Friday, December 27, 2019

Essay Colonising Within the Marriage in Rhyss Wide...

Colonising Within the Marriage in Rhyss Wide Sargasso Sea Jean Rhys complex text, Wide Sargasso Sea, came about as an attempt to re-invent an identity for Rochesters mad wife, Bertha Mason, in Jane Eyre, as Rhys felt that Bronte had totally misrepresented Creole women and the West Indies: why should she think Creole women are lunatics and all that? What a shame to make Rochesters wife, Bertha, the awful madwoman, and I immediately thought Id write a story as it might really have been. (Jean Rhys: the West Indian Novels, p144). It is clear that Rhys wanted to reclaim a voice and a subjectivity for Bertha, the silenced Creole, and to subvert the assumptions made by the Victorian text. She does so with startling results.†¦show more content†¦Nobody want you (WSS 9). Though this is a childish taunt in the novel, the truth of it is that nobody does want Antoinette; as Teresa OConnor points out, not even her own mother: Antoinette is also alienated from the meagre remains of her family itself, and, most specifically, from her mothers love (Jean Rhys: the West Indian Novels, 172). The second part of the novel marks the beginning of the marriage between Antoinette and the English gentleman (normally identified as Rochester from Jane Eyre; he will be referred to as such for the remainder of the essay). The Marriage contract itself, interestingly, is negotiated and put into action by a series of men: Rochesters father and brother, Antoinettes stepfather and, subsequently, her step-brother, Richard Mason. When Antoinette herself puts up a half-hearted resistance to the marriage, both Rochester and Richard Mason step in to push the contract along. Already, Rhys, within the marriage, establishes action as a male characteristic and inertia as female. As the narrative moves into part II, Rochester takes over from Antoinette as narrator. Also, the feelings of displacement and problems of identity are shifted onto him. Rochester, at Granbois, experiences a complete lack of power normally exercised by the English gentleman, at once having to deal with the strange otherness of the West Indies and cope with the rejection by his father and brother. According

Thursday, December 19, 2019

No One Left Behind ( Hiv / Aids ) - 3059 Words

No One Left Behind (HIV/AIDS) Imagine you are sick, afraid, enveloped in insecurity, not knowing what may lie ahead. It is in the darkest moments of a potentially fatal illness that we look to others for solace, we often turn to partners, family, friends, and our community. We rely on healthcare systems to provide medication, comfort, assistance and adequate treatment in order to assist in the recovery process, as well as to provide physical, and psychological well-being. What if the illness you are experiencing is life threatening and comes with a stigma attached, a stigma that ignites fear, loneliness, blame, and misrepresentation. You are isolated, your Physical and psychological needs quelled in a blanket of this stigma. Your†¦show more content†¦Silence is your companion and your enemy, for it is in this silence that misconception and fear are incubated. You scream for others to hear, you scream for awareness, because they need to know the facts, they need to understand the transmission and to realize they should not be afraid of your touch †¦ Yet, your screams go unheard just as if in a nightmare, there is simply no one listening. These are the people who live with a virus that takes their health, their freedom, their choices and their human rights. Yet, they are strong, productive, funny, and talented. They are leaders, musicians, blue-collar workers, men of faith, students, sons, daughters, mothers, and fathers, they are heterosexual and homosexual. They are of all races, all people, they are human beings who need their voices heard they are the people who live everyday with the letters HIV. The problem defined The beginning Early in the 1980’s unusual outbreaks or pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) and Kaposi’s sarcoma were reported to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) these five reported case were limited to otherwise healthy homosexual men (Granfors Stalstrom, 1987). In June of 1981 these early reports were published in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, this report referred the five cases to homosexual men which began the inference to HIV being a gay- related immune deficiency syndrome termed â€Å"GRID† (Fee Perry, 2008) later know as Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

Governance Role of Audit Committees

Question: Discuss about the Governance Role of Audit Committees. Answer: Introduction: In the present case, as Katrina Ng is manager as well as member of Board of Directors of not for profit entity. There has been no violation of the Accountant code of ethics if she is only director and not independent director. If she is an independent director that she has violated the principal of Objectivity, even though the position is honorary and does not involve her to perform in management capacity of the organization. It might be possible that the decisions taken by Katrina Ng in her managerial capacity in the influence of senior management might also affect decisions when taken as a director. A public accountant can provide tax and management services and also conduct audit but cannot provide book keeping services to the same client. As audit involves methodical examination and testing of financial records of a company, hence it is not possible for one to judge books of accounts which are prepared by him only (Nicol?escu, 2013). The same will violate principal of integrity and objectivity. In present case chances are probable that Peter Beattie might be biased while providing an opinion on the books of accounts prepared by him. The auditor should provide Unqualified Opinion. As per Miller and Skinner (2015), unqualified opinion is expressed by an auditor in case where no reservation regarding the financial statements is observed while auditing. It is also known as clean opinion which refers that financial statements provide true and fair view. In the present case as the auditor is unable to obtain confirmation regarding the balances from the three clients who were major customers. As the auditor is able to satisfy himself using other procedures regarding the validity of their balance; he should provide unqualified opinion. No particular method is necessary for assessing the validity of method; it is necessary that auditor must be sure that the accounts are presented in fair manner. Disclaimer Opinion should be expressed by the auditor in this case as the client has held the auditor to not observing the account of plant, property and equipment. The extent of materiality which existed in this account was 20%. According to Ghafran and O'Sullivan (2013), disclaimer opinion is issued by the auditor in cases where the auditor is restricted to examine some or the other accounts which are material and the auditor is not able to express opinion. In cases where the auditor is not able to find appropriate evidences which may assist them is expressing that whether or not the statements are in accordance with the financial accounting standards. Hence, the auditor is not able to lay down any type of opinion regarding the financial statements of the company owing to the limitation of restriction put by the client. A disclaimer opinion stays in effect till the client doesnt give appropriate evidences to the auditor to withdraw such an opinion (CPAs vs. NON-CPAs. John W. Day. 2 016). References Ghafran, C. and O'Sullivan, N. 2013. The governance role of audit committees: reviewing a decade of evidence.International Journal of Management Reviews.15(4). Pp381-407. Miller, G. S. and Skinner, D. J. 2015. The evolving disclosure landscape: How changes in technology, the media, and capital markets are affecting disclosure.Journal of Accounting Research.53(2). Pp221-239. Nicol?escu, E. 2013. Developments in corporate governance and regulatory interest in protecting audit quality.Economics, Management, and Financial Markets. (2). Pp198-203. CPAs vs. NON-CPAs. John W. Day. 2016. [Online]. Available through www.reallifeaccounting.com [Accessed on 29th January 2017].

Tuesday, December 3, 2019

Marketing Situation Analysis

Introduction Billabong international limited is a leading manufacturer, marketer, distributor, wholesaler and retailer of accessories, apparel, eyewear, hard goods and wetsuits in board sports. Billabong products are licensed in several countries worldwide and are distributed through the company’s privately branded retail outlets. Promotions and marketing are done with high-profile athletes, both amateur and professional.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Marketing Situation Analysis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Billabong produces and sells swimwear, t-shirts, jumpers, shorts, wet suits, bags, pants, jeans, and accessories to roughly 3,000 surfing and boarding shops across the world. Most of the Billabong products are sold in Australia while Europe and North America comes second and third respectively (Vallabhaneni, 2009). By using BCG matrix, which is a tool developed by a US consulting group, one can determine the strategic business units, SBU, that play a role in maintaining the company accounts rolling (Doyle, 2008). Each SBU is a product line, division, or a profit gainer within the mother company. A strategic business unit can be considered a separate entity competing for the corporate resources of the parent company. The main SBU’s are board shorts, caps or hats and lady bikinis. From this product line, arguably, sales and availability of product the caps or hats are the Dogs. They are in low-growth markets and have a low-market share. It is best to avoid them, get rid of them, or have minimised them (Doyle, 2008). The stars in this institution are the board shorts. They are easily accessible in most markets and are in high-growth markets and have a high-market share (Stalk Stern, 1998). They generate income in copious amounts and should be held on to at all costs. Lady bikinis are cash cows; they bring in more money than the currency that is pumped into them. They command a high-market share in a slow-growth market (Stalk Stern 1998). For the case of analysis, I choose to do a situational analysis of the board shorts as they are doing fairly well in the market. A situational analysis is crucial in conducting an examination on a product before any given marketing strategy is conducted. The components whose consideration is of value include current product, target market, distributor network, current competitor, financial analysis and external forces.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Fig 1: Marketing Mix (4Ps) Sources: http://www.netmba.com/marketing/mix/ Board shorts Product Board short is chosen because it was the preliminary product line of the company. The product has received accolades for its elegant designs among pro-surfers also its durability and functionality in and out of water Price The product enjoys subsidized pricing at the distributor level. Offered at affordable rates for retailers, and hence the buyers can afford to purchase as many as they may want. Distribution The product was first produced in Queensland Australia and was sold in other nations like United States and Japan following license agreements established in the early 80’s. Most of the nations obtained their orders by shipping but currently most Billabong outlets are subsidiaries, for example, billabong USA, billabong Asia among others. Billabong board shorts are obtained or sold in particular outlets. This is the limited distribution strategy. Rather than, sell at any other sports store, they are sold at specialty shops creating a perception of exclusiveness and uniqueness. The demographic is wide spread catering to both genders, of whichever occupation (Behrer Kerkstoel, 2011). Promotion Billabong conducts rigorous campaigns for safe surfing in an effort to promote their brand. They had also sponsored athletes who may be seen wearing their shorts when they surf. The product can be said to be etched in the market as most surfers refer to their shorts and shirts as billabongs (Jarratt, 2010). The growth of sports such as snowboarding and its inclusion to the Olympic 2002 games also increased the popularity of the board shorts. External environment The current target market of billabongs board shorts is becoming the world’s leading manufacturer of surf shorts. Their age target of 12-20 years is fast expanding to include older age groups from the world over (Booth 2011). The brand of the products is mainly build by its strong quality of its products which makes them very competitive in the market. Board shorts are particularly targeted at the young youth who are very active in sports such as board sports and snowboarding. Billabong has a target market that keeps changing with age group and fashion trends hence, a need to keep up lest their products become redundant in the market. A preferenc e for independence and individualism also pushes for changes in the market trends. It is not possible to measure the full growth of a sports market as it is relatively new (Jarratt, 2010). The expansion to other regions such as Asia has increased sales. Productivity will be enhanced by re-positioning their brand name and increasing service efficiency (Booth, 2011). SWOT analysis Strengths it is a market leader in sale of board shorts and hence enjoys customer royalty has a wide product range hence enjoying a wider capital base compared to its competitors Weaknesses the brand is not very strong away from home The company does not have a strong distribution networks abroad. The company lack adequate capital to invest in the most effective and expensive promotion and advertisement Medea. Opportunities The company can form a merger with other similar brands or companies to help with expanding of the business and product line. The company can take advantage of the wide market abroad, which has not been exploited. Threats Fluctuating exchange rates may lead to heavy losses (Audit, 2011). Some companies which produces similar products at less prices threatens to throw Billabong out of business Conclusion Billabong enjoys a good brand name, but needs to device more strategies to capture more market share. This can be done by bettering their distribution channel and in particular by marketing their products abroad. Undoubtedly, such strategies can make its products a market lead across the world (Anandan, 2004)Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Marketing Situation Analysis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More References Anandan.T., 2004. Product Management. New York: McGraw-Hill EducationISBN0070153248. Behrer, M., Kerkstoel, G., 2011. How cool brands stay hot: branding to Generation.New York: Kogan Page Publishers Billabong International Company., 2011.company reports. Web. Web. Bo oth, D., 2011. Surfing: The ultimate guide Greenwood guide to extreme sports. Melbourne: ABC-CLIO Publisher. Doyle, P., 2008.Value-based marketing: marketing strategies for corporate growth and shareholder value. Chichester: John Wiley Sons. Grant,T, 2004. International directory of company histories. vol. 60. Detroit, Michigan: St. James Press. Jarratt, P., 2010.Salts and Suits Prahran, Vic. Hardie Grant Publishing.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Roth, M., 2010. Top stocks 2011: A sharebuyer’s guide to leading Australian companies.17th Ed. Chichester. John Wiley and Sons. Stalk, G., Stern C. W., 1998. Perspectives on strategy. New York: Wiley Publishers. Taylor, R., 2002. House inside the waves: domesticity, art, and the surfing life. Vancouver : Beach Holme Pub. Dundurn Press Ltd. Trapp, R., Desai. S., Buckley. G., 2010. What you need to know about business. Chichester,: John Wiley Sons. Vallabhaneni, D., 2009. What’s Your MBA IQ?: A Manager’s Career Development Tool. London: John Wiley and Sons. This report on Marketing Situation Analysis was written and submitted by user Jaden Santos to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Astronomy Final Essay Example

Astronomy Final Essay Number each question here according to its number in the Final Examination document provided by your instructor. 1. (a) Kepler’s 3rd law P^2 = a^3 (P = period in years; a = distance in AU) 75^2 = a^3 a = (75^2)^(1/3) = 17. 78 AU. (b) The further comets are from the sun, the slower they travel; therefore, it spends longer at the further distance. 2. (a) Star B is farther away. Its parallax is less. The closer a star is, the more its position changes against the background as the earth revolves around the sun. That is what parallax is. (b) 20 parsecs. One parsec = distance at which a star has a parallax of 1 arcsecond) Since this parallax is 1/20 as large, its distance is 20 times greater. (c) 65. 2 light years. (1 parsec = 3. 26 ly * 20) 3. (a) 10m would have the greater light gathering power (b) Both of the telescopes are in vacuum. The 10m one has area Pi r ^2, with r = 5m and the 2m one has r = 1. The ratio of Pi 5^2/Pi 1^2 = 25. Twenty-five times more light falls onto the l arge telescope. (c) The 10m telescope has a â€Å"Greater† light gathering power. (d) The factor would be about 25 times the light gathering power. e) Normally, light gathering power ratios are just the ratios of the areas. Due to the atmosphere on earth, there could be some absorption, however, since the wavelength is not specified, it wouldn’t hold true. Since the atmosphere acts like a gradient index lens, the amount of light that hits the earth telescope would have a very small increase thus refracting light towards the telescope. If there were no atmosphere, it would have continued at a larger angle and missed the telescope. 4. (a) d = 10,000 =100Mpc 100 (b) d = V d = 10,000 = 200Mpc H0 50 c) If universe is flat and composed mostly of matter, then the age of the Universe is 2 3H0 In the case of a very low density of matter the extrapolated age is larger. Age of universe = 1 H0 So the Universe is directly proportional to H0 5. Gx = GMm/r^2 G_new = GMm / (3r)^2 = GM m / 9r^2 (a) The force is 1/9 times (b) 9 times weaker 6. 15000/3000)^4 (a) The blue star is 625 times (b) more luminous Essay (Answer all nine Questions) Complete these answers in your own words. Follow instructions in the Final Examination document. Answer all questions according to the instructions. Number each question here according to its number in the Final Examination document provided by your instructor. 1. a. H-R Diagram A (Very Young Cluster) b. H-R Diagram D (Young Cluster) c. H-R Diagram B (Old Cluster) d. H-R Diagram C (Very Old Cluster) Similar to the sun, stars will spend a majority of their life on the main sequence. We can view this by looking at the H-R diagram, which shows a ‘dense concentration’ of stars along a constricted belt from the upper left to the lower right. The mass of the star determines where on the main sequence it is located and how soon the star will move away from the main sequence. We will write a custom essay sample on Astronomy Final specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Astronomy Final specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Astronomy Final specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The age of the cluster can be estimated by viewing a cluster of stars on the HR diagram in reference to where they end on the main sequence. 2. Seasonal variation of a planet depends on the frequency with which any given side of the planet changes its position with respect to the star. For a planet like Uranus, which has a high tilt (73 deg), the same side always faces the sun and hence its always summer on one side and winter on the other. Thus we can conclude that seasonal variation is directly related to the tilt of the planet. 3. a. Among the given planets, D has the minimum tilt – So the answer is D, which shows max seasonal variation. b. A planet will be geologically active if it has a high density, since that would assure wide variety of rocks and minerals and ores and less amount of hot gases; so among the planets, A has the highest density and is the most geologically active. 3. The younger surface would go to Moon A due to the fact that Moon B possesses many craters, which are clearly visible as the picture represents (this is clearly shown by the illuminated spots). Genesis shows that the craters were developed over time. Since moon A has far less craters, this means it was recently formed thus making it the younger moon. 4. a. The Hubble Expansion: As the distance increases, the apparent brightness of the object decreases meaning it becomes darker the farther away it gets. This technique determines the relative distances of similar objects. In addition, a phenomenon called the Doppler effect can be used to determine the velocity of an object. The sonic Doppler effect is caused by compression of sonic wave fronts, which can be generalized to electromagnetic radiation and other wavelike phenomena. The magnitude of an objects Doppler shift is a function of its radial velocity relative to the observer. Velocities of various objects, such as stars and galaxies, have been tabulated in our vicinity. An almost straight line with positive slope was obtained when the distance was plotted for various galaxies against their velocities. This shows us that the farther away an object is, the greater the velocity. This lends support to the Big Bang theoryif the universe does indeed expand in a manner consistent with the Big Bang model, then two objects that are close to each other should have smaller relative velocities than in comparison with distant objects. b. Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB): This is the result of theorized energetics, which was discovered in 1965 by Penzias and Wilson. Their discovery showed microwave radiation emanating from all directions in our observable locality of the universe. As predicted by the Big Bang Model, the universe is filled with plasma at high temperatures. As a result, hydrogen can only exit as plasma with an ambient temperature of about 3000K. c. Primordial abundance of light elements: This is the observed abundance of elements in the universe. Examinations through the spectra of various objects shows us that helium makes up about 23% of observable mass in the universe, which is entirely too large to be accounted for by stellar fusion. Since stellar nucleosynthesis makes the abundance of lighter nuclei hard to explain, the Big Bang model theorizes that the nuclei were created during the fierce explosion. . Due to the numerous negative effects on the body, human space travel remains physiologically difficult. Many of these affects are due to long-term weightlessness. Examples include: muscle atrophy, skeletal deterioration, slowing of cardiovascular functions, red blood cell production decrease, balance disorders, and weakening of the immune system. In addition, without the appropriate protection, space exposure becomes a sever threat due to the environmental differences between space and earth – especially the lack of oxygen and pressure. Interstellar space travel consists of many problems, which makes human travel extremely difficult – even in the future. One problem is the amount of fuel needed for long-duration flights. In addition, we have to worry about the damaging effects of galactic radiation. Also consider the loneliness and boredom of generations of humans spending their entire lives aboard a spacecraft. In order to get to the nearest star system beyond our Solar System (Alpha Centauri), we would have to travel 4. 3 ly with a constant flight velocity of 50 km/s; which is roughly about 25,000 years. Although that velocity would allow us to escape the Solar System, it would still take 250 centuries to reach our closest star system. It is very unlikely that humans will be able to equip themselves with the technology, at least anytime soon, to make contact with extraterrestrial life. Even if we took into account the many factors in the Drake equation, galactic civilizations are probably spread out like small islands throughout space. Even if the average lifetime of extraterrestrial civilizations is 1 million years, our most optimistic estimates suggest that each is separated by ~300 ly. Additionally, thousands of sorties would have to be launched toward candidate star systems for any hope of successful extraterrestrial contact. In summary, although it may never become feasible, interstellar space flight is both uneconomical and impractical now and anytime in the foreseeable future. 6. Galileo Galilei was a very influential astronomer because he defended his beliefs in a time when the Roman Inquisition was in power. Galileo defended his idea of heliocentrism against the Inquisition and was put on house arrest. This did not stop him from doing what he loved. While on house arrest, he made observations and continued his work. His contributions to astronomy include the discovery of three moons of Jupiter, the idea that the nature of each planet is unique, identification of sunspots, and his continued examinations of the Milky Way and sea tides. 7. As of March 23, 2012, 763 exoplanets (extrasolar) within our Milky Way have been discovered by satellites such as the Kepler. Consequently, these satellites have been flying through space, uncovering hundreds of new planets within our galaxy. Recently, two planets (Kepler 62e and 62f) have been discovered, which orbit a sun similar to ours but cooler. These planets are at just the right distance that allows water to remain liquid an essential must for a planet to support life. In addition, these planets are very similar to the size of Earth. Because of their size and orbits, it is highly likely that they are either rocky or watery. The two planets are located 1,200 light-years away in a five-planet system orbiting a star dubbed Kepler-62. 8. The milky is a flat disk surrounded by a halo with a bulge at the center. Within the disk, lay clouds of gas and dust that amount to around 15% of the mass of stars. Although we cannot see the nucleus due to all the scattered dust radio, infrared, and x-ray telescopes allow us to see through the dust and show us that the core contains a dense swarm of gas and stars and a massive black hole. A majority of the gas and dust clouds lie within the disk. In addition, bright stars gather into spiral arms winding in an outward direction. The location of our solar system is about 26,000 ly from the center, lying on the inner edge of the spiral arm. 9. D C B A

Sunday, November 24, 2019

Marriage and Aging essays

Marriage and Aging essays A big aspect in keeping a marriage successful is how much communication occurs between the two people involved. For a healthy relationship there is a need for quite a bit of communication. Communication, as stated in class, is one of the key elements to a successful marriage. There has to be some open discussions and trust in the relationship to make it anywhere. If you can not talk to your partner you will not be able to solve problems in a healthy manner. You have to be able to tell your partner things to help you learn and mature with them. You have to learn how to compromise and help each other out. Communication has to be part of your relationship in some way. You cannot go through your life not talking to your partner about important issues that you should be able to talk to them about. Another important issue discussed in class was homosexuals and marriage. Homosexual marriage is an important issue because it deals with a relatively large minority of the United States. This issue is important today with respect to many different ideas. There are so many ideas of morals, family values, and those of equality, constitutionality, and right to privacy. The aspect with the most relevance is constantly left up to debate. Homosexuals are 'gay' due to a combination of factors. These factors are environment and society-the outside influences- and genetics. Hence, homosexuals do not decide their own sexuality, nor do heterosexuals. Therefore, homosexuals should have the same rights as heterosexuals, one of these rights being marriage. This is why it is of great importance to public policy whether or not homosexuality is predetermined. I am not homosexual and I am not writing this to defend homosexuals. I just believe that the whole issue is unfair towards homosexuals. Marriage goes beyond the benefits, however. The institution of marriage is a very respected one, and holds much senti ...

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Gaining Leverage in Negotiations Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Gaining Leverage in Negotiations - Coursework Example French and Raven’s five sources of power (1956) refer to a research of where power comes from conducted by social psychologists John R. P. French and Bertram Raven (Changing Minds, 2015). French and Raven derived five bases of power that include legitimate power, coercive power, reward power, referent power, and expert power (Raven, 1990). Legitimate power manifests in kings, police officers, and managers and can achieve effective negotiations by taking advantage of the position to influence people since it is the position they obey and not the holder (Changing Minds, 2015). Coercive power possessed by dictators and bullies can achieve effective negotiations by demonstrating physical harm to the other party. Reward power is often evident in work places and can achieve effective negotiations by offering a reasonable reward to the other party in order to compel him or her to do as your wish. Referent power can apply in celebrities and social leaders who influence those who want to be like them by excluding them from the negotiations. Lastly, expert power can achieve effective negotiations by influencing others to demonstrate or boycott an

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Visiting Ireland Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Visiting Ireland - Research Paper Example At the moment, I am going to convince you to visit Ireland instead of another country by elaborating on the Irish geography, ancient attractions, the magnificent natural environment, excellent infrastructure, and the vibrancy of the country’s multicultural background. Geography Let us begin with the unique Irish geography. For a country covering about 70,000 square kilometres of land surface, Ireland is approximately the size of West Virginia in United States (Kockel, 1994). However, in spite of its small size, Ireland has more than its fair share of major attractions, for everyone who values and appreciates the beauty of nature, blend with a touch of human ingenuity. For a country with ancient history and civilisation that rivals Mesopotamia, the beauty of visiting Ireland is that you get that rare opportunity of experiencing the lives of ancient Mesolithic stone age inhabitants and modern exuberant lifestyle in urban centres at the same time. Ireland is the home of scenic la ndscapes, with rich history and multicultural setting that spreads from the capital city Dublin to the smallest hamlet in the countryside (Irishtourism.com 2012). Ancient heritage To appreciate the progress that humanity has made up to the contemporary society, it is important to look back to the ancient civilisations, which have left an indelible mark on the Irish landscape. You should visit Ireland because it offers you the opportunity of seeing and experiencing the cradle of human civilisation in Europe. Ireland has historical artefacts, buildings and structures that have resisted the powerful forces of nature and they continue eliciting awe and admiration from harshest critics and sceptics. The Blarney Castle, Boyne Valley, Cahir Castle, Ceide Fields and Christ Church Cathedral are just a few of the must see historic sights and buildings in Ireland. Others include Hill of Tara, Clonmacnoise, Dublin castle, Glendalough and Newgrange (Cronin, 2003). The Blarney castle was build be fore AD 1200 and the King Muster Cormac McCarthy rebuilt the imposing building after its destruction in 1446(Irishtourism.com, 2012). The Blarney Castle houses the Blarney Stone, a mysterious artefact that is shrouded with mythical and legendary tales. The most popular myths surrounding the existence of the Blarney stone is that Biblical Jacob used it as a pillow. Prophet Jeremiah according to the myth brought the stone to Ireland. The stone is an important Christian artefact because it is believed that Blarney Stone existed during the exodus of Jews from Egypt and Moses struck it with his staff to produce clean water for the thirsty Israelites in the wilderness. Thus, Blarney Stone is a valued medieval artefact and is said to possess mysterious powers (Irishtourism.com 2012). Boyne Valley is a must see for anyone with interests of ancient technology and history. The valley contains valuable information about the â€Å"burial tombs of Knowth and Newgrange† (Irishtourism.com 2 012). These tombs are over 5,000 years old, exceeding the great pyramids of Egypt and the Stonehenge of England in age (Peillon and Slater, 1998). Build during the medieval neolith age, Boyne Valley is recognized world heritage site. For tourists interested in ancient agrarian practices, the Ceide Fields is the place to visit. Ceide fields are the oldest farming systems in the world, dating back to over 5,000 years ago.

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Assignment 3 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Assignment 3 - Essay Example Since working on hypermedia systems requires taking action and regular evaluation, it enables the development of critical faculties in students. It also helps in cultivation of written skills as students learn to modify information for a hypermedia project. In case of teachers, the use of these systems helps them track the methods employed by students for projects. Hypermedia authoring tools comprise instructional software, presentation software video production and editing, virtual reality systems and other immersion tools. Using hypermedia sources like audio, video, photographs graphic, text and even the latest feature – hyperlinks, students and teachers can display information in a professional and an effective manner. These systems also help teachers design evaluation packages, which will enable self-assessment and help students perform better and expand their level of understanding. However, research studies have clearly stated that learner style determines the impact of hypermedia. Students with low learning levels find the cues offered by hypermedia useful whereas students with higher learning must have the learner control (Dillon and Gabbard, 1998) to help them learn better. Thus with easy-to-use authoring systems and online formats, hypermedia has found widespread acceptance among teachers and students. One of the most famous and widely used multimedia software is the PowerPoint presentation software. The presentation tool has come a long way from being en electronic slide show and has evolved into multimedia authoring tool that incorporates audios, videos, graphics and also Internet links (Roblyer, 2006). This software, which is extensively used in classrooms, has come under criticism especially after Tufte’s (2003) remarks. His remarks accuse the software of heavily compromising on content more emphasis on a glamorized look. The presentation does not allow any interaction between the audience and the presenter. It’s clipped

Friday, November 15, 2019

Ethical Dilemma: Brain Death

Ethical Dilemma: Brain Death The ethical dilemma is a situation that is common in many places of work including the nurse’s career. These dilemmas are always hard to solve since technically they weigh equally in the eyes of the professional nurses in question (White, 2001). Nursing as a career like any other has diverse ethical dilemmas. This paper aims at describing an ethical dilemma in relation to declaration of brain death by the nurse and refusal of this fact by the patient’s family. The work will entail the definition of ethical dilemma; main moral issues that arose in the scenario given; description of two bioethical principles and giving a view of how they relate to this scenario; explain my personal morality and how it relates to the dilemma of declaration of brain death and finally the conclusion. Ethical Dilemma and How it Affects Nursing According to Ong Yee (2012), ethical dilemma is a situation that needs one to choose one from among two or more morally acceptable options or between equally unacceptable courses of action, whereby one of the choices prevents the selection of the other. Increase in economic stress, advances in medicine, rise in self determination of patients and differing values between patients, their family and health workers, especially nurses are among the many factors that contribute to the frequency and complexity of issues that are ethical in the healthcare. Example of these ethical dilemmas includes truth-telling and disagreement over the management plans. This therefore needs the nurses to be in a good stead so as to be aware of these issues and adopt a suitable approach towards dealing with such dilemmas. In addition, the health care facilities management should have a responsibility to ensure that systems are in place to minimize the occurrence of dilemmas and to ensure that in case it ha ppens, staffs, including nurses, are supported on how to get through the process of resolving dilemmas and conflicts that may arise afterwards. An ethical dilemma can also be a situation or state in which one must select between two or more adoptions that are equally unacceptable, where this is â€Å"Conflict between two or more nursing ethical principles and each solution may contain unpleasant outcomes for one or more involved parties†; and in my case the parties are the bereaved family and the management staff (Miwa et al, 2012). The effect of a brain death and the family refusal scenario may be of great emotional impact of the nurses. Some might even end up losing it all, according the historical findings, but it always appropriate to note that these effects will differ from one nurse to another. The grade to which one feels a dilemma will always differ from each nurse and also differs in terms of the nurses educational background, how much clinical experienced is the nurse and also one’s nursing moral (Miwa et al, 2012). The dilemma consequences are always frustrating and upsetting nurses and more so when one does not have adequate experience dealing with the matter. The suffering that the nurses go through is known as the moral distress (Epstein Delgado 2010). This is meant to happen since the nurses know the ethically correct action to take in reference to the brain death but feels powerless to take the action. This might lead to some nurses leaving their jobs, or even the profession altogether. Main Moral Issues Raised In a situation of ethical dilemma in the declaration of brain death and refusal on the part of the family, the main moral issues include the fact that the family is legally authorized to make decisions in relations to the patient even though they do not have the medical knowhow they desire an action; not declaring the patient brain death thus the patient will still be assumed to be alive and thus treated. On the other hand, the nurse who has the clinical knowledge opposes the idea and is about a desire for action that the patient should be declared clinically and legally dead so that other follow up procedures could be taken (Epstein Delgado 2010). This means that there are two courses of action, both of which can be justified ethically and neither of which is of lesser weight. If the desires of the family are followed, the patient will be in the hospital assumed alive and treated like any other patient. One may ask how beneficial is this to the family and what are the costs of this action? On the other hand, if the desire of the staff is followed, the patient will be declared dead and there is the likely hood of the family feeling abandoned and opinion, neglected thus angry thus would lead to other repercussions like court battles a situation that one would like to avoid due to the costs that come with it (Epstein Delgado 2010). Bioethical Principles According to Crisham (1985), the bioethical principal has evolved over the years with some elements added and others removed until now we have only four broad bioethical principles: beneficence, non-maleficence, justice and autonomy. In this case will discuss autonomy and beneficence. This does not mean they override all other moral considerations, but they are the perfect match for this kind of ethical dilemma. Autonomy Ethics entails the respect for autonomy. This is the principle of permission. In minimal terms, autonomy requires to decide for the as an individual and free from the control of others and with sufficient level of understanding that you will provide a meaningful choice. Autonomous persons should be capable to deliberate a course of action and develop an action plan then implement it. This principle comes with its share of problems, especially when the person is incompetent for our scenario the bereaved family. The issues, therefore, rise since the family is to give informed consent to the declaration of the patient’s brain death. The principle holds that there is a need for competence, disclosure, voluntariness and comprehension when it comes to the informed consent making the declaration even more difficult for our car (Gordon et al, 2011). In relation to the ethical dilemma therefore, there is a need for informed consent from the parents for the declaration to take effect. And the fact that the family denies the declaration simply means they do not consent to it thus rendering it null and void (Gordon et al, 2011). Beneficence This principle requires that we contribute to the welfare of others as an ‘embodiment of the Golden Rule’ (Gordon et al, 2011). This principle can be divided into two: utility and positive beneficence. The positive beneficence principle requires that there is provision of benefits from the moral staff while the utility principle requires that the nurses weigh the benefits and deficits as a means of producing the best result. There is therefore need for a risk benefit analysis. In the scenario of brain death declaration and refusal from family, I will be preventing the ethical losses on part of the health facility by declaring that the patient is brain dead while I will be like issuing a loose statement to the patient’s family. The utility principle, therefore, requires me to weigh the risk associated with the declaration and come up with a sound decision (Gordon et al, 2011). Personal Morality Naturally, I am an empathetic person with great compassion, thus pride myself being a nurse. I always try to put myself in the patients and family shoes and try to understand the situation that they are in. I made great sacrifices on behalf of my career as a nurse and just to see that my role as a nurse is felt in the health facility. I am open and ready to lean in all the environments. I also enjoy socializing and comparing notes with my colleagues to ensure that the product of my decisions is holistic and meet the threshold that is set. My compassion has enabled me to appear friendly for both the patients and their family and friends. I always believe that am suppose to be dedicated to my place of work through hard work and ensuring flexibility whenever need be (White, 2001). The majority of these qualities is what I would call that makes part of me as a nurse if not all and therefore a situation that brings a collision between these qualities and the my occupation as a nurse does not only cause great confusion but perplexes. The scenario of declaring the brain death and refusal of the family is therefore a hard nut to crack on my part. One side of the puzzle is, given the fact that I have been appearing to be the ‘friend’ of the patients and their family members and friends, and such a declaration will make me lose one of the morality that I intend to keep. Compassion is the morality that keeps me going in my career as a nurse (White, 2001). Empathy makes me understand the situation of the family and the pain that they are going through thus making the declaration even harder. On the other hand, a declaration is my duty in place of work. I have to declare that the child is brain dead to ensure me being a benefit to the facility. Failure of which will be like a denial to do an activity which is actually the same reason why I am a nurse. This might lead to results such as being sucked. The declaration of brain death and refusal by the family is therefore an ethical dilemma. This is from the fact that it brings forward the controversy between the two bioethical principles: autonomy and beneficence. It is hard to determine whether to do what one is expected to do in the career or do what one views is right while all this does not solve the solution at hand; this is the scenario that comes with this ethical dilemma. The values of compassion and empathy makes enable one to understand the situation better and feel for the family even more and may end up forgetting his or her role as a nurse. In this case, the declaration of a brain death would be still a great ethical dilemma on part of the nurses if the family is against the declaration. References Beauchamp, T.L. (2011). Making Principlism Practical,Bioethics, 25(6), 301-303. Crisham, P. (1985).Moral: How Can I Do What’s Right? Nursing Management, 16 (3), 42A- 42N. Epstein, E.G., Delgado, S., (Sept 30, 2010) Understanding and Addressing Moral Distress. OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 15(3), Manuscript 1. Gordon, J.S., Rauprich, O. Vollmann, J. (2011). Applying the Four-Principle Approach. Bioethics, 25(6), 293-300. Ham, K. (2004). Principled Thinking: A Comparison of Nursing Students and Experienced Nurses. Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing, 35(2), 66-73. Miwa, Y., Shizue, M., Masako A. (2012). Ethical Dilemma Factor in Regarding Physical Restraints to Elderly of Female Nurses with the Living Together Experience. International Journal of Clinical Medicine, 3, 328-334. Ong, W. Y., Yee, C. M. , Lee, A. (2012). Ethical Dilemmas in the Care of Cancer Patients near the end of Life. Singapore Medical Journal, 53 (1), 11-6. White, G. (2001). Issues Update: The Code of Ethics for Nurses. The American Journal of Nursing, 101(10), 73-75.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Diversity in the Workplace Essay

This diversity audit begins with a background about the company, as well as some important information about key Diversity executives. What will be addressed in the audit are what efforts Johnson & Johnson made to foster diversity competence and understand, what efforts were made in furthering the knowledge or awareness about diversity, what strategies were used to address the challenges of diversity and how will you ensure that your leaders and managers will be committed to the diversity initiative. The audit concludes with a quote from the vice president of recruiting at Johnson and Johnson, as well as their Diversity and Inclusion Programs and Activities from the Johnson and Johnson Website. In 1886 three brothers, Robert Wood Johnson, James Wood Johnson and Edward Mead Johnson, fount the Johnson & Johnson company in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Today, the company employs approximately 128,700 people with more than 275 operating companies in more than 60 countries. The worldwide hea dquarters remains in New Brunswick, New Jersey. The company prides itself in caring for everyone in the world, they feel this inspires and unites the people who work there. Johnson & Johnson is the world’s sixth largest consumer healthy company, the world’s largest and most diverse medical device and diagnostic company, the world’s fifth largest biologics company and the world’s eighth largest pharmaceutical company. These companies together touch the lives of more than a billion people throughout the world every single day. This company, without a doubt, knows what diversity is. Their product line in itself is so diverse that I would say that diversity is what this company was built on and continues to grow from. They offer health care products that go from taking care of a skin blemish or a headache, to beautifying your hair and teeth products, to products used for metastatic breast cancer, hip placements and coronary stents, to prescription drug products treating everything from migraines to cancer a nd serious infections. According to  the company website, diversity is described as follows, â€Å"People and values are our greatest assets. Diversity is a central part of the cultures across the Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies. It’s a key to our people’s passion for improving the health and well-being of people the world over. Further, our commitment to diversity and inclusion is deeply rooted in the values instilled by Our Credo and is exemplified in a number of our companies’ programs and activities. We recognize that differences in age, race, gender, nationality, sexual orientation, physical ability, thinking style and background bring richness to our work environments. Such differences help us connect better with the health needs of people in communities around the world. We believe that attracting, developing and retaining a base of employees that reflects the diversity of our customers is essential to our success. We also believe success hinges on relationships with diverse professional and patient organizations, civic groups and suppliers†. (jnj.com) In addition, Johnson and Johnson offers mentoring programs and leadership development programs to ensure personal professional growth. During my research I found that Johnson & Johnson has supporting affinity groups that has strengthened the impact of diversity not only within the organization, but in the community as well. Some of these groups include the Community of Asian Associates at Johnson and Johnson, South Asian Professional Network and Association, Gay and Lesbian Organization for Business and Leadership, Women’s Leadership Initiative, African-American Leadership Council and Hispanic Organization for Leadership and Achievement. These groups are just the tip of the iceberg as far as diversity for Johnson & Johnson. A key executive, Anthony P. Carter is Vice President of Global Diversity and Inclusion, as well as Chief Divers ity Officer for Johnson and Johnson. In an article from Diversity Global Magazine, Mr. Carter was named a 2013 Diversity Executive of Distinction. The article stated that Mr. Carter’s focus on developing cutting edge Diversity and Inclusion programs and strategies is successful because it is aligned with the company’s strategic business objective. As I researched deeper into the company’s responsibility to its customers, employees, communities and shareholders I found that Johnson & Johnson’s respect towards these groups of people who keep the company alive is supported by Anthony’s implementation and design of an inclusive global organizational system, as  well as Diversity and Inclusion incentives. He has further developed opportunities for Johnson and Johnson to maximize their diversity. He oversees an office that implements programs such as Crossing the Finish Line, which is a career acceleration program for people of color. Programs such as these are crucial in developing world-class diverse leaders. An interesting quote by Anthony P. Carter sums up his role nicely, â€Å"Diversity and inclusion describe how we can work together to bring innovative ideas, products and services together to advance the health, well-being and the quality of life of those we serve.† (Diversity Global) In the article Harnessing Diversity to Affect the Bottom Line by Ron Dory, it was noted that one of Carter’s best practices in relation to diversity is the use of ERGs (Employee Resource Groups), which have brought in new markets and impacted the company’s growth in a positive way. Johnson and Johnson prides itself in it’s membership in the Billion Dollar Roundtable, an elite group of companies that spend a billion dollars annually on women owned and minority owned suppliers. Johnson & Johnson’s use of Employee Resource Groups or ERGs as an organization where people who share a culture or background, for example gender, ethnic, religion or age, can meet to rejoice within their culture or address issues in relation. ERGs are often chartered organizations and have volunteer leaders and business plans that are in alignment with the organizations goals and bring value to the company. Mr. Carter’s use of ERGs at Johnson & Johnson has allowed everyone to see that they are not the same but different while trying to achieve the same goals and objectives. He has also advised other companies to not move towards being the same or creating an organization where differences are not acknowledged. It appears the ERGs have allowed diversity to take a strong root within Johnson & Johnson. The have led to the company receiving numerous awards as leaders in diversity. As an example, Johnson and Johnson continue to develop world-class leaders. In September 2013, The United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC) announced this year’s Corporate Advocate of the Year, and the award went to Johnson and Johnson’s Chief Procurement Officer for Medical Devices/Supplier Diversity, Ruben Taborda. The president and CEO of USHCC stated, â€Å"Ruben Taborda is a visionary leader who has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to fostering business relationships between minority-owned enterprises and corporate America. Mr.  Taborda is a true role model, leading by example, committed to providing concrete growth opportunities for Hispanic businesses throughout the nation.† (Global Newswire) Ruben Taborda is just another example of the success Johnson & Johnson has had implementing diversity programs throughout their company. Just from my audit I have seen their success with women, Hispanics and many other minority situations. They truly believe in what they stand for and what they are trying to accomplish in the diversity arena. In retrospect, even though Johnson and Johnson has an impeccable reputation regarding diversity, even to the point that the company thrives from the immense diversity, it is always on the top of the list of the best places work and was one of Divers ity Incs. Top Companies for Diversity, problems arise sometimes when employees or perspective employees do not see it the same way. Examples of this come in the form of lawsuits against the company for discrimination. One case in particular, Francine Parham, vice president of human resources was always bothered that there was a lack of minorities in the high positions within the company. She filed a lawsuit claiming that she did not receive a promotion because she is African-American and was then fired for speaking out against â€Å"a corporate culture of discrimination† (Gordon). Perham stated that in the lawsuit that she was told by her supervisor that he envisioned a promotion for her within the next twelve months and that she never got the promotion because that position was eliminated and that she was not qualified for a higher position even though she had excellent performance review. Perham also alleged that less qualified white men and women were promoted to higher positions and she believes this was because she is black. She also pointed out the lack of diversity at the top. Johnson and Johnson’s responded, â€Å"We have a deeply established commitment to diversity and incl usion in the workplace and deny the allegations in this case†(Gordon). There were two other cases, one in which an African American and one a Hispanic, filed similar lawsuits, accusing Johnson and Johnson of paying them lower wages and denying promotions to people of color. After ten years, that case was dismissed. Despite the fact that five of the highest-paid executives at Johnson and Johnson are white, four of them being men, and ten of the twelve directors are white with no women of color on the board, Calvert Investments still rated Johnson and Johnson’s diversity an 85 out of 100. They have an  abundance of internal minority groups and minority recruitment outreach efforts, they are a strategic partner of Minority Business Round Table and they sponsor scholarships for minority students. (Gordon) I believe that companies such as Johnson and Johnson, with such outstanding reviews regarding diversity, and notable for their roles in diversity, are sometimes an easy target for people who are looking for lawsuit settlements. Reverse discrimination plays a large part in this process. It is very easy for a person, especially one of a protected class, to claim discrimination, especially against mega companies such as Johnson and Johnson. These people know that the company would not want their reputation tainted so they make false claims to try and get whatever they can from the company. So the five highest paying executive in Johnson and Johnson may be white, but they also may be the most qualified, they may have worked the hardest to get to that point and they may be the most dedicated thereby deserving every dollar they earn. In my own experience, in managing a small local business, it is the qualified, hard-working, dedicated and reliable employee that will be promoted, no matter what the race, gender, religion, etc. According to Global Dynamics Inc., â€Å"leading healthcare provider, Johnson and Johnson has been rated, by Diversity Inc. Magazine as the #1 company for promoting diversity and inclusion in the U.S. Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) are regarded as critical factors in making Johnson and Johnson one of the â€Å"best places to work† in the U.S†. Although Johnson and Johnson met some challenges when they wanted to expand its Diversity and Inclusion initiative globally, they succeeded in meeting those challenges and the initiative was a success. Town hall meetings led by local leaders and web-based training reached several countries within the regions, live video conferences and live international video meetings were introduced and became groundbreaking for Johnson and Johnson. This resulted in improved employee morale, productivity and communication. (Global-Dynamics) In conclusion, my diversity audit of Johnson and Johnson showed they are a major player in the diversity arena. They have diverse employees, market their products to diverse groups and have initiatives in place to expand lead their company diversity even further in the future. An article in the NY Times sums it well by stating, â€Å"Johnson and Johnson’s achievements in diversity, in concept and in practice, succeed in bringing value to all those  con stituents† (Forsythe). Johnson & Johnson is a company that is focused on building their brand by building superior products and understanding the importance of diversity in achieving success in the global marketplace. They have made diversity an integral part of their processes including procurement, supply chain, product development, information management, sales and marketing, and community service. My audit research of Johnson & Johnson showed they are a worldwide leader in all of the above and they make a concerted effort to lead other companies in the same direction. Having all the initiatives and being part of outside organizations that push diversity allows them to exert pressure necessary to achieve diversity in the workplace throughout the world. The NY Times article also quoted Marjorie Geller, Vice President of Recruiting as saying â€Å"There’s no question about it, our commitment to diversity has a powerful impact on our recruitment and our talent-development processes, as well as the products we offer to customers. We try very hard to assure that our diverse culture translates into value for our customers, our employees, our communities and our stockholders† (Forsythe). The following is the Diversity and Inclusion Programs and Activities from the Johnson and Johnson Website: Throughout our companies, a wealth of programs and activities support our belief that a diverse, inclusive culture is essential to business success. Following is a sampling of these activities. Employee Resource Groups Employee resource groups are voluntary, employee-driven groups that focus on shared interests and experiences and look to apply those perspectives to initiatives that create value for the enterprise. These groups provide support, networking as well as personal and professional enrichment opportunities for their members such as mentoring, community outreach, supplier diversity, career development and cultural awareness activities. Mentoring Programs Mentoring is widely offered throughout the Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies as formal or informal programs. We look to expand learning opportunities and support development of a diverse workforce by making these  nurturing relationships available to an ever increasing number of employees across the enterprise. In the spring of 2010, Johnson & Johnson introduced a custom, web-enabled mentoring service called Mentoring Works! that contributes to the Global Diversity & Inclusion strategic objective of building a culture of inclusion. Mentoring Works! is an enabler for talent development, employee engagement, and effective knowledge transfer as it makes it easier for people to connect, network and learn from each other. Diversity University Recognizing that education is essential to learning about the benefits of diversity and inclusion, we have established the Johnson & Johnson Diversity University. Diversity University is a dynamic online website designed to help employees build the competencies and the skills needed to understand and value differences and the benefits of working collaboratively to meet our Credo commitments and business goals. Diversity University includes a variety of guides, toolkits and resources for self-guided learning; a strong elearning curriculum that includes Diversity & Inclusion Fundamentals, Building Trusting Relationships in a Global and Diverse Environment, and Leveraging Diverse Thinking Styles: The Whole Brain ® Advantage; as well as links to other interactive portals providing cross-cultural education and skill building exercises. Office of Diversity & Inclusion The Office of Diversity & Inclusion was formed as a functional group within Johnson & Johnson to drive diversity & inclusion as a business imperative and to ensure a competitive advantage. The Chief Diversity Officer reports directly to the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Johnson & Johnson. The team serves as business catalysts, executing a global diversity strategy that enables Johnson & Johnson to win in the global marketplace. (JNJ.com) Also of interest is the following web address which shows the details of Johnson and Johnsons Diversity and Inclusion Business Model: http://www.jnj.com/sites/default/files/pdf/Global%2BDI%2BCall%2BOut.pdf References: Diversity Global. Retrieved from: http://www.diversityglobal.com/tops.aspx?id=Anthony-P-Carter-1449 Dory, R. Harnessing Diversity to Affect the Bottom Line. Epoch Times (Oct 10, 2013). Retrieved from: http://www.theepochtimes.com/n3/313845-harnessing-diversity-to-affect-the-bottom-line/ Forsythe, J. (2005) Leading With Diversity. Retrieved from: http://www.nytimes.com/marketing/jobmarket/diversity/jandj.html Global-Dynamics (2013). Retrieved from: http://www.global-dynamics.com/johnson-johnson Globe Newswire (2013). Retrieved from: http://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2013/09/25/575887/10049970/en/USHCC-Honors-Ruben-Taborda-of-Johnson-Johnson-with-Corporate-Advocate-of-the-Year-Award.html Gordon, C. Fired Johnson & Johnson Exec Claims ‘Culture Of Discrimination (July 2013) Retrieved from: http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2013/07/15/fired-johnson-and-johnson-discrimination/[->0] JNJ.com (2013). Retrieved from: http://www.jnj.com/about-jnj/diversity [->0] – http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2013/07/15/fired-johnson-and-johnson-

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Onboarding: Employment and Business School Essay

Employee turnover can be expensive and time-consuming, so organizations need to know how to get the most from and retain the valuable new additions they make. According to recent research, the secret lies in promoting self-expression and encouraging newcomers to bring their unique values and perspectives to the job. Most importantly, this should be done from the first day through a process known as ‘onboarding’. This Idea offers some practical advice on managing the process. Idea Summary Here is how most employees’ first day on a new job goes: they are shown how things are done, introduced to the company’s environment and culture, and subtly told what a great organization they have just joined. Sound familiar? This is the onboarding process followed by many HR professionals, with the commonly-held belief that this it is important to ensure the organization’s values are understood and ingrained from day one. However, recent research suggests that these traditional methods have serious weaknesses, the biggest being the crushing of an individual’s unique identity as they are forced to accept the organization’s identity instead. The long-term problems of identity subordination have been explored by many psychologists and include loss of self-esteem, as authentic self-expression has been shown to be a key component of high self-esteem. As such, organizations should not want their employees to lose this component of their personalities, as it forces them to divert cognitive resources away from their work to coping with identity conflict instead. Fortunately, there is an alternative way to go about onboarding; researchers from London Business School, Harvard Business School and Kenan-Flagler Business School suggest that managers should encourage employees to use their signature strengths from the very beginning, on a daily basis. This can go a long way in improving employee retention and engagement, as newcomers develop a more positive view towards the organization and inject greater quality and purpose into their work. * Provide employees with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in their new jobs * Increase productivity and employee retention by making personal connections and demonstrating your commitment * Introduce company policies, procedures, and culture * Ensure that employees quickly get up to speed on job skills and company culture Why is Onboarding Important? Having devoted the time and resources to compete for talent, â€Å"quick† turnover is costly. In fact, statistics show that employees are most vulnerable to leaving an organization for 18 months after they are hired. Making a good first impression is therefore crucial. Effective employee onboarding serves three interrelated purpose * First, it ensures that the employee feels welcome, comfortable, prepared, and supported. * These feelings increase the new hire’s ability to make an impact (be productive) within the organization, both immediately and over time. * Finally, employee success leads to satisfaction and retention, which allows the organization to continue to meet its mission. A well-designed onboarding program reduces costs, hastens time to productivity, and improves retention.

Friday, November 8, 2019

Jesuss Interpretation of the Law Essays

Jesuss Interpretation of the Law Essays Jesuss Interpretation of the Law Essay Jesuss Interpretation of the Law Essay Jesus Interpretation of the Law Introduction The whole concept of charity was a Christian innovation. Benevolence to strangers was unknown before Christ. The teachings and example of Jesus Christ have inspired the greatest acts of generosity, hospitality, self-sacrifice and service for the poor, sick and needy over two thousand years. The positive impact of Jesus Christ on the world cannot be overstated. Everything from education to human rights, from public health to economic liberty the things we cherish most and many of the blessings we take or granted all can be traced to the spiritual and the Cultural Revolution begun by Jesus Christ. Today, businesses develop human resource systems to address human rights, public health, and economic liberty. Instead of Just leading with the values of Christianity, they develop intense systems to measure and evaluate people and their performance. So many of the tools used to create a human resource systems were already taught through the Bible and Jesus. If more people would be guided by their Christian faith they would be better equipped to lead and develop employees. In this summary, Jesus interpretation of the law, . Jesus ministry and mission as it relates to the mission and ministry of Israel described in Old Testament law; and contemporary Christians responsibility to the Old Testament law, will be explored and compared to todays teaching and mans law. In the end, one will see by following Jesus they are already prepared to lead and care for their workforce. Jesus Interpretation of the Law According to Matthew 5:17, Jesus did not come to destroy the law he came to fulfill it. In other words, he came to give meaning to the laws and what they mean. The law would be modified, magnified and made honorable for his righteousness. According to Jesus; it was more important to obey Gods rules than it was mans law. In the end, the Bible was law, especially the Ten Commandments. Christians are to be guided by the word of God, first and always. . Human resource management ( HARM) is the utilization of individuals to achieve themselves with HARM. Basically, all managers get things done through the efforts of others; this requires effective HARM (Monody). Today, in business, Human Resource Systems are developed with intricate tools that basically do the same things we have already been taught by Jesus. For example, Jesus wants us to be compassionate and love one another. He wants us to love as we would love ourselves and in business, he expects no less. If business would collectively invest in each other with respect and compassion, less tools would need utilized. Jesus would not be centered on performance but would invest in the person as well. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is a federal law enforcement agency that enforces laws against workplace discrimination. First, Jesus would be sad that this law needs to exist. Second, since people of society are not collectively following the Bible or Jesus teachings, he would be glad that there was such a law in effect to ensure equality. The same would be true of Affirmative Action the federal agenda initiated in the sass thats designed to counteract historic discrimination faced by ethnic minorities, women. Red, yellow ,black , and white, they are precious in his sight, Jesus loves the little children of the world. Jesus Ministry and Mission as it Relates to Israel In the Old Testament, Israel was chosen as Gods people. But in choosing Israel a nation that was visibly distinct from all other nations God was necessarily affecting all of the people of the world. Within Gods unified plan to save humanity, Jesus life on earth creates a new era of mission. This is not replacing what was defective, but rather a perfect fulfillment of what God had already done. Whereas mission in the Old Covenant was centered on Israel as the visible display of Gods character, the New Covenant became centered on the person of Jesus Christ, the fulfillment of Israel. Because Jesus embodies Gods mission, He has the authority to commission the disciples in (Matthew 28:18-20 RSVP). The Great Commission is not a change of plans, therefore, but a fulfillment of what has always been planned. The uniqueness of Jesus commission is based on the fact that Jesus himself is the reason that the disciples can proclaim the kingdom of God. Jesus, full filled Gods plans by taking the reins and showing in an earthly form, how to behave and treat others. By using Israel as an example he was able to draw other regions to the lord. He was able to lead by example. God used Jesus to redirect the people of Israel back on course. In this scenario from the Old Testament, we see historically how times and evolution change the ways things are handled. The way the Gentiles were handling things needed a little to intervention. In todays society, perhaps another visit from Jesus would help people understand the original plan of our heavenly father. Contemporary Christians Responsibility to the Old Testament Law The most compelling reason for Christians to read and study the Old Testament lies in the New Testament. The New Testament witnesses to the fact that Jesus of Nazareth is the one in whom and through whom all the promises of God find their fulfillment. The fulfillment of the promises can be understood only in the context of It would be like watching a movie today and watching only the end. No one can figure out the dynamics until they witness the first half of the movie. The same is true about the Old Testament. How can people possibly interpret the New Testament without knowing the foundation from which it is built. While it is necessary to know the Old Testament, it is important to not take some scriptures literally. Some things in todays terms seem so barbaric, and we have evolved from those things. One should read and take in the information only to apply to the promises and how it connects with the New Testament. What was learned? The importance and role of the law in defining Jesus life, teachings, and ministry. Jesus law was the law of his father. It was the Bible, and the Commandments. We are made of his image and likeness. We are to also be invoking his word and teaching it throughout. People that know this have a Jump start on leadership because they an look at others through the compassion of Jesus and treat them accordingly. The unawareness that affects others in their daily lives is scary. With that unawareness brings turmoil, unsatisfied, ungratified people not equipped to lead others or have fulfillment. Conclusion For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. (Galatians 5:14 RSVP). In the end, if people would practice living with faith and be guided by Gods law, the world would be a Joyous place. Unfortunately, that is not happening, less people are guided by strong faith than ever before, and America s starting to see the aftermath of this. It used to be that most children had a foundation of the church, but this is not the case anymore. If a person doesnt learn faith through their family, there is little chance they will hear about it anywhere else. This is why one hears so much more about therapy now, people want hope and guidance. Business has to form Human resource systems to deal with the ethics of their firm and the ethics and the morals of the people that work for them. Professionals that lead a Christian life and are guided by scripture are equipped o handle human relationships within a firm.

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Starting A Copywriting Business

Starting A Copywriting Business Starting A Copywriting Business Starting A Copywriting Business By Ali Hale This is a guest article by Andy MacDonald. Today companies are realizing that cleverly written copy can seriously affect the responsiveness to their ads and marketing collateral. Online and offline content has to be designed in a cleverly written manner to induce the reader to purchase the business’s products or services, or otherwise do what the advertiser wants them to do. If you have excellent writing skills and have copywriting experience, this could be the ideal business venture for you. To start this type of business, you would need excellent writing skills and past experience with writing creative advertising copy. So let’s take a look at a few key areas involved in starting your own copywriting business. Since you are providing a service that has no inventory, your initial costs will be minimal. You will have to pay for the design, development, and hosting of your Web site. You will have to invest in an appropriate computer, software and a printer. Other costs that you will incur are associated with promoting your copywriting service online and offline. The cost to start this type of business will generally range from $4,000 to $10,000. (Note from the editor: I believe you could start operating with even less, perhaps $100. Setup a domain name with a free and clean WordPress theme and you are ready to go.) If you were starting this venture a home-based business you could run the business single handedly for as long as is necessary; however if you wanted to start this as a full-time business all you would need to get going is one full time employee. If your business requests exceed what you’re capable of handling, you might consider hiring an additional employee as and when required. This business has strong international potential, and with the presence of the Internet, its the kind of business which can be run from anywhere in the world. If you were fluent in other languages you could even advertise for copywriting jobs in other countries. This of course depends on your level of knowledge with the foreign languages and cultures. It is important to remember that if you are writing copy for a company from another culture, you should understand the culture for which you are writing the copy. In many instances advertising firms have designed and implemented a marketing campaign before understanding what the culture was all about. This has resulted in offending millions of individuals with advertisements that offend the home country’s culture. If you decide to take on any international projects, make sure you do your research first before you write your advertising copy. One bad experience could seriously hinder the future of your copywriting business. With the internet playing an ever-increasingly role in everyday life, there are now many ways you can advertise and promote your new business on and offline. Here are a few tips on where you should be promoting this type of business. Participate in newsgroups and discussion forums related to marketing and advertising with a cleverly designed signature file. Participating in advertising and marketing-related mailing lists would enable you to display your expertise while directing traffic to your Web site. Develop links from as many advertising, marketing, and business-service-related Web sites, meta-indexes, and directories as possible. Use caution with your link trading strategies though! Participate in marketing related e-zines through contribution of appropriate articles that feature your expertise and knowledge of your craft. And finally, a few tips on where you could earn additional income with this type of business; you might want to consider offering graphic design services to your clients. Since this would complement your copywriting service, you would be able to develop extensive promotional pieces for your clients. Another option is to offer ghost-writing services, press release services, advertising copy, marketing copy and any number of other related topics. Copywriting is now big business both on and off the internet. Advertisers are increasingly looking to skilled copywriters to craft their promotional copy, trying to gain every edge over their competitor. A highly skilled copywriter can earn thousands of dollars per month if he has the time and skills to dedicate to such a venture. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Freelance Writing category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:20 Words with More Than One SpellingDriver License vs. Driver’s LicenseDouble Possessive

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Management Teamwork Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Management Teamwork - Essay Example The importance of team work have been felt in the US and Australian organizations where researches were conducted and in which the results derived reflected the importance of team work for closing competency gaps existing in organizations. Researchers are also of the opinion that today’s work cultures are greatly influenced by the external conditions because of which employers have been focusing more on their workforce. This has brought greater emphasis on teamwork and group activities. Lastly the practical implications speak about the applicability of team works in the manufacturing, healthcare and information and technology sector. This has been the cause of work breakdown structures which can only be accomplished through group efforts. Team work has emerged as an important and crucial part of the working culture in most organizations. Many organizations have been increasingly looking at the team work skills of candidates during their recruitments. The importance of team work has also emerged because of the fact that recently there has been emergence of numerous products which are complex and which requires multiple skills for their production. A highly complex product can be produced successfully only with the application of appropriate team work. Thus it is increasingly crucial that students and candidates appearing for jobs develop and possess adequate potential for working in teams. Research also tells us that the best way to learn is through social interactions and tasks which involve working in groups and teams. Teamwork is considered to be a joint action undertaken by a group of individuals in which each one might have to undermine his or hers own interests, opinions and views in comparison to the unity and e fficiency of the group. However, it must be understood that it also recognizes individual performance and accomplishments. Team work can be most effective only when every individual’s contributions are harmonized and when each of them collectively works towards a common objective. The project seeks to bring forth whether working in teams help to achieve goals and targets more effectively and efficiently as compared to independent working. The report is supported by facts produced by prior research and analysis. This is done by presenting the views of researchers and practitioners on the subject using academic articles and journals. Lastly, the concepts developed and analyzed are applied in practical organizational settings (Avery, Walker & Murphy, 2001, p.116). Critical Literature Review Several researchers have tried to identify the various technical and non technical attributes that a graduate engineer must have in order to work efficiently in an organization. Among the tec hnical skills, in terms of the mathematical tools and techniques, researchers have identified communication and team spirit as few of the primary attributes and measure of his competency to work in an organization. Similar researches conducted in Australia and USA by Evans (1993), have identified team work as an important attribute to close the ‘competency gaps’ prevailing in work activities (Martin, Maytham, Case & Fraser, 2004, p.2). Researchers like Sageev and Romanowski

Friday, November 1, 2019

Literary Commentary Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Literary Commentary - Essay Example But there is nothing inevitable about these outcomes. Such cycles of boom and bust in capitalist market economies are by no means laws of nature. To the contrary they are totally man made. They are specially designed and promulgated by the ruling elites of this country – the top one-tenth of the top one percent of the population. This narrow profit motive and lack of concern for the greater common good has accelerated the process of deterioration of environment. I am highly indignant about the nature of our economic system and the ethos of the political class that abets unjust practices. I am also restless to think of alternatives to the system, which we have tolerated and been complicit with for too long. As a symbol of my disillusionment with the both our lawmakers and business leaders, I have come to believe that the only meaningful change has to be propelled from below, meaning that they originate from the masses. Hence, I shall propose a novel change to our social norms w hich would greatly reduce the risk of economic and social crises in the future. I hereby propose that the youth of the country abstain from all sexual activity till the age of 25! I am sorry fellow students - I know how impossible a task this is for most of you! But being disciplined sexually during our teens and early adulthood will lead to great benefits for the economy, culture and beyond. I’ll explain how. At a time when the nation is going through economic slowdown, a measure of austerity needs to be followed. And there is nothing austere about activities like dating, romance and sex. In fact, these are luxuries even during a boom period for the economy, let alone during a crisis. For boys and young men, keeping their girlfriends happy and satisfied is a costly business. They have to take them out to dinners, to the cinema, buy them gifts periodically, etc, which consume valuable money. Usually, this money is not even theirs but of their parents, which makes it all the m ore objectionable. Another important loss is time. The amount of time young men spend in chatting with their girlfriends about apparently no particular topic is something the weak state of the economy cannot bear. Their time and energies can be better directed toward creative and constructive activities such as studying for exams, doing community work, or even yoga and meditation. The ‘savings’ in terms of money, energy and time that young men make is equally applicable to young women. Think of the multi-billion dollar beauty industry that promotes cosmetics, fashionable clothing, plastic surgery and other abominations. After all, the main reason young women dress up well and make themselves pretty is to attract the opposite sex. When all sexual activity under the age of 25 is outlawed, they would automatically lose incentive to waste valuable money on propping up their vanities. Diverting all this money into essential expenditures such as tuition fees will help extend quality education to more number of Americans. This will lead to the growth of social capital. This money could also be channeled into creating jobs in the manufacturing sector which has long lost out to foreign competition, thereby making ours a predominantly services industry. There is another

Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Strategies to Build Culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Strategies to Build Culture - Essay Example Lastly, a discussion on how this strategy benefits culture within a workplace or school shall be critically analyzed. Teaching becomes monotonous in a learning setup especially in the mid semester. Effective communication is an essential tool to learning and teaching. Inappropriate communication makes listeners to be confused, disinterested, and frustrated (Barnard, 2008, p. 5). Communication in the effective manner helps and guide teachers to engage students in the learning process. Effective communication in a classroom set up involves the use of, group discussion, feedback, and visual aids. Visual aids are used by instructors to drive a point to the learners. Verbal communication is a proper way to articulate ideas and thoughts and educates, nevertheless, devoid of visual aids, learners may not get the whole information. Visual aids capture the attention of the audience who then is capable to keep the information taught. As well stated, through seeing, one is able to believe the i nformation on vision. Group discussion implementation helps learner to own information being instructed upon. In class, the instructor can preserve some 15 minutes to divide students into small groups where they choose a leader, and provide a hand out to each group with questions to be discussed. Feedback is when learners are given powers to put across their opinions. Feedback enables students to effectively process the information, and interact among themselves during the process of learning. Instructors use provoking questions to allow a feedback session continuation. Instructor asks questions that steer up the conversation among learners so as to arrive at conclusions to be taught (Schneeberger, 2008, p 6). Effective communication is a strategy applied at work place to compliment a person for a job well done. This can be done through non verbal communication. In school, effective communication strategy provides students with morale to work hard. For instance, a manager may compli ment the junior staff by use of gestures. Such gestures can be either a handshake or patting on the back for a task well completed. Nonverbal and verbal communications apply in the working setup to emphasize or accent a responsibility. Nonverbally, it is manifested through powerful actions, and verbally through the voice of the tone. In school, the manager can compliment instructors for their hard work. This enables a teacher to work hand in hand with students for the sake of excellence in the school, thus meeting the educational foundation goals. Effective communication strategy benefits cultures within workplace or learning institutions to improve instructions. Cultures are traditions guiding actions of individuals, or the adaptive way of living of folks. Rules and regulations are policies formulated within any institution. In a school set up, rules govern the behavior of learners and ethics among instructors and learners. In order to familiarize learners on such rules and regulat ions, effective communication should take a centre stage. Learners should be informed on what is bad or good in accordance to the school policies. At work place, effective communication benefits culture and improves the working environment. Effective communication builds trusts in the work place. Employees feel motivated if the team leader communicates on any

Monday, October 28, 2019

An Educational Workplace Challenge Essay Example for Free

An Educational Workplace Challenge Essay â€Å"It is our deep faith that God is compassionate and merciful, and mercy is what he bestows upon His subjects. He is generous and beautiful, and beauty is what he gives. That is how we should see the world, beautiful, with all its resources and contents, known to us or unknown. Qatar, our beloved, is also rich in natural resources. Be it human buds or wild flowers. All are blossoms, all are natural, all are beautiful bearing Qatar’s name. Let us all work together, caring for our little buds. Lets us plant them deep in the consciousness of our land. Let us nurture them with love and care to help them blossom into flowers filled with beautiful scents and filling their surroundings with beauty. † Her Highness Sheikha Moza Bint Nasser Bin Abdullah Al-Missned. (Shafallah 2007) â€Å"A picture says more than a thousand words. † For an educational institution, the vision statement shows the picture of what the school will be at its best. On the one hand, the vision is the very basis for everything that the school, the management, the teachers, the students, their parents and the community, all work for. On the other hand, the mission is the means to achieve this vision. The mission determines the strategies that will be implemented by the school management to achieve its goals and vision. Leadership takes a significant role in the achievement of this mission. This paper discusses workplace challenges and the influence of leadership in the achievement of successful school reforms. The Shafallah Center for Children with Special Needs and its efforts to solve its major problems and improve the implementation of its educational programs will be discussed using the concepts on leadership. Specifically, the paper will focus on the concept of parallel leadership and the roles of the school management and teaching professionals as leaders in influencing the school’s needed reforms. The Workplace The School The Shafallah Center for Children with Special Needs is a non-profit private school located in Doha City, Qatar, providing comprehensive services and care to individuals with departmental learning challenges, their families and the community. It was established in 1998 through the efforts of community leaders who believe in the vitality and importance of the family and the child’s role in the society particularly those children with special needs. They want to provide the children with the best care, services and educational facilities that will enable them to adapt to the surrounding environment in order to live among others in the community, and eventually secure their future. The center provides diagnosis, evaluation, school programs, training and development services for all children with all forms of disabilities from ages three to twenty-one years old. The goals and objectives of the school are: To provide comprehensive educational, instructional, rehabilitation, social, vocational and recreational services for children with special needs. To provide support and family counseling services to families of children with special needs, including individual and group therapy. To provide community awareness on dealing with children with special needs, as well as fostering acceptance and understanding of the nature of disabilities. To provide training opportunities through Shafallah Center and establishing an international entity specializing in this field. To serve as an advocate for public policy and legislative support of appropriate educational and vocational programs for children with special needs. (Shafallah 2007) School funds are generated from local and international grants and from regular tuition and matriculation of the students. The school offers five (5) programs aligned for students depending on age and learning concentration. These are the Pre-school and kindergarten which enrolls students ages 3-5. The school unit 2 is for students aging 6-21 with mild and moderate challenges, its coursework are in pre-academic, academic and pre-vocational and emphasizes on social and daily life skills. Unit 3 caters to students with mild and severe intellectual and developmental disabilities from ages 6-21; its programs are aimed to increase independence and activities are centered on daily living, self care and basic communication including socialization and leisure education. Unit 4 is designed for those diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders, ages ranging from 6-21. The program uses the model TEACCH (Treatment and Education of Autistic Related Communication Handicapped Children) and other models tailored for these children.

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Vietnam Essay -- essays research papers

After thinking about all the things we would learn this year in American history I decided to do my project on the experiences of Vietnam War veterans. There is a lot of controversy as to whether or not the Vietnam War veterans are given enough recognition for what they went through. I have heard horrible stories of US soldiers dying from US bombs, shell shock, and soldiers returning to America and not being able to function as active members of society due to the horrors of the war. All I really know about the war is what I have seen on television. I wanted to learn about the war through the firsthand accounts of those who were there. The Vietnam War was a military struggle fought in Vietnam from 1959 to 1975. It began as an attempt by Communist guerrillas (or Vietcong) in the South, backed by Communist North Vietnam, to overthrow the government of South Vietnam. The struggle grew into a war between South Vietnam and North Vietnam and ultimately into an international conflict. The United States and some 40 other countries supported South Vietnam by supplying troops and munitions, and the USSR and the People's Republic of China furnished munitions to North Vietnam and the Vietcong. On both sides, however, the burden of the war fell mainly on the civilians.1 On January 27, in Paris, delegations representing the United States, South Vietnam, North Vietnam, and the Provisional Revolutionary Communist Government of South Vietnam signed an Agreement on Ending the War and Restoring Peace in Vietnam. The cease-fire officially went into effect on January 28. Both the US and North Vietnam asserted that there were no secret peace terms.2 All the US fighting forces had withdrawn from Vietnam by March 1973, but not without major losses on both sides. Two million Vietnamese were killed and 3 million were wounded. The extensive use of napalm and defoliants (such as Agent Orange) left many people badly burned, and destroyed the ecology of a country that was mainly agricultural. This is an important part of US history because it was the first war in which there was no clear winner. 57,685 US soldiers were killed, and triple that amount were wounded. Even those who returned to the United states without physical damage suffered from depression, and had to live with memories of the carnage and destruction that they saw. What bothers me about... ...arried, but instead decided on throwing it away, so that he wouldn’t be able to. So even this early in the war, the horrors of the POW camps were already known. I believe the worst torture Stafford had to endure was being without water. â€Å"As time passed, Stafford’s awareness shifted away from his physical pain and the uncertainty of his situation and focused on one single fact and sensation: he was thirsty... He got down off the stool, onto his knees, and licked the floor where he tiles joined, hoping some water had a accumulated there. When that failed, he tried licking damaged places on the wall, hoping that some water had sweated through.†6 It was only his second day without water, and he had to wait three more. The book continues to describe the horrible conditions in the rooms, the small amounts of food, and the torture that they had to go through on occasion, but never was any soldier’s ordeal described the way Stafford’s had been. Its amazing how some people can persevere. After spending eight years as a Vietnam POW Stafford was released. When he returned home his wife was still waiting for him, and the only problem he suffered was occasional depression.