Food Web

ecosystem. In a forest, if deer become rare or get wiped out by a disease of any natural calamity, the predator. such as lion. can feed on other animals such as fox, *olf, crane etc. till the usual prey animals are available again (see Fig. 14. 3). In brief, we can say that many interlocking food chains make it possible for the living beings to survive minor or major ‘setbacks and changes in their surroundings. Thus, inteiloctiig food chains provide st;bility td the ecosystem.Fig' 14'3: A food web showing the main food links. Note that the starting point for each chain is a plant, and several food chains are interconnected to form a food web. 14. 3. 4 Energy Flow in the Ecosystem The principal source ofenergy for any ecosystem is sunlight. In the earlier sub-section (14. 3. 1) you have studied that solar energy is converted by plants into food materials, and is stored within the body of the plant. All food materials that we or other animals consume are anufactured directly or i ndirectly by plants. Think of your breakfast, bread is made of a cereal that is produced from plant material. egg from hen which has fed on plant products; and milk from cow which has consumed grass or fodder derived from ptants. In a nutsheli, the energy that we obtain from plants either by burning wood or by eating them, represents the solar energy trapped by the plants. We are dependent on the stored resources of solar energy.When we eat meat, we obtain energy that had been stored by plants several years before and then taken up by an animal like a goat through grazing. ffi†n *† cut firewood for fuel, we obtain energy accurnulated and stored by trees for perhaps a century or more. when we burn coal or petroleum, we obtain solar energy rto. â€Å"d by piant life, millions of years ago. Now let us trace the energy flow through an ecosystem. This is represented diagramatically inFig. l4. 4. Fig. 14. 4: Energy flow in an ecosystem.

Bullying: America’s Worst School Issue Essay

Did you know that a massive amount of students in America are being bullied? What is bullying? According to Webster’s New World Pocket Dictionary, bullying â€Å"is the act of threatening weaker people.† There are many different types of bullying that we will be discussing too. This subject has a huge impact on students that are against bullying. Bullying is the most important issue in schools, because it can cause insecurity, suicidal thoughts and public embarrassment. Bullying can cause insecurity. To be insecure means not to be confident or think less of his or her self. This can cause an individual not to trust anyone, and feel as if they do not have any friends. The child has no choice, but to put up with it because they do not confide in anyone. Insecurity can affect his or her performance in school. According to huffingtonpost.com â€Å"The study shows that students who reported being bullied in the 10th grade saw a slight decrease in GPA by 12th grade — but the change is sharper for black and Latino students who tend to earn high grades. While the overall decrease in GPA for bullied students over the studied period was 0.049 points (on a GPA scale with 0 being the lowest and 4 being the highest), black students saw a 0.3-point decrease in 12th grade GPA from a 3.5 GPA in 9th grade — before they were bullied.† Without a doubt, insecurity can lead to depression; which is like the torrent of tears. Bullying can cause suicidal thoughts. What are suicidal thoughts? They are thoughts about killing oneself. The person being bullied thinks it is the only way out; by murdering themselves. For example; according to japantoday.com, on December 10, 2012 in Japan, a 13-year-old girl was hit by a train in Zama, Kanagawa Prefecture. She committed suicide as a result of bullying. Insecurity can also lead to the act of suicide. Again another suicidal thought can be caused by the child not being heard by anyone to speak to about the bullying. As a result many students do this because of stress, pressure, and a result of helplessness. They are crying out for help and don’t know how else to get it. Bullying can cause a great amount of public embarrassment. Being embarrassed publicly is the worst way to ever be embarrassed. People you know or do not know will see, and laugh at you. Bullying includes public embarrassment, because the bully may bring a crowd or have a entourage with them. Since technology has rapidly advanced, the bullying may be videotaped and put on YouTube or Facebook. Many instances of Cyber Bullying come from these websites. According to huffingtonpost.com â€Å"15-year-old Amanda Todd committed suicide October 25, 2012, many blamed cyber bullying as the cause.† Todd had posted a video to YouTube documenting instances of cyber bullying that included texts and Facebook posts; Todd also indicated she was bullied physically. Public embarrassment by a bully may leave you with injuries that will heal, but the memories last forever. Therefore, we need to stop this! Bullying is wrong and it affects a child’s future enormously. Although there are other problems students face in schools, like stealing or plagiarism, bullying can have the most severe and long-lasting effects for adolescents during the critical years. We as students should not let anyone else feel inferior. The bullies should be sent to psychologists to discuss why they chose to display their anger in such a format. According to bullyingstatistics.org 1 in 4 students are being bullied in the United States on a regular basis. We need to end this America! If you see someone being bullied, report to higher authority. As reported by bullyingstatistics.org 35% of teens have been bullied online; let’s end it! As stated on bullyingstatistics.com 77% are verbally abused; let’s that! Bullying is very serious, and we need stop it to create a better future for the children.

Bessrawl Corporation Essay

1). Inventory: – Under U. S. GAAP, Bessrawl Corporation is allowed to report inventory on its balance sheet at lower of cost or market. Market in this case is defined as replacement cost ($180,000) with net realizable value ($190,000) as ceiling and net realizable value minus a normal profit ($190,000 – $38,000 = $152,000) as a floor. Cost of inventory is $250,000. Since market is lower than cost, inventory is written down to replacement cost of $180,000 and reported on the company’s balance sheet at December 31, 2011. This also led to a loss of $70,000 reported on the company’s income statement for December 31, 2011. However, under IFRS, Bessrawl Corporation had the option to report inventory on its December 31, 2011 balance sheet at lower of cost of $250,000 and net realizable value of $190,000. Since the net realizable value is lower than the cost, the company would have reported $190,000 on its balance sheet for December 31, 2011 and a loss of $60,000 on its income statement for the same period. Thus, under IFRS, Bessrawl Corporation income would be $10,000 larger than reporting under U. S. GAAP, stockholder equity will also be $10,000 larger under IFRS than under U. S. GAAP. 2). Building: – Under U. S. GAAP, Bessrawl Corporation reported depreciation expense of $100,000 each on 2010 and 2011 financial statements. Depreciation expense = ($2,750,000 – $250,000)/25 yrs = $100,000/yr. Under IFRS revaluation model, the depreciation expense on the building was $100,000 in 2010 and the carrying value was $2,650,000 beginning 2011. The building was then revalued to $3,250,000, at the beginning of 2011 resulting in revaluation surplus of $600,000. The depreciation expense for 2011 would be ($3,250,000 – $250,000)/24 yrs = $125,000. So, under IFRS, Bessrawl Corporation would incur additional depreciation expense of $25,000 in 2011, leading to smaller income than under U. S. GAAP. Stockholders’ equity in 2011 will be $575,000 larger under IFRS than under U. S. GAAP. This is equal to the revaluation surplus of $600,000 less the additional depreciation expense of $25,000 in 2011 under IFRS, which will reduce retained earnings. 3). Intangible Assets: – Under U. S. GAAP, an asset is impaired when its carrying amount exceeds the future cash flows (undiscounted) expected to arise from its continued use and disposal of the asset. The brand acquired in 2011 has a carrying amount of $40,000 and future expected cash flows are $42,000, so it is not impaired under U. S. GAAP. Under IFRS, an asset is impaired when its carrying amount exceeds its recoverable amount, which is the greater of net selling price and value in use. The brand’s recoverable amount is $35,000; the greater of net selling price of $35,000 and value in use (present value of future cash flows) of $34,000. As a result, an impairment loss of $5,000 would be recognized under IFRS. IFRS income and retained earnings would be $5,000 less than U. S. GAAP income and retained earnings. 4). Research and Development Costs: – Under U. S. GAAP, research and development costs in the amount of $200,000 would be expense and recognized in determining 2011 income. Under IFRS, $120,000 (60% of $200,000) of research and development costs would be expensed in 2011, and $80,000 (40% of $200,000) of research and development costs would be capitalized as an intangible asset (deferred research and development costs). So the IFRS-based income at December 31, 2011would be $80,000 larger than under U. S. GAAP income. And since the new product has not been brought to market, there is no amortization of the deferred research and development costs under IFRS in 2011. 5). Sale-and-Leaseback: – Under U. S. GAAP, the gain on the sale-and-leaseback (operating lease) is deferred and amortized in income over the life of the lease. With a lease term of five years, $30,000 of the $150,000 gain would be recognized at December 31, 2011 and $30,000 each would be recognized in 2009 and 2010, resulting in a cumulative amount of $90,000 retained earnings at December 31, 2011. Meanwhile, under IFRS, the entire gain on the sale-and-leaseback of $150,000 accounted as an operating lease was recognized immediately in income in 2009. This will result in an increase in retained earnings of $150,000 in that year. No gain would be recognized in 2011. As a result, IFRS income at December 31, 2011 would be $30,000 smaller than under U. S. GAAP income, but stockholders’ equity at December 31, 2011 under IFRS would be $60,000 larger than under U. S. GAAP.

Minimum Variance Portfolio Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Minimum Variance Portfolio - Assignment Example It shows the rates of stock for a year running. This MVP analysis was be preceded by the calculation of correlation matrix of the stocks as well as their standard deviation variance. Both this values are indicated in the Microsoft Excel attachment. During the calculation of the correlation matrix and the standard deviation variance, maple concepts were used. This section of the paper is going to test and prove the validity of the procedures and statements used in order to ascertain that no syntax errors were committed during the process. This can be proven as follows: Use of the colon and comma: in maple, statements must end with a colon and arguments separated with a comma (Monagan, Geddes et al., 14).For instance, during the development of correlation, for example, inStandard Life stock, we use the formula =CORREL(N3: JF3, N3: JF3). The comma shows the distinction between the two arguments while the colon relates one variable to the other. Use and match of parentheses: a maple can only be executed if the arguments are enclosed in parentheses. The opening parenthesis must be similar to the closing one(Monagan, Geddes et al., 19). In the attached case, all the males have the parentheses () matching in all stocks. The syntax provided is an M X M square matrix of stocks, as shown in the attachment. The correlation coefficient between i and j (for example between Standard Life and Resolution) is given by the (in) element. All diagonal elements are 1.0000 since this is a correlation of variables with themselves(Monagan, Geddes et al., 59). Divide the value of each stock with its proceeding one and subtract one from the result; which in our instance we are going to take Standard Life as an example. The standard deviation presented on 1/1/2013 is determined as the value of the stock on 1/1/2013 divide by the value of 31/12/2012 and subtract one from the result. Mathematically, this is: (332.1/334.6) – 1 to get -0.0075. We do the same for the standard deviation of all stocks for each day, and this has been done on the red coloured parts of the Excel attachment that extends from cell N3 to cell JG3.  Ã‚  

CARE international Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

CARE international - Research Paper Example The agency also advocated at the local, state and global level for changes in policy as well as the freedoms of the people affected by poverty2. In all of these areas, CARE mainly deals with the empowerment and fulfilment of the prerequisites of women and girls as well as the promotion of gender equality. CARE International is a confederacy of thirteen National members as well as one affiliate member all of which are registered independently as non-profit NGO’s in the respective countries. CARE programs in developing countries are overseen by a country office even though the agency also supports projects and responds to emergencies in a number of countries where there is no full country office. According to its vision, CARE seeks a world that is filled with hope, tolerance as well as social justice that has been able to overcome poverty so that the people can live in a dignified and secure way. It seeks to be the partner of choice as far as the fight to end poverty in the worl d is concerned and wants to be recognised for its unshakeable pledge to the self-worth of the population. On the other hand, CARE has a mission of serving individuals and families in the communities that are hardest hit by poverty all over the globe. It draws strength from its worldwide diversity, resources as well as experience so that it can be able to promote solutions that that are innovative while advocating for responsibility at the global level.

Aspects of United States society in the late 20th century and aspects Essay

Aspects of United States society in the late 20th century and aspects of life in the contemporary U.S - Essay Example Fast food is just like cigarettes because they both are horrible for ones self and still millions upon millions of people fall into the manufacturers trap of good advertising. America, as opposed to most of Europe, is always rushed. The average working week is forty hours, with maybe forty-five minutes as a lunch break. This is not enough time for a lavish lunch, leaving fast food as the menu of the day. (Schlosser, 2004) Americans, who live to work, will often bring home fast food as an alternative to the time consuming process of preparing dinner. Fast food is targeted to cater to the speed of an on-the-go American. The popular quote "In, out, and on your way" describes exactly how convenient fast food truly is. Now one doesnt need to go the lengths of in and out, just wait in the drive thru and go. If a person was hungry at 1:00 AM in 1940, he was out of luck. In todays world, one has their choice from a variety of fast food restaurants on every corner; they even have drive through windows so a person doesnt have to get out in their pajamas. For example, Wendys, doesnt close shop until 2:00 AM. In spirit with competitive American capitalism, McDonalds doesnt close now until 2:30. (Maze, 2004) Most cities and towns have rows of fast food restaurants so a person can jump from roof to roof, just in case they felt like Mexican food from Taco Bell rather than a McDonalds hamburger. In recent decades, the family structure of many Americans has changed. In most families, both parents need to work to support their families and to own a house, limiting the amount of time to spend with their children - let alone cooking meals. Fast food restaurants solve this equation easily by giving parents the option of killing two birds with one stone. They can take their kid(s) to a place like McDonalds that allows a parent to feed their children with

Capital Investment Appraisal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Capital Investment Appraisal - Essay Example In applied capital budgeting, however, the fundamental concept of managerial flexibility, or active project management, has been well accepted and long practiced. In the past, one way decision-makers have attempted to supplement a traditional analysis is with "what if" analyses, such as sensitivity analyses, scenario analyses, and simulation. However, richer and more efficient capital budgeting decision-making frameworks are needed; and they should directly translate into increased corporate effectiveness, profitability, and long-term survival in today's globally competitive marketplace. (Black 637-354) The primary enhanced decision-making framework is a "real option" analysis. During the last fifteen years, increasing attention has been given to the "real option" approach to capital investment decision-making. "Real options ... allow managers to add value to their firm, by acting to amplify good fortune or to mitigate loss". When real options are present, the traditional DCF methodology may fail to provide an adequate decision-making framework because it does not properly value management's ability to wait, to revise the initial operating strategy if future events turn out to be different from originally predicted, or to account for future (dis)investment. (Trigeorgis 202-224; Fabozzi 7-9; Grinblatt 9-15) Thus, calculating the value of the decision rights of managers to actively manage investment opportunities is not simply a matter of discounting. In addition, since management is not committed to revising the firm's investment strategy or undertaking these future discretionary op portunities, the right to do so is truly an option. That is, managers undertake these opportunities only if and when they chose to do so. In practice, capital investments are determined by managerial discretion where the available options to invest in real assets is evaluated on an on-going basis and either exercised, deferred, or allowed to expire. An option-based approach is, therefore, an excellent representation of the managerial decision-making process. To be simple the internal capabilities of a firm must be matched to its external opportunities in order for managers to maximize shareholders' wealth. The real options are characterized by the flexibility they offer in timing of decisions involving the capabilities and opportunities of the firm (Walters and Giles 1-7; Ross 96-102; Chung 1215-1221; Copeland 15-22). The true NPV of a project can be viewed as the sum of the traditional NPV and the values of inherent real options: True NPV = Traditional NPV + NPV of Real Options. To clarify the value of options from active management, suppose that a firm considers producing a new product, which requires an initial outlay of $1 million. The capacity of the production facility over one period would be 40,000 units. The variable cost of producing one unit of this product is $390. The price of the product in one period from now would be either $300 or $500 with an estimated probability of 50 percent for each state of the nature. The appropriate discount rate for the project is 15 percent. The expected cash flow from the project after one period woul

Marketing Of Services- Music Retailers Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Marketing Of Services- Music Retailers - Essay Example The existence of certain sites that stream music for free has impacted greatly on the music industry in the UK. Deezer’s Europe vice-president Gerrit Schumann said: â€Å"A lot of people are not willing to pay for music, but they’re engaged with it, and that’s the first point. We see a lot of people coming to us who don’t buy CDs anymore,†. It is very easy to get a free trial of music and this has impacted on the music retail sector. The other element that is impacting the music industry in the UK is piracy. Through the use of computer-aided communication technology, the pirates can copy original music and make counterfeit copies that often find their way on the market through the back door. This practice has significantly impacted on copyright infringement of the musicians and it has become a challenging task for the artists, marketers, and distributors of music to operate viably in the face of such malpractices taking place in daylight. The other issue is that it is pretty difficult to curtail piracy and a lot of money in this industry are lost through such unorthodox channels. It can be seen that the music retailers are faced with different challenges in their operations through the industry still remains a source of revenue in the economy. The service challenges likely to be faced in this sector vary depending on each characteristic of the service going to be discussed in detail below. Strydom has observed that one of the characteristics of a service is that it is intangible.

Nutrition Support of Hospitalized Patients Essay

Nutrition Support of Hospitalized Patients - Essay Example The healthcare professionals often underestimate the nutritional needs of the patients who are critically ill. Moreover, the initiation of nutritional therapy is often delayed in these patients. In the critically ill patient, nutritional status plays a key role in recovery. The extent of muscle wasting and weight loss in the ICU is inversely correlated with long-term survival. However, because conventional parenteral nutritional therapy of malnourished critically ill patients has not been demonstrated to produce anabolism, blunting of the catabolic state may be the more effective strategy. Over the top of that malnutrition in the critically ill patients have been associated with increased mortality, morbidity, and length of stay, which may be correlated to increased dependency of mechanical ventilation, enhanced rates of infection, and impairment of wound healing. Therefore, to determine the evidence in this area of care, it would be prudent to critically analyse the research finding s which could justify the indications and contraindications of nutritional therapy in these patients. ... Concomitantly, there is an increase globulin synthesis as a part of acute phase response. Metabolically, there is noted to be increased gluconeogenesis along with reduced serum iron and zinc levels and increased copper and ceruloplasmin levels. These changes lead to fever and an associated negative nitrogen balance. There is protein breakdown invariably in all patients. There is evidence that critically ill adult patients may lose about 16-20 g of nitrogen, which are supposed to be excreted in the form of urea, which in normal individuals are about 10-12 g/d. Many acutely ill patients have septic complications, and in some of them, the nitrogen loss may account for up to 24 g of urinary urea nitrogen daily. The nutritional implications of these facts become very significant since with the loss of 1 g of urinary urea nitrogen, the nitrogen content in 6.25 g of protein is loss, which is equivalent to approximately 1 oz of lean body mass. As one can calculate, the loss of 16 g of nitrog en as urinary urea is therefore equal to the loss of about 1 lb of skeletal muscle or lean body mass per day (Doig et al., 2008). Nutritional supplementation, hence, bears an important meaning in the management of patients who are critically ill. Studies have indicated that initiation of nutritional supportive treatments in critically ill patients within 48 to 72 hours of admission has at least three important outcomes. These are improved clinical outcomes, lower rates of infectious complications, and shorter duration of hospital stay. The route of administration of nutritional supports to these patients has also important influences over clinical outcomes. Evidence indicates that enteral nutrition is favorable over parenteral

Early Intervention in the First Grade Essay Example for Free

Early Intervention in the First Grade Essay The purpose of the paper is to look at early intervention in the first grade. The paper will discuss what early intervention at first grade is all about with close scrutiny of the various methods that are used in early intervention at schools and the effect of the intervention. It also shade light on the use and value of early intervention at first grade with respect to students performance later in the education. The introductory part of the paper will give an explanation about early intervention at first grade, whom it affects and the parties involved. The statement of the problem will illustrate the nature of the research proposal in terms of stating exactly what the problem is. It will also explain why early intervention at first grade is a problem of research and whether or not it is researchable. The literature review section will elaborate the context of the problem while discussing the related issues that readers are most likely to raise, their differing views, methodology and results. The objectives of the research will also be looked at in detail. These will stipulate the various aims or goals that the research needs to address and will be followed by the hypothesis section that will try to answer the stipulated objectives of the research proposal. The research methodology will then be followed by the expected outcomes or results, the discussion of the results and the paper in general. Introduction. Early intervention in the first grade is a situation where children are subjected to or put in a schedule that allows them to have the relevant exposure and experience in the process of acquainting themselves with school before they get to the real school life environment. Children between the age of three and the age at which they are expected to join the beginners level are the ones targeted by the various institutions and organization offering such programs (Deese Ellen 2003). There is need to implement such programs as they help the children is preparation and anticipation of what they expect the moment they begin their first grade programs. Interventions at early age are necessary in that they help in situations where the childrens right have been violated and more so where some children have been denied the go ahead of joining the first grade programs on different accounts. In Pennsylvania for instance, there is an Act which legitimatizes children who are between three years and the age of joining the beginners program to have access to early intervention programs. Several procedures have been established by different circulars on the way forward to achieving the set objectives of the early intervention programs. Statement of the problem. It is evident that there is a problem concerning early intervention in the first grade. The issue here is to address the problems that come along with early intervention procedures and programs. This has been a problem in that several children are locked out of the programs simply because they are thought to be underage (Lakein, 2004). Some have been denied the opportunity of getting to first grade at a certain age. The problem can actually be researchable as it touches on every persons life be it the childs or the parents life. If researched properly, the findings and recommendations will be tabled and put into effect by the relevant authorities. Literature Review. Early Intervention. In the year nineteen ninety, an Act was established in Pennsylvania concerning early intervention and its transition. The circular had the sole purpose of clarifying the procedure to be followed during the transition process of childrens education. It focused on the procedures required by the authorities in the transition process from early intervention programs that are preschool in nature to the first grade and the kindergartens. The transition was required to be in such a way that it did not interrupt the school going program and that all children will be eligible for the program especially those who were not provided with the procedures for transition. It also guarded against instances of childrens rights being violated by certain people and institutions of learning (Deese Ellen 2003). The smooth transition of the children to the district programs from early intervention was also the objective of the Act. This was to be done not only by the schools but also the parents choices were to be taken care of by the circular. In February, a body was appointed and vested with the mandate of one, identifying all the children who were almost the age of kindergarten in their residential districts, making parents aware that those children who were about the age of joining kindergarten that their children would be required to continue with early intervention for a period of another year, creating awareness to the many families about the process of transition, holding meetings to discuss the process of transition and also confirming whether or not parents were ready to register their children in the residential districts or that of the school that the children would join the following year (Lakein, 2004). The other role of the circular on Basic Education was to make sure that schools did evaluations and came up with education programs that were individualized and that they adhered to the laid down timelines (Lakein, 2004). It also ensured that children who had left their schools for other schools continued to be offered services by their former schools as they wait for the appeals and court hearings in case their parent disagreed with the individualized programs in the district schools. Such circulars were important in that they helped children in achieving the education in a manner that is properly structured in terms of education programs and curricula. Parents also had the chance of having their views and opinion heard in matters concerning their childrens education lifestyle and process. Reasons for Early Intervention. Research has shown that learning in schools and in general life, is more rapid in the preschool years. Intervention at this stage is extremely necessary as the child needs to start developing his/her education early enough. It care is not taken in terms of teaching the child at this early stage, it might be difficult for the child to get a particular skill or phenomenon at the later stage in life (Lakein, 2004). These early intervention procedures and measures have an impact on the parents and the children as well. A child who is considered ans being an exceptional case may cause the family to feel isolated socially, disappointed, stressful, frustrated and even feel helpless. This combination of negative attributes may affect the well being of the family and to some extend affect the development of the child in question. Some families find themselves in situations of divorce and even suicidal situations in cases where their children are either handicapped or physically challenged. This creates a stigma in the minds of other people and create a negative impression to the concerned families (Lakein, 2004). Interventions at early stages will result to improved attitudes by the parents towards their children and towards themselves. Parents are also likely to improve and increase on their childrens information and skills in terms of devoting more time to leisure activities and teaching schedules for them. Parents who believe that their children have a brighter future in terms of education, need such early interventions so that they can provide good learning environment for their children and also offer the necessary support required by their children. The other reason for early intervention is that through it, a society or community for that matter will be in a position to reap benefits that are maximum. The increased educational benefits and development of the child and the reduction in the over dependence of the child on the educational institutions together with the ability of the childs family to be in terms with them despite their exceptional nature coupled with the increased chances of the child to employment, are factors issues that offer social and economic benefits. Beneficiaries of Early Intervention. Beneficiaries of this program include children who are attending school or even younger children who are thought to be at risk of lacking education or at risk of being handicapped including any other need considered as special and would affect the development of the child. Families of children who are affected also benefit from early intervention as they help to lessen the effect of the condition. The other beneficiaries of the program are the teachers in the various institutions. Teachers stand to benefit a great deal in that they come across children who are already molded and are ready for their next level of education. Such programs could be based at home, based in hospitals, based at centers, even be a combination of all of them (Berruetta, 2005). The program also benefits those who are in their tender ages, that is, from birth to their school going ages. Inasmuch as this is true, there are so many reasons as to why the program should begin at the earliest age possible. Research has shown that there is qualitative and quantitative evidence that intervention at the early ages increases the childs development and also boosts the childs educational gains. It is also evident that early intervention helps in improving the familys functionality and harvest long-time gains and benefits for the society at large. The results of early intervention to the child include; the child needing less education that is special and also other services for rehabilitation in terms of education and social well being later on in life (Pauk, 2007). Early intervention has also shown that students are less likely to be retained in their grades for along period of time. The children get promoted at the required stage and time and do not waste a lot of time in their grades. Outcomes of previous researches. According to Berrueta (2005), research was carried out in Perry Preschool on physically challenged children. The research showed that the children were consistent in their performance at the age of 19. The students had a positive attitude to schooling and most of them completed their high school education and went ahead to join institutions of higher learning to pursue their careers. This landed them employment compared to other children who did not have the chance and opportunity to attend preschool programs. Previous research outcomes have also shown that handicapped and disabled children scored higher marks when it came to arithmetic, languages and reading tests. The early interventions led to a reduction to up to fifty percent in the quest for education services that are specialized. It also led to less and less antisocial behaviors within and outside the schools compared to other students who did not attend the program. It is through the research that is came out clear that cases of under-achievement in children who are gifted and talented may be curbed and taken care of by early intervention and identification through appropriate methods and programs (Pauk, 2007). The approach to early Intervention. The approach to early intervention has been captured in different fields such as education, health, psychology, neuroscience as well as criminology. The approach is based on the need of improving and promoting community and family relationships and experiences during their childrens childhood periods. Childrens development during the first years of their lives is crucial in the laying down of a foundation of learning, health and behavior outcomes. This postulation is the foundation on which the importance of intervention at the early stages and prevention at early ages stands (Berruetta, 2005). The most important and effective intervention approaches will always tend to deal with the childs problems earlier on in life and prevent the problems before they are embedded in the child. Early intervention could tackle and prevent ills that are social to the community such as illiteracy, unemployment and crime which are assumed to have been caused by lack of early intervention at the childs early age. Such approaches could be carried out at any level sch as at the family level, individual level and the community level as the effects and results are all bu the same. Service such as training parents on the various skills of dealing with the child, visiting pregnant mothers and also those with new born babies, education concerning family relationships, counseling services of the family, supporting families with young and tender children among others should be provided at all times through early intervention. Research Questions. The research proposal is aimed at establishing the benefits of early interventions in the first grade. The benefits will be looked at in terms of whom they benefits, how they benefit and the outcome of the benefits. There will also be the question of how early interventions have helped children desist from social evils in their later lives. This will be justified by previously conducted researches on the same. The paper will lastly address the question of the impact of early interventions on the society and the community at large. Statement Hypothesis. This section will try to answer the objectives of the research paper. There are obvious benefits that can be attributed to early interventions to both the children parents and the community in general. Early interventions have helped children shape their lives in terms of behavior, education and social aspects. Research methodology. The research will be made possible by the aid of research methods that will be deemed useful. The research shall deploy both the qualitative and quantitative methods of data analysis as there will be need to analyze both numbers, figures as well as statements. Data collection methods and techniques will involve the use of primary and secondary data. Primary data will be collected by use of questionnaires and interviews. Secondary data will be collected from journals, books and other scholarly materials that will be deemed fit for the research. Participants in the research will include children in the kindergartens, teachers of various schools that offer the early intervention program, the government officials who are in charge of the educational programs and other relevant authorities. The research shall use instruments and materials such as questionnaires, tape recorders, tape translators among others. Tape recorders are reliable tools for data collection as they can keep information for long and can be used in case there is clarification in future. The design of the study. The study was designed in such a way that it involved all the relevant parties. Children were conducted through interviews which were recorded using tape recorders. This methods was deemed relevant to the children as they were free to give information as a result of enjoying being taped and heard afterwards from the tape recorders. The first phase of the data collection will take about three weeks to five weeks after which the in information will be gathered, compiled and analyzed. The questionnaires will be used on teachers and government officials who will be given one month to fill them and thereafter they will be collected for compilation and analysis. The next step will be data compilation and analysis which will take about one month and an extension another two weeks just in case the process takes a lot of time than expected. Data interpretation will then take two weeks as it is not a demanding exercise as compared to data analysis. Data collection methods. Questionnaires and Interviews. Questionnaires will be used because of the many advantages they have over other methods of data collection. They are easy to understand and interpret because the language used is simple and easy to read. They also have an advantage in that they allow the respondent to give views and opinions without the fear of either being heard or looked at by the interviewer. The main disadvantage with the questionnaires is that they bound to give the impression that the interview is not serious and that the questions can be answered in any way as the respondent feels fit. This method will be used because it is appropriate for children and other government officials who might not be willing and comfortable to use questionnaires. The main disadvantage is that interviews might instill a sense of fear and panic among children and other respondents for fear of being victimized there and then by the interviewer. Conclusion/Discussion. It is evident from the literature review that early intervention in the first grade is important for child development and the community as well. Many children who go through the program of early intervention are found to be sharp in their academics, alert, focused and even end up maintaining their academic standards in their later education levels (Berruetta, 2005). Early intervention helps to shape the future of many children as they are made to understand and molded into better students at a very early age of their lives. The research will therefore be expected to make known the importance of early intervention in schools and other places as well. The outcome of the research will also be expected to make more and more schools and institutions embrace the need for early intervention and put up facilities to support the programs (Pauk, 2007). References. Berruetta, C. (2005). Early Intervention in schools. New York: McGraw Hill Deese, J. Ellen, K. (2003). The importance of Early Intervention. Washington: Sage Publishers. Lakein, A. (2004). Early Intervention Programs and their effects to children. New York: Peter H. Wyden, Inc. Pauk, W. (2007). Interventions at Chilhood: An Analysis of what it means. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co.

The Child Abuse Prevention Social Work Essay

The Child Abuse Prevention Social Work Essay Abuse is a word that has several connotations associated with it. There is a multitude of ways abuse can be carried out, and its consequences or effects can range in an unlimited number of possibilities. Abusive cases regarding anybody should be taken very seriously and with compassion (when it comes to the victim). However, the abuse of a child, especially in a sexual way, is the most dangerous and horrendous form of abuse and can lead to a cycle of abuse later on. Children are typically defenseless and because they are so young and still developing, it is harder for them to understand what is going on and how to deal with it. In some cases, a child who has been sexually abused will absorb some of these characteristics and even abuse others as they get older because it is how they grew up and all they know. Child sexual abuse is extremely detrimental as it can cause long-term issues for life. For this reason, the group decided to cover the topic of preventing child abuse because prevention is the best cure. Prevention of child abuse has to be the number one step that society takes, so that an innocent life will not be unnecessarily disturbed or in the worst cases, ruined. In my section of child sexual abuse, I define prevention in more than a sentence because there are many techniques for preventing child abuse and there are a number of circumstances where prevention can be applied. Our presentation by topic follows in this order: Types of Abuse, Preconditions for Child Sexual Abuse, Children at Risk, Effects of Child Abuse, Sexual Abuse Trauma, Treatment Programs, and lastly Preventing Sexual Abuse. The first point of my presentation includes defining what prevention is and means in the context of child sexual abuse. When we think about the word prevent, it seems pretty simple: stop something from happening. Preventing child sexual abuse is not always this simple though. Those that abuse children sexually have a disorder and have something seriously wrong with their mental processes. Even if a person has been treated for abusive behavior and appear to be normal, there is always a chance of relapse just like with former drug users. That desire to do what they like to do never fully disappears, no matter how well they have rehabilitated, and this is an unavoidable obstacle for recovery even after prevention. The very best way for preventing child sexual abuse and a future child sexual abuser is by the practice of good parenting or guardianship. Children with responsible and loving guardians are less likely to be abused because their guardians are cautious and protective of them. A child with these circumstances are also vastly less likely to abuse as they get older because they are brought up in a proper environment with good role models to follow. It is a common misconception a child is more likely to be sexually abused by a stranger rather than by a family member or someone trusted by the family. In reality, 30-40% of reported child sexual abuse concerns a family member, and about 50% of sexually abused children are molested by a person the family knows (darkness2light.org). This means that only 10% of children who have been sexually abused are abused by strangers, so it is critical that prevention starts in the home. Another thing to think about is that these statistics only involve reported cases. A child is more likely to reveal information about abuse committed by a stranger than by a parent, relative, or family friend. With that said, the likelihood is probably even higher that a child will be sexually abused by someone they know rather than by a complete stranger. Another reason why it is so important that prevention of child abuse starts in the home by the guardians is because 70% of reported sexual assaults are carried out on individuals seventeen and younger (darkness2light.org). The reason for this of course is that kids under this age are vulnerable and less aware of the dangers people may pose. They also have a harder time understanding why something like this could be happening to them. For all children to have responsible and protective guardians would be to live in a perfect world and this is unfortunately impossible. Sometimes a good environment at home is unrealistic, and extra preventative measures must be taken to stop or at least correct a sexually abusive situation. Society as a whole must come together to create an environment outside of the childrenà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s nuclear home. If a child is being sexually abused in their home and then come out to an environment with no helpful recourses or information available to them, they stand no chance. That is why it is crucial for places such as schools, hospitals, religious places, or wherever else it may be, to educate children on what is right and wrong as far as how they should be treated. As hard as it may be to understand, children who are abused by their parents or close ones will usually still love them and feel deeply attached, so they will be scared or hesitant to report abuse in fear of disappointmen t, worse treatment, or even abandonment (childabuse.gov). By educating children on the subject and by making them understand that it is not their fault, it is possible to create a place where the child feel comfortable enough to be honest and forward. On top of the places mentioned previously, there are also numerous recourses available specifically designed for preventing and educating when it comes to child sexual abuse. Programs like NCTSN (National Child Traumatic Stress Network) can educate parents on how to prevent their child from being abused and what signs to look for if they have been. Websites such as darkness2light.org has a list of national and local programs that deal with everything from prevention to rehabilitation. By typing in à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Child Sexual Abuse Preventionà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  in google one can clearly see that there is no lack of resources out there. There are thousands of programs designed to specifically prevent sexual abuse of a child, and even help restore the lives of those that have been taken away from abuse. There is even a national hotline, 1-800-4-A-CHILD, with operators and counselors committed to helping these victims. From my project research and experience, I became more knowledgeable in the ways sexual abuse of a child can be prevented, and how individuals as well as society as a whole can help children who are already being abused. Sexual abuse, especially on a child, is in my opinion one of the worst and immoral things you can do as a human being. I learned that the people who commit this type of abuse to this demographic are often deranged and have no control over their compulsive desire to commit these atrocities. The very best thing we can do to prevent this type of destruction to a childà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s life is to start with care and preventative measures inside the home and to implicate these measures outside the homes in public places as well. More than anything, I learned that prevention of this is not a simple task. It is almost impossible to protect a child inside their own home with abusive parents, if there is no evidence and the child is silent about the situation. We must all w ork together to put the knowledge out there for children on when they should go for help.

Characterization in Albert Camus The Plague and Samuel Becketts Waiting for Godot :: comparison compare contrast essays

Characterization in Albert Camus' The Plague and Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot Characterization is an important aspect of Waiting for Godot and The Plague. In both works, the authors use characters to express their own views and enable the reader to understand themes and messages. In The Plague, Camus discloses a small part of himself in each of the primary characters. The main character, Dr. Bernard Rieux, represents Camus' own rejection of needless suffering and his overwhelming compassion and respect for people searching for meaning in life (Lebesque 80). He silently accepts all that happens in the course of the epidemic, waiting patiently for the pestilence to die away. His role in the book can be summed up when he tells Father Panaloux that "Salvation's much too big a word for me. I don't aim so high. I'm concerned with man's health; and for me his health comes first" (219). Rieux rejects any form of heroism, focusing all of his energy on his duties as a doctor. Dr. Tarrou, the other protagonist in the work, shares a smaller portion of the narrative duties. Unlike Rieux, Tarrou often gives a personal, more moral account of the events happening around town. He often gives his own opinions on something, rather than a simple impartial explication. Tarrou expresses a desire for simplicity and directness while also wishing to rid himself of all evil. He identifies the plague with the death penalty and launches into an elaborate story about how his father was a lawyer and regularly fought for the death penalty. His emotional reactions against capital punishment express Camus' own views of a world in which the murder of people is legal and human existence becomes worthless (Rhein 44). Characterization is key in establishing the theme of Waiting for Godot. Vladimir and Estragon seem to have two modes of existence: together and by themselves. One critic observes, "As members of a cross-talk act, Vladimir and Estragon have complementary personalities" (Esslin 29). Vladimir seems to be the more stable of the two, while Estragon is more of a dreamer. Vladimir pretty much makes all of the decisions, and he is the only one to remember significant events from the past. He is always the one to remind Estragon that they must wait for Godot, and he seems to be the only one who cares about the consequences of not waiting.

Society, Gender Roles and Gender-Conflict Essay -- Research Papers

Society, Gender Roles and Gender-Conflict Time and time again gender-conflict is brought to the attention of the public in various forms. In our time someone who wants to make a point about gender-conflict and the inequality that is present will be more likely to use television or song to reach their audience. This however is a fairly new technology. Books or some form of writing on the other hand have been around for thousands of years. Gender-conflict is nothing new. It is not as though one day it just came out of no where. It has been around since the dawn of time. What is a man’s place and what is a woman’s place in society or is there really a specific place at all; further more are we even really that different to begin with? Two classic novels To the Lighthouse and Lady Oracle are perfect examples of how gender-conflict is viewed and present in our society, but what is it that they are trying to teach us? One of the central motif’s in To the Lighthouse is the conflict between the feminine and masc uline principles at work in pretty much the entire universe. Mrs. Ramsay, with her emotional, poetical frame of mind, represents the female principle, while Mr. Ramsay, a self-centered philosopher, expresses the male principle in his rational point of view. Both of which are flawed by their restricted and somewhat ignorant perspectives. A painter and friend of the family, Lily Briscoe, is Woolf's vision of the ideal blending of male and female qualities. When looked at more deeply Lily does not only personifies the ideal male/female role in society but she is also representation of Woolf herself (Fokkema, 14). Growing up as a female little alone trying to fit into the stereotypical role a women is expected to fill in a mal... ...and ignorant. We all know what must be done to overcome the stereotypes placed in the society. It is just a matter of time. The two novels give us a better look into humanity and what it means to be human, not make or female, but human. Basically what these novels teach us is that it is fatal to be a man or a woman pure and simple; one must be woman-manly or man-womanly. Works Cited Atwood, Margaret. Lady Oracle.Toronto: Seal Books, 1999. Cooke, Nathalie. Margaret Atwood: A biography. ECW Press, 1988. Dworkin, Andrea. Woman Hating. New York: Dutton, 1974. Fokkema, Douwe W. An Interpretation of To the Lighthouse: With Reference to the Code of Modernism. Tel Aviv, Israel, 1979. Ruddick, Lisa. The Seen and the Unseen: Virginia Woolf's To the Lighthouse. Cambridge: Harvard, 1977. Woolf, Virginia. To the Lighthouse. New York: Oxford, 1999.

Media Propaganda and Stereotypes Essay -- Media Stereotypes Stereotypi

Our society consists of consumers that buy into stereotypes and the propaganda that is being fed by the government and the media. Stereotypes steer individual's perceptions of a group of people in a certain way, usually negative, and generalize that opinion to all members of the group. Aware of the influence stereotypes have on people's views, governments use stereotypes already imbedded in society as a propaganda tactic to persuade people's thoughts, opinions and beliefs in order to benefit their cause. The media was used for disseminating stereotypes the effect violent music has on teenager's behaviours such as in the shootings at Columbine. After the September 11 attacks, the U.S. government used the media as an outlet to emphasize Muslim stereotypes to influence people to support the invasion of Iraq. Stereotypes and other propaganda techniques such as "name-calling, manicheanism, and censorship" are powerful instruments used in propaganda, because it tactfully influences the pop ulation to think in the way that the government and media want them to think (Shah, 2003). However, its success depends on how strong the stereotypes are instilled in society, how well they are maintained within propaganda and if the public is unaware of the propaganda techniques used. Propaganda is most often used during times of conflict, such as the most recent example regarding the September 11th terrorist attacks on the United States. When news broke out all over the media that the terrorists responsible for the atrocity were of Muslim origin, many racist individuals probably thought 'it figures.' Ever since the fact that Saddam Hussein "used chemical weapons to poison tens of thousands Kurds in 1988" was exposed to the public via the media, t... ...1402>, consulted on March 30, 2004. Mediascope (2000). "Youth and Violent Music." Online at: http://www.mediascope.org/pubs/ibriefs/yvm.htm, consulted on March 29, 2004. Poiesis.org (1997). "The Peace Journalist Option." Online at: http://www.globalissues.org/HumanRights/Media/Propaganda/Iraq.asp, consulted on March 28. SCHECHTER, Danny (2001). "Covering Violence: How Should Media Handle Conflict?" mediachannel.org. Online at: http://www.mediachannel.org/views/dissector/coveringviolence.shtml, consulted on March 27, 2004. SHAH, Anup (2003). "War, Propaganda and the Media." Global Issues. Online at: http://www.globalissues.org/HumanRights/Media/Military.asp, consulted on March 27, 2004. The Disaster Center (2000). "Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold: Stop the Violence, Remember Littleton." Online at: http://www.cnn.com/video, consulted on April 1, 2004.

The Effect of Multiculturalism in Canadian Society

In terms of education, multiculturalism is becoming increasingly disruptive in Canadian society. It seems that there is a new issue in the media focus regarding education on a weekly basis. It's becoming increasingly apparent that most, if not all issues in recent years stem from the debate of whether to centralize or decentralize our current system of education. Proponents of centralization argue that a standard national system of education will provide all people with access to the same quality of education. On the other hand, proponent†s of decentralization claim that individual educational institutions will provide a level of education that is sensitive to the differing cultures and economic status within a particular area. Both sides contend that their system will provide a higher standard of education while improving the educational opportunities for minorities. Due to the recent investigation by the UN into Ontario's education system, it is appropriate to define what Canadians are entitled to as far as educational rights. The UN proclaims universally that, â€Å"Everyone has the right to education† and that â€Å"education shall be free,† [UN, 1948,Article 26 (1)]. These definitions are very broad and far-reaching, and are rarely adhered to as fundamental human rights. â€Å"Many governments are inclined to define human rights in the manner most convenient to suiting their own political interests. † (Boutros Butros Ghali, 1993). Essentially, there is no benchmark that compels any government education system to provide for a multicultural society. It should be interesting to see what the UN will say about the Canadian education system and whether or not they will set standard in education for a multicultural society such as ours. With no hard and fast guidelines how should the education system in Canada operate in order to become an integrative force in Canada. The most prevailing school of though in Canada regarding education is its standardization and centralization. The provincial Government is responsible for developing and implementing of public education policy as long as they are in power. The Harris government has implemented and proposed many ideas for the centralization and standardization of education in the province of Ontario. These policies are aimed at conserving tax dollars and the elimination of the wasteful bureaucracies infecting our education system. Also the provincial government is taking steps to standardize the level of education received by students in Ontario. Programs like standardized testing for teachers and students as well as the standardization of the curriculum were implemented. These programs are intended to provide all students regardless of race or economic standing in any area of the province and equal opportunity to succeed. These initiatives are part and parcel of increased demand by the Federal government to have Canadian students rise to â€Å"levels equivalent to those achieved by students in Asia and Europe. † (Lightbody, pg. 265) These steps however pay little heed to other cultures in the education system. All courses on history or culture at the high school level are aimed to familiarize students with the traditions, philosophy, literature and history of the western world. Proponents argue that this action is appropriate since our country is based on a democracy founded in European ideals of government. It is also claimed that there would not be enough time in the current school year to educate students on every culture that has contributed to the construction of our society. Proponents for centralization seem to prefer the â€Å"middle of the road approach† when making decisions on curriculum. It is argued that trying to push the subject of multiculturalism too far would actually be a hindrance. Over emphasis of multiculturalism may interfere with a student†s participation in other groups, or worse, hold a child back from expressing his or her individuality. (Ryan 137) In other words, an education system that is equal is equal for all that use it. An all-encompassing education system provides the same level of education for all involved, and should not pay preference to any one individual culture. This type of system has come under fire from groups such as: Natives, isolated communities, minorities, and women†s groups since the system is incapable of attending to their particular needs. For example, the Oakland California School Board's introduction of a controversial Ebonics policy. This policy was countered immediately with the creation of a bill that would penalize schools who support the instruction of Ebonics by restricting funding. Teaching courses in Ebonics can severely handicap a student in North America. Almost every facet of business, education, and government is conducted in proper English. This is a good example of how an absurd attempt to be considerate towards a minority hinders the progress of the education system. Diversions such as these take the attention away from sensible attempts to structure the education system in a way that benefits everyone fairly (If there is such a thing). In today†s society this type of education does not seem to be a progressive step for Canadians. An example of this is the creation of Affirmative action programs. In the U. S. blacks are experiencing an unemployment rate of nearly twice that of whites, Canadian figures I assume are relatively similar. â€Å"Affirmative action was designed to give qualified minorities a chance to compete on equal footing with whites. These programs create widespread resentment for minorities by Caucasians and thus hindering the development of society. Meanwhile the implementers of these programs ignore the reasons why these programs need to be created. They have even gone as far as claiming, â€Å"Few can argue that racism is still rampant in awarding contracts, jobs, and educational opportunities, even though it†s been proven beneficial to have people of different races with different ideas and different experiences working toward the same goal† (Chappell, 1996) The other school of thought in regards to education is the creation of what is known as a chartered school. A chartered school is run nearly autonomously with little interference by government (other than partial funding) or bureaucracies. It is intended to allow for increased local participation in decision making, and to save money by cutting down on costly administration and foster innovation through competition. (Lawton pg. 23). With competition, schools would have a greater incentive to improve itself in all aspects. Most advances would take place in the creation of new programs, providing access to higher levels of technology, and structuring curriculum with sensitivity to the ethnic make-up in its surrounding area. These schools would be developed and influenced by the parents of the students, teachers, other community members and even corporate sponsors. One of the major benefits of this type of school would be an increased response time in educational demands due to a lack of bureaucratic posturing and unnecessary collective bargaining agreements. Essentially, the organization will perform better since the programs implemented or any decisions made will affect those who make them. Supporters believe that this will hold a charter school accountable for improving and achieving its stated goals. Therefore, a school located in a particularly ethnically rich area can provide a form of education more appropriate culturally for it†s students. If a school is to be successful then it will have to be very aware of the demands placed on it by the area in which it is located. If it is not then it will risk failure. Parents will move their children to another school if they feel that their child is not being provided with an acceptable education. A centralized school system would be unable to respond to local needs due to broad general policies made by distant bureaucrats. These schools however will be partially funded by the government, with more money being allocated to the successful schools who attract more students. Presently there are eight chartered schools operating in Alberta out of a legislated maximum of 15. Other Provincial governments may be considering the implementation of charter schools but the idea is still new in Canada and there are numbers or studies that assess the performance of the existing schools in Alberta. The fundamental hindrance of a charter school is that it serves its community but not the nation. The increased response to community needs may in fact serve to increase the segregation among cultures in Canada. Also, lower income families will not be able to send their children to more successful schools for many reasons such as the cost of transportation and the cost of living in a particular area. The same could possibly apply to different cultures. The opportunity for a culturally rich education may be limited to location, and financial position. The result being that they would be no better off than they are now. The issue of multiculturalism will always plague the education system in Canada. There is no proven method of teaching all the students in a class in a manner that preserves their culture while affording them the same opportunities as everyone else. The centralization of education almost ignores the need for cultural understanding between ethnically different people. It supports itself on the idea that if all schools teach the same thing, students will be afforded the same opportunities. But how does the government decide what is best for each individual? Does majority rule apply in the education system as well? On the other hand the de-centralization of the school system provides for more community oriented schools that strive for improvement through competition. The idea of a problem free multicultural society can not be realized if we draw lines in the sand. We must act for the development of the nation, and the maintenance for the culture. Both views essentially try to answer two important questions asked by Canadians at once. First, how do you reduce the level of bureaucracy and reduce wasted tax dollars. Secondly, they attempt to answer the looming question of equality and the creation of a multicultural society in Canada today.

Impacts of Media Technology on Teenagers Essay

Today we are living in a revolutionary world and within seconds, several bombardments of new inventions are happening around the globe, media technology being one of them. Media technology has changed our lives giving us the freedom to perform activities from the comfort of our homes. For example, it has made communication easier and quicker, a document now takes a few seconds to reach anywhere in the world compared to regular mail which takes several days with the involvement of several individuals to reach its destination. If we look at our daily life, we can see a reflection of technology everywhere in our lives, such as TV, telephones, computers, cell phones, PDA, text messages, email, internet, online banking, booking a vacation, GPS, online shopping, online education, online liberalities, online books, online gaming and much more. By the end of 20th century we can observe that media technology and its effects are as powerful as it were never before. The invention of the cell phone, appearance of computers, laptops, and internet communication has become a vital link in communicating with others. It has become inseparable part of our life and it is everywhere and it is impossible to escape them. Teenagers all over the world are growing up in a world, where the Internet, cell phones, text messaging and other technology dominates the communication and it is an integral part of everyday life. Technology has changed rapidly; it is hard to predict what will happen in the next six months. If we ask a question whether media technology is good or bad, I believe there is no answer to this question. Technology is a double edge sword; it can be used for good purposes or for bad purposes. The evolving technology has a strong impact on individual’s life and especially teenagers as they are vulnerable to change. â€Å"Research shows that teens tend to be more impulsive than adults, and they may not think as clearly as adults about the consequences of what they do,† (-Jessica Rich, Federal Trade Commission). (Read more) The story of media in young people’s lives today is primarily a story of technology facilitating increased consumption. We created this blog to promote awareness to most common media technologies that have influenced teenagers’ lives today i.e. Internet, TV, Cell Phones, Gaming, Music and Print Media. Posted by Danielle, Fanny and Khalid. 1 comment: Links to this post Labels: Impacts of Media Technology on Teenagers Internet and Teenagers The Internet is a part of today’s culture that many teenagers cannot even imagine what the world was like before the Internet existed. The Internet is fun, informative and a great source of communication with others. It’s an educational tool and users can learn about almost anything. Sharing information through Internet is easy, cheap and fast. Teenagers have access to billions of websites containing information in the form of text, pictures and videos. The internet like other technology has positives and negatives effects on teenagers. Teenagers have access to pornography, obscenities, and ways to make drugs, bombs or even participate in online sexual practices. Teenagers can also become heavily addicted to the internet, which can often lead them into depression, with little or no face-to face time with others. There are also issues with teenagers hacking into school databases, banks, government websites, friends or strangers computers. If your teenagers are spending too much time on the internet, they are at risk of getting involved with one of these activities. Our blog will discuss pros and cons of internet usage among teenagers. Online Education Online education does have an impact on the lives of students; online learning can contribute to a gain in self-discipline. Educational goals can be reached by getting an online education. Student’s become more computer savvy from continuously using technology to do research, type assignments, and use specific software to complete projects. Some online programs even offer fast-track programs that allow prospective graduates to complete degree programs faster. (Read more) Currently, most high school students in North America have access to the internet in their classroom setting. Student can get extra helps through online learning environments (OLE) provided by schools. OLE provides students quick and easy access to course resources and material. Most OLE environments are virtually available from any location that has a computer and internet. The OLE resources usually include: online books, lectures, instructor help, peer-to-peer support, technology support, multimedia activities, instant updates, self-testing applications, comprehensive reviews and much more! Students that have fallen behind can take extra help online to achieve their required credits. Internet a Job Search Tool The internet is an excellent online job search tool for teenagers to find a job. Teenagers can search different types of jobs through various job search engines i.e. Craigslist, Monster, Workopolis and Job Bank. These search engines can teach you to fill out an application, create a resume and prepare for an interview. You can apply for the required job through Internet, which is more direct and easy. Jobs can help teenagers feel more confident and independent which can help teenagers explore potential career paths.

Justification of Human Violence Through Fight Club Essay

Throughout the history of the Human Race, violence and destruction is a reoccurring theme. In modern society we view ourselves as socially and economically evolved people when comparing ourselves to our ancestors, who were barbaric and uncivilized in comparison. However, our society has not evolved very far from this. There remains an instinct and desire for chaos and destruction in humans. I will not say this applies to all people, but it cannot be agued that the Human species is the single most destructive creature on the planet Earth. We have created war amongst each other, creating weapons and advancing our sciences for the sake of finding new and better ways of killing each other. The violence is not only contained in war, but in our entertainment as well. Romans used to watch gladiators kill each other in the coliseum, and we today watch action movies of men blowing each other up with guns and dynamite. Video games themselves allow you to kill and maim people, but why would someone want to play a game where you kill someone? Why does a violent and gory movie become so popular? What is it about aggression, destruction, and violence that attracts people? Sigmund Freud developed many theories and ideas about the human mind and explores society and its effects on people. This, as well as the movie and book â€Å"Fight Club†, will help to give insight into the minds of violent people and will give reasoning to their destructiveness. The majority of the world is made up of people who have an urge for violence and corruption, even if they don’t consider themselves to be, and the book â€Å"Fight Club† gives examples of this. Fight Club† is a book that was first written by Chuck Palahniuk in 1996 and was later transitioned into a film in 1999 starring Edward Norton and Brad Pitt. In this story, the narrator, who is never named in neither the film nor the book, but has been referred to as jack, is an office worker who lost his view on life and has one bad thing happen to him after another. He has insomnia, his condo was blown up by a gas leak, and he is overwhelmed by work, finding himself in different places after he falls asleep. To cure his insomnia, he goes to cancer meetings and other such help group. It is her where he is allowed to cry and have everyone around him assume the worst. This helps him to sleep until his lie is reflected by a woman who starts to do the same thing. Her name is Marla and keeps Jack from being able to cry. They agree to different days so that he can be alone and they ironically become close by the end of the book, due to the fact that Jack is constantly bitter towards her while she is at the self help meetings. He eventually meets a character named Tyler Durden on a business trip and finds himself living with him. Tyler is much more outgoing and adventurous than Jack, and soon becomes his mentor and teacher. After one night of some drinks, Tyler starts a fight with Jack for fun. They continue to do this every few nights and eventually gather a crowd of other men that want to fight as well. They then create fight club, a weekly gathering where two men are put together to brawl against each other in a circle of shouting man. Tyler leads this whole thing, with Jack at his side, but Fight Club grows more and more into a cult, and Tyler creates his own personal army which he call project mayhem, which has the sole purpose of bringing chaos and madness on the buttoned down society that shunned them away and led them to believe that they could be something they’re not. What Tyler tries to teach Jack throughout the story is that he needs to â€Å"hit bottom† meaning that he must detach himself from everything in his life. He says â€Å"It is only when we have nothing that we are free to do anything. With nothing to lose, no one can threaten you and you can do whatever you want. Tyler wanted to teach the world this and planned on using his followers to accomplish this. His big plan was to destroy all the major credit card company buildings and their records, putting everyone’s credit to zero. What Jack eventually finds out is that Tyler is his own split personality. Tyler is an extension of Jack, and only he sees him, but whatever Tyler has ever said to anyone or done, it was really Jack. Fight Club helps to evaluate the reasoning and deduction of violence and the need for chaos. Tyler tells his followers that they have been promises by industry that they could become movie gods and rock stars, but they’re not, and â€Å"we’re slowly learning that fact, and we are very, very pissed off. † Fight Club was created because of the first night with Jack and Tyler, and Tyler says â€Å"How much can you know about yourself if you’ve never been in a fight. I don’t want to die without any scares. † This means to say that a man is considered to show his true worth and self in a fight. It can show that he is either brave or a coward, or strong or weak. Most people cannot say that they’ve actually been in a fight before, but there is much to be learned about ones self if they are ever to encounter one. However, there are some that have actually started real fight clubs and follow the teachings of the fictional character of Tyler Durden. There do exist real fight clubs. USA Today wrote an online news article about software engineers near the age of 30 to 40, who hold fight clubs in a garage every two weeks. This is inspired by the movie, and these people that fight do it to exert their anger and frustration into something physical. They meet up and have full fledged fights with each other, two at a time and sometimes with weapons to. They took the movie and book quite literally, and many parallels can be seen. The article quotes one of the men who say â€Å"I have fantasies about it† compared to the movie where the narrator says â€Å"You aren’t alive anywhere like you’re alive at fight club. † Another man says â€Å"You get to be a superhero for a night. We have to go to work every day. We’re constantly told to buy things we don’t need, and just for a couple hours we have the freedom to do what we want to do. This is near to what Tyler Durden teaches about losing touch with personal possessions and going back to the hunter gatherer sense and also being able to do what you want. These technical engineers joined a fight club and enjoy it. They say they feel powerful and â€Å"macho†. It can therefore be dismissed that only unintelligent people would have the sense to be in a fight, seeing as we have software engineers doing it. There are other fight club that are started by teens, but they are unfortunate in the fact that sometimes a person is unwilling to fight and is beaten by his attacker. These teenagers get caught and arrested after they make DVD’s of the fight to sell online. This is the ignorant side of fighting. The tech engineers only fight with each other and organize it together, but these teenagers choose to turn it into an act of bullying by prying on the weak and taking advantage of them. It is dishonourable and untrue to the true nature and message of Fight Club. Many people can see the reasoning behind these fighting engineers, but others only see the teenager side of fight club and see it as grotesque, violent, and meaningless. The main idea though, is to put more meaning to your life than that new T. V you want, or the sofa you saw in an Ikea magazine that you think matches your curtains. There is a quote that depicts the meaning Tyler’s lesson very well. It’s from a kid named Lester in a book called â€Å"The Brimstone Journals†. He is talking about his mother working days and his dad working nights, saying â€Å"All so they can buy more crap. Man, it reminds me way too much of this movie on TV where a bunch of slaves were moving some big statue of a god. They had it on these logs that were like rollers and most of the laves pushed this god while the rest picked up the last log and hustled it around to the front. They did this all day. † The meaning behind this is that most people are stuck in the social loop of working hours like a drone, only to buy something you don’t really need. Society has everyone working hard so we can take our money and put it into the system we’re working for. The point is to drive yourself to become more than that and learn more about yourself through fight club. The other people of the fight clubs mentioned could defend to this. The movie has a scene where Jack is mad about his condo being destroyed and the amount of stuff he had in it, saying its ok, his insurance will cover it. This is when Tyler laughs and say â€Å"The things you own, end up owning you. † Meaning we become dependant and needy for material possessions. Fight Club certainly promotes violence, but it does it in a way so others don’t have to become involved if they choose so. It is a good way to get ride of anger and frustration compared to how others have done it before. As long as others have an outlet to express these feelings, others are safe. Some people choose to express their anger with a different violence witch targets others. Husbands sometime hit their wives, a student may bring a gun to school, or maybe even an office worker. These things have happened and are very unfortunate to have done so. In the book , â€Å"The Brimstone Journals† which depict poems of student in high school and their thoughts, Lester is holding his dad’s gun saying he wouldn’t hurt anyone with it, but if he did he would do it naked in the gym saying â€Å"They wouldn’t laugh then, would they? The jocks would crap their pants. The girls’d kiss my fat feet. † These people became unhappy and were mistreated and decided to act back. With fight club, anger is not contained and built up; it is exerted with friends in a brawl. As stated previously, Fight Club remains to be about finding happiness and disconnecting from society. Sigmund Freud has a writing titled, â€Å"Civilization and its Discontents† and in one chapter, he evaluates how men find it difficult to become happy and that the source of our misery is our civilization and the comfort that we as humans have made for ourselves. He says (pg38) â€Å"What we call our civilization is largely responsible for our misery, and that we should be much happier if we gave it up and returned to primitive conditions. † This is the main goal of Tyler Durden in â€Å"Fight Club†. He wants to bring civilization back to its primitive roots because it’s better than the narrowed society and community that we have worked so hard to make for ourselves. He says in the movie â€Å"In the world I see – you are stalking elk through the damp canyon forests around the ruins of Rockefeller Center. You’ll wear leather clothes that will last you the rest of your life. You’ll climb the wrist-thick kudzu vines that wrap the Sears Tower. And when you look down, you’ll see tiny figures pounding corn, laying strips of venison on the empty car pool lane of some abandoned superhighway. † This is the world that Tyler wants to create. A world where skyscrapers and highways are but remnants of an old life, and civilization has downgraded into a society of those who only perform what they need to, and are not bound by industries. Freud goes on to say that (pg38) â€Å"It is a certain fact that all the things with which we seek to protect ourselves against the threats that emanate from the sources of suffering are part of that very civilization. † Mean that society that we have created for ourselves has also created the source of our suffering. Buddhism is known to have said that the source of all suffering comes from wanting something. However, we have created an economy of â€Å"want†, surrounded by advertisements, TV commercials and supermarkets. If wanting something is suffering, then we have created it ourselves and surrounded ourselves with it. Later in this text, he states that â€Å"It was discovered that a person becomes neurotic because he cannot tolerate the amount of frustration which society imposes on him in the service of its cultural ideals, and it was inferred from this that the abolition or reduction of those demands would result in a return to possibilities of happiness. † (pg39) This means that the idea of happiness in our society is reliant on the basis of a lack of work. Our lives are clustered and overwhelmed by housework, jobs, food shopping, and the idea of not doing any of that is the only thing we know as happiness and yet we are stuck in a paradoxical loop. We want to be happy, we have to buy a new coffee table, if we want that then we have to work, if we have to do that, we have to be unhappy. Being happy should not be based on the sheer contrast of unhappiness. Freud changes his subject to man’s view of God. He goes on to say â€Å"To these gods he attributed everything that seemed unattainable to his wishes, or that these gods were cultural ideals. To-day he has come very close to the attainment of this ideal, he has almost become god himself. †(pg44). What he means by this is that gods used to be beings of unforeseen knowledge with the ability to control the element and do as they please, but we have reached an age where we can control our own world and our knowledge has gone beyond what we could have ever imagined. Freud goes on to say â€Å"Future ages will bring with them new and probably unimaginably great advances in this field of civilization and will increase man’s likeness to God still more†¦. an does not feel happy in his Godlike character. †(pg45) This merely re-emphasises what is being said. That our technological and scientific advances allow us to become the God that man has always praised. We are able to alter DNA, remove and fertilise embryos, and the list goes on. In â€Å"Fight Club†, the father figure is what is expected to be seen as a person’s view of god. The narrator says† What you end up doing, is you spend your life searching for a father and God. What you have to consider is the possibility that God doesn’t like you. Could be, God hates us. This is not the worst thing that could happen. Getting God’s attention for being bad was better than getting no attention at all. Maybe because God’s hate is better than His indifference. † The brings a religious aspect to the subject. It can be questioned as to weather or not God is the reason people act violently. This is true, seeing as there are cases where people commit murder in the claim that God â€Å"told them† to do it. And yet, an entire war happened all in the name of God, it was also known as the Crusades. Could the only way to get God’s recognition is to be bad? I can’t be argued that religion has in fact created war, hatred towards other beliefs and murder. Violence is clearly an innate part of the human race as far as history and as a society. â€Å"Fight Club† helps to give a view that gives a justification for fighting and violent actions. With the help of â€Å"Fight Club† and the theories of Sigmund Freud, we have developed a better understanding as to the reasoning of actual fight clubs. We can see that they are not events where the innocent are beaten, but rather gatherings where men can exhort their anger and frustration into a physical manifestation of punches and kicks. We can see now that this type of violence among other people who want it, is better than the type of violence where others are dragged into it unwillingly. â€Å"Fight Club† says a lot of things about society and civilization being the source of our misery, as well as contains parallels with the work of Sigmund Freud. The book â€Å"Fight Club† has influenced many lives and has changed the ideals and views of many. The majority of the world is made up of people who have an urge for violence and corruption, even if they don’t consider themselves to be, and the book â€Å"Fight Club† gives examples of this.

“In The Lake Of The Woods” by Tim O’Brien

In the book (O’Brien, 1995) â€Å"In The Lake Of The Woods† by Author, Tim O’Brien, the author was able to convince me that I was there on September 19, 1986, when the woman disappeared close to the lake in Northern Minnesota. The vanishing of Kathy Wade was eerie and I was constantly asking myself what could have happened to this woman. Did she drown in the lake? The possibilities were endless and the author kept me in suspense as I feared the worst in this situation that took place in the woods. Kathy’s husband John who was a politician seemed to be an immediate suspect in Kathy’s disappearance.His character didn’t seem like one that was very respectable and although he was very handsome, which made him seem less of a suspect, his downward spiral in his political career did raise questions of his innocence. When the Wade family drove to the woods in Minnesota, I knew that they were going to be in for a fearful adventure. The secret tunnels and doors were quite interesting but the underground chamber was terrifying! Anything was liable to happen down there and it did raise vivid images of the spooky quarters. One thing could easily turn into something else at any given moment in this haunting tale.How could John Wade go from being a magician to a killer of the woman that he was supposed to love? From the very beginning of the story, it was as if you knew that Kathy was going to vanish but there was always hope that she would be found, throughout the entire story and I did try to visualize something happening to her that didn’t involve her husband. This story was able to take me backward and forward throughout the book, talking about different periods of time, which all had to do with the ultimate question of â€Å"What happened to Kathy?† John Wade, the soldier, you just didn’t want to believe that he was a murderer, although his friends in Vietnam did refer to him as a Sorcerer because of his magi c tricks, which seemed to flow in the story. Was he capable of love or was that just an illusion or just another one of his many tricks he held up his sleeve. That question was always on my mind. Kathy did know some things about John, because she sometimes called him â€Å"Inspector Clouseau† just another one of the many names that people that had been associated with, called him.He was easily transferred from one title to another, and each title was just as interesting as the last. He was a character with many talents, I suppose, including murder, perhaps? You did have to wonder if maybe Kathy was in that house. Was she a part of the magic that was inside or was she at the bottom of the lake in the woods? This story is very spooky and a little evil. I wonder what kind of mind did the author possess, himself to be able to come up with some of his ideas that made John Wade such an exceptional character in this book.Did the author have some of the same characteristics of this m an, John Wade or did he just make it all up? I think that all authors have some of the traits and qualities that they describe in their writing and I tried to sort through the reading and pick out some of those traits and associate them with the author. Was he into magic tricks and murder or perhaps he fought in a war and wanted to describe some of the events that he was recalling. This book is so engrossed in questions and I still have to wonder how one man could have so many different personalities.He was a politician, possible murderer, fighter in Vietnam, magician. He was handsome and obviously charming because of the fact that he seduced his wife and was successful in marrying Kathy. She must have trusted her husband, fully. I would have liked to have been able to read more about Kathy, while she was still alive in this story. I’m positive that she would have been able to shed more light on this story and possibly talk about the more private side of her husband’s personal life; things that only a wife would know about their mate.She would have been able to talk about his very personal side and maybe shed some light on what was going to happen to her in this story. She could have possibly predicted her own death and talked about it and maybe she could have left behind some clear hints of her ultimate fate. This story is extremely scary and confusing, without any doubt. It tends to make you not trust people, fully. It leaves an empty feeling inside you as if you had witnessed a horrible event. You always want to hold that inch of faith that maybe people aren’t as bad as they probably truly are.In all reality, I think we should trust no human who possesses these traits as did John Wade. If I ever hear of a person talking about being ten different people in one, I will resort back to this eerie story and remember this character, immediately! He was one of those literary figures that gives you horrible nightmares and makes you question som e of his innumerous talents that you may have seen in another human being and never wondered about, before reading the book.I’m sure that I won’t be able to sleep after reading this story. It really wasn’t one of my favorite stories, although it was very interesting the way the author described the characters and events. His description of the events wasn’t lacking. It was the horror of it all that didn’t win my heart. There’s just something about being in the woods that makes you automatically feel like you want to leave, which is great for those people who love horror stories. The secret chambers would be incredible but terrifying!I guess that both John and Kathy were vanished into a crazy existence. Who knows where these two people were but I’m sure it was somewhere in the woods by the lake in Minnesota. Tim O’Brien is an incredible writer and does get the imagination going at full speed! I would like to read more of his wri ting but something a little less frightening, next time! What a crazy and tantalizing story. It is one that I won’t soon forget! Reference Page O’Brien, Tim. (1995). â€Å"In the Lake Of The Woods†. Penguin USA.

Geog Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Geog - Essay Example Indeed, two rounds of the longest African civil war in Sudan cost the lives of 1.5 million people; continuing conflict in the western region of Darfur has driven two million people from their homes and killed more than 200,000; famine and drought in the 1980th displaced millions; nobody knows how many lives and migrants it will take to end the south-north confrontation. The statistic of refugees in the Africa shows that Sudan is on top in the list of receiving countries with Zambia, Uganda, Kenya, DR Congo, Guinea and on the top countries of origin of the refugees with Burundi, Angola, Somalia and DR Congo (Tabutin, Schoumaker 510). I think the most appropriate way to define the immigration/emigration patterns is to solve two problems. First of all, I’ll try to show the general political and economical line of Sudan history in the past 50 years. Secondly, I’ll divine country into four border regions - north, east, west and south – and analyze each region. Sudanâ €™s history began in 1956, after the declaration of independence from British-Egypt rule. Northern Muslims took majority in government and didn’t want to deal with South. Consequently, the first civil war has begun. During the war had happened few coups and in 1972 was signed Addis Ababa Agreement that established the  Southern Sudan Autonomy. ... So, political instability provoked mass demographical emigration and intensive mass in-migration. The economic policy was very ineffective. After 1956, independent government followed the colonial type of economy by assigning more land to both public and private sectors for export-oriented production. Government created new economy on the lands that were previously inhabited and cultivated by indigenous population. Besides, many nomadic tribes lost their historical places. That’s why a lot of peasants and nomads were forced to shift their homes and styles of living to urban centers looking for food and water (Eltigani â€Å"War and Drought†¦Ã¢â‚¬  29). Another big failure in economy of the Jaafar Nimeiri regime (1969-1985) was famine in the 1980s. In 1971, Sudan launched a plan for development to turn the country into the "bread-basket" of the Arab world (Ragnhild 202). But, instead, economy declined because of price falling on the world marker. The Sudan's few export p roducts were seriously affected by falling prices on the world market. The uneven distribution of development activities, the drought that hit the western and eastern parts of the country during the mid-1980s also forced millions of people to leave their homes. After the Omar al-Bashir coupe in 1989, policy of islamization continued and the problems with the separatist movements in south and Darfur remained. Darfur is the western region, near Chad, with strong local elites that want more power and decentralization of the Sudan. In 2003 Darfur conflict was accompanied with mass murders, genocide, thousands of refugees. In 2005 the rebels signed a peace deal with the government to end the civil war. To sum up the survey of leading events in Sudan during the

Snowboarding down a ski slope in Colorado Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Snowboarding down a ski slope in Colorado - Essay Example However, it never turned unattractive or unpractical. After undergoing the 3- year- old training program at the Copper Mountain Ski and Ride School, I decided last weekend that I should venture myself on a major snowboarding trip. What a wonderful experience it was! As I was half-way through my journey, downwards the chaste curves and virgin slopes in the Gunnison-Crested Butte Valley in Southwest Colorado, I felt I had missed a lot all these years. A possessive feeling gripped me that the snows should become my permanent home. strong feeling that, in an aerial view, it would pose the picture of a heavenly cone gifted to the Earth. I wanted to ask someone how he felt about it but people were away at some distance enjoying themselves in the snows. I gave up the idea and stopped for a while to explore the environs and feel its beauty. I could see innumerable slops and icy curves spread over a vast horizon of snows. Overwhelmed by its unending beauty, I sat down and pondered: why should God create this much beauty in this lonely place Why are the minds of people not as beautiful as the beauty of these snows Thinking that God must be having a reason for this kind of set up, I had casually spread my right hand down, leaning back.