Odysseus V Telemachus

Jon Dunlap3/8/12 Odysseus v TelemachusPeriod 2 â€Å"Maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had, and what you've learned from them, and less to do with how many birthdays you've celebrated. † – Anonymous (Thinkexist. com). Maturity is a key theme during the journeys of Telemachus and Odysseus. In Homer’s Odyssey the journeys of Telemachus and Odysseus have many similarities and differences such as their common goal and the lessons they learn; and only by overcoming these obstacles are they able to become emotionally stronger and find success in Ithaca.Odysseus and Telemachus’ respective journeys have many similarities such as the common enemy the share and the goal they are fighting towards. First, due to Odysseus’ long absence after the war, he was thought to be dead, which led to a large influx of suitors wishing to marry Penelope. During The Odyssey the suitors represent a common enemy between Telemachus and Odysseus. †Å"The sons †¦ are pestering my mother to marry them against her will. They are afraid to go to her father †¦ hanging about my father's house †¦ never giving as much as a thought to the quantity of wine they drink.No estate can stand such recklessness; we have now no [Odysseus] to ward off harm from our doors, and I cannot hold my own against them† (Butler BK 2). The suitors not only threaten Telemachus’ right as King of Ithaca, but they also threaten Odysseus’ home and marriage to Penelope. Next, in addition to sharing a common enemy, Telemachus and Odysseus both have a common goal in mind throughout their journeys; to reunite their family. Telemachus sets out to Pylos and Sparta hoping to find his father and drive off the suitors, while Odysseus is also trying to return to Ithaca to see his wife and son after his 20 year absence.He uses his powers of persuasion to gain Calypso’s favor shortly before leaving her island; â€Å"Goddess,† replied [Odysseus], â€Å"do not be angry †¦ Penelope is nothing like so tall or so beautiful as yourself †¦ Nevertheless, I want to get home, and can think of nothing else† (Butler BK 5). It is this drive and determination that Odysseus and Telemachus eventually share that eventually able aids them in reuniting at the end of The Odyssey. Odysseus and Telemachus have one final thing in common on their journeys; they are both aided by Athena.Athena had been an ally of Odysseus since the Trojan War, mainly because she reminded him of herself. Throughout The Odyssey Athena aides both heroes on several occasions; Athena begs her father Zeus to allow her to aid Odysseus, so he can go home to his family, â€Å"Father, son of [Kronos], King of kings, it served Aegisthus right †¦ it is for [Odysseus] that my heart bleeds, when I think of his sufferings in that lonely sea-girt island, far away, poor man, from all his friends† (Butler BK 1).Athena helps Telemach us by getting him his ship and crew before the journey to search for word of Odysseus, and develops a bond with both of them throughout the story. Despite the many similarities, Odysseus and Telemachus are very different; as evidenced by the way they behave, their respective upbringings, and the lessons they learn. The first main difference between Odysseus and Telemachus is the way they behave under pressure. Odysseus, having had many years of experience and the gift of persuasive speaking, tends to handle problems with patience and careful planning.This can be seen as he charms Nausicaa into aiding him on Scheria, â€Å"O queen,† he said, â€Å"I implore your aid- but tell me, are you a goddess or are you a mortal woman? If you are a goddess †¦ you are [Zeus’] daughter Diana, for your face and figure resemble none but hers; if on the other hand you are a mortal and live on earth, †¦ how proud and delighted they must feel when they see so fair a scion as yo urself going out to a dance †¦ I never yet saw any one so beautiful, neither man nor woman, and am lost in admiration as I behold you† (Butler BK 6).Telemachus, however, lacks this maturity and seems to act more on impulse. This can be seen when he has an emotional outburst in the Ithacan assembly, â€Å"Moreover, if I am to be eaten out of house and home at all, I had rather you did the eating yourselves, for I could then take action against you to some purpose, and serve you with notices from house to house till I got paid in full, whereas now I have no remedy. ’ With this Telemachus dashed his staff to the ground and burst into tears. Everyone was very sorry for him, but they all sat still and no one ventured to make him an angry answer† (Butler BK 2).One can see that by using his persuasion Odysseus is able to prevail, while Telemachus’ angry outbursts do nothing but hurt his reputation This absence of maturity ties into the next key difference be tween Odysseus and Telemachus; which is the way that they were raised. Odysseus lived a rich and fulfilling childhood as a prince on Ithaca under his father Laertes and his mother Anticlea. He was given all the guidance and enrichment needed for him to grow into the hero he would eventually become. Telemachus on the other hand, was raised without a father.Odysseus left for the Trojan War when he was only an infant and did not return for 20 years, which meant that Telemachus grew up without the guidance he needed to become a man. Athena was eventually forced to step in and help boost his confidence during Telemachus’ journey, â€Å"[Athena] led the way and Telemachus followed her. Presently she said, â€Å"Telemachus, you must not be in the least shy or nervous; you have taken this voyage to try and find out where your father is buried and how he came by his end; so go straight up to Nestor that we may see what he has got to tell us.Beg of him to speak the truth, and he will tell no lies, for he is an excellent person† (Butler BK 3). If it weren’t for this lack of a father, he may have had the courage to stand up to the suitors himself. The final key difference between Odysseus and Telemachus is the lessons that they learn throughout The Odyssey. Odysseus and Telemachus both go through a great deal of change during their journeys and each benefit from it. Odysseus learns to set his pride aside.This can be seen as Odysseus is found crying on the beach of Calypso’s island, a far different Odysseus than the cunning, arrogant hero pictured in The Iliad, â€Å"Ulysses was not within; he was on the sea-shore as usual, looking out upon the barren ocean with tears in his eyes, groaning and breaking his heart for sorrow† (Butler BK 5). This represents his ritual death, because not only is he believed to be dead by Ithaca, but he is at one of his life’s lowest points. It is only after overcoming this that he will be able to retu rn home. Telemachus learns a lesson almost opposite to Odysseus.Telemachus learns to be a man and gains self-confidence. This process of maturation is set in motion by the Goddess Athena in book two where she says to Telemachus, â€Å"You’ll lack neither courage nor sense from this day on, not if your father's spirit courses through your veins- now there was a man, I'd say, in words and actions both! †¦ Few sons are equals of their fathers; most fall short, all too few surpass them. But you brave and adept from this day on- Odysseus' cunning has hardly given out in you- there's every hope that you will reach your goal† (Butler BK 2).Here Athena is telling Telemachus that he will be great and will succeed in his ventures because he is his father's son. From this moment on we begin to see a very sudden transformation or â€Å"Rebirth† in terms of Telemachus’ hero’s journey. He starts from a young defenseless boy, and ends his journey a man. Tele machus and Odysseus’ respective journeys have many similarities and differences ranging from their common enemy, to the lessons they learn, although the purpose of these journeys is clear; to find success in Ithaca.Many factors, be it luck, cunning, or supernatural aid all aid both men in these journeys. Telemachus and Odysseus may not be the most similar heroes, but through the challenges they face, they become emotionally stronger and reunite their family once more. As an anonymous intellectual once said, â€Å"Anyone can give up; it's the easiest thing in the world to do. But to hold it together when everyone else would understand if you fell apart, that's true strength† (boardofwisdom. com)

High School and Social Support Essay

The purpose of the study was to determine possible differences in leadership behaviors, using the Revised Leadership for Sport Scale (RLSS), between male and female coaches and among different coaching levels. The researchers submitted two hypotheses. The first hypothesis was that male and female coaches would respond differently to the RLSS in overall leadership behaviors. The second hypothesis was that differences on the RLSS would occur among coaching levels: junior high, high school, and college. The sample was nonrandom, including 162 coaches that were chosen on a volunteer  basis. Within the sample, 118 (0. 73) of the coaches were male, while 44 (0. 27) were female. With regard to coaching level, 25 (0. 15) were junior high coaches, 99 (0. 61) high school, and 38 (0. 24) at the college level. While this is a good sample size, the problem lies with the distribution of the sample. The sample number for junior high coaches, in particular, is rather low. A larger sample with regard to all categories would have aided in the data analysis, particularly when looking for possible interactions between gender and coaching level. The instrument utilized was the Revised Leadership for Sport Scale (RLSS) developed by Zhang, Jensen, and Mann in 1996. This scale is used to measure six leadership behaviors: training and instruction, democratic, autocratic, social support, positive feedback, and situational consideration. The scale uses 60 statements, which were preceded by â€Å"In coaching, I:† A Likert scale was then given for each statement: 1 = never; 2 = seldom; 3 = occasionally; 4 = often; and 5 = always. This produced an ordinal level data set. Scales were administered in a number of environmental settings: classrooms, gymnasiums, practice  fields, and offices. The internal consistency for each section was calculated: 0. 84 for training and instruction; 0. 66 for democratic; 0. 70 for autocratic; 0. 52 for social support; 0. 78 for positive feedback; and 0. 69 for situational consideration. There was no information, however, regarding the validity of the RLSS. A MANOVA was used to analyze the data for differences between male and female coaches with regard to leadership behaviors. This is not consistent with the type of data collected. The RLSS used a Likert scale (ordinal), yet a MANOVA would be most  applicable for normally distributed, quantitative data. The analysis showed there were no significant differences between male and female coaches in overall leadership behaviors. When the six leadership styles were examined separately, there was a significant difference in social support between males and females. In general, females scored much higher than did the male coaches. A MANOVA was also used to examine the data for differences between the three levels of coaching (junior high, high school, and college) with regard to leadership behavior in general. There were significant differences between the three levels. When breaking down the six behaviors and examining them individually, an ANOVA was used to analyze the data. Again, because the data for the RLSS is ordinal, an ANOVA is not the best analysis tool. The three coaching levels scored differently on three of the six behaviors: democratic behaviors, training and instruction, and social support. High school coaches scored much higher than college level coaches in democratic behavior. Junior high coaches were significantly lower in training and instruction than either high school or college coaches. Junior high coaches also demonstrated a lesser degree of social support than either the high school or college coaches. A MANOVA was again used to analyze the data for any interaction between gender and coaching level with regard to overall leadership behavior. Once again, a better analysis method could have been chosen based on the nature of the data collected. The results indicated no significant interactions. The ecological generaliziability for the study is fairly high. The surveys were mailed out, and returned on a volunteer basis. However, due to the nonrandom nature of the sample, the results would not generalizable beyond the 162 participants in the study. There was no effect size is listed for the study. In order to reduce threats to internal validity, the participants were asked to respond honestly and confidentiality was stressed so that the â€Å"coaches might feel more at ease in responding. † No other efforts were indicated. The researchers mention that the scales were given in a variety of settings. This could present a threat to the internal validity in that participants might not have been entirely focused on completing the scale, but instead on coordinating practice, completing  paperwork, etc. There are a number of other factors that could effect the internal validity of the study, yet were not addressed by the researchers. Coaching experience would greatly effect the responses of the participants, yet this was not considered in the study. The gender of the athletes may be a contributing factor to the coaches’ responses. It is not unreasonable to suppose that coaches of female athletes, particularly at the junior high and high school levels, will demonstrate more social support than those of male athletes. The nature of the  sport could also be critical. Certain coaching styles are more applicable for individual sports (wrestling, track, and tennis) than for team sports (football, soccer, and basketball). The socioeconomics and population of the school itself could play a factor. Certain schools have better athletes and programs in a particular sport, while others may not be able to field a winning team. In addition, at the high school level, coaches are occasionally asked/forced to work with a program they have no knowledge of or desire to coach due to staffing  shortages. This could dramatically influence a coach’s response to the scale questions. The history of the program as well as the individual coach’s personal coaching history could greatly influence responses. If the program has had several losing seasons in a row, perhaps the attitude of the coach could be different than that of a coach who has recently won a state title. An additional set of questions regarding the personal history of the coach in question could have helped reduce many of these threats. With additional information, the  researchers may have been able to use a modified matching system when analyzing the results. By increasing the number of independent variables to include things such as coaching experience and gender of the athletes, the researchers could have reduced some of the potential threats to internal validity. In addition, bringing coaches together to a common setting could have reduced location threat. Coaches meet seasonally for clinics. Perhaps obtaining permission to administer the survey during these meetings would have been possible. It would have also been possible to actually go to individual  schools and meet with the coaches as a group to administer surveys. This method would have given a good cross-section of gender and coaching experience for a variety of sports. While the study has merit, the methods need to be re-evaluated. The power of the study needs to be increased by obtaining a larger sample size. The numerous potential threats to internal validity need to be addressed and minimized where possible. It would also be helpful to be given data regarding the validity of the RLSS. Without these, it is impossible to evaluate the potential meaningfulness of this study.

Airline Economics Essay Example for Free

Airline Economics Essay Choose cite format: APA MLA Harvard Chicago ASA IEEE AMA Haven't found the essay you want? Get your custom sample essay for only $13.90/page ? The purpose of this note is to provide background to the study of the airline industry by briefly discussing four important economic aspects of the industry: (1) the nature and measurement of airline costs; (2) economies of scope and hub-and-spoke networks; (3) the relationship between yields and market characteristics; and (4) the S-curve effect. The Appendix to this note contains a glossary of key terms used throughout the discussion. Airline costs fall into three broad categories: flight sensitive costs which vary with the number of flights the airline offers. These include the costs associated with crews, aircraft servicing, and fuel. Once the airline sets its schedule, these costs are fixed. traffic-sensitive costs which vary with the number of passengers. These include the costs associated with items such as ticketing agents and food. Airlines plan their expenditures on these items in anticipation of the level of traffic, but in the short run, these costs are also fixed. fixed overhead costs which include general and administrative expenses, costs associated with marketing and advertising, and interest expenses. The largest category of costs is flight-sensitive. An important point about an airline’s cost structure, and a key to understanding the nature of competition in the industry, is that once an airline has set its schedule, nearly all of its costs are fixed and thus cannot be avoided. Because it is better to generate cash flow to cover some fixed costs, as opposed to none at all, an airline will be willing to fly passengers at prices far below its average total cost. This implies that the incidence of price wars during periods of low demand is likely to be greater in this industry than in most. There are two alternative measures of an airline’s average (or, equivalently, unit) costs: cost per available seat mile (ASM) cost per revenue passenger mile (RPM) Cost per ASM is an airline’s operating costs divided by the total number of seat-miles it flies. (An available seat mile is one seat flown one mile.) It is essentially the cost per unit of capacity. Cost per RPM is the airline’s operating costs divided by the number of revenue-passenger miles it flies. (A revenue passenger mile is one passenger flown one mile.) It is essentially the cost per unit of actual output. These two measures are related by the formula: Cost per RPM = cost per ASM ( load factor where load factor is the fraction of seats an airline fills on its flights. In the end, it is cost per RPM that an airline must worry about, for it must cover its cost per RPM to make a profit. Airlines differ greatly in both their costs per ASM and costs per RPM. For example, in 1992 Southwest had a cost per ASM of 7.00 cents, while USAir had a cost per ASM of 10.90 cents. Similarly, Delta had a cost per RPM of 15.33 cents while American had a cost per RPM of 13.81. Differences across airlines in cost per ASM reflect differences in: 1) average length of flights (cost per ASM declines with distance). 2) fleet composition (cost per ASM is smaller with bigger planes). 3) input prices, especially wage rates. 4) input productivity, especially labor. 5) overall operating efficiency. Differences across airlines in cost per RPM reflect differences in cost per ASM plus differences in load factor. Two airlines might have very similar costs per ASM, but quite different costs per RPM because of differences in load factor. For example, in 1992 USAir and United’s cost per ASM differed by less than 2 cents (USAir 10.90, United 9.30), but their costs per RPM differed by nearly 5 cents (USAir 18.54, United 13.80) because of USAir’s lower overall load factor (USAir .59, United .67) Economies of Scope and Hub-and-Spoke Networks Economies of scope play an important role in shaping the structure of the U.S. airline industry. The source of economies of scope in the airline industry is the hub-and-spoke network. In hub-and-spoke network, an airline flies passengers from a set of â€Å"spoke† cities through a central â€Å"hub,† where passengers then change planes and fly from the hub to their outbound destinations. Thus, a passenger traveling from, say, Omaha to Louisville on American Airlines would board an American flight from Omaha to Chicago, change planes, and then fly from Chicago to Louisville. In general, economies of scope occur when a multiproduct firm can produce given quantities of products at a lower total cost than the total cost of producing these same quantities in separate firms. If â€Å"quantity† can be aggregated into a common measure, this definition is equivalent to saying that a firm producing many products will have a lower average cost than a firm producing just a few products. In the airline industry, it makes economic sense to think about individual origin-destination pairs (e.g., St. Louis to New Orleans, St. Louis to Houston, etc.) as distinct products. Viewed in this way, economies of scope would exist if an airline’s cost per RPM is lower the more origin-destination pairs its serves. To understand how hub-and-spoke networks give rise to economies of scope, it is first necessary to explain economies of density. Economies of density are essentially economies of scale along a given route, i.e., reductions in average cost as traffic volume on the route increases. Economies of density occur because of two factors: (1) spreading flight sensitive fixed costs and (2) economies of aircraft size. As an airline’s traffic volume  increases, it can fill a larger fraction of seats on a given type of aircraft and thus increase its load factor. The airline’s total costs increase only slightly as it carries more passengers because traffic-sensitive costs are small in relation to flight-sensitive fixed costs. As a result, the airline’s cost per RPM falls as flight-sensitive fixed costs are spread over a larger traffic volume. As traffic volume on the route gets even larger, it becomes worthwhile to substitute larger aircraft (e.g., 300 seat Boeing 767s) for smaller aircraft (e.g., 150 seat Boeing 737s). A key aspect of this substitution is that the 300 seat aircraft flown a given distance at a given load factor is less than twice as costly as the 150 seat aircraft flown the same distance at the same load factor. The reason is that doubling the number of seats and passengers on a plane does not require doubling the number of pilots or flight attendants or the amount of fuel. Economies of scope emerge from the interplay of economies of density and the properties of a hub-and-spoke network. To see how, consider an origin-destination pair – say, Indianapolis to Chicago – with a modest amount of traffic. An airline serving only this route would use small planes, and even then, would probably operate with a low load factor. But now consider an airline serving a hub-and-spoke network, with the hub at Chicago. If this airline offered flights between Indianapolis and Chicago, it would not only draw passengers who want to travel from Indianapolis to Chicago, but it would also draw passengers from traveling from Indianapolis to all other points accessible from Chicago in the network (e.g., Los Angeles or San Francisco). An airline that includes the Indianapolis-Chicago route as part of a larger hub-and-spoke network can operate larger aircraft at higher load factors than an airline serving only Indianapolis-Chicago. As a result, it can benefit from economies of density to achieve a lower cost per RPM along the Indianapolis-Chicago route. In addition, the traffic between Indianapolis and the other spoke cities that will fly through Chicago will increase load factors and lower costs per RPM on all of the spoke routes in the network. The overall effect: an airline that serves Indianapolis-Chicago as part of a hub-and-spoke network will have lower costs per RPM than an airline that only serves  Indianapolis-Chicago. This is precisely what is meant by economies of scope. Relation Between Airline Yields and Market Characteristics An airline’s yield is the amount of revenue it collects per revenue passenger mile. It is essentially a measure of the average airline fares, adjusting for differences in distances between different origins and destinations. Airline yields are strongly affected by the characteristics of the particular origin-destination market being served. In particular, there are two important relationships: Shorter distance markets (e.g., New York-Pittsburgh) tend to have higher yields than longer distance markets (e.g., New York-Denver). Controlling for differences in the number of competitors, flights between smaller markets tend to have higher yields than flights between larger markets. The reasons for relationship 1) are summarized in Figure 1. higher cost per RPMlower load factor Cost per ASM generally falls as distance increases. This is because, say, doubling trip mileage does not require doubling key inputs such as fuel or labor. Thus, shorter flights have higher cost per ASM than longer flights, and airlines must achieve higher yields to cover these higher costs. In addition, shorter distance flights generally have lower load factors than longer distance flights, which implies a higher cost per RPM for shorter distance flights, again requiring higher yields. Why are load factors lower for shorter flights? The reasons has to do with the greater substitution  possibilities that consumers have in short-distance markets (e.g., car of train travel are more viable options). In short –distance markets, we would therefore expect that some fraction of time-sensitive travelers (e.g., vacationers) would travel on these alternative modes, so short distance flights would have a higher proportion of time-sensitive travelers (e.g., business persons) than longer distance flights. Competitive pressures thus force airlines to offer more frequent flight schedules in short-distance markets, which leads to lower load factors. The reason for relationship 2) has to do with the economies of density discussed earlier. Smaller markets will have lower traffic volumes, and airlines will generally operate smaller aircraft at lower load factors, increasing costs per RPM and yields. The S-curve effect refers to a phenomenon whereby a dominant carrier’s market share (share of RPM) in a particular origin-destination market tends to be greater than the carrier’s share of capacity (share of ASM). Thus, for example, if United offers 70% of the seats flown between Denver and San Francisco, and Continental flies the remaining 30%, then the S-curve effect says that United’s share of the actual traffic in this market will be greater than 70% and Continental’s will be less than 30%. This translates into an S-shaped relationship between â€Å"share of capacity† and â€Å"market share,† as shown in Figure 2. The S-curve effects stems from two sources. First, an airline with a greater share of capacity in a market is likely to have greater visibility in that market, so passengers are likely to contact it first. Second, an airline with a greater capacity share is likely to have more frequent – and thus more convenient – departures. This, too, works to boost its share of the actual traffic. The S-curve phenomenon makes capacity an important competitive weapon in the rivalry among airlines. An airline with the financial resources to purchase  aircraft and airport gates to achieve a dominant capacity share on key routes is likely to win the fight for market share. This suggests that, in general, it will be very difficult for a small carrier to challenge a dominant carrier at a hub airport, unless the small carrier can achieve significant cost advantages unrelated to scale. The history of competition in the post-deregulation airline industry seems to bear this out. Airline Economics. (2016, Oct 10).

Theme For English B Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Theme For English B - Essay Example civil war in Sierra Leone, as witnessed through the eyes of a child soldier victim; introduction of the readers to the contextual and historical setting of the story is important because it facilitates interpretation of the unfolding narrative. This story presents the narrator in New York City in 1998, years after he fled the civil war in his country Sierra Leone; the conversation that occurs between the narrator and his friends at school reveals that the narrator has suffered the horror of having to witness things that he shouldn’t have at a tender age. The story also serves to build suspense and anxiety in the readers to carry on with the story, to unfold the mysteries alluded to in the passage; in other words, this piece of story raises numerous questions in the readers’ minds, which can only be answered by reading the full story. For instance, readers are curious to know that the war was about and the role of the narrator in the war; in that case, readers are anxiou s to read the entire story, to find out the exact events that transpired in Sierra Leone, forcing the narrator to run for his life finally arriving in New York City. The first page of chapter one further builds on the effect of this passage by providing details of the stories that were told by passersby about the war in other places away from the narrator’s home. The first page gives a snapshot of the entire story by alluding to the stories of the fleeing refugees, and their horrendous experiences in war torn zones; this page gives an overview of the events that are about to unfold in the next chapters, thereby arousing readers interest. Adults in families fleeing the war zones are described as having witnessed things that plagued their minds because they appeared disoriented and lost in their own thoughts during conversations. Their kids, on the other hand, were still to recover from the shock they had suffered in their homes, having to witness despicable things in the war torn zones; these

The nerve nurses need to start their own businesses Essay

The nerve nurses need to start their own businesses - Essay Example Let start with the statistics. Today, several million of new businesses are launched in the United States each year, and most of them end up being successful (Megginson and Smart, 2008, p.823). What this means is that, since, it is a relatively common practice, one who intends to put up his or her own, will never find a shortage of support. For example, financing may be available such as the so-called angel investors, who are typically locally wealthy business people who can invest $50,000 to over $200,000 in a new business (Megginson and Smart, p. 823). More importantly, however, is the fact that it is easy to navigate the process since there are existing and established norms because business is essentially an established technology, with established tasks, objectives and milestones (p.823). Some successful practitioners manage to take advantage of this condition and avoid risks by starting small and eventually finishing big. Consider a nurse who is currently working in an institut ion. She decides to start a small business that she could conduct while she is working as a nurse. It is more like part time work but it is a start. She sets up a nursing home business by accepting old people in the community who can no longer take care of themselves. She hires an employee and proceeded on charging $150 per day. Since these are adults and not very mobile wards, she is able to accept 6-7 elderly per day, with her staff and her help during her free time. So that would be about $900-1050 per day. The elderly population in her community is quite large, so the business is poised to be popular and expansion, inevitable. The above example demonstrated several of the opportunities and the abilities involved in starting a business. It also depicts how creativity can be rewarded with success. The approach was able to address the financial problem of securing a steady flow of capital with the plan, since the example cited how the nurse began the business while still working. T his is especially important in instances when financial loans are difficult to come by. This is true in the case women. Sometimes being female can be a disadvantage in securing loans (Fielden and Davidson, 2006, p.114). Private practice can also become rewarding since a nurse is in a more position to make a meaningful difference to his or her clients. This is because, in the course of the practice, there is an opportunity to immediately decide on additional services or modifications in service being provided. The following case study demonstrates this best: Mandy, a community pediatric nurse, thought she was selling home care for children. But when she questioned her patients and their families, she found that for the parents of sick children she provided reassurance, a source of reliable information, a shoulder to cry on and a tension diffuser†¦ The response of the patients varied according to their illness. One said, ‘You can change dressing without hurting me very much , and you always tell me a nice story when you come’, while another commented, ‘You make the morning go much quicker and you make sure I

For the English Major Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

For the English Major - Essay Example Writer has shown a clear picture of slavery before 150 years by demonstrating the crazy process through which he has to go for learning to read & write. In this paragraph, he shows how his intense negative feeling about the slavery became his motivation for learning to read & write. Initially, the writer shows how reading has brought discomfort in his life because he started understanding his own situation and pointed his situation with negative words like wretched condition, beast, reptile, etc. The writer has successfully expressed his intensive hatred about the issue by using words of increasing power like abhor, detest, loathe, torment which have higher impact on the reader’s thinking about the issue. Reader completely enjoys the essay because of the live demonstration of intensive situation through rhythmic sentences like â€Å"I saw nothing without seeing it, I heard nothing without hearing it, and felt nothing without feeling it. It looked from every star, it smiled in every calm, breathed in every wind, and moved in every storm.† High quality essay is offered by showing firm transformation phase with the use of non-traditional English language like â€Å"Freedom now appeared, to disappear no more forever.† At the end of the essay, the writer has suggested the â€Å"Possibilities For Writing† which is also done very innovatively considering the significance of writer’s opinion about the core issue of slavery & education along with development of independent opinion of the reader in changed social & economic

Is Increasing Profits the Only Social Responsibility of Business Assignment

Is Increasing Profits the Only Social Responsibility of Business - Assignment Example It will also give my opinion as to whether businesses have more to do socially than make profits. As the author of the critical letter points out, both views are relevant in their own right. However, I disagree with an aspect pointed out by Friedman because he contradicts himself. This is when he says that the only social responsibility of businesses is to increase profits provided they are within the law and also without fraud and deception. He further goes on to say that it is not a business’ responsibility to avoid pollution, abolish discrimination and provide employment (Friedman, 1970). That is a very irresponsible statement from Friedman because committing the three acts he has highlighted is not within the law for a business. Being an artificial person does not absolve a business from its responsibilities to the society in which it operates. Conversely, my opinion is that Porter and Kramer are rational in what they believe businesses should do to society. They provide that it is not prudent for businesses to neglect the welfare of the society which forms their customers and suppliers. Letting the environment degrade by, for example, not avoiding pollution, as suggested by Friedman, depletes natural resources critical to businesses and the society (Porter & Kramer, 2011). I also agree with Porter and Kramer that although businesses need to take the initiative to bring society and themselves back together, they are stuck in thoughts that social responsibility is not at the core of business but at the periphery. I believe it is in the best interest of businesses to be surrounded by a healthy society, and they should consider society as a key resource to their businesses. The idea of shared value may be costly for businesses to initiate and implement, but once in place, it will be mutually profitable to them and society and generations that are yet to come (Porter & Kramer, 2011). In conclusion, businesses, and Friedman, must

Alfred Hitchcock Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Alfred Hitchcock - Essay Example Biography, Cultural Background Alfred Hitchcock, an engineer in his early life, was born in London England on the 13th of August, 1899. Graduating out of St. Ignatius College at the University of London, he would become involved with the film industry by 1920 after that early engineering stint, eventually creating a body of work that would earn for him a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Film Institute in 1979 among many other accolades, as well as the Academy Award for Best Picture for his very first foray into making a film in America. That first Academy Award bid would cone for the film â€Å"Rebecca†. His early path would also leave him out of London and into Hollywood by 1939, where he would eventually be the creator of more than fifty movies, chief among them a number of icons and classics in film: â€Å"Psycho†, â€Å"Rear Window†, and â€Å"39 Steps†. He passed away in 1980, in California (A+E Television Networks; Rampton). Some of his o ther notable works that have stood the test of time include 'The Man Who Knew Too Much', 'The Lady Vanishes', 'Spellbound' and 'Notorious' (The Criterion Collection); 'The Lodger', 'Sabotage', 'The Wrong Man', 'Vertigo', 'North by Northwest', and 'Strangers on a Train'. In the genre of thriller movies, he is the unsurpassed master, having been credited with essentially giving birth to the genre, even as his other achievements included technical breakthroughs in the making of films, such as the use of the MacGuffin device. He made use of various artistic devices too, pioneering in the use and interplay of elements that include humor, suspense and sexuality to make his memorable and groundbreaking films (Turner Entertainment Networks). Meanwhile, as can be gleaned from his biography and early education, his cultural influences have elements that include his early strict Christian upbringing and education, spiced with his experience as an English film maker, technician and craftsman in America (Schwartz; A+E Television Networks; Rampton; Brooks). On the other hand, it is worthwhile to note that while he is well-known in America and made many of the movies that have earned him his reputation on that side of the Atlantic, his influences also extend to his British cinema period, that time in the 1920's when he made British art films that were said to hew towards the sensibilities and aesthetic of the European cinema as art movement. Two of his works during this period, 'The Lodger' made in 1926 and 'Blackmail' made in 1929 bear these influences (Ryall 7; Derry 3-9; Sterritt 2-5; Sloan 15-18). II. Historical Period, Culture Represented by Hitchcock and His Work Properly speaking one speaks of not one cultural period but four periods as far as the reach and breadth of the work of Alfred Hitchcock is concerned. Historically he is situated in that period from the start of the 20th century to 1980. On the other hand, in terms of the sweep of his work and the compass that that sweep covers culturally, there are properly four periods in his work. One is the silent period, which immediately precedes or overlaps with what has been discussed above as his British period, in the 1920's. Seminal films during this time associated with the silent period include 'The Lodger'. The second phase would be characterized by a string of so-called espionage films, made in the 1930's, and includes such works as '39 Steps' in 1935, 'Sabotage' in 1936, and 'The Secret Agent' also in 1936. Films like 'Rebecca', 'Foreign Correspondent', 'Shadow of a Doubt

Plastic Water Bottles and Their Environmental Impacts Research Proposal

Plastic Water Bottles and Their Environmental Impacts - Research Proposal Example Amazingly, thousands of plastic water bottles are used across the globe within a year. Consequently, a lot of money is used in producing and purchasing the plastic water bottles in a year. In addition to huge expenses in producing and purchasing plastic water bottles, it is important to note that more than 85% of the plastic bottles are not recycled especially within the United States of America (Claudio). In New Zealand, data indicate that more than 78% of the plastic bottles are not recycled. Approximately more than 80% of plastic bottles are not recycled within the globe. Such plastic bottles are found lying around the environment. Astonishingly, plastic bottles take over 700 years to decompose and this can take up to 1000 years to fully decompose (Claudio).There are other data and information that continues to cause a serious shock with respect to the environmental impacts of plastic bottles. For instance, it is believed that approximately 1500 plastic bottles end up into the var ious oceans of the world every second. That would amount to hundreds of thousands of such bottles into the oceans (Halden 180). In terms of production, companies use approximately 3 to 5 liters of water to make one bottle and approximately 151 billion liters of oil every year to produce annual quantities of plastic bottles. Notably, 151 billion liters of oil is enough to fuel approximately 500,000 cars in a year (Claudio). The fact that these statistics are shocking indicates that manufacturing plastic bottles are as expensive as the environmental impacts they (plastic bottles) cause.

Carroway Clothing Limited Essay Example for Free

Carroway Clothing Limited Essay Carroway Clothing Limited (CCL) is a Canadian-controlled private corporation (CCPC) that was incorporated 10 years ago. CCL follows accounting standards for private enterprises (ASPE). It is owned by two brothers, Chip and Charles Carroway, who started the company after identifying an opportunity to design and manufacture clothing with innovative fabric. The Carroway brothers have run the business together and have an equal stake in its equity. You are Rose Reddick, a recently graduated CGA assigned as team leader to complete the March 31, 20X3, financial statement audit of CCL. This is the second year that your firm has done CCL’s audit. The audit planning was completed in early March by Blake Mouton, another CGA in your firm, but he has recently announced he is resigning from the firm. Due to scheduling conflicts and an unusually busy season, he will be unable to continue with the remainder of the audit before he leaves, and you have been asked to take over leadership of the audit team. It is now late April, and the team under Blake’s supervision has completed about two-thirds of the audit field work. The audit is scheduled to be completed by May 15, and realizing that you have a limited amount of time to complete your work on this audit, you immediately begin your review of the work done to date and the available client background information. Client background The Carroway brothers started manufacturing athletic wear, utilizing new techniques in fabric treatments to increase the durability of the fabric. CCL’s range of products includes clothing lines for women and men. The products are, primarily athletic wear, but three years ago they added a line of soil-resistant work clothing. Tax losses have occurred in the early years, but sales have grown each year since the company was started. As sales increased, Chip hired a team of design specialists to create new clothing items with innovative features. This team was hired three years ago to begin the research and development required to bring new products to market. Chip also hired a marketing manager with a degree in fine arts to design the tags attached to each piece of clothing and develop the marketing programs. At the same time, specialized software was implemented to produce tags for the products. Because there are specific requirements for content and format of the tags, the production manager is the only individual with authorized access to the software. In July 20X2, CCL signed a contract to produce a line of athletic wear for Sports Shop, a small chain of sporting goods stores. The line of athletic wear features the chain’s logo and trademark colours. CCL ships product to these stores using a company truck. The contract specifies that Sports Shop is to pay for each shipment within 30 days of signed receipt of delivery. Recently, Sports Shop has disputed some of the amounts owing to CCL, maintaining that there is no proof of receipt of the shipment. When Chip questioned the CCL driver, the driver admitted that when he was running late with his deliveries, he simply dropped the shipment at the store counter and did not wait for the store manager’s signature. Chip has not provided an allowance for these receivables since the delivery was made even though there is no signature. In fact, CCL has never recorded an allowance in any fiscal year and has not had any issues with uncollectible accounts. The research and early stages of development of CCL’s products were financed by a combination of capital invested by the brothers, bank financing, and a government grant (see financial statements, Exhibit 1). Scientific Research  and Experimental Development (SRED) credits were received in 20X1 and 20X2 and have been reported as government grants for accounting purposes. The sales volume of the soil-resistant clothing is now great enough to assure the lenders and any potential investors that these products are commercially viable. In fact, based on the 20X1/X2 results, they expect the current product line to become a significant commercial success. The cost of developing this product line, called Walton Work Wear has been deferred and is being amortized (straight-line) at the rate of 10% per year starting in 20X2 (see Deferred Development Schedule, Exhibit 2). Original research costs for the Walton Work Wear products were expensed when incurred, net of grants and SRED credits. The prior-year audit file shows that this treatment of SRED credits is consistent with CCL’s reporting of all taxes (payable and recoverable), which have been accounted for on a current basis without regard to recognition of the future tax effects of any current transactions. During the past year, the brothers have turned their attention to a moisture management and odourreduction feature for the athletics tops. They are confident that within two years their current research will lead to a product line that keeps the sweat away from the skin and minimizes the impact of perspiration on the clothing. The preliminary prototype works effectively for the first several minutes, but the protection barrier degrades quickly and more work is required. This product line will be called Carroway Cool Top and is currently in the research stage only. The deferred development costs for this product line are $975,000. In order to finance completion of the new research and development of the Carroway Cool Top products, Chip Carroway expects to obtain a long-term bank loan for CCL. He is aware that this long-term bank loan will include a more stringent debt to equity covenant than the existing line of credit. He is also interested in the option of going public and issuing new shares to raise funds for future growth. However, Chip is concerned about the implications of losing some control over CCL so he is leaning towards remaining a CCPC. CCL’s chief financial officer, Jack Lawson, was the original office manager  and bookkeeper when CCL was first established, and although he has no professional accounting credentials, he does have a degree in business administration with a major in finance. He is responsible for the preparation of financial reports and is involved in all of the financing discussions. Jack has always been employed by companies which are private and he has no experience in the requirements of going public, so Chip will require additional information from you in order to be able to make an informed decision between the financing options available. CCL has grown rapidly over the last three years, after implementing its research and development activities. During 20X1, the implementation of the research and development department resulted in the hiring of many new employees in research and development, production, and administration. CCL would like to provide an incentive plan to these new employees, but is not in a position to provide a cash bonus. Therefore, CCL is considering a limited issue of stock options to its employees. The stock options would entitle an employee to acquire equity shares of CCL at $50 per share at any time starting six months after the date of their issue. Some employees are uncertain about the impact of the issue of stock options on their taxable income and are considering disposing of them immediately upon acquisition. Chip has recently been notified about a pending lawsuit and provided Blake with some preliminary details when he was at the office in March. Six months ago, the production process of one of the fabric treatments resulted in an accidental but illegal leak of chemicals into the environment. The local environmental agency objected to such a release of chemicals, and when their objections were ignored they filed a lawsuit against CCL, alleging that CCL was negligent in the release of the chemicals and in violation of environmental regulations. Chip is not concerned about this lawsuit since he notes that the amount of chemicals that leaked from CCL equipment was not significant, but he would like to know whether there are any other risks associated with this issue and how they should be dealt with. Review of audit findings to date The audit-planning file indicates that Blake assessed the inherent risk associated with this audit as low. The reasons for this assessment include the fact that this is the second year of the engagement and no audit or financial reporting problems have been uncovered in the past audit. Blake included a note that the design of the clothing tags is now being handled jointly with the marketing manager, who had persuaded the production manager to give her access to the specialized software while he was away from the office on vacation. During this time, the marketing manager redesigned the tags to include more marketing elements and minimized the font size of the list of additives used in the fabric treatment so that there was more room to describe the innovative features of the clothing. The newly designed tags have been on product for the past two months, and CCL has recently heard some feedback from concerned customers that the information about the additives is difficult to read. These customers have allergies to certain chemicals, so it is imperative they are aware of the chemicals used in the treatment of these fabrics. Another important factor influencing the risk assessment is that, in spite of operating losses in the past, CCL has never had serious cash flow problems, due to Jack’s careful business planning and the good relationship CCL has with its lender. CCL is experiencing growth in profits, indicating that the investment in the research and development department is paying off. The draft financial statements show positive net income and strong revenue, with a portion of this revenue being generated by the Walton Work Wear line of products in 20X3 (see Exhibit 1). Although no misstatements or errors have been documented in the work completed so far, you are not sure if this is because conclusions have not yet been drawn on most sections of the audit file. In addition to evaluating all of the evidence gathered so far, the following audit work still needs to be completed: review of the accounts in Exhibit 2; team leader review of all work done by subordinates; completion of the audit work on unrecorded liabilities, subsequent events, and contingencies; and review of the draft  tax returns. Once all of these steps have been completed and approval of the statements is received from the client, the schedule of unadjusted errors and final review of the financial statements must be completed. The file will then be ready for a final partner review before release of the audit report. You see from the files that Blake has used traditional sampling to sample small amounts of data for the audit and you are not comfortable basing your conclusions on the work done because with the increase in sales this year and the research and development activities, there is a large amount of data to audit. You are considering an appropriate alternative, such as generalized audit software. Upon examining the file, you realize that a number of financial reporting and potential tax issues have arisen this year that were not present in prior years. These issues and other new information have not been adequately addressed in the current-year audit plan. You believe that the client should be informed of your concerns regarding the current year’s issues as well as the implications of the financing options.

Woman At Point Zero Analysis

Woman At Point Zero Analysis Symbolism has seeped into the arts and became an essential part of literary works and general communication. Since the concept of symbolism is effective in the construction of a novel, both works; The Outsider by A. Camus (translated by Joseph Laredo) and Woman at Point Zero by N. El Saadawi (translated by Sherif Hetata) portray the symbolic use of Nature. The symbolic use of nature in literature embodies the emotions and feelings of a character. The protagonists, Firdaus in Woman at Point Zero and Meursault in The Outsider mutually use nature as a way to express their feelings. More abstractly, besides giving insights into the characters, both Firdaus and Meursault use nature to symbolize significant events in the plot. Hence, by analyzing the representations of nature, insights into many of the ideas and images that the authors are trying to convey are obtained. This paper will highlight the symbolic use of nature in both novels. Meursault devotes significant attention to the different colours of the sky, the suns rays at different times of the day and the beach. In the novel, green is linked to happy moments. This is evident from the vague line: The sky was green; I felt happy.  [1]  Earlier in the novel, the sky was blue and gold, and now its green. The colour green is a blend of blue and yellow, it mediates between heat and cold. It is refreshing, comforting and the colour of plant life. Throughout the novel, A. Camus illustrates that red is associated with love and anger. The sky changed again. Above the rooftops the sky had taken on a reddish glow and with evening coming on the streets came to life.  [2]  Red is one of the most powerful colours. It incites visions of passion and pain, war and love. The symbolic use of red is different depending on the experiences and the culture of an individual. In African societies, the color red is linked to love and hate. It is based on the intensity of these two emotions. This is also analogous to the Arab on the beach scene and Maries red coloured dress, as they both signify love and anger. The colour red affected Meursault biologically, as it increased his metabolism and sped up his breathing. Comparatively, N. El Saadawi examines the different colours of the sky in diverse times of the day. The sky also had undergone a change; its colour had turned to black, like that of the earth, and it was pressing down upon me with its added load.  [3]  The author has experienced this feeling once, when she felt unloved by a man. The colour black in the novel is seen as a cold and negative aspect suggesting passivity. The change in the colour of the sky symbolizes the feeling of rejection by the vast world. The sky was blue with a blueness I could capture in my eyes. I held the whole world in my hands; it was mine.  [4]  The author came across this feeling when she met the man that she loved for the first time. Although blue is more common in western societies, blue skies are full of optimistic meaning in every culture. The color blue in the novel is related to freedom, strength and new beginnings. Both, A. Camus and N. El Saadawi are striving to exhibit the unexpected changes of emotions and feelings by using colours as a symbol in the novels. Throughout the novel, A. Camus usage of the sun disputes its warmth and beauty. Similarly to the changing colours of the sky, the sun and heat are a symbol for feelings and emotions. To Meursault, the sun has an impact on all his senses. Depending on its power, it either makes him angry, happy or resentful. The images of sunlight and heat are common throughout the novel as it is set in Algeria. There are two times when these images are significant to the plot. The impact of the sun on Meursault is represented early in the novel, at his mothers funeral. He was unable to think about his mothers death because of the glaring sun and intense heat. At the beach, A. Camus portrays once more the negative version of the sun. The sun shattered into little pieces on the sand and water.  [5]  The sun provokes Meursault to kill the Arab. This indicates the controlling influence of the hot weather. In spite of this, Meursault changes his view on both the sun and his life in prison. I moved clo ser to the window, and in the last light of the day I gazed my reflection one more time.  [6]  Early in the novel, he was introduced to the harsh sun. However in jail, Meursault realizes that the sun and life are warm and friendly. In contrast, N. El Saadawi uses cold weather as a symbol to illustrate her feelings as a character in the novel. The ground under me was cold. The same touch the same consistency, the same naked cold. Yet the cold did not touch me, did not reach me.  [7]  The author draws cold weather as a negative aspect. In the middle-eastern societies, winter seasons portray fright, death and stagnation. The author uses cold weather as a symbol to present fright and danger when she first met Firdaus. In the beginning, N. El Saadawi was concerned when she sat on the cold floor in prison next to her. Although danger and insecurity were surrounding her, she felt safe and fearless when she sat next to Firdaus. As if the coldness and all the insecurity could not touch her or reach her. In The Outsider, water symbolizes relief, escape and peace. This is evident from the beach scene, before the murder occurred: I was thinking of the cool spring behind the rock. I wanted to hear the murmur of its water again, to escape from the sun and the effort of the womens tears, and to relax in the shade again.  [8]  To Meursault, its easier to step towards the cool water and away from the sun. In the novel, water is a symbol of regeneration, relief and escape; it washes away all the guilt of the protagonist. The closest Meursault comes to happiness, is in the absence of pain from his surroundings. Natures surroundings are vicious that the only thing on Meursaults mind is escape and peace. Meursaults urgency to escape from the discomfort caused by heat initiates the murder of the Arab. On the contrary, Firdaus illustrates that water is a symbol for death and new beginnings. This is evident from the incomprehensible line: On my head I carried a heavy earthenware jar, full of water. Under its weight my neck would sometimes jerk backwards, or to the left or to the right.  [9]  Water has a universal undertone of clarity. Symbolically, it is viewed as the source and origin of life itself. When Firdaus neck jerks backward with the jar, water represents warmth and comfort. When it moves to the left, water signifies coldness, alienation and death. When it moves to the right, it denotes renewal and love. N. El Saadawi embodies water as both, the fluidity of life and death in the novel.

Military, Army and War - Military Down Sizing and the Fall of a Great N

Military Down Sizing:   The Possible Fall of a Great Nation       America is one the most powerful nations in the world.   Being a strong nation includes having a strong military as well as economy.   As one can observe, the U. S. economy is growing by leaps and bounds.   However, the military is being down sized, and if we do not do something about it, it will continue to be down sized until we have an armed force that will no longer be capable of protecting this great nation.   Not only will this down sizing affect our ability to protect ourselves, it will also cause a substantial loss in economic strength and power abroad.   Because military down sizing lessens our power abroad, opens the United States up to a possible invasion, and hurts our economy, the military must be maintained in order to ensure a strong, healthy nation both abroad and on the home front for many centuries to come.    Military down sizing is increasing at a rapid rate.   This down sizing is primarily due to budget cuts.   Since the peak of Korean war spending in 1953, military spending has declined in twenty-five of the last thirty-seven years.   The build up for Vietnam was short and followed by an equivalent build down.   The Carter-Reagan buildup was longer but smaller than the one for Vietnam, and is currently being succeeded by a new build down (Brauer 299).   If history keeps repeating itself, the United States military will continue to build up and then hinder this build up with an even greater build down.   As a result the U.S. sustains a weaker more vulnerable armed force.    The military's inability to provide its men and women with sufficient transportation is also a problem caused by budget cuts.   Many military trucks represent technolo... ...must always be ready for the least expected.       Works Cited    Brauer, Jurgen, and Manas Chatterji, eds.   Economic Issues of Disarmament.   New York:   New York University Press, 1993. Federation of American Scientists.   Ed. Marcus Corbin. "The New Threats Argument."   February 2000.   27 February 2000  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  <http://www.fas.org/pub/gen/mswg/msbb/new.html>. Hinkle, Jeffrey J.   "Funding the New, Fixing the Old holds the Future for Tactical Trucks."   National Defense 82 (1997-1998): 32-34. Kaminski, Paul G.   "Building a Ready Force for the 21st Century."   Defense Issues 11 (1996): 1-4. Rosello, Lieutenant Colonel Victor M.   "Predicting the Unpredictable."   Military Review 75 (1994-1995): 127-129. Sandler, Todd, and Keith Hartley, eds.   The Economics of Defense.   New York:   Cambridge University Press, 1995.      

Lenonard Bernstein :: essays research papers

Leonard Bernstein was born in Lawrence, just north of Boston, on Sunday, August 25, 1918. Bernstein was named Louis at birth, after his mother’s grandfather, but at the age of sixteen he had it formally changed to Leonard, or Lenny. As a child, Bernstein was sick very often with asthma and hay fever. Perhaps due to these and many other medical conditions, Bernstein preferred to be alone. He didn’t care to spend much time with his family or even with his peers. Most likely because of this self-isolation, Bernstein’s passion for music developed at a young age. At the age of ten, Leonard’s family received a piano from an aunt who no longer needed it. She knew of Leonard’s love for music, but I doubt she knew what a great impact this gift would have, not only on Leonard, but also on the world of music. After the young boy began to show an interest in the instrument, a neighbor offered to give him lessons, which lasted for about a year. After that year, Bernstein was no longer satisfied with his teacher, so he went out to find another one. He was referred to a teacher by the name of Miss Susan Williams and despite his father’s protest, this teaching relationship with Miss Williams lasted for two years. When Bernstein decided that he needed a more professional teacher, he went under the education of Helen Coates, who would later become a life long friend and secretary. After four years of working under Helen, he was accepted as a student of Heinrid Gebhard, who was the best piano teacher in Boston. At the age of seventeen, Bernstein was accepted at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He was interested in many other things other than music. For example, philosophy and history were both subjects of great importance to him. After graduating from Harvard cum laude in 1939, Leonard spent a year in New York City. He met many influential people throughout the course of this year, including Aaron Copland. Aaron Copland is regarded as being Bernstein’s composing mentor. In fact, Copland was probably the most important influence on All-American music at this time. Bernstein and Copland had many similarities that may have enabled them to create the very strong bond between them. They both came from Russian/Jewish families; both men were raised in urban areas; both became involved in left wing politics; and both were homosexual.

Essay --

Life Liberty and the Pursuit of Same Sex Marriage Though the United States in modern times has fostered a politically correct environment, where any form of bigotry or bias is frowned upon and scorned, and though we live in a country that was founded upon the principle of equality, gay and lesbian Americans today still struggle for acceptance, and to be allowed in all fifty states to legally marry their partner. While this nation has fought bigotry and bias for many years, the same sex marriage issue came into focus in the late 1960's, and has grown in fervor and ferocity every decade since then. Today there is still no unified federal law or policy in place in regards to this important issue, and states have many different views and policies in place, as do different political parties, religious sects, individuals and other organizations. It is difficult to believe, in this day and age, that we as a nation still struggle to recognize and respects the rights of all individuals. Gay and lesbian people believe that they should have the same legal rights as heterosexual couples in regards to marriage, and they have valid points. If you spend your adult life in a relationship with someone, they should be able to have rights when you face a medical crisis or die, and they should also be able to take advantage of the same tax breaks as any other couple. Opponents, especially religious opponents, consider gay marriage unnatural and a violation of the traditional union between a man and a woman, but it is also important to point out that at different points in American history, women and minorities were not viewed as equals to the white majority. Thankfully those things have changed over time, and much like the civil rights movements, th... ...disagree with their party's core values in regards to this issue, but they are a small minority. To put it very simply, I don't see how anyone, in this day and age, can argue with same sex marriage. I believe in the principles that this great nation was 5. founded upon, that we are all created equally, that we have a right to liberty, that if we don't break laws or hurt anyone, we should be treated fairly, and that discrimination of any kind is wrong. Also, there is supposed to be a separation of church and state, so I don't believe religious morals and principles should guide policy or law. Ultimately, I believe we will get past this issue, as volatile and polarizing as it is, and same sex couples will get the legal rights they deserve, and this country will not sanction legalized discriminations against anyone due to their skin color, sex, religion, or sexuality.

How does Steinbeck prepare us for the end, and link it to the beginning? Essay

Steinbeck prepared us for the end by many different reasons that occur in the play. The Incident at weed, killing mice, killing a dog and crushing Curley’s hand is all evidence for this. The ‘weed’ incident prepared us for the end by alerting the readers that something has gone wrong at one place and how long will it be till something else like this occurs. â€Å"An’ you ain’t gonna do no bad things like you done in Weed, neither.† George liked to stroke mice in his hand, but he doesn’t know his own strength as he is a big bulky strong man. ‘I could pet it with my thumb while we walked along’ said Lennie, but as Lennie is so strong he just crushes the poor animal. Candy’s old dog was shot because it is wrong to let an animal suffer in pain. The dog â€Å"Got no teeth, He’s all stiff with rheumatism† and he is â€Å"ancient†. Lennie killed Curley’s wife by acciendent because they were in the barn together and Lennie was stroking her hair, but she didn’t want him to mess it up ‘You stop it now you’ll mess it all up’. And she yelled and Lennie put his hand around her mouth and said â€Å"Oh! Please don’t do that. George will be mad†. George broke her neck another incident were Lennie doesn’t know his own strength. Steinbeck links the beginning to the end with George and Lennie. They both continue through out the play reminding them selves of ‘The American Dream’, and that is what they talked about before going on to the ranch George thought it would be nicer to lay under the stars with one night relaxation. The last time they ever dream of ‘The American Dream’ is at the end when George shoots Lennie while he is dreaming of the rabbits. â€Å"Le’s do it now. Le’s get that place now† – was the last words he ever said. Lennie is the same old Lennie with a childlike mental age. George is always there to look after him and tell him what to do like in a adult child situation, â€Å"come on, give it to me†. Stienbeck always describes Lennie as a animal from the beginning to the end â€Å"snorting into the water like a horse†. They always argue and Lennie says he will go away, but george knows that his best friend wont be able to look after him self and will end up getting shot, at the end he says â€Å"I can go away †¦ an’ find a cave†. At the beginning Lennie says the same thing â€Å"go off in the hills†¦. I’d find a cave†. George said â€Å"somebody’d shoot you for a coyote if you was by yourself† Lennie is also a killer, he attacks Curley, curlys wife, kills mice and throws his dead pup on to the floor in anger. Lennie is not mean, he doesn’t want to cause pain or suffering. George knew that if he let Lennie live then he would sooner or later be found and caught, and would most likely be tortured by Curly then be put in a prison for the rest of his life or killed on the spot. George didn’t want to she George go through any pain or suffer so he put him out of his own misery, just like the dog!

Super Retail Group Financial Report Analysis

This Report was commissioned on the request of the Board in relation to ACACIAS press release: '12-MURMUR ACACIAS areas of focus for 30 June 2012 financial report'. A review of the relevant disclosures made In Super Retail Group Lad's 2012 Annual Report is assessed against relevant polices that relate to element 8, estimates and accounting policy Judgments under ACACIAS press release.Executive Summary release: '12-MURMUR SAIS'S areas of focus for 30 June 2012 financial report'. A review of the relevant disclosures made in Super Retail Group Lad's 2012 Annual Report is assessed against relevant policies that relate to element 8, estimates and accounting policy Judgments under Sais's press release. The outline of SAAB standards 108 Presentation of Financial Position, CASABAS Impairment of Assets, SAAB'S 38 Intangible Assets and SAAB'S 37 Provisions, Contingent Liableness and Contingent Assets are disclosed.Super Retail Group (SIR) Lad's accounting practice is determined in regards to t he standards examined. From this analysis, differences can be determined in the ways SIR applies the relevant standards and the requirements of the standards in relation to estimates and Judgments. From this analysis, it is determined that SIR has failed to disclose any Judgments and certain estimates and assumptions that may affect significant amounts seen In the financial statement and the entities positions. Recommendations of refining the presentation of the disclosures and the ways in which it should be structured are outlined.ASIA has identified the need for disclosures within this area for users to assess the reported financial position, as entities did not make material disclosures of sources of estimation uncertainty and significant Judgment in applying accounting policies. An analysis of the relevant counting standard, ISOBAR in particular paragraph 17-124, Disclosure of Accounting Policies and paragraph 125-133, Sources of Estimation Uncertainty, CASABAS Impairment of Ass ets, CASABAS Intangible Assets and CASABAS Provisions, understand Grog's current accounting practices reflected in the 2012 Annual Report.A further discussion into the differences between the accounting standards used and its requirements and the application of them are examined. Through this, recommendations are then outlined into refining the gap between Grog's current accounting practices and the requirements of the standards. Relevant Accounting Standard The relevant accounting standard related to disclosures of sources of estimation uncertainty and Judgments can be found within ISOBAR Presentation of Financial Statements.Other key standards that are relevant to Grog's disclosure of assumptions, estimates and Judgments are SAAB'S 36 Impairment of Assets, SAAB'S 38 Intangible Assets and CASABAS Provisions, Contingent Liabilities and Contingent Assets. 2. 1 ISOBAR This standard outlines the presentation of financial statements for general purpose financial statements, in order to ensure that there is comparability between the entities reporting periods as well as between other industries reports. The standard discusses the minimum requirement for reporting content and guidelines for the structure in which it is to be set at.Paragraph 117-124 distinguishes the disclosure of accounting policies in relation to Judgment. Management's Judgment made in applying accounting policies that may have effected significant amounts found in financial statements and the financial position. Seen in paragraph 125-133 ‘Sources Of Estimation Uncertainty, it is vital that entities disclose the key assumptions made grading future prospects and other uncertain estimates that are used in identifying carrying amounts of assets and liabilities.Along side this, the nature and carrying amount must be disclosed at the reporting date. 2. 2 SAAB'S 36 Under SAAB'S 36 it is essential for assets to be tested for impairment when the carrying amount exceeds its recoverable amount. In und ertaking these annual proceedings, a number of related Judgment and estimated assumptions need to be encountered. There is a need for Judgment when determining cash-generating assets (Para's. 68). Paragraph 30-57 outlines the associated requirements for calculating value-in-use.Paragraph 30. A specifically identifies the need for an estimate of future cash flows that the entity expects to generate from the asset. These cash flow projections are outlined in paragraph 33. A, where it is based on reasonable and supportable assumptions made by management's estimates, re- stated further in paragraph 34, where this assumption is based on the difference between past cash flow predictions and actual cash flow amounts. These projections need to be consistent with previous projections.Paragraph 38 continues to detail the significance for management to use the appropriate assumption that would best fleet management's estimates of economic conditions that will continue throughout the assets use ful life. When calculating the value-in-use, there is a need to determine a discount rate and under paragraph 55 the rate is a pre-tax rate. Paragraph 126-137 states that entities should be encouraged to disclose the assumptions and various estimates taken in order to determine the CHUG recoverable amount during the period.Paragraph 134 requires that a disclosure of the group's key assumptions, description of managements approach to identifying these assumptions, the period future cash flow as well as the discount rate applied. . 3 SAAB'S 38 SAAB'S 38 details the accounting procedures applied for intangible assets that are not specified otherwise in other standards. This standard deals with a number of assumptions and estimates that are required when applying it.Paragraph 22 examines the need for entities to assess the prospect of anticipated future economic benefits using reasonable and supportive assumptions that will exist over the useful life of the asset. Paragraphs 33-41 ident ify the requirements regarding acquisitions as part of a business combination, these intangible assets must be recognized separately from goodwill. Paragraph 41 examines the principle of entities being allowed to use techniques that have been developed for estimating fair values. The standard requires certain disclosures outlined in paragraphs 118-128.These disclosures provided basis for understand of assumptions and estimates involved in determining: Finite or indefinite useful lives, amortization rates and the reasons for identifying an intangible asset having indefinite useful life Amortization methods used for definite lives The gross carrying amount for any accumulated amortization Reconciliation of the carrying amount at start and end of period Information grading any restrictions on the face of intangible assets or any assured as security for liabilities 2. CASABAS SAAB 137 outlines the accounting procedures for provisions, contingent liabilities and contingent assets. Under paragraph 36 the best estimate required to settle the present obligation at the end of the financial period is the amount recognized as a provision. This estimate discussed in paragraph 38 is determined by the Judgment of management and takes into account risk and uncertainties, the discounting of present value (discounting at a pre-tax rate) and future events that may affect present obligations.Further Judgment needed by management is necessary when dealing with risks and uncertainties in order to avoid overstating or understating accounting elements. When disclosing the application of this standard paragraph 84-92, in relation to Judgments and assumptions, an entity shall detail the major assumptions made relating to future events further addressed in paragraph 48 that is the description of future events that may affect the amount of the provisions likeliness to occur. In summary an entity shall disclose the reconciliation of the movements of each class of provision and detailed i nformation regarding the nature f the obligation.Under note 3 found in SIR Ltd 2012 Annual Report, three significant factors have been disclosed that may result in an alteration of future material adjustments due to estimates and assumptions (Refer to Appendix 1): I. Estimated impairment of goodwill I'. Estimated value of intangible assets relating to acquisitions iii. Estimated make good provisions The associated SAAB standard, previously discussed are SAAB'S 36 Impairment of Assets in relation to point I, SAAB'S 38 Intangible Assets corresponding to ii, and iii, is the reflection of CASABAS Provisions, Contingent Liabilities and Contingent Assets.Specific paragraphs have been discussed earlier in order to understand the Grog's accounting practices. 3. 1 Critical Accounting Estimates and Assumptions SIR Ltd applies SAAB'S 36, CASABAS and SAAB'S 38 regarding estimates and Judgment disclosures under ISOBAR paragraph 125-133 as discussed previously. Estimated impairment of goodwill de als with the application of SAAB'S 36 disclosed under note 1. 0. In applying SAAB'S 36. 68, SIR has classified the recoverable amounts for CHUG, which are determined based on the calculated value-in-use.The assumptions require the application of paragraph 134, outlining the assumptions under note 14. (Refer to Appendix 2). The growth rate and discount rate for each subsidiary and the period of which these assumptions are based on, that is a five-year period approved by the Board has been outlined. The assumptions disclosed regarding value-in-use is that budgeted gross margins are determined by past and expected future performance. There is consistency between the use of weighted average growth rates and forecasts included in industry reports.Disclosures of management's explanation as to why certain subsidiaries were not calculated using value-in-use is present. SIR Ltd has identified the intangible assets that undertook assumptions and estimates as brand names and supplier agreement s, as well as put options. The use of paragraph 41 has been performed by SIR Ltd in valuing brand names using the relief from royalty method and multi-period excess earnings method in valuing supplier agreements. In determining these calculations, assumptions are made by management.The value of put options has undertaken estimations. These three intangible assets were acquired as a business combination. SIR disclosures of the assumptions and estimates reflecting the application of SAAB'S 38. 18-128 are found under note 1 . Q. Iv-v (Refer to Appendix 3). Brand names are determined as indefinite, supplier agreements have a useful life of 20 years, and amortization is calculated in regards to the timing of projected cash flows over the estimated useful life. Reasons for specific brand names being classified as indefinite is outlined under note 14. . The key factors that management has taken in depicting brands useful life is also estimates in accounting for provisions for make good on the removal of leasehold improvements or return leasehold premises to the original state. The make good provision is recognized when SIR has a present obligation from the occurrence of past events. Leasehold improvement costs are capitalist and amortized over the useful life or the shorter of the period of the lease disclosed in note 18. C (Refer to Appendix 5). Note 1 . States that the amounts for provisions have been reliably estimated, and are not recognized for future operating losses (Refer to Appendix 6). Further disclosed under note 1 . Z, is Grog's application of make good costs. They are recognized as a provision at the beginning of the agreement and these estimated true payments are discounted using appropriate market yield at reporting date. (Refer to Appendix 7). 3. 3 Significant Judgment Significant Judgment is essential for SIR to disclose when applying the listed standards. There have been no Judgments disclosed under note 3.Accounting Standard Requirements The one si gnificant gap found between ISOBAR and the current practices of SIR Ltd is the failure of disclosing significant Judgment. ISOBAR . 122 details an entity should disclose a summary of the significant accounting policies of management Judgment's (apart from those of estimations) dad in applying the entity's accounting policies, which has affected significant amounts recognized in financial statements. SIR Ltd has failed to disclose a summary of Judgments made that may affect significant amounts on financial statements.However SIR has disclosed estimates and assumptions however certain areas are not successfully outlined. Assumptions are clearly outlined in the notes, however a detailed description and reasoning of managements approach to identifying these is not present. Management estimates relating to put options have not been clearly stated within the notes. The assumptions regarding the valuation ethos of brand names and supplier agreements have not been outlined (royalty method a nd multi-period excess earnings). ISOBAR . 125 has not been effectively applied in Grog's disclosure of assumptions.There is no information regarding the assumptions of future events. Assumptions and estimates overall have been disclosed, however briefly without detail, as required by ASIA. In order for SIR Ltd to comply with the standard of disclosures of estimates and judgments by which ASIA requires, certain adjustments for future disclosures are needed. The need for ease of locating information requires the implementation of fined structure essential. Under note 3, Critical accounting estimates and judgments, a clear distinction between estimates and Judgments is integral.A distinct need can be seen within note 3. A. I to ‘refer to note 14 for details'; and should be outlined in ii and iii. It is difficult to locate the relevant information regarding estimates value of intangible assets relating to acquisitions and estimated value of makes good provisions, however assumpti ons are still outlined throughout the notes despite a lack of clarity regarding referral to note 3. Any related estimates and judgments made by management need to be discussed under note 3, regarding the nature of the element relating to estimates or Judgment.The differences mentioned previously need to be refined; assumptions relating to the future events, estimates relating to put options and methods used to value brand names and supplier agreements need to be outlined. It is important for SIR to disclose all related information that may assist users in making economic decisions. Therefore it is essential for SIR to outline all assumptions, estimates and Judgments made that affect significant amounts within the financial statement and financial position.

Quality and Quantitative Approach in Engineering

The objective of this paper is to propose a study and discussion on the use of quantitative and qualitative approaches in engineering research methods and design. In this introduction it is to provide a thorough presentation on the aspects of qualitative and quantitative approaches for engineering research. As such, the scope of this paper covers a broad range of topics and it is important that the engineer to perform successful experiments, and it is equally important that to understand and be able to estimate the accuracy of the engineering investigations through these approaches. In the past research approaches in engineering have accumulated to a point at which the engineers and investigators have many selections. For those designing an engineering research proposal, it is recommended that a general framework be maintained to accommodate advice about all facets of the study, from assessing the general theoretical ideas behind the investigation to the detailed data collection and test procedures. Using an extant framework also allows engineering researchers to lodge their plans in design ideas well grounded in the literature and recognized by audiences that read and support the proposals for engineering research. The focuses in this paper are on the use of quantitative and qualitative approach and the comparisons and contrasts in the characteristics as well as the significances of these approaches within the field of engineering design research. 2. Background This section suggests the background and the framework of quantitative as well as the qualitative approaches for engineering research. The theoretical assumptions about what constitute the knowledge claims; the general procedures of research are the strategies of investigation; and detailed procedures of data collection analysis are called methods. . 1 Outline of Quantitative Approach to Engineering Research A quantitative approach in engineering is defined as one in which the engineer mainly employ postpositivist claims for developing knowledge. The knowledge are called cause and effect thinking, reduction to specific variables and hypothesis and questions, use of measurement and observation, and the test of theories. Quantitative appro ach employs strategies of analysis such as experiments and opinions, and collects information on predetermined instruments that yield statistical information. In this scenario the engineer tests a theory by specifying narrow hypotheses and the collection of experiment data to support or refute the hypotheses. An experiential engineering design is applied in which attitudes are assessed both and after an experimental treatment. The data are collected on an instrument that measures attitudes, and the information collected is analyzed using statistical execution and hypothesis testing. 2. 2 Outline of Qualitative Approach to Engineering Research. A qualitative approach in engineering research is one in which the engineer makes knowledge claims based primarily on constructivist perspectives and that is, the multiple meanings of individual experiences, meanings evidently and historically constructed, with intent of developing a theory or pattern, and that is issue-oriented or collaborative. It also uses strategies of investigation such as narratives, phenomenologies, ethnographies, grounded theory studies, and case studies. The engineer collects open-ended, emerging data with the primary intent of developing ideas and design from the data. In this situation the engineers seek to establish the meaning of a phenomenon from the opinions of participants. This means identifying a culture-sharing group and studying how it developed shared patterns of behavior over time (i. e ethnography). One of the key elements of collecting data is to observe participants’ behaviours by participating in their activities. For this research approach, the engineer seeks to examine an issue related to oppression of individuals. To study this, the approach is taken of collecting stories of individual oppression using a narrative approach. Individuals are interviewed at some length to determine how they have personally experienced feedback. 3. Comments and discussion Different form of investigations must be performed on all experimental data. The examination may be a simple verbal appraisal of test results or a complex theoretical analysis of errors involved in the experiment and matching of the data with fundamental principles. The discussion considers the analysis of data to determine errors, precision, and general validity of experimental measurements. The experimentalist should always know the validity of data. In order to specify the performance of an amplifier, an electrical engineer must know the accuracy with which the appropriate measurements of voltage and distortion have been conducted. A nuclear engineer must know the accuracy and precision of many instruments to make radioactivity measurement with confidence. In the quantitative approach like experiential analysis, design engineers have drawn on their own experience of designing to give explanation of aspects of design. Design researchers are also concerned about the lack of acceptance of their ideas by practicing engineering designers. By involving in the engineering research, it is more likely that the outcome of the research will be taken up because of the shared ownership of the knowledge produced by quantitative approach. On the other hand, in the qualitative approach, historical analysis is the discovery from past records a description of explanation for invention in the past. Scientists divide data into primary and secondary sources. Primary source include eyewitness and contemporary records such as instruction manuals and the personal notes. Secondary sources are summaries and reports of invention by other scientist or engineers. The role of historical analysis in qualitative approach is to provide theoretical base for the current research. Development in design due to the introduction of new technology can be compared to the development in the past. During the last decade, the strategies of investigation affiliated with quantitative approach were those that invoked the post-positivist perspectives. These include true experiments and less rigorous experiments. More recently, quantitative strategies involved experiments with many variables and treatments such as factorial and measure designs. They also included elaborate structural equation models that incorporated paths and the identification of the collective strength of multiple variables. The two critical strategies of investigation in the quantitative approach are test experiments and surveys. Experiments include authenticated test experiments, with random assignment of subjects to treatment conditions, as well as quasi-experiments that use non-randomized design. Survey includes using questionnaires and structured interviews for data collection to gather the feedback from the past records. In the qualitative approach, the experiment results those are usually rich and detailed, offering many ideas and concepts to inform consumers your new invention. Qualitative approach can display how the product user feel and think, but cannot tell how many of the audience feel and think that way. Qualitative approaches in research results are considered thought of as themes; they should not be reported as percentages, subjected to statistical analysis or projected to a wider population. The main reason is because the participants do not make up a randomly selected representative sample and not all participants are asked exactly the same. This approach offers flexibility as far as timing is concerned and exhibits an important challenge for engineering design. 4. Conclusion The following points can be considered and taking note when using the quantitative and qualitative approaches for engineering research: 1. Examine the data for consistency. No matter how hard an engineer tries, there will always be some data points that appear to be grossly in error. For instance, if adding heat to a container of water, the temperature must rise, and so if a particular data point indicates a drop in temperature for a heat input , that point might be eliminated. The data should follow common sense consistency. If many data points in the experiment fall in the zone of â€Å"inconsistent†. The entire experimental procedure should be investigated for gross mistakes and miscalculation. 2. Perform a statistical analysis of data. A statistical analysis is only necessary when measurements are tested several times. If this is the case, make estimates of such parameters as stand deviation or etc. 3. Estimate the uncertainties in the test results. The engineering researcher should bear in mind the influence of different variables by the time the final results are collected. 4. Anticipate the test results based on theory. Prior to obtaining correlations of the experimental data, the researcher should review the theory affiliated with the subject and glean relevant information that will indicate the trends the results may take. Critical dimensionless groups, pertinent functional relations, and other information may lead to a fruitful interpretation of data. 5. Correlate the data. The investigator should make sense of the data in terms of physical theories and on the basis of previous experimental work in the engineering field. The test results should be analyzed to display how conform to or differ from previous investigations or standard that may be employed for same measurements. In quantitative approach, the experiments are number-based whereas the qualitative approaches are text-based. Statistical test are used for investigation in quantitative method and more in-depth information on case study of a qualitative method for research in engineering. The main aim in the use of quantitative approach provides observed effects that are interpreted by engineers of a test program on a problem or condition whereas the main function of qualitative approach is more subjective and that is, solving a problem or condition from the point of view of the past experience. In conclusion, both quantitative and qualitative approaches are valid and reliable. However, the use of quantitative approach accounted largely for the measurement device and engineering instrument employed. This offers heavier time expenditure on the planning and lighter on the analysis phase. The use of qualitative approach depended largely on the skill and rigor of an engineer, and that allows the engineer a lighter time expenditure on planning end but a heavier during the investigation stage.

How Did Mass Media Influence Adolescents and Children in the Last Ten Years? Essay

TV Media’s Influence on Child Development http://www. cleancutmedia. com/tv-shows/tv-medias-influence-on-child-development â€Å"Several risks to pediatric health are literally staring children in the face. It’s time to call the doctor. † Want to share this old, but great article from the Harvard Medical Alumni Bulletin. Very interesting points about how media cuts into many issues such as obesity, eating disorders, attention disorders, violence, sex, and drug use and how Medical Professionals need to deeply consider how much media has an influence on the development of these. As this fairly long article is well written, I will simply excerpt huge chunks of it. I’ve copied out significant paragraphs and bolded the main points. Hope it is helpful. Full Article  Here. The most important thing we’ve learned, So far as children are concerned, Is never, never, never let Them near your television set†¦ They sit and stare and stare and sit Until they’re hypnotized by it†¦ Did you ever wonder exactly what This does to your beloved tot? His brain becomes as soft as cheese His powers of thinking rust and freeze He cannot think—he only sees! the Oompa-Loompas in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory TV Media on Child Development The Oompa-Loompas’ cautionary song about the hypnotic effects of television on children may have seemed alarmist in 1964 when Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was first published, but now its lyrics seem almost understated. In Roald Dahl’s story, television addict Mike Teavee pays for his obs ession by getting shrunk to the size of an actor on a television screen. Dahl exaggerates the effects of excessive viewing, but for children glued to media screens today, the consequences may be more insidious and just as hazardous. Decades of research have established that television and other screen media—movies, the Internet, and video games—constitute a powerful environmental influence on children’s health and development, according to the Center on Media and Child Health at Children’s Hospital Boston. American children aged 8 to 18 spend an average of 6 hours and 21 minutes daily using media—more time than they spend in school or with their parents. And the risks of so much time spent in thrall to their screens are serious. More than 2,200 studies have linked media use and aggressive behavior. By age 18, a child will, on average, have witnessed 200,000 acts of violence, including 18,000 murders. Children’s programs—shows that one would expect to be free of violence—average 14 violent acts per hour, 8 more than adult programs. For adolescents, the influence of violence in media may even prove fatal: the top three causes of death among 15- to 19-year-olds all involve accidental or intended violence. Media’s Influence on the Mind Like the Oompa-Loompas, Michael Rich ’91 understands the powerful clutch media can have on the mind, especially the mind of a child. So well has research documented the connection between watching violence on television and aggressive behavior, he says, that the correlation is â€Å"stronger than those linking calcium with bone density and passive smoke with lung cancer. † Rich, a pediatrician and former filmmaker who worked for two years with the famed Japanese director Akira Kurosawa, directs the Center on Media and Child Health. Much of Rich’s research has focused on the dangers stemming from the violence depicted on television and, more recently, the violence that permeates video games. One 2004 study by another group compared the physiological responses of adults playing four different video games, two with storylines and two without. The researchers found that story-based video games led to significantly more character and game identification and increased physiological arousal. Other studies have documented how such physiological responses can lead to aggression. â€Å"If you watch a violent show and a half hour later go to a store where someone cuts you in line, you’re more likely to respond aggressively,† Rich says. â€Å"Over time, small incidents accumulate and form patterns of violent behavior. What matters is that you learn from what you experience. † And by learning, he means the hardwired kind. â€Å"Brain mapping indicates that media violence is processed along primitive survival pathways and stored in long-term memory,† he says. In other words, we embed media violence deeply in our brains. In work with functional magnetic resonance imaging, or fMRI, Rich’s team has discovered that â€Å"the brain regions activated when viewing violence onscreen are the same ones that light up when those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder relive their traumas. † Alvin Poussaint, founder of the Media Center at the Judge Baker Children’s Center and an HMS professor of psychiatry, says that the way children learn from television can cause another form of lasting harm. â€Å"If children watch ‘edutainment’—shows that teach through song and dance—they begin to associate learning with an entertainment format and expect that format when they go to school,† he says. â€Å"But teachers aren’t going to sing and dance for them. So then children complain that school is boring. Compared to the fast-paced, exciting shows they’re used to on television, it is boring. Nothing will meet that standard. Television constantly ups the ante. † Some of the newest research suggests that television and the multimedia world in which children simultaneously watch MTV, listen to iPods, and chat on the Internet may be contributing to the increase in diagnoses of attention disorders. Rich believes that fMRI studies on attention, which are only now just getting started, will help establish whether a connection exists. Certainly, researchers have found a correlation between media use and reading. â€Å"Kids who watch the most television don’t do as well in school,† says Poussaint. Television is not the best way to learn; it’s too passive and noninteractive. † A 2003 study found that toddlers and older children with screen media in their bedrooms learned to read later and read less than those with no screen media in their rooms. The Oompa-Loompas begin to seem like prophets. Media can be a Good Influence on Development John Livings tone ’58, a pediatric psychiatrist at McLean Hospital, an HMS assistant professor, and a consultant to the television industry, is campaigning for PBS to embed emotional literacy in its new programming and for the cable industry to embrace health-risk standards. Television shows can model positive ways for handling feelings,† he says. â€Å"Social learning research shows that when children watch likable characters struggling with decision-making, they can learn better impulse control, especially when they see the realistic results of the choices the characters made. † The power of prosocial programming can be so strong, Livingstone adds, that even violent content—when portrayed realistically and in the context of outcomes—can be beneficial. â€Å"If it’s handled well,† he says, â€Å"violence with consequences can promote socially responsible behavior. Let’s say a show features a gang of kids on a street. In one scenario, a gang member remarks that a passing kid looks like a wimp and says, ‘Let’s punch him out. ’ The group beats him up. † â€Å"In a better scenario,† Livingstone says, â€Å"the gang member remarks that a passing kid looks like a wimp and says, ‘Let’s punch him out. ’ But this time a likable gang member speaks up against the plan, then another and another. Half the group takes off in protest. The other half beats the boy up and later faces legal and parental repercussions. The program could retain its dramatic tension while modeling a socially acceptable option in the teenager’s world. † Change Media Intake, Change Everything Else Strasburger, who researches media’s effects on children and adolescents at the University of New Mexico, also wants to promote media literacy, but finds it difficult to convince physicians, parents, and teachers that the issue should take priority. â€Å"When I consulted with the National Parent Teacher Association,† he says, â€Å"its leaders had a hundred concerns on their list, and media literacy was nowhere near the top. They wanted to talk about obesity, eating disorders, and bullying, but didn’t realize that media affect all those problems. Many parents and teachers believe media have a minor influence. That might have been true when they were growing up, but it sure isn’t the case now. † Poussaint adds that parents should play an important role. â€Å"Parents need to watch television with their children and explain what’s make-believe,† he says. â€Å"Commercials are especially insidious, because children don’t begin to understand the persuasive intent of ads until about age eight. Commercials also pit children against parents. Television tells children a particular candy bar will make them happy and, when parents refuse to allow it, the children see their parents as denying them this happiness. † Strasburger says some of this work can be done in school. â€Å"We need to teach kids skepticism about advertising and television programming,† he says. â€Å"They should understand, for example, why a commercial or show airs when it does. We already have a system in place for teaching media literacy: sex and drug education programs in schools. Both could incorporate media literacy, and teachers could take the lead. †