US Opportunities Essays - Academia, Scholarship,

US Opportunities America is the land of opportunity. This country is full of great ways to better our lives. There are many different kinds of opportunities we can use to improve the quality of our living conditions. For example, there are many public school systems here, as well as the many college opportunities we are offered. This country is also a great place to find adventure, or just have a good time playing sports or exercising. Something else that is great about our country is our fantastic government system. Whether it's Federal, State, or Local government; ours is one to be proud of. America offers the most to any kind of person, no matter who you are or what you enjoy. In America there is an unbelievable amount of ways to learn. There is a public school system where anyone can go to school, Kindergarten through twelfth grade. If you want to further your education by going to college, there is a great variety of schools you could go to. If you want to be a doctor there are specific schools designed to teach people how to be doctors. Some colleges are good at different sports, and some are incredible acedemically, some schools are well-known for their drama programs or other things. Most schools offer scholarships to those who excel in specific areas. Scholarships are a good way to get financial aid if you can't or don't want to pay for college. If you're looking for action and adventure, you've come to the right place. America is the greatest place to kick back and have a good time. You could ski the icy slopes of the Rocky Mountains in Utah and Colorado, or you could surf and lay out on the sandy beaches of Hawaii or California. You could go crabbing on the rocky coast of Maine, or go ice fishing on a barren lake in the nippy weather of Alaska. Different places around the country offer a variety of seminars if you're looking for instruction, or you could read up on the subject before braving the great outdoors by yourself. Many people also enjoy sports. In Utah, there are all kinds of sports programs designed for people of all ages. This is a great place to come whether you're looking for sports action or outdoor adventure. Some might worry about the quality of our government. Despite the recent problems our president has had, the government is nothing to worry about. The local government is here to help us in any way needed. The local government helps us out with our school systems, roads, and many other things. The Federal government helps pass laws to make our states and towns better for us. All in all, the government is still going just as strong as they were in the beginning in 1776. Taking all the factors into consideration, I think America is the greatest place on earth to live. No matter what you want to do, where and when you want to do it; you can probably find it here. Whether you want to further your education, find a passion in some sort of outdoor adventure, or discover the mystery behind our government, this country is where you'll want to be. America truly is the land of opportunity.

What Is the ACT Kaplan ACT Low Cost Test Prep Program

What Is the ACT Kaplan ACT Low Cost Test Prep Program SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips The ACT has just announced its first official partnership with a test prep company: Kaplan. This may be big news for students who are planning to take the ACT - in cooperation with Kaplan, ACT, Inc. will be providing a low-cost (or even free) test prep program calledACT ® Kaplan Online Prep Live. There isn’t a ton of information just yet about the quality of the new test prep platform - students won’t be able to access it for a while - but we do know what the program should include and what it should cost. Free streaming courses are airing live in advance of the program launch - you can read more about what these courses are like towards the end of the post. Read more to find out what this new test prep partnership will mean for you! The ACT/Kaplan Partnership The ACT and the SAT are in perpetual competition for student test-takers. Last year, the College Boardannounced a partnership with Khan Academy to provide free test prep - it’s no surprise that ACT, Inc.has followed suit with a similar move:formally partnering up with Kaplan to offeran online prep programat no cost to low-income students and a â€Å"significantly lower cost† than other prep programs for all other students. Although the partnership was just announced, the test prep program won’t be available until Fall 2016 (so it won’t be of much help to students who are taking the ACT this summer). The program is offering a few free classes before the official launch date, however - check out the ACT streaming events page, and keep reading for more info. Program Costs This test prep program will be free of charge for low-income students. To qualify, students need to register for the ACT with a fee waiver (read our complete guide to ACT fee waivers for more information). Access to the platform should come to less than $200 for students who don’t qualify for the fee waiver. What Will the Program Include? The price for this test prep program seems pretty reasonable, but more important than the price is what you’ll get for your money. First, the program includes access to live classes taught by Kaplan instructors. Students should be able to interact with these instructors through the course platform, although it’s unclear how much individual feedback each student will receive (it’s likely that many students will be watching each live class - there’s no way one instructor could respond, in real time, to questions from hundreds of students). Students will also have access to recorded classes if they’re unable to watch live - this affords some flexibility. These courses will be available on computers, tablets, and phones, so you can watch them on the go. The ACT/Kaplan haven’t publicized a list of class topics, but they currently have a few free courses on the calendar - I imagine that the new prep program’s courses will be similar in scope. Here’s the free course schedule: Understanding Your ACT Scores and What to Do Next (April 30, 2016 @2pm EDT) Introduction to Stem Concepts (May 11, 2016 @7pm EDT) Introduction to ELA Concepts (May 22, 2016 @2pm EDT) The program will also include access to a social platform including teachers and peers. This social media platform is supposed to facilitate a community for discussion, encouragement, and support. Whatthe Program Will Not Include Based on the program’s press release, there are a few key things not provided by this test prep program. First, as an online version of an ACT prep course, this prep program does not provide personalized or customized instruction to students (aside from any feedback provided via live course instruction). Instead, I predict that it will serve as an introduction to core concept areas, test strategies, and logistical concerns. Second, although instructors will use official ACT questions as examples when they teach thelive courses, it doesn’t seem that students will have access to any additional official practice materials. The ACT does release some official practice materials for free - these are available to everyone -but other official prep materials must be purchased. The Bottom Line What’s included with this program is definitely subject to change, but for now (at least based on the official press release), here’s what students seem to get for their money: Access to live (or on-demand, if you can’t watch live) courses on ACT content and logistics topics. Opportunities for interactions with teachers during live classes. Access to a social media platform with peers and instructors. No extra practice materials or personalized instruction. However, keep in mind that we have only very preliminary informationright now. A lot of details could change before the program's official release this fall. Online Prep Live: Free Streaming Events To get a taste for what the paid Online Prep program will be like, I watched the program's firstfree streaming class: Understanding Your ACT Scores and What to Do Next. It aired on Saturday, April 30. Course Overview This live, online course(presumably similar to what the actual Online Prep Live classes will be like) was easily accessible via this announcement page. This course addressed: What the info on your ACT score report means and how you can use it ACT College and Career Readiness Standards (both what they are and why they matter) ACT next steps, including deciding whether or not to retake the test and improving your scores Exploring future college and career options Pros I was impressed with howeasy it was to access this course, as well as how clearly the information was communicated. The instructor (Boris) was engaging and knowledgeable, which is a big plus. Although students weren't able to chat directly with the instructor, he noted at the beginning of the course that a "team of ACT experts" were online to answer student questions throughout the live session. Borisnoted particular student comments or questions throughout the live event, so he seemed generally plugged in to student concerns. In addressing student questions, the instructor referredto real-life data which helped back up his claims.He wanted to answer, for example, whether retaking the ACT would make students look bad to admissions officers. In responding, he pointed out that many students retake the test, and the majority of them (57%) end up with a higher score the second time around. Finally, I appreciated that anyone who's interested caneither watch the recorded event on-demand and access a full transcript of the course at any time. Cons First, this hour-long prep course was nowhere near an hour long. If you reference the event recording, you'll notice that the first and last sections are ads for the paid ACT Online Prep Live program, NOT course instruction footage. This meant that Boris was actually teaching for about 36 minutes in total. Second, the coursedidn't always providehelpful, concrete instructions or resources when addressing student concerns. In discussing some free tools that are available to help students raise scores, for example, Boris notes that you should take a list of your weak test skills to a guidance counselor for more help. Although it's greatto know where you should work to improve, students may have benefitedfrom references to helpful test prep materials. Next, the instructor spent some time encouraging viewers to participate in the chat platformwith prompts like "tell me if you empathize with these struggles!" Some viewers may really appreciate how this approach fosters a sense of community among viewers, but I felt it wasted time that could have been spent reviewing other material. These free streaming courses won't be helpful for everyone (especially students who already know the ins and outs of the test), but I encourage you to check out the transcript or recordingbefore deciding whether they're right for you. How the ACT/Kaplan Partnership Will Affect Student Test Prep Since this is the first time the ACT has officially partnered with any test prep company, the new online prepprogram is bound to make waves. It hasn’t officially launched, so no one can be completely sure of the program’s strengths and weaknesses. Based on what the program offers (and what it doesn’t), however, I can speculate as to the program’s benefits and drawbacks. The important stuff:what does this program have to do with how you study for the ACT? Here’s how I think students may benefit (or not) from this new partnership: Potential Advantages The ACT Kaplan Online Prep Live program is a step in the right direction when it comes to providing reasonably-priced and flexible prep to busy students. Here are the program's biggest perks: Official ACT Material Whenever you're studying for any sort of standardized test, it's best to get your hands on official test prep material. ACT questions are written in a very specific style and format (something that's difficult for unofficial test prep sources to emulate).In order to do well on the test, it's important to familiarize yourself with itsunique style. Test-makers are usually pretty careful with how much official material they release for practice. Since this Live Prep Program is endorsed by the ACT, you can be sure that instructors will only refer to official sample questions as they teach. Ease of Access Whenyou sign up for your standard ACT course, it means committing to attending classes at certain times and dates.If you're dealing with a packed schedule and/or limited transportation options, an in-person ACT course may not work for you. The ACT Live Prep program makes it easy to watch classes at times that are convenient for you - all you need is internet access. You can choose to watch classes live or on-demand, which is helpful if you're working around other commitments. Even the best ACT course won't help you if you can't find the time to attend - an online program should make things a lot easier for the average student. Price Point One of the major barriers to accessing quality ACT prep is the cost. Kaplan is one of the biggest names in test prep - before this partnership announcement, the company's least expensive ACT course was priced at $299, whereas its more intensive courses start at $749. This is simply out of reach for many students and their families. This Live Prep program is reasonably priced when compared to many other test prep programs (especially if students qualify for ACT fee waivers, in which case they can sign up for free). A lower price point means greater access to ACT prep, which is always a good thing. Social Media Support When they sign up for the Live Prep course, students also gain accessto a social media platform with other peers and instructors. Some students may study just fine independently, but others may find it helpful to interact with peers in an effort to maintain good study practices. Potential Drawbacks Like I mentioned earlier, it's difficult to say for certain what we can expect from theACT Kaplan Online Prep Live program. Based on the itsdescription, however, there are some important weaknesses in the prep program's approach. No Extra Practice Material Like I noted earlier, there's no mention of extra material provided to students for independent study. If you want to practice any content or strategy that was discussed in a particular class, you'll likely have to find your own practice questions or tests. No Customization This is a weakness that you'll find with any test prep course. Instructors are there to teach an entire class, not individual students - as such, you may find certain lessons less helpful than others (for example, a lesson that goes over content you're already very familiar with).Conversely, there won't be opportunities for you to get extra help with concepts youstruggle with. To study most effectively and most efficiently, you'll want to spend the most time on things that are difficult for you. Because every student is different, every student's ideal study plan will be different. This is something that the ACT Kaplan Online Prep Live program can't accommodate. Most group classes take a "one size fits all" approach out of necessity. Limited Interaction With Instructors The program description states that students will be able to ask questions of instructors during live classes. Although this is an interesting idea, I don't see how it would work in practice -each live course will likely have hundreds of students (or even more) watching at one time. There's no way that an instructor could personally respond to questions from so many students. I expect that select questions (e.g. questions that would apply to the greatest number of students) will be answered during live questions. Hearing teachers respond to others' inquiries may be helpful, but I wouldn't go into a class expecting to have my own personal questions answered. Reliance on Social Media Support You may be wondering why I have this in the "potential drawbacks" section. A big problem that I have with the social media support platform is that the prep program is preemptivelydirecting students therefor answers to test-related questions. This is problematic because most of the people on this platform aren't going to be ACT instructors - they're going to be other students. Although it's possible to get reliable help from savvy students, it's also possible to get very misguided (and simply incorrect) advice. The social media platform is likely to be an awesome resources for thosewho are looking for a test prep community,but students who turn to it for test prep help should take advice with a grain of salt. Overview Versus In-Depth Course Material The Live Prep course has yet to release the full rangeof topics that they'll cover with their classes. They may very well introduce classes that address higher-level content and strategy concerns, but based on their list of free streaming classes, I doubt that will be the case.Students who are already familiar with ACT logistics, strategy, and content won't benefit from classes that primarily address the basics. Should You Use the New Prep Plan? Now that you have all the available information on theACT Kaplan Online Prep Live program, you might be wondering if you should sign up. I can't tell you whether you should definitely buy the program, but I think some students would benefit from it more than others. Consider Signing Up If ... You qualify for an ACT fee waiver.If you qualify for a waiver, the program is free. There's no harm in signing up, even if you don't end up finding it that helpful. You don't know much about the ACT and you would benefit from an overview course.Based on the free streaming events the program is offering in advance of its actual launch, it looks like the courses will address important introductory concepts (e.g. "Understanding Your ACT Scores and What to Do Next"). If the ACT basics are new to you, this program may be a good fit. It's difficult for you to committo any in-person ACT prep programs. This ACT/Kaplan program makes it easy for students to watch courses anywhere, anytime. If you require more flexibility from an ACT prep program, you might want to check this one out. Consider Passing on the Course If ... You're a relatively high-scorer and need in-depth ACT review. If this is the case, I doubt the course will teach you anything you don't already know. Spend your time more effectively by perfecting your scores. You're planning on taking the ACT this summer, fall, or early winter. The program doesn't launch until Fall 2016, so if you're taking the ACT before then (or soon thereafter), you won't have enough time to benefit from the online courses. You have the resources (and motivation) to participate in a program that provides customized feedback. You'll be able to prep more effectively if you can get real feedback on your strengths and weaknesses. Courses like this one are a good place to start, but if you want more guidance and support, I'd encourage you to look into other options. What's Next? Want more information on other ACT prep options? Read about whether online prep (and online tutoring) is right for you, and learn more about the differences between in-person and online ACT courses. Maybe you've considered getting an ACT tutor, but you also want the flexibility of online prep. Learn more about the difference between online and in-person tutoring. Want to improve your ACT score by 4+ points? Download our free guide to the top 5 strategies you need in your prep to improve your ACT score dramatically.

Administer & Monitor Medications in Work Environment Assignment - 1

Administer & Monitor Medications in Work Environment - Assignment Example er pregnancy unless the doctor measures Prothrombin frequently, ask if patient is under other drugs for treatment of TB, prevent blood clots, supplements containing vitamin K and antidepressant Binding to insulin receptors on cells in the body by making cells in liver, muscles and fat tissues to raise the uptake of glucose from the bloodstream and reduce the production of glucose by the liver hence controlling the glucose level Hypoglycaemia (common), skin thickening or pitting, redness, swelling at injection site, Excessive fluid retention (oedema), visual challenges and skin reactions such as itching, hives or rash. May be affected by ACE inhibitors like captopril, anabolic steroids e.g. stanozol, disopyramide, fibrates e.g. germfibrozil As a medical administrator I have to be certain that the physician’s order is complete and correct. I understand a compete order as a composition of the drugs’ name, dosage, frequency and route administration. An incomplete and unclear order should never be assumed and hence I have to consult with the ordering physician before proceeding (Bullock, & Galbraith, 2007). I have to be certain of the expiry date of drugs and ascertain that it is yet to expire. I always scrutinize the labels against the order. I ensure that I have proactively scrutinized medication features. I always discard the unclear medication that always found to appear cloudy and replace effectively (Bullock, & Galbraith, 2007). I should ensure that drugs that appear in single dose are sealed as required without tempering and not to store excess medications from single doses. I will always be keen to note that patients are prescribed a range of drugs simultaneously. Before I administer a particular I will check the drug interactions for each medication and validate with the patient’s chart to gauge contraindications or special precautions to be altered (Crisp & Taylor, 2009). In addition I do note the history of patient previous anaphylactic

The Quality Caring Model of Nursing Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

The Quality Caring Model of Nursing - Term Paper Example It is not difficult to imagine that an uncaring hospital staff and bureaucracy lead to an enhanced potential for medical errors and other dysfunctions. When the perception exists that the staff is simply doing the job, that they have become hardened to the suffering around them, and that each patient that enters their doors is simply a number and a disease, the consequences to patients’ morale could be as damaging as delivering the wrong dosage of morphine. Here, the prospect exists of elevated stress levels, pain or discomfort that may go ignored, and general disappointment and/or dissatisfaction. It is a noteworthy issue in the sense that not only could patients’ medical outcomes be negatively impacted, but also, even from the most pragmatic and cynical perspective, extremely dissatisfied patients – even when they do recover – may lead to a bad reputation of the hospital, which could impact potential donations. Even if serious complications do not occur, inconsistent or inattentive medical staff and procedures can also delay healing and recovery, and this can create a financial burden for the patient and increase the risk of nosocomial infections through extended hospital stays, if surgery and healing are not expedited with efficiency. Thus, the issue of caring in nursing is not only a matter of bolstering spirits but also a matter of added medical burdens that can be avoided by the staff which is deeply passionate both about the job and the patients’ health.... On the one hand, some level of detachment is a necessity in the medical field. Excessive emotional investment in any particular patient could compromise judgment or debilitate the healthcare provider if that patient should in fact perish or take a turn for the worst despite the implementation of all appropriate procedural measures. There is always another patient, so doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals would be doing a disservice to other patients if the previous one consumed too much of their attention and emotion. Yet detachment is also an enemy promoting the carelessness described above, making the patient feel uncared for and unappreciated, and enhancing the statistical likelihood of a medical error. Thus, there must be a corporate culture that institutes an appropriate level of attention and compassion in the implementation and management of medicine. It is a standard to teach nurses and doctors to 'care', but with the constant demands of a large hospital, with an e ndless patient-after-patient time consuming process and a great deal to be accomplished independently, the reality rarely lives up to the rhetoric. Time constraints in a large setting also limit the prospect of getting to know a particular patient on an individual basis. Bereft of the potential for attachment, one is easily dehumanized. Thus, a balance must be sought between an emotional entanglement, especially in terminal patients that can emotionally damage doctors or nurses, and a laissez-faire factory farm attitude where no outcome has any emotional impact, leading to frequent mistakes and a clear perception of indifference on part of the patients, enhancing the negative

Has the arrival of the knowledge economy destroyed Braverman's Essay

Has the arrival of the knowledge economy destroyed Braverman's Deskilling Thesis - Essay Example Particular emphasis is given on the interaction of this theory with the knowledge economy; reference is made especially to the fact whether the arrival of the knowledge economy has destroyed the Deskilling Thesis of Braverman or not. The main elements of the two concepts are critically examined. The literature published in the specific field is used in order to check the power of each of the above concepts and their potential perspectives to survive under the terms that current social conditions have been significantly changed compared to the period when the Marxist theories were introduced. At this point it would be necessary to refer to the general framework of the Deskilling Thesis of Braverman, as one of the theories reflecting the Marxist view on the relationship between humans and capital. In accordance with Smith (2000) the Deskilling Thesis of Braverman is based on the proposition that ‘the development of capitalism as an economic system has led to the deskilling of wor kers’ (Smith 2000, p.327). In the context of the above theory, the deskilling of workers is developed through the gradual replacement of highly skilled workers with others, less trained (Smith 2000, p.327). The latter are expected to take lower compensation, a fact that leads to the limitation of ‘bargaining power of workers’ (Smith 2000, p.327), a fact, which can be characterized as one of the priorities of capitalism. The view of Braverman on the deskilling of workers has been mainly based on the Marxist views on capitalism. However, influences seem also to exist from the work of other theorists, who also supported the expansion of deskilling as a social phenomenon in the context of capitalism: an indicative example is the view of Helmut Schelsky (1954) on ‘the role of automation in the increase of stress at work’ (Schelsky 1954, in Stehr 2002, p.143); Merton (1947) has been another theorist supporting deskilling, which was characterized as ‘ enforced obsolescence of skills’ (Merton 1947 in Stehr 2002, p.143). The terms on which the theory of Braverman on deskilling has been based have been extensively criticized; in accordance with Bradley (2000) the particular theory of Braverman promotes ‘a romantic view of skill, ignoring its political and social construction’ (Bradley 2000, p.118). Moreover, Bandelj (2009) notes that the Deskilling Thesis of Braverman is based on capitalism as a trend focusing on the ‘mechanization of labour, the social context of which is heavily ignored’ (Bandelj 2009, p.190). A similar criticism is included in the study of Watson-Boone (1998); the above researcher emphasizes on the following element of Braverman’s theory: in the context of the Braverman theory, the worker is considered to be ‘totally controlled by the capital’ (Watson-Boone, 1998, p.6), a view which could be possibly applied in the past, but in the context of the modern society such perspective cannot be considered as absolute. On the other hand, Kridel (2010) characterizes the view of Braverman on deskilling as partially justified; it is explained that the perceptions of Braverman ‘on the isolation of worker from the production process, as a result of the expansion of capitalism’ (Kridel 2010, p.284) reflected the social and economic conditions of a particular era. Moreover, it is noted that the Deskilling Thesis of Braverman has been used in practice for supporting the need of teachers for being protected towards the mechanization of their role –

Benefits of Multi Functionality System

Benefits of Multi Functionality System A project can be defined as a temporary measure that is undertaken to create a result. The term temporary means that every project must have a start and a set end date. The end is reached when the objectives of the project have been achieved, or it becomes clear that the project aims for whatever reason will not be met, or the need for the project is not now necessary. Many projects can last for several years. However, the duration of a project is set and would be unfeasible for the project to go on for an indefinite period. Most projects that are undertaken would aim to create or improve something that is needed most projects that are taken on are done for a reason.   For example, the project to erect a Rugby League Greats statue, of four Rugby League Legends will create a result expected to last for many years to come. One thing that cant always be predicted is that sometimes projects often have unintended social, and environmental impacts that far outlast the projects themselves. Project Background The purpose of the project is to critically assess what benefits a new system that has multi functionality would be to Vodafone. At the current time, Vodafone have three different systems that hold vital account information, customer information and network information, this itself causes various problems when it comes to finding a customers details. If the project were to be a success, we could see a reduction in wasted time locating customers details and an overall better organised structure of customer details. Project Aim and Objectives The aim of the project is to investigate and assess the need for a system for Vodafone that can incorporate new and old customers within one main system.   With an initial budget cost of 15 million. By conducting this research, it will give an insight upon what impact the incorporation of said such system would have on the business, stakeholders and the employees. At the current time, Vodafone use three different systems that hold vital account information and customer usage information, this lacks efficiently as has a negative knock on effect of advisors having to find a customers details in the various systems, which is not time effective and increases handling time. To have any kind of success the new system must include the following: Ability to allow just internal users to access the application without downloading any additional software Ability to interface with the existing two well established data warehouse applications. What advantage of a new system (business point of view) What advantage of a new system (Customers point of view) Example of other Business that have incorporated a similar method. Scope Currently, Vodafone use 3 systems for customers: Gemini Crystal VLTS Having 3 main systems is not ideal. Each system has a function that the other does not have, therefore all 3 systems are needed, what is proposed is to incorporate the three current systems to improve efficiency and overall cost. Gemini Used mainly for billing information and queries, would also be used for applying a credit and miscalculations on to account if there was a need to do so. Crystal Also has some billing functions but manually used for assigning faults to a 1st and 2nd tier technical team. VLTS Used for the barring of numbers and the monitoring of queues for problems that would occur on the network. Requirements The outcome of the project is to access the need for a new system the can incorporate all the key main functions of the old 3 systems. Quality of Project Reliability We would need the system to be reliable and to be able to cope with the demands of any tasks that it may need to undertake with large multiple users at the same time. Usability System will be complex due to the different functions it can perform, but must also be user friendly so that in order for the employees to be able to use it. List of Requirements Productivity Planning precision Precision in lead-time, etc. Staff have become frustrated with the need to use 3 systems for all manner of small to large tasks. This, in turn, is creating low staff morale and frustration. It is also creating a need for new starters to be trained on 3 individual systems which is costing the company more money in the long run. By assessing the idea of a new all in one system, this does would certainly create a more positive working atmosphere which in turn will make the workplace a happier environment and in turn happy staff = happy customers.

A Tale Of Two Cities :: essays research papers

A Tale of Two Cities   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the novel A Tale of Two Cities there were three strands of people: the Manettes, the Everemonds and the revolutionists. These three strands became critically entangled at one point in the book. Everyone of the strands became involved when Charles Darnay was found guilty at his trial and sentenced to death. Charles was currently involved with the Manette family when the revolutionists imprisoned him for being an Evremonde. Of course there were many events leading up to Darnay’s conviction.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The first event occurred when Dr. Manette was locked up in the Bastille by the Evremonde family. He was called upon to care for Madame Defarge’s sister and brother, but when they died he was imprisoned so he could not tell anyone of their murder. Madame Defarge became very angry with the loss of her family and planned revenge against all the Evremondes. Dr. Manette stayed in the Bastille for eighteen years. During his time in there he wrote a diary of what went on. He also lost his identity and became a shoe cobbler. When he finally got out of prison he had no recollection of his early life.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The second event was when Charles Darnay asked to marry Lucie Manette. Dr. Manette, who had be reunited with his daughter, saw no problem with the marriage until Charles revealed his real identity to everyone on the wedding day. Charles’s last name was really Evremonde. His father was the man who put Dr. Manette in the Bastille for all those years. Manette forgave Charles because he was not like his evil father or his uncle, the Marquis St. Evremonde. Charles and Lucie got married as they planned to.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The last event occurred when Madame Defarge planned revenge against all the Evremondes. She was a revolutionist and knitted a list of names for her people to murder. Charles Darnay was added when she found out his real identity as an Evremonde. Also the names of his wife, Lucie Manette, and his newly born daughter, Little Lucie, were added to her murder list. Charles and his family were now in the middle of the three strands differences.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Charles Dickens showed the relationship between the Evremondes, the Manettes and the revolutionists all through the one character, Charles Darnay. He was closely related to all these groups in many ways. Each part of the story was connected and related to each other so without the three events leading up to Darnay’s trial, the outcome of the story would of been different.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of

Global Crisis, Recession & Uneven Recovery

Global Crisis, Recession and Uneven Recovery by Y. V. Reddy Book Review by Nidhi Choudhari There is enough on this earth to meet the needs of all, but not the greed of all. Mahatma Gandhi Why I picked up Y. V. Reddy’s Book There have been a large number of books published on current global financial crisis therefore; selection of this particular book on the subject requires some reasoning. First, there are not many books written by central bankers on the topic.Central banks have been central in the management of the crisis and therefore, Dr Reddy’s book provides a central banker’s assessment of the crisis and its impact. Second, on personal level, I have worked in RBI between September 2006 and December 2011 and was witness to the measures taken by Reserve Bank before and during the crisis under the able leadership of Dr Y. V. Reddy, the Governor, Reserve Bank of India (2003-2008). Having worked under his visionary leadership, I opted to take his book, â€Å"Glo bal Crisis, Recession and Uneven Recovery† for review.Third, Dr Reddy led the course of financial pragmatism in times of relentless deregulation and ensured that Indian financial system does not fall into the blind race to bottom in regulation. Finally, having read Dr Reddy’s previous book on the topic viz. â€Å"India and the Global Financial Crisis: Managing Money and Finance†, I was very keen on reading its sequel viz. â€Å"Global Crisis, Recession and Uneven Recovery†. For all these reasons, I selected this book and am thankful to Madam Nidhi Sharma for approving this book for review.The reviewed book is a collection of 27 speeches (given in the form of 27 chapters in 5 parts), Dr Reddy delivered at different points of time during and after the crisis. These chapters give a deeper insight into the actions taken by the RBI to mitigate the impact of the crisis in India and how India remained largely unaffected due to adequate regulatory mechanisms. Dr R eddy has also been a member of the Commission of Experts of The President of the UN General Assembly on Reforms of The International Monetary and Financial System popularly known as Stiglitz Commission after its chairman Joseph Stiglitz.He has given several references about the recommendations of this UN Commission in the book. The 19th Chapter in the book is about the UN Commission recommendations about global crisis. Hence, the reader of the book gets an understanding of the global thinking on the crisis and its after effects. What’s there in the Book Economists have compared the current global financial crisis to that of the Great Recession of 1930s. The current crisis has in fact, affected all countries across the world in different degrees and that way, it was truly a global recession.Today, the crisis is over however the recovery has started at different paces in different places. Dr Reddy is of the view that the recovery from the global crisis is going to be prolonged and uneven. The book â€Å"Global Crisis, Recession and Uneven Recovery† provides an experienced policymaker’s understanding of the genesis, progression and impact of the financial crisis, and of the lessons it offered. It is written at a time when Indian economy is facing several challenges in terms of slowdown in growth rate, inflation, ballooning fiscal and current account deficit etc.The book contains Dr Reddy’s perspective and analysis of the crisis, recession and recovery in a simple, lucid and non-technical manner which appeals the reader. There are five sections in the book containing 27 chapters in all. The five sections relate to the global financial crisis and its aftermath, financial sector: retrospect and prospects, public policy: challenges and responses, global financial architecture: the debates and India: performance and prospects respectively. The first section of the book gives a lucid account of the financial crisis and its consequences in si x chapters.In the first chapter, Dr Reddy talks about the role played by central banks before, during and after the crisis. He writes that the accountability in regard to management of the crisis of the crisis will have to be shared between the central bank, the Ministry of Finance and, to some extent, the government as a whole. The author writes about the consequences of the crisis viz. rebalancing of power between the regulator and the regulated, shift in balance of in favour of Asia, rise of G-20 on the global platform and a cautious approach towards self-correcting efficiency of markets etc.Explanations with regard to the causes of the global financial crisis and an overview of the prolonged extensive excesses that acted synchronically to cause the global crisis are discussed in detail. The second section of the book focuses on the future of the financial sector with some cautious remarks about uncertain recovery and prospects for the futures. The author highlights the role of f inancial regulation in developing countries. Dr Reddy writes that â€Å"the causes and crossborder transmission of the crisis may differ significantly between the advanced as well as between the developing economies. There is a detailed chapter on countercyclical policies adopted by the RBI in the financial sector and also on the proposals for financial sector regulatory reforms from the perspective of developing countries. He discusses the future of globalisation of finance and the global regulation of the financial sector. The last chapter of this section provides a broad framework for global financial regulation. The third section deals with the public policy challenges and responses that emerged during the current global crisis.He has discussed the feasibility of Tobin Tax and Financial Sector Taxation in light of current crisis. Dr Reddy has also thrown light on the developmental dimension of the financial sector, fiscal implications of the global crisis and macroeconomic fram eworks that are emerging for ensuring overall global financial stability. The forth section raises a very important concern of modern times i. e. reform of global financial architecture comprising of the World Bank, the IMF and the WTO. In this section, Dr Reddy has discussed the recommendations of the UN Commission on the global crisis.He has also analysed the G-20 framework and its future prospects. Finally the book focuses on India's performance and prospects; India's experience in regulating the financial sector; and the need for reform in India's financial sector. The author also compares Indian situation with that of Asia and the global economy in terms of resilience and recovery after the crisis. The last chapter in concluding section draws attention to the exit strategies being considered at the global as well as national level by the authorities to revert back to normality.Take Away from the Book As the book is entitled â€Å"Global Crisis, Recession and Uneven Recoveryâ⠂¬ , the biggest take away after reading of the book would be a clear and better understanding of these three terms viz. (1) Global Crisis, (2) Recession and (3) Uneven Recovery. I personally would like to share my understanding of these three aspects in greater detail with the help of excerpts from the book in the following points: Global Crisis: Reasons, Consequences and Lessons Learnt Several reasons have been cited for the recent crisis viz. ailure of state, market, governance, intellect and morality. Dr Reddy writes, â€Å"The current global crisis originated in multiple causes that reinforced each other. Extensive excesses on several fronts, which occurred in a synchronised fashion, precipitated the crisis. These excesses were observed in liquidity, macroeconomic imbalances, focus on inflation, inequalities, financialisation, leverage, risk-taking, deregulation, financial innovation, networking, greed, globalisation and concentration. 1 While discussing the moral aspect of g lobal crisis, Dr Reddy writes, â€Å"†¦ the large sections of society favoured individualism, narrowly emphasising value for money as consumers and returns on money as investors over other aspects of social behaviour, such as being good citizen or extending corporate loyalty to the institution. †2 Dr Reddy discusses the race to bottom in regulation of financial sector as one of the most crucial reason for the global financial crisis.He writes, â€Å"†¦the excesses in financial sector occurred under a benign public policy that believed the costs of regulation to be greater than its benefits†¦ Even the existing regulation was stymied by excessive innovations in finance that aimed to avoid the prescribed regulatory capital, and injected complexity to undermine the rules of transparency prescribed by regulators. †3 As far as consequences of the crisis are concerned, Dr Reddy is of the view that the current crisis will result in rebalancing of ideological, in stitutional and operational functioning of states and 1 2Page 46, Chapter 3 Page 43, Chapter 2 3 Page 59, Chapter 4 markets. He writes, â€Å"â€Å"In recent years, there has been an almost irrefutable presumption in favour of markets and this may be replaced with a refutable presumption in favour of the markets. †4 As a result of the crisis, the irrefutable support for unfettered markets stands discredited and so also the belief that the growth of the financial sector leads to economic development. Also, the crisis has added to the objectives of central banks an additional responsibility i. e. inancial stability. The RBI has also taken it to its objectives alongwith growth and price stability. The author calls for redefining the core banking and recommends treatment of commercial banking as a public utility. He writes, â€Å"†¦universal banking will be de-emphasised and narrow banking, in the sense of banks concentrating on core commercial banking or deposits and lend ing will be emphasised†¦ In brief, commercial banking is likely to be closer to a public utility than before, and hence subject to regulations akin to public utilities. 5 He further stresses, â€Å"It should be recognised that there will be no banks if there are no depositors. †6 As regards lessons from the crisis, Dr Reddy suggests that â€Å"†¦improving transparency and regulatory oversight of hedge funds, credit rating agencies and over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives should become a priority in the light of the experience from the crisis. †7 Interestingly, the author suggests in the light of observations of the Warwick Commission Report that the scope for and desirability of an ‘unlevelled’ playing field as an instrument of financial sector regulation ought to be explored. As a thinker and an oracle who sees the future of financial sector with great precision, he writes, â€Å"†¦the crisis is global; actions are national; benefits could b e selective or universal; but burdens in the future may have to be largely borne by the masses who bear no responsibility for the crisis, and those who did not benefit materially from the events that led the crisis. †9 Recession In Chapter 6, the author discusses the Great Recession of 2009 in detail and thereafter as per the demand of the subject.He clarifies the concepts of depression, recession and slowdown. A slowdown is a clear fall in the growth of an economy. It is usually a short-term phenomenon lasting say a quarter or a year. The author defines slowdown as a drop in the growth rate by one percentage point. To him, recession refers to a sustained decline in the overall economic activity for a period of more than one year. Depression lasts longer than recession and refers to a longer and larger decline in business activity, mainly reflected in huge drop in output and unemployment. 4 5Page 28, Chapter 1 Page 78, Chapter 5 6 Page 217, Chapter 14 7 Page 172, Chapter 12 8 Page 157, Chapter 10 9 Page 63, Chapter 4 Uneven Recovery If the Great Recession was uneven, so is the recovery. 10 Dr Reddy discusses several responses to the crisis at different points in several chapters. He writes in Chapter 4, â€Å"Initially, the response of monetary authorities, followed by fiscal measures, was confined to the US, UK, Switzerland, other European countries, and Japan, but it was soon realised that it was necessary to involve other countries as well in globally coordinated actions. The author has discussed five possible patterns that could be followed by the countries in their course of recovery. The highly resilient economies may observe rapid recovery from the crisis while less resilient economies would require a longer time to adjust to the new realities and ensure real recovery. Some economies may suffer from double dip recession before complete recovery while some other countries may prefer taking structural measures over a prolonged period thereby opting for a slow but positive recovery after recession.Some countries may register a low level of economic activity for a prolonged period and therefore suffer from recession for a much longer period than the rest of the world. Critique of the Book I consider myself too small to write a critique of the book written by Y. V. Reddy; however, as a reader of global crisis literature I have observed a few points which I will share with the readers of this book review.This book being written by a Central Banker is largely concerned with central bank’s role in dealing with such crisis and redefining of the role of central banks in the wake of need for financial stability. In this pursuit, the role of government in dealing with such crisis has been ignored to some extent. Similarly, the book was published in the year 2011 when a number of countries in Europe were facing sovereign debt crisis however, only a passing reference is made to such an important global event which has pushed many countries in double dip recession.Apart from this, the book is worth reading by all economics lovers and also all policy makers as it gives a deeper insight into the global crisis, recession and recovery. To sum up, I would prefer to quote Sir Howard Davies, Director London School of Economics who applauds the book in the following words, â€Å"Dr Reddy’s (book) fills an important gap†¦ He has lived at the heart of financial system and understands its strengths and weaknesses†¦ His analysis of the problems of the global financial architecture is particularly acute. † 10 Page 93, Chapter 6

Hernando Cortez - Spanish Conquistador

Hernando Cortez - Spanish Conquistador Hernando Cortez was born in 1485 into a poor noble family and was educated at the University of Salamanca. He was an able and ambitious student that focused on a military career. With the stories of Christopher Columbus and the land across the Atlantic Ocean he became enamored with the idea of traveling to the territories of Spain in the new world. Cortez spent the next few years working as a minor legal official in Hispaniola before joining Diego Velazquezs expedition to conquer Cuba. Conquering Cuba In 1511 Velazquez’s conquered Cuba and was made governor of the island. Hernando Cortez was a capable officer and distinguished himself during the campaign. His efforts placed him in a favorable position with Velazquez and the governor made him clerk of the treasury. Cortez continued to distinguish himself and became a secretary to Governor Velazquez. During the next few years, he also became a capable administrator in his own right with responsibility for the second largest settlement on the island, the garrison town of Santiago. Expedition to Mexico In 1518, Governor Velazquez decided to give Hernando the coveted position of commander of the third expedition to Mexico. His charter gave him the authority to explore and secure the interior of Mexico for later colonization. However, the relationship between Cortez and Velazquez had chilled over a preceding couple of years. This was the result of the very common jealousy that existed between conquistadors in the new world. As ambitious men, they were continually jockeying for position and were concerned with anyone becoming a potential rival. Despite marrying the sister-in-law of Governor Velazquez, Catalina Juarez the tension still existed. Interestingly, right before Cortez set sail his charter was revoked by Governor Velazquez. Cortez ignored the communication and left on the expedition anyway. Hernando Cortez used his skills as a diplomat to gain native allies and his military leadership to secure a foothold at Veracruz. He made this new town his base of operations. In a severe tactic to motivate his men, he burned the ships making it impossible for them to return to Hispaniola or Cuba. Cortez continued to use a combination of force and diplomacy to work his way toward the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan. In 1519, Hernando Cortez entered the capital city with a mixed force of disgruntled Aztecs and his own men for a meeting with Montezuma II the emperor of the Aztecs. He was received as a guest of the emperor. However, the possible reasons for being received as guest vary wildly. Some have reported that Montezuma II allowed him into the capital to study his weakness with an eye to crushing the Spaniards later. While other reasons given relate to the Aztecs viewing Montezuma as an incarnation of their god Quetzalcoatl. Hernando Cortez, despite entering the city as a guest feared a trap and took Montezuma prisoner and began to rule the kingdom through him. Meanwhile, Governor Velazquez sent another expedition to bring Hernando Cortes back under control. This forced Cortez to leave the capital to defeat this new threat. He was able to defeat the larger Spanish force and force the surviving soldiers to join his cause. While away the Aztec’s rebelled and forced Cortez to recapture the city. Cortez with the use of a bloody campaign and a siege lasting eight months was able to retake the capital. He renamed the capital to Mexico City and installed himself absolute ruler of the new province. Hernando Cortez had become a very powerful man in the new world. News of his accomplishments and power has reached Charles V of Spain. The intrigues of the court began to work against Cortez and Charles V was convinced that his valued conquistador in Mexico might set up his own kingdom. Despite repeated assurances from Cortez, he was eventually forced to return to Spain and plead his case and ensure his loyalty. Hernando Cortez traveled with a valuable horde of treasure as gifts for the king to demonstrate his loyalty. Charles V was suitably impressed and decided that Cortez was indeed a loyal subject. Cortez was not awarded the valuable position of Governor of Mexico. He was actually given lower titles and land in the new world. Cortez returned to his estates outside Mexico City in 1530. Final Years of Hernando Cortez The next years of his life were spent quarreling over rights to explore new lands for the crown and legal troubles related to debts and abuses of power. He spent a significant portion of his own money to finance these expeditions. He explored the Baja peninsula of California and afterward made a second trip to Spain. By this time he had fallen out of favor in Spain again and could barely even gain an audience with the king of Spain. His legal troubles continued to plague him, and he died in Spain in 1547.

Lord of the Flies Analysis Essays

Lord of the Flies Analysis Essays Lord of the Flies Analysis Essay Lord of the Flies Analysis Essay Essay Topic: Lord Of the Flies The novel Lord of the Flies written by William Golding was a very exciting novel. It wasnt the plot that made the novel interesting; it was the personalities of the characters.The genre is science fiction and the mood is very dark and cold.The writing style of William Golding was very interesting.He skipped around often and used words and terms that were hard to understand.The atmosphere showed a lot of confusion and ruthlessness.The novel begins with a plane crash in the pacific and the pilot dies.Children are left with no adults on a deserted island, which causes confusion. Later on in the novel Simon claims he sees a beast which causes fear to the boys.Violence occurs several times throughout the novel. The first incident was when Jack fights Piggy and breaks his glasses.The main theme in the novel is law and order.The boys seem to lose this along with morals because they are isolated from society.The novel ends with a manhunt for Ralph.While resting Ralph runs into a naval officer who rescues them. The main issue in the Lord of the Flies was the rivalry between Ralph and Jack.Ralph matures a great deal throughout the novel.In the beginning he was very immature and then towards the end he realizes the only way to survive is though peace and order.Jack is the main antagonist to Ralph. He has a savage personality and ends up manipulating the boys to following him instead of Ralph.The main characters are Piggy, Simon, Roger, and Sam and Eric. Piggy is a fat, smart, squeamish boy who is very loyal to Ralph.He tries to maintain peace with the boys and hates violence.Unfortunately Roger, who represents pure evil, kills him.Roger has no mercy and entertains himself by killing.He has great pleasure when he kills a pig. Roger is very loyal to Jack; he carries out his orders with pleasure.Simon is the total opposite of Roger.

Drug Trafficking Organizations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Drug Trafficking Organizations - Essay Example A direct consequence of this can be seen as a surge of killing of women associated with drug dealing. It is often known called femicide(Mares, ‘The Rise of Femicide’).The Rising Role of Women in Drug Trafficking has led to ‘femicide’ in areas where drug trafficking is prevalent.The paper discusses why it is an alarming situation and what policy options could be implemented to curb this rising menace. Women are mainly hired by DTO’s only because of increasing restrictions imposed by the government. Hence, they are able to bypass security restrictions due to the widespread belief of women not being involved in such practices, due to their appealing and distracting looks and possibility of diverse ways of hiding narcotics within their bags and clothing. In addition to it, they have also been hired due tothefierce competition between rival DTO’s. However, women have not been consideredasan intrinsic element in the drug dealing industry, they are of ten disposed off, once they fulfill their assigned operations.Moreover, women are alsoassassinatedin order to pressurize the government to succumb to the narcotics industry’s demands. ... Hence, due to their increased association with drug trafficking industry, women killings have drastically increased. In Mexican states, the number of women who were murdered due to it, has tripled from 2005-2009, it has soared from 3.7 to 11.1 per 100,000. (Mares, ‘The Rise of Femicide’) This phenomenon has been prevalent in the U.S, especially in North and Central America.The Central U.S regions that were most affected includesEl Salvador, which currently has the worst femicide record in the world, Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico. Majorly due to drug cartels, in Honduras, for instance, the rate of female assassinations has been increasing four times as that of men (Fox Violence against Women in Mexico, Central America). (BBC, Mexico’s Drug Related violence) The interestin g fact is that these rates have specifically rocketed in the phase when there was a surge in drug dealing activities. Hence, there is a strong correlation between drug dealing and women killings, as also recently pointed out by two Nobel Laureates,Jody Williams (R) and RigobertaMenchu (L),that the drug war has gone against women and thus, has become a war against them ( Fox,‘Violence against Women in Mexico, Central America’). In Mexico, nearly 50,000 have been killed in drug cartel-related violence since 2006. However, it is interesting to note that from 2002 to 2010, femicide in Honduras increased by 257%, the same period, which witnessed doubling of U.S government’s spending on military and police force. Similarly, although laws have been passed to safeguard the legal rights of women in Guatemala and El Salvador and task forces have been formed to specially tackle the problem of femicide, as many as 90% of the assassins are able to evade legal penalties.

Marketing Management of Nike Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Marketing Management of Nike - Essay Example Price Nike has a premium pricing strategy and its products are largely targeted towards the premium customers (Axelby, 2003:89). The company attributes and justifies its pricing strategy by providing high quality products to the customers. The formidable brand image of Nike also acts as a decisive factor in formulating the pricing strategy. Due to the formidable brand image of the product, the customer is quite willing to pay a premium for the products of the company as it has made a distinction for quality across the markets globally. Place Nike has a multi-channel distribution strategy in which the company uses both the direct as well as the indirect channel for distribution. The company ensures a combination of all vertical channels in an attempt to amalgamate them for distribution. The company has a bricks and clicks format that involves selling products through retail outlets (both company owned and multi-brand retailers) as well as through e-commerce websites. However, the indi rect form of distribution is the primary channel of sales considering the fact that it helps in providing more value to consumers. It also gives a tangible touch to the service offering generating competitive advantage (Baiker, 2007:32). Promotions Promotions are the most vital aspect of the marketing mix of Nike as it forms the only channel of communicating with the target market audience. The promotions strategy of Nike involves use of both traditional and online channels for communication. Traditional channels include advertisements on television and print media while online channels involve use of various social networking sites.... According to the research findings, it can, therefore, be said that the era of globalization has not only opened up new vistas for business organizations but has also created a high competition in the business markets with organizations reaching out to every market where opportunities are available. In this regard, ensuring a formidable positioning and a good marketing mix is an essential aspect that is needed to survive in this tough competitive environment. In order to remain sustainable in the market and stay ahead of the competitors, it is very essential to have a product mix that ensures a formidable image of the products or the brand in the minds of the target market segments. It is also very important to analyze the consumer behavior of the target market audience so as to have an idea about the needs and wants of the consumers. This is important as it defines the positioning of the brand which is very critical to the success of the company. The most important duty of the compa ny is to generate highest return to its shareholders that forms the ultimate aim of any organization. In this regard, the company has followed a strategy of expanding rapidly into international markets, and also seeks to formulate strategies such as outsourcing in a manner so as to help reduce cost and generate greater efficiency that can be ultimately generated as profits to be passed on to the shareholders.