Report for potential investor Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Report for potential investor - Essay Example When the market will recover, companies with better fundamental state will be the one to come as market leaders and they will yield better results to the investors. So an investor should analyse any company comparison with the industry standards before taking any major decision. 3 It reflects how much of the company’s total assets are financed by debt or the degree of debt load used by the company. Higher ratio indicates higher riskiness of the company and can disturb company’s profitability when market conditions are unfavourable. The Gearing Ration of M&S for the past five years indicates that though it did not maintain any constant trend, but it was in a range of 25-40 percent. So it was found that the company’s Debt Ratio is not so very high. 17 This ratio measures the company’s ability to bear its financial burden which arises in form of interest to be paid for debt. This ratio is also known as times interest covered ratio. While calculating this ratio, analysts compare the company’s ability to pay the interest with the total interest payable on its debt, so higher ratio is an indicator of more stable state and less risk of default (Peterson & Fabozzi, 1999, p. 94). The Interest Coverage Ratio of M&S indicates it always has an Interest Cover Ratio greater than 1, or it can be expressed that it’s Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) was more than the interest payable. The company’s Interest Cover Ratio was constantly increasing, but due to financial downturn and economic slowdown throughout the world, this ratio declined in 2009 as profitability of the company declined. 18 So after undertaking all the efficiency ratios of M&S it can be said the company is maintaining higher debt structure in its capital and such financial leveraging is reducing company’s ability to retain meet long-term liabilities. But the good aspect is that the company’s Interest Coverage Ratio is at a comfortable state. 18 So it can be concluded that the

Negative Effects of Electric Card and Gas Cars Essay

Negative Effects of Electric Card and Gas Cars - Essay Example Ozone O3 causes global warming, breathing difficulties, chest pains, lung tissue damage, and coughing. Particulate Matter may cause asthma, coughs, lung damage, heart attacks, cancer, and premature death in extreme cases. Unburned hydrogen carbon may cause cancer and while reacted with nitrogen oxides it causes the ozone. Nitrogen oxide causes lung irritation and lung damage. Subject to these effects, it is quite clear that both electric and gas cars have adverse effects on the environment and our health (Natural Gas 1). However, quantifying which type of car harbors the most significant effects is a tall order. Nevertheless, the source of electricity in an electric car clearly defines the amount of pollution created by an electric car. Hence, the source of electricity and location of deployment determines the level of pollution between the electric and gas cars. Where the source of electricity is clean, little pollution comes to place while an unclean source leads to more pollution from a gas vehicle. Hydroelectric power is a clean source of electric power while coal or oil is unclean sources of electricity (Wilkins 1). However, major sources of electricity are neither clean nor unclean thus the challenge of gauging the level of pollution. At the same time, both cars have merits that may outweigh the pollution they cause. Nevertheless, all factors considered, electric vehicles have a great potential to pollute much less than internal combustion engine vehicles. However, when the application of electric cars is in totality, they pose a great risk to pollution than gasoline vehicles. As such, there have been many studies to ascertain the actual position of pollution while comparing the electric and gasoline vehicles. This paper will seek to establish the most efficient car by comparing their negative affects to the environment and health of persons. In achieving this, the paper will address various aspects relating to both cars. In conclusion, the paper will com pare the two cars with a hybrid car and deduce which is better. Fuel consumption price  of the cars One of the factors that will help us to analyze the negative effects of electric and gas car is their fuel consumption and by extension their fuel consumption cost. In the year 2011, about one third of the total petroleum imports went to the transport industry (U.S. Department of Energy 1). It is factual that gasoline cars consume more petrol or diesel than the electric cars (United States Environmental Protection Agency 1). At the same time, in the US the cost of electricity varies in wide dimension to the cost of gasoline. As such, the cost of fuel consumption varies from the gas to the electric car. This cost also varies from one state to another where charges 8 cents per kilowatt-hour while Hawaii charges 36 cents per kilowatt-hour. The electric car's energy consumption rate is in kWh per 100 miles (kWh/100m) where one needs to multiply the recorded figure by the relevant electr ic rate to get the cost per 100 miles. Various utility companies set the cost of electricity depending on the time of use and level of use. Indeed, the consumption cost of either a gas or electric car will equally depend on the make of the car. Overall, there is an approximate 30% fuel

Juvenile offenders should be tried and punished as adults

Juvenile offenders should be tried and punished as adults A youth say 13, boy or girl, acquires a gun and shoots another youth who has been harassing them. There is no doubt they should receive some sort of punishment for their actions. However, should they receive this punishment through the Juvenile Courts or Criminal Courts? This is the question, which has no real definitive answer. However, this paper will attempt to address some important issued concerning this matter. Studies have shown that juvenile crime was on the raise during the beginning of the 1990s. During the late 1990s and into the early part of the new century these crimes have fallen slightly. However, where these crimes the same type of crimes as juveniles committed before? No these crimes have become more violent in nature due to the change in the world we live in. Therefore, in conducting research into this matter it came to show the age of the individual should not be a determining factor but the crime committed. Juveniles today commit more serious crimes than before; thus requiring them to be tried and punished as adults because of the nature of the crime, violence involved, and types of crimes. Now in dealing with the crimes being committed we cannot discuss this without first getting over a major hurdle, being age. This is the most discussed portion of any argument when dealing with juveniles and crime. At what age does a child have the ability to commit a crime? Under the common law, which all laws in the United States originated, states that a child could not commit a crime if the defense was able to prove infancy. Infancy or in other words immaturity was the guide and concluded a child could not commit an adult offense. However, what is this age and when does it or did it change? Well in order to answer these questions, we must look into our past. Children for many years were more property then identified as person. If a child did something wrong it was legal for a father to take his life. Now as time went on things changed and so did life. Progress was moving forward and children advanced along with the rest of humanity. This is evident today in that children today do things we could only dream of doing at their age. In considering this at what age, does a child show a difference between diminished responsibility and bad decision? Children today have advanced socially due to modern technology such as television, movies, and games. The time when a child killed someone but because he/she did not understand a gun with bullets can harm is no longer. Now they can still make a bad decision but at the same time adults make bad decisions and are held responsible so why not those children who do the same thing? Legislation in each state addressed this issue. The State of Arizona for example has no age limit for transferring a juvenile to criminal court. Arizona uses a variety of provisions in order to deal with juvenile crime. These include judicial wavier laws like discretionary and presumptive. In addition, procedures for dealing concurrent jurisdiction, statutory exclusion, reverse wavier and once an adult always an adult. The next part in dealing with age is the use of term delinquency as it pertains to juvenile crime. Before continuing, you must understand when dealing with juvenile crimes the term delinquency is a part of the actions involved. All juveniles who process through the Juvenile Court system obtain the label as delinquent. However, there are two types of delinquency, first are the illegal acts whether committed by an adult or juvenile. Second are status offenses, which only juveniles commit. These status offenses are those such as curfew violations, truancy, and running away from home. These acts, though they concern us, may only come into consideration when deciding to transfer a juvenile to criminal court, but are not tried themselves in criminal court. The illegal acts such as murder, robbery, rape, and so on are the crimes in which juveniles are transfer to criminal court. These crimes are the ones in which juveniles today are committing but until recently where tried in Juvenile court. In many cases, delinquency determines if a juvenile who has committed minor offenses, then commi ts a felony crime requires transferred. Under some current legislation once, a juvenile commits a felony crime they automatically are delinquent and transferred to criminal court. What is the nature of the crimes that would constitute a juvenile being transferred to criminal court? The nature of the crimes committed by juveniles has changed over the years. For example, if a juvenile took someones car without permission it was more of a prank referred to as joyriding. Today taking of the same car would be theft. Since most uses of stolen cars is for the furtherance of committing other crimes. This is just a simple example but it sets the stage for how the juvenile justice system had to evolve in order to keep up with the crimes being committed. The focus of the juvenile courts was rehabilitation of the offenders without attaching a permanent criminal record. Believing that all children had no knowledge or responsibility of the actions they committed. This relates back to the argument about age and crimes committed by juveniles. Until the 1990s juveniles, committing crimes rarely saw their case transferred to criminal court. This changed when juveniles began committing more and more adult crimes and the thought changed concerning the nature of crime as it pertain s to juveniles. Therefore, legislation adjusted the focus of the juvenile justices system correcting the nature of the crime to be the same between adults and juveniles. Juveniles who committed felony crimes were now responsible for those crimes and received the same legal process as adults. This in itself was a major change from that of the juvenile courts. Under the provisions of juvenile courts, an offender did not have any constitutional rights. In criminal court, these juveniles now received the same protections under the constitution. Now that the nature of crime changed to meet the needs of the justice system, the violence used became a concern. In the early years of the juvenile justice system, there was violence involved with certain crimes committed. However, the violence pertained more to assault and battery. As time progressed so did the juvenile criminals. Now longer were the crimes just involving assault but weapons, particularly guns became involved. Increasing the violence used while committing crimes. This also led to the increase of fear in the public concerning juvenile criminal activity. As far as weapons are concerned, the use of a gun in violent assaults exceeds that of other weapons. The juvenile offender no longer needs to be within arms range to commit crimes. The use of a gun provided for an increase in murders and attempted murders committed by juveniles. Furthermore, technology today overwhelmed juveniles with images justifying gun violence. We cannot change the advancement of technology but it should be of concern to us. The problems of being a juvenile today also influenced juvenile violence. Juveniles carrying guns to school and using them helped fuel the thought of transferring cases to criminal court. Now not all crimes committed by juveniles with the use of weapons have received transfers to criminal court. The use of a gun, which is violent, was the center point of a case in Santa Cruz County, Arizona. In this case, a juvenile found and began playing with a gun; even though he removed the magazine; he did not know the gun was still loaded. He pointed the gun at a friend and killed her. This case remained in juvenile court and the offender received a sentence of one year in jail. So what is the difference between this and a juvenile who uses a gun in a drive by shooting? The amount of violence is the same. The difference is the intent involved. This again brings up the issue of age and knowledge of the crime being committed. Juveniles who use violence during the commission of a crime know what they are doing and need to be accountable for them. Now with these changes in the n ature of crime and violence, the need to discuss the legislative statutes involved with transferring cases to criminal court. The association between psychopathic characteristics and the severity of the crime has been investigated in two studies. Brandt et al. (1997) found a correlation between the 18-itemPCL-R Total and Factor 1 scores and crime severity. Gretton, McBride, Lewis, OShaughnessy, and Hare (1994) reported that adolescent sex offenders with high PCL:YV scores threatened their victims more and used more server violence during their sexually assaultive acts then did nonpsychopathic sexual offenders. (Gacono, 2000) When dealing with juveniles and the current procedures of transferring them to criminal court, one must consider the types of crimes, which brought this about. Instead, more selective strategies seem warranted in which only the most violent youth (e.g., those employing firearms and chronic violent offenders) are targeted for criminal court processing. (Myers,D. Young, M. 2005) The seriousness of a felony crime and the fact they are being committed by juveniles lead to a fear in the public. Whether this fear is real or imagined is not the issue. The fact that juveniles are killing causes concern to many. Now the origins of the juvenile courts came about to deal with the problems of juveniles committing petty crimes and status offenses. Since that, time society has changed and life has changed. Juveniles today are involved in criminal activity that before was considered only done by adults. The violent activity of gangs increased with drug activities beginning in the early 1990 has al so supported these fears. These issues met with an outcry from the public to get control of the activities of these juvenile criminals and protect the public. As stated before Arizona has several methods for dealing with juvenile criminals. At the top level is the fact Arizona has no age limit for which the transfer of a juvenile case to criminal court. Therefore, upon the determination of the district attorney, the decision to transfer the case to criminal court can occur to any juvenile even at the age of 10. The state also has other means authorized by legislation concerning the transfer of cases. Arizona has Judicial Wavier, which contains two components. The first is discretionary, which allows for the use of discretion when determining if prosecutor transfers a case. The next is presumptive, which is when age, crime and statutory requires make transfer the mean but allows the offender to show proof that the case should not transfer. Then there is concurrent jurisdiction where the prosecutor can proceed in juvenile or criminal court as they both have authority. Statutory exclusion is for certain categories of juvenile offenders and the decision is solely with prosecutor. Then there is reverse wavier, which allows the criminal court to send the case back to juvenile court of action. Also Arizona has the once an adult/always an adult, which means once a juvenile has processed as an adult in criminal court he/she will always be processed in criminal court. Now with an understanding of how cases transfer to criminal court, we need to look at the crimes juveniles commit. Criminal statutes vary from state to state. Juvenile delinquency is a violation of state or federal law or municipal ordinance by a minor that, if committed by an adult, would constitute a crime. (Roberts, A. 2004b) However, under every state statute the crimes, which are felony crimes, remain the same. Crimes such as murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, are just some of the crimes. A felony crime is one in which the offender can receive one year or more in prison. Nationally the numbers of juveniles arrested for felony crimes began to increase and in most statics peaked in the mid 1990s. Even though there was a drop since that time, the numbers concerning violent crimes are still alarming. The Federal Bureau of Investigations is responsible for tracking crime statistics. Now in dealing with statistics you must take it with a grain of salt. Writers use Statistics to sway our opinions for one purpose or another. However, in taking the information just as shown, you can make you own decision. The information between 1999 and 2008 showed drops in murder/manslaughter, forcible rape, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny, motor vehicle theft, arson, and violent crime. These numbers were significant as they showed decreases above 10 percent in all but two categories. (Extract from Crime in the United States 2008.) However, those same statistics when taken in a smaller year span show much different results. Between 2004 and 2008, those same crimes showed increases in murder/manslaughter, robbery, burglary, larceny, and violent crime. All these crimes listed are felony crimes across the country. These types of crimes are which the changes in law and attitude prompted transferring juveniles to criminal court. Now is there a correlation between the reduction in some crimes and the punishments received by offenders? This is a good question, since statistics relating to crimes committed by juveniles is non-existent or of no value. However, one can conclude that the decrease can result from more juveniles incarcerated. However, there are studies, which indicate that juveniles transferred to criminal court receive less punishment, then those retained in juvenile courts. Whatever the case maybe these types of crimes are of concern throughout the public and treating these offenders as adults was a neces sary requirement. This with the other factors justified the transferring juvenile criminals to criminal courts. Age of a juvenile came into consideration when determining whether they were able to commit a felony crime. This is not the case anymore as we progressed through the years so have the juveniles. Where there was a belief they could not understand what they were doing, they now know fully their actions. Delinquent juveniles have shown there inability to respond to rehabilitation and therefore need to receive more appropriate punishments. The natures of the crimes committed by juveniles now no longer perceived to be acts of immaturity but the criminal acts they are. Juveniles can and do understand their acts and those who commit criminal activity with knowing intent should receive the same treatment as adult. There are legislative statutes to control the transfer of juveniles to criminal court. Even though they are not perfect they due provide for constitutional guaranties and only transfer those who require appropriate treatment. . There is no end in sight for the types of crimes being committed. We cannot go back in time therefore we need to treat those juvenile criminals as such and stop the glorification of committing these crimes. Reference Page Serious and Violent Juvenile Offenders. A Century of Juvenile Justice. (2002) Chicago: University Of Chicago Press, 206, 226-229. Griffin, P., Szymanski, L., Torbet, P.(1998) Trying Juveniles As Adults in Criminal Courts: An Analysis of State Transfer Provisions. New York: Diane Pub Co.. Gacono, C. (2000). The Clinical and forensic assessment of psychopathy: a practitioners guide. Mahwah, NJ . Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc.. Myers, D., Young, M. (2005) How Should the Criminal Justice System Treat Juvenile Offenders?. Opposing Viewpoints Series Juvenile Crime (hardcover edition). 1 ed. Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven Press, 95-110. Roberts, A. (2004a) Juvenile Justice Policy. Juvenile Justice Sourcebook Past Present and Future, Edition: 3. New York: Oxford Univpr, 49-51 and 56-60. Roberts, A. (2004b) Juvenile Court. Juvenile Justice Sourcebook Past Present and Future, Edition: 3. New York: Oxford Univpr, 252-257. Roberts, A. (2004c) An Overview of Juvenile and Juvenile Delinquency. Juvenile Justice Sourcebook Past Present and Future, Edition: 3. New York: Oxford Univpr, 10,11,13,15,19,20,21. Scott, E.S., Steinberg, L.(2008). Why Crime is Different?. Rethinking Juvenile Justice. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 94-99. Snyder, Howard N..(2000) Juvenile transfers to criminal court in the 1990s : lessons learned from four studies : summary (SuDoc J 32.20:J 98). Pittsburgh, PA: U.S. Dept Of Justice, Office Of Justice Programs, Office Of Juvenile Justice And Delinquency Prevention. The Changing Faces of Juvenile Justice (Monographs of the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Branch). (1978) 1st, Date Same on Title Copyright Page ed. New York City: New York University Press. Zimring, F.E..(2005) A Rational For American Juvenile Justice. American Juvenile Justice. New York: Oxford University Press, USA, 56-62. Crime in the United States 2008. FBI Federal Bureau of Investigation Homepage. N.p., n.d. Web 13 July 2010. Snyder, H., Sickmund, M., Poe-Yamagata, E. (2000) Juvenile Transfers to Criminal Court in the 1990s: Lessons Learned From Four States. National Center for Juvenile Justice: Pittsburg, PA. Griffin, P. (2008) Different from Adults: An Updated Analysis of Juvenile Transfer and Blending Sentencing Laws, With Recommendations for Reform. National Center for Juvenile Justice: Pittsburg, PA Griffin, P. (2003) Trying and Sentencing Juveniles as Adults: An Analysis of State Transfer and Blending Sentencing Laws. National Center for Juvenile Justice: Pittsburg, PA

Kevlar Aramid Fiber :: essays research papers

STRUCTURE Kevlar Aramid Fiber is a synthetic (man-made) material known as a Polymer. A polymer is a chain that is made up of many similar molecular groups, better known as ‘monomers’ that are bonded together. ‘Monomers’ are made up of fourteen Carbon atoms, two Nitrogen atoms, two Oxygen atoms and ten Hydrogen atoms. A single Kevlar polymer chain could possibly have anywhere from one to five million monomers bonded together. A group of polymer chains can be organised together in a fiber. How the polymer chains are put together is important, as it improves the properties of the material. The flexibility, strength and stiffness of Kevlar fiber, is dependent on the orientation of the polymer chains. Kevlar fiber is an arrangement of molecules, orientated parallel to each other. This orderly, untangled arrangement of molecules is described as a â€Å"Crystalline Structure†. A manufacturing process known as ‘Spinning’ is needed to achieve this Crystallinity structure. Spinning is a process that involves forcing the liquefied polymer solution through a ‘die’ (small holes). The Crystallinity of Kevlar Polymer strands, contributes to the unique strength and stiffness of the material. Kevlar is very similar to other common synthetic polymers, including Nylon, Teflon and Lycra. In all Polated to strength. Aromatic refers to the Carbon atoms attached in a ring, and Amides refers to a group of Carbon, Nitrogen and Hydrogen atoms. Kevlar fiber is therefore a â€Å"Polyaromatic amide†, as it has a high breaking strength. Polymer chains are long, individual chains, although they behave as if they are attached to each other. The individual chains are actually held together by ‘Electrostatic Forces’ between molecules, also known as ‘Hydrogen Bonds’. Scientists discovered this, by using a special type of X-ray microscopy called ‘XANES’. This was able to reveal the orientation of molecules in materials. It has also been discovered that the components of Kevlar fiber, have a radial orientation that is in a crystal. The crystal-like regularity is the largest contributing factor in the strength of Kevlar fiber. PROPERTIES It is five times stronger, yet the same weight as steel. Kevlar Aramid fiber is an improved material, which is an extremely lightweight, man-made organic fiber. Kevlar fiber has a combination of properties, which have made Kevlar a very useful material. These include, high strength, low weight, high chemical resistance and high cut resistance. This material does not corrode or rust and is also unaffected when placed in or under water.

Chick-Fil-a: “Eat Mor Chikin” (Except on Sunday)

S. Truett Cathy founded Chick-fil-A in 1967. Cathy is the founder, chairman, and CEO of Chick-fil-A. The first Chick-fil-A restaurant was opened in Atlanta’s Greenbriar Shopping Center. In 2005, Chick-fil-A had sales of $1. 975 billion, which landed them as being the â€Å"second-largest quick-service chicken restaurant chain in the United States† (Perreault, Cannon, & McCarthy, 2012, p. 529). Throughout 37 states and Washington, D. C. , there are 1,250+ Chick-fil-A restaurants. Due to Cathy’s religious background, all of the restaurants are closed on Sundays. The company’s official statement of corporate purpose is â€Å"to glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that is entrusted to us and to have a positive influence on all who come in contact with Chick-fil-A†Ã¢â‚¬  (Perreault, Cannon, & McCarthy, 2012, p. 529). Cathy also established the WinShape Foundation in 1984 in attempt to help people such as restaurant employees, foster children, and other young people. Chick-fil-A’s â€Å"Eat Mor Chikin† advertising campaign, which started in 1995 with the first billboard, is one of the longest-running in the United States. By 2010, the company looks to double its current size in terms of new locations, primarily through stand-alone restaurants and aggressive expansion into the western United States† (Perreault, Cannon, & McCarthy, 2012, p. 529). Chick-fil-A was one of the first to market the chicken sandwich restaurant food chain. They make the chicken sandwich better than most of their competitors as well as they excel in the chicken market/industry. Their marketing strategy consists of the theme â€Å"Eat Mor† Chikin. â€Å"The Eat Mor Chikin theme, created by Dallas-based ad agency the Richards Group, was first introduced in 1995 as a three-dimensional billboard concept depicting a black-and-white cow sitting atop the back of another cow painting the words â€Å"Eat-Mor-Chikin† on a b illboard (Perreault, Cannon, & McCarthy, 2012, p. 529). The theme of the cow implementing people to eat more chicken was a hit. â€Å"The theme has been used as the basis of an integrated marketing campaign, which encompasses billboards, in-store point-of-purchase materials, promotions, radio and TV advertising, clothing and merchandise (e. . , plush cows, bobble-head cows), and calendars† (Perreault, Cannon, & McCarthy, 2012, p. 529). With tons of beef fast food restaurants out there such as McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s and Hardee’s, Chick-fil-A is outnumbered. The majority of fast food places sell hamburgers as their primary food product. Chick-fil-A’s attraction is their chicken sandwich, a â€Å"healthier† alternative to the hamburger. Chick-fil-A’s position is as a preferred alternative in the burger-dominated fast food industry.Going the â€Å"second-mile† is Chick-fil-A’s competitive advantage. â€Å"The comp any stays true to core business principles, which are based on biblical principles, by closing all restaurant doors on Sundays† (Battaile, 2013). By closing on Sundays, they are allowing a day of rest for all of their employees. As well as it allows it allows them â€Å"an opportunity to worship and/or spend time with their families† (Battaile, 2013). Other retailers should only close on Sundays if it follows their religious belief/standpoint.Otherwise, they wise well be open Sundays, because restaurants such as McDonald’s are all over the world, and different countries may not practice their religion on Sundays. Chick-fil-A is founded by a Christian man, who choses to have his business closed on Sundays, because he believes in a day of rest. Overall, Chick-fil-A is an excellent restaurant with a wonderful marketing approach. Their approach to advertise their chicken by using cows is ingenious. As well as they follow the four Ps: Product, Price, Place, & Promotio n.They even added an additional two Ps: Purpose & People. The fact that they follow their Christian belief by being closed on Sundays really speaks out to the people on who they are. ? Bibliography Battaile, Kim. â€Å"AIU Online: The Marketing Scene. † AIU Online: The Marketing Scene. N. p. , n. d. Web. 17 Mar. 2013. . â€Å"Chick fil A Eat Mor Chikin Except on Sunday – YouTube. † YouTube. N. p. , n. d. Web. 17 Mar. 2013. . Perreault, W. , Cannon, J. , & McCarthy, E. (2012). Essentials of marketing: a marketing strategy planning approach (13th ed. ). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill/Irwin.

Individual Happiness and Responsibility in “The Glass Menagerie”

Tennessee Williams’ (1911-1983) play â€Å"The Glass Menagerie† tells the story of a family unable to cope with the harsh reality of impoverishment and how its members resort to the creation of alternate worlds to sustain their interest in life. In the play, Williams explores the conflict between an individual’s right to be happy and his or her responsibility to others through the main protagonist Tom Wingfield who finds himself hindered from doing the things that gives him fulfillment by his position as the family breadwinner. Set in St. Louis in 1937, the play also reveals the tensions arising from failed expectations and broken relationships. Hence, Tom is caught in a perennial argument with his mother while his sister Laura finds it difficult to adapt to the outside world. However, Williams also makes it clear, through Tom’s narrative in the play, that individual happiness is nothing but an illusion and that individuals can derive a greater sense of fulfillment by answering to their more important familial and societal responsibilities. Being part of the larger social structure, individuals cannot escape their overriding responsibility to others. Tom’s main conflict with his mother, Amanda, is therefore representative of the friction that results when an individual puts his own happiness above his own family’s survival. In this case, however, Tom is unable to accept the concept of self-denial and puts leisure at the top of his priorities. He uses his dissatisfaction with his job as a worker at a shoe warehouse as an excuse to amuse himself in movies and drinking sprees. The biggest flaw of his character is therefore revealed when he uses the money intended to pay the electric bill to realize his dreams of adventure. In the same manner, individuals as part of the larger society are expected to be able to contribute to its growth and progress. In the play, Amanda represents the pressure of social expectations on Tom which he finds difficult to fulfill. Consequently, Tom accidentally breaks his sister Laura’s prized collection of glass figurines. Although clearly unintended, the act precludes the shattering of Laura’s world due to her disappointment with her brother’s selfishness when he finally leaves her and her mother without any regard as to how they would survive without his support. In his selfishness, he neglects the feelings not only of his mother but also of his vulnerable sister Laura. Thus, it is in his lack of sense for his family’s situation—and his inability to answer to familial and societal expectations—that Tom wishes to escape from his current world. It is only much later, as he is haunted by Laura’s memory, that he realizes that his actions have an impact not only on his life but on hers as well. His escape and abandonment of familial obligations to pursue â€Å"real-world adventures† therefore makes Tom feel guilty particularly of his sister Laura. In the end, Tom’s narrative is shaped not by the â€Å"real-life adventures† he sought and left his family for but by the uncertainty of Laura’s future after he abandons her and by the knowledge that his escape meant entrapment for her. The Glass Menagerie therefore illustrates that while individuals have the right to pursue their happiness, this must be balanced with a clear sense of responsibility to others and to society as a whole. As the narrative of the main protagonist reveals, individuals cannot truly attain happiness by attempting to escape from responsibilities or by letting their own happiness destroy the happiness of another person. Ultimately, individual fulfillment and contentment is attained from being able to contribute to the happiness and contentment of others in the wider society one is in.

5 Great Careers That Wont Ruin Your Social Life

5 Great Careers That Wont Ruin Your Social Life everyone wants a bit of work-life balance, right? studies show that employees who are able to disconnect from their job and maintain time for themselves are typically more satisfied and productive when they’re at work. so if you’re currently in a job where you feel like things are unbalanced, what are your options? glassdoor has compiled a list of the most work-life-balance-friendly jobs.the top five:1. data scientistdata scientists are very 21st century creatures: they take data from a variety of raw sources and look for patterns, trends, conclusions, etc. it’s a pretty specialized field, with a strong background in analytics, statistics, math, and computer science usually required. once you have the training, though, the pay is high ($114,808) and the number of openings is growing all the time as companies want real-time analytics. data scientists already in the field rated their job as â€Å"very satisfying† in glassdoor’s survey.2. seo managerif you’ve ever noticed the ranking of search results when you google something, you’ve seen the handiwork of an seo manager. these professionals analyze web traffic data and try to architect new ways to push their content to the forefront of people’s web searches. the median salary is $45,720, and this is another tech career that will be growing and evolving for the foreseeable future. current seo managers were in the satisfied to very satisfied range with their work-life balance.3. talent acquisition specialista company is only as good as the people it hires, and that makes talent acquisition a top priority. finding and recruiting top candidates falls to the talent acquisition specialist, who can go out and meet a company’s staffing needs using expertise and extensive outreach to find just the right people. with a median salary of $63,504 and a â€Å"satisfied† rating on the survey, who better to help others find work-life balance than a professiona l who’s found it in their own work?4. social media managerbeing a company’s brand ambassador seems like it would be a round-the-clock job. (am i the only one who imagines someone huddled over twitter in the wee hours of the morning?) however, this is not the case- social media managers fall into the range of satisfied to very satisfied with work-life balance, possibly due to the portability of their work (social media can go wherever you go, after all). the median salary for social media managers is $40,000.5. substitute teacherif you’re interested in a career in education but don’t think that a full-time teaching schedule is for you, becoming a substitute teacher might give you the balanced schedule you need. the salary isn’t as high as some others at the top of the list ($24,380), but the job received high marks on the â€Å"satisfied† spectrum for the flexibility involved.

The U.S. Foreign Policy in East Asia

The U.S. Foreign Policy in East Asia Introduction Since the relations between the United States and China were straightened two decades ago, American interests have invariably remained constant and consistent with those of the larger China. This has been followed with reproach from the political realm which has constantly victimized the long term intentions of this relationship.Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on The U.S. Foreign Policy in East Asia specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The American population seems to have conceptualized and victimized the manner in which the American administration seems to hold on to the long overdue early political ambitions of social stability, improved levels of technology, a better and firm security force. Would these have materialized, China would be a fertile ground for the vast investments made by the United States in China. Even more compelling, the historical dispute between Taiwan and China does not seem to be getting to a close with each party maintaining a heavy budget on the acquisitioning and sophistication of their armed forces. In effect the ambitious profit forecasts that raised an interest back after the cold war have remained a dream. The nation’s future therefore appears to be held on weak strings threatening to crumble any time in the face of fluid geopolitics. China’s intention to forcefully acquire Taiwan has embraced serious and sometimes acute criticism even as it continues to acquire apply and export essential technological strategies. There have also been endless concerns as to China’s appetite for human rights as well as religious freedom even as the trade relations with China are nursed. It is therefore only natural that the general opinion is that of every five Americans four are of an opinion that precaution and strict scrutiny of China’s intentions should be taken before these relations become more intimate. They believe that Chinaâ€℠¢s labor policies should be put to check. Issue and Background China’s long and winding history dates back to the Clinton era when North Korea first announced its withdrawal from the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty at a time around March 1993. Negotiations followed and bore the first and possibly the only tangible results in October the following year. A compromise in the form of an agreed framework was drafted that required that all parties be enjoined to the International Atomic Energy Agency monitors. All of the 8000 fuel rods that had been spent were agreeably canned and sealed. Also part of the bargain was the construction of two light water reactors by the end of the 2003 with heavy fuel oil supplies. China in 1996 picked up the cars by firing missiles towards Taiwan. The response by the United States was a show of might in the form of aircraft carriers. A year earlier the Taiwan president had made a trip to the United States leaving the impression that America was endo rsing the independence of Taiwan.Advertising Looking for term paper on international relations? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This was the beginning of the distrustful relations between the United States and China. North Korea would then raise eye brows on the 1st of September 1998 by firing a long-range ballistic missile over Japan. The world responded with aggressive suctions and withdrawal of financing amidst claims by the United States of an underground nuclear project by North Korea. The status quo was maintained by the bush administrations which did little but fan the flames of the conflict between China and Taiwan. In 2001 former president bush was quoted to have supported a military solution and the use of force in the control and maintenance of the North Korea situation. The situation was made even more serious by the admission of North Korea of having abducted of 30 Japanese nationals in connection betwee n 1977 and 1983. This could not have appeared at a more appropriate time. In the same year the United States intelligence would then uncover a nuclear program underway in the Korean country probing the withdrawal of oil shipments by America. The United States position was made manifest in the former president’s speech at Kyoto in November 2005. He advocated for openness in China’s approach to the issue of human freedoms and went on to use Taiwan as an example of a country that had achieved prosperity by embracing freedom and allowing for a democratic Chinese society. It is common ground that the China- United States relations have trod on shaky ground. Talking points The quarrel between China and Taiwan Taiwan originally was occupied by Japan for a long 50 years from 1895 to 1949. Four years later the nationalist Chiang regime lost its power to the communist party in China. Chiang would then flee into Taiwan. The regimes that followed perceived Taiwan as part of  "one China† that would be united come the resumption of the nationalist movement. After a long and harsh rule of the Koumintang administration in 1986, the first opposition party was founded. This was after a long period of dictatorship and a ban on opposition parties. The party finally managed to secure a presidential seat for their candidate in year 2000. The doctrines adopted by the party offend the Chinese government’s long conception of Taiwan as a defector province that would one day be united with the larger communist China by whatever means. Nuclear concerns In the recent history China has placed blame on the US for benefiting on selling on nuclear sophisticated technology to countries like Pakistan who just recently practiced its pilot missile. Nuclear concerns have time and again stood in the way for the mending of the relations between these two countries. There are those who are of the opinion that it is the strategic and developmental significance that hold s still the random and shaky connection between these countries.Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on The U.S. Foreign Policy in East Asia specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Points of Debate The United States position Despite the recent series of events, China has remained to be the most populous nation in the world as well as among the most promising of countries. It bears a colossal capacity for growth and is an ideal ground for investment. The United States has historically recognized Taiwan as part of the greater China and has time and again advocated for an amicable resolution to the e Taiwan China dispute. Despite the provisions of the 1979 Taiwan Relations act to which the United States is bound it has maintained a fine line between the long history between the relations of these two nations and the gradually improving influence of China. In effect the United States has made a firm stand in the campaign for its principles and values of freedom and democracy and yet avoiding an unnecessary conflict with China. Even so it would be hard to avoid noticing the current status of Taiwan which by 2005 had a gross national product of 328 billion of which 174 billion was attributed to trade and export of electronics. This indicates a successful economy that is supported by a multiparty democracy. In the spirit of democracy and the recent examples of Eritrea, Southern Sudan, Libya and Tunisia it would only seem fit that the revolutionary effects of democracy are not far off. Moments of collaboration For all intents and purposes the relations between Washington and Beijing have been of mutual assistance and cooperation in the search for an amicable resolve to the conflict crisis. In 2005 the bush administration secured peace talks negotiations between Taiwan and China. These are less likely however to occur in future owing to the division among the electorate with a substantial amount in favor of bot h propositions. In other avenues China and the United States have displayed a team effort as was seen in the 1991 gulf war against Iraq in its move of sustaining as opposed to exercising its veto in the un security council. Way forward Despite the above mentioned setbacks, the two states maintain a certain degree of trust that each nation will keep the others interests in mind when it comes to the making of big decisions affecting either nation. If the current state of affairs is anything to go by, the solution to the constant hedge against each other is co-operation and demonstration of regard for each other’s goals. An outstanding cause of the constant conflict between the two nations is the divergence of values and interests alongside the difficulty in ascertaining each party’s intentions. More often than not it stands in the way of development of a common object of values and commonality of interests.Advertising Looking for term paper on international relations? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More China for instance invested its national interests in territorial integrity alongside institutional security and economic development. Of paramount importance is institutional security with the sole tenet of service to the people. The genuine changes that have transformed China such as imperialism colonialism and hegemonic ideology have set it back to the development road a road that the United States gives a detached cognizance. (Despres, P. 115) The Chinese bear a saying to the effect that modesty aids progress while conceit drags the one behind. It is of essence that both parties treat each other with a sense of equality and respect for the others institutions. For all intents and purposes, the American conception of the Chinese system should me more objective in as far as performance is concerned and in relation to the international standards of civil rights and social reform. The relationship between the two states has in recent times received substantial support by the current president of China even in the face of the hard economic times brought by the year 2010. The challenge therefore is on building and maintaining these improvements. This will not be an easy task due to the divergence of the compatible interests of both nations. China on its part will be required to do more than just casual international exchanges and international cooperation. It will be required to adopt policies that safeguard its investments and the interests of its people. This may be the explanation behind the continued investment in the defensive capacity. If however the objectives are not stated clearly and their plans explained, the United States may get the wrong impression and it is therefore important to ensure that their level of trust is maintained to save both parties the misconceptions and misjudgments (Pouyan, P. 115) It is also important that China understands the legitimacy of the concerns and desires specifically with regard to the all too common issue of freedom of navigation in the open seas. Undeniably the United States has monopolized the administration of and management of the open seas including Asia. Naturally it has been a cause for concern for policy makers and drafters as well as critics as to the United States objectives and interests. Presumably the picture has been tainted as one of selfish interest. This situation has been worsened by the rapid growth of the Chinese economy and increased need for alternate sources of revenue for the continued development goals the navigate freedom continues to be more and more liberal. This has been a cause of anxiety for the United States for instance in the Chinese prospects over a number of exclusive economic zones. This has raised eyebrows and could be a cause of dissatisfaction. It is of essence that the Chinese government declares its intentions to ensure that the essence of suspicion does not persist. The survival of these friendly ties it’s for the mutual benefit of both nations. It would be of specific benefit to China if both parties as well as other ASEAN members to make attempts to reconcile each others stand by creating a system of administration that will aid the free convenience of the south China seas but still support the invariable interests and privileges of China in so far as economic exploitation is concerned. The connection between the American population and the Chinese is invaluably important since the Chinese economy presents and maintains a substantial market for the many citizens who deal in export goods in the likes of farmer’s workers and businessmen across the United States besides the all famous multinational companies such as Microsoft, Motorola and Boeing. The Chinese also have a bearing on the American security situation. The United States has sent its troops to mitigate the South Korean issue. China is therefore an important agent in ensuring that the democratic concerns Pu t forward by the United States receives motivation and backing. In the face of the rising need for renewable and environmentally friendly sources of energy, China plays a big role in the fight against pollution. It is therefore an important ally in the environmental campaign. China’s economic progress has taken a down turn owing to among other things the changing economic times. It has been presented with hard edged choices as the profits from the liberalization ideology seem to be marginalizing. It is of urgent need that the nation takes measures to address the social and political steps towards an amicable resolve. Of urgent concern is the political twist that has befallen the regime that enforced controls that allocate lesser capital for instance to the banking sector. The banking system in any nation forms the benchmark for the growth of any economy. It therefore is counterproductive to restrain it since it has a bearing in almost all sectors. It is also important that the level of corruption be put to check as well subs tantive reform to the nation’s taxation system. The political environment in China leaves alit to be desired. It is a high time that the leaders are made more accountable for their undertakings in their various administrative dockets. The leadership seems to be preoccupied with preserving and guarding its power and territory at the expense of the vision of China. It is important in the fulfillment of the democratic mandate vested in them by the electorate. The entrance (Harries, P. 2-25) For the past decade monetary policy has been among the greatest concerns in the United States- China relations. Issues have been raised as to whether each not each country’s currency is at the equitable value. Each country has often shifted blame on the other refuting the responsibility for the state of affairs. Experts however have a different view and have the assumption that Chinese Yen is rated low. The rising value of the Chinese currency will therefore have a great bearing on the balance in trade between the two nations. Just recently have tried the best to put pressure on China to Up- grade Chinese Yen as a currency. The US congress has presented a bill that seeks among other things to require the administration to enforce tariffs on any imports from China. In return the Chinese have criticized this move as one of unfair motive. It has formed a renewed source for debate and if not resolved, could lead to unwanted conflict. Recommendations From a realist stand China is a threat to the United States by the fact that it has gradually walked to global homogeneity. They suggest that these recent turn of events could likely to lead to war. The liberalists on the other hand take the view that the increase in power of the Chinese regime is not solely enough to lead to war. They consider casual mechanisms as an amicable solution to the sustenance of peaceful coexistence. Both present strong argue that tend to lean on pessimism rather than objective optimism. To avo id any of these unfortunate eventualities they suggest that the United States adopts the advice of one Walter Russell which entails the strategic employment of sticky power. This is a term that was derived by Russell from the construction of peace built on trade relations. It marries the liberalist and realist approaches in providing a balance to the whole stand down. It embraces liberal ideas such as economic reliance to motivate continued relations. It also recognizes realist chances of war. In effect the interdependence and democratization are used as a barrier to war. It also keeps in mind the realist possibility of war and braces for such war bringing aboard historical precedent. Sticky power seems to be the most reliable compromise that has long-term prospects of success. Conclusion The future of these relations is crowned with uncertainty. As it were the two nations have a lot to learn from Theodor Roosevelt’s quote to the effect that it is always to the benefit and in terest of every other nation that a nation maintains its stability and prosperity. It is not to any nations disadvantage that a nation has stability within its borders the kind that is strong but not too strong as to provoke aggression form its neighbors. It is for the greater good that hopes for change development growth and progress with regard to democracy peace and legitimacy in line with the doctrines of natural justice summarized in the quote â€Å"live and let live† In the end after all the legacy of the presidents regime in so far as the bilateral relationship is concerned will be judged buy the ability to bring the Chinese regime into the campaign for international concerns such as global warming. It is of alarming concern that the two nations combined account for at least 40 % of the global emissions. It is issues of this kind that the world at large measures the achievement and potential of a nation’s democracy. Despres, John. â€Å"American Interests In a nd Concerns with China†. 3/12/10 Retrieved from https://www.rand.org/pubs/monograph_reports.html Harries, Owen.†China In The National Interest†. New Jersey.Transaction Publishers 2006. P. 115 Pouyan, Vahabi-Shekarloo.†The making of American foreign policy towards China†.Norderstedt Germany. Druck and Bindung. 2005 .P, 2-25

How Federal Title I Program Helps Students and Schools

How Federal Title I Program Helps Students and Schools Title I provides federal funding to schools that serve an area with high poverty. The funding is meant to help students who are at risk of falling behind academically. The funding provides supplemental instruction for students who are economically disadvantaged or at risk of failing to meet state standards. Students are expected to show academic growth at a faster rate with the support of Title I instruction. The Origin of Title I The Title I program originated as the Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Act of 1965. It is now associated with Title I, Part A of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB). Its primary purpose was to ensure that all children were given the opportunity to be provided with a high-quality education. Title I is the largest federally funded education program for elementary and secondary schools. Title I is also designed to focus on special needs populations and to reduce the gap between advantaged and disadvantaged students. Benefits of Title I Title I has benefited schools in many ways. Perhaps the most important is the funding itself. Public education is cash strapped and having Title I funds available affords schools the opportunity to maintain or initiate programs that target specific students.  Without this funding, many schools would not be able to provide their students with these services.  Furthermore, the students have reaped the benefits of Title I funds having opportunities that they otherwise would not have. In short, Title I has helped some students succeed when they may not have otherwise. Some schools may opt to use the funds to initiate a school-wide Title I program where every student can benefit from these services. Schools must have a child poverty rate of at least 40% to implement a school-wide Title I program. A school-wide Title I program can provide benefits to all students and is not just limited to those students who are considered to be economically disadvantaged. This path gives schools the biggest bang for their buck because they are able to impact a larger number of students. Requirements of Title I Schools Schools that utilize Title I funds have several requirements to keep the funding. Some of these requirements are as follows: Schools must create a comprehensive needs assessment that specifies why Title I funds are needed and how they will be used.Schools must use highly qualified teachers to provide instruction.Teachers must utilize highly effective, research-based instructional strategies.Schools must provide their teachers with quality professional development designed to improve the areas identified by the needs assessment.Schools must create a targeted parental involvement plan with associated activities such as a family engagement night.Schools must identify students who are not meeting state standards and create a strategic plan for helping those students grow and improve.Schools must show annual growth and improvement. They must prove that what they are doing is working.

Statistics for managers class discussion wk9 Coursework

Statistics for managers class discussion wk9 - Coursework Example The logistic regression model involved the development of an approximated multiple regression equations. The probability prediction that a customer belongs to a particular client group was the dependent variable. On the other hand, the measures of shopping behaviors of customers, represented as x1, x2, x3, . . . , xp, were the independent variables in the regression analysis. The independent variables included the day/hour of purchase, items purchased, and amount purchased. The logistic regression analysis was useful in the sense that it helped the marketers of dunnhumby to identify the most crucial independent variables as far as predicting customer population and customer group is concerned. In view of how dunnhumby applied the multiple regression model, the model can also be used in other business scenarios. For example, an automobile company such as GM Motors can use a multiple regression analysis to identify its customer shopping behavior, season of shopping, customer preferences, and customer experiences, for a particular model of car sold at a given price. It will help the company to produce and distribute the car that most consumers prefer in the largest quantity. Besides, Amazon.com can use a multiple regression analysis to determine the items that are bought most frequently by customers, the month that most customers visit the website to check the item, and the amount of items purchased within a period. Subsequently, Amazon will develop an interface that enables all customers to preview the featured item and perhaps buy it. Fundamentally, multiple regression analysis allows the determination of the connection between multiple independent variables and one depend ent variable. However, it has the major drawback that it makes assumptions that need to be checked. In addition, multiple regression analysis uses unknown independent variables to draw conclusions and make recommendations. Overall,

Miranda Act Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Miranda Act - Essay Example Nevertheless, unexpectedly, every single one of these studies was carried out within the period of the Miranda resolution, and none has been repeated afterward. Hence, the entire literature on the impact of the Miranda Act on individuals and law enforcement personnel originates from studies that were carried out during the early years of Miranda (Cassell & Fowles, 1998). Because the more enduring effect of a court resolution is more relevant to academics than its immediate impacts, as expressed by Leo (1996), it is astonishing that no academic has investigated the effect of the Miranda Act in almost three decades. The Miranda Act has been the most contentious and the most condemned case of the Supreme Court in the United States criminal justice (Fridell, 2006). Even though nobody has methodically studied the continuing impacts of Miranda on collective awareness, court cases, or law enforcement methods and behavior, the subject matter of Miranda’s effect is still a root of cont ention among academics and practitioners (Leo, 1996). Despite the unending debate between liberal and conservative scholars of the Miranda Act, law enforcement personnel have effectively adjusted to the provision of Miranda of ‘pre-interrogation constitutional warnings’ (Leo, 1996, 628) in recent years. A significant portion of the law enforcement community respects the ideals and logic of Miranda and does not challenge its legitimacy anymore. Law enforcement personnel, according to Cassell and Fowles (1998), like detectives and police officers, nowadays have also embraced the legitimacy of the Miranda Act and accepted its importance as a representation of police competence. In Miranda vs. Arizona, the United States Supreme Court declared suspects within detention - or a logical custodial condition - have to be recommended of their right to stay silent, that no matter what they state, could be utilized against them and that they have a right to a legal representative. O nce a legal representative is called, police force can only utilize statements made with the presence of a legal representative as proof in any trial (Wise, 1996). The case involves is about a 13 years old boy of North Carolina, charged for two break-ins within Chapel Hill. The boy was dragged from his classroom and was inquired by police officials along with school officials in a closed conference room. Finally, the boy admitted to the break-ins. Just after the admission, the investigator notified that he did not have to talk with him and that he was allowed to go, court proceedings mentioned. After that, the boy was permitted to go home; however, a police official armed with a warrant later looked around within his home for the items stolen (Gardner & Anderson, 2009). Two adolescent appeals were filed, charging him with â€Å"breaking and entering and with aggravated burglary. His public advocate encouraged to suppress his statements and the evidence derived from them† (Sch malleger, 2001), declaring that he had been cross-examined within a custodial situation without being provided Miranda advices and that his statements were unconscious. The legal representative of trial refused the proposal. Studies on the effect of the Miranda Act used various methodologies, such as interviews, secondary data analysis, and participant observation. The common agreement of these studies is that after adapting at first to the new directives promulgated in the Miranda resolution, law enforcement abided by the rules, but not the essence, of the

Alex Ovechkin Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Alex Ovechkin - Research Paper Example Like most hockey players, Ovechkin found his love for the game at a very young age.   He was two years old when he first picked up a hockey stick  in Moscow department store. Whenever he saw a game on television he would drop what he was doing and not allow his parents to change the channel. He soon became obsessed with hockey and rarely missed a televised game. He was yearning to soak up every ounce of knowledge he could. His parents say they knew he would be an athlete when Alexander chose to run up the steps to their apartment rather than take the elevator. He began playing hockey at the age of 7, having been introduced to it formally by his older brother Sergei. In 1992, he started playing for Dynamo youth team. Unfortunately, most of the other players on his team had already been playing hockey for some time. Alex was especially concerned when the coach asked the team members to skate backward figure eights. He was not familiar with how to skate backward at all. But, his coa ch still noticed his enormous talent. During this time, Alex’s favorite team was Moscow Dynamo. His hero was Alexander Maltsev, the club ’s greatest star. Maltsev retired a year before Alex was born, but through stories and TV highlights, the boy decided that Matsev was his man. At one point, his parents were no longer able to get Alex to hockey so Sergei stepped in and made sure that he could get his little brother wherever he needed to go.   He was one of the first to notice the talent in Alex, and he wanted to be sure he was able to use it. Unfortunately, years later an event would happen that would change Ovechkin’s life forever.   His older brother Sergei, in his early 20?s at the time,  was tragically killed in a car accident.   To this day Ovechkin still credits his brother for introducing him to and pushing him to continue playing hockey.   Many say his passion for the game comes from this tragic event and to this day, when he scores, Alex will often kiss his glove and point to the sky in a salute to his brother. As Alex moved up the ranks of Moscow Dynamo’s competitive youth hockey program, he began to draw attention with his powerful skating and quick, accurate wrist shot. He was a hard worker and though very offensive-minded, he was a devoted team player. Alex could raise spirits with a goal, a pep talk or a good back-check. He had that extra dimension as a person and was a player who was clearly the product of a terrific sports family. Before becoming a professional, Ovechkin was already making a name for himself in the Dynamo Moscow  system when at 11 years old he broke Pavel Bure’s record of 53 goals by scoring 56 of his own. He began his professional hockey career at the age of 16 for Russian hockey power Dynamo Moscow  during the 2001-02 season.   By the time he was 18, he won the  Russian Superleague award for the best left-wing  in the league for the 2003-04 season and was the youngest pl ayer ever to lead Dynamo Moscow in scoring. This was his breakthrough. He netted 23 points in 53 games and was voted the Superleague’s top left wing. At first glance, his stats did not seem to warrant superstar talk, but this perspective soon changed. Comparisons to Ilya Kovalchuk, the Russian star drafted first overall by the Atlanta Thrashers in 2001, were inevitable. The two were indeed similar players, although Alex was a bit more of an end-to-end performer. Kovalchuk, by contrast, was never known for his

Why does the EU rely so much on policy networks to make its political Essay

Why does the EU rely so much on policy networks to make its political system function - Essay Example Policy changes have taken place only with the consent of the group. Interest groups have always favored state bureaucracies maintaining stable relationships with the groups. Hence policy networks have helped the policy makers fulfill their procedural ambitions and obtain a ‘negotiated order’ For this reasons even after decades of formulation, these policies for the functioning of political system continue to exist (Mazey & Richardson, 2001).The paper intends to trace out the possible reasons behind EU’s everlasting reliance on policy networks for managing the political system thereby addressing the background and importance of these policy networks. The European Union EU operating for 50 years possesses a unique background. Under the co-decision procedure the Council consisting of all member states works with the European Parliament for budget formulation and other decisions. Overall, the decision making body contains EU Council, Parliament and the European Commis sion. The legislations for EU comprises of Primary legislation influencing daily lives of member countries’ citizens and Secondary legislation containing directives, regulations and also certain recommendations. The decision based upon majority votes, can be simple or qualified, depending entirely on the addressed issue (Mazey & Richardson, 2001). It appears that the structure of the EU displaying behavioral traits and functioning is very different from the regular or traditional ones found in most other organizations (How does the EU work, 2008). State bureaucrats display efficiency in framing policies under the scope of their limited capacities and available information. The users who are served by these bureaucrats extend a high degree of external support to the political system on obtaining their desired benefits. Thus favoritism and institutional factors act behind decision making (Mazey & Richardson, 2001). Evolvement of European Political System: Horizontal and Vertica l Over the years the European Union has developed a well governed and stable political system. An efficient government operates within the state with concentration of power at the center. Member countries like France, Britain and Sweden are known to possess an ideal political system. Decentralization has been the key to governance. It has always witnessed sharing of political power among large number of actors (Buxbaum, 1996, pp. 14-16). Policies framed under EU governance are concerned with regulation of markets. This has been noticed for environmental and social policies of EU which helps in preventing market failures. The budgetary policies have dealt with compensating potential losers who lose out in market integration. The adoption of a single currency has been aimed towards regulating markets. It has attempted creation and regulation of a single market. The Maastricht Treaty of 1993 has attempted to bring about economic and political union. Viewed form a vertical dimension EU can be termed as a regulatory state. From horizontal perspective it has acted as a hyper consensus government (Buxbaum, 1996, p. 16). The total policy making process has been divided between the governmental head in the European Council and Commission resulting in efficient allocation of power among the EU institutions. Political leadership has been rotational among the member countries. Such a governance framework has led to rising power of the European parliament. Under this multilevel EU framework, networks have helped to improve regulations in the areas of energy, transport and telecommunications. Background for policy networks

Marketing and Sales for tourism and Hotels Assignment

Marketing and Sales for tourism and Hotels - Assignment Example This creates a perception in the customer’s mind which prompts them to visit or recommend others either consciously or subconsciously. This paper therefore seeks to analyze the current marketing situation that faces movie world, theme park in gold coast Australia, and access its success in delivering customer experience which complements the organizations image. Movie world remains the most popular theme park at the Australian gold coast, Queensland in Australia. It is the only movie related park and is owned by the village roadshow. The park has an awesome aesthetic external appearance that compliments the ambience in the park. Constructed on a 415 acre piece of land, it is a master piece designed by C.V Wood in 1893 and has several active film studios within its complex. It also contains a number of movie-themed rides as well as attractions that range from roller coasters, slow river rides to simulators. In addition, there are several costumed character performers that walk freely in the park and visitors are able to take photos with them. These include famous movie characters such as Batman, Austin powers, Scooby doo and Marylyn Monroe. The above facilities available at the park deliver an exciting experience to visitors every time they visit the park (Seth & Bhat, 2005) The park is divided into four different segments namely; a wild beast area, a kids’ WB fun zone, a DC comic’s superhero hub and finally a main street. The main street features attractions that are based around filmmaking and movies .it is a home to a vast array of movie productions such as all-star parade, ice age and Batman’s Shadows of Gotham. The kids’ WB fun zone is majorly for the children. It features a number of rides that are specifically designed for children such as Looney tunes carousel and speedy Gonzalez. The other two majorly focus on water rides and rollercoasters. From the above, it is evident that Movie world

Visual Arts and Film Studies Tests. Changes in exhibition from the Assignment

Visual Arts and Film Studies Tests. Changes in exhibition from the early 1900s through the 1940s - Assignment Example Moreover, cinema of attraction is based on shock, spectacle, and sensation. According to Gunning, cinema of attraction greatly differs with the contemporary narrative cinema that solicits a voyeuristic spectatorial gaze. It is an early exhibition where the spectators become overtly acknowledged, and invited to look. What is the PCA? In order to regulate morality and politics within films, the PCA (Production Code Administration), patrolled major issues that came about in the movies, moral barricades and the politics involved in movie productions. The government decided that wartime movies were very delicate to be left to the moviemakers thus the PCA, the Office of War Information, policing morality, and guarding politics made sure that the American screen was tightly regulated like no any other time in history. The PCA and its associated groups worked towards improvement in the film content in outright falsifications in others and evasions. What is a â€Å"star vehicle†? A ‘star vehicle refers to a movie, television show, or a play fabricated mainly to enhance a star’s career. The main aim of a star vehicle revolves around promoting a performer with the anticipation of inducting a bankable star. For instance, a bankable star compels the spectators to watch either the television show, play or even the film since he/she is featured in the project. Any successful star vehicle portrays unique talents exhibited y the star being promoted. In addition, a star vehicle can be created to showcase a star shifting from one genre to another. In a star vehicle, the young or inexperienced actor signs a long-term contract with a major studio. However, in some cases, the actor may produce for himself or herself a vehicle thus resulting to a form of self-promotion (Lewis, 2002). d. What does Jane Feuer mean when she refers to the â€Å"dual diegesis† of the backstage musical? Modernist cinema in association wi th Hollywood musical, use dual in the world of films in order to reflect the relationship of the spectator to the film. Dual diegesis in this sense parallels the use of internal audience. In other cases, dual diegesis calls attention to the discrepancy between reality and fiction, or history and fiction. According to Jane, Hollywood musicals are built upon a base of dual registers with the contrast between number and narrative defining musical comedy as a form. In the backstage, musical dual levels are apparent in contrast between the show or film and the backstage plot within the film, between the world offstage and world onstage. e. How was the production of Casablanca affected by U.S. entry into World War II? Scholarly research depicts that one of the main argument was that the government collaborated with the Hollywood industry to use film as propaganda during the Second World War. Due to the stigma that surrounded Hollywood in the early 20’s, directors and actors were co nvicted of outrage that led to public accusation of immorality within the film industry. Moreover, the government worked directly with Hollywood by using its films as a powerful tool to enhance the war. It was during t5his period that Casablanca was greatly affected. These films displayed anti-Japanese propaganda, grim images, and the sacrifices made by the American soldiers. Even after the war, the films continued to portray skewed sights of the war with glorifying efforts made by the soldiers to show the sacrifices they made were quite worthwhile. 2. What changes in exhibition took place

Marketing and Sales for tourism and Hotels Assignment

Marketing and Sales for tourism and Hotels - Assignment Example This creates a perception in the customer’s mind which prompts them to visit or recommend others either consciously or subconsciously. This paper therefore seeks to analyze the current marketing situation that faces movie world, theme park in gold coast Australia, and access its success in delivering customer experience which complements the organizations image. Movie world remains the most popular theme park at the Australian gold coast, Queensland in Australia. It is the only movie related park and is owned by the village roadshow. The park has an awesome aesthetic external appearance that compliments the ambience in the park. Constructed on a 415 acre piece of land, it is a master piece designed by C.V Wood in 1893 and has several active film studios within its complex. It also contains a number of movie-themed rides as well as attractions that range from roller coasters, slow river rides to simulators. In addition, there are several costumed character performers that walk freely in the park and visitors are able to take photos with them. These include famous movie characters such as Batman, Austin powers, Scooby doo and Marylyn Monroe. The above facilities available at the park deliver an exciting experience to visitors every time they visit the park (Seth & Bhat, 2005) The park is divided into four different segments namely; a wild beast area, a kids’ WB fun zone, a DC comic’s superhero hub and finally a main street. The main street features attractions that are based around filmmaking and movies .it is a home to a vast array of movie productions such as all-star parade, ice age and Batman’s Shadows of Gotham. The kids’ WB fun zone is majorly for the children. It features a number of rides that are specifically designed for children such as Looney tunes carousel and speedy Gonzalez. The other two majorly focus on water rides and rollercoasters. From the above, it is evident that Movie world

The Works of Ernest Hemingway Essay Example for Free

The Works of Ernest Hemingway Essay Ernest Hemingway is one of the most distinguished and seasoned American writers of all time. He was born in Oak Park, Illinois in 1899 to parents Clarence Edmonds Hemingway and Grace Hall Hemingway. He grew up and obtained primary and secondary education in Oak Park. After high school, Hemingway decided to skip college and take on a career in Journalism for the local paper of the state of Kansas. Writing for The Kansas City Star for six long months was Hemingway’s first job. His experiences as a journalist for the Star contributed to his writing styles – brief yet succinct and forceful. After the Star, Hemingway enlisted himself as a volunteer for the Red Cross Ambulance Corps during World War I. He came up close to the carnage and atrociousness of the war through his experiences and his involvement with army officers. After being wounded in the war, Hemingway returned to Oak Park where he continued his writing career for the local paper in Toronto, while also busying himself with writing novels and short stories; three of his most popular novels being â€Å"A Farewell to Arms,† â€Å"For Whom the Bell Tolls,† and â€Å"The Old Man and the Sea,† that were highly influenced by his experiences during the war and other personal and social events thereafter. (Wagner-Martin, 15-40) Hemingway’s ingà ©nue in writing earned him various awards including the prestigious Pulitzer Price for â€Å"The Old Man and the Sea† and a Nobel Prize in Literature for his numerous lifetime writing achievements. (Wagner-Martin, 16) It was Hemingway’s excellent and distinct writing style and structure that earned him regard and prestige. With this in mind, the remainder of this text will look into the established writing styles and writing structure of Hemingway, which earned him honor and esteem, as evident in his three most popular works as aforementioned above. In addition, the major themes, motifs, and symbolisms present in the three novels will be compared vis-à  -vis in order to determine how Hemingway solidifies his ingenuity into writing. In general, the writing style of Ernest Hemingway is considered by many of his readers and critics to be simple but articulate. A written text published by the University of North Carolina, which features the works of Hemingway, discusses the simplistic nature of his works. His choice of wordings in his works were observed to be selections of unadorned nouns, verbs, and adjectives, however, Hemingway was still able to articulate obscurely and vividly significant scenes which make up the essence of his works, particularly his novels. (Canada) For Hallengren, a writer for the Nobel Foundation, who also wrote an article that features the Nobel Prize worthy works of Hemingway, Hemingway’s writing style may be labeled as â€Å"hard-boiled.† The â€Å"hard-boiled† style was attributed to the particular era in which Hemingway lived most of his life as journalist and a novelist. This particular style was described as an inhuman, unsympathetic, and callous way of expressing views and opinions, which led the term to symbolize how pieces of literature that are direct and simple, perhaps rather frank and guileless, actually are. (Hallengren) In terms of the major themes that Hemingway uses to solidify his thoughts and ideas in his literary works, his were identified to be focused on depicting the lives of two particular groups of people. The first group of people consists of individuals who have grown insensible, unfeeling, and callous, due to the various circumstances in their lives that have caused them to lose their grip on the moral fiber that is supposed to rule or govern society and experiences that also caused them to lose heart and consequently teaching them to fend for their personal interests instead. The other group of people are those who live to fight against various circumstances and experiences that confront them. In general, the first group consists of frail or weak people who cannot seem to get past through trials and hardships and refuse to face them courageously. They surrender to circumstances, which test their strength and will to stay true to themselves and functional and valuable to the society that they live in. On the other hand, the second groups of people are those who are willing to toughen hard times out in order to emerge victorious in the end having been able to prove something to themselves and the society. (â€Å"Ernest Hemingway†) The aforementioned major themes, which Hemingway incorporates to his novels, is evident in the three widely acclaimed novels: â€Å"A Farewell to Arms,† â€Å"For Whom the Bell Tolls,† and â€Å"The Old Man and the Sea.† Lieutenant Frederic Henry (â€Å"A Farewell to Arms†), Santiago (â€Å"The Old Man and the Sea†), and Robert Jordan (â€Å"For Whom the Bell Tolls†), the protagonists in these three novels, qualify as individuals who represent those who fight courageously and determinedly against unwanted or unfortunate circumstances in their lives that seem to confront their ability to control and manage such situations. However, at one point in their lives, they allowed themselves to be defeated by the difficulties, challenges, and dilemmas that they cannot seem to overcome.   Lieutenant Frederic Henry served for the Italian Army during the First World War. Like what most people expect of uniformed individuals who work for the military, he was described as callous and insensitive in carrying out his duties and responsibilities. As the war progresses and the Italian Army was slowly lead to their demise, the soldiers who fought in the war started to feel how the world is crumbling down around them. Fear, uneasiness, and aggravation of what is to come since the defeat of the Italian Army were the main catalysts for Henry’s display of needless violence and betrayal. (Hemingway) Santiago was an experienced fisherman. He believes in his skills and abilities as a fisherman and takes pride in his perception of his success. However, his self-assurance and pride is shattered by his failure of catching fish within the eighty-four days that he has set off to sea. He became the butt of all jokes in their village and from this unfortunate situation, he began to feel and endure the struggles and difficulties that challenge his ability to believe in himself and to appreciate the purpose or meaning of his life at an old age. (Hemingway) Robert Jordan was an American working as a professor in one of the universities in the United States. It was during the time of the Spanish war when he decided to enlist for the Republican faction of the war. Jordan’s motivations to put his life at risk were his belief of the purpose or cause of fighting for the stand and convictions of the Republican side of the Spanish war – that is to fight against fascism. Jordan was assigned a bold and dangerous task that is to detonate explosives to annihilate a bridge utilized for transport by the Fascist camp that will consequently help the Republican side to get ahead of their game, which leads him to a series of circumstances and experiences that opens his eyes to the reality of the implications of the war. (Hemingway) The situations that the protagonists in Hemingway’s novels find themselves in symbolizes the various personal struggles, difficulties, and challenges that individuals face everyday and the corresponding responses that people opt to act on in order to resolve them. For Henry, it was fear and the unpredictability of war that led him to feel at war with himself and the situation that he finds himself in; for Santiago, it was his loss of self-assurance that left him questioning himself as a person; and for Jordan, it was the question of whether the cause that he supports is something that he really believes in. I believe that these particular situations are explicitly revealed within the novels. These situations are set under the context personal conflicts that all individuals face each and every day of their lives, if not at one point of their lives wherein they have no choice but to endure the results or consequences of unfortunate situations. In each situation, the protagonists were shaken by the circumstances that creates a moral or ethical imbalance within themselves, stirring their values, beliefs, and personal constructs. These particular situations represent what was aforementioned of the two groups of people that constitute the major theme of Hemingway’s novel. At one point in each novel, the protagonist falls under the construct of the first group of individuals who cannot seem to get over the difficulties and challenges that they experience. This seems to go on during the primary parts of the novel. However, on the latter parts, Hemingway’s motif seems to change to incorporate the characteristics described for the second group of people who decides to fight courageously in order to resolve problems and difficulties or to undo the faults or mistakes that they did due to their inability to get past their personal or moral struggles. (Meyers, 35-36) Another theme or motif, as aforementioned, is the concept of love, acceptance, and sacrifice as the only way for redemption. Both Henry and Jordan fell in love with a women, which have led them to rethink all the singular details and situations that resulted to their dilemma. It seemed that loving allowed them to feel emotively and passionately about their real purpose, leading them to know what they should do in order to resolve their dilemmas. For Henry, it was his decision to leave the army, and for Jordan, it was his decision to make a sacrifice in order to prove to prove to himself the reason for his enlisting in the Republican side of the war. Santiago, on the other hand, redeemed his failures by being at peace with himself and accepting that situation that he was in at that point. (Hemingway) Overall, in comparing the three novels of Hemingway, we arrive at the conclusion that although they were set in three different situations, subject to various struggles and difficulties, the central theme boils down to the personal struggles and moral dilemmas that allows individuals to commit mistakes and question themselves. However, in the end, love, acceptance, and sacrifice will always redeem us and will finally help us in letting everything fall into the right places at the right time.

Advantages And Disadvantages Of Podcasts

Advantages And Disadvantages Of Podcasts Podcast has created a new world to communication and media. Podcast are used in a computer or a mobile device such as iPod. Podcast is a term adapted from the word iPod and broadcast. According to Wikipedia, podcast can be defined as a series of audio and video files or digital media files that are available on the Internet which is released incidentally and often being downloaded via web syndication. Meanwhile podcasting is a creative process which involves a few different components. The main purpose of podcast is to raise awareness among people. Messages on the important issues and topics can be delivered to people through podcasting or video blogging. Podcasting is a new way to earn money. One can earn good income through subscription if their podcast is good enough and popular. Besides that, podcast enable people to teach others. For instance, courses now are available on podcast and video blogs which was previously available on emails and websites that have unlimited choices. This gives a chance to those who has problem to read to just hear and see the course materials. Podcasting is used in education, business or commercial and entertainment. Podcasting function in education wise is for language learning, conferences, seminar and forum besides project demonstration and research. Meanwhile in business, podcast is used for marketing and promotions, training of staff, news and product or service demonstration. Chat radio and crazy talk are examples of podcasting function for entertainment. The major advantage of podcast is the demographics. Podcasting enables people to reach millions of listeners outside who has the chance to listen to your programs when they choose. Moreover, listeners have the privilege to listen again to the program that has already aired besides being able to play or pause and to rewind or fast forward. Besides that, podcasting is a new way to learn new languages. Instead of buying books to learn new language, listening would be an easy, quicker and better way to learn and at the same time improve our language skills. Last but not least, although, podcasting is the latest technology and created audio related programs, it also has its disadvantages. The list of the disadvantages of podcasting is time consuming, not searchable, accessibility problems and limited audience. Podcast consumes a lot of time especially if the file is larger. It is not usually easy to search in podcasting. Although several search engines can be used, however, sometimes it is impossible to search directly within the files. It is a challenge to upload and edit files which has a larger size and higher quality. It needs good and fast broadband connection. Besides that, the file format should be compatible not only iPod but also other devices. Even though, we are in a modern world now, not everyone owns a mobile device. Some people prefer to read instead of downloading and listening to audio files from the internet. The world that we are living now is moving forward with the help of technology. Technology plays an important role in our life which has made our life easier. Technology improvises the creation of the devices to a better one and the communication services such as introducing to the podcasting. Question 2: Facebook and Twitter are examples of Social Networks and Media Sharing Tools. By using the concept of anytime, anywhere learning, how these tools can be manipulated to take advantage of the passion young people for learning by tapping into the tools. Discuss in detail and provide example for each. SOCIAL NETWORKING Currently social networking has become a trend among the young people in worldwide. What is social network exactly? Social network is software or also better known as a website which connects and allows people around the world to come together and share ideas or topics of interest. The social network is used for communication and interaction among the people globally. The social network can be an effective way to promote business and also for learning process. Nevertheless, some parents think that it is a waste of time [if it is being misused, yes, it would be waste of time]. Facebook and Twitter are among the top and popular social network around the world. In July 2010, Facebook was announced as the worlds largest social network which has 500 million users around the world. The social network has introduced to a new way to communicate at anytime and anywhere. It is a way to keep in touch with friends from schools, colleges and the new friends we made via the social network. However , some parents think that the social network is a way their kids waste their time. [twice mentioned?] Do you know that besides sharing interest, one can use the social network for learning purpose? Thus, the social network becomes an advantage to the young people which indirectly manipulates them for learning. One of the ways to encourage young people to use social network for learning purpose is to create an account or group for the classroom. Student along with their classmates and teachers can share and exchange opinions on their learning. Furthermore, it facilities the students and also the teachers to surf the internet while having a discussion via the social network. Students can share online information such as notes, question and other learning related documents or materials among their friends and classmates. Besides that, this allows the teacher to pinpoint the students weakness and leave a comment [how?]. On the other hand, teachers can update the groups status by posting some questions, share information, videos or links and blogs to be discussed during class. Through this way, it encourages the students to do some research and be well prepared for the class. Besides that, students can send a quick message to their teachers regarding the class notes, class exercises, assignments and so on. Moreover, students can ask their teacher regarding their next lesson for the class which enables them to prepare earlier. Next, students can create a group which enables students from other class, schools and also students in their network friend list that probably from other states or countries to join. This enables varieties of ideas and information exchanged among student locally and also internationally. One of the advantages of exchanging ideas internationally is one can learn and practice new language. This also creates a new environment in the learning process. Lastly, the access to the famous online encyclopedia, Wikipedia can improve and increase the students knowledge. Last but not least, the advantage of social network for learning purpose is enables students to share various ideas and information. Social network gives a chance to get some exposures to various and multiple point of view through different people opinion and experiences. Students can also gain a chance to connect and talk to other student. They can exchange ideas and information during the learning process. It is a way to keep in touch among each other. Among the other advantage is to get immediate feedback from the learning process. Students can ask questions and receive the answers or response as soon as possible from teachers. This can develop a good understanding between the student and the teacher. Meanwhile, the disadvantage of social network is time consuming. Some students abuse the social network for different purpose such as dating. Therefore, the use of social network is a waste of time. The social network also lack of anonymity because some students provide information on themselves which others should not know such as age, gender, location and other personal details. This is because someone who has a bad intention might misuse on the information given. [There is a risk of identity theft]. The social network is beneficial to everyone no matter the younger or the older generation as long as it is used for a good purpose and intention. It is an alternative way to keep in touch with friends, relatives and whoever we know via the social network. ARTICLES What Are the Advantages of Podcasting? By Jennifer Uhl, eHow Contributor updated: March 14, 2010  · Podcasting is an audio distribution medium that offers numerous advantages over traditional broadcasting and distribution methods both online and off. Creating a podcast does not take a lot of expensive equipment and allows content creators to potentially reach millions of listeners on a global basis. The content of a podcast is delivered to subscribers via syndicated feeds, allowing users to listen on a Mac or PC as well as many types of portable media players. Subscribing to a Podcast  · Two of the benefits of podcasts are their distribution channels and methods of delivery. While users have the ability to download and listen to individual episodes of a specific podcast manually, many are automatically delivered to the users via media player software such as iTunes or Juice (Mac or PC). Most media player software will also sync a users selected podcast with her portable music player such as an iPod or Zune, requiring very little effort on the users behalf to always have the latest most up-to-date content that is available. Cost Effectiveness  · Podcasting is beneficial to individuals and businesses that seek to reach large audiences because of its cost effectiveness. A podcast requires only basic audio recording equipment to capture, and an Internet connection and means of delivering the podcast to listeners. With the basic hardware required, such as a microphone and computer, a place to host the podcast files and the necessary software for recording, any individual or group can create an effective podcast recording and share it on the Web. Advertising Potential  · Another advantage of podcasting is the advertising potential that comes with a podcast that has a decent listener base. A popular podcast with a large listening base can sell advertising slots to local companies or Internet companies to generate revenue. This creates additional revenue and advertising potential for any podcast that has a listener base. Podcast Demographics  · A major advantage to podcasting is the benefit of reaching millions of listeners who have the ability to listen to your programming when they choose. Additionally, listeners can pause or play a program, fast forward or rewind, and can listen to programming that has already aired. The number of podcast listeners grows daily as the technology evolves and becomes more ubiquitous on consumer electronics; the technology is only going to increase in popularity as podcasting recording and listening devices become more prevalent. 8 Ways to Use Social Networks in the Classroom Posted by M. Bamieh onJanuary 21, 2010 Twitter in Education Earlier, we talked about a few great resources for educators that are available for free online. These services were more focused on education and catering to their needs for creating internal social networking platforms, open-source blackboardsand conferencing applications. They were great resources but they all required some amount of set-up and involved a bit of a learning curve to get used to them. Today we are just going to share some ideas that help educators bring social networks into classrooms, utilizing some of the services that we all use. Ranging from Twitter to Skype we will share 8 ways that they can be used in the classroom. Create a Twitter Account Using Twitter for Teacher Student communication allows for short and quick messages exchange. This is useful for students and teachers to ask questions and might be a great resource for the teacher in the preparation of her class notes allowing her to know which areas to focus on. Using a Wiki An example of a wiki is the famous online encyclopedia Wikipedia. Wiki, by design, encourages discussion and interactivity, fostering in and out of class discussion. By creating an outline of a Wiki entry and allowing the students to edit and discuss the subject matter, it will help introduce a new and fun element to their homework, while at the same time encouraging debate. There are many creative ways to use Wikis in education. Create a Youtube Channel School material might be limited, dull and sometimes outdated. Students tend to navigate Youtube quite naturally, and it is one of their sources of information. By utilizing this familiar platform, you can create videos or slideshows that would provide some useful and relevant information, even link some other videos that are available on Youtube. This will also encourage students to reply with their own videos. Share Online Documents Students sometimes need quick access to the syllabus, worksheets, or some review notes.Slideshare and Scribd allow educators to upload all relevant online materials to one location. This allows students to reach those documents from their computers. Update Facebooks status Teachers can utilize FBs Status updates to post a question, share a piece of information, video or link that would open up the discussion for next class. This would encourage students to research and prepare for the next class, practically expanding the walls of the classroom into cyberspace. Be In Diigo Create an account and a group for the classroom, students and teachers and utilize Diigos great social bookmarking capabilities. Diigo allows users to create groups and networks in which they can share, annotate and collaborate on content all over the web. Further, it will allow teachers to augment the curriculums weak points with information and comments as you see fit. It could also be used to create an educational treasure hunt using annotations left on web pages. Check the video below to learn more about Diigo. What Are the Advantages of Social Networking? By: Dachary Carey The advantages of social networking are real, even though most parents see it as another way that kids waste time. Social networking has opened up a new way to communicate, so while your childs posts may not be essential today, your child is still learning skills that could be very valuable tomorrow. Work Connections One form of social networking thats growing in popularity is corporate social networking. You can use corporate social networking to form relationships with other people from your company, or people in other companies in an industry. You can also get references and build a reputation using corporate social networking tools. Its a great way to get yourself known and network in your field or industry. Keeping in Touch Social networking provides a great way for you to stay in touch with people who may have moved away. Normally, people try to stay in touch with friends via phone calls and the occasional letter or e-mail, but busy lives make it difficult to maintain contact. However, social networking is such a regularly used medium that its easy to stay in touch with people even when they move away. Get Feedback You can use social networking to get feedback on ideas immediately, or to ask questions and get answers quickly. If youre developing a product or even just an idea, you can bounce it off your friends and social networking contacts and find out what they think about it. You can also ask questions and receive answers in near-real-time, if your contacts know the answer or if youre a student in touch with teachers. Share Multiple Points of View Sheltered individuals may not understand how many different points of view that people have, and that its possible for people to hold drastically different beliefs. Social networking helps you learn about diversity and get exposure to multiple points of view. Ultimately, this exposure can help you to learn to look at things from different angles, and be more tolerant of other peoples opinions, things that go a long way in the working world. Talking to Other Students Many student organizations have specific social networks designed to help students connect. Social networking tools can be a great way for students to get in touch with other students in the same school, or when theyre considering a college or new school. Check with student organizations to see if they have a particular social networking tool, or type the school into your favorite social networking Web site and see what you find. Stay in Touch Anywhere Mobile social networking is becoming increasingly popular as more and more people have cell phones capable of running social networking applications. People can use mobile social networking tools to stay in touch with friends, and make plans on the fly. Mobile social networking tools are also great if youve got a long train or subway commute and want to stay in touch with friends and find out what theyre doing. Kids do need to learn to keep social networking under control. Some people get hooked on social networking, to the point that it interferes with getting things done. Teach your child when it is and isnt appropriate to use mobile social networking, and set a strict time limit for communicating at home.