How Messed Up Education Can Be Essay

So just like any other year, students have to attend the opening ceremony; my little sister sat down in the last rows filled with graffiti in the auditorium I looked up and thinking to myself, â€Å" They changed the principle again, whoever in charge, do they think it will fix the problems? † They have been using this method for ages. Every year, the new principle would give an awesome speech about how they would fix everything. But the past decade, same problems still haunt the school. Even though fear and worries in my head, I have no choice but to let my little sister attends this school. Welcome to Northeast High of the Kansas City District; welcome to the education of my life. I moved to America when I was twelve and I attended Northeast Middle School. The District put me in the ELL (English Language Learner) program because I didn’t speak any English. So in those three years, I learned as much as I could but I was still a kid, I didn’t really pay attention to my education nor did I care about it. But in 8th grade, I got a peak of how education could turn out. Mr. Bui was my math teacher that year, he was special. Even though the school set up its lesson plan, Mr. Bui didn’t follow it; he told the class that we were ready for higher level class. So he ordered an old set of high school Algebra I textbooks and started teaching. I knew he was a good teacher, the whole class got A in the end of the year and we were ready for high school. When I was a freshman in high school that was where education became more serious for me. All the students that went to Northeast Middle were automatically enrolled in Northeast High, which is right next to each other. The school is about to be 100 years old and it was popular for all the bad things, such as: gangs, shooting, fighting, drugs, and bad education. My family didn’t want me to go to this school. But we had no choice, we couldn’t afford to move. At first, I thought these violent wouldn’t matter because I was going to try hard to learn. But I was dead wrong, the school was like a prison, these were ten security guards and two police officers always on standby in case of emergency. It just made you feel like a criminal being watch instead of a normal student like you are supposed to be. But the biggest problem prevented me from learning was the teacher, they were horrible. It seemed like they were there to babysit us, most of them would tell you to crack a book open and read one chapter then do the reviews. They usually read the newspaper, play games or read a book. Once, the class even caught my teacher watching inappropriate videos on his computer. Things were horrible, there were no such thing as homework, the school use the excuse there wasn’t enough textbook for students to bring home. Even so, not all the teacher were bad, some of them are actually teaching and a few were doing well in it. I guess it’s about who cares and who doesn’t. Of course, the students love it, they never had to do anything to get a good grade. You can just sleep in one class the entire year and would still able to pass with C. Sometimes I enjoy it but other time I hated it because I have high expectation of myself. In my junior year, the Kansas City School District was low on funds for education. It closed down a few schools and Northeast High was on the list. But then in the meeting for voting, there were so many parents showing up and spoke up; Northeast High remain stay open. Even so, the District closed down Northeast Middle and put the students in high school and it turned into the K-12 program. Which they made the problems worse; every week there would be a fight in the school, more gangs related, more bullies, more graffiti, and more shooting in the neighborhood. We had big an incident when a girl got raped in the bathroom, but they kept it as a secret. The victim moved away and the kids took part in it was punished. In my last year of my high school, disaster strike when the Kansas City School District lost its accreditation. The reason we lost it is because of the students test scores, I wasn’t really surprise but I was mad. My whole education life felt like trash, I wish I could do something to change it. But even so, I hoped for a better education in college so I kept going. The senior class of 2012, there were 142 students but only about half of us graduated. I was in the top 10% of the class rank and I received a few scholarships. Only a handful of class went on to a 4 years-college, some went to community college and the rest still trying to find a job. There are many reasons why the education system could be so mess up but someone, somehow need to fix it. If one can fire the useless teacher and hire the good teacher. I think things would be a little better. Of course, if the neighborhood were better, the school wouldn’t be effect by all the bad things around it. I’m hoping my family will finally able to move next year so my little sister doesn’t have to go through the same thing I did. I’m also glad I made it to college and getting a good education. I know some kids out there that wish to be me right now.

Victorian Era

The Victorian Era During the Victorian Era, social classes of England were newly reforming, and fomenting. There was a churning upheaval of the old hierarchical order, and the middle classes were steadily growing. Added to that, the upper classes' composition was changing from simply hereditary aristocracy to a combination of nobility and an emerging wealthy commercial class. The definition of what made someone a gentleman or a lady was, therefore, changing at what some thought was an alarming rate. By the end of the century, it was common that a gentleman was someone who had a liberal public (private) school education, no matter what his antecedents might be. There continued to be a large and generally disgruntled working class, wanting and slowly getting reform and change. Conditions of the working class were still bad, though, through the century, three reform bills gradually gave the vote to most males over the age of twenty-one. Contrasting to that was the horrible reality of child labor which persisted throughout the period. When a bill was passed stipulating that children under nine could not work in the textile industry, this in no way applied to other industries, nor did it in any way curb rampant teenaged prostitution. The Victorian Era was also a time of tremendous scientific progress and ideas. Darwin took his Voyage of the Beagle, and posited the Theory of Evolution. The Great Exhibition of 1851 took place in London, lauding the technical and industrial advances of the age, and strides in medicine and the physical sciences continued throughout the century. The radical thought associated with modern psychiatry began with men like Sigmund Feud toward the end of the era, and radical economic theory, developed by Karl Marx and his associates, began a second age of revolution in mid-century. The ideas of Marxism, socialism, feminism churned and bubbled along with all else that happened. The dress of the early Victorian era was similar to the the Georgian age. Women wore corsets, balloonish sleeves and crinolines in the middle 1840's. The crinoline thrived, and expanded during the 50's and 60's, and into the 70's, until, at last, it gave way to the bustle. The bustle held its own until the 1890's, and became much smaller, going out altogether by the dawning of the twentieth century. For men, following Beau Brummell's example, stove-pipe pants were the fashion at the beginning of the century. Their ties, known then as cravats, and the various ways they might be tied could change, the styles of shirts, jackets, and hats also, but trousers have remained. Throughout the century, it was stylish for men to wear facial hair of all sizes and descriptions. The clean shaven look of the Regency was out, and mustaches, mutton-chop sideburns, Piccadilly Weepers, full beards, and Van Dykes were the order of the day. Due to the lack of modern technology that we have today such as televisions and the internet, the Victorian era (the era in which Queen Victoria reigned, this was between 1837 and 1901 was renowned for famous for the short stories that the authors of the time wrote. The birth of the railway also took place during the Victorian era and as one would expect, many people used it for transportation over long distances. There were no televisions so at times of boredom and during these long train journeys the people of the time depended solely on books and short stories for entertainment. The Ghost story genre proved to be most popular amongst the Victorian people. At the beginning of the nineteenth century in Britain, religious faith and the sciences were generally seen to be in beautiful accordance. This harmony between science and faith, mediated by some form of theology of nature, continued to be the mainstream position for most men of science right up to the 1860’s, at least. But it did come under threat. Many scientists questioned the literal meaning of the Genesis and opposed to the authoritarianism of organized Christian religion. Charles Darwin was the one, who with his Origins of the Species in 1859, proved things that could not be tolerated by the Church. It attracted widespread interest on publication. The book was controversial because it contradicted religious beliefs that underlay the then current theories of biology, and it generated much discussion on scientific, philosophical, and religious grounds. Of course a longer period had to pass to accept Darwin’s ideas, but it did affect the Christian mind, it did raise questions about the institution of the Church. The values that were based on religion were shaken greatly as well and the roots of the 20th century’s search for new values could be originated from here. Attitudes toward values and morals in those times also depended on, which social class a person belonged to. As the population increased, the gap between the lower and upper classes grew larger and also the differences in social behavior. Lower working classes struggled with everyday life, large families often did not have anything to eat, and children had to go working from an early age. There, the morals were drawn to the background. Even though, every felony was punished strictly, people often ended up stealing, robbing and murdering. Cities were full of slums, hygiene was non-existent and the drinking water spread diseases. Among these circumstances there was one rule that existed: to survive the day! Opposing the upper classes’ primness, prostitution and child labor was not scorned as a livelihood for the common people. Society as a whole, was called and often talked about in connection with the Victorian Era, did not help them, did not do anything for them, only despised them. Victorian values included a strict moral code and an obsession with social status. Upper classes always liked to lead their life in an exemplary way, regarded the morals highly and lived accordingly. Their occupation and social standing was largely determined by family background and social connections. We have to take into consideration that the Victorian era was the one when educated and wealthy people knew that the period they were living in is great and society, if everyone in it lived according to the Victorian values, could be happy. Although by looking back at the way they treated these values, most of them seem hypocritical. In their life religion, family, home, wealth and primness played an important role and proud as they were of themselves of belonging to these great times, rejected anyone whose life was not based on these things. They were the lucky ones that were educated and could easily afford forming opinions about the rest of the society, making references to morals, making up their own and forming the old ones as well. The Victorian era became notorious for employing young children in factories and mines and as chimney sweeps. Child labor played an important role in the Industrial Revolution from its outset, often brought about by economic hardship, Charles Dickens for example worked at the age of 12 in a blacking factory, with his family in debtor's prison. The children of the poor were expected to help towards the family budget, often working long hours in dangerous jobs and low wages. In England and Scotland in 1788, two-thirds of the workers in 143 water-powered cotton mills were described as children. Agile boys were employed by the chimney sweeps; small children were employed to scramble under machinery to retrieve cotton bobbins; and children were also employed to work in coal mines to crawl through tunnels too narrow and low for adults. Children also worked as errand boys, crossing sweepers, shoe blacks, or selling matches, flowers and other cheap goods. 7] Some children undertook work as apprentices to respectable trades, such as building or as domestic servants (there were over 120,000 domestic servants in London in the mid 18th Century). Working hours were long: builders worked 64 hours a week in summer and 52 in winter, while domestic servants worked 80 hour weeks, children worked from 12 to 16 hours a day; they often began w orking at the age of six or seven. Children had to be beaten to keep them from falling asleep while at work; in spite of this, many failed to keep awake and were mutilated or killed. Parents had to submit to the infliction of these atrocities upon their children, because they themselves were in a desperate plight. Craftsmen had been thrown out of work by the machines; rural laborers were compelled to migrate to the towns by the Enclosure Acts, which used Parliament to make landowners richer by making peasants destitute; trade unions were illegal until 1824; the government employed agents provocateurs to try to get revolutionary sentiments out of wage-earners, who were then deported or hanged. Such was the first effect of machinery in England. Children as young as three were put to work. A high number of children also worked as prostitutes.. In coal mines children began work at the age of five and generally died before the age of 25. Many children worked 16 hour days. As early as 1802 and 1819 Factory Acts were passed to regulate the working hours of workhouse children in factories and cotton mills to 12 hours per day. These acts were largely ineffective and after radical agitation. A royal commission recommended in 1833 that children aged 11–18 should work a maximum of 12 hours per day, children aged 9–11 a maximum of eight hours, and children under the age of nine were no longer permitted to work. This act however only applied to the textile industry, and further agitation led to another act in 1847 limiting both adults and children to 10 hour working days. By 1900, there were 1. 7 million child laborers reported in American industry under the age of fifteen. The number of children under the age of 15 who worked in industrial jobs for wages climbed to 2 million in 1910. The accepted reasoning was that the career for women was marriage. To get ready for courtship and marriage a girl was groomed like a racehorse. In addition to being able to sing, play an instrument and speak a little French or Italian, the qualities a young Victorian gentlewoman needed, were to be innocent, virtuous, biddable, dutiful and be ignorant of intellectual opinion. A wealthy wife was supposed to spend her time reading, sewing, receiving guests, going visiting, letter writing, seeing to the servants and dressing for the part as her husband's social representative. For the very poor of Britain things were quite different. Fifth hand clothes were usual. Servants ate the pickings left over in a rich household. The average poor mill worker could only afford the very inferior stuff, for example rancid bacon, tired vegetables, green potatoes, tough old stringy meat, tainted bread, porridge, cheese, herrings or kippers. The Catholicism of the Oxford Movement, the Evangelical movement, the spread of the Broad Church, and the rise of Utilitarianism, socialism, Darwinism, and scientific Agnosticism, were all in their own ways characteristically Victorian; as were the prophetic writings of Carlyle and Ruskin, the criticism of Arnold, and the empirical prose of Darwin and Huxley; as were the fantasy of George MacDonald and the realism of George Eliot and George Bernard Shaw. One could say that Queen Victoria personified the spirit of nineteenth-century England; she was Queen of the United Kingdom, Great Britain, and Ireland as well as Empress of India. She put the â€Å"Victorian† in the Victorian Era.

Prosecuting Argument Essay

On a mid-afternoon day in October of 2013, the defendant, Stu Dents, left his apartment and drove to the victim’s apartment. There were two eyewitnesses that saw the defendant walk into the apartment building to his girlfriend’s (victims) apartment, and enter. It is unclear on how the defendant entered the apartment because there were no signs of forced entry. The victim was not home at the time. Her co-workers say they last saw her when she left work that evening. The body of the victim was found the next morning behind an abandoned building, five miles from her home. The victim was found with cloth stuffed in her mouth, her arms and legs tied with rope, and she had been stabbed to death. The coroner determined that she was stabbed 13 times and bled to death. Cuts and bruises were found on her body as well as skin particles under her fingernails. This signified a struggle had occurred prior to her death. When DNA tests were conducted, the DNA under the victim’s fingernails matched the DNA of the defendant. When the defendant’s home was searched, the police found drugs, along with jewelry owned by the victim. In a locked room in the defendant’s house, police found a wall covered with photographs of the victim. These photographs were mostly taken without her knowledge. The police found love letters, along with a journal that was started six months prior to the death of the victim. The journal had detailed events from the first time the defendant and the victim met, up to the night before the murder. The journal entries discussed purchasing the items used to kidnap and murder the victim. He referenced aliens, God, and the end of the world in his journal as well. There was enough evidence to arrest Mr. Dents on the evening of the 21st of October. When he was taken away by the police, the defendant began screaming about the end of the world and aliens working on the police force. He was very agitated, irrational, and combative. When an officer tried to handcuff him,  the defendant punched the officer in the face and yelled, â€Å"Alien!† The state is charging Stu Dents with homicide, assault of a police officer, kidnapping, burglary, and crimes related to drugs. For the charge of Homicide against the defendant Stu Dent, the state of Minnesota would charge Stu Dent with murder in the first degree. 609.185, MURDER IN THE FIRST DEGREE. (a) Whoever does any of the following is guilty of murder in the first degree and shall be sentenced to imprisonment for life: (1) causes the death of a human being with premeditation and with intent to effect the death of the person or of another; (2) causes the death of a human being while committing or attempting to commit criminal sexual conduct in the first or second degree with force or violence, either upon or affecting the person or another; (3) causes the death of a human being with intent to effect the death of the person or another, while committing or attempting to commit burglary, aggravated robbery, kidnapping, arson in the first or second degree, a drive-by shooting, tampering with a witness in the first degree, escape from custody, or any felony violation of chapter 152 involving the unlawful sale of a controlled substance. In the charge of assault of a police officer in the state of Arkansas, Stu Dents will be charged with aggravated assault upon a certified law enforcement officer or an employee of a correctional facility. Stu Dents will be charged under A.C.A.  § 5-13-211. a)When an individual commits an aggravated assault upon a certified law enforcement officer or an employee of a correctional facility. This individual will be charged if, under circumstance manifesting significant indifference to the person(s) personal hygiene of the certified law enforcement officer or the employee with the correctional facility. This is when the individual intentionally takes part in conduct that has or will create potential danger of infection to the certified law enforcement officer or the employee of any state or local correctional facility while the certified officer or employee is in the course of his or her employment by causing the person whom the actor is well aware that he or she is a certified officer or employee to come into contact with blood, feces, urine, saliva, seminal fluid, or any other bodily fluid through purposely throwing, expelling, tossing, or in any other way transferring the fluids or material (â€Å"A.c.a.  § 5-13-211†, 2015). b) Aggravated assault upon an employee of a correctional facility either sate or local or a certified law enforcement  officers is a Class D felony (â€Å"A.c.a.  § 5-13-211†, 2015). Stu Dents is charged with a Class D felony for aggravated assault upon a law enforcement officer because he became combative and struck the police officer in the face with a closed fist while screaming â€Å"Alien.† KIDNAPPING The defendant wrongfully trespassed onto the victim’s property. He went into the victim’s apartment when she was not at home. He may not have gone in thinking that he was going to take something from her home, but he did. He took from her home, her personal jewelry. He had no intentions of giving back what he had taken, and the victim did not give the defendant permission to take her possessions. If charged with burglary in Arizona, you are facing felony charges. Though there are three different classifications for burglary, each of them are felonies. Third degree burglary is doing one of two things. The unlawful entering or remaining in a nonresidential structure or fenced in area, with the intent of committing any theft or felony. The unlawful gaining entry into any part of a vehicle with burglar’s tools with the intent of committing any theft or felony. The punishment carries 18 months to three years in prison. Second degree burglary is the unlawful entering or remaining in or on a residential structure with the intent of committing any theft or felony. This applies to a home, apartment building, or any place people reside. This carries a two in a half to seven year punishment in prison. First degree burglary is the most serious charge. This means one committed either a second or third degree burglary while using a firearm, explosive, or other deadly weapon. The punishment is four to ten years in prison. To be charged with any degree of burglary, you do not need to steal anything, only have the intent of stealing. Also, the defendant was charged with crimes related to drugs, in the state of Minnesota they would charge him with 152.021 CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE CRIME IN THE FIRST DEGREE. Subd. 2. Possession crimes. (a) A person is guilty of a controlled substance crime in the first degree if: (1)the person unlawfully possesses one or more mixtures of a total weight of 25 grams or more containing cocaine, heroin, or methamphetamine. A blue MDMA tablet also known as ecstasy, with a â€Å"thumbs-up† imprint was found under the table in the living room as well  as powder cocaine residue on the living room coffee table of the victim’s apartment. Upon search of the defendant’s home, detectives found ecstasy, cocaine, methamphetamine, and jewelry owned by the victim among the defendant’s possessions. Small bag containing ecstasy found at defendants home matched the ones found at the victim’s home. References A.C.A.  § 5-13-211. (2015). Retrieved from Revisor of statutes, State of Minnesota, 152.021 CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE CRIME IN THE FIRST DEGREE, 2014. Retrieved on February 13, 2015 from Revisor of statutes, State of Minnesota, 609.185 Murder in the First Degree, 2014. Retrieved on February 13, 2015 WordPress Admin (n.d.). Burglary Laws. Retrieved on February 13, 2015 from

Literature, Intertextuality Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Literature, Intertextuality - Essay Example These results not only in what Roland Barthes calls as the "Death of the Author", but also makes the issue of authorship debatable. According to Barthes, the text [is] woven entirely with citations, references, echoes, cultural languages . . . which cut across it through and through in a vast stereophony. . . The citations which go to make up a text are anonymous, untraceable, and yet already read 1(Barthes 194-5) If intertextuality is a problematization of the inside-outside ratio of the text and context game, a classic example would be John Barth's Dunyazadiad. The text not only explicitly refers to the original work of The 1001 Nights, which is historically seen as an act of unoriginality, of plagiarism, but manages to create something original out of the reference. In the story, when Scheherazade and the genie (John Barth) are discussing the ending of the story the reader is currently reading, her epiphany illustrates one of the central ideas behind Barth's reworking: "Sherry asked with a smile whether by 'his version' the Genie meant that copy of the Nights from which he'd been assisting us or the story he himself was in the midst of inventing." The fact that Barth consciously subverts the original reference and recasts Dunyazade, the younger sister of the doomed Queen Scheherazade, the original protagonist of the Arabic tale, as the main stay of his text, shows Barth not only toying with the idea of form (as represented by the canon of Queen Scheherazade), but also illustrates the idea of post modern fiction to venture into the realms of 'might have been's' rather than following the filiated history. The greatest triumph of Barth lies in breaking this discourse of filiation, of canonization, by producing a pastiche of the probable. The intertextuality in the text thus, capillarizes the power lying inherently with the omniscient author of The 1001 Nights. If intertextuality celebrates the concept of art imitating art, it is true that Barth's text is a pluralistic discourse. However, the question of whether the text owes more to other texts than itself becomes difficult to analyze simply because the meta-narratives which evolve from Dunyazadiad are themselves a part of the world of intertextuality. The recursive tale structure is a treasure-house of narratives, but is at the same time confounding as it is held in the semiotics of language whose meaning can neither be ascertained nor be fully comprehended. Thus, "I can't conclude it," the narrator admits at the end of "Dunyazadiad," "but it must end in the night that all good mornings come to." The function of intertextuality in Alejo Carpentier's Like the Night has a function which is similar and at the same time dissimilar to Barth's Dunyazadiad. Whereas the similarity is evident in both the text's ability to challenge and break the canon of filiality, the difference becomes one in degree. Alejo's text, one could argue is a conscious effort to defer the issue of authorship at such an ad infinitum pace that its elasticity could combine the aesthetic concerns of multi-cultural traditions and focus on broader social issues regarding cultural identity. A typical example would be the use

North Korea Nuclear Threat Briefing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

North Korea Nuclear Threat Briefing - Essay Example Bomb experts say that nuclear explosives have the ability to cause devastating effects to the human body. These nuclear explosives also have adverse effects on the environment. Many might wonder why North Korea is involved in the nuclear programs. Well, the answer is straightforward. North Korea is rich in uranium. Reports analysis show that North Korea maintains up to four million tons of exploitable uranium ore of exceptionally high quality. This availability of the uranium ore in plenty gives North Korea the witch hand to make nuclear explosives. This can be argued to be a natural urge. It is hard to deny that if any other country were sitting where North Korea is, it would not be involves in nuclear power in one way or another. In around the 1960s, North Korea is reported to have established a large-scale atomic energy research complex. This research complex was located in Yongbyon and its main function was to train nuclear specialists from the students who had taken their studie s from the Soviet Union. In October 2006, North Korea conducted an underground nuclear explosive test that is estimated to have yielded less than a kiloton. This is despite the fact that North Korea had signed an agreement with the United States of America in October 1994 that they would freeze all its existing nuclear programs. In the agreement, North Korea also agreed to adhere to the enhanced International Atomic energy Agency (IAEFA) safeguards. Other details that were agreed on by both countries were; both countries would work to move towards the total normalization of economic and political relations, both North Korea and U.S.A would work   together to promote peace and security towards a nuclear-free Korean peninsula among other agreements. (Von Hippel 126). The political class in North Korea too has been a significant influence in the country’s motivation towards making nuclear explosives. It is reported that Pyongyang faces and confronts quite a number of both inte rnal and external security problems. This perceived threats push the urge for North Korea to seek its own reliable measures of defense. It is understandable that it resorts to nuclear power, and with readily available uranium, as a proactive measure to counter this security threats. The fact that North Korea is surrounded by weighty superpowers does not make the situation any better. The Korean peninsula has also been subject of numerous invasions over the past years. These experiences profoundly influence the perception of the political and ruling elite to develop advanced and quite dependable weaponry systems, and nuclear explosives for this matter. By doing this, North Korea is not only sure of its own internal security, but also capable of countering any external attack it may face (Bermudez 75). The political history between North Korea and the United States of America is another factor that motivates North Korea to resort to nuclear explosives. The American military forces   have been stationed in South Korea since the 1950s,   to eliminate chances of a North Korean invasion across the 38th parallel. All the North Koreans have been drilled that the Americans invaded their country on that date. The political leader of North Korea then, Marshall Kim II, repulsed the invasion during the victorious Fatherland Liberation War’. Ever since then, the North Korean media has persistently provided extensive reports of the U.S

IKEA looks to furture Penetrate the U.S Market Case Study

IKEA looks to furture Penetrate the U.S Market - Case Study Example As such, the author of this brief marketing case study will seek to implement this approach with regards to IKEA’s proposed expansion and further integration/penetration within the United States market. According to the previously mentioned chapter’s rubric, the first letter of the DEFINE acronym states that the firm in question must define the problem. Obviously, this may seem as a simple approach; however, the reader would likely be horrified to know just how many very large and otherwise successful firms had sought to work out the problem that they saw as represented without seeking to define or recognize the full scope of the ancillary and tangential issues that were acting on the exemplification of the problem within the firm. With relation to IKEA, the definition of the problem will herein be discussed. IKEA is faced with a situation in which although its product line is understood and appreciated, there is a great deal more market engagement and customer utility that the firm can ultimately be gained should the popularity of IKEA in the United States begin to mirror that what is experienced in Europe and other markets in which it competes. As the rubric of the article in question states, the second determent in the â€Å"DEFINE† acronym is that of enumeration of the decision factors. This of course follows that once the issue has been defined the next step would be to focus upon the key hinge points that would most assist in providing a plan of action with regards to future steps. In the case of IKEA, this automatically references the ability of enumeration with regards to recognizing the key strengths and weaknesses that exist within the firm. Although one may be convinced that they should focus exclusively upon the weaknesses and outright ignore the strengths due to the fact that they are already in existence and bear little correlation to the issue at hand, this is very much the wrong approach. Rather, the correct approach of the enumeration phase is to consider both strengths and weaknesses simultaneously as a means of ensuring that weaknesses are appropriately listed so that actionable plans can be drawn to minimize or reduce entirely their existence and plans can be effected which lead to retention of the key strengths that are noted. For the case of IKEA, the key weaknesses that the article has illustrated revolve around their strong focus on sustainability, brand image, added amenities, do it yourself approach, corporate structure, and low cost structure. Likewise, the key weaknesses that should be enumerated upon are the limited promotional expenditures, weak online support, limited customization, the do it yourself approach being seen as cheap and law quality, economic conditions, demand for convenience, and the popularity of stylish cutting edge sustainable products. Within the given rubric, the next step would be to consider the relevant information that the preceding two steps have detailed. Within the case of IKEA the relevant information is the fact that the firm has been considered by many within its customer base as representing the same quality products that they might purchase at Wal-Mart or Target. Similarly, the firm should realize the most relevant information that the preceding steps of analysis has yielded is the fact that its current â€Å"thrifty† marketing concept will likely do little to re-engage customer opinion

School Law and Public Policy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

School Law and Public Policy - Essay Example The aim of this research paper is to clearly assess the manner in which the policymakers can take the voices of educators under consideration. It is for this purpose that a case has been selected for evaluation. In specific, the paper will present a comparison and contrast of the options including strike by the educators or political action course to get representation in the process of policymaking. In order to backup the comparison, references will be taken from legal clauses, past literature, The purpose of this section of the paper includes a number of past cases where educators have either used the method of strike or political action course to make sure that their representation is taken under consideration. Herein, it should be marked that among the major educational changes that have occurred in different societies of the world, Peru holds a revolutionary approach towards in educational reform as its history. The approach that was undertaken by educational policymakers of Peru was political action course. Following the Education Reform Commission, the military forces applied Universal Diversified Secondary Schooling (ESEPs). The fact remains that the educational policymaking undertook the opinions of the educators under consideration for which a proper assessment method was implied. As a contradiction, the reform could not bring necessary changes and ultimately turned out to be a complete failure (Haddad & Demsky, 2010). Another case that can evaluate in this context is from Jordan where educational policymakers brought change as a result of declining economy. With the help of UNESCO, several educational plans were administered in Jordan. The fact remains that these policymaking processes could not take the role of educators into consideration for which the change was not being assessed as expected. It is

Sustainable Housing Dissertation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Sustainable Housing Dissertation - Essay Example People in the United Kingdom have received many benefits from sustainable housing. The United Kingdom has developed numerous green and sustainable buildings. The paper first elaborates the concept of Green Home or Sustainable housing and the need for switching to sustainable housing is been discussed. The code of sustainable homes focuses on evaluating the homes in terms of the benchmark of Building Research Establishment’s Eco homes. Various types of sustainable constructions are mentioned in the research paper. Furthermore, the paper debates on various energy resources as well as material useful for sustainable constructions. Additionally, a discussion on the proper location for sustainable building, on the basis of different parameters, is included in the paper. There many types of sustainable housing mentioned in the paper. The paper offers specific examples of Eco friendly constructions in United Kingdom. On the basis of this discussion the paper concludes that the well-b eing of future generation should be taken into consideration by the construction industry. Key words: sustainable housing, low or zero carbon houses, eco homes, carbon emission. TABLE OF CONTENT Page No. Abstract....................

Questioning the Text Papers Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Questioning the Text Papers - Essay Example All the three tales interacts to form a coherent picture of the predicaments that the characters face and the possible solutions to the problems. The paper presents a question from the text and discusses it comprehensively with illustrations. Considering the nature of the relationship between characters in the three tales, examine whether the existence of racial ties and commonalities can influence the disposition of an individual toward another person of the same race? Explain the impact of the behavior displayed by characters from similar backgrounds on the efforts to discourage racial discrimination and stereotypes? The text possesses themes of stereotypes and racial prejudice especially towards the Chinese people. It presents several examples that emphasize the idea that the author addresses some of the major problems faced by various victims of racial discrimination. The question emerges from the observations that individual characters who hail from the same ethnic groups, mistreat their fellow counterparts. Instead of providing support for them to thrive and adapt to the harsh systems, they shun them away, and this worsens their situations. There are many scenarios that support the basis of the questions. The relationship between Wei-Chen and Jin is a typical example that illustrates this fact. Another example is the event that transpires between Wong Lai-Tsao and Tze-Yo-Tzuh that was full of betrayal. In brief, the question originates from the negative treatment displayed by various characters to individuals from the same race. The query is significant as it highlights the weaknesses existing in the society between victims of racial prejudice and stereotyping. Research indicates that most individuals in alien countries face discriminations or mistreatment from fellow tribesmen and members of the same race (Shabazz 1238). As minority

E-Business and Intellectual Property Essay Example for Free

E-Business and Intellectual Property Essay Patents need to be protected in order for a company to have an advantage in a very competitive market. The Internet revolution has seen a massive increase in the long distance purchases made by consumers, as geographical barriers is no longer as important as they were. Protection is needed for those businesses who conduct business in ways other than in person. A type of industrial property protection can basically be called patents. This type of protection is used to stimulate the innovation and design of new technology. It basically protects the investments made to develop new technology. Patent protection is usually given in terms, mainly about 20 years. In the article E-Boom or E-Bust? Business Method Patent and The Future of Dotcommerce, the authors argue that State Street Bank v. Signature Financial Group caused a rush upon the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO). The evidence clearly supports such an argument. Before this State Street Bank business methods were unpatentable due to a judicial exclusion of methods of doing business. However, the court in State Street Bank, laid this exception to patent law to rest in 1998 stating that data structures encoded in computer memory constitute patentable subject matter (Marsden Huffman, 2000, p. 18). This had to cause a rush on the PTO. A whole new area of commerce had become available to patent protection; a rush would be the only term sufficient to define the number of patent applications that would descend on the PTO. The authors next argue that the Internet explosion also was affected by the courts finding in State Street Bank. The Internet revolves around commerce. Most sites have a way of generating money, whether producing revenue is from one-stop-shopping or advertising. Many of these sites have used or will use business methods that are patentable because of the State Street Bank decision. Companies only gain when they patent their internet business methods. The third argument concerns the value of the patent. According to Marsden and Huffman,As long as the patent applicant does not overreach by seeking claims so broad that they ultimately render the patent invalid in view of the prior art it can pursue broader and stronger patent rights under the new paradigm  of business method patenting than it would previously have expected (p. 19). They argue that a valid patent has three forms of value. The first form is offensive. This allows for the enforcement of a patent against infringers. If one has the power to make another stop use of an invention, it has control over that invention. The second form of value is defensive. Thus, it deters others from using invention, because of the patents existence. And the third form of value created by a patent is value in the financial market. Companies are better able to find financial backing when they are legally able to protect their property. The clearest support of the financial market theory is based upon the fluctuation of stock prices based on valid patents gained or patents lost due to invalidation. The fourth argument the authors address is the benefits and drawbacks of the broad patent rights. Clearly, the owners of a patent have a benefit. Others believe that broad business method patenting creates a burden on free commerce. The criticisms fall into one of three categories: patents in these fields will create barriers to commerce and innovation that outweigh the purported good of such patents; patents are being issued for trivial or obvious advances, or that are clearly anticipated by prior art; and PTO patent examining resources are inadequate to police the patenting process properly. The PTO responded to the criticism by making reforms that some feel will not change a thing. They have required such things as additional training, a new training manual, and special training as to prior art. The authors think to determine the benefits of these changes are too soon. They also believe that the area is too important to wait for public policy debates to determine the answer. The PTO must continue to issue patents while the answers are found. Then the PTO can make appropriate adjustments. The State Street Bank decision changed the way patent lawyers viewed business methods. Before, a lawyer would not even consider a patent application for a business method. But after 1998, business methods became patentable. This had to change the way patent law was practiced and the number of patent  applications made to the PTO. This argument naturally flows into Internet applications. It seems natural that patent law should provide protection for those holding patents. After reading this article, the three ways that a patent provides value for the holder, seem clear. It gives one the right to sue for infringement, provides others notice they have the patent, and turn an intangible idea into real property. The authors do not take a stand on whether they consider the current patent laws to be a benefit or a drawback. I personally think that the most benefit can be gained by over-granting patents rather than turning down patent applications. I would rather the PTO grant a patent, and it later be invalidated due to prior art, than it be denied out of hand. I suppose this argument essentially creates a company policing policy. But it would be necessary to sue if a company needed use of the patented invention. In areas such as business methods and software where changes occurs everyday, I think that there would probably be an alternative method. Companies would have to determine the importance of the invention to them, before they decided to sue. Patent law provides protection to E-business for their website operations, interfaces, financial management, transactions, and advertising. For an E-business to jeopardize its ability to file for a patent is not very easy. Obtaining a patent and reasons for obtaining one is a process that has to be very clear and precise. The E-business has to show just cause and information in order to obtain the patent. Reference: Marsden, W.J. and Huffman, J.A. (2000). E-Boom or E-Bust? Business Method Patent and The Future of Dotcommerce. Pp. 18-22, 28-29. Retrieved on February 28, 2008 from http://delawarebarfoundation.org/delawyer/Volume18_Number4_Winter2000-2001.pdf

The Determinants Of Diabetes Health And Social Care Essay

The Determinants Of Diabetes Health And Social Care Essay Diabetes affects over 3 million adults in Australia alone-of which 90% is type 2 (Baricevic, 2007) non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM-for the sake of this essay diabetes is referring to type 2 NIDDM). There are numerous biological and socioeconomic determinants of the disease which has developed into Australias fastest growing chronic disease. Whilst it is often considered a lifestyle disease (Scobie Samaras, 2009) this is a common misunderstanding with many other contributing factors such as genetics, the environment and economic circumstances. Whilst much research has gone into the management/treatment of diabetes, work on addressing the upstream determinants has begun. Physiotherapists play a vital role in the prevention and treatment of the condition with them often prescribing exercise programs for diabetic patients. Diabetes results from a total or partial insulin deficiency, resulting in hypoglycaemia. This deficiency prevents glucose movement between the blood and cells, creating a build-up of glucose in the bloodstream. As a result of the hypoglycaemia, several key symptoms are present including blurred vision; increased healing times; unexplained weight gain; increased passing of urine; thirstiness; tiredness and dizziness. In 2010 diabetes accounted for 6.6% of Australias total burdens of disease and has been identified as one of the eight national health priorities (AIHW, 2010). Section 1 Hamdy, Goodyear, Horton (2004) contend that there are three key contributing factors to the onset of diabetes. These include genetic predisposition, decreased insulin action and a defect in the pancreatic ÃŽÂ ² cell. However the most well-known biological and behavioural determinants of the condition relate to obesity with the relative risk being 1.8 for an overweight person and a staggering 3.2 for obese people (Marks, Coyne, Pang, 2001). Weight related determinants include obesity (morbid and moderate), sedentary lifestyle, poor diet and low levels of physical activity (Ramlo-Halsted Edelman, 1999). Hamdy, Goodyear Horton (2004) suggest the primary reason for such societal changes leading to the dramatic rises in the rates of both obesity and more so diabetes is urbanisation. They suggest that the recent world-wide urbanisation and increase in technology has created a society where traditional incidental forms of exercise have been alleviated in favour of technology and the advances that it has facilitated. Ethnic groups have particularly been affected by these changes with their traditional forms of life transformed as they too are impacted by globalisation. An example of such a group in Australia is the Indigenous Australians. As with nearly all areas of health, they are severely over represented in the percent suffering from diabetes. __________ Other factors contributing to the onset of the disease include older age, Section 2 Despite these factors being well documented as some of the primary causes of diabetes, Scobie Samaras (2009) argue that these factors accelerate the onset rather than being the primary cause. -biological/behavioural determinants of health Age Genetic background-parental history -groups at particular risk: Elderly People with a family history Certain ethnic groups (eg Aboriginal Australians) Low SES Section 2 (link back in with individual determinants) -Factors such as poverty, poor education, social exclusion, unemployment and lack of or poor quality housing all contribute to health inequalities. -socioeconomic determinants of health PolicyÆ’Â  PA levels in schools, NPAG, education CommunityÆ’Â  access to parks/paths EnvironmentalÆ’Â  safety, access to fresh food SocietalÆ’Â   urbanisation and increase in technology = down incidental exercise EconomicÆ’Â  employment/occupation, income, wealth Section 3 Traditionally treatment of diabetes has focused on the downstream factors, with the focus being at an individual level. Exercise and weight loss are key aspects of the treatment, given that ________. Exercise alone leads to a significant improvement in insulin sensitivity (Misra, et al., 2008). In line with the National Physical Activity Guidelines (Department of Health and Ageing, 2010), it is recommended that individuals participate in at least 30 min of walking 5 days per week. The guidelines highlight four key points for all adults regarding physical activity, with these being particularly important for people with diabetes. They are: Think of movement as an opportunity, not an inconvenience Be active every day in as many ways as you can Put together at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity on most, preferably all, days If you can, also enjoy some regular, vigorous activity for extra health and fitness (Department of Health and Ageing, 2010) In conjunction with exercise, a healthy diet is essential for the effective treatment of diabetes (DA Victoria, 2002). This has been proven to have the single greatest natural impact on blood glucose levels; as well as aiding weight loss and decreasing insulin resistance. Foods should not be limited to low GI, with a diet focussed on high protein (such as fish and low fat dairy); high carbohydrates (such as pasta, bread and fruit) and low saturated fat/sugar (Baricevic, 2007). The AIHW (2010) suggests that the most appropriate method of treatment is initially through diet and exercise, progressing only later to medication. Diabetes medication primarily acts to help regulate the blood glucose levels. Given that with this condition insulin is unable to effectively function, it becomes important to have a way to regulate blood sugar. The normal range is 3.5-6 mmol/L prior to meals and 3.5-8mmol/L directly afterwards (DA Victoria, 2002). Glucose management is very important to keep the risk of cardiovascular disease down, and without regulation the person may suffer from hypo/hyperglycemia. That said, Ramlo-Halsted Edelman (1999) point out that the optimal regimen particularly for medication will change for each individual as the condition progresses. There are two different options for medication-tablets or insulin injections. The tablets are taken orally and decrease the release of stored glucose in the liver, keeping blood sugar levels down. In contrast, i nsulin injections come in the form of a needle (syringe) or a pen and are used when the pancreas is unable to produce the required amounts of insulin (Baricevic, 2007). Diabetes, as with many health conditions, requires a multi-disciplinary team for successful treatment and management. Diabetes Management in General Practise (2009) describes the roles of at least eight different team members in the treatment of diabetes. These include: General practitioner Exercise specialist (commonly a physiotherapist) Podiatrist Optometrist Oral health professional Diabetes educator (nurses etc) Dietician Endocrinologist/diabetologist Whilst not all of these health professionals will necessarily be involved in every individuals treatment, the teams cooperation is vital for long-term treatment. To help with individual treatment of diabetes, the Australian Government has established the National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS). The program has in excess of 900 000 registered people with diabetes and is continuing to grow. There are several key elements of the scheme with subsidised products and information as well as education. Through this program, there are 2200 outlets which supply discounted products for treatment to the registrants. Whilst treatment is very common, alongside it is an extensive management plan. DA Victoria (2002) describes several aspects to proper management. Aside from being physically active and eating well as previously mentioned, it is preferable for a diabetic to link up with a local support team for help, support and to maintain a positive attitude. Additionally testing blood glucose regularly and medicating appropriately as prescribed is also important. Diabetes Management in General Practise (2009) also emphasises the need to quit smoking (if applicable), have less than two standard drinks per day and ensure BMI (body mass index) in less than 25 to achieve general wellbeing. Hawley Zierath (2008) also outline the importance of minimising the risks and effects of complications. They state that this can be achieved through controlling glycaemia, blood pressure and lipid levels; in conjunction with regular health checks (focussing on eye, kidney and foot problems). Section 4 Prevention of diabetes is an absolute priority especially when over 60% of type 2 cases are preventable. With diabetes being the 7th leading cause of death in Australia (AIHW, 2010), there is no question why the Australian Government has made the condition a national health priority. According to Weeson (2000), upstream treatment by primary health professionals should be the focus of all approaches. These upstream factors include______________. Simple steps can easily help prevent or delay the onset of diabetes (Type 2 Diabetes, 2011) through implementing a healthy lifestyle. Diabetes Australia encourages individuals to maintain a healthy weight, participate in regular physical activity, eat healthy food, manage blood pressure/cholesterol and not smoke, to decrease the onset of the condition (Type 2 Diabetes, 2011). There is a very strong link between physical activity and diabetes as previously mentioned, however it should benoted that participation in a moderate or preferably brisk walking regimen can decrease the incidence of diabetes by 30% (Jeon, Lokken, van Dam, 2007). Furthermore Jeon, Lokken van Dam (2007) describe this strong relationship saying that there is also a link between the amount of physical activity and the reduction of risk-an amazing 58% decrease in the incidence of prediabetes can be achieved through exercise previously stated. Zimmet (2000) emphasises that diabetes cannot be stooped by traditional medical approaches. Given the scale and enormity of the issue, he contends that drastic socioeconomic and cultural status changes are required to make progress. Zimmet (2000) says that international diabetes and public health organisation need to lobby and mobilise politicians and non-government agencies. Through this, the issues causing the pandemic (socioeconomic, behavioural, nutritional and public health) can be addressed. A multi-disciplinary task force is suggested to aid in the reversal of the socioeconomic issues, as Zimmet feels that individuals alone acting to change will not make a big enough difference (Zimmet, 2000). The National Evidence Based Guidelines for the Primary Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes (Colagiuri, Girgis, Gomez, Walker, Colagiuri, ODea, 2009) describe four key areas to creating effective preventative action for diabetes. These include: Having a strong theoretic base for the program Designing the program with clear messages, incorporating a multifaceted approach to deliver these messages Encouraging family involvement Intensive and sustained campaign over a long duration The guidelines also discuss the facets within the broader community that should be targeted for prevention of the condition. One of the central elements to effectively targeting the population is education (Colagiuri, Girgis, Gomez, Walker, Colagiuri, ODea, 2009). Through media, the guidelines propose that the education can change attitudes as well as levels of knowledge. This can have a particularly profound impact on the short term increase in physical activity. This was seen in the Life be in it___________ In terms of prevention for individuals, the guidelines also provided several points specifically targeting those in the risk groups. The guidelines (Colagiuri, Girgis, Gomez, Walker, Colagiuri, ODea, 2009) specify individuals at particular risk as having a score greater than or equal to 15 on the AUSDRISK risk assessment tool. There are three levels of action to prevent the onset of diabetes. Initially lifestyle modifications such as weight management, progressing to pharmacological interventions where necessary and in cases with severe risk bariatric surgery may be considered. Furthering the treatment dietary considerations previously mentioned, in order to prevent diabetes sugar-sweetened drinks have been identified with fast food as items that pose the largest threat of inducing diabetes (Hu, van Dam, Liu , 2001). Fish oil and polyunsaturated fats have also been proven to help with the prevention of the condition. Other -conversion from high risk to low risk lifestyle = moderate style Physiotherapists play a large role particularly in the treatment, but also the prevention of diabetes. Ozdirenc, Kocak Gutekin (2004) highlighted the importance of physiotherapy in the accurate prescription of exercise. They suggested that any exercise prescribed in the interest of decreasing complication with diabetes or preventing it should be undertaken at 65-75% of a persons VOà ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã¢â‚¬Å¡ max and emphasised the necessity of a professional in such prescription. According to their study, physical exercise can lead to a significant decrease in physical impairment and provide improvements to functional limitations that the person had suffered. In contrast, they determined that low levels of activity caused a decreased cardio respiratory capacity and hence lessened ability to walk longer distances. These effects of inactivity too have the potential to be improved through the implementation of a physical activity regime (Ozdirenc, Kocak, Gutekin, 2004). Physiotherapists also p lay an important role in the prevention of diabetes through education and public health promotion. At an individual level such professionals can help their clients who are identified as being at risk (of diabetes) to make behavioural modifications to lessen their personal risks. In addition to this, physiotherapists can help their patients with diabetes develop an exercise program to aid in weight loss and improving their future prognosis. At a broader level physiotherapists can be involved in policy development and other awareness campaigns. For example the National Physical Activity Guidelines require experts and other professionals inputs to develop programs with the key elements previously mentioned such as strong theoretical bases. Conclusion -prevention must be a key focus given that -a condition that is highly amenable to primary intervention