Jimmy Essays - English-language Films, Jimmy King, Fiction

Jimmy Jimmy lay flat on the ground, his belly pressed tightly to the earth. Green shrubs sheltered him from view. Only one hundred yards of cleared land sat between him and his objective. He had waited five years for this. It so happened that it was five years ago from today that it had happened. The nightmare that had taken place that evening was again playing in his mind. The sound of the first shot echoed through his head. The scream as his mother fell. The futile, retaliatory shots from his father . . . That evening had resulted in the death of both of his parents. He couldn't help but think that, in some way, it was his fault. If only he hadn't left his parents alone. If only he hadn't gone to explore the woods. If only he'd thought to bring a gun with him. If only he hadn't just stood there watching from the protection of the trees as those lethal bullets found their way into his parents. Then, maybe then, things would have been different. Jimmy couldn't really blame himself. After all, what could a fifteen year old boy be expected to do under those circumstances? His parents had dreamed of a better life. A life that would bring prosperity and success for the family, specifically for him. They had heard there was rich, fertile land out west. Sadly enough, his parents' last breaths were drawn only a few hundred miles from their dream. They had been murdered for nothing more than the few dollars and a couple of small pieces of jewelry that they had possessed. The murderers had laughed as they kicked at his dead father, looking for anything of value. They had been quite sure of themselves and wore no masks. Jimmy could still remember their faces as if it was yesterday. The murderers would be brought to justice, come hell or high water, Jimmy had decided. As it turned out, he was complied to track them for the past five years, through both hell and high water. Their trail had led through many obscure, sparsely populated western towns. It had not been easy. But Jimmy had always looked older than he was. Even at fifteen, he had been able to get rooms at hotels and bars. Now, at twenty years of age, Jimmy was a hardened man. Life on the road had been rough. It had taught him definite proficiency with his revolver and not to be afraid to use it. He had been through it all now, gunslingers, murderers, drunks, prostitutes, you name it, he'd been there. The stress showed on his face though his tangled beard concealed most of it. The only clothes that he owned, he wore. They consisted quite simply of a pair of jeans, a plaid shirt, a black belt and a Stetson. Other than his horse and his highly polished revolvers and his rifle, these were his sole possessions. A shadow stirred in the window and Jimmy forced the memories into the back of his mind. His parents' death would soon be avenged. There were only several hours until complete darkness would conceal his approach. Jimmy began to plan his invasion. Drunken voices were raised in the cabin. "Good," thought Jimmy, "They should be intoxicated enough that they'll never know what hit them." With this for assurance, Jimmy closed his eyes slowly and rested, anticipating the night's conclusion. The sound of a plate breaking and the sounds of knuckles meeting flesh woke Jimmy with a start. A quick surveillance of the property assured Jimmy that nothing special was happening. He had often seen two best friends fight when they were drunk. Liquor had that effect on people. It made them do crazy things. That was essentially why he tried to stay away from the stuff. He was wished that he'd brought some along tonight though. Just then he was getting a little queasy about the whole affair. During the past five years there had never been any doubt what he had to do. Now . . . "There is no question of what I have to do," Jimmy convinced himself. It was time. The only light source in the area was that coming from the lamp on the table in the cabin. His revolver slid out of its holster silently. Jimmy crept up to the door, staying carefully to the shadows. One deep breath of conviction and a swift, strong kick knocked the door off its hinges. He tensed, ready

Micrometer Ammeter Voltmeter Essay Example

Micrometer Ammeter Voltmeter Essay Example Micrometer Ammeter Voltmeter Paper Micrometer Ammeter Voltmeter Paper For this investigation I looked at all the factors that could affect the results of my experiment. These are the Material of the wire. Different materials conduct in different conductivities. The better conductor the wire material is the more electric current will flow therefore the resistance will decrease. Wire Length is also another determining factor of wire conductivity, as a general rule the longer the wire is the further the current of electrons will have to travel meaning that the current will drop due to the larger amount of wire creating more resistance. Thickness of the wire, the thicker the wire I think will add more resistance because there are more metal ions in the wire to have collisions with electrons causing more resistance in the wire. Wire temperature after the experiment has been tested/is undergoing testing. The temperature has the same detrimental effect that a thicker wire does causing more collisions and causing greater resistance to the flow of current. I will be testing overall for the resistivity of the wire over different distances of wire. AIM My aim is to investigate the resistance of a wire over set distances incrementing every 50mm. There is little equipment needed and uses little equipment that can cause calculation errors meaning incorrect results. Also instead of testing for different thicknesses this allows me to use 1 wire and simply change the distance over which it is tested. It will also give clear and concise readings that can be trusted and used for comparing/observing trends. I chose not to measure the width of the wire and presume that the wire is of the stated thickness of 28 swg Nichrome wire. For this experiment I will assume that the wire is perfectly round at 0. 38mm diameter. FORMULA’S. Charge is measured in coulombs and charge is the amount of current that flows every second. Electric current is measured in AMP’s (A), Charge in COULOMBS (C) 1 Volt of P. D = 1 Joule per coulomb i = Q / t Current can only flow in fully complete circles, there are two different types of circuits called parallel and series. The experiment I set up is a series circuit so that the current is either Fully ON or Fully OFF. All electrical current has energy stored as Potential energy, the voltage transferred in a circuit is measured as energy delivered by each coulomb of electricity. This is Potential difference (P. D), potential difference is the measure of voltage difference between two points within a complete circuit. Current is recorded by using an Ammeter to find out the Amperes in a circuit, Voltmeters are used to measure P. D. I will need to use both of these to measure the Current and Voltage when carrying out my experiment. Ammeters are connected in series with the wire and the Voltmeter in parallel. Resistance of a wire relates to the amount of current able to flow. The larger the resistivity of my wire the less current will pass through. To calculate resistance the following formula is used: R = V / I When resistance is measured the unit is given in Ohm’s. 1 ohm (? ) means 1 Volt is needed across my wire to sustain a 1Amp current, they are all related. PREDICTION Through my own knowledge gained I know that as the lengths of the wire increases so will resistivity. The electrons travelling through the wire have a larger distance to cover thus less current will pass through the wire. I predict that as the wire distance increases so will the resistivity. If the distance tripled, I predict that so will the resistivities assuming that the wire is the same diameter all the way along and perfectly round. The resistance is directly proportional to the distance. Resistance (ohms) Length (m) PRELIMINARY TESTING Before starting the testing on my final experiment I created a small preliminary test to quickly test for trends/accuracies or potential problems that could occur. It would be easier to solve them before starting the main experiment. I tested different thicknesses of wires from 28/30/32 swg Nichrome wire thickness. I also tested the supply current wasn’t too much/too little. This was a test to see if there were also any learning curves to overcome, this would help make the test fair before there could have been discrepancies in the final experiment. When choosing the wire I used a Micrometer to ensure that I had the correct thickness of wire and that it was reasonably accurate thickness of wire. The micrometer measures to the . 00 mm to ensure precise accuracy at very small thicknesses. During the preliminary tests we started with supply voltage on 5volts, this caused the wire of 28swg to get very hot and curl up at very high temperatures eventually snapping the wire. Instead of using a thicker wire we chose to drop the voltage down in increments of 0. 25 Volts and decided the best voltage to use was 3volts. This supplied sufficient and reliable results and didn’t damage any of the equipment. During the test I also found that results varied due to leaving the wires to cool sometimes and testing 3 different distances back to back quickly. So in the final experiment I will leave the wire to cool for 30seconds between each change in distance. The Independent variable (I. V) will be altered using the crocodile clips to change the distance selected of the wire. The wires will have been premeasured out to the distances 0-500mm with each increment of 50mm. Now that I have assessed how the experiment will go I am quite confident the experiment will now produce more accurate results, I will ensure this even further by repeating each test 3 times with 30seconds cool down between each test. This will be much more time consuming but will ensure that I get accurate results. I will take the average of the 3 results by adding them up and dividing by 3. In the final experiment I found that there may be an equipment error in the power pack causing +- 0. 005V fluctuations in the set voltage although this shouldn’t affect my experiment as the power pack has a dial function to set the voltage. This is quite an inaccurate way to do, so we must check the readings using a Voltmeter. APPARATUS AND SETUP Power pack – 3volts Crocodile Clips + wires 28 swg Nichrome wire Wood plank to ensure wire doesn’t burn the lab desk Meter ruler, 30cm ruler Micrometer Ammeter Voltmeter METHOD On the wooden plank, place the meter ruler and measure as accurate as possible from 0-50cm in increments of 5cm.

A Guide to Italian Pronunciation for Beginners

A Guide to Italian Pronunciation for Beginners Italian pronunciation might pose some difficulties for the beginner. Yet it is very regular, and once the rules are understood it is easy to pronounce each word correctly. Knowing where to put the correct stress or how to have proper inflection and intonation can help you come closer to understanding Italian. Most important, to improve your Italian, fare la pratica con la bocca (exercise your mouth)! The Italian ABCs Twenty-one letters  are all it takes to produce the sweet, lyrical language affectionately called la bella lingua (the beautiful language). Using the Roman alphabet and with the addition of acute and grave accents, native Italian speakers are able to argue passionately about the favorite soccer team, discuss the latest elections, or order gnocchi genovese while sounding like characters in a Verdi opera. What happened to the other five letters that are common in other language using the Roman alphabet? Theyre found in foreign words that have infiltrated Italian and are pronounced approximately as they are in the original language. Pronouncing Consonants Most Italian consonants are similar in pronunciation to their English counterparts; the consonants c and g are the only exceptions because they vary according the letters that follow them. In Italian, double consonants are pronounced much more forcefully than single consonants. Although it may not be obvious at first, a trained ear will notice the difference. Make it a point to listen to native speakers pronounce these words. Common single and double consonant words in Italian include cane (dog) / canne (canes), casa (house) / cassa (trunk), papa (pope) / pappa (bread soup), and sera (evening) / serra (greenhouse). Pronouncing Vowels Italian vowels are short, clear cut, and are never drawn out- the glide with which English vowels frequently end should be avoided. It should be noted that a, i, and u are always pronounced the same way; e and o, on the other hand, have an open and a closed sound that may vary from one part of Italy to the other. Pronouncing Italian Words For help in spelling and pronouncing words in Italian, heres a simple rule: What you hear is what you get. Italian is a phonetic language, which means most words are pronounced as they are written. The Italian words cane, mane, and pane will always rhyme (compare the English triplet chalice, police, and lice, and you will see that youve got it easy). Another point to keep in mind is enunciation. Native Italian speakers open their mouths wide- not just to shout, but to get those big, round, vowel sounds. For example, if you want to pronounce the Italian letter a, just open wide and say aahh! Practicing Italian Pronunciation If you want to learn how to prepare bruschetta or bistecca alla fiorentina, you can read a cookbook- but your guests will remain hungry. You have to get in the kitchen, fire up the grill, and start slicing and dicing. Likewise, if you want to speak Italian with the correct rhythm, tone, and intonation, you have to talk. And talk and talk and talk until your mouth  is numb and your brain hurts. So make it a point to listen and repeat Italian- whether you purchase a CD or listen to an Italian podcast, watch Italian TV on your computer via broadband, or visit Italy- because you cant eat a description of minestrone alla milanese, and you cant speak Italian without opening your mouth

My Future Career Goals Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

My Future Career Goals - Essay Example Thinking about my career goals, I recognized my desire for what it is—a calling, a passion, my own true destiny. Despite all my righteous anger at faulty structures in the health care system and the medical curriculum, I maintain my belief in the underlying nobility of the medical profession and its potential to effect profound and positive social change. I have a great desire to enter a university because its curriculum and programs represent a unique mixture of theoretical guide effectively applied to the practice field that will have a great impact on immediate and future success in my professional education. I understand clearly well that this it opens doors to many opportunities for career growth not otherwise available. Current college programs, teach me to think critically, to question the nature of power structures, to seek historical context, to ask what is at stake, and to disregard and debunk dogma. Now I find myself going out on a limb merely by suggesting that per haps we need more education and discussion around such topics as alternative medicine, ethics in the pharmaceutical industry, and medical practices. Taking into account my personal aspirations and qualities, I can say that I will be able to cope with career demands being well prepared, motivated and committed to pursuing my Master’s degree. My personal attitude towards this matter will help me to overcome all possible difficulties, and experience that I have will be a great support to me in mastering the medical profession.... Education and clear career goals are the first major steps that increase personal values of everyone and create new opportunities to succeed. Thinking about my career goals, I recognized my desire for what it is—a calling, a passion, my own true destiny. Despite all my righteous anger at faulty structures in the health care system and the medical curriculum, I maintain my belief in the underlying nobility of the medical profession and its potential to effect profound and positive social change. For me, the privilege of being a student at a medical university (course and program) includes the rights of idealism, intellectual ferment, and independence of thought. I have a great desire to enter a university because its curriculum and programs represent a unique mixture of theoretical guide effectively applied to the practice field that will have a great impact on immediate and future success in my professional education. I understand clearly well that this it opens doors to many opportunities for career growth not otherwise available. A college education is only the first step in my career, but it will have a great impact on my choices and knowledge level. Current college programs, teach me to think critically, to question the nature of power structures, to seek historical context, to ask what is at stake, and to disregard and debunk dogma. Now I find myself going out on a limb merely by suggesting that perhaps we need more education and discussion around such topics as alternative medicine, ethics in the pharmaceutical industry, and medical practices. Taking into account my personal aspirations and qualities, I can say that I will be able to cope with career demands being well prepared, motivated and committed to pursuing my Master’s degree. My personal attitude towards this matter will help me to overcome all possible difficulties, and experience that I have will be a great support to me in mastering the medical profession.

Starbucks in India Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Starbucks in India - Coursework Example India is said to have big land and therefore it is not a surprise that its major products are from the agricultural sector. Most of its exports are agricultural with the textile and leather industries the leading ones. In fact, the agricultural sector in India is said to contribute about 25% of the country’s GDP. Textile industry employs a lot of people both directly and indirectly. The other major industry in India is the chemical industry which is known to be among the oldest industries in India. The industry is known to produce about 70 000 commercial products. Food industry is also a common one in India. Starbucks is a company that deals with agricultural products it has a high probability of succeeding in India. It will add to the agricultural sector and this could have influenced it (Paunikar, 2004). Indian economy has grown significantly over the last one decade. The economy is actually showing promising trends that are attracting more and more investors to India. The economy of India has developed courtesy of agriculture and the decision of the state to eliminate socialism as well as the centralized bureaucracies which were high ineffective. Liberalization was a key factor to the growth of Indian economy since it opened the way for foreign investors and this is a factor that could have influenced Starbucks (Paunikar, 2004). India has improved in terms of infrastructure. The roads have opened to the rural areas and it is easy for farmers to transport their agricultural goods to the markets. Mumbai and New Delhi are two towns that have an efficient railway system that can also be used for transportation purposes (Paunikar, 2004). The accessibility of these towns might be one of the factors that Starbucks considered before opening operations there. Starbucks is planning to continue expanding its presence in India and Asia in general. By the end this

Social Psychology Essay Example for Free

Social Psychology Essay War represents a complex phenomenon with can be conceptualized through multiple perspectives, including an historical, a sociological and a psychological point of view. This type of organized aggression is inherent to human nature, and can be observed since the dawn of humankind, characterizing both civilized and primitive societies. Wars and armed conflicts in general, radically disrupt the normal course of life and human behavior and may exert detrimental effects on physical and mental health and social and financial well-being (Piachaud, 2007). War deprives individuals and communities of major human and material resources and eventually leads to the breakdown of societal structires, giving rise to states of chaos and anarchy (Pedersen, 2002). Given that aggression constitutes a primal human instinct, wartime is a period where aggressive actions frequently reach extreme levels and are usually rationalized by some kind of ideological manifesto. During war, otherwise ordinary and sensible people may be engaged in various atrocities and display unnecessary or extreme cruelty in the name of several racial, religious, political social or other values and beliefs. In the last few decades, the breakdown of communism in Eastern European countries has led to a significant shift in the spheres of global domination and to major modifications in international relationships. As a result of these radical geopolitical changes, the world community has witnessed many bloodstained regional armed conflicts, including the wars in former Yugoslavia, Iraq, Sudan and Uganda. It is estimated that almost 30% of the world population is currently engaged in or experiencing the impact of some form of war. In recent years, the majority of political ideologies has gradually lost significant ground and has been substituted by national, racial and religious ideologies (Jost, 2006). These emerging ideological contructs have proven a useful tool in governments’ premeditated agendas to fanaticize people, rationalize war and violence and manipulate public opinion. However, despite these historical transitions, major financial interests and the struggle for power and profit remain the deeper causes of most armed conflicts worldwide. The civil war in former Yugoslavia in the 1990s was a regional conflict which rattled the Old Continent and lead to a series of major geopolitical changes. In the battlefields of former Yugoslavia, former neighbors and friends were turned intro enemies, a process which progressively set in motion the vicious circle of violence. That war was founded on people’s religious and national differences and was characterized by unprecedented atrocities. The Srebrenica massacre represents a hallmark of civil war wildness and according to the Institute for War and Peace, it probably constitutes the larger scale genocide in European ground since the World War II. In this event, a significant percent of the Srebrenica male population were brutally killed by Serbo-bosnian troops and the rest inhabitants, including women, children and elderly civilians, were forced to leave their homes. In a similar vein, during the first decade of the current century the international community has been witnessing the consequences of the civil conflict in Darfur between Sudanese of Arabic and of African origin. This war has been characterized by unspeakable ferociousness and multiple episodes of mass murdering and genocide have been officially reported. It is roughly estimated that the Darfur conflict has so far lead to the death of almost 400,000 people and the violent displacement of even more and despite the truce recently signed by both sides, hostilities have never actually ceased in the region. The armed conflicts in former Yugoslavia and Darfur, among people living in close contact, in some instances among friends and relatives, has shed valuable light to the mechanisms through which war dehumanizes and lets loose the most destructive instincts and tendencies residing in human beings. Modern research in the field of social psychology has systematically attempted to describe and eluminate normal and abnormal human behavior at times of war and societal turmoil. Most sociologists agree that war is triggered by the desire to dominate over other people. This desire is rooted in the perception of oncoming threats against autonomy and existence. People attack and wish to eliminate other people, when they perceive them as threats to their psychological, financial and physical existence and prosperity. In this respect, even attackers and torturers may feel that they justifiably defend themselves, their families and their most fundamental beliefs through their unspeakable actions (Summerfield, 1997) Social psychology suggests that war is a massive phenomenon of organized and rationalized aggression, which may provide alibi for people to commit the most atrocious crimes in the name of just cause. During war, violence becomes blind, victims are deprived of their human characteristics and qualities and these processes enhance the act of destruction and murder. It is much easier to torture and murder people when the victims are viewed as inferior, worthless or evil and dangerous. Leaders who wish to manipulate the public opinion into advocating for war are systematically engaged in demonizing propagandas. In addition, during war, murderers and torturers have the opportunity to hide their criminal behavior in the anonymity of the mob, under the confusion and total disruption of everyday living provoked by the war state. Commonly in wartime, social systems, including lego-judiciary procedures, are disrupted and chaos prevails (Summerfield, 1997). Under these circumstances, individuals who commit crimes in wartime are rarely held accountable, especially when they are in the winning party and their aggression is addressed towards the enemies. Research has consistently shown that the social context plays a significant role in the generation of massive violence and social influences may shape individual behaviors. War crimes and mass murders are not necessary the illogical actions of psychopathic personalities. These animosities are usually being committed by ordinary people who find themselves under extreme conditions. Any person is capable of exhibiting extreme and violent behaviors when facing threats to his/her survival and autonomy. In addition, individuals are vulnerable to the influence of the mob and can be easily carried away in actions and behaviors which violate any known moral and societal rule (Raafat et al, 2009). These vulnerabilities commonly serve as vehicle for the spreading of several racial and religious prejudices which ultimately lay the foundations of all kinds of racist ideologies. The presence of financial adversity and sociopolitical instability may further contribute to the strengthening of racist beliefs and subsequently a significant portion of society may eagerly support or even actively participate to inhumane actions of destruction including ethnic cleansing and genocide, abolishing any sense of morality and humanity. Experiencing or witnessing war atrocities, either as a victim or as a perpetrator, may have significant psychosocial negative consequences on individuals. Several investigations have shown that war victims may suffer from a variety of psychopathological symptoms, mainly post-traumatic stress disorder and depression. Moreover, torture and extreme violence have emerged as significant predictors of psychological disturbance (Steel et al, 2009). Children appear extremely vulnerable to the detrimental effects of war either directly or indirectly exposed to combat related traumatic experiences (Peltonen et al, 2010). These negative sequelae may manifest themselves late and last for many years following the resolution of the conflict. Apart from the psychosocial impact on civilians, research has recently reveal that soldiers and war veterans who have witnessed or participated in tortures, rapes and mass murders, may also suffer from a variety of psychological difficulties including post-traumatic stress disorder, mood disorders, psychotic disorders and substance abuse (Gaylord, 2006). In addition, veterans frequently complain of vague somatic symptoms, poor general health and disturbed quality of life (Levy et al, In a recent study by Killgore et al (2008), veterans who have been exposed to significant human trauma and have killed during combat displayed, after deployment, major risk-taking behaviors including alcohol abuse, verbal and physical violence. War veterans and especially those engaged in extreme violence, may suffer from moral trauma which adversely affects all aspects of human living (Litz et al, 2009). Aggressive behaviors constitute a self-perpetuating phenomenon where being a victim of violent abuse may lead either to attitudes of further self-victimization or to patterns of abusing and aggressive behavior towards others. In wartime, the basic rules that normally govern the harmonious coexistence and cooperation of individuals within the social context are fundamentally challenged and people’s actions are guided by the instinct of self-preservation. In any case, the display of extreme violence by ordinary and otherwise sensible individuals during war may be the result of previous victimization and abuse or may represent a misguided attempt of self-defense against an actual or imaginary danger. The international community has increasingly exhibited a marked sensitivity towards victims of genocide and has repeatedly advocated the exemplary punishment of war criminals, starting from the Nuremberg Trial and reaching the more recent events in Srebrenica and Darfur. However, there is still a great amount of skepticism, given that its motivation may not always be entirely humanitarian, but also political and strategic, given that international forums and organizations occasionally display selective and carefully designed humanitarian concerns which conveniently fit certain governments’ tactical aims. It is common knowledge that the conviction of war criminals has never proven panacea in society’s attempts to control aggression and prevent armed conflicts and war-related crimes. In addition, taking official military actions to impose peace and protect civilians has always been an issue of much debate and major controversy in the context of political and ethical discussions (Deutscher, 2005). The resolution of these controversies possibly lies in the hands of unbiased scientific research in the field of humanitarian disciplines. Sociological and psychological research may provide useful insight in the causes, mediators and consequences of massive violent behaviors, which could guide the implementation of prevention strategies. Instead of designing holy crusades and seeking skape-goats to curse and condemn, governments and policy makers should also focus on the fact that a large part of the society has been exhibiting marked tolerance or even active participation in atrocities and extreme cruelty during war. This observed societal consent in massive destruction and aggression should alarm the public opinion and possibly constitutes a major humanitarian concern and a potential target for intervention. Although the concept of individual responsibility can not be entirely discarded as non-existent in periods of war and anarchy, there is a growing awareness that in grievous times different dynamics govern human behavior and these processes should be taken into consideration when implementing preventive measures. Individuals function in an entirely different way when they are part of a larger group and especially when this group operates according to the mentality of a mob. To eliminate evil, society should conceptualize violence as an inherent characteristic of living creatures in the struggle for physical and psychological survival and try to understand its origin and mediating factors, without blinders, prejudices or anathemas. Only when the mechanisms underlying organized violence and war cruelty are fully described, analyzed and comprehended, one can begin to hope that nations and people will eventually obtain immunity to the manipulations performed by tyrants and demagogues, and as a consequence the heavy toll of war on humanity may finally start to weaken. References Deutscher, M. (2005). The responsibility to protect. Med Confl Surviv, 21(1); 28-34. Gaylord, K. M. (2006). The psychosocial effects of combat: the frequently unseen injury. Crit Care Nurs Clin North Am, 18(3); 349-57. Jost, J. T. (2006). The end of the end of ideology. Am Psychol, 61(7); 651-70. Levy, B. S. Sidel, V. W. (2009). Health effects of combat: a life-course perspective. Annu Rev Public Health, 30; 123-36. Litz, B. T. , Stein, N. , Delaney, E. , Lebowitz, L. , Nash, W. P. , Silva, C. Maguen, S. (2009). Moral injury and moral repair in war veterans: a preliminary model and intervention strategy. Clin Psychol Rev, 29(8); 695-706. Pedersen, D. Political violence, ethnic conflict, and contemporary wars: broad implications for health and social well-being. Soc Sci Med, 55(2); 175-90. Peltonen, K. Punamaki, R. L. (2010). Preventive interventions among children exposed to trauma of armed conflict: a literature review. Aggress Behav, ;36(2); 95-116. Piachaud, J. (2007). Mass violence and mental healthtraining implications. Int Rev Psychiatry, 19(3); 303-11. Raafat, R. M. , Chater, N. Frith, C. (2009). Herding in humans. Trends Cogn Sci, 13(10); 420-8. Steel, Z. , Chey, T. , Silove, D. , Marnane, C. , Bryant, R. A. van Ommeren, M. 2009). Association of torture and other potentially traumatic events with mental health outcomes among populations exposed to mass conflict and displacement: a

Pearl: A Product Of Nature :: essays research papers

Pearl is one of the most interesting and mysterious characters of the novel The Scarlet Letter. One tends to wonder why Pearl is the way she is. Why does she act so strangely and so differently than all the other characters? She acts this way because of a relationship she has with the force of Nature, which Hawthorne personifies as sympathetic towards sins against the puritan way of life. Because of this trait Hester's sin causes Nature to accept Pearl. Finally, Pearl's acceptance of Nature is what causes her to act the way she does.First it is necessary to examine how nature is identified with sin against the Puritan way of life. The first example of this is found in the first chapter regarding the rosebush at the prison door. This rosebush is located "on one side of the portal, and rooted almost at the threshold"(36) of the prison. The prison naturally is the place where people that have sinned against the puritan way of life remain. Then Hawthorne suggests that the roses of the rose-bush "might be imagined to offer their fragrance and fragile beauty to the prisoner as he went in, and to the condemned criminal as he came forth to his doom, in token that the deep heart of Nature could pity and be kind to him"(36). This clearly states that Nature is kind to prisoners and criminals that pass through the prison doors. Hawthorne strengthens this point by suggesting two possible reasons for the rosebush's genesis. The first is that "it had merely survived out of the stern old wilderness..."(36), while the second reason is that "there is fair authority for believing [the rose-bush] had sprung up under the footsteps of the sainted Ann Hutchinson..."(36). By Hawthorne's wording it appears as if he is emphasizing the second reason because he suggests there is "fair authority." Connecting the rosebush originating from Ann Hutchinson, an outcast from puritan society, shows the connection with Nature and sin against puritan way of life. This rosebush symbolizes the sympathy of Nature towards the very people Puritan society has condemned.The idea illustrated by the rosebush can therefore be applied to the specific character of Pearl. Because Pearl was expelled from Puritan society Nature sympathizes with her. Nature's sympathy and partiality with Pearl can be seen with the sunshine in the forest. Pearl attempts to "catch" the sunshine and according to Hawthorn "Pearl .

Boy in the Striped Pyjamas Film Essay

I am very distressed about living in this dreadful place. I absolutely hate it; I can’t believe we moved from the best house EVER!!! With 5 floors if you included the basement and the top floor with the window where if I stand on the end of my toes I could see the whole of Berlin, to this place which I’m pretty sure is the worst house ever. I miss Berlin so much but most of all I miss you and grandfather. This house is really small too, and I mean it is tiny! It only has 3 floors which means there is not a lot of exploring to be done like in Berlin, in Berlin I had explored every single place I could think of but then I find something new all of a sudden. Also mother and father don’t let me explore in the new back garden because it is ‘out of bounds’. What ever that means. There’s nothing to explore in the front garden either because it’s so small. Perplexed, I stood and gazed through my bedroom window. There were so many farmers working on one huge field with little huts that disappeared into the distance†¦ The thing that horrified me most of all was that even kids starting from the age of about 4 were working and they looked so anorexic. Each time the soldiers shouted the kids would huddle closer and closer together. They all seemed so scared as if they were being forced to, hmmm†¦ All of the farmers looked really skinny, almost anorexic. One of the farmers’ even works in our kitchen peeling all of the vegetables. I found it really tedious with nothing to do so I decided to make a swing. To make the swing I needed some rope which was easy to find, and a tire which was a little trickier†¦ I interrupted Gretel whilst she was flirting so I could ask lieutenant Kotler if he had a spare tire. After a long and boring chat he gave me one and I made my swing. Once I had finished building the swing, I enjoyed it really well. But then I fell and hurt my knee really bad. I thought I would bleed to death but then a farmer called Pavel that worked in our kitchen ran over and helped me. After he had cleaned and bandaged my cut mother had finally arrived. She had figured out what happened almost immediately, she did not look pleased.

M & a of China Automobile Industry Essay

The Researches on Overseas Mergers and Acquisitions of China Automobile Industry in Post-Crisis Period? ZHU Qin School of Economics, Zhejiang Gongshang University, P. R. China, 310018 Zhuqin9871@163. com Abstract: Since the 2008 financial crisis, the overseas mergers and acquisitions (M&A) of China automobile industry have become a topic the world’s automobile market most concerns about. This paper views that the rapid growth of the domestic automobile market, the adjustments in overseas auto industry and much support from government’s policies provide a good background and favorable conditions to overseas M&A of China automobile industry. It also points out that although China’s state-owned enterprises are still the main body of overseas mergers and acquisitions of China auto industry, private enterprises are playing an increasingly important role. Through studying specific cases, the paper proposes countermeasures concerning overseas mergers and acquisitions of China automobile industry in post-crisis period. Keywords: Post-crisis period, the automobile industry, overseas mergers and acquisitions 1 Introduction The rapid growth of China’s economy since the reform and opening, the explosive increase of automobile industry in recent years and government’s supporting policies on the automobile industry altogether offer new opportunities and conditions to overseas M&A of China automobile industry. At present, China has become the largest automobile producer in the global. In 2009, the top ten automobile manufacturing countries were: China (13791000), Japan (7. 935 million), United States (5. 697 million), Germany (5. 206 million ), Korea (3. 513 million), Brazil (3. 183 million), India (2. 628 million), Spain (2. 17 million), France (1.935 million), Mexico (1. 561 million). Large-scale production capacity endows China auto companies with a base to expand overseas. Following the 2008 financial crisis, the global economic downturn has had the international Automotive Group faced with overcapacity problem; meanwhile, the global credit shortage has brought great pressure to the survival and development of the automobile business. Funding gaps emerged in many international auto giants. After the financial crisis, the asset value of many foreign enterprises is seriously underestimated, which gives a good chance for Chinese enterprises to take a shot. Through overseas M&A access to the dreaming international auto brands, the core technology and international marketing channels can be acquired at low costs. At the same time, Chinese auto companies have sufficient capital reserves at the present stage, and with the strong support from the government and national financial institutions, there is a potential for them to become competitive buyers for part of the international Automotive Group’s quality assets. It is worth mentioning that related departments in the Chinese government treat the auto industry as a pillar industry of national economy, giving it much positive policy support. â€Å"The automotive industry restructuring and rejuvenation program†, promulgated in 2009 increased efforts to support the automobile industry. First, the program states that â€Å"it is required to promote the restructuring of the automotive industry, to support M&A of large-scale automobile enterprise groups, to expand the scale of major auto parts enterprises through M&A. † Previously, the major auto companies were not willing to conduct cross-regional restructuring because of too many barriers. â€Å"The automotive industry restructuring and rejuvenation program† can effectively solve this kind of concerns. In related detailed ? [Sustentation Fund]: National Science Fund of China (70703030) , Zhejiang Province Science Fund (Y6080222), Humanity and Social Science Fund of Chinese Ministry of Education (07JA790083, 09YJC790240) 43 M & D FORUM regulations, associated guidelines are made which involve the acquirer and acquiree, such as the source of acquisition financing, tax issues that may arise in acquisition, the asset disposal of acquired companies and employee relocation and other problems prone to cause disputes or already existing barriers. At the same time, it will lift the standard of admitting foreign asset and acquiring related domestic enterprises to (protectively) enhance the competitiveness of domestic auto companies. In addition, in March 16, 2009, the Ministry of Commerce issued † procedures for the administration of foreign investment † to further reform foreign investment management system, promote the facilitation of foreign investment, support Chinese enterprises to â€Å"go out† and participate more in international economic cooperation and competition. These help to raise strong and positive support for overseas M & A of China automobile industry. 2 The Main Body of Overseas M&A of China Automobile Industry Before 2008, although there were many cases of overseas M&A in China automobile industry, such as SAIC’s acquisition of Ssang Yong in 2004, Nanjing Auto ’s acquisition of Rover in 2005 and so on, the overall impact and scale were still limited and attention from the domestic and international was not intense enough. From 2006 to 2008, the scale of M&A China’s major automobile companies has been further reduced, with the total number of only 7. It only covered 19% of the total number of Chinese car companies’ various overseas investment. Other overseas investment approaches were: 21 cases of joint ventures or strategic alliances, accounting for 57%, 8 cases of factory founding directly, accounting for 22%, and 1 case of technology transfer. But after 2008, when the world auto market is still full of financial cold haze, the Chinese auto companies went against the trend. A number of enterprises joined with foreign auto brands in carrying out cross-border marriage. In this short year, both the vehicle industry or parts manufacturers lunched many acquisitions either far-reaching or with extremely high degree of concern. Beijing Automobile Works acquired Saab, Geely acquired Volvo, Beijing West Industry’s acquisition of the U. S. Delphi, Geely DSI bought Australian automatic transmission companies, to name just a few. Overall, in the current automobile industry, China’s M & A main body is evolving towards a diversed boom. China’s automobile companies participating in overseas M & A are no longer confined to state-owned ones. Due to their growing strength and government’s supportive policies, private enterprises have become the new force, injecting new vigor and vitality into the overseas M&A of China automobile industry. However, state-owned enterprises are still the most important main body in cross-border M & A activities [7]. In this M & A wave, the Beijing Automotive, as one of the state-owned enterprises, successfully finished the acquisition of the Swedish brand Saab in December 2009. State-owned enterprises have an advantage of large scale, but often there is a serious deficiency in the governance, a general lack of motivation of in the management. A majority of state-owned operators have an incomplete momentum for cross-border M & A. The private enterprise, with their natural clear property rights, fewer policy constraints, and a flexible structure and mechanism are playing an increasingly important role in the wave of automotive M&A. Thanks to less intervention from the government and following less protection compared with the state-owned enterprises, private enterprises possess stronger self-awareness, risk awareness and a sense of competition. Increasingly powerful private enterprise group is supposed to become an important force in the cross-border M & A in the future [15]. In this M&A wave, the most distinctive representative of private enterprises is China Geely Group. As a leader of China’s private auto enterprise, in March 2010, it successfully reached an agreement with General Motors, purchasing 100% of the shares of GM’s Volvo. 3 A Study of Overseas M & A Cases in China Automobile Industry 44 M & D FORUM 3. 1 Overseas M & A cases of automobile enterprises In the choice of overseas M & A targets, China’s auto enterprises prefer developed regions like Europe and the United States, especially concentrating on world’s top 10 auto-producing countries besides China such as the United States, France and other places. The vehicle industry in these areas has long history, with many powerful brands, more developed economy, higher living standard and stronger consumer ability. In the choice of specific targets, Chinese enterprises are in favor of those enterprises that are of highly well-known brands, a long history, as well as advanced technology and experienced management. However, during this financial crisis, a serious setback in operating performance led some of these companies or brands to great losses or even near-collapse. Geely’s acquisition of Volvo and Beijing Auto’s of Saab is representative ones. They are very typical in this M&A wave starting after the financial crisis. 3. 1. 1 Beijing auto’s acquisition of Saab On December 28, 2009, Beijing Automotive Holdings formally announced the acquisition of relevant intellectual property rights of Saab cars at a cost of 200 million U. S. dollars. By then, Beijing Automotive has gotten the core data of the complete research, production, marketing, quality control system. This international transaction is the first successful case for a domestic automobile enterprise to carry out the acquisition of foreign advanced and complete vehicle power technology since 2009. As one of a few China’s Automotive Groups who not yet have their own brands, Beijing Automotive is very urgent on owning its own brand-related technology. So the successful marriage with the Saab is of great significance for Beijing Automotive to speed up the process of independent R & D and internationalization. 3. 1. 2 Geely’s acquisition of Volvo On December 23, 2009, Ford Motor Company released a statement of reaching a framework agreement to sell its Volvo to Geely. In March 28, 2010, Geely signed a definitive stock purchase agreement with Ford to buy 100% of the shares of Volvo Car at a cost of 1. 8 billion U. S. dollars and then signed a definitive agreement concerning related assets [32]. This saliva battles full of troubles ended with Geely tenaciously achieving its dream of â€Å"snake swallows elephant†. It is a spur for other domestic auto enterprises, also a major step for Geely towards the international market Simultaneously it helps the Volvo brand to further open the Chinese market,. However, it is not easy for Geely to â€Å"digest† Volvo. Whether it is because of the picky European Union, or high operating costs for brand, or cultural integration, especially the integration and management of Volvo’s distributors, factories and suppliers scattering over more than 100 countries and 2,400 regions. There are a series of huge problems. 3. 2 Overseas M & A cases of automobile parts enterprises After the financial crisis, overseas auto parts enterprises were faced with greater difficulties than full-vehicle enterprises. Bankruptcy and M&A happened frequently. Influenced by this round of auto industry structure adjustment, the integration of parts suppliers intensified, and M & A wave aimed at supplier groups resurged. Foreign well-known auto parts enterprises like Australian transmission company DSI, Delphi in the United States and so on occupy pivotal positions in the auto parts industry, and even have a significant impact on the development of the full-vehicle market. Direct purchase of foreign auto parts enterprises is local suppliers’ one way of gaining access to core technology. After the current financial crisis, the M&A cases of auto parts enterprises are quite frequent and also larger and more far-reaching than that of before the crisis. Such as Geely’s acquisition of the Australian transmission company DSI, Beijing West Industry’s acquisition of U. S. Delphi, WanXiang Group’s acquisition of the U. S. DS automobile steering shaft and so on. 3. 2. 1 Beijing West Industry’s acquisition of Delphi On March 31, 2009, Delphi formally agreed to sell its global businesses of braking and suspension to Beijing West Industry. Beijing West was prepared to pay 90 million U. S. dollars in cash to acquire Delphi’s related machinery and equipment, intellectual property and real estate, including its businesses of braking and suspension in eight plants, five technology centers and 14 technical support and customer 45 M & D FORUM service centers which locate worldwide. 3. 2. 2 Geely’s acquisition of DSI. On March 27, 2009 in New South Wales State’s Government Building, the signing ceremony of Geely acquiring Australian Automatic Transmission Company was held. According to a statement from Li Shufu, the Chairman of Geely Group, Geely conducts a wholly-owned acquisition of DSI for it values DSI’s complete designing and manufacturing capabilities accumulated over 80 years. DSI Automatic Transmission Company is an automatic transmission specialist centralizing research and development, manufacturing, and sales altogether. What is more, it is one of the only two global automatic transmission companies that are independent from all automotive vehicle companies. 4 Countermeasures and Suggestions for Overseas M & A of China Automobile Industry 4. 1 The selection of objects for overseas M & A First of all, when making overseas M & A, Chinese auto enterprises need to be careful of those M & A targets who already have no competitive advantage within the industry, and just to sell companies to reject the burden. Therefore, they should be especially cautious in the choice of Objects for overseas M & A and take various factors into consideration. Second, while doing overseas M&A, Chinese auto enterprises can not just focus on targets of low purchase price, but on the potential value of the enterprises after the acquisition. Therefore, the Chinese auto enterprises ought to choose targets that are consistent and coordinated with their own strategic objectives, and can complement their own businesses to achieve synergies; to choose overseas assets with low cost but are able to produce better results through the integration. Finally, in assessing M & A targets, priority should be given to smaller yet high quality objects in accordance with their requirements. M & A are to be done for many times, at small amount and with steady integration. 4. 2 A careful and scientific implementation of overseas M & A After enterprises have determined the strategic premise of overseas M & A consistent with their own development requirements, they need to compare the key links in tactic and carry on related initiatives. First, in M & A planning session, to establish a more comprehensive overseas assessment system; to do a comprehensive and quantitative research with regard to the status of the host country market, national policies and regulations, competition pattern, the main risks; to do further accurate assessment of the target company’s technology, independent intellectual property rights, operation status and potential value, weighing the risks and opportunities. Second, after selecting the target of M & A, a comprehensive understanding of the business-related technology, the details of intellectual property rights should be gained, and the specific items and amounts of M & A be finalized. To maximize benefits at the lowest cost by conducting effective negotiations. Third, after the transaction is completed, to assess comprehensively the differences of both managements in management philosophy, and the differences of staff in culture, values, benefits, remuneration and so on. To orderly propel the process of integration in achieving M & A objects. 4. 3 The implementation of the strategic resource reserves in overseas M & A To obtain opportunities of overseas M&A, auto industry are required to carry out resource reserves in four aspects. First, human resources reserves. The Chinese auto enterprises should consciously reserve all kinds of overseas M & A professionals as soon as possible. Second, M & A experience reserves. By continually accumulating experience through practices, enterprises can learn more about related laws and regulations, operating procedures, and precautions to reduce risks, and then improve the success rate. Third, M & A financial reserves. To fight for access to financial support from the government or large financial institutions. To ensure enough amount of money while minimizing financial costs. 46 M & D FORUM 5 Conclusion During post-crisis period, the China automobile industry is facing an unprecedented good opportunity in overseas M&A. With the support of concerning policies, the China auto industry is adopting an active global strategy. Through the integration of global auto industry resources, the international competitiveness force of China auto industry is enhanced in a great degree. In the process of overseas M&A, the China auto industry needs to actively carry out relevant strategic resource reserves, scientifically select acquisition targets, and carefully as well as scientifically implement specific overseas M & A strategy. Author in brief: Zhu Qin, PHD, Associate Professor, School of Economics, Zhejiang Gongshang University Email: zhuqin9871@163. com. References [1]. Stefano Rossiand Paolo Volpin. Cross-Country Determinants of Mergers and Acquisitions [M]. London Business School, 2002 [2]. Guo Jianhua. The global automotive industry changing situation report [R]. Beijing: Equality in Automobile Research Institute, 2009(in Chinese) [3]. RolandBerger Strategy Consultants. China’s auto industry development, in the current financial crisis the opportunities and challenges [R], 2009 (in Chinese) [4]. State Council Development Research Center of Industrial Economics Research Department, Society of Automotive Engineers of China, Volkswagen Group. China Automotive Industry Development Report [M]. Beijing: Social Sciences Academic Press, 2009. 7 (in Chinese) 47

R.F.I.D. Technology †Information Systems Essay

R.F.I.D. Technology – Information Systems Essay Free Online Research Papers R.F.I.D. Technology Information Systems Essay The implementation of Radio Frequency Identification Device (R.F.I.D.) technology around the world is both a blessing and a curse. The benefits of these chips to society is undeniable. Theft will become virtually non- existent, audits of product inventory will no longer be necessary, and standing in line anywhere becomes a ritual of the past. However, the privacy implications created by the use of this technology also give reason for great concern. Everything you buy will be registered to your name and your bank account. Thieves could read every item that is in your home, without ever actually stepping foot inside. In fact everything you have will be readable from a distance. So the purpose of this paper is to explain R.F.I.D. technology, and weigh the pros against the cons, to see if some middle ground can be met where business gains the most and privacy loses the least. R.F.I.D. is a new consumer goods tracking system. It mixes radio frequency identification with greatly miniaturized computer chips that enable a product to be tracked from its beginning in the manufacturing line to its end on the shelves of a retailer. This technology can be applied to nearly every physical item, ranging from pill bottles (1) to cows (2); humans included (3). This improves the safety of products in as much as it tracks the history of the product. In theory our drugs can’t be counterfeited, as they wouldn’t be able to be tagged, livestock with diseases, such as mad cow, could be traced back to their source farm and a lot of other securities will be available to make the world a safer place, such as making all guns require a corresponding R.F.I.D. implanted to the owner. R.F.I.D. employs a numbering system called EPC. This stands for Electronic Product Code and is intended to replace the current UPC system.(4) The UPC system only identifies product categories, with the advanced new EPC system having the ability to assign a number to every individual item. This means that your can of Coke is going to have a different number than my can of Coke. And it also means that your can of Coke is registered in your name. Think about that for a moment, we will have the ability to fine people who litter possibly months later, when the school students go and clean out the ditches along highways! This technology also appears to have the ability to keep our streets cleaner, which saves money that could be used somewhere else. It is worthy to note here that the implementation of R.F.I.D. tags is not a political issue. From a conservative stand point, this technology is a great business tool within a free market capitalist society. The impacts from this technology, towards a business’s ability to continuously track all their products, from assembly through the shipping process, onto retailer’s shelves and out their doors, will revolutionize the business world. And all this money saved logically leads to lower prices for the consumers. In our nations current economic state, lower prices on goods all around is a blessing to every consumer. On the Liberal side of this issue, we find altogether different benefits. This technology is a blessing for society. It virtually stops all theft from retailers. It’ll help keep the food supply safe. And we could even use it to chip the homeless so society is better able to keep track and care for them.(12) Counterfeiting will no longer be possible when chips are inserted into the currency supply.(15) But the more important argument of the Liberal side is one of security. Security for the children of today and tomorrow. And these tags have the capabilities to ensure the well-being of the elderly, providing those that need it with a type of security blanket which guarantees that medication is taken when needed and making care more readily available.(5) Overall, the privacy issue takes a back seat to the possible benefits from the liberal standpoint. Although neither the Conservatives nor the Liberals oppose this technology as a political issue, it remains an issue of privacy and the argument should be made. It is an important issue and will become much more so in the next few years. The authors of this paper feel that neither side really discusses or responds to the privacy issue adequately, nor are they moving to do so fast enough. This technology is being pushed for now, by the U.S. top retailer chains, most recently Albertson’s. (6) And since laws tend to take a considerable amount of time be finally agreed upon and passed something needs to also be done now. Yet, the implementation of the tags will bring almost immediate relief to millions of people and businesses. So the question then becomes, can technology fix societal ills? The implementations of R.F.I.D.’s will alter the very way we live our daily lives. In the grocery store, R.F.I.D.’s will protect unsafe food from being sold by alarming as it gets close to expiring. In the home, parents will no longer have to worry about their children being lost or stolen.(7) With a microchip surgically implanted into the little one’s hand or forehead constantly sending off a helpful signal, if the child gets lost, the parents can rest assured that they are not, and in fact, are nothing more than a properly placed phone call away. Tags in all crates would help solve the recent fears over terrorism and trains coming in from Canada. It would be much harder than it is now to keep items hidden from inspection by authorities. Even with all these obvious benefits a person can still wonder if tracking and tagging everything is good. And in the process of researching its easy to come across fears of ‘the Mark of the Beast’. In fact, we believe that it’s an argument worth mention. In Revelation 13:16-17 John writes that no one will be able to buy or sell anything without the mark. And that is after all, the ultimate goal of this technology. But if a person doesn’t buy the aspect of religion being involved, then why else would they oppose it? The negative side to this Alpha-Omega tracking is that it leaves a record of your purchase with whatever business you made a purchase from. And we all know that businesses and the selling of personal data is not a new issue. So the question is, can we trust the major corporations with our personal data? And what about the centralized grand databases that this information is supposed to go in, who is looking in on that data? It is relatively certain that businesses cannot be trusted with our personal information and this point is easily proven by looking at how fast the government do-not-call list overflowed with overjoyed citizens telephone numbers. Too many calls from too much sharing leads the people to say ‘leave us alone’. And too much sharing also led congress to the same conclusion about a different information sharing entity. Soon after September 11th, DARPA announced its Total Information Awareness program.(13) This program was in essence the final database where everything everyone in America did would finally be stored. Then the program would compare all transactions against everyone else’s to look for any red flags, like dynamite purchases or something that would stick out and be noticed as terrorist activities. As William Safire from the New York Times wrote, â€Å"Every purchase you make with a credit card, every magazine subscription you buy and medical prescription you fill, every Web site you visit and e-mail you send or receive, every academic grade you receive, every bank deposit you make, every trip you book and every event you attend – all these transactions and communications will go into what the Defense Department describes as ‘a virtual, centralized grand database’.†(8) It must now also be said that the funding was cut for this program, but that is besides our point. The fact is, DARPA was researching this project way before September 11th and only brought it into the public eye as a supposed reaction to terrorism. This program seems to be a case of Hegalian dialectic or problem-reaction-solution. This program however, is not the solution to terrorism and congress thought the same. And even though the funding was cut, all it takes is another big attack on our homeland to bring back this program. Even Dave Obey said that an attack is not preventable at this time. The government did not fully end Total Information Awareness. In essence, all they really did was move the research and it’s data-mining computer programs to other branches of the government, such as the CIA, NSA, and FBI etc. and gave new names to the various parts of the program.. (9) For example, in a February 24, 2004 Homeland Security Press Release (10), the government states speaking about the launch of their Joint Regional Information Exchange System (JRIES) is, â€Å"An integrated component of the wider DHS Information sharing and collaboration architecture (author’s emphasis) that will help provide situational awareness, information and collaboration across the 50 states, U.S. territories, and major urban areas.† And it is these various ‘components’ that are coming from the supposedly closed TIA program. It is possible to see this as a kind of Orwellian doublespeak because the funding was cut, but then the components and programs start to ac tually be used. (Our chocolate rations must have been increased.) I would like to say that this is one of the big reasons why this isn’t a political issue. As you know, the Liberal side of the issue wants to give the government control over this technology. They feel that the American government is reliable and innocent enough to be trusted with control over the data and the data-mining, while at the same time exclaiming how it could never turn out as a privacy issue if we let the feds have jurisdiction over how and how much R.F.I.D.’s can be used and what can be done with the data. Why would you give the power to control the technology, to the same entity that wants to use the data from it to spy on you and have been caught doing it? (14) And to the argument that says ‘if you ain’t got nothing to hide what, do you have to worry for?’ Ben Franklin responds, â€Å"Protect even your enemy from oppression, lest you establish a precedent that reaches to yourself.† It just doesn’t make logical sense when l ooking at the big picture. And it’s also the same from the lassie faire Conservative side. Let the corporations be, it’s a free market. But this leaves another entity in power of the data, who is just as irresponsible and deceitful as some branches of our government. So again, do you want to give control of this technology to corporations, who we know cannot be trusted with our personal data? Obviously not. It is also hard to come to some middle ground on this aspect of R.F.I.D. technology. Of the 103 major funders for the Auto-Id center’s project, 5 of them are from the government (USPS, DoD, and others). Eight of the top ten U.S. retailers including Wal-Mar , Target, and Home Depot are also major contributors. Many of Britain’s major chains such as Tesco are on the list. (11) So is a mix of both corporate and government control any better when they are both funding the research and potential usage of it? We have to say no and use the analogy that they are both arms on the same beast. And some kind of compromise is needed immediately. If some compromise cannot be met, then this technology should be restricted or at least regulated. When this is done a chance will be given for the law to catch up with the technology, which progresses at a faster rate than the law. If the technology must be implemented now, then all products with tags in them should be labeled so the consumers can know what they’re buying. All tags should be turned off when a consumer leaves the store. Instant registration of products should not be put into effect without the proper laws and procedures in place. Tags should be placed on the products packaging instead of on the product at all times if possible. Remember, technology alone does not solve society’s problems. Research Papers on R.F.I.D. Technology - Information Systems EssayOpen Architechture a white paperBionic Assembly System: A New Concept of SelfMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever ProductIncorporating Risk and Uncertainty Factor in CapitalThe Project Managment Office SystemPETSTEL analysis of IndiaGenetic EngineeringDefinition of Export QuotasThe Effects of Illegal ImmigrationStandardized Testing

An In-Depth Review of Star Reading Assessment Program

An In-Depth Review of Star Reading Assessment Program Star Reading is an online assessment program developed by Renaissance Learning for students typically in grades K-12. The program uses a combination of the cloze method and traditional reading comprehension passages to assess forty-six reading skills across eleven domains. The program is used to determine a student’s overall reading level as well as identify a students individual strengths and weaknesses. The program is designed to provide teachers with individual student data, quickly and accurately. It typically takes a student 10–15 minutes to complete an assessment, and reports are available immediately upon completion. The assessment consists of approximately thirty questions. Students are tested on foundational reading skills, literature components, reading informational text, and language. Students have one minute to answer each question before the program automatically moves them to the next question. The program is adaptive, so the difficulty will increase or decrease based on how a student performs. Features of Star Reading It is easy to set up and use. Star Reading is a Renaissance Learning program. This is important because if you have Accelerated Reader, Accelerated Math, or any of the other Star assessments, you only have to do the set up one time. Adding students and building classes is quick and easy. You can add a class of about twenty students and have them ready to be assessed in about 15 minutes.It correlates with Accelerated Reader. Many schools across the country use Accelerated Reader. To maximize the effect of Accelerated Reader, students should be limited to books that correlate to their specific Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD). Star Reading provides teachers with each student’s individual ZPD that can then be entered into the Accelerated Reader program to limit students to books that will not be too easy or too difficult for them to read.It is easy for students to use. The interface is plain and straightforward. This minimizes the chances for a student to be distracted. Student s have two choices when answering the multiple-choice-style questions. They can use their mouse and click on the correct choice, or they can use the A, B, C, D keys that correlate to the correct answer. Students are not locked into their answer until they click next or push the Enter key. Each question is on a one-minute timer. When a student has fifteen seconds remaining, a small clock will begin to flash at the top of the screen, letting them know that time is about to expire for that question. It provides teachers with a tool to easily screen and progress monitor students who need reading intervention. Star Reading comes with a screening and progress monitor tool that allows teachers to set goals and monitor a student’s progress as they move throughout the year. This easy-to-use feature allows teachers to quickly and accurately decide whether they need to change their approach with a particular student or continue doing what they are doing.It has an adaptable assessment bank. The program has an extensive assessment bank that allows students to be assessed multiple times without seeing the same question. In addition, the program adapts to the student as they answer questions. If a student is performing well, then the questions will increasingly become more difficult. If they are struggling, the questions will become easier. The program will eventually zero in on the student’s correct level. Useful Reports Star Reading is designed to provide teachers with useful information that will drive their instructional practices. It provides teachers with several useful reports designed to assist in targeting which students need intervention and what areas they need assistance in. Here are four key reports available through the program and a brief explanation of each: Diagnostic: This report provides the most information about an individual student. It offers information such as the student’s grade equivalent, percentile rank, estimated oral reading fluency, scaled score, instructional reading level, and zone of proximal development. It also provides tips to maximize that individual’s reading growth.Growth: This report shows the growth of a group of students over a specific period of time. This period of time is customizable from a few weeks to months, to even growth over the course of several years.Screening: This report provides teachers with a graph that details whether they are above or below their benchmark as they are assessed throughout the year. This report is useful because if students are falling below the mark, then the teacher needs to change their approach ​with that student.Summary: This report provides teachers with whole group test results for a specific test date or range. This is very useful for comparing mul tiple students at one time. Relevant Terminology Scaled Score (SS)  - The scaled score is figured based on the difficulty of the questions as well of the number of questions that were correct. Star Reading uses a scale range of 0–1400. This score can be used to compare students to each other as well as themselves over time.Percentile Rank (PR) - The percentile rank allows students to be compared to other students nationally that are in the same grade. For example, a student who scores in the 77th percentile scores better than 76% of students in their grade but lower than 23% of students in their grade.Grade Equivalent (GE) - The grade equivalent represents how a student performs compared to other students nationally. For example, a fifth-grade student who scores a grade equivalent of 8.3 scores as well as a student who is in the eighth grade and third month.Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) - This is the range of readability which a student should be required to select books. Reading in this range provides students with t he optimal opportunity to maximize reading growth. Books at this level are not too easy or too difficult for the student to read. ATOS  - A readability formula that uses average sentence length, average word length, vocabulary grade level, and the number of words to calculate the overall difficulty of a book. Overall Star Reading is a very good reading assessment program, especially if you already use the Accelerated Reader program. Its best features are that it is quick and easy to use for teachers and students, and reports can be generated in seconds. The assessment does rely too much on cloze reading passages. A truly accurate reading assessment would use a more balanced and comprehensive approach. However, Star is a great quick screening tool to identify struggling readers or individual reading strengths. There are better assessments available in terms of in-depth diagnostic assessments, but Star reading will give you a quick snapshot of where a student is at any given point.  Overall, we give this program 3.5 out of 5 stars, primarily because the assessment itself isn’t broad enough and there are times where consistency and accuracy are of concern.

How Religion would Respond to Today's Issues Essay

How Religion would Respond to Today's Issues - Essay Example This paper analyses the ways in which religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam respond to today's issues. Hindu religion consists of different castes such as Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, Shudras and Chandalas (Jayaram). Brahmins are the upper class caste while Chandals are the lower class caste in Hindu caste system. In other words racism appears in the form of caste system in Hindu religion. Hinduism considers poverty as a virtue rather than curse. In other words, Hindus do believe that the sufferings or poverty in this world is good for getting salvation. Hindus are not much aggressive like some of other religions. They will try to avoid war and murder as much as possible. They are peace loving people which are evident from the fact that India never tried to attack Pakistan even though Pak terrorists created so many problems in Indian soil in the recent past. Hindus normally do not believe in sex activities outside a marital relationship. However, in some of the Hindu castes, keeping more than one wife is allowed. Hindu women command huge respect from Hindu men and it should be note d that some of the goddesses of Hindu religion are females such as Sita, Lakshmi and Saraswathy. Hindus do believe in democratic administrations and they are the strong advocates of freedom and individuality. Education is considered as an essential activity by Hindu religion. Perhaps Buddhists are the most liberal and peace loving people in the world. They hate all types of war and murder activities. Killing of even an insect is a sin in Buddhism. Racism in any form cannot be witnessed in Buddhism. Freedom and liberties are much respected terms in Buddhism. Truthfulness is the major land mark of Buddhism. Buddhism advocates normal sex activities for layman. However, â€Å"Complete sexual continence is considered an essential feature of the monastic life. Intercourse of a heterosexual or homosexual character is automatically a Parajika offense† (Walshe). Capitalism and injustices are unacceptable to Buddhism. Taoism give more emphasize to living in harmony with the environment or nature. Taoism believes in the ancestor spirits and immortals. Taoists believe in a peaceful life filled with happiness. So, war and murder like activities are unacceptable to Taoism. Even though Taoism considers sex as a vital component in the relationship between men and women, it never advocates crazy sex habits or unnatural sex. As per the beliefs of Taoism, â€Å"a strong military was an important tool in human relations, but the conduct of warfare was an absolute last resort. Its consequences so potentially harmful that it had to be understood completely and practiced flawlessly when required†(Davis). Confucianism believes in humanity more than any other religions in the world. It has not much customs or rituals compared to other religions. War and crimes are unacceptable to Confucianism. â€Å"Confucius regarded himself as a transmitter, not the originator, of social values and wisdom† (Dr. Sprunger). Judaism, Christianity and Islam are three Abrahamic relig ions. Even though the origins of these three religions have some common elements, their beliefs are entirely different. Islam does not hesitate to conduct wars against the enemies. In fact killing of enemies of religion is a sacred act in Islam. Jews and Christians are also seeing no dangers in conducting wars even though they are not much adamant in religious belief and thoughts. Jews and Christians give more freedom to the sexual life. Homosexuality is practiced among Christians and Jews even though their religious beliefs are against it. On the other hand such things are punishable acts in Islam. Muslim males can keep