Monday, September 30, 2019

Case Study on Euthanasia: Elderly cancer patient

In most evangelical Christian opinions, in cases where patients are terminally ill, death appears imminent and treatment offers no medical hope for a cure, it could be argued that it is morally appropriate to request the withdrawal of life-support systems, allowing natural death to occur. In such cases, every effort should be made to keep the patient free of pain and suffering, with emotional and spiritual support being provided until the patient dies.But in this case where the cancer patient seems to still have a chance, although quite small, it is critical that we not only understand what is going on in the world around us but that we also understand what the Bible clearly teaches about, life, death, pain, suffering, and the value of each human life. First, the Bible teaches that we are made in the image of God and therefore, every human life is sacred (Genesis 1:26). In Psalm 139:13-16 we learn that each of us is fearfully and wonderfully made. God himself has knit us together in our mother's womb.We must be very important to Him if He has taken such care to bring us into existence. Second, the Bible is very clear that God is sovereign over life, death and judgement. In Deuteronomy 32:39 The Lord says, â€Å"See now that I myself am He! There is no god besides me, I put to death and I bring to life, I have wounded and I will heal, and no one can deliver out of my hand. † Psalm 139:16 says that it is God who has ordained all of our days before there is even one of them. Paul says essentially the same thing in Ephesians 1:11. Third, God's purposes are beyond our understanding.We often appeal to God as to why some tragedy has happened to us or someone we know. Yet listen to Job's reply to the Lord in Job 42:1-3: I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted. [You asked,] ‘Who is this that obscures My counsel without knowledge? ‘ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand,things too wonderful for me to know. We forget that our minds are finite and His is infinite. We cannot always expect to understand all of what God is about. To think that we can step in and declare that someone's life is no longer worth living is simply not our decision to make.Only God knows when it is time. In Isaiah 55:8-9 the Lord declares, â€Å"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts. † Fourth, our bodies belong to God anyway. Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 6:15,19 that we are members of Christ's body and that we have been bought with a price. Therefore we should glorify God with our bodies. Lastly, suffering draws us closer to God.In light of the euthanasia controversy, listen to Paul's words from 2 Corinthians 1:8 We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. Joni Earickson Tada's book ‘When is it Right to Die? ’ (Zondervan, 1992) shows her testimony and clear thinking is in stark contrast to the conventional wisdom of the world today. Being a Christian and having pro-life sympathies, I believe this Christian daughter should take the same wisdom and proceed with dialysis.

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Democratizing Effect of Internet Essay

In the modern world of today, there has been a whole new transformation in how people access information. Rather than having access to information alone, they discuss it with their peers and gain valuable insights into a topic through the ideas and opinions of others involved. (Ferdinand , 2000) There are different conversational technologies through which information available on the internet has and is become democratized. These include blogs, chat rooms, online communities, e-mails, discussion forums, sites like facebook and orkut. com. People discuss different issues with each other from different parts of the world through these sources and contribute in effective exchange and dissemination of information. These have also helped in creating a social circle where people become friends with each other though located in different parts of the world. This means that internet has removed all physical boundaries and has created a virtual world where any one can communicate across the barriers. Through discussions, people strengthen their knowledge base and get to know about different perspectives relating to a single topic. People express their ideas and opinions freely on communities without any fear which can be seen and thought by all. This sharing of knowledge is mainly carried out through conversations where people involve in healthy discussion or raise questions and others answer them. Then there are blogs created on different topics where people post their thoughts on that particular topic. This is not only being done by people to burn time rather this has become their hobby. They like taking an active part in discussion and join communities and post their messages. (David Simon, Corrales , and Wolfensberger , 2002) Organizations are responsible for creating, sharing, storing and retrieving valuable information which helps in the functioning of the business. The internet has helped in doing so. They have employed different knowledge management and information systems which help in the creation and sharing of information. These systems have also caused the internet to democratize information so that everyone working in an organization can make use of that. Every employee from middle level to the strategic level has a computer working on his desk with internet connectivity. They use internet to bring in creative and innovate ideas which raises their position in the organization. Previously, people used to refrain from sharing data or knowledge with others because of the difference in their cultural backgrounds. Most of the conversation was done face to face so people felt uncomfortable in sharing their ideas and opinions. But since internet technologies have become incorporated in the organization, the employees can discuss different issues through the internet on their computers with others without any face to face contact. This has increased their comfort level in presenting their ideas and opinions without any fear of criticism. Organizations have developed intranet and portals where employees and manages share information and discuss any of their issues or problems. Now let us discuss how information is democratized on internet through different conversational technologies. Examples are illustrated to support the topic to make it understand in a better way. BLOGS The first truly democratic tool used through the internet is ‘blogging’. These are web pages created on different topics by authors, teachers, politicians, creative writers, organizations, communities etc to discussing a particular issue and share with others whatever information they have on that particular topic. They also invite ideas, opinions and suggestions from others who view the website to share their comments over the topic. Different bloggers write on different topics and make their information accessible to others. Since everyone can view blogs and comment on it, this information circulates and everyone using internet comes to know about it sooner or later. This creates a democratizing effect on the population by blogs. An example would further illustrate this point. (Saco , 2002) Chinese people were not happy with Dell computers and started blogging about it on the internet. They criticized Dell computers and laptops for their wrong processors and poor customer service and everyone eventually learned about that living in different countries like U. K, U. S. A etc. Dell customers dissatisfied with the product started discussing the drawbacks in the products online. The angry customers combined together from different areas and raised voices against the company leading to severe action like lawsuit. This is the power of blogs or in other words the power of internet. This led the Dell Company into serious trouble when they saw that their purchases were declining and not only their target markets but others were also getting wrong impressions of the company. The customers created a bad word of mouth by blogging on the internet and people all over the world believed that to be true. This created a democratic effect and every one developed a negative attitude towards Dell products. Because of the democratic effect of the internet, people all over the world feel free and empowered to share their opinions and post their comments related to their experiences on websites readable to millions of users. These users also tend to believe their comments and take similar actions. Recently multinationals are themselves creating blogs about their products on web pages and inviting their customer’s comments after experiencing their products. This way the organizations can know whether their target market likes or dislikes their products, whether they feel content and satisfied or not. Moreover, people read blogs related to a product before going for its purchase to avoid any negative feelings thereafter. There are blogs available on a breadth of topics, people blog about the things they like as well as they dislike and this information spreads so quickly through internet that one cannot even imagine the speed. Online Communities People create online communities on topics that interest them. They are like discussion forums where people post their comments related to that topic. They come to know about different perspectives existing on a single topic and sometimes agree with it and some times contradict it. These forums are like debating societies where a group of people speaks in favor of a particular topic while others speak in against. The tone of the discussion varies. By participating in discussion forums people share their information and also take information from others which increases their knowledge base. Communities can also be created on a wide range of topics and have a similar impact as blogs. People ask questions and others answer them thus, allowing the information to circulate worldwide. Chat Rooms This is the most common type of tool used for communication of personal as well as professional information. Instead of posting comments there, chat rooms offer instantaneous communication. They are used in organizations for communication and problem solving purposes. Students and teachers use chat rooms for working on assignments and projects etc. An example for explaining the democratizing effect of chat rooms is the case of Colgate-Palmolive (CL). It was spread through chat rooms in 2005 by Chinese people that Colgate Total Toothpaste which is a product of CL was linked with cancer because it contained a cancer causing ingredient. Not only chat rooms, discussion forums as well blogs played a major role in spreading this information throughout the world so that more and more people should abstain from using this toothpaste as it could be dangerous to life. CL noticed that the sale of its Colgate Total tooth paste nearly diminished because of the internet’s democratizing effect. This effect is causing much harm to multinational companies whose products are not being sold in the world market because of the opinion of people living in one country. E-mail E-mail is one of the most frequently used ways by the whole population for communication purposes. It the replacement of traditional system of writing letters but is faster, speedy, and more efficient. Information is spread very quickly through e-mails. If a person receives an informative mail then he quickly forwards it to all his peers and friends in social circle who then forward it to their peers and the cycle goes on like this. This way the information continues to spread among population without any stop. Whenever we receive any forward mail, the message first starts with a huge list to which the message has already been forwarded. This way one receives huge information regarding different topics. Recently, I received a forward mail in which there was mentioned how mobile phones can burst while used on charge. There were even pictures given to support the point. I immediately forwarded the mail to everyone I knew because it is important for everyone to know the consequences of using mobile phones while being on charge. Another such informative mail was circulated which contained that mentos and cold drinks should not be consumed simultaneously as it leads to death. It showed pictures of an experiment by putting mentos into a bottle of coke which burst with showers. People receive these mails through different sources and we circulate these mails to as many people as possible because we want the world to become aware of these little things which can have bigger consequences. CONCLUSION The above discussion makes it clear how internet can result in the democratizing of information. Critics argue that it is not democratizing of information but it is creating a pro social change among the masses. They say it depends on a person who is using internet. If they are using it for democratizing purposes then it will surely have a democratizing effect. But since internet allows access to all and information is available to all regardless of the purpose for which it is being used then it is rightly said that internet has a democratizing effect. It has created a virtual world where information is not limited and continues to spread among the masses through blogs, e-mail, chat rooms and discussion forums. Any one can create information over the internet and anyone can read that piece of information. There exists no limit and boundaries. Thus, internet has increasingly become a democratizing tool for masses and people use it with increased vigor and determination. (Tranvik , 2005)

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Kingdom of Heaven

The Middle East has been a continuing source of rich history since the early times. Widely chronicled events in its history were the Crusades in which the â€Å"Kingdom of Heaven was based.† The story deals with the Crusades of the 12th century, and involves an artificer (a military mechanic; French: artificier) and Engineer (that is, someone who makes siege engines), serving as a village blacksmith who goes on to aid the city of Jerusalem in its defense against the great Islamic leader Saladin, who battles to reclaim the city from the Christians. The script is loosely based on the life of Balian of Ibelin (wikipedia.org, 2006) How the Crusades started were caused by religious, economical and political reasons. The order burning the Church of the Holy Sepulchre by a Fatimid caliph, and the molestation of pilgrims, cruelty of Muslims toward Christians, and following the papal â€Å"foreign policy† of expanding Christianity were religious sources of conflict why the Crusades were undertaken. One of the economical concerns was the overpopulation of Western Europe, consequently having the idea that Eastern Europe would be a new territory to conquer and would provide the necessary resources to provide for Western Europe’s burgeoning population, and politically, the Crusades would pave the way for wider trade. It would seem that the differences of faith is still one source of conflict today, considering the fact alone that Jerusalem is the central land of worship of different great religions, Christianity, Judaism and Islam, as of the present time. These different religions with different beliefs, different perspectives, try to assert the claim that Jerusalem, by right, is there own Holy land. They do not know how to share as neighbors. Conflict arises. The oil-rich Middle East today provides for a backdrop of political and economical maneuverings by different countries, with vested interests of their own, to gain control of this rich region. The phrase â€Å"History repeats itself† is justified. Reference: www.wikipedia.org, 2006 [webpage] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Heaven_%282005_film%29 date accessed: 16 December 2006

Friday, September 27, 2019

Personal Narrative Being a Christian in a Pluralistic Society Research Paper - 1

Personal Narrative Being a Christian in a Pluralistic Society - Research Paper Example When I first started out as a young Christian, I thought that all worldviews that were not my own had to be wrong or backward in some way.   Then, as I began to become wiser with age—having attended Selma Unviersity—I learned about different ways one can see the world with my university studies.   I learned more about my Christian faith and how to preach at Birmingham Baptist Bible College.   At Faith Grant Seminary in Birmingham, Alabama—my spiritual formation was shaped even more than when I was at BBBC.   My BA in pastoral theology, my MA in religion, and my doctorate of Divinity have all shaped who I am today.   Without that theological training, I doubt that I would have become as open-minded as I am today.   In addition, I studied through distance learning with Trinity Distance Studies.   As such, I am currently working towards a Masters in General Psychology with University of the Rockies, after having received a BA in Psychology from Ashford University in 2007.   Before getting my degree in psychology, I never had fully appreciated how complex human beings are—from their motivations to their religious practices and everything else which makes people their unique selves.  Ã‚  When I first started out as a young Christian, I thought that all worldviews that were not my own had to be wrong or backward in some way.   Then, as I began to become wiser with age—having attended Selma Unviersity—I learned about different ways one can see the world with my university studies.   I learned more about my Christian faith and how to preach at Birmingham Baptist Bible College.   At Faith Grant Seminary in Birmingham, Alabama—my spiritual formation was shaped even more than when I was at BBBC.   My BA in pastoral theology, my MA in religion, and my doctorate of Divinity have all shaped who I am today.   Without that theological training, I doubt that I would have become as open-minded as I am t oday.   In addition, I studied through distance learning with Trinity Distance Studies.   As such, I am currently working towards a Masters in General Psychology with University of the Rockies, after having received a BA in Psychology from Ashford University in 2007.   Before getting my degree in psychology, I never had fully appreciated how complex human beings are—from their motivations to their religious practices and everything else which makes people their unique selves.  Ã‚   The reason why pluralism is the focus of this writing is because I feel it is a very important issue to address in today’s society—and I have learned to become comfortable with pluralism, because I now understand the intricacies of Cartesian dualism and can appreciate the fact that everyone who does not believe what I believe is necessarily wrong.   In fact, we may all have different paths to God, but that does not make my religion any better than someone else’s.   We just have different perspectives.   I believe this is a wholesome outlook in a world where relativistic attitudes are common, and lots of people don’t stand up for their beliefs anymore.   I believe that I can be a strong, committed Christian—even in the face of shifting paradigms in various religious communities.   The context in which my learning took place with regards to pluralism includes a strict Christian upbringing in a Baptist family.  Ã‚  

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Economics of Organisation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Economics of Organisation - Essay Example In this article, Ribstein (2002) argues that since principals do not directly participate in the daily decision-making process, they lose the ability to influence the practice on how decisions are made. Likewise, once the voters delegate their duties to the politicians, the politicians could opt to follow their interests rather than those of the agents. In addition, in such a relationship, the voters become the hostage of the politicians. The principal-agency problem can further be extrapolated to the health sector, where the health providers can act as imperfect agents of patients by prescribing unnecessary drugs. This paper assesses the principal-agency problems in explaining failures of corporate governance. The paper further examines how the recent regulatory framework has been used to mitigate the principal- agent problem. 2. 0 The principal-agency theory In the article, Theory of the firm: managerial behavior, agency costs and ownership structure, Jensen and Meckling, suggest m anagers as being the agents of the shareholders (Huber, 2002). The principal model guides agency relationships where the shareholders, otherwise known as the principals, delegates duties to the agents to act on their behalf. The model is defined by a number of features, which are defined in the following section. Firstly, as suggested by Bodie, Alex and Alan, agents undertake actions, which determine the payoff to the principal (2002). In other words, the effort of the agent determines the profits realized by the principal. Secondly, within a principal-agent relationship, the concept of information symmetry arises. In this regard, the principals can be able to observe the outcomes of agents’ actions but monitoring the agents’ actions is almost impossible. In instances where an imperfect contract exists, the agents could be encouraged to act to carry out actions that benefit their interests, and the possibility of a moral hazard happening becomes even more real if there is a large information asymmetry. To address the problem of information asymmetry, the principals could put in place monitoring mechanisms and initiate incentive contracts. The board of directors remains one of the common used weapons, in reduction of information symmetry by monitoring and ratifying the most important decisions carried out by the management. Beside acting on the behalf of the shareholders, the board of directors is also supposed to control resource allocation and accompanying risks. Thirdly, the agent-principal relationships assume that agent’s preferences differ from the principals. When the agents and the principals have differing risk preferences a conflict of interest occurs. Just to illustrate further, the shareholders may be risk-averse while the management is risk-neutral, which means the management is incentivized to make risky decisions against the will of their principals. If such a situation happens, the board of directors is mandated to ensure th e interest of the management, and the shareholders are aligned. To deal with the challenges that are associated with the principal-agent relationships, the principals may result to outcome-based incentives. This

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

Cloning - Essay Example Natural cloning has been going on for billions of years. Natural cloning occurs when an organism reproduces asexually or when two genetically identical twins are produced by a splitting of a fertilized egg. For example, when one takes a stem from a yam plant and plant it in the ground, a new plant would grow as it takes root. The new plant can be considered a clone in the sense that it is identical to its parent. Similar cloning takes place in grass, potatoes and onions. This is a technique for propagating plants asexually. Humans have been using this vegetative technique in agriculture for thousands of years. The process has been helpful in environments where flowering and seedling establishment are infrequent. Another example of natural animal cloning is identical twins. Even though they are genetically different to their parents, they are naturally occurring clones of each other. Artificial cloning of animals is now normal in laboratories. The most famous example of animal cloning is Dolly the Sheep, born in the UK in 1997 using a technique called cell transferring. Â   It could be very useful and practical for us to be able to clone animals because they could provide extra food and could help find cures for diseases and further the research of medicines and vaccines. There are many reasons as to why cloning is important today, and in the years to come. First of all, food shortage is increasingly becoming a major global dilemma. This is due to the high demand on food as the global population increases dramatically (the population is thought to rise from 6.5 billion to 9 billion in the next 10 years) this indicates that food is going to be a very important aspect in preventing world hunger. Presently, almost 1 billion people eat less than three times every day and approximately 400,000 die daily due to starvation. There are other factors such as extinction of species that have to be taken into account as well, but

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Critically analyse the concept of fair and equitable treatment in Essay

Critically analyse the concept of fair and equitable treatment in investment treaties, taking into account recent investment - Essay Example A nice starting point for a good discussion is that the term or phrase â€Å"fair and equitable treatment† is the minimum standard and is included in most international investment agreements (IIAs). There are slight variations to this legal standard, such as the phrase â€Å"equitable and reasonable treatment† but both of the phrases are almost always made in reference to international laws. Admittedly, even this short phrase is subject to different interpretations depending on the circumstances and one's viewpoint. What is lacking in most of treaties is the legal concept of erga omnes like in Portugal v Australia to attain the goal of FET.2 It is the main purpose of this paper to explore further how this relatively simple legal phrase is used today to implement investment treaties. What is quite troubling to see is the prevalent use of the concept of special laws to interpret treaties in favour of one party only – the investors.3 Discussion Fair and equitable tr eatment is becoming more important these days. ... The only issue supposedly before any trade arbitral tribunal is to decide whether in all circumstances the conduct at issue is indeed fair and equitable.4 Definition: â€Å"Fair and equitable† treatment, narrowly speaking, refers to investments.5 It is commonly used in international treaty law and â€Å"protects investors' legitimate and reasonable expectations;6 it also protects against an arbitrary or capricious treatment, bad faith, coercion and harassments.† Investors negotiating with countries are very often understandably worried that their investments might be seized as part of nationalisation schemes, or that a change of regimes might cause loans to be defaulted upon or that corruption might force them to engage in more frequent bribery as seen across the developing world. The main consideration is the safety of investments by making sure agreements offer the contracting parties increased security and protection.7 Investors prefer safety before any profits are c onsidered. The investor's legitimate security expectations are the dominant elements of this treaty standard.8 Some experts believe FET guarantees a treatment beyond the minimum standards required under international laws. But this paper will analyse fair and equitable treatment (FET) a little bit broadly. It is fair enough for investors to receive fair and equitable treatment but what about the host governments, citizen stakeholders, NGOs, labour and the poor? This paper will thus look at fair and equitable treatment in that broader fashion. By merely looking at â€Å"fair and equitable treatment† rulings, it could give a false impression that treaties were fairly implemented and negotiated when they are in fact deeply divisive, controversial,

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Illegal Software Use Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Illegal Software Use - Essay Example The 2011  BSA Global Software Piracy Study reveals that the â€Å"Business decision-makers who admit they frequently pirate software are more than twice as likely as other computer users to say they buy software for one computer but then install it on additional machines in their offices,†. The latest study reveals that a number of security breaches come by known hackers. On this numerous reports including patches and software updates are presented. Moreover, a questioned is asked for the presence of relationship between unlicensed software and the perseverance of software is maintained or not? In this regard the CEO Robert Holleyman, president BSA says, â€Å"It can be a security issue.† Furthermore, he states that there is a major cultural problem that leads towards using pirated software and other security breaches. However, in any organization the security lapse can also happen due to mismanagement of its software and licensing. The unlicensed and not properly doc umented software are more prone to provided insufficient support to the organization. According to the Holleyman, the BSA report is founded over the IDC market data. The term â€Å"gold standard† is stated by the Hollyman that supports the sales of PC and software in worldwide markets (GNC Articles. 2012). This information is collected and published by Ipsos Public Affairs. The survey is held between 14,700 individuals that belong to 33 countries therefore representing around 80 percent of the worldwide software market (GNC Articles. 2012). The survey results came up with some astonishing facts. Around forty two percent of individuals had installed he pirated version of software that cost around $63.4 billion (GNC Articles. 2012). However, this cost cannot be claimed as the net loss due to the unknown budget of legal or illegal installed software as mentioned by BSA in the software industry. In the United States, the rate of pirated software is about nineteen percentages beca use it is considered as the most law-abiding country percentage-wise. In fact, for the big illegal software shares in the U.S. market the estimated net worth is approximately around $9.8 billion value. In the second place is China (GNC Articles. 2012). It is said that the country pirates an approximated 77 percent of its software. In addition, this software is of worth about $8.9 billion that stands China in the second place of illegal software after United States. The computer users in China pay out on typical just $8.89 for the legal software and in the United States this figure is around $127 for every computer. According to the BSA these cost figures for the software organizations are representing risk to U.S. economic well-being. This is due to the unwarranted aggressive advantage that is given to the industries thus encouraging them to use the pirated software. Likewise, even at the rate of 19 percent software piracy in the United States poses a major threat to the Information and Communication Technology in the United States (GNC Articles. 2012). Firstly, applications or software coming from a non-genuine source can be infected with viruses, malicious codes, Trojan horse, root kits etc. this imposes a direct threat or risks. For instance, if an operation system has been acquired from a non-genuine source, viruses can be installed with the operating system. Likewise, one cannot trust software provided by the vendor and it should be tested before implementing in a live or operational environment of a bank or financial institution. These fixes can be later on patched by security updates. In case of pirated software, update options are turned off due to the fear of Operating system validation tools from the manufacturers. Once

Monday, September 23, 2019

Coca-Cola Company vs. PepsiCo, Inc Research Paper

Coca-Cola Company vs. PepsiCo, Inc - Research Paper Example Consequent to this input, the plan is effectively funded to sustain total elasticity as laid down in the Pension Plan Act 2006. Generally, the fund was estimated to finance all the subsequent contributions in future from the operating activities. In accordance to the guidelines of IFRS the international pension plans of the company are funded in conformity to the domestic laws and the income tax guidelines. The company does not anticipate the contributions to the plans to be in effect in any near future. Following the enactment of the Pension Plan Act of 2006, no contributions are expected to be included in the schedule for funding the benefit pension plan. At the end of the financial year 2009, the estimated benefit requirement of the United States eligible pension plans was about $ 2.138 million and the reasonable value of the pension plan was about $ 1.975 million. The major part of this contribution was as a result of depressing effect that the previous financial crisis and finan cial mechanism’s vulnerability had on the company’s pension plan assets. ... The US non eligible pension plans stipulates for particular links which might not be allowed or be included in the financed qualified pension plans as a result of the constrains inflicted by the local revenue code of 1986. The anticipated benefit payments of the stated unfinanced pension plans might not be considered in the schedule for the calculation of the benefit plan. It was expected that the yearly benefit payments to the unfunded benefits plans to be about $ 35 million by 2010 (PepsiCo 2009). It was also expected to remain at that level until 2030 declining yearly thereafter. The profits and losses which emanate from the real familiarity might be different from the presumptions put down by the company which comprise of the disparity amidst the real benefits from the pension plan assets and the anticipated return on the plan assets. Moreover, as a result of the variations in the presumptions the returns are also established at every date of measurement. According to the IFRS, i f the observable accumulated returns or losses are way above 10% of the entire market connected fair value of the benefit plan assets or liabilities, a section of the net margin or loss is considered in the expense for the preceding year. The charges or returns of the plan variations that enhance or decline the benefits for previous employee service cost is considered in the earnings or income on a straight-line basis over the optimal service duration that remains of the active plan contributors. This is normally approximately 10 years for the pension expense and about 12 years for the retiree medical expense (IASB, 2007) Calculation of the funding levels and capital gains experienced by Coca-Cola and PepsiCo in

Sunday, September 22, 2019

One Way Analysis of Variance Essay Example for Free

One Way Analysis of Variance Essay One-way Analysis of Variance (Abbreviated one-way ANOVA) is a technique used to compare means of two or more samples (using the F distribution). This technique can be used only for numerical data. It consists of a single factor with several levels and multiple observations at each level. With this kind of layout we can calculate the mean of the observations within each level of our factor. The residuals will tell about the variation within each level. It can also average the means of each level to obtain a grand mean. And then look at the deviation of the mean of each level from the grand mean to understand something about the level effects. Finally, can compare the variation within levels to the variation across levels. Hence the name analysis of variance. Used to determine whether there are any significant differences between the means of three or more independent (unrelated) groups. It tests the null hypothesis that samples in two or more groups are drawn from populations with the same mean values. And compares the means between the groups you are interested in and determines whether any of those means are significantly different from each other. Formula F= q MSBMSWWhere: F = Fisher’s Ratio K = Number of Columns N = Total Number of items MSB= SSBK-1 MSW= SSWN-K Attitudes of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th year EHS students towards their computer subject Attitude| Year| Average Weighted Mean| Rank| | 1st| 2nd| 3rd| 4th| | | Study regularly| 3.44| 3.37| 3.50| 3.56| 3.47| 9| Regularly exercise the skills| 3.73| 3.88| 3.65| 3.58| 3.71| 6.5| Listen attentively during class discussion| 3.62| 3.71| 3.67| 3.85| 3.71| 6.5| Always do the assignment without hesitation| 3.63| 3.73| 3.83| 3.75| 3.75| 5| Always work on projects without hesitation| 3.94| 4.10| 4.12| 4.00| 4.04| 2| Enjoy the hands-on activity| 4.13| 4.38| 4.06| 4.25| 4.21| 1| Search and use other computer reference| 3.83| 3.83| 3.54| 3.92| 3.78| 4| Always take down notes during discussion| 3.67| 3.67| 3.77| 4.04| 3.79| 3| Ask questions whenever the topic is unclear| 3.37| 3.38| 3.54| 3.63| 3.48| 8| Likeability of the subject| 2.98| 3.62| 3.12| 3.25| 3.24| 10| | | | | | | Grand Means| 3.63| 3.77| 3.68| 3.79| 3.72| The table shows the summary of the attitudes of the EHS students towards their computer subject. Having computed the Average Weighted Means, Rank 1 is indicator f, which is â€Å"I enjoy our hands-on activities† with an average mean of 4.21. The Last rank goes to indicator j, which is â€Å"I like my computer subject†, with an average mean of 3.24. This indicates that the EHS students do not like their computer subject. Though the third year likes their computer subject, they are only a fraction of the whole which do not like their computer subject. This further indicates that the students manifest positive attitude towards their computer subject because of the grand weighted mean of 3.72. This signifies that even though they do not like their computer subject, they still manifest positive attitude for they have the majority of the indicators. Reference Anonymous.August 23,2013.One-way analysis of variance. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One-way_analysis_of_variance Anonymous.August 23,2013.One-way ANOVA. https://statistics.laerd.com/statistical-guides/one-way-anova-statistical-guide.php Anonymous.August 23,2013.One-Way ANOVA. http://www.itl.nist.gov/div898/handbook/ppc/section2/ppc231.htm

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Structures That Influence A Childs Development Education Essay

Structures That Influence A Childs Development Education Essay In this paper I will be discussing the bioecological model of human development. In the bioecological model, development is defined as the phenomenon of continuity and change in biophysical characteristics of human beings(Bronfenbrenner Morris, 2007, p. 793). The main focus of the paper will be on Urie Bronfenbrenners bioecological theory of human development. This model provides the whole picture of the developing child, encompassing relevant theories within it(Berns, 2013, p. 16). Bronfenbrenner looks beyond general developmental patterns; he proposes that researchers examine various ecological settings in which the child participates, such as family and child care, to explain individual differences in childrens development (in this case, cognitive development)(Berns, 2013, p. 17). The social interactions of a child will determine how that child will grow and what type of adult that child will become. The type of environment a child is brought up in impacts the childs ability to l earn. It effects how they develop intellectually, cognitively, and emotionally. This is also when a child learns his morals and values. Bronfenbrenners bioecological model of human development has four basic structures. They are the microsystem, mesosystem, exosystem, and macrosystem. This paper will show how the four structures of human development influence a childs development. The first system that influences development is the microsystem. It refers to the activities and relationships with significant others experienced by a developing person in a particular small setting such as family, school, peer group, or community (Berns, 2013, p. 18). This systems communications are in a close setting of their direct environment and would be considered the most important system of the developing human. The microsystem is the most influential THE FOUR BASIC STRUCTURES system. This is because it is the first time a child interacts with family, schools, and neighborhoods(Swick Williams, 2006, p. 374). This interaction occurs for a long period of time. The most significant relationship of the microsystem is family. Once a child is born they spend most of their time with their family. Their family is responsible for giving them a place to live, feeding them, clothing, keeping them warm, changing their diapers, and buying them anything that is needed. When children are still babies the family basically does everything for them. The family provides a child with the essentials child to live but that is not the only important role of a family. How parents teach their children, interact with them, and talk to them is the probably more important. This is what helps a child develop in the world. There are several different types of parenting styles. The type of parenting style can determine how a child will eventually end up as an adult. Parenting can affect the way a child does in school. It can also affect a childs mental state. Certain parenting styles can lead children into a life of depression others can lead children into a life of achieving. There are four different parenting styles. They are authoritarian, authoritative, permissive, and non-involved. Authoritarian parenting is a style of parent-centered parenting characterized by unquestioning obedience to authority is strict and demanding (Berns, 2013, p. 62). These types of parents expect a lot from their children. This can lead to children having low self-esteem or being depressed. However the children are usually obedient. Perhaps the complete opposite of an authoritarian parenting style would be a permissive parenting style. Permissive parenting is THE FOUR BASIC STRUCTURES a style of child-centered parenting characterized by a lack of directives or authority(Berns, 2013, p. 62). These types of parents do not ask a lot of their children. They usually act more like a friend than a parent. This parenting style can lead to children that do not do well at school and they may suffer from depression as well. These children might also end up having problems with authority. Their parents never told them what to do so when an adult does show some authority the child acts out because they do not know how to handle it. Some may say the healthiest parenting style is authoritative. Authoritative parents are more democratic. They have rules that they expect their child to follow but if their child breaks these rules they are nurturing rather than punishing. Authoritative parenting style leads to a child being happy, assertive, and successful. The last parenting style is uninvolved. These parents are not involved with their child at all. They may provide their child w ith the basic needs necessary to survive but the might not even do that much. Children of uninvolved parents lack self-esteem, they do not do well in school, and they may act out in school. Parenting styles have a significant impact on development. The family structure also impacts development. The nuclear family consists of a husband, a wife, and their children. The nuclear family used to be the most popular but in todays society not all households are structured this way. Today it almost seems that divorce is the norm rather than the nuclear family. 30% of first marriages end in divorce(Kallaman, 2012, p.1). Almost everybody knows someone that is divorced. Even though divorce is becoming more of a normal experience that does not make it any easier on children of divorced parents. In a divorce the children may have to take increased THE FOUR BASIC STRUCTURES responsibility for themselves and may have less time available to spend with parents to receive love and security (Berns, 2013, p.82). Counseling, mediation, custody battles, and fighting are situations that a child might have to face when their parents are going through a divorce. In many occasions there is also a financial consequence. Usually the mother receives custody of the children and the mothers usually make substantially less than their husband. So the type of comfort the children were used to will most likely change. Peers, community, and schools also have an emotional impact on children. Children can have positive experiences with peer groups but they can also have negative experiences. When it is a positive experience peer groups can offer children independence and help them to find their sense of self. When it is a negative experience children can lose their ability to communicate and socialize with peers. It can also cause them to have low self-esteem. An example of a negative experience with peers is bullying. School is a tremendously beneficial experience for children. School is where children learn most of the skills they will need to be a productive adult. School also teaches children how they are expected to behave. The values of the school or teachers are passed on to their students. Children learn in different ways. They may be visual, spatial, auditory, or kinesthetic learners. It is the teacher and the schools responsibility to discover which type of learning best fits each child. The second system that influences development is the mesosystem. Mesosystems consists of linkages and interrelationships between two or more of a developing persons microsystems, such as the family and the school, or the family and the peer group (Berns, 2013, THE FOUR BASIC STRUCTURES p.20). These interrelationships involve a variety of settings that the child is immersed in; the influences bind them together (Bronfenbrenner Morris, 2007, p. 820). Mesosystems can benefit a childs development but that depends on the type of microsystems that come together and the quality of their relationships (Berns, 2013). One of the most important examples of a mesosystem involves schooling. Family and schools link together for the development of children. Children develop better when they have parents that are extremely involved in their education. These children will get higher grades, they will do better in school in general, and they will be more likely to attend college after high school. Families that are involved with school will attend family teacher conferences and they will participate in schools activities. Some parents may even volunteer at their childs school. It is also important for families to ask their children how school was and to help them with their homewor k. This will have a positive effect on children and the children will gain confidence (Berns, 2013, p. 142). The link between school and community is also a vital connection in a childs life. Schools that are located in richer in communities are better funded. The community supports the schools in their neighborhoods because these are the schools their children attend. They receive better books, computers, more funds for sports teams, more money for field trips, and better resources in general. The more funds a school has the more the learning process can be extended Children that attend these schools are in a better environment for learning and it gives them a positive outlook on life. These children have a better chance of doing well in school and doing well as adults. THE FOUR BASIC STRUCTURES The exosystem is the third system of Bronfenbrenners theory of human development. They are settings in which children do not actually participate, but which affect them in one of their microsystems(Berns, 2013, p. 21). Parents socioeconomic status is an example of this. Children dont participate in a familys socioeconomic status but it does affect them. If they are in a family that is in the low economic status they will not have the means to purchase items a child may need. This could be food or school supplies. They will not live in a nice community and therefore will not attend the best schools. Children born into poverty statistically have lower self-esteem, are less likely to excel in school or are more likely to drop out, and they are more susceptible to violence and crime (Bronfenbrenner Morris, 2007, p. 793). On the other hand if they are born into a family that has a high socioeconomic status they will get anything they want. They will go to the best schools. They will get to go on vacations. They will have the best school supplies. They may have a computer for home and then one at school as well. A parents job also affects a child indirectly. If the childs parents do not make a lot of money and they have to work two jobs their childs socialization will be effected. The parent will not be home to help the child do their homework, play games with them, fix dinner for them, or just to talk to them. The parent also may travel a lot for work or stay overnight for a job. In this case their child is placed in non-parental child care. There are different types of non-parental child care. There are child care centers, family day cares, and in-home care. The different types of non-parental child care can affect the child differently. Where the child is cared for is different. Some are cared for in the childrens home but other times the child is taken to a center. The THE FOUR BASIC STRUCTURES accreditation of the care takers is different. That is, if the care taker is accredited at all. Each type of care also has different learning programs. Some programs have structured activities set up for the children while others basically let the children do whatever they want. Being in child care can be beneficial and detrimental to children. The child will be able to socialize with peers more easily, but they tend to be less cooperative and unresponsive with adults (Berns, 2013, p.156). The last system involved is the macrosystem. The macrosystem consists of the society and subculture to which the developing person belongs, with particular reference to the belief systems, lifestyles, patterns of social interaction, and life changes (Berns, 2013, p.22). There are many examples of macrosystems. Republican, upper class, lower class, Baptist, and Asian ancestry are all examples of macrosystems. The macrosystems we live in influence what, how when, and where we carry out our relations(Swick Williams, 2006, p. 377). This system effects the development of a child in a larger context. The beliefs of the family and their lifestyle, education, religion, and mass media all influence a childs development. Macrosystem influences come from cultural views in society. There are certain roles in society that people are expected to live by. For example, gender roles are still seen strongly in the American culture. Parents may expect a boy to be tough and to never cry, while parents expect girls to be domesticated and nurturers. Family values are huge influences on children. There are many values parents impose on their children. They may expect their children to go to college, get a career, get married, and have 2.5 children. All of this should be done in that exact order. Many familys morals and THE FOUR BASIC STRUCTURES values come from their socioeconomic status, their culture influences, and their religious influences. There are some universal parenting goals that are the same no matter what type of cultural or religious beliefs affect them. These are ensuring physical health and survival, developing behavioral capacities for economic self-maintenance, and instilling behavioral capacities for maximizing cultural values, such as morality, prestige, and achievement (Berns, 2013, p. 210). Even so, for the most part, parenting styles in the United States can vary greatly. Urie Bronfenbrenner was correct in his theory of the bioecological model of human development. There is an enormous amount of data that shows how the four systems influence a child. The microsystem can be seen as the major system of influence. It is important to have healthy, safe, positive relationships. These relationships will help the childs development as the other systems come into their lives. A mesosystem can be described as the links in the chain(Welzel Inglehart, 2010, p. 52). School and family individually influence a child and together they make so much more of an impact. This does not only consist of these two relationships, but all relationships in the microsystem. The indirect effects of the exosystem, such as parents careers, have their own influences. Long hours at work and little pay can lead to a child missing out on necessities needed for life but more importantly, the child will miss out on early socialization with someone he trusts. Finally, the macrosystem is the combination of culture, religion, mass media, and other influences that are widespread. Put the four different systems of human development together and they make a huge impact on the socialization and THE FOUR BASIC STRUCTURES cognitive development of a child THE FOUR BASIC STRUCTURES

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Sport Record :: Sports Records Papers

Sport Record The founding father of the Olympic Movement, Pierre de Coubertin, referred to the sport record as having the same function in the ideology of Olympism as the principle of gravity in Newtonian mechanics (Loland 1995). The record was, so to speak, the eternal axiom of sport. No doubt, Coubertin was right in many ways. The fascination for records is a key element in our fascination for sports. Records are the stuff of which legends and myths are made. Johnny Weissmuller's 1924 one hundred meter freestyle swim under the minute, Wilma Rudolph's fabulous sprint records from the early 1960s, and Michael Johnson's explosive two hundred meter record run at the 1996 Atlanta Games, are all paradigmatic examples of Coubertin's ideals. The record stands as a symbolic message of human greatness and infinite possibility. However, as will be shown in this paper, the record idea is not unproblematic. First, sport records are defined. Second, based on critical, conceptual analyses, the logic of the record is examined and possible consequences are discussed of the continuous quest for new records. Finally, some reflections are presented on alternative lines of developments in sport in which the status of the record idea is drastically reduced. Record Sports, Quasi Record Sports, and Games A sport record is a performance, measured in exact mathematical-physical entities (meters, seconds or kilograms) within a standardized spatio-temporal framework defined by sport rules, that is better than all previous performances measured in the same way. Typical record sports are athletics, swimming, and weight lifting. Record sports have to satisfy strict requirements on both standardization of conditions and on exact measurement of performance. A series of sport disciplines satisfy one of these two criteria. In marathon running and cross-country skiing, performances are measured and compared by exact timing, but there are no standardized arenas. The Boston Marathon is rather different from the one in Oslo. The conditions and trails of cross-country ski races vary from race to race. We sometimes talk of records here, but in an inaccurate way. Disciplines with exact performance measurements but without strictly standardized frameworks can perhaps better be called quasi-record sports. Other sport disciplines have well-defined standardized spatial frameworks but do not measure performances in exact ways. In terms of arenas, soccer and tennis are more or less identical from match to match. Performances, however, are measured in non-precise entities like goals, points, sets, and games. Moreover, performances are in a sense relative as they depend upon social interaction with other competitors.

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Isadora Duncan Essay -- essays research papers

Isadora Duncan 	Isadora Duncan was a famous dancer who brought a new kind of dance to the world. She danced out the feelings from deep in her heart. Unlike other dancers in the late nineteenth century, Isadora Duncan danced with flowing motion. She was not a ballerina, and did not like to watch ballet dancers, with their stiff bodies and unnatural pointe shoes. At first she was not liked, but as time went on, Isadora Duncan became a dance revolutionist people all over the world will never forget. 	Angela Isadora Duncan was born, one of four, on May 26,1877 in San Francisco, California. Her mother, Dora Duncan, was a piano teacher, and her father, Joseph Duncan was a banker, journalist, and poet. Her parents were both well educated, charming, and an altogether happy couple. However, their marriage fell apart soon after Isadora's birth. 	After the divorce, Dora was left with little money to support her four children; Augastin, Raymond, Elizabeth, and Isadora. She gave her music lessons, but still was not bringing in enough money to keep living in the same house. The family began moving from one apartment to another, learning to leave each one a day before the bills came around. 	Isadora started school at the age of five. In the late nineteenth century, students were expected to sit still during school, memorizing and reciting their lessons. To Isadora this was "irritating and meaningless." She hated school. She said later in her autobiography that her real education came on the nights when Isadora and her siblings would dance to her mother's music and learn about what they were interested in -- literature and music. 	Isadora was told as a child that she would have to learn to depend on herself to get what she needed in life. So as Isadora grew older, she began to understand her family's financial condition and was eager to help. She and her sister Elizabeth began baby-sitting to help the family. To keep their charges busy, they taught them how to dance. The dance lessons were mostly just telling them to wave their arms in the air, but it kept them busy and raised money for the family. 	In those days, when dancing was first popular, "nice" women wore clothing from chin to toe, not showing any skin. However, new kinds of dance were surfacing that allowed the "nicest" women to tak... ...hat trip to Paris, for she died on September 14, 1927 after having dinner with her life-long friend, Mary Desti. After dinner, she hopped into a Bugatti sports car with the agent from the car company. She was wearing a long, elegant, red scarf, and as Mary Desti looked on in horror, that scarf got caught in the axis of the spinning wheel and strangled Isadora Duncan to death. 	More than ten thousand people gathered at the cemetery to watch Isadora Duncan's ashes be place next to her children's in their memorial. Even people who had watched her dance decades before came to the solemn service. To all these people Isadora Duncan meant something. She brought into the world the idea of teaching young children how to dance. Even though she knew they would not all become professional dancers, she felt that a feeling of rhythm and freedom of movement were important for one to have. She was the first to ever express her personal emotions in her public dancing. She always wore revealing clothes, often whatever she could find around her house. If you ever see a young child on a stage twirling and leaping to the words of her own feelings, they are there because Isadora Duncan danced.

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Men are Becoming More Evil Essay

I believe that in the last couple of decades man is becoming more evil. Many blame the media. Then there are those who blame the increasing number of dysfunctional family and the weakening relationship between parents and children. Whatever the cause, one thing is clear, and that is men are becoming more cruel, violent, inhuman and evil. Global crime rate, for example, has shown that all countries around the world have steady increase in robbery, homicide and other crimes. The total recorded crime trends have therefore shown similar steady increase in the last 50 decades. This was reported by the United Nations Survey of Crime Trends and Operations of Criminal Justice Systems. Juvenile delinquency is also increasing as reported by World Youth Report, 2003. In fact, in many Western European countries, from the 80s to the 90s, statistics show that there is a significant increase in juvenile delinquency rate from 50% to 100%. Moreover, although delinquency is universal, study has shown that there are different contributing factors to delinquency among different regions. For example, in Africa, the main cause is poverty, unemployment and malnutrition. In Asian countries, it is an urban phenomenon. In some countries, especially those in the Golden Triangle region, children are used by the drug industry, thereby becoming addicts themselves. Also in this region, children are victimized by human trafficking. In Latin America, it is homelessness and poverty. Arab world, it is urbanization for the rich countries and socioeconomic difficulties for the developing ones. While in many industrialized countries, such as the US, the main factor is increase in consumer goods. What this shows is that across the globe and with different factors, delinquency is becoming a way of life for many children. Gone are the days when children are innocent. Today they grow up in a world of violence, injustice and inhumanity that they themselves become violent, cruel and evil. Their crimes can be considered most heinous. In the last fifteen years school shootings is becoming more common. Then there are children who are not even in their teens commit senseless and extremely cruel crimes, such as Jon Venables and  Robert Thompson who stole, tortured and murdered a two year old boy. Whether this is caused by the environment, the media or family upbringing, it is clear that men are therefore becoming more evil. Becoming evil of course is a process as it does not happen overnight. It means that there is hope yet for the future generations. Societies might change and evil men might repent and turn their backs on their evil ways. But until that day comes, we see man becoming more evil with each passing day.

Monday, September 16, 2019

Cultural Differences, Usa and Masai’s Essay

There were many cultural differences between the Masai’s and the U.S. The fundamental difference I notice was their simplicity. They think that every big celebration and every tragedy that people go thru in their lives should be celebrated or minimized by the gift of cows. I think that the fundamental similarity between our cultures is the need to help those in need, compassion. When September 11th. happened the whole nation was shocked and hurt. Even those who didn’t have family in the twin towers felt the need to help. The same happened with the Masai tribe, they didn’t have the money or the resources to help us with, but they had what they thought was the next best thing; cows. The U.S government took 3 years to decide what to do with the gift received from the Masai’s. The Masai’s were already feeling disrespected and hurt about the lack of interest on their gift. It is their culture to hand out cows as gifts and for them it is an amazing gift to receive a cow. It’s what they know and it was passed down to them from their ancestors. It won’t change and it is already established. I think the appreciation of what other people try to do to help is one fact that interconnect the U.S to the Masai’s. After we received the cows from them we decided to use the gift to try to help them with education, and they were very grateful. Another fact could be the decision making. In the U.S the big decisions are made by the government, in the Masai tribe the decisions are made by the elders. It is like they have their own form of government. I don’t think the intention of the author was to make fun of the Masai’s but in a certain way it makes them seem like a joke. When he writes about the Masai women dancing and celebrating the 5th. Year anniversary of the September 11, he says that not a way to show sympathy but ok. Well it is their way to cope with tragedy and it might look disrespectful to us but it isn’t. they were nothing but kind and sympathetic to what we were going thru. Their way of showing it might be different but it isn’t wrong.

Sunday, September 15, 2019

America’s First Ladies

The Intrigues and Witticism of America's First Ladles Introduction According to many Americans, First Ladies usually play the normal roles of wives to their husbands, doing the regular activities that wives are supposed to do for their husbands. Such activities, of course, do not include the usual house chores such as doing the laundry and scrubbing the bathroom. These are left for their trusted maid servants. Apart from ensuring that the President's suits have been nicely pressed, the First Lady will also be expected to accompany her husband during certain state functions of which she is required to.However, as Bill Alder reveals, the White House Is not Just a place to sit back, relax, watch TV and Walt for Mr.. President to come back home from a busy day. There are a few secret activities that go on inside and outside the chambers of the White House which would raise a few eyebrows when revealed. The following is a review of the book America's First Ladles: Their uncommon Wisdom fr om Martha Washington to Laura Bush by Bill Alder. It takes a deeper look into how these ladies are perceived by Alder and his personal opinions on their witticism and amusing undertakings in the White House.The following Is an Insight of some of Hess ladies' lives. Mary Todd Lincoln In the book, Alder pits the wife of Abraham Lincoln as a big spender. When her husband was vying for the top seat In the country, Mary Todd once whispered to a friend of hers that if Abraham won, he would remain privy to her habit of spending wildly. On the other hand, Mr.. Lincoln would have a hard time to digest the fact that his wife Is a spendthrift If he won the presidency (Adler, 2002). During her childhood years, Mary belonged to the aristocracy of Lexington.Her association with a privileged class increased her love of elaborate and showy attire and accessories. Though she couldn't settle for cheap clothing and would never have dreamt of getting married to a man who was way below her class, she so mehow fell in love with Abraham Lincoln, a poor man who was raised in a log cabin. As soon as Mrs.. Lincoln set foot inside the White House, she became a fashion symbol and was often under scrutiny by Journalists. She was mostly criticized over the high costs of her dresses.Some media houses sometimes suggested that the state funds used to buy her dresses would have been used to send aid to American soldiers who were dying in the battlefield. By doing so, her spendthrift nature would have been curbed. Her redecorating of the White House raised many eyebrows including those of her husband. Her extravagance and explicit taste of fashion actually made some European fashion designers emulate her. French Empress Egg ©nine is one of the women who were spotted adorning similar dress designs as Mrs.. Lincoln.Her extravagance was way too much as compared to previous First Ladles and her stay In the White House was a clear indicator of a change in pomp and glamour. Julia Tyler In 1844, John Tyler became the first American president to marry while holding office. He stunned Americans even more by marrying a lady who was thirty years younger than him (Adler, 2002). 21 -year-old Julia Gardener Tyler, another descendant of a wealthy family, however proved to the world that despite her tender age, she had to play near role as First Lady. Much like Mary Todd, Alder describes Julia as an explicit extravagant.The First Lady was seen to preside over functions with a high- spirited attitude. Prior to her entrance in the White House, guests used to be received following procedures laid out by the Van Burn administration. But during her time, he totally changed the reception procedures. She adorned plumes in her hair as she received guests. In addition, her maids wore white dresses which was a new trend as far as observers were concerned. According to her, she made all the alterations to revive the White House in order to please her husband.Using her wit, she believed that Presid ent Tyler would gain a lot of satisfaction by watching people praise his young and vibrant newly wedded wife. Ellen Wilson Not all women who have lived in the White House are full of unprecedented drama. Ellen Saxons Wilson is portrayed by Adler as a calm and composed motherly Oman. Most Americans at that time viewed her as a sweet caring mother. Being a daughter of a church minister, her humble and serene background may have played a major role in developing such a character in her.She is also one of the few women who never saw what the big deal was in staying in the White House. She never showed great enthusiasm in being the wife of the president of the United States of America. However, Lade shows an interesting side of Ellen. Having known each other since they were kids, Ellen and Woodrow Wilson did not shy from showing how much they loved and cared for each other. During the course of their romantic relationship, they two are rumored to have exchanged more than 1,000 love lette rs (Adler, 2002). Despite giving it her all in showing romance to her husband, Ellen also had a soft spot for art.Her love of painting saw her put up a studio complete with a skylight erected inside the White House. She continued with her hobby unperturbed even after attending the weddings of her two daughters in a span of six months. Hillary Clinton Being among the most learned First Ladies to ever stay in the White House, Hillary Roadman Clinton made her presence felt in the most convincing way possible. In her ears as an undergrad, she was a member of the National Honor Society. She also honed her leadership skills back then by being a student leader.By the time her husband, Bill Clinton, clinched power, she had already been appointed to the board of Legal Services Corporation by President Jimmy Carter. After President Clinton assumed office, she was given another official role of chairing the Task Force on National Health Care Reform. Despite all these roles, Adler shows how she still tried her best to balance between family, work and service. Conclusion The book does a good Job in giving an insight into the secret lives of America's First Ladies. It also reveals the goings-on that many an American are not familiar with.The book mostly contains anecdotes such as the antics of Mary Todd Lincoln. It also does a fantastic Job in exposing how most of the First Ladies were major spendthrifts who did their best to leave a mark in the White House in terms of pomp and color. An example is Julia Tyler who completely revived the reception procedures whenever foreign personalities paid a visit. His extensive use of lengthy speeches can be commended and criticized as well. An example is the reproduction of Hilary Silicon's address at Wellesley College. The letter sounds interesting at first but becomes dull soon afterwards.

Saturday, September 14, 2019

A Spill at Parsenn Bowl Essay

Part I – The Slopes While enjoying a day on the ski slopes at Winter park the patient fell exiting the ski lift. Patient was able to get up unassisted however, as she adjusted her stance the knee â€Å"twisted† and she fell again resulting in an external rotation of the right knee. Patient reported no pain at this time, but due to instability she was transferred by Ski Patrol down the slope on a sled. For the patient’s body to maintain homeostasis throughout the duration of exposure to the extreme cold, thermo receptors within the skin activated sending signals to the hypothalamus. In turn the cutaneous blood vessels constricted and shivering commenced in an attempt to accumulate and produce additional body heat. (Minerva Union, 2011, 2). During the time of exposure to the extreme cold all distal extremities and any exposed tissues would be vulnerable to the occurrence of frostbite.  (Minerva Union, 2011) Part II – The Emergency Room Upon arrival at the emergency room the patient was shivering which can be seen as an early indication of hypothermia. At this time the patient was instructed to remove her parka in an effort to avoid further heat loss, resulting from an accumulation of moisture from the conditions outdoors. To assist in regulation of homeostasis the patient was wrapped in blankets and given hot chocolate. Pulse was taken at the Dorsalis Pedis to check the patient’s circulatory response. (The EMT Spot, 2014, 7). Pain reported by the patient was localized to the medial surface of the right knee,  noticeable inflammation present due to the leaking of fluids from compromised internal tissues. The patient’s presentation of symptoms are indicative to that of a potential medial collateral ligament and medial meniscus tear. (Healthline, 2014, 5). The medial meniscus articulates with the medial condyles of the tibia and femur. Part III – The Mile High Clinic An X-ray, of which the primary diagnostic focus is bone structure and density (SWOG, 2013, 1), was ordered for the patient. X-ray results although negative for fracture were positive for swelling further indicating the possibility of tendon or ligament damage. A Lachman Test was performed on the patient to test the integrity of the anterior cruciate ligament within the patient’s right knee. To determine integrity: â€Å"the knee is flexed at a 20-30 ° angle, the tibia is displaced anteriorly relative to the femur; a soft endpoint or greater than 4 mm of displacement is positive.† (Free Dictionary-Medical Dictionary, 2014, 1).  (The Clinical Advisor, 2014) Upon the positive results of the Lachman test, further examination confirmed injury to the medial collateral ligament as well. Patient was instructed to see an orthopedist, given crutches, a brace, and instructed to keep the leg elevated and use ice to further aid in the reduction of swelling and pain. Furthermore patient was instructed not to use heat, such as a heat pad or hot tub, as heat can result in vasodilatation leading to increased pain and swelling. Part IV – Seeing the Orthopedic Surgeon #1 Upon arriving home the patient was seen by a local orthopedic surgeon. Although the patient previously had an x-ray, an MRI was ordered to obtain a clear and concise understanding of the impact of the ski accident on the internal soft tissue structures of the patient’s right knee. An MRI or magnetic resonance imaging, â€Å"combines a powerful magnet with radio waves and a computer to manipulate these magnetic elements and create highly detailed images of structures in the body.† (SWOG, 2013, 4) In comparison to an MRI, an X-ray is typically used to diagnose and assess bone degeneration or disease, fractures and dislocation. (SWOG, 2013, 1) Age often plays a role  in the healing process, as does the patient’s physical health. Typically younger patients have an increased regenerative capacity for healing as opposed to older patients who may present with osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is â€Å"the degeneration of cartilage and its underlying bone within a joint as well as bony overgrowth.† (CDC, 2011, 1) Patients with poor physical health and other complications may not always be a good candidate for reconstructive surgery. Although the patient in this case is 55, she presents as a good candidate for reconstructive surgery as a result of leading a fairly active life style and was referred to an orthopedic surgeon who performs such surgical procedures on a routine basis. Part V – Seeing the Orthopedic Surgeon #2 Patient presents in good health and as an ideal candidate for surgery. Referred to â€Å"pre-hab† to have the knee and leg in the best possible shape prior to surgery. The knee is a synovial joint and can be further classified as a hinge joint as it allows movement in only one direction. Synovial joints are lined by a synovial membrane filled with fluid to support the joint and reduce friction. (Buzzle, 2014), 3). Tendons and ligaments composed of dense regular connective tissues hold the structures of the knee together.(eHealth Ideas, 2013) The hamstring, sartorious, gracilis, and popliteus assist in producing flexion, whereas the â€Å"Quads† rectus femoris, vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, and vastus intermedius contribute to producing extension. (Healthline, 2013, 4-5). With regard for the surgical repair of the patient’s ACL the synovial membrane would need to cut in order to operate on both the meniscus and ACL. In addition, the use of a tendon to replace the ligament is possible, as both are composed of collagenous connective tissues. (University of Michigan, (n.d.), 2). Prior to surgical intervention it is especially important that the patient’s knee is in the best physical shape as post-operatively the patient can expect to experience some degree of atrophy and loss of bone mass as a result of restricted and limited use of the surgically repaired joint and limb. (Healthline, 2014, 1). During post-operative healing the patella is likely to heal faster  than the ACL, MCI and menisci, as it has access to the arterial blood supply. (KneeHipPain, n.d., 14). The cartilage and the ligaments will take longer to heal as they are avascular and contain little to no blood supply. Scar tissue is a normal occurrence of the healing process, and is composed of fibrous connective tissue. â€Å"This tissue contains a fibrous protein called collagen, as well as long carbohydrate molecules called polysaccharides, water and cells called fibroblasts.† Scar tissue also known as adhesion, plays an important role in the healing process as its collagenous fibers bind to damaged tissues in an effort to reconnect the damaged fibers. Part VI – Resolution The body is an incredible mechanism, through homeostasis and feedback loops the body is often able to regulate and return itself to a state of equilibrium. This can be evidenced in the case of the patient, as when subjected to the extreme cold thermo-receptors in the skin activated signaling the hypothalamus, resulting in vasoconstriction and shivering as a method to create and conserve body heat. However, in some cases such as that of a torn ACL, the body is not always able to repair itself and surgical intervention may be deemed necessary. Still, throughout the post-operative healing process the body employs various methods of negative feedback to once again return to a state of equilibrium. References Buzzle. (2014). Synovial membrane. Retrieved from: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/synovial-membrane.html The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2011). Osteoarthritis. Retrieved from: http://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/basics/osteoarthritis.htm The Clinical Advisor. (2014). [Photo of Lachman Test]. Retrieved from: http://www.clinicaladvisor.com/tests-to-assess-acl-rupture/slideshow/394/#0 eHealth Ideas. (2013). [Photo of Knee Anatomy Design]. Retrieved from: http://www.ehealthideas.com/2013/12/knee-anatomy-diagram.html The EMT Spot. (2014). The ultimate emt guide to vital signs. Retrieved from: http://theemtspot.com/2010/05/22/the-ultimate-emt-guide-to-vital-signs/ The Free Dictionary. (2014). Medical dictionary. Retrieved from: http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Lachman+test Healthline. (2013). Knee muscle anatomy. Retrieved from: http://www.healthline.com/human-body-maps/knee-muscles#4/4294967045 Healthline. (2014). Muscle atrophy. Retrieved from: http://www.healthline.com/symptom/muscle-wasting Knee Hip Pain. (n.d.). The anatomy of the patella. Retrieved from: http://www.kneehippain.com/patient_pain_anatomy.php Minerva Union. (2011). Homeostasis basics. Retrieved from: http://minerva.union.edu/linthicw/homeo.htm Minerva Union. (2011). [Photo of Homeostasis Temperature Control]. Retrieved from: http://minerva.union.edu/linthicw/homeo.htm References Southwest Orthopedic Group. (2013). What is the difference between x-rays, mri, and ct scans. Retrieved from: http://www.sworthogroup.com/general-orthopedic-faq/25-what-is-the-difference-between-x-rays-mri-and-ct-scan University of Michigan. (n.d.). Section 9: Ligament tendon structure. Retrieved from: http://www.umich.edu/~bme332/ch10ligten/bme332ligamenttendon.htm

Friday, September 13, 2019

Governments should focus on the wll-being of ther populations rather Essay

Governments should focus on the wll-being of ther populations rather than economic growth. To what extent do you agree whith thi - Essay Example This paper is therefore designed to illustrate why and how proper balances of population well-being and economic growth should be facilitated by governments. This will be illustrated by first examining how economic growth policies can be detrimental to a population’s well-being. Secondly, this paper will examine trends in satisfaction and how well-being and economic growth perform in those trends. Speth (2008) informs that the belief that fast and abundant economic growth often comes at the price of the environment (p. 24). This approach to economic growth, while attending to the immediate well-being of the population does not take into account the well-being of future generations who will ultimately have to deal with a â€Å"perilous state environmentally† (Speth 2008, p. 24). Far too often economic policies do not take account of the sacrifices to the environment. Governments in a desire to advance economic growth place far too much emphasis on technology and far too little emphasis on the cost to the environment (Speth 2008, p. 24). Acknowledging that economic growth and modern technology are necessarily intertwined in an increasingly global economy, but at the potential cost to the environment, there must be a proper balance. ... The latter implies a responsible use of the earth’s resources for economic development. By taking this approach, the government is not only ensuring economic wealth, but looking ahead to ensure that the population’s well-being and economic growth both equally protected. Norberg (2010) also takes the position that economic growth policies have focused far too much on â€Å"simply maximising production† (p. 2). Like Speth (2008), Norberg (2010) argues that this approach to government policies does not take account of the environmental costs. As a result, warnings about environmental issues, particularly global warning are changing the way that populations perceive wealth. This together with the recent global financial crisis has cultivated a lack of confidence in how well economic growth and more especially GDPs measure the well-being of populations (Norberg 2010, p.2). Norberg (2010) demonstrates why a proper balance is required to be made between economic growth and the population’s well-being. If one take the position that the environment is just as important to the population’s well-being as economic growth, it will serve no purpose to trade one for the other. For example, Norberg (2010) argues that the Happy Planet Index (HPI) introduced by the New Economics Foundations in 2006 indicates that populations in the wealthiest Western nations rank lower on the HPI than countries in Asia and Latin America (Norberg 2010, p. 5). The obvious difference here is the greater degree of development in the Western countries which necessarily correlates with greater modernization and the corresponding damages to the environment. Countries in Asia and Latin America are obviously not as developed and therefore

Thursday, September 12, 2019

How do the Renaissance, the Protestant Reformation and the Scientific Essay

How do the Renaissance, the Protestant Reformation and the Scientific Revolution connect with the history of the Greeks and Roma - Essay Example The texts were written in Latin and the books that were published were only those that had been approved or written by the church. Since the church declared and controlled literary movement, there were no voices thrown upon them. However, upon the period of Renaissance, Europe’s literature revolution began. People started to write books in vernacular language. Through this, common people found the books more accessible even without knowing Latin and criticisms and criticisms on the church and politics began to rise. People begin to argue upon what is true and what is written in the Bible, from which the texts are written and published by the church itself for which, by reason, were thought by the people to be politically biased and thus, not true. One clear example is tackled by Niccolo Machiavelli. In his â€Å"The Prince†, he rejected the common Christian view that the state is an entity under the control of divine power. These brought changes as to exemplifying the v anishing of the control of the church upon literature. Along with the Renaissance, the movement of the Protestant Reformation brought extreme behavioral changes on the Greek and on the Roman cultures and traditions and shaped the whole of Europe’s history. These changes were triggered upon Europe’s views and religion.

Wednesday, September 11, 2019

Pro & Cons of Social Media Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Pro & Cons of Social Media - Assignment Example equires an individual to set business objectives, establish important performance indicators that relate to the objectives and create performance targets to evaluate success. The second stage of the social media measurement process is the definition phase. It requires an individual to make an outline showing how social media platforms could be supplemented to attain a brand target and interact with them to achieve the objectives. Design, is the third phase of the social measurement process. It involves laying out appropriate venues and specific tactics for the brand that will help in establishing an active social media presence. Deployment is the fourth stage and it entails the program implementation and launch, which ensures that accurate data is collected and the program is launched appropriately. Optimization is the final phase of the social media measurement process. It seeks to look at performance drivers and identify opportunities that can assist in adjusting the program for be tter results (Murdough 94). The reach of social media refers to the amount of traffic or the number of people that are accessing the social media platform. It involves monitoring the number of mentions and the characteristics of the authors. Some authors have more influence on social media, therefore, being able to promote the brand effectively when they mention it. Other authors have less influence (Bernhardt, Darren & Amanda 137). Therefore, it is important for the key authors to mention the brand as it will generate more comments and discussions that will promote it. Messages are transmitted across different social media platforms such as Facebook, twitter and MySpace in different ways. Facebook, blogs and discussion forums have room for comments that can be viewed by customers and prospects, therefore, promoting the brand. On the other hand, Twitter offers tweets that can easily be seen by prospect customers when an author promotes the brand (Murdough 95). According to Chris

Tuesday, September 10, 2019

Key elements in consumer behavior and why it is relevant to marketing Term Paper

Key elements in consumer behavior and why it is relevant to marketing - Term Paper Example Further, the article discusses some of examples wherein the companies had addressed individualism in consumer behavior Theory Consumer behavior can be described as â€Å"The study of individuals, groups, or organizations and the processes they use to select, secure, use, and dispose of products, services, experiences, or ideas to satisfy needs and the impacts that these processes have on the consumer and society.† (Perner, 2010) Understanding of consumer behavior would help firms improve their marketing strategies, by addressing the issues like how consumer’s reasoning and selection between different alternatives, level of consumer knowledge, how to improve marketing campaigns to effectively reach out to consumers Consumer behavior and preferences has changed over the period of time and would continue to evolve in the future also. We can analyze some of the key elements of consumer behavior globally. For example, today’s consumers place considerable value on self -expression and their individual identity. This also includes exerting their power and control as consumers. This element of consumer behavior represents consumers’ desires to be themselves and to be recognized as having personal needs rather than being part of the mass market. Accordingly, consumers value products and services that complement their individuality—providing them with a sense of personal and social identity. This trend represents values such as â€Å"being me†, â€Å"trusting myself†, â€Å"finding my own answers† and â€Å"making my mark on the world† in a world of opportunity and freedom. The desire for individuality is not new. It has just become more attainable for more people due to rising prosperity in society and the fact that technological advances facilitate easier, more cost effective personalized products and services. With rising prosperity there has also been a growth of post-materialist societies where values emp hasizing self expressing and individuality have grown. Let us see some of the drivers, particularly from marketing perspective, which are driving individualism in consumer behavior: 1. There are several database methods of consumer research such as store loyalty programs which is strengthening more personal forms of marketing 2. Supply side: manufacturers are increasingly tapping into the desire for more personalized products as a point of differentiation (increasingly to help offset the escalating private label threat). Individualized value added services are increasingly becoming the norm 3. Brand hegemony, particularly in the context of private label growth and copycat innovations, has contributed to the demand for personalized goods that offer genuine points of differentiation Key take-outs and implications: the growth of individuality creates a more engaged, confident and vocal consumer 1. Self-expressive contemporary consumers will increasingly choose brands that offer compell ing platforms for expressing one’s individuality. 2. In emerging economies, the desire for self expression/individuality is more complex. Emerging economies are typically more collectivist consumer cultures that have been ‘muddied’ by the growth of more self expressive values that have typically accompanied economic prosperity. 3. Research has documented that people who exhibit more individualistic tendencies are more assertive, more

Alternative Pain Therapy Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 8750 words

Alternative Pain Therapy - Research Paper Example Tragedies that could otherwise been avoided have motivated me to do the research and study options of minimizing pain and assess whether they are better compared to the conventional methods being used. I would like to acknowledge my friends and family for their unwavering support throughout the research time. I would also like to thank and acknowledge my course professor and supervisor whose support and guidance really helped me to successfully complete this research paper. Abstract This project was titled alternative chronic pain treatments due to the idea that came up to me as result of the several tragic fatalities linked to analgesics that have occurred. Analgesics have been used to treat pains for quite a long time, but an incident in Afghanistan where a soldier massacred seventeen people due to side effects of the drug raised lots of concern. The literature review will further look at the various researches that have been associated with the side effects of analgesics. Differen t statistical reports and researches are illustrated in the literature review to back up these numerous theories. The motivation for this paper was large due to the fact that when solving a problem, there is always the endeavor to make the situation better than it was. However, this was not the case for the analgesics. As we will see in the literature review, soldiers are tremendously being affected by side effects of analgesics. From this observation, it can be said authoritatively that the study into the alternative pain relief methods is justified. The methodology went ahead and used descriptive statistical technique for its reliability and for the fact that it can be used comprehensively with both qualitative and quantitative statistical techniques. This gave room for the data to be collected through the various ways associated to the two different techniques. The data collection was done through structured questionnaires that were well pre-tested and administered to the target population. The data analysis was performed through Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), and the data presented using tables and figures. CHAPTER ONE Introduction Pain in human bodies always reflects an injury that requires medical attention and care. The nervous system is triggered to send information and alert the brain of a possible injury within the body. On the other hand, chronic pain is a very persistent and constant pain that never goes, it keeps occurring causing a lot of discomfort and inconvenience to an individual (National Institute of Health, 2013). Body pain causes a lot of discomfort to an individual irrespective of the short period of time they may take. Therefore, constant and repeatedly painful occurrence such as chronic pains should be addressed with the seriousness they deserve. Effective methods of handling the pain and helping the affected people feel relieved and better is indispensable (National Institu

Monday, September 9, 2019

Business Plan of a Restaurant Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Business Plan of a Restaurant - Essay Example The BM is unlike other typical sandwich shops, it attracts a diverse crowd from historic Vietnamese-European to a younger crowd, which is wowed by equipping with a cool-forum for communication and entertainment through the medium of the Internet and big-flat screen TV that customers can quickly check e-mail at the BM Internet Zone Counter or plug in your own laptop at a designated area and watch update news, popular music, and sports from a luxury leather chairs with fireplace to the unique modern seats while enjoying an extensive menu of delicious items. The BM is the suitable response to a gradually increasing demand .The effective community wants a place to socialize and share these experiences with friends and colleagues. The BM generously contributes its patrons the ability to drive up or walk-in and orders their selection of a wide range of exciting products. We offer BM's very owned cultures to its customers the finest traditional hot & cold beverage and delightful food highly increases in determination introduced Vietnamese " Banh Mi" and European sandwiches, Vietnamese iced cafe, Pho (noodle soups) and spring-rolls. In addition, BM will offer East meets West individual people with desserts, freshly baked gourmet pastries and other confections, plus other custom drinks such as fruit- smoothies, original drink juices, flavored milkshakes, and freshly roasted coffee on site. 1.2 Mission The Original BANH MI Factory will reinvent the sandwich experience for individuals, families, and take out customer's discretionary income by offering superior quality, innovative products at a reasonable price, designing tasteful, convenient locations, and providing industry-benchmark customer service. Your pride is the BM's ultimate goal. The BM aims to be a cornerstone in a permanent community, creating a neighborhood atmosphere where satisfied consumers seem comfortable and become instant regulars. BM is sensitive to the often over-looked popularity of healthy and delicious baked goods and beverages, filled with the best ingredients. Constantly striving to supply what the potential customers are calling for and improving on what is available in the competitive market and adding recent products and services to the designated area of need. BM will assure our success in a market driven by consumer demand. 1.3 Keys to Success There are four keys to success in this business, three of which are virtually the same as any foodservice business. It is our fourth key "the Community Mission "that will give the BM extra measure of respect in the public eye. 1- The greatest locations: visibility, high traffic pattern, convenient access. 2- The best products: freshest baked goods, cleanest equipment and environment, premium-serving containers, consistent flavor and value. 3- The friendliest servers: cheerful, skilled, professional,

Sunday, September 8, 2019

The Strategic Implication of E Commerce for the Design and Essay

The Strategic Implication of E Commerce for the Design and Construction Industry Article Analysis - Essay Example The main research question which is being asked by the authors of the article by Johnson and his colleagues is if the AEC industry can benefit itself and integrate e-commerce platforms into the business plans and strategic objectives of the enterprise. If the construction industry and its participants can achieve greater integration of e-commerce it is able to raise overall profits in the industry by streamlining activities that used to take greater efforts which led to unnecessary expenses now become automated activities that provide added value services to the customers. The power of the e-commerce solution is based on the achieved growth in the utilization of the platform after the turn of the century. In 2001 e-commerce in the United States generated $7931 million in revenues (Plunkett Research, 2007). Six years later in the 1st quarter in 2007 the sales volume had grown to $27,092, an overall increase of 242% over a six-year span or an average yearly growth of 40% (Plunkett Rese arch, 2007). These figures clearly illustrate evidence of the worldwide tendency to increase e-commerce dependence by all companies around the globe. The article effectively described the industry in order to evaluate possibilities that are going to integrate e-commerce solutions to increase efficiency in the AEC industry. Various case studies of different participants of the  value-added supply chain that allowed the players in the industry to obtain efficiencies associated with economies of scope, integration of resources, technological advances, information technology and other competitive advantages. The literature provided a very clear and descriptive analysis of the construction industry. The construction industry is a mature fragmented industry which is closely held with less than 25 public trading companies and plenty of small and medium closed held private enterprises.  Ã‚  

Saturday, September 7, 2019

Book vs. Film(life of pi) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Book vs. Film(life of pi) - Essay Example The second part describes the circumstances that led to the sea voyage that forms the core of the story, and the third section is a detailed description of Pi’s experiences at sea. The fourth and final section of the novel includes the author’s sentiments and tells of Pi’s rescue and explains the how the story developed. Pi’s adventure starts when the ship they were sailing on gets shipwrecked and he is stranded on a life boat in the company of a Bengal Tiger named Richard parker. In the film, Pi is accompanied by Richard Parker, an Orangutan monkey, a Zebra and Hyena. This paper seeks to discuss Life of Pi by focusing on several points and the spirit of survival, its impact and significance in life. Pi was brought up as a Hindu by his family a characteristic that can be attributed to him being a vegetarian. As Pi grew older, he discovered the existence of Christianity and Islam religions, which he investigated and explored extensively. He came to the conc lusion that the three religions had their benefits thus; he decided to practice all of them since all he wanted was to love God (Martel, 2012). This is illustrated by his conclusion regarding the two visitors to their zoo who belonged to two different religious affiliations, yet they had identical names. Pi concluded that even though they belonged to two extremely different religious inclinations, they still sought to gain a higher understanding and love a higher supreme deity. Pi’s experience with the three religions can be construed to have prepared him to deal with what he faced at sea (Martel, 2012). The aspects above are better illustrated in the book than in the film adaptation because the book offers the reader the opportunity to use their imagination, understanding, perspective and insight to recreate the author’s intended premise. Pi faced a life threatening situation at sea and his faith in religion can be attributed to his triumph over adversity especially i n matters of faith when he was faced with doubt. The animals that were in Pi’s company on the life boat served to enlighten Pi on the need of being string when faced with adversity. The Hyena threatened Pi’s life by snarling at him an indication that it meant him harm. The hyena killed the grants zebra and the orangutan monkey then ate them after which Richard Parker the tiger killed and ate the hyena leaving it and pi as the sole occupants of the vessel. This served as a very significant lesson for pi because it helped Pi realize that in order for him to survive; he had to gain control of the tiger. This incident also taught Pi that the world was only meant for the strong and those who were ready to live by any means necessary (Martel, 2012). It helped Pi realize that the world had no room for the weak as illustrated by the way the hyena eliminated the other animals who could not fight or fend defend themselves on the life boat. Pi comes to the conclusion that in orde r to secure his survival he has to establish a hierarchy on the life boat so as to facilitate a peaceful coexistence between him and the tiger. Pi’s use of animal psychology and training techniques he learnt from their zoo is an illustration of how adversity has the ability of exposing an individual’s hidden potential and abilities. The film adaptation of the novel is more illustrative of the above aspects because the situation on the life boat is brought to life for the audience. The theme of life is