Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Auditing2 case analysis Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Auditing2 analysis - Case Study Example Therefore for a business to address this issue, it has to put in place control measures that will reduce the number of risks the business is exposed to. This is not a fool proof measure but rather ways of mitigating the extent of loss in case the business suffers. This paper therefore seeks to identify the inherent risks in the case presented, point out internal control weaknesses, the best sampling techniques to use in testing the reasonableness of the various departments. 1. In the case given, the CFO and CEO worked together in the previous company. There is an inherent risk that they are incompetent in discharging their duties and had to leave the company. This is a risk that HFC needs to be aware of and put in place measures to identify and mitigate any loss that may arise due to their incompetence. The order and shipping department has the potential to incur inherent risk whereby the quality of the goods may not meet the required standards to satisfy customers. Another risk is in credit approval. Currently, once a customer is approved, they remain credit worthy until the cease doing business. The inherent risk here is that the customer may leave a bad and irrecoverable debt to the company. This clearly is a risk that can be mitigated by introducing an internal control policy to do a background check on customers before approval. The company can also set limits to the amount that a customer can be advanced by the business. 2. An internal weakness simply means the possibility of the internal checks to detect or deter any fraudulent activities either willingly or not willingly. There are several weaknesses in the company such as placing orders over the internet and via phone calls. It poses a threat to loss of stock since this is an asset with high liquidity. With the advancement of technology, there is a risk of receiving fake orders coupled with the weak controls in credit approval, and consequently loosing cash in form of stocks.

Monday, October 28, 2019

Literary History and the Concept of Literature Essay Example for Free

Literary History and the Concept of Literature Essay Literary history and the concept of literature I From the 1970s onwards, much has been said about the writing of history and literary history that has cast doubt on its intellectual credibility. For example, Hayden White’s Metahistory (1973) included an influential analysis of the metaphorical foundations of 19th century history writing. In 1979, Jean-Francois Lyotard criticized grand narratives in La Condition postmoderne (The Postmodern Condition), and in 1992 David Perkins presented a whole array of sceptical epistemological and methodological arguments directed against literary history in Is Literary History Possible?. The questioning of literary history has not however resulted in the abandonment of large-scale literary-historical projects, rather it has inspired attempts to base such ventures on better designs and better foundations. Not least, many new ideas about the field have been put forward in connection with the preparation of two major works of literary history sponsored by the ICLA. It is also natural to point to two theoretical publications from 2002: the collection of essays, Rethinking Literary History, edited by Linda Hutcheon and Mario J. Valdes, and Marcel Cornis-Pope and John Neubauer’s brief presentation of the ideas behind a history of literary cultures in East-Central Europe. [ii] The Swedish project â€Å"Literature and Literary History in Global Contexts†, which was started in 1998 and will terminate in 2004, focuses specifically on some theoretical problems associated with the writing of literary history. We who participate come, mostly, from various fields within oriental studies or from comparative literature. Since the project is sponsored by the Swedish Research Council we all work, or once worked, at various Swedish universities. One of the special features of the project is the interest devoted to world histories of literature, a genre where the general problems of literary history become especially visible and acute. (I shall return to this perhaps unfamiliar genre in a moment. ) Three important cruces in connection with world histories of literature have been singled out for special discussion within the project: (i) the understanding of the notion of literature, (ii) the understanding of genres, and (iii) the understanding of interactions between literary cultures. These three sets of issues will be made the subject of four volumes of literary-historical studies and theoretical reflections, and these volumes will represent the main concrete outcome of the project. In this paper, I shall concentrate on the first of the questions, about the notion of literature. I shall say a few words about the concept of literature itself, point out some of the difficulties that it occasions in a world history of literature, and conclude with a brief discussion of how such problems may be approached and dealt with. II In a sense, of course, there are very many concepts of literature: if every nuance is taken into account, it may well be the case that each person has their own. Yet if, conversely, one looks at the situation very broadly, one can say that there is an everyday concept of literature in Western culture which is widely shared. That concept came into being in the course of the 18th century. Before that, no exact counterpart to our present concept of literature existed either in Western culture or elsewhere, and the distinction between imaginative literature and non-fiction was not of primary importance in the classification of texts. Wilt Idema and Lloyd Haft have given a concise and clarifying account of how earlier cultures thought about texts and their basic divisions. As long as no more than a few written works are in circulation in a given society, all texts are more or less equally important and valuable. If there is a dramatic increase in the number of writings, with a corresponding differentiation in their content and character, the texts are likely to be subdivided into the categories of â€Å"high† literature, professional literature, and popular literature. â€Å"Literature† (or high literature) is then the term for texts which are felt to be of general educational value and which are, accordingly, regarded as part of the necessary intellectual baggage of every cultured person†¦. Works which contain useful knowledge but remain limited to one specific area, such as medicine or military science, are classified as professional literature. Works intended only to amuse, and which have (or are considered to have) no educational value, fall outside the scope of â€Å"literature†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. We may call these more or less despised writings â€Å"trivial literature†. In the kind of intellectual culture described in this quotation, the fundamental distinction among texts is the one between culturally important texts and culturally less significant ones. In most such cultures – classical antiquity, classical Chinese culture, classical Sanskrit culture, and so forth – the class of culturally important texts would comprise most of what we call poetry, history writing, and philosophy, and normally also other kinds of texts – some administrative texts, some texts concerning magic, some letters, et cetera. Oral vernacular texts, or relatively unadorned fictional narratives, what we call fictional prose, would normally form part of popular or trivial literature. For complex social, economic, and cultural reasons, this way of classifying texts came to undergo great though gradual transformations in Western Europe from the late 17th to the early 19th centuries. One of the very many crucial factors behind the process must have been the growing importance of a new, more rigorous conception of empirical truth, associated with the natural sciences. High literature, in the special sense described by Idema and Haft, had always aspired to truth in the sense of great human significance. As the distinction between empirical truth and empirical non-truth became more rigid and more significant – and as many other, more or less related developments were taking place – new groupings began to emerge in the textual universe. Poetry became dissociated from scientific writings, and successively also from history, philosophy, oratory, and letters. On the other hand, fictional prose, especially in the guise of the increasingly appreciated novel, came to be regarded as one of the genres of poetry. With this, our modern notion of literature had effectively taken shape, and the term â€Å"literature† (whose main meaning in the 17th and 18th centuries had been something like â€Å"education† or â€Å"culture†) successively developed into today’s normal designation of the concept. [v] III The late 18th and early 19th centuries saw the beginning of the writing of literary history – of the history of national European literatures, of the history of European literature as a whole and, at least from the 1830s onwards, of the world history of literature. World histories of literature thus comprise a genre which has existed for around 170 years. Among its modern instances are such impressive works as the German twenty-five volume Neues Handbuch der Literaturwissenschaft (New Handbook of Literary Studies), published between 1972 and 2002, and the Russian Istorija vsemirnoj literatury v devjati tomach (History of World Literature in Nine Volumes) from 1983-94. [vii] However in the English-speaking world the genre is more or less extinct, and its very existence appears to be overlooked in the contemporary international discussion about the globalization of literary studies. These debates are primarily inspired by the widespread interest in colonial and postcolonial studies and place the last few centuries at the centre of attention, while the traditional world histories of literature are, in principle, universal in scope, and are meant to cover all times and cultures. In many respects, it seems a good idea to have a world history of literature to fall back on. Such works can relate the various literary cultures of the world to one another and put them into perspective. Thus they may create a much needed overview, much as a map of the world helps us to comprehend certain fundamental geographical realities. To some extent, works like the Neues Handbuch der Literaturwissenschaft and the Istorija vsemirnoj literatury do just that, and of course they also contain a wealth of information and intelligent discussion. Yet, despite their often remarkable qualities, world histories of literature are typically profoundly problematic for a number of reasons. Two major problems have their roots in the very concept of literature. First, the concept is, in itself, an everyday notion. If employed without additional explications or stipulations, it is too imprecise and inconsistent to form the basis of a reasonable classification. Second, the concept of literature is a relatively recent Western invention. Its application to other times and cultures will easily lead to anachronistic and ethnocentric distortions. On the whole, world histories of literature are content to sweep such problems under the carpet. They typically prefer to rely on the everyday notion of literature and to include the resulting contradictions in the bargain. For instance, the concept of literature is traditionally used in such a manner that the criteria for a work to be classified as literature vary depending on the time and the culture one is speaking of. Modern literature is most often seen as consisting of just fictional prose, poetry, and drama. When there is talk of older periods, the concept of literature is however used very inclusively. [ix] For example, ancient Roman philosophy, history, and oratory are not excluded as being non-fiction; instead, such writers as Lucrece, Caesar, and Cicero are considered part of the European literary heritage. The same duality appears in the treatment of other literary cultures. Thus, for instance, the sacred Vedic texts (circa 1200 – circa 500 B. C.).

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Constructivism Essay -- Philosophy Philosophical Learning Essays

Constructivism What is constructivism? Constructivism is a philosophy of learning that "refers to the idea that learners construct knowledge for themselves---each learner individually (and socially) constructs meaning---as he or she learns (Hein, 1991, p.1). In other words, "students construct their own knowledge based on their existing schemata and beliefs"(Airasian & Walsh, 1997, p.1) Constructivists deny the existence of one "true" body of knowledge that exists independently of the learners and espouse the idea that "there is no knowledge independent of the meaning attributed to experience (constructed) by the learner, or community of learners (Hein, 1991, p.1). Knowledge is "a personal and social construction of meaning out of the bewildering array of sensations which have no order or structure besides the explanations...which we [the learners] fabricate for them (Hein, 1991, p.1). To construct a meaning to the philosophy of constructivism, the misunderstandings of constructivism, its value in the world of teaching, a nd its influence in instructional technology will be discussed. Misunderstandings lead to an Understanding Because constructivism is sometimes viewed as a new pedagogy rather than a new philosophy of learning, many incorrect assumptions are made about its implications and applications to learning and the learners. By examining some of the misunderstandings surrounding constructivism, one can gain an understanding of the nature of constructivism and how its implications can be successfully applied to teaching. The first myth of constructivism is that "students should always be actively and reflectively constructing"(Clements, 1997, p.1). The constructivists view learning as "an active process i... ...The fallacy of constructivism. Clio, 24(3), 4 pages. Available at: Galileo Periodical Abstracts. Hein, George E. (1991, October). Constructivist learning theory: the museum and the needs of people. Paper presented at the CECA Conference in Jerusalem, Israel. Kamii, Constance and Janice K. Ewing. (1996). Basic teaching on Piaget’s constructivism. Childhood Education, 72(5), 4 pages. Available at: Galileo Periodical Abstracts. Lunenberg, Fred C. (1998, June). Constructivism and technology: instructional designs for successful education reform. Journal of Instructional Technology, 25(2), p. 75- 82. o’Donnell, Angela M. (June, 1997). Constructivism by design and in practice: a review. Issues in Education, 3(2), p. 285-294. Wilson, Brent G. (1997, March). Reflections on constructivism and instructional design. Instructional Development Paradigms, 18 pages.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Oxford Guide to British and American Culture Essay

I would like to talk about the culture dictionary, more specifically about the Oxford Guide to British and American Culture. The importance of such dictionaries became unquestionable when the culturological approach to the study of languages appeared. This approach means the unity of the language and culture. To acquire a language, a person should have the knowledge of special features of communication, behavior, people’s mind, habits, values, traditions in the country which language he/she learns. Surely, the history and specific features of the particular country are embodied in its language. A language is a part of a culture. So the more you know culture of a particular country, the more you understand its language. In the most of dictionaries you can find cultural information and culture words. For example, â€Å"Whitehall† and â€Å"fly-fishing† in the Macmillan Dictionary and Thesaurus online, â€Å"Big Ben† in the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English online. КÐ °Ã'€Ã'‚Ð ¸Ã ½Ã ºÃ ¸ Ð ºÃ °Ã'€Ã'‚Ð ¸Ã ½Ã ºÃ ¸Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. But if we compare these words with the same words in the Oxford Guide to British and American Culture, we will see that the second dictionary gives us more information and explanations about particular words and even gives us a lot of illustrations. So I would like to talk about this dictionary. It is published by the Oxford university press. This is the most up-to-date Guide to British and American culture that gives us an insight into what’s important in both countries today, what’s popular, and what people feel strongly about. It’s written for learners of English, in language that’s easy to understand. This Guide includes 10 000 entries of such areas as history, monuments, legends, festivals, music, food, shopping, literature and so on. It also includes special entries with extra vocabulary on topics such as advertising, football, beer and soap operas. This vocabulary is highlighted in dark type. So let’s look at entries of this dictionary and find out what information we can find there. Entry words or phrases are in dark type. Almost Each entry has grammar information. ( a part of speech, if it is a noun (countable or uncountable, plural or single, if it is a verb, transitive or intransitive), information about the usage of this word or phrase. Many words have the derivatives section which is marked by the special symbol. Many words have a transcription and in some entries we can see both British and American pronunciation. And we can see the information bout a stress. Many words have subject, regional or stylistic labels. If we look at some entries we can see the number in round brackets. It indicates what sense this meaning refers to. For example, the word Manhattan in this entry has the number one. It means that this word is given in the first sense. Many entries have words that are marked by the special symbol ( a star). It indicates an item with its own entry. In this dictionary there are special notes that can help to find out not only the meaning of a particular word but also offer the vocabulary on this topic. The vocabulary is highlighted in dark type. Above some head words we can see numbers. They distinguish separate entries for people, places, etc with the same name. In entries that give the information about people we can see numbers in round brackets that indicate birth and death dates or birth of a living person. In this dictionary there are a lot of â€Å"dummy† entries referring to main entries elsewhere. It can help to find a particular word if you know only its abbreviation. Also the entry gives information about an abbreviation. In some entries there are variants of head words (entry words) and explanations of uncommon words used in entry. There are a lot of examples of their usage in italic type. Many words have many senses. So in entries we can see separate numbered parts. In entries there are cross-references to contrasted entries and related entries. Also this dictionary is very good because it has a lot of illustrations and well-known quotations associated with a character or a person and extracts of famous poems. In this Guide there are boxes with additional information. In entries we can see cultural connotations. Inside front cover we can find information about abbreviations, symbols and labels used in the Guide. Inside back cover there is information about pronunciation and phonetic symbols. In this Guide there are colour pages on history and institutions of Britain and the USA (Maps, history, political parties, education, the Legal System and so on) Using this Guide you can get ideas of what to read. You can choose from lists of books that won the Booker and other prizes plus suggestions for further reading. In conclusion, Id like to say that the Oxford Guide to British and American Culture is a great choice for people who want to find out as much as possible about the culture of Great Britain and the USA without visiting these countries.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

‘Stand Up Tall’ by Dizzee Rascal Evaluation Report

There are several features to our production which were included based on research in past examples. To try and create authenticity with our production became one of the aims because of he style of research done and its extensiveness on past examples. One key feature was the speed of the edited scenes. Researched examples always included a fast paced style and this was incorporated. This not only meant scenes of shorter but it increased the length of times given to develop the story. The increased number of scenes due to the nature of the music led to a development in the story which could be told to make up this number and to make up the duration of the track. One of the key strengths of our production I feel is the way in which it closely relates to its genre. With the speed of editing, the urban locations chosen and the ethnicity of the characters involved, it was a very genre specific video. One weakness however I feel is the lack of varying camera angles. Close ups were used a large percentage of the time. Understandably, due to the videos narrative nature and the fact that there are no scenes which involve speech embedded in our video, or cut-scenes, it is difficult to correctly convey feelings or reactions without needing to focus on a characters expression. However, there are more ways to do this. High angle shots can signify authority and low angle shots the adverse. Establishing shots could be used to set a whole scene to the audience. If we were given the chance to do it again, I would greatly vary the amount of types of shots used. It is important to add variety to the style of camera work to increase the size of the parameters for creativity, which is what the narrative style of our video did indirectly. An example in our video where more camera angles could have been incorporated is the scene which shows the phone call between Tariq, the main character, and his pregnant ex-girlfriend. Although the camera work here is good and it conveys successfully the message it wants to, it doesn't vary in camera angle between the two characters. It tends to stay with medium close ups. In a video I analysed called ‘Stand Up Tall' by Dizzee Rascal, the artist is in a majority of the shots but is seen from different angles such as over the shoulder, long shot, medium close ups and close ups. I think our group could have worked better as a team. The main flaw was our inability to meet up, discuss ideas and become all aware as to which stage of production we are at. We at times thought different things were occurring and we didn't all pull in the same direction until towards the end of production when editing. These are the sessions where we worked well as a group. When editing, we looked at the production and any idea brought up by one of our group members were considered. This process happened several times and this ensured us that we were all happy with the final production. Another disappointing thing about our group was the lack of met deadlines. However, this directly came as a consequence as a lack of deadlines set. Although the work was shared between the group, it was very disorganised as to when it should be done. It was very difficult for this reason to know whether we were ahead or behind schedule with the only dates determined was the final deadline for all work. Although I have no first hand experience as to how a real film production team works, I assume due to the scale of their work and the time they spend on it that they would be much more organised than we were. I feel a real film production team would make a priority a schedule to refer back to as to what should be done before a certain stage but we failed to do this. BBFC's film classifications detail parameters to meet a certain certificate. We wanted our production to be available for viewing pre-watershed and this meant it could not involve any swearing, scenes of nudity or scene of extreme violence. Our production met these criteria. I had decided to show ten members of our audience a screening of our music video in an attempt to establish how these members would appreciate its qualities and informs us of some flaws. I was happy with many of the responses because they were intelligent answers. I decided to outline nine features of our work and asked then on the questionnaire to circle one of the words excellent, good, satisfactory, disappointing and poor. And then there was a tenth open ended question asking them to detail how well they felt it went with the genre of music. The results of this investigation were positive. According to our results, our camera work and mise-en-scene features were very good. This could be down to the emphasis this took when deciding to produce a narrative music video with the absence of speech. The quality of our editing was though of well also. This could be down to the way we each combed through thr music video when editing and discussed ideas thoroughly during the editing process. However, one thing which disappointed was the lighting. It was at times unclear as to what was happening due to the poor lighting at times. The responses to the open ended question at the end of the production was positive. The most mentioned feature which related it to past examples was the use of scenes, synchronised which changes in the beat of the music and mentioned to speed of the editing. The synchronization of the beat to scenes was apparent in the very beginning when the door closes as the heavy beat drops in the music. And the fast paced editing came about as the research into previous examples showed us that it was important to music and music videos of this genre.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

A Guide to Power Relationships in The Tempest

A Guide to Power Relationships in The Tempest The Tempest includes elements of both tragedy and comedy. It was written around 1610 and its generally considered Shakespeares final play as well as the last of his romance plays. The story is set on a remote island, where Prospero, the rightful Duke of Milan, schemes to restore his daughter Miranda to her proper place using manipulation and illusion. He conjures up a stormthe aptly named tempestto lure his power-hungry brother Antonio and the conspiring King Alonso to the island. In The Tempest, power and control are dominant themes. Many of the characters are locked into a power struggle for their freedom and for control of the island, forcing some characters (both good and evil) to abuse their power. For example: Prospero enslaves and treats Caliban badly.Antonio and Sebastian plot to kill Alonso.Antonio and Alonso aim to get rid of Prospero. The Tempest: Power Relationships In order to demonstrate power relationships in The Tempest, Shakespeare plays with master/servant relationships. For example, in the story Prospero is master to Ariel and Caliban although Prospero conducts each of these relationships differently, both Ariel and Caliban are acutely aware of their subservience. This leads Caliban to challenge Prospero’s control by taking on Stefano as his new master. However, in trying to escape one power relationship, Caliban quickly creates another when he persuades Stefano to murder Prospero by promising that he can marry Miranda and rule the island. Power relationships are inescapable in the play. Indeed, when Gonzalo envisages an equal world with no sovereignty, he is mocked. Sebastian reminds him that he would still be king and would therefore still have power – even if he did not exercise it. The Tempest: Colonization Many of the characters compete for colonial control of the island – a reflection of England’s colonial expansion in Shakespeare’s time. Sycorax, the original colonizer, came from Algiers with her son Caliban and reportedly performed evil deeds. When Prospero arrived on the island he enslaved its inhabitants and the power struggle for colonial control began - in turn raising issues of fairness in The Tempest Each character has a plan for the island if they were in charge: Caliban wants to â€Å"people the isle with Calibans, Stefano plans to murder his way into power, and Gonzalo imagines an idyllic mutually controlled society. Ironically, Gonzalo is one of the few characters in the play who is honest, loyal and kind throughout – in other words: a potential king. Shakespeare calls into question the right to rule by debating which qualities a good ruler should possess – and each of the characters with colonial ambitions embodies a particular aspect of the debate: Prospero: embodies the all-controlling, omnipresent rulerGonzalo: embodies the utopian visionaryCaliban: embodies the rightful native ruler Ultimately, Miranda and Ferdinand take control of the island, but what sort of rulers will they make? The audience is asked to question their suitability: Are they too weak to rule after we have seen them manipulated by Prospero and Alonso?

Monday, October 21, 2019

10 Essay Topics on the Profession of a Teacher

10 Essay Topics on the Profession of a Teacher If a person lacks information, that won’t be easy to write an essay on a teacher. An essay requires facts, proper structure, good grammar, style, formatting, and, of course, student’s time and efforts. 10 Facts about Teacher’s Profession to Make an Essay Well-Researched Sometimes, students don’t have enough time to accomplish their essays because they cannot support them with reliable facts. It takes much time to research some topics and students usually cannot cope with the task because they just don’t have that time. We offer 10 interesting facts about the profession that will help to write an A+ paper. Today people use the word â€Å"pedagogue† when they speak about a teacher but people in Ancient Greece applied this word to slaves who were to take children and bring them first to school and then back home. â€Å"Pedagogue† means â€Å"a person who leads a child†. Slaves who couldn’t perform more difficult physical work were to be pedagogues. In ancient Greece, teachers of Arithmetic were called calculators (calculus a pebble). Teachers used stones to count in those days. That’s how the word â€Å"calculator† appeared. In the XIX century, foreign tutors were appointed as teachers for noble children. A great number of foreigners rushed to live in Russia just at that period. Most of them were not educated. Employers hired those people because they knew a foreign language. There were some conditions though. The governesses were to be either old or married and not pretty/handsome. Due to that, husbands and wives were not afraid of possible love affairs. Some teachers turn to corporal punishment when they cannot control the discipline or make a pupil study until the present day. That’s one of the possible ways to punish a schoolchild for improper behavior and poor progress at some schools in Australia (Queensland and South Australia), Burma (Myanmar), China, Egypt, India, Japan (but rare), Malaysia, Pakistan, Singapore (only males can be punished), Taiwan (despite the prohibition), Tanzania (not more than four strikes at one time and the punishment must be recorded), Thailand, the United States (only District of Columbia and 31 states have banned corporal punishment), and Uganda. As a rule, corporal punishment includes caning, kicks, pushes, beating, slapping, and mental abuse. Teachers in Ukraine and Russia (engaged in secondary schools) are getting â€Å"older† because of low salary. As a rule, only those teachers whose experience includes more than 20 years can earn more. Young teachers lack motivation and just don’t want to wait twenty years. As a result, they leave their job and look for something else or move abroad. German teachers are the only teachers who are fully satisfied with their life. No wonder, an average German earns â‚ ¬2500 while a teacher can earn up to â‚ ¬3500 per month. German teachers can afford traveling around the world and rent three-room apartments. There is also the reverse of the coin. First, they may have to teach several subjects. For example, one teacher can conduct English, Physical Education, and Chemistry. Second, a person has to pass a number of exams after the University. Third, a future teacher should undergo practical training (two years being supervised by an expert) and then pass one more State Exam. Finally, a person can look for some job at a school. Students in Turkey can kiss their teacher’s hands to thank them for their work. Turkish people believe that there must be a perfect triangle: teacher parents children. The better the relations are, the more productive learning achievements will be. Education doesn’t let a person become a teacher without the agreement of the government in France. French government announces which vacancies are to be filled and advertises them. A principal cannot hire or dismiss a teacher without the government’s permission. Teachers cannot give private lessons in Great Britain and can be punished or dismissed in case of disobedience. Teachers can take a vacation that can last up to a year in Israel. In addition, they cannot be dismissed during that period and they get their salary as usual. How to Present Facts Properly There is one more important thing each student should know. When using some facts, a person must either present the copyright page or â€Å"change† the chosen statistics, evidence and facts. What does it mean? It means that a student mustn’t simply copy the information. The best way to support the investigation of the topic with facts is to do a thorough research. A student has to read, analyze, and interpret the information. In case a student copies the data in the paper without any changes, he or she may be blamed for plagiarism. The paper is usually checked with the help of some plagiarism checker. If the academic writing is not unique, it will be banned and a student can be expelled from the college. That’s why it’s very important to be careful when presenting some information in the paper. References: Teacher’s Blog: the Guardians. How Teachers Are Rated in 21 Countries around the World. https://www.theguardian.com/teacher-network/teacher-blog/2013/oct/03/teachers-rated-worldwide-global-survey Wikipedia. School Corporal Punishment. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/School_corporal_punishment#By_country Ben Radding (2018). Where Is Corporal Punishment Still Legal? https://www.fatherly.com/love-money/where-corporal-punishment-still-legal/ Ayushi Sareen (2016). 15 Interesting Facts About Education Around The World They Don’t Teach You In School. https://www.scoopwhoop.com/Interesting-Facts-Education-Around-The-World/#.5fe7ub5hu Working Conditions: Israel Guide. https://www.justlanded.com/english/Israel/Israel-Guide/Jobs/Working-Conditions A. V. Yannicopoulos (1985). The Pedagogue in Antiquity. https://www.jstor.org/stable/3121511?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents The International Massmedia Agency (2017). Portrait of the Ukrainian teacher: woman over 40 with a salary of 7000 UAH.   https://intmassmedia.com/2017/10/01/portrait-of-the-ukrainian-teacher-woman-over-40-with-a-salary-of-7000-uah/

Sunday, October 20, 2019

Studying Abroad Just Go For It! [Interview]

Studying Abroad Just Go For It! [Interview] Have you thought of studying abroad? Probably, yes. However, most likely you are not sitting right now at your laptop in some European country reading this post. That means you are not using your opportunities to spend a semester at some country youve never visited, to learn about their culture and their education. Why are you still in doubt? Probably there are some questions on studying abroad which still bother you and keep you from applying for the program. We decided to help you with that and interview a student who already used her studying abroad opportunity. Judy Su is one of the applicants of Danish Institute for Study Abroad program. She has recently got back home from Copenhagen, where she studied graphic design. She kindly agreed to answer several questions about her time spent in Denmark and share her impressions about the experience she had. We started from the most basic question: How did you decide to apply for studying abroad? I go to the University of Michigan, where study abroad is required for Art Design students. I decided to apply to the Danish Institute for Study Abroad because Ive always admired Scandinavian design, and because my University has a good relationship with theirs. So, making a decision was not a problem for you. What about the application? Is the study abroad application process competitive? To my knowledge it wasnt too competitive given our schools requirement, but the application did include questions about my GPA and required a transcript. Next step after the application is preparation for the trip. A bit of packing advice from Judy: Less clothes, only pictures (no souvenirs) from home, less art supplies. So, your trip started and you arived in Copenhagen. What were the barriers youve faced at first? Obviously, the language. I was lucky that in Copenhagen, nearly everyone speaks English very well. Despite that, all the signs that appear on the streets, public transportation, and in grocery stores (among many other places) are entirely in Danish, so I had to piece things together the best I could. What about other cultural differences youve noticed? It appears that mainly the small things you dont really think about are the most interesting cultural differences. For example, there were bicycles everywhere. It was interesting to get used to looking out for bikes more so than for cars when crossing the street. Another interesting difference is that Danes will almost always wait to cross the street until the walk signal is displayed. Jaywalking results in a lot of glares from those waiting. Lets talk a bit about your studies. What subjects have you studied? Visual Journal, Photojournalism, European Art of the 20th Century, and Graphic Design Studio as my core course. What were the most interesting tasks/projects? In my Graphic Design studio, we were designing an identity for Copenhagen Harbor Farming. For my Photojournalism project, I had an assignment to photograph someone Danish for the semester. We also went for field trips for European Art and Graphic Design. For European Art, we went to Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek to look at their Gauguin collection. Did you get writing assignments while studying in Denmark? What kind of them? Besides being an official blogger for the school, I also did some writing for classes. They were pretty standard papers; I took an art history class, so the majority were for that class. Do they have strict plagiarism policy in college? Does it differ from US plagiarism policies? Yes, but my school was a school specifically for study abroad students, so they followed standard US plagiarism policies. I cant imagine plagiarism rules would be any different in other countries. Youve posted weekly plans in your blog. Did they help you manage your time? The weekly goals were more for me to make the most of my time while I was abroad. I wanted to make sure I didnt miss out on anything that I wanted to see, because I didnt know when I would ever be back. What helped you make your studying more effective? I always found it difficult to get things done in my room (I was sharing my room with two other girls), so I would go to the school and finish work up there. By the way, Judy described her accomodation at Copenhagen on her blog. (quote) The three of us share a bedroom. There are also two bathrooms in my hall. There are people on the floor who have singles too, and all of us have keys to our individual rooms. My building is much more apartment style, so you are living independently†¦ Keep in mind though, there are some DRCs that are more dorm style. Some of the building rules can be a challenge to get used to, especially if you’re used to living in a house or off-campus. In a DRC, you will have an RA, and you will have to follow rules regarding quiet hours, chore rotations, and guests. Would the experience of studying abroad be relevant for your future profession? In what way? Oh, absolutely! I studied graphic design as my core course, and learning about it through an international lens is such a valuable experience. It makes you much more aware of the background and perceptions of your work, and Im glad I was able to learn it this way. In addition, I was just exposed to so much thats different from what I used to see in the States. That definitely helped for drawing inspiration. On her return home in Michigan, US, Judy wrote on her blog: Things here seem kind of like they always have, and it’s only the little things that remind me my semester in Copenhagen wasn’t just a dream. So, we decided to ask Judy: How would you describe your Copenhagen time in just one sentence? Going abroad was one of the most exciting and eye-opening experiences Ive ever had. As a final question, please, give some advice for all the students who are considering to study abroad. Just go for it! I have never heard of anyone who regretted going abroad. Once youre there, make sure you make the most of your time. Studying abroad is such a great opportunity, and you wont want to miss a thing! Thanks, Judy Su, for such an inspirational advice and interesting interview! Hopefully, the thoughts of this cheerful design student will change minds of our readers and help them make the right decision on studying abroad.

Saturday, October 19, 2019

STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT IN A GLOBAL CONTEXT, ASSESSMENT A Essay

STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT IN A GLOBAL CONTEXT, ASSESSMENT A - Essay Example Formal strategic planning is a process of decision making where suggestions are taken from the top level management towards making effective decisions within the organisation. It is worth mentioning that formal planning cannot be really effectual unless managers apply their fundamental knowledge, judgement and perception about the planning process (Steiner, 2010). On the other hand, alternative strategic decision-making is a modern process of defining a strategy or direction and making decisions by replacing formal procedures with the prime motive of solving issues with aid of inculcating circumstantial restraints and significances. With the growing competition in the global marketplace, many critics believe that formal strategic planning does not meet the current dynamic market requirements while making effective decisions and alternative forms of decisions making are more appropriate while making any decision (Popa, n.d.). With these considerations, the main objective of this study is to provide a detailed analysis which would depict that alternative forms of strategic planning are more appropriate for organisations that operate in highly uncertain and dynamic environments. Discussion Today’s business environment is considered to be in one of the most competitive industrial environments. With the rapid technological developments and the increasing competitors’ demands for new goods, the strategic planning process is also evolving at a rapid pace. It has therefore become vital for every organisation to implement plans that would not only aid them in maintaining their leading position but also facilitate them in attracting more customers by fulfilling their current demands. Strategic planning is determined to be an organisational management function that is utilised for setting priorities, resources, strengthening operations and ensuring that the employees and other people associated with the organisation are working in a collaborated manner towar ds the accomplishment of a common goal. It also helps in establishing an agreement around intended outcomes along with accessing and adjusting the organisational functionalities in accordance with the changing environment (Hitt & et. al., 2012). However, there have been numerous discussions amid different critics about the nature and the disadvantages of traditional strategic planning. Nature of Traditional/Formal Strategic Planning Approach Traditional strategic planning process mainly utilised theoretical and management tools to implement steps that would aid in attaining the future goals of the organisation. However, the effectiveness of the process mostly relies on how well the plan has been defined, the level of the organisational readiness to implement new changes in its functional process and its commitment towards building actions to achieve the organisational objectives (Eoyang, 2003). However, with the growing challenges in the business world, there has been an emergence o f a number of limitations arising out of traditional st

Imperialism and Western Culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Imperialism and Western Culture - Essay Example Firstly, with regards to some of the main prejudices that are presented, the reader can aptly point to the fact that Kipling refers to these faceless masses of brown people as half man half animal, half baby has to double, uncivilized, dangerous, and inhabiting lands full of horrors and terrors. Within such a simplistic an overly horrific definition, it comes as no surprise that the majority of the poem points to the fact that these individuals to whom Rudyard Kipling is referring are subhuman and require immediate assistance from white Europeans as a means of civilizing themselves and achieving a degree of previously forgotten or corrupted humanity. Such an understanding necessarily reduces the overall level of appreciation that any of these European stakeholders, reading the poem, could understand with regards to the depth and complexity of culture and societal dynamics that were exhibited by the individuals to whom this wide and overarching definition applied. ... etation of the white man’s burden is warped and exhibits a number of fundamental flaws, it should also be understood and appreciated that Kipling places the work, time, energy, and money of the civilized/†white† world at the behest and service of those were less fortunate (Greenblatt & Abrams, 2006). Although the means by which Kipling differentiates these individuals is unfair and ultimately prejudiced, some degree of appreciation should be had for the fact that rather than forcing one’s will or societal norms upon the other, Kipling approaches this dynamic of â€Å"burden† from the perspective of one who seeks to perform an unpaid and otherwise unappreciated service. From such an understanding, it can be realized that Kipling is in fact placing white man on a lower societal pedestal than those to which he is attempting to integrate. Although this is obviously not the primary thrust nor intention that Kipling is seeking to bring about, the realities of this dynamic are presented throughout the poem as the invocation to â€Å"take up the white man’s burden† is likened to the necessity for each and every able-bodied Christian to take up the cross and suffer on Christ’s own behalf (Klima, 2010). Within such an understanding, the reader can come to a greater appreciation for the means by which servitude and a type of humility that one might not expect is exhibited throughout the poem in question. Essay 2: With regards to the link and relationship between civilization and the individual, these two concepts and definitions although inexorably interwoven are nonetheless quite distinct. With respect to the individual, the reader can and should realize that the individual is the only through and actionable definition that exists within these two terms which will be

Friday, October 18, 2019

Research Paper (Accounting Research paper) Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

(Accounting ) - Research Paper Example They evaluated the Moore farm and ascertained a cost of $450,000 which is equivalent to the fair market value of an estate with geological flaw. The intention of the expertise was to organize the corporation to invest in building where each party will receive a just and equitable stock pursuant to the services or property contributed. Tim joined the joint venture after lawful consultation with his tax advisor where he opted to transfer the land for the sale instead of receiving the stock with a note of $450,000 bearing an interest after five years. Tim recognized a gain on the sale of land instead of a stock of $450,000. The gain of this interest is taxable pursuant to the internal revenue code. Concord Instruments Corporation, 67 TCM 3036, T.C. Memo. 1994-248, a related fact pattern, upheld that the oral instructions to the broker to sell the stock at a very high cost comprised of enough identification of the shares. Reg. Â § 1.107-1(c)(3) articulates that stock can only be identified fully when (1) a particular stock to be sold is identified by the taxpayer and (2) the broker in written form confirms the instructions of the taxpayer within a period deemed reasonable. The IRS’s position in concord case was that no written confirmation of the instructions of the taxpayer was provided as per regulation demands. It is, therefore, lawful that the gain amount to be recognized should follow the FIFO basis in determination of the cost incurred to the shares sold. The taxpayer had an obligation to admit the argument of the taxpayer. It was concluded that the regulations in action currently do not make the provision of exclusive ways of identifying the stock that is sold. The taxpayer was allowed by the court to use the specific identification method. In a similar case, The Internal Revenue Code Reg. section 1.1031(a)-I(c), the ruling involved the property of the same kind but

Young adults books Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Young adults books - Essay Example Social and economic problems make the situation still worse. Shattered is one of the Bluford Series book, by Paul Langan. The story is weaved around the problems of teens in a predominantly black school. It is the same old problem that has confronted the younger generation through the Ages—it is between him and her! Darcy Wills is the prime character in the story. By dating a boy named Hakeem, who has a stuttering problem, she derives instant sympathy from the readers. But not for long! Hakeem leaves Bluford for a short break to Detroit and then returns. In the meantime, Darcy has knowledge that he has another girlfriend and she is kept in dark about this relationship. The love-transaction is not over. Darcy too has been seeing another boy, and he loved her so intensely and as the proof of his desperate love, made a daring attempt to rape her, but her Dad rescued her from the dastardly act well in time! Perhaps that was his only contribution for the welfare of the family, by the otherwise drunkard father. When Darcy’s parents have their own personal problems, what family ideals they can impart to the children? The story makes an interesting read for the adults for obvious reasons. They may see part of their own perverted aspects of personality in the story. If one tries to extract some moral from the story, it could be—don’t keep anything hiding from your intimate friends, especially the boyfriend. Don’t come to judgment about any individual unless you verify the facts. As for your parents, try not to interfere in their problems. Love them both, if possible. Soon, the compulsions of the circumstances will bring them together, and they will understand that it is in their own interest not to create fresh problems and solve the existing ones. How the parents can cope up with children like Martin Luna? How students like him can pay attention to studies, haunted with the killer

Thursday, October 17, 2019

How is recycling affecting interior design Essay

How is recycling affecting interior design - Essay Example inputs (lowering the consumption of raw materials and energy) and outputs (waste that goes to landfills) of a production system (Letsrecycle.Com 2006). A study by the Technical University of Demark studied 55 products in household rubbish, comparing the effects of burning, burying and recycling them. The results proved that recycling was the most efficient way to do with the waste more than 80% of the times, providing a worthwhile energy savings in comparison with production from raw materials: 95% economy for aluminium, 70% fro plastics and 40 % for paper (Economist 2007). Since 1970s recycling is associated with the notions of sustainable design (also green or ecological design) and sustainable community development. According to Green Supply Line (2007), â€Å"Sustainable design is a comprehensive, holistic approach to creating products and systems that are environmentally benign, socially equitable, and economically viable: environmentally, such that the design offers obvious or measurable environmental benefits; socially, so that it fills the needs of everyone involved in its production, use and disposal or reuse; and economically, so that the design is competitive in the marketplace.† Pellow, Schnaiberg and Weinberg (2000) suggest that recycling has become a model of sustainable community development while it has environmental, economic and social benefits, where economic one plays, perhaps, the crucial role (p.7-8). Today recycling is one of the major requirements of sustainable design and sustainable community development. For instance, Santa Monica Green Building Program names â€Å"recycling of demolition & construction waste in construction contracts† and specification of recycled products per EPA purchasing guidelines among its requirements to materials and envelope and space planning (Santa Monica.org). Recycling, together with efficient reduction and reuse of resources (materials and energy) is underlined as one of the major principles in most of the

Physical Structure of a Neuron (Neuron-to-Neuron Communication) Essay

Physical Structure of a Neuron (Neuron-to-Neuron Communication) - Essay Example Examples of the ten different body systems are the circulatory system, the digestive system, the integumentary (skin), the skeletal, the muscular, the digestive, respiratory, the reproductive, the endocrine and the nervous system. All these systems work together in harmony that makes the human body a complex whole. Vitamins, nutrients and minerals are necessary for all the systems to work perfectly to attain and maintain good health. Regular exercise, proper diet and a healthy lifestyle all contribute and work together to make these systems function properly. Perhaps one of the most complex body system is the nervous system. This is the set of body system that is composed of very highly-specialized cells involved with the receiving and its transmission of information from both internal and external stimuli. In other words, this system is responsible for the receipt and relay of various communications within the human body. It is a complex system composed of the brain, the spinal colu mn and the nerves. The nervous system also includes the special sense organs of the eyes, the ears, nose, taste buds and skin. In effect, the nervous system is the control system of the human body. It is a sort of a command center made up of the central nervous system (brain and spinal column) and the peripheral nervous system (the spinal nerves and the twelve cranial nerves). ... It is also known by other terms like biopsychology, behavioural neuroscience and physiological psychology but the ultimate aim is the same, which is to better understand how a human nervous system and its components explain our behaviours as well as various ailments. In this regard it is very important to study and understand how biological processes affect not only behaviours and emotions but the entire cognitive process as well. For this purpose, it is crucial to explore how a person's actions are greatly influenced by the brain, neurotransmitters and the nervous system. It is therefore necessary to study the complex inter-relationship between anatomy and physiology in the complex human process of biological growth and development. This very fascinating field of study has already yielded some useful insights into how the nervous system affects and influences the entire body and indeed the whole person through a discovery of the role of chemical transmission by neurotransmitters wit hin this system in relay of information from various stimuli (Wickens, 2005, p. 11). It is in this connection that this paper is discussing the basic unit of the nervous system which is the neuron and how the neurons in turn transmit crucial information between them. An understanding of a neuron's physical structure is a necessary adjunct to the process of understanding in the entire chemical transmission process. An example of a neurotransmitter is dopamine; too little of it causes Parkinson's and Alzheimer's but too much of it is associated with psychological disorders like dyslexia and schizophrenia. Physical Structure of a Neuron – the neuron is a single cell which is the basic unit or building block of the entire nervous system.

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

How is recycling affecting interior design Essay

How is recycling affecting interior design - Essay Example inputs (lowering the consumption of raw materials and energy) and outputs (waste that goes to landfills) of a production system (Letsrecycle.Com 2006). A study by the Technical University of Demark studied 55 products in household rubbish, comparing the effects of burning, burying and recycling them. The results proved that recycling was the most efficient way to do with the waste more than 80% of the times, providing a worthwhile energy savings in comparison with production from raw materials: 95% economy for aluminium, 70% fro plastics and 40 % for paper (Economist 2007). Since 1970s recycling is associated with the notions of sustainable design (also green or ecological design) and sustainable community development. According to Green Supply Line (2007), â€Å"Sustainable design is a comprehensive, holistic approach to creating products and systems that are environmentally benign, socially equitable, and economically viable: environmentally, such that the design offers obvious or measurable environmental benefits; socially, so that it fills the needs of everyone involved in its production, use and disposal or reuse; and economically, so that the design is competitive in the marketplace.† Pellow, Schnaiberg and Weinberg (2000) suggest that recycling has become a model of sustainable community development while it has environmental, economic and social benefits, where economic one plays, perhaps, the crucial role (p.7-8). Today recycling is one of the major requirements of sustainable design and sustainable community development. For instance, Santa Monica Green Building Program names â€Å"recycling of demolition & construction waste in construction contracts† and specification of recycled products per EPA purchasing guidelines among its requirements to materials and envelope and space planning (Santa Monica.org). Recycling, together with efficient reduction and reuse of resources (materials and energy) is underlined as one of the major principles in most of the

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Compare & Contrast Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Compare & Contrast - Essay Example Firstly, the film â€Å"The Secret Life of Grain†, represents what many filmmakers might see as an overly chauvinistic view of the world. However, it must also be understood that the culture that exists within the Maghreb is inherently patriarchal and the family associations and expectations that are represented within the film in question are not meant to cause any level of disrespect for anti-feminism. As such, the filmmaker reveals a world in which strict in gender norms determine what actions the men and the women will undertake (Scott 1). For instance, as it becomes clear that the couscous has been lost, it is the expectation that the men of the family must engage in a frantic and desperate rush to locate it. However, when their efforts fail, the gender expectation that is represented within the film is that it is ultimately the job of the women to solve the situation, re-cook the couscous, and utilize male sexual energy as a distraction for what is taking place behind th e scenes. Furthermore, the representation of class is one in which the viewer comes to the realization that the moneyed aristocracy/bureaucracy is the only mechanism through which the average societal stakeholder can hope to get ahead. As a direct result of this realization and portrayal, the protagonists of the film find it necessary to ingratiate themselves with these individuals as a means of pursuing this dream. Interestingly, the second film that will be discussed within this comparison and contrast, â€Å"All about My Mother†, represents a differential between those individuals that live within the provinces and those that live within Madrid. Furthermore, whereas it has been assumed that individuals who live in the big city are necessarily more liberal and open-minded than those who lived within the provinces, a unique understanding of class and acceptance is provided within this film; whereby the individuals who live in Madrid are

Monday, October 14, 2019

The Welcome Table by Alice Walker Essay Example for Free

The Welcome Table by Alice Walker Essay The Welcome Table is a short story written by Alice Walker. It is written in third person point of view. â€Å"The omniscient technique is used in this story and is particularly effective in allowing the reader to understand the old woman’s predicament and how she, and others, dealt with it† (Clugston, 2010). In this essay, I will explain the meaning of this story as well as the realities to racism and hate. The story begins by describing the elderly African-American woman. She was dressed in her Sunday church clothes that was old and falling apart. She had an old corsage pinned to her dress. The shoes she wore were high-heeled and polished. A silk scarf was used as a hair-band which was greasy from her oily pig-tails. Her aged eyes were blue-brown in color and were nearly blind. She was lean but old and wrinkled. Her skin was ashy. After walking many miles, she came upon a church. It was a white people’s church. She had walked alone to the big church. After walking a half a mile to the church, she was sweaty and clammy. She stopped on the steps of the church to rest before going inside. When she went into the church, the reverend stopped her. She brushed passed him and sat on the back bench. It was cold outside and near about just as cold inside the church. She sat there shivering from cold as everyone noticed as they went to sit up front. While everyone stared at her as if she was a piece of garbage, she sat there quietly. Some people spoke harsh words while others remained silent or felt sorry for her. Her appearance made some of the white people think of cooks, maids, and mistresses. Other people saw jungle orgies or â€Å"riotous anarchists looting and raping in the streets† (Clugston, 2010). Many thought Christian worship and the Holy Church was going to end. They saw an invasion of their privacy to worship. It made them furious as she sat there ignoring them. The usher called her â€Å"grandma† and told her that she should leave but she told him politely to â€Å"go away†. Finally, the white ladies made their husbands throw her out of the church. â€Å"Could their husbands expect them to sit up in church with that?† (Clugston, 2010). They referred to her as â€Å"that† as if she was an animal or trash. After getting her threw out of the church, the wives felt justified and the congregation started having church as they normally would. Outside, on the church steps, the poor old woman looked around as if in shock. She went back to singing in her head as she was before they threw her out, but this time it was a sad song. As she looked down the highway, she saw something amazing coming towards her. The frail old lady began to laugh and jump in joy. She saw Jesus walking in her direction. She mentions that he looked exactly like a picture she had stolen from a white lady’s Bible and hoped that he did not know she had stolen it. She waved her arms frantically, afraid that he might miss her. When Jesus got close to her, he asked her to â€Å"follow me†. As they walked, she told him past stories of her life and how she cooked, cleaned, and nursed the white people. She also told him of how they threw her from their church. As they were walking, she would sing from time to time. It seemed as if they were walking forever. None of the church people knew what had become of the old lady until later when they heard that an old black lady was found dead on the side of the road. As she had walked along the highway, many people saw her talking and making hand movements as if she was talking to someone. But, being that they saw no one other than her, they thought she had lost her mind. What they did not see was that Jesus was leading one of his soldiers home and she was talking to him. This story is a perfect example of racism and hate. It shows how many white people treated African-Americans. It is shocking to me that one human-being can treat another human-being with so much dislike and hatred. We are all God’s creatures and we should treat everyone with love as Jesus would. References Clugston, Wayne R. (2010). Journey into Literature. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc. Walker, A. (2003). THE WELCOME TABLE. Literary Cavalcade, 55(5),32.

Sunday, October 13, 2019

Deliverance: A Study of Medicaid and Managed Care Essay -- Health Medi

Deliverance: A Study of Medicaid and Managed Care Since the inception of Medicaid in 1965, the program has seen extraordinary growth in expenditures and enrollment. From 1989 to 1992, the increases in Medicaid spending were the largest since the program began in. Enrollment in Medicaid by AFDC families grew from 3.8 million in 1990 to 4.4 million in 1992, almost a nine percent annual increase (Coughlin et al. 1994). During this period, states were also experiencing the effects of a nationwide recession. Rapidly rising expenditure levels stretched revenue streams to their limits. In efforts to save money, states looked primarily at the benefits of managed care, which was becoming a successful delivery and financing system (Ruggie 1996). Medicaid patients had a history of using emergency rooms for problems such as colds, flues, and other minor illnesses. Medicaid paid $75 for an emergency room visit in 1995, but only $29 for a physician’s office visit (Lutz 1995). Medicaid officials hoped that placing the patient in contact with a primary care physician would encourage the use of preventative medicine, thereby holding down costs. States began Medicaid managed care programs using the AFDC population as guinea pigs. With waivers allowed under Section 1115 of the Social Security Act, states restructured their Medicaid programs (Rotwein et al. 1995). This was the single largest Medicaid innovation of the 1990s (Couglin et al. 1999). Between 1991 and 1996, enrollment of Medicaid clients in managed care increased by a factor of six (Thompson and DiIulio 1998). Many reasons accompanied the assertion that the AFDC population would benefit the most from managed care. The women and children of AFDC could take advantage of the ... ...cience Review 67: 1174-1185. Key, V.O., Jr. 1999, reprinted. Southern Politics in State and Nation. Knoxville: University of Tennessee Press. Lutz, Sandy. 1995. â€Å"For Real Reform, Watch the States.† Modern Healthcare 25: 31- 35. Rotwein, Suzanne, Maria Boulmetis and Paul J. Boben. 1995. â€Å"Medicaid and State Health Care Reform: Process, Programs, and Policy Options.† Health Care Financing Review 16: 105-120. Ruggie, Mary. 1996. Realignments in the Welfare State: Health Policy in the United States, Britain, and Canada. New York: Columbia University Press. Thompson, Frank J., and John J. DiIulio Jr., eds. 1998. Medicaid and Devolution: A View from the States. Washington, D.C.: Brookings Institution Press. Walker, Jack. 1969. â€Å"The Diffusion of Innovations Among the American States.† American Political Science Review 63: 880-899.

Saturday, October 12, 2019

Willa Cathers Short Story Pauls Case Essay example -- Willa Cather P

Willa Cather's Short Story "Paul's Case"   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In Willa Cather’s short story Paul’s Case we learn of a young man who is fighting what he fears most: to be as common and plain as his world around him. How others perceive Paul only encourages him to fulfill his dream of escaping his monotonous lifestyle. Paul feels he is drowning in his everyday environment and his only breath of air is his savior: the theater.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Paul has very little interest in his class studies. This leaves him open to distraction and eventually criticism. Although Paul’s appearance is that of a perfect gentleman, his teachers find his behavior inappropriate and unacceptable. The narrator draws particular attention to Paul’s eyes describing them as â€Å"remarkable for a certain hysterical brilliancy†(Cather 245); this is followed by the response of his teachers who find it â€Å"peculiarly offensive in a boy†(Cather 245). Paul’s meeting with the schools principal continues as each of his teachers get an opportunity to voice their disgust with Paul. The whole time Paul stands there never losing his smile. This is dubbed â€Å"irritating to the last degree† (Cather 246). For Paul this is his sign of strength. He refuses to allow his teachers, of such simple minds, to tear at his soul. They have no understanding of Paul’s behavior and do not wish to learn. A fter the meeting his teachers felt remorse for their onslaught against this mere boy. One remarked on the similarity to a â€Å"miserable street cat set at bay by a r...

Friday, October 11, 2019

Types of Listening

Types of listening Here are six types of listening, starting with basic discrimination of sounds and ending in deepcommunication. Discriminative listening Discriminative listening is the most basic type of listening, whereby the difference between difference soundsis identified. If you cannot hear differences, then you cannot make sense of the meaning that is expressed bysuch differences. We learn to discriminate between sounds within our own language early, and later areunable to discriminate between the phonemes of other languages.This is one reason why a person from onecountry finds it difficult to speak another language perfectly, as they are unable distinguish the subtle soundsthat are required in that language. Likewise, a person who cannot hear the subtleties of emotional variation in another person's voice will be lesslikely to be able to discern the emotions the other person is experiencing. Listening is a visual as well as auditory act, as we communicate much throughbody la nguage. We thus alsoneed to be able to discriminate between muscle and skeletal movements that signify different meanings.Biased listening Biased listening happens when the person hears only what they want to hear, typically misinterpreting whatthe other person says based on thestereotypesand other biases that they have. Such biased listening isoften very evaluative in nature. Evaluative listening In evaluative listening, or critical listening , we make judgments about what the other person is saying. Weseek to assess the truth of what is being said. We also judge what they say against ourvalues, assessingthem as good or bad, worthy or unworthy.Evaluative listening is particularly pertinent when the other person is trying to persuade us, perhaps tochange our behavior and maybe even to change ourbeliefs. Within this, we also discriminate betweensubtleties of language and comprehend the inner meaning of what is said. Typically also we weigh up the prosand cons of an argument, determin ing whether it makes sense logically as well as whether it is helpful to us. Evaluative listening is also called critical, judgmental or interpretive listening. Appreciative listeningIn appreciative listening, we seek certain information which will appreciate, for example that which helpsmeet ourneedsandgoals. We use appreciative listening when we are listening to good music, poetry ormaybe even the stirring words of a great leader. Sympathetic listeningIn sympathetic listening we care about the other person and show this concern in the way we pay closeattention and express our sorrow for their ills and happiness at their joys. Empathetic listening When we listenempathetically, we go beyond sympathy to seek a truer understand how others are feeling.This requires excellent discrimination and close attention to the nuances of emotional signals. When we arebeing truly empathetic, we actually feel what they are feeling. In order to get others to expose these deep parts of themselves to us, we also need to demonstrate ourempathy in our demeanor towards them, asking sensitively and in a way that encourages self-disclosure. Therapeutic listening In therapeutic listening, the listener has a purpose of not only empathizing with the speaker but also to usethis deep connection in order to help the speaker understand, change or develop in some way.This not onlyhappens when you go to see a therapist but also in many social situations, where friends and family seek toboth diagnose problems from listening and also to help the speaker cure themselves, perhaps by somecathartic process. This also happens in work situations, where managers, HR people, trainers and coachesseek to help employees learn and develop. Relationship listening Sometimes the most important factor in listening is in order to develop or sustain a relationship.This is whylovers talk for hours and attend closely to what each other has to say when the same words from someoneelse would seem to be rather boring. Relationship listening is also important in areas such as negotiation and sales, where it is helpful if the otherperson likes you and trusts you. False listening False listening occurs where a person is pretending to listen but is not hearing anything that is being said. They may nod, smile and grunt in all the right places, but do not actually take in anything that is said.This is askill that may be finely honed by people who do a lot of inconsequential listening, such as politicians androyalty. Their goal with their audience is to make a good impression in very short space of time before theymove on, never to talk to that person again. It is also something practiced by couples, particularly where oneside does most of the talking. However, the need for relationship here can lead to this being spotted (‘You'renot listening again! ‘) and consequent conflict. Initial listeningSometimes when we listen we hear the first few words and then start to think about what we want t o say inreturn. We then look for a point at which we can interrupt. We are also not listening then as we are spendingmore time rehearsing what we are going to say about their initial point. Selective listening Selective listening involves listening for particular things and ignoring others. We thus hear what we want tohear and pay little attention to ‘extraneous' detail. Partial listeningPartial listening is what most of us do most of the time.We listen to the other person with the best of intentand then become distracted, either by stray thoughts or by something that the other person has said. Weconsequently dip inside our own heads for a short while as we figure out what they really mean or formulate a question for them, before coming back into the room and starting to listen again. This can be problematicwhen the other person has moved on and we are unable to pick up the threads of what is being said. We thuseasily can fall into false listening, at least for a short while. This can be embarrassing, of course, if theysuddenly ask your opinion.A tip here: own up, admitting that you had lost the thread of the conversation andasking them to repeat what was said. Full listening Full listening happens where the listener pays close and careful attention to what is being said, seekingcarefully to understand the full content that the speaker is seeking to put across. This may be very active form of listening, with pauses for summaries and testing that understanding iscomplete. By the end of the conversation, the listener and the speaker will probably agree that the listenerhas fully understood what was said.Full listening takes much more effort than partial listening, as it requires close concentration, possibly for aprotracted period. It also requires skills of understanding and summary. Deep listening Beyond the intensity of full listening, you can also reach into a form of listening that not only hears what issaid but also seeks to understand the whole pers on behind the words. In deep listening, you listen between the lines of what is said, hearing theemotion, watching thebody language, detectingneedsandgoals, identifyingpreferencesand biases, perceivingbeliefsandvalues, and soon.

Thursday, October 10, 2019

Action or Inaction and the Ethics of Choice Essay

One of Peter Singer’s four main principles of ethics is that we are just as responsible for our inactions as we are for our actions. This means that we as human beings have an ethical obligation to act if we witness something wrong happening. Even if we do not see it but we know it is going on, then once we possess that knowledge we have also incurred a moral duty to act. Without this obligation, we become a liability to the community because we are no longer taking responsibility for the well-being of others when it is in our power to do so. Examples of this are easily found in the modern media. The first example of such an understood and implicit responsibility would be in the case of Penn State and their football defensive coordinator, Jerry Sandusky. Jerry Sandusky committed horrible crimes, molesting and sexually assaulting numerous young boys who were looking to him to help them out of already bad situations at home via his charity, Second Mile. These were at risk youth. The head coach of Penn State’s football team, Joe Paterno, had been alerted to the crimes possibly being committed by his defensive coordinator but he had failed to act or contact law enforcement. The president of the university also was accused of knowing but taking no action. (1) In the eyes of the public, once the criminal trial began to get underway, the head coach and the president were both equally guilty for allowing such atrocities to go on under their noses. To the American people and the plaintiffs, simply saying, â€Å"It wasn’t me that hurt these boys.† was not enough to excuse their inaction. They had failed in their civic duty to protect the community and its children. To fail a society in this manner means you have become a hindrance and a liability to the people who once sustained you. It is no small question to wonder where the line is drawn between an obligation to action and the freedom to do nothing. Not only is it illegal to rob a bank, it is equally illegal to drive the getaway car. True, as a mere driver, you did not in fact steal money or hurt anyone. However, by your own inaction (you did not call the cops, you did not discourage the robbers), you have enabled harm to be brought to others. The consequences then are that had you acted, harm may have been avoided. Just as if you had held the gun yourself, your knowledge means that you acted to hurt someone else even if it was simply by not acting. Many cultures have shame and honor systems which detail explicitly the duties of a citizen to act and the restrictions on actions as well. American law makes very clear pronouncements about guilt by association, being an alibi, being an accomplice, and other specific things required by those who stood by. We as a people do not accept inaction as an excuse to avoid blame. Peter Singer’s specific principle denotes the ability to choose between action and inaction automatically confers upon the decider the weight of their choice. Once you are aware that you have a choice to make, you also should be aware that the choice rightly bears consequences. Surprisingly, many people find this unfair. They do not believe they hold any blame if they choose not to take action. If a woman is raped in a street in broad daylight with fifty witnesses, almost all the witnesses will feel that it was not their problem, not their responsibility to stop it or report it. When confronted later, they will squirm with shame, but as the well-known case of Kitty Genovese (2) proved, they do not honestly feel they did anything wrong. Therefore, the ethical idea of responsibility for both action and inaction is an idea that still needs advocates throughout the world. The social contract that exists between man and his government also extends to man and his fellow man. Works cited: 1.) Simon, M. (2012, November 7). Former Penn State president arraigned in Sandusky scandal – This Just In – CNN.com Blogs. Retrieved November 8, 2012, from http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2012/11/07/former-penn-state-president-arraigned-in-sandusky-scandal 2.) Darley, L. (2010, August 19). Bystander Effect: The Case of Kitty Genovese. Retrieved November 8, 2012, from

It205 Week 4 Checkpoint

How does email benefit an organization? I believe that email is a great benefit to most companies because it allows ideas and or attachments to be shared instantly. Why might an organization limit how an employee uses email during work hours? By limiting email usage during work hours it decreases the chance of clients being overcharged for work hours and also decreases the chance of loss of profit due to an employee’s attention being somewhere other than work. What is an emails path once it leaves an organization? Depending on the company it could go directly to the person it is addressed to or it could go through the IT department then to the person it is addressed to. What is the effect of instant messaging on organizational networks? Instant messaging can be a very useful tool as long and it isn’t taken advantage of, it could be used to send mass messages to all employees and or messages to individuals who may not be in the same building when working on projects. What are benefits and drawbacks of using instant messaging in an organization? A benefit would be that it is instant unlike email that may take a while, and has to be checked. A drawback can be used with that same example it is instant so files and or information that is not supposed to be viewed by outside individuals can be transmitted instantly. What are the drawbacks and benefits of webpage and search engine use in an organization? A benefit would be information for research being very accessible via websites and search engines A drawback would be these tools being abused and people using them for reasons outside of work. Should managers monitor employee email and internet usage? Why or why not? I think that management should monitor email and internet usage during work hours because of loss of revenue due to employees being on the web instead of being productive. Also to protect the organization from potential liability of what may or may not be transmitted or received on the organization’s server/ IP.

Wednesday, October 9, 2019

Mobile devices Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Mobile devices - Assignment Example Mobile devices enable communication by facilitating the process within which information and data is shared within an organization. This includes the exchange of information and data between the management and employees. For example information about the operations of organizations is communicated to the management team so that it is used to reach strategic decisions on how efficiency and effectiveness can be achieved within the organization. The interaction between an organization with stakeholders within the external environment such as consumers, suppliers, distributors, retailers and shareholders is facilitated through the use of mobile devices and as a result increasing the effectiveness of an organization in meeting its goals and objectives. For example mobile devices are used to answer the queries of consumers and their problems and concerns which cause them to be satisfied with the products and services that are rendered by the organization. In this sense therefore mobile devices allow organizations to effectively meet their goals of achieving a larger share of the market and wining the loyalty of consumers through effective and efficient service delivery and presentation of high quality and authentic products to the market. More importantly the effectiveness of an organization’s supply and value chains is facilitates through the use of mobile devices as a communication strategy through which effective int eraction is achieved with the suppliers, distributors and retailers of the organization’s products. Furthermore mobile devices enhance interaction with marketers and as a result facilitate the effectiveness of promotion of the organization’s good and services to the market which leads to higher sales. This therefore defines an effective organization as facilitate by the role of mobile devices in promoting interactivity with the stakeholders of the

Tuesday, October 8, 2019

Reflection paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 7

Reflection paper - Essay Example They have also dug tunnels beneath the private property of individuals. This is with an aim of preventing Israel from attacking them, or destroying their weapons. This is because by using settlements where people live, Hamas is able to use them as human shields. Under International Law, it is a crime and illegal for soldiers to attack and kill unarmed civilians. Due to this tactic initiated by Hamas, the death toll of civilians in Gaza was so high, that Barnard and Rudoren identify as 650 people. This is by the time that this article was written. Barnard and Rudoren (2014) explain that under international law, Hamas has a legal obligation of minimizing its military operations near areas where civilians are living. Furthermore, they believe that Hamas is committing a war crime, through their action of firing rockets indiscriminately. Barnard and Rudoren (2014) also maintain that Israel has an obligation of identifying specific military targets in Gaza, and ensuring that civilians are not threatened by their military actions. The tactics of using civilians as human shield by Hamas, and storing weapons in civilian neighborhoods, is an example of urban warfare. Under international law, urban warfare is not illegal, but the law requires that the parties to the conflict must ensure that civilians are protected from harm. Barnard and Rudoren recognize that Israel is a more powerful army, as compared to Hamas, and hence to level the field, Hamas had to protect its weapons by hiding them in civilian areas, and engaging Israel in thos e areas (Barnard and Rudoren, 2014). However, after Barnard and Rudoren (2014) quoting thee extensive use of human shields by Hamas, they point out that there is no evidence that Hamas forced civilians to stay in such areas. Through this assertion, Barnard and Rudoren (2014) were trying to denote that Hamas was not committing an international war crime. To judge on whether this

Sunday, October 6, 2019

Proposal Argument Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Proposal Argument - Assignment Example Data in support of more bicycle lanes V. The Safety Aspect of Bicycling a. How street bike lanes make city biking safer for all concerned b. The â€Å"Safety Numbers† effect VI. Conclusion More Bicycle Lanes Will Make Street Biking Safer and Reduce Street Biking Accidents Bicycles have been a standard mode of transportation for people far longer than the cars have been in existence. These bone shakers were the preferred method of the early Americans when it came to getting around their neighborhood on errands and trips to visit friends. It has always been considered one of the most cost - effective, if not the most cost effective ways of transportation because of the method by which the mode of transport works, it does not require the use of gasoline. Health experts have argued and defended the positive effects of bicycling on the health of people. Environmentalists have pointed out the advantages of bicycling in terms of nature preservation and reduction of gas emissions into the atmosphere. Yet with all of these expert opinions abounding, it seems that the local governments have chosen to turn a deaf ear to the fact that our city would greatly benefit from the expansion of the current number of bicycle lanes in the city to a number that would actually have a positive impact on the traffic situation in the city, and address the growing concern for the safety of the increasing number of cyclists in our city streets. We have grown up in a â€Å"car culture† society. This means that we looks towards our automotive vehicles as our primary and only mode of transport. our culture saw bike riders as a danger to the â€Å"open door† situation of cars that were parked along the curb of sidewalks where bicycles were relegated to in the absence of actual bicycle lanes. There was a real fear that the cyclists would damage the car doors by slamming into them and causing a serious roadside accident. But, according to the Boston Cyclists Union (â€Å"Bi ke Lanes, The Reasoning Behind Them and a Bit of Boston History†) ; A typical argument from this anti-bike-lane crew is that bike lanes put riders closer to or inside the door zone. The city of Cambridge’s 2005 Hampshire Street Study has been called the â€Å"nail in the coffin† of that argument. Instead of moving into the door zone after a new bike lane was installed, people moved further away from it... The average distance away from the cars increased by only 2.4 inches. But the distribution of distances narrowed, so far fewer riders rode really close to the doors and about 8 percent of riders moved completely out of the door zone. Typical biking accidents include off-road riding, trick riding or racing. Due to the fact that there are only limited bike lanes available in the city, cyclists have to battle for street space with the cars. Due to the nature of the vehicle, not much protection is offered to the cyclist in the event of an accident. Gathered informat ion about biking accidents from 2008-2009 show that in the city of Toronto, There were 2, 335 injured cyclists admitted to their emergency rooms (Badger, Emily â€Å"Dedicated Bike Lanes Can Cut Cycling Injuries in Half†). The results of the study in Canada which were published in the American Journal of Public Health further explained that these injuries were sustained on 14 different types of streets lanes. These street paths included (Schmitt, Angie â€Å"Study: Protected Bike Lanes Reduce Injury Risk Up to 90 Percent†

Saturday, October 5, 2019

Who am I Personal autobiography Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Who am I Personal autobiography - Essay Example Difficulties in my growing years molded my character when it comes to endurance which proved to be vital in a future stepping stone, the navy. There were times I felt so terrible because of disappointments to myself when I fail in an endeavor but as I looked around and saw others committing mistakes yet never giving up, I learned to encourage myself. Controlling my emotions was one of the things I learned because I have learned that being emotional could break a person. This could probably one of the things that have strongly influenced me to consider discipline and determination to be my friends and little victories, my comfort. I am family oriented and I value education for myself. Having grown in a closely-knit family, the value of it has deeply been rooted in my heart so that treasuring family members has become a part of me. I believe that family comes first in a married man’s life because there would be no other people more concerned of an individual than a bloodline. To day, there could be home cares for elders where family members could be nursed however; there would still be no better place like home and no better people to look after an aged person than a family member. Entering the navy in 1989 with the full support of my family, I knew I was taking a jump of a great distance that could either make or break me knowing the discipline the opportunity has in store for me.

Friday, October 4, 2019

Identify and describe 4 additional items that can be added to improve Assignment

Identify and describe 4 additional items that can be added to improve the STEP criteria for assessment of SOCIAL,ECONOMIC,ENVIRONMENTAL,impacts - Assignment Example Apart from the internal green team, which oversees the institutions sustainability initiatives (David,2011), the company should establish external independent evaluators who will constantly inform the management on the progress towards achievement of sustainability activities and strategies. The business entity should have a written service delivery charter, which shows the standards of service delivery which the business pledges to the community especially for offsite tourism activities. This should supplement the business code of conduct as indicated in the STEP criteria(Patterson, 2005). This is a good framework for a sustainable business development as it provides a criterion for both the business its customers and the community to evaluate the performance of the business. There should be a well set communication plan which indicates the mechanism through which the entity cascades its sustainability plan to the community. Chief among them is through the organization of a get together of the business management, employees and stakeholders. As such, the business should come up with a plan showing how often such activities will be held and consequently adhere to its plan. This can be evaluated by ascertaining the existence of such a plan at the time of evaluation. To ensure that there is proper monitoring of the sustainability plan, the business should formulate the policy or strategy implementation matrix. The matrix should indicate the employees and stakeholders involved in its implementation, and the time frame and resources required. In addition, it should indicate the economic implication to all stakeholders involved. This is vital in ensuring that the local community can ascertain their benefit if they assist in achievement of entities objectives. The existing STEP criterion indicates that the company should indicate the volume of garbage it recycles. However, it is important for the

Thursday, October 3, 2019

Chemical Policy Regulation Essay Example for Free

Chemical Policy Regulation Essay The European Commission’s Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals (REACH) is a new system wherein manufacturers, distributors, and importers are required to sign-in their chemical inventories into a centralized database, along with information on physical and chemical properties, safe handling, hazards, and uses. Substances with carcinogenic, toxic, or mutagenic activity will require permission before being used, and any chemical whose risks are too unmanageable will be banned for use. REACH will thus be an aid in the management of information on chemicals, since it will demand that unknown data on chemicals currently in use be determined for registration purposes, and that new chemicals to be used by industry will now have a standardized procedure for the acquisition and distribution of information and control on their use. In detail, REACH will operate in the manner described in the following sentences. First, parties dealing in chemical products will be required to send a dossier of information on chemicals that they handle that are produced in excess of 1 metric tonne annually. Basic information will be required of chemicals dispensed in the range of 1-10 metric tonnes, while more will be asked of chemicals distributed in larger quantities. As an example of additional data that will be required, substances produced in excess of 10 tonnes annually should have an associated chemical safety report in which the hazard and risk assessment of the substance for specified uses must be outlined and how the risks posed by the chemical can be adequately controlled for these uses. One component of the assessment is an â€Å"exposure scenario†, a summary of the use(s) and appropriate risk management measures for the substance studied. All the safety data then submitted for â€Å"substances of very high concern† and chemicals used in bulk will be evaluated by a panel of experts, and any chemical whose use cannot be justified in terms of its risk of use being under control or its socio-economic value outweighing risks considered will be subjected to a phase-out and replacement with safer alternatives, if there are any. REACH in effect is an implementation of the venerable â€Å"precautionary principle†, one statement of which being that the burden of proof of a chemical’s ability to deal severe or irreversible harm should be foisted upon the advocates of the chemical’s use, in the absence of evidence that the chemical is safe for use. To illustrate the importance of the â€Å"precautionary principle†, one only needs to look at dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and the organochlorine pesticides that followed. At the time of their introduction, they were widely accepted and hailed as being much safer than the inorganic pesticides such as the arsenicals that were then the mainstays of pest control. It was only after many years of use that their deleterious effects towards human health and the environment became noticeable. In short, the tenet â€Å"innocent until proven guilty† is not to be applied to chemicals that may require years of use before exerting ill effects, and by then the damage done may already be too difficult or impossible to undo. REACH aims to address issues such as safety, the phasing out of â€Å"substances of concern†, and the encouragement of innovation in industry. In detail, REACH can address health issues because, by its very nature, it will prevent the unnecessary use and needless release into the environment of substances whose risk of use cannot be justified as against the benefits that can be accrued. In this respect, if it can be shown that a substance under scrutiny has no justifiable reason for its continuous use because of the availability of environmentally benign alternatives, its phase out will be implemented as soon as possible. Finally, industry will be spurred, in theory, to research possible replacements for the hazardous chemicals that they currently use due to the pressure exerted by REACH to limit or stop the use of   hazardous chemicals, paving the way for innovations. To facilitate the implementation of REACH, the European Chemicals Agency will be established in Helsinki, Finland. The Agency will serve to coordinate the majority of the work related to chemical regulation and evaluation. Members of the European Union still wield responsibility, however. A large portion of the data gathered through REACH will be publicly accessible. The legislation aims to protect human health and the environment, but the risk of negatively impacting the European economy has been brought up by concerned parties. Efforts to strike a happy medium have been going on for several years. One side has talked about increases in the incidence of cancer and disorders related to the malfunction of the endocrines, while the other side has focused on burgeoning red tape, rises in costs and loss of jobs as businesses move away from Europe. Groups with vested interests in the chemical industry have been accused of lobbying to water down REACH for their benefit. As such, there are groups that say that REACH has loopholes that can enable unscrupulous industries to persist in using substances of very high concern for their convenience. While industry has sought to have REACH’s requirements loosened, European trade unions and environmentalists have joined forces in arguing for strong legislation. It is said that one in three work-related illnesses in the 15 older EU member states is due to chemical exposure. REACH also enjoys the backing of consumer groups and medical associations. A limitation of REACH is that it only applies to chemicals manufactured in or imported into the EU, and therefore is not applicable to chemicals that are incorporated into finished products. So a product like a television, or computer or shampoo made outside the EU could contain chemicals that are not registered under REACH providing they are not banned under specific safety regulations (such as lead). Polymers (plastics, rubbers, and ilk) are excluded from the auspices of REACH for the time being, but monomers, or the chemicals used to make them, will still be covered by REACH. Pesticides, biocides and   human and veterinary pharmaceuticals are also exempt from REACH, the rationalization being that they are regulated under a different legislation from industrial chemicals. Industrial byproducts and waste are also not covered by REACH, but substances produced from waste or substances used in the processing of waste are covered by REACH. REACH defines what it calls substances of very high concern as substances that belong in any of these categories: substances that are cancer-causing (carcinogenic), mutation-inducing (mutagenic) or interfere with the bodys reproductive function (CMRs); substances that take a long time to break down (persistent), accumulate in the body (bioaccumulative) and are toxic (PBTs); substances that are very persistent and very bioaccumulative (vPvBs); and substances that have serious and irreversible effects on humans and the environment, for instance endocrine disrupting substances. Any new results in light of the effects of a chemical under scrutiny on the environment or human health can influence its retention or phasing out.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   As an example of the chemicals that can fall under these previously mentioned classes, the previously mentioned organochlorine pesticides will fall under the PBT category; Alar, a plant growth regulator that was pulled out from the market due to concerns about the mutagenicity and carcinogenicity of one of its breakdown products will fall under CMR, and the chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) which, although nontoxic, tend to persist in the atmosphere to cause damage to the ozone layer will belong to the vPvB category. Note that a chemical only has to satisfy one of the set criteria of a certain category to belong.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Hazard triggers are an approach where â€Å"substances of high concern† are classified according to the hazards they present when tested in various models. Hazard triggers can be used as an adjunct or substitute for risk assessment since it is usually faster and cheaper to use such. However, extrapolating results of lab tests to what can happen when a chemical is used outside the lab is not always accurate. It has happened in previous times that there were chemicals that exhibited no injurious effects in lab tests and were subsequently shown to be unsafe when used in the field. Conversely, there have also been cases where a chemical that was initially shown to cause serious health problems in animal models was barred from further use even if subsequent tests demonstrated that its use poses no risk to human health. As such, the evaluation of a chemical’s safety based on hazard triggers should proceed on a case-to-case basis, and should be thoroughly scrutinized. Example hazard triggers include persistence (measured in terms of half life in soil or aquatic medium), long-range transport (quantified by the DT50), and ecotoxicity (of which the LC50 is the quantifying parameter). aims of REACH controversial issues associated with the legislation substances of `high concern` hazard triggers and risk assessment the implications of REACH for Environmental protection References BBC News (2005) QA: REACH Chemicals Legislation [online] accessed at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4437304.stm Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (2004) Government Response to the Royal Commission on Environmental pollution Report on Chemicals in Products, Cm6300, HMSO [online] accessed at http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/chemicals/ukpolicy.htm European Commission (2006) REACH in Brief, based on common position of the Council [online] accessed at http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/reach/index_en.htm The Lowell Center for Sustainable Production (nd) REACH The New EU Chemicals Strategy: A New Approach to Chemicals Management [online] accessed at http://www.chemicalspolicy.org/reach.shtml REACH Compliance (2007) http://www.reach-compliance.eu/english/index.html