Mngt 5000 Term Paper

MNGT 5000 May 14, 2010 Term Paper There are many issues that companies face every day that could potentially be managed in a different way. The issue that I would like to review is an issue that is in the forefront of the news these days. It is hard to say when there might be some sort of resolution to this issue, based on the size and impact to the environment and economy. The most recent issue occurred on April 20, 2010. This was when the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded and sunk into the Gulf of Mexico 2 days later. Along with this explosion, there were 11 people reported missing and are assumed dead.The larger problem that British Petroleum has experienced since this explosion is a blow out preventer (BOP) that failed. This failed BOP has caused a horrible oil leak that is gushing from the ocean floor. The initial estimates were that the leak would be around 1,000 barrels or 42,000 gallons per day. This number has since skyrocketed from the initial estimates. As of May 13, this number is now thought to be as high as 70,000 barrels per day, or 2,940,000 gallons. With the amount of oil that is leaking into the Gulf of Mexico from this incident give it the potential to be the worst oil spill in US history.The previous largest oil spill in US history was the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill that occurred on March 24, 1989. As a comparison, the Valdez spill lost 250,000 barrels of oil, or 10,500,000 gallons. It was not until 1992 that the clean up from this spill was completed. From the estimated numbers, the current spill will eclipse the Valdez spill in only a matter of days. Given the fact that the Valdez spill took 3 years to clean up, we can only speculate as to how long it might take to clean up the effects of the Deepwater Horizon. The main problem that BP is immediately faced with is how to control and stop the Deepwater Horizon leak.There have been many suggestions as to what approach they should take. British Petroleum has had to utilize the planning process a nd try to implement several different strategies since April 22, 2010. While the typical planning process might take several weeks or months, BP had to speed this process up. Their goal is to try and minimize the impact to the Gulf of Mexico and the surrounding environment. Planning is necessary to help drive a structured process for making decisions about the goal they are trying to reach. There are 6 main steps involved in a formal planning process.The first step in the planning process is situational analysis. This first step most likely started for BP on April 20th after the explosion happened. This is when all relevant information about the plan is gathered, interpreted and summarized. For this situation, it most likely included studying past events, the current conditions and trying to forecast future events. The next step in the planning process is to review alternative goals and plans that might have been identified through the situational analysis. A goal is a certain targe t that is set by a manager that they hope to reach.The alternative goal that BP needs to try to achieve as quickly as possible is to stop the leak that is gushing from the ocean floor. The book Management: Leading & Collaborating in the Competitive World outlines a very helpful acronym to ensure you gather certain qualities in the goals you set. The acronym identified is SMART. This stands for Specific, Measureable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-bound. There are parts of this acronym that are a little more sensitive for BP than some of the other pieces. The time bound is the part that sticks out in my mind.The longer it takes to contain the leak from the ocean floor, the larger the impact to the environment and to BP financially. As of May 13, the oil has been leaking from the Deepwater Horizon site for 24 days. It appears that BP has come up with many alternative plans to try and address and contain the oil leak that the failed BOP has created. Next we will review the different pla ns that BP has established and how some of them have been working so far. A plan is defined as how the management staff plans to achieve the outlined goals. BP has presented several plans that they will use to try and achieve their goal.The first plan that they will try to implement is to lower a containment box over the leak that will then funnel the oil to the surface and into an oil tanker. This will be the quickest option that they can try to put in place to stop the leak. Another option that they will try to implement at the same time is to drill a relief well, but this could take up to 3 months to complete. Once the alternatives have been reviewed, we move to step three which is to evaluate the goals and plan. All of this planning has to be completed in a very tight time frame for BP, because as the time passes, the oil continues to leak.During this step, management will review the advantages and disadvantages of the alternative goals and plan from step 2. The drilling of a re lief well has a huge disadvantage due to the time frame. This step also includes prioritizing and potentially eliminating some of the goals. Step 4 is the Goal and Plan Selection. After having reviewed and prioritized the goals in the last step, this is where the decision will actually be made on which goal and plan is most feasible. After the selection has been made, the following step is to implement plans to achieve the goals that have been outlined.As of May 7, British Petroleum has started to implement their plan of lowering a container over the leaking well. Once everything is implemented, the final step is to monitor and control the work that is being done. The container was successfully lowered into place, however ice crystals started to form and blocked the pipe that would deliver the oil to the surface. BP has now had to resort to some of their back up or alternative plans. Some other ideas that have been presented in this process include using a smaller containment dome, shooting junk into the well to clog the hole, and siphoning the oil into a tanker at the surface.With these different plans in place, BP will have to ensure that they have a good strategy if another alternate fails. The definition of strategy is a pattern of actions and resource allocations designed to achieve the organization’s goals. Planning and strategy go hand in hand. BP will need to use some strategic management in dealing with this situation. Strategic management is basically a strategic planning process that has six major steps. The first step is to establish a mission, vision and goals. The mission is short statement that describes the purpose of the organization.The vision is what the organization hopes to accomplish in the future. BP has their company mission and vision statement listed on their site as their values. The sites states â€Å"BP wants to be recognized as a great company – competitively successful and a force for progress. We have a fundamenta l belief that we can make a difference in the world. We help the world meet its growing need for heat, light and mobility. We strive to do that by producing energy that is affordable, secure and doesn’t damage the environment.BP is progressive, responsible, innovative and performance driven. † The second step in this process is to do an analysis of external opportunities and threats. This includes understanding the different forces that might affect the company’s mission and vision. This is a unique situation for BP, due to the fact that they are trying to live up to their values, while trying to prevent an environmental disaster that could potentially tarnish their name for quite some time. After reviewing external factors, step 3 is to complete an analysis of internal strengths and weaknesses.There are many aspects to an organization that can be reviewed a couple of key parts to be reviewed would be resources available and core competencies. Resources can fall into two categories, tangible and intangible. Steps 2 and 3 provide a good foundation of information for step 4, which is SWOT Analysis and Strategy Formulation. Once the SWOT analysis is complete, there are several different strategies to consider based on the type of business that is in operation. For BP and this situation, I would think that they would need to implement a functional strategy.Once the type of strategy has been decided upon, step 5 is strategy implementation. During this step, BP would need to ensure that the strategy is being implemented efficiently and effectively. Once implemented, this takes us to the final step, which is strategic control. I believe this control will not be in place until the leak has been contained. In this final step, typically there is a system to help support management in evaluating how the organization is doing with the strategy. Overall, BP has an enormous task that they are faced with. It will take good planning and strategy to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.They are faced with having to contain one of the largest oil spills in US history. It is hard to accurately measure the true amount of oil that is leaking from the well; however there are several estimates of how much oil is leaking per day, ranging from 1000 to 70,000 barrels. As of May 13, 2010, BP has had to resort to alternate plans due to their initial attempt failing. It will be interesting to watch the news and see how BP continues to manage the situation. It is almost guaranteed that the government will intervene at some point, possibly by implementing new laws around off shore drilling.We can only hope that the impact to the environment is not too great, but there have already been reports of dead animals and tar balls washing ashore. It is hard to think that there would be no impact with so much oil leaking into the ocean. I still remember the images from the Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989. I can only imagine we will start to see some of t he same images in the future from the Deepwater Horizon spill. Let’s hope that BP’s management staff has all the tools necessary to have a strong plan in place to rectify this problem. Bibliography Robertson, C & Lipton, E (2010, April 30). BP Is Criticized Over Oil Spill, but U.S. Missed Chances to Act. New York Times. Retrieved May 11, 2010, from http://www. nytimes. com/2010/05/01/us/01gulf. html The Valdez Oil Spill. (n. d. ). Retrieved May 11, 2010, from http://www. exxonmobil. com/corporate/about_issues_valdez. aspx Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. (n. d. ). Retrieved May 11, 2010, from http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Deepwater_Horizon_oil_spill Gulf Oil Spill Layers. (n. d. ). Retrieved May 13, 2010, from http://maps. google. com/maps/mpl? moduleurl=http://mw1. google. com/mw-earth-vectordb/disaster/gulf_oil_spill/gulf_oil_mapplet. xml&mapclient=google&hl=en Weber, H. amp; Burdeau, C (2010, May 6). Expedition to contain oil leak begins in Gulf. Associated Press. Retr ieved May 11, 2010, from http://www. google. com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gIXWYBTpLtSayJtg41LKXpxSxVPAD9FH9GN80 Resnick-Ault, J. & Polson, C (2010, May 11). BP to Try Again to Control Oil Leak as Hearings Start (Update3). Bloomberg Businessweek. Retrieved May 13, 2010, from http://www. businessweek. com/news/2010-05-11/bp-to-try-again-to-control-oil-leak-as-hearings-start-update3-. html What we stand for. (n. d. ). Retrieved May 13, 2010, from http://www. bp. com/sectiongenericarticle. do? categoryId=9002630&contentId=7005204

Security challenges faced

Cyber-crimes are described as crimes either created by the internet or aided by the internet. The danger posed by cyber crime to Australia and global community is discussed.Security challenges faced in the future are predicted using the ‘Law of accelerating returns’ where technological expansion rate is exponential. This renders long-term predictions of cyber-related developments difficult to make. With technological advancements, young people continue to integrate their personal life into widespread computer networks.This is aided by social networking sites which are used by cyber criminals to collect personal information and the lack of vigilance displayed by these young generation. They continue to be reckless despite better awareness.Tracking the trends of cyber crime is not well coordinated but available information indicates an increase in cyber crime which is interestingly linked more to the human element than technological advances. This indicates that people con tinue to make poor choices with regards to risk.Cyber crime is set to increase in the next five years as organized criminal groups consolidate. Most of these groups are based mainly in Eastern Europe but will probably spread to Asia. With the target of making criminal profit there has been the creation of almost undetectable infiltration software.The use of sophisticated software to perpetrate crime like the botnet where compromised computers are organized into a network and used by criminals.Botnets present a high risk for online fraud in the future. Phishing, where an unsuspecting user is tricked to think they are communicating with their bank to obtain their password is likely to continue. Denial of Service (DoS) attacks which flood an internet site to take the site offline will continue and be used to hold at ransom companies and disturb activities of response teams.In a recent cyber attack in Australia during Cyber Storm 2 cyberwar-game event demonstrated major weaknesses that led to successful attacks in all areas of business. All indicators are that in the next years, not much improvement would have been made in response to cyber attacks.

Managerial Economics Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Managerial Economics - Research Paper Example (Heakal, n. d). As each company or country will have both advantages as well as risks regarding many aspects of its functioning, it is very important for the investors to have insight about those investment opportunities. As it will not be practically feasible for the investors to analyze and understand each and every aspect of the companies or countries and their advantages and risks, they will elicit the help of external agencies. Also, even if they do analysis on their own, they will consult or refer external agencies to give them some guidelines or ideas about the investment opportunities. This is where the role of credit rating companies or agencies comes into the picture. â€Å"Measuring the ability and willingness of an entity - which could be a person, a corporation, a security or a country - to keep its financial commitments or its debt, credit ratings are essential tools for helping you make some investment decisions.† (Heakal, n. d). Do changes in credit ratings affect equity valuation? If so how? And to what extent? This is an important topic that has interested many professionals in the field of economics and business, although it is often overlooked. As pointed out in the introduction, credit rating companies play an extremely vital role in any economy, local or foreign. The information provided by these agencies is used by all kind of parties starting from business organizations, independent investors, financial institutions, even countries’ governments, charity organizations, etc. â€Å"Only because of the availability of clear, internationally accepted indicators of the risk of default were investors willing to invest in international securities—whether corporate or government bonds—whose credit quality they would have been virtually unable to assess on their own.† (Utzig, 2010). The objectives of this research paper are: firstly, to show how credit rating companies’ rati ngs or changes have

Gender Identity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5250 words

Gender Identity - Essay Example This paper stresses that gender identity is the sense of identification whether you are a male or a female. This concept entails appearance, behaviors and several other aspects which are always influenced by society and culture. This report makes a conclusion that psychologists believe that human identities are the composition of separate components. The first involves the child’s orientation towards sex whether he is homosexual, heterosexual or bisexual. Second important aspect is child’s behavior whether a male is a sensitive boy or macho type guy or a female is tomboyish or homemaker type lady. The third aspect involves core gender identity that determines whether a child is according to his or her sex or opposite to it. Still scientists and researchers are quite uncertain to predict when these feelings arise and come forward. Some consider this phenomenon as physical while others believe that it is mental or psychological fact. There is also a great debate that gender identity is shaped by the maturity of hormones mainly estrogens and testosterones. Gender identity comes into view by age of two which is a combination of sociological as well as biological factors. Beside sex differences, mal es and females are quite different from childhood. As girls reach to maturity quicker and faster than boys. Girls are healthier and have abilities to develop written and oral skills quicker as compared to boys.

Compare and Contrast Zombie and Vampire Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Compare and Contrast Zombie and Vampire - Essay Example These have made the creatures to appear as if they are similar and related creatures which might not be the true. Although they bear striking similarities such as being undead beings (supernatural), immortal and inhumane in nature, they also differ pronouncedly in their theories of origin, physical characteristics, modes of feeding and the extent of powers that each possesses. These are discussed as follows. The most obvious and common similarity between vampires and zombies is that they both arose from the dead. Both the vampire and the zombie are dead human beings that have been brought back to life by the use of supernatural powers such as black magic or sorcery. They might differ in other characteristics though, but their original roots are traced back to people who once lived normal human lives and died, but now continue to exist as the undead and totally different from their former selves in terms of characters and abilities. For centuries, vampires are believed to be undead, immortal, demonic and superstitious beings that were condemned to eternal suffering by unclear forces and supernatural beings of nature. They are immortal in the sense that they can’t be killed by normal phenomena that would claim a normal human being’s life such as poison, accidents and diseases. They are though, believed to lose their immortality when subjected or exposed to some special substances and conditions like the religious cross, roses and the garlic. Similarly, zombies are corpses that have been revived using Voodoos and other magical powers; mostly in the Haitian folklores. They too are immortal just like the vampires and are under absolute control of their creators who uses them as their slaves who have the powers to rip them of their immortal status. They are total subjects of their creators since they lack their own will. A zombie being under total control of their creator, it lacks the ability to

China's growth contradicts the links between democracy and growth Essay

China's growth contradicts the links between democracy and growth. Discuss - Essay Example Alongside democracy, capital and labor are some of the critical factors considered to have a significant effect on economic growth in the long run. There have been misconceptions that China’s economic growth is linked to the fact that China is a one-party state that upholds the authoritarian form of government. These mistaken views have influenced other countries to believe that authoritarian rule contributes hugely to economic growth, although China’s growth is tied to liberalization of political and economic reforms, which have led to reduced authoritarianism. China’s growth contradicts the links between democracy and growth China’s growth contradiction with democracy has brought about complication in the fact that the world’s richest countries attribute their success and growth to existence of democracy in their systems. The belief that economic development are linked to democracy is getting weaker as authoritarian regimes like China are proving that they have the capability of achieving economic growth without putting any efforts on political democracies. However, it remains a fact that high per capita income in democratic states has a significant effect in achieving stable and increasing economic growth. Over the last twenty-five years, China's has maintained tremendous economic growth with rigid political aspects that have remained closely tied to authoritarian form of governance. This stagnation in political reforms has negated the concept of economic growth, resulting in educated citizens who later pressure the most authoritarian governments to allow for democracies in which they themselves can exercise control over political situations for the benefit of the entire country. Claims that democracy does not contribute to economic development arise with respect to government’s function of representing the common needs of all the citizens. Different requirements, views, and opinions of different citizens necessitate the government to function independently and represent the collective views of all citizens other than needs of a few individuals. Democracy existence is said to be a hindrance to the independence a government in fostering economic growth and effective citizen representation. The government is given the responsibility of collecting taxes and putting the revenue into productive use with respect to aggregate preferences of citizens. Therefore, democracies may become obstacles for government’s rational functionality; however, multiparty systems in voting in governments may represent rational preferences that meet a variety of conditions to a limited proportion. Moreover, democracy may reflect a system of governance that meets requirements of citizens but does not foster aggregate preferences such as economic prosperity. However, autonomy of the government in countries like China only infringes on political freedom and not economic freedom. Lack of political freedom is depicted by the single party governance where the government places independent emphasis on liberalization of foreign and private investment. Usually, authoritarian governments that have liberalized their economies are statistically proved to economically

Design a Pay for Performance Incentive Awards Program Assignment

Design a Pay for Performance Incentive Awards Program - Assignment Example program that will run for five years within the organization seeks to maximize productivity besides developing an appropriate mindset among the employees. This way, the program is not only a short-term project but also a long-term motivational project. As discussed, the program will incorporate all the employees within the company including the top-level managers to the junior employees. In order to implement the program appropriately, the implementation will therefore vary depending on the employees. Just as the title suggests, the program seeks to reward productivity. Each level of employee has specific goals that the program will strive to achieve. In the top-level management for example, the program seeks to enhance creativity, intuition and management prowess. In middle level management, the program seeks to enhance both obedience and problem solving skills while in the junior employees of the organization the program seeks to enhance both competition and hard work. This way, the program enhances the overall productivity of the entire organization. Preliminarily, the program will ensure that all the employees within the organization are capable of undertaking their different roles. This complements the objective of the program since it seeks to reward productivity. The employees must therefore meet the qualifications set for their different roles a feature that ensures that they are capable of undertaking their roles within the organization. Furthermore, qualifications ensure that the employees are capable of meeting the obligations of their respective positions besides enhancing the ease of management. Top-level management must have appropriate qualifications. Managers make decisions daily operations within the organization through the formulation and implementation of policies. As such, they must have both the appropriate education and professional training to enable them make such appropriate decisions. The performance reward program will acknowledge the

Human Resources Assignment .. Best places to work

Human Resources .. Best places to work - Assignment Example The search engine, initially named â€Å"BackRub,† was not formalized into the wildly popular company, Google, known today (Google, 2011a). When the company was first created, in what the founders describe as a small garage in Menlo Park, CA (Google, 2011c), search capabilities were only available to users in English. However, in recent years, the computer science students, and their thousands of employees and more than 40 offices globally, have developed a number of web applications and advertising programs, allowing them to offer dozens of widespread services and products in several different languages (Google, 2011a). The Google headquarters, called the Googleplex, is now located in Mountain View, CA, and is referred to as a campus, due its massive size and number of amenities. Employees describe the campus as a curious, creative, and very diverse community. All of the company’s imperative business functions are located at the Googleplex; departments include Human Re sources (HR), Communications, Legal, Sales, and Finance (Google, 2011c). Management and employees alike agree that transparency is the key to the cohesiveness within the company’s working environments.

Critical evaluation of why G4S Security Company failed in the 2012 Assignment

Critical evaluation of why G4S Security Company failed in the 2012 Olympic - Assignment Example The main reason behind the failure of the contract between Olympic committee and G4S was the staffing problem of the company. G4S could not maintain the terms if the contract and thus the contract cost them a huge amount. G4S, the largest international security solutions group, specialises in providing security solutions to those countries where risk of safety and security are conceived as a serious strategic threat. The company has provided successful security solutions to many countries but after the death of Jimmy Mubenga in 2010, it had started to face its darkest days. Several controversies followed the death and later in 2012 the security disaster at Olympic Games provided a severe blow to the company’s strategic actions and the company had to pay a huge amount as penalty (Taylor, 2012). If the issue is looked upon very closely, it can be observed that the company had undertaken many wrong policies for taking the contract of providing security solutions to Olympic Games. It overvalued the number of security personnel and also increased the pay of the chief executives when the company was encountering huge loss. All the issues led to the failure of the contract with the Olympic committee. However, the company has to pay an amount of  £ 88 million as penalty. The report highlights the facts that lead to the failure of the security contract of G4S with Olympic Games in 2012 (Shift Media Publication, 2013). The main issue was staffing problem and the company shares were also falling as the investors came to know about the issue. If the financial statements of the company are studied it can be noticed that the Annual Report 2012 does not have any transaction information regarding Olympic 2012. The financial statements do not have information regarding the transaction pertaining to Olympic Games. The only existence of the incident is written in small letter in the Performance Highlights section of

ECON WEEK 7 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

ECON WEEK 7 - Assignment Example The economy was still in the phase of recovery, when the recent forecast by the International Monetary Fund shattered all hopes of US regaining its status as the world’s largest economy. The IMF forecasted that China will surpass US by 2016 while US will experience â€Å"slow and modest economic growth†. (US Economic Forecast, 2013) The factors that have impeded US economic growth include low GDP growth rate, low employment rate, dip in inflation rates, low interest rates and, most significantly, a major current account balance deficit and a higher debt risk. In such a scenario, the government should focus on productivity gain as a source of economic growth through â€Å"improvement in skills, economies of scale and improved technology†. (Petroff, 1986, 1990 & 2002) This would help in offsetting the effect of the law of diminishing returns, by raising productivity growth in the face of an uncontrollable population

Ultra Mobile PC’s Essay Example for Free

Ultra Mobile PC’s Essay Standard application This study asserts that UMPC’s can use any software integrated within the device and more especially when it comes to Windows XP and Vista. For example, businessmen can use Windows word, excel and power point application effectively without any problems. On the other hand, those users who are not able to use the available QWERTY keyboard can use the avainble USB port to connect to an external keyboard. UMPCs also have a touch sensitive screen, which can allow the use to fingers to prompt for information or even use pen calibration. In this manner, the user is able to keep a fast track of events may at class, in a business meeting or in cases of medics previewing patients and making quick notes on the touch screen. With the integration of various technologies which can integrate with windows XP and Vista software like Tablet Enhancements for Outlook (TEO) UMPC’s are able to maximize the use of captured data (Eisten technologies, 2004). The use of TEO allows, users to even edit their information with ease for increased efficiency. According to Eistein technologies the integration of TEO allows the users of UMPC’s to have; †¢ Convenient and more accurate handwriting recognition, which allows minimal mistakes if any. On the other hand one is able to convert their text when they want to according to their convenience. †¢ In using TEO, applications like PDA are easily recognized and applicable in UMPC’s. †¢ The use of TEO allows preview text to prompt the user of any unrecognized texts so that they can be corrected on time. †¢ TEO allows one to improve correction interfaces without much challenges compared to earlier versions. (Eisten technologies, 2004) With the use of TEO technology, the use of UMPC’s becomes more interesting and organized in all categories. For example, TEO can be applied in note taking and ensuring organized forms of data storage and accessibility (Eisten technologies, 2004). Interfacing to the Internet UMPC’s have higher compatibility of Internet interfacing. For example, users can apply the use of the available USB’s to connect to the Internet effectively. UMPC’s are modified for use with various forms of broadband technologies, which can allow people from different to interact through the Internet. On the other hand, businessmen can make connections through the Internet and save time and energy wasted in covering long distances by their clients. In many instances what matters with Internet interface in UMPC’s is the type of Internet subscriber used, and the effectiveness in service delivery. Studies show that one important feature in UMP’s comprise of their ability to have strong bases for browsing the internet (K. -W. Chin, et al, 2002). Conclusions and future predictions The following are some of the future predictions of this study; †¢ More studies should be carried to ensure more enhancements are made to UMPC’s †¢ Companies dealing with the UMPC technologies should come together and work in harmony for better results in modifying the existing forms of UMPC’s †¢ The target markets for UMPC’s should be the main drivers of modifications made in the UMPC devices so that companies can be able to make consumer quality goods in order to gain a competitive edge †¢ UMPC’s stand to be the next solution for commercial use and hence the need to ensure that they are treated with the seriousness that they deserve in the corporate and commercial world. Conclusion This study found out that UMPCs market and usability has greatly increased over the decades. UMPCs are currently viewed as the noble solutions to most challenges faced in commercial business for instance companies and hospital use. The effectiveness in information storage makes it easier even for hospitals to be able to store patient’s information and walk around with it, referring to it when the need arises. The medical sector which was most affected in terms of mobility of medical information stands to benefit greatly from the current use of the UMPC’s technologies. This study recommends that, mobile companies to come up with more significant milestones in the UMPC’s world should carry out more studies. Reference list Appear Networks. (2008). Appear Announces Support for Intel UMPC Devices. Retrieved on 27th December 2008 from www. appearnetworks. com/Appear-Announces-Support-for-Intel. html C. Barrett et al. (2002). â€Å"Characterizing the Interaction Between Routing and MAC Protocols in Ad-hoc Networks,† Proc. MobiHoc 2002 , pp. 92-103 C. Elliott B. Heile (2000) â€Å"Self-Organizing, Self-Healing Wireless Networks,† Proc. 2000 IEEE Intl Conf. on Personal Wireless Comm. , pp. 355-362. Eisten technologies. (2004). Tablet Enhancements for Outlook 2. 0. Retrieved on 27th December 2008 from http://www. tabletpcpost. com/modules. php? op=modloadname=Downloadsfile=indexreq=viewdownloaddetailslid=9ttitle=Tablet_Enhancements_for_Outlook_2.  0 J. Broch et al. (1998) â€Å"A Performance Comparison of Multi-Hop Wireless Ad Hoc Network Routing Protocols,† Proc. Mobicom 98. D. Cavin et al. (2002) â€Å"On the accuracy of MANET simulators,† Proc. ACM Workshop on Princ. Mobile Computing (POMC02), Oct. 2002, pp. 38-43. online K. -W. Chin, et al. (2002). â€Å"Implementation Experience with MANET Routing Protocols,† ACM SIGCOMM Computer Communications Review, Nov. 2002, pp. 49-59. Available online. M. S. Corson et al. (1999) â€Å"Internet-Based Mobile Ad Hoc Networking,† IEEE Internet Computing, pp. 63-70.

Psychosocial Effects of Technology

Psychosocial Effects of Technology Olivia Di Giulio Introduction As individuals of a modern society, we are use to technology being present in almost every area of our everyday lives. Being that technology is so present in our everyday lives, it is almost impossible to live a normal life without it. Technology such as laptop computers and cell phones have become fixtures of modern culture, affecting how we communicate, work, and spend our free time. Though the effects appear minimal on the surface, technology can alter an individual’s physiological state. Technology affects how view ourselves, our relationship with others, and the ways in which we communicate, therefore, creating negative psychosocial affects on the lives of individuals. Though technology is meant to promote the positive aspects of human connection, it creates an abundance of negative affects and backlashes. Technology has been created and manifested in numerous forms throughout the twenty first century. Technology is a large umbrella term, due to the thousands of creations that can fall under its category. Technology can range from a physical creation such as a laptop and a cellphone, to a virtual creation such as the Internet, its various websites, and various social media applications that can be accessed from both cell phones and computers. The internet, which can be accessed from numerous technological devices, allows individuals to fully participate in its virtual world through sharing pictures, online chat forums, blog posts, and to write about their life and daily activities through social media. Through these various avenues, the Internet allows users to create virtual relationships and communicable ties. Though all of these facets seem extr emely positive, the negative impacts outweigh its benefits. For every positive feature, in turn, creates a negative psychological impact in some shape or form. Technology can affect our individual mental states of being, how we view ourselves, the ways in which we communicate, and our relationships with others, which are some of the most important features of our human existence. Through technology we have redefined acceptable behaviors and moral norms, the basis of communication, and who we are as a culture. One might ask why it matters that technology has affected our psychosocial sates of being. It matters because we are mentally no longer the same culture that we were before these technological advancements. As a society, our mental states have changed negatively. We have become lazy, dependent on technology, isolated, and unable to put down our technological devices. Though technology can be extremely helpful, these are not positive changes, and have affected the human brain, human interaction, and communication culture as a whole. We must be observant as a culture in how often we use our technology/ the ways in which we use our technology, in order to lessen its negative psychosocial affects, otherwise, we will not be able to live without it. In order to be proactive and lessen these affects, we must look at the devices that have forever changed the face of communication and the negative ways in which it affects our mental state and social aspects of society. There are numerous technological advancements that have entirely redefined communication as a whole and the ways in which our society communicates. These technological advancements consist of cell phones, which allow instant communication through texting, and computers, which allow for the download of various communication software, applications, and social media apps (which can be found on both devices). Frequent uses of these devices and applications have allowed methods of communication to be entirely redefined, because most elements of communication can now take place virtually. Technology is extremely convenient and appealing, making it extremely difficult for users to resist, or wish to have face-to-face communication. A survey of undergraduate students showed that 85 percent use technology and social media to stay in touch with friends as opposed to other forms of communication (HumanKinetics.com). Due to its convenience and easy accessibility, technological communication has become a staple of our society and has entirely redefined not only the way in which we communicate, and but also affecting one’s relationships, due to communication playing a significant role in the creation of human ties. Technology Negatively Affecting Personal Relationships The quality of and logistics of human relationships have suffered negative affects due to technology use. Communication is a huge aspect of relationship building and when the basis of communication changes, the basis of relationship building changes as well. Communication plays a fundamental role in producing â€Å"the common understandings† that help create moral norms and â€Å"social value systems† (Bruce Drake, Kristi Yuthas, Jesse Dillard). Within technological avenues such as texting, communication is entirely virtual and many elements of conversation are lost such as body language, tone, and facial expressions, allowing conversation to become extremely impersonal and lack depth (Pyschcentral.com). According to psychologist Sherry Turkle, technological communication, such as texting, ironically interrupts relationship building, and does not foster conditions, which are necessary to build a true connection with another individual (Pyschcentral.com). Being that indi viduals are constantly connected through texting, they do not receive the proper alone time, which is necessary in developing a connection with others (Pyschcentral.com). In a recent study it has been found that the interruption of texting in a physical conversation â€Å"inhibits the development of closeness and trust†, and reduces the empathy that one can feel for others (Wbur.org). Technology does not substitute the quality of physical conversation and does not reach the same heights and depth that physical conversation can. Through conversation, individuals search for and create moral norms, in which technology prevents the possibility of having these in depth conversations (Bruce Drake, Kristi Yuthas, Jesse Dillard). Physical conversation provides the tools necessary in which people can develop â€Å"personal identity, build close relationships, solidarity and community†; elements that are all lost within technological communication (Bruce Drake, Kristi Yuthas, Jesse Dillard). Instead, communication and relationships fostered through technology are extremely substance less, due to the fact that it is difficult to kindle a true connection in a virtual world, have in depth conversations, and rely on virtual fulfillment. Therefore, technological relations have numerous backlashes. Like realistic relationships, the relationships created through technology give individuals reassurance and validation. If the multitude of these associations is not fulfilled through virtual interaction, it can cause one to feel empty. It is extremely likely for one to feel empty when they rely on this type of validation, because it is virtual, and therefore, less likely for these associations to be fulfilled instantly, as opposed to physical contact. Relationships and the process of relationship building have changed, due to our societies shift in dialogue thanks to technology. What we say and how we say it has been entirely changed thanks to technology, which has reinvented the technicalities of language. Cell phones and computers that operate off of a wireless connection can provide users with extremely fast technological communication, allowing messages to be delivered with speed. Abbreviations and colloquial language allow users to type fast messages within texts and chat rooms to one another. Though these aspects seem extremely positive, they are can be extremely dangerous for communication culture. Wireless connection and new conversational mechanisms provide the perfect equation to entirely redefine the face of communication. Users have become extremely accustomed to this type of fast pace communication, to the point where they can no longer live without it, due to its convenience and simplicity. Technology makes users desire speed as an essential need, which is extremely detrimental to quality communication. Technological communication, such as text ing, and online chat rooms, have virtually destroyed the English language and uses of its correct forms within these devices, have become few and far between. Individuals are no longer taking the time to place emphasis on certain expressions or to be grammatically correct, because it is simply easier and faster to speak colloquially, therefore, preventing quality communication (Donovan A. McFarlane). Quality communication requires effort and without it, it leads to various misunderstandings (Donovan A. McFarlane). When communication is misunderstood, it is no longer efficient or achieves its purpose (Donovan A. McFarlane). In our society speed is often mistaken for efficiency (Donovan A. McFarlane). Individuals would rather summarize what they are saying, instead of properly explaining their ideas, due to our society’s need for speed, that technology makes us desire (Donovan A. McFarlane). Though it is meant to simplify communication, technology has made communication more di fficult, due its impersonal nature and lack of quality, which promotes ineffectiveness, as opposed to cohesive dialogue (Donovan A. McFarlane). Technology Affecting Behavior, Mental Health, and Mental Processes As a culture, behavior has also been redefined through what is now seen as morally correct and acceptable. Technology has set these new standards in behavior and implemented entirely new social boundaries. It been said that technology such as the Internet, does not promote social integration (Kraut, Patterson, Lundmark). Over the last 35 years â€Å"Citizens vote less, go to church less, discuss government with their neighbors less, are members of fewer voluntary organizations, have fewer dinner parties, and generally get together less for civic and social purposes† (Kraut, Patterson, Lundmark) due to technology, therefore, enabling social disengagement and a less unified society. According to HumanKinetics.com, technology can cause one to feel, â€Å"distracted, overly stressed, and isolated†, due to frequent use. Technological avenues, such as texting, further manifest negative behavioral habits by hindering our ability to confront situations, allowing individuals to hide behind the screen of their phone (Pyschcentral.com). Bernard Guerney Jr., founder of the National Institute of Relationship Enhancement, believes that texting creates a â€Å"lack of courage† to approach an intense or awkward situation, because it is simply easier to hide behind a screen, which can hinder one’s social growth (Pyschcentral.com). One can grow from certain life experiences, which now have now become obsolete through the advent of texting (Pyschcentral.com). Technology also manifests lazy behavior (Insidetechnology360.com). Technology’s numerous functions enable most manual work to be done digitally, therefore, making the lives of individuals much easier and ultimately making them lazier. As technology evolves, devices are able to do more and more for users (Insidetechnology360.com). For example, Apple’s iPhone feature Siri, allows users to press a button and talk into the phone to request an action such as surfing the web, or making a p hone call. As if making a phone or surfing the web was not easy enough, Apple has made it all the more easier by allowing users to perform these actions with a push of a button. Features like this, in addition to many other features of technology, breed a lazy society, because we no longer have to perform any actions ourselves, because technology can simply do it for us. Additionally, technology enables the developing of more severe personality disorders. With features that enable users to create a profile about their life on social media sites, such as Facebook, and features that allow users to post up-to-the minute pictures on their daily activities on social media apps such Instagram, it allows users to become fixated on their appearance and reputation. Therefore, users will often post their best traits via Internet, enabling for the manifestation of behavioral conditions, such as narcissism (Humankinetics.com). The more one is engrossed, the more likely one can experience physiological, emotional, and behavioral changes such as narcissism (Yi-Fen Chen). Certain activities and interactions a user can partake in will increase the likelihood that there will be psychological traces left behind from the virtual environment, within the individual, after experiencing it (Yi-Fen Chen). The negative affects of technology, which are visible to the human eye, appear minimal. These affects can be seen in the way communication has changed and the way in which we narcissistically portray ourselves via Internet, and do not seem extremely harmful. The affects in which we cannot see, such as, those that affect the brain are the most detrimental, because they target our mental health. Negative affects of technology of have further manifested themselves in the forms of possible addictions and mental illnesses. Being that technology is extremely present in our lives and convenient, it is hard for some to live without it, creating an inseparable and unhealthy relationship between the user and technology in the form of an addiction. Though it is not a recognized disorder by the American Psychiatric Association, there has been much speculation to include Internet Addiction in in the latest addition of the DiagnosticandStatisticalManualofMentalDisorders (U.S. National Library of M edicine), due to the manifestation of unhealthy relationships between users and technology. Internet Addiction is seen as an impulsive â€Å"spectrum disorder† which consists of â€Å"online and/or offline computer usage and consists of at least three subtypes: excessive gaming, sexual preoccupations, and e-mail/text messaging† (U.S. National Library of Medicine). In 2012 study done by the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado, showed a strong correlation between problematic Internet use and psychotic-like experiences (U.S. National Library of Medicine). As a society, we must be extremely conscious and aware towards our technology use, due to its horrible psychosocial affects. Due to the way that it is positively promoted within our society, most individuals would never suspect the horrible backlashes of technology. We must be proactive about the way in which we use technology/ how we use our technology in order to prevent serious changes towards our behavior, mental health, relationships, and how we communicate. These affects are extremely detrimental towards our society and if we do not act upon them by monitoring our technology use, communication, social interaction, and our own mental health will only grow worse, and we will therefore have a communication crisis. Works Cited Adler, Iris. â€Å"How Our Digital Devices Are Affecting Our Personal Relationships.† wbur.org. 2013. Web. 02 Nov. 2014. http://www.wbur.org/2013/01/17/digital-lives-i Chen, Yi-Fen. â€Å"See you on Facebook: exploring influences on Facebook continuous usage†. Behaviour Information Technology 39 (2014): 59–70. Web. Drake, Bruce, Yuthas, Kristi, Dillard, Jesse. â€Å"It’s Only Words – Impacts of Information Technology on Moral Dialogue.† Journal of Business Ethics 23 (2000): 41-59. Web. Human Kinetics. â€Å"Technology can have positive and negative impact on social interactions.† humankinetics.com. Web. 02 Nov. 2014. http://www.humankinetics.com/excerpts/excerpts/technology-can-have-positive-and- negative-impact-on-social-interactions Kraut, Robert, Patterson, Michael, Lundmark, Vicki. â€Å"Internet Paradox: A Social Technology That Reduces Social Involvement and Psychological Well-Being?† American Psychologist 9 (1998): Web. McFarlane, Donovan. â€Å"Social Communication in a Technology-Driven Society: A Philosophical Exploration of Factor-Impacts and Consequences.† American Communication Journal 12 (2010): 1-2.Web. Mittal VA, Dean DJ, Pelletier, A. â€Å"Internet addiction, reality substitution and longitudinal changes in psychotic-like experiences in young adults.† Early Intervention Psychiatry 3 (2013): 1751-7893. Web. Mohan, Bharath. Is Technology Making Humans More Lazy – Yes. Insidetechnology360.com. R.R. Donnelley, 20 Feb. 2011. Web. 24 Nov. 2014. http://www.insidetechnology360.com/index.php/is-technology-making-humans-more-lazy-yes-5968/ Pies, Ronald. â€Å"Should DSM-V Designate â€Å"Internet Addiction† a Mental Disorder†?† Psychiatry 2 (2009): 31-37. Web. Suval, Lauren. Does Texting Hinder Social Skills?Psych Central.com. Psych Central, 2012. Web. 02 Nov. 2014. http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2012/05/02/does-texting- hinder-social-skills/ 1

Controlling Cardiovascular Disease Through Diet And Exercise Health And Social Care Essay

Controlling Cardiovascular Disease Through Diet And Exercise Health And Social Care Essay Cardiovascular disease is a debilitating disease that is wide spread throughout the United States. This disease has been identified by Healthy People as one of their 2020 topics and objectives to focus on for decreasing and preventing further cardiovascular events in the United States. Through appropriate and recommended diet and exercise regimens we have the ability to decrease the occurrence in our future generations to come. Controlling Cardiovascular Disease through Diet and Exercise Cardiovascular disease is a national epidemic seen throughout the United States. Health care costs are soaring at an all-time high. According to Healthy People 2020 cardiovascular disease, such as stroke and heart disease, is among the most widespread and costly health problems currently seen in the US today (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2012). Health care costs are reported to account for more than $500 billion per year alone (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2012). These cardiovascular disease related issues account for the leading causes of death in the US; at the same time they are also the most preventable. Cardiovascular health has become a major issue in the United States, even though there are possible ways to prevent and decrease chance of occurring. By improving your cardiovascular health through such things as diet and exercise, you will be able to improve your overall health and quality of life. One must utilize certain interventions to decrease possible risk factors that may increase your chance of having a stroke or heart attack. There are three main categories of interventions, those being: prevention, early detection and treatment. Prevention is the key to living a healthier and longer life. Prevention starts with educating the public regarding what cardiovascular disease is, possible risk factors, and ways to prevent the occurrence from happening. By starting to educate at a young age regarding eating a healthy diet and maintaining an appropriate exercise regimen, we will be able to decrease the chance of developing cardiovascular disease and increasing ones health and lifespan (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2012). Early detection should be initiated at an early age. One should assess his or hers primary and secondary risks factors for developing cardiovascular disease. Based on possible risk factors one may be able to determine if he or she is at an increased risk for development. Early detection includes checking ones blood pressure as recommended, regular doctor check-ups, and lifestyle assessment. If detected early and controlled it is possible to decrease the risk of further development and complications. Treatments can vary depending on severity and degree of risk factor. For example if one is diagnosed with diabetes, this can sometimes be controlled through diet and exercise versus a prescribed medication regimen. Anticoagulation therapy may also be a treatment for stroke and heart attacks, with appropriate aspirin dosing one may prevent such events. Smoking is a leading cause of both strokes and heart attacks; one should practice smoking cessation or seek additional assistance for quitting, there are many programs available to fit every lifestyle. In advanced cases one may need surgical intervention and procedures to correct, restore and prevent further damage. First off, what is a stroke? A stroke is when a blood clot travels to the brain blocking an artery or vessel, this cutting of supply of blood flow to an area, essential causing brain cells to die, and brain damage to occur. When this process occurs in an area of the brain, that area will be unable to function properly (National Stroke Association, 2013). Depending on where in the brain and how big of an area is affected, determines what abilities are affected. Some abilities that may be affected include speech, personality, gait, muscle tone, memory, vision and much more. Statistics show that up to 80 percent of strokes are preventable and 2/3 of survivors will have some form of disability noted (National Stroke Association, 2013). Next what is heart disease and how does it affect ones life. The most prevalent type of heart disease observed in the United States is coronary artery disease (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2012). Coronary artery disease occurs when plaque builds up in ones arteries that supply the heart blood. Build up can eventually decrease or block the blood supply to the heart, and in some cases break off and clot a coronary artery causing a heart attack or even travel to the brain causing a stroke (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2012). High levels of plaque buildup increases ones risk of a heart attack, heart failure and angina (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2012). Heart disease is a very debilitating and prevalent disease seen within the western lifestyle. In many instances the population is aware of their possible risk factors, but fails to intervene and control as necessary. There are several risk factors that one may modify and control to decrease such events from occurring. At the same time one should know that there are risk factors one may possess that are not modifiable and play significant roles in health status. Leading causes that are easily modified include controlling ones blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, weight, activity level and refraining for smoking (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2012). By educating the population on these easily modifiable changes they will be able to prevent long-term damages that can occur when not properly maintained. Cardiovascular disease can be affected by many aspects of one make up. Things such as ones age, gender and race are non-modifiable and can carry an increased risk for occurrence. Possible factors that may influence ones health status and also may be unable to be modified are things such as access to healthy foods, access to quality health care, community resources and educational opportunities (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2012). . Blood pressure and cholesterol are the top two major contributors to cardiovascular disease. It is reported that every one in three adults have high blood pressure; however it is untreated blood pressure that is a major risk factor. Approximately half of the population with blood pressure issues does not have it under control (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2012). Healthy People 2020 suggest that one should have blood pressure screened starting at the age of 18, and then every two years there forth (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2012). The best way to decrease the number of cardiovascular disease and solve this epidemic is through a healthy diet and exercise regimen. Depending on association and ones risk factors, there may be several different types of recommendation and intervention necessary. Diet and exercise are the most suggested and effective interventions for prevention throughout ones lifespan. Exercise is great for many things, from decreasing weight, to improving self-esteem. In this case it helps decrease the amount of excess weight to decrease the amount of strain that is put onto the circulatory system. It is said that one should maintain a good exercise regimen throughout ones life. The recommended amount of exercise one should get is five days a week, approximately 30 minutes per day (National Stroke Association, 2013). Ideally one should participate in aerobic and strength-training exercises. Exercise doesnt have to be boring, it can be considered taking a bike ride, play a sport, briskly walking your dog, taking a walk through the park, the main idea is to maintain an active pace for at least thirty minutes. By decreasing your weight you can also decrease your chances of developing hypertension, high cholesterol, and diabetes, which all plays a major role in strokes and heart attacks (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2012). Physical activity may be inf luenced by ones surroundings. The amount of greenness in ones surroundings can potentially have an effect on coronary heart disease and stroke. Its shown that a greater area of surrounding greenness promotes ones physical activity due to the promotion of outside activities such as community walking, biking areas and sports (Pereira, et. al., 2012). Diet can play a major role in ones health. A healthy diet includes appropriate servings of fruits, vegetables, fish, soy, whole grains, lean meats, eggs, and dairy per daily recommendations. It has been shown in studies that consuming fruits and vegetables can reduce your risk of stroke. One should consume at least three to five servings of fruits and vegetables per day it is suggested (Sherzai, et. al., 2012). A vegetarian diet have been shown and linked to additionally reducing ones risk of hypertension, type II diabetes, and heart disease. Simply one should consume recommended amounts of fruits and vegetables from an early age on. It is shown that increased amounts of sodium intake can additionally contribute to high blood pressure, still yet we as Americans exceed the recommended daily intake (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2012). Increased levels of salt are generally seen in the restaurant and fast food industries, by decreasing the amount of food consumed outsid e the home one may have the ability to decrease ones sodium intake. Decreasing ones sugar consumption may additionally reduce CVD, especially fructose consumption (Thornley, et. al., 2012). The average recommended sugar intake is no more than six teaspoons per day for women, and nine per day for men (Thornley, et. al., 2012). Hospitals and nurses can have a huge impact on prevention, identification and prevention of cardiovascular disease. As a nurse one may encourage lifestyle goals that may improve ones prevention of heart disease. It is shown that adequate physical exercise, healthy weight, blood pressure control, diabetes screening, diabetes control, and anticoagulation therapy are favored to reduce risk (Suri, et. al., 2010). It was shown that within 12 months of lifestyle modifications the majority of patients had seven out of nine risk factors for CVD under control (Suri, et. al., 2010). Controlling ones risk factors for heart disease and stroke prevention remains a challenge. Modification of life style to reduce the chance of cardiovascular disease needs to be initiated at a young age. Addressing these risk factors early will help prevent possible complications. By educating the public about the effects of poor cardiovascular health and interventions to help prevent it from occurring, we will be able to reduce the number of deaths per year related to this life altering disease. Reference Page Center for Disease Control and Prevention. National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention. (2012).  Heart disease  . Retrieved from website: http://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/ Hayman, L. L., Helden, L., Chyun, D. A., Braun, L. T. (2011). A life course approach to cardiovascular disease prevention.  European Journal Of Cardiovascular Nursing,  10S20-31. doi:http://ezproxy.marshall.edu:2948/10.1016/S1474-5151(11)00113-7 http://ezproxy.marshall.edu:2472/login.aspx?direct=truedb=cin20AN=2011214745site=ehost-live Kajantle, E., Raikkonen, K., Henriksson, M., Leskinen, J., Forsen, T., Heinonen, K., Pesonen, A., Osmond, C. (2012). Stroke is predicted by low visuospatial in relation to other intellectual abilities and coronary heart disease by low general intelligence.  PLos One,7(11), 1-8. Retrieved from www.plosone.org National Stroke Association. (2013).  What is stroke?. Retrieved from http://www.stroke.org/site/PageServer?pagename=stroke Pereira, G., Foster, S., Martin, K., Christian, H., Boruff, B. J., Knuiman, M., Giles-Corti, B. (2012). The association between neighborhood greenness and cardiovascular disease: an observational study.  BMC Public Health,  12(1), 466-474. doi:10.1186/1471-2458-12-466 http://ezproxy.marshall.edu:2472/login.aspx?direct=truedb=aphAN=79974344site=ehost-live Sherzai, A., Heim, L., Boothby, C., Sherzai, A. (2012). Stroke, food groups, and dietary patterns: a systematic review.  Nutrition Reviews,70(8), 423-435. doi:10.1111/j.1753-4887.2012.00490.x. http://ezproxy.marshall.edu:2472/login.aspx?direct=truedb=aphAN=78111037site=ehost-live Suri, A., Tincey, S., Gupta, S. (2010). Cardiovascular disease.  Practice Nurse,  40(9), 44-49. http://ezproxy.marshall.edu:2472/login.aspx?direct=truedb=aphAN=57086565site=ehost-live Thornley, S. S., Tayler, R. R., Sikaris, K. K. (2012). Sugar restriction: the evidence for a drug-free intervention to reduce cardiovascular disease risk.  Internal Medicine Journal, 46-58. doi:10.1111/j.1445-5994.2012.02902.x http://ezproxy.marshall.edu:2472/login.aspx?direct=truedb=aphAN=82180015site=ehost-live U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2012). Healthy people 2020: Heart disease and stroke. Retrieved from website: http://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topicsobjectives2020/overview.aspx?topicId=21

My Sisters Bones - Book Report :: essays research papers

â€Å"Don’t tell Mom and Dad it’s me, okay?† She Waits. â€Å"Okay?† she says, a little louder. â€Å"Okay,† I tell my sister. â€Å"How are you? How’s college?† I’m surprised she’s calling up here, and glad for the distraction. Billy Weinstein seems to be the only one who’s noticed how her sister, Cassie, has changed since she left for college. She can tell how she seems withdrawn, obsessed with studying, and how she barely eats. Although Billie wants to talk to her parents about it, every time she brings it up, they just act as though its a phase and that she’ll grow out of it. Her father continuously says â€Å"She’s under a lot of stress now, that’s all. Freshman year is very hard at Cornell. She’ll get her appetite back after exams.† As the story deepens, Billie continues to try and show her parents how Cassie’s actions aren’t healthy. She’s even tried convincing Cassie to ask for help or to at least realize she has a problem. â€Å"No Billy, really, I’m fine. I had some breakfast before, I’m really not hungry. I’ll eat later, okay, I promise,† Cassie tells me. What makes it even worse though, is that Billie’s father is a doctor and should be able to tell that Cassie has a eating problem. As time goes on , Billie realizes that Cassie is getting deeper into problems. She sleeps all the time, and has stopped eating altogether. Finally, when Cassie’s dorm director at college calls and tells her parents that she has been getting reports from girls worrying about Cassie, Billie’s parents finally take action. As soon as they bring Cassie to the doctor, they put her in an eating disorder clinic. They all know that it will be a while before Cassie gets better since Cassie still hasn’t realized she has a problem. When Billie tells her that she should gain more wait, all she can say is : â€Å"It’s not good, it’s gross. I can’t stand it, really, but it’s the only way out of this place. Not that it’s so bad. I mean, in a way, it’s easier. Just a few simple rules. If you gain, you’re good, if you lose, you’re bad.

Legal and Political Environments Essay -- essays research papers

Legal and Political Environments The legal and political environments of global markets differ by country and often by region within a country. Global marketers must be aware of each environmental risk in global markets and develop contingency plans to overcome them. Legal Environment Clearly, the global legal environment is very dynamic and complex. It is the result of three forces: international law, U.S. domestic law, and legal requirements of host nations. According to Czinkota and Ronkainen, (2004), when a marketer conducts international marketing transactions with a country, it is very imperative that managers know and remain abreast of the policies and regulations of that country. Whether a firm is located abroad or domestically, it will be subject to government policies and the legal system. However, even though many of these laws and regulations do not pertain to international marketing transactions, they can have a major impact on a firm’s opportunities abroad. Therefore, the best course to follow is to get legal help. However, the astute, proactive marketer can do a great deal to prevent legal conflicts from arising in the first place, especially concerning the following legal issues such as establishment, jurisdiction, environmental superfund, intellectual property rights, counterfeiting, antitrust, licensing and trade secrets, bribery, gray market, trade sanctions, and embargoes. Further, the services of counsel are essential for addressing these and other ... Legal and Political Environments Essay -- essays research papers Legal and Political Environments The legal and political environments of global markets differ by country and often by region within a country. Global marketers must be aware of each environmental risk in global markets and develop contingency plans to overcome them. Legal Environment Clearly, the global legal environment is very dynamic and complex. It is the result of three forces: international law, U.S. domestic law, and legal requirements of host nations. According to Czinkota and Ronkainen, (2004), when a marketer conducts international marketing transactions with a country, it is very imperative that managers know and remain abreast of the policies and regulations of that country. Whether a firm is located abroad or domestically, it will be subject to government policies and the legal system. However, even though many of these laws and regulations do not pertain to international marketing transactions, they can have a major impact on a firm’s opportunities abroad. Therefore, the best course to follow is to get legal help. However, the astute, proactive marketer can do a great deal to prevent legal conflicts from arising in the first place, especially concerning the following legal issues such as establishment, jurisdiction, environmental superfund, intellectual property rights, counterfeiting, antitrust, licensing and trade secrets, bribery, gray market, trade sanctions, and embargoes. Further, the services of counsel are essential for addressing these and other ...

true story of hamlet :: essays research papers

Short Story The True Story Of Hamlet â€Å"Who’s there?† said Bernardo the watchmen â€Å"it is I, Francisco here to relieve you.† â€Å"it sure is cold and creepy out tonight, where is Horatio he is late?† â€Å"Gentlemen how are you tonight?† asked Horatio The guards replied at the same instant, â€Å"fine† â€Å"Good night and stay warm† said Francisco Shortly there after Marcellus arrives and they see a ghostlike figure in the distance and Bernardo is positive it was the late great king of Denmark. Horatio quickly agrees and Marcellus is persuaded by the others judgment that it indeed is the ghost of the king. â€Å"Everything is working out great.† said Bernardo Horatio just glanced over to acknowledge that he understood but Marcellus was so scared at the time he didn’t even notice. The Guards and Horatio go get Prince Hamlet, son of the late King Hamlet of Denmark and take him to the top of the castle to see for himself but the Prince was delusional and vulnerable. He came anyway and when the ghost appeared in the thick fog it almost seemed real to Horatio whom played a strong role of playing shocked and scared but he knew that it was not the old king, but Hamlet didn’t know that and in his state of denial of the recent events in his life he is sucked into believing that it is true and his father has come back to help him. Marcellus and Horatio try and come up with a rational explanation but Marcellus could not think of one and leaves Horatio with knowledge that they believe. Was it true? Did this really happen? The night before last Horatio was in the castle and walked passed King Claudius’s chamber and overheard him c onfessing his sins to god and overheard the whole story on how and whom killed King Hamlet.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The next morning King Claudius, Hamlets uncle celebrates his marriage to Gertrude Hamlets mother and Claudius proclaims that Hamlet will be king when he is ready to be king. Hamlet obsessed over his new findings and his depression becomes angry and looks upon Claudius with bad eyes since his whore mother whom married less then a month after his fathers death to his uncle keeps asking him to cast away these nightly colors that he is wearing and through all of this brings anxiety to Hamlet and he feels something’s strange and that he should not be forgetting his father. (Hamlet speaks to himself)

American Dream Is Still Alive

American Dream is Still Alive My whole life I grew up believing that there is such thing as the American Dream. The last couple years my faith in that has been tested for sure. Today there are many problems with the economy; there are many people out there who think there's no such thing as the American Dream anymore. â€Å"The creation of a government that is out of control, and thus out of touch, robs every citizen, preventing fulfillment of the original American Dream (Thomas 569). I agree with this, however I am still proud to be an American and I believe that no matter how hard it is, you can do anything you put your mind to. It's not going to be easy; in fact it will be much more challenging than it used to be when the economy was different. But that doesn’t mean that the American Dream has been lost forever. The American dream may not be exactly what it used to be, and it may be harder to achieve than ever before; however, it is still alive. One reason the American dre am is harder to achieve is because America is in a financial crisis.Costly war after costly war is being fought. Our men and women are fighting wars in other countries and are gone for years on end†¦many don’t return at all. Our economy has taken a nose dive, and at a rate that many wonder if there is any hope of it ever coming back up. It seems that more people are unemployed than working, and even those who were highly employable before can’t seem to find a job anymore. The top 4 percent of Americans hold the largest amount of money, and is not trickling down. Many believe we are going through another depression. Children are starving and standards of living are lowering. Wherever you choose to look—at the economy and jobs, the public schools, the budget deficits, the nonstop warfare overseas—you’ll see a country in sad shape (Herbert 564). † It is evident that things need to change. The American Dream may be buried, but we can dig it up and find ways to make it live long and prosperous once again. The news shows that unemployment is slowly dropping, but I can’t help but wonder if that is because those people who receive unemployment benefits are no longer receiving benefits, not necessarily because they have a job, but because their money has run out.In order to make it at all we need to be earning an income. Not to mention the fact that when we are working, most people aren’t even earning a living wage; but what makes matters worse, unemployment is so high these days, just finding a job is becoming next to impossible. The high unemployment makes things so difficult these days. So many people are scrambling to make a living or to make ends meet. With the economy as fallen as it is, even highly educated people are without a job. Many people are finding out that you can be too educated for a regular job.Others are finding that employers don’t want to hire you if you are unemployed. Again, othe rs are highly trainable and would make excellent employees, but employers don’t want to take the time or spend the money to train. During a recession like this, many people need to be working two jobs just to make ends meet. But even fast food restaurants have raised their standards to high that they expect a resume before the consider you. With so little people hiring and those hiring having such high standards, people are becoming desperate just to find a job. State and local governments, faced with fiscal nightmares, are reducing services, cutting their work forces, hacking away at health and pension benefits, and raising taxes and fees. In many cases, the austerity measures are punishing some of the most vulnerable people, including children, the sick, and the disabled (Herbert 565). † These cutbacks have had many ramifications on the American Dream. People who were well on their way to achieving it had their dreams snatched out from under them as employers let peop le go, lowered wages, took away bonuses, and raised the fees on benefits or cut it all together.Suddenly new grads needed more experience and education to get their foot in the door while earning barely enough to pay their rent, let alone their student loans. America has recently fallen into a great recession, and though some claim we are no longer in a recession, our country and has never quite bounced back. Our economy is fragile and unstable. â€Å"In June 2009†¦. native born workers lost 1. 2 million [jobs] (Herbert 565). † Businesses are afraid to hire more workers; for fear that consumers aren’t comfortable spending money quite yet.Consumers are afraid to spend money for fear that they won’t be earning any more. People who were once financially stable are barely getting by, some even homeless. This recession has been said to be equal to, if not worse than, the Great Depression. â€Å"The human suffering in the years required to recover from the reces sion will continue to be immense (Herbert 565). † Recovery may be happening, but is definitely an unstable process. Jobs are still hard to come by and a living wage is still almost unheard of. â€Å"The U. S. needs to develop a full-employment economy that provides jobs for all ho want to work at pay that enables workers and their families to enjoy a decent standard of living (Herbert 565). † In this day and age, it is as much about earning a wage that pays the bills as it is to have a job. What’s the point of working 45 hours a week if it doesn’t pay all your bills? Many people are willing to work the jobs that they may have never considered before, but those jobs don’t come close to paying a living wage. Potential small business owners are having a hard time starting up, as banks are uneasy about giving business loans, slowing job growth even more.Another hindrance in the comeback of our beautiful country is the enormous gap between our wealthiest and our poorest. â€Å"As long as income and wealth keep concentrating at the top, and the great divide between America’s have-mores and have-lesses continues to widen, the Great Recession won’t end, at least not in the real economy. Weak national real estate markets, sluggish job growth, and slow recovery of liquid assets lost during the recession are obstacles to a full recovery (King 574). † There was once a time where you could not exactly be rich, but not exactly be poor.You could afford to live, have a decent job, and even go on vacation. Maybe you couldn’t afford to own two brand new vehicles and put your children in expensive private schools, but you had a savings account that had money in it and were happy with where your hard work had taken you. That, my friends, is what used to be called the Middle Class. It is quickly becoming something of the past, and without those striving for the American Dream, may become a mythical fairytale that we tel l our children and grandchildren about. The importance of education has fallen to the back burner as cuts to public school become greater.As the saying goes, children are our future. They are the people that will be, one day, running our government. When cuts are constantly being made to public schools, children aren’t getting what they need to get the kind of education that allows them to grow up to be critical thinking adults. â€Å"A monopolistic government school system keeps the poor from achieving their dreams, as many remain locked, producing graduates who lag behind other nations in subjects that matter (Thomas 569). † The subjects children are taught were chosen with care.Every child has different talents, and those talents need to be fostered. When subjects get cut from schools, many children miss out on learning what they need to learn in order to grow and become who they are supposed to do. â€Å"There was a time when the United States understood the impor tance of educating its young people and led the way in compulsory public schooling. It also built the finest higher education system in the world. Now, although no one will admit it publicly, we’ve decided to go in another direction (Herbert 566). † This is sad but true.Somewhere down the line, we must have forgotten that a poor education creates a poor society. There is only one teacher per classroom, but each classroom has over two dozen children, each having separate learning needs, and each having different learning styles. With funding being directed places other than public education, the result is schools closing. All over America school after school after school is being closed. This puts hardworking teachers out of business and crams the classrooms even more with children who require a proper education that consists of one-on-one time. Public figures talks endlessly about ‘transformative changes’ in public education, but the years go by and we see no such thing (Herbert 566). † Lately, it seems the only changes we’ve seen have not been what are best for our education system. â€Å"School systems around the country are being hammered with dreadful cutbacks and teachers are being let go in droves, not because they are incompetent, but strictly for budget reasons (Herbert 566). † This leaves kindergartens with waiting lists and parents who have to pay upwards of $300 a month kindergarten fees.Some children are put in part time daycare, while others get full time. However, both go to first grade. I can’t help but wonder if one is more prepared than the other? But I believe there is a silver lining to all of this. The American dream is still alive there is always hope for a better future. The fact that there hasn’t been an overturn of government proves that we are strong. We can adapt to new challenges that come our way. We may get knocked down a time or two, but it’s that light at the end of the tunnel—the one some call the American Dream—that get us back up to try again. As a nation, we have dealt with economic downturns in the past, and the American Dream has faced trials and tests before†¦We have adapted the values contained within the American Dream to meet new challenges (King 577). † Many people have been hit hard with the economic changes. They acclimated to new situations, new ways of living, reinvented themselves, and in doing so, they have found their way back on top. One way we can help bring back the American Dream to its full potential, is to support local business and buy locally.Entrepreneurs create businesses, hire people; people get paid, people shop. People have nice things and money in their pockets, they aren’t so scared to help pay taxes and fund good schools. â€Å"I believe it is necessary and imperative to continue to support the business mechanisms that sustain our economy (King 577). † Without a booming economy, we don’t have a functioning society. We need to support our brothers and sisters. We need to help those around us, and not let it burden us. All this will help create more jobs, and will in turn help the community.If anyone works hard enough, they can â€Å"climb out of hardship and achieve success (King 577). † Hard work is key. It pays off. Sometimes it takes longer than we want it to, but if we don’t give up, we will reap the reward. If we have proven anything in this day and age, it is that we are persistent. â€Å"Despite the recent recession, many have faith that as long as people believe they have a chance of becoming better off than they are today, then the American dream is intact (King 577). † We all have the American Dream inside us, and we will work to achieve it, doing whatever it takes.I believe the American Dream is very much alive. It may not look exactly like it did 50, 60, or 70 years ago, but it is here to stay. Society has ad apted and changed, and so has the American Dream. No longer is it about becoming as rich as one possibly can, but about being financially secure, having a job that pays a living wage, as well as having a savings. Stability is more important that material wealth. It’s a good dream. It may not be so easy to obtain, but it is within reach. With hard work and a positive attitude, I believe it is much closer than we realize.Work Cited Herbert, Bob. â€Å"Hiding from Reality. † They Say, I Say with Readings. 2nd ed. Eds, Gerald Graff, Cathy Birkenstein, and Russell Durst. New York: WW. Norton Company, 2012, 564-67. Print. King, Brandon. â€Å"The American Dream: Dead, Alive, or on Hold? † They Say, I Say with Readings. 2nd ed. Eds. Gerald Graff et al. New York: Norton, 2012. 572-79. Print. Thomas, Cal. â€Å"Is the American Dream Over? † They Say, I Say with Readings. 2nd ed. Eds, Gerald Graff et al. New York: Norton, 2012. 568-70. Print.

Admissibility of FMRI

Functional magnetic resonance imaging, or FMRI, is a technique for measuring brain activity. It works by detecting the changes in blood oxygenation and flow that occur in response to neural activity – when a brain area is more active it consumes more oxygen and to meet this increased demand blood flow increases to the active area.FMRI can be used to produce activation maps showing which parts of the brain are involved in a particular mental process (FMRIB Center).This is how it works: oxygen is delivered to neurons by haemoglobin in capillary red blood cells. When neuronal activity increases there is an increased demand for oxygen and the local response is an increase in blood flow to regions of increased neural activity.Haemoglobin is diamagnetic when oxygenated but paramagnetic when deoxygenated. This difference in magnetic properties leads to small differences in the MR signal of blood depending on the degree of oxygenation.Since blood oxygenation varies according to the le vels of neural activity these differences can be used to detect brain activity. This form of MRI is known as blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) imaging (id).It is claimed that through this process, FMRI can be used as a lie detector test. The question now arises that should the FMRI be used as a lie detector test, will the results be admissible in evidence in our courts of law in light of the Daubert ruling? This paper will try to answer this question by testing FMRI against the four questions set up by the Supreme Court in the said decision.Is FMRI a testable technique?The Supreme Court, in discussing how evidence should pass this test, the judge must ascertain whether the reasoning or methodology underlying the testimony is scientifically valid and of whether that reasoning or methodology properly can be applied to the facts in issue.A key question to be answered in determining whether a theory or technique is scientific knowledge that will assist the trier of fact will be w hether it can be(and has been) tested (92-102). The main concern of the Supreme Court here is the reliability of the technique and reduction of falsifiability.FMRI is one of the most recently developed forms of neuroimaging but the idea underpinning the technique – inferring brain activity by measuring changes in blood flow – is not new (FMRIB Center). The technique, however, is relatively new.FMRI still has not gained acceptance as a reliable method of lie detection to replace the polygraph. Recent studies only indicate that FMRI may be more reliable than the polygraph but FMRI is yet to attain its full potential.Dr. Faro, in studying FMRI admits that because the polygraph test, while improved over the last 10 to 15 years, is not as accurate as it needs to be, a better method for detecting deception clearly needs to be developed (Orenstein 30).He add that he is convinced that FMRI used with or without polygraph will someday be the new gold standard (id). The scientist s remain hopeful the FMRI will someday be the standard. But as of today, its acceptability as a lie detection test is still on a thin balance. In short, FMRI has not yet been fully tested so as to be acceptable as a lie detection method.Despite this, it is noteworthy that FMRI lie detection centers have already been set up in the United States. They are No Lie MRI, Incorporated and Cephos Corporation. This shows that FMRI is gaining ground as a stand alone test for lie detection and not just merely as a supplement to the polygraph.Has FMRI been peer reviewed?  The concern of the Supreme Court in including this test is to make sure that the theory or technique has been subjected to scrutiny by the science community because it is only then that the substantive flaws of the methodology can be revealed.Without effort, FMRI will pass this test. FMRI has been subjected to tests and retests by a lot of scientists to verify its efficiency and effectiveness. In fact the University of Oxfor d established its own FMRIB Center to study it as a field of discipline.As mentioned earlier, Dr. Faro already tested whether it can replace the polygraph or not. And lastly, there are also plenty of studies on FMRI being conducted as of this moment because it has inspired general interest in the science community. The abstracts of these studies can be viewed in the internet.Does FMRI have a known error rate or standard controlling it operation?The error rate of FMRI has not yet been established because as mentioned earlier, it is a recent development in nueroimaging and still has not been tested thoroughly. However, Dr. Faro says that subjects would have to lie perfectly for them to beat the FMRI (Orenstein, id).He says that FMRI would be much harder to beat than polygraph because it measures a primary cognitive response that begins within the deep structures of the brain.Lying involves coordinating complex activations in many different parts of the brain that relate to awareness, understanding, inhibition, and emotion.One way of arguing the admissibility of the FMRI according to this test is to argue how polygraphs are admissible in courts. According to the American Polygraph Association, polygraph results are admissible in some federal circuits and states (Orenstein, id).And this is so even though the polygraph is only 85% to 90% accurate when the subjects are being deceptive and only 70% to 75% accurate when subjects are being truthful. If polygraphs are admissible in court, then FMRI should also be admissible considering that the latter is more accurate than the former.However, there is a great cloud over the admissibility of the FMRI when the procedure of conducting it is considered. Subjects participating in a fMRI experiment are asked to lie still and are usually restrained with soft pads to prevent small motions from disturbing measurements.It is possible to correct for some amount of head movement with post-processing of the data, but large transient motion can render these attempts futile. Generally motion in excess of 3 millimeters will result in unusable data.Thus, a very accurate data is hard to obtain from FMRI. A movement of only 3 millimeters will already render the data useless. Considering that the shortest time needed to conduct an FMRI is 15 minutes, it is easy to conclude that an FMRI is hardly accurate.Of course, this can be addressed by utilizing mechanisms to reduce movements. And the FMRI centers should have already addressed this problem. But standing as it is, this fact casts doubt on the admissibility of FMRI because of the possible large inaccurcies of the data gathered during testing.There is also a concern on the reliability of the FMRI with regard to complex lies. Complex lies are half truths and sometimes rhetorical answers to the standard questions asked during an FMRI session. They are answers which have shades of truth or just an answer with a misperception about a question. This area of FMRI still ha s not been studied thoroughly making it less reliable as a method of lie detection.Is the underlying science generally accepted?Yes, the underlying science behind FMRI is generally accepted. As mentioned earlier, the idea underpinning the technique (FMRI) – inferring brain activity by measuring changes in blood flow – is not new. The study of FMRI draws from physics, psychology, neuroanatomy, statistics and electrophysiology, all of which are generally accepted fields of discipline. Thus, under this test, FMRI is admissible in evidence.ConclusionIn conclusion, FMRI is not admissible in evidence when tested against the Daubert standards. First of all, it still has not been thoroughly tested as a science. The method of conducting has not yet been perfected by the testing centers. These two factors accounts for somewhat doubtful results and may seem not convincing before the eyes of the courts.In fact, criticisms as to the accuracy of the data gathered during FMRI have al ways been the the biggest factors in sustaining its non-acceptability. Issues raised such as there are non-neural influences in the change of magnetic fields in the blood vessels have been raised and these have not been specifically addressed by the current studies on FMRI.It has also been raised that FMRI only measures the secondary physiological correlates of neural activity, it is not a direct measure. This means it is not a truly quantitative measure of mental activity – when comparing the FMRI response between individuals it is impossible to say whether the differences are neural or physiological in origin (FMRIB Center).These are the scientific arguments against the FMRI. Of course, there are also ethical arguments against its use but they will not be discussed in this paper for being irrelevant.One argument which, to the mind of this reader, will really cause the courts to strike down FMRI evidence as inadmissible is the constitutional argument that it violates the rig ht to privacy. During an FMRI session, collateral information about the subject may be obtained but which he would have wanted to keep secret. This is a violation of the right to privacy.  Of course, it is already established that such a mechanical method of subjecting one's self to physical examination is not violative of the right against self-incrimination. However, this is not the case I am pointing out. What if some information not related to the trial or to the case has been obtained during the FMRI session?True that it will not be offered in evidence but the damage of violating the right to privacy has already been incurred. What will the subject do then? If the FMRI violates the constitutional right to privacy, then anything obtained during such sessions, though irrelevant and immaterial to the case, should be kept confidential and inadmissible in evidence in all courts and tribunals.Secondly, the FMRI should be inadmissible in evidence because its error rate still has not been determined to a certain definitive degree. It matters not if polygraph evidence is admissible in many federal and state courts. As of the moment, the Supreme Court still has no definitive ruling as to its admissibility (Orenstein).Moreover, the accuracy of the data obtained during FMRI sessions is still in doubt when the procedure is considered. The fact that a 3-millimeter movement will render the data untruthful is enough for the courts to cast a doubtful eye on FMRI evidence. As to the matter of complex lies, this provides the subjects a way to beat the FMRI.They even do not have to lie. They can just answer half-truths or even use rhetorical answers and they could already beat the FMRI.All these point to rejection of FMRI evidence considering the attitude of the courts toward the Daubert principle. In fact, litigants say that courts are more strict than what the Supreme Court suggested in the Daubert case (Hileman 2003).However, as a statement of hope for FMRI, today is no t the timely moment to test its admissibility in our courts of law. It should be given more time to develop into a better-founded discipline and its loopholes tied end-to-end. Then perhaps someday, our society will find it a very reliable method in lie detection and the results be admissible in evidence in our courts of law. Works CitedIntroduction to FMRI. FMRIB Center, University of Oxford. December 4, 2007. http://www.fmrib.ox.ac.uk/education/fmri/introduction-to-fmri/introduction/Orenstein, Beth. Guilty? Investigating FMRI's Future as a Lie Detector. May 16, 2005. Radiology Today. Vol 6 No. 10 p. 30.Supreme Court of the United State. Daubert vs Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals. June 28, 1993. retrieved December 4, 2007. http://straylight.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/92-102.ZO.htmlWeiller C et al (2006). â€Å"Clinical potential of brain mapping using MRI†. Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging 23 (6): 840–850Scott A. Huettel, Allen W. Song, Gregory McCarthy, Functional Ma gnetic Resonance Imaging, Sinauer Associates, 2004.Hileman, Bette. Daubert Rules Challenge Courts. July 7, 2003. Our Stolen Future. Retrieved December 4, 2007. http://www.ourstolenfuture.org/press/2003/2003-0707-CEN-daubert.htmSilberman, Steve. Don't Even Think About Lying. Wired Magazine. Retrieved December 4, 2007. http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/14.01/lying_pr.html

Competency Goals Essay

In order for children to feel safe away from home they need a safe environment where they can learn and play comfortably. I am always alert and continuously observe the children at all times. Children must never be left unsupervised. In the class, safety precautions such as checking all tables and chairs for damage and sharp edges is done weekly. All electrical outlets that are not being used are covered with safety caps. I guarantee that the children’s work and play areas are free of clutter. When the children are using scissors, pencils or other instruments, I make sure they carry them in an appropriate manner to prevent injury. We have on file written permission from the parent’s to take their child for any emergency medical care if the nurse isn’t on campus. Outdoor play areas are checked daily for harmful objects such as bottles, cans, or other litter items before the children go out to play. In the center, a fire drill is conducted Once a month. A Healthy Environment A healthy environment is essential for effective learning. A visual daily health check is done each day upon each child’s arrival. I respond immediately to accidents, health concerns and emergency conditions calmly. The classroom is maintained in a clean and hygienic environment. While working with parents, together we assist the children in building good grooming habits b maintaining consistent routines at school and encourage them to do so at home. Hand washing following toileting, washing hands before meals and brushing teeth is done in the center to encourage healthy needs. Children are able to flourish in an environment that influences their growth and development. A Learning Environment Children learn by doing and by imitating each other, their parents and their teachers. I respect and acknowledge each child’s ideas, concern and feelings. We provide a variety of materials in the class from the books we  use to the toys with which the children play. Participation is encouraged without any of the children feeling frustrated. An environment is provided where each child has fun during activities that are allowed and encouraged to participate in various activities to appreciate each other’s cultural differences. Each child display their work around the classroom they enjoy seeing their accomplishments. Open communication is provided for each child. I try to make sure the children’s daily schedule is followed, but sometimes we get a little behind. Transition from one activity to another is smooth. COMPETENCY GOAL II TO ADVANCE PHYSICAL AND INTELLECTUALCOMPETENCE Physical Physcial development is important for healthy development. Physical activities are designed to be fun for the children. Children like a lot of physical movement. In the class we schedule time to use both gross and fine motor skills. We plan physical activities during outside time, such as relay races, jumping rope, hula hoops, throwing a ball and just plain exercising. Play enhances learning both inside and outside. My enthusiasm is shown when I actively play with the children. In the class, we exercise to music, combining music and movement. Parents are encouraged to get involved in physical activities with their children. We plan, develop and coordinate fine and small motor skill activities such as stringing large and small beads, cutting with scissors, turning single pages in books, drawing and putting puzzles together. Sleep is also important for growth. Children need rest during the day. Quiet time with music is played in order to help the child relax. Intellectual Children want answers to their questions. Most of their questions start with â€Å"Why†. As their teacher, I know that it is important to their questions answered. It is their way of learning. They need to learn how to perceive different things. In the class we use symbols as part of comprehending.  Books are used to ask questions and think about what is being read to them. As part of our schedule, I let the children plan their own activities. They tell me what center they want to go in and what they plan to do in their centers. Children are given the opportunity to talk about their parents, friends and things happening around home and community. On some Fridays we do show and tell or idol Friday. The children bring items from home and tell the class something about the item. We also bring something to share; this way the children in turn ask us questions. In the class, we sing our Alphabet and sounds song. This helps them to learn letters of the alphabet. We play number gam es for rote counting and shape searching in the class for shapes recognition. COMPETENCY GOAL III TO SUPPORT SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND TO PROVIDE POSITIVE GUIDANCE Social Development Teachers are very important role models for a child. Promoting social skills includes helping children begin to understand the feelings and needs of others. In the class, I always model good social skills around the children. Observation is an important tool while learning how a child feels and behaves. When a child tells me no one will play with him/her, through observation, the child is monitored around his/her peers to see if there is a lack of social developing skills. Helping, sharing, showing concern and cooperation with each other is always encouraged. Children are rewarded with praise for kindness, being helpful and cooperative to each other. Each child is made to feel special. Addressing social skills, knowing the children’s cultural background and environment is very important to me. Social interactions are provided through play. Play socially helps children to cooperate and appreciate each other. Children have to be able to get along with each other in order for the day run smoothly. Emotional Development As a teacher, I try to make a great difference in developing emotional skills in the children. Children are encouraged to express love, fear, and anger. It is important for me to help the children control both negative and  positive emotions. Emotional development through play is encouraged. It helps children relieve feelings in a safe environment and promotes self-confidence. I respect each child as an individual and the natural differences in how children express their feelings. In the class, puppets and role-play are used in exhibiting emotions whether positive or negative.in the class, I plan and provide a place for the children to have some down time when they are experiencing negative emotions. Positive Guidance The way a teacher acts influences the children. I always maintain a positive attitude around the children. The climate of the class is always relaxed. My tone of voice is calm, when speaking with the children. As the teacher in the class, I use guidance techniques such as modeling appropriate behavior and allowing the children to act their age. Directions are given in a positive way. The schedule is provided and followed daily so the children will know the routine and can make transitions easier. A helper chart is put up this way, all the children share responsibility of keeping the classroom clean and orderly. As a group, we together come up with a set of class rules, which are agreeable with the students and me. Children are encouraged to feed and dress themselves. Children are praised when they cooperated and help each other, especially during clean up Time. COMPETENCY GOAL IV TO ESTABLISH POSITIVE AND PRODUCTIVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH FAMILIES It is very important to me to let parents and families of the children I work with know and feel they are a big part of our program. The parents as well as their children are important to me and the overall success of the program. I encourage a cooperative atmosphere among each child’s relationships within the family structure. Parents are always welcome in the classroom. Regular communication with the parents is important. It is important to present a united effort to the family of the children with whom I teach. Newsletters are sent home on a weekly basis t parents to inform them of upcoming events. A parent news board is set up to provide daily  updates to parents on meals, activities and important dates. In order to maintain an open, friendly and cooperative relationship with each child’s family we provide parents with opportunities to become involved in the programs. We encourage parents to volunteer in the classroom, attend workshops, serve on policy and advisory committees, attend field trips and attend parent meetings. During parent meetings suggestions are made for improving the daily program. Information about their child’s experiences and achievements in the center is provided to the parents. Reports are distributed periodically to help parents understand the progress of his or her child. Home visits are made twice throughout the school term to share activities and materials that parents can use at home with their child. Each family’s cultural background, religious and parenting beliefs are respected. Parent-Teacher conferences are another means of communication with parents they are also held twice in a school term. Parents need to know and feel they are a part of the teaching team in the classroom. Together, our common goal is always, the children. COMPETENCY GOAL V TO ENSURE A WELL-RUN PURPOSEFUL PROGRAM RESPONSIVE TO PARTICIPANT NEEDS To ensure a well-run program, I maintain an open communication with my Lead Teacher and other staff members. We work as a team to provide quality, developmentally appropriate activities and materials for the children each day. I’m always willing to work with bus monitors, parents and volunteers. It is important to me that the children can flourish well in an environment that influences their growth and development. Each child’s nutritional needs are met. Up-to-date records is maintained on each child. Each child’s record is kept confidential. Confidentiality secures the privacy of the children and their families. The parents, staff members Lead Teacher and myself work to identify the strengths and needs of each child. Records and reports concerning growth, behavior, health, and progress of each child is maintained. This information is shared with each child’s parent. Schedules are posted and followed daily they are where the parents can read them. This way, they know what their child is working on daily. By using appropriated  guidelines, I observe the children for signs of abuse or neglect and follow through if needed. Center brochures are distributed to each child’s family. Each child’s progress is discussed with his/her respective parents. Planning is essential. A great deal of time is sent on planning, so that children will have their needs met. I ensure that the classroom is clean and safe. The classroom is always prepared before the children arrive. Reference materials, are utilized as needed each day. To stimulate and motivate the children, I consistently look for new and innovative methods. I read various books and education websites to acquire acknowledge. It is important to maintain appreciation for each child’s cultural background. COMPETENCY GOAL VI TO MAINTAIN A COMMITMENT TO PROFESSIONALISM As a teacher, I enjoy teaching Pre-K. I demonstrate a positive attitude toward the children and their parents. It is important to promote quality services. I take advantage of all opportunities to improve my personal and professional growth. This growth is beneficial for the children I teach, as well as their parents. I take advantage for personal development by attending conferences, in-service trainings, staff meetings and study groups. I read books, stay in contact with other pre-k teachers and resource coordinators to help keep me informed of changes in the teaching field. Information about the children, their families and staff is kept confidential. Effective communications and working well with my co-workers is very important. I perform my duties professionally no matter where I work. While dressing in a professional manner, my hair, nails and attire are maintained clean and attractive. A positive, professional attitude is projected at all times. Cultural differences in the chi ldren are respected at all times. Parents are informed about field trips, home visits and conferences. I ask parents to volunteer in the class, each week I send home a family activity this keeps them involved in learning about their child’s experiences at school. I am committed to keeping the children safe, providing good communication, positive guidance and working with the families of the children. It is important for the children’s family and me  to work together. The key is teamwork. The common goal is that the parents and myself will do what is best for the child.