Juvenile Prevention Programs Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Juvenile Prevention Programs - Research Paper Example Example of juvenile crimes that should be prevented in the society includes drug abuse, alcohol drinking, engaging in sexual activities, violent behavior at school and at home among other crimes. The essay below seeks to address juvenile prevention programs, and how they have been implemented in Washington D.C. The essay has also tackled the demographic and crime rate in Washington D.C. In Washington D.C, change in its demographic state has played a crucial role in dictating the rates of juvenile crimes among college students. Statistics have indicated that the increased number of people in Washington D.C has led to increased levels of juvenile crimes. There are a number of juvenile crimes that occur in Washington D.C, among them illegal sexual activities, heavy alcohol drinking among college and high school students, drug abuse cases, among other violent behavior in school and at home. Though the juvenile crimes in Washington D.C seem to be high, the rates have been decreasing over the years according to the statistics given out by the majority of studies on the same. The rate of juvenile crimes in Washington D.C can be compared to the rates in the whole country. A study done in 2003 indicated that the rate of juvenile violence lowered significantly in America as compared to a decade ago. Juvenile arrests reduced by 52% in parts of Washington D.C between 1995 and 2003 (Sewell, 2003). Heavy alcohol intake among college students in Washington D.C brings about negative consequences hence it is better relevant prevention programs to stop them from happening. The behavior results to poor academic performances, negative health well being of the students, negative social behavior, and also second-hand consequences to students who associate with those who take alcohol heavily (Levy & Kremer, 2008).

Castrol and Its Distributors Essay Example for Free

Castrol and Its Distributors Essay We had to undergo summer training in the corporate sector for hands on experience, where we get an opportunity to put into practice the knowledge gained during the entire first year. Hence, the organizational study was conducted at Shekar Agencies, Bangalore, for a period of 5 weeks. The organization was studied on an overall basis. The objective of our study was to: * Understand the structure of Shekar Agencies and how it functions. * Understand the different facets of the environment in which the organization operates. * Understand the culture of Shekar Agencies. Know about the decision-making processes in Shekar Agencies. It may also have the function of transporting foreign particles. The property of reducing friction is known as  lubricity. 1. 2. 2 Manufacturing Process of Lubricating Oil Lube oil is extracted from crude oil, which undergoes a preliminary purification process (sedimentation) before it is pumped into fractionating towers. A typical high-efficiency fractionating tower, 25 to 35 feet (7. 6 to 10. 6 meters) in diameter and up to 400 feet (122 meters) tall, is constructed of high grade steels to resist the corrosive compounds present in crude oils; inside, it is fitted with an ascending series of condensate collecting trays. Within a tower, the thousands of hydrocarbons in crude oil are separated from each other by a process called  fractional distillation. As the vapours rise up through the tower, the various fractions cool, condense, and return to liquid form at different rates determined by their respective boiling points (the lower the boiling point of the fraction, the higher it rises before condensing). Natural gas reaches Crude oil distillation process A good lubricant possesses the following characteristics: * High boiling point. If one thinks of lubricants today, the first type to come to mind are mineral oil based. Mineral oil components continue to form the quantitatively most important foundation of lubricants. Petrochemical components and increasingly derivatives of natural, harvestable raw materials from the oleo-chemical industry are finding increasing acceptance because of their environmental compatibility and some technical advantages. On average, lubricating oils, which quantitatively account for about 90 % of lubricant consumption, consist of about 93 % base oils and 7 % chemical additives and other components (between 0. and 40 %). Worldwide, there are 1380 lubricant manufacturers ranging from large to small. On one hand there are vertically-integrated petroleum companies whose main business objective is the discovery, extraction and refining of crude oil. Lubricants account for only a very small part of their oil business. At present, there are about 180 such national and multinational oil compan ies engaged in manufacturing lubricants. The 1200 independent lubricant companies mainly concentrate on the manufacturing and marketing of lubricants and view lubricants as their core business.

Analysis of Financial Proposal

Analysis of Financial Proposal (1) analyse financial data; evaluate the results and formulate conclusions (2) prepare a budget and explain how it would be negotiated and monitored. (3) produce a financial proposal and present a sound business case to secure the  required financial resources. The figures can be fictitious. Part 1) Technique used: Ratio Analysis Refer to the Appendix Profitability Ratios These ratios help us to judge how good the firm’s profit performance is. The two key ratios to show profitability are: Return on Capital Employed This measures the level of profit of the business compared to the amount of capital that has been invested in it. It is effectively the return the business has made, and investors will want this to be higher than the rate of interest they could have got elsewhere. The budget is showing a healthy 68% return on capital which includes proposed bank borrowings. Profit Margin This measures the level of profit compared to the turnover, it therefore shows the percentage profit on the sales. It can be measured as either a gross or net profit margin. The Gross Profit margin is 66.5% but the Net Profit margin is only 11.3% due to high wages and purchases costs. These could be reduced by bulk buying and negotiating special terms. Liquidity Ratios These are ratios that measure the liquidity of the business. Business has to ensure that they are able to meet their commitments as when they fall due by converting sufficient assets into cash. A business should avoid a situation where a lot of cash or capital is tied up in high levels of stock. Current asset and Acid Test ratio shows that the business has more than enough assets to cover its liabilities and it is very liquid as the stock and debtors can be turned into cash quickly. Current Ratios This ratio compares the current assets and current liabilities. Clearly a business needs to have more current assets than liabilities, and so at a minimum the figure should be more than 1. Here it is 1.54 which is slightly higher and thus ensures sufficient liquidity. Acid Test Ratios This ratio takes a closer look at the business’s liquidity. One of the current assets is stock, and this clearly not always easy to turn into cash. In fact the firm may have high stock levels because they can’t sell all of it. So the acid test ratio takes the current assets and subtracts the stock. This is a test of immediate solvency. If the value of this ratio is much less than 1 the business may have a liquidity problem, as it may have insufficient assets to meet all its liabilities. Debtors and Creditors Payment period The debtors payment period shows how many days it takes on average for the debtors to pay back the owed money. The creditor payment period shows how many days it takes on average for the business to pay its creditors. Ideally the debtor period should be shorter than the creditor period for better efficiency. Here this is not the case and steps should be taken to chase the debtors to pay quickly. Gearing Ratio This concerns the business’ long-term financial stability. It measures how much of the business is financed by debt. The higher the gearing percentage, the less secure it will be. Normal figure is 50%. Part 2) It is imperative that for any business to trade effectively and be able to grow, it needs to build up enough cash reserves. Therefore it is important to ensure cash movements, that is the timing of cash inflow and cash outflow, are managed in such a way that it results in an overall positive cashflow position. The budget would be negotiated on the basis of forecasted sales revenue, expected expenditure and any planned capital expenditure. The Bank manager needs to be pursuaded that the cash forecast is realistic and not over optimistic. The budget would be monitored and reviewed on a regular basis and any material changes would be acted on. The negotiations would be based upon the fact such as reliability of the customer and suppliers, location of the pub. Also the fact that being a public house, the business is all year round and not seasonal and there are going to be peak seasons such as Christmas and other public holdiays. In addition, the pub would increase its takings by having special events and offers. The budget should build a contingency fund for worst case scenario such as cost over-runs or loss of loyalty of its customers. It needs to show clearly that the owner has invested his/her money as a capital in the business and prepared to risk it, and has a strong track record in this field and that the business plan is credible. A bank always demands a copy of current management accounts with a cash flow forecast in order to assess a business’s liquidity and then decides whether to grant the overdraft facility or not. Therefore, they are of utmost importance when negotiating a loan from a bank. Cash budget gives an advance warning of any liquidity problems. It is often a lack of cash that causes most businesses to fail. It will give you an opportunity to decide when and how to increase or decrease your overdraft with the bank. Part 3) The total amount required is  £50,000 but the business does not need to draw down all of the money at once. It should be stressed to the bank manager that you have number of years’ experience in the same business and you know the trade well. Also you have good interpersonal skills and the ability to get on with all types of people This is important for running a successful pub. You also have to stress that you have done your home work, prepared a business plan and have ideas to boost the business by holding special events throughout the year. You need to do some research about the market for a pub in that area. If there are only one or two pubs in the local area and nothing within, say 15 mile radius, then an additional pub in that area is going to stand a very good chance of success. Appendix The following table shows the ratios for the year 2005: Ratio Profitability ROCE68% Gross Profit Margin66.5% Net Profit 11.3% Direct Wages20% Debtor payment days28 days Current Ratio1.54:1 Acid Test1.1:1 Gearing52% Bibliography 1. www.qck.com/business-loans.html 2. Cox, 0 and Farndon, M (1997) Management of Finance (2nd Edition) Worcester: Osborne Books. 3. Dyson, J (1998) Accounting for Non-Accounting Students London: Pitman 4. Http://www/bized.ac.uk Learning resources contain summary notes on main topics. 5. Management and Cost Accounting, 4th Edition, by Colin Drury, Thomson Business Press. 6. Active Accounting by Brammer, Cox, Fardon, Penning. Osborne books.

Australian Vocational Education and Training Essay -- Australian Educa

This essay discusses on the Australian vocational education and training (VET) as a formal learning system that is intended for out-of-school youth who are past secondary education. It explores the drivers that shape the economic, social and political contexts in which VET was established like human capital theory, changing nature of work, globalisation, lifelong learning and the learning society. The paper analyses and evaluates the VET strands and mode of delivery and argues that VET is a good channel for out-of-school youth to be mainstreamed to the job industry but the mode of delivery is not sustainable. The experiences of VET practitioners interviewed and the researches on disengaged learners and reasons of early leavers were used to support the argument. It also explains the impact of VET had on my institution and the implication on my teaching practice using the concepts of reflexive modernisation, globalisation and lifelong learning. The formal education system in the Australia is divided into three levels: (i) basic education which is handled by the Department of Education (DepEd), (ii) technical/vocational which is handled by Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and (iii) higher education which is handled by Commission on Higher Education (CHED). In addition, there is a preschool level and a non-formal component that provides basic literacy and livelihood skills to out-of-school youth and adults who have either not attended school at all or who dropped out of school early. Basic education, which usually starts at age six, is divided into 7 years of primary schooling and 5 years of secondary schooling. TESDA provides pre-employment preparation in middle-level technician and craft skills. At the... ...ok of readings. And, this time I made use of NCVER which is indeed a very good resource for teachers of adult education. Lastly, I conferred with my mentor as regards to this assignment because she is directly involved with VET and interviewed VET practitioners for me. The part of my assignment I consider the weakest would be the implications of VET in my teaching practice because I know I need to substantiate my explanation on the identified implication however perhaps because I am not directly involved with VET I cannot really reflect on how I should view my teaching practice. On the other hand, the part of my assignment that I consider the strongest are the three arguments I discussed against VET mode of delivery because I was able to back up my arguments with researches, concepts and experiences of VET practitioners to stress my point.

Communication Introduction Worksheet

University of Phoenix Material Communication Introduction Worksheet In your own words, please answer the following questions. Each response should be written as an academic paragraph of at least 150 words. Be clear and concise, and be sure to explain your answers. If you cite any sources, use APA format. Paragraph QUESTIONS 1. WHAT IS THE TEXTBOOK DEFINITION OF COMMUNICATION? WHAT DOES COMMUNICATION MEAN TO YOU PERSONALLY? GIVE AN EXAMPLE. (150 WORDS) Answers will vary. The text book defines communication as â€Å"social process individuals employ symbols to establish and interpret meaning in their environment† (Turner & West, 2004). However, the text also points out that everyone will have their own meaning of communication. Personally, my definition of communication is the way a person or persons try to relate feelings to one another using words or actions to relay to others their emotions or thought process. To me, communication is the most important thing in my life. Without communication most relationships with any other person will fail. Communication is not something that is easy for a lot of people because it can result in uncomfortable feelings that many people try to avoid. When it comes to communication within my family, my relationship, and my co-workers, I try to be an open book. I think that when you are successful at communicating with someone the relationship you have with them will result in a positive manner. 1. Describe the differences between linear, interactional, and transactional. (150 words) Answers will vary. The linear model of communication is a one way message that is sent by a source and intended for a receiver. The elements of linear communication are: source, message, receiver, and channel. It shows that a person is a sender or a receiver only (Turner & West, 2004). The interactional model views communication as sharing the meaning with feed-back linking a source and a receiver. It differs from linear because it explains that messages can be sent back and forth from source and receiver. The elements of interactional communication are: feedback, field of experience receiver, message, and channel. The field of experience within interactional communication is based on someone’s up bring and culture and how they react to a situation. Not all communications are verbal, such as slamming a door and are proven in this type of communication. Finally, transactional communication model is sending and receiving messages simultaneously. It shows that a change in one affects a change in another. The field of experience within this model overlaps and there is certain interdependency between the comments of the message (Turner & West, 2004). Myth or Reality? UNDERLINE OR CIRCLE THE FOLLOWING MYTHS AND REALITIES OF COMMUNICATION. IDENTIFY WHETHER THIS IS A MYTH OR A REALITY, AND EXPLAIN WHY. 1. We communicate only when we consciously and deliberately choose to communicate. Myth Reality Even if we choose to not communicate verbally, we communicate non verbally unconsciously. 2. Words do not mean the same things to the listener as they do to the speaker. Myth Reality This is a reality because everyone interprets things in different ways and everyone has their own meaning or definition of what is being said to them. 3. We communicate primarily with words. Myth Reality We primarily communicate no-verbally. 4. Nonverbal communication is not perceived solely through sight. Myth Reality This is true because non-verbal communication can be done through gestures as well as paralinguistic- meaning a heavy sigh is non verbal communication even though some sound is used. 5. Communication is not a one-way activity. Myth Reality Every communication has a sender and receiver. 6. The message we send is identical to the message received by the listener. Myth Reality People communicate and receive messages differently. 7. You can never give someone too much information. Myth Reality Matching MATCH THE SEVEN CONTEXTS OF COMMUNICATION WITH THE APPROPRIATE DEFINITION. 1. Interpersonal G(a) Communication within and among large, extended environments 8. Intrapersonal E(b) Communication between and among members of different cultural backgrounds 9. Small GroupC(c) Communication with a group of people 10. Public/RhetoricalD(d) Communication to a large group of listeners 11. OrganizationalA(e) Communication with oneself 12. Intercultural B(f) Communication to a very large audience through mediated forms 13. MassF(g) Face-to-face communication between people Reference West, R. Turner, L. (2004). Introducing Communication Theory: Analysis and Application. Boston: McGraw-Hill.

Answer Why Does Elizabeth Want John to Go to Salem

Answer Why Does Elizabeth Want John to Go to Salem SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Many readers have the same question about Act 2 of The Crucible:why does Elizabeth want John to go to Salem?This article provides both short and long answers to this question. It should help you to understand the reasoning behind her request, why it changes slightly over the course of the act, and how it connects to the lingering tension in their marriage. Why Is This Question Tricky? This question addresses an important but somewhat confusing aspect of the plot in Act 2. John and Elizabeth Proctor have several one-on-one conversations in this act that introduce the audience to the issues in their marriage that have arisen as a result of John's affair. Elizabeth asks John to go to Salem twice, changing her request slightly when she learns additional information about the court proceedings from Mary. Her first request is driven by an urgent concern for the others who have been accused, but her second request is an even more dire plea as she realizes that she herself is in danger from the trials. We'll look at what the different requests are and why Elizabeths makes them from both a practical and psychological standpoint. Short Answer Elizabeth initially wants John to go to Salem so he can testify that Abigail told him Betty’s illness had nothing to do with witchcraft. When Elizabeth finds out from Mary that she was accused in court, however, she decides she wants John to speak with Abigail directly. She says he must tell Abigail that they will never enter into a romatic relationship again. Elizabeth hopes this will dissuade Abigail from making additional false accusations designed to remove her from the picture. Elizabeth's hope is that John will be willing to set the record straight, first on an official level and then on a personal level.This is the only way he can prove his loyalty to her over Abigail.As she says, â€Å"I will be your only wife, or no wife at all!† (pg. 59) For Elizabeth, this is about more than just protecting herself from accusations. It symbolizes John's renewed commitment to their marriage and the final nail in the coffin for his infatuation with Abigail. Long Answer Elizabeth Proctor first urges John Proctor to go to Salem so he can testify that Abigail and the other girls are frauds.John knows this to be a fact because when he and Abigail spoke alone in Act 1, Abigail scoffed at the suggestion that Betty’s illness had anything to do with witchcraft. Here’s the exact exchange between John and Abigail (on page 20): PROCTOR: The road past my house is a pilgrimage to Salem all morning. The town’s mumbling witchcraft. ABIGAIL: Oh, posh! We were dancin’ in the woods last night, and my uncle leaped in on us. She took fright, is all. John is hesitant to go into town and produce this evidence because he’s not sure he will be believed. It’s his word against Abigail's. He says, â€Å"If the girl’s a saint now, I think it is not so easy to prove she’s fraud, and the town gone so silly. She told it to me in a room alone - I have no proof for it† (pg. 51). Elizabeth is frustrated because she believes that some of his reluctance really stems from the fact that he still has feelings for Abigail.She says, â€Å"John, if it were not Abigail that you must go to hurt, would you falter now? I think not† (pg. 52).Her trust in him is shaken by the fact that he spoke with Abigail alone, a detail that he kept to himself until now.Elizabeth needs John to give his testimony discrediting Abigail to prove that he has moved on from her and his loyalties aren’t divided (and because it’s the honest thing to do). After Mary Warren reveals that Elizabeth was accused briefly during that day’s trial, Elizabeth’s request regarding John’s visit to Salem changes.She sees that the situation is more dire than they originally thought; her life may actually be in danger because of Abigail’s vendetta against her.She now wants John to go to Salem so he can speak with Abigail and tell her that the two of them will never end up together under any circumstances.She knows that Abigail wants her out of the picture so that she can take her place as John’s wife.If Abigail hears directly from John that this will never happen, she might be persuaded to give up her charade. Elizabeth urges, â€Å"Whatever promise she may sense - break it, John, break it† (pg. 59). She understands that thehysteria surrounding the trials has grown to a point where addressing the root of the problem (Abigail) may be more effective than attempting to convince the court officials that the girls are lying. Also, if John speaks to Abigail himself, Abigail won't be able to mistake his intentions in the future. If he's willing to do this, it will prove to Elizabeth that he really is done with the affair psychologically as well as physically. The psychological wounds of John's affair run deeper than his romatically obtuse brain can comprehend. Summary: Why Does Elizabeth Want John to Go to Salem? Ok, let's recap the answer to this question with some snappy bullet points: Elizabeth originally wants John to go to Salem so he can tell the court that he knows the girls are lying. Then, when she finds out she was accused in court, she wants him to go to Salem to speak directly with Abigail. Elizabeth makes these requests with an eye towards correcting injustice and saving her own life. However, she also has a more emotional motive, which is to force John to show his loyalty to her and fully renounce his connection to Abigail. What's Next? Want more details about what exactly happens in Act 2 of The Crucible? Check out our full summary of Act 2, including key quotes and thematic analysis. We've also written in-depth analyses that focus on the main characters of the play. Read a complete breakdown of John Proctor's relationships, motivations, and personality traits. Looking for some good quotes to include in your essay for English class? We have a full list of the most important quotes in The Crucible along with explanations of their thematic relevance. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

A Microcosm of the American Te essays

A Microcosm of the American Te essays An Analysis of Two Editorial Sections; The San Francisco Chronicle and the Daily Review While The San Francisco Chronicle focuses on national security issues, the Hayward paper, The Daily Review is looking around at the fall out of September 11th as well as at other national issues. B. The security issues as seen in the San Francisco paper C. The more general national issues as seen in the Hayward paper a. Between the two most of our national issues are covered, but there is a distinct difference in the tone of voice of each paper. While The San Francisco Chronicle focuses on national security issues, the Hayward paper, The Daily Review is looking around at the fall out of September 11th. The Chronicle has a tone that is altogether more serious than that of the Hayward paper; they both show the mark left on us all by the terrorist attacks. The San Francisco paper wants us to remain attentive to the worldwide implications and what we need to do in the coming days. The major focus of the Opinion pages of the Chronicle is terrorism and what we should now do to combat future attacks. This Weeks Issue is firearms in the cockpit. The paper printed four short responses, both agreeing and disagreeing with arming pilots. There is also a great debate surrounding Barbara Lee and her vote against giving Bush all out power. While most readers thought that she should be seen as a strong black woman and someone to be proud of, still there were others who thought she was an embarrassment. The opinion pages of the Chronicle differ from those of the Daily Review due to the focus. The larger paper, the Chronicle, focuses o ...

The Affects of Emotions on Job Satisfaction and Commitment in the Workplace Essay Example

The Affects of Emotions on Job Satisfaction and Commitment in the Workplace Essay Example The Affects of Emotions on Job Satisfaction and Commitment in the Workplace Essay The Affects of Emotions on Job Satisfaction and Commitment in the Workplace Essay The Affects of Emotions on Job Satisfaction and Commitment in the Workplace ?The workplace is an environment filled with all kinds of people and personalities that come together and work for a common goal. Since it is rare that two people will have the same personality types, workers will always have different ways to solving problems and finding methods to complete tasks. Whether workers express how they are feeling openly or keep to themselves, emotions have an effect on job satisfaction and commitment. Both positive and negative emotions will affect how a person will describe their satisfaction with their job (Fisher 185). Depending on their emotions, workers will either be more committed at the workplace or less committed, and this could change daily. ?Sometimes, emotions can affect a workers commitment while on the job; a worker could have other things running through their mind and might not be as focused as they should be. Even though some emotions affect their commitment in the workplace, it is their emotions that are caused by things outside the workplace that affect their performance in the workplace. A worker could have carryover stressors that arise from problems at home andthose stressors are brought with them into the workplace (Schieman, McBrier and Van Gundy 138). Some daysemployees might be angry because they have so many things to do and not have enough time to do it, or worried about something or someone. When employees do allow their emotions that arousefrom home to affect them while they are at work, doesn’t necessarily mean that they aren’t going to work, it simply means that they will not be as focused because it is affecting their work-role (Schieman, McBrier and Van Gundy 138). This isn’t hard to understand either because as more and more women are joining the work force every day, many families have to share the household roles, as each has their own work roles as well. This means that men as well as women, have a larger amount of responsibility in their everyday lives and sometimes that can spillover intoworkplace causing some employees to allow this to affect their work. And while this affects job commitment, it also affects a workers job satisfaction. When discussing emotions in the workplace, one needs to realize that emotions can change very quickly, and workers could even feel different emotions at the same time. The New York Times did a survey in 2005, finding that employees that were closely supervised and isolated were feeling depressed in the workplace. Much of the satisfaction that employees get from the workplace comes from the work itself (Fisher 188). Emotions can change very quickly, an employee could be happy until their boss comes u p to them and tells them that they have to turn in a file by five o’clock, and the employeehasn’t even started working on it yet. When non work stressors spillover into the work place it can also affect job rewards and status (Schieman, McBrier and Van Gundy 141). When an employee doesn’t feel like they are achieving much in the workplace, it can lead to a decrease in job satisfaction. Emotions easily change from positive to negative or the other way around, and depending on the moment an employee’s satisfaction will differ, however it is highly unlikely that a worker will both very unhappy and very happy at the same time (Fisher 188). So job satisfaction depends on worker and how they feel about going to work. Obviously those who enjoy going to work and enjoy what they do at work will have a high sense of job satisfaction. While those who are stuck in a cubicle all day and don’t communicate with anyone won’t have the same sense of job satisfaction. ?I have had a job where I could not stand the thought of going to work, knowing that I would be doing the same thing as I did yesterday and it wasn’t going to change. In high school, I worked for my best friend’s father and he hired me as an assistant file clerk. My job was to make sure all the bills were paid for and filed in the correct folder. I sat at a desk all day, away from everyone else at the office and had to do the same thing everyday all summer. I just got bored from doing the same thing over and over every day for two months straight. Whenever I got the chance I would leave my desk and go see what everyone else was doing mainly because I just needed to break the monotonous work I had been doing for hours. It just seemed like everyone who was working there, hated it. Everyone was doing their own thing and really wasn’t interacting with the other workers in the business. I just didn’t understand how someone can hire all these people and not allow them to exchange ideas or ways of doing things. ?In all, emotions have an important affect on job satisfaction and commitment in the workplace. Workers want to have a job that is they believe is meaningful and makes them happy. When emotions are brought into the workplace from outside sources, it will affect how an employee performs in the workplace. The happier a person is the better that person will perform and the more committed they will be in the workplace. References Fisher C. D. (2000) Mood and Emotions while Working: Missing Pieces of Job Satisfaction? [Electronic version]. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 21, 185-202. Schieman S. , McBrier D. B and Van Gundy K. (2003) Home-to-Work Conflict, Work Qualities, and Emotional Distress [Electronic version]. Sociological Forum, 18, 137-164.

See word Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

See word - Essay Example A story taken from Kozol’s book, â€Å"Fire in the Ashes; Twenty-Five Years Among the Poorest Children in America†, is discussed to help understand people’s well-being, and how it is affected by the aforementioned factors. Section three gives an account of social conditions that have contributed to my own well-being. The fourth section gives recommendation on how the community and societal well-being can be improved or promoted. Many authors have shown concern over the suffering of Americans living in poor cities and villages. One of the most celebrated authors who have been on the forefront of fighting for the rights of the minorities in America is Jonathan Kozol. Kozol has published several books highlighting societal problems that Americans experience in their day to day activities. In his book, â€Å"Fire in the Ashes: Twenty-Five Years Among the Poorest Children in America†, there are several aspects that can be learnt about social well-being. The story of the children Kozol met at the Martinique Hotel highlights tragic moments that befell various characters. Martinique Hotel was the home of people who had nowhere to live. The place hosted thousands of people and children who had come from different parts. It is in this hotel, where Kozol met a family that had experienced harsh lives. Christopher, aged 10 years is one of the characters mentioned in this story. He belonged to the family Kozol met in the hotel, and lived with his parents and two younger siblings. According to what Kozol writes, Christopher occasionally suffered from malnutrition. Kozol would see Christopher running out in traffic begging for money and food. At the age of 10, Christopher had already started traffic drugs along the streets, which saw him arrested and taken to prison (Kozol, 2013). As soon as he was released from prison for the last time, Christopher died from drug overdose. He is one of the boys Kozol writes about who died at early ages, one

Frederic Chopin and Louis Moreau Gottschalk Essay

Frederic Chopin and Louis Moreau Gottschalk - Essay Example Gottschalk was considered to be the first widely recognized American composer in Europe (George, M.R., 1987, Starr, S., 2000) Chopin and Gottschalk both composed and played Romantic period music though their music is quite different. The musical works of Beethoven, Mozart, and Hadyn educated Chopin. Much of Chopin's music was considered to resemble Bach and Mozart. An obvious example of this being Chopin's 24 preludes in which all 24 of the keys mirror Bach's 48 preludes and fugues. The song-like melodies of his Nocturnes, which feature a gentle and flowing bass, are very much written in the style of Italian bel canto opera (Kennedy, M., 2004). Those that came before him also influenced Gottschalk, but he was not inspired by what today are considered classical composers. His time spent in South America and the Caribbean. His early days in New Orleans influenced much of his music in that he utilized much of the rhythmic variations that are characteristic of South American and Afro-American music. His works The Banjo, Grotesque Fantasie and Souvenir de Porto Rico were non-traditional pieces based on traditional Caribbean and South American pieces from unknown composers. He was very forth coming on any of his "quotations" and always acknowledged any borrowing from unknown work. He also did compose traditional, salon music. These pieces particularly The Dying Poet were very popular but ultimately considered inferior to his more ethnic pieces (Lowens, I., 2008). As Gottschalk's music was mainly untraditional and nationalistic, Chopin's was based more on tradition. However Chopin's polonaises were written to celebrate Polish culture and tradition and in this sense his music was nationalistic. He produced compositions of his nationality (George, M.R. 1987). Some of Gottschalk's early pieces La Bananier and Bamboula were based from music Gottschalk experienced in his youth in New Orleans (Starr, S., 2000). But the purpose of this nationalistic music is quite different. Chopin's polonaises were written to celebrate Polish culture and Gottschalk's pieces have an American influence but were not written to celebrate American culture. Gottschalk did eventually write some pieces during the Civil war celebrating the patriotic spirit (he supported the north), entitled The Union, and he was considered a patriot but his music did not inspire the nationalistic pride that Chopin's evoked. Both composers mainly wrote music for the piano. Gottschalk's pieces were written for two and four hands thought he did compose a few works for orchestra, opera, ballet and a programmatic symphony, A Night in the Tropics. Chopin frowned upon programmatic music and any musical scene painting. He maintained a classical purity and discretion in his music that resembles much of the music written before his lifetime. He also wrote primarily for the piano whether as a solo instrument or as an accompiament. His works include sonatas, interludes, nocturnes, preludes and etudes (Lowens, I., 2008, Michalowski, K., 2008). One of the largest differences between these two composers is not their compositions but their playing styles. Chopin required strict attendance on rhythm and the legato style or connection of two notes. He was very attentive to technique and playing a piece as it was written. All of his melodies are written out with no room for improvisation. Pianists can find Chopin's music challenging to play as he documented the all-rhythmic

Bioresorbable screws Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Bioresorbable screws - Essay Example It is necessary to examine the three stages of the process and anticipate probable flaws in the final product resulting from decisions made at each stage. The melting phase of injection molding is essential to achieve the most even blending possible of the injected material. Too low a temperature may prevent the material from blending into a homogeneous mixture. If the temperature is too high there is a possibility that some material will be lost through evaporation, or combustion under the right circumstances. In any event, excess temperature would result in an inefficient process where energy is wasted, thus raising costs unnecessarily. The speed of the injection of the melt represents a danger as well, too slow and there is a possibility that a portion of the melt may partially solidify before the mixture is sealed into the pressure. Still there is the question of how fast the process absolutely needs to be for industrial efficiency. When the desired mixture is achieved, the press ure inside the injection mold must be intense enough to allow solidification while an optimum distribution of molecules is present, to ensure homogeneity. One possible experimental design is to locate the melting point of hydroxyapatite and then deliver five samples into separate heating elements at ascending 10Â ° increments above that melting point. ... ptimal temperature is determined in this method, material samples heated to the same temperature can be injected into new samples at five different speeds in progressively faster increments which are then sealed prior to hardening. Using the same stress testing, the optimal temperature at the optimal injection speed could then be used in a third experiment involving five samples at different increments of pressure. The stress tests can be repeated. In terms of power analysis, this design allows adjustability and the potential for precision. Five samples for each phase of testing create an experiment that permits the investigator to pinpoint the optimal conditions most conducive to the structural outcome desired. Five samples in 2Â ° increments allow inference of the optimal conditions without redundancy. If at either of these experimental phases there are inconclusive findings in stress testing, then the increment requiring the least amount of energy should be recommended. This prop osed experimental design could be evaluated using logistic regression. If the goal is to assess whether the product will break at a certain level of pressure, then whether breakage occurs is a categorical dependent variable, but this experiment proposes continuous data based upon temperature, injection speed, and mold pressure. This statistical method should provide insights concerning the optimal combination of factors to inform an attempt at reliability testing. For the purposes of this experiment, the continuous gradations in terms of temperature, injection speed, and mold pressure are necessary to provide a range of information that optimizes the probability of finding the most advantageous method. A repetition of these tests can be used to reduce the probability of anomalies and

Obesity in Texas Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Obesity in Texas - Research Paper Example bese children are much more likely to become obese adults, suffering long term health risks such as Type II Diabetes, heart problems, and some cancers (TDSHS 2009). These health care problems affect more than the individual, as the state also faces far-ranging economic and health care system impacts from these trends. Agencies and programs directed at correcting the problems of obesity in the state comprise a significant amount of the Department of State Health Services’ efforts and resources; analysis of the relative and potential successes of these measures likewise presents a valuable area for study. Current state statistics reveal that over 15% of Texas high-schoolers are categorized as overweight, while over 13% were categorized as obese (TDSHS 2010). Furthermore, more than 20% of low income children enrolled in Texas’ Women Infants and Children (WIC) nutrition programs are overweight or obese. Statistics also show much higher rates of obesity for minority groups and those living below the poverty line. The Texas DSHS site also offers some graphs that show overweight and obese statistics by selected grades for overall regions. While these graphs are only for selected age cohorts, only show data by region, and are only available for 2004-5, cumulatively they indicate that the rate of obese and overweight school aged children tends to increase until 8th grade, after which point rates tend to decline. Rates of obese vs. overweight children in different age cohorts, however, seem to vary regionally. Tracking statistical data of this sort over time can reveal some overall trends in childhood obesity in the state. First, while Texas already has higher rates of childhood obesity than the nation in general, these rates have steadily increased over time. Figure 1, compiled from TDSHS data, shows the changing percentages of overweight and obese children in Texas as compared to national averages. While Texas consistently shows higher rates of obesity in

Nursing Case Study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Nursing Case Study - Essay Example I have also experienced various treatment procedures of many AIDS patients and faced difficulties while handling these cases, as the professional methods are continuously changing along with the practices that are based on treatment skills. In order to reflect on the subject matter, I have chosen Gibbs reflective model of nursing. Gibbs model of nursing involves a description of the case, evaluation of the treatment experience, diagnostics of patient’s situation, a proposed action plan, and final recommendations (Jasper, 2003). I have also made use of NHIVNA competency to treat an outpatient of HIV/AIDS. Additionally, I have also employed the case study method to demonstrate learning and applications of nursing practices that I have experienced while treating an AIDS outpatient. Scenario/Description of the Incidence: One of the cases that I have dealt with is that of Mr. Jones David, a 52-year-old white American man, who visited the HIV clinic for the first time in his life. L ooking at the diagnostics and tests undertaken, I recommended him to visit me in the clinic after diagnosing him with HIV during my visit to the central jail. For me as a professional nurse it was very important to note down his social interactions, because this has a direct impact on the patient’s health. ... I and other nurses checked all prisoners and took blood samples in order to diagnose prisoners for different health related issues. When Mr. David was diagnosed with HIV, I tended to take his treatment as a challenge and began the investigation about his lifestyle and measure of health consciousness that have put him at a higher risk of HIV disease (RN.com, 2005). However, he kept on denying his involvement in activities such as sex with other men in jail or intake of abusive drugs while he was imprisoned. When I interviewed him, he told me that he was married before going to prison. However, his wife divorced him after six years of his imprisonment in jail. I also learned that he has two young kids with whom he is no more in contact after his divorce. This gave me a clear idea that he currently lacks a family lifestyle and thus he is less conscious about his well-being. Records of his family life and social circumstances helped me understand that he became home sick and victimized b y isolation as he has spent 18 years in prison, where he never received proper assistance or health care facilities. This is a prime reason behind his declining health condition and psychological disturbance he faced due to family disorientation (RN.com, 2005). As I diagnosed his health conditions and social context of his illness, I discussed his case report with senior health practitioners, because I am still at learning stage and I am unable to treat HIV patients on my own. With the report I discussed with seniors, I obtained a summarized context of David’s case as to how a patient of HIV disease undergoes chronic mental disturbance. This situation is more evident in the case of David

Mobile Computing and Social Networks Term Paper

Mobile Computing and Social Networks - Term Paper Example Mobile computing and social networks have increasingly become popular around the world. There are thousands of iPhone Apps, iPad Apps, and Android Apps that have been developed to perform a myriad of tasks and processes. These applications use mobile and web-based technologies majorly in turning communication into interactive communications and dialogue(s) among organizations, individuals, and communities around the world (Hinchcliffe et al, 2012). The fact that mobile computing and social networks have witnessed exponential growth within a very short period of time compared to other communication and business tools in the history of human beings is nearly incontestable (Rainie and Wellman, 2012). This fact is evidenced by the statistics indicating that while it took about 13 years for television to attract close to 50 million viewers and approximately 38 years for radio to attract nearly 50 million listeners, internet technology only took about 4 years only for to attract over 50 mi llion participants. Social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter much shorter time; about one and a half years to attract the same number of participants (Hinchcliffe et al, 2012). Mobile computing has witnessed a more robust growth in recent years. While initially most of the mobile applications were games that were intended for playing on mobile devices, they have gained popularity as businesses ponder whether some of their business process applications running on desktop platform and the Web can be redesigned to run on mobile devices that run on desktop platforms and the Web could be redesigned to run on mobile devices (Rainie and Wellman, 2012). In order to have a better understanding of mobile computing and social networks, this paper will discuss mobile-based applications and their various aspects relating to access and processing of data. The first aspect to address is in regard to the effectiveness and efficiency mobile-based applications provide to capture geo-locat ion data and customer data, and quickly upload to a processing server without users having to use a desktop system. Presently, there are numerous smartphones and iPhones that use applications and specific processes relating to mobile devices (Kumar and Rahman, 2012). Considering the advancements that have been made in mobile computing, as well as in regard to social networks, many companies around the world are making preparation for the use of mobile-based applications using tools that can capture geo-location data and customer data. Apple iPhone and Android smartphone platforms are the most used currently for this purpose and this has seen the huge expansion of their market. Available evidence indicates that these applications have been successful in capturing geo-location data; they have been successful in tracking driving behaviors, providing unbiased feedback during driving, and measuring acceleration among others (Dye, 2011).

Obesity in Texas Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Obesity in Texas - Research Paper Example bese children are much more likely to become obese adults, suffering long term health risks such as Type II Diabetes, heart problems, and some cancers (TDSHS 2009). These health care problems affect more than the individual, as the state also faces far-ranging economic and health care system impacts from these trends. Agencies and programs directed at correcting the problems of obesity in the state comprise a significant amount of the Department of State Health Services’ efforts and resources; analysis of the relative and potential successes of these measures likewise presents a valuable area for study. Current state statistics reveal that over 15% of Texas high-schoolers are categorized as overweight, while over 13% were categorized as obese (TDSHS 2010). Furthermore, more than 20% of low income children enrolled in Texas’ Women Infants and Children (WIC) nutrition programs are overweight or obese. Statistics also show much higher rates of obesity for minority groups and those living below the poverty line. The Texas DSHS site also offers some graphs that show overweight and obese statistics by selected grades for overall regions. While these graphs are only for selected age cohorts, only show data by region, and are only available for 2004-5, cumulatively they indicate that the rate of obese and overweight school aged children tends to increase until 8th grade, after which point rates tend to decline. Rates of obese vs. overweight children in different age cohorts, however, seem to vary regionally. Tracking statistical data of this sort over time can reveal some overall trends in childhood obesity in the state. First, while Texas already has higher rates of childhood obesity than the nation in general, these rates have steadily increased over time. Figure 1, compiled from TDSHS data, shows the changing percentages of overweight and obese children in Texas as compared to national averages. While Texas consistently shows higher rates of obesity in

Mobile Computing and Social Networks Term Paper

Mobile Computing and Social Networks - Term Paper Example Mobile computing and social networks have increasingly become popular around the world. There are thousands of iPhone Apps, iPad Apps, and Android Apps that have been developed to perform a myriad of tasks and processes. These applications use mobile and web-based technologies majorly in turning communication into interactive communications and dialogue(s) among organizations, individuals, and communities around the world (Hinchcliffe et al, 2012). The fact that mobile computing and social networks have witnessed exponential growth within a very short period of time compared to other communication and business tools in the history of human beings is nearly incontestable (Rainie and Wellman, 2012). This fact is evidenced by the statistics indicating that while it took about 13 years for television to attract close to 50 million viewers and approximately 38 years for radio to attract nearly 50 million listeners, internet technology only took about 4 years only for to attract over 50 mi llion participants. Social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter much shorter time; about one and a half years to attract the same number of participants (Hinchcliffe et al, 2012). Mobile computing has witnessed a more robust growth in recent years. While initially most of the mobile applications were games that were intended for playing on mobile devices, they have gained popularity as businesses ponder whether some of their business process applications running on desktop platform and the Web can be redesigned to run on mobile devices that run on desktop platforms and the Web could be redesigned to run on mobile devices (Rainie and Wellman, 2012). In order to have a better understanding of mobile computing and social networks, this paper will discuss mobile-based applications and their various aspects relating to access and processing of data. The first aspect to address is in regard to the effectiveness and efficiency mobile-based applications provide to capture geo-locat ion data and customer data, and quickly upload to a processing server without users having to use a desktop system. Presently, there are numerous smartphones and iPhones that use applications and specific processes relating to mobile devices (Kumar and Rahman, 2012). Considering the advancements that have been made in mobile computing, as well as in regard to social networks, many companies around the world are making preparation for the use of mobile-based applications using tools that can capture geo-location data and customer data. Apple iPhone and Android smartphone platforms are the most used currently for this purpose and this has seen the huge expansion of their market. Available evidence indicates that these applications have been successful in capturing geo-location data; they have been successful in tracking driving behaviors, providing unbiased feedback during driving, and measuring acceleration among others (Dye, 2011).

No child left behind Essay Example for Free

No child left behind Essay No Child Is Left Behind (NCLB) is a federal state act of 2001 which was proposed by the then president, George W. Bush immediately after being inaugurated in to the White House. This legal framework was aimed at ensuring that the primary and secondary education system was improved by advocating for increased accountability and transparency in its management. It further focused on the education system increased the flexibility on how parents can choose the learning institution their siblings will attend. This paper provides a broad overview of the act and it includes its history, scope, player involved challenges, among other issues. Brief discussion of the relevant history The law was authored by John Boehner and Judd Gregg, a representative and a senator respectively from the Republican Party and George miller and Edward Kennedy, a senator respectively from the Democratic Party. It was then signed by G. W. Bush. Beside aiming at improving the performance primary and secondary education and increasing accountability, improved the focus on reading and re-authored the 1965 Elementary and Secondary Act. The act was brought forward in the 107th congress whereby it was passed in the House of Representatives and US senate on 2001, May 23rd and 2004, June 14th respectively. It was later signed in to law on 2002, January 8th. Scope The act was brought to the lime light after realization the quality of the education being offered was directly affecting the students, parents and all the citizens at large. At the international level, since the world was becoming a global village as a result of globalization, the quality of education needed to improved since many of the Americans’ children had little hope in the future due to high levels of illiteracy and low self esteem (self doubt). The act was of paramount essence since the US, the world largest economy needed to produce intellectuals that would transform America and the globe at large. Context (historical, political, economic, social) At the time George W. Bush introduced this blueprint, he noted that though the American was entering the 21st century with a lot of promise and hope, many of the children who were in need of education support and aid were being ignored and thereby left around. 70% of the fourth graders residing in the inner city could not read or even pass the national reading trial which involved the elementary level of education. The senior high school student in other parts of the world, South Africa and Cyprus to be specific perform very poorly on the international mathematics test. Almost a 1/3 of the college freshmen of American origin take compulsory remedial courses prior to initiating the regular college level courses It is the responsibility of the parents, state and all the citizens to ensure that quality education is guaranteed for all the American children in order to have a bright future. This has not been the case and the United Sates Federal Government is to be blamed for condoning the poor results and failing to address the failure in the education system. The federal government has controlled the Americans, schools since through education policies since 1965 when the first major initiative on the elementary –secondary was undertaken. Since then the federal government has established so many programs/ projects geared towards facilitation of quality education. A major drawback for these programs is that the results have not been analyzed to evaluate whether the programs achieve their objectives or not. Another factor for the failure of the programs is that they are formulated by the congress and the locals are not consulted, as a result, local population education needs are not addressed. There have been programs that are formulated for every single education program and this had led to a pile of programs across the federal states. These programs costed the federal government hundred billions each year but quality of education on the other hand has been falling since the objectives are not being realized. This has resulted to a wide and an increasing gap between the rich and the poor in America. Faced with this dilemma, some citizens have proposed that the federal government should not be involved the education sector. Another proportion of the population suggests that the new programs should be added to the old education system. , the federal government was therefore required to come up with effective programs and projects which would restore confidence in to the American education system. After a braining search of the best option, the federal government came up with the No Child is Left Behind policy which would transform the American education system. During the signing of the bill, the then US president, George W. Bush said; Weve got large challenges here in America. Theres no greater challenge than to make sure that every child and all of us on this stage mean every child, not just a few children, every single child, regardless of where they live, how theyre raised, the income level of their family, every child receive a first-class education in America. Individuals/agencies involved including a discussion of the major decision makers The No Child is Left Behind policy would involve a number of parties in order to transform the American education system, these entities include; o The teachers o The parents o The local citizens o The federal government The teachers will be involved in ensuring the No Child is Left Behind policy work. They will be trained to improve their quality. The schools that will perform well will be rewarded while those not achieving the expected results will be sanctioned. The federal government is expected to fund the training of school teachers and improve the schools in general. The parents are required to monitor the performance of their children and at the same time access more information concerning the performance of his/her child from the school administration. Additional funds will be provided to the state and district schools by so that they can become more flexible. The local society is required to ensure that it provide a conducive learning environment so that the students can utilize their potential to the best of their capability (Hammond 2007). Major stakeholders involved (who the policy/issue affects, who has an interest in the policy) Among the major stakeholders who will be involved and will be affected by the NCLB will include the students, the teachers, parent, the local authorities and the federal government. The teachers will be required to play a crucial role in ensuring that the gap between the poor and rich is closed by ensuring that they maintain high standards and accountability, offering annual academic assessment to children which will then be evaluated by the parents. The teachers are further required to give reading a priority. The parents are expected to work closely with the teachers so that they can assist in progress of the children education. The parents’ flexibility and option for schools will also increase. The local authorities are expected to guarantee the teacher protection, promote school safety, rescue the schools from the schools that are not safe and advocate for character education. o The federal government is expected to provide funds and reward to the well performing schools and states in terms of accountability and transparency. The government will also give the teachers some initiatives like tax deduction in order to promote their performance. The role public administrators play in the policy/issue The public administers are expected to ensure that the funds provided by the federal government are utilized in the most efficient was possible while at the same time making certain that they reach the targeted entities. The public administrators are further expected to evaluate the performance of the school. They should also give feedback to the federal government on matter concerning the effectiveness of the No Child is Left Behind policy in meeting the academic needs of the American people (Samier, et, al, 2008). Policy alternatives and solutions Currently this is the best education program that has been formulated in the US. Proper implementation of the program will ensure that it becomes perfect since it will be evaluated from time to time. Corrective measure will be put in place to ensure that the expected results are achieved. Challenges facing policy implementation and solution The policy is faced with a number of challenges prior to its implementation. One of major critic is on the use of standards to gauge the performance of the states and schools. The schools or each state can lower their standards so that they cam purport to have improved in their performance. This is because each state has the capacity to set its own standards. This means that the incentives and penalties (sanctions) provided by the government would end up on the hand of wrong persons. This problem therefore calls for standardization of the examination if at all there is an expectation of correct unbiased results (Uzzell (2005). The use of standardized within states reduced the quality of education since the teachers â€Å"teach the test† to ensure that the students performs well in the schools. They, teachers, only teach the areas that are expected to be tested in the final standard exams. The standardized tests are also against Individuals With Disabilities Education Act. The tests have also been condemned of promoting cultural bias since different culture value certain skills than others. To avoid this kind of bias, the policy of standardized test should be re-evaluated in depth and a sustainable standard established (Abernathy 2007). The issue of offering incentives to the schools performing poorly enables the schools to continue performing poorly. The schools that are rewarded after performing well in the standards test is likely to push out the poorly performing students so that hey can maintain the standards. In order to ensure that the poorly performing schools improve they should be offered with technical expertise and not financial resources. The top performing schools on the other hand should be closely monitored to ensure that the poor students are not expelled on academic grounds. The No Child is Left Behind policy focuses manly on the core subjects, that is English and Mathematics, this has made the student to improve in these two subjects while the other broader education is lost. This therefore requires the NCLB policy to be considerate of other skills and subjects to ensure that education meets its purpose (Menken 2008). Importance of the No Child is Left Behind policy Its enables the children to understand the policies that have been implemented in the efforts to improve the quality of education in order to face the global challenges in bold. Precisely, the understanding of this policy enables a person to understand the existing education policy’s roots, challenges and its core values. This policy is also an indication of the federal government interest in leading the global by providing its citizens with quality education which will ensure that the illiteracy level decreases significantly. The policy also explains in details the expected level of participation by all the parties involved in ensuring that it is a success. The policy also explains the importance of the accountability and transparency for any program or policy to succeed (Peterson, et, al, 2003). Overview of the important values Irrespective of the stake holders involved in implementing this policy, is of great significance to evaluate the important values of the No Child is Left Behind policy. This policy is expected to; o Result to grades for tests o General improvement of all the standards o Increased accountability of all resources in the schools o Creating opportunity for the minority groups o General improvement of the quality of education o Offering the parent the option to select school for children o Guarantying of the federal funding Conclusion Though the change is well formulated, it needs to be cleansed off some of the issues that are raising eyebrows. It needs to be refined to address all the children depending on their needs. The policy provides clearly detailed guidelines which will ensure that the quality of the education system in America greatly improves to solve the ever increasing global challenges. While comparing the old and the new education programs, this new NCLB is likely to have better results since it focus on all the children with emphasis on the children from the minority groups. The local population, citizens and the federal government should ensure that the proper implementation and evaluation is carried out to make certain that the best results are achieved. As time passes by, a research should be carried out to find out area or clauses that need to be changed for upgrading of the programs. References Abernathy Scott Franklin (2007) No Child Left Behind and the Public Schools, Michigan, University of Michigan Press, (pp 130-149). Hammond Linda D. (2007) Evaluating No Child Left Behind’ retrieved on 18th, November, 2008, available at http://www. thenation.com/doc/20070521/darling-hammond Menken Kate (2008) English Learners Left Behind: Standardized Testing as Language Policy, NY, Multilingual Matters Press (pp 118-140) Samier Eugenie Angele, Stanley Adam (2008) Political Approaches to Educational Administration and Leadership, NY, Routledge, (pp 139-154) Peterson Paul E. , West Martin R. (2003) No Child Left Behind? The Politics and Practice of School Accountability, Brookings, Brookings Institution Press, (pp13-14) Smith Marilyn Cochran (2004) Walking the Road: Race, Diversity, and Social Justice in Teacher Teachers College Press (p 157) The white house, Foreword by President George W. Bush, retrieved on 18th, November, 2008, available at http://www. whitehouse. gov/news/reports/no-child-left-behind. html The White House, President Signs Landmark No Child Left Behind Education Bill, retrieved on 18th, November, 2008, available at http://www. whitehouse. gov/news/releases/2002/01/20020108-1. html Uzzell Lawrence A. (2005) No Child Left Behind: The Dangers of Centralized Education Policy, retrieved on 18th, November, 2008, available at http://www. cato. org/pub_display. php? pub_id=3769

Procter Gambles Innovation And Information Technology Practices Marketing Essay

Procter Gambles Innovation And Information Technology Practices Marketing Essay The PESTEL analysis found out that government taxes/ corporate tax and global economic downturn become the issues of the PG changes its business to merging market. And the SWOT analysis evaluate that PG have the strong financial position and strong branding makes it success in this new markets trend. The efficiency and effective of supply chain also is the strong point for PG innovation. The report also evaluates and concludes  that would be an ideal to meet the challenge which presented by the market and could satisfy the consumer demand since it uses open innovation- Connect and Develop program outsourcing the raw- materials and technologies and through acquisition of domestic and foreign competitors. But it also has the barriers on this program and acquisition. Since carriage out the Obamas foreign tax proposals, foreign rivals pay less in taxes in their home countries, foreign-based competitors would be able to reinvest more, expand faster and sell their products at lower prices than U.S. companies and this affect PG. The tax changes put PG at a cost disadvantage, PG gain a 15% to 20% cost disadvantage compared with other rivals. This will make PG unable to effectively compete against foreign corporations in the future (www.msnbc.msn.com). The heavily of IRS (Internal Revenue Service) fees is a burden of PG. This will reduce the profit of PG. For the example, PG valued artwork donated Cincinnati Art Museum in 2003 at $8.5 million but the IRS allowed PG subtract $6.4 million of the income taxes because the company states that in the lawsuit that PG is uses third-party appraisers to value its donations, so the company not allow PG subtract the full amount of the donation. And, PG had paid more than $6 billion of federal income taxes over the six years that were audited (www.usatoday.com). The national income and GDP growing will increase buying power. It will course PG raised its consumers especially in developing markets such as China and India. According to the report, GDP growing helps the Procter Gamble gain the premarket; it was gained from 2.2 percent to $58.51 after it reported results (www.reuters.com). Today, according to The New York Times (2009) reported that the sales from developing countries are doubling every four years. The sales from developing markets represent 32 percent of P Gs $78 billion in annual revenue, up from 23 percent four years ago. Global economic downturn- merging markets In the worlds four most populous nations, three are state in emerging markets; there are China, India and Indonesia. According to the Capital Groups estimation, it found that 70% of the worlds economic growth under the next 10 years will move towards from emerging market countries (Delfeld Carl T, 2009). Delfeld Carl T (2009) defines that Emerging markets now account for half of global economic growth, 33% of world GDP, and nearly 20% of world stock market value. After global economic downturn, PG trend to focus its growth strategy on emerging markets, it has opening about 20 new manufacturing facilities outside its established markets (www.wikinvest.com). It makes PG raising its capita sales in India and China more than 1 billion residents each and added $40 billion a year in Mexico (social.forecastfocus.com). And Delfeld Carl T (2009) also defines that PG now gains 32% of total sales from these merging markets and this is doubling every four years. PG have a large scale of operations and strong financial position in the domestic and foreign markets. PG serve 4 billion customers around the world and it has operations in over 80 countries (Procter Gamble, 2010). In the year 2008, PG was the 8th largest corporation in the world by market capitalisation and 14th largest US Company by profit. Now, it is 6th in Worlds Most Admired Companies in year 2009 (Americas Most Admired Companies 2009). In the Fortune 500, the company was the 20th in annual ranking of Americas largest corporations in the year of 2009 (CNN Fortune ranking). This strength helps PG gain opportunities in merging markets with the successful result. PG brings many new innovations to the market around the world. This is one of the strengths that PG success its business in the world. PG products innovation are very popular around the world, it gain a lot of awards, example, SymphonyIRI Group recognizes PG in its annual Pacesetters list and with the Outstanding Achievement in Innovation award (Procter Gamble, 2010). According to Business week, it reported PG is ranked 12 among the Worlds Most Innovative Companies (Procter Gamble, 2010). This is the marketing strategic that PG used to present around the world. PG provides well- known, trusted brands touch the lives of consumers in over 180 countries allows PG to efficiently and effectively to serve more consumers at more price points and gain the switch off markets advantages, for example Tide is the clear leader in the U.S. laundry detergent market with approximately 38% value share. Ariel is the leading detergent in Western Europe with about 16% value shares (2009 Annual Report). According to the IRI New Product Pacesetter Report, it ranks that PG products are the best-selling new products in the U.S. every year. Over the past 14 years, PG has had 114 top 25 Pacesetters. In the last year alone, PG had five of the top 10 new product launches in the U.S. and 10 of the top 25. (www.marketingweek.co.uk) Gillette acquisition, Ambi Pur acquisition After Gillette acquisition, PG believe that will create a group with annual sales of GBP 32bn, pushing its rival Unilever turn into second position in the UK toiletries market (Business Services Industry 05, 2010 CBS Interactive Inc). The PGs Gilette brand expend its market enters a new era in male personal care. That is a great opportunities to PG to expend it markets to male markets and gain more market share. There have many advantages to PG acquire Ambi Pur. Ambi Pur brand was rich history in innovation, if PG acquire with Ambi Pur success, it can enjoy millions of consumers which come from air care market. Beside that, Ambi Pur brings new technologies and high-performance products to PG current Air Care portfolio (Procter Gamble, 2010). This will increase the markets share of PG and brings PG go future. 2. Innovation and IT means to PG Innovation and IT become most and most importance in markets to every company. According to the Bob McDonalds speech which presented at the Innovation Institutes of India Global Conference (2008, p.4), claim that the innovation means at PG is the conversion of a new idea into consumer delight and, ultimately, into revenues and profits. In PG, the innovation very roughly, they innovate at every point of brands and innovate in every part of business. Its cover in terms of product or packaging innovation, and to innovate include design, media, communications, business models, cost structures and organizational structures (Bob McDonald, 2008). Open Innovation has significantly increased PGs innovation speed. Bob McDonald define that open innovation not as a form of out-sourcing but, rather, as a way to in source the creativity of the world. Nowadays, over half of the ideas and technologies innovations that PG bring to market are come from foreign countries (CASE III-5 by DeHayes, 2009). For examples, PGs Swiffer brand works together with Unicharm, Royal/Dirt Devil, and IDEO for the innovation of product, commercial and design. PGs Febreze partnerships with KJK, Givaudan, and GK Design for the package design, technology and perfume development. A Pringles potato chip is a successful example of the PGs open innovation effort (www.business-strategy-innovation.com). In this case, PG taking the innovation in, at the same time its also taking innovation out, for example: PG licensing PGs food technologies and packaging capabilities to ConAgra Foods (www.pg.com), in order to gain the licensing fee (CASE I-4 by Lyn Denend and Burg elman). Procter Gamble try to maintain its competitive advantages by focusing on product innovation, its always look for innovation ideas by its total portfolio of businesses and technologies. Its use its internal capability with an external network of innovation partners through Connect and Develop program. Theres a global network provide potential innovation partners for PG with about researchers, scientists and entrepreneurs doing work in areas relevant to PG businesses (www.pg.com). Through its Connect + Develop initiative, PG bring in new product ideas from outside, allows others developers to obtain their concepts and designs into PGs product pipeline. For example, they helped PG launch Olay Regenerist Eye Derma-Pods, and become its top-selling skin-care item in the year 2008 (www.fastcompany.com, 2008). According to the wiki analysis, it found that PG will launch a flurry of new products globally, using innovation to boost sales in fiscal 2010 coming out of the global recession (www. wikinvest.com, 2010). Acquisition of domestic and foreign competitors PG management had adopted another innovative play-to-win strategy by acquisition of domestic and foreign competitors. PG acquired other companies that helped in innovation its products, diversified its product line and increased its profits (knol.google.com knol.google.com). For example, the cases of Gillette acquisition, and Ambi Pur acquisition. After Gillette acquisition, PG gain the innovation in male personal care products, for example the Gillette Fusion ProGlideà ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢ razors and ProSeriesà ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢ male skin care products, there are innovation products which combine Gillette technologies (Procter Gamble, 2010). After acquisition of Gillette, PG increase its position in faster growing, higher margin, and more asset efficient businesses. The PG gain 22 brands with sales of $1 billion or more and 14 brands with sales between $500 million or $1 billion (Rick Ciccone, 2006). Besides, Ambi Pur brings new technologies and high-performance products to PG current Air Car e portfolio, (Procter Gamble, 2010). This will increase the product innovation, expands PGs market and gain more market share. (CASE II-17 by Burgelman and Meza). JIT inventory control Just-in-Time inventory control, can save costs, save time, reduce waste and move products and services to customers on time. In this case, PG is using this method and partnership with Wal- Mart. Wal-Mart linked with PGs inventory management system, provides information sharing and opened its consumer information to PG. After received the sales data directly from the checkout of Wal- Mart, PG used JIT inventory control on time deliveries to Wal-Mart and deliver the stock to the stores to meet the contracted customer service level. The just-in-time process works well for Wal-Mart and helps PG reduce the waste and more efficiency; PGs sales have increased significantly to Wal-Mart and directly to the consumer (Handfield and Nichols, 1999; Simchi-Levi, et al, 2000). TQM the process Total Quality Management (TQM)s principle provides many guidelines for PG to support its management approaches. Each principle will create their procedure to help PG in continually improving with training, practice and education (hubpages.com). The Five components of PGs TQM programs that primary to the improvements are: 1) Plant and division waste assessments to track discharges by site and set goals for improvement 2) Process assessments 3) Lifecycle assessments 4) Research on product impacts 5) Benchmarking. For example, the case at the Lima Ohio facility had success reduced 77% of air, water, and solid energy over four years using the TQM method. The other success example that is paper plant in Mehoopany, PG has created an innovation reduced 75% of the solid waste going to the landfill (www.future500.org). 3. The ways to improve and change The several ways that innovation and IT aspects of the organization/ supply chain of PG might be improved; there are supply chain reinventions, eStore website, products innovation and logistics. 3.1 Setting Up the Web Store Early in this year, PG ran e- commerce in USA, e Store provide a wide range of potential consumer to PG. EStore allow PG to monitor sales volume. World Wide Web allows PG to sell products directly to the consumer and it also allows PG get the relationships with customer. PG can get the comment and suggestion or advices directly to the consumer and take the action to change and improve faster. In addition, PG can overcome geographic barriers to reach a global markets and customer- base. In this case, PG can continue use e- commerce to expand its Web Store to another country, such as Western Europe, Asian countries, because online shopping is not new news to the world, people can accept this marketing method. The PG also can set up its eStore in the lower cost places or overseas, for overseas PG can set up the web store office at merging market such as India or Taiwan because, India is IT developed country can provide good IT with low prices. And in Taiwan, the online shopping market is mature and popular, there have a mature market to PG expands its market to South Asian and China. Beside that, consumer on the Internet do not care where are the web store built. If PG built in the low- cost places, it can gain more profit and reduce the cost. This method that have used by CASE II-4 by DeHayes (2009), they move their offices from high- cost New Jersey to lower- cost Indiana. Supply chain reinvention- supply network In the PGs existing supply chains, it was limit its ability to reduce material use in PGs packages. The existing supply chain in PG is: Supplier manufacturer retailer consumers. After reinventing to the supply networks the PGs supply chain method will be change to Supplier manufacturer consumers. The supply chain has shorter the journal and also giving many benefits. The supply network is more focus on external market and consumer, using supply chain will help PG in expand its market to merging markets. So using the supply networks, PG can more focus on the consumer- driven especially external consumer, it also help PG run its business more fast and flexible. The table 3.1 below has shown that the effective when PG after using the supply networks in PG (Rick Ciccone, 2006). From To Chain Network Long and slow Fast and flexible Forecast-based Demand-based Manufacturer-driven Consumer-driven Internal focus External focus Designed from product forward Designed from shelf back Cost-reduction Value and growth creation Table 3.1, source by : Ciccone, R. (2006) AMR Supply Chain Conference, Reinventing the Supply Chain and Manufacturings Role Improve product innovation- health medicines combine with Chinese herbal According to the research of University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC), (2009) reported that Recently, the World Health Organization estimated that 80% of people worldwide rely on herbal medicines for some part of their primary health care. In Germany, about 600 700 plant-based medicines are available and are prescribed by some 70% of German physicians. In the last 20 years in the United States, public dissatisfaction with the cost of prescription medications, combined with an interest in returning to natural or organic remedies, has led to an increase in herbal medicine use. Nowadays, Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicines (TCHMs) have been modified into solutions, soluble granules and tablets by extracting the plants natural ingredients. Due to the fact that TCHMs are natural and with very little side effects, its usage has been increasing significantly throughout the world. Research has shown that, similar medicinal plants are being used for the same purposes around the world (Chen, 2009). In this case, PG can change the health- care products ingredients to Traditional Chinese Herbal such as facial products, shampoo products. This is a good idea for the products innovation that can bring PG into another business level and markets. 3.3 Partnership with foreign countries company Today, the merging markets are developing so fast, many businesses tries to invest in this market to gain the competitive advantages. In order to survival in the market, PG can choose partnership entry mode to entry foreign countries to avoid distribution system and high cost of inputs problems. This can help PG invest to overseas save more cost, share risk with others and easy to entry the market. Partnership Company will provide the supply chain information to PG, help PG run the business smoothly. For example, PG partnership with Darlie which is a toothpaste brand of the Taiwan of Hawley Hazel company. This product is very popular in Asian countries, including Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and the China (www.darlie.com). If PG partnership with this company, it will increase the market share significant. At the same time, PG also can gain the innovation and IT technology. But the Hawley Hazel company may less international business experience. This makes collaboration has a littl e difficult to manage because of their inexperience in the global business arena (CASE III-3, Christensen and Anthony). 4. Overcome the barriers It might be very difficult to overcome the barrier indicated above, unless the organization appropriate financial resources and human resources in: Building global network in different language Although the online marketing has given PG a lot of advantages but the cost and logistics of delivering goods to consumers have been the biggest barriers to PG, this barrier is around this supply chain and cost-effective thing. The cost of logistics and packaging fees are costly, it will affect the profit of PG. Another problem is the delivery problem; some of the rural places there have no convenient transportation for transport. So PG have to create the solutions to reduce the cost of packaging fees and logistics fees. The language and cultural differences also are the barriers of supply network in PG. PG want to expand its business in the merging markets, its has to change the its website page language to multi- languages specially Chinese language because Chinese language popular in Asian including China, Singapore, Taiwan and Malaysia. Those are big developing markets to PG, PG have to improve this services in order to gain the competitive advantages (CASE III-8 by DeHayes, 2009) The program for building a global network of professionals requires a lot of time and resources. PG had taken many years to identify and build its network of technology entrepreneurs, suppliers and scientists (www.business-strategy-innovation.com). Another barrier in building global network that may face is online advertising. Using search engine advertising also is a costly media innovation, because the GoTo search engine charge for the list position. In order to solve these problems, there have two ways that let PG Web store may appear on search engine results, which are sponsored links and relevancy ranked listings (CASEII- 4 by DeHayes, 2009, p 329). Beside that, in order to remove the barriers in Chinese markets, PG has to spend the money and human resources to create a Chinese language website or software (CASE III- 8 by DeHayes, 2009). Using 3PL to remove logistics barriers For the case which improve product innovation to low- income market, normally the facility such as transportation in low- income countries not that develop and convenient especially in the rural places. The problem of delivery to the rural places problem might be very difficult to overcome, besides the organization appropriate financial resources to solve the problems, the another way is using 3PL to remove the logistics barriers, because 3PL helps company to save costs, reduce waste, reduce financial risks. Relationships with Asian retailer In Europe, PG partnerships with Wal- Mart retailer to serve the consumer needs and market. The PG also can use the same method to entry Asian market, it can relationship with Watson, Tesco, The Store, Guardian, Giant etc. Those are famous retailer in South Asian, partnership with them PG can gain more competitive advantages and market share. It also help PG invest to Asian easier. The Asian retailer can give the feedback from the Asian consumer comment and suggestion; this will help PG to improve and benchmark with others company and continue improve itself, same with CASE III-3 by Christen and Anthony (2009) relationship with outside, take the knowledge from others. Stay focused on its customers need, Kanban continue improvement strategy In order to overcome the barriers from competitor, PG should stay focused on its customers needs, continue improve in technologies and also product, using the Kanban continue improvement strategy to maintain its business strategy and competitive advantages. At the same have to benchmark itself and competitor. Benchmarking helps PG opens organizations to new methods, gives ideas and tools to improve their effectiveness. PF can get more innovation from this management method, and this management has been used by many companies, such as Toyota, Nissan etc. Continue the Open innovation activities Innovation is PG business strategy, it cannot survival without innovation, PG come out many ideas to remove the barrier. And the open innovation is the way that PG use to remove the lack of innovation period in its business and this activities run (CASE III-3 by Christensen and Anthony, 2009). The open innovation activities need a lot of money and human resources such as scientist, chemistry, engineering, materials science, biological sciences, designer to develop the technology or innovation products and also packaging design. To overcome the barrier indicated above, PG has appropriate financial resources in place and the appropriate human resources to operate the equipment. For example, the Summer Camp program, that is a way to search for the best or brightest innovation group (Procter and Gamble, 2010). Company has to appropriate financial resources to organize this program to keep the open innovation run. That is hard to find a talented and creative scientist, chemistry and engin eering, and also costly to hire (CASE IV- 2 by Matthew C. Verlinden). Mass advertise According to the research of University of Maryland Medical Center (2009) there are still some Europe countries which do not widely accept the usage of Chinese Herbs medicines, they classified the Chinese Herbs as drug that are not fully regulated. In order to overcome the problem, the company should mass advertise Chinese Herbal products to the public, by introducing its health benefits and the little side effect it has on people. To do that a company has to invest a large sum of money in promoting and advertising these products to gain consumers trust which then leads to an increase in its market share. Training system Human resource is one of the main resources that need most. Training system uses to provide company human resources such as expert skills and knowledge. PG training system provide a set of session to train all its leadership team and subject matter experts including cultural, language, and religious differences with the organization. People can use the knowledge which they learn in the training system to manage the implementation of innovation and change (www.business-strategy-innovation.com). In order to run this system successful, the financial resources have been providing by PG (CASE II- 1 by DeHayes, 2009). 5. Conclusions The findings indicate that PG is now looking for more innovation and IT that can move the supply chain more efficient and effectiveness. Recently PG has used the outsourcing method, there is open innovation and through the acquisitions other company to increase the innovation and IT. JIT and TQM to confirm the supply chain run smoothly, and meet the consumer demands on time. Open online web store helps PG expand its business without geography barriers, increase its market share. Change to supply network is to reinventing its Supply Chain and Manufacturings Role. However, there have a lot of barriers, such as lack of innovation problems, Websites language problems, logistics problem and the quality control barriers of the innovation and IT in the supply chain become the burden of PG to improve and reduce its benefit. In order to overcome the barriers, it can be concluded that the organization must appropriate financial resources and human resources in open innovation program, training system to overcome the lack of innovation barriers. Focus on merging market to gain the competitive advantages and overcome the competition barriers and using the 3PL to remove logistics barriers in low- income market.

scarsbel Using Scars to Communicate in Toni Morrisons Beloved Essay

Using Scars to Communicate in Beloved There are certainly complications to assumptions of how scars are used as a means of communication in the novel, Beloved. The character named Beloved has her own distinct scars that bear significance in the story. Her scars are distinct not only in their origins, but also in their meaning, and create a point of diversion from the traditional pattern established by the role of scars in the lives of other characters. The scratches on her forehead and the cut across her neck were not made by a white oppressor, but instead by her own mother, Sethe. Sethe kills her own daughter in a fit of anxiety, rather than to have her children taken away by the slave owners which tracked her down following her escape. These markings tell Beloved's story, how her own mother sawed away at the baby girl's tiny neck, her fingernails clawing into her forehead. In the end, this is the way in which Sethe can identify the returned from the dead Beloved (now an adult) as well. These scars serve as a reminder o f everything Beloved had gone through. They become a symbo...

Essay --

Morgan Phelps Phelps 1 Mr. Pickett Period 3 March 14, 2014 Many people don’t realize that women have never been fully respected and taken serious. Women all around have never been treated equal or given the same responsibilities as men because of their gender. Women in this country and many others, have not been given the right to vote. They have never been fully respected in the workplace by their co-workers or employers. Women have not always been given the freedom in their professional choices.They again have never been free to be who they want to be in life.There is all kinds of things that women can not do because of their gender but things are slowly changing for the better. Unlike most men, women have not always been given the opportunity to vote. Before the 1920’s women were not allowed to vote (www.history.com). Rarely did you ever see women who had a job.The average daily life of a women would consist of cooking, cleaning and taking care of the kids. They had no say in anything and did what their husbands told them to do. It was not only like this in the United States, but other Phelps 2 places, like Canada and New Zealand (teacher.scholastic.com). Women lived like this until a group of women wanted a change. There was one women who went above and beyond to get equality for all women. This women was Susan B. Anthony. She was raised in a Quaker family (believed in equal rights for men and women) and supported the women’s rights movement. She did everything in her power to grant equality. Anthony casts ballots and even came up with a Declaration of Rights for Women (World Book, Women’s Rights to Vote). She was devote... ...gh they did the same amount of work as the men. There is still some of that in today’s society but women are standing up for equal pay and slowly gaining it. They were also told they could not be whatever they wanted to be just because of their gender. They also said that they were not qualified enough, only men could do that job. Women have stepped up and gotten the job they have always wanted. There is still inequality but the world is Phelps 7 realizing that women and men are all equal and discrimination is not the answer. Women have truly changed our world and our lives forever. www.biography.com www.brainyquote.com www.history.com www.huffingtonpost.com www.scholastic.com www.summer.harvard.com teacher.scholastic.com www.wgea.gov.eu Women’s Right to Vote, World Book www.ourdocuments.com

My American culture, but not my religion

Holding the values and beliefs of a religion other than Christianity often makes one wonder if they have broken the norms of American society. A norm, as defined by Miller (2002), is â€Å"a generally agreed upon standard of how people should behave, usually unwritten and learned unconsciously.†   While many Americans practice Christian beliefs, one of the benefits of living in a free nation happens when all religious denominations can practice their faith in peace, regardless of the majority preference. The list of Christian denominations includes Catholics, Protestants, Baptists, Episcopalians, Lutherans, Anglicans, Eastern Orthodox, Methodist, Presbyterian and many others. Being an individual who reads of, and practices, many religions both old and new in the world I do not follow Christian beliefs. I would rather define myself as a mystic or perhaps even shaman since I have inclinations towards honoring the earth, nature and spirits; this is also a common practice among Native Americans. Salvation, or offering oneself up for saving by another being such as Jesus predominantly occurs in Christianity. However, I am at odds with this idea in my own spiritual practice. My beliefs stand in contrast because in my mind each person has the capability to save themselves, if they would only realize that inner strength. Of course, going to a Sunday service and honoring holidays such as Christmas and Easter are practices that I do not partake in either. However, I do honor the Solstices, which fall surprisingly close to many of the Christian holidays. Being a mystic in a predominantly Christian world can make for a lonely but very peaceful existence if you allow it. While others scurry around buying gifts during the Christmas rush, I tend to my natural wares, making blankets, canned goods and handcrafted candles along with other natural gifts for those in my family who are Christian. It saddens me at winter time to hear everyone complaining about how much the Christmas gifts they have to buy will cost them; and how they need to spend a great deal of care budgeting for their gift expenses. Everyone feels so pressured and rushed to get to the stores to find the perfect gift. While the rest of the world worries away their time, I relax on the sofa watching television and knitting another new blanket. At this point, when I am at odds with not only Christians but a capitalist nation (the dominant culture) that values material goods, I wonder if I am particularly selfish for not wanting to deal with the stress and headaches of grumpy customers standing in line at the stores. Luckily though, I am American by birth so although my religion may differ from the majority, I still blend in rather effortlessly with society. Other groups, such as new immigrants to this country struggle with many obstacles as they adapt to their new home. They must learn a new language, find employment and maybe need to attain some education to help them gain the financial means to support their families. This can present huge difficulties to immigrants since Americans predominantly speak English and the business world can show prejudice towards people who do not have adequate training in American based education systems. New immigrants must also learn the laws of our nation and the subliminal norms that we hold. One popular norm, for example, being that little boys wear blue and girls wear pink. Being part of the dominant culture I do not have to worry about figuring out such subliminal norms, I learned them as I grew up in this society. Nor do I have to worry about building socioeconomic status and attaining education and training in American schools to find and adequate job. I have already had that training, and luckily a stable financial background for building my own monetary status. Also, one of the blessings of being in the dominant culture allows me to understand how to behave in public gatherings. I know that I am not supposed to talk in class, or speak out loud during funerals. As an American I should not often show emotion either, crying in public is somewhat taboo. We tell our children to suck it up, or act like a big boy or girl when they have the urge to cry. These few examples show the norms that we learn growing up as American that other groups have to face and adapt to when living in the nation. Getting back to the issue of religion, standing outside of the cultural norm in terms of popular faiths has its benefits. When voting, I do not have to depend upon a candidate’s religious background or goals to help me decide which person I think would make a better leader. As I have mentioned before I also do not have to spend a great deal of money on gifts for various Christian celebrations either. When crisis strikes, such as the priest scandal ongoing in the Catholic Church, I do not have to worry that my children have been hurt by people we call on to save our souls or connect us to the Divine. One thing I do enjoy is that I can give to charity of my own choosing and am not obligated to give part of my funds to any one church. Overall, standing outside of the cultural norms of Christianity in the American culture has benefits, some of which have been mentioned in this essay. Being an American born citizen also gives me great advantages to help me blend into the society despite my varying religious beliefs. Other individuals such as immigrants have to struggle with things like learning a new language, discovering subliminal social norms, and attaining adequate education in the American school system that mainstream society does not have to worry about. I believe that I am very lucky to have the ability to stand both inside and outside of popular culture, because it gives me a well rounded perspective as to how both sides, the â€Å"included† and the â€Å"excluded† can feel. References Dubois, N. (Ed.). (2002). A Sociocognitive Approach to Social Norms. New York: Routledge. Miller, B. D. (2004). Cultural Anthropology (2nd Ed.). Boston: Allyn & Bacon. Pettit, P. (2002). Rules, Reasons, and Norms: Selected Essays. Oxford: Clarendon Press.