Politics and Policy in Education Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4750 words

Politics and Policy in Education - Essay Example The researcher states that politicians have the responsibility to take into account the welfare of the society and therefore education has become one of the first issues for all political parties’ agenda. Education has improved the market outcomes, particularly for the developing countries. Moreover, it has created positive thinking and attitudes, constructive way of socialization, modernization and overall transformation of the societies. In 1960s Higher Education Committee concluded in their report that education contributes towards economic growth. After around 30 years in 1990s loans were made available for students to help them with their education, and they were not required to repay this loan until they finish their studies and find a job, even then they were required to pay back the loan by installments. Money was invested in students who in return served the country and empowered the market economy. It also improved the social welfare and the economical and cultural c ircumstances. World Bank stressed on financing education in their report, describing education as a social and private investment. Markets and politicians both have realized the importance of financing education and therefore policies have been designed to support education. Markets, on the other hand, contend against free public education. After 1945 United Kingdom became a welfare state and government took the responsibility of health care, insurance, pensions, and child benefits. But with time it was realized that in order to remain efficient welfare system will have to be restructured and therefore nongovernmental organizations started to play a role too in social services (Zaleski, 2006). It was difficult for the government to bear all the social expenses therefore privatization was inevitable. Market became dominant in the economy by giving people license to pursue personal profit. All this made markets more competitive as barriers to entry were removes and everyone was given a level playing field. Mrs. Thatcher argued about privatization and reformation of the trade union. Thatcher's government injected competition and privatization. In Thatcher’s government education moved from being a pillar of the welfare state to being an instrument for a change and developing global market economy (Tomlinson, 2005). National curriculum was inspired from the free market to respond to the diversity of students. Following that the publishing of the league table promoted and motivated competition between schools, which was success for the market

The Outsiders WebQuest Essay Example for Free

The Outsiders WebQuest Essay During this term, we will be reading the novel, The Outsiders. In order to fully understand the context of the story, it is important that you have a clear understanding of the time period. In some ways many things haven’t changed since the 1960s (i.e. gangs, friendship, etc.). However, in other ways, there have been major transformations. Therefore, you will research certain topics in order to gain a fuller understanding of the setting and social contexts of the novel. You will complete the following tasks: Research a given topic Prepare a presentation about the topic by including pictures, facts, sound clips, etc. (poster and/or PowerPoint presentation) Give an oral presentation to the class about the topic Topics: * Music * Fashion * Historical events * Food and entertainment * Celebrities and movies * Greasers and preps/socials Questions to Answer and Websites to Explore Music 1. What kind of music was popular during the 60s? List a few different genres. 2. What music artists were popular? What were the top songs/albums? http://oldfortyfives.com/1964.htm 3. How is the music different from today? Are there any similarities? 4. Do you think the music of the time had a big influence on the generation? Do you think the music of today has an influence on people? Why or why not? 5. Play at least two songs during your presentation (if you do not have the songs, ask a parent or teacher to help you out) http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/1965.html Fashion 1. What kind of clothes and shoes were popular during the mid- 1960s? 2. Which hairstyles were popular? 3. What kind of makeup was popular? 4. The Socs wear madras shirts in the book. What do they look like? Give a picture. 5. How are the clothes different from today’s fashion? How are they the same? http://www.fiftiesweb.com/fashion/teen-hair-styles.htm http://www.fiftiesweb.com/fashion/teen-clothing.htm Celebrities and Movies 1. Who were famous actors and actresses during the time period? 2. Who was Paul Newman? Name two of his movies in the 1960s. http://www.reelclassics.com/Actors/Newman/newman.htm 3. What were some popular movies during the time period? Name three. 4. What were drive-in theatres? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drive-in_theater http://www.driveintheater.com/index.htm Food and Entertainment 1. What were some popular dishes of the 1960s? List dishes for different occasions. http://www.foodtimeline.org/fooddecades.html#1960s http://www.keyingredients.org/001_timeline/001_timeline_04.asp?ID=6 2. What were some fads and forms of entertainment during the time period? http://www.angelfire.com/retro2/nostalgiacafe/60sfads.html 3. Historical Events 1. What were some major historical events between the years of  1964-1965? http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/1964.html http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/1965.html 2. What was the cost of living, petrol, etc. in 1964? 3. What kind of impact do you think these events had on people during the time period? 4. How have things in society changed since the 1960s? Name at least 3 important changes. Socs vs. Greasers 1. Describe a ‘greaser’ by answering the questions below: a. Why were they called ‘greasers’? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greaser_(subculture) b. How did they dress? c. How was their hair? d. What was some ‘greaser’ slang? http://www.stonegreasers.com/greaser/ e. What are the differences between ‘socs’ and ‘greasers’? http://www.amal.k12.nf.ca/projects/grassroots/outsiders/outsiders/8-3/Social%20Classes/socialclasses_files/page0002.htm Group Checklist 1. We have correct spelling and punctuation in our presentation.YESNO 2. We have at least three pictures about our topic.YESNO 3. We have answered all of the questions about our topic.YES NO 4. We have written in complete sentences in our presentation.YES NO 5. Our poster is neat and organized.YES NO IT’S ALL ABOUT ME, MYSELF AND I In the novel, The Outsiders, Ponyboy expresses his feelings in a very poetic way. By doing this, Ponyboy is able to show the reader his true identity: an identity that completely contradicts the stereotype of what society deems to be a greaser. Your goal is to write a poem to express your own identity to show the reader that you are more than a student in a uniform. You will use the templates below to help you express yourself on paper. This will then go  into your identity box. I Am I am (two special characteristics) I wonder (something you are actually curious about) I hear (an imaginary sound) I see (an imaginary sight) I want (an actual desire) I am (the first line of the poem restated) I pretend (something you actually pretend to do) I feel (a feeling about something imaginary) I touch (an imaginary touch) I worry (something that really bothers you) I cry (something that makes you very sad) I am (the first line of the poem repeated) I understand (something you know is true) I say (something you believe in) I dream (something you actually dream about) I try (something you really make an effort about) I hope (something you actually hope for) I am (the first line of the poem repeated) Autobiographical Poem Line 1: Your first name only Line 2: Four traits (adjectives) that describe you Line 3: Son/Daughter of†¦ or brother/sister of†¦ Line 4: Friend of (2 people) Line 5: Lover of (3 people, beliefs, or ideas) Line 6: Who feels (3 sensations or emotions) Line 7: Who finds happiness in (3 items) Line 8: Who needs (3 items) Line 9: Who gives (3 items) Line 10: Who fears (3 items) Line 11: Who hopes †¦(2 changes you would like to happen) Line 12: Who dreams†¦(2 dreams for the future Line 13: Who would like to see (3 items, places) Line 14: Who enjoys (3 items) Line 15: Who likes to wear (3 colors, items) Line 16: Resident of (city or state) Line 17: Your last name IDENTITY BOX You will design and fill a shoebox that will be decorated with things that represent who you are. You can create any sort of decoration you wish. Some examples include: * Pictures of you, your friends, your family. * Your name (which is always good for helping me give you a mark!) * Song lyrics from a band or song you really like. * Pictures from magazines of your favourite actor/singer/sports hero * Pictures of your favourite activities, your favourite clothes, your favourite animals * Samples of poetry or writing that you have written yourself * Autobiographical poem * Quotes that you really like, or that inspire you. **Your box must include an autobiographical poem, which is a type of poetry that explains who you are. ** Your box must include a one-page summary that explains why you chose to decorate your box the way you did. + + + = A FABULOUS IDENTITY BOX! CHELTENHAM LADIES AND THE CHAVS Admire the perfect souped-up Burberry-styled Chavalier. It is one of the etymological questions of the age: from where, exactly, do we get the word chav? Now, at last, there is an answer. Chav, as anyone not living on Mars for the last few months knows, is the  buzzword of 2004 a suitably monosyllabic noun or adjective designed to illuminate that which is most appalling in the young, designer-label-obsessed under-class of early 21st century Britain. When you see a stunted teenager, apparently jobless, hanging around outside McDonalds dressed in a Burberry baseball cap, Ben Sherman shirt, ultra-white Reebok trainers and dripping in bling (cheap, tasteless and usually gold-coloured jewellery), he will almost certainly be a chav. If he has difficulty framing the words you gotta problem mate? then he will definitely be a chav. Very short hair and souped-up Vauxhall Novas are chav, as is functional illiteracy, a burgeoning career in petty crime and the wearing of ones mobile telephone around the neck. Chavs are most at home in run-down, small-town shopping precincts, smoking and shouting at their mates. A teenage single mum chewing gum or drawing on a cigarette as she pushes her baby, Keanu, to McDonalds to meet the chav she believes to be his father is a chavette. So, who coined such a sneeringly useful term? Well, the pupils of Cheltenham Ladies College, apparently. Rumour in the town has it that chav is derived from Cheltenham Average, the name given by the young ladies to the less-eligible young men of the town. Rob Garnham, the mayor of Cheltenham, was less than pleased with the suggestion, pointing out that: â€Å"I am a Cheltenham Mr Average and Im definitely not scum.† He went on: â€Å"As someone who speaks for the people of the town, Im sure we feel insulted by the term. People should come and see Cheltenham and realise what its really like.† Vicky Tuck, principal of the 150-year-old college, was appalled by the suggestion that her girls, schooled so tirelessly in the need to respect other less favoured members of society, could have come up with such a derogatory label: â€Å"It is offensive because its deprecating one group of people against another,† she said. â€Å"If were trying to stand for anything here its respecting all kinds of people living together in harmony. Thats what I spend my waking hours trying to do. Social mobility comes primarily  through education not wealth, and if more people believe we are a more class-ridden society then thats indicative, I think, of poverty of education.† Mrs Tuck believes chav derives from chavi, the 19th century Romany word for child. telegraph.co.uk BAN THE WORD CHAV It is deeply offensive to a largely voiceless group and betrays a revealing level of class hatred It might be hard to say this without sounding priggish or being accused of being rather more politically correct than is healthy, but here goes †¦ We have to stop using the word chav. Would we get away with saying faggot on the BBC? No – there are very few circumstances where that would be acceptable. Would the Guardian print the word pikey? Well they have done five times this year (three times were earnest discussions about the words racism, and the other two were, well, a bit racist). Could we use the n-word in the Fabian Review? Well probably not, especially when making the point that there is rightly a hierarchy of offensiveness. Some uses of some words fall below the threshold of acceptability and some are definitely above it. Chav is way above that threshold. It is deeply offensive to a largely voiceless group and – especially when used in normal middle-class conversation or on national TV – it betrays a deep and revealing level of class hatred. The phenomenon of the word has grown over the last five years. Initially it was purely a term of abuse. You only have to visit the website chavscum.com to see this – have a look at it and be appalled (â€Å"Whatever you know them as, this site is about them, it reads. Britains peasant underclass that is taking over our towns and cities!†). But more recently it has become rather more insidious than that because it is so much more widely used. We have heard it increasingly used in conversation over the last year, invariably to casually describe people not like us and very often used by people who are otherwise rather progressive in their politics. You cannot consider yourself of the left and use the word. It is sneering and patronising and – perhaps most dangerous – it is distancing, turning the chav into the kind of feral beast that exists only in tabloid headlines. It is worse than other forms of snobbery because it so clearly links poverty and being working class to criminality and fecklessness. The middle classes have always used language to distinguish themselves from those a few rungs below them on the ladder – we all know their old serviette/napkin, lounge/living room, settee/sofa tricks. But this is something new. This is middle class hatred of the white working class, pure and simple. It is easy to dismiss this as political correctness gone mad. But the words we use matter. The common use of the word chav creates a sense that this type of discrimination and stereotyping is acceptable and legitimate. Lets not replace the racist or bigoted language of the past with a new set of words that are just as hateful. Many people use chav as a smokescreen for their hatred of the lower classes. That is a despicable subterfuge. It is not the gipsies that are the victims of the chav stereotype, but the useless youths who hang around with nothing to do. True, schoolchildren have adopted the label chav to identify their own tendency (in opposition to Goths and emo monsters). But that just makes them act up to their bad image. guardian.co.uk

The Essence of the Otavalo Essay -- Essays Papers

The Essence of the Otavalo In our modern era and by our modern standards, the Otavalo people of Ecuador shine with scintillating success in the global arena. A myriad of factors have contributed to Otavalo prosperity and wealth, factors both outside and within their control, but factors nonetheless dependent upon the fluidity and ever-changing construct of indigenous identity. Tracing the saga of this indigenous people’s rise to textile, musical and cultural capital, the opportunistic attitude of the Otavalo remains the foundation for modern wealth and commerce. The true question of Otavalo success, however, rests not in economic prosperity alone, but in their inherent ability to adopt socially befitting â€Å"modern traditions† and retain the right to define the meaning of being Otavalo. As early as the 1950s, â€Å"indigenous merchants traveled to Columbia, Venezuela, Peru, Chile and Argentina† seeking markets and commerce (36). This swell of savvy Otavalos seeking new trade demonstrates the culture’s durable penchant for innovative business and financial exchange. However, it was not until 1964 that the Law of Agrarian Reform abolished wasipungu that major shifts in economic industry took hold of Otavalo. The process of redistribution levied out 180,000 acres of Otavalo land by 1979, but there was hardly enough land to support and feed single families, and so families began to focus on textiles and tourism for support. In the pinch of the 1974 OPEC oil crisis on Ecuadorian economy, the prosperity of the Otavalo persisted despite a floundering national economy because they â€Å"relied on textiles and tourism rather than agriculture† (39). With the advent of national roads facilitating tourism, the profit of the Saturday market skyrocke... ...ain focused in the spiritual valley of their home (266). Quichua shows no signs of fading out of common tongue, traditional dress morphs agreeably with elements of modern fashion, and families still desire to grow and prepare their own food on their own land. Yet the growing focus on individual profit and individual success may harm collective economic success in the future of the Otavalo, if the community loses collective identity and thus, political clout. Though no community remains static or rigid against social change, the Otavalo must have the right to exist as they believe Otavalos should exist. As they emerge as a community of people who turn the tables on capitalism and thrive in the economic structure laid upon their country and their lives, they will chose to adopt modernity as â€Å"they find useful† and blossom in the ever growing identity of the Otavalo.

Corruption of Corporations in Oryx and Crake Essay

In Oryx and Crake, Margaret Atwood illustrates a dystopian world where human beings and numerous hybrids organisms coexist. The setting is drawn in the future and Atwood foreshadows that some animals will go extinct and in order to fill up some gap in the food chain, human will have to fill the gap with modified organisms. Moreover, she suggests several interesting ideas about what she thinks might happen in the future. For example, she suggests that apocalypse will occur in the future and how our technology will be more advanced. The author is trying to figure what would happen in the future, but there is one thing in Oryx and Crake that is already seen in current society which will definitely happen in the future as well. And that one thing is corruption of corporations. There are several corporations in the novel and these corruptions begin at the corporations and infiltrate the entire society to cause a never ending cycle that hurts everyone. Therefore, this essay will discuss ho w corruption of corporations ultimately leads to destruction and instability of social structures at societal and individual levels. First, there are four major corporations in the society of Oryx and Crake that must be introduced and discussed. OrganInc and Rejoovesence are two main biomedical corporations seen in the story. OrganInc is a company that created pigoons which contained specific human organs, so that the transplants could be done easier and quicker. Another similar corporation is Rejoovesence and this company specialized also in bio engineering and where Crake held power in. Also, Rejoovesence created Crakers instead of pigoons. Both bioengineering corporations were corrupted in the novel because they tried to make profit or benefit towards themselves through spreading disease. AnooYoo and HelthWyzer are two main pharmaceutical corporations that are also very corrupted. AnooYoo is a company where there is â€Å"a collection of cesspool denizens who existed for no other reason than to prey on the phobias and void the bank accounts of the anxious and the gullible† (247). HelthWyzer is another ph armaceutical corporation which controls the compound and also manufactures pill and many other pharmaceutical products. These two pharmaceutical corporations also became corrupted because instead searching for a new cure for sicknesses; they put a new virus or bug in order to get the citizens to buy more products from the corporations. â€Å"They put the hostile bioforms into their vitamin pills – their HelthWyzer over-the-delivery system – they embed a virus inside a carrier bacterium, E. coli splice, doesn’t get digested, bursts in the pylorus, and bingo! Random insertion, of course, and they don’t have to keep on doing it – if they did they’d get caught, because even in the pleeblands they’ve got guys who could figure it out. But once you’ve got a hostile bioform started in the pleeb population, the way people slosh around out there it more or less runs itself. Naturally they develop the antidotes at the same time as they’re customizing the bugs, but they hold those in reserve, they practice the economics of scarcity, so they’re guaranteed high profits.† (211). This quote shows that pharmaceutical companies inject bacteria inside the pills, so that when people get sick, they can buy the antidote to the injected bacteria. From this cycle, the corporations are able to make a lot of profit. As presented, these corporations are corrupted and only cared to benefit from individuals of the society. However, corporations should act as organizations that help in securing the society. Second, to evaluate how corrupt corporations affect the society, the social structure has to be examined. In the society, the power of government is lacking, so the corporations are the ones with the most power. There are two classes within the society of Oryx and Crake: compounds and pleeblands. Compounds are the areas where higher classes inhabits and in order to be separated from the outer world through building a high wall around the area and CorpSeCorps security guards to protect the citizen who live in the compounds. Due to the long period of separation form the outer world, the citizens in the compounds got the idea that the other citizen from outer world cannot become like them and will only bring down the society. As mentioned above, the compounds are influenced by the corruption of the corporations since they are taking medicines injected with new bacteria. Then, they will have to spend lots of money to buy the antidote. Just because of the corporation’s greed, many people suffered from the bacteria. Also, since there is no way to stop the corporations, they can do whatever they want just to benefit themselves. The other area that was presented in Oryx and Crake is pleeblands. Pleeblands are the outer world which compounds do not bother cooperating with. Due to the segregation of importance or wealth, the citizens in pleeblands do not get enough education. â€Å"Despite the fingerprint identity cards now carried by everyone, public security in the pleeblands was leaky: there were people cruising around in those places who could forge anything and who might be anybody, not to mention the loose change – the addicts, the muggers, the paupers, the crazies. (27). Even the pleeblands were affected by the corruption of corporations because due to their greed, the area of pleeblands became poorer as time passed. Due to the desperation of the plebian, people from the compounds had a possibility which led to many dangers, murder, smuggle, and much more. Last, in order to provide a better illustration, three characters will be closely looked at: Oryx, Crake, and Jimmy. Oryx is a mysterious figure in the novel because her real name. Also, her past was not very clear when compared with the pasts of Oryx and Jimmy. She was influenced by the corruption because due to the corruption or Rejoovesence, she died. The other character who also was affected was Jimmy. He was mentioned as Snowman, who goes and talks about the past and the present and is a literary person. He is affected by the corporations because he had a lot of trouble surviving through the modified organisms that were made by the corporation. For example, Jimmy went through a lot of trouble to get away from pigeons (269~271). Crake is Jimmy’s best friend and unlike Jimmy, he has good knowledge of science. When he was little, he was aware that the corporations in the society were beginning to corrupt.†As soon as they start doing art, we’re in trouble† (361). This quote shows that if the corporations corrupt in arts, many people will suffer while the corporations gain benefit. The citizens knew about the corruption, but took no action and went back to their usual routine. However, Crake did not follow his routine instead he created perfect humans, Crakers. In conclusion, the greed of companies lead to corrupted business models and this eventually put the society and individuals in danger. Atwood takes a dim view of corporations in her novel, Oryx and Crake. The four major corporations only cared about making gains that would only benefit their companies. This caused these corporations to become corrupted and carry on wrongfully. Such corruption infiltrated to individual levels as exemplified through Oryx, Crake, and Jimmy. Therefore, they must be clear without any corruption because as this essay showed, it will be reflected in individuals living in that society. Work cited Atwood, Margaret. Oryx and Crake: a novel. New York: Nan A. Talese, 2003

My Beautiful Mind Essay

Living with Schizophrenia â€Å"The mind is indeed a beautiful thing. It is the reason for our ingenuity, artistic originality and maybe even our humanity. What happens however when the mind works against us? When it tricks us into believing that what is not real to be the actual, destroying our sense of being? † (Angelo) We see this played out firsthand in the life of John Forbes Nash Jr. in â€Å"A Beautiful Mind. † The film was directed by Ron Howard and starred Russell Crowe, who plays John Nash, Paul Bettany, who plays Nash’s imaginary friend Charles, and Jennifer Connelly, who plays Nash’s wife Alicia. The movie â€Å"won four Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Supporting Actress. It was also nominated for Best Leading Actor, Best Editing, Best Makeup, and Best Scoreâ€Å" (A Beautiful Mind). â€Å"A Beautiful Mind† â€Å"presents itself as a biography of the flesh-and-blood John Nash. And in fact, it is really only a flashy, sentimental Hollywood movie, inspired by a few particular details of the John Nash story. (Overstreet) This review is accurate in this description, director Ron Howard delivers a brilliant master peace but it is not all fact. For instance, John Nash never had visual hallucinations and he divorced his wife and later remarried. Though it is not an accurate representation, John Forbes Nash, Jr. did suffer from schizophrenia. John Forbes Nash, Jr. , or John Nash as he is referred to in the movie, was born June 13, 1928 in Bluefield, West Virginia where he was raised. Nash took classes from Bluefield C ollege while still attending Bluefield High School. After graduating from high school in 1945, he enrolled at the Carnegie Institute of Technology (now Carnegie Mellon University) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on a Westinghouse scholarship, where he studied chemical engineering and chemistry before switching to mathematics. He received both his bachelor's degree and his master's degree in 1948 while at Carnegie Tech. † (John Forbes Nash, Jr. ). The film begins as Nash is attending Princeton University for his postgraduate work in mathematics and writes his thesis on non-cooperative games which he later receives the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences. In the movie Nash gets a job at Massachusetts Institution of Technology after graduating from Princeton. It is at MIT where Nash meets his future wife, Alicia, and falls in love with her and she remains his faithful mate even through his maddening episodes of schizophrenia. The film differs from reality in many instances, his love life being one of them. In reality Nash had a trivial relationship with a nurse by the name of Eleanor Stier, they had a son together and named him John David Stier. After the child was born Nash abandoned both of them and went through a homosexual stage, in the mid-1950s he was â€Å"arrested in a Santa Monica restroom on a morals charge related to a homosexual encounter† (John Forbes Nash, Jr. ). This was said to have caused him to lose his job at MIT and caused him to want to get married. Only now is Alicia brought into the picture, a student of his at MIT from El Salvador. John Forbes Nash, Jr. and Alicia Lopez-Harrison de Larde get married in 1957 and two years later Alicia admits John Nash to the mental hospital. In the movie he is tackled by two men and a third, Dr. Rosen, administers a sedative and they haul Nash away in their car, all while students and teachers are watching. Schizophrenia is described as being a â€Å"mental disorder characterized by abnormalities in the perception or expression of reality. † (Schizophrenia) Normally it occurs in young adulthood and manifests itself in auditory hallucinations paranoid or bizarre delusions, or disorganized speech and thinking, while visual hallucinations are possible they are extremely rare and John Nash Jr. said that he only had auditory hallucinations. The visual manifestations in the movie were only to intrigue the audience and to clarify the sincerity and the reality of the disease. Schizophrenia is a very rare disease, affecting half of one percent of the population of the world and scientists and doctors know little more about it presently than when John Nash was diagnosed. While knowledge of schizophrenia is scarce people have found some useful treatments such as Insulin Shock Therapy and certain medications such as Typical Antipsychotic and the newer Atypical Antipsychotic, we see John Nash undergo the Insulin Shock Therapy in the late 1950s and the early 1960s. Insulin Shock Therapy however has been replaced by newer and more effective medications. The Typical Antipsychotics are the pink pills that Nash takes after his hospitalization. He says these medications make it hard for him to focus and he cannot respond to his wife so he stops taking them. This only causes further pain when Nash’s hallucinations all come back. Nash eventually learns how to cope with these hallucinations and just ignores them. In conclusion, the movie â€Å"A Beautiful Mind† is a very inspirational film that fills the audience with we and intrigue as they watch Nash learn to live with schizophrenia and attempt to remain a viable part of society. John Forbes Nash Jr. has influenced economics, mathematics, and physics, he taught at two major universities, he got married, he won the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences, and he showed millions that it is possible to do all these things while living with schizophrenia. Works Cited Angelo. â€Å"Beauti ful Mind, A (2001)† MovieFreak. com – The Film Palace. 13 January 2010. Web. 04 March 2010. Overstreet, Jeffrey. A Beautiful Mind (2001)† Rotten Tomatoes. Flixter, Inc. 12 May 2004. Web. 04 March 2010. http://www. rottentomatoes. com/m/beautiful_mind/ â€Å"A Beautiful Mind (Film)† Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. 04 March 2010. Web. 04 March 2010. http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/A_Beautiful_Mind_(film) â€Å"John Forbes Nash, Jr. † Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. 04 March 2010. Web. 04 March 2010. http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/John_Forbes_Nash,_Jr â€Å"Schizophrenia† Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. 01 March 2010. Web. 04 March 2010. http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Schizophrenia

Terms And Conditions Of Employment. Variation Of C Essays

Terms And Conditions Of Employment. Variation Of C Essays Terms And Conditions Of Employment. Variation Of Contract. Deductions From Wages Edmund Jonathan Carver Lent 2001 Employment Law, HRM and TQM. Seminar Two: Terms and Conditions of Employment. Variation of Contract. Deductions from wages. Employees in the UK have had a statutory right to written particulars of the terms of their employment since 1963 (Contracts of Employment Act 1963) Current UK law on the subject is mainly in the Employment Rights Act 1996 s.1. Almost every employee is entitled to a written statement of the terms of his employment, which must be given within two months of start of the employment (ERA 1996). The statement must include details such as: identity of parties; date when period of continuous employment began; description of work; particulars of renumeration and any terms re hours of work, holidays and holiday pay amongst other things. It is sufficient for some of the particulars to be in some other document(s) which the employee has reasonable opportunities of reading in the course of his employment or which is made reasonably accessible to him in some other way (ERA 1996,). However this only covers terms relating to sick pay; pensions; disciplinary rules; or further action relating to an appeal against a disciplinary decision or an application for redress of a grievance. Individual notification is required of everything else in the contract. The only people who can enforce a contract are those party to it, in this case the employer and employee. In UK law, whether the terms of a collective agreement are binding as between a particular employer and a particular employee depends on the individual's contract of employment. In the cases of Anderson v Pringle of Scotland Ltd 1998 IRLR 64, Court of Session; and South West Trains Ltd v Wightman & ors 1998 TLR 14th January 1998, non-legally binding agreements between employers and trade unions had been incorporated as a legally binding terms within personal employment contracts. In the example given however the personal employment contract did not exist as a separate entity from the collective agreement Changes in existing terms of employment are usually made in one of three ways: (i) by agreement with the employee(s), possibly with a cash sweetener; (ii) by unilateral variation of contract terms (or of works rules applied by the contracts); (iii) by giving required notice to terminate existing contracts and offering new contracts. An employer cannot impose a change of terms without the employee's consent, changes in terms of employment must be notified to employees within one month although this does not confer on the employer any right to make such changes. It is essential that employees are fully aware of, and accept, any detrimental changes to their terms of employment if the changes are to be legally binding. Acceptance can sometimes be inferred by the employee's conduct e.g.: continuing to work without objecting to the change. If an employer unilaterally enforces a variation in the terms of employment, he repudiates the contract of employment and the employee has the option of accepting the breach and resigning then making a claim for constructive dismissal, or carrying on working and seek damages. Even where an employer has written in the employment contract a clause enabling unilateral changes to be made, such changes must be deemed reasonable and an employee may still be able to claim constructive dismissal if the employer makes significant changes. In any case the employer is obliged to update terms and conditions when they withdraw from a contract otherwise the previous contract still holds. Contracts may contain clauses enabling a degree of flexibility inside the terms of employment, so that even radical changes may still lie within the job description. Such changes may constitute a termination of the old contract if the new terms are sufficiently different, however there is scope for a degree of ambiguity. Changes should be discussed with employees in advance. Failure to do so will normally be unreasonable and be held against the employer in any court or Tribunal proceedings www.emplaw.co.uk. All the above points to the fact that James does not have to work the night shift, if he wishes to bring forward an action there are several channels where he may seek redress, ACAS may be able to help in arbitration and/or conciliation. Failing or instead of this James may

Simple Math Vocabulary for ESL EFL Classes

Simple Math Vocabulary for ESL EFL Classes Its important to know the right math vocabulary when speaking about mathematics in class. This page provides math vocabulary for basic calculations. Basic Math Vocabulary - plus Example: 2 2Two plus two - - minus Example: 6 - 4Six minus four x OR * - times Example: 5 x 3 OR 5 * 3Five times three - equals Example: 2 2 4Two plus two equals four. - is less than Example: 7 10Seven is less than ten. - is greater than Example: 12 8Twelve is greater than eight. ≠¤ - is less than or equal to Example: 4 1 ≠¤ 6Four plus one is less than or equal to six. ≠¥ - is more than or equal to Example: 5 7 ≠¥ 10Five plus seven is equal to or greater than ten. ≠  - is not equal to Example: 12 ≠  15Twelve is not equal to fifteen. / OR à · - divided by Example: 4 / 2 OR 4 à · 2Four divided by two. 1/2 - one half Example: 1 1/2One and one half. 1/3 - one third Example: 3 1/3Three and one third. 1/4 - one quarter Example: 2 1/4Two and one quarter 5/9, 2/3, 5/6 - five ninths, two thirds, five-sixths Example: 4 2/3Four and two thirds % - percent Example: 98%Ninety-eight percent.

Acheulean Tradition

Acheulean Tradition The Acheulean (sometimes spelled Acheulian) is a stone tool techno-complex that emerged in East Africa during the Lower Paleolithic about 1.76 million years ago (abbreviated mya), and persisted until 300,000-200,000 years ago (300-200 ka), although in some places it continued as recently as 100 ka. The humans who produced the Acheulean stone tool industry were members of the species Homo erectus and H. heidelbergensis. During this period, Homo erectus left Africa through the Levantine Corridor and traveled into Eurasia and eventually Asia and Europe, bringing the technology with them. The Acheulean was preceded by the Oldowan in Africa and parts of Eurasia, and it was followed by the Mousterian Middle Paleolithic in western Eurasia and the Middle Stone Age in Africa. The Acheulean was named after the Acheul site, a Lower Paleolithic site on the Somme River in France. Acheul was discovered in the mid-19th century. Stone Tool Technology The defining artifact for the Acheulean tradition is the Acheulean handaxe, but the toolkit also included other formal and informal tools. Those tools included flakes, flake tools and cores; elongated tools (or bifaces) such as cleavers and picks (sometimes called trihedrals for their triangular cross-sections); and spheroids or bolas, roughly rounded sedimentary limestone rocks used as a percussion tool. Other percussion devices on Acheulean sites are hammerstones and anvils. Acheulean tools demonstrate a significant technological advance over the earlier Oldowan; an advance thought to parallel a cognitive and adaptive increase in brain power. The Acheulean tradition is broadly correlated with the emergence of H. erectus, although the dating for this event is /- 200,000 years, so the association of the evolution of  H. erectus with the Acheulean toolkit is a bit of a controversy. Besides flint-knapping, the Acheulean hominin was cracking nuts, working wood, and butchering carcasses with these tools. She had the ability to purposely create large flakes (10 centimeters [4 inches] in length), and reproduce standard tool shapes. Timing of the Acheulean Pioneer paleontologist Mary Leakey established the Acheuleans position in time at Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania, where she found Acheulean tools stratified above the older Oldowan. Since those discoveries, hundreds of thousands of Acheulean handaxes have been found throughout Africa, Europe, and Asia, spanning several million square kilometers, in multiple ecological regions, and accounting for at least one hundred thousand generations of people. The Acheulean is the oldest and longest-lasting stone tool technology in the worlds history, accounting for more than half of all recorded tool-making. Scholars have identified technological improvements along the way, and although they agree that there were changes and developments during this huge chunk of time, there are no widely-accepted names for the periods of technology change, except in the Levant. Further, since the technology is so wide-spread, local and regional changes occurred differently at different times. Chronology The following is compiled from several different sources: see the bibliography below for further information. 1.76-1.6 mya: Early Acheulean. Sites: Gona (1.6 mya), Kokiselei (1.75), Konso (1.75), FLK West, Koobi Fora, West Turkana, Sterkfontein, Bouri, all in eastern or southern Africa. Tool assemblages are dominated by large picks and thick bifaces/unifaces made on large flake blanks.1.6-1.2 mya: Sterkfontein, Konso Gardula; refinement of handaxe shape begins, advanced shaping of handaxes seen at Konso, Melka Kunture Gombore II by 850 ka.1.5 mya outside Africa: Ubeidiya in the Jordan Rift Valley of Israel, bifacial tools, including picks and handaxes, which account for over 20% of the tools. Additional tools are chopping tools, choppers and flake tools but no cleavers. Raw source material varies by tool: bifacial tools on basalt, chopping tools and flake tools on flint; spheroids in limestone1.5-1.4 in Africa: Peninj, Olduvai, Gadeb Garba. Massive production of large, shaped tools, high-quality raw materials, flake blanks, cleavers1.0 mya-700 ka: known as Large Flake Acheulian in some place s: Gesher Benot Yaaqov (780-660 ka Israel); Atapuerca, Baranc de la Boella (1 mya), Porto Maior, El Sotillo (all in Spain); Ternifine (Morocco). Numerous bifacial tools, handaxes, and cleavers make up the site assemblages; large flakes (exceeding 10 cm in maximal dimension) were used to produce handaxes. Basalt was the  preferred source for cutting materials, and true flake cleavers were the most common tool. 700-250 ka: Late Acheulean: Venosa Notarchirico (700-600 ka, Italy); La Noira (France, 700,000), Caune de lArago (690-90 ka, France), Pakefield (UK 700 ka), Boxgrove (UK, 500 ka). There are hundreds of sites dated to the Late Acheulean with many thousands of handaxes, found in harsh deserts to Mediterranean landscapes, and some of the sites have hundreds or thousands of handaxes. Cleavers are almost absent and large flake production no longer used as a primary technology for handaxes, which are at the end made with early Levallois techniquesMousterian: replaced all LP industries beginning around 250,000, widely associated with Neanderthals and later with the spread of Early Modern Humans. Sources Alperson-Afil, Nira. Scarce but Significant: The Limestone Component of the Acheulean Site of Gesher Benot Yaaqov, Israel. The Nature of Culture, Naama Goren-Inbar, SpringerLink, January 20, 2016. Beyene Y, Katoh S, WoldeGabriel G, Hart WK, Uto K, Sudo M, Kondo M, Hyodo M, Renne PR, Suwa G et al. 2013. The characteristics and chronology of the earliest Acheulean at Konso, Ethiopia. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 110(5):1584-1591. Corbey R, Jagich A, Vaesen K, and Collard M. 2016. The Acheulean handaxe: More like a birds song than a Beatles tune? Evolutionary Anthropology: Issues, News, and Reviews 25(1):6-19. Diez-Martà ­n F, Snchez Yustos P, Uribelarrea D, Baquedano E, Mark DF, Mabulla A, Fraile C, Duque J, Dà ­az I, Pà ©rez-Gonzlez A et al. 2015. The Origin of The Acheulean: The 1.7 Million-Year-Old Site of FLK West, Olduvai Gorge (Tanzania). Scientific Reports 5:17839. Gallotti R. 2016. The East African origin of the Western European Acheulean technology: Fact or paradigm? Quaternary International 411, Part B:9-24. Gowlett JAJ. 2015. Variability in an early hominin percussive tradition: the Acheulean versus cultural variation in modern chimpanzee artefacts. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 370(1682). Moncel M-H, Desprià ©e J, Voinchet P, Tissoux H, Moreno D, Bahain J-J, Courcimault G, and Falguà ¨res C. 2013. Early Evidence of Acheulean Settlement in Northwestern Europe - La Noira Site, a 700 000 Year-Old Occupation in the Center of France. PLOS ONE 8(11):e75529. Santonja M, and Pà ©rez-Gonzlez A. 2010. Mid-Pleistocene Acheulean industrial complex in the Iberian Peninsula. Quaternary International 223–224:154-161. Sharon G, and Barsky D. 2016. The emergence of the Acheulian in Europe – A look from the east. Quaternary International 411, Part B:25-33. Torre, Ignacio de la. The Transition to the Acheulean in East Africa: an Assessment of Paradigms and Evidence from Olduvai Gorge (Tanzania). Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory, Rafael Mora, Volume 21, Issue 4, May 2, 2013.

The components of cultural identity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The components of cultural identity - Essay Example Their understanding of just how to make a behavioral change happen and maintain it in a sustainable way is impressive. Australian companies do understand the values that underlie beneath a values-based leadership." (Human resource magazine, 2009) One of the Australia’s biggest supermarket chains is Woolworth retailers. Woolworths possess dominant position in the groceries as well as consumer interest in electronics. Woolworths Limited came in to being in 1924, first store at imperial arcade. The company has the logo of â€Å"The Fresh Food People† and it is famous throughout Aussie as key slogan to represent companies’ strategy. On 22 August 2008, Woolworth re-launched its identity as a competitive stance for modern, safer and more likeable brand. Woolworth uses aggressive promotional strategy. Woolworth realizes the importance that promoting the product before its launch in the market. Promotion brings in handsome results and profits. Woolworth makes use of comp onents of culture identity to create and market its products and services. Paragraph # 1 As define by Jamson2007 in his book class differences often define groups of people sharing common values, behavior, attitudes. Though sources of wealth might differ, the rich often share values and behavior similar to others. Woolworth knows that its elite customers value quality above all. So depending upon the demands of its customers, Woolworth creates and markets its products. Woolworth knows that for better quality products the best quality raw materials have to be use. To ensure that its products are quality approved it imposes TQM (total quality management). For special Woolies- production lines the local clothing manufacturers have to separate Woolies production lines from others in their plant. This is for ensuring proper quality control procedures and quality demand requirements. Woolworth constructs its advertising strategy considering the target market. Woolworth target status-consc ious clientele who value their reputation above everything else and measure it in terms of quality at inconsiderate price ranges. For such quality valuing class, Woolworth ensures the strategy of even at a fraction of price gets double the quality.† Such strategy of offering double quality at each penny attracts the upper class clientele, who share common values and behavior and even attitudes. Jameson2007 further points out that the prestige of social class depends on family history, celebrity, or power. As a result, Woolworth tries its best to appeal new target markets using such means. For instance, Woolworth has tried attracting more affluent clientele by introducing new product lines associated with prominent designers or celebrities. A recent example of such is the new advertising campaign of Jupiter Drawing Room in The Cape Town. Woolworth â€Å"W† Collection ads featured well-known business clientele including Seeff Properties' Samuel Seeff, Sasol's Christine Ra mon and other well-known captains of the business industry all proudly sporting the Woolies "W" Collection. It is a great advertising strategy that is been use as a testimonial route because today customers from age groups tend to more inclined towards celebrities and their choices. Paragraph#2 Organizational strategy and decision-making often needs to account for cultural differences related to density or regional

Individual Differences in Human Sexuality Research Paper

Individual Differences in Human Sexuality - Research Paper Example Human sexuality is a product of a whole range of factors that vary from one individual to another, some of which are changeable e.g. environment, food and nutrition, and physical activity whereas others are not e.g. genes and nature of an individual. Similarly, outlining normal sexual behaviors is complicated because different sexual behaviors have their own cultural, religious, or sociological reinforcers; â€Å"Defining normality is extremely difficult (and arbitrary), because the definition involves making a value judgment and therefore labelling how we view other people† (de Silva, 1999). For example, while homosexuality is considered a positive and normal variation of human sexual orientation in light of social and behavioral sciences (American Psychological Association, 2015), it is condemned by Abrahamic religions that consider it a negative and abnormal variation of human sexual orientation. Sociologists generally emphasize either experiential or physiological determinants in their attempt to explain individual differences in the expression of human sexuality (Hogben and Byrne, 1998). Although it has been reported that individual differences in sexual behavior can be because of hereditary differences, not much is known about human sexuality’s specific molecular genetic design. Dopamine in general and the DRD4 receptor in particular plays a very important role in determining sexual behavior. One pathway to mediate individual variation in the desirability, function, and arousal for sex in humans is related to allelic variants coding for variation in protein concentrations in key areas of brain and DRD4 receptor gene expression (Zion et al., 2006). Aspects of human sexuality common to a vast majority of people include but are not limited to masturbation, genital development and maturity with the onset of puberty, desirability of sex with members of the opposite gender, emotional connection with the sexual partner, maximum

Course Evaluation Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Course Evaluation - Case Study Example This questioner helps me track my academic expectations as per this course. This is by the questions made in the questioner. Examples of such questions are; the grade expected from the course, course discussion participation, and individual study time. As a student, this questioner will help me know if I was serious enough or not. This questioner also gives the lecturer the reasons as to why students enrolled in the course, were they forced as per the institution’s prerequisite or did they enroll willingly? The instructors will also know if they presented the topics well, as well as their work performance. This questioner gauges the academic performance of the lecturers as well as the students (Freed, & Ehrlich, 2010). According to the results of the statistical approach of data collection, most of the students strongly agreed that the lecturer was well prepared before the class. This means that the content delivered yielded good outcome, evident from the good presentation results as well as interest stimulation. This data shows that the students enjoyed the course due to the preparedness and liveliness of the tutor. The results also show that the tutor was accessible to all students in the course. The factor of availability was met by the instructor. The course was intellectually challenging, but one student strongly disagreed with two being on the neutral side and most of the students supporting the motion. Although the course was challenging, reading materials were readily available as well as the lecturer’s devotion. A probability of most of the students passing the course is high. Another probability is most students will enroll in this course due to the high recommendations of the lecturer given by the former students. The ratio of student increment in the course is expected to increase in the coming semesters, due to the positive responses

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) Research Paper - 4

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) - Research Paper Example 52).). Delaney clause on the other hand states that carcinogenic in food is unacceptable. Through this it protects public health and especially children who are vulnerable. However, every alternative to Delaney incorporates some risk assessment which defines certain levels of acceptable risks. Delaney clause is subject to some limitations in prioritizing the level of risk management for Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons. One of the problems is that it does not take into account the exact risk that a carcinogenic substance can pose once consumed (Dickey, p. 42). This is because the analytical chemistry has been improved and can detect even smaller quantities of chemicals as chemicals have become widely used nowadays. Regulatory agencies are thus faced with difficulties in trying to administer Delaney’s Clause because it applies to quantities used in large amounts and can easily be detected. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confronted this problem by using quantitative risk assessment and set a standard known as â€Å"de minis†, which held that risk was negligible if a carcinogenic food additive was concentrated at less than 1part in 1,000,000 (Dickey, p. 45). The issue regarding pesticides use for which Delaney’s Clause prohibited also had limitations. This is found in section 409 and it poses difficulties to those agencies which has the mandate to regulate pesticides (Shimada and Fujii-Kuriyama, p. 71). Agencies like Federal Insecticide Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and Federal Food Drug and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) conflicts with Delaney’s Clause because they license the sale of pesticides and most probably if they are of more benefit to the country than the risk they pose. This is contrary to Delaney’s Clause which does not take into account the risk-benefit analysis but have a clear conclusion that if the pesticide in a food additive is evident to cause cancer inhuman being or in animals then it should

What duties, if any, do we have to non-human animals Essay

What duties, if any, do we have to non-human animals - Essay Example ’1 In examining theories by Singer, McMahan, Warnock, Spira and Benson regarding the eating of non-human animals, consideration will also be given to the impact this may have on moral arguments regarding ‘duty’ in vivisection, and industries such as cosmetics, detergents and pharmaceuticals. Peter Singer believes chimpanzees and apes, should be granted ‘the right to life, to liberty and to protection from torture,’2 because they have autonomy like humans. Singer’s term ‘speciesists’ is used for people who ‘regard human beings as intrinsically more valuable than members of other species.’3 Singer purports to believe in equality between species, but Benson argues this is false ‘because of the relationships with other individuals which are inseparable from belonging to the same species.’4 Singer contradictiously suggests that chimps and apes have a greater level of consiousness, compared to other non-human an imals. In an article and the book Ethics into Action, Singer discusses Henry Spira who campaigned to reduce animal suffering related to the Draize and LD50 tests. Spira’s advertising campaign was criticized for using a Beagle to gain an emotive response; it was suggested if a rodent appeared in the advert people would not have been so outraged. Spira pointed to the importance of ‘not how popular is an animal, but can it tell the difference between pain and pleasure?’5 Singer discusses Kant’s work and states that we ‘find moral worth only when duty is done for duty’s sake.’6 What is meant by this relates to the advertising, in that if people do their duty out of sympathy or shame, they wouldn’t be doing their duty for the sake of believing and feeling it to be true. Gary L. Francione criticises Peter Singer’s work, suggesting that whilst it contains an element of reform for animal-welfare, it ‘makes people feel better about animal uses, but does not actually achieve its proper aim of protecting animals.’7 Francione argues for full abolition of animal use, claiming that because animals are sentient beings this should enable them to have full moral and legal rights. Professor of Philosophy, Jeff McMahan, discusses animals raised in good conditions, then killed humanely, for human consumption and terms this ‘benign carnivorism.’8 McMahan states the main premise of benign carnivorism’s moral philosophical argument, is that it’s preferable animals live in a contented manner, with no suffering (up until their humane death), than to not have existed at all. Mary Warnock claims animals ‘should be used for the sake of human society,’9 she lists activities such as horse riding; sledging; the food and clothing they provide. This argument is favourable to those wishing to consume meat, though McMahan points out the illogical flaw that: ‘there are no indiv iduals who never exist.’10 A comparative sense of ‘well-being’ is made between non-human animals and humans. Whilst non-human animals can appear to show emotion; other aspects of human life such as success, artistic endeavours, wisdom, meaningful connections to others, the ability to think rationally and appreciation of beauty aren’t always as easy to perceive in non-human animals. McMahan suggests that non-human animals lack a self-awareness for the future, claiming that they ‘do not†¦have desires or intentions or ambitions†¦that would be frustrated by death,’11 thus making it easier to justify killing them. McMahan’s argument makes interesting comparison to humans but his key premise throughout is that animals do not have the same rights as humans they have lesser rights; humans constantly place a higher value on human life. If non-human animals were seen to have a

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) Research Paper - 4

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) - Research Paper Example 52).). Delaney clause on the other hand states that carcinogenic in food is unacceptable. Through this it protects public health and especially children who are vulnerable. However, every alternative to Delaney incorporates some risk assessment which defines certain levels of acceptable risks. Delaney clause is subject to some limitations in prioritizing the level of risk management for Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons. One of the problems is that it does not take into account the exact risk that a carcinogenic substance can pose once consumed (Dickey, p. 42). This is because the analytical chemistry has been improved and can detect even smaller quantities of chemicals as chemicals have become widely used nowadays. Regulatory agencies are thus faced with difficulties in trying to administer Delaney’s Clause because it applies to quantities used in large amounts and can easily be detected. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confronted this problem by using quantitative risk assessment and set a standard known as â€Å"de minis†, which held that risk was negligible if a carcinogenic food additive was concentrated at less than 1part in 1,000,000 (Dickey, p. 45). The issue regarding pesticides use for which Delaney’s Clause prohibited also had limitations. This is found in section 409 and it poses difficulties to those agencies which has the mandate to regulate pesticides (Shimada and Fujii-Kuriyama, p. 71). Agencies like Federal Insecticide Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and Federal Food Drug and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) conflicts with Delaney’s Clause because they license the sale of pesticides and most probably if they are of more benefit to the country than the risk they pose. This is contrary to Delaney’s Clause which does not take into account the risk-benefit analysis but have a clear conclusion that if the pesticide in a food additive is evident to cause cancer inhuman being or in animals then it should

Midterm paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Midterm paper - Essay Example While some people view this process as ethical, others totally disagree with the practice on moral and other ethical considerations. Therefore, this necessitates for an outline of both perspectives. Consequently, the paper will outline both arguments for and against the issue as stipulated in the book before providing a conclusion. Consequently, the paper will first outline the argument against the issue as stipulated by Teresa Savage. Next, it will outline the argument for the issue as stipulated by Sarah Shannon. Thus, both arguments will be outlined with regard to the Ashley Treatment. Therefore, this implies that Sarah’s argument will be in support of the Ashley Treatment whereas Teresa’s argument will be in opposition of the Ashley Treatment. In addition, the paper will also provide an assessment of the issue based on individual views and thoughts. Finally, the paper will conclude by asserting that the process of using steroids and surgery to stunt disabled childre n’s growth is not ethical and morally upright; thus, reinstating the thesis statement that use of steroids and surgery in stunting the growth of disabled children is not ethical. Issue Summary As mentioned earlier, there exist contrasting views with regard to whether or not it is ethical to use steroids and surgery in the stunting of disabled children’s growth. ... On the contrast, Nurse Teresa Savage believes that severely disabled children should have independent advocates championing for them. These advocates should preferably be persons with disabilities. Thus, they offer a more critical judgment to the situation with respect to both the benefits and risks of the proposed interventions. Summary of the Ashley Treatment Ashley was born in 1997 with an extreme brain impairment referred to as encephalopathy. Consequently, this condition implies that Ashley can never develop beyond the level of an infant. Thus, Ashley was developing physically, but her mental ability was limited to that of an infant. Consequently, this situation posed a significant challenge to her parents in regards to her upbringing. Her parents felt that her physical growth would, at some point, become overwhelming, rendering them unable to effectively care for their child. Consequently, they sought for a medical intervention that would stunt her growth and prevent her from p hysically growing. This implied that Ashley would not have fully developed physical organs such as reproductive organs and breasts. It also meant that she would not undergo the menstrual process and that she would also be infertile. Consequently, this process involved the use of sex steroids in effecting stunted growth on Ashley; thus, resulting in crucial moral and ethical issues. In the analysis of the use of steroids and surgery to achieve the desired results, a few factors have to be considered: Ashley’s underlying medical condition Social context surrounding the issue Resources available for caring for severely disabled children Yes: In Support of the Ashley Treatment (Sarah Shannon) In her support of the Ashley Treatment Sarah

Juvenile Justice Process and Correction Essay Example for Free

Juvenile Justice Process and Correction Essay Xander L. is a young man with a rough start in life, who is a known gang member, and has been in and out of the juvenile court system on numerous occasions. The 17-year-old young man has been involved in various crimes, such as purse snatching, breaking and entering, and drug possession. The juvenile offender previously served one year in a juvenile correctional facility as well as probation on several occasions. The juvenile offender also pled guilty in a court of law, regarding his possession of a concealed weapon. The case study discussed the scenario of which the individual is a repeat offender, committing crime after crime, after he has received numerous opportunities to correct his behavior. However, the case study does not reflect the steps the offender followed after he was arrested for the crimes committed. Once the offender entered the juvenile-justice system through the arrest, he will go through the intake process, detention, adjudication, disposition, and aftercare (Norris Callahan, 2012). In the state of Illinois, the intake process involves the prosecutor, or the court deciding whether to file the case in the juvenile court. The prosecution will review factors, such as the evidence of the offense, the seriousness of the offense, the previous criminal and court history of the offender, and the success rate of the rehabilitation tactics with the juvenile (Norris Callahan, 2012). Furthermore, during the intake process the prosecution may determine to handle the case as a formal or informal hearing, depending on the crime committed. The informal disposition would involve the juvenile agreeing to certain terms and conditions for a specific period of time. In addition to the verbal acknowledgement, the youth will sign a written agreement and a parole officer will monitor the juvenile offenders compliance of the agreed conditions, such as curfew, school, or community service (Norris Callahan, 2012). However, based on the scenario involving Xander L, the prosecution decided upon the formal disposition because of the type of crimes committed by the juvenile offender. The formal disposition involves the possibility of detention for the young offender. The individual may be detained at a secured facility if it is determined in the best interest of the juvenile or the community (Norris Callahan, 2012). The detention of the offender may result in his or her adjudication or rather the request made by the prosecutor to waive the case to an adult criminal court. When the prosecutor request that the criminal case is waived to the adult court system, the court will make the decision based on several factors. The court will consider whether the juvenile offender may be helped by rehabilitative treatment through the juvenile court, previous adjudication tactics with unsuccessful results, or the crime committed is too severe for the juvenile court to have precedence over (Norris Callahan, 2 012). In the case study involving Xander L, the previous crimes committed by the juvenile offender did not persuade the judge to waive the case to the adult criminal court. Therefore, the court has decided to maintain its jurisdiction over the individual, and determine whether the offender should be adjudicated as a delinquent. In the state of Illinois, if the youth is adjudicated as a delinquent, the disposition hearing will follow (Norris Callahan, 2012). During the disposition hearing the court will consider probation recommendations as well as the prosecutor, and juvenile presenting their agreement to the judge for his or her consideration. The sentencing or disposition plan may involve requirements, such as counseling, detention center confinement, community service, or restitution (Norris Callahan, 2012). In some states, the judge may also order the youth to a juvenile correctional facility for rehabilitation. However, if the juvenile offender is placed in a correctional facility, aftercare will be mandatory after the release. In the state of Illinois, for example, the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice is mandated to provide post-released treatment programs for juveniles committed to the department. The programs include mental health services, educational services, substance abuse services, and referral services to any other state or local agencies (Saddler, 2012). The corrections plan involving a letter to a judge regarding sentencing for a non-violent offense, would involve asking the judge to be lenient when sentencing the defendant because he is in the process of completing his general equivalency diploma, and by sentencing my client to a more severe punishment will only deter the individual from completing his goal. I am available to discuss any recommendations for my client, and I can be reached on my cell phone or email address regarding the opportunity. In conclusion, the case study involves the juvenile offender committing numerous crimes, serving a previous sentence in a juvenile correctional facility, and having a concealed weapon in his possession. Ultimately, falling on the mercy of the juvenile court not to have his case waived to an adult criminal court.

Killing and non-killing religions

Killing and non-killing religions Introduction: In the current times, the world is vulnerable to terror attacks. Some of these terrorism activities are always associated with extreme religious organizations. Take for instance, the ISIS, a terror organization operating in Iraq and Syria (Armstrong, 2014). This terror group justifies the killing of non-Muslims on religion. They wrongly believe that the Quran gives them authority to kill and maim anyone who is not practicing Islam. This paper seeks to explain the concept of killing and non-killing religions. It further seeks to identify, which of these is associated with modern day terrorism. This paper takes a stand that killing religions are mostly associated with modern day terrorism. Killing and Non Killing Religions: Non-killing refers to attitudes and actions intended to prevent or stop international acts of killing human life. This is a term that seeks to speak against violence, and it promotes a peaceful co-existence. Non-Killing can be used to refer to a religious belief that does not advocate for violence. Examples of such religions include Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity, Judaism, etc (Docker, 2008). These are regarded as non-killing religions, because their teachings advocate against violence. Take for instance in Christianity, the bible teaches that if a person hits you on one cheek, then give him another cheek to hit. This means that a Christian should not take any retaliatory measures, such as paying violence with violence (Docker, 2008). Killing religions on the other hand advocate for the elimination of anybody who goes against its command. An example includes a religion that supports the murder or killing of people, who do not ascribe to its values (Pallmeyer, 2003). Controversy exists on whether Islam is an example of a killing religion or not. This is because there have been different interpretations of the teachings of Islam. One interpretation is of the need to kill anybody who does not practice Islam. Other hand, other Islamic scholars argue that this is not correct. This is because Islam seeks to embrace other religions (Docker, 2008). However, this is an issue of debate. In a nutshell, while most Muslims view religion and morality as a means of achieving peace, few of them see violence as a means of achieving it. The group view jihadists as an aberration of Islam that offers little more than oppression, religious police, veiled women, and disavowal of modern science. Differences Christians (Nonkilling Religion) believe that God sent Christ to correct the deviations of the Jews. Muslims on another hand trust that God sent Prophet Mohammed, his final prophet, to correct the deviations of the Christians. They believe that Christianity is not a true representation of the teachings of God (Docker, 2008). For example, the two depart on the use of violence to spread their religion. For instance, one of the teachings of Christianity is that he who lives by the sword, will also die by the sword. This is a condemnation of violence, and it is seeking to promote a peaceful co-existence amongst one another. The Quran teaches that anyone who tries to leave the religion should be punished. By looking at these facts, it is possible to denote that Christianity and Islam are two very different religions, and they propagate different values and beliefs. Buddhism and Hinduism are other non-killing religions (Pallmeyer, 2003). These religions believe in a peaceful co-existence amongst one another. Furthermore, Buddhism believes that to achieve ultimate peace, there is a need of an individual to constantly meditate. Hinduism believes in the existence of many gods, and goddesses. On this fact, this religion embraces other religions, and their beliefs. This is unacceptable in Islam. Islam does not tolerate any other religion, and they believe that no God exists, apart from their god, who is called Allah. It is because of this fact that Islamic extremists are willing to kill, for Allah (Pallmeyer, 2003). The violent advocation of Islamic beliefs is referred to as Jihad. Jihad refers to an action aimed at exerting effort for purposes of achieving a desired outcome. Muslims normally fight Jihad on two levels. The first level, is the war against Satanic accusations, poverty, and diseases (Pallmeyer, 2003). The second Jihad is fought against any person who is viewed as going against the principles and doctrines of Islam. Non-killing religions do not support any type of violence, nor do they have any violent ideologies, such as jihad. Islam stresses that anyone who does not convert to Islam, should be killed, or enslaved. The other non-killing religions do not have these provisions (Pallmeyer, 2003). For them, those who do not agree with their dogmas are never slayed or killed. In this view, we can appreciate the fact that these two religions do contrast in huge steps. While the former propagates for killing the rebels or making them slaves, the latter focuses on tolerance and peace. They do these based on Koran's Allah doctrines. In addition, in case a Muslim brother gets into the way of murdering the non-Muslims, Islam permits that such an individual is slain. They can go into the levels of leveling a neighborhood to finish off infidel (Pallmeyer, 2003). In this sense, Islam regards these types of killings as piety, and it sees nothing wrong with it. For example, the word Boko Haram means that Western Education is sinful. This is a religious extremist group that is found in Northern Nigeria and it advocates for the Islamization of Nigeria. In the pursuit of their goal, they burned schools, kidnaped hundreds of children, and left causalities numbering in thousands. Their suspected links with the al-Qaeda in the Maghreb and al-Shabaab in Somalia has made Boko Haram a real menace in the eyes of U.S national security. The other non-killing religions calls for loving your neighbors as you love you. So the notion of killing to gain something is seen as evil in these forms of religions. In comparison to Christianity, Islam does not offer a chapter about love, 1 Corinthians 13.There exist no parable of Good Samaritan (Docker, 2008). The call to personal holiness doesn't exist entirely. There is no hope for personal salvation by way of sinless sacrifice just as Christ did upon Calvary. The hope of eternal bliss in holy heaven is non-existent (Ellens, 2004). The sacrifice of laying down the life of one person is not present in Islam. Instead, it is killing others that will let you gain eternity (Docker, 2008). The love for a neighbor is absent in totality among the killing religions. This is seen amongst the Boko Haram militants. This people kill, with the argument that they are advocating for the adoption of Islamic principles. Prophet Mohammed was a political leader, and the Koran had much to say about how to organize a well-run society in a manner that promotes peace and justice. The two make it true by saying that, modern day Muslims find it very absurd to separate religion from Government. It begs the question, why would human law be above the law of God. It is on this baseline that we find so many extremists rising up to counter government forces in all manner of wicked bloodshed strategies (Docker, 2008). They do not think about who they might be putting in danger, but their main focus is selfishness. In other world religions, the reverse is very evident, Killing is not allowed and is regarded very evil. Such acts attract punishments ranging from eternal condemnation and torture. In these religions, there is the separation of religion and government structures (Docker, 2008). The holy book of Muslims is the Koran. It is a compilation of God's laws which were revealed to Mohammed.. Mohammed is respected by most Muslims as a prophet of God and not as an extension of God. Christ in His works here on earth claimed to be God. Mohammed was a mortal appointed by God to proclaim the message of peace and enlightenment and in this sense; he had no supernatural powers (Ellens, 2004). To Christianity, it is contrary to these. Christ in his ministry among the Jews did many miracles that culminated into very many people following His doctrine. This includes raising the dead, healing the sick, etc. For Him, many people believed in eternal bliss in holy heaven because He was an extension of God Himself. Modern Day Terrorism Modern day terrorism is deeply associated with killing religions. Take for example, Islam. Most terrorism groups that emerge, normally associate themselves with Islam. An example is Al-Qaeda, whose leaders called for Jihad, against the Americans and the Israeli interests (Ellens, 2004). This is because they believed that America and Israel were working against the interests of Islam. The Quran encourages Muslims to take captives during instances of war (Armstrong, 2014). This can only happen when a jihad is declared. This is the reason why most terror groups normally cite a Jihad, when engaged in terrorism activities. It might be true theoretically, but modern day terrorism is evident on the verses from Koran like the one above. A lot of emphases are on the jihad as means of seeing the wonderful life ahead of us. In this regard, extremists like the al-Qaeda, al-Shabab and the Boko Haram of Nigeria take it upon themselves to control governments by either hijacking planes, children or just killing using bombs (Armstrong, 2014). What matters to them is exerting fear and anxiety among innocent citizens at the expense of their selfish endeavors. There is a very strong association between modern day terrorism and faith. These words are well depicted in the brutal killing of Cpl. Nathan Cirillo by a recent Muslim convert called Michael Zeharf-Bibeau. In his submission, he states that it very absurd for a Muslim convert to go on a shooting spree in the Canadian parliament (Docker, 2008). In as much as it is visible that the religion has something to do with behavior, other factors also can contribute. For instance, neglect on upbringing, ideology, mental problems and even criminal past and drug addiction. But of the stated reasons religion has the strongest relation with what Bibeau did in Canada (Docker, 2008). The precipitation of modern day terrorism resurgence of armed and radical jihadi movements are two in nature.First is the revolutionary ideals and ideology of the 1979 Iranian revolution and secondly, the practical application of jihad against the Soviet Union's occupation of Afghanistan. Conclusion Religious terrorism is the political insurgency by members of a certain group of doctrinal faith in trying to avert the effects of the stated political system. In this sense, anything that results from such an arrangement is viewed as a huge blessing to the people fighting for that course. Modern day terrorism is visible by many groups of the Islamic faith who have a baseline of bloodletting. The recent events in the United States on September 11, 2001 showed the lengths at which these extremists can extend to. The modern day government or political units should endeavor to reach out to the grievances aired out by political extremists. On a religious scale, it is imperative for the states to try out to counter the effects of religious extremist. The killing religion propagates for modern day hijacking of planes and children, like the Nigerian Boko Haram and the al-Qaeda not forgetting the al-Shabaab in present-day Somalia. In this submission it is practical knowledge to denote killin g religions with modern terrorism. References: Armstrong, K. (2014). Fields of blood religion and the history of violence. New York, N.Y.: Books on Tape :. Docker, J. (2008). The origins of violence religion, history and genocide. London: Pluto Press. Top of Form Bottom of Form Ellens, J. (2004). The destructive power of religion: Violence in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Westport, Conn.: Praeger. Top of Form Bottom of Form Pallmeyer, J. (2003). Is religion killing us?: Violence in the Bible and the Quran. Harrisburg, Pa.: Trinity Press International.

Foreshadowing and Flashbacks in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby :: Great Gatsby Essays

     Ã‚  Ã‚   In Fitzgerald’s timeless novel The Great Gatsby, the writing techniques of foreshadowing and flashbacks are carefully used to enhance and   strengthen the story.     " 'Suppose you met somebody just as careless as yourself.'   'I hope I never will,' she [Jordan] answered.   'I hate careless people.   That's why I like you.' " (Fitzgerald, pg. 63)   Jordan is explaining to Nick how she is able to drive badly as long as everyone else drives carefully.   This quote represents the writing technique of   foreshadowing, which is being used in one of its finest form.   Fitzgerald is foreshadowing to chapter seven where Daisy kills Myrtle Wilson because of her reckless driving.   Fitzgerald uses foreshadowing to strengthen the plot of his book.   In chapter nine, Nick begins to recall the past and relive his old memories.   His must relieve his lingering thoughts of the past.   During the chapter, Nick uses a flashback to tell about Gatsby's funeral for the readers to know what happen the day Gatsby was shot.   Flashback in The Great Gatsby also helps to give the reader background information about the characters.   In The Great Gatsby, the structure of the novel is influenced by foreshadowing and flashback.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Fitzgerald utilizes foreshadowing to the best of its ability to help organize the novel.   "Luckily the clock took this moment to tilt dangerously at the pressure of his head, whereupon he turned and caught it with trembling fingers and set it back in place. 'I'm sorry about the clock,' he said.   'It's an old clock,' I told him idiotically." (Fitzgerald, pg. 92)   This quote is the first use of foreshadowing which is in chapter five.   It pertains to all of the trouble Gatsby causes as he tries to win Daisy back.   The past is represented by the clock and how Gatsby wants to repeat it with Daisy.   (Eble, pg. 963) This quote foreshadows to the end of the novel when Nick is left to tell the story of the dreamer whose dreams were corrupted.   (Eble, pg. 963) "they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made." (Fitzgerald, pg. 188)   In chapter

Adidas strategy Essay

Adidas AG is one of the world leaders in sportswear, equipment and accessories. In 2011, the company recorded a net income of $934.3 million, an increase of 18.3% over fiscal year 2010. Adidas’ excellence stems from its strong focused differentiation strategy. Focus on research and development has facilitated continuous development of new products and it plans to leverage its strong brand portfolio to create profits from its innovative products and by establishing robust retail operations. adidas’ goal is to be the leading sports brand in the world. One major lever to achieve this is the brand’s broad and unique product portfolio spanning from apparel and footwear for professional athletes to premium fashion. The company’s leading market position is built on its portfolio of strong brands like adidas, reebok, and TaylorMade. It allows adidas to address multiple consumer needs, exploit market opportunities from various angles as well as be less affected by one-dimensional market risks. adidas’ commitment to product innovation by focusing on research and development differentiates the brand from competitors and provides a solid platform for future growth. 1) Distribution: Strong brand portfolio to establish a strong retail presence and increase profit margins by increasing retail sales as a percentage of total sales. Adidas currently operates 2,041 stores for the adidas and Reebok brands worldwide. Adidas’ strong brand and enhanced retail presence generates brand loyalty, which enables easier customer recall and gives adidas a competitive advantage. Revenue: $18,580.2 million; 11.3% Operating profit: $1,407.7 million; 13.1% 170 subsidiaries in Europe, the Americas and Asia Wholesale, retail and other businesses 2) Research and development: $160.1 million in R&D

Accreditation Audit Task Essay

The Joint Commission defines the Periodic Performance Review as an assessment tool created to assist health organizations improve and monitor their performance throughout the year. This tool focuses on the processes that influence patient care and safety while providing the structure for unremitting standards fulfillment. Nightingale Community Hospital is compliant with most standards as set forth by the Joint Commission. However, upon inspection and in an effort to stay focused on compliance, our standards committee has located a few discrepancies that must be resolved to maintain our accreditation with the Joint Commission. Rather than focus on the discrepancies found within each unit, we will look at the trends that affect the hospital’s compliance with the Joint Commissions recommendations regarding patient care. Armed with the trends, we will then explore staffing patterns and how they relate to patient care in order to establish a plan that will assist our hospital to minimize patient safety issues as they relate to falls, pressure ulcers, pneumonia, and the general safety of our patients. See more:  Manifest Destiny essay NON-COMPLIANT TRENDS Although the Joint Commission standards clearly define the requirements for an organization to remain in compliance with the patient care and safety criterion for accreditation, Nightingale Community Hospital’s policies are not being routinely followed throughout each unit. The policy that states verbal orders must be authenticated within 48 hours is not being followed in several units and there seems to be little, if any consistency throughout the hospital with regards to policy observations. Generally, the compliance rate in the second quarter was steady and the best of all quarters, while the third quarter compliance results were very poor. Policy must be reviewed and standards improved in order to bring the hospital into compliance. Policy that should be implemented include a form in which the nurse who takes the order must sign and date the form and place it on outside of the patients chart to alert the physician that actions are  required of him regarding this patient. Only two abbreviations were monitored in ICU, Telemetry, 3E, and 4E because they are the most frequently used forbidden abbreviations. These forbidden abbreviations are â€Å"cc† and â€Å"qd†. The audit revealed â€Å"cc† was most often used in the months of April and September. The abbreviation â€Å"qd† was used much more sparingly but was used most often during the months of June and July. The second and third quarters proved to be the quarters when the two prohibited abbreviations were used the most. To increase awareness of prohibited abbreviations, a list will be posted in the nursing station in close proximity to where the charting takes place. Nurses and nursing staff will receive education regarding the use of approved abbreviations as set forth by the Joint Commission. Additionally, everyone who documents in the patients chart will be required to sign and date the entry at the time of documentation. The pain assessment audit was another standard that was out of compliance with the Joint Commission recommendations. The ED, 3E, and PACU were the units focused on for this portion of the audit. Clearly, the Emergency Department was the least compliant throughout the year for pain assessment. This may be due to the urgency or life threatening events in which pain assessment is not a priority. Regardless of the reason for neglecting to assess for pain, it is a requirement for accreditation. Each assessment should be documented in the patient’s record of care and all personnel responsible for patient care must receive education regarding the necessity of the pain assessment. The Nurse Managers of each department has the responsibility of implementing a corrective action plan based on the particular department standard of care. The Joint Commission’s focus is on safety. At Nightingale Community Hospital, safety is also important and the policies and procedures are reviewed to ensure the hospital is compliant with the Joint Commission’s recommendations. The hospital policy for fire drills requires one drill per shift per quarter. The audit shows that there are some compliancy concerns regarding the fire drills. During third shift, for the first and third  quarters, no fire drill occurred. Also, there was no fire drill on the second shift during the fourth quarter. Obviously, there should be further study to determine the cause for the compliancy issue vs. staffing deficiencies during third shift. Additionally, each department will have a safety monitor assigned to ensure the fire drills occur as per hospital policy. The safety monitor will complete a form documenting the staff involved in the fire drill, date, and time the drill took place and will keep a copy in the safety manual to be inspe cted monthly. Other safety concerns that were identified during the PPR rounds include clutter in the hallways, smoke wall penetrations, master alarm panel for medical gasses was not tested, and the gift shop did not have the required 18† clearance from the sprinklers. The maintenance department manager will need to implement a corrective action plan and be held accountable for the discrepancies identified. Additionally, the Moderate Sedation Monthly Audit of the Endoscopy Department shows some compliancy issues regarding pre-procedure events. Mallampati classification, ASA, Sedation plan documentation, and completion of reassessment are consistently below 90% for all four quarters. However, the actions that must occur during the procedure and post procedure rated at 90% or higher with regards to the Joint Commission recommendations for compliancy. Per the Joint Commission, compliancy should idealistically be 100%, therefore, the majority of the pre-procedure events are out of compliance and a corrective action plan to improve consistency must be implemented. Patient falls continue to be a concern throughout the healthcare industry because many times the fall results in injury. Other concerns of patient safety that are addressed by the Joint Commission are related to pressure ulcers and ventilator associated pneumonia. The Intensive Care Unit had an increase in falls but no correlation was found between the numbers of falls to nursing care hours. However, ventilator associated pneumonia increased this year. Corrective actions were put into place to improve the VAP numbers. On the Oncology Unit, 3E, both falls and pressure ulcer rates  decreased. There were no trends identified with falls and ulcers in relation to nursing care hours or overtime. On 4E, patient falls and pressure ulcers increased when nursing care hours increased. To determine the causes of non-compliance, the committee should look into the events that occurred during the fourth quarter. While there are trends during the second and third quarter, the fourth quarter appears to have been when the majority of falls, pressure ulcers, and VAP’s occurred. Otherwise, hospital-wide, the trend seems to show a decrease in compliancy during the third quarter. STAFFING PATTERNS The Joint Commission depicts staffing effectiveness as ensuring a proper mix of expertise and numbers of proficient staff necessary to effectively provide for the needs of the patient population in a hospital setting. Although costs incurred due to staffing levels consume a considerable portion of the hospitals revenue, studies have shown that sufficient staffing has a direct effect on quality and safety. (Joint Commission, 2010) Dall, Chen, Seifert, Maddox, and Hogan discovered financial benefits for increasing nursing staff levels. They determined that nosocomial infections and hospital length of stays were decreased when there was adequate nursing staff available. They also determined that mortality rates decreased as a result of increased nursing staff. (Dall, 2009) Nursing hours indicate the quantity and complexity of patients for each area in the hospital. In order to determine how many nurses and other nursing staff will be necessary to care for the patients, one must determine the nursing hours per patient day. This is calculated by comparing the amount of nursing staff providing care to the total number of patients requiring care. Nightingale Community Hospital has combined staffing effectiveness with performance improvement in order to demonstrate sustained improvements throughout selected clinical units. The units selected are based on the clinical and human resource indicators such as patient population,  historical staffing issues, and input from staff and existing data. Traditionally, the clinical indicators have been falls, falls with injury, pressure ulcer prevalence, and ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP). Additionally, the human resource indicators include overtime and nursing care hours. Although the Joint Commission has not directed specific staffing levels or ratios, hospitals and other organizations are expected to ascertain their own levels with regard to their experience and history. Based on the data from 3E – Oncology, no trends were identified with regard to falls, falls with injury, pressure ulcer prevalence, nursing hours, or overtime indicators. In fact, 3E experienced a decrease in falls and pressure ulcers. This may be the result of the nursing staff focusing on these indicators due to their patient population. Also, increasing awareness, improving education, and providing a skin care representative has improved patient safety. The Intensive Care Unit (ICU) experienced an increase in falls without regard to nursing care hours. However, the unit did show an increase in ventilator associated pneumonia events. This occurred during the month of September when nursing care hours decreased. Prior months showed an increase in overtime hours for nursing staff which caused fatigue and burnout to become noticeable later. Due to increases in both falls and VAP’s, corrective actions were implemented to reduce these statistics for the coming year. The Unit, 4E, data proved just the opposite as this unit encountered increases in both falls and pressure ulcer prevalence. According to the date obtained regarding falls, it is apparent that nursing care hours showed a relational trend with falls. In other words, when the nursing care hours decreased, falls increased. In comparison, when nursing care hours increased, the falls rate decreased. Drastic increases in falls occurred during June, September, November, December and February. Nursing hours during this time averaged 15 hours per shift. It appears the overtime hours occurred as a result of the holiday season and therefore caused nursing burnout. Due to vacations, holidays, and absenteeism, nurses are often required to work overtime. This pattern is obvious again during the summer  months when accommodations for vacations are necessary. However, the opposite is true with regards to pressure ulcers vs. nursing care hours. When the nursing care hours increased, the occurrences of pressure ulcers increased as well. This is possibly caused due to increased overtime hours resulting in the fatigue and burnout. This is a perfect environment for errors or the potential to cause harm. A more extensive study in the nursing care hours must be implemented in order to establish an aggressive corrective action plan to reduce the occurrences of pressure ulcers and falls. If the study shows the nursing staff to be working overtime, additional staff may be necessary as part of the corrective action plan. Hiring additional nurses will improve patient care, result in decreased turnover rates, and lead to increased job satisfaction which will ultimately lead to positive outcomes in patient care. STAFFING PLAN Hiring and retaining an adequate number of competent nurses is the greatest challenge facing hospitals and other healthcare organizations. Nursing has to work with the human resources department to improve hiring procedures. Human resources should implement plans to recruit competent nurses with the skills and education necessary to provide the care Nightingale is known for. Human resources will perform an analysis to determine the best qualities for nursing candidates and will recruit according to that standard. Additionally, alternative plans for additional staffing during known periods of absenteeism such as vacations and holidays will be constructed. It is imperative that nursing coverage does not become impaired due to absenteeism. In order to attract and retain the best nurses, Nightingale needs to improve the benefit package. Nurses have often stated that caring for their patients is a joy, but administrative duties, non-nursing activities, and poor staffing practices results in low job satisfaction. Increased job satisfaction in turn, results in improved patient care and increased positive outcomes. Studies have shown that unhappy nurses have unhappy patients. Other strategies that Nightingale Community Hospital can implement are to encourage nurses to cross train in multiple units in order to fill positions in other units when staffing shortages occur. Inadequate staffing levels can cause considerable harm to the patients but is also a financial burden to the organization. Adverse events are more common when staffing levels are low which are associated with increased costs due to the need for more intensive nursing care. (Stanton, 2004) The Utilization Guide for the ANA Principles for Nurse Staffing suggests the use of patient classification systems. (Utilization guide for the ANA principles for nurse staffing, 2005) Utilizing a patient classification system provides guidelines for difficult staffing issues by identifying processes and procedures for improved staffing. Organizations benefit by supporting nursing judgment regarding individual patient needs, incorporating sources that reinforce standards of nursing practice, encouraging nursing participation evaluating products that may be used in staffing decision making, and champion the use of patient classification systems. Works Cited Dall, T. C. (2009). The Economic Value of Professional Nursing. Medical Care, 97-104. Joint Commission. (2010). Management of Human Resources. CAMH: Comprehensive Accreditation Manual for Hospitals, Hr-1 – HR-10. Stanton, M. R. (2004, March). Hospital Nurse Staffing and Quality of Care. Research in Action. Rockville, MD, USA: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. (2005). Utilization guide for the ANA principles for nurse staffing. Washington, DC: American Nurses Association.