, they may be more likely to abuse. Working towards a theory of elder abuse, one can imagine a flow chart (provided on the next page). First, the background of this abuse occurs against a context of a society fiercely focused on beauty and ableism. Second, if an individual ends up  caring for an elder and they are poorly prepared or compensated, this context intensifies. Third, if an individual is impaired in some way, he or she will quickly become burned out and stressed. Fourth, pre-existing interpersonal factors like abuse are exemplified in elder caregiver situations. Fifth, some personality types (narcissists who want others to admire them for their s upposed selflessness; sociopaths) want to care for elders for their own sick needs. Sixth, if a caregiver has a risk factor such as low IQ, low education, substance abuse, or mental health issues, he or she is more likely to be an abuser. Finally, caregivers suffer burnout, and eventually, when caring for an elder individual, they may engage in a violent incident. This theory is outlined in the flowchart below, which moves from left to right. Major causes are represented by larger circles. Works Cited Brandl, B., & Raymond, J. A. (2012). Elder Abuse and the Elder Justice Movement in America. San Francisco, CA: American Society on Aging. Brownwell, P., & Podnicks, E. (2005). Long-Overdue for the Critical Issue of Elder Abuse and Neglect: A Global Policy and Practice Perspective. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Gorbien, M. J., & Eisenstein, A. R. (2005). Elder Abuse and Neglect: An Overview. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier. Hawes, C. (2003). Elder Abuse in Residential Long-Term Care Settings: What Is Known and What Information Is Needed? Washington, DC: National Academies Press,. Nerenberg, L. (2002). Preventing Elder Abuse by Family Caregivers. Washington, D.C.: National Council on Elder Abuse. Quinn, M. J., & Tomita, S. K. (1997). Elder Abuse and Neglect: Causes, Diagnosis, and Intervention Strategies. New York: Springer Publishing Company. Thomason, D. (2011). Addressing The Cause of Elder Abuse: A Critical Component to Aging Health Policy. Retrieved October 16, 2013, from Kaplan Unv iersity Online: http://www.kaplanuniversity.edu/public-service/articles/addressing-elder-abuse.aspx# Vetere, P. M. (2011). Elder Abuse: What Are We Missing? Ottawa: The College of Family Physicians of Canada. Woolf, L. M. (1998). Elder Abuse and Neglect. St. Louis, MO: Webster University.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Hybrid Vehicles: the Dark Side Essay

Abstract In the past decade, hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) have been making a big commotion with the innovative, gas saving technologies that accompany them. The illusion that HEVs are 100 percent environmentally friendly in all aspects also follows the HEV wave. Sadly the illusion often wins over unsuspecting customers the instant better gas mileage is offered. This review on the environmental impact of the hybrid electric vehicle observes the unseen sides of the automotive â€Å"green movement.† The piece compares how an ordinary gasoline vehicle (non-HEV) can achieve gas mileage that is just as good, if not better, than the more expensive hybrid option. This reality check on the newest technologies uproots what manufacturers do not want anyone to know or think about when buying a vehicle including: environmental pollution of the hybrid electric vehicle, non-HEV fuel economy, the lack of pay-back from owning an HEV, and how the HEV lacks the level of versatility required for many Am erican families. Hybrid Electric Vehicles The Dark Side Thesis: Hybrid Electric Vehicles should cease to be produced because of four main issues: environmental pollution has not reduced, better fuel economy can be achieved in non-hybrid vehicles, there is no payback in owning a hybrid, and hybrid vehicles do not possess the same versatility many American families need. I. Environmental Pollution and the Hybrid Electric Vehicle A. Batteries contain Nickel, Lithium, and Lead 1. Mining these materials is hazardous, causes acid rain 2. Shipping these materials is costly and [the transportation vehicle] contributes to pollution B. Car accidents happen 3. Vehicular accidents happen all of the time, HEV batteries are prone to damage and can leak harmful materials (acids) into the environment. 4. Recycling batteries is impossible right now. Where do the batteries go? II. Non-HEV Fuel Economy C. European Diesels vs. HEV 5. For decades European automotive companies have been producing diesel powered cars achieving mpg in the 40-90 range depending on the size of the vehicle 6. Americans have yet to adopt this technology due to discrepancies in emissions controls and standards. D. Alternative Fuel Technologies 7. Hydrogen power is becoming more available to the consumers in larger cities such as Los Angeles and New York City. 8. The technology is still rather expensive, but if the government stopped wasting money on HEV development and started spending on the development of Hydrogen Power, our depending on foreign oil would diminish and we would have a reliable, renewable, and ecologically sound energy III. HEVs Do Not Pay To Own E. Non-HEV vs. HEV 9. Most non-HEVs will tend to pay themselves off in a matter of years because they have small maintenance costs and relatively easy upkeep. 10. HEVs have many new features that are expensive to keep up in today’s market, especially with limited accessibility to replacement parts. F. Maintenance 11. HEVs are filled with a plethora of new costs that can drain a wallet dry! Depending on how long an HEV is owned the owner must maintain both the electric and gas motor along with the battery. 12. A battery costs upwards of an expensive $2,000. IV. HEVs and the Population G. Urban Population and HEV Use 13. Many Americans live in congested cities where fuel consumption is tremendous and pollution is a major problem. 14. HEVs offer the convenience of shutting off the gas motor while stopped and operating only the electric motor when in stop-and-go traffic. 15. More accidents happen in and around the city; it is more likely for a hybrid to be subject to accidents in the city. H. Rural Population and HEV Use 16. Many people living in small towns and villages need four-wheel drive vehicles that can take hard labor. 17. Gas mileage is indispensible to this population. 18. HEV applications in trucks and sport utility vehicles have failed to deliver gas mileage vastly superior to that of non-HEVs. 19. Blue collar workers need vehicles with muscle and power, HEVs do not offer that. Conclusion Hybrid Electric Vehicles The Dark Side The hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) has become an extremely popular choice for many Americans in the past decade. Because it has become so popular, the HEV has lead to many new and harsh environmental impacts on a global level. Hybrids have been viewed as the answer to the United States’ oil dependency. Providing superior fuel economy and lower emissions, a hybrid car was sure to be a hit among city-dwelling citizens; however, the popularity of the HEV is beginning to look like a bad thing. HEVs require a battery to power the electric motor. The batteries contain chemicals that can be released into the environment in the case of an accident or disposal. This is a serious problem that needs to be addressed. Hybrid Electric Vehicles should cease to be produced because of four main issues: environmental pollution has not reduced, better fuel economy can be achieved in non-hybrid vehicles, there is no payback in owning a hybrid, and hybrid vehicles do not possess the same versatility many American families need. Environmental Pollution and the Hybrid Electric Vehicle Smog infested cities have been searching for an answer to pollution; the hybrid vehicle was the response or so it seemed. HEVs have been around long enough to leave both a positive and a negative impact on the environment. A hybrid was meant to reduce fuel consumption and minimize harmful emissions and it does the job well; however, the people who see a hybrid as â€Å"eco-friendly† do not see the polluting monster that hides behind the cloak. Hybrids require a plethora of different parts that normal cars do not typically need. The entire process requires a tremendous amount of energy from other sources, such as diesel power. The process through which HEV batteries are made emits more impurities than an HEV will produce in its lifetime. Not only can HEVs produce pollution before they are made, but they can also contribute to pollution while driving down the road. If one of these vehicles were to get in a major accident, the harmful chemicals within the battery could leak into the ground and contaminate water supplies. The same thing happens when HEVs are sent to the wrecking yard. The batteries are not easy to recycle and there has yet to be an efficient and environmentally safe way to dispose of the hazardous materials. The hybrid electric vehicle has started to fuel controversy over the true environmental impact of such vehicles. Most batteries found in HEVs today consist of nickel metal hydride (NiMH), or lithium ion (Li-Ion); two very toxic chemicals. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (2011), the most environmentally vulnerable component of a hybrid vehicle is the battery. Disposing of the batteries is a major concern and manufacturers have yet to present proper disposal instructions. The largest environmental problem with batteries is the mining and manufacturing of the raw materials that go into them. Many human and machine workers are needed to extract the materials from the Earth, producing immense amounts pollution and damaging the health of the humans in the mines (para. 8). HEVs have a long way to go before becoming the optimal eco-friendly vehicle; Dr. Dominic Notter of Empa Technology and Society Laboratory (2010) writes that â€Å"15 percent of the total [environmental] burden can be ascribed to the battery (including its manufacture, maintenance and disposal),† (para. 7). Notter suggests that lithium batteries are not as environmentally bad as they were first understood to be. The Empa team speculates that the biggest environmental impact by HEVs is the sources where the electricity is produced to charge the batteries. The sources can be an assortment of nuclear, coal-fired, and hydroelectric power creating a heavily offset balance between the emissions of the source and the battery itself. In short, HEVs are indirectly responsible for the environmental impacts caused by the batteries (Niederà ¶st, 2010). Non-HEV Fuel Economy Setting aside the problems associated with HEVs, Non-HEVs are plenty capable of achieving tremendously better fuel economy. European diesel technology has come a great distance in the past ten years. Many small diesel cars are able to achieve seventy to eighty miles per gallon with stock configuration, compared to standard gasoline which in most small cars only achieves thirty miles per gallon. Thirty miles per gallon by U.S. standards is pretty good, but it can be better. Today there are large trucks that can achieve twenty-two miles per gallon on diesel fuel, yet smaller gas trucks will get only fifteen miles per gallon. The technology to make Non-HEVs more fuel efficient is there; it just needs to be utilized and executed. Part of the reason that the U.S. has not used new diesel technology is because of the emissions standards difference from Europe’s current standards, but there is no acceptable reason why the U.S. cannot invest bringing smaller, cleaner diesels to the mar ket. Engineers have been improving the efficiency of internal combustion engines for over one hundred years. The article â€Å"Fuel Economy Today—Alt Fuels Tomorrow† (2010) suggests that â€Å"the king of fluid energy efficiency is diesel fuel,† (para. 3). Diesel fuel is a major driving force in the U.S. economy by propelling nearly â€Å"1.3 million long haul semi trucks† on U.S. roads every day (â€Å"Aerodynamic†, 2011, para. 2). Nearly every item on today’s market is delivered by either diesel burning semi truck or locomotive, which constantly raises demand for the most updated diesel technologies as the U.S. economy strives to go green. On another front, diesel is becoming a popular option on smaller, lighter duty vehicles meaning diesel could be the next gasoline. This transition could lead buyers away from the hybrid market as most small diesels provide decent fuel economy and in the long run are a better deal. According to â€Å"Gasoline Panic 2011: Hybrid/Electric Vehicles Not the Answer† (2011), Joe Wiesenfelder, senior editor of Cars.com, believes that, for economic purposes, the purchase of an HEV because of fuel costs makes little sense. â€Å"Buying a [Nissan] Leaf or [Chevy] Volt now is no more logical – and probably less- due to market realities. The new compacts like the Chevy Cruze, Ford Focus and Hyundai Elantra are a better choice in the long run due to lower price and respectable fuel economy,† asserts Wiesenfelder (para. 6). Non-HEVs may not be as efficient as a gas/electric hybrid, but the extra expenses associated with HEVs are enough to say that Non-HEVs are the most economically reasonable choice when purchasing a new car. Alternative energy is another way America can eliminate its dependence on foreign oil. One of the most popular developing fuels is hydrogen. Hydrogen is an extremely efficient fuel that emits only water, while regular 87 octane gas is tremendously inefficient and it emits poisonous gases. If the U.S. strongly invested in the development of hydrogen within the next century, the nation could be fully independent of foreign oil and fuel prices would be minimal. Today hydrogen vehicles are available for lease in some major cities. Currently the technology is not quite ready for mass production as the system is not durable enough for mass production and the technology is still too expensive to make any giant leaps in progress. Politics are the major issue behind the slow progression of hydrogen fuel technologies. Jonathan Gal (2009) noted that the reason why alternative energies are not being pushed for with as much excitement is because the idea is worth billions of dollars and oil companies are taking advantage of the situation and jacking up prices on oil-based products. Big companies know that once alternative fuels become widely available to the public the profits will immediately disintegrate (para.3). Oil barons have been fighting against the move for alternative fuels, which is understandable; however, they do see the profitability in accommodating alternative fuels and are quickly scooping up companies that want to produce the new energies. Hydrogen is a great fuel for America to renew itself. In opposition to the use of hydrogen as an alternative fuel, one might argue that it is far too explosive to use in a passenger car and is simply not safe; the Hindenburg is a prime example of its dangerousness. The Hindenburg was a German airship that was filled with hydrogen and coated with a powdered aluminum and iron oxide paint. The myth is that hydrogen was the main cause of the Hindenburg catastrophe. Although hydrogen was a key player, it was the highly reactive coating that ignited the flame to start the hydrogen on fire. Of course there is more to that story, but it proves that hydrogen is only as dangerous as the machines it is engineered into. HEVs Do Not Pay to Own Over the last decade it has been speculated that owning an HEV will never pay to own within the lifetime of possession. The average non-HEV will typically take five years to pay for itself. Americans want a car that will be useful, reliable, and will pay to own. Typical American families will run their cars for ten to fifteen years before getting a new vehicle because with all other expenses taken into account a new car is the last expense a growing family needs to worry about. HEVs are packed with relatively new technologies that are not easily and economically replaced. Replacement HEV parts are difficult to find and are never cheap. A typical battery for a HEV can run up a bill of more than $2,000. Fleming, Privott, Taylor, and McDuffie (n.d.) have done research regarding the lifetime of a typical HEV battery. Granted many HEVs have not been around long enough to need replacement, the team used a figure of ten years to estimate the annual cost of battery maintenance and replacemen t. After meeting with automotive dealers to gather prices of replacement HEV batteries, the team produced the price of an HEV battery to be â€Å"†¦about $2600, there would be an additional cost of approximately $3400 for installation.† Compare this information with the cost of a Non-HEV battery price of about $30-$40 and the price differential becomes extremely apparent (p.6). Expensive repairs make a vehicle incredibly difficult to pay off within the lifetime of the ownership. Non-HEVs have been around long enough to the point where paying for repairs is relatively cheap and parts are easy to find; many components are interchangeable and can be installed by anybody. The internal combustion engine, according to Virginia Tech’s Consortium on Energy Restructuring (2007), has been the most preferred method of supplying energy to major companies globally because the machines are easy to maintain, familiar to all ages, and high dependability (para.4). Although HEVs are advertised to be the new family vehicle, it is obvious there are many issues that need to be taken into account before the HEV will truly be a family and economically friendly vehicle. HEVs and the Population There are billions of people on this planet, but only a few select groups of the populace really need or want HEVs. Many of the people who live in heavily urbanized areas, such as Chicago, New York City, and Los Angeles are the only populations who could benefit from using an HEV. A convenience offered by an HEV is that it can shut off the gas motor when stopped and run solely on the electric motor to reduce the harmful emissions that all major cities are prone to. The use of the electric motor also eliminates gas consumption during stop-and-go traffic, which is when most pollution from exhaust accumulates. Cities are victim to a large number of accidents every year. From fender benders to pile-ups, all types of accidents are highly likely in a city setting. HEVs are equipped with all of the latest safety technologies, but what is most dangerous is the leaking and spreading of battery acid during an accident and afterword, not to mention hybrids are also quieter than gas vehicles making the hearing impaired pedestrian more likely to end up on the hood of an oncoming HEV. Joanne Silburner of NPR’s Health Blog, suggests that without the engine noise, blind people and people listening to music are the most likely to walk in front of an HEV without knowing any better. Silburner also points out that the uneducated driver of an HEV might be a possible risk to pedestrians as HEV engines shut off when the car is not moving; leading to what could be a panic reaction from the driver (para.6-7). In small towns and rural areas across the U.S. many families need fuel efficient, people-moving, and reliable vehicles that are easy to maintain. HEVs do not make the cut when it comes to meeting the needs of a rural-dwelling family. In rural areas, places and locations are commonly spaced widely apart and highways or two lane roads connect them. HEVs are known to get worse gas mileage on the highway than in the city, which is incredibly unappealing to the long distance commuters. Automotive companies have tried to address these problems with hybrid trucks and sport utility vehicles; however, the performance of the vehicles was too poor to achieve a tremendous upgrade in gas mileage. The failure to produce an efficient hybrid truck brought the automotive companies back to the drawing board. Today there are large diesel trucks that can achieve an impressive twenty-two miles per gallon while hauling heavy loads. According to U.S. Department of Energy (2011), diesel vehicles meet the same emissions standards and regular gas vehicles and the diesels are â€Å"more powerful and fuel efficient than similar sized gas engines (about 30-35% more efficient),† (para.1). With the technologies available today humans can fine-tune machines, like car engines, to run at top efficiency and still produce vast amounts of power to add both thrill and utility to the drive. Conclusion HEVs are popular; it is unlikely that the major automakers of the world will even consider pulling HEVs from their lineup of vehicles. The consequences in the marketplace would be too large. Being eco-friendly is a major perk to most people; companies need to accommodate their respective customer base. This accommodation restricts the companies from taking back their promises and providing a true eco-friendly product. Overlooked environmental pollution, non-HEV improvements, HEV cost of ownership and population demands are all reminders of how the eco-friendly revolution has blinded the general public from what happens behind the â€Å"green† screen. It is up to the people to understand that HEVs are not the key to a bright future, but are another obstruction to achieving the real eco-vehicle. References Aerodynamic add-ons reduce fuel consumption of semi trucks by 7-12%. (2011, February 16). Retrieved March 16, 2011, from http://missionzero.org/categories/12-Transportation/saved_entries/8007-Aerodynamic-add-ons-reduce-fuel-consumption-of-semi-trucks-by-7-12- Consortium on Energy Restructuring, Virginia Tech. (2007). Internal Combustion Engines. Retrieved March 23, 2010 from http://www.dg.history.vt.edu/ch5/ices.html Fleming, D., Privott, T., Taylor, J.R., & McDuffie, T. (n.d.). Hybrid electric vehicles vs. internal combustion engine vehicles: Which gives you more bang for your buck?. Retrieved March 22, 2011 from http://education.uncc.edu/cmste/summer%20ventures/2010%20World%20View%20of%20Math%20and%20Data%20Analysis/THomas%20Privott-%20Davis%20Fleming.pdf Fuel economy today: Alt fuels tomorrow. (2010) Fleet Equipment 36(3), 14. General Reference Center Gold. Web. Retrieved March 16, 2011 Gal, J. (2009, July 06). The politics of alternative energy. Retrieved March 24, 2011 from http://www.prlog.org/10275672-the-politics-of-alternative-energy.html Gasoline Panic 2011: Hybrid/Electric Vehicles Not the Answer. (2011, March 4). PR Newswire. General Reference Center Gold. Web. Retrieved March 16, 2011 Niderà ¶st, R. (Ed.). (2010, August 27). The eco-balance of Li-ion rechargeable batteries for electric cars â€Å"greener† than expected. Retrieved from EMPA Materials Science and Technology, Switzerland. Retrieved February 24, 2011, from http://www.empa.ch/plugin/template/empa/*/99149/—/l=1 Silberner, J. (2010, April 19). Hybrid cars’ silence just one factor in high pedestrian death rate. Retrieved on March 24, 2010 from http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2010/04/hybrid_cars_silence_just_one_f.html United States Department of Energy. (2011, March 24). Diesel Vehicles. Retrieved on March 24, 2011 from http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/di_diesels.shtml United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2011, February 18). Environmental impacts from automobiles. Retrieved February 22, 2011, from http://yosemite.epa.gov/R10/OWCM.NSF/product+stewardship/autos-impacts#batteries

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Glass Menagerie Essays - English-language Films, The Glass Menagerie

Glass Menagerie Essays - English-language Films, The Glass Menagerie Glass Menagerie In The Glass Menagerie, the main characters are Laura, Amanda, Tom, Jim, and Father. Each character can be found with symbols that best represent them. Laura 's two symbols are Blue Roses and her glass menagerie, Unicorn. Amanda 's yellow dress and bathrobe can express her love she has of the past event. Tom 's symbols are the movies and merchant marine. Jim's symbolize itself as a gentlemen caller for Laura. The Father 's portrait portrays his abandonment of the Wingfield family. Laura is a hypersensitive young girl. She spends all of her time in a world of glass ornaments and stayed in her apartment. Even though she tries several times to participate in the outside world, she is too fragile. The Blue Roses represent the uniqueness of Laura. Blue Roses do not exist in this world or even if there is, it is not by nature. This rose is different from other roses just as Laura is different from other girls. The color blue represents the sadness and depression. Laura felt these feelings at home because she is not as popular as Amanda and she cannot succeed in college that Amanda hopes her to be. Amanda's expectation caused Laura to feel bad when she does not meet her requirements. Laura had dropped out of Rubicam Business College and she can not find any gentleman caller. Roses represent Laura along with her beauty and innocence. The stem of the rose can define as the support that Amanda and Tom gave her. The thorn is her shyness. It is her shy! ness that no one wants to go near her and she does not want to go near anyone. The Glass Menagerie represents Laura' hypersensitive nature and fragility. Laura is just as easily broken as a glass unicorn and just as unique. When Jim accidentally bumps into the unicorn and breaks it, the unicorn is no longer unique. When Jim kisses Laura and then shatters her hopes by telling her he is engaged, she becomes broken-hearted and less unique. The innocence that made Laura so unique is now lost. Both Laura and the glass menagerie break when they are exposed to the outside world. When Laura gives Jim her broken unicorn, it symbolizes her broken heart that Jim will take with him when he leaves. She gives Jim a little bit of herself to take with him and he leaves behind a little bit of himself with her shattered horses. Amanda is a middle-aged southern woman whose husband had abandoned her. She spends her time reminiscing about her seventeen gentlemen callers and nagging at Tom and Laura. She is completely depending on Tom for financial business of the family and a responsibility for Laura's future. Amanda dreams back to the time when she was a young girl wearing yellow dress. Those certainly were better days. The past was a wonderful experience for her compare to the reality which she a now an abandoned wife with two children. Mr. Wingfield was cruel to leave the family but Amanda still loves him. She wears his bathrobe and often looks at the portrait of her husband. She can not put the past behind her. Amanda is obsessed with her past as she constantly reminds Tom and Laura of that one Sunday afternoon in Blue Mountain. " When Jim arrives, Amanda is dressed in the same girlish frock she wore on the day that she met her husband. She regresses to her childish days of entertaining! the gentleman callers. She chooses to live in the past. Moreover, she hoped that the gentleman caller is not handsome because Mr. Wingfield is handsome and he wins her heart in a second. She does not want Tom to be a drunkard, have manner in eating, and stop smoking. She wished her children luck, happiness, and success in the future but irony, she rather live in a life of illusion and recall all of her past experience. Tom Wingfield loves to go to the movies. But Amanda does not believe that his evenings are so innocent. She does not understand that Tom wants adventure. Since his life is full of responsibility: money, future of Laura, boring job. He wanted more in

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Why you should keep your networking circle small

Why you should keep your networking circle small When it comes to your professional network, the more the merrier, right? After all, more people = more chances for connection, word-of-mouth opportunities, etc. Sounds great in theory, but in reality, it might surprise you to learn that experts are recommending that you scale back your professional network and keep a smaller, more nimble group of people as your inner circle. There’s some debate over what that number actually is- evolutionary psychologist Robin Dunbar famously did a study and determined that 150 is the magic number of maintainable social/professional relationships in anyone’s life. The reality is that there’s probably no rigid number for each person’s professional network, but your limit should be where you can reasonably maintain a professional relationship with someone.If that sounds counterintuitive to you, here are some of the reasons you should think about downsizing your professional crew.Your network should be carefully curated and t ended.The whole point of networking is the relationships. Think back to your kindergarten class. Can you remember the names all 20 or so kids, or do you remember just a small subset of friends or particularly memorable kids? Our brains are conditioned to keep the most important information and discard the rest, and our social relationships tend to follow suit. You want your network to be people who are the most relevant to your professional growth and goals- not necessarily every person you’ve met since you were an intern at XYZ Corp.You want to focus on quality, not quantity.Some people in your network are, quite simply, going to be more useful and relevant to you than other people will be. Taking a close look at your network and who still aligns with your current professional self and your hoped-for-future professional self can help you define your goals.It’s okay to let people go.An unwieldy network of connections might be a symptom that you have trouble letting go or don’t want to risk hurting anyone’s feelings. Realistically, professional network â€Å"breakups† are easier than other kinds of social pruning. The stakes are low if you stop following someone on Twitter or remove them as a connection on LinkedIn. If you don’t find someone’s insights useful or are not likely to ever have a conversation with them again, why keep them kicking around in the social media ether? You don’t need to be obvious or mean about it or make a dramatic announcement about how you’re making cuts. Plus, it’s unlikely your coworker from three jobs ago is likely to send you a devastated â€Å"whyyyyyyyy?† message afterward. Chances are, they were getting about as much out of the relationship as you were.It gives you more bandwidth for long-term professional growth.Limiting your network to a small inner circle lets you put in more time and energy into building those relationships- emails, occasional hang outs, check-ins, etc. Networking isn’t just about getting something from others; it’s about building yourself as well and finding your people. You want your interactions with your network to be mutually beneficial- not a chore or a one-way transaction for either of you. If you’re hitting up someone in your network only when you’re sniffing for an opportunity, then your calls/texts/emails are likely to start going ignored. On the other hand, if you put time into getting to know someone, you both get the benefit of each other’s expertise and a deeper knowledge of what each person has to offer.When it comes to your network, remember: better, not more. There’s no prize for the number of LinkedIn connections, or the most â€Å"likes† on your latest professional rant on social media. You should be surrounded by people who know and support your goals, and vice versa- not hundreds of people who sort of know your name from scrolling through a newsfeed. You’ll find that your professional life- and your personal one as well- will be all the better for these higher-quality relationships.

Saturday, November 2, 2019

(Emotion) .....not really sure Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

(Emotion) .....not really sure - Essay Example When speÐ °king Ð °bout my personÐ °l ego ideÐ °l, I would refer myself to the first group of people, who Ð °re ideÐ °lizing the world rÐ °ther thÐ °n living in the reÐ °lity. CreÐ °ting ideÐ °l imÐ °ges of me Ð °nd the outer world is whÐ °t describes my personÐ °lity. I therefore, live in the present, Ð °nd reject who I Ð °m Ð °t the moment while concentrÐ °ting who I wÐ °nt to be. Since it is impossible to reÐ °ch the ideÐ °l, I do not perceive the world Ð °s it is Ð °nd often disÐ °ppoint in life. I mÐ °y thus describe myself Ð °s nÐ °Ãƒ ¯ve person, but Ð °lso the one who enjoys life Ð °nd sees everything in the best colors. My ego-self is constÐ °ntly judging Ð °nd rejecting its Ð °rising stÐ °te Ð °nd trying to fit itself into Ð ° certÐ °in ideÐ °l. It is not just being where it is Ð °nd Ð °llowing itself to unfold freely. Ð s Ð ° result, it does not understÐ °nd where it is for it is invested in being somewhere in pÐ °rticulÐ °r, being Ð ° certÐ °in wÐ °y, or in sÐ °tisfying Ð ° pÐ °rticulÐ °r ideÐ °l. Ð nd even if this ideÐ °l is tÐ °ken from spirituÐ °l teÐ °chings, the sÐ °me mechÐ °nism of ego Ð °ctivity is in operÐ °tion. TrÐ °pped in the ego-self, I do not trust thÐ °t Being myself will tÐ °ke me where I need to go. 2. Second, Ð °nd equÐ °lly importÐ °nt, is the Ð °bility Ð °nd willingness to be Ð ° teÐ °m member, plÐ °ying dÐ °ily roles in such Ð ° fÐ °shion thÐ °t the whole is Ð °lwÐ °ys greÐ °ter thÐ °n the sum of its pÐ °rts. It must be recognized Ð °nd Ð °ccepted thÐ °t no teÐ °m is ever stronger thÐ °n the weÐ °kest member, so thÐ °t eÐ °ch member must be Ð °ssigned to mÐ °ke full use of tÐ °lents possessed. 3. Third, thÐ °t Ð °ll individuÐ °ls Ð °re equÐ °l Ð °nd thÐ °t eÐ °ch Ð °nd ever one must fully recognize thÐ °t equÐ °lity Ð °nd with full Ð °cceptÐ °nce of the other, but thÐ °t we Ð °re Ð °ll humÐ °n beings; eÐ °ch with our own pÐ °rticulÐ °r weÐ °knesses Ð °nd strengths; so thÐ °t in full teÐ °m fÐ °shion ones strengths Ð °re emphÐ °sized Ð °nd weÐ °knesses

Thursday, October 31, 2019

Educated Citizenry Personal Statement Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Educated Citizenry - Personal Statement Example Educated masses are an important asset to any country, more so for one that follows the democratic form of government. By education, we do not simply mean the literacy rate and its level in the democracy, but the level of awareness that exists amidst them. In the words of Abraham Lincoln, "Democracy is a form of government by the people, of the people and for the people". Therefore, those people need to be aware of the way the government functions, why a certain policy is being adopted and what are the rights he or she can avail in the system. An educated citizenry, that is well-informed about the current affairs of the State, the rights and the duties it needs to perform and the process of give of take, can be of crucial help to the government and the democracy, as a whole. Therefore, this is one of the reasons why a Democracy can benefit from an educated citizenry. The second reason stated deals with the fact that the citizenry should be well informed and educated, since it needs to identify and recognise where the democracy is headed.

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Applying to Northern Ontario School of Medicine Essay

Applying to Northern Ontario School of Medicine - Essay Example 2. How have your academic, work and life experiences prepared you for being a student at Northern Ontario School of Medicine and for studying and working in rural, remote and/or northern urban communities? I was born in Ghana, an under-developed country where majority of the population live in poverty. People had little to no access to resources such as good schools, libraries, computers, tutoring, and activities pertinent to health care. My family migrated to Toronto in 1994 when I was 13. Being a minority my parents had to settle for low income jobs. As the oldest child, I was compelled to work odd jobs to contribute to the household earnings while in high school. We were forced to live in ‘ghettos and remote areas,’ with very poor housing and health care services. Many of my peers dropped out of high school, became pregnant and some turned to selling drugs. While growing up, and to some extent today, I lack the basic resources needed to develop academically and profes sionally. Despite all of this, I acclimatized very well into my environment and have been successful in my educational choices. The hardships that I have overcome have only made me a better person and I would not be here today if it were not the same. With my diverse background I believe I am ready to study and to work at rural communities where I could give back in some way.4. List activities and interests outside academic and work environments not detailed elsewhere in the application.

Sunday, October 27, 2019

The Role Of Theory And Practice Facilitated By Reflection Nursing Essay

The Role Of Theory And Practice Facilitated By Reflection Nursing Essay Question Dewey (1938) stated that all genuine education comes through experience. Certainly, in practice-based professions such as the health care professions, clinical experience should be the basis for learning. To extract learning from experience, we need to create meaning from our experiences as we interact with and react to, them. We cannot allow any experience to be taken for granted; once we do so, actions become routine and habitual, we stop noticing and enter into a rut (Stuart 2007). Critically discuss this quotation by focusing on the complexity of learning in practice, the complexity of supervisory process and the end goal of creating a competent practitioner. Table of Contents Introduction It is in the interest of both the university and the clinical areas to ensure that newly qualified nurses are perfectly competent to take on the responsibilities of their new jobs. The big question is; which area should play the best part in ensuring that this feat is accomplished? Conversely, could it be a perfect balance between the two domains? Considering the changing face of nursing education to keep up with modern times, it is also useful to contemplate the challenges that students and educators, both academic and clinical are faced with. In order to establish if the goal of producing a competent practitioner is reached, it is important to determine what exactly constitutes a competent practitioner. As a final thought the concept of competency shall be pondered to see if it is sufficient to produce competent professionals when todays employers demand high standards and excellency of care. The changing nature of nursing Countless times nursing has been referred to as both an art and a science. Clearly, this is to delineate that it is a combination of both academical knowledge and practice skill. Through the years nursing education has shifted from hospital training (skills) to higher education (academic) namely university baccalaureates, masters and also doctorates (Wilson, 2008). Jarvis (2005) explains that this change is occurring because nursing is undergoing a process of professionalization (professionalism). Another important change is that, whereas the student nurses before were all young recruits nowadays the classroom is a mixture of ages either due to mature students entering nursing or due to continuing education (Jarvis, 2005). These adult learners may thus have different learning needs. The fact that nursing has distanced itself from the medical model, in favour of a holistic, patient centered approach, it has also inevitably changed the way nurse education is planned and delivered nowad ays. Alongside the study of anatomy and physiology, nurse educators had to include the nursing process and humanistic subjects like the concept of care, psychology, sociology and ethics. Meurier, Vincent Parmar (1997) maintain that this process was necessary for nursing to become an autonomous profession that has research underpinning its practice. Evidence based practice became a means of gaining credibility with both clients and other professions. Greater autonomy has been given to nurses locally by the issuing of the nursing warrant. However, autonomy also translates into increased accountability. Patients abroad are now personally suing individual nurses when they are thought to be personally responsible for errors. Never before has it been more important to produce competent, efficient and effective nurses in order to avoid costly litigations and avoidable patient suffering and harm. The emphasis is now on which type of learning is best at producing competent nurses, theoretical, academic or possibly a mixture of both. The great debate One of the main objectives of this assignment is to critically discuss the quote provided. In this quote Dewey is said to put great emphasis on the role that experiences plays in providing a genuine education. Experience is defined in the Longman (2010) dictionary as knowledge or skill that you gain from doing a job or activity. Experience is an important component of practice development (Lyneham, Parkinson Denholm, 2009). However, nursing is not only about doing but also about thinking. In the quote provided, Deweys seems to be subjective when he omits to recognize the role that theory plays in the learning process. However Dewey, in his own book states that the belief that all genuine education comes about through experience does not mean that all experiences are genuinely or equally educative (Dewey, 1998, p. 13). Knowles, Holton III, Swanson, (2005) believed that many Deweys ideas were misinterpreted through the years and emphasised the importance of direct quoting. Hence, to evaluate properly Deweys quote, one must assess it in the whole context not just a short quote. Peplau (1988, p. 13) asserts that the art and science aspects of nursing should always be kept interconnected if not inseparable. This statement suggests that experience and academical knowledge, should complement each other in order to achieve optimal learning. The clinical environment is a rich learning ground full of learning opportunities. On the other hand, this knowledge can be in a tacit f orm and hard to translate into words. Eraut (2004) maintains that when these situations arise, the practitioner needs to find alternate ways of unlocking and sharing this knowledge. Reflection, which is widely taught in nursing curriculae nowadays may be a means of articulating knowledge that is embedded in practice (McBrien, 2006). Thus, this is an example of theory complimenting experiential learning. Furthermore, without nursing developing its own theoretical body of knowledge the quest for professionalization would have been unreachable. In order to advance the nursing profession and provide the tools to increase the body of knowledge, critical thinking and research modules have been added to the nursing curriculae. This enabled nursing to move away from the dominancy of other professions and empowered nurses to be able to make their own competent decisions based on well researched evidence. Clinical experience includes also the practicing of skills, which are primarily learnt through role modelling strategies and perfected through repetition thus increasing competence. Consequently, habitualisation runs the danger of becoming a ritualistic practice when it is taken for granted and done without thought (Stuart, 2007). Heath and Freshwater (2000) regard proficiency in skill, achieved through repetitive practice as positive. They explain that nurses will require less thought whilst performing procedures and their attention may be dedicated to answering the patients questions or observing his behaviour. However, practice without reflection truly risks becoming a rigid, habitualised and ritualistic vicious circle. Experience is not just about performing skills well and in good timing. It is also an opportunity to be faced with different clinical situations and challenges that equip the nurse with the necessary knowledge to deal with similar situations in the future. A report compiled by the Department of Health (1999) entitled Making a difference outlined that many newly qualified nurses lacked the necessary skills to function as confident and competent practitioners in their new professional roles. Therefore, although nurses might possess the academical knowledge to pass their final exams, they lacked the experience to operate confidently on the wards. Another shortfall was that newly qualified nurses were observed to lack the critical thinking skills necessary to function in the increasingly complex clinical environment (Aronson, Rosa, Anfinson Light, 1997). Many argue that this is the result of the shift from hospital based training to university centered education, creating the theory pra ctice gap phenomenon (Evans, 2009). In the following paragraphs, the theory practice gap and means of reducing it shall be discussed. Theory- Practice Gap In the past, nurses had more clinical hours than study hours as part of their nurse education. Furthermore, the students of the past were counted as part of the nursing compliment. This may explain why they found the transition from a student to qualified nurse less problematic. However, this kind of training sucked the students into a circle of ritualistic practice concentrating on efficiency rather than effectiveness. In contrast todays student is provided with all the theoretical knowledge to ensure that practice is guided by evidence thus shifting the balance onto effectiveness. Wilson (2008) explains that teaching should not just be the imparting of facts but that students must learn how to adapt this information to each unique clinical setting. Therefore, it is empirical to bridge the gap between what is known and what is practiced. The gap between theory and practice is not something of the present and will persist through the ages. Haigh (2009) considers this gap to be important as it portrays nursing as a vibrant and dynamic profession (p. 1). Notwithstanding this, the theory practice gap has inspired theorists to introduce learning models in the clinical environment and mostly included the participation of a clinical supervisor (Beinart, 2004 and Lynch, Hancox, Happell, Parker, 2008). Furthermore, no model has managed to eradicate the theory practice gap (Baxter, 2007). Whichever model may be used, the importance of having a clinical supervisor with exceptional qualities must not be overlooked. An advantage of the local nursing scene is that although the Institute of Nursing has now become a faculty, its basis is still within the general hospital. The significance of this is not only that the two domains are not physically separated, but that also academical staff and other resources such as the library are easily accessible. However other measures are also necessary in order to amalgamate theory and practice. The areas of reflection and clinical supervision as a means of reducing the gap shall be discussed in the following paragraphs. Reflection and learning Schà ¶n (1983) in his book regarding the reflective practitioner states that reflective practice enables a person to learn from both his actions and experiences. Jarvis (2005) maintains that the role of a teacher may include facilitating reflective practice for practitioners in order to crystallize the ideas generated in practice. Moreover, Schà ¶n established that nurses reflect upon their actions and through this, knowledge about practice is generated as opposed to just the application of knowledge to practice. Rolfe (1997) supports this statement by asserting that reflective practice is a systematic and thoughtful process that allows nurses going about their daily work to make sense of their practices. Reflection is a means of identifying areas that need improvement. However, reflection should also take place in instances that went well to identify the key principles that contributed to success. Surgerman, Doherty, Garvey and Gass (2000) point out that if reflection is taken awa y from practice, the practitioner might not be able to learn from these experiences. Unfortunately staff shortages and the overcrowding of wards often leave little time for nurses to think (Weaver, Warren Delaney, 2005). However, this should not be an excuse not to engage reflective practice. Reflection on action may be more suitable and should be greatly encouraged amongst supervisees as a means of making sense of practices being undertaken. This form of reflection was also used by Florence Nightingale as a means of generating knowledge from practice and the start of evidence based practice (McDonald, 2001). Another way would be to organise group reflections. The group may include a mixture of supervisors and supervisees in order to facilitate discussion and the sharing of knowledge (Lee, 2009). The process of reflection is also very useful in helping students and qualified staff alike to develop critical thinking skills. Further on, a problem solving attitude may be instilled, which is a valuable tool for the nurses in their career (Jarvis, 2005) thus leading to t he development of a competent practitioner. The generation of ideas from reflection is not sufficient. The greatest challenge is to put these ideas into practice. Clinical supervisors can be an asset in helping students to engage reflective practice whilst helping them articulating and implementing the ideas generated. Clinical supervision Wong and Lee (2000) define the roles of clinical supervision as to help students develop their clinical skills, help to bridge theory and practice and assist students with their socialisation into nursing. McBrien (2006) states that clinical supervision acts as an extension of classroom teaching. In other words, the clinical supervisor works alongside the university to maximize the educational activity gained from the ward experience. In the wards, the supervisor, helps to safely monitor students, whilst they practice what they have learned in the classroom thus bridging the afore mentioned gap. Supervisors may teach supervisees by being good role models, and help novice students acquire knowledge through emulating their behaviour. As supervisees progress the supervisor must then give greater freedom to the student whilst challenging their practices in order to develop their reflective and critical thinking skills. Supervisors must be well prepared and supported (Lynch, Hancox, Happe ll, Parker, 2008). Furthermore, their practices have to be grounded in evidence as supervisees at this stage will healthily challenge what the supervisor is imparting. Supervision takes up different forms in different hands depending on the intent and emphasis of the supervisor (Johns 1996, p.1142). Staff shortages, overcrowding and high patient turnover may result in ward nurses looking at students in an inappropriate manner, especially if supervision was forced on them. Consequently, they may look at students as a burden, an extra duty or a waste of their free time. Moreover, they may view them as an extra pair of hands which can be easily manipulated to do their every bidding. McBrien (2006) warns that faced with such negative attitude student nurses may be inclined to abandon their learning objectives in order to fit in. Furthermore, nurses may be hostile and uncooperative towards their colleagues who are trained clinical supervisors who take on students for supervision in their wards. The clinical supervisor thus has an important role in creating an environment conducive to learning on the wards. This should include measures to make students feel welcome and accepted by the rest of the ward staff in order to safeguard the students self esteem and potential for learning (Franke, Garssen, Huijer Abu-Saad, 1995). Moreover, good relationship is of utmost importance in obtaining the desired goals in the supervisory process. The relationship between the supervisor and the supervisee is the key for successful clinical supervision (Lynch, Hancox, Happell, Parker, 2008 and Sloan, 1999). The above points strongly indicate that clinical supervisors have to be willing and dedicated to undertake the teaching role in the ward. Supervisors must undergo specialised training. However, in order to move a further step, full collaboration with the academic body has to be in place. Sloan (1999) stated that on-going training for supervisors helps them to construct their own supervision models, to develop interpersonal skills and facilitate supervisory support besides others. One training module is not enough to last a life-time, hence update courses and meetings should be held yearly. By this means not only knowledge is updated but also an opportunity for the sharing of ideas is provided. Introducing regular meetings with the academic supervisor ensures not only a bridging of the theory practice gap but also that the desired student goals are made clear and achievable. Unfortunately, the number of nursing students by far outnumbers the amount of clinical supervisors who have been formally trained. This lack of supervisors may be the result of the absence of a good reward system such as monetary or professional. Alternatively, the quality of supervision might deteriorate with its introduction. This can be due to applicants applying for the rewards, rather than a keen interest in supervision. In this event, a rigid vetting process and performance appraisal should be introduced. The concept of collaborative learning has been explored by Jeffries (2005) as a means of compensating for the lack of supervisors. The main advantages were an increased sense of teamwork, student bonding and richer discussions. However, Evans (2009) points out those students who are less eager to participate may hide within these groups thus limiting the development of their potential. Moreover, large groups may contribute to certain students getting away with not performing d uties that they might consider not to their liking (Evans, 2009). An important role that the clinical supervisor must play, which is sometimes overlooked is the development of self awareness. Heath and Freshwater (2000) maintain that the supervisor must help the student to develop an awareness of self, and an acceptance of responsibility for ones own actions. Thus the supervisor must instil the concept of accountability, which greatly contributes to the development of a competent practitioner. Todd Freshwater (1999) assert that through this process the supervisee becomes less dependent on the clinical practitioner because an internal supervisor is developed. Hence, the supervisee develops a professional conscience whilst becoming more capable to assume more responsibility for ones own learning. When this is achieved, the seed of life-long learning is planted ensuring that the supervisee will continue to self direct learning even after graduation. Jarvis (2005) states that if this had to be universal for all students, continuing education programme s could be drastically reduced. Competent practitioners Weaver, Warren and Delaney (2005) explain that nursing care affects a range of health care outcomes namely; mortality, morbidity and costs. For this reason, an emphasis is now being placed on high quality care, avoidance of errors, cost effectiveness and elimination of wastages. A competent practitioner is someone who is able to conduct tasks safely on their own. Moreover, competency is defined by the Nursing Council of New Zealand, (2008, p.12) as, the combination of skills, knowledge, attitudes, values and abilities that underpin effective performance as a nurse. Conversely, Lofmark, Smide, Wikblad, (2006) state that competency must be achieved in all areas and not just in clinical and technical skills. Furthermore, it is difficult to find a person who is competent in all areas. Having stated all this, a doubt arises, whether being a competent practitioner is enough to meet these growing healthcare demands. Nurses are faced daily with items that are out of stock, staff shortages and unexpected and unplanned occurrences. In these situations, knowledge and standard practice are not sufficient to meet healthcare demands. Heath and Freshwater (2000) explain that a nurse that goes beyond the competent phase not only can demonstrate greater technical proficiency but is also able to correct and adapt her actions according to the unfolding situations. Benner (1984) asserts that for competent practice to become proficient, a qualitative change must occur. Benner, Tanner, Chesla, (2009) believe that some nurses may never develop beyond the competent stage. Given the complex clinical situations that every single nurse is faced daily on the wards, this transition should be avidly cultivated. Improvisations and solutions must be effected in order to ensure that patients still receive good quality care. Drawing up on past experiences, knowledge new or old and utilizing reflection and problem solving skills are a means of coming up with new solutions. The clinical supervisor is an invaluable asset in helping the supervisee to make this transition. This can be done by being a role model, providing meaningful experiences that can be utilized in future practice as well as supporting the supervisees in developing their own problem solving skills. A universal responsibility Although an emphasis has been made that the clinical supervisors should be formally trained, every single nurse in the clinical setting should take an interest in the education of student nurses. These same students will in the future become nursing colleagues and further on nursing administrators and lecturers. Making sure that they receive the best possible education is a means of safeguarding the future of nursing. On a more egoistical note, these same students will be the nurses in the wards taking care of us and our loved ones. Therefore, ensuring that they develop their full potential is a guarantee of receiving excellent quality care to the highest standards. Conclusion It has been established that experience and theoretical knowledge both play a pivotal role in the formation of competent practitioners. The phenomenon of the theory practice divide occurs, when academical knowledge is not successfully adapted into the working environment to achieve meaningful practice. In order to bridge these gaps important assets were identified namely clinical supervision, experience and the use of reflection. Clinical supervision is a challenging area of nursing that should involve specific training and utmost dedication. Collaboration with the academical supervisors ensures that the goal of achieving competent practitioners is achieved. However, exceptional practice should be the ultimate goal that should be shared by all clinical practitioners in order to safeguard the future of nursing.