Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Homework on trade policy Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Homework on trade policy - Assignment Example The imports from India will have very low prices in relation to the price of rice in France. The reduction in price will tend to shut off the market for local rice thus the infant industry in France. The France economy will tend to be dependent on the rice from India. The producers are worse of while the consumers initially are enough off but are subject to risks of food insecurity and lower quality of rice. The imposition of subsidies in the production of rice in India particularly when it has a low population will tend to raise the amount of rice. The scenario will change if the population is more in that the supply of rice will tend to exceed the demand. Therefore, the surplus will tend to reduce the price of rice significantly. The issuances of lump sum amounts of cash to the farmers will not necessary imply that the funds will be in use in the production of rice. Therefore, the change in supply will not be significantly different from the amount before the issuance of the funds. The term is unlike the imposition of

Monday, October 28, 2019

Puppy Mills Essay Example for Free

Puppy Mills Essay Imagine walking into a pet store and having puppies give you the saddest looks with their great big teary eyes. Everybody is tempted to take these puppies home because they just appeal and hit every nerve in every way. By spending money on a puppy from a pet store, you support a really ugly industry. This industry is known as puppy mills. A puppy mill is a large-scale commercial dog breeding operation where profit is given priority over the well-being of the dogs (ASPCA). Puppy mills are easily distinguished by their inhumane conditions and the constant breeding of unhealthy and genetic defective dogs solely for profit (Prisoners of Greed). Puppy mills make dog’s live very tortured lives. All puppy mills should be banned because of their cruelty to these poor innocent animals. Puppy mills were established in the 1940’s after World War II. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) suggested breeding dogs as an alternative to wide spread crop failures in the Midwest. The farmers liked this idea because breeding dogs was cheaper and there was less physical labor involved than in growing crops. They also did not have to worry about the weather. The farmers took their chicken coops and rabbit hutches and repurposed them for dogs and the retail pet industry. The farmers had little knowledge of the puppy industry and often had very little money to start this venture. They did not know that puppies needed companionship and they also skipped veterinary care for the puppies. This led to the substandard condition of puppy mills. Retail pet outlets grew so the demand for puppies increased. Major retail stores such as Sears, purchased dogs for their pet departments and pet store chains were born (Wolf). The state of Missouri is the largest puppy mill state in the country . It is estimated that the value of the puppy mill industry to this state is 40 million dollars a year. The puppy brokers also needed a puppy supply store for the east coast, so they convinced the Pennsylvania farmers that puppies were the cash crop of the future. They gave seminars to teach the farmers how to operate their own breeding facilities. Lancaster county PA has earned the nickname of the puppy mill capital of the east (ASPCA). Puppy mills continue to thrive because they prey on consumers who are smitten by the puppies in pet stores or on fancy websites (Stop Puppy Mills). The reality of a puppy mill is that it raises dogs in cramped, crude, and filthy conditions. Puppy mills are distinguishable by their inhumane conditions. They also breed unhealthy and genetically defective dogs for profit only (prisoners of greed). Dogs are kept in either wood or wire mesh cages or simply tethered to a tree. One facility in Arkansas had cages hanging from the ceiling of an unheated cinder-block building (PETA). Wire cages are used to minimize waste cleanup. Many of the puppies lose their feet and legs because they are caught on the wire floor and they are cut off as the dog struggles to free itself. There is usually no heat or air conditioning in a puppy mill. The dogs will either die of heat stroke in the summer or freeze to death in the winter. Food that is fed to the dogs in the puppy mills is usually purchased from dog food companies by the truck load. The dog food contains sweepings from the floor. There is so little nutritional value that the dog’s teeth can rot at an early age (Prisoner of Greed). Dogs that are bred in puppy mills can experience a multitude of problems ranging from physical to mental due to the overcrowded and unsanitary conditions of the cages. Because the puppies are never allowed out of their cages, this can cause dogs to become mentally unstable. It is not uncommon to see dogs barking and running in circles. They have no social interaction with people. They are never given toys or treats. This also makes it difficult for the dogs to become a part of a family. Puppy mill owners fail to remove sick dogs from their breeding pools, which causes congenital and hereditary conditions. These can include diseases such as epilepsy and musculoskeletal disorders such as dysplasia, deafness and eye problems. The dogs also arrive at the stores with infirmities and diseases such as mange, heartworm, and distemper (ASPCA). Many dogs will get wounds from being bitten by other dogs and the breeders do not even take care of these wounds so they stay open allowing bacteria to enter the skin and cause infection. Life is particularly bad for the female dogs. The mothers spend loveless lives in tiny stacked cages, from which they are never released to eat, play or even defecate. These females receive little or no veterinary care (Stop Puppy Mills). By the age of five, most female dogs can no longer reproduce at the puppy mills. At this point, they no longer have any value to the owners and are killed by being bashed in the head with a rock or shot (Prisoner of Greed). The mom and dad of the puppies are unlikely to make it out of the mill alive. The result of all of this breeding is hundreds of thousands of puppies with behavior and or health problems (Stop Puppy Mills) In Riverside, Iowa an owner told USDA that he performed surgical procedures such as tail docking, ear cropping, and declawing the puppies. The owner used no anesthetic agents and he did not sterilize his tools. This owner was also not licensed to practice veterinary medicine or surgery in any state. All of the adult dogs and puppies had open lesions and damage to ears, legs, and or torsos. If the puppies are fortunate enough to survive the conditions of the puppy mills, they then have to face the dangerous journey across the country to the various pet stores. Hundreds of thousands of puppies are taken from their mothers and sold to brokers who pack puppies into crates and then ship them cross-country to be sold in pet shops. These puppies can travel hundreds of thousands of miles in pickup trucks, tractor trailers, and or/airplanes, often without adequate food, water, ventilation, or shelter. In Missouri, a trailer was stopped by the USDA. It had thirty three cages that contained sixty three puppies. They did not have adequate water or food. They were later arrested. (Stop Puppy Mills). Since running puppy mills is a business, the facility is designed for profit so they do not care at all about the well-being of these puppies. Some of the puppies are sold via newspaper classifieds or internet sites and are often accompanied by false claims saying â€Å"We would never sell puppies from a puppy mill. They will also say that the puppies are home raised, or raised with kids (Stop Puppy Mills). Many of these puppies being sent to pet stores have never or rarely received the kind of loving human contact that is essential for them to become suitable companions when puppies reach the pet stores, conditions do not even improve. They are still kept in small cages with wire on the bottom. They are still without exercise, love and human contact. They will develop undesirable behaviors and may bark excessively or become destructive and unsociable (PETA). Many consumers want to purchase purebred dogs even though they may not be educated about the breed or ready for the commitment that puppies require. Movies like 101 Dalmatians and Beethoven or commercials such as those for Taco Bell can cause a jump in popularity for certain breeds. This demand for a particular breed triggers an increase of breeding for that particular type of dog as the puppy mills try to meet the consumer’s demand. When a St. Bernard doesn’t act like â€Å"Beethoven† or the Dalmatians are high strung, rescue groups and animal shelters become flooded with these breeds. At puppy mills, puppies are bred for quantity, not quality so genetic defects and personality disorders are passed on from generation to generation (PETA). With all of these puppies being tortured many would assume that in today’s world there should be a law passed or that the government should have stepped in and saved these poor puppies. The Animal Welfare Act (AWA) is administered by the US Department of Agriculture. The act has several categories of businesses that handle dogs. One is pet dealers who import, buy, sell, trade or transport pets in wholesale channels. Another is pet breeders who breed for the wholesale trade, whether for selling animals to other breeders or selling to brokers or directly to pet stores or laboratories. The AWA however does not define puppy mill (Wolf). Under the federal AWA, commercial breeders selling directly to pet stores must be licensed by the USDA. The AWA does not regulate breeders that sell directly to the public. Since the AWA was passed in 1966 it was before the Internet boom and the lawmakers did not see that commercial breeders would have the ability to sell to consumers through the internet. This allows a loophole for mills to operate without a license and without fear of inspection. The mills are not accountable to anyone for their breeding and care standards (ASPCA). The AWA and many states have laws that purport to regulate puppy mills, but the fact is that those laws are rarely enforced (Prisoners of Greed). In May, 2008, the ASPCA and other welfare groups successfully fought for an amendment to Congress’s Farm Bill. This bill would prohibit the importation of puppies less than six months of age for the purpose of resale. In September 2008, a bill known as â€Å"Baby’s Bill† (in honor of Baby, a three legged rescued puppy mill survivor) was introduced in the House of Representatives. This legislation was to close the loophole that allowed commercial breeders to sell puppies online. It would also require all dogs to be let out of their cages and exercised daily. Unfortunately it did not pass The ASPCA will try again next year to get the bill passed. Certain states are now passing laws to help control the number of adult dogs a breeder may possess. Virginia and Louisiana were among the first states to pass these laws. As the voting public becomes more vocal in its objection to the puppy mills, legislator support should increase. There are ways that you can fight puppy mills. Start by refusing to patronize the stores and websites that sell their puppies. The biggest thing a person can do is not buy a puppy from a pet store. Another thing to do is not buy a puppy from any place that does not show you records of its entire facility. Ask to meet the mother dog. Consider becoming active and joining the ASPCA to pass legislation that ensures that all animals bred are raised in healthy conditions (ASPCA). When buying a puppy, consider adoption. By adopting instead of buying, it is a way to hurt puppy mills. Another suggestion is to find a responsible breeder and visit their premises. By visiting the home of a respectful breeder, you can check if the puppies have been provided with a loving and healthy environment (Stop Puppy Mills). Never send Western Union or money order payments. If a breeder or broker says there will be no refunds for a sick puppy, then the puppy is most likely coming from a puppy mill. When purchasing a puppy also pick it up. Do not have the puppy shipped or meet at a random location (PETA). Puppy mills have been going on since the late 1940’s and they need to end. Poor innocent puppies die every year from malnutrition, diseases, open wounds and broken bones that do not get to heal properly. Since puppy mills are a business, all the breeders care about is the profit they make. They neglect these poor puppies by not feeding them or even giving them love and care they deserve. In 2007, a man named Bob Baker joined the ASPCA as an undercover investigator. He raided a puppy mill in Buxton, MF, and seized more than 200 dogs. Baker released his findings to the papers. This increased the consumer’s awareness of the dangers of puppy mills. The PETA organization is a big advocate of getting information out about these mills. Many people have gone undercover with video cameras to witness and record these horrible acts. Celebrities are showing their support by making statements through PETA or doing television commercials to raise the consumer’s awareness. Puppy mills are a huge tragedy in this world today that needs to be stopped.

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Indecision, Hesitation and Delay in Shakespeares Hamlet Essay

     Ã‚  Ã‚   The very intelligent prince in William Shakespeare’s Hamlet is a dallying type, especially at the crucial prayer scene where the king appears very vulnerable. But some esteemed literary critics do not consider the hero to be a procrastinator at all. Let us in this essay examine various points of view on the prince'’ various episodes indicting dallying or the opposite. Harry Levin comments on Hamlet’s uncharacteristic hesitation in dispatching the king, in the General Introduction to The Riverside Shakespeare: Comparably, Hamlet has been taken to task – or, perhaps more often, sentimentalized – for an alleged inability to make up his mind. Actually, both the testimony about him and his ultimate heroism show that his hesitations are uncharacteristic. It is a measure of the baffling predicament in which he finds himself that the native hue of resolution Is sicklied o’er with the pale cast of thought (III.i.84) If Hamlet’s personality seems peculiarly elusive, if his different interpreters can endow him with such widely differing characteristics, it is because his part is presented subjectively, much of it confided to us through soliloquies. (24) David Bevington, in the Introduction to Twentieth Century Interpretations of Hamlet, eliminates some possible reasons for Hamlet’s hesitation in killing Claudius during the prayer scene:    Several limits can be placed upon the search for an explanation of Hamlet’s apparent hesitation to avenge. He is not ineffectual under ordinary circumstances. Elizabethan theories of melancholy did not suppose the sufferer to be made necessarily inactive. Hamlet has a deserved reputation in Denmark for manliness and princely demeanor. He keeps up his fencing practice ... ...n and Audio Performance. Rutherford, NJ: Fairleigh Dickinson University Press, 1988.    Levin, Harry. General Introduction. The Riverside Shakespeare. Ed. G. Blakemore Evans. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1974.    Nevo, Ruth. â€Å"Acts III and IV: Problems of Text and Staging.† Modern Critical Interpretations: Hamlet. Ed. Harold Bloom. New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1986. Rpt. from Tragic Form in Shakespeare. N.p.: Princeton University Press, 1972.    Shakespeare, William. The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 1995. http://www.chemicool.com/Shakespeare/hamlet/full.html    West, Rebecca. â€Å"A Court and World Infected by the Disease of Corruption.† Readings on Hamlet. Ed. Don Nardo. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1999. Rpt. from The Court and the Castle. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1957.   

Thursday, October 24, 2019

The Odyssey :: essays research papers

Ten years after the fall of Troy, the victorious Greek hero Odysseus has still not returned to his native Ithaka. A band of rowdy suitors, believing Odysseus to be dead, has overrun his palace, courting his faithful†¹though weakening†¹wife, Penelope, and going through his stock of food. With permission from Zeus, the goddess Athena, Odysseus' greatest immortal ally, appears in disguise and urges Odysseus' son Telemakhos to seek news of his father at Pylos and Sparta. However, the suitors, led by Antinoos, plan to ambush him upon his return. Odysseus' most prominent characteristic is his cunning; Homer's Greek audience generally admired the trait but occasionally disdained it for its dishonest connotations. Odysseus' skill at improvising false stories or devising plans is nearly incomparable in Western literature. His Trojan horse scheme (recounted here and written about in The Iliad) and his multiple tricks against Polyphemos are shining examples of his ingenuity, especially when getting out of jams. Both examples indirectly relate to another dominant pattern in The Odyssey: disguise. (The soldiers "disguise" themselves in the body of the Trojan horse, while Odysseus and his men "disguise" themselves as rams to escape from Polyphemos.) Odysseus spends the last third of the poem disguised as a beggar, both to escape from harm until he can overthrow the suitors and to test others for loyalty. In addition, Athena appears frequently throughout the poem, often as the character Mentor, to provide aid to Odysseus or Telemakhos. Though he is usually a smart, decisive leader, Odysseus is prone to errors, and his deepest flaw is falling prey to temptation. His biggest mistakes come in the episode with Polyphemos as he first foolishly investigates the Kyklops' lair (and ends up getting trapped there), and then cannot resist shouting his name to Polyphemos after escaping (thus incurring Poseidon's wrath). If Odysseus' character changes over the course of The Odyssey, though, it pivots around temptation. After his errors with Polyphemos, Odysseus has his crew tie him up so he can hear†¹but not follow†¹the dangerously seductive song of the Seirenes. Disguised as a beggar in Ithaka, he is even more active in resisting temptation, allowing the suitors to abuse him as he bides his time. Temptation hurts his crew, as well, in their encounters with Kirke, the bag of winds from Aiolos, and the oxen of Helios. As Telemakhos tracks Odysseus' trail through stories from his old comrades-in-arms, Athena arranges for the release of Odysseus from the island of the beautiful goddess Kalypso, whose prisoner and lover he has been for the last eight years.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Report on Business Administration

Business Administration is the study of the performance and management of a business, including important decision making. There are many different duties related to Business Administration, including office manager, business support, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), and many others. Most companies have a dedicated group of administrators. The main areas in Business Administration are management, logistics, human resources, operations, economics, and organization. An administrator checks all these parts of organizations to ensure that they are all working properly and efficiently.The time it takes to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration changes depending on the school. At most colleges that have a business school or department, the course of study takes four years, or eight semesters. The majority of students earn a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. At some schools, the core curriculum could be extended, and some could be accelerated degree prog rams that can be completed in as little as three full years. If one wishes to pursue a graduate study in Business Administration, it usually requires two years extra.The degree is often called MBA or Masters in Business Administration. One can earn the degree whether on a campus or though online colleges. When a student graduates, he or she will have the knowledge to open his or her own business or work in corporate America. The years that it takes to obtain a Masters in Business Administration is definitely worth the potential success. Considering a degree in Business Administration but do not know what job opportunities await? A major in Business Administration can get results in multiples areas.These areas may be in private business, education, government and retail. A lot would depend on the prestige of the college one graduated from and one’s area of specialties. Important skills such as decision making, clear communication, and organization, can set the structure for a successful business career and a good salary. In general, a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration would be helpful in getting a position in a range of administrative jobs. Most Bachelor’s degrees in Business Administration have many focus areas that would be helpful in preparing one for certain types of jobs.Some examples are accounting, economics, marketing, communications, entrepreneurship, etc. A Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration prepares student for entry-level roles in management and administration. Getting a bachelor’s degree in business administration require a strong base of liberal arts and science classes. Students who desire a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration spend half of their credit hours on general education classes like English Composition, Social Sciences, Statistics, Communications, Economics, Natural Sciences, and Mathematics.While each program differs, most business administration programs select re quired general required courses that students must take in conjunction with open elective slots that student can fill on their own from a list of available classes. Students begin taking business administration classes in their third year, or junior year, and they must have a C average grade or better to remain in good standing, while others schools require a B average or higher. Business Administration courses cover a broad range of specializations, like Economics, Marketing, Management, Organizational behavior, accounting, financing, multivariate analysis and more.The salary for someone with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration can change, like in any other job. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary for someone with a degree in Business Administration is $50,000 a year. When trying to get better career opportunities, increased pay and the chance to make one a valuable resource for any sized company, a bachelor’s degree in business administration is one of the best ways to achieve it.This major can get one a variety of very good jobs because while earning this major you learn very effective skills such as logistics, management, speaking skills and more. It also depends on how much time you devote to it. If one continues with their education, and gets masters degree, and then a PhD, it will be very rewarding and get set you a path to a very successful career. There are a lot of schools where you can get a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.The top 5 business schools in the country are University of Notre Dame in Mendoza, University of Virginia, Cornell University, University of Pennsylvania, and Emory University. If you already have a bachelor’s in Business and you want to get your Masters in Business Administration (MBA), the top five schools in the country are the University of Chicago, Harvard University, University of Pennsylvania, Northwestern University, and Stanford University acc ording to Business Week. If you want to get a bachelor’s in business and your school does not offer that major, do not worry.There are a lot of majors related to Business Administration. Some of them are Accounting, Business Communications, Finance, Industrial Management, International Business, Logistics Management, Marketing, and Mathematics. With a Bachelor’s degree you have a lot of opportunities. Many people say that student with a Bachelor’s in Business prepares you for a lot of jobs. Sky is the limit! Majoring in business can lead you to a high paying job, and a good social standing. Even though it can be hard to achieve, it is very rewarding to have it. It can open the doors to a successful and productive future.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Definition and Examples of Non Sequiturs

Definition and Examples of Non Sequiturs Definition A non sequitur is a  fallacy in which a conclusion does not follow logically from what preceded it. Also known as  irrelevant reason and fallacy of the consequent. As illustrated below, non sequiturs are the products of many different kinds of errors in reasoning, including begging the question, false dilemma, ad hominem, the appeal to ignorance, and the straw man argument. Indeed, as  Steve Hindes observes in Think for Yourself  (2005), A  non sequitur  is any pretended jump in  logic  that doesnt work cleanly, perhaps because of unfounded  premises, unmentioned complicating factors, or alternative explanations, such as This war is righteous because we are French! or You will do what I say because you are my wife! The Latin expression non sequitur means it does not follow. Pronunciation: non SEK-wi-terr Examples and Observations We realize that it would be in the best interest of the community and our children to address the issue expeditiously. In order to make this happen, I respectfully request an eight-month payment delay calling for payment of the $10 million obligation on August 31, 2015.(Savannah City Manager Stephanie Cutter in a letter to the citys superintendent of schools; reported in the Savannah Morning News, April 3, 2014)Warming was caused by sunspots, or fluctuations in the Earths orbit, or volcanic eruptions. Therefore it cannot be caused by mankind. The therefore is the giveaway, the delicious non sequitur: just because Earth has warmed for one or another reason in the past is no reason why it cannot warm for a completely different reason in the future.(John Llewellyn, In a Confusing Climate. The Observer, September 2, 2007)A Philosophers Non SequiturImmanuel Kant, considered by many to be the greatest philosopher of the modern period, would manage to let slip what is surely the greatest no n-sequitur in the history of philosophy: describing a report of something seemingly intelligent that had once been said by an African, Kant dismisses it on the grounds that this fellow was quite black from head to toe, a clear proof that what he said was stupid.(Justin E.H. Smith, The Enlightenments Race Problem, and Ours. The New York Times, February 10, 2013) Obvious Non SequitursNon sequiturs are most obvious when absurd. For instance, from the facts that most cats like milk and some cats have tails I could not derive the conclusion that David Hume was the greatest British philosopher. That would be a complete non sequitur that borders on the surreal, whether or not its conclusion is true. Non sequiturs are often advertised by the spurious use of so and therefore..., but the context of a statement can also suggest that it is a conclusion derived from what has gone before even when there is no such word used to indicate it.Any formal fallacy will have a non sequitur as its conclusion, though most of these non sequiturs will be less obvious than the one above.(Nigel Warburton, Thinking from A to Z. Routledge, 1996)Non Sequiturs in NewspapersNon sequiturs are most often encountered in newspapers, where constructions such as the following are common: Slim, of medium height, and with sharp features, Mr. Smiths technical skills are combined wi th strong leadership qualities (New York Times). What, we might ask, do Mr. Smiths height and features have to do with his leadership qualities?†(Bill Bryson, Brysons Dictionary of Troublesome Words: A Writers Guide to Getting It Right. Anchor, 2002) The Post Hoc and the Non SequiturThe difference between the post hoc and the non sequitur fallacies is that, whereas the post hoc fallacy is due to lack of a causal connection, in the non sequitur fallacy, the error is due to lack of a logical connection.(Mabel Lewis Sahakian, Ideas of the Great Philosophers. Barnes Noble, 1993)On the Lighter Side: Ralph Wiggums Non SequitursRalph Wiggum: Um, Miss Hoover? Theres a dog in the vent.Miss Hoover: Ralph, remember the time you said Snagglepuss was outside?Ralph Wiggum: He was going to the bathroom.(Sweet Seymour Skinners Baadasssss Song, The Simpsons)Ralph Wiggum: Martin Luther King had a dream. Dreams are where Elmo and Toy Story had a party and I was invited. Yay! My turn is over!Principal Skinner: One of your best, Ralphie.(The Color Yellow, The Simpsons, 2010)

Monday, October 21, 2019

Social Security 2100 Act

Social Security 2100 Act Potential Social Security Reforms on the Horizon Recently Congressman John Larson of Connecticut reintroduced a bill to increase Social Security benefits in the future. The Social Security 2100 Act would expand Social Security benefits, while extending future program solvency. There are both proponents and critics of the bill. Let’s take a closer look, and explore how this could impact Social Security Disability benefits.A Problem of SolvencyOne of the most pressing concerns regarding Social Security is ongoing solvency, as the cost of the program is growing faster than workers’ earnings can support. With Americans now living longer, they now collect benefits over a larger portion of their lives. At the same time, a lower birthrate in the U.S. means fewer workers are paying into the system.According to Social Security trustees, repairing the current shortfall would require an increase in the payroll tax rate from 12.4% to 15.2% on all workers. Other solutions indicate a 21% across-the-board decrease in benefits for al l future claimants. Even so, these measures may not be sufficient to sustain the program past 2034- the year Social Security experts predict insolvency.The Larson PlanThe bill would raise payroll taxes for employers and employees by 1.2% over 24 years. It would also cut income taxes on Social Security benefits, raising the income threshold at which benefits would be taxed. According to Larson, some 12 million of Social Securitys more than 63 million total beneficiaries would receive a tax cut.It would also subject any earnings in excess of $400,000 to Social Security payroll taxes. Currently, Social Security taxes only apply to a wage earners first $132,900 of income. Income between $132,900 and $400,000 is not taxed. Over time, the bill would eliminate the cap, subjecting all earnings to tax.Bill supporters believe that lifting the cap on income subject to payroll taxes and raising tax rates could finance generous benefit and cost-of-living adjustments and help ensure program solve ncy for more than 75 years, while reducing income taxes on benefits and closing Social Security’s long-term funding gap.However, critics are concerned the bill would worsen income losses for younger workers by expanding benefits and costs faster than current law allows. They also suggest that the increase in payroll taxes could hurt workers with lower incomes.Another main concern surrounding the Larson bill is a provision to merge the disability insurance trust fund with the retirement trust fund. Under the current policy agreement, the Social Security Disability benefits program  is not allowed to divert funds from the Social Security retirement program.We Can HelpIf you are disabled and unable to work, call Disability Attorneys of Michigan for a free confidential consultation. We’ll let you know if we can help you get a monthly check and help you determine if any money or assets you receive could impact your eligibility for disability benefits.Disability Attorneys of Michigan works hard every day helping the disabled of Michigan seek the Social Security Disability benefits they need. If you are unable to work due to a physical, mental, or cognitive impairment; call Disability Attorneys of Michigan now for a free consultation at 800-949- 2900.Let Michigan’s experienced Social Security Disability law firm help you get the benefits you deserve.Disability Attorneys of Michigan, Compassionate Excellence. Michigan Social Security Disability Lawyer, Social Security 2100 Act, Social Security Reform

Sunday, October 20, 2019

An analysis of the film Fight Club essays

An analysis of the film Fight Club essays For years, David Fincher has been turning out some of the most stylish and inventive thrillers to ever hit the American screens. In spite of critical and public backlash, his Alien 3 remains the most technically interesting of that series, and Seven stands as the suspense film upon which all other modern suspense films are based. With The Game, he proved himself more than a one-movie wonder and emerged as one of the most original filmmakers working in Hollywood. His new film, Fight Club, however, is his most challenging piece of work. It is a film that demands that its viewers look past what's on the surface and find something deeper. Fight Club is a multi-layered film with many subplots and multiple themes. Fincher delves into such topics as consumerism, the feminization of society, manipulation, cultism, fascism, and even the psychosemantics of the human id and ego. Primarily, it is a film that surrealistically describes the status of the American male at the end of the 20th century: disenchanted, unfulfilled, castrated and looking for a way out. It depicts how consumerist males have been emasculated by their modern life styles, by a feminized consumer culture that places more worth on nice furniture and nice wardrobe than masculine values like power and strength. The central character in the film, who remains nameless and who is played by Edward Norton, is very much like Lester Burnham of American Beauty. He is trapped in the corporate world and finds himself increasingly dissatisfied with the fruits it is supposed to deliver. Norton's character leads an unfulfilled and aimless life. Rather than masturbating as an outlet, he buys furniture from IKEA. It is by no chance that our Narrator is not given a name: he is the Everyman of the 90s, "a slave to the IKEA nesting instinct" (Fight Club) with an apartment that owns him more than he owns it. He also suffers from insomnia for which the only cure seems to come in the form...

Saturday, October 19, 2019

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

Christology - Essay Example Acts 2:32-32 says, â€Å"This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, He hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear†. Some other instances where this resurrection is the central theme are Acts 3:13-18; 4:10-12; 5:29-32; 10:37-43, and so on. Similarly, one can find this resurrection as the main theme in the Epistles. To illustrate, in 1 Corinthians 15, Paul provides a number of reasons why this resurrection is the basis of Christian faith. When some people in Corinth fail to believe in the resurrection of the dead, Paul explains the various dire consequences in the absence of resurrection. First, the act of preaching Christ will be futile, and hence, even faith in Christ will be useless. If Jesus were not resurrected from the dead, no one would be redeemed from sin as promised. That means all the preachers would be liars and Christians would be come a pitiable lot on the earth. Thus, one can see that it is this resurrection which gave the disciples enough courage and faith in what they preached. Secondly, the late 60s AD witnessed persecution of Christians by the Nero-led Roman government. In 62 AD, both Peter and Paul were executed, and this persecution continued till the early 4th century. In order to make the early Christians face the cruelties boldly, and to sacrifice their own life for this great cause, Jesus’ success over death acted as a catalyst (Vinzent 143). With this spirit, Romans 12:1 says, â€Å"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship†. Moreover, the Old Testament is full of prophesy about the resurrection, and for those who believed in Scriptures, the saviour is the one who would win over death. To illustrate, Hosea 5:15 reads, â€Å"I will go and return to my place, till they

Friday, October 18, 2019

Creating your own monetary policy Research Paper

Creating your own monetary policy - Research Paper Example The discount rate refers to the amount of interest that the Federal Reserve charges to commercial banks and other financial depository institutions for the various loans that they acquire from the discount window of the Federal Reserve. The reserve requirements can also be referred to as the reserve cash ratio. This is a requirement that banking institutions need to deposit a certain amount of money to the Federal Reserve against the various deposits that is made by their respective customers. Open markets operations on the other hand involve the processes of the country’s central bank to sale and buy government bonds in an open market (Orphanides and Volker, 27). The main aim of using this tool as a monetary policy is to manipulate the supply base of money within an economy, and the short term interest rates, for purposes of controlling the nature and level of money supply within an economy. This paper develops a monetary policy that differs from the last policy statement iss ue by the FOMC. The last policy statement by FOMC was released on 30th of October 2013. Under this policy statement, FOMC denotes that it will continue with its asset purchasing programs. This is because the committee had noted that the policy gained efficiency in improving the economic activities of the United States of America. The committee also has plans to adjust the pace of its asset purchases, but it is still waiting for a report on the levels of progress that the current pace in asset purchasing has an influence in the American economy (Press Releas, 2). According to this policy statement, FOMC made a decision to continue with the purchase of additional mortgages that are backed with securities. This is at a price of $ 40 billion every month. The FOMC also decided to buy long term financial securities at an amount of $ 45 billion every month. Under this policy statement, the FOMC decided to maintain its policies of re-investing principal payments (Press Release, nd. 3). Thes e principal payments emanate from its various holdings of the agency debts and mortgage backed securities. The FOMC also decided to sale matured treasury securities through an auction method. By implementing these policies, the FOMC believes that they would manage to maintain and achieve a down ward pressure on long-term interest rates. The FOMC also believes that they will manage to support the mortgage market, helping to create a broad financial condition that is more accommodative to the various economic and financial interests within an economy. On this note therefore, the FOMC decided to continue with its purchases of mortgage backed securities. This will in turn lead to the growth and development of the economy under consideration. For effective implementation of these policies, the FOMC decided to closely monitor all information concerning the financial and economic development of the country. The monetary policies identified by FOMC do not solve the problem of liquidity. Liq uidity is a Macro economics issue that refers to the extent in which a security or an asset can be sold or bought without having an effect on the price of the particular asset. One major characteristic of liquidity is the high number of trading that the asset under consideration attracts. Examples of assets which are highly liquid include securities of money market. During the 2007 credit crunch, it was very difficult for people to access funds such as loans (Orphanides and Volker, 33). Due to the difficulties of accessing credit, then

Persuasive Message Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Persuasive Message - Coursework Example Money should not be the only determining factor when you are faced with a tough decision about the welfare of your beloved pet. That’s why we would like to call your attention to the possibility of purchasing a pet insurance policy. Most insurance policies do not cover routine office visits or shots, but they can cover more than half of the total cost should [Fluffy] require any type of major procedure. Having a pet insurance policy means you can make decisions based on the welfare of your pet rather than the restrictions of the cost. Many clients have asked which policy Dr. Munson recommends. Although she does not have any financial interests in any pet insurance provider, there are three that stand out as having had good track records with our office: Whether you use one of these plans or another, we hope you will consider obtaining insurance for your pet. While we all hope [Fluffy] will never need extensive medical care, better decisions can be made for [his] welfare if you have prepared in advance. As always, you can call the office any time you have concerns or

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Coyote and Geronimo Accounts Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Coyote and Geronimo Accounts - Essay Example Coyote caused the buffalo to result in a stampede and escaped via rear fence to his people’s advantage (Welker). Conversely, Geronimo was a peaceful Indian prior Mexican soldier invaded their camp while they had traveled to trade in the Old Mexico. They terminated their people were among them was his family and a mother beside looting. This brewed hatred that prompted him to take revenge against his adversaries, for almost a decade. Protagonists Coyote and Geronimo despite emanating from different accounts bear comparable traits that are evident in their unfolding events. Coyote and Geronimo depict determination that is evident in their actions. Coyote after summoning the people and brainstorming how they will attain the buffalo, he volunteers to undertake the mission but fails on the initial occasion. This did not demoralize him where he tried the second instance as a dog and succeeded in  accessing the homestead to chase the buffalo out. Similarly, Geronimo’s determination is evident when after finding that Mexican soldiers have terminated his family, he joined Apache and led his followers to avenge themselves on Mexicans (Native American Legends). Coyote and Geronimo, their heroic actions illustrate strong leadership skills. Coyote summoned his followers after fours days to brainstorm how to get the buffalo from Humpback. The followers lacked any idea, but he devised excellent tactics as a leader, which he contemplated would be successful and even choosing to undertake it. Likewise, Geronimo due to the hatred that resulted from having his family and people terminated, choose to spur hundreds of Apaches for revenge (Cantley 54). Coyote in his actions depicted trickery, contrary to his counterpart Geronimo in his mission.  

Advertising (Answer Question From Book , The New Account Manager.) Assignment

Advertising (Answer Question From Book , The New Account Manager.) - Assignment Example Previously, the advertising agency had the sole responsibility of managing al advertising activities for the company. 3. IMC stands for integrated marketing communications and it refers to the combined use of promotional methods such as PR, advertising, personal selling and sales promotion. The role of IMC for advertising agencies is to coordinate different promotional tools in order to reach a wide range of targeted consumers. IMC is helpful to consumers since they are able to select the information they want about different products and services from a wide range of sources. IMC plays a significant role for account managers since they are able to reach a wide range of different clients including the advertising agents. 4. An â€Å"org† shows the structure of the company or the organization. On the other hand, an operational chart outlines the map of people responsible for executing each task. These two are related in that an operational chart is derived from the org chart where tasks in each department are split to show each person responsible for doing them. 5. The basic logistical systems include different aspects that affect the operations of the company. In encompasses things like product processing, management of inventory and transportation or method of delivering the product or service to the customers. These factors are interrelated. 6. Above the line (ATL) advertising is specifically targeted at a large number of consumers and it utilises mass media to reach them. On the other hand, below the line (BTL) advertising specifically targets individual customers and it uses methods like coupons and personal selling to reach the targeted consumers. 7. â€Å"Orchestration† refers to the process of arranging different components or parts of something to make it complete. In a business, different sections are orchestrated in order to achieve the desired goals. On the

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Coyote and Geronimo Accounts Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Coyote and Geronimo Accounts - Essay Example Coyote caused the buffalo to result in a stampede and escaped via rear fence to his people’s advantage (Welker). Conversely, Geronimo was a peaceful Indian prior Mexican soldier invaded their camp while they had traveled to trade in the Old Mexico. They terminated their people were among them was his family and a mother beside looting. This brewed hatred that prompted him to take revenge against his adversaries, for almost a decade. Protagonists Coyote and Geronimo despite emanating from different accounts bear comparable traits that are evident in their unfolding events. Coyote and Geronimo depict determination that is evident in their actions. Coyote after summoning the people and brainstorming how they will attain the buffalo, he volunteers to undertake the mission but fails on the initial occasion. This did not demoralize him where he tried the second instance as a dog and succeeded in  accessing the homestead to chase the buffalo out. Similarly, Geronimo’s determination is evident when after finding that Mexican soldiers have terminated his family, he joined Apache and led his followers to avenge themselves on Mexicans (Native American Legends). Coyote and Geronimo, their heroic actions illustrate strong leadership skills. Coyote summoned his followers after fours days to brainstorm how to get the buffalo from Humpback. The followers lacked any idea, but he devised excellent tactics as a leader, which he contemplated would be successful and even choosing to undertake it. Likewise, Geronimo due to the hatred that resulted from having his family and people terminated, choose to spur hundreds of Apaches for revenge (Cantley 54). Coyote in his actions depicted trickery, contrary to his counterpart Geronimo in his mission.  

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Valuing cultural diversityfeeling respected as a way of managing Essay

Valuing cultural diversityfeeling respected as a way of managing diversity is tapping diversitys true benefits and HRM role to support managing cultural dive - Essay Example ept of integration-and-learning perspective, cultural diversity in terms of the access-and-legitimacy perspective and discrimination-and-fairness perspective, and integration-and-learning perspective will be identified and analysed. There are many ways in which cultural diversity at work can be strengthened. One of the major factors that causes problem in managing diversity is the behaviours of people within the working environment. (Henderson 1994, p. 133) Therefore, making employees feel respected has been considered as one of the best ways in promoting cultural diversity within the working environment. In the process of examining the truth behind this statement, the student will conduct a literature review on how the application of integration-and-learning perspective could enhance organizational learning, growth, and renewal. Prior to conclusion, the role of HRM in support of cultural diversity (under the integration-and-learning perspective) in the workplace will be thoroughly discussed. Organizational culture is actually referring to a set of norms, beliefs, principles and behaviour that gives the organization a unique character. (Naylor 1997, p. 1; Brown, 1995) In the case of David (1999, p. 143), the author defines organizational culture as â€Å"a pattern of behaviour developed by an organization to cope with problems related to external adaptation and internal integration aside from enabling the employees to feel and think positively.† The word ‘diversity’ means as â€Å"to include a variety of racial or ethical backgrounds and characteristics of humankind.† (College of the Mainland 2008) Considering the definition of diversity, the study of cultural diversity is focused on acknowledging one or more socio-demograhic traits like gender, race, ethnicity, and age (Janssens & Zanoni 2005). In other words, cultural diversity at work – also known as multiculturalism is about integrating culture in terms of employees’ age, gender, mental or physical

The Role of Project Manager Essay Example for Free

The Role of Project Manager Essay Nowadays, with the development of project management, project success has been defined clearly. A definition of project success from Lock is that if the project finish on time, within budget and in good quality, the project is considered as a successful project (Lock, 2007). However, our understanding about the role of project manager is unclear. Different people hold various viewpoints about it. According to Lewis, people have a vague understanding of what is the role of project manager, because a majority of project managers are promoted from other jobs such as engineers or technologists and so on (Lewis, 2007). Some individuals think that the role of the project manager is to command and control. Is it enough for a project manager who is as a â€Å"single point of responsibility† (Burke, 2007) to manager a project? Definitely, the answer is no. How much authority do project managers exactly have? Firstly, let us about the job of project managers and their authority. Being a project manager is a difficult task, because the responsibility of them is heavy, but they are just given small authority. Kerzner said that in typical organizations, it is a common phenomenon that project managers request permissions to control company resources from top management. Additionally, the relationship between project manager and line manager is more like a copartner relationship rather than a rank relationship. In some way, project manager services for the line manager, because line manager hold the uses rights of company resources. Project manager, therefore, have no capital to control and command line manager. In most cases, when some issues occur or some decisions are waiting for determining, project managers negotiate with line manager rather than control and command. (Kerzner, 2001, p. 9) From the position of project manager in organizations and the relationship between project manager and line manager, we can see that even thought as â€Å"single point of responsibility†, project manager has limited authority, which means â€Å"that the role of project manager is to command and control† is inadequate. Actually, Project managers do need to command and control. As I stated above, project manager is responsible for the project, which means that a project manager needs to control the project’ process for obtaining a successful completion of the project as well as to command the stakeholders to follow the right path to realize the project’ objective. But it is important to emphasize that â€Å"command and control†is a purpose, not a process. Just like Bull said that there is essential difference between a dictator and a leader, a dictator gives command to people for doing something, but a leader inspires people to let them want to do things. The role of project manager should be a leader, not a dictator (Bull, 2010). Lewis also thought that the biggest part of project manager’s job is dealing with people. Even though project manager has quite little authority, it is not zero (Lewis 2010). Therefore, for project managers, the biggest challenge should be how to your limited authority effectively. To optimize the use of the authority, project managers need to build their leadership. Instead of using your authority to build your leadership, project managers should use their people skill which involves personality, management skill and communication skill. (Lewis, 2007, p. 27) So, â€Å"command and control†is a purpose, not a process. Which means that project manager should be a leader, not a dictator. More important thing than â€Å"command and control† As Lewis said that project managers’ biggest part of job is to deal with people, so a role of project manager should be communication coordinator (Lewis, 2007). According to Jha, 90 percent of project managers’ working hours are occupied by communication time, so it is obvious that it is crucial for project managers to have a good communication skill (Jha, 2010). More importantly, a project manager’s communication skill strongly impact on the outcome of the project. Verma emphasized that during a project life cycle, communication problems should be paid close attention, because such communication problems may create conflicts, disagreement, and misunderstandings. Many projects’ failure is due to those communication problems. Therefore, it is a total disaster for a project which has a project manager with a poor communication skill. Effective communication can create good relationship, trust and motivation which can help project managers to obtain supports from different individuals in the project. From this standpoint, because of the importance of communication in the project environment, a project manager’ role should be identified as a communication coordinator which requires a good communication skill (Verma, 1996). Other role of project manager The job of project manager is not an easy one. It is not just simply to command and control. Just as Kerzner said in his book, Planning is a primary part of project managers’ job, a good project plan enables the whole project to operate perfectly. In order to do this, a project manager should have a good management skill which involves risk management, cost management, time management and quality management. However, perfect project plans are rare, because there are many uncertainties during a project life cycle (Kerzner 2001). In this point, the role of project manager should be a plan agency. Although project managers have no right to control the company resources, they must plan them in order to accomplish the ultimate success of the project. Conclusion As â€Å"single point of responsibility† (Burke, 2007), project managers shoulder heavy burdens. Project managers need to control the process of project and command the involved people such as functional employees for meeting the projects’ objective. However, the authority of project managers is quite limited, so in most cases, project managers need to ask for permissions from top management to control the resources, and consult with line mangers to make a decision. Because of a lack of authority, having a good communication skill is crucial for project managers. One the one hand, it can create good relationship between project managers and other stakeholders. On the other hand, it is a key for project managers to become a leader. Moreover, project managers’ job is not easy. Planning is a hard and important part of the job. As a result, some people think that â€Å"the role of manager is to control and command† is inappropriate.

Monday, October 14, 2019

Effects of Caffeine and Nicotine on the Mind

Effects of Caffeine and Nicotine on the Mind Jodi Hawkins Nicotine and caffeine are substances that most people do not consider a drug, but most do acknowledge that they are addictive substances. The effects on the mind and body are something else that most do not consider significant, however, both are highly addictive and affect numerous aspects of the mind and body. This paper will cover some of the misconceptions and myths and provide clarification of the actual effects of nicotine and caffeine on the mind and body. Caffeine is probably one of the most misconstrued drug of the two and most do not consider it much of a danger or consider that it has effects on the body other than simply producing a bit of energy. Die hard caffeine drinkers will often complain of a headache if they do not have their normal dose of caffeine, while it appears to have no effect on others no matter how much or how often they consume it. What must be understood about caffeine is that it is a drug, it is considered a psychoactive drug, and has effects on the body that must be taken into consideration. Julien, Advokat, and Comaty (2011) discuss the known effects such as the effects on the central nervous system (CNS), the cardiac and respiratory systems, the diuretic effects, therapeutic effects including treatment of asthma and migraines, and describe caffeinism. Caffeinism is a clinical syndrome that occurs when there has been an overuse of caffeine and symptoms include anxiety, agitation, and insomnia as well as tachycardia, hypertension, cardiac arrhythmia’s and gastrointestinal disturbances. This goes to show that caffeine is like many drugs in that it can be a good thing if used in moderation, but can have adverse side effects when used improperly or overused. Perhaps one of the most common therapeutic uses of caffeine is the use for migraine headache and headache in general. It can be found in combination with aspirin in several products due to the constriction of blood vessels it causes. When the vessels constrict it decreases the blood flow to the brain by up to thirty percent which can reduce pressure to the brain relieving the headache (Julien, Advokat, Comaty, 2011). Consumption of caffeine that is prolonged can cause several adverse effects such as headache, fatigue, osteoporosis, adrenal stimulation, and apathy, and also has the ability to cross the placental and blood-brain barrier and has the potential to cause fetal malformation if the fetus has not developed the enzymes needed for demethylation of caffeine (Gummadi, Bhavya, Ashok, 2012). So in essence, some of the desirable and therapeutic effects that are garnered such as headache relief and energy increase can reverse in overuse or prolonged use. And even though it is a drug, it is not a regulated drug but is a much researched drug due to the therapeutic effects and the seemingly endless applications. Athletics is an application where caffeine is highly promoted in energy drinks, energy bars, and diet aids. Although caffeine is considered a stimulant and performance enhancing it is widely accepted and not regulated or banned from use in athletic competitions. McDaniel, McIntire, Streitz, Jackson, and Gaudet (2010) discuss some of the research done in regard to athletic performance and caffeine use and the increase in speed and power and ability to train longer when caffeine is used. Nicotine is another drug that is not necessarily considered a drug by the general public, although there is a general consensus that it is found in tobacco products and not necessarily good for the body. Unfortunately this assumption is mainly based on the fact that it is in tobacco and the tobacco is usually the focus of most mainstream media along with the effects of tobacco on the user and second-hand effects on people in the vicinity of the user. While tobacco is unhealthy, it is the nicotine contained in the tobacco products that causes the addiction to the tobacco and should have more focus placed on it when discussing or reporting the negative effects of tobacco. Nicotine like caffeine is a psychoactive drug and is one of the three most widely used (the other two being caffeine and ethyl alcohol), and while it has no therapeutic applications in medicine it is nevertheless widely used and has a well-defined toxicity (Julien et al., 2011). Nicotine use used to be limited to more traditional cigars, pipes, cigarettes, chewing tobacco, and snuff, but more recently it has been expanded to include other smokeless products as smoking has been more and more regulated. Some of the products that are currently flooding the market are strips, sticks, pellets, snus pouches, e-cigarettes (smokeless nicotine vapor electronic cigarettes). Traditional cigarettes contain between 0.5 and 2.0 milligrams of nicotine, but some of the smokeless applications such as the strips can contain just under a milligram to as much as four milligrams of nicotine in one use (Julien et al., 2011). Nicotine is absorbed through every site on or in the body and the elimination half-life in a chronic smoker is approximately two hours which necessitates a frequent administration to avoid withdrawal symptoms, and has effects on the peripheral nervous system, hear, and other body structures (Julien et al., 2011). In researching the addictive properties of nicotine, there is far less research found on the actual effects than there is on cessation from the addiction. Some articles say that nicotine is addictive as heroin while others say that one could not possibly ingest enough nicotine to equal the addictiveness of other drugs, and both types of articles have multiple peer reviewed sources to back up the claims. This author has first- hand experience with nicotine and tobacco use/addiction, and while tobacco can be an enjoyable experience, it is this author’s personal view that believes the research that claims that nicotine is highly addictive causing withdrawal symptoms and cravings. Withdrawal symptoms can include nervousness, agitation, mood swings, lack of concentration, and increased appetite as observed by the author. The increased appetite at times appears to be a nervous response to needing something to do with the hands and mouth rather than an actual increase in appetite, but regardless it can and does often lead to weight gain upon cessation of smoking. Julien et al. (2011) further reinforce this belief as abstinence symptoms listed include the previously mentioned along with restlessness, insomnia, and severe cravings, as well as pointing out that many times when smokers seek treatment for drug or alcohol addictions it is often more difficult to quit smoking than to quit other drugs. No matter how adverse the effects of nicotine is on the body or mind, the primary problem is that the products that nicotine are in cause far worse health problems than the nicotine does. Various forms of cancer, increased risk of stroke, and heart attack are just a few physical problems directly related to tobacco use, and although e-cigarettes are touted as being relatively safe because they do not contain tobacco product the fact remains that they still contain a substance that is considered addictive. Any drug that is considered as addictive, can and will have adverse effects on one’s body and should not be treated lightly, and as in the case of nicotine a drug that directly affects the brain is nothing to sneeze at. Nicotine induces physiological and psychological dependence in the majority of smokers and very few smokers seem capable of sudden termination of smoking without experiencing abstinence symptoms (Julien et al., 2011). What also must be taken into consideration is the effects of second-hand smoke that is experienced by others in the close vicinity of a tobacco smoker, and it is the carcinogens in the smoke and not the nicotine that causes the health problems that can be experienced when subjected to second-hand smoke. One thing that should be taken into consideration is that both nicotine and caffeine are considered drugs, addictive drugs that are also psychoactive and thus mood altering. According to the Bible our bodies are God’s temple, â€Å"What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?† (I Corinthians 6:19, KJV) which would bring one to the conclusion that any substance that alters one’s being and is not therapeutic (medically prescribed and necessary) should not be used. This does not mean that most people consider either nicotine or caffeine as a sin, but if the Bible is taken literally then both substances would be considered forbidden. While there are some religions that do consider caffeine along with any other mood altering substance as forbidden, it is generally accepted as can be witnessed in almost any church kitchen for most contain coffee and coffee making appliances. Smoking is more frowned upon by most Christians, but as other vices in this day and age is not considered as â€Å"bad† as it once was Biblically speaking, just physically detrimental. In conclusion, the evidence is overwhelming that both nicotine and caffeine are physically and psychologically addictive, but caffeine is the only one of the two that has therapeutic uses but still must be used in moderation to avoid adverse effects. References Gummadi S N Bhavya B Ashok N 2012 Physiology, biochemistry and possible applications of microbial caffeine degradation.Gummadi, S. N., Bhavya, B., Ashok, N. (2012). Physiology, biochemistry and possible applications of microbial caffeine degradation. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 93(2), 545-554. 201401121455511055491090 Julien R M Advokat C D Comaty J E 2011 primer of drug actionJulien, R. M., Advokat, C. D., Comaty, J. E. (2011). A primer of drug action (12th ed.). New York, NY: Worth Publishers. 2014011214131192421770 McDaniel L W McIntire K Streitz C Jackson A Gaudet L 2010 effects of caffeine on athletic performance.McDaniel, L. W., McIntire, K., Streitz, C., Jackson, A., Gaudet, L. (2010). The effects of caffeine on athletic performance. College Teaching Methods Styles Journal, 6(1), 33-37. 20140112152043315758228

Sunday, October 13, 2019

My Sociological Perspective Essay -- Sociology essays

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Sociology is a part of everyday life. People experience sociological changes when they get married, get a new job, or get discriminated against. All of these things can alter a person’s perspective on a group of people or even the world. Since the beginning of this class, I have personally endured several sociological changes in my life. I recently started a new job. I’m meeting new and wonderful people and I no longer dread having to go to work. I have also begun setting plans for my wedding to the one girl who I know will make everyday better than the one before. But, perhaps the one instance that has affected me the most and the deepest was when my parents got a divorce. This is something that occurred over ten years ago but it still plagues me to this day. One moment I thought that we had a perfect family unit. Everyone was happy and everyone got along great. Then, the next thing I knew, my parents were in court everyday trying to get custody of my older sister and myself. This left me hurt and confused. The worst part was after the divorce was over. My father got custody of us- which I preferred because it meant I didn’t have to move away and I didn’t have to live with my mother’s new boyfriend (her boyfriend while she was married). My mother got visitation rights two days of the week and every Sunday. So, instead of seeing my mother everyday when she would come home from work and having her tuck me in at night, I now saw her only three times a week. This was the...

Saturday, October 12, 2019

Poem Analysis †Sonnet 116 Essay -- English Literature

Poem Analysis – Sonnet 116 ‘Let Me Not To The Marriage Of True Minds’ Study the first 12 lines of the poem. Discuss how Shakespeare makes a statement in the first and second lines, and then use lines 2-12 to give examples which supports his viewpoints. In the first two lines of the poem Shakespeare writes, Let me not to the marriage of true minds Admit impediments: love is not love The first line shows that he thinks you should not marry unless you are faithful. He says ‘let me not’ which means that he does not approve of the untrue or unfaithful minds marrying. The second line means that there will be obstacles in your way and you must be willing to face or overcome them. Otherwise ‘love is not love’, or you will not experience love at its most true. These first two lines show that Shakespeare will go on to explore the idea of faithful or true love and also the obstacles of marriage. In the next two lines of the poem Shakespeare looks at the possibility of somebody falling out of love with their partner. Which alters when alteration finds Or bend...

Friday, October 11, 2019

Advantages and Disadvatages of Modern Technology

Today’s society is heavily influenced and affected by technology. My paper will explain and highlight many advantages and disadvantages of technology on society. It will discuss some ways it can hinder reputations and how private matters can become public property because of technology. My paper will also reveal how technology can bring people closer together, although many people may beg to differ. Today’s society is driven and greatly influenced by technology. This can be a beneficial fact, and it can also be detrimental and yield major problems. Whether one is using a digital camera in order to snap a photo of a precious moment, or whether one is sneaking and videotaping an embarrassing video that will last forever, these are components of technology that effect society because it effects people. It is in the eye of the beholder of whether technology has more or less advantages than disadvantages on society. My paper will discuss some advantages and disadvantages of technology on society. There are many advantages of technology. Technology allows people to email, text, talk on the telephone, mow the lawn, vacuum carpets, blend food, straighten hair, add numbers, and the beneficial list goes on. Without technology, people would not be able to keep in touch with loved ones as easily; they would have to physically walk and talk face-to-face because cars would not even exist to deliver letters. We wouldn’t be able to cook many of the foods that we enjoy and that are nutritional. Mothers-to-be wouldn’t be able to see digital images of her baby nor hear its little heart beat without the power of technology. Many jobs, such as graphic†¦

Thursday, October 10, 2019

Globalisation and environmental sustainability Essay

A global society is marked by new technologically integrated local and international relations which encourage the study of the effects of globalisation and as well as internationalisation of various disciplines in a society which are involved in social interactions. This interactions may be locally based or may involve international relations some of which have a close relationship to political philosophy, international economies, conflict analysis, international laws and policies as well as sociology. Globalisation makes the world more productive and stable. In the past few decades, the global economy has become increasingly interconnected and integrated. This integration is quite evident in the international markets and it has been on a steady increase since the seventeenth century although in the last few years, globalisation has undergone revolution which has given rise to many controversial issues regarding its effects and impacts on the larger global society (Lindert, Williamson 2001). Some researches have indicated that in the last two decades or so, the increased integration in the global markets has resulted in greater inequality in the way income is distributed among nations around the world. In connection to this, Bourguignon and Morrisson (2000) have also observed that combining inequality within and across countries has brought a significant rise in the global inequality since 1960 thus making the already poor countries poorer while the rich countries get richer through globalisation. Globalisation refers to the way in which nations increasingly become interconnected with one another in terms of economic, political, technological, social and cultural aspects. More often than not, the word globalisation is used to refer to the economic aspect of a nation. Economic globalisation describes the integration of national economies into the international economies via trade, migrations, international market capital flows, foreign investments and increased use of technology. The increasing rate of globalisation as has been experienced in the past two decades or so has led to rapid growth of global trade, financial capital flows, direct foreign investments and cross border trade transactions (Johnston, Taylor, Watts 2002). The major facilitators of this growth include improved transport and communication infrastructure, improved technological know-how, quicker methods of telecommunication and internet services. In addition to this, globalisation has been favoured by removal of trade barriers and policies across nations which previously inhibited international trade among nations. This has now liberalised trade and encouraged more export and import transactions which promote globalisation. The establishment of international trade organisations such as world bank, IMF and WTO have also played a significant role in facilitating globalisation as they are devoted to promoting trade and investment across nations worldwide. The result of this kind of globalised trade is presence of multinational companies (MNCs) whose budgets exceed those of the economies of many nations in which they are situated (Atkison 1999). Globalisation and sustainability. In the recent years, many controversies have emanated from the issue of globalisation. It is now seen an unnecessary evil which is threatening the social and environmental sustainability of the global societies. Globalisation is viewed by some people as an opportunity for national and international economic growth while others feel that it is a threat to economic prosperity, political sovereignty and cultural integrity (Jussilla, Cullen 2002). People in developed countries are particularly concerned with the fact that globalisation poses a threat to unskilled workers who are bound to be left jobless with the increased technological methods of production in the contracting industries. On the other hand, the developing nations are mostly concerned about the loss of political powers and sovereignty as well as loss of economic prosperity which is bound to be brought about by globalisation. According to Bhalla (2002) the whole concept of globalisation is surrounded by ideological issues both positive and negative which in the long run affect the people or societies in the globalised world. , the controversial aspect of globalisation can not be easily resolved. Globalisation and environmental sustainability. Environmental sustainability refers to the aspect of addressing the needs of the current global societies fully while being cautious not to compromise the needs of the societies which are to come,that is, future generations. According Heinberg (2005), globalisation has directly or indirectly led to several environmental issues such as global warming, increased deforestation, depletion of the ozone layer, destruction of water catchment areas, biodiversity, most natural resources have reached or are nearing depletion levels, pollution of water, air and the entire environment among others. For instance, globalisation has enabled MNCs to invest in countries which have few or no environmental conservation by-laws and this results in high environmental degradation as well as depletion of natural resources. However, the WTO in response to this effect has argued that the large amounts of income or capital flows earned from globalisation are capable of catering for the environmental degradation and this is bound to improve the quality of the environment to even higher standards that it were in before. In addition, globalisation has led to increased industrialisation all over the globe and this has resulted in the much dreaded effects of depletion of the ozone layer and global warming. Global warming comes as a result of release of industrial pollutants from the manufacturing industries into the environment. Such pollutants include carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, oxides of sulphur and so forth. The effects of global warming are quite evident all over the globe as they have led to diverse changes in weather and climate resulting in drought and famines in some parts of the world among other effects. The depletion of the ozone layer occurs as a result of release of chemicals such as freons and fluorocarbons in to the air which react with ozone layer hence thinning it (Bellow 2001). However,there are several positive effects of globalisation in relation to environmental sustainability. Precisely, globalisation has led to improved methods of energy utilisation, substitution of resources especially those occurring naturally, innovation of metal recovery and material recycling methods, dematerialisation of resources among other positive practices (Eiezen, Maxine 2006). Globalisation has particularly been putting great emphases on dematerialisation and this has helped industries to improve their efficiency in production, minimise and manage their waste production and reduced the production costs through use of cheap systematic procedures. In addition, the use of improved technological methods has made companies to adopt newer and more efficient methods of energy utilisation and as a result, the energy requirements in industrialized countries have substantially reduced in the recent years. Moreover, many non-renewable energy resources have been substituted with renewable sources of energy and this has greatly reduced the risk of depletion of such resources in the near future. Although the improved technology has great positive effects on the environmental sustainability, globalisation is negatively associated with the exportation and use of technologies and activities that can have detrimental effects on the environment. All these environmental effects of globalisation have either a direct or an indirect impact on the global societies. Lack of clean water for instance is a negative effect which is likely to cause diseases and suffering to the larger population. On the other hand, improved energy efficiency, advanced technology and industrialisation translates a greater advantage to the people living in the globalised world in terms of better quality consumer products, free exchange of goods, capital and services between nations among others. Globalisation and social sustainability. On the aspect of social sustainability, globalisation plays a very important role in terms of improving or lowering the social status of the people living in globalised world. Experts have argued that globalisation tends to impose a greater disadvantage to the poor countries while at the same time it favours the already developed nations (Bellow 2001). They add that although globalisation is believed to favour free trade among nations, it lead to much inequality between the developed and the under developed countries since the developing countries are unable to compete favourably with the developed countries in the international markets (Agyeman, Bullar, Evans 2003). In addition, the increased use of technology is bound to render many people jobless especially the unskilled workers, since most of the work which was previously done manually by the people is now easily done by machines. This reflects negatively on the society especially in the poorer countries since when people do not get jobs to do, they are likely to suffer from starvation, poor health, illiteracy among other social problems (Walker 2005). On the positive side, globalisation allows free movement of people across nations as they trade and this has promoted cultural diversity, intermarriages, tourism and so forth. This has further promoted peace,understanding and unity between individuals as well as nations. It is thus clear that globalisation has some critical impacts on the social lives of individuals an groups living in the industrialised countries. Identities and powers based on globalisation and sustainability. The last one decade or so has presented a turbulent phase for the global societies marked by globalisation and resurgence in the identity politics or religion based politics. Globalisation being a process of ongoing capitalism-industrialisation has had some adverse effects on the poor strata of the society. According to Heiberg (2005), the nature of globalisation is contradictory in that it divides the world as much as it unites it. Movements fundamental to globalisation are based on empathy, ideology and identities. The lives of people living in global societies are largely shaped by conflicting trends of globalisation and identity and current events in the world indicate that community identities are threatened by the forces of globalisation. One effect of globalisation on the societal political structure is the emergence of socialist states which came into being in the mid-20th century ushering in the beginning of an industrial society. The intensified rate of globalisation has led to a rise of America as a lone super-power in the world, decline of the power and authority exercised by the United Nations, decline in the amount of Non-Aligned movement, a rise in Fascist-fundamentalist politics among countries and worsening of the problems experienced by the poor in the society. While globalisation is believed to result in a democratic world economy, the political democracy system in the world is stifled in form of emasculation of the potential world government. As the national economies become more and more globalised, the world political powers become more and more centralised into one or a few nations of the world. This power monopoly is a negative effect of globalisation as it leads to a decline in democratic norms and projection of identity politics. Identity politics involve competition over scarce resources which could in principle be taken to mean struggle for political power or economic wealth resources. This kind of competition seems to favour only the rich and mighty residing in the wealthy and powerful countries leading to a form of discrimination. As a result, globalisation makes the people in rich countries continue becoming richer as those in poor countries become more poor by the day. In this case it is clear that although globalisation is capable of empowering a nation both economically and politically, the power distribution is unequal and this puts some nations at a higher political power advantage than others. Conclusion. Beyond doubt, globalisation has led to significant increase in per capita income of different nations which have fully accepted this process and applied effectively the technological advancements which come with it. It can however be seen that, globalisation has pushed most developing or Third world countries along the path of diminishing sustainability and this has not in any way been improved by the recent regulations made in the globalisation processes. For instance, the deregulation of global trade in the recent past has led to a decrease in the environmental and social-cultural constraints associated with globalisation but this kind of deregulation has failed to address the issues of sustainability. In conclusion, it is clear that the current globalisation process is quite unsustainable but with a few policies to govern it properly, the process is capable of bringing much success in the long run to all nations world wide as well as to people as individuals in the globalised world. Reference. Atkinson, G., Dubourg, R. , Hamilton, K. , Munasinghe, M. , Pearce D. , 1999. Measuring sustainable development. UK: Edward Elgar Publishers. Agyeman, J. , Bullard, R. D. , Evans, B. , (eds. ). 2003. Sustainability: Development in an Unequal World, London: Earthscan. Bello, W. F. 2001. The Future in the Balance: Essays on Globalization and Resistance. Oakland, Calif: Food First Books. Bhalla, A. S. 2002. Globalisation and Sustainable Development: A Southern African Perspective†, International Journal of Technology Management & Sustainable Development, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 40-57.

Wednesday, October 9, 2019

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

Avon - Essay Example Manufacturing, product management and sales were coordinated efficiently throughout its global market (www.dsef.org). Major products to be sold were’ perfumes, skin care products, hand, body and sun care products’. New and innovative products were added from time to time to offer more variety to the consumers. As with all businesses, the company faced stiff competition from other players in the field and had periods of slump in growth and profits, along with take-over attempts which the company was able to tide over under different managers. One such manager was a woman, Andrea Jung who was of Chinese descent and joined the company in 1994 as the President, Product marketing Group in the United States of America (www.avoncompany.com). Later on she was appointed as the CEO of the company in 1999 and was elected Chairperson in 2001. It was during her tenure that the cosmetics giant again suffered disappointing growth rates in the year 2000, faced with the rapidly changing marketplace (weblog.xanga.com). It was then that she implemented a number of grand strategies to reinforce the company image and induce a positive growth rate. The strategy included â€Å"expanding the product line in order to cater to a wide variety of populations of varied ethnicity of the world, involvement of a wide v ariety of distribution methods, entering the retail market and launching of internet sales for its products†. The grand strategy resulted in appositive growth rate by 2002 and during the period 2002-2005, the company posted a revenue growth of 9.1% which was much better than its nearest competitors (weblog.xanga.com). Major success was attributed to the expansion and diversification in product strategies as a result of market research studies initiated at the behest of Ms. Andrea Jung. The company’s average return from investment during this period catapulted to 35.7% as

Tuesday, October 8, 2019

National Programme for IT Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

National Programme for IT - Essay Example National application service providers (NASPS) will be responsible for delivering national application.LPS will have the responsibility of delivering the local aspects of national care record service (NCRS). These were created for contracting purposes and this led to the country being subdivided into five clusters that were competing to select a dedicated LSP which would deliver the integrated National Care Records Service across that path The care records service is responsible for most of the practices that involve the patients that include checking on their progress, proactive decision support, prescription ordering, and integrated patients’ data. The first phase whose due completion was in 2004, highlighted that all the clinicians were supposed to be able to access patient’s information from the internet and that the hospitals were to be x-ray enabled. Later on, the clinicians were to be able to access the records of the patients including their discharge time, their personal documentations and more on their prescriptions. The data spine was to regulate or control who accessed the data and act as the doorway to the functioning of LSP. This meant that there would be no access to LSP without due authenticity from the data spine. The spine had the addresses of the people, their names, their updates and the demographic data of the patients in it The national prescription service was added to the NCRS to assist in the national prescriptions movement between the GPs, National Prescribing Price Authority and the community pharmacists. This will reduce the repetition in prescriptions and the administrative burden to manage them and also help provide the pharmacists in getting the feedback required and getting to know whether the patients are taking the medications as prescribed. In addition to this, the patients will be able to book appointments without the need to queue. The NHS network is very efficient to allow if to work well between NHS components

Monday, October 7, 2019

The car that saved JLR Company Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

The car that saved JLR Company - Coursework Example According to Hardy and Leiba-o’ Sullivan, power in the current business environment is more related to that embedded within systems and relationships. This embodiment of politics and power has been applied in the management of JLR. The acquisition of Jaguar and Land Rover by Tata took almost a year after it was approved by unions and management of Ford, who was JLR’s previous owner. Tata put its stake in the ailing company, while every other automobile manufacturer retreated, thereby increasing faith among JLR’s unions and management as well as shifting power from unions to the owner. Similarly, this power was used by Tata while compromising on salary and working hours at the manufacturing facilities, in return for huge production investment and continuity of manufacturing plants. Often, maneuvering and political behavior within a firm are caused due to uncertainty such as inadequately defined decisions, change, internal competition and unclear objectives. JLR fa ced similar uncertainties while it was being acquired by Tata. However, in order to establish harmony among leaders and union members, upper management decided to give power to the unions, instead of managers. Employees and unions working with JLR were left to decide the brand, which will be finalized as the acquiring company. Hence, by establishing a smooth political climate and transforming negative politics into a positive one, Tata has successfully acquired JLR. The Emic model of power and diversity explains the importance of intersectionality.

Sunday, October 6, 2019

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

Description - Essay Example The trip started out smoothly and nobody felt even a tinge of tiredness. On the way to the Big Bear, we halted at Seven Eleven to grab some energy drinks and continued our trip singing out loudly. The freeway that led us to the mountain was nearly empty and the view was enchanting. We were surrounded by nature with both sides of the freeway covered with mountains and trees. As we neared the mountain, I noticed a sign board that read, â€Å"Snow Chains required beyond this point† and Highway Patrols were blocking the entrance of the mountain. Upon enquiry, they told us that as it had snowed all night the road ahead was covered with snow and ice and that we would require tire chains to move ahead. On hearing this, however, our excitement did not wean and we drove back to the city below the mountains and bought some tire chains. We then pulled over just before the blockade, to put on the chains. The weather outside was freezing cold as we got out of the car which was a black two- door coupe model with a long hood, a short trunk and big tires. I had previously encountered problems with the tires as they had a tendency to slip when the ground was wet. But now I was not worried as the snow chains looked powerful and reliable, though it was quite a challenge to fix them. After struggling with the chains for about 30 minutes, my hands began to feel cold and sensitive due to the freezing weather. The effort was in vain and we finally engaged a mechanic to fix the chains and paid him $50 for the job. Another problem also lay ahead as I had never driven on icy roads. Though I took pride in my driving skills I was a bit apprehensive at that moment. As I resumed driving, the mountain road seemed fine from where the Highway Patrols stopped us, but once we reached the first curve, the true reality of the situation dawned on us. The road ahead was completely snow covered with only a few sections of the road visible. There were curves once after every 300 feet with

Saturday, October 5, 2019

Case review on O.J Simpson Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Case review on O.J Simpson - Essay Example On February 4, 1997 a civil jury found Simpson liable for the wrong death of Goldman and the battery of his Nicole Brown. Simpson was ordered to pay to $35.5 million to the Goldman and Brown families but has yet to pay anything as his NFL pension is protected from such verdicts. He currently lives in Florida, where his house is protected from being forfeited for a civil judgment. The Prosecution did not have an eyewitness to the murder, but this was just about the only piece of evidence that was not submitted to the jury. There was an overwhelming amount of evidence linking OJ Simpson to the murder. Thus evidence as to Simpson’s violent nature vis-Ã  -vis his ex-wife was presented, including a record of extensive domestic violence. A timeline was establishing using a limousine driver who was to drive Simpson to the airport and Kato Kaelin, Simpson’s housemate, who established that Simpson was away from the house at the time of the murders. The evidence tying Simpson to the murders was technical and circumstantial. It was related to blood, hair, fiber and footprint analysis from the crime scene and at Simpson’s home. Perhaps the most powerful piece of evidence was a DNA test of a blood sample found at the crime scene which found that there was a 1 in 170,000,000 chance that it was not Simpson’s blood. Evidence to show that the eventual not-guilty verdict was sound was never really introduced to the trial. Evidence was provided, as already stated, as to a pattern of domestic violence that would logically lead to the eventual murder of Nicole Brown. The timeline of the night of the murder suggested that Simpson was abset from his house at the time of the murders. The forensic evidence taken from the murder scene and from Simpson’s house showed that his blood was at the scene and that Nicole Brown’s blood was found in a bloody footprint on the carpet outside Simpson’s bedroom. A bloody glove with the victims’ blood on it was found outside

Friday, October 4, 2019

Counseling African Americans Essay Example for Free

Counseling African Americans Essay Sue and Sue’s Chapter 14 Counseling African Americans spends a great deal of effort exploring cultural particulars and corresponding clinical implications while working with African Americans; factors such as family dynamics, educational orientation, spirituality, and the pressures and stress of racism and marginalization. This offered me perspective through a lens much broader than my own somewhat narrow, predominantly white, and fairly privileged way of relating to the world. Before understanding culturally appropriate interventions, one must have an understanding of the cultural context or the cultural word of an individual. For me, this first means that differences must be noted, either literally in relationship with the African American client or simply as a clinical observation I make on my own. Of course the difference in the two will depend on the client, context, and general relevancy in the moment. In my own experience, noting racial difference aloud with a client has been most helpful in that it gives permission for the potentially â€Å"taboo† topic of race and differences to be considered, brought into the space at a later time, and even into the forefront of consciousness. Apart from the explicit therapeutic relationship, noting difference is a personal reminder that I am no expert on anyone’s experience but my own, I may make mistakes (and probably will), I should steer clear of assumptions, it’s ok to be curious, and to do my homework. Once a general understanding of differences is established, then one can begin to consider appropriate therapeutic interventions. Let’s take the issue of racism and discrimination; the byproduct of these atrocities oftentimes manifests as defense and survival mechanisms in Black Americans. Which can lead to a general mistrust or as it’s stated (by Sue and Sue) a â€Å"healthy cultural paranoia†, as a way of coping. This mistrust can be of individuals, entire races of people, the government, social service providers†¦ With this in mind, it’s important to determine what the client’s feelings and understandings about therapy are. To touch base and explain what kind of therapy I engage in, how it can be helpful to them, and what can be expected of our time together. Hopefully this will help to assuage uneasy feelings of fear of the unknown or mistrust, as well as set up a foundation for a healthy therapeutic alliance. Although Sue and Sue’s Afrocentric perspective can be helpful it can also simultaneously be viewed as reductive. It’s important not to discount individual differences by universalizing traits of African Americans. Self cannot be defined as a unitary concept evolving from a single defining variable, such as race or gender (Williams, 1999). For instance, not all women are nurturing, caring, and relational. Similarly, not all African Americans possess an African ethos of communalism or spirituality. Race, class, sexual orientation, and gender are all complex interactive components that make up the self. To approach a client through the lens of only one of these variables, means potentially silencing a central component of their identity. Additionally, it is also necessary to consider an internal state without regard to the social demands of each variable. Collectively, these considerations can aide to a more holistic view when working with African American clients. Part Two After spending a year in practicum at the SF county jail, I feel as though I’ve had a fairly decent introduction to working with African American females. When I began practicum I had had very little training in diversity or cross-cultural counseling. Turns out that a year in the jail was one large training in diversity and cross-cultural counseling! Now I’m able to pin my personal experience against the readings and gauge my success as a culturally competent therapist. When assessing my strengths, I find that I possess a keen and tremendously empathic understanding of how the stress of racism, sexism, and oppression can manifest in African American women. Oftentimes the byproduct of this stress is what brings the individual to jail. As a clinician, I can confidently say that I am able to enter the therapeutic relationship with a greater capacity for empathy because of this understanding and build a strong alliance as an ally as well as a therapist. I’m not afraid to make mistakes and have no attachment to being â€Å"right†; these qualities will only support me as a clinician. In addition, my upfront demeanor and willingness to self-disclose have had a remarkable impact on the therapeutic relationship. My empathy is strongly with women and their plight of identifying and addressing all the â€Å"isms† that stand between them and equality, wholeness, and health. Frequently, those â€Å"isms† are at the hands of men and I certainly have a bias towards this, and towards men in general. It’s no accident that I spent an entire year of practicum working solely with women; although it wasn’t a conscious choice, I believe on some level I chose not to work with men. I have incredible biases towards men as perpetrators and oppressors and men and their privilege, African American men as well as Caucasian. These biases keep me terrified at the thought of working with male clients. I imagine heaps and heaps of countertransference between male clients and myself; countertransference that is full of pain and rage. I’m not sure that I have much to offer men inside the therapeutic space. I don’t believe this to be my â€Å"final answer†, I just know that I have some work to do around my relationship with men before I make the leap of working with them in such sacred space. Essentially, it all comes down to two core qualities- and they are humility and flexibility; humility in all that I think I know and the flexibility to shift or discard that knowledge. My experience of working with, knowing, and reading about African American culture, difference, and oppression may or may not serve me as a therapist at any given moment. What works for and makes sense in the context of Client A, may not be so for Client B, and vise versa. Although it is crucial to have fundamental knowledge of the legacy of oppression against African American people and to consider factors such as interdependence, collectivism, and emotional vitality as presumed long- standing black personality traits, I must also be able to draw connections between those factors and the individual experience- much like the womanist techniques mentioned in Carmen Braun Williams’ article African American Women, Afrocentrism and Feminism: Implications for Therapy. As a therapist, I am responsible for guiding and supporting the client in making the shift from object to subject; transferring ownership of self from one whose self is externally determined to one who is self- determining (Freire, 1990). And practice practice practice, with an open heart, ears, and mind. References Braun Williams, C. (1999). African American women, afrocentrism and feminism: Implications for therapy. Women Therapy, Vol. 22(4) 1999. Freire, P. (1990). Pedagogy of the oppressed. New York: Continuum. Sue, D. Sue, D. (2008). Counseling the culturally diverse: Theory and practice, Chapter 14.