Dealing With A Loved One s Cognitive Decline Essay

Dealing With A Loved One s Cognitive Decline By Shomari D. Hearn | Submitted On January 30, 2015 Recommend Article Article Comments Print Article Share this article on Facebook Share this article on Twitter Share this article on Google+ Share this article on Linkedin Share this article on StumbleUpon Share this article on Delicious Share this article on Digg Share this article on Reddit Share this article on Pinterest Expert Author Shomari D. Hearn When a loved one begins to experience memory loss and other cognitive issues, it is only natural to wonder whether he or she is exhibiting signs of dementia. Warning signs that one s mental capacity may be diminishing can include: Forgetting significant dates or previous life events Asking for the same information repeatedly Difficulty concentrating or keeping track of recurring bills Taking much longer to complete certain tasks than before, or the inability to complete daily tasks in general Getting lost when driving to a familiar location Losing track of time Inability to recognize one s own reflection Problems following a conversation or finding the right words to express one s thoughts Frequently misplacing possessions and sometimes accusing others of stealing them Mishandling money Paying less attention to grooming and hygiene Losing interest in favorite hobbies or social activities Changes in behavior or personality, such as becoming anxious, confused, depressed or easily irritated when deviating from routine.Show MoreRelatedEffects Of Short Term Cognitive Training On Episodic Memory And Executive Functioning999 Words   |  4 PagesThe Effects of Short Term Cognitive Training on Episodic Memory and Executive Functioning in Healthy Seniors As humans begin to get older, there is a strong association between age change and the decline of cognition. This a concern that many individuals have as they start to get older, especially with the media coverage that Alzheimer’s disease has been getting. There are many causes of this decline, and it often varies highly between individuals based on their lifestyle and physical activityRead MoreDementi A Progressive Disease That Damages Brain1492 Words   |  6 Pagesfor their loved one and research the best option of care for them as they progress in their disease. Although there is not a single test that diagnosis dementia, your healthcare physician can make the diagnosis according to several exams, tests, and review of symptoms. Each person with dementia is different and it affects them differently, and they need to be treated so. It is important to study from the perspective of the family and person who is struggling with dementia. There is no one size fitsRead MoreThe Human Brain : A Strong Association Between Age Change And The Decline Of Cognition1711 Words   |  7 Pagesbetween age change and the decline of cognition. There are many causes of this decline, and it often varies highly between individuals based on their lifestyle and physical activity level (Brown AK, Liu-Ambrose T, Tate R, Lord SR, 2009). This a concern that many individuals have as they start to get older, especially with the media coverage that Alzheimer’s disease has been getting. Degenerate diseases such as Alzheimer’s can also be a major cause of cognitive decline and are common in elderly populationsRead MoreSymptoms And Types Of Neurological Disorders1488 Words   |  6 PagesNeurological disorders such as autism, Down syndrome, ADHD, SPD etc have behavioral challenges and durations that are unpredictable. As the neurological disorders progress, the physical, emotional and cognitive needs increase creating an obligation of family members or others to pro vide care. This responsibility is often taken by an immediate family member such as parents, partner or children. Neurological disorders take a slow pace towards betterment so it requires family members to play multipleRead MoreEssay on Confirming Alzehimers Disease733 Words   |  3 PagesAlzheimer’s Disease Confirming Alzheimer’s Disease Carissa Davis Walden University Diagnosis and Assessments 6720 Confirming Alzheimer’s Disease The Forgetful Mail Carrier Han’s is a 66 year old retired government worker that has been dealing with issues related to his memory. Han’s retired at the age of 60 because he could no longer perform his duties at work properly. The problems with his work performance had been an issue for five years before his retirement. At the age of 62, heRead MoreOutline Of Alzheimer s Alzheimer S2283 Words   |  10 Pagesa life of monotone dialogue and we could no longer ignore the grey overtone and clouds surrounding him. He pretty much lived in a constant state of confusion and paranoia, his only comfort was with my mother. We soon realized that she was the only one he recognized most of the time. As his dementia progressed he had violent outbursts, wandered into the woods for hours on end, stayed up all night hiding his valuables and after several admittance into the geriatric psych ward he was placed into a nursingRead MoreAlzheimer s Disease And Its Effects1701 Words   |  7 Pagesfor phase one is â€Å"persons who do not meet the criteria for either mild cognitive impairment or AD (Alzheimer’s Disease), as well as subtle cognitive changes†( Aggarwal, Neelum). This phase is used as an identifier stage that tracks the development of Beta-amyloid and Tau proteins in the brain. This phase can be identified as early at 20-25 years before the onset of Alzheimer’s. The next development stage is called mild cognitive development or MCI. This stage is characterized by cognitive and socialRead MoreThe Benefits Of The End Of Care1470 Words   |  6 Pagesmental decline. But in a world crippled with terminal diseases such as cancer, dementia and neurological disorders, general old age becomes even more complicated in terms of providing care. Despite that various healthcare systems are prevalent around the globe (hospitals, nursing homes, hospice centers, etc.) the bulk of the care giving often falls on the patient’s closest family members. Spouses, ch ildren and sometimes parents are not only faced with the emotions of losing their loved one, butRead MoreThe Perils Of Ignorance Toward The Aging Process1781 Words   |  8 Pagesage, quality of life, benefit-risk ratio, presence or absence of symptoms and the multiplicity of diseases in each patient† (3). Individuals that are not aging typically are those diagnosed with chronic degenerative conditions that have caused a decline in function beyond what is to be expected by a typically aging person. (Gupta). Some of the most common interruptions in the typical aging process come in the form of progressive degenerative conditions. The majority of the typical aging process canRead MoreAlzheimer s Is A Difficult Disease1737 Words   |  7 Pagesdifference between this disease and others. Commonly dementia is mistaken for Alzheimer’s. Although they have similar effects, dementia and Alzheimer’s are two very different types of mental degeneration. You should know t hat Alzheimer’s is essentially one of the most common causes for dementia. The main difference between these two is that dementia is an overall term used for symptoms that impact memory and communication skills, while Alzheimer’s is a particular progressive disease of the brain. Dementia

School Find Ways to Save Money Free Essays

Carlson (2009) wrote an article, â€Å"Conservation helps schools spend on students, not energy†, that clearly defines the benefits of energy conservation in reducing school districts’ utility cost while saving a huge amount of taxpayer’s money. With the recommendation and help from the consulting firm, Energy Education, Inc. a program was created to monitor the usage of utilities and to implement proper ways of conserving electricity, gas and water. We will write a custom essay sample on School Find Ways to Save Money or any similar topic only for you Order Now Oxnard School District, Las Virgenes Unified School District as well as the school districts in Ventura County have taken a bold step in hiring energy educators and managers. The risk that these school districts have taken proved to be a worthwhile endeavor as the savings generated from limiting energy use was rerouted towards the improvement of classrooms and educational services. The success of the energy conservation program in a limited number of districts is a wake up call to the rest of the school districts nationwide as current economic crisis and high cost of gasoline will have an impact on the school budget. In addition, a similar scheme may be applied to household and business establishments as the cost of utilities is a major concern of entrepreneurs and family members. The article shows that there are practical solutions in reducing operating expenses without sacrificing school districts’ budget that may be intended for classroom purposes, teacher’s salaries, in-service trainings and other educational programs. The solution often lies in the administrator’s willingness to keep an open mind, to take a concerted risk and to accept a new concept. The reluctance in changing a behavior that can make a difference may impede the growth of a sector that relies heavily on taxpayer’s money to meet the budgetary requirements of a system that is responsible for building a solid future for students who will be in charge of shaping the growth of our nation. Reference Carlson, C. (2009). â€Å"Conservation helps schools spend on students, not energy†.   Retrieved April 2, 2009 from http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2009/feb/08/nb1FCenergy08/ How to cite School Find Ways to Save Money, Papers

Classical Approach to Crime Grew in the 1970s free essay sample

There are many theories to why crimes are committed, the classical approach has been around for centuries but it was not until the mid-1970s that it was renewed and formed was is now known as choice theory. That being said there are different types of choice theories and I will discuss one which is rational choice theory and this has different concepts that make it up. The classical approach to crime originated in the late 1700s, where philosopher Cesare Beccaria implied that intelligence and rational thought are fundamental characteristics of people and the principal basis for their behavior. In other words, people have free will, make choices and pursue their own interests. Beccaria and Jeremy Bentham also applied these ideas to crime, arguing that people freely chose to offend. According to Beccaria and Bentham, peoples decisions to offend are guided by calculations that weigh the pleasure they hope to obtain from criminal acts against the potential pain they would receive if they were caught and punished for their crimes. We will write a custom essay sample on Classical Approach to Crime Grew in the 1970s or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page This perspective, known as the classical school of criminology, maintains that peoples calculations involve their knowledge of the law and their perceptions of the likelihood of punishment (based on their experiences and knowledge of the experiences of others). It proposes that crime can be most effectively deterred by punishments that are certain, swift, and proportional to the harm caused. Punishments that met these criteria would discourage offenders from re-offending and would encourage others to be law-abiding. This deterrence philosophy was the preeminent explanation of crime for over a hundred years; yet, by the start of the twentieth century its popularity was eclipsed by positivist explanations arguing that offenders differ from non-offenders in important ways (e. g. , socialization). The classical approach to crime was revived in the mid-1970s when the rehabilitation of known criminals came under attack beginning the positivist criminology policy. This policy stated that if crime was committed because of social problems, like poverty, that if giving good jobs to criminals would reduce the crime rate. Political scientist James Q. Wilson disagreed with the positivist criminology policy that social problems, like poverty, were excuses for crimes to be committed. Instead he thought crime would be reduced by deterring offenders and incarcerating known criminals. The United States implemented tough new laws which created mandatory sentences for drug offenders which in turn made the prison population greatly increase. Since these laws have been passed crime rates have gone down while the prison population continues to go up and become another concern. The classical approach to crime has been critiqued and is now believed that crimes are committed by human emotions and though processes. Rational choice theorists view two different concepts to crime; offense-specific and offender-specific, offense-specific is defined as the offenders will react selectively to the characteristics of particular offenses. Offender-specific relates to the prerequisites that an individual must posses in order to commit a crime. Criminality is different then crime, the crime committed is an event while criminality is a personal trait. There are numerous reasons that cause people to commit crimes, such as economic struggle, knowledge of criminal techniques and the learning and experience that comes from committing crimes. Economic struggle can be a factor in committing crimes because it is an easy way out. It is an easy way to get money like selling drugs or prostitution. Someone people will steal to feed their families or just for the fun of it. Some people have committed crimes for so long that they have obtained the necessary skills to not get caught. They think they are unstoppable and therefore continue to commit these crimes. Experience also helps play a role in the committing crimes; it goes hand and hand with the knowledge of criminal techniques. As experience helps anyone on either side of the law it also works the same for offenders. They learn how the police work and how to get around the law, some of them are mindful of the legal definitions and stay within the legal boundary so that they do not get caught. The outlook on crime has come a long way since the 1700s, and still today I do not believe everyone can agree on a right or wrong way to punish these offenders. However the laws that we have set up have definitely been a good structure to build from. Criminals are getting smarter and smarter by the minute and it is the job of the criminal justice system to always stay one

Solar Energy - The Energy Of The Future Essays - Energy Conversion

Solar Energy - The Energy Of The Future? About 47 per cent of the energy that the sun releases to the earth actually reaches the ground. About a third is reflected directly back into space by the atmosphere. The time in which solar energy is available, is also the time we least need it least - daytime. Because the sun's energy cannot be stored for use another time, we need to convert the suns energy into an energy that can be stored. One possible method of storing solar energy is by heating water that can be insulated. The water is heated by passing it through hollow panels. Black-coated steal plates are used because dark colours absorb heat more efficiently. However this method only supplies enough energy for activities such as washing and bathing. The solar panels generate "low grade" heat, that is, they generate low temperatures for the amount of heat needed in a day. In order to generate "high grade" heat, intense enough to convert water into high-pressure steam which can then be used to turn electric generators there must be another method. The concentrated beams of sunlight are collected in a device called a solar furnace, which acts on the same principles as a large magnifying glass. The solar furnace takes the sunlight from a large area and by the use of lenses and mirrors can focus the light into a very small area. Very elaborate solar furnaces have machines that angle the mirrors and lenses to the sun all day. This system can provide sizeable amounts of electricity and create extremely high temperatures of over 6000 degrees Fahrenheit. Solar energy generators are very clean, little waste is emitted from the generators into the environment. The use of coal, oil and gasoline is a constant drain, economically and environmentally. Will solar energy be the wave of the future? Could the worlds requirement of energy be fulfilled by the "powerhouse" of our galaxy - the sun? Automobiles in the future will probably run on solar energy, and houses will have solar heaters.

Gettysburg Battle essays

Gettysburg Battle essays Gettysburg was the turning point of the American Civil War. This is the most famous and important Civil War Battle that occurred over three hot summer days, July 3, 1863, around the small market town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. More importantly Gettysburg was the clash between the two major American Cultures of their time: the North and the South. The causes of the Civil War, and the Battle of Gettysburg, one must understand the differences between these two cultures. The Confederacy had an agricultural economy producing tobacco, corn, and cotton, with many large plantations owned by a few very rich white males. These owners lived off the labor of sharecroppers and slaves, charging high dues for use of their land. The Southern or Confederate Army was made up of a group of white males fighting for their independence from federal northern dictates (The History Place Battle of Gettysburg 1). The Union economy was based on manufacturing, and even the minorities in the North were better off than those in the South most of the time. The Northern politicians wanted tariffs, and a large army. The Southern plantation owners wanted the exact opposite. The South was fighting against a government that they thought was treating them unfairly. They believed the Federal Government was overtaxing them, with tariffs and property taxes making their life styles even more expensive than they already had been. The North was fighting the Civil War for two reasons, first to keep the Nation unified, and second to abolish slavery. Abraham Lincoln, the commander and chief of the Union or Northern forces along with many other Northerners believed that slavery was not only completely wrong, but it was a great humiliation to America. Once can see that with these differences a conflict would surely occur, but not many had predicted that a full-blown war would breakout. One did and after three bloody and costly years for both sides we come to the date of Jul...

Campaign Speech Essay Sample

To my darling instructors. fellow pupils. campaigners. the module and staffs. and to our invitee. a pleasant twenty-four hours to all! First and first. I’d like to take this chance to thank you for being here. for your clip. for leting me to portion my thoughts. and for holding this election. without your presence this election wouldn’t be of great success. Actually. I’m out or words right now. as I stare at you guys because I’m imposingly mesmerized by how gorgeous and fine-looking my audience are that I could barely retrieve what I was supposed to state. As I stand here in forepart of you. I know most of us know my intent of talking in such a large crowd. I’m here to present myself among those who don’t cognize me. By the manner I am ( insert name ) . I’m on my ( twelvemonth ) of analyzing ( class ) . I’d like to run in the place of going your following pupil president. For the past old ages. I’ve been a dedicated pupil with a passionate bosom to function others. As a pupil. I know the demands of my fellow pupils and that most of us wants to see betterment in this school. If a given a opportunity to go your president. I will do certain that what most of us wants would be implemented. One of my platforms is to implement a systematic registration procedure. This is ever the job we pupils encounter during registration and so holding a systemized process and stairss could do us avoid fuss and questions. Another is the changeless updates of proclamations and posting calendar of activities through Bulletin Boards and other ways so that bulk will cognize the approaching activities. I have tonss of thoughts for the improvement of the bulk. I may non province them one by one ‘cause that may tire you and besides I don’t want to do this address any longer. One thing’s for certain that I will make my really best to go to to your demands and wants. I will non assure anything for a promise is merely a word of award. but I will certainly be committed and that is far greater than a promise. Now that you have heard my platform. the determination is yours. to vote or non to vote. Be certain. ballot sagely.

Evaluating Culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Evaluating Culture - Essay Example If this value is missed, then this will limit my personal success, thinking and behaviours. I remember, once I was working on my assignment and there was not much research available for me, like I was stuck what i suppose to do, from where I get related data. At that time the value of self-awareness plays a vital role and I consulted my teachers and think ways to overcome such problems and finally due to self-awareness I did not panic but tried to find more positive ways and outcomes to resolve my problems. This value enabled me to think what motives are essential to free yourself from your own de-motivating behaviours. Many people failed to realize the importance between value statements and learning. These values are always beneficial to overcome many issues when we are involved in something. It is very important for us to act properly, identify our values which will allow us to create more productive options while we are doing any task and ways to accomplish them effectively (Troc him and Donnelly, 2008). References Trochim, W.K. & Donnelly, J.P. (2008), Research methods knowledge base (3rd ed.). Mason, OH: Cengage Learning

One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest and Rain Man Dissertation

One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest and Rain Man - Dissertation Example Theoretical debates on the subject are summarised, and the ambivalence of contemporary society towards mental illness is explained in the light of these at times conflicting perspectives. This review, therefore, provides a firm theoretical foundation for analysis of the representation of madness in films. Â  The empirical part of this study starts in section 3. Two films are selected for close analysis. Section 3 deals with One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (Forman, 1975) and section 4 deals with Rain Man (Levinson, 1988). In each case, the film is set in its context, and the representation of madness, or mental illness, is carefully analyzed. Evidence from the film is collated and discussed. The reception of each film is also presented and discussed, revealing how these issues were perceived both by audiences and by academic critics. Finally in section 5 the two films and their reception are compared, showing how an evolution in social attitudes towards mental illness has taken place over the last fifty years in the United States, and arguably also across the Western world which is heavily influenced by mass market films such as the two under discussion in this study. The implications of this change for modern Western societies are considered, as well as the limitations of thes e filmic representations and the considerable tensions and ambiguities which still remain and are carried into the new millennium. Â  There is a vast literature on the way that madness has been defined and dealt with throughout history, and another huge amount of material available on literary and cinematic representations of madness. It would not be feasible to cover all of this ground and so for the purposes of the present study, a two-part literature review will suffice.

Committing Adultery Essay Example for Free

Committing Adultery Essay A marriage is full of moral ethics that should be followed. Kant would have agreed with me that we have moral duties to ones self and others. A marriage is committing moral thoughts, words, and actions to yourself and your spouse. Kant believed in treating other people the way you wish they would treat you. Never treat other people as if they were merely things. The formula of humanity states that we should treat people as an end and never as a means to an end. In committing adultery, the marriage and the spouse are being used as a means. Marriage should be treated with dignity and not as a thing that can be played with. I hope no one would apply the universal law of categorical imperative to committing adultery. I could not imagine applying the act of committing adultery to how all others should act. If we did apply the universal law to committing adultery then marriage would be worthless. Basically, do not choose a rule for yourself that you wouldn’t want everyone else to obey. Kant believes that the only good thing is a good will. Good will equals good intentions. Committing adultery is not a morally good act and Kant would agree with me. Utilitarianism is an action that is right if it maximizes the overall happiness of all people. In other words, an action is morally right if the consequences of that action are more favorable than unfavorable to everyone. This is consequentialism. Utilitarianism has rule utilitarianism and act utilitarianism. In rule utilitarianism, a behavioral code or rule is morally right if the consequences of the rule are more favorable than unfavorable to everyone. I believe it is more favorable to your spouse not to cheat than to cheat. I would be also more favorable to you not to cheat so the spouse doesn’t get upset. Act utilitarianism weighs the consequences of each particular action. There is a list of consequences of the act of committing adultery and none of them are good. There are moral rules against committing adultery and one of them is lying. In taking the vows in front of God is a form of a promise and breaking that promise is lying to God. John Stuart Mill is a hedonistic utilitarian. Our actions are meant to give happiness not only to ourselves but to others as well. Mill made the distinction of happiness between pleasures of the mental sort as a higher form than that of bodily pleasures. Mill states, it is better to be intelligently dissatisfied then foolishly satisfied. The ultimate pain and misery caused by committing adultery is not worth the short term pleasure that it produces. Wikipedia. org states that Utilitarianism of John Stuart Mill is classified as a type of hedonism, as it judges the morality of the actions by their consequent contributions to the greater good and happiness of all. Mills believes that there can be different levels of pleasure as long as the act promotes an action which makes everyone happy. Mills would say that committing adultery doesn’t bring overall happiness. Hedonism is described as pleasure is the highest good and whatever causes pleasure is right. On this note, hedonism would say committing adultery would be right if it is giving the cheating spouse pleasure. Committing adultery is motivated by desire and it can reduce pain by not telling the spouse that you are cheating. Most of the time committing adultery is motivated by sexual desire. My view on committing adultery is closest with Kantianism. Good will equals good intentions. They way I treat my spouse is the way I would want to be treated. I value marriage and I hope my spouse does too.

Romans 14 Essay -- The Book of Romans

The book of Romans was written by Paul. It is actually a letter that Paul wrote to the Romans telling them about his understanding of the Gospel. In this book his explains our sins and how we can achieve forgiveness through Christ. The most specific sin that he explains is that of judging one another. He helps address the problem of religious disagreements about different customs or religious convictions. These customs or religious convictions include the days on which people worship the Lord and the things that people will and will not eat. He wrote about the fact that we should not judge each other for God is going to judge us all in the end. "For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the lord of both the dead and the living." (Ro 14:9). The first distinction I want to make about this passage is the wording Paul used to describe Christ. He states that Christ died and than lived. His resurrection is what gives Him grounds to rule over the living and the dead. His power is as mighty in the living world as it is in the afterlife. We are never going to be on our own for he is there to reign over us for all of eternity. "You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat." (Ro 14:10). Paul is saying that we should not look down upon or judge a fellow believer. If what they are doing is truly in worship of the Lord, then who are we to judge them as though they are the ones who are wrong? The choices that he is dealing with are those of many people's religious traditions. One of these is the choice of which day different believers decide to worship the Lord. The other is whether or not a perso... ...he one who is going to judge us all in the end. Paul is letting us know that who we judge and how we judge them is going to be the same way that we are going to be judged on our day of reckoning. Everyone shall give an account of his life to the Lord. (Ro 14:12) This ending verse is basically a summary of what Paul has been writing about through most of chapter 14. It is there to say that in the end we will not be the ones who judge each other. Whether or not I have passed my judgment upon you in life will have no bearing on what happen to you in the afterlife. The same goes for if you are to pass your judgment on me. Our judgments have no affect on each other once we are brought before the Lord on our day of judgment. I will not be there to judge you and you will not be there to judge me. The Lord is going to be there to judge us all for our lives.

Tanning Beds and Cancer

According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, on an average day, nearly thirty million people tan indoors in the United States (â€Å"Skin Cancer Facts† 2011). What is even more alarming is, â€Å"a new study has shown that people who use tanning parlors once a month or more have an increased risk of developing malignant melanoma by 55%. Melanoma is one of the deadliest forms of skin cancer† (â€Å"Skin Cancer Facts† 2011). If this statistic does not scare those who use tanning beds, it should. Although a nice bronze glow accompanies your body after your trip to the tanning bed, a lifetime of trouble for your skin will follow, also. Is a nice tan really worth a lifetime of health concerns for your skin? To many, it is because of societies definition of beauty. Society thinks the idea of beauty involves harming their skin and receiving potential cancer in return for laying in a bed for â€Å"color†. This needs to change just as much as we need to stop the increase of skin cancer. One-way to stop this delusional sense of beauty and to decrease the number of skin cancer patients is to ban tanning beds. Tanning beds should be banned in the U. S. ecause although you may get instant, temporary, tan skin, developing a deathly cancer called melanoma can create more permanent unpleasant medical issues and the real idea of beauty needs to be re-established. To begin, many people have heard the term melanoma but it is important to know and understand what it is. According to the article â€Å"Melanoma Stage Three Prognosis,† Melanoma is a cancer that forms in the melanocytes of the skin. These are cells that make melanin, which colors our eyes, hair and skin (â€Å"Melanoma† 2011). These cells can be found in moles usually brown or black in color, but sometimes pink, red, or even blue. Not only can these moles and other spots be cancerous, they can be deadly. Melanoma is one of the deadliest cancers in America, and also one of the fastest spreading cancers (â€Å"Skin Cancer Facts† 2011). People do not recognize they are carriers, therefore do not receive adequate treatment, so it spreads to additional parts in your body, and very quickly. â€Å"This spreading is referred to as mestasis† (â€Å"Melanoma Stage Three Prognosis† 2011). As it spreads to other parts of the body it makes for a very difficult treatment because â€Å"lymph nodes start the invasion process of nearby tissue and form lesions on vital organs† (â€Å"Melanoma Stage Three Prognosis† 2011). As a result, â€Å"melanoma in the United States kills about 8,700 unlucky people every year† (â€Å"Skin Cancer Facts† 2011). Also, according to the American Cancer Society, there is an estimated â€Å"120,000 new cases of melanoma in the US are diagnosed in a year† (â€Å"Melanoma Skin Cancer† 2011). These statistics are alarming because we all could potentially make a choice to start decreasing these numbers. Using tanning beds is causing skin cancer which spreads quickly, can reach a stage that is extremely hard to treat and could lead to death. If tanning beds were banned, there would be fewer people dying from skin cancer because people wouldn’t be allowed to use them. Since using tanning beds is the number one cause of skin cancer itself, banning them should be a given. In addition to causing skin cancer, tanning beds are brainwashing people into thinking that being â€Å"tan† is the new beautiful. What ever happened to natural beauty, including pale skin? It is sad that our society has made women and men feel self-conscious about their color because tanning beds offer a â€Å"tan†. We have started a society where kids are judged because they are not pretty and â€Å"tan† like the others. As a result, kids and adults feel self-conscious and become depressed, sometimes leading to suicidal thoughts or even suicide itself, due to the lack of confidence they have in themselves. If tanning beds were banned kids and adults would not feel self-conscious about their skin because you wouldn’t be able to tan constantly without the real sun. Some say that even though tanning beds are banned, people will go on vacation and return home tan and people will feel the same way, but this â€Å"color† will be natural. Re-establishing the idea of natural beauty will benefit everybody and their confidence. Next, to prevent people from going tanning government officials need to ban tanning in the U. S. If people break this law, there will be federal consequences just as any other law has. Reason being, there are enough innocent people dying from skin cancer because of the natural sun, so by banning tanning beds we can save the lives of those who get cancer from the beds. Also, we can re-define the term beautiful so those who are self-conscious about their beautiful pale skin are confident in their natural beauty. If we enforce this new law, people will not feel as self conscious about their pale skin because there will be no other way to tan except by the natural sun. This will get people to realize that the natural way is the most beautiful way. In some states, there have been laws implemented to restrict minors from tanning. There have also been laws stating that you must have parent permission to be able to tan. These laws don’t work because minors use fake i. d. ’s or have other people sign for them (â€Å"Should Tanning Beds Be Banned† 1995). If we enforce the new law, we can be one step closer to stopping suicide caused by low self-esteem, and helping the depressed become confident in their bodies. With all these reasons as to why there should be a ban on tanning beds comes the other side of the argument. Some people believe â€Å"Imposing a ban on tanning salons would restrict the free choice of consumers† (‘Should tanning beds be banned? 1995†). If consumers are given correct information about the dangers of indoor tanning, then they should be able to weigh these risks against their own personal benefits from indoor tanning and decide for themselves if it would be a rational choice. Some say â€Å"the government should not tell consumers that they cannot assume certain risks, even if they are willing to do so, just because the government believes that the risks are too great† (â€Å"Should Tanning Beds Be Banned? † 1995). Some also believe that â€Å"not everyone develops cancer after visiting these salons, and consumers might be willing to take the gamble (â€Å"Should Tanning Beds Be Banned? 1995). People arguing against banning tanning beds believe that a ban on tanning salons would infringe the free choice rights of over one million citizens of the United States. In my opinion, the government should risk these unhappy citizens for decreasing the number of skin cancer patients. It should not matter if your â€Å"choice† is infringed upon because this new law will be saving the lives of many. In conclusion, tanning beds cause melanoma, which can lead to death. Tanning beds have also aided in changing the definition of beauty. If tanning beds were banned, we could stop the rise in skin cancer patients and save the lives of many. Also, we can boost those kids and adults’ self-esteem who still think their natural skin is beautiful despite how others who use tanning beds may make them feel. In the long run, we could reduce the number of depressed and even suicidal individuals who become self-conscious because of the â€Å"color† of their skin. This is an important decision to make because we can reduce the number of deaths and help kids and adults realize they are beautiful the way they are.

How to Write Radio Drama Essay

Here are some horrible truths: Most radio drama is very badly written. Radio drama is an endangered species. It has never taken a hold of mainstream programming on commercial radio in the UK. It used to be the mainstream in the States and Australia but lost out to TV in the middle to late fifties. It is under threat within public radio services including the BBC because of the pressure of monetarist ideology and the fact that authors and radio drama directors have been too complacent. IRDP is a significant oasis and continues to support the principle of the original play. Ground rules The Beginning The beginning is everything. If this part of it does not work you are ‘up shit creek without a paddle’. Your listeners will desert you. You have failed. You do not exist as a dramatist. Booo! The Moment of Arrival This is how you drop your listeners into the story. Don’t give them a warm bed with comfortable pillows and a hot water bottle. The background and sub-text of previous histories is better explored through revelation in dramatic action. So parachute your listener into a top dramatic moment. Not the climax. That would be premature. Find the MOMENT to join the story. Avoid the slow snail’s explicatory route. Kick ’em into a high energy trip and whoosh them through the rapids. Structure Set up†¦struggle†¦resolution. You can reverse this if the set-up is more dramatic and explosive than the resolution. Regard your play as a series of phases The Plot This is the story with lots of twists and turns. The more the merrier. Most listeners like good exciting plots. Without a good plot you’re eating a souffle that has gone flat. You need plot, more plot and more plot. Run at least two story lines. Two sub plots would be interesting. Keep the plots linked logically within the same play. The best system is a major and a  minor storyline linked to one another. Get them to come together at the end. Surprise People are hungry for entertainment. If they wanted boredom they would be filling out their tax returns instead of listening to your radio play. Make people afraid, but also excited. Character Your main character must have the sympathy of the audience. Your audience has to identify with your main character. If this does not happen you have created a failure. Booo! Conflict Drama = conflict = audience. There has to be an emotional, financial, human, moral, physical struggle so your listeners can laugh or cry. Yes, you want your listeners to laugh or cry or laugh and cry. If you don’t, give up. Polarities or Extremes The art of story telling is exploring the extreme limits of our psychological or physical existence. To pitch one polarity against another. The Climax I apologize for the sexual metaphor. But there is something in this. The better sex has foreplay, development, sustained excitement, surprise and affection, nay love followed by an explosion of ecstasy. Good radio drama is not all that different. If you don’t use it, you lose it. Dialogue This is how we engage dramatically with the world. Characters inform, argue, amuse, outrage, argue through the ebb and flow of dialogue. When we do we talk and that is how great radio plays are made†¦..by talking in dramatic dialogue. Atmosphere / Ambience This sets the emotional spirit of the play. It determines whether your  listeners believe in the world that you have created. Worlds are not created by dramatic dialogue alone. There is attitude and atmosphere. This is determined by detail and relevant detail. It could be in a sound effect. It could be in the writing. It could be in the music. It could be in everything. But the result is that the fifth dimension of radio writing – the imagination of the listener – is stimulated to become a picture palace of the mind. Emotion Got to be there. You have to generate an emotional response from the audience†¦.preferably to the main character†¦.also not so strongly in relation to the other characters. Emotion = love, hate, admiration. Never mind about the type of emotion†¦..concentrate on whether it is there or not. Emotional connection between the writing and the listener = good radio drama. Balance Character and Plot You have to have both. You cannot trade. One can predominate over the other. Where they are balanced equally†¦.it can only work if characterisation relates to plot development. If your main plot is character intensive, make sure that your minor plot is plot intensive. Purpose Crook’s golden rule is that every word, every line, every scene must serve a dramatic purpose in terms of characterisation and plot development. Drop anything that does not have a dramatic purpose. Tension and Humour To stop the listener dropping off or switching off, maintain the tension always and throw in the humour. Tension, humour, tension, humour, tension humour†¦like the foxtrot..Make the emotional rhythm of the play dance on the listener’s heart and mind. Charm and alarm, charm and alarm. But they’ve got to be linked. Your character uses humour to react to the tension in the scene or play. Keep one character who uses humour to deal with difficult situations. Make sure the humour is verbal. Slapstick belongs to a different  type of play or entertainment. Make sure you do not have characters taking it in turns to be funny. This is not stand up comedy or sitcom. Make sure that the character who uses humour has a consistent sense of humour. Get your listener inside the world of your play. How? a. Sympathy or empathy with the main character. b. A bloody good set up. c. A big, nasty antagonist or villain. d. Great Plot†¦Great Story†¦.twists and turns. e. Crisis at the beginning is dramatic and a great start. f. Emotional intensity. Hit some high points. g. Escalating conflict so the structure climbs with tension and humour. h. Strike the colours with detail so there’s an atmosphere, mood†¦ambience. I. Modulate charm with alarm†¦humour with tension†¦tension with humour†¦funny policeman nasty policeman. j. Surprise, surprise†¦that’s what you do to the listener, through the plot. The principle of developing scenes 1.Introduction. 2.Character one†¦goal and objective. 3.Character two†¦goal and objective. 4.Purpose of scene in overall plot. 5.One of the characters achieves a goal. 6.Link to the next scene by introducing or pointing to location of next scene or presence of character in next scene. Question marks in the mind of the listener. Always keep one, better two or three The Principle of Character 1.Believable and recognisable. 2.Purpose within the plot. 3.Characters have to have function. Character has to be consistent with function. 4.Characters have to be intentional. 5.Start with a stereotype to ensure rapid recognition, then twist the stereotype. Challenge the homily that there is nothing new under the sun by making it new under the moon. 6.Give each character a dominant physical or behavioural characteristic. Make the dominant characteristic purposeful. Make it extreme. 7.Your main character must be active. 8.Active character / urgent plot. The character’s energy has to fight the urgency of the plot and the urgency of the plot makes the character more energetic. The principle of Hero / Heroine 1.Listeners look up to main characters, want to admire them because we all want heroes and heroines in our lives. Life’s eternal fantasy that transcendent people and transcendent moments conquer adversity. 2.If you are very clever you can transfer the hero from the obvious to the humble and make great the inferior or character who has greater potential for human dignity. 3.Charisma. Characters need intensity and conviction. They may not be perfect but they are attractive. You cannot identify with people who are unlike ourselves†¦too perfect, no beliefs†¦take themselves too seriously†¦lack a sense of humour.. 4.Give your characters private moments when they drop their guards and allow us into their minds and hearts. Make the listener privileged. Use this moment for revelation. 5.The main character has to change and has to be changed by the plot. 6.You must have a main character and secondary characters. Your main character changes. Your secondary characters are probably more singular in their characteristics. Your secondary characters are already committed. Your main character is still weighing up the options. 7.You must have characters who are extreme in relation to each other†¦characters that are different make drama. Where are we now? Well, we should be here†¦. a. The main character is in the middle of the story. b. You’ve used dominant characteristics. c. The listener likes the main character. d. The listener cares what happens to the main character. e. The listener hates the antagonist. f. The main character is developing. Principles of Dialogue a. Dialogue must be a response to a situation, plot or action. b. Dialogue must be a response to each character in the scene. c. Dialogue must be comic relief. d. Dialogue must connect to the next scene. e. Avoid reflective, passive and neutral. Go for active, and direct and emotional. f. Dialogue must be believable by being specific†¦by being specific to the character’s background and emotional state. g. If dialogue is reacting to action or situation then it must be dramatic and poised on polarities. The goals of the characters in each scene should be different. h. Dialogue should be continuous. Tip†¦characters often take a tag by repeating the last word spoken by the first character. i. Dialogue must relate to function. j. You can mix direct with indirect between two characters because they have different goals. k. Humorous dialogue is not a character telling a joke but a line or lines responding to the dramatic situation. l. Heightened dialogue vs naturalistic dialogue. Heightened language is the language of the theatre†¦high octane communication†¦poetic, philosophical†¦charged..the expression of the playwright†¦It serves not only the development of the plot and character, but it also presents the view of the writer. Works well in radio. But there is now a tendency for more naturalism. Radio producers like to go out on location and explore realism. In these situations you must stick to natural dialogue. Principles peculiar to Radio 1.The inner existence. 2.The tension and conflict between the interior and exterior. 3.More psychological. 4.Easier to explore the real and the surreal and to delineate the line between the two. 5.Have to work in the fifth dimension†¦the energy of the listener’s imaginative participation. 6.The interior existence offers exploration of personal thoughts, fantasies, emotions and conflicts. 7.All  levels of external conflict can be explored. 8.The precipitating event through plot has to threaten the inner life of the main character. This is the kick-off in radio drama. 9.The end or resolution in radio drama is more deeply rooted in the emotional equilibrium and insight of the main character. Changes are internal as well as external. 10.Time transposition and translocation are faster and more rapid and more complicated. Flashbacks†¦flashforwards†¦ different ages. 11.Radio requires less rather than more characters. Characterisation needs to be strong and fascinating. 12.Maintain the focus of the main character and plot. 13.Economy of words underlines subtextual surprise and engagement with the listener’s imagination. 14.Wit is vital because language is so important†¦cleverness with words†¦energy with words..humour with words†¦Wit is advanced by surprising the listener†¦being aggressive with the listener..being fast, short and clever with the listener. 15.Irony is pathos and bathos. It’s conflict between the inner life and outer action. Other radio drama producers in the world Norway: NRK kulturkanalen, P2 RODD- 0340, Oslo, Norway. Swedish Radio, SR S-105 10 Stockholm, Sweden. YLE Finnish Broadcasting Company Radio, PO Box 79 FIN-00024 Yleisrdio, Finland. HR, Hessischer Rundfunk Bertramstrasse 8, 60320 Frankfurt am Main, Germany. DR Danmarks Radio, Radio Drama Department, Ewaldsgade 3-9, DK 2200, Copenhagen N Denmark. ABC Australia, ABC Ultimo Centre, Level 5, 700 Harris Street, Ultimo NSW 2007. CBC-SRC, Radio Drama Department, Box 500, Station A, Toronto, Ontario, Canada MSW 1E6 SDR Suddeutscher Rundfunk, Neckarstrasse 230, 70190, Stuttgart, Germany. Radio Television Hong Kong, Broadcasting House, m 30 Broadcast Drive, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China. Other radio drama producers, SABC, South Africa, Los Angeles Theatre Works, LA, California, Public Radio, New Zealand.

Free Essays on Modern Manifestations

a second, not including the dialogue and music on top of this. There are hundreds of films and programs which use the idea of an individual breaking from the normal to save the day, and in this subtitle I hope to relate the most potent examples I have encountered and judge the significance of Jung to every one. Probably one of the most successful sagas of all time is George Lucas’ â€Å"Star Wars† (in fact in a poll to find the movie of the millennium the first film in the trilogy came top place as Britains favorite film). At first glance the film just seems to follow a young boy Luke Skywalker as he trains to become a Jedi, fight the bad guys and eventually save the universe, but if explored more closely one can find numerous parallels to the ideas behind Jung’s theory of individuation. Firstly as Luke is growing up he is restless but still does not seem to be something special. Finally after meeting a friend of his Fathers his guardians are killed and Luke has to think for himself, immediately choosing to escape and persue training as a Jedi. Jung insisted that the major development only occurred in adult life and one must choose to develop before one can become a successful personality, just as Luke decided. The main opposition to good in the universe is named the â€Å"Empire† and is a collective of planets ... Free Essays on Modern Manifestations Free Essays on Modern Manifestations Modern Manifestations The modern world consists of many different forms of entertainment in which certain ideas and philosophies can be portrayed. They can manifest into literature, painting, sculpture, television and cinema. It is in the last two that I find myself most attracted to as I have always been a big fan of cinematography and, in short, moving pictures. It is said that a picture tells a thousand words, and television and film work on about twenty-five frames a second, thus in a second one experiences about eight different pictures (about 3 frames per shot) which works out via this theory about eight-thousand words a second, not including the dialogue and music on top of this. There are hundreds of films and programs which use the idea of an individual breaking from the normal to save the day, and in this subtitle I hope to relate the most potent examples I have encountered and judge the significance of Jung to every one. Probably one of the most successful sagas of all time is George Lucas†™ â€Å"Star Wars† (in fact in a poll to find the movie of the millennium the first film in the trilogy came top place as Britains favorite film). At first glance the film just seems to follow a young boy Luke Skywalker as he trains to become a Jedi, fight the bad guys and eventually save the universe, but if explored more closely one can find numerous parallels to the ideas behind Jung’s theory of individuation. Firstly as Luke is growing up he is restless but still does not seem to be something special. Finally after meeting a friend of his Fathers his guardians are killed and Luke has to think for himself, immediately choosing to escape and persue training as a Jedi. Jung insisted that the major development only occurred in adult life and one must choose to develop before one can become a successful personality, just as Luke decided. The main opposition to good in the universe is named the â€Å"Empire† and is a collective of planets ...

Electronic Commerce and Internet Law in Canada Assignment - 1

Electronic Commerce and Internet Law in Canada - Assignment Example The researcher states that under Canadian law, a copyright owner has the right to choose between actual damages or statutory damages under the Copyright Act. Actual damages will be the amount lost as a result of infringement and statutory damages can expose Jane to liability for $20,000 for each individual program that has been illegally copied. Online contracting in Novia Scotia is regulated by the Electronic Commerce Act, which adopts the Uniform Electronic Commerce Act of Canada (UECA). Additionally, the UECA adopts the United Nations 1996 Model Law on Electronic Commerce and the Novia Scotia’s Electronic Commerce Act (2000) is nearly identical to the UECA model. In the current scenario, the central issue of contention is whether Melvin is bound by the contract. The fundamental issues impacting online contracting are the common law concepts of offer, acceptance, and jurisdiction. Indeed Scassa & Deturbide highlight the central questions in online contracting being as follow s: â€Å"Is an owner of a web site merely soliciting offers, or is an offer being made that is capable of being accepted? When and where is acceptance made? What impact do electronic agents have on the offer and acceptance paradigm?†. Additionally, Section 20(1) of the UECA as embodied in the Electronic Commerce Act (2000) acknowledges that online interactive forms of communication constitute binding contracts. Moreover, online contracts are now completely recognized by Canadian courts in contractual disputes.

Documantry on Congo Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Documantry on Congo - Essay Example Throughout the Congo, families were held as hostages, and the families would be subjected to death-causing hunger, in the case that the working members did not cooperate in producing sufficient wild rubber. Further, the hands of the children held as captive were chopped off as punishment to the parents, in the case that they delivered the rubber late (Bate, Elie and Roger). The King is accused of killing more than 10 million people during his era of exploitation. This paper will explore the lessons taught by the documentary and also explore the classes of people that played a central role during the colonial era. The documentary gives an account showing that the colonialists went to Africa among other colonial nations, not for the good of the citizens of the colonized countries, but for their selfish interests of making more wealth for themselves and their countries (Bate, Elie and Roger). This reality is very evident from the experiences of the Congolese, during the 1880s, noting that they were subjected to forced labor and slavery at their own country. The selfish interests of the colonialist Belgium are evident from the death of the millions of the people that did not work towards meeting the rubber hunger of the King. Further, to conceal his plans and his strategies of exploiting the people of Congo, the king acted as a prototype of colonialists, by hiding under the veil of protecting Africans from slave trade (Bate, Elie and Roger). Unfortunately, it turned out that his system and model of slavery was much worse than that of the Arabs; it included the brutal treatment of the Congolese. For example, the documentary cites that the hands of the children, whose parents could not deliver rubber as expected, were chopped off. Therefore, the colonial operations of King Leopold II, which were similar to those of many other colonial nations, show that the colonialists went to Africa and other

Diary for one class-------- I will upload every think that you will Essay

Diary for one class-------- I will upload every think that you will need. You have to read the slides when it is need it and you - Essay Example 2. Health Illiteracy – Even if Maria’s children can get medical treatment, the disease have a possibility of recurrence because she is not aware on what causes the disease. Also, she needs to learn more about basics of health as well as family planning. The 4ps are product, price, place and promotion. For product, the information that Maria needs is birth-control methods and hygiene. She also needs to be counseled regarding her perspective towards traditional healing and the risks. The price denotes that Maria must change her perspectives so she could address the health issues objectively and effectively. For example, the price of not using birth control could mean more mouths to feed. As for the place, the only channel for educating her at the moment is through home visits by a health care provider. Lastly, promotion can be accomplished by suggesting birth control products through some brochures and samples like oral contraceptives. As for her children, Maria can be gi ven oral rehydration salts to prevent dehydration during diarrhea. In the end, the main objective is for Maria to take initiative in visiting the health facility on a regular basis. A sterling example of corporate social responsibility was exemplified by IBM way ahead of other companies. It was also interesting that IBM initiated CSR at the time that it almost fell into bankruptcy if not for the leadership of Louis Gertsner. During that time that Louis Gerstner ruled IBM, social responsibility then was a concept that was uncommonly practiced by organizations. IBM was influenced by Gertner’s social responsibility advocacy by erasing the barriers between class and gender within the organization which is a higher form of social responsibility. Unlike other organizations, that donated for a cause or planted a tree, Gerstner made something unique. Gerstner established a diversity task force that addressed to diversity issues. In line with that, he also co-chaired Achieve, an organ ization that focuses on improving the academic standards for public school in the U.S. In fact, he really supported quality education alongside being the CEO of IBM. He established Reinventing Education, an educational partnership with a number of states and school districts, enabling them to benefit from IBM technology, and technical assistance. Social responsibility was then a concern for Gerstner even during his IBM days. In a speech addressed to Comdex, he already made mention of how technology and social responsibility go hand in hand, to wit: I think we will make our visions reality. I think that as stewards of our industry, we will step up to the challenges of social responsibility. We will improve the world, and the way we work, the way we communicate, live and learn as people.  (1995, Transcript of Louis Gestner speech at Comdex) There are abundant examples of corporate social responsibility shown by large corporations. Just recently, Coca Cola pledged 2.5 Billion Yen ($3 1 Million dollars) to Japan so the country can recover from the disasters that happened. The pledge goes to a reconstruction fund which includes free dispensing of beverages for the victims. References CSR Press Release. (2011).  Coca-Cola Raises Total Pledge to 2.5 Billion Yen (US$31 Million) for Relief and Rebuilding Efforts in Japan.

The Diamond Model which has been penned down by Michael Porter Essay

The Diamond Model which has been penned down by Michael Porter - Essay Example This advantage is gained by the nation by increasing demand for that commodity by other nations. Either the nation with the competitive advantage has gained this edge because of the cheap labor available in their region, or it is due to the amazingly high quality of resources that are available within their region. The reason can be any - but once the competitive advantage has been gained, it goes a long way in helping the nation to rule the international market for that commodity and it even gives the nation the power to dictate prices at times, especially if there is scarcity of that commodity or the raw materials needed to make that commodity in other parts of the world, or if the commodity is a staple good or a fast moving consumer good. Thus, competition, in today's age, is not limited to domestic competitors. Rather, the competitors are now present worldwide for a single industry. Thus, Porter's model becomes the most comprehensive model available for this purpose only - to help nations make policies which will help them out beat their international competitors. 1. Firm strategy, structure and rivalry: Strategy is the way through which the nation aims to achieve its goals. If the nation aims to achieve strategic competitive advantage in four industries: wool, cotton, wheat and rice, then it need to work accordingly. Moreover, it also has to structure the domestic industry in a manner which instills competitiveness within the domestic players only, so that the overall industry can reach a higher level. Rivalry is the competition that is ignited within the local competitors, so that they work independently and also in groups to achieve the nation's policy of achieving global competitiveness in the international arena. 2. Demand conditions: A nation's policy on competitiveness around the globe will depend on the demand that exists for its products. The nation's industry can never stand out in a global sphere if the local demand does not match the international demand. If, for instance, the cotton produced in the local areas is of low quality and the local consumers are satisfied with that, then there is no scope for this industry to flourish internationally. This is because if the local demand is not demanding enough out of the industries, then they would never improve their level of quality, service or the elements that make a product from good to better to best. Thus, the more demanding the customers in an economy, the greater the pressure facing firms to constantly improve their competitiveness via different radical innovative product offerings etc. 3. Related and supporting industries: If an industry has to gain competitive advantage internationally, then it should also engage the support of the related and supporting industries. For instance, while making national policy, the related and supporting industries for the government would be the media industry, because of the amount of

Effect of Life Events on Effective Leadership

Effect of Life Events on Effective Leadership Meers study is qualitative in nature. The purpose of his study was to explore how the selected leaders made sense of their experiences by understanding the context of the experiences themselves. It was imperative to the efficacy of his study to understand the perspectives of the leaders as they related their life experiences and what impact they saw these events having on their leadership development. As life experiences are best related in story format, it best served this study for the researcher to utilize personal interviews with participants as the primary method of data collection. The stories that leaders told about their formative life experiences cannot be broken down into easily manipulated variables, but rather must be understood as whole events that carry complex meanings for each individual. As Meers began his study, a theory was not presented for proving or dis-proving, however, in the process of data collection a theory did emerge. This is consistent with the qualitati ve approach and specifically the grounded theory method. Strauss and Corbin (1998) define grounded theory as: theory that was derived from data, systematically gathered and analyzed through the research process (pg. 12). The theoretical framework of how effective leaders learn from significant life experiences developed within this study matches this definition. The situation studied within this project was the significant life experiences of effective leaders with the process being leadership and the phenomenon being how these leaders learned from their respective significant experiences. The exploration of leaders life experiences moved from the specifics of each individuals stories to generalizations that can be applied to the broader area of leadership development. Purpose Statement The purpose of this study was to discover the role that significant life events played in the development of effective leaders. The use of the term significant in describing life events could sound somewhat limiting; however the intent of this study was for participants to define for themselves what a significant life event entails. Utilizing a semi-structured interview process, leaders perceived as being effective were interviewed to explore the meaning they made out of certain life experiences. Through analysis of this information the author attempted to discover common emerging themes which impacted their development. Problem Statements 1) What is leadership? and 2) How do leaders develop? or, From where do leaders come? Alignment of Research Question, Purpose Statement, and Problem Statement The author of this paper believes that the research questions, the purpose statement, and the problem statement are well aligned. First, based on the research question(s), it was critical for the researcher to provide a clear definition of leadership. In doing so, he was able to establish a foundation for his study. Meers study looked at effective leaders. It was critical for Meers to identify what an effective leader is. He did this through his review of literature and the identification of leadership based on a longitudinal study that included theory from numerous pioneers in the field of leadership and organizational studies. Meers also needed to research the foundations of leadership development. Most specifically, it was critical for him to include prior research theories of how a person becomes a leader and how a person develops and refines leadership skill and traits. Meers purpose statement effectively describes the research questions using concise language. Literature Used to Identify Gaps and Tensions within the Literature Meers dissertation includes a comprehensive literature review of prior studies. He began his review by defining leadership, which he accomplished through his own acquired knowledge. After defining leadership, the question (mentioned previously) that then arises is: How are leaders developed? Where do they come from? To answer these questions, Meers looked to the earlier work of Thomas Carlysle called the Great Man theory (Wren, 1995). Meers then addressed the transformation of leadership theory during the mid part of the twentieth century. He relied on the studies conducted by Conger (1992) and Fulmer (1997) who both studied the relationship between leaders and managers and whose work provided Meers with a clear distinction between management and leadership. Fulmers research regarding early leadership training provided Meers with an overview of where the field has been, where it was at the time of his research and where he saw it headed (Fulmer, 1997). The studies conducted by Burns (1978), Greenleaf (1970) and Kegan (1982) provided Meers with further information regarding the transformation of leadership theory. In his seminal work, Leadership, Burns (1978) proposed the idea that there were really two forms of leadership: transactional and transforming (or transformational). Burns (1978) work then encouraged others to begin to think of leadership as different from management, with leadership being much more focused on relationships with followers and particularly on influencing others to achieve common goals. For the purposes his study, Meers did not conduct a thorough analysis of servant leadership and transformational leadership, but instead focused on the impact the articulation and popularization of these forms of leadership have had upon the field of leadership training and development. He looked to the research of Greenleaf for this information. Kegans theory of moral development impacted the world of leadership training and development, mainly by introducing his idea of development. Meers was thorough in his choice to include the work of these three theorists. Meers longitudinal report ends with the contemporary work of Peter Senge (1990) who focused closely on the organization as a learning organization. Meers makes a nice transition from his section on the development of the organization to the actual experiences of leaders and managers and how emphasis has been placed upon learning from work experiences, specifically upon using these experiences as preparation for advancement to higher levels of management or leadership. Again, Meers cited the works of Senge (1990) and Kegan (1982), and also focused on the work of Robert E. Quinn (1996) who explored the importance of personal change in leading organizational change. To further establish the foundation for his area of study, Meers looked to the work of Ronald Heifetz of the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University who brought forth the importance of learning from personal experiences and specifically how the reflection on certain experiences has become a part of some executive leadership education programs. A particular method that Heifetz developed and one he uses extensively in his courses at Harvard is the Case-in-point methodology in which students in the classroom bring their experiences to class and in essence become their own case studies (Parks, 2005). Also included in Meers literature review is the qualitative study conducted by Shamir, Dayan-Horesh and Adler (2005) in which they explored the life-stories that leaders tell. The purpose of their study was to extrapolate common themes in the leaders stories that may provide further insight into leadership development. Shamir, et al (2005) made the case that a leaders own story and even how he/she tells it has a strong impact upon how influential they are with their followers. Meers referred to the work of Avolio (1994) whose work, although ground breaking in the area of leadership development impacted by life experiences, was somewhat limited. The purpose of Avolios study was to explore the correlation between certain life experiences and to identify transformational leadership behaviors. Avolio (1994) selected the life experiences he was going to analyze. Meers stated in his dissertation that while this is a legitimate approach to a quantitative study, it limited the choices of the leaders in regard to which experiences they could identify as having impacted their development (Meers, 2009, p. 31). Yet another limitation to the study that Meers reported was in the more narrow focus on identified transformational leaders and especially upon specific transformational behaviors. Avolios study found some correlation between certain experiences and certain transformational leaders but it did not provide a great deal of insight into the general impact of life e vents or experiences upon leadership development (Avolio, 1994). Much like the work conducted by Avolio, Meers looked to a study completed by Bennis and Thomas (2002). Bennis and Thomas identified what they call crucible experiences which they define as those experiences that generally consisted of high stakes and often were tragic in nature. There were also gaps in this study. As with Avolioà ¢s (1994) study, the field was limited as the leaders interviewed seemed more inclined to talk about experiences that they perceived as having an impact directly upon their leadership development. Meers felt that this approach may not have told the complete story regarding development as the participants most likely automatically limited themselves in the experiences they selected as having impacts. Also, Meers felt that the researchers conducting this study failed to identify the meaning of leadership. Due to these limitations, Meers believed that there was room for further research to be conducted with defined leaders and how they perceived they had been impacted by their own significant life events.

Gun Control in America Essay -- Second Amendment The Right To Bear Arms

One of the biggest issues facing our nation today seems to be gun control. The government is constantly proposing legislation for more and more gun laws. There are people that feel strongly on both sides of this issue. Neither side wants more gun violence; the question is how to control gun violence. The Second Amendment to the United States constitution states â€Å"a well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed†(U.S. Constitution). The founding fathers included this in our bill of rights because they feared the federal government might oppress the population if the people did not have the means to defend themselves as a nation and as individuals. Law-abiding citizens should have the right to protect themselves against danger. One way citizens can protect themselves is through concealed carry permits. A concealed carry permit allows the permit holder to carry a gun (concealed) in most public places. If an applicant meets a set of requirements, a concealed carry permit is issued. These requirements may consist of a licensing fee, safety training course, fingerprinting, a clean record and no history of mental illness. This is also known as â€Å"shall-issue† laws. Thirty-two states have enacted "shall-issue" concealed carry laws (New Mexico being the most recent in April 2001), and one state, Vermont, does not require any permit of its residents....

Research Methodology Essay

This research work is an action research investigating into the issues of illiteracy in the Western Region of Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). An action research is a type of qualitative research of cyclical nature which is used to improve practice (Parsons and Brown, 2002). In other words, the work is meant to aid in executing an action program that will help reduce illiteracy in the Western Region of Abu Dhabi. It is meant to be cyclical in nature in that it is also intended to improve the provision of adult literacy with time by providing a means by which the program can be adequately implemented and improved upon with time. The results of this work identified the specific areas that call for attention in the provision of education for Abu Dhabi adults that are forty years old and over. It also suggested ways of assessing progress and improving upon the program with time. At the end, the research work became a useful resource for Abu Dhabi’s Western Region Development Council (WRDC) and other organizations who are stakeholders in improving adult learning in the Western Region of Abu Dhabi. This chapter describes the stages and processes that were involved in carrying out the research work. It presented the data gathering processes, describing also, the target research participants, the research locations, involvements of the main stakeholder organization, other stakeholders’ roles, and action plan towards the adoption, implementation, evaluation, and review of the research results. Research Design and Procedure The research approach involved data gathering activities aimed at obtaining all the relevant information about illiteracy in the target region for this research. Multiple sources and research instruments were used for the data gathering process. These includes, previous socio-economic studies in the Western Region, the statistics of adult students in the literacy classes as obtained from the Family Development Foundation and Abu Dhabi Education Council, surveys and interviews with illiterate adults (forty years and over), and so on. The research made use of research samples of adults who are forty years and above in the Western Region of Abu Dhabi. The samples of necessity consisted mostly of illiterates within the region. In addition, other sources were employed in gathering information and these shall be discussed further in the sections following. The data were thereafter analyzed to draw out workable solutions for the adult literacy program in the Western Region. Interviews with a Sample of Illiterate Adults Aged Forty Years and Over. The interviews were conducted shortly after establishing initial contacts and discussing with parties that are of interest in the illiteracy issue. The interviews aim at establishing the attitudes of the old illiterates in the Western Region (40 years and over) towards the remedial measures being taken to reduce illiteracy and how they have come to accept the current adult literacy program arranged by WRDC. Though the interviews were not formal or structured, questions were set to serve as guidelines during the interviews. A sample of the set of questions that were asked is as presented in Appendix A. For a proper geographical representation, the interviewees were picked from across the cities within the Western Region of Abu Dhabi and not just located from one city. The six cities from which the interviewees were drawn are Madinat Zayed, Al Mirfa, Ghayathi, Sila, Dalma, and Peda Al Mutawa. There was no strict pattern for the selection of the sample. Rather, convenience sample approach was used. The interviews spanned over a period of two months. In order to make it more flexible, the interviews were conducted through different means. This included personal face-to-face interviews, informal chatting during family and social gatherings, informal or semi formal phone chatting, and so on. The general strategy for the interviews was to start with broad questions and then follow up on the interviewee’s responses. Efforts were made to gain a full understanding of how each of the respondents captured the meaning of each question. This helped to avoid imposing meanings on the interviewee. Rather, it helped the interview process to achieve its target of obtaining information purely as reflected by the adult illiterates. In addition, the interviews were done in a language that each interviewee understood rather than conducting exclusively in English or other unfamiliar languages. Most especially, the approach of adopting a mixture of languages was employed to ensure that each interviewee feels at home in responding to the questions. This is necessary in order to obtain a feedback that is not influenced by any adverse or embarrassing conditions during the interview and this includes the effects that language barrier may have on the respondents if unfamiliar languages were used. Survey to Investigate the Reasons Behind Illiteracy for Adults Forty Years Old and Above. This is another research instrument that was used in addition to the interview. This is also more like the interview but is more formal in nature and administration. The intention of this was to obtain information from the illiterate adults as regards the reasons behind their illiteracy. In other words, it intends to establish the reasons for the occurrence of high illiteracy rates in the Western Region of Abu Dhabi. While the interviews responses will establish that there are indeed illiterate adults in this region and provide clues as regards the attitudes of the illiterates towards adult literacy, the survey results will explain the reasons behind the occurrence of high illiteracy rate. As it was for the interview, the survey was conducted using a research sample of adult illiterates (forty years and over) obtained across the cities of the Western Region. The sample was drawn from Madinat Zayed, Al Mirfa, Ghayathi, Sila, and Dalma. In addition, the language was such that the respondents understood the questions being asked except in cases where this was a measure of the illiteracy levels of the respondents. The sample of the survey questions are as presented in appendix B below. Need Assessment Survey – to know the learning needs of adult learners at the Western Region of Abu Dhabi. The ultimate objectives of this work are to ensure that the reasons behind high illiteracy rates are unearthed in the Western Region, and to enhance a high rate of patronage of the adult literacy classes. Thus, it will be necessary to gain insight into the learning needs of these illiterate adults so that the program may not continue to disappoint their expectations. In other words, there is a need to make the program all encompassing, meeting the expectations and the learning needs of the adults for who the program has been established. Moreover, the program should also be able to meet the needs of anticipating learners. In this light, a survey was also conducted to assess the learning needs of the illiterate adults at the Western Region. The sample of the survey instrument for this assessment is as included in appendix C. The survey sample at this time cut across the cities in the Western Region of Abu Dhabi. However, the age range of the survey sample was deliberately chosen to be below 40 years. This is due to the fact it is not exclusively those above 40 years of age that has learning needs and it will be advantageous to set up a program that will be all encompassing, taking care of the needs of learners from age grades lower than 40 years. The sample age range was fixed between 20 and 70 years. It is to be noted that the assessment was not limited only to adults who have been enrolled in the program and are still part of the training. The sample also included those who were enrolled but could not continue as well as those who did not enroll at any time. Again, the language of the survey was that which the respondents understand well and did not influence their responses in any way. Equipments Need Assessment. After obtaining the results of the three earlier mentioned surveys, an assessment of the equipments need for the present adult learning centers in the Western Region of Abu Dhabi was carried out. Precisely, the five Family Development Foundation (FDF) female adult learning centers in the Western Region’s cities (one each in five cities of Abu Dhabi Western Region – Madinat Zayed, Al Mirfa, Ghayathi, Sila, and Dalma) were assessed. This was carried out in conjunction with the FDF to give weight to the exercise and ensure detailed responses. A formal letter was sent to each of the centers asking them to identify and state their needs in terms of the facilities, resources and other materials for their adult education classes, as it is peculiar to each center. These responses could also be used to infer what the needs of the corresponding evening male classes are to an appreciable degree of accuracy. The male classes are also five (one in each of the five cities earlier mentioned). In addition, in conjunction with the Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) a survey of the current enrollment in each of these male and female centers was taken. This provided a baseline for comparison with the current situation in adult literacy efforts across other cities and regions of Abu Dhabi. Adoption and Implementation of Research Results This research work was carried out to establish practical solutions for illiterate people in the Western Region of Abu Dhabi especially those who are not interesting in the current official adult education program. The results of this work is to aid the main stakeholder organization, (WRDC) establish flexible adult learning program for adults who are 40 years or older but are not interested in the mainstream adult education options. In addition, the program would adopt lifelong learning approach towards literacy. On the long run, the outcome of the program, through the facilitation of the research, will improve on the social, health and economic conditions of the beneficiaries. After the fieldwork, the data were analyzed and the results obtained. Thereafter, in conjunction with WRDC and based on the results of the analysis, a strategic proposal/plan was drawn to provide a more workable and lasting solution in handling the peculiarities of adult learning in Abu Dhabi’s Western Region. This was then presented for discussions with other stakeholders whose support had been enlisted in the research work. The stakeholders are the Family Development Foundation (FDF) and Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC). At the end of the stakeholders’ discussions, the proposal was reviewed and modified with the specific roles of each of the partners in the proposal clearly defined. The discussions also involved the program cost breakdown and budget. The funding for the program was then shared among the three parties involved in the program. Thereafter, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was drafted and signed by the three parties. The Roles of the Partners in Program Planning and Execution. The WRDC was to conduct needs assessment for Western Region’s illiterate participants. Information to be gathered include their age, gender, willingness to participate in the program and for how many days or hours per week, preferred period of the day for lectures (wither morning or evening), preferred program duration (how many months or year), preferred location for lectures (whether in a Family Development Foundation’s learning center, a nearby school or other preferred locations), transportation needs, preferred subjects, how they want to learn, and so on. This has been carried out earlier in the fieldwork as described in the previous sections. ADEC’s role was to identify needed learning materials (e. g. extbooks, copybooks, teacher guidebook, hand outs, etc) in addition to other similar roles. In addition, FDF has the role of clarifying learning environment characteristics and needs. These needs are mainly related to the equipments and furniture needs at the learning centers. These roles had been carried out as described earlier as well. ADEC and FDF also specified manpower plan and provided human recourses for the program. These include program managers and teachers (qualified and well trained from both sexes), class cleaners and so on. Moreover, ADEC worked on the provision of the program instructional design and development. This role involves specification of the program goals and objectives, analysis of task components of the program goals and purposes, identification of learners characteristics that will influence instructional design, drawing up of program curriculum and subjects contents, alignment of subjects contents within each instructional unit for logical learning, design of instructional strategies (putting in mind the needs of learners), selection of resources to achieve the instructional objectives, and the development of evaluation instruments to measure the achievement of objectives. WRDC carried out the program awareness campaigns. The WRDC designed the promotional materials, displayed posters, signs and similar campaign materials talking about the adult learning program at designated areas, arranged and coordinated public lectures with illiterate adults (the target audience), and produced articles for newsletter campaigns. FDF handles the execution and management of the program. That is, the foundation was saddled with the responsibility of running the program. This includes registration and admission into classes, appointment of teachers, delivery and management of lectures and so on. The main subjects taught are basic reading and writing, the Holy Quran and mathematics. The Roles of the Partners in Program Evaluation and Monitoring. ADEC conducted formative written and verbal tests for the participants in each stream of lectures and WRDC conducted learners’ satisfaction survey asking them to rate the adult learning program schedule, learning materials, the classes and the quality of learning facilities. Then, the three parties met again to review the program and seek for ways of modifying it to be more result achieving. The results of tests and surveys were useful in informing on the necessary modifications. The modes and strategies for implementing the recommended changes were further discussed. Thus, this set the stage for the implementation of the refined program. Furthermore, semi-annual meetings were arranged to discuss further periodic reviews of the program. The results of the fieldwork and the progress made in the course of implementation and evaluation shall be discussion in the next chapter.

American Economy During World War II Essay

Prior to its entry in the Second World War, the United States asumed an isolationist (neutral) stance by the 1930’s even though the threat of war was looming over Europe and Asia with the rise of militarism when democracies in these regions failed to address the economic problems they were having which were similar to the US. Through the efforts of President Franklin D. Roosvelt, the US took a more â€Å"democratic† approach in addressing the socio-economic problems created by the Great Depression called the New Deal and this saw the American economy gradually recovering and the confidence and self-esteem of individual citizens returning. When the US entered World War II following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, America committed itself to â€Å"total war. † The entire nation was mobilized but it was not merely limited to raising an armed force and preparing it for combat, it was getting every sector of American society involved. Even those who did not serve in the military had significant roles to play, especially in the economic aspect of the war. Rationing became the norm as food production and resources had to be redirected to support America’s fighting forces. This was in line with an aphorism alluded to Napoleon that an army travels on its stomach (cited in Murray & Millet, 2000). Despite the rationing, the home front did not suffer considerably from food shortage compared to those in the occupied countries of Europe or Asia where German and Japanese forces would confiscate their foodstuffs and commodities to feed their own people and sustain their war effort. Nevertheless, it showed that these nations too were exceeding their requirements and were resorting to pilfering the resources of the occupied territories, depriving the local inhabitants of their needs and causing deaths from starvation in these countries. American farmers were able to exceed their expectations by producing considerably higher outputs following the end of the First World War. They were to produce huge volumes of foodstuffs that American forces overseas were amply fed and had plenty to share to their allies. It was because of this that the United States became known as the â€Å"Granary of Democracy. † (Murray and Millet, 2000, 530) America was also known as the â€Å"Arsenal of Democracy. † Even before the start of the war, the United States was already rearming as there was already cooperation between government and industry. Despite the isolationist stance and commitment to peace, there was still that commitment to develop and employ new weapons to keep pace with the changing times and not become stagnant or their weapons obsolete. America’s entry into the war, the transition of its industries to war production was smooth, owing the to relationship between the government and businesses. Not only was it able to amply supply their armed forces, they had surplus material that they distributed to their allies as well (Murray & Millett, 2000, 533). Contrary to what others thought, that women took over the factories when all the men left to fight the war; not all able-bodied men were called up to serve in the military. There were a considerable number of them kept to sustain the production of the industries as they churned out war machines for use by their fighting forces. The government ensured there was balanced distribution of able-bodied males in the workforce so as not to completely cripple their economy as opposed to the Axis nations that committed its able-bodied men to fight, leaving women and the less-abled to manage their economies (Murray & Millett, 2000, 544-545). In conclusion, the economy of the United States was prepared for wartime production mode. They were aware of the growing threats the world was facing and prepared accordingly. Ironically, the war solved the problems caused by the Great Depression by providing people much-needed jobs and made them productive again. America’s strategic grographic location of being bordered by two great oceans shielded it from the ravages of war which prevented it from reaching its shores. The shift to a wartime economy also underscored the commitment of the American people in fighting for a just cause. They believed that their cause was just and fully committed themselves to it regardless of their role from paying one’s taxes to working continuously in the factories. One did not have to serve in the military to prove their patriotism and commitment to the war and the people on the home front demonstrated it and it can be seen that their contribution of keeping America’s fighting forces fed and supplied with everything the need to fight was instrumental to final victory. Reference Murray, W. & Millett, A. R. (2000). A War to be Won: Fighting the Second World War. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press.