Genetically Modified Foods Essay

The topic of genetically modified foods is one that is hotly debated, but the problem is that the phrase GMO is very broad and encompasses techniques and modifications to food that you potentially should and shouldn’t be concerned about. At this point in time there doesn’t seem to be an overt benefit or risk to consuming GMO foods. According to the FDA, the big three GMO foods are soybeans, corn, and canola. But the FDA has also evaluated the safety of genetic modifications to flax, tomatoes, potatoes, cantaloupe, alfalfa, creeping bentgrass, papaya, sugar beets, wheat, squash, radicchio, and plums. The FDA lists consultations on GMO foods and what was genetically modified in the food to warrant the safety consultation on its website. GMOs, or â€Å"genetically modified organisms,† are plants or animals that have been genetically engineered with DNA from bacteria, viruses or other plants and animals. These experimental combinations of genes from different species cannot occur in nature or in traditional crossbreeding. The world population has topped 6 billion people and is predicted to double in the next 50 years. Ensuring an adequate food supply for this booming population is going to be a major challenge in the years to come. GM foods promise to meet this need in a number of ways: Pest Resistance: Crop losses from insect pests can be staggering, resulting in devastating financial loss for farmers and starvation in developing countries. Farmers typically use many tons of chemical pesticides annually. Consumers do not wish to eat food that has been treated with pesticides because of potential health hazards, and run-off of agricultural wastes from excessive use of pesticides and fertilizers can poison the water supply and cause harm to the environment. Growing GM foods such as B. t. corn can help eliminate the application of chemical pesticides and reduce the cost of bringing a crop to market. Herbicide tolerance: For some crops, it is not cost-effective to remove weeds by physical means such as tilling, so farmers will often spray large quantities of different herbicides (weed-killer) to destroy weeds, a time-consuming and expensive process, that requires care so that the herbicide doesn’t harm the crop plant or the environment. Crop plants genetically-engineered to be resistant to one very powerful herbicide could help prevent environmental damage by reducing the amount of herbicides needed. For example, Monsanto has created a strain of soybeans genetically modified to be not affected by their herbicide product Roundup. A farmer grows these soybeans which then only require one application of weed-killer instead of multiple applications, reducing production cost and limiting the dangers of agricultural waste run-off. Disease resistance There are many viruses, fungi and bacteria that cause plant diseases. Plant biologists are working to create plants with genetically-engineered resistance to these diseases. Cold Tolerance: Unexpected frost can destroy sensitive seedlings. An antifreeze gene from cold water fish has been introduced into plants such as tobacco and potato. With this antifreeze gene, these plants are able to tolerate cold temperatures that normally would kill unmodified seedlings. Drought tolerance/salinity tolerance: As the world population grows and more land is utilized for housing instead of food production, farmers will need to grow crops in locations previously unsuited for plant cultivation. Creating plants that can withstand long periods of drought or high salt content in soil and groundwater will help people to grow crops in formerly inhospitable places. Nutrition:Malnutrition is common in third world countries where impoverished peoples rely on a single crop such as rice for the main staple of their diet. However, rice does not contain adequate amounts of all necessary nutrients to prevent malnutrition. If rice could be genetically engineered to contain additional vitamins and minerals, nutrient deficiencies could be alleviated. For example, blindness due to vitamin A deficiency is a common problem in third world countries. Researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Institute for Plant Sciences have created a strain of â€Å"golden† rice containing an unusually high content of beta-carotene (vitamin A). Since this rice was funded by the Rockefeller Foundation, a non-profit organization, the Institute hopes to offer the golden rice seed free to any third world country that requests it. Plans were underway to develop a golden rice that also has increased iron content. However, the grant that funded the creation of these two rice strains was not renewed, perhaps because of the vigorous anti-GM food protesting in Europe, and so this nutritionally-enhanced rice may not come to market at all. GMO is essentially the next evolution of crossbreeding. Common ingredients derived from GMO risk crops are; Amino Acids, Aspartame, Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Ascorbate, Vitamin C, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Ethanol, Flavorings (â€Å"natural† and â€Å"artificial†), High-Fructose Corn Syrup, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Lactic Acid, Maltodextrins, Molasses, Monosodium Glutamate, Sucrose, Textured Vegetable Protein (TVP), Xanthan Gum, Vitamins, Yeast Products. These ingredients are found in almost all the foods and snacks that we consume everyday and feed to our growing children. The notations above are just some examples of how GMO’s could be helpful to our crops, but there are also risks as well. There is a growing body of evidence connects GMOs with health problems, environmental damage and violation of farmers’ and consumers’ rights. Grass roots organizations have been crying foul since GMOs were first introduced into the food system approximately 20 years ago. Many people believe the consumption of GMOs may contribute to serious health issues. In fact, recent studies raise serious concerns about the safety of GMOs and show they may contribute to the following conditions: Intestinal Disorders: An Australian study recently claimed that pigs fed genetically modified (GM) soy and corn displayed a 32 percent rate of severe stomach inflammation whereas pigs not fed a GMO diet only showed 12 percent. Infertility: A study performed at the University of Vienna showed that mice fed GM corn over a period of twenty weeks had impaired fertility. In addition, some of the offspring of the mice displayed decreased weight. Kidney and Liver Issues: The International Journal of Biological Sciences offers a study that showed certain varieties of GM corn to have a negative impact on kidney and liver function. As a result, the study concluded that some GM varieties may contribute to hepatorenal toxicity. Increased Allergies: While it’s hard to pinpoint the source of any food allergy, there is concern that new proteins in GM soy and corn crops might increase their frequency. Organ Toxicity: An abstract from the National Institutes of Health (PubMed) indicates that studies show most GM foods cause some form of toxicity to certain organs such as the pancreas, kidneys, and reproductive organs and also show hematological, biochemical, and immunological factors. They go on to mention that major studies over many years will be required in order to support these findings. GMO is essentially the next evolution of crossbreeding. Common ingredients derived from GMO risk crops are; Amino Acids, Aspartame, Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Ascorbate, Vitamin C, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Ethanol, Flavorings (â€Å"natural† and â€Å"artificial†), High-Fructose Corn Syrup, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Lactic Acid, Maltodextrins, Molasses, Monosodium Glutamate, Sucrose, Textured Vegetable Protein (TVP), Xanthan Gum, Vitamins, Yeast Products. These ingredients are found in almost all the foods and snacks that we consume everyday and feed to our growing children. If the risk of consuming GMO’s are overall harmful to the human bodies; then all food containing ANY GMO’s should be labeled specifically. This way each consumer is aware of that they are ingesting for their own personal health concerns or lifestyle. http://www. shape. com/healthy-eating/diet-tips/ask-diet-doctor-gmo-foods http://www. nongmoproject. org/learn-more/ http://touch. organicauthority. com/organicauthority/#! /entry/8-reasons-gmos-are-bad-for-you,516d81d0d7fc7b5670b377dc http://organic. lovetoknow. com/Why_GMOs_Are_Bad.

Home School vs. Public School Essay

I prefer home schooling over public schooling; which one do you prefer? There are both pros and cons for both Home Schooling and Public Schooling. I am going to explain this all to you in my essay. I personally was home schooled for a few years during middle and high school. All of elementary school and part of middle school I went to a regular school. My reasoning for choosing to be home schooled is I have Agoraphobia which is an anxiety disorder caused by situations where people perceive the environment as being difficult to escape or get help. As soon as I would walk into a class room I would have a panic attack. One thing I liked about public school was being able to play volleyball. I loved playing it for the little bit of time that I was in middle school. Even though I wasn’t really all that great, So I didn’t play very much. That is one con of being home schooled. You cannot play sports affiliated with any school. A pro for public schooling is you have a group environment to learn in with others to help you. On the other hand with home schooling you are on your own. In home schooling you have less choices of curriculum as you would if you were going to public school. You also have more diversity in public school. When going to public school you have a higher student to teacher ratio, now with home schooling there is a small teacher to student ratio. In home schooling you are free to choose your schedule, as in public school your schedule is strict and chosen for you. Public school chooses the curriculum for you. Unlike in home schooling you can choose your own. There are now roughly millions of children being home schooled. Being home schooled teaches students to be independent in their learning choices. Sometimes home schooling can be more expensive than going to public school. Teachers are not always qualified to teach all subjects, and colleges sometimes have stricter admission policies concerning home schooled students. It is also harder to provide social interaction when being home schooled. Like I had stated before I prefer home schooling but everyone has their own opinions. This is the reason why I have enrolled myself into the University of Phoenix online. So that I can have the flexibility of my classes, this way I can work around my everyday life and not miss out when it comes to spending time with my boys. I hope that the information in my essay was helpful to you.

OD Intervention Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

OD Intervention - Essay Example The business has proven itself to be viable in the market evident with its regular success over the years. Sales increased exponentially and growth seemed unstoppable. Ritchies Supermarket’s growth however stifled in the last five years. Since then, sales has been in precipitous decline and if not arrested would surely plummet the family business in bankruptcy. II. Environmental Analysis The decline of the company begun when big retailers entered into the market. Along their entry into the market were their efficient operations that enabled them to slash prices deeply that blunted Ritchies Supermarket competitiveness. Competitors such as Walmart, TESCO has also the advantage of scale and technology that ultimately reflect in the price tags which is considerably lower than Ritchies Supermarket. In addition, these big retailers have forged relationships with their suppliers and make their own brand which allows them to have discounts which Ritchies Grocer do not enjoy. Their was tage and spoilage is also minimal because of their efficient inventory system wrought by their advance technological structure. Ritchies Supermarket thrived on its relationship with its customers which it has established over the years. It boasts itself as a mom and pop Supermarket that capitalizes on its bond with its customers. But this relationship proved to be fragile especially when assaulted with discounted prices which big retailers such as Walmart and TESCO can afford that chipped away Ritchies Supermarket’s market share. Ritchies Supermarket’s shrinkage of its market share was significant during the recent 2008-2009 financial crisis where customers became sensitive with prices and this prompted a mass exodus of its customer base to big retailers to the point that it threatened its viability as a business. III. The Need for change The recent development in the market only tells that the old business model that made Ritchies Supermarket a success is no longer ap plicable. It has to adapt to the new market reality or otherwise perish. The necessity of implementing change in the company is now an imperative if the company is to survive. Parties affected by change It is a given that change is needed for the business to survive. The owners and its shareholders want it to keep the business a going concern and to ensure the continuous inflow of profit from the business. Not all parties may be enthusiastic with the necessary change in the business. Employees may not want it having been comfortable and accustomed to the the old business practice of the company. Management has to anticipate that in implementing change, resistance is often common. Resistance however fizzles out when the change is properly communicated among the employees. Second, the organization itself may not be able to adapt to the new system that is being introduced by change. Such, retooling may be necessary to enable the workforce to adapt to the new organizational change. This can be done through trainings and workshops. A follow through is necessary to ensure that the introduced change will be embedded as a new organizational culture. Reinforcement mechanisms must also be in place that will facilitate the assimilation of the change in the organization. IV. Implementation of change The premise of change The need to align product and service delivery in accordance to

Consumer Behaviour Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 4

Consumer Behaviour - Essay Example This leads to the question of what really determine what a person buys? When and how he disposes the product? The different characteristics by consumer are known as consumer behavior. In simple terms, one can define consumer behavior as the processes involved when a person purchases, use or dispose a product (Michael, Askegaard & Hogg 2006, p. 33) from the definition we can depict that before a consumer make a purchase, use or dispose a product, first there are stages which are involved. Secondly, there are factors that affects their behavior before making a choice on what to purchase when purchasing and those that affect them after purchasing. It is these factors that help the seller or the marketer to win the customer and lure them to buy their product. Hence marketer should have a clear understanding what products and brands means to consumers , it is also important that he or she understand what it takes for the customer to purchase the product and use it. (Paul & Olson 2010, p.7) There are many theories that explain the subject consumer behavior such as economic man theory, psychodynamic theory, behaviorist theory, perception theory among many others. In this paper we will be looking at how the marketers in different companies use the perception theory consumer behavior to persuade customers to make more sales. People are normally drawn by what they see, feel, smell and hear, if they are able to identify themselves with it and they are pleased. Any customer in the market will always buy what please his or her eyes; a supermarket only keep it goods on display and buyer pick them depending on how they are pleased by them. It is from this that the theory of perception was developed. Perception is not a single event but a series of events that a person goes through when selecting, organizing and interpreting stimuli into a meaningful and coherent Consumer Behaviour Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words Consumer Behaviour - Essay Example According to Bouhlel, Mzoughi and Slimane (2011), success of a marketing strategy for a brand is based on proper assessment of the nature of the consumers and their purchasing behavior. Marketing strategies and methodologies must be objective and results oriented to enable companies to achieve higher sales and thus increased revenue. Because consumers usually pass through certain steps before they decide to purchase any given brand, a company should ensure that its marketing strategies are designed in a manner which ensures that the awareness of the consumer for the product is created first before the consumer is convinced to have an interest in the brand and thus purchase it. This paper gives a critical analysis and discussion of the marketing activities of Red Bull GmbH, in the promotion of their Red Bull energy drink to its consumers. Consumer behavior models and theories such as the Reasoned Action Theory, The Hierarchy of Effects Model and the Multi Attribute Attitude Model are used to illustrate how the Red Bull marketing strategies create a positive attitude of consumers towards the brand. Red Bull Red bull is an energy drink which was created in 1987 by an Austrian entrepreneur. It has become the most popular energy drink in the world. The energy drink, which is sold by Red Bull GmbH, has become an essential commodity and is used every day in many households across the world as described by Marketing Week (2006, p. 33). The marketing activities of the energy drink have been internationalized with aggressive promotional activities which aim at generating a positive attitude from the consumers of the energy drink as a way of having a competitive advantage over rival brands. Through sponsoring various sporting activities across the world, the marketing activities of the brand have influenced the behavior of the consumers which has resulted into the immense success of the company with ever increasing sales of the brand. Moreover, the appeal of the brand to the consumers has been made possible by the company’s hosting of various events in addition to the use of celebrities to capture the attention of the consumers and thus arousing their desire for the brand. The public image on Red Bull has been promoted by associating the product with the activities it sponsors or hosts and thus causing the consumers to be influenced by the power of the brand that is illustrated by its marketing images. Additionally, the company has also influenced the psychology of the consumers through the energy drink’s slender and well designed cans which are preferred more than those of its business rivals. Moses (2011, p. 23) says that the desire of the consumer for Red Bull is created by its slogan â€Å"it gives you wings† which is used in the energy drink’s marketing activities to influence the behavior of its consumers with an aim of making them to reach a decision of purchasing the product. Consumer Attitude Models Mazis, Ahtola and Klippel (1995, p. 38) say that it is through a positive attitude for a product that the interest of a consumer for that brand is created. To promote the attitudes of the consumers for Red Bull, the company has shifted the promotional activities of the brand from product branding to lifestyle branding. The consumers thus view the product as part of their lifestyle and thus the enhanced attitude for the brand. Khermouch (1998, p. 16) explains that the

Female Leaders in History Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Female Leaders in History - Research Paper Example She was very tough and uncompromising in her leadership and her being intelligent is what can be considered as driving her into politics. From Margaret Thatcher I learn that she was a brave lady who never feared opposition leaders and also other people as she always stood for what she thought was right. We also learn that being tough is a virtue which is needed in order to succeed. This is because by being such one will not be ridiculed but taken seriously (DeRue & Ashford, 2010). This can also be seen in her intelligence which one needs, as the decisions made should be productive and to the benefit of everyone. Though, at times, intelligence may lead to someone making poor decisions such as believing in oneself, she can be seen as an icon in the women leadership. A good leader is one who has to listen to other people’s opinions and views regardless of them being positive or negative (Stewart, Courtright, & Manz, 2010). Margaret Thatcher only believed in her innate rightness. She was not considerate of other people’s views, which led to her not having votes of more than forty-three percent. This is what also led to her being left with a cabinet that was not able to challenge her, which resulted in her failure such as the poll tax which she wanted to

Constructions of cultural memory Research Paper

Constructions of cultural memory - Research Paper Example My research questions are: How is the cultural memory of Tiananmen Square Protests represented in the chosen resources and what are the changes that these memories seem to anticipate and argue for? How does the event continue to make history? Witty and Calhoun both represent the event’s cultural memory by describing some of the most critical turning points of the Tiananmen Square protests, although Witty emphasizes rebellion against autocracy through the Tank Man’s photo, while Calhoun analyzes the actions and thoughts of people who were in the midst of shaping democratic ideals in their own terms. Figure 1: Widener’s Photo of the Tank Man Source: Widener (1989 in Witty) In the article, â€Å"Behind the Scenes: Tank Man of Tiananmen,† Witty uses four photos of the Tank Man to represent different perspectives of the Tiananmen Square Protests, where these images try to underline that this man symbolizes the struggles of all ordinary people against government repression and corruption, but because of lack of violence of some photos, it somehow hides the gruesome effects of the government’s crackdown on the protesters. ... The cultural memory focuses on four tanks that are ready to crush all those who oppose and criticize the state and one man who will not be crushed at all. The light post represents urban space through manifesting technology and modernity. The action of the man against the tanks and the cropped lamp post together signify that non-violent action is light in the darkness because rationality meets irrationality. Standing tall like the lamp post, the Tank Man symbolizes democracy and hope for the people. The photo further shows that the tanks are approaching and one man with his shopping bags stand before them. Like others before him, the Tank Man stands in front of the state’s military tools, a memory which argues that he, as well as other ordinary people like him, will fight for democracy anytime and he will not even need tanks to do it. He only needs his resolve and principles, which hundreds to thousands others already offered when they died the night of the Chinese governmentà ¢â‚¬â„¢s crackdown. The photo argues that the state does not have absolute power because the people have power to fight for what is absolutely right for them- the right to oppose and to replace a corrupt and oppressive government. Furthermore, from Witty’s article, the Tiananmen Square protests continue to make history because it portrays an ordinary man’s greatest act of courage and integrity against symbols of oppression. The photo shows that the Tank Man seems to be an office employee with his white shirt and black pants. He is an ordinary man with two white shopping bags, the image of an urban dweller that the state wants to control. The photo argues that he is one man against the state’s violence, and yet because he has had enough, he will stand for his principles of

What it Takes to Become an Oracle Database Administrator Research Paper

What it Takes to Become an Oracle Database Administrator - Research Paper Example It is evidently clear from the discussion that an Oracle database administrator needs to be a certified database administrator from some institute. A formal training course is the most suitable way for a database administrator to develop the knowledge of Oracle database administration. There are many oracle-training institutes present all over the world, which provide good training in data administration using Oracle. â€Å"An Oracle DBA is one who is professionally trained to work on several of Oracles software products, utilities, and tools†.  An Oracle database administrator needs to be experienced and proficient in handling large amounts of data. Oracle is one of the largest software companies, which designs software products that can be used to manage different business activities in an appropriate way. A database administrator must be skilled in using those software products. Another important skill that an Oracle database administrator must possess is the problem-solv ing skill. The administrator must be able to solve day-to-day problems related to management of different business processes. Apart from problem-solving skills, an Oracle database administrator must have a science and mathematics background because both of these subjects assist an administrator in using the Oracle software products in an effective way. The knowledge of science and mathematics is extremely important for the Oracle database administrators as it helps them deal with different software products effectively. A degree in computer science will also be very helpful for the people who want to become Oracle database administrators.

Investment & Retirement Account Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Investment & Retirement Account - Research Paper Example Bonds are usually risk free and they are the best investment for retirement purposes. That will ensure that an investor gets assured returns at the end of the year. The use of options is highly risky. However, if the gains are positive, the returns will be high. The other advantage of options is the fact that the returns are usually frequent. In the case of a person wanting to retire, he/she will be assuring of frequent returns that will be used for survival purposes. Stocks are advantageous because they are a source of accumulating wealth and frequent dividends. The difference between traditional IRA’s and Roth is mainly on the payment of taxes for the deposits. In the case of the traditional IRA, taxes are paid at the end when a person is withdrawing the retirement money. There are some instances when a person can escape taxes in the front end in a case whereby money is put in the account. In the case off Roth IRA, it is the opposite of that. Taxes are usually paid in the front end and there are no extra taxes at the back end. For both accounts, money usually grows tax free while in the account. The other difference is on the contribution differences. For traditional IRA, anyone who has an earned income can contribute. However, for Roth IRA, there are income limits

Technology Evaluation and Recommendation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Technology Evaluation and Recommendation - Essay Example Threats on their part can take up multiple flavors ranging from sabotage, deliberate espionage, leakage, or information extortion. As is evident with the virility of information technology as the contemporary means of capturing and storing information, it is important that access control systems should exist to protect information and information technology systems. Access control is one of the most sensitive aspects when it comes to computer and computer systems’ security. Access control refers to any mechanism that controls or provides a form of verification to guarantee information’s protection from inappropriate access or unauthorized use. Collectively, access control methods serve two purposes; controlling modification, and controlling the disclosure of information from threats. In computer security, a threat is any agent that may breach the confidentiality or interfere with the integrity of information or information systems. Threats on their part can take up multiple flavors ranging from sabotage, deliberate espionage, leakage, or information extortion. As is evident with the virility of information technology as the contemporary means of capturing and storing information, it is important that access control systems should exist to protect information and information technology systems. Social engineering occurs when a user is manipulated to trick a person into weakening a component of the system itself. One of the biggest dilemmas with social engineering is the fact that a hacker can obtain critical information via personnel relationships. This can be chaotic and cause many in adverse issues. Another method that plagues the dilemma of social engineering is pretexting. Pretexting occurs when a hacker calls an IT personnel for instance and give scenarios that will allow a hacker to have a perception for hacking. Another risk that seems to be prevalent in user domain accounts that correlated with human mistakes is the fact that it

Effective Presentations Essay Example for Free

Effective Presentations Essay Presentation is used to summarize, defend or even argue important ideas to an audience. Thus, the beginning of the presentation gains the attention of audiences and establishes its purpose. Selecting the context, designing the learning experience and producing efficient, effective and appealing presentation can be easy though it is the hardest part (Courses Surveys, 1977). To produce an appealing presentation, one should keep the design short and simple in order to produce effective design. The color should be used to emphasize a word or use a transition to disclose the answer to a question. The designer should evade the confusion. It is better off to have extra white space than having irrelevant piece of clipart that can be distracting. Fewer words should be chosen rather than more words and use closely cropped photographs than cluttered distance shot (Courses Surveys, 1977). The viewers should be kept focused and interested. This can be done by using key phrases and including only essential information. The word should be limited and simplified and avoid using of much bullets per slides. The presentation should be easy to follow by keeping the important information visible. The punctuation and font case should be considered. For instance, use of all caps makes the statements more difficult to read. The font size and type used should be simple and easy to read. Thus the designer should avoid using fancy and script fonts as they are hard to read on the screen. The font type and size should be visible to the audience and uniform throughout the presentation (Courses Surveys, 1977). Consequently, the background colors and that of the text should be contrasting. It is preferred to use dark text on a light background. Color should be toned down to make the light colors easy on the eyes. Patterned or textured backgrounds reduce readability of the text. The color scheme used should remain consistent throughout the presentation. In addition to that, when using a theme or template for a design, it should be appropriate to the audience. Therefore, a layout should be straightforward and clean if the design is aimed for business and if aimed the audience to be young children, it should be full of colors and variety of shapes (Courses Surveys, 1977). The number of slides should be limited to ensure that the presentation will not be too long and drawn out. This prevents the problem of continually changing the slides during the presentation which can be a distraction to the audience or viewers. For the presentation to be effective and more attracting there should be a combination of photos, charts, graphs and even embedded digitalized video with text to add variety and keep the presentation interested to the viewers. In addition, excessive use of animation and transition should be avoided. This is because the audience can be distracted by too much of the transitions and animation bearing in mind that slide shows is meant to be a visual aid but not a focus of the presentation. Also animation should be consistent in the presentation by using of animation schemes and the same transitions should be used throughout the presentation (Courses Surveys, 1977). Finally, the designer or rather the presenter should make sure that his/her presentation can run on any computers. This can be done by using PowerPoint’s package for CD or Pack and Go features when burning the presentation to CD. This will facilitate the presentation to be viewed by much audience. Summarily therefore, an effective and efficient presentation is usually planned, organized, and tailored to a specific audience to help facilitate the behavior change, desired by the presenter. Presentations always engage face-to-face communication and can be made on a one-to-one basis or can be given to a very large group (Courses Surveys, 1977). References Courses, E. Surveys, T. (1977) The Computer for the Professional: Effective Presentations Microsoft ® PowerPoint ® tutorial, Preparing Presentation Slides Tutorial, Presenting Effective Charts and Graphs Tutorial, and 8 Secrets to a Knockout Business Presentation, New York: Prentice Hall.

Analysis Of A Linear Accelerator

Analysis Of A Linear Accelerator Nowadays patient with cancer are treated by radiation, surgery, chemotherapy or with a combination of these options. The radiotherapy treatment unit used to deliver radiation to cancerous cells and tissues is the linear accelerator, also known as linac. The linear accelerator has been defined by Khan F. M. (2003) as a device that uses high-frequency electromagnetic waves to accelerate electrons, to high energies through a linear tube. The electron beam itself can be used for treating superficial toumors, or it can strike a target to produce x-rays for treating deep-seated toumors. The energy used for the radiotherapy treatment of deep situated tissues varies from 6-15 MV (photons) and the treatment of superficial toumors (less than 5cm deep) is between 6-20MeV. (Khan, 2003) The purpose of this essay is to describe a linear accelerator, analyse its components in the stand and the gantry of the linac, and explain the principles of operation and then discuss why it is best situated to the task for which it was designed. Some advantages and disadvantages of the linac will also be included in the discussion part of the essay. Main body: Figure 1:http://www.cerebromente.org.br/ As you can see from the schematic picture above, the major components of a linac are: Klystron: source of microwave power Electron gun: source of electrons. Waveguide (feed and accelerating waveguide): microwaves travel through the feed waveguide and then to the accelerating waveguide, where electrons are accelerated from the electron gun. Circulator: a device that prevents microwaves of being reflected back from the accelerator. Cooling water system: cools the components of the linac. Bending magnet: A bending magnet is used to change the direction of the accelerated electron beam from horizontal to vertical. (Hendee et al, 2005) X-ray target: electrons hit the target and produce x-rays. Flattening filter: even out the intensity of the beam. Ionisation chambers: they control the dose leaving the head of the linac. Beam collimation: shape the radiation beam to a certain size Klystron: There are two types of microwave power. The klystron and the magnetron. Magnetrons are used for lower energy linacs. In the high energy linear accelerator klystron is used. All modern linacs have klystrons. Both klystron and magnetron are special types of evacuated tubes that are used to produce microwave power to accelerate electrons. (Karzmark and Morton, 1998). The tube requires a low-power radiofrequency oscillator to supply radiofrequency power to the first cavity called the buncher. (Hendee et al, 2005) In the bunching cavity, electrons produced from the electron gun, are bunched together to regulate their speed. The microwave frequency is thousands times higher than ordinary radio wave frequency. For a linac to work, the microwave frequency needed is 3 billion cycles per second. (3000MHz) (Karzmark and Morton, 1998) Electron gun: The electron gun is part of the klystron. Here, electrons are produced and then accelerated to radiofrequency cavities. The source of electrons is a directly heated filament made from tungsten, which will release electrons by thermionic emission. (Bomford, 2003) Tungsten is used because it is a good thermionic emitter with high atomic number, providing a good source of electrons. Klystrons usually have 3-5 cavities, used to bunch electrons together and increase microwave power amplification. Waveguide: There are two different types of waveguides used in linacs. The first is the feed waveguide and the second is the accelerating waveguide. The first one connects the klystron to the main part of the linac. Sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) is used in the feed waveguide, to stop the arcing of electrons, caused by the microwaves that create strong electric fields. A circulator is placed in the waveguide system, to prevent microwaves being reflected back. Microwaves travel then to the accelerating waveguide. The accelerator guide of a linac requires a high vacuum to prevent power loss and electrical arcing, caused by interactions of electrons with gas molecules.(Cook, 1998)The acceleration of electrons takes place here. The accelerator waveguide bunch and accelerate the electrons with the microwaves. Electrons travel with a high velocity to almost the speed of light. (98% of speed of light) Microwaves travel to the speed of light, so irises are used to slow them down, so that electrons can keep up with the microwaves and be accelerated. There are two types of accelerator waveguide: the travelling and the standing waveguide. The difference between the standing and the travelling wave accelerators is the design of the accelerator waveguide. In the travelling wave accelerator, electrons travel towards the machine and microwaves are absorbed, but in the standing wave accelerator microwaves are reflected back upon themselves. The standing wave accelerator is the main type used in medical linear accelerators. Bending magnet: The electron beam leaving from the accelerator waveguide continues through the bending magnet. This is used to change the direction of the electron beam, to exit through the treatment head. The bending magnet deflects the beam in a loop of 270o, or 90o. The most common degree of bending magnet used in linacs is the 270o achromatic magnet. The important property of this magnet is that the electrons are brought together despite the difference in energies. They are brought back together to the same position, angle, and beam cross section at the target, as they were when they left the accelerator waveguide. X-rays target: The target is made of tungsten because of its high atomic number. When electrons, with their high speed, hit the target, made up from a high atomic number material, they undergo rapid deceleration. This sudden loss of energy results in the formation of x-rays and photons. To maximise the X-ray beam intensity, the transmission target will be thick enough to stop all the electrons bombarding it but thin enough to minimise the self absorption.( Bomford, 2003) In order to switch from photon to electron therapy, the target is removed to allow the electron stream to continue into the head of the machine. Flattening filter: In order to make the beam intensity uniform across the field a flattening filter is used. It is usually made of lead, although tungsten, uranium, steel, aluminium, or a combination has also been used or suggested. The flattening filter absorbs more photons from the centre of the beam and fewer from the periphery of the beam. Ionisation chambers: Ionisation champers measure the amount of radiation leaving the machine, quantified in units Monitor units. Every linac has two ionisation chambers for safety reasons. The ionisation is a round, flat structure, filled with gas, divided into a number of segments, where each segment contains electrodes. When radiation passes through the gas, it is then ionised creating a high charged density that is controlled by the electrodes. The treatment terminates when the readings from the electrodes have reached a pre-set M.U value. Collimation: A primary collimator limits the maximum field size for x-ray therapy (40 x 40cm). It ensures that x-rays leaving the target leave in a forward direction in order to minimise radiation leakage through the head. The treatment field size is defined by the secondary collimator. This collimator reduces the transmission penumbra, since radiation must travel through the entire collimator thickness. It consists of four thick metal blocks, called jaws. There are two pairs of jaws, upper and lower jaws. With the use of asymmetric jaws, by moving each jaw individually, asymmetric field sizes can be produced. Half beam blocking can also be enabling. Different intensity patterns can be produced, from the standard flat beam profile, by moving during treatment. Multi-leaf collimators are finger like projections, 1cm thick. These fingers like projections move independently in order to form the field shape more closely to the shape of the planning target volume. By using MLCs, less radiation is given to normal tissues. Discussion: From the introduction of this essay, the definition of the linac was given. A linac is a high voltage machine, used for the treatment of cancerous cells and tissues. With the structure of a linac this is achieved. By radiating cancerous tissues, with daily radiation treatment, cancerous tissues can be destroyed and then replaced by normal tissues. Every component in the linac is carefully selected for the function for which it is designed. First of all, the klystron is used to produce microwaves, because it is better than a magnetron that is used for lower energy linear accelerators. Because linear accelerators have higher energy beam, klystron are used for production of x-rays. Continuing to the electron gun, tungsten wire or filament is used, because of its high melting point, high atomic number, and it is ductile. With this features tungsten is a good thermionic emitter, is a good source of electrons and can be easily shaped into spiral, in order to create a larger surface area for the electrons to be emitted. In the feed waveguide Sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) is placed with the intention of stopping the arcing of electrons. At the end of the waveguide a circulator is placed so as microwaves cannot be reflected back. As we move on to the accelerating waveguide, and the standing wave accelerator used in linacs, we can see why the standing wave accelerator is used. The backward travelling wave interferes with the forward travelling wave, alternatively constructively and destructively. The resulting standing wave has a magnitude of approximately double that of the travelling wave, and the peak intensity travels along the waveguide at the phase velocity of the travelling wave.(Knapp et al, 1968) Following the waveguide is the bending magnet. Here we have the achromatic magnet where its main task is to change the direction of the electrons, but more important to bring the electrons together despite the difference in energies. A flattening filter is used to make the beam even from the central axis to its peripheral edges, to have homogenous distribution of the dose. Ionisation chambers are essential in a linac. They monitor the dose leaving the treatment head, so that the linear accelerator knows when to end the treatment. Collimation in a linear accelerator is necessary. Without the primary and secondary radiation a linac wouldnt be as suitable for the task for which it was designed. The field size and shape is vital in order to radiate only the cancerous tissues and not normal tissues. Nowadays with the advances of technology and the use not only of MLCs, but also IMRT and IGRT, survival rates of cancer have increased. Last but not least, a linear accelerator can treat a patient with different energy modalities. By removing the target, the electron stream can continue into the head of the machine and then be used for the treatment of superficial toumors. By leaving the target, photons are produced to treat deep-situated toumors. Nowadays most linacs have virtual wedges, compared to some decades ago, where there where only manual wedges. Now radiographers with the use of virtual wedges dont have to concern about manual handling, as they dont have to do anything. I believe that linear accelerators are not perfect. Linacs are extremely expensive to buy, so poor countries dont have the opportunity to treat their patients from cancer. It is hard to keep up with the advances of technology, as everything is very expensive to buy, and only wealthy countries can buy the latest equipment. A disadvantage of switching from photon to electron modalities is that applicators and blocks are used to direct the electrons and shape the beam. Applicators are very heavy. Blocks are made of lead which may cause lead poisoning if they are not handled with care. The only disadvantage with MLCs is that when conforming the beam shape to the PTV, some radiation will be leaking, even when using the tongue and groove effect. Last but not least the linacs to work efficiently they need daily quality assurance tests and maintenance from physicists. Conclusion: Linear accelerator is the main treatment unit used for the treatment of abnormal tissues. With its precise position of the beam, shaped differently for every patient individually, it certainly is the best machine for the treatment of cancer. A linac uses microwaves to accelerate electrons and then hit the target where x-rays are produced. This x-rays are collected and then form the shape of the beam. Nowadays with the rapid advances of technology, linacs in a few years time will be even more efficient than today. Definitely linear accelerators are best suited for the task for which they were designed. All the components of a linear accelerator are carefully selected for its needs. From the smallest to the bigger parts of the linac, are designed for the best outcome. References: BOMFORD, C.K., 2003. Megavoltage beam generators. In: C.K BOMFORD and I.H KUNKLER, ed. Walter and Millers Textbook of Radiotherapy. London: Churchill Livingstone, Pages 162-183. COOK, M., 1998. X-Ray Production. In: A. DUXBURY and P. CHERRY, ed. Practical Radiotherapy Physics and Equipment. London: GMM, Pages 21-26. HENDEE W. R., IBBOTT G. S. and HENDEE E. G., 2005. Radiation Therapy Physics. 3rd ed. Hoboken, New Jersey: Wiley-Liss. KARZMARK, C.J and MORTON, R., 1998. A Primer on Theory and Operation of Linear Accelerators in Radiotherapy. 2nd ed. Madison, Wisconsin: Medical Physics Publishing. KHAN M.F., 2003.The Physics of Radiation Therapy.3rd ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins. KNAPP, E. A., KNAPP, B. C. and POTTER I. M., 1968. Standing Wave High Energy Linear Accelerator Structures. In: HENDEE W. R., IBBOTT G. S. and HENDEE E. G., 2005. Radiation Therapy Physics. 3rd ed. Hoboken, New Jersey: Wiley-Liss.

Reading Lolita in Tehran Essay -- Literary Analysis, Azar Nafisi

Azar Nafisi, the narrator of Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books (2003), is a self-centered, self- righteousness character who, according to her claim, has very little contact with other Iranian people in general. (p. 11, 74, 186, 169) Being â€Å"very American† (p. 175), in several incidents she finds herself in a great distance of what others acknowledge as custom, ordinary or natural. (p. 32, 98, ..) Bear that in mind, she also admits that â€Å"events in [her] mind have become confused† (p. 89) Yet, do these shortcomings mean that Nafisi is an unreliable narrator? Should the fact that there is a lot she does not know about events or can only relate from hearsay, put one on guard against her judgments? In the first pages of the text, the narrator functions primarily to establish a representational frame within. At first, like a camera she presents an overall perspective, which is elucidating life in the Islamic Republic of Iran. An attitude that will always hover above the scenes to come that invites the reader to see the entire scenes and outlines under its shadow. Afterwards, the camera’s perspective changes as it introduces the close up image through two photographs. In these photographs, the reader is made acquainted with seven young woman who, in accompany with their teacher; Nafisi, form a literary group to discuss literature. These photographs, however, perform another significant task; they are complementary in the narrative discourse. While the narrator addresses the reader repeatedly and directly; she almost desperately asks them to be a part of the scene. The two photographs, being effectively graphic, almost instinctively engage the reader with the text. In this manner, taking the reader, the narrator esta... ...ngs [are] leaning against the wall†, â€Å"the vases [are] on the floor†, â€Å"the fireplace [is] in the corner†, â€Å"the love seat [is] against one wall† and â€Å"the peach couch [is facing] the window†. Therefore, at the end of the description, one, inevitably, feels a sense of familiarity with the living room as well as the narrator. As the narrator changes perspective, the audience respectively adopts the narrator’s point of view and sees and experiences events as she sees and experiences them. The same attitude, repeats in introducing the girls via the photos, as the narrator does not find it adequate to merely name the girls, she points out to their specific place within the photo. As if the reader is holding the photo, she indicate â€Å"the one to the far right is Manna†, Yassi is â€Å"the one in yellow, bending forward and bursting with laughter†, â€Å"I am the one in brown†. (p. 4)

booker T. Washington :: essays research papers

Booker Taliaferro Washington   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Booker T. Washington was born into slavery on April 5,1856 in Virginia. His mulatto mother raised him. She was a plantation cook., as well as a mother of three sons. She, unlike many other married slaves of the time, was reunited with her husband after the slave liberation in 1865. His father was a white man that had nothing to do with his upbringing. Booker worked painstaking hours at a salt furnace and coal mine along side his two brothers. He was so determined to become educated that he agreed to work the mines at night to make up for the lose of time will he was at school. It is in school that Booker picked up the last name of Washington after finding out from his mother that he already had the last name of Taliaferro. He was then referred to as Booker T. Washington. It is this determination that leads Booker to become one of the most influential black educator, and leader of the late 19th century. Washington and W.E.B. Dubois had contrasting views on the way that African Americans should progress in society. As Dr. Charles Turner stated in his lecture, â€Å"Dubois insisted on confrontational activities in the struggle for social, political and economic rights and gains† (Turner 2003). Washington’s approach on the other hand emphasized â€Å"careerism†. He believed that blacks could advance faster in this new society, which still had hostility towards blacks, by working harder in an economic standpoint rather then relying on the social aspects of equal rights. In 1881 he created what many would never expect from a former slave. The Hampton Institute president asked Washington to head their new black college, Tuskegee Institute. Washington accepted the position. The only downside to the idea was the schools budget didn’t include development and staffing for this new college. Washington took on the job and with help from his skilled students built the building from the ground up. Tuskegee became a very reputable resource for African Americans, bettering their skills and improving techniques as well as providing a better living for them economically.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Booker T. Washington is well know for his â€Å"Atlanta Compromise† speech. The speech further provided evidence of the ideology he lived by. He continually denounced the use of violent protest and activist activity and preached the idea of improving yourself socially through a skill. booker T. Washington :: essays research papers Booker Taliaferro Washington   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Booker T. Washington was born into slavery on April 5,1856 in Virginia. His mulatto mother raised him. She was a plantation cook., as well as a mother of three sons. She, unlike many other married slaves of the time, was reunited with her husband after the slave liberation in 1865. His father was a white man that had nothing to do with his upbringing. Booker worked painstaking hours at a salt furnace and coal mine along side his two brothers. He was so determined to become educated that he agreed to work the mines at night to make up for the lose of time will he was at school. It is in school that Booker picked up the last name of Washington after finding out from his mother that he already had the last name of Taliaferro. He was then referred to as Booker T. Washington. It is this determination that leads Booker to become one of the most influential black educator, and leader of the late 19th century. Washington and W.E.B. Dubois had contrasting views on the way that African Americans should progress in society. As Dr. Charles Turner stated in his lecture, â€Å"Dubois insisted on confrontational activities in the struggle for social, political and economic rights and gains† (Turner 2003). Washington’s approach on the other hand emphasized â€Å"careerism†. He believed that blacks could advance faster in this new society, which still had hostility towards blacks, by working harder in an economic standpoint rather then relying on the social aspects of equal rights. In 1881 he created what many would never expect from a former slave. The Hampton Institute president asked Washington to head their new black college, Tuskegee Institute. Washington accepted the position. The only downside to the idea was the schools budget didn’t include development and staffing for this new college. Washington took on the job and with help from his skilled students built the building from the ground up. Tuskegee became a very reputable resource for African Americans, bettering their skills and improving techniques as well as providing a better living for them economically.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Booker T. Washington is well know for his â€Å"Atlanta Compromise† speech. The speech further provided evidence of the ideology he lived by. He continually denounced the use of violent protest and activist activity and preached the idea of improving yourself socially through a skill.

David Herbert Lawrence :: Essays Papers

David Herbert Lawrence Born on the eleventh day of September in 1885, David Herbert Lawrence was the fourth child of an illiterate coal miner. Lawrence was raised in a small mining town of Eastwood, Nottingham by his mother who happened to be a school a teacher. Threw his childhood David Herbert shared a very close relationship with his mother. Lawrence first started his education in a grammar school, which he had won a scholarship to, and later attended Nottingham University College. When he finished college, Lawrence decided to move to Croydin, just south of London to began his teaching career. While teaching in Croydin he encountered a guy by the name of Ford Madone (Ford’s English Review) which was a good connection for his writing career. In 1912 feeling that he could support himself with his writing, Lawrence left teaching. A couple a months later his mother died and he found out that he was suffering from an illness known as tuberculosis something he would spend the rest of his life with. Also during this year he eloped with Frieda Von Richthofen the daughter of his college professor. Their first years were chronicled in poems called Look. His elopement was the first of Lawrence’s many flights from ill health and social censure. The next step in his life involved him traveling to Venice to a sanitarium in attempt to relief himself of tuberculosis, which turned out to be a big failure. One of the first novels Lawrence wrote was The White Peacock, which would be elaborated upon later works. Lawrence was not only a novelist, he also wrote short stories, plays, poems and travel journalism. Lawrence was a very active short story writer. Two of his first short stories were â€Å"Persian Officers† and â€Å"The Odours of Chrysanthemums.† His short stories were superior to his novels. In 1922 he completed a collection of stories before he decided to travel to America. In a lot of his work he displays nature through birds, beast and flowers. Though Lawrence’s short stories are different from his novels, they displayed his style and structure. Lawrence is also an emotional writer, which might be considered undisciplined to some. In 1928 Lawrence wrote an interesting novel called Lady Chaterley’s Lover which was privately printed. David Herbert Lawrence :: Essays Papers David Herbert Lawrence Born on the eleventh day of September in 1885, David Herbert Lawrence was the fourth child of an illiterate coal miner. Lawrence was raised in a small mining town of Eastwood, Nottingham by his mother who happened to be a school a teacher. Threw his childhood David Herbert shared a very close relationship with his mother. Lawrence first started his education in a grammar school, which he had won a scholarship to, and later attended Nottingham University College. When he finished college, Lawrence decided to move to Croydin, just south of London to began his teaching career. While teaching in Croydin he encountered a guy by the name of Ford Madone (Ford’s English Review) which was a good connection for his writing career. In 1912 feeling that he could support himself with his writing, Lawrence left teaching. A couple a months later his mother died and he found out that he was suffering from an illness known as tuberculosis something he would spend the rest of his life with. Also during this year he eloped with Frieda Von Richthofen the daughter of his college professor. Their first years were chronicled in poems called Look. His elopement was the first of Lawrence’s many flights from ill health and social censure. The next step in his life involved him traveling to Venice to a sanitarium in attempt to relief himself of tuberculosis, which turned out to be a big failure. One of the first novels Lawrence wrote was The White Peacock, which would be elaborated upon later works. Lawrence was not only a novelist, he also wrote short stories, plays, poems and travel journalism. Lawrence was a very active short story writer. Two of his first short stories were â€Å"Persian Officers† and â€Å"The Odours of Chrysanthemums.† His short stories were superior to his novels. In 1922 he completed a collection of stories before he decided to travel to America. In a lot of his work he displays nature through birds, beast and flowers. Though Lawrence’s short stories are different from his novels, they displayed his style and structure. Lawrence is also an emotional writer, which might be considered undisciplined to some. In 1928 Lawrence wrote an interesting novel called Lady Chaterley’s Lover which was privately printed.

Juvenile Justice Essay

Crimes are usually assumed to have been committed by adults, unfortunately, in today’s society; crimes are committed by juveniles at a growing rate. Maybe juveniles are viewing too many violent television shows or movies, playing too many violent video games, or maybe juveniles are committing crimes out of boredom. Nevertheless, the pertinent issue is the fact that juveniles are participating in the commission of criminal activity at an adult level. Juveniles are no longer stealing candy bars from the local grocery store, but they are committing violent crimes against other people. Even more astounding is the fact that these same juvenile offenders are walking away with only probation as their punishment. For the most part, juveniles commit offenses pertaining to property, public nuisances, and underage drug and alcohol related crimes. Violent crimes against other persons such as assault and battery and murder are now included in the list of crimes committed by juveniles (Torbet, 1996). In order to understand why specific crimes are committed, one must carefully examine the juvenile offender. Juvenile offenders are both male and female. Some come from broken or single-parent homes lacking adequate supervision of the juvenile during the evening hours. Some juveniles are suffering from an undiagnosed psychological disorder whereby making it difficult for the juvenile to understand the consequences of his or her criminal actions. Finally, some juveniles have become associated with local gangs or gang members as a means of joining the group. Probation is a necessary factor within the juvenile justice system. There is however, the lingering question as to what crimes constitute a probationary sentence and what crimes mandate incarceration. First time offenders have almost always been guaranteed probation as a means of scaring the juvenile into straightening out their life (Gaines & Miller, 2008). Juveniles having committed petty larceny, underage drinking violations, and simple assaults may also be good candidates for probation, but juveniles who have committed felonies should not be afforded probation. Juvenile probation enacts specific mandates in order to retrain and discipline the offender for his or her wrongdoing against society. Community service and attending school are most common requirements of probation. Some courts even order the juvenile to pay restitution to the victims. Curfews are strictly enforced as are daily or weekly reporting to the assigned probation officer (Torbet, 1996). In certain cases, substance abuse counseling and attending groups such as narcotics anonymous or alcoholics anonymous are provisioned. Counseling is generally enforced as a condition of probation and may include anger management classes and social skills building therapy (Gaines & Miller, 2008). If a juvenile fails to meet any provisions set forth by the probation officer, the juvenile’s probation could ultimately be revoked. It is difficult to combat or devise a universal solution to the juvenile delinquency problem in this country. Many programs have been created in order to aid the juvenile justice system by attempting to discourage repeat offenders. Some courts may find it necessary to require random urinalysis screenings of any or all juvenile offenders. Juvenile probation officers may discover in the course of monitoring certain juveniles that family counseling may be necessary in order to provide the juvenile with structure and stability. In more severe cases, it could be suggested that the juvenile may need to be removed from the home and placed into foster care in order to protect the juvenile from imminent danger created by addicted parents or crime filled neighborhoods. The juvenile justice system is in dire need of reorganization, and the best starting point would definitely be in the juvenile probation department.

Bandag Automative Case Study Essay

1. Given Bandag Auto’s size, and anything else you know about it, explain why and how the human resource management function should be reorganized. Answer: Firstly, we recommend that Bandag Automotive form a new, separate Human Resources Unit that will be dedicated to the Bandag’s new strategy. Bandag Automotive does not have a business strategy, so the new Human Resource Unit will provide this statement, which will allow strategic human resources to operate: ‘Bandag Automotive’s business strategy is to achieve superior levels of customer service and high profitability through a highly committed workforce.’ Jim will no longer have direct HR responsibilities with the employees; everything will be handled through the new HR organization chart. The new HR manager will help formulate business strategies and policies and identify workforce requirements. Jim’s father has a lot of experience with the company and has created an excellent relationship with the employees. He will be a good advisor for the new HR manager. The new HR manager will have these tasks, pulled from the Department of Labor’s O*NET: * Serve as a link between management and employees by handling questions, interpreting and administering contracts and helping resolve work-related problems. * Analyze and modify compensation and benefits policies to establish competitive programs and ensure compliance with legal requirements. * Advise managers on organizational policy matters such as equal employment opportunity and sexual harassment, and recommend needed changes. * Perform difficult staffing duties, including dealing with understaffing, refereeing disputes, firing employees, and administering disciplinary procedures. * Plan and conduct new employee orientation to foster positive attitude toward organizational objectives. * Identify staff vacancies and recruit, interview and select applicants. * Plan, direct, supervise, and coordinate work activities of subordinates and staff relating to employment, compensation, labor relations, and employee relations. * Plan, organize, direct, control or coordinate the personnel, training, or labor relations activities of an organization. * Represent organization at personnel-related hearings and investigations. * Administer compensation, benefits and performance management systems, and safety and  recreation programs. The new HR manager with the help of Jim’s father, will survey the current employees to get to know them better and to prepare for job analysis. 2. Recommend what Bandag should change and/or improve upon regarding the current HR systems, forms, and practices the company now uses. Answer: Bandag should revoke all contacts with the external HR firm that had been hired previously. Now, the new HR manager will completely separate Bandag from the external agencies. He will have prepared the HR policies that work along with the company’s new strategy. All required forms will be internally generated. To ensure independence from the HR agencies, the manager will recruit two HR assistants to assist. One will be responsible for the recruiting, orienting, and training of new employee and employee advocacy. The second will be responsible for evaluating current employees, tracking promotions, proper counseling and firing of employees, and training current employees on new policies. Of course, the legal part of HR that Jim had many problems with will now be the responsibility of the HR manager. Finally, Jim, Jim’s father, and HR will evaluate the effect of the new unit on Bandag Automotive and its HR issues. The problems facing Bandag automotive result from a lack of a dedicated HR staff. Jim’s policies are not wrong, but they are applied in the wrong way. If the HR unit is not created it will lead to continuing problems and the gap between the employees and employer will be increased. In the end, poor HR management will give Bandag Automotive a bad reputation and will lead to a drop in quality, loss of customers and lower profit. 3. Jim fired an employee for creating what the manager called a poisonous relationship. Explain whether or not the employee has a legitimate claim against the company and the actions the company should take. Answer: Henry Jacques was fired because his manager reported that while he was doing the technical part of his job well, he had serious problems interacting with his coworkers and was making his store poisonous. Jim approved Henry’s dismissal. Though Henry’s manager had heard that he has a mental illness, he did not take that into account when evaluating Henry. Henry also never brought it to his management’s attention if he indeed has a mental illness.  In that case Henry does not have a legitimate claim against Bandag Automotive. He was warned in his performance appraisals that he had problems working in a team environment, and he never brought up the fact that he has a disability. According to the Americans with Disabilities Act, the employee must establish he has a covered disability. Also, we do not have enough information on Henry’s claim to know if this is his defense. We believe he was fired appropriately; however, the right thing to do in this situation was to first transfer Henry to another position and to give him a final warning. In this position, most of his work should not be on a team. If he continues to be problematic when working on his own, a discharge would be more appropriate. 4. Miriam, the controller, is basically claiming that the company is retaliating against her for being pregnant, and that the fact that the company raised performance issues was just a smokescreen. Explain whether or not the EEOC and/or courts would agree with her and the actions the company should take now. Answer: Miriam had been with Bandag Automotive for six years. She went on pregnancy leave for twelve weeks under the FMLA, and then received an extra three-week leave under Bandag’s extended-illness-days program. Miriam was recently fired by Jim because she had been turning her budgets in late and possibly forged some documents. If we assume that Jim’s claims are solid, he had a right to fire her for misconduct. We believe that her claim of wrongful discharge related to her pregnancy is unfounded. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), in our opinion, will not agree with her and will not fight the case on her behalf. In addition, she resumed work for three months after her leave, and may be angry because her request to adjust her schedule was refused. If she wasn’t happy with her schedule she could have quit. Bandag’s HR system failed here because a job description and contract could have prescribed specific working hours, which she would have to abide by. 5. An employee who is deaf has asked to switch jobs to be a delivery person and he was turned down. He is now threatening to sue. Recommend what the company should do and describe why. Answer: A truck maintenance employee who is deaf, applied for a job driving one of Bandag’s distribution trucks, and Jim directly turned him down because of his disability. We believe that the employee will win if he sues Jim, unless Jim can prove that the employee was denied because there were more qualified applicants and in no way because of his disability. Yet it is still pretty risky because the court system is very strict about the Americans with Disabilities Act. If the deaf employee can prove that Jim thinks that is absurd for a disabled person to drive a truck, he will win and cause monetary and public damages to the company. Our solution to mitigate the problem is to rescreen all applicants, including the employee to see if he is qualified for the job. If he is, offer him the job if he is still interested, and he will hopefully drop the case.

Obesity Essay Introduction Essay

In the process of evolution, a human body has adapted to accumulate a supply of nutrients in the amount of food for expending it in conditions of forced absence or restriction of provision. This kind of evolutionary advantage allowed us to survive in difficult times. In ancient period, fatness was considered as a sign of well-being, prosperity, fertility, and health. An example is the sculpture of Venus of Willendorf, dated 22nd millennium BC. E. A careful attitude to own weight is a trend of the present time. The lifestyle of a modern person is often far from what doctors and elementary common sense recommend. Constant stress and inability to have a good rest lead to one of the simplest and cheapest ways to relax like absorption of high-calorie food. As a result, a wide-scale disease in megacities becomes obesity, but it can be prevented by conducting regular laboratory diagnostics. Obesity is a widespread illness, characterized by excessive development of adipose tissue. The problem frequently occurs with age, when motor activity decreases, and a number of vital body systems fail. The genesis of fatness is mostly caused by a violation of the balance between energy intake and its expenditure of the body. Excess calories, i.e. not consumed by an organism, are converted to grease, which accumulates in fat stores. We are talking about subcutaneous tissue, epiploon, abdominal wall, internal organs, etc. An increase in fat stores leads to addition in body weight and disruption of many systems. The basis of an appearance of primary obesity is an alimentary factor associated with an enhanced energy value of the diet at low energy costs. The mentioned type develops as an output of the predominance in a menu of carbohydrates and animal grease or disruption of dietary patterns, which often carries a family predisposition. Calories contained in fats contribute more to weight gain than those involved in proteins and carbohydrates. Hypodinamy significantly reduces an ability of muscles to oxidize grease. Secondary fatness accompanies such hereditary syndromes as Babinsky-Frohlich’s disease, Gelino syndrome, Lawrence-Myan-Barde-Biddle syndrome, etc. Symptomatic obesity may also happen against a background of various cerebral lesions. Similar changes in eating behavior occur as a result of the violation of a hypothalamic-pituitary regulation, which is responsible for controlling behavioral responses. Their genesis is also facilitated by a number of factors, such as a low-activity lifestyle, genetically caused disorders of enzyme activity, errors in nature or dietary, some endocrine pathologies, stress, lack of sleep, and the use of psychotropic or hormonal drugs. Obesity’s presence within a certain patient entails the need for a number of laboratory tests necessary for finding out the reasons and an appointment of adequate therapy. Analyzes allow you to assess liver function, parameters of fat and carbohydrate metabolism, a state of the reproductive system, the functioning of the thyroid gland. Thus, every person suffering from fatness could have own motivation for weight loss: cosmetic effect, reducing the risk to health, improving efficiency, a desire to wear smaller clothes or a wish to look good. However, goals and its rates should be real and directed, first of all, to reduce dangers of obesity-related complications. With hereditary predisposition, at the age of 40 years, in conditions of hypodinamy, it needs to limit consumption of carbohydrates, fats, transit to the diet of protein and plant foods. For the prevention of obesity, a person with a normal weight is enough to spend calories and energy as much as he or she gets them during the day.

Principles of Good Writing by L.A. Hill

PRINCIPLES OF GOOD WRITING — L. A. HILL OBJECTIVE: This unit on L. A. HILL’S on ‘Principles of Good Writing’, is actually designed to add to your writing ability. After going through this unit, you will be able to: * Know about informative essay * Development logical and successful writing * Know the importance of newspaper and some good magazines. * Develop a taste for other aspects of linguistics INTRODUCTION TO THE ESSAYIST: Lesile Alexander Hill, a renowned personality among essayist, was born in the year 1918 in Greece and was educated at Cambridge university. He worked for the British council in Greece. Iran, Indonesia and India. Later he worked as adviser for the oxford university press, oxford, England, on the teaching of English as a second language His works include many thought provoking essays, comprehension and epitomisation for overseas students. Recent trends in educational practice, a guide to correct English, and teaching English as a second language are some very important to mention. Hill’s interest in linguistics extends to all human behavior and similarities and variations between different cultures. Hill’s good command over prose language is revealed clearly in this formal-tone essay â€Å"The Principles of Good Writing†. In this essay, Hill has brought to light the rules and regulations to be observed in shaping and sharpening one’s writing skills. He has given valuable tips regarding the secret of successful writing. The clarity of thought and expression, the logical development of the theme, the illustrative examples and the appropriate use of vocabulary, make it a wonderful piece of work. Summary: Hill, in first person narration, gives a piece of valuable advice to all the aspirants who want to be proficient in English-written and oral skills. In the opening passage, he clearly says that good writing demands good and ogical thinking. Good thinking, is not developed instantly, rather it emerges with practical experience and proper training. Initially thinking in the direction of logic and reason seems difficult because one’s mind may not be acquainted with this. But with time it will happen so and it will be reflected in one’s writing. Next to give expression to thought apt voc abulary is required. Depending on the form and tone of your work, vocabulary should be either formal or slang. To improve vocabulary you need to read widely different sorts of writing. A dictionary is of great help in this field. Sincere and diligent practice in writing is first concrete move towards a successful writing. Waiting for an inspiration will prove a hinderance towards your goal, so avoid it. Hill further suggests that one should be alive to all the happenings and pay heed to it. Even an ordinary talk heard in the street can be taken as a subject to start writing. It is required to note every new word or expression that one comes across while reading also. The writer also feels that love of mankind is an essential trait to see other state of minds, feel it intensely, and write it effectively. And, to be a good writer the readers must be kept in mind their interest and taste should be borre in mind always. ‘Impersonality of art’ should be maintained by a poet or writer while expressing emotions or feelings. The subject that is chosen for writing should be personal experience. ‘Words are body, sentences in structure, and the expression, the soul’. So apt words, correct sentence structure, and good theme, will together constitute a good writing. Introduction would be interesting and eye-catching and conclusion should not end abruptly. Finally, a writer is expected to write with zeal and true involvement- only then reader’s imagination can be kindled Critical appreciation Hill’s command over English language needs true appreciation, only those will be able to appreciate who, themselves have appropriate knowledge of this language. His epigrammatic style and lucidity of expression is remarkable; â€Å"Through this essay all that he wanted to do is teach the rules and regulations of good writing, and throughout the essay we find such tips. The formal tone is maintained throughout the essay. All the paragraphs are neatly linked and introduction is apt for the subject choosen. He himself avoided very carefully; the use of slang, jargon, hackneyed expressions, rhetorical, circumlocution, verbiage, and mingling of styles- formal and too much informal or slang. The title of the essay is very appropriate as the aim of the essayist is to teach principles of good writing by the means of various suggestions mentioned in the essay. Do’s and don’ts in the field of learning writing good English, is highly suggestive. The lucidity of thought and expression, neat structure with logical development of idea, apt examples and simple vocabulary of the essay, make it a remarkable piece of work. Summing up Hill is a writer of promising skill. His abilities are fully reflected in this thought provoking essay. ‘Principles of Good Writing’. In this essay he suggests wide reading, using a dictionary, note-making, frequent writing, maintaining humanistic and rational attitude, as essential traits for developing logical reasoning and good writing. He also suggests to avoid artificiality, avoiding second hand experience, avoiding use of jargon, rhetorical, slang along with formal, unnecessary verbose, and too much of personal element in writing. Reader-writer relationship is aptly emphasized. The essay on the whole is of great significance.

Stronger UN sanctions are the best way forward for dealing with Irans Essay

Stronger UN sanctions are the best way forward for dealing with Irans nuclear ambitions - Essay Example Are stronger UN sanctions the best way to deal with Iran’s nuclear ambitions? Seeking to address this question and many more with respect to Iran’s nuclear ambitions, this essay will persuasively argue that an aggressive foreign policy by key international actors is the only means through which Iran’s nuclear ambitions can be contained (Financial Times, 2009; Hareetz, 2009). Why not continue to sanction Iran? The theocratic Islamic republic continues to ignore international condemnation with respect to its nuclear ambitions and it has become widely apparent that sanctions – be they United Nations or bilateral sanctions such as those presently implemented by the United States – have not worked. Iran has faced a plethora of international sanctions in relation to its continued desire to enrich uranium following Iran’s decision to ignore Security Council Resolution 1696, which expressly forbade Iran from ceasing its uranium enrichment program. This was followed by ignore Security Council Resolution 1737 which froze the assets of key individuals and companies involved in the enrichment program as well as limited the availability of nuclear-scale material to this country. Sanctions were increased in March of 2007 with Security Council Resolution 1747 and again with Resolution 1803 which expressly forbade Iran from continuing its enrichmen t process. Iran has consistently ignored the international community and as we have persuasively demonstrated, remains committed to developing nuclear technology. What other options are available to the international community to deal with this rogue state? Iran’s nuclear ambitions will have both regional as well as global repercussions. From a regional perspective, the Jewish state of Israel will most likely be impacted by a nuclear Iran. Despite this, the United States

ROMBO - RICK SANTORUM Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

ROMBO - RICK SANTORUM - Assignment Example Despite his appearance as neat, he is viewed with a paint-ball-gun that aims Santorum cutout cardboards struggling to ensure they are filled with mud. Here the metaphor portrays irony since a well-groomed individual like the look-alike of Romney is not expected to be involved in activities of mudslinging; spoiling a competitors name in order to be viewed as the appropriate contester. Hence, Romney is portrayed as an insincere candidate out to spoil other individual’s names. Additionally, there is an on-screen visual that claims the advisor to Romney admitted that Obamacare’s blue print was Romneycare. Romney and Santorum are all republican while the Obamacare was from the Democratic Presidential election. Here the metaphor is employed to stress the point that since Romneycare is similar to Obamacare, the voters for the republican should not adapt it and altogether not trust Romney as he can be capable of betraying them as he does not have the interests of the republicans at heart. Finally, there is another onscreen ad that informs that Rom could cost him votes. This is complimented by the illustration of the gun-toting Romney look-alike mudslinger ending up slinging mud on him. Hence, it depicts that the voters might end up turning against

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Applied decision making Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Applied decision making - Assignment Example Unastonishingly thus, Cliffshire County Hospital Trust (CCHT) has also been facing similar challenges in its overall decision making system that includes various dimensions of healthcare services. The major problem identifiable in the organisation was lower coordination between the medical staff and the management staff. Although expected to increase the pace of decision-making, such transformations have been hampering the administrative and management processes of the hospital. To be precise, the presented situation exhibits that a few of the older and established consultants of CCHT are given enormous power through which, they make unilateral decisions for their medical teams without consulting with the management. As a result, there exists a significant degree of lack of coordination between the medical team and the management of CCHT, owing to which various problems arise within the hospital those in turn hinder the easy and profitable functioning of the organisation. In addition, the efficiency levels of the management and the medical staff have also been observed to remain unrealised in alignment with the organisational goals, due to insufficient coordination, which also creates resentments among the staff members, irrespective of whether they belong to the management team or the medical team. From an overall perspective, it can be argued that to enhance the effectiveness of the new strategy, it is very essential to establish well-developed relationships with the consultants as they are considered the powerhouse of the hospital. Implementing a multi-departmental working party in the hospital could also serve beneficial, as it would permit various important strategic decisions. Furthermore, through consultative approach to decision making, the process can be improved (Ambrus et al., 2009). The aim of this report is to discuss the contemporary theories on group decision making that would help in understanding the prevailing scenario within CCHT

Financial Futures Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Financial Futures - Essay Example And, the carry cost is the amount of interest expense paid by the investor to hold on to the commodity purchased in the futures market until the maturity of the futures contract. Many bold and daring investors would enter into an arbitrage transaction where they would invest in shares of stocks in a corporation with the hope that the company will merge or consolidate with another company in the same line of business (Bjrk 2004, 1). The following paragraphs will explain in detail how commodity futures work. Most investors would enter into a cash and carry arbitrage contract. Their main reason would be to invest in two securities that are differently priced in the market with respect to each other. Eventually, the prices of both commodities will correct itself by either increasing or decreasing per commodity. For, a correction of prices would cause a profit on one commodity and a loss on the other commodity. Equitably, both commodities will zero out thereby future losses can be avoided or diminished to a great extend. The commodities include gold, silver, coffee, sugar, oil, U.S. dollar currency, European dollar currency, Japanese Yen, French Franc, and other currencies. Also, "For as long as national currencies are in operation, and are used in day-to-day foreign trade, the demand and supply for those currencies will be affected by the size of exports and imports in those currencies" (Scobie, Buckley, and Fox 1998, 8) Further, the arbitrage investor would profit from his investments if he invests in a security and in the futures contracts. The investor would then profit if the amount he put in the commodity plus the added cost of carrying is less than the futures prices. One definite advantage of the commodities futures market is that the investors can sell a commodity like the European dollar today and then buy the same commodity, European dollar, three days from today. This is not possible in the real world outside the commodities market. A person cannot sell a product that he or she does not own. For this would entail personnel turning over to the buyer the car, house, shirt, or computer game the moment when he or she pays for the items bought (Blake 2000, 231). In terms of oil, "The oil industry, more than other energy sectors, is global in its character and operations. The geographical concentration of reserves and the vital role of oil in modern society has made it the principal commodity in international trade (Haugland, Bergesen, and Roland 1998, 54) " Also, the current pricing of Eurodollar futures and US dollar Foreign Rate Agreements (FRA) high frequency data shows that arbitrage opportunities are linked to the presence of stale FRA quotes and the oscillatory behavior of FRA quotes. And, Inter -market information flows are found to be of much shorter duration than previously reported with the futures market playing the dominant role in the information transmission process in the shorter -dated maturities. Many companies invest in short term interest rate futures and forward rate agreements for

Thomas Wolsey Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Thomas Wolsey - Essay Example However, Wolsey was no false-faced upstart, but a highly intelligent fellow. It is reported that, "he took his degree as a Bachelor of the Arts at the very early age of fifteen, which so impressed the scholars at Oxford that he was called the 'boy-bachelor'" (Ridley, 1982, p. 18). Later he also took an M.A. and became a headmaster. True, Wolsey had ambition, and his education, entry into the priesthood, and transitional positions were stepping-stones to a power, but who can fault ambition in a man of humble origins His father sent him to Oxford because he wanted a better life for his son. The law at the time was still skewed against the lower classes. Only a complete fool would not desire to move up in the socio-economic hierarchy, and Wolsey was far from a fool. He never had difficultly impressing his social superiors, beginning with his first patron, the Marquess of Dorset. Even though Dorset died shortly after appointing Wolsey rector, Wolsey had made other powerful friends, and soon became chaplain to the Archbishop of Canterbury and then the Governor of Calais, giving "Wolsey a wide experience of many sides of government, especially of relations with foreign countries, and a foothold in the government service" (Ridley, 1982, p. 22). In this politically sensitive outpost of English rule, Wolsey had "the opportunity to learn about the problems of many aspects of government administration and to show his efficiency in dealing with them (Ridley, 1982, p. 23). He must maintain the lines of communication between the Crown and those owing allegiance to England in Calais; he must keep an eye on the French military and guard against French spies. These things he did without Henry VIII, who was not yet king. In fact, as a result of his skillful work in Calais, Wolsey became a chaplain in Henry VII's court and worked with those who made foreign policy. He succeeded, on his own, on sensitive diplomatic missions to Scotland, Austria, and the Netherlands, while receiving special dispensations from the Church. Prior to Henry VIII's ascension, Wolsey garnered remarkable power and prestige by navigating his responsibilities and balancing his social connections, for which reasons alone we must discard the idea that his later power and prestige sprung directly from manipulation and deceit toward the King. When Henry VIII came to power, "The accession of a handsome and dashing young king in place of his cautious and money-grasping father was welcomed by the people" (Ridley, 1982, p. 28), but it was the differences between the two kings that allowed Wolsey to rise through the ranks. The old King had been conservative and dedicated to his role as King. The young King was fiscally liberal and immediately began taping the coffers for clothes, jewels, and parties. He resented boring duties and disliked those who advised him to spend more time at them. Wolsey knew how to please the king. While others "urged Henry to preside at Council meetings, as his father had done, and to devote his time to affairs of the state, Wolsey offered to carry out all the work of government while Henry hunted and amused himself[Wolsey] found out what the king wanted, and did it" (Ridley, 1982, p.

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My Mission Statement & Goal Plan Essay Example for Free

My Mission Statement Goal Plan Essay I may not convince the world that I can be the next Nobel Peace Prize winner. I may not persuade people to make me the next Time Magazine’s Person of the Year. Nor do I have any illusions of garnering millions of votes to become the next president of this country. But if I am to be given an opportunity to describe myself, all that I can honestly say is that, I am who I am. Thus, in an attempt to try and take a glimpse in defining the person I always see in front of the mirror, I have come to a resolution that the best thing to do is to find and understand my purpose in life. By doing so, I ponder to ask the question, why do I exist? In other words, my mission in life is quite an irony or for some, it may seem stupid or foolish. Simply put it, my mission in life is to find my mission life. Although many people may think that this statement is hilarious, I will respectfully beg to differ. There are millions of people living aimlessly spending every second of their time in confusion and uncertainty. And for me, this is a frightening reality and to a certain extent, it is a sad one as well. And I admit that I am afraid to be one of them. It is the fear of not knowing where I am, where am I going and what I want to do which has led me to set my life in constantly pursuing the truth behind my existence or purpose in this world. I believe that by doing so, can help me see even just an inch of the incomprehensible reality each person carries with him or her. In light of this, I have aimed to unravel my mission in life through a process of first understanding my short-term goals of knowing who I am and where I stand through the institution that I want to affect and influence my life. Then, I plan to venture into my long-term goals that reflect my dreams and ambitions not just a professional and a son but more importantly, as a person. Thus, in order to know and find one’s purpose in life, a person must first know and find who he is, where he is and where he wants to be. It has been said by Benjamin E. Mays that the tragedy of life does not lie in not reaching a person’s goal, the tragedy lies in having no goals to reach. To me, he makes perfect sense. Somehow, a person who has no goals, dreams or ambitions has nothing to hope for or to look forward to. I thus find it highly imperative to transfer to the University of Southern California as my primary short-goal. I know firsthand that life in this world is often measured by the amount of success, wealth and fame a person possesses. I am familiar with the University of Southern California. I believe that if I am to be given the opportunity to study in such a distinguished institution, such an achievement tells me that I will never find myself wanting to be more successful, wealthier and famous than I already am. Transferring to the University of Southern California reflects a bigger picture of my goal of constant growth and development. In this moment in my life, I know that the best thing to do is to further my knowledge and skills. Entering this institution is the wisest way of preparing myself for what the world will be showing and throwing at me. And I have to confess that I am afraid to take this step. Amidst all that have been happening in my life, I sometimes think that I have made a shadowy acquaintance, and its name is fear. But I have learned not to stand down anymore in the face of adversity. There is always the fear of not being good enough or failing. But I believe that my greatest fear is merely fear itself. And for me to overcome this, I have to keep walking and moving despite being afraid. People will constantly judge and criticize me. I know this and I have learned to live with it. I honestly get affected because I am a sincere person. I dedicate and commit myself to something I really believe in wholeheartedly. My friends and family will attest to this fact. I can guarantee that I am a person of principle with an unwavering confidence and an incomparable determination. I am absolutely confident that I can bring the person that I am to the University of Southern California. By transferring to this university, I have realized that I also have to achieve the goal of convincing other people that I want it and that I deserve it. If this is a business proposal then let me assure everyone that I am good investment. I believe in who I am and what I can do. All that I am asking for is for you to believe in me. In essence, my short-term goals are all about realigning my path not just on a good one, but more importantly, on the right one. My short-term goals can briefly show who I am based on what I have already been through. My short-term goals are the remaining few years before I venture into the real world. Furthermore, my short-term goals portray my desire to take a step and revolutionize who I am right now in becoming someone I hope to be. During the vast reign of the Roman Empire, a great man by the name of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus once said, â€Å"A man’s worth is no greater than the worth of his ambitions. † I somehow feel that ambitions can thoroughly define a person but at the same time, it can also break the person. Somewhere in life’s journey, a person will have to face the â€Å"non-negotiable† realities in their lives. These are the things that tend to be so difficult and even impossible to change. I have thus made my long-term goals into something practical and achievable for me. I have envisioned myself in about less than ten years as someone who runs his own business while also helping my father run his. I find my long-term goals to be realistic and honest. I do not have grand dreams of eradicating poverty or creating some out-of-this-world idea that will save us from global warming. I want to keep my feet firmly on the ground. But this does not mean that my long-term goals are plain, simple and self-serving. As matter of fact, I expect them to be challenging, tricky and risky. Running and having my own business is no walk in the park. In this modern age, the competition is so tight and the stakes are roughly high that being good falls short by a mile. This does not even include the fact that I will also be greatly involved in my father’s business. But I want to take this risk. How can people discover new lands if they cannot lose sight of the shore? If I am to venture into this, I need to be cutting-edge and have an innovative mind. This is why the link between my short-term goals and my long-term goals is very significant. I want to take it step by step without any shortcuts. Each stage in my life is a learning process where I grow and develop myself for my future. Most people describe who they are but what they have. Still, others know who they are by how they are described by other people. I for one believe that what I have and how others perceive me are just parts of who I am as a whole. I believe that the person who best knows who I am is myself. People may see me in terms of things I have or from their own point-of-views. But I can never be half the person that they say I am if I do not know and accept what I think and see that I am. This is why my short-term and long-term goals are all starting points to initiate my true purpose in life. Through these goals, I may somehow find a semblance or clue of what I truly want out of my life. Through these goals, I can find who I am. As Lao Tzu has said, â€Å"Knowing others is wisdom, knowing the self is enlightenment. † Simply put it, through acting upon my goals, I intend to find something that will grab my attention and interest that will make me dedicate my life to it. Some will spend their entire lives looking and searching, while others may spend their lives staring at a distance unable to move and make a difference. In the greater scheme of things, I like to believe that it is not about reaching or achieving that which I have set for myself but rather, it is all about how I get there that really counts. How wonderful it is if I can do the things people say I cannot. This is largely founded on the inescapable reality that obstacles will appear every now and then. As for me, the greatest obstacle and weakness I will ever face are being idealistic and fear, respectively. As mentioned earlier, there is always the constant fear of not being good enough or failing. In addition, although being idealistic is not really a bad thing, it also comes with a heavy baggage. By being idealistic, I tend to ignore the reality presented. There is a fine line separating what is in theory and what is in practice. Somehow and some time, this reality will slap me in the face. There is the need to be practical which I fall short of a lot of times. I do believe that there are three types of people in this world: those who ask what happened, those who watch things happen and those who make things happen. I have stopped asking what happened being blind and deaf to the realities of life. I have stopped watching things happen from the sidelines being apathetic to the things happening right before my very eyes. I have thus decided to change and to make things happen. I try to stop making excuses. I do not need an excuse to live but rather, I need a reason to live. And dedicating my life in search for my purpose is something I believe is worthwhile. It is about time to go beyond myself and offer who I am not what I have. If there is one thing I have learned and will never forget from this class is that achieving my goals or aspirations in life is neither an overnight phenomenon nor a magical trick that can easily be pulled instantly out of the hat. Dedicating myself to something I hold dear is always a process. It is an on-going process of continuous learning, understanding and growth as a student, as a son and as a person. These goals may not happen today, tomorrow, next week or next year. The important thing is that it does not start next year, next month, next week or tomorrow but rather, it starts today.