Kingdom of Heaven Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Kingdom of Heaven - Essay Example Several skirmish between Muslim and Christian forces occur, like when Guy and Raynald kill everyone on a Muslim caravan. Saladin, the Muslim leader, retaliates. Balian is captured, then freed by the servant he had turned loose. The Muslims and Christians reach a tentative truce. The Christians murder Saladins sister, causing Saladin to siege Jerusalem. Balian leads the defense, but has to surrender. Saladin allows them free passage back to their countries. When King Richard I ask Balian to crusade with him, Balian refuses. At the end, subtitles explain King Richard I failed, and fighting for Jerusalem continued over the centuries, even today. The film states â€Å"Peace in the Kingdom of Heaven remains elusive" (Kingdom of Heaven). There was not too much spiritual content in this movie. Balian wanted to go the crusade to gain redemption for him and his wife. This is a Christian trait. Repentance, penance, and forgiveness is a Christian concept. So his motives for going on the crusades were religious. Most of the Christians in the movie have no religion, or were hostile to religion. Good and bad Christians were portrayed in this movie. Good Christians like Balian left the Muslims in peace, but bad Christians wanted to kill all Muslims. A Christian crusader is someone who was planning to go there and come back. Crusaders were alright with individual Muslims, but a Muslim state would have been unacceptable. They would have wanted to conquer the Holy Land for Christians. There were no churches in this movie, save for in the knighting scene. That was odd, because in the Middle Ages religion and churches were very important to Muslims, Jews, and Christians. There was crosses, but no crucifixes. The closest religious symbols were during the knighting ceremony where Balians father gives his oath, and Balian is knighted. During his knighting ceremony Balians father gives him his oath. Behind him there is an

Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factorys sweet success Essay Example for Free

Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factorys sweet success Essay The major competing sweet producers Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory and Hershey’s company have different business strategies, which give them distinct status in the market of the USA. RMCF is concerned in its perspectives and long-term goals to make the company more profitable and successful in the sphere of chocolate business. Hershey’s company deals with the short-term objectives and tries to obtain profit in an abridged period of time. The business strategy of profit-making Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory has the competitive advantage over prosperous Hershey’s company in corporate governance, organizational structure and confection distribution in the USA. The first difference between the companies is that the corporate governance of RMCF is structured more efficiently than Hershey’s. Corporate governance of RMCF consists of directors who have equal rights. RMCF administers its main rules with three to nine directors (Wheelen and Hunger, 2012, p263). Despite the main principals, the specific board of directors operates as a head of the whole organization and it is able to elect directors itself. This condition is likely to motivate the directors, so they try to accomplish their part of business as accurate as possible. Shareholders have a right to vote in yearly meetings and they can have an influence on the election of the potential directors by giving the additional number of votes (Wheelen and Hunger, 2012, p264). In consequence, the shareholders who have invested money into the company can be confident in the liability of the people to whom they give the opportunity to control the business. Unlike RMCF the Hershey’s c ompany has different types of directors who have their special responsibilities in conducting the business. The governance of the company consists of three types of directors, namely independent, informed and engaged, also a board of directors, which perform various functions in management. Such a bureaucratic structure makes the decision-making process more complicated and creates difficulties with the overall performance of the company. Board members of the company can easily intervene into the tasks of the workers and they can hire new employees without any restrictions (The Hershey Company, 2013). This action may disrupt employees from work and directors can have another option that will not be considered due to their limited liability. Corporate governance of Hershey’s company does not include the participation of shareholders in arranging managers for the firm, so the shareholders are not aware of the financial environment of the company. Thus, the exact number of directors and the role of the Board of directors make the RMCF’s governance organized in a beneficial form, whereas Hershey’s faces several difficulties with it. The second privilege of RMCF is an adept and profit-seeking organizational structure. RMCF has its own shops and franchises which are situated in the regional malls, tourist-oriented retail areas, ski resort, specialty retail centers, airports, neighborhood centers, and factory outlet malls (Harrison, 2003, p240). This location of the chocolate shops creates positive selling opportunities by attracting customers and promoting the product as well. According to the Success Magazine, in 1995-96 the Rocky Mountain was in the seventh position of the 100 top franchisers (cited in Harrison, 2013, p420). Spreading its name recognition through company-owned stores and franchisers, RMCF had gained such a high result in determining its market force and competitive advantage over a majority of companies working in the same field. Crail (1996) states ‘We find the location, negotiate the lease, design the store, coordinate the build-out, bring the franchise here for training, send a distinct manager to the store opening, and have ongoing field support and regional and national convention’ (cited in Harrison, 2003, p420). Taking into consideration all the aspects of organizing the structure of the whole business helps RMCF achieve success without any inadvertences. For example, the total revenue of the company in 1995 was 13,616, 134 USD and up to 1998, it had a tremendous increase showing 23,763,82 USD (Harrison, 2003, pp.423-424). In contrast to RMCF’s organizational structure, Hershey’s company decided to form special commercial groups in order to obtain the significant part of the market share (New Organizational Structure to Leverage U.S. Scale and Accelerate Global Growth, 2005). They were aimed to spread the producing companies all around the world. Hershey’s has its selling premises in 50 countries of the world (Keidel et al., 2010). The company was not concerned in the thorough organization of its structure; that is why it had to fund its company in other countries too. To summarize, RMCF establishes its franchises around the USA and increases the sales by allocating stores in the places with target audience while Hershey’s fail in organizing the right structure, consequently the company has to move into the market of foreign countries. The third quality that makes the business strategy of RMCF more valuable rather than Hershey’s is product distribution. RMCF delivers its products through shipments to distribution outlets from the premise of manufacturing Durango, Colorado. Franchisees are not provided with the immense space to hold the goods, so they ask the company to give them the quantities that they are able to sell during 14 to 28 days (Wheelen and Hunger, 2012, p.26-10). By following this strategy, RMCF chocolate can be a reliable product in terms of freshness. ‘RMCF believed that it should control the manufacturing of its own products in order to better maintain its high product quality standards, offer unique proprietary products, manage costs, control production and shipment schedules, and pursue new or underutilized distribution channels’ (Wheelen and Hunger, 2012, p.26-10). At the same time, the Hershey’s company distributes its products through â€Å"grocery stores, mass merchandisers and drug stores and functions as a single entity†. More than the half of total sales is received from â€Å"merchandisers† and â€Å"supermarkets† (Keidel, et al., 2010). In case the Hershey’s has a delayed delivery; it needs to pay fine for the customers who will not promote Hershey’s products, so losses in sales and credibility will probably occur (Zsidisin, 2006). Hershey’s company faces losses of capital in the period of distribution process; the borders of the time that the delivery of the products should last are not clearly stated. That can be harmful for the customers as the chocolate products are likely to spoil through time. Taking all the aspects into consideration, RMCF is dominating in distribution by saving the quality of chocolates, whereas Hershey’s company is not able to protect freshness without dec reasing the budget of the Company in its business strategy. To conclude, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory has more productive venture planning than Hershey’s company in controlling authority, confirmation scheme and product distribution. Controlling authorities in the RMCF have equal opportunities and reliabilities in business, while Hershey’s company is regulated mostly by a board of directors who can set the rules and hire the new employees without discussing with other directors. Conformation scheme of the companies differs from each other by allocating the stores and establishing the outlets. RMCF spreads its products to the places where many people can purchase them; in contrast, Hershey’s company delivers its products to particular stores. As RMCF is worried about its future goals, it achieves lucrative results, so Hershey’s company should also concentrate on its remote future aims.

Cadbury Business Analysis

Cadbury Business Analysis Cadbury, a brand well known and loved by millions around the world, had a very humble beginning. It began with the opening of a grocers shop in Ball Street, Birmingham in the year 1824 by John Cadbury. This grew to become the most recognisable brands in the world. In most parts of the world just the word Cadbury symbolises chocolate. John who as a young Quaker was against alcohol sold tea, coffee, cocoa and drinking chocolate at his shop at the beginning, later he started producing cocoa and chocolate. After few years his brother Benjamin joined and later they got a Warrant as manufacturers of chocolate and cocoa to Queen Victoria. Later when John Cadbury retired his sons Richard and George took over the company. They thought the company could not survive in the dirty conditions of the city and were egger to move it out of Birmingham, they setup a factory 4 miles from the city and had a concept in mind which was factory in garden, to provide hygienic working environment for their emp loyees, the factory had opened in the year 1879. The Cadbury brothers had named it Bournville. There was a rapid increase in the work force of the company by late 1880s and the factory was expanded. The first ever Cadbury chocolate bar was launched in the year 1897 and their famous brand Cadburys Dairy milk began in the year 1905. By the end of the 1930s Cadbury had become the 24th largest manufacturing firm in the Britain. The Cadbury brothers believed that all human beings should live in peace and should be treated properly, which lead to the building of houses, schools and many other things for the community for which the Bournville Village Trust was set up George Cadbury. Then in the year 1969 the Cadbury brand merged with Schweppes to form Cadbury Schweppes, after this merger there was no owner from the Cadbury family till date. In the year 2008 Cadbury and Schweppes were demerged separating its confectionary and drinks business. Recently on February 2, 2010, Cadbury became part of Kraft Foods, the American giant in confectionery, food, and beverage. Source: (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/8467489.stm, http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/8411696.stm). 2. Micro Environment:  SWOT Analysis 2.1 SWOT: A SWOT analysis allows managers to focus clearly on the meaningful strengths (S) and weaknesses (W) in the firms internal environment and opportunities (O) and threats coming from outside the firm, the external environment. A SWOT analysis enables a firm to develop strategies that make use of what the firm does best in seizing opportunities for growth while at the same time avoiding external threats that might hurt the firms sales and profits. So below I have done I SWOT analysis of Cadbury (Solomon, Marshall, Stuart, Barnes, Mitchell Marketing Real people, Real decisions, First European Edition Page 66). Strengths Cadbury is worlds top most chocolate provider which has international reputation. Cadbury is well know and easily identifiable brand among. Cadbury is well known force in marketing and distribution strategies that is one of the reasons for it being the world leaders of chocolate industry. Users are assured about the qualities of the brand. The strength of Cadbury lies in Dairy milk. Which is the most sold chocolate in Indi Cadbury has adjusted itself to all the custom around the world according to the market. Cadbury is a leader in innovation and has established brand name, and has strong competence in manufacturing. Cadbury has a advantage as it has understanding of consumer in the segment of chocolate, candy and chewing gum. With 9.9% of global market share Cadbury is the largest confectionery in the world. Weaknesses The competitors of Cadbury e.g. Nestle  have a very diverse product portfolio, where as it only depend on the confectionery and beverage market, where as its competitors can use profits from other areas of the business. Cadbury doesnt have great international experience like its other competitors; it has traditionally been strong in United Kingdom Europe only. New to America, it possibly lacks the understanding of the new emerging markets compared to competitors. Threats Worldwide there has been an increase in demand for cost environment, particularly for energy, packaging, sugar and transport. Global supply chain in low cost locations. There is competitive pressure from other brands in the market, nationally and globally. Over aggressive promotion and price activity by its competitors there is a possible price war in all developed markets. Social concerns, rise in obesity and consumers obsession with calorie count. Nutritional and healthier lifestyles is very much affecting demand for core products of Cadbury. Opportunities The opportunities lie in new markets, i.e. developing countries and emerging markets like China, Russia, India and other Asian countries where populations are growing, the wealth of consumer is increasing and there is a high demand for confectionery products. The market of confectionery highly characterized by a degree of acquisition and merger activity in recent past. There are opportunities to increase the share through specific acquisitions. The main key for survival in the Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) market is increasing efficiency and cost reduction. Cadburys Fuel in Growth  and cost efficiency of programmes seeks to bring huge cost savings by, Moving production to countries with low costs, where the raw materials required and labour cost is cheaper, reduce internal costs and use supply chain efficiently, global out sourcing and procurement, and wise investment in Research Development. Innovation is the most important and key driver in any kind of market. To respond to variety in consumer preferences and tastes like healthier snacks with low calories needs to be developed. There should be more of sugar-free products in the Cadburys premium indulgence treats like its center filled chewing gum varieties. There is a high demand for low-fat, natural and organic confectionery. 2.2 Porters Five Forces Analysis Supplier Power   The Cadbury Company has got many contracted suppliers that are able to support their on-going production operations. There is an existing competition in the market, for the raw materials such as nuts or special ingredients but still it is sufficient enough to satisfy their production requirements. Cadbury has maintained a very good relationship with their supplier which is considered as a very good an advantage. Barriers to Entry   Cadbury is already very popularly and widely known, it can easily earn the trust of the countries. The only and the main hindrance that might affect the production of the Cadbury is to find a good positioning and gather the necessary requirements for the smooth entry and running of the factory and the foreign policy and laws that might affect the operation. Power of Buyer   The demands for chocolates have gone down because of the existence of health conscious. The price of the product is no longer subjected on the demand of the people but is now subjected to the increasing number of competitors in the market that offers the similar type of products at a much lower cost might be the cause of the customer loyalty alteration. Rivalries   There are many competitors in the business who are planning to take over the supremacy of the company that has been kept for years. The difference in the choice of the customers depends on their taste and preferences. And in the recent past, companies like Nestle in this market are continuously developing their new products or innovating new ideas making it harder to compete. Threats for Substitutes   There is not much of a threat which comes from other competitors, because of the well established brand name in the market created by the company. Through their huge level of equity, the brand name of Cadbury is transformed into three different classes that makes more effectiveness in the market. 3 .Macro Environment: PEST Analysis Political: The Company has a strong advantage as it is very senior in confectionery business. With this advantage the company to manage to adjust in every country around the globe. Another advantage is the seniority of the management which enables the new foreign country to also welcome the companys existence in their market because of its good competence in the market. Economic: Without any doubt Cadbury is making a huge contribution in United Kingdom as well as in the economies of the other foreign countries where it operates. The number of sweet lovers around the world is very high which ranges from all sections of the society, the company has label to its name as the best choice available in the market for sweet loving consumers around the world. The economic downturn is another contradicting factor that is affecting all confectionery companies. Social: People have sweets after every meal so the impact of this business on the society is really great. Therefore, many of the individuals can enjoy the happiness it brings inside the house. And in some other cases many people turn down the idea of eating chocolates because of many health related problems like obesity, stomach infections and dental problems i.e. cavity and gum weaknesses. When it comes to valuing of the people, Cadbury highly recognizes the rights of the workforce and has been valuing the ideas they might like to contribute for their progress. Providing hygienic and excellent work conditions for its work force has been one the top most aims of the company from the beginning of the company, it can be clearly seen in the factory in garden concept of their Birmingham plant which opened in the late 19th century. Technology   Cadbury has always been a company who recognises the traditional crafting of chocolates, but also knows the importance of technology in the line of production and in the industry. From the production line, Cadbury has incorporated into various types of machinery that make their production to be a very cost-efficient procedure. 4. Cadburys Marketing Mix Product: A product is a good, service, an idea or a place- whatever is offered for sale in exchange. The product aspect of marketing also includes the packaging, physical features, design and any other associated services. So we know that a product is a many different elements put together for the success of the product (Solomon, et al Marketing Real people, Real decisions, First European Edition Page 37). In case of Cadbury there are a range of products from chocolate bars, cakes and biscuits, drinks, ice-cream and boxes, bags and tins of chocolates. To be more specific in the chocolate bars they provide from their classics like Dairy Milk, Bournville to the new products like Crunchie, Twirl, Wispa, Twisted, Flake, Boost, Chomp, Double Decker and one of its latest products launched in the year 2010 called the Silk. There product is mainly targeted towards the young population of the market. Source: (http://cadbury.co.uk/ourproducts/today/Pages/jsversion.aspx) Price: Price is amount the consumer must give to receive an offering. Price is used as a way to increase consumers interest in a particular product, for example to put an item on sale (Solomon, et al Marketing Real people, Real decisions, First European Edition Page 37). Cadbury offers a range of chocolate bars and other products from the price range on 55p to  £3. During Christmas it has special range of gift pack items which are available in packs of  £18,  £21.50,  £35 and  £50. Whereas the competitors in market have lower rates but Cadburys customers are assured of its quality. Source: (http://www.sainsburys.co.uk/sol/index.jsp, http://cadbury.co.uk/home/Pages/home.aspx) Promotion: Promotional activities include what the marketers have undertaken to inform consumers of their product and to get new customers to buy these projects. There are many promotional activities which are run by Cadbury like the 2 for 1 offer and during the holidays they special gift packages which can be used for Christmas and New Year. Its been in promotion from the early 1900s when it used to use posters by famous artist. Cadbury Dairy Milk poster campaigns used the iconic glass and half image to stress its high milk content. And in 50s it showed the Bournville Story in cinema halls. And during the TV age there was huge adverts with comic characters Mel Smith and Peter Cook. The Cadbury Gorilla ad premiered, immediately becoming one of the most popular and critically acclaimed TV ads of recent years.Source: (http://cadbury.co.uk/cadburyandchocolate/ourstory/advertising/Pages/advertising.aspx) Place: There is no use having a great product if the target customer cannot easily access it. This is where the place part of the marketing mix is important. Cadbury needs to find the most cost-effective  channel of distribution  to get their main products to their target customers. The nature of the product and its target audience will influence the places at which a company wishes to sell its products. As Cadburys product is low-priced, i.e. a chocolate bar and other chocolates, it uses intensive distribution by getting their product into as many retail shops and outlets as possible Source: (http://www.skillsspace.co.uk/business_studies/14to16/marketing/place.asp). 5. The Segmentation, Targeting and Positioning Strategy Cadbury: a. Segmentation: Cadburys market place is comprised of many different segments of consumers, each with different wants and needs. It can be categorised into four segments i.e. Break Segment: The products which are consumed as snatched break and normally consumed with tea or coffee, for instance Cadburys Time out and snack range. Impulse Segment: Most of these products are just purchased on impulse, for consuming at the time on purchase only; they include Twirl, Star Bar, Crunchie and Dairy Milk. Take Home Segment: These are the products which are purchased in a purchased in a super market and stored at home for later consumption, like Cocoa powder and hot chocolate. Gift Segment: Specially packed boxes of a variety of Cadbury chocolates, for the purpose of giving as a gift on occasion like Birthday, New Year or Christmas. b. Targeting: Targeting is a step in which marketers evaluate the attractiveness of each potential segment and decide which of these groups they will invest resources against to try to turn them into customers (Solomon, et al Marketing Real people, Real decisions, First European Edition Page 222). .Cadbury has many targeted markets around the world. The female population makes up more than Indian population in any country. This is a large customer base for the products. The main aim for targeting the female population is that it will be in a position to influence the rest of the population to purchase the product. The female population is the largest consumer of chocolate product not only in the United Kingdom market but in other markets as well. The other targeted market is that of the kids segment which also comprises of most of the sales of chocolate in any part of the world. c. Positioning: Positioning means developing marketing strategy aimed at influencing how a particular market segment perceives a good in comparison to the competition (Solomon, et al Marketing Real people, Real decisions, First European Edition Page 227). 6. Recommendations: Cadbury should increase Marketing and  promotion  globally by marketing new and different products in emerging markets. It should focus on non-chocolate development and acquisitions by developing a new line of non-chocolate candies. Development of novelty and specialty markets like Gourmet Line on Internet, by developing gourmet line that is to be distributed via internet. Aggressive new product should be development like low calories, sugar free chocolates. This has to be done by researching and developing new products with joint venture. It should concentrate more on the American markets as it has high revenue in this particular industry and Cadbury doesnt have any strong roots, it is mostly dominated by Hersheys. It should also develop new products for the kids segment, which now days is a very huge market.

Respect for Persons,Beneficence, and Justice :: Research Researching Privacy Essays

Respect for Persons,Beneficence, and Justice In July of 1974 The National Research Act was signed into law. Through this act, The Belmont Report was developed over 4 year period of time that included an intense four day conference followed by monthly meetings until it was completed in April of 1979. The Belmont Report sets out to define the ethical principles and guidelines for the protection of human subjects of research. The report was established prior to Barney Clark and the artificial heart and therefore was the guidelines that the doctors and researchers had to follow. The report highlights three essential ethical elements that are pertinent in human research and their applications. It was the professional responsibility of the doctors and researchers involved to abide by previously established ethical guidelines. Respect for Persons Respect for the Persons as it relates to the Barney Clark case can be broken down into three important issues. Autonomy The doctors made the assumption that Barney Clark was a fully autonomous person at the time of the artificial heart experiment. In general it is not in doubt that Mr. Clark was an autonomous being, however his terminal condition could have affected his capacity with in the case. While he might have been autonomous in many areas of his life the issue that is relevant to the case was whether he possessed the capacity to make an informed consent. Informed Consent The nine basic rules4 for an informed consent are 1. Identifying the appropriate decision maker 2. Having the discussion at a time when the patient is not distracted or in great pain. 3. Determine that the patient is communicating voluntarily 4. Disclose a. Nature of the proposed intervention b. The purpose c. The risks and consequences d. The benefits e. The probability that the intervention would be successful f. The feasible alternatives g. The prognosis is the intervention/therapy is not given 5. Offer a recommendation 6.

Instructional strategies and approaches Essay

Cognitive theories can be more easily applied, and changes and improvements can be more readily incorporated, as long as the teacher has had some specific training in knowing how students learn. For example, grading might be an inaccurate measurement of assessment of the efficacy of online education as it is not necessarily a true measurement of learning. Some students work hard to perfect their performance for a test at the end of the course, yet have learned very little. What is more important than simple measurements of right or wrong is to attempt, throughout the class, to see how each student is thinking. This can become apparent if a student is asked to explain his or her reasoning. The classroom is an environment that lends itself very well to written responses of explicit lines of reasoning. Once a student’s thinking becomes apparent in this way, the instructor can identify areas of prior knowledge and, should there be any misconceptions, can structure teaching in such a way as to correct them. Alternatively, if apparent thoughts of the students as written in discussions reveal a solid and correct prior knowledge in this arena, the teacher would be able to reinforce this and help students to expand their knowledge still further and to make more connections. Furthermore, during the semester, students should be encouraged to develop their thinking and in this way can identify which areas they feel less confident about, and for which they would like some extra help. We help students internalize and give the information automaticity by providing adequate opportunities for them to work with the process and by providing feedback often. Students need the time to practice an activity until it becomes automatic for them. if we didn’t practice math or if students had not been allowed to practice with their park rides designs, the results would not be of high quality. Students need both massed practice and practice over time before the process becomes internalized. Immersion is a great tool, but if we do not come back to the learning from time to time, often the learning is lost. That is why students may do well on the test this Friday over the math concepts studied this week, but try giving them a problem from this week’s work three weeks from now (Tileston, 2003). Reference: Tileston, D. D. E. W. (2003). What Every Teacher Should Know About Using Media and Technology. Thousan Oaks, California: Corwin Press.

Coagulation Definition (Chemistry and Biology)

Coagulation Definition (Chemistry and Biology) Coagulation is a gelling or clumping of particles, typically in a colloid. The term typically applies to the thickening of a liquid or sol, usually when protein molecules cross-link. When coagulation or clotting occurs in blood, it proceeds immediately after blood vessel damage. Two processes occur. Platelets change and the subendothelian tissue factor is exposed to plasma Factor VII, which ultimately forms fibrin. Primary hemostasis occurs when platelets plug the injury. Secondary hemostasis occrs as clotting factors strengthen the platelet plug with fibrin factors. Also Known As: coagulate, coagulating, clotting Examples of Coagulation Milk proteins coagulate to thicken the mixture that forms yogurt. Blood platelets coagulate blood to seal a wound. Pectin gels (coagulates) a jam. Gravy coagulates as it cools. Sources David Lillicrap; Nigel Key; Michael Makris; Denise OShaughnessy (2009). Practical Hemostasis and Thrombosis. Wiley-Blackwell. pp. 1–5. ISBN 1-4051-8460-4.Pallister CJ, Watson MS (2010). Haematology. Scion Publishing. pp. 336–347. ISBN 1-904842-39-9.

The Aleutian Kayak essays

The Aleutian Kayak essays George B. Dysons article in the April 2000 edition of Scientific American, The Aleutian Kayak, illustrates that the Aleut hunters of the past, were ahead of their time with their technologically superior version of the modern kayak, the baidarka. Dyson reports that the innovative design of the baidarka greatly propitiated this hunter-gatherer society who relied on sea mammals who lived in the treacherous waters of the area. Dyson explained that this design of the baidarka increased its speed and reduced the amount of energy that the kayakers needed to expend during their hunts. Unfortunately, few baidarkas and the knowledge of how to reconstruct new ones remain for modern person to study and fully understand the brilliance of these incredible people. The Aleuts lived in a marginal area of the Earth that had scarce supplies of vegetation for the islanders to gather due to the unstable environment. Hunting sea mammals (collecting food) in the violent waters around their homes was used as subsistence technology. The baidarkas design was ideally suited for the rough water and long distances traveled by the Aleuts during their hunts. The baidarka was made of driftwood, lashed with baleen fiber and covered with translucent sea-mammal skin that made the structure elastic-like. This structural elasticity would have allowed stresses applied to it by the constant pounding of the sea, to be distributed equally throughout the craft, by means of keeping the craft intact considering the lightweight materials the baidarkas were made from. According to William S. Laughlin, the physical demands of hunting at sea led the Aleuts to shuffle a whole lot faster through the evolutionary deck. This means that the Aleuts adaptation to their environment was a necessity. Natural selection results in more favorable genes to become more frequent in a population over time. Maybe t ...

The Effect of Divorce on Sons Aggression essays

The Effect of Divorce on Sons Aggression essays The Effect of Divorce on Sons ¡ Aggression The divorce rate has dramatically and progressively increased in recent years (Bridgeman Lowen Clinical theorists have presented a convincing rationale for these findings. Pieri (1985) has pointed out that the breakdown of the nuclear family and, as is typical, the departure of the father from the family, leads to anger stemming from the change in family status, disruption of secure routines, blame casting, depression, and economic stresses. Boys, who are apt to be more closely identified with the father, are more likely to display anger in the form of aggressive acting-out behavior (Wright, 1984). It is important that these clinical observations and theoretical formulations are subjected to more rigorous scientific assessment. The purpose of this study is to test the hypothesis that boys of divorced parents are prone to anger, thereby providing research support for existing theoretical formulations. This investigation aims to offer experimental confirmation of the idea that anger is a distinguishing characteristic of boys of divorced p...

Making Communication Count Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Making Communication Count - Essay Example This can lead to negative impact in the workplace or at home. Incidences of ineffective communication have been witnessed in the case of senior policemen, politicians, newspaper editors among others. Therefore, it is vital for a person to understand his communication skills in order to determine whether he is communicating in an effective manner to other parties (Papa, 2014). This paper will evaluate a scenario that targets the use of verbal and non-verbal communication skills in an effective manner, and how to foster effective communication in an organization. In an organizational setting, ineffective communication manifests itself either in a verbal or nonverbal mode of interaction. For instance, ineffective verbal communication is vague, uses jargon, and is hard to follow. Conversely, ineffective nonverbal communication takes place when verbal messages fail to rhyme with nonverbal actions. With regard to verbal communication, there are those people who tend to overwhelm their audience with words. When a listener is overwhelmed, he does not have the time to gather his thoughts on what is being said. The listener also finds it difficult to elaborate the situation in order to gather more understanding. In case communication flows for a long time, then it becomes irrelevant to those people who get switched off (Manning & Curtis, 2003). A number of managers have been noted to communicate to their listeners what they feel is appropriate to them with the hope that they can do something about it. However, this path makes the listeners to switch off for failing to address their needs in an effective manner. Also, some senior executives in an organization assume that their listeners have understood what they are talking about. This is the case where people do not understand the language being used because it is their second language. This leads to confusion,

Evaluation of frontline the merchants of cool Essay

Evaluation of frontline the merchants of cool - Essay Example However, marketing is admittedly not that simple or easy, as consumers are quite fickle. They can change their minds readily, by following trends and whatever is considered as â€Å"cool.† Marketeers and advertising professionals can focus their efforts only on a particular sector or segment of the population, to achieve maximum effect. One can direct all marketing and advertising on middle-aged individuals, for example, for these are the people who are at the peak of their earning capabilities, at the prime of their careers. Or one can focus on youths which is also fast becoming a significant sector because of its huge spending power. Teenagers are the hottest consumer demographic today, at 33 million strong with a buying power of about $100 billion by themselves alone, and by influencing parents, can still command another $50 billion to spend. I will argue in this paper that the comparison made by media critic and professor Robert McChesney likening this population segment a s a massive empire to be colonized, an intellectual equivalent to Africa, is not very accurate. Discussion Teenagers as a separate demographic segment came into prominence only recently as family incomes rose during the last few decades. Teens today have more pocket money when compared to earlier generations due to this rising affluence brought by a good economy and a continued globalization in teen culture has a marked influence on how this sector came to the attention of professional marketeers. Teen lifestyle became a distinct marketing category that deserves all the attention from marketing and advertising professionals because teenagers' big spending power on consumer items is a crucial factor when selling items like CDs, films, television programs, clothing, jewelry, shoes, books, music, sports, and many other items. In a certain but limited sense, this is probably what Prof. McChesney referred to as a moral equivalent of the vastness of the African continent at the turn of th e previous century, when it was ripe for the taking and exploitation. The teen demographic sector provides a vast opportunity for the purveyors of youth culture, food, fashion, fun, beauty products, activities, etc. because of their huge spending power in absolute dollar terms. Teenagers in a way had become a legitimate sector as part of an American consumer polity (Lee & Zhou 102). However, the comparison of this teen demographic sector to the African continent is not very appropriate, as it is a bit of an exaggeration because of one key difference. In the time of British colonialism and imperialism, the colonized peoples of Africa were in no way able to offer some form of resistance. It was largely a one-way relationship, in which the British held all the cards, so to speak, with the African peoples in a very weak position in the relationship of colonial power and colonized people. The colonial encounter in Africa was that of inequality, the British from a position of strength and the Africans in a weak position (Asad 16) but this is clearly not the case when it comes to the teens in terms of marketing. The youth today have a voice or choice, in which they

Micro economics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Micro economics - Essay Example But the other side of picture is also being supportedby many economists. They are of the view that UK is still in the grasp of double dip depression. According to a study, in the year 2008 peak the growth rate of economy was less than 20.1% and in the year 2010, the overall growth rate is around 6.1% which shows a serious plunge during the great depression. International monetary fund issued a forecast about the growth rate in between 0.6% to 0.8 % and this is not considered as a gratifying rate. Since 2008, the government of UK has stimulated up to 380 billion pounds into the economic machinery to increase liquidity rates but due to the lack of â€Å"trickle down† effect, the money has not shown its benefits and didn’t reach the core level of the industries. Many unconventional and out of the way step and initiatives are being taken to solve the problem of liquidity. Massive job lose statistics showed that there were around 750,000 public sector jobs that were cut off but this problem has been sorted out after the pact between democrats and conservatives. During the nine months of double dip depression, the economy of UK shrank up to around 1.1 pc (Kirby et al, 2011) and there is now a rise in the growth that shows that depression has ended. The economists are feeling the fear that the depression can come because economic depressions re-appear and do not go away easily. The measures by the ONS say that the economy grew by 0.7per capita and many other independent sources for example a renowned economist named as Samuel Tombs is supporting the view that growth will touch around 0.6pc. Till 2012, depression was still badly affecting the UK’s economy as this was the consequence of bankruptcies of major banks like Lehman brothers and the stock markets of UK were falling to the lowest records since the great depression. The measures from NIESR says that double dip depression was still there until September 2012 as after pumping thousands of doll ars in the banking systems , there was no rise in the growth of the economy (Hay, 2012). Question 2 There are mainly four categories of unemployment, as follows 1) Structural Unemployment 2) Frictional Unemployment 3) Cyclic Unemployment 4) Seasonal Unemployment (Boyes& Melvin, 2012) The first type of unemployment is when the competent work force is available but there is a huge lack of demand for them. This kind of unemployment is highly proliferated in the world. The second type refers to the unemployment that is caused due to high â€Å"switch rate† of employees between different jobs. The third type is because of the effects of overall growth of the economic conditions and fourth type is because of the fluctuations of international economic trends and developments. Diamond Mortensen Pissarides (DMP) model illustrates the unemployment as a function of limited variables ad the rate of unemployment is directly proportional to the number of variables. If people have limited m eans and skill sets, unemployment will expand automatically. This model is regarded as the most practical one. According to DMP model, the bargain rate between employee and employer is also affected due to unemployment rate. If unemployment rate is high, bargain will be low because hiring is a difficult process altogether. As shown in the above figure, if the productivity in decreased, there is also a decline in Nash’s wage line. A high rate of wage line depicts less unemployment and sound economic condition

Lesdership Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Lesdership - Research Paper Example Furthermore, this research should determine the role that a motivation plays towards the success of a certain leader and of the employee. Moreover, manifold topics are set to be discussed underway including the importance of motivation in the sustainability of employment status, building relationships and friendships in the workplace and in the improvement of self-confidence which is initially perceived as contingent to the leader, the environmental influence and the type of reinforcement an employee is getting. The different applications of motivational leadership in various activities including sport, education, in the development of our future leaders, speaking engagements, seminars and annual meetings are going to be elaborated. This shall be clinched by deciding the imperative aspects of motivational relationship towards the success of not only leaders and followers but the entire human race as a whole. Investigations pertaining to leadership have permeated the administrative literatures for so many years. Discovered amongst the numerous theories are remarks and assertions that ideal and better leaders motivate. But how does motivation affects the organizational setting of a certain company? Further, how do describe motivational leadership? Motivational leadership is a skilled method in which a leader employs a paradigm and deliberate steps for motivating people to admire and shadow them. They are fascinated in establishing a harmless and trusting work setting, at the same time, safeguarding that the company is sited to be effective and productive in the market. Motivational leaderships main values and ideologies expounds that the leader must possess strong morals and principles, well-defined vision, reasonable values, genuine communication, and should be truly motivated to encourage partnership and affirmative energy

Global tech change simulation final paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Global tech change simulation final paper - Essay Example To cater for such shortcomings, the change management plan was tailored accordingly. The outcomes of the change management simulation clearly provide that most objectives were met with. Evidence for this fact is provided by the many quantifiable indicators presented in the findings of the change management simulation. On the other hand, there are some areas, such as understanding the problem, where the quantifiable indicators could not score very well and hence it could be surmised that these areas could have benefited from better planning and implementation. If there were an opportunity to redo this project, the Understand part of the project, particularly problem identification, would be redone with greater objectivity to achieve greater success at it. In a similar manner, the Enlist part of the project could have done better through greater motivation to employees. Similarly, there were some loose ends in the Motivate and Communicate parts of the exercise that could have had better outcomes through better planning, implementation and reporting. Kotter’s change process carries a large amount of respect in contemporary change management practices given its efficacy in delivering on outcomes. The change management plan used for Global Tech is differentiated from Kotter’s change process although it does hold some comparable exponents. If the change plan for Global Tech is analyzed sequentially, it becomes clear that the first phase of the change plan â€Å"Understand† is in some part influenced by Kotter’s exponents of â€Å"Increase urgency† and â€Å"Get the vision right†. Kotter’s ideas on â€Å"Increase urgency† build on an examination of the market’s competitive nature and present challenges that require change. Similarly, Kotter’s ideas on â€Å"Get the vision right† rely on developing an understanding of where the organization is at and where it needs to go to meet looming challenges

Preformance Managemant Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Preformance Managemant - Essay Example For instance, there are assumptions that managers might undertake when taking evaluation of an employee. Sometimes, the responses from an employee may not be reflective of the potential and skills that he possesses. Thus, at this point, it is expected that the manager would assume faulty quotes for the employee’s service within the organization. At some point, the main essence of performance appraisal or management may not be fulfilled because the manager may be biased or have an opinion which is built before the appraisal process (Cardy and Leonard). As per research, another reason which has been noted to affect managers is the psychological underpinning of performance management. At some point, managers may feel that they are insecure about their own positions because performance management requires a lot of evaluation and understanding. It should be noted that managers feel burdened with the strategic planning of needed for performance management within an organization (Cardy and Leonard). Finally, the most important reason behind resistance of managers towards performance management is the fact that they would have to set targets for their subordinates. As a result, it is expected that some of the subordinates would show resentment towards the managers. Therefore, an air of miscommunication arises that does not make the team and manager feel confident or communicative about each other (Cardy and Leonard). Other than this, it is noted that managers would focus on day to day achievements of the individuals. But it is ineffective because managers should look at employees as team members. It is due to this reason that they stay motivated and communicative within an organization. Secondly, managers believe that all employees are similar which only false assumptions are. Managers need to understand that all employees have different responsibilities and skills. Thirdly, managers often

Lesdership Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Lesdership - Research Paper Example Furthermore, this research should determine the role that a motivation plays towards the success of a certain leader and of the employee. Moreover, manifold topics are set to be discussed underway including the importance of motivation in the sustainability of employment status, building relationships and friendships in the workplace and in the improvement of self-confidence which is initially perceived as contingent to the leader, the environmental influence and the type of reinforcement an employee is getting. The different applications of motivational leadership in various activities including sport, education, in the development of our future leaders, speaking engagements, seminars and annual meetings are going to be elaborated. This shall be clinched by deciding the imperative aspects of motivational relationship towards the success of not only leaders and followers but the entire human race as a whole. Investigations pertaining to leadership have permeated the administrative literatures for so many years. Discovered amongst the numerous theories are remarks and assertions that ideal and better leaders motivate. But how does motivation affects the organizational setting of a certain company? Further, how do describe motivational leadership? Motivational leadership is a skilled method in which a leader employs a paradigm and deliberate steps for motivating people to admire and shadow them. They are fascinated in establishing a harmless and trusting work setting, at the same time, safeguarding that the company is sited to be effective and productive in the market. Motivational leaderships main values and ideologies expounds that the leader must possess strong morals and principles, well-defined vision, reasonable values, genuine communication, and should be truly motivated to encourage partnership and affirmative energy

Preformance Managemant Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Preformance Managemant - Essay Example For instance, there are assumptions that managers might undertake when taking evaluation of an employee. Sometimes, the responses from an employee may not be reflective of the potential and skills that he possesses. Thus, at this point, it is expected that the manager would assume faulty quotes for the employee’s service within the organization. At some point, the main essence of performance appraisal or management may not be fulfilled because the manager may be biased or have an opinion which is built before the appraisal process (Cardy and Leonard). As per research, another reason which has been noted to affect managers is the psychological underpinning of performance management. At some point, managers may feel that they are insecure about their own positions because performance management requires a lot of evaluation and understanding. It should be noted that managers feel burdened with the strategic planning of needed for performance management within an organization (Cardy and Leonard). Finally, the most important reason behind resistance of managers towards performance management is the fact that they would have to set targets for their subordinates. As a result, it is expected that some of the subordinates would show resentment towards the managers. Therefore, an air of miscommunication arises that does not make the team and manager feel confident or communicative about each other (Cardy and Leonard). Other than this, it is noted that managers would focus on day to day achievements of the individuals. But it is ineffective because managers should look at employees as team members. It is due to this reason that they stay motivated and communicative within an organization. Secondly, managers believe that all employees are similar which only false assumptions are. Managers need to understand that all employees have different responsibilities and skills. Thirdly, managers often

An Analysis of the opening sequences of Luhrmanns Essay Example for Free

An Analysis of the opening sequences of Luhrmanns Essay I think Luhrmann repeated the prologue three times to make people understand what was to come, because he did not add the last two lines which were In which if you with patient ears attend, What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend. In other words, meaning that if you have not understood this prologue they hoped their hard work helps you understand it.  The first time the prologue is shown is when the news reporter is on the news reading out the prologue. She has a modern American accent towards this but it seems as if Luhrmann has kept to the old Shakespearean language; also, there is the picture of a ring in the corner. The sequence starts of with interference and then it tunes in onto the news, then the news reporter starts reading out the prologue. To put it in media terms I would say the first few shots of the zoom in creating a lead up to the extreme close up of the news reporter. I would say then that a medium close up was used until the second time the prologue was shown. I think this interpretation of the prologue represents how important and how serious the conflict between the families is and shows the end of both lovers also showing the end of the feud. The second time the prologue is shown, it shows a serious of pictures of Verona Beach according to the lines of the prologue, which is now read by a man. Either, he wanted to make the prologue stronger by doing that or make a change to get it stuck in peoples head. There are loads of newspaper cuttings but one of the newspapers shows both the families, which ends up in flames. It also shows images of two skyscrapers one with Montague on top and the other with Capulet also God (Jesus) is standing in the middle showing, I think this shows that the feud might have gone to far and God has now stepped in to stop it. Also at the end of this both the families are shown with the other characters apart from Romeo and Juliet. In the Mise-en-scene of the completely said prologue, there were close-ups of the families, medium shots, long shots, birds eye view shots, etc. The third time the prologue is shown the writing comes up. In addition, there are a few scenes from the film later on, which gives us an insight of whats to come.  This start gives us quite a lot of insight to the film this gives us a head start to whats to come from the whole film. In this interpretation, I think there were only quick shots used to give an effect of how quick the story went.  I think the audience might get a different feeling from each time the prologue because it shows different types of ways to express the prologue it shows the end, beginning and middle. In Act 1, Scene 1 the two families boys have a comical fight at a petrol station but it shows the first actual conflict between the families. The Montague boys go down to petrol station and to represent them they have loud rap music in the background, whereas when the Capulet boys arrive they have spaghetti western music to represent them so the director might be trying to say that the Capulet boys are more old fashioned and that the Montague boys are more modern. Luhrmann creates an atmosphere of many things in this scene but the main three things are tension, fear and excitement. I first of all think Luhrmann created this by showing the anger between both families this both created tension and fear of one another, he done this by introducing the boys and slowly setting the scene up till both families started being rude to each other. Both families show this by Body Language and Face Expressions. I think the Montagues though felt more threatened by the Capulets because when the Capulets appeared they suddenly had a sense of fear in them, which created quite a bit of tension. The next thing was excitement this was that of the fight they were going to have and because of the tension Luhrmann had created he had to even it out by using humour, I think he done this by using the tension he had already created. When he had one of the Montague boys licking his nipples to scare the nuns and when he had one of the women in the car hitting him on the head with her handbag. I think he used a cowboy film clichà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½, to make the scene more interesting and to make the fight presentable he used hidden typical cowboy props such as the flipping sign and music. But by doing this he has really stereotyped the western cowboy material but I am not trying to say that he is not doing what any other modern director does because they all stereotype in their films one way or another. I feel the opening scenes to a film are most crucial and I found that the opening scenes to Romeo and Juliet were quite substantial, the scenes of the prologue were quite short but short of this fact, it was very informative. However, I think it was difficult for Luhrmann to create the rest of the movie after such a good start but I think he done this during Act 1, Scene 1 by showing just how terrible the feud was in this case I mean hurting people who are not even involved in the fight. I personally think that the targeted audience for this film is from people aged  15 -30 years old as some of the violence would be too much for little kids, to take in and mostly the language and sense of this story would confuse them whereas if you showed it to an older person over 30 they would probably be more interested in a calm love story with not so much violence.  In my opinion, the opening scenes to this film were portrayed as an insight to the rest of the film. I see the representation of the prologues as a beginning, middle and end, but as the first act and first scene come up, I feel as if the whole film has started again but from a different angle. I also think that Luhrmann took on a great task and that was to re- enact Shakespeares greatest love story and I also think he done that well.

Child Friendly School Policies

Child Friendly School Policies The purpose of this essay is to explore what Child Friendly School policies could learn from Comparative and International Research. Reference to CFSs in Kenya will be made with emphasis on the background of CFSs, current practices and emerging critics, success stories, problems and pitfalls and what CIR can do to subjugate some of these challenges. I will start by examining the rationale for exploring CFSs, based on literature and my professional experience. Following this background will be literature surrounding the concepts of CIR and CFSs in relation to global agendas, exploring how CFSs came into existence and the driving forces behind it. I then go on to focus on a case study of CFS in Kenya, discussing the role of CIR in the Kenyas CFS, arguing that CIR is used as a political tool in creating educational policy, rather than a research method or an intellectual inquiry. I will further critically analyze challenges facing CFSs and how knowledge on CIR can contribute more effect ively to successful implementation of CFS policies. A conclusion based on the literature and authors experience will then be drawn. Throughout the essay, I build a case in favour of CIR arguing that CIR stimulates critical reflections about our educational systems by investigating commonalities and differences across national borders. Background and Rationale Comparative and international education is one of the main fields of education with many benefits, judged by the volume of studies reported in the literature. Central to this is that many countries around the world have formulated some of their educational policies based on knowledge and research from CIR. With the current wave of globalization, researchers and experts, especially in the field of education, are always trying to find ways of streamlining their educational policies with the global trends. According to Giddens (1990:64), globalization is the intensification of worldwide social relations which link distance localities in such a way that local happenings are shaped by events occurring many miles away and vice versa. Global forces therefore have an impact on shaping local practices at grass root levels. In order to do this tactically and critically, comparative and internal research remains cutting edge in informing people about the realities, the challenges and the possible effects of uncritical transfer of ideas. One of the key developments in education has been the prioritisation of basic education as opposed to adult education or higher education. In Africa, this would be probably because, as Oketch (2004) points out, basic education yields higher rates of returns compared to higher education. This has subsequently influenced government and non-governmental organizations to focus more on improving the quality of basic education. Child-friendly schools (CFSs) in Kenya is an example of a initiative sponsored by UNICEF with the aim of not just providing children right to education but the right to the right education. In other words, CFSs are more concerned with the quality of basic education in addition to its access. The emergence of CFSs in Kenya was catapulted by the forces of agendas 1 and 2 of Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) which emphasizes on the provision of basic education. One of the six Education For All (EFA) goals agreed by the World Education Forum (2002) concerns education q uality. The term quality in education is dynamic because of the social, political and economic context at which it is used. Milligan (2011:276) adds that quality has, thus, been placed as an integral cog in the educational development machine although how educational quality is defined is a matter of great contention. Because of differences in contexts, it is imperative that knowledge of comparative and international research be used in designing policies and pedagogy in CFSs that fit that particular context. Furthermore, with the fear that some countries may lag behind as others move forward, countries from sub-Sahara Africa are now engaging in various practices in order to achieve these educational goals, a race against the 2015 set deadline for attainment of EFA goals. As the clock ticks towards the year 2015, priority goals in education may change for post-2015 and the worry is further elevated. One of the efforts the government of Kenya is doing to improve the quality of education is by integrating CFS model into the basic education system. Two major questions arise here: First, how is CFS realistic considering myriad challenges facing the FPE policy in Kenya? Secondly, if integrating CFS model into basic education will help in improving the quality of education, what lessons can CFS policies learn from CIR? It is against this background that the purpose of this essay hinges. Literature Review In this section, I will look at the concepts of Comparative and International Research (CIR) and Child Friendly School (CFS) based on the literature and merge them with the global forces that influenced the emergence of CFS with an attempt to unveil the voices behind the introduction of CFS in Kenya. In addition, I will use an example of PRISM experience in Kenya to reinforce the understanding of the role of international bodies in promoting quality through well strategized and executed projects, arguing that lessons from PRISM experience can be used as insights to successful implementation of CFS policies. Concepts of Comparative and International Research (CIR) and Child Friendly School (CFS) CIR is a fusion of two broad areas of research: Comparative Research and International Research. To understand its full meaning, it is important we define the two areas of research separately. In his definition of comparative research, Mills et al (2006:621) argue that: Comparative research is a broad term that includes both quantitative and qualitative comparison of social entities. Social entities may be based on many lines, such as geographical or political ones in the form of cross-national or regional comparisons. A similar perception was echoed by Noah and Eckstein (1969:127), who viewed comparative education as an intersection of the social sciences, education and cross-national study [which] attempts to use cross-national data to test propositions about the relationships between education and society and between teaching practices and learning outcomes. In light of this definition, comparative research in the context of education can be defined as a study of two or more entities or events (Crossley Watson, 2003) with the underlying goal of searching for similarity and variance. Cross-national or regional comparisons may include comparing educational policies, pedagogy, educational leadership and so on. According to Mills et al (2006: 621), the search for variance places more emphasis on context and difference in order to understand specificities. International education, on the other hand, can be defined as the application of descriptions, analyses and insights learned in one or more nations to the problems of developing educational systems and institutions in other countries (Wilson 2000a: 116). Therefore, international research is concerned with research carried out across two or more countries, often with the purpose of comparing responses between them. This might be done in order to devise strategies that work well across both or all these cultures or to suggest local adjustments to a global strategy There is a close relationship between comparative and international education. Epstein (1994: 918) points out, that international educators use findings derived from comparative education to understand better the processes they examine, and thus, to enhance their ability to make policy. We can therefore draw from the above two definitions that CIR in education as a method of comparing both qualitative and quantitative entities in education across different countries, societies or cultures with the aim of identifying similarities and differences. It is however important to note that not all international research is comparative, and not all comparative research is international or cross-national. According to UNICEF (2007), a child-friendly school is both a child seeking school and a child-centred school: It is child seeking because it actively identifying excluded children to get them enrolled in school. It is a child-centred school because it acts in the best interests of the child leading to the realization of the childs full potential, is concerned about the whole child: her health, nutritional status, and well-being and concerned about what happens to children before they enter school and after they leave school. A CFS system recognizes and respects childrens right and responsibilities; it provides the enabling environment to realize childrens right not only in schools, but also in childrens home and their communities. These include children from conflict zones, street children and children with disabilities. According to UNICEF Global Education Strategy (2007) the Child-Friendly Schools model (see fig 1) is based on simple, rights-based concepts as described in Table 1. Concept of CFS Description Rights Based School CFS proactively seeks out-of-school children and encourages them to enrol, irrespective of gender, race, ability, social status, etc. Gender Sensitive School CFS promotes equality and equity in enrolment and achievement among girls and boys. Safe and Protective School CFS ensures that all children can learn in a safe and inclusive environment. Community Engaged School CFS encourages partnership among schools, communities, parents and children in all aspects of the education process. Academically Effective School CFS provides children with relevant knowledge and skills for surviving and thriving in life. Health Promoting School CFS promotes the physical and emotional health of children by meeting key nutritional and health care needs within schools. Table 1: Description of a CFS Fig 1: Model of the Child-Friendly School Source: UNICEF, Global Education Strategy (2007:1) The CFS model provides a framework for planning (and monitoring the effectiveness of) strategies for increasing access to quality basic education with the specific focus on the development of strategies to include those children hitherto excluded from education (UNICEF, Global Education Strategy, 2007). It is important to note that CFS model is not a one-size-fits-all model. The model may differ from country to country depending on the context. International and Local Pressures and their influences to formation of CFS in Kenya Education in sub-Sahara Africa, and indeed in Kenya, is crafted from both influences by global trends in education and the legacies of colonialism. Chisholm and Leyenderker (2008) observe that: Since 1990, the goals and purpose of education in sub-Sahara Africa has been reshaped by four interconnected developments: globalisation, the changed focus of international aid agencies towards development assistance, the adaptation of sub-Sahara African countries to the new world order with its new political emphases, and the spilling over of new pedagogical ideas from the USA and Europe into sub-Sahara Africa. (p 198) Kenya is a signatory to a number of conventions in education, including the Convention to the Rights of the Child (1989), the World Declaration on Education for All (Jomtien, 1990), the Dakar accord and the Millenium Development Goals (2000). In achievement of education development goals, Kenya is bound to, among other things, quality education by MDGs. The Jomtien call for access for access, equity, quality and democracy in education appeared to promise both social and economic development (Chisholm and Leyenderker, 2008). Social and economic development, and continues to be believed, requires educational change and educational change is necessary for social and economic development (ibid:). Educational change, in turn, is perceived to depend on, amongst other things, the input from relevant development assistance projects. These projects, in the arena of education, are typically formulated with reference to internationally negotiated development agendas (like the MDGs) and priority (Crossley Watson, 2003). An example of these projects in Kenya is CFSs which are supported by United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF). The Education Section of UNICEFs Programme Division introduced the Child Friendly Schools (CFS) framework for schools that serve the whole child in 1999 (Chabbott, 2004). Rationale for introducing CFS framework in Kenya The increased reliance of foreign aid to support education reform in Kenya has been accompanied by a transition, from understanding education as a human right and the general good to viewing it primarily in terms of its contribution to national growth and well-being through the development of the knowledge and skills societies are deemed to need (Arnove Torres 2007:359). Occasional voices continue insisting that education is liberating, that learning is inherently developmental (ibid: 359). With the global concern that Sub-sahara Africa countries may not achieve Universal Primary Education (UPE) by 2015 unless the progress is accelerated (Carceles et al., 2001; Bennel, 2002), Kenya responded by introducing Free Primary Education (FPE) policy in 2003 with both local and global pressure. The rationale behind introducing FPE was (apart from the pressure from global and international agendas) to alleviate poverty attributed to lack of literacy skills. The success story behind implementation of FPE policy is increased enrolment at primary school level by approximately 50% from 5.9 million in 2003 to 9.38 million pupils according to the Kenya Economic Survey 2011. However, there are myriad challenges facing the implementation of FPE policy which include high teacher-pupil ratio, inadequate infrastructure, overcrowded classroom, inadequate textbooks and many schools lacking sanitation facilities. All of these challenges militate against the provision of quality teaching. There is no magic wand for fixing this problem of quality in education. In response to this CFS were introduced in Kenya. According to UNICEF Child-friendly Schools Manual (2006:1): The challenge in education is not simply to get children into school, but also to improve the overall quality of schooling and address threats to participation. If both quality and access are tackled, children who are enrolled in primary school are likely to continue, complete the full cycle, and achieve expected learning outcomes and successfully transition to secondary school. The CFS framework (see appendix 3) aims at promoting child-seeking, child-centred, gender-sensitive, inclusive, community-involved, protective and healthy approaches to schooling and out-of-school education with a general goal of improving the quality of learning. Since CFSs are concerned with the quality of learning, it is important we look at the meaning of quality. The national examinations to obtain the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) at the end of primary cycle and the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) at the end of secondary cycle are designed to evaluate the extent to which the primary and secondary graduates master the curriculum content. In other words, the national test scores are used as the indicators of quality. The limitation of this indicator is that it does not take into account the context at which learning takes place i.e. the learning environment, learners unique characteristics etc. There are many definitions of quality but one of the descriptions of quality which emphasizes on the context was by Tikly (2011:10) who argued that: A good quality education is one that enables all learners to realise the capabilities they require to become economically productive, develop sustainable livelihoods, contribute to peaceful and democratic societies and enhance wellbeing. The learning outcomes that are required vary according to context but at the end of the basic education cycle must include threshold levels of literacy and numeracy and life skills including awareness and prevention of disease. In his description, Tikly believes that a good quality education arises from interactions between three overlapping environments, namely the policy, the school and the home/community environments. In his perception of quality education, Tikly puts context into consideration i.e. needs of the learner, cultural and political contexts. In addition, he emphasizes on the relevance of what is taught and learned and how it fits the nature of particular learners in question. This encourages policy makers to take cognisance of changing national development needs, the kinds of schools that different learners attend and the forms of educational disadvantage faced by different groups of learners when considering policy options'(ibid:11). The fact that CFS emphasizes on learner-centered pedagogy and puts the child at the centre or focal point in the learning process raises the idea of what is regarded as valuable knowledge and how this knowledge is acquired in this particular context. This leads us to the inquiry on the school of thought or paradigm behind introducing a contextualized CFS framework. CFS as an approach to education is premised on constructivism, a theory of knowledge arguing that humans generate knowledge and meaning from interaction between ideas and real experiences. According to constructivists, the notions of reality and truth are socially constructed and in different context with the understanding that knowledge is subjective and embedded in multiple realities. Thus, quality of learning should be viewed in the context in which it is occurs. Towards Quality Basic Education In Kenya: Developing Research Capacity and Evaluation Before we acknowledge the contribution of CFS in providing quality education to the children at Primary school level, it will be prudent to review some of other contributions that has been made by international organizations in collaborations with the local government in promoting quality of education at grassroot levels in building research capacity. Kenya has had a history of benefiting from international assistance in its education sector. One of the programmes is the Primary Schools Management (PRISM), an initiative of DfID through the Ministry of Education, which places a lot of emphasis on participatory approaches and emphasis on mobilising community support, resource management and utilisation, supporting learning of pupils and developing action plans. It targeted teacher training and management and the impact of this is overall effectiveness of an education system which has a direct bearing on quality of education. According to Otieno Colclough (2009:26), PRISM is regarded as one of donor-funded programmes which had most positive impact on quality of basic education and CFS can learn from it. As Crossley et al (2005) note, the main objective of PRISM was to improve the quality of primary education through the training and support of head teachers in practical management skills. Borrowing from the PRISM experience it is wo rthy learning that well planned and organized CFSs policies involving community participation at grass root level could help amplify local voices and lead to successful implementation of educational policies not only in Kenya but also other parts of African contexts. Challenges in implementing CFS in Kenya In this section I will explore common challenges associated with the CFSs with an aim of illuminating and critiquing the gap between policy and practice in CFSs. Access and Quality Dilemma: Which one should be first priority? As I mentioned earlier, one of the role of CFS in Kenya is to improve the quality of learning. But the access to education is still a challenge in Kenya and there is fear that Kenya will not have achieved EFA goals 1 and 2 by the year 2015. Many comparative researchers argue that different countries have different educational problems and it is the countrys obligation to identify what should be the priority and why. Aksoy (2008: 218) observes that: While developed countries are mainly engaged in activities to increase the quality of education, or they practice and seek new techniques and methods of learning and teaching, developing countries struggle to provide equal opportunities for education, trying to increase the rate of participation of all citizens in basic education, which is actually compulsory. To deal with its educational problems, each country works out countrywide or local solutions, depending on the nature of the problem. The tone of such statement is more closely allied to the question of priority. Priority in one country may not be a priority in another. In Kenya, the major problem basic education is facing is of access while higher education is facing the problem of quality. CFS focus more on quality, but in the Kenyan context, access to education is still a problem in basic education even after the introduction of FPE. The CFS concept of quality can however suit very well in some small state commonwealth countries which have almost universal access to basic education. It has been noted that small sates have now shifted education priorities towards focus in school effectiveness, quality and inclusion (Crossley, 2002) after ensuring that all children have accessed basic education and CFSs in Kenya should learn from small states that the priority should now be on access to basic education before shifting to quality. Atomizing the child: is child-centred the solution to quality CFS? A key feature of a right-based, CFS system is that it is linked tightly to the child-centred learning process. CFS advocates for child-centred learning where a child is treated as a single entity or an atom in learning processes. The idea of atomizing a child has its drawbacks derived from child-centred learning. First, there is an oversight on early year development behaviour of the child. Psychologists believe children undergo various levels of development and their learning behaviours are different at each level. For instant, Vygotskys (1978) concept of the zone of proximal development (ZPD) implies that a child cannot ordinary create ZPD by himself; he needs the more expert individual to bridge the gap between his current development level and his proximal level of development. Secondly, a child-friendly, democratic learning environment may not work successful in overcrowded classrooms and school with limited resources like it is the case in Kenya. Thirdly, child-centred learning weakens the role of the teacher. The idea that a child must be active in construction of knowledge is often understood to imply a diminishing role for the teacher in learning process who now becomes a coach or a facilitator. A call for paradigm renovation, from an exclusively child-centred learning to a combination of both child-centred learning and teacher-centred learning approach is important so that the weakness of one method is complemented by the other method. What Lessons can Kenya learn from other Countries in Implementing CFS? A Review on the Contribution of Comparative Research King (2007) emphasizes the need to explore the tension between the national and the international policy agendas in Kenya in order to make informed decisions when crafting educational policies. Clearly, this is a view that acknowledges the contribution of CIR researchers in bridging theories, policies and practices with both local and global minds (Crossley, 2000) in trying to identify betters grounds to critically reflect and determine appropriate course of action. Apparently, the term that is commonly used in Kenya and indeed many Africa countries in the initial processes of designing an educational policy is benchmarking. Essentially, this is usually a comparative study which is carried out locally and/or internationally in trying to compare different models of policy framework with the aim of critical adaption or adoption. Lessons are well learnt when a comparisons are made, and this underscores the strength and significance of comparative research. Moreover, since problems transcend national borders, it is prudent to seek possible solutions by learning from a similar experience in another country, and this explains why international research is important. Kenya can learn from other countries that are either progressing or failing to implement CFS policies because lessons can either identify opportunities or gaps, based on comparative analysis. In these respect therefore, I have identified two key elements of CIR which could help implementat ion of CFS. The first element is on identification of the gap between policy and practice. Documenting the emerging good practices and lessons learned within the regions is useful in informing evidence based programming and advocacy to enable us to achieve better results. For example, a Global Evaluation Report published by UNICEF in 2009 on comparative studies of how to six countries (Guyana, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Philippines, South Africa, Thailand) with different experiences implementing CFS, demonstrated the following: CFSs in varying contexts successfully apply the three key principles of CFS models-inclusiveness, child-centredness and democratic participation. Schools operating in very different national contexts, with different levels of resources and serving populations with different needs have succeeded in being child-centred, promoting democratic participation, and being inclusive. Schools that had high levels of family and community participation and use of child-centred pedagogical approaches had stronger conditions for learning, that is, students felt safer, supported and engaged, and believed that the adults in the school supported the inclusion and success of each student. (UNESCO, 2009) Kenya can use this success report to assist in providing a broader perspective on the ways in which CFSs can contribute to quality in the countrys unique context. The caution should however be that any steps taken should have hindsight of the current context in the country to avoid uncritical transfer of practice which may end up opening a Pandoras box. Secondly, through CIR, studies of educational systems from countries that share similar problems or pitfalls can provide information for learning possible consequences. A recent comparative evaluation research conducted by UNESCO in Nigeria, Gunaya, Thailand and the Philippines on CFS pedagogy gave different findings. While teachers in Nigeria and Guyana mainly focused on meeting basic instructional material needs (textbooks, paper), many teachers in Thailand and the Philippines focused on having greater access to information and communication technology (UNESCO 2009). Kenya experiences the same challenge as Nigeria and Gunaya, and data from these countries can be used to learn how they coping with inadequate basic instructional material. The caution here should be, that common problems may prevail in different countries, but common model cannot be applied because every country has different culture/context (Crossley Watson, 2003: 39). This provides invaluable information of what to adopt, modify or avoid. Conclusion It is worthy reiterating Crossley'(2003) emphasis that context matters and different countries have different needs and priorities even if they are faced with the same challenges. The value of CIR is studying foreign systems of education in order to become better fitted to study and understand our own (Sadler 1900, reprinted 1964:310) and CIR can be used as a lense to focus on adaptable or adoptable practices. UNICEF repeatedly emphasises that CFS is a pathway to educational quality rather than a blueprint and that it is counterproductive to regard the CFS model as rigid, with a present number of defining characteristics or key components (2009c, Ch. 1, p. 9). Thus, the essay sought to present an overview in favour of the contribution of CIR by highlighting what CFS policies in the Kenyan context could learn from CIR. As such, the essay acknowledges the role of CIR in stimulating critical thinking and reflections about CFSs system by evaluating its success and failures, strengths and weaknesses. This critical reflection facilitates self evaluation in our own context and the basis for determining appropriate courses of action. The essay also hints that CIR helps us understand global agendas and how they shape educational development projects from organizations and development agencies.

RFID Tagging Essay -- essays research papers

Radio Frequency Identification Detection (RFID) is a technology that involves a silicon chip and an antenna, which together is called a TAG. The tags emit radio signal to devices that are called readers. One of the things that is important to know about the Electronic Product Code (EPC) is that some people use RFID and EPC interchangeably, but they are different. Would RFID work to track Products? Well, Bar Codes require a line of sight, so a person(s) with a bar code reader has to get right up on the bar code and scan it. When you are thinking about a supply chain, somebody in the warehouse would have to look at every single case. With RFID, all of the cases on the pallet would be picked up by a single swipe of a reader, even the ones stacked up in the middle that can’t be seen. So it’s much faster and more efficient and accurate. In the retail sales market you may wonder why that type or kind of speed is important. In a recent interview about RFID usage in commercial sales, it was summoned up as follows â€Å"†¦We want our product to be on the shelf for consumers when they want it. A recent study of retailers showed that the top 2,000 items in stores had a 12 percent out-of-stock rate on Saturday afternoons, the busiest shopping day. I think the industry average for inventory levels is 65 days, which means products sitting around, taking up space for that time, and that costs about $3 billion annually. Often a retail clerk can’t quickly find products in the crowded back room of a store to make sure that the shelves are filled for the consumer, or doesn’t know that a shelf is sitting empty because they haven’t walked by lately. With RFID, the shelf can signal to the back room that it is empty, and the clerk can quickly find the product†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Sandra Hughes, Technology Review (Cambridge Mass), July-August 2004 v107 i6 p74 (2)) Now let us step to the other side of the Merchant counter as a consumer and realize how RFID can benefit the average person. Have you ever felt impatient when standing behind someone in line at the grocery store who insisted on paying by check? Well, get ready to get agitated at the slowpoke of the future—the techno challenged person using a credit card. Contactless cards, already used in Asia for several transit and payment systems, have been introduced to the United States via pilot programs sponsored by American Express and MasterCard. Thes... ...rence last week said DOD is preparing a deployment plan that would launch DOD’s version of the new network by fiscal 2008. The plan is augmented by a roughly $28 billion annual IT budget at the agency. But officials acknowledged that they still must convince commanders in the field that the cost of an Ipv6 upgrade-rather than merely expanding current networks would yield a sufficient return in terms of firepower. DOD officials said they are pushing for standard definitions and products that will allow them to build an Ipv6 architecture that pulls together existing networks while handling an expected flood of new data from satellites, Global Hawk unmanned spy planes and other sensors (Military—Guns, butter or digits? Electronic Engineering Times, Dec 13, 2004 P8) References Sandra Hughes (2004). Technology Review (Cambridge Mass), July-August 2004 v107, i6 p74 (2) Professor Warwick Chips In (1999, January). ComputerWorld Matthew French (2003). Federal computer Week: for DOD Logistics, tags are it! Radio frequency identification tags policy seeks to improve supplies, Nov 3, 2003 V17 i38 p54 (2)) Military—Guns, butter or digits? (2004, December), Electronic Engineering Times, P8

Changing Oil in Your Car Essay -- Process Descriptive How To Changing

Changing Oil in Your Car When the average person's car needs an oil change we drive to a Quick Lube and have it done in 20 minutes. Another alternative would be to change the oil your self, this is a fairly simple process, most people with some common sense and some basic hand tools can do it at home on a weekend. The first step is finding out how much oil your car holds and what kind of oil filter fits on your cars engine. Your car's owner's manual will have a capacity section in the back, down the list till you come to the engine oil capacity, and the chart will list the number of quarts that your car needs. Also on most new cars when you can look on the oil cap it should state the oil weight which is recommended by the cars manufacturer. Then you need to go to the local parts house (I prefer Advance or Orileys) get the brand of oil that you prefer in the recommended weight, and quantity. When you pay, you can get the part number for the oil filter, all you have to know is the make of the car and the motor size and they should be able to find the information and then tell you which filter belongs on the car. Remember to get an oil filter wrench to remove the filter of with if don't already have one. Next, go home and find a level spot on which to park your vehicle. Before you jack up the front of the vehicle, you need to set the emergency brake and chock the rear wheels; this is just a safety measure to keep the car form rolling back. Once you have completed this, you need to refer to the owner's manual again for the recommended lift points for the car. You are not able to just put a jack underneath a car and lift it up because you will risk damaging the under body. There are certain places to put the jack to properly ... ...place it in the fill hole (it is located on one of the valve cover of the motor and it has a cap) and add the recommended amount of oil. After you have added oil, replace the cap. Now you are ready to start the motor. When you first start it, there will be no oil pressure so don't be alarmed but watch the gauge, and in about ten to thirty seconds the oil pressure should be up in the normal range. With the engine running, look underneath the vehicle and check the plug and filter to make sure there are no leaks. If there are no leaks, shut the vehicle off and check the oil level on the dip stick and make sure it is between the low and full mark. If the oil is a little low, add a little more at a time, and keep rechecking it until the oil level is full. When you have completed this you are done. This is a fairly simple process and can save you a lot of money over time.

Hinduism and Mahabharata

Reflections From The Mahabharata Jeremy Bartel The Mahabharata is one long detailed epic, it is one of the oldest books the world has. However The Mahabharata is more than just collection of verses and poems, it illustrates beliefs and religious views of this ancient society. Some of the major themes are,ethics of right and wrong,and wrestling with ones place and how to act accordingly in their caste system,and of course at the end trying to figure what our purpose is in life not just individually but universally.All of these examples suggests and leads one to believe without a doubt that the epic was written with intent of reflecting on the social, and religious beliefs at that time. So how does the Mahabharata reflect on the religious and social values of this ancient society that created it? The Mahabharata has one overarching theme that sums up the whole epic, that being the theme of fulfilling your sacred duty. This is known throughout the hindu culture as dharma, and according to their law everyone is assigned to a role within the caste system.The Mahabharata is all about achieving your sacred duty, or suffering the consequences of failing to accomplish your task. One specific example of this is when Arjuna is struggling with attacking and killing who he considers close friends and family during the war. However Krishna is there remind him that it is his dharma to carry out his role as a warrior. Most of the main characters belong to this warrior caste and all must carry out their duties of honor and bravery in accordance to that caste.This theme of dharma goes way beyond just the book but it is a main focal point in hindu religion and thinking. Which most likely why it was such a huge factor in the book, because to the people who created this book that was highest goal to achieve. During this great speech given to Arjuna by Krishna he discusses what it means to seek renunciation, and relinquishment. Krishna tells Arjuna that renunciation is â€Å"giving up those works which are prompted by desire. † Krishna also explains what is meant by relinquishment, which means â€Å"the abandonment of fruits of all works. The message he is teaching Arjuna goes back to his role or duties within his caste. Arjuna must not think that he is destroying anyone or killing them but simply sending them to heaven, because every soul is immortal and simply takes a new form. So because of this Arjuna must rise up and fulfill his Ksatriya or warrior role and destroy his enemies because that his is caste in life. These ideals are very similar to that of the hindu religion in regards of reincarnation, where a soul is immortal and does not perish but comes back to take a different form in a new caste.Evidence like this only suggests that religion was a major factor in writing this epic, and was the main themes of the hindu religion are seen as main themes throughout this composition of literature. The other major evidence that points towards this text reflecting the religious and social values of the society that created it was the question of purpose in life after the war. Once the war was over Yudhishthira, decides that he does not want to rule over this land because of all the violence and losses of men.He is saddened at the thought of so many dead he says â€Å"I caused the destruction of my kinsman and the cause of extermination of my own race. † The message of duty completing ones sacred duty is heard again, this time it is Bhima who is reassuring the king that his deeds were necessary. This idea dharma is illustrated yet again which shows just how important it is to the people who created this story. They would not have continually brought up the cultural belief of dharma if it was not an integral part of their society and religious beliefs.To seek a purification for all his sins Yudhishthira performs a sacrifice of a horse, which would purge him of all his wrongdoings. Once this ceremony was over did he go back in to the city to rule. This part of the Mahabharata is a lot like the vedas we discussed in class which was a normal practice of the people who were living in this time period. Vedas were ritual sacrifices used for reasons much like that of Yudhishthira to purify oneself and it yet again more proof that the Mahabharata reflects greatly on social and religious values of that society.Many years go by and after the death of other characters Yudhishthira embarks on an asceticism journey which after 36 years leads him to the gates of heaven. The group he began with as all perished along the way, all except his dog who makes it to the top of the mountain with him. Once at the gate he must past a series of tests, the first being he can only enter heaven if he leaves the dog. He refuses however because the dog was so faithful throughout his journey, he passes that test because the dog was the god Dharma in disguise. The next one he learns his family is in hell and he chooses to join his loved ones in hell, e passes that last test and his allowed into heaven with his loved ones. This idea of passing tests also is evidence for the case that the Mahabharata used the religious and social values of the ancient society, because in that cultural ones actions whether good or bad determined if one was to make it to heaven. Heave was also not a permanent place because of the never ending cycle of life. All of these themes and examples are solid evidence in supporting the claim that the Mahabharata was in fact very reflective of religious and social culture and values of the ancient people that wrote the epic.Time and time again there is evidence sprinkled throughout the entire book that shows the inspiration of the idea for this book, came directly from the ideas and beliefs that were held with the most regard back in those days. Which were fulfilling your dharma, and if you live within your caste system then by that nature you have done good deeds and are worthy of heaven reward . ——————————————– [ 1 ]. Narasimhan, Mahabharata,1997),124 [ 2 ]. Narasimhan, Mahabharata,1997), 124 [ 4 ]. Narasimhan, Mahabharata,1997),194 [ 3 ]. Narasimhan, Mahabharata, 1997, 190 [ 5 ]. Narasimhan, Mahabharata,1997),212