Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 4

Assignment Example One of the various changes experienced by the health care system is the change of continuum of care. Continuum of care refers to involvement of integration of various systems of care that assists patients from time to time through various means of services of health (Columbia University Medical Center, 2012). For example: in the past care was restricted to health care organizations and settings, but now health care providers are needed to provide services at different settings such as home and community centers. Now nurses are required to be culturally competent so they can deal with different patients coming from different cultural backgrounds and understand issues in the context of patient’s culture. The focus of health care systems used to be on helping patients get better, now the focus has shifted to disease prevention and individual well being. Accountability of the health care service providers have even changed. In the past, care providers were paid for their services on the basis of fee for each service. This promoted health care professionals to increase the number of services and they started focusing on quantity of service rather than quality of service. One method used to fix this issue is creation of Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs); such organizations have been promoted and accepted by insurance companies who cover health care and by the government. ACOs are created in such a way that certain amount of service providers obtain responsibility of caring for a batch of patients and focus is on treating and providing health service to the entire batch (Dickerson, 2011). Compensation is paid to these service providers by Medicare and insurance companies in return for saving the expenditure and cutting down the cost of treatment while providing very high quality treatment to the patient. Another new system that is gaining popularity in health care system is patient centered medical homes, this system has not only changed the previous method s of providing care, and it has even increased the required amount of nurses and their competencies (Haney, 2012, p.5). Medical homes comprise of providing health care services in teams, the leader of this team is a physician and his task is to provide health care services to patients on an ongoing and continuous basis with the main aim of achieving higher quality health care for patients. This approach specializes in providing health care services to the youth, kids and adults. An important component of this system is care coordination and for the purpose of care ordination, highly trained staff is required who know how to use technological advancements and they should have the ability to work in teams. Surveys have shown that people have started giving importance to prevention of diseases and well being of individuals over healing diseases, this issue has even been addressed in legislative and funding for prevention has been increased by the government (HelathCare, 2012). The shif t from treatment to prevention and wellbeing of patients and individuals has been given great importance by Nurse Managed Health Care Centers. These facilities charge less than what physician led health care centers charge and there is an increase in demand for such centers because of the continuous increase in cost of health care services. The focus is on care systems that are community based has been increased and more people have been covered through health care insurance

The Last Unicorn And Song of Kali Essay Example for Free

The Last Unicorn And Song of Kali Essay Plot Summaries The Last Unicorn The Last Unicorn’ begins in a lilac wood where two hunters discuss the disappearance of unicorns from the world. One of them is convinced of the existence of a unicorn, because the forest they stand in has magical powers. He calls out to the unicorn to protect herself, as she is the last of her kind. The unicorn hears the entreaties, is moved by the hunter’s words. It leaves the safety of the forest to find the truth. The unicorn encounters a variety of characters including a band of outlaws, a butterfly and an old witch. Help comes in the form of a bumbling magician, aided by a weary kitchen maid and a love stricken prince. All these characters make the unicorn aware of what befell her kind and ways to save them. Song of Kali Bobby Luczac, an American poet, goes to India on an assignment for Harper’s magazine in search of a poetry manuscript supposedly penned by a man named M. Das, who is presumed dead since eight years. Now, the man is back and writes a new poem. Luczac is commissioned to travel to Calcutta, and on the visit, he is accompanied by his Indian wife and baby daughter. The assignment is to write an article on Das and negotiate translation rights for the poem. However, is Das really alive, or back from the dead? His new poem, quite uncharacteristically, proclaims the song of Kali – the Hindu deity of destruction.     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Bobby soon discovers that he and his family face great danger in the city. The family gets entangled in a religious cult engaged in the worship of Kali, a cruel deity, whose doctrine is to gain power through violence. The book contains hair-raising descriptions of Calcutta and strange rites. Calcutta is the major character in the novel portrayed in sinister terms. This is an apt venue for someone to sing Kali’s song of pain and death. Fantasy elements An interpretation of fantasy makes it separate the â€Å"I† and non â€Å"I† and self from the other. What this means is that fantasy is elevated reality, which tends to draw one away from one’s immediate reality and be completely absorbed, instead, in the substance of the fantasy and the existence of the ‘other’. The best of fantasy draws one away from a sense of time and space, when complete detachment from one’s self is possible. These exotic descriptions will be understood if the experience with films or books is considered. Theatre may not fully deliver the experience of detachment, as there is a certain amount of objectivity. Fantasy’s theatre of sustenance is in the mind and that is why films and books can draw us into the realm of fantasy quicker. The involvement is intimate – the darkness of the cinema hall and the riveting power of the printed word, releases us from ‘being’, so to speak. While absorbed in the narration we are the ‘others’ in the story â€Å"I’ lives in the other. The mind draws the vivid emotions and scenes in a book and the compelling power of imagery in films has the same effect as the descriptions in a book. The supernatural in narration has more or less, the same impact. In its narration, the â€Å"I† is completely the servant of the narrator or the experience narrated. Part of us wants to believe completely while the real person is detached. The strongest enticement of fantasy is here – the elastic struggle between the two extremes of being – ‘I’ and the ‘other’ is really the delicious part of a fantasy. ‘Song of Kali’ The novel by Dan Simmons is a dark tale of the supernatural, which has compelling scenes of horror. There is yet another type of fantasy – the rendering of a horror story which almost deliciously,’ shocks us out of our wits† and we revisit horror gain and again to experience the thrill of being drawn beyond ourselves in a terrifying narration. In ‘Song of†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ the author wants us to be drawn willingly to the tiger’s lair in anticipation of what will come next. â€Å"The world is pain, O terrible wife of Shiva you are chewing the flesh; O terrible wife of Siva your tongue is drinking the blood, O dark Mother! O unclad Mother O beloved of Siva the world is pain’ (Simmons, 71). The terrifying invocation to the goddess Kali, while describing animal sacrifice to the deity and the nocturnal presence of the kali cult, draws a part of us willingly into the dark depths of the supernatural/fantasy/ horror story. There are of course three perspectives present in the narration: the author’s, ours and the lead character’s. Through an interweaving of these perspectives, we live the story in terrified anticipation of events unfolding. The references to blood and sacrifice leave us shocked while a part of us always prods us in disbelief at believing such nonsense. However, of course by now, the willing â€Å"I† has been completely hypnotized and taken away to realms deep within the depth of our subconscious. The detached eye of the author reports that the cult described in such ferociously evil terms was banned by the British and seems to have surfaced again or that, the cult members are criminals. Disregarding such warnings, we are one with the Luczacs caught up in the terrifying city. A philosophical theory presents the world as gigantic battlefield between Good and Evil forces – and this is used by the author of ‘Song†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ to create his own personal version of the Evil Forces as Calcutta itself. The descriptions of Calcutta (it would take a lot of willing disbelief to do so !) and inhabitants and dark rituals is portrayed in a form of ‘realism’ which is convincing to our ‘other selves’ by now completely immersed in the flight of the family through the winding lanes of the city – ‘the ceremonies in progress were most dignified. It was the day of the new moon in celebration of Durga and the head of an ox was on an iron spike†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ (Simmons, 71) Our ‘rational side’ says, completely ignore such nonsense – while the ‘other ‘self takes flight in supernatural alleyways. Calcutta itself being a major character is latter day hell on Earth – a place where different laws of reality apply- the tales of Kali could be cooked up by the cult members or could be true in this bizarre world of elevated religious superstition. People are almost apparitions – not even real beings. What happens to the main characters is realistic description to which our shell-shocked selves are frequently returned to savor slices of violence and reality. The foreboding tale of evil spun against the background of deeply entrenched religious superstition is not really a fantasy. It is not something we would like to learn a lot from, there are no heart tugging insights – no matter how well told the story. The Last Unicorn Two of the central themes of this book are those of being and not being. Most characters in it are part of the ‘not I’, they are trying to become something, to reach an ideal. With the exception of the unicorn character all, the main figures in the book are really trying to be people they are not. People in the book remember songs and stories of unicorns from days gone by however, they are unable to see a real Unicorn standing in their midst. The Unicorn also senses that she is encountering things that are not as they appear, and has a difficult time along with us as readers, making out the difference. â€Å"This is illusion, the unicorn told herself. This is Illusion – and raised a head heavy with death to stare into the deep of the last cage and see, not old age, but Mommy Fortuna herself. And the Unicorn knew she had not become mortal and ugly at all, but she did not feel beautiful again. Perhaps she was illusion too, she thought wearily† (Beagle, 25). The bumbling magician, Schmendrick is one example of characters trying to become someone else. The first time he meets the Unicorn, he nearly kills the enchanted animal while trying to free her from her cage (Beagle, 34). He goes on through the novel making a complete fool of himself. When he tries to entertain Captain Cully’s â€Å"merry men†, he is forced to use sleight of hand because he knows his spells are not reliable at all Throughout the book , Schmendrick constantly persists at trying to be a real wizard but fails. Molly Grue is a character who is trying to change from what she is. She is a poor man’s Maid Marian. Though she lives with an outlaw who rescued her from an evil baron, she does not fit the pat as the love of Robin Hood. She does not take on the sweetness and beauty of the fairy tale. Captain Cully professes â€Å"she is suspicious, pinched, dour, and prematurely old, even a touch tyrannical† (Beagle, 57). This middle-aged woman is cynical and broken. She even admits this to the unicorn â€Å"How dare you, how dare you come to me now, when I am this with a flap of her hand she summed herself up: barren face, desert eyes and yellowing heart† (Beagle, 70). Captain Cully is yet another example of a character that desperately wants to be much greater than he is. He wants to be remembered as a Robin Hood. He has his men write and sing songs about great deeds he never did. He lives the life of an outlaw stealing from the rich and giving to the poor and gives the rich a percentage. Even his ‘merry men’ lack enthusiasm: as one of them says â€Å"No offense, Captain, but we’re really not very merry, when all’s said† (Beagle, 61). Peter Beagle, the author, leaves many of the unfulfilled characters that way. The â€Å"good† characters – Shmendrick and Molly for example have come to be the people they want to be. Schmendrick is a great wizard and Molly is a fair and innocent maiden. Conclusion One can extend this theme to the two characters most alike to each other, the Unicorn and The Red Bull. It is clear through the novel that she is everything a unicorn is claimed.   She is immortal, has magical abilities and cannot be captured by mortal means. She is a magical being that cannot be seen by members of the ‘non being† world. The farmer who tries to capture her thinking that she is a mare, is part of this† non† being world. Because Molly Grue and Schmendrick so intensely want to change to much greater beings than what they are, they can see creatures from the other not so mundane world. The devotees of the Kali cult in ‘Song of Kali’ seem to be doing so but do they really ?, Why Beagle inserts themes of â€Å"being† and â€Å"non being† is perhaps because he felt that life is often based on perspective. What we want to see, hear and do depends on us. If we want to, we can settle for the lowest common denominator, like the simple farmer. Alternatively, we can push ourselves to be more than we are given, like Molly and Schmendrick. What the author says is we can either see magic and opportunity in our lives or ignore it. Works Cited: Beagle, Peter S. The Last Unicorn: (40th Anniversary Edition). Roc Trade. (January 1, 1991) Simmons, Dan. Song of Kali. Tor Books. First Edition edition (January 15, 1998)

Sophocles The Women of Tarchis :: Sophocles Women Tarchis Desire Essays

Sophocles' The Women of Tarchis Sophocles’s The Women of Tarchis tells the story of the desires that killed Heracles and Deianira, his wife. Heracles desires another woman, Iole, and, off stage, destroys her father’s kingdom so that he can have her and then sends Iole to his home. In response to this, Deianira, desiring Heracles to love her, and not keep another woman in their house, uses a deadly poison, which she believed was a love potion, hoping to make him love only her. Because of this, he dies, and she kills herself out of remorse. Both of them desire, both of them act on their desires, and both of them die because of desire. However, the way these desires are discussed and understood by the characters and, presumably, the audience are very different. Heracles desire is very direct. He desires people and acts on that desire. In other words, he sees what he wants and he goes and gets it, destroying anything that stands in his way. Deianira, on the other hand, is not the active agent. She desires to be desired by Heracles. Even the grammar used to talk about her situation is passive. When she does act on her desires, it is not straightforward, but through trickery and love potions. Later, when the potion’s true form is revealed, her actions are attributed to Nessus, the centaur that tricked her into believing the poison was a love potion. These descriptions reveal assumptions about desire, and what form it takes for men and for women. Heracles and Deianira, in Sophocles’s The Women of Tarchis, exemplify desire’s gender difference. An important aspect of desire in ancient Grease is that a deity represents this set of feelings. Eros, the young son of Aphrodite, it the imp the rules everyone’s hearts. Deianira describes his control over mortals when she publicly responds to the news that Heracles has fallen in love and literally taken a new wife: "How foolish one would be to climb into the ring with [desire] and try to trade blows with him, like a boxer. For he rules even the Gods as he pleases, and he rules me†¦You see that I would be altogether mad to blame my husband, because he suffers from this sickness" (441-446). She explains that it is foolish to fight with desire, but that desire will rule everyone at some point, including herself and Heracles.

The Backgrounds of Thami and Mr. M

As a young individual, Thiamin was not able to see how his education was so structured and influenced by the government. However, as time progresses, Thiamin cannot appreciate the education, for the people that control what is taught in the schools also force him to live through the horrendous conditions of apartheid. He admits that his education is a political reality in his life. At the end of the novel, Thiamin is faced with a very difficult decision. He ultimately decides to escape the nation because he knows he cannot join the mob and the violence of the people that killed Mr.. M. Thiamin wants change in SouthAfrica. He realizes that the best way to accomplish this goal is to start over in a new place. Standing around in the same township accomplishes nothing, and Thiamin realizes this is not the proper method to bringing about change. Mr.. M has suppressed Thiamin in a tiny environment for all these years, and he finally feels the need to break out and let his voice be heard. M r.. M grew up in a time where apartheid was not present. He had basic freedoms and he was not treated so harshly as the colored are treated in the apartheid period. Mr.. M turns a blind eye to the problems that are present in South Africa.He still believes that modern day South Africa is the same as it was many years ago. It is hard for Mr.. M to fathom the struggle of the colored people in South Africa because everything was integrated when he was a child. This makes it very difficult for Mr.. M, for over a short period of time he was stripped of his basic freedoms. Mr.. M believes that true change lies in the hands of the children, for they are the ones that have a future possibility of sparking change in society. Contrary to Team's belief that education is a politically based system, Mr.. M sees education as a chance to transform his dents into fighters.He wants to give his students inspiration and motive to rebel and question the system of apartheid. Mr.. M also favors education because he is lonely and depressed. Mr.. M deeply values the relationships that he creates with Isabel and Thiamin. It does not seem as if Mr.. M has a significant other in his life. It is strange that he holds such a personal bond with Isabel and Thiamin, and he continues to push them to be active members Of the team so he can spend time with them. He turns Thiamin into the authorities in hopes that it will cause him to return to school.

Learning English as a Second Language Essay

From the content in the introductory part of the WebQuest, It is true that English is common language for the native people but for the non native people it is challenging and requires one to go through a series of classes compounded by determination and willingness to learn in order to understand it well. The thesis statement of the web quest gives an over view of what the rest of the content is all about. It gives the fundamental steps of learning English which involves understanding the meaning of different vocabularies provided and using them in a well structured and grammatically correct sentence. As a teaching material, this WebQuest highlights the main objectives, which will serve as the yard stick of determining whether the intended purpose of the WebQuest is achieved. In addition to this, I give a positive feed back to the way the learning process is arranged. Understanding a word and pronouncing it correctly is indeed the fundamental step in solving the complexity in English as a language. This is because it creates a dovetail for the construction of grammatically and structurally perfect sentences to fit. Team work is undoubtedly important in building confidence among the students. It also enables them to share their difficulties and hence understand the challenges a head of them. Provision of resources is of importance because it gives the whole learning process the originality and reliability it deserves. The evolution process cannot go unaccredited because it will enable the lecturers to know if the objectives were met. However, the WebQuest fails to show what the students should do if they fail the second step of understanding the meaning of the words in the sentences. This in my opinion is crucial for the process of learning English as a second language.

Suicide in the Military

Suicide in the Military Free Online Research Papers Stressed by war and long overseas tours, U.S. soldiers killed themselves last year at the highest rate on record, the toll rising for a fourth straight year and even surpassing the suicide rate among comparable civilians. Army leaders said they were doing everything they could think of to curb the deaths and appealed for more mental health professionals to join and help out. Clearly, the military is going above and beyond to try and prevent further lives from being taken. According to the sociologist Emile Durkheim, when a person has a very strong degree of social connectedness, he or she may identify with its values or causes to such an extent that the sense of his or her own personal identity is diminished. For example, the values of the military predominated over the individual’s values. Such is the case in altruistic suicide, which has been defined as the â€Å"the self destruction demanded by a society as a price for being a member of that society.† (DeSpelder Strickland). The highest officer in each service told lawmakers they are working hard to fix the problems - devoting more senior leadership attention, instituting more and better training, attacking the stigma of asking for help, hiring more mental health providers and working across agency lines to keep an eye on and fund care for at-risk troops who transition back to civilian life. The specific steps range from implementing or strengthening â€Å"battle buddy† programs to ensure troops look out for each other; embedding, as the Marines have done, more mental health professionals within units; improving the â€Å"handoff† from the war zone to providers back home; and ensuring better continuity of care when troops transition from military to VA care, officials said. (Air Force Times, 2009) This is the first time since the Vietnam War that the rate of suicide in the Army, about 20 deaths per 100,000 soldiers, has surpassed the civilian suicide rate. Last year in the Army alone there were 140 suicides, translating into a rate of 20.2 per 100,000 soldiers. Also, the number of Army suicides increased for the fourth consecutive year, according to the Army’s 2008 Suicide Data report released on January 29, 2009. The Army’s high suicide rate is attributable in large part to deployment stress, Gen. Peter Chiarelli, Army vice chief of staff stated. Long deployments and other factors including job-related difficulties and financial, personal and legal problems are other contributing factors. â€Å"A high mission tempo clearly can place strain on a military, and with wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, 12 months or longer deployment rotations and 12 months or less downtime at home, the Army certainly has been busy,† Chiarelli said. The Army found about 35 percent of suicides came after soldiers returned home from deployment, while another 35 percent of suicides occurred among soldiers with no history of deployment. 30 percent occurred while soldiers were in the field. To help combat the suicide increases, the Army has entered into an unprecedented five-year, $50 million partnership with the National Institute of Mental Health (American Forces Press Service). The purpose of the study is to understand the urgency of the situation, to identify risks and prevention factors, and to develop new and better intervention. The knowledge will benefit both soldiers and families as well as the civilian population. One of the key issues the Army has been trying to address is the feeling among many soldiers that seeking psychological help is a sign of weakness and could be harmful to their career. Since Oct. 1, an average of three hot line callers per day have identified themselves as being on active duty, said Kathryn Power, director of the Center for Mental Health Services in the Department of Health and Human Services. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said that indicates many conflicted troops continue to feel a sense of stigma over reporting suicidal thoughts to superiors or military mental health officials. â€Å"When you’ve got this many people feeling they can’t talk to someone within the system, that’s a problem,† Graham said. â€Å"We must eliminate the perceived stigma, shame and dishonor of asking for help,† said Adm. Patrick Walsh, vice chief of naval operations. â€Å"This is not simply an issue isolated to the medical community to recognize and reso lve† Such efforts should include keeping an eye on those closest to the suicide victim, said Brian Altman, acting chief operating officer for Suicide Prevention Action Network USA, a Washington-based public policy and advocacy group. (Air Force Times). The Air Force lost 38 airmen to suicide in 2008, a rate of 11.5 suicides per 100,000 airmen. The average over the past five years - since the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom - was 11 deaths per 100,000 annually. Of the airmen lost in 2008, 95 percent were men and 89 percent were enlisted. Young enlisted men with a rank of E1 to E4 and between the ages of 21 and 25 have the highest risk of suicide. Recently released data indicates that active duty males carry, for the first time in known history, a suicide risk greater than that of comparable males in the general population (Psychotherapy Brown Bag, 2009). This is particularly noteworthy considering that the military entrance process screens out serious mental illness prior to entry onto active duty, and that the rate of suicide in military males has historically been significantly lower than comparable civilian populations. To help prevent and reduce these alarming statistics, military psychologists and mental health professionals have begun research to gain empirical support for a simple model to improve assessment, treatment, and prevention of suicidal behaviors in active duty members. In a report to Congress, Craig Duehring, assistant secretary of the Air Force for manpower, said, â€Å"there does not appear to be a strong correlation between deployments and suicide.† A check of deployment records found that from 2003 to 2008, only 39 Air Force suicide victims had deployed in the previous 12 months. Another 150 had never deployed. A more common indicator of risk was seeking mental health counseling for issues ranging from alcohol abuse to marriage counseling, Duehring’s report said. Fifty-five percent of airmen who killed themselves had attended counseling sessions (Air Force Times, 2009). Other factors in the Air Force suicide rate include relationships gone awry and poor communication between the treating mental health providers and commanders. There is always tension in the military between confidentiality and the need to communicate with supervisors. This is now being addressed so that soldiers can discuss personal issues without being worried a bout facing discharge. The Navy’s suicide rate has remained roughly steady over the past four years, but suicide ranks as the service’s third-leading cause of death, said Walsh. The Navy reported 41 suicides in 2008, a rate of 11.6 per 100,000. About 39 percent of the sailors who committed suicide last year were facing disciplinary action, he added. Financial issues were also a factor, said Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Rick West. West added that the Navy has been setting up support programs such as operational stress control, and has also vamped up its financial counseling programs. The Marine Corps lost 41 Marines last year to confirmed or suspected suicides - up from 25 two years earlier - a rate of 19 per 100,000. General James F. Amos, USMC, Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, said the most likely Marine to die by suicide is a Caucasian male, 18 to 24 years old, between the ranks of private and sergeant. The most likely cause is a failed relationship with a woman. Active duty military members aren’t the only ones who are affected by suicide. According to Dr. Thomas Insel, the director of the National Institute of Mental Health in Bethesda, Maryland, post-war suicides may outnumber deaths from combat. In the aftermath of war, many experience symptoms such as numbness, irritability, depression, difficulties in relationships, and guilt at surviving when others did not. The term posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been used to describe such symptoms, although such reactions have also been termed â€Å"delayed grief syndrome† or posttraumatic grief disorder.† (DeSpelder Strickland, 2005) People who suffer from PTSD often relive the experience through nightmares and flashbacks, have difficulty sleeping, and feel detached or estranged, and these symptoms can be severe enough and last long enough to significantly impair the persons daily life. The two main forms of post combat mental illness include PTSD and depression, both of which are cited most often as causes of suicides by returning soldiers. Among additional factors related to the suicide rates are personal, marital and family problems, repeated and extended deployments, extended periods of hard combat and even undiagnosed preexisting mental disorders. The military has stated that at least one in five American soldiers who were deployed overseas to Iraq or Afghanistan suffer from some degree of PTSD. Army officials have been committed to finding out why more soldiers committed suicide in 2008 than ever recorded. â€Å"It’s a national problem we’re committed to doing everything we can to address (the issues) better and (and) put programs in place,† said Army Secretary Pete Geren. The Army is using a variety of short- and long-term programs. One of those is the Strong Bonds program. Strong Bonds has specialized programs for single Soldiers, couples and families. Those Soldiers being deployed or redeployed can also learn special coping tactics. Strong Bonds empowers Soldiers and their loved ones with relationship-building skills, and connects them to community health and support resources. It is a holistic, preventative program committed to the restoration and preservation of Army families, even those near crisis. The program is initiated and led by the Army Chaplains. More than 90% of those who have attended the program rate it positively. Another program recen tly launched is called Battlemind. The objective of Battlemind is to reduce combat stress reactions. The staggering statistics of combat are eye-opening: 65% of deployed soldiers have have seen a dead or seriously injured American, 50% have had to handle or uncover human remains, 48% are responsible for the death of an enemy combatant, and 21% have had to save the life of a Soldier or civilian. Combat leaves haunting memories. After the shooting stops, the mind must â€Å"sort out and file the almost incomprehensible facts of war† (DeSpelder Strickland). The Air Force has aggressively pursued increasing community awareness of suicide risks and available services and decreasing the stigma surrounding accessing mental health services. Senior Air Force staff reinforce the perspective that suicide prevention is a community effort and regularly distribute notices to personnel regarding the problem of suicide within the Air Force (USAFMS, 2000). Regular staff development courses have also now incorporated suicide prevention education for all officers. Such training describes the risk and protective factors for suicide, including contexts and symptoms of acute suicide risk, and when and to whom to refer individuals at risk of suicide. Enhancing the mental well-being of the entire unit is conveyed as each staff member’s responsibility. Supervisors and unit members alike are encouraged to persuade those facing mental health issues (including substance abuse and domestic violence) to self-refer to counseling. The Air Force presents such actions as a means of increasing unit productivity and helping the individual reach his or her fullest potential, and explicitly states these goals as motivation for commander-directed mental health evaluations when individuals do not self-refer (USAFMS, 2000). Further, the Air Force has implemented suicide awareness training for staff, changed certain Air Force policies in response to epidemiological research, and developed a database for collecting a broad array of information regarding suicide attempts and completions throughout Air Force personnel and their families. Clearly military suicide numbers are rising at an alarming rate, but I believe the military is doing all it can to reverse this disturbing trend. Some people wonder why we should care so much about military suicides compared to civilian ones. Service members go to war because we ask, or rather demand, that they do so. We owe them our best effort to make them as whole as they can be. I care about members of the military because theyre serving their country by doing difficult and dangerous work for small tangible reward. For that, they deserve the best of medical care, including mental health care, and if something about their current situation is causing a significant increase in depression, that needs to be investigated and dealt with. REFERENCES Carden, M.J. (2009, January 29). Army Works to Combat Rising Suicide. Retrieved from defenselink.mil/utility/printitem.aspx?print=defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=52879 DeSpelder, L.A., Strickland, A.E. (2005). The last dance. Boston: McGraw-Hill. McMichael, W.H. (2009, March 23). Suicide rates remain high. Retrieved from airforcetimes.com/news/2009/03/airforce_suicide_032309w/ Morrow, C. (2009, September 1). Suicide in active duty military personnel. Retrieved from psychotherapybrownbag.com/psychotherapy_brown_bag_a/2009/09/suicide-in-active-duty-military-personnel-the-september-2009-psychotherapy-brown-bag-featured-articl.html Ritchey, J. (2009, February 09). US military suicide on the increase. Retrieved from speroforum.com/a/18082/US-military-suicide-on-the-increase SUICIDE IN THE MILITARY 1 Research Papers on Suicide in the MilitaryArguments for Physician-Assisted Suicide (PAS)Influences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesQuebec and CanadaIncorporating Risk and Uncertainty Factor in CapitalPersonal Experience with Teen PregnancyMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever ProductAppeasement Policy Towards the Outbreak of World War 2Assess the importance of Nationalism 1815-1850 EuropeTwilight of the UAWLifes What Ifs

Free sample - The Economic Report. translation missing

The Economic Report. The Economic ReportNational bank of Kenya limited is a financial institution engaged in the provision of services such as banking, financial and others related to these. The bank owns two subsidiaries namely: Natbank Trustee and Investment Services Limited and the Kenya National Capital Corporation Limited (Kariuki 2010). This bank has encountered several problems over the last few years and the country’s central bank which monitors the operations of all financial institutions in the country has predicted that unless the bank changes tact, it will be bedeviled by the same problems over the next couple of years. These problems include demand and supply problems, economic problems, non performing loans portfolio as well as technology problems (Kariuki 2010). According to reports from the central bank, the bank’s nonperforming loans accounted for about 43.5% of the total loans in the month of June (Kariuki 2010). This was above the industry range which was estimated to be 15.8%. These nonperforming loans can be attributed to reckless lending policies. Statistics from the central bank also indicate that the bank has a huge revenue deficit of four billion Kenya shillings (Kariuki 2010). This deficit is to be settled through realized profits. Economists from the central bank however indicate that this may not be feasible as the bank is unlikely to issue dividends, a move that may see many share holders desert the bank hence a profit dive (Kariuki 2010). The bank’s total capital base as a percentage of total risk weighted assets has not reached the statutory threshold which is placed at 12%. Its estimated to be at 10%, a fact that makes payment of dividends further impossible. Due to the huge nonperforming loans, the bank decide d to go slow on lending, a move that saw many of its customers move to the less risky investments. These investments include but not limited to: Government securities such as treasury bonds and treasury bills (Kariuki 2010). Statistics from the central bank show that the bank’s loans to private households declined by 19.7% while lending to finance and insurance sectors reduced by 25.3% last year (Kariuki 2010). The central bank predicts a further reduction in these two for the next few years. The emergence of many micro-finance institutions such as K-Rep, Jamii Bora Trust, and Kenya Women Finance Trust, which have captured the low-end of the market has compounded the problems facing the bank further (World Bank [WB] 2010). This is because, these microfinance institutions offer lower lending interest rates on their loans hence attracting many unbanked citizens who may have been absorbed by the National Bank (Kariuki 2010). The location of these micro-finance institutions enable them to capture more customers. This is because they are spread throughout the country’s rural areas where majority of the unbanked citizens reside. The bank adopted a policy of high interest rates on its loans so as to cover their level of exposure, a move that greatly reduced the demand for the bank’s loans (WB 2010) The introduction of mobile banking by the country’s leading telecommunication company, Safaricom limited has also been a thorn in the bank’s flesh. Many people in Kenya who had not been captured by the banking world found it simpler to start accounts with the telecommunication company (Omwansa 2010). This is because of the convenience involved in carrying out transactions which involves simply the use of mobile phones. Mpesa is the name given to the mobile banking of the telecommunications company (Omwansa 2010). Mpesa customers are able to carry out transactions such as paying bills, money transfers, shopping in supermarkets using phones, and many more other transactions. The demand for accounts in this bank and others in the country is expected to reduce as more people jump into the mobile banking band wagon (Omwansa 2010). The problem is expected to get worse as more telecommunication companies in the country have emulated Safaricom. For instance, the country’ s second largest telecommunication company by customer base, Zain Kenya has introduced a similar mobile banking program called Zap (Omwansa 2010). Many banks in the country have introduced a technology that enables bank customers to manipulate their bank accounts using mobile devices. Failure by this bank to follow suit has made it fail to attract potential customers (Omwansa 2010). This technology allows customers to transfer money from their banks to their mobile phones which they can then withdraw through the telecommunication companies’ money outlets such as Mpesa and Zap (Omwansa 2010). This saves them the inconvenience of travelling to the banks to transact. The country’s third largest telecommunication company by customer base, Yu has also entered the mobile banking band wagon through its Yu cash. This has captured even more customers whose destiny would otherwise have been in the banking world (Omwansa 2010). The country has witnessed an explosion of pyramid schemes which have lured many citizens into depositing money with them. These schemes have convinced many people to withdraw money from their bank accounts which has led to a poor performance by the banks (Jack 2010). This is because, money which the banks could have issued as loans is now disappearing into the pyramid schemes. These schemes operate on a simple principle; people who bank with them first benefit from funds brought in by subsequent customers when their pay time comes (Jack 2010). If the number of people qualifying for payment exceeds the amount of money brought in by new customers, the owners of the schemes disappear with all the investments. If the country’s central bank doesn’t control the operations of these pyramid schemes, then banks are expected to suffer more in the next few years (Jack 2010). The economy of the country performed poorly in the last financial year as a result of a post election violence. This has also greatly affected the bank since the government is its largest shareholder . Poor economic performance also translates to lack of funds to put into bank accounts by the bank’s customers hence the bank is affected adversely (Jack 2010). If the performance of the economy is not turned around in the next few years, then the bank is expected to perform more poorly. The diagram below shows the likely demand and supply situation in the bank over the next three years. This is still the current situation. Reduction in supply has been witnessed since the bank has been forced to close down some of its branches due to the poor performance. The bank is expected to close more of its branches in future if the problems are not solved. Closing down of accounts coupled with the problems discussed earlier has led to a decrease in demand for the bank’s financial services. To turn around this poor performance, the bank should consider a number of solutions. Firstly, the bank should consider expanding to the rural part of the country in order to capture unbanked people from the low-end of the market (Jack 2010). The bank should also consider a reduction in its loans interest rates in order to increase the demand of the same (Jack 2010). The bank should also consider introducing a technology that would allow customers to manipulate their bank accounts using mobile devices. However, for the bank to keep a competitive edge over the others in the same line of production, they should do this differently. Instead of cooperating with the existing mobile networks, the bank can consider coming up with its own platform. This is because, the telecommunications firms are also themselves involved in mobile banking, so collaborating with them amounts to collaborating with a competitor. This can only be to the advantage of the competitor (Jack 2010). The bank should a lso reduce the requirements for opening an account with them. These requirements include minimum deposit, passports, ATM processing fee etc. while passports are quite important, the bank can consider purchasing cameras for taking the passports without charging the customer (Jack 2010). The bank should also consider increasing the number of marketers so as to capture as many potential customers as possible. Opening many ATM machines throughout the country would also go a long way in helping the bank turn around its poor performance. Lastly, the bank should pressurize the central bank to come up with policies which discourage the mushrooming of pyramid schemes (Jack 2010). This paper has discussed the problems afflicting the National Bank of Kenya. These problems have included: nonperforming loans, huge revenue deficit, competition from micro-finance institutions which offer loans with lower interest rates, low customer base due to failure to capture rural areas, competition from telecommunications companies which have invested in mobile banking, failure to take advantage of modern technology involving mobile banking and finally competition from rogue pyramid schemes. Solutions which can turn around this poor performance have also been discussed. These have included: expanding to the rural part of the country in order to capture unbanked people from the low-end of the market, introducing a technology that would allow customers to manipulate their bank accounts using mobile devices, reducing the requirements for opening an account with them, introducing more ATM machines and finally pressurizing the central bank to come up with policies which discourage the mushrooming of pyramid schemes.

What to Wear on the First Day of School

What to Wear on the First Day of School Its time to start thinking about your first day at private school. What do you wear? Weve got some essential tips and tricks to help your first day go smoothly.   First, Check on the Dress Code It doesnt matter what grade your child is in, kindergarten or high school, many private schools have dress codes. The first thing you want to do is check to make sure the clothes you buy fit these requirements. Specific slacks or shirts with collars are common, and even colors can be dictated at times, so be sure youre in accordance with the guidelines. Not sure what they are? Check out the schools website, which will often have information for families. If you cant find it there, ask the student life office or check with admission, and someone can point you in the right direction.   Dress in Layers You may want to dress in layers, even if you dont have a dress code that requires it (many private schools require blazers). Bring a light jacket, cardigan, or even a vest to wear, as some rooms can get chilly with the air conditioning on, while others may not have air conditioning all. If  youve just lugged a backpack across campus in 80-degree heat, well, youre going to want to be wearing something lightweight and cool once you get settled.   Make Sure Everything Fits Well This may seem obvious but is often overlooked. The first day of school is stressful enough, trying to find the right classrooms and where to eat lunch, so having to constantly pull at a shirt that is too tight or pants that are too loose can be a huge distraction. Avoid showing too much skin or wearing overly baggy clothing, too. Looking neat and clean is the way to go.   Try your clothes on before the first day of school and make sure it fits well, feels good, and isnt going to distract you.  Especially when kids are growing, parents may tend to buy clothes that the children can grow into, but for the first day of school, being comfortable and having clothes fit well is crucial. The last thing you want to do is get embarrassed in front of students at a new school after tripping on your pants that are too long, so parents, be sure to help out on this one! Wear Comfortable Shoes Again, make sure to check on the dress code at your school first to make sure your shoes are within the given guidelines, as some schools ban sneakers, flip-flops, open-toed shoes, and even certain kinds of hiking boots. But, the most important thing, after adhering to guidelines, is to make sure your shoes are comfortable. This is especially important if youre going to a boarding school or private school with a large campus. You may find that you have to walk a distance in between classes, and shoes that hurt your feet can be a real pain (literally!) and can affect your ability to get where you need to go on time, and in a good mood. If you get new shoes for school, be sure to wear them throughout the summer and break them in.   Dont Go Crazy With Jewelry or Accessories Some students want to make sure they stand out and look the part but leave your Harry Potter cape at home, and stick with the basics. Dont go overboard with accessories and jewelry either. Constantly clinking bracelets on your arm or jingling bells for earrings can be a distraction to you and those around you. Younger students may be even more at risk for distractions by playing with things like  scarves or bejeweled items. Simple and classic is ideal for the first day, no matter what age. Avoid Heavy Colognes or Perfumes​ This one may be more for  high school students, but skip the extra dose of perfume, cologne or after-shave. Too many scents mixed together in one room can be a distraction and can give you a headache. Its best to keep the scented stuff to a minimum.

Analysis of an Ethical case in management Research Paper - 1

Analysis of an Ethical case in management - Research Paper Example As a result, employees are becoming de-motivated at a greater extent (Wozniak, 2011), which is in turn causing job turnover to increase significantly in recent years. Because of this reason, organizations are struggling to maintain viable and strong human capital in order to effectively and efficiently achieve organizational goals. However, it is interesting to note that in advanced epoch characterized with decentralized organizational authority and flattened corporation structure, MT neglected to brief Hady about the background of his assignment. Along with this, his new boss is not taking him seriously and considering him as an incompetent individual therefore, believing Hady as someone who is useless. In the light of this observation, deployment of utilitarian approach as a source for managing human resources in MT can be implied that is an obsolete technique towards motivating employees. Because of utilitarian management, MT only compensates its employees in monetary terms and considers them as an organizational property. This typical management strategy is leading MT to have a pool of incompetent and uninspired employees. In parallel, Hady is considering himself betrayed because of the unfulfilling level of information provided about his current assignment. Additionally, Phil’s stubborn attitude is affirming Hady’s provision of betrayal. Nevertheless, MT is in need of educating its top and middle management in terms of modern managerial approaches such as participative decision-making and other similar techniques, so that they can inspire employees in considering themselves as the important part of organizational success. At the same time, MT should also integrate rights theory to provide job autonomy and friendly work environment to its employees to enhance their productivity. Conversely, Hady is a person with budding talent, which should be polished

Truth in Politics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Truth in Politics - Essay Example For Machiavelli, 'virtu' or skill as wielded by a ruler would make for a state that would thrive and protect itself from the machinations of enemy-states. War for Plato is essentially unjust and the only justification for it is for defending the state, while for Machiavelli a state exists to wage war against other states - thus, war, is a natural condition in a state's existence. Plato and Machiavelli also lived in different eras. For the former, philosophy is concerned with the truth, as embodied by principles and how things should be, and this concern would naturally result in a perfect society. For the latter, philosophy is allied with the realities of power, in how things are as they are. Philosophers in Plato's Republic are the only ones ideal to rule (and become kings) because they love and search for the truth - as opposed to the other two classes, the people who are mainly concerned with honor, and the masses, who are concerned with money and the indulgence of physical appetites. The philosopher-kings possess the quality of truthfulness who "will never intentionally receive into their minds falsehood, which is their detestation, and they will love the truth." Truth as conceived by Plato is absolute, dealing with the eternal and the unchanging, the "forms" opposed to the fickle, the merely seen and experienced.

ASPECT OF CONTRACT AND NEGLIGENCE Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

ASPECT OF CONTRACT AND NEGLIGENCE - Assignment Example The breach of these essential elements of a contract makes the contract void. The essentials of a valid contract include  "offer and acceptance, Intention to create a legal relationship, lawful consideration, capacity of parties, free consent, the lawful object, certainty of meaning, possibility of performance, not declared to be void or illegal and legal formalities". In the given case, the elements are same, and breach of these essential elements of a valid contract makes the contract void (Collins, 2003). c) In any contract offer, acceptance, consideration and intention are very important as these are the basic element required to make a contract legally enforceable. Offer is important because if a person does not offer to another person to do something the other person cannot perform that task. Acceptance is necessary because a person should signify his assent that he has accepted his offer to do the task. Offer and acceptance makes a contract, and there should be a consideration (monetary value) to perform the task. There should be an intention to perform the contract otherwise there is no contract. a) Contents of standard business form are the terms of the contract. Every contract consists of terms and condition, which should be fulfilled by both the parties competent to contract. These terms are set by both the parties and must perform in order to finish the contract (Jones, 2013). These terms can be written or communicated with conversation at the time of entering a contract. The terms and conditions can include the price, which will be given on performance, mode of payment and the way to perform the task. All  terms and conditions must be fulfilled and must be performed in the agreed manner as they are essentials to the contract (Austen-Baker, 2011). b) The terms identified in the contract between Lady Gaga and owner of the Opera is the performance of the artist for several days.

General Electric Co.v Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

General Electric Co.v - Research Paper Example Coffin, an ex-shoe manufacturer from Lynn, Massachusetts (History of GE, Official Website). By forming these mergers, these individual small companies joined their forces together and formed a network of individually owned patent rights of various use. Thus, an expanded business turned into an opportunity for the merger of two large companies. Hence, the two large companies joined their hands together and merged into a single and largest company, The General Electric Company, in 1892 (History of GE, Official Website). The General Electric of today has far changed and transformed itself into the market leader throughout the world; yet it offers some of the technologies that Edison had invented in late nineteenth century (History of GE, Official Website).. These technologies include heating devices, lighting devices, cooking devices, etc. It was later in the second decade of twentieth century when GE started working on developing aircraft engines after getting collaboration with United States' government. From cooking devices to the aircraft engines, General Electric has acquired a grand brand portfolio and this has happened only because of the innovative leadership that the company has always had since its birth. This strong, multidirectional, and diversified brand portfolio has helped General Electric become financially stronger by reducing the operational costs while permitting the overall organization to benefit from prospects. Business Summary: Although it has been reported in the previous section that General Electric is one of the largest diversified engineering company, estimation of diversification of its catering for multiple sectors of industrial areas can be found out by looking at its industrial brand portfolio which includes, jet engines, turboprop and turbo shaft engines, and related replacement parts for use in military and commercial aircraft; wind turbines; aircraft engine derivatives; gas and steam turbines, and generators; oil and natural gas compressors and turbines; diesel-electric locomotives and parts; and productivity solutions for industrial and municipal water systems (Yahoo Finance, General Electric Co. Company Profile). Apart from these industrial equipments, General Electric has entered and is doing business in other sectors of the economy such as financial sector, energy sector, etc. Along with producing industrial equipments, General electric also provides financial loans, leases and other financi al services to manufacturers, dispensers, and end-users for a variety of equipment and capital assets (Yahoo Finance, General Electric Co. Company Profile). Not only this, but General Electric's financial services provide financial services to end-use customers and retail dealers, such as credit cards, loans, mortgages, deposit and savings products, and other products (Yahoo Finance, General Electric Co. Company Profile). General electric also serves in Healthcare segment of the industry and engineers medical and surgical equipment for magnetic resonance, computed tomography, positron emission tomography imaging, X-ray, patient monitoring, diagnostic cardiology, nuclear imaging, ultrasound, bone densitometry, anesthesiology and oxygen therapy, and neonatal and critical care and therapy. Apart of these financial, industrial, and healthcare sectors, General Electric

Shaw Flooring Company Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Shaw Flooring Company Analysis - Essay Example Main products of Shaw Flooring involve carpets, area rugs, ceramic tiles, hard wood flooring, laminate flooring, and hard wood laminate flooring. Along with this other related products such as floor coverings of hard wood and vinyl also manufactured by them. Designing and manufacturing of both commercial and residential carpet products are carried on within the company's owned facilities. The raw material used for the carpet products are mainly tufted nylon yarn. For making carpet samples separate division are formed in the organization. The carpet sampling division provides service to its customers. By formulating samples of their own it becomes more cost-effective for the firm. For the distribution of finished products direct retail marketing is adopted by the company. This direct sales strategy helps them to get successful growth with higher market share than competitors. Adoption of new technology of continuous dying ranges act as competitive advantage for the company. Most of the production processes are carried on within the company's own plants. This makes the production process more cost effective. Characteristics such as innovation, leadership, product performance, quality, service, and value achieved by the company also act as competitive advantage for them in the carpet industry. ... Recycling of used products and scraps and wastes for further production is another strategy of Shaw flooring. When doing the recycling process quality control techniques are also implemented. Shaw's carpet recycled product, EcoWorx is the only one in that category which provides a guarantee of return back of carpet tile up at the end of its life. The wastage is utilized for producing energy and this provides them low cost energy for all of their process. Together with this environmentally better removal of wastage is also attained by them. These act as competitive advantages of the firm in the industry. (Shaw Industries). 3. Quality Management: For the implementation of quality control, Six Sigma total quality management system is adopted by the company. A certified Six Sigma Manager is appointed by the company and he is responsible for specifying improvement in the production efficiency of the manufacturing process by applying his Six Sigma skills and tools. He is required to issue reports to Plant Manager regarding the improvement process within the company's facilities. A Quality Assurance Manager is also appointed and he is responsible for the overall product quality within the company's manufacturing facility. He is also charged with discharging customers' claims and develops and implements quality improvement tools within the firm. He is required to report to the Plant Manager about the proper working of the production department. The Super wiser of the company is also charged with ensuring the quality and production standards within their shift. (Career Opportunities). 4. Process Design: Tufting process is used by the company for the production of carpets. The transformation process of carpet

General Electric Co.v Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

General Electric Co.v - Research Paper Example Coffin, an ex-shoe manufacturer from Lynn, Massachusetts (History of GE, Official Website). By forming these mergers, these individual small companies joined their forces together and formed a network of individually owned patent rights of various use. Thus, an expanded business turned into an opportunity for the merger of two large companies. Hence, the two large companies joined their hands together and merged into a single and largest company, The General Electric Company, in 1892 (History of GE, Official Website). The General Electric of today has far changed and transformed itself into the market leader throughout the world; yet it offers some of the technologies that Edison had invented in late nineteenth century (History of GE, Official Website).. These technologies include heating devices, lighting devices, cooking devices, etc. It was later in the second decade of twentieth century when GE started working on developing aircraft engines after getting collaboration with United States' government. From cooking devices to the aircraft engines, General Electric has acquired a grand brand portfolio and this has happened only because of the innovative leadership that the company has always had since its birth. This strong, multidirectional, and diversified brand portfolio has helped General Electric become financially stronger by reducing the operational costs while permitting the overall organization to benefit from prospects. Business Summary: Although it has been reported in the previous section that General Electric is one of the largest diversified engineering company, estimation of diversification of its catering for multiple sectors of industrial areas can be found out by looking at its industrial brand portfolio which includes, jet engines, turboprop and turbo shaft engines, and related replacement parts for use in military and commercial aircraft; wind turbines; aircraft engine derivatives; gas and steam turbines, and generators; oil and natural gas compressors and turbines; diesel-electric locomotives and parts; and productivity solutions for industrial and municipal water systems (Yahoo Finance, General Electric Co. Company Profile). Apart from these industrial equipments, General Electric has entered and is doing business in other sectors of the economy such as financial sector, energy sector, etc. Along with producing industrial equipments, General electric also provides financial loans, leases and other financi al services to manufacturers, dispensers, and end-users for a variety of equipment and capital assets (Yahoo Finance, General Electric Co. Company Profile). Not only this, but General Electric's financial services provide financial services to end-use customers and retail dealers, such as credit cards, loans, mortgages, deposit and savings products, and other products (Yahoo Finance, General Electric Co. Company Profile). General electric also serves in Healthcare segment of the industry and engineers medical and surgical equipment for magnetic resonance, computed tomography, positron emission tomography imaging, X-ray, patient monitoring, diagnostic cardiology, nuclear imaging, ultrasound, bone densitometry, anesthesiology and oxygen therapy, and neonatal and critical care and therapy. Apart of these financial, industrial, and healthcare sectors, General Electric

The death of rock and roll Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The death of rock and roll - Essay Example There emerged a merger of secular and gospel themes coupled with a greater emphasis on vocalists. Soul music became a major commercial force and soon more attention was directed to it. Music is business beyond just passion. One needed to be where business is, this made more musicians levitate towards Soul. As more business was realized in the Soul genre more attention was given to it with little on rock and this commercial drive was critical in the decline of rock and roll.In my own experience, a similar commercial appropriation of a youth movement has happened in the recent past. This was in the genre of hip-hop music where there was an emergence of a subgenre, Crunk music also referred to as Krunk or pranksters. This genre originated from Memphis in the early 1990s and was to gain popularity in early 2000. It is an up-tempo and more club-oriented subgenre of hip-hop that is characterized by shouting vocals and heavy baseline. This subgenre immensely gained a commercial appropriatio n which would then attract more artists in the sector. More TV commercials, Radio adverts, and Film promos preferred the use of crunk in early 2000. This promoted this subgenre of Hip-hop attracting, even more, artists in the industry due to the heavy commerce it attracted. Clubs played crunch, public service vehicles and radio stations were all about crunk suggesting more business in this genre. For this period the genre of hip-hop faced a decline. Crunk was very popular in between 2001 and 2004.

Martin Luther King and Henry DavidThoreau Essay Example for Free

Martin Luther King and Henry DavidThoreau Essay However with different motives; Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Henry David Thoreau were both admirable men that strived for a better government. As respected spokesmen they served as rebels against what they thought to be bad ones stopping at nothing. Not even jail. Henry David Thoreau and Martin Luther King Jr. were both brilliant men. Thoreaus Civil Obedience and Dr. Kings Letter from Birmingham Jail are perfect examples of their intellect. Looking at these documents and observing the tactics they use while attempting to move their audience toward their ultimate goal, one can see the finesse that both men possessed. Thoreau and Dr. King lived during two different centuries. So being that they were vocalist and activist on the current issues its almost certain that they would have a different motive. Even though their motive was poles apart, differing in many ways, both Thoreau and Dr. King wrote with the aspiration of obtaining a new form of government presumably resembling the republican one we exercise today. Although awfully controversial, to do so both men felt nonverbal actions such as breaking the laws was the only effective way. In spite of the fact that its relatively ironic, they viewed going to jail in order to make a mockery of an immoral or impractical laws put in place by the government was the very highest respect for law (King para. 5).Henry David Thoreau motive for rebelling against the government was to make it more of a democratic one. He had no respect for the way it was being ran. His proclaimed problem basically summed up to be that he felt the government was being ran like a monarchy, or in other words by a selective few and not an entire society as it should. It simply wasnt up to par according to his standards; for he stated this I ask for, not at once no government, but at once a better government (para. 4).Unlike Henry David Thoreau, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was an African American during the times of segregation. This alone is a critical manipulating variable in the equation of why the twos motive wasnt the same. Dr. King was all about helping America move towards a desegregated future. He had zeal towards annihilating all unjust laws which he stated to be a code inflicted upon a minority which that minority had no part in enacting or creating (para. 4), but for the most part he had an overall respect for the government. In conclusion, its safe to say that other than race and motive Henry David Thoreau and Martin Luther King Jr. were pretty similar. They both were men of their own opinion that could be classified as moralized radicals. As spokesmen of their time they were both good at what they did. Through the form of speeches, protest, letters, and etcetera they both exemplified Civil Disobedience (Thoreau). Thoreau, Henry D. Civil Disobedience. New York: Barnes Noble Books, 1849. 263-287. King Jr., Dr. Martin L. Letter from Birmingham City Jail. 16 Apr.-May 1963. Birmingham: Charles Moore, 1963. 1.

Phenomenological Perspective And Theoretical Framework Sociology Essay

Phenomenological Perspective And Theoretical Framework Sociology Essay The aim in this chapter is to offer the foundations on which I base my methodological approach and data analysis. In this section I will clarify theoretical issues which I have examined and informed my work. I outline a framework that highlights the interconnectedness of the macro and micro in explicating the actions and policies of local government in implementing the renewed race relations approach. In this regard, the chapter covers a range of important issues and introduces a number of theoretical concepts relating to race relations and equality. For work of this sort to have meaning it has to embody a rigorous conceptual analysis which underpin a critical theory approach. These definitions are located in a broader theory of oppression and intrinsic discrimination and inequality. Below are the concepts which have informed my approach, these concepts will allow me to examine and understand the complex situation. Phenomenological perspective To state that research doesnt happen in vacuum / isolation acknowledgement of historical and social influences will shape the research Objectivity/subjectivity Positionality Structuration theory Through social action that structures and agency are shaped. Rejects Parsons functionalism subjectivity And also hermeneutics approach on agency He argues his theory of structuration reveals how the micro (personal) is shaped by the macro (social systems) Read Positioning chapter in 1984 book. Social practices ordered across space and time refer to the actions of individuals and groups understood in their social, cultural and historical context. A key element of this theory, therefore, is the attempt to understand reality in terms of structure the significance of social divisions and other aspects of social organisation and agency the exercise of choice. While many forms of social theory address either structure or agency, structuration theory is characterised by a focus on structure and agency and the ways in which they are intertwined. In understanding the ability to participate in community matters what is needed then is an appreciation of both structure and agency. It is not a matter of either or, nor is it an underemphasising of the role of agency by concentrating on the social structures to the almost total exclusion of issues of choices, intentions, wishes, fears and aspirations, or an overemphasising of the role of agency, failing to recognise the power role of social structure in shaping, enabling and constraining the actions of individuals and groups. Our agency is rooted in the complexities of social systems but is not determined by them. Racism, discrimination and oppression are also imbedded in those social systems. Power Power is a central feature of the struggle to promote social justice and equality. It is envisaged power in this study will be played out in many ways. In a practical sense, it is the local government who holds the power both with policy and resources (staff, time, organisation, money), in this case the dominant party, to eliminate the inequalities faced by minority groups. Power analysis is useful in identifying resistance to change as this does not rely solely on the While in the workings of organisations power is transparent in the formal decision-making process, work by Hunter study of decision makers and places of net-working , Mills study of power elite, Bachrach and Baratzs power is,exercised by containing the scope of decision-making to relatively safe issues (p. 6). Steven Lukes (1974) three dimensional framework of power identify other ways in which power may operate. In this study I am informed by Lukess three dimensional framework of power as it illuminates the different dimensions where power operates. Lukes theory is built on earlier theories on power which he addresses in his book Radical View. Dahls one dimensional model of power is conceived of as intentional and active in the political arena by political actor groups, and power consists in defeating the opponents preferences. The focus is on decision-making behavior on issues where there is an observable conflict of subjective interests as revealed by policy preferences. Criticism of this view, is that power is not only reflected in concrete decisions. Individuals can limit decision-making to non-controversial issues by keeping certain topics off the agenda and argued that power should be analysed by two-dimensional model of power. According to Lukes, the two-dimensional view of power is limited in that it focuses only on observable conflicts, whether overt or covert. Lukes claims power can also by influencing, shaping, or determining his wants and preferences. Another second criticism is that this view is too committed to behaviorism, that is to the study of concrete decisions, whereas inaction can also be the outcome of socially structured and culturally patterned collective behavior. The third point on which this view is seen as inadequate is in its claim that non-decision-making power only exists where there are grievances which are denied entry into the political process in the form of issues. However, Lukes argues that power can be also exercised by preventing grievances by shaping perceptions and preferences in such a way as to secure the acceptance of the status quo since no alternative appears to exist, or because it is seen as natural and unchangeable. This he refers to as the insidious/invisible third dimension of power, through which the relatively powerless came to internalise and accept their own condition, and thus might not be awa re of nor act upon their interests in any observable way. Lukes third face of power was inspired by Gramscis ideas about hegemony and manufacture of consent as the means by which the willing compliance of workers is secured in capitalist societies. In practical terms, Gramscis insights about how power is constituted in the realm of ideas and knowledge expressed through consent rather than force. Lukes contrasts two meanings of hegemony: the first as an unconscious psychological process that is cultural and internalised, and the second a more conscious, wilful and coordinated strategy of domination. Hinson and Healey (2003, 4) further write that [Invisible power] is exercised in part through control of the institutions that shape and create meaning: religious institutions, the media, mass consumer culture, popular ideas about government, etc. Although the concept of power is used, it is itself is highly contested. What accounts for the highly contested nature of the concept of power? One explanation is that how we conceptualize power is shaped by the political and theoretical interests that we bring to the study of power  Lukes 2005, p63.   Some theorists define power as getting someone else to do what you want them to do (power-over) whereas others define it more broadly as an ability or a capacity to act (power-to). Many very important analyses of power in political science, sociology, and philosophy presuppose the former definition of power (power-over). As Steven Lukes notes, Dahls one-dimensional view of power, Bachrach and Baratzs two-dimensional view, and his own three-dimensional view are all variations of the same underlying conception of power, according to which A exercises power over B when A affects B in a manner contrary to Bs interests (1974, 30). Similarly, but from a very different theoretical background, Michel Foucaults highly influential analysis presupposes that power is a kind of power-over; and he puts it, if we speak of the structures or the mechanisms of power, it is only insofar as we suppose that certain persons exercise power over others (1983, 217). Feminists refer to this kind of relation as a specific kind of power-over relation, namely, one that is unjust and oppressive, they also refer to this kind of relation as oppression, patriarchy, subjection, and domination to those over whom power is exercised, this oppressive power will be discussed below. For the above section should I include Huner and Mills ways in which way power is used to manage people , manipulation and coercion see separate document how power works Global effects local While this is local community study, I am drawing upon the study of international developmental work by Gaventa and colleagues. Firstly, they contend that effects of globalisation have changed the spatial relations of power, therefore, power increasingly should be understood not only at the local, national or the global level, but also in their inter-relationships p4 (ESRC undated). The ripple effects of 9/11 in the US and the increase in Islamophobia, the renewed race relations can be seen in this context. Places where power is held Although in the past it was the local government who controlled and made the decisions in the city and neighbourhoods, governance is now characterised by multiple intersecting actors, arenas and networks. The decision making arenas in which power may be found have become increasingly more varied and porous. Especially with the increase in arms-length-companies, social enterprises (joint private and public projects). Therefore attention to the decision-making in such spaces require equal focus in the study of power and decision makers. Who says they have become more porous? Gaventa There are different approaches to understanding and analysing power, I will use the powercube approach offered by by Gaventa and team which is based on Lukes three faces dimensions of power three faces. The power cube is an analytical device, which can be used along with other approaches to reflect on and analyse how strategies for change in turn change power relations: The approach, developed over the years is largely based on studies of community groups based in southern hemisphere. The theoretical approach grew originally as a way of exploring how powerful actors control the agenda through and the ability of less powerful actors to build their awareness and action for change.   The powercube is a framework for analysing the  levels,  spaces  and  forms  of power, and their  interrelationship.   It is useful in exploring various aspects of power and how they interact with each other.   The  levels  dimension of the powercube refers to the differing layers of decision-making and authority held on a vertical scale, including the  local,national  and  global. The  spaces  dimension of the powercube refers to the potential arenas for participation and action, including what we call  closed,  invited  and  claimedspaces. The  forms  dimension refers to the ways in which power manifests itself, including its  visible,  hidden  and  invisible  forms. The powercube can build on and be used to further explore the  expression of power:   power over, power to, power with, and power within. In the study, where the dominant group have to bring about change for minority groups, expressions of power such as power-over by actors who are instructed to make changes. The power lens will also help to identify partnerships which help to generate power-with across wider range of actors/ groups. The empirical work should highlight power-within as minority communities self-determine within the community to work towards improving their lives. In this respect, the power lens will illuminate sources of claimed space by the mobilisation of networks and supporters within the neighbourhood. John Gaventa takes invisible power further. In the powercube, invisible power need not be limited to intentional acts of thought control by the powerful, but can also be seen as self-reproducing social processes in which the thinking and behaviour of the powerful and powerless alike are conditioned by pervasive norms. Invisible power in the powercube can therefore embrace both meanings of hegemony its structure and agency and points to the need for appropriate strategies for engaging with both forms of invisible or internalised power. This third face of power is likewise treated by VeneKlasen and Miller (2002) as a multidimensional barrier to effective citizen participation, requiring well-designed tactics for building self-awareness, self-esteem and power within to challenge dominant norms such as gender and racial discrimination. Their practical methods are grounded in experiences of womens organising and empowerment, and recognises the direct links between gendered norms in society and the fragile condition of womens power within. Invisible power in this sense bridges agency and structure. The use of power analysis is effective in uncovering/ identifying resistence and compliance to changes rather than relying solely on the formal decision-making process. Critical race theory Relationship to other movements Critical race theory builds on the insights of movements such as anti-racism and radical feminism to which it owes a large debt. CRT also draws from certain European philosophers and theorists such as Steven Lukes, Antonia Gramsci, as well as from the American radical tradition exemplified by such figures as Sojourner Truth, W.E.B. Du Bois. race equality policies are developed by white people/the oppressors themselves. CRT also shares a sympathetic understanding of group empowerment. Racism/Discrimination The term race is problematic The term race itself is problematic, a clear understanding of the term race is paramount in understanding what is racism and what impact this has on institutions and people. While the term race is used, Miles and Phizacklea (1982), have suggested that race should be dispensed with as an analytic category because the very use of the term reproduces and gives legitimacy to a distinction, existence of different human races, that has no scientific status or validity. Thus, an analytic category helps to perpetuate and legitimises the notion that race is a meaningful term (Miles and Phizacklea 1984). Although this may be the case at one level, to deny the significance of race this also obscures the ways in which it has real effects both in material and representational terms (look up this quote and amend) (Anthias 1990). While it is clear that races do not exist, in any objective scientific reality, it is clear that it does exist as a category /group which is reflected in political and popular discourse (Solomos). Race is a way of constructing differences (Anthias and Yuval-Davis, 1993, Cashmore and Troyna 1983, Gilroy, 1987). Race is a social category used in reference to divisions within a particular society. Cashmore and Troyna, suggest that race should be seen as a stigmatized identity forced on other people. Similarly, Modood (1988) proposes that race relates to mode of oppression, how a group is categorised and subordinated. Race theorists such as Bonnet 1993, Gilroy 1987, Brah 1996 and others understand the notion of races as a social construct. As Bhavani argues the development of race as a spurious scientific category is a consequence of imperialism and colonization. It is this scientificism which informed, (and still informs), prevailing ideologies of biological superiority and inferiority among human beings on the basis of race. Jackson and Penrose (1993) argue that race is so rooted in the way we think about the world that we tend to take the category for granted. It is through the apparent naturalness and immutability that racist ideology works. Although the terms race and racism are themselves contradictory, the terms are useful as a way of categorizing the systematic mistreatment experienced by people from black and minority ethnic communities and is used in this study. Donald and Rattansi (1992) suggest that instead of starting with the question as to whether race exists, it is more useful to ask how the category operates and how racial frames of reference are articulated and deployed, and with what consequences (p1). Race and ethnicity used interchangeably The terms race and ethnicity are often used interchangeably, the terms are generally distinguished in that race evokes a biological and genetic referent while ethnicity refers to cultural and religious difference and kinship (Gunaratnam).  The term ethnicity has been preferred in some quarters; however, ethnicity is also linked to liberal notions of multi-ethnic societies and multi-culturalism which have a tendency to obscure the force of racism with their celebrations of benign pluralism. Race theorists argue the markers and signifiers that racism uses need not be those of biology and physiognomy but can be those of language, territorial rights or culture (Anthias p24). P.262 Rolston ethnicity slowly became term used to discuss the internal conflict in Northern Ireland not its history, inequalities, structural policies or action. p.257 Rolston use of postmodernist language in policies, work etc. there is not any mention of historical legacies such as Thus the unequal relationship s, where the Irish and blacks were the oppressed by the British suppressers is ignored, in a way attempts are made to blank out the history . Racism works through oppression, and the form of oppression can be through discrimination, bias, prejudice and bigotry Bluemenfeld. Anti-racist theorists have drawn upon theories of oppression to examine how racism works, two key themes are prevalent. Firstly, there is the awareness is a system of oppression that not only stigmatises and affects the dominated group but also does psychic and ethical violence to the dominator group as well. The second theme is that racism functions not only through overt, conscious prejudice and discrimination but also through unconscious attitudes and behaviours of a society that presumes an unacknowledged but pervasive white cultural supremacy. The concept of unmarked and unacknowledged norms bolsters the power position of the dominant group. For instance, by group identities, the dominant group have positive value, while labelling the dominated groups as minorities. While in the UK, racism is popularly understood to be white people having power over black people, Rolston points to anti-Irish racism, which exists in the UK. Rolston argues there are similarities between black oppression and Irish national oppression. In both cases, the root cause of conflict and inequalities is not addressed but hidden behind a veil of multiculturalism which is articulate through the use of postmodernist language. Ethnicity, diversity, integration, tolerance, difference,cultural awareness is considered to be all that is needed. The study of racism has shown that it operates through systems of oppression. This often involves a dominant group who knowingly or unknowingly exploit and reap unfair advantage over members of subordinate or target groups (Johnson 2004). The dominant group also has economic, political or social, power over the subordinate group. (Essed and Goldberg 2002)suggests that racism is created through routine practices by people. They describe racism as both structure and process. It is structure because dominance and discrimination exists and is reproduced through the formulation and application of rules, laws, and regulations and through access to and the allocation of resources. As a process, it exists in the everyday practice where it is reproduced and reinforced, adapting continually to the ever-changing social, political and economic societal conditions. It becomes normal to the dominant group to see others as different and inferior particularly in relation to the colour of their skin (Bhavnani 2005). Everyday racism refers to forms of discrimination that manifest themselves in systematic, recurrent, familiar practices. Everyday racism is infused into familiar practices, it involves socialized attitudes and behaviour (Johnson 2004). Racism also serves to deny full participation in economic, social, political and cultural life by the essence that they posit (Anthias and Yuval-Davis 1992; (Gunaratnam 2003). However, there is not a unitary system of signification that can be labelled racist nor is there a unitary perpetrator or victim. This position requires addressing the ways in which the categories of difference and exclusion or the bias of class, gender and ethnicity incorporate processes of racialisation and are intertwined in producing racist discourses and outcomes Anthias (1992 (p3). Include different levels that racism can operate from SCIP (Pincus). There more ethnicity and culture matters the more its characteristics are represented as relatively fixed, inherent within a group, transmitted from generation to generation, not just by culture and education, but by biological inheritance (Gunaratnam 2003). Cultural difference has largely displaced the notion of biological difference, as a basis for excluding or inferiorising, both in discourse and practice (Anthias and Yuval-Davis 1992) and recently faith has been used as categorising difference (Cantle 2007). Anthias and Yuval-Davis (1992) argue that exclusionary practices that are formulated on the categorization of individuals into groups whereby ethnic or racial origin are the criteria of access or selection then they are endemically racist. They content that racism is not just about beliefs or statements, but about the ability to impose those beliefs or world-views as hegemonic, and as a basis for denial of rights or equality. Racism is thus embedded in power relations of diff erent types. Whilst it is known that racism is not only carried out by white people but also by black people, it should not be confused with the occasional mistreatment experienced by whites, with the systematic and institutionalized mistreatment experienced by people of colour (Anthias and Yuval-Davis 1992). The studies of oppressive behaviour, attitudes and structures have been studied by other oppressed categories such as feminists. Iris Young has oppression names a family of concepts and conditions, which can be divide into 5 categories: exploitation, marginalisation, powerlessness, cultural imperialism and violence (Young). Marxist explanations of racism is that class divide. In using the concept of race there is the danger of essentialising difference. There are difficulties and contradictions involved in working with the concept, as other concepts such as gender, class, sexuality, ableism also impact on how people live. Hall further argues that the interactive nature of racial or gender categories should be recognised as a complex process and a set of factors through which identity is formulated and contested. Constructions of race as of class, gender, sexuality, ethnicity interact, fuse with or displace each other in an on-going process of confrontation and negotiation (Hall, 1992). Culture Institutional racism While institutional discrimination had been recognised by anti-racist to exist, it was as significant marker in racism in that institutional racism was publicly exposed and put on the political agenda in the Macpherson Inquiry published in 1999. (Back et al 2002). For the purposes of the Inquiry the concept of institutional racism which was applied was The collective failure of an organisation to provide an appropriate and professional service to people because of their colour, culture or ethnic origin. It can be seen or detected in processes, attitudes and behaviour which amount to discrimination through unwitting prejudice, ignorance, thoughtlessness and racist stereotyping which disadvantage minority ethnic people 6.34 Oppression can also be structural. Its causes are embedded in unquestioned norms, habits, and symbols in the assumptions underlying institutional rules and the collective consequences of following those rules. Some groups suffer as a consequence of often unconscious assumptions and reactions of well-meaning people in ordinary interactions, media and cultural stereotypes and structural features of bureaucratic hierarchies and market mechanisms in short, the normal processes of everyday life Young. Need to bring social structures and institutional contexts under evaluation as these are at least partly the cause of patterns of distribution of jobs or wealth. Young has noted three primary categories- decision-making structures and procedures, division of labour and culture (p22). Young argued that Justice should refer not only to distribution, but also to the institutional conditions necessary for the development and exercise of individual capacities and collective communication and cooperation (p37 Power to omit The decision makers have the power to keep and control the topic on the agenda for discussion. Thus by not addressing issues which are pertinent to minority groups the decision makers collaborate in the discrimination. Impact of racism on BME and WHITE communities The impact of racism in British society can be seen in the racialised and gendered forms of class exploitation either as homeworkers or in low-waged occupations on employers premises (Amrit Wilson). Race significantly affects black womens experiences of treatment in areas such as education, the health service and the labour market (Brah 1991). The influence how black people are represented in popular culture and the mass media (Modleski 1986) Points to include in definition of racism From the discussion above, the following points have been identified as appropriate to include in the working definition of the term racism which will be used in this study. Although the terms race and racism are themselves contradictory, the terms are useful as a way of categorizing the systematic mistreatment experienced by people from black and minority ethnic communities (BME). The systematic mistreatment experienced by people from BME communities is a result of institutionalized inequalities in the social structure. In denying people from BME communities, full participation in economic, political and social power, a self-perpetuating imbalance occurs. This imbalance consistently favours members of some ethnic and cultural groups at the expense of others. The consequences of this imbalance pervade all aspects of the social system and affect all facets of peoples lives. The systematic mistreatment of any group of people generates misinformation about them, which in turn becomes the explanation of or justification for continued mistreatment. Racism exists as a whole series of attitudes, assumptions, feelings and beliefs about people of colour and their cultures which are a mixture of misinformation, fear and ignorance. Participation and citizenship Participation of general population Big Society Although the concept of participation or community participation as it is often known, has been around since 1970s?, in the UK it has re-emerged with renewed vigour in the last decade. Participation and engagement are terms used intermittently today. While there are differences in the meaning of these terms there is also a lot of overlap. These terms are associated with the importance of involving wider groups of people in decisions, services and design, it is often thought services should be client-led, user-led for the service to be more effective. Concerns about a democratic deficit in the accountability of public services, and an increasing view that lay citizens, members of the public and service users have an important contribution to offer to the improvement of public-service provision, have given rise to a variety of new initiatives in local government, health and social care, and other fields (see, e.g., Barnes, Newman and Sullivan, 2007). Race perspective Participation from citizens rights to citizens responsibilities Participation allows people to be part of the democratic process, sense of belonging, and part of the decision making. However, the process of racial discrimination excludes black people from fully participating in society and being equal members in all the structures of the society. It is often the case, black peoples role is limited to being the clients service-users. Black people are excluded from participating to a greater extent. The multiculturalism policies did not address the deep rooted racism epidemic within the UK. It was merely about steel drums and samosas. As discussed earlier, racism excludes black people from fully participating in societies.

The impact of Sexual Abuse on Children Essay -- Child Abuse, Physical

It was not until recent that studies would present the impact sexual abuse has had on children. Little is known about adults who have been sexually abused. A sexually abused child has been an unspoken phrase dating as far back as the early 1970s (Finkelhor, 1984). Studies on those children who have been sexually abused are rare, although they are presented at a disproportionate rate to their counterparts. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is based on official statistics which concurs with the preceding statement (Briere & Runtz 1986). According to the National Incidence Studies, there has been a 67 percent increase in all forms of abuse from the years 1986 to 1993 involving children. Although there was a decrease of child sexual abuse, of the 67 percent only 10 percent comprised of child sexual abuse cases (Jones, 2001). Various reasons have been the cause for this decrease, such as†¦.. Child sexual abuse is a topic spoken about very loosely in the era we now live. After conducting my research, I would later learn that empirical research would guide me into journals with a broader spectrum on the topic. This topic interests me in more ways than one. Although my research does not deal with the mind frame of the offender, it does help me understand victimology or the relationship between the offender and the victim; which will be discussed later in this paper. The purpose of this paper is to determine the impact of sexual abuse on juvenile victims, if any at all. A meta-analysis will be conducted combining at least ten (10) professional journals and books. The importance of this study depicts the everlasting traumatic effect that sexual abuse has on children and whether the impact is no more than immediate or ... ...xual abuse was rare early on, when conducted it was combined with adults who too were abused. Some studies specified child abuse by gender, focusing either on boys, or only girls. Methodologies used by researchers had some limitations as well. Some depended on clinician’s reports rather than self-reports from the victim. In early research, longitudinal studies were not conducted. CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis reconfirms prior research findings; the impact of child sexual abuse can be traumatic, everlasting, and symptomatic. Nevertheless, some sexually abused children may never experience any interpersonal symptoms. These findings have a number of important implications for theory development (Tackett, Williams, & Finkelhor). There has not been a proven relationship between sexual abuse and suicide since a third event can produce both (Briere & Elliot).