Tuesday, August 25, 2020

Definition of Retinitis Pigmentosa essays

Meaning of Retinitis Pigmentosa articles Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) is characterized as a genetic, dynamic degeneration of the neuroepithelium of the retina described around evening time visual deficiency and dynamic withdrawal of the visual field. RP alludes to a gathering of genetic issue that influence the retina's capacity to react to light. It principally influences bar cells, or the photoreceptors liable for night vision and seeing in diminish light. Pole cells moreover represent fringe vision. Cone cells can likewise be influenced as the illness advances. Cone cells are liable for shading vision and seeing RP is a generally uncommon condition. It influences an expected fifty thousand to one hundred thousand people in the United States. Around the world, RP is evaluated to influence 1.5 million individuals. The occurrence of Visual signs start with the breakdown of pole cells. Bars are available inside the outside macula, or focus of the retina. The fringe retina is predominately made out of pole cells. Indications of RP typically show between the ages of 10 and 30. In the first place, night vision diminishes alongside the capacity to conform to diminish lighting. At the point when the pole cells and external cone cells are harrowed, the resulting loss of fringe sight prompts exclusive focus. Pace of movement for RP shifts by singular patient and There is no treatment for RP. With legitimate consideration and diet, the movement of the illness can be eased back or ended. Specialists are researching methods of treatment and treatment to potentially switch the degeneration and reestablish patients' sight. How Retinitis Pigmentosa is analyzed. Specialists utilize a standard exhibit of tests when a patient is showing side effects of Retinitis Pigmentosa.[iii] These tests are utilized to decide loss of vision and to follow the movement of the condition. An electroretinagram (ERG) gauges the reaction of the retina to a light improvement. Cathodes are set be... <!

Saturday, August 22, 2020

Humanists and Reformers Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Humanists and Reformers - Essay Example Another comparability that developed out of the compositions of these four creators is their thought paid to the significance of early scriptural contents. It has been discovered that the two humanists and reformists utilized before Greek and Latin books of scriptures as a wellspring of downplaying the early precepts of Jesus Christ and endeavored to declare the lessons of prior contents alongside extraordinary consideration paid to expulsion of shameful acts and degenerate individuals from higher church of Christianity. Another striking likeness is their endeavor of examining the center implications of prior scriptural contents and their reference to the acts of sixteenth century rather than just bringing a change by addressing church’s authority. Different ascribes, for example, references to practices of early church, analysis on educational religious methodology and issues in chapel for example simony, pluralism, bias and lack of education in ministers, additionally show f urther likenesses (â€Å"The Reformations† 4). Reformism has been considered as an extreme result of humanism due these likenesses (Patrick n.d). Where humanists like Erasmus and More are blamed for setting out the establishment of Protestantism, the two orders are regularly found scrutinizing each other because of some significant contrasts. Erasmus’s and More’s works have been discovered all the more persuading for the exclusive class with a comprehension of Latin. Then again, reformists like Luther and Calvin tended to the worries of each social class when it came to chapel and its method of working as a core of society for example authority of religion and society’s common law. Humanists likewise demonstrated their adherence to the higher workplaces of chapel and didn't scrutinize the authority of pope as the pioneer of the congregation and its procedures though reformers thought about just confidence as a wellspring of getting salvation by following book of scriptures. In expansion to that,

Saturday, August 8, 2020

Dads Weekend

Dads Weekend So, Im writing you all today on my 20th birthday. Happy birthday to me! I took a break from dancing to tell you about how my Dads Weekend here at Illinois went. I was lucky enough that both my mom and dad came down to Champaign-Urbana to visit me. I havent seen my parents since Move-In Day back in August, so it was nice being with them. They even brought me a brownie cake with frosting and blue and orange sprinkles. You bet the blue and orange sprinkles were there for a reason! I showed my parents the fraternity I live  in and introduced them to my roommates parents. They loved how clean my fraternity house was and the brotherhood displayed the whole weekend. My fraternity catered in Black Dog BBQ, so we had delicious brisket  and pork too. We also chilled out in my living room to watch  the Fighting Illini football team take on the Ohio State Buckeyes. I heard the game at Memorial Stadium had over 55,000 peopleâ€"what a wonderful display of Illini pride! Its too bad the Illini lost, but they put up a good fight against a  great Ohio State team. Theres nothing like Big Ten sports. It was the making  of a perfect Dads Weekend. Even the weather cooperated! Although slightly chilly, the sun was out, making it comfortable to walk around. Green Street was filled with Illini and their families, which was a pretty cool sight to see. My parents and I went to the bookstore, and my father, who is an Illinois College of Media alumni, bought an Illinois alumni mug. Anyway, Dads Weekend is always a good time. Its a chance for  your parents and loved ones to  come down and see what life as an Illini is like. It was great family bonding time, and I cant wait to be home with them for Thanksgiving next week. Daniel Class of 2018 I’m an Advertising major in the College of Media. I’m from a northwest suburb of Chicago called Buffalo Grove. I chose Illinois because it was the first university in the entire world to offer an Advertising major, which is pretty cool!

Saturday, May 23, 2020

The Worth of Men - 1656 Words

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, â€Å"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy†. In other words, a man is only worth what he fights for during hardship. It is not what man does during times of calm, but what he does during the times that actually matter, or the hardships, that determines his worth. This statement is true as it accurately depicts not only many works of literature, but also real life. Both the play, The Crucible by Arthur Miller and the memoir, Night by Eliezer Wiesel, support the idea that man is only worth his actions in times of crisis or controversy. The Crucible proves the statement as true through the conflicts of John Proctor and Night proves King’s statement as true through the actions of Eliezer Wiesel. The play, The Crucible, shows that the worth of man is only determined by what we choose to do in times of persecution. This is shown through characterization. Characterization is how the author chooses to unravel the character’s personality as the story progresses. The Crucible is a play narrating the Salem Witch Trials in 1692. The story mainly focuses on the evolution of John Proctor, a humble farmer in Salem, Massachusetts during the Witch Trials. In the beginning of the play, Proctor is characterized as a hypocrite hating, yet pragmatic realist. This is ironic because he himself is a hypocrite regarding his â€Å"affair† with Abigail, hisShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Judith Lorber s A World Without Gender 1503 Words   |  7 PagesInappropriately† addresses violence and gender, and how gender is influenced through the way it is perceived in society. The construction of gender comes in polar extremes, with masculine dominant men and feminine subordinate women . Gendered violence is used to control women as a class. It is a systematic tool used by men to reinforce gender norms and patriarchal ideas of masculine superiority and feminine inferiority. It â€Å"terrorizes the collective by victimizing the individual†. Like any dichotomy, it hasRead MoreEssay on Medias Portrayl Of Women620 Words   |  3 Pagessense of self worth. More often than not the media depicts the way people go about their daily life. People look at the media to determine how they should dress, act and in some cases even how they should perform sexually. â€Å"†¦there are the fashion magazines that focus on beauty, attracting and satisfying men, self-improvement, and (occasionally) work and politics. Examples are Vogue (emphasizing fashion and makeup), Cosmopolitan (emphasizing sexuality and relationships with men), and Self (emphasizingRead MoreGender, Contingencies of Self-Worth, and Achievement Goals as Predictors of Academic Cheating in a Controlled Laboratory Setting1010 Words   |  5 PagesTitle: â€Å"Gender, Contingencies of Self-Worth, and Achievement Goals as Predictors of Academic Cheating in a Controlled Laboratory Setting† Study Objective: In this research, experimenters were curious as to see how gender differences related to cheating. Based off this the experimenters further evaluated how competition and virtue played an affect on how little or how much one might cheat. As noted in the title, â€Å"Gender, Contingencies of Self-Worth, and Achievement Goals as Predictors ofRead MoreOf Mice And Men By John Steinbeck1000 Words   |  4 PagesTitle Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck is the story of two migrant workers from 1930 who travel together to find work. George and Lennie have always traveled together, George leading and guiding Lennie as Lennie follows George like a child. When they find a job on a ranch, many of the workers question Lennie’s abilities due to the fact that he does not talk for himself, per George’s orders. Lennie has never been one to remember much, but when George stresses an issue Lennie is sure to rememberRead MoreThe American Association Of University Women1643 Words   |  7 Pagesexperience as men are not getting equal pay, â€Å"The American Association of University Women is releasing a new study that shows when men and women attend the same kind of college, pick the same major and accept the same kind of job, on average, the woman will still earn 82 cents to every dollar that a man earns† (Coleman). This form of inequality dates back for centuries and stems from the common belief that since men provide for women and women take care of the home and children, men therefore areRead MoreThe Wife Of Bath s Tale1490 Words   |  6 PagesIn the Wife of Bath s tale, the main idea we can get is that women want dominance over men (Chaucer 143). Back in Medieval England, I think it would have been a far fetched idea for women to have dominance over men. For most of history, we see women being a submissive partner to a strong and noble man. Dominance over the noble husband would be a fantasy that a wife could only dream of because she knew it would never happen. If you were to fast forward to the 1900’s, a typical household still consistsRead MoreThe American Association Of University Women1643 Words   |  7 Pagesexperience as men are not getting equal pay, â€Å"The American Association of University Women is releasing a new study that shows when men and women attend the same kind of college, pick the same major and accept the same kind of job, on average, the woman will still earn 82 cents to every dollar that a man earns† (Coleman). This form of inequality dates back for centuries and stems from the common belief that since men provide for women and women take care of the home and children, men therefore areRead MoreEssay about The Woman Question: The Oppressed Other Half1692 Words   |  7 Pagesslavery but in the bondage that comes from a lack of education and a dependence on men for their livelihood. Women have been subjected to scrutiny and ostracization, belittling and disparaging comments, and even at times they have been feared by men. Women themselves have even taken on the beliefs that they require a man in their life to be taken care of and have a satisfying life although some women and even some men have seen that the differences between the sexes is purely physical. This oppressionRead MoreTwin Oaks Hospital Case Study1100 Words   |  5 Pagesnursing and secretarial jobs based on comparable worth and that results of the study would be utilized as the basis for any future pay adjustments. As a result of this the staff at Twin Oaks has come to demand similar wage increases, as prior to the wage increase the compensations between the hospitals was very similar. In addition, union organizer had been meeting with employees and handing out flyers that illustrated findings from a comparable worth study. Meetings with union representatives, theRead MoreThe Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano1521 Words   |  7 Pagesof the novel is Equiano’s construction of the idea of the value and worth of the African slaves, as opposed to the view of the African slaves as simply commodities or objects to be purchased and traded. Equiano argues and presses the reader and his audience to recognize that the African slave and the white slave owner are not as different as his audience may believe. In order to proclaim and showcase this idea of the value and worth of African slaves , Equiano uses the Christian religion to develop

Tuesday, May 12, 2020

Essay on Invaluable Skills Critical Thinking - 1059 Words

Critical thinking is an invaluable skill that everyone should strive to achieve the highest level possible. Critical thinking is the ability to reflectively assess a situation while being sensitive to the context and consciously removing personal biases. In my life, critical thinking is applied in many areas. My job consistently presents circumstances that require troubleshooting and it is imperative to think through those situations critically. Logical conclusions are often clouded and difficult to dissect in my workplace because some employees cannot effectively remove their emotions from the equation. There is an innate drive to succeed among my peers and any admission of less than perfect results yield apprehensive and subjective†¦show more content†¦I had three days packed full of back to back training sessions with various coworkers at all levels of the organization. I was charged with coordinating my schedule but was not provided any specific information about ho w long to allot each person. I based the length of my meeting requests on some vague basic information that I had of each person and their current job within the organization. I am sad to say that I completely underestimated one particular employee. Though she had been with the company for a number of years, the employee was fairly new to her current roll and has widely broadcast to others that she will be 70 years old this year and is looking forward to making her retirement announcement. As a detailed examination of the identification of assumptions shows, when going from the theory of critical thinking to the praxis of producing and evaluating arguments, the critical person will inevitably make such commitments from particular perspectives, using particular contexts of meaning. But then she may fail to take notice of relevant ones and may end up using her critical powers in a mercenary way. (Mejà ­a, 2009, p. 351) I made an erroneous assumption based on those two factors, newness to her role and her age. I assumed that she would not have much to offer me in this capacity and only requested a minimal amount of timeShow MoreRelatedReflection Sample Research Paper1001 Words   |  5 Pages ​In the opening chapters of my dissertation, I acknowledge the invaluable contribution of my mentors: my committee chair Jelena Subotic and committee members Charles Hankla and Andrew Wedeman. They became my pedagogical models because of their commitment to their students and to their vocation. In and outside the classroom my mentors advanced my ability to analyze, generate, and express ideas and think independently, which propelled my academic growth. They also created rigorous curriculums, gainedRead MorePractitioner Model versus Practitioner-Model and its Impact on My Professional Development1143 Words   |  5 Pagesscholar, practitioner, scholar-practitioner and practitioner-scholar all are instrumental in my ability to create a plan to becoming a practitioner-scholar. Focusing on the history of psychology, becoming an effective researcher and forming invaluable communication skills laid the groundwork for having a successful career as a practitioner-scholar. Although, I do not feel I am either a scholar practitioner or practitioner scholar yet, my course work at Capella University will prepare me for the journeyRead MoreDown Fall Of The Critical Thinking887 Words   |  4 PagesDown Fall of The Critical Thinking â€Å"Believe what you like, but don t believe everything you read without questioning it† Quoted Pauline Baynes. Living in the world surrounded by billions of people and the information age, the society necessitates people to figure out whether the information is accurate to reason what we know. Everyone has their own view and perspective; each has their own beliefs and understanding of the world around them. This is where critical thinking comes to action. It isRead MoreEssay about Critical Thinking: Strategies in Decision Making1010 Words   |  5 PagesCritical Thinking: Strategies in Decision Making Critical thinking is a process of applying various skills to analyze information. Critical thinking uses rationality to distinguish between emotion and fact. This paper will discuss the definition of critical thinking, and the skills it takes to think critically. It will also provide an example of critical thinking applied to my current working environment. Finally this paper will discuss the importance and benefits of critical thinking inRead MoreThe Downfall Of Critical Thinking921 Words   |  4 PagesDownfall of Critical Thinking â€Å"Believe what you like, but don t believe everything you read without questioning it† quoted Pauline Baynes. Living in the world surrounded by billions of people and the information age, the society necessitates people to figure out whether the information is accurate to reason what we know. Everyone has their own views and perspectives; each has their own beliefs and understanding of the world around them. This is where critical thinking comes into action. It isRead MoreThe Need Of Quality Medical Care932 Words   |  4 Pagesof this great country. Saint Francis University, is addressing this need by providing education to qualified students to enable them to become future leaders. Saint Francis’s addresses this national shortage by advancing students problem solving skills and clinical knowledge, all the while maintaining a focus on serving the community. My core values include servant leadership which means in everything I want to do I want to be serving tho se around me. I have come to the conclusion, the only wayRead MoreTeaching Strategies Used to Promote Active Learning Essay1159 Words   |  5 Pagessegment of the definition by nature an active endeavor is important because it allows the student to develop her critical thinking skills as well as practice her writing techniques. The student can discuss class material in a less formal setting, which can be beneficial in creating more open-ended discussions for the student. As a teacher, promoting various learning styles is critical because one student learn differently than another. It is an important life lesson a student to understand heRead MoreMy Opinion On Critical Thinking942 Words   |  4 PagesCritical thinking is something that we use in our everyday life, although most of us may not realize that we are even doing it. The definition for critical thinking is the â€Å"intellectually disciplined process of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and/or evaluating information gathered from, or generated by, observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or communication, as a guide to belief and action† (Defining). In other words, it is when you take all theRead MoreDesign Of Design Communication And Rhetoric Essay873 Words   |  4 Pagesstress an utmost concern for the lack of education in relation to certain skills that are invaluable in the design field in Architecture Schools in the United States. These skills include, but are not limited to, well-rounded critical thinking, written and oral, and interper sonal communication skills in relation to both design thinking and design process. â€Å"Design Communication and Rhetoric† dwells into detail of why such skills are important, but fails to provide any solution except for a concise censusRead MoreElements Of Being An Online Learner988 Words   |  4 Pagesbasic skills to be a psychologist will never change such as patience and communication skills, although the practice of psychology will evolve with technology. Furthermore skills and attributes needed to be successful in the professional workforce are being guided by our transforming surroundings (Davies, Fidler, Gorbis, 2011). Meanwhile characteristics that were once valuable are changing. Bilisim Teknolojileri suggests the skills to aid success are, communication, media literacy, critical thinking

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Lamb The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal Chapter 12 Free Essays

Chapter 12 Well, by pretending to have an overactive bladder, I’ve managed to sneak enough time in the bathroom to finish reading this Gospel of Matthew. I don’t know who the Matthew is that wrote this, but it certainly wasn’t our Matthew. While our Matthew was a whiz at numbers (as you might expect from a tax collector), he couldn’t write his own name in the sand without making three mistakes. We will write a custom essay sample on Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal Chapter 12 or any similar topic only for you Order Now Whoever wrote this Gospel obviously got the information at least secondhand, maybe thirdhand. I’m not here to criticize, but please, he never mentions me. Not once. I know my protests go against the humility that Joshua taught, but please, I was his best friend. Not to mention the fact that this Matthew (if that really is his name) takes great care in describing Joshua’s genealogy back to King David, but after Joshua is born and the three wise men show up at the stable in Bethlehem, then you don’t hear from Joshua again until he’s thirty. Thirty! As if nothing happened from the manger until John baptized us. Jeez. Anyway, now I know why I was brought back from the dead to write this Gospel. If the rest of this â€Å"New Testament† is anything like the book of Matthew, they need someone to write about Joshua’s life who was actually there: me. I can’t believe I wasn’t even mentioned once. It’s all I can do to keep from asking Raziel what in the hell happened. He probably showed up a hundred years too late to correct this Matthew fellow. Oh my, there’s a frightening thought, edited by the moron angel. I can’t let that happen. And the ending? Where did he get that? I’ll see what this next guy, this Mark, has to say, but I’m not getting my hopes up. The first thing that we noticed about Balthasar’s fortress was that there were no right angles, no angles period, only curves. As we followed the magus through corridors, and from level to level, we never saw so much as a squared-off stair step, instead there were spiral ramps leading from level to level, and although the fortress spread all over the cliff face, no room was more than one doorway away from a window. Once we were above the ground level, there was always light from the windows and the creepy feeling we’d had when we entered quickly passed away. The stone of the walls was more yellow in color than the limestone of Jerusalem, yet it had the same smooth appearance. Overall it gave the impression that you were walking through the polished entrails of some huge living creature. â€Å"Did you build this place, Balthasar?† I asked. â€Å"Oh, no,† he said, without turning around. â€Å"This place was always here, I simply had to remove the stone that occupied it.† â€Å"Oh,† I said, having gained no knowledge whatsoever. We passed no doors, but myriad open archways and round portals which opened into chambers of various shapes and sizes. As we passed one egg-shaped doorway obscured by a curtain of beads Balthasar mumbled, â€Å"The girls stay in there.† â€Å"Girls?† I said. â€Å"Girls?† Joshua said. â€Å"Yes, girls, you ninnies,† Balthasar said. â€Å"Humans much like yourselves, except smarter and better smelling.† Well, I knew that. I mean, we’d seen the two of them, hadn’t we? I knew what girls were. He pressed on until we came to the only other door I had seen since we entered, this one another huge, ironclad monster held closed with three iron bolts as big around as my arm and a heavy brass lock engraved with strange characters. The magus stopped and tilted an ear to the door. His heavy gold earring clinked against one of the bolts. He turned to us and whispered, and for the first time I could clearly see that the magus was very old, despite the strength of his laugh and the spring in his step. â€Å"You may go anywhere you wish while you stay here, but you must never open this door. Xiong zai.† â€Å"Xiong zai,† I repeated to Joshua in case he’d missed it. â€Å"Xiong zai.† He nodded with total lack of understanding. Mankind, I suppose, is designed to run on – to be motivated by – temptation. If progress is a virtue then this is our greatest gift. (For what is curiosity if not intellectual temptation? And what progress is there without curiosity?) On the other hand, can you call such a profound weakness a gift, or is it a design flaw? Is temptation itself at fault for man’s woes, or is it simply the lack of judgment in response to temptation? In other words, who is to blame? Mankind, or a bad designer? Because I can’t help but think that if God had never told Adam and Eve to avoid the fruit of the tree of knowledge, that the human race would still be running around naked, dancing in wonderment and blissfully naming stuff between snacks, naps, and shags. By the same token, if Balthasar had passed that great ironclad door that first day without a word of warning, I might have never given it a second glance, and once again, much trouble could have been avoided. Am I to bl ame for what happened, or is it the author of temptation, God Hisownself? Balthasar led us into a grand chamber with silks festooned from the ceiling and the floor covered with fine carpets and pillows. Wine, fruit, cheese, and bread were laid out on several low tables. â€Å"Rest and refresh,† said Balthasar. â€Å"I’ll be back after I finish my business with Ahmad.† Then he hurried off, leaving us alone. â€Å"So,† I said, â€Å"find out what you need to from this guy, then we can get on the road and on to the next wise man.† â€Å"I’m not sure it’s going to be that quick. In fact, we may be here quite some time. Maybe years.† â€Å"Years? Joshua, we’re in the middle of nowhere, we can’t spend years here.† â€Å"Biff, we grew up in the middle of nowhere. What’s the difference?† â€Å"Girls,† I said. â€Å"What about them?† Joshua asked. â€Å"Don’t start.† We heard laughter rolling down the corridor into the room and shortly it was followed by Balthasar and Ahmad, who threw themselves down among the pillows and began eating the cheeses and fruits that had been set out. â€Å"So,† Balthasar said, â€Å"Ahmad tells me that you tried to save a bandit, and in the process blinded one of his men, without so much as touching him. Very impressive.† Joshua hung his head. â€Å"It was a massacre.† â€Å"Grieve,† Balthasar said, â€Å"but consider also the words of the master Lao-tzu: ‘Weapons are instruments of misfortune. Those who are violent do not die naturally.'† â€Å"Ahmad,† Joshua said, â€Å"what will happen to the guard, the one I†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"He is no good to me anymore,† said Ahmad. â€Å"A shame too, he was the best bowman of the lot. I’ll leave him in Kabul. He’s asked me to give his pay to his wife in Antioch and his other wife in Dunhuang. I suppose he will become a beggar.† â€Å"Who is Lao-tzu?† I asked. â€Å"You will have plenty of time to learn of master Lao-tzu,† said Balthasar. â€Å"Tomorrow I will assign you a tutor to teach you qi, the path of the Dragon’s Breath, but for now, eat and rest.† â€Å"Can you believe a Chinaman can be so black?† laughed Ahmad. â€Å"Have you ever seen such a thing?† â€Å"I wore the leopard skin of the shaman when your father was just a twinkle in the great river of stars, Ahmad. I mastered animal magic before you were old enough to walk, and I had learned all the secrets of the sacred Egyptian magic texts before you could sprout a beard. If immortality is to be found among the wisdom of the Chinese masters, then I shall be Chinese as long as it suits me, no matter the color of my skin or the place of my birth.† I tried to determine Balthasar’s age. From what he was claiming he would have to be very old indeed, as Ahmad was not young himself, yet his movements were spry and as far as I could see he had all of his teeth and they were perfect. There was none of the feeble dotage that I’d seen in our elders at home. â€Å"How do you stay so strong, Balthasar?† I asked. â€Å"Magic.† He grinned. â€Å"There is no magic but that of the Lord,† Joshua said. Balthasar scratched his chin and replied quietly, â€Å"Then presumably none without his consent, eh, Joshua?† Joshua slouched and stared at the floor. Ahmad burst out laughing. â€Å"His magic isn’t so mysterious, boys. Balthasar has eight young concubines to draw the poisons from his old body, that’s how he stays young.† â€Å"Holy moly! Eight?† I was astounded. Aroused. Envious. â€Å"Does that room with the ironclad door have something to do with your magic?† Joshua asked gravely. Balthasar stopped grinning. Ahmad looked from Joshua to the magus and back, bewildered. â€Å"Let me show you to your quarters,† said Balthasar. â€Å"You should wash and rest. Lessons tomorrow. Say good-bye to Ahmad, you’ll not see him again soon.† Our quarters were spacious, bigger than the houses we’d grown up in, with carpets on the floor, chairs made of dark exotic hardwoods carved into the shapes of dragons and lions, and a table that held a pitcher and basin for washing. Each of our rooms held a desk and cabinet full of instruments for painting and writing, and something neither of us had ever seen, a bed. A half-wall divided the space between Joshua’s room and mine, so we were able to lie in the beds and talk before falling asleep, just as we had in the desert. I could tell that Joshua was deeply troubled about something that first night. â€Å"You seem, I don’t know, deeply troubled, Josh.† â€Å"It’s the bandits. Could I have raised them?† â€Å"All of them? I don’t know, could you?† â€Å"I thought about it. I thought that I could make them all walk and breathe again. I thought I could make them live. But I didn’t even try.† â€Å"Why?† â€Å"Because I was afraid they would have killed us and robbed us if I had. It’s what Balthasar said, ‘Those who are violent do not die naturally.'† â€Å"The Torah says, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. They were bandits.† â€Å"But were they bandits always? Would they have been bandits in the years to come?† â€Å"Sure, once a bandit, always a bandit. They take an oath or something. Besides, you didn’t kill them.† â€Å"But I didn’t save them, and I blinded that bowman. That wasn’t right.† â€Å"You were angry.† â€Å"That’s no excuse.† â€Å"What do you mean, that’s no excuse? You’re God’s Son. God wiped out everyone on earth with a flood because he was angry.† â€Å"I’m not sure that’s right.† â€Å"‘Scuse me?† â€Å"We have to go to Kabul. I need to restore that man’s sight if I can.† â€Å"Joshua, this bed is the most comfortable place I’ve ever been. Can we wait to go to Kabul?† â€Å"I suppose.† Joshua was quiet for a long time and I thought that he might have fallen asleep. I didn’t want to sleep, but I didn’t want to talk about dead bandits either. â€Å"Hey Josh?† â€Å"What?† â€Å"What do you think is in that room with the iron door, what did he call it?† â€Å"Xiong zai,† said Josh. â€Å"Yeah, Xiong zai. What do you think that is?† â€Å"I don’t know, Biff. Maybe you should ask your tutor.† Xiong zai means house of doom, in the parlance of feng shui,† said Tiny Feet of the Divine Dance of Joyous Orgasm. She knelt before a low stone table that held an earthenware teapot and cups. She wore a red silk robe trimmed with golden dragons and tied with a black sash. Her hair was black and straight and so long that she had tied it in a knot to keep it from dragging on the floor as she served the tea. Her face was heart-shaped, her skin as smooth as polished alabaster, and if she’d ever been in the sun, the evidence had long since faded. She wore wooden sandals held fast by silk ribbons and her feet, as you might guess from her name, were tiny. It had taken me three days of lessons to get the courage up to ask her about the room. She poured the tea daintily, but without ceremony, as she had each of the previous three days before my lessons. But this time, before she handed it to me, she added to my cup a drop of a potion from a tiny porcelain bottle that hung from a chain around her neck. â€Å"What’s in the bottle, Joy?† I called her Joy. Her full name was too ungainly for conversation, and when I’d tried other diminutives (Tiny Feet, Divine Dance, and Orgasm), she hadn’t responded positively. â€Å"Poison,† Joy said with a smile. The lips of her smile were shy and girlish, but the eyes smiled a thousand years sly. â€Å"Ah,† I said, and I tasted the tea. It was rich and fragrant, just as it had been before, but this time there was a hint of bitterness. â€Å"Biff, can you guess what your lesson is today?† Joy asked. â€Å"I thought you would tell me what’s in that house of doom room.† â€Å"No, that is not the lesson today. Balthasar does not wish you to know what is in that room. Guess again.† My fingers and toes had begun to tingle and I suddenly realized that my scalp had gone numb. â€Å"You’re going to teach me how to make the fire-powder that Balthasar used the day we arrived?† â€Å"No, silly.† Joy’s laugh had the musical sound of a clear stream running over rocks. She pushed me lightly on the chest and I fell over backward, unable to move. â€Å"Today’s lesson is – are you ready?† I grunted. It was all I could do. My mouth was paralyzed. â€Å"Today’s lesson is, if someone puts poison in your tea, don’t drink it.† â€Å"Uh-huh,† I sort of slurred. â€Å"So,† Balthasar said, â€Å"I see that Tiny Feet of the Divine Dance of Joyous Orgasm has revealed what she keeps in the little bottle around her neck.† The magus laughed heartily and leaned back on some cushions. â€Å"Is he dead?† asked Joshua. The girls laid my paralyzed body on some pillows next to Joshua, then propped me up so I could look at Balthasar. Beautiful Gate of Heavenly Moisture Number Six, who I had only just met and didn’t have a nickname for yet, put some drops on my eyes to keep them moist, as I seemed to have lost the ability to blink. â€Å"No,† said Balthasar, â€Å"he’s not dead. He’s just relaxed.† Joshua poked me in the ribs and, of course, I didn’t respond. â€Å"Really relaxed,† he said. Beautiful Gate of Heavenly Moisture Number Six handed Joshua the little vial of eye drops and excused herself. She and the other girls left the room. â€Å"Can he see and hear us?† Joshua asked. â€Å"Oh yes, he’s completely alert.† â€Å"Hey Biff, I’m learning about Chi,† Joshua shouted into my ear. â€Å"It flows all around us. You can’t see it, or hear it, or smell it, but it’s there.† â€Å"You don’t need to shout,† said Balthasar. Which is what I would have said, if I could have said anything. Joshua put some drops in my eyes. â€Å"Sorry.† Then to Balthasar, â€Å"This poison, where did it come from?† â€Å"I studied under a sage in China who had been the emperor’s royal poisoner. He taught me this, and many other of the magics of the five elements.† â€Å"Why would an emperor need a poisoner?† â€Å"A question that only a peasant would ask.† â€Å"An answer that only an ass would give,† said Joshua. Balthasar laughed. â€Å"So be it, child of the star. A question asked in earnest deserves an earnest answer. An emperor has many enemies to dispatch, but more important, he has many enemies who would dispatch him. The sage spent most of his time concocting antidotes.† â€Å"So there’s an antidote to this poison,† Joshua said, poking me in the ribs again. â€Å"In good time. In good time. Have some more wine, Joshua. I wish to discuss with you the three jewels of the Tao. The three jewels of the Tao are compassion, moderation, and humility†¦Ã¢â‚¬  An hour later, four Chinese girls came and picked me up, wiped the floor where I had drooled, and carried me to our quarters. As they passed the great ironclad door I could hear scraping and a voice in my head that said, â€Å"Hey kid, open the door,† but the girls made no notice of it. Back in my room, the girls bathed me and poured some rich broth into me, then put me to bed and closed my eyes. I could hear Joshua enter the room and shuffle around preparing for bed. â€Å"Balthasar says he will have Joy give you the antidote to the poison soon, but first you have a lesson to learn. He says that this is the Chinese way of teaching. Strange, don’t you think?† Had I been able to make a sound, I would have agreed, yes, indeed it was strange. So you know: Balthasar’s concubines were eight in number and their names were: Tiny Feet of the Divine Dance of Joyous Orgasm, Beautiful Gate of Heavenly Moisture Number Six, Temptress of the Golden Light of the Harvest Moon, Delicate Personage of Two Fu Dogs Wrestling Under a Blanket, Feminine Keeper of the Three Tunnels of Excessive Friendliness, Silken Pillows of the Heavenly Softness of Clouds, Pea Pods in Duck Sauce with Crispy Noodle, and Sue. And I found myself wondering, as a man does, about origins and motivations and such – as each of the concubines was more beautiful than the last, regardless of what order you put them in, which was weird – so after several weeks passed, and I could no longer stand the curiosity scratching at my brain like a cat in a basket, I waited until one of the rare occasions when I was alone with Balthasar, and I asked. â€Å"Why Sue?† â€Å"Short for Susanna,† Balthasar said. So there you go. Their full names were somewhat ungainly, and to try to pronounce them in Chinese produced a sound akin to throwing a bag of silverware down a flight of steps (ting, tong, yang, wing, etc.) so Joshua and I called the girls as follows: Joy, Number Six, Two Fu Dogs, Moon, Tunnels, Pillows, Pea Pods, and, of course, Sue, which we couldn’t figure out how to shorten. Except for a group of men who brought supplies from Kabul every two weeks, and while there would do any heavy moving, the eight young women did everything around the fortress. Despite the remoteness and the obvious wealth that the fortress housed, there were no guards. I found that curious. Over the next week Joy tutored me in the characters that I would need to know to read the Book of the Divine Elixirs or the Nine Tripods of the Yellow Emperor, and the Book of Liquid Pearl in Nine Cycles and of the Nine Elixirs of the Divine Immortals. The plan was that once I became conversant in these two ancient texts, I would be able to assist Balthasar in his quest for immortality. That, by the way, was the reason that we were there, the reason that Balthasar had followed the star to Bethlehem at Joshua’s birth, and the reason that he had put Ahmad on notice to look for a Jew seeking the African magus. Balthasar sought immortality, and he believed that Joshua held the key to it. Of course we didn’t know that at the time. My concentration while studying the symbols was particularly acute, helped by the fact that I could not move a muscle. Each morning Two Fu Dogs and Pillows (both named for their voluptuousness, which evidently came with considerable strength) would pull me from bed, squeeze me over the latrine, bathe me, pour some broth into me, then take me to the library and prop me in a chair while Joy lectured on Chinese characters, which she painted with a wet brush on large sheets of slate set on easels. Sometimes the other girls would stay and pose my body into various positions that amused them, and as much as I should have been annoyed by the humiliation, the truth be told, watching Pillows and Two Fu Dogs jiggle in paroxysms of girlish laughter was fast becoming the high point of my paralyzed day. At midday, Joy would take a break while two or more of the other girls squoze me over the latrine, poured more broth into me, and then teased me mercilessly until Joy returned, clapped her hands, and sent them away well scolded. (Joy was the bull-ox concubine of them all, despite her tiny feet.) Sometimes during these breaks, Joshua would leave his own lessons and come to the library to visit. â€Å"Why have you painted him blue?† asked Joshua. â€Å"He looks good blue,† said Pea Pods. Two Fu Dogs and Tunnels stood by with paintbrushes admiring their work. â€Å"Well, he’s not going to be happy with this when he gets the antidote, I can tell you that.† Then to me Joshua said, â€Å"You know, you do sort of look good blue. Biff, I’ve appealed to Joy on your behalf, but she says she doesn’t think you’ve learned your lesson yet. You have learned your lesson though, haven’t you? Stop breathing for a second if the answer is yes.† I did. â€Å"I thought so.† Joshua bent and whispered in my ear. â€Å"It’s about that room behind the iron door. That’s the lesson they want you to learn. I got the feeling that if I asked about it I’d be propped up there next to you.† He stood up. â€Å"I have to go now. The three jewels to learn, don’t you know. I’m on compassion. It’s not as hard as it sounds.† Two days later Joy came to my room in the morning with some tea. She pulled the tiny bottle from inside her dragon robe and held it close in front of my eyes. â€Å"You see the two small corks, a white one on one side of the vessel and a black one on the other? The black one is the poison I gave you. The white one is the antidote. I think you’ve learned your lesson.† I drooled in response, while sincerely hoping she hadn’t mixed up the corks. She tipped the little bottle over a teacup, then poured some tea down my throat, with half of it going down the front of my shirt as well. â€Å"That will take a while to work. You may experience some discomfort as the poison wears off.† Joy dropped the little bottle down into its nest of Chinese cleavage, then kissed me on the forehead and left. If I could, I would have snickered at the blue paint she had on her lips as she walked away. Ha! â€Å"Some discomfort,† she had said. For the better part of ten days I’d had no sensation in my body at all, then suddenly things started to work again. Imagine rolling out of your warm bed in the morning into – oh, I don’t know – a lake of burning oil. â€Å"Jumpin’ Jehoshaphat, Joshua, I’m about to crawl out of my skin here.† We were in our quarters, about an hour after I’d taken the antidote. Balthasar had sent Joshua to find me and bring me to the library, supposedly to see how I was doing. Josh put his hand on my forehead, but instead of the usual calm that accompanied that gesture, it felt as if he’d lain a hot branding iron across my skin. I knocked his hand aside. â€Å"Thanks, but it’s not helping.† â€Å"Maybe a bath,† Joshua suggested. â€Å"Tried it. Jeez, this is driving me mad!† I hopped around in a circle because I didn’t know what else to do. â€Å"Maybe Balthasar has something that can help,† Joshua said. â€Å"Lead on,† I said. â€Å"I can’t just sit here.† We headed off down the corridor, going down several levels on the way to the library. As we descended one of the spiral ramps I grabbed Joshua’s arm. â€Å"Josh, look at this ramp, you notice anything?† He considered the surface and leaned out to look at the sides of the tread. â€Å"No. Should I?† â€Å"How about the walls and ceilings, the floors, you notice anything?† Joshua looked around. â€Å"They’re all solid rock?† â€Å"Yes, but what else? Look hard. Think of the houses we built in Sepphoris. Now do you notice anything?† â€Å"No tool marks?† â€Å"Exactly,† I said. â€Å"I spent a lot of time over the last two weeks staring at walls and ceilings with nothing much else to look at. There’s not the slightest evidence of a chisel, a pick, a hammer, anything. It’s as if these chambers had been carved by the wind over a thousand years, but you know that’s not the case.† â€Å"So what’s your point?† Joshua said. â€Å"My point is that there’s more going on with Balthasar and his girls than he lets on.† â€Å"We should ask them.† â€Å"No, we shouldn’t, Josh. Don’t you get it? We need to find out what’s going on without them knowing that we know.† â€Å"Why?† â€Å"Why? Why? Because the last time I asked a question I was poisoned, that’s why. And I believe that if Balthasar didn’t think you had something that he wants, I’d have never seen the antidote.† â€Å"But I don’t have anything,† said Joshua, honestly. â€Å"You might have something you don’t know you have, but you can’t just go asking what it is. We need to be devious. Tricky. Sneaky.† â€Å"But I’m not good at any of those things.† I put my arm around my friend’s shoulders. â€Å"Not always so great being the Messiah, huh?† How to cite Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal Chapter 12, Essay examples

Saturday, May 2, 2020

Impact of Fluctuating Rate Global Business

Question: Discuss about the Impact of Fluctuating Rate for Global Business. Answer: Introduction Due to the impact of globalization the business has no boundary, it crosses across the border. Moreover, as different countries have their own currencies their and own valuations thus, money exchange across the border play important role in international business (Grimwade, 2000). However, the exchange rates among different currencies do not remain same all the time but it varies time to time by several factors. The fluctuation of different currencies impact on the international business deals and thus, it has been taken as prospective research topic for this research proposal. Background of research The initiation of the international trade had been occurred from ancient age, and then barter method was the process of exchanging goods among the traders. Afterwards, in order to facilitate the business use of currencies begun. However, because of different various factor the exchange rate has been fluctuated in constant basis (International Crude Oil Trade, Year 2013, 2015). The economic performance of country, overall financial and business performance of the country, interest rate parity, inflation rate, and employment rate play significant role in the fluctuation of the currency price in foreign exchange market (Rosenberg, 2003). The fluctuation of FX Rate has significant impact on the business communities, specifically the companies playing in the international market means the exporters and the importers are mainly affected by the FX Rate fluctuations (International Refined Products Trade, Year 2014, 2015). The particular research is on the FX Rate fluctuation and its impact o n the domestic businesses, which plays globally. Problem statement In case of the FX Rate swing in favour of the domestic currency then the rate of the domestic currency will be hiked, and then the exporters have to face severe loss because they got payment in foreign currency but they have to invest domestic currency in order to produce the product materials (Weithers, 2006). Therefore, good performances of the domestic currency fetch losses to the exporters, whereas the importers are benefitted by the good performance of the domestic currency as they have to pay in foreign currencies. On the other hand, in case of domestic currency provides bad performances then the exporters are benefitted and the importers have to face monetary losses. Research aim and objectives The research aim to detect the risks for the business occurs due to the volatility of FX rate. The objectives of the research are; To detect the impact of FX rate on international business. To understand the factors, which are liable for the fluctuation of FX Rate To find out effective remedies so that the impact of currency fluctuations can be minimized. Research questions Q1: Is there any major impact of volatile nature of FX Market on the international market? Q2: What are the key factors of the volatility in the FX market? Q3. How the impact of the volatile FX Market on global organization can be restrained? Hypothesis Hypothesis of the research are as follows: H0: Volatile FX market has direct impact on the business organizations; specially, the organization doing business internationally. H1: Volatile FX market has not any direct impact on the business organizations Literature review The FX rate is prone to be volatile as there are different factors, which influence rate of foreign exchange. Difference in interest rate, difference in inflation, Current account scarcities, Public debt, term for trading along with the political stability and economic performance of the domestic country are the significant variables of FX market (Wystup, 2006). Because of the different variables the performances of the domestic currency in international market use to fluctuate (Ree, Yoon, Park, 2015). Moreover, the fluctuations of the domestic currency in the international market greatly influence the business of the business organization, especially, the organization, which has exposure in the international market. The profitability of the organization hugely varied because of the FX Rate fluctuations. Even for the FX rate fluctuation the organizations have to face severe monetary losses (Ree, Yoon, Park, 2012). The global players more specifically the firm involve in export or i mport business are mainly affected by the FX Rate fluctuations. Variable The key variables that influence the FX rate are, difference interest rate, inflation, interest rate parity, political stability economic performance of domestic nation etc (Grieb, 2013). Operational definitions and measurement The companies doing business internationally must keep an eye on the FX market as the volatility in FX market can impact on the profitability of the business of these organizations (Reiswich Uwe, 2012). Good performances of the domestic currency fetch losses to the exporters, whereas the importers are benefitted by the good performance of the domestic currency (Kliatskova Mikkelsen, 2015). On the other hand, in case of domestic currency provides bad performances then the exporters are benefitted and the importers have to face monetary losses. Research methodology The quantitative research methodology has been applied for the research so that a widespread understanding can be achieved about FX market volatility (Ong Barkbu, 2010). Research process The secondary research help in acquiring the basic ideas and the primary data help in accomplishing the research aim and objectives. Research design Descriptive design has been applied for the research for acquiring deep detail knowledge on the research topic. Data collection tools A survey technique has been applied for collecting the essential data for the research. Data analysis For effective analysis of the data statistical tools, various charts and tables have been used. Dependent and independent variables Dependent variables are the variables than an individual wish to predict, estimate and what is affected when executing the experiment and things that is affected in the experiment. Independent Variable Independent variable is the variable that can be changed and one can control the variables (Rebonato Rebonato, 2004). Conclusion As per the findings of the research process, the conclusion has been made, from the conclusion the necessary understanding about the approval of the hypothesis has been made and the recommendations are also made by the conclusion (Ree, Yoon, Park, 2015). References Grieb, T. (2013). Does FX Volatility Affect the Distributions of Commodity Futures Returns?.International Journal of Financial Research, 4(4). Grimwade, N. (2000).International trade. London: Routledge. International Crude Oil Trade, Year 2013. (2015).World Oil Trade, 37(1), pp.33-42. International Refined Products Trade, Year 2014. (2015).World Oil Trade, 37(1), pp.63-72. Kliatskova, T. and Mikkelsen, U. (2015).Floating with a Load of FX Debt?. [Washington, D.C]: International Monetary Fund, European Department. Ong, L. and Barkbu, B. (2010).FX Swaps. Washington: International Monetary Fund. Rebonato, R. and Rebonato, R. (2004).Volatility and correlation. Chichester, West Sussex, England: J. Wiley. Ree, J., Yoon, K. and Park, H. (2012). FX Funding Risks and Exchange Rate VolatilityKoreas Case.IMF Working Papers, 12(268), p.1. Ree, J., Yoon, K. and Park, H. (2015). FX funding risks and exchange rate volatility.Emerging Markets Review, 25, pp.163-175. Reiswich, D. and Uwe, W. (2012). FX Volatility Smile Construction.Wilmott, 2012(60), pp.58-69. Rosenberg, M. (2003).Exchange-rate determination. New York: McGraw-Hill. Weithers, T. (2006).Foreign exchange. Hoboken, N.J.: John Wiley Sons. Wystup, U. (2006).FX options and structured products. Chichester, England: Wiley.

Sunday, March 22, 2020

Nursing Theory free essay sample

Nursing Theory: Explanation and Relevance to Nursing Practices Katherine Lott Azusa Pacific University Theoretical Foundations for Nursing UNRS 306 Professor Cone May 20, 2009 Merriam Webster defines the word theory as a belief, policy, or procedure proposed or followed as the basis of action. There are various categories of theories accepted and practiced throughout the world and throughout professional practices today. One example of a type of theory is a nursing theory. However, some might not be fully aware of what a nursing theory entails, examples of such, and the relevance of nursing theories. This paper will explain these matters. What is a nursing theory? A nursing theory is an expression that has arose from a philosophical perspective that explains some phenomena. Overall, it is used to describe the accumulation of knowledge that is used to support nursing practice. It incorporates experiments and research to define nursing and nursing practice; furthermore, it gives reason to the accepted principles that form the basis for practice, and goals and functions of nursing (Wesley, 1995). We will write a custom essay sample on Nursing Theory or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page In essence, a nursing theory enables understanding of what, how, and why nurses continue to practice. What is the origin of a nursing theory? Her book titled From Novice to Expert explains Benners view that caring is a necessary component in the theory of skill acquisition. She describes nursing as an enabling condition of connection and concern (Marriner-Tomey, 1989, p. 192) which implies a high level of emotional involvement in the nurse-patient relationship (Benner, 1984). Benner speaks of the power of caring and describes the caring role as involving the concepts of transformative power, integrative caring, advocacy, healing power, participative/affirmative power, and problem solving (Benner, 1984). She takes a stand in her belief that that nursing care is more than the application of mere skill; it is relational and involves the nurses response as a human being, first, and then secondarily, in the nursing role (Benner, 1984). Altogether, Benner was able to develop a nursing theory that involved the holistic care for the patient through an in-depth nurse-client relationship. Through this relationship the needs of the patient are able to be identified and prioritized to provide the best nursing care for that individual. This paper was able to describe what a nursing theory entails and its origin, examples of such, and the relevance of nursing theories. Overall, a nursing theory explains the knowledge that is used to support the nursing practice and there have been nurses throughout history with their own personal views of what nursing meant to them and how they were going to focus their practice. However, no matter what each theory entailed, every theory was able to conceptualize in useful ways and ideas that help make sense of what they do as nurses. Reference Benner, Patricia. (1984). Nursing Theory free essay sample Motivation theories includeAchievement-motivation theory Expectancy theory Equity theory Motivation theories are derived predominantly from the work of:Abraham Maslow (a psychologist) Achievement-motivation theory developed by: Focus: Atkinson, McClelland, and Veroff Aspects of personality characteristics and proposes 3 forms of motivation/needs in work situations (achievement, power, affiliation) Individuals are not as concerned with the rewards of achievement as they are with the actual achievement are:Achievement (high need achievement) Expectancy theory Major concept In 1964 –Vroom decided to add the concept of expectancy, instrumentality valence to motivation Expectancy is defined as Instrumentality describes Valance is In Short, the Expectancy Theory states thatDeveloped by Victor Vroom in 1960s The effect of ability and motivation on performance Performance = ability X motivation Performance = expectancy x instrumentality x valence The association between the action and the outcome of the action (action will lead to achieve goal) The type of outcome derived b/c of an action (achievement of a goal will lead to reward) The value placed on the desirability of the outcome by the employee An individual will act (performance) in a certain manner b/c there is an expectation (motivation) that the act will result in an outcome. We will write a custom essay sample on Nursing Theory or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Equity theory Developed by: This theory attempts to describe: Stacy Adams-a research psychologist The relationship in which an individual give something (input) and in exchange receives something (outcome) Ex: an individual expects that if he/she works hard at a job (input), he/she will receive compensation or recognition (outcome) based on what he/she put in Concepts of power, empowerment, and change Power is The larger concept from which authority is derived Power is defined asInfluence wielded (used) by an individual or group of individuals to change behaviors attitudes and to sway decisions Authority isA formal right based on the manager’s position in the organization. A source of legitimate power 5 bases/sources of powerReward, coercive, legitimate, referent, and expert power Coercive, reward, legitimate power – are considered formal bases of power Referent expert power – are personal bases of power Two other bases of power Informational power vs. charismatic powerInformational power – is the power held by an individual who has the information necessary for others to accomplish a task or goal Charismatic power – is the power that attracts one individual to another Empowerment isThe transfer or delegation of responsibility authority from managers to employees; empowerment is the sharing of power (sharing vision, mission, knowledge, expertise†¦) Change Planned Change Theory Central to Lewin theory A field – Force – have 2 forces (driving force vs. restraining forces) By Kurt Lewin (a German psychologist –if u care!!! ) The concepts of field and force Can be viewed as a system (if one part of the system change, then the whole system must be examined to determine the effect of that change) Driving force – encourages/facilitates movement to a new direction, goal, or outcome Restraining force – (opposite with driving force). Restraining forces block or impede progress toward the goal. Problem-Solving and decision-making processes The Rational Decision-Making ModelInvolves a cognitive process where each step follows in a logical order from the one before. By cognitive, It means -based on thinking through and weighing up the alternatives to come up with the best potential result. Bounded rational decision-making model (Bounded rationality) Means that humans are unable to make entirely rational decision b/c of the limits of human mental abilities and b/c of the influence of external force on decision making. A decision maker is said to exhibit bounded rationality when they consider fewer options than are actually available, or when they choose an option that is not the best overall but is best within the current circumstances. E. g. , someone spills coffee on a shirt in a restaurant, and goes next door and buys a poorly fitting shirt to change into immediately. Obviously it would be optimal to buy a proper fitting shirt. But if the person is in a hurry and cannot wear a wet, coffee stained shirt, then buying the poorly fitting one is appropriate. This is an example of bounded rationality Group Decision Making modelOften used when the decision is complex, such as when a new process or product is being developed. Advantage: the decision made may be higher quality Major errors may be avoided Disadvantage: Take longer to reach decision May lead to compromises that really do not solve the problem Organizational Quantitative Decision-Making Techniques Rely on facts quantitative measures (data based) to make decisions (although intuition judgment still influence the decision making process) Conflict Management Characteristics of a conflict situation: Conflict Mode Model 2 types of response: cooperativeness vs assertiveness Thomas Kilmann (1974) – 5 conflict-handling modes/strategies: Thomas (1976) recommended that the FIRST COURSE of action is to discern (recognize) the other party’s intent in causing the conflict before determining how to respond Cooperativeness – focus on statisfying the other person’s concern Assertiveness – focus on statisfying one’s own concern 1. Competing or forcing – used when the issue is important, needs speedy resolution . Ex. An individual pursues his own concerns at the other persons expense. This is a power-oriented mode in which you use whatever power seems appropriate to win your own position. (Assertive but uncooperative) 2. Accomodation – opposite of competing. When accomodating – the individual neglects his own concerns to stisfy the concerns (assertive and cooperative) 3. Avoidance the person neither pursues his own concerns nor those of the other individual.

Thursday, March 5, 2020

Is a Native Speaker the Best Teacher

Is a Native Speaker the Best Teacher Outline International Corporation has led to assimilation and integration of different cultures into other countries. It is currently normal to find a non-resident working comfortably in a foreign nation. This is motivated by different experiences and skills that may be helpful in a certain organisation.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Is a Native Speaker the Best Teacher? specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More However, one area has not appreciated the services of non-natives. Despite their commendable services in other employment sectors, non-native speakers have not been preferred to teach English language especially to the natives. This is mainly due to their accent that may interfere with the communication skills of the learners. Apart from influence of accent, other qualities possessed by these teachers qualify them to offer commendable services to students. Introduction Teaching languages in institutions is a critica l issue that has been a source of debate on the choice of an English teacher. In selecting a teacher for a particular subject, the administration mainly considers qualifications and experience of the teacher and his or her capability to handle the subject. Other issues like race and cultural background are insignificant matters. However, when it comes to choice of a language teacher, rules are re-examined to determine whether the teacher is a native speaker or not. Employing a native speaker is a rule applied in many schools whenever they want to recruit an English teacher. Apart from the necessary academic qualifications, school administration will want to know who among the applicants is a native speaker, and who is not. From there the non-native speakers are eliminated even if their academic qualifications are better than those of the native applicants.Advertising Looking for essay on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More According to, Phan (2008 pp 24-26), these applicants are not given a chance to express their ability; ‘it is assumed that because of their mother tongues influence they will not be able to deliver quality services to students’ A non-native speaker being denied an opportunity does not only involve the school administration, some administrations who have allowed non-native teachers to handle language classes have received negative response from students who prefer to be taught by a native speaker. Such an attitude is planted in their minds and they feel that a non-native teacher may not understand their language needs. Some of these students are not ready to listen to the teacher not because of the quality of his or her services but simply because he is non-native speaker. The discussion below is a critical analysis of both the advantages and disadvantages of a native and non-native language teacher. Native teacher advantages disadvantages Schools and studen ts may prefer a native teacher because he has a deep understanding of the language. Compared to the non-natives who had to learn the language at later stage, a native teacher is used to the language because they have been learning it since they were borne. Ellis (2002 pp 75-78) enumerates that being native also gives a teacher an advantage of knowing students’ weak areas when learning a language. They will integrate what they went through as they grew up learning the language and the acquired skills about the language that puts them in a better position to handle the real learning issues of their students. Native teachers are not affected by the accent. Accent is an important aspect of communication that no parent, school or student will desire to compromise. A native teacher will ensure that his or her students are identified by their accent.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Is a Native Speaker the Best Teacher? specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More A non-native is likely to interfere with it through the pronunciation of words for example; an Italian can easily be distinguished from an American by their accent. A native teacher provides a conducive learning environment for the students who look at him or her as a person they can easily identify with which gives them confidence. A native teacher will be able to handle a beginner’s class by giving necessary translations to pupils who may not be familiar with some difficult words. Despite the preferences of a native teacher above, he or she may not always be the best choice for the students due to some reasons. A native teacher takes many things that students are supposed to be taught for granted. This is because; he or she has mastered the language so much, that it may not be easy to deliver the best services to the students. Some native teachers who are preferred because of their background may not necessarily have teaching skills. The re is a difference between written and spoken English that consideration when teaching. A native teacher may be eloquent yet weak when it comes to the written language. Native teachers may rely on their experience of speaking the language to teach students rather than using their technical skills. This makes it hard for the students to learn the basic rules of the language that form its foundation. Non-native advantages disadvantages Despite the discrimination that has existed for long against a non-native teacher, he or she is a choice that should be given priority. First, a non-native teacher who has interest in a foreign language reveals how much passion he has for it that he decided to pursue it as a career.Advertising Looking for essay on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More His career is not primarily based on earning a living but also on passion. He will therefore deliver the best services as he encourages the students to love the language passionately. A non-native teacher has a better understanding of the challenges that learners of a language go through due to similar experience he has had, Llurda, (2006 pp 22-25). Therefore, non-native teacher understands the real areas that learners will face difficulty and help them accordingly. Despite their challenges in accent, non-native teachers are endowed with basic skills required for learning and teaching the language that places them in a better position to teach it effectively. Students who have difficulty in grasping the language can always be inspired and motivated by their non-native teacher. He will be an example they can look up to and get assurance that if he made it despite his or her background they can also make it. However, a non-native teacher may not be able to deliver quality services to the students due to a number of weaknesses. His accent may affect the spoken language of students that may make them to loose their identity. For instance, there is a difference between German and American English. If a pupil of American origin interacts so much with a German English teacher, the pupil will tend to acquire such an accent that may make other people mistake him to be a German. Non-native teachers have a direct influence on the cultural beliefs of the students, in citing examples for sentence construction; a teacher of German origin will site examples as per his background. This is because of the integration of cultural aspect to the learning process that may make the students learn more of a foreign culture than their own. A non-native teacher may not be preferred for a beginner’s class because; he or she may not be able to translate some English words to the native language for proper understanding. Most students hold a certain negative attitude towards non-na tive teachers. Such students may not be convinced that he or she is qualified to teach them properly. Non-native teachers are at times discriminated because of their background, for instance some African Americans may be despised because of their skin colour. This may intimidate them hence affect the quality of their services to students. Argument for non-native superiority When a line is drawn between the qualities of a language teacher, it is clear that a non-native teacher is simply discriminated on attitude ground. A non-native teacher has the skills, knowledge, experience and passion for the language. When all this attributes are combined together and appreciated in schools, the students are able to get the best learning services of a language, Ellis (2002 pp 93-97). Most schools are afraid of employing non-native teachers because of the response the students will have against them. This small issue can be solved by the school administration. Denying the teacher chance to teach in a school due to resistance from the students is a factor that has contributed to such discrimination. It shows the inability of an administration to take control of school affairs and instead giving students such authority. This also shows their weakness in administration by suggesting that they made a wrong choice in their selection procedure. The school administration should not entertain such resistance of a non-native teacher from their students. Once the teacher has been gauged for quality, students have to be assured that he or she is the best choice that will deliver quality-teaching services. Most students will resist them because the administration has not given them an assurance of his qualifications. It is the role of the administration to clear such kind of attitudes among students by encouraging them to value a teacher according to his capability. Despite their background, non-native teachers are trained and qualified to teach English as their second language, in fa ct most of them have passed through reputable institutions that offer quality skills in the teaching profession. Denying them the chance to teach due to their background is a suggestion that the teaching skills they acquired did not amount to anything. Gass (2001 pp 20-25) describes a non-native speaker as a person that understands the difficulty of learning a second language yet appreciated it by facing the challenges that came with it. It is therefore clear that a non-native appreciates a language more than the natives who may take it for granted. This will also reflect on the attitude they will display when teaching it. A non-native speaker is eager to know more about a language. He or she will therefore not only rely on the skills acquired during training but also have a desire to explore and find out more about certain language commands. The extra knowledge they acquire will be transmitted to their students. Such privileges may not be granted to students who are taught by nativ e teachers who rely on what they have previously acquired. It is important for school administrators to understand that there was nobody who was born to teach a language, professionalism is acquired through the skills that have been acquired through education. A person being born a native does not guarantee them quality teaching skills because; it is the technical knowledge received in their education system that qualifies them for the profession. Experiences of learning a second language Learning English as a second language has never been an easy task. The experiences that one may go through in their efforts to be fluent in it are challenging. Most people who had a passion for foreign language gave up on their way because they could not handle the challenges. Those who managed to pursue it further like non-native speakers were inspired by the passion they had for it. They went through challenges of grasping the very first common words like greetings to complex stages where they ha d to learn vocabularies, Ellis (2002 pp 88-90). Non-native speakers have a clear understanding of their second language more than their first one. They not only had to learn the words one by one but also had to practice and express themselves in an accent that is foreign to them. The most challenging part of it is that they are not only supposed to verbally communicate the language but also know how to express it in writing. Spoken language may be easier to learn when such an association is maintained but the skills of writing it require a lot of dedication and commitment on the part of the learner. The challenges that learners may face especially when they have to communicate in the language with native speakers may be unbearable to them. It takes courage for one to fumble with words in order to construct a sentence. Such experiences that non-natives go through makes them appreciate the language even more. As they pursue a teaching career in English as their second language, they d o so with the knowledge of the difficulties that a learner may face. They will integrate those challenges with teaching skills they acquired to give students the best, Rubdy (2006 pp33-36). If students and school administrators knew what such teachers went through and still purposed to pursue the subject to such a level, then they would understand how much experience they have in a language they are not connected to because of their background. Conclusion The above analysis shows a different form of discrimination practiced in the education sector. It was a trend practiced and not seen as a big issue in the past. However, in the recent years, choice of a language teacher has been a debated topic where most people doubt the effectiveness of a non-native teacher. With a clear analysis of the subject, it is realized that it is simply an attitude in the mind of school administrators and students that causes such a resistance. It may be caused by variety of applicants that school adminis trators receive for an advertised English language position. They use it as a first elimination procedure when short listings applicants who are supposed to be interviewed. Considering the other hidden qualities of non-native teacher, it is clear that they will produce comparatively higher results for the students than non-native ones. Most schools will also give preference to citizens in their appointments. This is usually because of the assumption that if they do not employ their own people then nobody will employ them. However, this is an attitude of the past that should no longer be a basis of employing people. Ellis (2002 pp 99-102) Liberalisation and Multinational Corporation encourages the free interaction of all nationalities. Different ideas can only be shared when such people as non-natives are allowed to teach English language to the natives. References Ellis, L 2002, ‘Teaching from Experience: A New Perspective on the Non-Native Teacher in Adult ESL Australian†™, Review of Applied Linguistics, vol. 25, no. 1, pp71 – 107 Gass, SM Selinker, L 2001, Second Language Acquisition, Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, London. Llurda, E 2006, Non-Native Language Teachers: Perceptions, Challenges and Contributions to the Profession, Springer, New York. Phan, LH 2008, Teaching English as an International Language, Multilingual Matters, Bristol. Rubdy, R 2006, English in the World: Global Roles, Global Rules, Continuum International Publishing Group, London.

Tuesday, February 18, 2020

Most Beautiful Day Personal Statement Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Most Beautiful Day - Personal Statement Example My friend who was driving at this time has become quieter and the drive was going really smooth. We pulled off the road to re-fuel and after we left the gas station got a "low battery" sign on the dashboard light up. The vehicle also warned that we turn off all the electronics as soon as possible. We decided to do it right away only to be warned again with a "turn engine off immediately" message on the vehicle's computer. It was really dark outside at that point and we were scared some car would think our car is moving and would hit it, and we would be hit as well. By the time we crossed the highway to stop the car on the side, and run outside the car baffled and confused there was already heavy smoke coming from the car. We ran away from the car fearing it was about to explode at anytime. We only stopped at a road construction site where we could be safe from all the trucks and cars going at 100/150 km/h just 5 meters from us. We did not know what to do or exactly where we were. Since we had a French cell phone we could not call SOS in Italy. Survival time on a highway is estimated to be about 12 minutes, and we had been there for 40 minutes when finally we saw someone to come noticed us and slowed down. We arrived in Geneva at 2 am (had left Monaco at 5pm).

Monday, February 3, 2020

Handwashing techniques Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Handwashing techniques - Essay Example coli and samples taken of the bacteria count on their fingers. Both hands were involved in the experiment. Next, half the participants (three in number) were asked to disinfect their hands using only soap and water while the other half were asked to do so with the NHS standard handwash – alcohol and chlorhexidine in 1:10 dilution. Samples were taken of the fingers after disinfecting. Samples were sustained for 24 hours after which the bacteria counts were taken. It was found that for all participants, both for normal and NHS standard handwash, there was reduction in the bacteria counts post-disinfect over pre-disinfect but the normal handwash – only soap and water – porved more efficacious than the NHS standard one. It is construed that since there is no established literature on the matter there is need to further investigate if the NHS recommended handwashing technique is superior to normal ones. As this report shows, it does seem like the normal handwashing te chniques proves superior to the NHS standard. This paper investigates the efficiencies of normal handwashing techniques against that recommended by the National Health Service (NHS) UK. It should be known that handwashing is a very essential part of not only the healthcare profession but also all other professionals that somehow deal with toxic and virulent substances and organisms whenever there is possibility of such malignant materials coming into contact with the hands. Since it is the hands that humans primarily use to connect with outside materials it is these appendages that have to be thoroughly cleansed to negate the possibility of the toxicity or virulence being transmitted to other human individuals who may later come into contact with the concerned individual. This is not only for the safety of the human community within which the individual coming into initial contact with such toxicity or virulence but also of the

Sunday, January 26, 2020

Analysis Of Hampton Machine Tool Company Financing Finance Essay

Analysis Of Hampton Machine Tool Company Financing Finance Essay Introduction: Hampton Machine Tool Company, a machine tool manufacturer, was founded in 1915. Until 1979, the company had successfully forecasted the severe cyclical fluctuations characteristic of the industry. The companys primary customer base included the aircraft and automobile manufacturers in the St. Louis area. During the mid to late 1960s, Hampton was very profitable due to a strong automobile market, and, to the heavy defense spending associated with the Vietnam War. However, in the mid-1970s, Hamptons profitability slowed down with the United States withdrawal from Vietnam War and the oil embargo. By the late 1970s, they had a larger share in the market due to their competitors who were unable to make it through these difficult times, while Hampton managed to stabilize. Case Background: Ten years prior to December, 1978, the company had no debt because it had conservative financial policies, which maintained a strong working capital position as a buffer against economic uncertainty. In December,1978, Hampton requested a $1 million loan from the St. Louis National Bank. The loans terms were a monthly interest payment at a rate of 1.5%, with the principal to be paid back at the end of September, 1979. Now (September of 1979), Benjamin G. Cowins, president of Hampton, has asked to renew the initial loan until end of 1979, and, has requested an additional loan of $350,000 with promise of repayment at the end of December, 1979 with an interest rate of 1.5% per month. This additional loan is required for an update of their machinery which hasnt been done since the economy went into a recession in the early 1970s. For the last several months, Hamptons shipment schedule has been upset because they have had to wait for parts from their suppliers. On August 31, the accumulation of seven machines cost about $1,320,000, in addition to the installation cost for these parts. They received the parts last week, and will be able to complete a number of machines within next few weeks. The reduction in work in progress of about $1,320,000 is due to not receiving the electronic control mechanisms on time. However, the remainder of their work in progress inventories will probably remain steady for the foreseeable future because of their capacity rate of production. In July and August, Hampton bought raw materials beyond their immediate needs to be assured of completing their order schedule to be shipped by the end of the year. Therefore, they currently have accumulated about $420,000 worth of scarcer components above their normal raw materials inventories. They estimate it will be used by the end of the year. Because they bought ahead this way, they expect to cut raw material purchases to about $600,000 a month in each of the four remaining months of 1979. The companys revised shipment estimates are: September, $2,163,000; October, $1,505,000; November $1,604,000; December, $2,265,000. The shipment estimates include a $2,100,000 order for the General Aircraft Corporation. Hampton is now scheduled to ship against this order as follows: September, $840,000; October, $840,000; November, $420,000. Because General Aircraft gave Hampton an advance payment of $1,566,000 on this order, the company will be due nothing on these shipments until their $1,566,000 credit with Hampton is exhausted. Hamptons assuming accruals will remain about the same on August 31, and their monthly outlay for all expenses other than interest and raw materials purchases should be around $400,000 per month. Due to poor economic conditions and the companys desire to conserve cash; they have spent little on new equipment in the last several years, 1979. This has contributed somewhat to the difficulties they have had in maintaining production at full capacity this year. As a result, Hampton has requested an additional $350,000 loan at an interest rate of 1.5% monthly, with promise of repayment at the end of December, 1979. This loan is necessary to purchase certain needed equipment to maintain the production. The tax people estimated the equipment will qualify for a 10% investment tax credit. The company is scheduled to pay $181,000 in taxes on September 15 and December 15. Also, Mr. Cowins has suggested paying $150,000 dividends to stockholders in December. Analysis: The Hampton Machine Tool Company is facing problems in paying its $1 million loan and requesting for a new loan from the St. Louis National Bank. By following Mr. Cowins plan, the company will be short $332,000 (Exhibit 1) in December. Hampton, a profitable firm, has fallen behind on their orders, and Mr. Cowins recommends that they need more financing to purchase certain needed equipment. Hampton has notified the St. Louis National Bank that they will not be able to repay in September. Also, they have requested an extension. For the past month or more, Hampton has been operating at full capacity, and with additional back orders, which has put them behind in their shipment of orders. In addition, their shipment schedule has been upset because they have been waiting for electronic control mechanisms from their suppliers. The falling behind has also caused them to have less than what is needed for accounts receivables turnover. The cash budgets and statement of sources and uses yield negative results concerning the principal payment of the loan for December (Exhibit 1), based on Mr. Cowins plan. This analysis is based on projected sales, dividend payments and tax payments. Consequently, the sales projects and accounts receivables are 30 days net; if not paid on time, then this could change the results significantly by putting the company in more of a financial bind. Based on my forecasts it seems that Mr. Cowins is incorrect about being able to repay the loan in December, but Hampton should be able to repay in January with more precise planning. Hampton used the initial loan plus $2 million in excess cash to repurchase a substantial fraction of its outstanding common stock, because it had decreased sufficiently in value. Although they had good intentions to increase the companys stock value, their finances have suffered because of the repurchase. Mr. Cowins offer to pay $150,000 in dividends in December is not reasonable, because Hamptons finances will suffer, causing them to have negative cash flows. (Exhibit 1) Recommendation: It is obvious that Hampton cannot afford to repay the loan in December, if they proceed with their original plans. The company will have a negative cash flow in December according to Exhibit 1. They should request a one-month extension on the loan, as they cannot afford to make a loan payment in December. Extending the loan repayment one month until January allows for account receivables of December to become collected, because of the company collection policy of 30 days net. This means Hampton will not have to go into the negative to pay the loan in December, keeping cash flow at an expectable level which is $1,168.50. (Exhibit 2) Hampton cannot afford to make a dividend payment in December, regardless of their willingness to do so. Canceling the dividend payment will free up $150,000 in December, keeping the net cash flow in the positive (Exhibit 2), which compensates for the $350,000 loan payment. This also helps keep the net cash flow positive in December, as well as waiting for accounts receivables of $2,265,000 to come in January for the final payment. This makes the company profitable for the future, and, in turn, the stock will not become valueless. Conclusion: My recommendation for Hampton Machine Tool Company is they should request a one month extension on the loan, and cancel the dividend payment to make the company more profitable. Also, this would strengthen Hamptons relationship with the bank by paying off both loans. Based on the forecasted cash budget, Mr. Jerry Eckwood, vice-president of the St. Louis National Bank, should reject the $350,000 loan request based on the current terms proposed by Hampton Machine Tool Company. According to Exhibit 1, there is an inability to repay the initial loan. The numbers fall short of being able to repay the original loan in December without even considering the requested loan. However, with the proper financial adjustments, both loans can be fully repaid by January. For relationship reasons, Mr. Eckwood may want to grant the loan, as long as the terms are reworked to help guarantee, that the bank will get paid. The extension of the loan and cancelation dividends will leave Hampton in a manageable situation, allowing them to continue to be a profitable customer of the bank. The St. Louis National Bank should bring up the solutions that I mentioned above, but Mr. Eckwood will want to make sure that the bank puts Hampton on a repayment plan, so, that in the nea r future they can expect to collect the principal of the outstanding loans. If I was the St. Louis National Bank, I would have to reject the loan on the current terms proposed by Mr. Cowins, because the Hampton Machine Tool Company shows an inability to repay the loan, based on the numbers they have forecast.

Saturday, January 18, 2020

Travel and tourism

Student Name: Cheryl Facial Define Tourism: Tourism is when someone travels within their own country or to another country such as Spain, weather it is for leisure or business reason and for all other purposes. Types of Tourism Description: Example: Describe Domestic: A domestic holiday Is where someone who lives In the UK travel to another part of the LIKE. An elderly couple who lives Bradford goes on a two week holiday to Scarborough. Describe Outbound: An outbound holiday is when someone who travel out of the UK to a different entry.A group of friends from Liverpool goes on holiday to Pizza to have fun. Describe Inbound: An inbound holiday is when someone who live in a different country that comes to the I-J. A Chinese doctor travel to London for a medical convention. VISITOR TYPE Identify Tourism type (domestic/inbound/outbound. When someone goes on holiday to relax and have fun. A family of five goes to Disneyland Paris. This is an outbound holiday. When someone stays in they ow n country or goes to another country for a business eating.A business woman from London travel to Paris for meeting This Is an outbound holiday. 1 OFF When someone travels to visit family and friends. A girl from Bradford goes to London to visit her auntie. This is a domestic holiday. EDUCATION When a group of school student goes on an educational trip. To Normandy for a history trip. SPORT Year ten student goes When someone goes to a sporting event trip such as football. A football fan from Spain come to the I-J to watch the final of the champion league This is an inbound holiday.

Friday, January 10, 2020

Outline the Nature of Supermarkets Power on the High Street and Beyond Essay

Outline The Nature of Supermarkets Power On The High Street and Beyond. This essay is looking at the power of supermarkets and how they use this power. The word power is often used to â€Å"denote influence, control or domination† (Allen, 2009, p. 9) Supermarkets use this power over suppliers, workers, Councils, consumers and other shops and there are conflicting views as to whether this power is used for the good of everyone or at the expense of everyone other than the supermarkets themselves or as Dennis Wrong (1977) calls it Positive Sum Game- â€Å"where all parties involved benefit to some extent† or Zero Sum Game- â€Å"where supermarkets wield their power at the expense of others† (Allen, 2009, p. 70) Supermarkets due to their sheer size and buying power have a huge advantage over the small independent high street shops. They offer a massive choice of products at a low price because they are able to buy in large quantities at discounted prices, sometimes even below cost price. These out of town supermarkets have convenient parking and consumers are able to do all their shopping in one place, from food, clothing, electrical equipment, financial services, gas and electricity etc†¦ This all makes shopping in these retail parks easier and cheaper for the consumer and the smaller independent high street shops are unable to match these prices, choices and convenience and are therefore unable to compete against the giants. As we’ve seen a move towards more out-of-town, car-dependent stores with large-format retail dominating, its driven trade away from town centres which has clearly had an impact on the small shops that are there, and we see approximately fifty small shops, independent shops, closing every week† Helen Rimmer (Friends of the earth) (‘Evidence in the social sciences’, 2009 track 1) The big supermarkets have also introduced small high street Metro and Express stores to put further pressure on the independents and gain those consumers without cars and who are unable to get to the out of town retail park. According to Helen Rimmer (Friends of the Earth) â€Å"There’s been a study of the impact of Tesco Express which is the Tesco convenience store when they’ve moved into an area, that generally led to a decline, in the small shops locally, of about 30 to 40 per cent† (‘Evidence in the social sciences’, 2009 track 1) To keep their prices low, Supermarkets are putting huge pressures on suppliers both in the UK and globally, they are often dictating how much they will pay and even the size, shape and colour of fruit and vegetables. To meet these demands suppliers are being forced to cut their cost to the bare minimum and in many cases are operating at a loss, forcing the smaller suppliers out of business. There is massive wastage, as food is rejected if it doesn’t conform to the set cosmetic appearance that the supermarkets have imposed, often sacrificing taste and flavour for appearance. Farmers have been known to plough crops back into the land when they have been rejected or the supermarket wants to pay a ridiculously low price. The cost of this wastage is usually met by the supplier, as are the ‘buy one get one free’ (BOGOF) deals that the supermarkets offer to entice their customers. This cost cutting is passed onto their workers both in the UK and abroad. In the UK they are more often than not migrant agency workers who pick and sort the salad crops, who are paid very low wages, sometimes below the cost of living. â€Å"There is a high price to be paid for cheap goods and that cost is borne one-sidedly by the weakest and least powerful groups in the supply chain† (Allen, 2009, p. 3) Meanwhile abroad, cheap clothing is produced in sweatshops, with exploited workers enduring poor conditions, long hours and being paid an inadequate wage. â€Å"The true cost of the cheap jeans and trousers, as well as the bargain-priced shoes, which line Asda’s and Tesco’s aisles, War on Want claim, is the absence of a living wage for workers in their supply chain† (Allen, 2009, p. 85) However the fact that this work is being sourced in Asia means that the clothing industry in these countries is expanding rapidly and this means work that was not there previously. These jobs are in demand by the locals as it means a way out of poverty for them, â€Å"the last thing a country like this wants is for the big retailers to stop sourcing their labour from them. That, it is pointed out, would threaten the steadily rising living standards of the garment workers†. (Allen, 2009, p. 91) Supermarkets use their power over local government to persuade them to allow the further development of new stores. This is done by a method called ‘Planning Gain’ in which they pay for civic facilities to be built i. e. : leisure centres and Doctors surgeries, in return for planning permission for a new store. These developments are Sometimes in run down, poor areas and the development of a new store can be interpreted as a good thing in helping the regeneration of the area, creating new jobs for the unemployed and encouraging new business into the area. Again there is controversy surrounding this, many believe it is for the good of the community and other believing it is â€Å"merely the latest in a series of opportunistic moves by them to get stores built at a time when planners and government frown upon out-of–town developments† (Allen, 2009, p. 4) The supermarkets are providing consumers with what they want. Cheap products in the current climate of recession are a necessity for many having to tighten their belts. The ease of having everything in one place makes it convenient to shop for those who have cars and can get to the out of town stores. â€Å"People like what supermarkets do and the efficiencies that come from the scale of their operations, the quality and choice that they’re able to offer, the prices that people find appealing are all reasons why people choose to shop in supermarkets. Richard Dodd (British retail consortium. )(‘Evidence in the social sciences’ 2009, track 1) There is no doubt that supermarkets are powerful and it is very often a zero-sum game for their suppliers, the supplier’s workforce, and the independent shops on the high street, when they wield this power against them. Town centres and the smaller independent shops are in decline, â€Å"12 per cent of town centre retail premises are now vacant compared with 4 per cent last autumn so that’s a threefold increase†. Richard Dodd (British Retail Consortium) (‘Evidence in the social sciences’ 2009, track 1) and many farmers are going out of business. The consumers however are getting what they want, but at what cost! In this consumer Society that we live in they are seduced by the choice and bargains and turn a blind eye to the lengths the supermarkets are prepared to go to give them this. The exploitation of the workers in the sweatshops of Asia, the bullying of the farmers to sell their milk, fruit and vegetables to them at the price they dictate and the small shops being put out of business. Yes supermarkets are powerful but at the end of the day it is the consumer who is enabling them to continue being so. â€Å"If customers like what a retailer is offering, they will choose that particular store or type of store and they’ll use it. If the retailer gets it wrong, the customers won’t show up and that retailer will very quickly go out of business. It is customers who have the power in all of this†. Richard Dodd (British retail consortium) (‘Evidence in the social sciences’ 2009, track 1)