Device Invented: Teleportation

â€Å"Kids, back in my days, we didn’t have those fancy teleportation devices; getting to places was a transportation problem. I remember very well those times. Cars now had a modern system of using infrared radiation as energy fuel, therefore many began to buy automobiles since the pollution problem was disappearing. Still, the traffic jams were constant and a solution was being researched. This way, public transportation became the axis of travel of the modern man. Nevertheless, as living and health conditions improved, there were still too many humans in the planet that needed to get from one place to another. We never believed at those times that change was very close. Twelve of November of 2026, a date I will never forget. I was working in my office when I began to hear a crowd of people cheering outside. Apparently scientists had been able to safely teleport an apple from one location to another. The news scattered quickly as a public demonstration was going to take place. I remember I sat down with my fellow workers around the screen and just in front of our eyes we saw how they teleported a dog from a chamber to another one located just a few feet away. The device worked and many anticipated that this method was the end to not only traffic jams but also the future way of public transport, economy, and more. Finally four years later, and just two months before I met your grandmother, authorities explained that teleportation had been tested enough to become safe and people could now use this marvelous invention. That day, I walked from my apartment and went straight to the nearest â€Å"booth† which was the folkloric name people had given it. The â€Å"booth† was two meters high, and wide enough for three people to come in. The machine had a small antennae that beeped loudly. When I first walked in, I could not help but notice the warm interior made of white polystyrene and all the wiring around it. Finally I stepped in, a door automatically closed and I just had to whisper for my destiny and bam, in a matter of a blink, I was standing in the other side of town. The device soon became the first method of transportation making anything quicker and cheeper. The device was soon used not only in transport persons, but soon companies shipped their products this way, and you could say it very much improved every aspect of life. And as you now know boys, the â€Å"booth† was soon modified so that it not only covered a small area but it can now transport 50 persons at the same time. So children, you better get ready for school, its late and you need to teleport in 5 min or you will not get to class in time. †

Coca Cola Unethical Business Practices Atricle Essay

Coca-Cola is the largest soda provider in the world. Although it is widely consumed, many people are unaware of its labor violations. The company has come under fire in the last few months for the way in which its workers are treated in Guatemala. The primary source of all the violence is the workers’ union. On February 25, 2010, Coke was sued by those Guatemalan laborers, who claim that they, â€Å"endured a campaign of violence† from the people who worked for the bottling or processing plants owned by Coke (Business Week). This violence took place in Guatemala City. The perpetrators were employed by Incasa, which operated the bottling plant (Business Week). One of the plaintiffs is Jose Palacios, who faced violence after rejoining the workers’ union in 2004. Not only was he shot at and threatened at the bottling plant, but armed men broke into his home and threatened his family (Atlanta Business News). A few weeks after this invasion, in 2005, he was fired without a cause (North American Congress on Latin America). Another plaintiff in the case is Jose Chavez, a prominent union leader. In 2008, after he participated in collective-bargaining activities in Guatemala City, returned home to his waiting family. Upon his arrival, Chavez’s son and nephew were brutally murdered in front of his eyes and his 16 year old daughter was gang-raped (North American Congress on Latin America). This violence was a response to his activity in the union. Coca-Cola has faced legal action by workers before. In 2001, it was sued by union laborers in Colombia for violence against unionized workers. In a statement at Coke’s annual meeting of shareholders in 2005, the company claimed,â€Å"Our company and our bottling partners have been accused of complicity in the murder of union members and the ongoing intimidation of union members and of the suppression of union activity in Colombia. The allegations are not true† (PBS). The company paid more attention to the problem only after an international boycott began in 2003 (Business Week). Ultimately, Coca-Cola and its bottlers were found not guilty and cleared of any wrong-doing by Colombian courts (PBS). When the case was brought to the United States, Coca-Cola fought to have its name removed from the lawsuit and got its wish. Although this has not been widely publicized, the labor violations of Coca-Cola are a prominent issue. Consumers of Coke, and other items produced by corporations with foggy labor practices, have to ask themselves how they can make a difference. Students at colleges across the United States, one being Rutgers Univeristy, have started boycotts of the soda. Rutgers students were successful in their activism, and the university has switched its contract to Pepsi (Killer Coke). A new documentary was released in 2009 called â€Å"The Coca-Cola Case. † It was filmed by German Gutierezz and Carmen Garcia to highlight â€Å"the reality of union busting at Coca-Cola bottling plants in Colombia, Guatemala and Turkey† (Green Muze). This movie reveals the practices of just one of the many multi-national corporations and upon watching it, the consumers will hopefully be inspired to better inform themselves about the products they consume (Green Muze). Here is a link to the trailer for this documentary: The Coca-Cola Case. Coca-Cola is one of the most powerful corporations in the world. Its business practices have to be questioned by the consumer to ensure that labor violations are not being committed.

The Ritz-Carlton: A Snapshot

The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company is a management company that develops and operates luxury hotels for W. B. Johnson Properties, also based in Atlanta. In 1983, W. B. Johnson acquired exclusive U. S. rights to the Ritz-Carlton trademark, a name associated with luxury hotels for 100 years. The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company operates 23 business and resort hotels in the United States and two hotels in Australia. It also has nine international sales offices and employs 11,500 people. Two subsidiary products, restaurants and banquets, are marketed heavily to local residents.The company claims distinctive facilities and environments, highly personalized services, and exceptional food and beverages. â€Å"Gold Standards† Quality planning begins with President and Chief Operating Officer Horst Schulze and the other 13 senior executives who make up the corporate steering committee. This group, which doubles as the senior quality management team, meets weekly to review the quality of products and services, guest satisfaction, market growth and development, organizational indicators, profits, and competitive status.Each year, executives devote about one-fourth of their time to quality-related matters. The company's business plan demonstrates the value it places on goals for quality products and services. Quality goals draw heavily on consumer requirements derived from extensive research by the travel industry and the company's customer reaction data, focus groups, and surveys. The plan relies upon a management system designed to avoid the variability of service delivery traditionally associated with hotels.Uniform processes are well defined and documented at all levels of the company. Key product and service requirements of the travel consumer have been translated into Ritz-Carlton Gold Standards, which include a credo, motto, three steps of service, and 20 â€Å"Ritz-Carlton Basics. † Each employee is expected to understand and adhere to these standards, which de scribe processes for solving problems guests may have as well as detailed grooming, housekeeping, and safety and efficiency standards.Company studies prove that this emphasis is on the mark, paying dividends to customers and, ultimately, to Ritz-Carlton. The corporate motto is â€Å"ladies and gentlemen serving ladies and gentlemen. † To provide superior service, Ritz-Carlton trains employees with a thorough orientation, followed by on-the-job training, then job certification. Ritz-Carlton values are reinforced continuously by daily â€Å"line ups,† frequent recognition for extraordinary achievement, and a performance appraisal based on expectations explained during the orientation, training, and certification processes.To ensure problems are resolved quickly, workers are required to act at first notice — regardless of the type of problem or customer complaint. All employees are empowered to do whatever it takes to provide â€Å"instant pacification. † No matter what their normal duties are, other employees must assist if aid is requested by a fellow worker who is responding to a guest's complaint or wish. Much of the responsibility for ensuring high-quality guest services and accommodations rests with employees.Surveyed annually to ascertain their levels of satisfaction and understanding of quality standards, workers are keenly aware that excellence in guest services is a top hotel and personal priority. A full 96 percent of all employees surveyed in 1991 singled out this priority — even though the company had added 3,000 new employees in the previous 3 years. Detailed Planning At each level of the company — from corporate leaders to managers and employees in individual work areas — teams are charged with setting objectives and devising action plans, which are reviewed by the corporate steering committee.In addition, each hotel has a â€Å"quality leader,† who serves as a resource and advocate as teams a nd workers develop and implement their quality plans. Teams and other mechanisms cultivate employee commitment. For example, each work area is covered by three teams responsible for setting quality-certification standards for each position, problem solving, and strategic planning. The benefits of detailed planning and the hands-on involvement of executives are evident during the 7 days leading up to the opening of a new hotel.Rather than opening a hotel in phases, as is the practice in the industry, Ritz-Carlton aims to have everything right when the door opens to the first customer. A â€Å"7-day countdown control plan† synchronizes all steps leading to the opening. The company president and other senior leaders personally instruct new employees on the â€Å"Gold Standards† and quality management during a 2-day orientation, and a specially selected start-up team composed of staff from other hotels around the country ensures all work areas, processes, and equipment are ready.Quality Data Daily quality production reports, derived from data submitted from each of the 720 work areas in the hotel system, serve as an early warning system for identifying problems that can impede progress toward meeting quality and customer-satisfaction goals. Coupled with quarterly summaries of guest and meeting planner reactions. the combined data are compared with predetermined customer expectations to improve services.Among the data gathered and tracked over time are guest room preventive maintenance cycles per year, percentage of check-ins with no queuing, time spent to achieve industry-best clean room appearance, and time to service an occupied guest room. From automated building and safety systems to computerized reservation systems, Ritz-Carlton uses advanced technology to full advantage. For example, each employee is trained to note guest likes and dislikes. These data are entered in a computerized guest history profile that provides information on the preferen ces of 240,000 repeat Ritz-Carlton guests, resulting in more personalized service.The aim of these and other customer-focused measures is not simply to meet the expectations of guests but to provide them with a â€Å"memorable visit. † According to surveys conducted for Ritz-Carlton by an independent research firm, 92 to 97 percent of the company's guests leave with that impression. Evidence of the effectiveness of the company's efforts also includes the 121 quality-related awards received in 1991 and industry-best rankings by all three major hotel-rating organizations.

HR Management Transformation Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

HR Management Transformation - Research Paper Example This can be explained with the help of an example. Business leaders would want to maximize their profits. The HR leaders may be honored if they are capable of explaining the business leaders of numerous ways to manage the people in the organization for maximizing their profitability. In order to develop a better organization, the leaders need to have lucidity in their thoughts as well as sense of directions. They need to have patience which seems to be the toughest stage. Since the HR managers needs to face the situations where negotiations are made, therefore, the HR leaders’ need to be self disciplined (Saha, n.d.) It can be mentioned that the history of the human resource management can be traced back to the 19th century during the existence of the welfare officers. It was the First World War that sped up alterations in the development of personal management where the women were recruited in order to fill up the gaps that were left by the men who were going to fight. It was during the Second World War, the concept of welfare and personnel work came into being. Further, during the 1960s and the 1970s the development of employment was evident. ... HR as a strategic partner can be understood as maintaining long-term relation with the organizational partners so that the common objectives can be achieved. The companies are capable of making the human resources as the strategic partner’s by delivering effective human resource services. The main reason behind the change of HR management from administrative and operational functions to the strategic partner is that there is constant change in the demands and trends of the organization triggering the need for new ways of thinking as well as operating. Such change necessitates the HR as well as the other professionals to alter their ways of looking at things. In order to add value to the organization, it becomes essential for the human resource professionals to play new roles and thus show broader competencies with the change in time. Furthermore, the companies require new model so that they can assist the decision makers at making sound decisions related to the human resource policies. The companies are capable of enhancing their competitive advantage by aligning the HR strategies to their business plan (Dye, n.d.). Ford Motor Company has changed it view from tough managerialism that can be described as a management philosophy based upon the rigid pursuit of tight control over its employees, to a strategy where the employees are encouraged to participate and involve themselves in the strategy building process. According to the views of the HR Director of Ford Motor Company, Mr. Patrick David, for the restructuring organizations the job of the human resource department comprises one of the challenging tasks. Since many years, human

Historical film is more informed by the time and context within which Essay

Historical film is more informed by the time and context within which it has been made than the historical time and context it p - Essay Example It is worth noting that several historical films carry a common ‘theme of history’ such as history as a ‘flow’ of events, or a series of cause and effect relationships over time. Some of the theme of history is very vital being that they take into account the history affecting and shaping our society today as well as people making a difference in the society. By looking at historical context it is vital to consider the period and place where the movie takes place as well as significance about the event or time period. Furthermore it is advisable to consider what happens in the world beyond the film since relating the historical context greatly help in understanding all the important events taking place in the movie (Monaco & Harpole 2003, p. 39-54). Bataan Movie Bataan is a 1943 war film directed by Tay Garnet about the defense of the Bataan Peninsula at the start of World War II where Dane and a group of American and Philippine soldiers are caught up in the retreat from Manila toward Bataan. This movie involves the Japanese conquest of the Philippines in early 1942 where the U.S. forces conduct a fighting retreat after the army, civilians and a group of volunteers from different units blow up the bridge in order to delay Japanese rebuilding efforts as long as possible. After blowing the bridge, they wait for the expected enemy push to rebuild the bridge and dislocate the Americans but basic needs such as food, diseases and deficiencies of medicine greatly affect the soldiers’ even as they try to cope with the opposition. The soldiers were forced to move through the congested town as that was the only way they could escape from the Japanese soldiers who were really pressing forward as Dane and Jake Feingold tried to manage a defensive position (Bataan 1943, Film). After the commander orders soldiers to report to Captain Lassister, the town then suffered fierce attack from the air where civilians and soldiers were wedged in the o pen and executed. Soldiers were then ordered to hold a bridge until all refugees cross and later demolish the bridge as a way of stopping the Japanese soldiers and gathering their own in Bataan. The group of 13 men who were also equipped with enough equipment and supplies decided to position themselves on a cliff where they blew the bridge as they wait for Japanese but diseases and inadequate food and water would later demoralize them (Bataan 1943, Film). Japanese army managed to work at night on the bridge while the Americans were just reluctantly waiting; talking talk and eating but their peace is interrupted when a sniper catches Captain Lassiter in the open and shoots him dead. When Dane orders Barry Nelson to ascent a tree and echo on opponent undertaking, he sloppily displays himself thus making him to be shot dead by a sniper. The following day Dane and Todd go out alone launching grenades at the bridge to blow it up again but Dane is worried whether they will break from the tension and leave after most of their men die. However, Feingold serenely guarantees him they will definitely finish their obligation even as Philippine guide tries to break through the Japanese ranks to Bataan for help is seized, tortured and wounded

Investment Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Investment Law - Essay Example Unit trusts and OEICs share some common benefits such as diversification, simplicity, and income and growth potential (Jorion, 2005). However, OEICs outweigh unit trusts in terms of benefits that they offer. The key area of distinction is the pricing structure of an OEIC which is more straightforward and transparent. Moreover, OEIC has a more flexible structure in that it can entail a variety of sub-funds that offer different investment objectives. Adding new sub-funds and creating share classes is not only easy in the case of an OEIC but also inexpensive (Jorion, 2005). The paper also discusses the legal structures of both the investment vehicles and concludes that unit trusts are legally more complex than OEICs. However, the tax treatment for both investments is similar. A unit trust is a fund of stock market investments divided into equal portions called units. Unit trusts are open-ended collective investments. A unit trust is open-ended because the number of units in each trust is determined according to supply and demand factors. A unit trust is collective because it pools money from many different investors which is then looked after by a professional investment manager. Unit trust funds allow units to be created when people invest and units to be cancelled when individual investors cash in their investment. The price of the unit trust reflects the value of investments in the fund, called the net asset value, plus charges calculated within the spread. Each day the total assets of the fund are valued. The total value is divided by the number of units that are issued and the unit price is set for that day. However, the administration and charges are deducted before determining the value of the investment (www.chartwell-investment.co.uk). Unit trusts are available in different dimensions such as those that concentrate across a geographical area, a specialized sector of industry, or a specific type of stock. For example, an investor can choose a fund specializing in UK companies, or one that concentrates its investments in the Far East. Unit trusts are authorized and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA). Benefits Diversification - Investment in a unit trust can limit risk by spreading your investment and pooling your money with other investors to achieve a much wider investment spread. This means that you do not have all your eggs in one basket rather your investment will be diversified across a range of investment asset classes. Simplicity - Investment in a unit trust is considered simple as compared to the alternative of investing directly in a diverse selection of shares and bonds which would demand quite a lot of research otherwise. Income and Growth Potential - Designed as a medium to long term investment vehicle, unit trusts can cater to the needs of investors with varying objectives, namely, income and growth. Unit trusts are popular investment vehicles for both capital growth as well as income, however, it must be noted that these investments are subject to risk in the short-term and, therefore, are recommended for medium to long-term investment horizon. Professional Fund Management - Unit trusts are handled by professional fund managers who ensure that the fund is appropriately allocated to asset classes as per the objectives of the investors. Pricing Structure Unit trusts have a "bid/offer spread", that is the buying

Tech Organizational Development and Management of Samsung Research Paper

Tech Organizational Development and Management of Samsung - Research Paper Example The researcher states that the corporate culture of Samsung is one that is creative given the fast developing world of technology. The electronics industry is a rapidly developing industry and within this industry, new products are constantly making older products obsolete. For example, the 12.1-megapixel camera replaces that 14.2-megapixel camera in just a few months, Since Samsung belongs to the category of electronics, it needs an organizational culture that quickly adapts to change. Therefore in order to keep up with the changing external environment, Samsung Electronics has developed a flexible organizational culture where employees have the power to choose their own workplace. Employees are required to positively contribute to the organization and it does not matter where they operate or when they operate. It is on account of this culture that Samsung Electronics is considered to the leading company within the electronics industry. It has been able to launch innovative products such as ‘eyeCan’ in 2012 for disabled people. The company has also been able to successfully implement its Greenhouse Gas (GHG) program that has made its product more environmentally sustainable. There are different approaches to identify the culture within an organization. One of the most widely used cultural analytical tools is the OCAI. The OCAI assesses the culture of the organization through six dimensions namely, the dominant characters in the organization; the leadership approach within the organization; the management of the employees; the organizational cohesiveness; clear vision and reward program. The OCAI here would be used to analyze the culture of Samsung Electronics. The dominant characteristic of the organization is constant innovation. The company takes challenges very seriously and always comes up with innovative products that put the competition on the edge.

Project management Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4500 words

Project management - Assignment Example Organisational Structure Project Team Structure The project is to be managed by a single project manager, reporting in to the Operations Director. The organisational structure chosen depends to a large extent on any methodology used and whether the organisation has any existing project management structures that are appropriate. For the purposes of this paper, it is assumed that there are no existing structures and the organisation does not have a preferred project management methodology. Projects are usually organised in one of three ways, according to Clements and Gido (2006 p.390): functional, project and matrix. The functional structure is typically used in organisations producing standard products and projects tend to be managed in-house, if they ever occur. The project-type organisation assumes that the project is a complete entity in its own right, with its own manager, team and resources. The projects are large, complex and expensive, taking years rather than weeks or days. T here may be several projects running at once, but they are independent of each other. The matrix structure is similar to the project-type structure, in that multiple projects run at the same time. However, the projects can vary in size and scope from a few months to several years, and the resources need to be co-ordinated across them all. It is similar to the functional structure in that functional expertise is retained. There is a functional manager as well as a project manager involved in organising the project and co-ordinating the resources. This classification of structures is mirrored in the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) (Project Management Institute (PMI) 2004 p.28). Based on this brief description, the project-type structure would appear to be suitable. But before a final decision is reached, other possibilities should be assessed. If the PRINCE2 (Office of Government Commerce (OGC) 2009) methodology was to be used, a different organisational structure would b e recommended. This would comprise a Project Board, with three members (Senior User, Senior Supplier and Project Executive), to whom the project manager would report. The project could be a separate organisation, like the project-type structure above, or it could take place within another organisation, similar to the functional structure, depending upon the circumstances and the decisions of those involved (ibid, pp.31-43). The three roles on the Project Board represent the interests of the user, the supplier and the business (the Project Executive). The Project Executive is the ultimate authority of the project and may report into a Programme Board if the project is one of a number focused on achieving a particular set of outcomes. The Senior User represents the ultimate users of the project’s outputs who will take those outputs into business-as-usual operation. The Senior Supplier represents those who will provide the resources that create the project’s outputs. PRIN CE2 can be used for any size of project as it is considered a generic approach to project management, focusing solely on the management aspects of project management, rather than any specialist contributions (ibid, p.4). So arguably it could be used in this situation as well. This approach to project management organisation is also used by the Association for Project Management (APM), where the Project Board is referred to as the

TWELFTH NIGHT Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

TWELFTH NIGHT - Assignment Example Twelfth Night highlights numerous love triangles and the intricacies of emotions as the characters struggle to find and experience love. As a result, most of the characters are tightly tangled in love webs, which blind their eyes from experiencing the reality of their feelings towards others, resulting into falsified love emotions. In a number of cases, Shakespeare portrayed the characters to be in deceit about themselves or others around them, making the love emotions untrue. All the same, there existed strong love emotions that were true. In such cases, two characters were strongly bound to one another by strong emotions and feelings that gave real meaning to romantic love. One case of true love involved Viola’s love for Orsino. Viola was unknown in Illyria and in fact pretended to be a man fighting to win the Duke’s love. Moreover, in the fourth scene, Viola again illustrated her true feelings for Cesario. â€Å"†¦..Whoever I woo, myself would be his wife (1)â €  as Viola finally revealed her identity, the audience was invited to reflect on the good friendship that existed between Viola and Orsino and the romantic switch where Viola finally becomes Orsino’s wife. Importantly, Shakespeare utilized this scenario to illustrate the possibility of defying traditions and norms in the society to achieve one’s goals. Viola had indeed pretended to be a man and pursued Orsino with determination, a case of defying traditions as would have been expected. At the end, Viola attained her sweet end of the romantic love intrigues by becoming Orsino’s wife. Similarly, a different love scenario involving Viola illustrated a case of true love and romance, though the case was not successful. Though interesting to have a woman fall for another woman dressed as a man in the case of Olivia and Viola, Viola’s romantic tricks attracted Olivia,

Determining Databases and Data Communications Essay Example for Free

Determining Databases and Data Communications Essay In this paper the writer will seek to respond to the questions designated for both scenarios. This paper will list typical fields for each type of data. Provide an example of two relationships that you need to track. This paper will also answer the questions of: Do you need a database system? If not, can Excel ® handle the data and the output? What are the advantages and disadvantages? Would you use a personal database or an enterprise database? Explain your answer. Would a decision support system (DSS) be helpful? Explain your answer. When directing companies who work diligently with computer technology, it becomes increasingly imperative to have an adequate knowledge of the technology that is obtainable. This will allow those who have to manage information to make the most effective choice concerning what technology should be used for the company. In the two scenarios, making the best choices in technology allows the manager to best confer time and energy with superficially formidable responsibilities. For instance, in the first scenario, an marketing assistant of a consumer electronics company is asked to not only maintain the booths for various trade shows from beginning to end, but is also asked to ensure that there any issues that arise during the delivery of the products are resolved. First, it is important to realize what information should be maintained in order to best ensure that the tools that are used during the trade shows. In cas es like these, it would be important to have a list that details what displays, equipment and booths are needed for specific trade shows, as well as when the displays, equipment, and booths should be shipped to the area and back. For example, if a trade show located in Tulsa, OK only needed one booth with one display in order to accommodate the space, it would be the job of the marketing assistant to ensure that the various parts made it to Tulsa, as well as ensure that the booth and display made it back to the office for future use; it would be necessary to know when it would be sent, as well as when it will be delivered back (which could be maintained with the knowledge of the delivering postal tracking number). In order to keep track of what is necessary for each trade show, there are several technological tools that would be instrumental in maintaining the information that will be transmitted. While one could use an Excel to begin the process of tracking the information that is needed, it would not be the best method of collecting that type of information, and it could be overwhelming over time. A database, on the other hand, could handle the information that is contained, and would allow the marketing assistant to create reports later on that can be used to analyze what changes could be made in the future whether it is making earlier shipments in order to ensure that it reaches an area on time, etc. (Middleton, 2009). Since there would only be one person keeping track of the information, it would not be necessary to create an enterprise database, which would have the capabilities of being made available to other departments within the company (Web Definition, 2012). This would allow one person to maintain the pertinent information that other departments may need without having too many people managing information, which could lead to confusion regarding where equipment is or what is needed for certain trade shows. Also, in order to maintain the large amount of information that would come from managing various trade shows, it would be necessary for the marketing assistant to have a decision support system, which is a â€Å"computer system that is designed to provide assistance in determining and evaluating alternative courses of action† by â€Å"acquiring data from the mass of transactions of a firm,† by â€Å"analyzing it with advanced statistical techniques to extract meaningful information,† and by â€Å"narrowing down the range of choices by applying rules based on decision theory (Web Definition, 2012).† This will allow the marketing assistant to gain better knowledge of what could be improved upon for future trade shows. In the second scenario, technology has to be used in order to manage a consulting team of seven, some of whom work in an office and others who work from home. In this case, ensuring that there is equ al accessibility to each employee is paramount to maintaining the business. A wide area network, or WAN, would help to accommodate the needs of employees who are working in the office as well as those who work from home. The WAN would create several LAN connections that would allow workers to the same access to important information regardless of where they are (John, 2009). Also, for projects that more than likely will be time-sensitive, employees within the consulting team will have access to the printers and other equipment’s that is a part of the network, so that tasks are completed in a timely manner (John, 2009). While there are certain security risks with using WAN that includes the potential infiltration from people other than employees and the possible placement of viruses that would threaten the maintenance of information that is stored, the use of anti-virus programs and other programs would help to protect the computers and information that they have, and the benefit far outweigh the potential risks. Also, a wireless access would better assist the team in completing tasks in different areas. Like WAN, wireless access would assist employees in gaining pertinent access to the information may normally be stored in in the office. For a consulting team who works in different areas, privacy and computer protection become a relevant problem that can be addressed with creating a virtual private network, or VPN. A VPN would ensure that the information that is held at the office for the team remains on a network that would only be accessible by the team, and it would prevent others who are not a part of the team from placing viruses on the computers or accessing the information, which could greatly hinder the completion of tasks and the accessibility of information. When considering what wireless networks should be used, cost as well as features must be considered. Excel documents often help to organize this information in order to assist leaders in making decisions regarding the best wireless network to purchase. For instance, if a wireless network is priced low but does not offe r the speeds or other features necessary to operate for a company, the network would not be good to expend money on. However, it could be equally dangerous to expend a lot of money on a wireless network that has a lot of features that may or may not be used. As a result, this requires that a company list the various features that would be necessary for the functioning of the company. The company can then review the list of features that are included for wireless networks that they are considering, listing the price of each network. This allows them to find the wireless network that best meets their companys needs without paying a lot of money for it. In conclusion, having a working understanding of the technology that is available to a company can help managers make wise and efficient choices regarding what tools should be used. In the first scenario, using databases in comparison to excel documents allows the marketing assistant to properly track equipment that is used on a daily b asis, as well as track where it is being shipped to. In the second scenario, using WAN or wireless networks allow a team to maintain access to pertinent information that could help employee’s complete tasks in a timely manner regardless of their location. In these ways, technology assists companies in maintaining their business. References: Decision Support System. (2012). â€Å"Decision support system.† Retrieved from: http://www.decisionsupportsystem.info/ Middleton H. (2009). â€Å"Maintaining a relational vs. flat file marketing database.† Retrieved from: http://www.dbmarketing.com/articles/Art223.htm Charlene N. (2010). â€Å"Benefits of developing maintaining a database.† Retrieved from: http://www.reviveprojects.com.au/blogs//2010/10/06/benefits-of-developingmaintaining-a-customer-database- Web Definition. (2012). â€Å"Enterprise data.† Retrieved from: www.dataclaritycorp.com/cognos-glossary.html

Reflective Essay: Growing Up in Poverty

Reflective Essay: Growing Up in Poverty We make a living by what we get but we make a life by what we give (Sir Winston Churchill). When I heard this quote for the first time, it was from one of my high school teachers. Growing up in the Mission District of San Francisco I was surrounded by poverty and violence on a daily basis. In fact one of my earliest memories as a child was playing outside of my house and hearing gunfire, then seeing the gunmen running across the street from me with their guns still clutched in their hands. I understood from a young age that my next door neighbors who stood outside all day were drug dealers, as were the people across the street that stood outside the liquor store. As I learned to become accustomed with my environment, I remember thinking that this is simply the way of life and that it was my place to grow up to live life exactly the same. As quick as I was to understand this, I was still a bit unsettled. The question remained, why? I understood the violence, the drugs, the gangs, but I also saw an underlying constant. Apart from the all the conflict, I saw a community. I knew best friends from elementary school who became enemies in high school only because they were from different blocks of the neighborhood, and I did not understand that. I understood the effect but not the cause. I always used to get into trouble as a kid, but when I entered High School my life began to spiral out of control. I started to live my life, not necessarily trying to be like the older kid from the neighborhood, but just acting on everything that I learned throughout my life growing up in the Mission. At the age of thirteen I was coming home at four in the morning, if at all. I was hanging out on the corners. The list of things I did goes on and on. No matter how much my parents, or anybody, tried to discipline me; I just couldnt check my behavior. It was as if I were on auto destruct. One day during my sophomore year in high school my History teacher, Mr. Roth, pulled me aside and asked me to meet with him after class. At first I remember thinking that I was in trouble and that this was some kind of teacher conference to tell me that I was going to fail, which I already knew I would. I couldnt be more wrong. So I suppose you want an explanation for why Im not taking school seriously, I said. He responded with, Actually Cristian, Im more interested in just hearing what you have to say about anything. For the first time ever, I actually heard the voice of true concern come from a teacher. I mean, Ive met with teachers and counselors who tried to get me to start coming to school and start performing in class, but this was different. When I was done talking he had answers for questions that I didnt even ask. He understood the way things happen, but he also questioned why. Apparently Mr. Roth somehow saw that I questioned why as well because there were many other stude nts in the class who were also failing, but he felt it necessary to single me out. After that I never once missed any of his classes. I began meeting with Mr. Roth once a week; during that time he opened up my eyes to the world greater than what I was exposed to. During one of our weekly meetings, he quoted Winston Churchill, We make a living by what we get but we make a life with what we give. From that moment forward my life was changed. I now understood that it didnt matter where I grew up; I have the ability to choose to create my own life. I was always able to see the good through the bad, but up until this point I never knew why. It was because I chose to see the good. One day, while my cousin and I were standing outside my house, a Fire Truck came roaring by with its sirens blaring. We decided to hop on our bikes and follow them to where they were headed. When we got to the scene, I was amazed. I never really watched firefighters in action before. It was as if they were protectors of the community. I had always been taught to look down upon law enforcement, but Firefighters are apart from the law, they cannot judge, and they do not care who you are. They do not care if you are a drug dealer, a gang member, or simply a kid in the wrong place at the wrong time; they are there to selflessly save your life. Firefighters see that underlying constant in people, as a community, just as I do. I felt empowered. Soon after, I began doing little things like tutoring and mentoring. Mainly I was organizing after school baseball games in empty lots around the neighborhood. It didnt matter that these empty lots we were playing on were made of concrete or gravel, kids were coming out to play. When we first started it was just three of us, but soon after, we were drawing enough kids to have two full teams. Even some of the older kids and a couple of adults joined up. Unfortunately we were eventually run out of all the spaces we had to play. Lots were either developed into condos, or we were simply locked out. This was all years ago. Although my makeshift baseball program failed, I look back and I am proud of what was accomplished, even for that short period of time. Now that I am older, I want to help the community on a different level. I am not sure yet of how I can, but I am sure of the route I will take. One day I plan on moving back to my city, my hood. When I return I will be supplemented with a college education, and a well respected job. I want to get back to creating things that bring people together, and I want to join neighborhood leaders in giving a voice to the community. Who knows, maybe I can even convince city officials to start a legit baseball program.

Pain and pain management in the dying patient

Pain and pain management in the dying patient For many years there has been a question as to whether or not providing pain medication to a dying patient is ethical or not. This subject practices on what is considered morally ethical as well as medically ethical. Allowing a person to sit in pain at the end of life, hits as both medically and morally unethical. Especially, when health care professionals can manage and control the pain. There are many medical ethics principles as well as the directives that apply from the Catholic religion side of it. Some of the principles that will be discussed are the principle of double effect, informed consent, veracity, beneficence, non-malfeasance, extraordinary versus ordinary means, and proportionate and disproportionate means. This paper is going to discuss the ethical implications regarding the barriers that are encountered when administering pain medications to patients that are in the last part of the dying phase. It is my position that patients that are dying should receive pain medication as desired and expressed by the patient. The pain medications should be administered and titrated accordingly to maintain the appropriate therapeutic level to allow the patient to maintain his or her dignity. There are several barriers that arise when providing pain relief in the dying patient. The barriers include failure of clinicians to identify pain relief as a priority in patient care, insufficient knowledge among clinicians about the assessment and management of pain, fear of regulatory scrutiny of prescribing practices for opioid analgesics, failure of the healthcare system to hold clinicians accountable for pain relief, the persistence of irrational beliefs and unsubstantiated fears about addiction, tolerance, dependence, and adverse effects of opioids, and the resistance of patients and/or their family members to the use of opioid analgesics in the management of pain (Rich, 2000). The most common barrier is under treatment due to fear of hastening death. Assessing pain and the administration of pain medication in the dying client is very important. This nursing assessment is vital through all aspects of life but is also very important in the end of life to try and maintain as much of a persons autonomy and dignity as possible. AS in life people who are dying must also be able to have and make choices surrounding the way in which they choose to spend that last portion of their life. Before getting down to the ethical concerns of pain and pain management, it is important to define what pain is and how it is assessed. Pain and suffering is often linked together and some even use it interchangeably. However, there is a difference between the two. Pain is considered a negative and unpleasant sensory felt by the person that is inhibitory to the comfort of the person, it is considered to be mainly physical in nature (Kelly, 2004). Suffering is considered to be roughly the same as pain but the effects are more geared towards a persons spirituality and mentality (Kelly, 2004). The way in which people experience pain and suffering is different from person to person. Pain is a subjective experience and is to be assessed on an individual basis. There are many ways in which pain can be assessed. There are many different scales that are used to assess pain and each scale has different characteristics that allow health team members to be able to assess every type of person for which they care for. Some of the most common scales used are the descriptive scales in which you circle the word that best describes you ranging from none to excruciating, the numerical scale which is the most common scale used allows a person to say or circle a number that reflects the amount of pain they are in ranging from 0 being no pain to 10 being the worst pain they have ever felt. There is a also a visual analog scale that allows a person to mark a place on a line or pick out a face on a faces scale ranging from no distress/pain to worst pain ever. The last scale mentioned is one of the least used and it is the functional interference scale which allows a person to circle a word that best describes the persons degree of impairment ranging from n one to incapacitated. In addition to these subjective scales there has been evidence that has helped with the ability of healthcare professionals to be able to approach pain from an objective point of view. This approach has been divided up into four different categories: sympathetic discharge signs, positional relief signs, sensory avoidance signs, and common pain distraction signs. Some of the sympathetic signs associated with pain are tachycardia, high blood pressure, dilated pupils and vasoconstriction (Leavitt and Tennant, 2008). There are several more approaches but this is just a few that are used in healthcare. Positional relief signs include; walking imbalanced, leaning while sitting or standing, lying on the floor, and differences in temperature between sides of the body (Leavitt and Tennant, 2008). Sensory avoidance signs include; speaking slowly, delays answering questions, avoids noise, shallow breathing, and wont brush teeth (Leavitt and Tennant, 2008). Some of the common pain distraction s igns include; grinding of teeth, clenching of feet and hands, bites lips, gouges or squeezing of skin (Leavitt and Tennant, 2008). The other aspect to consider is the type of pain medication being administered. When pertaining to the end of life the typical drug of choice are the ones that fall into the opioid family. These drugs are chosen for people that have pain that is moderate to severe in intensity and is unrelieved by non-opioid drugs. These drugs provide pain relief and can cause some adverse effects such as constipation, nausea and vomiting, respiratory depression, fatigue and sometimes light sedation is amongst the most common effects. The amount and type is determined on an individual basis and prolonged use can lead to dependence and the need for increased dosages due to an increased tolerance for the desired therapeutic effect. The way in which drugs are chosen is divided into 3 steps as developed by the World Health Organization. Step one is when the pain is assessed as mild to moderate and has had no previous treatment and so non-opioid drugs are used such as tylenol, ibuprofen, and toradol (Cla sen, Jonas and Whitecar, 2000). Step two is when the pain is measured at a moderate level and has been treated previously but has not responded to the treatments from step one, the medications used in step two are weak analgesics such as Tylenol with codeine, and tramadol (Clasen, Jonas and Whitecar, 2000). Step three is considered when the pain is described as severe pain or pain that does not respond to one and two. In this instance the patients should be treated with strong opioids such as morphine, dilaudid, and Demerol (Clasen, Jonas and Whitecar, 2000). Morphine is one of the most commonly used opioids because there is no therapeutic ceiling and extremely large doses can be used safely and effectively if the drug is titrated properly (Clasen, Jonas and Whitecar, 2000). Part of treating every person as an individual and respecting them as an individual is being sure to respect their autonomy. This principle applies here because to be able to treat a person that is in pain, they have to be assessed individually and be treated according to their individual needs. Every person feels pain differently and every person has a different threshold for pain. What is considered mildly painful to one person may be severe to excruciating to the next. As a health care member you have to be able to allow the patient to express what they are feeling and to allow them to be involved in the decisions regarding their pain management. The ability for them to be able to make decisions allows the people that are dying the ability to be able to have some form of control of how they live the last part of their lives. Allowing the dying person to make small decisions such as whether or not they receive pain medication allows the person to feel as though they still have a voice and a place within the world that they are about to leave. The fear usually involved with giving dying patients pain medication is hastening the death process. However, as the health care members the opinions that we may have about whether or not it does hasten death does not matter because the patient has the right to make his or her own decisions regarding their personal healthcare interventions. Due to the fact that pain is mostly a subjective matter healthcare members do not have the authority to decide whether or not a patient is in fact in pain or not. Withholding pain medication in the dying patient would be a violation against the patients human rights by allowing that person to die in pain. Allowing a person to die in pain does not allow the person to be able to concentrate on their spiritual needs, psychological needs, and family needs at the time of death. Violation of the ethical principle of autonomy is a violation of ones human rights. â€Å"There will be times when it easier to surrender to the determination, decisions, and goals of influential parties such as the primary physician† (Andrews, Constantino, and Zalon, 2008, Pg. 94). Furthermore the ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses requires that nurses practice â€Å"with compassion, and respect for the inherent dignity, worth, and uniqueness of every individual† (ANA, 2001). As nurses we are obligated to do everything within our power to relieve the persons pain when the person is requesting pain relief. It is also our responsibility to reassess the persons pain without prompt by the patient. Another responsibility that nurses own is providing accurate information to the patient regarding the medications ordered for pain, so as to allow the patient to make informed decisions about receiving the medications or not. The next principle is veracity, veracity is when a person tells another person the truth without any form of deception. In this case it would be the health care member speaking truthfully to the dying patient. Under this principle the nurse has the obligation to provide the patient with accurate information about his or her right to effective pain relief. The nurse also has the obligation to provide information about the pain medication being administered. The other thing to remember when this principle is applied is that nurses need to be aware that people that experience chronic pain exhibit behaviors that are vastly different than those who are experiencing acute pain. This becomes a very important principle because there have been instances in which the nurse will just bring in a medication and just tell the patient that the medication is for pain. Little does the patient know that the medication the nurse is administering is tylenol or ibuprofen. The patient trusts the nurse and assumes that their pain will be taken care of. Instead without directly having to lie to the patient, the patient is deceived. Granted the medication given is for pain but, the type of pain being referred to in the end of life is usually moderate to severe and the medications listed above are not made for intense pain. Violation of this principle is what leads patients to distrust the healthcare providers and the care that they are given. From this, patients start to feel they need second opinions and the continuity of care for the patient is then lacking. As we know to be able to properly control pain in our patients it has to be done with trust between the patient and healthcare members as well trust between the nurses and other members of the healthcare team. According to the ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses, the nurses primary responsibility is to the patient (ANA, 2001). So, if the patient is not given the proper information about the pain medications being used and it isnt being treated effectively the patient then loses part of their dignity and we as the healthcare members just robbed the patient of any value they might have felt like they had left. Before a person can make a decision about accepting or denying an intervention of any kind, that person has to be completely informed. This begins the discussion of the principle of informed consent. This principle is very important because it allows the person that is dying to be able to continue to make decisions about their lives all the way to death. When administering pain medication to a person that is dying it would be unethical to not inform that person of the affects that the pain medication may have on them. If medication was given to the patient and it either sedated them or it did hasten their death, their dignity and autonomy would have been taken away from them. That person would not have been able to decide whether or not they wanted to make preparations for the remainder of their life. The ability of a person that is approaching death to be able to maintain a sense of belonging and still feel as though they have authority over themselves allows for a sense of calm. The patient is able to make amends if wanted or needed. By informing them of the affects of the pain medications that person can feel comfortable about taking them and as that person is passing they wont be wondering â€Å"what if† when it is time for them to pass. Every person has the right to decide how they are going to die. The benefit of doing it pain free or as close to pain free as they can get is that it leaves the person in a state where they are more able to concentrate on important things. Such things include their spirituality, family, and even death preparations. â€Å"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,† this is a very important saying that we are taught and is reinforced throughout our entire lives. This word of advice rolls into the next principle I would like to talk about and it is beneficence. Beneficence requires that the duty is to help the patient by managing the pain effectively. This principle goes as far as to say that not only will the nurse not harm the patient but is obligated to take positive actions that will benefit the patient whenever applicable. It would be a violation of this principle if the nurse was to give the patient pain medication and did not follow up with the patient to see if the pain has been reduced or if the dosage of the medication needed to be titrated. Any nurse can give their dying patient pain medication but it takes follow through and communication with the patient to ensure that the pain is being managed. The act of giving the pain medication is the part that is considered not doing harm to the patient. The follow through and reassessment of pain as well as dosage of medication is what is considered taking positive actions to benefit the patient. The ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses states that nurses are responsible for their practice and are therefore required to provide a standard of care that takes an appropriate action to manage the pain in their patients (ANA, 2001). This can be stretched even further by stating that they are expected to take action when incompetence, unethical, illegal, and impaired practices are suspected. This goes back to the age old fundamental nursing practice of advocating for your patient. Nurses are to be the advocates as well as the educators for their patients. If a nurse is caring for a dying person that person may assume that after so much pain medication that they will not be able to experience relief and as said before it is then the nurses duty to educate that patient about the ability to switch drugs or to increase dosages in cases of increased tolerance. Non-Malfeasance has a lot to do with beneficence; you wont normally see one without the other. Non-malfeasance is just the simple task of doing no harm to your patient. In the dying patient the nurse has a duty to protect the patient from pain. Suffering plays a big role in this principle. As recalled from earlier in this paper suffering is more of the emotional and mental effects that pain has on the patient. The patient is most likely to suffer if they are not properly medicated for their constant pain. The suffering is what inhibits the patient from being able to enjoy and participate in the final moments of their lives. Allowing the patient to go under medicated and allow their mental capacity to reduce to a suffering state is a violation of the principle of non-malfeasance. This impacts their dignity by not allowing them to eat, dress themselves, helping with a transfer, or walking around if they are permitted to do so. This could result in the patients last and even most precious moments of their lives to be reduced to a non-significant and traumatic experience. By withholding or under treating someone for pain it is indirectly causing harm to the patient. Another way to look at it would be that under prescribing the pain medication is the same thing as inflicting pain on the person. Looking at it from this point has made it so that I look at my own practices and every time that I think about the times that I didnt ask patients if they were in pain I was consequently inflicting pain and suffering thereby doing harm which is a direct violation of the principle of non-malfeasance. The competence of the nurse plays a large role within this principle. To properly be able to prevent doing harm to the patient the nurse must be aware and competent regarding pain and the medications or techniques that are used to manage the pain. â€Å"Further, competence in pain management entails demonstrating a basic knowledge of the nature and action of the drug, proper dosages, the length of coverage, the time it takes for the drug to take effect, the variety of routes of administration, the recognition of drug tolerance, and dealing with problems with break-through pain† (Silverman, Croker, 2001, Pg. 185). When talking about the care of dying patients, it cannot be forgotten that even though the client that is dying needs care, usually that patient is not the only person that the nurse is caring for. Time is one of the worst barriers for most nurses and although everyone that is in the hospital and needs care deserves the undivided attention of the nurse, this is just not reality. According to the principle of justice every patient has the right to be given their â€Å"dues.† This doesnt mean just fairness; it is giving something to a person to which they are entitled. Every dying person is entitled to being as pain free as possible by the healthcare members, especially when it comes to providing pain medication. This can become an issue for nurses caring for these patients because there are not enough nurses to be able to adequately staff to be able to provide the closer one on one care that may be needed. This becomes a dilemma because the nurses then have to then make decisions that result in less care being provided to one or all of the other patients. Under treating for pain in the dying patient is a violation of the principle of justice because everyone is entitled to a pain free death. The technology and advancements are available to make this happen and again this allows the patient to be able to address other needs at the time of death other than concentrating on how much pain they might be in. A good way to help in this type of situation would be a PCA pump, which allows the patient to manage their pain, but also allows the nurse to concentrate more on the other needs of the patient. Allowing the patient the extra time and energy to spend with their families or to spend relaxing is a right that all people have and should be upheld to the very last breathe that the person takes. Although administering pain medication to dying patients that are in pain produces a good effect by relieving the patients pain, it can also produce a negative affect that was unintended such as hastening death. The principle that this relates to is the principle of double effect. The true definition of this principle is that the â€Å"action that is good in itself that has two effects, an intended and otherwise not reasonably attainable good effect, and an unintended yet unforeseen evil effect† (NCBC, 2006). This principle has to be considered when there is a question or a discrepancy between doing good (beneficence) and doing no harm (non-malfeasance). The problem with this principle is that most healthcare professionals believe in it and therefore giving higher dosages of pain medication does in fact hasten death. Studies have been performed and revealed that although 89% of physicians and nurses agreed that sometimes it is appropriate to give pain medication to relieve suffering, even if it may hasten a patients death (Fohr, 2005). Out of the 89%, 41% agreed that clinicians give inadequate pain medication most often out of fear of hastening a patients death (Fohr, 2005). â€Å"Fohr has found that there is little research to support the notion that increasing the dose of opioid analgesics for terminally ill patients hastens their death† (Fohr, 2005). The belief in this principle has in fact allowed and caused unnecessary suffering in the dying patients. There are also state by state statutes that have been developed to protect health care members in instances such as this. The Indiana statute states as follows: â€Å"This statute provides that a licensed health care provider who administers, prescribes, or dispenses medications or procedures to relieve a persons pain or discomfort, even if the medication or procedure may hasten or increase the risk of death, unless such medications or procedures are intended to cause death is not liable for assisting suicide† (Sexton, 2000). There are four criteria that pertain to the double effect principle and the action has to meet these criterions to make the action morally ethical. The first criteria is that the action has to be good and that the action can be acceptable by Gods standards and must be considered good to the other person as well as yourself (NCBC, 2006). The second criterion that has to be accomplished is that the act that is to be good cannot come from or be the effect of a bad act (NCBC, 2006). So, the act of providing pain relief cannot be as a result of hastening the patients death. Hastening the patients death is in fact the unforeseen effect of the good action provide pain relief. The third criterion states that there is an equal or greater proportion that exists between the good effect of the action and the bad effect of the action (NCBC, 2006). The last criterion suggests that the person the action was used upon has to be moved more towards the good effect of the act of giving the pain medicat ion in the dying person. The untoward effect has to be just tolerated and prevented as much as possible by the healthcare members. To administer the medication to a dying patient in severe pain would be acting morally ethical according to the principle of double effect. The action which would be administering the drug is considered to be a good action because it is relieving a persons pain and suffering. The intention of using the pain medication and administering it was to just relieve the pain of that person; the intention was not to harm or hasten death. Giving the medication to the patient achieves pain relief so that relief was brought about by mean of the good act not the bad effect of early death. Lastly the pain felt by most people that are dying is so severe that treating it is completely justifiable although a side effect could in fact produce an early death. If any of these criteria is violated then it can be considered as euthanasia or physician assisted suicide. Another question to be asked in this scenario is whether or not the action of giving pain medication is proportionate to the condition. In this case the condition is the severe amount of pain that the patient is feeling. There are two principles that are brought up here and they are the principle of proportionate and disproportionate means and the principle of ordinary and extraordinary means. These two principles are usually together and one is not usually applied without the other. These two principles are very important when making end of life decisions because they are about what is considered ethically acceptable when making end of life decisions and which ones are not according to Catholic ethics. These two principles generally refer to life sustaining actions by the health care staff but it can be expanded into what is considered proportionate or disproportionate interventions when caring for a patient that is dying and is in severe pain. In a situation in which a person is dying and is in severe pain, providing them with pain medication would not be considered disproportionate or extraordinary. Giving a person pain medication is not considered making a decision of whether or not that person should undergo or forgo a type of treatment. It is not making the decision of whether or not to sustain life. Providing the person in pain who is also dying is providing that person with a better quality of life for their end of life. The fact is, is that there has not been enough evidence to prove that administration of pain medication does promote an earlier death. It cannot be concluded that the giving of the persons medication and maintaining a persons pain by increasing the medication if needed does hasten death. There is no good or easy answer when tragedies occur. But to try and understand, we must step back and look at the big picture. God made everything perfect. When man sinned, that perfection was spoiled and our entire environment was tainted. The fact is we live in a world where evil abounds. It is rampant throughout every aspect of creation. We are subject to the actions of the people around us. God can and does intervene in some events, but why not others? Only he knows that answer, but the Bible teaches that there will be a time when he will end this world as we know it. In heaven, there will be no more death, sadness, pain, sickness, or suffering of any kind. One reason many of us suffer is because we do things that cause us pain. We dont eat right, so we have heart attacks. We drive carelessly or fast, so we have accidents. We smoke, so we get lung cancer. What about innocent children who are not responsible for their suffering? Why do they get sick? Maybe its because we do not live in a perfect world. God intended for us to have perfect bodies, perfect health, and freedom from pain and suffering. The world He created was originally perfect, just as he had planned it. But evil destroyed our perfect world. When sin entered the picture, it brought with it death, pain, and suffering. Dont misunderstand me, people do not suffer because of their own personal sins, necessarily; but because the world is changed because of sin being in the world. Jesus said, In this world, you will have tribulation. Just as in the case with Job, I believe that evil forces attack us and cause much suffering in an attempt to get people to blame God and turn away f rom Him. In order for God to preserve our rights as individuals (to choose for ourselves), he had to allow us the freedom to sin. He also had to allow the consequences of our behaviors. That means that he does not normally interfere with things which happen naturally in this world, such as sickness and disease caused by toxins in the environment, accidents as a result of risky behaviors, and natural disasters. God does not cause these natural consequences, but he does allow them. However, many times, he does intervene miraculously or work even in the worst of situations to bring about something good from them. Why would God allow anyone to suffer? Maybe so that people can increase their faith in him, increases their compassion for others, or be better able to encourage and help other hurting people (2 Corinthians 1:3-5). When reading through the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services, there is one important directive that particularly applies to this situation. Directive number 61 states that all patients should be kept as free from pain as possible. This again goes to say that people that are dying need to be able to die with their dignity intact. It also states that a dying person should not be denied pain medication even if the indirect action of shortening their life occurs. There is one stipulation that applies to this directive. If the medications being used cause sedation of any kind, the health care member has an obligation of informing the patient of the effect. â€Å"The dying person has the right to be able to prepare for their death while being completely conscious† (USCCB, 2005). If for any reason that person is not able to be conscious there has to be a legitimate medical reason behind the decision. Under treating has become a large ethical dilemma in the healthcare world. More often than not there are people that are living and dying in pain. The problem with this is that with the readily available drugs that are out there to treat this problem, they are not being utilized (Miller, 2009). One of the biggest problems that arises is the lack of education amongst the health care professionals. The insufficient knowledge base surrounding the different pain medications and the research surrounding the effects on death has not been incorporated into the plan of care. As stated above the principle of double effect creates a problem for the health care professionals. The belief in this principle prevents them from properly treating the patient who is dying and has a severe amount of pain. The dignity of the patient has to remain as the top priority when approaching death. Part of maintaining a persons dignity is allowing the patient to make the informed decision of receiving pain medication. Every person has the right to a peaceful and painless death. It is essential that patients are given the proper types of medication needed for the type of pain they might be experiencing. The type of pain most commonly referred to at the end of life is moderate to severe pain. This requires due diligence on all health care professionals side of it. If the medication that is prescribed is no longer providing effective pain relief then the drug needs to be titrated accordingly. If the medication being used is at its highest dosage amount, then the drug needs to be changed. If this is the case then the patient needs to be informed of the change and educated on the new drug. This again allows the patient to be able to make decisions in their care, and allows them the sense of belonging that is still needed at the time of death. When the pain is not being managed in a person that is dying it is taking away their ability to be able to have the calm, spiritual, and family and friend oriented passing that is usually needed amongst the dying. By administering pain medication the patient is then able to concentrate on more important aspects of their life. Health care professionals have the ability to be able to control pain and suffering. To allow someone to die in pain or suffer would be not only medically immoral but it woul

Tragic Comedy of Tennessee Williams A Streetcar Named Desire Essay exa

A Streetcar Named Desire as Tragic Comedy      Ã‚   Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire is considered by many critics to be a â€Å"flawed† masterpiece. This is because William’s work utilizes and wonderfully blends both tragic and comic elements that serve to shroud the true nature of the hero and heroine, thereby not allowing the reader to judge them on solid actuality. Hence, Williams has been compared to writers such as Shakespeare who, in literature, have created a sense of ambiguity and uncertainty in finding a sole â€Å"view or aspect † in their works. Because of the highly tragic elements encountered in Streetcar, many immediately label it a tragedy. Nevertheless, the immense comical circumstances encountered in the play contradict the sole role of tragedy and leave the reader pondering the true nature of the work, the question being whether it is a tragedy with accidental comic incidences or a comedy with weak melodramatic occurrences. It has been said that the â€Å"double mask of tragicomedy reveals the polarity of the human condition†(Adler 47). The contrariety of forces in the work serves to enforce a sense of both reality and drama that are present in everyday human life. The comic elements in the play serve as a form of determined self-preservation just as the tragic elements add to the notion of self-destruction. This is the true nature of a tragicomedy. By juxtaposing two irreconcilable positions, ambiguity is produced in the judgment of the main characters, most notably Stanley Kowalski and Blanche Dubois (Riddell 83). Ambivalence in the play is largely caused by the relationship between Stanley and Blanche. They concurrently produce both appalling and appealing tendencies. Both characters display elements o... ...ilable forces come face to face. The two opposing forces are destined to become locked in a death grip and society will be the loser.    Works Cited Adler, Thomas P.   A Streetcar Named Desire: The Moth and the Lantern.   New York: Twayne, 1990. Baym, Nina et al, eds.   The Norton Anthology of American Literature.   New York: WW Norton & Co., 1995. Falk, Signi.   Twentieth Century Interpretations of A Streetcar Named Desire.   Ed. Jordan Miller.   New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, 1971. Riddell, Joseph.   Twentieth Century Interpretations of A Streetcar Named Desire.   Ed. Jordan Miller.   New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, 1971. Szeliski, John T. von.   Twentieth Century Interpretations of A Streetcar Named Desire.   Ed. Jordan Miller.   New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, 1971. Williams, Tennessee.   The Theatre of Tennessee Williams.   New York: New Directions, 1971.   

My Ideal Teacher Essay -- Teaching Teachers Education Essays

My Ideal Teacher When I think about teachers that I have had in the past, several different ones come to my mind. Each of these educators stands out in my mind for a variety of diverse reasons. Whether it is their sense of humor, their tactfulness, their love of the subject matter, their fanatical and sporadic behavior, or their yearning to be childish themselves, I can still remember at least one quality of every teacher I have ever encountered. Every one of these teachers conveyed subject material to their students just as they were educated and employed to do. However, I trust that every professional in the world has an abundance of opportunity for improvement; teachers could discover and improve themselves merely by having an open mind and observing one another. If I could construct the â€Å"ideal† teacher for me, I would only have to focus on three main aspects of the individual. These three qualities would be conducting a fun and interesting class, having organization and ge nuine comprehension of subject material, and developing a need to accept and have a constructive relationship with all students. Because of the most recent technology children today expect to be entertained by some other means than â€Å"twiddling their thumbs†. This need is not only present in the home setting; it is everywhere they go, including school. Therefore, teachers today have to make learning more enjoyable than it ever has been. Students are aware that at school they have strict rules to follow and expectations from their teachers. However, school can be fun if the teachers make it that way. There are numerous ways that a teacher can accomplish this. For example, a teacher could do something as simple as having a â€Å"j... ...d what my major is from week to week. They gained my respect in high school, and I, in turn, gave them respect. These are the teachers that I will never forget because they will never let me forget. I think that all students should experience some teachers like I have. In conclusion, in the â€Å"real† world some students will graduate from college, some students will be teachers, some teachers will just teach, and some teachers will teach with love. I want to be that teacher. The one that teaches with love and passion for what I am doing. This is why I have taken into account every teacher that I have ever encountered and created my â€Å"ideal† teacher; the teacher who is exciting, knowledgeable, and friendly. It is those teachers that I will remember indefinitely and with distinction, and this is also how I intend to be remembered by my students.

Supply and Demand and Dell Laptops

1. 1 Origin of the report As a part of the ‘Principles of Microeconomics’ course, this report has been assigned to me by our respected Professor Dr. A. K. M. Saiful Majid as a term paper. The topic has been decided after consultation with our course instructor and have been asked to submit an elaborate report on the topic. 1. 2 Objectives and scopes * Analyzing the demand and supply of Dell laptops. * Analyzing the current market situation of Dell laptops. * Analyzing the factors affecting the demand and supply of Dell laptops in Dhaka city. Analyzing the price elasticity of demand and supply of Dell laptops. 1. 3 Methodology The data needed to prepare this report was basically learned from the course and the workshop held by the instructor. The methodology used are follows Primary Data Source Secondary Data Source: 1. 4 Limitations While doing the term paper, I faced some obstacles. These are given below:- * The main limitation was the unavailability of information and its confidential nature. * Time constraint was a big problem in preparing the report. Another limitation of this report is organization’s policy of not disclosing some data and information for obvious reason, which could be very much useful. * Lack of experience of this type project. * Minimum knowledge on Economics(half a semester). 2. 1 Product background A laptop, also called a notebook, is a personal computer for mobile use. A laptop integrates most of the typical components of a desktop computer, including a display, a keyboard, a pointing device (a touchpad, also known as a trackpad, and/or a pointing stick) and speakers into a single unit. A laptop is powered by mains electricity via an AC adapter, and can be used away from an outlet using a rechargeable battery. Portable computers, originally monochrome CRT-based and developed into the modern laptops, and were originally considered to be a small niche market, mostly for specialized field applications such as the military, accountants and sales representatives. As portable computers became smaller, lighter, cheaper, more powerful and as screens became larger and of better quality, laptops became very widely used for all sorts of purposes. The basic components of laptops are similar in function to their desktop counterparts, but are miniaturized, adapted to mobile use, and designed for low power consumption. Because of the additional requirements, laptop components are usually of inferior performance compared to similarly priced desktop parts. Furthermore, the design bounds on power, size, and cooling of laptops limit the maximum performance of laptop parts compared to that of desktop components. Bangladesh started importing laptops as early as 2002. Imports figures were not found accurately. 2. 2 Company background Dell, Inc. s an American multinational information technology corporation based in 1 Dell Way, Round Rock, Texas, United States, that develops, sells and supports computers and related products and services. Bearing the name of its founder, Michael Dell, the company is one of the largest technological corporations in the world, employing more than 103,300 people worldwide. Dell is listed at number 41 in the Fortune 500 list. [ Dell's headquarters is located in Austin, Texas. As of 2010 the company employs about 16,000 people in the facility, which has 2,100,000 square feet (200,000 m2) of space. As of 1999 almost half of the general fund of the City of Round Rock originates from sales taxes generated from the Dell headquarters. A board of directors of nine people runs the company. Michael Dell, the founder of the company, serves as chairman of the board and chief executive officer. Dell advertisements have appeared in several types of media including television, the Internet, magazines, catalogs and newspapers. Some of Dell Inc's marketing strategies include lowering prices at all times of the year, offering free bonus products (such as Dell printers), and offering free shipping in order to encourage more sales and o stave off competitors. In 2006, Dell cut its prices in an effort to maintain its 19. 2% market share. Dell first opened their retail stores in India. Dell started selling their laptops in Bangladesh back in late 2002. Since then they have been able to capture the greater market share(about 29. 91%). 2. 3 Market overview The laptop market can be described with tw o aspects- * The products that different sellers are offering are exactly the same. * The number of sellers and buyers are so numerous that each has a negligible impact o the market price. In economic theory, perfect competition describes markets such that no participants are large enough to have the market power to set the price of a homogeneous product. Because the conditions for perfect competition are strict, there are few if any perfectly competitive markets. Perfect competitive market seems a bit theoretical for Bangladeshi context. By considering these aspects of the laptop market, I concluded that the laptop market is a competitive market. Because each brands are selling laptops with same configuration, consumers have so many choices. Nobody can be a price maker because of the wide range of choices. Figure: Product life cycle 3. 1 Factors influencing demand 3. 2 Shift of demand curve The demand curve shifts in two ways. If any of the factors increases the quantity demanded, it is called an increase in demand and the demand curve shifts to the right. And if any of the factors decreases the quantity demanded, it is called a decrease in demand and the demand curve shifts to the left. Income If income of people in Dhaka city, people will buy more laptops. In that case it becomes a normal good. (i. a good for which, other things equal, an increase in income leads to an increase in demand. ) Price of substitute goods If the price of substitute goods (HP, Acer etc. ) rises, the demand for Dell laptops rises because people tend to shift away from their previous brands. Taste The brand Dell has captured the consumer loyalty of the techno fans of Bangladesh. A large number of this fan base is in Dhaka city. These consumers prefer Dell laptops to many other brands that are available in Bangladesh. Expectations Due to frequent IT and laptop fairs, people expect the price of Dell laptops to fall. So, they are willing to buy more Dell laptops. These fairs lead to a rightward shift of the demand curve. Number of buyers The number of laptop buyers in Dhaka city has increased in a very short span. This leads to a rightward shift of the demand curve. Besides these factors, there are some factors that causes the increase in demand for Dell laptops. IT fairs are frequently arranged in BICC, Agargaon. Dell provides various offers like discount, scratch cards in these fairs. This increases the demand for Dell laptops. IT fairs have increased the demand about 25%. The recent advancement of technology also has a major role in increasing the demand for Dell laptops. Due to recent introduction of Wimax technology in Bangladesh people has easy access to internet in different places. People are responding to this incentive and are buying more and more laptops. Figure: Shift of demand curve 3. 3 Current market demand The relation between the price of Dell laptop and the quantity demanded is negative to its price. Therefore, if the price of Dell laptop increases, the quantity demanded in Dhaka city will decrease and vice versa. Market demand is the sum of all the individual demand. To get the big picture about the market demand, I have surveyed two retail outlets of Dell laptops in Bangladesh- Computer Village and Flora systems. Previously the price of Dell Vostro 3450 was Tk. 55000 Computer Village sold 72 of these laptops and Flora sold 70 of these laptops. That means the market demand was 70 laptops. (Its only for one brand, one model and two showrooms, actually the market demand is the total demand of Bangladesh). The price has gone down to Tk. 49000 and the demand has increased to 80 laptops. A 12. 5% decrease in demand increased 15% quantity of laptop demanded. % Figure: Sale of Flora systems Figure: Sale of Computer Village Figure: Movement along the demand curve 3. 4 Forces influencing supply 3. 5 Shift of supply curve The supply curve shifts in two ways. If any of the factors increases the quantity supplied, the supply curve shifts to the right and vice versa. Number of sellers The more the number of sellers in the market, the larger the supply. The number of laptop buyers is increasing day by day. That is an incentive for the suppliers to come in the market as there is so much opportunity for them. Expectations As the demand is increasing rapidly, the suppliers are expecting that the price of the laptop will go up. That is why they are hoarding laptops to sell it later at a higher price. Technology It allows the producers yield more profit by making the production process more efficient and effective. Input price The production of laptops is more profitable when the components of laptops go up. As a result, supply of laptops increases. Government has introduced its development plan in relation to improvements in the economic conditions in Bangladesh. Digital Bangladesh within 2021 is the biggest example. In recent years, the government has reduced taxes, levied import duties on technology and provided grants for all the industries that have dedicated itself to nationwide technology spread and availability. Introduction of DOEL brand, which is a national company, is another big citation of how government has patronized the laptop market of Bangladesh. To meet the increasing demand, the supply of Dell laptops has increased. This leads to an increase in the supply of Dell laptops. Figure: Shift of supply curve 3. Movement along the supply curve The relation between the price of Dell laptop and the quantity demanded is negative to its price. Therefore, if the price of Dell laptop increases, the quantity demanded in Dhaka city will decrease and vice versa. The relation between the price of Dell laptops and the quantity supplied is positive. Therefore, if the price of Dell laptop increases, the quantity demanded in Dhaka city will incr ease and vice versa. The number of sellers has increased over the years. There are many outlets of Dell like Computer Village and Flora systems. As the number of individual suppliers is increasing, the market supply is also increasing. Due to increase in profits and laptop price, the supply of Dell laptops has increased. Figure: Movement along the supply curve 3. 7 Equilibrium Market price always tend to move towards the point where the demand curve and the supply curve intersects. This point is called the equilibrium point. It is the point where the quantity supplied equals quantity demanded. At this point, buyers are fairly satisfied with the price and sellers are also satisfied with the amount of profit they are making. The price at this point is called the equilibrium price and the quantity supplied or demanded is called the equilibrium quantity. I have calculated weighted average of the whole Dell range keeping certain parameters- * The lowest offering of Dell is Tk. 23,000. * Highest price Tk. 1,75,000. In laptop fair 2011 the lowest price sold 8 units and highest price sold 1 unit. Weighted average = {(8? 23000) + 175000}/ 9 = 40000 So the equilibrium price of Dell laptops is Tk. 40000 and the equilibrium quantity is 9 units for laptop fair 2011. FIGURE:EQUILIBRIUM 4. Price elasticity of Demand: As the buyers can switch to HP and other brands if the price increases, so the demand for Dell laptops are elastic. Laptops of various brands like HP, Acer, Asus, Samsung, Compaq are available in the market. HP provides the consumers with almost the same quality as Dell and brands like Acer and Asus provides the consumers laptops of same configuration at a cheaper price. Dell laptops are attractive, shin y and have sleek metallic body. Also people prefer it because of its comfortable weight and its easy to carry. We can classify Dell laptops as luxury good. The demand for Dell laptops is inelastic over a larger time period. Because if the price of Dell laptops rises, it will take time for buyers to switch to another brand. But, eventually in the long run the price of other similar brands being lower than Dell laptops would have buyers’ interest turning to them. Figure:Elastic demand of Dell 4. 2 Income elasticity of demand and cross price elasticity of demand Dell laptops are normal goods. Higher income raises the quantity demanded. Since Quantity demanded and income move in the same direction, Dell laptops have positive income elasticity. Again, since Dell laptops is a luxury good, it has a relatively larger income elasticity because consumers feel that they can easily switch to other low priced laptops consisting of similar configuration like Acer, Asus etc. Dell laptops has many substitutes like HP and other low priced Acer, Asus, Fujitsu etc. So, if the price of Dell laptops rises, the quantity demanded for these substitute goods will rise and eventually, the cross-price elasticity of demand of Dell laptops will rise (positive). Again, there are many complement goods to Dell laptops like laptop bags, headphones, pen drives, laptop cooler, portable hard disk etc. hat are used along with it. So, if the price of Dell laptops rises, the quantity demanded of these goods would fall and ultimately, the cross-price elasticity of demand of HP will fall (negative). 4. 3 Price elasticity of supply The supply of Dell laptops is almost inelastic i. e. as price changes the quantity demanded of Dell laptops doesn’t change significantly. Sellers have a tendency to keep the supply unchanged whatever is the price. Figure: Inelastic supply Being in a competitive market, Dell cannot set the price. The consumers of Dell are satisfied with the service that it provides. So, most of the consumers are brand loyal and they will stay loyal until the scenario changes drastically. So, it can be said that Dell has a little competitive advantage over its competitiors. The IT sector of Bangladesh is developing in a fair pace. Using computers in educational purposes is increasing rapidly. As laptops are easier to carry and use, it can serve this purpose very well. Government has reduced taxes, levied import duties on technology. Bangladesh has recently started manufacturing laptops to supply the laptops to the ones who cannot afford the costly foreign brands. Bangladesh needs to assemble laptops to increase market growth. Steps should be taken to make the laptops affordable to the general public. 1. www. wikipedia. org 2. www. banglapedia. org 3. www. webbangladesh. org 4. www. thedailystar. net 5. www. prothom-alo. com 6. www. newnation. com 7. Principles of Economics, 3rd Edition, N. Gregory Mankiw 8. The Economist, September 2011 9. Computer Jagat, August 2011 Survey questionnaire 1. Do you use laptop or desktop? – 70% use laptop, 30% use desktop 2. Why do you use laptop? -easy to carry 62. 9%, net use 24. 3%, office work 12. 8% 3. Which brand do you prefer? -29. 91% Dell, 24. 2% HP, 14. 3% acer, 9. 4% Compaq, 8. 6% Samsung, 4. 3% Toshiba, 4. 3%fujitsu, 2. 9% apple 4. Why do you prefer this brand? -38. 6% use for configuration, 24. 3% use for comfort, 21. 4% use for attractive looking, 15. 7% for long last assurance. 5. For which do you give importance? -56. 7% for price, 29. 4% for configuration, 12. 9% for brand 6. Do you think that supply of laptop is enough? -57. 1% think enough, 42. 3% think not enough 7. What can increase demand of laptops? -61. 4% cheaper rate, 15. 7% more wireless free zone, 22. 9% user developed Thank you!

Swange Dance

SWANGE DANCE Introduction. Benue State is state of the historic Benue river, a State renowned for the valiancy of its progenitors, a State of notable political gladiators and hardworking people who rightly brand themselves as ‘the food basket of the nation’. Benue is also a State of rich cultures and traditions, as exemplified in the world acclaimed SWANGE DANCE which has brought fame to both the State and the nation. Meaning of Dance Dance is a type of art that generally involves movement of the body, often rhythmic and to music.It is performed in many cultures as a form of emotional expression, social interaction, or exercise, in a spiritual or performance setting, and is sometimes used to express ideas or tell a story. Dance may also be regarded as a form of nonverbal communication between humans or other animals, as in bee dances and behaviour patterns such as a mating dances. Definitions of what constitutes dance can depend on social and cultural norms and aesthetic , artistic and moral sensibilities.Definitions may range from functional movement (such as folk dance) to virtuoso techniques such as ballet. Martial arts kata are often compared to dances, and sports such as gymnastics, figure skating and synchronized swimming are generally thought to incorporate dance. In some cases, the motion of ordinarily inanimate objects may be described as dance (the leaves danced in the wind). History Dance does not leave behind clearly identifiable physical artifacts such as stone tools, hunting implements or cave paintings. It is not possible to say when dance became part of human culture.Joseph Jordania recently suggested that dance, together with rhythmic music and body painting, was designed by the forces of natural selection at the early stage of hominid evolution as a potent tool to put groups of human ancestors in a battle trance, a specific altered state of consciousness. The same could be said of the Swange dance which originated from middle belt of Nigeria, Benue state, among the Tiv, Igala and Idoma people, a locale which is around the River Niger. Swange is a popular social dance of the Tiv people of Benue State in Central Nigeria.It is a dance of fast, slow, rhythmic and undulating movements, expressing youth and vigour. Swange is played at various types of social and religious functions for the enjoyment of the old and the young. The dance is characterized by rhythmic contortion in slow mode & vibrant display, typical of African dance forms. It has wonderful beat and beautiful rhythm. It is heavily percussion- based, aided by a traditional horn (al-gaita), which blows in an unbroken succession for as long as the drumming, Singing and dancing is going on. The dance particularly exhibits fluidity in body movement, which was inspirited by the flow of the River .Sixfootplus had this to say about it â€Å"Swange is the name given to the traditional dance of the Tiv-speaking people of Benue state of Nigeria. The dance is cha racterized by rhythmic contortion in slow mode & vibrant display, typical of African dance forms. It is heavily percussion- based, aided by a traditional horn (al-gaita), which blows in an unbroken succession for as long as the drumming, Singing and dancing is going on. † Some Benue artists mix this dance pattern up with their stage performances to the admiration of their fans; notable amond these are, Zulezoo, Bravo D, Sixfootplus etc.If you have been opportuned to listen to Swange music or watched the Swange dance, let us know what you feel about it. Significance of Swange Dance Swange Dance has been an important part of ceremony, rituals, celebrations and entertainment since before the birth of the earliest human civilizations. [pic] Swange Dance References www. nairaland. com/12749/swange-music-how-see-it http://www. goodlife. com. ng/gltourism. php? gltourism=read&id=164 Joseph Jordania, 2011, Why do People Sing? Music in Human Evolution, Logos, pg. 98-102