The contribution of black women to the African American freedom Essay

The contribution of black women to the African American freedom struggle between 1865 and 1940 - Essay Example Gates et al. (2012; p.492) state that â€Å"political participation has been a fundamental constant in the lives of African American people† and this statement is verifiable by the great testaments of the struggle for freedom and justice that black men and women have portrayed and displayed with relentless and enduring determination in the past. Sheriff et al. (2011; p.432) observe that the beginnings of the African American struggle are outlined in the people’s quest for independence from dominance, supremacy of the other and slavery. Certainly, the role of black women in carrying this vision, guiding it towards its realization and ensuring that the struggle for independence evolves into the achievement of equality has been critical and of immense importance. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the contributions of black women to the African American freedom struggle by directing specific focus towards the analysis of the period lasting between 1865 and 1940. The discussion in the succeeding sections of the paper aims to establish a critical view of the role that black women played in achieving the aims that were advanced by early writers, journalists, historians, leaders and freedom fighters between 1865 and 1940. ... The adoption of this framework throughout the progress of the analysis essentially enhances the comprehensiveness and depth of the research by suggesting that the actions of a human being cannot be understood in their entirety unless the fundamental role that various systems, entities and organizations play in dictating those behaviors and decisions is fully acknowledged and realized (Gates 2012; p.493). Therefore, in comprehending the actions of black women that were fundamentally motivated by their desire for freedom, equality and independence their intersectional positioning within the wider context of society is of the utmost importance. Consequently, by implementing the foundations of this approach the one-dimensionality and generality of exclusively assessing a single individual is removed such that the individual does not essentially depict the true story of the black women’s role in the African American struggle for freedom and the hardships they had to suffer during t he course of their journey. In accordance with the observations of this framework of analysis the foundations of black women’s historical role in the political advancement of African American agenda is said to be an amalgamation of racism and sexism (Gates 2012; p.494). Collier-Thomas and Franklin (2001; p.2) suggest that even though, stories which reflect the selfless participation of African American women in the civil rights movement have only come to light by writers and researchers in recent decades these assessments have provided a comprehensive view of the state of black women in various epochs which is indicative of their tremendous progress to the present day. The foremost aspect in the critical evaluation of the contributions of black women in the African American freedom struggle

Greek Shipping Competition

Greek Shipping Competition Introduction: During the 20th century Greek shipping eventually developed as one of the most competitive players globally. Greek shipowners managed to establish their reputation as dominant players based on a well-structured positioning mix that has supported their efforts throughout the years. A variety of studies has been developed aiming to define what precisely supported Greek owners to build this successful entrepreneurial structure and which factor allowed them to obtain and sustain the competitiveness of the Greek shipping. According to M. Porter ‘’competitiveness†¦.’’ The definition for the competitiveness of Greek shipping has been studied by a respectful number of mostly Greek academics. The majority of the studies, focused mainly in specific sectors (e.g. dry bulks) or factors (e.g. Greek shipping network) as to analyse the competitive advantage of the Greek fleet. However, the aim of this paper is to evaluate if Greek shipping can sustain its competitive character. Thus, from the point of view of the writer, it will be more realistic to analyse a range of factors and sectors that contribute to the success of Greek shipping. It would not be simplistic to say that at the end of the day the competitiveness is defined by profitability. (2) From the referred range of studies and publishes, the writer believes that the competitive strength Greek shipping companies is summarised into careful selection of Business (cost control) and investment (timing) strategies. (1) Thus, in this paper we are going to investigate to what extent Greek shipowners will be able to sustain their competitiveness in the long-run based on the above principles. Specifically, the paper is about to concentrate on analysing the fleet on the basis of: Managerial Structure (business strategy) and Investment (timing) strategy. Once again, the aim will be the overall evaluation of the long-term prospects of Greek shipping to sustain its competitiveness. Fleet Analysis: General Information: Historically, shipping has played crucial role for Greek people and it has characterised some of the most important moments of their history: during the Persian Wars and the battleship of Salamina, in the Greek revolution against Ottoman Empire in 1821, the Balkan Wars and the World War I the Greek ships played significant role and affected the citizens of the Greece and (in some occasions) the global status quo as well. Figure 1, Source: BCG Impact assessment of Greek shipping on Economy and Society However, in our days when we refer to the Greek shipping we mean the great presence of the Greek shipowners to the global market. This presence was firstly established in dry bulk and the tanker (oil, products) sectors but lately we have strong signs of diversification into more sectors such as the container ships and the gas tankers. Statistical Analysis: It is better to set clear, in this paper when we refer to the term of ‘’Greek shipping’’ we actually discuss the Greek-controlled ships irrespectively of the company’s headquarters and the flag under the ships sail. (3) The reason of this choice reflects on the following table which describes the attitude of the owners to flag out their ships. Figure 2, The 35 countries and territories with the largest owned fleets, as of 31st January 2013 (DWT) Thus, according to the UNCTAD (2013 Report), only the 22.3% of Greek ships sail under the national flag when the remaining 77.7% sail under international flags. Hence, for the aim of the paper we will analyse the wider Greek-owned fleet instead of only focusing to the ship that are registered in Greece. Under that basis we can present the following statistical figures (which will be commented on the following part of this paper): The Greek-owned fleet is consisted of 4573 vessels and managed by 690 companies. Figure 3, Number of Greek-owned vessels, SOURCE: 2013 Petrofin research by Ted Petropoulos, October 2013 The 65.07% of the companies possess less than 5 ships while fleets with 25+ ships represent the 5.07% of the total. Figure 4, Fleet distribution of Greek Companies, SOURCE: 2013 Petrofin research by Ted Petropoulos, October 2013 The average age of the fleet has declined recently and at the end of 2013 was about 14.05 years. Figure 5, Average age of Greek fleet, SOURCE: 2013 Petrofin research by Ted Petropoulos, October 2013 Greek Orderbook (end of 02/2014) corresponds to 496 vessels (approximately 11% of existing fleet) of several types. Figure 6, Type of Orders by type, SOURCE: SIN database The majority of the new buildings have been ordered in Chinese shipyards while Republic of Korea follows with a slight difference: Figure 7, Greek Orderbook by country of builder, SOURCE: SIN database Greek shipping status Analysis: Management structure: Company Structure: As it has been referred, there are 690 shipping companies (Petrofin) mainly under tight family management. In Figure 4 we observe that the majority of the Greek companies possess a small fleet of ships. This can be a result of taxation strategy or mainly can be driven by the attitude of shipowners globally to not risk the viability of their whole business if one of their ships faces problems with regulation or capital cost. In the case of Greek shipping, the fragmentation of the market probably takes place for an extra reason: the majority of Greek shipping companies are family companies. Thus, there is a tendency that, after some years of experience in the family business, some members decide to build their own start-up business. This effort is supported by the knowledge gained previously and to the available capital. However, this attitude may contribute to the pluralism of the market and to promote Greek entrepreneurship but at the same time may trigger problems for the new companies which sometimes struggle to survive due to market reasons. More importantly, however, the new firms may be treated as undermining efforts against the family operations (4 Theotokas). Furthermore, it should be mentioned that small firms may be forced out of the business if they cannot attract sufficient financing.(5) The most significant advantage of the traditional form of Greek shipping companies is the philosophy of cutting costs passed from one generation to other.(6) However, family members ought to be quite qualified to perform their duties and not placed in businesses exclusively for reasons of heredity. (7) Another significant factor which has come under intense debate is the listing of Greek Companies to exchange markets. At the moment only the 6% of the total is listed, mainly in foreign exchanges (8,Petrofin).Listing can be used as a way of financing. However, Greek companies seek to find the ideal chemistry between a family-run company and a public outlet (9,Tsakos). As a third-generation shipowner A. Martinos quotes â€Å"a stock listed company has no head but a family company can move quickly with decision and authority† indicating a factor of flexibility for the Greek companies. People (human resources) The positioning of the Greek shipowners has been outstanding throughout the years. The reason behind this success can amongst others be the human factor. The fact that the first generation shipowners had been in the sea gave the sophisticated know-how to the industry which has been transferred throughout years and generations.(Theotokas). The referred know-how enables the ability to minimise costs and the dare to invest when the market is low. Particularly, the ability of achieving good timing and good choices has allowed the Greeks to perform excellent the asset play, to turn negative momentum into fleet expansion and to obtain market share and huge capital.(A fleet for the†¦THAN 10) Investment Strategy: Orderbook: The Greek Orderbook is one of the largest at the moment and as it is illustrated in Figure 6, there have been investments to multiple sectors. Specifically, we comment on the most interesting investments: Dry Bulks: Gas Tankers: Containers: Financing: What is the propeller for a ship is finance for a shipping company.(Petropoulos 11) Greek shipping has been significantly affected by the debt crisis which hurt violently the credit system and especially Greek banks which has been funding shipping business for decades. However, Greek shipowners managed to finance the modernisation of the Greek fleet (Navigating the financing storm 12) as it is presented in Figure 5. Obviously, once again Greek shipowners followed their tradition into anti-cyclical investing. During the period we are going through, investments in shipping have been mitigated. While investors around the world were selling vessels, Greeks were buying second-hand ships and they were placing orders to renew the fleet cheaply.(John Psychas 12). Probably, Greek owners took advantage by the capital gathered from previous successful years. Moreover, the recent years they have been using a combination of traditional and latest methods of financing, following sometimes hybrid solutions. (Syriopoulos 13) Another way of financing is listing. The majority of Greek shipowners realise the advantages of listing but seem reluctant to dare the change. It seems that this attitude is at last another point of strength for Greek shipping as traditional companies are based in their own capital to invest instead of raising financing in stocks market.( John Psychas 12) It is important to be highlighted that during crisis Greek shipping created a ‘’major ally’’ which is the Chinese Banks which they gave financial motivation for construction of ships in Chinese shipyards.(Petropoulos Shipping and ship finance 14). Chinese lenders decided to promote local shipping industry and Greek shipowners took advantage of a $10 billion fund for funding Greek orders in Chinese shipyards under competitive terms and interest (Bardounias 15). This trend is also illustrated in Figure 7. Conclusions and Recommendations: It seems that once again Greek shipping followed the traditional attitude of anti-cyclical investment which can probably guarantee long-term competitiveness in terms of capital cost. Specifically, in the dry bulk sector Greeks will be able to play the asset game which has supported their success so far. The renewal of the whole fleet is a strong signal of an operationally healthy industry for the years to come. However, the exposure of the owners to the container ship and gas tanker sector is a question mark which is not easy to be answered. If the market in these sectors will follow an upward in the near future then it is possible that in a few years we will discuss the diversification of the Greeks as another one outstanding strategic positioning. If not it is possible that this decision will be a very costly one and the diversification strategy will probably be abandoned in the future. The human factor will continue to be on the forefront of the Greek fleet as the heritage of the market sense seems to have been successfully developed by the third generation of the shipowners’ families. On the contrary, what has been built throughout all these years has to be protected. Hence, the new generations have unavoidably to be well-educated and strict evaluated as to be able to manage the business. Nepotism has to be scrutinised I order to guarantee evolution and success. The long-term competitiveness of the Greek shipping can be a reality under the optimum proportion of low-cost operation, sustainable management of traditional family businesses, targeted strategy towards financing and repeating of asset play. The diversification into new sectors can be the next competitive advantage of Greek shipping under the condition that the shipowners monitor the market closely and are adequately flexible and adoptable as to realise the different function of the multiple sectors.

Piracy Essay -- Technology Software Computers Essays

Piracy Piracy is the unauthorized copying, counterfeiting or distribution of software. Piracy is essentially stealing someone else's intellectual property. The five most common types of software piracy are end user piracy, client-server overuse, Internet piracy, hard disk loading, and software counterfeiting. End User Piracy occurs when an employee of a company reproduces software without the proper authorization. End User Piracy can be done in several different ways: . Using one licensed copy to install a program on multiple computers . Copying disks for installation and distribution . Taking advantage of upgrade offers without having a legal copy of the version to be upgraded . Acquiring academic or other restricted or non-retail software without a license for commercial use . Swapping disks in or outside the workplace [6] Client-Server overuse occurs when too many employees on a network are using a central copy of a program at the same time. When using a program in this way, it must be stated in the license. By having more employees using the software than stated in the license, is defined as overuse. Internet Piracy occurs when software is downloaded from the Internet. Although the product was acquired through the Internet, the same rules apply as if it were bought in a store. Internet Piracy can be done in several different ways: . Pirate websites that make software available for free download or in exchange for uploaded programs . Internet auction sites that offer counterfeit, out-of-channel, infringing copyright software . Peer-to-Peer networks that enable unauthorized transfer of copyrighted programs. [6] Hard-Disk Loading occurs when a business w... ...chelle, "China on Pirates: Blow 'Em Down," Wired Online Magazine, October 17, 2001. <http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,47617,00.html> [6] Business Software Alliance, "Types of Piracy, " Business Software Alliance, 2004. <http://www.bsa.org/usa/antipiracy/Types-of-Piracy.cfm> [7] Copyright Law of the United States of America, US Copyright Office. <http://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap1.html#102> [8] Travel Pictures. <http://www.cs.unm.edu/~dlchao/travel/> [9] Business Software Alliance, "Sixth Annual BSA Global Software Piracy Study," Business Software Alliance, June 2000. <http://global.bsa.org/resources/2001-05- 21.55.pdf> [10] The Complete Reference to the Web Sites of China Law, <http://www.chinasite.com/Law.html> [11] Markkula Center for Applied Ethics,<http://www.scu.edu/ethics/>

Personal

The Committee on Admission is interested in getting to know each candidate as well as possible through the application process. The following essay question is designed to demonstrate your writing skills and facilitate our full appreciation of who you are. The quality of Rice’s academic life and the Residential College System is heavily influenced by the unique life experiences and cultural traditions each student brings. What perspective do you feel that you will contribute to life at Rice? (Most applicants are able to respond successfully in two to three double-spaced pages. In everything I do, I try to reach out to people. My connection with others is what drives me. I like to observe people, to get to know people, to show people who I am. I think that what moves many people (myself included) is the idea that we are all alike. There is a quote from the French film The Diving Bell and the Butterfly which resonates with me: â€Å"We're all children, we all need approval. â⠂¬  This quote shows that we are driven by similar hopes, emotions, and experiences and we can come together to achieve great things.This perspective has allowed me to connect with classmates, strangers, and family in my experiences as the school’s Social Services prefect, as a volunteer at North York General Hospital, and as a granddaughter in a large family. The Diving Bell ; the Butterfly is a beautiful film about a once-successful editor of Elle magazine, Jean-Dominique Bauby, who becomes imprisoned in his own body after a massive stroke. He is completely paralyzed and cannot speak. In one instant, his entire life is taken from him. It moved me to see his despair, vulnerability, and lack of hope; his life which was once so full seemed empty and desolate now.He couldn’t truly live. As someone who loves life, I was brought to tears by the consequences of his stroke. It was ironic, unexpected, unfair, and heartbreaking. Despite this, Jean-Do is able to get through it all. At a defining moment in the film, he says, â€Å"I decided to stop pitying myself. Other than my eye, two things aren't paralyzed, my imagination and my memory. † It was uplifting to see that this man, who seemingly has nothing, could still have hope. I was deeply inspired by his perseverance; he showed that life is really about having imagination and letting go of material concerns which limit us.In October 2008, I experienced the most stressful week of the entire school year as the Social Services Prefect: United Way Week. As I began the daunting planning and preparation, I felt there was something lacking despite the strong annual tradition of United Way Week. As the years had progressed, students were falling into a routine and typical events were becoming stale. To address a problem that I saw in my community, I did not merely â€Å"party-plan† by resorting to the usual events. I aimed to be strategic by introducing new events. I knew that new events would d raw more interest and unite the student body.However, I also recognized that I could not plan an entire campaign alone. I brought my ideas for change to the Prefect team as well as my peers. I asked them what they would like to see, what kinds of activities they would be excited for. I then mapped out a schedule and delegated jobs. For instance, one new event this year was a competition between my school’s Prefects and our brother school’s Stewards: five from each school in one face-off. As each Prefect and Steward challenged each other one on one, five previously outlined tasks (rap, tell a joke, or dance) were announced and completed impromptu.In implementing these new activities, I was taking a big risk. I couldn’t predict how the students would react or how much we could raise. In the end, our initiatives succeeded in creating substantial change to an established campaign, raising over $12,000 for United Way. Helping others is in my nature. I hate suffering and injustice. Most of all, I am someone of action; if there is something that needs to be done, I will do it. When I help others, I know that I am changing their lives but I also recognize that they give me something as well; I first experienced this as a volunteer at North York General Hospital.In December 2007, a father ran in to the Emergency ward frantically asking for some help. His daughter, who had been skiing that day, injured herself by slipping on the hill. Lying in the van, she was in great pain but could not move. The father needed help in getting his daughter into waiting area. I first looked to Security but they were on patrol and the nurses were occupied helping other patients. I found myself in a difficult situation but I went outside with this father to see what I could do. I brought a wheelchair, hoping the young girl could slide from the car into the chair.However, she was unable to sit without being in severe pain. So we decided to pull her out, supporting her e ntire body. Her father, brother, and I lifted her up in a horizontal position out of the car. We set her down on her feet while continually offering support with our shoulders. Her cries were distressing but there was no other way to transport her in. Finally, when we were inside, I found a line of chairs on which she could lie down. Afterwards, I told her father how to register and what would happen next. Immediately, her father thanked me for being there. At first I had felt helpless that I couldn’t do more.I couldn’t stop his daughter’s pain. I couldn’t fast-forward the registration line. But I soon saw that the help that I could offer, the instructions and information that I had, and the humanity I showed, gave them a small comfort amidst the chaos. My experiences volunteering at the hospital showed me that suffering exists and though I may be unable to fix it, I alleviate the situation by doing what is in my power to do. In my family, loyalty is extr emely important. Spending time with family is an unquestionable responsibility for all of us: we are there for each other.Ever since I arrived in Canada as a 4-year old girl, I have been attending my grandmother’s birthday dinners each year in October. I can remember entering the traditional red and gold restaurant as a young child. Before I did anything else, my mother instructed me first to wish my grandmother a happy birthday and a lucky and long life, both of which are traditional Chinese phrases, and then kiss her once on both cheeks. As a child in elementary school, I barely understood the significance of the repetition of those phrases.Throughout my grandmother’s celebratory dinner, I occupied myself with Nintendo Games or hand games with my cousins. At the end of each dinner came the Chinese fruitcake. I always had to have the slice with a strawberry on top. By the end of the dinner, I hardly realized that I had barely spoken to my grandmother. Reflecting back on those times, I now have a bigger comprehension of the importance of family. I see how my grandmother loved to hear those phrases I said to her and how much it meant to her. Now as a teenager entering university, I long to say so much more.I want to update her on my school work or my friends or my dreams. I see the duty I have as a granddaughter, daughter, and sister in a family: to respect the bond that we are born with, to support my relatives because I know that I will always have my family to fall back on. Another form of expression that I value is in the music I listen to. If I have had a tough day, I put on my â€Å"Soothing Playlist†. In it is one of my favourite songs, â€Å"A Better Son/Daughter† by Rilo Kiley. The cerebral lyrics describe the difficulties that we all go through: you’ll be positive though it hurts / and you’ll laugh and embrace all your friends.I can relate to these lyrics because sometimes the commitments I take on overwhelm m e. During chaotic and stressful times, it is difficult to keep on top of everything. But I always keep at it because this is what I truly love to do. Going to dance club, singing in choir, researching in a lab: all of these things allow me to explore my interests and enjoy myself, helping me to grow as a person. It is only realistic to recognize that some days are harder than others. Nobody is perfect. This song and many others on my playlist encourage me to push through because I’ll be stronger for it.My desire for growth always involves reaching out to others: showing loyalty to friends and family; offering my support as a volunteer at the hospital; using the unity of my school to raise money that goes to a greater cause. My great ambitions are achieved by supporting and relying on others. I value family, perseverance, morals and I am a confident, ambitious, leader with a need for a strong community. This is what I will bring to Rice’s academic life and residence; I hope to connect with my peers and mentors in order to grow and achieve my goals.

Assessment as a Process of Making Judgements of Learners Knowledge

What is an assessment? Alan Rogers (1994, p172) defines assessment as collection of data on which we base our evaluation. According to Reece and Walker (2008, p5) assessment consists of tests and observations that we, as tutor, use to determine how well the students has achieved the objectives. Geoff Petty (2004, p449) writes that â€Å"Assessment measures the breadth and depth of learning†. Assessments are used in all areas and domain of everyday life, whether formal or informal, ranging from taking a written or practical driving test to claims for income support or acquiring life insurance on-line.Assessment is used to make a specific educational decision and is the process of evaluating the extent to which participants in education have developed their knowledge, understanding and skills. Assessment, both formative and summative, plays a significant part in the learning experience as it determines progression and enables learners to demonstrate that they have achieved their desired learning outcomes. There are generally two ways of assessment, formative and summative.According to Ashcroft and Forman-Peck (1994, p54) â€Å"Assessment is generally taken to mean a judgement about the progress (formative assessment) or achievement (summative assessment) of a particular student’s learning†. Reece and Walker’s (2008, p323) distinction between formative and summative is one to satisfy the needs of the society (‘summative’ assessment) and the other type of assessment is to help in both teaching and learning (‘formative’ assessment).Formative assessment is the assessment that takes place throughout the course or programme of study and is usually carried out by the assessor during mentoring and training. It provides feedback to both the learner and the assessor on how things are going and how learning can be improved. In contrast summative assessment is assessment of learning and is often used to determine what has been learnt or achieved in terms of acquired skills, knowledge and understanding at or towards the end of a course or programme of study.Further functions of assessment in learning and development are the measurement and recording of achievement, the identification of individual learners’ needs, that the assessment reflects the required standards and performance/assessment criteria and are fit for the purpose intended and that they contribute to quality assurance and the development of best practice. There are many reasons why we assess learners. Assessments enable tutors to measure learner’s progress towards their goal. And feedback can be given to help them such as outlining their strengths and weaknesses. Read also: Principles of Good Writing by L.A. HillFeedback is used to help learners learn and improve, and is the most important aspect of formative assessment. This can be given in various ways such as written, oral, in the form of graded/marked assignment etc. When giving feedback it is good practice to bear in mind the following points. It is important to give immediate feedback if possible; turn negative comment into constructive comments such as what to improve on before the next assessment; make assessment criteria clear, accurate and available; feedback to be clear, accurate and recorded; praise learner on achievement; encourage positive attitudes and make further suggestions.Learners can be encouraged through communication of how well they are doing and what skills and knowledge they are developing. I assess my students at regular intervals. Every time I ask a question to an individual or to a class I am assessing their knowledge and understanding. When I walk round the class watching students doing their tasks, checking their printouts, I am observing and noting against a checklist of expectations in my mind.When I receive or look at a printout from a mock exam I am comparing their performance with that which I would hope for from such a group or individual at such a stage in such a course at such a level. When giving verbal feedback to my learners, I use the following words of encouragement: very good, well done, brilliant, excellent, spot on. Throughout the delivery of a course I give my students formative, diagnostic and summative assessments and feedbacks.

Definition and Examples of Formal Essays

Definition and Examples of Formal Essays In composition studies, a formal essay is a  short, relatively impersonal composition in prose. Also known as an impersonal essay or a Baconian essay (after the writings of Englands first major essayist, Francis Bacon). In contrast to the familiar or personal essay, the formal essay is typically used for the discussion of ideas. Its rhetorical purpose is generally to inform or persuade. The technique of the  formal essay, says William Harmon, is now practically identical with that of all factual or theoretical prose in which literary effect is secondary (A Handbook to Literature, 2011). Examples and Observations Formal essays were introduced in England by [Francis] Bacon, who adopted Montaignes term. Here the style is objective, compressed, aphoristic, wholly serious. . . . In modern times, the formal essay has become more diversified in subject matter, style, and length until it is better known by such names as article, dissertation, or thesis, and factual presentation rather than style or literary effect has become the basic aim.(L. H. Hornstein, G. D. Percy, and C. S. Brown, The Readers Companion to World Literature, 2nd ed. Signet, 2002)A Blurred Distinction Between Formal Essays and Informal EssaysFrancis Bacon and his followers had  a more impersonal, magisterial, law-giving, and didactic manner than the skeptical Montaigne. But they should not be viewed as opposites; the distinction between formal and informal essay can be overdone, and most great essayists have crossed the line frequently. The difference is one of degree. [William] Hazlitt was essentially a personal essayist, thoug h he wrote theater and art criticism; Matthew Arnold and John Ruskin were essentially formal essayists, though they may have tried a personal essay once in a while. Personality creeps into the most impersonal of writers: it is difficult to read Bacon on friendship or having children, for instance, without suspecting he is talking about autobiographical matters. Dr. Johnson was probably more a moral  essayist than a personal one, though his work has such an individual, idiosyncratic stamp that I have persuaded myself to place him in the personal camp. George Orwell seems split fifty-fifty, an essay hermaphrodite who always kept one eye on the subjective and one on the political. . . .The Victorian era saw a turn toward the formal essay, the so-called essay of ideas written by [Thomas] Carlyle, Ruskin, [Matthew] Arnold, Macaulay, Pater. Between Lamb and Beerbohm there was scarcely an English personal essay, with the exception of those by Robert Louis Stevenson and Thomas De Quincey. . . .(Phillip Lopate, Introduction to The Art of the Personal Essay. Anchor, 1994) Voice in the Impersonal Essay[E]ven when I plays no part in the language of an essay, a firm sense of personality can warm the voice of the impersonal essay narrator. When we read Dr. [Samuel] Johnson and Edmund Wilson and Lionel Trilling, for instance, we feel that we know them as fully developed characters in their own essays, regardless of their not referring personally to themselves.(Phillip Lopate, Writing Personal Essays: On the Necessity of Turning Oneself Into a Character. Writing Creative Nonfiction, ed. by Carolyn Forchà © and Philip Gerard. Writers Digest Books, 2001)Crafting the Impersonal IUnlike the exploratory self of Montaigne, Francis Bacons impersonal I appears already to have arrived. Even in the comparatively expansive third edition of the Essays, Bacon provides few explicit hints as to either the character of the textual voice or the role of the expected reader. . . . [T]he absence of a felt self on the page is a deliberate rhetorical effect: the effort to effac e voice in the impersonal essay is a way of evoking a distant but authoritative persona. . . . In the formal essay, invisibility must be forged.(Richard Nordquist, Voices of the Modern Essay. University  of Georgia, 1991)

Free Essays on Effects Of Political Parties

Since the last of the Whig party left office in 1852, the American political system has been primarily a two party system. The Democrats and the Republicans have been the two parties fighting for the Presidency since that time. There have been many other parties since that time, but mainly, these two have gone unopposed against each other. However, how much good do these parties actually do? Would our country be run as effectively if the presence of political parties was no longer a factor? It is the opinion of the authors that the U.S. Government would exist without political parties and may, in fact be stronger. The concept of political parties seems to go against what it means to be a politician: to represent his or her constituents. More time, money and effort, it seems is put into getting elected to an office than actually doing work for the people in that office. One fairly recent example is seen in the case of the proposed federal Balanced Budget Amendment. Mark Hatfield, Republican Oregon Senator, went against his parties wishes and voted against the amendment. His party nearly abandoned him for choosing the people over his party. Many senators are faced with the same decision every day, but instead stick with party beliefs and not what they feel would be the best for the people. In order for true democracy to be achieved in our government, we feel drastic changes need to occur. Review Of The Literature Since the mid 1850's, the Democrats and Republicans have had control of the nation government. The only place where opposition was felt was at the state and local levels. However, in the early days of our country, third and fourth party candidates played important roles in politics. A few of these parties from our history are the: Democrat-Republicans, Jefferson Republicans, Whigs and Federalists. Many other lesser known or hardly known at all parties were the: S... Free Essays on Effects Of Political Parties Free Essays on Effects Of Political Parties Since the last of the Whig party left office in 1852, the American political system has been primarily a two party system. The Democrats and the Republicans have been the two parties fighting for the Presidency since that time. There have been many other parties since that time, but mainly, these two have gone unopposed against each other. However, how much good do these parties actually do? Would our country be run as effectively if the presence of political parties was no longer a factor? It is the opinion of the authors that the U.S. Government would exist without political parties and may, in fact be stronger. The concept of political parties seems to go against what it means to be a politician: to represent his or her constituents. More time, money and effort, it seems is put into getting elected to an office than actually doing work for the people in that office. One fairly recent example is seen in the case of the proposed federal Balanced Budget Amendment. Mark Hatfield, Republican Oregon Senator, went against his parties wishes and voted against the amendment. His party nearly abandoned him for choosing the people over his party. Many senators are faced with the same decision every day, but instead stick with party beliefs and not what they feel would be the best for the people. In order for true democracy to be achieved in our government, we feel drastic changes need to occur. Review Of The Literature Since the mid 1850's, the Democrats and Republicans have had control of the nation government. The only place where opposition was felt was at the state and local levels. However, in the early days of our country, third and fourth party candidates played important roles in politics. A few of these parties from our history are the: Democrat-Republicans, Jefferson Republicans, Whigs and Federalists. Many other lesser known or hardly known at all parties were the: S...

A Brief Overview and Description of Geography

A Brief Overview and Description of Geography The science of geography is likely the oldest of all sciences. Geography is the answer to the question that the earliest humans asked, Whats over there? Exploration and the discovery of new places, new cultures, and new ideas have always been basic components of geography. Thus, geography is often called the mother of all sciences as studying other people and other places led to other scientific fields such as biology, anthropology, geology, mathematics, astronomy, chemistry, among others. (See other Definitions of Geography) What Does the Word Geography Mean? The word geography was invented by the ancient Greek scholar Eratosthenes and literally means writing about the earth. The word can be divided into two parts - ge and graphy. Ge means the Earth and graphy refers to writing. Of course, geography today means much more than writing about the Earth but its a difficult discipline to define. Many geographers have done their best to define geography but a typical dictionary definition today reads, The science of the Earths physical features, resources, climate, population, etc. Divisions of Geography Today, geography is commonly divided into two major branches - cultural geography (also called human geography) and physical geography. Cultural geography is the branch of geography dealing with human culture and its impact on the Earth. Cultural geographers study languages, religion, foods, building styles, urban areas, agriculture, transportation systems, politics, economies, population and demographics, and more. Physical geography is the branch of geography dealing with the natural features of the Earth, the home of humans. Physical geography looks at the water, air, animals, and land of the planet Earth (i.e. everything that is part of the four spheres - the atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere). Physical geography is closely related to geographys sister science - geology - but physical geography focuses more on the landscapes at the surface of the Earth and not what is inside our planet. Other key areas of geography include regional geography (which involves the in-depth study and knowledge of a particular region and its cultural as well as its physical characteristics) and geographic technologies like GIS (geographic information systems) and GPS (global positioning system). An important system for dividing the subject of geography is known as the Four Traditions of Geography. History of Geography The history of geography as a scientific discipline can be traced back to the Greek scholar Eratosthenes. It was further developed in the modern era by Alexander von Humboldt and from there, you can trace the history of geography in the United States. Also, see the Timeline of Geographic History. Studying Geography Since the late 1980s, when the subject of geography was not well-taught throughout the United States, there has been a revival in geographic education. Thus, today many primary, secondary, and university students are choosing to learn more about geography. There are many resources online available to learn about studying geography, including one article about earning a college degree in geography. While at the university, be sure to explore career opportunities through internships in geography. Great Studying Geography Resources: Branches of GeographyCapitals of Every CountryGeography GlossaryQuestions and Answers About GeographyGeography Facts, Lists, and TriviaMaps and Geographical Information About Every Country (including blank outline maps)Top 10 Reasons to Study Geography (Humor) Careers in Geography Once you start studying geography, youll want to look into various careers in geography so dont miss this article specifically about Jobs in Geography. Joining a geographic organization is also helpful as you pursue a geographic career.

Product-Service Marketing and the Differentiation of Goals Essay

Product-Service Marketing and the Differentiation of Goals - Essay Example According to most accounts in the literature there is no such thing as a pure good or a pure service. Physical goods may be as objects, material devices, or things, whereas services are defined as efforts or performances relative to a consumer’s stated needs. In these definitions, the obvious factors that differentiate goods from services are delineated. Goods are tangible and substantial. Services are intangible and immaterial. It should be noticed in this construction that goods are best defined positively by what they are materially, while services are defined by what they are not, by their ephemeral and impermanent nature. Too much can be made of this distinction. However, it does point to a central tendency within the marketing, sale, and maintenance of services that is critical to acknowledge. Marketing of services revolves largely around relationships and the variables that are attached to them, such as trust, ethics, and mutual benefit, while goods revolve around the d elivery of a specific material object. Of course, because there is no such thing as a pure good or service, the lines of distinction between the two concepts may be easy to blur. This is especially true in the modern marketplace in which a service economy often presents services as the primary fact of exchange. An example may shed light that will serve to differentiate the nature of the difference between goods and services. When a customer goes to purchase a car, the service that surrounds the customer’s experience of the car is critical to the buying decision. The offering and financing of the car through the sales experience and the maintenance of the car that follows post-sale may affect the customer’s enjoyment of the car to a degree that impacts on the customer’s decision to continue to do business with a given dealer. However, the customer is ultimately taking possession of a product that they will take home with them and become responsible for on a personal level. When a customer buys an airl ine ticket, on the other hand, the service that surrounds the experience of the trip is the ultimate and final value received. While the customer’s buying decision and value judgments may be influenced by the quality of the material meal served on the plane, for example, the customer takes possession of very little material benefit in the exchange, but rather benefits in the experience of getting from one place to another in the most convenient and enjoyable manner possible. The airline provides a service, with some minor goods afforded to support the buying experience. So, given these facts, is there anything that makes the marketing of an educational institution different as a service offered? For one possible answer to this question, consider that on a scale of tangible and intangible goods and services, teaching or education remains at the extreme ends of the intangible side. The value that is offered by the provider and received by the recipient in an educational environ ment revolves around psychological and sociological relationship variables. This is particularly true in a public school environment in which the customer is not only afforded the opportunity to participate in the service but compelled to do so. While there are

Business Organisation & Policy Topshop Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Business Organisation & Policy Topshop - Essay Example High street retail business like Topshop has been affected by a number of factors like price and cost pressure, concentration in the industry etc. Topshop specializes in women’s fashion products such as clothing and apparels. This retail sector is expanding both horizontally and vertically with retailers taking broader strategies to adapt to it (Burt and Sparks, 2003, p. 15). Polarisation increases in the sector with the growth of the bigger companies. Hence, innovation is the critical element which the retailers need to do for their development. With economies opening them to outer world, the competition is increasing and the retailers are developing strategy to survive. But while developing strategy they need to take into consideration the external factors which will impact them. Political Structure and Trends Topshop and other high street outlets i.e. its competitors are affected by the political structure in a number of ways. One of the main way that politician in UK can affect the high street retail outlet businesses is through their exercise of power in the land-use planning system. Though land-use planning is the function of local authority, the national government can intervene in for the development and growth of high street retail outlet business like Topshop. Recently there have been restrictions on green field development project and hence it is becoming harder for retailers to open in the new shopping centres (Bluff, 2012, p.15). Therefore, as a high street outlet, Topshop needs to take a close look at current business policies and re-strategise their decisions for future expansion. The environment of shopping has changed over the years, because the shoppers can now choose between the leisure and experience component. They now face a more functional price driven appeal from the shoppers (APCO Worldwide, 2012, p. 4). With technological advancement the price has become a major component as the consumers can easily compare the price. Hence, the company needs to offer products of varied price ranges and develop and implement effective branding and promotional strategies so that they can position themselves differentially in the market. The competition commission in UK has found out that consumer have accepted many of the changes in the high street retail sector like the online shopping. As discussed the land-use planning affects the location of the outlets, there are other instruments which governments can use to affect the operations like retail trading legislations and the public policies which regulate such working conditions of the industry, like employment practices etc. Economic Structures and Trends The UK high street retail sector is affected by the macro-level position of the country. If the general economic condition is good this sector will experien ce a high volume of retails sales. If the economic condition of the country improves then there is a possibility of significant investment by other players. Like in India with the Opening up of FDI in the retail sector, many foreign retailers like Walmart, Ikea is going to open themselves up in the country. Like in UK

What use is the Westminster model of British Government Essay

What use is the Westminster model of British Government - Essay Example A number of alternative models suggest that the future relations modelled is shared a path with Norway. Previously Norway was a non EU member like many states. On the contrary, the â€Å"Norwegian model† has been faced by increased interest from those in Britain wishing to a separate partnership with Brussels whereas at the same time insisting on benefitting from inner markets (Mcannulla, 2006, pg.17). Last autumn, British parliamentarian’s visited Norway to learn on Norwegian EU experience. Issues arose on whether Norwegian style was the viable political option for Britain. Initially, British influenced Norway’s integration in the EU. Both Macmillan and Wilson governments opted for British membership for common markets in the 1960s, and expected Norway’s also to follow suit. Furthermore, as a result of the popular rejection in Norway’s 1972 referendum, the two countries parted ways (Baker & Seawright, 1998, 14). In 2013, Britain and Norway have exceeded forty years on opposite sides on regard to EU membership. In Britain, request for deeper relation with European integration are met with contentions. Domestic debate concerning the current EU relations have shown capacity to initiate tension within and between parties and prone to destruction of any governing coalition. Hindrance exists on partnership between Norway and Britain on EU context (Hay, 2007, pg.10). Arguments for and against devolution was a major issue during the 1997 election campaign devolved power has been an issue with British politics. John Prescott claims that he wants to devolve more power to the geographical area within England. Scotland and Northern Ireland possess their own different cultures not similar with United Kingdom (Beloff, 1996, pg.13). Therefore, to expect residents of these regions to concur with laws, decisions and rules made in London are seen as wrong and irrational. Power should be dispersed from London to other regions. Government in

The american Scene no country for old men Essay

The american Scene no country for old men - Essay Example The beginning of the movie is witnessed with Sherriff and Tom Bell conversing with another character. The two characters are talking about the past of the Sheriff’s in Texas in different areas. From the camera one is able to see the vistas that are gorgeous from western Texas. The images are crisp and beautiful and the transitions look seamless. As an example, there is the depiction that there are no individuals (witnesses) when Moss spots a dog that is hobbling when he is hunting antelopes and it is at a distance. The only things that can be viewed at a distance are five to four pickup trucks with open doors. There are no witnesses or individuals to account on what has actually taken place for the trucks to look abandoned. The bareness of the land is made clear when he begins to head towards the trucks and all that can viewed are dead bodies in the tall grass with no individuals to explain the real causes of their death. The absence of witnesses is even stressed when there ar e battles in the streets with the hit men and gangs of Mexican all in the pursuit of the money in Moss possession. At the end of the movie, most of the characters that could have provided the real account of what actually took place are dead. These include the individuals Moss found dead from the drug deal, Moss himself, Clara Jean who was the wife to Moss, and store and hotel clerks that Chigurh killed (Coen & Coen). Most of the area in the movie is expansive and desolate with no homes. This, in the movie, is evidenced by an expansive desert. In addition, when moss as hunting, the land was mainly occupied by tall grass. Some of the homes that are shown in the movie are the trailer home belonging to Llewelyn Moss the Vietnam-veteran where he lived with his wife Clara Jean. From the footage there are fewer houses around their home hence the evidence that there was lack of homes. The other one is that belonging to Carla

Smoking related illnesses have claimed a lot of lives in UK Essay

Smoking related illnesses have claimed a lot of lives in UK - Essay Example For women the activity of smoking renders severe implications to the process of pregnancy impairing the reproductive process (Smoking and Health, n.d.). The growth of smoking activity in United Kingdom alone claims around 106,000 lives on an annual basis. Large numbers of people get affected by fatal ailments like cancer, cardiac and pulmonary problems which contribute to the growing deaths in the region. The growth in deaths owing to smoking problems has scaled such heights in United Kingdom that it has become a serious public health concern in the region. Again the frequency and growth of smoking ailments happens to become an economic and social burden for the country (Peate, 2007, p.218). In United Kingdom the treatment and care rendered to smoking diseases demand around 5 billion pounds of annual expenditure during 2005. This expenditure incurred during 2005 accounted for around 5.5 percent of the total health budget prepared by National Health Service in United Kingdom for the p eriod 2005 to 2006. (Smoking disease costs NHS 5 billion Pounds, 2009). Public Health Impacts of Smoking Related Diseases The policies and practice of Public Health Systems in the context of United Kingdom gained importance with the works of the Labour Party during 1997. In fact, the labour government of Britain made the public health practices as one of the key health and social needs of the region. Enhancement of the scope of the National Health Service in the region was done to reduce the impact of economic and social inequalities in getting access to better health services. (Lloyd, Jones & Douglas, 2009, p.10). Growth in the consumption habits of tobacco and nicotine products in different countries has been observed to occur because of difference in the social settings of the large communities. The main social inequality factors like deprivation from better living and economic standards, spread of unemployment in the regions and increase in solitude are observed to be the major reasons which accounts for the growth of smoking habits. People take to these habits of consuming nicotine through smoking to get rid of feelings of depression and loneliness. However on the contrary increased incidence to such objects renders economic impact on the poor people by causing a rise in the emergence of fatal diseases pertaining to heart and lungs. It also happens to cause cancer in many patients, which thereby claim many lives. Poor people suffering from such smoking ailments fail to gain access to better treatments owing to which the number of deaths in the region starts rising. A study made on the smoking characteristics of the people in United Kingdom during 1993 shows that the number of smokers in the deprived community were greater than the people belonging to affluent types. The above observation made during 1993 in United Kingdom can also be graphically represented as follows. It is found that the habit of taking drugs and products like nicotine were much prevale nt in deprived communities of Britain during the 1993 period (Wilkinson & Marmot, 2003, pp.24-25).

The Great Plains region in the early nineteenth century has been Assignment

The Great Plains region in the early nineteenth century has been described as a world in flux. To what extent do the sourc - Assignment Example The nineteenth century situation in the Great Plains is an ideal example of a world in flux. Through extensive use of primary sources, Calloway portrays the situation in this area as a crisis per se where the society was unable to determine the right steps to take to tackle arising issues. The author further portrays it as an area characterized by feuds involving the settlers, Indians and the explorers. The situation in the Great Plains was marked with fights for territorial expansion among the various native tribes, Western powers expansion in the region and compulsory assimilation. It also witnessed one of the greatest destruction of the fauna in the American history, namely bison slaughter. During this time, a number of natural calamities, including droughts and epidemics, left the area in a desolate state. The latter nearly wiped out the entire Indian livestock herds. Generally, the region was in a state of desperation during the arrival of American settlers who found a weakened Indian community that could barely resist external aggression. Before the great influx of people in the area, many animals thrived here. The Native Americans relied on the land only for their basic sustenance and large tracks remained underutilized. There was little pressure on the land and the natural resources were not in the danger of depletion. These physical characteristics of the area were, in fact, responsible for attracting many early settlers. It is the influx of the settler migration into the area that is primarily responsible for the cultural, political, social-economic and environmental changes that took place in the plains. The settlers arrived in different groups and established different forts that included Fort Lisa which was established in 1809 in North Dakota; Fort Lisa which was established in1812 in Nebraska; posts that were pioneered by the 1822 establishment of Fontenelle's Post and the Cabanne's Trading Post in 1822 in Nebraska. The establishment of forts was closely followed with attempts to develop the region with the settlers going to great lengths to ensure ease of transport in the area and setting up facilities that guaranteed their comfort. The construction of new railroads across the Great Plains was the first significant step toward a new livelihood in the area. The construction brought hunters who were responsible for the bison slaughter. The migrant rail workers, as well as the European farmers, who were quick to settle the land due to its appreciated value and ease of transport, were the first significant groups to settle in the plains. The farmers were further attracted by the homestead laws which enabled them obtain free farms. These laws brought in hundreds of thousands of farmers further marking this as an era of influx, hence, the term. The period also saw the establishment of open range lands where ranchers reared millions of cattle herded by the cowboys. The cattle were then exported. The area was, therefore, not limite d to human migration but also to cattle as well. This led to overstocking which coupled with adverse climate in some periods led to degradation of the environment and brought great losses to farmers. The first half of the century saw the numbers in the plains rise by 3000 percent. The period also witnessed a leap in the number of

Smoking related illnesses have claimed a lot of lives in UK Essay

Smoking related illnesses have claimed a lot of lives in UK - Essay Example For women the activity of smoking renders severe implications to the process of pregnancy impairing the reproductive process (Smoking and Health, n.d.). The growth of smoking activity in United Kingdom alone claims around 106,000 lives on an annual basis. Large numbers of people get affected by fatal ailments like cancer, cardiac and pulmonary problems which contribute to the growing deaths in the region. The growth in deaths owing to smoking problems has scaled such heights in United Kingdom that it has become a serious public health concern in the region. Again the frequency and growth of smoking ailments happens to become an economic and social burden for the country (Peate, 2007, p.218). In United Kingdom the treatment and care rendered to smoking diseases demand around 5 billion pounds of annual expenditure during 2005. This expenditure incurred during 2005 accounted for around 5.5 percent of the total health budget prepared by National Health Service in United Kingdom for the p eriod 2005 to 2006. (Smoking disease costs NHS 5 billion Pounds, 2009). Public Health Impacts of Smoking Related Diseases The policies and practice of Public Health Systems in the context of United Kingdom gained importance with the works of the Labour Party during 1997. In fact, the labour government of Britain made the public health practices as one of the key health and social needs of the region. Enhancement of the scope of the National Health Service in the region was done to reduce the impact of economic and social inequalities in getting access to better health services. (Lloyd, Jones & Douglas, 2009, p.10). Growth in the consumption habits of tobacco and nicotine products in different countries has been observed to occur because of difference in the social settings of the large communities. The main social inequality factors like deprivation from better living and economic standards, spread of unemployment in the regions and increase in solitude are observed to be the major reasons which accounts for the growth of smoking habits. People take to these habits of consuming nicotine through smoking to get rid of feelings of depression and loneliness. However on the contrary increased incidence to such objects renders economic impact on the poor people by causing a rise in the emergence of fatal diseases pertaining to heart and lungs. It also happens to cause cancer in many patients, which thereby claim many lives. Poor people suffering from such smoking ailments fail to gain access to better treatments owing to which the number of deaths in the region starts rising. A study made on the smoking characteristics of the people in United Kingdom during 1993 shows that the number of smokers in the deprived community were greater than the people belonging to affluent types. The above observation made during 1993 in United Kingdom can also be graphically represented as follows. It is found that the habit of taking drugs and products like nicotine were much prevale nt in deprived communities of Britain during the 1993 period (Wilkinson & Marmot, 2003, pp.24-25).

Fiat Failure Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Fiat Failure - Case Study Example Finally this study has particularly identified Fiat's inability to reorganize its internal and external strategic value chain and supply chain management processes to achieve positive synergies related to costs and corresponding benefits. More than a century of operations at Fiat were essentially characterized by typical Italian family business approach. The Agnelli family dynasty has been controlling Fiat ever since its inception and even today the family and its related people have roughly 34% of the shares. The company was growing from strength to strength, diversifying in the process in to one of the biggest European Business Conglomerate (Cammarata, Kurucz, Maj, Pavlovic & Portmann, 2006). Its diversification strategy spread in to a number of unrelated businesses as well. Aircraft manufacturing to pharmaceuticals Fiat spread its organizational umbrella. Currently its mammoth organizational structure has become unwieldy. Fiat has been going through a series of downs and very rare ups for a number of years now (Barry, 2009). The organization's inability to come to terms with the changing patterns of international trade and above all its structural orientation in the rapidly changing external competitive environment was not only flawed but also strategically divergent. It is the latter problem that affected the company much more than any other. The recent efforts to turn around the company financially and operationally have been met with no success because in the first place the company has been relying too much on corporate outcomes related to volume sales and capturing market shares while its smaller rivals have been concentrating on technology related productivity goals to identify niche markets in far corners of the globe(Landmann, Wolters, Bernhart & Harsten, 2000).Despite a growing threat coming from these bigger competitors, Fiat was more or less occupied with fluid external environment that pa rticularly had an impact on new product launches rather than testing the mood of the customer. Fiat's inability to effect internal structural changes along with a focus on the rapidly transient strategic competitive environment has been the main reason for its current debacle. While its competitors concentrated on merger and acquisition (M&A) related synergies, there was very little or no effort by Fiat to integrate its existing scale related advantages in to the existing operational environment (Fiat News, 2009). Thus its strategic market orientation was lacking in many respects. 2. Research aim The research aim of this paper is to establish a series of correlations and regressions

Causes, Effects and Treatments of Childhood Obesity

Causes, Effects and Treatments of Childhood Obesity Childhood Obesity: A Modern Epidemic David B Meistrich Childhood obesity has been a problem across the globe for years now and it only seems to be getting worse. The effects of being an obese child are terrible on their health in their development and during adulthood. There are things that can be done to chance the lifestyle of these children which hopefully will be implemented by them and their parents. Childhood obesity is a terrible epidemic that affects many children across the globe and it seems to only been getting worse. That being said, how is childhood obesity defined and what leads a child down the path of obesity? When a child becomes obese what are the symptoms that result from their condition? Lastly, how can a parent of an obese child help their child overcome their problem and find a new, healthier lifestyle? Childhood obesity is an epidemic in the United States with very high numbers that seems to be an ever increasing problem. According to statistics published by the CDC in February there has been a large decline in childhood obesity in children between the ages of two and five years of age. In 2003-2004 about fourteen percent of children in this age group were considered obese whereas in 2011-2012 only about eight percent of children of this age were considered to be obese, which comes out to be about a forty three percent decline in those eight years (cdc.gov, 2014, p.1). Though these statistics give us a glimmer of hope in the fight against this terrible problem another study done by the medical journal JAMA Pediatrics, which used the same statistics source as the CDC, analyzed them over a larger time period which rendered very different results. They found that though there was a decrease in childhood obesity between the ages of two and five, there was an overall increase in severe obesity in children from ages two to nineteen. According to their analysis there was an apparent and unexplainable spike in obesity in children between the ages of two and five during 2003 which may have skewed the CDC report. When the same data was considered from 1999 to 2012 considering children between the ages of two and nineteen, obesity rates increased from 14.5% to about 17.3% (Seaman, 2014, p.1). The most terrifying statistic is how apparently the rate of extreme obesity in children has increased from 3.8% to 5.9% and the rate of the most severe obesity increasing from 0.9% to 2.1% between these same years (Painter, 2014, p.1). What is childhood obesity and how does a child become obese? The definition of obesity according to dictionary.com is: the condition of being grossly fat or overweight (Dictionary.com, 2014, p.1). Childhood obesity according to mayoclinic.org is: a serious medical condition that affects children and adolescents. It occurs when a child is well above the normal weight for his or her age and height (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2014, p.1). Risk factors that contribute to childhood obesity include parental obesity, higher birth weight, spending more than eight hours watching television at three years of age, getting less than ten and a half hours of sleep a night at three years of age, body size early in life, rapid weight gain in a child’s first year of life, rapid growth between birth and two years of age, and body fat gain between birth and the ages of five or six (Hitti, 2005, p.1). A study done by the University of Michigan Health System says that the amount of food eaten by children w ho are obese tend to be higher calorie foods with high fat content and they also seem to eat larger portions than other children. The number of times these children eat in comparison to other children are similar and so are their levels of activity but the University speculates that these small differences in activity and food intake add up over a longer period of time. The study also found that children who watch more television and children who spend more time playing video games are at a higher risk of becoming overweight. If a child has one or more parents that are obese they are 80% more likely to become overweight him or herself. Also children who have a diabetic mother are more likely to be overweight. Though it is rare obesity can be caused by a medical condition which includes endocrine problems and other genetic syndromes (Boyse, 2011, p.1). Now that we know what childhood obesity is and what causes it, what are symptoms of childhood obesity? The symptoms of childhood obesity are no laughing matter. There are many life threatening conditions that result from being severely overweight. Some of the complications of untreated childhood obesity include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, bone and joint problems, asthma, sleep problems such as sleep apnea, liver and gallbladder disease, depression, unhealthy eating habits which include eating disorders, substance abuse problems, and other health problems as they age such as heart disease and early death (Jones, 2014, p.1). In 2011 a ten year old girl died from acute cardio-respiratory failure, sleep apnea, and acute pulmonary hypertension due to her obesity (Daily Mail Reporter, 2012, p.1). Though some children die from their obesity it is a rare occurrence but it does increase the likelihood. Death rates among children who develop glucose intolerance were 73% higher than those in the lowest group and children with high blood pressure are 1.5 times more likely to die prematurely from natural causes (Doheny, 2010, p.1). The most dangerous problem with childhood obesity is absolutely its effect on adult obesity and the resulting consequences. When BMI from childhood to adulthood was tracked 40% to 80% of these children would become obese adults (Bridger, 2009, p.1). Adult obesity is responsible for 18% of deaths among Black and White Americans according to a study by Columbia University (Paul, 2013, p.1). Lastly, how can parents help their children overcome this debilitating and life threatening problem? Being a good role model is very important for parents of children who suffer from obesity. If the family of an obese child changes their eating habits to set a better example the child is much more likely to adopt those habits him or herself. Making healthier food choices is very important. A few tips on how to do this include eating a variety of food with many different colors, such as fruits and vegetables. Another very important tip is making sure to eat breakfast as children who have breakfast are much less likely to be overweight. Of course breakfast choices should not include sugary cereal or pastries, instead breakfast should consist of foods like oatmeal, fruit, whole grain cereal, and so on. Obese children should have their fat intake decreased, and the types of fat that are ingesting changed. As many of these children tend to have a diet that consists of saturated fats, they should try and move towards only eating polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats when fats are eaten as these fats are much easier for the body to process and are not going to cause serious health problems. These fats can be found in foods such as fish, nuts, and some oils. It is very important that children have regularly scheduled meal times. Building these habits will make children less likely to snack unnecessarily when they are not truly hungry, and they will be more likely to eat what they are given. Going out to eat should be limited and eating fast food should be limited if not completely cut out of their diet. Many fast food restaurants serve food that is high in saturated fats and also not of the best quality. Also, restaurants tend to serve food in larger portions than is necessary for a child to eat. Try and make more meals at home, where the ingredients can be carefully chosen and portions limited. Snacking should not be completely cut out of a child’s diet, but it is important to make healthy snack choices. Though as a parent you may want to cut sugar completely out of your child’s diet, it is important not to place a complete ban on it. Children will have a kind of sugar withdrawal which will increase their likelihood of overindulging when the opportunity presents itself. The best plan of action is to simply limit the amount of sugar a child can have at any given time. Along those lines the amount of juice and soda a child can have should be limited as they contain large amounts of sugar and â€Å"empty† calories that do nothing for the body. A healthier substitute would be carbonated water with lemon or lime juice. Snacks should also be just that, a snack. The number of calories should be limited to 100-150 and a snack should never turn into a meal. Fruit is also an excellent snacking choice. Yogurt and peanut butter are also good choices. Portion control can have a very large impact on weight. Some great rules for making sure your child is not eating too much are making sure that their portions are no larger than their fist, reading food labels to get an idea of the serving size, using smaller dishes to give the impression that the serving is larger, and maybe even ordering smaller meals when out and sharing food with the child. Getting exercise is also very important. Some fun indoor games which can improve overall level of activity include hide-and-seek, tag, and Simon Says. Outdoor activities like walking, going for bike rides, and school activities, and sports can have a greatly positive impact. Doing chores with your child can help everyone burn calories. There are also some very entertaining 5 or 10k races which children can enter which you both can train for together (Robinson Smith, 2014, p.1). Not only are these great ways to burn calories but they will also help your child build better habits for the future. In summation, childhood obesity is a terrible problem that is only getting worse. The number of children who have obesity and are becoming more severely obese is astounding. Childhood obesity is causes by unstructured and unmonitored eating that involves too much sugar and saturated fats. It is also effected by a lack of exercise which, when combined, can have terrible effects over time. The results of childhood obesity are no joke. Not only can children develop terrible health problems that are mostly only seen in older adults but they can die if they become unhealthy enough. The effects on their lives as adults can also be devastating. There is hope for obese children if they change their habits so that they can develop healthier patterns and choices which will not only lead to a healthier childhood but a healthier life. Either changes will be made or in the near future there will be many more deaths resulting from being overweight and unhealthy. Bibliography Boyse, K. (2011, August 1). University of Michigan Health System. Obesity Overweight: Your Child:.  Retrieved May 29, 2014, from http://www.med.umich.edu/yourchild/topics/obesity.htm Bridger, T. (2009, March 14). Childhood obesity and cardiovascular disease. . Retrieved May 29, 2014,  from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2690549/ Childhood obesity. (n.d.). Definition. Retrieved May 29, 2014, from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/childhood-obesity/basics/definition/con-20027428 Doheny, K. (2010, February 10). Obese Children Twice as Likely to Die Young?. WebMD. Retrieved May  29, 2014, from http://www.webmd.com/parenting/news/20100210/obese-children-twice-as-likely-to-die-young Hitti, M. (n.d.). Child Obesity: 8 Red Flags to Watch For. WebMD. Retrieved May 29, 2014, from  http://www.webmd.com/children/news/20050519/child-obesity-8-red-flags-watch Jones, P. (2014, May 5). Health Information Center. Symptoms Health Library. Retrieved May 29, 2014,  from http://health.cvs.com/GetContent.aspx?token=f75979d3-9c7c-4b16-af56-3e122a3f19e3chunkiid=584192 Painter, K. (2014, April 7). No real progress on child obesity, latest report says. USA Today. Retrieved  May 29, 2014, from http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/04/07/child-obesity-progress/7421987/ Press Release. (2014, March 20). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved May 29, 2014,  from http://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2014/p0225-child-obesity.html Reporter, D. (2012, March 25). The 10-year-old girl who died because she was too fat. Mail Online.  Retrieved May 29, 2014, from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2120042/The-year-old-girl-died-fat.html Smith, M., Robinson, L. (2014, February 1). Weight Problems Obesity in Children. Weight Problems  and Obesity in Children: Helping your Child Reach and Maintain a Healthy Weight. Retrieved  May 29, 2014, from http://www.helpguide.org/mental/childhood_obesity.htm Velez, M. (2014, April 8). U.S. Childhood Obesity Rates Have Actually Increased Over The Past 14 Years (STUDY). The Huffington Post. Retrieved May 29, 2014, from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/08/childhood-obesity-rates-increased_n_5111922.html University. (2013, August 15). News. Obesity Kills More Americans Than Previously Thought 08/15/2013.  Retrieved May 29, 2014, from http://www.mailman.columbia.edu/news/obesity-kills-more-americans-previously-thought

Intel 1998 Financial Status :: GCSE Business Marketing Coursework

Intel 1998 Financial Status Company Info: Intel Corp was founded in 1968, in the state of California. Intel is an independent company; it is not a subsidiary, nor does it have subsidiaries. Furthermore, it is well known for its microprocessors for PCs, chipsets, flash memory, embedded control chips, and network communications products. The purchasers of the products are original equipment manufacturers, PC users, and other manufacturers. Intel makes computer hardware including motherboards, microprocessors, and chips. It is responsible for approximately 90% of the computer microprocessors. In 1971 the 4004 was Intel's first microprocessor. This breakthrough invention powered the Busicom calculator and paved the way for embedding intelligence in inanimate objects as well as the personal computer. Then in 1974 the 8080 became the brains of the first personal computer--the Altair, allegedly named for a destination of the Starship Enterprise from the StarTrek television show. Computer hobbyists could purchase a kit for the Altair for $395. Within months, it sold tens of thousands, creating the first PC back orders in history. In 1989 the 486TM generation really meant you go from a command-level computer into point-and-click computing. I could have a color computer for the first time and do desktop publishing at a significant speed," recalls technology historian David K.Allison of the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History. The Intel 486TM processor was the first to offer a built-in math coprocessor, which speeds up computing because it offers complex math fu nctions from the central processor. Then in 1993 the Pentium ® processor allowed computers to more easily incorporate "real world" data such as speech, sound, handwriting and photographic images. The name Pentium ®, mentioned in the comics and on television talk shows, became a household word soon after introduction. In 1999 the Pentium ® III XeonTM processor extends Intel's offerings to the workstation and server market segments, providing additional performance for e-Commerce applications and advanced business computing. The processors incorporate the Pentium ® III processor's 70 SIMD instructions, which enhance multimedia and streaming video applications. The Pentium ® III XeonTM processor's advance cache technology speeds information from the system bus to the processor, significantly boosting performance. It is designed for systems with multiprocessor configurations. Intel has only one competitor, and it is a multinational corporation with offices based in over 10 countries. In addition, the company employs 64,500 people, and its annual net income in 1998 was 26,273,000,000 dollars.

Spanish Colonialism and the Indigenous People of Bolivia Essay

Spanish Colonialism and the Indigenous People of Bolivia Prior to Spanish discovery of the new world, the area now known as Bolivia was home to three major ethnic and linguistic groups; the Uru, Aymara, and Quechua. The Uru lived on rafts, fishing and foraging along the shore of Lake Titicaca. The Aymara dominated the Uru, reducing their status to poor fishermen and landless workers. Aymara society was built upon a basic social unit of kinship that organized the distribution of labor, and this system, termed â€Å"ayllu,† was later adopted by conquering Quechua. The Aymara are known for their practice of ‘freeze drying’ potatoes high in the mountains, for their organized systems of irrigation, and their control of colonies in warm lowlands to produce food. By the early 15th century the Quechua dominated the northern highlands of the Andes, and by the later half of the century had adopted the name of their supreme ruler, the Inca. The Inca led a series of invasions into weakening Aymara kingdoms in the south Andean regio n. The Inca quickly became a successful empire, a relative ethnic minority which controlled a diverse region of peoples. Conquered groups were allowed to maintain local chiefs, cultures, religion and language, bound together only through payments and work for the Inca. The mita (forced labor) system facilitated the lives of common laborers and recruited soldiers while vast tracts of roadways allowed for trade between the high and lowlands. The Inca accumulated great wealth, thus significant artistic and architectural achievements were made with textiles, metal working, and the practice of fitting stones together for building without the use of mortar. Many of these walls survive today. Although the Aymara attem... ...t the year in search of temporary job opportunities. One might argue that indigenous groups continue to seek independence in the twenty-first century against a backdrop of capitalistic globalization, a lucrative drug trade, and struggles between conservative, liberal, and militant leaders. Works Cited Minahan, James. Encyclopedia of the Stateless Nations: Volume III. Westport Connectcut: Greenwood Press, 2002. S. Olson, James. The Indians of Central and South America: An Ethnohistorical Dictionary. Westport Connecticut: Greenwood Press, 1991. Regional Surveys of the World: South America, Central America and the Caribbean. Ed. Jacqueline West. 10th ed. Europa Publications: Taylor and Francis Group, 2002 Encyclopedia of Latin American History and Culture: Volume I. Simon and Schuster, 1996. http://www.countryreports.org/history/bolihist.htm

How Thomas Hobbes and John Locke influenced Enlightenment Thinkers Essay

The Age of Enlightenment saw many great changes in Western Europe. The Age of Enlightenment or simple â€Å"the Enlightenment† was an intellectual movement during the 18th century. Its purpose was to reform society and to advance knowledge using reason and the scientific knowledge. It supported scientific thought and opposed superstition with its favorite target being the Catholic Church. The phrase was frequently used by writers of the period itself, implying that they were emerging from centuries of darkness and ignorance into an enlightenment period fueled by reason and science. The ones who sparked the enlightenment can be traced to the 17th century. They include the two political philosophers Thomas Hobbes and John Locke. Thomas Hobbes was born on April 5, 1588 and he was best known for his work on political philosophy. His book Leviathan established the foundation for most of Western political philosophy. In Leviathan, Hobbes set out his doctrine of the foundations of states and legitimate governments. Much of the book demonstrates the necessity of a strong central authority to avoid chaos and disorder. Hobbes hypothesizes what life would be like with no government, a state which he calls the state of nature. In that state, each person would have a right to everything in the world. However, he argues that it would lead to a â€Å"war against all† because he believed that all people were evil and selfish. In order to avoid this state, people establish a civil society and conceive a social contract. According to Hobbes, society is a population under a supreme authority. Thomas Hobbes is a supporter of absolutism but he also developed some of the fundamentals of liberal thoughts such as the rights of an individual and equality for all. He was also one of the founders of modern political science as well. His understanding on humans as being matter and following the same concepts and laws as other matter remains extremely influential. John Locke was born on August 29, 1632 and he was one of the most influential English philosophers during the enlightenment period. Locke’s theory of mind is referred to as the origin of conceptions of â€Å"self† and â€Å"identities†. He theorized that the mind is a blank slate and that we were born with only instinctive ideas and that knowledge is only derived from experience. The founding fathers of the United States used many of his political ideas as the bases for the declaration of independence. Locke believed in a democratic rule and that everyone is entitled to their own rights and liberty. He thought that nobody should have absolute power so he came up with the idea of â€Å"separation of powers† meaning that the church and judicial system operate independent of the ruling class so theoretically no one can commit a crime and get away with it. Even though Thomas Hobbes and John Locke were both influential social contract theorists and great political philosophers, their ideas completely contradict each other. While Locke believed that humans were born with a clean slate and only gain knowledge through experience and experiment, Hobbes theorized that all humans were born with an evil and selfish nature which cannot be contained without a supreme authority to rule. In terms of political power, Locke believed in democratic rule while Hobbes believed in an absolute power to rule over the evil and selfish humans for if there is no absolute power, our savage instincts will take over and we will do whatever it takes to satisfy our greedy nature. As for rights, Locke believed all men are equal rights but Hobbes concluded that we should give up our rights to the government in exchange for protection. The Enlightenment was a great step in humanity to make strides in science and let reason explain our lives. Enlightenment ideas and works have been especially influential in politics. Many of the world’s democracies are built on the ideas of Locke and other political philosophers in the enlightenment period. Democratic nations, such as the United States are founded upon enlightenment ideas such as individual rights and liberty, the rights of citizens, and people’s rights to participate in the government. However, different political philosophers have different ideas about what’s best for their government. For instance, Thomas Hobbes believed in absolute monarchs, an idea which is still used today in places like Canada, Japan, Spain, and the United Kingdoms. The Enlightenment completely revolutionized the way people have thought about religion, politics, and science. It was one of the greatest events in history because it gave people the idea to challenge what they’ve always been taught to be right. It gave people a mind of their own and not fall to one supreme ruler. The legacy of the enlightenment shall never be forgotten.

Roles of Women in the Early Europe

In early, medieval Europe, everyday life and the duties of people were greatly different than they are today. Obviously, there was no technology and life was a lot simpler. However, some of the former ways of life are not always praised as something good. For example, women during the time were treated very inadequately. Yes, this has happened in just about every society in history, but it seems like most women during this period were used and disrespected more notably than in others. In Philippa Gregory’s novel, The Other Boleyn Girl, this theme is seen greatly. In the story, the narrator, Mary, is defending her sister, Anne, after she is sentenced to death for producing an incest baby instead of a son for the king, King Henry. Mary, pleading for her sister, yells out â€Å"We did nothing more than that was ordered. We only ever did as we were commanded. Is she to die for being an obedient daughter? †(Pg. 650). During this time period, many women in the royal courts were used to produce male heirs, mainly to keep the name of the king and the family continuing. I strongly agree with the quote by Mary because killing a human being for a reason such as that is immoral and women are not just objects for men. In the story, Henry did have a choice to kill Anne or not, but I understood why he did end up taking her life. When Mary claims that the two Boleyn girls â€Å"did as they were commanded†, something drew to my attention. Mary was completely valid in saying that. Anne and Mary were mainly just used to birth a son. Several members of their family, including their uncle, demanded for one of them to bed the king. At first it was Mary who had an affair with the already married king. Even though Mary produces two children, one being a boy, it is not legitimate due to the fact that Mary is merely a mistress and not the queen. When he was done with Mary, King Henry moved on to Anne, who was more determined to become queen and have the child be legitimate. She eventually becomes the Queen of England, but it is proven that Henry was just using her for her child after he kills her. I do not agree with this concept by any means. However, this was a common role for women at the time. Kings and royal families were so concerned about keeping their name going in the court that they would risk the lives of women in doing so. You would think that one of King Henry’s seven wives would pick up on this trend at some point, or any woman in any court for that matter. It seems like women were treated as objects in the royal courts. The women were the croc pot that prepared the kings’ stew. And, if that stew was not one hundred percent correct, the croc pot would be set aside and replaced with a new one. I do not feel this is morally acceptable at all. I understand that kings wanted to have a male heir to keep the name going, but they should have had to complete that task so viciously. In this case, I do not agree with King Henry’s tactics at all, but I understand why he killed Anne. I believe that it was so common to banish or kill a wife for such crimes as adultery or incest that Henry had no choice, but to kill her. He was a very strong, determined man with a bold reputation for being so. By beheading Anne, he was retaining his reputation, but also proved that it was never true love between him and Anne. He had women lined up to take the place of Anne. â€Å"He is at her house every night. He is as he was in the old days, when it was her. † (656). This quote just proves the fact that Henry wanted nothing more of Anne than a son, which is a common theme of the roles of women during this time period. I do not agree with the concept of using women for the production of male heirs because it is immoral and women should not be viewed as objects. That is a major theme in The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory. It is prevalent throughout the story and in history that King Henry of England used women as devices used to produce male heirs. This was also seen throughout history. Kings were so determined to keep their name going that they would execute their wives for such faults as not producing a boy, or in this case, birthing an incest baby. The kings had to maintain a strong reputation. I understand that, but do not agree with how they did so.

Personal Values and Ethics Essay

Those people and things I value most is God, my recovery, self, respect, family, education, career, freedom, friends, community, and finance. For me, these people and things are desirable and important. However, there are times when those things and people cause dilemma in my life, and when I neglect to attend to them, especially when it is those values concerning family, friends, and community, I develop this personal conflict. One thing I have learned to value most is my personal relationship with my Higher Power whom I chose to call â€Å"God. While in active addiction I did all types of horrible things that I should have lost my life for. However, God kept me safe and healthy throughout my entire time in active addiction. For instance, there were times when I would be coming down off a multi-month drug binge and was hungry, but I was too week from the large amounts of drug intake to go find food. My Higher power always came through for me and provided me with the much needed nourishment for my body. Once my mind started to clear, I was could see how my Higher Power had been keeping and carrying me and learned to appreciate and value Him a great deal. Because of my past active addiction, other than drugs I have not always known what I valued. In fact, there was a time when I did not value myself, anything, or anyone. Since being in recovery I have learned to value me, other people, and things. I think that what shaped my values most is my being forced to honestly work a 12-step, self-help program and actively participate in the recovery fellowship of Narcotics Anonymous (N. A. ). In the rooms of N. A I was able to find me and my truths, and this provided me this strong desire to seek personal change and find a new productive way of living life. Acquiring this strong desire for lifestyle changes and seeking it in this fellowship, I was forced to involve myself with people who are free of drugs, living a N. A. Program way of life, and had significant clean time. It was these individuals who molded, helped, and shaped me to develop a sense of self. These new people in my life loved me until I learned to love myself, and this provided the opportunity for me to learn to value me and those people and things in my life at the time. As I continue to fight for my recovery, and as time go by, I noticed that over the years those people and things I value most changes on some level, and honestly working a program has provided me a much better quality of life. For this I have developed this great value for the program of Narcotics Anonymous and its members. Early in my recovery I lived with and in a lot of guilt. At that time, the only thing I had learned to somewhat value was I, and I had done and caused so much damage in my life. This led to my having to deal with a lot dilemma’s that lead to a lot of convictions, and as a result of these convictions, I began to value myself more. Because of this I was later able to appreciate me and not do anything else that could bring potential danger in my personal life and would make me feel worse than I was feeling. Since being in recovery with significant clean time, the level of how much I value people and things has changed. I think that by my incorporating the principles of the 12-steps in my personal life effects my approach and outlook to life. In honestly working these steps I am forced to look at both me and how I am interacting with society. As a result I find that I appreciate people and things more and have come to value them more. I value my family a great deal, especially my immediate family, e. g. , my mom, sister, brother, stepfather, guide mother, and guide sisters. They are always there for me no matter what or how bad I or it had gotten. I did not call often for help, but when I did my family was there to love and support me in any way they could. Today, they are right here on the side lines cheering me on, and they show their appreciation for my new way of life through each of their actions. As a result I have built some wonderful relationships with my family and, I have learned to value and appreciate those relationships a great deal. While facing one of my many horrible consequences I made the best decision, I could have ever made. This was the decision to go back to school to earn my GED. Because of my consistent good accomplishments in school it provided me this great since of appreciation for school and at some point I began to value education a great deal. Today I still value education and although I am facing many dilemmas in my life that, causing conflict with this value, I still push myself to accomplish my education goal. I think that going to prison is something that helped me establish a great value for my freedom. It was not a good feeling being locked up in a small cage like some animal. Neither did it feel good to have others tell me when to sleep, eat, bath, etc. While in prison I was forced to be alone with me and learn how to be in a relationship with me. As a result my sense of self multiplied, and it was the first time that I felt this sense of personal value. Although I had lost the ability to do so I have always valued work and establishing a career. This is one value that was instilled in me from my mother. I watch her work day in and day out to provide for and take care of us. Due to my being raised in a neighborhood where many of the children’s parents did not work I took great pride in and valued the fact that my mom had a job. Not just a job but a job that allowed here to give me and my sister most of the things we wanted. Watching my mom work instilled in me a desire to work as well. Once I started to work, how I valued working changed because I was now getting a check. Making money from work provided me this very strong value and desire for both work and money, and it also confirmed for me that working a job was the only way I could make money, thus being able to take care of me and make it in this world independently. Here recently I have come to value friends and community. I guess that this is due to my having established some healthy relationships that I appreciate and desire versus the those that I was accustomed to in my past and resented. Today, I am well liked and respected by personal friends and people in my community, and this provides me a sense of belonging and being apart. An ethical dilemma I had little difficult with was one that happened when I was working as a case manager at this Social Service Agency. There was a female client who came into the office seeking rental assistance services. During the assessments it was learned that she had participated in another rental assistance program through another agency six months prior. Due to the agency being in relationship with this agency, through Memorandum of Understanding, our office was able to call their office and provide and get information about this young lady participation in their program. After contacting the partnering agency it was learned that the client had participated in another rental assistance program four months prior to receiving services there. As a result it was believed that the client was abusing the rental assistance programs and funds in the area and was denied services. This did not cause much conflict with my personal values because this client was abusing the system. I know of many people who could really use, need, and deserve the assistance and here this lady is abusing it. I wanted to be angry with her and sabotage her file so she could not ever receive any kind of services from the agency again, but I knew this would be unethical practice and I did not do it. I felt that this client deserved to be denied for assistance; however, many of the staff including myself argued that contacting these external agencies about the case, and providing information about the client was in violation of the client’s confidentiality rights. I think that this lady and others like her needed to be stopped, and the rental assistance program funds needs to be protected from abusers like this client. I think that I would have a lot of ethical dilemmas if I worked with the Department of Corrections (DOC) population, especially if I am employed in their health care/treatment system. I tend to believe that many of the individuals in this population do not want treatment and would refuse it if they could. DOC forces many individuals in their population to participate in treatments that he or she do not really understand and really have no interest in understanding. In fact, it is almost unheard of for inmates within the Department of Corrections to receive an informed consent prior to receiving various treatments or services. In most cases the health care department calls the inmate over and tells him or her what is going to be done and walks away without any further information until it is time to provide the treatment or service. This causes a dilemma for me because I believe that everybody, including prison inmates, should be entitled to the same privileges and freedoms when receiving treatment in prison. He or she should be provided an informed consent and allowed the opportunity to volunteer for services or treatment. There are some things that I desire and feel are important to me, e. g. , God, my recovery, self, respect, family, education, career, etc. Due to convictions that result from the desires to and importance of these people and things, I must sometimes deal with personal conflicts. Over the years, I have learned to value my relationship with God. God is at the top of my value list because he has done so much in keeping me. Today, I value myself a great deal. When I do not attend to my personal needs I feel this great sense of conviction and I think this result from my involvement with the Narcotics Anonymous program. I value the N. A. program because it and its members has provided me a new way of life at a greater quality.