Thursday, October 31, 2019

Ethical Dilemma in Admission Criteria for Nursing School Essay

Ethical Dilemma in Admission Criteria for Nursing School - Essay Example This paper stresses that  the dilemma concerning students’ perspective in admission into nursing schools are caused by costs, expected benefits, and the lengthy of the application process. Nursing education requires a variety of technology and equipment for study. These equipments are costly to buy and maintain. As a result, the institutions of nursing are forced to charge high fees to in order to cover the costs of buying learning equipment and paying highly specialized instructors. Students have to decide whether join or avoid the nursing school costs. Avoiding the costs may lead to short-run savings among the students, but they will miss the opportunities of reaping the long-run benefits from the nursing profession. Similarly, decision to join the college may be associated with a lot of sacrifice to meet the fees requirements.  Thiis discussion highlights that  students believe that nursing courses expose them to comparatively higher paying jobs. However, students are also aware pursuing nursing courses requires extensive reading and sacrificing. Interested students may not be able to decide whether to sacrifice their life for future greater benefits or avoid the pain associated with studying and use the time to study less demanding courses while simultaneously doing other income generating activities. Additionally, the process of joining nursing colleges is lengthy and expensive since students have to pass the stipulated preliminary tests.  

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

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

Marketing - Essay Example The particular product selected for the research was nothing but a big-name energy drink ‘Red Bull’. To study this impact, the research approach used was ‘experimental’ and subjects were ‘personally’ contacted by the experimenter. In the experiment, the subjects were made to play a car racing video game where each was assigned a racecar which was functionally identical yet differing in terms of brand logos and color schemes including the logos of Guinness, Tropicana, Coca Cola, and Red Bull. The different brands were actually reflecting different brand identities. This experimental research found that the players racing the Red bull car competed with speed, recklessness, power, and aggressiveness – attributes that have been identified with the brand throughout its marketing programs. The players raced either inspiringly by winning or horribly by crashing, reflecting the associated extreme dimensions confined in the brand’s attribut es. In this way, the performance of Red Bull car racers was revealing the brand’s attributes among the racers even this impact was unknown to them. This finding can also be generalized to the behavioral influence of other energy drinks on consumer behavior or even to brands having an established, prominent personality.

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Effects Of Climate Change On Vietnamese Agriculture Environmental Sciences Essay

Effects Of Climate Change On Vietnamese Agriculture Environmental Sciences Essay In the last decade, an overwhelming consensus has emerged among the worlds most reputable climate scientists that the world has entered a period of rapid global climate change, much of which is accountable to anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (NSAC 2009). The agreement is demonstrated in the 1996 report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), an international body of leading natural and social scientists sponsored by the United Nations Environment Programme and the World Meteorological Organization. According to the panels report, an equivalent doubling of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration will force a rise in global average surface temperature of 1.0 to 3.5 degrees Celsius by 2100. It will result in an increase of sea level by 19 to 59 cm. Because a warmer atmosphere holds more water vapor, average precipitation also will go up as much 10 to 15 percent (IPCC 2007). Agriculture is highly sensitive to climate variability and weather extremes, such as droughts, floods and severe storms. Even warmer climate may give positive effects on food production, the increased potential for droughts, floods and heat waves will pose challenges for farmers. Global climate change is also expected to impact agriculture by causing shifts in precipitation, soil quality, pest regimes, and seasonal growth patterns (NSAC 2009). The exact nature and degree of these changes for any given region will be difficult to predict. CASE OF VIETNAM Situated in South East Asia in the Indochinese Peninsula, Vietnam territory is lasting from 8Â °15 to 23Â °22 latitude and between 102Â °8 to 109Â °30 longitude (ADPC 2003). It has 329,314 sq. km of natural area, in which 7,348.5 thousand hectares (22.2 percent) is arable land, with population about 83 millions (WHO). Viet Nam lies in the region of tropical monsoon climate with a high temperature. The average temperature varies between 21Â °C and 27Â °C, rainfall volume of 1800-2000 mm/year and is not evenly distributed among the months of the year (Tran 2009). Versatile and various climates of the regions create a variety of vegetation and domestic animals which originated in the temperate, sub-tropical and tropical regions. Being an agricultural country, 75 percent of Vietnamese labor-force is engaged in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries. This sector contributes roughly 20 percent to the GDP. The output value structure of agriculture, forestry and fisheries was 77 percent, 4 percent and 19 percent, respectively (Tran 2009). Vietnam is likely one of the most vulnerable countries in the world to climate change, because of its geographical location (Oxfam 2008). During the last 50 years, Viet Nams annual average surface temperature has increased by approximately 0.50 0.70 C, while the sea level along its coastline has risen by approximately 20 cm (ISPONRE 2009). The El-Nino and La-Nina phenomena have caused increasingly adverse impacts to Viet Nam. Changes in climate can have serious implications for economic development, especially in the agricultural sector, due to its direct exposure to and dependence on weather and other natural conditions. Studies for the Southeast Asian region show that climate change could lower agricultural productivity 2-15 percent in Vietnam (Bingxin et al. 2009). It is very likely that global warming is leading to an increase in weather extremes like heat waves and heavy rainfall. Droughts will occur more often, and that tropical cyclones (typhoons and hurricanes) will become more intense. Vietnam has always been suffering from extreme weather events and is struck by typhoons annually. Strong winds and sea surges cause death and destruction along the narrow and low-lying coastal area, while heavy rains hit the mountainous hinterland and river deltas with floods and landslides (Vietnam Red Cross 2007). For example, the river flood in Mekong Delta in 2000 killed 548 people; it flooded and damaged 401,342 ha of rice fields. An estimated loss of this flood is about 250 million USD (Chaudhry Ruysschaert 2007). The peak occurrence for typhoon landfalls has been during the month of October in the Central region and November in the South. A partial explanation of this lies in the sea surface temperatures (SSTs), which decrease later in the season. T yphoons are generated where SSTs are 26 Â °C or above, and by September, this is only found in those ocean areas further south where the SST remains around 25-28 Â °C throughout the year (ADPC 2003). Climate change may lead to an increase in sea surface temperatures in higher latitudes and a resulting increase of typhoon activity in North Vietnam. An increase of extreme events, both in intensity and duration, will be the most catastrophic preventing the agriculture development. Flood damage is expected to be aggravated because of a predicted increase in daily rainfall of 12 19% by 2070. In other times of the year, an increase in evaporation and the variation in rainfall will intensify drought problems about 3 percent in coastal zones and 8 percent in inland areas by 2070 (Chaudhry Ruysschaert 2007). Climate change impacts on agriculture are also channeled through changes in temperature. According to the third assessment report of IPCC, the temperature in this century will increase by 4-50 C. The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) modeler determined that, as a general rule, yield of rice will decrease by 0.5 ton per hectare for every 10C increase in growing seasonal minimum temperature (Javellana 2007). According to the medium emissions scenario, the average temperature is expected to increase by nearly 2Â °C in the southern regions of Viet Nam and up to 2.8Â °C in the northern regions by 2100. However, in the high emissions scenario this could be as much as 3.6Â °C in the North Central Coast region (United Nation 2009). So, it is predicted that yields of summer rice will decrease by 3 6% by 2070 when compared to the 1960-1998 period. The impact on spring rice may be more serious, especially in the north where yields are expected to decrease by 17% (Chaudhry Ruyssc haert 2007). The evapotranspiration rate will also increase due to increasing temperature, depicted in figure 1 2. Rainfall in the dry season will decrease by 2070 in Central parts of Viet Nam and droughts would occur more frequently, because rainfall would be concentrated in the rainy season (WHO). Figure 1: The projected change of mean daily maximum temperature since 1980s to 2070s (Le 2010) Figure 2: The projected change of mean daily minimum temperature since 1980s to 2070s (Le 2010) Climate also creates a shift in amount and pattern of precipitation. It will affect hydrology and runoff, which will alter the availability of water for irrigation and other uses. The projected runoff changes for the two major rivers from three organizations show different trends. In the Red River, the IPSL scenarios show decreased wet-season flow. GISS and MONRE projections show increased dry season flow. In Mekong River, major flow reduces under IPSL projection, depicted in figure 3 (Ringler 2010). Significant rice yield decline is observed in all scenarios, ranging from 4.2 percent in MONRE-2030 to 12.5 percent in IPSL-2030. The impact is especially large in the Central Highlands and the northern zones, highlighting the enlarged gaps in food supply in these regions. Although the impact of climate change is relatively moderate in the major rice-producing region of the Mekong River Delta, the average rice yield is projected to drop by 1.4-8.3 percent by 2030 (Bingxin et al. 2010). Figure 3: Percentage of Basin Runoff Changes (Ringler 2010) Besides increasing average temperature, global warming also raises the sea water level which has resulted in salt-water-invasion and land loss. A recent study on the potential impacts of sea level rise in 84 developing countries suggested that Vietnam would rank among the top 5 affected countries. About 43 million Vietnamese or about 55% of the countrys population are living in vulnerable low elevation coastal zones (LECZ) (38 % of Vietnams urban population) (Waibel 2008). In Vietnam, the sea level has risen between 2.5 to 3.0 cm per decade in the last 50 years, but with regional variations (Oxfam 2008). According to ADPC report, sea levels may increase by 9 cm in 2010, 33 cm in 2050, 45 cm in 2070, and 1 meter in 2100 (ADPC 2003). If sea level rises 1 meter, a national potential land loss is predicted of 12% which will expose about 17.1 million people or 23.1 % of the population (Schaefer 2002). The Mekong River Delta will be the most affected region with 1.77 million ha of saline l and, accounting for 45 percent of the land (Chaudhry Ruysschaert 2007). Land loss and sea water invasion in the Mekong River Delta and parts of the Red River Delta, which are the most important agricultural areas in Vietnam, will cause serious risks to farmers as well as agricultural exports, and possibly to national food security. In summary, climate change is a very real threat to Vietnamese socio-economical development. Higher temperatures, the rising of sea water level and extreme weather events will all have significant impacts across the nation. However, the concept of climate change and its effects are just well known by experts and management agencies. Dealing with the serious implications of climate change will be a major challenge for Vietnam in the next decades.

Friday, October 25, 2019

What Women Imply In Silence Essay -- Identity Style Expression

While walking through a random office the individual would see a multitude of women suggesting many things through their appearance, while all the men in the office will have the same style of slacks, dress shirt, and shined shoes. There may be slight variations in the men’s looks, but none of those variations compares to the variations evident in women. Deborah Tannen uses her essay â€Å"There is no Unmarked Woman†, published in 1994 within the book Talking From 9 to 5, to bring forth the idea that in the professional, working world all men are unmarked basic molds of each other while women mark themselves through the use of particle in linguistics, way they look, fill out a form, and change their surname after marriage. Tannen starts her essay by analyzing the people in her small business conference: Four women and eight men. She notices how each women presents something different through her clothes, makeup, hairstyle, and shoes. While the women separated themselves through their looks the males were the unmarked of the group with no special separate styles. Tannen uses her knowledge of linguistics to try to explain this fact. She uses the linguistics term marked. Marked refers to the particle that has no meaning of its own such as es and s (Tannen, 141). These particles only make sense when attached to the root word like wishes and misses. The root word or unmarked words are connected to the â€Å"male†; while the marked particles such as ess represent the female for example the word actress. Sadly the female endings also bring forth an idea of silliness. Tannen also brings forth the point that women cannot even fill out forms without giving forth information about themselves. When men are asked to fill out forms they chose the... ...rk Times, n.d. Web. 28 Oct. 2010. abortion.htm>. Longley, Robert. "U.S. Birth Rate Hits All-Time Low." About.com. The New York Times Co., 2010. Web. 20 Oct. 2010. censusstatistic/a/aabirthrate.htm>. Monahan, Michael. "Complications You Can Have with Your Abortion." Abortion Facts.com. Heritage House '76, 15 Nov. 2006. Web. 20 Oct. 2010. . Peterson, Linda H. The Norton Reader: An Anthology of Nonfiction. New York: Norton & Company, 2000. Print. Torres, Adia Forest, Jacqueline Darroch. "Why Do Women Have Abortions?" Guttmacher Insitute 20.4 (1988): 169-176. JSTOR. Web. 20 Oct. 2010. 2135792.pdf?acceptTC=true>.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Case 1.1 – Enron Corporation

Case 1. 1 – Enron Corporation ————————————————- Discussion 1 The parties we believe to be most at fault for the crisis in this case are a) the Audit Firm engaged in the Enron audit (Arthur Andersen); b) Enron Management (Kenneth Lay, Jeffrey Skilling, Andrew Fastow; and c) the SEC. The Public Accounting Firm: Arthur Andersen The auditor has the responsibility to evaluate the risk of material fraud, including: * Incentives and motives for fraud : Enron was a fast growing company with many start-ups projects, such as the Energy Wholesale Services (a B2B electronic marketplace for the energy industries) or the Enron Broadband Services (an operating unit serving as intermediary between users and suppliers of broadband services,) that constantly needed huge amount of money to succeed. * The opportunity to commit fraud: Enron internal controls were weak and the management was promoting a culture that encouraged fraud rather than honesty. Rationalizations that might allow someone to commit fraud: the management at Enron believed that they were only trying to grow the company and increase their stock price by misrepresenting their financial statements. Once their new ventures would succeed, they would be able to cover the losses previously incurred. All the ingredients were present for Anderson to uncover the fr aud. Moreover, the auditors have a responsibility to disclose material fraud and illegal client acts to the audit committee and the Board of Directors. If the financial statements are not restated, the auditor should issue a qualified, an adverse opinion or consider withdrawing from the engagement. The team auditing Enron should have followed the guidance when the management acted with scienter. As mentioned in the case, Arthur Andersen was being paid exorbitant amounts of money to audit Enron and attest to the validity of its financial statements. The firm failed on every front to catch any of the fraudulent accounting transpiring and many critics questioned whether Anderson was involved with â€Å"cooking the books†. Given the scale of the compensation and how entrenched the firm was in Enron’s financial operations, it is hard to believe that the Andersen auditors, CPAs, failed to notice such obviously illegal accounting treatments of transactions. As so well said by the auditor of Accounting Today, â€Å"if a firm accepts and collects the audit fee, then it should be prepared to accept the blame, otherwise it is not part of the solution, but part of the problem†. The fault not only goes to the auditors, but to the company’s management as well. Enron’s management Kenneth Lay turned a blind eye to anything that could obstruct Enron’s growth. He said that his ultimate goal was to make Enron â€Å"the world’s greatest company. † This is a great goal for any CEO to have; however, in his attempts to reach this goal, he developed a case of tunnel vision that led to unexpected consequences. When Sherron Watkins wrote him a letter questioning the treatment of certain accounting transactions and puzzled disclosures, he ignored her and stated that â€Å"he’d rather not see it†. Kenneth Lay even failed to acknowledge or address the issues after most of the Enron scandal had fully unraveled by refusing to testify before Congress in 2002. Jeffrey Skilling basically followed in the footsteps of Kenneth Lay and brought with him a similar approach to running a business. Skilling shared the same tunnel vision approach as Lay as evidenced by their â€Å"laser-focus on earnings per share†. They both were willing to ignore any wrongdoing in the company as long as earnings per share continued to increase. Skilling also developed a certain level of arrogance after being singled out as the number one CEO in the country. He would make â€Å"brassy and tacky† comments regarding Enron’s competitors and critics. This arrogance likely aided in his ability to shield out the negative aspects of Enron’s operations and to only see the positives. He was the â€Å"best CEO in America†, so Enron couldn’t possibly do anything terribly wrong under his watch. When being questioned by Congressional investigators regarding the scandal, he simply passed the blame by stating that â€Å"he is not an accountant. Andrew Fastow was the CFO and created the financial infrastructure for Enron. He, like Skilling, was hailed as one of the top executives in the country as evidenced by his Excellence in Capital Structure Management award presented to him by CFO Magazine. As the CFO of Enron, Fastow should have known better than to do what he did with the creation and operation of the SPEs. His brass was at such a high level that he even named several of them after his children. He, like Kenneth Lay, refused to take any accountability by refusing to testify before Congress in 2002. SEC and FASB The SEC and FASB also share the responsibility for the fraud scandal that took place. The organisms should have passed stronger accounting standards to regulate auditing. Both organizations were in favor of the 3% rule for SPEs. This rule stated that a SPE needed only a 3% investment from an outside investor to be considered independent. This rule allowed Enron to discharge all its unprofitable businesses in SPEs to avoid consolidating losses. That is, the SEC and FASB endorsed a law that allowed companies to dump considerable losses in off-balance entities. A case of fraud was bound to happen. The Auditors, the SEC, and the FASB made it easy for Enron’s management to commit one of the biggest frauds in the history of accounting. ————————————————- Discussion 3 Andersen’s involvement in Enron’s accounting and financial reporting decisions violated the following professional auditing standards: AU 220, Independence, SAS 1) – this standard requires the auditor to be independent. Auditors issue an audit opinion that will serve as a reliable source of information on the company to external parties (investors). Thus, it is necessary for the auditor to be unbiased when reporting his findings to the public. The lack of independence of the team auditing Enron can be derived from the fact that Andersen was providing consulting services as well as auditing services to Enron, with consulting work accounting for more than 50% of the total yearly revenue received from Enron. This situation led Andersen to be at the same time external auditor and internal auditor to Enron. AU 316, Consideration of Fraud in a Financial Statement Audit (SAS 99) – this standard concerns â€Å"fraudulent acts that cause a material misstatement of the financial statements. † Andersen helped Enron misrepresent significant information in the financial statements. The team auditing Enron intentional misapplied accounting principles relating to the classification, the manner of presentation, and the disclosure of the financial statements. To clarify, Enron would use the mark-to-market ccounting method on long-term accounting contract, which immediately recognizes earnings when contracts are secured rather than when services are rendered. That accounting method results in financial statements being materially misstated and at the same time, it considerably increased the compensation of Executives at Enron that was based on earnings. AU 317. 05, Illegal Acts by Clients (SAS 54) – this standard indicates that the auditor’s responsibility for misstatements resulting from â€Å"illegal acts having a direct and material effect on the determination of financial statement amounts† is the same as that for errors or fraud. Enron would issue stocks to different SPEs in exchange for notes receivable; however, US GAAP does not allow for the recording of receivables in exchange of stocks issued. These misstatements led to a reduction of $1. 2 billion in Owners’ Equity after the reversal of previously recorded transactions as assets. In addition, Enron had investments in companies (not SPEs) that it consolidated, but when the investments began to show losses, they were transferred to SPEs so that it would not have to reflect these losses on the financial statements. AU 334, Related Party Transactions, SAS 45 – this standard requires auditors to follow GAAS established procedures when auditing financial statements in order â€Å"to identify related party relationships and transactions† and to estimate whether or not the required financial statement accounting and disclosure had been followed. This standard was also violated as Executives of Enron were managing some SPEs (p. 13. ) Andrew Fastow, Enron’s CFO, earned a profit amounting to $30 million on one of his investment in an SPE that he was managing. Furthermore, â€Å"Fastow’s friends realized a profit $1 million on investment of $5,800 in 60 days in the same SPE. † AU 319, Consideration of Internal Controls in a Financial Statement audits – The auditor’s report on internal control over financial reporting that goes to the public must report material weaknesses in internal control. Andersen audit team in charge of Enron auditing failed to provide an unbiased opinion on the effectiveness of the system of internal control over financial reporting. ————————————————- Discussion 6 After Enron and other fraud scandals, we see a shift from the self-oversight of public accounting firms to an independent oversight of accounting firms auditing public companies by government bodies such as the PCAOB. Congress passed the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) in 2002 which goal was to strengthen the financial reporting rules for public companies. It also forced public companies to prepare reports on the quality of their internal controls as well as limit the types of consulting services that an accounting firm is allowed to provide to its clients in concurrence with audit services provided. Fraud scandals also led to the establishment of the regulation requiring management of public companies to provide a letter asserting that the financial statements are fairly stated. Most recently, the SEC voted to adopt whistleblower rules mandated by Section 922 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the Dodd-Frank Act). â€Å"The rules implement the Act’s requirement that the Commission pay an award to whistleblowers who voluntarily provide original information to the SEC that leads to a successful enforcement action with sanctions of over $1 million. Professionalism in public accounting has changed over the past decades for a variety of reasons from the advances in technology to the globalization of the economy. One of the ways professionalism has changed is that independence has become a major component for public accountants. Independence confirmations before the audit and during the audit are major parts of being professional in today’ s definition. Ethics are another major part of professionalism. Being ethical in your decisions is stressed more now than ever before. Being courteous of others cultures, beliefs, and religions are a new addition to being professional. With everything becoming global and information quickly being spread by technology, being conscientious of what is said and done is very important for accountants for one bad thing can have severe implications. Being professional is more than just how you act in the business place for since you represent the company, your actions are watched on and off the job. With the increasing numbers of investors in the market it becomes more pressing to have reforms to regulate the circulation of information and assure investors that they are using the highest quality of financial statements. ———————————————— Discussion 7 The SEC has required public companies to have their quarterly financial statements audited before filing of theirs quarterly report on Form 10-Q. Therefore, audit firms will need to follow all the audit standards set out, from establishing an understanding with the c lient to performing analytical procedures, inquiries and other review procedures to prepare an audit report on the review of interim financial information. It is our opinion that quarterly financial statements should be audited because they will be more reliable and credible to the investors. Auditing quarterly financial statements will also shade lights on questionable management’s earnings. At the same time, a continuous (quarterly) audit will allow for less restatement at the end of the year; that is less surprise for investors. The auditor will be required to follow the clients’ financial situation more closely and address any material issues sooner. Quarterly audited financial statements will give investors confidence in relying on the company’s financial information.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Elie Wiesel Quotes Essay

The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference. The opposite of art is not ugliness, it’s indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy, it’s indifference. And the opposite of life is not death, it’s indifference.† ― Elie Wiesel â€Å"There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest.† ― Elie Wiesel â€Å"Friendship marks a life even more deeply than love. Love risks degenerating into obsession, friendship is never anything but sharing.† ― Elie Wiesel â€Å"We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.† ― Elie Wiesel â€Å"To forget the dead would be akin to killing them a second time.† ― Elie Wiesel, Night â€Å"When a person doesn’t have gratitude, something is missing in his or her humanity. A person can almost be def ined by his or her attitude toward gratitude.† ― Elie Wiesel â€Å"There is divine beauty in learning†¦ To learn means to accept the postulate that life did not begin at my birth. Others have been here before me, and I walk in their footsteps. The books I have read were composed by generations of fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, teachers and disciples. I am the sum total of their experiences, their quests. And so are you.† ― Elie Wiesel â€Å"Human suffering anywhere concerns men and women everywhere.† ― Elie Wiesel, Night â€Å"For the dead and the living, we must bear witness.† ― Elie Wiesel â€Å"Never shall I forget that night, the first night in camp, which has turned my life into one long night, seven times cursed and seven times sealed†¦.Never shall I forget those moments which murdered my God and my soul and turned my dreams to dust. Never shall I forget these things, even if I am condemned to live as long as God Himself. Never.† ― Elie Wiesel, Night â€Å"One person of integrity can make a difference.† ― Elie Wiesel â€Å"If the only prayer you say throughout your life is â€Å"Thank You,† then that will be enough.† ― Elie Wiesel â€Å"Only the guilty are guilty. Their children are not.† ― Elie Wiesel â€Å"Write only if you cannot live without writing. Write only what you alone can write.† ― Elie Wiesel â€Å"Which is worse? Killing with hate or killing without hate?† ― Elie Wiesel â€Å"I pray to the God within me that He will give me the strength to ask Him the right questions.† ― Elie Wiesel, Night â€Å"I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation. We must always take sides.† ― Elie Wiesel â€Å"Wherever men and women are persecuted because of their race, religion, or political views, that place must — at that moment — become the center of the universe.† ― Elie Wiesel â€Å"No human race is superior; no religious faith is inferior. All collective judgments are wrong. Only raci sts make them† ― Elie Wiesel â€Å"Then came the march past the victims. The two men were no longer alive. Their tongues were hanging out, swollen and bluish. But the third rope was still moving: the child, too light, was still breathing†¦ And so he remained for more than half an hour, lingering between life and death, writhing before our eyes. And we were forced to look at him at close range. He was still alive when I passed him. His tongue was still red, his eyes not yet extinguished. Behind me, I heard the same man asking: â€Å"For God’s sake, where is God?† And from within me, I heard a voice answer: â€Å"Where He is? This is where–hanging here from this gallows†¦Ã¢â‚¬  That night, the soup tasted of corpses.† ― Elie Wiesel, Night â€Å"For in the end, it is all about memory, its sources and its magnitude, and, of course, its consequences.† ― Elie Wiesel, Night â€Å"Think higher, feel deeper.† ― Elie Wiesel â€Å"There are victories of the soul and spirit. Sometimes, even if you lose, you win. † ― Elie Wiesel â€Å"We must take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. Sometimes we must interfere. When human lives are endangered, when human dignity is in jeopardy, national borders and sensitivities become irrelevant. Wherever men and women are persecuted because of their race, religion, or political views, that place must – at that moment – become the center of the universe.† ― Elie Wiesel, The Night Trilogy: Night/Dawn/The Accident â€Å"I shall always remember that smile. From what world did it come from?† ― Elie Wiesel, Night â€Å"For the survivor who chooses to testify, it is clear: his duty is to bear witness for the dead and for the living. He has no right to deprive future generations of a past that belongs to our collective memory. To forget would be no t only dangerous but offensive; to forget the dead would be akin to killing them a second time.† ― Elie Wiesel, Night â€Å"I don’t want my past to become anyone else’s future.† ― Elie Wiesel â€Å"We must not see any person as an abstraction. Instead, we must see in every person a universe with its own secrets, with its own treasures, with its own sources of anguish, and with some measure of triumph.† ― Elie Wiesel â€Å"Most people think that shadows follow, precede or surround beings or objects. The truth is that they also surround words, ideas, desires, deeds, impulses and memories.† ― Elie Wiesel â€Å"Night is purer than day; it is better for thinking and loving and dreaming. At night everything is more intense, more true. The echo of words that have been spoken during the day takes on a new and deeper meaning. The tragedy of man is that he doesn’t know how to distinguish between day and night. He says things at night that should only be said by day.† ― Elie Wiesel, Dawn

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Comparison & Contrast Of Helena and Viola essays

Comparison & Contrast Of Helena and Viola essays These last two plays that we have read have two distinct characters, Helena and Viola, which are similar and different in many ways. In this paper I plan to brush upon a few of them and give you, my readers some incite as to the enjoyment of reading about them. In the play Alls Well That Ends Well, we were introduced to a young lady who had been smitten by the looks of a young fellow she felt was not in her reach. Her name was Helena, the daughter of a very famous, deceased, court physician. She had the physical and mental attributes that could command the attention of any eligible bachelor, but un fortunately she didnt have the correct social pedigree to entice the man whom she so dear cared for, Bertram, a courts son. This first characteristic matches perfectly to a young lady we meet at the beginning of our second play, Twelfth Night. Her name was Viola; she too was smitten by the looks and manner of a man that well beyond her reach. Here she had been shipwrecked and ended up on this seacoast, a young, pretty, virgin woman, all alone. She then comes to find out that this Duke governs the land they are on, of whom she has heard of by her father, and she corrupts this plan to get next to him and try to win him over in love, as Hele na tries to do to Bertram. To make thins more twisted, these two young women then concoct these schemes of deception and trickery to win their men. Helena puts her plan to work by getting close to her lovers father, as Viola tries to get close by disguising herself as a Young Man and wins over the trust of her lover himself. Both of these women seem to be extremely smart and head strong. They both see something they want and will do whatever it takes to get it. Helena gives the audience proof that she will stop at nothing during the first act, ... my project may deceive me, but my intents are fixed, and will not leave...

Monday, October 21, 2019

The Four Arts Of Freedom Essays - Belief, Guggenheim Fellows

The Four Arts Of Freedom Essays - Belief, Guggenheim Fellows The Four Arts Of Freedom The Four Arts of Freedom In Wayne C. Booths essay Whats Supposed to Be Going on Here? he directly challenges what we consider to be a liberal education and proposes a solution based on revamping the three rs. This long-winded look at the mental ignorance of people today offers several interesting insights, as well as Booths critique of his own proposed solution. Although he admits to having a flawed solution, he does not believe any of the flaws would overthrow his general argument. Booth begins by stating that what we term as liberal education is actually quite the opposite. He implies that while we are being educated to eradicate ignorance, we are in fact becoming more ignorant because we are being taught to use the information we are given for social climbing (55). Booth also states that without knowledge we may embrace political programs and schools of art and world views with as much passion as if we knew what we were doing, but our seeming choices are really what other people have imposed upon us (55). It seems that educated or not, Booth would consider the average person to be ignorant. How can this ignorance be stopped? Booth suggests a revamping of the three rs (reading, riting and rithmetic). He has proposed another list of rs, which he considers three of the four on his new list to be available, in some degree, to every student who is willing to seek them out (56). The first r is the art of recovery of meanings. In defining this first r, Booth states that it is the art of recovering what other people mean and not what wed like them to mean(59). While this sounds fairly easy, it is very much the opposite. Booth believes so many of us have fallen into the habit of assuming we listen with an open mind to other peoples thoughts and ideas, when in fact we essentially sort the ideas into categories we have already formed in our minds and more often than not use that to invalidate the information we are trying to learn. Zutshi 2 The second r is rejection. Rejection, Booth believes, is something that can be worked on mainly by uneducated minds. We need to be able to discern which ideas can go together and which ones do not. The best example Booth gives of this is: The uneducated mind will accept slogans like students are the most exploited class in America today, even though it also knows that migrant workers and black workers have been immeasurably more exploited and have a right to be insulted by the comparison with affluent middle-class students (62). Although he targets the uneducated mind, Booth does make a point of saying that all of us, educated or not, will have conflicting ideas such as that. However, someone who is educated would be able to notice the conflict in such a statement and work through that. The third r is renewal/renovation. Renewal mainly ties in with rejection. Renewal would come up when the educated man would sit down and rethink his opposing ideas and come up with a new renovated idea that would not be conflicting. Renewal also comes up in discussing the medias role in our education. Rather than just sitting back and absorbing all of the information that is thrown at us on the radio, on the television, and in printed materials, Booth tells us to take a closer look. Education should allow us to see our contradictions clearly and, more importantly (64) should teach the methods of bringing contradictions to the surface, of working out genuine harmonies, and of presenting the results persuasively to our fellow man (64). The final r is revolution. Booth is suggesting an intellectual revolution. Using recovery, rejection and renewal as key factors in education, and intellectual revolution could begin. However, even as clearly defined as Booth has made this solution, there are a few complications he himself has noted. The first would be spending too much time trying to get all my ideas clear before I act (64), which could result in him never acting. The other side of that argument would be to act too rashly. The idea

Sunday, October 20, 2019

The Meaning of s.t. or Subject To in Economics

The Meaning of s.t. or Subject To in Economics In economics, the letters s.t. are used as an abbreviation for the phrases subject to or such that in an equation. The letters s.t. proceed important constraints that the functions must follow. The letters s.t. are generally involved in stating relationships between economic functions using the mathematical functions themselves rather than articulating the same in prose. For example, one a common usage of s.t. in economics may appear  as follows: maxx f(x) s.t. g(x)0 The above expression, when stated in or translated into words, would read: The value of f(x) that is greatest among all those for which the argument x satisfies the constraint that g(x)0. In this example, f() and g() are fixed, possibly known, real-valued functions of x. The Relevance of s.t. in Economics The relevance of the use of the letters s.t. to mean subject to or such that in the study of economics stems from the importance of mathematics and mathematical equations. Economists are generally interested in discovering and examining different types of economic relationships and these relationships can be expressed through functions and mathematical equations. An economic function attempts to define observed relationships in mathematical terms. The function, then, is the mathematical description of the economic relationship in question and the equation is one way of looking at the relationship between concepts, which become the variables of the equation. The variables represent the concepts or items in a relationship that can be quantified, or represented by a number. For instance, two common variables in economic equations are  p  and  q, which generally refer to the price variable and quantity variable respectively. Economic functions  try to explain or describe one of the variables in terms of the other, thus describing one aspect of their relationship to one another. By describing these relationships through mathematics, they become quantifiable and, perhaps most importantly, testable. Though at times, economists prefer to use words to describe economic relationships or behaviors, mathematics has provided the basis for advanced economic theory and even the computer modeling that some modern economists now rely upon in their research. So the  abbreviation s.t. simply provides short-hand for the writing of these equations in place of the written or spoken word to describe the mathematical relationships.

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Financial Management essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Financial Management - Essay Example Through the recent observations made by the organization it had been observed that Tulip Refractory is making a continuous loss for a span of consecutive five years but while the sister concern of the organization working with Cafe 88 is earning a year on year profit on a similar basis, i.e. no commercial price is to be charged from the office staff. From this study we have to analyze the reason for the loss of Tulip Refractory under the mentioned organization and how the sister concern of the main organization is earning profits working with Cafe 88(Analysis of Financial statement, n.d., and pp.1-10). Main activities of the Organization The main activities of Tulip Refractory are to provide meals, snacks and refreshment on working days to various staff of the organization. During the weekends the staffs of the Tulip Refractory are allowed to do some catering in private functions and ceremonies. Similar is the function of the Cafe 88 but we can observe a remarkable difference in the operation of both the catering services. This has put the main organization to take adequate steps based on the financial analysis thus conducted as follows. ... The main function of making an effective financial analysis of the company is to draw conclusion to arrive at a decision which will be in the best interest of the company. For achieving this purpose we employ the tool of ratio analysis under which three main aspects of a company are analyzed on the basis of its profitability, liquidity and efficiency/solvency. Liquidity Analysis The liquidity of the company means the repayable factor of a firm generally in cash form. The company which has assets which can be easily turned into cash for the purpose of meeting with the obligations of a company is called the liquidity analysis of the company. The liquidity of the firm has thus been found with the help of current ratio, quick ratio and cash ratio (Brigham, et. al., 2010, pp.93-110). Particulars (All values in pound) Tulip Refractory Cafe 88 Year 2011 2011 Current Assets 9000 16000 Current Liabilities 6000 4000 Current Ratio 1.50 4.00 Current Ratio mainly gives us an idea regarding the sh ot-term liability capacity of a firm. Higher the current ration more is its ability to repay its obligations. From the recent findings we can analyze that the repayment capacity of Tulip Refractory is much less in comparison to Cafe 88. This is because the liability of Cafe 88 is less with respect to the assets acquired by the catering firm. Particulars (All values in pound) Tulip Refractory Cafe 88 Year 2011 2011 Bank and cash 1000 14000 Debtors 5000 0 Total quick Assets 6000 14000 Current Liabilities 6000 4000 Quick Ratio 1.00 3.50 Quick ratio is known to be a much more conventional with respect to the current ratio; thus considered a better liquidity measure. Inventory in most of the companies is considered to be the most illiquid form of asset hence it

Friday, October 18, 2019

Overview of Japan music Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Overview of Japan music - Essay Example The first writings and definitions of music have been depicted in the Nara period of 553-794 BC. This occurred because of a shift in government in which there was an order to change the social and intellectual character of both China and Japan. This was done by depicting the culture and the music in a way which could be traced and remembered for a specific intellectual character. The music that was developed into the 1700s was based on learning music through a sense of self mastery and by defining specific styles of playing that could be used for musicians (Trasher, 4). The 1500s It was during the 1500s that a transformation of Japanese music occurred from the traditional categories into new methodologies of understanding and playing music. Many of the instrumental concepts began to change and progress with new structures and sounds that were a part of the instruments. This was furthered by the influence from the open area of Japan that was connecting to the Western world and differe nt music of various regions of the world. This specific influence created a difference in the pitches, scales and the overall variety that was in Japan. Each of the types of music which were used traditionally began to expand with forms that carried on the tradition of Japan while progressing into styles that were interested by more Western influences. During this time, there was the ability to expand and change the poetry as well as the instrumental structures and ideals that were used for Japan. The characteristics then began to combine with musical form, pitch, timbre, melody and harmony used throughout Japan (Titon, Fujiie, 159). Historical Styles of Music... Japanese music has held long traditions and several musical styles throughout history. From the past musical styles and contemporary music are diverse ways of expression that are used for culture. Defining the various aspects of Japanese music also shows how the evolution of music has occurred in this country as well as what the perceptions are with the way in which this music is heard and performed. The discovery of Japanese music furthers the ideologies of theories within music as well as what is understood in terms of expression that is linked directly to the culture and society of Japan. The traditional music of Japan is known for its rich history and several styles. There are various types of music played for specific occasions as well as different categories which depict what is heard within the region. The music consists of solo music, chamber pieces, court music, festival and folk, theater music, percussion, epic singing and religious music. Each of these is developed either for occasions or to show a specific character that is a part of the surrounding culture and society while telling a story about a different element of society. The concepts that are associated with the music of Japan are diverse and include a continuous progression that is used within the culture. When examining the different styles of music, it can be seen that there have been several ways to hold onto traditions as well as to progress into contemporary music. The ancient types of music have been followed by several types and styles used for various means, specifically which were influenced by politics and culture that is in the region. This is followed by more contemporary trends that both incorporate the music as folk style while creating a different understanding of popular music that is causing Japan to move into alternative styles within society.

Personal Experience at Narcotics anonymous Term Paper - 2

Personal Experience at Narcotics anonymous - Term Paper Example ed completely negating the existence of individual or self in the society putting stress on his argument that there is no existence of an individual beyond society or apart from it. Every individual is a part of it and no individual exists apart from the society (Foulkes, 1948). The contemporary psychotherapy has moved far beyond these drives and pushed its limit to a great extent. In recent studies, individual importance is viewed in terms of more in depth, intersubjective relationship and based on these therapeutic models are undertaken. Dynamic group therapy have evolved as the most effective therapeutic model in this regard and recent researches tend to prove that dynamic groups help to a massive extent in curing psychological disorders like depression, anxiety states and personality disorders (Robinson & Et Al, 1990). Very important and pertinent to our discussion is also the fact that depression and anxiety states lead to consumption of various drugs and as an effective interpersonal group therapy 12 curative factors have yielded better and effective results in this regard. Yalom developed 12 curative stepwise therapies for the purpose of a psychological disorder. The meeting attempted to move beyond the theoretical limit and aspect of the model and succeeded in an effective discussion on the practical implementation of these stepwise therapies in a case. Yalom’s 12 curative factors starts with interpersonal learning which involves a continuous process with the effective participation of the group leader indulging and involving adults talks which enabled the patients to open up their mind. The next step in the Yalom’s 12 curative factors is that of Catharsis. A complete biblical perspective literally involves purgation and is quite difficult. Initially in the process, the involvements of all the group members are not noticed spontaneously but with time as a repetitive and inspiring mechanism, it can be effectively attained. Group cohesiveness and

How Interest Rates Affect the People Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

How Interest Rates Affect the People - Essay Example An article was presented in the media by the Austin-American Statesman which is a part of the COX Newspapers group. The title of the Article was ‘Nasty surprise may await homeowners with adjustable mortgages’ and it was written by Susan Tompur. Basically, the article discusses how rising interest rates could negatively affect homeowners who have adjustable rate mortgages. If their interest rates rise high enough, they may not be able to make payments on their mortgages which could lead to a situation of foreclosures or for them seeking cheaper housing options. While the article considers the situation in a rather simplified manner, the real connection between interest rates and the housing market is quite complex since the setting of the interest rate is dependant on several things such as the monetary policies of the government and the direction of the economy. On the other hand, the housing market itself depends strongly on supply and demand as well as the relation to mortgage interest rates or housing finance products which are created by banks or offered by other lending associations that deal with the housing market.

Thursday, October 17, 2019

M I B Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

M I B - Essay Example arget markets, and political forces that would affect the organization’s decision to venture abroad; and (3) as long as there are potentials and opportunities in the local market, Wal-Mart wanted to tap these to build enough internal resources and financial capabilities to prepare for international expansion. During the early stages of its international expansion in the 1990s, Wal-Mart predominantly selected countries closest to its geographical location and where the profile of the target market share parallel behavior with those exhibited in the local markets. The first market it expanded to was Mexico, which was located just beyond their border. The rest of the countries were also close geographically, like Puerto Rico and Canada. Expansion to other countries such as Hong Kong, could have considered the nature of expanding markets and the vast opportunities that the target markets from this location could contribute to Wal-Mart’s international growth. The organization could have also considered the incentives provided by the international governments, including tax incentives or subsidies for setting up greenfield investments in these areas. Wal-Mart chooses between acquisitions, greenfield investments and joint ventures on the following grounds: (1) after considering costs of market entry; (2) cultural underpinnings; (3) government incentives and legal laws; (4) human resources expertise and capabilities; (5) familiarity with the environment; and (6) consumer profiles. Under greenfield investments, for example, Wal-Mart decides based on lack of potential targets to be acquired and there are local resources deemed experts to operate the organization. Joint venture, are most appropriate in cases where there has been an identified organization with competencies in the area and both partners could contribute their respective core competencies to result in longer term mutual gains. As indicated by the case facts, â€Å"a joint venture agreement rather than full

Dementia - an Issue in Mental Health Nursing Coursework - 1

Dementia - an Issue in Mental Health Nursing - Coursework Example It is imperative for mental health nurses to develop professional awareness of the dementia problem and its risks in older people, in order to understand the ways of addressing this problem, as well as the personal and medical needs of older people. This paper aims at investigating the issue of dementia in older people from the standpoint of a mental health nurse. The paper will discuss and critically evaluate the significance of the problem for older people. Prevalence of dementia in older people and its effects on the critical life functions will be discussed. The paper will analyze the challenges, which mental health nurses face while trying to deliver high-quality nursing care. Other aspects of mental health care will be discussed, including nursing paradigms and therapeutic approaches, the role and the boundaries of a mental health nurse in dementia care, and the role of effective planning and nurse-patient interactions in caring for older patients suffering from dementia. Legal and ethical factors of dementia care will be evaluated. This paper will expose the key problems related to mental health nursing and its role in dementia care. Practical recommendations for mental health nurses will be provided. Dementia is one of the most serious and complicated mental health problems with older people. More often than not, dementia exemplifies a serious challenge to mental health nursing. Dementia is challenging, because (a) the number of older people, including those with dementia, constantly grows, and (b) dementia requires that nurses develop complex approaches to care, in order to reduce its negative influence on other life functions. The World Health Organization believes that the growing proportion of older people to the total population is a global phenomenon, and increasing age turns chronic health conditions into the issue of the main health importance (Anonymous 2009a). Among the most common health problems in older people, mental health disorders and cognitive impairments feature prominently (Anonymous 2009). Dementia and depression as the two most widely spread forms of chronic mental conditions later in life (Anonymous 2009a). Needless to say, the higher the proportion of olde r people to the general population, the more acute the problem of dementia grows. In its 2009 report, WHO estimated that almost 36 million older people worldwide would be diagnosed with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease in 2010 (Sorrell 2010). This number is likely to double every 20 years (Sorrell 2010). These statistical results have far-reaching implications for health care systems’ operation and functioning. These implications are equally relevant to mental health nurses. Nurses need skills and knowledge to anticipate the development of cognitive changes in older people and guarantee high-quality care, which reduces social stigmatization of patients with dementia and improves their life and wellbeing.

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

M I B Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

M I B - Essay Example arget markets, and political forces that would affect the organization’s decision to venture abroad; and (3) as long as there are potentials and opportunities in the local market, Wal-Mart wanted to tap these to build enough internal resources and financial capabilities to prepare for international expansion. During the early stages of its international expansion in the 1990s, Wal-Mart predominantly selected countries closest to its geographical location and where the profile of the target market share parallel behavior with those exhibited in the local markets. The first market it expanded to was Mexico, which was located just beyond their border. The rest of the countries were also close geographically, like Puerto Rico and Canada. Expansion to other countries such as Hong Kong, could have considered the nature of expanding markets and the vast opportunities that the target markets from this location could contribute to Wal-Mart’s international growth. The organization could have also considered the incentives provided by the international governments, including tax incentives or subsidies for setting up greenfield investments in these areas. Wal-Mart chooses between acquisitions, greenfield investments and joint ventures on the following grounds: (1) after considering costs of market entry; (2) cultural underpinnings; (3) government incentives and legal laws; (4) human resources expertise and capabilities; (5) familiarity with the environment; and (6) consumer profiles. Under greenfield investments, for example, Wal-Mart decides based on lack of potential targets to be acquired and there are local resources deemed experts to operate the organization. Joint venture, are most appropriate in cases where there has been an identified organization with competencies in the area and both partners could contribute their respective core competencies to result in longer term mutual gains. As indicated by the case facts, â€Å"a joint venture agreement rather than full

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

The Stop Online Piracy Act Essay Example for Free

The Stop Online Piracy Act Essay The Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and the Protect IP-Act (PIPA) is a bill that Congress are trying to pass in order to illegalize downloading and streaming movies and/or T. V shows; however the two legislation has Internet users in fear about censorship. Congress claims that companies and organizations are losing revenue from users who illegally download copyrighted programs and entertainment. Internet users state, this permits the government to disable freedom of speech and innovation, while enabling the government to censor and watch in the entire Internet for infringing content. The reason why SOPA and PIPA came about was due to companies annoyed with stolen content- which has proponents and opponents in a heated debate. Prior to SOPA and PIPA, there were two other bills that had the same foundation but did not pass. PIPA was first called, Combating Online Infringement (COICA) that failed in 2010. The re-written legislation had come back as PIPA to the Senate on May 12, 2011 by Senators Patrick Leahy, Orrin Hatch and Chuck Grassley. The second bill SOPA, was legislation that had been first been introduced as the Pro-IP Act in 2008 however failed. Then on October 26, 2011 SOPA was presented to the U. S. House of Representatives by Representative Lamar Smith. Creative America which is considered, the entertainment community, who basically own all the entertainment companies is the largest supporters of PIPA and SOPA. Creative America is comprised of many companies like The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA. ) On top of the MPAA: The Screen Actors Guild, The American Federation of TV and Radio Artists are pro-SOPA and PIPA. Even the music label companies are out to support, as well as the music publishers associations, and a long list of publishing houses who also support the acts. These companies have been estimated of paying100 million dollars on lobbyist in 2011 to pass these bills in order to protect their copyrights. SOPA and PIPA are two bills that work in conjunction of each other. Proponents claim, copyright holders are permitted to sue all domains that have their patent infringed whether or not their origin is from the U. S.  First corporations will create a hit list of websites who they feel are violating their copyright polices, then the corporation will be able to contact the websites payment processors to force them to cut their ties to whomever is infringing their copyrights. This will give the website five days to act before being shut down. The government will allow immunity to payment networks that comply with the bill, plus take recognition to sites that severely cut ties. Copyright holders who knowingly misrepresent a website for infringing copyrights will have to pay for all damages occurred. Opponents believe that SOPA and PIPA must not pass due to the domino effect it will create. Internet users are in fear that it will block freedom of speech. Many argue that the Internet cannot have any censorship because it violates Americans first amendment. These two bills will enable the U. S. Attorney General access to watch all Internet domains. The Internet Service Provider (ISP) will have to give up all information to the government when asked. Whats unfair is the government would not fund ISP even though they would be there minion. Moreover, other countries will follow suit, thus creating no access to foreign websites. Another issue is when a person posts someones intellectual content without permission, the website will have be shut down. All Internet users are in fear that this stifles innovation. A way that this stifles innovation is if someone posts on a blog of an article that features a logo or trademark of a corporation to use as a teaching method, the corporation can dislike the display and the blog can be shut down. Because SOPA and PIPA are so vague, it can be manipulated to the corporations advantage and be found true. If this bill was around when the Internet was first made, then there would have never been any websites like Youtube, Facebook, Twitter, Dropbox etc. because those sites will be liable for any person that violates the two bills. Due to the Acts liability, those companies wont last one minute without being sued. For example, Youtube created a new trend of letting their users upload their version of an artists song known as a, cover song. If the two bills were to pass, this will disable users to gain any attention to the music industry which can stop any discovery of the next biggest artist. January 18, 2012 was the day these two bills went to Congress for voting. Companies like Reddit, GoDaddy. com, Wiki, etc. went black in protest of the two bills. Many sites directed Internet users to sign a petition and to call or email the House of Representative- for the state the user resides in. Voices were heard and many supporters understood the vague thought of the two bills and backed out, thereby SOPA and PIPA didnt pass. Even if the bill did pass, it would have done little to stop pirating because the criminals who want to download illegal content will only need the IP address in order to reach the supposedly blocked sites. Criminals will find a way to get pass the Acts, thus making challenges for companies who want to follow the law waste time worrying about the implications of SOPA and PIPA. Although the opponents made sure that SOPA and PIPA didnt pass, Internet users know there is a problem with stolen intellectual property; however SOPA and PIPA was not the answer.

Monday, October 14, 2019

The Importance Of Personal Networks Social Work Essay

The Importance Of Personal Networks Social Work Essay Personal networks are an important factor in peoples daily lives. People who are embeded in a network of personal relationships experience a higher level of well-being than those who are socially isolated.The following is a critical reflection analysis about themes that I found to be most meaningful during the course of the term. The themes include the importance of a social network for the older adult, as well as how this type of network can impact their quality of life. An exploration of these themes will be provided using literature along with my own personal experience. This reflection will highlight the insight that I have gained from this analysis as it relates to my future nursing practice. In addition this reflection will address nursing implications for providing superior client relations. Exploration of Themes Social relationships of older adults along with their access to social support networks can influence the general health and well being of this population ( ). The existences of social support networks are important for the older adults identity, self-respect, social integration, feeling of security, companionship, as well as practical and emotional support. For example, my grandparents live alone, however, at the same time they have a network of friends, relatives and inter-faith community members on which they can depend on. On the other hand, my neighbour who is 76 years and widowed, is isolated from meaningful and supportive social relationships. My insight into the plight of the elderly, combined with my compassion towards this vulnerable population, compels me to visit her home and spend prolonged time in conversation. We talk at length about her day, her baking, and her fond memories. My neighbour often expresses a deep sense of appreciation for my frequent visits and I feel s atisfacation that she allows me to participate in her enthusiasm and happiness. A social network can stimulate the mind of the older adult as well as increase their level of energy and motivation. If the older adult lacks the support of a social network, it can often lead to isolation and depression ( ). There are a variety of social factors that contribute to an older adult being socially isolated. This includes being female, having a low income, being widowed or divorced, are experiencing family conflicts, and lastly who are experiencing ageism (BC article). According to these criteria, my neighbour is definitely at risk of being socially isolated. Evidence suggests that there are health promoting effects of social relationships. Socially isolated older adults have a two-fold increase in mortality from all causes (Jeannette, 2009). A lack of social support among the older adult population has been associated with a variety of adverse health outcomes in older age, ranging from depression and self-harm, to deteriorating physical health. (Jeanneate) (Dennis et al ., 2005). Research supports that various types of social support from different sources are associated with positive health outcomes. Social relationships are also thought to be a key factor in psychological health including an individuals happiness and subjective well being (tomaka). In a study that looked at the ranking of importance of different aspects of life for adults over the age of 65, they consistently ranked their relationships with their family and friends as the second most important factor after their health (Kobayashi, Cloutier-Fisher Roth, 2008). Among the older adult population, the social integration and overall participation in society are considered vital indicators of productive and health ageing ( ). According to the World Health Organization (2003), social support for the older adult population has a strong protective effect on overall health and can influence their quality of life (QOL). The QOL for the older adult that have chronic illnesses and who live at home are highly influenced by the presence of and the accessibility to social networks. Therefore, finding ways to help older adults engage in social networks that are productive and enjoyable is an important aspect of ageing. Future Nursing Practice and Nursing Implications Throughout my analysis, I have gained a great deal of insight with regard to the importance of a having a social network and its impact on the QOL of older adults. It has increased my awareness and compassion to the importance of friends, family and community support in creating a social network for the older adult in order to maintain or increase their overall QOL. It is important to reduce the amount of isolation that older adults face even those that have families. In practice, it is paramount for nurses to be aware of the older adults social support networks, along with advocating for the creation of further networks in order to tailor to the complex needs of older adults. Upon reflection, I would use Newmans theory of Health as Expanding Consciousness as my approach when I consider the importance of ensuring that social support networks are in place for my clients prior to discharge from a hospital. Newman (2004) describes human beings as open energy systems in constant interac tion with the environment. Therefore, the way for nurses to understand the health of an older adult is by understanding the individuals pattern of relating to the environment. Thus being said, the social network of an adult is crucial to reduce dependency among the older adult population by improving time spent with this group and having more interaction with the elderly (Souraya LeClerc, 2008) In conclusion, despite the salience of recent studies devoted to ageism that examines social support and well-being, this body of nursing research has paid limited attention to the increasing prevalence of social isolation among older adults in Canada or its relationship with health status. More research is needed in these areas as older adult Canadians are living longer, alone, and with a reduced number of social contacts (McPherson, 2004). Social isolation is not an easy topic for policy. It is a problem that cannot be identified with more familiar social topics as education, economic independence, societal participation and social cohesion. Nurses need to advocate on the importance of gaining emotional, practical and relational support for this population. This reflection has brought up the issue of mental health among the older adult population. From a personal standpoint, it saddens me to see the lack of interaction that exist among the older adult population suffering from a mental illness. I believe that further attention needs to be focused in this area by creating more social support programs and increasing access to these services for this cohort. As a result of this experience I have become more professionally attentive to my interactions with the older adult client on the units that I am working on. Being empathetic has made me realize that it must be challenging for the older adult to be looked after as they were once independent individuals who could take care of themselves. I can see how nurses can become frustrated with this population combined with a heavy workload, but I do feel that this population carries with them a lot of wealth and wisdom. Introduction Identification of theme(s) in your reflective writing. Exploration and analysis of themes that are most meaningful to you Significant learning or insights gained from your analysis that will guide your practice Nursing implications Choose any 2 topics; use references; combination reflection + scholarly Jeannette, G., et al. (2009). Loneliness, social support networks, mood and wellbeing in community-dwelling elderly. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry,24 (7): 694- 700. Tomaka, J., Thompson, S., Palacios, S. (2006). The relation of social isolation, loneliness, and social support to disease outcomes among the elderly. Journal of Ageing and Health, 18(3), 359-384.   Kobayashi, K., Cloutier-Fisher, D., Roth, M. (2008). Making meaningful connections: a profile of social isolation and health among older adults in small town and small city, British Columbia. Journal of aging and health, 21(2), 374. When measuring the level of access that older adults have to social support networks or the risk of social isolation, it can provide a valuable means to gathering information on their living arrangements (stats can).

Sunday, October 13, 2019

The Symbolic Meaning Behind the Black Procession in OConners A Late E

The Symbolic Meaning Behind the Black Procession in O'Conner's A Late Encounter with the Enemy Czechoslovakian philosopher and political mind Vaclav Havel, in his discourse The Power of the Powerless, talks about the danger of "living within a lie" (84). He argues that individuals who refuse to develop a strong sense of self and instead "merge with the anonymous crowd and flow comfortably along with it down the river of pseudo-life" (38) inevitably experience a "profound crisis of human identity" (45). Havel was speaking specifically of communism, but more broadly of the human condition. His warning is similar to moral message of Southern writer Flannery O'Conner in her short stories, specifically A Late Encounter with the Enemy. O'Conner, unlike Havel, sends her message through her fictional characters. They frequently live in contrived worlds the neglect the realities of their lives. O'Conner operates on a highly symbolic and ironic level to demonstrate this to her readers. In A Late Encounter with the Enemy, the General is typical of O'Conner's characters, unwilling to reveal his actual self. But when he is faced with the black procession at graduation, it reminds him of his true, forgotten past, and it is this truth -- the enemy -- which ultimately leads to his death. The General refuses to remember the past. He refers to it as "a dreary black procession" (399). The past is of no importance to him because he is only concerned with the present. All he cares for are parades and "beautiful guls" (400). The General is able to justify his avoidance of the past. O'Conner tells us that he "didn't have any use for history because he never expected to meet it again" (399). There is only one moment from the... ...he gives about him, giving the reader a clear picture of what sort of character he is. But he is weak in his sense of self, content to live as a symbol of a glorious past rather than as a true human. O'Conner exploits this weakness and slowly breaks the General down through the course of the story. She demonstrates the dangers of living a lie, of becoming someone that one is not. Her message is that the fate of the General will be the fate of all man if he chooses to live within a lie. O'Conner warns that life lived without human identity is comparable to Havel's river of pseudo-life. Only she uses the image of a black procession -- dark, solemn and resulting in painful death. The analogies are very different, but the message is the same. Works Cited Havel, Vaclav. The Power of the Powerless. trans. Paul Wilson. Hutchinson Educational, 1985.

Saturday, October 12, 2019

The Canterbury Tales :: Essays Papers

The Canterbury Tales Historical Background The Canterbury Tales were written in 1386 by Geoffrey Chaucer. In "The General Prologue," Chaucer introduces the Monk as a rebellious person who does what he wants and does not follow the rules of the monastery. However, in the Middle Ages, monks could not behave this way. They had to follow the rules of the monastery which were written by St. Benedict. They took vows as proof that they would follow these rules. In the Middle Ages, monks had to follow rules and be divided. The rules for the monasteries were written in 520 by St. Benedict. He was the leader of a monastery and wanted to write a set of rules "that were not so strict that monks would abandon their vocations"(Americana, p. 542). They were simple and allowed monks to exercise their minds and live stress-free lives. The rules said that monks had to pray, perform manual labor, and study. The studying was beneficial to the monks since they were able to become well educated. The knowledge gained from studying led many monks to write books. As part of their manual labor, they hand copied books because xerox machines were not invented yet. According to the Encyclopedia Americana, in the Middle Ages, monks in monasteries were divided into choir monks and lay brothers. This was a way of dividing the work because choir monks had to recite the prayer, the Divine Office, which was a requirement in the rules. The lay brothers did the manual labor. Hand copying books probably took a long time and they had a lot of other work to do, like studying and praying. Monks in the Middle Ages had to follow the rules and be divided. It was advantageous to be a monk because all they did was devote their lives to studying and praying. Since they led stress free lives, they were able to concentrate on their studies. The division of monks into lay brothers and choir monks seemed like an adjustment to the rule because the work was divided whereas before, all the monks had to recite prayers and do manual labor.

Friday, October 11, 2019

Econ1101 Session 1, 2009 Final Exam

Page 1 of 14 THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS SESSION 1, 2009 , , I ECONllOl MICROECONOMICS I FINAL EXAMINATION TIME ALLOWED – 2HOURS THIS PAPER IS WORTH 65% OF THE TOTAL SUBJECT MARK This examination paper consists of two parts – Part A and Part B Part A consists of 20 multiple choice questions each worth onc and one quarter (1. 25) marks. Answer all the questions in Part A on the answer sheet provided, using pencil . only: Print your student number, name and initials in the space provided and mark he appropriate boxes below your student number, name and initials. For each question, mark tbe appropriate response (a), (b), (c), or (d). There is only one correct response to each question in Part A. Part B consists of four (4) essay-type questions, each worth TWENTY (20) marks. Answer only TWO (2) questions from Part B. ANSWER EACH PART B QUESTION IN A SEPARATE EXAMINATION BOOKLET Answers to questions in Part B must be written in ink. Pencil may be us ed in answers to Part B for drawing, sketching or graphical work only . †¢ †¢ This question paper may be retained by the candidate There are 14 pages in this exam paper. 1 Page 2 of 14 PART A This section is worth 25 marks Mark your answer on Answer Sheet provided Question 1 , †¢ †¢ A monopo list estimates that at the current pnce being charged for the product, Marginal Cost is greater than Marginal Revenue and the abso lute price elasticity of demand is 1. 8. To increase profit the monopolist should: a) Increase price so that price equals the maximum the consumer is willing to pay ) Decrease price and sell more c) Set price equal to the minimum average cost d) Increase price and sell less Question 2 The Coase theorem suggests that private markets may not be able to solve the problem of externalities, a) Unless the government becomes involved in the process b) When the number of parties is large and the bargaining costs are high c) If the firm in the market is a monopoly d) If some people benefit from the externality †¢ TURN OVER THE PAGE 2 Page 3 of 14Question 3 Consider the following graph where a legally enforced ceiling price operates Price ~_ _ _ __ _ _ _ _—, J __ _ G- – – – s · c , B~ ___H L_ , , , ___ L ___ I 01 , :F : , : : ::J ‘ — I , : O — b–b3 —d -1 2 a) FEC. b) DAC. c) GJECF. Quantity The maximum dead weight loss due to the price ceiling is represented by the areas: d) JAE + DGF. Question 4 Perfect competition is efficient and monopoly is not, because in perfect competition _ _ _ _ , while in monopoly _ _ _ __ a) P b) P c) ~ ~ MC; P>MC MC; P Econ1101 Session 1, 2009 Final Exam Page 1 of 14 THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS SESSION 1, 2009 , , I ECONllOl MICROECONOMICS I FINAL EXAMINATION TIME ALLOWED – 2HOURS THIS PAPER IS WORTH 65% OF THE TOTAL SUBJECT MARK This examination paper consists of two parts – Part A and Part B Part A consists of 20 multiple choice questions each worth onc and one quarter (1. 25) marks. Answer all the questions in Part A on the answer sheet provided, using pencil . only: Print your student number, name and initials in the space provided and mark he appropriate boxes below your student number, name and initials. For each question, mark tbe appropriate response (a), (b), (c), or (d). There is only one correct response to each question in Part A. Part B consists of four (4) essay-type questions, each worth TWENTY (20) marks. Answer only TWO (2) questions from Part B. ANSWER EACH PART B QUESTION IN A SEPARATE EXAMINATION BOOKLET Answers to questions in Part B must be written in ink. Pencil may be us ed in answers to Part B for drawing, sketching or graphical work only . †¢ †¢ This question paper may be retained by the candidate There are 14 pages in this exam paper. 1 Page 2 of 14 PART A This section is worth 25 marks Mark your answer on Answer Sheet provided Question 1 , †¢ †¢ A monopo list estimates that at the current pnce being charged for the product, Marginal Cost is greater than Marginal Revenue and the abso lute price elasticity of demand is 1. 8. To increase profit the monopolist should: a) Increase price so that price equals the maximum the consumer is willing to pay ) Decrease price and sell more c) Set price equal to the minimum average cost d) Increase price and sell less Question 2 The Coase theorem suggests that private markets may not be able to solve the problem of externalities, a) Unless the government becomes involved in the process b) When the number of parties is large and the bargaining costs are high c) If the firm in the market is a monopoly d) If some people benefit from the externality †¢ TURN OVER THE PAGE 2 Page 3 of 14Question 3 Consider the following graph where a legally enforced ceiling price operates Price ~_ _ _ __ _ _ _ _—, J __ _ G- – – – s · c , B~ ___H L_ , , , ___ L ___ I 01 , :F : , : : ::J ‘ — I , : O — b–b3 —d -1 2 a) FEC. b) DAC. c) GJECF. Quantity The maximum dead weight loss due to the price ceiling is represented by the areas: d) JAE + DGF. Question 4 Perfect competition is efficient and monopoly is not, because in perfect competition _ _ _ _ , while in monopoly _ _ _ __ a) P b) P c) ~ ~ MC; P>MC MC; P

Thursday, October 10, 2019

New Orleans: After the Storm

On the 29th of August, 2005, a Category 3 Hurricane swept across the state of Louisiana and dealt major damages to the City of New Orleans, a tragedy never to be forgotten by the American Nation. Though the hurricane never hit the city itself, through its huge rainfall content, it has caused levee breaches which had dealt the most damage as flood devastated the city, and was thus dubbed as the worst engineering disaster in the history of the United States (Kilpatrick & Dermisi, 2007). Lost of lives and property were dealt during the incident, as the crime rates hiked up due to the disorder caused by the hurricane, and images of criminals engaging grand theft auto were seen live on television, as buildings were burning or being wrecked by the flood.Critics continue to blame various groups, individuals and factors for the terrible incident which has scarred the people’s hearts and minds, and has terrorized and affected both individuals and their pets who were residents of the ci ty, still learning who to blame, and being tight in releasing funds for insurance claims, and learning whether the state should pay for the damages or not. Yet, whether damages were paid or remain unpaid, and whether individuals who should be blamed were blamed or left unquestioned, it must be realized that beyond restoring the finances of the people and giving due justice, healing the wounds of each and every resident of New Orleans who currently suffer from the emotional, and psychological baggage which burden each and every one of them must be realized and given due priority.Faulty Urban Planning. The development of cities and industries has caused the increase of population in areas near industrial zones in consideration to the convenience brought about by being near to the jobs present in the area. The continuing increase in the population and demand for cheap homes have been the critical factors in pursuing the building of homes in marshlands, swamps, reclamation areas, and ot her low ground areas by the Government led United States Army Corps of Engineers, in the City of New Orleans. After the construction of the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal in 1940, the state closed the commercial waterways which were used before for waterborne commerce, leading to the drastic lowering of the city’s water table.The US Army Corps of Volunteers then built a levee system around the area covering much of the city’s marshlands and swamps, without consideration to the possible subsidence brought about by the compression of underlying soils. These brought about land subsidence of up to 8 feet or 2 meters in some areas which were reclaimed by the US government. A recent study of the Tulane University notes that 49% of New Orleans is below sea level, with the majority of the population on the higher ground. However, the mean elevation of the city has become between 1 and 2 feet below the sea level, with some parts as high as 16 feet and some parts as deep as 10 fe et. The city is also bordered by the Mississippi River and Lake Pontchartrain, and is marbled with canals and bayous (Galle, 2007) which maybe considered geologically hazardous.Moving on. Two years after the incident, the residents of New Orleans are still trying to cope up with the emotions, and the losses which they have incurred during Hurricane Katrina. For some individuals, moving on might be a very easy thing to do, especially if they have some other place to move on to. Yet for some, the typhoon was just the beginning, especially if they’re homes have been washed out or burned by some thug or all their assets and even their pets are gone. A year after the typhoon businesses in the high ground started to bloom again, as most of the restaurants are open, the Convention Center began to have bookings, and almost all of the premium office space in the business district is occupied, and the Port of New Orleans is nearly back to normal.Tourists have also started to come back, and almost half of New Orleans’ pre-Katrina population is back mostly crowded into the high ground along the river (Ydstie, 2006). For some individuals, the damage dealt by Hurricane Katrina was something that has made them further down, as insurance companies refused to pay some victims due to some loopholes within the insurance policies such as the wind vis-à  -vis flood, and the flood vis-à  -vis hurricane policies. Some insurance companies claim that individuals could not be compensated for their wrecked homes if their insurance policy says that their houses are insured for hurricane since it was the flooding that has caused the house to be destroyed, a heartless argument that gives no consideration to the logic that there would be no flood if there was no hurricane at all. Worse are the insurance companies who argue that wind was the cause for the houses’ roofs to come off and the flooding did not cause it, thus they would only pay partially for the damages.The se defenses and loopholes of insurance companies made things worst for Katrina Victims, and should be condemned. While most of the individuals suffer from more stressful damages brought about by such insurance companies, what should be stressed for them is the fact that, the first rule of insurance policy construction is that ambiguous policy language is interpreted against the drafter (â€Å"contra proferentem†) which in most cases are the insurance companies, and also that, insurance agents, must also then be sued for their negligence towards their jobs of making such loophole-full policies (Abraham, 2007). Also individuals who lost their houses are troubled by some policies such as the high ground policy which forces them to make their houses higher, individuals who have problems with stairs such as those suffering from arthritis are troubled by this.Pets after Katrina. During the Hurricane, the residents of New Orleans initially saving their lives left their pets behind. Cats and dogs of different breeds and species were lost, and were forced to roam a world which was unknown to them, while being thirsty and unfed, and while some residents were trying to find back their pets some individuals were arrogant about them such as the cop who threw out a dog named snowball out of a bus (â€Å"Snowball! Snowball!†, 2005). A year after the incident, organizations such as the North Shore Animal League of America, helped retrieved pets of New Orleans’ residents. Initiatives to house some of the pets which no one claimed, however there has been a lack of credible population to adopt such pets.Lessons learned. Some individuals say that the impact Hurricane Katrina has dealt is comparable to the impact of the Oakland Firestorm which hit Oakland California in 1991, which then, was a large urban fire which occurred in the northern Oakland, California, and which has killed 25 people and injured 150 others. While some issues of Hurricane Katrina are com parable, such as the amount of damage dealt, and the fact that most of the victims of the Oakland Firestorm were somewhat unaware of their insurance policies just like the victims of Katrina, the issues of complacency and uncompetitive planning are the factors which make the circumstances of the two incidents different. While the damages dealt by Hurricane Katrina were due to the lack of mitigation, and the lack of competitive advantage in terms of planning, the damages brought about by the fire in Oakland California were mainly due to the complacency of the residents and the local municipality in terms of controlling the fire.Reflections. While it holds true that acts of God could never be controlled by man, it must always be taken into consideration, that God has given us our brains for us to analyze and think about what we can do just in case. In the case of Hurricane Katrina, the damage could have been avoided if there were only enough mitigation done, such as holding studies ab out the geography and the soil composition of the area, and taking a close monitor over the movements of the soil and the water levels, and making detailed and well thought off engineering measures to prevent such incident from happening again. It must also be taken into account that there have been not enough measures to provide emotional support for the victims of the typhoon, and such emotional stress and tension must be given consideration and priority by the government and other support groups.ReferencesAbraham, K.S. 2007. In Brief : The Hurricane Katrina Insurance Claims. Virginia LawReview, 93, 157-164.Bach, A., & Miller, C., 2003. Lessons Shared from Oakland-Berkely Hills. Retrieved September14, 2007, from http://www.hillsemergencyforum.org/docs/Media-LessonShared.pdfGalle, J. 2007. Special Reports : Vulnerable Cities. Retrieved September 15, 2007 fromhttp://www.weather.com/newscenter/specialreports/hurricanes/vulnerablecities/neworleans.htmlKilpatrick, J.A., & Dermisi, S. 2 007. The Aftermath of Katrina: Recommendationsfor Real Estate Research. Journal of Real Estate Literature.Snowball! Snowball! The Little Dog Who Broke A Nation's Heart! Hurricane Katrina'sLittlest Victim. 2005. Muttshack Animal Rescue Foundation, posted Sept. 6 2005. Retrieved, September 14, 2007 from, http://www.muttshack.org/2005/09/snowball-snowball-little-dog-who-broke.html Ydstie, J. 2006. Katrina Victims Still Struggle to Find Way Home. Retrieved September14, 2007 from http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5720114

Wednesday, October 9, 2019

Rites of Passage within Colour

Introduction In this essay I will be discoursing my personal experience of what Arnold Van Gennep ( 1909 ) has described as â€Å"rites de passage† , concentrating on the liminal stage. This essay will detail my experience of traveling from an all ‘coloured’ community to a bulk ‘black’ suburb and my rites of transition experience of seeking to be ‘black’ . I will besides be discoursing on why I agree and disagree with Van Genneps rites de transition. SEPARATION PHASE Separation stage â€Å"comprises symbolic behaviour meaning the withdrawal of the person either from an earlier fixed point in the societal construction, from a set of cultural traditions ( a â€Å"state† ) , or from both ( Turner, 1969, p. 94 ) . I was born on November 1, 1993 in East London, EC. I lived with my household in Buffalo Flats, EL for the first six old ages of my life, at the clip and today, it is still a predominately colored township. Turning up in that township for six old ages I, along with every other individual populating in that community is what South African society would depict and hold as ‘coloured’ . I would speak ‘coloured’ , walk ‘coloured’ , act ‘coloured’ , fight ‘coloured’ and believe it or non, somehow I would even run ‘coloured’ , or at least every bit ‘coloured’ as the stereotypes myself and my community had been placed in. At the age of six I moved from my beloved Buffalo Flats, EL to what I at the clip considered the center of nowhere, Midrand, GP. This, as Turner put it, was my separation stage. Midrand was a assorted suburb, many Whites, many inkinesss, rather a few Indians and a smattering of coloureds, or at least that was what I saw. I was taken off from my place, detached from it, separated from my household and friends and thrown into this whole new universe which led to my â€Å"liminal phase† . LIMINAL PHASE Liminal period is when â€Å"the features of the ritual topic ( the â€Å"passenger† ) are equivocal ; he passes through a cultural kingdom that has few or none of the properties of the past or coming state† ( Turner, 1969, p. 94 ) . This was the period in which I yearned to be ‘black’ , I prayed to be ‘black’ and after a subconscious and unstructured induction, I learnt how to be ‘black’ . I attended a assorted school, bulk black, but still a assorted school where I was one of two ‘pure’ coloured male childs in my class, the other named Michael Williams. The two of us along with a Chinese male child named Jacky Mo, made up my ‘communitas’ ( Turner, 1969 ) . We were all in the same phase of our lives, we were detached from the society we one time knew, for myself it was Buffalo Flats, for Michael it was the Cape Flats and for Jacky it was China, and we were all thrown into Midrand, and all three of us were in an unstructured and subconscious induction to be ‘black’ . We were all stripped of our race, were no longer coloured or Chinese, nor were we black, we were merely at that place. In between what we were and what we were endeavoring to be, being black wasn’t merely a race or civilization to us, it was a societal standing to be ‘cool’ , and we knew being non-black yet black, would be the highest award amongst our black friends and couples. During this unstructured induction phase our black friends became our somewhat â€Å"ritual elders† ( McNeill, 2011, p. 74 ) . They were learning us how to be black, what to make, how to make it and when to make it. Myself and Jacky lived in the same composite with a male child named Siyabonga Mlaba, who would subconsciously take up the function of being our ‘ritual elder’ . Traveling through this liminal period populating so near to one another made us really competitory for the blessing and regard of our ‘ritual elder’ . The same manner the ritual seniors punished the novices for singing about AIDS ( McNeill, 2011 ) , if we had disrespected or misunderstood any facet of ‘black’ civilization, we were besides punished, non in the same physical mode but with verbal maltreatment and humiliation to a point of feeling disdained. These ‘punishments’ were difficult to accept and understand, but it made me more hungry and eager to s uit in the group I was being initiated into. There were many symbols in my liminal period, one of the chief 1s being the manner I talked. The speech pattern, the words and the actions I used when I spoke were major symbols. I couldn’t merely talk with my normal ‘coloured’ speech pattern, I had to try to talk with the same speech pattern of my ‘black’ friends, use the same words and slang when I spoke. I couldn’t use the conversational ‘coloured’ recognizing â€Å"Awe my Broe! † , I had to utilize the ‘black’ township recognizing â€Å"Sho Mfede† . Around this clip as I easy incorporated African linguistic communications in my address, I began floating from my roots of speech production Afrikaans, easy I bit by bit stopped utilizing it until finally I ne'er spoke Afrikaans, unless in Afrikaans category. Other symbols were dress codification. For some uneven ground the ‘Tsotsi’ or ‘gangster’ image was one the young person wou ld gravitate to, and that’s the expression I wore proudly as a minor. All stars, faded denim and ever a beany worn half off or a popular cap called a â€Å"sportie† worn with a joust. This was all of import. The manner I ate was of import, I had to eat pablum and vleis with my manus, no spoon or fork was of all time required, and I felt more ‘black’ than of all time. As this induction took topographic point, the more it dragged on and the closer I got to my end as adjustment in as ‘black’ , the more I drifted off from my ain civilization and heritage, subconsciously I was denying who my community raised me to be. The more ‘black’ I was, the less ‘coloured’ I was. I looked at being ‘black’ or being a portion of ‘black’ civilization as a societal standing and non as something sacred and to be proud of. The sarcasm was that I viewed my ‘coloured’ civilization and people to be violent, yet I used force to seek and be ‘black’ . Contending was a symbol or portion of the ritual as anything else. ‘Black’ people were strong, and the manner we proved our strength was through these battles, the conflict of the better adult male. A circle would organize and one of the older ‘black’ childs would take one of us younger novices to contend each ot her or another member of the group. If the battle was won, the embracing would be like winning a war, or a football lucifer. But the also-ran will be made merriment of and humiliated, but after every battle a compulsory handshaking would take topographic point as a mark of regard and that it was non personal. I was grade three when my liminal period ended, a battle with a male child named Tebogo, a much bigger male child. He beat me down infinite times in that battle, but I won regard and my rubric of being black by ne'er giving up. So after three long old ages of subconscious induction I eventually made my manner out of the liminal period and was reincorporated to my societal group as longer a ‘coloured’ or novice, but as ‘black’ . But this is where I do non to the full agree with the theory of rites of transition. I the reincorporation stage does non really round up rites of transition, but really starts a new rhythm, do although now I’m ‘black’ , I have to once once more go through a liminal period and induction to turn out that I am worthy being a ‘Hip Hop Head’ . The group in which I spent as an novice for three old ages and eventually got accepted as one of their ain had another societal construction I had to be initiated into, taken back to a liminal stage whereby I was non what I was and non what I was going, but in between that. Take for illustration the school calling of an person. One gets separated from place, sent to school for 12 old ages ( liminal period ) and so reincorporated to the universe one time graduated high school. Yet the reincorporation of graduation is the separation stage for university, so the old ages analyzing at university is the liminal period an d graduating university is one time once more reincorporation. But that one time once more can be the separation stage in happening a occupation, where being unemployed is the liminal stage and acquiring a occupation is the reincorporation stage yet the separation stage for 1s calling and so on and so forth. Decision I agree and disagree on rites of transition, the separation stage and liminal period seem really solid, but the reaggregation/reincorporation stage can besides be seen as the separation stage for the new rhythm of rites of transition.