EFFECTIVE RESEARCH & PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE + ISM Case Study

EFFECTIVE RESEARCH & PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE + ISM - Case Study Example This can act as a delimiting factor at times. However, I feel that with a little bit of push I can make it to the top. I don’t feel that I possess any kind of threat. There are immense opportunities which I can cash upon. My curious nature, my cognitive thinking skills and my ability to work under pressure. All this will ensure that I produce high quality work in less time. The article is an empirical study on the role and scope of knowledge management systems in organizations. The article’s aims were well defined and chalked out. The article tried to test hypothetical the belief that the technologies used for information purposes in organizations and to lend support to business operations need to more in sync with each other. The focus was to redefine and reanalyze the purpose of KMS in light of the ways most organizations perceive Knowledge management. The study made use of findings from Delphi study and various in-depth interviews were conducted by them. Eventually, it concluded in a suggestion for developing organizational knowledge management systems. It was a qualitative analysis that came to the conclusion that knowledge management systems should be better integrated with the overall technology used in the firm. Thus instead of using a Knowledge Management system as a distinct entity the focus should be put the KMS in context with the prevailing technologies and enhancing their potential through the KM capabilities. The quality of the article was good. It was well researched, well explained and well substantiated. The limitations of the study were clearly indicated in the end and the discussion of the findings was very comprehensive. I believe that a qualitative study should be conducted for this research. As explained by many researchers, a qualitative study is more helpful when complex human behavior need to be researched and studied. In this study, current human behavior towards tutorial systems, prospect attitude towards them and a complex

Motorcycle industry analysis Essay Example for Free

Motorcycle industry analysis Essay Definition Motorcycles fall into the category called Recreational Vehicle, Motorcycle and Boat Retail Industry. These are companies that retail recreational vehicles, boats, motorcycles, jet skis, and/or related accessories. In Hoover’s classification, based on the North American Industry Classifications System (NAICS) and the older U. S. Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system, motorcycles fall under a smaller subcategory called Motorcycle, ATV, and Personal Watercraft Dealers Industry. This U. S.industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in retailing new and/or used motorcycles, motor scooters, motorbikes, mopeds, off-road all-terrain vehicles, and personal watercraft, or retailing these new vehicles in combination with repair services and selling replacement parts or accessories. Statistics In terms of looking at the whole industry, motorcycle dealers make up a majority of the industry when compared with ATVs and personal watercraft dealers. The chart below shows statistics from 2002 comparing the motorcycle dealers with all other motor vehicle dealers in the industry. As the charts illustrates, motorcycle dealers made up 91. 5% of sales in this industry, while ATVs and personal watercraft dealers only contributed to 8. 5% of sales. Year 2002 Motorcycle DealersAll other motor vehicle dealers (ATV personal watercraft dealers) Total Establishments4,3845144,898 Sales ($1,000)14,636,299 (91. 5%)1,353,829 (8. 5%)15,990,128 (100%) Annual Payroll1,429,316106,6811,535,997 Paid Employees46,0374,18850,225 www. industries. hoovers. com Analyzing data for motorcycle dealers between the years of 1997 and 2002 reveals some important information. The results show the growth and percent changes in certain categories pertaining specifically to the motorcycle dealer industry. While the number of establishments only increased approximately 21 percent, the amount of sales increased almost 99 percent. The annual payroll (excluded from the graph) increased 100 percent and the paid employees rose by 59 percent. These figures, illustrated through a bar graph below, indicate a growing industry especially for those companies already in the business with establishments formed. Motorcycle Dealers. Although there are many nonfranchised retailers in the industry, 80 percent of the industry’s business is made up of franchised outlets. The average franchised motorcycle outlet generates sales and services almost six times that of nonfranchised outlets. In addition to selling motorcycles, dealers make up almost half of their business through sales of parts, accessories, and apparel. In 1997 approximately 6. 5 million motorcycles were owned in the United States, with California having almost two times more retail outlets than any other state. In terms of rider distribution, California, Texas, New York, Florida, and Ohio accounted for more than one-third of all motorcycle ownership in the U. S. In terms of a target market there seems to be no specific or clear differentiation. Below are some statistics that allow one to make judgments based on the Harley Davidson demographic profile. Gender20002001200220032004 Male91%91%91%90%90% Female9%9%10%10%10% Purchasers (2004) †¢ 42% Owned Harley-Davidson ® motorcycle previously †¢ 31% Coming off of competitive motorcycle †¢ 27% New to motorcycling or havent owned a motorcycle Background and Competition. â€Å"The earliest motorcycles were basically bicycles powered by small engines, and the motorcycle was considered a relatively cheap alternative to the more expensive, early automobiles. Many U. S. manufacturers produced motorcycles before World War I, contributing to a dynamic, if not booming, domestic market. Harley Davidson, Orient, Henderson, Cyclone, and Indian were the primary competitors at that time. Henry Fords affordable Model-T, however, doomed many motorcycle manufacturers. In fact, by the end of the Great Depression, the only remaining manufacturers and sellers of motorcycles were Indian and Harley-Davidson. Indian closed down production and distribution in 1953. The late 1950s and early 1960s saw the first influx of low-priced, smaller Japanese motorcycles and scooters into the United States. Honda began U. S. distribution of its products in 1959, with the slogan, You meet the nicest people on a Honda, to combat the negative image associated with the sport. Yamaha starting selling motorcycles in the United States during 1960; Suzuki followed in 1963; and Kawasakii joined the competition in 1967. BMW opened a U. S. distribution arm in 1975, incorporating in New Jersey. Harley-Davidson ended years of private ownership in 1965 with a public offering of its stock, and eventually merged with industrial giant AMF in 1969. The oil crisis in the 1970s prompted the popularity of the smaller motorcycles, mopeds, and scooters that were made primarily by Japanese manufacturers. Dealers sold vehicles to those interested in conserving gas and finding cheap transportation. Harley-Davidsons market share, already dropping, was further threatened by Hondas 1969 entrance into the heavy and super heavyweight segment of the market. By the late 1970s Harley-Davidson faced severe production quality problems in addition to stiff competition. A management buyout in early 1981 set the course for the companys revitalization. It was protection under higher tariffs however, recommended by the International Trade Commission that helped shut Honda out of Harley-Davidsons key market. In response, Japanese manufacturers evaded the tariffs by setting up assembly plants in the United States. Harley-Davidsons resurrection and Hondas sagging sales worked to even the motorcycle market by the early 1990s. † (www. answers.com/topic/motorcycle-dealers) Below is a pie chart that shows the motorcycle industry major players and their market share relative to one another. â€Å" The Big 4 Japanese have 70% of the capital dollars in the motorcycle industry. BMW and H-D combine for another 26%. Everyone else is pretty much a rounding error. At least by this measure these six companies (the Big 4 Japs, BMW, and H-D) utterly dominate the motorcycle market in every way that really matters. † http://www. muddywatersmx. net Industry Trends and Current Events â€Å"Motorcycling remains one of Americas most popular forms of recreation and transportation. The number of people who enjoy motorcycle activities is comparable to the number of people who engage in fishing, golfing, and camping. Because there are many sizes of vehicles available, motorcycling has become a family recreational activity. In addition to providing enjoyment, motorcycles, scooters, and all-terrain vehicles are used in industry in various ways. † (www. answers. com/topic/motorcycle-dealers) â€Å"The retail motorcycle, moped, and all-terrain industry is strongly affected by national economic trends. Recessionary and expansionary trends essentially dictate the retail consumption levels of vehicles. † According to Irwin Broh Associates’s 1998 survey, the average motorcycle rider was a 38-year-old married male with a college education earning $44,250 per year. â€Å"These older, more affluent riders of 1998 could afford heavier, more comfortable, more expensive motorcycles. Also, the ranks of women motorcyclists continued to grow in the 1990s, rising from 6. 4 percent of riders in 1990 to 8. 2 percent in 1998. † (www. answers. com/topic/motorcycle-dealers) â€Å"The growth from exports became a major player for the motorcycle industry in 2000. † The demand by the foreign market was expected to grow well into 2007. The chart below shows the Top Destinations for U. S Motorcycles and Parts Exports by country for 2002 to 2003. The top two major players are Canada and Japan. â€Å"On December 23, 2003, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) enacted the newest set of emission standards for highway motorcycles†¦Beginning in 2006, motorcycle manufacturers would have to reduce emissions of HC and oxides of nitrogen by 60 percent. (www. answers. com/topic/motorcycle-dealers).

Representations of Native Americans in Dances with Wolves and The Searc

â€Å"Film is more than the instrument of a representation; it is also the object of representation. It is not a reflection or a refraction of the ‘real’; instead, it is like a photograph of the mirrored reflection of a painted image.† (Kilpatrick) Although films have found a place in society for about a century, the labels they possess, such as stereotypes which Natives American are recognized for, have their roots from many centuries ago (Kilpatrick). The Searchers, a movie directed by John Ford and starred by John Wayne, tells the story of a veteran of the American Civil War and how after his return home he would go after the maligned Indians who killed his family and kidnapped his younger niece. After struggling for five years to recover his niece back, who is now a young woman, she is rescued by his own hands. Likewise, Dances with Wolves is a Western film directed and starred by Kevin Costner. It is also situated during the American Civil War and tells t he story of a soldier named John Dunbar that after a suicide attempt; he involuntarily leads Union troops to a triumph. Then, by his request he is sent to a remote outpost in the Indian frontier â€Å"before it’s gone†. There, the contact with the natives is eminent and thus it shows how through those contacts this soldier is transformed into another Indian that belongs with the Sioux to tribe and who is now called Dances With Wolves. While both John Ford and Kevin Costner emphasize a desire to apologize to the indigenous people, they use similar themes such as stereotypes, miscegenation, and the way characters are depicted; conversely, these two movies are different by the way the themes are developed within each film. John Ford’s The Searchers was giving the intention of ap... ... due to the way their roles interact with the Amerind people in the film. As a result, both films represent Natives Americans under the point of view of non-Native directors. Despite the fact that they made use of the fabricated stereotypes in their illustrations of the indigenous people, their portrayal was revolutionary in its own times. Each of the films add in their own way a new approach to the representation of indigenous people, their stories unfold partly unlike. These differences make one look at the indigenous not only as one dimensional beings but as multifaceted beings, as Dunbar say, â€Å"they are just like us.† This is finally a sense of fairness and respect by the non-native populations to the Native Indians. Works Cited Jacquelyin Kilpatrick , Celluloid Indians. Native Americans and Film. Lincoln and London: University of Nebraska Press, 1999

Iago the villain Essay -- essays research papers

Iago the villain William Shakespeare, in his play, â€Å"Othello the Moor of Venice†, brings to life one of his most complex villains, Iago. Iago plays the ancient of Othello, who is the general of the Venetian forces. As an ancient, Iago is to be a loyal servant to Othello. However, Iago has grown bitter and contempt and uses his supposed loyalty as a wedge to cause Othello’s demise. It has been said of Iago that he is the devil incarnate or that he personifies the devil (pg. 244) this accusation comes to life as you read the play and discover for yourself that in each scene in which Iago speaks one can point out his deception. It is not clear whether Iago has a master plan or if he is just winged it moment by moment with his ultimate gain in mind. However, what is clear, and what we will point out in the following, is that Iago has the ability to use word play to say the right thing at the right time. He is quick witted and that is what makes him a successful villain. Iago’s is filled with rage and envy because he was passed over for a position he felt he deserved. Without conscience, Iago vows to take back what he feels is rightfully his by whatever means necessary. As we can see right from the beginning of Act 1, Iago begins to weave his web by revealing his true intentions to Roderigo as he justifies his hatred toward Othello. â€Å"O, sir, content you; I follow him to serve my turn upon him.† (Pg. 246, lines 41-42). Iago snares Roderigo, a man who is in love with Desdemona, by being the barer of bad news that she has just married Othello the Moor. It appears to Roderigo that Iago has his best interest at heart and that he wants to help him to win Desdemona over from Othello. Once Iago gains the trust of Roderigo he convinces him that they must do what is right and tell of Othello’s marriage to Desdemona the senator, her father. Iago accompanies Roderigo to the door of the Senator, Brabantio, and convinces Roderigo to call up to him to tell of this news. Once the senator is waked, Iago flees to tell Othello that trouble is on its way. This was the first clue that he was up to no good. Toward the end of Act 1, we find Iago and Roderigo speaking again. This time Roderigo is at his rope’s end and is contemplating suicide because of his lost love for Desdemona. Iago tries to reassure Roderigo that it is a matter of time that Desdemona will come to her sens... ...sio â€Å"Ay, if you dare yourself a profit and a right† (pg. 280, line 232). In the final Act, Act 5, we find Iago’s wife about to uncover his treachery, but before she can, Iago kills her to keep her quiet. In doing so he still hangs onto the hope that his plan is not all lost. Instead he flees to stall for time, however this is an admittance of guilt. â€Å"He’s gone, but his wife’s killed† (pg. 286, line 238). When Iago’s treachery is finally unmasked the justification he offers almost cheats the audience at first glance, as he stands there almost speechless â€Å"Demand me nothing. What you know, you know† (pg. 287, lines 303-304).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In his final words Iago offers no justification and conveys no expression of guilt for the treachery he bestowed upon Othello and the others. His willingness to lie, steal and kill is evidence that he is willing to go to any lengths to achieve his goal. One may ask what motivated Iago to commit these acts; it may seem that his motivation was his anger toward Othello for passing him over for the position of lieutenancy. However, to the contrary, true villains need no motivation, to be malicious and evil is their motivation.

Five Points of Architecture

Five Points of ArchitectureLe Corbusier is one of the most important designers from the twentieth century. He is known as one of the innovators of modern architecture due to many of his thoughts and‘recipes’within architecture. One of his most celebrated was  Ã¢â‚¬ËœThe Five Point of a New Architecture’that he had explained in ‘L'Esprit Nouveau’  and the book ‘  Vers une architecture’, which he had been developing throughout the 1920s. Le Corbusier’ development of this thought altered the architectural promenade in a new manner, which was presented in 1926. [ 1 ] The five points are as follows: pilotis, the roof garden, free program, free facade, and the horizontal window. Le Corbusier used these points as a structural footing for most of his architecture up until the 1950’s, which are apparent in many of his designs. The essay‘Les Cinq points d'une architecture nouvelle’by Le Corbusier focuses on inquiries that are raised within architectural design, proposing a foundation and agreement in it. Similar texts for illustration the advancement of‘cellule’and figures of the Maison Standardisee, do non hold relation to the design procedure of the five points. The Modulor, which is the survey of proportions of the human organic structure graduated table that is used as a system to be after a figure of Le Corbusier’s edifices, is another theoretical effort, which did non accomplish a proper relation to the design procedure and besides the architectural hunt for signifier that personifies the five points. On the other manus, these thoughts can be portrayed more freely as ‘merely theoretical ideas’ . [ 2 ] One exclusion is the construct of the tracis regulateurs ( modulating lines ) , which uses proportions of geometry in edifices. It predicted certain thoughts behind the five points in a figure of facets. The first point is the piloti, which are columns or wharfs that elevate a construction off the land. The fact that the construction is lifted provides many functional advantages. As the pilotis raise the edifice off the land, it allows circulation beneath the house, which frees the edifice site, and allows a private road, parking infinite, or a garden to be placed beneath the house. The pilotis provides many advantages, and besides new constructional possibilities. The artistic minutes every bit good as the drawn-out utility are the consequences of those‘recherches assidues’and those‘acquis de laboratoire’[ 3 ] . The same country is besides gained on the level roof. This country is known as the following point, which is the roof garden. This is to equilibrate the green country that was already used by the edifice and substituted it onto the roof, which is so used for domestic intents. Free program is the following point, which means the floor infinite can be arranged freely without the concern for back uping walls into suites. Replacing interior supporting columns from walls spliting the infinite, and traveling the construction of the edifice to the outside is a manner to accomplish this. Le Corbusier designed an unfastened floor construction called the Dom-ino house in which the theoretical account removed supporting wall and the back uping beams for the ceiling. This innovation was most unexpected at clip ; it was a‘forecast of the potencies of strengthened concrete, of mass-production, of human graduated table, of the modern mill.’ [ 4 ] The frame did non depend on the floor programs of the house, giving the designer freedom when planing the inside. Free facade is another point. It is the ability of planing the facade freely as the walls are non-supporting, which is the consequence of the free program. The following point is the horizontal window. This allows the facade to be cut along its full length. By making so it allows maximal light, better airing and besides gives positions of the environing pace, which is apparent in the Villa Savoye. The five points were demonstrated in many of Le Corbusier ‘s architecture throughout his calling. One of first designs that Le Corbusier attempted to include the points in was the Maisons Citrohan. The house was developed through different versions. Numerous elements of the houses design turned out to be indispensable factors, which make up Le Corbusiers manner. Certain features of the Maison Citrohan can be detected in most of the Villa in the 1920’s. [ 5 ] Maison Citrohan introduced the‘five points of new architecture’ .The house was elevated by pilotis leting free circulation on the land, and besides consisted of a reinforced-concrete frame construction, which was achieved from the Dom-ino’s constructional system. The unfastened infinite created by the pilotis and the level roof increases the little country that already exists. It besides had a roof garden/terrace. Le Corbusier voiced himself on the topic of the Maison Citrohan in the first volume of the‘Oevre compldte’:â€Å"Stuttgart, c'est I'occasion enfin! â€Å" .Le Corbusier did non talk of single objects or designs ; he talked about the changeless development of an thought stretched over many instances. [ 6 ] Le Corbusier studied the indispensable doctrines of Egyptian, Hindu, Byzantine, and Grecian architecture in‘Vers une architecture’ ,which is a aggregation of essays that supports survey of the construct of modern architecture. [ 7 ] Egyptian and Grecian architecture were peculiarly of import for Le Corbusier ‘s application of the five points. From Egyptian architecture, Le Corbusier acquired the thought of symmetricalness and repeat. In add-on, Le Corbusier obtained the impression of motion and reverses from Grecian architecture. The lesson of regular repeat from Egyptian architecture, as mentioned above, provided the thought of utilizing repeat in perpendicular supports that Le Corbusier would subsequently use to his architecture as â€Å" a changeless graduated table, a beat, a reposeful meter † . Le Corbusiers design theories were put in pattern to a certain degree within a figure of his designs such as the Maison Cook, the Villa Stein, and besides at the Villa Savoye. In these edifices‘the regular grid of columns served as a foil to the organic forms of the curving walls and stepss, which together combined to form a pleasant architectural promenade with unsymmetrically balanced views’harmonizing to the lessons of Grecian architecture. [ 8 ] Similar to the Citrohan House, the Villa Stein had a roof, which became a patio garden ; on a regular basis spaced structural wharfs, which allowed freely curved interior dividers, and besides horizontal Windowss that extended across frontages. The Maison Cook was a patio house. The upper floors of the house were supported by concrete piloti, and the land floor consisted of a unfastened program which had a parking infinite, entry, and a patio. The roof was besides used as a garden patio. Le Corbusier wanted to demo that the dividers of the suites on each floor were independent of structural supports, therefore the dividers were curved. [ 9 ] The Villa Savoye follows the five points best purely, and can be considered as a reinforced program of Le Corbusier’s five points. The exterior maintains the thought of symmetricalness as all four lifts are truly similar, which consist of horizontal Windowss and gaps running the breadth of the facade at the 2nd floor degree, supported by on a regular basis spaced pilotis. [ 10 ] Within the points, the free program is the most of import in the design, where the big wall curves freely between the pilotis on the land floor, which reflects the thought of the ‘free plan’ the strongest. Equally much as the five points have contributed to the development of modern architecture greatly, some points such as the horizontal Windowss are non necessary in footings of the designing of good architecture. Besides the thought of the roof garden has been criticised over the old ages for leaking, it besides would be considered really unusual in domestic houses in states such as the UK, as they use the more traditional pitched roof as it seems more homely. Furthermore, Le Corbusier abandoned the thought of the piloti shortly after some point ; his ulterior work does non purely follow the points. Le Corbusier’s‘Five Points in Architecture’pronunciamento, as explained above, has had great influence on modern architecture. This is apparent in The Villa Savoye, which summed up the five points, which turned out to be a chef-d'oeuvre of the twentieth century design and one of the greatest plants by Le Corbusier. The five points have allowed a broad assortment of thoughts and possibilities within planing architecture even to this twenty-four hours such as the usage of free facade in Zaha Hadid’s Performing Arts Center in Hague ( 2010 ).

Free Essays on World War II

The most sinister and evil war in world history was fought from 1939 to 1945. This war came to be known as World War II (WWII). The entire world was at war. On one side there was the Allied Powers and on the other side there was the Axis Powers. The Allied Powers included the United States (didn’t join until 1941), France, Great Britain, and the Soviet Union (didn’t join until 1941). The Axis Powers included Germany, Italy, and Japan. The United States fought two wars, one in Europe and the other in the Pacific. When Japan bombed the U.S.’s Naval base in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii the United States entered WWII the next day. Franklin Roosevelt called it â€Å"a ate which will live in infamy.† (Cybriwsky, Encarta) In 1853 Commodore Matthew Perry was sent to Japan on a peace mission. (Cybriwsky, Encarta) Japan was still in the feudal age where the Shogun was the head of the government and the Emperor was just the face of the government. They were still living in the medieval age. In the process Perry showed the Japanese all of his modern tools and weapons. This in fact triggered the industrialization of Japan. The war brought an economic boom to the small island nation. The Imperialism age soon came to Japan and they decided to do the same thing every other country started to do in the latter part of the 19th century. As of 1900 the Japanese spheres of influence had reached Korea, Russia, Taiwan (then known as Formosa), and parts of China. (Boorstin and Kelly, PG. 427) In WWI Japan joined the side of the Allies against Germany and the Austria-Hungarian Empire. (Boorstin and Kelly, PG. 455) In 1904 Japan attacked the largest country in the world at Port Arthur, Russia. Then the Russo-Japanese War followed. After one year of battle the Russians were ready to negotiate. Japan got possession a Russian island and the Liaodong Peninsula. (Cybriwsky, Encarta) Japan had defeated the largest country in the world. In 1906 Japan took over Kore... Free Essays on World War II Free Essays on World War II The most sinister and evil war in world history was fought from 1939 to 1945. This war came to be known as World War II (WWII). The entire world was at war. On one side there was the Allied Powers and on the other side there was the Axis Powers. The Allied Powers included the United States (didn’t join until 1941), France, Great Britain, and the Soviet Union (didn’t join until 1941). The Axis Powers included Germany, Italy, and Japan. The United States fought two wars, one in Europe and the other in the Pacific. When Japan bombed the U.S.’s Naval base in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii the United States entered WWII the next day. Franklin Roosevelt called it â€Å"a ate which will live in infamy.† (Cybriwsky, Encarta) In 1853 Commodore Matthew Perry was sent to Japan on a peace mission. (Cybriwsky, Encarta) Japan was still in the feudal age where the Shogun was the head of the government and the Emperor was just the face of the government. They were still living in the medieval age. In the process Perry showed the Japanese all of his modern tools and weapons. This in fact triggered the industrialization of Japan. The war brought an economic boom to the small island nation. The Imperialism age soon came to Japan and they decided to do the same thing every other country started to do in the latter part of the 19th century. As of 1900 the Japanese spheres of influence had reached Korea, Russia, Taiwan (then known as Formosa), and parts of China. (Boorstin and Kelly, PG. 427) In WWI Japan joined the side of the Allies against Germany and the Austria-Hungarian Empire. (Boorstin and Kelly, PG. 455) In 1904 Japan attacked the largest country in the world at Port Arthur, Russia. Then the Russo-Japanese War followed. After one year of battle the Russians were ready to negotiate. Japan got possession a Russian island and the Liaodong Peninsula. (Cybriwsky, Encarta) Japan had defeated the largest country in the world. In 1906 Japan took over Kore... Free Essays on World War II World War II produced many heroes. One such man was Lieutenant Commander Butch O'Hare. He was a fighter pilot assigned to an aircraft carrier Lexington in the South Pacific. One day his entire squadron was sent on a mission. After he was airborne, he looked at his fuel gauge and realized that someone had forgotten to top off his fuel tank. He would not have enough fuel to complete his mission and get back to his ship. His flight leader told him to return to the carrier. Reluctantly he dropped out of formation and headed back to the fleet. As he was returning to the mother ship, he saw something that turned his blood cold. A squadron of Japanese bombers were speeding their way toward the American fleet. The American fighters were gone on a sortie and the fleet was all but defenseless. He couldn't reach his squadron and bring them back in time to save the fleet. Nor could he warn the fleet of the approaching danger. There was only one thing to do. He must somehow divert them from the fleet. Laying aside all thoughts of personal safety, he dove into the formation of Japanese planes. Wing-mounted 50 caliber's blazed as he charged in, attacking one surprised enemy plane and then another. Butch weaved in and out of the now broken formation and fired at as many planes as possible until finally all his ammunition was spent. Undaunted, he continued the assault. He dove at the planes, trying to at least clip off a wing or tail, in hopes of damaging as many enemy planes as possible and rendering them unfit to fly. He was desperate to do anything he could to keep them from reaching the American ships. Finally, the exasperated Japanese squadron took off in another direction. Deeply relieved, Butch O'Hare and his tattered fighter limped back to the carrier. Upon arrival he reported in and related the event surrounding his return. The film from the camera mounted on his plane told the tal...

Livia Drusilla the 1st Empress of Rome

Livia Drusilla the 1st Empress of Rome Livia (58 B.C. - A.D.29) was a long-lived, influential matriarchal figure in the early years of the Roman Principate. She was held up as an example of womanly virtue and simplicity. Her reputation has also been negative: she may have been a murderer and has been described as treacherous, avaricious, and power-hungry. She may have been instrumental in the banishment of Augustus daughter, Julia. Livia was the wife of the first Roman emperor, Augustus, mother of the second, Tiberius, and deified by her grandson, the Emperor Claudius. Livias Family and Marriages Livia Drusilla was the daughter of Marcus Livius Drusus Claudius (note the Claudian, the gens that had produced Appius Claudius the Blind and the colorful Clodius the Beautiful, among others) and Alfidia, daughter of M. Alfidius Lurco, in c. 61 B.C. In his book,  Anthony Barrett says Alfidia appears to have come from Fundi, in Latium, near Campania, and that Marcus Livius Drusus may have married her for her familys money. Livia Drusilla may have been an only child. Her father may also have adopted Marcus Livius Drusus Libo (consul in 15 B.C.). Livia married Tiberius Claudius Nero, her cousin when she was 15 or 16- around the time of the assassination of Julius Caesar in 44 B.C. Livia was already the mother of the future emperor, Tiberius Claudius Nero, and pregnant with Nero Claudius Drusus (January 14, 38 B.C. - 9 B.C.) when Octavian, who would be known to posterity as the Emperor Augustus Caesar, found he needed the political connections of Livias family. He arranged for Livia to be divorced and then married her after she gave birth to Drusus, on January 17, 38. Livias sons Drusus and Tiberius lived with their father until he died, in 33 B.C. They then lived with Livia and Augustus. Augustus Adopts Livias Son Octavian became the Emperor Augustus in 27 B.C. He honored Livia as his wife with statues and public displays; however, instead of naming her sons Drusus or Tiberius as his heirs, he acknowledged his grandchildren Gaius and Lucius, sons of Julia, his daughter by his previous marriage to Scribonia. By 4 A.D., Augustus grandsons had both died, so he had to look elsewhere for heirs. He wanted to name Germanicus, son of Livias son Drusus, as his successor, but Germanicus was too young. Since Tiberius was Livias favorite, Augustus eventually turned to him, with provision made for Tiberius to adopt Germanicus as his heir. Augustus died in 14 A.D. According to his will, Livia became a part of his family and was entitled to be called Julia Augusta from then on. Livia andHer Descendants Julia Augusta exerted a strong influence on her son Tiberius. In A.D. 20, Julia Augusta interceded successfully with Tiberius on behalf of her friend Plancina, who was implicated in the poisoning of Germanicus. In A.D. 22 he minted coins showing his mother as the personification of Justice, Piety, and Health (Salus). Their relationship deteriorated and after the Emperor Tiberius left Rome, he would not even return for her funeral in 29 A.D., so Caligula stepped in. Livias grandson the Emperor Claudius had the Senate deify his grandmother in A.D. 41. Commemorating this event, Claudius minted a coin depicting Livia (Diva Augusta) on a throne holding a scepter. Source Larry Kreitzer  Apotheosis of the Roman Emperor  Larry Kreitzer  The Biblical Archaeologist, 1990Alice A. Deckman  Livia Augusta  The Classical Weekly, 1925.

Surfactant Definition and Examples

Surfactant Definition and Examples Surfactant is the word that combines the terms surface active agent. Surfactants or tensides are chemical species that act as wetting agents to lower the surface tension of a liquid and allow for increased spreadability. This can be at a liquid-liquid interface or a liquid-gas interface. Surfactant Structure Surfactant molecules are usually organic compounds that contain hydrophobic groups or tails and hydrophilic groups or heads. This allows the molecule to interact with both water (a polar molecule) and oils (which are nonpolar). A group of surfactant molecules forms a micelle. A micelle is a spherical structure. In a micelle, the hydrophobic or lipophilic tails face inward, while the hydrophilic heads face outward. Oils and fats can be contained within the micelle sphere. Surfactant Examples Sodium stearate is a good example of a surfactant. It is the most common surfactant in soap. Another common surfactant is 4-(5-dodecyl)benzenesulfonate. Other examples include docusate (dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate), alkyl ether phosphates, benzalkaonium chloride (BAC), and perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS). Pulmonary surfactant provides a coating on the surface of the alveoli in the lungs. It acts to prevent fluid accumulation, keep airways dry, and maintain surface tension within the lungs to prevent collapse.

Organization Culture Exercise Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Organization Culture Exercise - Essay Example The personnel of the organization are involved as well as specialized in the arrangements of intercultural dialogues, networks and relationships. The organization is also involved in promoting education among the poor people of several countries. Considering the transparent role that the company is playing in terms of bringing together the people of different countries for the promotion of culture, the organizational culture of British Council is an example to be followed by the same people who are involved in different programs initiated by the organization. Considering the discussion of the organizational culture, the Competing Values Framework is one of the most successful business models which can answer well about an organizational environment and its working. The significant traits of this model can be seen through figure presented below: The model presented above can be said to be perfectly executed in the organizational culture of British Council. The human resource development is the key aim within the organization according to which the morale of the individual employees of the organization is boosted through various means. The internal process of the company is very transparent in which all the employees have stability in their job and they have firm control over their duties. The key aim is the spread of the information through all the departments involved in the organization into a particular activity. Growth is another feature that the employees are expected to show in the organizational environment, which means that the employees have to be forward-thinking and have positive approach in carrying out a particular function, and this is one main feature that has been experienced by me in the British Council’s organizational culture. The employees of the BC are also expected to be efficient and productive and for which they have better resources by using which they can become more transparent in their approach that

Whistleblowing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Whistleblowing - Essay Example Flexibility- Flexibility is another characteristic of the whistleblower that ensures the company or organization is not going against the law (Vaughn, 2013). Tenacity- The whistleblower use stubbornness as a competing curiosity that must be in due course used as a tool to make a defined and right decision for the business (Gramling, 2014). Sensitivity- Most of the large business organizations have large number of employees across the country; hence, sensitivity as a characteristic of a whistleblower is important because it acts as an eye to the business (Gramling, 2014). Within the last 12months, U.S Supreme Court has been identified to protect the employees through the voice of whistleblower. The instance to protect employees of publicly company’s contracts March 6, 2014. This was noted to be the first time in the United State of America Supreme Court protected sub-contractors and contractors under Lawson v FMRLL, 571 U.S (2014) (Gramling, 2014). Jonathan M Zang and Jackie Hosang Lawson had different case to the court, alleged retaliation unlawful under act 806 that was against the FMR LLC while the others interrelated to the private company the so-called FMR. The funds were mutually raised to provide fidelity to the family as persuaded by the contract. The two of them commenced the unlawful action in a federal district court where the private mate was moved to dismiss plaintiff’s issues. The claims supported that they were not covered as employees under the act 1514A (Vaughn, 2013). The plaintiff therefore, took forth both employees of public company and the employees of the contract and sub-contract. After complains were filed with the health administration and occupational safety, Zang and Lawson began the action of de novo in a court. The court examined the statute text and found that FMR’s interpretation was quite presentable because there was

Yahoos industry Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Yahoos industry - Essay Example With time and advent of another search engine Google, Yahoos popularity is now confined to Yahoo News, Sports and Finance while Yahoo is now-a-days is not a preferred choice as a search engine and Google has emerged as the most preferred search engine for web searching, electronic messages (e-mails), chats, blogs etc because of its user friendly approach and fast results. Visitors do visit Yahoo especially for those attributes which are not offered by Google else if Google offers them they have a preference for Google over Yahoo. The underlying concept is Google appears to be the chief set of connections for maintaining follow-up of diverse social associations, acquaintances and interfaces. The chief reason that could be assessed- most of the individuals have MyBlogLog, MySpace, Facebook and other social accounts which aid in staying in contact with friends and acquaintances. Yahoo offers sites for commercial purposes such as Finance, Yahoo Answers : Q&A, Backlink Reporting, Flickr for photo uploading as well as sharing, for entertainment, privacy and local search. Yahoo is therefore preferred for its wider domain and for the features which are lacking in Google and least preferred for the features that are present with

Press Release assignment Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Press Release assignment - Research Paper Example The next step would be to ensure that the information contained in the press release is true, accurate and has been certified by the company in question. The next step would be to ensure that the news headlines should be catchy to the audience. They want something that they can relate to and that can get their attention. The body copy should be written and it should be written as it should appear in the news story. There should also be clear communication that states out the six major things that would make the reader know everything they need. These five major things would include; what, when, who, where, why and also how (Gorton, 2007). It should be applicable to the audience and clean. Such an announcement of such information should be enhanced across the social society through the use of social networking sites and also other sites that may have a huge fan base. The press release needs to be able to spread the news across another spectrum and this will ensure that the message is passed onto the intended target. In an effort to ensure that it keeps its customer base and attracts more customers, J.C. Penney has offered discounts to those who bring in reusable bags. Some may call this a hoax, but the reality of the matter is that reusable bags brought in will earn the individual a discount. Call it earning money the simple

Supply Chain Integration in the Food Industry Essay

Supply Chain Integration in the Food Industry - Essay Example My first action as the new CEO would be to implement an efficient consumer response (ECR) system. As one author notes, "ECR is an approach to supply chain management which...is a managerial approach that starts with consumer demand and then gears the whole of the supply chain to responding to that demand. It is a customer-driven, demand-pull product management system..." (Gillooley and Varley 42). This method makes particularly good business sense in the retail grocery environment because it is based on supplying products by allying all of the elements of the supply chain with customer purchasing patterns. Consider, for example, how this type of SCM system would increase efficiency during the holidays. Normal sales of large, frozen turkeys are generally low during the months of January through October, but spike over November and December. A supply chain which was based on the ECR model would be integrating suppliers, distributors, and in-store inventories to minimize costs and maxim ize what can only be considered as a diminishing profit margin, e.g., the closer to Thanksgiving it gets, the cheaper the price for the birds and the more competitive the market becomes. The alternatives to this integrated approach are either to run out of inventory and lose market share, or to over-stock and suffer a negative product age issue; neither of which are profitable nor efficient. Accordingly, the ECR would be my first move as the new CEO. My second strategic focus on using supply chain integration would focus on operation and information systems. Similarly to Mr. Johnston, I know that information systems efficiency and interoperability is an important area for an SCM. Proper use of technology to maximize efficiency is well worth the investment, as demonstrated by Wal-Mart in past case studies. One reason information systems are so vital is the operational support they provide and the speed and accuracy at which they provide it. This systems integration directly addresses issues like overstocking which, in many retail businesses is costly, but in a retail grocery setting can be prohibitively expensive. As Ketzenberg and Metters note, "although all major grocers use scanner technology at cash registers...[in most stores] stock ordering is still done manually by employees visually checking shelf sets" (31). It is for this reason that I think Mr. Johnston's investment in technology is astute; and I would do the exact same thing. As the information systems are integrated and the operational aspect of inventory tracking moves from visual unit counts to a more efficient and accurate SCM system, additional benefits will be gained; the ability to interface with the ECR system noted above will permit supply chain managers to monitor the relationship between quantities ordered and sold so that accurate forecasting can bring higher efficiency, lower costs, and greater customer satisfaction. The blending of a

Press Release assignment Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Press Release assignment - Research Paper Example The next step would be to ensure that the information contained in the press release is true, accurate and has been certified by the company in question. The next step would be to ensure that the news headlines should be catchy to the audience. They want something that they can relate to and that can get their attention. The body copy should be written and it should be written as it should appear in the news story. There should also be clear communication that states out the six major things that would make the reader know everything they need. These five major things would include; what, when, who, where, why and also how (Gorton, 2007). It should be applicable to the audience and clean. Such an announcement of such information should be enhanced across the social society through the use of social networking sites and also other sites that may have a huge fan base. The press release needs to be able to spread the news across another spectrum and this will ensure that the message is passed onto the intended target. In an effort to ensure that it keeps its customer base and attracts more customers, J.C. Penney has offered discounts to those who bring in reusable bags. Some may call this a hoax, but the reality of the matter is that reusable bags brought in will earn the individual a discount. Call it earning money the simple

Contemporary Issues in Financial Services Essay

Contemporary Issues in Financial Services - Essay Example These factors can be consumed in the present time or utilized with an aim of producing in the future. Economic activity is taken as real because real resources are utilized to come up with new products that can be bought and used. On the other hand, the financial system mainly focuses on either circulating funds around to enable people buy goods and services or assist people exchange ownership of resources vital for production purposes. It is worth mentioning that activities of the real economy are vital for human survival. The real economy is responsible for the production of consumer goods, food, lighting, heating, and entertainment to mention but a few (Mankiw 2008, p.162). The role of the financial system is to facilitate the production of such goods by ensuring that funds are available when needed. Therefore, the structure of the financial system comes to the fore since it would offer alternative financing windows. These institutions provide an avenue through which large or smal l manufacturing sectors can access finance, which would boost production. The role undertaken by the financial system in coordinating economic activities, which includes the cost of finance, profitable investment outlets, and availability of investment funds, has a direct relationship with the structure of the financial system. ... However, it appears that most economists are in agreement that a link exists between the financial system and the real economy (Burton & Brown 2009, p317). The structure and role of the financial system The financial system is made of financial institutions and financial markets. Examples of the financial institutions include the banking system (banking institutions and the central bank), and non-bank financial institutions (insurance and pension funds). The financial markets are made of foreign exchange markets and money markets, capital markets, which include bond markets, private debt securities, public debt securities, and equity markets, and the derivatives markets. The current literature work has not fully addressed the issue of the role and structure of the financial system essential in facilitating and sustaining growth. There are two general agreements in relation to the role and structure of financial systems; first, countries with good working banks and financial markets c an increase their growth pace. Secondly, better functioning financial systems reduce the burden on external financing, which hinder firm and industrial expansion (Mordi 2010, p.8). Role played by the financial sector in the economy A crucial role that the financial sector plays within an economy in the facilitation of growth is the reduction of enforcement, information, and transaction costs. This function is achieved through a number of unique functions performed by the financial sector. Therefore, the financial sector has some basic functions that include provision of efficient modes of payment for the whole economy, and intermediary between lenders and borrowers. The

Components of Economy Essay Example for Free

Components of Economy Essay Human activities which generate income are known as economic activities. All the economic activities are classified into three categories viz. primary, secondary and tertiary. Activities that are directly associated with environment are known as primary activities as they refer to utilization of natural resources like land, water, vegetation, minerals etc. When primary goods are used to produce some other articles or commodities, either manually or by machines, then this activity is known as secondary activity. For both primary and secondary activities, we require a substantial amount of support services which are known as tertiary activities. 1.Primary Activities People engaged in primary activities are called red collar workers due to outdoor nature of their work. Agriculture, fishing, live-stock rearing, mining are some of the examples of primary activities. In most of the developing countries including India, primary activities still provide substantial earnings especially in rural areas. These activities are important as they provide livelihood for the human beings and are backbone of industry as most of the raw materials are provided by them. Many countries in Africa and Asia and some parts of Europe and the USA are heavily dependent on this sector for economic development. 2.Secondary Activities These activities add value to natural resources by transforming raw materials into valuable and useful products. Secondary activities, thus, are concerned with manufacturing, processing and construction (infrastructure) industries. Thus, there is some mutual dependency between primary and secondary activities. Secondary activities, thus require human skills, technology, funds, mechanization, electricity or other form of power. 3.Tertiary Activities Tertiary activities are related to the service sector. All those activities which provide support to primary and secondary activities and link the producers and consumers are called as tertiary activities. The main difference between secondary and tertiary activities is that the expertise provided by tertiary or service sectors relies more heavily on specialized skills, experience and knowledge of workers rather than on the production techniques, machinery and factory processes. Transportation, trade, banking, communication, insurance are some of the examples of such services. This sector is growing at a phenomenal rate in India and provides attractive employment opportunities.

Relationship Between Family Poverty and Child Development

Relationship Between Family Poverty and Child Development How is family poverty related to childhood development? It is well documented that family poverty has a negative effect on childhood development (Horgan, 2007) but the many variations in how family poverty is related to childhood development via various pathways is of great importance to parents, health and education professionals as they work to improve the outcomes for children; â€Å"maximising the opportunities open to them – improving their life chances and changing the odds in their favour.† Every child matters. When considering how family poverty is related to childhood development, it is firstly important to define poverty. Engle Black note that this is a difficult task and question whether it should be ‘defined in economic terms, or as part of a broader social disadvantage’. In economic terms, the UK government, the European Union and many other countries use 60 per cent of median household income as the poverty ‘threshold’. (Poverty and Social Exclusion poverty.ac.uk) although by their own admission ‘without validation from direct measures of people’s living standards, is essentially arbitrary’. Sen describes poverty as ‘capability deprivation’ and argues that we should take a more ‘activity-oriented view of human beings’. These activities can vary from ‘physical ones as being well nourished, being adequately clothed and sheltered, avoiding preventable morbidity, and so forth, to more complex social achievements such as taking part in the life of the community, being able to appear in public without shame.’ As a result of this, when considering how family poverty is related to childhood development this essay will consider both direct economic effects and also the effects of broader social disadvantage. Similarly it is also difficult to define ‘childhood development’. Indeed Engle et al note that ‘there are no globally accepted indicators for child development’ They do however concede that ‘child development is often measured through individual assessments of developmental changes in multiple domains (eg, cognitive, language and social-emotional)’. One measure of cognition is academic achievement and this is used by various studies as a measure of child outcome (CITE). One of the main reasons for family poverty can be the family unit itself. Fiori (2005) states that â€Å"Economic theory predicts that the two-parent family is among the best-functioning forms of capitalist society because it allows for the provision of household services by one partner and economic resources by the other, and as such it is an efficient system for maximising utility and the human capital of children† Consequently, supporting evidence has found that children from a lone parent family generally have a poorer academic outcome but do not fare poorer psychologically (Mclanahan and Sandefur, 1994). The reason for this is often attributed to the ‘pathology of matriarchy’ hypothesis (Moynihan) which suggests that the absence of a father is destructive to children, particularly boys, because children will lack the economic resources, role models, discipline, structure and guidance that a father provides. The effects of family structure on family poverty and subsequently child outcome is of high importance, with marriage emerging high on the U.S. policy agenda in recent years as a tool for improving child outcomes (Nock) and marriage allowance in the UK allowing a person to reduce their spouses’ tax bill if one partner earns an income below the personal allowance limit (CITE), again alleviating financial stresses which can have a negative effect on child outcome. Hann et al (2003) found that when controlling for income, single-mother families were not significantly different from two-parent families for child outcome. This suggests that it is family poverty itself (that typically results from family disruption) that is the major explanation for children’s lower attainments. Direct effects of family poverty affect childhood development by increasing risk factors, limiting protective factors and reducing opportunities for stimulation and enrichment. Children from low-income families are more likely to receive insufficient nutrition and also be overweight, two factors commonly associated with food insecurity (Cook). The amount of families in the UK struggling to buy basic items such as food is increasing. The Trussel Trust reported that their 445 foodbanks fed 913,138 people nationwide from 2013-2014 and of those helped, 330,205 were children.’ A lack of a balanced diet can affect childrens development both directly and indirectly. Innis has shown that fatty acids such as those found in certain types of fish and nuts assist healthy brain development and reductions in these fatty acids is associated with cognitive and behavioural impairments; the effect of family poverty on childhood development via a poor diet is a very real possibility even in a country such as the United Kingdom. Another direct effect of poverty is the fact that parents in low-income families often have lower levels education and this has a negative impact on their ability to provide a positive, intellectually stimulating environment for their children (Coleman). Hart Todd found that children from professional families that were strongly associated with higher parent education levels and higher family income were spoken to more than children from working class or welfare recipient families and so had a larger cumulative vocabulary. By the age of just three, Hart Todd observed â€Å"the cumulative vocabulary for children in the professional families was about 1,100 words. For children from working class families, the observed cumulative vocabulary was about 750 words and for children from welfare-recipient families it was just above 500 words†. Hart Todd conclude that the most important element of a child’s language development is quantity of conversation and thus it is easy to see how in a ‘traditional’ two-parent family (as previously mentioned) the division of responsibilities allows for increased time to talk to children. Hart Todd also found that children from professional families heard a higher ratio of encouragements to discouragements than their working class and welfare-supported counterparts. Henderlong Lepper found that encouragement is beneficial to the intrinsic motivation of a child (provided it is perceived as sincere) and this will also have a positive effect on child development. Baumrind (1971) defined three parenting types: permissive: parents who are more responsive than demanding; authoritarian: parents who are demanding and directive, but not responsive, and authoritative: parents who are both demanding and responsive. Hoff et al found that in all cultures parents with lower socio-economic-status (SES) are more likely to use ‘authoritarian’ parenting styles than those in higher SES brackets. They are also less likely to be nurturant or to supervise their children adequately, and more likely to use inconsistent, erratic and harsh discipline (Elder et al., 1985); adversely affecting child development. As well as the direct effects of family poverty on child development, as suggested by Engle and Black it is also important to consider moderated effects of poverty and how these can vary across characteristics of families and children. Whilst considering how family poverty affects childhood development, it is important to fully consider the many varying reasons as to why a family may be experiencing poverty. Some of the varying reasons found by Hobcraft for family poverty include: non-traditional structures; lone parents and parents in reconstituted families, households where no adult is in employment or are in poorly paid employment, households headed by a teenage parent, households that include a sick or disabled child, have a child or children under five or have a large number of children. Given this, it is quite understandable that families can find themselves in a state of poverty through no fault of their own. However, their background will affect how they deal with this experience of poverty and more importantly how this poverty will affect the development of any children. Parents of children who are poorly educated or have poor decision making skills could find it more difficult to protect their children from the effects of poverty than families who are better educated, with rational decision making skill and in a similar situation. Cooper Stewart demonstrate using the Family Investment Model that parents who are better educated or have more money are able to financially invest in their children more, either because they have more disposable income or because they choose to forgo other expenses for the sake of purchasing their children educationally enhancing materials such as books. This is supported by the findings of Davis-Kean who found that family income and education had a positive impact on parental educational expectations and resultantly reading (which is strongly correlated to child achievement), with children reading more for pleasure and having more books in the house. Similarly the work of Bradley, Whiteside and Mundfrom that found that children living in poverty who were showing early signs of resilience compared with other children also living in poverty received ‘more responsive, accepting, stimulating and organised care’. Another way that family characteristics moderate the link between family poverty and child development is via social selection. Conger Donnellan consider poverty as â€Å"a constellation of outcomes that are potentially influenced by individual differences in traits such as intelligence and personality† that subsequently affects childhood development. Mayer (1997) proposed that â€Å"parental characteristics that employers value and are willing to pay for, such as skills, diligence, honesty, good health, and reliability, also improve children’s life chances, independent of their effect on parents’ income. Children of parents with these attributes do well even when their parents do not have much income†. These characteristics can be passed on either genetically or through nurture and can act as a ‘buffer’ to the damaging effects of poverty on childhood development. This is supported by the work of Davis-Kean who found a significant correlation between parental warmth (how nurturing parents are towards their children involving desirable traits such as positive feelings, praise, responding) and child achievement (although interestingly, only within African American families as opposed to European American families in this study). Alongside the direct and moderated effects of poverty on childhood development it is also necessary to consider the mediated effects of family poverty on childhood development. As demonstrated by Engle Black, in mediated models it is through disruptions in family function that the effects of poverty are felt and result in negative effects on childhood development. Conger Donnellan reviewed seven papers that have applied the Family Stress Model (FSM) across a widely varying demographics. The FSM overwhelmingly supports the view that poverty leads to family stress and this has a negative impact on parental mental health and increasing the likelihood of parents using harsh authoritarian parenting styles. There is strong evidence for parental mental health impacting on child behaviour. The work of Weissman et al (2006) who found that the children of mothers who remained depressed were far more likely to develop their own symptoms and diagnosis than children of parents who went into remission. This is similarly supported by Galler et al who found that postpartum maternal mental anxiety (PPMHA) was a significant predictor of lower exam scores at eleven to twelve years of age. Importantly, Galler et al found that background variables such as young maternal age at the time of her first pregnancy, more children in the home, less maternal education, and fewer home conveniences (all indicators of family poverty) were closely correlated with PPMHA, but crucially they found that PPMHA was still a significant predictor of lower exam scores even when all these background variables were controlled for. Ram and Hou suggest that lone parents—usually mothers—must spend longer hours outside the home working to offset the economic losses they have suffered from the marital breakup and consequently do not spend enough time with their children. More importantly however, when considering mediated effects of poverty, they also found that depression and lower levels of psychological well-being occur more often amongst these parents and also negatively influences the quality of parenting and children’s behavioral problems, explaining why children in disrupted families experience severe emotional and behavioral problems. Interestingly however, Ram and Hou found that parental depression and low levels of psychological well-being have almost no effect on cognitive development; highlighting the many varying elements of childhood development. Finally as noted by Engle and Black it is important to consider transactional models, where the effects of poverty interact between families and children. As previously noted, families can moderate and mediate the effects of poverty on children, similarly the children’s characteristics can have a similar effect. Whilst typical family structure can positively affect family poverty and childhood development, evidence also suggests that the quality of family relations can also play a large part in childhood development. Children whose parents often argue (independent of divorce) score worse on measures of academic achievement, behavior problems, psychological well-being, and adult relationship quality; they are also more likely to form families early and outside of marriage (Musick Meier). One of these reasons is low levels of parental education. Belsky (2013) has subsequently found a correlation between childhood obesity and intelligence in children as young as three; highlighting the relationship between poverty and child development. Evans et al found that families experiencing poverty are more likely to face chaotic living conditions than are their middle- and upper-income counterparts. Chaos is characterised by â€Å"high levels of ambient stimulation (e.g., noise, crowding), minimal structure and routine,and considerable unpredictability and confusion in daily activities.† Maslow’s hierarchy of needs suggests that the most basic needs: physiological (food, shelter etc) and safety (security of body, employment, family etc) love and belonging (friendship, family intimacy etc) and esteem (self esteem, confidence, respect of others etc) must be met before the individual will strongly desire (or focus motivation upon) the growth need of ‘self actualisation’. Childhood development can be largely grouped into two categories: psychopathology e.g. internalising (emotional problems) and externalising (behavioural problems; and academic achievement). References Horgan, G. (2007). The impact of poverty on young childrens experience of school. Joseph Rowntree Foundation. Engle, P. L., Black, M. M. (2008). The effect of poverty on child development and educational outcomes. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences,1136(1), 243-256. Sen, A. (1992). The political economy of targeting. Washington, DC: World Bank. Engle, P. L., Black, M. M., Behrman, J. R., De Mello, M. C., Gertler, P. J., Kapiriri, L., International Child Development Steering Group. (2007). Strategies to avoid the loss of developmental potential in more than 200 million children in the developing world. The Lancet, 369(9557), 229-242. Broadhead, P. (2007). A Vision for Universal Pre-School Education-by Edward Zigler, Walter S. Gilliam and Stephanie M. Jones. British Journal of Educational Studies, 55(2), 227-229. Cook, J. T., Frank, D. A., Levenson, S. M., Neault, N. B., Heeren, T. C., Black, M. M., Chilton, M. (2006). Child food insecurity increases risks posed by household food insecurity to young childrens health. The Journal of nutrition, 136(4), 1073-1076. Maslow, A. H. (1943). A theory of human motivation. Psychological review,50(4), 370. Belsky, D. W., Caspi, A., Goldman-Mellor, S., Meier, M. H., Ramrakha, S., Poulton, R., Moffitt, T. E. (2013). Is obesity associated with a decline in intelligence quotient during the first half of the life course?. American journal of epidemiology, 178(9), 1461-1468. Trussell Trust Foodbanks Use Tops One Million. (2015). Retrieved May 24, 2015, from http://www.trusselltrust.org/stats Innis, S. M. (2007). Dietary (n-3) fatty acids and brain development. The Journal of nutrition, 137(4), 855-859. Flouri, E. (2005). Fathering and child outcomes. John Wiley Sons. McLanahan, S., Sandefur, G. (2009). Growing up with a single parent: What hurts, what helps. Harvard University Press. Moynihan, Daniel Patrick. 1965. The Negro Family: The Case for National Action. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Labor Nock, S. L. (2005). Marriage as a public issue. The Future of Children, 15(2), 13-32. Marriage Allowance https://www.gov.uk/marriage-allowance-guide Musick, K., Meier, A. (2010). Are both parents always better than one? Parental conflict and young adult well-being. Social Science Research, 39(5), 814-830. Han, W. J., Huang, C. C., Garfinkel, I. (2003). The Importance of Family Structure and Family Income on Familys Educational Expenditure and Childrens College Attendance Empirical Evidence from Taiwan. Journal of Family Issues, 24(6), 753-786. Henderlong, J., Lepper, M. R. (2002). The effects of praise on childrens intrinsic motivation: a review and synthesis. Psychological bulletin, 128(5), 774. Conger, R. D., Donnellan, M. B. (2007). An interactionist perspective on the socioeconomic context of human development. Annu. Rev. Psychol., 58, 175-199. Bradley, R. H., Whiteside, L., Mundfrom, D. J., Casey, P. H., Kelleher, K. J., Pope, S. K. (1994). Early indications of resilience and their relation to experiences in the home environments of low birthweight, premature children living in poverty. Child development, 65(2), 346-360. Cooper, K., Stewart, K. (2013). Does Money Affect Childrens Outcomes?: A Systematic Review. Joseph Rowntree Foundation. Shipler, D. K. (2008). The working poor: Invisible in America. Vintage. Chicago. Mayer S. 1997. What Money Can’t Buy: Family Income and Children’s Life Chances. Cambridge, MA: Harvard Univ. Press Weissman, M. M., Pilowsky, D. J., Wickramaratne, P. J., Talati, A., Wisniewski, S. R., Fava, M., Rush, A. J. (2006). Remissions in maternal depression and child psychopathology: a STAR* D-child report. Jama, 295(12), 1389-1398. Galler, J. R., Ramsey, F. C., Harrison, R. H., Taylor, J., Cumberbatch, G., Forde, V. (2004). Postpartum maternal moods and infant size predict performance on a national high school entrance examination. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 45(6), 1064-1075. Evans, G. W., Gonnella, C., Marcynyszyn, L. A., Gentile, L., Salpekar, N. (2005). The role of chaos in poverty and childrens socioemotional adjustment.Psychological Science, 16(7), 560-565. Ram, B., Hou, F. (2003). Changes in family structure and child outcomes: Roles of economic and familial resources. Policy Studies Journal, 31(3), 309-330. Hyde, J. S., Elseà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ Quest, N. M., Goldsmith, H. H., Biesanz, J. C. (2004). Childrens temperament and behavior problems predict their employed mothers work functioning. Child Development, 75(2), 580-594.

Character Development in Mary Shelleys Frankenstein Essay -- Franken

Character Development in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein   Ã‚  Ã‚   In any novel the author is free to create and shape their characters in whatever way they see fit. In Frankenstein, Shelley does an excellent job of shaping her characters, be it however minute their part in the story, so that the reader gets a clear picture of Shelley's creations. It seems that each character in Shelley's Frankenstein is created by Shelley to give the reader a certain impression of the character. By doing this Shelley creates the characters the way she wants us to see them. She tells us certain things about them and gives them certain traits so that they will fit into the story the way she wants them to. In particular I will examine the characters of the monster, Elizabeth, and old man De Lacey.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   One of the more minor characters but still an intricate part of the story is the old man, De Lacy. He is the father of the family whom the monster watches after he has left his place of creation in Ingolstadt. The monster learns from the family and feels a closeness to them that is new to him. The fact that the old man is blind is no coincidence at all. Shelly purposely made him blind so he could not be influenced by the monster?s hideous appearance. When the monster finally works up the courage and the old man is finally alone in the cottage, the monster makes his move. He enters claiming he is a wanderer looking for a place of shelter and rest. As he tells of his predicament he seems to befriend the old man, appears to be fluent in the English language, and for all intensive purposes appears a normal person. It is not until the old man?s children arrive home and he is alarmed by the screams of Felix and Agatha, that the monster is seen a s any... ...are more complex such as the monster, some such as the old man are put in to make a point, and some such as Elizabeth are created in a way that augments the imperfections of others.   Each of the characters in Frankenstein has a role or purpose in the story and is created in a way that adds to the story line and the novel in general. By creating each character and shaping them to a specific likeness, Shelley has creates a complex story and one of English literature's greatest classics. Work Cited Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein: A Norton Critical Edition. ed. J. Paul Hunter. New York: W. W. Norton, 1996. Works Consulted Levine, George. The Endurance of Frankenstein. Los Angeles: Moers, 1974. Patterson, Arthur Paul. A Frankenstein Study. http://www.watershed.winnipeg.mb.ca/Frankenstein.html Spark, Muriel. Mary Shelly. New York: Dutton, 1987.   

A Looking Glass Fogged :: Journalism Journalist Essays

A Looking Glass Fogged In reporting, it is sometimes the case that a story is told from a certain point of view due to political pressures, especially when dispute surrounds the subject matter. One such case is the reporting on the Chinese-Tibetan conflict, in which China's overwhelming political and fiscal power has the potential to seep into the affairs of newspaper owners. In my paper, I will examine a certain event as it was published in a variety of newspapers, and how their coverage differs from the AP Worldstream report. Additionally, I will analyze what appears to be an extremely one-sided report and how it is of benefit to its publisher. China has always sought to culturally integrate Tibet with the Chinese mainland, for reasons as diverse as the parties involved. Recently this has expressed itself in the form of a planned railway reaching from Beijing to Lhasa, the Tibetan Capital. China has justified this action with its usual stance on Tibetan integration, as an effort to modernize Tibet 'for its own good' and provide it with an influx of labor and industry. Groups opposed to the project fear that the railway will cause a new wave of Chinese settlers who will dilute the region's unique culture and exploit the land for its resources. (AP-Worldstream) The Associated Press is a news source for news sources. Their business consists of covering events and reselling the reports to a variety of papers, so it is in their interest to stay as neutral as possible. In their coverage of the Railway project they cover both sides equally, starting with China's moral obligation to "enrich" the Tibetan culture with an inflow of Chinese culture and labor. To quote Shi, an overseer: "Tibet has been without the railway, but now they will have the same great things and great life as us."(2) While the Chinese side makes no mention of this, the AP report covers political motives for this $3.3 billion investment. With the railroad in place, China would be able to immediately deploy troops to stomp any sort of Tibetan uprising as well as saturate the area and culture with Chinese immigrants, furthering China's grip on the Tibetan region. The article does a thorough job of showing both unrelenting sides of the issue - the Chinese developer's zeal for get ting the railroad underway and wants for further development, employment and opportunities, and the Tibetan fear of exploitation and cultural dilution.

Should the Electoral College Be Abolished

Francisco Colin 4th Period There have been many talks about the Electoral College and how it should or should not be abolished when election time comes around. Many people feel that the electoral college is unfair because it seems that even if we vote it only comes down to the electoral college to see if they won presidency or re-election. Personally, I feel that the Electoral College should be abolished nationwide, so that way our voice can be â€Å"heard† or used more within the government.It should also be abolished because of the fact how in most of the elections, the Presidents are most and only elected because of the electoral college and our own vote, the vote that we had taken our own time to choose our future leader that will guide the country in the right path. Instead, the states choose who to vote just because the majority of the Electoral College is just one of the parties that dominate that state and not the other.For example, since the state of Texas is Republic an dominated, what if the people had voted for the democratic side and the democratic won by the popular votes in the state of Texas, then it wouldn’t matter just because of how the state chooses who to vote because of the majority of the party in Texas. This to me is very outrageous because of how our forefathers from the past had fought for our right to vote, it is being put to waste since it only goes by the Electoral College and not our votes.For example, when Al Gore ran for his presidency the first time, we had the people, even though I wasn’t the age to vote at the moment, had chosen Al Gore to run this fine country of ours, even though the popular vote came close. He was the clear winner that the people had chosen to lead this country, but instead was cheated out of being President because of how George W.Bush had won the Electoral College by a small margin; he was instead elected to be the President to lead our nation. Because of this also, if feel that it is actually time for the Electoral College to be abolished out of the election system, because as us Americans voting, in doesn’t really matter who we chose to win because of how our won states decide with the electoral college who to win Presidency, which isn’t very fair for our nation.

Losing Your Identity Essay

People from around the world immigrate to the United States in hopes of finding the Promised Land. Some may define the promise land, as a land of freedom, a land of abundance, a land of peace, or a land of education. Most define it as a land of opportunity for a better life. America is a land full of culture and diversity, although it is notoriously difficult to characterize â€Å"American† culture. Is it possible to move to a land such as America, full of culture and diversity, and yet preserve your own traditions and cultural identity? Some believe this to be very difficult to do, due to materialism, beliefs and language barriers. The counter argument would be that Americans are open to new cultural experiences, are welcome to newcomers, and are willing to help give support. I believe that it would be difficult to move to America, try to find your place in materialistic culture while preserving your own culture and beliefs while learning a new language. There is a culture in this country whether spoken or unspoken. It is clearly visible in everything we say, do, or think. In the United States, we expect to compete in every aspect of our lives, a daily reminder of our status, the ladder of our success. Americans are materialistic. We want to own the newest iPhone, to wear the newest fashion, to drive the newest and most expensive cars, and to have a big house with a pool. We celebrate holidays and forget the true meaning of the day we are celebrating. Our traditions can easily include consuming goods that are unneeded or even unwanted. A few years ago my friend fell into great debt during the Christmas season because she and her family made too many purchases that exceed their income, only because they wanted to please others. I can see how this kind of behavior would be confusing or shocking to someone with traditions that have little to do with material items or status. In addition to many of our traditions being different, some of our religious beliefs may be confusing to a foreigner. They may want to hold on to their beliefs and find it difficult to do so, due to peer pressure. They may even find it hard to practice their beliefs because of racism. When my children were in grammar school, they were allowed to say the pledge of allegiance in their classroom. One of the students was able to leave the classroom every time they did this because her beliefs were different. As a child, she found it difficult to understand, being the only one in the classroom with those beliefs. Some of the children were open to her leaving and others would make comments. She was moved to a land where she was free to practice her religion, but at the same time shamed from her peers. As a result, she stayed at home on many of the school days that holidays were celebrated in the classroom. Besides adapting to the local weather, the food, work place and new technology, one must also learn a new language. If an immigrant has trouble speaking the language it could be difficult to communicate their wants and needs in life and on the job. If they order the wrong meal it could be dangerous if they are allergic to certain foods. If they do not understand the news or cannot read the newspaper, they may find it hard to seek out individuals who have the same beliefs or traditions. For example, this weekend in San Francisco, there is a grand parade for Chinese New Year. If an immigrant from China had moved to Modesto this weekend and could not speak or read English, they may not have know of this event or be able to find their way to the event. Learning a new language is difficult and can be overwhelming. It may take some time to learn the language before being able to communicate properly. In conclusion, many immigrants do succeed in America. Although, I think it is difficult to stay true to their traditions and beliefs while learning a new language and trying to keep up with the high demands of a materialistic society. Children may feel the pressures of their peers to fit in and be more main stream. Depending on their annual income, immigrants may find it hard to buy the things that they want or feel the need to buy, such as cars, houses, and clothing. It may also be difficult to find peers with similar beliefs and traditions if there is a language barrier. I am the sixth generation born and raised in California, so I find it hard to relate. But, I will remain to be an American who is open to new cultural experiences and will always welcome newcomers and offer support when I can.

Michael jackson's Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Michael jackson's - Essay Example Three songs that best exemplify Michael Jackson’s work were off of his 1991 Dangerous album of which were Will you be there, Give it to me, and jam. By listening to his virtuosic rhythms as well as rich harmony; the signature bass lines and the detailed layers of unusual sounds, which went beyond the typical classics, as well as song play (Vogel, 2012). In addition, the song transitions made from New Jack Swing, R&B, as well as rock. His music was without barriers or borders, and echoed globally. These three songs although not that great in regards to Jackson’s musical stardom can be viewed as risks songs he took as well as experimental ones of which ended up being huge successes among many others from the dangerous album. The reason behind this is that Jackson wanted songs that were a cleaner, more calculated and colder version of some of the songs that were on the thriller album and partially the bad album as well. The end result of the risk songs were a sharper and h arder song production, which were meant to hit the streets (jam was a street song), as well as touch the hearts of the middle class listeners (with will you be there) and appeal to the rock fans and general fans with the hard hitting fusion of rock and R&B (with give it to me). These three song cut across everybody’s music taste in one way or another. Michael Jackson’s position in a musical pantheon was very opinionated. These entire artist had one thing in common, they were music geniuses in their own right and during their times. But what sets Michael Jackson apart is that his music broke cultural and racial grounds which are something that lacked in the likes of Mozart and Beethoven. Furthermore, he commanded and entertained millions of fans globally. The bottom line of the various opinions was founded on racial grounds especially black artist who were considered to be lacking in substance in

Organizational Development in HRD Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Organizational Development in HRD - Assignment Example Kindred is assigned the task by the president though she felt inadequate after meeting the gas company’s management and understanding their issues. However, despite her excuse to Larry not to be assigned the task, Larry fails to listen and she has no alternative than to do the work. Though challenging, she manages to provide successful long-term intervention to the client as intended through thorough preparation as well as with help from consulting ‘shadow’ friends after which she resigns from Larry’s organization. i. Kindred faces strategic dilemmas in the course of her placement with Larry are consulting organization. The interaction between Kindred and Larry when she feels insufficient to tackle the assignment leaves her in a position of either doing the assignment or quitting the job. The dilemma of coercion is depicted by the fact that Larry is not ready to have Kindred decide by herself on undertaking the assignment and she is left with no option but to do the assignment and fail or otherwise succeed. Technical ineptness dilemma occurs in this excerpt by having kindred, an OD practitioner present long-range intervention solution for a problem she has no skills in. This in fact forces her to invest higher in research as well as hire the expertise of a shadow practitioner in the intervention. Moreover, she faced the dilemma of value and goal conflict in that though the client (the gas company) thought that CQI was the ultimate effective tool to be employed for finding the long-range soluti on to the cost problems the company faced, Kindred was not conversant with the tool. It therefore emerged that Larry had ‘sold’ her out to the client as an expert in the use of the tool. Besides, Kindred actually ponders over a number of issues in regard to her suitability for the client and she actually quotes her dilemmas as being the dilemma of self, the dilemma of confidence as well as

Total Quality Management Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Total Quality Management - Case Study Example on what is expected of them, the restaurant shall be instilling useful information that would help it achieve its objective of offering high quality products and services. The ideas of the partners are not only customer-focused, but also aim to establish complete employee involvement and are also centered on improving processes to ensure high customer satisfaction at all times. Employee review and feedback system would ensure their growth and thus service and process improvement. Q2.The main elements of TQM are customer-focus, total employee participation, process-focus, integrated system, strategic approach, constant employee improvement, and effective communication among others. The business model of the partners is meeting all the different dimensions of quality. For example, in the case study, the partners would ensure that all food production processes are documented to reduce safety issues and quality deviations. Also, the restaurant will conduct regular review of its hourly employees to ensure service improvement. Further, the partners’ business model will include training program for new managers and employees to orient them with the culture of the restaurant and ensure that they live up to what is expected of them. As such, the business model of Rob and Daine covers almost all aspects of

Trade Area Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Trade Area Analysis - Essay Example The site selected should also be strategic and make accessibility of other utilities like energy easy. Closeness of a business to the market is also an important factor to consider as this will ensure good accessibility of the commodities by the customers. A good site will lead to the success of the business. There are several factors that one should consider in order to come up with the best site of the business to be started. The main factor to take into consideration is the kind of business venture that one wants to start. The site selected should favor the efficient production activities like the good transport of goods in and out of the business premises. The production costs should be minimized and this will lead to the success of the business. The accessibility of the business premises is vital due to the transportation of the goods to the customers. According to Gitry (1996), the selected site should be easily accessible to both the buyers and suppliers (Norton, 2011). In Tor onto area, transport has been well established for the accessibility of the new stores to be set. Before selecting the best site, it is advisable to look at the transport means available in the area. There are good roads in Toronto area and this favors the flow of goods in and out of the stores in Toronto area. The good roads in the area are vital in the transportation of goods out of the stores in the region to the customers. The transport also ensures the accessibility of the stores by the employees in the region. This ensures the employees get to their places of work on time. For transportation purposes, one of the best sites to set a new store in Toronto area is along the Wilson Avenue. This site is best due to a number of factors the main one being the good transport network around the area. The good transport network will favor the flow of goods in and out of the new store to be set. This will ensure the goods reach the customers on time and inn then right condition. The good transport in the region can act as a good attraction factor to potential customers in the area. This is because the good roads make the site selected accessible to many buyers in the region. This will increase the revenues and lead to expansion of the stores. The good transport also favors the accessibility of the public utilities like the banks. This will favor the flow of business activities in the region. The accessibility of the stores is also vital in case of an emergency like fire outbreak. The good transport will ensure that emergency services reach the stores on time to avoid huge losses in case of an emergency (Glenn, 2009, pg 118). Population an area is another important factor that one should consider when coming up with a business site. Customers should be in plenty in the area selected. Thus a densely populated area is a good site to choose as customers will be available to buy the goods in the stores. In Toronto area, there are some regions that are suitable to set up new stores because they have a considerably high population (Norton, 2011). The big population will create a good pool of labor hence smooth flow of activities in the stores. The high population will also ensure there is a good number of a potential customer to purchase goods from the stores. This will ensure a continuous flow of activitie

Human Health and Environment Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Human Health and Environment - Assignment Example & Wicander, R., 2009) However, it has been discovered to be dangerous to humans. The British Rail in 1967 made it public that it would cease to use asbestos insulation because of the danger to workmen. (Tweedale, G. & et. al., 2000) Asbestos, which is made up of six different fibrous materials that mainly affect the lungs, causes cancer. Because exposure to asbestos could slowly kill humans, â€Å"the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) banned the use of various asbestos-containing products during 1970s and 1980s. In 1989 the EPA announced a ban on all asbestos products by 1996.† (Alters & Schiff, 2006) Dichloro-diphenyl-trichloro-ethane or DDT, as it is most commonly called, is a synthetic pesticide. Renowned author and environmentalist Rachel Carson refers to DDT as a toxic chemical in her book, Silent Spring. As Carson (2002) states, â€Å"one of the most sinister features of DDT and related chemicals is the way they are passed on from one organism to another through all the links of the food chains.† Although there are no definite examples of human fatality due to ingestion of DDT, illness has been manifested with a dosage of 10mg/kg. (Assembly of Life Sciences, 1977) DDT has not always been a threat. Initially, DDT was of great importance As a matter of fact, it was considered â€Å"a great importance to all, both in helping to win the war and improving the country’s health after the war is over.† (Simmons, J., 2008) Discovered to cause paralysis in insects, DDT was used to treat lice in military men. After Geigy Colour Company, Ltd. of Switzerland introduced its effective DDT-based insecticide, Gesarol, American investigators brought it to the USA to be developed and distributed for use against insect-borne disease during World War II. (McCallum, J.E., 2008) Continued use of DDT-based pesticides, however have resulted to health problems for people and danger to the

On Multicultural Beliefs and Myths of Sexual Anatomy Essay Example for Free

On Multicultural Beliefs and Myths of Sexual Anatomy Essay Based on what I’ve experienced and heard from one of my Asian friends, most beliefs or myths are more common to males rather than females, with practices mostly concerning the penis. Circumcision is a practice very common in certain parts of the world due to the main influence of religion. In Southeast Asia, specifically in the Philippines, there are still existing beliefs being practiced surrounding circumcision. A male by at least age 10 should be circumcised to ensure they reach their height potential. It is discouraged to have the procedure done right after birth, believing that as the child gets bigger, the foreskin will grow back, thus needing to do another procedure as the child won’t reach his maximum height potential due to the fact that the procedure was done soon after birth. This procedure is usually considered a big event in the child’s life and is decided for by the parents. After the circumcision is done, customary beliefs expect the male child to chew on guava leaves and afterwards, wrap the chewed leaves onto the penis to prevent infection. For some, it is established for the circumcised male child to jump into the river to cleanse the wound. This practice is usually done during the summer months when the kids are out of school and still have time to heal. In the rural areas, it is a huge event and done in makeshift hospitals with volunteers assisting the boys in doing the procedure. Kids often get teased prior to being circumcised by the older kids as this procedure is considered a rite of passage. Kids circumcised soon after birth also get teased about not getting any taller because the procedure was not done at the right time. Of course, by the time that these kids get the right to do the procedure, all bets are off and those circumcised as a baby would often have the upper hand at teasing their previous tormentors. My Asian friend also relayed to me their beliefs about women once they reach the puberty stage and get their menses. According to the old customs in their provinces, the girls are expected clean their underwear upon getting their menses and afterwards, cleanse their face with the same underwear to ensure that they don’t get pimples. Others take it a step further by cleaning their face with their â€Å"first† menstrual blood for the same purpose. The girls are often asked to jump three times on the stairs, which also serves as a cleansing ritual. Some believe that the number of times you jump from the stairs will determine the duration of your menstrual period thus, three jumps would mean you will only have three days of your period. Myths about pregnant women are also widely circulated in their culture, especially in certain rural areas of their country as expectant mothers are advised to be careful when sleeping at night. It is said that evil witches in the form of an elderly woman (although the witch is often regarded as a shape shifter) would take the fetus from the woman’s womb by climbing on top of the roof and yanking the fetus using their long tongue. According to my good friend, this belief is still prevalent in their modern society as it is being portrayed in popular culture via the media. Even in the urban areas, pregnant women are advised by their parents not to sleep near the window for fear that they might be seen and victimized by these witches. All these beliefs and myths are still thriving today in the modern world with the older generation ensuring that the young continue to uphold these traditions and practices. There may be a few that veer away from this path but society still finds a way to remind everyone about these practices.