Monday, September 30, 2019

Freedom Writer S Film Review Essay

The film, Freedom Writers, directed by Richard LaGravenese captured the lives of underrepresented and at risk students whom lived in Long Beach, California, that were born into gang life and didn’t see their lives past than age eighteen. Erin Gruwell was a passionate young teacher keen on social change. Wanting to make a difference, she decided to teach at the newly voluntarily integrated Woodrow Wilson High School. The movie’s portrayal of stereotypes was emphasized through its technical aspects, the recurring themes of segregation and racial profiling, and the characterizations of individuals, while at the same time, the humor in the film was able to keep it lighthearted and enjoyable for the audience. The main theme of the movie â€Å"Freedom Writers† was about the prevalence of racism in public school and breaking away from the stereotypes. In the beginning of the movie, the students that were in Mrs. Gruwell’s class were clearly segregated from each other and isolated themselves into cliques. Gang wars were a part of their daily lives. The wars stemmed from older generations teaching and portraying that violence and hatred was normal. Growing up, the kids were raised to hate and fight anyone, even in school, that was a different race from them. While the other teachers had given up on these students, Mrs. Gruwell saw their true potential. Her classroom became a place where students could feel physically and emotionally safe. This film’s social relevance pertains to today. Although as a society we have improved, racial tension and gang violence still exist in public schools, but it’s important to recognize that those students are not hopeless causes. They may be considered the outsiders, but their backgrounds make them strong enough to overcome the stereotypes that have been placed on them, obtain an education, and invite change into their communities. The value of this film was teachers shouldn’t judge, or give up, on students no matter their background. Teachers need to see that these students just need a chance to show that they are capable. With the 1992 Rodney King Riots of Los Angeles in the not-so-far past, the plot of Freedom Writers became very realistic. The racial tension in the Los Angeles area had reached an all time high. This racial tension carried over into Mrs. Gruwell’s classroom. The Blacks, Latinos, and the Cambodians had all segregated. It wasn’t hard to realize that could have very well have been what many high schools in the Los Angeles and Long Beach area looked like after the 1992 riots. The way Mrs. Gruwell brought the students together did not seem realistic. When you’ve been in rival gangs for the majority of your lives, it seems like it would have been hard to be brought together over a few journal entries and a trip to the Museum of Tolerance. However, we did not grow up in the Los Angeles/Long Beach area during that time period, so we’ve no idea what the situation was like for those kids. Overall, the film was well assembled and the plot was convincing and believable. Freedom Writers had a mission. Nothing about the film was subliminal, and the characterizations were blatant. They could have helped or hurt the film’s message. The characterizations were warring factions with a mutually bred hatred for each other. The primary metaphor was war between the ghetto, little Tijuana, little Cambodia, and white people. Everyone fought for their own people, but never their own identity as they were willing to throw their lives away to be â€Å"respected†. The stereotypes of each ethnicity defined the characters at first, but as the story progressed, their characterizations became more unique and tragic. Both society and the teachers looked down upon these kids, never expecting them to go anywhere in life. The stereotypes placed upon the youths of Long Beach brings empathy from the audience because they can somewhat compare to being looked down upon. So through the horrible environment you understand the kid’s stagnancy and ignorance, but also their will to survive. With such a hard hitting subject matter and great performance, the film provoked emotions such as understanding, sympathy, inspiration, and discontent with the education system. At the beginning of the movie, you hardly ever see any of the Blacks, Latinos, or Cambodians in the same scenes. LaGravenese does this to show the racial tension that existed in Long Beach following the 1992 Rodney King riots. The different ethnic groups were only in the same scenes when they were fighting. Scenes shot in Mrs. Gruwell’s classroom did not even show different racial groups in the same shot. Once Mrs. Gruwell broke down the racial barriers at the end of the movie, LaGravenese then started to show all the students in the same scenes. LaGravenese also used lighting to help emphasize the racial divide. At the beginning of the movie, the scenes are very dark. As the movie progressed and Mrs. Gruwell began to tear down the racial divide, her classroom became lighter. She always had the blinds open and flowers scattered around the room to emphasize peace and tranquility. The choice of background music for the film subtly helped to show how the racial divide in Mrs. Gruwell’s classroom was eventually broken. At the beginning of the film, music by Tupac that talked about violence, suffering, and living in poverty was played. By the end of the movie, LaGravenese played some of Tupac’s music about hope, wealth, and prosperity. This music was played once Mrs. Gruwell had finally torn down the racial divide between the different ethnicities. The film captures the viewpoints of several students in the classroom, each fighting their own personal battle all the while capturing the relationship that is being formed between each other. With determination and passion brought by Ms. Gruwell, the students are focused on the phrase â€Å"Toast for Change,† and being a hero although just an ordinary teenager. The film’s value is to open the eyes of the audience to understand their surroundings and realize that there is much opportunity for one to make a difference just as Ms. Gruwell did as a teacher and just as her students did in each others lives. To conclude, Freedom Writer’s wonderfully portrayed how a group of students, with the help of their teacher, were able to drop their previous stereotypes and hatred of each other to live peacefully. This hatred was derived from generations of gang wars based on ethnicity, and although each teen fought for their people, they had their own personal battles as well. As students were able to open up more to Ms. Gruwell about their lives, they realized they weren’t all that different from each other. This helped form the close relationship of Classroom 203. The stereotypes of each group of students masked the identities of each individual, which invoked feelings of sympathy and disbelief from the general public. Different styles of Tupac’s music and the way scenes were shot helped to subliminally explain the divisions between ethnic groups and how they became united. While the film may not be the most theatrically beautiful, the message it gives holds a priceless value.

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Is the News a Reliable Source

Reliability of News Introduction Today the world has progressed rapidly. It is all thanks to the media that created the awareness among the individuals and the societies. Media highlights the aspects, which were not existent before. The world has become smaller and smaller and its advancements have been all thanks to the constant alarming of mass media. Despite the fact that news makes the international scenarios and us aware of the local it sometime, become a red devil itself. Discussion News is the source of gathering all the information needed to keep the people up to date with the latest trends and happenings. People now days get access to the news whenever they want. The main sources of tuning to the news include television, radio, newspapers, magazines and more of late the World Wide Web. Even the cellular services are not far behind as they keep people informed while one is away from the above mediums. Therefore, it is not necessary whether you are connected to these mediums or not, you can probably use your cell phone to get the latest updates. News and the media treat all people alike, as it has no personal contacts between the senders and receivers. Most of the times the news media can turn out to be the devil rather than an angel. It is better to say that media manipulates its role in such a way that people might be unable to understand their POV (Paul & Dennis, pp 2-4). Prime example being the terror attacks of 11 September 2001. Many news channels and other media officials highlighted in their own perspective and ways. According to them 9/11, relate with the understanding of current events (Tom, pp 6-7). Others do not even come close to the topic as they think it is useless to talk about what they do not know. The news media creates the doubt of the individuals specially those who suffered the wrath of 9/11 and other similar terrorist activities. Conclusion The days of living like unaware person are no way possible in the modern era. The mainstream media has totally affected the life of individuals by all leaps and bounds. Today no person can think of surviving while the news media is running the show. In the days when internet was not very popular, newspapers were considered as the ultimate source of information. The news is helpful in gaining access to the new and contemporary information regarding lifestyle, sports, entertainment etc. At the same time, they play a negative role towards the psyche of an individual. The news media must play the role both informative and responsible, as there are many who cannot bear the sight of bad news in form of terrorism or other similar news.

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Pollution from a primary aluminum smelter for environmental law class Research Paper

Pollution from a primary aluminum smelter for environmental law class - Research Paper Example This paper will evaluate the range of water pollution caused by aluminum smelting and its aftereffects on public health and the environment as a whole. It has been identified that mainly three types of water discharges are associated with aluminium smelting. Process water is the liquid effluent which is mainly used for cooling dung metal casting; it contains small quantities of organic matter, fluorides, oils, suspended solids, and industrial gases. This process also discharges waste water from restrooms and laboratory facilities, and the discharged water contains organic matter and suspended solids. During the aluminium smelting process, drainage water is also discharged. It is estimated that the â€Å"Portland aluminium smelter discharges 73 ML of process water each year† (Salzman, Allinson, Stagnitti, Coates & Hill, 2001). In modern days, an effective system called water treatment center is established in most of the aluminum smelting plants where the water effluents are ac cumulated and eliminated. However, the water treatment center would not be able to eliminate these water pollutants completely. Adams (2011) points out that excess level of fluorine content in water may lead to dental fluorosis. Similarly, aluminum is very toxic to fish and aquatic insects if its concentration exceeds the limit 1 mg/L.

Friday, September 27, 2019

Unified Financial Accounting Standards Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Unified Financial Accounting Standards - Essay Example Unified Financial Accounting Standards Indeed, since the modern business takes place in a global market, there is absolute need to define how to do business across all nations (Ingram, & Albright, 2007). As such, various organizations seek to establish different business and financial measures to define the universal manner of doing global business. Financial accounting standards are some of the measures, which all companies must comply with while doing business, assessing their progress, and reporting their success. Financial accounting standards seek to establish fairness, equality, uniformity, accuracy, and transparency in the preparation and presentation of financial statements. As such, financial accounting standards must be clearly understandable and comparable so that the users can apply them effectively. The accounting profession adopted the generally accepted accounting principles, which defines universal reporting principle in the global market (Ingram, & Albright, 2007). Financial accounting standards derive ma ny merits in the business field and various users rely on financial accounting standards to perfume their business and accounting responsibilities. The users may include investors, companies, and auditors. This paper defines the characteristics of the unified financial accounting standards and discusses the benefits of unified financial accounting standards to investors, companies, and auditors with reference to preparing, reporting, and comparing the financial performance in the modern global market. The unified financial accounting standards have certain characteristics, which guarantee accurate and material communication of the business firm’s financial position and performance. ... These characteristics include reliability, transparency, relevance, consistency, comparability, understandability, uniformity, and fairness. The unified financial accounting standards derive significant benefits to the investors. Most assuredly, the unified financial accounting standards make it easy for investors to compare between companies since they can establish the true financial position of the reference companies. This is usually important especially when the investor is a foreign company since the financial standards apply universally globally. It is quite clear that unified financial accounting standards provide a means of communication between a company and the investors in the company. Through unified financial accounting standards, the investors can deduce the effectiveness of the company and its management in comparison to other companies in the same industry (Financial Accounting Standards Board, 2013). In addition, the unified financial accounting standards avail rele vant financial information that helps the investors to make concrete decisions in reference to the company. Indeed, the investors use this financial information to assess the effectiveness in implementing the company resources by the management. Actually, it is from the information that the investors decide whether to invest in the company since the financial information can manifest the profitability, the competitive position, the going concern, and viability of the company in the stock market. More so, the unified financial accounting standards define the accrued returns of the company to the investors. At the same time, the financial standards evaluate the cost of making accounting changes and derive the benefit of

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Egalite for all toussaint louverture and the haitian revolution Movie Review

Egalite for all toussaint louverture and the haitian revolution summary - Movie Review Example The movie describes the role of different leaders and men who fought in the period of 13 years to gain independence and among them the great Toussaint Louverture who led from the front this revolt and brought independence to his country and people. The portrayal of the struggles of the Africans under the rule of French and Spanish as well as the Americans cannot get any better than this. Also, the facts from history are portrayed and described with precision in the movie which shows the hardwork of the movie makers and their struggle to collect specific information and data about the Haitian revolution. Saint Domingue was the French colony this revolt started from and spread across the many colonies. It was not until 1804 that the Haitians gained independence and changed the course of history. All these facts and stories are explained very precisely and beautifully in the movie. It is a documentary for history lovers. Those who have a slightest of interest in history or need to study Haitian revolution, this is a must watch since it takes us back to the time when all of this was happening and one feels like a part of

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Book review of The Holocaust in History by Michael R Marrus Essay

Book review of The Holocaust in History by Michael R Marrus - Essay Example The Holocaust in History is a book that affiliates to a broad historical perspective, which deserves a good and exhaustive reading by the students of history, if not by the lay people. Its goes without saying that Marrus did resort to an exhaustive research and documentation, to come out with this immaculately contrived introduction as to how the historians tend to write about the Holocaust. The approach of Marrus tends to emphatically highlight the need for demystifying the Holocaust, so that it may be studied as an event in the contemporary Western history. Hence in this book, Marrus has systematically summarized the available authoritative historical writings pertaining to the salient aspects of the Holocaust that are, the pivotal position and scope of anti-Semitism in Nazism, the role played by the Jewish resistance, Jewish leadership and bystanders, and collaborators. To put it simply, The Holocaust in History has less to do with the history of the Holocaust and is more about th e historiography of the Holocaust. In The Holocaust in History Marrus does delve on the centrality of anti-Semitism to Nazism, but not in a very polarized perspective as preferred by many other historians. In the preface to this well written book, Marrus classifies the literature pertaining to Holocaust in two categories, one comprising of works drafted â€Å"as witness, or in commemoration, or as a sombre warning to future generations†; and the other that were meant to be â€Å"the modes of discourse, the scholarly techniques, and the kind of analysis used for all other historical issues.† Marrus’ work, The Holocaust in History primarily focuses on the second type of literature. In this book, Marrus primarily seems to be engrossed in the task of analyzing what the other historians have so far researched and written about the facts pertaining to the Holocaust, to dig out and analyze the details of what actually happened and how it happened, and to delve on the s alient causes behind the Holocaust. Though it may certainly surprise the contemporary students and teachers of history, yet, it is a fact that significant parts of the literature that Marrus relied on while writing The Holocaust in History, ascribes to 60s or later times. This is so because Marrus believes that in the aftermath of the Holocaust, either there was a scant interest in the Holocaust, or much historical writing, scholarship and documentation about Holocaust was â€Å"ghettoized† and not balanced. It was only in the early 60s or later that the Holocaust as a topic of historical interest experienced a turning point. According to Marrus, the Holocaust claimed the lives of six million Jews, yet to limit the scope and magnitude of Holocaust to the Jewish sufferers would be an immense historical travesty (p.8). To arrive at a total and realistic relevance of the Holocaust, the historians also need to take into account the six million non-Jewish sufferers who also had to bear with the tyranny and consequences of the Holocaust (Marrus p.9). The Holocaust also claimed the lives of millions of Gypsies, Russian POWs, Spanish Republicans, Poles, Czechs, French and homosexuals (Fischel p.38). Though, it is different that the Eastern victims of the Holocaust received a different treatment as compared to the victims from the Western Europe, both from the historians and the Western political leadership. While unravelling

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

A critical analysis of Ulrich's Model Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

A critical analysis of Ulrich's Model - Essay Example David Ulrich, the father of Ulrich model brought a new dimension to the practice of human resource management. He came up with a model or approach which re-defined the whole structure of functioning of human resource department. The aim of Ulrich was to bring about a change in the working process of the HR in order to make it more organized and structured. David Ulrich being a professor and an expert in human resource management gave rise to handful of principles and ideas for the upgrading of the HR working system. He is of the notion that the intangible elements of an organization play a very big role in the growth and value of a company. The model originated by Ulrich focused on allowing the human resource personnel to be more expanding and flourishing in the area of business. His ideas imparted more life to the human resource field that it became more valued and treasured. The current market utilizes his model in a very effective manner in order to change the overall face of thei r respective organization. Ulrich model enhanced the flexibility and workability of the business firms along with more growing opportunity to the staff and management. For the success of a given business, the approached defined by Ulrich has to be applied in a balanced way. Ulrich proves that employees in HR department can very well reach the status of an entrepreneur if works according to specific rules and design. Four Role Model by Ulrich The four role model of Ulrich throw light upon four main key elements: a) Strategic partner b) Change agent c) Employee champion d) Administrative expert. a)Strategic partner: It is all focused on the aligned working of the HR department by giving due consideration to international business standards, internal management system and business growth. Even though it looks conventional, it demands a lot of hard work and focusing from the HR staff. This role received more attention than other ones and were more applied by organization in their HR fun ctioning. It can be definitely argued that the line managers in the present organizations are playing the role of strategic partners. In the present organizational structure to contribute to the planning functions is very essential thing. Being a strategic partner allows the managers and heads of the HR field to contribute to business planning and strategy formulating. b) Change agent: By this aspect Ulrich mean that any organization should have the capacity to change and accept transition phase with ease. This is a very important area which needs to be concentrated by the organizations in order to expand and grow according to the changing global market trends and situation. This highlights exceptional capabilityof the HR professionals in being flexible so as to provide ideas to face changes occurring in the operational phase of the business firm.This aspect will allow the business leaders in overcoming problems raised due to change factor. The role of HR staff as a change agent is very valuable as it encourages and motivates the organization to take change as a challenge and bring positive outcome out of it. This also decreases chaos and disorganization among the employees and managerial heads. c) Employee champion: By this role the Ulrich means that the HR should be efficient in advocating the employees as and when needed and also should support and guide them when the company is undergoing change. This is very crucial role as it does not leave the employees ignored and rejected about the activities going on in the firm. The main focus of this role is to bring a right balance between the resources provided by the company and expectations of the employees. This brings about competency and efficiency among employees and also helps them in resolving their issue and problems faced in the organization on a routine basis. d) Administrative expert: According to this role, the HR staff performs the function of recruiting the employees or hiring them and handles the compensation issues, training

Monday, September 23, 2019

Nokia telephone company Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Nokia telephone company - Essay Example It has also partnered with recording artists to provide music to its customers through the internet. The company faces several challenges currently. However, its management team has formulated and implemented strategies to keep the company relevant in the market. We live in a generation where technology has become part of human life. This compels Nokia to conduct regular market research and advance its products and services to attract and retain its customers. The following discourse is on the Nokia Company in terms of its business strategies and management. Company statistics Currently, the company has over 100,000 employees in more than 100 countries. Forbes magazine placed it as the second largest mobile phone company with an estimate of over 30 billion Euros in market dominance. Besides, it has an estimated market share of 22% by the beginning of this year. Nokia was the largest mobile phone company in the entire globe, between 1997 and late 2012, before Samsung took over. The co mpany suffered a great business setback when its global market share dropped due to the emergence of several smart phones and iPhones in the market. The company partnered with Microsoft to incorporate windows in its latest smart phones. Its market research indicates that the company lost several customers to Apple and Samsung whose smart phones and tablets have Android as the operating system. Nokia phones had the Symbian operating system and this was considered slow and unreliable (Marks 207). Brief history of Nokia Telephone Company The company was established in 1865 by Fredrik Idetam as a paper mill factory in Tampere. Three years later, another pulp mill was built in a small town named Nokia which about fourteen kilometers from the first pulp mill. Idetam and, his close friend and business associate, Mechelin (electrician) changed the initial pulp mill industry into a partnership company and named it Nokia, and that is how the company’s name came about. Later, the compan y resorted to electricity generation and expanded its operations by selling more shares to the public. The company expanded its business further by partnering with neighboring associates like Finnish rubber works among others. In 1912, the companies combined their resources to venture into the production of electrical and telephone cables. The company had to reshuffle its management team to avoid going bankrupt after the First World War I. At the time, Verner Weckman became the chairman and used his peculiar business management skills to attract more companies and form Nokia Corporation by the end of the year 1967. The company produced a wide range of products including cars, rubber, paper products, and personal computers among others. Later, some companies split from the parent company (Marks 207). Nokia specialized in telecommunication products in the year 1970. The company first produced Nokia DX 200 which was a kind of switch used to control telephone communications. The company advanced its products with time to the current smart phones and tablets. It became the largest mobile phone company until 2012 when Samsung, through its most preferred android mobile operating system, took over. Nokia had to conduct a market research and ascertain its weaknesses. It later partnered with Microsoft to produce windows mobile phones. Research is still underway to ascertain the

Sunday, September 22, 2019

General Electric Crotonville ampus Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

General Electric Crotonville ampus - Case Study Example In recent years, GE has embraced organisational management with a program such as the one they are sponsoring firms to come up with efficient and clean energy for America. Q2. GE management innovation where it centralized its decision-making in the 1950’s drew towards a classical management approach and adaptation of the six-sigma approach to management drew a lot on behavioural management theory. In a bid to increase their efficiency and output, GE has adopted a contingency perspective where they approach issues from different angles, they have used techniques such as six sigma to ensure all departments operate at their optimal level; in addition, they have a training facility to train their employees in order to increase their output. Q3. GE has been successful in integrating the management science in its operation due to training of their employees especially in management, the training made sure that the employees were already operating near optimal points therefore it was much easier for them to implement management science approaches such as the six sigma Q4. Developing new leaders is the key to sustainable growth according to GE. Leaders who are passionate about giving their clients the best, who know their products and market well, as well as being innovative. In view of this, general electric has set up a training facility in Crotonville where about 9000 of its employees are trained on leadership annually in order to improve their leadership skills. Q5. GE’s Crotonville Leadership campus General Electric Crotonville campus otherwise known as John F Welch leadership development centre was founded in 1956 as the first corporate school in the world. It is located at the hamlet of Crotonville in New York and hosts about 10,000 employees of General Electric every year, these employees range from entry-level employees to the top management of the firm globally where they learn a lot in leadership (Durett 26). The Crotonville campus offers a wid e range of courses for their clients that include leadership courses for new managers focusing on development, business impact and external focus, customer programs including executive briefing, change management and integration. Other courses are executive courses in leadership, innovation, strategy and manager development and critical skill such as presentation, hiring, team building and project management. In addition to offering the management leadership courses, General Electric Crotonville campus encourages intercultural and interracial interactions between its employees with the courses having more than half of the population coming from outside the United States of America. Other affinity groups of Crotonville campus also offer opportunities that encourage diversity for instance the ‘leading and learning’ summit that is hosted by GE women’s network invites more than 150 women to interact where more than two thirds are customers and suppliers of General El ectric. In order to reach their global leaders and customers in the whole world, General Electric has spread the Crotonville experience to the rest of the world with special global courses in the various parts that include sharing best experiences in Asia. Others include management development in Europe, learning in Abu Dhabi where General Electric has collaborated with Mubadala Development Company, growing teamwork in Asia and on the ground in Africa (Stefanovich 64) The structure at the General Electric

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Analysis of front cover of best Essay Example for Free

Analysis of front cover of best Essay Best is published by ACP-NatMag and falls into the category of womans lifestyle magazine. Best has to compete with some other major magazines such as Reveal and Bella. Bests front cover has to make an impression on its audience by making itself bright, bold and bubbly. This is achieved using different methods to entice the reader, with extremely eye-catching colours such as pink, yellow, blue and white which clash, using Fern Britton in the traditional picture used on every magazine, and through human interest stories as well as shocking stories which further invite the reader to buy the magazine The main story line Drop 7lb Faster suggests that the magazine is trying to tempt the audience into learning the secrets of a celebrity diet, but actually only tells the reader a fraction of what to do on the inside. Eventually, as the audience is not fully aware that there will not be the best tips and information inside, the reader still has become interested and wants to find out more. After the reader has looked into the main eye-catching story, the reader is left almost feeling cheated after the promise of a weight loss programme. The audiences eye is drawn to this as it is positioned to the left at the top of the page, right below the masthead.. The words in the phrase are used in the typical sans serif font, but with striking colours. It is located just underneath the Best logo in a contrasting colour which immediately draws attention to itself. The bright and bold text is the biggest size used on the cover besides the masthead, as the logo is most important. It clearly stands out from any other object on the cover. The word Faster is actually italicised, this leads to the word looking as if it is actually moving, going faster, almost blurring away from the other words. The television presenter, Fern Britton, is placed on the right side of the magazine, as the biggest photograph on the cover. The image of the presenter is conventional for this type of magazine, she is around the same age as the targeted audience, making her a potential friend, where she is acting as a symbol, almost as a mothering figure, someone you can relate to. She is a striking image compared to the bland white background which she is placed on. She looks straight out at the audience in a confident manner, smiling at the audience in a friendly way, reinforcing that the magazine is trying to make itself appear to be a friend to the reader. She is wearing a formal black dress which provides an interesting contrast between her and the background. Despite the celebrity status she appears to have in the photograph, she is pictured lower down to her right in a normal everyday situation with her child. The photograph almost makes the reader feel like that is her and can relate to her like family. The title next to the picture, FERN HRT has made me a NICER MUM is in a direct form of address which makes the audience feel like they are being spoken to directly. It is in a big, bright, contrasting colour compared to the background photograph. Also, the way the magazine refers to Fern, is almost as if the audience are close to her. As well as fulfilling some of the audiences needs, i. e. makeshift friendship, it suggests that because the magazine refers to the presenter in a close way, the audience is getting advice from a celebrity. One of the cover lines is cleverly written to entice the audience even more than any other story. Because it offers simple ways for 9 EASY DINNERS, most women would be interested in learning the secrets of quick appetising meals, as 5 dishes are displayed in images. However it is possible that the readers could somehow feel disillusioned because as they read on to they find that the meals actually take around 45 minutes to an hour. One other cover line SISTERS OF COURAGE stands out from the others, as it is not in big, bold multicoloured, yet in smaller red sans serif font, with bullet point styled border on a white background. This can make the impression that its a shocking story. The picture to the right of the cover line is of two normal looking sisters, together, with an exclusive tag underneath. This can make the reader feel smug as they are reading a story that other magazines may not posses. The phrase underneath the cover line is somewhat exaggerated slightly as it quotes We broke our silence to JAIL our EVIL DAD. The three words, JAIL, EVIL and DAD are in a dark red, bold font. As red is seen to be an evil colour, it emphasises the words more to make them more dramatic and shocking. My 3 Miracles, mended my broken heart underneath is a cover line with a photo of triplets. The three are placed on a bright pink background, easily noticeable. The triplets make a bold contrast as the colours are completely different to the background, making the image stand out. Yet as it does this, the photograph is a heart warming, enticing the reader to read on. Again, the way that the phrase is being displayed, it further reinforces that the magazine is your friend talking directly out to you in a informal manner, almost like the other person telling the story is there, next to reader. In conclusion, the BEST editor has used a proven publication model to entice the fickle public to purchase and read its magazine in preference to a competitor.

Friday, September 20, 2019

Measuring stress levels of staff

Measuring stress levels of staff There are several ways in which stress can be measured for example by self report, biochemical and physiological methods Self report methods Stressful life event scales measures stress prospectively through the reported life change for example Holmes and Rahes Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS). They examined 5000 patient records and made a list of 43 life events that seemed to precede illness. Nearly 400 participants were asked to rate each item in terms of the amount of stress it produced, and an random value of 500 was assigned to marriage as a reference point. The results were averaged and divided by ten to get a measure of the individual events in terms of life change units representing the degree of stress caused by events. Their research using SRRS suggested that life events were associated with various physical illnesses. Self-perception of stress measures subjective feelings of stress associated with negative or positive life events for example Sarason et al.s (1978) Life experiences Survey (LES). The SRRS provides a relatively quick measure of a variety of stressor stimuli and the LES takes into account the subjective cognitive appraisal. This method however has a limitation in that subjective measures may be unreliable, change over time and confuse the causes and effects of stress. Biochemical methods This methods measure stress through chemical testing for example through blood and urine sample testing to measure changes in stress-related hormones, catecholamines (such as epinephrine) and corticosteroids (such as cortisol). For example, Kiecolt-Glaser (1984) studied human responses to stress using examinations where researchers took blood samples from 75 1st year medical students one month before their final examination and again on the first day of their final exams after they had completed two of the exams. Kiecolt-Glaser et al found that natural killer cell declined between the two samples confirming that stress is associated with a reduced immune response. These methods provide direct, reliable, objective and quantitative data on stress responses. There is a limitation however in that these methods are expensive, require specialist equipment/skill and ignore subjective perceptions (positive stress produces less cortisol). The measure can be affected by factors like caffeine or anxiety. Physiological methods There are many physiological responses that can be measured. This is done through monitoring of machinery like heart monitors and skin conductance polygraphs and stress is measured through its associated autonomic nervous system changes in heart rate and blood pressure. Change in heart rate measures the increase or decrease in the number of heart beats per minute. Heart rate can be measured with an electrocardiogram (ECG) which measures electrical activity across the skin associated with the electrical activity of the heart. It increases when a person is under stress and decreases as one relaxes. It is also affected by the intensity of the emotional response; it increases with position emotions and decreases with negative emotions . In response to unexpected stimuli, heart rate decreases, known as the orienting effect, and increases with defensive responses, i.e. fight-or-flight response. Change in skin conductance -measures the change in the conductivity of a persons skin. As stress increases, sweat increases on the palms hence increased conductivity. Higher levels of skin conductance have also been shown during learning and have also been shown to increase with the presentation of an unexpected stimulus. It is measured on the fingertips of the participant. Change in skin temperature -measures the change in temperature on the extremities of the body. As stress increases the temperature in the extremities decreases as heat moves to the bodys core thus the temperature measured on the fingertip decreases. Skin temperature reactions can be measured by placing a thermostat at the end of one of the fingers and holding it in place with thin porous tape. Other measures include EEG recordings of cortical activity, electromyogram measurements of facial muscle tensions, respiration rate and blood pressure. Physiological measures have an advantage in that they are more objective than subjective a continuous measure, so time-varying qualities of presence can be observed. They have some limitations however, in that several different stimuli could produce the same changes and physiological levels also vary widely from person to person. Skin temperature is slow to change and therefore one has to be exposed to the stimulus for several minutes. There is also the cost of the physiological monitoring equipment and trained personnel. I would recommend the company to use the self report method of measuring stress as it would be the most appropriate for a company because it is the least expensive and the staff would not need to take a day off to go and see a specialist. It would also take less time and it is convenient. Physiological and psychological methods of stress management that the company could introduce to its staff: There are many approaches which can be used to reduce stress levels. Psychologists distinguish two broad types of coping strategies; psychological and physiological. Physiological method: Biofeedback- This is a technique involving the use of recording electrodes and monitors to measure physiological responses like blood pressure and muscle tension in the head and neck. Signals are amplified and displayed to the client on a screen or through headphones. The client is trained on how to control involuntary muscles, or voluntary muscles that are not normally controlled using techniques like relaxation and meditation. This introduces autonomic nervous system activity thus the bodily sensations associated with stress and this would reduce the consequent effects of stress in terms of illness. strengths Biofeedback has produced significant long-term reductions in stress in everyday life. The use of monitors helps the person learn effective techniques to reduce arousal and they can use them independently of the technology (Holroyd et al., 1984) It does not have side effects unlike drugs It is voluntary and not invasive According to Attanasio et al. (1985), it helped teenagers and children with stress related disorders to gain control over symptoms of migraine headaches. They benefited more than adults possibly because they were more enthusiastic and less sceptical. Weaknesses There is cost of technology and time is needed by the trainer and client to learn how to reduce arousal. There is some doubt as to whether the feedback is actually necessary as some studies show that the benefits of biofeedback could be gained from other relaxation methods. It does not directly focus on causes of the stress-related problems but treats the symptoms. It is more successful with some people than others (individual differences), for example with children rather than adults. Psychological methods Stress inoculation training (SIT) Meichenbaum (1985) proposed a form of cognitive therapy to deal with stress. His stress inoculation training aims to manage stress using a cognitive-behavioural method of providing clients with strategies and skills to deal with the particular stressors in their lives. He suggested that an individual should develop a form of coping before the problem arises rather than afterwards. There are three main phases in stress inoculation training: Conceptualisation the therapist discusses the nature of the problem with the individual and a relationship is established. The client is educated about the nature and impact of stress so that he understands the effect of their existing coping mechanism. Self-defeating attitudes and coping mechanisms are identified through curious questions in order to guide the client to understand their cognitions and behaviour. Skills acquisition and consolidation The individual learns various techniques for reducing stress, such as relaxation and self-instruction by using coping self-statements, positive thinking, social skills, methods of attention diversion and time management. These are taught and practised in the clinic and then gradually rehearsed in real life. Application and follow through clients are given opportunities to apply the newly learned coping skills in different situations, which become increasingly stressful. Various techniques may be used for example imagery, modelling and role playing. The exposure to real stressors is graded and follow- through procedures employed to ensure that any warning signs of relapse are dealt with. Strengths It is very flexible, it consists of a wide variety of cognitive and behavioural techniques tailored to the individual needs of the client. It is fairly effective in reducing the stress experienced in moderately stressful situations, the stress of chronic pain, performance anxiety, specific phobias, work related stress, competition stress and stress before surgery. It deals with causes not symptoms, it offers a joint attack; skills to cope with current problems, and skills and confidence to cope with future problems. The focus on acquisition of skills provides long-lasting effectiveness as they are taught, practised and followed through and are tailored to the needs of the individual. Weaknesses This method is of less value when treating individuals who are highly stressed or exposed to very stressful situations. It is time consuming and requires high motivation. The training programme requires a lot of time, effort, motivation, money and the lengthy therapy would only suit a limited range of determined individuals. It is unnecessarily complex it is possible that the range of activities could be reduced without losing much of the effectiveness.

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Bilingual Education Essay -- A Level Essays

Bilingual Education Bilingual education has been a politicized topic of debate for years. There are many whom support bilingual education being incorporated into students’ curriculums while others are adamant that it should not be a part of the classroom. Those that are opponents of bilingual education seem to fear the idea of students being exposed to a second language or becoming proficient in two languages. Bilingual education has many dimensions and definitions, which can cause some confusion, but the benefits of its inclusion into student’s curriculum are irrefutable. What Is Bilingual Education and How Did It Come About? An encompassing definition of the term bilingual education is, The use of two languages, one of which is English, as mediums of instruction for the same pupil population in a well-organized program, which encompasses all, or part of the curriculum and includes the study of the history and culture associated with the mother tongue. A complete program develops and maintains the children’s self-esteem and a legitimate pride in both cultures. (Blanco 1977, p.123). Bilingual Education began in the United States in the mid- 60’s. The time that the bilingual movement started coincided with the height of the civil-rights movement for African Americans. During this time there was a great outcry from Latino activist that protested against discrimination that led to a high drop out rate for Spanish speaking students. In 1968 congress approved a bill to aide in equal education opportunities, this was the Bilingual Education Act. Its intentions were merely to help Limited English Proficient (LEP) students become literate in English, today goals of Bilingual education have advanced (Porter 2003). On... ...al.org. April 29, 2003. â€Å"Bilingual education/Limited English proficient students† National Center for Educational Statistics. www.nces.edgov. April 18, 2003. Blake, P (ND). â€Å"A Summary of Prop. 227† Second Language Acquisition University of California Davis Institute. www.secondlanguageacquisition.com. April 23, 2003. U.S. Department of Education (1995). â€Å"Model Strategies in Bilingual Education: Professional Development† Office of Bilingual Education and Minority Language Affairs. http://www.ed.gov/pubs/ModStrat/. April 28, 2003. Magazine Article: Porter, R. (ND). â€Å"The case against Bilingual education† The Atlantic Online. www.theatlantic.com. April 23, 2003. Zehr, M. (2003). â€Å"New Arizona Chief clamps down on Bilingual rules† Education Week.http://www.edweek.org/ew/ewstory.cfm?slug=24arizona.h22&keywords=bilingual%20education. April 28, 2003.

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Run Like the Wind: A Geographical Look at Kenyan Supremacy in Long Di :: essays research papers fc

Run Like the Wind: A Geographical Look At Kenyan Supremacy in Long Distance Running In East Africa, there is an area know as the Great Rift Valley. It is in this Great Rift Valley, where the world’s most dominant long distance runners come from, Kenya. In the past three decades, runners from Kenya have simply dominated the sport of long distance running in all facets including cross-country, track, and the marathon. In the world rankings for marathon running, Kenyans hold 8 of the top 10 spots for the men and 6 of the top ten spots in women’s rankings. (Entine, Par. 2) But how can one country be so overpowering in a sport that anyone can participate in? There are a number of factors that all work together to make Kenyan runners the best of the best. Rigorous training regimens, the physical geography of Kenya, country and world support of the athletes, genetics and early participation of children are all factors in the study of why Kenyan runners are by far the best long distance runners in the world. To start off, you must look at the physical geograph y in which the Kenyans train.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Kenya is located in East Africa and is dominated by the Great Rift Valley. A rift valley developed from faulting caused by tension in the earth’s crust. The sides of the valley are usually steep and can be up to 2,000 meters high. The Great Rift Valley gives Kenya areas of great elevation. This elevation equals thinning of the air as you get to higher and higher altitudes, which makes it more difficult to breath, especially when running. This altitude plus the equatorial latitudes creates and ideal climate for sustained outdoor activity – comfortably warm days, cool nights, low humidity. That with the altitude’s aerobic benefits, show how Kenya’s highlands are ideal for distance running. It should also be noted that every one of the country’s world-class runners is a highlander. â€Å"In an hour and 40 minutes they run more than 15 miles over uneven red clay, dodging small herds of cattle and donkeys laden with sacks of potatoes†¦The route climbs more that 3,000 feet, from and elevation of slightly more than 6,500 feet at the river to nearly 10,000 at the peak, where oxygen is precious and a cruel wind slices across the face of the hill.† (Layden, par. 2) It is in this environment that the Kenyan runners perform their grueling training regimens.

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

American Careers in the Terkels Working Essay -- Studs Terkel

America: The People behind the Professions A little girl dreams of a white wedding with white doves flying over the ceremony and the fairy-tale honeymoon. Only then to come home to the yellow house in the country, with the white picket fence included. Everyone has daydreamed about their future and having the â€Å"perfect† house, with the â€Å"perfect† car and the â€Å"perfect† marriage- everyone wants to live the â€Å"American Dream†. There are many people that believe that the â€Å"American Dream† is a concept that they are entitled to and expected to live. Then, there are those who believe that you should use the opportunities that America offers as a stepping stone to earn and create your own â€Å"American dream†. However, as time goes on the mainstream idea of â€Å"living the American Dream† has changed. This change is mostly due to the ever-changing economy, professions, and expectations of the American people. Throughout the book Working, by Studs Terkel, we meet many diverse groups of people to discover the people behind the jobs that allows American society to operate and how their choice of a career path has changed their lives. Here is "Mike Lefervre" , a 37-year-old steel worker. Lefervre talks down on intellectuals, and complains that they degrade people who actually work. A moment later, however, he contradicts and degrades himself: "A mule, an old mule, that's the way I feel." He is hurt and irritated that his son "lacks respect† but yet, "I want my kid to be a America: The People behind the Professions 3 snob... I want him to tell me he's not gonna be like me." Lefervre wants his son to have the life he never had and was unable to provide for him. This is a common thought for many parents in America. He talks about the anger... ...eer, musician, carpenter, street cleaner, farmer, office clerk, mechanic, housewife, stenographer, union organizer, bartender, truck driver... All of 'em! I'm the 'et cetera' and the 'And-so-forth' who do the work... I am... America." America: The People behind the Professions 5 We all know that most people hate their jobs. Work is seen as something we have to do, and very lucky few seem to find a job that we enjoy. How we feel about work, and what we do for a living, in many ways helps to define who we are and who we are going to become. Having seen actual people share their perspectives and view points on â€Å"working for a living† helps us see ourselves and rethink our future. Overall, Studs Terkel helps flash- back into America's history and see the changes that America ans it’s people have gone through.

Monday, September 16, 2019

Literature of the Western World Essay

The hallmarks of the epic hero represent different traits like possessing super-human or superior, being courageous and intellectual, and being responsible and strong leader. The epic hero undergoes phases of struggle in the journey of self-discovery against the constraints in the societal changes. In the poem Odyssey, the main character Odyssey struggles on the way to self-discovery until he overcomes the obstacles and in his venture to fend off the suitors of his wife Penelope. Odyssey has all the qualities of an epic hero for he is brave, courageous, superior strength, and intelligence wins him back his wife (Wilkie & Hurt, 1998, p 19). In the poem Iliad by Homer, the epic hero, Achilles although in some aspects is different epic hero; he has pride and arrogance that characterize the epic heroes (132). In the Aeneid by Virgil hero is more of improvised and imitated than it is the case of epic hero. The Aeneid is derivative for it borrows from Homer and contextualizes it in Roman and Virgilian. The individualistic view is portrayed in Iliad depicting the characters from his own judgment at his time but not according to the canonical standards (273). In the epic of Gilgamesh, the main character Gilgamesh has all the qualities of an epic hero because he goes out of his way to serve his people and show respect to those who reciprocate his actions to them. Pride is his tragic flaw; Gilgamesh learns his lessons after losing his arrogance. He has great hero’s attributes because he is great leader, ready to sacrifice his life for his people and thus he fits in the Heroic Code (973). The Sophocles play Oedipus Rex is the greatest tragedies the Elizabethan era has ever produced. The plot revolves around Oedipus and the prophesy of the oracle. In the play after prophesy is fulfilled, plague affects Thebes and King Oedipus is committed unravel the cause. When he consults the oracle, it is like a person going through a process of gradual self discovery where he is told of the murder of King Laius. Oblivious of his own destruction, Oedipus follows each hint to the discovery from which he promises to punish the culprit. When Oedipus accuses Tiresias of blindness, it is Oedipus who is blind because he does not consider himself as the person who might have committed the murder crime. He lacks vision and he is like a dog trying to bite its tail. The image of blindness is effective in the play because those who are blind like Tiresias who is the prophet have vision and insights to matters that those with sight like Oedipus cannot see. Oedipus is ignorantly blind although he has eyes to see. Though physically blind, Tiresias can ultimately see what Oedipus is ignorant of (741). In the epic poem Paradise Lost by Milton, the persona expresses the frustrations of the fact that he cannot see and therefore not able to sufficiently serve God. Wilkie and Hurt (1998) points out that just like play where Oedipus learns of Tiresias vision; the persona of the poem grasps the fact that he can use positively his physical impairness as part of God’s work (2099). There are different forms of poems raging from odes, elegies, sonnets, and pastorals. Ode is a lyrical poem that is a moderate piece dealing with serious subject matter. Romanticism poets utilized odes to explore problems of general and personal matter. An example of ode poem is Ode to a Nightingale by Keats that praises the famous Nightingale for the servitude to others. An elegy is a classical poem which is made up of couplets where the poem is about lamentation for loss of something or a person. The poem revolves around reflection of things that were shared in life and nostalgic remembrance of the vanished past. The main theme explored is death. An example of elegy; A memory of a sister by Thomas Hardy where the speaker nostalgically remembers his dead sister. Pastoral poem explore on leisure and some of the example is Milton’s Lycidas (842). Pastoral poem is viewed as sub-group of elegies for focus is on the subject of mourning and of love. The distinguishing factor is that they dwell on the idealized rather than focusing on the realistic aspects of life. Sonnet on the other hand is a poem that consists of fourteen lines and is of two kinds; the Petrarchan and the Elizabethan sonnets. The Petrarchan sonnet is composed of two parts; one with eight lines and the other with six while the Elizabethan sonnet entails three segments of four lines and the concluding two lines called a couplet. A Farewell to Arms by Hemingway is an example of an Elizabethan sonnet (879). In analyzing the nature and effect of the â€Å"framework tale† in the Canterbury Tales, The 1001 Nights, and the Decameron, the social life from the classical period is explored. The Canterbury Tales explores the pilgrims’ journey to gain forgiveness and blessings in travel that represents a section of the society in England then. In the epic journey, Chaucer explores the Elizabethan society infusing it with romantic scenes. Martyrs, miracles, and curses are ultimately explored in death where the journey is all about discovery among the travelers where societal virtues and morals which are imparted upon generations while vices are despised via the symbolic journey (1670). In The 1001 Nights by Al-Jahshiyari is Arabic literary works that has had influence in European literary works. Just like the Canterbury Tales, The 1001 Nights explores on religious journey of the Arabs in their quest to find more about spiritual fulfillment. Its oriental function is important for it is equated to the Elizabethan society’s journey through the classical portrayal in self-discovery (1572). The Decameron explores on the mediaeval era society where philosophical aspects emerge in the society and ultimately employs divine comedy. Literal aspects in society form part of the message explored while allegorical stories touch on Christianity. Like in classical literature where characters are literary involved in the journey of discovery, these plays have background on the journey via which the characters have to undertake learning important lessons in life (1878). The worldview is literary depicted in the Divine Comedy by Dante where by the society of the Middle Ages was explored on the theological perspective and the Renaissance’s philosophical expanse. The comedy uses the humanistic approach via which the theme of self discovery; the journey in the society towards the affirmation and redemption of the characters in the light of God. The comedy is structured in an epic poem where Christ’s life of resurrecting from death after he had suffered. Analyzing the Divine Comedy, it is paramount to not that it is not about a mythologized hero but reflection on contemporary person. Dante uses humble language in contextualizing the Christ’s message for the reader access. The poetic ingenuity is great because Dante employs his wit through the verse where meditation, dialogue, theological musing, and cosmology are explored carrying the reader through his or her reading. The comedy fits in the concept of contrapasso in the sense that it reflects on the speaker’s suffering in lack of the knowledge of redemption to eternal light. The suffering in Hell is brought out in the medieval belief and the society has to undergo the divine justice for eternal redemption of the sinners who form the society (1405). Reference Wilkie, B & Hurt, J. (1998). Literature of the Western World: The Ancient World through the Renaissance (5th Ed.). Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall Inc.

Sunday, September 15, 2019

Discuss the problems of the Central Business Districts of MEDC cities

In this essay I will be writing about the Central Business District (CBD), it's problems, and possible solutions to them. Also I will show how the CBD relates to the Burgess and the Hoyt models. The main things that are located in the CBD are: shops, department stores, and office blocks. The main functions of the CBD are commerce, employment and entertainment. The CBD has the widest range of shops, and the highest amount of department stores, as it is very densely populated during the day. People come to the CBD for shopping, as you will have no trouble finding what you are looking for. In the CBD lots of businesses have their offices there. For example: solicitors, banks etc. The entertainment is also located in the CBD. Theaters, cinemas, nightclubs etc. are all located in the Central Business District because it is very highly populated in the evenings/nights. A good example is London's West End. The CBD is located in the same place on both Burgess's and Hoyt's models which is in the middle of the city. (As shown on the diagrams below.) It is located there because it is easily accessible and most of the public transport meets there. Central Business District Central Business District The CBD faces many severe problems due to the high density of people, cars etc. Many of those problems are trying to be solved by the government, but unfortunately so far they have not been successful. One of the major problems is traffic congestion. Traffic congestion is a very big problem that causes not only jammed streets, and delays but also pollution, which is another big problem. Traffic congestions is caused by the fact that the streets and roads where laid down before the car was invented. Back then horse-carriages were in use and the roads were not getting jammed. The other thing that causes this problem is the very high ownership of cars. Many people own more than one car. Many roads are being gridlocked for many minutes or sometimes even hours. Also lots of shops , services and offices are located in the CBD so people want to get to them, so the roads are congested. Some solutions have been attempted to solve the problem. These include: Ring roads, by-passes that divert the traffic from the CBD and instead go around it. It may seem that it would take longer, but that is not the case, as in the CBD you cannot travel fast, there are traffic lights, etc. but on the motorway there are no traffic lights and you can travel much faster so you take less time then you would if you travel through the CBD. An example of a ring-road is the M 25 going around London. It is so successful the government is planning to expand it so each side has 6 lanes, instead of the 3 it has now. Another solution proposed by me, is the banning of heavy lorries from going through the CBD as they take up lots of space and cause congestion. That way there will be more space for cars, and lorries do tend to block streets while turning, etc Also I think that multistory car park and † park and ride† schemes would help to reduce the traffic in the CBD. It would help because people would park their cars in a multistory car park or the would park it on the suburbs of the city and ride to the CBD using public transport, that not only would save them time, but also money because parking in the CBD is very expensive, and it's hard to find a space. In Rio de Janeiro in Brazil they have a scheme in which on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays only cars with an odd last number plate are allowed to drive in the CBD and on the remaining last 3 days, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. On Sunday anyone can drive. I think that this method of reducing cars in the CBD is good and successful for cities in LEDC countries because people can only just about afford one car let alone two. That's why this would not be doing so well in MEDC countries such as England, because people can afford two cars, one with an odd number plate and one with an even number plate so they will be able to drive on any day of the week. The solution attempted by the Mayor of London is † Congestion Charging†. Basically you have to pay 5 pounds so that you can drive into the CBD. This method has been successful in one-way, but yet still there are a lot of cars in the CBD, although some people do choose to go around now, that they have to pay, or they choose to travel by the public transit. I also think that if the government invested some money into improving the public transport drastically, then probably more and more people would choose to travel by it, recognising that it is faster than travelling by car and not so gross. Also another solution that I think would be successful is car sharing. For example I think that some people go to 2 places that are really close to each other, and yet still they take 2 cars, when they could take only one. That would help because there would eventually be less cars around, so there will be less traffic jams, so people will see that it is a good idea because they get to work on time, or maybe even they can sleep for another 10 minutes or so. Furthermore I think that pedestrianization of certain high streets is a good idea. For example Bond Street in London. That way it will encourage people to take the public transport as they won't be able to go on that road in their car anyway, and the pedestrians will have more space so they will move about more freely. Also allowing only â€Å"black taxis† and busses on to certain roads is a good suggestion, because it will also encourage people to take the public transport. In addition I think that introducing bus lanes is an excellent scheme, because the busses won't be stuck in the traffic jams, and they will take up less space because they will have to keep to their lane. That way more people might start to travel by busses, as they will see that it is quicker. This will result in the number of cars on the road to decrease. The second chief problem the CBD is facing is pollution. Pollution is the air that is polluted but also water, land, noise and garbage in the streets. Polluted air causes many diseases such as asthma and bronchitis. Not only it is not healthy for us to breathe in, but also it doesn't look to appealing when car fumes are floating everywhere. Vehicle fumes, especially petrol and diesel, mostly cause polluted air. Cars are the biggest air polluted in the CBD, as there are thousands of them. Traffic congestion makes the pollution even worse because while the car is stopped, it r releases more fumes than it does whilst moving. The government are tackling this problem, but so far they do not seem to succeed in it. In my opinion there are quite a few solutions to this dilemma. Firstly I think that banning heavy lorries (as I mentioned before) is a very good way of reducing pollutions as they give of many fumes and most of them run on diesel, which is very bad for the environment. That way fewer fumes will be released so it will be healthier to live/work there. Secondly I think that if all the busses were running on methane, then it would release less poisonous fumes than diesel. Methane is more environment friendly than petrol or diesel and it won't be so destructive to the surroundings. Thirdly I propose that people start to use bikes more than they do now. For example they could get to work by bike rather than by car. That way not only it would be better fro the environment, but also the people will work on their fitness, and some might find it highly entertaining. In Japan, China, and S/N Korea many people travel by bikes. Bikes are the mean form of transport over there and the atmosphere is cleaner. In addition I think that increased road sweeping can be successful. If the government invested more money into the cleaning processes of the CBD then it would help to solve the problem of pollution. If we had more road sweepers employed and maybe a higher pay for them then the CBD will ultimately be cleaner and the pollution level will drop (hopefully). Like they do in Holland. Also there is lots of garbage left lying around the streets at the end of the day left by coffee shops, cloths stores, restaurants etc. that should be cleaned up immediately, because it attract lots of diseases and looks unpleasantly. Another solution to undertake this problem is to enhance the tree and shrub planting. I think that would be successful, because trees and shrubs photosynthesis producing oxygen so they make the air cleaner. That way we could have more hedges, grass areas etc. and the air will be cleaner. Noise pollution can be sometimes unbearable as well. It is mostly produced by cars, lorries motorbikes etc. There aren't many solutions to this problem. The main thing is to reduce the amount of vehicles driven in the CBD and this is linked with traffic congestion. The further difficulty the CBD faces is the high cost of land. The land in the CBD is very expensive because lots of shops and businesses locate their stores/offices and it's become very cramped. Because of this, the competition some traders have had to leave and re-locate their business out-side the city center. Every business wants to set up there because all the people go there either for shopping, work or entertainment, also its easily accessible. One of the solutions I would attempt is to start building high-rise office blocks on a small area, but tall. That way we save space and money because we only pay for the space we take up on the ground. So now more offices can situate their offices in the city center. Another solution for this conflict is the building of out-of-town shopping centers in the suburbs or the rural-urban fringe. They need to take up lots of space so the land is cheap there so they have the money to build there stores there. People then travel there to and back. This process is called decentralization. Also most of them have free parking which is very attractive to customers, as they don't like paying for the parking space. In conclusion I think that the solution to the CBD's problems are hard to implement because the CBD is very crowded big, and it involved lots of co-operation from all of the people. Furthermore I don't think the CBD will ever get rid of it's problems because it will continue to get bigger and the amount of cars/shops/businesses etc. will always grow, and so will the competition, so it will be impossible to get ride of urban decline , pollution, traffic congestion etc.

Weighted Average Cost of Capital and Midland Energy

Executive Summary: Midland Energy Resources, Inc. is a global energy company with a broad array of products and services. The company operates within three different operations including oil and gas exploration and production (E&P), refining and marketing (R&M), and petrochemicals. Midland has proven to be a very profitable company, with reported operating revenue of $248. 5 billion and operating income of $42. 2 billion. The company has been in business for over 120 years and employed more than 80,000 individuals.Janet Mortensen, the senior vice president of project finance for Midland Energy Resources, has been asked to calculate the weighted average cost of capital (WACC) for the company as a whole, as well as each of its three divisions as part of an annual budgeting process. Midland’s Three Divisions: Exploration & Production Oil exploration and production (E&P) is Midland’s most profitable business, and its net margin over the previous five years was among the hig hest in the industry.With oil prices at historic highs in early 2007, Midland anticipated heavy investment in acquisitions of promising properties, in development of its proved undeveloped reserves, and in expanding production. They also needed to account for competition from areas such as the Middle East, Central Asia, Russia, and West Africa. Refining and Marketing Midland had ownership interests in forty refineries around the world with distillation capacity of five million barrels a day. Measured by revenue, this side of the business was Midland’s largest. The relatively small margin was consistent with a long-term trend in the industry.Margins had declined steadily over the previous twenty years. Petrochemicals Petrochemicals is Midland’s smallest but most promising and undervalued division. Midland owned twenty-five manufacturing facilities and five research centers in eight countries around the world. Capital spending in petrochemicals was expected to grow in th e near term. [Midland Energy Case Analysis] Managerial Finance 1 In order to find the cost of capital for Midland Energy Resources and each of the three divisions within the company, we will need to use the formula or weighted average cost of capital (WACC) which is: ( )( rd= Cost of debt re= Cost of equity D= Market value of debt E= Market value of equity V= D+E= Value of the company (or division) T= Tax rate First, we can calculate â€Å"rd† for each division as it is outlined in the case by adding a premium/spread over US Treasury securities of a similar maturity. In other words: ( The two tables in the case are as follows: Table 1 Business Segment Consolidated E&P R&M Petrochemicals Credit Rating A+ A+ BBB AATable 2 Maturity 1-Year 10-Year 30-Year Rate 4. 54% 4. 66% 4. 8% Debt/Value 42. 2% 46. 0% 31. 0% 40. 0% Spread to Treasury 1. 62% 1. 60% 1. 80% 1. 35% ) ) ( ) *For my calculation, I used the 30-year maturity for E&P, R&M, and Midland as a whole as they take on longer term projects. I used the 1-year for petrochemicals as they tend to take on short term projects. [Midland Energy Case Analysis] Managerial Finance 2 Calculations are as follows: rd for Exploration & Production: rd for Refining & Marketing: rd for Petrochemicals: rd for Midland: Second, we need to calculate â€Å"re† for the three divisions as well as Midland as a whole.To find â€Å"re†, we will use the CAPM model outlined in the case: ( ) In order to solve this equation, we need to find beta for the three divisions. The case already outlines Midland’s overall beta at 1. 25. However, the case does not state the beta for the three divisions. We can calculate this using beta for publicly traded companied outlined in the case. Using the following formula, as well as exhibit 5 in the case, we can calculate beta for the three divisions: * ( ) ( )+ [Midland Energy Case Analysis] Managerial Finance 3 Exhibit 5(from case) Exploration & Production: Jackson Energy, Inc.Wi de Plain Petroleum Corsicana Energy Corp Worthington Petroleum Average Refining & Marketing: Bexar Energy, Inc. Kirk Corp. White Point Energy Petrarch Fuel Services Arkana Petroleum Corp. Beaumont Energy, Inc. Dameron Fuel Services Average Midland Energy Resources Equity Market Value 57,931 46,089 42,263 27,591 Net Debt 6,480 39,375 6,442 13,098 D/E 11. 20% 85. 40% 15. 20% 47. 50% 39. 80% Equity Beta 0. 89 1. 21 1. 11 1. 39 1. 15 LTM Revenue 18,512 17,827 14,505 12,820 LTM Earnings 4,981 8,495 4,467 3,506 60,356 15,567 9,204 2,460 18,363 32,662 48,796 6,200 3,017 1,925 -296 5,931 6,743 24,525 0. 30% 19. 40% 20. 90% 12. 00% 32. 30% 20. 60% 50. 30% 20. 30% 1. 7 0. 94 1. 78 0. 24 1. 25 1. 04 1. 42 1. 2 160,708 67,751 31,682 18,874 49,117 59,989 58,750 9,560 1,713 1,402 112 3,353 1,467 4,646 134,114 79,508 59. 30% 1. 25 251,003 18,888 Again the calculation to find Asset ? is: * Equity ? for Midland= 1. 25 ( ) ( )+ Equity ? for E&P= 0. 93*[1+ (1-39. 73%)*85. 19%] =1. 41 Equity? for R&M= 1. 05*[1+ (1-39. 73%)*44. 93%] = 1. 33 *85. 19% and 44. 93% come from Exhibit 1 in the case In order to get Equity ? for Petrochemicals, we will need to take a weighted average of the three divisions.The equation would be as follows: (w1, w2, w3 are based on the total assets of a division divided by Midland’s total assets). To find this, we will use the numbers from Exhibit 3 in the case: [Midland Energy Case Analysis] Managerial Finance 4 2004 E&P 76,866 R&M 60,688 Petro 19,943 Midland 157,497 2005 125,042 2006 140,100 Avg 114,002. 67 91,629 93,829 82,048. 67 28,000 28,450 25,464. 33 244,671 262,378 221,515. 33 Calculation for w1-3: W1= 114,002. 67/221,515. 33= 0. 51 W2= 82,048. 67/221525. 33= 0. 37 W3= 25,464. 33/221,515. 33= 0. 2 Now we can use the formula from before to find the ? for Petrochemicals: Lastly, we need to find EMRP to find â€Å"re† for Midland and the three divisions. We can find our EMRP number by looking at exhibit 6 in the case: Period 1987-2006 1 967-2006 1926-2006 1900-2006 1872-2006 1798-2006 Average excess return US Equities – T-Bonds 6. 4% 4. 8% 7. 1% 6. 8% 5. 9% 5. 1% Standard Error 3. 7% 2. 6% 2. 2% 1. 9% 1. 6% 1. 2% I will choose to use the average return from the time period of 1798-2006. That is the longest sample size in regards to time, as well as having the lowest standard of error.I will round down to 5% for ease of calculation: [Midland Energy Case Analysis] Managerial Finance 5 ( â€Å"re† for Midland= 4. 98%+5%*1. 25= 11. 23% â€Å"re† for E&P= 4. 98%+5%*1. 41= 12. 03% â€Å"re† for R&M= 4. 98%+5%*1. 33= 11. 63% â€Å"re† for Petrochemicals= 4. 54%+5%*0. 32= 6. 14% ) With this information, we are able to finally calculate the weighted average cost of capital (WACC) for Midland and the 3 divisions of the company. The formula and calculations are as follows: ( )( ) ( ) *D/V are provided in Table 1 for Midland, E&P, R&M, and Petrochemicals. They are 42. 2%, 46. %, 31. 0%, 40. 0 % respectively. WACC-cost of capital we need: WACC for E&P: ( =8. 32% WACC for R&M: ( =9. 29% WACC for Petrochemicals: ( =5. 10% WACC for Midland: ( =9. 17% [Midland Energy Case Analysis] Managerial Finance 6 ) ) ) ) The cost of capital (as shown above) will differ for the three divisions because the business operates in different industries. By being in different industries, the companies have different risk exposure and betas, while also having different credit ratings. All of these components will affect a company’s cost of capital differently.Further Analysis: Mortensen’s estimates were used for many things including performance assessments, mergers and acquisition proposals, stock repurchases, asset appraisals, and financial accounting. As stated in the case, cost of capital is a very important component in WACC calculations. These calculations were being used to evaluate at a divisional level as well as at a corporate level as a whole. In my calculations for the case, I solved for both levels. In regards to Midland’s corporate WACC, Mortensen computed the cost of debt for each division by adding a premium (or â€Å"spread†) over U.S. Treasury securities with an appropriate maturity depending on the division. For Exploration and Production (E&P), Refining and Marketing (R&M), as well as Midland as a corporation, Mortensen used a 30 year maturity TBond assumption as those divisions tended to focus on longer term projects. She decided on a 1 year T-Bond maturity assumption for Petrochemicals as they tended to focus on shorter term projects. Another assumption was that the tax rate (39. 73%) remained constant throughout the case as well as an EMRP of 5%.The EMRP was based on exhibit 6 of the case which examined TBonds during a certain period of time and with a certain standard of error. With a very low standard of error (based on the chart) and advisors, bankers, and investors covering the industry agreeing with 5% as an estimate, I believe the estimate to be appropriate. Analysts on the industry, bankers, and investors tend to have a broader look on companies within an industry as a whole. Lastly, Midland should not use a single corporate hurdle rate for evaluating investment opportunities in all of its divisions because each division is different.Midland is too large of a corporation, with different divisions, each containing its own unique set of risks. Due to the fact that the risk for each division will be different, I believe the corporate hurdle rates for those divisions should also be different to reflect a more accurate corporate assessment. I believe Mortensen did a great job with the information she was presented with in the case and I believe Midland Energy will continue to be a prominent company within the industry. [Midland Energy Case Analysis] Managerial Finance 7

Saturday, September 14, 2019

Heritage Assessment Assignment Essay

Growing up, it never was as apparent that the families and friends that you associated with shared different beliefs, were from different cultures, and were just different from you and from your family. Children do not tend to recognize such differences, but as growing adults it becomes ever apparent that being â€Å"different† and accepting these differences is just a part of life. Perhaps kids just do it without thinking about it? Heritage assessments promote understanding of another’s beliefs, traditions, health practices, as well as helping to better understand one’s own heritage. This paper will address and identify the common health traditions based on cultural heritage of three culturally different families by using the heritage assessment tool. Nice intro! Heritage assessments are very important tools in regards to evaluation of a person as a whole and targeting aspects of a person that may not be as evident or understood if not properly assessed. Attempting to assess and learn about one’s heritage is useful in determining one’s core beliefs and understanding the significance of how their heritage and culture plays a part of whom they are and what they believe. Identifying one’s heritage can assist in understanding their current cultural practices and why they may practice certain beliefs. The culture in which we are raised or in which we work greatly influences our beliefs, values, and behaviors. Assessing our individual cultural heritage is the first and most important step to identifying what may cultivate or block our communication with and care of a person from another culture (Wintz, 2009). The heritage assessment was an important tool in providing a deeper understanding of the families that were interviewed. These families appeared to be from different cultures while also having different backgrounds and beliefs. While it was apparent that these families might have some similarities, it was expected that more differences would be discovered. Comparisons of common health practices such  as health maintenance, health protection and health restoration would be assessed. These health practices assessed would be evaluated in a more complete technique, as these health practices would be assessed in the physical, mental and spiritual sense. The three families that were interviewed were the Smith family, the Scott family and the Martinez family. Health maintenance is basically the traditional beliefs and practices, such as daily health-related activities, diet, exercise, rest used to maintain health (CULTURALCARE Guide, n.d.). The three families that were assessed provided different insight to their views of health maintenance. The Smith and the Scott family viewed health maintenance in a more similar manner due to their religious beliefs being similar, as they both identified themselves as being a part of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS). However, even though the Smith and Scott family shared similar religious beliefs, there were apparent differences in their health maintenance routines. The Smith family comes from a mixed background of Hispanic and German heritage. They are very conscientious of their physical health in regards to diet and nutrition, as they make intense efforts to exercise multipl e times a week and cook highly nutritious meals. They closely follow their church’s counsel on choosing healthy foods, avoiding alcohol, tobacco and other harmful substances to the body and going to bed and arising early. On the other hand, the Scott family whose heritage is dominantly English/Caucasian does not fully observe the importance of exercise, proper nutrition and proper sleeping habits in their daily routines. They do not show a strong emphasis on exercising and often eat fast food and make unhealthy nutritional choices and tend to stay up late and sleep more than is needful, which slightly goes contrary to their church’s beliefs. However, the Scott family does choose to avoid tobacco, alcohol and other harmful substances to the body like the Smith family. The Smith and the Scott family closely identified their religious practices in the LDS church as an important staple of health maintenance, in the spiritual aspect, as both families are active in their church and attend their meetings at least once a week. While the Martinez family considers themselves somewhat religious with their Catholic beliefs, they didn’t correlate their religious beliefs with their health maintenance practices. The Martinez family does not often promote exercise in their family or  healthy nutritional habits. However, in opposition of the Scott family, the Martinez family rarely eats fast food and often prepares homemade meals. But, the Martinez family has Mexican heritage and cooking with lard and fats are a big staple in Mexican food cooking and did not consider their cooking as healthy. They considered themselves to be social drinkers and habitual tobacco users, as they were raised with these substances in their households. The aspect of health protection was more important in the Smith and Scott’s family’s health practices but was not as duly noted in the health practices observed in the Martinez family. Health protection is defined as important activities of public health that eliminate possible risk of adverse consequences to health attributable to environmental hazards (Public Health, n.d.). The Smith and Scott family closely related that by avoiding the usage of tobacco and alcohol as well as other harmful substances (drugs, etc.) this would aid in protecting their health. However, the Smith family also attributed frequent prayer and church attendance as means of protecting their health, while the Scott family did not show such correlation during the interview. The Scott’s mainly focused on the physical side of health protection, rather than the spiritual side. The Martinez Family viewed health protection in slightly different ways than the other families. They often wore crosses around their necks because they believed this offered protection to them, as the cross symbolizes Jesus Christ’s dying for mankind on the cross. They believe that Jesus Christ will protect them in their health if they have faith. They do not believe in the nutritional aspects of health protection as much as the spiritual aspects. They do believe that by observing the practice of à ¢â‚¬Å"Lent† once a year that this will aid in health protection. Therefore, the Smith and Martinez closely related health protection with their religious practices. Health restoration is defined as traditional beliefs and practices concerning the activities, such as folk remedies, modern medicine and healers, that must be used to restore health (CULTURALCARE Guide, n.d.). In regards to health restoration, the Smith family was the only family that preferred to use a trained medical doctor in the healing of their ailments, as they have great health insurance and believe strongly in the healthcare system. The Scott family focused mainly on natural remedies for healing in regards to health restoration, as these practices have been passed down from generation to  generation. The Scott family does not have health insurance. The Martinez also does not have health insurance. The Martinez family primarily focuses on the body’s own strength in healing itself and does not readil y accept modern medicines used in today’s healthcare system. The Martinez family was the only family open to the use of an exorcist when healing is not achieved, as they believed that demons could consume the body to make one sick or afflicted. The three families views of health restoration showed more differences than similarities. The traditions observed were closely related to the Martinez Family’s Mexican heritage, as they identified themselves closely with the Mexican culture and traditions. The Martinez family supports many of their culture’s traditions as it relates to their Mexican heritage. They viewed the holiday of â€Å"Dia de los Muertos† as one of their most cherished holidays, as the holiday focuses on the assembly of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died. The Martinez family had great respect and appreciation for their ancestors and for their Mexican heritage. However, the Smith and Scott family’s cultural beliefs were more so influenced by their religious beliefs, rather than by their diverse heritage backgrounds. The Smith and Scott Family chose Christmas and Easter as more cherished observed traditions, as the LDS church focuses on the importance of these holidays. It was apparent that the Smith family showed more inter est in their religious backgrounds and history of their religion, rather than their actual heritage. The Smith family was also a relatively â€Å"new† addition to the LDS church as their ancestors were not of the LDS faith; rather they were of the Catholic faith. However, the Scott family had ancestors that were a part of the LDS church ever since the church was first organized in 1830. However, despite the history of membership that the Scott family had, the Smith family proved to be more devout to the LDS church in every aspect of the church’s beliefs. The identification of the health traditions and practices that were observed by these families aided in my own personal cultural heritage understanding, as I could relate to each family in at least a few ways. My respect for various cultures grew and I was also more inclined to accept and have deeper respect for my own heritage and culture. I enjoyed reading your analysis of the three families you  interviewed. References: CULTURALCARE Guide. (n.d.). CULTURALCARE Guide. Retrieved March 9, 2014, from http://wps.prenhall.com/chet_spector_cultural_7/94/24265/6211875.cw/index.html Catholic Online. (n.d.). FAQs About Lent. Easter / Lent. Retrieved March 10, 2014, from http://www.catholic.org/clife/lent/faq.php Cultural Diversity in Nursing Practice. (n.d.). Cultural Diversity in Nursing Practice. Retrieved March 9, 2014, from http://www.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/Policy-Advocacy/Positions-and-Resolutions/ANAPositionStatements/Position-Statements-Alphabetically/prtetcldv14444.html Public Health Agency of Canada. (n.d.). Glossary of Terms. Retrieved March 10, 2014, from http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/php-psp/ccph-cesp/glos-eng.php#h Wintz, S. (2009, July 1). Cultural & Spiritual Sensitivity . A Learning Module for Health A Learning Module for Health Care Professionals Care Professionals . Retrieved March 8, 2014, from http://www.healthcarechaplaincy.org/userimages/Cultural_Spiritual_Sensitivity_Learning_ %20Module%207-10-09.pdf

Friday, September 13, 2019

Legal Case studies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Legal Case studies - Essay Example It has been met because the professor "has written the President requesting that he reject the department's and Dean's negative recommendations". The operative word in this case scenario is "recommendation". The university colleagues did not fire the professor. Rather they only recommended that the professor not receive tenure. Presumably, because this is a public university, there would be an established and published university policy that regulates academic freedom, tenure and due process. While this would seem like a broad stroke philosophy it must be detailed within the faculty and administrative guidelines or handbooks. In order to insure that students are able to advance in the knowledge and understanding of their fields, it is important that professors feel free to discuss issues without having worry about censure. Freedom of inquiry is achieved through research, discussion, and publication teaching, learning free from internal or external restraints that would unreasonably restrict their academic endeavors. Apparently the university policy is that these goals are reached through a multi disciplinary approach. Accordingly, if the professor is not willing to explore the the multidisciplinary approach then he is violating university policy. ... In conclusion, so long as the president of the university can make his decision based upon intelligent feedback and his own wisdom, he is not abusing his discretion. He is in fact working well within his own parameters and there should be no legal consequences, whatever decision he makes. The professor would be ill advised to commence proceedings based upon this fact pattern. Paper 2 In the CPM, read the case Urofsky v. Gilmore and answer Questions 2 and 3 2. The various opinions issued by the en banc court in Urofsky provide an instructive debate, and an interesting array of viewpoints, on academic freedom and professors' First Amendment free speech rights. Compare and contrast the various opinions. Which opinion, or parts of opinions, present(s) the soundest reasoning The most perceptive analysis The most constructive approach to the problem I think that the balancing test applied in this case is a good introduction to what should be regulated, but it is not complete. It is difficult to reach a decision which maintains the equality of rights but also reasonably and realistically applies how those rights are defended. It is true that university professors are employees and that the words they speak are spoken "on company time". The fact remains however that they fit into an entirely different category from their non-faculty state employees or actors in many material points. Firstly, they are wearing two hats in the scope of their employment. They are teaching but they are also contributing through their research. It is through their research that their students and consequently the university advance. Secondly, there is not handbook that

Thursday, September 12, 2019

Management of hypoglycemia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Management of hypoglycemia - Essay Example Diabetes is increasingly common throughout the world.Its prevalence is well over 5% in many developed countries and is rising in the United Kingdom.While talking about its prevalence,it is to be remembered that diabetes is caused by our genes and our personal environment, which is created by our lifestyles. For people with diabetes, whether type 1 or type 2, the disorder can have a profound influence on all aspects of life and can affect most organs of the body. There is no cure for diabetes, and once occurs, it is present for life. The increasing appreciation throughout the healthcare industry for clinical decisions to be driven by sound scientific evidence represents an opportunity for the patients, practitioners, and healthcare planners alike in that it shapes the delivery of care on the basis of evidence of effectiveness. The past two decades have seen considerable progress in producing evidence to support treatments aimed at reducing the risk of diabetes and its complications. T his indicates a shift of focus from treatment of effects to treatment of cause, where prophylactic interventions are more important than just therapeutic measures. This means caregiving now does not await the disease to happen; rather, the care tends to identify population or individual who would develop diabetes in a later life (Foster, 1998, p 2069-2070).Definitions: Diabetes mellitus occurs either because of lack of insulin or because of the presence of factors that oppose the action of insulin. Therefore, it can be defined as a chronic disease caused by inherited and/or acquired deficiency in production of insulin by the pancreas or by the ineffectiveness of the insulin that is produced. The result of insufficient action of insulin is an increase in blood glucose concentration or hyperglycaemia. This increased glucose would damage many of the body systems, most significantly blood vessels and nerves. Data from genetic, epidemiological, and aetiologic studies have led to the impr ovement of the understanding of the aetiology and pathogenesis of diabetes. From my experience in the clinical placement, I have come across patients during clinical practice with varied presentations. Whatever may be the mode of diagnosis, persistently elevated plasma glucose in the fasting state would lead to the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus even if the patient is asymptomatic. In the ward while working with the patients of diabetes, frequent monitoring of plasma glucose and adjusting the diet or medication is a normal routine nursing activity. I have see a venous plasma glucose concentration of 140 mg/dL in at least two separate occasions or plasma glucose concentration of 200 mg/dL 2 hours following ingestion of 75 g of glucose would constitute a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus(Foster, 1998, p 2080). Insulin: Diabetes is treated with insulin in the inpatients with or without oral hypoglycaemic agents. Since the disease at least partly results from insulin deficit, insulin is required for many patients with diabetes mellitus type 2. If no oral agents are used for treatment, all diet-responsive type 2 diabetics must be treated with insulin. My observation suggests that it is fairly easy to control the symptoms of diabetes with insulin, and as a nurse working in the ward, I know it is difficult to maintain a normal blood sugar throughout the day even with the use of multiple injections. It is also to be mentioned that the patient treated with insulin by injection cannot reproduce the physiologic changes in a normal patient in response to a diet load. Thus, if enough insulin is given to keep the postprandial glucose normal, too much insulin will be present during the postabsorptive phase, and hypoglycaemia will result. As a result, insulin therapy is guided mainly by adjustments