Proposal for a Halfway House from the Program Director

For a Director of a Program, it is essential to come up with an effective plan or service. Hence, a clear presentation of the program and justification for its creation and retention is significant for the proposal to be considered. This paper is written from the perspective of a Program Director who suggests the establishment and retention of a Halfway House Program for California County Probation Department. In doing so, the Program Director will discuss several factors for the carrying out of the program such as the need to reduce the County’s operating budget which eventually results into the loss of a number of personnel.Proposal for a Halfway House from the Program Director The programs and services of any County Probation Department are subjected to many factors and considerations which may lead into beneficial of harmful implications. Hence, efforts to support the retention and championing of the objectives of a particular program such as the operation of halfway house services are not spared from several hindrances. Operating budget and personnel are two major components which spell the success or failure of a halfway house program.Working as a residential center type, which temporarily accommodates people who have been released after treatment or rehabilitation from drug dependency, mental illness and incarceration, halfway house serves as the middle house before such people are eventually reintegrated into the society. Such nature, therefore, exemplified the undeniable significance of a halfway house program for a County Probation Department. Taking this into consideration, operating and maintaining such service will be difficult especially when problems such as budget and workforce set in.It is in this light that a clear presentation and discussion about halfway house service, such as its features, the public it serves, its history, its value and the reason for its retention, are entrusted in me as Program Director of the California County Pr obation Department. In particular, the Special Projects Group, which I am in charge, will initially address and perform the task of reducing the operating budget of the California County Probation Department by 20 percent.In doing so, however, we have come to realize that 85 percent of the department budget is allotted to its personnel or manpower. Thus, cutting the department budget will mean the loss of approximately 200 officers and support staff. While it is inevitable to undertake budget and personnel reduction, it is ultimately imperative for me as the Program Director to justify with the Chief of California County Probation Department the need to support the creation of halfway house service or program.This is because the prison system has now acknowledged the importance, benefits and value of such program. Its purpose of serving as the halfway accommodation for people who tend avoid relapse and to eventually reintegrate into the mainstream society is, in fact, equally import ant as far as the goal of operating and maintaining a county probation department. One way to achieve the halfway house service is not only by reducing the overall budget of the county but also through trimming down an obviously bloated workforce.In fact, it is through reduction of operating budget and eventually retrenchment of oversized personnel will the County realize that the establishment of halfway house program is feasible, better and more productive than sustaining an over budgeted and over-staffed County. Since obstacles such as the ones facing the California County Probation Department should, in no way, pose a threat into the creation of halfway house program, the reduction by 20 percent of the Department’s operating budget and most importantly the creation and eventual retention of the proposed halfway house plan is highly recommended by the Program Director.Halfway House Program, a Plan Overview By its features, a halfway house is a society-based housing provisi on for criminals and even those who suffered physical and mental disorders who, after their respective imprisonment and treatment period, are technically still carrying out a part of their prison terms and rehabilitation cycles guidelines (â€Å"Halfway House, 2001). However, the difference between a County Probation Department or related institutions is the fact that the subjects are this time being managed in a community with less restriction but nonetheless are still required to adhere to the service’s guidelines (â€Å"Halfway House, 2001).Aside from the provision of round-the-clock management as well as a wide-ranging guidance and support to lawbreakers or others who underwent psychological and physical treatments, the activities within a halfway house are designed to pave the way for its tenants to continue studying, hunting for job working while completing their required stay in the service (â€Å"Halfway House, 2001). Similar to residential community program, halfw ay house is an ongoing corrective program or service wherein the offenders complete their prison terms, experience their steady recuperation until being fully released to the society.Hence, it serves its dual purpose of providing the required treatment and housing services while at the same time offering a chance for its â€Å"residents† to be conscious and engage in various activities within the program and the community they will service once they left the halfway house. This is because a halfway house forms an essential link between the care provided by the rehabilitation or care provided by the prison system and related institutions and the opportunities offered by the mainstream society (â€Å"Halfway House, 2001).Reduction of 20% County Budget, the Task Presented with the mission to cut the budget of California County Probation Department by 20 percent, I, being the Program Director recommends the planned reduction of the department's operating cost based on the fact t hat 85 percent of the annual budget pertains to personnel allocation. This, therefore, necessitates that the streamlining should be focused on the retrenchment of personnel which is based on certain conditions and factual basis.Since the department has a personnel plantilla of more than 1,000 officers and staff  including 700 sworn officers of various ranks, the retrenchment would necessarily mean the phasing out of 200 plantilla items or so much thereof that shall exactly mean the equivalent of 20 percent of its total operating cost estimated at about $600 million annually. In specific figures, the plan should correspond to the trimming down of the present budget to only $480 million starting next year.With the full knowledge of prevailing conditions and other factual basis such as statistics on basic concerns as daily average population of probation facilities and the  average stay of those confined thereat, it is important that the reduction program shall proceed using quanti fiable ratios in order to have it be implemented in the most judicious manner. Considering existing conditions in the department, procedures must be observed in the process of identifying who will be the 200 officials and support staff who will be covered by the retrenchment. In doing so, there should be provision of benefit packages and incentives for those to be affected by the retrenchment, including special incentives for those who will  voluntarily retire or resign under this retrenchment policy or program.An option to voluntarily resign should also be offered to those affected personnel and when all procedures and system are laid out, retrenchment will proceed Hence, the reduction of the County’s 20 percent budget which is synonymous to a significant impact to the personnel is planned to be carried out in a manner that benefit packages and incentive schemes for voluntary retirement and resignations must be attractive enough to encourage a good number of personnel to a vail of it and thereby make the  retrenchment process less painful.The reduction in the budget and its effect, through retrenchment, in the manpower of the California County Probation Department are the primary grounds considered by the Program Director in suggesting the establishment and eventual retention of the Halfway House Program. This is because of the position that in order to create a beneficial plan, the reduction of budget and loss of some personnel in particular are definitely inevitable yet valuable decision which will pave the way for a new and more effective program.Halfway House Program, the Rationale Halfway houses are already established since the half part of the twentieth century. According to Smith and Berlin (1988), halfway houses were built by the Federal Bureau of Prisons in the cities of Detroit, Los Angeles, Chicago and New York (Smith & Berlin, 1988). In the said halfway house services, the offenders, while completing their prison terms, were counseled, employed and provided with worthy activities which helped them to effectively reintegrate into their respective societies afterwards guidelines (Smith & Berlin, 1988).The said system and the creation of such program such as halfway house service have proven beneficial to both the prison facilities which previously house the offenders as well as the communities where the rehabilitated offenders were eventually assimilated. These worthwhile and beneficial effects to the prison system and the community are, in essence, the very objectives which halfway house program have attained in their efforts to effectively rehabilitate the criminal offender (Smith & Berlin, 1988).Beyond such historical account is the rationale of proposing, supporting and eventually retaining a halfway house program or service. In fact, the underlying principle, which was fundamentally deliberated by the Program Director in this paper for the consideration of the Chief of the California County Probation Department , is the basic foundation that such program or service encompasses the goal of societal correction and improvement. The principle is that the halfway house program ultimately aims for rectification and eventual development of offenders.This is because the lawbreakers and related nuisance in the society are being corrected while being accommodated in a venue which will enhance more their qualification into being members again of the societies. As what Beha (1977) learned from a research finding which examined the role and implication of the halfway house program, such service of program is definitely covered by the category â€Å"community corrections† (Beha, 1977). Additionally, halfway house program is an acknowledged effective plan or service even by the industry of probation service themselves.In BBC interview with the chief officer of probation services, Kenyon (2006) learned that while risk and problems are not totally eliminated in carrying out such program, halfway hou se generally create the â€Å"very best picture† as far rehabilitating criminals and preparing them for their return into the society (Kenyon, 2006). Applying the said principles and proofs to the set-up of the California County Probation Department, it is then best considered and suggested to the Chief of the need to undertake, champion and sustain the existence of halfway house program or service.In fact, this may not mean the loss of other programs of the County as the 20 percent reduction in the budget, which basically caters to a bloated personnel structure, will be the main source which will support the program. Conclusion Being the Director of a Program, my foremost objective is for the Chief of the California County Probation Department’s consideration and hopefully, approval of my proposed halfway house program or service. This is prayed for with the presentation of the needed 20 percent reduction in the County’s operating budget, which in general only satisfies an apparent over-sized workforce.Such retrenchment is feasible and acceptable based from the benefit packages and incentives which the Program Director likewise proposed. It is through said grounds that the creation and retention of the California County Probation Department Halfway House are justified. This is because by cutting the budget of the County, the problem on bloated personnel is addressed and ultimately the collective goal to create an effective and beneficial program such as the Halfway House is achieved.

Miners’ Wives by Ben Shahn Essay

The Miner’s Wives by Ben Shahn takes a bitter look at one of the lifestyles of the early 20th century – that of the down-trodden coal miner. In the foreground of the picture, we see the miner’s wife referenced in the title. She carries a bleak expression, her back turned to an older woman and a child, presumably her mother and her offspring. Two men walk away into the distance, and one set of clothing hangs above, unclaimed by its owner. The woman has just been informed of the mining accident which claimed her husband’s life. Shahn says much about the mining life through the composition of his painting. His focus is on the woman who has just lost her husband. She stands off-center, not crying or hysterical, but with an expression of shock and numbness. This isn’t the first time she’s experienced this kind of pain. The presence of her mother suggests that she has lost a loved one before, presumably her father. Even the method he uses to paint her, distorted, inproportionate, and unidealized, emphasizes her station in life. She has lived a hard life, and her face shows it. The red brick wall behind her expresses the anger and torment she’s feeling. It has to, because she must remain stoic for both her child and the world at large. She can’t rage at the mining company, and she must not let her child see fear, so Shahn gives this wall the most brilliant, angry color he can muster to express what she’s feeling. The wall is also a divider, separating the wives’ miserable, lonely existence from that of the mining bosses who calmly walk away. Having given her the news, they feel they’ve done all that needs to be done for this woman. Their facelessness emphasizes the fact that these men are interchangeable in the minds of the women, all alike. They rob the women of everything: their husbands, their livelihoods, and their dignity. The three generations in the room point out the nature of mining work as a family tradition. In fact, the miner’s legacy hangs overhead, the coat still attached to its hook long after its owner is gone. The elder’s husband was  probably a miner, the woman’s husband was a miner, and the presence of the child suggests that even the next generation will follow that path, despite the pain and injury all around. Such was often the case with mining. Limited mobility and limited opportunity often forced one generation after the next into the mine, and many families died generation after generation, either in the mine or from the mine, with diseases like black lung. Shahn makes a bold statement about how much the mining industry cost for those who went down into the mines every day. His characters appear placid, but they speak volumes about the lifestyle endured by not just the miners, but also their families.

5 Things To Look For In A Promising Web Host

5 Things To Look For In A Promising Web Host Finding a promising web hosting company for your internet based business is an essential piece to the puzzle. This is the company that has control of your server space, web services and file maintenance, so you want to make sure you are protected. Here are 5 things to look for in a promising web host. Here are 5 things to look for in a promising web host. Reliability There is nothing more important than reliability when it comes to selecting a web hosting company. There are a number of things that can go wrong within an internet based business and it is assuring to know that your web host is there for you. Prior to selecting a company, take the time to look at the percentage of time their server is working properly. If the server tends to be down 15% of the time or more, this kills valuable time that you could be working. Contact info Part of a web hosting company being reliable is also them being available. If your server goes down, you want to know that you can get a hold of the company as soon as possible. The best way to check on the support personnel is to call them up prior to agreeing to anything to test them out. Domain name With thousands of internet based businesses on the web and millions of web addresses already taken, it can be difficult coming up with an original domain name. However, every web host should be able to provide you with one for a reasonable price. Check into the support they give you for finding a quality domain name and the prices each company charges for a domain name. CGI access Depending on the type of internet based business you have, you may want to or need to run your own programs. In order to do this, you must have CGI access. Not every web host offers this, and not every company offers the same capabilities for their CGI access. When researching into a web hosting company, check to make sure they offer CGI access that allows you to read, write, and execute on your server. POP account Having a POP account is vital for your business because of the protection that it offers. A POP account gives you password-protected access to mail that is sent through your website email address. There are several things you want to look into prior to selecting a web hosting company. The more questions you can come up with to ask the company and the more research you put into your decision, the better off you will be.`=

Manners in the Business Workplace Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Manners in the Business Workplace - Assignment Example The researcher states that business etiquette plays a major role in the success of an individual to move towards their dream job. Business etiquettes do not have any clear and written out rules that need to be followed, however mainly includes being courteous, and respectful of people at the workplace. In the present times, with the fast-paced information age work environment, office etiquette is becoming more important each day. Keeping up the etiquette within the workplace clearly is crucial to help each other work more effectively and to be able to keep up with the fast pace. To be able to keep up with the growing competition and need for fast-paced working, people without office etiquette tend to be big hindrances to their own growth as well as the growth of the team and organization as a whole. Hence this is crucial and needs to be followed by all organizations. Workers are a keep in the development of good business manners as they form the business and if the business manners a re developed by themselves, then there are higher chances that they would follow the rules and manners. Workers form the business and hence in the case of the manners their inputs and contributions are needed the highest. With the intense competition and the high need for goal-oriented individuals, and the changing workplace styles (open workplaces), there are a number of changes to the office conduct. People need to be more aware of their surroundings and their behavior and need to also ensure that little or no personal discussions are held within the office space. The main change in the present times is the need to respect the space of others as well as to ensure that aspects like noise, clutter and odor are kept under control. This helps in the overall effective workplace. Workplaces require gender-free etiquette and to do so, a few possible steps that can be inculcated in all employees are to follow the below-mentioned rules: a) holding the door open for anyone who follows irres pective of their gender, b) shaking hands with everyone in the same manner, simple one hand, c) allowing the person closest to the door in the elevator to get off first, and d) recognizing people for their rank and not gender.

Open topic Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Open topic - Essay Example For Smith, the market will regulate itself through its â€Å"invisible hand† which the government and its regulatory power play no part. In his monumental work â€Å"An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations† or â€Å"Wealth of Nations† (1776), he argued that individuals pursuing their self-interest are actually good for the larger society. To paraphrase Smith, he contended that â€Å"by directing that industry in such a manner as its produce may be of the greatest value, he intends only his own gain, and he is in this, as in many other cases, led by an  invisible hand  to promote an end which was no part of his intention. Nor is it always the worse for the society that it was not part of it. By pursuing his own interest he frequently promotes that of the society more effectually than when he really intends to promote it. (1776, 364). This idea of Adam Smith’s individual’s pursuit of self-interest to be good for society in general became the driving force of classical capitalist economies. This was however contradicted by John Maynard Keynes. ... These two economists contradicted in a manner that Smith negated the role of government intervention in the economy by solely relying on the market’s â€Å"invisible hand† while Keynes believed that the economy will work at its optimum with the influence and intervention of the government. Analysis While these two economists made two contradicting explanation and suggestion on how economies should work, they are however both correct. For Smith, while it may sound as an oversimplified generalization that the economy is ruled by â€Å"market forces’ invisible hand†, this truth however cannot be denied. We just cannot break the law of market forces that rules the economy. Our own pursuit for our individual success has also been generally good for society for we can contribute more when we are individually productive. For Keynes, his economic precepts has never been truer today with governments intervening in the recent 2009 Financial Crisis to bail out compan ies to save jobs and the economy in general from depression. Contradictory ideas but both are true and only different on its implication on the market and the economy in general. Smith may have explained the harsh reality about the dynamics of the capitalist economy and accepted the fact if individual’s are left on their own, we will be always be driven by our selfish motive. According to Smith, self-interest is not necessarily evil as he contends that our pursuit for self-interest will actually make the economy work efficiently and will be good in the long run. Keynes however made an assertion that this is in fact â€Å"disastrous if we attempt to apply it to the facts of experience† and attempted to temper the selfish and disastrous

Political Liberalization in Burma Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Political Liberalization in Burma - Essay Example Burma, like many African countries, was ruled by the British for almost a century and inherited structures, and institutional set-up of the free market and parliamentary democracy but could not take advantage of this to advance its political and economic situation (Egreteau 470). This paper will study the deficiency of the military rule in Burma and try to make useful recommendations on how the government can improve the country’s political, economic and social situation through democratic governance. The study will also explore and identify means by which the international community could help the country come up with the most appropriate forms of assistance and interventions to sustain a stable democracy, though, there needs to be some effort in putting in place transitional governance to allow for external leveraging. Burma’s strengths as a country in supporting the building of social, economic, legal, and governmental institutions will also be discussed (Selth 15). A country that does not have a reliable economic structure, strong and tolerant civil institutions will usually impend transition to democratic governance and create room for anarchy as well as an autocratic rule. Burma has since 19901 been struggling to move out of a stubborn military regime to form a credible government and aim to attract international economic and humanitarian assistance into the country. Even with a successful attempt for regime change in 1990, the country did not manage to usher in a new age of pluralistic rule through democracy and empowerment of the civil society. This was because there have been decades of politically brutal and economically unfavorable military rule, which has left the civil society and the population in murky waters in terms of development (Brown 732).  

What I did during my internship Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

What I did during my internship - Essay Example I was later introduced to everyone who I would be working closely within athletics and later told me about his career path and how he got started. Mr. Brave resume displayed that he had lots of experience in the production field. He’s started learning the production end of television at an early age of 13. I was given a tour of all of the athletics facilities on campus and I was also taught about all the different machines and their functions. Every facility had something unique about them and most of the facilities had to share a lot of the same equipment as well. Later during that week I found out that I was going to be working about baseball and softball games. I would be assisting in enabling people to follow USF softball and baseball games from home which I found exciting because I have always been a sports fan. As my passion for the game continued to develop, it lead me into a field that I never thought I had an interest for, which is sports reporting. Things started to get busy on my second week of internship. I began getting hands on doing editing with the aid of Final Cut Pro. I have had prior experience using final cut pro while taking broadcast news, but it was during the internship that I was really able to develop my editing skills. My broadcast news professor was not very skilled in this application and so although I was familiar with the basics, getting hands on was the best way to really understand how it works. It was during my second week that I was asked to put together a highlight film for the men’s and women’s basketball team. I found it really interesting because I am a basketball fan, and I totally understand the game and this kind of sport in general. I also know most personalities behind the industry. I went about finding important clips and editing them to craft a story that is both interesting and compelling to the

Relationship beween the local and the global for international Essay

Relationship beween the local and the global for international marketing, evaluate Jean Baudrillard's claim that comtempory cons - Essay Example Following Marshall McLuhan’s interpretation of the structural power of technology to transform societies, one aspect of the introduction of international values into indigenous cultural systems is a change in value systems locally. This relates to what was described before as budget and agenda. Mass-market channels such as TV with its commercial-driven business model may not be a medium through which indigenous voices are traditionally heard or their values represented in the programming. There must be recognition of â€Å"planes of locality† and also the relative nature of minority status for cultures. For example, each nation-state may have a vibrant local media with a wide distribution of networks and local programming in native languages. Multinational corporations may translate their products and advertising campaigns easily to introduce new products into the local markets, and make available the resources in the company to hire local talent for this goal. Indigeno us minorities within the developing States may have a different plane of locality than the national media, and become a type of sub-minority when considered internationally. These traditional indigenous societies and their cultural views may become lost, ignored, and extinct, as in tribal cultures across the world in the 20th Century when confronted with the overpowering commercial messages of mass-media and social programming through advertising. In this manner it is important to understand how a nation like Brazil, China, Korea, or Indonesia may have various degrees of locality with reference to national media but also indigenous minorities within the larger polity. The national culture may compete in a â€Å"minority status† on the word stage, and struggle to have its national voice heard within the larger international dialog. At the same time, these nations may experience â€Å"one way† communication with the West in mass-communication, with the continual introduc tion of â€Å"Western† values but may be similarly unable to influence the dialog by being able to respond reciprocally. Smaller countries may have more difficulty competing internationally against established multinationals in the West, and this relates not only to production and distribution but also marketing and advertising. The internet is a great leveling force against the centralization inherent in mass-media communication channels, but it also leads to a fragmentation of locality and a smoothing of the plane of locality internationally, which fuels globalization’s spread. What â€Å"the mall† represents to local European culture, in contrast to the ancient history and vibrant traditions of open markets, small businesses, and independent bookshops or cafes, is fundamentally similar to what globalization offers on a mass-scale to every culture worldwide, namely the same homogenization of values and simulated model of reality as the mall. Indeed, in develop ing countries with swiftly expanding â€Å"middle classes† such as India, China, Brazil, Korea, etc. the mall appears locally on the same model as in France or America forty years ago, and offers the same promise of homogenization and hegemony to indigenous cultures. The mall provides the fashions, styles, and intellectual ‘products’ for the middle class, and all of the prices are targeted to the salary scale of the office and factory worker hierarchies. The products in the mall are usually

Frank Special Filed a Claim Against Ivo A. Baux, M.D Case Study

Frank Special Filed a Claim Against Ivo A. Baux, M.D - Case Study Example However, medical examiner Barbara Wolf, who performed an autopsy, stated that no AFE was revealed, while it is usually revealed in such cases. The fault of Dr. Baux was actively disputed. Petitioner claimed that the testimony of the important witness, Gary Didly, M. D. was considered in the wrong way by Judge Kelley. Gary Didly was an expert invited by defendants to confirm that the cases of AFE are not so rare as it was stated by the experts invited by Plaintiff. After the cross-examination Special was sure that he undermined the conclusion made by Daily, however, the court did not accept that and considered this to be an impeachment. The judgment was made in favor of the Defendants and Dr. Baux was considered not guilty. Petitioner wanted to have a new trial stating that the medical center has an epidemic of amniotic fluid embolism. He applied to the Fourth District Court of Appeal, which stated that â€Å"[t]o avoid a new trial, the beneficiary of the error in the trial court must show on appeal that it is more likely than not that the error did not influence the trier of fact and thereby contribute to the verdict† Id. at 771. On October 19, 2007 the verdict was returned for Defendants. On June 23, 2010 majority opinion was issued stating that the error made by the judge who did not include the testimony of Gary Deadly, was minor and did not influence much the case and the verdict. Discretionary jurisdiction was considered not necessary because even if the case is reconsidered, the opposite verdict would not be reached in any case. The claim of Special was rejected and the case was not reconsidered. Special sued Dr. Baux because his wife died after her delivery. However, she was about 40 years old and had problems with health during her pregnancy. The results of delivery testify that the child was successfully delivered, thus spinal anesthesia was made properly.

Boston Beer Company Essay Example for Free

Boston Beer Company Essay

Colombia vs Venezuela Culture

Colombia vs Venezuela Culture Venezuelas Culture Compared to Colombias Culture Believe systems and traditions shared by a group of people are clearly defined the huge meaning of countrys culture. This culture could be transmitting easily between the neighboring countries. Obviously, those countries shared a lot of believe and tradition which is consequently defines the meaning of the countrys culture. However, Venezuela and Colombia are neighboring countries and even more both of them had discovered by Spanish explorers. So, the culture in both of them, at first glance, obtains many similarities, but in the other hand, there are a few differences. As long as Venezuela and Colombia were Spanish colony, ethnic group is one of the main aspects that both of them are shared. In Venezuela, Mestizo group, (Spanish and Portuguese term refer to Latin people of mixed European and Amerindians), forming the majority of Venezuelas population, about 67% beside other major groups like Whites who forming 21% of the population and minority of African Blacks and Native Americans. In Colombia, Mestizo comprises 55 percent of the population and the rest are a combination of Whites, African Blacks, and Native Americans. Beside the similarity in ethnic group, Spanish is the first official language in Venezuela and Colombia as well as English, recently, has become the countrys second official language. However, Venezuelas oil boom has also contributed to an increase English usage especially in the large cities. Same as in Colombian lagers cities, English, particularly used by the upper class, but it is not commonly understood or spoken. Another area of similarities between Venezuela and Colombia involve marriage. Marriage in Venezuela has a few legal restrictions unless the person marries someone of same sex and of illegal age. However, it is expected that people in Venezuela marry others of their same or higher social class including racial status. Also, groom and bride are often preferred to do the marriage ceremony in Catholic Church with their families. Likewise, in Colombia, the upper-middle and upper classes are encouraged to marry within their own class. On the other hand, people from lower and middle classes prefer to marry someone outside of their class. For instance, mestizos and blacks prefer to marry into white families. Also, Because of high expenses of marriage, Colombians from lower middle class may choose whether civil marriage or consensual marriage. Meanwhile, Upper class people, and people who live in urban areas are often married in the Catholic Church. Beside the similarities between both of them, they do have differences. One difference that is most notable is the main export item. Since Venezuela considered as the fifth biggest member of OPEC by production, Venezuelas most profitable export item is oil. Oil is largely exports to the main trading partner United States beside other major trading partners like Netherlands, Japan, Germany, France, Italy, Brazil, and Colombia. On the other hand, In Latin America, the two largest coffee producers are Brazil and Colombia. Colombia produces about 12% of the coffee in the world, so coffee is the main export item as well as other major export items like cut flowers, emeralds, and leather goods. However, those items mainly export to United States, Germany, Japan, The Netherlands and Switzerland. Other area of differences is the Medical and Health Care System. Venezuelas health-care system has a large array of public and private hospitals and clinics. Those public and private hospitals are opened to public whether upper, meddle or lower class. In contrast, health care in Colombia, recently, has been improved but this improvement has occurred mostly in upper class and middle class urban areas. In poor areas, people usually have limited access to the medical treatment and health care. Â  In conclusion, cultural differences manifest themselves in different ways and differing levels of depth. Venezuelan culture and Colombian culture shared many similarities and were different in other ways. However, the most three similarities they shared were ethnic groups, Official language and marriage. Meanwhile, trade and medical health care systems were sound pretty different from one another.

Free Narrative Essays - Advertising and Personal Values :: Personal Narrative Essays

Advertising and Personal Values      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   I just discovered that I don't know anything about today's society. This of course came as a shock.   I had thought that I was an informed citizen but I now know otherwise. this enlightenment came at great cost in time, and effort.   The time was spent in watching television for an hour. The effort was to not lose my sanity for unlike any other hour of TV, this time I was forced to actually watch the commercials.   The values that TV presents seem to be different than what I was taught as a child. Advertisers seem to present their own version of morality and values. Their idea of morality might not coincide with ours, but it does sell their products.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Wait, I just learned that if I buy my wife an anniversary band she will know that I love her.   But of course the band is a few thousand dollars.   Oh wait, easy financing is a valuable.   Darn I missed the small print that was flashed for two seconds on the bottom of the screen.   Oh well it must not have been important.   Wont my wife love me even if I can't afford to buy her this bracelet?   I wonder if this is going to leave an impression on anyone with an anniversary coming up?   Could that be the intention?      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   If I want to enjoy work I had better listen to the lite fm 93.9., and for lunch I can run out to Arby's for 99 cent roast beef sandwiches, but only for a limited time.   And if those roast beef sandwiches get me sick I can go to Osco and get some medicine twenty-four hours a day.   All of these ads just came rapid fire.   Is this playing upon my need for instant gratification?   Are the advertisers trying to get me to hurry?      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   I have to go see a Jeep dealer so I can outrun a bull in heat, but I better be careful if I get it to dirty the pigs will fall in love with it.   Wow is that a nice Jeep, but what is the price anyway?   And is it practical to own a vehicle that can go anywhere on or off the road?

Anarchy vs. Liberalism Essay -- Politics Political Ideologies

Contemporary liberal and anarchist philosophy are both two very different ways of trying to see what would be the best way to run society. While discussing these two ideologies I will try to show how both, in their purist sense, are not able work in today's society effectively. Contemporary liberals are involved in every day politics but through over regulation and dependence on government they loose their chances of running a reliable democracy. Anarchist have very good ideas of how a natural society could function without government or modern institutions but the biggest problem they have is how to get to that point. Both theories look good on paper but once they hit the real world they change due to alternating conceptions and individual influences. The root of the word anarchism comes from the Greek word anarchos, which means without ruler. The main philosophy behind anarchism is that people can reside in an unregulated community with no real authority and maintain a sustainable life. Anarchists see government and capitalism as an institution that creates liberty for the rich and enslavement of the masses. Emma Goldman best describes anarchism as: The philosophy of a new social order based on liberty unrestricted by man-made law; the theory that all forms of government rest on violence and are therefore wrong and harmful, as well as unnecessary. With anarchism there is a belief that once all government is abolished by the people that everyone will come together in a community of mutual aid and understanding without laws or authority to direct. Their philosophy can be considered opposite of most other ideologies, especially that of contemporary liberalism. Contemporary liberalism strives to hold on to the classic liberal's ideals pertaining to political, economic, and social liberties but it tends to look at democratic government as a tool rather than a hindrance. John Stuart Mill, John Dewey, and Franklin D. Roosevelt are established ideologues of contemporary liberalism. Just opposite of anarchism, modern liberalism puts its' faith in government to change and adapt to the failures of capitalism. The emergence of this political philosophy started around the end of the nineteenth century with John Stuart Mill's ideas in his book Principles of Political Economy. The philosophy became an ideology in the twentieth century with the main points of enh... ...Anarchy in theory seems like a very good idea. I would love to live in a society where you just did what was good for you and helped others while they helped you. I don't know why anyone wouldn't want to live in a society like that. The only problem is that to get to this utopian society the whole world would have to spontaneously decide they wanted it and I can guarantee there are many politicians and CEOs that would not like that. Contemporary liberals are right in wanting to reform institutions of today but I can't see how over regulation of government in all areas is going to help fix things. I do see the need for some government action towards the eradication of poverty, equal rights, and unemployment. Bibliography Citations "What is anarchism," An Anarchist FAQWebpage,www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/1931/, Internet Explorer, 5/4/98. Schumaker Paul, Dwight C. Kiel, Thomas Heilke, Great Ideas/Grand Schemes: Political Ideologies in the 19th and 20th Centuries, New York, The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc., 1996. Schumaker Paul, Dwight C. Kiel, Thomas W. Heilke, Ideological Voices: An Anthology in Modern Political Ideas, New York, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 1997.

Bandura & Rotter, Molly Ringwald Character from Breakfast Club Essay

Bandura & Rotter, Molly Ringwald Character from Breakfast Club The reinforcement for Clair’s behavior was mainly dependent on the approval she received from her popular peer group. She has a notion that she needs to be â€Å"popular† or approved in order to be seen as better in her school. Reinforcement would also be abiding by her parents so she is able to shop with her families wealth. After she had bought something materialistic, it makes her feel good. There was a battle of the reinforcement values in this movie. One was, as stated above, to seek approval of her older known peers known to be stuck-up, condescending, and popular. The other is reinforcement of a more positive virtue. This virtue is as stated, thinking independently and making choices in one’s life for oneself instead of seeking approval from her snobbish peer group. This would help he correct her choices of behavior so they do not become repetitive. At the beginning of the film Clair wasn’t to open to the later reinforcement but then discovered it v ia introspection through group discussion. They discussed peer groups, virginity, suicide attempts, and assaults. Although many of the ways they talked about each other had been derogatory in some way. Clair still introspected. When Clair was confronted about negative evaluations and opinions about herself, she became upset. Her expectancies had been almost the same throughout the movie until her introspection. She would either get upset, denial, switches the blame to person discussing the problem, or rationalized her behavior. An example of rationalizing would be her assuming that Andrew would say â€Å"Hi.† To Brain in the halls, then Andrew would bash Brian in front of his sporty peers. This means possibility of being categorized as a defensive external. If Clair is a defensive external, then the Social Cognitive Learning Theory would be in hot water. This is because the theory states that people who indicate that they are controlled by the outside are not suppose to be competitive. This is a hypocritical theory in comparison to the external locus of control. Clair needs to be approved by groups immediately or she feels left out. Therefore, her expectancy in this situation is to be approved by others. This would also be known as social desirability. Clair also jumps in on bashing another person verbally when her peer does it. Thus, her exp... ...ce and a very new love in John Bender. The Defensive behaviors would line up with Rotter’s defensive external definition associated with Clair’s expectancies. The idea of social comparison had been used by Clair and the new group during their circle discussion. They compared each other socially via peer groups and attitudes. Clair did use dehumanization as a tactic in conversation as well. Clair proclaimed herself better then the others solely because of her group and monetary status while calling Brian an academic nerd and John a criminalistic drug burner. The â€Å"burner† remark was a little hypocritical after she had smoked it herself. She used the advantageous comparison method to explain how each of them would treat each other on the Monday after the detention they would be back in school. She discussed how she would do the same thing to Allison as Andrew would hypothetically do to Brian. Use this as an example: (Andrew [Clair] would say â€Å"Hi.† To Brain [Allison] in the halls, then An drew would bash Brian in front of his sporty peers [stuck-up popular girls].) Lastly, Clair was using displacement, blaming her condescending peer group and parents for her condescending behavior.

Prelude to Foundation Author’s Note

When I wrote â€Å"Foundation,† which appeared in the May 1942 issue of Astounding Science Fiction, I had no idea that I had begun a series of stories that would eventually grow into six volumes and a total of 650,000 words (so far). Nor did I have any idea that it would be unified with my series of short stories and novels involving robots and my novels involving the Galactic Empire for a grand total (so far) of fourteen volumes and a total of about 1,450,000 words. You will see, if you study the publication dates of these books, that there was a twenty-five-year hiatus between 1957 and 1982, during which I did not add to this series. This was not because I had stopped writing. Indeed, I wrote full-speed throughout the quarter century, but I wrote other things. That I returned to the series in 1982 was not my own notion but was the result of a combination of pressures from readers and publishers that eventually became overwhelming. In any case, the situation has become sufficiently complicated for me to feel that the readers might welcome a kind of guide to the series, since they were not written in the order in which (perhaps) they should be read. The fourteen books, all published by Doubleday, offer a kind of history of the future, which is, perhaps, not completely consistent, since I did not plan consistency to begin with. The chronological order of the books, in terms of future history (and not of publication date), is as follows: The Complete Robot (1982). This is a collection of thirty-one robot short stories published between 1940 and 1976 and includes every story in my earlier collection I Robot (1950). Only one robot short story has been written since this collection appeared. That is â€Å"Robot Dreams,† which has not yet appeared in any Doubleday collection. The Caves of Steel (1954). This is the first of my robot novels. The Naked Sun (1957). The second robot novel. The Robots of Dawn (1983). The third robot novel. Robots and Empire (1985). The fourth robot novel. The Currents of Space (1952). This is the first of my Empire novels. The Stars, Like Dust (1951). The second Empire novel. Pebble in the Sky (1950). The third Empire novel. Prelude to Foundation (1988). This is the first Foundation novel (although it is the latest written, so far). Foundation (1951). The second Foundation novel. Actually, it is a collection of four stories, originally published between 1942 and 1944, plus an introductory section written for the book in 1949. Foundation and Empire (1952). The third Foundation novel, made up of two stories, originally published in 1945. Second Foundation (1953). The fourth Foundation novel, made up of two stories, originally published in 1948 and 1949. Foundations Edge (1982). The fifth Foundation novel. Foundation and Earth (1983). The sixth Foundation novel. Will I add additional books to the series? I might. There is room for a book between Robots and Empire (5) and The Currents of Space (6) and between Prelude to Foundation (9) and Foundation (10) and of course between others as well. And then I can follow Foundation and Earth (14) with additional volumes-as many as I like. Naturally, there's got to be some limit, for I don't expect to live forever, but I do intend to hang on as long as possible.

The Rules

* We should follow the rules so that we can maintain peace and organization within our society, economy, and even our country. Without rules no one would be able to work together. * Two different kinds of people can be heard to utter that question, â€Å"Why have rules? † One of them does not believe in rules; the other believes in rules and adds a few more words to the question, â€Å"Why have rules, if you are not going to enforce them? † I would like to examine both sides of this argument.Many people say that if we had no rules, there would be total anarchy and chaos. Some say that if there were no law against murder or theft, normal good people would murder and steal. I agree that there would be more murder and theft. But, I cannot imagine that normal people would murder and steal. Wouldn't you be repelled by murder and theft? Wouldn't there be implied constraints (implied laws, if you will) against murder and theft? Wouldn't the Golden Rule apply, even if it weren' t given to us in the Bible? Aren't there always implied rules? Sixty-nine percent of students who obey the rules say that the rules are there for guidance and protection, with 20 percent feeling that the rules are there to scare them into obedience. * We follow rules because they are necessary to coordinate individual actions in a social setting. Some rules are self-enforcing, i. e. , it is in each individual's interest to obey them. For example, once more than 50% of car operators drive on the right side of the road in a particular area, more and more drivers will notice that adapting to this rule reduces their risks of accident, and the rule will become more and more accepted.A driver who decides to break the rule will risk incurring a high cost. * A related reason why we follow rules is that we don't know the consequences of particular decisions: rules are, as Hayek says, â€Å"a device for coping with our constitutional ignorance. † * In certain instances, we follow rules because we want to guard against particular decisions that may, on the spur of the moment, bring satisfaction, but have long term consequences we wish to avoid. You may use a loud, or repeating, alarm-clock, or put it out of reach, because you know hat you may be tempted to stay in bed when the time comes. * Rules are indispensable, but there must be ways to challenge them by trying new ones. Much of the art of social, and personal, life is about knowing which rules to follow and which rules to disobey. * Most of the time we put people into one category or the other. You either accept the rules and play by them or you’re a rebel who likes to break the rules. * A third variety that we often forget about is the rule questioner.And the rule questioner is in a better position to learn and succeed than the pure rule followers and rule breakers. * Why you shouldn’t follow all the rules * The rule followers believe that rules are in place for a reason and that we should foll ow them all. Groups of smart people created laws and company procedures and social norms and school policies so we should accept them and follow them. * Blindly following the rules doesn’t require you to think much. You accept rules the way they are even if they don’t seem to make sense. The problem is that circumstances and environments and people and societies change. We learn better methods. Technology changes our procedures. Rules become outdated. * If you blindly follow all the rules, you don’t account for these changes. * Why you shouldn’t break all the rules * While some of us like to believe we’re rule breakers, most of us realize that we need rules to have a functioning society. (That is, unless you’re an anarchist. ) * Rule breakers really aren’t that different from rule followers.Instead of blindly following the rules, they blindly break the rules. * Why? * Maybe you think you know better. * Maybe you like the feeling of re bellion. * Maybe you want to be different. * Maybe you think the rules are absurd. * The underlying problem with both rule breakers and rule followers is that they don’t use their brains to think about whether they should follow or break the rules. * Question the rules * Instead of following all the rules or breaking all the rules, we should become rule questioners. * Do the rules make sense?If so, then follow them†¦if not, think about about how you might be able to change them. * Most people believe that if you don’t question the rules, you’ll get farther in life, but success awaits those who are willing to break the right rules. * Painting inside the lines * I’m definitely a rule follower. * I was reminded of my tendency to follow the rules last weekend when I attending a Paint By Wine Class with some friends. A local art shop provides paint, a blank canvas and an artist to teach you to create a painting while you sip wine and chat with friends. Ev eryone is supposed to follow the instructor’s guidance to create the same painting. I didn’t really like the colors in the painting, but I followed each of the artist’s instructions and recreated something that looked exactly like her painting. She complimented me on how straight my lines were. * It wasn’t until I looked around, that I noticed that other people weren’t following the rules (gasp! ). Some of my friends used different colors. Others put their flowers in different locations. Others were going even more rogue and painting roses instead of daisies. I blindly followed the rules without even thinking about how I could put my own touch on the painting. I didn’t even like what I was creating, but I found myself proud that I had followed the directions so closely (although certainly not perfectly). * What was I left with at the end of the night? Besides a fun time hanging out with my friends, I had an exact replica of a painting I didn ’t really like. (Yes, the featured image in this post is my â€Å"work of art†. ) * Use your brain to question the rules Whether you’re more of a rule breaker or a rule follower, we can all improve by questioning the rules before following or breaking them. * I’m not suggesting that you pick only the rules you feel like following. Please don’t drink and drive because you think the rule doesn’t make sense. Don’t steal from the grocery store to feel like a rebel. * But do use your brain to ask reasonable questions. *   Rules are important because without rules there would be chaos. Everyone would be doing whatever they want and no one would agree and bad things would happen.   Rules are important because it lets society know what is expected of them. If you break the rules there are consequences and you are aware of that as well. Rules keep us in order. * We should follow the rules so that we can maintain peace and organization with in our society, economy, and even our country. Without rules no one would be able to work together. * Rules are needed to stop anarchy and to provide order. People need to be accountable for their actions so rules are needed. Without rules, no one would own up to any responsibility and things would never get accomplished. *

Omega-3 and Omega-6 Fatty Acids: Balance of Essential Dietary Lipids For Good Health Essay

Omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids are important lipids which are obtained by the body mainly from fish, nut, vegetable and seed oils. These are biomolecules which should necessarily be incorporated in the diet for proper development, physical and behavioral functions in humans and animals. Our ability to synthesize these fatty acids or to interconvert them from other molecules is averted by the absence of enzymes required for their production of transformation in the body. This class of fatty acids is characterized by an even-numbered aliphatic chain starting from a carboxylic carbon and ending in a methyl group. The structure possesses two or more all-cis double bonds (polyunsaturated), the first of which is located three or six carbons away from the methyl (omega) carbon, hence the name, omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). They are also components of the phospholipid bilayer which envelope cells and organelles and are converted to other molecules such as eicosanoids including prostaglandins, thromboxanes, leukotrienes and other molecules implicated in immune reactions and signals. Also because of their health implications, they are subject of many research studies which aim to improve certain medical conditions, finding alternative sources and determining the optimum amounts in the diet for maximized health benefits. Lipids are a diverse class of biomolecules that are distinguished from the other classes because of their solubility in non polar solvents. This is due to the relatively large hydrophobic portion, usually consisting of an aliphatic hydrocarbon chain or ring attached to other functional groups. Being derivatives of carboxylic acids, they can undergo the same reactions typical of carboxylic acids. Thus, they may combine with alcohols to produce acyl compounds called esters. This very reaction allows for a diverse array of lipid structures. They find use as components of the cellular membranes aiding in protection and fluidity of the lipid bilayer; for energy storage because of their oxidation potential, because of this, they generate ample amounts of heat during fat burning; as body insulator because fat is a poor conductor of heat and prevents heat loss through the skin; as tools for molecular recognition between attached moieties (usually proteins) and the hydrophobic environment and protective covering of tissues among others. This large group is classified based on their structure as follows: (a) fatty acids and derivatives, (b) triacylglycerols, (c) wax esters, (d) phospholipids, (e) sphingolipids, and (f) isoprenoids (1). Triacylglycerols are esterification products of glycerol and three fatty acids. They are important components of adipose cells and are generally used as energy reserves. These molecules can undergo saponification reactions which produces carboxylate salts of soap. Phospholipids are the major structural components of membranes and find use as emulsifiers and surfactants due to the presence of a small polar head represented by the charged phosphate group. They may also be used as protective coverings of small molecules and probiotics (2). Wax esters are important components of leaves, fruit and animal fur. They may be combinations of many types of functional groups such as alcohols, aldehydes and sterols. Sphingolipids are hydrophobic amino alcohols which are generally found composing animal membranes. It is also found covering the myelin sheath of neurons and assists in the transmission of messages in the brain. The isoprene ring is characteristic structure of isoprenoids. They are distinguished from other lipid classes by a five carbon unit, methylbutadiene. Examples of this class include essential oils which are mixtures of terpenes giving fruits and flowers their characteristic scent; carotenoids which are plant pigments that have the structure of tetraterpene, vitamin E, vitamin K, ubiquinone and some hormones (1). The omega-3 and omega-9 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are very important examples of lipids belonging to the first group. Examples of this class are aptly called essential fatty acids because these molecules need to be supplemented in the diet since our body lacks the enzymes for its synthesis. These include the short chain PUFA which are in turn precursors of other long chain omega-3 and omega-9 PUFA. Fatty acids that can be synthesized in by the body because of existing pathways and enzymes are referred to as non essential fatty acids (3). This paper discusses the structure of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, their biochemical functions, products and applications especially in maintaining good health and tackles current discoveries regarding their transformation to new molecules, issues concerning increased dietary intake and health prospects. Nomenclature and structure Fatty acids are synthesized in the liver and adipose cytoplasm through the fatty acid synthase and malonyl CoA a precursor. The chain increases by two carbons at each round of the reaction catalyzed by a unique enzyme complex until it forms a saturated fatty acid containing 16 carbons (palmitic acid). Through a series of elongation, reduction, dehydration and desaturation reactions various types of unsaturated fatty acids are produced. The reaction can incorporate double bonds up to the ninth carbon in mammalian system since the required enzymes are lacking and so we depend on plant sources for these essential fatty acids (3). Omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids Fatty acids are called such because of the attachment of a long hydrophobic tail made of an aliphatic chain to a carboxylic acid functional group. This carboxylic carbon is referred to, in nomenclature, as the ? carbon. The chain is terminated by a methyl group assigned as the ? position. Polyunsaturated fatty acids are characterized by the presence of conjugated alkene groups in the cis confirmation. Thus, the position of the double bond can be indicated from the carboxylic carbon or from the methyl end. Thus, linoleic acid, a fatty acid with eighteen carbons and with two double bonds at carbons 9 and 12 from the carboxylic end can be designated as 18:2? 9,12. The dietary profile of the intake of fatty acids also determines the fatty acid composition of the phospholipid double layer. The latter can be assessed by determining the profiles of lipids from erythrocytes and plasma lipids, as well as identifying the membrane fluidity using analytical techniques (5). Another method of measuring membrane fluidity includes the use of various fluorescent markers which can tag protein molecules that are embedded in the lipid bilayer. The tendency of the colored markers to mix depends on the ability of the proteins to move through the membrane as time passes. The FRAP method, fluorescence recovery after photobleaching, can also be related to the fluidity of membranes since it can measure lateral diffusion. This technique takes advantage of the ability of laser to bleach a pre marked fluorescent portion. As the membrane moves, color is regained and visualized using video equipment. Probes attached to the membrane can also be detected by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy (1). Arachidonic acid is also an important fatty acid component of phospholipids. The high degree of unsaturation ensures that the lipid bilayer is flexible and fluid even at slightly lower temperatures. The characteristic four conjugated double bonds prevent solidification at physiological temperatures and typically undergo alkene reactions such as oxidation. Its pKa is also suited to regulate its solubility in the aqueous and hydrophobic portions of the cell. In the salt form, it can be solvated by water but reverts back to its hydrophobic form once the salt reacts with free H+ in solution (6). Eicosanoid synthesis Omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids are also synthetic precursors of autocrine regulators called eicosanoids. Arachidonic acid is central to many pathways in the production of eicosanoids. These arachidonic acid-derived molecules, which include prostaglandins, thromboxanes and leukotrienes, are difficult to analyze because of their limited concentrations and short periods of activity. The molecules are usually released as a response to immune reactions triggered by infections and antigen attack (1). In addition, they trigger molecular cascades which can affect even the expression of lipid metabolizing enzymes and present perils in metabolic disorders (7). The eicosanoid synthesis is mediated by two groups of enzymes and is achieved through the pathways utilizing cyclooxygenase, lipoxygenase (8). Prostaglandins feature a cyclopentane ring in its structure with alcoholic functional groups at carbons in position eleven and fifteen. They are named as PGXy (prostaglandins) classified according to letters (symbolized by X) while y (subscript) indicated the number of double bonds found in the structure. Different letter classes are indicated by similarities in the functional group attached to the core structure but the group derived from arachidonic acid is one of the most significant. They are important molecules that signify inflammation reactions during infection and pain and are involved in muscular contractions during birthing events and ovulation. Apparently, they also have varying roles depending on the type of cell and tissue where they are produced (1). In fact, both omega-3 and omega-6 PUFA find importance in the synthesis of prostaglandins. The products from each, however, have different actions. Prostaglandins resulting from omega-3 PUFA have anti-inflammatory functions, while that synthesized from omega-6 are inflammatory. Thus, the ratio of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids is important because these molecules compete for the same enzymes and the synthesis products should complement each other (9). Thromboxanes are cyclic ether derivatives of eicosanoids whose name can be symbolized as TXZy. Z represents the class of thromboxane and y indicates, as in the case of prostaglandins, the number of double bonds. They are involved in platelet aggregation and vasoconstriction. Leukotrienes, on the other hand, are eicosanoid molecules originally isolated from white blood cells, hence the name. They are also classified according to groups symbolized by letters (X) and subscripts (y) denote the number of double bonds found in the structure (LTXy). They are also implicated in processes involving inflammation, bronchoconstriction, vasoconstriction and capillary permeability (1). The overexpression of cyclooxygenase and lipooxygenase enzymes which oxidize the double bonds of arachidonic acid to form eicosanoids has been implicated in possible tumorigenesis in the human brain such as in gliomas and meningiomas. Thus, their structures are used as models for designing drugs that target inhibitory sites on the enzymes. It is predicted that future medicines that aim to cure brain tumors may be based on blocking certain reactions catalyzed by cyclooxygenases and lipooxygenases in the eicosanoid synthesis pathway (8). Due to its importance in brain, eyesight development, physical and behavioral functions, alternative sources of these omega-3 PUFA are being tapped and utilized to produce fortified food. Arterburn et al. 2007) have assessed the possibility of utilizing algae as sources of these important fatty acids and found substantial amounts of synthesized arachidonic acid, docosapentaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid in membrane lipids and blood cells using algal oil fortified capsule supplements and foods (10). Health benefits and issues Early studies in animals and human test subjects have already established the important roles that omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids play in health functions. A study by Carlson et al. 2003) reports that diets deficient in omega-6 fatty acids impairs the growth of infants by decreasing the synthesis of arachidonic acid whose products play roles in development and phospholipid synthesis (11). It was recently identified that brain lipids metabolism and synthesis has a large dependence on levels of omega-3 and omega-6 PUFA, specifically docosahexaenoic acid and other eicosanoids (12). The diet of infants can easily be devoid of omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids, interestingly, it was observed that these fatty acids are transmitted to the fetus from the pool of nutrients of the mother. It is thus important to maintain balance of these fatty acids in lactating and pregnant mothers for the proper development of their infants (5). The role of omega-3 and omega-6 PUFA in the development of brain disorders such as schizophrenia is also attributed to the ability of these fatty acids to inhibit the phospholipid degrading enzyme phospholipiase A2 which is found to be increased in schizophrenic individuals (7). Various studies have also reported the beneficial effects of an omega-3 and omega-6 rich diet on physical, behavioral and even psychological health. On the contrary, Hakkarainen et al. 2004) monitors the effect of an increased omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acid intake and reports that a positive correlation is observed towards anxiety, alcoholism and depression among male subjects (13). The relation of diseases which stem from genetic alterations such as cancer and their risks based on profiles of dietary intake of omega-3 and omega-6 PUFA are also being established. It has been observed that omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids lessens the odds of acquiring prostate cancer by slowing down the growth of prostate tumor cells but is reversed by omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Similarly, inter conversion of omega-6 to omega-3 PUFA re-established the positive effects of omega-3 on prostate cancer (14). These reports acknowledge that a healthy diet can be used to minimize genetic predispositions to certain diseases. In addition, if coupled with a healthy diet, preventive lifestyle measures, adequate nutrients, avoidance of red meat, refined floor products and concentrated sugars, substantial sulforophane rich foods such as allium and broccoli, intake of minerals, folic acids, vitamins, antioxidants, carotenoids, probiotics and dietary supplements, these measures and precautions can ward of the risks of cancer (15).

Candide Essay

Throughout his novel Candide, Voltaire utilized satire, characterization, and techniques of exaggeration and contrast to attack Candide’s two-dimensional outlook on life and to disprove the overly optimistic philosophy that Candide and Pangloss represent. While the experiences of Candide and Pangloss conflict dramatically with this philosophy, both choose to maintain their beliefs in this regard. Voltaire uses Candide as a tool to accuse the various aspects of his zeitgeist. Through his techniques, he attacks multiple points of view and even the Enlightenment he represented. Candide is a story about the two dimensional character of Candide, who is taught from birth not to think for himself and to accept the ideals of others. He chooses to follow the local philosopher Pangloss, who preaches that everything is good, and that the world is the â€Å"best of all possible worlds†. Throughout the story, Voltaire dramatically disproves this philosophy over and over, but the protagonist sticks with this belief. Each of the characters in Candide represents a different aspect of his zeitgeist, most of whom Voltaire brutally attacks with his satire. After examining Candide in Western thought and movements, there is no doubt that the work is highly critical of many of the social institutions of the time. Still, while criticizing many of the societal aspects such as religion, the class system and the detested monarchy in France Candide is not free from the biases and â€Å"unenlightened† thoughts that the revolutionary movement in France was based upon. The philosophers wanted to work through established forms, including the monarchy and even the Church† by doing so, there were not quite as revolutionary in their beliefs since they did not attempt to go outside of the system of oppression to draw their insights. Even though Voltaire was known for verbally announce the equal rights of women, this emotion is not apparent in his fiction, especially considering the fact that the main female characters are prostitutes, women that marry for money, disease-spreaders, and most importantly victims. In terms of religion, Candide explores the hypocrisy that was rampant in the Church. Consider for example, the inhumanity of the clergy, most notably the Inquisitor, in hanging and executing his fellow citizens over philosophical differences. Moreover, he orders the flogging of Candide for merely, â€Å"listening with an air of approval† thus proving himself somehow implicit in blasphemy. Church officials in Candide are depicted as being among the most sinful of all citizens; having mistresses, engaging in homosexual affairs, and operating as jewel thieves. These three subjects—religious intolerance, greed, and denial of love are satirized and portrayed as wrong and harmful in Voltaire’s Candide. They are portrayed as dangerous tyrannies over the mind of men that serve only to counteract logic and damage the general welfare.

Vtiamin D Deficiency Developing, Implementing and Evaluating a Research Paper

Vtiamin D Deficiency Developing, Implementing and Evaluating a -Based Intervention - Research Paper Example The issue is aggravated with low levels of vitamin D. National Institute of Health (NIH) and the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) guidelines recommend that a 800 to 1000 IU daily supplement of vitamin D to maintain >30 nmg/L levels and this needs appropriate interventions as the need of the hour as practitioners and health care providers need to enhance their knowledge base on the harmful effects of vitamin D deficiency. II. Relevance to nursing and the value of the project to the advancement of nursing knowledge Patient concordance can be improved by effectively equipping the practitioners with relevant knowledge on the need for maintaining appropriate vitamin D levels. Lee (2001) observes that at least 50 percent of chronic diseases can be prevented, and health promotion is a major concern in preventing these all-cause diseases. Health promotion is defined as â€Å"combination of health education and related organizational, economic, and environmental supports for behav iour change of individuals† (Green and Kreuter, 1991, Lee, 2001) in which health education is the primary concern. Health education focuses on health behaviour which is central to health promotion and is found to affect at multiple levels through personal and interpersonal health behaviours (Lee, 2001). Health of an individual is perceived more as an additive process due to the influences of environment, physical and psychological factors as viewed by Nightingale. Further, health is not just the absence of disease but a multi-dimensional concept that is more relevant to the 21st century health concern. It is also the major concern regards nursing, apart from the other three nursing metaparadigms: person, environment and nursing. Being a self-standing concept in the field of nursing, health is promoted as a holistic process for adapting oneself to social, psychological and biological changes through goal-driven behaviour to implement the four health models described by Edelman and Mandle (2004): clinical, role performance, adaptive and eudaimonistic models (Lippincott and Lippincott, 2008). Health promotion enhances the concept of health and along with preventive paradigm, forms the basis for health belief model (HBM) and further, Pender’s health promotion (PHP) model. Many of the other models of nursing and health care are based on these two models. As nurses engage in complex functions like health education, assist, supervise or carry out medical treatments suggested by physicians, their role in health promotion becomes is crucial and is based primarily on PHP model. Nurses play a crucial role in â€Å"the process of enabling people to increase control over and improve their health† (WHO, 1984, p5; Mackey, 2002, p4). III. Intervention: Analysis of Institution Unit X’s adherence to National Practice Guideline X within the past 6 months Describe selected intervention. Education training program as an effective intervention program is suggested for a target audience which includes practitioners, nurses, and other providers of health care. The nursing process is similar to the education process and involves the four stages: assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation. PHP model focuses on four related aspects of intervention: inputs, outputs, activities and

Accounting for Decision Makers -Discussion Question Assignment - 4

Accounting for Decision Makers -Discussion Question - Assignment Example As an example for the second item, if the highest budget value was $154967 while the required budget for next year is less than that, this is a slack. The third item will create a budgetary slack because more money will be used to correct the situation. If $5400 gave the poor results, more dollars will be needed next year. Including depreciation value in the purchase budget will increase cost slightly: this is a slack too. For example if equipment costs $392 today while its charge is $8, the budgeted cost then becomes $400. Inflation rate and fixed cost to the estimates of purchase will slight relax the budget: for example budgeting with $450 for a facility that costs $400 today. Lastly, new employees require higher cost to make labor efficient. Using this cost for approximation of labor efficiency would create a slack. An example would be budgeting for an average $211 for labor efficiency of new employees while only about $110 dollars would be used for the same. I believe Bailey can justify the built-in budgetary slack to the company. The manager may need to explain would benefit the company like preventing frequent returns to the budgeting table or frequent withdrawal of projects. I would suggest for Bailey to improve the company’s budgeting by use of automated systems such as excel spreadsheets for budgeting and driver-based metrics (Hartgraves & Morse, 2015). In addition, honesty between departments and management should be maintained so that none is taken for a

Swot Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Swot - Essay Example ariety of freight including sand, drill cuttings, propane, sulfuric acid, sodium hydroxide, wood products, feed products, and fertilizers (Lehigh Railway LLC , par 1). Moreover, they also boast of a full range of transloading services through their in-house manpower or through their reliable transload service sub-contractor. Railway is also proud of the quality of their highly-skilled employees. LRWY has weaknesses too which they are currently addressing. This includes their problem with the lease contracts with Norfolk Southern. They are also beset with problems of locomotive power shortages. A key opportunity of LRWY is the presence of Marcellus Shale in its location. Marcellus Shale formation is considered by some geologist as a major source of natural gas (Geology.com , par 2). People in the natural gas industry believe that the Marcellus can be a major contributor for the supply of natural gas for the United States. This development presents possible new business opportunities for LRWY. The threats being faced by the company is the presence of other railroad companies in the area. However, the main threat that confronts them is the possible cancellation of their lease contract with Norfolk. As in any infrastructure, they are also aware that their railway may be damaged through Acts of God such as earthquakes, floods or hurricanes. Presently, LRWY’s advantage over its competitors is its location or geography. Its line encompasses a large area from Athens to Laceyville, Mehoopany, Meshopen, Presswood, Rummerfield, Sayer, Skinners Eddy, Towanda, Ulster, Wyalusing, and Wysox (Lehigh Railway LLC , par 1). The strategic issue that will challenge LRWY is the probability of a high growth rate in its business as against their capability to meet the demands of a growing market. The company must be able to gear up for this future growth in its business if it wants to remain competitive. In the next five years, aside from coping with this expansion, the

Preschool observation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Preschool observation - Essay Example Conducive environment increases ability to develop by observing and recognizing a need for growth in a specific content area. Right pedagogical tools fuel development by integrating inherent characteristics of an individual to observe, emulate and initiate a wide range of competencies. Literacy skills are at the heart of the knowledge based education to all children to make them competent for future. Literacy skills are composed of several components including, vocabulary and oral language, phonological awareness, knowledge of print, letters and words, comprehension, understanding of books and other texts, and a source of enjoyment. Development of literacy skills including language and communication progress are coordinated efforts of the child and the surrounding stimuli. This could be cooperatively boosted with the help of planned activities by educators. These intentional use of techniques helps to reach, teach and promote literacy learning among all the students. The children easily capture language skills by watching and listening to their teachers and colleagues without much effort. Then, they attempt to apply their vocabulary in conversation. The language is not only vocabulary but the knowledge of meaning of words, structured sound for conveying linguistic meaning and use of language in different contexts. Playful environment has unmet positive characteristics and exceptional features. This intentional learning strategy builds up various skills like verbalization, vocabulary, language comprehension, problem solving, observation, empathy, imagination, assuming another’s perspective, using symbols, and learning to cooperate with others. Play in a trustworthy environment with educator’s supervision and support; children can explore, develop, and learn language and communication skills. The learners are able to regula te the impulses and understand the need for rules. They are able to develop synergistic

Cognition Development and Music Training Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Cognition Development and Music Training - Essay Example His world is bounded by the sense of touch and better yet, by the sounds that his surroundings would offer. Perhaps a good example of how sounds contribute to the human brain is the teaching of verbal language to the young ones. The words they utter such as 'Mama' or 'Dada' results from the insistent and persistent training of the parents who illustrate by speaking to the baby in an instructional technique. Consider for example the study of Weber et al (as cited in Overy, 2000) which employed elementary school students from 50 Swiss educational institutions. There was an experimental curriculum in which language and math subjects were augmented with musical instruction. The finding was that those who availed of such an instruction performed better in language and reading than those who took the standard courses. Another interesting study is that of Gardiner et al (1996) who found out that those 1st grade students who availed of a program which replaced standard methods of instructions with musical teaching registered better performances in math and the languages. Indeed, the association between sounds and learning have been the interest of many studies some of which have been specialized as more scientific tools are becoming available. Consider for instance the study published in the Society of Neuroscience conducted by Lahav and Schlaug (2007) of Harvard Medical School. What they did was to teach nine randomly selected people (from a pool of candidates who have met certain criterions such as having no musical training) and teach them a five note, 24 second song. They then let the subjects listen to three different songs - the one they taught, another one with the same five notes but different... What they did was to teach nine randomly selected people (from a pool of candidates who have met certain criterions such as having no musical training) and teach them a five note, 24 second song. They then let the subjects listen to three different songs – the one they taught, another one with the same five notes but different arrangement and another one with additional notes. By using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), they were bale to come with an image that shows that when they hear the song they were taught there was significant activity on the frontal and parietal lobe. This part of the brain is associated with motor movements which leads the author to speculate that the human mind may have developed neuron systems which allows us to understand actions even when they cannot be observed but can only be heard such as when we hear the rustling of   leaves.  What is important to recognize is that these studies serve as proof that there is indeed a connection between the b rain and musical training.Professional Training in Music  Ã‚  After having illustrated the connection between brain development and sounds, we are now prepared to consider a much more complex topic and that is the inquiry into whether professional musicians have developed cognition abilities different than those who haven’t received musical training at all. I caution the reader, however, that this discussion does not presuppose that there is indeed some form of connection as what our previous discussion would tell us.

Aztec Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Aztec - Essay Example Initially the Aztecs did farming for a living. There is no doubt that the Aztecs had a very developed economic system. Their economy advanced because they built irrigation canals and terraces in the mountains for maximum crop growing. The Aztec used barter for trading due to the lack of a concept of the monetary system. However, this later developed into a stable monetary system. Although for a long time they had no money , they used salt, cocoa beans or cloth as currency. The idea of a monetary system was very well established and they were far advanced than other civilizations in their time when it came to transactions. Later they began trading using gold coins and copper knives. From this follows our modern currency. The Aztecs were responsible for developing a formal government with the emperor at the head of the civilization. This allowed the distribution of the civilization into twenty clans as well as other government officials such as merchants, priests and nobles who were responsible for running the society in an orderly manner. They were also responsible for collecting tribute from neighbouring provinces which clearly helped the economy of Aztec. The merchants although ranked below the nobles in terms of social class, were an important part of the Aztec society. They were largely responsible for creating the market economy in the society by their trade activities, whereby they traveled far and wide in order to make money on traded goods. They often lived separately from the civilization and enjoyed special privileges. They formed their own guilds which are mainly precursors to today's trade organizations and unions and laid the concept of trading rules and regulations carried out through these guilds. Hence, they laid the foundations of organized trade and therefore a market economy. (Smith and Masson; 2000) Trade Market Laws The Aztecs ensured fair trade through laws. The markets were patrolled by officers who ensured that there was no cheating and that the buyers were getting a fair deal. The organization was crucial because the markets were very large in number. Conclusion The civilization is not just a case of the past, to be forgotten and erased from our minds. The civilization is to be taken lessons from because the Aztecs were what shape the modern Mexican culture today and many aspects of modern Mexico can be traced directly from the Aztec empire. A question remains unanswered however. We have yet to understand the extent to which trade would have been possible today had the proper market economy in the Aztec civilization been not established References Smith.M and M.Masson (2000). The Ancient Civilizations of Mesoamerica: A Reader Blackwell Publishing Fagan.B.(1996).The Oxford Companion to Archaeology. Oxford University

The Attendance to Five Art Events Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 440

The Attendance to Five Art Events - Essay Example An example is the Inventing Impressionism event that was earlier this ye\r displaying various portraits with an example below.The commencement of the tour was on November 7, and 8 of 2015 with gates open from 9 in the morning and close at 5 in the evening. The visit to the small cottages and the towns tend to bring a new perspective of the local cultures of the cities and villages as well as the art and the cuisine. The best place to visit was the Bradbury Museum of Science that showcases the development stages of the atom bombs. Another important feature was the Bandelier National Monument that represents the cliff dwellings of ancient man and the Indian ruins as well as the petroglyphs. The date of the event was October 9 with the place open from 5 in the morning to 8 in the evening. The organizers were the CU Department of Fine Arts whose display was mostly the art facilities, the viewing of the BFA and the MFA students working in the studio and the discovery of new talents. The admission was free, and there was the message to encourage upcoming artists to develop more techniques and abilities. The Admission was also free, and the place had many people touring the various exhibitions. The event had the duration of four days that would commence on October 8 and end on the 11th of the same month. The locations of the event were between San Francisco and the Silicon Valley at the San Mateo center for events. The showcase was mainly a feature of the great artistic works of the 21st and the 20th centuries with a conjunction of works from other art galleries and art institutions. The work was a reflection of the high standards and the expectations of the Miami population in the display of the post-war blue-chip plus the works in the modern times. Other features in the exhibition were courtesy of emerging artists practicing new media. Below indicates a painting for the Armory show that was a particular event in the Silicon Valley.

Scholarly vs. Popular Media Focused articles Essay

Scholarly vs. Popular Media Focused articles - Essay Example Both these articles provide insight about previous research, for example: Cerny and Janssen have reported a study conducted by Rieger in their own research and Tuller has reported a study that was published in Archieves of Sexual Behavior. Both provide opinion on a specific issue and both are published for example study conducted by Cerny and Jannsen state that bisexual males are highly aroused by bisexual adult content and Tuller states the males are aroused by both the genders. The list of similarities between popular and scholarly articles is quite small but there is a huge difference between these forms of articles. In popular articles different sub categories of an issue and the issue are tried to be explored in a limited amount of space and in case of scholarly articles, specific part of an issue or topic is discussed and in-depth information about that particular topic is provided, for example: the article on the study conducted by Cerny and Janssen is 10 page long and discuss es the sexual arousal patterns of males who have different orientation, where as the article written by Tuller is less than 1000 words long. There is a difference between the audiences of both the articles, popular ones are targeted towards everyone who may be and may not be educated, scholarly ones are targeted towards a specific audience who have an academic background related to the area being studied in the article For example: Cerny and Janssen’s article is for those students who study sexual behavior and the article written by Tuller is for the general population. The terminology and vocabulary that is used in scholarly articles is very technical and can hardy be understood by illiterates and those who do not belong to a specific field of education, for example: Cerny and Janssen have used terminologies such as psychophysiology. In case of popular articles, the vocabulary is easy to understand and any individual can understand the topic that is being

Energy and charisma Essay Example for Free

Energy and charisma Essay Throught the entire play Richard is without a doubt a character of energy and charisma, but in comparison to others is a very debatable question. That is why I am going to try and look at both sides of the arguement fairly to see if Richard is a character of strong energy and charisma compared to the others or if, he infact, is not. I think that the only person throught the play who see past Richards lies and deceit is his own mother (The Duchess) as in Act 2, scene 1-4 she talks about how unusually fast he grew as a child and how he was born with teeth. She goes on to talk about how he was mischevious (Parlous) and sharp tongued (Shrewd). There is also another character in Act 2, scene 4 who fears herself to be in danger from Richard duke of Gloucester. This character is Elizabeth. She realizes she is in great peril when her son (Grey) and her brother (Rivers) are both arrested. Elizabeth says: Come, come, my boy, we will to sanctuary.  Madam, farewell.  Elizabeth decides to flee, and go into hiding because she fears for her life from Richard. Elizabeth at this point I dont think knows exactly what Richards up too, but she does know Richard will come after her aswell. This is quite an unpredictable event as she does not wait around and fall into Richards evil plot. So i would say that she showed a knowledge and used initiative by pre-determining Richards plans for her, this shows that she is quite energetic. I would definetly say that she doesnt seem to be dull or predictable. A character that doesnt see what Richard has planned is Lord Hastings for in Act 3 scene 2 all the way to Act 3 scene 4 Hastings misses all the signs that almost blatantly show that Richard intends to kill him. This does not make him predictable or dull, just easily fooled. For example in Act 3 scene 2 Lord Stanley sends a messenger to Hastings telling him his dream was The boar razed off his helm in other words Lord Stanley was convinced that Hastings was in great danger of Richard, but Hastings calmy says:  To fly the boar before the boar pursues  Were to incense the boar to follow us  And make pusuit were he did not mean to chase. What Hastings is trying to says is that Stanley is just being paranoid and that it was just a simple dream, he says if they were to flee from Richard for fear of death and Richard didnt want to kill Hastings then it would cause him to find him and kill him and he may not have wanted to do such a thing in the first place. This is dramatic irony because what Hastings says is the complete opposite to Richards intentions for him, Hastings thinks if he would flee, Richard would kill him but infact Richard lures him and then kills him. Hastings is trying to think with some logic here and what he is saying does make sense, but from here on he becomes more and more ignorant to other signs he recieves, truly convinced that Richard means no harm to him. That was the first sign for Hastings, and because he is so predictable himself he seems to think that everyone else is too. For example he thinks he has Richard all figured out by saying:  Can lesser he hide his love or hate, than he,  For but his face straight shall you know his heart  He assumes that Richard cannot hide his true feelings and these are expressed, he doesnt belive he can almost be two people, because one Richard appears to be good, faithful and loyal whilst the real Richard is lying, cheating and decietful. If you were to compare both Hastings to Elizabeth you would see an etirely different contrast between them both. Elizabeth clearly sees herself in great danger and goes into hiding which is the opposite to what Hastings did, he was even lured by Richard into his own death. I personally belive Hastings wasnt as stupid as he seemed to be when it came to knowing Richard, I belive he was in denial that Richards intentions for him were death, I am sure Hastings wanted to belive that this wasnt true and that is why whenever a sign showed for him he dismissed it quickly without a second thought, so if this was true Hastings may be an energetic character, but in a completely opposite way. He trys to butter up Richard in possibly a faint attempt for Richard to reconsider killing Hastings, he does this by saying: I thank his grace, I know he loves me well  There are some characters in the play who can almost tell that Richard is lying and decietful, for example the two young princes. Richard trys to convince the boys that his uncles were arrested because they were evil but infact they deny what Richard says and they say they know that there good people. Other characters in this play dont really show much charisma, or at least not as much as Richard. This again doesnt mean they lack charismatic and energetic influences, i think its because Richard seems almost the most unlikely person who would ever betray people due to the fact he is a social outcast and is deformed a little. Im sure they fell for Richards false charm because of the fact he appears harmless and he can play both good and evil so well, I think most people would belive how he acted towards them. There is also another character who I myself think made Richard seem predictable and that was Lord Buckingham. For when Richard asks him to kill the two princes up in the tower he pushs Buckingham to his limit and Buckingham refuses to do it. I thought that Richard should have possibly seen this coming as everyone has there limits and Richard found Buckinghams limits. Another reason for Buckingham being an extra-ordinary character is because I feel he out-wits Richard due to the fact that I dont think Buckingham really wants to help Richard, I think he knew what Richard was up to and Buckingham thought it would be safer to help Richard or he would almost certainly get killed, and now that Richard has the throne Buckingham possibly feels theres no real threat from Richard anymore because he has the thone now. There are many characters in this play and personally all of them how there own unique energetic spirit, its not because they are dull and predictable its simply because Richard is a flatterer, and he was the most unlikely person to try and take the throne due to his deforment. The other characters were all to busy worrying about other people betraying them they hardly had time to notice Richards evil plots.  To summarise, I belive there are equal arguements to say Richard is more charismatic and energetic than the other characters. There are some who are predictable and others who I feel out-master Richards charisma. So all in all, there are some chracters who dull, some who match Richards charisma and others who top it.