Registered Nurses Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Registered Nurses - Research Paper Example More than 60 percent of their jobs are in hospital set-ups. Their scope of work depends from country to country and state to state and is guided by various Nurse Practice Acts. The 3 most important paths of education to becoming registered nurses are, In this essay, the role and scope of practice of diploma from any approved nursing programs, associate degree and bachelors degree. following these degrees, the job opportunities for registered nurses is excellent, but is dependent on the nature of employment setting and geographic setting (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2010). The main role of registered nurses in any work setting regardless of the speciality they are employed in is to "treat patients, educate patients and the public about various medical conditions, and provide advice and emotional support to patients family members† (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2010). The registered nurses record the medical histories and clinical presentation of the patients, help in the performance of diagnostic tests as advised by the physicians, analyze the results of the diagnostic tests, operate medical and surgical machinery, administer various medications to the patients as instructed by physicians and help the patient with follow-up and rehabilitation. The registered nurses have a very important role to play in the education of the patients, their family members and public. They educate about the management of injuries and illnesses, explain about various home-are needs in the post-treatment phase, advise about, nutrition, diet and exercise and provide in formation on self-medication and physiotherapy (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2010). In some conditions, the registered nurses also work in collaboration with other health professionals to educate the public about various warning sings and symptoms of particular disease, like, for example, swine flu. In the process of caring for patients, registered nurses contribute to

Atomic Short Range Order (SRO) in Ni20Pd80 Alloy

Atomic Short Range Order (SRO) in Ni20Pd80 Alloy An Experimental and Theoretical Study of the Atomic Short Range Order (SRO) in Ni20Pd80 Alloy Abstract The behavior of atomic short range order (SRO) has been investigated in a polycrystalline alloy of Ni20Pd80 at different temperatures by using diffuse X-ray scattering intensities. The ordering energies and the atomic SRO-parameters (ÃŽ ±1) have been calculated by using the electronic theory of ordering in the pseudopotential approximation and compare with the experimental results. The intensity distribution pattern of Ni20Pd80 obtained through XRD depicts a deviation from random structure at all annealing temperatures. We make an analysis using the prior obtain X-ray intensities of Ni20Pd80 and calculate the atomic short range order-function (SROF) g(r) as a function of annealing temperatures. Some of the values of ÃŽ ±1 calculated by using SROF and appears as negative, indicating the existence of SRO in Ni20Pd80 alloy. We have obtained the parameter for second and third nearest neighbors, which turns out to be positive. Electronic theory of alloys in the pseudopotential approximati on was employed to calculate the ordering energies and the values of ÃŽ ±1. It was found that this theory predicts the same sign of ÃŽ ±1 for selected alloy as observed from the experiments. The results can be further improved by considering the order of perturbation and the atomic size effect for the studied alloy. Keywords: Ni20Pd80 alloy; short range order (SRO); X-ray diffraction (XRD); transition metal model pseudopotential (TMMP); short range order-function (SROF); SRO-parameter (ÃŽ ±1) 1. Introduction X-ray scattering intensity measurement of alloys reveals in the information about degree of atomic SRO and has been immensely used by many authors to establish the presence of ordering in various binary and multi-component alloys [1]. The presence of the atomic SRO in the disordered solid solutions influences the physical properties of the alloys significantly and a recent study of the electronic theory of alloys based on the pseudo-potential approximation has appeared successfully to predict the ordering in transition metal alloys [2-4]. Lin et al. have shown the formation of clusters in the samples with Pd concentration of 25-75 at.% [5]. Our study shows that beyond 75 at.% Pd, Ni-Pd alloy has a tendency to form SRO. In this paper, we have carried out the calculation of temperatures in binary Ni20Pd80 alloy by combining the method of pseudopotential approximation. Therefore, it encourages investigating the atomic SRO in the Ni20Pd80 alloy. Not only, we establish SRO in Ni20Pd80 and also compare the theoretical results with the experiment. 2. Experimental Technique For experimental work XRD technique was employed. The round-shaped master ingot (~10 g) of polycrystalline Ni20Pd80 alloy was gratefully supplied by Degussa (Germany). These pellets were cut into two halves, surface-ground and polished to produce a mirror surface suitable for XRD study. Chemical analysis carried out by electron probe micro-analyzer gave nearly the starting compositions. Ni20Pd80 alloy was annealed at each given temperature for 5 hrs in a vacuum better than 10-5 mbar and quenched. The X-ray experiments were performed on a Shimadzu XD-5A diffractometer in the reflection mode, using line-focused Cu-KÃŽ ± radiation. The intensity measurements were carried out in the angle range 40à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ °Ã‚ °Ãƒ ¯Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  with a step of 0.2 and all measurements were made in the fixed time mode with counting time of 100 sec per angle. All of the measurements were made at room temperature of 25 ±0.5 °C respectively. 3. Theoretical Calculations The electronic theory of alloys gives the following expression for the ordering energy of binary AB alloy [10] as below: Where, is the average atomic volume of the alloy and Ri is the radius of ith coordination sphere in the particular crystal structure. The factor FAB(q) represents the energy-wave number characteristics of the alloy [10]. The electronic theory of alloys in 2nd order perturbation theory gives the ordering energy of a binary alloy corresponding to the ith coordination sphere is given by [6]. Where, = à ¯Ã‚ -/N is the volume per atom, N is the number of atoms in the crystal of volume à ¯Ã‚ -, is the difference of the unscreened pseudopotential form factors of the alloy constituents [7], and are the dielectric and modified screening factors which include the effect of exchange and correlation [8] and ÃŽ · is the Ewald’s parameter. FAB(q) is the energy wavenumber characteristic which is the local pseudopotential approximation may be expressed as [10]: The first term in Eq. (2) gives the contribution of the band structure and this second term is of the electro static energy. In 3rd order perturbation theory, the ordering energy is given by [9, 10]: Here, The term T(q) is the effective pair corrections to the ordering potential. This correction arises in the 3rd order perturbation theory due to double scattering process of conduction electrons from the ion pairs. The term responsible for the effects connected with the presence of three body interaction are not taken into consideration. In disordered binary solid solutions, if two different atoms A and B have size difference they exhibit static displacements from exact lattice positions. For close neighbors, there can be three different distances depending on whether it is an AA-, BB- or AB-pairs. In case of two atoms, that is no close neighbor and the variation in distance results from the variations in the composition of the region between them. The variation in close neighbor distances attributes to the kind of atoms making up the pair [10]. The ordering potential is modified by incorporating the atomic size effect and is given by: E(R1) =A(R1)−B(R1) Where, A(R1) and B(R1) are the first nearest neighbor distances of A- and B-atom. Here, the factor B(R1) is given by: And B(R1) =B1Aà ¢Ã‹â€ Ã¢â‚¬  1A+B1Bà ¢Ã‹â€ Ã¢â‚¬  1B Here, The expression for B1B can be written in a similar manner. Where, And Where, Here, , Clapp-Moss relation was used to determine the value of SRO-parameter. The values of ÃŽ ±1 were determined from the ordering energy by using the Clapp-Moss expression [11]: Where kB is the Boltzmann constant. In this work, we have also investigated the effect of the exchange and correlation factors on the ordering energies. The expressions to account for the exchange and correlation correction effect f(q) proposed by Kleinmen [12], Singwi [13], Hubbard-Sham [14], SLTS [13] and Lindhard [15] are given below: Kleinman: Singwi: A=0.8894 B=0.3401 Hubbard-Sham: SLTS: Lindhard: f (q) =0 4. Results and Discussion Fig. 1 shows the XRD pattern recorded at room temperature obtained for the annealed sample of Ni20Pd80 at various temperatures. The splitting of high angle Bragg reflection for CuKÃŽ ±1 and Cu-KÃŽ ±2 radiations demonstrates the quality of the sample. The patterns were indexed following the procedure mentioned in Ref. 16. Since, all the fundamental reflections (hkl all even or all odd) were present; the patterns were therefore indexed as Face Centered Cubic (FCC). The sample was single phase and has FCC of A1-type structure with lattice parameter a=0.382 nm [17]. The lattice parameters were calculated from XRD patterns taken after annealing the Ni20Pd80 alloy at various annealing temperature by the extrapolation of the Nelson-Riley function and their values are plotted in Fig. 2. It can be clearly seen that the value of lattice parameter ‘a’ increases linearly with temperature. The reason for this increase in ‘a’ is the thermal expansion in lattice due to increase of temperature. Fig. 3 shows the plot of SRO-function g(r) corresponding to temperatures i.e., 100, 300 and 600  °C. The SRO-function g(r) was determined from the measured intensities using the following relation [18]: Where, r is the radial distance, and Q is the reciprocal lattice vector Where, Ieu(SRO) is the observed intensity free from parasitic contributions and is measured in electron units. The procedures for the removal of parasitic contributions and the method to convert the measured intensities into electron units are outlined in Ref. 19. The radii of the coordination spheres were calculated from the lattice parameters determined from the XRD pattern. The function g(r) was determined from the intensities measured for each annealing temperature. It is clear from Fig. 3 that the variations in the g(r) with respect to temperature are subjected to the changes in SRO inside an alloy. The first peak in the plot of g(r) is not relevant to the structure but comes from the modification function used in the calculation in order to take into account the infinite limit of the integral in the expression of g(r). This feature is more prominent in the curve corresponding to 100  °C as compared to the other two curves. The SRO-parameters were determined from the data shown in Fig. 1 using the following expression [18]: Where ci is the coordination number and ÃŽ ±i is the radius and ÃŽ ±1 for the ith coordination sphere. There values are listed in Table 1 for the first, second and third nearest neighboring spheres. The value of ÃŽ ±1 was observed to be negative for all annealing temperatures. The variations in its value are due to the variation in the degree of SRO taking place with a change of temperature. The values of ÃŽ ±2 and ÃŽ ±3 were found to be positive for all investigated temperatures which indicate the formation of clusters in the second and third nearest neighboring spheres. The parameters of TMMP [7] and the lattice parameters determined using the Vegard’s rule was used as input for these calculations. The results of these calculations are listed in Table 2. It is seen that the values of ÃŽ ±1 is negative corresponding to different exchange and correlation factors. The values of ÃŽ ±1 were found to be negative from the XRD experiments too. It is therefore concluded that the electronic theory of alloys (2nd order perturbation) yields a good agreement between the experiment and theory as far as sign of the ÃŽ ±1 is concerned. The values of ÃŽ ±1 calculated employing the 3rd order perturbation correction and by taking into account the difference in atomic size of Ni20Pd80 are also given in Table 2. The difference in the magnitude of experimental and theoretical values may be attributed to the following reasons, (i) these calculations apply only to the ground state 100  °C where as the experiments have been done at higher temperatures. (ii) The val ues of lattice parameters used in these calculations were calculated from Vegard’s rule. 5. Conclusions XRD experiments were performed on the Ni20Pd80 alloy to study SRO. In order to compare the experimental results with the theory, calculation of ordering energies was undertaken using the electronic theory of alloys in the pseudo-potential approximation. The analysis of the experimental data yields information regarding the SRO. The structure of the alloy is FCC over a temperature range of 100-600  °C. The lattice parameter of the alloy increases with temperature as expected by theory. The experimental values of ÃŽ ±1 were found to be negative at all investigated temperatures, which indicates formation of SRO in this alloy. The experimental values of à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¡2 and à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¡3 were found to be positive, which indicates formation of clusters in the second and third neighboring spheres, if order of perturbation and size-effect is taken into account in these calculations. Acknowledgements The author S. K. Ajmal would like to thank and are acknowledged for their helpful discussions. References [1] V.I. Iveronova, A.A. Katsnelson, Short Range Order in Metallic Solid Solutions (in Russian), Moscow University Press, (1977). [2] W. Pfeiler, Acta Metall. 36 (1988) 2417. [3] T. Abbas, R.M.A. Khalil, A.M. Rana, Mahtabullah, Mod. Phys. Lett. B 20 (2006) 2425. [4] S. Akhtar, A.B. Ziya, T. Abbas, Physica B 404 (2009) 2241-2243. [5] W. Lin, J.E. Spruiell, Acta Metall. 19 (1971) 451. [6] F.A. Khawaja, A.A. Katsnelson, V.M. Silonov, Phys. Stat. Sol. 88 (1978) 477. [7] A.O.E. Animalu, Phys. Rev. B 8 (1973) 3542-3554. [8] P.A. Rossiter, The Electrical Resistivity of Metals and Alloys, University Press, Cambridge, (1987). [9] F.A. Khawaja, A.A. Katsnelson, V.M. Silonov, M.M. Khrushchov, Phys. Stat. Sol. 82 (1977) 701. [10] A.A. Katsnelson, V.M. Silonov, F.A. Khawaja, Phys. Stat. Sol. 91 (1979) 11. [11] P.C. Clapp, S.C. Moss, Phys. Rev. 171 (1968) 754. [12] L. Kleinman, Phys. Rev. 160 (1967). [13] K.S. Singwi, M.P. Tosi, A. Sjolander, R.H. Land, Phys. Rev. 176 (1968) 589. [14] J. Hubbard, L.J. Sham, Proc. Roy. Soc. (London), A240 (1957) 359. [15] Lindhard, D. Langreth, Phys. Rev. 181 (1969) 753. [16] B.D. Cullity, Elements of X-ray Diffraction, Addison Wesley, Philippines (1978). [17] S. Ahmad, A.B. Ziya, A. Aziz, Z. I. Zafar, J. Mater. Sci. Technol. 25 (2009) 208-210. [18] B.E. Warren, X-ray Diffraction, Dover, New York, (1990). [19] T. Abbas, A.B. Ziya, J. Mat. Sc. 28 (1993) 5010. Figure captions Fig. 1 XRD pattern of Ni20Pd80 alloy taken at 100-600  °C after annealing temperature. Fig. 2 Temperature dependence of lattice parameter a(Ç º) of Ni20Pd80 alloy determined from the Nilson-Riley function. Fig. 3 Temperature dependence of atomic short range order function g(r). Table captions Table 1: The SRO-parameters for various shells of atoms obtained from experimental diffuse scattering intensities of X-rays for Ni20Pd80 alloy. Table 2: The ordering energies for Ni20Pd80 alloy calculated using the electronic theory of alloy in the pseudo-potential approximation. Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Table 1 Table 2

Macbeth as the Aristotelian Tragic Hero Essay -- Macbeth essays

Macbeth as the Aristotelian Tragic Hero The first criterion that a tragic hero must comply to is that they must be above average. They must be Khrestos. Macbeth is khrestos. He is described as "valour's minion" 1-2 19. Valour's minion means bravery's favourite. Also he is spoken of as "brave" and "Bellona's bridegroom". Bellona was the goddess of war. Duncan, the king, describes Macbeth as "noble". And also uses a familiar term for Macbeth, as if he is in the kings family. "o' valiant cousin, worthy gentleman". These quotations from Duncan carry more weight as they are from the highest nobility, the monarch himself. These quotes evidence that Macbeth is khrestos. Everyone thinks highly of him and he is already Thane of Glamis, then he becomes Thane of Cawdor. The Thane of Cawdor is executed for being a traitor, so Macbeth inherits the label of a traitor, even though it is not known. Another condition of a tragic hero is that he must have a flaw in his character that will prove fatal to his life or status. This flaw is called Hamartia. Macbeth's hamartia is that he is ambitious. It is obvious that he has thought about being king before the predictions of the three witches. "if chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me without my stir". This quote evidences this fact. The best piece of evidence of Macbeth's hamartia is his line. "I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition which o'erleaps itself". It is also clear that he is ambitious, when he is at the castle of Duncan and Malcolm is named as the Prince of Cumberland, which is heir to the throne.... ...ies Macduff's son when he is stabbed by an assassin. We also feel fear and pity for Banquo when he is killed whilst on his innocent ride with Fleance. Both scenes before each respective murder are sweet and homely and make the reader feel doubly upset when the characters are murdered. Some people pity Macbeth during his anagnorisis, but not during his peripetiea when his relationship with his wife is falling apart, we tend to pity Lady Macbeth. "how now my lord, why do you keep alone" 3-2 l8. She sounds upset and innocent when we still really know that Lady Macbeth is pure evil and helped to corrupt her husband. I conclude, that I do believe Macbeth is a true tragic hero in the Aristotelian sense. Macbeth fits all the criteria and I do indeed experience catharsis, all the way through the play.

Iron Crowned Chapter 4

Distracting your enemies by saying shocking things is a classic way to get an attack in. If this ghost had wanted to catch me off guard and move in, this would have been her chance. Instead, she just hung there in the air, staring at me. I forced my jaw closed and kind of wished Kiyo had stuck around to hear this bizarre development. Finally, I said, â€Å"That's not what I do. And anyway †¦ I mean, wouldn't you kind of know? Wouldn't you have seen it?† â€Å"No,† she said mournfully. â€Å"Whoever did it shot me in the head before I could see. They made it look like a suicide.† I grimaced. Weak ghosts often appeared in their final state, as they'd looked at the time of death. This one was strong and able to appear as she remembered herself, for which I was grateful. I wouldn't have wanted to see her after that gunshot. â€Å"Well, I'm sorry for your †¦ loss,† I told her, wondering why I hadn't already banished her. â€Å"But private detective work isn't my thing.† â€Å"I can't go to one!† she cried. â€Å"Or the police. Only you can see me. All the other ghosts said you were the one to go to.† â€Å"All the other – what, do you guys have a country club or something?† â€Å"Please, Miss Markham,† she begged. Her eyes were so, so sad. â€Å"I have to find out. If someone dangerous is walking around, I have to know. My family has to know.† From what I knew, family was usually behind most homicides. â€Å"Look, you're obviously strong. You have to be in order to move around like you do and come outside. It makes sense. If you're this upset about what happened, then you're bound strongly to this world while the, um, murder's unsettled. So, the odds are, you probably could appear to someone else. Wouldn't work on most humans, but you might get someone close to you to see you and hear you.† â€Å"But would they believe me?† she asked bitterly. â€Å"They'd think they were imagining things. You're the only one who knows this is real.† I shook my head. â€Å"Sorry. I don't investigate this stuff. Certainly not for ghosts. You're getting my best offer here. Otherwise †¦Ã¢â‚¬  I held up the wand. â€Å"You move on to peace.† She scowled and disappeared. Yes, a very strong ghost, one who should have already been in the Underworld right then and there. I shouldn't have stopped to talk. But what was one more ghost when I was already letting so many slide by? Kiyo's accusatory words came back to me. I felt like I was doing a half-ass job in both worlds, too divided to give either my full attention. Nonetheless, I made the most of my day in Tucson. I knocked off three more jobs for Lara, much to her relief. Jobs meant money, meaning both of us got paid. She'd hinted in the past that our drop in work was creating financial problems, enough that she might need a second job. That made me uneasy because a second job could easily turn into her only job. Finding an administrative assistant who could schedule and bill supernatural appointments wasn't that easy. I came home at last to an empty house, with a note scrawled from Tim saying he had â€Å"a gig† tonight and that there was fettuccine alfredo in the refrigerator if I wanted it. Eating in front of the TV, I selfishly felt resentful that he'd go out on one of the few nights I was home. But why wouldn't he? He certainly had a life, one I was hardly in. What really brought me down was that on a night like this, I once would have been over at my mom's eating dinner. For a second, I stared at my phone and considered taking the plunge. But, no. If she wanted to get in touch clandestinely, she would. Calling now would risk me getting Roland, who would hang up on me. Or most likely not answer. Frustrated, I decided I didn't want to stay here anymore. It was weird, especially since I'd wanted to come home so badly earlier. Yet, I felt like I wasn't welcome in my own house. I showered off the day's fights – no gentry baths for me – and headed right back to the Otherworld. I almost never came and went the same day, but suddenly, my kingdom seemed like the only place I had friends at the moment. They were surprised to see me back so soon. I found Shaya and Rurik playing chess in a formal sitting room, leaning together and laughing as she planned her next move. Both jumped when they saw me. â€Å"Your Majesty,† said Shaya. They'd instantly gone from casual to formal mode. â€Å"Sit, both of you. You should know better.† I sat as well, sinking into a down-filled love seat that I'd inherited from the castle's previous owner. Shaya and Rurik returned to their seats, relaxing somewhat. â€Å"We didn't think you'd be back for a while,† said Rurik, ever blunt. Shaya looked twitchy, like she wanted to get up, despite what I'd said. â€Å"Should I have the kitchen start preparing dinner?† â€Å"No, no, don't bother.† It was common among gentry monarchs for every meal to be a full-fledged banquet, particularly dinner, hosting the full court. With my schedule and the fact that I didn't even keep a full court – just the essentials – that was not the case around here. My kitchen staff had it easy, and I certainly didn't want them to get in a sudden panic over a meal they would have normally started on hours ago, had they known I'd be there. I stared off at the empty fireplace, which had been unused since I'd taken over. Had the Thorn Land shifted into winter, we might have needed it. A kingdom's seasons bent to its monarch's will, and although Tucson was in winter right now, my subconscious apparently thought summer was the proper state. Shaya and Rurik regarded me patiently, wondering what it was I wanted, if not dinner. I wasn't sure myself. I fumbled for something to say. â€Å"News or messages on the war front?† â€Å"No,† said Rurik. Not surprising. Ranelle had probably only just gotten home. She was likely feasting with the Linden King right now. I met Shaya's eyes. â€Å"It's probably dinnertime at Dorian's, huh? Or close to it.† She tilted her head thoughtfully. There were no clocks in the Otherworld, but she had a good sense of the time. â€Å"I would imagine so, Your Majesty.† â€Å"Do you think he'd mind unscheduled visitors?† â€Å"You?† Shaya laughed. â€Å"Hardly.† I glanced between the two of them, feeling a smile creep onto my lips. â€Å"What do you say? Should we go crash his party?† â€Å"Party crashing† might not be a colloquialism among the gentry, but it didn't take Shaya or Rurik long to figure out what I meant. Both sprang to action. I couldn't travel alone during wartime, so Rurik had to assemble a military escort for us. Shaya left to alert the civilians who'd go with us and make herself ready for a royal visit. Both of them were excited, I could tell. Humans and gentry weren't so different, in a lot of ways. Once at Dorian's, Shaya and Rurik would have few official duties. This was the equivalent of an Otherworldly night on the town. In my rooms, I found my handmaiden Nia anxiously awaiting me. Gentry magical skills ranged greatly. I controlled weather. Dorian could rip apart the earth. And Nia? Her talent was in beautifying others, in hair and clothing. Like those of my cooks, her skills were often underutilized. â€Å"Let's get ready,† I told her. Her face lit up, and she practically ran to the wardrobe. â€Å"Which would you like, Your Majesty?† Her hand hovered near a black cocktail dress from the human world, then moved to a gauzy blue sundress. Then, she hesitated altogether and glanced at me questioningly. It wouldn't have been out of character for me to show up at a state function in the jeans I already wore. After my earlier loneliness, I was excited to see Dorian – almost desperately so. He seemed like my only connection right now, and I suddenly liked the idea of surprising him. â€Å"The peach one,† I said. Nia nodded, her fingers skimming the dresses. Finding no peach, she frowned and rechecked them. Then, her gaze went to the other half of my wardrobe, where the gentry dresses she and others had had made for me hung. Her eyes widened as she pulled out a peach silk dress she'd probably never thought would see the light of day. â€Å"Your Majesty!† was all she could gasp. It was like Christmas morning for her. With coppery hair, I had to be careful with what colors I wore, but this was a warm enough shade of peach that it worked. The fabric was shining and fluid, like some living thing. The dress was one long piece, clinging around the torso and then flaring and falling like water from the waist to the floor. Gold ribbons laced up the back, decorated with aquamarines. Straps, also made from strings of aquamarines, hung loosely off my shoulders around my upper arm, trailing more streams of silk beneath my arm and giving the illusion of sleeves. For all intents and purposes, it was a strapless dress, leaving my arms, shoulders, and a healthy amount of cleavage exposed. â€Å"I think I need a bra,† I said, eyeing the way the thin silk wrapped around my chest. â€Å"But that's how it's worn!† said Nia. Gentry, in fashion and other ways, didn't always share the same taste as humans. Nia knew this, and I could see in her face she was terrified I'd do something human to ruin this dream-come-true of finally dressing me properly. â€Å"Fine,† I said. â€Å"But keep my hair down.† Hopefully it would give me some coverage. Lack of a haircut had my ends just barely touching my shoulder blades lately. Nia took this as an acceptable compromise, going over every lock of my hair so that it was smooth and slightly curled at the ends. Aquamarine barrettes (the gentry loved jewels too) were placed strategically throughout my hair, and she forced more jewelry on me in the same color scheme. After a bit of cosmetics, Nia deemed me fit to be a queen. I planned on bringing her to Dorian's and was about to tell her we should go when a strange and unexpected thought came to me. â€Å"Nia †¦ can you get my sister ready too?† â€Å"Your †¦ your sister, Your Majesty?† She was equally surprised. â€Å"Is she coming?† I thought about it, wondering the same thing. I never let Jasmine leave the castle and its grounds, for everyone's safety. Yet, I couldn't shake the thought of how bored and lonely she seemed. Plus, I'd forgotten her Twinkies. â€Å"Yes,† I decided. â€Å"She's coming. Be fast.† Nia nodded and headed toward my door, off to whatever closet she always produced endless stores of dresses and jewelry from. Jasmine had once been the mistress of this castle's former king; for all I knew, her wardrobe was still here. â€Å"Nia?† I called. The gentry girl paused. â€Å"Long sleeves.† Nia nodded again, catching my meaning. It was no secret among the gentry that the Thorn Queen kept her sister a prisoner. That didn't mean I wanted her chains flaunted, however. And when my whole entourage met up to leave, I could see that Nia really was magically gifted with beauty. Jasmine – who looked utterly stunned by this unexpected field trip – wore a dress made of pale green velvet. It was floor-length like mine but had long bell sleeves that did a good job of hiding the chains. The dress was more modest than mine too, but I had a feeling Nia hadn't done it to protect Jasmine's fifteen-year-old modesty. Most likely, Nia didn't want the queen's sister to draw more attention than the queen herself. The minimal jewels on Jasmine proved as much, and the looks from my own people showed that I was definitely attention-getting. I doubted they'd ever seen me dressed up like a full-fledged gentry woman. Riding a horse in that dress was a pain in the ass. It wasn't the first time I'd done so, and I was glad the skirt wasn't as snug as the top. I was also glad our route was short tonight. The Otherworld folded in upon itself, taking travelers through ways that seemed impossible but which often proved the most direct path. These paths also cut through other kingdoms – often my neighbors'. Knowing this, our party was on high alert as we rode, everyone tense. To my relief, the road didn't take us through the Rowan Land – as it frequently did. The only transition between my land and the Oak Land was a brief stint in the Willow Land. Not comforting, but safer than enemy territory. Once Dorian's castle was in sight, my group's mood lifted, and the party-crashing spirit returned. His home was exactly what you expected from a castle, multi-turreted and made of heavy dark stones, with stained glass windows. As always, it was autumn in the Oak Land, and although night prevented me from seeing the orange-leaved trees, the smell of harvest and touch of fall chill on my skin reaffirmed for me what season it was. Scattered on the castle grounds, I spotted small clusters of peasants around campfires, watching us curiously. Like me, Dorian had war refugees seeking aid from their monarch. The sight of their faces twisted my stomach, and I forced myself to look away. Servants took our horses, people scrambling at our unexpected arrival. Guests dropped in all the time for dinner – especially at Dorian's – but we were VIPs. I walked briskly toward the banquet hall while groveling stewards scurried at my side, promising proper accommodations for my companions and checking on anything else we might need. I came to a halt when I reached the banquet doors. Even I with my bad human etiquette knew I had to be announced first. A herald swung open the door, revealing light, color, and noise. Dorian had about a hundred people in there tonight, gathered around various tables on chairs and couches. Most were gentry nobility. Some were his soldiers. Others were creatures of the Otherworld, types I fought when they crossed to the human world. As I'd guessed, dinner was already being served, with servants scurrying around and the guests chatting and eating. That all came to a halt when the herald's voice rang out: â€Å"Her Royal Majesty, Queen Eugenie Markham, Called Odile Dark Swan, Daughter of Tirigan the Storm King, Protector of the Thorn Land, Beloved of the Triple Moon Goddess.† I would never get used to all those titles. Conversation dropped, and then there was the usual screeching of chair legs as people hastily stood up. Once I would have cringed from this, but I knew what was expected now. I began to stride forward but stopped after two steps. Most of my soldiers had stayed at the doors, and none of the rest of my retinue would be announced since I had no high-ranking nobility with me. Almost. I glanced at the herald. â€Å"My sister, announce my sister.† His eyes bugged, and I could guess his confusion. Not only was that kind of a weird request coming from me, it was also hard for him to manage since Jasmine didn't have any official titles. The guy was fast on his feet, though. That was his job. â€Å"The Lady Jasmine Delaney, Daughter of Tirigan the Storm King, Sister of Eugenie the Thorn Queen.† That got a few surprised glances. I smiled at the herald. â€Å"Thank you,† I said softly. â€Å"Only next time, announce my name before our father's.† He blanched. â€Å"Y-yes, Your Majesty.† I entered the room at the head of my party, startled I'd said that to the herald. Where had that come from? A need to diminish Storm King? A desire to tout my own importance? Whatever the reason, I already regretted the words. A long walkway stretched through the room, and halfway down it, Dorian emerged from the crowd and stood to meet me. I reached him, and he took my hand, giving it a long and languid kiss. Among the gentry, that kiss was perfectly acceptable for receiving one's lover or a visiting monarch. â€Å"My dear,† he said, lifting his eyes. They swept over me in that clever, efficient way of his. To all those watching, he was as calm and in control as always, his lips curved into the devil-may-care smile normal for him. Still, I could imagine his surprise. He hadn't expected to see me this soon. He certainly hadn't expected to see me in full queenly glory. I might have been Christmas morning for Nia, but for Dorian, I was dessert being served before dinner. â€Å"You and yours are very welcome.† It was a formality, one that returned the guests to their seats and declared my party was under Dorian's hospitality, meaning no one here could do us any harm and vice versa. â€Å"I guess ‘soon' does mean all sorts of things,† he murmured. He glanced toward my cleavage. â€Å"All sorts of things.† â€Å"Hey.† I kept my voice as low as his. â€Å"Are you looking down my dress?† â€Å"My dear, I want to do much more than look down it. Much, much more. And I want to do it now. I don't suppose,† he added, â€Å"that your transformation came along with an embracing of many of our other superior customs?† He was referring, of course, to couples scattered about the room who had promptly returned to amorous activities after I was announced. People made out, took off clothing, and even had sex with ease in public. Some guests watched, but most went on with their meal as though nothing out of the ordinary were happening. â€Å"No,† I said firmly. â€Å"Are you sure?† he asked, leaning closer. â€Å"No one would take it amiss. Indeed, many would find it reassuring to see their king and queen consummating their relationship. It's a sign of dominance and power.† â€Å"I'm here for dinner,† I said sweetly. Underneath my prim attitude, his words and his body language were already getting to me. You would have thought we'd last had sex a year ago, not this morning. I might not consent to his exhibitionism, but if I said I wanted to go to his bedroom right now, he'd immediately turn around and walk out with me. â€Å"Dinner, it is,† he said regretfully. â€Å"Perhaps I'll serve you something special. And I'm sure you'll enjoy our guests tonight.† He began steering me toward the hall's front. His throne sat on a high pedestal, and below that was the head table where he'd been dining. My eyes fell on the aforementioned guests, and I nearly stopped walking. Instead, I glanced behind me and called, â€Å"Rurik?† I'd given instructions for Shaya and Rurik (and a handful of guards) not to leave Jasmine's side. They were seeking out their own table, and even though they were halfway across the room, Rurik heard me and turned. With a sharp head nod, I gestured for him to join us. He crossed the room swiftly, arching an eyebrow when he saw the dinner guests and understanding why I'd want one of my own people around. There, sitting at the head table and watching me with cold blue eyes was Ysabel – Dorian's former lover.

Release of rare, awe-inspiring John Denver song coincides

Release of rare, awe-inspiring John Denver song coincides with his 70th birthday (1 888 PressRelease) In honor of the 70th birthday of the late and legendary singer/ songwriter John Denver on Dec. 31, acclaimed Indie recording artist Luanne Hunt releases what may have been his greatest musical work, â€Å"The Wandering Soul (Love is the Answer). † Denver did not record the tune. Hunt brings forth an emotional production, passionately delivering the song's timely and awe-inspiring message. Denver, CO – Coinciding with what would have been legendary singer/songwriter John Denver's 70th birthday on Dec. , chart-topping Indie recording artist Luanne Hunt releases his rare and powerful composition, â€Å"The Wandering Soul (Love Is the Answer). † Denver, who died in a plane crash in 1997 off the California coast, delivered perhaps his most profound message through the inspiring and timely ballad. The â€Å"Rocky Mountain High† singer stated In his autobiography that he wrote the tune In Santa Fe, N. M. around 1994. â€Å"l went off on a hike, and midway to where I was headed, the song I was trying to write (â€Å"The Wandering Soul†) Just came to me, fell from the sky,† Denver said In his book, â€Å"Take Me Home.Hunt says she recorded â€Å"The Wandering Soul (Love is the Answer)† to not only showcase what may have been Denver's finest work, but also to help others find healing, wholeness and a deeper meaning on their Journeys. â€Å"The first time I heard ‘The Wandering Soul (Love is the Answerl' I broke down and cried for a very long time,† said Hunt, who resides in Southern California and records on the Star Creek Entertainment label. â€Å"l knew I had to record It and felt certain It was meant for something much greater than I could even fathom. John's song definitely has been life-changing for me.Hunt's own musical Journey has been one of profound personal, creative and spiritual transformation. By focusing on her artistic vision, she found the strength to overcome devastating emotional wounds and follow her authentic path as a singer/ songwriter. Over the years, the Pennsylvania native has bullt an Impressive list of accomplishments and a worldwide fan base with her contemporary folk songs. Her 1 OF2 200/ CD â€Å"Breaking I nrougn† proaucea two nit singles on u s. ana European cnarts The enchanting â€Å"Solace In The Wind† reached No. 1 on the European Country MusicAssociation's chart (Belgium) in July 2010. The song also landed on the 2009 Grammy ballot in two categories: Best Country Song and Best Female Country Performance. In December 2011, Hunt's holiday tune â€Å"Christmas Without You† went to No. 1 on the European Country Music Association charts in France, Denmark and Austria. It also was the second most played song in Europe during that month. â€Å"The Wandering Soul (Love is the Answer)† is being utilized to raise funds for Forest Way Productions, a 501c3 charity dedicated to providing retreat opportunities conducive to spiritual growth.It also promotes creative projects designed to support a unified vision of spirituality in the world. â€Å"l am deeply moved by ‘The Wandering Soul (Love is the Answer),'† said Matthew Flickstein, founder of Forest Way Productions and Telly Award-winning documentary filmmaker of â€Å"With One Voice. † â€Å"The lyrics are exquisite and Luanne's voice and presence profoundly touch my heart. I can see how her voice and music can open people's eyes to the Divine and lovingly transform their hearts.

Define mind and body dualism essays

Define mind and body dualism essays Define mind/body dualism, in contrast to materialism. Explain Descartes evidence that the mind is a substance distinct from the body. What is the error that Descartes theory makes, according to Ryle? Finally, assess Ryles behaviorism: do you think it is a satisfactory view of our mental states? Mind and body dualism is defined by mental things and physical things are fundamentally distinct kinds of entities. It states that people have only mental properties (mind), and organisms have only physical properties (body). They are two different things. If mind/body dualism is true then the person you see in the mirror is not you. You are not that organism. If you are killed, its not really you, its just an organism. Materialism states that everything is physical. In Eliminative Materialism there is no such thing as hope, love, and desire. We use these terms, but it is not really true. It is just a different way of talking. Everything is physical, but our speech is expressing it differently. An example would be a person saying that the sun is behind a building. This is not true. It is just a figure of speech. Reductive Materialism states another reason why everything is physical. It states that there were many instances where people started with ordinary words and then used sc ientific words. An example of this would be water and H2O. They are identical, but go by two different names. The same could be said for belief. Belief, Materialist say, is just temporal lobe activity. In mind/body dualism we can only know about other people through the behavior of bodies we perceive. Mind/body dualism is compatible with the following: 1) The behavior of bodies is exactly as it is, 2) The behavior of bodies is exactly as it is, 3) The behavior of bodies is exactly as it is, ...

Strategy and Strategic Management

Strategy and Strategic Management Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Strategy and Strategic Management specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The Twelve Olympians by Monsiau, circa late 18th century Introduction There is no unanimity among scholars and practitioners on the meaning of strategy. Texts on the subject discuss strategy from different and sometimes contradictory perspectives. The only issue, over which there is little debate, is the origin of the term strategy. â€Å"In its original sense, strategy (from the Greek word, Strategos) is a military term used to describe the art of the general (Harvard Business School, 2005, p. xi). This art is about plans for troop deployment in battles to win wars. Many writers acknowledge that the concept of strategy has military origins, with Sun Tzu’s â€Å"Art of War† being one the oldest treatise on strategy. Businesspersons seem to enjoy using military analogies to conceptualize the running of bu sinesses in the modern world. Indeed, the pressure of keeping a business afloat amidst a very volatile operating environment that the world has become can feel like war. It is the goal of this paper to seek to uncover the essential components of strategy and the process of formulating a coherent organizational strategy in the context of the built environment. Amid the differences that exist as to what strategy is, it seems more beneficial to embrace a wide-angled view of since each of the viewpoints has merit and contributes to the overall understanding of the concept. It is the approach that Mark, (2004, p. 11) advocates for in the context of business when he states, â€Å"One of the greatest benefits of a comprehensive approach to strategy is the surfacing and exploitation of multiple sources of attractive growth†. However, this growth should give due considerations the internal resources availability for now and for the future.Advertising Looking for essay on busin ess economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Essential Components of Strategy The first essential component of strategy is action. The Harvard Business School (2005) states, â€Å"Strategy is about doing the right things† (p. xi). Actions reveal an organizations strategy. A deliberate strategy informs its actions. However, actions not based on a defined strategy still qualify for consideration as part of organizational strategy. Secondly, strategy refers to a plan. Henderson (1991) states, â€Å"Strategy is a deliberate search for a plan of action that will develop a business’s competitive advantage and compound it† (p. 5). This plan informs the actions undertaken when the strategy is deliberate. Henderson (1991) assumes that all strategy must be formally planned. In the context of strategy, it is not the formalization of a plan but the deliberate choices a business puts in place that counts. Another view forwarded by the Harvard Business School (2005) about strategy is that it is a resource control and utilization plan meant to protect the central interests of an organization. These resources include finances, physical infrastructure, and human resource. This view accomodates the lack of a deliberate centralized conventional business strategy made through a formal process. It simply refers to the arrangement of those resources in a sensible manner towards certain ends. Competitive advantage is the motive behind strategy. Robert (2005) succinctly states, â€Å"Strategy is about winning† (p. 4). This view is supported by Porter (1991) who states, â€Å"the essense of strategy formulation is coping with competition† (p. 11). The idea expressed reveals the intentional use of a plan to out-perform business rivals using unique traits of the organization in order to survive, and hopefully thrive. In this case, strategy answers the need to be the best among competitors. T he fifth essential component of strategy revealed by Robert (2005) is organizational identity. He states, â€Å"At the most basic level, strategy making extends beyond questions of resource deployment and market positioning to address fundamental questions such as: what is our business? What are we trying to achieve? What is our identity as an organization?† (Robert, 2005, p. xi). This approach requires the organization to understand itself first before venturing out into the market with a clear direction. Wall (2004) agrees with this approach showing that strategy provides an organization with a â€Å"coherent sense of direction†, which is yet another essential component of strategy (p. 4).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Strategy and Strategic Management specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This coherence makes it possible for all members of the organization to act in a coordinated fashion, which is esse ntial for the success of a business. This holds true for small firms as well as large corporations. The final essential component of strategy is context. Successful strategy is very contextual. â€Å"As soon as we move beyond general notions to more precise definition, then these depend upon the type of arena within which strategy is being deployed† (Robert, 2005, p. 7). This element accounts for the disparities in the views on strategy since some of the viewpoints are highly contextalized. Increasingly, in this era of multinationals and globalization, context is more difficult to delineate especially geographically, yet to ignore context when developing strategy is to court disaster. Towards a Unified View of Strategy Based on the viewpoints above, Mark (2004) seems to have developed the most comprehensive definition of strategy. He states, â€Å"Strategy is about raising and allocating resources, setting priorities, directing organizations, and demonstrating through decisi ve behaviour what will be done – and what will not – in the pursuit of a larger vision, goal, mission, or high level set of objectives† (Mark, 2004. p. xv). His definition is broad enough to capture most of the essential elements of strategy thereby avoiding the problem of high contextualization. It is also wide enough to cover the specifics of strategy that are valid in the strategic management of all organizations. This makes it useful in understanding the concept of strategy. Its other strength is that it leaves room for looking at strategy as either deliberate or consequential. The elements defined here do not require a centralized approach to strategy development but even if it is there, it does not disqualify it. Its major weakness is its lack of enviromental cognisance. It does not account for environmental factors that greatly influence the preparation and execution of strategy. This goes to demonstrate that the process of developing a unfied view of stra tegy is a work in progress, and still requires effort to sysnthesize the essential elements into a comprehensive definition of strategy. This preferred view must include the nine essential componenents identified above and in addition it must allow for both the deliberate and consequential nature of strategy.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More A definition that meets the above criteria will still be somewhat incomplete since there is still the problem of universality versus contextualization. The following is an attempt to redefine strategy to meet this criteria presenting a wider understanding of the concept. Strategy is a set of actions, planned or otherwise that influence resource acquisition and allocation, deployed for the express purpose of attaining competitive advantage based on a clear organizational identity expressed in terms of its place, power, problems and potential, which informs its direction and actions within its environmental context. This definition captures all the essential elements identified but its rather cumbersome. It is long and may not appeal to the wider audience who actually need a concise definition to capture the essence of strategy. Probably, the sensible thing to do is to settle for a simplified global definition, while providing working definitions for each field, as writers have alread y done. The Strategy Process As expected, there is no universality in the recommendation of an ideal process for strategy development. There are different views on it. â€Å"Henry Mintzberg and his colleagues at McGill Unversity distinguish intended, realized and emergent strategies†. (Robert, 2005, p. 14). Intended strategy is the one the organization deliberately plans and positions itself to implement. Emergent strategy is the one which developes unwittingly as an organization responds to evolving issues. When these two strategies interact, the result is the realized strategy which is the strategy the organization finds itself implementing. These three strategies are the result of three concurrent processes and they demonstrate the organic nature of strategy. Strategy therefore is not a static process but a dynamic one that evolves and requires regular refitting. There is much concurrence though when looking at strategy as a process. In fact, there is a deliberate encourag ement that organizations should take an active role in the developement of their strategy, other than waiting for one to emerge as they undertake their daily business. The Harvard Business School (2005) states, â€Å"strategy creation and its implementation should be approached as a process† (p. xvi). The school proposes a five level process for strategy development that is useful in understanding the strategy process. The steps in the process are developement of a mission, followed by identification of organizational goals. Thirdly, there is the actual strategy development succeeded by the strategy implementation process. The final level is performance measurement. The first level of strategy development is mission. â€Å"Strategy creation follows from the mission of the company, which defines its purpose and what it aims to do for customers and other stakeholders† (Harvard Business School, 2005, p. xvi). Mark (2004) underscores the importance of mission when he says that the identification and action upon a particular set of issues determines the success of a business. When the organization is clear about its priorities, then it can sucessfully engage in determining what is essential to its operations for success. The mission sets the rules governing its key relationships and functions. The next level is the identification of goals. â€Å"Strategy creation typically begins with extensive research and analysis and a process through which senior management zeros in on the top priority issues that the company needs to tackle to be sucessful inn the long term† (Harvard Business School, 2005, p. xvii). There is a difference in opinion as to the direction of flow of the process, and whether it is the top management that is best placed to set organizational goals. They have the tools and the authority but they lack in understanding of frontline issues that are key in implementation. Frontline staff on the other hand have clear views on what is not working for them but they lack the organizational overview. Probably, a middle line where the management gets input from the frontline is the best way around this challenge. Once the goals are set, strategy creation takes place. It involves determining the internal and external forces followed by the identification of the choices that the organization has to achieve its objectives. Many tools are used to examine the organization’s capacity to settle on a particular organizational strategy after an environmantal scan. While The Havard Busienss School advocates for SWOT as a method of conducting an enviromental scan, Robert (2005) feels that this approach is difficult to implement in practice and he advocates for a two way analysis of the environment, looking at internal and external factors. He contends that its not the four way classification but the â€Å"rigor and depth† in the analysis of these factors that counts (Robert, 2005). Another popular tool worth menti oning used to conduct an evironmental scan is the Porter’s Five Forces Analysis. This tool is useful when the organization’s bottom line is the impetus driving the organization’s effort in undertaking a stategic planning process. There is lesser contention on who developes organizational strategy. Many writers agree that â€Å"the job of creating an organization’s strategy over time falls to senior managers† (Walker, 2004. p4). The forth step in the strategy process is implementation. â€Å"A strategy that is formulated without regard to its implemetation is likely to be fatally flawed.† (Robert, 2005, 14). In pushing the case for more frontline involvement, Daughtry and Casselman (2009) state, â€Å"Vision and strategy, critical though they are, are virtually useless without consistent execution right down to the frontlines† (p. 1 ). This requires good communication along the ranks of the organization. They add that â€Å"Strategy h as to be translated into the language and actions appropriate to each level in the organization† (Daughtry Casselman, 2009, P.5). The final level in the strategy process is performance measurement. This lacks in organizations that do not have deliberate strategy. They do not know what to measure since they have not categorically stated what their goals are. This five-step process is more useful as a conceptual model than as an actual implementation process. Wall (2004) warns that things do not work out this neatly in the real world where forces shift suddenly and without warning. Perhaps it is best to look at strategy development as â€Å"an iterative process that begins with a recognition of where you are and what you have now† (Henderson, 1991, p. 6). New information and circumstances feed into the old circumstances forcing us to change and adapt our methods. The role of strategic management is to ensure that the changes in the environment do not adversely affect the organization’s long term view, but that the organization prepares in advance to take advantage of these changes. Application of Strategy-Strategic Fit and Strategic Foresight Just like other organizations, construction companies exists within a certain environment defined broadly by the natural environment, demographic structures, social structures, legislative processes, technology, and economy. This environment has an immediate impact on their interest’s interests and influences everyday decisions. In addition, they have their own unique internal environments defined by organizational culture, resources outlay such as level capitalisation and expertise, and business processes defining how they find and execute construction contracts. The internal environment influences the realization of their aspirations and the momentum they sustain towards their realization. Certain other forces much larger in dimension constitute the business climate of companies in the built en vironment. These include the macroeconomic trends, political issues, and global trends. Montgomery and Porter (1991) observe, â€Å"Increasingly, both business units and corporations must compete globally† (p. xv). Dalic (2007) calls it â€Å"the convergence of cultures† (p. 4). The climate has long-term impacts on the industry though it may be a while before a particular company begins to feel the impact of climatic changes. They are a very strong motivation behind the strategy process. Before a construction company develops its strategy, it is beneficial and maybe crucial for it to determine what its environment looks like. This allows it to forecast the impact of its present actions thereby providing it with the range of presently available options and the limits within which it can operate profitably. The application of strategy and the strategy process allows an organization to determine two important contexts in strategic planning and strategic management. These are strategic fit and strategic foresight. Strategic Fit Strategic fit looks at the present. It refers to the process where an organization examines its current position to ascertain whether it is sitting squarely on its best possible footing or whether there is a mismatch, based on its objectives. In the built environment, a company looks at whether its level of staffing and financing corresponds to the available opportunities. The resulting plan from the process is a strategic plan to give the organization a better placement within its business context. Robert (2005) recognizes the need for strategic fit when he states, â€Å"For a strategy to be successful, it must be consistent with the firm’s external environment and with the characteristics of the firm’s internal environment- its goals and values, resources and capabilities, and structure and systems† (p. 14). Construction projects normally take very long from ideation to completion, and it is normal for v ery drastic changes in the business enviroment to occur within the life of the project. By seeking to attain strategic fit, a construction company ensures it takes advantage of the present opportunities which may dissapear because of environmental change. Strategic fit is the result of implementing measures concluded upon after conducting an environmental scan during the strategy process. Strategy and the strategy process may provide organizations in the built environment with the ability to determine their strategic fit to ensure that they are currently using their resources to the best effect. However, due to the dynamic environment in the present business context, for a small outfit such as small to medium enterprise construction industy, the strategy process considerations may pose challenges to them in utilizing their resources to the best outcome as it is somewhat restrictive in terms of time, cost and resource availability. Strategic Focus/Foresight On the other hand, strateg ic foresight, also known as strategic focus, refers to the preferred position of an organization usually at some point in the future. By looking at the medium and long-term opportunities, a construction company may find certain desirable positions they would prefer to occupy at that future date. Strategic foresight considers all the forces acting on the business environment within which the organization operates and seeks to determine their impact on the long-term objectives of the organization. This prepares it to take advantage of arising opportunities and prepares it to handle future challenges. â€Å"One of the biggest challenges facing executive teams is lack of strategic focus† (Daughtry Casselman, 2009, p. 7). Its long-term nature makes it easy to ignore especially for small construction companies with severe resource constraints. The pressure of the present seems to make strategic foresight an unnecessary burden on already overworked executives. By drawing on strateg y and the strategy process, a construction company creates strategic focus on its executives, thereby preparing them to handle the challenges the company will face in the future. It assures the long-term survival of the company. It is tempting to look at the strategy process in terms of strategic foresight without considering the implications of strategic fit on the desired future. Organizations in the built environment need to know that strategic foresight without strategic fit results in â€Å"a plan for the future without a plan for the present† (Wall, 2004, p. 13). On the other hand, strategic fit without strategic focus gurantees the present at the expense of the future. Hence, the outcome should be a balanced strategy where there should be a constant review of the corporate strategy and its implication on present and future resources, and the competitive advantage in the market place. Reference List Bacharach, S.B. (1989) Organizational Theories: Dome Criteria for Evalu ation. The Academy of Management Review, 14(4), 496-515 Bourgeois III, L.T. (1984) Strategic Management and Determinism. The Academy of Management Review, 9(4), 586-596 Dalic, T. (2007) Globalization of Marketing Strategies in Light of Segmentation and Cultural Diversity. Norderstedt: GRIN Verlag. Daughtry, T.C. and Casselman, G.L., (2009) Executing Strategy: From Boardroom to Frontline. Herndon, VI: Capital Books. Harvard Business School (2005) Strategy: Create and Implement the Best Strategy for Your Business. Boston, MA: Harvard Business Press. Henderson, B.D.(1991) Developing Strategy in C.A. Montgomery M.E. Porter, eds. Strategy: Seeking and Securing Competitive Advantage. Boston, MA: Harvard Business School Publishing Division. Li. Y and Peng, M.W. (2008) Developing theory from strategic management research in China, Asia Pacific Journal Manage, 25(3), 563-572. Mark, D. (2004) Strategy: A Step by Step Approach to the Developement and Presentation of World Class Business Strat egy. New York, NY: Palgrave Macmillan. Poppo, L. and Zenger T. (1998) Testing Alternative Theories of the Firm: Transaction Cost, Knowledge-Based, and Measurement Explanations for Make-or-Buy Decision in Information Services, Strategic Management Journal, 19, 853-887 Robert, M.G. (2005) Contemporary Strategy Analysis. Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell. Smircich, L. and Stubbart C. (1985), Strategic Management in an Enacted World, The academy of Management Review, 10(4), 724-736. Teece, D.J., Pisano, G. and Shuen, A. (1997) Dynamic Capabilities and Strategic Management, Strategic Management Journal, 18(7), 509-533. Toffek, M.W. (2004) Strategic Management of Product Recovery, California Management Review, 46(2), 1-22 Venkatram, N. and Cumillus, J.C. (1984) Exploring the Concept of â€Å"Fit† in Strategic Management, The Academy of Management Review, 9(3), 513-525 Walker, G. (2004) Modern Competitive Strategy. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill/Irwin. Wall, S.J. (2004) On the Fly: Executing S trategy in a Changing World. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley and Sons. D31BM – Business Management for Built Environment

Biography of Christopher Columbus

Biography of Christopher Columbus Christopher Columbus (1451-1506) was a Genoese navigator and explorer. In the late 15th century, Columbus believed that it would be possible to reach the lucrative markets of eastern Asia by heading west, instead of the traditional route which went east around Africa. He convinced Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand of Spain to support him, and he set off in August of 1492. The rest is history: Columbus discovered the Americas, which had been unknown until then. All in all, Columbus made four different journeys to the New World. Early Life Columbus was born to a middle-class family of weavers in Genoa (now part of Italy) which was a city well-known for explorers. He rarely spoke of his parents. It is believed that he was ashamed to have come from such a mundane background. He left a sister and a brother behind in Italy. His other brothers, Bartholomew and Diego, would accompany him on most of his travels. As a young man he traveled extensively, visiting Africa and the Mediterranean and learning how to sail and navigate. Appearance and Personal Habits Columbus was tall and lean, and had red hair which turned prematurely white. He had a fair complexion and a somewhat reddish face, with blue eyes and a hawkish nose. He spoke Spanish fluently but with an accent which was difficult for people to place. In his personal habits he was extremely religious and somewhat prudish. He rarely swore, attended mass regularly, and often devoted his Sundays entirely to prayer. Later in life, his religiosity would increase. He took to wearing the simple robe of a barefoot friar around court. He was a fervent millenarist, believing that the end of the world was near. Personal Life Columbus married a Portuguese woman, Felipa Moniz Perestrelo, in 1477. She came from a semi-noble family with useful maritime connections. She died giving birth to a son, Diego, in 1479 or 1480. In 1485, while in Cà ³rdoba, he met young Beatriz Enrà ­quez de Trasierra, and they lived together for a time. She bore him an illegitimate son, Fernando. Columbus made many friends during his travels and he corresponded with them frequently. His friends included dukes and other noblemen as well as powerful Italian merchants. These friendships would prove useful during his frequent hardships and bouts of bad luck. A Journey West Columbus may have conceived of the idea of sailing west to reach Asia as early as 1481 due to his correspondence with an Italian scholar, Paolo del Pozzo Toscaneli, who convinced him it was possible. In 1484, Columbus made a pitch to King Joo of Portugal, who turned him down. Columbus proceeded to Spain, where he first proposed such a trip in January of 1486. Ferdinand and Isabella were intrigued, but they were occupied with the reconquest of Granada. They told Columbus to wait. In 1492, Columbus had just about given up (in fact, he was on his way to see the King of France) when they decided to sponsor his trip. First Voyage Columbus’ first voyage began on August 3, 1492. He had been given three ships: the Nià ±a, the Pinta and the flagship Santa Maria. They headed west and on October 12, sailor Rodrigo de Triana spotted land. They first landed on an island Columbus named San Salvador: there is some debate today as to which Caribbean island it was. Columbus and his ships visited several other islands including Cuba and Hispaniola. On December 25, the Santa Maria ran aground and they were forced to abandon her. Thirty-nine men were left behind at the settlement of La Navidad. Columbus returned to Spain in March of 1493. Second Voyage Although in many ways the first voyage was a failure–Columbus lost his biggest ship and did not find the promised route west–the Spanish monarchs were intrigued with his discoveries. They financed a second voyage, whose purpose was to establish a permanent colony. 17 ships and over 1,000 men set sail in October, 1493. When they returned to La Navidad, they discovered that everyone had been killed by irate natives. They founded the city of Santo Domingo with Columbus in charge, but he was forced to return to Spain in March of 1496 to obtain supplies to keep the starving colony alive. Third Voyage Columbus returned to the New World in May of 1498. He sent half of his fleet to resupply Santo Domingo and set off to explore, eventually reaching the north-eastern part of South America. He returned to Hispaniola and resumed his duties as governor, but the people despised him. He and his brothers were bad administrators and kept much of the little wealth generated by the colony for themselves. When the crisis reached a peak, Columbus sent to Spain for help. The crown sent Francisco de Bobadilla as governor: he soon identified Columbus as the problem and sent him and his brothers back to Spain in chains in 1500. Fourth Voyage Already in his fifties, Columbus felt he had one more trip in him. He convinced the Spanish crown to finance one more journey of discovery. Although Columbus had proven a poor governor, there was no doubting his sailing and discovery skills. He left in May of 1502 and arrived to Hispaniola just ahead of a major hurricane. He sent a warning to the 28-ship fleet about to depart for Spain to delay but they ignored him, and 24 of the ships were lost. Columbus explored more of the Caribbean and part of Central America before his ships rotted. He spent a year on Jamaica before being rescued. He returned to Spain in 1504. Legacy of Christopher Columbus Columbus’ legacy can be difficult to sort out. For many years, he was thought to have been the man who â€Å"discovered† America. Modern historians believe that the first Europeans to the New World were Nordic and arrived several hundred years before Columbus to the northern shores of North America. Also, many Native Americans from Alaska to Chile dispute the notion that the Americas needed to be â€Å"discovered† in the first place, as the two continents were home to millions of people and countless cultures in 1492. Columbus’ accomplishments should be considered in conjunction with his failures. The â€Å"discovery† of America would certainly have taken place within 50 years of 1492 had Columbus not ventured west when he did. Advances in navigation and ship construction made contact between the hemispheres inevitable. Columbus’ motives were mostly monetary, with religion a close second. When he failed to find gold or a lucrative trade route, he began collecting slaves: he believed that a trans-Atlantic slave trade would be quite lucrative. Fortunately, the Spanish monarchs outlawed this, but still, many Native American groups correctly remember Columbus as the New World’s first slaver. Columbus’ ventures were often failures. He lost the Santa Marà ­a on his first voyage, his first colony was massacred, he was a terrible governor, he was arrested by his own colonists, and on his fourth and last voyage he managed to strand some 200 men on Jamaica for a year. Perhaps his greatest failure was his inability to see what was right before him: the New World. Columbus never accepted that he had not found Asia, even when the rest of Europe was convinced that the Americas were something previously unknown. Columbus’ legacy was once very bright–he was considered for sainthood at one time–but now he is remembered as much for the bad as the good. Many places still bear his name and Columbus Day is still celebrated, but he is once again a man and not a legend. Sources: Herring, Hubert. A History of Latin America From the Beginnings to the Present.. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1962 Thomas, Hugh. Rivers of Gold: The Rise of the Spanish Empire, from Columbus to Magellan. New York: Random House, 2005.

Corporate Social Responsibility Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 2

Corporate Social Responsibility - Essay Example Though the organization had an effective distinguished record as an initiator of corporate social responsibility, The Body Shop had its blond share of critics. Since 1990, the organization faced high scrutiny regarding its several claims and business activities. Several critics accused that the organization and the founders of the organization are hypocrites as they did not follow the organization values and policies. In the year 1994, according to the report of Jon Entine, the organization did not conduct any charitable contribution or activities in its first 11 years of business operation. Moreover, in the subsequent years The Body Shop contributed less than 1.5% of pre-tax profit to charity (Mallin, 2009, p.71). Moreover, according to Jon Entine, several ex-employees of Body Shop claimed that the organization provides various fabricated products to their target customers. The organization is committed in providing natural and high quality products. Only maintaining the luxurious n ature of the products are not enough to attract the customers. They need to ensure that the products need to be delivered based on the organizational value. It is true that The Body Shop has been taken over by L’Oreal. L’Oreal does use animal testing for cosmetics. On the other hand, founder of Body Shop opposed this concept of animal testing for their cosmetics throughout their business operation of 30 years. Anti-Nestle and Anti-animal campaigners started to boycott the products of Body Shop. In response to this protest, L’Oreal clarified that they did not execute any animal testing since 1989 (Purkayastha and Fernando, 2007, p.12). Moreover, according to a critic’s report, Body shop tried to source ingredients from the organizations that defend and protect all the local farmers’ legal rights. The organization gathered resources for the products in an unethical way that created huge controversy. In response, the organization tried to clarify that they are taken over by L’Oreal. It is not fault at all. Maintenance of business ethics and organizational value is an important parameter of a success ful business. The organization committed that they will provide natural and high quality cosmetics to their target customers. Unfortunately, according to the discussion of several ex-employees it has been found out that they provide several fabricated beauty products. It is a violation of organizational vale and ethics. Customers are considered as the major business growth drivers. It is important for the organization to defend human rights. Effective corporate social responsibility helps an organization to maximize business profits through sustainable business practices. The organizations need to consider social, economical, environmental and legal rights to achieve business objective. Moreover, sustainable business practices helps organizations to increase their brand image and reputation in the competitive global, glocal and local market. Green business strategy includes green consumerism. Body Shop follows aggressive business expansion plans. Major objective of the organization is to make huge money for their important and rich

Expert advice on being a successful student Essay

Expert advice on being a successful student - Essay Example However, the university experience is not all about study and academics, it is also about finding a proper social fit with unique peers from many different cultures and social backgrounds. Being a successful student is about being able to successfully blend social, recreational, and study in a way that is rewarding, careful, and mature. To see the best ways to gain this necessary balance, I decided it would be wise to interview two experts that are quite familiar with the academic demands required at the University of Indianapolis and its many social systems. To find out this expert advice, I conducted interviews with Jessica Bramstedt, a senior biology student at the university and biology Professor Mary Gobbett. The results of the interview will discuss study habits, recreation, and how to balance free time at the university. The expert opinion about the university experience and social rewards at the University of Indianapolis will be compared and contrasted to determine the best advice available to be a successful student. Avoiding being overwhelmed is highly important for the student in a new environment. It is important to find out what qualities a student should have in the university. In relation to study, both Jessica Bramstedt and Professor Gobbett provided valuable information about the qualities a student should carry in the classroom. ... Both Jessica Bramstedt and Professor Gobbett found one of the most critical imperatives to be the creation of a time control system that allows for much time devoted to academics. This might include making personal schedules that show daily and weekly activities that allows the student to stick to homework completion timelines with ample time for study care. It was discovered that removing distractions was highly important. Both of the interview respondents identified that the student needed to maintain a great deal of study. These are periods where the student removes distractions from their environment and focuses on the course content in journals, textbooks and lecture materials. Jessica suggested that I would gain more success by reading the textbook chapters and making sure all assignments have been completed. Professor Gobbett, the expert in actual teaching, suggested that such study should involve a large focus on problem-solving in study habits. Clearly, the University of Ind ianapolis will require devotion and concentration toward study if the student wishes to become a success. To gain even more knowledge about study, I asked about success factors to help in study. In contrasting view, the interviewees had differing views about one key role of the learning portion of the university experience. Professor Gobbett suggested that a great deal of success would come from being interactive with the lecturer by asking many questions and to â€Å"pay attention to the hints provided by the professor† related to the quality and depth of what is being discussed to improve learning. Jessica Bramstedt seemed to see the learning process as being more self-managed, suggesting that there

Explain the concept of mercantilism. Give concrete examples of Research Paper

Explain the concept of mercantilism. Give concrete examples of governments pursuing mercantilist policies. Is mercantilism still alive today Explain your answer with details - Research Paper Example The protection was also achievable through the creation of a stability of exports over imports, consequently leading to the accumulation of bullion. In the present world, countries pursue industrial policies as part of the gradually emerging theory of strategic trade.3 In this case, the intention is to stimulate the nation’s economic growth, which is a form of neo-mercantilism. In the current society, neo-mercantilism is based on the thought that international markets regulate economies. China is an example of a country pursuing mercantilist policies. The economic policy in China is about achieving autarky.4 The mercantilist policies in China defend their companies through unfairly spur exports and reduce imports. Such policies do not only protect the Chinese firms, but also the foreign firms operating in China. These policies are inclusive of currency manipulation, relatively high tariffs, and tax incentives for exports. Conversely, China controls foreign purchases in a manner that somewhat forces technological transfer to the state. These policies deny foreign establishments critical inputs, which is a form of mercantilism. Other countries pursuing the mercantilist policies through innovation are inclusive of Malaysia india, Indonesia, Turkey, and Philippines among others. Most of the aforementioned countries impose high tariffs on some of their ICT goods.5 Through innovation mercantilism, these countries force foreign entities to accept domestic sourcing necessar y for production requirements or technology transfers. They impose these practices as a condition for the entities to gain market

Education - Cultural Awareness Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Education - Cultural Awareness - Essay Example The graphic organizer How to enhance the cultural respect and avoid cultural bias in the classroom Instructors should acknowledge the students’ cultural differences along with their commonalities Next, it is necessary to validate the student’s identity through the utilization of reading materials that reflect such diversities. This allows students to see the importance of their cultures. It is also significant to educate the students that the world is becoming diverse each day. This would help them gain appreciation for each other thus the reduced conflicts in the classroom. Teachers also need to advocate for some behaviors, as well as communication styles in the classroom, which are devoid of discrimination thus the increased respect. It would also be appropriate if the relationship existing among the students, teachers, families, as well as the community should be fostered thus the respect. The current literature has defined culture as a universal programming of an in dividual’s way of thinking. Culture is stalwartly important as it aids in the process of distinguishing the diverse human categories. The core factor distinguishing the diverse cultural groups is values, which such groups holds close in their daily lives. Sources further designate that these cultures have different norms, as well as institutions resulting from such norms (Wagner, 2009). A number of different authentic and current sources have provided several definitions for multicultural education. Although authors of such sources have utilized dissimilar wording in providing the definition of this phrase, they portray a common understanding of it. Therefore, regarding multicultural education as an inclusive reforming procedure in the education sector championing the existence of equal treatment for students from dissimilar cultures would be the most appropriate definition (Grant, 2011). The 21st century has been coupled by a myriad challenges as students from dissimilar cul tural and social groups populate the same schools. However, the adoption of multicultural education concept has highly facilitated the process of addressing such cultural differences, as well as the biases. Foremost, it is evident that multicultural education promotes the application of a culturally receptive pedagogy. This concept is vastly imperative since it aims at enhancing a successful learning process. This concept works by identifying the strong points brought by such a diversity thus utilizing it to enhance education (Nwachukwu, 2010). Moreover, the pedagogy is a combination of three diverse dimensions. These dimensions are the instructional, institutional, as well as the personal dimensions. The institutional dimension has helped design a learning environment that enhances efficacy, when dealing with culturally diverse students. Therefore, multicultural education could address cultural differences by ensuring that school’s policies, as well as their procedures addre ss with efficiency, all the tribulations resulting from the diversity. The personal dimension part of the cultural pedagogy addresses some of the essential activities for teachers to be involved in thus the cultural bias diminution. Through the application of this concept, teachers could fully acquaint themselves with all the available useful knowledge. Multicultural education persuades teachers to nurture values that disfavor negative feelings towards an individual from a different cultural setting.

Ways in which Movies distort our image of the World Essay

Ways in which Movies distort our image of the World - Essay Example Technology has made it possible for movies to portray a particular skill or culture to those who watch them. The fun in watching a movie has made writers to take up the design of perfect movies for some of their books to attract people. This paper is a discussion of ways in which movies distort our view of the world. The director of a movie makes clear that the movie is as interesting as possible, so the people watching it tend to associate themselves with every bit of the movie. Movies tend to distort our perception of the world in many ways. First, movies tend to present false statements to some doubts that existed in the past. They tend to confirm the actual existence of that which we doubted. Although movies may at times distort the actual event, they serve as evidence of existence. For instance in the movie â€Å"Incident at Oglala† where two FBI agents were killed in 1970, some evidence is presented of the existence of a conflict between the government and AIM members. I ndividuals who watch this movie tend to sympathise with Mr. Peltier who is presented by the film producer as convicted without enough evidence (â€Å"Incident at Oglala†). This evidence is not the whole truth. Secondly, movies distort the subject of love. Love portrayed in movies is kind and the relationship between the two people is ideal. Most of the present day soap operas present the theme of love as the main theme. However, the movies present ideal situations that are hard if not impossible to achieve in the real world. Most of these movies are cast in rich and glamorous environments leaving the viewers with the wrong impression of the reality of life. The love between these characters is always passionate and the two find a way to spend time with each other. The couples spend their evenings having candle lit dinners, and in this way a true love is described. At times, a couple will adorn the whole house with roses to surprise the partner either his or her birthday or ab out some other celebration. On watching such movies, it is possible to hold onto such images and think they depict the entire truth about love. This has frustrated many young people in relationships because they want their love life to take the form of movie stars they have watched. The subject of love is fascinating and leaves people with good emotions that they want to hold on to for the rest of their lives. Movies provide the right emotions of the moment and, if taken at its face value, can ruin one’s true love life. Thirdly, different movie characters can distort our position. Movie stars have a good life, dress well, and enjoy what they do. Many viewers would do anything to live the way the movie stars live. It does not come by surprise that movie stars are able to influence fashion trends across the world. Movie cliches spread fast among viewers and become a form of language for many people. According to Famiano and Nickerson, â€Å"Primarily, they are less tangible, m ore perfect, and more predictable. In other words, they are stereotyped† (Famiano and Nickerson). To the fans, movie stars are true and communicate great power that represents success. Therefore, fans will identify themselves with their idols in different ways. They will talk like them, dress like them, and acquire some of their other behavioural traits. To the fans, movies depict great power and expertise carried by the actors. This is not true in many instances. Fourthly, movies distort our ethics and morals. Ethics is a system of guidelines that govern a community’s daily life. Because the law cannot reject all inappropriate or negative behaviours, professionals use it to their advantage. Ethics are self-driven, based on personal values, and the desire to do the right thing. After

Globalizm Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Globalizm - Essay Example It is the process that has a lot of effect on life and economic development of the world and on the overall well-being of humans in all the societies of the world. (Manfred 2003, p. 97) Globalism is therefore the phenomenon that transforms some things from local to global ones. It is the unification of the whole world into a single society that is judged by the same benchmark in all the spheres of life. Though it has found most of its definition on the economic front, it has lot of effect of the social cultural life of the people. However in our real definition, Globalism and globalization does not mean the same thing. Though they may be both referring to the concept of bringing the world closer, there is a difference in the application of the two terms. Globalism describes the realism of interconnecting the world. This means that it is the aspect of one region being interconnected to the rest of the world and in reference to the world it is the aspect of having the entire world becoming interconnected. Globalization on the other hand can be described as the speed at which these connections increase or the speed at which these connections decreases. ... In this paper will apply the two terms to mean the same aspect of interconnecting the world to a global village. (Nye, 2002) Globalism describes a world that is characterised by interconnected networks which reduces the distance between continents. It understands all the interconnection of the modern world and also highlights all the patterns underlying most of these connections. On the other hand globalisation refers to the forces and the dynamisms of the changes that are taking place in the world that shapes these interconnections. Globalism is also used in other instances to describe the positive aspect of the process of globalization. In this case it is opposed to mundialism which can be described as anti globalisation. Therefore Globalism can also be taken as an aspect of globalization which supports the need to have the process take root in the world as it portray the pro-globalization views. (i) Origin The origin of the terms can be traced back to a long time ago but the real experience of the term surfaced in the 1980s, although the concept took root in the world in the 1990s and late 1980s. However the earliest written concept globalisation can be traced to 1897 when Russell described corporate giants referring to corporations which were spreading their wings beyond their mother locations. Globalisation can be traced back to early 16th century when Portuguese explores began to find sea routes which could be used for trade. This apparently marked the beginning of Globalism although it has become a familiar subject of interest and study in the recent past. What we call globalism today can be seen as nothing but more of a modern globalism which has been marked by post-second world war events.

Ways in which Movies distort our image of the World Essay

Ways in which Movies distort our image of the World - Essay Example Technology has made it possible for movies to portray a particular skill or culture to those who watch them. The fun in watching a movie has made writers to take up the design of perfect movies for some of their books to attract people. This paper is a discussion of ways in which movies distort our view of the world. The director of a movie makes clear that the movie is as interesting as possible, so the people watching it tend to associate themselves with every bit of the movie. Movies tend to distort our perception of the world in many ways. First, movies tend to present false statements to some doubts that existed in the past. They tend to confirm the actual existence of that which we doubted. Although movies may at times distort the actual event, they serve as evidence of existence. For instance in the movie â€Å"Incident at Oglala† where two FBI agents were killed in 1970, some evidence is presented of the existence of a conflict between the government and AIM members. I ndividuals who watch this movie tend to sympathise with Mr. Peltier who is presented by the film producer as convicted without enough evidence (â€Å"Incident at Oglala†). This evidence is not the whole truth. Secondly, movies distort the subject of love. Love portrayed in movies is kind and the relationship between the two people is ideal. Most of the present day soap operas present the theme of love as the main theme. However, the movies present ideal situations that are hard if not impossible to achieve in the real world. Most of these movies are cast in rich and glamorous environments leaving the viewers with the wrong impression of the reality of life. The love between these characters is always passionate and the two find a way to spend time with each other. The couples spend their evenings having candle lit dinners, and in this way a true love is described. At times, a couple will adorn the whole house with roses to surprise the partner either his or her birthday or ab out some other celebration. On watching such movies, it is possible to hold onto such images and think they depict the entire truth about love. This has frustrated many young people in relationships because they want their love life to take the form of movie stars they have watched. The subject of love is fascinating and leaves people with good emotions that they want to hold on to for the rest of their lives. Movies provide the right emotions of the moment and, if taken at its face value, can ruin one’s true love life. Thirdly, different movie characters can distort our position. Movie stars have a good life, dress well, and enjoy what they do. Many viewers would do anything to live the way the movie stars live. It does not come by surprise that movie stars are able to influence fashion trends across the world. Movie cliches spread fast among viewers and become a form of language for many people. According to Famiano and Nickerson, â€Å"Primarily, they are less tangible, m ore perfect, and more predictable. In other words, they are stereotyped† (Famiano and Nickerson). To the fans, movie stars are true and communicate great power that represents success. Therefore, fans will identify themselves with their idols in different ways. They will talk like them, dress like them, and acquire some of their other behavioural traits. To the fans, movies depict great power and expertise carried by the actors. This is not true in many instances. Fourthly, movies distort our ethics and morals. Ethics is a system of guidelines that govern a community’s daily life. Because the law cannot reject all inappropriate or negative behaviours, professionals use it to their advantage. Ethics are self-driven, based on personal values, and the desire to do the right thing. After

Global Warming Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Global Warming - Essay Example Many of the living creatures cannot bear this change and the result is open in the form of dead. According to the scientists, main causes of the global warming are the greenhouse gases those are produced by deforestation and burning the fossil fuel. History of global warming Scientific research on global warming itself was the result of many influences, and the interesting thing is that these influences include misconceptions to government pressure and findings. In 1896 a scientist from Sweden presented a new idea the burned fossil fuels such as coal, which is the reason to increase the carbon dioxide gas on atmosphere. And the increase in the level of Carbon dioxide increases the average temperature on the earth. In the 1930s, people of United States and North Atlantic region realized that these regions have much warmed during the previous half century. At that time many of the scientists argued that the change in the climate is just a phase of some moderate natural cycle. The cause of this change was not described by anyone at that time and referred that condition to â€Å"unknown causes†. At that time one unique argument was made by Guy Stewart Callendar who was an engineer. He insisted that the greenhouses are the main cause of global warming. At the start of 1950s, few scientists worked on the Guy Stewart Callendar’s claims with the help of new improved methods and calculations. After that some new studies in 1961 also proved that the level of carbon dioxide is rising day by day. Over the next few decades scientists used simple models and specific calculation to measure the climate change. At that time General predictions with the help of calculations and computer models made. In 1967 more calculations by scientists suggested that the rise in the level of temperature might be little degree in next century so there is no need for any policy for this purpose. But at that time some scientists forced for official attention and government funds fo r more research purposes. In the early 1970s, it was noted that there is a rise in the climatic changes. This term referred to â€Å"environmentalism†. The rise in environmentalism raised public doubts about the global warming. At that time some scientists raised the point that human activities was the main reason for increasing the smoke and dust elements into the atmosphere and these elements block sunlight. Factors that brings rise to global warming At earlier times scientists had used a certain methods and calculations to measure the change in climate, but in 1970s they were using many techniques about the factors that can cause influences in the change of climate. Improved computer models with improved calculations were used to measure the jumps in climate level. With the help of these models scientists take information that how these jumps could happen. Researchers had to know that the one other factor that can causes the global warming was unexpected discovery, the res ult of this discovery stated that the level of gases was rising, which would add seriously to global warming. At the end of 1970s global temperature has evidently began to rise. The scientist those were researching on that began to warn the world that these changes could be dangerous if proper security measures are not taken. At the main time Corporations and individuals who opposed these thoughts spent large amounts to convince people that there was no problem at all. After these issues the world governments decided to create an

The Impact Of Living With Chronic Illness Social Work Essay

The Impact Of Living With Chronic Illness Social Work Essay Families and individuals have to overcome new challenges due to disability and chronic illness. Families have suffer financial burden related to providing health facilities, education and buying appropriate equipment for the disabled or chronically ill member of the family. Some times house needs to modified to accommodate the needs of affected individual. Sometimes families and affected individuals get financial help from social services but getting the whole procedure and paper work done puts an extra burden while caring for the affected family member. Sometimes the situation is more worse when affected families and individuals suffer because they are unaware of the facilities and help they can get from government institutes Stress: Caring for the affected member of the family on daily basis puts family members under constant stress, anxiety, and depression and also physical fatigue. Family members and the affected individual become uncertain about the future. The affected individual also suffers from the frustration of disability and losing function. Gender: Disability affects family members differently- female family members tend to be more considerate and affectionate towards the affected person while male family members tend to provide financial support. Most families who are responsible for the care of disabled/chronically ill members of the family find this division of labour according to gender an easy way to manage and cope with challenges. Gender also affects disabled individual- female and male individual show different attitudes towards physical disability or chronic illness/pain. Women do not feel comfortable outside their home anf find it dangerous while men tend to adapt to their reduced function and still tend to be as functional as is possible. Disabled females tend to be more dependent on family and friends compared to disabled males. Relationships: Often relatioships change their meanings within the family responsible to care for a disabled member. The person who is mainly responsible for the care/ entertainment/ diet and necessities of the disabled person tends to take more important position in the family and the rest of the family becomes less involved in decision making. If a mother is more involved in the care of a disabled child this can lead to father being less involved in the care responsibilities and tend to indulge himself more in work or activities outside home- this can sometimes lead to conflicts within the families with one member feeling overburdened. Lifestyle: Most of the resources (money, time etc) of a family with a disabled member are spent in the care of the disabled leading to an overall lower quality of life. Families have to give up entertainment plans such as holidays due to lack of resources, facilities and extra responsibility of care. Friends, neighbors, and people in the community may react negatively to the disability by avoidance, disparaging remarks or looks, or overt efforts to exclude people with disabilities and their families. Despite the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990, many communities still lack programs, facilities, and resources that allow for the full inclusion of persons with disabilities. Families often report that the person with the disability is not a major burden for them. The burden comes from dealing with people in the community whose attitudes and behaviors are judgmental, stigmatizing, and rejecting of the disabled individual and his or her family (Knoll 1992; Turnbull et al. 1993). Family members report that these negative attitudes and behaviors often are characteristic of their friends, relatives, and service providers as well as strangers (Patterson and Leonard 1994). Social stigma: Families with disabled member and disabled individual themselves feel isolated from the society. Friends, neighbours and other family might not play their supportive role effectively Overall, stress from these added demands of disability in family life can negatively affect the health and functioning of family members (Patterson 1988; Varni and Wallander 1988). Numerous studies report that there is all increased risk of psychological and behavioral symptoms in the family members of persons with disabilities (Cadman et al. 1987; Singer and Powers 1993; Vance, Fazan, and Satterwhite 1980). However, even though disability increases the risk for these problems, most adults and children who have a member with a disability do not show psychological or behavioral problems. They have found ways to cope with this added stress in their lives. Increasingly, the literature on families and disabilities emphasizes this adaptive capacity of families. It has been called family resilience (Patterson 1991b; Singer and Powers 1993; Turnbull et al. 1993). Many families actually report that the presence of disability has strengthened them as a family-they become closer, more acceptin g of others, have deeper faith, discover new friends, develop greater respect for life, improve their sense of mastery, and so on. While there are many commonalities regarding the impact of disabilities on families, other factors lead to variability in the impact of disability on the family. Included in these factors are the type of disability, which member of the family gets the disability, and the age of onset of the disability. Disabilities vary along several dimensions, including the degree and type of incapacitation (sensory, motor, or cognitive); the degree of visibility of the disability; whether the course of the condition is constant, relapsing, or progressive; the prognosis or life expectancy of the person; the amount of pain or other symptoms experienced; and the amount of care or treatment required. John Rolland (1994) has outlined a typology of chronic conditions based on some of these factors and has described the psychosocial impact on families based on these factors. His argument, and that of several others (Perrin et al. 1993; Stein et al. 1993), is that the variability in the psychosocial impact of chronic conditions is related more to characteristics of the condition than to the diagnosis per se. Consider the course of the condition. When it is progressive (such as degenerative arthritis or dementia), the symptomatic person may become increasingly less functional. The family is faced with increasing caretaking demands, uncertainty about the degree of dependency and what living arrangement is best, as well as grieving continuous loss. These families need to readjust continuously to the increasing strain and must be willing to find and utilize outside resources. If a condition has a relapsing course (such as epilepsy or cancer in remission), the ongoing care may be less, but a family needs to be able to reorganize itself quickly and mobilize resources when the condition flares up. They must be able to move from normalcy to crisis alert rapidly. An accumulation of these dramatic transitions can exhaust a family. Disabilities with a constant course (such as a spinal cord injury) require major reorganization of the family at the outset and then perseverance and stamina for a long time. While these families can plan, knowing what is ahead, limited community resources to help them may lead to exhaustion. Disabilities where mental ability is limited seem to be more difficult for families to cope with (Breslau 1993; Cole and Reiss 1993; Holroyd and Guthrie 1986). This may be due to greater dependency requiring more vigilance by family members, or because it limits the persons ability to take on responsible roles, and perhaps limits the possibilities for independent living. If the mental impairment is severe, it may create an extra kind of strain for families because the person is physically present in the family but mentally absent. This kind of incongruence between physical presence and psychological presence has been called boundary ambiguity (Boss 1993). Boundary ambiguity means that it is not entirely clear to family members whether the person (with the disability in this case) is part of the family or not because the person is there in some ways but not in others. Generally, families experience more distress when situations are ambiguous or unclear because they do not know what to expect and may have a harder time planning the roles of other family members to accommodate this uncertainty. In addition to cognitive impairment, other characteristics of disabilities can create ambiguity and uncertainty for families. For example, an uncertain life expectancy makes it difficult to plan future life roles, to anticipate costs of care, or to make decisions about the best living arrangements for adults requiring assistance in the activities of daily living. For example, from 1970 to 1991, survival for children with cystic fibrosis increased 700 percent, to a life expectancy of twenty-six years in the United States (Fitzsimmons 1991). These young adults now face difficult family decisions, such as whether to marry and whether to have children. In more extreme cases related to severe medical conditions, persons may have their lives extended by using advances in biomedical science and technology. When this happens, families can be faced with very difficult decisions about what techniques and equipment should be used, for how long, with what expected gains, at what cost, and so on. Society is facing new issues in biomedical ethics, but there is no social consensus about how aggressively to intervene and under what circumstances. Family members who bear the emotional burden of these decisions do not always agree on a course of action and, furthermore, may be blocked by hospitals and courts from carrying out a particular course of action. While these kinds of cases may not yet be widespread, they have sparked intense debate and raised the consciousness of many families about issues they may face. In addition to type of impairment, there is variability in the severity of impairment. The degree to which a person with disability is limited in doing activities or functions of daily living (e.g., walking, feeding oneself, and toileting) can be assessed and is called functional status. The lower the persons functional status, the more assistance he or she will need from other people and/or from equipment and devices. Family members are a primary source of this needed assistance (Biegel, Sales, and Schulz 1991; Stone and Kemper 1989). Providing this assistance can create a burden for family caregivers, which may result in physical or psychological symptoms of poor health. For example, parents, especially mothers, experience more depression when their children with disabilities have lower functional status (Patterson, Leonard, and Titus 1992; Singer et al. 1993). For elderly caregivers, physical strain may be a limiting factor in how much and for how long assistance can be provided f or the disabled individual (Blackburn 1988). The age of the person when the disability emerges is associated with different impacts on the family and on the familys life course, as well as on the course of development for the person with disability (Eisenberg, Sutkin, and Jansen 1984). When conditions emerge in late adulthood, in some ways this is normative and more expectable. Psychologically it is usually less disruptive to the family. When disability occurs earlier in a persons life, this is out of phase with what is considered normative, and the impact on the course of development for the person and the family is greater. More adjustments have to be made and for longer periods of time. When the condition is present from birth, the childs life and identity are shaped around the disability. In some ways it may be easier for a child and his or her family to adjust to never having certain functional abilities than to a sudden loss of abilities later. For example, a child with spina bifida from birth will adapt differently than a child who suddenly becomes a paraplegic in adolescence due to an injury. The age of the parents when a childs disability is diagnosed is also an important consideration in how the family responds. For example, teenage parents are at greater risk for experiencing poor adaptation because their own developmental needs are still prominent, and they are less likely to have the maturity and resources to cope with the added demands of the child. For older parents there is greater risk of having a child with certain disabilities, such as Down syndrome. Older parents may lack the stamina for the extra burden of care required, and they may fear their own mortality and be concerned about who will care for their child when they die. The course of the childs physical, psychological, and social development will forever be altered by the chronic condition. Since development proceeds sequentially, and since relative success at mastering the tasks of one stage is a prerequisite for facing the challenges of the next stage, one could anticipate that the earlier the onset, the greater the adverse impact on development (Eisenberg, Sutkin, and Jansen 1984). There are many ways in which the accomplishment of development tasks is complicated for persons with disabilities. This, in turn, has an effect on their families as well as on which family roles can be assumed by the person with disability (Perrin and Gerrity 1984). For example, in infancy, disability may frighten parents, or the infant may be unresponsive to their nurturing efforts such that attachment and bonding necessary for the development of trust are compromised. The parent may feel inadequate as a caregiver, and parenting competence is undermined. For a toddler, active exploration of the social environment, needed to develop a sense of autonomy and self-control, may be restricted because of the childs motor, sensory, or cognitive deficits. Parents, fearing injury or more damage to their young child, may restrict their childs efforts to explore and learn, or they may overindulge the child out of sympathy or guilt. If other people react negatively to the childs disability, pare nts may try to compensate by being overly protective or overly solicitous. These parent behaviors further compromise the childs development of autonomy and self-control. As children with disabilities move into school environments where they interact with teachers and peers, they may experience difficulties mastering tasks and developing social skills and competencies. Although schools are mandated to provide special education programs for children in the least restrictive environment and to maximize integration, there is still considerable variability in how effectively schools do this. Barriers include inadequate financing for special education; inadequately trained school personnel; and, very often, attitudinal barriers of other children and staff that compromise full inclusion for students with disabilities. Parents of children with disabilities may experience a whole set of added challenges in assuring their childrens educational rights. In some instances, conflict with schools and other service providers can become a major source of strain for families (Walker and Singer 1993). In other cases, school programs are a major resource for families. Developmental tasks of adolescence- developing an identity and developing greater autonomy-are particularly difficult when the adolescent has a disability. Part of this process for most adolescents generally involves some risk-taking behaviors, such as smoking and drinking. Adolescents with disabilities take risks too, sometimes defying treatment and procedures related to their condition, such as skipping medications or changing a prescribed diet. Issues related to sexuality may be particularly difficult because the person with disability has fears about his or her desirability to a partner, sexual performance, and worries about ever getting married or having children (Coupey and Cohen 1984). There is some evidence that girls may be at greater risk for pregnancy because of their desire to disavow their disability and prove their normalcy (Holmes 1986). Teens with mental impairment may be subjected to sexual exploitation by others. When disability has its onset in young adulthood, the persons personal, family, and vocational plans for the future may be altered significantly. If the young adult has a partner where there is a long-term commitment, this relationship may be in jeopardy, particularly if the ability to enact adult roles as a sexual partner, parent, financial provider, or leisure partner are affected (Ireys and Burr 1984). When a couple has just begun to plan a future based on the assumption that both partners would be fully functional, they may find the adjustment to the disability too great to handle. The development of a relationship with a significant other  after  the disability is already present is more likely to lead to positive adjustment. Young adulthood is that critical transition from ones family of origin to creating a new family unit with a partner and possibly children. When disability occurs at this stage, the young adults parents may become the primary caregivers, encouraging or b ringing the young person home again. The risk is that the developmental course for the young adult and his or her parents may never get back on track. This is influenced in part by the extent to which there are independent living options for persons with disabilities to make use of in the community. When the onset of disability occurs to adults in their middle years, it is often associated with major disruption to career and family roles. Those roles are affected for the person with the disability as well as for other family members who have come to depend on him or her to fulfill those roles. Some kind of family reorganization of roles, rules, and routines is usually required. If the person has been employed, he or she may have to give up work and career entirely or perhaps make dramatic changes in amount and type of work. The family may face a major loss of income as well as a loss in health and other employee benefits. If the person is a parent, childrearing responsibilities may be altered significantly. The adult may have to switch from being the nurturer to being the nurtured. This may leave a major void in the family for someone to fill the nurturing role. If the person is a spouse, the dynamics of this relationship will change as one person is unable to perform as indepen dently as before. The partner with the disability may be treated like another child. The sexual relationship may change, plans for having more children may be abandoned, lifestyle and leisure may be altered. Some spouses feel that their marital contract has been violated, and they are unwilling to make the necessary adjustments. Children of a middle-aged adult with a disability also experience role shifts. Their own dependency and nurturing needs may be neglected. They may be expected to take on some adult roles, such as caring for younger children, doing household chores, or maybe even providing some income. How well the familys efforts at reorganization work depends ultimately on the familys ability to accommodate age-appropriate developmental needs. In families where there is more flexibility among the adults in assuming the different family roles, adjustment is likely to be better. The onset of disability in old age is more expectable as bodily functions deteriorate. This decline in physical function is often associated with more depression. An older person may live for many years needing assistance in daily living, and the choices of where to get that assistance are not always easily made. Spouses may be unable to meet the extra caretaking needs indefinitely as their own health and stamina decline (Blackburn 1988). Adult children are often in a position of deciding where their elderly parent or parents should live when they can no longer care for themselves. Having their parents move in with them or having them move to a nursing home or seniors residence are the most common options. However, each of these choices carries with it emotional, financial, and social costs to the elderly person as well as to his or her adult children. This responsibility for elderly parents is not always shared among adult children. Adult daughters are more likely than adult sons to be involved in providing direct care for their elderly parents (Brody 1985). The many decisions and responsibilities can be sources of tension, conflict, and resentment among extended family members. This period of disability in old age can go on for a very long time, given the medical capability to sustain life. While the practice is still not widespread, more elderly people are preparing a living will, which is a legal document preventing extraordinary means from being used to prolong their lives.