Saturday, December 28, 2019

The Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne - 775 Words

The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, the main characters of this book are Reverend Author Dimmesdale, Pearl, Roger Chillingworth, Governor Bellingham, Mistress Hibbins, John Wilson, and Hester Prynne. The setting of this book is mid 17th century New England, Boston, Massachusetts, Bay Colony. The forefathers of Boston had built the first prison-house around Vicinity of Cornhill, the old jail showed weather stains which gave it a dark aspect. There was a rose bush as the prisoners arrived. A sluggish band servant or an undutiful child was given over to the civil authority. Old Mistress Hibbins was being accused and went to jail everyone feared as Mistress Prynne stepped into the jail. There was a woman holding a child, she†¦show more content†¦Hester did not speak to name the child’s father. She was led back to the prison. As she got back to the prison she was at a nervous excited state, a practitioner came in to the prison and talked to Hester. The practitioner gave the baby a drink that made her sleep. Hester did not name the fathers name. Hester was then released from prison. She believed she got a understanding knowledge that all have shame and all should have a letter on them. Hester called her child Pearl, she would be with Pearl always, the c hildren would try talking to Pearl, but Pearl would simply keep to her self and stay with her mother. Pearl would always notice the scarlet letter on the mother. Hester would ask Pearl who sent you and are you my child as she was in deep suffering, then Pearl would ask who brought me, the mother simply said your heavenly father. Hester went to governor Bellingham’s mansion to take a pair of embroidered gloves. Pearl and her mother were looked at as sinful and many would try to throw mud at them, as Pearl would defend herself. As they got to the governor’s house there was a bondservant who let them in and did not know of anything of the scarlet letter but saw Hester as a royal lady. The governor asked that Pearl be taken to learn the ways of Christianity. Wilson then talked to Pearl and asked her who made her, Pearl refused to answer and said she was not made but plucked from a rosebush next to a prison door. The governor looked surprised and told Hester that someone

Friday, December 20, 2019

Reverticalization of Outsourcing and Offshoring Term Paper

Essays on Reverticalization of Outsourcing and Offshoring Term Paper The paper "Reverticalization of Outsourcing and Offshoring" is a great example of a term paper on finance and accounting. Emergently, U.S. companies are shifting their focus from outsourcing and offshoring their operations and subsequently relocating them to the United States. According to Noreen, Brewer, and Garrison (2014), the reversal of the offshoring and outsourcing practice has gained prominence as the leading companies opt to re-strategize their operations by relocating foreign subsidiaries back into the country. This essay is aimed at discussing the advantages and disadvantages of outsourcing and offshoring versus the re-establishment of companies back into the United States.   Outsourcing/ OffshoringAdvantages Outsourcing and offshoring practices have been characterized by key advantages that have led to their widespread adoption. Outsourcing enables companies to transfer production tasks to specialized vendors with the expertise and resources in a particular field. The model, therefore, leads to high-quality products and saving on time. In addition, offshoring facilitates steady growth with limited overhead costs (Noreen et al. 2014). Through offshoring, firms are exposed to low-cost labor and readily available raw materials. On the other hand, outsourcing enhances risk-sharing as companies shift selected responsibilities to other vendors. In relation to corporate tax, foreign subsidiaries have provisions to defer paying corporate tax until the earnings are transferred back into the United States. Subsequently, the demerits of outsourcing and offshoring practices have been the focus of public debate in light of the recent economic recession.Reverticaliza tion of Outsourcing and Offshoring Offshoring majorly leads to the transfer of employment opportunities to the emergent market. This is in contrast to the emergent trend of re-verticalization that is rooting for the relocation of key companies into the US. Re-verticalization positively contributes to the creation of job opportunities in the country and revitalization of the economy through the 35 % corporate tax (R. Hira A. Hira, 2008). The relocation of firms in the US further underlines the effective management of confidential data by eliminating third parties as opposed to offshoring that majorly avails recruitment and payroll information to offshoring vendors. Re-verticalization further eludes risks associated with hidden costs resulting from international transactions and contracts that add up to the overhead costs. Consequently, re-verticalization of the key operations of companies also advances the company’s focus on customers. With offshoring, vendors engaged with nu merous organizations thereby failing to meet client-specific needs of an organization (R. Hira A. Hira, 2008). In contrast, re-verticalization concentrates on the core operations of an institution based on the corporate and business strategy of the company.

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

Philippine History and Culture Essay Example For Students

Philippine History and Culture Essay A suspension on artistic activity was prep Allen during the Japanese occupation. Ho ever, some visual artists still managed t o produce artworks based on the atrocities s brought by the wan Dominator Castanet, Demerit Diego, Disposed o Lorenz, Romeo Tableau, Gene Caber and o there. 941949 ; After the Japanese occupation, the art co immunity sprang back to life. Various the mess and styles were explored and pioneer red by Filipino artists who gained expire once abroad. ; Mural painting emerged, spearheaded by Carols Francisco, Art Association of the Ph lippies(PAP) was established in 1948. Asses ; The Philippines Art Gallery (RAG) founded with young modernists as the e leading figures_ Emergence of differ .NET schools of thought sass ; Most Of the artists in the asss contain nude to produce important works in t his period. Emergence Of different m events such as Peoples Art of Art for the Masses, Protest Art, Social Re alias, and the institutionalizing oft he National Artist Award(1972). Asses ; The period is characterized by a revive al of traditional art and ethnic art. Co Montgomery sculpture became an into garage part of buildings and parks. Asses ; New generation of painters, sculptors and printmakers expressing their per zonal feelings and expressions emerge De. Great art movement in Europe an d the Americas gained entry to the 10 cal scene such as installation art and experimental art. Galleries and muse mums were institutionalized spearhead inning activities in the cultural scene. 2000- Present ; Philippine art has come a long way, FRR mom the primitive ingenuity Of the Pile inns to the present avenue-garden art SST exploring all possible techniques and schools ranging from the tradition annalists, reprehensibilitys, abstracts monists, abstract expressionists, figure dive expressionists, non. Objectivism a ND other forms of -isms.

Wednesday, December 4, 2019

Accounting of Leases-Free-Samples for Students-Myassignmenthelp

Questions: 1.Discuss at least two advantages that were available for reporting entities in the previous Accounting Standard for leases AASB 117 Leases. 2.Determine for each scenario separately whether: There is an identifiable asset The customer controls the use of the identified asset throughout the period of use The contract contains a lease. Answers: 1.Previously under IAS17, the accounting of leases was done. Now the new IFRS 10 is used in place of that. When the companies were preparing their books of accounts as per the IAS17, the companies had a large number of benefits. The major two are- In case of IAS 17, the overall costs related to the leases are very less. When it comes to accounting in terms with the new AASB 10, the overall cost of interest is increased. In case of IFRS, the adoption and application of the same also leads to more cost on part of the company. Thus based on monetary benefits, the company is incurring loss.(Chariri, 2017). The second benefit is that in the previous IAS17, the companies have the right to segregate their leases under operating and financial leases. There were certain conditions which if the leases complied; they were segregated as financial leases. In case of financial leases, risk and ownership are changed at the end of the accounting period, to the lesse. Thus, lesse becomes the possessor of the asset. However in case of the new IFRS, the companies have no option to show these segregation of leases, as operating leases have been removed from the system. Now there are only financing leases. Therefore, even if the lesse does not want to get the asset at the conclusion of the accounting and the leasing period, the asset is transferred to it. In addition, the cost related to the leases are capitalised and cannot be shown as an expense in the general profit and loss statement(Malone, Tarca, Wee, 2016). Now that the reporting entities have to capitalise the overall leasing cost, the preference must be provided to buying the asset. However, it depends on a lot of situation. It may be possible that the company needs the asset only for some specific purposes in that case it would be futile for only one period, in that case leasing would be a preferable option. However, if the company requires the asset every now and then, than it can put focus on buying the new asset. It will be economically viable for the new company and help in reducing the overall cost of capitalising the leases. Also buying provides many tax benefits, which might not be present in case of leasing. Thus, we see that after a proper analysis the companies must take the decision whether they want to buy the new asset or they want to take it on lease. The changes in the process of accounting as per the new AASB, has also brought in many alterations in the perception of the company, with the abolition of the operating co st, and capitalisation of the overall costs(Maynard, 2017). 2.In the given case, two scenarios are given. The new AASB 17, has presented the new definition of the leases and the same has been applied to judge whether there identifiable assets or not. Leases are type of agreement between the lessor and the lesse where they transfers the right to make use of an asset in return of certain monetary consideration and the same is accounted for in the books of account of both the parties(Smith, 2017). In the first scenario, there is an identifiable asset i.e., the right to use the three specified and physically identifiable dark fibres. In this case, the customer definitely controls the use of the asset, which is identified over the lease period of 15 years; the lessor is just responsible for the maintenance and repair of the same over this period in case the fibres are damaged(Abbott Kantor, 2017). Yes, scenario one consists of the lease and the lessee has the right over the asset. In this case, all the three points that are mentioned are affirmat ive(Minnis Sutherland, 2017). In the second scenario, the asset is not specifically particular, as though there is a right to use the particular amount of capacity for 15 years, but it is not specifically identified and this can change every now and then(Drew Grant, 2017). In addition, in this case the customer does not have the ultimate control over the asset, as supplier is the one who makes the final decision on the transmission of the data. Since this scenario does not qualify the definition of the lease, it does not constitute a lease(Chariri, 2017). Thus, not all the three points are affirmative in the same.(Guragai, Hunt, Neri, Taylor, 2017) References Abbott, M., Kantor, A. (2017). Fair Value Measurement and Mandated Accounting Changes: The Case of the Victorian Rail Track Corporation. Australian accounting Review . Birt, J., Muthusamy, K., Bir, P. (2017). "XBRL and the qualitative characteristics of useful financial information". Accounting Research Journal , 30 (1), 107-126. Bond, D., Govendir, B., Wells, P. (2016). An evaluation of asset impairments by Australian firms and whether they were impacted by AASB 136. Accounting and Finance , 56 (1), 259-288. Chariri, A. (2017). FINANCIAL REPORTING PRACTICE AS A RITUAL: UNDERSTANDING ACCOUNTING WITHIN INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK. Journal of Economics, Business and Accountancy , 14 (1). Drew, J., Grant, B. (2017). Introduction to Australian Local Government Economics and Finance. Australia: Local Government in Australia. Guragai, B., Hunt, N., Neri, M., Taylor, E. (2017). Accounting Information Systems and Ethics Research: Review, Synthesis, and the Future. Journal of Information Systems: Summer 2017 , 31 (2), 65-81. Malone, L., Tarca, A., Wee, M. (2016). IFRS non-GAAP earnings disclosures and fair value measurement. Accounting and Finance/ , 56 (1), 59-97. Maynard, J. (2017). Financial accounting reporting and analysis (second ed.). United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. Minnis, M., Sutherland, A. (2017). Financial Statements as Monitoring Mechanism: Evidence from small Commercial loans. Journal Of Accounting Research , 55 (1), 197-233. Smith, M. (2017). Research Methods in Accounting (FOURTH ed.). London: SAGE PUBLICATIONS.

Thursday, November 28, 2019

Alcoholism Example

Alcoholism Example Alcoholism – Term Paper Example Your full full May 02, Alcoholism Alcoholism or Alcohol Dependence Syndrome is a type of chronic disease which is associated with excessive use of alcohol. â€Å"Alcoholism, also called alcohol dependence or alcohol addiction, is a destructive pattern of alcohol use that includes tolerance to or withdrawal from the substance† (Dryden-Edwards). Some of the main elements of alcoholism include craving, physical dependence, tolerance, and loss of control. According to Butcher, Mineka, and Hooley, a person suffering from this disease loses self-control at times, as well as creates various psychological problems for himself/herself. Some key symptoms of alcoholism include shakiness, sweating, neglecting home and job responsibilities, and uncontrollable need for alcohol. Researchers have proved alcoholism to be the major cause of violence and increase in the number of car accidents all over the world. A number of factors make people consume alcohol. Some of those factors include into xication, social influence, mental relaxation, nice taste, and decrease in depression and boredom. The level of intoxication associated with alcohol and the relaxation that people get through alcohol are two of the major factors that make people alcohol addict.Although stopping alcohol addicts from taking alcohol is difficult, but there exist some treatment methods that can be used to make people come back to normal life by leaving alcohol. Some of those methods include relapse prevention, individualized drug counseling, cognitive-therapy techniques, motivational enhancement therapy, and use of stimulus control and urge control techniques. The outcome of these treatment methods is positive most of the times as alcohol addicts start changing their life patterns by stopping or reducing the use of alcohol and alcoholic products.Butcher, James, Susan Mineka, and Jill Hooley. Abnormal Psychology. 14th ed. Boston: Allyn & Bacon, 2009.Dryden-Edwards, Roxanne. â€Å"Alcohol Abuse and Alcoh olism.† Medicinenet.com, n.d. Web. 02 May 2012.

Sunday, November 24, 2019

Persuasive Essays on Abortion

Persuasive Essays on Abortion Persuasive Essays on Abortion Persuasive essays on abortion should point out that whether or not abortion should be allowed has long been a controversial topic for heated debate and discussion: Persuasive essays on abortion should start by taking a stand that is either for or against abortion by offering a thesis statement in the first paragraph that reads something like, It is the contention of this essay that abortion should be easily available for women who have an unwanted pregnancy due to the following reasons If you need an essayof the highest quality place an order on our website and get 15% off on your first order. Points for abortion Even though it has been argued that aborting a child once it is conceived boils down to the taking of a helpless life-others feel that a child in the womb has not yet developed in to a human being-(some argue that the soul only enters an infant shortly before birth)-and so it is not wrong to do away with an unwanted pregnancy at an earlier stage. Those that vehemently decry abortion do so on religious grounds by stating that it is a sin to take a helpless life. Two of the main religions that oppose abortion are: The Catholics Muslims The entire argument has divided the public into those that vehemently oppose abortion and these have become known as pro-life activists; while those that are for the free choice of women are known as pro-choice activists. Both have strong views for and against abortion. Persuasive essays on abortion should point out that while many oppose abortion on religious and ethical grounds- women who are actually carrying the child feel that they need to get ownership of their own bodies-(instead of having people telling them what to do) Pro-choice activists also firmly believe that life only begins at birth and so there is nothing wrong with terminating an unwanted pregnancy. Persuasive essays on abortion should draw attention to the fact that pro-choice activists arguing for abortion may be doing so for a number of very good reasons like:- Reluctant mothers may be trying to terminate an unhappy marriage They lack the means to support a child They are too young and a teenage pregnancy can result in the life of both the mother as well as the child-getting ruined. Pro-choice activists argue that a mother that does not want her child and is forced to have the baby is also most likely to ill-treat the child or deny the nurturing love and care that he/she would require growing into a mature and well balanced human being. Visit our safe paper writing service to get A+ essay right now! Read also: The Stolen Party Term Paper Sample Papers Report Writing Help Process Analysis Case Study Police Performance Term Paper

Thursday, November 21, 2019

EKON Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

EKON - Essay Example Looking at the demand or need of any certain product can bring innovation. EKON has been lucky enough to find a need for chairs that cater the customers with back problems and also those customers who require sympathetic chairs. With need we even have to see the target market of our new products, apply marketing mixes and assess whether the product would be successful or not. This report would brief us on things to consider before launching the new products. Ekon will first have to research on the products that they plan to launch by the help of marketing research process. Through this process we will systematically design, collect, analyze and report on data and findings relevant to our launching of the two new products. We can even outsource this process or form our own marketing research team. The marketing research process takes place in six steps: (see reference list for the source). 1. Define the problem and research objectives: marketing management will inform the research team about the two products being launched, but the management will have to be careful not to define the problem too broadly or narrowly. With the problem defining, decision alternatives and research objectives will have to be made clear. The team would be covering the customers falling under the backache problems or in need of sympathetic chairs. Now what kinds of things do the customers want in the prescribed form of chairs would be found after the process ends. 2. Develop the research plan: after we make clear objectives of our research the team will have to come up with the most efficient plan to gather the information needed. Like data sources (primary and secondary data), research instruments (questionnaires, surveys, behavioral data and experimental research). The EKON team will have to see the feasibility and available budget before forming the plan. The retrieval of data from any source may vary in terms of cost. EKON plans to

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

The film Boys Dont Cry Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The film Boys Dont Cry - Movie Review Example Since its inception, films are determined to encompass a plethora of complete human activities and are saturated with them. Human mind and its excellence at aesthetic paradigm evolve out with multiple hues at length while coming into the interface of any art medium. Films like any other art medium involve human mind in its creation, it displays human action and most importantly they are made to be comprehended and enjoyed by human minds as its audiences. Films are always considered as a wide form of art medium through which the manifestation of the striking moving images decorated with vibrant colors and sounds enables a connection between the film-makers and audience upon the matrix of celluloid and the senses enhanced through the pictorial description of emotions and actions. The intensity of the influence which a film leaves on the minds of its audiences cannot be undermined at any level. Therefore, the sociological aspect of the film, or myriad social psychologies depicted through the medium of the films holds a very important space in the minds of the modern audiences. With the growing complexities of life, the films began to develop with foreboding complexities. Skip Dine Young in his book, â€Å"Psychology at the Movies† mentioned rightly, â€Å"The psychology of film can be unified by thinking of movies as symbols. Movies are symbols that have meaning; these symbols are created by ways do they infuse aspects of themselves into their creations? While it is probable that everyone who works on a movie brings something of him or herself to the activity, I focus on those artists whose individuality is in the foreground- the directors (who make the final choices about how a movie looks and sounds) and the actors (whose visual likeness is so vividl y captured on the screen)† (Young, 2012). A latent symbolic framework does operate within the films upon which the complex social psychology depicted through various modern films gets manifested. â€Å"Boys Don’t Cry† as an independent American drama amazed the audiences in the year 1999 by depicting the story of Brandon Teena, a transsexual man and his predicament evoked the themes of desperation, insensitive attitude and the issues of empowerment and gender equality prevalent in the society of contemporary times. At the same time, the subtle display of psychology operating in terms of dealing with these issues in society forms the crux of the film. Social Psychology and Boys Don’t Cry In October 1999, the American drama, â€Å"Boys Don’t Cry† was first premiered which was based on a real life story. Being the reflection of a true incident, the film mirrored many intricacies and complexities of modern society at length. Directed by Kimberly Peirce and co-written by Andy Bienen, the film stars Hilary Swank in the role of Brandon Teena whose powerful acting paved the way for her receiving Best Actress in the Academy Awards. Brandon Teena was a transsexual man who was allegedly beaten up brutally, raped and tortured by his male partners after they discovered that Teena had a female by body. Depiction of this incident through the medium of film was not a piece of cake. The film did not hint at only displaying the content as a crime thriller. On the contrary, a very strong social message was inherent within the film which evidently develops its social psychology. A strong notion and social perception towards body of a woman specially develops the pivot of the film’s aspect towards prevailing psychology of the society. When America was vouching on the propositions of same-sex marriages and gender equality, the film, â€Å"Boys Don’t Cry† reinstated the hollow pursuits involved with the concepts of gender equality and rights of transsexuals in the American society. If America with its teeming American dreams could not secure the rights of its citizen within a social structure which is so liberal and cosmopolitan in nature, it is quite evident that the future of the minor sexual entities such as transsexual men or women is in

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Assignment 4A Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Assignment 4A - Coursework Example It leads to the creation of a wide pool of entrepreneurs who are able to take on the challenges facing the modern society and generate revenue through entrepreneurial ventures (Bers, Head, & Palmer, 2014). This can be achieved by setting up experimental learning where students are exposed to practical learning process. Establishing such colleges ensures the development of sustainable culture of entrepreneurship in the society. The two readings, though having different approaches, are related to each other. Both readings focus on funding learning institutions, colleges and universities. Both reading acknowledge the importance of proficient financial management within learning institutions. Despite the fact that Margaret J. Barr and George S. McClellan focus on both colleges and universities, while Trudy H. Bers, Ronald B. Head, James C. Palmer focus exclusively on community colleges, the ideas that the authors covey are basically the same. For example, both readings explore the concept of budgeting and attempt to create a clear understanding of the budgeting concept, which is crucial for survival of learning institutions. I agree with my colleague that the readings are very crucial for college administrators because they provide useful information about effective management and allocation of scare resources to achieve optimum

Friday, November 15, 2019

Criminology Essays Terrorism Airports Security

Criminology Essays Terrorism Airports Security Terrorism Airports Security Defeating Terrorism Assignment Abstract Small municipal airports that serve communities near major metropolitan areas may not have appropriate security measures in place. These municipal airports have not received the same scrutiny or funding as major airports. Regardless, small airports face challenges and risks similar to larger facilities. Additionally, vandalism, petty theft, and commandeering of an actual aircraft are incidents for which administrators at smaller airports need to strategically plan. Every airport (small or large) does face some similar threats, but as all facilities are not the same smaller airports require unique security measures. There are several factors to consider when planning that include, but not limited to, geography, demographics, budget, and facility design. All are integral components which must be examined in light of proposed prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery measures. This paper will discuss multiple areas that an airport security administrator in charge of a municipal airport must examine in regard to contemporary threats. It will also discuss current and proposed security measures and safeguards for smaller airports as well as the hierarchy for administrative responses. Introduction The events of 9/11 placed terrorism at the forefront of the minds of many Americans. One cannot dismiss the possibility of another terrorist attack on United States soil. The use of aircraft for carrying out acts of mass destruction, killing civilians and severely disrupting an economy has proven a fruitful tactic for the enemies of democracy. Although, September 11, 2001 served as a catalyst for the pioneering of new methodologies for anti-terrorism and securing airports, there are still great strides that need to be made. A functional, yet universal and adaptable concept regarding security procedures for large and small airports must be established, maintained and frequently reevaluated. Much of the current success for elevated, refined security measures and advancements in technology for larger airports can be attributed to the United States Federal Government and the development of the Department of Homeland Security. Their mission to prevent, minimize, respond and recover from catastrophic incidents has materialized in the airline industry through the Transportation Safety Administration. However, security at small community municipal airports have not received the same amount of attention or federal funding. Larger, commercial airports have received the vast majority of attention; this is mainly due to passenger volume and smaller airports being privately owned and in many cases self-reliant for revenue and maintenance. As of yet, smaller municipal airports have not been successfully compromised and the potential for sensational nationwide devastation is somewhat limited. Because the United States continues to makes strides in improving security conditions at major airports, we must recognize that terrorists may already be assessing softer targets like commuter airports. Threats One of the most common threats that municipal airports face are small crimes which have the potential to escalate quickly. The number one threat facing a community airport is the theft. Theft can range from equipment to fuel. Sources of threats can be internal, domestic or foreign. Since September 11, 2001 security administrators have re-prioritized their threat assessment to include theft of a small aircraft. Currently theft and/or hijacking of a small aircraft are one of the major concerns to owners, operators and pilots. Threats of this type generate significant risk to personnel and serious financial losses. Depending on the motive of the intended thief or hijacker, theft of a small aircraft also presents a danger to the general population and surrounding communities. With manifold consequences in mind, airport security is strongly motivated to protect life, property and prosperity. It is in the best interest of owner/operators to devise measures that will prevent misuse of their aircraft (International Council of Aircraft Owners, 2005). Criminal mischief, sabotage, and vandalism are also threats that community airports must counter. In dealing with these threats, one must consider mechanical and functional destruction and not just the cosmetic damage to a faà §ade or loss of replaceable equipment. Accessibility restrictions to aircraft storage and maintenance areas can be difficult to impose and enforce in multiple circumstances. Existing controls imposed at airports must do their utmost to deter theft and criminal mischief as well as sabotage to operating equipment (International Council of Aircraft Owners, 2005). Risks After the tragedies of September 11, 2001, the American public questioned not only the events of that day, but also the circumstances leading up to the successful terrorist operation. Questions such as: Who was behind the attack? What was the goal or purpose? When did planning begin? Where did they receive flight training? Why did this happen? How where they able to carry out these attacks? These types of questions appeared on every television station, newspaper and radio broadcast in the United States for months after attacks. Airport Administrators are now realizing the potential appeal for misuse of smaller airports and their vulnerability to criminals and terrorists. It has become apparent that procedures for background checks of employees, instructors, students, pilots and passengers is an evident way to reduce risk and ensure the integrity of an airport and its operators. With the pressing concern of advanced terrorist attacks employing weapons of mass destruction, the attraction of small aircraft as a target cannot be ruled out. The ability of small aircraft to spread chemical weapons could potentially be as severe as an attack on a nuclear power plant. Terrorists may not be able to buy or steal a nuclear weapon at a small airport, but opportunities exist for terrorists to use aircraft as a tool to assist in their sinister plots. For example, a terrorist may contemplate some type of nuclear terror stratagem. It could involve attacking a nuclear power plant using a small plane to breach perimeter security and then be used as a guided missile to reap destruction and chaos. It is important to keep in mind that an attack on a nuclear power plant may transpire whenever someone with a terrorist mindset hijacks a commercial airplane or charters a private one. A private plane could be easily filled with conventional explosives (Nykolyshyn, 2006). Recent studies conducted over the past several months by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), have shown that structures housing reactor fuel in United States nuclear power plants will be protected against the release of radiation even if struck by a large commercial jetliner. State-of-the-art computer modeling techniques have determined that typical nuclear plant containment structures, used fuel storage pools, fuel storage containers, and used fuel transportation containers at United States nuclear power plants would withstand these impact forces despite some concrete crushing and bent steel (Nuclear Energy Institute, 2002). Nonetheless, if terrorists were able to acquire an aircraft and attempt to crash into a nuclear power plant, it raises further suspicions and fears of their capabilities and tenacity./a> An IAEA spokesman once claimed that current nuclear power plants were never designed to withstand an attack by â€Å"a large jumbo jet full of fuel†, and prior to 2001, the likelihood of such a crash was never considered high enough to be included in safety regulations (Bunn, 2001). Further vulnerabilities that small airports present for criminals and terrorists are the lack of federally mandated security and technology measures. Often people are able to slip through the cracks or â€Å"go under the radar† without drawing attention to themselves. Criminal organizations have been known to use small community airports to transport and smuggle illegal immigrants, drugs and other illegal contraband. These risks are major concerns for Airport Administrators. This is especially true near the southern Border/Coastal States. According to the Tennessee Airport Information Center (2005), a Cessna aircraft carrying six undocumented immigrants, including the pilot, took off from Fullerton Municipal Airport in California but was forced to land at Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico, after running out of fuel. The plane crossed the country picking up undocumented Brazilian citizens in Boston on the way to Atlanta. It was the second time the pilot −− an illegal immigrant whose legally registered plane appears on Federal Aviation Administration records −− had flown undocumented immigrants. The flight identifies potential security vulnerabilities of small private and municipal airports, which often conduct little or no screening of small planes (Tennessee Regional Information Center, 2005). One of the principal changes is requiring a background check for a private pilot’s license. According to the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (2008), a candidate is now required to submit the following information for a background investigation: Full name, gender, current address and five-year address history, date and country of birth, and citizenship information. Security and Safeguards Security at small community airports can be very costly. In order to cut costs, community airports typically use outside contractors for their security. One such company is Navigance, which boasts a comprehensive physical security solution by integrating technology to security systems while mitigating risks. Their technological innovations create security systems that can deliver a revenue stream for airports by providing secure wireless broadband communications and remote monitoring serving both tenant and transient customers (Navigance, 2007). Many small airports have no security at night. Control towers, if they exist, often close for business at 6 or 9 p.m. Security fences are uncommon, although some airports are beginning to recognize the new threat environment and are constructing fences accordingly. Lack of security seems to fit the freewheeling world of private aviation, which nearly collapsed when the federal government banned many private flights for weeks after Sept. 11 (Dotinga, 2002). As augmentation to fencing, community airports must consider using cameras as another layer of protection for perimeters and surrounding areas. To remain current, security upgrades must include wireless digital cameras with a three-week archiving system (minimum) and a state-of-the-art wireless access control system for vehicle gates. The cost is not overly prohibitive. Integrators often re-sell the products as part of larger, turn-key package. Therefore these system prices do vary. Ballpark figures can be in the range of $2,000 to equip a single gate or door with an access panel and reader. And depending on an airports configuration, one panel can control up to four gates/doors. A monthly, per-panel network access fee, usually costs less than $100 and keeps each one tied into a central monitoring station and data storage repository (Broderick, 2003). Security Consideration When developing a plan for perimeter security, there also needs to be a great deal of consideration for access roads leading up to alternate parking. Alternative parking will offer entry/exit points for access onto the main airstrip. The alternate entry/exit points should be located on both sides of the airport. They too need to be secured by some type of fencing and gate and should not be used for daily activities. The purpose behind the alternate parking lot entry/exit points should be reserved for emergency vehicles and contingency use only. Currently, very few small airports have the resources to secure and protect its parking areas 24 hours a day. One security feature that small airports should implement is the ability to identify both employees and visitors upon arrival and departure of a facility. According to Thomas W. Wathen; â€Å"Protecting life and property frequently requires that you identify employees and visitors entering and leaving the premises you guard† (1989, p. 141). First one would start by confirming that employees and visitors are cleared for access onto the property by verifying their identification. Security personnel should record and track the employees or visitors time spent on the grounds as well as their intentions. Random and routine searches can offer security and work as a deterrent for theft and criminal mischief. Secondly, to help protect people and the facility, an airport should ensure extensive lighting exists not only on the exterior and interior of the building, but on parking areas, gates entry/exit points, on all access roads leading to the facility, and at security enclosures. Security lighting is an inexpensive and effective preventative measure against intrusions or other criminal activities. This type of lighting aids security personnel in the detection of intruders and works as a deterrent. It also promotes a feeling of safety among staff and visitors. Lighting should not be limited to night; lightning should be able to turn night into day (Broderick, 2003). Thirdly, all parking areas should be equipped with overlapping video surveillance that is continually monitored and recorded. A municipal airport should be able to install a relatively small number of cameras to achieve complete coverage of parking and other public areas. Last but not least, a small airport should consider the feasibility of employing security officers to patrol the parking area as well as inside and outside the perimeter of the facility. The physical presence of a guard, even if conducting patrols at random intervals provides yet another layer of protection. Optional Security There is optional security equipment that can be utilized to augment security and barriers already addressed. Physical security can contain features such as motion detectors/sensors and laser light beams. Although this may enhance the detection of an intruder and alert security for a faster response time, there are drawbacks to the use of these types of security sensors. One major drawback to these additional security measures is cost effectiveness. Prior to implementation, considering a total cost approach when budgeting for an overall safety and security plan is paramount to success. The second drawback is the reliability of such devices and their room for marginal error. For example; movement of wildlife and debris blowing in the wind could cause numerous false alarms. This in turn, can tie up human resources that could be better utilized in other areas rather than responding to false alarms. All doors and storage facilities should be equipped with some type of pass card readers. These pass cards take the place of keys, and serve to identify and track personnel and visitors. This is the surest way to maintain an accurate head count for the number of personnel in a facility at any given time. Pass cards also work as a deterrent by restricting access into protected areas. Within a guarded facility, this is important based on job function, personnel needs and responsibilities. Information garnered from pass cards can be recorded and maintained for a determined period of time for auditing purposes. If an employee forgets or loses the pass card, then they must inform security at the gate and be issued a temporary pass card for the day until filling out the proper forms for a new one with human resources. Additional advantages to pass card readers are; upon the termination of an employee, their old card can immediately be deactivated. If one finds their lost card it can be reactivated at that time. In the long term, this will reduce the expense of re-keying locks in the facilities and obtaining company property back from an employee upon termination. It also prevents the risk of employees making duplicate keys. All visitors and vendors will also be required to check in at the security gate and be issued a temporary pass card with limited controlled access. Those who own storage garages for their personal airplanes will be issued a pass card to their own storage facility upon the granting on their signed contract and background check with the facility. The pass card identification system presents multiple security solutions for preventing and eliminating vulnerabilities. They work to immediately increase security and reduce future expenditures. Although more expensive, adding photographs to access cards provides an even greater level of security. Airport Hierarchy As previously discussed, municipal airports typically contract out their security operations. If economically feasible, security organizations should screen and hire their own security forces. If resources are available, security officers should be stationed strategically at vulnerable points revealed by a thorough risk assessment. For example; One security officer should remain in the dispatch and surveillance office at all times. A security officer should be stationed at the entrance/exit gate at all times for vehicle and personnel checks. In addition, an officer should be on constant interior patrol of the facility and an officer should be on constant exterior patrol of the facility. It will initially be the responsibility of the security officer to notify the proper chain of command during nature or manmade disasters. They will assess and direct response teams to the disaster and crisis sites. In turn, airport hierarchy for response should work similar to the below list: Responding officer on-site Airport facility management Local law enforcement and first responders Surrounding jurisdictions with mutual aid agreements Although municipal and private airports are regulated by policies, goals, and objectives, to an extent, they should have common standards of operation. These Standard Operating Procedures (S.O.P.) should include maintaining the safety of its travelers, support economic prosperity, preserving investment and a level of service to state, national and international markets (Bend Metropolitan Transportation Plan, electronic). Familiarization with, and regularly scheduled training in the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and Incident Command System (ICS) is a must as large scale incidents can quickly overwhelm the response capabilities of airports serving smaller communities. Participation in joint exercises with local law enforcement and first responders will provide the foundational principles to be employed during a catastrophic event and give the owners/operators of small airports an opportunity to examine current preparatory measures and refine protocols for incidents of varying consequence. To conclude, municipal airports face a myriad of challenges similar to the challenges seen in large commercial facilities. Because America has yet to see a catastrophic act of terrorism involving smaller aircraft, attention paid to security at municipal airports has been minimal. Although the risks to National Security are not as obvious or as potentially catastrophic, particularly in the absence of a successful execution of a chemical or biological attack, smaller airports with limited security budgets are an attractive and softer target for terrorists who may be thwarted by improved security at large terminals. There are many cost effective solutions available to reduce the vulnerability of municipal airports; training in NIMS and ICS principles as well as developing an understanding of how to best utilize outside resources is of negligible cost but could well prove invaluable in the face of an actual catastrophe. Unfortunately, in a time of limited resources and unlimited potential threats, it may take a successful terrorist attack to increase emphasis on the security vulnerabilities of municipal airports. References Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. (2008, January 29). Government advocacy. Retrieved April 14, 2008, from http://www.aopa.org/tsa_rule/. Bend Metropolitan Transportation Plan. (n.d.). Aviation Systems. Retrieved April 14, 2008, Retrieved from http://www.ci.bend.or.us/depts/community_development/bend_metropolitan/docs/Chapter_15_Aviation_Systems_Final.pdf Broderick, S. (2003, February 1). No High-Wire Act. Retrieved April 14, 2008, from http://www.ultra-safe.com/RedlandsAirport.htm. Bunn, M. (2001, October 29). Reducing the threat of nuclear theft and sabotage. Retrieved April 14, 2008, from http://belfercenter.ksg.harvard.edu/publication/12691/reducing_the_threat_of_nuclear_theft_and_sabotage.html. Dotinga, R. (2002, January 8). Small airports, big problem? Retrieved April 14, 2008, from http://dir.salon.com/story/news/feature/2002/01/08/airport_security/index.html. International Council of Aircraft Owners. (2005, January 18). IAOPA Input for ICAO Security Manual (DOC 8973). Retrieved April 14, 2008, from http://www.iaopa.org/info/security_manual.html. Navigance. (2007). Brochure. Retrieved April 14, 2008, from http://www.navigance.com/brochure/navigance.pdf. Nuclear Energy Institute. (2002, January 23). Analysis of nuclear power plants shows aircraft crash would not breach structures housing reactor fuel. Retrieved April 14, 2008, from http://www.nei.org/newsandevents/aircraftcrashbreach/. Nykolyshyn, O. (2006, February 6). Summary of the book Nuclear terrorism: The ultimate preventable catastrophe., Vienna. Tennessee Regional Information Center. (2005, May 27). Illegal immigrants on flight. Retrieved April 14, 2008, from http://www.tbi.state.tn.us/TRIC/tbi_triccn_files/05.27.05.pdf. Wathen, T. W. (1989). Security Subjects, a Primer for Protection Officers. Van Nuys: Guardian Security Publications.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Overpopulation in India Essay -- Environment Environmental Essays

Overpopulation in India: The Need for Improved Quality and Diversity of Contraceptive Options On May 11, 2000, Astha (Faith) was born in the Indian capital on New Delhi.[1] Her birth was not only a significant occasion for her parents, but for the entire Nation of India. Astha’s birth was designated the official point at which the Indian population crossed the one billion human beings mark.[2] India was thus officially inaugurated into the very exclusive one billion inhabitants of one nations club, and the world was left to ponder the repercussions of such a development. Stepping over the one-billion line brought into question all the policies, efforts, and difficulties that the Indian government had implemented and fought for over a half a century in order to prevent just such a joyous occasion from happening. The Indian Family Planning Program, initiated in 1952, was a sign of the desire of Indian leadership to develop the nation and take the steps necessary to do so. The program has evolved throughout the years, meeting varied success; however, in the year 2000 one aspect of the program has become blatantly clear – it has not succeeded in slowing India’s rapid population growth to a population replacement level. One of the major reasons India has failed to reach the replacement rate is because of a family planning program that emphasized sterilization as the main method of contraception and de-emphasized temporary methods. The services provided by the program were of poor quality. If the Indian government can even hope to reach its ultimate total fertility rate (TFR) of 2.1 in all of its states and provinces, it must shift its policy from the emphasis on sterilization as the main method of birth con... ...could be a good alternative for women who forget to take daily birth control pills. The ring is inserted into the vagina where it releases estrogen and progestin. The benefit of the ring is that it can be inserted for three weeks at a time thus disposing of the daily pill-taking requirements of traditional oral contraceptives. The widespread availability of such a method could have a similar effect as that of centchroman. Another contraceptive method, the female condom, could help alleviate cultural resistance to birth control. The female condom would perhaps increase participation in family planning by those couples who do not wish to use methods that have more side effects, but whose male partner is reluctant to use condoms. [47] Government of India. Department of Family Planning. National Population Policy. 2000. http://mohfw.nic.in/ppolicy.html.pdf

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Toyota’s Production Process

Many companies have tried to understand and replicate the production process at the various Toyota facilities, but until you stop just looking at the surface and take a deeper look you won’t fully understand all the positive aspects to the production line. Toyota is known for their distinctive practices and precision work throughout the years and their amazing use of internal benchmarking to help the company continue to move forward. Because of the positives within the company’s dynamics Toyota has comfortably been on top of other companies in their industry.Toyota is not shy when it comes to show and giving ideas to other manufacturers to improve their own processes, but very few actually accomplish the success that Toyota has. Not because it is too trying to do, but because the manufacturers that come into to evaluate confuse the tools and practices they see on their plant visits with the system itself. The process at Toyota isn’t a process that you can simply look at and understand; you truly have to get a closer look and really dissect it.A study was done to understand the process completely including service functions like equipment, maintenance, workers’ training and supervision. All of these sections were taken into a count because the service functions help and are responsible for the whole process moving the way that it does. Toyota, like other manufacturers has many specifications set to create everything correctly, but only thing that Toyota does to get those specifications where they need to be is using a hypothesis method. It is a rigorous problem solving method, but it has shown to be very beneficial to the company.The article summaries the four rules that they believe to underlie the Toyota production system. Rule 1: How People Work; all work shall be highly specified as to content, sequence, timing and outcome. This rule is implemented well because it doesn’t just target senior workers or supervisors; it is set in place to be accomplished by all workers no matter the hierarchical role. Although this may seem obvious that a manufacturer would complete every task this way it actually is the case at most companies.Other companies are completing the tasks presented, but they aren’t following through and making as precise measurement and protocols as Toyota does. For each ‘station’ there are timings to when things should be done to complete in a timely manner while making sure things are done correctly. The detailed step through every process keeps Toyota moving smoothly and efficiently. Rule 2: How people Connect; every customer-supplier connection must be direct, and there must be an unambiguous yes-or-no way to send requests and receive responses.Toyota has created outstanding relationships between each person and the individual who is responsible for providing that person with each specific good or service. An outcome to this is that there is no discrepancy with the tim ing of shipment and who is making the shipments. This rule extends to the consumer as well. For instance if something is wrong with the product there is no problem figuring out who will assist with the problem that arose. The number of workers within a team is set out based on the number of problems that may occur during the process.Toyota exemplifies a direct and effective method through each step of the development process. It is designed that people are suppose to respond within a certain time frame and with this provision it doesn’t allow for errors to occur and if they do arise then it will be dealt with timely manner. Toyota stresses helping others through the process so it is everyone’s responsibility for things to be completed on time and with no errors. If help is needed, help must be received in the time it would to complete the task that is in need of some help.By doing this problems are hidden or pushed to the side, but rather called attention to and fixed as soon as possible. Rule 3: How the Production Line is Constructed; the pathway for every product and service must be simple and direct. The production line links each person who contributes to the production and delivery of the product, form the Toyota factory. This rule simply means that the process isn’t just moved from person to person, but more specific. The job is moved from specific person to specific person to make it more efficient and reliable.When this is applied to every ‘station’ of the development process there is less of a chance of error or variance among the workers. This doesn’t slow down the process by any means; instead it actually speeds up the process because the process doesn’t need to be stopped for fixing or maintenance. Within Toyota’s plants the pathway for assistance is three, four or even five links long, which connects the workers to the floor managers. In the past Toyota experimented with the method of just mov ing the process to the next available person, but this system showed to not benefit Toyota’s production line.When Toyota implemented the idea of moving it to a specified person rather than just the next person the process was more productive and less likely to cause error. Rule 4: How to Improve; any improvement must be made in accordance with the scientific method, under the guidance of a teacher, at the lowest possible level in the organization. Toyota really stress the fact that training is necessary to complete any task, not just by senior employees, but an actual training clinic. In the Toyota plant for example workers were adjusting and perfecting their problem solving skills by redesigning their own work.Managers were training the employees to frame the problem better and to formulate and test a hypothesis, which is an example of the scientific method. If the employees in the company think that the process could be more productive if they were to change something in th e process then it is expected, by the managers to explain the process change and the logic behind why it would work better than the process before. Frontline workers make the improvements to their own jobs, and their supervisors provide direction and assistance as teachers.This process remains the same even at higher levels and more complex jobs within the company. This means that the learning and the problem solving done takes place in all areas of the company not just one. When looking at Toyota’s production system you can see a direct correlation between their process and a lean development process. A lean development process is about doing more with less and doing it with speed and right the first time around. This is exactly what Toyota exemplifies.There are four distinct components to lean processing; customer relationships, production development, order fulfillment and supply chain. Those four components coincide with the four rules set out in the article. Toyota compl etely uses the less is more policy by using less time, inventory, space, people and money as stated in lean processing. Because the line runs smoothly at Toyota it takes less time to actually assemble products and this is directly related to the specifications set out at each ‘station’ and the team work that is involved with finishing the product.Toyota saves a lot of money as well because they aren’t going back and fixing the process repeatedly and the chances of errors are rare. At Toyota they also try to have a limited number of inventories because inventory costs a lot of money for a company. Instead of having inventory Toyota uses the just in time method. This method is used to make products to order right when the customer needs the product. Overall the process at Toyota is efficient and hard to immolate. Toyota is a prime example of a productive lean process that has shown to help a company and put the company on top in the industry.

Friday, November 8, 2019

State legislators essays

State legislators essays The state legislatures make many decisions that affect our daily lives. State law regulates our workplace, assesses taxes on our department store purchases, and imposes sanitary restrictions on where we eat. In state government, the key elected representatives are the state legislators. It is the state legislators job to reflect the will of the people and protect peoples rights guaranteed to them in the constitution. The states now are particularly active now in enacting legislation that addresses issues of education, crime control, and public welfare. State legislators have been challenged with the job of making school funding equal throughout the state. This is a very difficult task because some school systems are increasingly wealthy, while other systems are increasingly poor and under funded. Public education is not the only difficult task that is left to the state legislators. Crime control, welfare reform, and many other different issues are left up to the state legislatures. One of the most important tasks that take place in state legislature is the passing of laws. In order for a bill to become a law in most states, it must go through a lot of different steps. A bill may first be introduced in either one of the houses, Senate or House of Representatives. A Committee studies the Bill and often holds public hearings on it. A Committee report is read in open session of the House or Senate, and the Bill is then referred to the Rules Committee. The Rules Committee can either place the Bill on the Second Reading Calendar for debate before the entire body, or take no action. At the second reading, a Bill is subject to debate and amendment before being placed on the third reading calendar for final passage. After passing one House, the bill goes through the same procedure in the other House. If amendments are made, the other House must concur. When the Bill is accepted in both Houses, it is signed by the respect...

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

The Influence of Teachers Words and Actions

The Influence of Teachers' Words and Actions Teachers can have a huge influence on their students.  This goes much deeper than the lessons they teach. You only have to reflect on your own time in school to realize how positive or negative experiences can stick with you for the rest of your life. Educators need to remember that they hold great power over students in their hands. Words Can Uplift By encouraging a struggling student and explaining how she can be successful, a teacher  can change that student’s career. A perfect example of this happened to my niece. She had moved recently and began attending a new school in ninth grade. She struggled through most of her first semester, earning D’s and F’s. However, she had one teacher who saw that she was smart and just needed some extra help. Amazingly, this teacher spoke to her only once. He explained that the difference between earning an F or a C would require just a bit of extra effort on her part. He promised that if she spent just 15 minutes a day on homework, she would see a huge improvement. Most importantly, he told her that he knew she could do it. The effect was like flicking a switch. She became a straight-A student and to this day loves learning and reading. Words Can Harm By contrast, teachers can make subtle comments intended to be positive but are actually hurtful. For example, one of my best friends in school took  AP classes. She always earned B’s and never stood out in class. However, when she took her AP English test, she scored a 5, the highest possible mark. She also earned 4’s on two other AP exams. When she returned to school after the summer break, one of her teachers saw her in the hall and told her that she was shocked that my friend had earned such a high score. The teacher even told my friend that she had underestimated her. While at first my friend was delighted with the praise, she said that after some reflection, she was annoyed that her teacher didn’t see how hard she had worked or that she excelled in AP English. Years later, my friend now an adult says she still feels hurt when she thinks about the incident. This teacher likely only meant to praise my friend, but this faint praise led to hurt feelings decades after this brief hallway discussion. The Donkey Something as simple as role-playing can bruise a students ego, sometimes for life. For example, one of my students spoke of a former teacher she really liked and admired. Yet, she recalled a lesson he presented that really upset her. The class was discussing the barter system. The teacher gave each student a role: One student was a farmer and the other was the farmer’s wheat. The farmer then traded his wheat to another farmer in exchange for a donkey. My students role was to be the farmer’s donkey. She knew that the teacher simply picked kids at random and assigned them roles. Yet, she said that for years after the lesson, she always felt that the teacher had picked her as a donkey because she was overweight and ugly. Words Stick With Students The example illustrates that a teachers words can really stick with students for their entire lives. I know that I have tried to be more careful with what I tell students each day. I’m not perfect, but I hope that I am more thoughtful and less damaging to my students in the long run.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Managing Diversity and Equality Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Managing Diversity and Equality - Essay Example Legislation may only put the figure in the boardroom for example but without the same accountability and power, as well as pay, the figure means nothing. Legislation has mandated equal salaries for equal positions yet there are no true definitions as to what an equal position is. Women, for example receive very little middle management training so is their salary not worth less when they are moved up to the boardroom The answer here, again, may not be the legislation. In the last 30 years, the global market place has become the way of business. To survive in that marketplace corporations must be diverse and able to use every bit of knowledge and ability that is contained within their very diverse staffs. Only those that are able to do this will be able to survive. Women are not only a major part of the workforce throughout the world but are also a major part of the purchasing force. Therefore, to not put them in an ideal position is a mistake. They know what is going to be purchased and what is not. Their ideas of how to work with other women, how to motivate them, and how to move their corporations forward will be essential. Leverage is a word often used by corporations throughout the world.

Friday, November 1, 2019

The Rogerian Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Rogerian - Research Paper Example After completing the essay, I have acquired a balanced perspective regarding the two positions. The only difficulty I found in the writing of the assignment is reconciling the two views and giving a balanced position without being biased. This was only possible after considering the weaknesses and strengths of the each side. This was difficult because initially, I had my bias. In this assignment, I have enjoyed acting like a judge in trying to take a position that ensures justice to the disputing sides. I also enjoyed the additional knowledge I got from the advocates of both sides. I have also enjoyed learning about the topic because I have an interest in children rights. As I already said, I have an interest in children rights. We have never discussed his topic in another course. However, the topic concerns me as a scholar and as an advocate of children’s rights. No, you are, however, welcome to request any suggestions for improvements. THE ESSAY Terminating Parental Rights T erminating parental rights is a legal action that involves taking away parental right that a person has towards a child or children. In some cases, only one parent may have his or her rights terminated if there is sufficient ground for such an end. Sometimes, the real parents of the child are denied this right, and the child is put under the care of a foster parents. A person whose parental rights have been terminated has no responsibility over a child. Moreover, they do not owe disciplinary actions to that child, or any other form of child support. The termination of parental rights renders the parents or the parent affected to be strangers to the child, and they are not allowed to contact such a child (Dane County Juvenile Court 3). A parent is the best person who can look out for their children naturally and without complains. In fact, courts are extremely reluctant to terminate parental right until they have enough bases to do that because of this natural right. However, it is i nevitable to terminate the rights of a parent to his or her child if it has been proved that he or she is overly abusive to the child. In some cases, a child is better off under the care of different people such as relatives or foster parents (Barone, Weitz and Witt 396). Regardless of the justifications in favour of such an action, this experience can be psychologically damaging to both parties. This is because children and parents have a biological bond that cannot be replaced by placing children under the care of different people. Terminating of parental rights is an activity that has recently escalated in the United States. The act is justified because it has been considered to help vulnerable children hope for quality lives. Terminating parental rights is an activity that takes place voluntarily or involuntarily. Voluntary termination takes place when both parents agree to give up their parental right. This is, for instance, for the sake of adoption. If parents cannot meet the needs of a child and they want the child to be adopted, it is required that they terminate their parental rights in order to give the foster parents full rights and responsibilities over the child (Genty 5). Involuntary termination, however, happens when a parent has subjected the child to some unacceptable conditions such as sexual abuse and child labor (Schmidt 19). It is, however, challenging to separate a child from their parents. Terminating par

Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Eng 1010 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Eng 1010 - Essay Example In addition, it has superior display and graphics as compared to other phones in the market. The display options it provides are quite exciting because they provide the feel of using a computer, rather than just a phone. Its 6 Plus 5.5-inch monitor with high-resolution Retina HD display is remarkable, in addition to its protective capabilities. Apart from that, the iPhone has fast internet connectivity, which is convenient for intense web browsing and email applications. Excellent internet, coupled with a Dual-core 1.4 GHz Cyclone (ARM v8-based) processor, makes multitasking easy. IPhone 6 is undoubtedly a badly efficient and exceedingly powerful phone device whose stylish nature appeals to a great (but wealthy) section of the populace. Despite its advantages, the iPhone presents several imperfections, just like any other hi-tech device. Its main shortcoming is that it is considerably costly as compared to its competitors. Even so, its prestige lies on its expensive nature, so that only a few people can afford it and have boasting rights. In addition, its internal memory is non-expandable, and this means that an iPhone user can only use downloads that are originally available on the gadget. I dislike it because I am limited to downloading music from its music stores, rather than transferring my own music and movies. Its other notable disadvantages include the inability to remove its Li-Po battery for charging, and its lack of water resistance. Considering the iPhone 6 lacks some features that android phones have, it is still not a superior phone globally. In addition, considering there are phones such as Samsung Galaxy S5 that are certified as waterproof, the iPhone 6 is still at a disadvantage. Owing to its impressive features and prestige values, the iPhone is worth its price. As long as one can afford it, then it is worth the price. It is not advisable if an overzealous person has to save money to purchase one, merely to impress

Monday, October 28, 2019

School Lunches Essay Example for Free

School Lunches Essay School lunches today are not as hearty and delicious as they were back in the day. When I was a child my lunches were prepared at school by the cafeteria workers. Today, the cafeteria workers heat up the already prepared food. Todays food is prepared by means of nuking it in the microwave, or heated up in the oven. This could maybe be the cause of obesity with the unhealthy choices at lunchtime in the dining halls. When I was a child the mashed potatoes and turkey dinner were on of the best foods. I remembered all of my friends and I being so excited when turkey dinner day was approaching. The mashed potatoes were real with potatoes mashed not that power that you put milk in. The turkey was a real turkey, not fake or processed. That is not the case today. Just the about the weekend before Thanksgiving, I saw that turkey dinner was on the menu for school lunch. I thought yummy! I went down to the Miller Dining Hall for the turkey Dinner. I went to the front desk and the lady scanned my card. When this person started to tell me about the dreadful turkey dinner. She said, â€Å"This is not the Turkey Dinner that we had as kids. I just laughed at her thoughts and went in to try for myself. The turkey was a processed chunk of whitish colored meat. This meat was floating in brownish colored gravy. This gravy tasted like it was mostly water with maybe brown food coloring added in. Potatoes are not what this white fluffy stuff tasted like. The food tasted horrible, and the portions were limited. I can remember when I was a young boy in school; I never was hungry at any point throughout the day. The portions were healthy portions. You were given healthy portions of all the food that was offered for lunch. There was more variety in our choices. We had a choice of two vegetables and two of something else. I can remember when chicken nuggets were served we received six nuggets. The nuggets were along the size of the nuggets served at McDonalds. Today, the portions are more of micro baby sized portions. The portions are extremely small and college students are not satisfied throughout the day. Students today are allowed four mini nuggets with a choice of corn or carrots or soup. That is all good for students that eat salads. Not all students are salad eaters, and those kids are the ones that suffer throughout the day. Not only the non-salad eaters but students that are picky with there eating habits. Good reasons about school lunches is that who is vegan has their own little food bar with goodies that mare made just for them. You can make special orders about what food you can and cannot eat. If your allergic or you can’t have gluten in your meals. When you usually judge food on the smell and looks of the meal. But Miller Dining Hall that doesn’t work;(7) you just have to hope to God that it turns out good. Most of the food is fattening also. So let’s say you’re on a diet or a body builder, it’s really hard to maintain your fat in take at the dining hall because or the deep fried food already pre-made (6) food. I am fully aware that the schools are tying to cut down on obesity. The school is trying to cut the portions to not promote obesity. If I don’t have much for lunch or some days I say that lunch is nasty and I refuses to eat, I still have food at my dorm waiting. I would imagine that there are a few kids that have nothing waiting for them. These are the kids that I want to help. School lunches today will never be as good as they were. I think that the school could work a little harder to purchase food that tastes better, fixing homemade food, instead of preparing express food for the students. I feel that school lunch of the past would make a better alternative to the school lunch of today.

Saturday, October 26, 2019

The Unobtainable Good Things in O’Connor’s A Late Encounter with the En

The Unobtainable Good Things in O’Connor’s A Late Encounter with the Enemy I have Seen the Enemy and it is Myself . . . . . . . She wanted the General at her graduation because she wanted to show what she stood for, or, as she said, "what all was behind her," and was not behind them. This them was not anybody in particular. It was just all the upstarts who has turned the world on its head and unsettled the ways of decent living. (134) These are the thoughts of Sally Poker Sash, as offered by Flannery O'Connor in the second paragraph of her story "A Late Encounter with the Enemy." Sally, a sixty-two year old school teacher, is receiving a college degree that has taken her twenty years to earn. She should be proud of her accomplishment. Of course she should be proud. She proves true the old adages, "its never too late" and "good things come to those who wait." Isn't it possible though, that in some situations, the "good things" come too late and when they do arrive they are not so good? I think O'Connor, through this story, is trying to warn us (the readers) of that possibility. The first paragraph of "A Late Encounter" is told from the point-of-view of Sally's grandfather, General Tennessee Flintrock Sash. O'Connor makes it very clear to us that the old man doesn't "give two slaps for her graduation." Surely, his attitude is apparent to Sally, too. Sally is aware of his attitude, too. Why, then, is it so important to her that he live to see her graduation? In the above passage, Sally offers three seemingly simple, but in actuality, complicated explanations for her prayer. Sally states explicitly that she wants her grandfather to attend her graduation because she "wanted to show what she stood for." This is very ... ...tory, opting instead to make for themselves a false past? Ironically, Sally is guilty of using this false past to impress the Dean and guarantee her degree. Graduation day arrives and Sally is ready for the "good thing" that she has waited so long for to arrive. Alas, if it is her grandfather that she wants to prove something to, she is out of luck. O'Conner cheats Sally out of her moment of glory. We learn at the end of the story that the old man dies while on stage at the graduation, oblivious to Sally receiving her diploma. Afterwards, her young nephew, the "crafty scout" John Wesley Poker Sash, hastily bumped the corpse out the back way so that he could get to the Coca-Cola machine; thus depriving Sally of her moment to gloat in front of him. Dammit! Cheated out of triumph again. Sally Sash (whose middle name is after all Poker) had bet on the past and lost.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Relationship between Hamlet and Rosencrantz Essay

Are there any acceptable reasons to lie to a friend? This question brings us to the issue of true friendship. In the play Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, the relationship between Hamlet and Horatio as well as the relationship between Hamlet with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are presented. These relationships are portrayed by the occasion on which the friends meet, the method in which Hamlet’s friends treat him, and how they act towards him. From these incidents, Horatio proves to be a better friend to Hamlet than either Rosencrantz or Guildenstern. As the play develops, we see that Horatio treats Hamlet with more kindness than both Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. This is exemplified in Horatio’s actions in particular, his first meeting with Hamlet where he informed Hamlet about his father’s ghost, then advised him not to follow the ghost, and helped him perform the mousetrap in order to prove Claudius’ guilt in the murder of King Hamlet. In the beginning, after witnessing the appearance of King Hamlet’s ghost, Horatio informs Hamlet of what he saw. â€Å"I think I saw [your father] yesternight.† (I, ii, 188). The fact, that Horatio would tell his friend that he saw the ghost of his dead father every day for the last week proved that Horatio cared for Hamlet. Next, Horatio tried to protect Hamlet by warning him of possible dangers that could arise if he followed his father’s ghost. Hamlet: â€Å"It will not speak, then I will follow it† Horatio: â€Å"Do not, my lord†¦What if it tempt you toward the flood, my lord,/ Or to the dreadful summit of the cliff.† (I, iv, 62-63, 69-70) From this scene, Horatio is shown to be protecting Hamlet from dangers that could occur, an act that a true friend would carry out. Finally, Horatio helped Hamlet to perform the mousetrap in order to determine if Claudius really killed King Hamlet. Hamlet: â€Å"one scene of it comes near the circumstances which [Hamlet] have told [Horatio] of [his] father’s death†¦ Observe [Claudius]: if his occulted guilt.† Horatio: â€Å"well, my lord:/ If [Claudius] steal aught the whilst this play is playing,/ And ‘scape detecting, [Horatio] will pay the theft.† (III, ii, 75-76,79, 87-88) In this act, Horatio has agreed to team up with Hamlet, and defy his allegiance to the King of Denmark, to see if the Claudius killed King Hamlet. These events are evidence of the true friendship Horatio has with Hamlet. During the play, Hamlet is also introduced to his childhood friends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Though they have known each other from a young age, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern prove not to be as true in their friendship to Hamlet as Horatio. This is evidenced by their reason come to Denmark, their first meeting with Hamlet, and the way in which they treated him. When Rosencrantz and Guildenstern arrive in Denmark they are welcomed by Claudius and Gertrude because they were sent for by the King and Queen. â€Å"Welcome, dear Rosencrantz and Guildenstern†¦ The need we have to use you did provoke/ Our hasty sending.† (II, ii, 1, 3-4). Since Rosencrantz and Guildenstern came to Denmark because they were called upon, and did not come on their own free will, this proves that they are not true friends to Hamlet. Next, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern agreed to Claudius and Gertrude’s proposal to spy on Hamlet. Claudius: â€Å"†¦ and to gather, †¦Whether aught to us unknown afflicts him thus,† Guildenstern: â€Å"But we obey† (II, ii, 15-18, 29) Since Rosencrantz and Guildenstern agreed to spy on Hamlet, their own friend, this reveals that they are not true friends. Finally, after Hamlet figured out that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern were sent to spy on him did they finally confess â€Å"my Lord, we were sent for.† (II, ii, 292). After the truth came out, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern tried to make Hamlet feel better because he felt that he was in a prison living in Denmark because the ghost  told Hamlet of his murder and the adulterous relationship Gertrude had with Claudius. From examining the events surrounding the relationships of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern with Hamlet, it is plain to see that they were not good friends to Hamlet. In comparing Rosencrantz and Guildenstern relationship with Hamlet to Horatio’s relationship with Hamlet, it is clear that Horatio was a better friend. From the initial meeting of the two sets of friends to how they treated the main character, Horatio proved to be kinder to Hamlet throughout. First of all, the fact that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are called to Denmark by the King and Queen and did not come because they wanted to see their friend is very telling of the level of friendship they have with Hamlet. This is unlike Horatio, who goes out and seeks Hamlet in order to tell him about his father. Secondly, Hamlet shows his trust towards Horatio when he indulges his plan to figure out if Claudius killed his father. This is in contrast to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern who agreed to help Claudius figure out what was wrong with Hamlet. Finally, Horatio wanted to protect Hamlet from dangers when he warned him that something negative could possibly happen if he followed the ghost. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern only acted nicely to Hamlet once he figured out that they were sent to spy on him. These events provide evidence that Horatio was a better friend to Hamlet than Rosencrantz and Guildenstern were. In conclusion, from comparing the relationship between Rosencrantz and Guildenstern with Hamlet versus the relationship of Horatio with Hamlet, the evidence viewed, such as his first encounter with Hamlet, the way the main character is treated, and how the friends act with him, showed that Horatio was a true friend to Hamlet. Though, a person may make many friends throughout their lifetime, their actions provide the evidence that is used to determine who are in fact true friends.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

We should embrace nihilism for growth in understanding

â€Å"Nihilism is the belief that all values are baseless and that nothing can be known or communicated. It is often associated with extreme pessimism and a radical skepticism that condemns existence. A true nihilist would believe in nothing, have no loyalties and no purpose other than, perhaps, an impulse to destroy† (http://www.iep.utm.edu/n/nihilism.htm). In a nihilist perspective, there are no beliefs in dogma, religion and other socially constructed norms and standards. Nihilists question the set of universally made way of thinking and that there is nothing real in this world.SOCIAL CONSTRUCTIONâ€Å"Social constructs are institutionalized entity or artifacts in a social system, invented or constructed by participants in a particular culture or society that exist because people agree to behave as if it exist, or agree to follow certain conventional rules, or behave as if such agreement or rules existed† (wikipedia.org). Social constructs are created entities in whi ch people or groups of people perceived them to be true. Social constructs are perceived realities that are put into a convention to be turned into social beliefs.Some examples of social constructs are religion, morality, sexuality, class and many more. These social constructs play a major role in people’s daily lives. Social constructs became an integral part of people’s daily lives. These became inevitable realities of their existence. Basically, how people act are based on social constructions. Social constructions dictate the everyday lives of people. Social constructs determine how people will act and what their pattern of actions is. These social constructs are the perceived rightness of actions in a particular given situation. Therefore, people’s lives are controlled and move by social constructs.Social constructs evolve and changes as time pass by. It depends on the richness of thought of human beings. The minds of human beings are very rich and full of possibilities. People have the capability of evolving one system of thought into another. A particular social construct is not permanent and will not last forever because it only depends on the people who were the ones who constructed them. Social constructs are dynamic because the minds of people are also dynamic. What most people are experiencing now may just become a history of tomorrow.THE WORLD AS A REALM OF MEANING AND CAN BE DISCLOSED BY NIHILISMFor Heidegger, he viewed the world as a realm of meanings and possibilities. These possibilities are for Da-sein to discover and the meanings are for Da-sein to assimilate. This world for Heidegger is where the Da-sein is situated and part of the facticities given to the Da-sein. This world is for the Da-sein to discover and understand. The world gives meaning to the existence of man and man is to exhaust these meanings or possibilities. Hence, the world is where the Da-sein interacts and for him to assimilate.This word â€Å"alethei a† describes the world for Heidegger. â€Å"Aletheia† means revelation and concealment which constitutes the world’s disclosedness to man. The world is the realm of meanings for man that man is always in constant assimilation. Even if it reveals itself to man, it also conceals something to man and that the task of man to assimilate and understand is a never-ending task and that Heidegger called man as â€Å"always already understanding the world†.The word â€Å"always† signifies the infinity of understanding that man is task to reveal the world, the never-ending task of correlation and understanding. Man as Da-sein is the very nature and function of man as a being who is thrown into this world. â€Å"Da† means there and â€Å"sein† means being. Da-sein is openness to the world and the readiness of man to exhaust and assimilate. Da-sein is the there of being of man, the very thrown ness of man into a particular context. To understand mo re of man as Da-sein, we will tackle on the succeeding parts the functions of being a Da-sein.According to the great Heidegger, attunement is man’s mood or state of mind in which affects his perception of reality. He viewed man as always in the mood and is always ready to understand reality. Man as being thrown into this world, attunement is already embedded in his being. This attunement as already embedded in the being of man girds man to understand. Given the facticity of Da-sein as being-in-a-world, he is always in the mood to seize reality or to be conscious of reality and thus constituting man’s openness to the world. Da-sein as the there of being is always situated in the world thus, a temporal being.This situated ness of man gives him ample opportunity to correlate with the world and to fulfill his very nature as an understanding being who is already attuned to do so. Man becomes conscious by virtue of interaction, which is the very process of understanding for Heidegger. To correlate with the world is to exhaust its possibilities, to assimilate its meaning. Through interaction, man becomes conscious of reality, becomes conscious of meaning. Reality is already in the realm of meanings, which constitutes the world, and it is only for man that he can be conscious of and that is by virtue of correlating with the world.To question dogma and religion and other social constructs can be a tool for better understanding of reality. As discussed, Heidegger emphasized that man can slowly reveal the reality of beings by correlating with the world which is the world of meaning and possibilities. The world has its own meaning. The nihilistic view in its proper use, such as not totally for destruction but of finding the truth behind the world, it can open man’s eye to the real meaning of this world. Man as Da-sein in being a nihilist can be able to arrive at a better truth regarding the world. The world still has a lot to give in man’s unde rstanding of it that is why dogmas and principles of today must be questioned because it is still not in its absolute state.NIHILISM AS A TOOL TO A BETTER UNDERSTANING OF REALITYMan’s life is full of socially constructed norms and beliefs that are the ones dictating what he ought to do and act. There is religion that dictates morality and there is government that dictates who are enemies and not such as who are terrorists and not terrorists. A society is comprised of many ideas and perspectives that battles to gain monopoly. Man is put in the center of contrasting views.With the birth of nihilism, there came an opportunity to arrive in a truth wherein wrong dogma and beliefs can be erased and replaced with better ones. Nihilism can give good effects if not put in its extreme nature of destruction. Questioning beliefs and dogma is a healthy process to undertake. Through questioning, man can slowly reveal to himself the true essence of his existence. Questioning must also not b e intertwined with destruction because it can be a truly great means for development and better understanding.â€Å"I hope to bring some balance and clarity to a number of realities that seem to attract a great deal of misunderstanding: [1] the very serious issues of violence in Islam [including recent Muslim violence]; [2] the abhorrence that many Muslims have of violence; [stereotypes of Islam and Muslims as inherently violent]; and [4] the larger context of violence in our world [not just the Muslim world], much of which is woven into the fabric of our society in such a way that we may not even regard it as our own violence† (Hussain, 2006). The misunderstandings such as looking as a Muslim to be violent can be corrected by the nihilist perspective. People can arrive to a certain truth that not all Muslims are violent and stereotyping can be erased.NIHILISM AS A TOOL TO END CHAOS AND VIOLENCE IN THIS WORLDThe chaotic world is brought about by the differences in beliefs and norms and even in the practices of different religions. These are products of social constructions. With different beliefs and principles and with the devotion to such beliefs and principles, it brings chaos and even to violence. People seem to impose their own beliefs to other people which also have their own set of beliefs. By imposing one’s beliefs, it creates an atmosphere of competition that gives tensions and chaos to this world.Nihilism can be a tool to end all chaos and find peace in this world. People, in there different perspectives, can look at the common ground of their different beliefs. To question their own beliefs is a healthy process and even comparing their own beliefs to others is also a healthy process. This is an act of nihilism. People will not destroy their principles and beliefs but rather, developing it to be better set of beliefs and principles. One example can be seen in the realm of religion where we can see differences but looking at the greater reality of it, there are much more similarities that can be used in arriving to a better belief, a belief that can be bannered by all people from different contexts. Even the difference of science and religion, if nihilistic perspective can be used in a proper way of dialectics and questioning, people may arrive at a certain truth that science and religion has its common ground and that one will not be an opposition of the other.CONCLUSIONThe world is a realm of meaning and possibilities and is plague with socially constructed beliefs and principles. With the birth of nihilism, which is a perspective that most of a time attributed to destruction, the world may find better understanding in its hand. By the method of questioning which is a healthy process, people can arrive to better understanding of reality and the very principles and beliefs that they believe. Therefore, we should embrace nihilism.BIBLIOGRAPHYBogossian, Paul. What is Social Construction. 03 Mar. 2007Heidegger, Marti n. The Question of Being. New Haven (Conn): College and University Press 1958.Hussain, Amir. Oil and Water: Two Faiths: One God. Pilgrim Pr, 2006.Nishitani, Keiji. Religion and Nothingness. University of California press, 1983.http://www.iep.utm.edu/nihilism/#H5https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_constructionism

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

George Robert Twelves Hewes essays

George Robert Twelves Hewes essays George Hewes was born in Boston in 1742 but moved to New York when he was eight. Born into a poor family with his dad dying of a stroke at a very young age, his mom was the sole benefactor of the house. From the beginning, it was clear that he was destined to be established into a low social class for he didnt have anything going for him. He wasnt' tall nor big so the only job he could do was to make shoes. Later when he would want to fight in the war, he could not because his physical statue. He was put into the shoemakin business by his mom beause she felt he wasn't capable of doin anything else. No one else in his family had done anything other than trading or jobs of such kind. This made Hewes seem to have a strong or dominant personality. "He was what Bostonians called 'saucy'; he was always in Dutch (575)." He mother was very controlling of him which would later effect the way he responded to authority. "Abigail Hewes must have been desperate to control George." This statement refers to how Abigail would punish George very heavily for the littlest things. Young interprets this as a way to keep her son in line or restrain him from straying from the family. As George Hewes got older, more Americans were rebelling against Britain's ruling. Britain began to tax the cities' more on things that seemed unnecessary to the people. Hewes still was a shoemaker as an adult male so that didnt help him move up into a higher social class. According to Young, "Between 1768 and 1775, the shoemaker became a citizen-an active participant in the events that led to the Revolution, an angry, assertive man who won recognition as a patriot (585)." This quote states much about Hewes personality. Throughout his life, many people tried to step on and take advantage of him, but this did not get him down. No matter how people treated him, he still gave them respect and would not act hastily or in spite. In one instance...

Monday, October 21, 2019

How Mountains Form Through Plate Tectonics

How Mountains Form Through Plate Tectonics The Earth is made up of layers of rock and minerals. The surface of the Earth is called the crust. Just below the crust is the upper mantle. The upper mantle, like the crust, is relatively hard and solid.  The crust and upper mantle together are called the lithosphere. While the lithosphere doesnt flow like lava, it can change. This happens when gigantic plates of rock, called tectonic plates, move and shift. Tectonic plates can collide, separate, or slide along one another. When this occurs, the Earths surface experiences earthquakes, volcanoes, and other major events. Orogeny: Mountains Created by Plate Tectonics Orogeny (or-ROJ-eny), or orogenesis, is the building of continental mountains by plate-tectonic processes that squeeze the lithosphere. It may also refer to a specific episode of orogeny during the geologic past. Even though tall mountain peaks from ancient orogenies may erode away, the exposed roots of those ancient mountains show the same orogenic structures that are detected beneath modern mountain ranges.   Plate Tectonics and Orogeny In classical plate tectonics, plates interact in exactly three different ways: they push together (converge), pull apart, or slide past each other. Orogeny is limited to convergent plate interactions- in other words, orogeny occurs when tectonic plates collide.  The long regions of deformed rocks created by orogenies are called orogenic belts, or orogens. In actuality, plate tectonics is not at all that simple. Large areas of the continents can deform in blends of convergent and transform motion, or in diffused ways that do not give distinct borders between plates. Orogens can be bent and altered by later events, or severed by plate breakups. The discovery and analysis of orogens is an important part of historical geology and a way to explore plate-tectonic interactions of the past that do not occur today. Orogenic belts can form from the collision of an oceanic and continental plate or the collision of two continental plates. There are quite a few ongoing orogenies and several ancient ones that have left long-lasting impressions on the Earths surface.   Ongoing Orogenies   The Mediterranean Ridge  is the result of the African plate subducting (sliding) underneath the Eurasian plate and other smaller microplates. If it continues, it will eventually form extremely high mountains in the Mediterranean.  The Andean Orogeny  has been occurring for the past 200 million years, although the Andes have only arisen in the past 65 million years. The orogeny is the result of the Nazca plate subducting underneath the South American plate.  The Himalayan Orogeny  started as the Indian subcontinent began moving towards the Asian plate 71 million years ago. The collision between the plates, which is still ongoing, has created the largest landform of the past 500 million years- the combined Tibetan Plateau and Himalayan Mountain range. These landforms, along with the Sierra Nevada range of North America, may have induced a global cooling around 40 million years ago. As more rock is lifted to the surface, more carbon dioxide is sequestered from the atmosphere t o chemically weather it, thus decreasing Earths natural greenhouse effect.   Major Ancient Orogenies   The Alleghanian Orogeny  (325 million years ago) was the most recent of several major orogenies to help form the Appalachian Mountains. It was the result of a collision between ancestral North America and Africa  and resulted in the supercontinent of Pangea.  The Alpine Orogeny  began in the Late Cenozoic and created mountain chains on the African, Eurasian and Arabian plates. Although the orogeny ceased in Europe within the past few million years, the Alps continue to grow.

Sunday, October 20, 2019

The Good and Bad of a School Principal Job

The Good and Bad of a School Principal Job I love being a principal of a school. There is nothing else that I want be doing at this point in my life. This does not mean that I enjoy every aspect of my job. There are certainly aspects that I could do without, but the positives far outweigh the negatives for me. This is my dream job. Being the principal of a school is demanding, but it is also rewarding. You must be thick skinned, hard working, diligent, flexible, and creative to be a good principal. It is not a job for just anyone. There are days that I question my decision to become a principal. However, I always bounce back knowing that the reasons I love being a principal are more powerful than the reasons I hate it. Reasons I Love Being a Principal of a School I love making a difference. It is fulfilling to see the aspects that I have a direct hand in making a positive impact on students, teachers, and the school as a whole. I love collaborating with teachers, offering feedback, and seeing them grow and improve in their classroom from day to day and year to year. I enjoy investing time in a difficult student and seeing them mature and grow to the point that they lose that label. I am proud when a program I helped create flourishes and evolves into a significant component of the school. I love having a larger impact. As a teacher, I made a positive impact on the students I taught. As a principal, I have made a positive impact on the entire school. I am involved with every aspect of the school in some way. Hiring new teachers, evaluating teachers, writing school policy, and establishing programs to meet school-wide needs all impact the school as a whole. These things likely will go unnoticed by others when I make the right decision, but it is satisfying to see others being positively impacted by a decision I made. I love working with people. I love working with the different groups of people that I am able to as a principal. This includes other administrators, teachers, support staff, students, parents, and community members. Each sub-group requires me to approach them differently, but I enjoy the collaboration with all of them. I realized early on that I work with people as opposed to against them. This has helped shape my overall educational leadership philosophy. I enjoy building and maintaining healthy relationships with the constituents of my school. I love being a problem solver. Every day brings about a different set of challenges as a principal. I have to be adept at problem solving to get through each day. I love coming up with creative solutions, which are often outside the box. Teachers, parents, and students come to me on a daily basis seeking answers. I must be able to provide them with quality solutions that will satisfy the problems they have. I love motivating students. I enjoy finding entertaining and unusual ways to motivate my students. Over the years, I’ve spent a cold November night on the roof of the school, jumped out of an airplane, dressed like a woman, and sang Karaoke to Carly Rae Jepsen’s Call Me Maybe in front of the entire school. It has generated a lot of buzz and the students absolutely love it. I know that I look crazy while I am doing these things, but I want my students to be excited about coming to school, reading books, etc. and these things have been effective motivational tools. I love the pay check. My gross salary was $24,000 the first year I taught. It is hard for me to fathom how I survived. Luckily, I was single at the time, or it would have been difficult. The money is certainly better now. I am not a principal for the pay check, but I cannot deny that making more money is an enormous benefit to becoming an administrator. I work extremely hard for the money that I make, but my family is able to live comfortably with some extras that my parents were never able to afford when I was a kid. Reasons I Hate Being a Principal of a School I hate playing politics. Unfortunately, there are many aspects of public education that is political. In my opinion, politics dilutes education. As a principal, I understand that it is necessary to be political in many cases. There are many times that I want to call parents out on when they come to my office and blow smoke about how they are going to handle their child. I refrain from this because I know that it is not in the school’s best interest to do so. It is not always easy to bite your tongue, but sometimes it is best. I hate dealing with the negative. I deal with complaints on a daily basis. It is a large part of my job, but there are days when it becomes overwhelming. Teachers, students, and parents like to gripe and moan about each other continuously. I feel confident in my ability to handle and smooth things over. I am not one of those that sweep things under the rug. I spend the necessary time to investigate any complaint, but these investigations can be time daunting and time consuming. I hate being the bad guy. My family and I recently went on vacation to Florida. We were watching a street performer when he picked me to help him with a part of his act. He asked me my name and what I did. When I told him I was a principal, I got booed by the audience. It is sad that being a principal has such a negative stigma associated to it. I have to make difficult decisions every day, but they are often based on mistakes of others. I hate standardized testing. I loathe standardized testing. I believe that standardized tests should not be the end all evaluation tool for schools, administrators, teachers, and students. At the same time, I understand that we live in an era with an overemphasis of standardized testing. As a principal, I feel that I am forced to push that overemphasis of standardized testing on my teachers and on my students. I feel like a hypocrite for doing so, but I understand that current academic success is measured by testing performance whether I believe it is right or not. I hate telling teachers no because of a budget. Education is an investment. It is an unfortunate reality that many schools do not have the technology, curriculum, or teachers necessary to maximize learning opportunities for students due to a budget shortfall. Most teachers spend a significant amount of their own money to buy things for their classroom when the district tells them no. I have had to tell teachers no, when I knew they had a fantastic idea, but our budget just would not cover the expense. I have a hard time doing that at the expense of our students. I hate the time it takes away from my family. A good principal spends a lot of time in his office when no one else is in the building. They are often the first one to arrive and the last to leave. They attend almost every extra curricular event. I know that my job requires a significant investment of time. This investment of time takes time away from my family. My wife and boys understand, and I am appreciative of that. It is not always easy, but I try to ensure a balance of my time between work and family.