Freakonomics Essay Essay

The most interesting excerpt of â€Å"Freakonomics† was the connection made between crime rates and abortions. This passage was fascinating for a few reasons. The first reason being that it makes absolute and complete sense, so much so that it should be common sense. This correlation between the legalization of abortion and the rate of crime going down is so simple, yet so incredibly profound. This piece of information, if used correctly, can totally obliterate the argument that pro-choice is a negative thing for society. On a more personal note, I found the concept that the crime rate really is not as high as it was in the 90’s to be encouraging. One thing I really do not enjoy is when an adult says something along the lines of, â€Å"The world really isn’t what it used to be,† when referring to safety. As much as I do understand that â€Å"back in the day† things were much more relaxed and safer, all I can do is accept how the world is now and not let it get in the way of my life. With the decline of the crime rate in the 90’s due to abortion, it is a great feeling to think that where our world is, safety-wise, is not at its lowest point, and therefore we know that it can be handled. Overall I really enjoyed this book. Even the parts I did not like very much still caught my attention. An example of this is the section pertaining to how real estate agents may not try their very hardest to get you the best deal. Although this makes absolute sense in the simplest manner, much like everything in this book, it is not the easiest to stomach. While the real estate agents only lose a couple hundred dollars in commission, a buyer or seller can lose thousands of dollars because of an antsy real estate agent. Another example of a part that I did not like was the excerpt on the teachers cheating for their students. I was completely put off by this because in the end, the students ended up in a worse spot than where they were original. Standardized testing is put in place to make sure that no children fall too far behind in school. While I don’t believe in all of the repercussions of standardized testing such as lack of funding for low scores or teachers solely teaching to the test, I do believe that standardized testing does serve a really important purpose in schools. Standardized testing is a benchmark that the teachers should strive to reach for with  every child in their class. This testing ensures that kids are learning the fundamentals needed throughout life, such as reading comprehension and critical thinking. The fact that the teachers were cheating for their children proved that the teachers did not believe they have done a good enough job at teaching these fundamentals. These teachers therefore, while they believe the contrary, are doing a disservice to their students. The biggest thing I learned from â€Å"Freakonomics† was that economics is simple, sometimes so simple in fact that the general public a majority of the time over thinks it. Not only that, but economics can also be extremely interesting. This is because at the core of economics, is us. When I say us I mean, us, the people that buy and sell and keep the economy going. Without us, the economy would not exist. So essentially, the study of economics is the study of people and the decisions we make.

Chapter 5 Case Study Stop! Wait! I am pulling down a menu! Essay

Management Information Systems In San Jose, California has the smallest officer-to-resident ratio that is one police officer for 925 residents (Oz, 2009, P. 190). However this city is considered one of the safest larger cities in the US (Oz, 2009, P. 190). This implied that the city offices were efficient and productive and were using the right and better technology and software tools to manage city police, fire communications and dispatching functions. â€Å"The Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system is a highly specialized application that is designed to facilitate coordinated communication, assignment and tracking of Police and Fire Department resources in response to calls-for service.† (Michael, A. Smith .2004-2005, Santa Clara County Civil Grand jury report) In 2004 City replaced all text based CAD system with new Windows based touch screen system by spending $4.7 million (Oz, 2009, P. 190). However the new CAD system was plagued with problems such as non-user friendly user interface, software bugs, user issues of adapting to new technology, inadequacy of user training, increased difficulty in issuing the Code 99 commands, patrol officers needing longer time to find out whether a person they have stopped has a violent criminal and system crash just two days after the system went live. According to the case study and the Santa Clara County Civil Grand jury report none of the above issue (that cause the failure of the new CAD system) were due to hardware but majority of them were directly related to the application software and the design of the system. (E.g. code 99 command issue, system crash, non-user friendly interface etc.) The other major issue was relating to the lack of user involvement during software design, implementation and inadequacy of user training. That is why Santa Clara County Civil Grand Jury recommended that in future IT project developments City of San Jose management should mandate that representatives from all levels affected by the IT project be included in every stage of specification, development and deployment. (Michael, A. Smith .2004-2005,  Santa Clara County Civil Grand jury report) References; Oz, E. (2009). Management Information Systems. Boston, MA: Course Technology Cengage Learning Michael, A. Smith (2004-2005) Santa Clara County Civil Grand jury report, retrieved from: http://www.911dispatch.com/info/cad/rfp/sj_cad_invest.pdf

Self reflection on culture and communication Assignment

Self reflection on culture and communication - Assignment Example Due to the research work, we came across valuable information regarding Japan. It is known as the â€Å"Land of rising sun†. Japan is a developing country with one of the largest economy as well as largest import-export facilities (MacQueen, 1998). Besides, information that was gathered was that Japan can improve the life expectancy along with lowering the rate of the infant mortality and the total population of Japan is approximately 126 million. With this large amount of population, Japan has an enriched traditional culture, which evolve from the culture of Asia, Europe along with North America. It has the heritage culture in terms of traditional Japanese crafts, paintings, literature as well. During the time of gathering all these information about Japan, we all faced some difficulties but we worked hard to manage the successfulness of the project (MacQueen, 1998). Our teachers give us this type of presentation, in order to enrich our knowledge and learning. Besides, this helps to develop our basic inner selves in terms of group activity, leadership, collectivism, as well as motivation while working in a team. During this research, three of us worked in a team, to find out several cultural determinants, which distinctively differentiated from other culture. My part of job in this presentation is to research about following dimensions, which would show clearly; ‘Power distribution’ is unequal for this Asian country, which means that the country has ‘high power’ as well as ‘low power’ distances. From the understanding gained after collection of research, I can conclude that Japan has a centralised structure, where a former instruct the juniors. The culture of Japan is different from others as they obeyed instructions from seniors and follow collectivism to work efficiently. On the other hand, from the infor mation gathered regarding cultural differences it can be stated that European countries has a flat as well as

Willa Cather's short story Paul's Case Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Willa Cather's short story Paul's Case - Essay Example His work as an usher takes him away from his drab surroundings and into another world where the music reveals the "potent spirit within him". Paul's world is built upon untruths. Paul does not care to join in the world of music and drama; he is satisfied just to live vicariously through its proximity. Paul feasts off the efforts of others. For Paul the whole world is all lies, and the theater is one more of Paul's illusions. For Paul it was easy and necessary for overcoming the difficult task of effort. The theater is not only his escape from school, but also from Cordelia Street. Cordelia Street is the symbol of the "colorless mass of everyday existence". Paul can not subscribe to the middle class and could never be a clerk. He would never become one of the "rivets in the machine" that his father had. Paul wanted to be at the top "though he had no mind for the cash-boy stage". Paul needs more. Paul immerses himself in the drama of the theater with fanatical tales of his exaggerated importance. Fearing that Paul had wandered too far from the center of normality, his father demands that he be put to work. Alienated from school by the strict teachers, from home by his father's dismal existence and banished from the theater Paul creates a new illusion.

To be labeled or not be labeled Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

To be labeled or not be labeled - Essay Example Disability, in itself reflects a social attitude of a child in terms of those ways in which he reacts towards his social circle. So, it is not just 'being labeled a child' as Anita Ho describes but it is all about 'labeling a child according to his attitude or mental capabilities and it is necessary so that a child bears no more trouble in getting up to the expectations of his family, friends and teachers, because it is also seen in umpteen cases that teachers unconsciously builds too much of expectations from a child, to which a child is also aware of and when he assumes that he fail to fulfill their expectations, he emotionally gets disturbed. So, it is better to label children than to outrage their personalities due to too many expectations. contact with them including family and friends. ... His family of course has built up many high hopes with his educational carrier. What if despite knowing his mental capability he fails to get up to his family and teacher's expectation Well, I think this would bring him feelings of guilt and embarrassment, which is too much of considering him as 'labeled'. Mother is the closest personality to a child, and as mentioned by Niedecken (2003) she is bound to fulfill the nameless anxieties. In the attempt to bind these anxieties, the mother develops some phantasies around her child, which later take the form of unintentional expectations. These expectations do not allow her to get her child exposed to the outer world of hate and sympathy. So, it is already difficult for mothers to find a way of giving expression to negative feelings towards their child, feelings that are generated by a situation that demands so many sacrifices from them for the child's sake. So it is especially difficult when the mother sees herself confronted with a situation in which she has to protect her child from the animosity of an environment, which is hostile towards people with learning disabilities. (Niedecken, 2003, p. 72) In these circumstances it is better to be labeled among other 'labeled' children than to be a victim of hate of the outer 'unlabeled' world. 3) Anita Ho is right about the perception usually adopted by the gatherings of a 'labeled' child as the label simply covers all his capabilities due to which he is not considered as a 'normal' or 'winning' personality. Niedecken (2003) while highlighting one of the main causes of learning disability suggests that it is in fact created in a child by adopting all those ways and measures due to which a child

International Mass Communications Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

International Mass Communications - Assignment Example Money, Power, and Wall Street tells an epic story of the 2008 financial crisis presented in nonfictional motion pictures by the US media. According to Khan (2012), the first part of the documentary narrates how a group of young bankers, from Wall Street, who revolutionized the banking sector. They came up with the credit default swap, a complicated derivative, which initially aimed at managing risk and stabilizing the financial system (Gay, 2012). This system was to ensure loaning out of capital instead of reserving it. Use of this system, they believed, would spread risk around in a very innovative way. Adoption and efficient use of this system enabled banks to pull the credit default system successfully. 14 years later, the rise of this financial engineering that ensured credit default trades were tied to the mortgage loans brought the American economy down. According to the article Money, Power and Wall Street Part One and Two (2012), the country experienced the most horrible economic crisis in 80 years. The 2008 financial crisis and the resulting recession had adverse effects on the global economy as it cost the whole world trillion of dollars (Murray, 2011). Since America is the epitome of the world economy, the crisis affected the whole world and became a matter of global concern. The issue was reported by both non-American and American media, which influenced the perspective of the public towards the crisis. The incident gives a clear picture of the role played by the media in international issues in shaping the global public’s view on a given matter. CNN among other major media sources reported the crisis widely and kept on bringing developments including America’s foreign policy in response to the crisis. It could be said that there was the CNN effect. CNN effect is where communication technology is used to evoke responses from the public on issues (Robinson, 1999). Though American media sources were the major

Macroeconomics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 2

Macroeconomics - Essay Example There is a widespread misunderstanding that banks or governments create money. In fact it is the people who create money through their hard work. Banks handle and reallocate money and assets. Governments only borrow money into the way of life from the banks. People work hard and earn assets which can be bought or sold, directly by exchange or through the use of legal tender, or through the making of capital. Everyone who buys or sells, producers or consumers, are traders. Trading, especially purchases, usually happens in credit. The promise to pay creates money and after production when the goods or services get into the market for sales, the debt is repaid. When a debt is repaid, money which was in trade is neutralized or made null. Borrowing creates money and repaying it extinguishes the money. The successful lender or sponsor of a loan is all the dealers who trade with the borrower which is the society or the market. This is how money is actually created, and extinguished. Banks a ct as clearinghouses, clerks who keep track of the dealings between merchants. In the LET system (Local Exchange and Trading system), which was developed 20 years ago as the basic banking system, each dealer opened an account with zero balance in it. The bank charged a small fee for each transaction which became the sole income for the bank. This is the basic banking which later developed into giving loans to its customers who were in need of excess money which they did not have at a given point of time. The interest on loan became another income for the bank and now it is this income that creates more money in the market. So as to put more money into the market, banks started encouraging customers to put more money into the bank as various types of deposits which earned them interests and which in turn would be lent out to others as loans by the bank. Thus money made by one person keeps rotating in the market through another person by way of bank

Similarities and differences between The Big Sleep and Casablanca in Essay

Similarities and differences between The Big Sleep and Casablanca in Camera shooting - Essay Example The movie is based upon the novel by Chandler but differs considerably owing to changes in the content in some cases. The camera movements of the two classic movies encompasses the expressionist style along with some unique approach as suitable for a romantic melodrama (Casablanca) on one hand and a thriller (The Big Sleep) on the other. Almost the entire shooting of Casablanca takes place in the Moroccan city of Casablanca and the entire shot was almost held in the studio itself. It is one of the classic movies shot in black and white. The cinematographer Arthur Edison uses the Curtiz style of camera movements or expressionist lighting where the lights and shadow effects are used to create expression. The focus of the camera lies mainly on Bergman enacting the role of Ilsa Lund. The camera angle is mostly placed such that the shots are moved from the left side of her face as per her preference. To enhance the expressions of sadness, tender and nostalgia. This is especially true in the scene where she meets Rick alone. Symbolic shadows are cast on the characters to highlight essence of certain situations. The camera moves across a doorway with the inscription on stone "Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite" standing for Liberty, Equality, Fraternity, a common saying amongst the French Repupublicans. The Vichy govenrment has not yet replaced it. The cinematography uses the smooth movements of the camera along with this expressionist lighting with the environment serving as the backbone to highlight each moment and interplay of emotions. The establishment of Rick was built in three parts which were separated from one another. Hence the camera was set such that it looked through one of the walls of the cafà © into Rick’s office. Camera is held at close ups where the objects or the individual is significant and indicates something more important than the eye

Personalisation in Health and Social Care Essay Example for Free

Personalisation in Health and Social Care Essay Autism affects around 1 in 100 people, it affects how they communicate and how they see the world around them. The condition affects people in different ways some may live a fairly independent life, others may have accompany learning disabilities and need more specialist care. Autism is a lifelong developmental disability and affects how they see the world around them. People with Autism have said that the world around them can feel like a mass of people, places and events, which they struggle to make sense of. They also find it hard relating to people, understanding them and taking part in everyday family life and social events. People with Autism have difficulties with the following; social communication, social interaction and social imagination, these are known as the ‘triad of impairments’. The difficulties these cause in people’s lives include finding it difficult to form friendships, understanding and interoperating people’s feelings and actions, understanding danger, coping with changes and new or unfamiliar situations. The main problems with communication that people with autism have, are taking what people say literally, understanding jokes and sarcasm and people’s body language and facial expressions, it is important to speak in a clear and consistent way to enable people with Autism time to process what has been said. The characteristics of people with Autism may vary, but the main ones consist of love of routine, if their routines are changed or disrupted it can cause upset and agitation although if they are given enough time and explanation it may be more comfortable for them. Sensory sensitivity, this can occur in one or more of the senses, it can be hypersensitivity or hypo-sensitivity. Special interests, this can be intense interests from an early age and can be anything from art, music, maths or computers. Learning disability, this can affect all areas of a person’s life which involves learning for example; how people learn at school to learning daily living skills. An early diagnosis by a health professional will make a difference because with the right help and support a person with Autism will make good progress. ASPERGER SYNDROME Asperger syndrome is a form of Autism and has all of the characteristics and difficulties as Autism although is not accompanied with a learning disability, but may have specific learning difficulties. These may include dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADHD or epilepsy. People with Asperger syndrome have a big love of routine, they may have rules and ritiuals which they must live by to make sense of their world. Children may line things up, collect and organise things and can be very repetitive. Their special interests can be very intense and sometimes obsessive, they have a big focus on learning and with the correct help and support can do well with studying in their chosen interest. Unlike Autism, Asperger syndrome is harder to diagnose due to the wide variety of symptoms and may not be recognised until adulthood. Some people find the diagnoses unhelpful as it is an unwanted label although for others it is helpful to be able to seek help and support to manage needs and behaviours. Asberger synd rome is quite often known as the ‘hidden disability and there is no cure.

Conflict in the Niger Delta Essay Example for Free

Conflict in the Niger Delta Essay The conflict happening in the Niger Delta stated in 1990. The tensions involve foreign oil corporation and members of some Niger Delta’s minority ethnic groups, particularly the Ogoni and the Ijaw. The instability continued from the 1990s until recently even though there are major changes in the government structure. The area surrounding the Delta is now heavily militarized by the Nigerian army and police forces, and numerous armed groups belonging to the ethnic groups (Barrett). According to the Center for International Development and Conflict Management (â€Å"Minorities at Risk. A Country Case Study†) violence and high crime rate is a common scenario in the Delta because of the stiff contest for oil. Government atrocities with civilian as victims are also recorded in the area. One of the most conflicted areas in the Delta is Oganiland. Located in the southeast of the Niger Delta, Oganiland is a region comprising 404-squale-mile of the area. Shell and Chevron set up their exploration and drilling facilities in the area upon the discovery of oil deposits in 1957. The rich oil deposit in Oganiland is considered as Nigeria’s first petroleum deposit for commercial purposes. During the exploration of the two largest foreign oil companies, government authorities and agents forced residents of the area to leave. This government-initiated forced evacuation on the area affected almost half a million ethnic minorities belonging to the group Ogonis and other ethnic groups (Agbu). They also attest that the government and the foreign oil companies did not conduct any consultation with them and offer any damages. Despite the strong opposition from the affected minorities, the federal government supported the atrocities by amending the Constitution that the government has the full ownership on all lands within Nigeria and compensation will be based on the crops and products located in the land during the taking and not the actual value of the land. These further allow the taking of foreign oil corporations on almost all of the lands in Oganiland with the help of the government (â€Å"Minorities at Risk. A Country Case Study. †). In the 1980s, the situation of Oganiland and the Oganis deteriorated economically, socially, politically and environmentally. Dissatisfaction and discontent among the people in Oganiland steadily mounts that in 1992 they formed the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP). It became the main organization campaigning for various issues of the Oganis, primarily ethnic and environmental rights. MOSOP became the main opposition of the Nigerian government and foreign oil companies in Oganiland (Agbu). The conflict between MOSOP and oil companies escalated that it resulted to violence disrupting some of the oil companies’ major activities in the area. MOSOP required $10 billion as royalties since the companies started and for the degradation of the environment in Oganiland (Olusakin). However, according to Agbu (2004) the oil companies, Shell, Chevron and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, with the help of government authorities answered the MOSOP’s demand through violence also. Mass actions and protests started to occur in a daily basis in Oganiland that resulted the banning of public assembly by the government. It also pronounced as acts of treason any disturbances of oil production and related activities in the area. Militarization and repression rose in 1994 where in four village chiefs were murdered. The head of MOSOP, Ken Saro-Wira was detained because of the killings. Hundreds were also arbitrarily arrested and detained because of the killings. By June of the same year, there were almost 30 villages totally ruined, almost 2,000 deaths and leaving nearly 100,000 Oganis as internal refugees (Human Rights Watch). In 1994 Saro-Wira with other eight Ogani activist were arrested and sentenced to death. They are executed though hanging by the Nigerian government. The deaths of Saro-Wira and his companions enraged the people of Oganiland that resulted to more disruptive and violent actions against the oil companies. The militancy of the Oganis inspired other ethic groups to start their own struggle against the government and the foreign oil companies (Olusakin). The Ijaws organized the Ijaw National Congress and Ijaw youth organized the Ijaw Youth Congress. These two groups raise the political consciousness and militancy of the Ijaw people. They started to lay down their demands against the irresponsive central Nigerian government and to the foreign oil companies. They are asserting that these companies should have direct and concrete plans to uplift the lives of the people in the Niger Delta (Obi). Recently, armed and more militant groups like Niger Delta Peoples Vanguard (NDPV), Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Force (NDPVF) and the Nigerian Delta Vigilante (NDV) were organized. Although these groups were formed because of the continuous environmental degradation, government neglect and social and political unrest in the area, they are now in conflict on varying ideologies and forms of actions (Obi). Most of them aim to gain control of the area’s rich oil resources. NDPVF and NDV are in conflict with each other. Violence between the groups rose resulting to disruptive activities in Port Harcourt, the Delta’s oil capital. Supporters of NDPVF transferred to NDV escalating more the conflict between the two groups (Agbu). After the local and national elections of 2003, NDPVF announced their all-out war against the government (Olusakin). However, MEND is closely affiliated with NDV. They reached their international reputation when they hijacked oil tankers crossing through the country and nearby countries. They arbitrarily detained workers in the tankers for months and demanding for ransom for their release. Last year, they attacked various oil installations and facilities of oil company Shell that resulted to oil price increase. They also attacked a facility of Chevron, forcing the company to halt operations in the region for that year (Obi). In 2005, the central government called the National Political reform Conference. Representatives of the Niger Delta raised various concerns on the development of the region. Numerous non-government and human rights organization have also called the attention of the central government to introduce reform in the region. There are proposals to divide the region into two, Eastern Niger Delta and Western Niger Delta, to make developmental projects easier to implement (Taylor). The ventral government should also convert new states in the region with at least one city in every state. Taylor (2007) said that federal offices and ministries should also set-up their branches in the region to make government services more accessible to ethnic minorities in the region. The government is also urged to enact legislations compelling oil companies to implement developmental projects in their host communities and strictly follow environmental laws. International civil society groups have also suggested that the central government implement policies to have more transparency in the revenues and fiscal matters on the oil industries. The Washington-based Human Rights Watch (2002) also strongly recommends that state security forces should be investigated and persecuted on their abuses on the civilians in the region (p. 5). The conflict in the region is already decade-old and seems will never end. The Nigerian government should seriously implement reforms and developmental projects in the region to alleviate poverty among its people. The more delay on these developments needed, the more people will be agitated to join the armed resistance fueled by inequality among the oil company and the ethnic minorities of the Niger Delta. Works Cited: Agbu, Osita. (2004). Ethnic Militias and the Threat to Democracy in Post-Transition Nigeria. Uppsala: Nordic African Institue. Barrett, Ejiroghene. â€Å"Why the Troubles in the Niger Delta. † New African 456 (2006): 40-45 â€Å"Minorities at Risk. A Country Case Study. † 2 April 2009. Center fro International Development and Conflict Management. http://cidcm. umd. edu. Olusakin, Ayoka Mopelala. â€Å"Peace in the Niger Delta: Economic Development and the Politics of Dependence on Oil. † International Journal on World Peace 23 (2006): 3 Obi, Cyril (1997). Globalization and Local Resistance: The Case of the Ogoni versus Shell. Ibadan: University of Ibadan. Obi, Cyril (2001). The Changing Forms of Identity Politics in Nigeria under Economic Adjustment: The Case of the Oil Minorities Movement of the Niger Delta. Uppsala: Nordic African Institute. Taylor, Darren. â€Å"Niger Delta and Lack of Infrastructure: Major Issues in Nigeria Elections. † Voice of America. 22 March 2007. 2 April 2009 http://www. voanews. com/english/ archive/2007-03/Niger-Delta-Conflict-and-Lack-of-Infrastructure-Major-Issues-in-Nigeria-Elections. cfm â€Å"The Niger Delta: No Democratic Dividend. † October 2002. Human Rights Watch. 2 April 2009. http://www. hrw. org/legacy/reports/2002/nigeria3/nigerdelta. pdf

Sustainable Use of Natural Resources

Sustainable Use of Natural Resources Yaroslav Gromov In present time, the question about sustainable use of natural resources has become very important all over the world. People start to realize that nature cannot provide more resources that it has, and that the natural resources consumed a lot. Therefore, there should be found a way how to solve this particular problem energy crisis. Consequently, we should answer the question if the widespread of renewable energy is as serious alternative to the use of fossil fuels or not. There is no correct answer to this question, but if we definitely want to say ‘yes or ‘no, it will be better to weighting up the pro at contra. So let us find out the causes why renewable energy is a serious alternative to the fossil fuels. First of all, fossil fuels are non-renewable. Natural gas, coal and oil are the most common example of fossil fuels, and they are the three main types of fuel that people mostly use and depend on. Seitz (2008) states that ‘according to many analysts the world would not run out of oil, but in a few decades shortages will become prevalent. According to the Energy Information Agency, approximately 93% of the worlds energy sources are fossil fuels, and renewable energy is just about 7%. (2, 2008) Also burning fossil fuels creates carbon dioxide, which is the greenhouse gas that leads to global warming and seriously damages our planet. Secondly, renewable energy sources, such as hydropower energy, solar energy and wind energy are renewable, efficient and non-polluting or causing little pollution. They are simple: all you need is sunlight, running water and blowing wind. Lastly, expanding the use of renewable energy will have a positive impact on employment, according to more than a dozen independent studies analyzing the impact of clean energy on the economy. Greater reliance on renewable energy would have large, positive impacts on economy, creating significant numbers of new jobs, driving major capital investment, stabilizing energy prices, and reducing consumer costs. (Flavin C. 2006, p.10). By contrast, employment in the fossil fuel industries has been in steady decline for decades, in large measure due to growing automation of coal mining and other processes. (Flavin C. 2006, p.10). As these three types of renewable energy were mentioned let us discuss them more specific. Hydropower energy is the most developed technology for renewable energy. The main potential that this type of energy has is that it can be used in multipurpose area. For example, benefits of hydropower are flooding control, irrigation and public water supplies. (6) Hydropower energy is usually generated form falling water, causing little pollution and it is a type of clean energy. Hydropower resources are usually divided into two main categories. As it is mentioned, the first category is resources that require man-made dam structure with high hydraulic heads; the second one is a â€Å"run-of-river† system that require minimum dam structure and with low hydraulic heads. (4, 2000, p.44-45). Similarly, World Bank (2004) believes that hydropower can play significant role ‘in poverty reduction in developing countries. In addition, World Bank (2004) also claims that ‘currently about 19 percent of the worlds electricity is produced from hydropower and that the greenhouse gas emissions ‘from most hydropower plants are relatively low. It is also important to weight the facts about advantages and disadvantages of hydropower energy. On the one hand, hydropower is a clean energy source. It does not pollute the air like fossil fuels do. (6) Hydropower plays a major role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The maintain cost is relatively low. It is renewable. The technology is reliable and proven over time. (7). On the other hand, if water is not available, the hydropower plants will not produce electricity. (6) USGS (7) reports that hydropower energy is not perfect and has some disadvantages. For example, ‘high investment cost, inundation of land and wildlife habitat, changes in reservoir and stream water quality, displacement of local populations. Solar energy is the second type of renewable energy that was mentioned in this essay. Solar energy is the second most common type of renewable energy. Basically solar energy is the energy of sun. It helps us to survive on our planet, it heats us, it makes threes grow up, and, mostly everything on our planet depends on solar energy. It is possible that ‘our current life cannot continue if we remain economically dependent on fossil fuels, as Hermanns (2004, p.4) claims, but as for me, we cannot predict the future and we do not know what will happen tomorrow. So Hermann claims that something is unlikely to happen./p> It is not so easy to talk about advantages and disadvantages of solar energy. Speaking about advantages of solar energy it is necessary to mention some of them. Firstly, solar cells can be used almost any place around the world. Secondly, solar cells silent and non-polluting. In addition, they require little maintenance and have log lifetime. Finally, solar cells can be easily used in places where there is no main electricity. Now let us move on to the disadvantages of solar energy. The main and most important disadvantage is initial cost. Lastly, solar cells are totally depends on weather, and can be used just during daytime and sun hours. It is because the only time when cells can generate electricity. (9) The last and possibly most interesting type of renewable energy is wind energy. There is an interesting point about wind energy. Wind is a form of solar energy; it is ‘caused by the heating of the atmosphere by the sun, the rotation of the earth, and the earths surface irregularities (11). Seitz (2008, 141) reports that wind as an energy source was generally used for power as well as for the cooling houses, adding that wind energy source started to gain respect all around the world. In recent years the widespread of wind energy has been extremely rapid, but, for example, ‘despite that rapid growth, wind energy amounted to less than 1% of U.S. electricity generation (10, p.15). But as any other type of energy wind energy also has advantages and disadvantages. According to the Committee on Environmental Impacts one of the advantages is that ‘wind energy has the potential to reduce environmental impacts, because it does not result in the generation of atmospheric contaminants or thermal pollution (10, p.15). Another good point about wind energy is that it is ‘one of lowest-priced renewable energy available today (11). In conclusion there is a very serious question if the widespread of renewable energy is as serious alternative to the use of fossil fuels or not. Three main types of renewable energy were considered. So there is a chance in the nearest future that renewable energy sources will fully displace fossil fuels. It may happen, but not very soon and probably just when there is nothing to extract or mine. Now both renewable and non-renewable energy will be used simultaneously. People are not ready yet to abandon fossil fuels, and are not ready for spending huge amount of money for renewable energy. References Christopher Flavin. (2006, September). American Energy. The Renewable Path to Energy Security. Worldwatch Institute. Energy information administration. Renewable Energy Consumption and Electricity Preliminary Statistics 2008. http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/alternate/page/renew_energy_consump/rea_prereport.html John L. Seitz. (2008). Global issues: an introduction. Blackwell Publishing Ltd. Committee on Programmatic Review of the U. S. Department of Energys Office of Power Technologies. (2000). Renewable Power Pathways : A Review of the U. S. Department of Energys Renewable Energy Programs. National Academic Press. World Bank Staff. (2004). Water Resources Sector Strategy: Strategic Directions for World Bank Engagement. World Bank Publications. U.S. Department Of Energy. Energy efficiency and renewable energy. Advantages and disadvantages of Hydropower. http://www1.eere.energy.gov/windandhydro/hydro_ad.html USGS (U.S. Geological Survey). Water use: hydro electronic power. http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/wuhy.html Scheer, Hermann. (2004). Solar Economy: Renewable Energy for a Sustainable Global Future. Earthscan Publications Ltd. Bristol University. Advantages of solar energy. http://www.chm.bris.ac.uk/webprojects2003/ledlie/advantages_of_solar_energy.htm Committee on Environmental Impacts of Wind Energy Projects. National Research Council. (2007). National Academies Press U.S. Department Of Energy. Energy efficiency and renewable energy. Advantages and disadvantages of Wind Energy. http://www1.eere.energy.gov/windandhydro/wind_ad.html

Our Town Mrs. Webb Is Mrs. Gib :: essays research papers

“Mrs. Gibbs is Mrs. Webb is Mrs. Gibbs';   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In Thorton Wilder’s classic play about life in a small town, no other two characters share so much in common with one another as Mrs. Gibbs and Mrs. Webb do. Their purpose in the story, on a figurative level, is to represent the monolithic thinking of a small town. Emily Post, an American etiquette authority of the early 1900’s, said, “To do exactly as your neighbors do is the only sensible rule.';   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Without a doubt, any intelligent reader of this play can see the obvious similarities between Mrs. Webb and Mrs. Gibbs. On a purely literal level, the two seem to run parallel to one another. For example, their morning routine is abnormally similar, they both attend choir practice, they both enjoy the town gossip, and the basic makeup of their families are the same.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Looking deeper into the similarities of the two women on a figurative level, only demonstrates that both women can be considered one person. Not only do they act alike, but they think alike as well. Thorton Wilder’s use of two women who are virtually the same serves as an example of how the woman in Grover’s Corners act. In fact, Wilder’s use of these two women enforces the small town mentality, in which everyone should live by a set standard.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  These two women are pieces of the puzzle that is Grover’s Corners. They represent the “norm'; who is just another person who has lost his or her individuality. The two women are not meant to remain in the mind of the reader because of their performance. Oddly enough, their “claim to fame'; comes because of their lack of individuality. Therefore their sole purpose in the story is to provide the reader with a consensus of what Grover’s Corners is really about.

The Catholic Church: A Cult In Mainstream Society Essay -- essays rese

When one hears of a cult, one thinks of organizations such as the Church of Scientology, the Jehovah’s Witnesses, and small fanatical groups such as the Assembly of God. According to Robert J. Lofton, author of Letters to an Elder, there are two kinds of cults; those that use mind-control, and those that do not. Lofton describes eight characteristics of destructive mind-control cults, saying, â€Å"If any group exercises all eight of these control elements, they are, in fact a destructive mind control cult†. Lofton’s characteristics are ‘Environmental Control’, ‘Mystical Manipulation’, ‘Demand for Purity’, ‘Cult of Confession’, ‘Sacred Science’, ‘Loading the Language’, ‘Doctrine over Person’, and ‘Dispensing of Existence’. These eight characteristics are found not only in the organizations mentioned earlier, but also in more mainstream organizations. The Roman Catholic Church exhibits all eight characteristics very strongly, making it fit the profile of a destructive mind-control cult. Lofton’s first characteristic, ‘Environmental Control’, refers to the manner in which the cult keeps its members from becoming disillusioned about the cult though outside sources or ex-members. Members â€Å"can be physically separated from society or they can be warned to stay away from media that might provoke critical thinking.† In 1934, the Catholic Church formed â€Å"The Legion of Decency†¦to combat immoral movies†. The Legion of Decency rated movies, periodicals, and other such materials and set the standard for Catholics across the world. The Legion condemned such movies as â€Å"Jesus Christ† for blasphemy and heresy, as well as recommending against many other movies of questionable nature. The Legion controlled the environment of Catholics and isolated them from media that was critical of the Church or was deemed inappropriate for viewing by Catholics. The second characteristic of destructive mind-control cults is ‘Mystical Manipulation’. â€Å"Leaders [of the cult] become mediators for God†¦ the cult and its beliefs become the only true path to salvation†. By providing the only way for members to reach salvation, the cult becomes a necessary and inescapable part of the member’s life. In the Catholic Church, the Pope is said to be in contact with God, and to have a greater measure of communication with him than the other members of the Church. On a local level, each priest is the congregati... ...he American Religious Scene. Doubleday: New York, 1971 Karson, Jill. Cults. Greenhaven Press: CA, 2000. Kavanaugh, Father James. A Modern Priest Looks at His Outdated Church. Trident: New York, 1967. Kephart, Rick. A Brief History of the Legion of Decency. 4 Nov 2000 . McCabe, Joseph. â€Å"Catholics The Most Priest-Ridden Of All People.† The Tyranny of the Clerical Gestapo. 4 Nov. 2000. . Miller, MaryAnn. Coping With Cults. Rosen Publishing Group: New York, 1990. Noll, Richard. When Catholics Die: Eternal Life or Eternal Damnation? The Olive Press: SC, 1999. O’Neill, James M. Catholicism and American Freedom. Harper: New York, 1952. â€Å"Science and the Church.† New Advend Catholic Encyclopedia. 4 Nov. 2000 . Shields, Currin. Democracy and Catholicism in America. McGraw-Hill: New York, 1958. Sikorski, R. J. Letters to an Elder. 4 Nov. 2000 . Wells, H.G. Crux Ansata: An indictment of the Roman Catholic Church. American Atheist Press: TX, 1981.

Resume template

Ability to communicate effectively in the workplace Licenses Forklift license Binomial license Driving license Over head crane license Traffic control license Excavator license skid steer license white card Skills Good technical knowledge Ability to diagnose faults Ability to work unsupervisedExperience in the repair and maintenance of mobile equipment heavy vehicles Experience with American and Japanese drivels Trailer servicing and repairs experience Diagnostic skills Own tools Able to work in a team environment and independently. Flexible with hours. Attention to detail. Ability to demonstrate safe work practices Full understanding of operation and maintenance procedures of all site equipment Maintaining the workshop to a high standard Liaise with other staff members and suppliers Work well in a team, show initiative and be responsibleAccurate record keeping Able to travel when required Personal Qualities Ability to work independently Punctual Motivated Organized Education 2004 â €“ 2007 Year 11 Subjects: English Mathematics Religious Education Catholic Regional College College Completed Systems Technology Visual Communications & Design Wood Technology 2008 – 2012 Trade School Certificate Ill in Automotive Mechanical Technology and Automotive Mechanic Heavy Vehicle Mobile Equipment TAFT: Kananga Batman Safety basic procedures Apply emergencies procedures Charge and test batteriesComplete repairs to circuit wiring Repair instruments and warning system Test components and identify faults Apply correct lubricants fluids handling technique Carry out serving operations Test cooling system and analyze results Prepare to service diesel fuel system components Prepare equipment/engine for use and storage Service manual transmissions Inspect semi automatic transmissions Test hydraulic system and analyze results 2007 – 2008 Certificate II Engineering Studies TAFT Apply principles of OH&S in work environmentPlan to undertake a routine task Use power to ols/hand held operations Develop individual career plan Use hand tools Perform basic machining processes Use computer for engineering work acts Perform basic computational principles Employment History 2012 – 2013 Operator mobile equipment & mechanic Full time Duties: Central Bobcat Hire Operate machinery Traffic control Excavating Labouringly Workshop duties Fully serviced & repaired machinery 2008 – 2012 Diesel Mechanic Mobile Equipment Service and repair all site mobile equipment

Health Promotion in Nursing Care Essay

Many years ago, people focused on disease and illness and not staying healthy or preventing illness from occurring. People did not go to the doctor for wellness checks but rather only if they had an ailment. Immunizations have removed some of the diseases that were causing death among the individuals that had contracted the illness. Health promotion has come to the forefront in medical practice since the movement of Healthy People that focuses on health and not illness. Health promotion can be perceived differently by individuals. â€Å"Health promotion is the process of enabling people to increase control over, and to improve, their health. It moves beyond a focus on individual behaviour towards a wide range of social and environmental interventions† World Health Organization website (as cited in Casey 2007). Nurses have a vital role in health promotion in all health care settings, be it at home, in a clinic, hospital, or out in the community. It is important for the nurse to understand that health promotion is not only for the healthy but also for individuals that are disabled, have a chronic disease or are dying. By administering education and referrals to other health care professionals, the nurse is providing individuals the tools they need to experience the highest level of health possible for their given situation. Often nurses are engaging in health promotion activities while interacting with patients and are not aware of this as it becomes automatic in daily practice. Health promotion in a hospital setting can be as simple as encouraging deep breathing exercises and early mobilization to prevent pneumonia. Nurses can serve as a role model and educator in different settings such as at home with their own family members, clinics, hospitals or in the community (Lazarou, C., & Kouta, C. 2010 ). One role of the nurse in health promotion is to collaborate with all providers involved. Collaboration is especially important when working in a homecare setting to make sure a diagnosis hasn’t changed or the primary provider hasn’t changed the treatment plan. Supporting health promotion will help the economy by reducing illness and disease, allow faster recovery of illness and improve one’s quality of life. Effective health promotion teaching ultimately depends on how open the individual(s) is to change (Casey 2007). Prior to providing health promotion material, it is important to assess the learner to obtain their preferred learning method and any cultural issues that would affect the teaching. The teaching material has to be age appropriate for the learner. If they do not understand what is being taught, the teaching will be a waste of time for the nurse as well as the individual(s) involved. A nurse can passively mention a health promotion idea while caring for their patient to see their response to the concept. This passive approach could spur a conversation regarding the idea and make the patient more receptive to learning. After assessing the patient for learning readiness, providing written material and encouraging individuals to make a change is a good place to start a promotion activity. Another implementation approach would be to involve the patient’s family if the teaching involves cooking or other lifestyle changes. This approach will add a support system for the patient but also make others in the household aware of changes that need to be made. Depending on what the lifestyle changes are, they could benefit the entire household, not just the patient. The patient should be involved when setting health promotion goals (Casey 2007). If the goals are set by the nurse, the patient will probably not be as receptive to making a lifestyle change. Another method effective for health promotion is motivational interviewing. The patient is involved during all stages of planning. They not only decide on the goal, but also figure out what barriers they may face that would hinder their success. This approach would work well for implementing health promotion for increased activity and incorporating more fruits and vegetables into one’s diet. (Whittemore et al., 2010) There are three types of health promotion. The first type of health promotion is primary prevention. This type of prevention is often carried out in a community setting. Fluoridation of water to help lessen cavities, smoking bans in public areas and immunizations are examples of primary prevention as they remove the risk factors or causes of disease. The second type of health promotion is secondary prevention. Annual physicals, mammograms and colonoscopies are examples of secondary prevention because they are able to detect disease early, often before the patient is symptomatic. At this level of prevention, it is hoped that the disease is caught early enough so the effects can be reversed. The third type of health promotion is tertiary prevention. During this stage of health promotion, the patient already has the disease so the aim is to slow the progression to allow the patient to have the highest quality of life possible. Blood glucose control for the diabetic to try to prevent blindness and limb amputations is one example of tertiary prevention. Rehabilitation after a stroke would also fall under tertiary prevention (Oberg 2010). Over the years, health promotion is an important responsibility that has shifted from the physician to the nurse. They can participate in health fairs or partner with organizations and schools within the community to provide seminars. If funding for a program is an issue, grants might be available for funding. Physicians, dentists or dieticians may volunteer their time or help with the funding for school programs. Nurses could also participate with corporations to promote healthy lifestyle changes to lower health insurance premiums for their employees. As more people focus on wellness instead of illness, opportunities for the nurse to encourage health promotion are endless. References Casey, D. (2007). Nurses’ perceptions, understanding and experiences of health promotion. Journal Of Clinical Nursing, 16(6), 1039-1049. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2702.2007.01640.x Lazarou, C., & Kouta, C. (2010). The role of nurses in the prevention and management of obesity. British Journal Of Nursing (BJN), 19(10), 641-647. Oberg, E. (2010). Preventive services update. Integrative Medicine: A Clinician’s Journal, 9(4), 22-26. Whittemore, R., Melkus, G., Alexander, N., Zibel, S., Visone, E., Muench, U., & †¦ Wilborne, S. (2010). Implementation of a lifestyle program in primary care by nurse practitioners. Journal Of The American Academy Of Nurse Practitioners, 22(12), 684-693. doi:10.1111/j.1745-7599.2010.00562.x View as multi-pages

Boy Soldiers in the First World War

A. Plan of Investigation The purpose of this investigation is to evaluate how allowing underage soldiers to fight affected Kitchener’s Army during the First World War. To examine this, the investigation will focus on the increase of soldiers in Britain’s army, and out of those, how many were under the required recruitment age of 18. Also, the increase in casualties that occurred due to inexperienced, underage soldiers will be assessed. Lastly, the social issues that arose due to young boys being allowed on the Western Front will be examined.The investigation will be conducted using a variety of sources, the main source being Boy Soldiers of the Great War by Richard Van Emden, which will be evaluated for it’s origins, purposes, values and limitations. B. Summary of Evidence Increased Enlistment Rates in Kitchener’s Army ?During August of 1914, Britain’s Army had approximately 750,000 men ? Lord Kitchener (Field-Marshall) needed at least another 500,0 00 soldiers to fight in the war. In August 1914, Lord Kitchener started an intense recruitment campaign that used many propaganda posters saying things like â€Å"Your Country Needs You† and â€Å"A Call To Arms† which encouraged many men and youths to enlist. ?By September 1914, over 500,000 men had enlisted to Britain’s Army ? It is approximated that a quarter of those soldiers were under the required recruitment age of eighteen. ?These boys enlisted for many reasons: to fulfill their own patriotism, to join friends who were also enlisting, or to even get away from their own parents. By the end of the war, more than a quarter of a million boy soldiers fought for Britain in World War One. Increased Casualties Due to Inexperienced Underage Soldiers ?Many soldiers would become emotionally and physically unstable when facing the horrors of war, and experience â€Å"shell shock†. ?Especially in underage boys who were not used to witnessing death, soldiers wo uld panic and act hysterically ? Many soldiers who suffered from shell shock would run from the trenches, and be executed for desertion or cowardice. ?Over 300British soldiers were court-martialed and executed by fellow British soldiers ? Young (and old) soldiers resorted to suicide in the trenches, due to shell shock, however the exact number of suicides is not known because it is too hard to track ? Training for all soldiers was a short period of time before heading off to the front lines, and for soldiers under age eighteen, no amount of training could prepare them mentally of physically for trench warfare ? Because of their lack of training, young soldiers were usually not the best soldiers and would be killed easilyIncrease of Social Concern ?Many boy soldiers joined the army without telling their parents, so mothers and fathers were very worried, and wanted their sons to be sent back home ? Sir Arthur Markham (Liberal MP for Mansfield) was known for fighting throughout the dur ation of World War One, to get the underage soldiers sent back home to their families ? Not only were the parents of the young boys concerned, but people in general were hearing gruesome stories of war, and were upset that boys as young as fourteen were involved D. AnalysisDuring World War One, over 8 million brave soldiers fought for Britain, all of them at various ages and stages of their lives. During Lord Kitchener’s recruitment campaign in 1914 , thousands of soldiers enlisted for a variety of reasons. Out of these soldiers, more than 250,000 of them were under the age of eighteen . Boy soldiers that had been allowed to enlist affected Kitchener’s Army because of increased recruitment rates, a rise in casualties due to inexperienced, underage soldiers, and a growing social concern about these young boys.By August 1914, Britain’s Army was in desperate need of more men to fight against the Germans . Throughout the same month, the field-marshall at that time, Lord Kitchener, launched a forceful campaign to recruit soldiers by using propaganda posters with phrases like â€Å"Your Country Needs You† and â€Å"A Call To Arms†. This campaign was extremely successful and by September of 1914 the recruitment rates of the army increased significantly. Not only had hundreds of thousands of men enlisted, but boys had been allowed to join as well.These young boys chose to lie about their age and enlist for a variety of reasons: their own sense of patriotism, wanting to follow friends/family into war, pressure from their own cities and towns, and even wanting to get away from austere parents . At this point of World War One, expanding Britain’s Army was the primary goal, not necessarily recruiting the ‘right’ type of soldier. Although these underage men were beneficial to Lord Kitchener’s Army by augmenting the number of combatants, these boys were still extremely young, and had not fathomed the horrors of w ar.After soldiers had officially joined, all men and boys were subject to an exceedingly short period of time dedicated to training , after which they would immediately be sent to the front lines. For soldiers that were as young as 14 years old, no amount of training could prepare them physically or mentally for trench warfare. As a result of this, there was an increase in casualties within Kitchener’s Army because boy soldiers were usually not the best fighters, and would be killed easily. Also, many youths were not used to witnessing death and would experience â€Å"shell shock† in the trenches .One young boy described his experiences in the trenches , saying, â€Å"It was hell, absolute hell. † By not taking the time to verify a soldier’s age, and not allowing for a more extensive training period, Lord Kitchener unknowingly sent these young soldiers to their deaths, deaths that could have been prevented. â€Å"We were doing things we knew nothing abou t. † stated on sixteen-year-old. This â€Å"hell† earlier described would cause soldiers to panic, act hysterically, run from the trenches, or even commit suicide.These unfortunate injuries and deaths demonstrated how Lord Kitchener seemed to favour quantity over quality, which, in a military sense, is a poor idea. These unnecessary casualties affected Kitchener’s Army, not only in a numerical way, but it also produced a great social concern, which, in turn, affected the British Army. Seeing as the required recruitment age was eighteen, a majority of the boy soldiers joined Kitchener’s Army without telling their parents, causing much worry amongst the families of these young boys. The British people’s view on the government and the British Army changed and thought that by allowing nderage boys into the army, â€Å"[Families] have been tricked, deceived, and lied to, in the most scandalous and un-English fashion. † This worry then turned into anger, and families started fighting to get their sons off of the Western Front and back home. This presented a serious issue to the British Army because, according to the enlistment laws, allowing underage soldier’s into the army was against the law, and they had not only numerous upset families writing them letters regarding their sons, but several politicians had started a campaign to bring the young boys home.One of the most well known political leaders of this campaign was liberal MP Sir Arthur Markham who continually questioned Lord Kitchener and the Under Secretary of War what they were going to about these underage boys in the trenches, and insisted that â€Å"no system of enlistment can be satisfactory which allows boys like that to be taken. † By allowing these immature boys to enter into World War One, Kitchener’s Army lost support from his own country, as the general public would not tolerate sending innocent boys into such a harsh environment.

Immorality and Inhumanity in the Pictures from Abu Ghraib

One of the most serious blows to American society and reputation was the highly publicized scandal of maltreatment and abuse of prisoners in Iraq. These incidents, which were uncovered in 2004, happened in the Abu Ghraib prison complex and perpetrated by American personnel under the 372nd Military Police Company.The abuses came to public notice from the media, which was able to acquire extremely graphic images of the tortures taken by the soldiers involved in the incidents themselves. (Hersh, 2004) Following the incident, the United States Military charged those responsible for the crimes and demoted the officer in-charge of the U.S. prison system in Iraq.Until now, however, the American public and the world are still reeling from disappointment over the irrationality and immorality of such systematic acts of violence against the Iraqui prisoners which included various forms of physical, psychological, and sexual abuses. More disconcerting than the acts of the abuses, however, is the fact that the soldiers even took photographs of their crimes.The photographs show the prisoners in shameful conditions, either naked or forced to assume positions suggesting sexual acts with fellow prisoners. Undoubtedly, the photographs show not only violations of basic human rights according to the International Humanitarian Law but also disrespect to the Muslim culture and Islamic beliefs by the American soldiers involved.Among the most disturbing aspects of the photographs taken in the Abu Ghraib prison is the presence of a woman, Private Lynndie England, posing with her thumbs up while the prisoners are being subjected to inhuman treatment.In one photo she is shown posing with a fellow soldier while naked prisoners are made to form a human pyramid at the foreground. In another, she poses with the ubiquitous thumbs up sign while at the same time pointing to the genitals of hooded male prisoners lined up. Indeed, the gloating and happy image of Private England is a stark contras t to the cruelty and torment seen from the prisoners who are reduced to the state of animals.Thus, the pictures should provoke not only outrage from the public but should also lead to a reexamination of the kind of morality and basic sense of decency of military personnel such as England who could derive enjoyment from the clear suffering of her fellow human beings. It is an unfortunate incident that a woman, whom the public expects to be more sensitive to the feelings and emotions of her fellow human being, would be part of the ritual of dehumanization of the prisoners from the physical, emotional, and the psychological aspects of the torture.It is a disappointing fact that Private England, despite her gender, was able to tolerate highly sexualized abuses that were usually committed by men to show their dominance upon women: rape, brutality, and sodomy.Aside from being devoid of any sense of morality, the pictures violate public sensitivity and ethics. The purpose of the pictures a nd the intent of the people who took them therefore become questionable. These images where clearly not meant for an audience, but then, why take them in the first place? Did Private England and her cohorts need a remembrance of how they were once part of the violation and abuse of the Iraqui prisoners?Upon analysis, the pictures are not only proof of the lack of ethics and sensitivity of the soldiers but also signify a deeper perversion. The abuse of the prisoners, supposedly meant to prime them for interrogation by intelligence personnel, show the ugly characteristic of power play wherein the abusers took freedom upon their prisoners because of their perceived dominant position.Their main intent is to degrade the prisoners, to strip away their dignity as human beings, and to show them that they are powerless beneath the abusers’ hands. The pictures, then, are part of the ritual of abuse. By exposing the private parts of the prisoner and capturing the moment forever on film or on video, the perpetrators are breaking the person’s will, reducing him or her into an object.Unfortunately, the acts of the American soldiers reflect the corruption of the entire U.S. military. Hersh (2004) observes that the Abu Ghraib incidents occurred not only because of poor leadership from the direct commanding officer but because of the lack of accountability in the military’s chain of command.Moreover, the incidents are an indication not only of the failure of the United States Army but also of American ideals and society to instill respect for human rights and human dignity among its members. It is a great shame and a devastating blow for the world’s superpower and the supposed protector of Democracy, to be associated with blatant acts of human rights violations.It is in this aspect that the world will continue to be haunted by the images of prisoners from Abu Ghraib. For the people will always remember how Private England smiled and gave a thumbs up sign for the camera while other human beings were being treated as animals in the foreground. Indeed, the torture and abuse of Iraqui prisoners are symptoms of the breakdown of humanity; the images of the grinning the soldiers will therefore serve as a haunting reminder of the capacity of humans for boundless inhumanity.Works Cited:Hersh, Simon R. Torture at Abu Ghraib. 10 May 2004. The New Yorker. 31 March 2008. http:// www.newyorker.com/archive/2004/05/10/040510fa_fact

LENGUA Y LITERATURA/2

LENGUA Y LITERATURA/2 LENGUA Y LITERATURA/2 Trabajo practico: El cuento de ciencia ficcià ³n . La nocià ³n de intertextualidad . 1. Lean los recuadros de las paginas 92 y 98 del libro de texto, y respondan el siguiente cuestionario: ?Cà ³mo puede definirse el cuento de ciencia ficcià ³n ? Los cuentos de ciencia ficcià ³n son narraciones que expresan temores e ilusiones acerca del destino de la humanidad. Asà ¬, en este tipo de literatura, se crean sociedades futuras o mundos paralelos en los que suceden hechos que pueden explicarse desde la là ³gica racional de la ciencia. B ?Que preguntas sobre la ciencia produjo a la humanidad la Revolucià ³n Industrial ? Despues de la Rev. Industrial, comienza a pensarse que la ciencia tiene infinitas posibilidades de avance. Esto generà ³ esperanzas que tambien se reflejan en la literatura: ?Puede el ser humano ser mejor, vivir en un mundo mas justo, terminar con la guerra y el odio Pueden curarse todas las enfermedadesEs posible evitar la muerte? Pero tambien habà ¬an temores:   ?Tiene el ser humano derecho a manipular la vidaY si la tecnologà ¬a arruina las relaciones entre las personas?, etc. B De acuerdo al tipo de temas que aborda, ?que tipos de cuentos de ciencia ficcià ³n existen? La llamada ciencia ficcià ³n â€Å"dura†, que gira especialmente en torno a los avances, las formas y las consecuencias de la tecnologà ¬a y otra mas preocupada por las relaciones humanas y sociales. B Definan utopà ¬a ycontra utopà ¬a . Una utopà ¬a es una idea que parece imposible de realizar, inalcanzable, dentro de un mundo ideal que representa los deseos de perfeccià ³n de quien imagina ese mundo. Un mundo contra utà ³picoCONTRAUTÓPICO, sonES en los queAQUEL EN EL QUE los seres humanos, valiendose de los avances de la ciencia, destruyen las relaciones interpersonales, la naturaleza, la cultura y hasta el planeta, ya sea el propio o una colonizado. B 2. Lean el siguiente cuento: Barb a brillante De Fredric Brown Ella estaba asustada, terriblemente asustada, desde que su padre la concediera en matrimonio al extrano hombre de la barba de color encendido.  ¡Habà ¬a algo tan siniestro en el, en su gran fuerza, en sus ojos aguilenos, en el modo como la miraba†¦! Ademas corrà ¬a el rumor -sà ³lo un rumor, por supuesto- de que tuvo otras esposas y que nadie sabà ¬a lo que les habà ¬a ocurrido. Y tambien el extrano asunto del cuarto al que le prohibià ³ entrar, y ni siquiera sà ³lo asomarse al interior. Hasta hoy lo habà ¬a obedecido especialmente despues de intentar abrir la habitacià ³n y encontrarla cerrada con llave. Pero ahora esta de pie enfrente de la puerta, con la llave, o con lo que creà ¬a era la llave, en su mano. Era una llave que habà ¬a encontrado, apenas una hora antes, en el escritorio de su esposo; sin duda se deslizà ³ de uno de sus bolsillos, y parecà ¬a del tamano justo para el agujero de la cerradura de la puerta del cuarto proh ibido.

Research paper on rwanda Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

On rwanda - Research Paper Example The earliest ‘residents’ are thought to be a group of Pygmy hunters and gatherers, labeled the Twa. After the Twa settled, it is believed that the Hutus, agriculturists, and the Tutsis also settled in. By the 15th century, evidence shows that the Hutu and Tutsi, both of the Bantu tribe, had organized themselves into states (Melvern, 2006), and thus the Rwandan civilization came into being. One of these states, the Rwabuguri, was the most powerful and maintained control until well into the 19th century. It expanded both geographically and demographically, spreading agricultural techniques and political control. While the military was never a strong means of achieving control, it was used at times against other well-developed states such as Gisaka and Burundi. Soon, economic disparity between the Hutus and the Tutsis became apparent leading to divisions. The Tutsi population emerged with a Mwami (king), who the Rwandans were made to pay tribute to and who controlled much o f the Rwandan land (Melvern, 2006). Moreover, the Tutsis were given many of the important positions in the government. Despite the disparity in control and power, Rwanda did not see any ethnic strife in its pre-colonial administration. It was only when it became a colonial administration that relations between these two tribes, the Hutus and the Tutsis became contentious (Melvern, 2006). Colonial History Early 20th century saw Germany and Belgian colonialism in Rwanda (Cooper, 2002). Unfortunately, this was also an epoch where Germany, like much of Europe, had become fixated on racial differences and soon, they seemed to be favoring the Tutsis against the Hutus since the former were more European in appearance and more inclined to take on the Catholic faith. Therefore, the Tutsis were elevated to higher statuses in the administration and Hutus were routinely oppressed. Soon, many Rwandans started resenting Belgian occupation and formed secret organizations to throw out the Belgians and gain liberation. They resisted reforms by the Belgian administration and in the second half of the 20th century, Pan-Africanism culture spread through Africa and demands of anti-colonialism were made. The final straw came when, in 1962, the last Mwami died and it was believed to have been killed by Belgians. In anger, the Hutus drove out the Belgians soon, the Hutu Emancipation Movement gained power and drove out the Tutsis and killed many of them in revenge for the oppression they had been dealt with (Mamdani, 2002). Post-Independence History to Present The Tutsi refugees started their own party, the Rwandese Patriotic Front (RPF) and in 1990, the RPF invaded and forced the president to sign a treaty that stated that Hutus and Tutsis would share power (Broch-Due, 2005). After a mass genocide in which 800,000 Tutsis were killed and one-tenth of the population was wiped out (Cohen, 2007) relative peace was seen in Rwanda. The RPF invaded the country and put in place a government with representation from both Hutu and Tutsi fronts. The President was Hutu, and the Vice-President was a Tutsi. Moreover, over 900,000 people had fled Rwanda to

Celebrating new year becomes pop-cultrual celebrity Essay

Celebrating new year becomes pop-cultrual celebrity - Essay Example New Year has now become a worldwide celebration with so much anticipation and expectations put in line to mark the day (Mercer, 26). People all around the world start counting down the New Year day before the clock ticks midnight. They will count all through the last sixty seconds and cheer when the New Year begins. People will tend to hug, jump and wish their friends a â€Å"Happy and prosperous New Year and sing along various songs designed for such a day. New Year is a historical celebration that has become a pop cultural celebration in almost all nations in the world that comprises of so many memories and resolutions taking place on this material day (Mercer, 44). This paper discusses how New Year has become a pop cultural celebration in the world through wide the influence from internet and social media. Celebrations of the New Year has not started recently, the first celebration is dated back to 2000 B.C in Mesopotamia (Mercer, 48). It was marked on mid-March and was celebrated during the time of the vernal equinox. Various ancient cultures also tied a varied of other dates to the seasons. The Egyptian, Persians and Phoenicians made history by celebrating the New Year eve with the fall equinox and on the other hand the Greeks decided to celebrate it during the winter solstice. As stated before, calendars used by various countries determine when the New Year celebrations take place. In the early Roman calendar, New Year was on March date one. Their calendar had just ten months with March being the first month. The calendar was not as the same with what is used today since some month like September and December were the seventh and tenth months respectively. It was during the first celebrations of New Year in Rome that the month of January joined the calendar. The month was not in existence until 700 B.C during the rule of Numa

Introduction to European Studies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Introduction to European Studies - Essay Example (Mukherjee, 22) But it should be remembered that the idea of Europe, as we know it today, was still in its infancy dealing in ideologies and fundamentals that are not much different from the rest of the known and civilized world. As late as the beginning of the 1700 AD there were still the practice of feudalism in one form or another, there were states that used bonded labours and encouraged slavery, woman rights were not known and structural academic movements were still at bay. This society needed a thrust to start off. And that thrust was inspired from a political movement in England. The Act of Union was passed in British Council whereby four states, England, Ireland, Scotland and Welsh came together to form a political union know as United Kingdom of Great Britain. Subsequent Act of Union was passed in 1707 and 1800 and this was the point of a growing concept which ultimately is on its way towards a unified European Union in the 21st Century. The perception of a common fiscal policy has been granted by most of the states of Europe and Union of European could be within striking distance. However, this modern concept of unification of states is a step towards a better and mutually prosperous situation but at the same time it should be kept in mind the development of Europe as a concept or idea started with other variables too. (Mukherjee, 81) The concept of Europe as a unified cultural sect started along the path of the 1700s and the basic idea of Europe is that unified perception of thought process bounded by cultural, social, religious and political homogeneousness. There are other variables to develop this homogeneousness of states in Europe whereby the idea could be put forward. Religion One such variable is the growth of Christianity as a binding force. It is obvious that religion played an enormous part as the determining factor of conceptualising the unified idea of Europe. The Eight Crusades were just a beginning of this bonding. Though Christianity has changed face along with time and space and at present there are three major distributaries of the religion viz. Roman Catholic, Protestant and Greek Orthodox it cannot be denied that Christ as a Prophet, despite being Semitic by anthropological diversity, it should be noted and the fact that should indulged in this conception, influenced all the tribes of Europe be it Nordic, Alpine or Caucasian. Although, no one can ignore that during the inquisition period this religion did enough to set back the clock for Europe, at least scientifically. But this same inquisition period can be put forward to ensure the bondage that that spread across Europe with the substantial feel of brotherhood. Political Apart from the Act of Union in Great Britain there came another exemplary act that forced all Europe to reconsider their usual concept of life and perception of politics all at the same time all over Europe. This was the French revolution of the late 18th Century. On 20 September 1792 the National Convention abolished the monarchy and declared France a republic. Due to the emergency of war the National Convention created the Committee of Public Safety, controlled by the Jacobin Robespierre, to act as the country's executive. Under

Film Report Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Film Report - Assignment Example Those who were lucky to have gone to school and had learnt some English later indigenized the music into other languages. It was first produced in the wolof language since wolof was the biggest language group in Senegal. Since the introduction of the hip hop music, there are over three thousand thriving hip hop groups in Dakar. The groups are trying to deeply express whatever is burning in their hearts. All the groups being that they are using the hip hop music to create awareness of their countries political instability makes the country to be of particular interest in contemporary African hip hop movement. The once imported sound of fighting the power was now something distinctly Senegalese where it was only about democracy in the country. Senegal’s hip hop culture is grounded both in the local and in the transnational network of music and ideas. It’s hip hop mixes both sound and culture. When Awadi is questioned on the successfulness of hip hop in Senegal, he replies that they have a traditional connection with hip hop; traditional music called, Tulsa or kebetu where you play drums and talk on the beat. In hip life film Democracy in Senegal, the hip hop practitioners deeply exhibits that they were the ones who played the greatest role in the regime change in their country. They were not telling the people on who to vote for because they believed that all politicians in Senegal were the same but they adviced them to vote. The Sen kumpe group is very courageous.the group talks about anything including politics and is limited by nothing. The groups faces severe problems when reflecting these political issues one being that of The flag of Senegal where the media could not help in the airing of critical messages. The other one being that the groups received threats of being sued. So many people have gone into exile as a result. Bambino was threatened that his house was to be burnt down if he continued talking

Cybercrime, privacy and security concepts in the film WarGames Essay

Cybercrime, privacy and security concepts in the film WarGames - Essay Example Therefore, he takes his time to engage in cybercrimes and hacking of computer security codes in search of games to play (Bischoff, 1983). His hacking practice eventually leads him to a US supercomputer that is highly secured, due to the sensitive nature of the information it contains. This information is potentially dangerous and capable of causing world destruction through sparking World War III, which is a war of nuclear weapons. The super computer was programmed to launch missile attacks automatically, on the event of being ordered to start such an action, after the Air Force Strategic missile operatives were unwilling to turn on the button which could spark off the nuclear missile attacks (Franklin, 2008). Considering that none of the operatives wanted to be the cause of the devastating attack that could wipe out the whole world, a super computer had to be programmed, which could easily be turned into action by a simple computer operation procedure. Therefore, initially perceivin g the WOPR (War Operation Plan Response) program as another exciting game, David Lightman, (Broderick) embarks on a mission to unearth the backdoor password that can be used to hack into, and access the Supercomputer details (Bischoff, 1983). Being a computer whizz, and with the help of his friend who were also hackers, Broderick eventually manages to unearth the backdoor password and starts operating the computer program by running the nuclear war simulation, through his own computer (Franklin, 2008). Considering the threat posed by this computer operation, the simulation scares the whole security and military departments, since it almost causes a full blown World War III, which is a devastating war of nuclear missiles. This cyber crime and security intrusion into the US military department security systems is a form of black hat hacking. This is because, black hat hacking entails the process of violating and cracking computer security systems with malicious intentions of benefitin g oneself (Hanser, 2011). Broderick had been hacking other computer security systems previously, to gain access to computer games that he could play. In the process of searching for more interesting computer games, other than chess, poker and checkers which he had previously accessed, he embarked on searching for new games, which led him to the supercomputer, which seemed to possess a different nature of games than he had been used to (Bischoff, 1983). This practice of hacking into other computer security systems and accessing games to play, instead of purchasing such games from the manufacturers or retailers, is a selfish crime. Additionally, hacking into other security systems without the knowledge of the owners of the systems, regardless of the intentions an individual has, is malicious and damaging (Johnston, 2011). Therefore, this act of Broderick hacking and accessing the security systems of the US supercomputer and his continuation to simulate the war programs is a form of bl ack hat hacking, since it involves the violation of computer security and privacy laws (Subramanian, 2008). The fictional narration of this film falls under the following three categories: Cybercrime Cybercrime refers to any act of an individual to use computers or computer networks for crime. This can occur in the form of using the computer to commit crime or targeting other computers with some criminal intentions (Hanser, 2011).The film WarGames (1983), depicts both forms of crime. There is a crime of using computers to commit a violation of the acceptable computer privacy and security guidelines. Here, Broderick, who is a bright but highly unmotivated teenager, engages in the act of using

What causes conflict along the nomadsedentary frontier Essay

What causes conflict along the nomadsedentary frontier - Essay Example Nomadism for Pastoralists is apolitical as well as an economic strategy. Nomads use their nomadic movements to maintain household autonomy, to evade domination by other members of their own communities as well as by outsiders, including state authorities.From ancient times the contrast between nomadic and sedentary ways life has been a recurring theme. It is said in the earliest pages of Bible, farmers those who work in the soil and of "those who live in tents and rise livestock". The most familiar nomads are the pastoral nomads of Middle Eastern countries those who moved and even today move with their camels, cattle, sheep, and goats, seeking pasture for them at each season of the year.Nomads often live and move in arid areas of the world where water and soil condition are not in good condition. But they are also to be found in well watered places, where they could have more political power while compared to sedentary agriculturalists.There is a large population of nomadic pastorali sts in North Africa, in arid areas of West Africa, and particularly in such East African countries as the Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, and Tanzania. From the Middle Eastern countries through Iran, Pakistan and North India, through to China and Mongolia, Pastoral nomadic remains important as a mode of livelihood.Travel with their herds. They are widely found in the Alps and in other mountains areas in Europe and was fixed dwelling in both winter and summer areas. Pastoral nomads contribute greatly to the economic activity of the country, like they sell or exchange pastoral products for grain, cloth, weapons, and other trade goods. Pastoral nomads are able to define themselves according to their priorities as long as they remain nomads like they proved themselves long access to milk, to sustain long- term relationship with members of their own communities, and to build the power and prestige in accordance with their own values and culture. Nomadism for Pastoralists is apolitical as well as an economic strategy. Nomads use their nomadic movements to maintain household autonomy, to evade domination by other members of their own communities as well as by outsiders, including state authorities. Typically Pastoral nomads rely on their own organization, military skills, and weapons to defend their herds and pastures against raiders and to add to their own herds and pastures by raiding others. The military skills that are an advantage for Pastoral nomadians can be used for other purposes and throughout history pastoralists have repeatedly conquered sedentary populations and established dynasties and ruling elites over them. Mongol conquerors in china, central Asia and Russia provide one of the best known examples. The Mongol conquest was the most world- changing event of this era. Barfield says, "The exceptional nature of the Mongol Empire has been largely misunderstood because, as the most powerful nomadic state that ever exited , it was presumed to be the culmination of political evolution on the steppe rather than the exception that it was," (Barfield 1991,48). The Chinnggis rose to power with marginal support even as his own relatives opposed him. His conquest led to Yuan dynasty. He did not rely on kinship to organize his supporters but rather on loyalty and autocratic control. His main supporters were friends and retainers and his political organization rejected the imperial confederacy model whereas the Mongol state was based on the principles of centralized administration and tribal leadership were abolished. A rigid discipline came which unknown among nomads were followed .But after the fall of Mongol Empire the traditional nomads system with imperialism came into existence. After Chinggis's rule it was only with Khubilai that the Mongols took up the responsibility of ruling northern china rather than despoiling it. The Mongol Empire for the first time united most of Eurasia into a single empire whereas western Europe remained outside the Mongol Empire. The Mongol success can be said in the following ways: First the states they attacked in western Asia were weak and vulnerable to conquest. Their ecological adaptations were much more fragile than was the case in

Educational Enquiry Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words - 1

Educational Enquiry - Assignment Example The outcome so far has been disappointing, though it may be that cognitive psychologists and neuroscientists will soon produce something finer.†Hargreaves argues current educational research is neither adequately cumulative nor relevant to teachers’ practical concerns for it to initiate the contribution required. He draws a contrast between the role of research in education, and role to the practice of medicine by means of evidence based medicine as a model. He claims few teachers use psychology, sociology, philosophy, and history. This makes the teachers work more effective (Reynolds & Trinder, 1997, pg 56) Hargreaves is not very explicit about the form he believes educational research should take. He is neglective of strict methodological problems that are faced by educational researchers. He seems to view the procedure of developing cumulative knowledge about the outcome of different pedagogical methods directly. The use of a standard in judging current educational re search that assumes direct and instrumental form of the relationship. Hargreaves argues educational research has failed to provide practitioners with the required knowledge about pedagogical strategies work, and those that do not ensure competence of the practitioner; he claims that it is not only terms of practical skills but familiarity with practice relevant to the research. While Hammersley points out that it is the language Hargreaves uses implies a commitment to a method that many would deem positivist that it values research that emulates the scientific approach.Hammersley challenges the assumption by arguing this type of evidence is effective in improving practice on the basis that scientific methods, and... This essay approves that the goals of learning in a social constructive perspective differ, and learning is characterized by the subjective reconstruction of society means, and models by carrying out negotiations of meaning in social interaction. Its focus is on interaction within the local setting because they are viewed as automatically related. It is noted that neither an individual learner’s activity nor the local micro culture can be understood without the consideration of the other. These changes the research that is learning compared with a cognitive constructionist research.Constructionism is associated with qualitative data where as sociocultural approaches the original data collection is qualitative because the focal point is on interactions, and dynamic. Learning opportunities arise but research is done on experiences and changes entailed. Many social cultural studies focus on learning as a transformation of identity to forefront the personal characteristics, and ha ve little to say about the system. This report makes a conclusion that learning technology research is presently dominated by a paradigm that divides the research into two types qualitative, and quantitative. The division is normal science in learning, and has provided an agreement that has permitted researchers to shun disagreements over fundamentals, and an outline for standard research training. The standard structure is under pressure from developing research methods that are relevant to learning. Educational research fails to supply a cumulated body of concrete knowledge about the effectiveness, and efficiency of different methods. May be paradigm could finally be resolved in the natural sciences, because the outcome of research was unreliable.

Wine and Probable Cost Driver Essay Example for Free

Wine and Probable Cost Driver Essay Peter Catalanos Verde Vineyards in Oakville, California produces three varieties of wine: Merlot, Viognier, and Pinot Noir. His winemaster, Kyle Ward, has identified the following activities as cost pools for accumulating overhead and assigning it to products. For each of Verdes fifteen activity cost pools, identify a probable cost driver that might be used to assign overhead costs to its three wine varieties. 1. | Culling and replanting. Dead or overcrowded vines are culled, and new vines are planted or relocated. (Separate vineyards by variety. ) | Labor hour| 2. | Tying. The posts and wires are reset, and vines are tied to the wires for the dormant season. | Labor hour| 3. | Trimming. At the end of the harvest the vines are cut and trimmed back in preparation for the next season. | Labor hour| 4. | Spraying. The vines are sprayed with chemicals for protection against insects and fungi. | Gallons of chemical| 5. | Harvesting. The grapes are hand-picked, placed in carts, and transported to the crushers. | Number of cartfuls or labor hours| 6. | Stemming and crushing. Cartfuls of bunches of grapes of each variety are separately loaded into machines which remove stems and gently crush the grapes. Number of cartfuls| 7. | Pressing and filtering. The crushed grapes are transferred to presses which mechanically remove the juices and filter out bulk and impurities. | Gallons of juice| 8. | Fermentation. The grape juice, by variety, is fermented in either stainless-steel tanks or oak barrels. | Gallons of juice| 9. | Aging. The wines are aged in either stainless-steel tanks or oak barrels for one to three years depending on variety. | Gallons of wine or months of aging| 10. | Bottling and corking. Bottles are machine-filled and corked. | Number of bottles| 11. | Labeling and boxing. Each bottle is labeled, as is each nine-bottle case, with the name of the vintner, vintage, and variety. | #. Of bottles| 12. | Storing. Packaged and boxed bottles are stored awaiting shipment. | # of boxes| 13. | Shipping. The wine is shipped to distributors and private retailers. | # of shipments| 14. | Heating and air-conditioning of plant and offices. | Number of gallons processed| 15. | Maintenance of buildings and equipment. Printing, repairs, replacements, and general maintenance are performed in the off-season. | # of gallons processed.

Advantages Of Outsourcing ICT In An Organization Information Technology Essay

Advantages Of Outsourcing ICT In An Organization Information Technology Essay This is a report about Tescos company ICT outsourcing and knowledge management. In the following paragraphs two questions are going to be answered and analyzed according to the information existing in Tescos case and also strategic managements theory. Outsourcing ICT is quite commonly used by organizations as an approach to strategic management. Access the advantages and disadvantages that outsourcing can bring in developing effective uses of information systems in an organization such as Tesco. The huge amount of competion and the global economic crisis that organizations have to face nowadays have made Information Communications Technology outsourcing a really attractive management tool in order to cut expenses in non-core activities, specific in overheads of Information Technology departments. By deciding to outsource, there would be a lot of benefits but also a number of risks associated with it. It is important for a decision maker to be aware of the advantages and disadvantages of ICT outsourcing, before making the decision to outsource. Outsourcing ICT has to do with the whole information science, helping the business field. It is about networks, web design, programming, online shops etc. Network services is the most common ICT services activity that is being outsourced and that outsourcers who do not comply with contract has the most influence on ICT outsourcing inherent risks. The Technology of information and communication is growing fast and the vendor business has to be updated and synchronized with the era of 2010. So it would be far easier for them to sell their products and serving their customers in every possible way. For a company that has to deal with so many products from soap to bread it would be more difficult to take the risk and create their own Information and communication department from scratch and keep It upgraded while their whole business is running. The result of this difficulty is to outsource ICT specific in Tescos case to Trilogy Company. The advantages of outsourcing ICT in an organization such as Tesco. ICT is vital to Tesco. Every aspect of their operation is controlled or monitored by ICT stock, distribution, payroll, communication methods, and so on. ICT is essential to the running of a modern store. It is used for planning, monitoring, auditing and communicating between store operations. For example, when an item has its barcode read at the checkout, the system not only logs the price onto the till, but also logs the financial transaction between Tesco and the customer and the fact that the stock has been reduced by one item. On the distribution side, instructions from the mainframe computer are sent directly to forklift truck operators at depots by radio links. This shows the integration of departments by using ICT. All stores are connected to the mainframe at Head Office via the Tesco Network. Another advantage of Outsourcing ICT from a business perspective is that organizations are realizing that owning and operating their own IT infrastructure no longer makes sense. The cost of that is much bigger and the results are never guaranteed. This coupled with the common resource lack make outsourcing a viable alternative. It is important for organizations to adopt the right approach in order to reap the benefits of outsourcing. They should demand the following from any ICT company they are going to cooperate. Selectively outsource specific ICT functions in stages Grow into a mutually beneficial relationship Gradually leverage on the benefits of outsourcing Continuously review performance and make adjustments Have Technical support from experienced system engineers Gain confidence and in-house acceptance before outsourcing more functions With the right approach and the suitable outsourcing of ICT the organizations will manage to stay high at the competitive edge in the market. Serving the customers in the best way and surprise them with new ways of purchasing their products (for ex. via online-shops) will keep their loyalty and the margin will be for both sides. A big company like Tesco has many sub-stores, some in the same country and some abroad. The communication between them and the line the company sets everywhere should be established well. ICT helps with this area and it was the primary reason that chain branches use ICT. In summary outsourcing ICT for a company such as Tesco is important for increasing the ability to reach the goals of the company, reduce human risks, saving time, helping the company to stay competitive and minimize the operating costs. The Disadvantages of Outsourcing ICT in an organization such as Tesco. As it was already mentioned above, the outsourcing ICT has also disadvantages that raise the risk the company has to take. For example, At times, it is more cost-effective to conduct a particular business process, rather than outsourcing it, not that much in IT but maybe if the upgrade the company wants to make is small and the fee the ICT Company asks is big. When you begin to outsource your business processes, you might find it difficult to manage the offshore provider when compared to managing processes within your organization. In case, your outsource ICT service provider becomes bankrupt or goes out of business, your organization will have to immediately move your business processes in-house or find another outsourcing provider The employees in your organization might not like the idea of you outsourcing your processes and they might express lack of interest or lack of quality at work also outsourcing can create potential redundancies for your organization, a lot of employees may lose their jobs. Your outsourcing provider might not be only providing services for your organization and maybe the quality of the service isnt always guaranteed, especially in low-price agreements. Since your provider might be catering to the needs of several companies, there might be not be complete devotion to you and your company something that couldnt happen if you owned the ICT department. In outsourcing, you may lose your control over the process that is outsourced and dont be able to fix something in time because you are not in charge of this field. Outsourcing, though cost-effective, might have hidden costs, such as the legal costs incurred while signing a contract between companies and you might also have to spend a lot of time and effort in getting the contract signed. There can be several disadvantages in outsourcing, such as, renewing contracts, misunderstanding of the contract, lack of communication, poor quality and delayed services amongst others. The disadvantages of outsourcing give organizations an opportunity to think about what they are stepping into. However if you find a reliable outsourcing partner you probably wont experience any of these disadvantages of outsourcing.