ESmith Assignment 10: National and Global Finance Essay

(16.0 points) 1. Choose an example of a type of new company you could start, and then use this company idea to answer the questions below. You might choose a pet store, a restaurant, a tutoring business, or something else. This can be the same type of company you chose in assignment 8 or 9, or it can be different. a. Describe the type of business you chose. (1-2 sentences. 0.5 points) * The type of business I would start would be for family or friends gatherings. This business would be place people come to eat and social, a nice, warm environment. b. Describe at least two ways in which the local, state, or federal government would have an impact on your business. (2-4 sentences. 1.0 points) * Whether businesses owners know it or not, but the government create laws and regulation to protect the business. Two ways the government would have an impact on my business is by setting a price ceiling and price floor. These both determines whether or not my items is too high or low for its’ good. 2. Describe at least one advantage and one disadvantage of price ceilings and price floors. Do you think price ceilings and floors are more helpful or more harmful to consumers and the economy? Explain. (2-4 sentences. 1.0 points) * One advantage of price ceilings is that it helps the consumers to have a chance to buy products, and stop producers of taking advantage of such a catastrophe. The disadvantage between this price ceiling and the common ones is that the price ceiling is set on the equilibrium before the catastrophe and not under the equilibrium. 3. Describe at least two negative outcomes of having too little money and credit in the economy. (2-4 sentences. 2.0 points) * It would cause a scarcity of currency, leading to rapid deflation, and also, overproduction of goods means major markets would plummet in value, outbalancing demand, leading to major losses for the producers. 4. Describe at least two negative outcomes of having too much money and credit in the economy. (2-4 sentences. 2.0 points) * Negative effects of inflation include an increase in the opportunity cost of holding money, uncertainty over future inflation which may discourage investment and savings, and if inflation is rapid enough, shortages of goods as consumers begin hoarding out of concern that prices will increase in the future. 5. Which Fed tool do you think is most important, and why? (2-4 sentences. 1.0 points) * The most important job the Fed has is to manage the nation’s money and the overall economy. Controlling the inflation rate and maintaining employment and production aren’t easy tasks. The Fed has to have some pretty hefty tools up its sleeve in order to influence the economy of an entire country — especially one the size of the United States. 6. Choose one of the following government agencies or laws: FTC, EPA, FDA, CPSC, OSHA, FLSA, EEOC, ADA, SEC, or Affirmative Action. Search online to learn more about the agency or law, and then describe three specific things the law or agency accomplishes. Make sure the information comes from a trustworthy website. Include a link to the website in your answer. (3-6 sentences. 1.5 points) * The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is a U.S. agency responsible for protecting the public health by assuring the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, medical devices, our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, and products that emit radiation. www.fda.gov/Food/FoodSafety/FSMA/ucm247559.htm 7. Describe at least two products that are commonly imported into the United States. (1-2 sentences. 0.5 points) * Products that are commonly imported in the United States are oil, cars, and clothes. These products are very important to humanity. 8. Describe at least two products that are commonly exported from the United States to other countries. (1-2 sentences. 0.5 points) * Products that are commonly exported from the United States are things such as medicines,  aircrafts, and cars. These are products are also important to humanity of different countries. 9. Why does the U.S. government encourage U.S. companies to sell their products in other countries? Explain how this helps the U.S. (2-4 sentences. 2.0 points) * So companies can increase company revenue and be able to dominate international markets in order to establish more stores and spread product around. A good example is McDonalds, they are everywhere. This helps the US because in revenue allows a company to keep its base in the US, increase the national gross product, drive consumer activity, keep jobs, and increase the export business, which goes along with jobs. 10. Find the value of one U.S. dollar in a foreign currency. You might choose the Euro, the Japanese Yen, the Canadian dollar, or another currency. List the type of currency and the current value of the U.S. dollar in that country. (1.0 points) TIP: http://www.google.com/finance/converter is a good resource for foreign currency information. * Here is a good resource for foreign currency information.. 1 USD = 0.7650 EURO ; 1 USD = 83.1800 JPY ; 1 USD = 0.9846 CAD 11. Describe at least three exchange rate factors that are likely to attract foreign investors to a country’s currency. Explain why these factors are attractive for foreign investors. (3-6 sentences. 3.0 points) * Exchange rates are prices that are determined by supply and demand. For some countries the exchange rate is the single most important price in the economy because it determines the international balance of payments. Although no model has been consistent in predicting short-term foreign exchange rate behavior, there are several major concepts that play a role in determining the long-term behavior of foreign exchange rates. The first concept is based on the idea that the current price of an asset reflects all available information; and therefore, only unexpected events cause exchange rates.

Christianity vs. Pagan Beliefs in Beowulf Essay

Although there are many examples of Pagan beliefs in the poem Beowulf, the poem points more toward a Christian influence and meaning. Beowulf is seen as a God to the Geat people, and they turn to the Almighty to save them from evil. Grendel is portrayed as a â€Å"monster of Cain† and lives underground. He represents the darkness of the Pagan beliefs, as well as Hell. The battle between good and evil – between Christianity and Pagan beliefs – is continued throughout the poem. Hrothgar and the Danes seem to be protected by the Almighty. Grendel would not go near Hrothgar’s throne because it was protected by God. When Hrothgar is talking to Beowulf before Beowulf goes to fight Grendel, he says, â€Å"Surely the Lord Almighty could stop his madness, smother his lust!† Beowulf also says that God will decide who dies. They believe in God and his power to control the outcome. Grendel was created after the Lord Almighty drove out all of the demons and the demons split into forms of evil, forever opposing the Lord’s Will. This would explain why Grendel was powered by the hatred of God. Whenever he terrorized Herot, some people turned to the Devil for help. They were heathens, and prayed to the old stone gods. Up until his battle with Beowulf, Grendel could kill his victims easily. However, Beowulf had the Lord on his side and was more powerful, easily killing Grendel. This proves that Christianity was more powerful than the Pagan beliefs. Grendel and his mother represent Pagan beliefs in the poem Beowulf. The main example is that they live underground, and the lake above their home was described as a â€Å"fiery flame†. This is just like Hell. Grendel is referred to as a â€Å"shepherd of evil, guardian of crime† in the poem. For twelve years Herot stands deserted because of the fear Grendel put in people. He represents all things evil and malicious. Towards the end of the battle between Beowulf and Grendel, the poem stated that you could hear shrieks of the Almighty’s enemy in the darkness. Grendel is also referred to as â€Å"hell’s captive† before he dies. This makes it seem like Grendel did not choose to be evil, evil chose him. All of the kennings refer to Grendel and are a part of Pagan beliefs. Grendel’s mother was the same way. Whenever she battled Beowulf, she could not be injured in her home. Her evil character was her shield. Then, the Holy God sent him victory and gave judgement for truth and right. When Grendel’s mother was also slain, there was a light as bright as Heaven’s own candle. Once again, Christianity overcomes Pagan beliefs. Beowulf often refers to fame and says that is all he wants. This is a Pagan belief. Wryd is also a Pagan belief and is talked about in the poem as well. Wryd means fate, and Beowulf believes that fate will determine who wins the battle. Although he believes in God and has confidence in His existence, he also has a few Pagan characteristics. One of these is greed. To Christians, greed is punishable by sin. Beowulf is extremely greedy for fame and fortune. He genuinely does want to save his people, but he wants them to remember his name more than that. Grendel and his mother often refer to revenge and the drinking of blood, which is also a Pagan belief. There has been much debate over whether the author of Beowulf meant for the poem to be a Christian poem, or was originally a Paganistic poem that has turned into a Christian story. There are many influences of both Pagan views and Christian views in the character of Beowulf. He is seen as a Paganistic superhero, but also as a god to the Geat people. Grendel and his mother are seen as monsters, but with human qualities, which is a Pagan view. However, the poem claims that God decided their fate and that is why they were slain. Therefore, the conflict between Pagan and Christianity beliefs is not really ever solved in the poem itself.

The handmaid’s tale: chapter 2 commentary

This passage from `The Handmaid's Tale' by Margaret Attwood uses stream of consciousness as a narrative technique to portray the thoughts of the main character, Offred, is going through. Attwood does this very realistically; in the sense that she writes in the way a human mind works, by describing the setting of the room. Thus the setting of the room is vital as it is through the setting that the themes are explored. The main theme of freedom in the passage is shown through the objects described in her room. The style of writing is structured in a way which reflects the minor details of the human mind ith the lack of movement in passage to put emphasize on how Offred refuse to let her mine wonder from the things that are around her, in her room. The tone of the passage changes, first it is more uncertain and unsure but later changes to a more certain tone, this shown through the diction used. Attwood structures her narrative technique in such a way that it creates a uniform setting and creates a sense of everything being controlled or repressed. The sense of freedom that Atwood restricts from Offred in the passage is shown through the description of the room. The narrator focuses on hat she `can' do rather then what she can not do. â€Å"I can sit in the chair† This is ironic because although she is focusing on what she is able to do, yet she is reinforcing how limited the things she can do are. â€Å"Air can come in and make the curtains move† The sense of freedom is shown through the movement of the curtains and the flow of the air; these objects have a sense of movement whereas her thoughts don't because she can not escape through the â€Å"partly open window†. Attwood uses the repetition of window to emphasize how Offred can see beyond the window but can not do anything about it. This depicts the vindication shown in the passage as the slightly open window can be seen as Serena joy taking pleasure in watching the handmaid's suffer, as they are not able to attain freedom but just have the slightest taste of it. Offred can not escape but she can feel the wind slightly touching her. Attwood portrays Offred's thoughts in contrast next to each other to reinforce the lack of freedom. â€Å"Where I am is not a prison but a privilege, as Aunt Lydia said†¦ † This depicts that she feels she is in a prison because of her lack of freedom but then Attwood abruptly nds saying that Aunt Lydia says this, and doesn't allow Offred to think about it much further. Offred is presenting her room to sound like a prison but then quickly says that Aunt Lydia told her to see it as a privilege. This shows how Aunt Lydia feels this not her, because of the authorization given to Aunt Lydia. This use of juxtaposition reemphasizes how her room is actually more a prison then a privilege. Offred is portrayed as only a spectator who can see through the window; this also shows her position in the society of Gilead as she is limited to what she is aware of and she can only reconstruct what he knows. The lack of freedom is hinted throughout the passage â€Å"I know why there is no glass†¦. Why the window opens only partly and why the glass is shatterproof† This implies she is aware of why her freedom is being restricted and reinforces that everything in her room is controlled and unified. The role of the main character, as a handmaid and women and how they can't have there own thoughts are also depicted through the passage. One of the main elements, the floor is being described as â€Å"highly polished† The wood is something that is natural in the room, but it has too been polished. This indicates that everything that is natural is changed in the society she lives in, emphasizing how women are also changed and treated like objects. This is reinforced in † waste not want not† this has certain subdued hint of cynicism in it, as it should be used to describe an object but it reflects who she is and how she is detached as she is treated like an object or a property of someone. â€Å"Why do I want† Implying that she doesn't want to be treated like the `polished' object she is being treated as. â€Å"Sunlight comes through the window too, and falls on the floor† This is the whole oncept of something welcoming entering through the window, yet it doesn't fall on her but on the floor. Attwood is trying to portray how everything just bypasses Offred and ignores her, which symbolizes how everyone ignores or bypasses Offred. The role of Offred is also hinted throughout the passage. Attwood uses the repetition of â€Å"white† to do this. White symbolizes something which is pure, which can also mean being virgin, which shows how the women role in the book has a sexual aspect to it. This is further revealed when the `bed' is described as a place where â€Å"nothing takes lace in the bed but sleep; or no sleep† This seems like pun; with a play on word bring in a hint of sarcasm highlighting the change of tone in the passage. This then highlights the theme of the lack of freedom within the society and emphasizes her role is related to sexual activity. The idea of â€Å"think of it as being in army† again puts emphasizes on her role, of doing something as a service and being forced in to doing it. Attwood perceives the role as something that has been â€Å"in reduced circumstances†, implying that there was something before this time and it was better. Attwood deals with the concept of â€Å"thoughts being rationed† and the desperation of the main character not to think throughout the passage. The narrative technique of juxtaposition is used in a sense, as Attwood allows her to think so much and then restricts her from going beyond the setting of the room. This desperation of not wanting to think is shown through the use of short sentences, which helps not getting involved and stops the thinking process. The language used is very powerful but precise making the tone sound bored but yet it is more detached. Thinking can hurt you chances, and intend to survive. † The idea of the whole passage is shown, as Attwood tries to focus on the small objects in the setting rather then letting Offred thoughts wander away because she knows that everything must be controlled in the society. The theme of repression and everything being controlled, is also shown in the passage through the uniformity â€Å"does each of us have the same print, the same chair, the same white curtains,† this suggests that everything is meant to be the same. The author depicts how the theme is shown in the portrayal of the room. Things in the room have to be controlled as â€Å"thought must be rationed† thus highlighting the society at the time and its ideals. â€Å"there is no glass, in front the water-colour picture of blue irises, and why the window opens only partly and why the glass is shatterproof† The change in the mood is clearly shown here, as the passage starts with a more detached, uncertain tone of what she can do or rather not do which leads to the hint of sarcasm and the tone of being more confident and certain about something. The repression is also stressed through the use of the haracter, Aunt Lydia who has an authoritative voice and tries to control the thoughts. â€Å"Think of it as being in a army† and â€Å"where I am is not a person but a privilege, as Aunt Lydia said,† Attwood first uses the imperative tense to show the power and control that the Aunt has, she also makes what Aunt Lydia says seem like a chant and by using the comma to separate what is said with Aunt Lydia she emphasizes this is what â€Å"Aunt Lydia said† and not what she thinks. The passage from `The handmaid's tale' by Margaret Attwood focuses on the setting of the room which is shown as a symbol of her capture. The theme of turning something bad into something good is explored all throughout the passage. This is shown through juxtaposition, â€Å"braided rags† Attwood portrays turning rags into something beautiful which is what she is trying to create throughout the passage by restricting the thoughts of Offred, so that her thoughts don't wander away. The beginning of the passage shows a more uncertain tone, where the thoughts are more restricted but towards the end of the passage the tone is changed to a more cynical tone which implies more of her thoughts.

Legalization of Stem Cell Research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Legalization of Stem Cell Research - Essay Example In the search for answers for diseases and conditions that are devastating people who would otherwise be thriving and active members of society, the research that is being done on stem cells is invaluable and must continue unhampered by laws based on unfounded suppositions. Robert Pederson, a top embryo scientist whose work had created innovations in discovery concerning embryonic research, left the University of California in order to take a position at the University of Cambridge in England as a result of a lack of support and funding for his research. Federal restrictions instituted under George W. Bush restrained the ability of scientists to further research on stem cells from embryonic resources. The isolation of these cells was found independently in November of 1998 both from research teams at John Hopkins University and from the University of Wisconsin. This discovery allowed for the advancement in knowledge in how a single cell could divide and create separate organs and tissue during fetal development (Paarlberg 45). However, due to a lack of basic understanding in the reproductive value of embryos, restrictions were placed on the research under the guise of the debate of the sanctity of life. The information that seems to be overlooked is that the embryos that are used in stem cell research were never going to be transferred into the womb (Magnus 35). Furthermore, throughout a woman’s lifetime there may be dozens of fertilized eggs that never implant and are naturally sloughed away. This means that embryos are not more than organic matter that is used or not used at the whim of nature. Fertilized embryos from a lab are much the same. They are disposed of if not implanted. Therefore, research using these disposed of cells can create valuable tools for cures of diseases like Parkinson’s, for regeneration of nerve and tissue, and for the development of powerful cancer fighting treatments. The central argument of

Sociology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 3

Sociology - Essay Example He has been working as an architect with a large construction firm for 10 years now. Just after finishing his degree in architecture, he worked with a series of construction companies and only settled with his current employment about 10 years ago. Finally, the youngest sibling is the lawyer Diane. She is 38 years old, married with one child. She has been working as an associate with a law firm for 10 years. She handles mostly criminal defense cases. She has not worked in any other firm since she finished law school. This paper shall revolve around these three respondents who have worked in formal organizations over an extended period of time. It shall discuss the nature of their work and their work dynamic with their co-workers and in the organization itself. It shall also discuss the similarities and differences in the experiences of these three respondents. This report is being conducted in the hope of improving the interview and analytical skills of this student by relating data gathered with class materials After finishing her Bachelor’s degree in Nursing, Karen worked for 3 years as a staff nurse in the surgery ward of a community hospital. After gaining enough experience as a nurse, she applied as an ER nurse in a private tertiary hospital. She worked for 3 years there until an opening in the ICU gave her an opportunity to improve her nursing skills. She has been working as a surgical ICU nurse and has been in that job for 15 years now. She worked as an SICU nurse for 8 years until she was promoted as head nurse. She was a head nurse for 3 years until she was promoted as a nurse supervisor. She has been a nurse supervisor for 4 years running. Karen did not change her career because she has long wanted to be a nurse since she was young. More specifically, she wanted to be an ICU nurse. When she was in her 3rd year in college she worked part time as a caregiver for elderly patients. She worked during her free hours for 4

Racial harassment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Racial harassment - Essay Example In these times, many were tortured, suffered hunger up to their deaths, suffocated, burned and murdered. If we are to analyze, the basic rights of the Jews were trampled and neglected. They are somewhat like a toy in which Hitler and the rest of his company are playing with. The whole world witnessed this gruesome phenomenon and most of us can't help but to wonder, "Why these things did happen" These fate suffered by the Jews is a sort of pendulum of most of the countries in the world in terms of determining the rights of the people. Well, that is, if we are to delve on the history side. However in present times, we cannot deny the fact that racism or racial discrimination is still rampant in some countries. In the United States for example, during the early goings of the 19th century, black people are not allowed to dine in restaurants were white people eat, the same thing in transportation where there is an area allotted for the whites and the blacks. These things are not new to us. There are news articles and stories that reports incidents on racial discriminations in which people who believes that they are the superior race tends to lambaste or to harass people which they presume lower than them.

CDHPs Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

CDHPs - Assignment Example It is in the same year that health reimbursement arrangements (HRA) begun. Then Health Savings Account (HSA) closely followed HRAs after the approval of the 2003 Modernization Act. This Act allowed individuals with a considerable amount of deductible health contrive to contribute towards HSAs. The main reason for coming up with CDHPs was to empower employees to make informed decisions about health care (â€Å"FAQ - What are Consumer Directed Health Plans (CDHPs),† n.d.). Since 2001, CDHPs have assumed an upward trend as consumers have appreciated it as a financial friendly and cost- restraint system. Studies show that in 2013 only, nearly 23% of employers having workers ranging from 15 to 400 and employers with over 500 workers proposed the use of either HSA or HRA health scheme. Studies affirm that CDHPs do not downgrade preventive services and encourages younger healthier populations since most subscribers are young families. Today not only individuals but also business companies have embraced CDHPs as a way of handling their health related issues. There has been a rise for contributions in both HSA and HRAs 2013 having an approximated amount of $ 23.8 billion Collins, 2007). This was a significant rise from $18 billion in 2012. The number of account holders rose from 11.7 million in 2012 to 11.8 million in 2013. Although there are speculations about the ineffectiveness of CDHPs, it stands undisputed that this type of strategy has an amazing ability to make member to take actively part in their health care management. CDHPs readily offer necessary support to members in terms of materials and skills. Feeling that the individual may not be able to understand or manage his or her finances when enrolled in CDHPs is inappropriate. (Greene, Peters, Mertz, & Hibbard, 2008)A research conducted reveal that CDHP members are aware of their roles and make good use of the available information

Family Law issues Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Family Law issues - Essay Example It is important to get into matrimonial alliance with a life time strategy. Trial and error methods cannot work because there are certain issues that simply do not work on trial and error strategy. Selflessness and sacrifices do not go hand in hand with trial and error strategies. Rather they work exclusively in relationships where the partners are quite clear that marriage is a do-or-die affair, where one swim or sink together. In simple terms, you are either in the circle or out of it. One either learns to command and lead from the front or tail away at the rear in meek, abject surrender to the leader's beck and call. The first few steps and promises at the altar at the time of marriage are only symbolic. They only expound the binding factor that what God has put together, nobody puts asunder! Once this sanctity is broken or tampered with, it breaks a natural order at a very high cost to the couple and other innocent lives leaving them to bear the disastrous consequences for no fault of theirs. Teresa's matrimonial history is the regular mix of trial and error and these are best handled at the initial stage. It is commonly acknowledged that nobody is perfect, and by and large, few will readily admit their faults and shortcomings at the start of a relationship. The proverbial stitch in time saves nine applies to long term relationships like marriage. Teresa accepted George's lies about his aristocratic ancestry without discretion. She married him in the hope that there was a windfall headed her way through him. She was also fortunate enough to live through almost a decade of blissful married life when she gave birth to two sons, William and Liam. Nonetheless, now Teresa is going through testing times due to George's changed behavior and perceived lack of interest in their family affairs. The problem is compounded due to his alcoholism, abusive behavior which is degenerating to violence. The last straw in her tolerance level is breached when he discloses his intention to change his name and sex. In all probability, George has developed with homosexual symptoms and is in a gay relationship. (Gender recognition) 2. The Options Left with no reasonable option, Teresa is considering divorce and annulment of her marriage to George. She is also considering protection from George's abusive behavior and possibility of physical attacks in future. Prima facie, Teresa has good case for divorce. However, in the absence of solid proof she is not in a position to initiate legal action. She has to make sure that she has all the facts in place so that if and when she does file for divorce, the proceedings are in her favor. She also wants to know if George could be made to leave the house. Obviously, she is keen on holding on to their house for herself and her children. Legal procedures are complicated and require expert legal advisors to handle the case. The application of legal terms and procedures differ from case to case. For instance, once the case is filed

Bsop 434 lab 5 Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Bsop 434 lab 5 - Case Study Example The organization chart depicts this. Both local and overseas operations fall under one VP while separate Vice Presidents would be looking after the other four domains of the company. The current legal, human relations and procurement Vice Presidents will retire in a few months. Therefore, theses posts have been removed. 2) The revised organization chart shows physical presence of the sales and marketing department in Minnesota, Duluth. This is because the main plants were in Duluth. However the headquarters have been moved to Chicago. If the organization structure should focus on sales, then physical presence at Head Quarters and the main plant is important. This is because the largest numbers of sales take place in Chicago. It is the epi-center of all their revenue, hence major presence in Chicago will prove to be very lucrative for the team. 3) The figure shows a centralized structure in which everything is managed from home. The head quarters are in Minnesota and so are the plants in both Minnesota and Oregon. From here, all departments closely manage the affairs of CLPC’s presence in other States such as Chicago, Denver, Atlanta and NY. It is centralized structure because it now has one State operating as the main center and everything micro-managed from that center only. This means all personnel handling, inventory, fore-casting, and packaging will be centralized. In a decentralized structure, there is no center. All major decisions are taken on the field. In the case of CLPC, all operating activities and decisions that fall under their domains will be taken care of them on the field only as shown in the figure. It is not being operated from a core center. Field work is dispersed according to the presence of the company and its operations country wide. 5) Irwin Buchanan could offer his services as a third-party logistics provider to CLPC. The firm’s logistics handling is scattered at the

Advantages and Disadvantages of Interviewing as Data Collection Tool Essay Example for Free

Advantages and Disadvantages of Interviewing as Data Collection Tool Essay Interviewing is a data collection tool that works best in many cases when the intent is to have an understanding of the â€Å"underlying reasons and motivations for people’s attitudes, preferences or behavior. † One of the good things about interviewing is that it can be done in person, through telephone, at work, at home, or at an agreed location. It also works best if the interviewer wants information straight out of the respondent. It is more appropriate to use as a supplement to other data collection tools such as observations and questionnaires. Furthermore, the interviewer can ask in-depth questions to further validate the provided information or to ask follow-up questions (Smith and Albaum, 2005, p. 187). Another advantage of this method is that it reduces the number of â€Å"no answer† and â€Å"do not know† responses, which is more likely to happen in data collection tools such as questionnaires and surveys. Furthermore, interviewing can accommodate clarity, which then leads to more relevant responses (â€Å"Data-Collection Tools,† n. d. , p. 119). Disadvantages Like other data collection tools, interviewing has its disadvantages as well, such as the bias of the interviewer. This is because the interviewer makes sense of the information based on his or her perception and experiences. Another disadvantage is the response bias, which occurs when the questions are too embarrassing or personal. Thus, inaccuracy in terms of the response of the interviewee tends to take place. Interviewing also costs high because there are instances when the person to conduct the interview needs to travel (â€Å"Data-Collection Tools,† n. d. ). Also, interview is oftentimes used as a substitute for other more effective data collection tools. Some variables may also affect the flow of the interview, such as facial expressions, appearance, and voice. Interviewing is also time-consuming and requires the interviewer to be more sensitive and psychologically insightful (Smith and Albaum, 2005, p. 187). References â€Å"Data-Collection Tools. † (n. d. ). Retrieved April 3, 2009, from http://www. iir. com/nygc/acgp/assessment/assessment_chapter9. pdf Smith, S. M. and Albaum, G. S. (2005). Fundamentals of marketing research. United States: SAGE.

Tibialis Anterior Tendon Reconstructed With Plate and Screw

Tibialis Anterior Tendon Reconstructed With Plate and Screw Traumatic Ruptures On The Insertion Of The Tibialis Anterior Tendon Reconstructed With Plate And Screw Fixation Technique And Anterolateral Thigh Flap Running title: tibialis anterior tendon reconstructed with plate and screw fixation technique Haijun Mao M.D., Guangyue Xu M.D. Institution:Orthopedics, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China Abstract Objective: Traumatic ruptures of the tibialis anterior tendon are rare but can cause substantial functional deficiencies. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the reconstruction of traumatic ruptures on the insertion of the tibialis anterior tendon using plate and screw fixation technique and anterolateral thigh (ANTEROLATERAL THIGH) flaps. Methods: Eight consecutive patients with a traumatic rupture of anterior tibialis tendon on the insertion were managed from February 2008 to February 2012. The insertion was reconstructed with plate and screw fixation technique, and the tissue defects were repaired with ANTEROLATERAL THIGH free flaps. Results: All flaps survived without any complications. The average preoperative and postoperative American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society ankle-hind foot scores of the patients were 51 and 94.7.Good ankle dorsiflexion strength against strong resistance was observed in eight ankles postoperatively, and a substantial improvement in strength was noted compared with the preoperative examination. Conclusion: Repairing a ruptured insertion of the tibialis anterior tendon using plate and screw fixation technique and ANTEROLATERAL THIGH flaps was a reliable technique and yielded satisfactory results. Level of Evidence: Level V, retrospective case series. Key words: tibialis anterior tendon; plate and screw fixation technique;rupture Introduction Ruptures of the tibialis anterior tendon, either traumatic or atraumatic, are uncommon. Traumatic ruptures are caused by an acute trauma accompanied with osseous or soft-tissue injuries in addition to pain and weakness in dorsiflexion of the ankle[1,2]. Tibialis anterior tendon is important in ankle dorsiflexion3. Ruptures of this tendon can cause functional deficiencies. A localized pseudotumor is usually present at the anteromedial aspect of the ankle, corresponding to the retracted, ruptured tendon end. Physical examination may include loss of the contour of the tibialis anterior tendon over the ankle and the use of the extensor hallucis longus and extensor digitorum communis to dorsiflex the ankle[2]. Traumatic ruptures are usually accompanied with associated injuries. Traumatic ruptures of the tibialis anterior tendon that occur in the avascular lesion within 2cm to 3cm of the insertion make an end-to-end suture impossible because bone reattachment is necessary[1,3–6]. These ruptures are caused by accidents and result in tissue defects. Consequently, island or free flaps may be required during the repair of the tibialis anterior tendon. Clear guidelines about the treatment of these injuries are currently unavailable. Reconstruction of this tendon to restore ankle dorsiflexion and inversion includes end-to-end repair, tendon transfer, or allograft augmentation[4,7–10]. The present study describes a surgical technique using plate and screw fixation with anterolateral thigh (ANTEROLATERAL THIGH) flaps to reconstruct traumatic ruptures of the tibialis anterior tendon. Patients and Methods Eightconsecutive patients with a traumatic rupture of anterior tibialis tendon on the insertion were managed from February 2008 to February 2012. These patients comprised six males and two females with an average age of 32(range,24-46) years. Five and three ruptures involved the right and left legs, respectively. This study defines traumatic rupture as a rupture that occurred because of direct blunt trauma (e.g., accident) to the tendon accompanied by osseous or soft-tissue injuries. These blunt traumatic cases were accompanied by tissue defects, which were reconstructed with ANTEROLATERAL THIGH free flaps. Early repair (3weeks after the rupture or less) was performed for all the traumatic cases, and the average time from rupture to surgery was 1.8(range: 3days to 3weeks) weeks. Rupture of tibialis anterior tendon was diagnosed based on history and physical examination. All patients had functional complaints, includingweakness in dorsiflexion or unsteady gait, limping, and increased fatigue with walking. Physical examination included a pseudotumor at the anterior part of the ankle, loss of the normal contour of the tendon, and weak dorsiflexion of the ankle accompanied by hyperextension of all toes. Magnetic resonance imaging was performed to assess the retraction of the tendon and confirm the diagnosis. All patients were available for follow-up. A retrospective review was conducted on medical records, final patient interviews, and physical examinations at an average of 2years and 3months (range: 1year and 3months to 4years) postoperatively of all cases. Postoperative manual strength testing was performed using a 0 to 5 scale (0, no evidence of contractibility; 1 (trace), evidence of muscle contraction with no joint motion; 2 (poor), range of motion with gravity eliminated; 3 (fair), range of motion against gravity; 4 (good), range of motion against some resistance; and 5 (normal), range of motion against strong resistance. 11 The American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot score was used for preoperative and postoperative evaluation. This 100-point standard rating system is designed to compare the results of different treatment methods in patients with the same disorder. The anti-hindfoot AOFAS scores evaluate pain (50 points), function (including gait, range o f motion, and strength) (40 points), and alignment (10 points). 12 Surgical Technique All surgical cases were performed under general anesthesia in the affiliated drum tower hospital of nanjing university medical school.A small longitudinal incision was made above the superior extensor retinaculum. The extensor retinaculum was left intact if possible to avoid adhesions of the tendon.The proximal ruptured tendon end typically retracted to the inferior edge of the retinaculum or just beneath it. Debridement was performed for the proximal and distal parts of the tendon.If the tendon could be brought to its insertion, a direct tendon repair was carried out. If the tendon ends could not be approximated or if the tendon could not be apposed onto its insertion site, an interpositional tendon graft, which included plantaris tendon (two cases), extensor digitorum longus tendon (one case), and peroneus tertius tendon (one case), was used to bridge the gap and reinforce repair . An anchor is usually used in most reported literature. However, this study employed plate and screw fixation technique to repair the tibialis anterior tendon to its anatomical insertion. Direct tendon repairs were performed in four cases. The end of the tibialis anterior tendon was placed on its anatomical insertion, and then a mini-plate was pressed on it and screwed. The harvested grafts had smaller diameter than the tibialis anterior. In most patients, this tendon could be doubled, which usually resulted in a graft with a diameter of 5mm to 6mm. The ankle and foot were held in maximal dorsiflexion and maximal supination, respectively, to determine the final length of the tendon graft. One end of the grafted tendon was fixed using plate and screw fixation technique. The tendon should surround one screw to ensure a firm insertion. When the bony attachment was performed, the tendons were sutured to each other with Vicryl using the side-to-side technique. Finally, the tissue defect was repaired with free flaps. In this study, the ANTEROLATERAL THIGH was performed in all cases. Short-leg cast immobilization was used for the first 2weeks to maintain the ankle in 0Â ° of dorsiflexion. Weight bearing in the cast was allowed in the succeeding 2weeks. The duration of cast immobilization was determined in part by the surgeon’s perception of repair quality during surgery. At 6weeks postoperatively, weight bearing and full dorsiflexion were allowed. Plantar flexion was gradually increased. Results All ANTEROLATERAL THIGH flaps survived without any complications, such as necrosis and infection, except for bloated appearance. The average preoperative and postoperative AOFAS Ankle-Hind foot scores of the patients were 51 and 94.7, respectively. Active dorsiflexion was possible after 2weeks to 3weeks. Good ankle dorsiflexion strength against strong resistance was observed in eight ankles postoperatively, and a substantial improvement in strength was noted compared with the preoperative examination. All patients were able to walk without a visible limp. However, one patient had a little residual weakness in dorsiflexion in comparison to the uninjured side. On physical examination they still had5/5 strength. This caused some symptoms of fatigue or pain after prolonged walking. One patient had 4/5 strength result in a little claudication and continued hyperextension of the toes when walking. Because of the small sample size, there was no valid statistical means to compare the results. Complications arose in one patient. She developed a regional pain syndrome. At the final assessment, we considered that the adhesion of the intermediate branch of the superficial peroneal nerve may be the cause of complication. After the operation of releasing nerve, the patient reported no residual pain and walked with a normal gait. All patients were satisfied with the final result and would undergo the procedure again. Case report A 46year-old man suffered from a tissue defect and rupture on the insertion of the tibialis anterior tendon from a motor vehicle accident (Figure 1). His preoperative AOFAS Ankle-Hind foot score and ankle dorsiflexion strength were 53 and 3/5, respectively. One week later, a complete debridement was performed. We used the plate and screw technique to reconstruct the tendon insertion without tendon grafting (Figure 2). The defect was reconstructed with ANTEROLATERAL THIGH free flap. After the operation, a short-leg cast was performed. At 2weeks after the operation, the flap was stable and the wound healed well. At a 14month follow-up, the postoperative result was 95.3 and the ankle dorsiflexion strength was 5/5 (Figures 3 and 4). He was able to walk without a visible limp. Discussion Ruptures of the tibialis anterior tendon are rare but can lead to considerable functional deficiencies. Ouzounian and Anderson[10]reviewed their clinical experience with 12 patients who had tibialis anterior tendon ruptures. Two types of ruptures were identified based on clinical presentation: (1) atraumatic ruptures, which occurred in low-demand older patients who presented late with minimal dysfunction and (2) traumatic ruptures, which occurred in high-demand younger patients who presented earlier with more disabilities. The authors concluded that patients with traumatic ruptures, regardless of the time of presentation, demonstrated better function after operative intervention.13 In our studies, the average age of the patients was 32(range,24-46) years. Therefore, correct diagnosis should be performed as early as possible. Delayed diagnosis is common because of intact ankle dorsiflexion that occurs as a result of secondary function of the extensor hallucis longus and extensor digitorum communis muscles[14-17]. The diagnosis is significantly based on physical examination, accompanying by weakness of ankle dorsiflexion and a palpable defect of the subcutaneous portion of the tendon and a peseudotumor at the anterior part of the ankle. A pseudotumor usually corresponds with the retracted ruptured tendon end, which becomes entrapped at the distal extent of the superior extensor retinaculum. Ankle dorsiflexion is weaker than that in the contralateral extremity. A steppage gait is a characteristic but is not universally present. Conservative treatment with ankle-foot orthoses, bracing, and activity modification is a viable option in inactive patients. However, we speculated that even in cases with a considerable delay, a reconstruction should still be considered regardless of the age of the patients[8]. Several operative techniques have been published. Many reports recommend an end-to-end suture, but most publications report the use of other techniques because of the difficulties of obtaining an adequate suture repair[2,3,18]. In cases where tendon stumps are often retracted and undergo degenerative changes, an end-to-end suture does not provide adequate tensile strength to transmit the forces required for function. For such cases, tendon graft is needed. In recent literature, the interpositional autografts used include plantaris tendon, extensor digitorum longus, extensor hallucis brevis, and Achilles tendon[2,13,19]. We used ANTEROLATERAL THIGH flaps for the soft tissue reconstruction in these patients. The advantages of ANTEROLATERAL THIGH flaps include consistent and reliable anatomy, long pedicle, being far from the ablative site, allowing two-team approach, the feasibility to create multiple skin paddle by recruiting additional perforators, the flexibility to reconstruct composite defect with chimeric flap by recruiting different tissue types based on a single pedicle, and low donor-site morbidity. When a muscle component is required, we preferred to elevate the flap in a chimeric fashion anterolateral thigh hough elevating the flap as a musculocutaneous flap is also a viable option and may decrease the operative time[20]. A suture anchor or a bio-tenodesis screw is often used for the reconstruction of the insertion of the tibialis anterior tendon. However, this study employed the plate and screw fixation technique to reconstruct the insertion because of its several advantages. The screw can fix the tendon to the bone as point, and the plate can fix the tendon as flat. According to the physics formula of pressure(p)=force(f)/square(s), large square results in small pressure when muscle tension is constant. The plate and screw fixation technique may increase the square and decrease the pressure, thereby improving the firmness between the bone and the tendon. Two patients removed the cast a week after the operation. At the last interview, the patients had a manual strength of 5/5 and walked without a visible limp. These results indicate that the technique decreased the duration of cast immobilization compared with previously published reports. However, no valid statistical approach could be performed bec ause of the small sample size. In our future research, we will use a large sample size to validate the results statistically. The applied technique was simple and easy to follow. During our operation, we tested different directions (perpendicular, parallel, or other angles) of the plate to the tendon and the direction of the muscular contraction. We considered that placing the plate perpendicular to the tendon is relatively easy. We speculated that a share force exists between the plate and tendon if the plate is parallel to the tendon. In addition, a cutting action may be produced on the tendon after a long time. Thus, we situated the plate perpendicular to the direction of muscular contraction. This study has few limitations. First, it is retrospective and lacks a control group of nonoperatively managed patients. The results are not representative of all patients with tibialis anterior rupture; this study only included younger patients who were symptomatic. Second, the AOFAS Ankle-Hindfoot score was used as the clinical outcome measurement, which is not a validated instrument. Nevertheless, this study allows comparison of results because AOFAS Ankle-Hindfoot score is also used in other published studies. Conclusion We recommend surgical reconstruction of the traumatic ruptured tibialis anterior tendon using plate and screw fixation technique and ANTEROLATERAL THIGH flaps. This technique allows early mobilization and yields satisfactory results.

Free Essays: A Comparison of Iliad and Odyssey :: comparison compare contrast essays

A Comparison of Iliad and Odyssey    Although both works are credited to Homer, The Iliad and The Odyssey provide two remarkably different views on the nature of the Olympian Gods, their relationship to humanity, and the general lot of mortals throughout their all too brief lives. As a result of these differences, both stories end up sending contrasting messages about life in general. In the Iliad, the supernatural denizens of Olympus are depicted as treacherous, power-hungry, and above all temperamental beings that are always at each other's throats. Factionalism abounds, and neither the bonds of marriage, nor the ties of kinship can contain keep it under control. A perfect example is when Ares betrays his mother, Hera, and his sister, Athene, by aiding the Trojans instead of the Greeks. When he is discovered, Athena strikes him down in battle through Diomedes. In the Odyssey, however, the Gods of Olympus display far more unity and civility toward each other. They argue and disagree, but their disagreements are never carried out to the extremes found in the Iliad. When Poseidon punishes Odysseys for blinding the Cyclopes, Athena does not take revenge. Even though Odyssey's is her favorite mortal, she respects Poseidon's right to punish him. Also, the treachery among the Gods that is so prevalent in the Iliad, is nowhere to be found in the Odyssey.    In Iliad, Hera, enters into a conspiracy with Poseidon, Aphrodite, and Morpheus to aid the Greeks by putting Zeus to sleepÉ thus rendering him unable to help his beloved Trojans. Nothing like this incident can be found in the Odyssey. References to past disagreements and arguments between the Gods (such as in the Poet's tale of Ares and Aphrodite) are scattered throughout the book, however, so the views between the Iliad and the Odyssey are not exactly diametrically opposed. The role of the Gods in the affairs of humanity is much greater in the Iliad then in the Odyssey. In the Iliad, the Olympians are constantly meddling in the conflict between the Greeks and the Trojans. At best, they view mortals as amusing petsÉ to be cared for, played with, and loved. At worst, humans are just pawns to be shuffled around, sacrificed, and set against each other in order to resolve inter-Olympian ego-clashes.

Graduation Speech: We Are First Nations Peoples :: Graduation Speech, Commencement Address

I am honored to stand and speak to you this evening. I am very proud to be a part of the first graduating class for the Gaylord Heritage school. We thank the staff at the Heritage school, the Gaylord Tribes, our families and our community. I thought about what I would say for a long time and than I remembered what my grandparents taught me about life. My grandparents and family talked to me about education. My dad told me a story about an elder who was very proud of his new toolbox filled with tools. Every day his children would ask to use the tools in his box and he said: "No, not today, I am saving these for a special occasion." As his children grew older they continued to ask for the tools but again he said: "these tools were being saved for the right occasion." Finally the children gave up asking for the tools. One day many years later, the grandfather thought that it was time to open the box of tools and use them. As he opened the box, with children and now grandchildren looking on, he saw that the tools were rusty. He picked up the wrench but it crumbled in his hands. This story symbolizes to me a lesson: of how if we don't share our knowledge -our tools - and pass that knowledge on, then we have all lost the gift in our hearts. And the tools will rust and crumble in our own hands, never to see the light of day again. So let's share all of our tools and pass them on to the next generation so they can work on our house when we get old, and maybe even pay the rent. There are prophecies from many different tribes that speak of the seventh generation. This prophecy states "from the time of the coming of the non-natives, the seventh generation will be the ones that will see the big changes that are coming. This is the seventh generation coming up, and these are the people we must teach so that they do things right this time, so they will keep in mind what they will leave for the next seven generations that will follow them. This is how we are taught to live on this earth: we should look to how our decision and actions will affect the seventh generation to come. Graduation Speech: We Are First Nations Peoples :: Graduation Speech, Commencement Address I am honored to stand and speak to you this evening. I am very proud to be a part of the first graduating class for the Gaylord Heritage school. We thank the staff at the Heritage school, the Gaylord Tribes, our families and our community. I thought about what I would say for a long time and than I remembered what my grandparents taught me about life. My grandparents and family talked to me about education. My dad told me a story about an elder who was very proud of his new toolbox filled with tools. Every day his children would ask to use the tools in his box and he said: "No, not today, I am saving these for a special occasion." As his children grew older they continued to ask for the tools but again he said: "these tools were being saved for the right occasion." Finally the children gave up asking for the tools. One day many years later, the grandfather thought that it was time to open the box of tools and use them. As he opened the box, with children and now grandchildren looking on, he saw that the tools were rusty. He picked up the wrench but it crumbled in his hands. This story symbolizes to me a lesson: of how if we don't share our knowledge -our tools - and pass that knowledge on, then we have all lost the gift in our hearts. And the tools will rust and crumble in our own hands, never to see the light of day again. So let's share all of our tools and pass them on to the next generation so they can work on our house when we get old, and maybe even pay the rent. There are prophecies from many different tribes that speak of the seventh generation. This prophecy states "from the time of the coming of the non-natives, the seventh generation will be the ones that will see the big changes that are coming. This is the seventh generation coming up, and these are the people we must teach so that they do things right this time, so they will keep in mind what they will leave for the next seven generations that will follow them. This is how we are taught to live on this earth: we should look to how our decision and actions will affect the seventh generation to come.

Early Western Civilization in the 18th century :: European History

Early western civilization just following the feudal period was a very interesting time in Europe. There were many new innovations and problems in the way of life of the people of that time. Agriculture was still the main occupation of the time for most people. Two big problems that the people faced were those of war and poor harvest. It was said that perhaps the largest problem was the problem with poor grain. For the majority of people there was also the problem of land. For these people they either had no land of their own or insufficient amounts of it to support a family even when times were good. Poor harvests also had an effect on government as well. Bad harvests tended to cause the taxes to fall and couldn’t provide sufficient provisions for the army. One thing that did seem certain, however, was that monarchs didn’t help much with their pursuits of glory by means of war and food consumption. Serfs were the main labor forces in the feudal period. However in the â€Å"legal† sense there were really no serfs in Germany. That could be why the freeing of the serfs made minimal progress in Germany. The state needed the flourishing peasants for recruits for the army and for their houses and barns for lodging for the soldiers. For the peasants there were really no luxuries in their lives. They had little furniture and clothing and basically survived on what they or their neighbors could grow. Also what little money they had could only have been spent on items that they could not be dispensed with. Most of their dwellings were also not as clean as those of other areas since the women worked more in the fields. The schools for the common people were very poor. Most of the teachers were not competent enough to teach, the school houses were in disrepair, often the teachers would have to live in the school houses, there were often no separate classes, and the curricu lum was extremely narrow. Transportation was also a big issue of that time. Things moved very slowly at this time, especially goods. Canals and achievements in roads only provided moderate improvements. The real â€Å"Revolution† in transportation did not come until the invention of the railroad. The busiest and most used roads of the time were the footpaths, mule path and local roads of which the best credited to the Romans.

The Gift of the Magi by William Sidney Porter

The Gift of the Magi by William Sydney Porter Xinyan Zhu September 2, 2012 Comp1102 /Fall Mrs. Chambers The Gift of the Magi by William Sidney Porter William Sidney Porter, better known under his pen name â€Å"O. Henry†, born September 11 1862 in Greensboro North Carolina. Accused of embezzling bank fund, Henry was arrested and sentenced to three years in prison. During this dark period in his life, he begin his literary career with his stories that were to be collected in his first book â€Å"Cabbage and Kings† (1904).Henry left the stories mainly laid in New York, Central American and Western American. The majority of the stories that can be found, however, are set in Manhattan, New York City. In these works, Henry portrayed the atmosphere and the scenes of its restaurant and its old lodging houses really true to life. For this reason, Henry remains secure in the hearts of the public as, â€Å"the prose laureate of Manhattan Island† (1945,Lewiston Journal Maga zine Section). Finally he deserves rank with America’s greatest of the short story and hands down far and wide up to now.His representative work The Gift of the Magi (1906) is an extremely moving story of a young couple who sell their best possessions, Della’s hair and Jim’s watch, in order to get money for a Christmas present for each other. The hair is cut and sold to buy a glorious watch chain, and the watch is sold to buy a beautiful comb, neither knowing that the present can no longer be of any use when offered to the loved one. After the first reading, the whole story seems tell about a funny story, but no one cannot laugh out. This essay focuses on the ending of The Gift of Magi.It reflects the ambience of happiness with sadness of the couple’s life. There is something deep inside this story. Many people studies Henry’s The Gift of Magi from different perspectives, such as analyzing the characteristics, the theme and also personal background of The Gift of Magi. The style of O. Henry’s short novel’s ending is well-known throughout the world of literature with its wit unexpected but reasonable results. From the beginning of the story, the young couple is characterized as their true love holder showing sincerity and loyalty through the way of sacrificing their precious treasure.First, Della cries, â€Å"she whirled from the window and stood before the glass. Her eyes were shining brilliantly, but her face had lost its color within twenty seconds. Rapidly she pulled down her hair and let it fall to its full length†(The Gift of the Magi). Later Della makes up her mind to do one thing giving the readers an astonishing shock tempting to readers to shed tears right now. The only purpose is just to give present on Christmas. Della is full of pleasure, has thought that she would give her husband the most suitable gift on the Christmas Day, but a strong sense of anxiety accompany with her.When Jim has return ed home and stared at Della, a bust of complex feeling occurs to him, his inner world fraught with many unlucky ideas. By Della’s explanation Jim has done the same thing as Della done for him, he has sold the watch to get the money to buy combs which Della loves for a very long time. Fortunately, the couple presents their most precious presents to each other, real presents is temporarily useless but their mutual love is true and lasting forever. There is no doubt that it embodies the life of happiness with sadness and deepens their love.Here Henry presents the climax and later comments on, â€Å"the foolish children in a flat who most unwisely sacrificed for each other the greatest treasure of their house†(The Gift of the Magi). The young couple indeed sacrifices their precious possessions, the unwise aspect lies in their decision without telling each other ahead of time and the couple just wants to bring a surprise with great happiness to show their affection. Surpris ing ending is O. Henry’s one signature. Della asks Jim to give her watch to see how it looks on it.Instead of obeying, Jim tumbles down on the couch and put his hands under the back of his head and smiled. Because Jim knows it useless right now, no watch any more. For both of them, losing their great treasure means nothing could make them proud of, but they have received one more important thing, a sense of pleasure and satisfaction. The poor couple creates a soft and gentle atmosphere to feel how much they love each other. Although Henry depicts the foolish children, â€Å"but in a last word to the wise of these days let it be said that of all who give gifts these two were the wisest. , â€Å"†¦of all who give and receive gifts, such as they are wisest. †(The Gift of the Magi) It denotes that their gifts are the most divine and pious proof to their incomparable true love. Therefore, the two foolish children, Della and Jim are the wisest. Since they receive the s piritual presents through their decision. They are the magi, and their gifts are the gifts of the magi. To sum up, even The Gift of Magi is just one section of life in American people who are struggling for life and searching for a better life with happiness and sadness in the cruel and suffering society.There is much to be learned from the love of this couple. Works Cited 1. http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/O. _Henry. 2. Lewiston Journal Magazine Section, 1945. 3. Angell, Roger. â€Å"The Gift of the Magi: Interview. The New Yorker. Broadcast transcript. Morning Edition. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. 2010. 4. Wilson, Kathleen. â€Å"The Gift of the Magi. † Short Stories for Students. Ed. Kathleen Wilson. Vol. 2. Detroit: Gale. Litfinder for Schools. 1997.

Green Energy Essay

This is a serious issue in many countries and is harmful to humans’ and animals’ health, the environment and also increases pollution (Veziroglu 2007). Now, it is the time to face these problems by using clean energy such as solar, wind and water. Wagner & Mathur (2011) state that hydropower is the most efficient renewable energy, while Veziroglu (2007) claims that hydrogen is the key to the solution in the 21st century. Therefore, this essay will focus on energy sources water and hydrogen. The first part will analyse how to use water to produce a large amount of power in several ways. The second will discuss the effect of hydro energy. The third point will explain where hydrogen comes from and how to use it. The last section will describe the reason why many researchers and industrialists are interested in using hydrogen power. It is argued that using hydro power and hydrogen energy in many countries can decrease CO2 emissions that are the main cause of climate change and create an amount of clean energy, although these sources of energy have some negative impact and requires high investment costs. Hydro is a large natural resource that can be used to generate power in different ways. Hydro means water which is a significant power source to generate electricity. Destouni & Frank (2010) state that hydro-electric is a large resource, and it is more stable and reliable than other resources when they are compared. Additionally, the electric can be produced from water by using generator in many ways. Wagner & Mathur (2011) reveal that there are three ways which are river power plant, storage power plant and oceanic power plant. Firstly, they state that river power plants create power by the flowing and dropping of elevation of water. For storage power plants, they reveal that they generate electricity when the reservoir allows water to fall from natural resources such as Mountain Lake and artificial resources such as dam. For example, they point out that the biggest storage energy stations is the Three Gorges Dam in China which creates over 25 times more electricity than a coal-fired energy station on the basis of capacity. Secondly, another power plant uses water from the ocean such as wave, tide and the different temperatures of the sea to produce energy. Furthermore, hydro-energy is the main source of electricity in some countries. For instance, the percentage of using hydropower in Norway, Brazil and Canada are 99, 84 and 58, respectively (Wagner & Mathur 2011). In the future, the global product of hydro-electricity tends to be growth. Destouni and Frank (2010) suggest that it will increase around 20 percent by 2050 for decreasing the using of fossil fuel and carbon emission. Hydro energy has negative and positive sides that affect human lives. Firstly, all hydro power plants require a great amount of capital. Secondly, river plants produce small amounts of energy compared with other hydropower plants because this type does not use the full flow of the river, so the energy is not sufficient for many households. Thirdly, large dams could lead to floods in the cities which are situated lower than the dams because of overload caused by heavy rain or damage caused by earthquakes (Wagner & Mathur 2011). Moreover, hydro plants could impact on environment. For example, large dams can interrupt fish’s lives when fish try to swim upstream and deplete natural animal habitat for birds and ducks that have to move to another area as shown in the O’Shaughnessy Dam in the United State which destroyed some parts of Yosemite National Park. Moreover, over one million people were forced to move out their villages when China built the Three Gorges Dam project (National Geographic 2012). On the other hand, there are many advantages of hydro power plants. Wagner & Mathur (2011) indicate that storage power plants can generate large amount of energy, and when well managed can avoid flooding, and can provide water for farmers whenever they demand because the dams collect water all year. In addition, dams have the efficiency of controlling the water that can begin, stop and generate power immediately. Furthermore, the average cost to invest in this power is lower than the other sources, and it can be used longer than 50 years. For example, the plant in Darjeeling in India is installed in 1897 (Wagner & Mathur 2011). According to National Geographic (2012), hydropower is sustainable and clean source because of water cycle that water transforms to steam and come back to water again, and no greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide which pollute into the air so that it decreases impact on environment and reduce the causes of global warming. Another widespread renewable energy is hydrogen which is a basic source which can be produced from natural and artificial resources and can use in many kinds of industries for reducing carbon dioxide emissions. Hydrogen is made from primary sources such as solar, nuclear, water and fossil fuel (Fig. 1). Edwards, Kuznetsov & David (2007) point out that a fuel cell is a device for generating electricity and recharging power by oxidation between hydrogen and oxygen from the air though electrodes and this process will continue until no fuel and air (Fig. 2). Therefore, many countries select hydrogen energy to solve climate change problems that are caused by the use of fossil fuel. For example, some countries which are interested in using hydrogen power are the United States and Japan who spend a lot of money investing in hydrogen energy projects both to decrease carbon emissions, and as an alternative power resource (European Commission 2003). Hydrogen energy and fuel cell have some pros and cons for decision to use in society such as vehicles, aerosol and stationary. The advantages of hydrogen power and fuel cell are cycling of water, low or zero carbon emission, high efficiency and power quality, and low noise. As a result, these advantages will reduce pollution and eliminate greenhouse gases which cause ozone layer depletion. Moreover, these systems are used in wide range such as hospitals, transport, and IT centres (Edwards, Kuznetsov & David 2007 and Veziroglu 2007). In transport, hydrogen energy has been used in transport because it provides good performance and high convenience such as smoothing and low noise, and also it is used for silent power of airspace and producing high levels of power for advanced soldier uniforms in military program. Furthermore, technology such as computers, telephone and radios also use hydrogen and fuel cell in recent year because it can provide long life batteries. However, it cost a great amount of money to hydrogen project and sometimes it can use in short time just thousands hours (European Commission 2003). In addition, Veziroglu (2007) reports that some process will produce other gases not only hydrogen such as nitrogen oxide group can cause global warming. In conclusion, the advantage of hydropower is providing the amount of energy that is sufficient for the requirements of every household, and the advantage of hydrogen energy is that it can be used in many industries such as cars and airplanes. Moreover, both of them, which are clean and sustainable energy systems, reduce carbon emissions. Furthermore, the cost of these kinds of energy will decrease as these systems become more prominent and will be used more widely in the future. Therefore, hydropower and hydrogen energy are likely to be used in the future to decrease the causes of climate change. Reference List Destouni, G & Frank, H 2010, ‘Renewable energy’, Ambio,  vol. 39, no. 1, pp. 18-21, viewed 1 December 2012, . Edwards, PP, Kuznetsov, VL & David, WIF 2007, ‘Hydrogen energy’, Philosophical Transactions: Mathematical, Physical, and Engineering Sciences, vol. 365, no. 1853, pp. 1043-1056, viewed 1 December 2012, . European commission 2003, Hydrogen energy and fuel cells: a vision of our future, European Communities, Luxembourg, viewed 28 November 2012, . National Geographic 2012, Hydroelectric energy, National Geographic Society, Washington, D. C. , viewed 28 November 2012, . Veziroglu, TN 2007, ‘21st century’s energy: hydrogen energy system’, in JW Sheffield ;  C Sheffield (eds), Assessment of hydrogen energy for sustainable development, Springer Netherlands, Dordrecht, pp. 9-31, viewed 23 November 2012, . Wagner, H ; Mathur, J 2011,  Introduction to hydro energy systems,  Springer, Dordrecht.

Classic Knitwear Essay

Classic Knitwear, founded in 1995, began production of a unique line of unbranded casual knit apparel. Included in their product line were such clothing as T-shirts, sport shirts, sweatshirts and other wearing apparel. Although the company saw exceptional revenues as of 2005, they still felt that they were not meeting certain criteria when it came to their gross margin. They sought to increase their gross margin, currently sitting at 18%, to that of a more comfortable number of 20%. To combat this issue, Classic Knitwear decided to team up with Guardian, a producer of odorless repellant protection against bugs, and combine their fortes into a line of clothing infused with the bug repellant technology. These new products would hopefully to rise the gross margin to the 20% they were hoping to accomplish. The non-fashion casual knitwear market consisted of products that range from casual t-shirts to even underwear. Within this industry, it can be divided into two categories, those manufacturers who brand their products with their name and those companies who choose not to brand their line of products. On the branded side of the industry, Classic competed with three major brands. These brands were JamesBrands (which accounted for $4.5 billion in revenue from sales), Flowerknit (which accounted for $1.25 billion in revenue from sales), and Greenville Corporation’s TopTops Division (which accounted for $630 million in revenue from sales). These branded labels competed on the level of private- labeled businesses. On the other side of the industry, Classic competed with one company in terms of unlabeled products. B&B Activewear were major competitors as they generated $590 million or 23.6% market share, which made them a leader in the market. Although not directly involved within this sector, Jamesbrand, Flowerknit and Greenville Corporation’s TopTops Division still were involved with Classic on this level. Distribution channels are essential when it comes to the wholesales of these companies products. 90% of the product distribution from these companies go directly to two distinct types of retailers. Almost 50% of these sales are accounted for from mixed retailers, such as Wal-Mart and Kohls, who sell clothing as well as wide variety of other products. The other 40% is sold towards clothing specialist retailers, such as Gap and Brooks Brothers, who only specialize in the selling of clothing related products. The remaining 10% of the distribution channels contained bits from non- grocery retailers, home shopping, internet retailing and direct selling to the customers. In order for manufacturers to compete for retail business, they used a variety of strategies in order to gain attention from these retailers. Some of these tactics involved prices, variety of products, and efficiency of delivery. Classic Knitwear, since its inception, has been a simple manufacturing company whose focus is on creating and distributing unbranded casual knit apparel which includes T-shirts, sweatshirts and fleece like products. Unlike other companies that chose to have expensive products which carried prestigious fashion labels, Classic decided to venture away from them and focus on products that were categorized as non- fashioned knitwear. With this strategy, Classic accounted for $550 million in revenues from domestic sales. They have also decided to sell only in the United States, as foreign markets were too much of a risk that could have negative consequences. 75% of this revenue came from the selling of their products to wholesalers, who in turn, resold the Classic clothing to screen- print channels which customized the products with logos and images. Ortiz and Chong decided to concentrate on this pathway because it offered the fastest growth potential than trying to sell like ordinary retailers. As a result, Classic Knitwear had established itself as the #2 seller in the market, accounting for 16.5% of the market share. Classic generated the remaining 25% of their revenues from mass retail channels under private labeling. Classic would sell their products to retailers such as Wal-Mart and Dollar General and would be carried under the name of the retailer or through a house brand that was developed by the retailers themselves. In fact, these two retailers accounted for 57% of those revenue sales. To help accomplish such high revenues, Classic had to achieve low production costs throughout the entire company. To ensure that such goals were obtainable, Classic established state-of-the-art production factories that were situated off shore, mainly in the Dominican Republic. Being situated not in the United States allowed them to have much lower production costs than those produced domestically. Although other companies had also set up production factories in other countries, Classic was able to have a slight competitive advantage over these other companies. What helped them keep this competitive advantage was a high volume- low SKU (stock keeping unit) strategy. This ensured that they would produce high quantities of products without the large variety of products that other companies had. As of 2005, Classic felt that it would never reach their goal of 20% gross margins through various controlled labels or tie in promotions. However, Classic Knitwear had an epiphany which could potentially shoot their gross profits to levels that they would feel satisfied with. With the rise of the West Nile virus across the Americas, more and more people were looking for ways to prevent the transmission of the diseases. Classic thought it would generate the attention of customers to produce a new line of clothing that would be infused with chemicals that would be able to repel insects that carried the West Nile virus. With the help of another company, Guardian, who specialized in insect repellants, they would be able to create such a line of products. The reason that they chose Guardian was due to their flagship repellant, have established them as one of the top producers in insect repellant. The products would consist of a short and long sleeve T-shirt, a Men’s polo, and a Men’s fleece. Along with the production of these chemical infused clothing, Classic was targeting males 18-35, seeing as these individuals would most likely be outside during times when insects are active. The initial investment of such a line could cost about $10 million, which would help to generate 50% unaided awareness across the United States. In order to get the needed awareness of their product out to the public to ensure increased gross margins, Classic relied heavily on marketing. They had studied how other brands that were selling similar brands of insect repellant clothing and how they were successful, establishing themselves into small niche markets. Based on those already established companies, Classic decided to sell their product lines to retail stores with cardboard displays housing the different styles of shirts. On the outside of each of the boxes would display pictures of outdoor related activities that would promote the proper use of each shirt. Some of these retail stores would be outdoor related stores such as Bass Pro Shops and L.L. Bean. Classic wanted to have 10,000 displays in stores over the next 2 years after the product line was to begin production. To help get these displays in stores, they offered discounts on the sale of T-shirts if the store agreed to have a display in their store. Classic, with the production of these chemical infused shirts, could have a possible juggernaut to help generate sales, but there could be other possibilities that could help them reach their target gross margin of 20%. One alternative would be to not produce the new line of shirts, relying on frequent customers to help generate the extra sales to gain the extra gross margin. Another possibility would be to vertical integrate with one of the screen-pressing companies that create the logos which are later screened onto the sold shirts. By integrating, they could possibly cut unnecessary costs that would also help create higher gross margins. Lastly, another possible alternative to this problem would be to establish a brand of clothing that is positioned near the high labeled brands. They would have to compete with the big three companies with sales, but could possibly steal sales away from them to help establish themselves. Classic Knitwear was set with a problem of what to do to try and earn more in their gross profits. To solve such case, it would be recommended that they continue with the production of these insect repellant shirts. With the outbreak of the West Nile virus and outdoorsmen wanting styled brands to wear, this idea would help to generate the sales need to raise the gross profits. Based on Consumer.com surveys, it was concluded that there was a strong desire for such a product, especially one whose clothing was made out Classic’s materials. In the end, the continuation of this line would help generate the extra gross margin they had hope to gain.

History Essay

1.   In your opinion, who started the Cold War? Explain in 5 sentences. In one opinion, the Cold War was not started by one side or the other.   The Cold War was more of a culmination of political, cultural and ideological differences than anything else(Pierpaoli).   This being said, in fairness, both the West and the East provoked hostilities during the Cold War through various attempts to promote their respective political systems throughout the world.   Ultimately, the Cold War was not decisively won by the West; rather, the West was able to hold out longer than the East. 2.   List three major prolonged conflicts in the Cold War. During the Cold War, three major prolonged conflicts that erupted were the Korean War (1950–1953); the Vietnam War (1946–1975); and the war in Afghanistan (1979–1989)(Pierpaoli). 3.   How did the Cold War influence society and culture? 3 sentences The Cold War influenced society and culture in many ways.   Culturally, the Cold War gave birth to an entire genre of literature and motion pictures/television- the classic story of the â€Å"secret agent†.   In terms of society, the Cold War divided society in terms of whether people, in both the East and West, supported capitalism or communism, and the many facets that each system offered (Pierpaoli). 4.   Evaluate the role of technology on the Cold War. Technology also played a role in the Cold War.   It was through surveillance technology that the United States was able to protect itself from Soviet aggression, such as the detection of missile sites in Cuba, a mere 90 miles from the US mainland (Pierpaoli).   Technology also helped the Soviets to detect an American U2 spy plane within their airspace- an incident which almost sparked World War III.   Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, the nuclear weapon technology which both the US and USSR possessed held the potential to destroy the planet. 5.What was Watergate and how did it influence the Vietnam War? Briefly describe. When one speaks of Watergate, they are usually referring to illegal actions taken by President Richard M. Nixon. Watergate is said to have begun when Nixon ordered one of his closest advisors, Henry Kissinger, to tap the telephone of a New York Time reporter in order to try to determine who was â€Å"leaking† information to the media about a secret bombing mission in Cambodia (Greene).   This influenced the Vietnam War in that the public learned of the many outrageous secret missions of the American military in Vietnam, raising public opposition to the war itself. 6.`A Short History of Terrorism,` write a paragraph explaining the difference in modern `terrorism` and its historical antecedents given in this article. The single most remarkable difference modern terrorism and its historical antecedents is the fact that modern terrorism is not meant to advance the agenda of a particular nation, but is driven by the belief by many Middle Eastern nations that the United States is an evil empire which God would like to see destroyed (Greenberg).   This type of religious zeal gives modern terrorism its sharp teeth and deadly venom. 7. Write a brief essay explaining your views on whether America should move beyond Affirmative Action at this time. Support your position. America should move beyond Affirmative Action for several key reasons; first, as we have seen in recent months, opportunities have opened up for minorities from the most powerful office in the United States to the areas of entertainment, the media, and the average job in any city in the nation.   Additionally, the increasing cultural diversity of America is transforming the demographic of the nation so that rather than minorities (Gryphon), there are any number of â€Å"mini-majorities† in place, thereby making favoritism for any given group both outdates and unnecessary. 8. Did women have a positive role in the progressive movement even before they had the right to vote? What was it? Describe briefly. Women most definitely had a positive role in the progressive movement even before they had the right to vote because it was the women in society which held families together as men worked outside of the home for long hours, making the woman the essential person who fed/mentored the children, etc.   It was in roles such as these that women were already asserting superiority before they could cast a ballot (Friedan). 9. Did the U.S. do everything it could to help the Jews in Europe? Is our current foreign policy a reaction to this situation? Briefly describe. In the final analysis, the US did not do everything it could to help the Jews in Europe, as there is evidence to suggest that the American government knew about the plight of Jews in Europe for several years before getting involved to protect the lives and interests of European Jews.   In a way, it can be said that our current foreign policy is a reaction to this past situation, as the US is both trying to prevent any aggression against the Jews of the magnitude of that of the past in Europe, and also compensating Jews for past injustices. 10. What were the roles of television and advertising in creating the consumer society of the post-World War II world? Briefly describe. Television and advertising created the consumer society of the post-World War II world, as they both shared with millions of war-weary Americans a wide variety of products that were now available after years of rationing and scarcity due to the war effort.   This led to a consumer society, as American people not only grabbed the items that they needed and could not get for many years, but also those new items that had not been available before.   All of this made the nation one of hardcore consumers, a trend that continues today.

History in Education Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

History in Education - Essay Example History of Canadian Education The Historical Events When it comes to Canadian society, the role of education has always remained pivotal. There are several historical events of Canadian education system which point out to the importance of education in society. Just like the process of learning which began in Canada when the Catholic Church started giving the formal education to the people on multiple subjects (mathematics, religion, and historical philosophy). Similarly, the French Canadian sisters of the congregation with the support of Government brought in place several schools in rural areas of the country (Angelfire 1-2). This was the beginning of an education reform (the early 17th century reform) where both the society and the government were seemed engaged in the educational establishment. The point of impression is the basic schooling which has always remained signified in Canadian education system. Likewise, the Catholic missionaries who stepped up in the mid-17th century to bring in place the Catholic schools. The point of surprise is that due to social, economic, political and cultural divides, the Canadian education system remained discriminated in the history of education. It was the presence of minorities (Blacks and Asians) which made discrimination to intrude the education system (Gaffield 1-4). ... tegration was supposed on an immediate assimilation as minority Indians were not prepared to transmute into the socioeconomic order of the Whites (Barman). Actually, the minority Indians wanted to carry on their own cultural and educational norms instead of imitating the Whites. This caused the discrimination to enter the Canadian society as the Federal government argued where education section was most influenced and got affected. The Canadian Whites of the time asserted that it was the governments’ parsimony that weakened the process of education. However, the discrimination was there in the schools and at the work places especially where the Indians-Asians were the most present (Barman 106). Cooper (2013) uncovers the story of Mary Bibb- a famous black female teacher in the nineteenth century North America, who was famous but still was unknown to the people who were writing history (Hill). The author describes Mary Bibb as a leader, a reformer and an educationist who was hi dden somewhere in the history of education- in the history of Canadian education where positions of minorities were remained undiscussed and less highlighted (Cooper 141-144). Challenges in Literature The primary challenge in reading was the text itself as the text presented in the Canadian history is not describing the position of minorities in whole. Just like the story of black teacher â€Å"Mary Bibb†, where author Cooper (2013) has tried to uncover her life experiences but still have not able to present her life in detail and comprehensive way (Hill). The literature has presented the facts in tits and pieces and is not depicting the special events like the educational discrimination between the Indian and White Girls in clarity. This has made the literature more general to connect to the

Political Theories Class Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Political Theories Class - Essay Example This led to her detainment and interrogated by the Gestapo. Fearing for her life in Germany, she fled to France. In chapter three, she majors on why the Nazi government hated the Jews. She claims that the government spread this hatred because most of the Jews properties in Germany. In a bid for the German government to gain control of its citizens, they had to create a common enemy. She states that the holocaust was not about eliminating Jews but about consistency and megalomania among the Germans. In chapter 4, Hannah writes about a junior Jewish officer in the French army convicted of high treason. There was no extensive examination of the extension presented. Dreyfus was the soldiers name; this affair caused a significant scandal in the French government. The actual French officer who was a traitor was a senior officer acquitted after two hearings of his trial, and his name cleared. This shows how the government can make mistakes in trying to control the activities of its people. After his hearing in Paris, a considerable scandal arose, and that led to his reinstating in the army as principal. In conclusion, Hannah focuses on the effects the Jews suffered from totalitarianism. Her Jewish background helps her in

An observation report of a faculty member Essay

An observation report of a faculty member - Essay Example Let me start off the relating of my observations by first describing the kind of class that I was assigned to observe. While I was hoping to be assigned to a highly exciting and eye-opening class, I was instead assigned to an ESL class for college graduates who had very little English writing skills. The students in this English 100 class were all college school students who, due to one reason or another, managed to graduate from high school with very poor English writing skills. Gaining acceptance into college may have meant that they had the chance to get a better future by completing all the levels of their education, the problem of their English writing readiness became quite evident when they enrolled int heir regular English classes. Due to the serious nature of their problem in expressing themselves in English, these students were advised to enroll in remedial English writing classes. The aim of this type of class, is to improve their English writing abilities to the extent th at the student will be able to clearly and legibly express his thoughts and emotions through his writing. The professor in this class was a female in her late thirties who felt that the best way to help her students learn how to write in English was to ask them to engage themselves in a writing activity that they could relate to. Which is why she asked the class to write their personal memoirs. Since her students came from highly diverse backgrounds, their English writing skills seemed to copy the kind of background they were exposed to when they tried to express themselves through writing. However, the teacher, who used the â€Å"Daniel Stiepleman Cluster† in her class, managed to divide her time equally among the students and in the process, managed to help them improve their writing abilities in the process. She did this by clustering her class in groups that came from similiar backgrounds. This way the students shared a set of low writing skill problems that she could hel p them address by group rather than individually. In doing so, she allowed the class members to become teaching aides in a way because they found themselves in the unique position of helping one another improve their writing ability through consultation with one another. By asking the students to write their own memoirs, the professor actually encouraged the students to express themselves by discussing a topic that they are highly familiar with and therefore, gave them the confidence to take a chance upon which they could express themselves in English as best as they could. Since this was a basic English writing class, I observed that most of the students had apprehensions about how they should write about themselves and how they might be judged for their written grammatical mistakes. This was a point of nervousness for the students that the professor was able to diffuse by encouraging them to write regardless of their mistakes, which she would help them correct later on. It was her belief that unless they took a chance upon expressing themselves, they would never be able to do so. Part of her encouragement and genius in teaching came from the way that she effectively utilized the clustering technique in teaching the

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

Black - Essay Example The leaders of this organization enjoin to its members following of a strict Islamic code of behavior, which covers such issues as interpersonal relations, dress, and diet (Black Muslims, 1). The origins of Black Muslims are found in two black self-improvement movements initiated before the World War I. One of these organizations was the Moorish Science Temple of America, which was founded by Prophet Drew Ali in 1913. Soon after death of Ali in 1929, the movement has been headed by Wallace D. Fard, who has founded a mosque in Detroit in 1930 and thus has set a beginning of the Nation of Islam (Black Muslims, 1). Wallace Fard was also known as Master Farad Muhammad, and called the Great Mahdi, Allah, or God by Black Muslims (Black Muslims, 1). Fard claimed that he was a member of the Quarish tribe to which Prophet Muhammed belonged and called himself â€Å"Asiatic Black man† (Fishman, Eric, and Soage, 60). The second movement which has set the origin of the Black Muslims, was the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) founded by Marcus Garvey in 1914(Black Muslims, 1). Marcus Garvey was a black nationalist born in St. Ann’s Bay, Jamaica (Mugleston, n.p.). UNIA for Garvey was an instrument for racial advancement for the rest of his life (Mugleston, n.p.). The slogan of the movement was â€Å"One Aim, One God, One Destiny†, and appealed to the black American soldiers who came back after serving abroad during WWI to the racist society (Mugleston, n.p.). Adherents to Non Christianity were a group of people, some of whom have made their contribution to the birth of Black Islam. By the mid of 1970s, the total number of Non-Christian Religious Adherents in the US was almost 10% of the total population – 20,789,000 people. Black Muslims were a subcategory of this group and comprised 200,000 people in the mid of 1970s (Infoplease.com, n.p.). The share of Black Muslims among the

Commnuincation skills Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Commnuincation skills - Essay Example Passive listening is one directional communication whereby the receiver does not give feedback or make inquiries and probably may or may not comprehend the message of the sender. Passive listening is known to lead to mistakes that are costly, employees being unhappy and customer dissatisfaction. Some passive listening examples include listening to radio and television. Passive listening is one of the most common forms of listening in today’s world. While active listening is a two directional communication where both sides are contributing, as well as engaging in conversation. Furthermore, in order to become a better active listener, studying and training are necessary (Shwom and Snyder 36). Therefore, it is safe to utter that the listening skill that would enhance better communication would be active listening. In order to develop better active listening skills as well as bring success within a workplace of which every employer seeks, they are three main categories that need e mphasis, namely; accurate hearing, comprehension and interpretation, and lastly response. For example, distractions from the environment like noise from vehicles or ongoing construction sites can be considered a hindrance to accurate hearing while for comprehension and interpretation, which would include the language factor. An example to this would be if someone speaks in a different language, like say Spanish it is impossible to comprehend and interpret what has been said if the person does not know Spanish. In order to combat this, one needs to be multi-lingual, and this is where employers’ of multinational companies invest in, as well. In addition to being a more effective listener in comprehension and interpretation, the in cooperation of non-verbal communication and verification of personal understanding through queries and paraphrasing is necessary. Some examples of non-verbal communication would include voice of tone, facial expression, body language, as

European Practice Towards Asylum Seekers Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4500 words

European Practice Towards Asylum Seekers - Essay Example However, a recent poll revealed that on average the British public believes that 23 percent of the world's refugees and asylum seekers are in the UK, which is more than ten times the actual figure. According to the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees), there were almost 19.8 million people of concern to the agency worldwide as of 1 January 2002, of which over 12 million were refugees and 940,800 were asylum seekers. Approximately one in every 300 people on earth is a refugee. (Refugee, 2005a) two third of all refugees are hosted in the Middle East and in Africa. Taking the greatest burdens are Iran, Burundi and Guinea. Indeed, monthly asylum figures in countries such, as Tanzania and Pakistan are comparable to the total annual asylum application statistics of some of the European countries. (Refugee, 2005a) Population: The UK also takes in a small number of refugees relative to its population. Whereas the UK hosts just over 3 refugees per 1,000 inhabitants or 0.3 per cent of its population, Armenia hosts 70, Congo hosts 40, and Yugoslavia hosts 38. (Refugee, 2005a) Europe: While in terms of absolute numbers the UK received more applicants (85,865) than any other EU country in 2002. Most of the applicants were from Iraq, Zimbabwe, Somalia and Afghanistan, countries with well-documented human rights abuses. Between 1990 and 2000, just under two million people applied for asylum in Germany, four times as many as in the UK. When compared to the size of the total national population among European countries to host asylum seekers, the UK ranked only 8th in Europe in 2002 and 12th over the past decade as a whole (1992-2001). Whereas the UK received 1.9 asylum seekers per 1,000 inhabitants, it lagged well behind Austria (4.6 per capita), Norway (3.9), Sweden (3.7), Switzerland, Ireland (3.1), Liechtenstein (2.8) and Luxembourg (2.4). (Refugee, 2005a) Applications in the UK accounted for 19 percent of all asylum claims lodged in the industrialised world during 2002, followed by the USA (14 percent), Germany (12 percent) and France (9 percent). The UK, Germany and France accounted for 50 percent of all asylum applications submitted in Europe in 2002, with the UK taking 24 percent. However, the UK's refugee population is by no means disproportionate when compared to the rest of Europe. In 2001, the UK's proportion of refugees to its population was roughly in line with that of Europe as a whole a ratio of 1 to 317. Refugee Action supports current discussions amongst European governments for a common, unified EU policy for dealing with asylum applications which would ensure that European countries share their responsibilities while maintaining the highest standards of refugee protection and human rights. (Refugee, 2005a) During 1992-2001, while 86 percent of the world's estimated 12 million refugees originated from developing countries. For