Monday, September 30, 2019

Globalisation Is a Euphamism for Neo-Colonialism

Globalisation is a euphemism for neo-colonialism. Discuss. Globalisation is a complex and multifaceted issue (Bayliss 2008:252). However, this essay will on the imbalance between western powers and the developing world and consequential exploitation, which, rather than being condemned as neo-colonialism, is justified as globalisation. The end of colonial rule did not mark the end of the trend of economic control and exploitation of the developing world (Manzo 2009:267).The cultural, political and economic effects of globalisation upon the developing world resemble that of neo-colonial power – an inequality that is defended by the benevolence of neo-liberalism and egalitarianism of the free market. This essay will focus on the cultural and political international dominance of the west and economic partiality of globalised institutions, referring to IR theories of globalisation defending it as beneficial (Bayliss 2008:248, Pasha 2009:330) and condemning it as capitalist imperial ism.Colonialism describes a period of expansion and exploitation by European powers spanning the 15th to 20th Century, the ‘political control, physical occupation, and domination of people†¦ and their land’ (Crawford 2002:131). Between 1946 and 1976 European powers granted independence to all their colonies. However, Horvath writing in 1972 argues that neo-colonialism swiftly followed its predecessor (Horvath 1972:46).Neo-colonialism implies that whilst post-colonial states attained nominal sovereignty within the international system, they remain dependent upon western powers and are subsequently politically controlled, culturally conditioned and economically exploited (Nkrumah 1968:x-xii). States with the ‘†¦outward trappings of international sovereignty’ but in reality have their ‘economic system and thus its political policy†¦ directed from outside. ’ (Nkrumah 1968:xi)Globalization can be defined as the expansion of ‘wor ldwide interconnectedness’; where states integrate and supranational institutions are formed. Whilst stronger states control their involvement, weaker states are forced to integrate, being influenced rather than influencing (Bayliss 2008:255). Neo-liberalism argues integration is beneficial (Bayliss 2008:249, Sorenson 1997:10) globalization will ‘restructure the world economy without the need for interventionist policies’ creating equality within a competitive free market (Hirst 1999:134).World-system theory however, describes monopoly capitalism where rich ‘core’ states exploit ‘peripheral’ poorer states, essentially an international class system (Bayliss 2008:147, Wallerstein: 1989). Realist thought, would argue that powerful states merely use the globalised system for their own benefit (Waltz 1979). Globalization could therefore be seen as an ‘instrument for imperialism’ favoring strong capitalist states (Bayliss 2008:153 ) essentially a euphemism for neo-colonialism. Democracy is promoted through globalization based upon neoliberal ideals of humanities right to ‘libertarian happiness’ (Morgenthau 1960:100).The political weight of Western thought, and the professed moral legitimacy of its international promotion highlights a neo-colonial dominance (Nkrumah 1968:ix), The Western world believes international co-operation can only safely occur between liberal democratic states (Owen 1994:96). ‘Separate peace’ (Doyle 1986:1151), co-operation solely between liberal democracies, can be seen through EU accession criteria (Europa 2010:Copenhagen Criteria) and ENP policy (DeBardeleben 2008:21) and IMF and World Bank loan policy (Cogan 2009:211). Imposing Western political principles using economic incentive.Here, humanitarian aid is a gift of neo-colonialism; foreign capital used for the exploitation rather than the development of the third world (Nkrumah 1968:x) For Western powers f orce is often a necessary option against illiberal states (Hoffman 1995:31) Owen 1994:97). US involvement in Afghanistan and Iraq has been motivated by the desire to spread democracy and ensure security (Owen 1994:125-127). This power politics contradicts equality of neo-liberal co-operation in globalization suggesting political homogeneity imposed by an imperialist force.Realists argue that states espouse humanitarian motives as a pretext to cover the pursuit of national self-interest (Franck and Rodley 1973). Nato selectivity of response in Kosovo (1999) failing to act in Sudan (Bayliss 2008:527) and the illegitimate intervention of France in Rwanda (1994) expose a flawed international justice, where Western powers act without restraint. In 2005 the UN adopted the ‘responsibility to protect’, giving itself legitimate right act upon human rights breaches. This is one of many examples of nternational institutions imposing Western political and moral ethics justified by an international responsibility (Morgan 1972:33-34); a practice widely accepted in Western public opinion (Reisman 1985:279-80). Globalization is essentially creating an international super power that transcends state borders possessing hegemony on moral and political principles with a self-legitimised right to enforce them. Defenders of globalization suggest the international community is one of shared and defended values.However, these values are presented by the West, who misuse this influence to intervene without justification. Globalization has allowed for an increased flow of culture and traditions internationally. However, this flow has not been evenhanded, media dominance of Western powers dwarfing smaller states. The advanced nature of US media and sheer weight of capital has created ‘Media Imperialism’ (Sklair 2002:167) where the developed world is flooded by broadcasting promoting Western products, creating an externally dictated popular culture.The consequen ce is a developed world dominated by Western products e. g. Coco cola; the best selling drink in the world (Coca Cola 2010). Under the theory of neo-colonialism, neo-colonial states are obliged to purchase manufactured products from imperial powers to the deficit of local products (Nkrumah 1968:ix). The culture and products of powerful societies are not imposed upon weak societies by force or occupation (Crawford 2002:131, Sklair 2002:168) but underhandedly via an internationally dominant media ‘limited to Anglo-American interests’ (Lee 1980:82).Whilst globalization arguably encourages multiculturalism (Bayliss 2008:423), a disparate International system has created a dominant culture within the global community (Kymlicka 1991:182) that exploits its status to the demise of the developing world (Golding and Harris 1997). Colonialism saw a moral arrogance with missionaries striving to create ‘a replica of ones own country upon the natives’ (Emerson 1969:13-14 ) a ‘noble purpose of saving the wretched. ‘ (Horvath 1972:46) Colonial powers occupied weaker states, imposing culture, religion and values based upon a superiority of power, policing and governing without legitimacy (Crawford 002:131-133). Similarly neo-colonialism operates in ‘political, religious, ideological and cultural spheres’ where the powerful ‘transform â€Å"the other† into oneself’ (Toje 2008:83) based on moral conceit. Globalisation has revealed conformity to Western democracy and culture, whether it has been received or enforced is the issue of debate. Globalisation as ‘interconnectedness’ (Bayliss 2008:252) economically the ‘integration of national economies into global markets’ (Todaro 2000:713) is driven by economic growth.The creation of the international free market intended to have a beneficial effect on developing countries (Hirst 1999:134) ‘shifting power away from developed countries to the rest of the world’ (Martin 1997:12). However, free market competition creates losers, often the most vulnerable ‘feminized’ states (Peterson 2009:287). Whilst globalisation did not create inequality, the solution for development was flawed, merely worsening the imbalance (Peterson 2009:287) – arguably, colonialism creating inequality, neo-colonialism maintaining it (Horvath 1972:46).Realists believe states only benefit at other states expense (Art, Waltz: 1988:67-68) suggesting neo-liberal ideas of development would harm the developed nations. Whilst international economic institutions such as the WTO, IMF and World Bank are intended to maintain free trade and assist developing countries, they have often been accused actually maintaining inequality (Peterson 2009:291) for the benefit of elites (Gray 1998, Greider 1997). A free market is intended to be free, impartial and competitive (Bayliss 2008:249). However, the rules of world trade are created, and therefore weighted in favor of rich countries.For example, trade-related aspects of international policy rights require international patent protection favour firms based in the Western World who hold 90% of patents forcing expensive products on the developed world who cannot produced their own low cost versions, the worst example being that of patented medicine (Watkins 2002:78). The double standards of the free market are also apparent in trade tariffs (Anderson 2006:147-159). Northern governments promote free trade and use the IMF and World Bank to impose import liberalization on poor states (Romano 2004:1012).Yet they refuse to open their own markets, south-north export trade tariffs cost developing countries $10 billion annually, twice the amount they receive from humanitarian aid (Watkins 2002:79). International economic institutions are essentially governed by Western powers – the World bank presidential post dominated by American citizens since its creation, not based on votes but informal agreements between the US and European stakeholders (Cogan 2009:209) Since the outset the US has shown dominance (Gowa 1983) creating the ‘Bretton Woods system’ in 1944 and causing its breakdown, in 1971 (Bayliss 2008:245).The competition of the free market, handicapped against the third world by dishonest steward of international economic institutions has allowed for economic hegemony – post-colonial states remaining dependant upon their ‘former masters’ (Young 2001:45). Marxist theories fit alarmingly with criticisms of globalization, World System Theory and Dependency Theory showing resources flowing from â€Å"periphery† of poor, underdeveloped states to a â€Å"core† of wealthy states (Bayliss 2008:147). Poor states are ‘impoverished and rich ones enriched’ by the way poor states are forced into the globalised world system (Blomstrom 1984:8-45).Lenin’s work Imperialism, The Highest st age of Capitalism shows a ‘capitalist monopoly’, essentially neo-colonial ‘periphery’ at the bottom of a tiered international system, a system Marxist’s would argue is essentially globalisation (Bayliss 2008:157). However, unlike colonialism globalization has arguably empowered ideas above states, giving the defenders of ‘neo-colonial’ states a louder voice. Social Constructivism argues that globalisation is far deeper than interaction between states (Snyder 2004:60).Whilst colonialism remained acceptable for centuries, the exploitation and imbalance of the current world system does not go unnoticed, numerous NGOs pressuring government institutions and operating independently as aid organizations. Globalisation has created an imbalanced world system retaining North-South divides that emerged during Colonialism (Horvath 1972:46). Whilst neo-liberal free markets aimed to resolve the inequalities, Realism argues flaws and bias within the cu rrent international system were retained and created as to ensure the Western powers remained economically powerful over the developing world (Emerson 1969:15).Emerson claims it would be a ‘turning point in history’ for global systems not to bring forth a ‘new imperialism and new colonialism’ (Emerson 1969:16). The cultural and moral dominance of Western powers and active promotion of values, for the ‘benefit’ of the developing world however, is a far more malevolent sign that globalization is a euphemism for neo-colonialism (Nkrumah 1968:xi). Bibliography Articles J. Cogan (2009) ‘Representation and Power in International Organization: The Operational Constitution and Its Critics’ The American Journal of International Law, Vol. 03, No. 2, pp. 209-263 R. Emerson (1969) ‘Colonialism’, Journal of Contemporary History, Vol. 4, No. 1, pp. 3-16 J. Horvath (1972) ‘A Definition of Colonialism’ Current Anthropolog y, Vol. 13, No. 1, pp. 45-57 J. M. Owen, (1994) ‘How Liberalism Produces Democratic Peace’, International Security, Vol. 19, No. 2 (Autumn, 1994). pp. 87-125. D. Roman, R. Sandbrook (2004) ‘Globalisation, extremism and violence in poor countries’ Third World Quarterly, Vol. 25, No. 6, pp. 1007-1030. K. Watkins (2002) ‘Is the WTO Legit? ’ Foreign Policy, No. 132, pp. 78-79 J.Snyder (2004) ‘One World, Rival Theories’ Foreign Policy, No. 145, pp. 62-62. Books J. Art and K. Waltz (ed. ) (1988) The use of force London: University press of America. N. Crawford (2002) Argument and Change in World Politics, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press J. DeBardeleben (2008) The boundaries of EU Enlargement, Basingstoke: Palgrave MacMillan P. Hirst, G. Thompson (1999) Globalization question, Cambridge: Polity Press S. Hoffman (1987) Janus and Minerva Essays in the Theory and Practice of International Politics, Boulder: Westview Press. W.Greider (1 997) One World Ready or Not: The Manic Logic of Global Capitalism, New York: Simon and Schuster J. Gray (1998) False Dawn: The Delusions of Global Capitalism. London: Granta Books J. Gowa (1983) Closing the Cold Window, New York: Cornell University Press W. Kymlicka (1991) Liberalism Community and Culture, Oxford: Clarendon Press K. Nkrumah (1965) Neo-colonialism : the last stage of imperialism, London: Nelson C. Lee (1980) Media Imperialism Reconsidered: The Homogenizing of Television Culture California: Sage L. Sklair (2002) Globalization, Capitalism and its alternatives, New York: Oxford University Press M.Todaro (2000) Economic Development, Harlow: Addison Wesley Longman A. Toje (2008) America, The EU and Strategic Culture London: Routledge R. Young (2001) ‘Post-colonialism: An Historical Introduction' Book Chapters K. Manzo (2009) ‘Do colonialism and slavery belong to the past’ (ed. ) J. Edkins, M. Zehfuss, Global Politics and new introduction, London: Routle dge, pp. 244-271. V. Peterson (2009) ‘How is the world organized economically? ’ (ed. ) J. Edkins, M. Zehfuss, Global Politics and new introduction, London: Routledge, pp. 271-294. M. Pasha (2009) ‘How can we end poverty’ (ed. J. Edkins, M. Zehfuss, Global Politics and new introduction, London: Routledge, pp. 320-344 K. Anderson (2006) ‘Subsidies and Trade Barriers’ (ed. ) Bjorn Lomborg How to Spend $50 to Make the World a Better Place, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 147-159. A. Bellamy, N. Wheeler (2008) ‘Humanitarian Intervention in World Politics’ (ed. ) John Baylis, Steve Smith, Patricia Owens The Globalization of world politics New York: Oxford university press. pp. 522-538. S. Hobden, R. Wyn Jones (2008) ‘Marxist theories of International Relations’ (ed. John Baylis, Steve Smith, Patricia Owens The Globalization of world politics New York: Oxford university press. pp. 142-157. N. Woods (2008) ‘I nternational political economy in an age of globalization’ (ed. ) John Baylis, Steve Smith, Patricia Owens The Globalization of world politics New York: Oxford university press. pp. 244-258 Websites Coco-Cola Company, http://www. coca-cola. com/index. jsp Europa, Copenhagen Criteria, http://europa. eu/scadplus/glossary/accession_criteria_copenhague_en. htm Europa, ENP policy, http://ec. europa. eu/world/enp/policy_en. htm

Sunday, September 29, 2019

My Scary Experience

Seven months ago, in Pan Rang, Vietnam I took a scary experience for a herd of mice at my house. Those happened with my mother, my sister and me. First, my mother, young sister and I heard noises above the ceiling and the kitchen. Then, we were finding them, and I discovered the black chits on the corners, floors and in the pans in kitchen. Moreover, my little sister found a pink baby mouse lying on the toilet, and she said that:† It's so cute†. That which I couldn't stand and I felt them really terrible. We told our mother and cleaned all of them.Next, in the morning, my little sister and I set the mouse traps and glue- boards in the corners around inside house, at holes in front of the door and on the cooking- stove. However, we thought the difficulty things to catch all of them that mice living on the ceiling, and they moved down on the pipes. Also, they went on the walls and went down many different ways. On the other hand, mice were the smart animals so we were hard to deal with them. In addition, my mother saw a lot of mice In the traps and some struggling on the glue- boards.Then, she told my young sister and me put them under sunshine, which made them die, and brought them to the garbage. I wore rubber gloves and I must hold their stomach to take them away glue. If some were alive, I could feel them move and breathe. In fact, I was so scary and seemingly, I could cry right away. That herd of mice was decreased. However, we moved to another house. My mother, my young sister and I absolutely had a scary experience about finding and catching mice but we calmed down and found the good ways to work around. No matter what happens to another, I will be ready to face and derive valuable experience.

Saturday, September 28, 2019

College Board ACT Release Official Concordance Tables

If you’re planning to apply to most colleges in the United States, you’ll need to take at least one of the two major standardized tests of college readiness: the ACT and the SAT. Since most colleges accept both tests and treat them equally, a typical applicant pool will consist of students who took either test, or even both. These variations in testing present a problem for colleges evaluating applicants, especially since the two tests have completely different scoring systems. If one student takes only the SAT and receives a score of 1400, for example, and another student takes only the ACT and receives a score of 32, how is a college to decide which student had the stronger test performance? That’s where concordance tables become important. The overarching ACT organization and the College Board (which administers the SAT) come together regularly to create these tables, which offer an official basis for comparison between SAT and ACT scores. As of June 14, 2018, this newest edition of the ACT/SAT concordance tables has been released to the public, and you can view the report online here . In this post, we’ll cover the differences between the SAT and the ACT, how to read the official concordance tables, and what you need to know about how this report might affect your college admissions process. As you probably know, the ACT and the SAT are both standardized tests that are intended to measure your readiness for college on a scale that allows for comparisons with high school students throughout the United States. While the two tests have the same basic purpose, they go about it in slightly different ways. We’ve covered this before in our post   SAT vs ACT: Everything You Need to Know , but we’ll go over a few of the most notable differences here. One visible difference between these standardized tests is that the ACT has a science section, while the SAT does not. Another is that your answers on the ACT are translated into a scoring scale that goes up to 36, while the SAT’s scoring system goes up to 1600. You may have heard that the SAT’s approach to testing is more about logic and problem-solving, while the ACT is more focused on learning specific content. In the past, this has been true, but after many years of changes, the current versions of the two tests don’t show much of a difference in this area. Historically, the ACT has been more popular in the Midwest and Southern regions of the U.S., while the SAT was more often preferred by students and colleges on the East and West Coasts. Nowadays, however, colleges in the U.S. will generally accept either test to meet application requirements, and many students choose to take both. Since colleges consider the SAT and the ACT equally, your choice of which test to take won’t in itself give you an advantage in the admissions process. However, you may find that you’re better suited to one test’s approach than to the other’s, and can achieve a comparatively higher score. The ACT/SAT concordance tables can help you make this comparison, or simply estimate how well you’re likely to do on the other test. Concordance tables are exactly what they sound like: tables where you can look up your score on either the SAT or the ACT and find out what score would be roughly equivalent on the other test. This is an estimate, based on the average performance of a large number of past test-takers, but it can provide you with some useful information about your test performance. The ACT/SAT concordance tables are updated every time changes are made to one of the tests involved. This 2018 report was triggered by changes made to the SAT in 2016. In the past two years, the College Board and the ACT have gathered and analyzed data from real test-takers and come to an updated set of conclusions about how, on average, the two tests compare. Our students see an average increase of 250 points on their SAT scores. All colleges have access to these concordance tables and are encouraged to use them in the admissions process. Colleges can use concordance tables to compare students who only took the SAT to students who only took the ACT as one of many factors in making admissions decisions. The tables are officially sanctioned by both testing organizations, which also helps to ensure consistency in how different colleges across the U.S. evaluate your scores. Official concordance tables are available broken down by test section, but most students will primarily be interested in the table that compares overall ACT composite scores (out of 36) to total SAT scores (out of 1600). Since the scales are so different, a range of corresponding SAT scores is given for each ACT composite score. We’ve reproduced part of that concordance table below for your convenience. As you can see, in most cases, an increase of one point on the ACT scoring scale typically corresponds to an increase of about 30 points on the SAT scoring scale. However, the concordance table shows that this isn’t consistent across the entire score range, so it’s important to refer back to the chart for the most accurate comparison. The Guide to the 2018 ACT/SAT Concordance from the College Board and the ACT also includes more detailed concordance tables for specific ACT and SAT test sections as well as information and instructions for interpreting and using these results. For the full report as posted on the College Board’s website, click here. There are a few different ways that you as a student can use concordance tables during the college admissions process. Concordance tables can be helpful as a predictive tool; if you know your score for one test, the table can show you roughly what to expect for the other test. Finding the score that corresponds to what you’ve already received on one test can also help you set score goals for an upcoming testing session. When you’re researching colleges, concordance tables can help you understand how you compare to the average applicant. If, for example, you can only find information on the average SAT score of successful applicants to a particular school, but you took the ACT, you can easily convert your score to roughly determine where you stand. You can also use concordance tables to recognize if you perform markedly better on one test over the other after taking both. Since the vast majority of colleges accept either or both, this can help you decide which test scores to submit to colleges. (Remember, certain scholarship and recognition programs are still tied to specific tests, so always do your research in advance to figure out what tests you’ll need to take.) While concordance tables can be helpful, it’s also important that you recognize their limitations. They are only estimates based upon the average test performance of students across the U.S., and if you actually sit down and take both tests, you may very well find that your own results don’t match up exactly to the official table. It’s very difficult to make exact comparisons between two entirely different tests developed by entirely different organization. In addition to the structural differences, your individual testing experiences will vary in ways that may affect your performance. How you feel the day of the test and what exact questions you happen to receive may sway your score in either direction. Finally, you should keep in mind that standardized test scores are only one of many different factors that colleges use to make their admissions decisions. Scoring well on these tests is a necessity for admission to many top schools, but it won’t get you in on its own; your scores must be part of a competitive and cohesive overall application that showcases all your best qualities and engages admissions officers. Preparing and studying for standardized tests is a must, and it’s well-established that doing so raises scores. However, your attention shouldn’t be focused solely on your test scores. If you balance your test prep with work on other areas of your applicant profile and application form, you’re much more likely to catch a college’s eye—and to find a college that’s truly a good fit for you. For more guidance about understanding your SAT and ACT scores and deciding which test(s) to take, check out these posts from the blog. Looking for more personal assistance in preparing for your standardized tests? ’s experienced tutors are here to help you improve your scores and get ready for test day. To learn more about the services we offer, visit ’s Online SAT Tutoring Program on our website.

Friday, September 27, 2019

Paul's Letters on Christ's Death Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Paul's Letters on Christ's Death - Essay Example (New American Bible, p. 300). While the nucleus of the community was Jewish, Paul’s affinity with the Greek-Roman culture would contribute to his success in converting gentiles to the new religious faith. (Jerusalem Bible, p. 251). In time, this Christian community would be recognized as being the first Christian community in Europe. (New American Bible, p. 300). At this instance, Paul has sent them a spiritual message while warning them against Jewish teachers, who have caused jealousies and rivalries. Paul was firm on his principle: These teachers are â€Å"enemies of the cross of Christ† (Phi: 3-18). He would also stress that beyond ritualistic practices, what is important is their being favored to believe in Christ. Then he pleads for unity and humility, even as Christ, he says, â€Å"humbled himself, becoming obedient to death† (Phi: 3-8). In the end, he asks for their being true, honorable, just, and pure living in order to earn God’s peace while awa iting the return of the Risen Savior. First Letter to Corinthians At about the year 51 CE, Paul organized a Christian community in Corinth among the city’s poor and underprivileged. (New American Bible, p. 242). ... Also, it is only one Christ from whom is drawn righteousness, sanctification and redemption (Cor.: 2-30). The long letter contains advice on problems in Christian practices. It also contains the famous teaching on love, the greatest of all virtues. On a key portion of his message about the resurrection, Paul stresses that â€Å"if Christ is raised from the dead. . . there is resurrection of the dead† (Cor.:15-12). Clearly for St. Paul, Christ’s death is the key to the new life and victory over the sting of death caused by Adam (Cor.: 15-53). Second Letter to Corinthians More problems arose in the Church at Corinth, and in his second letter Paul asserts his authority as an apostle. He argues for his position by revealing his personal conviction that the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus should be the pattern for all Christian life (p. 265). Using figurative language, Paul expresses his thanks to God for the experience of triumph in Christian living made evident, he says â€Å"through the aroma of Christ for God among those being saved, and among those perishing, the latter an odor of death that leads to death, the former an odor of life that leads to life† (2 Cor.: 2-15). Again in figurative language, Paul alludes to his ministering a new covenant of the spirit, as a contrast to the old covenant of death. In his own words: â€Å"Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, was so glorious that the Israelites could not look intently at the face of Moses because of its glory that was going to fade, how much more will the ministry of the Spirit be glorious? For if the ministry of condemnation was glorious, the ministry of righteousness will abound much more in glory† (2 Cor.: 3-7). In the second letter to the Corinthians, it is

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Mission Statements Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Mission Statements - Essay Example This definition will be a guiding point in the evaluation of the mission statements of McDonald and Dell, Incorporated. McDonald's mission statement can be classified one of the best examples in the global corporate arena. The mission statement clearly defines what the company is and what it wants to accomplish-"to be the world's best quick restaurant experience." This future goal is backed by the strategies which the company will employ-"outstanding quality, service, cleanliness and value." Furthermore, the mission statement is crafted with the company's stakeholders in mind. McDonald emphasizes that it wants that it will be looking after its employees, customers, and shareholders. Written in clear and simple language, the message that McDonalds want to communicate is clearly delivered and is understood by any individual. The mission statement is clear, precise, simple and is very suitable for the world's largest fast food chain. In comparison, Dell's mission statement is more inclined in the company's future than on what it is. It should be noted that Dell's mission statement can be applied to any computer manufacturer.

American significant playwrights Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

American significant playwrights - Research Paper Example He started his job in a San Francisco theatre doing a range of routine posts such as script copier and callboy (Belasco 1). Throughout his extensive career, which stretched from 1884 to 1930, he wrote over 100 Broadway plays including The Heart of Maryland, Hearts of Oak, and Du Barry. This put him out as the most influential celebrity in the New York City drama scene. In his influential part, he liked the existing theatre technology and wanted expand on it. Belascos New York theatres were set on advanced technology. When he took control of the Republic Theatre, he created a fresh basement stage to contain his equipment. The Stuyvesant Theatre was set up with vast amounts of hydraulics systems, lighting rigs and fly space (Belasco 56). The basement of the theater had an operational machine shop where he experimented with significant effects such as lighting among others. Many of the modernisms adopted in the Belasco shop were sold to other theater owners. Howells was born on 1 March 1837. He was an American literary critic and a realist. He was born in Ohio. His parents were Mary Dean and William Cooper Howells. His father was an editor and a printer of a local newspaper and travelled regularly around Ohio. Howells began to assist William Copper with printing and typesetting work in their early days. In 1852, his father organized to have one of Howells poetry put in the Ohio State Weekly without Howells’ knowledge. The poem was treated with considerable reception by analysts, and this was the breaking point for Howells as a playwright (Belier 135). He put into writing his first book, Their Wedding Journey, in 1872. His literary repute started with the pragmatist book, A Modern Instance. Its publication was in 1882, and it explained the recent crumble of marriages in the society. His writings were gathered in 1873 and 1886, and a series of the writings printed in 1895 under the heading Stops of Various Quills. He was the originator of the

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Critically evaluate positivism's contribution to our understanding of Essay

Critically evaluate positivism's contribution to our understanding of the causes of criminal behaviour - Essay Example Positivists use scientific techniques to explain about events and behaviours of people (Scott, 2008). The theory was critical in explaining human behaviour, particularly criminal tendencies. Comte focused on criminal behaviour rather than the legal system; he was interested in ways of preventing criminal behaviour. Positivism in criminology was associated with positivist’s, such as Cesare Lombrosso, recognized as â€Å"the father of modern criminology†. He used physiognomy theories, and was influenced by Charles Darwin (Tibbetts, 2012). Positivism was one of the many schools of thoughts that arose in the 18th century in order to explain about criminology. The other schools are the classical and the Chicago school. These different principles of thoughts were based on different paradigms. Unlike the positivism, classical theory believed that people had the free will to choose whatever they wanted to do. There are various assumptions made in the positivism theory. John Mill in the naturalism theory said that social sciences should have the same structure as natural sciences. Natural sciences such as chemistry and physics cannot be compared with social sciences such as sociology and psychology. However, Mill insisted that all are sciences, and to obtain objectivity in the social sciences they should use the same structure as that of the sciences. Another principle of positivism is the unity of science. It said that all theories should be summarized into one theory. Another principle by Carl Hempel and Mill is about explanations, regularities and law. It said that the law should use scientific explanations in their work. Causation is a part of the positivistic theory. It was developed by Hume; however, it has been criticized for putting a lot of attention on the causation regularities than the real causation mechanisms themselves. The causation principle tries to show the relationship between

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Quantitative Techniques in Business as Expressed from the Analysis of Essay

Quantitative Techniques in Business as Expressed from the Analysis of Samsung and Apple Companies - Essay Example The companies have to ensure that the products are of high quality and meet the needs of their customers. Other factors that determine the loyalty of customers to different brands include involvement of the customer in the product and the switching pof costs between brands. It is thus the duty of the top management in any organization to ensure that they apply their skills and expertise in identifying these factors. Owing to this, it has been found that some businesses are able to perform better than others. Most of the successes attributed to some of the companies are currently related to their application of new technologies and not just the efficiency of their operations. Academics and business people have applied the concept business model in determining and providing a comparison of how business both within the same sector and different sectors operate. These models help to establish what a business does and the activities they engage in to do such things. Consequently, they act as vital tools in the analysis of the financial performance of different companies. A healthy competitive environment between two companies within the same sector is most of the time influenced by the level of aggression and aggressiveness. There is an interesting competition majorly between Smartphone giants like Samsung and Apple. They produce Smartphones in an industry that is characterized by rapid development in technology and short product life (Xun Lin, et al., 2010). The manufacture of mobile phones and operations in developing companies are creating pressure on Smartphone

Monday, September 23, 2019

Statistic Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Statistic - Essay Example Among the sample we questioned, a majority of them, 66.7% representing 20 individuals were of the opinion that type II diabetes mellitus is a dangerous disease. Only 1 subject represents a meager 3.3 of the total sample population disagreed. This indicates that diabetes mellitus, type II is feared by more than half of the population as a dangerous disease and only a significantly low proportion of the total population are of the opinion that the disease is not that dangerous. This information is well represented in the Table 1 below. The causes of type II diabetes were listed as genetic factors, obesity, a poor diet or, in some cases, vitamin D insufficiency. Consequently, the study sought to identify from the sample population what was their opinion on the cause of the diabetes among these four factors. Interestingly, more than half, 56.7%, representing 17 subjects in the sample linked type II diabetes to obesity. However, a few individuals linked the disease to a poor diet or genetic factors. It should be noted that vitamin D and poor diet may be intertwined since both have to do with one’s eating habits. In this regard, 30% of the subjects of this study linked these two factors to the disease. Therefore, inferring from these statistics, it is true that obesity leads as a major cause of type II diabetes mellitus with poor diet coming a distance second (see Table 2 below). Personal measures taken to prevent type II diabetes were also investigated in this study. These factors majored on habits/behaviors aimed at preventing type II diabetes, namely, exercise, diet, and enough sleep (sleeping early). Of the personal initiatives, 14 subjects, representing 46.7% of the survey subjects, exercised so as to curb the disease, whereas only 23.3% were of the opinion that sleeping early could prevent type II diabetes mellitus (see below Table 3, a pie chart

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Wills and Trusts Essay Example for Free

Wills and Trusts Essay Facts:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Tom is trustee of a trust created by Abe in 1986. The corpus consists of stocks and bonds worth $150,000, an apartment house appraised at $650,000 in a neighborhood which is becoming increasingly industrial, and a vacant lot. Yearly net income from the stocks and bonds is $12,000, and from the apartment house is $36,000. Tom has held the lot for five years, not wanting to sell it at a sacrifice because of the uncertainty of zoning and the location of a proposed highway. The trust instrument directs Tom to pay the income from the trust to Abe for life and, at Abes death, to divide the corpus between Abes children, Ben and Cathy to create two trusts. The two trusts are to continue for Bens and Cathys lives and then to be distributed to their children who are living when Ben or Cathy die. At the end of 1991, Tom sold the vacant lot for $50,000, the fair market value. He also sold some stocks for $35,000, realizing a $10,000 gain. Tom used this money along with $25,000 of accumulated rental income to build an addition to the apartment house. In another 1991 transaction Tom sold for $25,000 stocks that had been purchased in 1989 for $25,000, and lent the proceeds to PO Corp. at 1% below the prevailing interest rate. The loan is secured by a first mortgage on unimproved realty worth $30,000. For several years, Tom has performed substantial services for PO Corp. as a consulting engineer. He owns 100 shares of its common stock. There are 1,000,000 PO shares outstanding. In 1992, Tom allowed Ben to move into the apartment building. Ben got Tom to reduce the rent by $200 per month. Since Ben is an eventual beneficiary of the trust, he argued that he would simply let Cathy have more of the Trust money when Abe died to balance things out. Issue (1): Whether or not Tom breached his duties as trustee and, if so, what are his liabilities to the beneficiaries? Rule:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The issue in the case at bar is covered by the law on Trusts, which is basically formed by an arrangement whereby a property or a wealth owned by a person is managed by one person or an organization for the benefit of an individual or an organization. Relevant to this rule are the rights, duties and responsibilities of the settlor – the person creating the trusts, the trustee – the person for whom the property is entrusted, and the beneficiary – the individual for which the benefits of the trust is reposed. Analysis:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   It bears stressing at this point that an examination of the rights and duties of the parties, specially that of the trustee, to a trust is imperative in solving the instant issue.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   As trustee, Tom’s duty is to carry out the express terms of the trust. To be able to do the express terms of the trust, he is duty bound to defend the trust, to prudently invest the trusts assets, to be impartial with respect to the beneficiaries, keeping them informed about the trust and to administer the same in the best interest of the beneficiaries. Additionally, Tom has the duty not to delegate, the duty not to profit and not to engage in activities that may result in conflict of interest position.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   With the forgoing considerations and upon close perusal of the facts of the case, Tom has breached his duties as a trustee. The express duty of Tom is the delivery of the income of the trust to Abe for life. As it is, Tom performed acts that prejudiced Abe’s interest in the income of the trust. When Tom sold some of the stocks and realized a $10, 000 gain, he should have delivered the same to Abe since it forms part of the income of the trust. The same is true with the accumulated rental income. It should not have been used to build an addition to the apartment house since it forms part of the income which should be delivered to Abe.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Tom is also liable for engaging in activities resulting to conflict of interest position. Notwithstanding the amount involved, his act of lending at 1% below the prevailing interest rate the proceeds of the sale of stocks to PO Corporation for which he renders services as a consulting engineer constitutes a breach of obligation on his part as trustee. In the first place, he is not authorized by the express letters of the trust to grant loans using the properties in trust. The breach was further aggravated when he lent the money to a corporation for which he owns shares of stocks and for which he is rendering substantial services.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Furthermore, the act of Tom in renting the apartment building to Ben at $200 per month less than the prevailing rent is also violative of his duties as a trustee. This would result in the reduction of the income from the apartment building by $2400 per annum to the detriment of Abe. The fact that Ben is an eventual beneficiary is of no moment. Ben has a future interest in the property but this does neither include the right to present possession nor enjoyment of the property. Since Abe is still living, it is only he who has the right to the income and enjoyment of the corpus as well as the income of the trust. Conclusion:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Based on the analysis made above, it is clear that Tom has breached his duties as trustee. His only liability is to Abe who was not able to receive all the income of the trust. As intimated above, Tom has no liability whatsoever to Cathy for like Ben, she is merely a remainderman who has a future interest in the corpus of the trust. She can neither possess nor enjoy the fruits of the trust while Abe is still living. Issue (2):   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Whether or not Abe received all the income to which he is entitled? Rule:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The rule applicable to this issue is the express provision of the trust instrument itself. The trust instrument directed Tom to: 1) deliver all income from the trust to Abe while the latter is still living; 2) divide the corpus between Ben and Cathy, Abe’s children upon the demise of the latter; and 3) distribute the same to their children who are living when Ben or Cathy die(Palermo). Analysis:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   A perusal of the facts of the case reveals that Abe was not able to receive all income that is due him. He was deprived of the $10, 000 gain realized from the sale of some of his stocks worth $35, 000. He was also deprived of the $25, 000 accumulated rental income. Both income were used by Tom to build an addition to the apartment house, when what he should have done according to the clear letters of the trust is to deliver the same to Abe.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Abe was also deprived of $200 per month when Tom reduced the rent by said amount to the apartment building when Ben, an eventual beneficiary, moved in. Conclusion By not adhering to the letters of the trust instrument, Tom has in effect deprived Abe of the income that the latter is supposed to be entitled to. The trust instrument clearly directed Tom to deliver all income of the trust to Abe for life. Reference: Palermo M. (2006). Crash Course in Wills And Trusts. Electronic article   http://www.mtpalermo.com/httoc.htm

Friday, September 20, 2019

Effects of Ketamine on the Human Body

Effects of Ketamine on the Human Body The desire to alter consciousness is a fundamental human trait. From being something impossible to finding numerous chemicals in controlling the mind, the process of discovery has also created opportunities for us to explore the effects and mind-tricks behind it. Just like any other new inventions in technology, there is always a path that leads to a wrong destination. The use of psychoactive drugs has turned into a trend amongst the younger generation, endangering both their own lives and the stability of the society. It has been said that this ingenious discover has benefited the forward of our medical industry; yet in our 21st century many have become a tool to escape from stress and reality. These so called party drugs are now produced in large amounts and distributed to young people at bars, nightclubs and house parties around the globe. The disastrous impact behind this irresponsible crime has led to thousands of innocent people condemned and forced to dwell in a living hell. Different people have their own definitions of the term abuse. It is hard to have a universal definition for the word as the bottom line of an individual is drawn upon their own decision. Therefore using the definition published by the World Health Organization, psychoactive substance abuse is defined as a maladaptive pattern of use indicated by continued use despite knowledge of having a persistent or recurrent social, occupational, psychological or physical problem that is caused or exacerbated by the use [or by] recurrent use in situations in which it is physically hazardous.  [1]  In addition, chronic abuse in this context will be defined as a relapsing disease characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use despite harmful consequences as well as neurochemical and molecular changes in the brain.  [2], in other words, chronic abuse is addiction. Addiction is mostly dependent on previously exposed rewards such as food, alcohol, sex, and in this case, on the psychoactive dru g Ketamine. http://www.tjipr.com/images/enji.jpg http://healthimpactnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/VariousPills-300225.jpg What is Ketamine? Psychoactive Drugs Before answering the above question, it is important to know how ketamine is categorized as a psychoactive drug and its evolvement in human history. The term psychoactive drug is used to describe any chemical substance that affects mood, perception or consciousness as a result of changes in the functioning of the nervous system (brain and spinal cord).  [3]  These drugs are often termed mind-altering because they change the perceptions and the behavior of the individual using them. Psychoactive drugs can be classified into seven different categories: stimulants, depressants, narcotics, cannabis, inhalants, hallucinogens and club drugs. Stimulants are mostly used to relieve tiredness and increase alertness. The most common stimulants are nicotine, which can be found in tobacco products, and caffeine, which is mixed in soft drinks and coffee. The more these drugs are consumed, the more our body will depend on it to maintain the desired effects. Cannabis acts in a similar way, only that it is a plant mainly in forms of marijuana and hashish. Depressants and Narcotics work in the opposite way. They are often used to dull senses and depress the functioning of the central nervous system. These two types of drugs are used medically as anesthetics and analgesics. Small doses of depressants may help more to relax muscles and produce calmness, while larger doses may cause difficulties with reflexes and judgement. Alcohol is a depressant which is widely found in our daily lives, and Narcotics such as opium and heroin are mostly used to relieve pain, yet a long-term dependence on these two may cause addiction and abuse. Hallucinogens and inhalants are synthetic drugs that distort the perception of reality and produce feelings of euphoria. These drugs may cause a short period of excitation and light headedness as it quickly acts on the body as it enters the bloodstream through inhalation. A good example of hallucinogenic drugs is Phencyclidine (PCP), which is mostly used as a sedative in operations before switching to Ketamine. Ketamine is the most common club drug found in the society nowadays. Club drugs have the effect of both stimulants and hallucinogens, and are most popular at party venues such as house parties and nightclubs among the younger generation. Other Club drugs include Ecstasy and Gamma-Hydroxybutryic Acid (GHB). The latter one is odorless and tasteless, therefore gaining the reputation as a date-rape drug as it may cause deep sleep a nd unconsciousness when administered with high dosage.  [4]   Ketamine As mentioned above, Ketamine was used to replace Phencyclidine (PCP) as an anesthetic medicine.  [5]  PCP  was originally tested as a surgical anesthetic in the 1950s.5 It is known as a  dissociative  anesthetic because it can make a person feel a sense of detachment, as if the mind is separated from the body.  [6]  PCP was used in veterinary medicine to anesthetize large animals, but was never approved for use in humans because many patients became agitated, delusional and irrational while recovering from their operations.  During 1960s, PCP was widely abused as it could be easily distributed in pill forms. The powdered form of PCP was developed in 1970s, commonly known as rocket fuel, superweed, etc. which is sprinkled on top of tobacco or marijuana for smoking. PCP  can be easily synthesized; as a result it is often sold off on streets as another drug such as mescaline or Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD). Due to the worse effects illustrated by patients after the use of PCP, Ketamine was developed in 1962 to replace PCP. It was first known as Cl-581, discovered by scientist Calvin Stevens. Ketamine was then tried in humans as an anesthetic for the first time by Professor Edward Domino, and this is what he said afterwards, Our findings were remarkable! The overall incidence of side effects was about one out of three volunteers. Frank emergence delirium was minimal. Most of our subjects described strange experiences like a feeling of floating in outer space and having no feeling in their arms or legs.   [7]   The successful effects soon encouraged the drug to be patented by the company Parke-Davis for use as an anesthetic in humans and animals. Nonetheless, Professor Domino described Ketamine as a potent psychedelic drug and named it as a dissociative an anesthesia. Ketamine was first used in large quantities in the Vietnam War by the USA Army, where it was used as an anesthesia for soldiers on field. Ketamines chemical structure, mechanism of action and effects are similar to those of PCP, but it acts for a shorter duration and is less potent than PCP. The drug provides dissociative anesthesia, which is a combination of analgesia with superficial sleep. This state is characterized by spontaneous ventilation, relative preservation of airway reflexes and hemodynamic stability, and explains why Ketamine has remained the anesthetic drug of choice in the developing world and for mass casualties in the field.  [8]  Ketamine is tasteless and odorless, so it can be added to food and drinks u ndetected. Because of this, the drug is sometimes used in sexual abuse at entertainment venues and therefore referred to as drug rape. Ketamine is known on the streets as special K, K and cat tranquilizer. Ketamine has plenty of other street names that have changed throughout the years. Originally it was known as rockmesc or mean green  [9]  , and then it evolved to numerous different slang names including Jet, Super K, Vitamin K, New Ecstasy, Honey oil, Mauve, Keller, Bump and Super Acid. Uses and effects of Ketamine exposure in medicine One of the most important happenings in the modern society is our breakthrough in the development of effective medicine for clinical procedures. Advances in technology has prospered the birth of new operation methods such as laparoscopic and robotic surgeries, enabling medical practitioners to increase efficiency to max, at the same time lowering the cost and risk of the procedure. These improvements have greatly ameliorated the side effects of conventional open surgery, allowing patients to heal faster with better comfort. Medicine becomes an indispensable need in our daily lives, and the more it improves, the more we rely on it. I have attended a medical lecture over the summer holidays on the background of surgery. The professor explained the four most important factors behind all the surgeries, namely the 4As: Anesthetics, Analgesics, Antibiotics and Antiseptics. Among these four, Ketamine has already covered two of these factors. Ketamine has several clinically useful properties, including analgesia and less cardiorespiratory depressant effects than other anesthetic agents  [10]  ; in fact it causes some stimulation of the cardiovascular system. Ketamine is soluble in water and is prepared with the sodium salt benzethonium chloride as a preservative. It is a basic compound and is dissolved in a solution of pH 3.5-5. The ketamine molecule contains an asymmetrical carbon atom with two optical isomers (enantiomers). The S (+) isomer is about three times more potent and longer acting as an anesthetic than the R (-) isomer. It is believed that the R (-) isomer is the part of the molecule that is the root o f the cause of some undesirable side effects.  [11]  Studies recently have shown that the S (+) Ketamine isomer is a stronger analgesic with a faster clearance and less side effects than the R (-). It has shown to provide a more rapid motor and sensory block, shorter duration and less motor blockade in elder males.  [12]  Ketamine interacts with N-methyl-D-asparate (NMDA), opioid, monoaminergic, muscarinic receptors and voltage sensitive Ca2+ channels. However, unlike other general anesthetic agents, ketamine does not interact with GABA receptors. The NMDA receptor is a member of the glutamate receptor family. It is an example of an ion channel coupled receptor with excitatory properties which has been implicated in the mechanism of general anesthesia, analgesia and also in neurotoxicity. Ketamine is a non-competitive antagonist of the NMDA receptor which interferes with the action of excitatory amino acids  [13]  . In addition, at clinically relevant concentrations, ket amine interacts with the phencyclidine (PCP) binding site leading to significant inhibition of NMDA receptor activity. This only occurs when the calcium ion channel has been opened. Effects of Ketamine on our body We were always informed with purely the basic consequences of drug abusing. For instance, we were taught that drug abusing may cause serious damage to our body but what exactly is our body suffering from? Central Nervous System Ketamine is the only anesthetic available which has analgesic (pain relieving), hypnotic (sleep producing) and amnesic (short term memory loss) effects. When used correctly it is a very useful and versatile drug.  [14]  Clinically, Ketamine has been reported to produce not only general but also local anesthesia. Ketamines site of action is primarily in the thalamus and limbic systems. It does not suppress respiratory drive unless high doses are used, or smaller doses given rapidly. Unlike other anesthetic agents, patients who have had ketamine may have their eyes opened and make reflex actions during the operation; therefore it is not suitable for use in eye surgeries. However, use of ketamine increases the intracranial pressure, therefore patients who have recent head injuries should avoid using it to prevent further damage. The reason behind was that the rise in mean arterial pressure caused a rise in cerebral perfusion pressure and therefore intracranial pressure. Moreover ket amine is a very effective analgesia and may be used without other analgesics intraoperatively. Due to the frequent occurrence of hallucinations after operation, the patient may be in agitation during recovery. These can be reduced by premedication and by recovering the patient in a quiet area.  [15]   I recently read several medical research papers on the effect of anesthetics and sedatives for the developing brain. A study performed by Dr. John Olneys laboratory demonstrated widespread neuronal degeneration following the repeated administration of ketamine in newborn rats, as well as long-term decreases in neuronal density and impaired neurocognitive function in adulthood following an exposure to other anesthetic drugs.  [16]  It is further discovered that drugs used to provide clinical anesthesia and sedation are thought to affect proper formation of the central nervous system as it interferes the NMDA-type glutamate receptor function. Moreover, several studies have examined the effects of Ketamine on the developing brain of monkeys and have observed widespread neuronal cell death following the administration of multiple doses up to 75mg/kg.  [17]  Another study by Dr. Fredriksson and colleagues demonstrated that a single ketamine exposure of 50mg/kg in new-born mice cau sed abnormal behavior and impaired learning and memory acquisition in adolescence. Experimental data also indicate that NMDA glutamate receptor agonists and GABA receptor antagonists trigger cell death.  [18]   As laboratory investigation on humans is not allowed, scientists may only conduct their research on rats and monkeys. The potential mechanism of anesthetic neurotoxicity is still under investigation; however, it is further complicated by the lack of understanding of exact mechanisms of consciousness and anesthesia. Therefore these results may only be interpreted as a reference to the effects that relate back to ketamine abuse. Respiratory System By using ketamine, the airway is usually well maintained as the airway reflexes and skeletal muscle tone are relatively preserved. Aspiration is a potential hazard despite the retention of protective reflexes. Ketamine is an effective bronchodilator and its action may be mediated either via an increase in blood catecholamine or by its direct smooth muscle relaxant effect.  [19]  When ketamine is given slowly respiration is usually well maintained, after rapid intravenous injection the breathing may stop for a short while but usually restarts within a minute.  [20]  Because of this, ketamine becomes a very useful anesthetic agent in places where there is only limited oxygen available. Cardiovascular System Ketamine is able to increase both blood pressure and heart rate. These variables reach a peak 2-4 minutes after an intravenous injection, then slowly decline to normal values over the next 10-20 minutes. Ketamine produces its cardiovascular effects by stimulating the central sympathetic nervous system and, to a lesser extent, by inhibiting the reuptake of norepinephrine at sympathetic nerve terminals. Individual responses may vary occasionally as there can be a large rise in blood pressure. This risk is not related to a preoperative history of hypertension, but related to the usage of ketamine. This may increase the workload of the heart; hence ketamine should be avoided in those patients with ischemic heart disease. Induced bladder dysfunction Bladder dysfunction associated with ketamine abuse was first voiced out in 2007 by researchers in Canada and Hong Kong. Dr. Shahani and his team presented a series of 9 patients who are all daily ketamine users presented with dysuria, frequency, urgency and frank hematuria. The CT scans revealed a thickened bladder wall, small capacity bladder and perivescicular stranding.  [21]  Dr. Chu and his team presented a series of ten patients with severe bladder dysfunction following regular ketamine abuse. From the statistics of their research, all patients had severe lower urinary tract symptoms and small functional bladder capacity varying from 20 to 200mls.  [22]  A scan of the bladder (cystoscopy) also revealed that the epithelial layer of the bladder has inflammation.  [23]  These reports were from Hong Kong and Canada where ketamine is a popular drug. Dr. Cottrell and his team reported nine patients presenting with similar urinary symptoms and cystoscopy findings following chronic ketamine usage.  [24]  These symptoms are currently left unexplained, but with increasing popularity of the drug in the younger generation, more and more ketamine users could present with ketamine induced bladder dysfunction. As we can see from the above effects, ketamine is already able to induce a lot of problems for our body and affects the whole body system when it responses to the drug in medical uses. Some may be beneficial, but most can cause severe damage to our body, so why is ketamine still on the streets endangering our future generations? Ketamine in our society Back in Hong Kong, I often hear reports from the public media reporting that the police force discovers another drug dealing club/bar with underage drinking and drug abuse. Although we were educated with the basics of the consequences of drug abuse, one simply will not be able to know thoroughly about the essential damage that the drug does to the body. Take smoking as an example: Tobacco has existed for centuries, and people nowadays have beautifully wrapped cigarettes packed in delicate boxes. They can easily gain access to buying one of this highly toxic substance back home for their own enjoyment and pleasure. Putting aside the lack of awareness in the old days, nowadays all the education systems around the globe include the effects of smoking into our classes, no matter taught in Liberal Studies or specifically Biology, most people who have received education are equipped with the basic knowledge of the harmful effects of smoking. Even packages of cigarettes are posted with phot os of the disastrous effects of smoking, for example, a photo of a dissected lung of a chronic smoker, still does not stop smokers from getting on with their habit. In the 1970s, the drug was approved by the FDA to be used clinically on children and adults, yet at the same time it also started to flow into drug markets in public. Most of them were firstly sold by hospital staff; later on it became trendy to produce it in large amounts to divert ketamine into wider population. Over the past 20 years, Ketamine has emerged as a testing replacement for PCP to one of the most popular party drugs at underground parties and raves. In the late 20th century, the drug has already gained its reputation around the globe as one of the mainstream dance culture drugs in society. In the year 1999, The Drug Enforcement Agency in the United Sates made ketamine a schedule three drug. This means that this particular drug is illegal to buy or sell without a prescription.  [25]  Ketamine is considered to be a Class C drug in the UK and Mexico, the equivalent of a schedule three in the United States; and schedule one in Canada. It was legal to possess ketamine in England, Scotland and Wales before 2006. Most countries currently have ketamine under controlled substance act in which it can be used as a medication but not recreationally, for instance ketamine is regulated under Schedule 1 of Hong Kong Chapter 134 of Dangerous Drugs Ordinance. It can only be used legally by health professionals, for university research purposes, or with a physicians prescription.  [26]   Taking the data of ketamine abuse in Hong Kong, in recent years, it has become more common among the teens. In Hong Kong, since 2005 it has become the commonest drug of abuse among persons aged 21 years or less; compared to the first three quarters of 2005, the number of ketamine abusers among teenagers has doubled in the first three quarters of 2008.  [27]  In 2008, ketamine abuse constituted 85% of all kinds of drug abuse among persons aged below 21 years, compared to 61% in 2005. Also, data collected by the Hospital Authority Hong Kong Poison Information Centre (HKPIC) showed that ketamine abusers represented 16% of all drug abusers attending accident and emergency departments in the period of 1 July 2005 to 31 December 2005, while the proportion rose to 40% in the period of 1 January 2008 to 30 June, indicating a steep increase of the number of ketamine abusers.  [28]   Solutions? The reason I decided to put a question mark after this sub topic is because there is no concrete evidence that the treatments I list below will 100% cure the patient. To overcome the psychological dependence on ketamine, the ultimate factor during the process will be the patients endurance and willpower. Without consistency to finish the whole course of treatment is no different to receiving no treatment. Just like antibiotics, you have to finish the whole course in order to fully recover from your illness. We live in an inconsistent and contradictory society. On the bright side, we advise the society not to abuse drugs and say no to the people who sell or offer them to you; yet on the other hand, medical practitioners are encouraging us to take medicine that might cause similar effects and consequences as drugs like ketamine. While we tell young people that ketamine is illegal and dangerous for their health, we ignore to a large extent the bad effects that alcohol has on health, thus making it legal even if it has devastating effects on our body as well. The world has slowly turned into a place where benefits and money take hierarchy over the health of the public. There is an increase in frequent reports of making fake milk powder and eggs, as well as drug manufacturers such as the recent incident of Contergan taking the blame of causing Phocomelia in infants whose parents had taken the medicine. One of the main reasons that ketamine is still one of the most popular party drugs nowaday s is due to the commercial income it brings when it comes to selling and buying. Drug dealing is happening around the globe every day, and what attracts people to do it is not the drug, but the money. Values have been overthrown by the nature of human kind, where selfishness topples conscience in the business world, no matter legal or illegal. Laws and regulations are developed over time to control the extent of these shameful behaviors, yet ultimately there is no thorough solution to this problem. Most societies are uncomfortable with people going off into trance and hallucinatory intoxications, and indeed setting up the laws against the usage and possession of drugs are to discourage people from falling into those in-built worlds of their own. But innate, neuropsychological changes in a persons body cannot be controlled by legislation. Provided that they have the desire to take the drug, they will always be satisfied by themselves. Alcohol may no longer fulfill the need for teenagers to take off from reality into their virtual world of desires after they become fully exposed to it, and slowly they turn to seek stronger effects by trying out drugs like marijuana and ketamine. As they become satisfied with the effects given by the drugs, trying gradually becomes abusing. They start to develop unwise behavior as they reckon that the feeling is brought by the pills rather than from their own nervous systems getting into trouble when the pills no longer work so well. Their drug abuse becomes more frequent and compulsive, yet with less reward. This misconception is the first step to developing drug dependence, no matter whether the drug is marijuana or ketamine or if it produces physiological dependence or not. Dependence on the drug cannot be broken until the misconception is cleared. Drug abusers live on their own reasons to continue, and only those who realize that he/she has been using the drug merely as an excus e for having an experience that is superficial comes to see that the drugged state is not exactly the same with the experience he/she wants. Alternatively, they will start looking for ways that may fulfill the slight desire to lift up from reality, such as meditation and sleeping. If we look in closely to the successful examples of quitting drugs: Many drug abusers give up drugs for consciousness, but little gives up consciousness for drugs. Conclusion We see people travelling through time and going into the mind of others to retrieve thoughts and ideas in fiction and movies, and it is definitely something that I would love to do as well. Yet is it possible to live in dreams and neglect whats really happening in the world we exist in? By altering the state of our consciousness, our brain is simply sending the wrong signal back to ourselves, putting us into a world of our own desires and fantasies. Ketamine can definitely achieve this, but after the short-lived dreams disappear, we will only fall deeper into the K-hole and become more dependent on the drug. We must be clear about the severe effects and consequences that ketamine brings to the individual and the society, and reiterate these problems to the public to prevent further abuse of it. Psychoactive drugs will always be present as a part of our life. The society needs to recognize the problems caused by the misuse of ketamine and deal with them immediately in an open and realistic way. Drug abuse is now connected with other social problems as well, such as social deprivation or family issues. We actually do not know whether the people who abuse it really likes it, but all we need to know is how ketamine can vastly change a persons life when you become addicted to it. From the medical research evidence shown, ketamine can really ruin your life when you are associated with it, yet why blame the drug when it is down to you to choose the reality or to stay in the dreams built by your own desires?

Balancing A Career and A Family Essay -- Parenting Working Family Essa

Balancing A Career and A Family Abstract Regardless of where they are in their careers, working mothers have a tough time achieving balance between work and family. Generally, women take on or are given more responsibility for their homes than are men, leading to frustration and exhaustion. In this paper we will address some of the issues involved in balancing career and family. This paper will provide some solutions for the most common problems arising from todays busy schedules, and provide some insight on how to make the most of your time. The Scales of Life Working all day and then coming home to a young child can be difficult, at best. After putting all one’s energy into doing his/her job well -- answering to a boss's, co-workers', clients', and/or employees' demands. The last thing a parent may feel like doing is answering to their child's. However, these thoughts just make people feel guilty. These and other problems are more common in today’s households than society may realize. The stresses people face in the workplace today are far more demanding than they were during their parents careers. Today’s workforce is made up of just as many women as men, and in many cases, both parents have careers which leaves little in the way of quality time for children, and/or social time for adults. This essay will explore some solutions that others have used to change their lives, and careers for the better. One of the most common reasons for high levels of stress in families today, is caused by dissatisfaction and/or tension in the workplace. People have often heard the addage â€Å"Leave your Job at the Office†, but how many are capable of just turning things off, when they leave for the day? Not many, and becau... ...ven many the freedom from debt that allowed them to return to school or pursue a new, sometimes lower paying, yet less stressful occupation. Financial counseling is another alternative that has helped many to understand the nature of their debts, and gain control of them so that lower wages or new careers became a possibility. These and many other stress alternatives are available to most everyone, but it’s up to each individual to make a conscience decision to improve their lives, only then can they start down that road into the unknown; which for most, has been a very liberating journey. References 1. The Career Journal (2001). Stress in the Workplace: The Silent Danger. Career Journal. Retrieved February 1, 2001. From http://www.careerjournal.com/jobhunting/change/20030225 2. Oldenburg, Ray (1989). The Problem of Place in America Pub Group West.

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Business Ethics Essay -- Ethics

According to Wikipedia, ethics, also known as â€Å"moral philosophy†, is a branch of philosophy that addresses questions about morality. Concepts such as good and bad, noble, right and wrong, justice and virtue. To business, ethics is a tool to examine principles and moral or ethical problems that arise in a business environment. Therefore, business ethics can be both a normative and a descriptive discipline. Ethics is a part of the larger social ethics, and also always affect business development. In other words, business ethics is a factor of determining the fundamental purposes of a company. Marketing ethics is a subset of business ethics. Because in marketing, ethics deals with the principles, values and ideas by marketers; it shows how they behave in business cases. Marketing ethics affects other processes of business. Visual communication is part of marketing ethics, it is observed and serves as an instrument of epistemic closure restricting worldviews with stereotypes of gender, social status and race relationships. Pricing is how firms work out price between produce processing and customers, Anti-competitive practices with supply and chains, Content of advertisements, like products regarded as immoral or harmful to public. Children and marketing could be concerned in this case. Children is a weak group and should get more protection in business sales action. In fall 2008, China’s baby milk crisis was about thousands of Chinese babies have developed kidney stones after drinking milk contaminated with melamine. An industrial chemical has highlighted the need for the country to improve detection standards for chemical contaminants in foods. In this case, the milk’s company failed to study ethics, instead of seeking profit wit... ...h person has grown up with a particular cultural background and their own understanding of right and wrong. From a businessperson’s point of view, Social factors also play and important part and so does education and up bringing it. To firms, it has significant meaning to promote ethical spirit with business development. Because ethics is a primary element to all business, ethical is an essential part of the foundation in society. A business or society that lakcs ethical principles is bound to fail sooner or later. References †¢ www.wikipedia.com ( vocabulary & definition search) †¢ CCTV4 â€Å"Face to Face† TV Program ( Statistics approve) †¢ Shang Hai University Survey ( Published by China daily ) †¢ Financial Time ( Resources& Example) †¢ (Published by Zhang Ruimin, CEO of Haier) †¢ www.baidu.com (Resources&Example)

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Politics and Stem Cell Research Essay -- Argumentative Persuasive Argu

Politics and Stem Cell Research The President’s Council on Bioethics published â€Å"Monitoring Stem Cell Research† in 2004. This report was written in response to President Bush’s comments regarding research of human stem cells on August 9, 2001. President Bush announced that he was going to make federal funding available for research that involved existing lines of stem cells that came from embryos. He is the first president to provide any type of financial support for the research of human stem cells. A Council was created with people who are educated in the field of stem cells to help monitor the research and to recommend guidelines and consider the ethical consequences that this research could create. This report is an â€Å"update† given by the President’s Council in January of 2004 to make the public aware of the significant developments in the science and medical aspects of stem cell research. It also describes the ethical, legal and political implications that stem cell research may create. However, since the research is still in its beginning stages, this â€Å"update† does not describe a complete or definitive study of stem cells nor does it provide specific guidelines or regulations. This is a report that is suppose to help the President, Congress and general public make better-informed decisions as to the direction that we should go with stem cells. This report does a fairly comprehensive job on educating the public to the definition of stem cells, describing them as â€Å"a diverse group of remarkable multipotent cells that are relatively undifferentiated and unspecialized cells of the body.† Stem cells have the capacity for unlimited self-renewal and the possibility to produce differentiated descendant cell types. The main in... ...rstanding exactly how they function and what their potential may be. The Council neglects to discuss what the boundaries should be in regards to research and whether not it is ethically or morally right to use and destroy embryos for the sake of medical advancement. They also do not clearly state who should pay for the research on stem cells. Since President Bush appoints the Council, there has been criticism that the committee is bias towards his views. In general, the report is ambiguous and does not specifically come to any concrete conclusions, nor does it provide any new information. Sources: The President's Council on Bioethics, Washington, D.C. January 2004. www.bioethics.gov News Briefings. U.S. News Libraray http://www.usnews.com/usnews/briefings/stemcell0701.htm Russo, Eugene. The Scientist: No decision on stem cells. Daily News. January 16, 2004

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Belonging Essay: “Rabbit Proof Fence” by Phillip Noyce Essay

â€Å"A sense of belonging comes from having connections with people and place†/ Compare how the texts you have studied convey these ideas. Who am I? Where do I belong? ‘A person’s identity is shaped by their sense of belonging and/or not belonging’. This concept is clearly explored in the touching movie â€Å"Rabbit proof fence† of three girls running away to find way home, to where they belong to. Whereas, Peter Skrzynecki’s poems â€Å"Postcard† and â€Å"10 Marry Street† focus on the self-awareness and conflicts inside the author as he tries to find his identity and belonging through a postcard and his old house. â€Å"Rabbit- Proof Fence† is a 2002 Australian drama film directed by Phillip Noyce. The true story is set in 1931, about three aboriginal girls forced to leave their families in Jigalong as they are half caste children to be trained in the domestic ways of modern civilization. The film explores aspects of bo th belonging and not belonging in telling the story of these Aboriginal girls. Throughout Phillip Noyce’s â€Å"Rabbit Proof Fence†, Molly has a strong sense of connection to the land and to her family. As she says at the beginning, â€Å"Our people, the Jigalong mob, we were desert people then, walking all over our land†; it clearly shows where she feels she belonged. But her words â€Å"The white people†, shows her opposite feeling as she has no sense of belonging to white society. Young Molly is told by her mother about a significant figure of her culture, the spirit eagle which symbolises the totem of her community and the connection to her ancestor. The image of the family playing and hunting together in the opening scene is one of unity, support and protection. Unfortunately, Molly’s family is soon separated as the children are sent thousands of miles away. The scene when the children are taken by the police is extremely dramatic and intense. The sense of loss is made greater by the screaming of the children and mother, her repeating the word â€Å"mine† showing her ownership of her children and the frenzied feeling created through hand-held camera work. The children’s new home at Moore River is so unfamiliar and is juxtaposed with the natural world of their bushland home. The image of Molly, her sister and her cousin sleeping together in the same bed focuses our attention on their need to feel secure and protected. They are forced to s peak English, and their language was thought â€Å"wangka†, â€Å"jabber†. The girls are taught to give up their culture and their language to learn the white culture which is completely strange to  them. The enticements of the white people, â€Å"You’ll feel quite at home in this new world† does not attract Molly and even makes her sick. The climax is when Molly decides to escape from Moore River. They walked 1500 miles along the longest fence in the world being hunted by Constable Briggs and an Aboriginal tracker. The fence in the movie represents a symbol of the way to their home. When they grip the fence, the film juxtaposes image of their mother also gripping the fence, and a close-up shot of their smiles reveal their joy of being connected by beautiful emotional music. Molly and her sister then continue their long journey home overcoming many obstacles to be finally reunited with their family. The slow motion image of the mother crying, hugging the kids emphasises the significance of their need to belong and the strong connection to fa mily. The movie would not have a happy end as Molly is then taken away after she gets home, but it cannot stop her from running away all her life to be where she belongs. If â€Å"Rabbit-Proof Fence† leaves the audiences beautiful images of a family’s strong connection and the desire to belong to a real home, the poem ‘Postcard’ by Peter Shrzynecki explores the concept of belonging on the persona’s sense of cultural identity. It is a postcard that the author received, which depicts the city of Warsaw in Poland, his homeland. However he does not feel the same sense of connection to his homeland that his father feels, but rather feels alienated and disengaged. The negative connotations of the verb â€Å"Haunts† and its position on a line by itself highlight the persona’s unease and uncertain connection to the place. This contrasts his friend’s perception that his parents will react positively to this postcard, feeling a sense of connection to it: â€Å"he requests I show it to my parents.† The separation of â€Å"I† and his parents on a separate line suggests their different perception s to the postcard. The poet described the picture in the postcard without enthusiasm, from the â€Å"Red buses† to â€Å"The River and its concrete pylons and the sky’s brightest shade†. The colours in the post card are unnatural and his unfamiliarity with Warsaw is emphasised when he cannot tell whether something is a park. Skrzynecki however, is stuck by the moment. The usage of personification gives the effect of the poet’s conversation with Warsaw, â€Å"I never knew you†, which is his direct refusing of relation to the place. The following â€Å"Except in the third person† emphasises the poet’s sheer distance and detachment in his life from the city. Contrast to Skrzynecki’s  negative to the city, his parents and their friend as â€Å"dying generation† are continuing the attachment to the city with a strong sense of belonging. They â€Å"shelter†, â€Å"defend†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Despite living in a new city, these older migrants find a sense of collective belonging in reminiscing about their â€Å"Old Town†. The persona clearly distances himself from this, separated through the distinction made between the pr onouns, â€Å"I† and â€Å"They†. The author then confronts the conflict which lies in the rhetorical question â€Å"What’s my choice to be?† as his parents will be proud and speak of their â€Å"Beloved Ukraine†. The poet recognises the city’s offers but concludes that he cannot give it more than â€Å"eyesight† and â€Å"praise† and his response will not come from his heart. Yet, it then ends with a tone of desperation as he asks, â€Å"What more do you want besides the gift of despair?† Which reinforces the poet’s conflict to acknowledge his connection and loss with the city. The use of direct speech: â€Å"A lone tree whispers, we will meet before you die† personifies Poland and suggests it is calling him home. It is a prophecy that he must visit Poland in order to understand his identity. The reason he could not yet belong to Australia is simply because he did not understand his original heritage. For Skrzynecki, to belong to Australia he must first belong to, and understand Poland by visiting it and giving in to its calling. The experiences of belonging on the other hand, are often initiated at birth within family, as it is the first group an ind ividual becomes a part of. â€Å"10 Mary Street† is the address of Shrzynecki’s family, and the poem that conveys with insight into the concept of familial bonds, and our instinctive choice to belong in the home. The sense of the comfort is established in the beginning of the poem with the simile ‘A well-oiled lock’ indicates the positive image of the Skrzynecki household going through the sense of ownership and security it provides. The ‘Nineteen years’ also adds a depth to this and expresses the sense of belonging Skrzynecki felt to the place. Plus the repeat of the pronoun ‘We’ emphasises their togetherness and belonging to each other. In another simile, ‘ ravage the backyard garden like a hungry bird†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢, Skrzynecki compares his early boyhood days of hunger after school with a young bird in the nest revealing the delights of the family’s vegetable garden and it creates an image of comfort, security and familiarity. The garden is an important aspect of their lives where the poet’s parent â€Å"watered plants- grew potatoes†¦ like adopted children’,  stressing their strong connection to their home. The posi tive images ‘For nineteen years, we lived together’, and later of â€Å"visitors† sharing their common interests, ‘discussions’, ’embracing gesture’ present their home as a trusted site of the liveliness and friendliness. Contrasting to the warmth and security inside, outside of the house with â€Å"its china-blue coat†, represents a refugee for them, and an unwelcoming culture into which the family must go, but do not really belong. Once again there was a barrier, the â€Å"still too-narrow bridge† that separated the two worlds. Besides giving them a haven from nature, the enclosed space gives them a chance to preserve a private life and include their past life in â€Å"pre-war Europe†. ‘For nineteen years’, Skrzynecki ‘lived’ his Australian life style while his parents ‘kept prewar Europe alive with photographs and letters’. This juxtaposition portrays the adopted nature of the home for his parents as a refugee, and for the persona as a home. The immigrant family’s naturalisation into Australian society is described as becoming â€Å"citizens of the soil†. This metaphor creates a feeling of being connected as Skrzynecki’s family accepted and became a part of the land. Throughout the poem is tone of positive feeling and contented. The family’s only regret is leaving the home. In essence, belonging is a fundamental aspect of an individual’s life and one should make as many positive interactions with others in order to enrich their experience of this essential human need. Peter Skrzynecki’s â€Å"Post Card† extensively explores that the sense of belonging if is undefined can â€Å"haunt† a person their entire life. This is contrasted with the idea that positive interactions of an individual to a group or their family as is highlighted in the film â€Å"Rabbit-Proof Fence† and especially in Peter Skrzynecki’s â€Å"10 Marry Street†, as the members of the Skrzynecki family feel an enriched sense of belonging to one another.

Monday, September 16, 2019

Rebuttal Outline

REBUTTAL FORM OF PERSUASION The purpose of this paper is to argue against those perpetrators who are committing human rights violations against an oppressed group of people who are unable to defend themselves against the abuses. To defend the victims, you must know why and how the perpetrators are oppressing the group of victims and why these abuses are wrong. Your paper will be organized according to the rebuttal format for persuasion. This paper is organized the same way your persuasive paper last year was organized. Make sure you follow the form below for this paper. This format is required; it is not an option.Even though there are many forms of persuasion, we are learning the rebuttal format. I. Introduction a. Tell why the issue is important. i. Harm—What or whom does it harm? Identify the victims. ii. Significance—To what extent are the victims being harmed? 1. Quantity—List statistics indicating the number of cases in which harm can be found and the durat ion of the harm. 2. Quality—Cite individual examples showing the intensity at which harm occurs. iii. Inherency—Show how the current system of laws or government involvement are promoting the problem or prohibiting its removal. b.Background information—Give a short history of the issue. c. Defining value terms—Define controversial or vague terms. Include various possible definitions where necessary. (For example, you may want to distinguish between your definition of adult and that of those who use child soldiers to fight their wars. ) d. State your position on the issue. (thesis) II. Body a. Rebuttal i. Explain an important argument against your position. ii. Refute this argument against your position by offering evidence to support your rebuttal. 1. facts to show proof by induction 2. syllogisms for deduction 3. examples 4. easons 5. quotes iii. Explain a second argument against your position. iv. Refute it in the same way as above. v. Explain a third a rgument against your position. vi. Refute it in the same way as above. b. Defense—These are arguments that support the new way you want the oppressors to think. They support your position. This is where you make your strongest case. i. Present an argument in support of your position. Prove it by using 1. facts to show proof by induction 2. syllogisms for deduction 3. examples 4. reasons 5. quotes ii. Present an argument in support of your position. Prove it by using the above. ii. Present an argument in support of your position. Prove it by using the above. III. Conclusion a. Restate your position on the issue. b. Conclude with an emotional appeal for your position. What will happen if we don’t listen to your suggestions? Predict the future for your victims. c. AND/OR give your readers a call to action. What should they be doing to resolve this issue? IV. Works cited a. Evidence should be cited in your text. See the MLA Stylebook for help. b. Follow MLA style for creat ing your works cited page. c. Don’t forget to cite all Internet sources. V. Essay Parameters a.Essay Length: 1200-1600 words (not including work cited) b. Number of arguments: At least three rebuttal arguments and one defense. c. Number of CITED sources: At least three different kinds of credible sources (Example: a website, a magazine, a newspaper) d. Due Dates: See Angel Reminders †¢Use the vocabulary of your topic. †¢Choose words that have emotional connotation to help your cause. †¢Create an interesting and original introduction and conclusion. †¢Try to use rhetorical devices of parallelism and repetition for dramatic effect, especially in your conclusion. †¢Cite sources accurately. †¢No first or second person.

Sunday, September 15, 2019

Basic Concepts in Quality Planning and Management

Quality Management (Basic Concepts) 1) What Is Quality? The totality of features and characteristics of a product or service that bear on its ability to satisfy stated or implied — ASQ (American Society for Quality) needs. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Performance Reliability Durability Serviceability Aesthetics Features Perceived Quality Conformance to Standards Will the product do the intended job? How often does the product fail? How long does the product last? How easy is it to repair the product? What does the product look like? What does the product do? What is the reputation of the company or its product? Is the product made exactly as the designer intended? Quality Management Slide 2 of 35 1. 1 Components of Quality Customer Quality of Design Product Features vs Customer Requirements Requirements Performance Quality of Specifications Sales and Marketing Product Specifications vs Product Features Quality of Conformance Features Product Product Characteristics vs Product Specifications Design Manufacturing Quality of Performance Product Characteristics vs Customer Requirements Specifications Quality Management Slide 3 of 35 1. 1. Voice of the Customer The term Voice Of the Customer (VOC) is used to describe customers’ needs and their perceptions of your product or service. VOC data helps an organization: †¢ Align design and improvement efforts with business strategy. †¢ Decide what products, processes and services to offer or enhance. †¢ Identify critical features/performance requirements for products, processe s and services. †¢ Identify key drivers of customer satisfaction. Quality Management Slide 4 of 35 1. 1. 2 Kano’s Model of Customer Needs Performance Quality Satisfiers Excitement Quality Noriaki Kano Delighters Basic Quality Dissatisfiers Quality Performance Quality Management Customer Satisfaction Slide 5 of 35 1. 2 Quality is Customer Satisfaction Supplier Metrics †¢ Cycle-Time Customer Needs †¢ Timeliness †¢ Cost †¢ Price †¢ Defect Rate †¢ Quality Quality Management Slide 6 of 35 1. 2 Quality is Customer Satisfaction A â€Å"customer† is anyone who is impacted by the product: 1. External Customers – Include not only the end-users, but also †¢ the intermediate processors (OEMs, distributors, retailers) †¢ non-purchasers who have some connection to the product (government regulatory bodies) . Internal Customers – Include not only other divisions of the company that are provided with components for an assembly, but also †¢ others that are affected (the Purchasing department that receives an engineering specification for a procurement) Quality Management Slide 7 of 35 1. 3 Two Views of Quality Internal View of Quali ty Compare product to specification Get product accepted at inspection Prevent plant & field defects Concentrate on manufacturing Use internal quality measures View quality as a technical issue Efforts coordinated by quality manager External View of Quality Compare product to competition (and BIC) Provide satisfaction over product life Meet customer needs on goods & services Cover all functions User customer-based quality measures View quality as a business issue Efforts directed by upper management Quality Management Slide 8 of 35 2) What is Management? Management is the process of designing and maintaining an environment in which individuals, working together in groups, accomplish efficiently selected aims. Quality Management Slide 9 of 35 2. 1 Management Functions Goals of Claimants Use of Resources Reengineering the System What , When Planning How Organizing Who Staffing Leading Controlling Produce Results Quality Management Slide 10 of 35 Facilitate Communication Links 2. 1 Management Functions Strategic Tactical Quality Management Time Spent in Carrying Out Managerial Functions Slide 11 of 35 Controlling Organizing Planning Leading 3) What is Quality Management? Quality management is the process of identifying and administering the activities needed to achieve the quality objectives of an organization. Desired Quality Performance Current Quality Performance Quality Management Slide 12 of 35 3. Juran’s Trilogy CHRONIC WASTE ( opportunity for improvement ) Joseph Moses Juran (1904-2008) †¢ Quality Planning designing products, services and processes to meet new breakthrough goals †¢ Quality Control meeting goals during operations †¢ Quality Improvement creating breakthroughs to unprecedented levels of performance Slide 13 of 35 Quality Management 3. 1 Juran’s Trilogy Quality Planning †¢ Establish quality goals †¢ Identify customers †¢ Discover customer needs †¢ Develop product features †¢ Develop process features †¢ Establish process controls, transfer to operations Quality Control Choose control subjects †¢ Choose units of measure †¢ Set goals †¢ Create a sensor †¢ Measure the actual performance †¢ Interpret the difference †¢ Take action on the difference Quality Improvement †¢ Prove the need †¢ Identify projects †¢ Organize project teams †¢ Diagnose the causes †¢ Provide remedies, prove that the remedies are effective †¢ Deal with resistance to change †¢ Control to hold the gains Quality Management Slide 14 of 35 4) The Need for Quality Management Two primary components of quality: †¢ Product Features †¢ Freedom from Deficiencies Features Deficiencies Price Share Cycle Time Waste Warranty Income Cost Profit Quality Management Slide 15 of 35 4. 1 Drivers for Quality Changing business conditions: †¢ Increasing competition – Customers are not willing to pay for higher quality †¢ Changing customer – Consumer markets commands priority based on volume †¢ Changing product mix – Low-Volume, High-Price > High-Volume, Low-Price †¢ Increasing product complexity – More stringent requirements for reliability †¢ Higher levels of customer expectation – Improved service quality both before and after the sale Quality Management Slide 16 of 35 4. 2 Deming Chain Reaction William Edwards Deming (1900-1993) Quality Management Slide 17 of 35 5) Total Quality Control Armand Villan Feigenbaum (born 1922) Quality Management Slide 18 of 35 5. 1 Key Elements of Total Quality †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ Strategically Based Customer Focus Obsession with Quality Scientific Approach Long-Term Commitment Teamwork Continual Improvement of Systems Education and Training Freedom through Control Unity of Purpose Employee Involvement and Empowerment Slide 19 of 35 Quality Management 5. 2 Scope of Quality Management Traditional (Little Q) Emerging (Big Q) Products Manufactured goods All products, goods & services, (whether for sale or not) Processes Processes directly related to manufacture of goods All processes, manufacturing support, business, etc Industries Manufacturing All industries, manufacturing, service, government, etc (whether profit or not) Slide 20 of 35 Quality Management 5. 3 Triple-Role Concept TripleUnder this enlarged concept (Big Q), all jobs encompass three roles for the jobholder: †¢ customer : receives processed information and/or goods †¢ processor : converts inputs into outputs †¢ supplier : delivers resulting products to customers e. g. The Product Development function †¢ receives information on customer needs from Marketing †¢ creates designs for new products †¢ furnishes specifications to Operations Quality Management Slide 21 of 35 5. 3 Triple-Role Concept TripleInput I am Responsible for Quality As a Good Customer I will As a Good Process Owner I will As a Good Supplier I will Output My Supplier My Customer Requirements & Feedback †¢ Agree on & document my requirements with my supplier †¢ Learn & apply the tools of quality – teach others †¢ Understand my customer requirements, agree on, & document my deliverables Requirements & Feedback Return defective inputs to my supplier promptly & tactfully †¢ Continuously improve my process – reduce defects, cycle-time & know benchmarks †¢ Reduce defects & variations in my output †¢ Feed back input quality data to my supplier †¢ Document & display my process, defect levels, & CI projects †¢ Measure my out put quality from my customer’s perspective Quality Management Slide 22 of 35 3. 2. 1 SIPOC Diagram Supplier Input Process Function 1 Output Customer Internal Internal Function 2 External †¦ External Function i †¦ Customer What are my requirements? Function n End-User What are their expectations? Who are my Suppliers? What are my Funtions? Who are my Customers? Exercise 1 Describe the triple-role for the following: †¢ a process engineer †¢ an equipment engineer †¢ a quality manager †¢ an under-graduate For each scenario, identify the key responsibilities for each triple-role. Quality Management Slide 24 of 35 6) The Importance of Quality The first job we have is to turn out quality merchandise that consumers will buy and keep on buying. If we produce it efficiently and economically, we will earn a profit in which you will share. William Cooper Procter (1862-1934) Company Employees Address in 1887 Three issues critical to manufacturing and service: †¢ Productivity †¢ Cost †¢ Quality Quality Management Slide 25 of 35 6) The Importance of Quality Improved Quality †¢ Competitive Advantage †¢ Reduced Cost Less returns, rework and/or scrap †¢ Increased Productivity Increased Profits †¢ Satisfied Customers Quality > Sales > Profit > Jobs Quality Management Slide 26 of 35 6. 1 Cost of Poor Quality GM announces recall April 14, 2009 06:56 PM HUNTSVILLE, AL (WAFF) – General Motors is recalling 1. 5 million vehicles because of potential engine fires. GM says there have been no reports of any fires or injuries. Some of the recalled vehicles are no longer in production. The recall involves vehicles with a 3. 8-liter V6 engine. The government says drops of oil could fall into the exhaust system and cause a fire in the engine. The recall includes the 1998-1999 oldsmobile Intrigue, the 1997-2003 Pontiac Grand Prix, 1997-2003 Buick Regal, and the 1998-2003 Chevrolet Lumina, Monte Carlo and Impala. A gm spokesperson says the recall is just a precautionary measure for consumers. Quality Management Slide 27 of 35 6. 1 Cost of Poor Quality Sony recalls 438,000 laptops on burn concern Fri, Sep 05, 2008 Reuters NEW YORK, US – Japan's Sony Corp has launched a voluntary recall of 438,000 Vaio portable computers, citing a potential hazard that could cause the machines to overheat or possibly burn a user. It is one of the biggest computer recalls since 2006 when Dell Inc recalled 4. 1 million notebook computer batteries because they could overheat and catch fire. Quality Management Slide 28 of 35 6. 1 Cost of Poor Quality Prima Deli chocolate cakes likely cause of food poisoning By Hasnita A Majid, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 03 December 2007 2259 hrs SINGAPORE: If you've bought chocolate cakes from bakery chain Prima Deli, you should throw them away. The advice comes from the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA). The two agencies say these cakes are likely to contain a bacteria called Salmonella Enteriditis, which has caused some people to get food poisoning. Salmonella is a group of bacteria that can cause symptoms such as fever, watery diarrhoea, vomiting and abdominal pain. 106 people have so far reported getting food poisoning after eating the cakes. Six had to be hospitalised, but have since been discharged. They tested positive for Salmonella Enteritidis. Quality Management Slide 29 of 35 6. 1 Cost of Poor Quality The Space Shuttle Challenger disaster occurred on January 28, 1986, when Space Shuttle Challenger broke apart 73 seconds into its flight, leading to the deaths of its seven crew members. The spacecraft disintegrated over the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of central Florida, United States at 11:39 a. m. EST (16:39 UTC). The Space Shuttle Columbia disaster occurred on February 1, 2003, when the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated over Texas during re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere, with the loss of all seven crew members, shortly before it was scheduled to conclude its 28th mission, STS-107. Quality Management Slide 30 of 35 6. 2 Quality, Costs and Schedules Quality †¢ Emphasis on Quality – Elimination of causes of error and rework Reduction in Costs Improve delivery Schedules †¢ Emphasis on Quality – Unnecessary product features – Unrealistic tolerances – Perfectionism in inspection Increase in Costs Missing delivery Schedules Costs Schedules Will emphasis on Quality have a positive or negative impact on Costs and Schedules? Quality Management Slide 31 of 35 6. 2 Quality, Costs and Schedules Quality is about doing things right the first time and about satisfying customers. But quality is also about costs, revenues, and profits. Quality plays a key role in keeping costs low, revenues high, and profits robust. Perry L Johnson http://www. pji. com/aboutplj. htm Quality Management Slide 32 of 35 7) The Quality Odyssey Transformational change or radical change is different from incremental change. A breakthrough can mean different things to different people. Radical Change Carry-Over Modules from Past †¢ â€Å"As-is† †¢ Minor modifications †¢ 5S †¢ Root causes are not always identified Incremental Change †¢ Quality improvement †¢ Lean Manufacturing †¢ Process flow revisions †¢ Customer focused †¢ Re-design †¢ Creative thinking †¢ Innovation †¢ Six Sigma †¢ Benchmarking †¢ New technology Fix as Fail Self-Inspection †¢ Check †¢ Inspect †¢ Quality Control †¢ Revise Towards â€Å"Best-in-Class† Quality Quality Management Slide 33 of 35 7) The Quality Odyssey Recognize Leaders recognize the need for change and focus on achieving â€Å"Best-InClass† Quality. Define Leaders define the strategy, goals and objectives necessary to pursue â€Å"BestIn-Class† Quality. Organize Steps are taken to measure and analyze the organization’s current position. Improve Deploy strategy by selecting key problem areas, training people, establishing measures, developing solutions, and implementing improvements. Control Determine if improvements are working. If so, establish controls to maintain this new level of Sustain Integrate improvements throughout the organization & standardize best practices. Select new areas for improvement. Alignment between customers’ expectations and the organization’s strategic plan, processes and activities ultimately results in the right things being done right. Quality Management Slide 34 of 35 Recommended Further Reading 1. Juran’s Quality Planning and Analysis for Enterprise Quality Frank Gryna, Richard C H Chua and Joseph A DeFeo McGraw-Hill, 5th Edition, 2005 Chapter 1 : Basic Concepts Quality Management Slide 35 of 35