Wednesday, December 25, 2019
Heather Ale by Robert Louis Stevenson
The poem Heather Ale by Robert Louis Stevenson is a ballad about the legendary Pict precursors to modern era Scots. In mythology, they may also be identified with pech, who were pixie-like creatures. They brewed heather ale and battled the Scots. Certainly, it would be convenient to be able to turn the abundant heather into an alcoholic beverage. Among the curiosities of human nature, this legend claims a high place. The historical Picts were a confederation of tribes in eastern and northern Scotland in the late Iron Age through the early medieval periods. The Picts were never exterminated. Today, they form a large proportion of the folk of Scotland: occupying the eastern and the central parts, from the Firth of Forth, or perhaps the Lammermoors, upon the south, to the Ord of Caithness on the north. Archaeological studies dont find the Picts to be much shorter than current-day Scots.  It may be a case of the victors writing the history. The last nominal king of Picts reigned in the early 900s AD. In fiction and motion pictures they are often depicted as tattooed, blue-painted woodland warriors. Did the elements of this legend stem from some ancestors who were small of stature, black of hue, dwelling underground and possibly also the distillers of some forgotten spirit? See Joseph Campbell’s Tales of the West Highlands. Heather Ale: A Galloway LegendRobert Louis Stevenson (1890) From the bonny bells of heather   They brewed a drink long-syne,Was sweeter far than honey,   Was stronger far than wine.They brewed it and they drank it,   And lay in a blessed swoundFor days and days together   In their dwellings underground.There rose a king in Scotland,   A fell man to his foes,He smote the Picts in battle,   He hunted them like roes.Over miles of the red mountain   He hunted as they fled,And strewed the dwarfish bodies   Of the dying and the dead.Summer came in the country,   Red was the heather bell;But the manner of the brewing   Was none alive to tell.In graves that were like children’s   On many a mountain head,The Brewsters of the Heather   Lay numbered with the dead.The king in the red moorland   Rode on a summer’s day;And the bees hummed, and the curlews   Cried beside the way.The king rode, and was angry,   Black was his brow and pale,To rule in a land of heather   And lack the Heather Ale.It fortuned that his vassals,   Riding free on the heath,Came on a stone that was fallen   And vermin hid beneath.br/>Rudely plucked from their hiding,   Never a word they spoke:A son and his aged fatherâ€â€Ã‚   Last of the dwarfish folk.The king sat high on his charger,   He looked on the little men;And the dwarfish and swarthy couple   Looked at the king again.Down by the shore he had them;   And there on the giddy brinkâ€â€Ã¢â‚¬Å"I will give you life, ye vermin,   For the secret of the drink.†There stood the son and father   And they looked high and low;The heather was red around them,   The sea rumbled below.And up and spoke the father,   Shrill was his voice to hear:â€Å"I have a word in private,   A word for the royal ear.â€Å"Life is dear to the aged,   And honour a little thing;I would gladly sell the secret,†   Quoth the Pict to the King.His voice was small as a sparrow’s,   And shrill and wonderful clear:â€Å"I would gladly sell my secret,   Only my son I fear.â€Å"For life is a little matter,   And death is nought to the young;And I dare not sell my honour   Under the eye of my son.Take him, O king, and bind him,   And cast him far in the deep;And it’s I will tell the secret   That I have sworn to keep.†They took the son and bound him,   Neck and heels in a thong,And a lad took him and swung him,   And flung him far and strong,And the sea swallowed his body,   Like that of a child of ten;â€â€And there on the cliff stood the father,   Last of the dwarfish men.br/>â€Å"True was the word I told you:   Only my son I feared;For I doubt the sapling courage   That goes without the bea rd.But now in vain is the torture,   Fire shall never avail:Here dies in my bosom   The secret of Heather Ale.â€
Tuesday, December 17, 2019
The Vengeful Heart That Ignites The Hysteria Of The Salem...
Alexa Graham AP English/5thPeriod Mrs. Garner December 17, 2014 The Vengeful Heart That Ignites the Hysteria of the Salem Witch Trials The ability to live one’s life to the fullest is a God-given right that no one should have to suppress. In the rigid structure of Puritan settlements, there was minimal room to explore life, especially if you were a young Puritan woman. Women were required to sit silently and obey their husbands, take care of the children and the house, and attend church like good Christian wives. However, as in all human beings, these women had temptations and sinful natures. In The Crucible, Arthur Miller illustrates the relationship between Abigail Williams and John Proctor to portray the themes of pride and lust, and the part they played during the Salem Witch Trials. John Proctor struggles against his lethal attraction to Abigail, fighting with his own moral qualities. When Proctor and Abigail are alone in Betty’s room in Act 1, he reveals that he is still attracted to her rebellious nature when he smiles at her mischief. â€Å"Ah, you’re wicked yet, aren’t y’!†(Miller 23). However, as she advances towards him temptingly, thinking he still feels the same as her, he remembers himself and tries to back track, feeling sympathy for her, but knowing it is the right thing to do. â€Å"Child-††¦ â€Å"But I will cut off my hand before I reach for you again†(Miller 23). Proctor’s desire for Abigail centered on the fact that she was so willing to disregard the Puritan
Monday, December 9, 2019
The strange situation free essay sample
The research was looking at investigating the differences shown in attachments between infants and their primary caregivers (parents/ guardians etc. ). How was the experiment carried out? Who was involved? The experiment involved using a toddler, the childs guardian and a stranger to see the childs reaction to the different situations using the following stages: Results from experiment: Three different attachment styles were discovered by Ainsworth: secure, insecure, voidant and insecure ambivalent. The attachment style that the child developed was dependant on how the child and mother interacted in the early stages of the childs life: Conclusion: It was concluded from these results that the classification of the child depends on the treatment trom the guardian/ parent: Secure attachment: It is likely that it t child has secure attachment the primary care was responsive and sensitive to the childs needs. Insecure ambivalent attachment: If the child has insecure ambivalent ttachment the guardian/ parent was most probably inconsistent in attending to the childs needs; sometimes the child was attended to and sometimes ignored. We will write a custom essay sample on The strange situation or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Avoidant attachment: A child with avoidant attachment behaviour would usually be a product of unresponsive care so the child becomes wise to the fact that communication is futile as there will be no response to meet their needs. Evaluation: Mary Ainsworths strange situation classification was deemed to have good reliability, becoming the accepted worldwide methodology for measuring attachment; and roved to have good consistency when a study in Germany showed that 78% of the children tested aged 1 years then again at 6 years were placed under the same classification. However, the classification has been questioned about the fact that the classification only identifies the attachment to the mother, whereas the child may have different type of attachment with father, grandmother etc. This is criticised as it is only measuring a specific attachment to the Mother, rather than a general attachment style. The study has also been thought to be unethical, breaking the ethical guideline protection of participants, as the study can be distressing for the child considering that the child experiences separation from mother as well as stranger anxiety. In addition, the study has been thought to have low ecological validity as the child is in an unusual situation and an artificial environment. Seeing as the procedure of the mother and stranger in a scripted situation, this may somehow change the outcome of the childs behaviour.
Sunday, December 1, 2019
Case Study Air Asia Essay Example
Case Study: Air Asia Essay Problem Statement AirAsias attempts to expend its service offering into long-haul flights and gaining additional recognition and market share is consistent with owner Tony Fernades company goal; however, the strategy changes required to be a successful long-haul airline significantly differ from and conflict with its current resource base (i. e. aircraft types, hubs, employee skills) and core competencies and capabilities (i. e. cost and efficiency optimization/utilization) as a low-cost carrier (LCC) airline. Analysis The airline industry as a whole is quite competitive with multiple players and arious elements effecting the industry environment. AirAsia has developed a specific set of resources and core competencies that it has exploited in order to become the leading short-haul LCC in South East Asia. AirAsias strategy employs cost and efficiency optimization by utilizing its key resources; thus, possessing capabilities necessary for success. AirAsias tangible resources, including its fleet and hubs, enhance the companys low cost capabilities. Due to AirAsias selectivity in the type/model of aircrafts it purchases, both cost and efficiency can be capitalized. By limiting the variability in ircrafts, AirAsia is able to obtain economies in purchasing, its pool for spare parts is narrowed, thus reducing costs; mechanics and pilots specialized knowledge of the planes increases allowing for greater efficiency and reduced cost in maintenance, repairs, and flying. Although this strategy is ideal for AirAsia as a short-haul LLC, it is not transferrable to long-haul flights. We will write a custom essay sample on Case Study: Air Asia specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Case Study: Air Asia specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Case Study: Air Asia specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer By expanding into the long-haul market, AirAsia is required to increase its resource base adding newer, larger aircraft models in turn requiring expansion of spare parts, loss of purchasing economies (until sufficient rowth has been achieved), additional training and loss of specific specialized knowledge possessed by pilots and mechanics resulting in increased costs and reduced efficiencies. AirAsias expansion and growth has resulted in adding hubs in densely populated South East Aisan cities. However, as a cost savings measure AirAsia utilizes secondary airports resulting in a competitive advantage. This strategy is transferrable to long-haul flights; however, it is reasonable to presume (based on AirAisas proposed expansion plan on page 628) AirAisas long-haul flights will be equired to fly into larger international airports and lease terminals in order to accommodate customers needs, thus increasing costs. Additionally, further risk revolves around the fact that expansion into long-haul flights would result in a significant increase in competition with reputable and established global airlines. Furthermore, such expansion places AirAsia in direct competition with government backed Malaysian Airlines (pg. 27). Although the idea of expansion into long-haul international flights is appealing, the risks involved with intense industry competition s well as the unsustainable low cost strategies should be a deterrent to AirAsias long-haul expansion. Additional conflicts exist between LCC strategies and long-haul success factors. AirAisa has thrived as an LLC based on the reduction of extrenious costs, thus an elimination of frills or amenities. The no frills strategy is very sustainable for short-haul flights (under 3. 5 hours) because customers needs are service to the mix flyers leave very satisfied. However, on longer flights, lack of frills, amenities and comforts may result in flyers negative perception of the airline. Although a flyer may initially believe a low cost, long flight with no amenities is palatable, it is likely the flyer will end up dissatisfied with lack of options while in the air; again a low cost strategy that is unlikely to remain sustainable in the long-haul market. With AirAsias implementation of point-to-point flights, streamlined and simple operations, as well as its unprecedented turnaround time, in the regional market, aircraft utilization is at a high while costs remain low. However, AirAsia will not be able to utilize its point-to-point cost reduction and aircraft utilization strategy. Long-haul flights will require more time in the sky with flyer layovers and a less streamlined flight schedule. Short regional flights allow AirAsia to serve a greater number of flyers over a shorter period of time at a lesser cost (example: 2 or 3 short- haul flights in the time it takes a single long flight). Lastly, due to the highly competitive nature and over saturation of international airlines, AirAsia may not realize the same aircraft utilization in long-haul flights as it does with short flights. Regionally, South East Asia is densely populated with a large market segment onsisting of budget leisure and business travelers that had been under served prior to AirAsia (pg. 628). By implementing low cost strategies, AirAsia was able to capture and capitalize on the underutilized segment. Unfortunately, due to industry saturation in international long haul flights, AirAsia would have to fght to obtain a strong customer base from established airlines by providing actual or perceived value while trying to maintain cost and utilization optimization. Another issue AirAsia may face should it overly focus on airline expansion is the fact that barriers to entry n South East Asia are relatively low. The main barrier to entry is the capital investment required to acquire aircrafts. South East Asia has experienced government deregulation of airlines which aided AirAsias growth and may attract new entrants. Additionally, the LCC airline model is easily replicable; several reputable regional LCC airlines exist (i. e. , the USs Southwest and Europes Ryanair) in which AirAisa adopted and adapted strategies for its growth and success. Due to the ease of strategy replication, new entrants may emerge in the South East Asian short- haul market. Should new LCC airlines being to emerge in this region, AirAisa may experience a reduction in market share (reduced number of passengers) and fierce price competition where AirAisa cuts ticket prices resulting in reduced profit margin. Therefore, company growth based solely on expansion as a LLC airline may not be sustainable. Alternatives Due to AirAsias significant growth and excellent reputation as a result of branding strategies, several alternatives are available for AirAsia to consider. ) With Tony Fernandes experience in purchasing and revamping struggling airlines and the stablished capabilities the company possesses, AirAsia could expand itself by acquiring struggling regional airlines and restructuring them to meet the AirAsia standard of customer service, low costs, and high utilization. 2) Because of its location and access to smaller planes as well as its ability to work well with other companies, AirAsia could Joint venture with an international airline, such as Delta. This Joint venture could be along the lines of providing flights into and out of smaller AirAsia additional branding opportunities through allignment with such a prominent airline. It could also provide AirAsia with an additional customer base that it did not previously have. 3) AirAsias low costs and high aircraft utilization capabilities make it a good option for air cargo shipping. With its growth, AirAsia could expand its resources and enter into the air shipping market where it would likely turn a profit by exploiting its strong capabilities. ) AirAsia current provides inexpensive flights based on a no frills scheme. Should this scheme not interest flyers due to their need and expectation for amenities, AirAisa could consider partnering with large product ompanies such as Coke, Nestle, or Sony to provide food, beverage, or entertainment amenities to passengers. By partnering with large companies, AirAsia could use its planes as advertisements and the company could in turn provid e some of its products to AirAsia at a reduced cost. Recommendation Based on the analysis of AirAsias resources and capabilities with respect to its environment, I recommend the following: 1) AirAisa should discontinue further expansion into long-haul flights due to nontransferable resources and unsustainable low cost and high utilization capabilities. ) AirAsia should further exploit the dense population of budget travelers in South East Asia by expanding its low cost and high utilization capabilities into hotels, shuttles, rental cars, and excursion activities. Since the market AirAsia is catering to is mainly budget leisure travelers; it would be in AirAsias best interest to expand on its offering of services. Because customers perceive additional value in the whole package, hotels, shuttles rental cars and excursions are all compliments to flying. By expanding offerings while implementing ts capabilities and incorporating resources such as its technology system for booking trips and utilizing its partnerships, AirAsia is able to attract more flyers, travelers, and gain additional brand recognition. Based on this, for the next 5 years AirAsia should invest 5% of its yearly profits in service expansion by investing in budget, no frills hotels, rental cars/shuttles, and working deals with partners to provide local activity offerings (in 2012 AirAsias net profit was $562 US million. Should net profit stay the same, 5% over the course of 5 years would total $140. US million). 3) Also, as South East Asia becomes more developed and prosperous AirAsia should focus on providing additional value to business travelers and those budget travelers who desire a few extra accommodations. In order to grow and meet the demands of the customers, AirAsia should invest in some fleet upgrades to provide additional customer value. Over the next 10 years the company should invest 10% of its yearly profits (approx. $56 US million per year) in adding premium sections to the planes with seats at the front of the craft, providing USB ports in the arm rests, as well as roviding internet services; seat size and leg room will remain the same in order to accommodate the same number of passengers per flight. The cost of a premium seat will be only slightly higher for those individuals who choose to purchase the upgrade. Unlike long-haul strategies, the goal is not to significantly increase price to subsidize economy class tickets. The key in providing upgraded seats is to ensure customers feel as though they are receiving an extra value and to help retain customer base and market share as regional economics improve.
Tuesday, November 26, 2019
The Salem Witch Hysteria Essays - Capital Punishment, Dead People
The Salem Witch Hysteria Essays - Capital Punishment, Dead People The Salem Witch Hysteria The Salem Witch Hysteria Specific purpose: To inform my audience about the Salem witch trials Thesis Statement: The Salem witch trials were a series of events that lead up to the hanging of 19 man and women in Salem Mass. I. Introduction- A. - The year, 1692. The place, Salem Mass. Imagine yourself a woman at home cooking dinner for your family. You peer out the window and find your husband finishing up his days work in the field while your children frolic about as the sun sets behind them. Or imagine yourself a man. Wiping the sweat from your brow as you hurriedly finish up a long days work with anticipation of dinner with the family. Now your at the dinner table , across from your husband or wife. You discuss the weather, how the day went , and the Reverend's most recent Sunday sermon. Suddenly, there's a knock on your door. It's the town magistrate with a warrant for your arrest. You are charged with the crime of witchcraft, examined , then found guilty . If you confess, you spend a lifetime in prison. If you maintain your innocence, you're hung. This is similar to a common scenario of what happened at the Salem witch trials. B- The Salem witch trials were a series of events that eventually lead to the hanging of 19 men and women. They took place in Salem Mass. in the year 1692. C- Who were the accusers? Who where the people being charged? What were the out comes of the trials and why ? Let's start with how it all began. II How did it all begin?- A - Rev. Samuel Parriss' daughter Elizabeth, age 9, and niece Abigail Williams, age 11, had a slave that cared for them : TITUBA B - Tituba tells story from native land C - Girls love stories and start playing with it. Joined by other girls in town. D- On Jan. 16, 1692, started to have fits , seizures , and trance - like episodes. Soon after that the rest of the girls did too. E- Rev. Parriss brought in Dr. William Griggs who could diagnose no medical reason for girls behavior. Concluded girls under influence of Satan. F- Pray services and community fasting held by Rev. in hoped of relaying the evil forces that plagued them. In efforts to expose the witches John Indian baked a witch cake with rye meal and the afflicted girls urine. G- Pressured to identify the witches, girls named 3 woman. Tituba, Sarah Goode, and Sarah Osborne. H- Goode and Osborne maintained their innocence while Tituba confessed to seeing the devil. AND testified to a witch conspiracy in Salem. I- Judges John Hawthorne and Jonathan Corwin examined the 3 women. Once again only Tituba confessed to practicing witchcraft. J- Over the next few weeks, more and more people came forward with accusations III - Who were these new accusers? - A - Most of the new accusers relates to the Putman family B - Ann Putnam Jr. - one of the afflicted children Age 12, accused a total of 62 people of being witches. C - Thomas Putnam - Chief filer of complaints in the Town of Salem. Aided Anne Jr. In her accusations by taking her to court. D - Her mother Anne Putnam SR in court room as much as daughter with accusations. Coincidentally in court room, would become afflicted. E - Mercy Lewis- Servant to Putnam's 17 years old. Also on of the afflicted girls F - Mary Walcot- Ann jr. Best friend. Afflicted girl. G - All 5 girls, Ann Jr., Mercy, Mary, Abigail, and Elizabeth were involved in Tituba's story telling, voodoo practicing, and fortune telling IV Who were the people being charged ? A - The 1st people accused of witchcraft were Tituba, Sarah Goode and Sarah Osborne. Once again , Tituba confessed, while Sarah Goode and Osborne still maintained there innocence. B - Sarah Goode- a prime example of what caused a lot of the accusations. She was viewed as socially undesirable. Sarah 's actions and attitude caused friction amongst other community members and it was no wonder she was accused. C - The next to be convicted was Martha Corey and Rebecca Nurse. Both were upstanding members of the community. Always
Saturday, November 23, 2019
Foam Definition in Chemistry
Foam Definition in Chemistry A foam is a substance made by trapping air or gas bubbles inside a solid or liquid. Typically, the volume of gas is much larger than that of the liquid or solid, with thin films separating gas pockets. Another definition of foam is a bubbly liquid, particularly if the bubbles, or froth, are undesirable. Foam can impede the flow of a liquid and block gas exchange with air. Anti-foaming agents may be added to a liquid to help prevent bubbles from forming. The term foam may also refer to other phenomena that resemble foams, such as foam rubber and quantum foam. How Foam Forms Three requirements must be met in order for foam to form. Mechanical work is needed to increase the surface area. This can occur by agitation, dispersing a large volume of gas into a liquid, or injecting a gas into a liquid. The second requirement is that surfactants or surface active components must be present to decrease surface tension. Finally, the foam must form more quickly than it breaks down. Foams may be open-cell or closed-cell in nature. Pores connect the gas regions in open-cell foams, while closed-cell foams have enclosed cells. The cells are usually disordered in their arrangement, with varying bubble sizes. The cells present minimal surface area, forming honeycomb shapes or tessellations. Foams are stabilized by the Marangoni effect and by van der Waals forces. The Marangoni effect is a mass transfer along the interface between fluids due to surface tension gradient. In foams, the effect acts to restore lamellae (a network of interconnected films). Van der Waals forces form electric double layers when dipolar surfactants are present. Foams are destabilized as gas bubbles rise through them. Also, gravity pulls liquid downward in a liquid-gas foam. Osmotic pressure drains lamellae because of concentration differences throughout the structure. Laplace pressure and disjoining pressure also act to destabilize foams. Examples of Foam Examples of foams formed by gases in liquids include whipped cream, fire retardant foam, and soap bubbles. Rising bread dough may be considered a semisolid foam. Solid foams include dry wood, polystyrene foam, memory foam, and mat foam (as for camping and yoga mats). Its also possible to make a foam using metal. Foam Uses Bubbles and bath foam are fun uses of foam, but it has many practical uses, too. Fire retardant foam is used to extinguish fires.Solid foams may be used to engineer strong yet light materials.Solid foams are excellent thermal insulators.Solid foams are used to make flotation devices.Because solid foams are light and compressible, they make an excellent stuffing and packing material.A closed-cell foam called a syntactic foam consists of hollow particles in a matrix. This type of foam is used to make shape memory resins. Syntactic foams are also used in space and deep-sea exploration.Self-skin or integral skin foam consists of a dense skin with a lower density core. This type of foam is used to make shoe soles, mattresses, and baby seats.
Thursday, November 21, 2019
Entrepreneuship-creating a business opportunity(nutrition restaurant) Essay
Entrepreneuship-creating a business opportunity(nutrition restaurant) - Essay Example I have always had an interest in cooking and serving people. Thus a restaurant was the best idea. Because starting the company should also be in consideration. My finances are not enough at the moment and starting up a business would be a good source of income and has an added advantage. It is what I love doing thus no stress for me while undertaking this activity. The time for starting the company should be perfect so as to make maximum profit from it (Osnabrugge and Robinson 2000). Summertime is a perfect time to open the Chinese nutrition restaurant in London as many people are on holiday. A nutritional restaurant was the best choice as there is non-other on Middlesex Street, London (Hisrich 2011). Many people are trying to live a healthy life, and a Chinese Nutritional Restaurant would be the best choice of business. Prior to the start of any business, it is important to look at the macro market. The initials PESTEL helps a person decide how best to set up the business. The political, economic, and social environment determines the success of a company. The area should have a healthy political environment (Johnson 2005). The rate of transactions that go on in Middlesex Street makes it a perfect location to set up the business. It is an area that has many economic and social activities, thus guarantee customers (Shane 2000). The kind of business one chooses should have the latest technological advancement in them so as to serve the customers better. The business should also be legal and follow all the government’s requirements before going into it. A nutritional restaurant meets all the above specifications and would be a good idea. The street is perfect for the restaurant and would ensure profit for the owner of the restaurant (Stevenson and Jarillo 2007). Four critical factors determine the success of a business, these factors are customer, competition, company and confederations. One should identify the customers before putting up the business. A
Tuesday, November 19, 2019
Interview Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 3
Interview - Essay Example The focus on the interview was on police related concerns, specifically how, as police officers, they try to keep the campus safe. According to Officer Williams, they have the 222tip line that helps the police in effectively locating the person that on the verge of committing a crime or someone who was reported to have apparently brought a weapon on campus or is engaging in aggressive behavior such as bullying. Officer Williams was noted to come from Navasota, Texas; but was acknowledged to reside in Houston, Texas. He disclosed that he came to live in Houston, where initially, he said that he worked at an instruction company. After he had a family, he said that he decided to pursue a career in law enforcement through attending the University of Houston Police Academy. He remembered and relayed that he graduated top of class and signified that it was a great day for him. He said that he felt like he can make more money and aptly prepare for the future of his family. Likewise, he also emphasized that he wanted to help others who are in need of any form of assistance. After graduation, he relayed that he decided that he wanted to work for the School District so he can help children in school; especially those who become victims of bullying. Also, through focusing on issues that are related to the behavior of children within the campus, he noted that he could also be of assistance to the ones with behavioral problems and manifestation or tendencies to commit a crime. Officer Williams stated that the numbers of bullying is high in the school district and he keeps trying his very best to make sure that the students understand what can happen when someone is bullied; such as risking injuries that could also lead to physical, emotional and psychological infliction of harm. So he said that he makes sure that he focuses on issues pertaining to bullying with the aim of ultimately minimizing these incidents or ultimately putting a stop to them. One’s personal
Sunday, November 17, 2019
ICT Notes Case Essay Example for Free
ICT Notes Case Essay Whenever personal details or other private information is stored about people, it is regulated by the data Protection Act and organisations storing such information must register with the data protection bureau. It gives rights to data subjects (i.e. in this case the patients who have specific data about themselves stored on the health centre system). Data is subject to 8 main regulations to protect the rights and privacy of individuals. These are: 1. Personal data shall be processed fairly and lawfully. 2. Personal data shall be obtained only for one or more specified and lawful purposes. see more:annual function speech 3. Personal data shall be adequate, relevant and not excessive in relation to the purpose for which it is used. 4. Personal data shall be accurate and, where necessary, kept up to date. 5. Personal data shall not be kept for longer than is necessary for the specified purpose. 6. Personal data shall be processed in accordance with the rights of data subjects under the act (patients have the right to view and correct information held, except in cases of crime or certain government agencies). 7. Data holders should have appropriate measures in place to protect the data against loss, theft or corruption. 8. Personal data shall not be transferred to a country outside the EEC unless that country ensures an adequate level of protection for the rights of data subjects. Computer Misuse Act 1990 This law was introduced to cope with the problems of computer hackers and viruses. The Act was introduced to recognise these three offences: 1. Unauthorised access to computer material If a member of the health centre staff uses another staff members password to log onto their user area, this is illegal. Even if they dont change, delete or damage anything, they are still guilty of accessing materials without authorisation and this is illegal. 2. Unauthorised access with intent to commit or facilitate a crime The difference between this and the first offence is that the person gaining access to someone elses system is doing so with the sole purpose of doing something illegal e.g. fraud, blackmail etc. This might mean that they had to guess or steal the password in order to get into someones user area or their bank account. 3. Unauthorised modification of computer material This offence relates to the deletion or changes made to files with the intent to cause damage to an individual or to the health centres computer system. This offence also covers planting viruses to other peoples systems. Writing a virus technically isnt a crime; but if you knowingly transmit a virus to others, you are guilty under this section of the Computer Misuse Act. Copyright, Design and Patents Act 1989 This act was passed to make it illegal to copy files, software etc without permission. The law can be broken in three ways: 1. Using software without a proper licence. The health centre must ensure it purchases a site licence which allows everyone at the centre to use the software. 2. Using text or images from the internet and using them without the copyrights owners (the authors) permission or acknowledging where the health centre got them from. 3. A member of staff copying a computer program at the health centre and then running it on their computer at home without permission from the copyright holder. 4. Health and Safety Issues Relating to Computer Use The health centre must ensure under the Health and Safety Regulations 1992 that they provide a safe working environment for anyone using computers. The health centre must :Ensure that the computer equipment is safe. 1. Ensure workstations meet the required standards for health and safety i.e. provide proper computer chairs, foot supports, lighting etc. 2. Plan work so the staff have regular breaks which allow them to do non-computer work. 3. Pay for regular eyesight tests for staff using computers regularly. 4. Provide health and safety training and information to all staff. There are various health problems associated with the regular use of computers. Here are some of the most common problems and what can be done to reduce the risks: Health Problem Cause Solution Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) * Repetitive finger, hand or arm movements. * Poor posture. * Badly designed workstations. * Ensure wrists are straight and elbows are close to your sides when typing. * Ensure posture is correct. * Take regular breaks. Eye strain * Staring at the VDU for long periods. * Poor lighting, glare from the screen, flickering screen. * Use a screen filter to reduce glare and keep your eyes at least 18 inches away from the screen. * Ensure appropriate lighting. * Have regular eyesight tests. * Take regular breaks. Back/Circulation problems * Poor posture. * Sitting all day in front of a computer. * Ensure posture is correct. * Take regular breaks and walk to improve circulation. The use of ICT when Paying Staff WagesStaff at the health centre are paid using a computerised system and their wages are paid straight into their bank account. The benefits to the health centre for having a computerised system: 1. It is quicker and more accurate than calculating wages manually. 2. The added security that wages are paid straight into bank accounts i.e. Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) money is transferred from the health centres account to the individual staff members account. Employees at the health centre are paid weekly. Payroll uses a system called batch processing, this is where all data is stored up and then all processed together. In order to calculate how much each employee should be paid the following inputs, processing and outputs must take place. Inputs Processing Outputs Employee payroll number, name, address, DOB, marital status, N I number, hourly rate/annual salary, pension details, holiday entitlement, days off sick etc * Employee record will be read by the system. * Each employee will be paid by the system. * Each employee record will be updated by the system * The payslip * Money is transferred from the health centre bank account to each employees bank account. * Report for the health centre detailing updates, payment etc Methods of Maintaining Data SecurityData is invaluable to the health centre if they lose their data it is very hard to replace. Loss of data would cripple the health centre in the short term and may even jeopardise its existence as a service. Measures must therefore be in place to ensure data security. Security can be viewed in terms of physical security, access security and data security.Physical Security Equipment can be made more secure by: 1. Keeping a record of all serial numbers on each piece of equipment and mark the health centres name and postcode on all equipment so the police can identify stolen property easily. 2. The health centre could have a security alarm system and surveillance system on the building as well as ensuring that windows and doors are locked after surgery hours to prevent access. 3. The closing of blinds on windows and switching off monitors at night will make the computers less visible. 4. The use of fireproof doors and smoke alarms will help reduce the risk of fire in the building. Access Security Vast amounts of data is lost due to carelessness by employees e.g. not saving work, deleting files by accident, not saving files with sensible file names and therefore are difficult to find etc. Limiting each employees access to the system with help to ensure against the loss of data to the health centres system. 1. Password -this is still the major line of defence. Restrictions can be imposed on length of password and restrictions on the times a user can access the system. 2. Firewall this is a piece of software which sits between the health centres network and the rest of the internet. It will monitor the system for any breaches of security and protect the health centres information and computing resources by allowing only messages conforming to certain protocols (agreed set of rules) to be sent/received. 3. Anti-Virus Programs this software is used to detect viruses and to limit the damage by removing them. Data Security To prevent the loss of patients records etc the health centre needs to ensure that regular back-ups are made of the data on the system using suitable backing storage (also known as secondary storage). Types of Backing Storage Name of Device Advantages Disadvantages Hard Disks * Large storage capacity 20 gigabytes or more. * Faster to access * Any problems with the hard drive may mean all data stored on it will be lost Floppy Disks * Small and portable * Data can be transferred easily between different computers. * Disks can be made read-only which will reduce the chances of data being accidentally overwritten. * Small storage capacity 1.44 megabytes. * Accessing data is slow * Being floppy it is easily damaged Optical Disks e.g. CDs DVDs * Direct access to the data. * Faster to access * CD-Rs only allow data to be written onto them only once The above list is not exhaustive and you should explore other alternatives.Website Design and Hosting There are many reasons why businesses or individuals have a website. In the case of the health centre it has a website to provide information and services to patients e.g. providing advice on minor ailments, surgery hours etc. Some other purposes of having a website: Type of Site Reason Personal * Sharing pictures/stories with friends and family Business * Inform customers of their products/services * Company news, events etc * Recruit staff E-Commerce * Advertising their products/services for sale * Offering home shopping facilities Educational * Offer information on training * On-line encyclopaedias News and Entertainment * Latest world news * Sports information A website is made up of one or more web pages. A web page is created by writing code in a language called HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) which was developed especially to create web pages. There are many web page designs. Most good web pages share some common elements: Web Page Element Its Purpose Banner This is the area at the top of the page and is often the same on all the other pages of the web site. It may contain a company logo, search box etc Menu System This area provides navigation around the site Content Area The main content of the web page is here. It may contain, text, images, sound etc. Footer This area will often contain copyright notices, terms and conditions etc. Navigation (method of moving around the site) is important especially if the site is made up of several web pages. There are 3 main methods to of using navigation: 1. The Hyperlink when you click your mouse on a navigation hyperlink it will take you to another page. This page could be on the same website or a different website (external link). 2. The Menu System the navigation menu gives you a choice of which page you want to view next. A menu is a set of hyperlinks grouped together. There are various menu styles such as a side menu which normally sits on the left hand side of the page. 3. Hotspot this is an area on the web page which when clicked will allow you to jump to another page. It is a way for the designer to make the hyperlink invisible or for them to allow you to click on an image in order to jump somewhere else. When you hover your mouse over a hotspot the cursor changes to a little hand There are a number of ways to create and design a web page: Design Methods Software Advantages Disadvantages Straight from a Microsoft Office application * Word * PowerPoint * Simple, just save as a web page * Can only create a basic page Text Editor * Notepad * Low cost as Notepad is free with windows * You have to know a lot about HTML code * Easy to make a mistake as all the code is written by hand Web Authoring Package * Microsoft Front Page * Macromedias Dreamweaver * It will provide ready made templates * Easy to add/remove pages without breaking the site navigation * Expensive * Takes time to learn In order for other people to see the health centres web site it must be placed on a web server. This is called hosting. A web server is made up of 2 things: * A computer * Running on the computer is a piece of software called web server software. The website is loaded on the servers hard disk, when a request is made to view a web page from the health centres site the server finds it on the hard disk and sends a copy to the computer that has made the request. The WWW is made up of millions of web servers, each connected to the internet. In order to view the health centres website, the requesting computer must be running another piece of software called the web browser. The Use of Systems Flowcharts Flow diagrams are a way to work out the best order to do something. System flowcharts show exactly how the data moves e.g. the health centre could produce a system flowchart to create a new patient record. The main symbols used to develop flowcharts are: Start/End The terminator symbol marks the starting or ending point of the process. It usually contains the word Start or End. Process A box can represent a single step (add two cups of flour), or and entire sub-process (make bread) within a larger process. Decision A decision or branching point. Lines representing different decisions emerge from different points of the diamond. Input/Output Represents material or information entering or leaving the process, such as customer order (input) or a product (output). Flow Line Lines indicate the sequence of steps and the direction of flow. Data storage Indicates a step where data gets stored. For Example Save Orders Delay Indicates a delay in the process. For example Wait 1 day There are benefits and drawbacks to using system flowcharts. Here are some of them: Advantages Disadvantages Flowcharts are good way to communicate the details of a process to all concerned e.g. programmers use them to write commands that will create the computer system. Some processes are so complex that it becomes difficult to represent them clearly in a flowchart. Flowcharts can help people analyse problems, highlight bottlenecks and is a good way to document a process. If an alteration needs to be made to the system, the flowchart usually needs to be redrawn. If it is a complicated flowchart, this can require a lot of work. Flowcharts enable an organisation to have a record of standard business processes. People need to understand what the flowchart means and what the different symbols represent. You cannot give a flowchart to a novice and expect them to understand it. The Use and Analysis of Survey Data The goal in any survey is to collect accurate and complete information. In order for a survey to be effective and provide meaningful data it should be conducted in a uniform manner i.e. all respondents must be asked the same question in the same way. Conducting a face-to-face interview and the completion of a questionnaire are 2 popular ways information is collected. Advantages/Disadvantages of Interviews Advantage Disadvantage Questions are fully completed as respondents can clarify points further with the interviewer. Interviews have to be pre-planned. A time and a place has to be convenient to both individuals. An individual may cancel. Detailed information can be gathered in a variety of formats e.g. written, voice recorded. Interviews can cause a change in behaviour and respondents may feel pressurised into giving an answer they would normally not give. The interviewer can give feedback to the respondent e.g. Thats important to know. This can be used to keep the respondent talking and therefore is likely to give more in-depth answers. Interviews are time consuming, costly and information taken by the interviewer may be too detailed, illegible etc Advantages/Disadvantages of Questionnaires Advantage Disadvantage Can reach a geographically wide spread area. Poor completion and return rate. Many people can be reached in this way quickly and cheaply Points cannot be clarified further and writing may be illegible. Easy to conduct statistical analysis on. If they are simple they have little information. If they are complex they may be difficult to understand. The health centre relies on information being up-to-date and accurate in order to plan or make decisions in the short/long term e.g. depending on the number of patients the health centre has will dictate the number of doctors it has on call. The type of information gathering techniques used will depend on the type of information required: * Quantitative information This is based on numerical facts, figures and statistics e.g. number of patients who are male, sales figures etc. * Qualitative information This provides depth and detailed information. It takes into account views, judgements and opinions etc. The type of questions asked will determine the type of responses given: * Closed ended questions These can usually be answered by a simple yes or no. They are restrictive and can be answered in a few words e.g. does this answer your question? Or can I help you? * Open-ended questions They require a more broad and lengthy answer and are used to gain more information from the respondent e.g. When you say [topic], what do you mean? Or What do you mean by [topic]? Hardware Software that could be used in a Health Centre Hardware Device Function Health Centre Applications Keyboard Input Patient detail input, database, spreadsheets. Mouse Input Most computer users prefer to use this. Scanner Input Scan hand written notes into the system (maybe from previous doctor). Digital camera Input Photo ID held on the system Temperature sensor (thermistor) Input (sensor) Environmental and safety control systems Smoke detector Input (sensor) Environmental and safety control systems Proximity detector Input (sensor) Environmental and safety control systems (doors) VDU Monitor Output Any application requiring Graphic User Interface (GUI) or information display. Receptionist: to up-date appointments Doctor: to view patients history Flat Screen VDU Output As above to save space LCD Display Output As above using laptops or in bright sunlight. Have limited viewing angle. Inkjet printer Output High quality low volume graphic publications and reports. Laser printer Output Volume printing such as welcome letters to new patients, mail shots to advise patients of changes in surgery hours etc. Dot matrix Printer Output Where multi copy output is required e.g. prescriptions. Software Programme Function Theatre Applications Database I/P Process O/P GUI Patient appointment system. Mail shot production. Spreadsheet I/P Process O/P GUI Financial analysis and reporting. Control programme I/P Process O/P GUI Environmental and safety control systems e.g. fire safety system. Word Processor I/P Process O/P GUI General office purposes. Patient letters and mail shots. Control Systems A control system is a system of hardware and software thats used to control the operation of a piece of equipment. Two types of control systems: * Dedicated: these are basic systems that carry out a pre-programmed set of instructions e.g. traffic-light system- lights change at fixed time intervals. * Computer-controlled: these use a computer to control the output device, and this computer can be connected to a sensor e.g. pressure pad sensor for automatic doors. Sensors measure physical qualities in the environment such as heat, light, pressure, sound etc. In order for a computer to control something there must be three things present: 1. A means of getting the information into the computer: An INPUT 2. Instructions for the computer to do something with the input: A PROCESS 3. It then has to be able to alter something in the outside world: An OUTPUT Most computer controlled systems use a feedback loop which is when information from a sensor is used to control the output device. The sensor sends signals back to the computer and the computer decides whether to make any changes based on this information. This happens again and again in the loop system. The flowchart below shows a loop system which represents a system for monitoring light levels outdoors and turning on a lamp when it gets dark (i.e. when the light intensity is less than 50 ona scale). Computer Controlled Systems Advantages Disadvantages Computers can respond instantly to changes. The system is expensive to purchase Systems can be running 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Special software is needed. Computers can process data quickly and machines can operate faster than humans. If something unexpected happens, the system may not be able to think for itself. In the health centre the possible control systems are: A security alarm system which may have an infra-red sensor which sends a signal when the beam is broken. A heat sensitive sensor in the corner of a room which may detect the presence of a person. Temperature sensors which could be used to control the heating in the health centre. Analogue and Digital Signals Digital and analogue are two different types of transmission systems: * An analogue signal can be represented as a series of sine waves. The term describes any fluctuating or continually changing process. An example of an analogue signal would be the data sent along a telephone landline. An analogue sensor can take a range of values e.g. a heat sensor. * A digital signal has only two values On and Off. Data transmitted or stored with digital technology is expressed as a string of 0s and 1s. Each of these digits is referred to as a bit (and a string of bits that a computer can address individually as a group is a byte). An example of a digital signal would be the data sent into a television via a digital cable. An analogue sensor can only be On or Off e.g. pressure pad sensor. Computers cannot deal with analogue signals and therefore requires an analogue to digital converter (ADC).This is used to change the analogue data into digital data to allow the computer to process the information The ADC is connected between the sensor and the computers input/output port. Once the computer has processed the data, the output often has to be converted to an analogue signal and so a DAC (Digital to Analogue Converter) is used. Database Systems used in a Health Centre A database is an organised collection of data which is organised into fields and records. The main benefit to the health centre for having a database is that it allows them to search quickly for specific patient information. Databases can be: * Flat-File All data is stored in one large table which can be viewed by opening one data file. It can be created using a database system or a spreadsheet. It is ideal for small amounts of data that needs to be human readable or edited by hand. With this type of system there is unnecessary duplicating of data which can mean that mistakes are more likely to happen during data input. * Relational Data is split up into sensible groups and then stored in separate tables. In the case of the health centre they could have a table with customer data, a table with appointment data etc. All the data is linked together by key fields and a database management system (DBMS). This means that data does not have to be duplicated. Relational databases also have built in functions which allow retrieval, editing and sorting of data to be much quicker.
Thursday, November 14, 2019
Contractual Law: A Look at John and Chen Essay -- contract law, case st
a) What arguments could Chen use to support his refusal to pay John more than the original agreed price? A valid contract that is legally enforceable should consist of an offer, an acceptance, an intention to be bound and a sufficient consideration. Accordingly, the first contract formed by Chen and John includes John’s agreement to build for Chen extension of the house in consideration of payment of the price of building materials as per the date of completion of performance of the contract and labor costs of $6000 at the performance of the contract. First and foremost Chen needs to understand that this was the original contract and both him and John were legally bounded by the contract. By changing the terms of agreement, John made a counter offer a fact that Chen could use in his justification for refusal of payment. This is evident as John proposed a new term in the contract by demanding a payment of $10,000 or not doing the job as agreed in the original contract. A counter offer changes the terms of the original contract and at this time Chen had the right he terminate the contract due to John’s counter offer. As a matter of fact, it is worth noting that a counter offer fails to exist if the offeree accepts the new terms of the contract as Chen did but Chen can use it to argue that John had no intention to be bound by the original contract (Koffman and Mcdonald, 2007). Duress occurs in a contract when one party is made to engage in a contract that he otherwise did not want to engage in due to blackmails, threats of bring actual harm, and threats of withdrawal from the contract at the time it is urgently needed. The two types of duress currently existing is physical duress and economic duress and Chen can use econ... ...n argue that failure of his completion of the contract in time was out of circumstances that he could not control. In addition, John can argue that the breach of the term of completion of the building at June was contributed by Chens’s reluctance of acceptance of the second offer. References Books Adams, A. (2010). Law for Business Students. London, U.K : Longman Koffman, L. & MacDonald, E., (2007) The Law of Contract (6th Edition) : Oxford University Press, McKenDrick, E. (2005). Contract Law Text,. Cases and Materials (2nd Edition): Oxford University Press, Cases Bank of Australia Limited v Amadio (1983) 151 CLR 447 Goldsbrough Mort & Co Ltd v Quinn (1910) 10 CLR 674, Integrated Computer Services Pty Ltd v Digital Equipment Corp (Aust) Pty Ltd (1988) 5 BPR 11,110). Smith v William Charlick [1924] 34 CLR 38 The Mihalis Angelos [1970] 3 WLR 601
Tuesday, November 12, 2019
Financial statement analysis Essay
1. What is the purpose of financial statement analysis? The purpose of financial statement analysis is to provide information used by the business, potential creditors and investors. 2. If a company had sales of $2,587,643 in 1998 and sales of $3,213,456 in 2003, by what percentage did sales change during this time period? 24.18% a. If the company had a goal of increasing sales by 25% over a five-year period, did it meet its objectives? No b. If the company had set a goal of increasing sales by 28% during the next five years, what should be the sales goal for 2008? 4,113,223.68 3. List and briefly describe the five categories of business ratios. a. Liquidity ratios: Used to determine the company’s ability to pay off short-term debts. (http://www.investopedia.com/terms/l/liquidityratios.asp#axzz2LMPGyktQ) b. Activity ratios: The ability to convert different accounts into cash or sales (http://www.investopedia.com/terms/a/activityratio.asp#axzz2LMPGyktQ) c. Leverage ratios: Used to get an idea of a company’s method of finance or measures it’s ability to meet financial obligations. (http://www.investopedia.com/terms/l/leverageratio.asp#axzz2LMPGyktQ) d. Market ratios: A ratio of a company’s book value to the market value. (http://financial-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Book-to-Market+Ratio) 4. Why might a company have a high current ratio but a low quick ratio (acid test ratio)? A company may encounter this when the current assets are dependent on inventory. (http://www.investopedia.com/university/ratios/liquidity-measurement/ratio2.a sp#axzz2LMPGyktQ) 5. If a company has beginning inventory of $30,000 and ending inventory of $55,000, compute its average inventory. If the cost of goods sold is $140,000, compute its inventory turnover and determine how many days the average item is in stock. The average inventory would be 42,500, and average days item is in stock 110.8 days. (http://smallbusiness.chron.com/calculate-inventory-conversion-period-11197.html) 6. A company computes its accounts receivable turnover to be 20. Based on this information, find the average collection period. If the company has a credit collection period of 30 days, explain the relationship between the credit collection period and the average collection period. Average collection period is 18.25. The relationship between the credit collection period and the average collection period is very good for this company. This company will receive payments owed to them prior to them having to pay whom they owe. (http://www.cliffsnotes.com/study_guide/Ratio-Analysis.topicArticleId-21248,articleId-21213.html (http://www.investopedia.com/terms/a/average_collection_period.asp#axzz2LMPGyktQ) 7. A company finds that its fixed asset turnover (net sales/fixed assets) has fallen below one. What does this indicate? 8. If a company has $181,000 in total liabilities and $225,000 in total assets, what percentage of total assets is being financed with the use of other people’s money? 80.4 (http://www.cliffsnotes.com/study_guide/Ratio-Analysis.topicArticleId-21248,articleId-21213.html) 9. Distinguish between gross profit margin, operating profit margin, and net profit margin and provide the formula for each ratio. (http://www.investinganswers.com/financial-dictionary/ratio-analysis/gross-profit-margin-2076) 10. Why is the operating return on assets ratio also referred to as the operating return on investment? The interest expenseis added to ignore the costs associated with funding those assets. ( http://www.investopedia.com/terms/r/returnonassets.asp#ixzz2LZMFaFbY) 11. If a company’s stock is currently selling for $12 per share and its price/earnings ratio is 6, what are its earnings per share? 2 dollars What does this figure mean? This figure shows that on the market the shares are selling for $12 per share for stock in this company that’s net earning $2.00 per share of stock outstanding. (http://www.investopedia.com/terms/p/price-earningsratio.asp#axzz2LMPGyktQ) PE Ratio = Market Price / Earnings per share 6 = $12/Earnings per share Earnings per share = $12/6 = $2.00 12. Compare efficiency and effectiveness. 13. What is the difference between accounting profit and entrepreneurial profit? 14. What financial ratio is predominantly used to determine profitability? 15. Describe the earning power of a company. 16. How is financial leverage related to bankruptcy? 17. Compare Chapter 11 bankruptcy with Chapter 7 bankruptcy. What is the relationship among fixed costs, contribution margin, and the break-even point?
Sunday, November 10, 2019
Mental Health Essay
Within this essay, I will examine the definition of mental health, as well as it’s connection in our daily lives. I will be discussing a particular mental health problem which is depression under mood disorder. By examining a scenario of a patient who I have looked after who is suffering from this mental problem, and the available treatment options. I am please to focus in this topic that made a real difference to people lives, most especially to the patients who are suffering the kind of mental illness. To understand fully what is mental health, let me first start by giving the definition of health. Health as define by the World Health Organization, â€Å"is a complete state of physical, mental and social wellbeing, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity†(WHO, 1948). By examining the definition, one cannot conclude that anyone who is seemingly healthy to their outer appearances but in fact may be there is a possibility that person may have hidden characteristics which may consider or regard them unhealthy. For instance, a person with normal vital signs, example of this is an individual with normal blood pressure of 120/80mmhg (Uren & Rutherford,2004) ,may be suffering from any degree of anxiety or depression. By assessing the physical health of a person is relatively easy by taking health measurement of the body. Nonetheless, mental and social aspects of health are much more difficult to determine. It needs a careful and complex assessment to conclude that the individual is mentally healthy. Mental health reflects a person approach or ability to adapt and respond to life by communicating emotions, giving and receiving ideas, working alone as well as with others, accepting authority, displaying a sense of humour and coping successfully with emotional conflicts (Shives & Issaacs p.6). Another definition of mental health is a state of wellbeing in which individual realises his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life productively and fruitfully, and to be able to make contribution to his or her community (World Health Organization, 2001). It is easy to disregard the intrinsic value of mental health until some unusual circumstances or behaviour is noticed. We live in the world full of challenges such as pressure from work, studies, family issues, financial difficulties, relationship problems and poor physical health. These are only few examples that affects individual to perceive and act accordingly to their surroundings. Mentally healthy people who achieve self-actualization are able to have positive self concepts and relate well to people and their environment, form close relationships with others, make decisions pertaining to reality rather than fantasy, be optimistic and appreciate and enjoy life (Abraham Maslow, 1970). Problem solving occurs because people are able to make decision pertaining to reality rather than fantasy; they are able to appreciate and enjoy life; optimism prevails as they respond to people, places, and things in daily encounters; they are independent or autonomous in thoughts and action and rely on personal standard of behaviour and values such people are able to face with relative serenity and happiness circumstances that would drive other to self- destructive behaviour, they are creative, using a variety of approaches as they perform tasks or solve problem (cited in Shives, 2002). Mental illness cannot be viewed in isolation from physical functioning; the two are inseparable. Memory and cognition are mental functions, but because they are initiated in the brain, they are also physical function. A change in brain chemistry- a physical occurence, cause, perhaps by something as seemingly benign as stress- can cause changes in mental functions that manifest as anxiety, panic attacks, or depression. Physical and mental are two inseparable components of the complete human experience. In attempting to understand the complexities of mental illness, it is important to understand that physical and mental, that is, body and mind, cannot exist in isolation from one another ( Marie Thompson,2007 p.5) . Although scientist do not know exactly what causes mental illness, like cancer, mental illness can strike anyone and variety of causes. Scientist are certain that genetic vulnerability plays a role in many mental illness, since the risks of becoming ill is greater if you have a close relative who suffers from depression, bipolar illness, schizophrenia, anxiety or alcoholism among others. However, no specific gene has yet been isolated that causes any of this illness (James Hicks, 2005 p.2). Mental illness or mental disorders defined as an illness or syndrome with psychological or behavioural manifestation and /or impairment in functioning as a result of a social, psychological, genetic, physical/chemical, or biological disturbance ( The American Psychiatric Association). Depression is an important global public health problem due to both it’s relatively high lifetime prevalence and the significant disability that it cause. In 2002, depression accounted for 4.5% of the worldwide total burden of disease (in terms of disability- adjusted life year ). It is also responsible for the greatest proportion of burden attributable to non-fatal health outcome, accounting for almost 12% of the total years lived with disability worldwide. Without treatment, depression has the tendency to assume a chronic course, to recur, and to be associated with increasing disability overtime (World Health Statistics ,2007, p. 16). Depression is considered a disorder of mood (sometimes called an affective disorder, 2 signifying the disturbance of â€Å"affect†) in all widely used classification and diagnostic schemes. In general, a mood disorder represents a departure from what we might consider to be a typical mood state experienced by most persons most days of their lives. Depressive disorders are characterized by sad, guilty, remorseful, tired , withdrawn moods and the influence of these moods on a person’s day to day behaviour ( Sam Victor et al., p. 6 ). The term depression is used in variety of ways. In everyday language, it is commonly used to describe feelings of sadness or despondency. These feelings are part of normal emotion and may be the consequence of disappointments or failures. As a medical term, depression can refer to a symptom, syndrome or illness. In its usual clinical context, depression denotes a disorder of mood that is distinct from normality. Disorders involving abnormalities of mood used to be called manic-depressive but are now more often termed affective disorders. This is more accurate because only a minority of sufferers experience episode of both mania and depression (bipolar affective disorder) and most have recurrent episodes of depression only (unipolar depression) (Malhi, p.1). It is imperative to recognise the severity of depression as it can lead to life threatening such as suicide. Therefore ,it is important for health professionals to assess the potential risks for this. As presence of depression can sometimes not obvious to clinicians, some symptoms, when observed in combination with the others can clearly indicate that a person is in depression. Symptoms often associated with depressed states include early morning wakening, a feeling of grinding tiredness, loss of energy, loss of sexual interest in relationship, loss of appetite, feeling â€Å"down†and feeling of bad temper (Alexander et al, 1994). To maintain confidentiality the patient’s name has been changed to a pseudonym, in order to conform to the Nursing and Midwifery Council Code of Conduct (NMC, 2008). I will call my patient Mrs. M is a 35-year-old woman who complained of feeling very low for the last 4 months but always attributes this from being tired from work. She was diagnosed with Sero-posivite Rheumatoid Arthritis five years ago but refused to be treated because she believes her joint pains and inflammation can be cured with only paracetamol . Not until her inflammation was uncontrollable and left some of her joints in hands and feet some deformities. Mrs. M. has a husband and two children who are still very young. She describes that the family relationship is good. She was brought up mostly of her childhood by her grandparents. Mrs. M. worked full-time as a Registered Nurse where she was admitted as a patient. Mrs. M has been in the hospital for some time due to the flare up of her disease and over a week I have looked after her. I can still remember when I first met her, the doctor ordered to give her intravenous steroids infusion. It has to be administered through her peripheral line in her right radial vein by Aseptic Non-Touch Technique (ANTT) (Anonymous, NHS Trust, 2007). This is the protocol to decrease risks of acquiring infection through intravenous lines. To observe how is this being done, I went with my mentor. At first, we greeted her and introduced ourselves. My mentor explained what we were about to do. I observed that Mrs.M. was calm and only answer when we speak to her. It was discussed by her doctor that after having been given steroids , inflammation of her joints will get better and so improve her mobility but she would have some side effects. Mrs. M. knew these will happen which made her felt hopeful but somehow low and upset. As a nurse herself, she was aware the medication would lower her immune system, could experience mood swings, difficulty sleeping at night, increase her appetite in eating and will contribute in gaining weight. I found it interesting as a student nurse to learn how to respond to a particular situation and observe a patient’s treatment can improve his/her disease or condition. Every shift I am working , I made sure I go and see Mrs. M. For me always visible and ready to listen to verbalise her concerns in consistent way will develop a rapport which I learned was very important in a nurse-patient relationship. I can remember there was a day Mrs. M. was feeling so happy and laughing telling me stories about her family in her own family, her favourite hobby making handicrafts and her experience being a nurse. She also told me how her strength differs prior to the diagnosis of her disease. There were times I saw Mrs. M. not interested in doing anything for the day. She was only lying down in bed crying frustrated in trying to get out of bed independently. She was irritated expressing she did not wish anybody to be near her if not her own doctor or assigned staff nurse. It has been reported she never sleeps soundly at night and always seen sitting at the bedside seemed in deep thoughts. The curtain around her bed was remained closed all the time. As her student nurse, I made sure I frequently checked and asked if she was needing any help. Whenever she was ready to speak , I was there for her. During one of my conversation with her , I have learnt that she used to be being independent with her activities of daily living and looking after her family. She rarely asked for other people’s help. Since she suffered from the disease, she had some deformities in different joints of her hands and feet which added to her mobility problems. She had mentioned to me how she felt frustrated when she cannot complete her household chores. Mrs.M. remembered the day told by doctor to commence on anti-depressant tablet because she was diagnosed with mild depression, she was very scared her family and friends to know. She had decided not to take any medication for her depression. After few days of looking after her she is somewhat different from our first meeting. She became more relaxed,expressing her interests in eating her food, more energy when meeting people, good eye contact and happy while talking. To actively listen to Mrs. M was showing her that I can be always ready to listen and trusted like her family or close friend. Although some patients can be quite adamant to take medications for their depression , there are some that are referred for counselling. GP’s frequently find themselves in the position of providing emotional support, advice and counselling to depressed patients in an effort to give reassurance, warmth and encouragement . Indeed, this is probably the most common and effective treatment for the majority of patients with mild depression. In this situation, active listening is more important than advice-giving; paying attention to non-verbal and hidden messages as well as what the patient is expressing verbally, and feeling emp athy for their predicament. It should be noted that much of this support is provided by ministers of religion, voluntary agency and self-help support groups (Wilkinson, G.etal). According to my research for patient to be emotionally responsive, I found out some interventions that nurse can use independently without doctor’s order. Use a warm, accepting, empathic approach. Be aware of and in control of one’s own feelings and reactions (anger,frustration,sympathy). With depressed patient: Establish rapport through shared time and supportive companionship. Give the patient time to respond. Personalise care as a way of indicating the patients value as a human being. With the manic patient: Give simple, truthful responses. Be alert to possible manipulation. Set constructive limit on negative behaviour. Use a consistent approach by all health-team members. Maintain open communication in sharing of perceptions among team members. Reinforce patient’s self-control and positive aspects of patient’s behaviour (Stuart,G.,1998). Within this assignment, I am going to use (Gibbs, 1988) reflective cycle. I choose to use this cycle because it encourages a clear definition of this project. The analysis of the feelings, the evaluation and the way to make sense of the experience, and pla what needs to be done in the future. It has helped me demonstrate my ability to reflect on my personal experiences in doing this essay and gave the opportunities to explore my personal learning needs. Before I continue my reflective writing ,let me first discuss the importance of reflection. Reflection as defined by ( john, 2000 ) as a window through which a practitioner can view and focus self within the context of their own lives experience in a way that enable them to confront, understand and work towards resolving the contradictions within their practice. Knowing how to reflect is a process for making sense out of all experience (Taylor, 2000 ). For my first assignment, I have to write a reflective project based on what I have learned. We were asked a project focusing on the subject ,â€Å" What is mental health?†. At first, I was struggling to figure out what topic to write about the given subject. I started to collect data from vast resources of books but the more I read, it becomes more difficult to put my ideas into writing. I am getting more frustrated because I was making little progress. My idea was to sit down and write one long essay and then be finished early. Finally, I decided to write about depression. This essay was about a patient I have encountered and looked after who was diagnosed with sero- positive rheumatoid arthritis. When I wrote this assignment, I have to look back and remembered an interesting nursing experience. Writing this kind of essay was difficult and challenging in a way it was emotional and stressful due to time pressure in meeting deadline and juggling placements and family time. I felt more confident now in dealing with my personal issues as well as dealing with my patient’s physical and emotional needs. I think my writing has improve during this time because of all the different resources and help I have use. With regards to my future assignment, it has broaden my knowledge in constructing my essay. Instead of collecting vast materials to read, I will be more selective of materials to read and will more focus on the specific subject given. I will do more planning and thinking around the topic as much as pos sible. The benefit of this approach is that from the start, I can get the sense of the shape my essay will take. To the greater extent, I really enjoyed writing this essay because it is about the professional nursing field which I am pursuing through schooling. I believe that thru studies and placements, I wil develop my capabilities to be a good and proper nurse to help and support every person to be physically, emotionally, socially and mentally healthy. Because of the many things that I have learned and witness from nurses and nursing aids, I feel this reflective essay will help me in my future career. In conclusion, this reflective assignment demonstrates my ability to show and express my feelings concerning different kind of situations and difficulties while I am writing this project. By basing my own reflection using Gibbs reflective cycle, it gives me the chance to explore, to improve my skills and knowledge to have a better foundation for the nursing career I am aiming for. Through critical reflecting, I can learn from my mistakes and highlight my knowledge and expertise. Nurture yourself with good nutrition: Depression can affect appetite. Appetite is typically decrease and you may loose weight. Sometimes, although appetite is still decrease, you tendto eat for comfort and may gain weight. So you will need to be extra mindful of getting the right nourishment. Proper nutrition can influence a person’s mood and energy. Identify troubles, but don’t dwell on them: Try to identify any circumstances that have contributed to your depression. If you know what is the cause and you feel down, why not talk about it with a caring friend. Talking is a way to release the feelings and to receive some understanding. Focus yourself and look on the bright side: Depression affects a person’s thoughts, making everything seem dismal, negative, and hopeless. If depression has cause you negative outlook in life, make an effort to notice the good things life has to offer. Consider your strengths and blessings. Most of all, do not forget to be patient with yourself. Depression takes time to heal.
Thursday, November 7, 2019
Dinah and Male-Dominated Biblical Narrative
Dinah and Male-Dominated Biblical Narrative One of the aptest historical criticisms of The Holy Bible is the way it fails to chronicle womens lives, abilities and viewpoints with the same effort it puts into mens lives. The story of Dinah in Genesis 34 is one of the best examples of this male-dominated narrative. A Young Woman at the Mercy of Men Dinahs story actually starts in Genesis 30:21, which tells of her birth to Jacob and his first wife, Leah. Dinah reappears in Genesis 34, a chapter that early versions of the Bible titled the rape of Dinah. Ironically, Dinah never speaks for herself in this significant episode of her life. In brief, Jacob and his family are encamped in Canaan near the city of Shechem. By now having reached puberty, teen-aged Dinah understandably wants to see something of the world. While visiting the city, she is defiled or outraged by the prince of the land, also called Shechem, who is the son of Hamor the Hivite. Although scripture says Prince Shechem is eager to marry Dinah, her brothers Simeon and Levi are enraged at the way their sister has been treated. They convince their father, Jacob, to exact a high bride price, or dowry. They tell Hamor and Shechem that it is against their religion to allow their women to marry men who are not circumcised, i.e., converts to the religion of Abraham. Because Shechem is in love with Dinah, he, his father, and eventually all the men of the city agree to this extreme measure. However, circumcision turns out to be a trap devised by Simeon and Levi to incapacitate the Shechemites. Genesis 34 says they, and possibly more of Dinahs brothers, attack the city, kill all the men, rescue their sister and despoil the town. Jacob is horrified and frightened, fearing that other Canaanites sympathetic with the people of Shechem will rise against his tribe in retaliation. How Dinah feels at the murder of her betrothed, who by this time may even have been her husband, is never mentioned. Rabbinical Interpretations Vary on Dinahs Story Later sources blame Dinah for this episode, citing her curiosity about life in the city as a sin since it exposed her to risk of rape. Shes also condemned in other rabbinical interpretations of scripture known as Midrash because she didnt want to leave her prince, Shechem. This earns Dinah the nickname of the Canaanite woman. A text of Jewish myth and mysticism, The Testament of the Patriarchs, justifies the anger of Dinahs brothers by saying that an angel instructed Levi to take revenge on Shechem for the rape of Dinah. A more critical view of Dinahs story holds the tale may be not historical at all. Instead, some Jewish scholars think Dinahs story is an allegory that symbolizes the way Israelite men conducted feuds against neighboring tribes or clans that raped or abducted their women. This reflection of ancient customs makes the story valuable, according to Jewish historians. A Feminist View of Dinahs Story In 1997, novelist Anita Diamant re-imagined Dinahs story in her book, The Red Tent, a New York Times best-seller. In this novel, Dinah is the first-person narrator, and her encounter with Shechem is not rape but consensual sex in anticipation of marriage. Dinah willingly marries the Canaanite prince and is horrified and grieved by her brothers vengeful actions. She flees to Egypt to bear Shechems son and is reunited with her brother Joseph, now Egypts prime minister. The Red Tent became a worldwide phenomenon embraced by women who longed for a more positive view of women in the Bible. Although entirely fiction, Diamant said she wrote the novel with attention to the history of the era, around 1600 B.C., particularly in terms of what could be discerned about the lives of ancient women. The red tent of the title refers to a practice common to tribes of the ancient Near East, in which menstruating women or women giving birth lived in such a tent along with their co-wives, sisters, daughters and mothers. In a question-and-answer on her website, Diamant cites work by Rabbi Arthur Waskow, who links the biblical law that keeps a mother separate from the tribe for 60 days upon the birth of a daughter as a sign that it is a sacred act for a woman to bear to another potential birth-giver. A subsequent work of non-fiction, Inside the Red Tent by Baptist scholar Sandra Hack Polaski, examines Diamants novel in light of both biblical story and ancient history, particularly the difficulties of finding historical documentation for womens lives. Diamants novel and Polaskis non-fiction work are completely extra-biblical, and yet their readers believe that they give voice to a female character whom the Bible never allows to speak for herself. Sources Giving Voice to Dinah Sermon given December 12, 2003, by Rabbi Allison Bergman Vann The Jewish Study Bible, featuring the Jewish Publication Societys TANAKH translation (Oxford University Press, 2004). Dinah by Eduard KÃ ¶nig, Emil G. Hirsch, Louis Ginzberg, Caspar Levias, Jewish Encyclopedia. Ten Questions on the Occasion of the Tenth Anniversary of The Red Tent by Anita Diamant (St. Martins Press, 1997). Inside the Red Tent (Popular Insights) by Sandra Hack Polaski (Chalice Press, 2006)
Tuesday, November 5, 2019
Life and Work of Herbert Spencer
Life and Work of Herbert Spencer Herbert Spencer was a British philosopher and sociologist who was intellectually active during the Victorian period. He was known for his contributions to evolutionary theory and for applying it outside of biology, to the fields of philosophy, psychology, and within sociology. In this work, he coined the term survival of the fittest. In addition, he helped develop the functionalist perspective, one of the major theoretical frameworks in sociology. Early Life and Education Herbert Spencer was born in Derby, England on April 27, 1820. His father, William George Spencer, was a rebel of the times and cultivated in Herbert an anti-authoritarian attitude. George, as his father was known, was the founder of a school that used unconventional teaching methods and was a contemporary of Erasmus Darwin, grandfather of Charles. George focused Herberts early education on science, and simultaneously, he was introduced to philosophical thinking through Georges membership in the Derby Philosophical Society. His uncle, Thomas Spencer, contributed to Herberts education by instructing him in mathematics, physics, Latin, and free-trade and libertarian political thinking. During the 1830s Spencer worked as a civil engineer while the railways were being constructed throughout Britain, but also spent time writing in radical local journals. Career and Later Life Spencers career became focused on intellectual matters in 1848 when he became an editor for The Economist, the now widely-read weekly magazine that was first published in England in 1843. While working for the magazine through 1853, Spencer also wrote his first book, Social Statics, and published it in 1851. Titled for a concept of August Comte, in this work, Spencer used Lamarcks ideas about evolution and applied them to society, suggesting that people adapt to the social conditions of their lives. Because of this, he argued, social order would follow, and so the rule of a political state would be unnecessary. The book was considered a work of libertarian political philosophy, but also, is what makes Spencer a founding thinker of the functionalist perspective within sociology. Spencers second book, Principles of Psychology, was published in 1855 and made the argument that natural laws govern the human mind. At about this time, Spencer began to experience significant mental health problems that limited his ability to work, interact with others, and function in society. Despite this, he began work on a major undertaking, which culminated in the nine-volume A System of Synthetic Philosophy. In this work, Spencer elaborated on how the principle of evolution had been applied within not only biology, but in psychology, sociology, and in the study of morality. Overall, this work suggests that societies are organisms that progress through a process of evolution similar to that experienced by living species, a concept known to as social Darwinism. In the latter period of his life, Spencer was regarded as the greatest living philosopher of the time. He was able to live off of income from the sale of his books and other writing, and his works were translated into many languages and read all over the world. However, his life took a dark turn in the 1880s, when he switched positions on many of his well-known libertarian political views. Readers lost interest in his new work and Spencer found himself lonely as many of his contemporaries died. In 1902, Spencer received a nomination for the Nobel Prize for literature, but did not win it, and died in 1903 at the age of 83 years old. He was cremated and his ashes interred opposite the grave of Karl Marx in Highgate Cemetery in London. Major Publications Social Statics: The Conditions Essential to Human Happiness (1850)Education (1854)The Principles of Psychology (1855)The Principles of Sociology (1876-1896)The Data of Ethics (1884)The Man Versus the State (1884) Updated by Nicki Lisa Cole, Ph.D.
Sunday, November 3, 2019
Plowshares and Pruning Hooks Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words
Plowshares and Pruning Hooks - Essay Example The mode in which prophecies have been presented continues to hinder many people from understanding prophecies. The figurative languages used do not show any relevance and meaning even if confirmed from the dictionary1. Another problem that faces people who try to interpret prophecies is emotional language used in the prophecies. Most prophecies are full of emotions, exaggerations, excitement, and shock and this affects the manner in which different people interpret and understand prophecies. Another problem that affects prophecies is that God does not mention conditions in promised blessings. God in form of visions and dreams sends most prophecies. The ability to interpret the symbolic visions and dreams from the figurative language to words and writings also affects the level of interpretation of the prophecies. Interpretation ability therefore depends on the feelings and temperaments of the prophet in question. Most prophets in their writing employ the use of apocalyptic literatur e, which is quite different from prophecy but just a sub-genre under prophecy. The use of apocalyptic literature is full of emotions, which are aiming at attracting and capturing the interest of the reader or the audience. This literature has helped me in understanding the scriptures more. Most of us read this prophesies and expect that things will happen exactly the same way as indicated in the scriptures. This piece of literature has changed my interpretation and understanding of the prophecies. I now understand why God does not give conditions and exact timeline as to when His promises will take place. Proper understanding of the descriptive and figurative language has also contributed to my understanding and interpretation of the scriptures. Part 2: The Gospel According to Isaiah 53 by Darrell L. Bock and Mitch Glaser Isaiah 2:1-22 The second chapter of Isaiah is written in form of a poem from the beginning to the fifth verse. Isaiah is praising God and giving his promises to Go d concerning the people of Israel. Poetry is amongst the seven key features that Isaiah uses in order to communicate his message and make the people of Israel to repent their evil ways and go back to God. The theme that Isaiah uses in his prophecy is the theme of anger. From verse six Isaiah is unhappy with the people of Israel for their continued disobedience to God. To express his anger, Isaiah goes to an extent of telling God not to forgive His people. Verse 9 â€Å"everyone will be humiliated and disgraced. Do not forgive them Lord†2. Isaiah also uses hyperbole in this prophecy in order to make people repent. In his prophecy he says that the Lord will destroy all the tall cedars of Lebanon and all the oaks of Bashan Isaiah 2: 13. In verse 14 of the same chapter, he says that the Lord will level all the mountains and hills due to His anger. In addition to this Isaiah uses exaggeration to communicate his message. He tells God that the Israelites land is full of silver and g old and therefore there is no end to their treasures. He also continues by arguing that their land is full of horses hence no end to their chariots. Just already discussed in part of this assignment, Isaiah does not give exactly the date when God’s wrath will inflict the people of Israel. Isaiah says in verse 11 that â€Å"a day is coming when human pride will be ended and human arrogance destroyed.†The scripture does not identify exactly when this will happen. It is
Thursday, October 31, 2019
Geotechnical Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words
Geotechnical - Essay Example Geotechnical engineering uses the geophysical methods in measuring the physical properties on the earth sub surface. These methods have the potential of measuring the anomalies in the properties of soil to identify the position and the presence of minerals (Das and Sobhan, 2013). They involve applying physical methods in measuring the physical traits of rocks and soil thus detecting the physical differences between the rocks that have the hydrocarbons or ore deposits. This paper explores the different types of geophysics method and their use in geotechnical engineering. Electromagnetic induction (EM) involves a method that uses the induction principles in measuring the electrical conductivity of the subsurface. Different from the techniques of conventional resistivity, EM requires no contact in the ground. This eliminates the fast problems of electrical coupling allowing much acquisition of rapid data. Since the EM instruments give an easy and rapid collection of data, the instruments are always used as the tools of reconnaissance used in identifying the greatly detailed anomalies (Nobes, 2000). The induced electromagnetic pulse can be measured using the frequency domain meters and time domain meters. GPR (ground penetrating Radar is utilized in pinpointing the buried objects location and mapping and having stratigraphy mapped out. It gives the shallow subsurface cross-sectional measurements. The method has the ability of locating the nonmetal and metal objects. In many cases, data and profiles are recorded and the result is shown using the real time having the attached display unit of the computer. This results into a fast and easy field interpretation. More data interpretation could be done later (Nobes, 2000). The instruments of GPR have energy beamed into the ground from the antenna in the electromagnetic wave form. An energy position is reflected towards the antenna at the specific subsurface
Tuesday, October 29, 2019
Crime and Deterrence Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words
Crime and Deterrence - Essay Example Through evaluation of literature however, it is clear that much of the efforts to put into place stringent policies and adopt sophisticated tactics by police have not been up to the task of deterring crime. This paper therefore intends to answer the question of whether potential offenders are deterred from committing crime by change in policy over man power or sophistication of police tactics. Policies in criminal justice influence people towards engaging in crime and for those that are meant to influence positively, this occurs through either incapacitation or through deterrence. When such a policy is imposed and it makes people who would have committed a crime to change their minds, then the policy would be said to be effective in deterring the crime. In other instances, the criminal justice system may impose policies that would prevent possible crimes through putting potential criminals out of circulation such as through detention and this is called incapacitation (Chalï ¬ n & McCrary, 2013). It must however be appreciated that not all policies that are adopted that become effective over the task and this therefore justifies the objective of this study in analyzing the effectiveness of adopting the policy of increased police manpower and sophistication on tactics by police in deterring crime as seen through literature. Chalï ¬ n and McCrary conducted an evaluation on studies and other literature on criminal deterrence and established that economics have a fundamental effect in influencing the effectiveness of the tools adopted to deter crime. While focusing on such literature over two decades, they established a mixed outcome where very strong evidence of crime responding to police as well as legitimate market opportunities but little evidence was found to ascertain that crime responds to levels of severity in criminal sanctions imposed. The whole essence of deterring
Sunday, October 27, 2019
Andrew Carnegies Defense: The Gospel Of Wealth
Andrew Carnegies Defense: The Gospel Of Wealth During the Industrial Revolution, several changes shaped American society. Inventions such as the railroad and electricity contributed to the massive change in American life. A movement from the rural farms to the industrial cities and factory owners desire to maximize profit and minimize cost started the battle between laborers and large capitalist bosses. Throughout this era, daring entrepreneurs such as John Rockefeller, Andrew Carnegie, Jay Gould, J.P. Morgan, and the Vanderbilt family helped shape the economy, and became known as the robber barons, because of their ruthless treatment of workers and underhanded business deals. Through their economic and political leverage, they accumulated massive amounts of wealth and had enormous influence. Robber barons utilized their wealth in a variety ways, such as purchasing extravagant mansions or hosting wasteful parties. However in the article Wealth, unlike the other millionaires of the Gilded Age, Andrew Carnegie encouraged fellow cap italists to live humbly and use their excess capital to assist the unfit poor, but only because he felt that the millionaires were most qualified to help. In Wealth, Carnegie argues that the fit and wise rich men of American must be the ones who distribute the wealth because they have the essential skills to do so. He emphasizes that millionaire class, to which he belonged, is very skilled and elevates their status in society with his self-praising writing. For example he says, their talent for organization and management is rare among men and this talent, secures for its possessor enormous rewards, no matter where or under what laws or conditions. [1] The rich are again represented as greater than the poor by having superior wisdom, experience, and ability to administer [wealth]. [2] They are shown to have skills are unique and rare allowing them to do amazing things in all aspects of life-an indomitable group of people who can solve any problem. This resembles the widespread doctrine of social Darwinism, because if a person is fit by being skilled, it is natural that they will succeed and survive. Carnegie wrote that it i s because of their skill that only they must be responsible for the control and distribution of their wealth. While Carnegie elevates the richs image and portrays them as superior beings, he describes the poor as foolish, impudent, and unskilled. Throughout the text, Carnegie argued that it must be the rich classs responsibility to guide the poor, because their class can do for them better than they would or could do for themselves since the poor are, slothful, the drunken, the unworthy. [3] Carnegie demonstrates the unfit, foolish, lazy, and ignorant workers and laborers as the foils of the fit, skilled, wise, and hardworking millionaires. According to social Darwinism and Carnegies article, the poor at the bottom of society deserve to be there, because they are unfit and failed take advantages of their situation and earn millions of dollars, like the capitalists. By emphasizing the differences between the rich and poor, Carnegies article illustrates the prevailing belief of social Darwinism. Wealth was published during 1889 an era when public believed in the theory of social Darwinism. This belief stemmed from Charles Darwins theory of evolution and Herbert Spencer and William Graham Sumner used the popular catchwords of Darwinism, struggle for existence and survival of the fittest [and] applied [them] to the life of man in society [4] . Indeed Carnegie uses these terms in his article, as he says the law [of competition]à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦insures the survival of the fittest in every department. [5] By applying Darwins biological theory to man and society, the fittest or strongest members of society should be at the top and lead society, while the weak, unfit should be on the bottom and allowed to suffer and die out. This is echoed in Carnegies article as the millionaires should have all the control and power of their wealth, while the poor must be changed and learn to be fit or be left to die out. Successful business and entrepreneurs apparently accepted almost by instinct the Darwinian terminology which seemed to portray the conditions of their existence. [6] For example, as a child Carnegie had to support his family and by taking advantage of the situations provided to him. By doing so, he was able to own the biggest and most successful steel industry. In his article, a businessmans success and money are rewards of being fit, while the poors lack of money is a symbol of their failure in society. By presenting the rich and poor as skilled and unskilled, wise and foolish, Carnegie is able to justify that the rich were the only ones who were knowledgeable enough to share and keep their wealth. Carnegie arrogantly says that, this wealth, passing through the hands of the few, can be made much more potent force for the elevation of our race than if distributed in small sums to the people themselves. [7] The few or the rich should must have the money, because they will be able to properly distribute it to the poor. If the people themselves obtained this money, they would not have as grand a result as the millionaires. In his article, Carnegie needed to defend their immense accumulation of wealth, before explaining the more efficient methods of helping the poor. During this era, there was a huge economic gap between the rich and poor. In 1890, 73 percent of the nations wealth was held by the top 10 percent of the population. [8] This disproportionate distribution of money caused the laborers and poor to see the wealthy and business as evil and millionaires as corrupt robber barons stealing their money. This distrust was inflamed by the immense differences in living conditions of each class. While millionaires lived comfortably in extravagant, laborers and factory workers lived in dirty and disease filled slums. However, in Wealth Carnegie attempts to bind together the rich and poor in harmonious relationship [9] and provides a humble interpretation of the rich as they are just a the mere trustee and agent for his poorer brethren. [10] He wishes to have peace between the two classe s and portrays the rich as helpful caretakers of poor. In their crusade in helping the poor become fit, the rich must have control over their capital in order to help them. Carnegie states that they would provide them with ladders upon which the aspiring can rise free libraries, parks, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ works of art,à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦and public institutions of various kinds. [11] He wanted to provide resources to those who will help themselves, just as he had brought himself up from working in a factory to owner of a steel factory. However, he would not just hand out money to the poor, because they would use it foolishly. [12] By providing with poor with these institutions, Carnegie hoped that they would learn how become fit and become more like the refined and educated millionaires. Even if the rich has so much, they should be willing to return some of their resources in the form of libraries and other services to assist the poor. By explaining that their wisdom and wealth will be used to assist the poor, the wealthy are given a legitimate reason to keep all their money and continue with the laissez-faire system of government. Even though Carnegie felt he provided the poor with ladders to success. The poor had no time to take advantage of them. As the wealthy obtained an immense amount of money, most of the population suffered in poverty. The poor had to work in dangerous factories in long 12 hour work days. After a day of hard work, laborers would barely make enough money to eat as Carnegies steel workers earned from $1.50 to $2.00 per day. While a family in the Pittsburg area needed $15 a week to live, most workers made less than $12.50. [13] Even if factory workers wanted to go to the local library they had no time or energy to do so. During this time, the wealthy were really not focused on relieving the needy with handouts. Carnegie felt that just giving foolish man money would cause him to spend it recklessly. He wanted to help the poor become more like the rich by providing them with the resources which would teach them how to be fit and if the poor really wanted to advance themselves, they wou ld go to a library and learn the skills necessary to do so. Given the circumstances, this would be unlikely, but Carnegie still proposes that this is a viable option, as he really does not know how the poor live. Since the government practiced laissez-faire politics which ensured that the government would stay away from business affairs, businessmen had full control over their finances and factories. If the government did interfere, they could only do so to benefit business, specifically those of the robber barons. Andrew Carnegies article Wealth supported this hands-off policy on business. As an article which drew heavily on the beliefs of social Darwinism, lack of government action would be beneficial to the evolution of society. The law of competition is not only beneficial, but essential to the future progress of the race and competition between these [businesses], as being not only beneficial, but essential to the future progress of the race. [14] Carnegie and many other businessmen believed that businesses should be free to compete against each other and that the government should stay out the way. If the government would get involved, they would only do so to protect competition between businesses. According to social Darwinism, competition would destroy the weak, leave only the fit in society. Thus, the skilled fit that remain are able to advance society and harvest their rewards. If the government created regulation that hindered competition between businesses, competition would be destroyed, and society would not be able to move forward. Therefore, any disruption or attempts to hinder the law of competition or defend the unfit were not allowed by the business owners. As Irvin Wyllie states in the article Social Darwinism and the Businessman, Herbert Spencer became the oracle of the age à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ in defense of laissez-faire as he applied the idea of evolution and completion to society. [15] Social Darwinisms law of competition became a bulwark for a government which did not interfere with businesses and left workers with despicable work conditions. In Wealth, Andrew Carnegie use of the law of competition to support the laissez-faire image of g overnment helped protect the businessmens interest. In Wealth, Carnegie also supported millionaires decision to fight against unions desires. Due to the harsh conditions in factories, low wages, long workdays, and lack of help from the government, unions like the Knights of Labor formed in an attempt to obtain a shorter workday and better working conditions for workers. Eight work days and higher wages would increase the bottom line and lessen the businessmans profit causing create deal of resistance from businessmen. Unfit laborers are portrayed by social Darwinism and Wealth as lazy and deserving of their suffering giving the idea that factory owners do not need listen to them. In Wealth, the wealthy are portrayed as all-knowing, as they know the best interests of the race. [16] Indeed, in this era, millionaires found unions to be hindrances to their companies and had the full support of federal government in stopping them. By emphasizing that the poor are unworthy, lazy, and ignorant and the wealthy knew what they were doing, Wealth defended why millionaires disliked unions and did everything they could to stop them. Andrew Carnegies article, Wealth, was a result of prevailing belief of social Darwinism in the Gilded Age. The rhetoric of Spencer and Sumners view of social Darwinism are apparent in his work and though this belief, Carnegie is able to say that the rich were the most capable group of people to hold and distribute the wealth. Through his ingrained belief of social Darwinism, he was also able to defend the wealths large accumulation of wealth, the laissez-faire government, and their aggression toward labor unions found during the Industrial era. Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) | Free essay | Management essays Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) | Free essay | Management essays Introduction KFC in the beginning was changing companies which belonged, since in 1964 Colonel Sanders first sold KFC. It was sold in a small group of investors who promoted KFC in public. In 1971 Heublein was highly involved in the day to day operations. However, R.J. Reynolds then acquired Heublein in 1982. R.J. took a more laid back approach and allowed business as usual at KFC. After that in 1986 PepsiCo bought this company and tried to grow it very fast and as well the restaurant segment even if KFC and PepsiCo had a very different culture and style which means that it was totally different. PepsiCo is a big company which recognized itself in 1985 and owns as well Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and now KFC. PepsiCo has a consumer product orientation and found that the marketing of fast food was very similar to the marketing of its soft drinks and snack foods. PepsiCo combines snack food, soft drinks and restaurants together and its a huge company in the world with many restaurants. Nowadays KFC belongs to YUM international and is the largest chicken restaurant in the world with over 32,500 restaurants with, AW All-American Foodâ„ ¢, Taco Bell, Long John Silvers and Pizza Hut in more than 100 countries. Today, some of the older KFC restaurants have become famous in their own right. One such restaurant is located in Marietta, Georgia. This store is notable for a 17m tall sign that looks like a chicken. The sign, known locally as the Big Chicken, was built for an earlier fast-food restaurant on the site called Johnny Rebs Chick, Chuck and Shake. It is often used as a travel reference point in the Atlanta area by locals and pilots. The original handwritten recipe is kept locked away at the KFC corporate headquarters in Louisville, Kentucky as a closely-guarded secret. Only two members within the Yum! Corporation knows the recipe in its entirety. Mission and Objectives we find reasons to celebrate the achievements of others and have fun doing it The mission of the KFC is to sell food in a fast ,to have a friendly environment that appeals to pride conscious, to be in a health minded consumers. The objectives of KFC is to increase the variety of menu, to introduce desert menu and introduce buffet to restaurants. Another objective goal is to target Menu items of African Americans in major cities with the following foods: greens, macaroni and cheese, peach cobbler, red beans and rice. However there are also menu items which should be target in Hispanics major cities are the fried plantains, flan, tres Leches. The implementations on non-traditional units are including the shopping mall food courts, universities, hospitals, airports, stadiums, amusement parks, office buildings, mobile units. Pest analysis Political UK Government has launched a new corporate tax scheme in April 2008, in which the tax is to decrease from 30% down to 28%, helping revive the economy and boost competition (BBC, 2008, p.1). Fast food companies like McDonalds, KFC, etc. could save millions of pounds from this stimulus. The Government is considering a proposed ban on junk food advertising to billboards, computer games and cinemas act in the face of the public health of child obesity. A blanket ban would be a hammer blow to companies such as KFC, McDonalds, Coca-Cola, Nestle, etc. (Mintel, 2009m, p.1) Economic As a result of the credit crunch and market instability, global markets are in disarray, deleveraging is under way (Kohler, 2009, p.27). The UK economy is now challenged by serious economic downturn. Latest Indicators published by Office for National Statistics (2009, p.1) states that all indexes are at negative interpretation, such as unemployment rate increased, GDP and national productivity decreased. The UK is heavily impacted by the economic downturn. Hickman (2007, p.1) argues that the era of spend, spend, and spend no longer exists. Britain shoppers habit of depending on credit cards is now forced to change. They have to cut back their expenditure since credit availability would be now a historic concept. Social Work mobility, working under pressure seems to force people to go out to eat and drink rather than cook at home for themselves (although this trend is moderated by credit crunch recently). People enjoy their spare time by spending hours in coffee stores, restaurants, cinemas, and fast foods are indispensable items in their orders. Bird and Hughes (1997, p.159) state that consumer is more and more concerning for ethical products. They are not only paying attention to products quality, but also ethical aspects of the goods purchased. This raises a question to all businesses, however, it is also an opportunity for those who care of their customers, their communities, like KFC, for instant. Customers concern about environmental issues in every item they buy (Mintel, 2009p, p.1). Environmental concerns are now a key priority among UK consumers and their importance is continuing to grow. Consumer concerns are encouraging retailers to introduce green products and to put their entire operations on a greener footing (Mintel, 2009c, p.1) Consumers may be increasingly turning to chicken outlets as a relatively healthy alternative to red meat, particularly on the back of recent government and health campaigners concerns over the nutritional content of fast food (Mintel, 2009a4, p.1) Attitudes towards burgers are changing. Burgers are no longer seen as should-be-avoid foods, but are positive ones instead (Mintel, 2009d, p.1). In addition, microwaveable burgers have been welcomed to serve a new snack-on-the-go audience (Mintel, 2009d, p.1). Technological and environmental issues The Internet is changing the way that many businesses are operating (Avinash and Minh, 2008, p.83). The Internet accounts for 8% of global advertising spend and growing rapidly (The Economist, 2007, p.124). It is an opportunity for fast food companies enabling its customers to order online easily via its website, creating competitive advantage for the company. Technology helps to shorten the geographic distance, booting business communication. Technology also helps to design and manufacture modern machines to produce high quality foods, saving time and human capital. Global warming, green house gas, recyclable materials are among most interests of environmental supporters. Swot analysis Strengths KFC has a very long history and has the most recognizable brand in chicken. KFC has name recognition around the world and has been globally positioned for many years. KFCs secret recipe of 11 herbs and spices has made it the leader in chicken for the last fifty years. KFC is the 2nd only to McDonalds in the UK and USA and ranks highest among all chicken restaurant chains for its convenience and menu variety. The quality of food is a key strength to KFC. The quality is defined by the YUM! and controlled by the local franchisees. There is a global standard, with regard to the quality of the KFC meals. The KFC recipes allow for quick a processing time, which makes it all the more convenient and more attractive to prospective clients. Customer-focused approach brings advantages to KFC. The company cares about the health of its customers. Recently, in 2008, KFC signs up to the Food Standards Agency commitment to providing healthier meals, helping its customers enjoy a healthier, more balanced diet. The commitments include: working with suppliers to reduce salt and saturated fat levels, dressings and frying oils for alternatives that are lower in saturated fat, increasing the number of healthier options on the menu and making nutritional information more readily available to customers (Mintel, 2009l). The company also puts nutritional information of its products online and in stores. KFC does business ethically and environmentally. KFC UK has promised to reduce packaging and waste by selling products such as its Fillet and Zinger burgers just wrapped into paper rather than in a cardboard box. The chain said it aimed to reduce waste by up to 14000 tonnes over 2009 (Mintel, 2009p). KFC has a strong development plan. In February 2009, KFC announced to open 300 new UK outlets between 2009 and 2014, creating 9,000 jobs. This expansion was designed to capitalise on really strong growth and customers increasingly turning to cheaper food options amid the credit crunch (Mintel, 2009q). Weaknesses Rumour: There is a rumour about using GMO chicken (Genetic Modification Organism). This arouses a great controversy in many places. For a developed market like the UK, this impacts negatively on KFC image since people think that the use of GM chicken will have great influence on the food chain which is very crucial to the environmental health and nature development. Legal issues: KFC has been ordered to pay a  £24,000 fine following the discovery of poor hygiene standards at its Bridgend branch in South Wales. The branchs staff did not wash their hands and wore dirty aprons, while the sites hot water was turned off, meaning that staff were also unable to wash food preparation equipment (Mintel, 2009k). Trans fats issues: KFC predominantly cooks its chicken in vegetable oil called trans fats, an unhealthy method of cooking (Oppapers, 2009). Lacking fun: Since majority of KFCs customers are people between 14 and 44, who are young, dynamic, and proactive, store decoration and atmosphere play a critical role for the companys success. Lack of knowledge about their customers: KFC does not have its own customer database. Opportunities The chicken and burger bar market reached  £3.6 billion in 2007 and is predicted to rise following years. The traditional low-cost fast food outlets are well placed to remain relevant as economic conditions tighten. The burger market reached nearly  £2.5 billion 2007 whereas chicken outlets were valued at nearly  £1 billion, however, the latter showed higher growth rates over the past six years. The takeaway market continues to outperform the eat-in sector (Mintel, 2009z). Despite the economic downturn, consumers are still likely to continue eating out, according to a survey of 1,000 UK diners by Survey Shack. 63% said price wasnt the major factor influencing whether they chose to eat out or not, and 77% said they would pay more if a meal was made from high-quality ingredients (Mintel, 2009y). Grab-and-go culture: The convenience of takeaway meals has a clear demographic bias towards men, younger consumers and those who are single. Factors such as lack of motivation to worry too much about nutrition (eg the absence of children) or that it is expensive or wasteful to cook for one-person meals will play a part in this motivation (Mintel, 2009c). Growth in the 15-24-year-old age group has benefited the chicken/burger sector as they represent the core market, however, the predicted drop in 15-19-year-olds in coming years will present challenges (Mintel, 2009a1). Threats Supermarkets and new competitors: Supermarkets own-label offerings have long been a significant part of the UK food sales, holding a share of nearly 29% and continuing growth in market share (Mintel, 2009a). The National Minimum Wage (adults now receive  £5.52 an hour) continues to have an impact on the fast food market. These increases can have a major effect on the cost base of the larger chicken and burger bar operators, particularly when you consider KFC has some 8,000 employees in the UK (Mintel, 209b). The introduction of the Licensing Act 2003 (for England and Wales) in 2005 has led to many pubs having extended opening hours, generating further competition for fast-food chains, both in terms of the later nights and daytime trade (Mintel, 2009b). Health trend away from fried foods: According to campaign group Consensus Action On Salt and Health, some meals from top fast food chains conceal shockingly high salt levels. The worst contain more than double a childs recommended daily salt intake in a single meal. Customers react negatively to this news (Mintel, 2009x) Recent survey by Mintel (2009) states that growth in fast food industry has slowed in recent years. It implies of an intense competition in the eating out market and the maturing of the. BCG MATRIX KFC uses large amounts of cash and is leader in the business so since it is a leader it should use a large amount of cash. The company has the worst cash characteristics of all, because there are high demands and low returns due to low market share. If there is not market share, question marks will simply take in great amounts of cash and when the growth will stop then there will be a dog. CASH COW Profits and cash generation should be high, and because of the low growth, investments were low. Keep profits high DOGS KFC should avoid and minimize the dogs in the company. As I mentioned before the BCG Matrix of KFC is depending totally from the YAM! Company which includes as well the other companies the referent standard is the industry growth rate measured against the SBUs growth rate. Product life cycle All the products have their life cycle whether it is very successful or not. The life cycle has four stages. The first stage is the introduction of the product and such an example will be the hot wings. The second stage is the growth of the product and the product is the hot shots. The third stage is the maturity and the product is zinger, chicken mania, chicken burger. And the fourth stage is the decline which is the twister. Task environment My company diversified in many industries and for each industry has different suppliers. It audits its suppliers for compliance and non compliance. Kentucky Fried Chicken Garcia, Augie. Discussions, March 12, 1999 www.scribd.com applied marketing Mr. Muhammad Nouman BBC (2008). Call for corporate tax clampdown. Available at http://news.bbc.co. uk/1/hi /uk_politics/7681165.stm. Accessed 3 January 2009 Mintel (2009m). Proposed banned on junk food advertising could be extended. Available online at: http://academic.mintel.com/sinatra/oxygen_academic/search_results/show/display/id=118422/display/id=218594 Accessed 07 March 2009 Office for National Statistics (2009). Latest indicators. Available online at: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/instantfigures.asp. Accessed 09 March 2009 Hickman M. (2007): First the credit crunch now the spending squeeze, The Independent on Sunday (2007) Thursday, 13 September 2007. Bird K and Hughes D. (1997). Ethical Consumerism: The Case Of Fairly-Traded Coffee. Business Ethics A European Review Volume 6 Issue 3,Pages159-167 Mintel (2009p). KFC reduces packaging. (27/1/2009). Available online at: http://academic.mintel.com/sinatra/oxygen_academic/search_results/showset_access_filter=all-ZUK/display/id=280379/display/id=227776/display/id=438171. Accessed 08 March 2009 Mintel (2009c). Internal market environment. Available online at http://academic.mintel.com/sinatra/oxygen_academic/subject/view=reports_categorylevels=90849list=cat_itemscat=17lev=1/display/id=394656/display/id=442497. Accessed 07 March 2009. Mintel (2009a4). Chicken and Burger Bar UK March 2008: Market in brief. Available online at: http://academic.mintel.com/sinatra/oxygen_academic//display/id=280379/display/id=329487. Accessed 07 March 2009 Mintel (2009d). Burgers UK 2008. Available online at http://academic.mintel.com/sinatra/oxygen_academic/my_reports/display/id=227787anchor=atom/display/id=227776. Accessed 07 March 2009 Avinash, W. and Minh. Q. H. (2008) How Can Internet Service Providers Tap into the Potentially-Lucrative Small Business Market? International Journal of E-Business Research, 4(1), p.82-98 The Economist (2007). The world in figures: industries. The world in 2008. p124, 126.
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