Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Is Ritalin The Answer To Ad (H) D Essays (547 words) -

Is Ritalin The Answer To Ad (H) D? Is Ritalin the Answer to AD (H) D? The tousled brown hair that weaves so mischievously around his head may hint at the way he feels inside. He is seven-years-old and has already had to repeat a grade. He has an imagination that puts others to shame, but nothing seems to hold his attention for more than five minutes. He was recently diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or what we call AD (H) D. This scene is all too familiar for individuals who discover that they, too, have this learning disorder as they progress from elementary school to college. In today's society we want a quick fix to remedy our problems. Therefore doctors are prescribing the drug, Ritalin, to control AD (H) D. Although Ritalin is a widely used drug to control AD (H) D, there are other safer alternatives to combat this worldwide disorder. Ritalin, like many other drugs, has several side effects-some of which are severe. Ritalin is in a class of drugs called Methylphetamines. These types of drugs (also called Central Nervous System or CNS stimulants) affect our central nervous system that controls everything from thought process to everyday breathing. Ritalin's major side effects influences the cardiovascular system (palpitation, tachycardia, and increased blood pressure), the central nervous system (psychosis, dizziness, headache, insomnia, tic syndromes, attacks of Gilles de la Tourette), gastrointestinal (anorexia, nausea), endocrine/metabolic system (weight loss, growth suppression). (What You Need To Know About Ritalin 1999) Also, Ritalin is a fairly new drug (introduced in the early eighties). It hasn't been around long enough to study the long-term effects. Since Ritalin is a Methylphetamine (closely related to the amphetamine family, such as cocaine), it has a high rate of abuse. In light of methylphenidate's abuse liability, it is important to note the tremendous increase in availability of this substance and the expanded population (adolescents and adults) receiving prescriptions for the treatment of AD (H) D. For example, the production quota for methylphenidate has increased from 1,361 kg in 1985 to 10,410 kg in 1995 with the primary increases occurring in the last five years. (Ritalin 1996) This drug is abused in two ways. One way is for recreational purposes. The abusers use the drug as a form of speed to pick themselves up. They feel that they need this in order to be alive and full of life. The other way this drug is abused is very different. Students are using Ritalin as a study aid. They take a pill (either orally, or by crushing it and snorting-much like cocaine, or they emulsify it in water and inject it like heroin) and cr am for an exam. College today has become more competitive. Students feel a need to have an edge over the others. They feel that Ritalin gives them this edge. Another danger is that since Ritalin is related to amphetamines, it has almost the same physiological effects. A users body will build a tolerance to the stimulant, therefore requiring more drugs to sustain the same level of abuse. This is very dangerous since the side effects on a normal dose are already dangerous; it has the potential for addiction and overdose. (Ritalin Nation 1997) Social Issues

Saturday, November 23, 2019

How does Act 3 Scene 1 create and increase the dramatic tension leading to the end of the play Essays

How does Act 3 Scene 1 create and increase the dramatic tension leading to the end of the play Essays How does Act 3 Scene 1 create and increase the dramatic tension leading to the end of the play Essay How does Act 3 Scene 1 create and increase the dramatic tension leading to the end of the play Essay Shakespeare, soon to become the worlds most famous playwright, was in his peak of playwriting abilities during 1593 when he wrote Romeo and Juliet. He wrote to entertain in the Rose Theatre, Bankside in London. At that time London was a lively, highly populated place where aspiring writers and entertainers may go to claim their fortunes and in many ways still is. William Shakespeare had many rivals and obstacles to overcome and was living life on the edge.The Master of the Revels was able to shut down theatres at the strike of a pen as it was seen to be unholy to go to the theatre and many other writers also hoped for success, one of them being Christopher Marlowe. Romeo and Juliet was Shakespeares first play that was exciting enough to really rival Marlowe, mainly because it includes, portrays and expresses basic and important emotions such as love, passion and violence which are still felt strongly to this day. This is one of the reasons it is studied, watched and respected in the twenty first century.Romeo and Juliet is set in sixteenth century Italy in fair Verona. The play is set around two rival high status families from which two opposing star crossed lovers take their life. The families are typical of high status Italian families we hear about today: always feuding, outgoing, loud, strong minded and very quick tempered. In many ways these families are the roots of the modern mafia. This intertextuality already increases the dramatic tension. Many characters are involved in the play and they stand for different binary oppositions: Benvolio is a peaceful person, I do but keep the peace whereas the fiery Tybalt is a very violent and hot headed person, what, drawn and talk of peace? I hate the word.However some characters are very similar such as Mercutio and Tybalt; they are both quick witted, volatile and both resort to violence which is shown before they meet making the audience (in sixteenth century theatre the audience were entertained most by violence and sex) excited at the prospect of the two most violent people in the play who happen to be enemies meeting; also increasing the dramatic tension. Another aspect increasing the dramatic tension is in the prologue it states where civil blood makes civil blood unclean. The audience will have experienced a public brawl in which no-one was killed which also resulted in a warning from the prince that anymore public fighting will result in death, your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace. This will leave the audience wondering when death will result, keeping the audience involved and anticipating this event.Another Event that increases the dramatic tension is in Act 2 scene 6 Romeo and Juliet get secretly married, Come, come with me, and we will make short work, For by your leaves, you shall not stay alone till holy church incorporate into one., creating dramatic irony as only us, Romeo, Juliet, Friar Lawrence and the Nurse know about it. This dramatic irony comes into play effectiv ely during Act 3 scene 1 when Tybalt confronts Romeo.During Act 3 scene 1 Tybalt approaches the Montague and Mercutio looking for Romeo. The day is hot, the capels abroad, and if we meet shall not scape a brawl This reinforces Benvolios character as cautious and peaceful and also implies a fight will happen soon once the Capulets and the Montagues meet increasing the audiences expectations of the fatal confrontation, adding to the dramatic tension. When Tybalt arrives, the atmosphere changes and Benvolio warns By my head here comes the Capulets. To which Mercutio replies By my heel, I care not, showing Mercutios quick wit and his will for a fight although perhaps not a serious retort.In the play I feel that Mercutios line should be spoken slowly and confidently as it is one of the key lines in the play signifying a violent challenge may arise during or soon after this scene. The mood really changes when Tybalt and Mercutio start quarrelling, starting off with Tybalt provoking Mercut io by insulting him by suggesting he is homosexual with Romeo Mercutio, thou consortest with Romeo. Consort is an Elizabethan word meaning to keep company or to entertain. Mercutios response in my mind is very clever and quick witted as he turns the insult into a challenge to fight as he draws his sword as he describes as a fiddlestick, Consort? Dost thou make us minstrels?And thou make minstrels of us, look to hear nothing but discords. Heres my fiddlestick, heres that shall make you dance. Zounds, consort!. Dramatic tension is increased as the audience now fully expects a fight and may remember the princes warning. The similarities between Mercutio and Tybalt are now very clear but one difference is that Mercutio speaks in prose whereas Tybalt speaks in Poetry suggesting maybe that Tybalt is more sophisticated or Mercutio is in a mild rage unable to project his words clearly and Tybalt is more calm and confident.As Romeo enters dramatic irony adds to the ever increasing dramatic t ension because the audience remembers the secret marriage between him and Tybalts cousin Juliet. Tybalt immediately insults Romeo and challenges him but he refuses saying But love thee better than thou canst devise leaving Mercutio infuriated, O calm, dishonourable, vile submission!, and Tybalt confused. At this point the audience knows a fight will happen even if Romeo isnt involved. Mercutio then challenges Tybalt and they proceed to fight; Romeo tries to split up the brawl but this results in Mercutio being wounded. Tybalt then leaves. Mercutio jokes about his injury but clearly states that it is fatal Ask for me tomorrow, and you shall find me a grave man. Although he is still joking while he says thiscreating some relief for the audience using the word grave as a pun meaning both: a trench dug in the ground for the burial of a corpse and serious or sombre. And blames Romeo repeating A plaque aboth houses, leaving Romeo feeling guilty and feeling as though he has to avenge Merc utios certain death. Mercutio leaves before he dies, which could be for many reasons: he is a very popular character and the audience would be annoyed to see him die or simply maybe Shakespeare wouldnt have wanted too many bodies on stage.Dramatic tension is dramatically increased now as the audience has witnessed one death but feel as though another death will occur, seeing Romeo seeking revenge. Tybalt comes back finding Romeo challenging him showing a new side to Romeo. This shall determine that. They fight and eventually Romeo overcomes Tybalt and kills him. This is a totally new side to Romeo we havent seen yet as he has been portrayed as a gentleman and a peaceful person much like Benvolio.This is perhaps the turning point in the play as Romeos violent side has been exposed and leaves the audience wondering whether this is his true personality or whether it was a one off burst of rage. This turning point signifies the play is moving faster to the dramatic conclusion, building up the dramatic tension for later in the play. Romeo exclaims O, I am fortunes fool. before leaving. This I feel should be shouted as it truly expresses Romeo emotions and feelings at this present point in time and it signifies the involvement of fate which is mentioned before in the play.Romeo leaves just in time as the Prince arrives along with Lord Montague, Lord Capulet and their wives. The Prince decides that punishing Romeo with death would be un-necessary as enough lives have been taken already so instead he banishes Romeo from Verona but he if he returns he will be killed. And for that offence immediately do we exile him hence. This creates dramatic tension as it leaves the audience wondering what Romeo will do as he can either return to see Juliet and run the risk of being caught and killed or he can Stay away for Verona and not see his Juliet.During Act 3 Scene 1 the Elizabethan audience would have responded well because it was fast paced with lots of exits and entrances, violence and excitement. I personally feel that this is the most interesting and exciting scene as it unravels peoples true personalities and the dramatic tension is built up very well until two climactic fights.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Health Care slp Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Health Care slp - Essay Example Routine medical services, preventive care, urgent care, palliative care, diagnostic services, ambulances and drugs, all has been planned to ensure quality. My health plan shows zero tolerance to low class health services. 3. As for the cost, my health plan makes day-to-day visits to the physicians and getting the prescription very much accessible and cost-effective at the same time. As it is a scheduled health insurance rather than a comprehensive one, it will be very much cheaper as the services relate to day-to-day problems and not to a big calamitous event. 4. My health plan rates medium in terms of continuity of care because it protects the patient’s right of refusal of treatment at any phase of the medical procedure. Although, it is highly recommended that beneficial treatment be continued, still the patient’s will is most respected and he is always given treatment alternatives like referring to another physician or switching on to a different medication. This hinders a little with the continuity of care although my health plan strongly recommends

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Are different patterns of communication in men and women Innately Essay

Are different patterns of communication in men and women Innately different - Essay Example The genetics of men and of women differ, in the same way; their brains perceive their communication thus the exhibition of different communication patterns between them. The different patterns are explained by various factors which are intertwined with the genetics of the respective gender in ways such as. The men are there to listen much and not to talk much while the women talk much and listen less, the men listen with a goal to achieve a solution at the end while women talk to heard and not necessarily to achieve a solution to a problem. The men usually compartmentalize their issues when it comes to communicating while women uses the big picture, this means that a man can be able to separate issues relating to different aspects of their lives as they communicate while women cannot be able to separate them. In other words, they use all the small chunks of information, from family, to relationships and to work and they speak about them, another pattern that can be observed in the co mmunication patterns are that women talk so much in a given period while men actually speak so little (Gray, 2015). All these variations in the communication patterns are innate in that the men can hardly adjust and the women can also hardly adjust. Neuroscience has gone a great way to try and explain the innateness of the communication patterns in the men and women to this date. First, the neuroscientists and researchers have assumed two aspects which are innate and can affect the communication patterns of men as well as of women. These factors includes the larynx which is a biological anatomical organ of the human body and the second one which can explain the observed difference is the corpus callosum in the brain of these subjects (University of Pennyslavia, 2010). To begin with, the larynx is a part for the body in the throat which affects the patterns of communication. This is an

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Information Systems In Business Organizations Essay Example for Free

Information Systems In Business Organizations Essay The website of PC Magazine, upon looking at its physical makeup, and design, was designed to entice and provoke consumers all over the world, some of them, I assume, are hooked on online shopping, to purchase products featured on their website. The home page of the website appears to be patches of commercial billboards as it is occupied by advertising ads publicizing their line of products. Some of the wide variety of products presented in the website includes printers, digital cameras, laptops, mobile phones, software and hardware products for computers, mp3 players, to flash drives, speakers, projectors, subscriptions for PC magazine as well, and many more. There is also a broad range of links that you can visit that depends on your fields of interest. For online window shoppers, there is a link for product guides and reviews. Products available in the market, including all brand names, companies and corporations who pay Pcmag.com for advertisements, and product partners, are reviewed and rated. The reviews are useful enough, containing the positive and negative feedbacks of each product. The ratings on the other hand are based on the features, compatibility to other gadgets, design, and the price of the product. There are also software products, for shareware, demo trial, and freeware that the online client can sample and access. As tagline of the Pcmag.com goes, their website is intended for an independent individual. To prove their claim, they have provided links for how-to’s, do-it-yourself’s, tips and guides, and video blogs. For the online information-seeker, there are links for news updates and columns about products in the market, whether these are upgrades, new product launches, additional reviews, comments, etc. Aside from the advertisements plaguing the website, there is also a separate link for online shoppers, which constitute numerous merchandises that are available for purchasing, shopping options, and technology solutions. Moreover, there are discussion boards for online clients who wish to communicate with other online clients about gadget finds, current trends, and other issues about technology and its advances.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Overall, the website of PC Magazine spells out the words â€Å"to sell.† There isn’t any link in the website which does not feature an advertisement or stimulating signs such as low prices, sales, and discounts for products. For each mouse click, there is always a provocation to purchase gadget items. The website accommodates online shoppers, online window shoppers, and consumers deciding on what products to purchase for their particular needs and why. However, pcmag.com primarily caters to businesses or corporations that are planning advertising strategies for the promotion of their products. In as much as the website would want to display themselves as a consumer-centered community, it is likely that business corporations are more benefited by them than their consumers. People who are knowledgeable about management and marketing issues or even rational consumers who are not easily swayed by advertising would know this. Advertising is a very powerful and persuasive tool in stimulating consumers to believe what they are trying to sell. It does not even contribute much to information technology because it is only concerned with the promotions of software and hardware products. Although there are links provided for how-to’s and such, it still lacks depth and beneficial information to sustain the demands of learning information technology. The extensive amount of information provided in each link would be a subject of interest to you if you are a techie and gadget-dependent or if you want to learn how to operate gadgets that are widely used nowadays. If these are your objectives in visiting the sites, then it would be an advantageous and helpful thing for you to do. The product guides and reviews would prove to be the most interesting and valuable links for consumers, as it has the most consumer-centered feel to it. In general, the usefulness and value of the website depends upon your needs and concerns.

Friday, November 15, 2019

Common Core is Failing Our Education System

Common Core is Failing Our Education System I feel very connected to the issue of national testing and standards. I went to public school K-8 and private school 9-12 so I was able to see the issue and how classroom learning can go on both sides. My audience is Betsy DeVos. My research went well, there were a lot of topics on the issue so I didnt have a hard time finding a plethora of information from both sides. It took a while to find some really good articles though. My purpose is to try and get a state centered hand in standards and testing and to repeal Common Core. My only constraints are a series of mental health issues that popped up last year, (which is why I am writing my quest essay on that) but it isnt an excuse, just some background I suppose. I feel as if it isnt my best work, but I feel that way a lot because I have never really enjoyed my writing or been able to get into the process. My peer editors were Leo and Nils and they were both helpful to me. I was able to also get a lot of help at the writing center. Ryan ConnerCourtney BrognoEnglish 1453/16/2017 Common Core is Failing Our Education System In 2001, when the No Child Left Behind Act was passed, emphasis on standardized testing took the spotlight. No Child Left Behind and its successor, Common Core, created the phrase teaching to test. It implies that educators in K-12 classes are no longer trying to foster learning and critical thinking, but instead making sure their students are able to pass a test, deemed by the nation to be comprehensive of the knowledge they should have. Its intentions may have been to help keep students on a path to success but instead has only hindered the ability of students, myself included, as a whole. I, along with many other millennials, experienced the impact of these standards firsthand. Luckily, from early childhood my family and friends gave me the opportunity grow and develop my mind outside the classroom. I was pushed to excel in all aspects whether it be math, social studies, or art. It is something I deeply cherish and respect, but had it not been for these outside influences I wouldn t be where I am today. Going to public elementary and middle school and later a private high school allowed me to gain insight into the toll the creation of a national standard took on my education. The focus of my early education with standardized testing was heavily influenced by teachers focused on making sure we were prepared solely for the test given to each student at the end of the year. Classes were mundane and cookie cutter, no matter the topic. They all seemed to be teaching similar material in a similar fashion, with no room for students who fell behind. It was as if those who didnt succeed in class were further behind each year, with no way out. My idea of education and classroom dynamic changed when I switched to private high school. There were no national standards imposed on us, no standardized tests to take at the end of the year, and room for individuality when it came to your own education. The school decided where the bar of achievement, for every student, was to be set and helped achieve it by focusing on strengths and weaknesses on a case by case basis, truly allowing us to grow. Those students who were left behind in elementary and middle school were no longer left in a hole impossible to dig out of. These experiences allowed me to see that Common Core is detrimental to the education of students for a plethora of reasons, but primarily because of the students who are behind are in a rut, which is hard to dig out of. Instead, if we repeal Common Core while replacing it with more effective state and locally created standards then we would allow students from all situations and backgrounds to learn and be involved in their own education. No Child Left Behind (NCLB) took away funding from certain programs that had been federally supported and introduced standardized testing for most grades K-12, the scores of these tests to be made public all the way from school to state. Those same scores often determined not only how students were performing based on the standards, but also if instructors and staff would hold their jobs at the end of the year. Although this wasnt the first step towards standardized testing it is arguably the first major stepping stone towards what we have today, Common Core. Common Core can be viewed as a refinement of the NCLB. Common Core takes the issues of unclear and differing standards and boils it down to allow schools to understand where improvement can be made. It sounds great on paper, but in actuality faces many of the same problems NCLB created. It takes the local control and understanding out of the equation and punishes under-performing schools that arent able to teach the material eff ectively due to socio-economic issues in communities across the nation. (Bidwell) In the Sacramento region, 30 percent of economically disadvantaged students met English standards on the latest Common Core tests, compared with 63 percent of wealthier students. About 23 percent of economically disadvantaged students met math standards, compared with 53 percent of wealthier students. (Lambert) Nancy DeVos, I urge you to repeal Common Core, which as you state on your website you are not a supporter-period. Instead of repealing with no replacement, instead, find a new system in which the state governments gain control while the federal system is still involved. You would allow communities to nurture students on an individual level so that they can develop the skills and the mental ability they need to think critically instead of the teaching to the test that Common Core still holds. The article, The Common Core Brake Job And The Need For A National Standards Discussion by Alan Singer, states that Common Core as a whole is failing the nations students by its inability to prepare and teach students in an effective way. Although Singer states that he is an opponent of Common Core, there needs to be an education curriculum in place. Common Core was muddled with corporations and individuals who wanted to profit from education instead of creating, and later refining, a system that would be adopted by 45 of the states. There must be more done before a new system is made to truly try to understand how a childs mind develops and how to create goals that cater towards it. Singer advocates that during his time teaching he was able to learn that Teaching means engaging student interest, not handing out scripted activity sheets with text selected by highly paid consultants using computer algorithms. He believes teaching is successful when you are truthful and cater towards t he real level of your students so that you can challenge them more and they can become invested in their education, not just a score on a test. The idea of replacing Common Core with a different program is thought to be near impossible to supporters. The article, How hard would it be to replace the Common Core with something better? by Valerie Strauss, goes into detail about how changing the standards from Common Core to a different program would not just be possible, but beneficial. She adds a piece to her article by Sandra Stotsky, a professor of academic reform and previous commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Education. Massachusetts standards before Common Core had nothing in common with the program in place today. Yet, they were able to create such a strong education system of standards and teaching that Almost all the students at the Advanced level and about 80 percent of the students at the Proficient level who had enrolled in four-year public colleges and universities in the Bay State in 2005 needed no remediation in mathematics or reading. (Stotsky). Their programs, starting back in 1993, were based around bringing students of all backgrounds to the same level. They overhauled school funding and specifically put a majority of it towards districts with low-income children. The money was used to update textbooks, hire and train teachers, and create new classes among the many other aspects they were able to improve. And with these changes, student test scores and graduation rates slowly improved. Today, the district says nearly 90 percent of its high school graduates go on to some form of post-secondary education up from 70 percent before. (Carapezza) Stotsky believes that their programs and standards allowed minorities to excel and that Common Core does the exact opposite. In her experience, the standards they created were, in fact, easy to implement, contrary to opposing beliefs. Her closing suggestion is to ask each Department of Education to send out an anonymous survey to English, math, and science teachers for information on how to revise the states standards. A more recent example is that Missouri recently replaced Common Core standards. The article Missouri education officials replace Common Core standards by Summer Ballentine explains the changes. The State Board of Education passed a new set of goals for K-12 in four areas. The areas covered are English, Math, Science, and Social Studies, the first two were already covered by Common Core but the last two are new additions. They want to have a more comprehensive education goal while allowing the local schools to plan how to reach them. (Ballentine) They are in the process of creating their own tests to match the learning goals set by the state. This initiative is similar to what Massachusetts did in their public school system to reach the level of proficiency and success they are known for today. Although, it differs slightly in that Missouri is taking what Common Core does and is trying to improve upon it, instead of scrapping the idea as a whole. This seems to be the best of both worl ds, having a standard set of goals for the state as a whole while allowing schools to take control of how the students they teach will be able to reach said goals. In Jennifer Marshall and Lindsey Burkes article Why National Standards Wont Fix American Education: Misalignment of Power and Incentives they go into great detail about the root issue behind national standards and testing. A misconception about national standards is the idea that national standards are necessary for parents to be able to gauge the performance of their child compared to others across the country. Found on the Common Core State Standards Initiatives website, the common core state standards will enable participating states to work together to make expectations clear to parents, teachers, and the general public. Their answer as to why national involvement is the better option fails to address why or how national standards and testing is improving the country. The information parents need is already available through programs such as the National Assessment of Educational Progress. Student and school performance is in existence, and has been since NCLB, but there can be a lack of transparency in some states. Marshall states If access to information has been inadequate, that does not justify a national standards and testing regime. Rather, policies should insist on clear reporting of the essential data to parents and other taxpayers. In the same article the authors created a list of what state policymakers should do. Strengthening state standards and tests would challenge students while also being able to have the control to raise the challenge as the years went on, like Massachusetts. Marshall believes States with outstanding standards and tests have taken great pains to ensure proper and precise learning sequencing. This is appropriate at the state level, where teacher certification and other integrated factors of a quality education system are determined. Allowing states control of their standards would foster a better curriculum and higher achieving students, as seen by Massachusetts. Another initiative to be taken is state publishing of school test scores readily available to parents. This would enable transparency and accountability within the state so that schools would push towards the standards outlined by the state. Common Core is failing our students, but if it were to be repealed and replaced with a state centered curriculum and testing we would prosper, not only as a nation, but as individuals. Teaching the test is detrimental to all students but it especially hurts those who dont have the initial drive, internal or external, and fall behind. The promise from my high school was that each and every one of us were to be ready for the daily rigor higher education fosters upon graduation. I firmly believe getting an education based around an individual set of standards, state-made and locally carried out, will help them reach goals they didnt think was possible, no matter the background they come from. Works Cited Ballentine, Summer. Missouri Education Officials Replace Common Core Standards. St. Louis Post-Dispatch. St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 20 Apr. 2016. Web. 26 Feb. 2017. . Bidwell, Allie. The History of Common Core State Standards. U.S. News. U.S. News, 27 Feb. 2014. Web. 3 Mar. 16. . Carapezza, Kirk. How Massachusetts Schools Went From The Middle Of The Pack To First Place. On Campus. WGBH.org, 24 Apr. 2016. Web. 16 Mar. 2017. . Frequently Asked Questions. Common Core State Standards Initiative. Corestandards.org, n.d. Web. 16 Mar. 2017. . Lambert, Diana. Poor Students Lose Ground with Common Core Testing. The Sacramento Bee. Sacbee.com, 22 Sept. 2015. Web. 16 Mar. 2017. . Marshall, Jennifer A. Why National Standards Wont Fix American Education: Misalignment of Power and Incentives. The Heritage Foundation. Heritage.org, 21 May 2010. Web. 16 Mar. 2017. . McCluskey, Neal. Behind the Curtain: Assessing the Case for National Curriculum Standards. Cato Institute. Cato.org, 17 Feb. 2010. Web. 16 Mar. 2017. . Singer, Alan. The Common Core Brake Job And The Need For A National Standards Discussion. The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 05 Jan. 2017. Web. 6 Mar. 2017. .

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

A Civil Action: Witness Evaluation

In the book, A Civil Action, by Jonathan Harr, a plaintiff’s attorney is called upon to prove that a cluster of cancer deaths in a town called Woburn were caused by the pollution of city water wells by factories owed by two corporate entities, Beatrice, and Grace.The liability phase of the trial, separate from the proximate cause trial entailed testimony presented to prove or disprove that the factories in question were responsible for the presence of carcinogenic chemicals in the city’s well water. Thus, the witnesses were all presented to prove or disprove this allegation.The tannery owned by Beatrice and the factory owned by Grace both were in proximity to the wells, and both are alleged to have illegally and irresponsibly dumped a dangerous chemical, TCE on the premises, leading to the contamination of the wells.While the plaintiff’s witnesses were not entirely convincing, they, along with the cross-examination of the defendants witnesses, provided sufficient proof by preponderance of the evidence to find both companies liable.  The plaintiff began by establishing the fact of illegal dumping on both sites. He called numerous long-time residents of Woburn, who testified to witnessing the dumping or venting of whitish-grey powder, barrels, and foul-smelling sludge on the grounds around the city by the factories.(305) Coupled with photographs of abandoned barrels and waste piles on the land in question, the plaintiff established to a reasonable degree of certainty that the tannery was dumping chemicals on the land. As a hostile witness, the plaintiff also called John Reiley, the manager of the Tannery.(306)He vehemently denied any dumping, but was unable to explain the destruction of records for a 10-year period relevant to the case.(313) Despite documentation that proved otherwise, he denied being warned about dumping by the state health agent, A.C. Bolde. (306).Riley’s demeanor and denial of evidence before him made him extremel y hard to believe. It was his testimony, in the manner rendered, that most hurt Beatrice.The Plaintiff also called several experts on soil and groundwater behavior. The first of these was a soil expert named Mr. Drobinski. (303)   He testified to the presence of the TCE in the soil.The defense established on cross-examination that Drobinski had misreported the date his Masters Degree was conferred. (304)Since they did not attack the substance of his testimony, only his credibility in an oblique manner, his word that the TCE did enter the soil stood undisputed.The second expert that the plaintiff called, a hydrologist named Dr. Pinder (325) fared less well in the area of credibility. He did testify to the manner in which the toxins got from the factories’ property to the city’s wells, but was caught out as incorrect on his theory as to why the Aberjona River did not cause the contamination.The substance of his testimony was rendered neutral by the constant back-and-fo rth on cross examination. (327-337) Only his testimony that the contamination could have reached the wells from   the factory properties survived intact. Given what the other witnesses had to say, this assertion went largely unchallenged in any case.In their case against Grace in particular, the plaintiff called Frank McCann, an employee who admitted that the Grace factory used TCE in quantities of about a half-gallon a day. (317) Though he vehemently denied dumping the waste, he could provide no alternative explanation for its disappearance.Tom Barbas, another Grace employee, admitted to â€Å"placing† waste on the ground outside the factory (318). He further admitted witnessing other employees dumping buckets of unknown material on the land. These witnesses effectively established that Grace was dumping waste on the land, and that it was probable that TCE was part of that waste.Despite the plaintiff’s witnesses, they were still left with a weak case in terms of con necting the poisoned well water to the factories in question. Having established that both companies dumped the waste, the plaintiffs did not satisfactorily explain the transfer of the toxins from the land to the City’s wells.Cross-examination of the defenses witnesses brought that issue to light, and strengthened the Plaintiff’s case more than that of the defendants. Beatrice called Thomas Mernin, the Wobern City engineer, to dispute the presence of toxins in the wells. (342)He ended up convincing the jury that he had incompetently left the wells open despite their danger, and even recommending a new well in the same area. His testimony did nothing to ease the allegation that the wells were poisoned. (343)

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Arguments Against Mandatory Voting Essay

Popular participation is often cited as one of the fundamental principles of democracy. The right to vote being a freedom that has, and continues to be, sought after by people all over the world. Despite the value of many political systems’ movement toward universal suffrage, the few countries that have confused the right to vote, with a requirement to, have arguably deteriorated the significance of this achievement. Australia is part of a considerable minority that implement obligatory voting laws, and of an even smaller subset that enforce them. Although the proponents of mandatory voting will be considered, the incompatibility of compulsory voting with implied freedoms, with broad theories of democracy and the overall inefficacy of producing a more engaged public, serve as perspectives that substantiate the notion that voting should no longer be compulsory in Australia. The Australian Constitution raises a number of questions about the constitutional validity of mandatory voting. Given this evaluation of an issue so pertinent to political rights, the implications of these challenges coming from a source as authoritative as this cannot be understated. The existence of a legal responsibility to vote can be perceived as incongruous with the implied freedom of political communication that was proved in Australian Capital TV v Commonwealth 1992 and recognised ever since. This inconsistency extends to the right to vote being proved as an implicit right in s7 and s24 of the Constitution, which, as reported by Dr. Anthony Gray, is an entitlement to vote that includes the freedom not to. Whilst advocates for the current system of compulsion may contend that voting is a civic duty, such reasoning can be seen as unconvincing as it fails to acknowledge that abstention is a perfectly valid form of political expression. Through an analysis of mandatory voting from a wider democratic perspective, the idea that compulsion is an infringement of free will becomes increasingly apparent. In addition to the obvious paradox that a democratic country forces its constituents to vote, a truly free nation should allow for the demonstration of dissatisfaction and make provisions for a refusal  to identify political beliefs. Although commentators in favour of compulsion may assert that the ability to provide an informal or ‘donkey’ vote facilitates this, the inefficiencies these contribute to as well as its inherent irrationality, given they are discounted, are persuasive arguments against such an opinion. Moreover, although there is a certain degree of legitimacy in the claim that obligatory voting serves to augment the democratic ideals of equality and participation, compelling a person to vote is ultimately, according to academic Katherine Swenson, antithetical to the concept of individual freedom. A common belief maintained by supporters of compulsory voting is that it creates a more politically active electorate. Whilst in theory this is conceivable, its practical limitations make the alleviation of indifference a distant reality. In support of this, a 2007 experiment conducted by Peter Loewen et al. in a Quebec election found that required voting had â€Å"little or no effect† on the knowledge and engagement of its participants. In the Australian context, despite the assumption that the problem of participation is solved by mandatory laws, in the last election around one-fifth of eligible Australians failed to cast a usable vote. It is argued that candidates and parties rely on these laws to get voters to the ballot. If this is the case, perhaps the solution is to abandon compulsory voting and thus force parties to organically incite a politically active populace through enticing and innovative policies. The dichotomy of democracy is that it demands both individual freedoms and equality. A great difficulty of modern politics has been the ability to strike a balance between these paradigms, and to determine at what point one must be truncated to enhance the other. Through an analysis of compulsory voting through a constitutional, democratic and practical context, it has become clear that such a regime has no place in a society that strives to exist as an epitome of democracy. The time has now come for Australia to abandon its paternalistic voting laws and entrust its political future with the voluntary voice of the Australian public, and not in a piece of legislation that commands it to speak. REFERENCE LIST/ BIBLIOGRAPHY: 1. Chong, D, Davidson, S & Fry, T 2005, ‘It’s an Evil Thing to Oblige People to Vote’, Policy (St Leonard’s NSW), vol. 21 no. 4, pp. 10-16. 2.Gray, A 2012, ‘The Constitutionality of Australia’s Compulsory Voting System’, Australian Journal of Politics & History, vol. 58, no. 4, pp. 591-608. 3.Hoffman, R & Lazaridis, D 2013, ‘The Limits of Compulsion: Demographic Influences on Voter Turnout in Australian State Elections’, Australian Journal of Political Science, vol. 48, no. 1, pp. 28-43. 4.Krishna, V & Morgan, J 2012, ‘Voluntary voting: Costs and benefits’, Journal of Economic Theory, vol. 147, no. 6, pp. 2083-2123. 5.Lever, A 2010, ‘Compulsory Voting: A Critical Perspective’, British Journal of Political Science, vol. 40, no. 4, pp. 897-915. 6.Loewen, PJ, Milner, H & Hicks, BM 2008, ‘Does Compulsory Voting Lead to More Informed and Engaged Citizens? An Experimental Test’, Canadian Journal of Political Science, vol. 41, no. 2, pp. 655-672. 7.Singh, S 2011, ‘How Compelling is Compulsory Voting? A Multilevel Analysis of Turnout’, Political Behaviour, vol. 33, no. 1, pp. 95-111. 8.Swenson, KM 2007, ‘Sticks, carrots, donkey votes, and true choice: a rationale for abolishing compulsory voting in Australia’, Minnesota Journal of International Law, vol. 17, no. 2, pp. 525-552. Gordon, SB & Gary MS 1997, ‘Cross-National Variation in the Political Sophistication of Individuals: Capability or Choice?’, Journal of Politics, vol. 59, no. ?, pp. 126-147. Hooghe, M & Koen,P 1998, ‘Compulsory Voting in Belgium: an Application of the Lijphart Thesis’, Electoral Studies vol. 17?, no. ?, pp.419-424.

Friday, November 8, 2019

Johnson Johnson

Johnson Johnson JOHNSON JOHNSONJJ presents us a very unique situation in that it has been able to maintain a decentralized organization even in the face of very rapid growth. The issue at hand, is in fact, managing further growth of the organization while still maintaining the unity of JJ.The success of the corporation has developed by following fundamental philosophies that have guided JJ since its inception. At the core of this philosophy we find three main components: firstly, the company's credo, which emphasizes the adherence to ethical principles of behavior, secondly, avoiding to become "a large and ponderous organization", and lastly, long term commitmentHowever, we find there are new emerging problems that threaten the current integrity of the company's structure. Namely, we find there are operational problems creeping up to the executive committee level. JJ would like to keep its executive committee from dealing with operational issues; yet, on the other hand, there exists the problem of too many existing layers of decision making between the operating manager and this committee.English: Minsk CIS executive committee building vi...ANALYSISA Visionary CompanyIn our view, JJ fits into the category of a visionary company, such as premier in industry, widely admired, made an indelible print in the world we live in, multiple products and life cycle. Nevertheless, we would like to add to the list, the characteristic of adapting successfully to the environment and the demands for growthJJ started as a company focused on the sale and manufacturing of medical pharmaceutical, surgical, and antiseptic specialties and analgesic goods in 1887. In 1982 the expansion of their products has grouped them in four major categories: consumer; professional; ethical pharmaceutical; and industrial. The key to this enormous expansion has been the success of each new product launched, from which we can induce, they have been able...

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Low Man Essays

Low Man Essays Low Man Essay Low Man Essay My first impression of Willy is that he is a man whose mind is disintegrating and becoming incapable to do things on his own. You didnt smash the car, did you shows that Linda, his wife, believes he is becoming unstable. Im tired to the death is a quote from Willy and this shows us that Willy is a tired man. Because death is regarded as something that happens to bad people or old people this quote could also show that Willy is a bad person or that he is old and worn out. Within the opening conversation between Willy and Linda I have got the impression that Willy is disillusioned. The conversation between Willy and Linda changes repeatedly from one subject to another which to me shows that Willy is losing his mind and focus. Loman is a pun and creates the impression to me that Willy is a morally Low Man. Linda tries to help Willy on page three by suggesting other reasons why he isnt acting normal. She knows that Willy is losing his mind and feels that he should not have to come to terms with it so that he can keep doing his job and believing in this fake success he makes out to have. Maybe its your glasses shows that Linda is using excuses to make Willy feel better about losing his mind. She knows what is happening to Willy and doesnt want him to be upset. But you didnt rest your mind. Your mind is over active and the mind is what counts, dear is another example of Linda trying to make Willy feel better about himself so that he still feels proud. Within the play we see examples of the fact that Willys mind is fragmenting because he contradicts himself on various occasions. Biff is a god damn lazy bum and Biff is not lazy are quotes from Willy within sentences of each other. This shows how is mind is not functioning correctly as he can contradict himself without knowing in such a short space of time. Another example of Willy contradicting himself is when he is speaking about his Chevrolet. Chevrolet best car ever built is what Willy says about his car then only a few sentences after he contradicts himself by saying That goddamn Chevrolet they should prohibit the manufacture of that car. From this I can see that he is becoming mentally ill. My first impressions of Happy are that he is very chauvinistic because he refers to women as pig and creature. The name Happy is ironic because the truth is that he isnt happy. Happy has never allowed himself to turn towards defeat which shows he is being unrealistic and wont believe his Dad is false. Inside Happy lacks the right work ethic and integrity which should lead to him understanding the American Dream is flawed. Men built like we are should be working out in the open gives the impression that Happy believes that because he has muscles he will be a success. This belief has come from his Dad who has taught Biff and Happy the wrong morals. Because Happy has wrong morals and the wrong work ethic because he cant get promotion at work he has sex with the wife or wife to be of his boss so that he can feel good about himself which also shows he is shallow and has the wrong surface values. My first impressions Biff are that he is a ruthless man. The name Biff to me represents aggression and a strong sense of masculinity. The masculinity representation of the name is ironic because he is a thief and not a real man. He, like Happy, has been taught wrongly about life and the principles involved. Like with is father he is morally low and has wasted most of his life so far. The flute music in the play represents the fact that Willys Dad sold flutes and made them as a salesman. The flute music is also used to indicate that a flashback within Willys mind. This makes the audience aware of what is going on so no confusions happen. It is significant as it shows the reader that past generations of the Loman family were salesman. In the first real flashback we see Willys relationship with the teenage Happy and Biff. By buying the boys a punch bag Willy is teaching them the wrong attitude by telling them that if they have muscles and power they will be successful. Im losing weight Pop, you notice is Happy trying to get his Dads attention as he is focusing it all on his number one son, Biff. Willys relationship is poor with his teenage sons. Charley is not well liked is a quote from Willy trying to get his sons to believe that they can be successful if they are well liked. This undermines the truth where you have to work to become successful and this shows their relationship is poor because Willy is teaching Biff and Happy wrong. I can park my car in the street and the cops will protect it like their own is a lie from Willy. He is trying to pretend to Biff and Happy that he is well liked and people know him so that the boys idolise him. This proves that their relationship is very poor if Willy has to lie to Biff and Happy so they think he is a good person. From pages 21 to 24 I can see the realities of Willys working life. Willy had bought a cheap brand fridge in order to fulfil part of the American Dream in the sense that you have to have most household goods. The fridge has to have a new fan belt every so often which means Willy has fell for the advert that suggests the product is good. The irony with this is that a salesman has fell for the advert which shows the reality that Willy isnt a great salesman as a great salesman wouldnt do that. Willy is physically fat and customers call him. This is ironic as he always encourages Biff and Happy to be as strong and powerful as they can in order to be successful. From this you can get the impression that the reality is Willy is not a good salesman and he knows he isnt.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Qualitative analysis of FedEx and UPS Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Qualitative analysis of FedEx and UPS - Essay Example Qualitative analysis of FedEx and UPS. In this report, the performance of both the companies is reviewed in terms of management structures, business operations, work culture, company’s mission and vision statements, responsibility towards the environment and community, strategic moves, ability of facing the challenges and strategies implemented to gain competitive edge. With the help of these factors, worthwhile information has been gained that provided sufficient data about making a wise verdict about investment. FedEx supersedes UPS UPS has been the market leader in the industry for decades but it faced strong competition from FedEx’s e-commerce strategy that revolutionized the way in which packages, letters and other items are delivered worldwide. FedEx developed the concept of highly efficient and valuable logistics and delivery system so that the customers are provided easy access to the details of their packages. UPS introduced an innovative service â€Å"Supply Chain Logistics Services† to regain its lost market share from FedEx. Both corporations are always in the state of tug of war and try to supersede other by exceeding the expectation level of customers. FedEx shares are attractive than UPS FedEx management structure along with other aspects of business operations highlight that the organization has an integrated and well-developed logistics system supported by flexible and innovative work culture which will ensure that the company is able to sustain its position in the market for long time. Since FedEx has a bright outlook, the company should purchase its shares and reap the benefits of investing the capital in a profitable stock. FedEx versus UPS (Delivery and Logistics Industry) The delivery and logistics industry is growing by leaps and bounds and customers these days are looking for the companies that can provide the fastest delivery of parcels, packages, documents and goods around the world. As a result of the emergence of Internet technology, the players of this industry have started their online businesses so that the customers can have access to detailed information about the status of their orders with utmost ease. Businesses that have an online presence are gaining many customers worldwide. Customers are becoming knowledgeable and they search for websites for any organization they come across, hence having an online presence such as the organization’s website is extremely important for all organizations. Shopping or having online services is easy and convenient for the customers and hence some customers prefer online shopping to a very large extent. In today’s world, the logistics world has become popular and an integral part of many corporations as they allow them to undertake their global transactions easily and conveniently (Ellis, 2010). Every player in the respective industry has received huge amount of popularity and there is a lot of publicity about the attitude of the indus try towards the efficient working systems in the sector so that they can provide quick service to the customers. The players have even taken considerable steps for highlighting the fulfillment of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) promises that are proving to be beneficial for the society as a whole (Li et al., 2006). Becoming an organization that is socially responsible is extremely important in the business world today as customers develop a positive image for the organization that has corporate social responsibility in them. Brief Background of FedEx and UPS Frederick W. Smith started the Federal

Friday, November 1, 2019

Popular Music and the Moving Image Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Popular Music and the Moving Image - Essay Example Historically silent films are characterized by certain elements that defined them. These are Projection Speed, title cards, physical acting techniques and music and sound. In the absence of the spoken dialogue, title cards that comprised of printed or drawn frames of text inserted between the film frequencies to serve different roles. The particular types of title cards used in the silent films included dialogue and expository interties. The former were primarily used in conveying dialogue while the latter was used in providing supplemental narrative material whenever what was photographed could not express the full situation by itself. Essentially, the title cards were utilized by the filmmakers in the silent era to add more detail to the films in case the films developed into novelties that entertained a lot. Fundamentally, filmmakers were able to expand their potential to enhance on their storytelling by including some aspects of dialogue and in a way, the title cards served as na rration techniques (Marks, 1997).Another historical element of the silent films was live music and sound. Contrary to today’s films containing spoken dialogue and synched music in the background. The silent films were accompanied by a phonograph recording or live music such as a guitarist or pianist that was critical in reinforcing the mood of a movie and also provided the audience with emotional cues. The above narration explains why there were piano accompaniments in small towns plus the singers.