Interpreting Macroeconomic Conditions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Interpreting Macroeconomic Conditions - Essay Example he unemployment rates does undercut directly the major efforts put underway in the stabilization of the banking industry whenever crises arise like the recent financial crisis. The unemployment rates do increase the amount of toxic assets held by banks. This is because the unemployed borrowers end up defaulting on the loan agreements. This indicator also increases the cost of Term Asset-Backed Lending Facility that is meant to safeguard banks against defaulters. When many people are unemployed, they are unable to make deposits in the banks and thus the liquidity levels go low. This indicator does exacerbate the frictions experienced in the credit market since rates go high. These frictions could end up posing obstacles that bring difficulties to banks in their quest to adjust nominal rates whenever they arise. Examples of these obstacles created by the inflation on banks is the ceiling by the government on interest rates in the banking sector; and those that arise from the banks’ response to the given incentives and risks, which are brought about by the existing regulations, laws, economic conditions and policies. These frictions could also affect the economic growth by reducing the available amount to be borrowed. With high inflation, we get a situation where the interest rates keep rising and the cost of borrowing in the banking sector increases. The increased cost of borrowing due to inflation means that few borrowers would be willing to access loans thus reducing the portfolio of banks. This fiscal policy does affect the rate of economic growth since it adds to the aggregate demand. An increase in total federal spending, without a similar rise in tax receipts, means that for every dollar spent by the government, there is an income for the people that do satisfy the basic increment in the demand for the public commodities. Thus the people are willing to spend and in essence do rise the income for the second wave of demand increases thus reducing the income

Micro Short Answer Personal Statement Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Micro Short Answer - Personal Statement Example This in itself cannot determine the power of choice. Other factors are critical when making any economic decision. These include opportunity costs, credit market, prices and desires. The fulfillment of the fundamental needs depends on the desire with the market prices playing a critical role. The purchase behavior depends on opportunity costs or tradeoffs. The credit market determines the ability to borrow and purchase items. For instance, people contract their spending whenever the high borrowing cost raises the consumption prices (Jiang 407). 2.0. Four resource categories A resource category refers to the source that provides benefits to people. A resource category can be in the form of money, staff, service or asset. The four primary categories of resources include government, education, health and family, and business. i. Education acts as an investment in an economy. An informed economy highly depends on skilled, knowledgeable and educated workforce. Goods education is an indica tion of increased economic performance. ii. Government is critical in creating jobs within the private sector and plays a significant role in finding projects. Whenever a particular government level funds a project, other levels of the government may be prompted to fund the same projects through private foundations and private capital funding. Government plays a significant role in fiscal stimulus package, monetary policy action, and other government interventions. iii. The family acts as a source of resource like labor, production and decision making. The population growth is a critical concept of economics as it determines demand and supply. On the other hand, health determines productivity of the population/family. iv. Business provides services to people. These include supply of goods and services, harnessing of resource and other capital, provision of employment and preserves the natural resources among others (Jiang 410). 3.0. Scarce factors of production The major factors of production are land, labor and capital. Limited factors of production imply shortage of such resources. This indicates insufficiency of productive resources in an economy towards the fulfillment of human needs and attainment of goals. Scarcity and its notion in economics. Scarcity refers to seemingly having unlimited wants in an environment of limited resources. In economics, scarcity indicates a fundamental economic problem where the productive resources are insufficient in an economy. Economics relates to purposeful human action, and without scarcity, economics cannot suffice. Scarcity creates the need for people to consume. Abundance never creates the need for people to make tradeoffs. Scarcity enhances rationing and encourages competitive behavior where people compete for the scarce goods (Jiang 412). 4.0. Production possibilities curve and relationship to the law of increasing costs Production possibility curve refers to the graph showing the combination of various amounts of c ommodities producible using fixed amount of each factor of production. This graphically bounds production set for a group of fixed input quantities. The curve indicates the maximum possible production level that defines the production efficiency. The increase in production of one good requires one to sacrifice a greater amount of another good. This is because of inequality in efficiency of resources. For instance, opportunity cost for producing j in terms of k

Analysis Of Short Story Daisy Miller

Analysis Of Short Story Daisy Miller It is very interesting to analyze this short novel à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã… ¾Daisy Miller written by Henry James. This novel has a lot of fascinating things ready to be discovered and understood, and behind the story of the novel a lot of symbols are hidding ready to be dyscovered and understood. This symbols are revealing a new perspective upon the story, a new way of understanding the narrative. Another interesting thing noticed in Daisy Miller is the permanent contrast that is being created, like a symbolic opposition between summer and winter, hot and cold, youth and old age, flower (daisy) and winter, life and death. Daisy Miller herself is an image situated in the middle of contrastive opinions, she plays the part of the innocent girl, being permanently judged by society, judged by Winterbourne, although deep inside she is innocent and pure; so, an incongruity between reality and appearance is being created. Another interesting aspect of this novel is the setting. From the beginning of the book, the author makes a great introduction by situating the action, placing the reader slowly in the situation. Firstly the location is being named: At the little town in Veney, in Switzerland, so, the place is set. The narrative technique used by the author in the first paragraphs is a very interesting one. The image is firstly enlarged and then slowly with every word, the background converges, persisting on the description of the hotel and the tourist, ending by setting the time: a beautiful summer morning and then concentrating on one of the novels character: Winterbourne. So, a part of the action takes part in Switzerland and another segment of the novels action takes place in Rome. These two settings are notarbitrary chosen, both have a deep significance. These places are symbols of other literary works or genres. Firstly both are tight related with Romantic poets whom Winterbourne deeply regard. Mary Shelleys Frankenstein takes place largely in Switzerland, and Mary Shelley wrote it during the time that she, Percy Bysshe Shelley, and Lord Byron sojourned at Lake Geneva. Mary Shelley and John Keats are both buried in the Protestant Cemetery, which becomes Daisys own final resting place  [4]  . Chapter three starts with the sentence: Winterbourne, who had returned to Geneva the day after his excursion to Chillon, went to Rome towards the end of January  [5]  . This sentence points exactly the three main locations where the action of the novel takes place and where the characters of the novel express their relationships and their attitudes. Not randomly chosen, the capital of Italy, Rome might be seen as a mute character, a silent witness of the action or as a background that links contrastive matters. Rome is the city of Renaissance, the city where art bloomed, a city where the artist might easily find the place to express. Here, Daisy behaves in a very libertine way; she doesnt care about any social or ethical values, maintaining her innocence and her integrity without anybody, especially Winterbourne to notice that. Daisy, like an artist, is only judged and condemned and only after her dead she is being understood and appreciated. In Rome there was a lot of talking about the so called Roman fever; this line has a double significance, although firstly it could be understood as the mothers worry about their daughters, this expression symbolize a disease: malaria, the malady that was haunting the city, and who finally kills Daisy. Another important setting of the novels action is the Coliseum; this is the background where a very important scene takes place. Here Daisy has the final encounter with Winterbourne, here she contacts the fever, malaria and after that she dies. This place is not randomly chose. In ancient times, the Coliseum was a place famous for different fights and contests. But also, the Coliseum is well-known as the place where centuries of Christian martyrdoms took place  [6]  . Considering this background from a symbolic perspective the Coliseum becomes a place where an innocent girl was killed without having any guilt and being pure and sinless just like the Christians in the ancient times. It is typical for Henry James to represent the society of people interested in ideas and refinements of subtle manner. He often was considered as being a cosmopolite because he liked travelling so much and he often moved between America, England and Europe. The conflict between Americans and Europeans can be found as one of the main themes in the background of his novel. This theme has at its basis a modernistic concept specific to the age. The American origin plays a great role in the novel because all the characters that bare this nationality are the greatest characters, that mature and finally achieve a greatness at the end of the novel. The usual image that we find is the one of the American that loses a part of that initial innocence when encountering the figure of the European with life experience. When it comes to James structure of the novel, we can find that almost all of them are structured in the same way. We have a central thing that supremely matters, as James himself said, that all the lines point at. In Daisy Miller , this supreme matter is Winterbourne lust for the discovery of Daisys innocence. As a consequence we have the circular structure of the novel as an approach to the central subject. Henry James offers us situations of a society that he was part of and we can see that in his novels, every incident has its function in providing us more information about a situation or a character. Although we may be tempted to say that he had a sort of realism in his works, the only reality we can find is the description of a society of conflict.

The Sugarbusters Diet :: Science Scientific Medical Essays

The Sugarbusters Diet History of the Sugarbusters Diet One of the Authors, H.Leighton Steward, began eating "bad" foods such as steak, lamb, and cheese after fifteen years of obstaining and found that his cholesterol dropped by fifteen percent and triglycerides by fifty percent. Baffled by this, steward talked to his doctor about the possibility that insulin must have been provoking the liver to produce cholesterol. His doctor, Bethea, another author of the book enthusiastically agreed. He sighted proof by explaining that insulin injections in diabetics tend to elevate cholesterol levels (Steward,Andrews, Bethea & Balart, 1995). Pledge of the Sugarbusters Diet. The diet will allow for most foods to be eaten in normal quantities or possibly larger ones. One will be able to eat many foods which have been considered "non-diet", such as meat, cheeses, and eggs. The foods to be avoided will be any foods which stimulate large amounts of insulin to regulate blood sugar. Sugar is targeted, not fat, as the culprit for extra pounds (Dawson, 1997). "By simply doing this, one can get slimmer and healthier simultaneously" (Steward, 1995). One author, Dr. Balart, even states that the diet is easy. He believes that after two to four days on the diet the desire for sweets will disappear and after ten to fourteen days they will be intolerable(http://www.sugarbusters.com:80/balofe.html). Following the Diet The basis of the sugarbusters diet is to trim fat by eliminating extra sugar. Sugarbusters states that lowering extra sugar is achieved by avoiding white rice, white bread and refined pastas. Other foods to be avoided are carrots, beets, and bananas. Dieters should instead eat foods which are high in protein such as nuts, steaks, eggs and also some fruits, vegetables and whole grain cereals and breads (Steward, 1995). The discerning factor between which foods can be eaten and which can not depends on the particular glycemic index of the food. Glycemic Index The glycemic index is the classification of food based on their blood glucose response relative to a starchy food, usually white bread. "A glycemic index is calculated as the weighted mean of the glycemic index value of the individual carbohydrate food, with the weighting based on the the proportion of the total carbohydrate contributed by each food"(Wolever, Nguyen, Chiassen,& Hunt, 1994). In total there are nearly six hundred separate entries including values for most common Western foods, yet these are not available on the Sugarbusters web site.

Leading professional development

Analyze the extent to which the approach relates to an organizational context known to you. The abstract I have selected for review and analysis, with most relevance to my own professional development and therefore is of most interest to me is that of Lyndon &king : can a single, short continuing professional development workshop cause change in the classroom ?This article refocuses attention on the classroom, specifically on the importance of teacher Professional development in enhancing and changing teachers' knowledge and skills in ways that lead to improvement in student performance. It is based on research carried out for SEES study into how far is short continuing professional development is effective?The demonstrated success of the SEES model of short, single workshops in bringing about lasting change in practice is noteworthy, given the emphasis in the literature that CAP can only be effective if it is sustained ; is delivered by a well-trained provider, within a well-structu red workshop that provides opportunities for exploration, practice and peer feedback. Providing a factual framework discussed by many educational researchers, Lyndon and king summarize the context, content, and process of effective and high-quality teacher professional development.Years ago, I have participated with many short and long PDP workshop at 2 schools in which I was a teacher . And to be objective few workshop gave me opportunities to acquire and practice new skills over relatively extended eroded of time, and it provided an ideal environment for interaction with other colleagues . While many other workshop stopped short of producing their intended results; they pointed out problems with traditional teaching but offered little help in changing what happens in the classroom and provided no opportunities for us to practice what we learnt.So the problem was not the lack of professional development activities or whether they are short or long ,to the contrary professional deve lopment for teachers has been included in every major initiative designed to improve student performance. The problem is that the quality of those programs has been inconsistent. Nevertheless, many like Joanne- in the group tutor – would agree with Errata's typology session 10 that the scope of professional development is wider that simply the measurements of results, outcomes and standards, and therefore suggests CAP which is encompassing of other dimensions should be considered Anyone,2013).On the other hands Stephanie had to admit that there was in most of the attended CAP a great deal of scope for personal development, team working, developing greater awareness/understanding and developing problem solving skills. However in order for the school to Justify the resources it is expending, he sees that there must be at least some organizational benefits too (Stephanie, 2013) I agree with Lyndon &king that Professional development can succeed only in settings, or contexts, tha t support it .And this support must come from administrators. Drawing on the case studied in this article (short workshop for science department in many schools designed by the earth science education unit) it shows that one of the finding outcomes of professional development initiative is depended ultimately on the factor whether its administrators consider it important. For this reason, buy-in on the part of administrators (whether state directors, superintendents, or principals) is critical to success (McLaughlin & Marsh, 1978).Leaders can approach decisions about professional development with intellectual rigor and discipline or give them a cursory treatment as an afterthought to more pressing matters. Likewise, their decisions may be implemented with attention to quality and serious reflection on their impact or haphazardly executed with a sense of discharging an unpleasant responsibility. Those are the choices leaders face each time they meet to plan professional development. Harebell,2003) I believe that Short or long workshop is â€Å"not an event, it is a process â€Å"(Harebell, 2003). By â€Å"process† I mean â€Å"the innovation† in the sense of having an adequate theory base; introducing methods for which there is evidence of effectiveness; being supported with appropriate high quality materials. And that the PDP program sometimes needs to be of sufficient length and intensity ;uses methods which reflect the teaching methods being introduced; includes provision for in school coaching (Dade ,2004).By the â€Å"process † I mean that the teachers should work in group to share experiences; communicate effectively amongst themselves about the innovation; should be given an opportunity to develop a sense of ownership in the innovation and be supported in questioning their beliefs about teaching and learning and giving them opportunity for practice and reflection( Dade,2004).By â€Å"process† I mean the knowledge or awarenes s, changes in attitude, development of skill, and transfer of training and ‘executive control which are needed to maximize the chances of CAP leading to change in the classroom Joyce and Showers, 1988) In y point of view , CAP is an opportunity to learn new strategies for teaching to rigorous standards ,and it is not a matter whether the CAP is long or short ,as long as it has this four criteria : a clear focus on learning and learners, an emphasis on individual and organizational change, small changes guided by a ‘grand vision', and ongoing professional development that is procedurally embedded ( Gushes ,2000) in addition to Andy different factors and principles listed before agree with Lyndon that all these elements need to be present if it is to have impact in the lassoer for the benefit of every student. Art 2 Critically analyses an approach to leading professional development you have identified in your work on Theme 3, using at least two ideas selected from the li st below. Professional identity and values Professional learning communities/networks Informal learning Mentoring/coaching Developing capacity Whole team/organizational development Forms of professional development Professional development for individuals Power and culture in organizations Professional development contexts Leading PDP is of great importance in the life of schools, it contributes directly and indirectly to professional and personal development for staff and to the improvement in teaching and learning.Harris reminds us that ‘managing human knowledge is a critical dimension of organizational survival' (Harris, 2001). So it is important that the leader of professional development enables knowledge development by whatever means is appropriate. Professional development is a complex endeavor. Understanding its elements, mastering its implementation and considering its impacts involve continual reflection and analysis. Although it is possible to identify elements and factors that affect professional development is important to hold on to the issue of their interrelationship in terms of development. Many researchers suggest links to individual and organizational issues and influences for the leader of professional development.These include: individual professional identities and values organizational vision, culture and targets the means, availability and accessibility of professional development the role of communities of practice and networking both formal and informal means of development the influence of the nature and context of organizations the influence of peers, mentors and coaches professional teaching and training expectations While these themes can all contribute to professional development leadership, they do so in different ways. In this part I will analyze how organization's context, power and culture contribute to PDP A considerable literature has emerged in recent years concerning the relationship between organizations and learni ng. Many questions have arisen about how organizational arrangements enhance or inhibit the ability of their members (whether viewed individually or as groups) to learn? And to what degree are individuals' learning experiences determined by the ways in which opportunities are structured?Examining the role of organization context may enhance our understanding about these questions. The complexity of the educational professional development context lies in the scope of cultural understandings, factors and influences, which all play a part (Theme 3 section 10). The key is the extent that organization can conduce to the changes that the professional development is designed to bring about. Before change can take place there must be a shared sense of need for change-?the more strongly and widely felt the better. Lack of organization support and change can sabotage any professional placement effort, even when all the individual aspects of professional development are done right.And where s taff development opportunities are poorly conceptualized, insensitive to the concerns of individual participants and make little effort to relate learning experiences to workplace conditions, they make little impact upon teachers or their pupils (Day, 1999) In addition the decisions taken about the structure and functioning of the organization, and the design of work within it, are of fundamental importance in influencing the extent to which individuals can participate in the process of learning (Gaston, 2004). We have to focus on the conditions that organization creates for its members to engage effectively with learning. As Billet states:† Workplace readiness was central to the quality of learning experiences. Readiness is more than the preparedness for guided learning to proceed. It also includes the norms and work practices that constitute the invitational qualities for individuals to participate in and learn through work. Such factors may influence individual learning in a number of ways.They may provide access to knowledge or information; they may facilitate participation in activities with learning attention; they may provide support and guidance to help make learning effective; and they may reward learning activities and outcomes â€Å"(Billet, 2001) On the other hand, a full analysis of leading professional development requires an investigation of power . The inclusion of an analysis of power within educational change is vital because power legitimates and drives change. A post structural views of power rests of three core principles (l)power is not restricted to a dominate few but circulates within school affecting all its members;(2)power relies on language and discourse to instruct its truths;(3)individuals perceive who they are via discourses of truth (Halyards and Leonard,2001). So what is important is the strong relationship between structure and agency in the workplace .And this can provide learning opportunity through : Involving partic ipation in communities of practice, especially opening up opportunities for learning through moving beyond a tightly situated and context bound approach to participation Involving work organization and Job design, especially the creation of environments which allow for substantial horizontal cross- boundary activity, dialogue and problem-solving. Emphasizing the importance of access to knowledge-based qualifications and off-the-Job learning. ( Fuller and Union , 2004) there is an increasing recognition of the importance of culture in designing leadership developments programs (study guide ,IPPP) Good seeds grow in strong cultures . Understanding the school's culture ,therefore, is an essential prerequisite for any internal and external change agent.Organizations should open up space for generating shared meaning, reconstituting power relations to broaden access to knowledge and provide cultural tools to mediate learning. The basic essence of organization ‘s culture is the deep er level of basic assumptions and beliefs that are shared by members of an organization , that operate unconsciously ,and that define in a basic taken for granted fashion an organization's view of itself and its environment (Sheen . 1985) Stool and finks see Cultural norms _ such as :shared goals ;responsibility for success; collegiality; continuous improvement; lifelong learning ;support ;mutual respect ;risk taking; openness celebration and humor -are the unspoken rules for what is regarded as customary or acceptable behavior and action with shape reaction in the school( Stool,1999) .These norms shape reactions to imposed improvement. It is therefore, important for those working in schools to understand their norms because the acceptance of improvement projects by a school depends on the fit between the norms embedded in the changes and those within the school's own culture (Carson,1996). To be effective these cultures norms need to be reflected in strategies that enabled their un derlying values to be translated into genuine engagement of all staff. The norm collegiality most likely seen to lead to improvement. Example of collegiality includes team teaching, mentoring, action research, peer coaching, planning and mutual observation and feedback.These derive their strength from the creation of greater interdependence, collective commitment, shared responsibility, and perhaps most important, greater readiness to participate in the difficult business of review and critique (Fallen and Harvests 1991). This culture will allow teachers to focus upon their own learning, career and promotion ambitions and to consider new responsibilities within their own school context. The assumption is that this will lead to an improved and enhanced sense of professionalism for teachers, plus an increased motivation to stay within the profession. With the additional benefits that come with familiarity of context. A supportive, blame-free environment that encourages and facilitates professional dialogue, and provides opportunities to extend and experiment with new practice can further the benefits of peer collaboration and support (Errata, 2001).To sum up, contexts and cultures may not Just provide or close down opportunity; it may also influence the ability and willingness of individuals† to exercise personal agency in pursuit of developmental goals† (Billet, 2001). As Stool said real improvement cannot come from anywhere other than within schools themselves and within is a complex web of values and beliefs, norms, social and power relationships and emotions . Changing schools is not Just about changing curricula ,teaching and learning strategies ,assessment structures and roles and responsibilities . It requires an understanding of and respect for the different meaning and interpretations people bring to educational initiatives ,and the nurturing of the garden within which new ideas can bloom( Stool. 1999) part 3 :Evaluate the effectiveness or p otential for effectiveness of leading professional development in an organization or team known to you. In your evaluation you will need to define the sense(s) in which you are defining effectiveness. You may consider changes in: the development of individuals organizational capacity and capability Capability and changes in student and/or staff learning and links to goals or targets. Finally make recommendations for developments drawing on your practice, the ideas and the materials from Theme 3 In this part I will examine the effectiveness of leading and implementing curriculum innovation using CIT ,which took place in a Lebanese primary school.My definition of the term† effectiveness â€Å"is when an appropriate professional development provision is successfully matched to particular professional needs. The curriculum implementation required the use of high levels of skill in all of the key areas of leadership including strategy development and implementation, human resource management, teaching and learning, financial management, accountability, and liaison with key stakeholders and the community. Effectively led curriculum innovation, in our school, did improve standards of achievement and increase dents' enjoyment and engagement in learning which the focus of all the staffs efforts was.After the long term assessment of CIT use in the classroom, as a teacher I can confirmed that this professional development had deepened our teachers' knowledge of the subjects being taught; sharpened teaching skills in the classroom; kept up with developments in the individual fields, and in education generally; generated and contributed new knowledge to the profession; Increased the ability to monitor students' work, in order to provide constructive feedback to students and appropriately redirect teaching. From (The National Commission on Mathematics and Science Teaching for the 21st Century, 2000) In addition the sense of community, and the â€Å"supportive coachi ng†, and the follow up that was provided by the school leaders,-especially during the early phases of implementation when most problems is usually encountered- helped me and my colleagues† to develop and maintain a sense of efficacy regarding new teaching strategies† (Showers, Joyce, & Bennett, 1987).It was the collaborative and sustained and a blame free environment that encouraged us with opportunities for discussion and exploration with colleagues, ND provided opportunities to extend and experiment with new practice. Monitoring and assessments were important steps were taken to track progress across thematic as well as subject- based curricula. In Such a way we were able to identify failing and vulnerable children, as well as giving leaders and teachers a detailed understanding of what they need to do at the end of each Key Stage in order ensure progress. In addition, the well-developed assessment systems provided accessible and user- friendly data to help teach ers advance within-year progress . III these elements laded a key roles in the effectiveness of leading curriculum innovation.Recommendations: I agree with Levine that CAP should no longer be comprised solely of short courses; teachers need opportunities to reflect, engage in professional dialogue, work with pupils, and engage in peer observation, coaching and feedback (Levine, 1999) And I agree with Sparks and Hirsch, who recommend the following national professional development model for teachers: ; Create learning schools in which all staff is involved in â€Å"sustained, rigorous study of what they teach and how they teach it. Provide time for teacher professional development equaling 25 percent of time during each day for teachers to work together and to collaboratively plan lessons and share information. Base professional development on the collaboration model-?teachers learning from each other.

Public Sector Economics Essay

In describing the economic advantages and disadvantages of the proposed tax policy change the advantage is that revenues increase substantially from $9,134 billion to $184,807 billion. From a macroeconomic viewpoint, the more money in circulation, the more money the firms will receive. With a greater amount of funds in circulation the more that workers will have in their net income. This concept stimulates the economy as a hole in a revenue approach and cash in circulation. On the contrary, the disadvantage is that the proposed tax rate was increased by 0. 03 percent, the Finance sector was taxed and no one was zero rated besides Agriculture. In viewing the current law of products; the advantage is that the tax rate is slightly lower at 0. 07 percent and all products were exempted from taxes, and zero rated thus receiving money back in terms of a credit. Despite the low revenue there the current tax policy tends to be more efficient. Considering that there are no taxes and credits are being received in terms or revenues. Focusing on the Proposed Law, this would be bias and favorable to the federal government. The federal tax system relies on a number of different types of taxes to generate revenues. Therefore raising the tax rate 0. 03 percent to 0. 10 the federal government is able to have more in revenues. In discussing the Current Tax Law, this would be more favorable to the consumers because of the lower tax rate. As consumers we want to pay less in taxes; lower taxes in turn pushes out the overall demand curve as we demand more goods and services with higher disposable incomes. Supply side tax cuts are aimed to stimulate capital. If successful, the cuts will shift both aggregate supply and demand because the price level for a supply of goods will be reduced, then it leads to an increase in demand for those goods. To label this table horizontal or vertical equity, we would say that the table would be more supportive to vertical equity dependent on proposed or current law. By definition vertical equity, â€Å"is a method of collecting income tax in which the taxes paid increase with the amount of earned income. The driving principle behind vertical equity is the notion that those who are more able to pay taxes should contribute more than those who are not. † In reviewing the table we would agree that the Proposed Law would match well with the vertical approach and horizontal equity would be the explanation of the Current Law system, because there are more zero rated products that offer credits.

Free Essays on I Witnessed

I witnessed a miracle About six years ago my parents and I realized how hard it is to nearly lose an immediate family member, someone we truly love. November 29, 1998 was a cold and rainy day in the small town of Splendora, Texas, my hometown. I was at my friend Amanda’s house that day watching movies when I first heard some terrible news. The telephone rang and it was for me. I thought to myself, â€Å"who could be calling me.† I knew that my mom was grocery shopping and my dad was at work, so I did not think it would be either of them. When I answered the phone I realized it was my mother, she sounded horrified, I knew something bad had happened. That was the moment I found out my older brother, Wade, had a deadly disease called bacterial meningitis. Earlier that morning my brother went to his friend Shaun’s house to go play video games. Later that afternoon my mom was grocery shopping when Wade called her and said he was not feeling well. So, my mom rushing through the store quickly finished her grocery shopping and immediately drove to Shaun’s house to go get my brother. When she arrived Wade slowly walked outside on the old wooden porch. At that moment mom realized how bad the situation really was. He looked as if were a walking zombie; he was so weak and stiff. He had large dark circles around his eyes that made him look very tired and restless. With all his might, he slid his feet one by one across the old porch trying to get to the car. My mom looking as terrified as any other mother would, she got out of the car to help him make it down the stairs safely. Wade struggling to walk down the stairs looked at my mom with his dark brown eyes and said in a soft sickly voice, â€Å"take me to the hospitalâ₠¬ . Raging through all the traffic, they rushed to the emergency room at Kingwood hospital. As soon as he arrived the nurses took his temperature, it was 106.2 degrees. They immediately took him in the back on a str... Free Essays on I Witnessed Free Essays on I Witnessed I witnessed a miracle About six years ago my parents and I realized how hard it is to nearly lose an immediate family member, someone we truly love. November 29, 1998 was a cold and rainy day in the small town of Splendora, Texas, my hometown. I was at my friend Amanda’s house that day watching movies when I first heard some terrible news. The telephone rang and it was for me. I thought to myself, â€Å"who could be calling me.† I knew that my mom was grocery shopping and my dad was at work, so I did not think it would be either of them. When I answered the phone I realized it was my mother, she sounded horrified, I knew something bad had happened. That was the moment I found out my older brother, Wade, had a deadly disease called bacterial meningitis. Earlier that morning my brother went to his friend Shaun’s house to go play video games. Later that afternoon my mom was grocery shopping when Wade called her and said he was not feeling well. So, my mom rushing through the store quickly finished her grocery shopping and immediately drove to Shaun’s house to go get my brother. When she arrived Wade slowly walked outside on the old wooden porch. At that moment mom realized how bad the situation really was. He looked as if were a walking zombie; he was so weak and stiff. He had large dark circles around his eyes that made him look very tired and restless. With all his might, he slid his feet one by one across the old porch trying to get to the car. My mom looking as terrified as any other mother would, she got out of the car to help him make it down the stairs safely. Wade struggling to walk down the stairs looked at my mom with his dark brown eyes and said in a soft sickly voice, â€Å"take me to the hospitalâ₠¬ . Raging through all the traffic, they rushed to the emergency room at Kingwood hospital. As soon as he arrived the nurses took his temperature, it was 106.2 degrees. They immediately took him in the back on a str...

A Few Thoughts on Being Cynical

A Few Thoughts on Being Cynical Is it acceptable, or just, or good for a human to be cynical? Its an interesting question to be entertained. Ancient Greek Cynics   Being cynical is an attitude that shall not be confused with subscribing to the philosophies of the Ancient Greek cynics. These comprised a school of thinking rooted in the disregard for any social convention in the name of self-sufficiency and freedom of opinion and of agency. While the term cynical derived from the cynics of Ancient Greek philosophy, this is by and large to mock those who displayed a cynical attitude. Yet there were also some analogies between the two, arguably. Cynicism is mix of disillusion and pessimism towards any affair involving humans; this often entails regarding human conventions as either doomed to fail or as existing not for the betterment of the human condition but to sustaining the interests of specific individuals. On the other hand, while Ancient Greek cynics may have been said to aim at attaining a good life, the cynical person may have no such goal; most often than not, she lives by the day and adopts a practical perspective on human affairs. Cynicism and Machiavellism One of the foremost cynical philosophers of modern times is Niccolà ² Machiavelli. In the chapters of the Prince examining the virtues that are proper to a prince, Machiavelli reminds us that many – i.e. Plato, Aristotle, and their followers – have imagined states and kingdoms that never existed, prescribing rulers to maintain behaviors that would be more proper to those living in heaven than to those who live on earth. To Machiavelli, moral norms are most often than not filled with hypocrisy and the prince is not advised to follow them if he wants to preserve power. Machiavelli’s morality is definitely filled with disillusion regarding human affairs; he had witnessed first-hand how rulers had been killed or overthrown for lack of a realistic approach to their endeavors. Is Cynicism Bad? Machiavelli’s example can help us to a great extent, I believe, to sort out the controversial aspects of cynicism. Declaring oneself a cynic is often regarded as a bold statement, almost a challenge to the most basic tenets that hold societies together. Is this really the goal of cynical people, to challenge the status quo and to possibly challenge any attempt to form and sustain a society? Granted, sometimes cynicism may be directed towards a specific constitution; thus, if you believe that the present government – but not any government – shall be interpreted as acting for some interests that differ from the ones that are officially stated and that it is doomed to ruin, then those in government may regard you as their antagonist, if not an enemy. A cynical attitude, nonetheless, may also be non-subversive in its intents. For instance, a person may adopt a cynical attitude as a mechanism of self-defense, that is, as a means to go by daily affairs without being hurt or negatively affected (from an economic or socio-political point of view, for instance). Under this version of the attitude, a cynical person need not have a grand scheme of how a government, or any government, works; nor does she need to have a grand scheme of how people operate; it seems simply more prudent to assume that people act out of self-interest, often overestimating their conditions or ending up being affected by bad luck. It is in this sense, I maintain, that being cynical may be justified, or even at times recommended.

Rules About Treatment of Numbers

Rules About Treatment of Numbers Rules About Treatment of Numbers Rules About Treatment of Numbers By Mark Nichol The basic rule about referring to numbers, according to The Chicago Manual of Style, is to spell them out when the total is one hundred or less and use numerals for larger numbers (the Associated Press Stylebook and some other style handbooks set the cut-off point after nine), but there are many exceptions. This post outlines those exceptions. When referring to categorically similar totals, spell the pertinent numbers out if all totals are one hundred or less (for example, â€Å"sixty-five chairs arranged around twelve tables†) but use numerals if one or more totals are one hundred or less and one or more totals are more than one hundred (for example, â€Å"127 chairs arranged around 20 tables†). This rule applies only to two or more such numbers in proximity; previous or subsequent isolated numbers pertaining to the same category need not adhere. (Nor do unrelated numbers.) However, text with a concentration of statistics- whether an entire piece of content or one section- will likely benefit from the use of numerals in place of spelled-out numbers. When totals appear in direct discourse (as when a speaker is quoted), spell out numbers, with the exception of years and elements of proper names; again, however, a concentration of numbers is perhaps best treated by using numerals. When reproducing quoted written material, however, do not alter number style. Spell out large round numbers that include orders of magnitude (hundred, thousand, etc.). Recast a sentence that begins with a numeral: For example, revise â€Å"2020 is the next leap year† to â€Å"The next leap year is 2020.† If the sentence must begin with a number, spell it out. In such cases, omit and in expressions such as â€Å"five thousand and three hundred.† When a number consists of or includes a fraction, spell it out or use numerals according to the guidelines above, but numbers with decimals should be styled as numerals. These rules also apply to quantities such as units of time or distance; exceptions can be made for such categories as temperature, clothing sizes, and miles per gallon. Style quantities expressed with an abbreviation or a symbol in numeral form, and use numerals when a range is separated by an en dash (for example, â€Å"25–50 participants†). Refer to percentages with numerals. (However, spell out the word percent in nontechnical usage; use the symbol in statistical references.) When referring to small amounts of money, spell out casual, isolated references but treat concentrations of such figures with the same guidelines as those for statistical materials. In addition, generally, express sums of more than one hundred dollars with numerals or with a combination of figures and words, such as in â€Å"$500 million budget†). Related post: 10 Rules for Writing Numbers and Numerals Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Style category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Good At, Good In, and Good With41 Words That Are Better Than GoodHow Do You Determine Whether to Use Who or Whom?

The importance of telephon consultancy service provided by SOCIAL Essay

The importance of telephon consultancy service provided by SOCIAL SUPPORT CENTER in solving social problems in UAE - Essay Example nal (advice, suggestions, or directives that assist the person to respond to personal or situational demands), emotional (empathy, concern, caring, love, and trust) and appraisal (transmission of information in the form of affirmation, feedback and social comparison) (Bilthoven) Advice through telephone is a common form of social support. Many people in our society need emotional support and that can be achieved using telephonic advices. For example, anxiety and depression are common problems in many people because of the increased commitments and such people can seek the support/advice from social workers in order to reduce/eliminate their stress. There are many people in our society who is facing physical and emotional problems which can be tackled up to certain extent through telephonic advices or support. UAE is a country which is facing so many social problems and the people are reluctant to reveal it publicly. When people approaches social support centres directly, their privacy cannot be guaranteed. Such people can seek the assistance of telephonic advices from social centres to solve their problems. This paper briefly explains the telephone consultancy services in UAE in solving social problems. UAE doctors have recently warned the public that more local women are taking up smoking shisha as part of a worrying new lifestyle trend within the UAE. Dr. Bassam Mahboub has explained that the exact number of women smokers is difficult to know becasue they are smoking at private places (AMEinfo.com). Solomon et al (1996), after a thorough research have found that social support through telephone calls using ex-smokers is effective in making positive changes in women smoking (Solomon et al, p.379). Women smokers are large in many countries and UAE is also not an exception. Unlike other countries, it is difficult to estimate the number of women smokers in UAE since most of them smoke privately because of their fear of tight social and cultural norms. These female

Arab and Israel Conflict Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Arab and Israel Conflict - Essay Example icinity and beyond - forcing them to define their respective principles of national security in the context of balancing levels of political linkage across a multitude of conflict events." (Feste 1991, P xv). Therefore, the Arab-Israeli conflict has been influenced by several essential elements of the socio-cultural and religious life of the Arabs and the Jews and the process of negotiation was greatly affected by these factors. It is fundamental to make a reflective analysis of the history of negotiations and the role of international community at reaching a settlement in the Arab-Israeli conflict. A profound exploration of the history of the Arab-Israeli conflict indicates that the scope of negotiations has always been open in the conflict. As the people of the Middle East have been unsuccessful in establishing a stable and settled system of nation-states in the region, the assistance of the Great Powers of the world has often been sought for. The negotiation processes always incorporated non-violent CMTs, diplomacy, and force. "In the Arab-Israeli conflict, negotiations and nonviolent CMT are part of an overall strategy combining diplomacy and force. The combined use of diplomacy and force was the most common form of crisis regulation in the Arab-Israeli conflict." (Ben-Yehd and Sandler 2002, P. 65). There were significant attempts by the Great Powers of the world

Security Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Security - Essay Example These systems also force consumers to tackle new rights and responsibilities in order to use the data and re-evaluate principles of advent computers (Stahl 2011). 2 The Importance of Ethics in Information Systems Authority, source and control are the major resources of the information. In fact, the key to success is the right access towards the information. As a result, the social and political relationships are also involved in the development and growth of information systems (Hilton, Se-Hyung "David" Oh et al. 2006). It is more important and ethical that how this information is been utilized by the people. For instance, government levels, headquarters and homes include the electronic systems (Hilton, Se-Hyung "David" Oh et al. 2006). This involvement is increased so much that the people without access to these systems are exaggerated in a particular way. For this reason, new and modern techniques, innovative ethical and lawful decisions are needed in order to balance the requireme nts and privileges of every person (Stahl 2011). 3 Ethics Fill the Gap as Legal Decisions Lag Behind Technology The legal decision lags lies as in modern technological field behind technical development and growth. These gaps are filled through confronting on the issue and by discussing the facts on how to use the electronic information should be proceed (Baase 2008). ... These include standards of acceptable behavior and rules governing members of an occupation. Moreover, these extend to the Electronic Networks, Electronic Databases and significantly to a Geographic Information Systems. The problems that are present particularly in the three areas require a little different type of ethical decisions. In general, the Electronic Systems, Geographic Information Systems and Networks are being described individually in the later section of this study. 4.1 Electronic Networks 4.1.1 A Network Defined Starting from a fundamental definition of computer networks, a network is defined as a set of computers or workstations that are capable to communicate with one another. Likewise, in other words a group of similar objects connected together. Some of the networks are present within the institutions or organizations allowing people to communicate electronically within the organization. In fact, some of these small systems are inked or connected with the other org anization’s workstations. Thus, thousands of such networks connecting together collectively form an Internet. However, several issues related to the Internet may be applied to smaller network as, well as large network connections. 4.1.2 Network as Source of Power Initially, the Electronic Networks are recognized as a reliable means of connecting and communicating. Furthermore, it is also recognized as a mean for exchanging information efficiently but today it has become a much more than this. The new sources of power are represented by the large networks. The networks are now prepared in order to generate consistency and competency in communication, so that the movement of information could not rely on another person or could not be

Melting Pot Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Melting Pot - Essay Example Ideally, these immigrants would bring the best of themselves, blend those talents, gifts and skills, and become Americans, sharing the unified hopes and greater goals of this country. The idea of the United States as an immense cultural â€Å"melting pot,† at one time, seemed realistic, however today many opinions of whether that metaphor is appropriate have changed. Is America a cultural melting pot or is it now a modern myth that is no longer applicable? Discussion It was a Jewish immigrant from England that originally coined the term the â€Å"melting pot.† It was the title of play he had written that focused on the belief,†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦that all immigrants can be transformed into Americans, a new alloy forged in a crucible of democracy, freedom and civic responsibility.†(Booth 1) There is no doubt that in the early 1900s that this was the general mentality of many of the immigrants that came to this country. Many wanted nothing more than to be Americans, and we re willing to do whatever was necessary to legitimately earn that title. At this point in history, being an American was a title that mattered and was desired and respected. However, the mindset of, many immigrants and multi-ethnic Americans, today is not quite as endearing or geared to American ideals as a whole, as they once were. Many scholars have pointed out that there is lessening of common â€Å"dreams.† What Americans want is no longer a unified ideal. Some researchers have said that the attitude of native-born Americans has, also, changed. Once very tolerate and encouraging of immigration are now much more, territorial and, often, suspicious of immigrants that come to this country. The world has changed and it is, often, said that the United States is no longer a â€Å"melting pot,† but is more like a â€Å"salad bowl.†(Millet) Meaning that instead of becoming the culmination of many things into one thing, they are all independent parts that remain so, but contribute to the greater whole. However, there is a danger that this consistent insistence on segregating, embracing differences over similarities, could lead to a salad with unpleasantly divergent ingredients. Today people who find their ancestry in multiple cultures are not eager to let go of those roots. This is not necessarily a negative thing. We all have a right to acknowledge our ancestry. On many levels the modern society cannot deny any individuals that right to honor or celebrate relevant and important aspects of their culture. However, there are some immigrants who come to this country, in this modern age, who have no interest in being part of America at all, or of becoming American; they simply seek the benefits and freedoms that are available by being here. They have no intention of positively contributing to this country. It these people that can negatively taint the perspective of Americans born and raised in this country. Studies done in the late 90’s ver ified that most young people when asked to identify their ethnicity would choose a hyphenated answer; African-American, Asian-American, and the like. Very few of those surveyed were comfortable with answering simply answering, just, â€Å"American.†(Booth 1) It is this need to separate on some cultural level that negates completely the ideology that the United States can be considered a melting pot of cultures. When in truth much of the attitudes of current American citizens are not a unified one. Political ideologies are heavily differing. Social differences, and a number of cultural and

Non profit mangement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Non profit mangement - Essay Example However, a close look and in-depth analysis of successful NPOs can help illumine understanding on the mystery behind the success of NPOs. One of the most popular and well established NPO is Oxfam. Oxfam is an international organisation that w as funded in 1942 by a group consisting of Quakers, Oxford academics and social activists in Oxford. This founding group later came to be known as Oxfam Great Britain, being based in Oxford, Oxfordshire, up to the moment. The success of Oxfam as an NPO is underscored by it comprising 17 organisations that work in more than 93 countries. The main agenda of Oxfam is poverty eradication, advocacy, disaster relief and management and policy research. Again, as if Oxfam’s robust size is not enough, Oxfam has about 5,960 employees and several fully fledged affiliates such as Oxford Great Britain (GB), Oxfam Canada, Oxfam Ireland, Oxfam America, Oxfam Quebec, Oxfam Novib (based in Netherlands), Oxfam Australia, Oxfam France, Oxfam Belgium, Oxfam Hong Kong, Oxfam Germany and Oxfam India. The fact that Oxfam has been in operation since 1942, is widely distributed in the world, has several strong affiliates and a large number of employees bespeak strong organisational and management acumen, particularly when the fact that the organisation does not exist for profit. Thus, the main point of this discourse is to review, analyse and evaluate the strategic positioning and operational tactics of an identified non-profit organisation (Oxfam) so as to instill understanding on how NPOs are managed and their operational systems executed. This is done in light of Oxfam’s general strategic positioning and direction as a whole and not a particular activity or function. A very salient part of NPOs operations is financial organisation and strategy. One of the important facets of financial management for NPOs is the identification of sources of finance. This aspect of financial management is important so that the

Kim Bassingers Final Analysis Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Kim Bassingers Final Analysis - Case Study Example It must be noted here that the operative word on the $3 million revenue is ‘potential’; hence the amount is the estimated revenue from making the film with Kim Bassinger thus it is relevant to the case. It is relevant because it is an estimate given that Ms. Bassinger had â€Å"committed to do the project† (Barton, Shenkir & Marinas 163). Considering that the $800,000 foreign pre-sales are only probable, which means in accounting term has a less than 50 per cent probability of happening, hence in determining whether the maximum and minimum lost profit estimates of Main Line be adjusted this amount is irrelevant. The appearance of Ms. Bassinger in the film will not make the possibility of having $800,000 in foreign pre-sales more than probable. The realized loss of $2.1 million from producing â€Å"Boxing Helena† without Ms. Bassinger is a relevant cost to the case. This amount is the difference between making the movie with Ms. Fern and with Ms. Bassinger. Hence, it should be included in the maximum and minimum lost profit estimates of Main Line. The given figures for this lost profit estimates should not be adjusted since they have taken into account the $2.1 million loss. Requirement #2a Kim Bassinger's Final Analysis salary of $3 million is relevant to the determination of lost profits to Main Line. Although "Basinger was to be paid $600,000 in guaranteed compensation to appear in "Boxing Helena" with another $400,000 to be paid out of producer revenues "before the bank" was paid on the production loan to finance the film" (Barton, Shenkir & Marinas 164); it is highly probable that her agent would have negotiated a higher salary for the film. Requirement #2b The comparison of revenues for Bassinger films with revenues for Fenn films is relevant to the determination of lost profits to Main Line. The comparison is like that of the incremental revenue comparison done in a make or buy decision. Option 1 here or we can say the make decision is the film starring Ms. Bassinger, while Option 2 or if you like the buy decision is hiring Ms. Fenn to do it instead. Requirement #3 In my opinion, Main Line's expert witness is not correct in attempting to estimate the revenues for "Boxing Helena" beyond pre-sales amounts. In an investment decision, the revenues through out the life of that investment should always be included in determining whether that investment is profitable. In this case, the revenues beyond the pre-sales amounts can be reasonably estimated. Requirement #4 Yes, Main Line's lost profits should be adjusted downward to include an estimate of domestic revenues for the "Without Basinger" film. Hence, only the incremental revenue had Ms. Bassinger appeared in the film should be included in the lost profit estimates. However, the use of the $1.7 million advance made by one of the Main Line partners against domestic revenues as the estimate is not a valid estimate for the domestic revenues for the "Withour Bassinger" film. A good estimate would be the average revenue of Fenn films which is $1.6 million. Requirement #5 It is not reasonable to assume that Main Line's pretax cash position would have increased by $3 million. Part of this amount would be paid to others such as the partner who advances $1.7 million. Moreover, it can be that several of the expenses incurred by the film production have been taken up as liabilities; hence the initial take up from the film will be used to pay up some of these liabilities. Requirement #6 I disagree with the jury's lost profit assessment of $7,421,694. My own assessment based on what is relevant and irrelevant cost figures to the case is $3,000,000 which is the average of the minimum and maximum lost profit figures as presented in

Non profit mangement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Non profit mangement - Essay Example However, a close look and in-depth analysis of successful NPOs can help illumine understanding on the mystery behind the success of NPOs. One of the most popular and well established NPO is Oxfam. Oxfam is an international organisation that w as funded in 1942 by a group consisting of Quakers, Oxford academics and social activists in Oxford. This founding group later came to be known as Oxfam Great Britain, being based in Oxford, Oxfordshire, up to the moment. The success of Oxfam as an NPO is underscored by it comprising 17 organisations that work in more than 93 countries. The main agenda of Oxfam is poverty eradication, advocacy, disaster relief and management and policy research. Again, as if Oxfam’s robust size is not enough, Oxfam has about 5,960 employees and several fully fledged affiliates such as Oxford Great Britain (GB), Oxfam Canada, Oxfam Ireland, Oxfam America, Oxfam Quebec, Oxfam Novib (based in Netherlands), Oxfam Australia, Oxfam France, Oxfam Belgium, Oxfam Hong Kong, Oxfam Germany and Oxfam India. The fact that Oxfam has been in operation since 1942, is widely distributed in the world, has several strong affiliates and a large number of employees bespeak strong organisational and management acumen, particularly when the fact that the organisation does not exist for profit. Thus, the main point of this discourse is to review, analyse and evaluate the strategic positioning and operational tactics of an identified non-profit organisation (Oxfam) so as to instill understanding on how NPOs are managed and their operational systems executed. This is done in light of Oxfam’s general strategic positioning and direction as a whole and not a particular activity or function. A very salient part of NPOs operations is financial organisation and strategy. One of the important facets of financial management for NPOs is the identification of sources of finance. This aspect of financial management is important so that the

The Help Book Report Essay Example for Free

The Help Book Report Essay The Help, by Kathryn Stockett (2009) is a novel set in Jackson, Mississippi during the civil rights movements of the 1960s. It follows the lives of three women –one white, a recent college graduate, and two black maids. The book was a huge success and was turned into a major motion picture. However sadly like many overnight sensation novels The Help has an interesting storyline but is poorly executed. One problem I had with the writing of this novel was the contrasts she drew about the dialogues of the characters. In the book the author tells that one of the characters, Celia Foote, speaks incorrect English because of the poverty she was raised in (another character, Minnie, comments on her accent and way of speaking) however, when Celia speaks in the book her dialogue is impeccable. This is shown in the quote (for the purpose of differentiation, Celia’s speech is shown in italics and Minnie’s in bold) â€Å"They dont like me because of what they think I did†¦ They dont like you ‘cause they think you white trash. Celia has been said to speak in the same way as the black maids, but when she and Minnie are conversing they speak entirely differently. Note the way that because is pronounced- Minnie has obliterated the ‘be’. The contradiction the author has used suggests her incompetency as a writer. Another is the way this book was billed. The Help is said to be a true to events, accurate recount of life in the South in the 60’s, but the reader does no t have to look too deeply into the book to tell that this is untrue. Perhaps if the writer had spent a little more time researching the era she was going to write in her novel would be worthy of this acclaim. it is clear to almost anybody who reads the novel that she is totally unworthy of this praise and it is disgraceful that she does not seem to care that she is misinforming the readers of her book if they take her word for how life was in the South. This book became wildly successful only because it was thrown in the faces of those who would read it without really thinking into it, enjoying the idea of a white saviour to make America’s dark black civil rights history seem like it wasn’t really so bad. The very idea that the book is based on- that black maids would become so trusting of a white woman who also happens to be friends with their employer, to allow their stories about how difficult it is to work for the white upper class, is so far fetched that it borders on insanity. Stockett then proceeds to illustrate her story to seem s though it would be perfectly plausible. Whilst this would be perfectly fine if Stockett had ensured that the book was received as an entirely fictious work, Stockett also manages to belittle or remove the two most powerful influences of the time; racism and male dominance. I believe this to be because the two did not fit in properly with the storyline and how she wanted it to go- inst ead of rising to the challenge and changing her plot a little to incorporate the two, she once again proves her lack of any real eloquence in writing. I would go so far as to say that her imagination was the only reason she made it in the writing industry as it was definitely not her writing prowess. She wanted her antagonist (or heroine I feel she would prefer), a white upper class woman, to be completely blame free, and so blamed any racism, although to her credit there was very little, on the way she was raised, and blamed her mother for it all. (she does the same for Elisabeth’s daughter, saying that she will also grow up to be racist). Then she draws a complete parallel with Hattie, who is an extreme racist and whose mother is one of the least racist characters in the book. Hattie did not learn her racism from her mother, therefore Stockett cannot make the claim that the parents of a child are to blame. Nevertheless, my experience from reading The Help was not a purely negative one. There were many moments in the story that if I just ignored the constant contradictions in the text I found very moving or entertaining. The dedication Skeeter showed to finding her old maid Constantine, who raised her, and the evident love she had for her, was incredibly touching. Tying her into the story and revealing that it was because of her that Skeeter is not racist was possibly one of the only smart literary moves the author made –that is if you look past the fact that everyone else in her social circle and their parents were raised in the exact same way and not a single one of them turned out like Skeeter. The way that Abileen cared for Mae Moebly was also very touching, and the words â€Å"you is kind, you is smart, you is important† have become synonymous with The Help. These two aspects can be linked together in more than just how touching they both were. (although from what I can gather of Stockett’s writing ‘prowess’ or lack thereof, I cannot decipher whether or not this was purposeful) The way that Abileen cares for Mae Moebly and how Mae sees her more as her mother than her own mother Elizabeth, is a representative for how Skeeter was raised by Constantine instead of her own mother, and xplains why Skeeter was so desperate to find Constantine. Overall, I was incredibly disappointed with this novel as the author butchered an amazing concept that, had it been in an accomplished writers hands could have been an incredible story. The author has a very talented imagination, but perhaps it would be better for her to in future just create the concept and allo w someone who actually has some degree of eloquence to write the actual novel, or alternatively to hire an editor who actually knows how to proofread for contradictions.

US Criminal Justice System Analysis

US Criminal Justice System Analysis The Criminal Justice System (CJS) consists of three elements, the Police, Courts and Corrections. It is no secret that the CJS has been heavily criticized over the years about its overall effectiveness, some skeptics have gone as far as to say the criminal justice system is not a system at all based on its current operation and fragmentation, it is merely a process. A process that involves the decision and actions taken by an institution, offender, victim, or society that influence the offenders movement into, through, or out of the justice system (Peak, 2010, p.5) Some observers contend the justice systems are a network. Steven Cox and John Wade describe the justice system as a television of radio network whose stations share many programs but each station presents programs the network doesnt air on other stations (Peak, 2010, p.7) Others argue that the justice system comprises a criminal justice nonsystem, a system that deal with criminal behavior not always functioning in harmony and is neither efficient enough to create a credible fear of punishment or fair enough to command respect for its values (Peak, 2010, p.8) Police Officers are the first line of defense in this complex organization of the CJS. They have a wide range of responsibilities and layers which includes apprehending criminals, maintaining public order, preventing and detecting crimes. They are also trained in counter-terrorism, surveillance, child protection, VIP protection, and investigation techniques into major crimes such as fraud, rape, murder or drug trafficking. Community-oriented policing and problem solving (COPPS) is the dominant strategy of policies whose approach to crime detection and prevention provides police officers and supervisors with new tools for addressing problems in the communities. The S.A.R.A process (Scanning, Analysis, Response, Assessment) is a necessary tool that provides officers with a logical step-by-step framework to identify, analyze, respond to, and evaluate crime, fear of crime and neighborhood disorder. When used effectively, these tools are essential in combating crimes in the community, and ensuring a cohesive relationship between officers and residents. Some of the most important and challenging positions in our society are those of police administrator, manager, or supervisor. Henry Mintzberg described three main roles of the Police Chief or Sheriff: the interpersonal, informational, and the decision-maker. The Interpersonal has three components: the figurehead who attends ceremonial functions, civic events, swearing-in ceremonies, the leadership motivates and coordinates workers while achieving the mission, goals and needs within the department and community, the liaison interacts with other organizations and coordinates work assignments. The Informational engages in tasks relating to monitoring/inspecting, dissemination, and spokesman duties. The Decision-Maker serves as an entrepreneur, a disturbance handler and a negotiator (Peak, 2010 pp. 89-91). The Chief of Police or Sheriff is at the top of the Police organizational chart, his effectiveness or lack thereof will determine the success or failure of their agency(s). Law enforcement officers have responsibilities that outweigh many of our challenges as a civilian. These responsibilities are often plagued with deeper issues both personal and professional that negatively affect the ability of officers to effectively perform their duties. For example, there have been several incidents involving the use of force and abuse of authority by officers. Profanity is part of police culture, used in everyday speech (Peak, 2010, p.118). Unfortunately these verbal and psychological abuse tactics are used by some police officers. Therefore, if it is used as a means to communicate on a daily basis, it is surely used in a situation to gain control of a situation when dealing with civilians. This form of intimidation is a way of demeaning someones character, making them defensive and exacerbating a smilingly innocent interaction into a chaotic confrontation. As in the incident involving the videotaped beating of Rodney King by several police officers after he was pulled over for a moving violation. Officers claim he resisted arrest, the videotape proved otherwise. This incident prompted the U.S. Supreme Court to make a ruling on the use of force at arrest it must be objectively reasonable in view of all the facts and circumstances of each particular case, including the severity of the crime at issue, whether the suspect poses an immediate threat to the safety of the officers or others, and whether he is actively resisting arrest or attempting to evade arrest by flight (Peak, 2010, p.117). Two reports that followed the Rodney King beatingthe 1991 report of the Independent Commission to Study the Los Angeles Police Department and the 1992 Los Angeles County Sheriffs Report by James G. Kolt and staffquestioned the effectiveness of existing psychological screening to predict propensity for violence (Scrivner, 1994). Agencies require their officers to be objectively reasonable in their use of force and have adopted the definition by the International Association of Chiefs of Police: In determining the necessity for force and appropriate level of force, officers shall evaluate each situation in light of the known circumstances, including, but not limited to, the seriousness of the crime, the level of the threat or resistance presented by the subject, and the danger to the community (Peak, 2010, p.120). The DRRM (Dynamic Resistance Response Model) which combines a use-of-force continuum with the behaviors of suspects was developed to more accurately reflect the intent of the law and the changing expectations of society (Peak, 2010, p.120) Two publicized contagious shooting incidents have plagued officers in the past years. In 1999, Amadou Diallo, a 22 year old West African street vendor was shot 19 times by four undercover New York police officers who mistook him for a serial rapist. In April 2007, three undercover New York Police officers were indicted for the manslaughter and reckless endangerment for killing Sean Bell in a hail of 50 bullets discharged at him and passengers in his vehicle while unarmed. Officers assumed one of the victims had a weapon (Peak, 2010, pp.120-121). The DRRM model was clearly not utilized in these two incidents, assumptions cost the lives of two innocent civilians at the hands of overzealous police officers. Suicide by cop and vehicle pursuits, are incidents that require split second decisions by police officers as it pertains to the public safety of the community but with dangerous and deadly consequences putting innocent bystanders at risk. Biased-based policing or Racial profiling occurs when the police target someone for investigation on the basis of that persons race, national origin, or ethnicity. This practice has become more controversial toward the end of the 20th century as the potential for abuse by law enforcement came to light. Race or color may be a factor to consider during certain police activity but race or color alone is insufficient for making a stop or arrest (Schott, 2001). With the increase in crime and the need for 24 hour round the clock police presence, police officers are dealing with shift work and sleep deprivation. Both issues can have deadly consequences for both the officer and civilians. An officer suffering from sleep deprivation cannot make judgmental decisions when apprehending a suspect; determine the use of force if a suspect resists arrest, vehicle pursuits or firing a weapon. When a person is deprived of sleep, actual changes occur in the brain that cannot be overcome with willpower, caffeine, or nicotine. The decline in vigilance, judgment, and safety in relation to the increase in hours on the job cannot be trivialized. Community perceptions of fatigue-related risk have changed and now are viewed as absolutely unacceptable, as well as preventable. As a consequence, law enforcement professionals face a greater reactive pressure both politically and legally to rethink and implement proactive strategies to reduce fatigue-related inciden ts (Lindsey, 2007). COURTS The courts were established to try the accused, have a jury of their peers determine their fate based on evidence presented by the prosecution and the defense. The judge is the mediator between both parties; he allows or overrules statements, comments and evidence that could prejudice the jurys opinion. Once the evidence and closing statements have been presented on both sides, the judge instructs the jury to deliberate and return with a verdict of guilt or innocence. Most people would agree that the purpose of our courts is to provide a forum for seeking and through the adversarial system of justice obtaining the truth (Peak, 2010, p.187). An Adversarial system is a system of law which relies on the contest between each advocate representing his or her partys positions and involves an impartial person or group of people, usually a jury or judge, trying to determine the truth of the case. There are many layers of the courts that make up its functionality. The U.S. Supreme Court is the highest and one of the oldest courts in the nation formed in 1790. Composed of 9 justices: one chief justice and eight associate justices. They are appointed by the President and serve their terms for life. Each new term of the Supreme Court begins, by statute, on the first Monday in October (Peak, 2010, pp.187-188). There are 94 U.S. district courts, 89 of which are located within the 50 states (Peak, 2010, p.191). There are three methods used to select judges: partisan elections which are concentrated mostly in the southern states, nonpartisan elections are held in the West and upper Midwest, while legislative and executive appointments in the East and merit selection west of the Mississippi (Peak, 2010, p.206). The pros and cons of each selection method are as follows: Partisan elections: Based on the nominees party affiliation. Pro- The candidates success of being nomination is based on the amount of campaign funds and or endorsements by the particular party. Con-The candidate may not be endorsed by his or her party affiliation, resulting in low campaign funds and lack of support. Non-partisan elections- No party affiliation: Pro- Election is fair across the board without any prejudices associated with a party affiliation; candidate can obtain votes from both parties as well as undecided voters. Con- The lack of affiliation may negatively affect the candidates chance of being elected. Legislative elections and executive appointments: Vacancy filled by the Governor. Pro- The selection is not based on voters party affiliations. Con- The appointment is based on the decision of the Governor to fill a vacancy that has occurred Merit selection (Missouri Bar Plan): involves the creation of a nominating commission; composed of lawyers and laypersons. Pro- The committee presents the most qualified lawyers to the Governor, who chooses one person as judge. The Judge stands uncontested before the voters. Cons- The lawyers and laypersons of the committee decision may be compromised by the lack of qualified candidates and or biased opinions of the candidates party affiliation (Peak, 2010, pp.206-207). With many people rotating in and out of the courtrooms, problems will occur. Several issues plaguing the US court systems include, courthouse violence and how to perform a threat assessment, how problem-solving courts are expanding, the dilemma of delay, the concept of how ADR (alternative dispute resolution) is used, media relations and the courts, gender bias, juveniles being treated as adults, shackles in courts, use of cameras in the courtrooms and plea bargaining (Peak, 2010, p. 224). Courthouse violence occurrences are few and far between but one case can spark concern within the community. Non-targeted courthouse violence is described as violence with no pre-existing intent but evolves from a ruling after court proceedings. Targeted courthouse violence is deemed as the opposite, intent to cause harm and often creates plans to circumvent security measures (Peak, 2010, p.226). In 2004 and early 2005, the Maricopa County Superior Court reevaluated its security policies and put in place, through Administrative Order No. 2004-031, a new policy to tighten court security, which was vigorously opposed by some. This article discusses how a court views court security in terms of the interest groups affected and how they may hinder or help court security, the range and depth of issues encompassed by court security, and, finally, the pressing need for the court to educate the public and other interest groups about critical security concerns (Campbell Reinkensmeyer, 2007). Good threat assessments involve three principles: (1) Targeted violence is the end result of an understandable and often discernible process of thinking and acting. (2) One must distinguish between expressing a threat and posing a threat. (3) Violence is the product of an interaction among the potential attacker, his or her current situation, the target, and the setting. Metal detectors are commonplace in courtrooms to prevent any violence but there are times when violence strikes courthouse personnel and/or individuals outside the courts. As in the case of a federal district court judge in Chicago whose family members were the target of violence based on a contempt of court charge (Peak, 2010, p.225). The backlog of cases within the court system has been an ongoing issue in the past years; it has had a negative effect on the accused violating their Sixth Amendment right of a speedy trial. In certain select federal districts (but only in those districts), the Department of Justice (DOJ) operates fast-track sentencing programs through which it grants deeply below-Guidelines sentences to illegal reentry defendants in exchange for quick guilty pleas (Siegler, 2009). The best-known legislation addressing the problem is the Speedy Trial Act of 1974, amended in 1979. It provides firm time limits: 30 days from the time of arrest to indictment and 70 days from indictment to trial (Peak, 2010, p.230). Although this legislation has a proven track record, it is most effective in less violent cases such as drug trafficking, and petty crimes. Problem-solving courts are proving that they can absorb a sufficient share of the court systems overall caseload to justify their existence. Early evaluations suggest that problem-solving courts can be as expeditious as the traditional courts hearing comparable types of cases (Casey Rottman, 2005). They have been successful in eliminating the backlog of court cases and providing alternatives to jail time such as community service, drug rehabilitation, and mental health assistance. CORRECTIONS Prison or correctional facility is a place of confinement for people who have committed serious crimes. Prison organizational structures have changed considerably to respond to external needs. They were administered by state boards of charities, boards composed if citizens, board of inspectors, state prison commissions, or individual prison keepers. (Peak, 2010, p.256) A Warden is the official in charge of the prison. Correctional officers (COs) preside over the inmates. COs are categorized into 5 types: (1) Rule enforcers, (2) Hard-liners, (3) People workers, (4) Synthetic officers, and (5) Loners. Generally the rule enforcers were most likely to hold bachelor or masters degrees. (Peak, 2010, p.287) There has been debate as to whether COs should be required to have degrees. The state of Florida has incentives for COs with degrees: The Florida Department of Corrections provides $30 extra a month to an officer with an associate degree and $80 extra a month for officers with bachelors degrees or higher (Florida State Board of Community Colleges 1996). The Arizona Department of Corrections provides an educational allowance for Corrections Officer III and above. A Corrections Officer III and above receives a 2.5 percent annual salary increase for an associate degree, a five percent annual salary increase for a bachelors degree, and a 7.5 percent annual salary increase for a masters degree. (Bynum, 2009) Michigan Department of Corrections currently requires new officers to complete at least 15 hours of college as a condition of employment. These courses included two college classes in corrections, two in counseling/human behavior, and one involving legal issues in corrections. The courses were in addition to the basic academy (Bynum, 2009). Correctional Officers endure stressful situations as do police officers in the field. COs deal with heavy workloads, understaffing, overcrowding, inmate contact, lack of participation in decision-making and job danger. (Peak, 2010, p.292) Some COs spend more time at work than at home and often times engage in inappropriate staff-inmate relationships with the integration of female officers working in male prisons. Sexual activity is common in prisons; the ongoing debate is whether condoms should be issued to the inmates. Although sexual activity is not condoned, it still exists. The state of Vermont and several jails including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Philadelphia and Washington, DC have condom programs (Peak, 2010, p.308). Sexual risk behaviors such as multiple partners, history of STDs and lack of condom use before incarceration have been reported among males in correctional settings as well as in a national survey of inmates (Bernstein,  Chow,  Ruiz,  Schachter,  Ã‚  et al.  2006). Prisons should adopt the condom program in the efforts to prevent an ongoing epidemic of STDs and HIV within the prison population. The outsourcing or privatization of correctional operations and programs is a great proposal. Creating educational programs for example would benefit inmates who reenter into society an opportunity for job placement and self improvement. Medical, dental and mental health services are beneficial in their overall care. (Peak, 2010, p.317) There are several alternatives to incarceration. Some states have adopted successful programs: The Minneapolis Anti-Violence Initiative (MAVI) is a partnership between the Minneapolis Police Departments Gang Strike Force and the Hennepin County Department of Community Corrections. It targets violent adult and juvenile gang members and provides intensive supervision, joint home visits, and joint neighborhood patrols. It was started in mid-1997. Project One Voice is a partnership between the New Haven (Connecticut) Police Department and adult and juvenile probation and parole agencies begun in 1997 to provide intensive surveillance for high-risk, gang-involved offenders who are on probation, parole, or pretrial release in two New Haven neighborhoods. The Maricopa County Adult Probation Department operates neighborhood-based probation services in the Phoenix area. Each service is a partnership among the probation department, the Phoenix Police Department, and community organizations in the neighborhoods. The three neighborhood probation projects have two goals: (1) to reduce recidivism and (2) to expand the definition of probation to include providing services to the entire community. (Anonymous, 2009) CONCLUSION Merriam-Websters Collegiate Dictionary describes system as a regularly interacting or interdependent group of items forming a unified whole. In my opinion, there is no clear definition of the U.S legal system, each component (police, courts and corrections) play a major role within the system. Their mission and purpose within the organization is clearly defined but they function independently instead of cohesively causing major conflict and discord.

Strategic Bombing During World War 2 :: World War II History

Strategic Bombing During World War 2 "World War 2 was a war fought in two distinct phases. The first was the last war of a new generation. The second was emphatically the first of a new era" . "The British strategic bomber campaign was of doubtful cost effectiveness" . Bomber Command was by far the largest claimant on labour and factory space within the armed forces. Relative to their size they suffered more casualties than any other sector. The Anglo-American bomber force was divided in terms of strategy. Bomber Command believed it was too risky to bomb by day, while the Americans believed it was too difficult to bomb by night. Initially both forces lacked accurate navigational equipment, which deterred them from precision bombing. Germany developed a 'night fighter' force to counteract the bomber fleet. They were equipped with an on board radar, which enabled them to locate the bombers in the darkness. The German industry was sub-divided in an attempt to minimise the effectiveness of bombing raids. Both the Britain and Germany made substantial scientific developments throughout the course of the war. Prior to the development of the Lancaster, the British Air Force lacked a long-range bomber, capable of carrying substantial bomb loads. Wattson Watt foresaw the need for an early detection system; he developed the 'Radiolocation' system, which alerted Britain to invading forces. The German Air Force developed an on board radar, called the 'Metric system', which was equipped to German night fighters. Bomber Harris believed in the theory of 'carpet bombing'. Nick named 'butcher Harris'; he was known as the man who supported such campaigns as Dresden. He believed in breaking the morale of the German people. The strategic bombing campaign significantly shortened the length of the war. It disabled the production industry and weakened the German morale. Between Jan. 12-23 of 1943 President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Prime Minister Winston Churchill meet at Casablanca, to plan the 'future global military strategy for the Western Allies'. The work of the conference was primarily military; deciding on the invasion of Silicy, apportioning forces to the Pacific theatre and outlining major lines of attack in the Far East. Most important of all was Roosevelt's claims for the "unconditional surrender" from Germany, Italy, and Japan. Hamburg was largely responsible for the production of German U-boats. Subsequently it was the target of numerous air raids. In an attempt to protect the fragile industry, three huge anti-aircraft artilleries were built.

Comparing Home in Richard Fords I Must Be Going and Scott Sanders Hom

Comparing Home in Richard Ford's I Must Be Going and Scott Sander's Homeplace Most people define home as a comfortable setting which provides love and warmth. In Scott Sanders â€Å"Homeplace† and Richard Ford’s â€Å"I Must Be Going† the concept of home is defined in two different ways. Sanders believes that by moving from place to place, the meaning of home has been diminished. Sanders believes that America’s culture â€Å"nudges everyone into motion† (Sanders 103) and that his â€Å"longing to become an inhabitant rather than a drifter† (103) is what sets him apart from everyone else. Ford prefers to stay on the move. His argument is life’s too short to settle in one place. He believes home is where you make it, but permanence is not a requirement. Sanders argues that â€Å"in our national mythology, the worst fate is to be trapped on a farm, in a village, or in some unglamorous marriage† (Sanders 102). Ford is a prime example of someone who believes this myth. In all of Ford’s moves from place to place, he has been in search of something better. He says that all of his moving is a result of â€Å"longing that overtakes me like a fast car on the freeway and makes me willing to withstand a feeling of personal temporariness† (Ford 109). Ford acts on his feelings without realizing that he will only be there for a short time. Sanders associates yearning for some other place as being wrong. He quotes Henry Thoreau saying, â€Å"The man who is often thinking that it is better to be somewhere else than where he is excommunicates himself† (104). Ford does believe staying in one place is normal, â€Å"One never moves without an uneasiness that staying is the norm† (110). However, Ford blam es growing up in Jackson, Mississippi as his reason for wil... ...t people Rushdie mentions here. Ford is the person who â€Å"roots† himself in ideas because he is always looking for that special place but can never find it. Sanders would rather commit himself to one spot because he feels any one place is as good as any. Sanders gains this mentality based on the discoveries of Copernicus and that Earth is not the center of the universe. He believes, â€Å"any point is as good as any other for observing the world† (Sanders 103). Ford finds no truth in this statement as he continues to move â€Å"toward someplace we badly need to go† (Ford 111). Works Cited Sanders, Scott â€Å"Homeplace.† Seeing and Writing. Donald McQuade and Christine Mcquade. Boston: Bedford/ St. Martin’s, 2000. 101-104 Ford, Richard â€Å"I Must Be Going† Seeing and Writing. Donald McQuade and Christine McQuade. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2000. 109-111

A Multicultural Workplace

A Multicultural Workplace A multicultural workplace refers to a group of individuals who represent all types of human difference gathered to achieve a common goal, which is the organization or company’s mission. For some, a multicultural organization may refer to their workplace as such, due to the variation of individuals’ age, sex, ethnicity, physical abilities, and even sexual orientation. Additionally, the diversity among this workforce is likely to be considered such based on its employees racial, social and ability characteristics.The scope of diversity within an organization should go beyond the personal characterizes listed here. The scope of diversity within an organization should include the way an organization responds to their multicultural workforce. The times of suppressing cultural differences, which forced individuals to sacrifice parts of their heritage in order to obtain gainful employment, is becoming outdated. Today, conforming to the majority cultur e of this western society is becoming less and less of an issue, and thankfully so.Originally, multicultural initiatives, beginning in the late 1960’s, where associated with race and gender. Today, all differences are encompassed in organization based multicultural or diversity programs with the expectation that all employees become cultural competent and embrace cultural awareness. That is if an organization has created such programs. At Milwaukee Center for Independence (MCFI), multicultural and diversity programs do exist. The organization has created a climate of cultural inclusion, incorporating genuine value for diversity within the workplace and among employees.The organizations diversity initiatives are strengthened by annual culture training, communication, a Diversity Team, and mentoring programs for both internal clients and staff and throughout the community. Cultural training courses are conducted annually for each department within the organization. In addition, MCFI conducts a â€Å"Cultures Week† event each year in celebration of culture and diversity reaching out to all employees and the community. The vision of the MCFI Diversity Team and the agency as a whole is to â€Å"be the benchmark of diversity and inclusion among nonprofit agencies in Southeastern Wisconsin.MCFI will be the organization from which clients want to receive services, for which funders want to provide support, where vendors want to do business and employees see diverse opportunities† (MCFI, 2012). The team’s goals include a commitment to understanding what diversity is and its impact on the workplace and the community (MCFI, 2012). The Diversity Team also works to increase appreciation for richness, which is brought by different attitudes, skills sets, abilities, approaches, and perspectives, as well as promoting cooperation and an understanding of and among individuals of diverse backgrounds.Communication tools have also been created for great er understanding and knowledge of diversity through innovative and creative management. MCFI and the Diversity Team collaborate with other community agencies and businesses throughout the Milwaukee area to spread an understanding of diversity and the vision of MCFI (MCFI, 2012). The managerial principles behind the Milwaukee Center for Independence Diversity Team include members that represent a cross-section of the organization, which is structured to reflect the agency wide culture.In addition, the Diversity Team and its Director, Al Hill, have developed tracking systems to watch and ensure the progress of the agency and team mission, vision, and goals, such as the community outreach programs. Further, the team stays linked with key agency internal and external functions, such as within Human Resources, communication, and training and development team’s agency wide. MCFI was recognized for its achievements in the area of diversity within the workforce. MCFI won the 2009 Awa rd of Excellence from the Wisconsin Association of Equal Opportunity.In addition, MCFI was honored with the 2010 Wisconsin State Society for Human Resource Management’s Workplace Diversity Award. MCFI goes far beyond mere diversity training, expanding to the creation of an inclusive work environment. MCFI’s dedication to diversity in the workplace encourages creative thinking. The agencies clients and employees represent a full spectrum of ages, disabilities, education levels, ethnicities, religions, experiences, sexual orientation, gender, opinions, beliefs, and races.MCFI considers diversity as not just a moral obligation, but visions it as imperative to the success of the organization, which is reaching as many individuals and families with special needs as possible. The MCFI Diversity Team includes internal employees as well as individuals from its affiliates and community agencies. The main objective of MCFI and the Diversity Team is to be the main point of refere nce for inclusion and diversity among non-profit agencies throughout the immediate and outlying communities.Additional visions of MCFI are to be the premier agency for client, vender, and employee choice in regards to services, business affiliation, and employment opportunity. I am confident in saying that MCFI is an excellent place to feel welcome, allowing myself and others to express their individuality. MCFI also allows each employee and client to learn about what makes others different, yet similar, and supporting the acceptance of all human difference. One of the positive impacts of MCFI diversity initiatives is the opportunity given to everyone to see things from different perspectives.Their voice and perspectives are heard in a safe, nonjudgmental, and bias free environment. Working with others with different attitudes, beliefs, and values provide an outstanding opportunity to expand individual knowledge, which only assists to better service the clients of the agency. Along with increased diversity comes an increase in different perspectives providing unique viewpoints for problem solving as well as co-worker and client interaction. At times, there may be barriers in effectively creating a diverse workplace.It is essential to incorporate diversity programs into the company or organizations strategic plan. Further, diversity training should also be tied into a company’ vision, goals, and objectives. In order to execute diversity training and awareness successfully, an organization or company must clearly communicate the main objectives of diversity training; establish a means of reinforcement and metrics to measure the effectiveness. In addition, a company or organization must include both minority and majority groups in strategic planning and implementation of a diversity program.I have seen and read much information on diversity and cultural training within the organization I am employed. The organization keeps its employees engaged in diversit y training throughout the year. Monthly conferences are available on site to all internal staff and community guests. Conferences include topics such as the understanding of specific types of behavioral health issues and disabilities. Additionally, guest speakers come throughout Hispanic, African American, and Hmong Culture Awareness months. The opportunities to engage in and open up to awareness of different cultures at MCFI are endless.Issues and problems within the diverse workplace of MCFI are handled with an understanding that individuals are different. Employees of the organization are single mothers and fathers, individuals with disabilities, student’s health issues, and all from different religious, ethnic, cultural, and racial backgrounds and heritage. I have personal experience issues that I needed to address with management. As a full time student and a full time employee, who believe in the importance of family and work/life balance, the organization listened to m y need for time off and alternate schedules to accommodate my life.Flexibility in the work place also allows for such things as difference cultural rituals and holiday celebrations that are outside the norm of western culture. I believe it is crucial for companies and organizations to consider an individual’s differences to allow for some flexibility concerning individual culture differences and life changes. With that, employees remain happy in the work place and continue to work toward the company's mission and continue to be a productive team member. References MCFI. (2012). Diversity mission and vision. Retrieved from http://www. mcfi. net/MCFI-Diversity/Mission-Vision. htm