Monday, September 30, 2019

Remembering Gregory Hines Essay

On the 14th of February 1946, a talented artist was born to the Hines family. Gregory Hines started dancing with his older brother Maurice at the age of barely three years. Approximately two years after that, the Hines siblings made professional appearances in nightclubs across the country. Aside from the fact that the Hines brothers came from a family of performers, they were also practically exposed to tap dancing legends at that time namely Honi Coles, Sandman Sims, the Nicholas Brothers, and Teddy Hale, watching them at the backstage of Apollo Theatre. 1 Gregory’s career in tap dancing went on for a while with his brother and dad as they had international tours and show exposures on â€Å"The Tonight Show. † Little did he know that his next decisions would lead him to a long, exciting ride in his artistic growth. Gregory and his brother had relational and professional tensions that have piled up and, coupled with the declining interest of the public for tap dancing, the artist decided to leave his dancing group in 1973 to move to California. There, he formed the jazz-rock band called Severance. He was the band’s songwriter, guitarist, and singer. His band split up before the end of the 70’s though and Gregory has to return to New York and resume on his dancing career. The Hines brothers got reunited to do a tribute to American ragtime composer and pianist, Eubie Blake in a production entitled, Eubie! This opened an opportunity for Gregory to get a Tony Award nomination. Several nominations would follow suit for his performances in Comin’ Uptown (1979) and Sophisticated Ladies (1981). Hines also conquered the television world, which proved his versatility in acting. This earned him film credits having appeared in History of the World: Part I (1981), The Cotton Club (1984), and White Nights (1985). It was in television that Gregory’s talent was first recognized with an Emmy Award for his television feature, Gregory Hines: Tap Dance in America. 2 Then comes the next highlight to his career—a Tony Award at last! Hines portrayed the older version of Jelly Roll Morton on a Broadway show entitled Jelly’s Last Jam. In this show, he co-starred with Sammy Davis Jr. , his idol in the field. He has looked up to this great entertainer so much that when the latter was dying of throat cancer, he was there to visit. During the funeral of Sammy, Gregory spoke on how he felt like his idol believes that he can continue on from where Davis has left off. 3 Gregory Hines continued to be active in the entertainment industry from the stage, to television, to music, and even to film directing. His latest works would include an LP entitled, Gregory Hines, which was produced by no less than Luther Vandross. He also had television appearances in the popular contemporary comedy, Will and Grace. However, like all others, good things come to an end. Gregory Hines died in 2003 at the early age of 57. 4 With his death caused by liver cancer, he was then engaged to Negrita Jayde. 5 Tragic it may seem, but the bright side to it is, Gregory has not left this world colorless and meaningless. An article quote says it all: â€Å"Gregory Hines, the genial, suave dancer, singer and actor who for many personified the art of classical tap in the 1980’s and 90’s . . . †6 References Britannica. Gregory Hines. Retrieved March 2, 2009, from http://www. britannica. com/EBchecked/topic/901439/Gregory-Hines Dunning, Jennifer. (2003). Gregory Hines, Versatile Dancer and Actor, Dies at 57. Retrieved March 2, 2009, from http://query. nytimes. com/gst/fullpage. html? res=9D05E4DF1031F932A2575BC0 A9659C8B63 Tap Legacy Foundation. (2007). Gregory Hines Tribute Site. Retrieved March 2, 2009, from http://www. taplegacy. org/gh/bio/bio. html Wikipedia. (2009, March 1). Gregory Hines. Retrieved March 2, 2009, from http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Gregory_Hines

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Luxury Goods in Hong Kong, China Essay

Luxury goods experienced a slowdown in current value growth for 2012 against 2011, largely attributed by the unstable economic conditions brought about by the 2011 Euro crisis as well as the slowing down of the Chinese economy. While consumers’ sentiments were still relatively strong, spending continued to tilt towards a more cautious end. Depreciation of Euros also saw more consumers heading to Hong Kong for holidays and in turn purchasing luxury goods from there to take advantage of the. Euromonitor International’s Luxury Goods in Hong Kong, China report offers a comprehensive guide to the size and shape of the Luxury Goods market at a national level. It provides the latest retail sales data, allowing you to identify the sectors driving growth. It identifies the leading companies, the leading brands and offers strategic analysis of key factors influencing the market and their effects on Luxury Goods retailing along with the development of consumers’ shopping patterns. Forecasts to 2017 illustrate how the market is set to change. Buy a Report Copy @ http://www.rnrmarketresearch.com/contacts/purchase?rname=88087. Product coverage: Designer Apparel (Ready-to-Wear), Fine Wines/Champagne and Spirits, Luxury Accessories, Luxury Cigars, Luxury Electronic Gadgets, Luxury Jewellery and Timepieces, Luxury Travel Goods, Luxury Writing Instruments and Stationery, Super Premium Beauty and Personal Care.Data coverage: market sizes (historic and forecasts), company shares, brand shares and distribution data. Why buy this report? – Get a detailed picture of the Luxury Goods market; – Pinpoint growth sectors and identify factors driving change; – Understand the competitive environment, the market’s major players and leading brands;

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Discussion Board 2-2 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Discussion Board 2-2 - Assignment Example In counseling, the above listed nonverbal communication may occur or dominate interaction when a client fails to corporate as expected. Uncomfortable situation during counseling may develop when a counselor struggles unsuccessfully to make a client open up, speak about their real problems, and perhaps express their opinions about their expectation and structure of counseling. Such occurrence may cause disappointed and los of focus by a counselor who begin to use unstructured and confused gestures in attempt to convince a client (Ungar, 2011). When caught is the situation, a counselor may also change and depict moody facial expression that may confirm disappointment. Failure to cause a client to engage and participate actively in a counseling process may also appear embarrassing and frustrating a counselor who is incompetent in handling extreme challenges in the counseling process. Serious frustration and embarrassment may make a counselor change to make indirect eye contact with a client who may be wearing an aggrieved and harsh face. A counselor interacting with a harsh and highly irritated client can depict disturbed sitting or standing posture that may confirm frustration and

Friday, September 27, 2019

Summary Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 18

Summary - Essay Example The Scales seem to point heavily in favour of presidential primacy as the most prudent and effective approach. It is clear that the Framers agreed that there should be no absolute seat of power. This was achieved by dividing power across the three separate branches of government. Framers were willing to trade military and diplomatic efficiency to preclude either branch from consolidating authority and achieving absolute power. Article I Section 8 states that congress† shall have power†¦to declare war.† Article II Section 2 states that â€Å"The President shall be the Commander-in-Chief.† Unfortunately matters are not so clear and straight forward. The authority of the president as commander-in-chief ought to exist without limitation, because it is impossible to foresee or to define the extent and variety of national exigencies. The political thinker Hugo Grotius noted that a declaration of war contained many legal functions unrelated to the use of armed force – legal aspects of war. In an 1800 opinion rendered in the Eliza case, the court acknowledged a differe nce between formal declared war and a more confined version. In the United States v Curtiss-Wright Export Corporation et.al. decision of 1936, the Court certified the authority of the president with respect to external affairs. It is further noted that on February 15, 1816, the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations reported that â€Å"The President is the constitutional representative of the United States with regard to foreign relations.† The evolution of the legal and political authorities by which the United States approaches war also would appear to be based these legal opinions. In sum, then, two matters seem settled. The Framers clearly acknowledged the broad legal aspects of a war declaration and as such granted this power only to the congress. On the other hand, they also recognized that there were occasions during peacetime when it was necessary to apply military force to realize

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Supply Chain Management Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Supply Chain Management - Assignment Example Besides, it ensures that the final product manufactured reaches the final destination in good quality (Donald et al., 2014). Within Hsu Ta manufacturers, they have a number of department under supply chain management. The duty is to ensure quality plastic product reaches the customers. It has supply planner whose function is to ensure that the projection of target volume of plastic products is achieved. Secondly, the company has product manager who ensures that there is a consistent supply of raw materials into the manufacturing department. Besides, the manager ensures a systematic flow of final products to the market. Moreover, its supply chain management, the company has a purposeful procurement department. Procurement is the process of ensuring there is a constant supply of raw materials into the manufacturing section. In addition, it ensures the raw material obtained meets the minimum standards set by the company and are of high quality. In the companys supply chain management, procurement section is the cornerstone because it is within procurement that the assessment of quality and purchasing of raw materials is done. Within the department, there is a business process consultant and relations manager who ensure that procurement of raw materials is within the company policy (Donald et al., 2013). The company has five critical functional departments within the procurement and supply management cycle. Firstly, it has a manufacturing flow management process. Under this department, the production manager ensures that there is a consistent supply of plastic raw materials necessary for the production. It ensures that there is perpetual production of goods and minimizes any disturbance from procurement and logistical challenges (Waters 2010). The effort has ensured that there is a shorter cycle of supply chain. In addition, the unit manages activities related to

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Weekly journal Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Weekly journal - Assignment Example The ad is selling a beer called Guinness. The ad is communicating the fact that even a dog can round up people to enjoy Guinness together. It is trying to communicate the fact that even a dog knows that people are better off enjoying Guinness together than going to the couch to watch a game, to the club to see girls dancing or to the Indian restaurant for food. The fact that a dog can be used to round up people to come and enjoy beer together is what drew me to the advertisement. There was also a crowd that watched as the dog rounded up people to the bar. This made the advertisement interesting and funny. I think that the ad was effective towards persuading people to choose the â€Å"Guinness† brand and not any other. The fact that the ad depicted that even a dog know the right beer that people should be taking was an effective way of making people believe in the brand. I think that the brand has stood the test of time since it has been in existence for very many years. I would definitely buy the product if I had the money and needed beer. This is because the product has been in existence for very many years. This shows that it is loved by many people. It must, therefore, have an edge over similar

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

BANANA GARDEN Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

BANANA GARDEN - Essay Example In most cases, while men were travelling around to attend to their official duties, women were left behind to cater for their in-laws, children and farm activities. Gu Zhiqiong a member of the banana club used poetry to express her feelings to her absent husband. Despite them being apart for a long time, she missed him and wondered why her travelling husband should not come home. Her beauty was neglected by a husband who had gone to search for fame, but she feared that the search might not be successful.The neglect caused a lot of pain to Gu Zhiqiong, which resulted in weight loss and increase in illness. The stressful moments she was undergoing made her turn to drinking to alleviate the pain. Gu Zhiqiong’s belief that the quest for fame for her husband will not be successful showed an aspect weakness in males who at that time were regarded as superiors over females. Another member of the Banana Garden Poetry Club members was Chai Jingyi. In most of her poetry works, she avoided sections of more stereotypical feminine moods and topics. In her poem titled Huangtiandang: On Lady Liang, she showered praises to a lady beating the drum and argued that no one would believe that the person playing the drum was a beautiful woman (Berge, 2008). Despite women’s freedom of expression and movement being restricted it is clear that women have the capability of doing best what men could do. In 1129 during the Huangtiandang battle, Han Shizhong the Song dynasty general inflicted a decisive win over Jurchen Jin dynasty troops. The general’s win was mainly attributed to Liang Hongyu, who was his wife. Liang was a former courtesan and tirelessly played the drum, inspiring the Song army to superior efforts. The name of Liang often appeared in poetry in the seventeenth century as an example of devoted loyalty. Though men’s freedom of expression and movement was not restricted like the case in women, some of them

Monday, September 23, 2019

Revaluation of Yuan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Revaluation of Yuan - Essay Example Although this devaluation will help the exports of the foreign countries to grow, it will hurt the domestic growth perspectives of China, including preservation of domestic growth and stability, and also the stability of political power. Unlike other countries, the communist political party of the country has maintained an equal distribution of goods and services and income among the poorest section of the country, being consistent with the high rate of economic growth. The author has opined that a sudden devaluation of Yuan will hurt the employment structure of the formal as well as the informal sector of the country. This reduction in employment will occur through shifting of â€Å"low-wage manufacturing to countries such as Vietnam and Sri Lanka†. This will cause the domestic rate of growth of income to reduce and thus the level of domestic protests and the degree of political instability will be accelerated in the country. However, as the country is willing to maintain its 8% annual rate of economic growth, with low rates of annual inflation of about 3%, the national propaganda of the country’s communist party is to stick to its current exchange rate determination process. Hence, the foreign countries and business organizations are expecting a much appreciated value of Yuan in the future; however, the future expectations of the economic and trade related effects on the Chinese and the global economy are required to be evaluated before proceeding with the revaluation policy (Lamont). The writer has wrongly revealed the point of view of the communist government of the country regarding the decrease in the amount of employment in the formal sector of the country. The devaluation of the Chinese currency in terms of other currencies will reduce the level of employment in the formal sector of the country and will increase the level of unemployment in the country as large section of the country’s industrial sector is dependent upon the indigen ous technologies. If the country is made open with significant reduction in the value of the Yuan, then it is most likely that the business leaders of the global enterprises will start investing in the industrial sector of the country. This will induce significant level of foreign technologies across the country that will increase the level of unemployment consisting of those laborers who are unable to work with those foreign technologies. However, the notion that the devaluation will reduce the level of employment and will hurt the growth process of the country is not entirely true. This is due to the fact that currency devaluation will increase the level of country’s exports of different goods and services. This will also induce the indigenous products and services to reach the global market and thus the level of production of these goods and services will rise up. This will essentially increase the level of income in these indigenous industries and thus the level of invest ments in technological development will be raised. Hence, not only the future level of income will rise up, this will lead to greater level of development of various indigenous technologies (with the help of significant integration of indigenous technologies with global technologies). Hence, the level of future growth rate of income will also rise up in the country and this will be sustainable as well. Greater amounts of exports will also help the informal

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Quality Management-Toyota Essay Example for Free

Quality Management-Toyota Essay This paper explores multiple published articles discussing Toyota Motor Company’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. A review of Toyota’s decisions to hide important information prior to recalls leads us to a discussion of where Toyota can go from here. The paper includes recommendations for Toyota Motor Company in order to move forward after their 2010 recalls. In addition, organizational changes will assist Toyota Motor Company in overcoming their recall problems. QUALITY MANAGEMENT 3 Quality Management within Toyota Motor Company After a number of discouraging recalls at Toyota Motor Company in 2010, a number of quality management techniques were implemented. Toyota Motor Company’s SWOT Analysis played into the newly implemented quality management techniques. Toyota’s strengths allowed them to fight back quickly against these recalls that could have ultimately led to Toyota’s fall from one of the top motor company’s. Toyota Motor Company’s strengths include dominant position in the marketplace, strong brand recognition, strong focus on research and development, and broad production and distribution network. In addition to Toyota’s strengths, their weaknesses were reviewed in order to find opportunities to capitalize upon. The recalls were obviously a large weakness at Toyota. Opportunities were reviewed which included the growth of the global automotive industry. Last, Toyota’s threats were reviewed. Here it was found that powerful competition is a worry for Toyota Motor Company. After the review of Toyota Motor Company’s SWOT Analysis, the issue of the recalls was assessed. Analysis shows the issue within Toyota Motor Company did not appear overnight. However, secretive management styles let the company astray. A diagram was created by functional area to summarize how Toyota has responded to these recall problems. The functional areas reviewed include management, production design and safety, quality, and manufacturing. Last, the analysis of Toyota Motor Company’s recall and quality management issues are discussed from a point of solving the problem. Recommendations are discussed that will help Toyota Motor Company to turn their weaknesses into strengths. QUALITY MANAGEMENT 4 Method Discussion SWOT Analysis Internal Factors Strengths Weaknesses Product †¢ Dominant position in the marketplace †¢ Strong brand recognition †¢ Strong focus on Research Development †¢ Broad production and distribution network. †¢ Product recalls have the ability to negatively affect brand image †¢ Declining sales in crucial geographic areas External Factors Opportunities Threats Competition †¢ Growth of the global automotive industry †¢ Potential benefit from partnering with BMW †¢The outlook for the new global car market is strong †¢ Powerful competition †¢ Appreciation of the Japanese Yen †¢ Environmental regulations †¢Natural disasters Strengths. Toyota has a number of internal product strengths as noted in the SWOT Analysis table above. Toyota’s market share in 2011 was 16. 5 percent, its highest market share in 4 years. This strong market share allowed Toyota to hold a competitive advantage against their competition. In addition to holding a dominant position in the marketplace, Toyota possesses strong brand recognition through a number of brands. These brands include Toyota, Lexus, Prius, Corolla, Yaris, Camry, Sequoia, 4Runner, Scion tC, Highlander, Land Cruiser, and a number of other brand names. These brands are some of the most desired premium brands in the world according to the Company Profile report for Toyota Motor Company documented by MarketLine. QUALITY MANAGEMENT 5 Another strength of Toyota is their strong attention to research and development. According to the Company Profile report, Toyota’s focus on research and development is pointed towards the creation of new and improved products. Research and development operations are conducted at 14 facilities located around the world. This strength has allowed Toyota to increase the technology included in existing products. One of these products, a Pre-collision System (PCS) helps drivers avoid collisions. Overall, the strong focus on research and development has been a big strength for Toyota. Last, Toyota’s production and distribution network has been a big strength for the company. Toyota produces automobiles, related parts, and other components through more than 50 manufacturing companies throughout 27 countries and regions, not including Japan. As mentioned on the Toyota Motor Company website, major locations include Japan, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Turkey, Thailand, China, Taiwan, India, Indonesia, South Africa, Australia, Argentina, and Brazil. As reported by Toyota Motor Company, during fiscal year 2013 the company had consolidated vehicle sales totals of 8. 871 million units (TCM, 2013). As reported by Toyota Motor Company, this was an increase of 1. 519 million units compared to the previous fiscal year. In addition to the widespread production of Toyota products, the company has a large distribution network. Toyota’s distribution network is one of the largest in Japan encompassing four sales channels (Toyota, Toyopet, Corolla, and Netz). In 2012 the distribution network of these channels was comprised of 283 dealers. In addition to this network, Toyota operates over 170 Lexus sales channels in Japan. QUALITY MANAGEMENT 6 As reported by Toyota Motor Company, in fiscal year 2013 these networks accounted for the following vehicle sales: †¢JAPAN SALES TOTALED 2. 279 MILLION UNITS †¢IN NORTH AMERICA VEHICLE SALES TOTALED 2. 469 MILLION UNITS †¢IN EUROPE VEHICLE SALES TOTALED 799,085 UNITS †¢ASIA CAME IN AT TOTAL VEHICLE SALES OF 1. 684 MILLION UNITS †¢CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA, OCEANIA AND AFRICA CAME IN AT 1. 640 MILLION UNITS As you can see, Toyota’s distribution network is widespread allowing for diversification and a wide reach of clientele, ultimately boosting revenues and sales. Weaknesses. A large focus of the case study focuses on the weakness of Toyota’s product recalls. As many are aware, Toyota has encountered a number of recalls in the recent past. It is a concern that these recalls could negatively affect Toyota’s brand imagine ultimately leading to decreased sales for the company. When searching for Toyota recalls it was easy to find a few recent recalls. The most recent is a recall of 700,000 Toyota Prius models which were recalled over electronic issues in the United States (csmonitor. com, 2014). Another very recent recall includes certain versions of the Lexus RX crossover. In this case, more than 261,000 vehicles are being recalled due to a brake issue (csmonitor. com, 2014). In addition to the many recalls, Toyota has been involved in a number of lawsuits. In December 2012, Toyota settled a suit by paying $17. 4 million to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to settle claims related to the June 2012 recall of potential accelerator pedal entrapment issues. This bad press will ultimately result in a negative effect on consumer’s confidence in Toyota’s brand. In addition, the settlement of suits ultimately decreases Toyota’s QUALITY MANAGEMENT 7 profits. As a result of this bad press Toyota saw a decline in 2012 sales in important geographic areas. Declining sales in fiscal year 2012 were seen across North America, Asia, and Europe. Opportunities. As reported by the article, Global automotive industry to experience modest growth in 2012, a number of opportunities exist in the global automotive industry (2012). The Japanese auto industry responded from natural disasters which had caused reduced inventories and production. It is forecasted that the industry will continue to grow increasing Toyota revenues. In June of 2012, BMW and Toyota signed a long-term partnership. The two companies are partnering on the developments that will help to increase market share and sales. This relationship is expected to increase technology between the two companies as well as result in new product development. In addition to these opportunities, the new car market is experiencing moderate growth which will assist in increased sales and profits. Threats. Intense competition in the worldwide car market has become very competitive. This competition will likely increase in the upcoming years as competitors add more technology and increase developments. In addition to the intense competition, the appreciating Japanese Yen has become a big concern for Toyota. Last, environment regulations have the potential to increase production costs. Emissions regulations that are updated periodically could cause issues in new car production. Evolvement of Quality Management Issues At first glance, it seems that Toyota’s gas pedal issue appeared overnight. However, upon further research, evidence was found to prove the opposite. As reported in the article Secretive Culture Let Toyota Astray, evidence that Toyota cars could suddenly speed up had been piling up for years (2010). At the time of the recalls, Toyota had known about this gas QUALITY MANAGEMENT 8 pedal problem for more than a year. The problem was stated to be Toyota’s secretive corporate culture in Japan which ultimately conflicted with United States requirements that auto makers disclose safety threats. New initiatives brought to the table by Toyota have attempted to correct the previous secretive culture of Toyota. Total quality management initiatives have been put in place to assist in better customer service and safety and repair issues. According to Jacobs and Chase, total quality management can be defined as managing the entire organization so that it excels on all dimensions of products and services that are important to the customer (Chase and Jacobs, 2014, p. 296). The table following this discussion addresses the steps Toyota has taken in response to its recent quality recall problems. Functional Area Quality Management Steps Management †¢ Managing Director names to oversee any safety-related issues †¢ Top down management approach Product Design Safety †¢ Troubleshooting teams known as Swift Market Analysis Response Teams work to find any safety issues that need to be reported Quality †¢ TAQIC – Toyota Advanced Quality Information Center staffed by a group of employees who compile repair reports from dealerships worldwide †¢ 1000 engineers hired to spot-check quality Manufacturing †¢ No drastic changes to assembly lines QUALITY MANAGEMENT 9 Results/Discussion Problem Solution As discussed in the diagram above, there were many opportunities for Toyota after their encounter with the recall situation. Akio Toyoda, the head of the company, acted quickly by implementing a top down management approach instead of the more popular Japanese â€Å"bottom up† approach that slows down the decision making. In addition, Akio cut board of directors by fifty percent and cut out management layers. Akio also began meeting with his top five advisers on a weekly basis. In these meetings decisions were made quickly. Akio pushed his team to make â€Å"always better cars. † This change in the way the organization is managed helped Toyota to stay on top even through the recalls. Recommendations Many recommendations have been made to assist Toyota Motor Company in improving the recall situation they encountered in 2011. Some recommendations Toyota should follow include as recommended by the North American Quality Advisory Panel include the following: †¢GIVE NORTH AMERICAN OPERATIONS MORE INDEPENDENCE IN MAKING RECALL DECISIONS †¢STRENGTHEN QUALITY CONTROL PROCESSES †¢EXTEND DEVELOPMENT TIME OF NEW PRODUCTS TO INCLUDE MORE SAFETY TESTS †¢CREATE A ROLE OF CHIEF SAFETY TECHNOLOGY OFFICER. †¢CREATE AND LAUNCH A SAFETY RESEARCH CENTER FOCUSED ON PROTECTING THE MOST IMPORTANT clientele (children, teens, and seniors) QUALITY MANAGEMENT 10 These ideas follow the concept of total quality management which focuses on two fundamental goals: †¢CAREFUL DESIGN OF THE PRODUCT (IN THE CASE OF TOYOTA MOTOR COMPANY, THE VEHICLE) †¢ENSURE THAT TOYOTA MOTOR COMPANY SYSTEMS CAN PRODUCE THIS DESIGN IN A CONSISTENT manner Quality at the source seems to be a great way for Toyota Motor Company to proceed. Quality at the source means that the person who is doing the work is taking the responsibility for making sure the work meets specifications. As previously discussed, safety control will be a huge initiative for Toyota Motor Company going forward. If implemented, these recommendations can do a lot to help Toyota Motor Company increase their organizational effectiveness. As previously discussed, many organizational steps were taken by Akio Toyoda after these recalls. It seems that Toyota could greatly benefit from organizational learning. As stated by Operations and Supply Chain Management, â€Å"it has been argued that organizational learning is critical to sustaining a competitive advantage† (Chase and Jacobs, 2014, p. 138). Organizational realignment was important to Toyota Motor Company after the 2010 and 2011 recalls. According to a Toyota news release in December of 2008 organizational changes include the establishment of the below: QUALITY MANAGEMENT 11 †¢A GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS GROUP WHICH WAS FOCUSED ON QUICK RESPONSE TO inquiries from around the world while also unifying public affairs functions. †¢AN ACCOUNTING GROUP AIMED AT STRENGTHENING THE BUSINESS MANAGEMENT AND FINANCIAL management system of Toyota Motor Company. †¢A EUROPE AND AFRICA OPERATIONS GROUP INTENDED TO ASSIST WITH BUSINESS PLANNING IN African and Central Asia. The group was also established to conduct business promotion events in both Europe and Africa. †¢A PRODUCTION ENGINEERING GROUP AIMED AT INCREASING THE STRENGTH OF THE QUALITY control system for semiconductors for hybrid vehicles. The recommendations made are important to Toyota’s future. Reorganization and creation of new groups within the organization will help Toyota to overcome these recalls. QUALITY MANAGEMENT 12 References Ingram, A. (2014, Feb 12). Toyota recall: 1. 9 million Prius vehicles recalled to fix software glitch. Retrieved from http://www. csmonitor. com/Business/In-Gear/2014/0212/Toyota-recall-1. 9-million-Prius-vehicles-recalled-to-fix-software-glitch Jacobs, F. R. , Chase, R. (2014). Operations and supply chain management. (14 ed. ). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill/Irwin. Lassa, T. (Feb, 2012). U. s. market share for the top five automakers. Retrieved from http://www. motortrend. com/features/auto_news/2011/1202_u_s_markets_share_for_the_ top_five_automakers/ Linebaugh, K. , Searcey , D. , Shirouzu, N. (Feb, 2010 08). Secretive culture led toyota astray. Retrieved from http://online. wsj. com/news/articles/SB10001424052748704820904575055733096312238 ? mod=WSJ_hpp_LEADNewsCollectionmg=reno64-wsjurl=http://online. wsj. com/artic le/SB10001424052748704820904575055733096312238. html? mod=WSJ_hpp_LEADNewsCollection Marketline. (2013, Jan). Toyota motor corporation swot analysis. Retrieved from http://web. a. ebscohost. com. library3. webster. edu/ehost/detail? vid=4[emailprotected]hid=4212bdat a=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ== Ridley , G. (2012, Jan 06). Global automotive industry to experience modest growth in 2012. Retrieved from QUALITY MANAGEMENT 13 http://www. ey. com/GL/en/Newsroom/News-releases/Global-automotive-industry-to-exp erience-modest-growth-in-2012 Taylor, A. (2012, Feb 27). Toyotas comeback kid. Fortune, 165(3), 72-79. Retrieved from http://web. b. ebscohost. com. library3. webster. edu/ehost/detail? [emailprotected]vid=1hid=126bdata= JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ TMC. (2013, May 08). TMC announces year-end financial results for fiscal year ended march 31, 2013. Retrieved from http://www2. toyota. co. jp/en/news/13/05/0508_1. html Voss, M. (2011, May 23). Toyota receives recommendations from north american quality advisory panel. Retrieved from http://corporatenews. pressroom. toyota. com/releases/toyota receives recommendations north american quality advisory panel. htm.

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Litigation in Cloud 9 Energy Drink Essay Example for Free

Litigation in Cloud 9 Energy Drink Essay Pune Following the confirmation of the state public health laboratory about the energy drink ‘Cloud 9’ containing more than the permissible level of caffeine, the state Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Pune region, has now filed an application seeking judicial action against the manufacturers and distributors of the drink Pushpam Foods and Beverages and Goldwin Healthcare Private Limited. The manufacturer had made misleading statements on the label that suggested that the drink was recommended for medical purposes.  Ã¢â‚¬Å"We have now filed an application seeking judicial action against the offenders,† said C D Salunkhe, Assistant Commissioner, state FDA, Pune office. A central notification, issued on June 19, 2009, says energy drinks should not contain more than 145 parts per million (ppm) of caffeine, while the earlier official cap was 200ppm. Many popular energy drink brands thus overshot the limit by nearly 100 ppm. â€Å"It was a clear violation of a 2008 amendment to the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act banning energy drinks with caffeine content more than 145 parts per million (ppm). We sent samples of the drink to the public health laboratory and they have confirmed that the level of caffeine was 228.2 ppm,† says the laboratory report that gave its findings recently. Chetan Chopra, director of Pushpam Foods and Beverages said that the product was already in the market before the new rules came into effect on June 17, 2009. â€Å"How can the FDA apply the new rules about the change in the caffeine limit to the products which were already manufactured in December 2008? How can the new standards be applied on the old products,† he said. Vasudeo Kolte, quality control manager of Pushpam Foods and Beverages said, â€Å"Our product was manufactured in December 2008 and hence it was already in the market as per the then prescribed rules. We have followed all the regulations and will challenge the case in court.† It was in November 2009 that the state FDA, Pune region seized over two lakh cans of ‘Cloud 9’ energy drink from godowns in Pune and Mumbai.  Ã¢â‚¬Å"The stock, worth Rs 77.3 lakh, is still lying in the godowns and the FDA has filed an application with the chief judicial magistrate’s court to destroy it,† said M S Kembalkar, a food inspector who was part of the investigation. The report has also pointed out that there were misleading statements on the label, which contravenes Rule 37 and 39 of the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act. The category of the proprietary food has to be clearly mentioned.  The label suggests that the food is recommended for medical purposes. It says that it enhances physical endurance, stamina and strengthens immunity apart from fighting fatigue and enhancing alertness. However, the caffeine content has exceeded the permissible limits.

Friday, September 20, 2019

Creation of a Versatile Computer System: CPU and RAM

Creation of a Versatile Computer System: CPU and RAM Jay Kybert I have tried to create a versatile computer system that everyone can use, with a few exceptions. The CPU, RAM, Motherboard, etc. remains the same throughout each system, however certain people require different inputs, outputs etc. In these cases, I have changed the computer system slightly and recorded the price. Link to website used: https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/list/dG7cBP All prices were accurate at the time this was created. This CPU is an older generation but remains a great CPU. I could have chosen an i7 model for the hyper-threading but, along with the increase in price; other components may need to be upgraded to avoid a bottleneck. The 2.7GHz should provide a good level of speed, but overclocking is an option in case it is not fast enough however, this is not recommend for general work use due to the risk. Its power consumption is fairly low for a CPU, at 65 watts. The PSU is fully capable of supplying power to all of the components. It uses the socket 1151 (meaning 1151 pins). However, on this CPU, the motherboard houses the pins instead of the CPU itself. This cooler has a moderately sized heatsink and a fan to push (or pull) air around the CPU. It is compatible with the motherboard the computer will have too. Since I went with a mid-tier CPU, I needed a good level of cooling but nothing massive. This is why I settled for a heat sink and fan, compared with a higher tier water-cooled system. Another reason I chose a traditional heat sink of water-cooling is because of the possibility of water leaking and the management/replacement of water, which can be a difficult task to carry out safely. I chose this specific thermal paste simply due to its cost. There are more efficient compounds available but for a much higher price. In addition, this thermal paste will last a long time if used correctly, which provides a great value for money. This motherboard is a standard ATX motherboard, which fits the chipset on the CPU. In addition, I decided to spend a little more on this motherboard for its newer features. Since it is more modern, there is always the option to upgrade components. This motherboard does fit inside the computer case I have selected with enough room left for cable routing. It has four available RAM slots, which will be more than enough memory for everyone. I chose to go for 16GB since some designing software stresses the memory. In addition, this memory is DDR4, the newest but only type of memory that the motherboard I chose supports. It runs at 2133 MHz, which should provide a good level of performance and allow for upgrades since it only uses two of the four RAM slots on the motherboard. There are lots of different HDDs available but I chose Western Digital since it is a well-known company. I opted for a 3.5 HDD since they spin faster than laptop drives and my case has space for it. This means that the HDD will be able to read and write data slightly faster than other models. Furthermore, I chose 1TB which should be enough storage for a single work computer. This graphics card is part of the newest generation of NVIDIAs GPUs. Although it is one of the lower-end cards, it can run intensive stress tests and benchmarks at a steady usage at 1080p. It is more than enough for designing software at HD resolution, with 4GB of VRAM it should be able to render and load these designs with ease. It is compatible with the motherboard and has room in the case to fit. I chose this case since it can fit an ATX motherboard (The Z170 I Chose is an ATX). Also, there is lots of room for expansion within the case. There is room for an optical drive which may be useful. Furthermore, there is a lot of room for 120mm/140mm fans that will keep the computer cool and running stable. Finally, there is enough room inside the case the house the GPU. I chose this PSU since it supplies 500W of power which is more than enough for the current system. In addition, it is an ATX PSU which is compatible with the case. It also is certified (even though it is only bronze) which shows its efficiency and that it doesnt produce much heat. I chose to spend a little more money than what was necessary on the PSU since faulty or poor quality PSUs can destroy other components. The total wattage of the computer is   ~235 watts. This means I could have bought a 300w PSU but along with that being barely enough, a 500w PSU also allows the computers to be upgraded without having to worry about power consumption. Modern optical drives are compatible with most computers. I made sure my case supports an optical drive so there will be no compatibility issues or lack of space for this component. I couldve spent some more money on the optical drive and chose a different model that may have been more reliable or come with warranty but I decided to save money since the optical drive wont be used frequently anyway. The only time this will see use is when using older software that requires a disc installation. Even though Windows 7 isnt the newest Windows OS, many people are comfortable using it and grew up with it (or similar versions). The jump to 8/8.1 and 10 have drastically changed the layout and general use, making it harder to use. This is why I chose an older version that people are happy with. It is also 64-Bit which supports more applications and has more advanced compatible hardware. I chose a standard HD (1080p) monitor. Asus is a reliable brand so the image quality should be great; this is especially good for designing software. I couldve gone for a 1440p or 4k monitor but, for the price, they werent worth it. It has several ports that the graphics card supports so it can easily connect. In addition, if I chose a higher resolution monitor, I would also need to upgrade the graphics card due to the amount of pixels. The keyboard didnt require a specific model, I chose from a well-known brand that produced a well-received keyboard. It uses a USB 2.0 connection between the motherboard (which is compatible with the current motherboard). I chose this mouse because it is from a trusted brand and the fact that it is wireless. This means that there will be fewer wires running across desks. This mouse works by using USB wireless transmitter. As a result, there may be a little latency between movement and it appearing on the screen, but I believe that having a wired mouse may cause problems as it can catch on objects and tear over time or even break the motherboard port if ripped out. I chose to buy a total of six fans (3 dual packs) since the case I purchased supports this many. The front of the case supports 2x120mm or 2x140mm fans, the top supports the same and the back has a 120mm fan as well as the bottom. The front fans can be intakes, along with the bottom, while the top and rear fans can be exhaust fans, blowing air out. Having the same amount of fans blowing in and out make the case have neutral pressure, compared with positive or negative pressure, which can lead to dust build up, or higher temperatures. I chose to purchase a wired network adapter using a PCI-E connector that will allow the computer to have internet access using a wired (Ethernet connection). The motherboard I chose supports this type of connection. Type of Work: Designs kitchens in 3D * Wants a brand new computer built from scratch. * Has RSI. *Requires scanning in documents. *Two mobile devices for communicating. *Fully networked computers system. I chose to stay with a mouse even though Mr Ramsey has RSI and this may affect his ability to use it. A mouse is this optimal choice for an input device due to its versatility across a number different uses, especially in design software that requires accuracy. However, I chose a vertical mouse since this might prove to be a great substitute rather than a normal mouse. A vertical mouse reduces the strain in the arm and keeps the arm in a relaxed state; this could reduce the pain from RSI. This All-in-One printer can print, scan, copy and fax which should be enough options. As well as being wireless, the printer can print up to 22 pages per minute in black and 18 per minute with colour with a DPI resolution of 12001200. Again, this proves that this machine is fast as well as efficient. The only reoccurring cost is the ink that needs to be replaced occasionally. I chose this phone for communication since it is from a respected brand that has good customer service. This means that if there were any faults, it should be easy enough to resolve, it also means that the build-quality and specifications of the phone are competitive with other brands, meaning the phone has good internal hardware. Since Mr Ramsey requires two mobile devices for communicating, I chose to buy two of the same model since it makes it easier for him to use both as he doesnt have to learn to use two different OSs. Deals with the customers and take down the requirements and measurements of the customers kitchens. *Needs brand new complete computers. *Aadi is left handed. * Require to take photographic evidence of the customers kitchens. I chose this mouse because of its left-handed design. This means that Aadi can use this mouse normally. Even though the mouse is expensive, it comes from a well-known company that specialises in peripherals. Also, the mouse has a variety of adjustable settings, an example being DPI which can be changed to what Aadi prefers. Petra, Aadi and Soolin all required a camera for their work; I decided on this CANON EOS. It is a DLS camera with 18 megapixels, which will provide a 1080p photo. In addition, this model has a sharp LCD screen to change the settings to what is preferred. Another reason I chose this camera is its wireless feature. Once Petra/Aadi/Soolin has taken photos, they dont need to transfer them via a USB or SD card. Instead, the camera is a wireless storage device as well, meaning that the photos can be accessed from their computers without any physical, wired connection. Confirms the order with the customer and looks after the payments. NOTE: The cost of this Microsoft package is  £11.30 monthly. A year of this works out at  £135.60. The reason I chose this package was that it included both the communication software (Skype) and the recording information software (Excel). In addition, this package comes with office essentials like Word, PowerPoint, etc. Since this is a subscription, Brian will be given an email needed to use this software; this means that the software can be used anywhere, as long as the email is provided. In addition to this, there are other benefits to the business premium package like 50GB for emails, 1TB Cloud Storage, HD Video Conferencing and more. Contacts suppliers when stock is low and maintains the stock levels. Sends out the kitchen units and supplies to the customer with a delivery note. * Has a slight visual impairment. * Requires software to look after the records. * Each package has a barcode so it can be tracked. Due to Tsais visual impairment, I thought I higher resolution screen could help him see the screen more clearly. Also, I decided on a 27-inch screen that is larger than a standard office monitor, which should help with his visual impairment. Furthermore, I decided against getting a higher refresh rate monitor. There were choices of 120Hz or even 144Hz but this wouldnt really affect the visual impairment, it would just make transitions smoother and they are more expensive. NOTE: The cost of this Microsoft package ( £11.30) is a monthly recurring payment. A year of this works out at  £135.60. Like with Brian, the Office 365 Business Premium is a subscription-based software which will allow Tsai to look at records. Using network-attached storage (NAS) or a central server, Brian can wirelessly share any excel spreadsheets or databases with Tsai and vice versa. Also, Tsai is a warehouse manager which could mean he isnt always sitting at a desk. Therefore, he can use the Office 365 software on a phone or tablet. This printer will allow Tsai to create and print off any barcodes to track packages. It has an Ethernet and USB port, the Ethernet being for a connection to the internet to print of barcode designs and the USB for a connection to the computer itself. This barcode scanner can identify barcodes and the package assigned to it. This will make managing a warehouse easier as rather than using serial numbers or other methods of recording lots of information, a barcode can be applied to all packages. This means that in the future, a database can hold all of the information and by scanning a barcode, information is given about the item.

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Personal Selling Essay -- essays research papers

Index 1. The Organization: What it is and what itdoes 2. The Products and services marketed 3. The role of personal selling in the promotional mix 4. A description of the salesperson’s job 5. The selling process SRCC TRADING DEPARTMENT 1: The Organization: what it is and what it does The Trading Department is the preferred supplier of Agricultural Chemicals, Fertilizer, Packhouse and General Farming Requisites in the Sundays river Valley. Mission: The Trading Department supply and sell Agricultural Chemicals, Fertilizer, Packhouse Material and General Farming Requisites to Citrus Growers and Private Packhouses in the Sundays river Valley. A knowledge-able ,skilled, trained and motivated staff who are focus on excellent client-service by ensuring competitive prices on products, stock availability and technical advice . The objective of the Trading Department. The primary objective of the Trading Department is to assist the shareholders of the Company in maximizing the profits of their farming operations. The secondary objectives of the Trading Department are: †¢ Economic efficiency. †¢ Good Image. †¢ Maximum client support. †¢ Growth and development. In Conclusion: The management of the Trading Department must on a continuing and long term basis stay focused on providing farming requisites and in so doing assist in keeping production costs of the farming units as low as possible. The Trading Department must strive to achieve its secondary goals to make this possible. 2: The Products/Services marketed †¢ The long-term objectives of the Trading Department are dependent on determining the needs and wants of the citrus-growers, private pack houses and other target markets and satisfying these more effectively than our competitors . †¢ The Trading Department follows the relationship perspective on marketing - consumer retention, consumer loyalty and consumer service ( or service quality). †¢ Regular (every alternative month) memos and circulars will be posted to our customers to motivate and to restrict their ... ...cal support needs." The presentation is more about establishing a relationship—as a growing account .If there is no sale or order at the end of the presentation, at least leave knowing why not. Is there some reason why we can't take care of this right now?" Agreeing on the next step is as good as any order once the presentation is done. "Never leave without some kind of agreement as to where the customer-seller relationship is going [next appointment, calls to be made]," Also, knowing when to leave is important. "Once you ask for, and receive the order, it is appropriate to leave. Just say thank you and move on. You don't want to outlast your welcome." But sales managers and some salespeople haven't realized that the decision-making time has lengthened. "The customers don't want to make their decisions until they are absolutely sure. After the presentation, most salespeople just give up too soon. Manage the process of keeping in touch with the prospective customer. Because when they do decide to make a buy, and you happen to be off their radar, they'll go to the next person. Not managing your follow through is how sales are lost."

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

The Price of Gasoline Essay -- essays research papers

The Price of Gasoline   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  What you are paying for when you buy a gallon of gasoline? Most people complain about the high cost of gasoline, but few understand how the price is calculated. Many people think this cost is for gasoline only, but many other factors determine what you pay at the pumps.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Gasoline is a mixture of the lighter liquid hydrocarbons, and used chiefly as a fuel for internal-combustion engines â€Å"Microsoft Encarta,† 2005). Crude oil accounts for nearly 17 percent of the energy consumed in the United States. Gasoline is one of the main products developed from crude oil in the United States. The primary use for gasoline is in automobiles and light trucks. Fuel produced all year round, and is delivered from oil refineries through pipelines to a massive distribution chain serving 167,000 retail stations throughout the United States (â€Å"EIA Brochures†, 2004).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The prices paid by consumers at the pump reflect the cost to produce and deliver gasoline to consumers. Included is the cost of crude oil to refiners, refinery- processing costs, marketing and distribution costs, and finally the retail station costs and taxes. Approximately 27 percent of the cost of a gallon of gasoline is federal, state, and local taxes. Another 14 percent is a combination of distribution, marketing, and retail dealer costs and profits. Refining costs and profits account for about 15 percent of the retail price of gasoline. This part varies from region to region due to the different formulations required in different parts of the country (â€Å"EIA Brochures†, 2004) .   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The average retail price for gasoline tends to be higher in certain States or regions than in others. According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), other factors contribute to regional and local differences in gasoline prices aside from taxes. Special gasolines are required in some areas of the country. Environmental programs, aimed at reducing carbon monoxide, smog, and air toxins, require oxygenated reformulated, and low-volatility (evaporates more slowly) gasoline, which comes at a much higher price (â€Å"EIA Brochures†, 2004).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The proximity of refineries to crude oil supplies can be a factor, as well as shipping costs from the refinery to market. In addition, the areas farthest from the Gulf Coast are the source of nearly half of the gasoline produced in the United States, and th... ...ors that go into that price. Whether it’s the taxes charged by federal state, and/or local government, the amount of competition in the region, the region’s proximity to a reliable gasoline supply or even emissions regulations. The price of the fuel we buy is carefully calculated and is subject to many variables. Informed consumers should understand these factors, and keep them in mind each time they fill their tanks.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Reference California Energy Commission, Media and public communications office, (1994-2008), page updated 03/17/2007 Retrieved 05/19/2007 from http:///www.energy.ca.gov/gasoline_q- and-a.html Energy Information Administration, (2003) California gasoline price study: preliminary findings, Retrieved 5/04/2007 from Http://www.eia.doe.gov/pub/oil_gas/petroleum/feature_articles/2003/cagasoline/cagasoline.pdf Specialized Information Services, A primer on gasoline prices, publication number DOE/EIA-X040, (released June 2007), Retrieved 5/04/2007 from Http://www.eia.doe.gov/neic/brochure/oil_gas/primer/primer.htm Speir, Robert A, Investigation into the current run-up in gasoline, (2004-2008) Retrieved 5/18/2007 from Http://www.iic-inc.com/curr.shtml

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Succubus Shadows Chapter 11

I was in Seattle. Modern-day Seattle, thankfully. I wanted to be nowhere near the fourth century, even though I dreaded what awful vision the Oneroi would show me now. Not only was I in Seattle, I was with Roman. He had just parked on Cherry Street and was striding toward the heart of Pioneer Square, which was buzzing today with tourists and others enjoying the clear autumn night. This time, I wasn't in the dream. I was an observer only, following along with him like a ghost or maybe a documentary camera. I wanted to talk to him, to communicate in some way, but I had no mouth with which to speak. I had no form whatsoever, only my consciousness watching this vision. His pace was brisk, and he pushed through the meandering crowd with no concern for the dirty looks and occasional comment. He was focused on his destination, one I recognized immediately: the Cellar. Our favorite immortal hangout was crowded with mortals tonight. Yet, for whatever reason, no matter how busy the bar was, Jerome always managed to get the same corner table in the back. He sat there now with Carter but didn't wear the usual unconcerned look we often found him with while drinking. The demon's face was filled with agitation, and he and Carter were arguing about something. Roman's signature was masked, so neither angel nor demon noticed his approach. Jerome shot him a glare, no doubt thinking some human was bothering them. Jerome's expression promptly changed when he saw who it was, and he opened his mouth to say something. He didn't get the chance because Roman spoke first. â€Å"Where is she?† demanded Roman. He sat in a chair and jerked it toward Jerome so that father and son could look eye to eye. â€Å"Where the fuck is Georgina?† The music and conversation covered most of his shouting, but a few nearby patrons gave him startled looks. Roman was oblivious. His attention was all on Jerome. Anger crackled around the nephilim like an aura itself. Jerome had been clearly distressed about something when Roman had entered, but now, in the presence of an underling, the demon put on the cold, haughty expression that was so typical for him. â€Å"Funny,† said Jerome. â€Å"I was going to ask you the same thing.† Roman glowered. â€Å"How the hell would I know? She vanished right before my eyes! You're the one that's supposed to have some sort of divine connection to her.† Jerome's face didn't twitch, but his words were like a gut punch to both me and Roman. â€Å"I can't feel her anymore. She's disappeared for me too.† I might have had no physical form, but cold fear ran through me nonetheless. An archdemon was connected to his subordinates. He always knew where they were and could tell if they were in pain. When Jerome had been summoned, that connection had shattered, cutting us off from our hellish â€Å"gifts.† Now, the opposite had happened. I had been summoned, so to speak, and torn from Jerome. The Oneroi's words came back to me: He won't find you. He can't find you. You no longer exist for him. â€Å"That's impossible,† growled Roman. â€Å"Unless†¦Ã¢â‚¬  A troubled look came over him. â€Å"Someone's hiding her signature?† It would be terribly ironic if the scheme he'd once planned came to be through someone else. Jerome shook his head and gestured to a waiter for another round. â€Å"I wouldn't be able to find her if that happened, but the connection would be there. I'd know she still existed.† You no longer exist for him. â€Å"Is she†¦is she dead?† Some of Roman's initial fury had dimmed a little. It wasn't an unreasonable question, really. I kind of felt dead. â€Å"No. Her soul would have shown up in Hell.† Jerome took a sip of his new drink and narrowed his eyes at Roman. â€Å"But it's not your job to ask questions. What do you know? You said she disappeared. Literally?† Roman's face was downright bleak now. He glanced between Jerome and a grim, thus far silent, Carter. â€Å"Yes. Literally. She's been having these†¦I don't know how to explain it. She couldn't even explain it.† â€Å"I was there,† Jerome reminded him. â€Å"She told me. The music. The colors.† The sneer in his voice made it clear that he regarded those types of things as nuisances. â€Å"It was like this weird force pulling her, enchanting her. It wanted her to come to it.† Roman was repeating known info, possibly to make Jerome take it more seriously. â€Å"She called it a siren song and kept sleepwalking, trying to get to it. And then†¦and then tonight, she went to it.† â€Å"Did you see it?† asked Carter. It was odd to see him so serious and†¦well, confused. The former emotion I'd seen only a handful of times. The latter I'd never seen on him. â€Å"I saw her disappear. Like, vanish into thin air. But I didn't see it exactly. I felt it. I could sense whenever it was around.† â€Å"What did it feel like?† asked Jerome. Roman shrugged. â€Å"I don't know. Just†¦a force. A power. Not an entity exactly. And not something I could identify. Not a greater immortal or anything.† â€Å"That,† declared Jerome, â€Å"is absolutely useless information.† Roman's anger returned. â€Å"It's all I've got! If you'd listened to her more, this wouldn't have happened. You let this happen. You didn't take it seriously, and now she's gone!† Yelling at Jerome. Not a good thing. â€Å"Be careful, lest I revoke your invitation,† hissed the demon, eyes boring into his son. â€Å"And I did listen. I set you to protect her. You, apparently, are the one who ‘let' this happen.† Roman flushed. â€Å"I was in the other room when that thing showed up again. I hurried in as fast as I could, but it was too late. Georgina'd already given herself up, and honestly†¦I'm not sure I could have stopped it anyway.† It was a big concession for Roman. Nephilim could inherit anywhere from none to all of their immortal parent's power. Roman was very close to having as much strength as Jerome but still lagged behind just a little. Additionally, the types of power wielded by greater and lesser immortals differed. As a type of hybrid, Roman might not have been able to fight what Jerome could have. Jerome didn't push that point further. â€Å"So, we still know nothing.† â€Å"We know that whatever did this isn't one of ours,† said Carter quietly, speaking at last. â€Å"Yes,† snapped Jerome. â€Å"Which only leaves a billion other things it could be. Unless†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He glanced over at one of the chairs at their table. One moment it was empty. The next, Simone sat there. Carter didn't seem surprised, but Roman and I certainly were. And she was especially surprised, as shown by her squeal of fear and befuddled expression. Being teleported by a greater immortal was not a pleasant experience. She was blond today, dressed in a plain blouse and pair of jeans. It was a sign of her agitation that she didn't widen her neckline when she saw Carter. â€Å"What – what's going on?† she stammered. â€Å"What'd you do to Georgina?† asked Jerome. Her eyes went wide. He might still wear the guise of John Cusack, but as he stared her down, it was easy to see that he truly was a demon of Hell. â€Å"Nothing!† cried Simone. She cowered back into her chair. â€Å"I don't know what you're talking about!† Jerome was up and out of his chair so fast, he might have teleported himself. He jerked Simone up as well and shoved her against a nearby wall, hand on her throat. I'd been in a similar position with him before and felt pity for the other succubus. No one else in the bar noticed, so Jerome was either glamoring them or making him and Simone invisible. â€Å"Do not lie to me!† he exclaimed. â€Å"What have you done? Who did you get to do this?† I could see his line of reasoning now. What Roman had sensed might not be demon or angel, but it wasn't impossible that someone from our side could have worked with an unknown entity. It wouldn't be the first time. Roman had caught on as well and leapt up to stand beside his father. â€Å"I swear, if you've hurt her even a little, I will rip you apart!† Simone's fear was put on pause as she gave Roman a puzzled look. With his signature hidden, he only came across as a human to her. As far as she was probably concerned, he had no involvement in any of this – and no ability to back up his threat. Little did she know. She turned back to Jerome, cringing when she saw his face once more. â€Å"Nothing,† she said, her voice hard to understand with Jerome choking off her air. â€Å"I didn't do anything to her, I swear it!† â€Å"You were trying to get Seth into bed,† said Roman. â€Å"That's all! I didn't do anything to her. Anything.† Simone's face turned pleading as she spoke to Jerome. â€Å"You have to know why I'm here. It's not to harm her.† Jerome's face was still filled with terrible fury, but there was also a flicker of consideration in his eyes. He said nothing, and it was Carter's voice that filled the tense silence. â€Å"She's telling the truth,† he said. Jerome didn't break his hold on Simone, but that calculating look was still in his gaze. â€Å"Do you know anything about her disappearing? Anything at all?† â€Å"No! No!† Jerome glanced back at Carter, who gave a swift nod. With a disappointed sigh, Jerome released her and stepped back. Roman looked doubtful, but he too had to know that if Carter vouched for her, it was gospel, so to speak. Jerome returned to his chair, downing his drink in one gulp. Roman joined him a moment later, but Simone remained standing, watching the whole group uncertainly as she rubbed her bruised throat. â€Å"I don't know what's going on, but if there's anything – â€Å" â€Å"I'm done with you,† said Jerome harshly. He waved his hand in a type of dismissal, and Simone vanished as quickly as she'd arrived. â€Å"That was mean,† noted Carter, idly stirring his bourbon. â€Å"I sent her back to her hotel,† said Jerome. â€Å"Not to a desert island.† Roman's anger had cooled a little, and he wore a calm, considering expression that looked remarkably like his father's. â€Å"What did she mean when she said you knew why she was here? Why was I following her?† â€Å"I can't report this,† said Jerome. He was speaking to Carter, like Roman wasn't even there. â€Å"Not yet†¦not unless I have to. We can't let any higher authorities know.† â€Å"And I can't do anything at all,† mused Carter. â€Å"This is technically your problem.† He took a long drink, as though that would fix everything. â€Å"But you will,† said Roman boldly. â€Å"You'll try to find her?† â€Å"Of course,† said Carter. One of his trademark cynical smiles lit his lips, replacing the grim expression from earlier. I suspected it was a cover-up for how he truly felt. â€Å"This place would be too boring without her.† For a heartbeat, I kind of liked this invisible watcher thing. Carter had no sense that I was there, and for the first time, I was able to truly study him without him looking back. He might have that annoying levity on now, but he'd already shown concern for my well-being. And I really couldn't believe it was simply because he found me entertaining. What was his game? Those gray eyes revealed nothing. â€Å"Yes,† said Jerome dryly. â€Å"Who knows how we'll get by without her maudlin misadventures.† Carter started to protest, but again, Roman came forward with an interruption. â€Å"Oh. That's the other thing, what we talked to Erik about.† He gave them a brief recap of Erik's observations and how I was only visited when I was depressed. Roman also described each of the incidents in as much detail as possible. Jerome and Carter exchanged looks. â€Å"With as down as she usually is, that's not much to go on,† noted the demon. â€Å"But it might be worth a visit to the old man.† â€Å"Jerome,† said Carter in a warning voice. The two locked eyes again and had some sort of silent communication. When Jerome finally looked away, it was to casually pick up his latest drink. â€Å"Don't worry. I won't scare him. Much.† I wondered if he'd go to Erik right then, but I didn't get a chance to find out. The world dissolved once more, and I found myself back in my prison. Aside from being terribly uncomfortable, I also felt exhausted. Studying the smiling, shining Oneroi, I could guess what had happened. In feeding off my dream, they'd taken some of my energy with it. â€Å"Dream†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I murmured, suddenly confused. I'd braced myself for some terrible outcome, but it hadn't happened. â€Å"That wasn't a dream. That was real. You showed me what was really happening. What my friends are doing.† â€Å"Some dreams are true, and some are lies,† said Two. I really wanted to slap him. â€Å"That one was true.† A story came back to me, the faintest memory from my childhood. Christian priests had long had a foothold in Cyprus when I was born, but old stories and rites had lingered. What were considered myths today had been held as fact back then. One such story said that dreams were sent to humans from one of two gates: one of ivory and one of horn. Those from the ivory gate were false; those from the horn gate were true. I didn't know if that was just a metaphor, but the outcome apparently had some validity to it. â€Å"But why?† I asked. â€Å"Why show me true dreams? You'd torture me a lot more with another stupid nightmare.† That nightmare hadn't been stupid. It had been agonizing, but I didn't want them to know that. What was stupid was me suggesting how they should torment me. â€Å"Because you don't know,† said One. â€Å"Soon you won't know truth from lies. You assume everything that causes pain must be a lie. But you won't know. Soon you won't trust anything at all.† â€Å"I'll know,† I said adamantly. â€Å"I can tell the difference.† â€Å"You believe what you just saw was true?† asked Two. â€Å"Yes. Absolutely.† â€Å"Good,† said One. â€Å"Then you've also learned another truth: it's impossible for anyone to find you. You'll stay here forever.†

Monday, September 16, 2019

The Donkey and the Dog

A Short Story : The Donkey and The Dog This Short Story The Donkey and The Dog is quite interesting to all the people. Enjoy reading this story. A washer man had a donkey and a dog. Both the donkey and the dog helped his master in many ways. One night, few thieves broke in the house of that washer man. The dog heard them and started barking. The washer man got up and so did the neighbors. â€Å"What is that? A dog. Let us run,† said the thieves. They feared some dangerous consequences. By that time many people gathered in the street. They tried to run away but they were caught by the people.The washer man said, â€Å"I am glad I had this dog in my house. I am sure the thieves would have looted me if my dog had not barked. † The washer man was highly proud of the dog. Every one too praised the dog. From that day, the donkey started thinking, â€Å"The master thinks that the dog is a more useful animal than me. † The donkey decided he will show his master, the wash er man, that he too could be useful just like the dog. Few days passed. One night, it so happened, two thieves again entered the washer man’s house. The thieves became aware of the animals, present in that house. â€Å"We should be careful, friend!I have heard that a dog guards this house,† one thief said to the other. As the thieves peeped in, they saw the dog sitting just outside the main door. â€Å"It seems the dog is quite alert,† said one thief. â€Å"It is better to leave this house alone. We had better go at once,† the other thief said and the two thieves fled. But unknown to the thieves, the donkey was watching all this. He thought, â€Å"It is a good opportunity for me to show my master that I too can be useful to him. The thieves have run away. If I start shouting, the master will think that I have driven the thieves away nd out of this house. † And the foolish donkey started braying loudly. When the washer man heard the donkey bray at t his odd hour, he got angry. He came out with a stick and thrashed the donkey. â€Å"This will teach him not to bray at night,† he screamed. The donkey got all the thrashes in silence. It did not know what was taking place. Just then the dog came to the donkey and said, â€Å"It is better to do your duties than try to be like me. † The donkey knew that the dog was right. There after both the donkey and the dog remained peaceful.

Sunday, September 15, 2019

The History of Healthcare Informatics

The History Behind Nursing Informatics Jackie Bailey Colorado Christian University Prof. L. Rieg CIS312A: Final Paper September 26, 2012 The History Behind Nursing Informatics Nursing informatics (NI) has become a vital part of healthcare delivery and has become a defining factor in the selection, execution, and assessment of technology that supports safe, exceptional quality and patient-centered care. Nursing has become so uniform. The data in patient records has become a valuable resource and has improved assessments and overall patient care.Before the launch of nursing informatics throughout the second half of the 20th century there were not any real standards for language. The use of data restricted the function and effectiveness of any early informatics applications. Nurses began developing standardized language systems during the turn of the century. International collaborations involving different medical disciplines have led to the improvement of standards and have opened the door for strong and reliable information tools. Nurses have the ability to change and improve healthcare.They have the potential to change outcomes with the use of informatics. The use of this technology does require change; a change in the person, the institute, and the systems. Nurses are developing and applying informatics to find new knowledge and are improving the quality of care given on a global level (Edwards, H. 2011). Nurses have identified three important factors in nursing informatics: basic computer skills, informatics knowledge and information literacy (Thede, L. 2012). In the beginning there was Florence Nightingale.Not only did Nurse Nightingale pioneer the nursing profession she also started the first informatics in nursing. She stated ‘In an attempt to arrive at the truth, I have applied everywhere for information, but scarcely an instance have I been able to find hospital records fit for any purpose of comparison. If they could be obtained, they would enabl e us to decide many other questions besides the one alluded to? †¦if wisely used, these improved statistics would tell us more of the relative value of particular operations and modes of treatment than we have any means of obtaining at present.They would enable us, besides, to ascertain the influence of the hospital †¦ upon the general course of operations and diseases passing through its wards; and the truth thus ascertained would enable us to save life and suffering, and to improve the treatment and management of the sick †¦ . † (Florence Nightingale. Ozbolt, J. G. , Saba, V. K. 2008). Nurse Nightingale began nursing informatics by introducing three health sciences into nursing: health services research, evidenced-based practice and informatics (Ozbolt, J. G. , Saba, V. K. (2008).She requested that clinical records be analyzed to assess and improve care and outcomes (Ozbolt, J. G. , Saba, V. K. (2008). She noticed the need for change before there really was a need for change. Her efforts brought about nursing informatics and the nursing profession became more modernized. Nearly 100 years later a woman by the name of Harriet Werley started to encourage the use and growth of informatics in the nursing profession (Murphy, J. 2010). In the late 1950’s she was the first nurse to participate in research in a hospital (Ozbolt, J. G. , Saba, V. K. 2008). She was asked to provide consultation for IBM on the possible use of computers in healthcare (Ozbolt, J. G. , Saba, V. K. 2008). Nurse Werley saw the benefits of computers used to store patient information and to improve patient care (Ozbolt, J. G. , Saba, V. K. 2008). She devised a minimum data set to be collected from every patient Ozbolt, J. G. , Saba, V. K. 2008). In the 1970’s nursing informatics really began to bloom. The first records of the use of computers in the nursing field started to appear in professional and scholarly literature (Murphy, J. 2010).Nursing care plans b egan to focus on reducing the amount of documentation and keeping it as accurate and as detailed as possible (Ozbolt, J. G. , Saba, V. K. 2008). Another system focused on patient scheduling in a rehabilitation setting (Ozbolt, J. G. , Saba, V. K. 2008). Nurses at a California hosptial assisted in developing the first comprehensive hospital information system and helped integrat the system for nursing care planning, documentation, and feedback (Ozbolt, J. G. , Saba, V. K. 2008). They developed the standard care plans that are used throughout the world today (Ozbolt, J. G. Saba, V. K. 2008). Another big achievement of this decade was the introduction of the first commercial electronic medical record (Thede, L. 2012). This new system was patient-oriented and was implemented throughout the hospital (Thede, L. 2012). Nursing informatics really gained momentum in the 1980’s. The first national conference on computer technology and nursing was held (Ozbolt, J. G. , Saba, V. K. 2008) . Scholarships and the first educational courses on Nursing Informatics were introduced into the nursing programs at Boston College, University of New York and University of Utah (Ozbolt, J.G. , Saba, V. K. 2008). The growing record of accomplishment allowed nurses to move into managerial roles (Edwards, H. 2011). By the mid ‘80’s, nearly three decades after Nurse Werley pushed for minimum data sets, was the idea finally embraced by nurse professionals (Ozbolt, J. G. , Saba, V. K. 2008). Four specific elements of the minimum data set became a standard for nursing care: nursing diagnosis, nursing intervention, nursing outcome and the intensity of the care provided (Ozbolt, J. G. , Saba, V. K. 2008). Beginning in the 1990’s a real change was noticed.The technological advances that had been made were astonishing (Ozbolt, J. G. , Saba, V. K. 2008). A new technology called the internet had been introduced allowing for worldwide communication of healthcare information (Ozbolt, J. G. , Saba, V. K. 2008). In 1994 the American Nurses Association published the first versions of the â€Å"Scope of Nursing Informatics Practice† and the â€Å"Standards of Nursing Informatics Practice†. In 1995, the American Nurses Credentialing Center started the basic certification in nursing informatics as an area of specialty practice (Ozbolt, J. G. Saba, V. K. 2008). Also in 1994, the American Nurses Association (ANA) published the first definition of nursing informatics: â€Å"Nursing Informatics is the specialty that integrates nursing science, computer science, and information science in identifying, collecting, processing, and managing data and information to support nursing practice, administration, education, research, and the expansion of nursing knowledge. † (Murphy, J. 2010). The International Classification of Nursing Practices was initiated by three nurses throughout the world (Ozbolt, J. G. , Saba, V. K. 2008).The 1990’s were a big decade for the advancement of nursing informatics. The first journal pertaining to informatics in nursing was initiated and it was online. The Online Journal of Nursing Informatics hit the wires in 1996. This online publication focused, and still focuses on publishing peer-review articles, scientific papers, review articles, practice-based articles and data bases related to nursing informatics (McGonigle, D. , Seymour, R. , Englebardt, S. , Allen, M. , Chang, B. 2001). This journal is currently published with the amazing staff of one (McGonigle, D. , Seymour, R. Englebardt, S. , Allen, M. , Chang, B. 2001). In the 2000’s and today nursing has the tools and the terminology, which had taken years of development with the collaboration of numerous nursing professionals globally (Ozbolt, J. G. , Saba, V. K. 2008). A standardized language had been developed and nursing terminology and data standards were implemented mainstream (Ozbolt, J. G. , Saba, V. K. 2008). In 2004 nursi ng informatics had blown up. Education had accelerated and nursing informatics had become a staple in healthcare. Knowledge discovery methods were the key in discovering risks in health.Nurses knew that the discovery of knowledge brings the responsibility of that knowledge and with this information nursing care is the best it has ever been (Murphy, J. 2010). In 2001 the definition of nursing informatics was expanded by the ANA. They described it as: A specialty that integrates nursing science, computer science, and information science to manage and communicate data, information, and knowledge in nursing practice. NI facilitates the integration of data, information, and knowledge to support patients, nurses, and other providers in their decision-making in all roles and settings.This support is accomplished through the use of information structures, information processes, and IT (Murphy, J. 2010). And in 2008, the current definition of nursing informatics was published. It was essenti ally the same as the first published definition in 1994, however, now includes the additional concept of wisdom. It reads â€Å"NI is a specialty that integrates nursing science, computer science, and information science to manage and communicate data, information, knowledge, and wisdom in nursing practice. † (Murphy, J. 2010).Additionally, the ANA published three editions of Nursing Informatics Scope and Standards of Practice (ANA. 2008). We as nurses must remember that change is always a difficult thing to embrace. By studying information in an informatics prospective discover how to deliver care and support decisions more effectively and safely, with better outcomes for all constituencies. Informatics tools can support the translation of knowledge into practice, but changing the behavior of people, organizations, and systems requires collaboration across a range of disciplines.Nursing and healthcare will always be ever-changing. Change and collaborations for implementing c hange are fundamental in the education of nurses today. Today nurses are able to access new information and resources easier and faster than ever. Nurses are constantly being challenged to amalgamate new resources on a cognitive, psychomotor and executive level. Nurses of the future can learn technological skills and expand their knowledge and wisdom and can utilize the data.They are encouraging the changes to take place for the nursing practice and healthcare systems by learning, implementing and teaching. Change and evolution through informatics will only improve healthcare and will save more lives. Nursing informatics has become a well established specialty within the nursing field. Solid fundamentals have been laid out over the past 25 years and NI has become an essential part of healthcare delivery despite the many barriers yet to be overcome. It is influenced by environmental, political, economic and professional forces.The change that nurses are bringing are being influenced by new up-and-coming concepts of health and illness, advancements in the field of medical science, the patterns of diseases, demographics and an increasing ability to meet the needs of disease management and prevention as well as the needs of the patients and their families through the use of technology, knowledge and wisdom. As the specialty of nursing informatics continues to evolve new knowledge and technology will be available making the role of the nurse much more important and powerful and making the care and outcomes of each person served improved.It is how the nurse participates in saving a life; one step at a time. References Edwards, H. (2011). Nursing informatics: past, present and future. Retrieved from www. theconference. ca/nursing-informatics. Murphy, J. (2010). Nursing informatics: the intersection of nursing, computer, and information sciences. Nursing Economics, vol. 28, Iss. 3, 204-7, May/June 2010. Anthony J. Jannetti, Inc. Pitman, USA. Retrieved from http://ezpr oxy. ccu. edu/login? url=http://search. proquest. com/docview/577364695? accountid=10200. Ozbolt, J. G. , Saba, V. K. (2008). A brief history of nursing informatics in the United States of America.Mosby’s Nursing Consult. Vol. 56, Iss. 5, September 2008. American Nurses Association. (2008). Retrieved from: http://www. nursingworld. org/HomepageCategory/NursingInsider/Archive_1/2008NI/Jan08NI/RevisedNursingInformaticsPracticeScopeandStandardsofPractice. html. Thede, L. , (January 23, 2012) â€Å"Informatics: Where Is It? † OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing Vol. 17 No. 1. McGonigle, D. , Seymour, R. , Englebardt, S. , Allen, M. , Chang, B. (March 1, 2001) â€Å"The Online Journal of Nursing Informatics (OJNI)† Online Journal of Issues in Nursing. Vol. 6 No. 2. CIS312A, Healthcare InformaticsStudent Self-Grading Grid for APA Format Instructions: Complete and submit this form with your final scholarly paper by the due date listed on the Due Dates page. E ach item in the category needs to be checked for compliance. Name:Jackie Bailey |Met/Not Met |Criteria | | |General | | |Margins, 1 in on all sides | |Entire document is double space | |M |Times New Roman, Font 12 is used for entire document | | |Text alignment – left & not justified (there will be an uneven right margin) | | |Paragraphs are indented ? nches | | |Spelling and grammar are correct | | |Paper is 3-5 pages, not including Title page and Reference page | | |Title page | |M |Title information is centered in the upper half of title page | |(section break not met, |Title of paper on first line; student name on second line; faculty name on 3rd line; course & course number on 4th | |couldn’t figure out how |line; date on 5th line | |to do it) |Running head is present [Running head: ALL CAPITAL TITLE] in header, left justified | | |Page number is in upper right hand (in the header box) | | |Title page and first page of body is separated by a section break | | |Bod y of document | | |Title is centered at the top of the first page of the body of document | | |Headings used, if appropriate (frequently this is very helpful) | | |An introductory/background paragraph begins the paper | | |All paragraphs have at least 2 sentences; no paragraphs longer than 2/3 of a page | |M |Paragraphs contain only one topic |(except page break) |Transition sentence at end of paragraph provides logical flow to next paragraph | | |All citations are in appropriate format | | |All citations in the body are also listed in the reference page | | |Short quotations (less than 40 words or 4 lines) have quotation marks and a page number in the in-text citation | | |Long quotes (>40 words or > 4 lines are typed in free standing block format with all lines at ? inch left indent of| | |paragraph and without quotation marks | | |quotes are enclosed in quotation marks | | |Body and Reference page are separated by a page break |Met/Not Met |Criteria | | |Mechanics of Writin g | | |Proper use of colons, commas, & semicolons | | |Spacing: one space after commas, semicolons, colons | | |Spacing: two spaces at the end of each sentence | | |Abbreviations: Use sparingly: first time in document name spelled out completely with abbreviations in parenthesis,| |M |abbreviation used after first time | | |Pronouns and possessive nouns are used correctly | | |Parallel structure present | | |Tense is consistent (doesn’t go from future, to present, to past tense) | | Numbers: Numbers that begin sentence are spelled out; words are generally used to express numbers less than 10 | | |Reference Page | | |The word References is centered and at the top of page | | |Hanging indent is used for all references (not enter and tabbed in) | |M |All references are in the proper format (books, journals, web sites etc. ) | | |All references cited are also in the document | | |All references in the body are also in the reference list | | |References are in alphabetical order | CIS 312, Healthcare Informatics Final Scholarly Paper Grading Grid Scholarly Paper Grading Grid |Points Possible |Points Received | |Criteria | | | |APA & Word Formatting |45 | | |Paper set up using all principles of APA & Word (15) | | | |Title Page (5) | | | |Text Body (5) | | | |Reference Page (5) | | | |All references cited in the body were included in the reference page. No references were included | | | |in the reference page that were not cited in the body of the paper. | | |APA Grammar (15) | | | |Good principles of sentence structure, language, and writing mechanics were followed. | | | |Paper is 3-5 pages not including the Title Page and References Page | | | |Self Grading Form |10 | | |Paper was graded, using form.All items on form was accurately marked as met – or explanation | | | |given; Form was submitted with final paper | | | |Quality of References |25 | | |At least 6 references were used that came from scholarly journals or quality web sites, as | | | |iden tified in the CINAHL/web search activity | | | |Content & Clarity of writing style | | | |Content and flow of paper demonstrated good writing principles; changes, based on faculty feedback | | | |from preliminary outline were included. | | |Introduction to topic was compelling (20) | | | |Body included major points (35) | | | |Summary helped the reader understand the importance and essence of the topic (15) | | | | | | | | |70 | | |TOTAL POINTS

Saturday, September 14, 2019

Impairing Behavior Disorder

Each year, the U. S. Department of Education reports the percentage of school aged children receiving special education for learning disabilities in public schools. Impairing behavior disorders occur in approximately 3%-5% of school aged children. Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) is one common disability in students. ADD is a neurological disorder that causes inattentiveness and impulsiveness. Inattentiveness means not concentrating or paying attention. Incomplete assignments the child brings home and the appearance of their papers is a good indicator that they rushed through the work without regard for quality (Umansky, Smalley, 1994).Inattentive students often seem to be paying attention as they sit quietly and stare directly at the instructor. Yet, during this time, their thoughts have drifted off from around them. Impulsiveness is acting without thinking (Peacock, 2002). Rapid decisions made without reflecting on the consequences. A child will act quickly on an idea that comes to mind without considering that they were in the middle of doing something else that should be finished first (Barkley, 2005). Behavioral areas include the ways teachers and children cope and react.These reactions can be divided into flexible reactions, which do not include any thought processes about consequences, and consequential responses, which include some processing before action. It is rare to find school professionals these days who have not heard of Attention Deficit Disorder. Fortunately, there are larger numbers of teachers who are willing to listen to the concerns and make accommodations for children with ADD. Informal outline speaker will use to speak from. I. Inattentiveness means not concentrating or paying attention.A. Rapid decisions B. Act quickly C. Thought processes D. No consequences II. Impulsiveness is acting without thinking A. Not Thinking B. Never finish C. Processing D. Flexible reactions The above is how your informal outline will look. This is the docume nt you will speak from. This document must be typed. No typing is required if using an index card. However, you must speak from an informal outline. Remember, the informal outline main points are complete sentences and sub points are key words and phrases.

Friday, September 13, 2019

An Overview of Capitalism Using the Method of Marxism

An Overview of Capitalism Using the Method of Marxism Marxian theories against capitalism Historical materialism Marx’s theory of historical materialism, inspired by Hegel’s phenomenology, stated that both human societies and cultural institutions resulted from economic activity. Unlike Hegel who stated that abstract ideas were the cause of change, however, Marx proposed that material, economic forces, and their relationship with the natural, biological and physical world, were the determining proponents of dialectical change. History rests in the internal contradictions in the system of material production (producing what people need for survival), and other factors that have influenced society, such as geographical movement and growth of population, were not as determinant as the mode of production. Any changes in the material and economic conditions of a society also imply changes in its social relations. Social change, then, resulted from internal conflicts in a society’s economy. The social reality determines human consciousness. The mode of production is composed of two aspects: the productive forces and men’s relations of production. The productive forces include the instruments of production wherewith material values needed for survival, such as food, clothing, shelter, fuel, etc., are produced and the people who use these instruments in the production of material values through their production experience and labor skill. Men’s relations of productions, on the other hand, refer to the relations the people make with each other during production. These may come in the form of cooperation and mutual help, and in domination and subordination. Marx regarded revolutions not as political accidents, but manifestations of the historical progress of societies. Revolutions occur when modes of production â€Å"mature†, or contradict themselves to the point that they eventually collapse. Marx recounts human history in terms of four modes of production. The first mode of production, named asiatic, was considered as primitive communism, It was characterized by a communal ownership of land and essential economic resources. This mode of production was phased out when physically stronger people instituted the concept of private property. The ancient mode of production gave authority to people with physical, political and material strength – the masters while the non-owning class were slaves. Slaves were treated as commodities and made to engage in torturous menial and physical labor. This started a revolution of the slaves against their masters. The feudal mode of production was characterized, again, by two classes: feudal lords and serfs. Lords owned the land, and their job was to lease land and employ agricultural labor in their lands. The serfs worked in the lands and paid taxes in exchange for the lords’ protection. Like in the ancient mode of production, the serfs revolted against the lords. Industrialism grew becaus e of the revolution. Finally, the capitalistic mode of production, and the one Marx was most bothered with, caused the migration from rural to urban areas. There were two working classes as well: the bourgeoisie, who owned most of society’s wealth and means of production, and the proletariats, who rendered service for survival. Marx wanted that the exploitation present since the ancient mode of production would dispel, and so proposed socialism and communism. Socialism is the beginning stage wherein society is classless, while communism is the final stage wherein equality has been thoroughly implemented and private property and ownership are absent. Alienation The Marxist definition of alienation means that man does not experience himself as the acting agent in his grasp of the world, but that the world remains alien to him. The process of alienation is expressed in work and the division of labor, especially due to the emergence of capitalism and private property. Eventually, labor rules over the man and becomes a power independent of its producer. Man’s identity and consciousness of himself and his world becomes marred. â€Å"The object produced by labor, its product, now stands opposed to it as an alien being, as a power independent of the producer. The product of labor is labor which has been embodied in an object and turned into a physical thing; this product is an objectification of labor† Marx seeks the liberation of man from labor that destroys his individuality through his criticism of capitalism. Capitalist production, according to him, transforms the relations of individuals into qualities of things, and exploits its producers like machines through aliented labor. He differentiates proper work and alienated labor as thus: â€Å"Man no longer reproduces himself merely intellectually, as in consciousness, but actively and in a real sense, and he sees his own reflection in a world which he has constructed. While, therefore, alienated labor takes away the object of production from man, it also takes away his species life, his real objectivity as a species-being, and changes his advantage over animals into a disadvantage in so far as his inorganic body, nature, is taken from him. Just as alienated labor transforms free and self-directed activity into a means, so it transforms the species life of man into a means of physical existence. Consciousness, which man has from his species, is transformed through alienation so that species life becomes only a means for him. Alienation also leads to the perversion of moral values, as man is too conscious of economy’s values gain, work, thrift and sobriety to develop virtues. Due to the rising importance of commodities and money, for every new product, the potential for deceit and robbery grows. The alienated man only knows one way of relating himself to the world: through having and consuming it. He becomes more needy for money and possessions, and watches for signs of weaknesses in which he can maximize his gain. Class Consciousness Class consciousness is recognizing that the different interests and conditions of living between the two classes (bourgeois and proletariat) define their relationship with each other. This occurs when there is awareness from the working class that the conditions of labor and living of their class was created by the upper class. Once this happens, the working class becomes the enemy of the upper class. There are six features of class consciousness, although it was not Marx, but Bertell Ollman, who came up with them. The first feature pertains to the subjective and objective identity and interests of membership in a class. â€Å"Subjective† refers to what people think about their class situation, while â€Å"objective† refers to how the classes actually worked as seen in historical development, The second feature is that people must be knowledgeable about how capitalism works, either to benefit or deter them. The third feature pertains to the â€Å"broad outlines of class struggle and where one fits into it†. The fourth feature pertains to the solidarity with other members of the same class, which are exemplified by worker unions and revolts. The fifth feature is a â€Å"rational hostility† towards the opposing class. The last feature pertains to having a â€Å"vision of a more democratic and egalitarian society that is not only possible but is a condition individuals can help bring about.†