Introduction to Chinese Culture - Term Papers and the Final Movie Review

Introduction to Chinese Culture - Term Papers and the Final Presentations - Movie Review Example The movie spans from the 1980s when China is undergoing massive reforms in the economic sector. Cheng is a farm boy of bookish tendencies where as Meng is portrayed as a self assured/ confident and highly ambitious human being. Wang is poetic and slightly flaky. The three become friends at the university where they are all endeavoring to obtain visas, with interviews on the same just around the corner. The first among them to successfully obtain a visa is Wang. However, he changes his mind about going to America and opts to remain behind with his girlfriend (who is of Western origin). Cheng, on the other hand, trial upon trial, fails to secure a visa. Meng nonetheless manages to qualify and get a study visa. He seizes his opportunity and leaves for America. As he leaves, he confides in his friends (Wang and Cheng) that he does not plan or desire to come back to China (American Dreams in China, 2013). In the consequent stages of the movie, Cheng’s misfortunes continue to endlessly stalk him. His girlfriend obtains a visa (where he failed) and he is relieved from his teaching position at the university when he is discovered engaging in extra student tuition for monetary gains. In this state of desperation, Wang (who is good at striking good relations with students mainly via Hollywood films) and Cheng decide to set up a school, the New Dream School. The school aims at promoting new methods for English learning to the billions of Chinese students who crave the perceived benefits that arrive with mastery of the English language at the time (predominantly, the possibility of attaining the much coveted foreign/ abroad studies). This school develops to become a major success story. Meng, in America, finds life unbearable and quite unpalatable as he is resigned to odds jobs to earn a living since his English is not perfect. He is essentially living from hand to mouth as a dream consistently progresses into a nightmare. He grows weary and sets back to China where he

Sexual Harassment Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Sexual Harassment - Research Paper Example It was also clear that the policy on sexual harassment in the University was not effective due to inaccessibility and ignorance on the content of the policy. The findings faulted the university unpreparedness to deal with the aftermath of sexual harassment and also the inadequacy that was noted in terms of practices and the resourcefulness of the university to deal with sexual harassment. The research recommended the increase avenues of accessing the policy documents, the creation of awareness and major changes like including gender studies as a common unit in the university. The study also recommended that the university to improve the quality of the reporting of sexual harassment to the form that could be easily accessed by the victimized students. Increase in the intelligence was also recommended by the study among other recommendations. This section is an introduction of factors affecting Sexual Harassment directed on students in the University. It contains background of the study, problem statement, as well as objectives of the study. It also consists of significance of the study. Throughout the theoretical history of sexual harassment, scholars from multiple disciplines in the social sciences have grappled with a diverse set of interpretation of the definitions to conceptualize this abstract idea. According to Kenyatta University Sexual Harassment policy; (2010), sexual harassment is defined as unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature that tends to create a hostile or offensive work environment. Bingham, S and Scherer, L. (2001) defines sexual harassment to include some specific range of offensive behaviors. In his argument, he suggested that the behavior is always repetitive and intended to present some disturbance and also to upset. He underscores this definition by saying that sexual harassment could refer

Estimation Model And Decomposition

Estimation Model And Decomposition In this lecture we introduce project estimation to estimate project resource requirements, time duration, human effort, and cost. We also discuss the models and techniques used in the project estimation. We also discuss the estimation methods such as comparative, top-down, bottom-up (engineering), historical analogy and expert judgment. Then we presented decomposition technique to break down the project into tasks to assist us in estimating the project. We focus on the work breakdown structure (WBS) decomposition method. Learning Outcomes Understand estimation model Understand decomposition technique and planning tools 1.0 Introduction In this lecture we continue discussion of project management in software engineering. We start by introducing the project estimation to estimate project resource requirements, time duration, human effort, and cost. We discuss the models and techniques used in the project estimation. We also discuss the estimation methods such as comparative, top-down, bottom-up (engineering), historical analogy and expert judgment. Then we present decomposition technique to decompose the project into tasks to assist us in estimating the project. We focus on the work breakdown structure (WBS) decomposition method. 2.0 Estimation Model Project estimation is a highly subjective and person-dependent process. A project task could be done in one day by one person but could take a few hours by another person. Hence, different estimates could be given by different persons of the time it takes to perform a task. After actual execution and performing of the task, the time it has taken to be performed is a measured, actual and real time. Accordingly, any time estimate to performing the task that is not close to the actual time is inaccurate. Project estimates are established at early in a project by the software development team and corporation management. These estimates are required for project resources, work to be done, project cost, project schedule, and time to delivery. Project estimates are required during project planning which is a crucial phase of the project lifecycle. Project estimating techniques are available based on metrics accumulated from past similar project experiences. Projects should be estimated in a structured and formal way, otherwise, estimates are inaccurate and projects could be handed in late. Structured and formal project estimation methods that use sound techniques and understanding have the following advantages: They make estimates more accurate They allow the project team to reach a consensus on the estimates They improve the accuracy of those estimates They make it much more likely that projects will come in on time Project planning requires estimates of the: Resource requirements Human effort- in person-months Time project duration- in calendar time Project cost and budget In practice, project history and past experience are often used as a guide in estimating the above values. The estimation usually requires breaking the project into pieces. At early stages in a project the software development team and management team must establish estimates for resources required (human resources, equipment, software, space, tools, etc.), work to be done and time to product delivery. Cost, time, and resource estimating techniques are available based on metrics accumulated from past similar project experiences. Usually, several approaches and methods are used to estimate these values. Then, estimated values that result from different estimation methods are compared. If these values vary widely, then this variance is taken as an indication of the need for more information. Projects could fail due to different causes related to project estimation. For example, the initial estimation of the budget needed for the completion of the project could be too little or too much. This can also be applied to the duration of the project, as some projects fail due to too little time being assigned for completion. As well as this, another factor that leads to project failure is ill planning, where the whole project is not planned out right from the start. Also, the goals and objectives of a project, which are developed at the start of the project may be regularly altered/changed which as a result causes confusion within the workforce. In addition to this, due to technology being a fast-paced industry, the personnel of the project need to stay up-to-date with this rapid change in order to use the correct the technology for the project. Finally, a lack of or ineffective communication between the workforce of the project, regardless of their role and position, can also l ead to broken interactions and project failure. Estimates could be inaccurate due to different reasons including people injury, sickness, or resign. Project development teams could run into unexpected technical problems, etc. Therefore, the objective of estimation is that people in the organization who have the training and knowledge to give an honest, well-informed opinion of the effort (time, cost, resources, etc. ) required to do a task. The uncertainty about the project could be reduced and more accurate estimates could be generated by producing well-documents about the project scope and vision by the organizations management and by reaching a consensus on the tasks that must be performed by the development team members. This consensus could be reached through discussion of assumptions. The following are some project estimation techniques (models): Source Lines of Code (SLOC): Source Lines of Code (SLOC) is the oldest metric for estimating project effort and thus is the primary input of older cost estimation models. The accurate estimation of a software project estimate is based on size of the project to be built. Project size is translated into human effort, time and money. Software Equation: In software equation estimate data is collected for thousands of similar projects and a the estimation model is a software equation as given below: EPM = (L x Sk(1/3) / PP)3 x (1/d4) Where EPM- is the Effort in Person Months L is the number of code Line Sk is the factor of Special sKills PP is the Parameter of Productivity D is the project Duration Using SLOC as input for cost estimation has some disadvantages because estimating the SLOC early in the software development lifecycle can be difficult. Therefore, if the SLOC estimate is inaccurate, the output of the dependant cost estimation model will be inaccurate. Software LIfecycle Management (SLIM): SLIM was developed in the late 1970s. Wideband Delphi: Wideband Delphi is an effective technique in estimating software tasks. Proxy Based Estimating (PROBE): This is an estimation method that looks at the history of a person in terms of components he has built in the past. It states that a person constructing a component that he has previously constructed (or one similar to it) then the amount of effort that will go into building this component will roughly be the same. The Constructive Cost Model (COCOMO): COnstructive COst MOdel (COCOMO) is a software cost and schedule estimating method which was developed in the early 1980s. It was developed through an experiment which involved the analyzing and evaluating of results for 63 software development projects. COCOMO was updated in 1991 for modern development life cycles, in order to accommodate larger sets of data. It is calculated on the basis of 15 cost factors. These factors, sometimes called variables, cover the cost of the software needed, any computer hardware that will be used, and the cost of labor (wages). These are inputted into the model and as a result, an output is arrived at estimating the size and effort that need to be put into the project for it to succeed. The Planning Game: The Planning Game is the software project planning method developed by Extreme Programming (XP). It was developed in the 1990s. It is basically used to manage the negotiation between the development team and the stakeholders (Business customers). Unlike Delphi, PROBE, and COCOMO, the Planning Game does not require a documented description of the scope of the project to be estimated. Rather, it is a full planning process that combines estimation with identifying the scope of the project and the tasks required to complete the software. Estimates use comparative estimate, grass roots estimate, engineering estimate (bottom-up), top-down estimate, historical analogy estimate, expert judgment estimate, models estimate, and/or rules-of-thumb estimate. Typically, estimates are made using some combination of these/some of these estimate methods. These estimate methods are described in the following paragraphs. Comparative estimate: Comparative estimate compares project with past similar projects. One advantages of this method is that estimates are based on actual experience. One disadvantages of this method is that truly similar projects must exist. Engineering estimate (Bottom-up): Engineering Estimate (Bottom-up) assigns different components of the project to individuals to estimate. Then, component estimates are summed to obtain total estimate of the project. Advantages of this method include generation of accurate estimates because of detailed basis for estimate, promotion of individual responsibility, and support of project tracking. Some disadvantages of this method are that the method is time- consuming, detailed data is needed which may not be available, especially before the project starts or early in the project, and integration costs may be disregarded. Top-Down estimate: Top-Down estimate partitions the project into lower level components where life cycle phases begin at highest level. Some advantages of this estimate are that it is more applicable to early project estimates, it considers system level activities, it is faster, and easier to implement. Some disadvantages of this estimate is that it is less accurate than other methods, it tends to overlook lower-level components, and it provides little detail. Historical analogy estimate: Historical analogy estimate is based on using the software size, effort, or cost of a comparable project from the past. The comparison is made using measures or data that has been recorded from completed software projects. Analogical estimates can be made at high levels using total software project size and/or cost for individual Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) categories in the process of developing the main software cost estimate. Expert judgment estimates: Expert judgment estimates specifies that software development team consults with one or more experts. Some advantage of this estimate is that little or no historical data are needed, and it is good for new or unique projects. Some disadvantages of this estimate is that experts tend to be biased, and their knowledge level is sometimes questionable. This is a subjective estimate based upon what the estimator remembers from previous projects and gets modified mentally as deemed appropriate. If the estimator has significant recent experience in both the software domain of the planned project then, expert judgment can be relatively accurate. Model-based estimate: Model-based estimate uses mathematical relationships or parametric cost models. Parametric cost models are empirical relationships derived by using statistical techniques applied to data from similar previous projects. Rules-of-thumb estimate: Rules-of-thumb estimate come in a variety of forms and can be a way of expressing estimates as a simple mathematical relationship (e.g. cost = Lines_of_Code / 10) or as percentage allocations of effort over activities or phases based upon historical data (e.g. coding task is 22% of Total Effort). The popular project estimates approach is to use several methods and compare values. If these values vary widely, then this variance is taken as an indication of the need for more information. Model-based estimates along with high-level analogies are the principal source of estimates in early conceptual stages. At early stages of the project or before it starts, we usually do not have a clear estimates, but as a project matures and the requirements and design are better understood, analogy estimates based upon more detailed functional decompositions become the primary method of estimation, with model-based estimates used as a means of estimate validation or as a correctness check. Whatever method is used, it is most important that the assumptions and formulas are documented to enable more thorough review and to make it easier to revise estimates at completion of the project when assumptions may need to be revised. Expected Value for Software Size is computed as follows: Suppose that: Expected value for estimation variable (size) estimate = S, Weighted Average of Optimistic estimate = (S opt) Most likely estimate (S m) Pessimistic estimate (S pess ) Then, S can be computed as: S = (S opt +4 S m + S pess)/6 The calculation of the effort put in, in terms of persons-month, in a dynamic multi variable model can be defined as follows: Software Equation (E) = [LOC * B0.333/P]3 *(1/t4) Where: E is effort in person-months, t is the duration of the project, B is special skills factor, P is productivity. 2.1 Decomposition Technique Decomposition technique is used to estimate the project as presented in the previous section. After decomposing the entire project into a number of smaller tasks, we make project estimates. It is easier to handle smaller tasks than to handle a very larger project as a whole. So, the entire project (problem) is broken down into number of smaller tasks (problems) and then each smaller problem could be solved easily. Decomposition technique is used as a technique or model for cost and project estimate. It is difficult to estimate the project as one task. Therefore, the project is decomposed into smaller tasks and each task is estimated individually and then the partial estimations of project tasks are added up for the whole project. Decomposition technique is used as a technique or model for cost and project estimate. It is difficult to estimate the project as one task. Therefore, the project is decomposed into smaller tasks and each task is estimated individually and then the partial estimations of project tasks are added up for the whole project. A sound and formal estimate starts with a work breakdown structure (WBS). A WBS is a list of project major phases, deliverables, and work components (tasks) that will be built by the project that, when completed, will produce the final product. These work components/tasks can then be broken down into the activities that are required to build them. The concept of this technique is to break down the work into smaller tasks. Each task can in turn be broken down further. This technique is very useful for the project development team and project management team to become familiar with the scope of the project, identifies work tasks, needed resources, and cost estimation. It also helps to monitor the projects progress. Project managers use the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) to estimate projects and make complex projects more manageable. Some advantages of using WBS include: Assists with more accurate project estimation in cost, effort, resources, and schedule Assists with project organization Helps with assigning responsibilities to project development team members. A WBS that is correctly designed allows for the easy assignment of tasks to a specific element of the WBS, cutting down on confusion/duplication of assigned tasks. Shows the control points and project milestones Helps explain the project scope to customers and stakeholders Assist in planning and control of the project Tasks and Subtasks are related to each other in the sequence of project task networks. Project Task networks graphically visualize the tasks/sub-tasks and their relationships. Project Task networks are also known as activity networks. The Work Breakdown Structure is a tree structure. The root of the tree is the whole project and the children of the root are the main tasks at first level of the tree which compose the project. At level 2 of the tree are the sub-tasks of the main tasks of the project at level 1. The rest levels of the tree are constructed similarly. Using the tree structure of the WBS allows the determining of secondary costs for tasks, resources, etc., into their advanced level parent tasks, materials, etc. The WBS is the basis for dividing work into defined tasks from which the, schedule, cost, and labor hour reporting can be established. There are many ways to decompose a project into tasks. Different project break-down ways lead to different estimates. If the generated WBS is incorrect, then the project estimates are wrong and time is wasted in doing the estimates. The project can be broken down by feature, by project phase (requirements tasks, design tasks, programming tasks, QA tasks, etc.), or by some combination of the two. WBS uses similar previous projects history and previous experience of projects that have been developed to generate project t estimates. Large projects are broken into more tasks than smaller projects or they can be broken into larger tasks than smaller projects. WBS, when created, is used by the project team to create an estimate of the effort required to perform each task. The most accurate estimates are those that rely on similar projects history and prior experience. Team members should review previous project results and find how long similar tasks in previous projects took to complete. Sources of delays in the past should be taken into account when making current estimates. The level of granularity of WBS varies depending on the level of abstraction and what information is available. At lower-levels of the WBS, expert judgment is the primary method used, while at higher levels of the WBS model-based estimates are more common. It is not possible to define a task set for the project uniquely. No set of tasks is appropriate for all types of projects. Project breakdown into tasks is dependent on the size of the project, complexities involved in the project, constraints of the projects and the skill set and capabilities of the team members working on the project. Project tasks have to be properly distributed according to the needs of the project deadlines and schedule. To develop a project schedule, a task set must be distributed on the project time line. The project set of tasks is defined based on the category of the project which is dealt with by the development team. Summary In this lecture we introduce project estimation to estimate project resource requirements, time duration, human effort, and cost. We also discuss the models and techniques used in the project estimation. We also discuss the estimation methods such as comparative, top-down, bottom-up (engineering), historical analogy and expert judgment. Then we presented decomposition technique to break down the project into tasks to assist us in estimating the project. We focus on the work breakdown structure (WBS) decomposition method. Exercises Is it possible to create a realistic estimate before the project team has agreed on the technical design for the software? When the team is working together to generate an estimate, should the testers estimate tasks which will be performed by the programmers? List three models of project estimate. What is estimated using project estimate? Describe the objectives of using decomposition technique? List advantages of decomposition technique for company managers. Describe the Source Lines of Code (SLOC) estimation method. List two advantages and two disadvantages of using The Constructive Cost Model (COCOMO). What is the difference between Engineering estimate (Bottom-up) and top-down estimate? Explain decomposition techniques. How do you define a task set for the software project? What are project task networks?

Networking :: essays research papers

1. Which versions of NetWare support TCP/IP services such as Web site hosting? c. 4.x and 5.0 2. Which version of NetWare contains many services coded in the Java programming language? d. 5.0 3. How many processors can a NetWare 5.0 server support? c. 32 4. What is the minimum amount of RAM required for a NetWare 5.0 server? d. 64 MB 5. Why might you want to install more than the minimum RAM required by NetWare 5.x? The more RAM, the better the performance of the server. 6. Where can you go to find out about known bugs in NetWare? b. www.support.novell.com 7. How might NLMs provide better stability on your NetWare server? a. They can be loaded and unloaded without taking down the server. 8. Which version of NetWare supports the use of virtual memory? d. 5.x 9. What stands at the very top of the NDS tree? a.root a.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   10. If you decide to change the name of your NDS tree after you’ve installed NetWare, you can rename it through a server console command. True or False? 11. What is the name of the graphical server manager utility in NetWare 5.x? d. NetMon 12. Which DOS command loads the NetWare operating system kernel? d. SERVER.EXE 13. Which of the following file systems does NetWare not support? b. NTFS 14. What is the name of the volume created automatically when you install NetWare 5.x? d. SYS 15. File compression is enabled by default during a NetWare 5.x installation.True or False? 16. Which server resource does block suballocation conserve? c. hard disk space 17. What is the purpose of a container object in an NDS tree? a. to logically subdivide objects in the tree 18. A user is an example of what kind of NDS object? c. leaf 19. If a user’s login ID is â€Å"james† and the user belongs to the â€Å"marketing† organizational unit, which is in turn part of the â€Å"Corporate† organizational unit within the â€Å"ABC† Organization, what is this user’s context? c. O_ABC_OU_marketing_OU_corporate_U_james 20. Which utility allows you to manage NDS objects? c. NWAdmin 22. After right-clicking an object within NWAdmin, which option should you choose to modify that object’s properties? a. Details 23. In a typeful context notation, how is a user object’s container designated? d. O 24. Why might you want to create an administrator-equivalent ID that isn’t called â€Å"Admin†? b. for security purposes 25. After a simple NetWare 5.x installation, what rights does the default group called PUBLIC have to the NDS tree? b. Browse, Modify, Erase 26. In NWAdmin, you can grant users rights to save files in a directory.

Analysis of Eating Christmas in the Kalahari

Analysis of â€Å"Eating Christmas in the Kalahari† Richard Lee’s piece, â€Å"Eating Christmas in the Kalahari,† describes his experience living with the ! Kung Bushmen of the Kalahari Desert in south central Africa, but it does more than just reiterate a three year stint with a native African tribe. It also serves as documentation of another instance of how different societies of people distinguish themselves from one another with certain customs and differences in how they conduct themselves socially. Misunderstandings are commonplace when it comes to anthropologist living among an unfamiliar group of people due to many sorts of cultural barriers.The primary obstacle that Lee encounters is a misinterpretation between himself and the tribesman on why he isn’t receiving the gratitude that he expects for slaughtering such an enormous ox. While it may not seem like it at first, the conflict that arises between the tribesman and Lee can symbolize the dispari ty between society in the United States and society in the Kalahari Desert. In the United States, when people do a deed that they deem as an act of kindness, they expect a â€Å"thank you† from the beneficiary. The! Kung Bushmen operate a little differently.Instead of the â€Å"thank you† that is customary in the United States, they ridicule and degrade the gift. This is what occurred with Lee and his ox which left him bewildered as to why the Bushmen would treat him this way when he was sure that he has chose a more than adequate ox for the feast. This is another example of how cultures can contrast with one another. The reasoning behind why the! Kung Bushmen handle gifts the way they do is actually a simple one. Their goal is to have no one man perceive himself greater than others just because he can bring home food.The line â€Å"We insult men after they make a kill because of Arrogance. Yes, when a young man kills much meat he comes to think of himself as a chief or big man, and he thinks of the rest of us as inferior or servants. We can't accept this† supports this line of thinking. When the Bushmen realized how proud Lee was of his sacrifice, they utilized this in order to keep him humble. Many times when Americans perform a good deed it is so they can receive some sort of recognition which in turn builds their ego. This is where the !Kung and Americans contrast. The ! Kung act the way they do because they see it as a service. They consider keeping one humble as doing the person a favor. Richard Lee’s firsthand experience served to deliver the message to the reader much more efficiently than if we were to read it from someone who received their information indirectly. By reading Lee’s account, we are able to fully grasp the effect that the ! Kung have on someone and how that person reacts to it, in addition to why the ! Kung act operate in the manner that they do.

Natural Environment Essay

IB Environmental Science and Society. In this class, we focused on the ways that society affects our environment and vice versa. It opened my eyes to the fact that we can be environmentally conscious while utilizing our natural resources. I became determined to become involved with the oil and gas industry that provides so much support for Alaska’s economy, while considering the unique environment around us. I have been accepted to and intend to attend the University of Alaska Fairbanks to study Petroleum Engineering, with a minor in Environmental Politics. This particular program focuses on Alaska’s unique petroleum resources and environment. My Environmental Politics education will be a beneficial supplement and balance to my study of petroleum engineering, as I will learn the necessary precautions that must be taken when handling natural resources, and also because I will be exposed to the political issues surrounding natural resource extraction on a local and global scale. I have been accepted into the UAF Honor’s College, which I intend to become a part of, in an effort to get the most out of my education and surround myself with other students that are as focused as I am. UAF also appeals to me given the opportunities for summer internships with oil companies that operate in Alaska, many of which lead to long-term jobs after graduation. I wholeheartedly intend to stay in Alaska, but I am also interested in the international programs offered by several large oil companies as a chance to see the way other parts of the world extract and utilize their natural resources. Though it still seems far off, I am also strongly considering going for a Master’s degree at UAF in Engineering Management to be competitive and more prepared to become a leader in my field. In my career, I am most interested in increasing the efficiency of oil extraction and transportation through technology, in order to maximize the productivity and environmental safety while minimizing cost and time. Outside of my employment, I also look forward to encouraging young people, especially girls, to pursue math and science related fields, as my mother and aunt have done for me, and it has made all the difference in my decision to pursue a challenging, male-dominated field with confidence. I am confident that I will be a strong addition to the team working in Alaska to utilize our resources and improve our economy, while protecting our environment.

Lakota Woman essays

Lakota Woman essays Lakota Woman. Mary Crow Dog. New York: Harper Perennial, 1991. 263 pp. Lakota Woman, written by Mary Crow Dog, describes Sioux traditions, painful Indian history and the Indians constant battle to win equality in America. Mary Crow Dog uses her personal experiences to give an Indian perspective on these issues. By using first hand experiences, Mary helps to give the book credibility. These stories are real, true experiences witnessed (through story and first hand account) by the author which helps to give an intimate voice to the book. Mary Crow Dogs voice is strong in the book; it is easy to forget you are only reading the book and not actually sitting beside Mary listening first hand to her story. There are many times when you feel present at the protests or in the church at Wounded Knee. Marys experiences show struggle, pain and determination in hopes of getting the reader to see both sides of the Indian movement. Lakota Womans main goal, in my opinion, is to give the reader an understanding of traditional Indian ways and to provide an understand ing of the Indian movement through an Indians point of view. If these goals are in fact reached, it will give the reader a clearer understanding of the Indian traditions and hopefully a more sympathetic heart towards their cause. Mary Crow Dog begins the first half of her story in anger and hate towards her oppressors. Her anger is explained through her familys history and experiences as a child in a European churchs boarding school. In this section of the book, the battle of Wounded Knee is first explained; the horrendous massacre of helpless Indian people by the white man. Wounded Knee is Marys history and by hearing this story you are able to understand how her resentment towards these new settlers began. However, the story of racism towards Marys people by the white man does not end at Wounded Knee, it only begins. Mary&apos...

Daniel Valerio Child Abuse Case Study

Daniel Valerio Child Abuse Case Study Daniel Valerio was born to Cheryl Butcher and Michael Valerio in 1988 at Victoria, Australia (Goddard and Liddell 1995). He was the fourth kid born to Cheryl Butcher but the second to Michael Valerio since they had met when Cheryl had already two kids of her own. About one year later on October 1989, Cheryl and Michaels relationship came to an end, and they parted ways.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Daniel Valerio Child Abuse Case Study specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More On February of the following year, Cheryl met Paul Aiton whom she started living together with; that is when Daniel Valerio’s horrifying abusive experience began in events that culminated to his death five months later when he was barely two years old (Goddard and Liddell 1995). The purpose of this paper is to discuss the nature of Daniel Valerio child abuse case in general and generate lessons learned from this experience. By the time that Da niel succumbed to his internal injuries that finally led to his death, he has been on and off in hospitals a dozen times where he was treated by various health professionals that included pediatrics and general practitioners. The coroner postmortem report performed after his death indicated a total of 104 injuries at every part of the young boy’s body (Goddard and Liddell 1995). The coroner report identified the fatal injuries to be on internal organs in the abdomen region, which had been overlooked by the last doctor that was treating Daniel. It is these internal injuries that led to internal bleeding that finally caused Daniel’s death. Other extensive injuries that were identified during the postmortem examination were multiple fractures on the collar bone, head injuries and the trunk among other areas (Goddard and Liddell 1995). In this case, it is evident that Daniels abusive experience started when Paul Aiton moved into their house, a fact that has collaborated fr om several sources including the neighbors who were incidentally the first to notice the signs of abuse. Over the next five months when Paul was continuously abusing Daniel, a series of health professionals were involved, numerous calls made to police, teachers informed and child protection officers notified more than once bringing the total number of professionals engaged to more than 20 (Saunders and Goddard, 2001). What is baffling in Daniel abuse case is that none of these trained professionals were able to avert Daniel death eventually despite their involvement at various levels. Even more troubling is the fact that the police and the child protection officers would not have identified a similar child abuse case that involved Daniels older brother that was also being carried out by Paul.Advertising Looking for essay on family law? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In the end, it was an electrician who identified t he typical signs of abuse in Daniel that finally led police to investigate, thereby exposing the weakness and ineffectiveness of the Dual Track System; the child protection system in Victoria at the time (Saunders and Goddard, 2001). More questions would be raised about the competence of the various government professionals that could not identify a typical child abuse case, let alone prevent death from occurring. In a highly publicized trial, Paul Aiton was finally found guilty of murdering Daniel Valerio and was sentenced to 22 years in jail, one month later the Minister for Community Services announced far-reaching changes in child protection procedures that involved mandatory reporting of suspected child abuse cases. The significance of Daniel Valerio child abuse case study in the context of a social worker indicates that a well funded, organized and highly trained personnel child protection system is essential for social workers to be competent in their duties. References Godda rd, C. Liddell, M. (1995). Child Abuse Fatalities and the Media: Lessons from a Case Study. Child Abuse Review, 4(1): 356-364. Saunders, J. Goddard, C. (2001). Child Abuse and the Media: Child Abuse Prevention Issues. Retrieved from  https://aifs.gov.au/cfca/publications/child-abuse-and-media

How To Use Your Blog To Tell A Story

How To Use Your Blog To Tell A Story A story can prick a conscience. A story can motivate into action. A story can cause outrage or empathy. A story can take a reader off of her sofa and on an adventure across the world. We often talk about using story in content marketing as a way to tell about our brand, our team, our product, or our service. We discuss how to use storytelling for businesses as a way to make themselves more human. We give pointers on how to write copy  in a story-like manner that would make it interesting to read. But what about telling a genuine story, free of the responsibility of overtly furthering your brand? In an age of long form content, it makes sense to delve into telling stories online. Our brains like stories. It makes them active, and if the story uses the right words, it causes our brain to respond as if what we were reading was really happening to us. Words that speak of action make our motor cortex buzz. Words that speak of textures get our sensory cortex alight. In other words, when we read a story, our brains light up like a meteor shower on a dark winter night. Our brain, on a diet of stories, is intense. The Plays the Thing, wherein Ill catch the conscience of the King. Hamlet What Makes A Good Story No one will agree on what makes a good story completely. We all have our own tastes that dictates which kinds of stories we are drawn to, and the kind of language we prefer to read. But there are a few ways to consider good story as you create your own. There are also a few generalizations that can tentatively be applied across the board, no matter which approach to story you take. 1. Simplicity is best. A simple plot is ideal. It is the convoluted plot that allows a soap opera to go on endlessly for 30 years. A simple plot, with simple motivations, will always be easier for you to write and a reader to follow. A simple plot can be deceptively complex, depending upon how you tell the story. Unique and conflicting points of view, jumping back and forth in time–these all make a simple plot compelling and deep. Can you sum up the plot in a sentence or two? Simple language that is clear and concise is also best. 2. Boring words dont work. Cliches  don’t work. Phrases that have become common don’t work. Our brain skips over phrases it is used to seeing without registering them as anything special. Common phrases (tough as nails) dont light up our brain. This isnt a license to write purple prose that is extravagant and excessive.  In his 10 Rules Of Writing, author Elmore Leonard ended his list with this: Try to leave out the part that readers tend to skip. Leonard understood how people read books, whizzing by solid paragraphs of purple prose to get to the dialogue. The dialogue, after all, is where the characters develop, where they interact, where the action happens. Avoid cliches, but dont turn to purple prose to do so. Look for concise and unusual word pairings that readers brains havent become accustomed to yet. 3. Get familiar with literary devices. When telling a story, you cant avoid using literary elements, even if you wanted to. These include things like  plot, dialog, setting, narrative, characters, mood, theme, and so on. Without them, there is no story. You could, however, avoid using literary techniques, though that would be a shame. These include things like allegory, irony, personification, metaphor, etc. They make your story richer. Even the simplest story becomes a real story when you use literary techniques. In The Old Man And The Sea, the plot could be summed up as an unlucky fisherman finally catches a marlin. Of course, Hemingway made that simple idea into much more than that, using conflict and allegory and imagery to tell something completely different. Use classic  literary devices  in your story if youre not sure how to make a boring story interesting. Once you realize how many  literary techniques  you can use to tell the same story, you wont suffer from the I dont have a story to tell syndrome that keeps you from giving storytelling a try. 4. There must be conflict. Without conflict, your story is not a story. It is an article. A listing of facts. It is informative but not dramatic, readable but not eminently so. Conflict is what propels and pushes a story forward, what keeps a reader guessing and reading. Though there has been disagreement on what kinds of conflicts are truly legitimate (depending upon your philosophy), here is a list of possible  narrative conflicts  you might use in a story: Man against man. Man against society/institution. Man against nature. Man against machine. Man against self. Man against God. Even a superhero cannot be so super that there is no conflict, no thing that could stand in the way. There must at least be Kryptonite. Conflict, in stories, is the engine that keeps them going forward.5. Have characters your readers can cheer for. Along with having conflict, you need characters that your readers can cheer for. Ever read a book and disliked the main character? You end up disliking the book, even if the story was good. Its tough to be sympathetic with characters we dont like. Readers want to be able to root for someone. They want a character that at some point is a fill-in for the heroic or the noble or the daring or the adventurous–the things they dont experience in daily life. Sometimes the best way to tell your reader about a character is to create another character who acts as a  foil. A foil contrasts another character in such a way that it highlights qualities that you could otherwise not reveal. For example, Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter. You learn more about these two characters by how different they are when contrasted with each other. How To Approach Storytelling Lets look at a few different approaches that people have used to understand story, a kind of crash course on some storytelling basics. The 7 Basic Plots In 2006, after 34 years of writing, Christopher Booker published  The Seven Basic Plots: Why We Tell Stories. In it, he proposed that all stories can fit into one of seven basic plots: Overcoming the monster. Protagonist vs. antagonist. The antagonist is threatening the protagonist and all that the protagonist holds dear. Rags to riches. Poor protagonist acquires vast wealth, loses it, then finally gets it back when he/she has grown as a person. The quest. Protagonist (and friends) set out to find something, facing many challenges along the way. Voyage and return. Protagonist travels to a strange place, faces challenges, and returns with nothing but valuable experience. Comedy. Protagonists are destined to be together, but something keeps getting in the way. By the end, it is all resolved. Tragedy. The protagonist becomes the villain, falling from grace. His/her death at the end is a good thing. Rebirth. The protagonist is a villain or unlikeable. By storys end, though, has completely turned around. Others have come up with their own efforts to diagram story in a similar manner to Booker. Ronald Tobias wrote 20 Master Plots And How to Build Them, coming to a different conclusion than Booker and going into more detail (get a PDF checklist of these plots).  Georges Polti created a list of 36 Dramatic Situations in which he came up with every possible situation that might occur in a story. These are not quite the same as categorizing an overall plot; they could be used in many combinations within one of Bookers plots. Whether you agree with Booker or Tobias understanding of plot, the key is to be able to familiarize yourself with available plots.  Understanding these plots may help you tell your story better just by knowing how you are approaching what you are trying to say. Brands can also  use these basic plots as a way to understand how to tell a story about themselves (and maybe understand they are not relegated to just being funny and inane). The Heros Journey In 1949, Joseph Campbell wrote a book, The Hero With A Thousand Faces, that proposed that almost all mythical stories across culture followed a similar pattern. This monomyth was known as The Heros Journey. Everyone from musicians, video game makers, writers, and movie makers have used The Heros Journet as a model for their stories. Blogger Lisa Paitz Spindler has done an excellent job explaining and illustrating The Heros Journey. While Campbells theory on how to interpret myths has come under fire as being an oversimplification of complex myths, many writers still turn to his theory for their stories. You can see several of Bookers seven plots as possibly fitting into The Heros Journey (quest, rags to riches, monster, etc.) Modern mythology, such as Lord of the Rings and Star Wars, reflect elements of this Heros Journey.  If youre a Star Wars fan, youll recognize the plot almost immediately. George Lucas all but followed Campbells approach to monomyth to the letter.  Movies have further refined and simplified The Heros Journey into a formula of sorts; you are likely quite familiar with the pattern you see here, even if in a simpler form. The Inverted Pyramid The Inverted Pyramid method of telling a story is most commonly associated with journalists and news articles. In it, you tell the most important part of your story right at the beginning and then gradually break it down with details as the story progresses. This is because people might not read the full news story, but instead rely on the headline and the first paragraph or two to get a summary of the story. It is also a way to play your hand up front, trusting that the dramatic and explosive beginning will securely hook a reader and keep them reading. Pennsylvania State University, Newsletter, January 2011 The important questions–who, what, when, where, how–get answered in the first paragraph. The why is explained later in the article, as less important details and backstory trickle out. Letting Readers Decide Do you remember the delightful Choose Your Own Adventure books? As a kid, I loved reading them. A while back, I attempted a kind of CYOA on the Todaymade blog in the form of a social media adventure. A bit corny, yes, but readers had fun with it. When you let the reader decide how the story unfolds, you get to write several alternate endings (a bit of fun) but have to keep everything organized (a bit tricky). Youll write several types of plots, conflicts, and endings with the same characters, which can be a challenge. You will also write so that the main character is the reader. There are other ways to make your story interactive. Michael Lutzs story My fathers long, long legs is clever as a story and incredibly creative in how interactive it is for the reader (follow it through all the way to the end). Lutz uses methods you could only use in online storytelling. Recommended Reading: The Hero With A Thousand Faces  by Joseph Campbell Save The Cat!  by Blake Snyder The Seven Basic Plots: Why We Tell Stories  by Christopher Booker 20 Master Plots And How to Build Them  by Ronald Tobias 10 Rules Of Writing  by Elmore Leonard Putting Story To Work: Snowfall Snowfall.  You’ll either think of this as something from winter, or you’ll think of an avalanche and a 2012 online article from the New York Times. With Snowfall, the Times put forth an amazing effort to tell a story online like no one else had done before. They followed up their Pulitizer Prize-winning Snowfall with The Jockey and A Game Of Shark And Minnow; other publishers followed suit, covering stories about Greenland and the Iditarod. Big and flashy stories seemed to be the direction the web was heading. Dissecting How Snowfall Worked Lets take a look at Snowfall. In this classic man vs. nature true story, the Times started with the climactic moment of the avalanche. They got you hooked because you met characters in danger and distress and would hopefully keep reading to know what happened to them. Next, they filled in the backstory, introducing new characters and telling us more about all of the characters in a personal way so that we could identify with their humanity. After revealing the climax, they started back at the beginning so that the reader could put what they just read in context. They broke the story up into chapters, which helped keep the reader from getting confused. Snowfall is a long piece, and chapters help guide the reader through it. The Times used interactive maps and graphics, pull quotes, photos, and video to flesh out the story in an attempt to create extra content that was related, but not necessary, to reading the story. Readers could plow on through the text and read just the story, or they could venture into these extra elements and learn a bit more. This was no article. It was a story,  a true one, and the Times meant to put you right there, on the mountainside, to experience it.

Death Penalty Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 3

Death Penalty - Essay Example There can be just a kind of crimes. when it should be applied. However, this creates a risk of the innocent killed. The issue remains controversial and now the every country is to decide if to use it or not. The main criterion is, of course, the effectiveness of death penalty. Abolition of capital punishment is a major term for European Community members. The same refers to economic and political partners of EC such as Ukraine, Russia or Croatia. On the other hand, this type of punishment was not abolished in the USA. First of all, relationship between homicide rate and deterrence should be identified. Till the end of 1970th in the United States cross-state comparison of homicide rates was applied. This approach did not allow identifying regional, ethnic, age differences of crimes throughout the country. Considering federal structure of the USA, the statistic tool should be oriented on regional variety and deterrent effect measurement. According to Paul Rubin, multiple-regression analysis meets the above requirements better, because it is applied to counties. â€Å"The analysis then can implicitly calculate the effect of each execution on the number of homicides that would otherwise have occurred.† (Rubin, 2002) This method of analysis even deals with a large discrepancy in date of crime commission and execution, which varies up to 10 – 15 years. Besides, results of the research reflect demographic, ethnic, sex, and age characteristics of the counties. This statistical tool proves deterrent effect of the death penalty in all over the country. For example, 95% confidence interval estimate reveals reduction of homicides by 8% - 28%. Nevertheless, the death penalty does not imply socially desirable deterrence. Robert Cottrol makes a historical overview of this type of punishment in the United States. The factors of publicity, criminal statistics, and method of

Mortgage Backed Securities and their role in the economic crisis Essay

Mortgage Backed Securities and their role in the economic crisis - Essay Example This will normally lead to a fall in the countries’ GDP, a rising and falling of prices because of inflation and deflation and a drying up of liquidity. It normally can take a form of recession or a depression. The economic crisis began with bursting of the united states housing bubble and high default rates on subprime adjustable rate mortgages (ARM),and variable rate mortgages beginning around 2005 to 2006(Wall Street Journal, December 4, 2007). Prior to the crisis, the government policies and competitive pressures encouraged high risk lending practices for several years. The role of Mortgage Backed Securities in the economic crisis The financial crisis was highly felt in the market in 2008. The civil fraud charges was filed against several major credit rating agencies for their role in developing mortgage bond that helped bring about the financial crisis in 2008. The Wall Street Journal reported that the U.S.  Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) is currently looking at t he role these companies played in the crisis and exploring the possibility of holding them accountable. The crisis began to affect the financial sector in February 2007, when HSBC, the world's largest (2008) bank, wrote down its holdings of subprime-related MBS by $10.5 billion, the first major subprime related loss to be reported. During 2007, at least 100 mortgage companies either shut down, suspended operations or were sold. Top management has not escaped unscathed, as the CEOs of Merrill Lynch and Citigroup resigned within a week of each other. As the crisis deepened, more and more financial firms either merged, or announced that they were negotiating seeking merger partners. (Wall Street Journal. Online, May 2008). Credit risk arises because the borrower has the option of defaulting...This paper outlines the role of the mortgage backed securities (MBS) in the surfacing of financial crisis Mortgage backed securities are loans that are normally purchased from mortgage companies, banks and originators and then assembled into groups by a private entity, a governmental or a quasi governmental. The securities are then offered by the entity. These securities are offered through the securitization, that represents the claims on the principal and interest payments made by borrowers on their loans in the group. Most of the mortgages are offered by a U.S. Government agency known as the National Mortgage Association or government-sponsored agencies which comprises of the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation and the Federal National Mortgage Association Mortgage bonds or mortgage-backed securities were secured by a mortgage on one or more assets. They are generally backed by real property or real estate holdings. The mortgage bondholder has a claim to the underlying property and can sell it off to compensate for the default if the homeowner paying their mortgage defaults. Economic crisis refer to a situation where the economy of a nation or a country undergoes a sudden downturn which is brought about by financial crisis. The financial crisis was highly felt in the market in 2008 The civil fraud charges was filed against several major credit rating agencies Credit risk arises because borrower has the option of defaulting on the loan one owes. In the real sense, lender is the one who bore the credit risk on the mortgages issued. It was made possible for lenders to sell the right to receive the payments on mortgages they issue through securitization. This led to several risks in the financial sector

Elementary education Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Elementary education - Essay Example Mathematics is a vital subject and is a fundamental part of scientific disciplines. Mathematics is also applicable in daily lives; hence, it is essential for students to learn mathematics. For a mathematics teacher, it is vital to research on the most practical way to teach students, in order to make learning accommodative, to the different, comprehensive speeds of students. Students in this bracket are still experiencing progress in their cognitive development. It is important to use a teaching method that is not too complex, but at the same time, it encourages growth. In elementary school, the concepts covered will prepare the student to face the intricate problems that will be experienced in the other levels of learning. Summary of the concepts Education concept covered in the book† A Problem Solving Approach to Mathematics for Elementary School Teachers.† There are thirteen mathematical concepts covered. These concepts range from numerical systems to algebra thinking. Here, is a summary on the topics covered in this book. The first concept is numerical systems. In this concept, the teacher is expected to talk about numerical systems and describe number sets. The second concept is on whole numbers and the different mathematical operations that can be performed. They include basic operations of like subtraction and addition, division and multiplication. The third concept is on algebra. Some of the lessons learned in this are what are variables, different equations and algebra functions. This topic is viewed as challenging by most elementary students. There is also the theory of ratios and fractions. Also, discussed is how to perform mathematical functions on rational numbers. Decimal and real numbers make up the next concept. The students will be introduced to decimals and how to carry out operations on decimal numbers. Also, included in this concept are real numbers and how they are used in equations. The eighth concept is on proportions and perc entages. In the concept ratios are revisited, proportion and percentages will be introduced to the students. Probability also features as one of the concepts covered in this syllabus. Learning aides like tree diagrams are introduced to help students to comprehend better this concept. Data analysis as a concept is also introduced. The students learn about data and how different data forms are displayed and their applications in statistics. The tenth concept in the course book is on geometry. Different notions about basic geometry are explored, and angles and three-dimension geometry is covered. Measurement concepts make a part of the curriculum, in this concept; linear measurement, areas, volume and mass are discussed. Surface area is also coved and distance theories and the Pythagoras theory feature in this concept. In the last concept, motion geometry is discussed. In this concept, translation, rotation, reflection and size transformations are also covered. All this concepts are ta ilored to suit the cognitive need of the age bracket that is common in elementary schools (Billstein, Lott, 2012). Relevance of the course to teachers Teachers have an extremely crucial part to play in the cognitive development of children. It is, therefore, important for teachers to be aware of the best way to ensure that children are learning and are expanding their mental capabilities. This cannot be realized blindly research is constantly carried on how improve teaching methods. This Studies come up with improvements on the current system, hence; teachers have to be up to speed in order to adapt the positive changes being brought forward through this studies. It is imperative for teachers to study on how to be effective in their work. This course is significant for elementary math’

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

SUDAN - Essay Example While rainfall is rare in the north, the southern region gets rainfall in plenty. The country also has a variety of wildlife that includes hippopotamus, crocodiles, elephants, birds and reptiles. The capital city is Khartoum and along with Khartoum North and Omdurman, they form the urban center. The government and commerce are centered in Khartoum, and Omdurman is the official capital of Sudan. North Khartoum harbors a majority of the industries in Sudan. With a population of 33.5 million, about 52 % of the population is black, 39 % are Arab, 6 % are Beja, 2 % foreign and the remaining 1 % are from other ethnic populations (Culture of Sudan; About the Republic of Sudan). Sudan also has about 597 tribes in which more than 400 different languages and dialects are spoken (About the Republic of Sudan). The average growth rate is at 3% and there is also a steady migration of people from rural to urban areas. Arabic is the official language which is spoken by a majority of the population, apart from which there are nearly 100 different languages which are spoken by the indigenous populations. English is taught as a foreign language at schools. The Sudanese government is an authoritarian government in which all the powers are vested on the President and the ruling National Congress Party (NCP). The current President Omar-al-Bashir ousted the political government lead by the Prime Minister in 1989 and transformed Sudan into an Islamic authoritarian state through the creation of the National Islamic Front (NIF) which is the most powerful political organization in Sudan. Following an internal civil war the southern region of Sudan has been granted autonomy with the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) as the most important political organization (Culture of Sudan; About the Republic of Sudan). The most widely practiced religion is Islam with nearly 70 % of the population being Sunni Muslims. While 25% follow indigenous beliefs

Resolving International Disputes. What Mechanisms are Available to the Essay

Resolving International Disputes. What Mechanisms are Available to the United Nations to Resolve International Disputes - Essay Example The UN has an additional challenge in the form of geographical dispersion and cultural diversity1. Among the primary purposes of the UN are international dispute resolution and upkeep of international security and peace, which means that the body takes collective measures to prevent and remove threats to the security and peace. The mechanisms that are in place to facilitate such objectives include the Security Council, the International Court of Justice, the General Assembly and the Secretary General. Being the key organ charged with the responsibility of maintenance of security and peace, the Security Council calls upon parties involved in disputes for the purpose of settlement as per articles listed in Article 33 of its statutes2. The dispute mechanisms are structured processes that address grievances or disputes arising between parties engaged in societal, legal or business relationships. The mechanisms are used in resolution of disputes and usually incorporate negotiation, mediat ion and conciliation. Through the dispute settlement systems in place, the UN is the best-suited international institution to address the new challenges facing international security. This paper will discuss the mechanisms available to the United Nations to resolve international disputes and their merits. The Security Council has the key responsibility of maintaining security and peace among countries. Other organs of the UN may only make recommendations to member states, but the Security Council has the authority to implement 1 Winnefeld, J 2004, The changing nature of intra-state conflict, Rand, California, pp. 19. 2 Simma, S 2003, The charter of the United Nations, Oxford University Press, New York, pp. 56. binding decisions that member states have agreed to carry out3. Such decisions by the Security Council are referred to as Security Council resolutions. As described in Article One, the UN has a purpose to maintain international security and peace. Hence, it takes collective me asures to prevent and remove threats to peace, suppresses acts of aggression and brings peace in conformity with the guidelines of international law and justice. It aims to develop friendly relations based on respect among nations. As an international body, the UN is determined to reaffirm faith in basic human rights, dignity and value of humanity. Its intention is to establish conditions that facilitate respect and justice for the obligations that stem from international sources of law and treaties as well as promoting better qualities of life, freedom and social progress4. The key motivation behind creating the UN was to save future generations from the threats of war. From the time it was created, the body has been striving to prevent the escalation of disputes into war as well as facilitating the restoration of peace in the event of armed conflicts. Typically, dispute mechanisms used by the UN are not judicial in nature since they are not deployed in courts of law. Instead, they are governed by core processes of human rights as defined by treaties of human rights5. The UN acknowledges that the absence of military conflicts or war between countries is not an assurance of international security and peace. Threats to international security and peace are seen in other sources outside of the military such as the instability arising from ecological, humanitarian, social and economic fields. Other factors that contribute to the insecurity are international environmental disputes that stem from 3 Thomas, G 2009, Admission to the United Nations: Charter Article 4 and the Rise of Universal Organization, Martinus Publishers, Chicago, pp. 64. 4

The US Bill of Rights Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The US Bill of Rights - Essay Example The need to be free from fear and want is the biggest aspiration of common people, and this is an essential need if people are to be compelled not to resort to rebellion against oppression and tyranny. Therefore, human rights should be protected by the rule of law. It is also vital to promote the development of diplomatic and friendly relations between nations of the world. It is essential to recognize the dignity inherent in the upholding of the equal and inalienable rights of every member of the human family, as it is indeed the foundation of justice, freedom, and peace in the globe. The international legality of militant democracy - when and how a constitutional democracy can legally act in an antidemocratic manner to combat threats to its democratic existence - is far from clear. The legality of legal pluralism - the extent to which international law authorizes transformative political agendas that seek to implement forms of religious, cultural or national autonomy - is also unclear.1 Originally, the United States' constitution included these civil rights in the form of "Bill of Rights". This Bill of Rights is essentially a list of rights that belong to the people, including the right of free speech, the right to be silent if you are arrested, and the right to practice your own religion and the government has no right to deny them these rights. Can the law actually serve to distract attention away from other alternative methods of rights promotionHuman rights should be protected by the rule of law. Mistreatment of humans due to moral neglect religious propaganda or economic gain should not be allowed. People's human rights should not be denied regardless of their sex or race because human rights are the basic civil liberties in life. The law can help to ensure against this. Although the law is accordance with human rights standards, implementation of the law can be criticized. Largely, the safeguards set out by the European Court and the HRC are not sufficiently respected. In conclusion, the compatibility of surveillance practice in Germany with the right to privacy and - with regards to notification - the right to al legal remedy as guaranteed by art. 13 ECHR and art. 2(3a) ICCPR is highly questionable. 2 What institutions are the most appropriate to promote rights, or to decide in disputes involving human rights In Ryan v Attorney-General [1965] IR 294 it was stated that "the use of natural law in constitutional jurisprudence is based on the Christian and democratic nature of the state."5 The notion that the state is Christian has its basis on the wordings of the constitution. Therefore, the Christian institution can be appropriately used to promote rights, or to decide in disputes involving human rights, as this also enshrines the ideals of Justice, Prudence, and Charity In our globalized era it has become impossible

Resolving International Disputes. What Mechanisms are Available to the Essay

Resolving International Disputes. What Mechanisms are Available to the United Nations to Resolve International Disputes - Essay Example The UN has an additional challenge in the form of geographical dispersion and cultural diversity1. Among the primary purposes of the UN are international dispute resolution and upkeep of international security and peace, which means that the body takes collective measures to prevent and remove threats to the security and peace. The mechanisms that are in place to facilitate such objectives include the Security Council, the International Court of Justice, the General Assembly and the Secretary General. Being the key organ charged with the responsibility of maintenance of security and peace, the Security Council calls upon parties involved in disputes for the purpose of settlement as per articles listed in Article 33 of its statutes2. The dispute mechanisms are structured processes that address grievances or disputes arising between parties engaged in societal, legal or business relationships. The mechanisms are used in resolution of disputes and usually incorporate negotiation, mediat ion and conciliation. Through the dispute settlement systems in place, the UN is the best-suited international institution to address the new challenges facing international security. This paper will discuss the mechanisms available to the United Nations to resolve international disputes and their merits. The Security Council has the key responsibility of maintaining security and peace among countries. Other organs of the UN may only make recommendations to member states, but the Security Council has the authority to implement 1 Winnefeld, J 2004, The changing nature of intra-state conflict, Rand, California, pp. 19. 2 Simma, S 2003, The charter of the United Nations, Oxford University Press, New York, pp. 56. binding decisions that member states have agreed to carry out3. Such decisions by the Security Council are referred to as Security Council resolutions. As described in Article One, the UN has a purpose to maintain international security and peace. Hence, it takes collective me asures to prevent and remove threats to peace, suppresses acts of aggression and brings peace in conformity with the guidelines of international law and justice. It aims to develop friendly relations based on respect among nations. As an international body, the UN is determined to reaffirm faith in basic human rights, dignity and value of humanity. Its intention is to establish conditions that facilitate respect and justice for the obligations that stem from international sources of law and treaties as well as promoting better qualities of life, freedom and social progress4. The key motivation behind creating the UN was to save future generations from the threats of war. From the time it was created, the body has been striving to prevent the escalation of disputes into war as well as facilitating the restoration of peace in the event of armed conflicts. Typically, dispute mechanisms used by the UN are not judicial in nature since they are not deployed in courts of law. Instead, they are governed by core processes of human rights as defined by treaties of human rights5. The UN acknowledges that the absence of military conflicts or war between countries is not an assurance of international security and peace. Threats to international security and peace are seen in other sources outside of the military such as the instability arising from ecological, humanitarian, social and economic fields. Other factors that contribute to the insecurity are international environmental disputes that stem from 3 Thomas, G 2009, Admission to the United Nations: Charter Article 4 and the Rise of Universal Organization, Martinus Publishers, Chicago, pp. 64. 4

Ancient Africa and the Present Slavery Essay Example for Free

Ancient Africa and the Present Slavery Essay The book â€Å"Segu† is a novel written by Maryse Conde. Set in 1797, the novel a story of the Africans during that era. Interestingly, Conde was able to create a novel that makes the lives of her characters as the most evident proof of the life experienced by people who lived in Mali during the ancient times. Clearly, the issue of religion, norms, and traditions are depicted as important aspects of society that affected the people of Old Mali. Due to the astounding narration of Conde, I was attracted to the characters as well as the history of Mali. I specifically became interested in the detailed narration of the African culture as well as the slavery experienced by the black Africans at the hands of the colonizers. It is interesting to note that, although the Africans were subjected to slavery over 300 years ago, the controversies and issues surrounding slavery still persist. It seems like the wounds caused by slavery are still engraved in the minds and personal history of every individual. Hence, I can only assume that there is still inequality happening not only in Africa but also in the world. Noting that the current African nations are one of the poorest in the world, I have come to conclude that Africans are still subjected to slavery today; only this time, they are now slaves of the current world, as most of the resources mined or produced within the African nations are not utilized and enjoyed by the Africans themselves but acquired by foreigners to serve their own self-interests. Hence, Africans are not given what they deserve to attain and enjoy. It is saddening that after more than 300 years, the African nations in general are still experiencing various conflicts in terms of religion, norms, and traditions. During an era of globalization and international cooperation, one must bear in mind that there is a need for change and development not just in the economic or political aspects but also in the social and cultural outlook. Work Cited Conde, Maryse. Segu. New York: Viking Penguin Inc. , 1987.

War and Change in World Politics

War and Change in World Politics Ahmed AlAbdullatif A hegemon refers to the undisputedly strongest state in the international system. Hegemony has five main dimensions namely economic, political, military, institutional and ideological. The theory of hegemonic stability mostly approached from either neorealist or neoliberal direction. The theory of hegemonic stability is critical because it captures the tendency of the leading powers in the world using force to assert their dominance. Similarly, the world super powers also use their positions to create ideas, alliances, and institutions which allow for free participation of other states in a relatively open free participation. In his study, Gilpin argues that the fundamental nature of international relations is yet to change over the millennia. His study is based on history, sociological and economic studies which indicate various forces which have influenced the world order. According to Gilpin, the current economic unevenness is as a result of the differential growth of power in the international system (Gilpin 186). Any shift in the balance of either economic or military power leads to a subsequent weakening of the foundations of the already existing systems. The waning of these systems is primarily caused by those gaining power because they value the increasing benefits and the decreasing costs of changing the system (Gilpin 188). Continued alteration of the system through political, territorial, technological and economic hegemony leads to increased marginal costs of continuing change beyond the marginal benefits. The cost of maintaining the international status quo among the dominant powers has incre ased resulting in major discrepancies between the power they possess and their commitment (Gilpin 187). According to Gilpin, the hegemonic stability between the dominant powers and the rising powers is attained through alteration of the existing laws in the international system (Gilpin 187). Rising powers will always attempt to change the rules governing the international system, the national distribution of territory and the division of the spheres of influence. On the other hand, the dominant powers usually counter the challenge from the rising powers by exercising their hegemonic powers such as proposing changes in their policies in an attempt to restore equilibrium in the systems (Gilpin 187). Gilpins argument suggests that in case the dominant power fails to restore the order through changes in the policies meant to restore the previously existing equilibrium, the disequilibrium is usually resolved by war. Before resulting to war as the final means of restoring the desired equilibrium, the challenged powers have two main alternatives in terms of the actions they can take. The most preferred solution to the disequilibrium created by the rising power is an increase in the resources that are meant in maintaining their positions and commitment in the international system (Gilpin 188). Secondly, the dominant or the aggrieved power can also attempt to reduce its existing commitments as well as the associated costs but ensure that the reduction dies not in any way jeopardize their positions in the international system. These are two policies that should be analyzed separately and be followed in exclusion of the other. In generating new resources meant to meet the cost of dominance and also forestall decline, various methods such as an increase in domestic taxation are used (Gilpin 188). Another tool which is commonly used is through an exacting tribute from other states. These two courses act ions usually provoke resistance and rebellion because an increased taxes result in decreased productive investment as well as low living standards. The solution to this can be government employment of more indirect methods of resource generation in a bid to meet a fiscal crisis. Inflationary policies and the manipulation of terms of trade with other countries are common in such case. In hegemonic stability theory, it is important to consider the role played by the hegemon in generating order and cooperation. Neoliberal hegemon has a responsibility to rescue the financial system through opening global trade by sheer economic size as well as encouraging institutionalized cooperation in order to create a sustainable and open economy. According to Gilpin, the hegemons usually force the weaker states to join cooperative regimes in order to reduce uncertainty, decrease transaction costs and build consistency in terms of economic expectations. Cooperative hegemons usually try as much as possible to identify with the interests of its allies and adjust its bargaining position accordingly. Basically, as per Gilpins argument, the cost or the benefit calculation in foreign policy determination is based on a states objective to change the international system using methods that will give them an edge over others by putting their interests first (Gilpin 50). However, as much as a state would like to boosts its national interests over others, a cost is involved. For instance, a state must have adequate resources to meet this cost and also be in a position to pay them. However, if a state does not have adequate resources to meet these costs, it attempts to change the system. The system remains relatively stable if it is unchanged and also if individual states are profiting from it regardless of the obvious inequalities (Gilpin 51). Based on this outcome, political realists fail to argue that the objective of every state is to maximize its power within the international system. However, an opportunity cost to a society is compulsory in the acquisition of power. Consequently, if a given state is in the quest to acquire power, other desired goods are lost in the process. This has been advantageous in improving stability in the international system because most states forgo apparent opportunities to increase their influence as the costs are too high. Although change of the international system is mostly associated with the rising powers who feel disadvantaged by the hegemons, the net gains or the benefits the accrue from a change of system can determine whether the change comes from the rising power or the hegemon. The powerful countries can engage in a change of the international system in order to increase their future benefits. On the contrary, the rising powers can pursue a change of the system to decrease threatened losses. In addition, long-term benefits are an important consideration before making the changes because they are more beneficial compared to the short term gains. Also, the losers of the change also dread the fact that the long-term costs of the development will outweigh the short term benefits. Lastly, Gilpin asserts that once equilibrium has been reached between the costs and the benefits of change, the economic costs of maintaining the status quo tends to rise faster compared to the economic capacity needed t o support the status quo (Gilpin 156). Gilpins argument on the contribution of hegemony in war and order differs with that of Bulls. According to Bull, the international system is only referred to as stable if the changes made are gradual and peaceful. In addition, if an order has to be achieved, states have to follow various well-laid patterns which consequently provide stability to the system and at the same time create goals that are common for all the involved actors and reduce uncertainty. Also, Gilpins argument focuses on the lack of attainment of an equilibrium between the hegemons and the rising powers as the major cause of war. On the other hand, Bull argues that the practice of the laid out patterns institutionalizes the international society. Also, according to Bull, there is a difference between anarchy and order. Anarchical situations in the international order is mainly as a result of lack of higher authority of law making (Bull 135). However, the existence of anarchy in the international system is not neces sary an indicator of lack of order. On the other hand, the existence of order in the international system is not an indicator of the existence of hierarchy. According to Bull, there are five main institutions in the international society which are key to facilitating order. They include diplomacy, international law, the balance of power, war and the Great power managerial system. According to this classification, the Great Powers play a managerial role in the international society. Also, since their interests are system-wide, any incident in the system affects their interests. Therefore, it is critical for the hegemons to establish the order by managing their relations with one another as well as managing the relations between the small states within their sphere of influence (Bull 213). Hegemons, therefore, maintain good relations with one another by ensuring that they recognize the spheres of influence of each other and desist from interfering. The conventional approach to hegemony shows that the concept has been used to an indicator of power disequilibrium in the international system. According to Morgenthau, the primary factors on which hegemon lies include natural resources, military capacity and the level of preparedness, the economic capacity, morale and unity, technological innovation, quality of diplomacy and government. Morgenthaus argument allows the study of hegemony and how it contributes to war and order through a multidisciplinary approach. This implies that hegemony can either be viewed as an agential or as a structural phenomenon. Although the two scholars have a different approach on how hegemonic stability theory impact on war and order, Gilpins argument synthesizes various aspects of Bulls and Morgenthaus argument Work Cited Bull, Hedley. The Anarchical Society: A Study of Order in World Politics. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 2012. Gilpin, Robert. War and change in world politics. New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 1985. Morgenthau, Hans J. Politics among nations; the struggle for power and peace. New York: Knopf, 1967. Print.

Voodoo Essay -- Voudun Hoodoo Voo doo Religion

Voodoo Throughout history people have feared that which they do not understand. This is even more evident with the topic of witchcraft. With such events, as the Salem witch trials and the inquisition-like attacks on religions, not socially accepted by the majority, demonstrates what happens when intolerance and fear of beliefs not like any other take hold in a culture. Even in the 20th century, a religion exists in the southern United States that intimidates people through prayer, ceremonies, gris-gris, and superstition. This religion is known by names such as Voudun, Hoodoo, and most popular Voodoo The word Voodoo is an intimidating word to many because of the images it brings to the mind of black magic, evil, and death that are associated with it. Voodoo is a religion that is very unique and interesting to examine. The roots of Voodoo are traced back to West Africa, continues on to Haiti and other islands via the slaves and then brought to New Orleans also through slavery. There is a difference in the Voodoo of each of these locations due to peoples' influence on it and according to its need at each location. In West Africa, the people took the view that all things lived and died but when something did die its spirit would linger close to the loved ones to help them in this world. They believed in a spirit world that was ruled by a supreme God just as Catholicism believes in God and Heaven. The Voodoo culture took the view that the supreme God was busy doing the most important work and this resulted in the followers asking sub-deities (loas) to carry their message to God for them. Loas, similar to saints or angels, had unique powers but they also were associated with specific physical traits, favorite ... ... others not even within the rat it is no different from the major religions of the world. By looking more in depth at Voodoo, the ability to determine whether to use the religion for good or evil is a test in itself. Unless one has faith in the beliefs of a given religion, will be seen as a negative belief of evil by those who do not understand. As humans, a bias naturally exists for our own personal beliefs and traditions. Explore and understand what is against your own belief and what could be found may be a surprise. Bibliography and Footnotes: 4. Bodin, Ron, Voodoo: Past and Present.( Lafayette: University of Southwestern Louisiana, 1990.) pp.39 3. Haskins, Jim, Voodoo and Hoodoo. (Lanham: Scarborough House, 1990.) pp.128 and 191 1 and 2. Hurbon, Laennec, Voodoo: Search for the Spirit. (New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 1995.) pp. 38-39

The Role of the Narrator in Byrons Don Juan Essay examples -- Don Jua

The Role of the Narrator in Byron's Don Juan The narrator of Don Juan takes the traditional role of omniscient narrator. He states the facts but also adds in his personal thoughts on the characters. From the beginning he lets the reader know that he is in search of a hero. He cannot find a hero in his contemporary time, therefore he will return to the hero who has stayed a hero through time. The hero is "my friend Don Juan" (5.8). There is no doubt that the narrator feels a close relationship with the hero and the hero will be treated as casually as friend. He relates that the usual course for a poem is to start in the middle, "that is the usual method, but not mine" (7.1). He will start at the beginning and give opinionated views of Juan's parents. Immediately the narrator establishes control, and therefore sets the tone of the poem. He lets the reader know that Juan's parental skills are lacking (according to him) and if he was Juan's parent he would do things differently. Of young Juan's mischievousness, if "they been but both in their senses, they'd have the young master To school, or had him soundly whipp'd at home, To teach him manners for the time to come" (25.5-8) Certainly this establishes his authority. As the reader, we want to believe him. Obviously (to the reader) Juan's parents are negligent in their duties and the reader sees herself agreeing that she too would do the same. He guides us to be prejudiced to Juan's parents and this trust develops between narrator and reader that carries throughout the poem. Of course the na rrator like any instigator will deny their input. A particularly amusing part of the poem is where the narrator in self-parody tells us "For my part I say nothing--nothing--but This I will... ...rity over the hero. The narrator alone has the power to keep Don Juan alive. In addition, the narrator is really the personality of the poem. We are told Don Juan's actions, but is the narrator that flavors it. It is interesting that Lord Byron decided to include the narrator so prominently; but definitely to the poem's advantage. Works Cited Bostetter, Edward E., Twentieth Century Interpretations of Don Juan. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1969. Boyd, Elizabeth French, Byron's Don Juan: A Critical Study. NY: Humanities Press, 1958. Byron (George Gordon, Lord Byron), Don Juan, ed. Leslie A. Marchand. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1958. McGann, Jerome J., Don Juan in Context. Chicago: U of Chicago Press, 1976. Steffan, Truman Guy, & Willis W. Pratt, eds., Byron's Don Juan: A Variorum Edition. 2nd ed.. 4 vols.. Austin: U of Texas Press, 1971.

Friends with Benefits

Lehmiller, J. , â€Å"Sex Differences in Approaching Friends with Benefits Relationships†, Journal of Sex Research, Vol. 48, Issue 2-3, 2011, pgs 275 – 284. Friends With Benefits â€Å"‘Friends with benefits’ (FWB) relationships consist of friends who are sexually, but not romantically, involved. In other words, such relationships are comprised of persons who engage in sexual activity on occasion, but otherwise have a basic friendship†¦ it is important to recognize that FWB partners do not consider their involvements to be romantic relationships.Rather, FWB relationships are perhaps best regarded as friendships in which the partners involved have casual sex with one another. † (Lehmiller, 275) This passage tells what friends with benefit relationships are but why are they being studied in this instance? This article concludes the information concerning this specific type of odd relationship and how it’s seen in the eyes of the individuals who enter them. It also touches on the threat of sexually transmitted disease, the downfall of these relationships, and what type of people are more likely to enter one and how it changes their views of love. Releted essay –  An Empty Purse Frightens Away FriendsFriends with benefits relationships are being studied with the goal of finding out what motivates people to get into this type of relationship, what defines friends with benefits and how the changes in the relationship effect it. Most of the studies on this subject occur with nonrandom sampling that were advertised around college campuses which poses the implication that only younger generations involve themselves in friend with benefit relationships, which is false. The independent variable are the people themselves.Every person has a different view on this type of relationship and it can be easily skewed by what their friends, family, or peers believe about this type of situation. The dependent variable is the relationship itself. Once the terms are set by the two people in the relationship there is very little space for change, because trust can be questioned. There is no knowing if someone will develop feelings or not , which can ruin the whole point of a friends with benefits relationship. The main find in this article is that the studies on this subject should be cast in a broader net and there really isn’t enough research done on this subject.There should be more circumstances and variables. Most of the studies were taken from people who were recollecting past friends with benefits relationships and not currently in one which is subject to memory distortion and lapses. The studies should show current relationships, one’s including people of all ages, and what happened to the friendship before and afterward. This article touches a little on most subjects in the friends with benefits spectrum, but they could center in on one thing to be more specific in their findings.

Social Evils in Pakistan Essay Types and Causes

The social evils are one of the most brutal and biggest curses to any nation which plays the vital role in the destruction of the society in any state or country. Pakistan is amongst one of those countries which are facing various disparaging social evils which have affected the law and order, national harmony and the peace of the country. Let us have the overview on the various types of social evils in Pakistan and what are the main reasons which have contributed in making these social evils from bad to worse.One of the most critical social evil in Pakistan is corruption as unfortunately Pakistan is in the list of the top countries having mighty huge corruption in the system and the establishment. Corruption has strengthened its roots not only in the government organizations but at the same time private sector is also victim of this social evil, due to which the justice and equality has dispersed from the country as people can do anything with the help of the power of money at any l evel. The main cause for this social evil is greed for money and power and at the same time unfair and unpatriotic intentions not only of the officials but also including the government officials and politicians.Terrorism is also a very significant social evil in Pakistan which has not only just affected the law and order situation but with the passage of time has a very huge adverse impact on the national economy of the state. Due to the terrorism activities the international investment has disappeared from the state leaving Pakistan all on its own or on the international loans. The basic reason behind this is the religious extremism and the hate against the government of the state.Pakistan is being ranked as one of those countries which have the highest ratio of Child Labor, which is another very heart breaking social evil in which the innocence of the children are being exploited. The basic reason for such high child labor ratio in Pakistan is due to unemployment and majority of the people living below the poverty line.The families which cannot afford to send their children to acquire expensive education are forced to send their children to workshops, restaurants, and municipal corporation for working which is against the labor laws of the country but due to the need and urge for money they are forced to do so.Sexual harassment is also considered to be a very destructive social evil in Pakistan where the children and females are being made victims of sexual harassment by the evil and inhuman peoples of the state. The main reason behind this curse is the sexual urge of uneducated people, frustration and the fire of revenge results in the occurrence of such brutal and immoral activities in Pakistan.

The One Minute Manager Reaction Paper Essay

The One Minute Manager provides a concise and simple method for planning, coaching and evaluating people for organizational and personal success. For many, the book sets forth the principles for productive relationships between a manager and his or her associates. There are three different methods portrayed that will help employers and employees find such a relationship. The first is One Minute Goal Setting. The second is One Minute Praising. Lastly, the book suggests One Minute Reprimands. With these work ethics in practice, a friendly, more productive work place results for everyone. These three ideas will help simplify life, increase productivity, reduce stress and help the reader find peace of mind. One minute goals, one minute praising and one minute reprimands are ideas that if used effectively can help to increase ones success in life. These are the three different methods in One Minute Manager. The first one is the one minute goal is about being aware of what is expected from the beginning. It is recorded on a single sheet of paper and should only take one minute to read it. It can help your staff to produce efficient results. The second step in one minute management is to catch people doing something right or the one minute praising. It hardly takes a minute for you to tell someone that he or she did a good job. One minute praisings include praising the people immediately, telling them what they did right, how you feel about it and encourage them to do more of the same. And the third one is the One minute reprimands are given as soon as an employee does something wrong. One minute reprimand has three parts. One: praise them for their usual good work and reliability. Two: point out the error and let them know it’s unacceptable. Three: Remind them how much they’re capable of, and that you value them. And once it’s over, it’s over. One minute reprimands are highly effective because the feedback is immediate, unlike the annual reviews where you are charged for things committed several weeks or months ago. This book has helped me to understand how to become a good leader and a manager in the future. It shown me that by setting attainable one minute goals will keep the business moving forward and by giving one minute praising’s when the job is done right will help the business move forward and keep moral up in the work place. Also that if the job was done wrong and the goal is not obtained  you must give the one minute reprimand to get back on track and once the reprimand is over it’s over. If I will be a manager on my own business or become as an HR Manager in an organization someday. I will use these skills that I have learned to make my business and workers as efficient as possible. I will use these lessons as the base of my management and all new managers that work for me will take a course on one minute managing. This will allow me and my employees to enjoy more success with less stress.