Y2k Essays (1015 words) - Calendars, Software Bugs, COBOL, Hazards

Y2k Civilization's dependence upon computers has grown exponentially in the last thirty years. Businesses use computers to keep their records, write reports, and to converse with colleagues and clients. The average businessperson depends primarily on their computer to complete a day's work. Years ago, programmers caused what could have potentially been a major problem with modern computer systems. While attempting to conserve scarce and expensive data bits, they programmed the year using two digits instead of four. At the turn of the century, computer systems would not be able to discriminate between the year 1900 and the year 2000. As the speculation of what would happen at the turn of the millennium grew, those who depended on computers became frightened at the thought of what their world might become. In order to prevent any major problems from occurring, measures were to taken to repair this bug. Now that the beginning of the new century has passed, it is safe to say that the precaut ions taken by businesses and the government were not done so in vain. Now the century has turned, our computers are safe and precautions no longer need be taken. On and after January 1, there were several Y2K related problems with computers around the world, but these problems were minor and solvable. For instance, an eyeglass lens manufacturer's plant had troubles with bringing up purchase orders when customers had questions, because the purchase orders were sorted by date. In addition, the same manufacturer's plant had computers controlling the manufacturing process. Since problems affected the computers in their sales and administration office, they felt it necessary to have employees hand-check the quality and accuracy of each lens before it left the building (Zandonella, par. 4). These problems led to slight setbacks in business, but they were able to recover in time to maintain their reputation. In several cases, the Y2K glitch affected the software involved in processing purchases made with credit cards. There were some reports of people unintentionally being billed for the same meal up to twelve times. The consumers involved experienced depleted accounts, bounced checks, and hours spent straightening out balances with banks and credit card companies (Y2K, par. 1). If precautions had not been taken by most of the credit card companies, many more cases similar to these could have occurred causing a great disaster in the credit industry. People might have lost faith in credit card companies, which make up large portions of the economy. In Kansas City, KS, a few court cases were delayed, including a civil suit regarding a wrongful death, due to year 2000 related computer failure. In one case, two citizens were not served subpoenas until almost two months after they were issued (Overman, par. 2). Ellen Crawford, public information officer for the Jackson County Circuit Court, commented, ?There were a lot of problems and one of them was issuing summons? (Overman, par. 8). The programmers blamed for writing all this ?buggy? software incidentally caused the bug with good intentions. Now that the materials they were originally attempting to conserve are relatively inexpensive, programmers would only be lazy to utilize a two-digit year instead of four. The only possibility of another scare mimicking this one is in 8,000 years, when the year turns to 10000. At the rate technology in software engineering has been moving in the last thirty years, it is very unlikely that the same software will be used in 8,000 years. Some people believed that the Y2K precautions were taken in vain, and that far too much money was spent on the problem. Many compared the United States to smaller countries, citing that the amount these other countries spent to fix these problems was slim to none. Despite a few exceptions, these countries had no major problems along with the United States. For example, International Data Corp. accused the United States government of overspending by $41 billion. Meanwhile, the Chair of the President's Council on the Year 2000 Conversion agrees that there was overspending, but that it was more in the range of $10 billion (Berkowitz, par. 2). According to Ben Berkowitz of the University of Southern California, the CIO of the 3Com corporation believes that spending was ?out

buy custom Audi A8 essay

buy custom Audi A8 essay The advertisement is selling a brand new luxurious lifestyle which shows a an Audi A8 car where the advertisement itself begins by showing us why we should have a reason to say goodnight to everything that we might have seen and termed as luxurious and also showing us that there is more luxury to what we termed as luxury since it has become old and out dated which showed why in the advertisement the voice is seen to say goodnight to everything in life. This Audi commercial goodnight is a brand new 60 second TV advertisement which has been billed so as to be able to prelude to the Super Bowl ad which is up coming and the advertisement campaign is aimed at redefining new luxury. Its inspiration came from the book Goodnight Moon which was a childrens book which was initially written in 1947 by Margaret Brown who by then, the book was considered to be one of the most and best-selling book of children since it was very entertaining to the children (Foster, 2011). This advertisement goodnight is intended to mirror the story of the Goodnight moon and it takes all its viewers on a journey which is animated, through a mansion which is of a traditional style which is laden with stuffy luxury which is considered to be old and out dated. So this advertisement says goodnight to everything which is considered to be old luxury which is defined by the excesses and the gluttony, and all the features which are found in the Audi A8 sedan flagship of the 2011 which is the companys most technologically advanced vehicle that the company has been known to have produced in its new luxury Audi lineup. The good morning in the advertisement symbolizes the embrace of the new technology and new luxury as the Sedan A8 features are shown in the advert (Foster, 2011). The advertisement made me feel confident in myself. At first, I was somehow confused because after I watched the advertisement for the first time, my first reaction was to put on a very big smile on my face. The advertisement is very well planned since it began with a very good mansion although in the original advertisement it was considered to be out dated and part of old luxury which we are supposed to say goodnight to. With time, I came to find out that there I have a reason to sa goodnight to all the past and say good morning to new things and embrace the advancing technology of today. I think it is a very funny way to say goodnight. This advertisement can affect our behaviors and the way we feel about our communities because it can make us to hate the things we have currently and possess which make us to have very high aspirations because the main aim of Audi advertisement is to persuade people to buy the new luxurious car. In this case, the advertising is appealing enough to make people to want to purchase the car and embrace the new technology which can make a majority of the people to want to advance in the community. The main problem is that people may abandon all the good feelings that they had about their community in the name of them being out dated and old fashioned and try to adapt the new advanced technology which not everyone can be able to afford especially the young generation who is out to adventure all the new technologies which are coming up. The advertisement will influence our buying patterns because after one sees the advertisement which is very appealing and eye catching, one would be much exited to try out the new model of vehicle which is being advertised. The luxury of today and the consumers of today only exist in a world where there is no tradition but increasing entrepreneurial accomplishments where it can influence us as consumers to seek out the new and the luxury which is more evolved so that we can be able to stand out from the crowds. This advertisement about the Audi car can greatly affect our environment because the driving of a car by a citizen is one of the most polluting act that a citizen can commit especially air pollution. Vehicles are considered to produce environmental effects which are as a result of the vehicle itself or the infrastructure of the transport system. the Audi advertisement is very appealing to the public and it means that the total sales of the car would be very high which shows that there would be congestion which would further lead to the dangerous emissions in to the air from these vehicles which is a form of air pollution in the form of toxic gasses being released into the air like carbon monoxide, benzene, particulate matter, and nitrogen Dioxide. These emissions often affect thhe health of people and the carbon dioxide which is produced is a form of greenhouse gas emission. The heavy metals and the petroleum products which are from these vehicles can contaminate the storm water which can cause harm to all the creatures which live in the water like fish and the land. The expansion or roads due to the increment of the number of people using vehicles has been on the increase making up about 30%-35% of the total land in a majority of the cities which consume the natural habitats and can cause biodiversity losses. The noise and vibrations which is produced by vehicles can affect all the people who live very near to the busy roads and can cause interference with daily activities of people like sleeping. This advertisement plays very much into the problem of the consequences of the social sprawl in Conveyers, GA especially the urban sprawling where this advertisement can bring a lot of environmental side effects which are considered to be very toxic because of the auto mobile use which is considered to pollute the environment. The rise of technology has brought up a lot of problems to its end users who are the people and the rise in the technology has led to very many people to want and desire to live a luxurious life which has made the number of people who have embraced the new technologies to increase in numbers and as a result, it has led to poor urban planning and also decision making. The roads in the urban areas become too overcrowded because everyone uses a car and the rural areas remain to be very backward since the people move from the rural areas to the urban areas in quest for this new technology. This advertisement leads to an increase in the number of Audi S8 car sales for the company and in turn leads to poor infrastructures and chocking transportation systems and most especially in the urban sprawl. This is because there is no way one can live a luxurious life in the rural area, so people have to move to the cities where they can get all the luxury that they may need and it means buying more cars which increases the congestion in the traffic which means that the transport system could be slowed because of the many increasing cars on the road. This sprawl means that it would have very heavy impacts of the peoples lives. Buy custom Audi A8 essay

The Old Man and the Sea Questions for Discussion

The Old Man and the Sea Questions for Discussion Written by Ernest Hemingway,  The Old Man and the Sea is a famous novel about man versus nature and the determined struggle against inevitable aging and death. While Hemingway is known to be the master of brevity, his concise works also are much more complex than they would first appear, and  The Old Man and the Sea  is no exception. A literary classic, this novel is a great pick for a book club and a part of many schools curriculum. Here are questions related to The Old Man and the Sea that will get the discussion going.   Start From The Top: What is important about the title?   Plot Development: What are the conflicts in The Old Man and the Sea? Would you describe them in terms of physical, moral, intellectual, or emotional conflict?How does Ernest Hemingway reveal character in the novel? Symbolism: What are important themes in the story? How do they relate to the plot and characters?What are some of the symbols in the novel, and what do they represent?How universalare the ideas in  The Old Man and the Sea?  Does the story end the way you expected? How? Why? How realistic is the story?Where does The Old Man and the Sea take place? Is the setting important to the ideas in this book? Whats Your Opinion? Would you recommend this novel to a friend?

THE MEXICAN MURALISTS Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

THE MEXICAN MURALISTS - Assignment Example This resulted in feelings of hostility between the upper and the lower or middle class. This hostility later grew into ultimate animosity towards the upper class and anything even related to the upper class. Between 1923 and 1928, Diego Rivera was appointed to create murals and many researchers believe that it was Rivera’s art which set the foundations for the Mexican Muralist Movement. (Magazine, n.d.) In 1910, Mexico was in despair due to the dictatorship of President Porfirio Diaz. Vast majority was suffering from impoverishment and poverty. The Muralist Movement originally served as the mouthpiece to represent the vision and history of ideology of the government. Later on, it depicted the struggle of the lower and working class against the oppression. This movement was led by three artists, Diego Rivera, Josà © Clemente Orozco and David Alfaro Siqueiros who later came to be referred to as, Los Tres Grande which means â€Å"the three great ones†. They formed the Labor Union of Technical Workers, Painters and Sculptors and dedicated their art and murals to express the Mexican history and the opinions of the society. The Los Tres Grande used the traditional form of fresco painting and displayed their murals in the public places, which they regarded as the most convenient avenue to communicate to the public. (Flores, 2014) Orozco, Siqueiros and Rivera were analogous in many aspects but they all had very diverse approach in their art and motivation styles. Orozco had a European style of expression and he was broadly influenced by symbolism.

Strategies for analyzing and entering foreign markets Essay

Strategies for analyzing and entering foreign markets - Essay Example onal franchising is the strategy that gives the opportunity to an independent entrepreneur to operate a business under the name of another established brand name. International franchising helps businesses to expand into foreign markets using a franchise agreement. When franchises are expanded internationally, it opens new opportunities to new markets that the business could not have reached. International Franchising also allows businesses to take advantage of favorable government regulations in various countries. This helps to save money through the paid taxes. There are cultural differences that exist in various countries that might go a long way in killing the business in these countries. There is also financial risks involved when trying to expand the business into other countries. In analyzing foreign markets, firms first critically need to choose well the foreign market in which it would want to venture in. This would involve the analysis of the potential success of the business products in that market (Adam, 2001). The firm then requires gathering enough information to use in the analysis process. The information may include the knowledge about domestic government agencies, private agencies in that country as well as other private sources. In the analysis, it is also important for the firm to assess the possible risks in the foreign market. Firms choose their modes of entry into a foreign market through identification of the market, collection of information about the market, risk assessment, securing capital and space to carry out the

Organization behavior Essay Example for Free

Organization behavior Essay 1.) Critically review learning theory. Learning theory is a routine that is carried out on a daily basis in order to have an experience in various fields of work. There are several theories that explain learning theory. One of the theories is Maslow’ Hierarchy of needs which explains that, when the need level is satisfied, it ceased to become a motivator and fulfillment of higher level is the next goal. (Francesco and Gold, 2005).The second theory is Hertzberg’s motivation hygiene theory which states that, employees’ growth and esteem needs are driven by the motivation factors, responsibility and achievement. This wills results into a job satisfaction at work place. (Francesco and Gold, 2005). The third theory is McClelland’s learned needs theory which explains that needs is learned through Childhood environment, social norms and assists in the understanding of individual motivation (Francesco and Gold, 2005). The last theory is ERG theory which contributes on Maslow theory. It has three categories of needs. Existence which is the physical and psychological need, relatedness which is the need to share ideas with others and feel secure and growth is the need to achieve to fulfill of self esteemed needs. The learning theories have assisted very many people at work place especially the people who are working in the organizations. (Francesco and Gold, 2005). There have been several philosophers who have tried to explain what is learning. Various theories of learning have been therefore have been discussed. Learning theories are the ideas about why or how changes occur. There has been a theory on the behaviorist orientation to learning .This theory is from theorist such as Thorndike, Pavlov and skinner. (Smith, 1999).This theory argues that people change their behavior from the kind of learning they get. People according to the theory are stimulated by the environment they live in. When people live in a good environment they learn to be good and vise versa. Behaviorists argue that people can be taught to produce behavior change in the desired direction. An educator trying to teach people to change should arrange environment of the person to get the desired response. People can learn through skill development and training as well as behavior according to behaviorists. (Smith, 1999). There is another theory on cognitive orientation to learning. Cognitivist such as Piaget, Bruner and Gagne believe that learning process is an internal mental process. Internal mental process includes receiving insight about information, processing the information, memorizing it and finally making a perception. (Smith, 1999).That is how the learning process is according to Cognitivist. People according to the cognitivist learn through the internal cognitive structuring. This structure helps people develop skills and capacity to learn better. Cognitive structure if followed can help a person develop intelligence learning and memory as function of age as well as learning how to learn. Whichever the theory that is followed learning is an important aspect of human being and people should strive to learn more to improve themselves. (Saljo,1979) 2. Positive and negative reinforcements, punishment and extinction in shaping behavior There are many types of positive reinforcements that Godot can use. First Godot can reward excellent behavior. This is normally a very effective method of reinforcing good behavior. (Verddelho, 1999)The implication here is that when an employee is rewarded for good performance, the employee feels motivated to do even better the next time. In the end this will lead to an improved performance which is good not just for the individual but also for the organization. The second positive reinforcement is recognition. Recognition here implies acknowledging excellent behavior of good work. In this case the meaning for this is that supervisors like Godot can simply acknowledge and commend a well performing employee like Diane. Recognition of good work has the implication of having positive congratulatory words for a job that has been well accomplished. This can simply be achieved by a simple word of mouth like ‘well done.’ Unknown to many supervisors, this simple act of recognition normally has a very positive effects on the motivation of an employee of an individual and can result in positive work behavior. (Francesca Gold, 2008) The use of incentives is another positive reinforcement that can result in improved positive behavior. In this case incentives can be in form of extra or bonus pay for exemplary performance. Incentives can go along way in improving an individual’s performance on the job. (Francesca Gold, 2008)This is more so if an individual is capable of making more money by displaying good performance method. In this case the issue of a tip was a good gesture to the employees since those with exemplary performance would feel encouraged to do more. One negative way of reinforcing behavior is through harshness. In this case, the employees will only perform well because of fear of reprimand by Godot and not because they feel a compelling need to work hard. This is a negative reinforcement because positive organization behavior should be forced but should come spontaneously. The implication here is that employees should not be coerced into behaving well but rather positive behavior should just come naturally. This therefore means that these employees should not work hard because of fear of being reprimanded by the supervisor but instead should do so because of a need to do so. (Dwyer, 2005) 3. Discuss the impact of these reinforcements and punishment has on behavior and on Diane’s behavior specifically Reinforcement theory suggests that a reinforcement/reward and punishment of certain behavior will most likely result in a repeat of that particular behavior. That is to say that if behavior is not recognized or appreciated chances of it being repeated will be low. . (Francesco Gold, 2005)   However, the consequence of reinforcement is determined by whether it is negative or positive. Positive reinforcement will motivate employees and result in behavior that will increase an organization’s output and the opposite is true. . (Francesco Gold, 2005) Diane works hard and her output is great. However, when she breaks a plate one day, Godot yells at her and even makes her pay for the broken plate and the cost of cleaning up the messed caused. Diane has been waiting all along for recognition but she only gets a negative reinforcement for her good output. As it is, it is better to motivate people for the right reasons rather than to punish them for the wrong reasons. (Skinner, 1957). Diane is punished for the wrong reason and fails to get reinforced for the right reasons. Negative reinforcement is not likely to motivate individuals and therefore this will in turn lead to them slacking in their work and thus the overall out put will be low. (Skinner, 1957).   It is because of this that she relaxes when carrying out her duties. Reinforcement suggests that behavior determines outcome and a person will be motivated to seek reinforcement and avoid punishment. When she got a chance to work at a fancy French restaurant at Sydney known La Maison, Diana a University Student could not spend her vacation at her parents home Queabeyan, since she needed money to change on her diet during her next semester . (Skinner, 1957). Ready to prove how good she was, she would balance several plates on her arm and the customers would compliment her on her efficient service, but one day she dropped a bowl of bouillabaisse appetizer on the carpet and hurriedly went for sponge while apologizing but   Godot shouted at her that he would deduct $24.95, $20 from her pay to compensate for appetizer and cost of cleaning rugs respectively, out of anger and confusion, next day Diana slowed down to avoid recurrence of same incident thus she carried   no more than two dishes at a time thus slugging her tips down (Skinner, 1957). Q4 .Effectiveness of hourly pay rates and tips as a method for reinforcing desired behaviors. Tips and hourly rates have been used as a mode of payment against other methods of payment like piece rate and monthly payments. There is a big variation in the effectiveness of the methods. When hourly rate is used as the mode of payment, it has been found to have an effect on quality and speed. These two factors are the one that determine the output of any activity (Encina, 2000). Payment in work acts as an incentive to the worker. Whenever the worker is paid well he will work well and poor pay means poor jobs. It is noted that the worker will always optimize what he has at hand. When he is paid hourly he will do he/her work according to the hour he is being paid. This will spoil the consistency (Encina , 2000). When tips are added to the hourly rate, the worker will optimize on the tips and he/she will improve on his hourly work to get more tips. Things are different when hourly pay is made without the tips as there will be no motivation. Paying on an hourly rate together with the tips may improve on speed but destroy the quality. The use of tips and hourly rate need a balance as what motivate the worker are the conditions of work. Diane on his part was being motivated tips (Encina , 2000). Apart from the pay, there are other factors that motivate worker during their work. Recognition during work is another factor that lender the effectiveness of work. A worker may improve his effectiveness due to tips. This will improve his/her efficiency. When a worker feels that his efficiency has improved, he will look for recognition.   Payment on hourly rates can improve the behaviors of the worker but additional inputs like recognition should be added. Diane opted to work in the right he will perfect the work and in return he will be recognized to get a better pay. For the behavior of an hourly paid worker to improve, incentives have to be added. This will help in improving the efficiency of work and altitude towards work will improve (Schildkraut 2003). The behavior of workers depends very much on the pay and recognition. As much as workers are paid hourly tends to improve the output, their behavior depends much on the supervision. Workers will always maximize on their man hours instead of employers manpower (Schildkraut 2003). Therefore to ensure that the behavior of the worker is good requires supervision. The supervision should not oppress the worker but instead it will help improve his behavior. The role of the supervisor for hourly paid worker is to help the worker to improve in his productivity. Though the supervisor will optimize on production, it should not destroy the quality of the work (Schildkraut 2003). In conclusion hourly rates can improve on the worker behavior but proper measures should be put in place to ensure that the objectives of the company or organization are met. The measure can include recognition after improvement, controlled supervision, and improvement after achievement. There should be no mistake of paying hourly for organization benefit but it should be to the worker (Schildkraut 2003).

General Environmental Analysis Essay -- Essays Papers

General Environmental Analysis The airline industry is very stable and unlikely to change in the near future. There are many reasons for this. Air travel continues to grow and will continue in this fashion as long as the economy stays in an upward trend. US domestic air traffic grew 2.3% in 1998 and 3.5% in the first six months of 1999 according to Air Transportation Association. The percentage of flyers has increased an average of 2% each year and the percentage of people who have ever flown before increased from 73% in 1993 to 81% in 1997. (Airport Transport Association, Internet). The top three reasons that people fly are business trips (47%), visiting relatives (38%) and going on vacation (13%). Most airline revenues are gained from the fares they charge these passengers, but they also earn ancillary revenues from transporting mail, shipping freight, selling in-flight services and from serving alcoholic beverages (Airport Transportation Association, Internet). The primary target market of airline passengers today is the business traveler because business trips account for the majority (47% ) of airline flights. Though this percentage of business trips is slowly declining, the actual number of business travelers is increasing. The business traveler fits the description of the average airline passenger of being male, between the ages of 35 and 54, having a household of $60,000 or more and lives in the western region of the country (Airport Transportation Association, Internet). The business traveler tends to be very price inelastic in terms of plane fares and as a result, airlines provide benefits to them such as priority check-in, expedited baggage handling, frequent flier miles and in-flight cell phones to business people to entice them to fly with their carrier. The other segment of the airline market is that of leisure travelers. These passengers tend to be extremely price sensitive which is exactly opposite the business traveler. As a result, airlines must find ways to beat competitors in terms of prices. Because the leisure traveler is not loyal to any one carrier, price becomes the determining factor in deciding which carrier to fly on. Again just opposite of the business traveler, the number of leisure fliers has decreased while the number of trips has increased. While the industry seems to be doing extremely... ...y another airline and using it through a larger airline may be a smart move. Some amount of capital should be devoted to improving technology because it is, in a sense, the power of the future. Bibliography Air Transport Association. â€Å"Air travel Survey.† Online. MSN.com. Internet. 12 Nov. 2000. Available: www.londecon.co.uk/pubs/comp/crb8.htm. Carey, Susan et.al. â€Å"AMR, Northwest talks turn serious as pressure rises for decision on merger†. Wall Street Journal. July 12, 2000. Competition Bulletin 8. Online. MSN.com. Internet. 9 Nov.2000. Available: www.activemedia-guide.com/airindustry.htm. â€Å"Four leading airlines launch global alliance,†Transportation and Distribution, Cleveland, OH, August 2000. Mooreman, Robert W. â€Å"United turns to academics to show alliances aid consumers.† Aviation Week and Space Technology. New York. Oct.2,2000. Travel Agent. â€Å"Forecast for the Future: Airlines.† Online. Yahoo.com. Internet. 12 Nov.2000. Available: www.finarticles.com/cf_1/mOVOU/2-298/59013812/p2/article.jhtml. US Business Reporter. â€Å"Airline Industry Profile.† Online. Yahoo.com. Internet. 12 Nov. 2000. Available: www.air-transport.org/public/industry/23.asp.

The Thin Red Line

Essay on †The Red Line† by Charles Higson Society contains a vast majority of different types of people, and all of them look, act, and think differently. How we as individuals do these things, are greatly influenced by the people around us, as our differences makes us judge others. In creating our own identity, our reliance on others is consequently grand, which can be either a fine or a dreadful matter. For some, the prejudice in the perceptions of others can cause the truth to be exceedingly twisted. It can be disturbed to such a degree, that the image of others is completely opposite of how it is in reality.This is what each character in Higson’s short story The Red Line experiences. Higson questions and plays with the role identity have in our postmodern society by using irony in the characterization and by the use of a dynamic point of view. Berto and the nameless man each have contradictory personalities and looks. This is seen because the reader and the cha racters are introduced to different sides of the people in the story. As the reader gets a sense of the characters looks, personalities and thoughts, the persons in the story only get to see each other from the outside.Denise’s descriptions of the two men could not be more wrong, and therefore displays the contradictories perfectly. She sees the nameless man as someone innocent, child-like and defenseless, and she sees Berto as one who has â€Å"the look of a hunter. Cold, superior, in charge. †[1] She thinks Berto will hurt her, but he is actually the one who assumes fondly of her and the nameless man in reality dislikes her. None of that is played out though as the characters do not interact with each other, as their narrow-mindedness stop them.The characters are prejudiced towards each other, which prove to be wrong, making the situation ironic. Denise’s thoughts of the two indicates the dramatic irony in the story, because we as readers know that Berto is th e naive and innocent one, while the nameless man is the hunter, who kills Berto in the end. Berto sees the nameless man as someone harmless, but as he kills him, it creates situational irony. He had hoped that the man would have helped him find his way around London, and in a way he does, since Berto’s blood trail reminds him that he needed to take the red line – It was ot the preferable outcome Berto could have hoped for though, of course, as he dies. The nameless man deems very negative of the two, mostly Berto that is so contrary himself, both in appearance and personality. The nameless man considers Berto to be iniquitous, while we as readers know the opposite is true. He also supposes that Berto and Denise are â€Å"eyeing each other up across the aisle†[2], but none of the two has romantic interest in each other, and Denise even ends up running from the former.The reader must question each character, based on their view on the others and how this changes t heir persona, and how each one of them is considered by our selves. The point of view shifts in a way that it both creates suspense, and plays with our impression of personality. With each chapter, titled by a train station name, we follow a different character’s day. In Goodge Street, a chapter towards the end, the characters stories intertwine, but the shifting continues. The composition is therefore not linear, which is typical of postmodern literature, as it creates suspense.There is dynamic and a sense of reflection in the story, which are also postmodern traits. Differing at all times, the point of view creates a sense that nothing is settled, especially because of the conflicting information we obtain of the characters. We must therefore reconsider the story and the characters all the time, thus forcing us to reconsider the personas constantly. The role identity plays in the story is a reflection of how it functions in postmodern society. This is part of the authorâ₠¬â„¢s intention, as Higson wants us to question what we see, as not everyone/everything is what it seems.He also questions and makes us think about our own prejudices towards others, and how we view each other. He plays with the role appearance have in our society, and how important it can be. Berto gets murdered solely because of the way he looks. Higson also critiques the emphasis society puts on perception of others, as too much prejudice can kill the ingenuous and righteousness in life. The nameless man is also extremely narcissitic, as he â€Å"took to staying in, standing in front of the mirror for hours on end, shaving and looking at his reflection†[3], thus he is an archetype of someone in society Higson critiques.Alas, appearance plays an incredibly important role, as Denise run away from Berto and the nameless man kills the latter because of it, even though we as readers know Berto is a respectable guy. The situation in the story is of course extreme, but Higson doe s this to get the point across more clearly and create irony. The contradictions are solar clear and the prejudices have serious consequences for the characters. It goes gravely wrong for the guy the reader sees as kind of a protagonist, and the characters see the antagonist as the innocent and harmless one.We get different impressions of Denise, Berto and the nameless man based on their thoughts on each other and their life situation. These are obtained in a dynamic way, because the point of view shifts and the composition is not linear. Thus, we must reconsider the story at all times, and sense how we ourselves perceive each other. As Higson questions the concept of identity, he also makes us question ourselves, how we view others, and on what grounds we judge each other by. ———————– [1] Higson, Charles. The Thin Red Line, p. 69 l. 4 [2] Ibid. p. 69, l. 25 [3] Ibid. p. 66, l. 30-31

The Needs of American Cities for Policing Policy

In analyzing the needs of American cities for policing policy for the future, race has to be considered in the equation. Researchers note that it is not possible to ignore the variable of race when describing the nature of policing in the United States. This includes efforts to develop a community policing concept, and race enters both for policing in the minority community and for the way policing does or does not use racial profiling so as to antagonize the minority community. In much of America, relations between the police and the African-American community have long been tense. In some regions, the police are viewed as an occupying army present not to protect the people but to control them and to keep them in their place. Numerous civil disturbances in recent decades can be traced to tensions between the police and the black community, from the riots of the summer of 1965 to the riot in Los Angeles after the first Rodney King verdict, from the problems in Crown Heights in New York to any number of disputed police shooting incidents in cities across the country. Even without a specific incident to set off a disturbance, there is often an underlying tension between poor black communities and the surrounding society, with the police serving as a symbol of that society: The very complex, diffuse, interrelated, but still independent nature of the social, political, and economic institutions within American society, supported by layers and layers of public and private bureaucracies often manipulated by elusive, anonymous power brokers, perpetually frustrate the attempts of Black Americans to modify and reorder societal arrangements in their favor. Therefore, the â€Å"system† is identified as the culprit (Wintersmith, 1974, p. 2). The fact that the police are the most likely target for black hostility and aggression, however, does not mean blacks do not have a real reason to fear the police or the rallying cry of â€Å"law and order†: For Black Americans this slogan connotes oppression, police occupation of Black communities, inequitable and selective police treatment, disregard for human and constitutional rights of Black citizens, and continued denial of equitable opportunity (Wintersmith, 1974, p. ). Community Policing is a program that links the actions of the police with citizen participation as part of an overall effort to solve the problems of the community by involving the community, and such an approach can help inform the public and gain public acceptance for the minority hire program a well. The community policing model is based on that sort of assumption and on the view that crime has many complex causes and that police departments cannot keep the streets safe by themselves. If crime is to be controlled, police must reach out to other local institutions, and indeed to the broader community at large, and create partnerships. Among the features of such a program are integrated investigations, team and neighborhood rather than a shift and divisional basis for officer deployment, foot patrols, and community service as a focus along with problem-oriented policing instead of mere crime-fighting. Programs of this sort mean a different structure for the police as well as altered functions, allocations of resources, and general attitude. This can be a challenge to traditional police department structures because the traditional method is to respond to citizen demand rather than to try to ascertain the underlying forces creating patterns of problems. The community policing method is proactive rather than responsive. The approach also calls attention to the degree to which the police are dependent on the public for support, information, and cooperation. A recent study suggests that the benefits of community policing may have been oversold to the public, but there are also indications that community policing needs to be given time to work and that the police and the community must become more comfortable with one another to create a better atmosphere (Moran & Bucqueroux, 1995, p. 1057). One way for the police to learn more about the neighborhood and the residents is to be residents themselves. Requiring officers to live in the community is seen as a way of enhancing the community policing effort in a variety of ways and of adding to the comfort level on both sides. Police and citizens should see themselves as part of the same community. Informal and casual contact between police officers and the public occurs at different rates in different communities. Often, members of the public keep their distance from police officers out of concern that they will be investigated or somehow drawn into police activity or because of a general distrust of the police: â€Å"American studies show high social isolation of police officers in comparison with people in other occupations (Guyot, 1991, p. 279). Some see the police as having isolated themselves intentionally, leaving them open to charges of abusing their authority by coming into neighborhoods in which they have no stake and using their power unwisely. Community policing is seen as a way of reversing this. Wilson and Kelling (1989) note of crime, â€Å"Most crime in most neighborhoods is local: the offenders live near their victims† (Wilson & Kelling, 1989, p. 46). This makes people in these neighborhoods feel less safe, just as they can be made to feel more safe if police offices live in the neighborhood. The officers need to be comfortable with the victims and to understand the perpetrators, and living in the community they serve. Bringing more minorities into the police department is also often emphasized as a way to reach and include the black community. The proper model for bringing new hires into the department and for finding more qualified minorities is recruitment rather than hiring. Most departments emphasize hiring, which means that applicants come in on their own and ask to join the department, after which they are evaluated. Recruitment involves seeking out qualified applicants and selling the idea and the department to them. This is a practice approach that can be conducted throughout the community, for individuals of all backgrounds, and this also avoids the quota stigma while including more minorities by identifying those who would fit the needs of the department. This still leaves a barrier in the form of the requirements for qualification, which need to be more flexible in order to emphasize training after acceptance rather than having the skills needed before applying. This idea would also extend the reach of the recruiter more deeply into minority groups (Carter & Radelet, 1999, p. 173). The development of a proper plan for implementing recruiting means determining need on several bases, including short-term needs, medium-term needs, and long-term needs. For all, the department needs to develop â€Å"a marketing plan for recruiting that includes operational, tactical, and strategic objectives† (Carter & Radelet, 1999, pp. 174-175). Developing a plan for hiring more minority officers can begin with analyzing what other departments have done to address the same issue, and some of what is found in a survey on the subject includes good recommendations for an approach to take. For instance, an Action Plan offered by the department in the Canadian city of Brantford includes noting that the minorities already in the department can be a great help in recruiting new minority hires by serving as the face of the department in certain communities. For instance, these officers can be depicted in recruitment materials in the law enforcement role whenever possible to encourage potential female and visible minority candidates. These officers can also be used to give active encouragement for the recruitment of potential candidates. They can also represent the department at high schools, colleges, and universities to attract potential candidates through continued participation in such things as the student co-op placement program, anti-vandalism program, and the High School Resource Officer program. These officers can also work with groups in the community representing the community diversity to build relationships and encourage potential candidates, which will also involve sitting on police liaison committees and hosting Citizenship Court (Recruiting Process, 2004). Allen (2003) suggests that the only way to keep police departments focused on minority hiring is by instituting an affirmative action program, but given recent court rulings and public attitudes, that is not a viable solution. Allen does note that keeping up with minority hiring is a problem because what is required always changes, as noted with reference to mesa, Arizona: The minority population is slowly yet steadily increasing. Both the increase in population and changes in ethnic demographics have affected the city's public safety needs and contribute to the department's difficulty in becoming more diverse (Allen, 2003). Among the problems noted for programs to hire more minorities are resistance from within from officers who feel threatened by change, community resistance, suits from those who believe they have been the target of reverse discrimination, and simple difficulties in finding qualified applicants. Programs useful in police hiring can be adapted to the specific needs of minority hiring. In order to improve the quality of police recruits in general, programs have been set up at the college and university levels in order to recruit better-educated officers. Such programs can be used effectively at traditionally back colleges and universities in order to garner attention and attract minority recruits from that population. Such an approach would also be key to bringing in more recruits who would be good candidates for advancement in order to improve the mix in managerial roles. One of the complaints leveled at some departments when they use affirmative action for minority hiring is that the level of recruits goes down, but this would not be the case with recruits attracted from minority colleges. Within the department, a mentor program can be created to empower existing minority officers to give assistance, training, and advice to new recruits, a program that would help all officers and the department as a whole and that would also be especially useful for keeping new minority hires on track so they do not get discouraged and resign, as often happens. The mentors also serve as role models of what advancement brings. Once the department is on it way to a more varied and advanced status, it can offer incentives to minority officers from other departments to transfer. This can be another way of gaining qualified recruits, especially for the management level, as such a move up can be offered as the incentive that attracts them in the first place. They can then serve as mentors to other minority applicants and help expand the reach of the department. Their experience can also be invaluable. Once these programs are in place, they must be maintained in order to keep the department fresh, at a proper level of minority employment, and at a high level of community involvement and service and a high level of overall competence. The degree of change in the department in terms of the makeup of the force will show how well the program is working, just as normal evaluations of the work performance of new hires and old will show that the change is beneficial to the department. This analysis shows that there is a need to consider race first in terms of the community and second in terms of the make-up of the police force. In both cases, this is because race remains a dividing issue and one that is exacerbated by most poling programs. Community policing offers at least the chance of improving the system and reducing both the threat to the community and antipathy from the community.

The death of John Proctor Essays

The death of John Proctor Essays The death of John Proctor Paper The death of John Proctor Paper Mary is brought before the judges and so are the other girls. The judge puts in Marys mind that satan has got hold of her or all the girls are positively lying. Abigail is also questioned by the judge and lies, the judge cannot understand why Abigail would want Proctors wife dead. Mary is put through tests by the judges even being asked to faint on command which she finds impossible to do, she is goaded by Parriss who knows his reputation is totally at stake. Abigail knowing that she could be found out as being a deceitful liar storms up to the judge and questions him as to whether he believes them. Abigail then starts to shake and pretend that Mary is afflicting her. John Proctor by this time has seen enough and admits to making love to Abigail and calls her a whore. The judge asks Abigail if Proctor is telling the truth but Abigail denies without saying anything. Good Wife Proctor is called for by the judge to touch the bottom of this swamp but Goody Proctor has to admit that she threw Abigail out for harlotry. Both John and Abigail had to turn their backs away from Goody Proctor and we have to remember that John had told the court that his wife never lies. The judge asks Goody Proctor about the dismissal of Abigail Williams and she tells the judge she dissatisfied me and my husband. Goody being a good Christian didnt wish to tell the court that her husband had been adulterous and when asked by the judge if her husband was an adulterer she replied no. This was the first lie Goody Proctor had told in the whole of her life. Goody Proctor then learns the terrible truth that John has told the court about his liaison with Abigail and she looks on in dismay not believing that she has done this to her husband. Hale actually believes Proctor is telling the truth, I feel that Hale realizes at this point that Goody Proctor was lying for the first time because when Hale went to Proctors house and asked John Proctor to repeat his Commandments he missed out adultery and now realizes that he must have blocked the adultery with Abigail out of his mind. Now Abigail knows that she has got away with her lies and deceit and at t this point Abigail starts screaming to divert the courts attention saying Mary has the Devil in her The girls repeat everything Mary is saying, pretending she is making them do this. At this point Mary sees that if she doesnt save herself nobody else can and she turns and says the Devil came to her and told her to give her name to stop his wife from hanging. Mary has now condemned John Proctor. Hale tries to intervene but is cut down by the judge. John Proctor says the judge is pulling heaven down and raising up a whore he then screams God is Dead. Abigail seeing that Hale could be a problem for her goes to the judge telling him that Hales wife is a witch but the judge tells her you are mistaken child, understand me this is a warning shot to Abigail that she is going too far. John Proctor is sent to jail and his visitor is Abigail Williams who wants to have him set free and go away with her on a ship. She realizes that all her plans have been thwarted and she never dreamed John would end up in jail. Abigail says that the jailer on her word will set him free and they can board a ship for Barbados together. John Proctor replies to her offer with the words it is not on a ship we will meet again Abi but in hell. The perpetrator of all the things that happen in Salem leaves, Abigail Williams with stolen money disappears. Reverend Parriss now sees that something must be done to save the lives of John, Rebecca Nurse and Martha Corey. The judge says that if Proctor confesses to being a witch then there will be an end to the deaths. Hale goes to Goody Proctor to inform her that her husband is marked to die and that John must just tell a lie to stop the hanging and begs Goody to get John to lie. Goody knows her husband will not lie to save his soul and promises nothing but asks to speak with her husband alone. They talk of their baby not yet born and their boys. John knows he is about to die but says he is thinking to confess just to be done with the problem. Goody says she will accept whatever he does. John says it is hard to give a lie to dogs and that it is only spite that makes him stay silent. Goody replies whatever you will do its a good man does it she says she has her own sins to deal with. Goody admits to keeping a cold house and asks for his forgiveness. John shouts to the courts I want my life The next problem begins when the judges want a signed confession that is to be pasted on the door of the church. He is asked if he saw Rebecca Nurse and others with the devil, John cannot lie and so he says that he saw no-one with the Devil. Hale pleads with the judge to let Proctor just sign his own confession which Proctor does but then reality strikes him and he argues that he cannot bring his boys up to be good men if this lie is pasted to the church door. He pleads that he has given this court his soul could they not leave him with his name. Proctor tears up the piece of paper with his signature on in and condemns himself to death. Hale pleads with Goody to change Johns mind and Goody replies he has his goodness now God forbid I take it from him. Three innocent people are sent to be hanged and now we see the village people look on in total silence. This play showed peoples greed, ignorance, arrogance, hatred and all centred around one girls unrequited love for a married man. It showed the good people dying whilst the tormentors stood by and gloated. It showed us how the might of the many blows away reality. Mass hysteria of young girls convinced grown men, mature judges that Salem was the Devils playground.

How to Handle Disapproval of Interracial Relationships

How to Handle Disapproval of Interracial Relationships If youre in an interracial relationship, you may be crazy about your partner but dismayed that others disapprove. So, what’s the best way to handle the objections? Communication and boundary-setting are key. Above all else, take the steps necessary to protect your relationship in the face of ongoing negativity. Don’t Assume the Worst For your own mental health, assume that most people have good intentions. If you notice eyes on you and your significant other as you walk down the street, don’t automatically think  it’s because the passersby disapprove of your interracial union. Perhaps people are staring because they consider you a particularly attractive couple. Perhaps people are staring because they applaud you for being in a mixed relationship or because they belong to a mixed couple themselves. It’s quite common for members of interracial couples to notice similar couples. Dont Give the Haters Any of Your Time Of course, there are times when strangers on the street are openly hostile. Their eyes really do fill with hate at the sight of interracial couples. So, what should you do when you’re on the receiving end of their glares? Nothing. Just look away and keep going about your business, even if the stranger actually shouts out an insult. Getting into a confrontation is unlikely to do much good. Moreover, your choice of mate is absolutely no one’s concern but yours. The best thing you can do is not give the haters any of your time. Don’t Spring Your Relationship on Loved Ones No one knows your family and friends as you do. If they’re open-minded liberal types or have had an interracial relationship or two themselves, they’re unlikely to make a fuss upon meeting your new partner. If, in contrast, they’re socially conservative and have no friends of a different race, let alone dated anyone of mixed race, you might want to sit them down and let them know that you’re now a part of a mixed couple. You might frown upon this idea if you think of yourself as color-blind, but giving your loved ones advance notice that you’re in an interracial relationship will spare you and your partner from an awkward first encounter with your friends and family. Without advance notice, your mother might grow visibly flustered, or your best friends might ask if they can speak to you in the next room to grill you about your relationship. Are you prepared to have these kinds of awkward encounters? And how will you react if your partners feelings are hurt because of your loved ones’ behavior? To avoid drama and pain, tell your loved ones about your interracial relationship in advance. It’s the kindest move to make for all involved, including yourself. Dialogue With Disapproving Family and Friends Say you tell your friends and family that you’re now  part of an interracial couple. They react by telling you that your children will have it hard in life or that the Bible forbids interracial coupling. Rather than angrily labeling them ignorant racists and dismissing them, try to address your family’s concerns. Point out that mixed-race kids who are raised in loving homes and allowed to embrace all sides of their heritage don’t fare any worse than other children. Let them know that interracial couples such as  Moses and his Ethiopian wife  even appear in the Bible. Read up on interracial relationships and the common misconceptions that surround them to put to rest the concerns your loved ones have about your new union. If you shut off communication with your loved ones, it’s unlikely that their misconceptions will be corrected or that they will become more accepting of your relationship. Protect Your Partner Does your partner really need to hear every hurtful remark your  racist relatives  have made? Not in the slightest. Shield your partner from hurtful comments. This isn’t only to spare the feelings of your significant other. If your friends and family ever do come around, your partner can forgive them and move forward free of resentment.   Of course, if your family disapproves of your relationship, you’ll have to let your partner know, but you can do so without going into excruciating detail about race. Yes, your partner may have already experienced racism and the pain of being stereotyped, but that doesn’t mean he or she no longer find bigotry unsettling. No one should grow accustomed to  racial prejudice. Set Boundaries Are your friends and family trying to force you to end your interracial relationship? Perhaps they keep trying to set you up with people who share your racial background. Perhaps they pretend as if your significant other doesn’t exist or go out of their way to make your mate uncomfortable. If you’re experiencing any of these scenarios, it’s time to set some boundaries with your meddling loved ones.   Let them know that you’re an adult capable of choosing an appropriate mate. If they don’t find your mate appropriate, that’s their problem. They have no right to undermine the decisions you’ve made. Furthermore, it’s hurtful for them to disrespect someone you care about, especially if they’re only doing so because of race. Set Ground Rules Which ground rules you set with your loved ones are up to you. The important thing is to follow through on them. If you tell your mother that you won’t attend family functions unless she also invites your significant other, stick to your word. If your mother sees that you’re not going to let up, she’ll decide to either include your mate in family functions or risk losing you.

Theoretical framework Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Theoretical framework - Essay Example Hence the framework is an evolving design that inspires and facilitates theory and gets inspired and modified by it. The major â€Å"components† of a theoretical framework have been identified and listed as given below by Fitzpatrick and Kazer, 2011): (a) concepts that are identified and defined, (b) assumptions that clarify the basic underlying truths from which and within which theoretical reasoning proceeds, (c) the context within which the theory is placed, and, (d) relationships between and among the concepts that are identified (no page number). Following the method adopted by Schmieding (2006), this researcher has adopted an â€Å"integrative nursing theoretical framework,† a framework that has the many advantages (p.463). The benefit of an integrative theoretical framework is that it can be made as comprehensive as possible through bringing in different aspects of the same topic picked up from different theories and frameworks. The benefits, according to Schmied ing (2006) are that: It serves as a guide for both clinical and administrative decisions, forms the basis of the nursing philosophy, facilitates communication with patients and colleagues, helps identify congruent supporting theories and concepts, provides a basis for educational programmes, helps to differentiate nursing from non-nursing activities, and enhances nurse unity and self-esteem (p.463). My theoretical framework incorporates Callista Roy's adaptation model of nursing and the Orem self-care deficit model developed by Dorothea Orem and also a conceptual approach that nursing profession and education needs to have as their basic ethos, the values of equality and transparent communication (Masters, 2011; Hartweg, 1991). I have integrated these two theoretical frameworks because the Roy model has a patient-centered approach that anchors itself on the patient's adaptive abilities and the Orem model on the other hand focuses on the role of the nursing practitioner, by saying th at it is the role of the nurse to address the self-care deficits of the patient (Masters, 2011; Hartweg, 1991). In this manner, these two frameworks together gives a comprehensive new framework that integrates the role of the patient and the nurse in nursing care. This model thus balances the possible errors involved with top down and bottom up approaches. This model also facilitates proper communication just because in the Roy model and in the Orem model, the nurses have to constantly interact with the patient to find out how the status quo is evolving and what changes in their approach is needed. The Roy model views â€Å"the person as a holistic adaptive system in constant interaction with the internal and the external environment† and observes that â€Å"the main task of the human system is to maintain integrity in the face of environmental stimuli† (as cited in Masters, 2011, p.128). The role of the nurse here is only in a supportive role and â€Å"is to foster s uccessful adaptation† (as cited in Masters, 2011, p.128). The results of successful adaptation is understood as â€Å"optimal health and well-being, (†¦) quality of life, and (†¦) death with dignity† (as cited in Masters, 2011, p.129). This theoretical model has talked about three levels of human