Saturday, August 31, 2019

Accounting Career

Accounting Career Essay Kawanza Carey Everest Online University Strategies for Success 221 Accounting Career Essay Most people think accounting is just crunching numbers all day; everyone uses some form of accounting. There is much more to accounting than just crunching numbers. There are many types of accountants, covering a wide range of the business world, becoming an accountant opens a wide range of career opportunities. I want to become an accountant because it’s something that I’m familiar with since I prepare tax returns. Math has always been my favorite subject I enjoy working with numbers. Accountants help to ensure that firms run efficiently, taxes are paid properly and on time and public records are kept accurately. They analyze financial information for all different types of companies, individual clients, and Federal, State, and local governments. Beyond doing the basic tasks; providing information to clients by preparing , analyzing, and verifying financial documents; some accountants offer budget analysis, financial and investment planning, information technology consulting, and limited legal services. There are four major fields of accounting and auditing: public accounting, management accounting, government accounting, and internal auditing. Public accountants perform a broad range of accounting, auditing, tax, and consulting activities for their clients. Some public accountants decide to prepare tax returns while others offer advice in areas such as compensation. Public accountants; many who are Certified Public Accountants (CPAs), generally have their own businesses or work for public accounting firms. Management accountants are responsible for budgeting, performance evaluation, cost management, and asset management. They analyze and interpret the financial information that corporate executives need to make sound decisions. Government accountants and auditors work in the public sector, maintaining and examining the records of the government agencies and auditing private businesses and individuals whose activities are subject to government regulations or taxation. Those employed y the Federal Government may work as Internal Revenue Service agents or in financial management, financial institution examination, or budget analysis and administration. Internal auditors verify the effectiveness of their organization’s internal controls and check for mismanagement, waste, or fraud. They examine and evaluate their firms’ financial and information systems, management procedures, and internal controls to ensure that records are accurate and controls are adequate. Most accountants work in an office setting while other may be able to do part of their work at home. They work a 40-hour week job, but some may work longer hours if self-employed and have quite a few clients. During the tax season tax specialist often work longer hours. Accounting, bookkeeping, and auditing clerk are required to have a high school degree at minimum. Having an associate degree in business or accounting is required for some positions. Accountants and auditors need at least a bachelor’s degree in accounting or a related field. Some employers prefer applicants with a master’s degree in accounting or business administration. An accounting clerk should be very comfortable with working with numbers, enjoy routine because you’re going to be doing the same thing daily. Other personality characteristics to be a successful accounting clerk are computer literate, great communication skills, and ethical. You have to be professional at all time because there may be a lot of irate clients upset about getting audited. If math is your favorite subject and you get along with everybody then being an accountant is a great career for you. Each year, numerous jobs will become available, as clerks transfer to other occupations or leave the labor force. There would be many opportunities for temporary and part-time work. Clerks who can carry out a wider range of accounting activities will be in greater demand than specialized clerks. An example is the demand for full-charge bookkeeper is expected to increase, because they can perform a wider variety of financial transactions. Certified Bookkeepers (CBs) and those with several years of accounting or bookkeeping experience who have demonstrates that they can handle a range of tasks will have the best job prospects. Accountants will always be in demand so I hope to be successful when I complete my degree. (n. d. ) References General Accountant Certified General Accountant Board †¦ (n. d. ). Retrieved from http://certifiedgeneralaccountant. org/ Accountants and Auditors. (n. d. ). Retrieved from http://www. bls. gov/oco/ocos001. htm Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks. (n. d. ). Retrieved from http://www. bls. gov/oco/ocos144. htm

Friday, August 30, 2019

Investment and Japan Essay

1. Why, historically, has the level of FDI in Japan been so low? 2. What are the potential benefits to the Japanese economy of greater FDI? 3. How did the entry if Walmart into the Japanese retail sector benefit that sector? Who lost as a result of Walmart’s entry? 4. Why has it been so hard for Walmart to make a profit in Japan? What might the company have done differently? Japan, an island nation on the Pacific ocean, has none of the natural advantages that have facilitated cross-border trade and investment in other parts of the world. Also, Japan was badly defeated in World War II and occupied by Allied forces at the end of the war. Japan was totally closed to foreign investment during that period. The Japanese government sets up important barriers to reduce the foreign direct investment into Japan to develop the country by avoiding other countries’ financial shocks. Additional, the high rental and labor cost impact the Foreign Direct Investment level too. Japan as a host country, a greater FDI can result from the resource-transfer effect, employment effects, balance-of-payments effects on competition and economic growth. Walmart entered the Japanese market by purchasing large stakes in similar retailer Seiyu. Walmart helped Seiyu reorganized the structure, implemented point-of -sale and SMART inventory tracking systems, supply-chain and distribution management systems,etc. Walmart gave a free American strategy lesson to the Japanese retail industry. Walmart also increased the the level of competition in Japan, it resulted in stimulating the developing retail industry and lowering the price of products to improve economic growth in Japan. But Walmart as a foreign investor in Japan did not make profits from 2000-2010. During the years of losses in Japan, Walmart still believed the American style retail store can grow anywhere in the world. They have made similar mistakes just like in Germany. Walmart failed to grasp the fact that the consumer and retail environment in Japan has a different culture. In Japan, people puts loyalty on a highest value. It’s difficult to pursue the consumers from local â€Å"7-eleven† to foreign â€Å"Walmart†. â€Å"Every day lower price† strategy is not enough power to change Japanese consumers buying  behavior. Japanese consumers tendency to buy smaller quantities and good packaging or appearance of goods. The quality of product also play a huge role in their purchasing decisions. For Walmart, better understanding of Japan’s culture and improving relationship with supplier may help them move forward to success in Japan.

Thursday, August 29, 2019

English - Gay Marriage Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

English - Gay Marriage - Essay Example (Douthat). Though gay marriages are not recognized at the Federal Government Level, some States have allowed same sex marriages. The recent debate also seems to coincide with the campaign for upcoming elections. Recent comments by President Obama that same sex marriages should be allowed and that the final say in the matter should rest with the individual states therefore outline a general mood which might prevail in the campaign for upcoming elections. The overall arguments are based upon whether to keep the marriage as an institution intact or tear it apart by allowing same sex marriages. There is strong debate upon creating a new constitutional right and overthrowing a currently held constitutional right of marriage with opposite sex. ( Associated Press) What implications the debate on the same sex marriages will have for the next elections and how the presidential candidates in the next election should address this issue is what this paper will discuss and explore. Gay Marriages Gay marriage is a multi-dimensional issue with religious, political, social as well as moral consequences. Since the beginning of human history, men have always married women and that is considered a religious duty because marriage has been considered as a mechanism to legally reproduce. Reproduction therefore was one of the key reasons as to why marriages took place and the overall system of family built. Family is considered as the basic unit of a society and therefore marriage with opposite sex is considered as the only way through which family can be raised. (Taylor) Gay marriages are largely opposed based upon the concerns for raising the family, the religious issues, parenting as well as traditions of the societies. (Olsen). These social elements therefore may be shattered if same sex marriages are allowed and the very fabric of the society itself can crumble if same sex marriages are common. Further, it is also argued that the rights of the children being raised by their biol ogical parents could be hampered if same sex marriages take place. As such it is considered that the overall benefit of same marriages goes to the couple involved in it and other elements of the society may not benefit from the same sex marriages. (Goodstein) However, it is also critical to note that those who advocate for same sex marriages indicate that denying an individual to marry with a same sex partner is actually a discrimination based upon the sexual orientation of the individual. Gay Marriages in US Same Sex Marriages are not federally allowed in US however, some individual States have allowed gay marriages. Massachusetts was the first State which allowed same sex marriages in 2004 and was followed by other States too to allow the same sex marriages. Some other States are also lined up for allowing the same sex marriages and hence the overall legal support for gay and same sex marriages is increasing at the State level. (Press) One of the biggest hurdles towards allowing g ay marriages, legally at the Federal level is the Defense of Marriage Act 1996. Under this act marriage was defined at the Federal level and thus a legal cover was provided to the institution of marriage and family. It is critical to note however, that before 1996 State laws defined marriage and Federal Government accepted that definition though such marriages were not accepted by some other States. The overall public support for gay marriages is on the rise since 1980s and public opinion is divided on this issue. The recent surveys

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Modern Age Europe 1348-1789 Primary Doc Analysis Essay - 2

Modern Age Europe 1348-1789 Primary Doc Analysis - Essay Example It was the prevailing system of accepting scientific facts at that time which Galileo Galilei opposed; a system to which, instead of letting people tries to discover and learn the nature and processes that surround them; it was left to those with authority, who in this case was Aristotle. Criticizing Aristotle was almost the same as criticizing the church (William). Galileo contends that God has given man knowledge and reasoning so that he will be able to find answers to questions that come to his mind by endowing man â€Å"with senses, reason, and intellect†¦to give us knowledge which we can attain by them† (Letter to the Most Serene Grand Duchess). And so it is the nature of man to question things that happen around him. It is not surprising that Galileo’s thirst for knowledge about the natural world resulted in his discovery of facts leading from accepted knowledge by the Church during his time. In Part 13.5 of â€Å"Documents in Western Civilization†, Galileo’s wish to know about the formation of clouds eventually led him to discover how water vapor forms. During those periods, the only truth being accepted by the Church is that clouds are formed by water vapor. He argues that Aristotelian thinking and philosophizing based on religious scripture is nothing if the man fails to discover the properties of every thing around him. As he said, â€Å"And finally by elevating us to the ultimate end of our labors, which is the love of the divine Artificer, this will keep us steadfast in the hope that we shall learn every other truth in Him, the source of all light and verify† (Galileo Galilei). In chapter 13.6, his letter to the Most Serene Duchess Mother showed his frustrations against the non-acceptance of his discoveries and line of scientific inquiry, particularly his discoveries of the heavens.  Ã‚  

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT EUROPEAN AIRLINE CASE STUDY Essay

STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT EUROPEAN AIRLINE CASE STUDY - Essay Example The above issues have really affected the industry making airlines hard to survive and eventually leading to strategic alliances amongst the players in the industry. The macro environment analysis refers to the analysis of the political, economic, technological, environmental and social environment factors in the business environment. The Government has come in very strongly to deregulate the European airline industry by opening up the skies .This follows an agreement that was signed up between the United States Government and the European Union. As a result, the airlines are able to make more frequent flights, they have become more flexible in their pricing and it has helped to enhance and heighten competition in the region. Although opening up the skies has had a positive impact on the growth of the industry, the airlines have not been spared the threat of terrorism in the world. The United Kingdom has also come up with the smoke free policy, whereby people are required to abstain from smoking while in the airplanes and this has created a clean and safe environment for both the passengers and employees in the industry (Kassim and Menon 1996). The social environment has had both a po... The citizens have benefited from the multicultural environment thus they are able to gain new ideas and hence they have become more innovative. The rate of population growth is also increasing and thus new business trends are emerging and therefore the business is able to benefit from new management styles (Kassim and Menon 1996). Economic factors. The economic recession the industry has affected its rate of operation and has thus led to its slow rate of growth. The rise in the Gross Domestic Product has led to trade amongst the airlines very expensive. The rate of inflation has been high due to the high oil prices thus affecting the profit margins in the industry. The exchange rates have also affected the margins that are being made in the industry due to the large fluctuations (Kassim and Menon 1996). Technological factors. The emergence of the internet has led to the rapid growth of the industry. Online bookings have become possible thus eliminating the need for travel agents and eventually it has led to saving of time and money for the passengers. Genetic engineering and quality controls have improved and made the industry more innovative thus making the industry more effective and efficient (Kassim and Menon 1996). Environmental factors. The industry has made a negative impact on the environment. The industry has come under criticism due to emission of carbon into the environment, erosion of the zone layers and it has brought about the effects of global warming. However, even with these negative effects the industry has become more innovative as they try to come up with new mechanisms to manage and control the negative

Monday, August 26, 2019

A Successful Entrepreneurial Leadership Term Paper

A Successful Entrepreneurial Leadership - Term Paper Example A transactional leader always works and succeeds in an organization which only exists as it is without any conscious effort to change itself. Thus the transactional leaders focus more on the present issues and are more responsive in nature rather than being more proactive in managing the overall affairs of the organization. In such an organization, transformational leaders are least likely to be successful. (James C. Sarros & Santora, 2001) Transformational leaders, however, are more proactive and innovative in nature and therefore focus on developing solutions for the problems while at the same time taking the organizations in new directions. (Tarabishy). Transformation leaders, therefore, can succeed in those organizations which are ready to make a turnaround. Organizations which have reached their maturity stage or experiencing slow growth may be more suitable for the transformational leaders. Further, learning organizations can also be most suitable for transformational leaders b ecause they create opportunities for their followers to learn and innovate. Transactional leaders, therefore, may not be able to completely successful in learning organizations. Authentic leaders can be successful in organizations which are risk-taking and new in nature and therefore focus on making their way fearlessly. An authentic leader always ready to face anything and take unconditional responsibility, therefore, the organizations which are looking to make their way up will find authentic leaders as most suitable persons to lead the organization and make it one of the dominating forces in the industry. Transactional leaders, however, may not be successful in such organizations. Tools One of the most important tools offered through Small Business Administration as well as the Score is the information about how to secure capital for the startup of the business. Since most startup businesses fail to obtain seed capital to start their business, therefore, it is really critical tha t they must have access to the required funding.  

Sunday, August 25, 2019

The Necessity of Human Touch in the Early Childhood Education Essay

The Necessity of Human Touch in the Early Childhood Education Classroom - Essay Example By changing laws and educating parents and teachers about good and bad touch, it is possible to increase positive touch in the classroom, while still maintaining a strong stance on child molestation and abuse. One of the primary concerns of educators is the potential for lawsuits when they touch students. While less than 1% of cases of child abuse stem from child care facilities, these centers are increasingly putting up barriers between teachers and children, in an attempt to limit lawsuits (Heller 1). Sharon Heller, an expert on infant touch, shares that many of these rules include such ideas as "caregivers are told to let hugs come from children, to not put children on their lap, and to not help children in the bathroom" (1). Children who spend the vast majority of their days in child care will receive increasingly less touch, to protect the teachers from lawsuits. This issue arises from the lack of understanding of parents, educators or children of the difference between positive and negative touch. Positive touch is any touch that indicates to a child that they are important, and that their feelings matter. This touch is always friendly in nature, and needs to be approved by both chi ld and adult. Negative touch is any touch that is not desired by one of the two people involved, or involves touching of any genital areas, often called "the swimsuit region." Nan Stein, an expert and Ed.D, suggests "It's absurd to outlaw touch in the name of preventing sexual harassment" (Milo 5). The importance of touch in human development has been known since H.P Harlow did his research on monkeys in 1958. He showed that baby monkeys would choose a cuddly fake monkey over a plain wire monkey who provided food (Milo 3). Historically, a lack of human touch has been linked to hyperactivity, superficial relationships, disorganization, and an inability to adapt to social norms (Blackwell 4). In cross-cultural studies, it has been proven that children in other countries receive significantly more touch than American children in schools, and have significantly lower rates of school violence (Milo 4). Touch has also been shown to play a significant role in decreasing the level of cortisol in the human body. Cortisol, while a necessary chemical, destroys brain cells when it is present in high amounts in the body. In children who are not regularly touched, the level of cortisol is significantly higher than in children who are regularly held and hugged by others. The effects of long term levels of high cortisol include poor performance in school, lack of ability to retain information, and overall lowered achievement. However, when children move into a nurturing environment, rapid improvement is seen, and cortisol levels quickly diminish (Blackwell 6). In looking at the research, it is clear that touch plays a significant role in human development, at both the emotional and physical level. In addition to the research on the effects of touch and child development, there is strong concern that a lack of touch, especially with young children, may also be a form of neglect and abuse. According to Tony Del Prete, a school guidance counselor, By modeling an aloof interpersonal style and becoming less humanistic with our youth, we may be sending the message that violent and aggressive touching (as seen on TV, movies, and

Saturday, August 24, 2019

Role of the Government in the Prevention of Recession Essay

Role of the Government in the Prevention of Recession - Essay Example This wall was constructed in the 1640s by the Dutch. History has it that the West Indians from the West Indian Company bought the Manhattan land from their predecessors by paying them with goods worth $25. This took the Indians that lived in Manhattan then by surprise because to them land could not be privately owned. When they realized that the Dutch West Indian company had taken their land, they began to demand their land back. For this reason, the Dutch Indians constructed the wall to keep the Lenape Indians out. Lenape is the name used for the people that lived in Manhattan. The Dutch Indians made use of the African slaves, and the white colonists to construct the wall to a height of 12 foot by 1.1 km length, all along the length of the original fortifications (Gigante?s, 99). The Wall Street developed into a business location around the year 1685 when traders used to gather in distinct locations to purchase and sell bonds and shares. Over time, the trade developed, and there was the specialization of these merchants into dealers and auctioneers. The Wall Street also became a place where people hired slaves. Due to these continued trading activities on this street, the New York City Common Council declared Wall Street to be a slave market, where people could buy slaves or hire them. In the year 1792, the formation of the Buttonwood Agreement led to the formation of the New York Stock Exchange. Over the centuries, the Wall Street developed its own institutions and individual personality with very little interference from other societies, or none at all. Within these years, there has also been many changes on the wall street. At first, there was the development of the agricultural trade, and then came the industrial, and finally there was the financial development, in the 19th century. In 1888, the stock exchange started to be tracked. In the early years of the20th century, there was the construction of business buildings, which were skyscrapers. The 20th cen tury also saw the introduction of taxes on stocks transfers, though this was protested by stock clerks. The Wall Street is currently the centre of the largest stock exchange market in the world. In the 19th century, there was the development of a class of businessmen that were very wealthy. This extremely wealthy class used brutal and dishonorable ways to maintain their dominance in the major industries. This was referred to as the as the robber barons. For instance, they exploited the workers of industries such as the railroads, petroleum mad steel among others. These industries became monopolies due to exploitation by these robber barons (Gigante?s, 89). This period of domination by the robber barons lasted for a while, but people rebelled against their dominance; thus they were brought under control. For instance Cornelius Vanderbilt, subjugated the whole of the transport industry of the united states. He amassed a lot of wealth from his domination of the fleet of steamboats; the also owned and dominated the railroads. Cornelius Vanderbilt was said to be the richest man in the united states in the year 1877. Robber barons were also used to refer to the German lords who charged tolls on the roads that crossed their lands. Some also charged huge toll on the ships. The year 1929 brought about a turn in the economic history of the United States. During this time, the New York Stock Exchange experienced a financial crisis that had ever been experience. There were huge losses that were made during this time. This was also known as the â€Å"Black Tuesday†. It started in October 1929 and extended for a long time. This crash in the New York Stock Exchange lasted for ten years. This would lead to negative effects on the industrialization of most of

Influence of media on public opinion and foreign policy formulation Essay

Influence of media on public opinion and foreign policy formulation - Essay Example The issue of public opinion and its influence in foreign policy making has been a matter of dispute between different schools of thought both during and since the Cold War.On the one hand, realists find public opinion volatile, emotional, lacking coherence and structure, and with little if any influence on foreign affairs. On the other, liberalists suggest that public opinion on international affairs is stable, sensibly structured, consistent, and influences foreign policy making in a ‘reciprocal relationship’. Hence, some leaders take into account the public opinion when making important decisions others ignore it (Guraziu, 2008, p.2) In most of the democratic countries, governments often consider public opinion seriously since they need the support of the public to stay in power. If they avoid or neglect public opinion, it is difficult for them to win future elections. On the other hand, in countries where communist or totalitarian administration prevails, governments often neglect the public opinion because of the superior power enjoy by such governments. Such governments often put some control over the media in order to block the media from spreading information against the government. For example, in communist China, all the television programs and internet coverage of incidents were strictly censored before displaying it in front of the public. The advancements in science and technology caused tremendous changes in every segment of human life. The introduction of computers, internet, television, mobile phones and other digital equipment has made drastic changes in the communication world. It is often said that the information is at the finger tips at present. Earlier, people relied heavily on newspapers for getting information and therefore they succeeded in getting only delayed information. At present it is possible for the public to see the live telecast of incidents. In other words, public are able to get the information as soon as it happ ens now. Instant communication helped the public to respond more effectively to the information they are receiving. â€Å"Media is all about connecting people and mirroring the society that we live in. Media is all about reflecting on daily happenings around the globe. People are not just the audience but also an essential element of news in itself† (What is the Importance of Public Opinion in Media, 2011). Moreover, â€Å"The media are the deliverers of a message, and through this message the audience comprehends and forms opinions on events. This makes the mass media both an opportunity and a threat for the sides engaged in a conflict†(Simons, 2008, p.79). Media plays an important role in influencing public opinion on various issues. â€Å"In the vein of political theorist V.O. Keyes, I believe that the validity of public opinion is only as good as the what the media leads them to believe†(Jones, 2008). In fact ordinary people may not bother much to analyze th e information when they receive it. Media helps them to understand the consequences of certain information because of the in depth analysis and coverage of news and information happens in the current media. For example, US foreign policy and the Middle East affairs undergo immense public debate only because of the micro level analysis of these topics by the media. Public opinion is a dominant force in American politics. Research produced by the Statistics Department in Washington for the end of the 1990's indicated that in one year the average American would: watch about 1000 hours of network television watch about 400 hours of cable television spend 150 hours reading a newspaper spend 100 hours reading magazines (Public Opinion, 2011) This paper analyses the influence of media in formulating public opinion and foreign policy, taking US foreign policy and the Middle East affairs as examples. Influence of Media on Middle East Affairs & US Foreign Policy Significantly, during a Senate committee meeting on American foreign

Friday, August 23, 2019

Legal Rights of Students with Disabilities Essay - 1

Legal Rights of Students with Disabilities - Essay Example IDEA has widely been regarded as essential educational stitch that not only provides legal protections to the students with disabilities but also talks about the rights of their parents to seek education for their children across United States. From time to time, some amendments were also implemented to the act. At present, it works along with the No Child Left behind Act to assure that all the children in United States will get access to free appropriate education (U.S. Department of Education, 2006). Six Basic Components of Original IDEA 1975 The original IDEA comprised of six basic and key components that are essential to be understood for understanding the soul of the act. The first component of IDEA is free appropriate public education that assures that all the children with disabilities eligible for special education, will also be entitled to a free appropriate public education (FAPE). This principle also clarify that regardless of the severity of disability all the children re quiring special education would be â€Å"identifies, located and evaluated† (IDEA, 1975). ... The third component of IDEA is individual education program (IEP) that works to assure the provision of appropriate and individualized services to the students with disabilities on the basis of the current evaluation information. The forth component is Least Restricted Environment where IDEA guarantees that the children with disabilities could be provided with free appropriate public education in least restricted environment and disabled children would be considered to be placed in the general education classrooms. The fifth component is parent and student participation in decision making. This principle is meant to reinforce the belief that disabled children could be provided with appropriate education more effectively if the parents actively participate in the process. The parents and the students are required to play active role in each and every step of education. The parents and students are invited to every IEP meeting to encourage their participation in the process. The sixth component of IDEA is procedure and safeguard that defends the rights of the students and their parents involved in the program. It clarifies that the parents have the right to view the records of their children and they could also seek independent opinion about their child. The student is also assured of his rights even if his parents or guardians are not known. Without the completion of the evaluation process, the schools are strictly prohibited to make any changes in the instructions and education program for the children at their own so that the students could stay in unchanged environment during the evaluation period. IDEA Reauthorizations IDEA has gone through phases of changes with the intention of

Thursday, August 22, 2019

Importance of Technology in Classroom Essay Example for Free

Importance of Technology in Classroom Essay Technology is either a boon or bane, depends how and for what purpose it’s being used. If technology is used to cure diseases in people, to help people communicate with each other across geographical boundaries, to reduce human effort by making things simple, easy and accessible, it indeed is a boon. However, if science and technology is used to prepare nuclear bombs or other weapons of war, it is harmful. As pros and cons of technology have always been debated, with some people arguing that its the best thing to have happened to human race and some totally against it, it is often wondered should the children, the future of mankind, be introduced to technology at a young age in schools? What is the importance of technology in classrooms? Let’s find out the answers†¦ Importance of Technology in the Classroom Active Participation When students are learning through technology, they are themselves looking for information on the Internet. They make their own decisions regarding the information i.e. whether it is relevant or irrelevant. They have control over how to use or present this information. Thus, one of the main benefits of using technology for classrooms is that unlike a teacher-led classroom, where students passively receive whatever information the teacher is providing, in tech savvy classrooms, students are active participants. In-depth Knowledge Jon Stewart once commented, â€Å"The Internet is just a world passing around notes in a classroom.† By using the Internet technology, obtaining information on all kinds of subjects has become very easy. A student sitting in his classroom can learn how people in a small village in Africa live life. Thus, Internet is a kind of library which is at the disposal of a student with just a click. A student can acquire in-depth knowledge on any subject using this vast resource. Real-life Work Experience The importance of technology in the classroom can be gauged from the fact that it offers an experience to students similar to the working environment that one sees in offices. In technology savvy classrooms, a teacher acts as a facilitator who sets project goals for the students and provides them with the necessary resources and guidelines to reach those goals. The student himself makes decisions with regards to the design choices, the information he wants to use and display, the resources that he will use. You may read more on the importance of science and technology. Moreover, these days, students themselves are very tech savvy and may sometimes even know more than the teacher himself. So, there is a constant exchange of information between the students and the teachers. Such an environment prepares a student to work in business organizations in the future. Increased Motivation Researches have shown that there is great importance of integrating technology in the classroom. When students are taught through slide shows or by showing films, it makes the lessons very easy and interesting for them. It helps in their learning, at the same time motivates them to attend school everyday. Thus, another importance of technology in schools is that it brings down the drop-out rates. Technical Skills Using computers on a daily basis, helps the students in developing an understanding of the various computer tools and softwares. This kind of education prepares the students and makes it easier for them to learn about the various software applications in future. You may read more on why is technology so important today. This very well defines the importance of computers in the classroom.

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Sexuality in Mainstream Hindi Cinema

Sexuality in Mainstream Hindi Cinema Himakshi Ratti Introduction Films as medium of Mass Communication Film communication may be considered as a social process whereby a transmitted signal is received primarily through visual receptors (and, often, sound receptors) and is then treated as a message from which content or meaning is inferred. Film, as a symbolic form, is a process of communication that employs film, the medium, with its technology of optics, emulsions, and cameras, to produce a piece of celluloid with a variable-density silver nitrate surface. It is man who creates film communication. This definition suggests that a piece of film, in and of itself, is meaningless-that meaning exists only in a special social and cognitive relationship between a filmmaker and a viewer. This relationship occurs when a viewer chooses to treat a film not as mere signals triggering perceptual awareness and biological responses, but as message units that have been put together intentionally and from which meaning may be inferred. Cinema is perhaps the mainstream of all art forms, most popular and most accessible, especially in India, a country which produces most number of films in a year compared to any other country (barring Hollywood, perhaps), and a country where we have a large base of cinema-going public. Cinema, more than any other art, has the power to influence people. Therefore, it is very important to understand how the country, its people and its aspirations are represented in the cinema produced in the country. Cinema as a medium of mass communication can be seen at different levels, serving different purposes. It can be an art form, an entertainment, a social document or a social critique. Cinema can be all of these and at the same time be a means to something else – a mirror unto our lives, showing us exactly how we function as society. Mainstream Vs Alternative Cinema Mainstream films can best be defined as commercial films that are made by major entertainment studios or companies that are owned by international media conglomerates. Because of better financing, these films can afford more expensive actors, wide releases or limited releases, and are sold at popular retail stores. This has become known as the studio system. Films made by major studios or companies that are not owned by a media conglomerate but are distributed by a company owned by a media conglomerate are also considered to be mainstream and are often referred to as mainstream independent films. As a mainstream medi um (cinema needs money to be produced. Therefore, it must appeal to the mainstream audience, who will pay at the box office) cinema must, first and foremost, appeal to the mainstream audience. The definition of mainstream varies from society to society, from culture to culture. Broadly, it means representing the prevalent attitudes, values, and practices of a society or group, for example, mainstream morality. A cultural construct, when applied to art, mainstream may mean something that is available to the general public, or something that has ties to corporate or commercial entities. Sexuality in Hindi mainstream films refers to the presentation in motion pictures of sexuality or eroticism and sex acts, including love scenes. Erotic scenes have been presented in films since the silent era of cinematography. Many actors and actresses have exposed at least parts of their bodies or dressed and behaved in ways considered sexually provocative by contemporary standards at some point in their careers. Some films containing sex scenes have been criticized by religious groups or banned by Govt. or both. Sexuality in cinema has been presented in many genres of film; while in some genres sexuality is rarely depicted. Sex in films can be distinguished to a pornographic film and also from nudity in film, nudity can be presented in a sexualized context, for example nudity in naturalism would normally be regarded as non-sexual. In India, the entertainment industry is an important part of modern India and is expressive of Indian society in general. Historically Indian films have lacked the frank depiction of sex; until recently, even kissing scenes were considered taboo. On the other hand rape scenes or showing sexual assault were depicted openly. Currently some Indian states show soft core sexual scenes and nudity in films, while other areas don’t. Mainstream films are still largely catered for the masses of India, however foreign films containing sexuality are watched by Indians because of the same process of glamorization of film entertainment that occurred in Hollywood, Indian cinema, mainly Hindi-speaking Bollywood industry is also beginning to add sexual overtones. A Brief History of Bollywood Sex and Romance Bollywood classics cannot be beaten for their overt romantic tension, where intimate touching was replaced with the poetic, polite innuendo of hot rain and wet clothing. Indians are so reserved about what happens between consenting adults, considering India is the second most populous country in the world. In some ways, however, Hindi film makers have become more relaxed in their attitudes, as younger, Western-influenced generations come of age and make waves in an industry built on tradition. Previously unseen â€Å"taboos† like pre-marital sex, onscreen nudity and even wife-swapping have curiously been passed by the Central Board of Film Certification, the strict watchdog equivalent of the MPAA that has served as a censor since the early ’50s. Gathered below is a look at the landmark moments and trends that have raised eyebrows through Bollywood history. Bollywood in the 70’s and 80’s was becoming westernized. Back then the appearance of a plain white brassiere represented the forbidden nature of onscreen toplessness. An actress wearing just her over-the-shoulder boulder holder who turned out the lights, for instance, would be implying that she would soon be showing her breasts to her lover. If anyone realized the power of such clothed titillation, it was Raj Kapoor, whose films began to push the envelope late in his directorial career. His unparalleled 1973 teen romance â€Å"Bobby† made an overnight pin-up sensation of Dimple Kapadia when she appeared in a bikini, and 1978†²s â€Å"Satyam, Shivam, Sundaram† (which faced an uphill battle with the censor board, and was criticized by some as being exploitative) saw Zeenat Aman in a barely-there sari that defied physics by staying on. His final film, 1985†²s â€Å"Ram Teri Ganga Mali† caused further controversy when 16-year-old star Mandakin i appeared bathing in a waterfall, wearing only a sheer white. Today, bikini babes are far more prevalent in Bollywood culture, and 2000†²s â€Å"Hera Pheri† even depicted male sunbathers in bikinis, mistaken as girls from a distance by the film’s protagonist. Up until the ’50s, if Bollywood stars wanted to express love or even lust onscreen, clasping each other’s hands and staring longingly was about as risquà © as it got. Hugging and light face caressing became the next leap over the following three decades, but it wasn’t until the ’90s that kissing was really acknowledged, let alone done. A woman might lean in for lip service, but would shyly run away before the deal was sealed, or else the actual act would be covered by a veil in the moment before. While this, too, is changing today (superstar actor Aamir Khan even has a kissing clause put in his co-stars’ contracts; if they won’t kiss him, they can’t act opposite him), puckering up can still be contentious. Padmini Kolhapure made headlines when she merely gave Prince Charles a peck on the cheek, and after Aishwarya Rai got intimate with Hrithik Roshan in 2006†²s â€Å"Dhoom 2,† obscenity cases were filed. â€Å"Item numbers,† or highly sexualized, upbeat Bollywood songs with suggestive lyrics and choreography, began popping up in the late ’80s and especially in the ’90s. Designed to arouse, interest in the commercial films they appear in, item numbers are stand-alone showstoppers with no relevance to their movies’ plots, featuring either cameo appearances from famous stars — or more typically, â€Å"item girls.† Here, objectification should not to be confused with the sexy dancers in increasingly revealing clothing have become a little less stigmatized today, as some have used the showcase as a springboard into leading roles. Among the validated thespians, then, comes the notion of â€Å"skin show,† what India ambiguously calls any notion of actresses and even actors now, who are willing to flaunt more than what the conservative standards dictate. Dare-bare performers like Bipasha Basu in ‘Jism’ and the controversially outs poken Mallika Sherawat in ‘Murder’ have achieved notoriety for their scantily clad boundary-pushing alone. Alternative Lifestyles Bollywood plots have certainly progressed, less centered on arranged marriages and more on young urbanites dating and clubbing. But these are still baby steps compared to what has been accustomed to in Western society. India still remains closeted in changing sexual preferences. In 2003 â€Å"Kal No Naa Ho† treated homosexuality with slapstick, and the recent â€Å"Dostana† concerns two fakers in the same vein, but small strides have been made to bring sincerity and open-mindedness to the cinema. In 2005 â€Å"My Brother†¦ Nikhil† subtly brought awareness to the AIDS crisis, but it never could have existed without the hugely controversial 1996 release of Deepa Mehta’s â€Å"Fire,† the first Bollywood film to depict homosexuality. When the latter film opened, there were angry protests and widespread vandalism — movie theaters showing the film were violently stormed, with windows smashed and posters burned. While it’s hard to believ e such intolerance over so little could exist in the modern era. This too needs to be taken into consideration that â€Å"Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna† (which made waves for its dealings in adultery and divorce) and â€Å"Mixed Doubles† (about wife-swapping) were only made in 2006. REVIEW OF LITERATURE SEXUALITY IN HINDI FILMS Kaiser Family Foundation found that Bollywood films such as ‘The Dirty Picture’, ‘Murder 2’ are ahead of all in portraying sexual content on screen. The biggest worry is that the ‘Bollywood’ is considered as the mainstream Indian cinema and one of the best in the world. And when these films despite of having bold content and vulgar story make massive amount of box office collection cause more and more audience to turn towards cinema hall. Today’s film critics are also somehow responsible for this as they acclaim such new way of making Indian films representing bold topics. They appreciate the filmmakers work a lot and boost their confidence for again getting involved into such kind of projects, which the filmmakers think that they are versatile in handling those sensibly. Even the name of the film ‘The Dirty Picture’ sounds very strange and suggests that the film is on adult subject. It is really disastrous when such films ar e broadcasted on television after 2-3 months from its release so that the film gets noticeable to everyone in different classes of the society. Rise of Item songs in movies performed by leading actresses is another example of public display of sexuality.   AUDIENCE PERCEPTION ON SEXUAL CONTENT IN INDIAN CINEMA A journal of the Association for Psychological Science found that, sensation seeking did not entirely explain these effects; the researchers also speculate that adolescents learn specific behaviours from the sexual messages in movies. Many adolescents turn to movies to acquire sexual scripts that offer examples of how to behave when confronted with complicated emotional situations. Mainstream hindi cinema is most widely distributed cinema in India. Representation of sex in mainstream hindi films has veered between the sarcasm, comic and the criminal. Mainstream cinema now has adopted representation of sexuality in more realistic manner and is successful in raising, expressing and suggesting possible solutions to any problems in an effective manner. Sex in stories should be infused in such a way that the society starts accepting it. The authencity and genuinity of sex in real life should be accepted the same way in the films too. The society has grown in so many ways. Indians have embraced the western culture with open arms, but a hesitation still persists among the Indian audience such western trends i.e. sexuality in mainstream cinema. The reality quotient establishes an emotional connect with the audience. Movies containing sexual content create a negative impact on the viewers and on mass media. Still in Indian society, such obscene visuals have many ill effects on people. REASONS FOR INTRODUCTION OF SEXUALITY IN HINDI FILMS OHara said, These movies appear to fundamentally influence their personality through changes in sensation-seeking, which has far-reaching implications for all of their risk-taking behaviours, Movies get publicity out of pornographic content by showing it on screen. The media executives simply use their power to increase their ratings, popularity and to promote their movies. Portrayal of sexuality is used by film makers as a tool in order to appeal or attract maximum audience. Sexual content in films invite controversies which fetch a lot of free publicity for the film. Modern day film makers want the society to be open, frank and practical in their approach. The issues such as rapes, sexual assaults, etc. need to be addressed through mass media and create awareness amongst people. In order to give solutions and address such problems, the society needs to be comfortable with openly discussing and viewing such content. INFLUENCE OF SEXUALITY IN MAINSTREAM CINEMA Rajmeet Ghai points out that, Movies are harming our society .Gone the times when parents and elders were ready to watch the movie with their children! With the more western perspective, it is becoming seamlessly difficult for our culture to accept Hindi movies. Keeping aside the action and drama, the vulgarity depicted knows no bounds. India has always been known for its culture. However it’s rare to find movies based on any culture. Thanks to the media and the hype created of the celebrities personal lives, youngsters get influenced in the wrong way. The movies that depict extreme violence, murder cause mental harm to children. Teenagers become easy fashion victim of the skimpy dresses worn. Most of the movies show extreme drama which may hurt sentiments of people. The comedy movies, most of the times over do the humor by making a mockery of reality. Even though a majority of the movies are extremely entertaining, focus should be on culture, religion, etc. without hurting the sentiments of any community. Against Hindi movies can possibly be the best medium of entertainment. If made well, they can be easily used to educate the society on several issues. India being one of the largest movie producing country and due its wide acceptance, Hindi movies can be easily used to portray India’s art and culture. Most of the country’s population watches Hindi movies; hence it generates revenues rather than harming the society. They can be an excellent source of refreshment for stress. The movies should not always be taken seriously. It is not necessary that each Hindi movie needs to pass some message to society. Violence has existed for years now. Hence blaming the Hindi movies for depicting and encouraging violence is not fair. As a matter of fact, the movies depict that good always wins over evil. METHODOLOGY This chapter describes the methodology adopted for the study of Sexuality in mainstream Hindi Films. In the present day scenario movies and sexuality are inter-related concepts. Movies with sexual content are generally rated higher than those with no sexual content. The current study will make an effort to examine the sexual content shown in hindi films and its effects on its audience and their behavior. The two methods used are: CONTENT ANALYSIS: In this research, both a quantitative and qualitative content analysis has been done to determine the frequency of sexuality being portrayed in mainstream hindi films in the year 2013. All the hit films of 2013 have been calculated quantitatively determining the frequency and nature of instances of showing sexuality in a film. Here, unit of Analysis is any sexual gestures made in the movie. Frequency of portrayal of sex has been measured. This includes the sexual content in only mainstream hit Bollywood films. The qualitative content analysis is to do with the kind of sexual portrayal i.e. is it either to address a serious issue or is it just to titillate the audience n make money. SURVEY: This study explores the use of sexual content in mainstream movies as a communicative strategy among the audience of these movies by employing the cross-sectional survey. Sample- A non-probability sample of 100 people from the city was selected for the purpose of collecting information. Tool of Data Collection- The instrument used for data-collection in survey is a questionnaire. The questionnaire comprises of 12 questions and is designed in order to analyze the respondent’s demographics, their views on present day scenario of films carrying sexual content, their perception of the prevalence of the existing trends.

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Biological Psychology Applications

Biological Psychology Applications SOCIAL NEUROSCIENCE AND THE COMPLEMENTING NATURE OF SOCIAL AND BIOLOGICAL APPROACHES Frankie S. Frazier Jr Part A What careers other than psychology, would benefit from a foundational knowledge of biological psychology? There are a variety of professions that would benefit from the foundational knowledge of biological psychology, particularly, the guidance counseling field. A guidance counselor is an individual whose job description is to assist in guiding children toward making successful choices. Guidance counselors provide the support that is needed to help children who may be experiencing an unstable and/or somewhat confusing time in their lives. Children are offered additional support that provides the child with the foundation to thrive, instead of becoming yet another statistic. When it comes to the biological aspect of this particular career path, behavior definitely plays an important role in determining a child’s actions, a child’s emotions, as well as the child’s ability to learn within a classroom setting. â€Å"Biological psychology is the branch of psychology that studies the relationships between behavior and the body, particularly the brain† (Garrett, 2015 , pg. 3). A Mental Health counselor would also benefit from the foundational knowledge of biological psychology. A mental health counselor that chooses to work within a school environment would be able to provide further assistance. He or she is a critical link between the school faculty and â€Å"the child†. He or she has the background through his or her education and interactions with other children to better aid staff who may be unfamiliar with this area of study, to better understand the principles of human development, psychology, and mental health and change theories. Mental health counselors are also skilled in the assessment of people and situations, diagnosing, and providing referrals for treatment of mental disorders. Mental health counselors are experienced with effectively working with children who need the extra support beyond the services that have previously been available to them. Children that are also at a disadvantage academically, due to behavioral reasons are in di re need of more extensive interventions and can benefit tremendously from the prior knowledge and experience of a competent Mental Health counselor. A student’s inability to make good, solid behavioral choices often interferes with his or her ability to stay within the classroom setting, often affecting his or her opportunity to benefit from crucial instructional time. Children who take medication, may also struggle with ADHD or a plethora of other diagnoses, need the extra support. This somewhat levels the playing field so to speak, and give students with special needs the same opportunity to become as successful as their peers. What are the practical applications of biological psychology? When it comes to the practical applications of biological psychology, biological psychology combines research from genetics and physiology in order to be able to understand human behavior. â€Å"When it comes to how individuals think such as making decisions and choices, there’s a compelling theory that is a â€Å"mind† behind it all†. (Garrett, 2015, pg. 3). Biological psychology has many practical applications in the understanding of how the human brain functions. Understand and explaining how the brain works can be very complex. The brain interacts with so many aspects of the body to include: movement, body sensation, an individual’s speech, hearing, vision, and language. The brain functions in such a diverse and complex manner, which explains why many individuals would consider the subject psychology to be a very broad and controversial area of study when it comes to the relationship between the brain and an individual’s behavior. How will you apply what you have learned in this course to your life? How will I apply what I have learned throughout this course in my life? I know I will personally benefit from the foundational knowledge of biological psychology because of my current profession, as well as my future career goals. I currently work within an elementary school setting with students in grades kindergarten through fifth grade. North Charleston Elementary School is predominantly an African-American school, with only a small percentage of Caucasian students or students from other ethnic backgrounds. The school’s staff is well diversified, which in turn helps students who may come from other schools that aren’t as culturally diversified within the faculty population. I am now better able to relate to all students, regardless of race, gender, ethnic, or socioeconomic status compared to when I first started working as an educator. I am now confident in my ability and skills to not only relate, but differentiate between adversities that an individual student migh t be facing at home or within the classroom. Students often show a range of behaviors, both positive and negative, and tend to go through many phases, such as peer acceptance and peer-pressure. â€Å"Behavior results from the interaction of many wide spread areas of the brain† (Garrett, 2015, pg. 7). For the past seven years, I have spent my time as an educator working in a number of diverse elementary schools. Many of the schools were considered â€Å"high poverty† schools due to the number of students receiving primarily free or reduced lunch. I have had the opportunity to work with students, who despite living in high poverty areas, still came to school eager to learn and receive their education. Often times, their poverty stricken lifestyle was a motivating factor in encouraging them to get a quality education so that they could eventually break the cycle of poverty and strive to attain whatever goal they set. I have also had the opportunity to experience what it was like to work in more affluent areas of Charleston. There is a huge disparity between the two school environments. I believe that I have an advantage over individual coming from off the street without any experience. I believe that the experience that I have gained throughout these past years and all of the knowledge that I have acquired throughout this course will be advantageous to me in the near future. I am now able to better understand a child’s individual needs from a different perspective. When I first started working for the school system, one of the biggest issues that resonated with me was the lack of a support system in high poverty areas. The schools received less assistance and student interventions than the schools in the high income areas. I strongly believe that school’s physical location and/or culture dissimilarities should not dictate the amount of funds or resources available to a particular school is allocated. All schools should be equitable in financing and also, in meeting the needs of its student population and community. Every child deserves an equal opportunity to obtain a quality education. The current generation is our future and we need to become fully vested in it. If we invest our time, resources, and money into guiding our students now to eventually become our great leaders of the future. Studies have shown that we can choose to allocate our resources now to provide children with additional support and therapeutic interventions early on in their life that will lay the foundation for future success. Or, we have the option of ignoring our population of youth with the greatest needs to continue to be passed on from teacher to teacher or school to school, forcing us to have to invest more time and financial resources on remediation later on in their lives. The choice is ours! Success has always been my responsibility! As an educator, I will encourage, promote, support, and share in the ownership of a student’s success. Students should feel at ease when going to school, and never have to fear for their safety. Having the knowledge and skills needed to maintain order within a classroom are key factors when it comes to understanding the foundational knowledge of biological psychology. Insight into the foundational knowledge of biological psychology can contribute too many fields of study and career paths. Part B State the research problem The research problem expresses that approaches to human behavior cannot be fully explained by social or biological approach alone but as a multi-level integrative analysis. Researchers state, â€Å"Social and biological approaches to human behavior have contrasted as if the two maybe antagonistic or mutually exclusive† (Cacioppo Bernston, 1992, pg. 829). These contrasts have surfaced within the field of psychology. Tensions between biological and social approaches surface in behavioral neuroscience and social psychology. Human biology is rooted in concrete anatomy and genetics while the social science is completely opposite. Social approaches are based upon an abstract set of actions by different groups and societies and their influences. The research will be rooted and based on the differences in both approaches and how they can and do work together toward understanding human behavior. Provide an effective literature review of other studies done on the same research problem Science brief written by Kristen Jacobson, Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Studies summarizes that genetics and social environment are not only important to human development but can also play and integral role in the resilience to specific behavioral and psychological disorders. This study is comparable to the research problem because it complies with the idea that these approaches are not always mutually exclusive. The brief also supports the research hypothesis that the biological and social approaches must work as part of an integrated system of processes to better understand human development and behavior. (Kristen Jacobson, 2009) Discuss the importance or implications of this research problem The importance of the research problem is the understanding of human behavior. Understanding human behavior by using social or biological approaches may help to shed light on matters of violence, education, economics and environmental factors. Human behavior is said to occur from the interactions of many wide spread areas of the brain. Human behavior is susceptible and affected by contact and relationships with others. The human brain allows us to recognize faces but it is â€Å"language, the bedrock of complex social interactions†, that will nevertheless develop in all humans thusly affecting behavior. (Cacioppo Bernston, 1992, pg. 831) State the hypothesis The hypothesis for this article is that researchers want to determine whether or not â€Å"mechanisms underlying the mind and behavior are not fully explicable by a biological or a social approach alone but rather than a multilevel integrative analysis may be required† (Cacioppo Bernston, 1992, pg. 829). Researchers surmise that all human behavior at some level is biological. Others dispute that not only is human behavior biological but affected by social settings and environments. Research that has been gathered by both the psychological and biological fields have shown that human development and behavior is affected by both social and biological approaches. The study of animal behavior has also been utilized to further support this hypothesis. Discuss research method and rational for research method to be used in this study One research method that was used within this article was the experimental method. â€Å"An experiment is a study in which a researcher manipulates a condition which is expected to produce a change in the subjects’ behavior† (Garrett, 2015, pg. 97). Researchers found that animal studies provide the best experimental evidence for social influences on cardiovascular disease. Researchers used cynomolgus monkeys and found that in a series of studies, social disruptions promoted coronary atherogenesis. This implicates that the sympathetic nervous system is behaviorally induced. Discuss how the study would be designed to verify the hypothesis Design of the study would need to involve the consideration of social influences on biological processes, experiments with animal and/or human subjects to explain and quantify these findings. Utilizing various age, social and economic groups to differentiate the studies. Studies would be centralized around how extreme environmental factors play a role in human behavior and the biological effects. Describe how the validity of the research will be ensured Comparison and citation of similar studies done on the hypothesis may help to further validate the research. Expanding research groups from a localized setting to a global setting would help to ensure that the research is covering a broader audience. Research groups would contain not only age, economic and social variations but geographical influences as well. Results from this broader variation of test subjects would help to ensure that there is no bias in the research findings. Discuss the necessary criteria to ensure the study will be conducted safely and ethically I do not believe that any of these particular experiments were conducted in an ethical fashion. In my opinion, using animals, rodents etc. should never be considered an ethical approach to science. Animals have similar sensory receptors and while they may not be able to verbally report pain like humans, they most certainly â€Å"sense† or feel the pain. This can be observed in an animal’s response to pain. While an animal may not be able to convey in spoken words to a researcher that they are in physical or emotional pain, they can create audible sounds and display muscular reflexes that clearly confirm their discomfort. There was an experiment that was conducted using rodents such as rats or mice, in order to determine whether animals such as mice or monkeys had the same effect that humans may have when it comes to the social and biological approach. Although, I strongly disagree that the use of animals is safe or ethically safe, â€Å"research states that animals pro vide among the best experiment evidence for social influences on autonomic function and cardiovascular disease† (Cacioppo Bernston, 1992, pg. 829). Therefore, some of the implications and findings from research that requires the use of animals may potentially be somewhat accurate due to the in-depth studies that have already been conducted. Conclusion Biological and social approaches and how they work in conjunction to display their effects on human behavior have been the topic of discussion amongst researchers and psychologist. As there is a dispute between psychologist and biologist on which approach is most effective, both approaches have shown to be sufficient techniques in defining human behavior. Science studies research groups and experiments have been conducted to show these approaches are part of a multilevel system of analysis. Although both approaches have traditionally been viewed as opposing techniques, research studies have proven that there are complimentary. References Cacioppo, J. T., Bernston, G. G., (1992). Social psychological contributions to the decade of the brain: The doctrine of multilevel analysis. American Psychologist. 47, 819-1028. Garrett, B. (2015).Brain and behavior: An introduction to biological psychology(4th Ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Monday, August 19, 2019

Technology Paper :: essays research papers

Syndication of the Web 'Syndication involves the sale of the same good to many customers, who then integrate it with other offerings and redistribute it (Werbach, 2000).'; E-Trade is one such organization. They distinguish themselves from their competition by the way they package and price the information they sell not through the information itself. Syndication is a very different way of structuring the business of today. This way of doing business is very different than the way business has been done in the past. It requires small and large businesses to rethink their tactical and strategic plans, thus causing the reshaping of organizations. This will also change the way they interact with customers and partner with other entities. In addition, businesses will be forced to develop new models for collecting revenues and earning profits. Syndication has traditionally been rare in the business world for three reasons. First, syndication works only with information goods. Second, syndication requires modularity. Third, syndication requires many independent distribution points (Werbach, 2000). Within this syndication network, businesses can play three different roles or a company can play one role in a syndication network, or two or three roles simultaneously. The three roles are originators, syndicators, or distributors. The originators create the original product or content. The syndicators package the content for distribution to the distributors. Often times they integrate it with the product or content from other originators. And last but not least, the distributors deliver the content to customers (Werbach, 2000). Within the structure of syndication there are syndicators and distributors. Syndicators save the distributors from having to find all of the different originators in an effort to gather all of the content that they want to package and eventually put out for distribution. The syndicators are able to collect standard formats and contracts from a variety of sources and making it readily available. This part of the process frees the distributors from having to find and negotiate with dozens or even hundreds of different originators. This allows syndicators to act as information collectors by collecting and packaging digital information in a way that adds value to it. In the physical world, it is very difficult to find a syndicator that works alone and is not associated with the entertainment industry. Technology Paper :: essays research papers Syndication of the Web 'Syndication involves the sale of the same good to many customers, who then integrate it with other offerings and redistribute it (Werbach, 2000).'; E-Trade is one such organization. They distinguish themselves from their competition by the way they package and price the information they sell not through the information itself. Syndication is a very different way of structuring the business of today. This way of doing business is very different than the way business has been done in the past. It requires small and large businesses to rethink their tactical and strategic plans, thus causing the reshaping of organizations. This will also change the way they interact with customers and partner with other entities. In addition, businesses will be forced to develop new models for collecting revenues and earning profits. Syndication has traditionally been rare in the business world for three reasons. First, syndication works only with information goods. Second, syndication requires modularity. Third, syndication requires many independent distribution points (Werbach, 2000). Within this syndication network, businesses can play three different roles or a company can play one role in a syndication network, or two or three roles simultaneously. The three roles are originators, syndicators, or distributors. The originators create the original product or content. The syndicators package the content for distribution to the distributors. Often times they integrate it with the product or content from other originators. And last but not least, the distributors deliver the content to customers (Werbach, 2000). Within the structure of syndication there are syndicators and distributors. Syndicators save the distributors from having to find all of the different originators in an effort to gather all of the content that they want to package and eventually put out for distribution. The syndicators are able to collect standard formats and contracts from a variety of sources and making it readily available. This part of the process frees the distributors from having to find and negotiate with dozens or even hundreds of different originators. This allows syndicators to act as information collectors by collecting and packaging digital information in a way that adds value to it. In the physical world, it is very difficult to find a syndicator that works alone and is not associated with the entertainment industry.

Sunday, August 18, 2019

The Attorney-Client Privilege Essays -- U.S. Law

â€Å"With liberty and justice for all.† Now this all too familiar clause is often forgotten like the toils of soldiers on the battlefield, repeated ad nauseum throughout the echoing literature left by our founding fathers and throughout the annals of history. America has been shown to persevere through the greatest of trials truly reflecting the American patriot’s desire to not only uphold freedom, equality, justice and humanity, but also to remember the faint yearning whispers of the oppressed crying out â€Å"Let freedom ring!† According to Michmerhuizen the Attorney-Client Privilege means â€Å"The concepts of lawyer confidentiality and Attorney-Client Privilege both concern information that the lawyer must keep private and are protective of the client’s ability to confide freely in his or her lawyer † (1). I firmly believe that the Attorney-Client Privilege should not be abolished because it would be changing something our nation has been exp osed to for so long, helps build a good relationship between client and attorney, and is most importantly the right of every American citizen. Although the other side of the issue makes valid arguments, the constitutional rights of every American citizen and the long-standing tradition of the Attorney-Client Privilege is the epicenter of the monumental success to our judicial system. The Attorney- Client Privilege is the agreement between an attorney and their client that mandates the communication between the two parties to be fully confidential and undisclosed under any circumstances (Sheila 138). There are various cases that highlight the importance and practical use of the Attorney-Client Privilege that could help one better understand what this entails. A specific situation in which the Attorne... ...n Historical Perspective on the Attorney-Client Privilege." Jstor.og. California Law Review. Web. 15 Apr. 2012. Maloney, Sheila. The American Bar Association Guide to Resolving Legal Disputes: Inside and outside the Courtroom. New York: Random House Reference, 2007. Print. Michmerhuizen, Sue. "Confidentiality, Privilege: A Basic Value in Two Different Applications." Americanbar.org. Center for Professional Responsibility, Mar. 2007. Web. 15 Apr. 2012. . Schachner, Robert W., and John F. Phillips. How & When to Sue Your Lawyer: What You Need to Know. Garden City Park, NY: Square One, 2005. Print. Silverman, Arnold B. "Silence Is Golden—The Attorney-client Privilege." Jom 49.6 (1997): 62. Print. "What the Attorney-Client Privilege Really Means." Sgrlaw. Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP. Web. 15 Apr. 2012. .

The Blair Witch Project :: essays research papers

My overall impression of the movie is that it was a very scary movie that made my hair stand up and gave me the chills. The major theme or statement that I learned from the movie was that it's better to stay on the beaten trail. The performances by the major actors and actresses were great. Heather Donahue did a great job in getting the group lost in the woods. She did it with the confidence that she would find her way back. Her naà ¯ve personality was a great build up for the movie. Joshua Leonard played a good cameraman in the group. He kept the relationships between characters friendly. Michael Williams expressed his feelings when things weren't going right. His outbursts made his part likeable. Some noteworthy supporting players were all the local town folks. They did a good job of telling the story of the Blair Witch. On October 21, 1994, three college aged students (Heather Donahue, Joshua Leonard and Michael Williams) go to the Black Hills Forest of Maryland, to make a documentary video of the local legend, the Blair Witch. They were never seen again. One year after their disappearance their video footage is found. The video footage is about the documentary of the Blair Witch. The footage contained interviews of the local town folk. They told all of what they knew of the legend of the Blair Witch. After they had finished the interviews the three go into the Black Hills Forest to do some exploring. When the navigator and leader of the group Heather gets the group lost their relationships starts crumbling and their tempers start to flair. By the third day of being lost there seems to be no hope of finding their way back. Starting that night they are aware of another presence in the woods with them. The forth day goes all right but again at night they are disturbed by loud noises away from their camp. By this time they are completely lost in the woods. The next day Michael out of a fit of anger throws the map into a lake when the other two aren't around. After another couple of days their fear and short tempers is driving them mad. The noises are getting closer and closer each night and soon the filmmakers start turning up missing one at a time. The director's style was very effective.

Saturday, August 17, 2019

Draft Statistics on Health Care Prescription Errors Essay

Relation between Error in Healthcare prescription and the inconsistency in Technological information Introduction Background Information            A lot of errors are occurring within the healthcare field lately. They are a result of many factors. Among the principle causes of error are related to wrong prescriptions. As indicated by Benjamin (770), one of the elements that is playing a key role ion this is the use of advanced technological methods. Computers have been used to aid in the computerized entry of prescription orders. Depending on the intensity of the prescription, they can result in serious injuries on the patient or even lead to fatality incidences. In turn, they lead to unnecessary court cases and legal suits that eventually cost many healthcare institutions and practitioners a lot of money that is paid to cater for the damages (Carroll 52-8). As such, there is a need to study the main causes of wrong prescription to ensure that such avoidable consequences are kept at their possible minimal rates. The main questions that will be answered in this study include:            What are the most common types of error in healthcare prescriptions?            What kind of information technology is used in the provision of proper prescription?            Are there specific errors that are related to inconsistently provided information in the same prescription order entry? Methodology            In this study, both primary and secondary data collection methods will be employed. It will include the use of surveys for the collection of first-hand information. In this sense questionnaires and interviews from the participants will also be used to gather information for the data. For accuracy and proper validation, these will be combined with secondary sources such as the national health statistics (Wu, Pronovost, Morlock 88). Data analysis            In this study, the..method of data analysis will be used. The method mainly†¦. Findings            Previous research performed on this topic revealed that†¦..Thus, in relation to this study, it was evident that†¦.. Conclusion            It is important that the laid down professional ethics are adhered to in different fields. This is especially within the medical field where a slight mistake can lead to devastating consequences. Therefore, healthcare providers are always obligated to use the knowledge that they acquired in their studies as well as new knowledge and practices appropriately. They should ensure that drugs are prescribed in the most proper ways to avoid errors. In particular, computerized drug entries should be counterchecked to eliminate disparities. However, owing to the continuous change in the nature of disease processes and hence the production of advanced drug formulas, there is need to conduct more research. These will provide more guidance to guarantee safe drug prescription by providers of healthcare services using new technological methods. References Benjamin, D. M. Reducing medication errors and increasing patient safety: case studies inclinical pharmacology. Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. 2003; 43:768–83. Carroll, P. Medication issues: the bigger picture. RN. 2003; 66(1):52–8. Wu, A. W., Pronovost, P., and Morlock, L. ICU incident reporting systems. Journal of Critical Care. 2006; 17(2):86–94 Source document

Friday, August 16, 2019

History of Greek Theatre Essay

Greek theatre took place in large amphitheaters. The actors were a chorus and their leader. There was not multiple characters as we now have today. The leader was the main and only character. At this time the lines were more chanted than spoken. Masks were worn to represent characters and high-soled boots worn to add height to actors. Greek drama was dominated by the works and innovations of five playwrights for over 200 years. The first three of these wrote tragedies. In these ancient tragedies many new innovations came to light that are still used today in theatre. One was the concept of a second actor, expanding the possibilities for plot and interactions with characters. Then came the third actor which expanded this even more. The role of the chorus in Greek drama shrunk so that the characters could more develop. The last two Greek playwrights focused on comedies. Throughout the history of theatre, comedies, made up of current standards for humor, have not survived the ages as well as tragedy. The popularity of these first comedies and the diminishing appeal of tragedy to the audiences of the time, can also be seen as a comment on the role which theatre plays in society at large. Tragedy was at its height in Greek society when that society was at its height. Comedy was most popular during the decline of Greek government The Romans took much from Greek theatre. Although Roman theatre may not be held in the same high esteem as that of the Greeks, we have inherited much from the influence of the Roman Theatre. One odd example is the word â€Å"play† itself, which came from Latin translation of the word ludus, which means recreation or play. Roman theatre had two parts: Fabula Palliata and Fabula Togata. Fabula Palliata consisted of mostly translations of Greek plays into Latin. It was here that the idea of subplot was introduced. This helped plays contrast the reactions of different sets of characters to the same events or circumstances. The Fabula Togata were more about broadly absurd situations and humor of a physical nature. Rome theatre consisted primarily of Fabula. Plays of a more serious literary nature continued to be written, but these were not intended to be performed. They were more to be read or recited. The influence of the Roman world on the form of the stage is one  which had a more lasting effect. The greatest impact Rome may have had on the theatre was to lower it in the esteem of the Church, an impact that would slow the growth of the dramatic arts for several centuries. The inclination toward low comedy combined with its association and the entertainment of the arena contributed to its disfavor by officials of the early Christian Church. Plays were associated with either comedy of a coarse nature, or with pagan rituals and holidays. It was the latter that accounts for the survival of theatre through the Middle Ages. It was written that theatre died following the fall of the Roman Empire, and its memory was kept alive only in the performances of roving bands of street players, jugglers, acrobats and animal trainers. However, while such groups did help to maintain certain aspects of theatrical art, the Church was a major contributor to the preservation of theatre. It is ironic that the Church, which caused theatres to be outlawed as the Roman Empire declined, was one of the primary means of keeping theatre alive through the Middle Ages. This resulted from the Church’s need to establish itself in the community. The Church began to use dramatic form to illustrate the stories underlying holidays so as to reinforce their religious origins and to better communicate the stories to an illiterate congregation. At first the parts played in these simple religious re-enactments were acted out by priests in the sanctuary of the church. The members of the congregation clearly enjoyed and were moved by these presentations. The dramas continued to grow, moving out of the sanctuary and into the open air in front of the Church. Ultimately, the members of town began to contribute to these dramas. Which continued to grow more elaborate with time. Known as passion plays, miracle plays and morality plays, they continued their close connection with the Church and church holidays, but began to introduce elements of characters that were more contemporary in nature.

Thursday, August 15, 2019

Deviance in Society

The study of sociology demystifies that what is considered deviant behavior in one society may not qualify to be deviant in another. A number of other factors determine the qualification of this definition of deviance. For instance, deviant behaviors or acts may be classified as truly deviant depending on the condition in which they occur. Additionally, behaviors or acts can be tagged ‘deviant’ depending on the historical era.This implies that, from one historical time to another, some behaviors or acts universally known to be deviant behaviors are likely to change their status definitions to be ‘not deviant’ as what we can learn from Rosenhan (1973) and Eqbar (1998). This paper takes a critical look at the varying definitions of deviance in different circumstances presented by both Eqbar and Rosenhan. Sociological Approach to Deviance (Eqbar (1998) and Rosenhan (1973)Both Eqbar and Rosenhan share the same approach in defining deviance and agree that it is r ather a complicated issue that needs to be understood. Eqbar attempts to explain deviance from the most complex issue of terrorism and carefully unfolds historical stories to at least come up with some imagery explanation. Eqbar explains that terrorism which is a serous matter in the world today which is ever changing begs more attention from world leaders to accurately mark on its causes and the remedial actions (Eqbar, 1998).On the other hand, the issue of proliferation of mental hospitals is an issue of importance to Rosenhan which deserves much attention. Similar to Eqbar, Rosenhan is caught in dilemma in identifying accurately who is sane and who is insane in psychiatric environment and ends up referring himself a ‘pseudopatient’ (Rosenhan, 1973) Eqbar’s Approach to Deviance The sociological interpretations have used history as a tool to understand how deviance can change with time. One of the most relevant is examples is presented by Eqbar (1998).Ahmad Eqba r while delivering a presentation at the University of Colorado in October 12th, 1998, identified how the West perceived Yasir Arafat and how this perception faded with time and almost disappeared. Between 1969 and1990 the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) was the centerpiece for all terrorist activities and Arafat was time and again described by the Western media as the â€Å"Chief of Terrorism† particularly by the New York Times William Safire (Eqbar, 1998). Earlier in 1930s and 1940s, the same description was coined to the Jewish underground living in Palestine.However, things changed and the image was turned inside out! Eqbar (1998) noticed a unique marriage between the West and Arafat when he saw a picture of the leaders Arafat, Bill Clinton and the Israeli’s Prime Minster, Benjamin Netan seated together on the September 29th, 1998. Arafat who was frequently known as a man of the guns and an enemy to the Western people was at this moment branded a new image. This example as observed by Eqbar clearly indicates that the labeling of objects or personalities as deviant tends to change with history.Yet another shocking experience Eqbar writes about is the time when President Ronald Reagan, from the West, warmly received a group of men from the East in the White House. In his speech, President Reagan in 1985 referred the bearded men as the Afghan Mujahiddin who acted as the â€Å"moral equivalent of America’s founding fathers† (Eqbar, 1998). A rather controversial reminder is the one time peaceful relationship that existed between the al-Qaeda leader, Osama Bin Laden and Thomas Jefferson and George Washington.Bin Laden who after the September 11 attach was expected to be killed was a moral equivalent of the two leaders (Eqbar, 1998) but was demoted and got angrier to revenge in all ways. According to Eqbar (1998), deviance is seen to change with time as he draws an example of terrorism. Bin Laden, who was once the moral equival ent to Jefferson and Washington became a dangerous terrorist after his status demotion. In this perspective, Eqbar tries to explain that terrorism, which is a deviant behavior, tends to change with time such that today’s hero is tomorrow’s terrorist and today’s terrorist is tomorrow’s hero (Eqbar, 1998).Rosenhan’s Approach to Deviance Another sociological approach to deviance can be seen in the works of Rosenhan (1973). Rosenhan takes us to the sociological environment of a psychiatric hospital where he finds himself in a state of dilemma to differentiate sane people from the insane. He blames factors such as depersonalization, powerlessness, mortification, segregation as well as self-labeling in playing critical roles in counter-therapeutics. In psychiatric hospitals, it emerges to be a challenge to make distinctions between the sane and the insane.The meaning of behavior in the hospital environment can easily be construed. Rosenhan (1973) takes u s through some of the conditions that totally change the true meaning of sanity in hospital environment and we can make an extrapolation to one of the sociological understanding that deviance is relative to the prevailing conditions. The conditions in hospital environment such segregation, depersonalization, self-labeling and mortification which are always crafted in larger part construe the meaning of sanity.Dealing with Deviance in the Society Important insights can be obtained from the two approaches and definitions of deviance. The two definitions, Ember’s and Rosenhan’s can be intermarried to help solve crimes such as terrorism, rape, drug abuse, felony and murder which have become a challenge in the society. There seems to be different approaches how people view both issues of terrorism and sanity. Understanding the approaches drawn by Eqbar and Rosenhan will help appreciate these differences and deal with crime in the society.Deviance changes with time as Eqbar draws it from the observation of Osama Bin Laden who was once a friend to the western and later become the worst enemy. Equally, the change of deviance is drawn by Eqbar in the case of Arafat who was once an enemy to the West but later a friend. While Rosenhan does not provide a straightforward definition on how to differentiate sanity from insanity in hospital environments, he admits that the psychiatric hospital provides a unique environment that makes the definition of sanity to surface.Rosenhan (1973) identifies the existence of hospital conditions such as depersonalization, powerlessness, mortification, segregation as well as self-labeling to play a critical role in counter-therapeutics. The issue of proliferation of mental facilities in communities is the aim of Rosenhan’s approach. Using Rosenhan’s approach will ease the pressure in these facilities as the accurate psychiatric labels will be used in admitting individuals in psychiatric community facilities (Rose nhan, 1973).Another issue that might be solved from Rosenhan’s approach is the need to increase the manner how mental health workers should be sensitive to the position of psychiatric patients in Catch 22 and increase research into psychiatry. This is because to other people, one can be tagged insane while to others ‘sane’. This is similar to what Eqbar observed in the issue of terrorism. Together, these approaches can be applied in understanding and reducing deviance in the society. References: Eqbar, A. (1998). Terrorism: theirs and ours. Retrieved August 15, 2010 from,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://therearenosunglasses.wordpress.com/2010/01/31/terrorism-theirs-and-ours/ Rosenhan, D.L (1973). On being sane in insane places. Retrieved August 15, 2010 from,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://psychrights.org/articles/rosenham.htm

Wednesday, August 14, 2019

Moliere’s Tartuffe and Rousseau’s Confessions

Each character Is guilty of stealing something for their personal gain. However, when analyzing their actions of theft, there Is clear evidence of contrast. In â€Å"Confessions† Rousseau Is a mere child and steals Males ribbons simply because she Is the first name that floats Into his head. When asked how he got the ribbon, Rousseau blames the cook. â€Å"They Inquired how I got hold of It. I grew confused, stammered, and said with a blush It was Maroon. The fact that Rousseau is a child and demonstrates when he is scared when asked about the ribbon helps lessen the severity of the crime and helps ease the burden for future forgiveness. This greatly contrasts from Tartuffe who can be described as an undermining hypocrite throughout the play and steals solely for personal gain. The face that Tartuffe is a grown man and understands his actions greatly contradicts with Rousseau childish mistakes. Tartuffe displays a heinous crime in contradiction to the trivial crime of Roussea u.When comparing the aftermath of the crimes, the two works differ in the shared theme, regret. In â€Å"Confessions† Rousseau does lie when asked if he stole the ribbon, but Rousseau is constantly haunted with this crime throughout his life. â€Å"There ended the serenity of my childish life. From that moment I never again enjoyed pure happiness. † Rousseau is feeling so guilty of small rime he committed as a child he writes an entire confession, this greatly differs from Tartuffe.When Tartuffe is handcuffed by the officer, Tartuffe displays the same hypocritical attitude that was evident throughout the play. The last words of Tartuffe, â€Å"To prison? This can't be true! † sum up perfectly the zero regret that Tartuffe shows even though he knows he has been caught. If looking the two works as a whole based solely on regret there is clear distinction. Rousseau, a child, committed a crime that he Is obviously regretful about. Then there Is Tartuffe, where there is no sign of regret and deserves to be imprisoned forever.

Tuesday, August 13, 2019

Ban the Burqa By Claire Berlinski Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Ban the Burqa By Claire Berlinski - Essay Example Claire’s firsthand audience comprised of the magazine’s subscribers and the online surfers, who are less inclined to the reality of cultural and religious significance behind the Burqa ban. Because of the controversies surrounding the banning of Burqa in western countries, it makes sense that her article would highlight the importance of the issue and bring media exposure. Taking advantage of the web platform, she tends to articulate her opinion through the online magazine, for expanding her audience to the global community, bringing greater insight and diversity to the discussion. The Burqa is viewed as one of the traditional Islamic religious ideals, and a visible signifier of Islam and the Muslim people, especially the Muslim women. Even though there are many connotations based on this issue of banning the Burqa, the public rambling and the media stereotyping is the most common consideration. The author clearly poses her argument favoring the ban of Burqa, implying that the use of headgears reveals Islam’s conception of women, women oppression and gender apartheid. The primary purpose of the article is to justify the ban on the Burqa, with considerations on social welfare, women’s freedom and religious oppression. However, the thesis stated in the article expresses a sidetracked view of the author, ignoring the religious ideals and personal freedom of women in a democratic society. The author clearly uses the rhetorical strategies of logos, ethos and pathos to seize the intended audience. At the start of the article, Claire uses ethical appeal that would convince the audience to give consent for the credibility of the argument. By providing facts and real life experiences, the author persuades the audience with Ethos appeal. She even presents the negative impacts of the ban on the Muslims and their religious freedom. â€Å"These bans are outrages against

Modern China Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Modern China - Essay Example However, things have significantly changed during the twentieth century where traditions have been greatly rejected by the Chinese. Instead, they are turning to modern life by abandoning indigenous ways of dressing and practices for the modern way of life. This paper will try to describe the meaning of a nation according to empires, outline the revolution of making a new citizen in China, implications of the same, the techniques used as well as participants of the revolution process. The nation of China was long time ago composed of small communities until when transformation took place over the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The kind of leadership that was in place was quite different to the current one since centralization was in practice as opposed to decentralized leadership practiced today. The ruler of the state was an emperor the Son of Heaven who held the central position of cosmos (Harrison 2). Besides the emperor, there existed bureaucracy education with characteristics that clearly portrayed existence of modern China. However, it is worth noting that, the emperor was then perceived as world but not as a country. Nevertheless, this did not mean that the Qing courts could not recognize the presence of other nations since they could have negotiation with foreigners only that the negotiations could never be allowed to erase Chinese culture. Transition is no longer embraced by everyone especially illiterate ones, for example, primitive people could ea t a little human fresh but later after realizing that it was not right, some stopped the ordeal completely while others behaved as if they had stopped but still they could eat human fresh (Lu and Yang 9). The same happed during China transition where some people were ready to abandon culture and embrace new life style while others could not. However, failure to wholly allow foreign culture have impact on the Republic of China economy,