Explain the Importance of Carbon Taxes for the Airline Industry

Explain the Importance of carbon taxes for the airline industry. Can Ryanair and British Airways respond in the same way? What is â€Å"Carbon Tax†? In the past, polluting was free. Generating pollution has a cost, which is a cost on earth natural environment, our economy and earth way of life. A Carbon Tax changes this. Instead of being able to pollute for free, polluters must pay for a price for every tone of carbon pollution is created. How does â€Å"Carbon Tax† affect the flight industry? Industry must factor in the cost of carbon pollution in the business, just as flight companies factor in flight building and labor cost.Carbon tax has a great deal of importance in the airline industry. In 2008 the EU passed legislation to include aviation in the ETS. This means that from January 2012, overall CO 2 emissions of the aviation industry have been capped: Operators emitting more than their allocated amount of CO 2 will need to reduce emissions or – more likely à ¢â‚¬â€œ procure extra allowances. Therefore all operators flying to and from the EU will have to surrender one allowance for every tone of CO 2 emitted on a flight to and from (and within) Europe. The challenges of the ETS for airlines go beyond the immediate legal obligations.The costs for emission allowances will effectively introduce an additional commodity price risk into an operator's business strategy. Costs per passenger will increase but whether these costs can be passed through to customers depends upon the competitive position of the company compared with other operators. Increased ticket prices may reduce air travel and bring the substitution effect – Some passengers will choose not to fly as a result of increased fares and may divert to alternative modes of transportation. How does British Airways response to Carbon Tax?British Airways, the first airline to start a carbon offset scheme back in 2005, has gone live with an upgraded, user-friendly scheme that will en able passengers to offset the emissions from their flight in a one-click process at the time of booking online. British Airways suggests that airline passengers should pay carbon tax to combat climate change. By looking at the responses and speeches from management team of British Airways, the company was putting out the â€Å"green† message, and to engage with customers on the environmental issue. Carbon tax also drove British Airways to find new ways to reduce carbon pollution.For instance, 60 flights to the United States from British Airways will experiment with using Global positioning system (GPS) to track more direct routes and smooth take-offs and landings to avoid wasting fuel. Quicker landings also avoid keeping flight in holding patterns, which has unwanted pollution effects. As aviation companies grapple with high jet fuel prices, the search for alternatives to petroleum will keep British Airways focused on alternative sources of energy in order to remain competiti ve. How does Ryanair response to Carbon Tax? Ryanair has a â€Å"no frills† business strategy, with low cost, high efficiency and low price strategy.Rayanair opposed the scheme when carbon tax was levied in 2012. The former head of communications, Stephen McNamara claimed that the continuation of this eco-loony tax would damage traffic, tourism, European competitiveness and job opportunities. And Rayanair believes that they are already the greenest in the industry. The price response to the ETS has been for airlines to add surcharges to the cost of flights. Within the Europe, the company has announced a surcharge of 25p per passenger per one-way flight. In theory the ETS should be less burdensome on efficient operators such as Ryanair.However, the ETS will always represent an additional cost to airlines, and this is likely to be the reason for the opposition of Rayanair to the scheme. Conclusion A carbon tax will spur an airline to be more energy efficient. Efficiency is the foundation of Ryanair’s business strategy. Ryanair already hammer costs at every turn, get as much as they can out of their staff and equipment and provide nothing they don’t have to for passengers as they’re paying for the trip alone and not the experiences. Ryanair has plenty of plans up their sleeve to get even more from their ‘assets’ and tackle reduced emissions.The likes of removing one or two more toilets from each plane to make way for extra seats, widening the doors on planes to allow passengers to disembark in twos to shortening the turn-around time at airports. There are also talks of having a standing area on flights. These are just some of the increased efficiencies that Ryanair use as a response to a cap on emissions. British Airways and Ryanair are targeted to different market segments. The target market of British Airways is more like loyalty customer who would care about brand image.In the totally opposite way for Ryanair, their tar get market is more like price- sensitivity. However British Airways offer the international airlines, and the price of the carbon tax affected by the airway distance, as one of the biggest international airline company, who conscious of their brand image embraced the costs they felt are necessary for the environment. To make sure the company would have a position in the market, the ways that British Airways responses to carbon tax are more likely in long-term strategies, instead of dealing with the price competition.

Security Services Administration and Management

Security Services Administration and Management The historical development of private security in the United States has changed drastically over the centuries. The need for private security has grown as well. There are many gaps and areas for intrusion within the current public law enforcement system, almost mandating the necessity for private security. As the need and expectations for the private security grows, so will the qualifications for these positions. Understanding the history of the industry development creates a way to learn from the past, and make necessary changes for the future.Private security is the backbone of the American culture, and will continually evolve to prevent and protect society from any type of potential harm. In past times, the private security industry was utilized as a means of backup to public law enforcement in resourcefulness and manpower. History dating back to the 1800’s shows that the police departments were few and far between and found t o be commonly corrupt which created the necessity for private security. The people of these times had to utilize vigilante justice to enact some type of law enforcement.There was a need and a demand for private security. It was not until 1851 that the first national private security and investigation service was established by Allen Pinkerton (Ortmeier, 2012). After this, many individuals implemented other forms of security. For example, in 1853 August Pope had the first burglar alarm patented, and in 1858, Edwin Holmes produced the first central station burglar alarm (Ortmeier, 2012). Also, in 1958, Washington Brinks designed the first armored carriage for safe transportation of valuables. In 1899 SWAT was formed under the private sector classification.In 1909, William Burns created an international detective agency (Ortmeier, 2012). Essentially these private agencies have been around as long as the public agencies in the United States. In today’s society, these private secu rity agencies are essential for the protection and survival of businesses, individuals, and even government sectors. History has shown with the implementation of a new form of private security comes new threats against them. Private security does not mean just being a mall cop; there are thousands of private agencies in use today.There are certain factors that lead to the need to implement a significant growth within private security. This can be dated all the way back to the pre-Civil War era where the lack of public police was evident and resulted in the private industry to suffer a large monetary loss. In today’s society, this threat has grown to a new extreme. After the horrific events that transpired during 9/11, it became apparent that the United States needed to make changes to prevent terrorism from happening on its soil again. Technology crimes are at an all time high; this creates a potentially greater need for global security.What started with a handful of private security options has grown into a significant number of agencies. â€Å"Private security is becoming a more significant force in public security and safety. 678,160 workers employed in private security compared with only 580,428 in public law enforcement. Private security in this country would continue to grow, increasing at a faster pace than public law enforcement. It is clear based on statistics, that private security in this country is larger than public police agencies and will play a more important role in crime prevention and security in the future† (Clede, 1993).This need will continue to grow because public law enforcement’s numbers will always be regulated, and essentially there will never be enough manpower to meet the demands associated with it. As private security continues to grow, it continues to move toward professionalism. As the need grows so do the expectations. â€Å"Today private security is moving toward a new professionalism. In defining the des ired professionalism, most authorities often cite the need for a code of ethics and for credentials including education and training, experience, and membership in a professional society† (Fischer & Green, 2004).Public law enforcement employees are put through excessive training to be able to adequately do their job and serve the public. They are not just handed a gun and a badge and told to protect the public. There are so many things that can go on when it comes to crime and corruption that individuals have to learn how to personally think and react properly when in a situation. This can be even more essential in many of the different private security areas. Colleges offer four-year training programs to aid in preparing that individual for their position in the private security industry.There are also certification programs that ensure that training is given properly for the agency’s employees. Previously, the typical security guard was undertrained, underpaid, and un regulated. If there were no noticeable breaches, these guards would have to interact without any type of supervision. However, when events transpired, the company had to address the ill preparation given in providing this private security to whatever company they were protecting. Another factor that is changing the professionalism in private security is the demands associated with the position.There are many different private security agencies that deal with technology and specifications. This is an industry that virtually changes on a daily basis. The only way that these private security employees can successfully do their job is to have the proper education, training, and continual instructional feedback. The national security, financial industry, and personal privacy of the United States could potentially fall victim to a threat if these private security agencies are not fully capable of providing the necessary protection.In today’s society, security professionals should t ake a special interest in the history of the industry’s development. Part of the improvement is dependent upon knowing what has and has not been successful in the past. History has a way of repeating itself, sometimes in different variations, but the outcome is similar. For private security professionals they need to know specifics regarding the history and progression within their individual agency. It could also be beneficial to gain the same knowledge on similar agencies as well.The history of a private security agency can also create a way for potential improvements. Employees can see the progression and understand that they are a vital part of the future. The changes that protected them yesterday will most likely be obsolete tomorrow. This necessity for advancement will allow them to see the equation that got them to their modern day practices and keep private security agents one step ahead of what they are trying to defend against. History is an important part of any pr ofessional’s development; this is even truer when it comes to private security and its ability to protect and enforce.Private security is the backbone of the American culture, and will continually evolve to prevent and protect society from any type of potential harm. Over the past couple centuries this concept has gone from nonexistent to a dominate necessity for America’s overall wellbeing. The private security industry has grown to be so significant because of the overwhelming corruption and dishonesty that is plaguing society. As the needs change so will the expectations, education, and requirements for the employees to effectively be able to facilitate the security demands.Private security agencies will continue to go with the demands to fill in the gaps that are left with the public law enforcement divisions and provide a much needed security that would not have been there otherwise. References Clede, B. (1993). Security officer's manual. Minocqua, WI: Lakeland Pu b. Fischer, R. J. , & Green, G. (2004). Introduction to security. Amsterdam: Butterworth-Heinemann. Ortmeier, P. J. (2012). Introduction to security: Operations and management (4th ed. ). Boston: Pearson.

Strategic leadership skills Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 6500 words

Strategic leadership skills - Essay Example Though as a leader, a person possesses authority due to the position occupied relative to the followers, attractiveness of a leader is more than status or authority. Leaders who demonstrate concern and care for others within the organisation tend to be attractive to followers and hence gain positive attention (Brown and Trevino 597). Such credibility enhances the effectiveness of such a leader being a role model to the followers within an organisation creating shared values, and furthermore enhances trustworthiness, especially if they practice the values they have set. In a business environment where ethicality can be lost amidst messages of higher performance and the bottom-line, value led leaders also focus on frequently communicating on ethicality in business dealings. Not only does such a leader set high ethical standards for others but also bid by such ethical values. Analysing leadership theories that overlap the ethical and value based approach to leadership, it can be noted t hat authentic, spiritual and transformational leadership theories strongly advocated and focus on concern for others within the organisation integrity and ethics in decision making, role modelling, and emphasizes on values, vision and intellectual stimulation as core and critical in effective value based strategic leadership. An organisation’s regulatory, legal or ethical requirements also play a critical role on strategies adopted by leaders. In this case, DoT is governed by a number.... This implies that a leader needs to be clear on the values that they champion, and they need to clearly and effectively communicate this value to the key stakeholders in a manner that it is meaningful to them. Furthermore, strategic leaders ensure that their actions align with their espoused values. In deed Lichtenstein (2) found in their research that a leader’s values had a stronger impact on the performance of an organisation than did their age, tenure, education or experience. Though as a leader, a person possesses authority due to the position occupied relative to the followers, attractiveness of a leader is more than status or authority. Leaders who demonstrate concern and care for others within the organisation tend to be attractive to followers and hence gain positive attention (Brown and Trevino 597). Such credibility enhances the effectiveness of such a leader being a role model to the followers within an organisation creating shared values, and furthermore enhances trustworthiness, especially if they practice the values they have set. In a business environment where ethicality can be lost amidst messages of higher performance and the bottom-line, value led leaders also focus on frequently communicating on ethicality in business dealings. Not only does such a leader set high ethical standards for others but also bid by such ethical values. Analysing leadership theories that overlap the ethical and value based approach to leadership, it can be noted that authentic, spiritual and transformational leadership theories strongly advocated and focus on concern for others within the organisation integrity and ethics in decision making,

Integrating Strategy, Management and Change (Strategy Development) Research Paper

Integrating Strategy, Management and Change (Strategy Development) - Research Paper Example Academic researchers have pointed out significance of performance measurement in terms of both practical and theoretical perspective. The concept of performance measurement is multidimensional because the model incorporates not only accounting literature but other management fields like operation & production management, marketing and strategic management also. Organizational theory model played crucial role in developing performance measurement models such as Key Performance Indicator, Balance Scorecard and Performance Prism. Problem with the literature review of performance measurement is isolation because of disparate and fragmented findings of research scholars. Researchers have tried to create a link between Organizational effectiveness (OE) and performance measurement but unfortunately only a few of them have succeeded. Academic scholars have argued that organizational effectiveness plays cordial role for designing non financial elements of performance measurement tools. In 200 0, Flamholtz and Aksehirli proposed a relationship between financial aspect of performance measurement and organizational success model. They analyzed both financial and non financial elements of balanced scorecard in order to test the hypothesized relationship. They tested eight pairs of companies of various industries and Average Return on Equity was used as an indicator of financial performance. They used Friedman two way variance analysis and found statistically significant relationship between financial aspect of performance measurement and organizational success model (Flamholtz, 2003, pp. 15-26). Two Theoretical Perspectives for Strategic Performance Measurement Multidimensionality of performance always creates rift for deploying strategic performance measurement models. Multidimensionality of performance is exemplified due to involvement of complex financial and non financial elements. There is a common belief in the field of performance measurement that if the new models su ch as Balance scorecard or Performance prism are implemented, there will be overall organizational performance improvement (Bourne et al., 1999, pp. 373-95). Unfortunately the belief is partially true because impact of performance management is very much influenced by organizational objective. The study will be incomplete without mentioning impact subsystems in performance measurement. Researchers have pointed out that deploying enterprise strategic performance management is far more effective in comparison to strategic performance measurement. In 2005, Neely has argued business leaders need to adopt dynamic, flexible and capable strategic performance measurement model in order to cope with dynamics of external environment (Neely, 2005, pp. 1264-77). In 1993, Platts has presented a holistic approach of strategic performance measurement in terms of virtuous cycle of learning organization. Research scholars (Slack,

Wtih reference to this statement, describe how specific uses of ICT Essay

Wtih reference to this statement, describe how specific uses of ICT may be applied to 2 qualtiy initiatives in your area. Discuss how the application of these - Essay Example With the escalating demands of patients information was recognized as the foundation of efforts to cause improvement in the quality of care. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) was employed to increase efficiency, effectiveness and appropriateness of health care. Introduction of ICT caused positive impact on health care organizations and health care professionals. In Health Information : a National Strategy (2004) it was stated that, ICT offers many ways to make the health service more people-centered, improve the quality and safety of care, help staff to make better use of their time and expertise and promote greater efficiency. Today, electronic patient record system has led to fast and easy access to patient information. The current trend of using internet facility for communication between the practitioner and patient has contributed to better patient satisfaction and improved outcomes. Recording the patient initial assessment and response to treatment, recording the p lan of care with multi media has helped nurses immensely. In 1990’s, government decided to change its policies and increase its expenditure on health care to provide optimum health care to its citizens. The importance of improving the quality of care was recognized and appropriate measures were suggested. In the Quality and Fairness : a health system for you (2001) the Department of health and children proposed to implement a structured set of planned and systematic activities such as documentation, training and review to improve performance and prevent problems. Further, it was decided to employ evidence based practice

ASSIGNMENT SHEET -- BUSINESS LETTER Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

ASSIGNMENT SHEET -- BUSINESS LETTER - Essay Example You want $10000 in compensation. You attached a photo of the frog with the letter. However, with uttermost sincerity, it is my pleasure to inform you that Wal-Mart is a large and renowned company countrywide and the error that may have erupted during your consumption of our goods must have been an external factor rather than one caused by our own incompetence of quality service delivery. It is our duty to ensure that the usual high standards of our goods are maintained. Like mentioned above, am afraid we may not consider the misfortune you experienced a result of our incompetence since the company is a government certified company, with the entire permit to deliver these commodities to the customers. I did all the necessary investigations concerning our storage facilities and am happy to note that they are up to standard. We pack our goods with the greatest care, and we can only presume that the goods must have been mishandled after purchase. We always see to it that each vegetable mix is well checked before actual packing. The containers in which we store the veg etables are thoroughly cleaned on a daily basis thus cannot attract any pests whatsoever, leave their survival in there alone. The health officers also investigate us every month to see to it that our commodities are up to the standards; otherwise, there are high chances that we would have been closed down by now. I presume you must have bought a sealed product, as you did not mention that in your claim letter. However, being a loyal customer to Wal-Mart Company, and to show our goodwill to our customers, we are willing to extend a gesture of our kindness by allowing you a free shopping of goods of the same value or even dispatch the same to your area of residence. It is sad to note that your $1000 plea is rather too much and unacceptable especially when we are most innocent of the allegations. Wal-Mart may not be ready to offer that, especially for a foul not

Emiratization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 20000 words

Emiratization - Essay Example The research used a literature review and a primary research involving interviews of fifteen managerial respondents from across different sectors of UAE. The findings showed that there was a need for the government to change both policy and structural framework to provide better direction and support to organisations towards getting Emiratisation on the road to success. At the policy level, the government needed to amend the aims of Emiratisation, in addition to quotas it should use measures like ‘number of trainings provided to Emiratis’. There is also a need to modify the curriculum at the higher educational level to better match the organizational needs to create public awareness and affect a change in the mindset of the Emiratis to make them more amenable to accepting different levels of jobs in diverse sectors. The government may also subsidize private sector salaries to make jobs attractive to Emiratis while at the same time reduce the burden on the organisations. At the structural level, it is recommended to make Tanmia more focused and powerful and to encourage Abu Dhabi Emiratisation Council or ADEC to play a more active role by helping organisations develop their internal targets and plans for Emiratisation, and by streamlining the educational institutes with the market needs. The organisations are recommended to initiate a culture change so that the top level and the HR managers as well as other employees are ready and prepared to take in local Emiratis as equals with equivalent skills and competence. The organisations also need to place measures for accountability of managers towards Emiratisation targets and to share their experiences openly with ADEC and other organisations. The research concludes by highlighting scope of future research to explore the means and ways of making these recommendations a reality as well as for assessing the true potential and impact of these recommendations. The current research is

Cultural Food Comparison Research Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Cultural Food Comparison Research Paper - Essay Example Though, even before, the early people could have been obtaining eggs from nests for their consumption. In China and India – by around 7000 BC – people had already started to keep chickens so they could obtain eggs conveniently and did not have to climb up to nests. Since eggs contain a high amount of proteins, they made up excellent sources of nutrition for humans throughout. As humans started farming chickens and other fowl birds, they realized that there were particular seasons when the fowls laid more eggs. This season coincided with spring where the sunlight was sufficient for the foul birds to produce eggs. While many cultures viewed egg as a source of food, many cultures did not view it as so. The Mossi from Africa is one example of people who consider eating eggs as equivalent to stealing. This notion has a rather economic one where eating an egg was just like stealing a chicken that was to be grown out of the egg. Having poultry spread out at large areas in Africa, children are generally discouraged from eating eggs that could, in the future, breed a potential property for the village community (Toussaint-Samat 2009, p. 323). In other parts of the world, such as ancient Rome and China, eggs have been regarded as vital food sources. In ancient Rome, peafowl eggs were eaten and with the invention of pottery and fire, the people also started boiling eggs (Kiple and Ornelas 2000, p. 499). The ancient Romans also consumed boiled eggs. The Chinese, on the other hand, had their own method of consuming and preserving eggs by fermenting them. The Chinese were particularly fond of the pigeon eggs (Kiple and Ornelas 2000, p. 499). This could help the egg to keep from rotting even after weeks. The discovery of egg as a nutritious and healthy food source developed its own innovations throughout time as it started first from being eaten raw to being boiled and then being eaten along with...

Audit & Assurance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Audit & Assurance - Essay Example Therefore US introduced the Sarbanes Oxley Act in 2002 and UK, in 2003, set up two reviews- RRAP (Regulatory Regime of Accountancy Profession) and CGAA (Coordinating Group on Audit and Accounting) (Gray & Manson, 2007, p.140). The audit committee consists of board of directors who are entrusted with the oversight of financial reports preparation and disclosures. The more reliable the information is the more it is useful and through the auditing this purpose is achieved. The shareholders of a company are its owners who appoint the stewards in the form of directors and managers to manage the company on their behalf. The problem arises when the stewards place their personal interests before the owners’ interests. And as the managers are at an advantage over shareholders in terms of information the auditing (both internal and external) functions become all the more important. The recent financial crisis has led to the requirement of enhancing the transparency on the managerâ€℠¢s activities and their risk management. The identification, analysis and management of the operational as well as strategic risk are the key to avoid failures of firms if the crises were to occur in future. The audit committee alone is not responsible to prevent the economic downturn but plays an important role by challenging the assumptions and estimates the auditors undertake as part of the audit process as the economic environment changes with time (FRC, 2011). Objectives of the Paper This paper has mainly five objectives. Firstly, to understand the rights and responsibilities of the audit committee and their importance in today’s volatile financial environment. Secondly, why firms need audit committees and what they are doing to improve audit committees’ effectiveness. Thirdly, the meaning and importance of Audit Assurance has been explained. Fourthly, there is an explanation of the audit process both internal as well as external. Fifthly, the role of regulators a nd audit firms in bringing more effectiveness in audit process and transparency in financial disclosures so that the investors able able to take informed decisions. Rights and Responsibilities of the Audit Committee The Financial Reporting Council has provided the guidelines on Audit Committees. The rights of audit committee are as follows: 1. All the directors and management staff are obligated to keep the audit committee properly informed even if not asked. They must be cooperative with the audit committee. 2. The opinions of the audit committee should be listened and discussed by both the management and the board. 3. The audit committee has a right to intervene if it finds any discrepancy in the audit and financial controls process. And if not satisfied by the explanations given by the management then it may seek independent advice. 4. The work of the audit committee gets time consuming and intensive; therefore management must provide them with the necessary resources including t he payment. There should also be a provision of induction and training of the new audit committee members in the company. The training may be continued if required. The board of the company should establish an audit committee with at least two to three members in consultation with the nomination

William Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet Essay Example for Free

William Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet Essay Discuss the ideas developed by the author involving the riskiness of youth and the caution of age? In William Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare fully develops the idea of riskiness of age. The books main characters Romeo and Juliet, are constantly taking very dangerous risks, these instances highlight the two lovers tender ages. Throughout the book many young people are killed or harmed under the backdrop of immaturity and the lack of wisdom in youth. The books wiser characters such as the Nurse and Friar Lawrence also take risks but unlike the younger characters plan wisely and are cautious. The inexperience and lack of wisdom in early adolescent years causes adolescents to feel invincible which causes them to take unwise and foolish choices, however as one grows one feels more and more vulnerable and through life becomes wiser leading to sensible choices. William Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet is a tragic love story that leaves one moved and gives one much to ponder. Shakespeares protagonist characters Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet are from to very influential families which are engaged in a blood thirsty feud. When Romeo and Juliet first meet, very swiftly, they instantly fall head over heels in love without thought. When Juliet discovers Romeo is a Montague she at first expresses grief to the fact that he is her archenemies lonesome son but then through her tenderness of age decides to ignore their social barriers. Through out the book the two conduct many acts which are very risky and dangerous highlighting there tender age and maturity. The greatest act of riskiness I thought was there marriage without consent from their parents, eventually this act cost them a great deal. Romeo and Juliet are portrayed as two foolish and abrupt adolescents who not as wise in there acts as they should be. Throughout the book Romeo and Juliets love combined with the family feud cause the loss of many young lives. Through the play we observe the deaths of Mercutio, Tybalt, Paris, Lady Montague, and the most substantial Romeo and Juliet. These deaths can be viewed as a direct cause of the foolishness of youth, though some may view these deaths also as a result of the family feud but the family feud seemed to ignite as a result of Romeo and Juliets love for each other. In Romeo and Juliet there are many instances where suicidal topics are discussed and even carried out which also highlights the unwise nature of adolescence for the reason that Romeo and Juliet are ready to die for each other instantly and see no possibility of life without each other. All deaths are caused by one another in the way that Tybalt killing Mercutio outrages Romeo into killing Tybalt of which a result he is exiled from Verona and from this his mother dies. Juliets appearance of death causes Paris to come to Juliets death place where Romeo also goes to, at this confrontation Paris is killed and Romeo commits suicide and when Juliet wakes up to discover the deaths she also commits suicide. Shakespeare weaves a poignant and tragic story and doing so highlights the foolishness of adolescence. Shakespeare shows us the wisdom of mature figures by means of the Friar Lawrence and the Nurse. Throughout Romeo and Juliet the Nurse and Friar Lawrence are portrayed as the authoritative figures over Romeo and Juliet. The Nurse and Friar Lawrence also take many risks but they are much wiser in planning and thinking about what they are getting into, something that is different from the acts of Romeo and Juliet. Though what the Nurse and Friar Lawrence do seems foolish they seem to discuss the topics positives and negatives also observing the affect of their act which highlights there maturity. Overall Shakespeare did a exemplary job in highlighting the riskiness of youth and caution of age. The unwise nature of adolescence is observable even in todays world though adolescents may not have as many rights as they did in the past they still are led to believe they are invincible and in there doing so make many unwise choices and judgments. The inexperience and lack of wisdom in early adolescent years causes adolescents to feel invincible which causes them to take unwise and foolish choices, however as one grows one feels more and more vulnerable and through life becomes wiser leading to sensible choices. Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet is acclaimed even today as a demanding piece of literature and drama. Shakespeare is commendable for writing perhaps times most poignant and tragic story.

The Impact Of Technology On Family Communication Media Essay

The Impact Of Technology On Family Communication Media Essay There is no doubt about it-the way we communicate with our family members today has changed dramatically in recent years. Just a decade ago, text messaging, blogging, and emails were not methods of family communication. Today, they are widely used by families around the world. For example, parents use text messages to remind children of their curfews. Children send emails to their parents to give them their Christmas lists. College students use Web cameras to say good night to their family member who live hundreds of miles away. These are just a few of the many ways in which technology has changed the way families communicate with one another in todays modern world. Some people say that technology is impacting families in a negative way. For example, instead of playing games or eating dinner together, more and more families are instead turning on the television, using the computer, and constantly text messaging on their phones. Some people believe that families are ditching the real world in favor of the cyber world. Other people argue that technology is essential to good family communication in todays society. As parents and children have different agendas and interests, the widespread use of cell phones and the Internet help them stay in touch and communicate regularly. Does Technology Improve Family Communication? A new study by the Pew Internet and American Life Project (2008) suggests that technology improves communication among families. The study revealed that technology, such as cell phones and email, seems to be helping create a new connectedness within families, as family members communicate with each other every day via cell phone, texts, and emails. The survey showed that 70 percent of couples in which both partners have cell phones contact each at least once a day just to say hello and 64 percent contact each other to make plans. In addition, 42 percent of parents call their children at least once a day using a cell phone. The majority of study participants reported that technology has either helped their communication with other family members or made no difference. Few said technology has worsened communication in their families. Still, the poll showed that technology could have negative effects, as well. Families with many communication devices were less likely than other groups to eat dinner together daily and to feel satisfied that they spent enough time as a family. However, researchers said the heaviest technology users were also those with the heaviest work schedules, which is likely to contribute to these negative reports. According to the study (Pew Internet and American Life Project, 2008, p.20), Todays married couples use a variety of tools-landline phones, cell phones, instant messaging, and email-to manage their schedules and stay connected with each other throughout the day. The adoption of cell phones is a particularly important component of the way todays families stay in touch and coordinate their lives together. Couples communicate frequently just to say hello and chat (28 percent of couples do this several times a day, and an additional 36 percent do so at least once a day) and also to coordinate daily schedules (20 percent do this several times a day, and 39 percent do so at least once a day). However, many also communicate regularly for weightier reasons: discussing important matters and planning future events. The Families Commission Blue Skies Fund recently published a different report, titled New Communication Technologies and Family Life (Weatherall and Ramsay, 2006), which looked at how technology, such as computers and mobile phones, is shaping family life and how families are shaping the use of technology. The twelve participants in the study overwhelmingly felt that Internet access can improve communication between family members. Families that are geographically separated are especially helped by technology. However, participants felt that there needed to be more family and public discussion about the opportunities and dangers new communications technology brings. For example, parents need to teach their children how to stay safe online, they said. New technologies, especially those that utilize the Internet, create many new opportunities for communicating with family and friends. The Internet also offers many new avenues for social interaction through social networking sites, online support groups, and chat rooms. Many families find email and chat rooms useful for keeping in touch with family members who live far away or even for keeping better tabs on those who live nearby. But can technology replace face-to-face time? Most experts say no. When it comes to communicating feelings and attitudes, human beings use more than just words. They also use physical gestures, tone of voice, and body language to express themselves (Fitzpatrick, 2008). These are all important elements of communication. Therefore, some people argue that, if you do not regularly communicate face-to-face with family members, you may miss important signs that they are sad, frustrated, or depressed. Still, others argue that technology does not replace face-to-face interaction. Rather, it complements it. In response to concerns that technology isolates and pulls people apart, the Pew study (2008) found the opposite. It revealed that couples use their phones to connect and coordinate their lives, especially if they have children at home (p. 14). American spouses often go their separate ways during the day but remain connected by cell phones and to some extent by Internet communications. When they return home, they often have shared moments of exploration and entertainment on the Internet. Tools help parents keep kids safe online The article, Tools help parents keep kids safe online, suggest valuable information regarding parents monitoring their children. Theres also a way for parents to monitor video games online. Facebook is a site where children are at risk. The author mentions a Family Safety Center page called facebook.com/safety. Facebook is a social place for families and friends and how important it is too know what your children are doing without violating their privacy. Software developers are focusing on Facebook as their project in finding ways to keep it safe for children (Gallaga, 2011). Gallaga remarks on MinorMonitoring as being a new way for parents to check out Facebook interactions from their child. MinorMonitoring look for signs of cyber bullying or other kinds of misconduct on Facebook. Such monitoring could give out a red flag and alert parents if internet predators are showing up on Facebook. MinorMonitoring is in the process of being a tool for e-mail in the near future as well as for other networks. (Gallaga, 2011). Bridging Distance Gaps For families that live far away from one another, technology helps them connect. Many families live far apart and do not see each other on a regular basis. Even when families live under the same roof, it can be challenging to find the time to eat dinner together or sit down to chat. Todays technologies make it easy to communicate, some people believe that they create interruptions to family time and make it easy to avoid face-to-face time. Communication is extremely important between family members, especially when some of them live far away. For this reason, todays technological advances are very helpful to families with busy schedules or widely spread families. Chinese Radio International (2008) provides an example of how families use technology to improve communication. When 70-year-old Li Zhenming and his wife, who live in eastern China, celebrated a Chinese holiday in 2008, they received greetings on their mobile phone from their daughter who lives in Shanghai and chatted on video with their son who lives in Demark. Before computers were widely used, the family relied on letters as their primary form of communication, which meant that several days passed before they received communication from one another. However, once the family invested in computers and webcams, their communication improved dramatically. Seeing them via the webcam assured me they were doing fine, said Zhenming. Now, I dont worry anymore. Young kids and computers a balancing act Sue McAllister commentates on how monitoring children while they are online is vital. I cant help but be in disbelief on how young a child is when accessing a computer. According to the author, PBSKids.org is a site for children to play online games. Ellen Wartella comments on how parents find computers as a useful tool but there should be a balance between interacting with friends and playing outside, read a book and do their school work. In addition, the author remarks on how a lot of kids are going past the two-hour point watching TV, playing on the computer, using handheld devices. Furthermore, McAllister acknowledges on how the computer should be out in the open not in a childs room so parents could keep an eye on their child. This would also encourage children to ask questions. (McAllsiter, 2011). Technology Fosters Independence Russell Hampton, president of the Walt Disney Companys childrens book and magazine publishing unit, recently told a reporter a story that exemplifies just how big the text messaging trend is (Holson, 2008) and also shows how technology can help children feel more independence. His daughter Katie and her friends were sitting in the back seat of his car and he saw his daughter sending a text message on her cell phone. He told her she was being rude to her friends by texting when they were spending time with her. But, Dad, were texting each other, she replied with a harrumph. I just dont want you to hear what Im saying. Hamptons story shows how young people use personal technological devices like cell phones to create social circles apart from their families, changing the way they communicate with their parents. New Opportunities to Keep Tabs on Family Members Throughout history, innovation has sparked societal changes and has changed the dynamics of families for years (Holson, 2008). Telephones created a private and easy way for children to communicate with others. Automobiles created a way for children to go on dates far from watchful chaperones. And the computer, along with the Internet, allows children to live virtual lives separate from their parents and other family members. Experts believe that mobile devices will further accelerate these trends (Holson, 2008). By 2010, 81 percent of Americans between the ages of 5 to 24 will own a cellphone, up from 53 percent in 2005, according to IDC, a research company that tracks technology and consumer research. For this reason, companies are now marketing mobile devices to very young audiences. Firefly Mobile introduced the glowPhone for preschool children, which has a small keypad with two speed-dial buttons depicting an image of a mother and a father. For many parents, having the ability to reach their children whenever they want is a benefit that outweighs the negative aspects of the mobile technology trends (Holson, 2008). Many parents live in different cities or states than they children do, for reasons such as divorce or kids going off to college. Such parents are especially grateful to have a way to reach their children, anytime, anywhere. And most children feel the same way. In an article, Ben Blanton, a college student, said that he enjoys the ability to text his parents when it suits him (Holson, 2008). Texting is in between calling and sending and e-mail, he said. Due to text messaging, he does not need to worry about writing letters. Its too time consuming, he said. You have to go to the post office. Instead, I can sit and watch television and send a text, which is the same thing. Some experts, such as Anita Gurian, a clinical psychologist, are concerned that the prevalence of mobile communications, may cause people to become more alienated from those closest to them-their family members (Holson, 2008). Cellphones demand parental involvement of a different kind, she said. Kids can do a lot of things in front of their parents without them knowing. In a survey released 18 months ago, ATT found that among 1,175 parents the company interviewed, nearly half learned how to text-message from their children (Holson, 2008). More than 60 percent of parents agreed that it helped them communicate, but that sometimes children didnt want to hear their voice at all. When asked if their children wanted a call or a text message requesting that they be home by curfew, for instance, 58 percent of parents said their children preferred a text. Improving Family-School Relationships A study by the Harvard Research Project (Bouffard, 2008) revealed that technology positively impacts families because it promotes more meaningful and frequent communication between families and schools. According to researchers, many families and teachers now use email and websites to communicate. According to the report (Bouffard, 2008): Internet-based communication methods, including email, websites, and newer social networking technologies such as blogs, present new opportunities for family-school communication. These technologies may reduce scheduling barriers that pose challenges to traditional forms of family-school communication, can convey information to multiple families at once, and can efficiently share and archive information about student progress, school policies and assignments, tips for family involvement, and other topics. However, the report cautions that this new type of communication presents new challenges to families and schools, as well. Websites and email contact can be difficult for schools to maintain, may intimidate some families, and lack visual and nonverbal cues (e.g., tone of voice or body language), according to the report (Bouffard, 2008). Most significantly, many families do not have access to Internet technology. The studys findings suggest that technology offers many new opportunities for promoting family-school communication. It is especially beneficial during adolescence, a time when family involvement tends to decline. The Internet in particular may represent an opportunity to maintain or even increase communication between schools and families of adolescents. Digital home technologies and transformation of households. Alladi Venkatesh, author for Digital home technologies and transformation of households explains how a household is changing because of a growing technology. Also new words in our technology are expanding. The PC was out and about in the 1980s and families had to slowly adjust to the ever going technology. When internet connection was available for the first time it changed the way families communicated with each other. When mobile phones and other wireless forms of communication came about technology has found infinite ways to advance. Families are trying to keep up with technology. As our technology grows our household appliances makes it easier and much more convenient for a family to operate. Now, in this day of age you have options to select cable or satellite instead of black and white TV. Technology is changing the typical household family, in hopes for a stronger connection. (Venkatesh, A., 2008). Table 1 Home as Living Space. Venkatesh, A. (2008). Digital home technologies and transformation of households. In a 2006 study by Yahoo, the majority of participants said that email, instant messaging and mobile devices brought families closer together, whether they be siblings living in different countries or parents of moody teenagers (China Daily, 2006). A lot of mums said they had surly teenagers who wont talk to them in person, said one researcher (China Daily, 2006). But over IM (instant messaging) they have much more dialogue than they ever would face-to-face. More than half of those surveyed said that without computer technology, they would not be able to stay in touch with their family members. They also said that the Internet helped children overcome shyness and being a homework aid for school children. The studies examined in this research paper suggest that technology has improved family communications for most. While there are some pitfalls to the increased reliance on technology, researchers believe that communication problems stem from other sources, rather than technology. One cannot deny how dependent our society has become on electronic communication devices. The predominance of computers, text messaging, PDAs, cell phones, video conferencing, web camera, and other devices all demonstrated that people are communicating more than even with each, and that most of that communication is taking place using technology. In conclusion, technology appears to be an excellent way to communicate with family members. However, it may be important to create guidelines to help ensure that adequate face-to-face communications take place, as well. For example, there are certain situations in which face-to-face communications are important. If someone is delivering bad news, such as the death of a family member, text messaging may not be the right medium in which to deliver the news. In addition, when discussing confidential information, it is important to respect the privacy of others and putting something private out in cyberspace is not the best way to do this. Face-to-face communication would likely work best in these situations because the communicator can use all of his or her communicating skills in the delivery of the message, making it more personal and less likely to come across as insensitive. In summary, families have a lot to gain from modern technology that allows us to interact virtually and instantly with family members. Without technology such as cell phones, email, text messaging, and blogs, we would have a more difficult time connecting with nearby and long-distance family members on a regular basis.   However, while technology supports maintaining relationships, it should not replace face-to-face communication. In order to fully connect with family members, it is important to see them in person regularly.     

School Security: Safe but Subtle Essay -- essays papers

School Security: Safe but Subtle The most infamous and deadly act of violence to occur in a U.S. school were the events of April 20, 1999. In Littleton Colorado two teens went on a shooting and bombing spree that left 15 dead and 24 wounded before they shot and killed themselves. During the rampage, the two fired about 900 rounds of ammunition from two sawed off shotguns, a 9-mm semiautomatic carbine, and a semiautomatic handgun. Police also later found more than 30 bombs placed throughout the school (Brock, 2001). In light of recent acts of violence in the nation’s schools, school safety and security have become a hot topic. However, the issue of school safety goes beyond student violence. It includes property damage, theft, and anything else that concerns the overall well being of schools. While it is important to create a safe environment in schools it is also necessary to make sure students feel comfortable in this atmosphere. The security can not be so overbearing that it becomes a negative tactic that gets in the way of the students main objective, learning. Barely noticeable cameras, ID cards, and security guards without uniforms can help generate this safe, but comfortable learning environment. On the other hand metal detectors and mini police forces may be a little too reminiscent of George Orwell’s novel, 1984, or even modern prisons. School security should not be overbearing or obtrusive where it gets in the way of a comfortable environment that is conducive to l earning in the nation’s schools. Schools are safe places. However, the American public has become increasingly concerned with crime in schools and the safety of students. In part, this concern has been shaped by the highly publicized acts ... ...iew of School Safety Research. Retrieved April 28, 2005 from http://nssc1.org/studies/statistic%20resourcespdf.pdf. U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. (2002). Are America’s Schools Safe? Students Speak Out: 1999 School Crime Supplement. Retrieved April 28, 2005 from http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp/pubid=2002331. U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. (2003). Indicators of School Crime and Safety; 2003. Retrieved April 28, 2005 from http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2004/crime03. Watson, R.J., & Watson, R.S. (2002). The School as a Safe Haven. Westport, CT: Bergin & Garvey. Wright, Joe. (2004). Let’s See Some ID. American School & University, 76(7), 56-57. Retrieved April 14, 2005 from Academic Search/EBSCO database. http://search.epnet.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&an=12649650.

Thomas Hobbes Prudential Oughts :: Politics Philosophy Sociology

â€Å"Whensoever a man transferreth his right, or renounceth it; it is either in consideration of some right reciprocally transferred to himselfe; or for some other good he hopeth for thereby. For it is a voluntary act: and of the voluntary acts of every man, the object is some good to himselfe.† (192)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Proposed with the question of whether Thomas Hobbes’s manifesto was written of â€Å"oughts† constructed upon; prudential, moral or ethical foundations it is the former that prevails through his writing. Hobbes spoke of man universally when describing a human’s primitive state, being one in a â€Å"state of nature†. Without the presences of a common power, a sovereign, preventing man from entering their imminent condition of war, man would ultimately live a life that was â€Å"†¦nasty, brutish, and short.† (186) For in the state of nature it is â€Å"every man, against every man.† (185) This being true, in absence of common power to create and enforce laws there would be no injustice. (188) Therefore the accepted rules of conduct to follow, principles of ethics and our interpretation of morality would not exist. The principals of Good & Evil would be subjective, left to the interpretation of each person. According to Hobbes the catalyst for the process of an absolute power would not be because it is right & just to keep war at bay, but because man has an intrinsic desire to live. Man fueled by his own self interests and capable of reason will see an absolute power, (as every man is naturally equal), as the only way to preserve himself.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  For it is the â€Å"general rule of reason, that every man ought to endeavour peace† (190) It is in man’s self-interest to follow the laws of nature and to willingly give up all of his rights in order to secure his or her safety & preserve his or hers way of life, as long as all other’s do the same. It is in all reasonable men’s self interest to agree upon these laws but, if other men will not do the same it would be â€Å"to expose himself to prey†¦rather than to dispose himself to peace.† (190) This would directly contradict man’s general rule of reason.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  This is the primary prudential â€Å"ought† for which his writing is justified. Hobbes’s concept of what is ethical & moral are solely dependant upon the laws set forth by the sovereign.

The Education System :: essays research papers

The Education System The education system in my country is different from U.S education; mostly it is similar to France education system. The education system in my country is very restricted and it is not easy to graduate from high school. I have been attending US colleges for almost four years now. I finished high school in my country and never get a chance to attend college in there. In this essay I would like to compare and contrast the differences between my high school education system and US education system. Even though, I never attend high school in US but I have some friends who told me about high school system. One of the differences is that in my country all high school students had to ware school uniform, but in here the high school student they can wear what ever they want. Second, there was no choice for us to take those classes that we want we had to take what was offered, in contrast in US high schools students can take a lest those classes that they like. Third, the exams in my country was pretty the same as US system.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  First of all, in my county all high students we had to wear uniform. We had to wear black skirts, white tops, black shoes and black tights. The good thing about uniform was that it wasn't expensive for parents to get uniform for their children each year, second, it was good for students to concentrate only on there classes and third it was very organized. For instance, in my family three person went to high school and parents bought us uniforms only once a year which was not very expensive, second every day when we waked up we didn't had to worry about what to wear and worrying that we don't have enough clothes. Therefor, wearing uniform was very good so most of our concentration was on our classes not on clothing. Finally, wearing uniform was very organize when we passed the rode everyone know that we were high school students. In contrast, in America high school students can wear any thing they want and there is no restriction. In my opinion, it is very expensive for parents to prepare different clothes for their children everyday. May be it is no problem for some parents, but in most of the cases like single working parent that has to work full time and have other expenses it is not easy to buy clothes for their children every day. For example, one of my friend's daughter goes to high

Misogny in a Street Car Named Desire

Women and Misogyny and Fatalism in Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire Tennessee Williams wrote this critically acclaimed play during the 20th century when women and their place in society were greatly challenged. According to Boydston (2004) men were breadwinners and women resided in the home where they would raise children and maintain the home. As protector of the home, women exhibited characteristics such as piety, purity and domesticity. The notion of women entering the workforce, she continued, threatened the ideals of true womanhood and masculinity.In other words the woman’s foray into the man’s sphere violated the separation of roles between men and women because the ‘public sphere’ was reserved for men. It is this ideology that forms the basis for the misogynistic and fatalistic view of women in the play. Fatalism as defined by Abrams (2005) is the belief that all events are predetermined and are; therefore, inevitable. As a consequ ence, a submissive attitude to events results from such a belief.Through characterization and the choice of dramatic genre, The Streetcar Named Desire exposes the deleterious effects of misogyny on women and the dominance that men wield over subservient powerless women. The characterization of the dominant characters in the play develops the idea of misogyny and fatalism. Stanley the male dominant in the play is seen as an alpha male. True to the custom of Williams’ characterization of men from the North, Stanley is cast as a ‘brutish’ character who ‘sizes women up at a glance with sexual classifications’.Stanley does not regard women as being valuable apart from their worth in slaking his sexual desires. Stanley believes that women exist to serve his needs, respect him and obey him without question. This is in keeping with the era in which the play was written and the fact that men were seen as the stronger of the sexes. His language and behaviour a re laden with vulgar sexual overtones. Stanley Kowalski objectifies women as he values their physique; however, he ignores the innate needs and complexities of the women he claims as his.Stanley uses sex and his brute strength to subdue the women who fall into his circle. After physically abusing his wife he uses sex to substantiate his insincere apology. He also uses sex to comfort Stella after Blanche leaves and ultimately rapes Blanche in order to regain his sense of manliness and bring her down from the ‘columns’ she had built her life on which seemed superior to him. In scene one, Stanley forces a packet of met upon his wife; this symbolizes his male dominance in an increasingly patriarchal society. He acquires a feeling of superiority from this standpoint.Williams depicts Stanley receiving his wife's fondness with â€Å"lordly composure†; this insinuates that Stanley believes that he deserves his wife's respect and devotion without having to work for it in any way because he is a man; he believes that she should have these feelings towards him as a matter of automation. The statement: â€Å"Be comfortable is my motto,† is extremely true for Stanley as he does what he wishes and disregards the consequences. Through dialogue such as this, Williams asserts that Stanley inherently fails to take into account the repercussions his own requirements and desires have on others.He is in total control and the only person endowed with power; therefore the only person he takes into consideration – and the only person his wife is allowed to take into concern – is himself. The fatalistic view of women is evident in William’s characterization of Stanley’s misogynistic behaviour which is promulgated by his passive wife Stella. She accepts his crude behaviour and cleans up after him. Stella does not think for herself and as a result she fears life without her abusive husband. She depends totally on him for economic su rvival and for her sense of self.As a result she acquiesces to his every whim and fancy and accepts and blames herself for his physical and verbal abuse. She betrays her own thoughts and chooses her husband and places her sister in an asylum. By refusing to believe that Stanley raped her sister, she reconciles her decision to continue living with him. Williams’ depiction of Stella alludes to the idea that her future is linked to her submissive nature and the tenets of fatalism. She hardly speaks and when she does her speech is barely audible. Stella is presented as a flat character with no imagination or complexities.Additionally, Blanche is cast as a foil to the misogynistic Stanley and the polar opposite of her sister, Stella. From the first scene, Williams creates antagonism between Blanche and Stanley and this sets the stage for the descent and discord that runs from beginning to denouement in the play. The seeming purity and lofty air proffered by Blanche is only an atte mpt at sophistry to hide the shame of her promiscuous life. Her education allows her to play the part of the demure genteel lady, while being willing to seduce an unsuspecting newspaper boy.Blanche uses her sexuality to achieve things and although she may seem different from Stella in her vociferous opposition to Stanley’s physical abuse, the two sisters were very alike in that they found their own sense of self and value in their relationships with men. Williams underscores this with his discussion of Blanche’s promiscuity, the death of her homosexual husband, and her relationships with students at the school at which she taught. Blanche flirts and teases Stanley until she receives the onslaught of his overpowering primal animalistic behaviour, when she is raped.Through this ultimate transgression, Williams shows that the women of that era who tried to escape the prescribed roles assigned to them will be destroyed. Stanley’s outright disgrace of Blanche allows him to gain the transcendence and puts her effectually in her place. Blanche seems fated for this as she has built a fantasy world for herself where she is constantly pretending. One would think that as a result of her constant incredulous construction of reality other that what it is, Blanche was fated to the mental breakdown which she experienced at the end of the play.In addition to characterization, Williams also uses the dramatic genre to create the misogynistic and fatalistic view of women in the play. The play is written as a modern tragedy. Griffith (2006) describes a tragedy as a subgenre of drama that, according to Aristotle, contains conventions such as a larger-than-life hero whose flaw brings about a precipitous fall and whose fate inspires pity and fear in the audience. In the play, A Streetcar Named Desire, Blanche is this heroine whose actions grab the attention of the audience/reader.From her entrance her incongruity with Elysian Fields, is evident. She is from Bell e Reve, a place of â€Å"beautiful dreams†. Blanche’s great flaw is that she fails to accept the changes that are happening in the world. She tries to recapture her lost virtue and the respect she once had through pretense, deceit, self-aggrandizement and pride. Her fantastical ideas about what she deserves are exposed by her hypocrisy. Her vanity makes her rude and obnoxious as she believes that she was better than those with whom she had to share the ‘hovel’.Finally her lies cause her to lose the love she tries to gain and the sanity she tries to preserve. Her deceit and callous treatment of others, in an attempt to make herself seem superior, result in her final delusion and separation from reality. The men she loves disappoint her, and she, even in a delusive state, finds that she must depend on a man for sustenance. Blanche’s tragedy comes from her own vanity, duplicity and wantonness which she hides under her superior intellect and vocabulary.

Value System in Nepal

What is value system? In simple way value system means the principle of right and wrong that are accepted by an individual or a social group. Values can be defined as broad preferences concerning appropriate courses of action or outcomes. As such, values reflect a person’s sense of right and wrong or what â€Å"ought† to be. 40â€Å"Equal rights for all† and â€Å"People should be treated with respect and dignity† are representative of values. Values tend to influence attitudes and behavior.For example, if you value equal rights for all and you go to work for an organization that treats its managers much better than it does its workers, you may form the attitude that the company is an unfair place to work; consequently, you may not produce well or may perhaps leave the company. It is likely that if the company had had a more egalitarian policy, your attitude and behaviors would have been more positive. A value system is in essence the ordering and prioriti zation of the ethical and ideological values that an individual or society holds.While two individuals or groups may share a set of common values, they may differ in their determination of which values in that set have precedence over others. The two individuals or groups are said to have different value systems, even though they may have many values in common, if their prioritization of values differs, or if there are different exceptions they attach to these values. Groups and individuals whose differing value systems have many values in common may still wind up in conflict, ideological or physical, with each other, because of the differences in their value systems.People with differing value systems will thus disagree on the rightness or wrongness of certain actions, both in the abstract and in specific circumstances. In essence, a value system (if sufficiently well-defined) is a formalization of a moral code. The premise behind the discipline of rigorously examining value system s and the differences between them (given the provisional name ethonomics) is that an understanding of these differences in prioritization of values can lead to greater understanding about the politics (and motivations) of individuals and groups.While political discourse in recent times has frequently focused on the â€Å"values† held by the people engaging in the discourse (be they candidates, office holders, or media pundits), in reality those being compared share many (perhaps most) values in common. It is in their prioritization of those values that they differ, causing them (as a result of these different prioritizations) to come to different conclusions about what is right and wrong, and to take different actions accordingly.One example of a simple formal value system is Isaac Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics, which is intended as value system (of sorts) for robots in the hypothetical future of Asimov's science fiction novels. Simply distilled, the laws stipulate that: * human life is of primary importance and value (â€Å"A robot may not harm a human being, or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm. â€Å") * orders given by human beings to robots are secondary, to be obeyed as long as they do not violate the first law (â€Å"A robot must obey the orders given to it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law. ) * a robot's own existence is of tertiary value, meaning that a robot should preserve its own life only if the other two laws have been satisfactorily complied with (â€Å"A robot must protect its own existence, as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law. â€Å") Naturally, this is a very simplistic set of values, but the idea behind formalization of value systems is that more complex value systems that apply to human society might be derived or mapped from similar principles and structures, and that conflicts between such value systems might be resolved rat ionally.Definitions Values In order to define value systems, we need to define the characteristics of values that could be represented in a value system. The values that a group or person holds may fall into several different categories. The ones that usually concern us in the area of value systems are the ethical and the ideological. * Ethical values may be thought of as those values which serve to distinguish between good and bad, right and wrong, and moral and immoral. At a societal level, these values frequently form a basis for what is permitted and what is prohibited. Ideological values deal with the broader or more abstract areas of politics, religion, economics, and social mores. In theory, the broader ideological values should derive logically as natural consequences of the particulars of fundamental ethical values and their prioritizations. But although ideally a value system ought to be consistent, quite often this is not the case. Value Systems As mentioned earlier, a va lue system is the ordering and prioritization of the ethical and ideological values that an individual or society holds.The specific prioritizations may lead to designated exceptions invoked because one value is deemed more important than another (e. g. , â€Å"lying is wrong, but lying to save someone else's life is acceptable, because human life is more valuable (more highly valued) than the principle that lying is wrong†). Regardless of whether or not value systems are formed logically, they determine for individuals and societies what actions they are likely to act and how those actions are likely to be justified (or perhaps ‘rationalized'). Characteristics of Value SystemsValue systems can be categorized along multiple axes: * They can be personal, held by an individual and applicable only to an individual, or they can be communal or societal, defined by and applying to a community or society. Communal value systems may be legal codes take on the force of law in ma ny societies. * They can be internally consistent, where the broader ideological values derive logically as natural consequences of the particulars of fundamental ethical values, and where values do not contradict each other, or they can be inconsistent.Although ideally a value system ought to be consistent, quite often this is not the case in practice. Note that valuing the consistency of a value system is itself a sort of ‘meta-value', that could be present or absent in a given value system. * They can be idealized value systems (ideal representations of an individual's or group's value prioritizations) or realized value systems (how such a value system is manifested in reality, in the actions and decisions of the individual or group).Idealized value systems tend to be absolute, in that they are codified as a strict set of proscriptions on behavior, while realized value systems contain conditional exceptions that are rules to resolve collisions between values in practical ci rcumstances. Personal vs. Communal A value system may be held by a group of people, a community or society, or it might be held by an individual. An individual person's value system might be consistent with or equivalent to the community's value system. Consistency does not imply equivalence, though.An individual's value system might even hold the person to a higher standard, and still be consistent with the community's value system. (Consistency within a value system, described below, refers to the degree to which contradictions and overt situational exceptions are absent from that value system; consistency between value systems means that any action that might be taken in one value system would not contradict the rules associated with another. ) Exceptions One way of looking at differences between value systems is to think of the exceptions to the â€Å"rules† associated with values.These could be abstract exceptions (which are generalized enough in the way they are defined to take hold in all situations) and situational exceptions (which only can be said to be applied in very specific situations). The more generalized the exception, the more useful it is in a wider context for defining a consistent value system. In general, abstract exceptions serve to reinforce the prioritization of values, e. g. : Lying is wrong, but lying to save someone else's life is acceptable, because preserving a human life is more valuable (more highly valued) than the adhering to the principle that lying is wrong.In a formal value system (idealized or realized), the default exception associated with each value is assumed to be â€Å"as long as no higher-priority value is violated†. However, this hierarchical structure may be too simplistic in practice, and explicit exceptions may need to be specified. Examples of exceptions in practice: * We may commonly agree that telling the truth is an important positive value, and that conversely deception is inherently wrong. Bu t we make both abstract and situational exceptions for circumstances where we may assert that lying is acceptable behavior.Thus lying to avoid causing another person pain as a general rule would be considered an abstract exception, while lying in a particular situation because a specific person, if lied to, might do a specific thing at a specific time would be considered a situational exception. * People may agree that stealing is wrong, but some people may believe that stealing if you are starving and want to feed yourself and your loved ones is more acceptable than stealing if you are a abitual thief who makes a living stealing from people, or if you are an already wealthy person whose greed leads you to steal from your partners, your investors, or those you do business with. Others may find nothing wrong with stealing from faceless corporations and business establishments but may frown upon stealing from individuals. Some may define certain acts to qualify as not stealing if they fit into some of these categories. * People who think that killing is wrong might make an exception for someone acting in self-defense, placing a higher value on preservation of one's own life than on the principle of â€Å"thou shalt not kill†.Someone in the military might accept the value that killing another person is wrong yet may see nothing wrong with killing someone (in self-defense or not) in the course of or following the orders of a military commander (assumed to have a valid reason for ordering the killing), placing a higher value on discipline/loyalty and â€Å"defending one's country†. Conversely, a conscientious objector might prioritize the value that killing is wrong not only over military actions but even over self-defense. Many people in the business world might include the Golden Rule (which says â€Å"Do unto others as you would have others do unto you†) in their value system, but in practice they might place higher priority on the values li ke â€Å"Every man for himself† or â€Å"Let the buyer beware†. Conversely, another person might find that prioritization morally repugnant, and accuse the businessman of being unethical (or even of a form of theft) if he sells merchandise he knows to be shoddy, or deceives those he tries to do business with. ConsistencyA value system whose exceptions are abstract, generalized enough to be used in all situations, is said to be an internally consistent value system. On the other hand, a value system whose exceptions are highly situational, or whose exceptions are inconsistently applied, is said to be an internally inconsistent. A value system's consistency (or lack thereof) does not necessarily say anything about how ‘good' or ‘evil' it is. A value system that declares that lying and murder are acceptable, that essentially endorses a ‘might makes right' morality, could be internally consistent in its approach.Likewise, an internally inconsistent value system, loaded with inconsistently applied situational exceptions, might be considered perfectly acceptable if the ‘meta-value' of consistent application of values is not part of the value system. (The paradox here is that the absence of this value in a value system makes it consistent, because there is no constraint that says it must be consistent. It could be argued that those who explicitly omit this meta-value from their value system implicit endorse consistency as a value in that act of deliberate omission. On the other hand, those who hold this value ) Idealized vs.Realized These exceptions, especially when they are implicitly rather than explicitly defined, often yield a difference between an idealized value system and the realized value system. The idealized value system is the simple listing of values (in priority order) that a person or society would purport that they employ in determining right and wrong. The realized value system is the one they actually use in day -to-day life. While people claiming to employ a particular value system might say they place more value on x than y, more often than not there are deviations from this in practice.A consistent value system A religion may list a strong set of positive values, but its adherents and even those who are leaders of the religion may stray from those in practice. Idealized value systems often list strict rules (perhaps without any prioritizing order) but do not carefully define exceptions, abstract or situational. Realized value systems, in practice, often have a number of exceptions associated with them, but they may not be explicitly defined or consistently applied. Absolutists hold to their idealized value system and claim no exceptions other than the default.Defining Values Some fundamental values that most people seem to share, at least in theory, are: * â€Å"It's wrong to hurt, to harm, or especially to kill another person. † * â€Å"It's wrong to steal from another person. à ¢â‚¬  * â€Å"It's wrong to lie. † In practice, realized examples of these values would be a good deal more complicated, with exceptions already embedded within them. * â€Å"It's wrong to hurt another person, except in self-defense to keep them from hurting you, or if it is agreed upon with the other person as a step towards a mutually acceptable greater good (e. g. a doctor giving a patient a painful injection to cure an ailment). † * â€Å"It's wrong to take something from someone in a non-consensual fashion without negotiating overtly with the other person and agreeing to a mutually satisfactory transfer or exchange. † * â€Å"It's wrong to deceive another person knowingly for your own gain. † * â€Å"It's wrong to take deliberate overt action to prevent another person from exercising his will as long as that exercise does not interfere with your own exercise of will, except when the other person's will serves to violate the aforementioned principle s. In general, these values declare that â€Å"it's wrong to interfere in another person's life unless they do things to interfere in yours† This corresponds in essence to what has been called the Wiccan Rede which declares that â€Å"[As long as it] harms none, do what thou wilt†. While this may seem an elegant moral principle, in practice it runs into trouble because of the differing priorities people place on specific individual values, because of the way differing value systems define what is and isn't ‘harm', and perhaps most of all because of the different exceptions implicitly or explicitly defined in a value system.Examples of conflicting value systems This section is devoted to the process of using rational analysis to resolve conflicts between value systems. Individualism vs. collectivism In individualism, the needs and wants of the individual take precedence over the needs and wants of a society or community. The implicit exception inherent in individu alism is usually â€Å"as long as the actions of the individual do not harm other individuals. † Absolutists may claim that even this exception does not hold.In collectivism, the needs and wants of the society or community take precedence over the needs and wants of the individual. Rarely is the exception invoked that this is true â€Å"as long as the actions of the society do not restrict individuals . † It could be argued that a rational value system puts value on the needs and wants of the society or community structure, but does not give this more value than the needs and wants of the individuals within it.It is relatively easy to argue the case for this prioritization: under collectivism, a community could decide (however such decisions might be made) that it would work better if there were no people in it to interfere with the smooth running of society. While this might be true, since people tend to â€Å"complicate† the smooth running of any social order, it would create a society without any people, something which is clearly against the interest of the people in that society—would we rationally advocate our own extinction if it made the â€Å"system† of society run better?A rational resolution to the conflict between individualism and collectivism might structure these values in this manner: 1. The rights of individuals to act as they wish is unencumbered, unless their actions harm others or interfere with others' free exercise of their individual rights, and as long as their actions do not interfere with functions of society that other individuals depend upon, provided those functions do not themselves interfere with these proscribed individual rights and were agreed to by a majority of the individuals. . A society (or more specifically the system of order that enables the workings of a society) exists for the purpose of benefitting the lives of the individuals who are members of that society. The functions of a soc iety in providing such benefits would be those agreed to by the majority of individuals in the society. 1. A society may require contributions from its members in order for them to benefit from the services provided by the society.The failure of individuals to make such required contributions could be considered a reason to deny those benefits to them, although a society could elect to consider hardship situations in determining how much should be contributed. 1. A society may restrict behavior of individuals who are members of the society only for the purpose of performing its designated functions agreed to by the majority of individuals in the society, only insofar as they violate the aforementioned values.This means that a society may abrogate the rights of any of its members who fails to uphold the aforementioned values. Of necessity, as you can see here, the exceptions associated with values like these can become recursive and often convoluted. The name proposed for the discipl ine that tries to perform this task—mapping and formalizing value system prioritizations and resolving conflicts between disparate value systems through rational analysis—is ethonomics.

Gordon’s Health Assessment Essay

Running Head: Assessment of a Family 1 Using Gordon’s 11 Functional Health Patterns in the Assessment of a Family Se La Vie Grand Canyon University: NRS-429V Family-Centered Health Promotion 28 August 2013 Assessment of a Family 2 Health promotion continues to be at the center of healthcare today. Through the use of Gordon’s 11 functional health patterns, a foundation is formed in the gathering of information by the assessing of an individual and family in order to identify lifestyle behaviors and patterns. Through the use of these lifestyle behaviors and patterns, healthcare professionals are able to come up with various diagnoses and interventions for potential and actual problems that may interfere with one’s health and wellbeing. This paper will outline three questions for each pattern that was used to assess a specific family and help to interpret the findings through the use of Gordon’s 11 functional health patterns. The family interviewed consists of a husband and wife whom both served in the United States Armed Forces, and their three children. A summary of the findings for each health pattern will be discussed. Also, a wellness and family diagnoses will be developed and presented. When asked questions in relation to the pattern of health perception and health management, the family stated that someone who really cared about their health would take the necessary steps in order to make sure that their body was well maintained. The family admitted that though they knew the steps in order to determine their current health status, it had been a couple of years since anyone in the family had had a full physical. Further comments emphasized that their lifestyles and behavior was in line to the point of not causing them any further damage which including no drinking of any type or even smoking. The husband stated that he used to smoke and drink but quit six years ago. The wife made mention of drinking but had also quit the habit. Assessment of a Family 3 The husband is a stay-at-home dad and the mom works. The children (ages 16 and six) attend different schools at different times of the day, while their two year old stays at home. Due to work and school schedules, breakfast and lunch are not eaten at the same time. This makes it impossible to ensure that everyone is getting the necessary types of foods from all the various food groups. Due to this inconsistency, everyone is forced to eat whatever it is that may be fast and convenient in relation to the time and space available because of various schedules. No one in the family is overweight but the husband and wife expressed that they would like to lose a couple of pounds. Various weight loss regimens have been tried but to no avail due to certain ailments both suffered by the husband and wife. In the pattern of elimination, it was expressed that using the bathroom was a normal function for everyone in the family except for the wife. She states that there have been times in which she was unable to use the bathroom and sometimes requires the help of an over-the-counter medication. The only other time in which there have been problems is due to some illness that may affect the children causing them issues in their pattern of elimination. The family also stated that their diet may sometimes cause them issues in this department. The husband is lactose intolerant which the intake of any type of dairy product. He still decides to neglect this issue and still consumes various dairy products. Due to this neglect, the husband has been forced to deal with an illness (hemorrhoids) which has caused his many discomforts in the past. The pattern of activity and exercise revealed that the family did not have a hobby in which they consistently participated in. Time and schedule determined what type of activity the Assessment of a Family 4 family was able to participate in. The husband stated that he loved to work out and also had a membership at a gym. He works out at least four times a week and ensures that some type of cardiovascular exercise is a part of his regime. The wife stated that she had a membership to a gym also but was unable to attend no more than three days a week. The wife currently suffers from a disease called fibromyalgia which causes pain to radiate throughout her body. This causes her much discomfort and most of the time, rules out any attempt of physical activity that would cause an increase in heart rate. Due to both husband and wife serving in the Armed Forces, pains in their bodies have become part of their everyday life. They are both receiving treatment for their ailments but need several prescribed medications in order to either function or have a normal day of life. Their pain causes them to limit certain everyday activities and tailor what it is they can and can’t do. Their ailments range from issues with their backs, knees, and ankles, to that of migraine headaches. Recently, the wife of the house was diagnosed with arthritis in both her knees and also in her lower back. This has placed a limitation on various activities in which they are able to perform with their children. As of recent, the wife has had severe pain to the point of being unable to get out of bed and having to visit the ER (emergency room) on various occasions. Their cognitive-perceptual pattern is one that is in constant acknowledgment with nothing being able to rid of the issue being faced by both hus band and wife. The pattern of sleep and rest is one of an issue to both husband and wife. The husband was developed numerous times to combat zones and now suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). He rarely gets enough sleep through the night and is easily startled by various Assessment of a Family 5 sounds/noises. The only way he can actually sleep is by taking certain prescribed medication. On the other hand, the wife has the same issue but does not get enough rest due to having pains in her body. She also has to take prescribed medications in order to be able to relax and even get some sleep. There are days when pain subsides and both husband and wife are able to get some sleep, while on other days, they try their best to either go to sleep early or try to take catnaps in between times. Everyone in this family seems to be happy with whom they are. They are a very proud family who believe that God has made them just the way he wanted them to be. When asked â€Å"if you had a chance to do everything again would they change anything?† the reply was that they would not change a thing. Their faith and trust in God shows that they were supposed to go through everything that has been experienced in life for it made them be able to come together as a couple and also appreciate each other. They see their current place in life as one of a place of growth. Though they say some parts of life have really been rough, the husband and wife believe everything led to each other to produce what the world views of them today. Husband, wife and even children are all pleased with who they are. They made mention to the fact that if they were to change, it would be because it was something God wanted them to do in order to please him and no one else. Most friends of the family originate from the church which the family attends. Though they do not always hang out with their friends, they do try to attend events or get-togethers with friends in order to break up the monotony within their relationship. The couple sees each other as their own best friend and spends most of their time together with each other. The father sees Assessment of a Family 6 himself as someone who does his best to provide for the family even though he stays at home. He does his best to ensure that everyone’s personal needs are taken care of and if unable to be taken care of, there is some type of alternative solution to the issue. Mom is the most ingenuitive in the family. She loves decorating, and coming up with various ideas to design or make things look better. The 16 year old daughter is relied on to look after her six and two year old siblings. This allows for mom and dad to get back to their role as a couple and be able to go out on dates and enj oy each other’s company. As stated earlier, the couple has three children. Husband and wife both feel sex is a very important part of their life. Though the couple they have these feelings of intercourse, intercourse had to be put aside due to the fact of the wife being diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Even though this disease is causing an issue, sex is never ignored. There were some issues in the past in which intimacy was an issue due to the wife being in a former abusive relationship. Over the course of years, this issue has been worked out and the family can actually attest that their intimacy is better than ever. On pattern of coping and stress tolerance, the couple believes that stress is necessary part of life. Though they feel no one should ever be stressed out, stress allows a person to push further and provides a drive to accomplish various tasks. There are other times when some people may feel overwhelmed and cannot handle the pressures of life. During times like these, the husband states that a good support system is necessary which allows people to vent their frustration and also gain good advice in return. Times like these show the usefulness of a good church. The husband states that their belief and values allows them to stay in line and be able to Assessment of a Family 7 handle any type of obstacle in which they may ever face. They do their best never to go against their values and beliefs for they feel it keeps them in line in order to live a life acceptable to God. In everything they do in life, the couple feels that God should always come first, your spouse second, your childre n third, and then everything else should follow. Wellness Diagnosis SENSORY–PERCEPTUAL PATTERN Wellness Diagnosis Readiness for Enhanced Comfort Level COGNITIVE PATTERN Wellness Diagnosis Readiness for Enhanced Cognition SLEEP–REST PATTERN Wellness Diagnosis Readiness for Enhanced Sleep Gordon’s 11 Functional Health Patterns Questions †¢ Pattern of Health Perception and Health Management: 1. What do you think a well managed health consists of? 2. Do you drink or smoke (If so, would you like to quit?) 3. When was the last time you had a physical to determine your current health status? †¢ Nutritional – Metabolic Pattern: 1. Of what food groups does the family mainly choose? 2. Is anyone in the family overweight? 3. Has the family ever tried dieting in order to lose unwanted/unnecessary weight? †¢ Pattern of Elimination: 1. How many times do you use the bathroom in a day? 2. Does anyone in the family have any excretory problems/issues? 3. Does the food you eat affect your excretory pattern? †¢ Pattern of Activity and Exercise: 1. What are your favorite hobbies? 2. Do you exercise regularly (how many times a week)? 3. Do you participate in any outdoor activities that cause an increase in heart rate? †¢ Cognitive – Perceptual Pattern: 1. Are you currently in any pain? 2. Do you e xperience any pain while performing everyday activities? 3. Have you been diagnosed with any ailments and/or illness? †¢Pattern of Sleep and Rest: 1. How many hours of sleep do you get in a day? 2. Would like to get more sleep than you usually have? 3. Are there any other methods you use in trying to relax? †¢ Pattern of Self Perception and Self Concept: 1. Is there anything you want to improve about yourself? 2. Are you pleased with your current place in life? 3. If you could do things all over again, what would you change/leave the same? †¢ Role – Relationship Pattern: 1. Do you have friends outside your personal relationship? 2. What is your current role in the family? 3. Do you wish you had more or less responsibilities? †¢ Sexuality – Reproductive Pattern: 1. Do you have children (if not do you want children)? 2. Is sex part of your relationship? 3. Where there any traumatic times in life that may be hindering your current sex life? †¢ Pattern of Coping and Stress Tolerance: 1. Do you sometimes feel overwhelmed with the things of life? 2. When things becom e overwhelming, what do you do to gain back control? 3. Do things have to be stressful in order for you to function? †¢ Pattern of Values and Beliefs: 1. Does your values and beliefs govern how you make decisions? 2. Are there ever instances where you go against your values and/or beliefs? 4. What are your spiritual beliefs?