Monday, December 30, 2019

Case Study Jamaica Water Properties - 3519 Words

Case 1.3 Jamaica Water Properties Prepared by Alex Gonzalez for Professor C.E. Reese in partial fulfillment of the requirements for ACC 540 – Fraud Examination School of Business / Graduate Studies St. Thomas University Miami Gardens, Fla. Term A7 / Fall, 2014 October 24th, 2014 Table of Contents Issues 1 Facts 1 Analysis 7 Conclusions/Recommendation 7 References/Bibliography 7 Issues 1. In David Sokol’s position, after discovering the suspicious items in JWP’s accounting records, would you have taken a different course of action than he did? 2. What measures can and should be taken to make it easier for corporate employees to â€Å"blow the whistle† on a fraudulent scheme they uncover within their†¦show more content†¦In 1978, to salvage the company Dwyer stepped down as its top executive and placed his 30 year old son Andrew in charge. Andrew Dwyer quickly disposed of the company’s weakest divisions, paid off much of its debt and developed a new more focused business plan. The business plan called for the company to become the â€Å"premier technical services† firm in the world. In the mid 1980’s, the company renamed JWP (Jamaica Water Properties) Inc. and offered a wide range of services involving the design, development, and maintenance of complex mechanical, electrical and computer systems. JWP targeted its services to high tech industries and included financial services. The company developed sophisticated control systems that helped major Wall Street firms, such as Merril l Lynch and Goldman Sachs to more efficiently and cost effectively manage their operations. In the 1990’s, Andrew Dwyer converted JWP into a multibillion dollar firm with a workforce of more than 20,000 employees. The company stock is listed in the New York Stock Exchange and included in the SP 500. The performance of the company from 1979 to 1991 showed positive profits every quarter for these 12 years. The water utility division was still a part of the company but only attributes to 2% of the annual revenues. 1991, Andrew purchased the large computer retailerShow MoreRelatedJamaica Water Properties Case Study1398 Words   |  6 Pagesï » ¿Abigail Rockwell Due Date: February 15, 2014 Jamaica Water Properties Case Study During a time in our recent history when greed and self promotion was the benchmark that most financial and managerial directors of companies, both public and private, seemed to strive for, David Sokol stands out above the crowd. Instead of looking to further his own self-image, career, or standing, instead of taking what most people would view as the easy road, Mr. Sokol did the right thing. He chose ethics, moralsRead MoreThe Negative Effects of Tourism3593 Words   |  15 PagesTHE NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF TOURISM on the ECOLOGY of JAMAICA by Elaina Kozyr BLPR 101.51 Introduction Tourism and the environment have a very complex and interdependent relationship. Today, tourism is one of the largest industries in todays world economy and is a great source of foreign exchange for many developing countries, whose major assets are their natural resources.1 At the same time, it is the environmental quality of a place that will determine the success of the tourismRead MoreThe Negative Effects of Tourism3584 Words   |  15 PagesTHE NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF TOURISM on the ECOLOGY of JAMAICA by Elaina Kozyr BLPR 101.51 Introduction Tourism and the environment have a very complex and interdependent relationship. Today, tourism is one of the largest industries in todays world economy and is a great source of foreign exchange for many developing countries, whose major assets are their natural resources.1 At the same time, it is the environmental quality of a place that will determine the success of the tourism industryRead More Will Jamaica Self-Destruct? Essay3136 Words   |  13 PagesWill Jamaica Self-Destruct? Jamaica is an island paradise, located in the northern Caribbean, approximately 145 km south of Cuba and 160 km west of Haiti, with a population of about 2,553,600 million people in 1997 and a land area of 11,000 km/sq. The country has had a low and steady population growth rate of 1.0 percent in 1997. Tourism is Jamaica’s most important industry besides the mining of bauxite (accounts for more than half of exports). It is the country’s largest foreign exchange earnerRead MorePublic Policy And Public Policies1331 Words   |  6 Pagesgroup of people who play a primary role in the creation of a plan aimed at dealing with the problem under consideration. Finally, policy refers to the finalized plan of action that the governments select to handle the problem. In the majority of the cases, policies are usually open to interpretation by people outside the government or the private sector (Birkland 40). Studying public policy is important because as a citizen of a democratic country, people have not only the opportunity but also theRead MoreHistory SBA1710 Words   |  7 Pages HISTORY RESEARCH PAPER Table of Contents 1. Title of study 2. Aim 3. Rationale 4. Introduction 5. Forms of resistance and its effectiveness 6. Conclusion 7. Bibliography 8. Appendix Title of study Theme: Resistance and Revolts. Discuss the forms of resistance used by slaves and assess the effectiveness of the different forms of resistance. Statement of Aim Throughout this research paper, the reader will have a better understandingRead MoreAgriculture in the Caribbean7544 Words   |  31 PagesStation: Jamaica Livestoc Association (J.L.A.) Jamaica Agricultural Society (J.A. S.): Scientific Research Council (SRC Sugar Industry Research Institute (SIRI) Caribbean Community Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI ) Caribbean Food and Nutrition Institute (CFNI) University of the West Indies (UWI) College of Agriculture, Science and Education (CASE) Inter-AmericanRead MorePiggery Business Plan6755 Words   |  28 Pagespiggery University of Technology, Jamaica Introduction to Entrepreneurship Course code: ENT3001 Lecturer: Dr. Horace Williams October 4, 2012 Group Members: Garyann Robertson - 1105821 Nastassia Rowe -1101791 Adrean Dawkins -1103471 Oneika Robinson -1102703 Vancine Brown -1100550 Darain Harris -1104783 Table of Contents Content | Page | Executive Summary | | Industry Analysis | | Definition of Market | | Purpose Of the Business Plan | | Business Feasibility | | Justification Of theRead MoreA Brief Look a the Panama Canal1313 Words   |  5 Pageswide and extending three nautical miles into the sea at either terminal, with all lands lying outside of the zone necessary for the construction of the canal, and with the islands in the Bay of Panama. The US formally took control of the canal property on May 4, 1904, inheriting from the French a depleted workforce and a vast jumble of buildings, infrastructure, and equipment, much of it in poor condition. President Roosevelt appointed John Findlay Wallace as chief engineer two days later on MayRead MoreThe Atlantic Slave Trade During The 19th Century2668 Words   |  11 PagesThe Atlantic Slave Trade The Atlantic slave trade lasted from the 15th to 18th century. Between 10 and 12 million slaves were moved from Africa to South America. About 15 percent died and the ones who survived were sold as property. Only five percent of the slaves went to America (Green, 2012). The slaves were used to make sugar, tobacco and coffee (Slave Trade:, 2007). None of these things were good for us other than for desire, but nothing to sustain human life. Africans were captured by other

Sunday, December 22, 2019

Annotated Bibliography On Juvenile Crime And Sentencing

Skip Hollandsworth candidly explores the subjects of juvenile crime and sentencing in the electronic long form newspaper article, â€Å"The Prisoner†. The purpose of the essay is to inform the reader about juvenile sentencing and to persuade the audience that there are clear problems with aspects of the U.S. prison system. The article is easily accessible to a large audience because it is online. Hollandsworth takes into account that his audience, mostly consisting of Texas Monthly readers, may already have pre-established notions about the topic, so he considers other sides while still supporting his argument. Edwin Debrow, a preteen member of the Crips, committed a murder when he was 12-years old and received a 27-year sentence through the†¦show more content†¦69). Hollandsworth’s dedication gives him credibility; he spent years on this article and a lot of time with Debrow. Hollandsworth clearly knows Debrow’s life, information about the Determinate S entencing Act, studies done on young adults in prison, and historical context. â€Å"But the eighties had witnessed a sharp increase in juvenile crime, which was blamed largely on gangs and the explosion of crack cocaine. Citizens had been demanding that kids who committed adult crimes be given adult time† (para. 28). Hollandsworth provides background information to further his credibility and the reader’s understanding of the Determinate Sentencing Act. Mainly, Hollandsworth makes his appeal to ethos through time spent with Debrow and his extensive knowledge of the topic. The article displays an appeal to credibility through detailed accounts of Debrow’s life, yet there is also careful consideration to elicit specific emotions throughout the text. Hollandsworth makes a prominent appeal to pathos through literary devices and specific use of detail. â€Å"The night of the robbery, Edwin drank Thunderbird wine mixed with grape Kool-Aid† (para. 23). This is an example of selective use of detail and literary devices together; he juxtaposes the crime and Thunderbird with the nostalgic and childlike connotation of grape Kool-Aid. Hollandsworth constantly reminds the reader that Debrow was 12, even though he may seem to be so hardened and already involved with a gang, crime,Show MoreRelatedAnnotated Bibliography On Juvenile Offenders950 Words   |  4 PagesAnnotated Bibliography 1. JUVENILE TRANSFER TO ADULT COURTS A Look at the Prototypes for Dangerousness, Sophistication-Maturity, and Amenability to Treatment Through A Legal Lens http://psycnet.apa.org.ezproxy.liberty.edu:2048/journals/law/8/4/373.html In transferring, a juvenile to adult court there is a certain amount of criteria that needs to be followed. The first criteria is if the juvenile is dangerous to the community, the maturity of the offender, and the psychology findings of the offenderRead MoreEssay about Juveniles Must Accept Responsibility2061 Words   |  9 PagesJuveniles Must Accept Responsibility Are juveniles as under control today as they were in the past? Crime plays a major role in today’s society. The government follows the policy and has always followed the policy that no crime goes unpunished. The controversy that surrounds the United States courtrooms today is whether or not a minor needs to stand trial as an adult for committing a serious offense. These decisions made by the judge or jury in the preliminary hearing affect the rest of theRead MoreThe Role of the Death Penalty on Preventing Future Crime Essay8133 Words   |  33 PagesDoes the death penalty prevent future crime? We are scared. Surveys find that the fear of crime is high and perhaps rising. So the question of prevention is important. General deterrence is the idea that punishing an offender deters others from committing similar crimes. But does the threat of the death penalty actually discourage others from killing and thus make us safer? If so, does it do so significantly better than other forms of punishment? Dozens of studies have examined theRead MoreRace And Crime Of The Criminal Justice System6937 Words   |  28 PagesRace and Crime For hundreds of years’ race and crime in America has been an ongoing issue. Therefore, the criminal justice topic I am going to research throughout this paper will be regarding the different races and crimes that are most commonly committed and how each different race is treated in the criminal justice system also how they are each individually affected by the American justice system. I will discuss background information of each race as well as problems and issues they are currently

Saturday, December 14, 2019

Letter home nurse Free Essays

My dearest Mother, I am missing you dearly and I hope everything is well. I am getting very home sick, life here is different than over there. I can hear sounds of the battlefield and it’s very frightening. We will write a custom essay sample on Letter home nurse or any similar topic only for you Order Now We also get very little sleep and It is so cold here. The food is so plain; we rarely eat meat. We eat mostly beans, potatoes and soup. I’m getting so tired of it. Many of the things I see are very disturbing but it feels good to help these men. Some of them have talked to me about their families or what they plan to do after the war. like to hear them being positive. I’ve started keeping a diary and I’ve even started writing poems. This helps me take all my emotions out. It feels really good, but you know what doesn’t? Feeling to dirty all the time. I feel Ilke I feel this way most of the time. We have to take sponge baths with cold water, which doesnt help at all. Many girls have not been able to handle all of this and have gone home but that ont happen to me. Everything here moves so fast and the men come and go or we have to move and some are left behind. I get very sad when I think about those men and if they had families or not. Maybe that’s why some girls are leaving, I don’t blame them. I hope to see you and Father and sister soon, I hope this Is all over really soon. I miss you all so much It hurts. I’ve made some friends but I wish I was at home in my own bed, or having dinner with all of you. Ill be home soon! Love, Leslie How to cite Letter home nurse, Papers

Friday, December 6, 2019

Big data free essay sample

All necessary study materials will be uploaded to UMBC Blackboard. Reference book: Management Information Systems: Managing the Digital Firm, Twelfth Edition by Kenneth C. Laudon; Jane P. Laudon. ISBN: 978-0-13-214285-4 Course Overview This course provides an introduction to the fundamental management and technology concepts related to information technology (IT) and information systems (IS). In this course, students are expected to accomplish the following goals: †¢ Get familiar with fundamental concepts related to IT, including hardware, software, databases, and Internet technologies; †¢ Demonstrate how IT supports all functional areas of the organization and business processes, with a focus on the use of IT in electronic commerce, decision support systems, business intelligence, and knowledge management; †¢ Develop necessary skills to analyze managerial and organizational issues involved in the development, implementation, and use of IT in enterprise information systems, including enterprise resource planning (ERP), supply chain management (SCM), IT outsourcing, and IT security; †¢ Understand the major social and ethical aspects of information technology, such as consumer privacy, hacking, intellectual property, anti-trust, and social computing; †¢ Get opportunity to explore research skills in the IT industry and apply it to some current IS topics. The Blackboard The UMBC blackboard website http://blackboard. umbc. edu contains critical information for the course, including lecture notes, assignment and case study discussion. It is also important for you to visit the course website frequently for important announcements. Course Documents Folder: The instructor will use his own PowerPoint presentation slides during class lecture. Note that not all topics in the textbooks will be covered in class. Other class related documents and handouts will be posted on the blackboard as well. 1 Assignment Folder: One homework assignment will be posted under the Assignment folder. Homework submission is through the blackboard submission link under this folder. Course Grading Evaluation of student performance will be based on the following items with corresponding points. Items Exam #1 Exam #2 Exam #3 Term Paper Term Paper Presentation Assignment Class Participation (Case Study) Percentage 15% 15% 20% 15% 10% 10% 15% Term Paper: Each student should select a real case to analyze in the topic of â€Å"Cloud Computing† as we discussed on the first class. You are expected to do some research on the case you selected and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of applying Cloud Computing on this particular domain, also you can give your own opinions and judgment on whether they should adopt â€Å"Cloud Computing† compared with current IT strategy, how â€Å"Cloud Computing† can help for a successful business. The final deliverable should be in a 3 ~ 5 page paper, the words should be more than 1500, and your analysis part should be more than 50% in your paper. You can use any format (like APA) in your paper, but after you decide to use one format, you need to keep it consistent from the beginning to the end. For your case selection: If you have previous IT experience or work in the IT related industry, you can use your own case to discuss any potential opportunities to apply â€Å"Cloud Computing† and will it affect your current business? You can also find lots of cases in your real life, for example, if you like music or movie, you may have heard â€Å"Apple iCloud†; if you like playing video games, you may know the service â€Å"Onlive. com†; what’s more, you may already get used to the application of â€Å"Dropbox†, while have you heard another similar one â€Å"Amazon cloud drive†? Actually, â€Å"Cloud Computing† is coming to our daily life. If you still cannot find cases, look at our textbook’s â€Å"table of contents†, each chapter topic can be applied by â€Å"Cloud Computing†. Besides, you can get help with UMBC research portal (on the UMBC library website) and internet resources like Google. com, they can be used as your references. But you should not copy and paste any opinions or analysis from there, your work will be submitted to UMBC plagiarism detection systems finally. You should submit one page proposal of term paper on 7/17 to indicate your case selection. Please briefly describe what your case is, how it is relevant to the topic of â€Å"Cloud Computing† and what you are prepared to discuss. I will look at your proposal and give you feedbacks before you proceed. Your final term paper is due by 8/14 before class, but will be accepted at any earlier time. 2 Term Paper Presentation: Each student will present their term paper to the class and lead a discussion about that topic. All students’ presentation is scheduled at the end of our course, and each student’s presentation is no more than 10 minutes. Exams: There will be 3 exams to supplement and reinforce your learning. The exams will be given during the normal class meeting times. The exams are NOT cumulative. All exams are close-book tests. Test questions consist of true/false, fill-in-the-blank, and multiple-choices. Again, if there is any conflict and you cannot make any of the exams, you must communicate with the instructor in advance to get permission for a make-up test. Otherwise, you will receive a zero grade. Generally, in order to make sure the exams are fair to everyone, there are no make-up exams. Case Study: The best way of learning MIS is to study real-world cases, and all cases will be posted on Blackboard under Course Document section. In this class, each student will select a case to study and lead the discussion on â€Å"Discussion Boards - Case Study†. Case selection will be based on a first-come, first serve basis, and please reply to the discussion thread on the case title you want to manage after our first lecture. All students should finish their case selection before our third lecture on 7/17 (otherwise, you will be assigned a case by instructor). For your selection of the case, your work is to promote your classmates to answer questions in the section of â€Å"Case Study Questions† on each case, and to summarize these answers and discussions. Finally, you should select â€Å"the best solutions you thought† to present to the entire class. I will also give feedbacks afterwards. All students are required to read and view the video of every case and all students should participate and post answers for every case on â€Å"Discussion Boards† at course Blackboard, and it is a part of your grades as â€Å"Class Participation (Case Study)†. The available case lists are (30): Case: UPS Global Operations with the DIAD IV Case: Google Data Center Efficiency Best Practices Case: How FedEx Works: Enterprise Systems Case: IT and Geo-Mapping Help a Small Business Succeed Case: National Basketball Association: Competing on Global Delivery With Akamai OS Streaming Case: Customer Relationship Management for San Franciscos City Government Case: Net Neutrality: Neutral Networks Work Case: Data Mining for Terrorists and Innocents Case: Hudsons Bay Company and IBM: Virtual Blade Platform Case: Salesforce. com: SFA on the iPhone and iPod Touch Case: Maruti Suzuki Business Intelligence and Enterprise Databases Case: Data Warehousing at REI: Understanding the Customer Case: Cisco Telepresence: Meeting Without Traveling Case: Virtual Collaboration for Lotus Sametime 3 Case: IBM Zone Trusted Information Channel (ZTIC) Case: Open ID and Web Security Case: Sinosteel Strengthens Business Management with ERP Applications Case: Ingram Micro and HR Block Get Close to Their Customers Case: M-Commerce: The Past, Present, and Future Case: Ford AutoXchange B2B Marketplace Case: LOreal: Knowledge Management Using Microsoft SharePoint Case: FreshDirect Uses Business Intelligence to Manage Its Online Grocery Case: IBM and Cognos: Business Intelligence and Analytics for Improved Decision Making Case: IBM: Business Process Management in a Service-Oriented Architecture Case: Startup Appcelerator For Rapid Rich App Development Case: Mastering the Hype Cycle: How to Adopt the Right Innovation at the Right Time Case: NASA Project Management Challenges Case: Daum Runs Oracle Apps on Linux Case: Monsanto, Cisco ANS, and Microsoft SharePoint Case: The Tester Assignment: The purpose of homework assignment is to give you hands-on exercises to get you familiar with the Microsoft software Access. I will walk you through some basic functions and the software operations so you will learn how to use Access to manage database. Assignment must be done by individuals, not a group. The homework assignment must be turned in by the specified due date and time (it is on your assignment document). Assignment handed in within 24 hours after the due time/day will receive 30% penalty. Without permission from the instructor, no assignment will be accepted more than 24 hours after the due time. Course Policy Communication The instructor will communicate with students using the students official UMBC email address. Audio/Visual Recording Policy Electronic recording of lectures is prohibited unless receiving prior approval from the instructor. Approval will be granted only for self-study purposes. Class Participation Class attendance is very useful as a means of acquiring knowledge and clarification. You will learn more if you are in class to listen, take notes, and get your questions answered. Especially, a number of exam questions are derived from lectures and class discussion. Therefore, you are required to attend all class meetings and actively engage in class interactions. To show courtesy to your classmates and the instructor, it is important that you come to class on time. Please notify the instructor for any anticipated absence due to religious holidays, or UMBC official extracurricular activity ahead of time. If you use a laptop in class, I expect you to put it in proper use – no email, IM, or games. If you break 4 this rule, you may get a yellow card. After two yellow cards, you will get a red card and you can no longer bring your laptop to class. Academic Integrity The university defines academic dishonesty as cheating, plagiarism, unauthorized collaboration, falsifying academic records, and any act designed to avoid participating honestly in the learning process. Since dishonesty harms the individual, all students, and the integrity of the university, policies on scholastic dishonesty will be strictly enforced. By teaching this course, I have agreed to observe all the faculty responsibilities described in the corresponding document. By enrolling in this course, each student assumes the responsibilities of an active participant in UMBCs scholarly community in which everyones academic work and behavior are held to the highest standards of honesty. Any dishonesty such as cheating, plagiarism, false representation, etc. that comes to my attention will result in an F in the course. Course Overview Part 1: The information age (Topic 1 ~ Topic 3) Overview of business information systems Strategic use of IS Business functions and supply chains Part 2: Information technology (Topic 4 ~ Topic 7) Business hardware, software, network communications, database and data warehouse Part 3: Web-enabled commerce (Topic 8 ~ Topic 9) The web-enabled enterprise, challenges of global IS Part 4: Decision support and business intelligence (Topic 10 ~ Topic 11) Decision support systems, expert systems, business intelligence and knowledge management Part 5: Planning, acquisition, and controls (Topic 12 ~ Topic 14) System planning and development, choices in system acquisition, risks, security, and disaster recovery 5 Course Schedule Below is a tentative schedule of lecture topics, cases and assignments. Any changes will be posted on the blackboard. Please check the announcements regularly. Date Topics 7/10 Course introduction The future of IS Business Information Systems: An Overview Types of Information Systems (IS) Strategic Use of IS Business Functions Supply Chains and ERP Business Hardware and Software Exam #1 (Topic 1 ~ 3) Business Networks and Telecommunications Databases and Data Warehouses The Web-Enabled Enterprise Challenges of Global Information Systems Decision Support Systems Expert Systems Exam #2 (Topic 4 ~ 9) Business Intelligence and Knowledge Management System Planning and Development Choices in Systems Acquisition and IT Outsourcing Network Security and IT Risk Management No Class (AMCIS 2012) Term Paper Presentations 7/12 7/17 7/19 7/24 7/26 7/31 8/2 8/7 8/9 8/14 8/16 Case Study Assignments One page proposal of term paper C1;C2;C3 C4;C5;C6 C7;C8;C9; C10 C11;C12;C13 One page proposal of term paper due Access Assignment Handout C14;C15;C16 C17;C18;C19; C20 C21;C22;C23 C24;C25;C26 Access Assignment due C27;C28;C29; Final Term Paper due C30 on 8/14 before class Term Paper Presentations Exam #3 (Topic 10 ~ 14) 6

Monday, November 25, 2019

Research Paper Essay Example

Research Paper Essay Example Research Paper Essay Research Paper Essay A study at Florida Atlantic University found that people who underwent chiropractic adjustments had a fifteen percent lower rate of the flu than people who didnt have their backs cracked. People often go to chiropractors to receive treatment for back pain, neck pain, headaches, car accidents, repetitive motion injuries or strains, and sports injuries. Twenty million Americans use chiropractic services every year. Chiropractic represents the most rapidly growing segment of the professional health services market. Chiropractic care is the best care for your back because it has a broad range of different types of treatment, it is highly advantageous, it is helpful for everyone, and it is inexpensive. Chiropractic is the largest, most regulated, and best recognized of the complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) professions. It is the third largest doctoral-level health care profession after medicine and dentistry. There are more than 60,000 active chiropractic licenses in the United States. All 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands officially recognize chiropractic as a health care profession. Chiropractic care means it is done by hand. In an interview with Steve Smith he said, â€Å"There are a few different types of chiropractic care. The most common one is a massage. This is where a chiropractor comes and massages the muscles around the injured part of the spine and either massages the area of where the hurt part is or will pop the bone(s) which causes increased motion of the bones and helps them go back into place. This is otherwise called â€Å"being corrected.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

English Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 29

English - Essay Example Even as my father held the bicycle seat straight for me as I learned how to pedal fast in order to find my center of gravity, I could not help but meet a few mishaps along the road to what I perceived to be travel independence at that time. It was not uncommon for me to go out with my father for a lesson and practice run in my two wheeled bit and then return with a few scrapes on the knees and elbow areas. After all, learning to ride a bike entailed some lessons that were designed to help me learn how to be a safe and accident free bicycle rider. All of the experiences that I had during the time that I was learning how to ride my bicycle helped me to become a very safe and responsible cyclist when I finally got up enough courage and guts to begin riding my bike to school. I remember that my parents were quite apprehensive about letting me ride alone on the day that I announced I was ready to take my bicycle to school without any back up from my father. What if, my mother thought, I lost control of the bicycle on the side walk and I ended up rolling into the main road? Who would stop my bicycle from veering onto the wrong path? What if I suddenly lost control of the bicycle? Who would grab the bike seat in order to keep me steady on it? What if... what if... I told my mother not to worry. I would not have decided to finally take my bicycle to school if I did not feel like I could take on the challenges that beset a cyclist on the way to school. Years later, I would be facing my parents with yet another request for a far more independent mode of transportation. I was now old enough to apply for a student permit that would allow me to enroll in driving school and allow me to drive in most areas provided I did so with a licensed driver in the front seat. Needless to say, my parents, my mother in particular was even more petrified at the thought allowing me to have not only access to the family car, but

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Surgical lesion infection Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Surgical lesion infection - Essay Example Preoperative hair removal is one of the risk factors associated with surgical site infection frequency. Orsi, Ferraro and Franchi (2005) discovered that hair removal using razor has a higher risk of surgical site infections. The use of clipping or depilatory creams is considered to be a better option. Furthermore, hair removal should be carried out immediately before surgery in order to decrease the risk of SSI. Tanner, Woodings and Moncaster (2006) also tested the hypothesis that preoperative hair removal is the cause of surgical site infection (SSI) in patients. However, the results demonstrated no dissimilarity in SSI between patients who have had undergone hair removal before surgery and those who have not. This study also supported the view that removal of hair using depilatory creams or clipping results in a few cases of SSI as compared to hair removal by with the help of a razor. Duggal , Beaumont and Jenkinson (2002) assert that it is essential to prevent and control infectio n in order to promote a safe environment which is a chief requirement of health care expert during clinical practice. Patients who are hospitalized are more likely to develop infections which can be due to organ transplantation, persistent procedures, immune suppressive drugs, etc. Damani (2003) states that nosocomial infections are the outcome of microbial growth in health care settings and negligence in procedures of infection control along with a weakened immunity system of patients. Bdareen (2011) explains that a study by WH shows high rates of nosocomial infections in ICUs and orthopedic and surgical wards. The common infections acquired in hospitals are urinary tract infection, infections of the gastrointestinal tract, skin and soft tissue disease, septicemia and infection of the lower respiratory tract. Widespread organisms are the general cause of most nosocomial infections. For instance, coliforms are the cause of urinary tract infections, S.aureus is the reason behind woun d infections, pneumonia is due to S.pneumonae and the most serious and fatal septicemia is due to S.aureus, S.epidermidis and coliforms. Hospital-Acquired versus Community-Acquired Bacteria. Online image. Available from

Monday, November 18, 2019

An empirical evaluation of the Purchasing Power Parity Dissertation

An empirical evaluation of the Purchasing Power Parity - Dissertation Example In pursuit of investigating the empirical validity of the PPP theory, this study uses the monthly Japanese Yen to US Dollar exchange rate and the seasonally adjusted Japanese and US monthly Consumer Price Index series as the representative of the price levels as available from OECD main economic indicators 2010. Our data set covers a sample period ranging from 1st January1960 to 1st June 2010. The indexing of CPI for both the Japanese and US series is in accordance with assuming the price level of 2005=100.5.  EstimationThis section presents the results of the estimations specified in section 2. We start of by presenting the statistical preliminaries and time series plots of the variables to engender a preconception of what can be expected from the estimated equations. a.  Statistical preliminariesTable 1 presents the summary statistics for the variables of interest. Note that these are expressed in terms of natural logarithms of the levels.Figure 1 below depicts the inter-tempor al dynamics of the natural logarithm of the series of Japanese Yen to US Dollar Exchange rates. Observe that the series provides a clear visual evidence of a downward trend implying that over the period of 1970 to 2011, there has been a gradual decline in the exchange rate. Additionally, the series also appears to be non-stationary. Of course stationarity properties can only be conclusively verified after formal conduction of unit root tests. Figure 3 presents the time plots of Japanese and US consumer price indices in logs.... tion: where is the natural log of the Japanese Yen to US Dollar exchange rate at time t, is the natural log of the price level index of Japan and is the natural log of the price level index of USA and is an additive iid noise term. 3. Testable Hypothesis The hypotheses that we can test using this specification are as follows: i) Strong or absolute PPP: ii) Relatively weaker form of PPP: ? iii) Weakest form of PPP: ? Note that for ii) and iii) to be valid specifications, the additive error term will have to be stationary. Otherwise estimates will be spurious. 4. Data In pursuit of investigating the empirical validity of the PPP theory, this study uses the monthly Japanese Yen to US Dollar exchange rate and the seasonally adjusted Japanese and US monthly Consumer Price Index series as the representative of the price levels as available from OECD main economic indicators 2010. Our data set covers a sample period ranging from 1st January1960 to 1st June 2010. The indexing of CPI for both the Japanese and US series is in accordance with assuming the price level of 2005=100. 5. Estimation This section presents the results of the estimations specified in section 2. We start of by presenting the statistical preliminaries and time series plots of the variables to engender a preconception of what can be expected from the estimated equations. a. Statistical preliminaries Table 1 presents the summary statistics for the variables of interest. Note that these are expressed in terms of natural logarithms of the levels. Table 1: Summary Statistics of the variables of interest Figure 1 below depicts the inter-temporal dynamics of the natural logarithm of the series of Japanese Yen to US Dollar Exchange rates. Observe that the series provides a clear visual evidence of a downward trend

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Managerialist model of management and leadership

Managerialist model of management and leadership Explore to what extent the managerialist model of management and leadership adopted in England and Wales has influenced management culture in one other country and the impact that this may have on your own management and leadership style. Introduction Managerialism has become the predominant ideology in educational management. It has been a stably indispensable ingredient in the policy of government in order to operate public school, in contrast to the traditional bureaucratic ideals, it provide high priority to management and leadership (Pollitt 1993). Leadership, is a complex social phenomenon, and has been studied and developed over many years. Leadership is a process in which an individual influences the group of individuals to accomplish the common goals and targets. Leadership is born in a organization context, that is to say no organization or group then there can be no leadership. Leadership includes attention to goals, which means leadership has impacts in contexts where everybody is moving toward a goal. So leadership seems like a power relationship existing between leader and followers (Northouse ,2007). Management is defined realistically in the context of an organization. That is to say that management is a process which enables organizations to set and achieve their objective by planning organizing and controlling their recourses, including gaining motivation from their employees. Although it is being argued that the application of some managerialist approaches cause problems. In England and Wales, education is overseen by the department for education and department for business, innovation and skills. Almost all state-funded school are maintained schools funded by the government in which the local authority, Ofsted and the TDA are influential partners. In China Education is a state-run system of public education run by the Ministry of Education. In the basic education, the Chinese government, government established a uniform standard for basic education, to control the national curriculum, the system of enrollment examinations, and teacher qualifications level. Chinese education system is reforming, through studying advanced educational counties and excessive government control is being reduced. In relation, to this assignment, I want to explore to what extent management and leadership approaches adopted in England, and Wales have influenced management culture in the China and the impact trends on development of management and leadership style. I am particularly interested in exploring to what extent western approaches can be implemented in China. For example, which theories adopted in British might be applied in China and any weaknesses it might have minimized. I will explore what theories exert impact either positively or negatively in management system in British school. Taking it as a higher revelation ,which will give me consideration about my leadership and management styles. Specifically, through studying managerialism and bureau professionalism, organizational culture, leadership style (trait, style and transformation leadership theory), I will focus on the following: To explore how managerialism has been introduced to England and Wales and how it has impacted upon education management. To explore how government policy in China controls education and influences the actions of head teachers and school organizations Compare what happened in China with what happened in England The impact of that government controls have on head teachers in china and its implications for my own management style. Literature review 2.1)Managerialism in English Education (definition)Managerialism is a set of belief and practices, and it assumes that a better management can solve the various problem existing in public sectors(Pollitt,1993) Although there are different definitions of managerialism, as a fads and buzzwords, it has been given various names including, New public Management, New Managerialism, Entrepreneurial Governance and Neo-Taylorism (Power 1997 cide in McGrah. 2004) (Traits)Managerialism is introduced to England education for couple of decades. In fact it has been as a belief that effective leadership and management is considered as the most important element for operating successful schools and colleges (Bush 2004 cited in McGrath). Its traits were summarised by (Bush 2004) as followed: manaerialism , First, it empowers manager right to manage, which is rising the process of management above that which is to be managed. Secondly, it seems like cost centres and devolved budgets to achieve greater financial control. Thirdly, managerialism uses the contracts instead of the high-trust relationship to clear sub-units in order to atomising of large-scale organisation. Fourthly, managerialism use performance assessment to link the individuals aim and the objectives of organisation. The last but not least, a virtual-market environment is created , it promotes competition and transforms students into customers. As features of managerialism mentioned before, the better management and leadership have become requirement and a trend. Pollitt ( 1993, p49) stated that managerilaism is a the acceptable face of new-right thinking concerning the state. It is an ingredient in the pot pouring which can attract support beyond the new right itself. During the last two decades, Bush (1986, 1995,1999, 2004) also consistently claimed that effective leadership and management play a crucial role for the successful operation of schools and colleges. He (2004,p 2)suggested successful management requires a clear link between aims, strategy and operational management. In his view there are three aspects should be clear, that is: formal aims, organizational or individual aims and the determination of aims. Gunter (1997) accepted the same conception that managerialism has to emphasise the managerial efficiency rather than the direction at the achievement of educational objectives. Although the opposition to managerialism has never stopped, the government continually emphasise the effective management and leadership in school, college and universities as the means by which governmental and organisational goals may be achieved (Simkins 1999). However,a fact that managerialism have affected the development of education and society and the trend have shown that it will continue to play an important role in education system. 2.2 Leadership theories in common use in England schools Undoubtedly, managerialism needs high quality management or leadership and policy maker have placed great emphasis on the good leadership. So the model of leadership has been promoting. Although there is no unified definition of leadership at present, clearly, it is different with the management. Yukl(2002) and Northhouse (2007) described that leadership is an influenced process where individual influences a group or organization through his or her action and motivation. Bush(2004) clarified it used by three dimension to define the leadership which is a basis for develop a working definition. That is, leadership as influence, leadership and values , and leadership and vision . Because the significance of effective leadership has been increasingly acknowledged, researchers never stop to study and analyse leadership theories. In consequence, there are many leadership theories according to different concerns the style approach emphasized on and various social context. However, in England, every leader has their own leadership style which very often can be analysed using trait, style and transformational leadership. Trait theory is one of most important theories. It originated in the 19th century, is based on the Great Man theory of leadership. The Great man theory believes that a successful leader should have certain innate characteristics that make them special and concentrate on their success. Trait theory developed the Great man theory and emphasise on the identification and analysis of the superior qualities of leaders. This theory concentrate on the personality which are innate traits that leader requires. (Power 1997 cide in McGrah. 2004) As a theory, the traits leaders should be held have been studied since its birth. Although no one has been able to provide the definitive list of traits which are different between leaders and non-leaders, there are seven traits that have been considered important over the years. That is: self-confidence, intelligence, helicopter effect, persistence, integrity, motivation and responsibility, which emphasis on what qualities a leader should have is useful. (Power 1997 cide in McGrah. 2004) For the reason that trait theory is still important at present, two strengths should be mentioned. The greatest one is that it is very easy to understand, people likely think about what their leaders is and what their leaders should be like. Another great function of trait theory is that trait theory can be used to identify potential leadership candidate as a first sieve. These strengths also effect following new theories, but as a theory, the greatest weaknesses are also constrict its development. The greatest weakness is that the definitive list of traits has been argued. That is to say, if a new list is identified the recognized leader should be in dilemma, because they likely do not have all the traits specified. (Power 1997 cide in McGrah. 2004) Compared with trait theory that focus on the personality, style theory concerned with the behaviour. Northouse (2007) comment that In common, there are two general kinds of behaviour should be considered. One is task aids goal achievement and other is relational assists interpersonal support. Style theory seeks a way to help leader to effectively combine these two behaviours. As a theory, the greatest strength is that it established the idea that the leaders style is composed of two major components- task and relationship, more importantly, the key to good readership is finding the right balance, which changes the focus of research to what leaders do and how they act while it provides leaders with an insight into how others see them. However there are three doubts about this theory. First, how does style of leadership impacts on performance and attitude of staff. Secondly, whether is there a style that is effective in all situations? Thirdly, it does not take account of the context o r situation in which leadership is exercised. (Northouse 2007) Currently, the Transformation Leadership theory (TL) has become popularised in the educational leadership field. Transformation Leadership theory focuses on values, ethics standards and long-term goals. A connection leaders create is characterized, it is to raise the level of motivation and morality in both the leader and followers. Caldwell and Spinks (1992) commended that transformation leadership theory is crucial for self-manage schools. As opposite to them, Bennett et al(2003) argued that because this theory put too much on the top leader as a heroic figure and encourage manipulation of followers, it gave rise to overemphasis on conception of distributed leadership. Similarly, Bush(2004) discussed that transformational model is popular in the literature but the contemporary policy climate cannot provide enough condition for its growth, because the English system increasingly requires school leaders to adhere to government prescriptions which affect aims, curriculum, content and pedagogy as well as values(Bush 2004,p78). As a same opinion, Bottery (2001) gave a the same view that the more centralized , more directed, and more controlled educational system that has dramatically reduced the possibility of realising a genuinely transformational education and leadership. However, transformational leadership theory is consistent with the collegial model in which a challenge should be faced is that leaders and staffs have shared values and common interests. 2.3) government control of education in China. Whenever, just like most countries, education is a Long-Term Priority in China, it has never been ignored by Chinese government Since the founding of New China, the Chinese government has always attached great importance to education, It is establishing the worlds largest education system.(Basic Education in China(2010)). The Ministry of Education (2009) stated that in the last 3 decades of reform and opening up, China has been unremitting efforts to explore a path of educational development with Chinese characteristics. It is well-known that education system is controlled by central government. Centrol government was in charge of basic education and high education before the market economy replaced the planning economy in 1985. That is to say, the curriculum and leaders and teachers management were all administrated by government. Accordingly, the leadership and management in school were driven by government and its policy at that time. After 1985, educational system was no longer compatible with the prevailing economic system and social needs, there was a transition happened in the highly centralized administrative system of education.(Su 2004). National Conference on Education implemented policy The reforms were intended to expand their management and decision-making powers, this policy gave administrators the necessary encouragement and authority to ensure smooth progress in educational reform. Lee (2006)gave a clear explanation that the local governments were given some administrative powers. The basic education was mainly the responsibility of local governments. In higher education and vocational education, colleges and universities were more independent decisions-making power. Furthermore, the investment system underwent a gradual change under which the state made unified development plans and provided budgetary appropriations for education. The second great changes taken place in Chinese education in 1993 after the speech of the making ones rounds austral Deng Xiaoping is published. Education Law of the Peoples Republic of China states that the Ministry of Education is responsible for formulating guiding principles for education, establishing regulations, planning the progress of educational projects with expanded administrative scope and power and it is co-ordinating the educational programs of different departments, and standardization educational reforms. In short, The Ministry of Education is highest power of education in China. Despite that the new Ministry assumed a central role in the administration of education, the reform decentralized much of the power it previously wielded and its constituent offices and bureaus, which had established curriculum and admissions policies in response to the State Planning Commissions requirements. In summary, Location management is running in basic education and excessive government control over colleges and universities was reduced ( the Ministry of education) than before. there are considerable autonomy and variations in and among the autonomous regions, provinces, and special municipalities. Management and leadership approaches used in China Due to a fact that some managerialism in china is borrowed from westerns, so some parallels can be drawn between the Chinese case and its Western counterparts in terms of the public management including educational management. For example, Devolution of educational management from the central to the local level was the means chosen to improve the education system. Devolution refers to the transfer of authority to an autonomous unit that can act independently, or a unit that can act without first asking permission. (Bray, 1999) Lee and Lo( 2001 )agreed with the ideas from Massey (1993), Ferlie (1996) and continued to claim that In the west, the theme of reinventing government is ideologically embedded in the current of the new right. It promoted the three Es (efficiency, effectiveness, and economy) in the public management, and advocates profit, property rights and markets to substitute for the mechanisms of power in the restructuring of public administration. In the Chinese context, the remaking of public maintaining to the role of top policy makers, the assessment of the state capacity, the dilemma between the state hierarchy and market mechanisms and the controversy of property rights. During the reform ear, the top Chinese policy makers have been trying to gain not only a realistic policy making role for the party-state at the macro level, but also feasible approaches in the remaking of public management at the micro levels. Compare between in china and uk Despite a fact that critique to government control has existed, government control in education system has placed in differently level in Britain and China. China is country whose educational system is ran by state, before 1985, the government controlled over the education system since 1949, that is to say the Chinese government is the most powerful to manage education through all educational policies made by Chinese Communist Party. For instance, government monitored implementation of its policies at all educational institutions by its party committees. Almost every head teacher and senior management is member of Chinese communist party. The orientation of educational institution guided by policies made central government. Notably, there was a change happened in the national conference on education in 1985, the establishment of the ministry of education symbolised some coordination of education. Although State Council (central government) still played the central role in the adminis tration of education and the new ministry of education is in charge of all organisations, the decentralisation to constituent educational bureaus and local governments, as a rudiment, has established, which had power in different level to establish curriculum and admissions policies. Education law of the peoples republic of China (Article 14) state that: The State Council and all local Peoples government at different levels shall supervise and manage the educational work according to the principle of management by different levels and division of labour with individual responsibility. Secondary and lower education shall be managed by the local Peoples government under the leadership of the State Council. Higher education shall be managed by the State Council and the Peoples government of province, autonomous region or municipality directly under the central government. By contrast, in England and Wales, the school leaderships are reduced to implement the policies and values of government and its agencies (Bush 2004.p 4). The government is very appreciative of school leadership who continue to give their time and energy to the voluntary work of serving on school governing bodies.() Although governments have the constitutional power to impose their will but successful innovations require the commitment of those who have to implement these chances in the England and Wales (Bush 2004.p 4). He explained if the teachers and leaders believe the policies are not suitable for teaching and learning, which should give to rise to lack of passion and enthusiasm to implement an initiative. Therefore, government should appreciate school to have visionary leadership as long as the visions and values of school are closed with government imperatives. Bush argued that what extent the leadership is able to modify government policy depends on school-level values and vision. Similarly, Furlong (2002) claimed that professionals have been status of teachers because of increased government control of education. That is to say, in England and Wales, professionalism is allowed to exist only by the grace of central government due to the central monitoring of teacher performance. (Bush, 2004 p5) Governing bodies and individual governors should also review their effectiveness and carry out self evaluation of their own skills and evaluate the skill set possessed by the governing body as a whole so that any skills gaps can be met. Governors should also receive defined information to enable them to challenge and hold the school leadership team to account (Reflection- to what extent could that trait, style and transformational leadership used in china (500-750) Based on a fact, leadership theory , mostly, is copy from western leadership theory, so there are three phases. They are: trait, style and transformational leadership theory. Exactly, trait theory is the oldest theory either in western or in china, this theory is not solely copy of the Great Man theory, but it is based on Great Man theory, summarized the common traits of successful leaders. It is way it currently, is still useful. One reason is that it provide a ideal for us to look for a leader. On the other hand, want-to-be leaders can use it to identify their basic personality that they need to work on if they want to be considered a leader. In china, if you want to work as a leader in educational institution, the basic qualities as first sieve should be required, they are as followed: Intelligence: leaders should have professional knowledge and be intellect to deal with issues and problems. Self-confidence: it is quite different between leaders and their followers. No matter how hard the leaders confront with challenges, leaders should be confident to tackle them, it is not fake it but positive to seek effective way due to a believe you can deal with them. Helicopter effect and motivation: China is a country whose thought is more collective, as a leader, she or he should be able to encourage everyones aim to be same with organization. leaders need to motivate not only themselves but also staff. Persistence: as good quality, the leader must have it. As leaders in education, they should meet challenges, obstacles and results that are not expected. Never giving up and keeping forward are ever objectives. Integrity: helicopter effect come from respect and trust and integrity is foot of respect and trust. Responsibility: leaders should put responsibility before accountability. As time goes by, the trait theory has not content to leadership needs, style theory,as supplement, is used at educational system. China is a country who requires good relationship. The style theory provides a way to find the right balance for task and relationship. Task aids goal achievement while relational assists interpersonal support. With popularity of transformational leadership theory in western, this theory is permeating to China. It is part of the new leadership paradigm that give more attention to the charismatic and effective elements of leadership. It meet the needs of todays work groups who want to be inspired and empowered to succeed in times of uncertainty, because this theory focus on the intrinsic motivates and followers development. It provide easier way for leaders to combine the aim of organization and individuals targets. It is more humanism, and it consider emotions, values, ethics, standards and long-term goals and includes assessing followers motives, satisfying their needs and treating as full human beings. That is why this theory is broad researched and applied in China. These three theories have their own strengths and weaknesses, how to exert their advantages and avoid their disadvantages is strategy and tactic. Conclusion :500sieve three most important things you have learn In conclusion, therefore, it can be seen that despite widespread opposition to managerialism, like everything in the world, there are two sides, the dark side of managerialism is overstate. managerialism has become a dominant ideology in educational management either in England and Wales or in China. It is a production of development of society. Notably, as we can see, the application of managerialist approach can cause some problem. However, managerialism emphasizes on managers right to manage. It is typified by a set of practice including the assumptions, techniques, ideas and behaviours, so the practice of management is raised above importance of the function being managed. So the introduction of manageriamlism led to a greater emphasis being place on management and leadership as these skills were necessary to meet the new requirements. According managerialism, government needs the good management and leadership to control education. However, the government policy cannot be change d by leaderships who develop alternative approaches based on school-level. In other words, governments in England and Wales have the constitutional power to impose their will but successful innovations require the commitment of those who have to implement these changes; while in China, central government control and management at different level, on the one hand, kept stable of educational development; on the other hand, it led to limitation of innovation. Management and leadership As a predominant ideology in educational management, managerialism needs the effective management and leadership that also are required by governmenal and organizational goals. Management is of mind. It is important. As a science, it is concerned with now and here, which means manager need to do things right; while leadership is concerned with future, as a art, leadership is sole and heart, it need to do right things. So management and leadership, in most time, could not be divided. Indeed, leadership theories have provide a dramatically different view of the driving forces behind leadership. As is mentioned before that in England the trait, style and transformational leadership are very often analysed by most leaders even if they have their own leadership style. During the process of development of leadership theory, the researchers and leaders have been looking for the best way to obtain the sense and avoid their weakness. This is why some good strengths of old theory (traits and style theory) are still important for today. With the development of leadership theory, the new theories always fit requirement of age in order to fit effective management and leadership. Areas of weakness in what you have done I have done my best to show in this essay that management and leadership in educational system in England and Wales and China. Because the aims of education are more diffuse and contested. As is known that aims are tied up with peoples values and beliefs. So management and leadership in education should be different with other public areas. In addition, because of the differences of context and tradition in different countries, management and leadership in China and England are in different way, although it is in very subtle, implicit ways. The analysis and discussion have been showen, some of these were somewhat out of date. although it is not clear which leadership style is the best for England and China, at least, the strengths and weakness mentioned before are meaningful for further research. if it is merely reflecting the way for me to see my own leadership style. However, in the long run, negative effect of managerialiam and leadership theories should be attractive my eyes. As we know that things will change, but only slowly. research in these areas is important, the eventual solution would identify the better way to manage schools, colleges and universities in other words, a greater respect for aims of education to look for a fittest management method.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

The Narrative of the Life of Fredrick Douglass Essay -- Narrative Fred

The Narrative of the Life of Fredrick Douglass Metal clanks against metal as the chains rub on old scars issuing in another day of toil in the heat with head-down and blood streaming as each new lash is inflicted. This is usually the picture envisioned when one thinks of slavery. While often this is an accurate depiction, there are also many other forms of slavery. The Webster’s Dictionary describes slavery as, â€Å"submission to a dominating influence.† Everyone has influences that shape who they are and what they do, but a problem arises when a person’s entire life is spent abiding under a certain, destructive influence. Often this is done willingly and a sort of addiction occurs in maintaining the hold the authority has in one’s life. It gives the person identity; all they need to do is live under the power they have created for themselves and make up the rules as they go along. Yet in doing this, they rob themselves of true freedom in knowing right from wrong and choosing the right. In fac t, in this regard Fredrick Douglass is one of the freest men in his narrative. In the life story of Fredrick Douglass we not only see an African American man struggling against the oppression of slavery, but also many white masters struggling against their enslavement to reputation, power and religion. First we see what it is to be a slave to reputation. Throughout the Narrative of the Life of Fredrick Douglass it is obvious that what others think matters a great deal to the slave holders. Although this may not make sense since they still do atrocious things to their slaves, there is a certain persona they want to convey to others. Mr. Covey was a harsh, cruel man, and everyone knew and respected him for being such. C... ...nd his white masters as free, but that can only be true if using one definition of freedom. Although seemingly free these white men also struggle under oppression. It is not forced upon, conversely they willingly and purposefully lock on the chains of slavery which dominate their lives. They conform their lives to something that gives them a sense of meaning and identity, using their freedom to choose slavery. Meanwhile, Douglass is free to live an entirely different lifestyle. Perhaps one of the most powerful quotes in his narrative is when Douglass states that â€Å"I prefer to be true to myself, even at the hazard of incurring the ridicule of others, rather than to be false, and incur my own abhorrence (28).† He is not willfully bound under the dominion of anything; he is free to be himself and thus know real right from wrong. In this he shows his true freedom.

Monday, November 11, 2019

American Ethnic Literature Essay

American Literature has been an important part of American people for centuries. What makes this type of literature great is that the authors vision is objective and not one sided. Several of the American authors are still considered to be great writers. The books that were written by these authors are still read by people of all ages around the United States. These books are now considered classic literature. American literature is considered American because it was written by American people. Overall, â€Å"editors appear to use an inconsistent combination of citizenship, geographical location, language, and subject matter (that is, the subject of America and the United States) (Hames- Garcia, p. 1, 2003). Most of the American literature was written by white men. In order to be considered American literature it has to be about the United States. There have been many great authors that write about science fiction, but because it is unreal their literature is not considered American literature. Politics also played an important role in literature. It was of great importance to portray the American character as an â€Å"exceptional entity† (Hames-Garcia, p. 1, 2003). In the early twentieth century, writers who were not American white men were not allowed to publish their works. Women writers as well as Black, Latino, American Indian, and immigrant writers were left out altogether. This happened because other ethnic groups were considered to be inferior. It was until the 1970s that feminist began to speak out and rebel against the oppression they were faced with. It is thanks to this reform that the American literature holds diversity. It allows for men and women to have the same opportunity to express their feelings without having to worry about their race or sex. Another type of literature is ethnic literature. This type of literature is often read as an autobiography, even when making no such claims. This is written on a first person point of view. The author’s point of view is specific to their personal beliefs and life stories. It is difficult for this type of author to provide an objectionable story. They are blinded by anger because of what they had to live. The topics these authors write about covers racism and suppression. The definitions and topics will vary depending on the life experiences that each author or their families experienced. The storyline will also vary because each author lived different time periods, and of course things change over time. Ethnic Literature is great because it now holds different point of views. Every person has a different perspective on what happens around them. What allows for this to be great is that each person is entitled not only to have their own belief, but they are able to express their feelings with freedom. No person is afraid of what repercussion might come because they decided to write from their heart. The truth allows readers to realize that life has been harder for some people more than others. It is easy to forget what our ancestors had to experience in order for each individual to encounter freedom. It is now easy for men and women of all races to walk freely around their city. This however came at a price, and this type of literature allows human beings to read and experience in some small way what it was like to live in a world were the color of your skin as well as your sex had a lot to do with the quality of life you lived. American Literature will continue to play an important role in American people. The only way to enjoy this type of literature is to introduce our younger generations to it. This is the perfect material needed to give to young readers so that they can value the lifestyle they are allowed to live today. It is up to us to keep this tradition alive so that our future generation can enjoy it as well. Reference Michael Hames-Garcia. (2003). Which America is ours? Marti’s â€Å"Truth† and the foundations of â€Å"American literature†. Modern Fiction Studies, 49(1), 19-53. Retrieved October 25, 2009, from Research Library. (Document ID: 328665241). Yonjae Jung. (2004). The New Americanist Intervention into the Canon. American Studies International, 42(2/3), 213-225. Retrieved October 26, 2009, from Research Library. (Document ID: 676208971).

Friday, November 8, 2019

Tibet Essays - Tulkus, Tibetan Independence Movement, Bodhisattvas

Tibet Essays - Tulkus, Tibetan Independence Movement, Bodhisattvas Tibet Tibet Tibet needs better leadership. The Dalai Lama does not qualify as a good leader. If this man was a good leader, then he would have had this cleared up a long time ago. The life of the Tibetans is horrible. Their homes and living style has been changed ever since the invasion. According to the World Encyclopedia and Tibet.com The Tibetan people and culture have been under Chinese rule since 1950. Since then, more than 1.2 million Tibetans have been killed, another 100,000 forced into exile and thousands imprisoned. Recently, the Chinese have discovered that Tibetan culture brings in tourists. That causing hundreds of monasteries to be destroyed, statues mutilated, and religious treasures more than a thousand years old have been sold next to nothing, but outside the cities sturdy nomads continue with their lives as they have for thousands of years. The changes that could be made if a new leader was brought into this beautiful country are they would be freed and live normal lives. The Dalai Lama now doesnt seem to want to be free from China. Another thing that could change is that millions upon millions could have their lives saved. A new leader should be brought into office because the way the present leader is running the country. The Dalai Lama promised many changes that would be made such as, Commencement of earnest negotiations on the future status of Tibet and of relations between the Tibetan and Chinese people. notice how this hasnt happened yet. The Tibetans are suffering more by each month that passes. After these changes are made the suffering could have a chance to stop. The Dalai Lama doesnt want change because his life is great, but for the other millions in the country, it is a horrible life.

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

All About Hardie Board and Fiber Cement Siding

All About Hardie Board and Fiber Cement Siding Hardie Board is fiber cement siding manufactured by James Hardie Building Products, one of the first successful manufacturers of this material. Two of their most popular products are HardiePlank ® (horizontal lap siding, 0.312 inches thick) and HardiePanel ® (vertical siding, 0.312 inches thick). The fiber cement siding is made from Portland cement mixed with ground sand, cellulose fiber, and other additives. The product is also known as cement-fiber siding, concrete siding, and fiber cement cladding. Fiber cement siding can resemble stucco, wood clapboards, or cedar shingles (e.g., HardieShingle ® 0.25 inches thick), depending on how the panels are textured during the manufacturing process. Pulverized sand, cement, and wood pulp are mixed with water to make a slurry, which is rolled out and pressed together into sheets. The water is squeezed out, a pattern is pressed onto the surface, and the sheets are cut into boards. The product is baked in autoclaves under high-pressure steam, and then the individual boards are jostled apart, tested for strength, and painted. It may look like wood, but the boards are much heavier with properties associated more with cement than wood. The wood fiber is added to give the board flexibility so it doesnt crack. The material is more durable than most woods and stucco and resists insects and rot. It is also fire resistant, which explains its early popularity in Australia, an arid land plagued by wildfires throughout the bush. Fiber cement siding has become popular, because it requires little maintenance, will not melt, is non-combustible, and can have a natural, wood-like appearance. However, many people say it is much more difficult for a nonprofessional to install than other siding. Remember, when youre cutting it that its really cement, with the associated hardness and dust to prove it. Hardie Board should not be confused with hardboard, which is dense, pressed particleboard made from wood. Common misspellings include hardiboard, hardyboard, hardyplank, hardypanel, HardiPlank, and HardiPanel. Knowing the manufacturers name will help with accurate spelling. James Hardie Industries PLC is headquartered in Ireland. Expense Comparisons Although more expensive than vinyl, fiber cement siding is considerably less expensive than wood. Fiber cement board is generally less expensive than cedarwood, more expensive than vinyl, and less expensive than brick. It is equal or less expensive than composite siding and less expensive than synthetic stucco. As with any construction project, the materials are but one aspect of the expense. Installing fiber cement board incorrectly can be a priceless mistake. About James Hardie James Hardie Building Products has long been associated with Australia, ever since the Scottish-born son of master tanner Alexander Hardie emigrated there in the late 19th century. James Hardie became an importer of tannery chemicals and equipment until he came upon a new fire-resistant product being manufactured by the French Fibro-Ciment Co. The construction product became so popular so quickly that even the misspelled name Hardi Board became somewhat generic, like Kleenex means facial tissues and Bilco means any steel cellar doorway. HardieBoard has come to mean any fiber cement siding by any number of suppliers. The success of the  fibro-cement sheeting imported by Hardie allowed him to sell his company and his own name. Hardie Fibrolite Fibrolite is synonymous with asbestos in places like New Zealand and Australia. Asbestos cement sheets became popular in the 1950s as an alternative building material to wood and brick. Hardie manufactured a cement-asbestos product in Australia beginning in the early 20th century. The James Hardie company continues to settle claims with employees and customers who have been subject to asbestos-related cancers presumably from working closely with the building product. Since 1987, Hardie products have not contained asbestos; the fiber replacement is organic wood pulp. James Hardie building products installed before 1985 may contain asbestos. Fiber Cement Building Products James Hardie Building Products is a company that specializes in fiber cement building materials and has come to dominate the market, yet other providers carry products similar to Hardie Boards. For example, allura USA bought CertainTeed Corporation and also merged its manufacturing with Maxitile in order to be competitive. American Fiber Cement Corporation (AFCC) distributes in Europe under the name Cembrit. Nichiha has a formula that uses less silica and more fly ash. Wonderboard ® by Custom Building Products is a product similar to HardieBacker, ® a cement-based underlayment. Fiber cement cladding has a history of expanding, shrinking, and cracking. James Hardie has addressed these issues with the HardieZone ® system. In the U.S. a different formula is used to make siding for homes in the north subject to freezing temperatures as opposed to siding for homes in the south, subject to hot, wet climates. Many residential contractors cannot be convinced that cement siding is even worth changing their building processes. Next Generation Concrete Cladding Architects are using Ultra-High-Performance Concrete (UHPC), a very expensive, cement-based product for commercial cladding. Popularly known by their fabricators, such as Lafarges Ductal ® and TAKTL and Envel with Ductal, UHPC is a complex recipe that includes metal fibers of steel in the mix, making the product super strong but thin and shapeable. Its durability exceeds other cement mixtures, and its not subject to some of the fiber cement hazards such as expanding and shrinking. Building on UHPC, the next generation of composite technology is DUCON ® Micro-Reinforced Concrete Systems; stronger, thinner, and even more durable for structures in an age of terrorism and weather extremes. Concrete homes have long been considered a solution to building in climates of extremes. Like most new products for the homeowner, look to what architects are using to eventually be the product of choice, as long as you can find a contractor who keeps up with the skills and necessary equipment to install it. Sources Recent Updates at linkedin.com/company/james-hardie-building-products, LinkedIn [accessed June 8, 2015]Frequently Asked Questions, Our Company, and Performance Durability, James Hardie Building Products Inc. [accessed June 8, 2015; February 11, 2018]Case study: James Hardie and asbestos, lawgovpol.com [accessed June 8, 2015]Australian Dictionary of Biography, http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/hardie-james-jim-12963 [accessed February 12, 2018]

Monday, November 4, 2019

Managing people Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 5

Managing people - Essay Example The most recent legislation that the country passed is the Anti-discrimination legislation that seeks to enhance equality at the work place (WOODHAMS & LUPTON 2006). For many years women have been subjected to any forms of discrimination and gender discrimination is just one of the many things that women have been discriminated against. The most prominent discrimination that ladies are subjected to include: low pay, dismissal because they are pregnant, maternity leave and related issues. Women are also more susceptible to sexual harassment at the place of work. Despite the legislations that have been passed in the country, many more women face discrimination. For example, it is estimated that 30, 000 women are discriminated against and consequently lose their jobs because of pregnancy (DURBIN & FLEETWOOD 2010). Despite all the laws and initiatives put by stakeholders to break discrimination on basis of gender, social and cultural barriers the strides are yet to achieve maximum effort. Similarly, the society is yet to break from the negative perception that women are subjected to. From the persistent discrimination directed to women it is clear that the country, like any other country that discriminated against women, cannot grow and develop to meet 100% potential since almost 50% of the population is discriminated against. However, the society through different groups such as trade unions continues to advocate for more change (SARGEANT 2009). The country has made great strides by introducing different types of laws that seek to deal with different kinds of discrimination including work related discrimination. In 1975, the country introduced Sex discrimination Act. This legislation sought to ban all kinds of discrimination on the basis of sex. Several years later the country introduced the Equalities Act of 2010. This act consolidated many laws together and in particular

Saturday, November 2, 2019

INTRODUCTION TO QUANTITATIVE MANAGEMENT Lab Report

INTRODUCTION TO QUANTITATIVE MANAGEMENT - Lab Report Example otal profit that can be obtained while satisfying the constraints (in this case maximum benefit of 710) gave 26 for moulding, 14 for trimming and 13 for packaging. However, these values gave a profit of 705 which is less by 5. What this means is that an increase in either of the tree variables will give a gain value that is way above the limit that the company has in stored for the items (710). Therefore, the optimal values that the manufacturing can order and make optimal profit while satisfying the constraints is 26, 14, and 13 for moulding, trimming, and packaging respectively. Besides, the maximum amount of time that each component of moulding can take is represented in the above table. From the solver output, it is apparent that the production time remained. The maximum production time utilised in the manufacture was less from the total allocated time by 2500, 1700, and 300 for moulding, trimming, and packaging respectively. The remaining time could not be accounted for because any change in any of the three variables resulted in higher increase in the total amount of time allocated for each component. Therefore, the entire time was not utilised to obtain maximum production while satisfying the constraints of the equation. The result given by the solver is the optimal selection for each component that gives a maximum profit. One would argue that since the amount of resources available was not fully utilised its sensitivity was not 100%. However, it is apparent that the sensitivity for this selection was (705 / 710) * 100= 99.2%. Though this sensitivity is not perfect, it is relatively high and appropriate. Therefore, the choice of each component given by the solver is sensitive as per the requirement to satisfy the constraints. Selection of parameters that satisfy constraints at 99% is a better option than a percentage lower because such selection should not exceed the available resource. For this reason, these values were the optimal and maximal choice

Thursday, October 31, 2019

Default Risk Management Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words - 1

Default Risk Management - Research Paper Example This essay stresses that businesses are able to reduce different threats that they face from external environment by identifying the risks they face and then taking steps to mitigate them. One of the major risks faced by financial institutions is the default risk. Default risk is the risk that the firm faces when it is not able to meet the financial obligations when they are due. Default risk is also named as credit risk as the firm does not have the ability to pay off its creditors. However in case of a financial institution like banks, the scenario may be complex, as these banks give loans to different creditors which, in turn, can face default, and this could affect the liquidity position of the banks as they do not have funds according to what they expected and thus can increase the default risk of banks. This essay declares that market risk is the other type of risk faced by the firm, and it is because of fluctuations and conditions in the market. Market risk could be because of fluctuations in currencies, exchange rates, interest rates, volatility in other markets, etc. that could influence the future cash flows of the firm. It is important for the financial institutions to analyse different market trends and the risks that could arise because of changes in the market and then take actions or steps to minimise the impact of these types of risks accordingly. There are some risks, such as chances in the exchange rate, that cannot be eliminated.

Monday, October 28, 2019

The Cuases, Effects, and Prevention of Homophobia in America Essay Example for Free

The Cuases, Effects, and Prevention of Homophobia in America Essay Homophobia is an immense issue in todays society, but especially in America. The completely irrational prejudices against the community of this country is on the rise. This is due to a number of causes of which we as the American people have the ability to change. We must closely exam the causes and the effects of homophobia in America to completely understand why and where this is still occurring in modern day society and how it may be further prevented. Homosexuality has existed as long as humanity itself, and with homosexuality always seems homophobia, or the completely extreme and irrational fear or aversion to homosexuality and homosexual people, is sure to exist. This prejudice against homosexuals has been in one way or another shown to exist in almost every culture and society, although some cultures have come to coexist with the gay community in harmony, others how ever still have much work to do in the stride for equal rights and lack of discrimination for the gay population in their countries. Of these countries most are found in the Middle Eastern regions, in places like Africa, Egypt, and Iran homosexuality is a felony, and in many cases will have one either imprisoned or killed. It is in a way expected that these countries would oppose homosexuality so strongly, due to their strong Islamic traditions. But a country that it would not seem irrational to think would be more open to the gay population is the United States of America, but this is not true. Homosexuals might not be stoned to death in the streets of America, but they also don’t have the options of freedom and rights those in Europe have either. According to statistics, nearly half of America still has a strong opposition or hatred toward this community, as a country America needs to realize how absurd this completely irrational prejudice is and how much of a waste of it really is. As a country we should fight to stop homophobia in its tracks. Homophobia has really existed, but when did it really start occurring in the U. S.? The term homophobia was coined in 1967 by Wainwright Churchill in his study on the habits and lifestyles of gay men in America. Ever since then, it seems the term has stuck, even if it is used in the wrong context. The term left the scene of American society for around 20 years or so, but resurfaced much, much stronger with the global AIDS pandemic in the 1980s, gays across the globe were targets of severe and irrational beliefs that AIDS was a â€Å"gay mans disease†. Such beliefs of course are highly illogical, but that does not stop them from spreading like the disease its’ self. This stereotype can still be seen in todays supposidly more liberal modern society. Such stereotypes fuel the continued occurrence of homophobia, especially in the U. S. , which in return keeps the continues cycle of hate and prejudice going. The issues that stem from homophobia are numerous and far and in-between, but many are huge and obvious issues that America as a whole could change if its’ people really wanted to. Of the many prejudices against the gay population, it stands no more obvious anywhere else than in equal rights, rights that all Americans deserve. The discrimination of housing, employment, and equal marriage rights, all must be stopped. America is singling out a â€Å"minority† with in it’s borders, and that is wrong, the â€Å"land of the free† is showing a severe hypocritical, and bigoted side that no one should ever see occur. What is really the core cause of all the negative energy toward Americas gay community? Of the many things that cause homophobia in America, government would not be expected, but it is true to say that government is where most of the negative energy toward the gay community stems from. The American government is supposed to support it’s people as a whole, in an equal unbiased manner. If this is true, why is the government putting such restrictions like the ban on same-sex marriage on the gay community? This is a direct contradiction to the qualities America is built on, this isnt freedom for all of its’ people, it is freedom for those who are stereotypically perceived as â€Å"normal† by a bigoted, ignorant society that is intolerant of difference. America’s government is tainted with people thinking in this mindset, especially among the republican party. Politicians are openly allowed to â€Å"smear† the gay community with their extremely bigoted comments, and have recently succeeded in allowing others to freely do so also. In the state of Michigan, republicans have managed to pass bill 137, a bill that promotes bullying. One has to think twice to really absorb that the state has actually done such an absurd thing. In this bill it is now okay to freely and openly express ones feelings towards another, harass, bully, what ever it is they want, as long as they can support their claims with a moral or religious view. This is of course a horrendous and stupid idea. After the bill was successfully passed, Senate Minority Leader Gretchen Whitmer (D-East Lansing), took to the floor of the Senate to voice her outrage at the amended language and the danger of the exemptions: â€Å"Here oday you claim to be protecting kids and youre actually putting them in more danger. But bullying is not OK. We should be protecting public policy that protects kids,? all kids, from bullies,? all bullies. But instead you have set us back further by creating a blueprint for bullying. Shockingly, Senate Bill 137 will do more harm than good. Senate Republicans left our students behind in favor of partisan politics and passed a bill that actually allows more bullying. Students and parents expect lawmakers to lead the charge against bullying, but instead Republicans made ideology more important than school safety. Research clearly shows that only states with enumerated bills see a reduction in bullying. We need a bill that mentions the most affected populations and requires statewide reporting of bullying and harassment. Senate Bill 137 simply does nothing to reduce bullying in our schools. † â€Å"But the saddest and sickest irony of all, is that the bill was named â€Å"Matt’s Safe School Law,† after Matt Epling, a 14-year-old East Lansing student who committed suicide in 2002 after being repeatedly bullied in school†. As Senator Whitmer has made clear, this unrelentless bullying must be put to a stop, not promoted like it currently is in American government and society. Government and it’s views are corrupt, so corrupt that it will not function as it should in the goal of protecting it’s citizens and their well deserved rights. It is known government spreads the ideas of homophobia, but where is the homophobia in American government stemming from? The answer lies within the religious institution that runs most of America, the religion it was founded on, Christianity. Christianity is the largest practiced religion in the world, with such a hopeful message of salvation and a forgiving and loving God it is no surprise this is true. Their teachings have a message that â€Å"God so loved the world that he sent his one and only son and those who believes in him and that those who accept him as their one and only savior shall have everlasting life† (John 3:16). With such message of love and equality toward all of humanity, why is it that this religion that is supposed to spread this message of love and hope, actually in some areas spreading the hatred of some and especially the promotion of homophobia? The reason is there are many bigoted, hypocritical, and of all things homophobic pastors that tell sermons spewing with bigotry, manipulated to convey the thoughts of negativity towards the gay community in America. It seems the congregations that hear these so called â€Å"sermons† are nieve beyond recognition. Why is it that the general public has lost all of its common sense listening to seemingly false sermons preeching the hatred and intolerance of a minority? Of the few verses that mention homosexuality in the holy bible, one is more than any other, that verse is Leviticus 20:13. â€Å"If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads†. This verse is said to directly quote homosexuality as a sin, but this is not so. In the verse listed above it is talking about the Canaanites laws, not God’s, it is prosecuting the Canaanites sexual cult rituals involving male prostitutes, not gay men in commited relationships. The severe unwillingness to let one think for themselves has allowed this verse to be repeatedly misinterpreted to the point where it is thought to be the absolute truth. Thus encouraging the U. S. Media and society to, in it’s thoughts, rightly denounce or discriminate against the gay population. Since media is a strong driving force of information and individual opinions in the U. S. , especially to many nieve people, it in not unrealistic to think that media is of a big influence on homophobia in America. All this talk about the causes of homophobia is sure to have one wondering how it effects the actual gay individual or gay community. Ask any gay person and they will more than likely say that homophobia has been or is a serious and hurtful problem, but just how does it really affect them? Homophobia has many, many negative affects on gays, many of which they have no control of what so ever. Among these many affects, the one that is seen to occur the most is the strongly held negative attitudes that the American public has on their lives. Gay people are discriminated against everyday in the U. S. , and sometimes even almost every day of their lives. They are verbal harassed in the workplace, at school, or even out in public in general. Severe prejudice against the homosexual orientation is seen to be extremely common and more hostile around highschool students and young adults, these young gay people must combat and suffer what their peers say to them on a daily basis, whether said to their face or not, it still has severe psychological effects on a person. â€Å"Prejudice and discrimination have social and personal impact. On an individual level, such prejudice and discrimination may also have negative consequences, especially if gay people attempt to conceal or deny their sexual orientation. Although many gay people learn to cope with the social stigma against homosexuality, this pattern of prejudice can have serious negative effects on health and well-being. This treatment to which gays are subjected to has significant mental health concerns. This also amounts to a great amount of stress, although social support is crucial in coping with stress, antigay attitudes and discrimination may make it difficult for gay people to find such support. (American Psychological Association 2) As it was said above, being gay adds a considerable amount of stress to ones life, sterotype upon stereotype upon stereotype are thrown at them, and they have to attempt to cope with it and get on with life. Although this may work for some, for others the stress leads to other serious problems, problems such as constant or severe depression, suicidal thoughts, and even more stress. Feeling suicidal is never a good situation, and it is shown to be four times as likely that gay people, specifically men, attempt to kill themselves or actually do kill themselves. Recently there has been a tremendous jump in the amount of suicides of gay people, all where high school or college age, and where harassed about their sexual orientation until it was unbearable. This shows that the pressures on gays is increasing steadily and is becoming more consistant in it’s effects it has on the individual. Among the many people in the American gay population many are subjected to violent accounts of homphobia that usually has them physically assaulted. These horrific events are aptly named â€Å"gay bashings†. One would like to say that this does not happen much in America as much as people say it does, one also cannot deny or ignore their occurrences either. The victims of these viscious attacks are almost always very badly injured and usually in the hospital for quite some time, many do not even make it to the hospital. Often times after these attacks are over and the suspects have been apprehended, they are hit with a lighter sentence than they actually deserve. Instead of being charged with a hate crime, they often get of easy with counts of assault. This is a major let down of our governments purpose, our government really drops the ball here. The reason we have government is to defend America’s citizens, and that is not happening when â€Å"gay bashers† are let of the hook that easily. This, in many cases can be seen as a hate crime due the recurring fashion of the attacks and in the sense that these people being attacked are targeted directly due to their sexual orientation. Things like this must be further and more thoroughly prevented in America, no gay person should be afraid of being assaulted whenever they go out into public, this must come to an end. As a nation America needs to stop pretending it is not a problem and open it’s eyes and realized what it is letting happen way too often. American society and culture needs to learn to that not every body is the same and needs to learn to be tolerant of differences. One way people could be aware and start prevention of all these many issues discussed is gay people should learn that even though society disaproves, that there is nothing wrong with who they are, they are born that way and cant change so have to learn to live with it. Heterosexual people who wish to stop homophobia in it’s tracks need to examine their response to antigay stereotypes and prejudice, they can make a point of coming to know gay people and realizing that they are human too. They should go hand in hand with the gay community against the fight of homophobia in America, heterosexuals are often in a good position to point out to other heterosexual people how irrational their homophobia can be. Studies of prejudice, including prejudice against gay people, consistently shows that prejudice declines when members of the majority group interact with members of a minority group interact wiht members of a minority group. In keeping wiht this general pattern, one of the most powerful influences on heterosexuals’ acceptances of gay people is having personal contact with an openly gay person. Antigay attitudes are far less common amoung members of the population who have a close family member or friend who is gay, especially if the gay person has been directly open about their sexual orientation toward the heterosexual person. These are of the many examples of how Americans CAN change their view on homosexuality. The causes of homophobia through the church, government, and media are known, and the effects these things have on the gay community can be seen. It is not until The United States of America realizes that these all have underlying problems and are a part of the bigger picture, can homophobia be further and better prevented in America.