Wednesday, December 25, 2019

Religion and Faith Essay - 796 Words

Religion/Faith nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Over the last several decades America has been evolving towards many significant changes. One of these changes has posed a question, whether or not America has become secular. Although we may be uncertain of many of these changes and how they will affect our future, the answer to our secularity is quite obvious. America has indeed become secular. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;I think that in a society where being successful is everything, our religious beliefs tend to get lost in the quot;survival of the fittestquot; lifestyle that we lead everyday. Of course we all have certain standards in which we believe and live by. A good example of the standard behavior that makes us†¦show more content†¦We know what we have overcome to be where we are today, and we know what we want to plan for our future. As quoted in Herbergs essay, quot;The things that make us proud to be Americans are of the soul and of the spirit.quot; That quote said by Mr. Eisenhower exemplifies an American religion, or standard by which we look for guidance and reassurance.And it is not something we should be ashamed of. Our country has survived more that other countries can only dream of. So many have suffered for the well being of our country. It is what makes us America. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;To me it would seem that religion has become a thing of the past. It seems as though in the past more people than not saw their religion to be very important to them, it consumed their daily life.Now-a-days it seems that the religious way of life is left behind when mass lets out. So why are parents still insisting on that one hour mass every week? I think its because people are confusing religion with tradition. You arent religious because you are born with Catholic parents. You cant be forced into religion. It takes a certain amount of faith to be religious. And then in turn your faith is the dedication that brings you to church each week or to saying grace before each meal. I dont believe that whether or not youre religious is a prerequisite to being a good person. Which raises a good question, quot;Do kidsShow MoreRelatedThe Value Of Faith And Religion1479 Words   |  6 PagesEnglish II February 10, 2017 The Value of Faith and Religion We often take advantage of the First Amendment of the United States Constitution that states that we have the right to practice any religion we desire. It is a civil right many people do not appreciate nearly enough. We do not realize that people in other countries do not have this privilege. In other countries, innocent people are being persecuted, killed, and tortured because of their religion and their religious practices. The most notableRead MoreReligion Is The Idea Of Faith1530 Words   |  7 PagesReligion is universal in our society. It dates back to the beginning of the culture itself making it an ancient institution. It s interested in the shared beliefs and practices of individuals. It’s own response to elements in life and environment that are beyond their ordinary understanding. Foundation of all religions is the idea of faith. By faith, one is differentiated from other beings. It is an important subject and private matter. Religion is joined with all aspects of human life such asRead MoreFaith and Diversity in Religions1810 Words   |  8 Pagesacross different religions such as Christianity and Judaism. I grew up in a Christian household and I have come across Judaism with family friends and even my own family. I have attended Bar and Bat Mitzvah’s for my family friends and I got to see a bit of Jewish culture and tradition which I greatly appreciated that I could be a part of. Along with experiencing Judaism, my aunt converted from Christianity to Judaism when she married my uncle. I got to see a conversion of religions which was very coolRead MoreReligion is Faith Based2058 Words   |  8 PagesReligion is â€Å"faith Based† for a very obvious reason. Proof is extremely difficult to find, eyewitness accounts are sketchy or written from oral descriptions then scribbled down from memory of â€Å"eyewitness†. Jesus never wrote down any of his teaching, the first mention of Jesus was recorded by Paul approximately 15 years after Jesus death.. The material that I have researched stated that some of the events in the gospel were re-written and changed languages from Aramaic to Greek to Latin and someRead MoreA Comparison Of Faith And The Future Of Religion1539 Words   |  7 PagesA Comparison of Faith Faith, defined as a strong belief in something which cannot be proven, has been argued over countless generations. Still, even without proof, individuals worldwide hold true to their faith each day. After studying faith and religion in texts written by scholars with varying backgrounds, it is easy to see faith is something which is widely disputed. Comparison of Sigmund Freud’s The Future of an Illusion and Paul Tillich’s Dynamics of Faith, fully displays the discrepancies inRead MoreThe Reason For Personal Faith And Religion935 Words   |  4 PagesReligion and faith are often used hand in hand, but the two are very separate things. They can work together, or may be used separately, if at all, by a person. Religion can be defined as being â€Å"tied or bound by obligations to whatever powers are believed to govern one s destiny.† While personal faith is something that one believes in, without proof or reason, but they are not bound by obligations. The major dif ferences here that I will be discussing is that of written word, obligation, and practiceRead MoreFaith and Organized Religion Essay1688 Words   |  7 Pagesare convinced that organized religion does more harm than good. Many of these people make persuasive arguments that are or can be conclusive. In some cases, they say, a church, has too much power, is filled with politics and its rituals take away from God and put emphasis on one’s self; therefore, faith is what matters. In the novel A Portrait of The Artist as Young Man by James Joyce, readers see Stephen go through life with faith, surrounded by others with faith and religious activities. AfterRead MoreEssay Faith In Religion And Science1123 Words   |  5 PagesSince the dawn of mankind religion has been one of the most significant elements of a society’s social and cultural beliefs and actions. However, this trend has declined due to the general increase in knowledge regarding our the natural sciences. Where we had previously attributed something that we didn’t understand to the working of a higher power, is now replaced by a simple explanation offered by natural sciences. While advocates of Religion may question Natural Sciences by stating that theyRead MoreFaith Based On Belief Of Religion1675 Words   |  7 PagesFaith based on belief in the supernatural has been prevalent for the duration of mankind’s recorded history. Every culture around the world, past and present, has developed or adopted a dominant belief system. These belief systems could include the ancient traditions like Greek polytheism, Mayan ritual worship, or Hinduism as well as modern religions such as Christianity, Islam, or Judaism. By preaching goodwill and the golden rule religion has played a significant role in promoting ethics in societyRead MoreNotes On Practice Faith And Religion972 Words   |  4 Pages In practice faith is limited to one religion, and by restricting a personâ€⠄¢s understanding to one set of beliefs, a person is unable to experience life entirely. Religion is interchangeable, and provides information the other may lack, but believers tend to limit and turn people away from their religion from fear of new concepts. The exclusive disciples believe their ideals are the only ‘truth’ and that nothing can be gained from the other religions. Followers of one faith tend to have prejudice

Monday, December 16, 2019

The Good Man Based on Aristotles Nicomachean Ethics Essay

The Good Man Based on Aristotles Nicomachean Ethics Plato believed that a man could only become good by knowing the truth, and he could not know the truth without being good. This shows to be somewhat of a paradoxical argument. On the other hand, Aristotle had a different theory regarding the goodness of man. Aristotle claimed that the good man was the norm and the measure of ethical truth. Pertaining to Aristotles definitions, in this essay I will explain the meaning of the previous statement. I will then critique it from an internal view and contrast that by critiquing it from an external view. As ethics has developed and changed over the years, Aristotles concept of the good man can be altered to fit our modern society.†¦show more content†¦Yet there is no single science of good food, good people, good friendship, etc. Aristotle concludes that there is no universal good. Aristotle must now fashion his own interpretation of what he calls the highest good. The highest good is ultimately the aim of all actions. Wha t is best appears to be something complete (1097a29) and this must be self-sufficient in that, nothing can make it better. Of this sort happiness seems most to be. (1097b) The next content to be discussed is the function of man. Aristotle tells us that our function is to live, and to do what we do humanly. We are to live in understanding and insight. We have reason, we act and we dont react. All fashions of human nature have to be lived thoughtfully from within. One is accountable and must act for ones own reasons and not anothers. In essence, the function of man is to live ethically. The third content of Aristotles statement is ethics. However to be more specific, Ill discuss what is ethically good. Living ethically good is contributing to the concept of happiness noted above. Ethics is not concerned with judging others. It is integrative rather than disintegrative. We act humanly, rather than tell and judge others on how they act. Thus ethics involves analyzing ones o wn inner landscape in the ongoing determination of what is right and wrong. The final subject to discuss regarding Aristotles statement is ethical truth. Ethics has alreadyShow MoreRelatedThe Role Of Happiness . â€Å"Happiness Is The Meaning And The1326 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence† (Aristotle). In ethics, we study the place of morality in a social construct, where happiness is the core of ethical concern. Happiness for the individual, happiness for the majority, happiness for nature. What is the key to a happy life? Aristotle believes the key is eudaimonia, or a state of having a good soul or being in a contented state of being healthy, happy, and prosperous. Eudaimonia is often used toRead MoreAristotle s Philosophy On Ethics1330 Words   |  6 PagesNicomachean ethics is the name of Aristotle’s work on ethics based on his lectures. It is said that Nicomachean ethics were n amed after either Aristotle’s father or son , as they were both named Nicomachus. Aristotle believed that happiness is what makes a person pure. To prove his point, Aristotle believed that there were four moral virtues that worked together; the virtue of great soul, the virtue of justice, the virtue of practical judgment and the virtue of being a truly good friend. TenRead MoreThe Ethics Of Nicomachean Ethics1367 Words   |  6 Pages Olivia Schoen Dan Brown Ethics 101 8 April 2015 Nicomachean Ethics As one of the greatest philosophers of all time, Aristotle was one of the greats. He altered history and the way our world views philosophy and ethics. One of his theories of ethics that he written in the form of 10 books was Nicomachean Ethics, this theory consisted of Aristotle’s perspective on the life of man and what makes a good life for man. Personally, I think his theory of ethics is a good outline of how to be an ethicalRead MoreFriendship And Its Effects On The Human Person:. Friendship1020 Words   |  5 Pageswith new people. In Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics: Book IX, Aristotle gives thought to the ideology of friendship. He gives insight into what makes a friendship what it is, why friends break up, and the importance of goodwill in a friendship. Friendship is essential to a fulfilled human life because it gives us the opportunity to find our place in the world in relation to others, provides a support system for us. A specific topic that Aristotle writes about in Nicomachean Ethics: Book IX that I foundRead MoreReconciling The Divergence Of The Nature Of Man Between Classic And Modern Thinkers1425 Words   |  6 PagesReconciling the Divergence of the Nature of Man between Classic and Modern Thinkers Within Book 2 of Plato’s work The Republic, Socrates’ companion Glaucon describes the tale of the ring of Gyges, challenging Socrates on the nature of man. Within the ring of Gyges scenario, Glaucon posits that when an individual has the power granted by a ring of absolute invisibility that grants impunity, â€Å"no one [†¦] would be so incorruptible that he would stay on the path of justice or stay away from other people’sRead MoreAristotle Vs. Mill : The Debate On Happiness1750 Words   |  7 Pagesconstitutes happiness and what is required to be truly happy. John Stuart Mill’s Utilitarianism and Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics both agree that happiness is essential to a good life but differ on what an individuals happiness consists of. They both recognized the importance of happiness to man and aimed at defining it. Aristotle believed that happiness comes from virtue. He argued that in order to be happy, man must complete his function (Aristotle). On the other hand, John Stuart Mill, argues that pleasureRead MorePlato vs. Aristotle: Virtue1656 Words   |  7 Pagesthat virtue is a desirable characteristic that will lead to happiness, the ultimate good, there exists between the two philosophies salient differences. While Plato believes only philosophers are capable of true, inherent virtue, Aristotle believes all men can be virtuous with practice and dedication. GREAT. WAY TO GET TO THE POINT. BE SURE TO MENTION WHETHER OR NOT YOURE ARGUING THAT VIRTUE IS INTRINSICALLY GOOD. HAVE IT SMACK ME IN THE FACE ITS SO OBVIOIUS. (LI KE THAT TYPO). Plato’s RepublicRead MorePhilosophical Analysis of Aristotle883 Words   |  4 Pagesthe first person to use the term â€Å"ethics† in naming the field of study that had already been subject to develop by his predecessors Socrates and Plato. Philosophical ethics attempts in offering the rational response to the questions regarding how the human beings live. Aristotle used to be regarding politics and ethics as two related but very separate field of study because ethics examines the good concerning an individual, while politics is about examining the good of the city-state. Aristotle wasRead MoreConstructing A Good Human Being : Ethics By Aristotle1594 Words   |  7 PagesConstructing a Good Human Being: Ethics by Aristotle Aristotle’s philosophy of ethics reflects the complexity of human action, deliberation, and human life in general. His philosophy provides a flexible basis for integrating the subjective and the objective. In the books Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle describes five intellectual virtues that help man to be a good human being: technical knowledge, scientific knowledge, philosophical wisdom, intuitive reasoning, and practical wisdom. These intellectualRead MoreAristotle And Aristotle On Friendship1480 Words   |  6 PagesIn work his work The Nicomachean Ethics Aristotle addresses the question: what is the good life? Aristotle acknowledges that the generally accepted notion of the human good is happiness or, alternatively put, eudaimonia. The difficulty surrounding the age old question, and the topic that Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics primarily addresses, is not what we call the human good, but rather how happiness is defined and what contributes to a good, eudaimonic, flo urishing life. Aristotle writes that happiness

Sunday, December 8, 2019

Video Report for Journal of Hospital Infection - MyAssignmenthelp

Question: Discuss about theVideo Report for Journal of Hospital Infection. Answer: IV Priming is required in replacing the fluids, preventing nutritional imbalances and in providing IV medication theory (Van Der Eijk et al. 2014). The video explains the process of Priming IV line and IV therapy but neglects the privacy concerns. Maintaining privacy is an essential part of making videos. The videos must hide the identity of the patients in order to ensure privacy. However, the video did not maintain privacy that might lead to discomfort or conflicts. Another mistake in the video was that the five moments for hand hygiene was not maintained. The five moments for hand hygiene includes washing hands before touching the patients, before the cleaning procedure, after touching patients body fluid, after touching the patient and after touching the surroundings of the patient. These approaches were not taken into consideration in the entire video. These five moments of hand hygiene are an essential part of the work of the health care workers (Gould et al. 2017). Ignorance of any one aspect of the hand hygiene might lead to unwanted consequences for both the patient and the health worker. Maintaining hand hygiene is an essential practice that relates to the administration of medical care that helps in preventing or minimizing the spreading of diseases. The major purpose of maintaining hand hygiene is to remove pathogens and chemicals from the hands that might harm the patient as well as the health worker (Rai et al. 2017). Another major mistake in the video was that it did not mention air embolism although it was ensured that the line is free from air. Air embolism refers to the situation when air bubbles enter the blood vessels that block the supply of blood in the veins (McCarthy et al. 2017). Air embolism often leads to death of the patients as it can cause heart attacks, respiratory failures and stroke. Therefore, it is necessary to prevent air embolism while inserting the syringe or IV. Proper training is required to be given to the health workers and doctors in order to avoid the entrance of air bubbles in the veins of the patients during medical procedures (Alisantoso et al. 2015). Ignoring this aspect might risk the health of the patients. However, the video neglects the critical aspect of air embolism that might provide wrong knowledge to the viewers regarding Priming IV line and IV therapy. Lastly, the information regarding heart diseases and kidney failures were not asked in the video. It is necessary to ask the patients regarding any heart or kidney problems they have suffered from in the past. In order to ensure safety of the patients, it becomes necessary to know their medical background. Improper medication might further deteriorate the medical condition of the patients (Sherwin et al. 2014). Therefore, the health workers must obtain proper knowledge of the medical background of the patients in order to ensure that they provide proper medication to the patients. However, the video neglects this concern that might provide wrong information to the viewers. Any wrong information provided to the users might risk the health of the patients. References: Alisantoso, D., Cheng, K.J. and Neo, K., Becton, Dickinson, 2015.IV drip chamber with filter and bottom reservoir. U.S. Patent 8,974,414. Gould, D.J., Creedon, S., Jeanes, A., Drey, N.S., Chudleigh, J. and Moralejo, D., 2017. Impact of observing hand hygiene in practice and research: a methodological reconsideration.Journal of Hospital Infection,95(2), pp.169-174. McCarthy, C.J., Behravesh, S., Naidu, S.G. and Oklu, R., 2017. Air embolism: diagnosis, clinical management and outcomes.Diagnostics,7(1), p.5. Rai, H., Knighton, S., Zabarsky, T.F. and Donskey, C.J., 2017. A randomized trial to determine the impact of a 5 moments for patient hand hygiene educational intervention on patient hand hygiene.American journal of infection control,45(5), pp.551-553. Sherwin, C.M., Medlicott, N.J., Reith, D.M. and Broadbent, R.S., 2014. Intravenous drug delivery in neonates: lessons learnt.Archives of disease in childhood, pp.archdischild-2013. Van Der Eijk, A.C., Van Der Plas, A.J., Van Der Palen, C.J.N.M., Dankelman, J. and Smit, B.J., 2014. In vitro measurement of flow rate variability in neonatal IV therapy with and without the use of check valves.Journal of neonatal-perinatal medicine,7(1), pp.55-64.

Sunday, December 1, 2019

Music Censorship Essays - Censorship, , Term Papers

Music Censorship Censorship in music is a topic that has brought about much controversy in the past two decades. There have been many different arguments on the topic, however the question still remains as if it should be censored or it should not be censored. Before you can form an opinion on this, you must hear both sides of the argument on this much-debated topic. Some people believe that music should be censored so all audiences can hear it without it containing any controversial lyrics. Others believe it should not be censored and musical artists should be able to speak, sing, rap, or rhyme freely without anyone censoring them. Religious or moral beliefs have a great influence on how a person feels about censorship, and as generations pass on the common beliefs on it may change. Right now, America is more uncensored than ever. However, things were very different a few generations ago . Some people believe music should be censored. They believe some of the language musical artists use is vulgar, obscene, and crude. Also the fact that music is played on medias such as radio and television, which are free to listen to by all audiences, and there are many parents that wish for their kids not to hear foul language. On radio and television any controversial language is either silenced, edited out by a soft sound, or some artists make two versions of their songs; one that is made for the artist's album, which is uncensored; and one for televsion and radio with any controversial words change to be acceptable for all audiences. This does not include cable television, which can be audited by parents since the parents must order and pay for the channel to be viewed. Preventing or punishing speech?is a clear violation of the First Amendment. When you really think about it, it is a violation of the First Amendment, which says: Congress shall make no law? abridging the freedom of speech or of the press. The First Amendment guarantees the right to freedom of speech, and censorship is violating peoples' rights to say whatever they want to say. It is sometimes difficult to understand when a child gets punished for using foul language meanwhile the child's parents have the right to criticize and petition the government whenever they feel the need to do so. Many musical artists feel that when they are forced to change lyrics their rights are being violated. In some artists' songs they like to express their feelings towards somebody or something, and it hurts them to be censored because the new words implemented are not from his or her heart. They feel that they are being held down. Due to the amendment made by our founding fathers I do not believe there will ever be an answer to the question whether or not music should be censored. The way I see it, it should not be censored. Many children often hear explicit language from older siblings or parents at an early age. They believe that since someone they look up to uses those words, they should too. Eventually, everyone will be exposed to language they do not find acceptable. Foul language is not permitted on medias such as television or radio because it is an all audience media. However, on albums the artist is allowed to use any words he or she sees fit. The question, of course, is, who should decide what you read or view- the church, the state?or you? In my opinion, the answer to that question is: you. Censorship on television channels such as Nickelodeon ?, or PBS ? is understandable due to the fact that mostly young children programming is broadcasted on those stations. However I find it unnecessary to censor stations generally viewed by older audiences. It is now a requirement by law for record companies to put stickers on tapes and compact discs that say: Parental Advisory. Explicit Lyrics. The reason that law was passed was because many angry mothers and fathers sued artists and/or record companies for releasing albums that contained explicit lyrics, and now their child goes and repeats their newly learned words to people such as their teachers, principals, and other friends who then spread word around to their parents. I would tend to believe that many of those parents used those same bad words in front of their children at one time or another. They probably did not say it to their face,

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Computer Systems Analyst Essays - Systems Analysis, Systems Analyst

Computer Systems Analyst Essays - Systems Analysis, Systems Analyst Computer Systems Analyst A Computer Systems Analyst decides how data are collected, prepared for computers, processed, stored, and made available for users. (Computer Systems COIN 1) The main achievement as a systems analyst is to improve the efficiency or create a whole new computer system that proves to be more efficient for a contracting company. When on an assignment, the analyst must meet a deadline. While striving for a deadline, he must create and comprehend many sources of information for the presentation. He must review the systems capabilities, workflow, and scheduling limitations (Systems Analyst 44), to determine if certain parts of the system must be modified for a new program. First, a computer programmer writes a program that he thinks will be beneficial for a certain system. He incorporates all of what he thinks is necessary. But the hard part is when the programmer runs the program. 99% of the time the program will not work, thus not creating a profit for the company. Then the analyst looks at the program. It is now his job to get rid of all of the glitches that are present. He must go over every strand of the program until the program is perfect. When the analyst is finished chopping up the program, he must then follow a technical procedure of data collecting, much like that of a science lab. The Dictionary of Occupational Titles says he must plan and prepare technical reports, memoranda, and instructional manuals as documentation of program development. (44) When the presentation day is near, the analyst submits the proof. He must organize and relate the data to a workflow chart and many diagrams. More often than not, an idea is always to good to be true unless the proof is there. For this new program that will go into the system, detailed operations must be laid out for the presentation. Yet, when the system hits the market, the program must be as simple as possible. A computer systems analyst must always look for the most minute points whenever a program is be reviewed. Education and Training Many people think that this is the type of a job where you must really like the concept. This is true. Many people thing that you need a great prior experience to ever make it somewhere. This is true. Many people think that you need a Bachelors degree to at least star out somewhere. This is not true. Through research, it a known fact that you dont really have to go to college to ever make it. In this particular field, a college education would be helpful to impress the employer, but for a basic analyst job, the only proof really needed to go somewhere is the Quality Assurance Institute. This awards the designation Certified Quality Analyst (CQA) to those who meet education and experience requirements, pass an exam, and endorse a code of ethics. (Computer Scientists 95) Linda Williams found a technical analyst at the Toledo Hospital, who went to the Total Technical Institute near Cleveland and earned his CQA. (11 -13) However, college is the best bet and a bachelors is the best reward to have after achieving the CQA. Employers almost always seek college graduates for analyst positions. Many however, have some prior experience. Many rookies are found in the small temporary agencies that need small help. The one who have really made it are in the business for at least 15 years. When in a secure professional position, an analyst will always need an upgrading just a quickly as the systems themselves do. Continuous study is necessary to keep the skills up to date. Continuing education is usually offered by employers in the form of paid time in night classes. Hardware and software vendors might also sponsor a seminar where analysts will go to gather ideas and new products. Even colleges and universities will sponsor some of these types of events. (Computer Systems Americas 36) Environment, Hours, and Earnings Systems analysts work in offices in comfortable surroundings. They usually work about 40 hours a week - the same as other professionals and office workers. Occasionally, however, evening or weekend work may be necessary to meet deadlines according to Americas 50

Friday, November 22, 2019

The History and Achievements of Palomar Observatory

The History and Achievements of Palomar Observatory Southern California is home to two major observatories, Mount Wilson, north of Los Angeles, and Palomar Observatory, northeast of San Diego. Both were conceived in the late 19th century, built and expanded in the 20th Century, and continue to do cutting-edge astronomy observations in the 21st. Palomar Observatory, located on Palomar Mountain, is owned and operated by the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and was started by astronomer George Ellery Hale. He was also the brains behind the Mount Wilson Observatory. Hale was a Caltech founder and was very interested in building ever-larger and more accurate telescopes. Palomar Observatory Telescopes Palomar Observatory is located northeast of San Diego, California, at the summit of Palomar Mountain.The biggest telescope at Palomar is the 200-inch, 530-ton Hale Telescope. It was named for founder George Ellery Hale.The 48-inch Samuel Oschin Telescope is operated remotely and uses a variety of cameras and instruments.  It produces hundreds of images per night in survey mode.The facilitys 60-inch telescope came online in 1970 and is remotely operated by astronomers at Caltech.Astronomers have used Palomar telescopes to discover and study everything from exoplanets, Kuiper Belt Objects, and supernovae, to dark matter and distant galaxies. The 200-Inch Telescope Palomar is home to one of the largest telescopes in the world, the 200-inch Hale Telescope. Built by Hale with support from the Rockefeller Foundation, the creation of its mirror and building began in the 1920s. The Hale Telescope had its first light in late 1949, and it has been one of the premier instruments for astronomy ever since. It was painstakingly built, and its mirror carefully hauled up the mountain in 1947, just two years before its first light. The 200-inch Hale Telescope at Palomar Observatory. Caltech/Palomar Observatory Today, the 200-inch Hale telescope is outfitted with adaptive optics systems that help it capture clear imagery. Astronomers use a Large  Format Camera (LFC) to study objects in visible light, as well as a Wide-field Infrared Camera (WIRC) to capture data about distant objects in infrared light. There are also several images available that help astronomers use the telescope to study various cosmic objects over several wavelengths.   To support such a huge telescope and its instruments, the builders of Palomar Observatory placed it all on a giant stell mount. The whole telescope weighs 530 tons and requires very precise motors for motion. Because southern California is subject to earthquakes, the telescope and its mount rest on piers that are anchored to bedrock some 22 feet below ground. this provides a very stable platform for the very precise observations astronomers need.   More Palomar Telescopes The 200-inch wasnt the only telescope built and installed at Palomar. Astronomer Fritz Zwicky used a much smaller 18-inch telescope on the mountain to do his supernova research. That instrument is currently decommissioned. In 1948, the 48-inch Schmidt telescope was put into service and has been used ever since. It has been renamed the Samuel Oschin Schmidt telescope in honor of a southern California entrepreneur who donated money to the observatory. This telescope is also famous for its use in one of the first large photographic sky surveys ever undertaken: the Palomar Observatory/National Geographic Sky Survey (known colloquially as POSS).  The plates from that survey are still in use today. Today, the Oschin telescope is equipped with a state-of-the-art CCD detector and is currently in robotic mode, surveying the skies for a variety of objects.  It has been used to study large-scale structures in the universe, to look for dwarf planets, and to detect the sudden flares that herald explosive events such as supernovae, gamma-ray bursts, and outbursts by active galactic nuclei. In the 1970s, Palomar Observatory also opened a 60-inch telescope to astronomers. It was a gift by the Mayer family and is a survey telescope. The Samuel Oschin Telescope at Palomar Observatory. Scott Roberts, Michael Vergara, Jean Large. CC BY-SA 3.0 Famous Discoveries at Palomar Over the years, a number of prominent astronomers have made observations using both Mount Wilsons large telescope and Palomars 200-inch and smaller instruments. They include Edwin P. Hubble, Fritz Zwicky, Allan Sandage, Maarten Schmidt, Eleanor Helin, Vera P. Rubin (who was one of the first women allowed to use the telescope), Gene and Carolyn Shoemaker, and Mike Brown. Between them, these astronomers expanded our view of the universe, looked for evidence of dark matter, tracked comets, and, in an interesting twist of astronomy politics, used the telescope to downgrade dwarf planet Pluto. That breakthrough sparked a debate that continues to this day in the planetary science community. Visiting Palomar Observatory When possible, Palomar Observatory opens its doors to public visitors, even as it conducts professional research for astronomers. It also maintains a staff of volunteers who help with visitors and represent the observatory at local community events. Sources â€Å"Caltech Optical Observatories.† The 48-Inch Samuel Oschin Telescope, www.astro.caltech.edu/observatories/coo/.â€Å"Hale Telescope, Palomar Observatory.† NASA, NASA, www.jpl.nasa.gov/spaceimages/details.php?idPIA13033.The 48-Inch Samuel Oschin Telescope, www.astro.caltech.edu/palomar/homepage.html.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Quality Indicators Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Quality Indicators Paper - Essay Example It provides it services to patients from its three locations at Rochester, Minnesota; Jacksonville, Florida; and Scottsdale/Phoenix, Arizona (About Mayo Clinic). In 2008, Mayo Clinic was again adjudged as the best hospital in United States of America by U.S. News & World Report for the nineteenth consecutive. This continuing honor for Mayo Clinic is a reflection of the commitment to quality in health care that Mayo Clinic demonstrates which becomes evident from these words of Glenn Forbes, CEO of Mayo Clinic, Rochester â€Å"Were committed to setting the standard for high-value care †¦.. Nothing is more important to Mayo Clinic than quality and providing the best care to every patient, every day" (Honor Roll for 2008). The primary value at Mayo Clinic is putting the needs of the patient first. Core principles guide the various activities at Mayo Clinic. Medicine is practiced as an integrated multi-disciplinary team with compassion. Mayo Clinic believes in continually educating its physicians, scientists, and allied health professionals and also being a source of information to its patients and community that it serves. Basic and clinical research at Mayo Clinic is founded on the principle of the research enhancing patient care and being of benefit to society. Mayo Clinic believes in mutual respect and practices it by treating all the members of its diverse community with respect and dignity. Mayo Clinic is committed to quality and strives to improve the quality of health care that it provides by continually improving all the processes involved in the delivery of patient care, education and research. Mayo Clinic believes in an appropriate work atmosphere that is brought about by fostering teamwork, personal responsibility, integrity, innovation, trust, and communication through all the processes of a physician-led institution. Its commitment to society is made up of benefiting humanity by patient care, education and

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Southwest and United Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Southwest and United - Essay Example This report provides an insightful study and a comparative analysis of the two companies Southwest airlines and United airlines. As both the companies belong to the same industry, this report has been devised with a consideration to compare their financial performance with the help of the annual reports for the year 2005. The fact that the United airlines filed for bankruptcy in the year 2002 is greatly evident in the current financial position of the company. This report evaluates the factors as to the differences in the financial performance of the two companies. The financial analysis in this report provides the detailed comparison of both the companies' financial position and performance based on the data obtained from the companies' financial statements with respect to profitability, liquidity, solvency and investment. It first of all presents a ratio analysis and then identifies major factors that have precipitated the different results for the two countries. Ratio analysis is the pre-eminent technique to evaluate a company's performance and figure out major problems (Meigs & Meigs). Riahi-Belkaoui propounds that financial ratios serve the analysts in making the information in financial statements interpretable for the various users of financial statements. In the same vein, this paper will assess and analyse the financial position and performance of the two companies Southwest airlines and United airlines with the help of a broad array of financial ratios using financial data available from the two companies' annual reports. Profitability Analysis Profitability analysis is the first step in evaluating any company's financial position. Most of the financial statement users happen to be interested in knowing the potency of a company in terms of enhancing its ability to earn profit for the stakeholders. Riahi-Belkaoui says, "the profitability ratios portray ability of the firm to efficiently use the capital committed by stockholders and lenders to generate revenues in excess of expenses" (11). The analysis to assess the profitability of Southwest and United airlines has been done with the help of following ratios. Ratios Southwest United Operating Profit Margin 10.81% (1.26%) Net Profit Margin 11.52% (121.87%) Return on Capital Employed 12.28% (1.13%) Return on Assets 3.85% (109.48%) Mcmenamin says that the Operating Profit Margin Percentage evaluates the percentage of profit earned by a company on sales after the production and distribution activities. It reveals how well the company manages its expenses so as to attain maximum profit out of its total sales for its shareholders. Southwest's operating profit ratio of 10.81% reflects that the company loses about 90% of its operating revenues in meeting its various operating expenses. United airlines on the other hand, fails to manage its operating expenses that leads the company towards operating loss of 1.26%. Despite the fact that the company's operating revenue for the year 2005 is much greater than that of the Southwest, it fails to retain it as profit for its shareholders. The Net Profit margin shows what percentage of profit a company earns on its sales. It reveals the profit retained by a company after accounting

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Holy and right Essay Example for Free

Holy and right Essay A Sufi seeker has to brace for self realization and that can only be done if one finds his/her beloved self. The journey to self realization is not easy since one has to work through their weaknesses and fight them through love and sacrifice. In other words one cannot attain higher levels of morality if they do not love their God, themselves and the people around them. Following and knowing the principles of Allah through the Quran is just but one stage in the spiritual life however to follow the principles of Quran is another challenge all together. The principles to be followed by Muslims calls for one to not only have the zeal but the interest in Islam so that their hearts can be purified. Religion should be such that religious principles are comprehended as right and not questioned after all the supreme being Allah is supposed to be Holy and right 2. In other words, though Muslims have never met Allah in person, they have to have faith in His religion and His teachings disseminated through prophet Mohammed (Peace be upon him). In the above light, faith should be such that principles of religion are followed through reasoning and analysis2. For example, people should not just follow Islam faith because many people are following it since they will not tolerate the mode of discipline and principles to be followed by the religion followers. Studies show that religions that don’t challenge their followers to analyze their religion are not true religions 2 Perhaps the reason why there are so many cults around the world is because of such followers not questioning the principles behind their religion and ultimately may end up committing suicide thinking they are going to their ‘supreme being’. In this light Sufism is about analyzing and reasoning about the Islam religion so that a Muslim is able to derive meaning from the religious teachings and practices. Knowledge of any kind is usually disseminated through writings and teachings of people so that people can store the knowledge in their minds and analyze the information 3. People cannot be able to know the truth if they don’t have information. As stated earlier in this paper, Islam faith is all about submission and finding one self so that they can find Allah who is the Supreme Being. The information people gather from Islam religious books and teachings is coupled with analysis and testing to find if it makes sense to the follower. People religious decisions are influenced by other people’s thoughts and writings. For instance, as truths come out from the Quran Islam followers are able to follow through and find themselves in the religious believes they believe in. According to Shah Naqshband, if a follower is confused about something that his Sheikh has said or even done, one should be patient until they get to understand what they have not understood. For a Sufi follower, the acquired knowledge is what is more important since understanding is the one that leads to the self development of a person. The Islam faith is about realizing the truth of its teachings and principles 3. The same way, Sufism is also about finding the truth through ones experiences. For example, as one follows the principles of Islam, they get to realize the truth in those principles they follow. For instance, There are reasons why Muslims attend Hajji and seek to have pure hearts and life. The whole experience of Hajji ensures that a Muslim ends up finding himself and gaining a higher level of maturity. Studies show that finding the truth of Islam principles comes through ones experiences since one cannot be taught to find the truth without working hard to find out such principles. A person finds the meaning of what they believe in if they can effectively analyze and reason through what they are thinking about. For example a Muslim cannot know the essence of visiting Hajji if they don’t visit Mecca and follow all the procedures into achieving their self actualization in the religion they believe in. However, this paper notes that Sufism does not mean that Muslims find the truth about their religion as single entities but through teachers who help them see the truth in Islamic teaching. 3 Sufism is about humbling oneself in a bid to appease the supreme being while at the same time ensuring spiritual and moral growth. For example to be a successful Sufi, one should practice Hosh dar Dam and ensure that remain in Gods presence with every breath4. In that manner, a seeker of truth will be able to spend all their life and time doing what is right and avoiding sin. To be able to stay in Gods presence that means seekers have to seek forgiveness all the time so that they stay in unison with Gods teachings. In other words obedience is not an option in a successful Muslim which is also a core ingredient of Islam teachings. There are also other Islamic principles which constitute the actualization of a Sufi. For example, Nazar bar Kadam which means that one should not follow in paths which derail ones spiritual progress4. Sufism is about perfecting ones spiritual life through ensuring that they lead a straight light. For example a sufi should be able to practice Khilawat dar Anjuman which means that one secludes himself away from people and spends time in remembrance of his God4. As Islam faithful have time in remembrance of their God they develop deeper insights of the relationship with God. Consequently, Sufis should practice Safar dar Watan so that they achieve Gods characteristics and banish their worldly desires. For example, they should not create doubts in their minds about their God but instead believe in His teaching and follow them accordingly. Other studies show that spiritual knowledge cannot be transmitted through words 4. That means that knowledge is passed through heart to heart experiences. Sufism insists that seekers have to meet a physical master at least once. The master is to help the seeker in finding the truth. A Sufi master should be merciful when disseminating knowledge to the seeker which should be done in love4. When analyzing the Islamic faith, sheikhs usually teach Islam followers with love and passion which is not any different from the principles of Sufism. Sufi seekers are Muslims who make a decision to go a step further and draw towards God by ensuring that they don’t defy God since they love and seek Him. Drawing Gods presence close to oneself then also calls for actions and commitment to following righteous paths. Sufism insists on following Islamic ways. This study found out Sufism cannot be found in books but self experiences through seeking higher levels of morality. With such in mind, it can be asserted that Islam faith cannot be separated from Sufism since it also seeks for growth and development of Muslims. The essence of a supreme being is such that, He does not need wealth since He created wealth at His own wish 4. In this light, Sufis do not have to crave for worldly wealth but instead seek to live in Godly ways. An analysis of why Sufism came to be shows that, many Muslim leaders had become entangled with the worldly desires and sought to live in impunity, and at the same time generate a lot of wealth. In the eyes of other Muslims who wanted to acquire higher levels of morality, they sought to seek and follow the truth instead of seeking for worldly desires. Studies show that Muslim leaders who are philanthropists of Sufism started off as humble and pure of heart Muslims who would not follow the example of other selfish Muslim leaders. 5 Sufism is about being humble and seeking the ways of God so that one can live in unity with him. After all the wealth of this world is just temporary and seizes when one dies and goes to paradise. Islam faith does not in any way teach its followers to follow the ways of the world or haram but instead asks its followers to be decisive in following the teachings of Allah and Prophet Mohammed (Peace be upon Him). Conclusion This study found that there are many controversies surrounding the concept of Sufism in the Islam faith. For example there are those who believe that the concept was coined by followers outside the teachings of Prophet Mohammed (Peace be upon him) and the Quran. However, a analysis of the history and origin of Sufism states that, the concept came to be as a result of seekers of truth who wanted to achieve higher levels of morality. The essence of Muslim faith is to be submissive and at the same time find truth in the teachings of Islam. In this light Sufism cannot be separated from the teachings of Islam. On the other hand, this study also found out that Sufism is about analyzing and reasoning Islam religious teachings to be able to find the truth. People seek a religion because they believe in it and love the Supreme Being associated with it. In this light, to achieve higher levels or morality and to be able to understand the truths of the religion it is mandatory be able to experience the truths in such teachings. Sufism cannot be learned in books but rather can be experienced through following disciplined routines and practices as dictated in the Islamic Quran. Hence in conclusion, it can be argued that Sufism is the heart of Islam and it cannot be separated from Islamic teachings and principles. Reference list Geocites (2009). Sufi Principles and Practices. Retrieved on 22nd February, 2009 from http://www. geocities. com/sufisaints/Principles. htm. Muhammad E (2008). Laws of the Heart: A Practical Introduction to the Sufi Path, Shifa Publishers.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Ritalin is Like Cocaine :: Drugs Addiction Essays

What is Ritalin? Ritalin, or methylphenidate, is a stimulant derived from the same family as cocaine. Manufactured by the Ciba-Geigy Corporation, a division of Novartis, Ritalin sales have increased by 700% since 1990. The United States market accounts for over 90% of the sales (Breggin, 1998). Ritalin is dispersed in pill form in varying amounts, either for short or long effects; the short-term form lasts 3-5 hours while the long-term form may last 6-8 hours. (SR) Ritalin is the slow release form that lasts longer. Ritalin, like other stimulant medications, works by increasing the production of neurotransmitters, such as dopamine and norepinephrine, in the brain. (Reif, 1998) Who uses Ritalin? Doctors generally prescribe Ritalin as their first choice in treating ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder. Approximately 3-5% of children in the world have ADHD, of those, about 4 million take Ritalin (Breggin, 1998). It is thought that ADHD may occur from low levels of dopamine and epinephrine in the brain; although that is a highly controversial topic, it makes Ritalin an obvious treatment. (http://www.restores_homepage.com/the_ritalin_generation.htm) What is ADHD? Many psychologists regard ADHD as a state deficit, where children are highly aroused to compensate for the body’s feeling of under arousal. (Kerns, Eso, Thomson, 1999) Three main features of ADHD are 1.Impulsivity, the children often act before they consider consequences 2.Hyperactivity, the children struggle to sit still 3.Inattentiveness, the children have difficulty focusing on a subject because of the overload of stimuli in the environment. Research may indicate that ADHD has biological origins and set symptoms, such as fidgeting, excessive talking, difficulty maintaining concentration, impulsive behavior, lack of focus and messiness. (http://www.mnsi.net/~collinsw/ritalin.htm) According to the Center for the Study of Psychiatry and Psychology, in a recent conference held by the NIMH, National Institute of Mental Health, the validity of the diagnosis of ADHD was held in question. (www.breggin.com) The cause of ADHD is unknown as of yet, and speculation is all psychologists have to diagnose and treat patients. The DSM-IV has categorized ADHD by the three dimensions listed above and included 18 symptoms under the three categories, which include some listed above. ADHD has undergone significant renaming and evaluation since the last publication of the Diagnostic Statistic Manual. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity, was referred to as ADD or sometimes ADD-H, Attention Deficit Disorder with hyperactivity. (www.journals.cup.org) Who Advocates Ritalin? Teachers, parents and doctors continue to advocate Ritalin despite the claims made by antagonists of the stimulant treatment.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Deception & Ethics in Mediation

One of the basic tenets of the mediation process is that, as far as possible, everything that is said is truthful. Under this assumption, the mediation process will be an attempt to resolve two different views of the truth. However, what happens when there is intent to deceive on the part of one of the participants, or worse yet on the part of the mediator? This is a complex issue that cannot be determined solely by considering the foundations of ethics or of the practice of mediation. Instead, the issue must be understood from a dual perspective of the ethical appropriateness of deception and its potential usefulness within mediation. Ethically, there can be no question – neither a Kantian nor a utilitarian ethical approach allow for the use of commonplace lies in mediation. However, from the perspective of human relationships, it must be accounted for that people do deceive, and that it is part of our communications and social fabric. Thus, there is a dual ethical position for deception in the mediation process – while morally it is wrong, pragmatically it is commonly used and may be useful for helping negotiating parties to come to a decision. In order to clearly understand this argument, it is important to understand what deception is. A naive understanding of deception is that it is simply lying, which is certainly included. However, there are a number of other elements of deception, as well. One formal definition of deception that could be used is â€Å"a successful or unsuccessful deliberate attempt, without forewarning, to create in another a belief that the communicator considers to be untrue in order to increase the communicator’s payoff at the expense of the other side (Gneezy 386). This definition is useful because it includes a number of key characteristics for understanding deception. First, it is deliberate – that is, the deceiver is not simply misinformed or lacking in information. Second, is an attempt to create a belief in the other person; without this intent, it is difficult to say whether something is truly an expanse at deception. Third, it is an attempt to influence the outcomes of the decision, rather than simply being for no purpose or for some other purpose. Finally, the attempt at deception may be either successful or unsuccessful, and thus even if the negotiation partner figures out what information is being withheld, it is still incorrect. This definition can be extended by common knowledge examples of deception, such as lying actively; lying by omission; and manipulation of data and statistics. Krivis (1) identified a spectrum of deceptive practices that can be further used to understand this concept, including: â€Å"Honesty, Exaggeration, White lies, Partial Disclosure, Silence As to Other Party’s Mistake, False Excuses, [and] Fraud. These types of deception are of course not mutually exclusive, but may be seen in combination with each other. Also, as Krivis (1) noted, many of these behaviors are common within our society and do not even pose a significant moral quandary for the majority of those that undertake them. There are also distinct philosophical approaches to deception that address the ethical approaches and considerations. The two main ethical approaches to deception can be characterized as Kantian, or virtue-based, and utilitarian. In the Kantian view, lying is always wrong, because it violates the moral imperative (Alexander and Sherwin 396-397). That is, â€Å"lying is an offense to all humanity, and, most importantly, to the liar himself (Alexander and Sherwin 397)† because it promotes falsehood and uses the liar’s intellect in a debased manner. The utilitarian view is not as absolute, but it still does not cede that lying is an acceptable moral choice most of the time (Alexander and Sherwin 398). Specifically, the potential gain from the lie must be greater than the harm caused to society from the lie in order to be morally defensible. However, given that lies â€Å"degrade the background trust that supports human interaction (Alexander and Sherwin 398),† this is a very high bar for the benefits of lying to overcome its consequences, even under the utilitarian ethical structure. Thus, it is clear from a pure ethical analysis that the use of deception in negotiation is wrong. However, it should be noted â€Å"professional rules of ethics simply require negotiators to abide by the morality of the marketplace, rather than the rules of law (Krivis 3). † Thus, neither a strictly legalistic nor a strictly legalistic approach to deception is demanded. It should be noted that not all fields of study take an ethical approach to deception, but sometimes use a more pragmatic approach. For example, in classical economics deception is often seen as an attempt to increase the payout from n economic transaction, in which individuals will engage if the incentive is high enough to do so (Gneezy 384). This approach could best be described as a utilitarian or consequentialist approach, in which what is most important is the outcome, rather than the intent of the lie (Gneezy 384). This approach is similar to many such approaches used in mediation analysis, in which rather than taking a normative view regarding what people should do, theoretical and pragmatic approaches to deception deal with what people do – that is, they use deception routinely (Krivis 1). The use of deception is highly context-dependent and may not always occur, but it should always be considered in the range of possibilities for how a negotiation will occur (Krivis 2). The question of whether deception is ethical in a mediation context should be asked not only within the context of a philosophical framework that is applied generally, but also within the framework of mediation itself. Given the nature of mediation, it is natural that considerable research has been done into the area of deception and its effects. There is no question that deception is a commonly used tactic in mediation, and that it works. One study compared the uses of deception in negotiating dyads, comparing its use in competitive and less competitive negotiation frames (Schweitzer, DeChurch and Gibson 2123). The researchers found that competitive negotiators, or those that engaged in highly aggressive tactics intended to promote their own point of view, used both deceptive and non-deceptive negotiating tactics in order to achieve their goals. In particular, they were found to use deception both more aggressively and to a greater degree than cooperative negotiators (Schweitzer, DeChurch and Gibson 2137). Thus, this cannot be questioned. However, this finding does not make a clear statement regarding why this would be undesirable; there is nothing inherently wrong with one side or another prevailing in a mediation discussion, and so the evidence against deception must be stronger than it simply being a path to winning a negotiation. This evidence can be found in the effects of the deceptive behavior on perceptions and outcomes also found by this study. The study found evidence that the use of deception influenced the other party’s beliefs about the negotiating situation, leading to an estimation of the deceiver’s situation that was significantly different from reality (Schweitzer, DeChurch and Gibson 2137-38). Significantly, the researchers found that even though the negotiators paired with a competitive negotiator were disbelieving regarding the claims made, they still were not able to determine what the actual situation of the negotiation was. Finally, the use of deception on the part of one negotiator resulted in a less positive outcome for the other participant. Specifically, it resulted in a change in the ultimate decision of the non-deceiving negotiator, a transfer in the surplus received from the non-deceiving negotiator to the deceiving negotiator, and an increase in the amount of profit received by deceivers as compared to those that did not use a deceptive strategy (Schweitzer, DeChurch and Gibson 2139). This clearly demonstrates the shift in value that is seen in cases where mediation and negotiation is accompanied by deception. While one party has benefited, the other party, which has been exposed to deception without warning beforehand, has been harmed. Thus, there is a distinctly negative outcome that can be seen from the use of negotiation in this context. There are certainly problems in implementing an ethical prohibition against lying in the mediation context. This is not unique to mediation, however. In the legal context, deception is not treated as strictly as it could be. It is generally considered under a utilitarian ethic, rather than a Kantian ethic (Alexander and Sherwin 394); that is, there may be considered to be some justification for lying if the greater number of people is served. However, as Alexander and Sherwin (394) noted, the penalties for lying in a legal context are not commonly as strict as those that would be promoted by a pure utilitarian philosophy. Although there are a number of potential reasons for this, such as the cost and infeasibility of enforcement, Alexander and Sherwin (394) posited that this might also be because of the recognition that lying may at times be beneficial in a legal context. However, this does not mean that in an ethical sense, this position has to be accepted in mediation. In fact, if it is accepted that one of the purposes of mediation is to come to effective solutions without involvement of the legal system, and then this calls for a noticeably different approach to the use of deception. However, the legal approach to deception is actually highly relevant to mediation, because of the frequent use of lawyers by parties in the mediation process. As Krivis (2) notes, there are a number of specific approaches that lawyers use in order to achieve their negotiation goals, although these approaches need to be carefully managed in order not to venture into fraud. Some of the potential deceptions that may be found in this context include exaggeration (for example, exaggerating the strength of the case); being deceptive about intent to settle; and inflating the settlement expectation in order to achieve a better outcome (Krivis 2). It is clear that currently mediation practices and ethics do not prohibit the use of deception, as long as it does not venture into specific areas such as fraud. However, should this be prohibited? Evidence discussed above indicates that deception can be used to unfairly rich one party at the expense of another, offering one reason why this should be the case. Another reason for a stronger prohibition against deception is the cross-professional nature of many mediators, who also play roles as lawyers, social workers, and other professions (Laflin 479). Given that these professions have vastly different ethical standards and practices, it would be to the benefit of the mediation profession to have a specific set of ethical expectations that could be promoted. Laflin (480) notes that lawyer-mediators may have particular difficulty with the ethical concerns inherent in mediation, given the relative focus on adversarial rather than cooperative outcomes. The implementation of stronger prohibition against deception would certainly be one way in which the norms of mediation, rather than the norms of courtroom argumentation, could be enforced. However, this does raise the question of how this prohibition against deception could be implemented and enforced. Given the relatively accepted nature of deception in many of its more subtle forms, it would be difficult to determine how this could be implement with any great degree of success. Deception, commonly understood as lying, can be understood as a range of more subtle behaviors that reflect a range of potential manipulations of implementation. Deception is commonly accepted from an economic point of view and routinely engaged in, even though using a strict ethical evaluation it cannot be defended except under very severe circumstances. However, the mediation environment must deal not only with the philosophical question of correctness, but in the outcomes of mediation and the effects that are seen from deception. Research has shown that the use of deception in negotiation leads to a transfer of surplus from the non-deceptive party to the deceptive party, which provides a clear rationale for why, under a pragmatic viewpoint, deception would also be a negative activity. However, in practice deception is commonly accepted both within the legal system and within mediation practices, as long as this deception does not venture into fraud. There are a number of potential reasons for this, including the acceptability of deceptive practices such as exaggeration and white lies within the wider society and the requirement that lawyers should protect the interests of their client. There is certainly justification for reform of mediation norms and ethics in order to prevent the use of deception. However, given the difficulty that is involved in detecting fraud, this may be a very difficult reform to make. Deception is not acceptable in every situation. Deception in negotiation can provide a bargaining advantage. Deception in negotiation can also come at a cost.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Prosocial Behaviour Essay

Prosocial behaviors are voluntary behaviors made with the intention of benefiting others (Eisenberg & Fabes, 1998). This definition carefully circumvents the potential benefits to the person performing the prosocial behavior. Prosocial behavior is often accompanied with psychological and social rewards for its performer. In the long run, individuals can benefit from living in a society where prosociality is common (which, in evolutionary terms, increases reproductive potential). It has therefore been difficult for researchers to identify purely altruistic behaviors, benefiting only the recipient and not the performer. Nevertheless, behaviors benefiting others, but whose main goal is self-advantageous (e.g. cooperative behaviors intended to obtain a common resource), typically are not considered prosocial. Typical examples include: volunteering; sharing toys, treats, or food with friends; instrumental help (e.g., helping a peer with school assignments); costly help (e.g. risking oneâ €™s own life to save others); and emotionally supporting others in distress (e.g., comforting a peer following a disappointing experience or caring for a person who is ill). DEVELOPMENTAL CHANGES Prosocial behavior has roots in human evolutionary history as de Waal’s comparison with other species shows. Nevertheless, Fehr and Fischbacher note that humans are unique in their degree of prosociality. Hoffman’s theory proposes that prosocial behavior becomes increasingly other-oriented as children mature. Infants feel self-distress in reaction to the distress of others because they are incapable of differentiating their own experiences from those of others. Gradually, self-distress is replaced by other-oriented concern, requiring some understanding of others’ mental states (Hoffman, 2000). Zahn-Waxler, Robinson, and Emde show that by age 4, many children can react empathically to others, including offering help to those in distress. The 1998 Eisenberg and Fabes meta-analysis found that prosocial behavior increases with age, although increases varied in size, depending on the methodological aspects of each study. In one study by Benenson, Pascoe, and Radmore, about 60 percent of 4-year old children donated at least one of 10 stickers they received to a peer, and about 85 percent did so at age 9. This increase was markedly elevated for higher-SES children compared to lower-SES children. From childhood to adolescence further increases are found in sharing, but not in helping or providing emotional support (Eisenberg & Fabes, 1998). The boost in prosocial behavior with age is attributed to developmental increases in cognitive abilities associated with detecting others’ needs and determining ways to help, in empathy-related responding, and in the moral understanding of the importance of helping others (Eisenberg et al., 2006). CONTEXTUAL AND INDIVIDUAL INFLUENCES Many contextual factors are associated with prosocial behavior. For example, Cole and colleagues report short-term success for television programs designed to increase children’s prosociality. Social psychological experiments consistently show that recognizing a situation as requiring assistance, involving personal responsibility, and enabling oneself to help, all increase helping behavior (Penner, Dovidio, Piliavin, & Schroeder, 2005). Individuals are more likely to provide support in situations that promote personal psychological and material rewards, or where the costs (e.g., guilt) associated with not helping are prominent. Finally, individuals are more likely to behave prosocially towards similar or likable others (Penner et al., 2005), and towards others considered to be close, especially kin (Graziano et al., 2007). This pattern may reflect an ultimate evolutionary goal of kin selection as described by Hamilton, although de Waal notes that helpers’ psychological goals may be quite different. Genetic relatedness aside, prosocial behavior towards family members probably involves a sense of duty, reciprocity, and affective relationships. Rushton describes moderate consistency in individuals’ prosocial behavior across varying situations and contexts, demonstrating both stable individual differences in prosociality and the importance of contextual factors. Research following children from early childhood to adulthood supports the existence of the long-debated altruistic or prosocial personality (Eisenberg et al., 1999). Individual differences in prosociality are linked to sociability, low shyness, extroversion, and agreeableness, although specific prosocial behaviors may require a combination of additional traits, such as perceived self-efficacy in the case of helping (Penner et al., 2005). Researchers Bardi and Schwartz highlight the importance of individuals’ specific prosocial values, including emphasizing the importance of the welfare of others, as an additional variable likely to influence prosocial behavior. Personality and contextual variables are likely to interact in determining prosocial behavio r. For example, agreeable individuals were more likely to help an outgroup member than low-agreeableness individuals, but agreeableness was not associated with helping an ingroup member (Graziano et al., 2007). Environmental factors linked to individual differences in children’s prosociality include parental modeling of helping behavior and use of inductive discipline (e.g., explaining to children the consequences of their behavior) as opposed to power-assertive discipline (e.g., punishment) (Eisenberg & Fabes, 1998). Beyond parental influence, siblings, peers, and schools also may affect prosociality. For example, as Wentzel, McNamara, and Caldwell point out, children’s prosociality may be influenced by close friends. Furthermore, the better the affective quality of the friendship, the more influential friends are to each other’s prosociality. Genetics also contribute to individual variation in prosociality. Research on adults finds that prosociality is substan tially heritable. Research on young children shows lower heritability, demonstrated by one longitudinal twin study showing increases in the heritability of parent-rated prosociality, from 30 percent at age 2 to 60 percent at age 7 (Knafo & Plomin, 2006). Genetic and environmental effects are often intertwined. For example, parental reasoning may be more effective with highly attentive children, while external rewards may work better for other children. These geneenvironment interactions, in which children’s genetically influenced tendencies interact with environmental influences in determining behavior, are highly likely. Further investigation is necessary of gene-environment interactions with regard to prosociality. Gene-environment correlations can also shape individual differences in prosociality. For example, children’s low prosociality is related to parents’ use of negative discipline and affection. This relationship can be traced back to children’s genetic tendencies, implying that the genetically influenced low prosociality can initiate a negative reaction from parents (Knafo & Plomin, 2006). Gender and culture are additional predictors of prosocial behavior. A meta-analysis found small differences favoring girls in prosocial behavior, smaller than expected based on gender stereotypes and lower for instrumental help than for other prosocial behaviors (Eisenberg & Fabes, 1998). Some evidence suggests that children in Western societies are less prosocial than children in other cultures, but some studies find no differences along these lines (see review by Eisenberg et al., 2006). A field study by Levine, Norenzayan, and Philbrick found large cultural differences in spont aneously helping strangers. For example, the proportion of individuals helping a stranger with a hurt leg pick up dropped magazines ranged from 22 percent to 95 percent across 23 cultures. Although national wealth was negatively associated with helping rates, the closely related cultural value of individualism-collectivism (individualism is on average higher in richer countries) was not related. A compelling cultural explanation for cross-national differences in prosocial behavior was still needed as of 2008. Perhaps, cultures differ substantially in what each promotes as prosocial behavior (Eisenberg et al., 2006). RELATION TO OTHER ASPECTS OF SCHOOL FUNCTIONING Clark and Ladd find that prosocial children are relatively well adjusted and have better peer relationships than less prosocial children. Highly prosocial children have more friends and report a better quality of friendship, relative to less prosocial children. Caprara and colleagues find positive relationships between children’s early prosocial behavior and later academic achievement, and positive peer relations (statistically controlling for earlier achievement). The exact nature of these relationships has yet to be determined. Possibly, prosocial children’s superior social skills enable them to work better with peers and to get along better with teachers. Alternatively, earlier prosociality represents self-regulation abilities needed for later achievement. Similarly, a finding by Johnson and colleagues that volunteering adolescents have higher grade point averages and intrinsic motivation toward schoolwork may indicate that volunteering increases academic self-esteem. Furthermore, adolescents who volunteer may receive preferential treatment from teachers, increasing their achievement. HOW TEACHERS AND SCHOOLS CAN PROMOTE PROSOCIAL BEHAVIOR Although observational studies suggest that preschool teachers usually do little to encourage prosocial behavior, teachers’ behavior and school policies can promote pro-sociality. Positive, warm, and secure teacher-student relationships are associated with children’s prosociality (Eisenberg et al., 2006). To overrule the possibility that highly adjusted children are both prosocial and elicit positive reactions from teachers, intervention studies are essential. A five-year longitudinal study by Solomon and colleagues finds that training teachers to promote children’s prosociality and developmental discipline increases children’s prosocial values and behaviors. The program provided children with an opportunity to work collaboratively in small groups and participate in activities designed to promote social understanding. It emphasized prosocial values through the use of relevant media and highlighting children’s positive behaviors and provided opportun ities for active helping such as a buddy program that assigned older children to help younger peers. In another school intervention reported by Fraser and colleagues, children received training designed to teach social problem-solving skills and to reduce peer rejection. Simultaneously, parents participated in home lessons designed to improve parenting skills (e.g., child development, parent-child communication, problem-solving, and discipline). Intervention children increased in prosocial behavior in comparison to the control group. Another experimental school program reported by Flan-nery and colleagues shows longitudinal gains in children’s prosocial behavior by altering school climate by teaching students and staff five simple rules and activities: (a) praise people, (b) avoid put-downs, (c) seek wise people as advisers and friends, (d) notice and correct hurts one causes, and (e) right wrongs. McMahon and Washburn point out that effective interventions often work to addr ess students’ empathy and problem-solving skills and are often tailored to the cultural, developmental, and behavioral characteristics of students. Research by Kazdin, Bass, Siegel, and Thomas reveals the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy in increasing prosociality in children with severe antisocial behavior. Another violence prevention program reported by DeCarlo and Hockman improves male urban African American students’ prosocial skills through analysis of relevant RAP music lyrics. Furthermore, Lakes and Hoyt show the effectiveness of tae-kwon-do training at primary school to improve self-regulation and prosocial behavior among boys and, to a lesser extent, girls. Attention/play interventions by school psychologists with highly aggressive boys (modeling, role-playing, coaching, feedback, and discussion of play strategies), by Dubow and colleagues longitudinally decrease aggression and increase prosocial behavior. These studies demonstrate the usefulness of non-preaching approaches to prosocial development. See also:Moral Development, Social Skills BIBLIOGRAPHY Bardi, A., & Schwartz, S.H. (2000). Values and behavior: Strength and structure of relations. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 29(10),1207–1220. Benenson, J. F., Pascoe, J., & Radmore, N. (2007). Children’s altruistic behavior in the dictator game. Evolution and Human Behavior, 28, 168–175. Caprara, G. V., Barbaranelli, C., Pastorelli, C., Bandura, A., & Zimbardo, P. G. (2000). Prosocial foundations of children’s academic achievement. Psychological Science, 11(4), 302–306. Clark, K. E., & Ladd, G. W. (2000). Connectedness and autonomy support in parent-child relationships: Links to children’s socioemotional orientation and peer relationships. Developmental Psychology, 36, 485–498. Cole, C. F., Arafat, C., Tidhar, C., Tafesh, W. Z., Fox, N. A., et al. (2003). The educational impact of Rechov Sumsum/Shara’a Simsim: A Sesame Street television series to promote respect and understanding among children living in Israel, th e West Bank and Gaza. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 27, 409–422. DeCarlo, A., & Hockman, E. (2003). RAP therapy: A group work intervention method for urban adolescents. Social Work with Groups, 26(3), 45–59. De Waal, F. B. M. (2007). Putting the altruism back into altruism: The evolution of empathy. Annual Review of Psychology, 59(4), 4.1–4.22. Dubow, E. F., Huesmann, L. R., & Eron, L. D. (1987). Mitigating aggression and promoting prosocial behavior in aggressive elementary schoolboys. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 25(6), 527–531. Eisenberg, N., & Fabes, R.A.(1998). Prosocial Development. In W. Damon, (Ed.), Handbook of child psychology: Social, emotional, and personality development (Vol. 3, pp. 701–778). New York: Wiley. Eisenberg, N., Fabes, R. A., & Spinrad, T. L. (2006). Prosocial development. In N. Eisenberg (Vol. Ed.), W. Damon & R. M. Lerner (Series Eds.), Handbook of child psychology: Social, emotional, and personality development (Vol. 3, pp. 646–718). New York: Wiley. Eisenberg, N., Guthrie, B., Murphy, C., Shepard, S. A., Cumberland, A., & Carlo, G. (1999). Consistency and development of prosocial dispositions: A longitudinal study. Child Development, 70(6), 1360–1372. Fehr, E., & Fischbacher, U. (2003). The nature of human altruism.Nature, 425(6960), 785–791. Flannery, D. J., Liau, A. K., Powell, K. E., Vesterdal, W., Vazsonyi, A.T., Guo, S., et al. (2003). Initial behavior outcomes for the peacebuilders universal school-based violence prevention program.Developmental Psychology, 39, 292–308. Fraser, M. W., Day, S. H., Galinsky, M. J., Hodges, V. G., & Smokowski, P. R. (2004). Conduct problems and peer rejection in childhood: A randomized trial of the making choices and strong families programs. Research on Social Work Practice, 14, 313–324. Graziano, W. G., Habashi, M. M., Sheese, B. E., & Tobin, R. M. (2007). Agreeableness, empathy, and helping: A person X situation perspective. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 93(4), 583–59. Hamilton, W. D. (1964). The genetical evolution of social behaviour I and II. Journal of Theoretical Biology 7, 1–52. Hoffman, M. L. (2000). Empathy and moral development: Implications for caring and justice. New York: Cambridge University Press. Johnson, M. K., Beebe, T., Mortimer, J. T., & Snyder, M. (1998). Volunteerism in adolescence: A process perspective. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 8(3), 309–332. Kazdin, A. E., Bass, D., Siegel, T., & Thomas, C. (1989). Cognitive-behavioral therapy and relationship therapy in the treatment of children referred for antisocial behavior. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 57(4), 522–535. Knafo, A., & Plomin, R. (2006). Parental discipline and affection and children’s prosocial behavior: Genetic and environmental links.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 90, 147–164. Lakes, K. D., & Hoyt, W. T. (2004). Promoting self-regulation through school-based martial arts training. Applied Developmental Psychology, 25, 283–302. Levine, R. V., Norenzayan, A., & Philbrick, K. (2001). Cross-cultural differences in helping strangers. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 32, 543–560. McMahon, S. D., & Washburn, J. J. (2003). Violence prevention: An evaluation of program effects with urban African American students. Journal of Primary Prevention, 24(1), 43–62. Penner, L. A., Dovidio, J. F., Piliavin, J. A., & Schroeder, D. A. (2005). Prosocial behavior: multilevel perspectives. Annual Reviews of Psychology, 56, 365–392. Rushton, J. P. (1984). The altruistic personality: Evidence from laboratory, naturalistic, and self-report perspectives. In E. Staub, D. Bar-Tal, J. Karylowski, & J. Reykowski (Eds.), The Development and Maintenance of Prosocial Behavior: International Perspectives on Positive Development (pp. 271–290). New York: Plenum. Solomon, D., Watson, M. S., Delucchi, K. L., Scraps, E., & Battistich, V. (1988). Enhancing children’s prosocial behavior in the classroom. Ame rican Educational Research Journal, 25, 527–554. Wentzel, K. R., McNamara, B. C., & Caldwell, K. A. (2004). Friendships in middle school: influences on motivation and school adjustment. Journal of Education Psychology, 96(2), 195–203. Zahn-Waxler, C., Robinson, J. L., & Emde, R. N. (1992). The development of empathy in twins. Developmental Psychology, 28(6), 1038–1047. http://www.education.com/reference/article/prosocial-behavior/

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Free Essays on Aggression

The title of this essay asks a question that cannot be easily or directly answered. One of the reasons for this is that aggression can be looked as measurable, that is, how much an individual would want to hurt another. For example, if an instructor hits a student because he was disruptive in class, and the student's father learns about the incident and later comes to school and punches the instructor, once could conclude that both the teacher and the father showed aggressiveness. However, one could also say that while the instructor was naturally aggressive, the source of the father’s aggression was from frustration, or environmentally caused. In the eighteenth century, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, a French philosopher, argued that aggression was caused by the society that an individual lived in, which would mean the cause is of an environmental nature, and not innate. However, psychologists like Sigmund Freud and Konrad Lorenz argued the idea that aggressiveness is innate and cannot be avoided by individuals. (David G. Myers, P 385). In effect, aggression was categorised into two different forms by a psychologist named David Buss in 1961. The first category is angry aggression and the second, instrumental aggression. In the case of angry aggression, the objective of the aggressor is to directly harm the victim individual. With relation to this, he describes that a degree of pleasure and satisfaction is felt or achieved by the aggressor in inflicting pain and harm to a victim and that the reason for this phenomenon has not yet been explained. In the case of instrumental aggression, the objective of the aggressor is not to directly harm the victim individual, but instead to ensure some degree of welfare. A good example of this would be peacekeepers in military, who would use aggression against ‘the enemy’ to ensure that war ends as soon as possible and people who are indirectly involved in the war would not be harmed. Furthermor... Free Essays on Aggression Free Essays on Aggression The title of this essay asks a question that cannot be easily or directly answered. One of the reasons for this is that aggression can be looked as measurable, that is, how much an individual would want to hurt another. For example, if an instructor hits a student because he was disruptive in class, and the student's father learns about the incident and later comes to school and punches the instructor, once could conclude that both the teacher and the father showed aggressiveness. However, one could also say that while the instructor was naturally aggressive, the source of the father’s aggression was from frustration, or environmentally caused. In the eighteenth century, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, a French philosopher, argued that aggression was caused by the society that an individual lived in, which would mean the cause is of an environmental nature, and not innate. However, psychologists like Sigmund Freud and Konrad Lorenz argued the idea that aggressiveness is innate and cannot be avoided by individuals. (David G. Myers, P 385). In effect, aggression was categorised into two different forms by a psychologist named David Buss in 1961. The first category is angry aggression and the second, instrumental aggression. In the case of angry aggression, the objective of the aggressor is to directly harm the victim individual. With relation to this, he describes that a degree of pleasure and satisfaction is felt or achieved by the aggressor in inflicting pain and harm to a victim and that the reason for this phenomenon has not yet been explained. In the case of instrumental aggression, the objective of the aggressor is not to directly harm the victim individual, but instead to ensure some degree of welfare. A good example of this would be peacekeepers in military, who would use aggression against ‘the enemy’ to ensure that war ends as soon as possible and people who are indirectly involved in the war would not be harmed. Furthermor...

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Interview with Darren Rowse on Building a Better Blog

Interview with Darren Rowse on Building a Better Blog Interview with Darren Rowse on Building a Better Blog Interview with Darren Rowse on Building a Better Blog By Daniel Scocco Last week we published a post about Darren Rowses new ebook, titled 31 Days to Build a Better a Blog. I asked Darren if he was willing to answer to a small interview giving more details about the book to our readers, and he agreed. There are some interesting points, so check it out. 1. Do you believe that any writer can benefit from having a blog? Im always a little hesitant to make sweeping statements and claims about blogging and how its the best tool for every person but I do think that a blog is a fantastic tool that most writers should at least consider. There are a many reasons why I think blogging is a great medium for writers three that immediately spring to mind: 1. Profile, promotion and branding I know in writing my own book with Chris Garrett that having a blog was a big advantage, both in landing the book deal and in promoting the book once it was launched. My blog (and Chriss) built our profiles, credibility and authority on the topic we were writing about. This in turn led to Wiley approaching us with a book deal. It also meant that when we launched the book, we already had an audience ready and waiting to buy it. 2. Idea development one of the things I love most about blogging is that it enables me to grow in my own understanding of the topics that I write about. This happens as I research, develop and write up posts, but also as readers respond to what I write in comments and on their own blogs extending and deepening my ideas. 3. Practice one of the best ways to improve as a writer is to write particularly in a public forum where you know people will be reading and interacting with your ideas. Regularly publishing your writing on a blog is a great way to grow your writing skills. 2. What feedback did you get from the 31 Days to Build a Better Blog project? The reaction to 31DBBB was amazing on a number of levels. Firstly, I was overwhelmed by the numbers of bloggers signing up. Within just a few weeks we had 13,000 participants, which showed me just how many bloggers felt that they needed an injection of fresh ideas and inspiration for their blogs. The main feedback I initially got from participants was simply that they felt energized, inspired and equipped to improve their blogs. However, as the initial 31 day period progressed I began to hear stories of bloggers seeing real and significant improvements in their blogs as they took the tasks seriously. Some reported significant rises in traffic, others reported deepening relationships with readers, others yet reported that the quality of their posts were on the rise. The other two things that I heard time and time again from readers was: 1. The pace of daily tasks wasnt right for everyone. Some wanted to do it faster, some wanted to take their time and slow it down. 2. People wanted it all in one document either on their own computer or to print out. They wanted it all in the one place so they could keep digging back into it over time. It was these last two pieces of feedback that motivated me to develop the content into a workbook. 3. Why do you think most bloggers procrastinate when it comes to improving their blogs? There are a number of reasons. 1. For some it is simply that the blogger doesnt know what to do. They start of with loads of ideas and energy, but in time lose steam, inspiration and ideas. Many bloggers get to a bloggers block, where they simply dont know what to write or how to move their blogs forward. 2. For others it has more to do with discipline. Just like many aspects of life, successful blogs are something that you need to dedicate time to. Getting into a rhythm of blogging can be hard particularly when life is full of other competing interests. 3. The other reason is that many bloggers have one or two particular aspects of blogging that they love and are good at, and which they do to the point of excluding other aspects of building a successful blog. For example, some bloggers love designing their blogs so much that they end up sinking a lot of time into continually tweaking how their blogs look, at the expense of actually writing content. For others the obsession can be SEO, networking with other bloggers, writing a particuar type of post, adding and playing with blog tools. the list goes on. None of these things are bad in and of themselves, but when you obsess over them at the expense of other activities, you can end up being distracted and ignoring some important aspects of your blog. 4. What is your favorite task out of the 31 listed in the workbook? Tough one I actually really enjoyed writing most of them and got quite into doing the tasks for myself over the month. Some of the writing focused tasks were great to watch participants do, but two of my favorites were Day 11 where I share a technique for coming up with 10 (or more) blog post ideas, and Day 18, where participants develop a Sneeze Page for their blogs (a type of page that can drastically increase page views on a blog and increase reader loyalty). 5. Is the 31 Days to Build a Better Blog workbook useful for people who are just getting started with their blogs? The workbook is designed for people who have blogs but who need a kick start for one reason or another. This might be a new blogger who doesnt quite know what to do after setting up their blog, a blogger who has been at it for a few months who loses his way, or a more advanced blogger who simply has run out of steam or has hit the dreaded bloggers block. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the General category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Bare or Bear With Me?Excited ABOUT, not "for" 5 Examples of Misplaced Modifiers

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Brazil economic overview and solar power in Brazil Essay

Brazil economic overview and solar power in Brazil - Essay Example In 2008, Brazil became a net external creditor and two ratings agencies awarded investment grade status to its debt (Brazil Economy – overview, 2012). Along with India, China, Russia and South Africa; Brazil is one of the prominent members of BRICS countries. BRICS countries are the most rapidly developing regions in this world at present. While majority of the Latin American countries and America like wealthy countries struggling to develop properly, Brazil is developing rapidly. The injuries of 2007-2008 recessions have not affected Brazil very much. â€Å"In 2010, consumer and investor confidence revived and GDP growth reached 7.5%, the highest growth rate in the past 25 years† (Brazil Economy – overview, 2012). Even though the economic growth in Brazil has been slowed down a bit in 2011, the forecasts for 2012 and coming years are bright. â€Å"Despite slower growth in 2011, Brazil overtook the United Kingdom as the world's seventh largest economy in terms o f GDP. Urban unemployment is at the historic low of 4.7% (December 2011)† (Brazil Economy – overview, 2012). Social â€Å"The richest 10% of people in Brazil have access to over 40% of the country’s income. On the other hand, the poorest 10% receive about 1% of the income† (Brazilian Social Issues, 2011). The gap between the rich and poor in Brazilian society is extremely huge compared to that in many other countries. One of the most challenging problems facing by Brazil at present is the reduction of this gap. The living conditions of the rich people are advancing rapidly whereas poor people are still struggling to attain the benefit of economic growth in Brazil. Poverty, unemployment and other problems are still prominent in Brazil despite the huge economic growth. It is evident...This paper is the best example of PESTEL analysis of Brazil. There is also a strong analysis of current state of solar power industry development in Brazil provided in the pape r. Brazil is a federal presidential representative democratic republic, in which the president holds supreme power of the country as well as the government just like America. Even though multiparty system exists in Brazil, its democracy is different from other democratic systems Characterized by large and well-developed agricultural, mining, manufacturing, and service sectors, Brazil's economy outweighs that of all other South American countries, and Brazil is expanding its presence in world markets The gap between the rich and poor in Brazilian society is huge compared to that in many other countries. One of the most challenging problems faced by Brazil is the reduction of this gap. The technological developments in Brazil are not so much attractive. Indigenously developed technologies are less in Brazil compared to other emerging countries The rapid development of a country often brings many environmental challenges Deforestation, acid rain, endangered species, air pollution, waste disposal, etc are some of the major environmental problems facing by Brazil. Brazil is a federative republic, constituting an indissoluble union of States, Municipalities, and the Federal District. The Brazilian legal system is codified. In 2012, the Brazilian National Agency of Electrical Energy approved the most important piece of new legislation for the solar industry in the country to date. Net metering for solar systems up to 1MW was introduced and utilities were granted an 80% reduction in distribution taxes for power generated by solar plants up to 30MW in size

Thursday, October 31, 2019

Headhunter Industry Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Headhunter Industry - Essay Example "A headhunter could be described as an independent employment service that seeks out personnel for high - level executive positions; formally known as executive search company (or consultant)" (source: http://www.answers.com/topic/headhunter-2004'cat=biz-fin). The software industry emerged in the U.S. in the mid - 1970's, during the personal computer revolution. It encompasses within its domain, such services as the development, maintenance as well as publication of computer softwares. The industry has seen rapid growth since then and is developing at an amazing speed. The size of the industry could be gauged by its revenues, which totaled to an astonishing figure of $381 billion. The total world wide revenues in the year 2006 amounted to $394 billion representing a growth of 3.5% since the past one year (source: John Desmond, October 2006). With such increase in the size of the industry, the organizations today are increasingly resorting to availing the services of specialized recruitment agencies in order to tap the desired talents in the industry and hire the most desirable candidate for the jobs. However, prior to the emergence of such specialized talent hiring services, who have expertise in hiring talents from their particular field of knowledge; the recruitment process was highly traditional in its operation, consisting of employment agencies who were mostly approached by the prospective job seeker, whose application was then, to be forwarded to the respective organizations, thereby leading to a highly asymmetrical recruiting process. While yet others depended on their in - house recruiting firms, for hiring the right candidate for the job. However, the emergence of the headhunters brought about a revolutionary change in the way these organizations hired, recruited and managed their employable workforce, by introducing the concept of specialized services of niche recruiting, where the headhunters displayed exceptionally high skill levels in their knowledge about a particular occupation / job and helped the companies to hire the right candidate for the positions advertised with minimum effort, and through cost reduction and minimum amount of time by collaborating with the companies or organizations desiring to avail such specialized services (William Finlay, James Coverdill,2002) . The headhunters have a good standing in the society, whereby they are well linked to almost all the trade associations and groups in the industry. Their services are thus, mostly used for hiring talents, in terms of high managerial positions / senior management level positions, which is largely due to the fact that they hold specialized knowledge and expertise in their chosen field. Rationale The right mix of talented human resources coupled with dedication and efficient leadership leads to attainment of the predefined business goals and hence is a key to resolving any business issue. Thus the human resource management groups are increasingly turning towards the special recruitment service providers such as the headhunters, for hiring the best talent available amongst the workable population at their disposal, thereby availing the benefits such as lower recruitment costs, reduced time to close hiring requisitions, and freeing up resources to focus on strategic HR