Cultural differences and Expectancy Violations Theory Essay

Cultural differences and Expectancy Violations Theory - Essay Example However, Judee Burgoon's Expectancy Violations Theory (EVT), with its emphasis on positive and negative valence, is perhaps the most appropriate theory available to explain and account for cultural differences as they relate to our understanding of communication. Burgoon's EVT does not root itself in specific cultural transgressions and therefore does not limit itself in its effort to measure perceived positive and negative reactions to the unspoken message. Some emotions and traits can be readily transferred universally across different cultures. Aggression, happiness, laughter and fear are generally recognized around the world. However, some actions and messages are interpreted differently by various cultures with unique social traditions. Eye contact, movement, and posture all have symbolic meaning unique to various cultures. Touching is a symbol that has wide-ranging and varied meaning in different settings. By understanding the meaning of touching to a given culture, EVT can evaluate its impact and measure the positive or negative effect it may have. As with touching, other actions also demand a thorough knowledge of the cultural significance of the action.

War In A Time of Peace Bush, Clinton, and the Generals Essay Example for Free

War In A Time of Peace Bush, Clinton, and the Generals Essay David Halberstam who is considered to be one of Pulitzers Prizewinning journalist write the sequel of â€Å"The Best and the Brightest† entitled â€Å"War In A Time of Peace Bush, Clinton, and the Generals. † In this great book he tries to evoke the internal conflicts, power struggles and unchecked ego within the White House, the military and the state department. He also shows here how the decisions of men who served in Vietnam War and even those who did not have shaped Americas role in global events. He provides the influential and fascinating power of Clinton, Bush, Reagan, Kissinger, Baker, Cheney, Albright and others to reveal a stunning view of modern politics in America and policy. Beginning with the Persian Gulf War, the author tries to discuss political shifts by emphasizing foreign to domestic issues which ushered Clintons administration. Despite the fact that Clinton, along with much of the country preferred to focus on the home front, America nonetheless found itself in conflict in Haiti, Somalia and the Balkans this events reflected American discomforts with the use of military forces abroad and at the same time acknowledging that majority of the world is dependent on the United States for guidance and support. Halberstam also noted the irony of the Gulf war since it was the time where lesser-known players who contributed to the picture were not overlooked. And the wrong branch of the service and the wrong military leaders were celebrated at its conclusion. He points out that President Bush got little electoral bounce from that first high tech, low casualty victory and that this was a lesson that Clinton never forgot. Then the author shifts to the conflict in Bosnia which\ch is a different kind. That war he says tested the United States commitment to moral goals in it foreign policy rather than simply to considerations of national security. Bosnia created a new political constituency in America on e that is â€Å"driven by a memory that connected these events to the atrocities of the Mazis and therefore demanded that other nations ask themselves what their larger purpose was. † War In A Time of Peace 2 Halberstam also noted. Reviewing the last pages of the book, the author gave his point of view in taking a glimpse of the future and the September 11, 2001 World trade center tragedy. The author tries to speculate and give a notion of wrong idea at the wrong time he notes that intelligence analysts believe â€Å"the threats to an open society like America comes form terrorist, rather than the military power of rogue states† which themselves present an exceptional target. Events and personalities clashed in this extraordinary book. The author masters the presentation of well-rounded portraits and in telling the anecdotes of the personalities that created United states policies over the past decades. It was really a historical book full of niche from the author that he himself had carved it is a luxurious product of about four to five years of research wherein any journalists or other people from all walks of life can be indulged and enjoy reading it. It gives a clear portrait of the emerging united States in its full and vivid human detail. War in a Time of Peace is really an interesting case for Americans. If they want to learn from the past decade, they should. If they want to think about the future they must. This is a guiding book for them to read so as to avoid conflicting ideas about politics and policy, leaders ad laws. And how it feels good to live in a strong and influential country like America. Reference David Halberstam, David, (2002). War In A Time of Peace Bush, Clinton, and the Generals.

Stonehenge :: essays research papers

Can''t find it here? Try Research Assistance world hunger World Hunger Every day an estimated 24,000 people die from hunger or hunger related causes. Three-fourths of these deaths are children under the age of five. One may wonder how this can be living in a country were it seems so much food is wasted everyday. Food restaurants and grocery stores throw away food every night before closing. Many Americans waste food every day within their own homes. With so much â€Å"left over† food in American how is it that an estimated 800 million people around the world suffer from hunger and malnutrition?1 Well, first we must define the word hunger. Hunger, in this case, is not just the rumbling in ones stomach that most of us feel if we have not eaten for a few hours. For this purpose, hunger is defined as â€Å"a condition resulting from chronic under-consumption of food and/or nutritious food products. It may be precipitated by an inability to obtain sufficient quantities of food to eat or a failure to consume adequate quantities of nutritious food products, regardless of the ability to obtain sufficient food supplies.†2 The problem of world hunger is not that there is not enough food produced in the world. â€Å"World production of grain alone is over 1.5 billion tons, enough to supply the entire world population with two pounds a day.†3 This grain combined the current production of other foods such as meat, fruits, vegetables, and nuts is enough to provide each adult and child on earth 3000 calories a day which is what the average American consumes.4 Americans are not the only ones who waste food. People all over the world are doing the very same thing. And the though it seems that America has too much food, we Americans have hungry people living right here in our own country. The world hunger problem lies within the changing environmental conditions, population, and most of all, poverty. This paper will discuss the causes, effects and possible solutions of world hunger. There are three major causes of world hunger, changing environment conditions, population, and poverty. The environment, of course, is the major element in the production of food in most countries across the globe. The environment in which one lives decides what types of food can be produced and how much of that food can be produced. The weather or climate in any particular environment can change and affect what people eat and how much of it they are able to eat. One change in the environment that adversely affects agriculture is soil erosion.

Human Rights and Development Essay

Introduction The endless efforts by human beings in formulating perception to respect human dignity resulted the human rights discourse and so was case of development. The inherent intensity of searching ‘better’ for human being to respect the human dignity paves the way for new development concept by integrating human rights norms into development, and thereby making a paradigm shift from other development models. The transition from focusing on material to focusing on human in development reflects the deepening of people understanding about the relations between human rights and development. However, armed conflicts within and beyond the national boundaries have been seriously violating human rights and hampering development process. War around the globe had and still has the same result. People around the globe are reshuffling their thinking on development models to ensure human rights thereby getting a peaceful environment free from war and conflicts. The aim of this paper is to explore the negative relation, if any, between armed conflicts, war and human rights and development assuming as a development model. Linking human rights with development as a development model Human rights are those rights without which a human being cannot live as human being. These rights are indispensable and inviolable, no one is supposed to take away these rights from any individual or groups. These rights are so basic and fundamental that any man or woman gets that from his or her birth and which are founded on human dignity. On the other hand, Development has now become an inter-disciplinary subject or it can be attributed to different political or ideological viewpoints. Development is as much a prerogative of nations as of individuals within nations. Development as comprehensively would be meant†¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"is a comprehensive economic, social, cultural and political process, which aims at the constant improvement of the well-being of the entire population and of all individuals on the basis of their active, free, and meaningful participation in development and in fair distribution of benefits resulting therefrom.† Human rights and development an integrated approach of development as comparatively a new development model generally known as ‘Rights based approach’. â€Å"A rights-based approach is a conceptual framework for the process of human development that is normatively based on international human rights standards and operationally directed to promoting and protecting human rights. The right-based approach integrates the norms, standards and principles of international human rights system into the plans, policies and processes of development.† Linking human rights with peace as antithesis of conflicts and war Journey towards protecting rights of the people and ensuring peace in this globe had an immemorial history. It was so strongly perceived and advocated from the World War I and during and after World War II, which resulted the concept of human rights as it understood today. Perhaps, it was President Wilson of U.S.A. who advocated for rights of the minority as global protection at Peace Conference in Versailles (1919). During World War II world had witnessed the massive violation of human rights and denial of peace. Consequently, international legal and political leaders committed to show respect human rights and to stop wars and conflicts which paved the way for establishing UN as global organization. â€Å"We the peoples of the United Nations determined†¦to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our life time has brought untold sorrow to mankind.† Human beings are in position from where they want to respect the dignity and to avoid the barbarous acts of conflicts and wars by proper understanding and realizing these rights. â€Å"†¦whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind.† But after acknowledging the human rights and making commitments through UN, does the world avoid conflicts and war that violate human rights. The answer would certainly be negative though there was no world war since 1946 to onwards. But the world is witnessed of massive human rights violation in Sudan, Congo, Ruanda, Iraq, Afghanistan and different parts of the world. These in the long run violate the human rights. War, conflicts external or internal and unrest are threat to peace and security everywhere which are the conditions precedent for realizing human rights. Thus, war is the antithesis of human rights and vice- versa. â€Å"It is widely believed that the denial of human rights is not only an individual and personal tragedy as it also creates conditions of social and political unrest, sowing the seeds of violence and conflict within and between the societies and nations.† Thus, there is a close relation in observance of human rights and maintenance of peace or vice versa. The Declaration of Principle of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Co-operation among the states in Accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, which was adopted by the UNGA in resolution 2625(XXV) of 24 October 1970, that postulates â€Å"†¦maintaining and strengthening international peace founded upon freedom, justice and respect for human rights.† Respect, promotion and protection of human rights helps to reduce the conflicts, internal or external and thereby avoiding the war, because by respecting fundamental human rights no civilized nations can support and go for war. Linking development with peace as antithesis of conflicts and war In the context of 21st century, the concept of development has been drastically changed. Now development is perceived in much broader sense than that of previous. Notion of development equating with commodity or economic growth has been changed and now development is perceived as human development, meaning â€Å"the process of enlarging people’s choices.† Thus, there is a close relation between development and peace. An underdeveloped environment is not generally accepted that peace shall be prevailing. For this, to establish such environment, commitments are reflected in UN charter establishing conditions under which justice, respect to international law, to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom, ensuring economic and social development for all would be prevailed. Peaceful environment is very much conducive for development and vice versa, Almost 20 years after the cold war our world is becoming less safe, industrialized countries are facing human insecurity by terrorism. Conflicts by internal groups are also visible in different developing and least developing countries. The world both developed and under-developed is suffering the common problem of insecurity which exposed by among the reasons †¦deprivation, violation of human rights and less development approach by the rulers. Insecurity linked to armed conflict remains one of the greatest obstacles to realize human rights and development. â€Å"Every civilian death linked to conflict is a violation of human rights.† The human security which is the essence of human rights and development has got larger attention across the globe in this era of globalization. The state centric security now turns into the human centric security. Promotion of security helps to ensure the development as well as human rights, and insecurity expose to unrest and under-development and massive violation of human rights. â€Å"Humanity cannot enjoy security without development or development without security, and neither without respect for human rights.† Human being can achieve complete fulfillment of its aspirations only within the just social order. For the stable, peaceful, non-violent environment are preconditions which are more often disturbed by the war and conflicts. â€Å"†¦international peace and security on the one hand, and social progress and economic development on the other, are closely interdependent and influence each other.† Furthermore, there is very close relationship between disarmament which exposes peace as well as development and also prevents armed conflicts and war. â€Å"†¦ [T]here is a close relationship between disarmament and development and that progress in the field of disarmament would considerably promote progress in the field of development.† The costs of wars and conflicts often are not clear to the world community, it just not the violating human rights at once but making many human persons disables for the long time which is contrary to the concept of development. â€Å"Violent conflicts claims lives not just through bullets but through the erosion of human security more broadly.† Armed conflicts and wars all over the world displaced many people which is ultimately a violation of human rights and also a serious impediment of development. â€Å"About 25 million people are internally displaced because of conflicts or human rights violations.† However, some developed nations go for war for resources but ultimately their development doesn’t become as sustainable one. Their internal development get interrupted by drugs, alcoholism, joblessness, economic unrest thereby produce instability, recent USA’s movement of ‘we are 99%’ the occupier of world street and UK’s unrest are glaring examples of non-sustainability of their development. Conclusion Human rights and development share some commonalities, for that reason they have justification to be applied in practical field which can be a very pragmatic way to solve problems that we are facing today. Thus, in the light of above discussion, it shall not be less than just to claim that, human rights and development both are the antithesis of armed conflicts and war, and vice-versa. The promotion and protection of formers discourages the latter, and happening of the latter severely violates and hampers the former. Thus, human rights and development are the contradictory to war and the war, armed conflicts are also opposite to the promotion and protection of human rights, and realization sustainable development. In this same point, the both human rights and development could used as to prevent armed conflicts and war. â€Å"In turn without development, long term enjoyment of human rights and development will prove illusory and war, of course is the antithesis of both.† ——————————————– [ 2 ]. The author completed LL.B. & LL.M. from University of Dhaka. And currently serving as Lecturer, Department of Law. Green University of Bangladesh. [ 3 ]. Preamble, Para-2, Declaration on the Right to Development, 1986, adopted by UNGA. [ 4 ]. Robinson, Mary, A voice for human rights, University of Pennsylvania Press, 2006, p.303. [ 5 ]. Preamble, The UN charter.1945. [ 6 ]. Ibid. [ 7 ]. Bari, Dr.M.Ershadul, Human rights and World peace, The Dhaka University Studies Part-F, Vol.III(1):1-11June 1992,p.2 [ 8 ]. The third preambular paragraph. [ 9 ]. HDR, 1990, UNDP, New York, p. 10. [ 10 ]. Ibid. [ 11 ]. Ibid. [ 12 ]. See for more, Sen, Amartya, Human security now, Commission on human security, New York, 2003, pp. 2- 9. [ 13 ]. Anaan, kofi, Report of the secretary general, UN ,New York,2005,p.6. [ 14 ]. Preamble, Para-6, Declaration on Social Progress and Development,1969,adopted by UNGA. [ 15 ]. Preamble, Declaration on the Right to Development, 1986, adopted by UNGA. [ 16 ]. HDR, 2005, UNDP, New York, p.155. [ 17 ]. Ibid., p.151. [ 18 ]. Annan, Kofi, Official records of the UNGA, forty-seventh session, supplement no-1(A/47/1) para-109.

Roman Catholic Saints

Well there are over 2,500 according to Roman Catholicism sources, but no definitive count. This is because many were put into saint hood a long time ago by popular demand of the people. How the Church chooses saints Canonization, the process the Church uses to name a saint, has only been used since the tenth century. For hundreds of years, saints were chosen by public acclaim. Though this was a more democratic way to recognize saints, some saints' stories were distorted by legend and some never existed. Gradually, the bishops and finally the Vatican took over authority for approving saints. In 1983, Pope John Paul II made sweeping changes in the canonization procedure. The process begins after the death of a Catholic whom people regard as holy. Often, the process starts many years after death in order give perspective on the candidate. The local bishop investigates the candidate's life and writings for heroic virtue. Then a panel of theologians at the Vatican evaluates the candidate. After approval by the panel and cardinals of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, the pope proclaims the candidate â€Å"venerable. The next step, beatification, requires evidence of one miracle (except in the case of martyrs). Since miracles are considered proof that the person is in heaven and can intercede for us, the miracle must take place after the candidate's death and as a result of a specific petition to the candidate. When the pope proclaims the candidate beatified or â€Å"blessed,† the person can be venerated by a particular region or group of people with whom the person holds special importance. Only after one more miracle will the pope canonize the saint (this includes martyrs as well). The title of saint tells us that the person lived a holy life, is in heaven, and is to be honored by the universal Church. Canonization does not â€Å"make† a person a saint; it recognizes what God has already done. When the church began honoring saints By the year 100 A. D. , Christians were honoring other Christians who had died, and asking for their intercession. Many people think that honoring saints was something the Church set up later, but it was part of Christianity from the very beginning. As a matter of fact, this practice came from a long-standing tradition in the Jewish faith of honoring prophets and holy people with shrines. The first saints were martyrs, people who had given up their lives for the Faith in the persecution of Christians. Keeping statues or pictures is not idolatry Look at the pictures of your loved ones in your wallet or around your home or office. Why do you keep these particular pictures? You might answer that you carry those pictures to remind you of people you love, to help you feel that they're close to you when you're not together, or to share with people you meet. But you probably didn't say you worshipped them. Those are some of the same reasons we have statues and pictures of saints. Seeing a statue of Saint Therese of Lisieux who lost her mother when she was a child might make us feel less alone when we are grieving. A picture of Saint Francis of Assisi might remind us of how much he loved God's creation and make us more aware of our environment. We pray with saints We pray with saints, not to them. Have you ever asked anyone to pray for you when you were having a hard time? Why did you choose to ask that person? You may have chosen someone you could trust, or someone who understood your problem, or someone who was close to God. Those are all reasons we ask saints to pray for us in times of trouble. Since saints led holy lives and are close to God in heaven, we feel that their prayers are particularly effective. Often we ask particular saints to pray for us if we feel they have a particular interest in our problem. For example, many people ask Saint Monica to pray for them if they have trouble with unanswered prayers, because Monica prayed for twenty years for her son to be converted. Finally her prayers were answered in a way she never dreamed of — her son, Augustine, became a canonized saint and a Doctor of the Church. Bread and Wine Symbol Bread and Wine/Wheat and Grapes: Because of the bread and wine they produce, the symbols of wheat and grapes are often used to designate the Eucharist. Bread is the basic food of every culture and of every age in human history. Made from the toil of human hands, the many grains of wheat are transformed and become one to nourish and sustain us. A meal, in which bread is broken and shared, becomes a means of bonding human beings together. This is the sign Jesus used to describe Himself as the â€Å"Bread of Life. Following His command, in faith we take and eat this Bread, His Body, and become one with Him. From ancient times wine is associated with banquets, joy and celebration, a gift of God to gladden our hearts. The grapes, like the grains of wheat used for bread, are fruits of the earth and give of themselves in order that we might celebrate and be glad. This sign which Jesus used for His Blood, speaks to us of giving and of sacrifice in order that we might enjoy the benefits of His love in the banquet which is the foretaste of heavenly joy

A Loss for Words Book Review

A Loss for Words Book Review A Loss for Words is a book written by Lou Ann Walker that talks about things that deaf people go through in their normal everyday life. It is an autobiography about the author and narrates how the author’s experience of having deaf parents. The book is based in the modern society and seeks to express to the rest of the world how the deaf people live. This paper aims to respond to a few of the items cited by the author. Question 1 A residential school means that the child stays at the education training facility for a particular period of time e.g. a semester. The child is allowed to go back home at the end of this period. A residential school for the deaf provides the child with the appropriate care that they need. The care givers in such schools are trained personnel that have adequate experience in the field. This ensures that the children’s needs are catered for thus do not lack the basic amenities. On the other hand, it insulates them from the realities of the outside world hence does little to protect them. The author’s parents were born into families that did not understand them hence were shipped off to the Indiana School for the Deaf at a very young age (42, 45-48). From the perspective of hearing parents, this helps the child to actualize the situation that they have been born in. It thus helps the child to understand his/her surroundings and prepare them for life outside the facility. Most of these parents have no idea as to how to handle their kids hence send them off to schools where they are better catered for. Lou Anne‘s grandparents from her father’s ,Gale, side of the family sent their son to such a school as they were overwhelmed with taking care of the rest of the six siblings (56-57). Deaf parents on the other hand send their kids to such places to learn how to live with other people. The facilities insulate them from victimization from the society. The author shows how the world can be cruel when she writes about how the parent to a deaf child hired her to give the child a lecture and he later abuses the kid when she leaves the room. Question 2 Deaf people usually end up marrying deaf people due to the easy acceptance that the two/ pair have for each other. The author’s parents, for example, met through a blind date. The deaf people understand each other more easily than a couple where one can hear while the other is deaf. The probability that such a union will prosper is limited as the society’s perceptions will wear it down. The deaf couples therefore feel more comfortable with a partner who undergoes the same experiences as them (156-67). Question 3 In the book, the deaf are treated as people who are not worth anything to the society thus despised against. This is seen during the party when after the author had explained to the young man that her parents are deaf, he quickly loses interest in her. The deaf are also seen as psychologically impaired hence are not able to understand much of anything. This can be seen when the author is, as a child, is addressed by the mechanics and the parents completely ignored. The deaf people’s culture is also swept under the rag and is not considered worth much of anything. This is cited by the author when she writes that when she was born, the doctors first had to confirm that she was â€Å"normal†. The room was relieved that she could hear. The doctors did not have it in mind that the deaf parents had their own expectations (90, 102-109). The situation continues to unfold in the current world also. This is demonstrated by the fact that we are not at all interested in the deaf otherwise the learning of sign language could have been a mandatory subject in the teaching curriculum.

The Highest Elevation Points in Each U.S. State

The Highest Elevation Points in Each U.S. State The United States of America is the third-largest country in the world based on population and land area. It has a total area of 3,794,100 square miles divided into 50 states. The topography of the states varies from the flat, low-lying areas of Florida to the rugged mountainous western states like Alaska and Colorado. The Highest Points In the U.S. This list notes the highest point in each state:Â   Alaska: Mount McKinley (or Denali) at 20,320 feet (6,193 m)California: Mount Whitney at 14,495 feet (4,418 m)Colorado: Mount Elbert at 14,433 feet (4,399 m)Washington: Mount Rainier at 14,411 feet (4,392 m)Wyoming: Gannett Peak at 13,804 feet (4,207 m)Hawaii: Mauna Kea at 13,796 feet (4,205 m)Utah: Kings Peak at 13,528 feet (4,123 m)New Mexico: Wheeler Peak at 13,161 feet (4,011 m)Nevada: Boundary Peak at 13,140 feet (4,005 m)Montana: Granite Peak at 12,799 feet (3,901 m)Idaho: Borah Peak at 12,662 feet (3,859 m)Arizona: Humphreys Peak at 12,633 feet (3,850 m)Oregon: Mount Hood at 11,239 feet (3,425 m)Texas: Guadalupe Peak at 8,749 feet (2,667 m)South Dakota: Harney Peak at 7,242 feet (2,207 m)North Carolina: Mount Mitchell at 6,684 feet (2,037 m)Tennessee: Clingmans Dome at 6,643 feet (2,025 m)New Hampshire: Mount Washington at 6,288 feet (1,916 m)Virginia: Mount Rogers at 5,729 feet (1,746 m)Nebraska: Panorama Point at 5,426 feet (1,654 m)New York: Mount Marcy at 5,344 feet (1,628 m) Maine: Katahdin at 5,268 feet (1,605 m)Oklahoma: Black Mesa at 4,973 feet (1,515 m)West Virginia: Spruce Knob at 4,861 feet (1,481 m)Georgia: Brasstown Bald at 4,783 feet (1,458 m)Vermont: Mount Mansfield at 4,393 feet (1,339 m)Kentucky: Black Mountain at 4,139 feet (1,261 m)Kansas: Mount Sunflower at 4,039 feet (1,231 m)South Carolina: Sassafras Mountain at 3,554 feet (1,083 m)North Dakota: White Butte at 3,506 feet (1,068 m)Massachusetts: Mount Greylock at 3,488 feet (1,063 m)Maryland: Backbone Mountain at 3,360 feet (1,024 m)Pennsylvania: Mount Davis at 3,213 feet (979 m)Arkansas: Magazine Mountain at 2,753 feet (839 m)Alabama: Cheaha Mountain at 2,405 feet (733 m)Connecticut: Mount Frissell at 2,372 feet (723 m)Minnesota: Eagle Mountain at 2,301 feet (701 m)Michigan: Mount Arvon at 1,978 feet (603 m)Wisconsin: Timms Hill at 1,951 feet (594 m)New Jersey: High Point at 1,803 feet (549 m)Missouri: Taum Sauk Mountain at 1,772 feet (540 m)Iowa: Hawkeye Point at 1,670 feet (509 m)Ohio: Campbell Hill at 1,549 feet (472 m) Indiana: Hoosier Hill at 1,257 feet (383 m)Illinois: Charles Mound at 1,235 feet (376 m)Rhode Island: Jerimoth Hill at 812 feet (247 m)Mississippi: Woodall Mountain at 806 feet (245 m)Louisiana: Driskill Mountain at 535 feet (163 m)Delaware: Ebright Azimuth at 442 feet (135 m)Florida: Britton Hill at 345 feet (105 m)

IEP Goals for Progress Monitoring

IEP Goals for Progress Monitoring IEP Goals are the cornerstone of the IEP, and the IEP is the foundation of a childs special education program. The 2008 reauthorization of the IDEA has a strong emphasis on data collection-the part of IEP reporting also known as Progress Monitoring. Since IEP goals no longer need to be split into measurable objectives, the goal itself should: Clearly describe the condition under which the data is collectedDescribe what behavior you want the child to learn/increase/master.Be measurableDefine what level of performance is expected of the child for success.Delineate the frequency of data collection Regular data collection will be part of your weekly routine. Writing goals that clearly define what it is that the child will learn/do and how you will measure it will be essential. Describe the Condition Under Which the Data Is Collected Where do you want the behavior/skill to be exhibited? In most cases, that will be in the classroom. It can also be face to face with staff. Some skills need to be measured in more naturalistic settings, such as when in the community, or when at the grocery store especially if the purpose is for the skill to be generalized to the community, and community-based instruction is part of the program. Describe What Behavior You Want the Child to Learn The kinds of goals you write for a child will depend on the level and kind of the childs disability. Children with serious behavior problems, children on the Autistic Spectrum, or children with severe cognitive difficulty will need goals to address some of the social or life skills that should appear as needs on the childs evaluation report ER. Be Measurable. Be sure you define the behavior or academic skill in a way that is measurable.Example of a poorly written definition: John will improve his reading skills.Example of a well-written definition: When reading a 100-word passage at Fountas Pinnell Level H, John will increase his reading accuracy to 90%. Define What Level of Performance is Expected of the Child   If your goal is measurable, defining the level of performance should be easy and go hand in hand. If you are measuring reading accuracy, your level of performance will be the percentage of words read correctly. If you are measuring a replacement behavior, you need to define the frequency of the replacement behavior for success. Example: When transitioning between the classroom and lunch or specials, Mark will stand quietly in line 80% of weekly transitions, 3 of 4 consecutive weekly trials. Delineate the Frequency of Data Collection It is important to collect data for each goal on a regular, minimally weekly basis. Be sure that you dont over-commit. Thats why I dont write 3 of 4 weekly trials. I write 3 of 4 consecutive trials because some weeks you may not be able to collect data - if the flu goes through the class, or you have a field trip that takes a lot of time in preparation, away from instructional time. Examples Math SkillWhen given a worksheet with 10 addition problems with sums from 5 to 20, Jonathan will correctly answer 80 percent or 8 of 10 in three out of four consecutive trials (probes.)Literacy SkillWhen given a 100 plus word passage at reading level H (Fountas and Pinnell) Luanne will read with 92% accuracy in 3 of 4 consecutive trials.Life SkillsWhen given a mop, a bucket, and a ten-step task analysis, Robert will mop the hall floor independently (see Prompting) 3 out of 4 consecutive trials.

Catastrophism or Uniformitarism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Catastrophism or Uniformitarism - Essay Example From this perspective, the general amount of resources that has been incorporated into geographical studies is quite huge. Researchers develop initial findings where developments continue to explain on a certain sequence. i) The two scientists, who came up with a new geographical phenomenon might as well not only cause unending controversy, but a consequent period of regret for all the involved professionals. Apparently, such kind of possible ideas that might have been neglected at the very start of the development of evolution theories would result into a whole new understanding of the earth. ii) Just as resources were allocated for the Georgian theory, so should necessary authorities address this upcoming idea; its strength, proof and influence might give a realistic approach to catastrophes. The possibility of craters that made an impact over 250 million years ago would result into a new definition on the aftermath that the then species experienced. It might be a sad situation for a majority of the geologists, consequent blame among themselves, for basing their ideas on one orientation without consideration for the contrary. iii) According to Rampino, the effects discussed could be due to a huge catastrophe as asteroids could have caused dust expulsion that would have resulted in loss sunlight and could have caused a drop of temperature and chilliness, which, in turn, could have led to extinction of life on Earth for a considerable period of time. However, numerous scientists argue that these mysterious changes could explain the gravitational pull in all circular geological structures and the entire underground. It is a difficult situation, not only for the two scientists fighting for their theory, but also to the geographical institutions globally. Earthquakes, volcanoes, batholiths, loppoliths, dykes, craters, plateaus, mountains among other geographical structures, might have a very

Leadership Case Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Leadership Case Analysis - Essay Example he didn’t falter a bit when he told the men that the Japanese would attack the front lines and that it is going to be a long night.His effectiveness lies in his immediate action over a problem. When it comes to organizational Leadership, General Cummings is a seasoned person and it seems that no amount o f pressure would ruffle his feathers. He was only quite a bit peeved when found his coat dirty with mud after the storm which is an indication of his humanity. When it comes to developing people, he knows very well how to sharpen them by experience. He doesn’t spoon feed , mentor, or pat your back. On the contrary, he antagonizes and throws Hearns into situations that will challenge his weakness- emotions. This reflects that attitude not intelligence is valued in the battlefield. When it comes to delegation , it is very apparent that he delegates well since he can bark orders to any one with precision. Aside from this, In fact, he is very keen on details because he even knows almost all the equipment in the camp as well as the personlaities of people around him. One can see his planning skills when he sent the tanks to beef up the forces ahead of time since he alway s consider the worst to happen (n whether man-made or act of God). Communication skills is also a strength of the General. He manages by walking around and talking to people concerned. His hands-on leadership style with a charismatic tinge elicits respect , awe, and fear from among his men. General Cummings strength was his brilliance, courage , and experience that almost makes him complete. However, the end of the case ( or the story ) reveals that he has a weakness which was very crucial since it indirectly cost him Hearn’s life. He overlooked the verification of facts and reports that reached him. Since he is a man of action, his quick decision based on the immediate facts provided to him made him create the scenario he wants to believe in: that island is a stronghold of Japanese army.

Business Strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Business Strategy - Essay Example In the year, 2010 â€Å"Marks and Spencer plc† took the position of the largest cloth retailer in the United Kingdom. With 885 stores in over 40 countries with 600 stores being in the UK, the company boasted that for everyone on three women were wearing their bras. However, analysts were worried about the sustainability of the company in UK; retailing recovery. In the same year, a new CEO took over the running of the company he was faced with several issues that were associated with the reassessment of the company’s competitive strategy and the present challenges of strategic change. The choosing of 50-year-old Mark Bolland, who previously was the CEO of a UK supermarket chain, was greeted with a very positive response from the public, media and shareholders alike. The new CEO faced several challenges in his new position; he had to implement strategies, which would secure the future of the company that had the most famous name in the shopping malls. The company for long had been the largest retailer of clothes in the UK. This was an organization to which analysts referred to when they were reporting whether the high street has a good or a bad season of sales. An organization, which historically is loved and known by the people of Britain. At the end of 2009 and the beginning of 2010, investors were nervous. Below are several questions that were raised about the future of the firm that needed to be resolved (Bevan, 2007 p45). Analysis In the year 2009, the company delivered reasonable results in the 2008-09 financial, trade year. This was a period that was hit by the economic recession. In the previous year, the company had registered a ? 1 billion mark in the pre-tax profits for the first time in the decade. The company’s reputation had suffered a great deal when in 1998, it became the first retailer in Britain to make profits that amounted to ?1 billion, however, within the same year the company was issuing profit warnings. This was a self -inflicted catastrophic injury from its premium position. The company managed to limp through the period with the turbulent changes that were hitting it from all directions. With Sir Stuart’s appointment as the CEO of the company in the year 2004, saw the company regain its lost glory, and, as a result, regained its health and returned to the profit level of ?1 billion (Bevan, 2007 p57). When the company was founded and was still being rum by Simon Mark, he was known for his personal, autocratic and top-down management style. He was also known for his infamous attention that he had to detail. He showed this with the way that he dealt with the suppliers. He ensured that he always got his supplies from specific suppliers and always ensured that the goods that were supplied by these suppliers were to specification. By this, he built a relationship between â€Å"Marks and Spencer plc† and the supplying group. This assured customers with high and consistent quality. The com pany became largely successful in terms of delivery of high quality and reliable brand to the customers. By this, the company earned outstanding rewards in profit and market share (Bevan, 2007 p60). Historically the company was run using a trusted, tried and tested recipe; this is in the way the company did business (Bevan, 2007 p65). It was embedded in several fundamental principles that the company was run on: 1. The customers were to be offered high quality and well designed merchandise that was also

Checkpoint Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Checkpoint - Essay Example This implies that employees should behave in a way that in no way diminishes the ethical value and standards of the other person. Employees mustn’t use their official status for their personal purposes and must also avoid those activities that involve the risk of corruption or any other activity that may defame the organization. The employer must assess the whole situation in which he/she is obliged to identify or recognize the specific concerning issue as to whether there is any ethical impact upon the decision which he/she is supposed to take. The analysis of the situation demands the ethical decision make to clarify the exact issue, the main problem; the causes of the problem, the consequences, end results and outcomes of the actions and the parties and the stakeholders that may be affected because of ethical decision. This is a decision making step in which the decider has to determine his role and responsibility, evaluate all the relevant facts, figures and the information regarding the dilemma, assess the element of the risks involved in that particular decision and the ultimate desired course of action to minimize and mitigate those risks, and eventually decide the best course of course of action to resolve the dilemma. In the verification step, the decider verifies the decision that he/she has taken by way of reviewing and monitoring the consequences of the action, and takes the corrective actions when he/she finds any deviation from the original decision. This step involves the communication and justification of the decision to the concerned stakeholders and clarifications of the points and reservations which are popped up by the stakeholders relevant to the case. The above mentioned each rule and principle is selected in order to avoid workplace conflicts and also to maintain the reputation of the company. There many instances where unethical, illogical and illegal behavior of

English law is too generous to secured creditors. Discuss Essay

English law is too generous to secured creditors. Discuss - Essay Example For clarity, a definition of secured and unsecured creditors will first be established. Then, the discussion will proceed to the various laws and case laws proving that indeed, the laws of UK favours secured creditors. Likewise, the newer laws that are supposed to reform these unfair legislations favouring secured creditors will be addressed. Finally, a conclusion will be formed on the basis of the laws presented whether or not the adage is true. Secured and Unsecured Creditors To define well what secured creditors are, it would be best to first define its anti-thesis, the unsecured creditors. Unsecured creditors are individuals or companies owed money by other individuals or companies which have no recourse for an asset, collateral or fund for repayment in cases wherein default of debtor's payment occurs. On the other hand, secured creditors are generally those that have the benefit of having a security interest over the debtor’s assets. With regards to the English law, parti cularly in relation to the administration of liquidation of companies, insolvency and bankruptcy, the creditors that claims share in the asset are classified into two, i.e., the unsecured and the secured creditors. The former stands pari passu to the later in the event of insolvency or administrative receivership or liquidation. Simply put, secured creditors are treated favourably over unsecured ones in terms of recourse against debtor assets including employees ((Rapalje & Lawrence, 1997). Pertinent Laws on Secured Creditors English law referred to secured creditors numerous times since time immemorial. Most of these references showed favour towards them as opposed to unsecured creditors. The United Kingdom’s security law for instance, has weighed heavily in secured creditors’ favour. Likewise, in cases of insolvency, unsecured creditors rank behind the secured ones. Additionally, secured creditors having qualifying floating charge may have control over the manner of security to be enforced. Moreover, the English law allows secured lenders to enforce said security and step in via a business take over and run the debtor’s business in accordance to their preferences without any due notice given to other unsecured creditors. With these few examples alone, the adage â€Å"English law is too generous to secured creditors† is already being justified. In legislation, secured creditors are given the right to appoint their own â€Å"administrative receiver† in the same manner that they could also block an administrator should they find it necessary (Insolvency Act, 1986). As such, it becomes impossible for them to acquire the business without the intervention of 3rd parties. To prove further that the â€Å"English law is too generous to secured creditors†, several case laws will be discussed as evidence of this adage. All these cases basically revolves around the pursuit of one party to disregard the pari passu law that favors secured creditors over unsecured one, all to no avail. First case in point is the British Eagle International Air Lines Ltd v Cie Nationale Air France (1975). This is a case of English insolvency law that involves a company that winded up and disputes among creditors ensued. This judgment for this case decided it against public policy to vary insolvent estate’s claims and declare unlawful to contract against Insolvency Act of 1986. Thus, the sum due to Air

Portfolio of Seven Case Briefs on Different Business Law Topics Essay

Portfolio of Seven Case Briefs on Different Business Law Topics - Essay Example vs. Reeder-Simco GMC, Inc.,1 Kelo vs. City of New London,2 Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. vs. Samara Brothers, Inc.,3 Anderson vs. City of LaVergne,4 Dearborn vs. Real Estate Agency,5 Rhudy vs. Bottlecaps, Inc.,6 and Kain v. Bluemound East Industrial Park, Inc.,7 Reeder-Simco is a business entity that acts as a Volvo dealer in Fort Smith, Arkansas. In February of 2000, it filed suit against Volvo on the allegation that that its (Reeder's) sales and profits declined due to Volvo's price discrimination practices. Reeder-Simco alleges that Volvo offered to other dealers price concessions that were significantly more favorable that those given to Reeder-Simco. Thus, it filed suit against Volvo for allegedly violating the Robinson-Patman Act (RPA), which prohibits forms of discriminatory pricing that reduce competition. On this basis, Reeder explained that its business is conducted in the following manner: retail customers take bids from dealers who solicit price concessions from the manufacturers. These concessions are factored into dealer's bids. Reeder accuses Volvo of offering better price concessions to other Volvo dealers bidding for different customers, directly resulting in Reeder suffering losses. The District Court District Court allowe... The District Court District Court allowed the case to go to a jury, who held in favor of Reeder and awarded damages. Volvo appealed the decision, arguing a lack of competition was present, which is required by the RPA to apply. Volvo substantiated its contention stating that Reeder was not actually bidding against the Volvo dealers who supposedly were given favorable concessions. The appellate court dismissed the appeal, ruling that even though Volvo dealers do not actually bid against each other, they effectively competed at the same functional level, which would render the RPA applicable. Thus, Volvo brought the case to the Supreme Court on certiorari. Issue Whether or not a manufacturer offering its dealers different wholesale prices may be held liable for price discrimination proscribed by Robinson-Patman Act in the absence of a showing that the manufacturer discriminated between dealers contemporaneously competing to resell to the same retail customer. Ruling For the reasons stated, the judgment of the Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit is reversed, and the case is remanded for further proceedings consistent with this opinion. Analysis The Robinson-Patman Act does not reach the case Reeder presents, because the Act addresses price discrimination in cases involving competition between different purchasers for resale of the purchased product, whereas competition of that character is not involved when a product subject to special order is sold through a customer-specific competitive bidding process. It does not "ban all price differences charged to different purchasers of commodities of like grade and quality", but

English law is too generous to secured creditors. Discuss Essay

English law is too generous to secured creditors. Discuss - Essay Example For clarity, a definition of secured and unsecured creditors will first be established. Then, the discussion will proceed to the various laws and case laws proving that indeed, the laws of UK favours secured creditors. Likewise, the newer laws that are supposed to reform these unfair legislations favouring secured creditors will be addressed. Finally, a conclusion will be formed on the basis of the laws presented whether or not the adage is true. Secured and Unsecured Creditors To define well what secured creditors are, it would be best to first define its anti-thesis, the unsecured creditors. Unsecured creditors are individuals or companies owed money by other individuals or companies which have no recourse for an asset, collateral or fund for repayment in cases wherein default of debtor's payment occurs. On the other hand, secured creditors are generally those that have the benefit of having a security interest over the debtor’s assets. With regards to the English law, parti cularly in relation to the administration of liquidation of companies, insolvency and bankruptcy, the creditors that claims share in the asset are classified into two, i.e., the unsecured and the secured creditors. The former stands pari passu to the later in the event of insolvency or administrative receivership or liquidation. Simply put, secured creditors are treated favourably over unsecured ones in terms of recourse against debtor assets including employees ((Rapalje & Lawrence, 1997). Pertinent Laws on Secured Creditors English law referred to secured creditors numerous times since time immemorial. Most of these references showed favour towards them as opposed to unsecured creditors. The United Kingdom’s security law for instance, has weighed heavily in secured creditors’ favour. Likewise, in cases of insolvency, unsecured creditors rank behind the secured ones. Additionally, secured creditors having qualifying floating charge may have control over the manner of security to be enforced. Moreover, the English law allows secured lenders to enforce said security and step in via a business take over and run the debtor’s business in accordance to their preferences without any due notice given to other unsecured creditors. With these few examples alone, the adage â€Å"English law is too generous to secured creditors† is already being justified. In legislation, secured creditors are given the right to appoint their own â€Å"administrative receiver† in the same manner that they could also block an administrator should they find it necessary (Insolvency Act, 1986). As such, it becomes impossible for them to acquire the business without the intervention of 3rd parties. To prove further that the â€Å"English law is too generous to secured creditors†, several case laws will be discussed as evidence of this adage. All these cases basically revolves around the pursuit of one party to disregard the pari passu law that favors secured creditors over unsecured one, all to no avail. First case in point is the British Eagle International Air Lines Ltd v Cie Nationale Air France (1975). This is a case of English insolvency law that involves a company that winded up and disputes among creditors ensued. This judgment for this case decided it against public policy to vary insolvent estate’s claims and declare unlawful to contract against Insolvency Act of 1986. Thus, the sum due to Air

Corporate social responsibility influence consumers behavior Dissertation

Corporate social responsibility influence consumers behavior - Dissertation Example The presentation and discussions of variables that were collected by use of the questionnaire are therefore undertaken below. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION General Information Gender of Respondents From the responses that were received, it was found upon sorting of responses according to the gender or sex of respondents that forty three (43) of the respondents were females whereas eight (8) respondents were males. From the data, it can be said that there was an apathy on the side of the males when it comes to responding to customer behavior related questions as the ratio of males to females is more than 1:5. In relation to the literature reviewed, it can be said that there are more females who are more enthused about keeping a specific shopping (customer) behavior as compared to males. Age of Respondents Two major categorizations were provided for respondents to choose from in terms of their ages. From the coding that was done, it was realized that a specified pattern as shown in the age gr oupings of respondent. From the responses, it can be noted that there were more respondents within the age group of 18 to 24, which had as many as 43 call ups as compared to those aged 25 to 34 within just 8 call ups. This trend could actually suggest that M&A has more young customers as compared to older customers. Among other reasons, the fact that most products and services offered by the company are highly oriented for tertiary education students who often fall in the age group of 18 to 24 (Burke et al, 2006). Employment Status of Respondents Respondents were asked to indicate as part of the general and demographic information, their employment status. The responses that were sampled have been presented in the table below. Employment Status Number of Respondents Percentage Part time student 1 1.86 Full time student 45 83.3 Unemployed 3 5.56 Part time employed 2 3.702 Full time employed 3 5.56 Retired 0 0 Total 54 100 From the table, it can be seen that as many as 83.3% of the re spondents were full time students. This is a direct confirmation of literature that M&S is more popular among tertiary education students because of the line of products and services that the company offers. Other contributing factors to this are the strategic location of shops undertaken by M&A in various university campuses as a marketing strategy (Weber, 2010). 5.56% each were unemployed and full time employed workers whiles 3.7% were part time employed workers. There was 1.86% part time student with no retiree answering to the questionnaire. Average income of respondents A range was set for the average annual earning or income of respondents. The range was given ?10,000 interval and responses from participants is represented below. Annual income Number of Respondents Percentage 0 to 10,000 45 88.24 10,001 to 20,000 3 5.88 20,001 to 30,000 3 5.88 30,001 to 40,000 0 0 Over 40,000 0 0 Retired 0 0 Total 51 100 The table shows that greater percentage of respondents too an annual sala ry of ?10,000 or less. Their percentile is given as 88.24 whereas those who took more than ?10,000 but less than ?20,000 had a percentage representation of 5.88%. The same percentage was recorded for those taking between ?20,000 and ?30,000. Based on literature that shopping activities are common among people who make average minimum wage

Evolution Lab Essay Example for Free

Evolution Lab Essay The finches on Darwin and Wallace Islands feed on seeds produced by plants growing on these islands. There are three categories of seeds: soft seeds, produced by plants that do well under wet conditions; seeds that are intermediate in hardness, produced by plants that do best under moderate precipitation; and hard seeds, produced by plants that dominate in drought conditions. The lab is based on a model for the evolution of quantitative traits-characteristics of an individual that are controlled by large numbers of genes. These traits are studied by looking at the statistical distribution of the trait in populations and investigating how the distribution changes from one generation to the next. For the finches in Evolution Lab, the depth of the beak is the quantitative trait. I investigated how this trait changes under different biological and environmental conditions. I manipulated various biological parameters (initial mean beak size, heritability of beak size, variation in beak size, fitness, and clutch size) and one environmental parameter (precipitation) of the system, and observed changes in the distributions of beak size and population numbers over time. Assignment 2: The Influence of Precipitation on Beak Size and Population Number The first experiment is designed to study the influence of beak size on finch population numbers. For finches, deep beaks are strong beaks, ideally suited for cracking hard seeds, and shallow beaks are better suited for cracking soft seeds. I experimented first with the finches’ adaptation and evolution of their population over 300 years, and changed the Wallace birds beak size to 28mm, and Darwin’s birds stayed at the default of 12mm. I hypothesize a since there are more hard seeds (64%) on the islands than soft seeds (4%). The birds with the smaller beak (Darwin) will not be able to get enough food which may cause some of the birds to die, resulting in a decrease in the smaller beak bird’s population and an increase in the larger beak (Wallace) birds population because of the larger beak size better able to eat hard seeds. Darwin: Red Wallace: Blue I observed that the Darwin birds (smaller beak) actually grew up to about 25mm, as well as the Darwin bird’s population grew over time. The Wallace bird’s beak stayed the same as well as the population stayed steady but grew. The data actually refutes my hypothesis because I didn’t expect the smaller beak sized birds to grow to adapt to the seeds, I expected them to die off. This next experiment is designed to explore the effect of precipitation on finch beak size and population numbers. The experiment was to see how a decrease in precipitation on Darwin Island might affect beak size and how a decrease in precipitation might influence population numbers for these finches over time. I hypothesize a decrease in rain will produce more hard seeds because the hard seeds favor drought conditions, while the other seeds will not increase. And the decrease in rain may only slightly cause the finch population to decrease at first, but then will increase and stay steady as the birds have time to adapt to the drought conditions and their beaks will evolve. I observed that the beak sized for Darwin’s birds supported my hypothesis in that the birds beak sized increased with time. And the population did what I thought too, in that it decreased at first and then increased steadily. I then ran another experiment for 200 and 300 years separately. I observed that the 200 years population and beaks did about the same as the 100 year experiment. Which still confirm my hypothesis. But the 300 years, the bird’s populations and beaks sizes on both islands increased, but that the Darwin birds eventually passed Wallace’s birds in population and beak sized. I then performed the same experiment for both Wallace Island and Darwin Island simultaneously. I noticed that the 100 and 200 years beak size and population both increased and, but Darwin’s birds were still behind Wallace island birds. But then at the 300 year both beaks and populations were almost the same increase. My hypothesis on how an increase in precipitation on Darwin will influence beak size is that the beak sizes should become smaller and more shallow because the increase in rain will make softer seeds and smaller, shallow beaks are better for soft seeds. And the bird’s population will increase.. I observed just what I hypothesized – the beaks grew smaller and their populations grew huge. When I reran the experiment I observed that Wallace island birds also followed the similar growth for beaks and population as the Darwin birds. When I ran the experiment by increasing precipitation on Wallace Island to 50 cm/year and increasing beak size to 28 mm, for 300 years, I observed the beak sized actually decreased slightly and the population stayed steady and in line with the Darwin birds. Next experiment I decreased beak size on both of the islands to an intermediate value. I decreased rainfall on one island to a value close to zero. On the other island, I increase rainfall close to the maximum value and ran the experiment for 300 years. I observed different effects on each island. On the Darwin island with a medium beak size and almost no rain had increase in beak size and population. The Wallace birds with a medium beak size and lots of rain had a decrease in beak size and a steady increase in population. Assignment 4: Effect of Island Size My hypothesis for what effect an increase in island size will have on beak size and finch populations is that the beak size will have an increase and population will increase. I began my experiment by leaving all other parameters at their default values. Then changed the island size of Darwin to the highest it could go to 1km. The beak sized increased as predicted and so did the population increased. When I decreased island size, the beak size grew and the population dropped off first in the beginning but then increased with time. Based on previous experiments if I decrease the clutch size the birds populations will decrease a great deal. Also if I decrease the heritability parameter, and decrease clutch size the populations decrease – which looked like to the point of extinction.

impressionism Essay -- essays research papers

For the Love of Impressionism Impressionism is arguably the most beloved and famous of all the artistic styles to date, which is celebrated for its bright colour and new, imaginative view of the world and society. However, originally in Paris in the 1870s, this kind of art was viewed as controversial and undisciplined, it was considered to threaten the values that fine art was meant to uphold. Then in 1874, a group of artists got together to make their own exhibition, mostly of quite small, informal pieces of art that would not have attracted any notice in the Salon (the big annual art exhibition in Paris). They did eight shows altogether, the last one being in 1886. In the first show, the critics picked up on the title of one of Claude Monet's Paintings, Impression Sunrise, and decided to call the whole group 'Impressionists'. The name stuck, and what was supposed to be just a nickname, ended up being the accepted name of the group.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Impressionist artists tried to convey the look and feeling they perceived by the immediate world that surrounded them. Particularly for Monet, this meant painting out of doors, trying to capture the effects of weather, nature and light on the spot, which would be very difficult for a â€Å"normal† artist. A very rapid sketch, like Impression De Santis 2 Sunrise, looks as if it was entirely painted on the spot, but often he must have needed to finish his more elaborated pictures away from the scene, after the lighting effects had changed.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  To contrast Monet, Edgar Degas although having this look that gave the feeling the figures were just glanced at. painted his works entirely within his studio, but he arranged his objects and figures to portray this just glanced at look. He often showed figures in such informal poses as stretching or scratching themselves, and frequently used the borders of the pictures to cut off parts of figures, in order to give a sense of immediacy to them.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Impressionists' technique complemented the anxiousness and speed of their subjects. In their landscapes, they treated their subjects very informally, using a flurry of rapid and varied brush strokes to capture the overall effect of the scenario, without detailed descriptions of the objects within it. More often, too, they expressed lighting effects with bold contras... ...y to shuttle between the two landscapes for which the Impressionists would gain notoriety in Paris and its suburban enviroments. The emerging fields of optics and photography informed the styles of Camille Pissarro, Georges Seurat, and Edgar Degas.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  We tend to think of the history in terms of a few individual geniuses, acting as teachers for a number of small subsequent groups of artists, but the Impressionists were entirely different. They chose to develop their craft as equals, painting and learning from one another in small groups. One of the legacies of Impressionism is to leave the viewer with a profound sense of life captured on the canvas, through motion, light and colour. De Santis 6 And also life lived by these remarkable artists, always seeking to experience and to learn, to better capture on the canvas the reality before their eyes.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When you look at the history of Impressionism, it makes you realize how tastes change, and an art that we, today, can easily enjoy and appreciate, could seem crude and controversial and undisciplined to its first viewers. We should remember this in our responses to the art of today.

Female Literature Deserves the Same Regognition as Traditional Male Lit

Female Literature Deserves the Same Regognition as Traditional Male Literature Literary critic, Jane Tompkins targets the "male-dominated scholarly tradition that controls both the canon of American literature - and the critical perspective that interprets the canon for society" (502), in her exploration of the canonical exclusion of Kate Chopin's The Awakening, written in 1899, and Charlotte Perkins Gilman's 1892 short story, "The Yellow Wallpaper." Tompkins further notes that "the tradition of Perry Miller, F.O. Matthiessen, Harry Levin, Richard Chase, R.W.B. Lewis, Yvor Winters, and Henry Nash Smith has prevented even committed feminists from recognizing and asserting the value of a powerful and specifically female novelistic tradition" (502-3). Tompkins' criticism of the scholarly tradition not only asserts the existence of a male-dominated literary paradigm and exclusivity but, with this literary 'gate keeping', also questions how tradition becomes imprinted upon us so as to color our judgment. Tradition becomes the constant, the thing we write, read, rebel against and, interestingly, the thing we supplant with a new tradition once we are excluded from the established boys' club. But how does a so staunchly established tradition, which determines the inclusion and exclusion of literary works, come to be? Tompkins posits the existence of a male-centered agenda that masks its biases as "universal standards of aesthetic judgment" (503). These "universal standards" of aesthetics are subsequently biased against domains which have traditionally been declared feminine. Tompkins indeed contends that "twentieth-century critics have taught generations of students to equate popularity with debasement, emotionality with ... ...knowledging and paying homage to the powers that we keep in power, all in the name of tradition. Tradition is a paradox, for it oftentimes seems bigger than us; our own creation becomes a wall, seemingly insurmountable and impenetrable, that indeed crumbles by our own questioning and refutation. Works Cited Baym, N. (1978). Woman's Fiction: A Guide to Novels By and About Women in America 1820 – 1870. Ithaca: Cornell U.P. Bloom, H. (1975). A Map of Misreading. New York: Oxford U.P. Kolodny, A. (1980). A map for rereading: Or, Gender and the Interpretation of Literary Texts. New Literary History: A Journal of Theory and Interpretation 11, 451-67. Tompkins, J. P.(1985) Sentimental power: Uncle Tom's cabin and the politics of literary history. Sensational Designs: The Cultural Work of American Fiction, 1790-1860, New York: Oxford U.P.

Compare/Contrast Paper

Darius White Michael Duffy TSEM: Blood, Lust, and the American Dream 13 October 2012 The articles I have selected all involve metaphorical drugs and addictions in vampire media. The in class article I have chosen is titled Not to Be Toyed With’: Drug Addiction, Bullying and Self-empowerment in Buffy the vampire Slayer by Rob Cover and it involves the fictional character, Willow, and her addiction to magic. The article shares several similarities with the peer reviewed article Battling Addictions in Dracula by Kristina Aikens, and â€Å"[I]s it dangerous? Alternative readings of â€Å"drugs† and â€Å"addiction† in Buffy the Vampire Slayer by Jo Latham. All three articles explain the drug references in vampire media albeit with different points and interpretations. They briefly explain what an addiction is and how it applies to that particular subject. But two articles in particular, Not to Be Toyed With and â€Å"[I]s it dangerous? † both mention the nega tive aspects of peer pressure and bullying and what effect it can have on someone’s psyche specifically on the character Willow.Both articles explain how Willow’s magical curiosity began to manifest into something darker through time. The more she used magic, the more she relied on it and the more she became reluctant to control herself. She also began to show signs of an addiction, including withdrawal. The articles differ from Not to Be Toyed With in the sense that they explain drug use using different examples. â€Å"[I]s it dangerous? † takes a more in depth look in how Willow’s addiction causes her to become more compulsive, and how her friendships begin to crumble the more she hurts others with her magic.The article states that â€Å"The show succeeds in depicting drug use and its consequences as a complex web of dynamic intra-action between personal agency and structural forms of social restraints. Magic is pharmAkon: poison and cure, and the dist inction arises from how it is used: for good or evil, productively or destructively. † It states that the show attempts to show that drugs aren’t entirely bad, but can be used constructively. It evens takes it a step further by comparing her to other drug abusers and the medical aspect of addictions.It mentions that there may be properties of magic that has universal effects that may result in addiction, not the magic itself. In Battling Addictions in Dracula, It doesn’t use magic as a metaphor for drugs, but it compares drug abusers to a vampire addicted to human blood, more specifically the war on drugs. It briefly mentions the various drugs and makes several references to vampire culture. It also states that the drug use in Dracula refers to real life instances where doctors would try to control drug consumption during that era.The article elaborates further by stating, â€Å"Doctors carefully regulate the use of drugs in the novel, implying that disaster wil l surely ensue if the drugs are used improperly, which is demonstrated when Lucy dies as an indirect result of the maids being drugged. † Works Cited Aikens, Kristina. â€Å"Battling Addictions in Dracula. † Manchester University/Gothic Studies, 17 Mar. 2010. PDF. 13 October 2012. http://ehis. ebscohost. com. proxy-tu. researchport. umd. edu/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer? id=0737b5e2-8766-4318-a13a-9ef14709da71%40sessionmgr111&vid=3&hid=120 Latham, Jo. â€Å"[I]s it dangerous? Alternative readings of â€Å" drugs† and â€Å"addiction† in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. † Watcher Junior. June 2010. Web. 13 October 2012. http://www. watcherjunior. tv/05/latham. php Cover, Rob. â€Å"Not to be Toyed With': Drug addiction, Bullying and Self-empowerment in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. â€Å"Continuum: Journal of Media & Cultural Studies 2005 19(1): 85-101.

Communication Process Paper Essay

Communication process is a very important aspect with the help of which people send messages verbal including sentences, words, and messages nonverbal including physical setting, facial expression, and behavior. Communication patterns have changed because of changing nature of interaction between people. Communication allows business to coordinate and unify common goals. An open communication policy in business where the employees may come to the supervisors and voice his or her likes as well as dislikes. The business will have a workable environment for everyone. As the message passes through this medium, there is noise and which changes the message into something different from what was sent. These are otherwise known as the barriers to effective communication. Noise can be static or anything that distracts from the intended massage. Example, if there a meeting going on in the workplace and two employees are talking in the background. An individual will become distracted of what th e meeting is about. Communication process Paper The climates in most workplace are cool if it is an inside job. So individual may be comfortable communicating with one and another. Some people believe the environment tan make a difference with the way an individual communicate. Communication is vital in the workplace and it the primary means to convey the proper message. Most jobs have shift work and needs to communicate from one shift to another. This may be done by verbal or written in paper. A business climate most likely creates within levels of management and spreads from there. The strength and weakness of any organization are only good or bad as the individuals who work there. If there an open policy where employees can communication with his or her supervisors as they please. This procedure will make the workplace environment workable for everyone. Every employee in the workplace should voice his or her opinion toward the supervisor without been afraid of the outcome. Everyone has some weaknesses and strengths in communication as a result of psychological and personal peculiarities, and every day communication patterns. Verbal written communication is my strength. My weakness is nonverbal communication because in some situations I am not sure what behavior patterns I should follow, for instance, speaking with strangers, or the police. Sometimes I believe cultural or social barriers communicating with others, I have strong verbal communication skills because I spend much time communicating with my friends on the Internet. This way I can communicate with several people at the same time, and save time on phone calls or visiting them. This form of communication is very popular because it transmits information to the individuals and receives reply rapidly. I have good written skills and can clearly express opinion in several sentences. This strength is logical, concise, and informative messages, which help the recipient to grasp the idea at once. Good written skills used in the criminal justice system and other business. Years ago the senior management committee of some business, there strategies for doing everything from changing policies to dealing with employees discussed behind closed doors. Once those decisions made by management, the supervisors were asked to put those decisions into effect. The employees had little to no input on those matters. The employees did as they were told or had to find a new job. Today some management team members listen to what the employees have to say before making a decision on changing the policies. Most business in the present encourages employees to take an active part in their company. The employees who work on production line may know some ways to improve the lines. Some manager may pass out certain type of rewards for his or her ideals. Communication process with employees can be a difficult task. It may take knowing what an individual have to say to communicate in a way to receive desired result. Communications to employees come from several areas within the organization, the director, human resources, the program manager, and other management team. Every employee need to know what is happening within the company. The company will not achieve if the employees are not contribute what expected of him or her. That why a well-organized internal communication strategy required to create the ideal mindset within the company. Reference Communicating Effectively with Employees Retrieved on July 12, 2011 from http://www. learningspaces.njit.edu/Elliot/content/communicating-effectively employee

Corporate Responsibility – Starbucks

How does Starbucks’ policy of corporate social responsibility impact the company’s bottom line? According to Porter and Kramer (2006), â€Å"Proponents of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), use four arguments, moral obligation, sustainability, license to operate, and reputation as justification for implementing CSR programs and practices (p. 3). Moral obligation is the duty to be a good citizen and do the right (socially responsible) thing. Sustainability requires responsibility managing both environmental and community needs, by meeting the needs of today without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.License to operate, every company needs permission from governments, communities and stakeholders to do business and reputation, to ones improve image, strength in brand, increase morale, and raise the value of stock (Porter, 2006). Based on the video â€Å"Starbucks Corporation: Serving more than coffee†, (McGraw Hill, 2011), Starb ucks follows the four Porter points quite closely, and these efforts have had a positive impact on the financial standing and public perception of the company.Starbucks spokesperson, Sue Mecklenberg states â€Å"Social responsibility is a boost to financial well being† (2011). Through the implementation of â€Å"Eco-efficiency†, the company is able to reduce waste and utility costs for water and gas. Additionally, Starbucks offers their employees, referred to as partners, good benefits that include health plans and stock options. These, in turn help to create partner loyalty to the company, leading to low turnover, which helps Starbucks to lower recruiting and training cost.Additionally, the Starbucks customer base appears to be motivated to frequent Starbucks based on their CSR, and also helps to attract socially conscious investors. Corporate social responsibility is also a valuable tool to report and communicate back to company stake holders, what the company is doi ng, and provides accountability by which metrics can be used to measure and monitor progress on these fronts. As Starbucks continues its global expansion, what must it do to ensure that the company maintains its socially conscious focus?Corporate social responsibility encompasses all aspects of the business provides a view into the heart of an organization. In referring to CSR, Sue Mecklenberg quotes the Starbucks CEO as saying, â€Å"We need to hit numbers and live values†, because CRS is no long simply writing a check to a foundation (McGraw Hill, 2011). To effectively maintain the CSR commitment, Starbucks must continue to evolve and improve partner and customer satisfaction, while aligning the business with the mission and guiding principles.This is evident in the way Starbucks encourages and supports those partners who contribution to non-profit organizations, such as â€Å"Make Your Mark†, where Starbucks contributes ten dollars per hour, per hour volunteered by a Starbucks partner. Additionally, on a global scale, Starbucks assures coffee farmers get fair wages, fair prices and maintain good social conditions for their employees. Schools and hospitals are funded for coffee producers who meet social and environmental criteria.In an effort to further monitor vendors, Starbuck is working to develop â€Å"real-time† updates of supply chain information, as well as an information pipeline for awareness and to manage social conditions at the vendors level (McGraw Hill, 2011). As Starbucks expands globally, management must continue to do the things they do so well with the current CRS program. However, to ensure the same responsibility as the company expands, it must have continuous improvement plan in place that is forward looking for both new ways to benefit employees, business partners, community and nations in which it does business.References Porter, M. E. , & Kramer, M. R. (2006). The link between competitive advantage and corporate s ocial responsibility. Harvard business review, 84(12), 78-92. McGraw Hill (2011). Starbucks Corporation: Serving more than coffee [Video recording] Retrieved October from 30, 2012 from https://blackboard. cmich. edu/webapps/portal/frameset. jsp? tab_tab_group_id=_2_1&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%2Flauncher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D_58229_1%26url%3D

Mgmt 4440 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Mgmt 4440 - Essay Example performance management lies in the fact that it helps distinguish between employees who are active and those who are actually working and motivates the former to be more like the latter, thus improving the overall performance in the organization. Also, when a customer is rewarded adequately for good work (whether monetarily or through promotions), they are more likely to be satisfied with their jobs, thus increasing the company’s retention rate. Also, it helps align the organization’s activities and the efforts of the employees with the goals of the organization. Employees are more engaged in their work. They look to take on more challenging assignments and enjoy working at their workplace, motivated to achieve the best that they can. This also results in timely and high quality work by the organization in turn. From the employee’s perspective, he / she has greater motivation to work in that organization. An employee who performs well has motivation to continue doing so and an employee who is slacking off is motivated to perform better when they see a coworker being rewarded. Performance management also drives employees to become responsible for their individual performances and drives a better employee experience in the organization. It makes employees strive for greater success and makes them more conscientious of their work. The statement ‘Business is behavior’ refers to the need for organizations to adopt a behavioral approach to management systems. This is due to the huge gap between an organization’s technical competence and the performance of their employees due to a poor understanding of social skills (Rana 2). Simply put, unless an organization succeeds in promoting positive work behavior and decreasing instances of negative work behavior among employees, it will never be able to actualize its potential no matter how well it boosts its other capabilities. Its success in business is limited by the least progressive factor which is often

Shakespeare Othello Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words - 1

Shakespeare Othello - Essay Example Shakespeare’s play Othello is set in Venice and Cyprus and involves a general named Othello, a person of black decent living among the whites. Despite having an African heritage, Othello is a general in the Venetian army and is happily married to Desdemona, a white woman (Othello 870). However, Roderigo; a rich young man was jealous of the marriage between Desdemona and Othello since he had been pursuing her love in vain. Therefore, he unites with Iago who hates Othello for favoring the inexperienced soldier, Michael Cassio. Othello promoted Cassio to the lieutenant position instead of Iago who had a lot of experience. They ganged up against Othello and started planning on how to ruin both his marriage and life. Discrimination occurs due to various reasons such as envy, desire for power and fear. Racism is frequently viewed in terms of morphological features like hair type, skin color, as well as facial looks (Rizzo 65). Just like in Shakespeare’s plays, Moors and other foreigners are identified by use of skin color. This play actually presents racist message when Othello, a character of African origin is insulted due to his race. For instance, in the play, he is referred as â€Å"The lustful Moor† (Shakespeare 2.1.290) Consequently, Othello is regarded as â€Å"An old black ram†¦ tupping your white ewe† (Shakespeare, 1.1.110-6). Consequently, he is seen as â€Å"a Barbary horse† to †¦, make the beast †¦backs† (Shakespeare 1.1.110-6). These are racist insults of animal imagery directed at Othello because of is of African origin. He is seen as animal of lower status compared to the whites within Venice. However, I do not agree with the assessment of the play and the playwright that Shakespeare is a racist. This is because Shakespeare never considered race a central theme in his works. Instead, his comprehensive soul established an impressive racial vision. He comprehended many things related to racism there by making him develop an impartial attitude towards different races within his surroundings (Moore 121). Consequently, five of Shakespearean plays focused on racial problems within his white centered Christendom society. This clearly proves that Shakespeare identifies the existence of racial differences though he is not a racist. Despite presence of sexual jokes as well as animal imagery directed to Othello, it is wrong for critics to consider Shakespeare a racist. Shakespeare is an impartial and humanitarian dramatist championing for interracial equality liberty, as well as fraternity. In fact, he encourages everyone to shy away or come out of racial bond, which cuts human hearts. Thus, we should discard racism since it cuts human hearts resulting in tragedies rather than curing the same (Bloom 78). Further, some critics argue that the sexual jokes as well as animal imagery within the play are forms of racial discrimination directed by Shakespeare towards Othello. For instance, he is referred as an old black ram spoiling Brabantio’s white ewe. The other instance is when Othello is considered a Barbary horse covering Desdemona would later produce a beast with two backs (Shakespeare 1.1.110-6). Consequently, Othello is portrayed as a person who gets angry faster. This is proved when he believes in the lies of Iago concerning the purported affair between her and Cassio. The lie angers him so much and makes him jealous of Cassio. Later, it

Input and output devices Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Input and output devices - Essay Example Devices that serve as both input device and output device are termed as I/O devices. An example of input device is a keyboard. Using the keypad, a user types the data. A keyboard sends electrical signals to the computer system, which is essentially the input. The computer then interprets the signals so that the results can be displayed in the form of text on a monitor. In this example, the text is output. In an another example, a computer sends data to a printer and it generates a printed paper. Here, computer is the input device whereas printer is the output device. The input and output may vary in their nature and form depending upon the mechanism. For example, when a computer sends information into a printer as signals, the input is digitized information whereas its output is a tangible printed paper. It is important to note that an input device e.g. a mouse or the keyboard of a computer can perform the function of sending information to a computer as input. However, these input devices cannot reproduce or receive any information from the computer as output. It is also noteworthy that the input or output classification of devices is relative to each other. This can be elaborated from the example of a USB inserted in the port of a computer and a lead connecting the computer to a printer. Here, while the computer serves as an output device for the USB in that it generates the signals, the computer plays the role of an input device for the printer because eventually, the text will be printed as output by the printer. A USB flash drive and a CD-RW drive are both examples of I/O devices as both can send as well as receive information from a computer. To conclude, input devices send information into a system whereas output devices generate its results. Some devices can only be either input devices or output devices whereas others can be both. The status of a device as an input device or an output

The Convergence of Physical and Information Security Research Paper

The Convergence of Physical and Information Security - Research Paper Example There before, organizations and enterprises used to protect their assets primarily with the use of physical efforts such as guns and gates. However, this has become an obsolete idea today since people today are now using passwords and effortless systems to protect their assets. ISSA, ISACA, and ASIS are examples of the three main security organizations that endorse security convergence. A few years ago, the three organizations came up with the Enterprise Security Risk Management with the intention of enhancing effortless security. Using the example of Smart Cards, we see a very good example of the convergence between the buildings (physical), the PCS and the networks (information). Before we go deep into the topic, it would be important we understand the point of convergence between the two concepts as this will help us learn why the discussion is so important today. When we talk about the physical security, we mean the traditional form of protection that focused primarily on the use of effort to protect the assets owned by an organization (Conference Board of Canada, 2011). During this time, organizations, mainly used guns, electric fences, security fences and guns to guard their territory. Physical security officers will in that case be made up of law enforcement officers. These officers had specific departments who will in return report to risk management offices and departments. The use of such systems and tools was predominant a few decades ago. Today, things have widely changed and people are no longer using effort to protect their assets. This has been defined as information security. With the use of information security, firms are widely using passwords and software gadgets to protect their assets from unauthorized access and use (Contos, 2007). Staffs under information security have well established technical backgrounds as their intention is to use as a minimum effort as possible in protecting the assets an

Business Writing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Business Writing - Essay Example This minimizes disputes, since unrecorded conversations can be distorted or forgotten, and can easily be retrieved when categorized and stored properly. Although a memo is an informal letter, it should still indicate relevant information so that receiving parties can act accordingly. Such information includes the addressees of the memo, date, name of the sender and most importantly, the subject of the matter. A memo can be distributed internally or posted in the company's bulletin board. On the other hand, a business letter is very formal because more likely than not, it is intended for external parties. As such, the format of a letter differs greatly from that of a memo. A business letter includes the recipient's name and address, date, salutation, subject, body of the letter, complimentary close and signature of the sender. Sometimes, an enclosure is included if required. In addition, a business letter must be printed using the company's letterhead. The writing method used in a business letter should be formal, polite and serious to indicate the level of professionalism. The content of a business letter should also be clear and concise. A business letter is usually sent by post or courier.

Miss Maddie Mae Essay Example for Free

Miss Maddie Mae Essay Goooooood morning Omaha! It is 6:30 am and the high today is 101 degrees. Thats right, it is going to be another hot one, make sure to make it down to Linoma Beach today, well be down there giving out some cool prizes and its your chance to winI roll over on my side to hit the snooze button and I wipe my forehead with a wet cloth to cool down. I lay in bed for just a few more minutes starring up at my ceiling as I notice an annoying tick coming from my fan, which by the way, is on so high it looks like it is going to plummet from my ceiling at any given moment. Whats today? Something important is supposed to happen today, I think to myself,SHOOT! Its Thursday, I yell out stridently and I quickly jump out of bed to my feet and sprint to the shower trying not to trip over practically 18 pairs of shoes and so much clothes it would last me the rest of the summer without having to wear the same wardrobe twice. What are you in such a big hurry for? my mom asks me as I cut her off, shut the door, and hop in the shower. Its Thursday, I yell back through the walls and over the noise of the shower. And.Ma, how could you forget? Maddies plane comes in at 8:00, Im supposed to pick her up!Well, you better get a move on then Lauren, Its 6:45!I finally get out of my house by about 7:00 and I anxiously drive to the airport, praying I wont be late. I havent seen Maddie since last summer when she moved to LA to live with her dad for a while. Maddie has been my best friend for the longest time, no one could even compare to our friendship. She is the most real person anyone would ever meet. Did I mention were exactly alike? We are crazy! Im hoping now shes home for good, Im not the same without her by my side 24/7, the worst part about it all is that she refuses to tell me whether shes staying or leaving until I pick her up. It is all very stressful, it really is! I arrive at the airport just barely making it and I wait for her by the security checkpoint because youre not allowed to go any further than that anymore without a ticket. Kieny! My girl,I had to look twice at where that familiar voice came from  because she looked so different. Last time I saw her she had a light caramel brown hair but now she had gone back to being that beautiful bleach blonde hair and blue-eyed girl I knew her to be with a golden bronze tan. Wow, it has been so long, I respond with a huge smile on my face shaking my head back and forth in unbelief. Too long, she replies as we hug jumping up and down with laughter and joy. Once we had our girl screaming fest, we went to this little cafà © back out in Millard so we could sit outside and grab a cup of coffee and some breakfast to catch up on lost time. So whats it like in LA, I can see youve got their style down thats for sure, you look like a Laguna Beach chick,Maddie leans back in her chair, slides her aviators off of her nose and on top of her head, places both elbows on the arms of the chair, and swings her right leg over the left. Its a dream come true, it really is. You would love it there, Kieny So, its my first day back, what big plans do you got for us girl?I didnt exactly have anything planned, I figured we would just go with it, but if I were to tell her that she would be disappointed. I replied, Well, its supposed to get pretty hot today so I think we should go to Linoma Beach, a bunch of people will be out there anyways,Sounds good. Guess what home girl? she questions me in a tone of dissatisfaction. Oh no come on now Maddie, is this where you tell me your not staying? I asked her with great hesitation. She paused for what seemed to take 2 hours, but in actuality it was just for a few seconds, Nope! Girl you better believe Im not going anywhere!I shoot out of my seat with excitement and practically spill coffee all over her white California style tube top and her high top shoes,Thats the way it should be, I laughed,And thats the way it will always be, she said back  giving me another hug.

Properties of Water for Organism Survival

Properties of Water for Organism Survival NDUI PRISCILLAH Discuss the assertion that water has several unique properties that make it vital not only for human beings, but for all living organisms to survive. Introduction Water is a very important aspect of all living organisms’ plants and animals alike. What makes it so useful and relevant to survival are its unique properties which relate to its functions and hence its relevance to living things as discussed below. Water is a dipolar molecule Water is a normal oxide of hydrogen consisting of two hydrogen molecules covalently bonded to one oxygen molecule. The water molecule is not linear and the oxygen atom has higher electro negativity than the hydrogen atoms. The atoms of oxygen carry a slightly negative charge whereas, the hydrogen atoms are slightly positive, this gives the water molecule its dipole movement (en.wikipedia.org). Hence, the water molecule can form up to four bonds with it self and other molecules. This property gives water most of its properties. Water is a Universal solvent A solvent is a liquid which dissolves other substances. Because of its ability to form four bond with other molecules (dipole), no other chemically inert solvent is able to dissolve a variety of materials as water nor the amount of them it can hold in solution (Edward J.K 1996). Water is able to dissolve a variety of substances solids, liquids and gases alike. (Edward, 1999) adds on to say â€Å"water is the best solvent and provides a medium for the movement of molecules within and outside the cell.† hence water is important in both plants and animals in that it aids movement of materials through diffusion as salts, sugars acids, alkalis and gases such as carbon dioxide (carbonation) and oxygen dissolve in it and can be transported in the organism as a transport medium as in blood, lymphatic and excretory system, the alimentary canal and xylem and phloem (Taylor D.J 1984). Water is wet Because of its molecules forming hydrogen bonds with other polar molecules, water makes things wet. This is due to its cohesive and adhesive properties (Dr. Jain VK, 1974). Cohesion is the attraction between like molecules in this case water while adhesion is the attraction of molecules of different substances. This gives water high capillary forces, that is the tendency of water to move up a narrow tube against the concentration gradient. This is a very important property to vascular plants such as trees as it enables water to move along very narrow spaces such as during transpiration which help control the temperature of a plant. Its cohesion property is also relevant in cells and in translocation of water through xylem in plants. This is also vital in the rising or moving up of sap in plants. Surface tension The cohesive property of water brings about surface tension. Besides mercury, water has the greatest tendency to cohere causing its surface to contract to the smallest possible areas as a result of the hydrogen bonds (Edward J.K, 1996), because of this many small organisms are able to settle on water or skate over its surface, thus providing them a habitat, for example the water striders. It also aids reproduction by way of seed dispersal, garmetes and larval stages of aquatic organisms. Water has a high specific heat capacity The specific heat capacity of water is the amount of heat required to raise one (1) gram of water from O0C to 10C. Compared to other liquids a considerably high amount of energy is required to change the temperature of water (Edward J.K, 1996). This property is also due to the numerous hydrogen bonds between water molecules. This is very vital to both humans and plants as it helps in moderating the earth’s climate by buffering large fluctuations in temperature. It also protects the plants from very harmful temperature fluctuations. High specific heat capacity of water is also vital to marine and fresh bodies of water to help maintain a constant temperature over longer period of time and to be stable over short periods of time. Latent heat of vaporization Vaporization or evaporation is the change of state from liquid to gas. The latent heat of vaporization is the energy required to convert a liquid into gas (Vapour) at constant temperature (Dr V.K Jain, 1974). Water has the highest latent heat of vapourisation of all common substances which is about 44 Kj/Mol at 250C. The high latent heat of vaporization of water enables the plants to cool themselves by giving out heat through transpiration. It is also a major factor in the transfer of heat between the ocean and the atmosphere, thereby driving the weather climate. Beside these, animals also use this property in cooling by the sweating and panting in mammals. That is, the opening of the mouth by some reptile’s e.g crocodiles in sunshine and mammals like dogs. Latent heat of fusion Latent heat of fusion is the heat required to convert a unit of mass of a solid to liquid at the same temperature. To melt 1gram of ice at 00C, 80cal. (335J) of energy is needed which is very high and caused by the presence of hydrogen bonds. This means water must loose a relatively huge amount of heat energy to freeze. This helps protect the contents of the cells not to be damaged as their environments are less likely to freeze. Water expansion and density One of the unique properties of water is that, it reaches its maximum density at 40C and diminishes above and below that temperature. It has a tendency to expand as it freezes and its density is decreased (Dr. Jain V.K, 1974), hence ice has a lower density than water and floats on top of oceans, lakes and rivers. It forms at the surface first and last at the bottom, this provides insulation of the water below it and increase the chances of survival for acquatic organisms especially in cold climates and during cold seasons. Penetration of light Water which has no suspended particles is transparent in the visible electro magnetic spectrum. This implies relatively great amounts of infrared and ultra-violet rays can penetrate through it. This enables acquatic plants to survive as they are able to carry out photosynthesis. It can therefore be deducted that water indeed has several unique properties related to its importance to all living organism without which most of these might become extinct. Besides these water provides a habitat for millions of living organisms and is also vital in sanitation for human beings helping to prevent the spread of infections such as viruses, protozoa and worms. Hence, water is a very vital aspect without which life might not exist. BIBLIOGRAPHY Edward J.K (1996), Concepts of Ecology; fourth edition. Pearson Education. New Jersey. en. Wikipedia.org/wiki/water Dr. Jain V.K (1974), fundamentals of Plant Physiology; S. Chand and Company Ltd. New Dhehi Taylor D.J et al (1984), Biological Science 1 2, Cambridge University Press. New York.