Monday, September 30, 2019

Structures of Racial and Gender Inequality

Mar's theories had mostly to do with capitalism. The dominated because they used their power to exploit workers and so on. Exploitation is the difference between what Is produced and what Is paid for. Exploitation Is limitless. Race was exploited for a profit. Wilson thought that Mar's theory explained the racial-caste system. Production, aristocracy dominated both economic and political Life_ Capitalist class benefit more. In the sass's there was a shift from paternal racial-caste system to a more class- based labor market. Jim Crow law helped keep blacks out of the privileged few.In the North they had a bunch of race riots. Race relations are mainly about split labor market theory. This theory talks about how everyone needs to compete against one another regardless of race. Exploitation was high because of putting blacks against whites. Split labor theory has three classes: capital business class, high-paid labor, and cheaper labor. Split market happens when different groups are pa id differently. Structural arrangements determine social relations. The economy Isn't the only thing that structures social relationships. Wilson states that state is always changing. World War II had a ban on discrimination.No matter why changes happened, the Tate took successive steps to address black inequality. Wilson shows two things after World War II, push-pull forces; one Is more political and economic opportunities for blacks. The other one is, sass's on, the decreases in manufacturing and Increases In government and corporate Jobs. Plus the push from urban to suburban settings. This created different opportunities for different groups of blacks, Race is a factor but class is a distinctions. Before the Civil war racial tensions revolved around economy. Wilson thought things should move from race to more about class.Chaffed was more concerned with gender inequality. She thought about things in four different levels: macro, mess, micro, and individual. Macro is for analysis o f Institutions and structures. The mess level Is for organization. The Micro part Is about face to face interactions. Lastly, the individual level about the individual concept. Chaffed looks at Mar's theory of feminist. Patriarchy and capitalism help the oppression of women. Mar's emphasis the economy as the most important site for social stability and change that Chaffed uses. Patriarchy provides men with control of production and the profit while women who are cheap to fear labor.Women do not et paid for their tasks In society as much. Man's ability to fully work Is dependent 1 OFF upon ten women's explanation. C TX tanks Tanat gender Unequally structural need of capitalism. Men use their power to keep women down they use their structural power. Workforce, macro, plays a huge part in mess and micro areas. The mess-level of gender. Canter has three factors that influence work and gender; possibility of advancement, power to achieve goals, and relative number of a specific type of p erson within the position. Canter thinks women have different career paths and most don't lead as high.Women's path constrict two ways: minimized occupations are limited and women on professional career paths high glass ceilings. Canter states that social contexts influence individuals and their attitudes and behaviors. Our social environment influences who we are and how we act. Staying and feeling powerless and limited creates negative stereotypes of gender and work, these enforce gender inequalities. When exploitation goes up, women's presence in the Job market goes down. Micro is the personal levels of coercive structures are next. Chaffed uses exchange theory to explain micro level.Exchange theory makes lines between economic and social exchange. Economics are governed by explicit agreements. Economic exchange is always known when and how something is done or will be done. Social exchange is implicit and not explicit. Gender inequalities are latent, they are hidden. People want to keep the same actions to keep society going, even if there are inequalities. Voluntarism keeps gender inequality going. There are three types of gender definitions; gender ideology, norms, and stereotypes. Intrinsically structures are parts of the inner person that are fixed and divided off from one another.Boys and girls are socialized differently. Everything is voluntary. Social learning theory is about modeling. It has four stages: attention, retention, motor reproduction, and motivation. Things are more about structural then cultural changes, if gender inequality is to happen. Chaffed divides her theory into unintentional and intentional processes. Four different ways of unintentional changes: population growth or decline, changes in sex ratio, and technological innovations and changes in the economic structure. For intentional change if focused on macro-structural, industrialization, arbitration, and the size of the middle class.

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Run Lola Run

Tom Tykwer has visually represented distinctive ideas in the film, Run Lola Run. Discuss how visual language is used to illustrate these distinctive ideas in Run Lola Run and one related text of your own choosing. Visual language is consistently used to illustrate the visually distinctive ideas in both the films Run Lola Run directed by Tom Tykwer and The Butterfly Effect directed by Eric Bress. Both these films explore how perceptions of relationships with others and the world are shaped through the use of various techniques. The two main concepts explored in these movies is the strong them of love and life being a game. The theme of love is strongly displayed in both Run Lola Run and The Butterfly Effect which is shown through the use of many visual techniques. In Run Lola Run, Tykwer is able to explore Lola and Manni’s love through capturing their passion and love with the use of the red camera tinge. The ominous red becomes a repeating motif throughout the film for Lola and Manni’s relationship. The red tinge is in contrast with the dull city making Lola’s love and passion a main feature of the love story. Tykwer is also able to use the medium POV shot, showing Lola and Manni in each other’s arms possibly just after a moment of romance, this shot also suggests that love lends purpose and strength within our lives. Further uses of techniques to emphasise the importance of love throughout the film are shown through the scattered use of close up’s on both Lola and Manni’s face, provides the insight as to how they bring both comfort and a sense of security to each other. But at the same time the thought of losing one another strikes fear and hurt within the character’s eyes. Similarly to Run Lola Run, Eric Bress film The Butterfly Effect also strongly display through the use of visual techniques the theme of love and the assumption that love remains central to our existence. It is Evan’s love for Kayley which becomes the catalyst for his attempts to travel through time to alter his past and in a similar way it is Lola’s love for Manni and the importance for preservation of his life that drives Lola through time to save Manni’s life. Like Tom Tykwer, Eric Bress uses similar techniques to express the importance of love in one’s life. Bress uses the similar camera angle of the medium side shot, again showing the comfort and security both characters bring to one another as well as giving the scene context through the use of the bed and no clothes, also implying a moment of romance. The scene also uses the scattered close up shots of both the characters face, just like the scene in Run Lola Run, suggesting the focus on their individual feelings and reactions to the situation. The theme of life as a game is consistently shown throughout Run Lola Run; Tykwer is able to make the audience feel as if the movie is a game developing this as a central theme. The concept of the film being a game is done through the film structure, as when Lola fails/ looses, she is able to restart and try again, as one would do in a game. She is then able to change the result to one that better suits her and Manni. It is in the scene in which Lola is in the casino which develops the best sense of life being a game as it is possibly both Lola and Manni’s life being determined on the result of the casino game. The great importance of the outcome in the casino is portrayed to the audience through the close up of Lola's face, highlighting her facial expression, engaging the audience through the importance of the situation to Lola. Also by using the casino scene it shows to the audience that Lola's choices were won through a game of chance, and it was this chance that payed off and enabled her to win this game. It is at the start of this scene, where Lola stops and thinks about her previous mistakes, and assesses the situation, allowing her to finally ‘beat this level'. This is shown through the camera angle of first the 360, expressing Lola's thoughts becoming out of control, and then the close up of Lola's stare at the casino, where Lola has discovered her answer. It is in this third scenario where Lola is seen to have grown as a person and has not only won the casino game, but won the other games going on in her own life. This idea can be considered as a metaphor for our own lives, about gaining the skills to master the games within our everyday lives. The concept of life being a game and most importantly the concept of manipulation of time is also shown in The Butterfly Effect where Evan has the ability to travel back in time through his blackouts to his old self and change his past to effectively change his present self and life, this makes the audience question his ability to manipulate time. Likewise Lola discovers she is also able to manipulate time and travel backwards and fix the mistakes she previously made in order to save her lovers life. Just like Evan, Lola plays with time and uses it to her ability. Both Bress and Tykwer use editing to generate this feeling of control of time, using tools such as slow and fast motion to alter the true timing of the situations and gather the character’s control of the situation, mixed with 360 moving camera to create that sense of being out of control, which is very similar to the use of spirals that Tykwer uses in Run Lola Run.

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Academic, Personal Management, and Teamwork Skills

These are probably the most important skills you have to get, because nowadays employers are looking for people with best academically background, because they know that a better prepared employee can give better answers at the time of working, but of course, as a worker you must be prepared for every kind of situation, because you never know what can happen, and I say this on the Academic Skills because one of these skills is the capacity to learn and adapt yourself to the situation you have to solve.On the other hand, personal management I?s an important skill and here is the reason. Nowadays employers are not just looking for smart people, they are not just looking for barbarians that can be very good at what they do but they cant control their emotions, theyre now looking for people with a level of Emotional Intelligence, because they think Theres nothing to do with a guy that knows the whole process, but cannot accept a constructive critic so hats the reason the Personal Managem ent is one of the most important skills In a job. And finally we have teamwork skills. Its obvious you will not be away from civilization when you work. Its well known that you must interact with several people during your work hours, and you must know that getting along well with them its an important step for this skill. You must be patient, tolerant and last but not least, participative, because as a team you must take decisions together and respect others opinion.So, we can conclude that: Workers must be integral persons, with academically, personal, and teamwork skills, so they can get along well with their work partners and environment. We must not focus on having or enhancing just one of these skills, on the contrary we must work out the three of them, because the three of them are important. It doesnt matter we dont have the three of these skills, no one is born knowing everything, we can enhance a develop this, and many more skills.

Friday, September 27, 2019

PI4 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

PI4 - Essay Example ommunicating with people within and outside the organization; the person occupying this position will have to interact with the company’s employees so that the right message can be effectively communicated (Cronshow et al., 2007). In order to resolve any conflict that arises among the people, HR assistant will have to deal with it in a true and fair way so that everyone is satisfied with the final decision made. The HR assistant will have to learn all three communication skills i.e. oral, written and nonverbal. The written skills are crucial as the person will be writing the policies for the company and the language used should be adequate so that the employees can clearly understand the intended message. While dealing with the staff, the HR assistant will have to ensure that each employee is at ease to discuss any problem and both of them can agree on a solution so that the problem is resolved. The nonverbal communication is the most important aspect as it reflects upon the professionalism and expertise of the person; the HR assistant will have to ensure that the right gestures and postures are used while communicating so that there is a healthy relationship between the assistant and HR manager. Based on your identification of the elements and qualifications provide an opinion as to whether the company has conducted a proper analysis of the particular job they are seeking to fill and whether they would be able to gather a pool of qualified applicants. The main elements of a good job description are that they have complete details about the tasks and duties that the jobholder will perform along with the required skills and qualifications (Brannick, Levine & Morgeson, 2007). From the analysis of the job advertisement, it is evident that the company has done a thorough research about the particular job requirements. However, two elements are missing i.e. required qualification level and experience that the candidate must have in the HR field. Although all other

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Summary Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Summary - Case Study Example The main issues that are addressed as far as the issue of insurance is concerned are the aspects of provision of healthcare especially on the emergency department and the provision of emergency services. This research established that up to 40% decline in the emergency department visits as well as a 61% decrease in the inpatient admissions was attributable to the lack of insurance cover. This paper borrows from other research work in order to establish credibility and coherence with the findings from other works. Some of the findings have indicated that up to a quarter of all the young adults in the United States were confronted with lack of health insurance at this stage. The use of healthcare facilities has also been strongly linked with the subscription to medical insurance services. The individuals that have the cover have the highest propensity to consume health services. This means that the unsecured would have adopted a different healthcare scheme if they had a healthcare insurance cover. This paper explores the quasi-experimental status that results to variations in the status of insurance services depending on the strategies that are utilized by the insurers in ensuring that the dependents are eligible for the insurance services. The research to establish these variations was based on records obtained from California, Arizona, Iowa, New Jersey, and Wisconsi n for the emergency department. On the other hand, the records for hospital admission were obtained from hospitals in the above areas plus also Texas. In the attempt to establish the health insurance variations, data was gathered from various centers. This data was mainly obtained from the National Health Interview Survey, the inpatient hospitalization records, and administrative records relating to emergency department records. The obtained data was related to a model in order to demonstrate the relationship between the utilization of care and the provision of health insurance. The model

The Hobbit by J.R.R Tolkien Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Hobbit by J.R.R Tolkien - Essay Example In the beginning, Bilbo Baggins is shown as the meekest of all creatures who uses to decline all of what ‎Gandalf is offering. He feels afraid and is very used to the comfortable atmosphere of his home ‎and village. Gandalf does not take no for an answer and even convinces the doubtful dwarves ‎that this is the man that will help them achieve what is rightfully theirs. His confidence in Bilbo is ‎perhaps what lights the spark in the little Hobbit who has serious understated self-esteem issues ‎even though he is revered in his community and often looked upon as the leader. ‎ ‎ There are numerous obstacles encountered throughout the journey, often life threatening or ‎involving intricate decision making. However, as Gandalf has placed Bilbo in charge of the ‎expedition, often the Hobbit finds himself in situations that he would not normally be brave ‎enough to face. Gandalf defines him, explores him, exposes him and ascends him. At a certain ‎part, Gandalf disappears leaving the dwarves and Bilbo unable to make even a small fire for them ‎to fight off the cold. Bilbo, feebly accepting to take responsibility, goes ahead and gets himself ‎and his group in trouble with three trolls. ... ?This does not hammer his confidence and it shows a steady side of him that slowly ?keeps on developing through the story. He steals a key from the trolls that later on help his group ?get to their layer. ? ? Unlike Bilbo’s confidence that slowly takes form Gandalf believes in him from the beginning. ?He says to the dwarves ‘Let’s have no more argument. I have chosen Mr. Baggins and that ought ?to be enough for you. If I say he is a burglar, a burglar he is, or will be when the time comes. ?There is a lot more in him than you guess, and a deal more than he has any idea of himself.’ (1: 104) It further embellishes Gandalf’s faith in his Hobbit friend. ? ? The old themes of heroism, loyalty and valour are pronounced in the shape of Bilbo Baggins. ?The central ideology lies in his discovery of himself. On the contrary, it is always Gandalf’s ?shadow that works on his heart, acting like a stimulant. There are still parts that beg to differ of ?Bil bo’s bravery. When they meet the all wise elves, the elves notice Bilbo’s gentle nature and ?reward swords of protection to Gandalf and the Thorin who is head of the dwarves. ?Conversely, Bilbo’s gentle nature is again revealed when he encounters the all famous Gollum. ?Whilst taking the ring that belonged to Gollum, his decision to kill the despised small mortal felt ?wrong when he was in his invisible state (while wearing the ring). It did not seem justified to him ?that he takes the life of Gollum unwarned, even though it was very obvious that his nemesis ?wanted to kill him. ? Bilbo Baggins is not a thief by occupation or by will. It is in fact Gandalf’s convincing that ?brings him onto a road where he begins to steal, not always by choice.

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

The hazards of taking children out to eat Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The hazards of taking children out to eat - Essay Example The only way to reduce these problems is by modifying the eating habits through good education and by creating awareness among the children. These statistics could be reduced if children learn to make proper food choices. With the busy schedule of parents, children are used to eating outside and are enjoying the food that does not have much of nutritional benefits. This paper mainly focuses on the hazards of taking children out to eat. The habit of eating foods of little or no nutritional value such as cookies, candy, chips, and doughnuts contributes empty calories to the diet. Similarly, food such as pizzas, ice creams, and French fries have become their favorites among children. Sometimes, these foods are chosen as rewards by parents to make their child obey them which is a dangerous trend. Though most of the parents know the fact that eating outside may lead to various short and long term problems, they continue to follow this trend. Eating outside usually prevents children from being open to eating the wide variety of fruits and vegetables that provide essential vitamins and minerals needed for growth and good health. Every parent wishes to feed their kids with nutritious food. It is not just the wish of parents but it is also the need of every child that they are well nourished. It is a well known fact that only when children get required and balanced nutrients they have good physical and mental growth. The requirement of energy is high for kids since most of them are always into playing and running around. Though it is the primary responsibility of the parents to provide good nutritious food, it is also important that children themselves are made aware of what good food is and what the bad foods are. It is essential to help them become responsible for their own nutrition and eating habits so that they eat judiciously. If good habits are taught early in life, children tend to continue these habits

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Self reflection Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Self reflection - Coursework Example As part of my strengths, I find myself focused towards the ultimate goal of the change process. Having the future in mind from the start, and relating this to my ability to influence others in making decisions and having a positive attitude towards change makes my change leading a success. My influence on others has made me capable of initiating, maintaining and sustaining the change process. This is an important strength that coupled with proper change teamwork helps in making change a success. However, I have always found it difficult to deal effectively with change resistance. In most instances, I face a challenge in making people believe that the norm is not satisfactory and that a new scheme or program is essential. With such a problem, it becomes difficult to make change a success unless enough time and resources are invested into the change process to influence acceptance. At one time, I was forced to use more than the allocated budget in a change process. Change is not always about making decisions to move away from the norm. Leading change requires that the leader be a team player and capable of making positive influence with the team and leading the change towards the desired

Monday, September 23, 2019

Different topic about BUSINESS INFORMATION SYSTEM Essay

Different topic about BUSINESS INFORMATION SYSTEM - Essay Example Information technology has been instrumental for the improved performance of various companies and business houses across the globe. It has also increased the over all productivity. The development of information technology has also increased the accuracy level in almost all the related aspects of it. Like all most of the other aspects of our life, technology has made its appearance in the entertainment industry also. Today, almost all of the movies produced and released at Hollywood depend highly on technology as special effects have been the indispensable part of the motion pictures. One such movie released in 1993 was the Jurassic Park (directed by Steven Spielberg). In fact, the movie created a sensation among the viewers and is regarded as the landmark in the use of computer technology in the field of movies. The on-screen dinosaurs created by special effects was a major hit. Technologies like Dinosaurs Input Devices were used which allowed the computer to create its own animation when inputs were fed into it. Also, the sound of the movie was based on special effects. Today, not just the development, but also the sales and marketing of every movie relies highly on technology. As the information technology has been the integral part of our life, the usage of Microsoft-Office (better known as MS-Office) software has been on constant rise. With in the package of MS-Office, Microsoft-Excel deals with all sorts of calculations. Excel has been crucial for all those who are related with number crunching. The above link is a perfect online tutorial for excel. The link has been from the website of The University of South Dakota. The university was founded in 1862 and is located at Vermillion of South Dakota. University of South Dakota has the only law and the medical school of the state. The reputed university uses USD as its symbol (also it is known as simply U). The university has whole lot of academic

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Use of database Essay Example for Free

Use of database Essay Computer technology has given many precious gifts to mankind. One of them is the database technology. It has made administration, trade and commerce very easy, precise and fast. Operations which used to take long time, and were still full of errors, are now managed in few seconds, and are cent percent free of errors. At the heart of this remarkable success is the software program, which helps creation, segmentation , categorization and retrieval of databases. These programs are known as database management systems, DBMS programs have a long history. Starting from very simple programs in 1960s they have developed into large, complex software packages like Oracle. While the management functions remain the same, the utility value and the facilities offered in newer versions differ vastly from their predecessors. This essay briefly analyzes the DBMS program used in a particular department of an organization and proposes hoe improvements could be made over the existing use of DBMS program. The organization is a market research agency. One of the departments is pharmaceutical research. The function of this department is to gather prescriptions of doctors from various geographic locations across the country, analyze the symptoms, diagnosis and the drugs prescribed by the Doctor. These prescriptions are codified according to standardized international codes. Based on this coding, a generalized report is then prepared, which specifies which drug is used more in a given geographic location. This market research is very important to pharmaceutical companies for devising their marketing strategies. Here, the database program used for coding the symptoms, diagnosis and drugs is taken as an example for analysis. First, the function of coding is explained with an example. Visits a doctor with a complaint of soar throat and difficulty in swallowing, coupled with fever. According to the directory of codes of symptoms of the company, symptom ‘soar throat’ has a code 3323, ‘difficulty in swallowing’ has a code 1018 and ‘fever’ has a code 1286. If the doctor diagonizes ‘ throat infection’ as the cause for these symptoms, the code for it, as specified by WHO is J029. (ICD-10). Now, the doctor prescribes ‘ MOX-500’ capsules, a drug which has Amoxycillin as its main content. The code of this drug is 05377-73, as per the company specification. Those who do this coding job have to frequently refer to each code. The sum total of symptoms, diagnosis and drugs runs into a few thousand entries. Manual reference to these codes is very cumbersome. A database management program is designed to aids the coders. The package used is Foxpro. It is a two way system, wherein, the code could be traced if the name is given as an input and the name is given as an output if the number is given as an input. So, the coder can trace the code from any name and conversely, the name can also be traced with the help of a numeric code. Like all the DOS based programs, this program is a very robust program, and easy to use. Name to Number program : This program contains all the data related to the symptoms, diagnosis and the drugs. While the name and its respective code are the main parameters displayed, the drug table also reveals the type of drug e. g. syrup. Tablet, capsule, injection etc and its respective capacities e. g. 5 ml, 200mg etc. Being a DOS based program, the database is indexed by the computer, each time it is accessed. The key command for a new entry are ‘ ‘alt-s’ keys on the keyboard. Even if the full name is not types, the program takes to the alphabetically ordered names of the data. For example, if only ‘ ‘soar’ is typed as a new entry, the program gives and output of the first entry, out of all the entries starting from alphabets ‘soar’, or just typing ‘ pen’ will take the user to the first entry alphabetically listed with ‘pen’ as the first three letters. The cursor needs to be taken down to locate the drug ‘penicillin’. Instructions regarding the keyboard controls for retrieval of information, traverse of the cursor and exit from the program are permanently displayed at the bottom of the screen. These are the read only features. This means only three operations are possible on the program by the coder. Either he can type a name and get the code, or he can traverse the cursor or he can exit. It bears typical resemblance to the ‘ WordStar’ program, where the controls for operations were displayed whenever the program used to start. It is a completely textual program, simply because the basic software package, Foxpro/ Dos version, did not offer any GUI facilities. Like all other DOS based programs, colors are non existent in this program. It is a black and white screen throughout its use. Number name program : Many times the coder need a reverse retrieval to be performed. That is, given a number, the corresponding name of the symptom, diagnosis and the drug is to be traced. This program offers this facility also. When the number is entered, its validity is checked and if it is a correct number corresponding to the database, then the name of the drug, diagnosis or the symptom is given out as an output. In the case of drug display, the other parameters like the type e. g. syrup, tablet, capsule etc are also displayed. This part also has all the features and limitations typically associated with a DOS based program. This program, even in its present form, based on the technology of early 1990s is extremely useful to the coders. Especially when it comes to coding few hundred prescriptions every day, this program helps in a speedy and precise coding procedure. The codes are written manually by the coder on a printed form on paper. Improvements: Several improvements are not only possible on the current system but it is a necessary demand of time. First, Windows – 98 is soon expiring as the last GUI operating system which can support DOS based applications. The next most popular OS, Windows-XP does not support DOS based applications. Even the new and latest processors like the Dual Core by Pentium and motherboards, do not support Windows-98. Hence, technically, it will be impossible to run this program, the latest computers. It is the demand of time, that a Windows based DBMS used. This can be MS Access, Foxpro/ Win, or Oracle, but a switch over to GUI based application development is a must. Second, the codes, after being retrieved, are written manually. A new application needs to be developed, wherein the need to write the codes separately on a different sheet is eliminated. The coder inserts the name of the symptom, diagnosis or the drug and the corresponding number of the code should be automatically entered in the blank format of the form. The concept of relational database comes into picture over here. The database needs to be related to many blank forms, in such a way that a new form comes on the screen no sooner one is over. As soon as the name is typed in the form, the code must be retrieved by the software and entered in the form. The third factor is to add the utility value of the program. The same program can be extended to keep a record of the name of the coder who has accessed this program and the amount of work done by him/her. This feature facilitates speedy calculation of the monetary remuneration to be given to the coder. A record of signing in time and sign out time will also tell how much time the coder has put in. This record would be useful to gauge the efficiency of the coder. Seeing to the requirements of the improved version, a switch over to Oracle is more desirable, for the versatility and flexibility it offers. One more issue arises out of this discussion. Is the development in computers heading in the right direction? Despite all the progress in the software industry, no program has been able to replace the ‘ command. com’ file of DOS. All versions of Windows also rely upon DOS for their booting functions. Similarly, coders do not have any problem with the program they are working at present, which is over a decade old. The basic question is: Is all the development necessary? Or is it that needs are first created and then devices are made to suffice them? Or is it that under the umbrella of ‘user friendly’ Bill Gates has prevented people from getting to know the inner aspects of a computer? A calculator was a good invention, but has it always helped mankind? Has it not put limitations on the mental calculating capacities? Our ancestors had no problems in adding 40 numbers , fast and precise. For the present generation it is impossible. The developments in computers, have reduced the computer, a PC, to a mere entertainment tool, and the internet has become a tool for chat and social networking for a vast majority of users. Any development is real only if it helps in sharpening of minds, not rusting it !!!

Friday, September 20, 2019

The Pros And Cons Of Desalination

The Pros And Cons Of Desalination Desalination is a technological solution that some believe would provide ample supplies of additional water resources.   Discuss the pros and cons to this technological solution and whether or not you support it.   Less than 3% of the earths natural water is viable for human use and consumption. This brings light to the need for a solution to the quickly depleting resource in the rapid growth of population, industry, and increased overall use of water. What is desalination? Put simply, desalination is the conversion of seawater and or brackish water into consumable quality water. To elaborate, this process can be done through a few different methods depending on the location and need for quality, the main process being distillation and reverse osmosis (preferred method). Of the more than 7,500 desalination plants in operation worldwide, 60% are located in the Middle East. The worlds largest plant is in Saudi Arabia. In contrast, 12% of the worlds desalination capacity is in the Americas, with most of the plants located in the Caribbean and Florida. To date, there are currently 23 proposed desalination plants on the coast of California. With these facts in mind it is the responsibility of human kind to weigh the benefits and the consequences of this somewhat deceivingly simple solution. Pros: There is no doubt that an answer to the ongoing discussion of the potential exhaustion of water is indeed overdue. With that in mind, facts supporting the use of desalination as a good alternative remains to be seen. One factor supporting the use of desalination is that desalination can provide a backup water source and a partial solution to a growing problem. While some believe that the use of desalination plants can provide an infinite supply of water and make it possible to put an end to the depleting resource, in reality, as idealistic as this illusion may be, it is far from true. Another favorable point includes the idea that desalination can remove drug contaminated water and other substances such as arsenic and fluoride which is an ongoing issue in places such as Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. It should be noted however, that the use of desalination is not currently present in either place, and the likelihood of implementing a plant, anytime in the near future, is most lik ely unattainable due to topographical and economic limitations. Another supporting idea proposes that desalination may reduce the need to take additional water from the environment and, in some cases, offers the opportunity to return water to the environment. In some areas it is proposed that desalination facilities may help reduce the dependence of local water agencies on climate sensitive sources of supply. Furthermore, desalination is currently an efficient and reliable water source in use among military operations world wide including naval ships. It is also used on some cruise ships as a reliable source of potable water. Cons: Desalination is costly not only ecologically but economically. Desalination costs are subjective due to many factors, which include location and methodology, making comparisons complex and estimates vague. For example, Tampa Bay Floridas desalination plant ended up $48 million dollars over its original estimate and is still not in full working capacity due primarily to poor planning. Previous desalination plants have cost in upwards of an estimated $100-$150 million dollar range, just to start the facility, this does not include what it costs to run after it is already built. Although Costs have come down over the past decade, as technology has become more efficient, desalination still perpetuates a cost of approximately $500-$2,000 per acre foot of water (325,000 gallons), compared with approximately $250 per acre foot for water in urban Los Angeles, and $10 per acre foot paid to the federal government by farmers in the Sierra foothills, according to Haddad, the author of Rive rs of Gold: Designing Markets to Allocate Water in California (Washington, D.C.: Island Press, 2000). Furthermore, the assumption that desalination costs will continue to fall may be false, in fact future costs may actually increase. Another negative factor is that more energy is required to produce water from desalination than from any other water-supply or demand-management option in California, this in turn brings to light the concern of further dependence on fossil fuels. Conversely, it should be noted that the use of fossil fuels can and has been reduced in many facilities by using solar, wind and wave energy to power the facility. According to an executive summary by the pacific institute desalination can produce high-quality water however it may also introduce biological or chemical contaminants into our water supply this will weigh heavily on the design and location of the plant and should be monitored heavily by local government agencies to ensure consumer safety. Desalination produces highly concentrated salt brines that may also contain other chemical pollutants. More specifically, seawater contains approximately 35,000 parts per million of salt. During the reverse osmosis, water molecules are strained through membranes while the salt particles are retained by the membrane and result in a reject stream nearly twice as salty (70,000 ppm) as seawater. Safe disposal of this effluent presents a significant challenge. Additionally and perhaps of the most devastating of the negative aspects to this process is the Impingement and entrainment of marine organisms. This is among the most significant of the environm ental threats associated with seawater desalination. Impingement occurs when marine organisms are trapped against intake screens by the velocity and force of water flowing through them. The inevitable outcome of impinged organisms varies between intake designs as well as marine life species, age, and water conditions. Some resilient species may survive impingement and be returned to sea; however the 24-hour survival rate of less healthy and/or juvenile fish is potentially less than 15%. Entrainment happens when smaller organisms pass through an intake screen to the processing equipment. Organisms entrained into processing equipment are projected to have a mortality rate of 100%. The number of affected organisms will, of course, vary with the volume and velocity of feed-water as well as the mitigation measures developed to minimize impact. Lastly, the use of desalination is a concern because with its implementation and commercialization, the general public could potentially begin a m ore relaxed view of water use than they already do. Meaning, if people think that we have manufactured a solution to the need for conservation there will not be a need to be water use conscious e.g. the more we have the more we spend. This can lead to higher costs to the environment, more unnecessary development and less environmental consciousness. While desalination is what some have considered the holy grail of water scarcity issues, the reality seems quite the contrary. One of the most difficult factors being faced in light of desalination seems to be the idea that desalination has not been in use long enough to perpetuate actual evidence of overall environmental impacts. With that in mind, an environmental analysis conducted under CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act) and NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) should consider the assessment of cumulative impacts not only of the proposed project but future projects (and existing facilities) in the area. These impacts would include the cumulative entrainment/impingement impacts, cumulative energy consumption, cumulative growth-related impacts, and cumulative wastewater urban runoff impacts. These factors are especially important in areas where pre-existing air quality, water quality and ecosystem health are already compromised. More specifically, developed areas wher e water use is higher and environmental impacts are considered / monitored, have the potential of being the proverbial guinea pig when it comes to testing the idea at max capacity. This information should also be part of heavy public education to ensure a full public understanding of its costs and benefits as part of most growing problems in the world come with the lack of education and understanding. Furthermore, there is little evidence that desal plants are any more or any less of an impact than other alternatives, not because they are incapable of causing issues but more because the potential issues have not been fully investigated. Primarily the concern is that the pressing issue and urgency may prematurely cause major environmental impacts (especially long term) to be overlooked or dismissed as something we can conquer at the time it becomes an issue. This vary idea is precisely the reason why most, if not all, environmental catastrophes currently exist. Question is, when is t he woops factor going to cause all parties involved to finally get a clue? In closing, the benefits and consequences of desalination are vast and seem to be vaguely understood. While on some levels desalination should be considered as a supplemental potable water source, many other alternatives which are far less costly economically and environmentally do exist. These alternatives include treating low-quality local water sources, encouraging regional water transfers, improving conservation and efficiency, accelerating wastewater recycling and reuse, implementing smart land-use planning and fixing leaks in already existing distribution pipes and plants. Furthermore a tax deductible option to home owners encouraging water wise appliances and repair allowances should be considered as an encouragement to fix what we already have. For example it is estimated that US Homes Leak 1 Trillion Gallons of Water Annually, which is said to be enough water to supply the entire state of Colorado for three years! Is desalination the answer? To me, it seems a desperate attem pt to band-aid a far larger and blaringly obvious issue. If we continue to use and waste, as a human species, regardless of the solutions we find, our existence will inevitably be self limiting.

Thursday, September 19, 2019

growing up and loathing it :: essays research papers fc

Growing Up and Loathing It Alienation can be interpreted as loneliness caused by the lack of understanding of others, and may be caused by oneself or inflicted upon by another. During teenage years, boys are especially susceptible to the anguish felt as a result of alienation. Jerry Renault, the protagonist of the Chocolate War, is encumbered by both the alienation imposed upon himself, and that which is burdened upon him by a secret society known as the Vigils. The Catcher in the Rye introduces Holden Caufield who has segregated himself from all but a few of those surrounding him, and is deeply troubled by this. The alienation wrought by Caufield’s awkward ascension into adulthood is manifested in his fallacious attempts to casually interact with others. Because of their ages, Jerry and Holden feel threatened by the individuals whom they would normally associate themselves. This intimidation spurs the alienation and loneliness felt by Jerry Renault and Holden Caufield. Jerry Renault, an average teenager, has an issue with confidence that influences him to doubt himself, and thus alienate himself from his peers. Because Renault has low self-esteem and feels little influence from his classmates, he refuses to sell chocolates â€Å"like every other kid in†¦ school†(Cormier 66). He lacks the school spirit that others posses because he is excluded from them in his head. This reinforces Renault’s lack of influence felt as a result of others, and shows the fact that he is indeed alienated. In addition, after he refuses to sell the chocolates and is shunned by his classmates, â€Å"he [feels] invisible†(163). Jerry causes this himself, for his actions alone influence the entire student body to dissociate him from their ranks. Jerry who is suddenly forced to come to terms with the situation, instead, separates himself from his former peers even further. Also, even when the students realize that Renault is â€Å"some kind of rebel hero,† he refuses to respond to them and continues his self-imposed alienation (175). Jerry Renault, who at this point has lost all hope of being a normal student, continues his assault on all of that which he would hold dear. If it would not have been for his minuscule sense of self-esteem, he would not alienate himself from the rest of the student body. Jerry’s alienation from all the people that he would normally embrace has caused him mental and physical hardship concerning the interactions with others.

Plant And Animal Cells Essay -- Biology Biological Cells Essays

Plant and Animal Cells I. Introduction All organisms in life are composed of at least one or more cells. Cells are the basic units of life. There are three main features of a cell. First, all organisms consist of one or more cells. Second, cells are the smallest units of life and third, cells arise only from preexisting cells. These three facts are referred to as the cell theory. All cells can be categorized into two basic cell types. They are prokaryotic and eukaryotic. To distinguish where cells are placed in the two categories, what is inside the cell must first be looked at. Every cell, either prokaryotic or eukaryotic all contain basic cell parts. They are: a plasma membrane, cytoplasm, DNA (the genetic material), and ribosomes. Prokaryotic cells have a simple structure and they are usually smaller than eukaryotic cells. Also, most prokaryotic cells contain a cell wall. In addition to having the basic cell parts, eukaryotic cells also contain a membrane-bounded nucleus and cell organelles. The membrane surrounding the nucleus in eukaryotic cells, separate the nucleus from the cytoplasm. Most of the cells we used in the experiments held, were multicellular or consisting of more than one cell. A variety of cells were used in completing the experiments. We used union cells, cheek cells, potato cells, and Elodeo cells. We also used Planaria which is a unicellular organism. Many stains and dyes were used in the experiments. They were water, methylene blue, salts, and iodine. In our studies of cells, we conducted three experiments to test the different features of cells. The first two experiments were on how membranes were selectively permeable, diffusion, and osmosis. To test this, we set up two experiments. The first experiment we set up had three cups. In each cup a potato slice and a different liquid was put in. In the first cup was filled with distilled water. The second cup was filled with salt water and the third was left empty. We left these cups sit for twenty- four hours and then we observed them. The second experiment we set up involved dialysis tubing which was acting like a membrane. In the dialysis tubing we put a liquid that was made of starches and sugars. We then put the dialysis tubing into a beaker of water wh... ...c solution and sucked up some of the water in the cells. When we observed the cheek cells we found they were very different from the plant cells. The nucleus was in the middle of the cheek cells and there were a few cell organelles. The Planaria cell was all red and had lines running down it. In this cell though, the nucleus was not present. The plant cells and animal cells were very different. In the plant cells there was motion of cell parts but in the animal cells there was no motion. Also, the nucleus and chloroplast of the plant cell were towards the outside of the cell because the chloroplast can receive sunlight better on the outside of the cell than on the inside. In the animal cells though, the nucleus and cell organelles, were towards the middle of the cell. III. Conclusions All organisms in life are made of at least one or more cells. Cells are the basic units to life. Without cells life cannot exist. In our experiments we went to look how cells function and what are their features. In finding this information, I know have a better understanding of how cells function and their specific features. Plant And Animal Cells Essay -- Biology Biological Cells Essays Plant and Animal Cells I. Introduction All organisms in life are composed of at least one or more cells. Cells are the basic units of life. There are three main features of a cell. First, all organisms consist of one or more cells. Second, cells are the smallest units of life and third, cells arise only from preexisting cells. These three facts are referred to as the cell theory. All cells can be categorized into two basic cell types. They are prokaryotic and eukaryotic. To distinguish where cells are placed in the two categories, what is inside the cell must first be looked at. Every cell, either prokaryotic or eukaryotic all contain basic cell parts. They are: a plasma membrane, cytoplasm, DNA (the genetic material), and ribosomes. Prokaryotic cells have a simple structure and they are usually smaller than eukaryotic cells. Also, most prokaryotic cells contain a cell wall. In addition to having the basic cell parts, eukaryotic cells also contain a membrane-bounded nucleus and cell organelles. The membrane surrounding the nucleus in eukaryotic cells, separate the nucleus from the cytoplasm. Most of the cells we used in the experiments held, were multicellular or consisting of more than one cell. A variety of cells were used in completing the experiments. We used union cells, cheek cells, potato cells, and Elodeo cells. We also used Planaria which is a unicellular organism. Many stains and dyes were used in the experiments. They were water, methylene blue, salts, and iodine. In our studies of cells, we conducted three experiments to test the different features of cells. The first two experiments were on how membranes were selectively permeable, diffusion, and osmosis. To test this, we set up two experiments. The first experiment we set up had three cups. In each cup a potato slice and a different liquid was put in. In the first cup was filled with distilled water. The second cup was filled with salt water and the third was left empty. We left these cups sit for twenty- four hours and then we observed them. The second experiment we set up involved dialysis tubing which was acting like a membrane. In the dialysis tubing we put a liquid that was made of starches and sugars. We then put the dialysis tubing into a beaker of water wh... ...c solution and sucked up some of the water in the cells. When we observed the cheek cells we found they were very different from the plant cells. The nucleus was in the middle of the cheek cells and there were a few cell organelles. The Planaria cell was all red and had lines running down it. In this cell though, the nucleus was not present. The plant cells and animal cells were very different. In the plant cells there was motion of cell parts but in the animal cells there was no motion. Also, the nucleus and chloroplast of the plant cell were towards the outside of the cell because the chloroplast can receive sunlight better on the outside of the cell than on the inside. In the animal cells though, the nucleus and cell organelles, were towards the middle of the cell. III. Conclusions All organisms in life are made of at least one or more cells. Cells are the basic units to life. Without cells life cannot exist. In our experiments we went to look how cells function and what are their features. In finding this information, I know have a better understanding of how cells function and their specific features.

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Alexander Graham Bell Essay -- essays research papers

Alexander Graham Bell, a man who best known for inventing the telephone. Most people don’t know he spent the majority of his life teaching and helping the deaf. Educating the hearing impaired is what he wished to be remembered for.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Bell was born on March 3, 1847, in Edinburgh, Scotland. His mother was a painter of miniature portraits and also loved to play the piano even though she was nearly deaf. Aleck’s mother knew that he had a talent for music and always encouraged him to play (Matthews 12). Alexander Melville Bell, his father, was a â€Å"Professor of Elocution,† Art of public speaking (Bruce 16). Due to the fact that his father was a very knowledgeable man and a professor, Aleck obtained most of his education from his father and soon followed in his footsteps. Aleck had only two siblings, Melville James Bell, â€Å"Melly,† and Edward Charles Bell, â€Å"Ted† (Schuman 127).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Aleck’s father took a trip over seas in 1868 to see if Americans would take to his new ideas of speech. Alexander Melville Bell was so impressed that he decided to move the entire family. They did not purchase an estate in the United States. However they did buy an estate in Brantford, Ontario, Canada where there were an abundance of Scottish immigrants. Alexander Melville Bell still continued to make trips to Boston to lecture on â€Å"visible speech† (Schuman 39). Aleck’s father was offered a teaching position at the Boston School for the Deaf. He did not take the job but suggested that Aleck take the position instead. Alexander Graham Bell took the teaching position in April of 1871, and was on his way to the Boston School for the Deaf (Schuman 39).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Alexander Graham Bell’s, number one passion in life was helping the hearing impaired. Children learn to talk by hearing other people talk, and then they learn to speak by unconscious imitation. Deaf children do not have this option; they cannot imitate anything and therefore have to be taught by other means. Aleck thought that to teach a deaf child to speak consisted of having the child know how to make the sound by using different positions of their mouth. Slowly combining the sounds would make words and again would result in speech. Aleck tried a numerous number of methods. The method of Visible Speech was one of the ways that Aleck was able to teach his stude... ...lliant man and has changed the lives of many people around the world with or with out hearing impairment. His method of â€Å"Visual Speech† was great because it got the student to know how to use the organs in their mouths and be able to talk. To think that the telephone was originally going to be used as a device to help the hearing impaired is surprising because it ended up being used as a devise that people around the would use everyday to commutate. Alexander Graham Bell affected the world more directly by the invention of the telephone, but this could not compare to the gift of speech that he was able to offer to his students. Bell, Alexander Graham. The Mechanism of Speech. New York: Funk & Wagnalls Company, 1908. Bruce, Robert V. Bell Alexander Graham Bell and the conquest of solitude. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1973. Matthews, Tom L. Always Inventing a Photo biography of Alexander Graham Bell. Washington D.C.: National Geographic Society, 1999. Mackenzie, Catherine. Alexander Graham Bell The Man Who Contracted Space. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1928. Schuman, Michael A. Alexander Graham Bell Inventor and Teacher. New Jersey: Enslow Publishers, 1999.

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Henrik Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler Essay

Henrik Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler is a story of great tragedy, with a web of controversies and a tangle of secrets. In such a beautiful irony, it portrayed that the small town wherein the heroine resides with her husband, is inflicted with gruesome gossip and twisted tales of conflicted interests. Hedda Gabler, a born aristocrat who marries to a class beneath her, has to do with a lifestyle far inferior than what she is used to. The writer used a conversational tone to portray Hedda’s manipulative nature as she controls those that surrounds her. The story revolves around this young wife, as she plays with people’s feelings and affairs, and meddle with things so much so that they work out to her advantage. In this tragedy, it pays to ask the question: what provoked Hedda to marry Tesman? II – Marriage of Different Lifestyles I am interested with Ibsen’s idea of Hedda Gabler being an aristocrat who had to get used to a different lifestyle. There were many analysis offered for the play Hedda Gabler, yet only a handful of them displayed this very obvious fact. The fact that Hedda is manipulative and is using her husband, Jà ¼rgen Tesman, is evident from the first scene of the play, when Tesman commented how fat Hedda is getting, when in fact his wife is pregnant and he has no idea. Even Tesman’s aunt, Aunt Julle, picked up upon this very noticeable change in Hedda, yet Hedda dismissed her with curt replies. SparkNotes (2009) even commented the tyranny of Hedda over Tesman’s household, wherein Berte, the maid, is scared of not being able to please her, and Aunt Julle is tormented by her. Tesman lived to do his wife’s every bidding. In fact, Tesman did everything he can to make sure that they afford the lavish house they are living in, just because Hedda happened to mention that she would want to live in that particular house. When further analysis from SparkNotes (2009) revealed that Hedda only said she wanted that house because she cannot think of anything else to say. To Hedda the house is a joke, a sign of Tesman’s unwavering devotion and faithfulness, to Tesman, the house is a fulfillment of his wife’s wish. Along the play, Tesman followed his wife’s every bidding. There was in instance wherein Hedda was rude to Aunt Julle and Tesman reprimanded her afterwards. Still, basically Tesman’s role in the play was to follow Hedda’s wishes. When Hedda burned the novel of Ejlert Là ¶vborg, Tesman was delighted. He actually thought that Hedda did it because she wanted to help him advance in his academic profession, when in fact Hedda burned the novel because she didn’t want to be reminded of the romance between Ejlert and her. This is interesting to notice, seeing as in other cultures, it is actually discouraged that people from different social standings to marry. With Hedda and Tesman, it is plain that she had to adjust to a different lifestyle, and because of this, she was bored, and living with Tesman does not excite her, as she confides to Judge Brack. This brings me back to my original thesis: what provoked Hedda to marry Tasman, seeing that he is a man of lower class, and he cannot afford her lavish lifestyle? We could only grope Ibsen’s wisdom. Perhaps it is because through Tasman, Hedda can forget about her past relationship with Ejlert, or perhaps, through Tasman, Hedda can still indulge herself a playmate whom she can take advantage of. We can never be certain, until Ibsen partakes the real reason for the two’s matrimony. III – Secrets Revealed Throughout the play, there were numerous secrets disclosed. SparkNotes (2009) mentions the secrets, such as Hedda taking advantage of all the men in the play, Hedda’s affair with Ejlert, which scarred the latter for life, the relationship between Mrs. Elvsted and Ejlert, among many others.   The author cleverly reveals each secret little by little, dragging the audience to the edge of their feet before giving the final picture. Throughout the play, the audience is captivated by how many more secrets will be revealed, and how will Hedda manipulate people to tell her what she wants to hear. I love the irony discussed with the last scene, wherein Aunt Julle returned to the household that is now filled with mourning, what with Aunt Rina’s passing and the horrible incident with Ejlert. Aunt Julle was very welcoming and still hints at Hedda for children, and was oblivious to the fact that so many changes happened within the home, and to pretend that nothing happened is otherwise insane. Yet the author was able to get away with such a tricky symbolism, as the audience is sure to applaud the wit and charisma Aunt Julle brings into the last scene. Also worth mentioning is the way Tasman was horrorstruck when he found out that his wife had burned Ejlert’s novel. However when he thought she was doing it out of love so that he will be able to secure the teaching post he so much wanted, he would have gladly embraced Hedda. How could someone be blinded so much by a manipulative woman? I’ve known that some people say that love is blind, but in Tesman’s case, the clichà © is very much overrated, seeing as she was fooling him in his own home. How can a man not see that his wife is pregnant, and yet would opt to commend on her new curves and new body? Does he not see the baby that is growing in Hedda’s belly? With this, perhaps the pregnancy is the reason why Hedda is manipulative and very sarcastic. Women who are pregnant are prone to mood swings and irrational thinking, yet what would contribute to Hedda’s dark nature? Is she really being sarcastic and arrogant because of her proud upbringing, or is she acting this way because she is pregnant and she has no feelings for the child in her womb and with the baby’s father? Overall the play is very satisfactory. Even in the ending wherein Hedda committed suicide, the audience could rest their breaths, knowing that Tasman is in the arms of a capable woman, Mrs. Elvsted. SparkNotes (2009) describes Mrs. Elvsted as a competent woman who bounces off from men to men, according to her needs. She met Mr. Elvsted by working for him, and afterwards they were married. With Ejlert, the Elvsteds hired him to be a tutor for their children, and Mrs. Elvsted turned out to be Ejlert’s assistant in his research and writing. After Hedda burned the novel, Mrs. Elvsted mentioned that she knew some parts of Ejlert’s manuscript because she helped him research for it. She and Tasman immediately tried to reconstruct the manuscript that Ejlert wrote. Now that Hedda is out of the picture, and the original author of the manuscript is also gone, then Mrs. Elvsted is free to make her move in regards to Tasman, and the two of them can prove to the audience that in their dreary old town, it is still possible for love to exist.

Monday, September 16, 2019

Significant Moment

I sighed and leaned back into my seat. It made a squeaky noise. I had just been given as assignment where I needed to write about a person who had made a great influence in my life. As I sat silently and listened in my seat, my mind went racing to the past, searching for ideas and digging up precious memories. It had been years since I looked back at those memories but I still remember them. By the end of class that day, I had already decided on whom to write about. I remember that momentous time in my life like it was yesterday. Two years ago on a hot Wednesday afternoon on the month of August, as I was walking home from school, I kept replaying the earlier events of the day in my mind. I was not having a good day. That day during speech class, I failed my first oral presentation. I either could not stop stuttering or talked extremely fast. I was so nervous it felt as if my gut was about to turn itself inside out. Instead of trying to finish my speech, I went back to my seat and glued my head to my desk for the rest of the day. I was utterly convinced that I just couldn’t do it. It took me about at least thirty minutes to get home. By the time I arrived, I was covered in sweat and despite my exhaustion, I was also stressing about possible ways to make up for my last failure. I tried to shake away the thought as I pushed open the front door. Instantly, I knew that my grandfather was in the kitchen. The cool air that was being dispersed by the ceiling fan was mixed the sweet, soothing aroma of my grandfather’s home-made pancakes and freshly brewed coffee. As much as I wanted some of those delicious pancakes, I wanted more to just lock myself in my room and bury my head in my pillow. I attempted to tiptoe through the living room pass the kitchen and run to my room but he greeted me with a voice so understanding that I found myself seated at the kitchen table without even thinking about it. After he had set the pancakes on the table, he pulled up a chair across me, sat down and put his eyeglasses on. For a man of his age, he always seemed younger than he really is. He wore his usual clothing, the kind he wears on hot days. His Hawaiian shirt would always have the first three buttons unbuttoned. Along with that, he had on his favorite pair of white shorts. Sometimes, I even wonder if he had been a surfer. He took a sip from his coffee mug and went back to his puzzle book. I took advantage of the silent moment to eat a few pancakes. I hated disappointing him so I decided not to tell him about speech class. After I hastily stuffed myself with eight delicious pancakes and two glasses of iced tea, I stood up slowly making an effort to leave. However, a single question came from him asking if something was wrong made me want to tell him everything not because I expected him to tell me it was ok, but because I felt guilty not telling him. His voice was also so promising that I knew that he would understand. I sat down in the chair I sat in earlier so that I faced him. After taking four deep, cleansing breaths and centered myself, I told him everything. He was a great listener. Throughout the course of my explanation, he eventually nodded and sometimes responded with â€Å"I understand. After I had told him everything, I held my breath and waited for his response. He was quiet for what seemed like a very long time. My forehead started beading up with sweat. I was afraid he might scold me for being nervous in front of a class of only fifteen students. I was also worried about what he might say about my latest â€Å"F† that I received because of my lack of confidence in myself. I was on the verge of panic when he fina lly spoke. I was surprised when he laughed. He literally laughed as if I had told him a very funny joke. Instead of getting angry or disappointed, he patted me on the shoulder and smiled at me reassuringly. He held my hand and told me that I reminded him of himself when he was young. He went through similar situations. It was almost impossible for me to believe that. How can he, the first speaker of the Federated States of Micronesia and the senior pastor of our church, who always touched the hearts of many through simple words, have the same issues as I? He told me that every time he gave a speech or a message, he was always nervous. He told me that no matter how nervous he felt or how much he believed he couldn’t do it, he would always try again. He gave it his all. He kept doing it until he overcame his lack of confidence. No matter how much he wanted to give up, he just kept pushing until he had full faith and trust in himself. Hearing this, especially from him, whom I respect the most, I promised myself that I will always be persistent in all that I do and try my best to gain self-confidence. His words motivated me and made me see that I already had the persistence and the confidence that I needed. All I needed to do was believe I could do it. Looking back to that significant moment in my life, I realized that without the encouragement given to me by my grandfather, I do not think I would be as confident and as persistent as I am today. That day he had helped me become more persistent and more confident. That moment will always be forever branded into my memories as one of the most precious ones. Even though the time we spent talking was for a small amount of time, it made a big difference in my life. I am thankful for having B****** H**** as my mentor and most importantly, as my grandfather.

Sunday, September 15, 2019

“Fighting Ruben Wolfe” by Markus Zusak Essay

Life is like one big race that we are set out to win, with many hurdles in our way that try to stop us and test our determination, but with every failure and defeat our determination grows stronger as we ourselves grow as a person. You will learn that life is full of ups and downs, but no matter how hard life gets you down you got to get back on your feet, smile stubbornly and fight back and then maybe we will understand like the Wolfe family what it means to conquer your fears against all lifes odds to make something of yourself, to prove your worth, to make it known that you yourself are a winner. Despite self doubts, Cameron, like all the Wolfe family, is a winner. Cameron and Ruben have always been close they did everything together. They had been the two juveniles of the family with no purpose, until they found boxing. Cameron Wolfe wasnt exactly what you would call the type of guy girls would fling themselves at to be noticed, and he lacked the boxing skills, strength and courage his brother Ruben possessed, but Cameron had heart and determination. No matter how beaten he was he would push himself back onto his feet, he would push until he could push no more. He wanted to prove to himself and to the people that, he Cameron Wolfe could be a fighter and maybe even a winner no matter what lies at stake, he was determined to be somebody, with Ruben at his side motivating him.; when Cameron was fighting Ruben would be in the corner cheering him on and vice versa. It was the encouragement and love from Ruben that made Cameron a winner and also Cameron self belief, he believed he could be a winner and he believed he was a winner. Ruben Wolfe looked like a winner on the outside, he was even a winner in the boxing ring, but yet inside his head his mind was racing with the world. Racing to be the first, racing to be respected, racing because he’s hungry for more, racing to become a fighter and not just winner. Ruben was a winner, he had the skills, he had the moves, he was tough and his combination of invincibility and good looks had the women streaming after him. But with every victory, he loses a part of himself, a part of his heart. The more he fights the more his hunger grows and devours him. He is  hungry for a purpose in life, hungry for fame and fortune; he is hungry because hes looking for something to fill his hunger in life, to fill in that emptiness because he was afraid of being a loser in life and not achieving anything. I say, Dont lost your heart, Rube. He says Im not tryin to lose it, Cam. Im tryin to find it. (pg 103)The head of the pack Mr. Wolfe was a confident man who took pride in everything he did. He was the man of the house the one that helped keep it all together, but after his fatal accident that left him in unemployment bin, his hope, confidence and pride slowly started to disintegrate drowning in a sea of darkness and despair; as being the dominant male of the family he felt like a failure as he couldnt even support his family financially and pay the bills. But he refused to give up and go on the dole even though there was only a spec of hope left. He went door knocking looking for work, as embarrassing as it was to him it was nothing compared to going on the dole, he couldnt give up this fight, because a Wolfe always fights back and has to Smile stubborn, smile with instinct, then lick your wounds in the darkest of corners (pg 17). The toughest and fearless of all the Wolfes is Mrs Wolfe. Mrs Wolfe is the sticky tape that fixes everything, that holds everything together despite how hard things get. Even in spite of the sudden plunge into poverty; the fights about the bills, the motherly worries about her children, she will fight for her familys pride, fight to give the name Wolfe a meaning and fight against the poverty and sorrows that try to bring you down in life. What does it mean to be a Wolfe, what does it mean to be a fighter, what does it mean to fight and become a winner. In life there is always some misfortune that is going to try and bring you down, but you learn that those experiences are the things that make you stronger. The Wolfe Pack, as Cameron describes his family, were determined to fight back, to hold their pride and in time they were able to overcome the demons, the stricken poverty and they were able to find their hearts.

Saturday, September 14, 2019

Widowhood Case Study

A quick review of the case study suggests the following central issues: The impact that a chronic illness has on a marital relationship, and the burdens of taking care of the spouse, the initial stages of grief and bereavement after their passing, the transition from having a long term partner, to widowhood, and the likely outcomes that the subject will experience during her transition from married, to widowhood, to single-hood. Impact of Chronic Illness on Marital Relationships Chronic illness in anyone family can have many impacts, not only on the person who is ill, but on the family and care givers as well. More importantly, it can affect children and spouses’ emotionally and physically. In Clara’s case, there is a very high possibility that her relationship with her husband experienced a considerable change in relationship and sexual satisfaction. There have been studies done in the past that state, â€Å"Although spouses of chronic pain patients showed no more physical symptoms than spouses of diabetics, they reported significantly more pain symptoms that were related to elevated levels of depressed mood. † (Herta Florb, 2002) The depression felt because of her husbands chronic illness, is likely the reason why she pulled away from her family, and friends. She likely did not want them to see her in that state, and wanted them to think that she was strong, and could handle it. However, other parts of the studies have indicated that â€Å"not only is chronic pain associated with problems in the marital relationship but heightened distress and physical symptoms in spouses as well. † (Herta Florb, 2002) The effects are not so much the reality of a chronic pain problem, but instead a manner for paitents and spouses to cope with the situation. Burdens of care giving and the initial stages of grief and bereavement This leads us to the topic of the burden of caregiving. There is a large impact on ones emotional and physical well being. Women’s greater focus on the emotional side of the caring relationship and on reaching standards of what they consider good care, †¦this is â€Å"not to be confused with how much a spouse cares about her partner† (Connidis, 2010, p. 88). In the case of Clara, there is an assumption that she cared deeply for her husband, but was focused on his needs, and taking care of him, and this may have put great strain, on their marriage, because she may have felt a sense of disdain in the final days of her husbands life. Possibly blamed him for her being out of touch with her family, and friends, and not having circle of people around her to help take care of her during the initial stages of grief and bereavement once her husband passes. There are generally 5 main stages of grief that someone feels when dealing with a loss, however when going through a loss as large as that of a spouse, it is more likely that one will go through each stage in a more defined way. Shortly after the death, there is the Numbness & denial – this is the feeling of shock and disbelief. Even though in Clara’s case she knew that this day would come, she still likely will have gone through this stage. The next stage is yearning & anger – this happens when the main shock has worn off, and one would long for the lost loved one, and one may even feel a sense of anger and thinking that there could have been something more that coul dhave been done. Next comes emotional despair & sadness- this is mostly a long period of tru bereavement. The point when the reality that that person, in this case Clara’s husband is truly gone. This brings one to the reorganization stage – this is when the widow will earn how to deal with practical businss of living, without your loved one at your side. This is also when the sun may start to shine a little more each day in ones life, and also a time when outside sources of support will likely be reeived with open arms. Lastly is the stage of letting go & moving on. This is often when the sadness starts to fade into the background, and new interests take on importance. Experience of widowhood In the case of Clara, widowhood was not likely sudden, as it often is for elderly people. She acted as a caregiver for her husband who had a chronic illness, and likely was warned by doctors, family, and friends, to prepare her for his passing. Since Clara was restricted, from family and friends, by caring for her husband, she was likely the sole caregiver, her husband’s passing although saddening, may also have been seen by her as relief. â€Å"Caring for a departed spouse allows some widowed persons to anticipate their loss and to feel some relief in their death† (Connidis, 2010, p. 106). This relief may be seen as the beginning of her transition to single life. Transition into widowhood Becoming widowed can be a difficult and sometimes devastating life transition. â€Å"Because women remain much more likely than men to be widowed, widowhood is often considered a women’s issue,† (Connidis, 2010, p. 108). Based on psychological studeies that have been done, the initial stage of bereavment, can last anywhere from two to four years. This is generally seen as a period of mourning, and can be â€Å"characterized initlaly by profound psychological disorganization† (Connidis, 2010, p. 08) Often times, and possibly in Clara’s case, this is also an opportunity to rebuild relationships that may have been hindered during the state of spousal care, by leaning on family and friends during the emotional pain, grief, and loss, as well as slowly taking part in groups of people who had experienced similar transitions in their lives. A great defenition given by a widow is this: â€Å"Joan Didion (2005) describes the year after her husband’s death as one of magical thinking during which she felt invisible and understood only by others who were in the same situation. † (Connidis, 2010, P. 09) Outcomes Clara like other widows and widowers will experience a great influx of emotions and changes after the passing of her husband. Based on conversations that I personally have had with counselors who focus on loss, they encourage people to broaden their social circles again, once they have come out of the fog of the loss of their loved one. In many cases, family and â€Å"friends emerge as important network members in widowhood†¦widows are more likely than the married to consider a friend both a confidant and a companion, and friends occupy a larger portion of these networks among widowed persons. (Connidis, 2010, p. 114) As for Clara, perhaps her and her husband had children that had pulled away because of the long term illness of their dad and they may now be spending more time with their mother. If children are in the picture, Clara now has time to spend with her grandchildren perhaps. She may go out and join social groups, such as knitting circles, church groups, exercise groups for seniors, or even take on a volunteering position. These are all acts to assist her in getting out of the house. Assuming that Clara is now living in a large house all alone, perhaps she will move into a facility for seniors, where she can have her own apartment type living quarters, but also where there are activities that she can partake in with other widows, and widowers. Often when a parent becomes widowed, they will take up residence with the children; this will often be seen as â€Å"the parent helping the child out†, not the other way around. In Clara’s case, because she lives far away from her family, there is a high possibility that she will sell the home that her and her husband had resided in, and re locate so that she can be closer to her family. This will allow her to reconnect with her children, and grandchildren. This may however be a very hard move for her to endure, as she will be leaving behind friends that she may have had where her and her husband had lived. However, moving to a new place, with new people, and new activities will act as a fresh start for Clara. This could be a while new life for her to live, even at the age of 80. Many people still have lots of gumption in them, at that age, and are still looking for companionship, and to be loved. As can be found on a website for seniors, â€Å"The sex need to some people is romance, companionship, and closeness–often the need for actual sex is quite minimal. In other people the need is quite strong. When we lose our spouse, we lose our sexual partner and our feelings can be anything from the desire to shun sex for the rest of our lives to powerful needs, and anything in-between. Sexual feelings after being widowed are quite common and the feelings should not make us feel guilty† (Diehm, 2000) In closing, nothing can prepare anyone for the shock and grief of widowhood, even when we know it is impending. One of the myths of mourning is that is has an ending point, and that if we wait long enough, it will stop hurting. Unfortunately it doesn’t. As we have discussed in this paper, it is important to work through the various phases of grief and it will eventually get better, and we no longer allow it to paralyze us. The important thing is to live our lives to the fullest, and enjoy each day knowing that the person we have lost is with us in our hearts, enjoying each day that we live in their memory.

Friday, September 13, 2019

Walt Disney Company Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Walt Disney Company - Research Proposal Example In relation to the study the company which has been selected is Walt Disney Company that mostly referred to as the Disney was started as a family company and grew to become one of the largest media and entertainment conglomerate in the world in terms of revenue. The Walt Disney Productions established itself as a leader in the American animation industry and later transformed to diversify into live action film production, television and travel. Further, the Walt Disney Company has created new divisions within the company so as to enhance marketing of more mature content than, it typically associates with its flagship family oriented brands. Under the leadership of its new Chief Executive Officer, Bob Iger, Disney has rejuvenated its emphasis on its core strategy and distributing attractive content for children, as well as syndicating this content through its various entertainment channels. From my survey, it is critical to note that, the Walt Disney Company has remained successful fo r many years by making strategic choices that enabled it to build a sustainable competitive advantage over the other companies. The company has made wise decisions, through the guidance of its notable leaders since its inception in the 1920’s, on which resources and capabilities to develop, and on how to utilize them, keeping in mind the competitive environment. Disney Company has acquired a position that is very different from its competitors. Disney has in the last few decades moved into a wider market, starting with the Disney Channel on cable to the establishment of subdivisions like the Touchstone Pictures in the production of films and the establishment of its footing on a broader range. The company is well known for its products and film studio, the Walt Disney Pictures Group, it has emerged as one of the largest and best known studios in Hollywood. With its early well known cartoon creation, Mickey Mouse, it has been established as the official mascot of The Walt Disn ey Company (Corner et al. 1998). Additionally, with the company’s initial selling cartoon of Alice’s in Wonderland, Disney has established itself in the industry of cartoon production. With a clear emphasis on Disney’s success in the family entertainment, this paper clearly outlines the concept behind the creation of a firm production industry with reference to effective leadership and guidance of the management board. This paper will clearly outline the revenue generation of Disney with reference to strategic measures made by its management team, to enhance sustainability in the entertainment industry. Company Operations The Walt Disney Company which started in 1923 as Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, has grown tremendously to become the largest media conglomerate in the world in terms of revenue. With its outgrown capacity in the family entertainment, Disney has grown hugely in various aspects to acquire vast revenue as discussed here. The overall advertising s pending is largely driven by the economy, as well as the presence of large scale television events like the world cup or Olympics. The success affiliated with Disney in the attraction of advertisement money and affiliates fees brings

Thursday, September 12, 2019

The obligations of the carrier under a Bill of Lading are to properly Essay

The obligations of the carrier under a Bill of Lading are to properly and carefully, load, handle, stow, carry, keep, care for and discharge the goods car - Essay Example has a number of purposes among which is the evidence of the contract of carriage, statement of condition of goods received and whether the goods received match the contract description, document of transfer without transfer of ownership rights (N unes, T. 2004). Obligations of the carrier under the Bill of Lading include proper and careful loading, keeping and stowing of the goods received alongside with proper discharge of the goods on the board. While, undoubtedly, consideration should be given to human input, the present technological development and long industry experience significantly lower the possibility of human mistake during the transportation process. Crude oil is widely used as a source of energy alongside with production of plastics and manufacturing. As an item of strategic importance, crude oil has for a long time been an object of various political confrontations. The issue is rooted in supply and prices on the commodity: transportation infrastructure emerged in an attempt to satisfy the rising demand for crude oil and products made out of it. Crude oil is transported from production sites to refineries by water and by land. About 62% of all crude oil is shipped by means of maritime transportation: barges and tankers, the remaining part is moved mainly by pipelines, trucks, or trains. Thus, consideration should be given to the two major means used in the industry: oil tankers and pipelines (Hopkins, T. D. 1992). Safety of the commodity during transportation process largely depends on technological aspects of the cargoes used. Oil tankers are classified in accordance with their size: while coastal tankers can carry only about 50,000 tons of dead weight, ULCC are Ultra Large Crude Carriers and can transport over 300,000 of deadweight tons. Increase in size of tankers and, consequently, increase in the amount of chemicals transferred requires special security systems to be installed inside the tank to guarantee protection from oil spill. The

Wednesday, September 11, 2019

Cybercrime Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4500 words

Cybercrime - Essay Example Data breaches can be combatted by propertizing data or by individual businesses informing consumers about their rights regarding the use of their data. Illegal downloads can be combatted by actions by the music artists themselves, as well as remedies that involve shutting down the sites that sponsor the downloads. Child pornography, in and of itself, is best combatted with legal means, such as criminal prosecution. However, the two types of pornography that are examined in this paper – extreme pornography between adults and child pornography that involves , characters - should be dealt with other means. The data breach section examines United States law, as does the section regarding illegal downloads. The pornography section involves UK law. Hence, the topics are examined with a multinational perspective, which is the best way to examine these topics, as these topics are global in nature. Cybercrime – Data Breaches One major example of cybercrime is the data breach, wh ich results in â€Å"the distribution of personal information 'beyond the bounds of...consent and expectations.'†1 These breaches may be the result of an unauthorized person accessing a company's database, or might be the result of an employee losing his or her laptop or other portable storage device. These are only some of the ways that breaches might result, and there are many more. 50% of the data breaches are committed by employees of the company that is breached.2 Breaches can lead to identity theft and fraud, such as when TJX Companies, Inc., the operator of TJ Maxx and Marshall stores in the United States, announced in January 2007 that it was the victim of a security breach, which exposed 94 million credit card records to outsiders, and these outsiders made fraudulent credit card purchases with this information about TJX customers.3 Since the cardholders had to pay for the fraudulent charges, not the individual customers, the banks who issued these cards filed suit ag ainst TJX an won a $41 million verdict ordering TJX to pay reimburse them for their losses.4 Moreover, since up to 400,000 of the TJX records included their customer's social security numbers and driver's license numbers, the thieves were able to steal identities as well.5 Stealing social security numbers is an infinitely more serious problem than accessing the individual's credit cards, as identity thieves are able to use the social security number to open up new accounts for which the individual is responsible, and gives the thief â€Å"virtual keys† to the victim's financial life,6 enabling the thief to â€Å"empty bank accounts, obtain credit cards, secure loans, open lines of credit, connect telephone services, and enroll in government benefits in the victim's name,†7 while merely stealing credit card information only leaves the individual with the inconvenience of having to close that particular account. Moreover, â€Å"[i]dentity thieves also commit crimes in t he victims names. A victim of criminal impersonation risks arrest and a criminal record for an identity thief's transgression†8 Breaches resulting in thefts of social security numbers are very expensive and time-consuming for the victims, as they spend an average of $1,000 in out of pocket expenses and 600 hours in personal time cleaning up the mess, and lose on average $16,791.9 The risks of social security numbers and other personal information falling into the wrong hands can also be deadly, as in the case

Tuesday, September 10, 2019

Effective Co-Teaching Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Effective Co-Teaching - Essay Example Consequently, there should be effective procedures to implement a strategy that ensures that all educators have a common goal of ensuring success to all students. Â  An inclusive classroom not only eliminates the exclusion barriers, but also ensures success for all students regardless of students’ potential marginalization because of disabilities; hence reduce the disruptive behaviors associated with an inclusive educational system. However, there are bound misunderstanding between the special education staff and the classroom, which is as a result of poor coordination and cooperation, inefficient learning strategies among the educators, and negative attitude towards an inclusive classroom (Villa, Thousand, & Nevin, 2008). For example, the Sunnyslope Elementary school case study indicates a conflict between the classroom teachers and the special education staff whereby lack of collaboration has led to a blame game on student lack of success. Sunnyslope case requires careful s teps and procedures to ensure that the balanced classroom schedules are balanced, and the collaborative relationship of special educations and classroom teachers is improved, which helps in defining a common goal focused on students’ success. The steps towards a successful learning environment in sunnyslope elementary school should implement the following steps towards the conflict resolution between the special educators and the classroom teachers. ... l education staff members should ensure that they work together in making the optimal classroom accommodation for all including students with disabilities. The interactive and co-teaching method should be implemented whereby the alternate roles of teaching, which will ensure that the teaching staff focuses on a common goal in the learning process, focused success among all students in an inclusive classroom. On the other hand, the special education teachers will feel incorporated in the learning schedules and will not have to provide classroom teachers with the students individual Educational Programs (IEPs) whereby they will have a schedule to enforce them appropriately according to each student’s need (Pastorex, 2011). Moreover, the special educators with the help of classroom teachers should develop inclusive Student’s IEPs that include information to support successful participation students in the general learning process in a classroom. Through an effective collab orative teaching practice, the classroom teachers will have an appreciative aspect of the role of the special educators in ensuring that the inclusion policy is not solely under the classroom teacher, but both the educators. Step 3: Effective Time planning and communication Time schedules and effective communication are significant aspects in ensuring an inclusive teaching practice. The co-teachers at sunnyslope should embrace parity and ensure that the lesson planning is based on grade-level expectations, which encourage the discussion of interpersonal skills and strengths between the special education and classroom teaches. Consequently, an appropriate co-teaching pair is achieved through the outlined IEPs for the classroom to meet the support needs of students with disabilities (Pastorex, 2011).

Monday, September 9, 2019

Employee Motivation and Job Satisfaction Assignment

Employee Motivation and Job Satisfaction - Assignment Example This research will begin with The Profiles Interviewed Employees. The selected employees for the interview are Frank and Janet (these are not their real names for purposes of concealing their identity). Frank is a chief accountant to Nestle at the headquarters in Vevey, Switzerland. Frank has joined Nestle six years ago, by then as the cost accountant. Three years later, the management promoted him to the position of the chief accountant. Frank, therefore, has an experience of six years as the accountant of the company and three years as a chief accountant. Janet is the overall marketing manager of Nestle. Initially, Janet was the production unit supervisor for four years after joining the company, but because of her remarkable performance, the management promoted her to the general marketing manager and posted her at the headquarters in Switzerland. Janet has five years experience as a marketing manager. Start of the Interview Interviewer: Particularly concerning the number of years you have worked for this company, why have you not left this company to work for a different organization?   Interviewee: The main reason for my extended stay in this company is the motivation that I get from my employer. I have my own intrinsic motivation; that is, the internal desires to produce the best. The company has enabled me to develop positive attitudes towards my work through the extrinsic motivation it offers through bonuses, rewards, recognition, and promotions. Interviewee: Have you ever encountered any problem of receiving your benefits because of your race or gender? Interviewer: No, I think the company has very strict policies to counteract any form of discrimination among the workers. Interviewer: Do you believe that your working in this organization has a meaning? Interviewee: Yes, I do. Working for this company promises a bright future for me and my family. I am fully satisfied with working here because my job tallies with my profession. I am contented with what I receive from here, and I am ready to work here until my retirement age. Interviewer: Does Nestle provide you with opportunities to grow and develop as a professional and as a person? Interviewee: The company is excellent is providing the best opportunities for professional and personal development. The company has a program for allowing employees study leaves and grants financial support for employees who want to advance their careers. There is a pension scheme program where every employee is deducted a certain proportion of income and paid to them upon retirement. Interviewer: Are there any feedbacks you would expect to receive from your company in relation to your performance that you are not receiving? Interviewee: I think I receive

Product use for a resendential application Essay

Product use for a resendential application - Essay Example Vinyl flooring has become very popular because of its durability and quality. They create a stylish and long-lasting beauty for every constructor that uses them in polishing up a floor. Being a tile, vinyl gives its clients a variety of options on the number of ways it can be laid down. The tiles can be custom cut in different shapes to form variety of patterns and designs depending on what the constructor wishes to have. Because of this flexibility, any look can be attained in setting up the design of the floor (Kapsin, 1). The different colours that the tiles are available in make it possible for the flooring to suit any room decor. Vinyl flooring has been known for its resilience. The flooring cuts down on the level of noises in the room and also gives a lot of comfort underfoot. Their resilience, compared to other floors such as terrazzo or wood, gives the vinyl floors an edge and makes it the most preferred choice for the customers. Other than being resilient, the vinyl floors are actually very durable. Even when subjected under a lot of heavy foot traffic and loads, the floor still maintains its beauty. It is resistant to moisture and stains, which give it an upper hand when it comes to handling of spills on the floors (Vinylflooring.com, 1). Thus, it gives the owner of the apartment a polished and outstanding look over a long period of time. When it comes to health issues the vinyl floor offer a great deal on this. The floors are designed to basically be slip resistance. Vinyl floors are enhanced with the slip-retardant surfaces to make them less slippery and avoid accidents (Kapsin, 1). The floor is also very easy to clean without causing the spread of germs, such as mold, all over the apartment. Vacuum cleaners clean the vinyl floors very easily. Vinyl floors are very economical. They are easy to install and maintain as they do not require frequent upgrading. Most of the other flooring options such as wood always