Bad Drivers

Please note that the drivers used in this rant are full driving license and know the ‘Do's and Don't of driving! What is a bad driver? A bad driver is the moron who lacks the brain capacity to drive like a normal person. Instead of looking at a situation and thinking about it logically, the driver chugs along In their own little world blissfully unaware of the world around them. It Isn't that they don't want to care about the others around them, the problem Is that their brains are actually so tiny that they are enable to comprehend more than one thing at a time.This Is why you will often spot a bad driver stopping in the middle of the road. What has happened, Is that In the middle of attempting a maneuver that requires them to think about multiple things at the same time, their brain and body has suffered a complete overload and shut Itself down. A few weeks ago I suffered a mentally disturbing experience. As usual I was running late for my football class, so I decided to ask my parents If I can go by car. Surprisingly they agreed.After a fairly peaceful Journey, possibly the worst possible outcome occurred. It was a minor road and 2 cars have met. What should have happened is either one of the drivers reverse into an opening to clear the way, saving everyone loads of time; however neither one of the drivers had the decency to clear the way and soon enough a 2 car roadblock became a bundle of cars all mindlessly honking at each other. What have we become? Human Being†¦ Seriously, is there some kind of driving epidemic going on that I haven't heard about?

Consumer Behavior and Marketing Strategy Essay

Why study consumer behaviour? †¢ By studying consumer behaviour we try to understand & gain insight into: – Consumer decision making processes – What we buy, how we buy, and why we buy †¢ Enables us to become better consumers and marketers Definitions of Consumer Behaviour †¢ The study of individuals, groups, or organizations and the processes they use to select, secure, use and dispose of products, services, experiences or ideas to satisfy needs and the impacts that these processes have on the consumer and society. †¢ The dynamic interaction of cognition, behaviour and environmental events by which human beings conduct the exchange aspects of their lives (American Marketing Association) †¢ Those behaviours performed by decision-making units in the purchase, usage and disposal of goods and services (Kotler & Levy) †¢ The decision process and physical activity individuals engage in when evaluating, acquiring, using or disposing of goods and services (London & Della Bitta) Application of Consumer Behavior Marketing Strategy/ regulatory Policy/Social Marketing/Informed Individual Consumer Behaviour and Marketing Strategy Cross Cultural Variations in Consumer Behavior Culture is the most pervasive external force on an individual’s consumption behavior. It would be difficult to overlook the importance of culture as a motivator of consumer behavior. The attitude people possess, the values they hold dear, the lifestyles they enjoy and the interpersonal behavior patterns they adopt are the outcomes of the cultural settings. Failure to carefully consider cultural differences is often responsible for monumental marketing failure. The concept of Culture Culture is the complex whole that includes knowledge, belief, art, law, morals, customs and any other capabilities and habits acquired by humans as members of society. ââ€" ª First, culture is a comprehensive concept. It includes almost everything that influences an individual’s thought processes and behaviors. ââ€" ª Second, culture is acquired. It does not include inherited responses and predispositions. Much of human behavior is learned rather than innate, culture does not affect a wide array of behaviors. ââ€" ª Third, the complexity of modern societies is such that culture seldom provides detailed prescriptions for appropriate behavior. Culture provides boundaries within which most individual think and act. ââ€" ª Finally, the nature of cultural influences is such that we are seldom aware of them. One think behave, feels in a manner consistent with other members of the same culture because it seems â€Å"natural† or â€Å"right† to do. The boundaries that culture sets on behavior are called Norms which are simple rules that specify or prohibit certain behaviors in specific situations Norms are derived from Cultural Value, widely held beliefs that shared standards of what is acceptable or unacceptable, good or bad, desirable or undesirable. Violation of cultural norms results in sanctions, or penalties ranging from mild social disapproval to banishment from the group. Variations in cultural values †¢ Cultural values are widely held beliefs that affirm what is desirable. A useful approach to understanding cultural variations in behavior is to understand the values embraced by different cultures. The classifications of cultural values 1. Other oriented[Individual/Collective, Youth/Age, extended/Limited Family, Masculine/feminine, Competitive/Cooperative, Diversity/Uniformity] 2. Environmental oriented [ Cleanliness, Performance/Status, Tradition/Change, Risk Taking/Security, Problem solving/Fatalistic, Nature] 3. Self-oriented [ Active/Passive, Sensual gratification/Abstinence, Material/Nonmaterial, Hard work/Leisure, Postponed gratification/immediate gratification, Religious/Secular] The use people make of space and the meaning they assign to their use of space constitute a second form of nonverbal communication. In America, the office space in corporations generally is allocated according to rank and prestige rather than need. A second major use of space is personal space. It is the nearest that others can come to anyone in various situations without feeling uncomfortable Symbols A symbol may be defined as the sign or representation of something moral or intellectual by the images or properties of natural things as† the Lion the symbol of courage†. Different studies on cultures identified two types of symbols used by people in communicating among them, they are 1. Referential symbol 2. Expressive symbol Relationship The rights and obligations imposed by friendship are another nonverbal communication variable. Americans, more so than most other cultures, make friends quickly and easily and drop them easily also. To most Asian and Latin Americans, good personal relations and feeling are all that really matter in a long term agreement. Americans negotiate a contract, the Japanese negotiate a relationship. In many countries, the written word is used simple to satisfy legalities. In their eyes, emotion and personal relations are more important than cold facts. Agreement Americans rely on an extensive and generally, highly efficient legal system for ensuring that business obligations are honored and for resolving disagreements. Many other cultures have not developed such system and rely instead on friendship and local moral, principles, or informal customs to guide business conduct. In many developed counties, prices are uniform for all buyers, but in some Asian and Middle East countries, the procedure is different Things The cultural meaning of things leadfs to purchase patterns that one would not otherwise predicts. The different meaning that cultures attached to things, including products, make gift giving a particular difficult task. Etiquette Etiquette represents generally accepted ways of behaving in social situations. Behaviors considered rude or obnoxious in one culture may be quite acceptable in another. Normal voice tone, pitch and speed of speech differ between culture and languages as do the use of gestures. For example, a Japanese executive will seldom say â€Å"No† directly during negotiations, as this would be considered impolite. Considerations in approaching a foreign market ââ€" ª Is the geographic area Homogeneous or heterogeneous with respect to culture? ââ€" ª What needs can this product or a version of it fill in this culture? ââ€" ª Can enough of the people needing the product afford it? ââ€" ª What values or patterns of values are relevant to the purchase and use of this product? ââ€" ª What are the distribution, political, and legal structures for the product? ââ€" ª In what way can we communicate about the product? ââ€" ª What are the Ethical implications of marketing this product in this country? http://www.somewhereinblog.net/blog/alihusainkaisar/29525858 http://www.somewhereinblog.net/blog/abdullah_muslim2010/29411963 ———————– OUTCOMES: Individual/ Firm/ Society CONSUMER DECISION PROCESS: Problem recognition/Information search/Alternative evaluation/Purchase/ Use/ Evaluation MARKETING STRATEGY: Product/Price/Distribution/Promotion/Service MARKET SEGMENTATION: Identify product related need sets/ Group customer with similar need sets/ Describe each group/ Select attractive segment(s) to target MARKET ANALYSIS: Company/Competitors/ Conditions/Consumers

The Logistics of a Third-World Relief Operation

Due to the Internal cooperation and collaboration within INCUR a great amount of knowledge emerges. This knowledge, later, Is shared with other organizations (Nags). The extensive cooperation, coordination and communication are the key successful factors for the productive partnership between both of the companies. They are on the right way because frequently they organize meetings to discuss and Implement Improvements. An Important factor INCUR should consider Is to enter Into an alliance with local government and military.Military plays a crucial role in this field; he principal reason for reaching an agreement with it is that military possesses security and emergency responses. Cooperation with government can minimize cultural differences between the refugees and the personal of the organizations. While, military participation can be useful when unforeseen events, such as meteorological or political circumstances, occur (e. G. Providing airplanes in order to reduce supplies lead t imes). From the standpoint of incoming supply and storage of non-food-items (blankets, water cans, kitchen sets†¦It can be said that the unit logistic system was not able to predict the amount of goods that would arrive at the warehouse. They did not have any control over the consignments (size, deliveries times); consequently enormous obstacles are likely to arise in satisfying refugees' needs. A solution to this problem can be the implementation of a SIT system. The core of this system is to Increase the productivity through maintaining Inventories at a minimum level. Perhaps, this is a possibility for the necessity of more space than contemplated for non-food items.Thus, it would enable them to order the exact amount of food they need. On the one hand, this allows a flexible system that is able to confront unpredictable changes. On the other hand, SIT system may have some disadvantages. In some cases this system would not be able to meet unforeseen orders. The major issue th at the senior logistics officer has to face is linked to the transportation of goods. A radical change about it is necessary. Infrastructure in Rwanda Is extremely poor.Climate, bad roads conditions, non-protective nature of he labor/w;irking conditions for the drivers worsen the situation even more. With regard to the latter, a working day of 8 hours and a drivers' rotation in one Journey, are likely to force simple modifications. These modifications can lead greater operational efficiency. Transport capacities play a pivotal role in improving the management of supplies. Andrew should precisely estimate the exact number of trucks required each time: the duration of the trip, how long it takes to undead 1 OFF other related issues.Uncertain situations such as inconsistent information or cultural preferences constitute a barrier that could lead to enormous delays and unfulfilled demands. Therefore, delivering the right amount of supplies within the due dates is a task that all involve d organizations must satisfy. Moreover, assessment (e. G. Data gathering) before implementing a new relief operation is indispensable in order to build a strong plan. If an organization aims to develop an effective relief logistic system, it is essential to analyze thoroughly its investment in vulnerable transport and communication.

Legal and Ethical Aspects of Health Care Delivery Essay

Legal and Ethical Aspects of Health Care Delivery - Essay Example Thirdly, an inevitable result to the mistake of the cardiologist, the nurse carried out an unsupervised procedure without the consent of the doctor in charge. This was indeed a desperate attempt to prevent the further progression of the patient’s worsening condition. Fourthly, the nurse failed to inform the cardiologist of the emergency measure as well as other oncoming staff about the state of the discontinued IV site which showed signs of discoloration and swelling. In this picture, several laws are applicable. To begin with, while handling a patient in a critical condition it should be the utmost priority of the staff to be vigilant while shifting a patient’s location. The hospital is responsible for the improper care taken while changing beds. Next, the cardiologist was unresponsive to the nurse’s messages, leading to negligence which is unacceptable in health care ethics. Furthermore, the nurse is at great fault in failing to informing other medical staff about the patient’s condition and not documenting the finding after inspection of the site where IV had been inserted (â€Å"Standard Nursing,† 2009). So inferring from these consequences, the cardiologist and the nurse, both are liable for the patient’s death. The nurse and physician were unable to meet the principles of standard health care provision. Carelessness of the physician and the nurse lead to a series of events which ultimately resulted in death of the patient. When a physician is assigned to a patient, it is the utmost priority of the physician to take proper care of the patient over his self-interest and monitor his patient’s condition periodically (Lo, 2009). In this case, the physician instead of responding to the emergency calls of the nurse simply ignored them, although she knew that the hospital policy clearly forbids the nurses from carrying out insertion of IV’s in feet and legs.

Caveat Emptor Is this common Law Maxim undermined Essay

Caveat Emptor Is this common Law Maxim undermined - Essay Example This act is in addition to the existing law and accordingly a consumer usually has a remedy either in contract or in the tort of negligence (Slack 1997). The term Caveat emptor connotes that let the buyer beware. It is a common law sales contract concept that exposes the buyer to the risk inherent in a transaction. Though it involves the principle of freedom to contract, nevertheless implied warranties in the context of sale of goods are latent in it (Rossini 1998) The Sale of Goods Act 1893 was amended by several pieces of legislation, some of these are the Sale and Supply of Goods Act 1994, the Misrepresentation Act 1967, the Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977 and the Consumer Protection Act 1987 (Jones and Benson 2003). This act was the first piece of legislation that provided protection to the buyer. Recently there had been a spate of legislations, whose purpose was to enhance the protection that had been made available to consumers. Some instances of such acts are the Misrepresentation Act 1967, the amended Sale of Goods Act (Sale and Supply of Goods Act 1994 and the Sale of Goods (Amendment) Act 1994) and the Unfair Terms Regulations (S.I 1994/3159. Unfair Terms Regulations in Consumer Contract Regulations 1994). In this manner the caveat emptor doctrine has been progressively undermined and substituted by the doctrine of caveat venditor or let the seller beware. The noted legal luminary Atiyah opined that the basic principle of law was one of caveat venditor rather than one of caveat emptor (Atiyah and Adams 1995). In addition, the European Union as a champion of the rights of the consumer has planned to introduce legislation that would serve to bestow further protection on the rights of consumers. The Directive on the Sale of Consumer Goods and Associated Guarantees is an important step in this direction (EUROPA 2006). There has been a marked reluctance on the part of judicial policy to interfere with contracts between parties having equal bargaining power. The Unfair Contract Terms Act attempts to extinguish the exclusion and limitation clauses that occur in consumer contracts and contracts that are based on one of the contracting parities' standard terms (Unfair Contract Terms Act (as amended on the 1st of October, 2003) 1977). The above act is inapplicable to commercial contracts in general. In Photo Productions Limited v Securicor the House of Lords permitted Securicor to avoid liability for the acts of one of its employees (Photo Production Ltd v Securicor Transport Ltd 1980). In the case of Slater and others v Finning Ltd, the House of Lords held that if a product failed for the reason that it had been used for a purpose other than that it had been designed for then the seller was absolved of any liability for such failure (Slater v Finning Ltd 1996). This was similar to the decision in Griffths v Peter Conway Ltd, in which the buyer had concealed from the seller as to what use was to be made of the goods (Griffths v Peter Conway Ltd 1939). This indicates very clearly that there has been a preference for caveat venditor in the context of the implied condition of suitability in commercial law. The legal consequences of the rule of caveat emptor require the buyers to undertake

Combining and using source material Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Combining and using source material - Essay Example e Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary (2003), and Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English (2004) define research as a learning of an object in order to get new data. Howard and Sharp (1983), in his â€Å"Doing Your Research Project†, and Wisker (2008), in his â€Å"The Postgraduate Research Handbook†, have a similar view but add that there must be methodological processes which can gain benefit for research. These fairly general definitions are further expanded by Nunan (1994), â€Å"Research Methods in Language Learning†, who argues that research must include three elements or components such as 1. a question, problem or hypothesis, 2. data, 3. analysis and interpretation of data. For Wisker what is key is that research has an effect on the world, which is in research results, and finds the realization in our behavior in society. Dawson(2002), however, gives a less general definition and focusses specifically on the purposeful examining of the cond uct of other people with the aim of better understanding them or adding new information to knowledge. For the purposes of this essay, the word â€Å"research† will be used to mean specific studying of an object with a particular aim and special

Controversies in Correctional Education Assignment

Controversies in Correctional Education - Assignment Example From this paper it is clear that  the differences between these problems and controversies include the number of complainants. The problems involve the juveniles and their supervisors or teachers, while the controversies are national debates involving the nation. As a result, the governments seem to address the issue on controversies more compared to the problems based on statistics.This research study discusses that ome of the employed supervisors lack the skill to manage these young offenders who are still undergoing human development and maturity. Lack of proper supervision may equally lead to delinquent and problematic children instead of rehabilitated children. The problem of blending these juveniles and criminal sentences has caused prolonged stays in the correctional facilities. This does not only bias the juveniles, but also contributes to consumption of disproportionate share of facility resources.  The more important issues in relation to education include recidivism, a nd the poor supervision and treatment in the juvenile correction centers. The teacher has a duty to ensure change in these juveniles and this raises concerns of the high rates of recidivism.  The numbers of juveniles in correctional facilities are on the increase based on the changing laws. Juveniles continue indulging in crimes and the crowded centers seem to fail in supervising and treating these delinquents.

Cyper ethics Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Cyper ethics - Article Example In accordance with Alvin Goldman critics, the internet has greatly deteriorated the influence that the conventional media once had on the people by lack of truth in the messages being conveyed. As a result, this affects the epistemic prospects of the voting public. Alvin explains filtering as a process whereby, a third person is involved in the process of communication. In addition, he further explains that the person should have the power to select preferred messages that should be sent via certain channel of communication. According to Alvin, this is important as it is the most appropriate way of ensuring that the community can track the truth from politics thus enhancing democracy. Moreover, filtering has been applied in scientific journals and the common law in the process of determining the truth and by so doing; it should also be used in the practices of the social media so as to promote the truth. From Richard Posner’s discussions, it is quite clear that the function of news is to inform people about social, political, cultural, ethical and economic issues. Therefore, journalists and their employers are under an ethical duty to report news accurately and soberly without being biased. However, Richard Posner has pointed various occasions whereby news has been sensationalized and as a result, raised unnecessary anxiety. He explains that this is as a result of increase in the number of television channels due to satellites and numerous online blogs and newspapers even though he concludes that it isn’t much to worry about. In my opinion, I do not think that he’s right as sensationalized news could cause very serious and tragic consequences. This is because could foster crisis especially in during an election and lead to disunity in the region thus destruction of property and consequently harming the economy. Moreover, I am completely in harmony with

Statistical Process Control (SPC) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Statistical Process Control (SPC) - Essay Example In contrast to this, SPC uses statistical techniques to ascertain whether there are any deviations in the production line that may end with the project being rejected. The concept behind the viability of the SPC is that any product in a production process will have a certain degree of deviation in terms of its properties, which will vary slightly from its design values. SPC manages these deviations and prevents them from getting out of control, by analyzing the variances within the process from time to time. For example, by using statistical tools, any person who oversees the functioning of the production line can use them to detect any profound and undesirable changes (which exceed the specified limits). The causes of any such variation could be due to a host of factors such as wear and tear due to continued use etc. and as such the technique offers a great chance of correcting the problem at the source itself thereby ensuring that subsequent products from the production line stay well within the desired limits. In worst cases, this could alert the supervisor so that he/she may stop the production in order for the problem to be rectified.

Financing of Home Care Essay Example for Free

Financing of Home Care Essay In United States of America, health is an interesting topic in the society that does not only influence the well being of millions of Americans, but also influences the strength of Americas’ economy. This nation spends more on health care per person than any other nations. America is said to be having the highest infant mortality rates and a relatively low average lifespan. (Baer, 1989) For many families, lack of Health care is the source of vulnerability for the household’s economic status, as sickness or injury without health care can be a financial burden pushing families to poverty. According to the Census Bureau, the number of Americans having Private health coverage has fallen by one percent in the recent years. Home care is a term that is used to refer to the services that are usually provided in the home. They include giving patients professional services from physiotherapist, social workers and nurses. There is also the use of supplies, inclusion of therapies and incorporation of durable medical equipment. (Baer, 1989) The government has set the rules that have to be followed by each and every home care. In the home care, a range of services are therefore provided to the patients. The services include home making services, medication administration, blood transfusions, physical and occupational therapists among other services. Medicare on the other hand covers the home care services for the patients that have the following characteristics; †¢ They receive services from a Medicare †¢ They are under the physician’s care plan †¢ Those that are homebound †¢ Those that need nursing care that is very much skilled or physical therapy There are various ways through which homecare is financed. They include the following; †¢ Government funds †¢ Volunteers †¢ Commercial insurers †¢ Donations or charities †¢ Patients These are the major ways that home care systems are financed. Research reveals that systems are not for making profits. Looking at the various sources of finance for home care, there are different percentages of income that comes from each source. The government in most cases gives the highest percentage of income to the home care. This is approximately sixty percent of the total amount sourced. Donations then follow next with twenty percent. (Ehrenreich, 1970) Commercial insurers give approximately ten percent of the total amount of money that is used in the homecare systems. Patients are normally charged a small fee when they visit the home system and this amount to approximately five percent of the total revenue. There are normally volunteers who help out in providing some of the services free of charge and this helps to ease the burden of the costs that are incurred. Research reveals that there exists a very good relationship between the financiers and the homecare system. There is no one who ever wants to give his or her money without wanting to know how it has been used. Taking an example of the government as the main source of finance for homecare systems, it is always concerned with the faring on of the home care. (Ehrenreich, 1970) The government is normally very concerned with issues that affect home care especially in relation to the finances therein. The administrators of the home cares normally have the responsibility of giving account of how the finances have been spent in the home care. Looking at it from the administrator’s point of view, they normally wish that the government would do more than just send the finances to them but actually be more concerned with the whole project or the issues taking place in the home care system. To the administrators, the finances that are given by the government are not sufficient to cater for everything in the system and therefore planning becomes very hard in such a situation. The patients on the other hand are very grateful that the government decided to cater partly for their services given in the homecare because they don’t pay a lot of money. Research carried out in the year 2006 May in the United States amongst various patients reveal that patients come from different social status. There are those from affluent families, middle and then low income families. (Schaeffer, 2002) For the low income patients, the amount of funds that are given by the government are not enough because this compels the system administrators to charge them a fee which to them is a lot comparing it to their level of income. The patients who have middle income think that the government’s support is fair and they as patients can now afford it. For the affluent, they do not even feel the pinch of giving the little cash for getting services in the homecare but nevertheless acknowledge that the government is of great help. Donations and charities in form of funds given to the home care are given by organizations and individuals. There are various non-governmental organizations that give their donations to home care systems. According to the administrators in home care systems, donations and charities help a great deal in the smooth running of the systems. They concur that without the help of these non-governmental organizations, and then they could not have managed to do so many things in the home care systems. Patients also as stakeholders are grateful to the invaluable help of non-governmental organizations and individuals for this has enabled very many of them to access services that they could have otherwise not been able to. According to the administrators, the help given by no-governmental organizations though it helps it is not sufficient and therefore much still needs to be done. Looking at the relationship of the non-governmental organizations with the home care systems, one can say that there exists good relationship as the NGOs normally try to catch up on how the home cares are faring on. Research reveals that the relationship of the financier with the homecare is very important. A part from the financial help, there needs to be a mutual relationship between these two parties so that they can understand each other well. Looking at the provider or the financiers’ point of view, there is so much expectation from the home care system. From the government’s point of view, home cares expect so much from the government and there is the tendency to think that the government has got a lot of money lying idle which can be used in the home care system. According to the officials in the government of United States, the administrators have to know that the government is doing its best to see to it that these systems are run smoothly without financial strain. This is done so that every citizen benefits from these services and especially those from low income families per say. (Warren, 2005) Conclusion In home care, mostly the medical services are given in the home. In this case the patients are given professional services by nurses, social workers and home care assistants. These services include physiotherapy. Each and every home care system has to follow the rules that are set up by the government. (Strunk and Gabel, 2002) Home care systems are financed by various stakeholders. They include the following; the government, donations from individuals and from non-governmental organizations, small fee paid by the patients and from commercial insurers. Among these sources the government gives the highest percentage of finances to the home care systems. This is sixty percent of the total finances in the home care systems. According to the administrators in home cares, this amount is not sufficient to cater for all the needs in home cares. They say that the government needs to add more funds. According to the patients, the government is really playing a big role in enabling them to access these important services. (Strunk, and Gabel, 2002) To the low income patients, the funds are not enough and they should be increased so that they (patients) pay much lesser than what they are currently paying. The relationship that exists between financers and the home care systems is good. The administrators however say that the financiers need to be more concerned with all the activities that take place in the home care. Government officials say that home care administrators expect so much from them but they are doing their best to see to it that the home care systems do not strain financially at all. Reference Baer, H. (1989): The American Dominative Medical System as Reflection of Social elations in the Larger Society. Social Science and Medicine, 28(11):1103-1112 Ehrenreich, J. (1970): The American Health Empire: Power, Profits and Politics; NY Random House, Schaeffer, S. (2002): Rising Health-Care Expenses Outpace U. S. GDP Growth, HealthCare costs rose 9. 3% in 2002 PP 207-217 Strunk, B. and Gabel, J. (2002): Tracking health care costs- Growth accelerates again In 2001; Health affairs; Pp 45-67 Warren, E. (2005): Sick and Broke; New York; Melbourne Press

Social work theory

Social work theory Title: ‘Framework for practice, exploring social work theory.’ The case throws up several interconnected issues. The essay will examine these through the lens of two different theories, on one hand the ecological theory of human development by Bronfenbrenner (1979), and on the other hand, the social model of disability as it has been proposed by social work theorists over the last three decades (Oliver 1996). The case demands a decision to be made and theories at best have a contributory role to play in the decision making process (Banks 2006: 27). A brief list of the issues involved in the case should heighten the awareness for the complexity of the case. First, there is the question about the levels of parental competence and capacity for effective parenting given that both parents suffer from learning disabilities. Second, social workers need to evaluate the chances that Stan and Cassie will be able to provide a stable parental environment that has significant advantages over that provided by Cassie’s parents Marian and Bill. There are further issues surrounding the rights of parents and the rights of the child which may be perceived as mutually exclusive. Additionally, social workers will have to assess the impact of changes in location and in providing a generally supportive and protective environment which a relocation of the child to her natural parents may precipitate. Bronfenbrenner was concerned to construct a theory of human development that recognised the dynamic interconnectedness of environmental and biological factors. He envisaged this theory to ‘lie at the point of convergence among the disciplines of the biological, psychological. and social sciences’ (Bronfenbrenner 1979:13). In a later article he elaborated his notion of the role of external environments and called for a new focus of psychological research in human development. His theory, so he argued, was uniquely suited to map out the various factors that influence child development as they were encapsulated in the institution of the family (Bronfenbrenner 1986). Bronfenbrenner suggests that there are three dimensions which represent the units of psychological inquiry. There is, firstly, what he calls the immediate environment of human engagements (mesosystems) in which the child as well as the parents ‘actively participate’ (Bronfenbrenner 1979: 25). It comprises the entire range of activities, roles and interpersonal relations that are ‘experienced by the developing person’ (Bronfenbrenner 1979: 22) and the interconnections amongst several of these patterned behavioural structures. Bronfenbrenner proposed that mesosystems are only the intermediate structures that connect the individual to the next highest level of environmental contexts. He calls this the exosystem which characteristically does ‘not involve the developing person as an active participant, but in which events occur that affect†¦ what happens’( Bronfenbrenner 1979: 25) in the mesosystem. Yet, how does this contribute to a more grounded and fairer decision in the given case? Bronfenbrenner’s main thesis, implicit in the model of ecological development, is that external events do have a direct impact on child development even if they seem to be initially non-quantifiable to an outside observer and within static models. Meso- exo- and chrono-systems influence the family context, of which the chronological and exogenous dimensions are most relevant in the given context of this case. In a detailed article in which he defends his ecological model of human development and supports it with research evidence, he singles out several aspects of family existence which determine directly and noticeably child development (Bronfenbrenner 1986). Amongst others he dwells on employment (maternal and paternal), schooling, community involvement and parental networks of assistance as well as peer group involvement and pressure for the child. We may usefully add case worker-parent relationships as well as the wider policy context in which social workers operate in assessing child care cases (Calder 2003). Bronfenbrenner analyses research evidence within his theoretical framework and against the background of social work objectives such as educational and occupational achievement of children (in later life) as well as stability of living environments (Bronfenbrenner 1986: 726). Within the UK context that is framed by the DDA and the Code of Practice one would have to add the respect for individual human beings, justice and individual rights to lead a fulfilled life, self-determination, as well as the eradication of discrimination on grounds of ethnic differences or disability which has been part of the policy agenda of New Labour (Garrett 2003; Banks 2006). Bronfenbrenner’s model now allows a social worker to theorise the following aspects in the adjudication of opposing claims to raise Rebecca. First, they may assess the chances that Cassie or Stan find/remain in employment which evidently has a positive impact on child development (Parsons 1982). Second they may take into account the resources of support that are available to Stan and Cassie within their own family as well as the wider community (Hall 1997, Bronfenbrenner 1986). Thirdly, they would like to assess the relevance of being raised by their biological parents or by the grandparents. And social workers may look at the wider family context in which crucial activities such as schooling and after school care provision may be provided when Rebecca lives either with Stan and Cassie or her grandparents. Additionally, they may consider that parents often provide role models for children and that this may positively influence the child’s self-esteem and confidence in s ocial settings (Parsons 1982). Furthermore, Bronfenbrenner’s theory allows social workers to conceptualise singular events as having a long term impact on child development. The ecological theory of human development urges assessors to consider the influence that disruptions to the normal life of a child, such as the relocation to Rebecca’s natural parents may have on her chances to future educational achievement (cf. also Olsen 2003). Bronfenbrenner subsumes these factors under the chrono-system which conceptualises sudden alterations in the child’s environment in its long term effects (Bronfenbrenner 1986). Bronfenbrenner argues that child development needs to be understood in a ‘life course perspective’ in which sequences of developmental transitions can have cumulative effects (Bronfenbrenner 1979). Like all guiding theories of psychological development that are supposed to assist in decision making, however, Bronfenbrenner’s model fails to provide a ranking of values which could help determine the eventual outcome of decisions in the long run. He points in his work to convincing evidence that parental employment is a significant factor in normal child development, as well as the importance of social networks on which parents can rely for support in raising the child (Bronfenbrenner 1986). What his model cannot do is to contrast meaningfully these indisputably desirable factors of child development with the equally valuable wider goals of public policy such as reinstating parental rights to people with disabilities. The social model of disability represented a major landmark in changing the theoretical assumptions that informed public attitudes to disabilities (Oliver 1992; Hedlund 2000). Articulated by social scientists such as Finckelstein in the 1970s, the social model was proposed in contradistinction to the medical model of disability which located the origin of disability in a lack of conformity to normal functioning (Oliver 1992). Theorists who challenged this model prevalent in disability theory and practice argued that there are two dimensions to disability. On one side there is a physical impairment, while on the other hand society is structured and organised in such a way as to disallow disabled people to carry out certain functions which they are certainly capable of (Oliver 1992; Olsen 2003; Morris 1993). The social model thus places the onus of change on society which hitherto has prevented people from functioning to their full abilities. The critical edge of the social model is apparent (Hughes 1997). Disabled people certainly have the capacity to being a parent if society removes the obstacles to effective parenting that is has erected over centuries and provides the support to disabled parents that they are entitled to. Parental competence is something that should be assumed on the side of disabled parents rather than working on the presumption that a physical impairment renders disabled people incapable to exercising certain functions in society. This model thus shifts the burden of proof to society and therefore stipulates that fundamental rights of individuals, such as having the chance of being a parent, can only be infringed if it can be shown that significant harm comes to the child through neglect, injury or considerably diminishing of the opportunities for the child. Once again, this must be judged not against the capacities of disabled parents to raise a child under circumstances of prevalent discrimination against them by society but under conditions of equality with able bodied persons (Morris 1993). In this framework the tables are turned. Arguments in favour of Rebecca being raised by her grandparents must show a significant violation of her rights to have a fulfilled life when living with her biological parents or the chance that effective parenting is not possible in a household that comprises a father and mother both suffering from learning disabilities. Although the child’s welfare is paramount this principle cannot be assumed to contradict and ultimately to override the right to raise your own children simply because society may not provide an environment free from discrimination against disabled people which may impinge on the abilities of the Stan and Cassie to provide a stable and caring family setting. There exists a comprehensive assessment framework for child welfare cases like this and one of the first principles is that the natural family is the best place in which children develop and grow up (Calder 2003). Doubts about the parenting competence and capacity of Stan and Cassie thus heavily draw on the medical model of disability which, within the policy context of the UK, has been rejected as a valid framework for assessments of disability care. Both theories have advantages and disadvantages for the assessment process in the given case. Bronfenbrenner’s model allows case managers to take into account events that may considerably disrupt Rebecca’s life and, in the long run, impinge on her abilities to perform well in educational and vocational settings. In contrast, the social model of disability raises awareness for the basic principles of equity and fairness in making decisions in a social care context. It urges social workers to understand the particular situation of Stan and Cassie as determined to a large extent by society. Lack of resources and support in raising Rebecca would therefore have to be tackled by the social welfare system in contribution to placing both parents in a profoundly unjust situation in the first place. While Bronfenbrenner’s theory may incline social workers more towards deciding in favour of Rebecca’s grandparents, the social model of disability reiterates strongly the need of the social welfare system to remove all obstacles to disabled parenting so that Stan and Cassie can raise their own child. References Banks, S. (2006). Ethics and Values in Social Work. Third Edition. Basingstoke: Palgrave Bronfenbrenner, U. (1986). Ecology of the Family as a Context for Human Development: Research Perspectives. Developmental Psychology, 22, 6, 723-742 _______________ (1979). The Ecology of Human Development. Experiments by Nature and Design. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press Garrett, P. M. (2003). Swimming with Dolphins: The Assessment Framework, New Labour and New Tools for Social Work with Children and Families. British Journal of Social Work, 33, 441-463 Hall, S. K. e.a. (1997). Caseworkers’ Perceptions of Protective Services Clients’ Parental Functioning: Toward an Ecological Integration. Children and Youth Services Review, 19, 3, 179-194 Hedlund, M. (2000). Disability as a Phenomenon: a discourse of social and biological understanding. Disability and Society, 15, 5, 765-780 Hughes, B. and Paterson, K. (1997). The Social Model of Disability and the Disappearing Body: towards a sociology of impairment. Disability and Society, 12, 3, 325-340 Morris, J. (1993). Independent Lives? Community Care and Disabled People. Basingstoke: McMillan Oliver, M. (1996). Understanding Disability. From Theory to Practice. Basingstoke: MacMillan Olsen, R. and Harriet Clarke (2003). Parenting and Disability. Disabled parents’ experiences of raising children. Bristol: The Policy Press Parsons, J. E., Terry F. Adler and Caroline M. Kczala (1982). Socialisation of Achievement Attitudes and Beliefs: Parental Influences. Child Development, 53, 310-321

The Rise Of World Oil Price In Malaysia

The Rise Of World Oil Price In Malaysia The article titled Spectre of inflation was posted on 7 March 2011 by The Star Online. It reports the impact of rise in world oil prices and explains how this affects the country. 2.0 Introduction With the world oil prices increasing rapidly, the public is concerned about the effects to the economy of Malaysia in 2011. According to early experiences, the rapidly increasing prices of oil and gas usually affect the countrys economy growth. The aim of this report is to examine the impact of the rise of world oil price in Malaysia using economics concepts and simple diagrams. The report will emphasize on macroeconomics, including topics such as inflation, business cycle, aggregate demand and supply, monetary policy and fiscal policy. At the end of the report, a summary of all the discussions mentioned will be concluded. 3.0 Analysis 3.1 Business Cycle The consistently oil price changes has a great impact on the business cycle. The emerging increase in the world oil price delays the recovery of economy in Malaysia. The effect of the business cycle on oil price changes is illustrated using movements in real GDP. Generally, each business cycle has two phases: A contraction and expansion and two turning points: A peak and a trough. Figure 1.1 shows a hypothetical business cycle. Real GDP Untitled.jpg Figure 1.1 According to Mahbob (2011), the booming price of oil and gas is not positive for the economic growth as Malaysia is just trying to recover after the global financial crisis in 2009. This will lead to recession. Recession usually decreases the inflation rate. This is an exception because the recession is caused by a supply shock. During this period of time, the inflation rate of Malaysia rises rapidly. Eventually, this increases the unemployment rate and causes the real GDP to fell significantly. 3.2 Aggregate demand In the article, it was mentioned that the public have to arrange their spending and pattern of consumption due to inflation. The public are encouraged to increase domestic food production, economized on travels and increase usage of public transports to promote household savings (Mahbob 2011). This will help Malaysia to tame the inflationary stress. Aggregate demand (AD) curve shows the relationship between the price level and the quantity of real GDP demanded, ceteris paribus. The aggregate demand curve is always downward sloping. This is due to a decrease in the price level increases the quantity of real GDP demanded. Meanwhile, the short-run aggregate supply curve (SRAS) shows the relationship in the short-run between the price level and the quantity of real GDP supplied by the firm. The aggregate demand curve also shows the equilibrium level of real GDP. The total spending is equivalent to the total output for each price level. The equation of aggregate demand is shown in Figure1.2 as below: Figure 1.2 The aggregate demand curve will shift if any variable changes other than price level. A change in C, I, G or net Xs will shift the aggregate demand curve. For example, the increase in price of oil causes the households and firms to become pessimistic about their future incomes. They are more likely to save. This will decrease the overall consumption and hence, shifting the aggregate demand curve to the left. To help to ease the inflationary pressure in Malaysia caused by the continuously increasing oil price, C, I, G or net Xs should be increased. The aggregate demand curve will shift to the right from AD1 to AD2 in Figure 1.3 if C, I, G or net Xs are increased. Untitled.png Figure 1.3 3.3 Aggregate supply The aggregate supply (AS) curve shows the effect of changes in total output or real GDP on the price level. The long-run aggregate supply (LRAS) curve is when the real GDP equals to potential GDP and there is full employment. The long-run aggregate supply curve is always vertical because potential GDP is not affected by the price level. An unexpected change in the price of natural resources such as oil will shift the aggregate supply curve. For instance, a sudden increase in the price of oil in Malaysia causes supply shock to happen. The price levels of the outputs increase significantly as a greater amount of inputs are needed for production. Costs of producing output rise. This cause the aggregate supply curve to shift to the left, from AS1 to AS2, as shown in Figure 1.4. Untitled.png Figure 1.4 3.4 Inflation Inflation is generally defined as a process of continuously rising prices, or equivalently, of continuously falling value of money (Laidler and Parkin, 1975, 741). Inflation rate is the percentage rise in the level of price every year. The price of Ron97 petrol was increased to RM2.70 per litre at 1 April 2011, which is RM 0.20 higher than the price before. In 2011, current high oil prices are actually caused by the fears that supply would be disrupted by the unrest and turmoil in Libya and Egypt and the protests in the Middle East. The persistent increase in the price of oil in Malaysia contributed to inflation. Malaysia, who is experiencing high inflation rate, will cause the real income of individual to decrease. This will then decrease the purchasing power of consumer and weakens Malaysian currency. In long term, Malaysia will experience a decline in economic growth. According to the economics theories, the increase in prices of oil is a cost-push inflation. Cost-push inflation is defined as the inflation that arises as a result of a negative supply shock-that is, anything that causes a decrease in the aggregate supply of goods and services (Essential of Economics, 2010, 465). The soaring oil price causes a negative supply shock, which leads to an upward shift in price level and lower real gross domestic product (GDP) in the short run. An increase in oil price causes an increase in the production costs. This shifts the aggregate supply curve to the left, from SRAS1 to SRAS2 in Figure 1.5. This moves the short-run equilibrium from point A to point B. The real GDP falls below its potential level and the price level increase from P1 to P2. Untitled.png Figure 1.5 3.5 Monetary Policy The rising oil prices contributes to a big part of the increase in inflation rate in Malaysia. In Malaysia, monetary policy is determined by Bank Negara Malaysia. The aim of monetary policy in Malaysia is to attain price stability of the currency. By maintaining low inflation, it helps to promote long-term growth and full employment. Bank Negara Malaysia implements open market operations (OMO) to sterilize liquidity changes in the overnight money market to maintain constant cash rate. As shown above in section 3.2, AD = C + I + G + X-M. An increase or decrease in the interest rate will affect the consumption (C), investments (I) and net exports (X-M). However, it does not influence government purchase. For example, an increase in the cash supply on the OMO will lead to a fall in interest rate and an increase in consumer and investment expenditure. During inflation, Bank Negara Malaysia implements contractionary monetary policy to keep the rate of inflation low. Bank Negara Malaysia increases the cash rate at inflationary periods to decrease the cash supply. As a result, interest rate is increase. This will then decrease the investment, consumption and net exports. The aggregate demand curve shifts to the left. Price level and real GDP are decreased. Untitled.png Figure 1.6 As shown in Figure 1.6, Bank Negara Malaysia prevents the aggregate demand to increase too rapid by raising the interest rates. The contractionary monetary policy shifts the aggregate demand curve from AD0 to AD1. The price level decreases from P0 to P1 while the real GDP decreases from GDP0 to GDP1. This helps to reduce inflation.

Admissions Essay: The Study of Medicine :: Medicine College Admissions Essays

Admissions Essay: I Intend to Pursue the Study of Medicine "The best prize life offers if the chance to work hard at work worth doing."(1) This is the premise on which my academic and career aspirations are based. The goals that I have chosen are those that will benefit others and enhance my growth by requiring me to face challenges successfully. Most importantly, my goals are all things that I will love doing, and any positive goal that a person has her heart in is work worth doing. My primary academic interest is molecular biology, specifically genetics. I first became interested in this field while reading scientific articles on DNA Fingerprinting and genetic research. I have also probed the ethical debate that recent advancements in genetic engineering have spawned. My reading has inspired me to pursue the study of genetics in college. It is a field that will not only require me to think scientifically, but will also challenge me to harmonize my studies with my ethical values. I know that genetics is a field for which I have strong potential. As an undergraduate, I look forward to researching the causes of aging and learning to develop preventive medicines by studying the maps of the human genome. A strong background in molecular biology will help me to reach my professional goal of being a doctor of medicine. A successful career is based on a strong desire to pursue the career and a clear understanding of what it entail. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to experience the medical profession first-hand when I shadowed an oncologist early in my senior year. My observation day went as I had expected until a patient with swollen eyes and a handful of crumpled tissues came in with an emergency appointment. Terminally ill, she had contemplated suicide the weekend before and needed someone to talk to. From this experience, I learned that being a doctor would require me to do more than heal patients physically. It would require me to put in the extra effort to deal aptly with situations that were incurable with a stethoscope and a prescription. The experience gave me an extra edge by giving me confidence in my career choice and a full understanding of what my goals entailed. In high school, I have selected many activities with my career choice in mind.

Women In The Odyssey Essay -- essays research papers

The literature composed during the era when the Odyssey was written was directed by men. Woman characters were valued but the only participated in affairs when they had the permission of men. The men, for the most part, directed the women's lives. The themes used in literature were on the subjects that men would be interested in; combat; warriors, and rulers. Domestic affairs, for the most part, were not noted. There is a immense contrast between the Odyssey and other epic poetry of the period. There are several women characters in the Odyssey. All of them add to plot in significant ways and they are also treated with admiration. The women of the poem change the lives of the gods and men, and how they link in significant ways to one another. Penelope, the wife of Odyssues, is the perfect wife and mother. She is also independant and intelligent. Penelope's character is Homer's model of the ideal woman. She worries when her son Telemachos sails to locate his father and grieves over the absence of her husband. Many times throughout the poem Penelope cries herself to sleep, yearning for information of her husband's welfare. Even after nearly twenty years of absence, Penelope still praises of her husband. At any time Penelope could have married one of the suitors and provided a father figure for her son. This fact demonstrate Penelopes loylaty to her husband. . Standing before the suitors, Penelope announces that whoever among them can string the bow and shoot an arrow through ...

Green Days by the River

How would you feel if you were put in the position of having to choose between attending school and getting an education over working so that you can help your family circumstances? Shell, a fifteen year old boy had made a decision to work instead of attending school and obtain an education. Why do you think a boy that young will choose to work? Shell chose to work because he is helping out his mother as she is the only one in the family who is doing well other than himself. His father is ill as he was put to bed rest. Shell has made a commitment to work on a plantation with Mr. Gidaharee and also he has gotten a second job at a coco plantation to help out his family circumstances by being another member in the family who can support financially. Do you think that was a good choice that Shell made? I believe that the role of a fifteen year old has a right to attend school and obtain an education but also I believe that a fifteen year old has a right to help out his or her family circumstances. You must be thinking which one I agree with the most. Well I agree with working to help your family circumstances. If Shell does not help out financially then where will that put his family? In this case as I mentioned before Shell is a fifteen year old boy who has chosen to work over obtaining an education to help out his family, especially his mother financially. I agree with the statement fully as it is a family circumstance. With Shell being able to work, he is able to help out his family tremendously especially his mother who was the only one working. He is making it easier for his mother by bringing in money to support her, his sick father, and himself. Many people think that if a teenager drops out of school due to family circumstances that they will not be successful in life. I do not believe in that statement due to the fact Shell can always attempt to go back to school. He can work for about 5 years and help support his family to get them on a good financial level and once completing that task he can go back to school and get his education. Shell was not forced to work he has come upon himself and chosen to work to help out his family. This shows Shell to be very caring for his family and also shows the maturity that Shell has. With Shell working do you think his mother appreciates him working and not obtaining an education? I think that his mother appreciates and puts a smile on her face because it is less stressful for her. If Shell did not work she would have to work to bring money into the home and also take care of Shells’ father. I believe that Shell has made a good decision in helping out his family even though he is only a fifteen year old boy. Who knows it may just work out for him and he may be able to get his education later on in life. I also believe that Shell would do anything in his power to help out his family. He will continue working with Mr. Gidahree at his plantation and also working at his second job at the coco plantation to help his family circumstances.

Debate Final Exam

July 13, 2007 Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. Today our resolution is legalization of drugs does not damage society. We are on the negative group strongly against this resolution. Let’s look at the important points. The affirmative team had four points: personal behavior, price, safety and management. Their first point is personal behavior. They said that everyone has the right to choose his or her own lifestyle. It’s true. But one’s own choice should be based on social morality and within limits. If anyone just goes straight to do what they want, the society even the whole world will be out of control. The affirmative team didn’t consider this undeniable principle. In addition, taking drugs is not a good way to relax and entertain. Their second point is price. They said that if drug was legislated by the government, the black-markets will disappear. It’s not necessarily true that the black-markets will disappear. Because many markets legalized still have black markets out of the government’s reach. They also said that the government would lower the price of drugs so that drug users will not be forced to do criminals in order to get the money for drugs. First, the government might lower the price but the degree will be limited, for the costs of drugs are still high and expensive. It remains a money problem for the drug users. So it’s not true that legalization of drugs will decrease criminals. Second, the lower the price is, the more drug users are. Their third point is safety. They said that the pure heroin do very little harm to human body. It’s not true. Because no matter how pure the heroin is, it still does harm to human body for is a kind of medicine that has effect on human body. Not only that, drugs may cause both mental and physical disease, like cancer. Their fourth point is management. They said that drug users increased year by year is because of the action of forbidding drugs. Actually, it’s the opposite. America is one of the countries who has legalized drugs but still among the top countries with most drug users. As for china, we have law to forbid drugs and the drug abuse is not as serious as those countries. On out side, we have three points to support our opinion: heath, harmonious society and money. Our first point is health. Obviously, drugs will do great harm to people both physically and mentally. If the government legalizes drugs, the convenience and lower price will cause more and more drug users, because drugs could be bought everywhere just like food. So why take something that is harmful to us? Our second point is harmonious society. First, drug users will cause family problems. The costs of drugs come from family. That’s a very reason for divorce. Divorce will cause many other social problems. Second, legalization of drugs will have bad effect on adolescence. So naive are they, they have the curiosity of imitating adults, such as smoking. Our third point is money. Drug users will spend a lot of money on it. If the price is lowed by the government, the drug users will take more, after all, high price is a limitation for their habits. That’s all. Thank you.

Hip Hop’s Betrayal on Black Women Essay

In â€Å"Hip Hop’s Betrayal of Black Women†, McLune addresses the influence of hip hop’s choice of words towards African American women and females. McLune’s article is written in response to Powell’s opinions in â€Å"Notes of a Hip Hop Head†, along with various other hip hop artists, that black females are the leading cause of poverty and racism why black men undertake racism and poverty, as if women do not face these struggles from day to day. McLune disagrees with this remark and states that this is just one of many excuses that men use. McLune addresses an audience that is well educated along with informed with the different sexism opinions towards women in our society, though many men feel that some of their statements or opinions are not affecting women. Therefore, McLune’s article deserves to be recognized in PopMatters. With all the arguments and comebacks she had, â€Å"Hip Hop’s Betrayal of Black Women† should be considered for the top prizes for persuasive essays due to the problems that our African American society faces on a daily basis. The energy of McLune’s argument is its energetic appeal to African American women along with different races. Her argument implied that men want women to give in to them and accept the fact that they are being degraded, simply so that men can boost their confidence and masculinity: â€Å"It’s obvious that if these are the winning terms for our creativity, black women are ultimately the losers. And that’s exactly how these self-proclaimed players, thugs, and hip-hop intellectuals want us—on our backs and pledging allegiance to the hip hop nation. (Analytical Writing: A Guide to College Composition 300) McLune also covers the fact that even the hip hop artist â€Å"who have an underground and conscious force in hip hop— like Common, The Roots, Talib Kweli and others— remain inconsistent, apologetic, and even eager to join the mainstream player’s club† (297) She is bothered that they have yet to come forward and defend the women who are being belittled by the misogynistic hip-hop artist. By expressing this with the African American society of women who are ontinuously torched by the demanding words of men, McLune appeals strongly to all American women’s intellect of equality and respect. Women should not have to be judged by men and expect to be treated as if they owe anyone something, let alone have to be mistreated and belittled, if that were to be the case then men should be treated the same, therefore McLune’s audience, should understand that that is not how you define a black woman in any terms. This denotation to the silent cries supports for an emotional appeal to an example of the silent cries in African American women. As stated in the title, Powell is aware that black women are merely being betrayed in the hip-hop industry and simply states that the choice of words that hip-hop artist chose to rap about is simply â€Å"the ghetto blues, urban folk art, a cry out for help. † (298) and it is rubbing off on almost every man in our American society and giving them a different perspective of women all because women refuse to speak out and speak up. As a result, female rappers are often just as male-identified, violent, materialistic, and ignorant as their male peers. † (298). Over 100 years ago, women were not even allowed to vote, the closest they got to voting was sitting there and watching. They were not allowed to work, they were forced to be stay at home wives while their husbands went out and worked hard to provide for the family. They also didn’t h ave the opportunity to speak up for themselves, it was known as a man’s duty. As you see in â€Å"Hip Hop’s Betrayal of Black Women† McLune states that women still sit back in silence in accept the belittling words that men throw at them through their lyrics. Hip hop did not evolve from speaking down on females, it started out as a way suppress differences between two rivalries or to speak on behalf of shortcomings and mishaps in the past. This comes to question our audience why it is that hip hop has transformed into a way of lashing out a man’s anger towards a woman and how their imaginative character dreams to look at women. We can look at the past years when women were not given the opportunity to make their own decisions and to speak on behalf of themselves, also how and why did hip hop change its meaning behind music. McLune provides a great example to the female hip hop artist as to why they would chose to be viewed in the same eyes that the misogynistic hip hop male artist are viewed. Also as to why after so many years why is that men still have the upper hand. She does this by bringing up the point from Powell’s socioeconomic explanation for the sexism in hip-hop is a way to silence feminist critiques of the culture. It is to make an understanding of the misogynistic objectification of black women in hip-hop so elusive that we can’t grasp it long enough to wring the neck of its power over us (297). From this information, we can conclude that is very much true, because most females will accept the belittling comments rather than words of wisdom and motivation. Because McLune gives great appeals to the not only the African American society, but the various races, her article deserves to be one of the top prized persuasive essays in PopMatters. It can be used as an example to our upcoming generation of young men to not treat or speak down on a young lady as something they hear in a rap song. McLune’s article demonstrates why women, especially African American women should speak up and out regardless of what the outcome will be. Her argument would have been more effective have she spoke about all the other races seen in videos because it’s not just black females now.

Book Report on Farewell to Manzanar Essay

In the early year of 1942, the families of Japanese people are being ordered to start a move to Manzanar, California; the Wakatsuki family is one of them. Many Japanese accept the move because they are afraid of Caucasian aggression, but some simply see it as an adventure. Families have to put on identification number tags on their collars. Riding on buses to Manzanar, Jeanne falls asleep on the bus, nearly half of which is filled with her relatives, and wakes up to the â€Å"setting sun and the yellow, billowing dust of Owens Valley. (pg 19) As they enter the camp, the new arrivals stare silently at the families already waiting in the wind and sand. Upon arriving, just in time for dinner, â€Å"the mess halls weren’t completed yet† (pg 19) seeing a line formed around the soon to be finished building blocking a good part of the wind. Only seeing tents and barracks, half built buildings that were unending. There were cracks in the floors, only one light bulb per room, gaps in the walls, an oil stove for heat, and not very much space at all. â€Å"We were assigned two of these for the twelve people in our family group. † (pg. 1) With all the confined spacing for the families, you can tell there was a lot of tension between everyone. The food they had made for us to eat was not in our culture at all. â€Å"The Caucasian servers were thinking that the fruit poured over rice would make a good desert. Among the Japanese, of course, rice is never eaten with sweet foods, only with salty or savory foods. † (pg. 20) On top of the food being served wrong, their latrines were not very useable. â€Å"The smell of it spoiled what little appetite we had. † (pg. 31) â€Å"My mother was a very modest person, and this was going to be agony for her, sitting down in public, among strangers.   (pg. 32). What some of the other women did was drag in a big cardboard carton and put up as walls so no one could see. The reservoir shack was just outside of camp. â€Å"My brother-in-law Kaz was foreman of a reservoir maintenance detail, the only crew permitted to work or to leave the camp limits the night of the riot. † (pg. 78) The guys that were on this detail slept on cots in a shack. When they turned off the lights in the shack at night and everyone was laying down it was so dark that you couldn’t see anyone or anything in the shack.

Self-Disclosure, Gender, and Communication Research Paper

Self-Disclosure, Gender, and Communication - Research Paper Example Yes, but not too soon. I am answering this from a perspective of a single person. Self-disclosure is a liberating and in deepens a relationship but it should be done with timing and caution. Revealing too much too soon may scare the other party. Self-disclosure is appropriate when a certain degree of intimacy and length of being together has already been established. 3. What about gender differences? Remember, although research has found differences in gender communication, it has also found similarities. What kind of similarities between genders have you experienced?   I agree that each gender has different communication style. This was best illustrated in John Gray’s book Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus that tells that men communicate in exact quantifiable terms while women communicate in descriptive terms (1993). Still, this does not mean that they do not have a convergent point in communication. Both have a need to relate to each other emotionally, to be understood and to be appreciated. I felt that I do not fit into Terri Orbuch’s generalization because her study was based on married couples of which I am not. I would not know how to relate to the conclusion that couples of more than 50 years only communicate no more than three minutes in an hour long dinner (Orbuch, 2011). I agree however on her point of view that real communication involves really knowing and relating to the other person and not just a conversation about certain tasks. Orbuch, Terri (2011). Can we talk? Chicago Tribute. Retrieved from

CRIMINAL JUSTICE 1 question Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

CRIMINAL JUSTICE 1 question - Coursework Example Why is this problematic? The first issue is environmental. According to Lyman (2011, page 428), â€Å"as a result, Colombian peasants who are dependent on the coca crop as their only source of income have moved into the Amazon rainforests. The movement of coca growers to rainforest has resulted in the clearing of at least 1.75 acres of rainforest.† It is clear that one cannot solve a problem by causing another one. In this case, in an attempt to stop the drug trade at its source, policy makers and state agents are destroying important natural resources that are vital to the ecosystem and indeed to the planet. Secondly, the use of forced eradication of crops (through aerial spraying) creates wide and alarming social problems that will only have more disastrous consequences. According to one study (Vargas, 2004 page 5), a political movement born out of disgruntled coca farmers has almost topped the Bolivian presidency and has created insurgency, showing that the cost of conflict far outweighs short-gain gains to be derived from aerial-spraying a community without working out long-term social issues, such as relocation and alternative farming and livelihood opportunities. Thirdly, unbeknownst to the American people, the aerial spraying operations also target legal crops and other things that should not be targeted. According to Transnational Institute (2001, internet), â€Å"many cases involving the destruction of legal crops and alternative development projects can be documented. Aerial fumigation has targeted home patches, ponds and water sources that should never have been the object of this policy.† This is truly problematic and unjust because we are compromising the livelihood and growth opportunities of the poor farmers of Latin America who are growing legal crops and who have a right to clean sources of water. It is deplorable that in order to protect its people, the American government deems it appropriate to make the

Redicovering the atom, how many pennies For Chemirsty Class Lab Report

Redicovering the atom, how many pennies For Chemirsty Class - Lab Report Example It is done using a beaker of pennies and the main objective is to find the weight of one penny using the Millikan’s experiment. This is done using the principals behind the Millikan’s experiment in which Millikan was able to determine the charge of an electron by using the oil drop experiment. The experiment is to take place inside a lab and various measurements are recorded. After this the data is manipulated using Microsoft spreadsheet to get the overall mass of one penny. This is done in an experiment that looks like a game performed by 15 students. The experiment is similar to the experiment that was done by Millikan to determine the charge of one electron without knowing the number of electrons that were there in the oil drop. This experiment also finds the mass of one penny without knowing the number of pennies in the beaker. This experiment was done by 15 students who volunteered to take part in the experiment. Each student was provided with an empty beaker that was later filled with pennies. A balance is also needed to be used in measuring the weights of the can with the pennies as the experiment goes on. In the experiment, the 15 students each grab a handful of pennies without knowing the total number that they have grabbed. After grabbing the pennies, the mass of the pennies that they grabbed is measured to find the total mass of the handful. Then a table is drawn and the mass of the handful collected by the students are recorded. The masses are arranged from the largest to the smallest. Then subtract each mass from the corresponding greater mass and find the difference. After this get the smallest difference that is close to 2 and not in the range of 0.5, 0.5 and so on. After this make a table of the difference in mass of the pennies and the integers that is found. The gradient of the graph gives the mass of one penny To get the smallest number, the differences with the smallest number greater than 2 is used. Those

The findingds and dicussion chapter Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 8250 words

The findingds and dicussion chapter - Essay Example It is one of the most common developmental disorders. Autism in the recent years has shown an increasing profile, as regards acquiring a clear delineation and rising public awareness. This in turn has increased the importance of autism, both within the society, and especially within the realms of education systems. This paper gives an insight into the present educational support available for the autistic children, with a special focus on the special education programs for such students in Saudi Arabia. This paper also makes a review of the studies that explored the teachers' perspectives regarding the integrative model for students with autism. To achieve better results from the various special education programs and therapies, the general and special educators, the parents of children with autism, the policymakers, and other associated professionals should bear in mind the various critical peripherals of an effective educational program for the autistic children, within the present educational system of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Educational system for boys with autism in Saudi Arabia 1 Introduction 1 Background history â€Å"Autistic spectrum disorders are lifelong, complex, controversial, challenging to service providers, they can cause severe impairments and they are not uncommon† PHIS Report (2001, p.7) Autism is a form of developmental disorder that makes an appearance in an individual during the first 3 years of his life, and â€Å"affects the brain's normal development of social and communication skills† (PubMedHealth, Autism, 2010). This  disorder, which is associated with impairment in neural development,  is characterized by faulty social and  communicating skills, and in the perceived stereotyped and restricted behaviours of a child. Autism influences the information processing within the  human brain that occurs due to the changes in the structure, organisation, and connection, of the nerve cells and the  synapses (Levy, Mandell, and Schultz,  2009, par. Neurobiology). Autism is a part of the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASDs) that includes three (sometimes five, if Rett and childhood disintegrative disorder are included) clinically recognised disorders. These are: Autism; Asperger syndrome that shows the same characteristics as Autism, but is less severe in the sense that the child shows no impairment in cognitive and language development; and  Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified  (or PDD-NOS). The PDD-NOS is diagnosed, after all the standard diagnoses tests for Autism and Asperger Syndrome have failed to meet the required criteria (Johnson, C., Scott M., and the Council on Children with Disabilities, 2007, 1183-1186). Autism can be defined as a disorder of the â€Å"affective contact, as an organic dysfunction of biological origin, and as a neurological or brain disorder† (Marwick, Dunlop and MacKay, 2005, 8). This disorder vitiates the functional abilities of a chil d to form

Implications of USA not Ratifying the Kyoto Protocol Research Paper

Implications of USA not Ratifying the Kyoto Protocol - Research Paper Example The Kyoto Protocol is an amendment of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The main purpose of the convention was to stabilize the emission of greenhouse gases. States agreed that they would lessen the green house emissions in their countries1. It was also recognized that developed countries were responsible for emitting high amounts of green house gases. The convention did not provide any plan for action2 instead it just encouraged countries to lessen their emissions. A forum was held in Berlin that came up with the Berlin mandate, which was mainly a mandate by several countries to set policies, and measure that would see the enforcement of the targets set for reduction of greenhouse gases. A second conference3 was held in Geneva Switzerland that led to a declaration, which stated the climate change levels were alarming, and needed strong commitments that were legally binding. There was then held a third conference in Kyoto in Japan whereby countries signed the Kyoto Protocol. The protocol gave targets for greenhouse gas emissions of specific countries. The protocol provided that upon the ratification by 55 industrialized countries it would come into full effect4. What did ratification imply? Ratification meant that countries would implement the protocol within their national institutions. The Kyoto Protocol is an agreement negotiated by countries under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The Kyoto protocol is a protocol that is aimed at reducing emissions of carbon-dioxide gases and greenhouse gases. This is seen whereby the protocol sets targets for countries that emit carbon dioxide and green house gases. This carbon gases include gases such as Hydrofluorocarbons, Perflourocarbons, sulfur hexafluoride, nitrous oxide and methane. The difference that is seen in the convention and the protocol is that the protocol encouraged industrialized countries to control or otherwise stabilize their green house emissions by co mmitting such countries to do so5. The protocol states that if the participating countries continue in the emission of the green house gases they should engage in trading of emission. The protocol uses both national and international mechanisms to ensure the reduction of green house gases. When it comes to national mechanisms, the protocol encourages countries to enact laws that will enhance the purpose of the protocol and therefore reduce the emission of these gases. On international mechanisms, the protocol has come up with three mechanisms that include emission trading, clean development mechanisms and joint implementation6. The protocol Emission trading is the buying of credits from the countries that have managed to exceed the targets set for reduction in order to offset their emissions. The protocol also has several means of monitoring it targets. To begin with is the keeping of a registry whereby countries keep a registry log in the United Nations Secretariat to ensure that c ountries comply with the rules of the protocol. Secondly, a compliance mechanism ensures that countries observe their specific commitments7. There is also adaptation mechanism in the countries that are still developing in that they are provided with assistance to adapt to their climatic changes. In addition, there is

Brand Equity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Brand Equity - Essay Example Attrition can quickly set in, rendering them vulnerable to competition. "Consumer-based brand equity is defined as the value of a brand signal to consumers." (Swait 1998, p. 7) . For Marcoms, once again, proactive commitment to customers separates successful companies from the rest. Because positive equity is so critically important an element of customer loyalty, operational flexibility and value innovation are especially meaningful here. Earlier, the lack of customer loyalty in the supermarket industry was discussed, with real equity being quite elusive for most chains (see appendix 1). At the heart of Marcoms equity package is providing convenience, quality, a variety of services, for customers who want it and who will pay more to get it. It is a premium service identified as such by customers because it delivers more. The equity pressure for companies like Marcoms is that, as they continue to raise the bar on customer expectations, they must also be able to see over the bar and continue to anticipate customer needs (Boone and Kurtz 2002). There are a lot of parallels between (1) the effect on loyalty of customer self-expression and choice and (2) the old-fashioned idea of romance and courtship. Customers are fickle; romance can be fickle. Boy meets girl. Boy wins girl. Boy loves her but takes her for granted. Choice is largely driven by a customer's relationships with a service, and with the companies that offer them. It's about experience, and levels of trust and commitment, through contact with suppliers. Because, in most industries, choices are so readily avai lable, customers are increasingly less hesitant to change suppliers. When replacement is perceived as more positive than negative, they'll move on. Industries such as banking and managed care have seen this occur (see appendix 2). This must translate to positive relationships and contacts, earning and keeping customer loyalty (Crawford 2003). "This perspective on brand equity focuses on the impact on consumer utility of a brand's signal credibility, rather than on the mere clarity of the provided information" (Swait 1998, p. 7) For Marcoms, the long-term value strategy is built on creating strong relationships with customers and anticipating their requirements. A significant new challenge is emerging with regard to value. Companies must now strategize with respect to both the physical product and the "virtual" product, such as information. Overlaps in physical and virtual product occur in many industries, particularly those where a tangible product, such as an automobile, and an int angible product, such as service advice or computer-based information support, coexist. Emancipated thinking and embracing the "possible shapes of things to come" now includes strategies that go beyond reliance on the company's own resources. Increasingly, companies are seeking strategic partnerships and relationships that bring complementary strengths, provide greater customer value, and result in higher share of customer (Boone and Kurtz 2002). Marcoms can build its brand equity through advertising. Marcoms should create a positive brand image and promotes its main goals and strategies appealing to emotions and mind of consumers. Perceptions and tributes towards Marcoms brand will be

Is the Internet Ruining English Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Is the Internet Ruining English - Essay Example Why should be English be afraid of the internet? If the changes and additions in the language have been accepted in the past, the only noticeable issue with internet and English is the speed of the former, meaning how it has accelerated the process. This cannot be attributed to the negative trait. One cannot expect the internet--savvy modern combustible younger generation to read William Shakespeare and Charles Dickens. If they creative computer games, it is their choice. The language perfectionists argue that text messaging has spoiled the beauty of communications through grammatically perfect language and through complete sentences. One who sends the message is certainly not writing a paper for the competitive examination. If texts are filled with abbreviation and the one who reads that text perfectly understands the message conveyed, the purpose is served. Such practice was also vogue in the good old days when people sent telegrams with short and crisp messages. When small childre n lisp and try to communicate, will not the elders enjoy that communication? The longevity and popularity of such communications relate to their unequivocal acceptance. Formulation of new words is like finding of a new star in the galaxy. Once it is found, it has to be admitted as part of the galaxy and it is the permanent member of the star formations. The argument that technospeak will rule at the cost of standards and creativity, is a wishful thinking.Even assuming that globalization will impose sameness if that is for the betterment of humankind, there is nothing wrong with it. Just like the members of a family speak one language, the â€Å"global family† when it adopts certain uniform computer terminologies, it will be for greater good.

Schedule Recovery Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Schedule Recovery - Essay Example The flight routes are of the same time length and as such flight swapping has no effect on the amount of fuel cost or maintenance operation per flight time. Both aircrafts travel the same hours as previously scheduled. Aircraft A will be in SCL at the end of the recovery period instead of being in ALX while Aircraft B will be in ALX at the end of the recovery period rather than in SCL. Aircraft swapping as a recovery option also requires crew to swap. The one of the two crews assigned to each flight has to swap as the other one remains with the aircraft. Flight swapping calls for the reserve crew to be called to fill in the gap created (Belobaba, Odoni, Barnhart 265). The crew now assigned to WA 1269 will end up in ATL at the end of the recovery period on flight WA 1276. The three crew remaining will be assigned to flight WA 1270 and at the end of the recovery period they will end up back in SCL on flight WA 1280. Passenger disruption is minimized in this schedule. The affected flight 1269 results in zero passenger disruptions. Flight WA 1270 will have to be delayed for 20 minutes before departure arriving in PHX at 1500h. As a result, there is 20 minutes arrival delay. Although the flight is delayed, the passenger to ALX will not be affected as the next flight WA 1280 will be ready for departure as scheduled at 1600h. The connecting passengers on flight WA 1270 but on a different airline have a chance of misconnecting. Deadheading costs of crew members that find themselves in one position rather than in the usual position. This crew, although, not flying the plane are still considered on duty and have to be paid for this flight. This cost is affected by the place of residence of the crew. Compensation cost of passengers by the airline affects those passengers that have connections to different locations, but with a different airline network. This cost is influenced by the number of passengers who are connecting with different

Jasper Jones Essay Example for Free

Jasper Jones Essay Bullying is a huge problem in schools, communities, and homes. Bullying doesnt just happen at a certain age, but it happens at any age. Bullying happens all over the world and is a huge problem thats happening around the world. After The Vietnam War the Australians hated the Vietnamese. It took 521 Australian lives and left many soldiers with permanent disabilities (the Vietnam war). The Australians lost the most people ever in this war. After that war any Vietnamese person would have gotten bullied. bullying causes suicide. Because it makes you feel bad about yourself.It makes you feel like you are incapable and/or undeserving of being loved and standing up for yourself.When a bully does something to embarrass you everyone sees it and that makes you feel like a failure.It makes you feel inadequate.It doesnt cause just depression.It makes you hate yourself and others and maybe even the world for tolerating such behavior. If you thought that the effects of bullying disappear as soon as your child gets out of school, you are horribly mistaken. Social bullying like circulation of rumors and gossiping could prove to be more harmful than bruises or black eyes suffered in a school fight. The psychological effects of this social type of bullying extend long beyond the school days and linger into early adulthood. This leads to depression and anxiety even when the victim has attained adulthood. Recent studies reveal that there is a connection between â€Å"relational victimization in adolescence and depression and anxiety in early adulthood. Instead of going physical, like threatening a child with physical violence, social bullying tries to undermine a childs social standing and relationships by making them pariahs, keeping them out of social activities or spreading rumors that can hurt.

Methods for Short and Long Term Memory Formation

Methods for Short and Long Term Memory Formation The purpose of the experiment was to determine which Learning Method was the most effective for short- and long-term memory formation. Method efficacy was tested via a Short-Term Memory (STM), and Long-Term Memory (LTM), glyph recall test. There were four groups, each using a different Learning Method which varied in two factors: written repetition (10X/none) and movie viewing (before/after STM test). The Learning Method was used to introduce the symbols, and there was a short maths test before the STM test. Symbol recall was assessed again in the LTM test, three weeks later. As the LTM test was taken after the STM test, all students had watched the movies. Analysis suggested that Learning Method 1 produced higher scores; students who wrote the symbol 10X and viewed the movie prior to taking the STM test had significantly greater glyph recall compared to those who used the other methods (p While Learning Method 1 appeared to be the most effective, it is possible that the results were affected by experimental design flaws; notably, the non-standardised test conditions. The degree of symbol retention demonstrated on the LTM test may be related to memory consolidation, which is aided by hippocampal ripple oscillations. The Learning Methods for each group were as follows (for the method code definitions and full method, see the Appendix): Group 1 (Learning Method 1): WB-1X_MB_10X Group 2 (Learning Method 2): WB-1X_MA_10X Group 3 (Learning Method 3): WB-1X_MB Group 4 (Learning Method 4): WB-1X_MA The independent variable is the Learning Method and the dependent variable is the number of symbols recalled correctly on the memory tests (STM and LTM). Method 1 was the most involved (writing 10X, and watching the movie beforehand). The alternative hypotheses are: Ha: if Short-Term glyph recall is related to the Learning Method (Method 1, 2, 3, 4), then students in Group 1, who used Method 1 (WB-1X_MB_10X), will recall a greater number of symbols correctly on a Short-Term Memory test. Ha: if Long-Term glyph recall is related to the Learning Method used for the Short-Term Memory test (Method 1, 2, 3, 4), then students in Group 1, who used Method 1, will recall a greater number of symbols correctly on a Long-Term Memory test. For the STM data, Levene’s test established that there was an effect of variance (p p p p p = 0.8790) and those in Groups 3 and 4 (p = 0.9260). For the LTM data, Levene’s test established that there was no effect of variance (p > 0.05). As the variance is not significant, a One-way ANOVA and Tukey post-hoc test can be used to test the hypothesis. The One-way ANOVA established that LTM test scores differed as a function of Learning Method used [F(3, 124) = 66.0280, p p p = 0.6160). The results support the alternative hypotheses that if glyph recall is related to the Learning Method used, then students in Group 1 (who used Method 1) will recall a greater number of symbols correctly on both a STM and LTM test. As the test scores for students who used Method 1 were significantly higher in both the STM and LTM tests, at a significance level of 0.05, the alternative hypothesis is favoured. By adopting the alternative hypotheses there is a possibility of Type 1 error in both cases. The hippocampus contributes critically to memory formation, organisation, and storage Memory consolidation, a process that transforms newly acquired information into long-term memory, also depends on the hippocampus. Through consolidation, labile newly formed memory traces are progressively strengthened into long-term memories and become more resistant to interference. However, it is suggested that they remain susceptible to updating and modification The hippocampus generates high-frequency ripple oscillations in local-field potentials (LFPs), observed most prominently in the hippocampal CA1 pyramidal layer Ripples participate in strengthening and reorganising memory traces, possibly by mediating information transfer to neocortical areas Memory traces are represented by assemblies of principal neurons that are activated during ripple-associated network states There is evidence suggesting that memory consolidation is enhanced during sleep and resting (â€Å"off-line†) states Sleep is a state which optimises the consolidation of newly acquired information in memory, depending on the specific conditions of learning and the timing of sleep It induces long-lasting cellular and network modifications responsible for memory stabilisation A proposed neural mechanism for sleep-dependent memory consolidation, is reactivation of awake experience (neuronal replay) in the hippocampus which is associated with sharp wave-ripple (SPW-R) events that occur primarily during off-line states SPW-Rs are â€Å"aperiodic, recurrent instances of large deflections (sharp waves) in the hippocampal LFP†, and they are associated with synchronous fast-field oscillations (ripples) During SPW-R events, hippocampal cell firing closely follows the pattern that took place during the initial experience Theta (4-8 Hz) oscillations and ripples (~200 Hz) occurring during sharp waves may mediate encoding and consolidation, respectively. Pyramidal neurons replay previous waking activity in a temporally compressed manner, thus reactivated firing patterns occur within shorter time windows propitious for synaptic plasticity within the hippocampal network and in downstream neocortical structures. Slow-wave sleep (SWS) supports system consolidation and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep supports synaptic consolidation through specific patterns of neuromodulatory activity and electric field potential oscillations. During SWS, there is a diminution in cholinergic activity and the ripples stimulate the redistribution and transfer of hippocampus-dependent memories to the neocortex The thalamocortical spindles generated by the thalamus arrive at the neocortex at the same time as the hippocampal memory information, due to the slow oscillations which facilitate the transfer, and this synchronisation is thought to be vital to the long-term storage of memories within neocortical networks During REM sleep, at high cholinergic and theta activity, local increases in plasticity-related immediate-early gene activity may promote synaptic consolidation of memories in the cortex Incoming signals move through the hippocampus via a ‘trisynaptic loop’ consisting of synapses between principal cells in the dentate gyrus (DG), CA3 and CA1 Hofer et al investigated the cellular and network properties of SPW-Rs with simultaneous laminar multielectrode and intracellular recordings in a rat hippocampal slice model. Spontaneous SPW-Rs were generated in the DG, CA3, and CA1 regions During the memory encoding phase, the hippocampus binds neocortical representations to local memory traces. Then, during the off-line periods, the traces are concurrently reactivated in the hippocampus and cortex to potentiate the corticocortical connections underlying stored representations Studies show that disruption of ripples during post-learning SWS impairs memory consolidation and learning In an experiment conducted by Ego-Stengel and Wilson rats were trained daily in two identical tasks, each followed by a one hour rest period. Following one of the tasks, neuronal activity associated with ripple events was disrupted, without changing the sleep-wake structure, via selective stimulation of hippocampal afferents. It was found that the rats learned the control task significantly faster than the task followed by the stimulation, which suggests that interfering with hippocampal processing during sleep led to decreased learning Similarly, Nokia et al. found that disrupting hippocampal ripples using electrical stimulation either during training in awake animals, or during sleep after training, had a negative impact on learning A study by Wang et al indicated that the median raphe region (MnR) is important for regulating hippocampal ripple activity and memory consolidation. A fear conditioning procedure was used to determine this relationship, via interruption of ripple activity. Simultaneous in vivo recording in the MnR and hippocampus of mice showed that, when a group of MnR neurons was active, ripples were absent; ripple activity was related to the activity of MnR neurons. Additionally, MnR may regulate memory consolidation via its projections to thalamocortical regions, which facilitate interactions between the hippocampus, thalamus and cortical regions during SWS. Under the assumption that there was little deliberate reactivation of memory traces for the symbols in the three weeks following the STM test, the degree of retention of the symbols on the LTM test may be related to memory consolidation via hippocampal ripples occurring during sleep and rest. There were a number of limitations which may have affected the validity of the results. The major limitation was the non-standardised test conditions. Since different groups took the test at different times of the day, and different individuals have performance peaks at different clock times randomisation of subjects is important. This also leads to the possibility that students in an earlier group may have informed others of the symbols or experimental procedures. Knowledge of the tests could have influenced the students’ concentration, with those who knew being more likely to apply themselves to the Learning Method. While all students would be likely to undergo some degree of memory consolidation following the STM test, those who were aware of the experimental design would likely have greater retention. If all students took the test at the same time under standardised conditions, it would be less likely for this issue to affect the results. Additionally, the small sample size, and the fact that the participants were all students of one course (Neuroscience), also means that the external validity of the experiment, and thus the generalisability to groups other than the experimental group, cannot be established. There was also only one group per Learning Method, so it is unknown if the results are repeatable.