The Model Of Microcredit Lending - 2186 Words

While the spread of microcredit as a development practice has enabled borrowers in many developing countries to access credit, not all experiences with microcredit have been positive. The original model of microcredit lending was not effective in alleviating poverty. To remedy this, an â€Å"improved† lending model was introduced; however, this model, too, has failed the impoverished citizens of the developing world because of its exclusivity. Traditional microcredit loaning systems require some form of material collateral to ensure that a borrower will repay their loan. This excludes the ultra-poor due to their lack of possessions to use as collateral (Schurmann and Johnston 2009, 521). To solve this issue and provide the poorest citizens with†¦show more content†¦The access to and inequality of microcredit loans needs to be remedied in order for the system to be effective in alleviating poverty. To be eligible for some microcredit programs, there are strict requirem ents that must be met: some programs require that all children in a household receiving funds be in good health (Ott and Hauville 2004, 558), and some have a maximum land allowance, meaning that families with greater than 0.5 acres of land are ineligible to receive a microcredit loan (Ahmed 2005, 96). These requirements are unfair because families may be applying for a loan to care for their sick child, or may be unable to maximize the use of their land without a loan to be used to obtain the tools needed to work their land. This inaccessibility to and inequality in the distribution of microcredit loans has not allowed the impoverished citizens of the developing world to better their economic situation and rise out of poverty. For those people, most often women, able to access loans through any form of microcredit, the poverty that initially brought them to seek a loan is perpetuated by high interest rates and large payments required to the community. Some microcredit institutions, though claiming to be supporting women in their business ventures and seeking to decrease poverty in

Analysis Of Maya Angelou s Novel, Champion Of The World...

â€Å"Freedom to Respect† Maya Angelou, poet and author communicates an extraordinary article â€Å"Champion of the World.† Student and writer, Sara Maratta, shares her astonishing views in an article â€Å"Move Over Boys, Make Room in the Crease.† Even though Angelou and Maratta share views of discrimination in the sports arena, as well as how sports can empower an individual to represent an entire group of people, they differ in defining what is at stake when it comes to winning the big game. Angelou uses the intensity of a televised fight of famous heavyweight boxer, Joe Louis, to show us the challenges of racial discrimination endured by an entire race of people. Quotes are heard over the radio, and from fans attentively listening to the history defining boxing match. Segregation through race discrimination is apparent. Louis is referred to as the â€Å"Brown Bomber.† â€Å"I ain’t worried ‘bout this fight. Joe’s gonna whip that cracker like it’s open season.† â€Å"That white man don’t mind hugging that niggah now, I betcha.† (Angelou, â€Å"Champion of the World† 484, 485) This fight was more than a boxing match, it was a racial battle; black vs. white. When Louis was losing the fight, Angelou compared it to racial struggles. â€Å"My race groaned. It was our people falling. It was another lynching, yet another Black man hanging on a tree† (Angelou, 486). Marratta’s article reveals her newly found interest in ice hockey and her views on sexual discrimination and negative treatment of women in sports, as

Legal Writing Free Essays

555 P. 2d 696 Supreme Court of New Mexico. Zelma M. We will write a custom essay sample on Legal Writing or any similar topic only for you Order Now MITCHELL, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. LOVINGTON GOOD SAMARITAN CENTER, INC. , Defendant-Appellant. No. 10847. Oct. 27, 1976. Appeal was taken from an order of the District Court, Bernalillo County, Richard B. Traub, D. J. , reversing a decision of the Unemployment Security Commission and awarding benefits to discharged employee. The Supreme Court, Sosa, J. , held that employee’s insubordination, improper attire, name calling and other conduct evidencing wilful disregard of employer’s interests constituted ‘misconduct’ disqualifying her from receiving certain unemployment benefits. Reversed. Attorneys and Law Firms *576 **697 Heidel, Samberson, Gallini Williams, Jerry L. Williams, Lovington, for defendant-appellant. Gary J. Martone, J. Richard Baumgartner, Joseph Goldberg, Albuquerque, for plaintiff-appellee. OPINION SOSA, Justice. This case presents the issue of whether petitioner’s actions constituted misconduct so as to disqualify her from certain unemployment compensation benefits. On June 4, 1974, petitioner-appellee Zelma Mitchell was terminated for alleged misconduct from the Lovington Good Samaritan Center, Inc. On June 12, 1974, Mrs. Mitchell applied for unemployment compensation benefits. Finding that Mrs. Mitchell’s acts constituted misconduct, a deputy of the Unemployment Security Commission disqualified Mrs. Mitchell from seven weeks of benefits pursuant to s 59-9-6(B), N. M. S. A. 1953. On July 24, 1974, Mrs. Mitchell filed an appeal. The referee of the Appeal Tribunal reversed the deputy’s decision and reinstated these benefits to Mrs. Mitchell on August 28, 1974. On September 13, 1974, the Center appealed the decision of the Appeal Tribunal to the whole Commission pursuant to s 59-9-6(E), N. M. S. A. 1953. The Commission overruled the Appeal Tribunal and reinstated the seven week disqualification period. Mrs. Mitchell then applied for and was granted certiorari from the decision of the Commission to the District Court of Bernalillo County pursuant to s 59-96(K), N. M. S. A. 1953. On January 16, 1976, the District Court reversed the Commission’s decision and ordered it to reinstate the benefits to Mrs. Mitchell. From the judgment of the District Court, the Center appeals. The issue before us is whether Mrs. Mitchell’s actions constituted misconduct under s 59-9-5(b), N. M. S. A. 1953. Mrs. Mitchell started work at the Center in Lovington on July 4, 1972 as a nurse’s aide. After approximately one year on the job in addition to her normal duties she also served as a relief medications nurse two days per week. On June 4, 1974, she was terminated. The testimony concerning the events leading up to her termination that day is somewhat contradictory but basically is the following. Mrs. Mitchell arrived punctually to work at three p. m. The director of the Center, Mr. Smith, questioned her about why she was already filling in her time card. Mrs. Mitchell answered that she filled in eight hours, which she would work that day as long as she did not ‘break a leg or die. ’ Mr. Smith replied, ‘Well, I’m not so sure about that. ’ Mrs. Mitchell then became defensive and stated that she had supported him when the Director of Nurses, Mrs. Mary Stroope, sought to have him fired as director. Mrs. Stroope, in the vicinity, overheard this comment, denied it, and called Mrs. Mitchell a liar. At various times during this exchange Mrs. Mitchell referred to Mr. Smith, Mrs. Stroope, and others as ‘birdbrains. This occurred in a crowded area where the Center’s employees were checking in and out, so Mr. Smith told both to go into his office. There, Mrs. Stroope apologized to Mrs. Mitchell for calling her a liar and Mrs. Mitchell apologized for saying that Mrs. Stroope had circulated a petition to replace Mr. Smith. However, tempers soon flared again and Mr. Smith resolved to fire Mrs. Mitchell. Mrs. Mitchell then demanded her check. Mr. Smith paid her for that day, a week’s vacation, and another week’s salary for being terminated, which he was not required to do since Mrs. Mitchell failed to give him two weeks’ notice. 577 **698 Appellee Mitchell argues that the events of June 4, 1974, do not constitute misconduct within the meaning of s 59-9-5(b), supra. Appellant Center argues that these events were the last of a series of acts of misconduct, and the ‘birdbrain’ incident should be considered the ‘last straw’ resulting in her termination. Mitchell counters that the prior acts of misconduct should not be considered. The alleged acts of prior misconduct are the following. On April 2, 1974, Mrs. Mitchell went to work at the Center out of uniform (she wore gold pants rather than navy blue). On that day the Federal Regulation Inspectors visited the Center. Mrs. Mitchell stated that she did not know that the federal inspectors would be there that particular day. The Director of Nurses reprimanded her and told her to go home and to change into the proper attire, which Mrs. Mitchell refused to do. The following day Mrs. Mitchell again came to work out of uniform but this time she was directed to go and did go home to change. On May 24, 1974, Mrs. Mitchell was switched from medications to the floor routine. Angered, Mrs. Mitchell refused to give medications, even though the charge nurse and Mrs. Stroope explained to her that the reason for the switch was that she was familiar with both jobs whereas the replacement nurse, Carol Skurlock, was unfamiliar with the floor routine. Mrs. Mitchell stated that she did not like being replaced by a ‘white’ nurse’s aide (Carol Skurlock). Mrs. Mitchell considered herself and Carol to be just ‘birdbrain against birdbrain,’ apparently because neither she nor Carol was a licensed nurse. From May 24 to June 4 Mrs. Mitchell refused to perform her duties as a relief medications aide. On May 15, 1974, and other days, Mrs. Mitchell sang while counting medications and was not very co-operative, which caused Betty Clarke, R. N. , to complain that Mrs. Mitchell’s actions were unethical and time-consuming. The term ‘misconduct’ is not defined in the Unemployment Compensation Law. The Wisconsin Supreme Court in Boynton Cab Co. v. Neubeck, 237 Wis. 249, 259-60, 296 N. W. 636, 640 (1941) examined the misconduct subsection of its unemployment compensation act, found no statutory definition of misconduct, and formulated the following definition: . . ‘misconduct’ . . . is limited to conduct evincing such wilful or wanton disregard of an employer’s interests as is found in deliberate violations or disregard of standards of behavior which the employer has the right to expect of his employee, or in carelessness or negligence of such degree or recurrence as to manifest equal culpability, wrongful intent or evil design or to show an intenti onal and substantial disregard of the employer’s interests or of the employee’s duties and obligations to his employer. On the other hand mere inefficiency, unsatisfactory conduct, failure in good performance as the result of inability or incapacity, inadvertencies or ordinary negligence in isolated instances, or good faith errors in judgment or discretion are not to be deemed ‘misconduct’ within the meaning of the statute. We adopt this definition. Applying this definition of misconduct to the facts of the case before us, we hold that Mrs. Mitchell’s acts constituted misconduct. *578 **699 Mrs. Mitchell’s insubordination, improper attire, name calling, and other conduct evinced a wilful disregard of the interests of the Center. Although each separate incident may not have been sufficient in itself to constitute misconduct, taken in totality Mrs. Mitchell’s conduct deviated sufficiently to classify it as misconduct under the above test. Appellee’s argument that the ‘last straw’ doctrine should not be used is hereby rejected. The district court is reversed and the decision of the Commission is reinstated. McMANUS and EASLEY, JJ. , concur. 764 P. 2d 1316 Supreme Court of New Mexico. Billie J. RODMAN, Petitioner–Appellant, v. NEW MEXICO EMPLOYMENT SECURITY DEPARTMENT and Presbyterian Hospital, Respondents– Appellees. No. 17721. Nov. 30, 1988. The District Court, Bernalillo County, Ross C. Sanchez, D. J. , upheld administrative decision denying unemployment compensation to claimant. Claimant appealed. The Supreme Court, Ransom, J. , held that incident precipitating claimant’s termination demonstrated willful disregard for her employer’s interests. Affirmed. Stowers, J. , specially concurred and filed opinion. Attorneys and Law Firms **1317 *759 Juan A. Gonzalez, Legal Aid Society of Albuquerque, Inc. , Albuquerque, for petitioner-appellant. Connie Reischman, New Mexico Employment Sec. Dept. , Albuquerque, for respondents-appellees. OPINION RANSOM, Justice. An administrative decision of the New Mexico Employment Security Department denying unemployment compensation to Billie J. Rodman was reviewed on certiorari by the district court. Rodman now appeals to this Court from the order of the district court affirming the administrative decision. Rodman had been employed by Presbyterian Hospital as a unit secretary for nearly eight years when, on February 17, 1987, she was terminated under hospital personnel policies following a â€Å"third corrective action† notice. Prior restrictions had been placed on Rodman’s conduct due to personal problems adversely impacting upon her place of work. At issue is whether the misconduct which warranted termination from employment rose to the level of misconduct which would warrant denial of unemployment compensation under NMSA 1978, Section 51–1–7 of the Unemployment Compensation Law. The Department reasonably summarizes the substantial evidence as follows: Rodman was reprimanded in June of 1986 for receiving an inordinate number of personal telephone calls and visitors at her work station, which was disruptive to her own work and to her co-workers. The formal reprimand set forth conditions to prevent further corrective action. Rodman was to have no personal telephone calls during work hours outside of a designated break or dinner time, in which event they were to occur in an area not visible to patients, physicians, or other department staff. When leaving the department for dinner, Rodman was to report to her immediate supervisor and was not to leave the hospital. Rodman was to make every effort to resolve the matters in her personal life that were causing problems at work. Nevertheless, according to the testimony of her supervisor, extremely disruptive telephone calls continued. The doctors were beginning to comment on it. The staff was getting more distressed. According to her supervisor, â€Å"[A]gain we talked about the visits, the behavior at the desk. When it got pretty bad with the phone calls, Billie would slam charts, push chairs and be a little abrupt with the people she worked with. † Another written reprimand in November of 1986 warned Rodman that her job was in jeopardy if the disruptive behavior continued. The supervisor established restrictions prohibiting the claimant from having visitors at the department and instructed her to notify security if there was a potential problem. On February 15, 1987, Rodman began work at 1:00 o’clock in the afternoon. She had spoken to her boyfriend’s mother earlier in the day to tell her that she did not want him to use her car as she had broken off their relationship. The boyfriend’s mother called her at work and told her the boyfriend had her car keys. Rodman told the mother to have the boyfriend call her at work. When he did, she informed him that she could not talk to him at her duty station, and he hung up on her. He called her back and left a number where he could be reached. She left the work area and went to the break room to call him. After returning to her duty station, Rodman got another telephone call from her boyfriend who told her to go downstairs to the lobby to meet him and pick up the keys. When she refused, he told her that if she did not come down he would come up to her department. Claimant eft the department to confront her boyfriend, and, because her supervisor was at lunch in the hospital cafeteria, Rodman notified a co-worker, a registered nurse, that she was leaving. Rodman testified, â€Å"I didn’t want any kind of confrontation at the desk, so I went downstairs. † Before she left her desk, Rodman called the employer’s security guard and asked him to meet her in the lobby because she anticipated that a problem could develop. When Rodman got to the l obby, her boyfriend started yelling and forced her outside. In doing so, he tore her shirt. At this point the security guard arrived and observed them arguing. Rodman was in the passenger seat of her car. The security guard instructed the boyfriend to return the keys, but the boyfriend jumped into the driver’s seat, locked the doors and drove off. About thirty-five minutes later, Rodman returned to her work station, after having changed her torn shirt. She resumed working, but, as the shift progressed, more telephone calls were received for her in the department. The supervisor became frustrated with the volume of calls and the behavior of Rodman. It was determined that Rodman should be sent home. Thereafter she was terminated. The Appeals Tribunal of the Department of Employment Security found on the basis of the evidence that the appellant had proven unwilling to restrict her personal contacts while at work, as requested by her employer. The hearing officer dismissed as without **1319 *761 merit Rodman’s contention that she could not stop her acquaintances from calling or visiting her at work. The hearing officer concluded that Ms. Rodman’s behavior was unreasonable, had caused many problems for her work section, and constituted misconduct connected with work under Section 51–1–7(B). The Meaning of â€Å"Misconduct† in New Mexico’s Unemployment Compensation Law. Given the remedial purpose of the Unemployment Compensation Law, New Mexico courts, like most jurisdictions, interpret the provisions of the law liberally, to provide sustenance to those who are unemployed through no fault of their own, and who are willing to work if given the opportunity. Wilson v. Employment Sec. Comm’n, 74 N. M. 3, 14, 389 P. 2d 855, 862–63 (1963); Parsons v. Employment Security Comm’n, 71 N. M. 405, 409, 379 P. 2d 57, 60 (1963). Like most states, New Mexico also provides that an employee who is determined to have been discharged for â€Å"misconduct† is ineligible for unemployment compensation benefits. 51–1–7(B). Two purposes are served by this statutory bar: first, it prevents the dissipation of funds for other workers; second, it denies benefits to those who bring about their own unemployment by conducting themselves with such callousness, and deliberate or wanton misbehavior that they have given up any reasonable expe ctation of receiving unemployment benefits. Given the remedial purpose of the statute, and the rule of statutory construction that its provisions are to be interpreted liberally, the statutory term â€Å"misconduct† should not be given too broad a definition. Accordingly, in adopting the majority definition of the term, this Court wrote in Mitchell v. Lovington Good Samaritan Center, Inc. , 89 N. M. 575, 577, 555 P. 2d 696, 698 (1976): â€Å"[M]isconduct† * * * is limited to conduct evincing such wilful or wanton disregard of an employer’s interests as is found in deliberate violations or disregard of standards of behavior which the employer has the right to expect of his employee, or in carelessness or negligence of such degree or recurrence as to manifest equal culpability * * *. M]ere inefficiency, unsatisfactory conduct, failure in good performance as the result of inability or incapacity, inadvertencies or ordinary negligence in isolated instances, or good faith errors in judgment or discretion are not to be deemed â€Å"misconduct† within the meaning of the statute. Where an employee has not acted with the requisite degree of â€Å"fault† under Mitchell, he or she has not sacrificed a reasonable expectati on in continued financial security such as may be afforded by accrued unemployment compensation benefits. It is therefore possible for an employee to have been properly discharged without having acted with such willful or wanton disregard for an employer’s interests as would justify denial of benefits. This Court recognized in Alonzo v. New Mexico Employment Security Department, 101 N. M. 770, 689 P. 2d 286 (1984), that even an act of willful disobedience which leads to termination will not always rise to the level of â€Å"misconduct† when the act is an isolated incident in an otherwise favorable employment history and the incident does not cause a significant disruption of the employer’s legitimate interests. Trujillo v. Employment Sec. Dep’t, 105 N. M. 467, 472, 734 P. 2d 245, 250 (Ct. App. 1987) (where employment contract gave employer the right to draft employees to work overtime in emergency situations significantly affecting the employer’s interests, it was â€Å"misconduct† for appellees to have refused to report for overtime work). Alonzo and Trujillo demonstrate that there are two components to the concept of misconduct sufficient to justify denial of benefits. One is the notion that the employee has acted with willful or wanton disregard for the employer’s interests; the other is that this act significantly infringed on legitimate employer expectations. *1320 *762 Totality of circumstances and the â€Å"last straw† doctrine. Often, the courts have been confronted with a series of minor infractions by the employee, where each incident showed a willful disregard of the employer’s interests, but no single incident was serious enough to justify denial of benefits. In su ch cases, courts have applied a â€Å"totality of circumstances† or â€Å"last straw† test to determine whether, taken together, this series of incidents constitutes misconduct sufficient to disqualify the claimant from receiving benefits. Mitchell v. Lovington Good Samaritan Center, Inc. 89 N. M. 575, 555 P. 2d 696 (1976). Rodman recognizes the â€Å"last straw† doctrine, but contends that the district court erred in applying the rule in this case because her infractions of February 15 were the result of acts of third parties over whom she had no physical or legal control. Appellant contends that she may not be denied unemployment benefits where the â€Å"last straw† which led to her termination was not willful or intentional, especially where, under the employer’s personnel policy, she could not have been discharged at all before this final incident. The Department contends that it is immaterial whether the precipitating act was a willful or intentional violation of the employer’s rules, where the record indicates that the claimant had a history of previous acts which demonstrate a willful or wanton disregard for the employer’s interests, and the employer discharged the employee for the accumulation of events, including the precipitating event. Fort Myers Pump Supply v. Florida Dep’t of Labor, 373 So. 2d 429 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1979). Although Fort Myers does offer support for the appellee’s position, we believe termination for a series of incidents which, taken together, may constitute â€Å"misconduct† is distinguishable from termination for a single incident following one or more corrective action notices. In the latter event, as here, we hold that the â€Å"last straw† must demonstrate a willful or wanton disregard for the employer’s interests for unemployment benefits to be denied. If substantial evidence existed that Rodman’s conduct on February 15, considered in light of the totality of ircumstances including her previous history of personal phone calls and unauthorized visitors, showed a willful or wanton disregard for her employer’s interests, then Rodman’s benefits were properly denied. Although the evidence in this case is amenable to more than one reasonable interpretation, we conclude that there was a substantial basis for the district court to decide t hat Rodman’s actions on February 15, when considered in light of the restrictions which had been placed upon her and her previous failure to comply with those restrictions, demonstrated a willful disregard for her employer’s interests. Therefore, the decision of the district court is affirmed. IT IS SO ORDERED. WALTERS, J. , concurs. STOWERS, J. , specially concurs. 769 P. 2d 88 Supreme Court of New Mexico. In re Claim of Lucy APODACA. IT’S BURGER TIME, INC. , Petitioner–Appellee, v. NEW MEXICO DEPARTMENT OF LABOR EMPLOYMENT SECURITY DEPARTMENT, BOARD OF REVIEW and Lucy Apodaca, Respondents–Appellants. No. 17952. Feb. 22, 1989. Employer filed writ of certiorari to challenge Employment Security Department’s award of unemployment compensation to fast-food restaurant employee who refused to retint her purple hair. The District Court, Dona Ana County, Lalo Garza, D. J. reversed award of benefits. Employee appealed. The Supreme Court, Ransom, J. , held that evidence supported Department’s award of benefits. Reversed and remanded. Attorneys and Law Firms **89 *176 Jose R. Coronado, Southern New Mexico Legal Services, Inc. , Las Cruces, Connie Reischman, New Mexico Dept. of Labor, Albuqu erque, for respondents-appellants. Kelly P. Albers, Lloyd O. Bates, Jr. , Las Cruces, for petitioner-appellee. OPINION RANSOM, Justice. A determination by the Board of Review of the New Mexico Employment Security Department awarding unemployment compensation to Lucy Apodaca was reversed by the district court on certiorari. Apodaca appeals the district court decision, arguing that the court erred in finding the administrative determination was unsupported by substantial evidence and was contrary to law. We conclude substantial evidence supports the Board of Review decision that the conduct leading to Apodaca’s termination did not constitute misconduct warranting denial of unemployment compensation under Section 51–1–7(B) of the Unemployment Compensation Law. Accordingly, we reverse the district court. Apodaca was employed as a counter helper from August 1986 to August 1987 with It’s Burger Time, Inc. Apodaca’s supervisors had no complaints concerning the performance of her work. Several times during the summer of 1987, Apodaca approached the store manager, John Pena, to ask how the owner, Kevin McGrath, would react if she were to dye her hair purple. Pena did not at first take the question seriously. When Apodaca persisted, Pena told her that he would have to ask McGrath. Apparently, he never did so. After several weeks, Apodaca went ahead and dyed her hair. McGrath saw Apodaca’s tinted hair for the first time at work two days later. He instructed Pena to give Apodaca a week to decide whether she wanted to retain her new hair color or her job. In a letter to the Board of Review, McGrath wrote that he had a good sense for community standards and believed he could not afford to wait until â€Å"this incident [took] it’s [sic] toll on my business. † Apodaca had signed the company handbook upon being hired, which instructed employees about acceptable hygiene and appearance. The handbook said nothing specific about hair color. Pena relayed McGrath’s message to Apodaca and suggested she make up her mind quickly so he could find someone to replace her if necessary. Two days later, Apodaca told Pena she had decided to keep her hair the way it was. She was then terminated and applied for unemployment benefits. The Department initially determined that Apodaca was ineligible for compensation because she had been terminated â€Å"for refusing to conform to the standards of personal grooming compatible with the * * * work [she was] performing. † The claims officer concluded this constituted misconduct under Section 51–1–7(B). Apodaca appealed to the Appeals Tribunal, which affirmed the denial of her benefits after a hearing. She appealed the Tribunal’s decision **90 *177 to the Department’s Board of Review. After reviewing the record of the hearing, the Board concluded that the employer failed to show how the color of Apodaca’s hair affected its business; therefore, her refusal to return her hair to its original color did not rise to the level of â€Å"misconduct† required for denial of her benefits. For review of the Board’s decision, the employer filed a writ of certiorari with the Dona Ana County District Court. The district court determined Burger Time’s request to Apodaca to change the color of her air was reasonable and enforceable and Apodaca’s refusal of that request was misconduct. The court concluded that the Board of Review’s decision was not supported by substantial evidence and was contrary to the law and reversed the decision granting Apodaca her benefits. This appeal followed. In reviewing the district court decision, we look first to see whether the court erred in concluding that the Department’s decision was unsupported by substantial evidence. Because we conclude that the court erred in this determination, it is unnecessary for us to examine the findings and conclusions adopted by the court. Misconduct and the employer’s interest. Both Apodaca and Burger Time agree that the definition of â€Å"misconduct† as used in Section 51–1–7(B) is to be found in this Court’s opinion in Mitchell v. Lovington Good Samaritan Center, Inc. , 89 N. M. 575, 577, 555 P. 2d 696, 698 (1976): â€Å"[M]isconduct† * * * is limited to conduct evincing such wilful or wanton disregard of an employer’s interests as is found in deliberate violations or disregard of standards of behavior which the employer has the right to expect of his employee, or in carelessness or negligence of such degree or recurrence as to manifest equal culpability. * * [M]ere inefficiency, unsatisfactory conduct, failure in good performance as the result of inability or incapacity, inadvertencies or ordinary negligence in isolated instances, or good faith errors in judgment or discretion are not to be deemed â€Å"misconduct† within the meaning of the statute. Apodaca d oes not deny that her refusal to redye her hair was an intentional and deliberate act. At issue in this case is whether an employee who refuses to alter her personal appearance in conformity with the employer’s personal beliefs about acceptable community standards has engaged in misconduct. The employer argues, and the district court apparently agreed, that so long as the request is reasonable and the employee is given adequate time to comply, refusal amounts to â€Å"insubordination and misconduct. † We disagree. In Alonzo v. New Mexico Employment Security Department, 101 N. M. 770, 772, 689 P. 2d 286, 288 (1984), we recognized that termination for an isolated incident which does not â€Å"significantly affect[ ] the employer’s business† may not form the basis for denial of benefits on the grounds of misconduct. In Alonzo, an employee was terminated after refusing to wear a smock when working at the cash register as required by company policy. Id. at 771, 689 P. 2d at 287. As here, the employee’s previous work history was completely satisfactory, and there was no evidence that the employer’s business interests had been affected. Alonzo should be compared with Trujillo v. Employment Security Department, 105 N. M. 467, 471–72, 734 P. 2d 245, 249–50 (Ct. App. 987), which held that failure to report for overtime work pursuant to an employment contract provision allowing the employer to draft employees in emergency situations constituted misconduct, when the evidence demonstrated that the orders directing employees to report early to work were explicit and not confusing. In Trujillo, unlike Alonzo, failure to comply with the employer’s request was recognized as having significantly affected the employer’s interest. See also Thornton v. Dep’t of Hum an Resources Dev. , 32 Cal. App. 3d 180, 107 Cal. Rptr. 92 (1973) (refusal of restaurant employee to shave beard immediately or be terminated was not misconduct when employer failed to show that beard was unsanitary or otherwise detrimental to business); cf. Lattanzio v. Unemployment Comp. Bd. of Rev. , 461 Pa. 392, 336 A. 2d 595 (1975) (claimant’s refusal to report back to work was for good cause when employer demanded he shave beard but no evidence supported contention that requested alteration in appearance was essential to performance of duties other than employer’s vague assertion that claimant’s â€Å"modish† appearance might reflect unfavorably on business). In this case, there is absolutely no evidence that the color of Apodaca’s hair significantly affected Burger Time’s business. McGrath and Pena both testified they received no customer complaints regarding the color of Apodaca’s hair. Apodaca’s immediate supervisor, testifying in her behalf, reported that the only comments she heard were compliments and that Burger Time’s customers had readily registered complaints in the past when they found something amiss. Under these circumstances, the Board of Review could properly decide that Apodaca’s refusal to retint her hair did not rise to the level of misconduct. Burger Time argues that none of our previous cases require an employer to demonstrate its business was affected by an employee’s refusal to comply with a request from the employer. However, it is well established in New Mexico that the party seeking to establish the existence of a fact bears the burden of proof. See Newcum v. Lawson, 101 N. M. 48, 684 P. 2d 534 (Ct. App. 1984); Carter v. Burn Constr. Co. , 85 N. M. 27, 508 P. 2d 1324 (Ct. App. ), cert. denied, 85 N. M. 5, 508 P. 2d 1302 (1973); Wallace v. Wanek, 81 N. M. 478, 468 P. 2d 879 (Ct. App. 1970); cf. Moya v. Employment Sec. Comm’n, 80 N. M. 39, 450 P. 2d 925 (1969) (when claimant sought to establish that he ought not be disqualified from receiving benefits because the position for which he refused to interview was not suitable employment, he bore burden of proof on this issue). In this case, pursuant to Department regulations requiring an employer to report why a claimant was fired or have that claimant’s benefits charged against the employer’s account, Burger Time submitted a letter stating that Apodaca refused to comply with company grooming standards. At each subsequent stage of the administrative process and before the district court, Burger Time sought to establish that Apodaca was terminated for misconduct. It therefore fell upon Burger Time to show that Apodaca’s refusal to change the color of her hair amounted to misconduct under the standard considered in Alonzo and Trujillo. This, Burger Time failed to do and thus failed to meet its burden of proof. Moreover, Apodaca presented uncontroverted testimony that no customers complained, and some complimented her for her hair. We do not question Burger Time’s right to establish a grooming code for its employees, to revise its rules in **92 *179 response to unanticipated situations, and to make its hiring and firing decisions in conformity with this policy. However, as we noted in Rodman, â€Å"It is * * * possible for an employee to have been properly discharged without having acted [in a manner] as would justify denial of benefits. † 107 N. M. at 761, 764 P. 2d at 1319. 2 Definition of misconduct and the right to terminate. Although not directly presented on appeal in this case, we note that in their decision letters both the Appeals Tribunal and the Board of Review used the following definition: â€Å"The term ‘misconduct’ connotes a material breach of the contract of employment or conduct reflecting a willful disregard of the employer’s best interests. (Emphasis added. ) We rejected this definition in Rodman, 107 N. M. at 763, 764 P. 2d at 1321, as inconsistent with the Mitchell standard requiring a willful or wanton disregard of the employer’s interests. The use of the term â€Å"or† implies that any breach of the employment contract sufficient to warrant discharge of the employee serves as adequate grounds for denial of benefits, whether or not the employee acted in a willful or wanton manner. Where an employee has not acted with the requisite degree of ‘fault’ under Mitchell, he or she has not sacrificed a reasonable expectation in continued financial security such as may be afforded by accrued unemployment compensation benefits. † Id. at 761, 764 P. 2d at 1319. The decision of the trial court is reversed, and this case is remanded for entry of judgment consistent with the decision of the Board of Review. IT IS SO ORDERED. How to cite Legal Writing, Papers

Business Law for Human Right Code- myassignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about theBusiness Law for Human Right Code. Answer: Issue According to the case facts whether Yasmin can take any legal action against the discrimination by the manager for feel her uncomfortable in the work place? Rules According to the employment law of Canada the federal and provisional government has set some rules for the employees where it has jurisdiction in a vast area of employment. The employment law has set the minimum standards of employment which includes the wages, vacation and holiday pay, notice periods for termination hours of work, leaves of absence and in some jurisdictions safety and severance payments for the employees in their work place (Porter, 2015). The Human Right Code has been also legislated for protect the employees from discrimination in their work place by other employees or employers. It protects those employees who faced discrimination in their employment. According to this code the employment is completely prohibited from any discrimination which includes race, sexual orientation, place of origin, color, ethnic origin, citizenship, marital status, ancestry, creed, sex (including sexual harassment and discrimination based on pregnancy), and age, record of offences, family status and disability in the work place. The Human Right Code also provided the concepts sof the right to equal treatment with respect to employment in the workplace (World Health Organization. 2015). The discrimination is completely prohibited under the Human Right Code which protects women from any sexual discrimination on the respect of the employment. The Canadian Human Rights Act has legislated for the protection for the discrimination in the employment. It also provided separate parts which protects the women from discrimination in their employment. Application According to the facts of the case Yasmin is a member of a visible minority in Canada. After a several tries recently she got a part time job at her university campus bookstore. A few weeks into her job, she begins to feel very uncomfortable around her book store manager. The manager often touch her, asks her to go out for drinks after work and tells sexual jokes when she is in the room. The whole situation makes her uncomfortable. She is facing discrimination in her work place by the employer. Therefore those acts defines the sexual discrimination under the Human Rights Act where it completely against of the employments. The Human Rights Act protects every woman from any discrimination which includes race, ancestry, and place of origin, color, citizenship, creed, sex (including sexual harassment and discrimination based on pregnancy), sexual orientation, and age, and marital status, record of offences, ethnic origins, family status and disability in the work place. The Canada government is against of the discrimination. Under this act every person has equal rights to be protected and getting equal benefits from the law without any discrimination where the person is discriminated according race, national or ethnic origin, color, religion, sex, age or mental or physical disability (Barak, 2016). Conclusion According to the facts of the case it can be concluded that Yasmin can take legal actions against the book store manager for the sexual harassment she has been suffered under the Canadian Human Rights Act (Du Mont Forte, 2016). Reference Barak, M. E. M. (2016). Managing diversity: Toward a globally inclusive workplace. Sage Publications. Du Mont, J., Forte, T. (2016). Perceived discrimination and self-rated health in Canada: an exploratory study. BMC public health, 16(1), 742. Porter, J. (2015). Vertical mosaic: An analysis of social class and power in Canada. University of Toronto Press. World Health Organization. (2015). Sexual health, human rights and the law. World Health Organization.

The Words on a Page free essay sample

Yesterday, I lived in Wonderland. I wandered through the forest with Alice. I was a young girl, grasping tightly to innocence. I dreamed that I lived in a world of my own, a world where everything was the complete opposite of what is. My imagination consumed me. I fantasized of untainted bliss. I was curious to find out more, to discover what exactly was the White Rabbit’s very important date. I searched for my identity, meandering in an unknown land of bizarre creatures like the Mad Hatter. I didn’t know who I would be the next day or what would occur if I suddenly awoke from a dream. My mind soaked up the utter confusion like a sponge and nonsense triumphed over all. Today, I am sitting on a log at Walden Pond. Henry David Thoreau kneels on the grass next to me. We look out into the distance, admiring the hues of the setting sun. We will write a custom essay sample on The Words on a Page or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The intensity of the sun awakens me, reminding me that I am truly alive. Mother Nature gives me the gift of life, of merely being, wrapped in a little box and decoratively tied with a ribbon. My existence is simplistic. I ignore time, the twenty-four hours in a day, seven days in a week, as I bathe in the magnificence of the natural environment around me. I discard my wristwatch in order to witness the transformation from the bright sun to the glistening moon. With Thoreau by my side, I am able to forget everything about civilization and simply listen to the sounds of nature. Tomorrow, I will reside in the Big Apple. I will share a cup of black coffee with Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg. We will talk about literature and current events. I will march to the beat of my own drum. If everyone is wearing black sneakers, I will wear neon green. I will be my own person. With a sheet of loose-leaf and a pen in hand, I will write to the tune of my soul. My desire to follow the thoughts that rush through my mind will hold the strength of the caffeine I will consume in a cafe in New York City, in the city that never sleeps, that never stops screaming its voice to the world beyond. I live in all of these places, yesterday, today, and tomorrow. I fall in love with nature, the foliage in the trees up above, the blanket of pure snow, and the blossoming of fresh, brightly colored flowers. I nestle under a gigantic maple tree with a book in hand, embarking on myriad journeys. I travel into make-believe, encountering absurd characters that add light to my life. I stand on the fine line between fantasy and reality. I am effervescent, immersing myself in the beauty of life. I am a devoted citizen of the Big Apple, Walden Pond, and Wonderland. I am all in one; I am I.

Essay on Unit 2

Essay on Unit 2 Essay on Unit 2 -TERMINOLOGY Learn these basic pharmacology terms: (found on textbook page-44, Table 2-8) tolerance synergism antagonism therapeutic prophylactic -MORE on TERMINOLOGY! Terminology is extremely important in the study of Pharmaceuticals. Each of the terms below have very specific definitions which are important to understand. These can be found in chapter-3 of your textbook between pages 48 and 54, including Table 3-1. Here is a partial list: off-label use official name chemical name generic name Trade, Brand, Proprietary name Legend drug OTC name Indication Contraindication Drug nomenclature -METRIC CONVERSIONS Review the Math Slides for Week 2, and know the relationships between metric units and/or memorize them or learn to use the Sliding Metric Visual Conversion Grid posted in docsharing. Review the Unit 2 practice Problem sheet posted in Doc Sharing. If the methods presented in the math slides for weeks 1 & 2 (Also Posted in Doc Sharing) are not clear, then read Chapters 6-8 in your text and find the system that works for you. Remember the 5 steps used to solve a conversion problem: See Sample Problem Below Sample problem 1: Convert 600 mg to kg Step 1: Write the equation – Starting value & unit, Followed by: a. â€Å"x†, b. â€Å"†, for the conversion fraction c. â€Å"=† d. and Ending units Step 2: determine units for denominator (bottom) of conversion factor Step 3: determine units for numerator (top) of conversion factor Step 4: Look up relationship between starting/ending units In this case the relationship between mg and kg. Use the method of your choice, sliding mnemonic, tables, text, etc. The key is you have to be comfortable with the method/way you determine the relationship. Using the Sliding Metric Visual Conversion Grid to solve metric conversions or find relationships: kg hg dag gram dg cg mg * * mcg 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Relationship: 1 kg = 1,000,000 mg or  Now that we know the relationship add it to the equation: Step 5: Solve the equation: When solving first check to make sure that starting units are cancelled! With the starting units cancelled we are left with ending units on both side of the â€Å"=† (equals sign). Alternative method of Metric conversion. Sample problem 1: Convert 600 mg to kg First enter the given value into the Sliding Mnemonic scale. Remember the decimal is to the right of the unit. So the mg decimal is between the mg column and the first â€Å"*† column. See number in RED below kg hg dag gram dg cg mg * * mcg 6 0 0. Now locate the decimal for the kg units, again it is to the right of the unit. So the kg decimal is between the kg column and the hg column. Now bring the numbers down from the above row (containing the 600 mg) into the row to be used for the kg conversion. See numbers in BLUE below. kg hg dag gram dg cg mg * * mcg 6 0 0. 6 0 0 Now add kg decimal and zeros as needed to make the conversion. See GREEN numbers below. Please note that the zeros following the number 6 have been deleted as training zeros should not be used when writing the numbers. kg hg dag gram dg cg mg * * mcg 6 0 0. 0. 0 0 0 6 0 0 Now just read the answer off the Sliding Mnemonic Scale : 600 mg = 0.0006 kg There are many different types of oral drug dosage forms, from capsules and tablets, to quickly dissolving tablets used both on and under the tongue, to various types of syrups and solutions.

Processes and definitions of Enterprise and Entrepreneurial Management Essay

Processes and definitions of Enterprise and Entrepreneurial Management - Essay Example The consideration of the above factors does assist an entrepreneur in achieving success in the business venture he intends to get into. A business plan includes the business idea that an entrepreneur is considering venturing into. It also describes his reasons for venturing into the business, his financial ability to invest in the venture, the location of his business and the available sources of raw materials (Parker, 2004). Strategic Objectives These are the goals that a business sets to achieve in the short and long run periods. They assist in the formation of the long-term plans in order to achieve a specific purpose for the business (Wiklund, 2006).These objectives are made by the strategic management in a business. They formulate these strategies to achieve the objectives that the business first intends to achieve (Landoli and Landstorm, 2007).When coming up with the strategic objectives for the business, the management will need to consider their scope of operations, their fin ancial abilities, their target customers along with their levels of income. The adoption of a strategy involves the interaction of societal, intellectual, monetary, political and emotional forces (Wiklund, 2006). When formulating strategic objectives, the consideration of the above issues will greatly enable an entrepreneur to achieve success in his business endeavors. A business plan has to incorporate the objectives that the entrepreneur aims to achieve in the long run and the means of achieving them (Landoli and Landstorm, 2007). Market Analysis and Research Market analysis involves the carrying out of extensive investigations into the elements that affect the market of a certain commodity or product (Parker, 2004). The market needs to be analyzed in terms of the supply of the raw materials, the demand for the products and services and the cost and availability of the raw materials requires for business (Fischer, 2007). The market analysis can also involve the assessment of the a ccessibility to the business by the customers and an analysis of the target market. When a proper analysis is done on the above conditions, success is likely to come to the entrepreneurs venture. The analysis should provide direction on what are the strengths and weaknesses of the business, the growth opportunities the business has and the threats the business is likely to encounter (Parker, 2004). A business plan should include the type of customers a business will deal with, the overall market share the business intends to control, the pricing strategy to be put to use, and the sales, promotion and distribution strategies to use in the business (Parker, 2004). A statement of the research methods that a business plans to use is also on display in the business plan. Research helps in the creation of better products that assist in satisfying the customer’s needs in a more cost effective way. It also assists an entrepreneur in learning the newest methods of producing goods that are of more superior quality than those currently in use by the consumers. Research is very essential for a success to be achievable in the efforts of an entrepreneur. This is because it gives him or her greater insight into their market systems thus enabling him to build a

American government Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

American government - Essay Example bject; he has interest of his own; he soon begins to think that he may be happy, great and glorious, by oppressing his fellow citizens; and that he may raise himself to grandeur on the ruins of his country. In a large republic, the public good is sacrificed to a thousand views; it is subordinate to exceptions, and depends on accidents† (Brutus chap 4). In contrast, the interest of the public themselves are easier perceived and achieved in a small republic due to the similarity in manners, sentiments and interests, with greed and abuses such as those mentioned greatly minimized; thus, the vision of a homogeneous and virtuous society where all are treated equally with deserved respect regardless of background and/or the color of their skin. Like Brutus, Sam Adams’ letter to John Scollay had real concerns about the inconsistencies of the authorities powers granted in the United States Constitution. A crusader of true independence that entailed equality and freedom to all men, Sam, an ardent Christian living by the same principles, was against the institution of slavery, arguing that liberty had to be directed towards benevolent/kind/caring purposes, otherwise, it risked being an excuse for immorality in the new nation; he envision a nation grounded on Christian principles of mutual preservation of liberty and where every life is treated with respect and dignity (Harris and Kidd 172-173). Brutus argues that the opinion of the greatest men as well as the experience of mankind bear him testimony against the idea of an extensive republic, and gives a plethora of examples, right from the Grecian and Roman republics, to the monarchies of Europe that all ‘proved the destruction of liberty and [are] abhorrent to the spirit of a free republic’. An experienced judge, Robert Yates was against the independence of the judiciary, more particularly with regards to the Supreme Court that he argued would become a source of almost unlimited federal powers. Yates asserted

Progressive Era through the Great Depression Essay - 1

Progressive Era through the Great Depression - Essay Example senators (Anderson, 2006). The nation struggled with difficulties because of industrialization and development, in the period of Progressive Era (1900–1920). City and middle-class reform crusade reinforced the administration having a superior role in managing such matters as the control of large trade and the well-being of the community. Several of its attainments were created on struggles of previous restructuring activities. For instance, the federal income tax policy and the direct election of senators were a part of the Mainstream package, and Ban on liquor production and its use. The program had received support from both Democrats and Republicans. Theodore Roosevelt became US President in 1901 even though he was the youngest one to hold the Presidential office. He had substantial political knowledge and served in various high level offices. During his administration from 1901 to 1909, 44 antitrust activities were filed counter to the nations major companies, comprising the Northern Securities Company. However, the principle of the presidents approach was that he noted among ‘good’ and ‘bad’ trusts and sturdily chosen to control companies for the wellbeing of people rather than causing damage them. The procedure of rebating was removed through the ‘Elkins Act’ (1903), and the ‘Hepburn Act’ (1906) permitted the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) to set maximum railroad charges. Americans expressed the fear that meat infected or covered in rat stools was treated and sold to the public. Senate responded to the disclosures by passing the ‘Pure Food and Drug Act’ (1906) that banned the production, sale, or carriage of food or drugs in interstate trade that had been infected. President Roosevelt vigorously endorsed the preservation of the nations natural resources. Roosevelt’s government set aside

Why I Am Learning English Myself English Language Essay

Why I Am Learning English Myself English Language Essay Im learning English because I want to get the information by myself which have not been interpreted yet. In the world many information havent been interpreted. I like American movies, comedies and TV dramas. So when I want to get a lot of information about those, it is better to be able to understand English, which is a common language of the world, than to be not able to. If I could get much information, I can be more enjoyable those entertainments and share the information about those things with people all over the world who have same interests. The second reason of learning English is to survive in other countries. I like a trip abroad. In other countries I often have many troubles. For example, imagine that you go shopping in other country. If you cant speak English, you may be not able to buy things which you need because you cant tell a clerk what you want to buy. Being able to listen to and speak English is the one of the best way to solve those troubles. And by learning Engl ish, I can have many chances to feel other cultures and histories because English is the only common language of the world. I may be able to bring up and discover new myself by knowing other cultures and histories. So, learning English is important thing for understanding many cultures and histories. This is the last reason. So I am learning English. The skill of English I would like to strengthen most is listening and speaking. When I was a high school student, I stayed an Australian familys house for a month. I was full of confidence with my English skill. However, I couldnt listen to what they were saying. And even when I could do, I couldnt speak because I didnt know the right grammar and was afraid of making a lot of mistakes. Now Im so regretting because I didnt take advantage of the chance to polish my English skill. So I think that listening to and speaking English are the most important things for me. There are two ways of improving my listening skill. One way is listening to American music with understanding words and means. And another way is watching American movies with focusing on sound of speaking. I dont like studying, so I want to enjoy studying. These ways of improving listening skill are the best for me. And for improving speaking skill, I speak with myself, the wall or the mirror about what happened at the day or what I think. This way of practicing speaking skill may be strange, but I think that this way is very effective to polish speaking skill. I was taught this practice way by my English teacher, who I respected. Thanks to him, I had a great interest in studying languages and other countries cultures and came to like English. And thanks to him, I could pass the exam of Osaka University, where I wanted to enter for a long time. So I believe the way of studying which he taught to me. Now I am interested in Korean idol singers and Korean dramas. At first, I wondered why Japanese people were absorbed in the culture. However, the more I get to know about it, the more I come to like it. Korean idol singers not only are handsome but also sing and dance very well. And most of them can speak their mother tongue and many foreign languages. They are hard to study everything. Therefore they are more fascinating than Japanese idol singers. Korean dramas are different from Japanese one. Most Japanese dramas are ordinary love dramas, but construction of story of Korean drama is interesting because themes take various forms. We can learn difference of the culture between Japan and Korea from dramas. I think that when I study the culture and the custom about a country, the best way to know about them is to live in the country, but it is difficult. So, seeing a drama is a good way because we can find a life style of people who live in the country. And by being interested in Kore an idol singers and dramas, I get to want to know about the country, Korea, and learn about the Korean language. Therefore, Im learning about Korean history and the Korean language by oneself. Learning other culture is very fun. So, Im interested in Korean idol singers and Korean dramas.

Eucharist History :: essays research papers fc

Eucharist History -reenacts the closing events of jesus' life -links past-present-future one ceremony -powerful, meaningful ritual -last of the 3 sacraments of initiation -prescribed by christ -have to see the eucharist as body, not bread Eucharist celebrates -"a way of remembering" -daily reminder of Gods love -jesus shared bread at last supper/do this in memory of me -a thanksgiving feast -"eucharist" means giving thanx Ritual Meal -earliest form of rituals are eating and gathering -sacrifice meal -ritual not a routine -builds on the symbolism of a ritual mean Sign and Symbols -symbol of gods love for us -jesus' body -last supper/banquet -welcome others to participate in the eucharist -unfilled celebration -if we went to mass on sunday, it would make the rest of the week more meaningful -unified body -it is the most commonly received sacrament, most pivotal of 7 -as a community, we celebrate the presence of christ in the eucharist -bread: basic food for most people/closely assoc with nature human work Vestements -white/purple/black robe Words -"Do this in Memory of Me." -"This is my body, which has been given up for you." ST. ROBERT'S CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL "THE EUCHARIST" BY: MARK HARNUM Presented to: Mr. DiMaio NRE 2A0-09 Monday November 29 , 1993 THE EUCHARIST Thesis: The Eucharist is a sign of Jesus' death, and how He gave himself up for us, and how we experience Him through His body. History of the Eucharist The Eucharist is a Jewish Ritual of worship. It dates back to the Last Supper, where Jesus celebrated a typical Jewish community meal with His friends. Sharing a meal with family, (very important to the Jews) also dates back to the Passover Meal. This is called the Liturgy of the Eucharist, and the early Christians added Jewish synagogue service and then became the Liturgy of the Word. The Eucharist is a sacrament, and is also a ritual. It is a repeated sacrament, and is the most frequently used among all sacraments. It is "a way of remembering" and a daily reminder if God's love. Jesus at the Last Supper shared bread with us, and said "Do this in Memory of Me." This is why we have bread, because it represents Jesus' body, and how He gave Himself up for us. The first little while of the Church, the "Mass was celebrated as a friendship meal called agape." Christians shared brought food to the house where they were assembled, but as the numbers increased, the meal was cut down to bread and wine. Today, the offertory collection echoes the early years of the spirit giving at the Eucharist. It is living bread that came down from heaven.

Top Gear Reviwe

As Jeremy Clarkson explained on Twitter, â€Å"fat people singing† has been in Top Gear’s way for the past year. So it’s ironic that the programs return opened with the overweight presenter screeching â€Å"we’re back! † with all the keenness of a desperate X Factor finalist. This is where comparison between padded-out talent contestants and Top Gear end; however the free-wheeling motoring show was very nearly a full hour of fun, witty entertainment. Top gear was officially complained about by the Indian High Commission on its recent trip to India.Jokes about terrorism, the Nazi regime and incest in tonight’s episode suggest Top Gear’s tone remained unchanged by critics and complainers. The banter between Top Gear trio Richard Hammond, May and Clarkson just great, May was old; Hammond’s choice of clothes was laughable, Clarkson moaned about motorway signs in his usual comic way. The Homeland’s star Damian Lewis was the â €˜Star in a Reasonably Priced Car’, who dropped names and great story’s (playing at Old Trafford, surviving a motorcycle accident) with genuine humour, which was much needed, because a few jokes seem a bit manufactured. Top Gear thrived outside of its dull studio.We saw Hammond yell theatrically inside a â€Å"savage† supercar: the Pagani Huayra is worth ? 800,000 and now takes its place at the top of the Power Lap Board – which set the bar high for the rest of the series. Eagle-eyed fans will have seen September’s leaked footage of May co-driving a Bentley continental GT Speed on a WRC rally stage. Tonight’s full feature was one of dramatic skies, dark forests and a tough lesson for him in rally driving (rally pace notes: directions given in hasty anticipation to the driver). â€Å"Either get it right or shut up†, growled May’s quietly, terrifyingly soiled professional driver.Pleasingly, the Bentley’s four-wheel driv e dealt well with a proper thrashing. Enthusiastically, Clarkson showed us his self created ‘P45’. The vehicle (it can hardly be called a car) aims to be smaller than the Peel P50 – a 1960s micro mobile invented for city driving. Clarkson, just shy of two metres tall, was transformed into a grumpy toy robot in the weird contraption, driving along country lanes, bombing down dual carriageways and sneaking into shopping centres with pleasant hilarity. Add in some comical humour, serious cool cars and it’s like top gear never went away.

Museum Essay Essays

Museum Essay Essays Museum Essay Essay Museum Essay Essay Name: Course: Institution: Date: Museum Essay The Los Angeles County Museum is one of the famous artistic exhibitions located in the city of Los Angeles in California. The museum is also the biggest encyclopedic exhibitioner in the city of Western Chicago. In addition, it accommodates millions of various visitors and tourists every year (Barron, Stephanie, Bernstein and Fort 24). Los Angeles County museum consists of a large variety of art works ranging from traditional to modern pieces. In addition, the various forms of art also featured the involvement of films and shows annually. The Museum was officially established in the year 1961. However, before it was recognized as a museum, it was associated with the Museum of History and Science in the year 1910 at the Exposition Park located next to the South Californian Campus. In the year 1965, the exhibition was moved to a new location to serve as an autonomous artistic institution and hence become the second biggest innovative museum to be constructed in America after the National Art Gallery (Bruce 8). The Los Angeles County Museum consists of thousands of art pieces that are divided into various sections based on the city, medium and era in which they were created. The first category is identified as the Modern art. Its pieces have been situated in Ahmanson Building, which was refurbished in the year 2008 (Barron, Stephanie, Bernstein and Fort 24). This was done in order to include an innovative opening that would feature a large staircase using the Roman architecture. The art works found are from the ancient period in the early fifties to the current. The Modern art section features one hundred and seventy six pieces crafted by over twenty artists during the post war period in the early fifties. One of the controversial works found in this section is known as the Back Seat Dodge. The art consisted of a sculpture that was created by an artist known as Edward Kienholz in the year 1964. It displayed a man and a woman engaging in sexual activity and hence it was questioned on its morality impact by the L.A. County Supervising board. This piece of fine artwork stands out the most in the museum. The committee attempted to ban the art piece based on the grounds of conflicting with the moral values of the society (Barron, Stephanie, Bernstein and Fort 24). The Los Angeles County Museum also includes the Columbian art section. This involves art pieces that are influenced by the cultures found in Latin America (Bruce 7). In addition, the art collection is also inspired by the Spanish, Current and Contemporary cultures. The former Columbian arcades were modified by a famous L.A artist known as Jorge Pardo. Pardo is involved in the field of architecture and Sculpture art. The Spanish art includes pieces from the period of the seventeenth to the eighteenth centuries (Bruce 7). The architecture of several buildings in the museum has been inspired by the Asian culture. In addition, the museum also holds various collections from the Chinese, Korean and Japanese cultures including ceramics from Korea that were created in the year 1966 (Bruce 7). The museum also has a court that consists of palm trees that have been designed in a unique creativity by an artist known as Robert Irwin and an architect known as Paul Comstock (Barron, Stephanie, Bernstein and Fort 24). The design consists of a multi-tiered system of more than two hundred lights. The designs in which the lights have been created are inspired by the various styles in which lights of various cities in Los Angeles have been designed.

Rujm el-Hiri (Golan Heights) - Ancient Observatory

Rujm el-Hiri (Golan Heights) - Ancient Observatory Sixteen kilometers east of the Sea of Galilee in the western part of the historic Bashan plain of the Golan Heights (a contested area claimed by both Syria and Israel) are the ruins of a most unusual structure, which scholars believe was built at least in part for archaeoastronomical purposes. Located at 515 meters above sea level, Rujm el-Hiri consists of a central cairn with a set of concentric rings encircling it. Built during the late Chalcolithic or Early Bronze Age about 5000 years ago, Rujm el-Hiri (also called Rogem Hiri or Gilgal Rephaim) is made of an estimated 40,000 tons of uncut black volcanic basalt field stones piled and wedged into between five and nine concentric rings (depending on how you count them), with heights reaching to 1 to 2.5 meters (3-8 feet) high. Nine Rings at Rujm el-Hiri The outermost, largest ring (Wall 1) measures 145 meters (475 feet) east-west and 155 m (500 ft) north-south. The wall measures consistently between 3.2-3.3 m (10.5-10.8 ft) thick, and in places stands up to 2 m (6 ft) in height. Two openings into the ring are currently blocked by fallen boulders: the northeastern measures some 29 m (95 ft) wide; the southeastern opening measures 26 m (85 ft). Not all of the internal rings are complete; some of them are more oval than Wall 1, and in particularly, Wall 3 has a pronounced bulge to the south. Some of the rings are connected by a series of 36 spoke-like walls, which make up chambers, and seem to be randomly spaced. At the center of the innermost ring is a cairn protecting a burial; the cairn and burial come after the initial construction of the rings by perhaps as long as 1500 years. The cairn is an irregular stone heap measuring some 20-25 m (65-80 ft) in diameter and 4.5-5 m (15-16 ft) in height. Dating the Site Very few artifacts have been recovered from Rujm el-Hiri, and no suitable organic materials have been recovered for radiocarbon dating. Based on what little artifacts were recovered, the earliest constructions were the rings during the Early Bronze Age, of the 3rd millennium BC; the cairn was built during the late Bronze Age of the late 2nd millennium. The huge structure (and a series of dolmens nearby) may be the origin of the myths of the ancient race of giants, mentioned in the Old Testament of the Judeo-Christian bible as led by Og, King of the Bashan. Archaeologists Yonathan Mizrachi and Anthony Aveni, studying the structure since the late 1980s, have another possible interpretation: a celestial observatory. Summer Solstice at Rujm el Hiri Recent work by Aveni and Mizrachi has noted that the entranceway to the center opens on sunrise of the summer solstice. Other notches in the walls indicate the spring and fall equinoxes. Excavations into the walled chambers did not recover artifacts indicating that the rooms were ever used either for storage or residence. Calculations of when the astronomical alignments would have matched stars supports the dating of the rings at having been built at about 3000 BC /- 250 years. The walls at Rujm el-Hiri seem to have pointed to star-risings for the period, and may have been predictors of the rainy season, a crucial bit of information for the sheep herders of the Bashan plain in 3000 BC. Sources This glossary entry is a part of the About.com guide to Astronomical Observatories, and the Dictionary of Archaeology. Aveni, Anthony and Yonathan Mizrachi 1998 The Geometry and Astronomy of Rujm el-Hiri, a Megalithic Site in the Southern Levant. Journal of Field Archaeology 25(4):475-496. Polcaro A, and Polcaro VF. 2009. Man and sky: problems and methods of Archaeoastronomy. Archeologia e Calcolatori 20:223-245. Neumann F, Schà ¶lzel C, Litt T, Hense A, and Stein M. 2007. Holocene vegetation and climate history of the northern Golan heights (Near East). Vegetation History and Archaeobotany 16(4):329-346.

Humanities Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Humanities - Essay Example When the Babylonians of Semitic origins invaded Mesopotamia near the end of 2000 BC, as the civilization reached its imperial turning point, these ancient Amorites bore significance on the aspect of science through the belief of over sixty thousand gods. Babylonian priests discerned much about the stars and other heavenly bodies and profoundly believed beyond mere embodiment that every planet was a god – Jupiter being Marduk, the god of war, Mars pertaining to Nergal or the god of death for instance, as well as the sun that was also known as Shamash (Babylonian). Religion thus enabled Babylonians to earn recognition in the field of astronomy and astrology which helped establish the twelve zodiac signs on which most cultures to this day depend, accepting the possibility that man’s destiny can be governed by the stars and the planets (Babylonian). In the similar manner, the Egyptian history had documented a belief system which shaped the early minds to materialize cultura l and architectural insights into physical structures crafted according to the religion which regarded truth in life after death. Hence, Egyptians have since managed to live with a burial custom that bathed and embalmed corpses, widely known as ‘mummies’ which were then entombed in pyramids – a tradition thought to prepare the dead for life in another dimension (Resurrection).

Home buying process and its financial impacts Essay

Home buying process and its financial impacts - Essay Example Buying a house can be the largest amount invested or spent upon any asset by the individual and so a careful investigation is necessary about the pros and cons of a home buying process 1. What are some common opportunity costs associated with the selection of housing? While selecting a house which an individual wants to buy he/she takes into consideration the apartment or the house first and then the individual also takes a look at the residential area in which he plans to dwell. However selecting the option of housing means that the individual has to bear some underlying costs or in some cases has to let out some opportunities in his/her way. In one word it can be termed as opportunity costs undergone during the process of housing. While buying a house it is compulsory that a fair amount needs to be given out as down payment. The individual has to pay a considerable sum of money as security deposit even with the consideration of renting an apartment. In both the cases one has to let out the savings interest that could have been earned the money being kept in a bank. The brokerage fee is another cost involved looking for a house which could have been spent elsewhere. If the house selected is few miles away from the workplace the individual has to take the pain of a long journey every day. In case the individual is renting a house he is losing out the advantages of tax obtained from buying a house. But at the same time the person has to bear sufficient trouble to build a house of his choice and needs (Kapoor, 2009, p. 272). 2. What are the advantages and disadvantages of owning a home? Home Ownership has been considered as the rational form for housing with more than 70% of the British households having houses in their list of assets. Such ownership statistics for the year 1991 reveal 59% for USA and 40% for Switzerland. Home ownership is advantageous as houses are saleable assets. Increasing market value of homes has enhanced this merit. It also eliminates the trouble of monthly rental payments. Statistical evidences suggest that homeowners are much better than individuals renting an apartment. But the disadvantage is that few people have the money for buying a home and they go for borrowing options or mortgage. This is again a liability. Owning a home involves maintenance costs unlike renting where landlord bears all the cost for renting (Gordon, n.d). 3. How can the quality of a school system benefit even homeowners in a community who do not have school-age children? A recent study has shown that home owners send their teenage children to school more frequently than those parents living in rented apartments. Behavioral characteristics of homeowners have been attributed to this fact. Homeowners are mostly financial stable and from good background who do not tolerate bad behavior of their children. Again the findings reveal that residential stability has a positive impact on children’s education. There appears to be a positive rela tion between homeownership and educational outcomes. Renting individuals may change their houses quite often which in turn lead to changing schools keeping in mind the distance factor. This is not the case for home owners. Changing schools prove detrimental to a child’s education (Social Benefits of Homeownership and Stable Housing, 2010). 4. What factors affect a person's ability to qualify for a mortgage? Any bank or financial institution while mortgaging a house from an individual does a careful assessment of his/her gross income. The amount offered on mortgage depends a lot on the individual’s gross income. Hence first of all a person needs to be financially stable in order to qualify for mortgage. Sudden inheritance of a large sum of money can also be favorable for qualification. Some institutions also prefer to see the loan history of the individual before giving out the mortgage amount. This is done to prevent default risks. In recent times many mortgage product s have come up in housing markets easing the process of

Week 5 disc 2 Can Government Create an Economic Recovery Essay

Week 5 disc 2 Can Government Create an Economic Recovery - Essay Example The economic crisis during his tenure was caused by among other factors; the collapse of the Stock Exchange in October 1929; failure of the banks to cushion customers’ money by insuring the cash; reduced purchasing power; and drought (Robbins, 2007). According to Robbins (2007), President Hoover’s administration announced practical and affordable plans aimed to balance the Federal spending; reform the financial sector; reduce taxes; and increase public works budget. Even though, these steps were gradual they had the potential to turn-around the American economy in the long-run, as opposed to the New Deal under FDR. The Great Depression of 1930s and the Great Recession of (2007-2009) are similar in the sense that they led to massive job cuts and a weakened private sector (Grabell, 2012). The government’s response eight decades ago draws similarities to the current economic stimulus programs aimed at empowering the private sector by creating more job opportunities and bringing the private sector back to life, almost instantaneously. Although, the two programs are believed to have eased budget shortfalls, especially for the private sector as a way of triggering the creation of more job opportunities, government spending is not the most effective way to deal with a major recession. The New Deal was more effective in restoring economy, since it was more

Metacognition knowledge and academic achievement of university students Essay Example for Free

Metacognition knowledge and academic achievement of university students Essay In general, metacognition is thinking about thinking. More specifically, Taylor (1999) defines metacognition as â€Å"an appreciation of what one already knows, together with a correct apprehension of the learning task and what knowledge and skills it requires, combined with the agility to make correct inferences about how to apply one’s strategic knowledge to a particular situation, and to do so efficiently and reliably. † The more students are aware of their thinking processes as they learn, the more they can control such matters as goals, dispositions, and attention. Self-awareness promotes self-regulation. If students are aware of how committed (or uncommitted) they are to reaching goals, of how strong (or weak) is their disposition to persist, and of how focused (or wandering) is their attention to a thinking or writing task, they can regulate their commitment, disposition, and attention. To increase their metacognitive abilities, students need to possess three kinds of content knowledge: declarative, procedural, and conditional. Declarative knowledge is the factual information that one knows; it can be declared—spoken or written. Procedural knowledge is knowledge of how to do something, of how to perform the steps in a process. Conditional knowledge is knowledge about when to use a procedure, skill, or strategy and when not to use it; why a procedure works and under what conditions; and why one procedure is better than another. Metacognition affects motivation because it affects attribution and self-efficacy. When students get results on tests and grades on assignments (especially unexpected results such as failures), they perform a mental causal search to explain to themselves why the results happened. When they achieve good results, students tend to attribute the result to two internal factors: their own ability and effort. When they fail, they might attribute the cause to these same internal factors or they might, in a self-protective rationalization, distance themselves from a sense of personal failure by blaming external causes, such as an overly difficult task, an instructor’s perverse testing habits, or bad luck. This tendency to attribute success to ability and effort promotes future success because it develops confidence in one’s ability to solve future unfamiliar and challenging tasks. The converse is also true. Attributing failure to a lack of ability reduces self-confidence and reduces the student’s summoning of intellectual and emotional abilities to the next challenging tasks; attribution theory also explains why such students will be unwilling to seek help from tutors and other support services: they believe it would not be worth their effort. In addition to blaming failure on external causes, underachievers often â€Å"self-handicap† themselves by deliberately putting little effort into an academic task; they thereby protect themselves from attributing their failure to a painful lack of ability by attributing their failure to lack of effort. The tasks that students need to perform vary not only among disciplines but among instructors in the same discipline. An effective strategy for preparing for a multiple choice test in biology is different from what is needed to prepare for a history exam with an essay that asks students to synthesize information from several chapters. Yet students often employ the same strategy—and sometimes the least effective strategy—for studying for very different kinds of tests. Furthermore, many students who perform badly misinterpret the tasks. Students need to understand the task accurately in order to use the most effective strategies. Research Question: The basic aim of the study was to identify the relationship between meta-cognitive knowledge and academic achievement of university students. Methods: To analysis and interpretation of data and Survey was planned to collect data from University of education (UE) and Govt. College University Lahore (GCU). Twenty five (25) students were collected of UE and Twenty five (25) students from GCU randomly. Metacognitive Awareness Inventory (MAI) was used to measure meta-cognitive knowledge. This inventory consisted of six components i. e. Planning, monitoring, evaluation, declarative knowledge, conditional knowledge and procedural knowledge but researcher selected three components i. e. declarative knowledge, conditional knowledge, and procedural knowledge. Responses were collected on three point scale i. e. Yes, no and to some extent. Scores of these components were used to compare Metacognitive knowledge of UE and GCU students. Analysis of data was presented in the form of Tables. Null hypothesis: There is no difference b/w the metacognition knowledge and academic achievement of students. Alternative hypothesis: There is difference b/w the metacognition knowledge and academic achievement of students. Ho: ? 1 = ? 2 Ha: ? 1 ? ?2 Table 1. 1 Comparison of mean scores of UE students and mean score of GCU students on component of Meta cognitive knowledge (Declarative Knowledge) by Independent samples t-test. University of Education (n=25) Govt. College University (n=25) t-value Mean SD Mean SD 6. 21 1. 63 6. 52 1. 23 .749 The result of independent samples t-test was conducted to compare mean scores of UE students and mean score of GCU students on component of Meta cognitive Knowledge (Declarative Knowledge). The value of t (48) = . 749 is not significant at ? =0. 05. This means that mean scores of UE students and means score of GCU students are not different on component of Meta cognitive Knowledge (Declarative Knowledge). Fig 1. 1 Bar chart shows comparison of mean scores of UE students and means score of GCU students on component of Meta cognitive knowledge (Declarative Knowledge). Table 1. 2 Comparison of mean scores of UE students and mean score of GCU students on component of Meta cognitive knowledge (Conditional Knowledge) by Independent samples t-test. University of Education (n=25) Govt. College University (n=25) t-value Mean SD Mean SD 2. 98 .87 3. 10 1. 08 .430 Table 1. 2 shows the result of independent samples t-test. Independent samples t-test was conducted to compare mean scores of UE students and mean score of GCU students on component of Meta cognitive Knowledge (Conditional Knowledge). The value of t (48) = . 430 is not significant at ? =0. 05. This means that mean scores of UE students and mean score of GCU students are not different on component of Meta cognitive Knowledge (Conditional Knowledge). Fig 1. 2 Bar chart shows comparison of mean scores of UE students and means score of GCU students on component of Meta cognitive knowledge (Declarative Knowledge). Table 1. 3 Comparison of mean scores of UE students and mean score of GCU students on component of Meta cognitive awareness (Procedural Knowledge) by Independent samples t-test. University of Education (n=25) Govt. College University (n=25) t-value Mean SD Mean SD 4. 16 1. 01 3. 76 1. 109 1. 328 Table 1. 3 shows the result of independent samples t-test. Independent samples t-test was conducted to compare mean scores of UE students and mean score of GCU students on component of Meta cognitive Knowledge (Procedural Knowledge). The value of t (48) = 1. 328 is not significant at ? =0. 05. This means that means scores of UE students and means score of GCU students are same on component of Meta cognitive Knowledge (Procedural Knowledge). Fig 1. 3 Bar chart shows comparison of mean scores of UE students and means score of GCU students on component of Meta cognitive knowledge (Declarative Knowledge). Table 1. 4 Comparison of mean scores of UE students and mean score of GCU students on component of Meta cognitive knowledge by Independent samples t-test University of Education (n=25) Govt. College University (n=25) t-value Mean SD Mean SD 13. 38 2. 83 13. 30 2. 60 .104 Table 1. 4 shows the result of independent samples t-test. Independent samples t-test was conducted to compare mean scores of UE students and mean score of GCU students on component of Meta cognitive by Independent samples t-test. The value of t (48) = . 104 is not significant at ? =0. 05. This means that mean scores of UE students and mean score of GCU students are same on component of Meta cognitive by Independent samples t-test. Fig 1. 4 Bar chart shows comparison of mean scores of UE students and means score of GCU students on component of Meta cognitive knowledge (Declarative Knowledge). Table 1. 5 Comparison of mean scores of academic achievement and Meta cognitive knowledge of both universities student’s by Independent samples t-test UE GCU Low Achiever (n=25) High Achiever (n=25) t-value Mean SD Mean SD Declarative knowledge 5. 08 1. 49 7. 33 0. 78 4. 64 Procedural Knowledge 2. 46 0. 72 3. 46 0. 72 3. 48 Conditional Knowledge 3. 50 1. 07 4. 77 0. 44 4. 0 Meta-cognitive knowledge 11. 04 2. 18 15. 54 1. 09 6. 6 Table 1. 5 shows the result of independent samples t-test. Independent samples t-test was conducted to compare mean scores of academic achievement and Meta cognitive knowledge of both universities student’s by Independent samples t-test. These results show that mean scores of Metacognitive knowledge and academic achievement of both universities student’s are different. Procedure: To fulfill the above mentioned purpose instrumentation, data collection methods and procedures for analysis of data were used. The study was descriptive in nature as it addressed the prevailing situation of using meta-cognitive knowledge in daily life by students. The target population for this study was the students of UE and GCU Lahore. The researcher selected sample by using convenient sampling technique from the students of UE and GCU Lahore. Fifteen items wee included in the questionnaire taken from meta-cognitive awareness inventory. After the selection of sample and development of the questionnaire, the questionnaires were distributed. The questionnaire was administered personally by the respondent and filled questionnaire collected back. The return rate of the questionnaire was 100% due to personal administration. To analyze the data means standard deviations, independent sample t. test, was calculated. Results: 1. The mean score of Meta-cognitive knowledge (declarative knowledge) of University of Education are same from mean score of Govt. College University. Because the value of t is not significant at ? =0. 05. 2. The mean score of Meta-cognitive knowledge (conditional knowledge) of University of Education are same from mean score of Govt. College University. Because the value of t is not significant at ? =0. 05. 3. The mean score of Meta-cognitive knowledge (procedural knowledge) of (UE) are same from mean score of (GCU) because the value of t is not significant at ? =0. 05. 4. The mean score of Meta cognitive Knowledge and mean score of academic achievement are different among both universities. Because the value of t is significant at ? =0. 05.

The Sustainability Revolution of the Twenty-First Century :: Politics Political Essays

The Sustainability Revolution of the Twenty-First Century The direction the world is heading now is unsustainable. We have explored the many facets of this unsustainability throughout our seminar. It is real. And the essence of unsustainability, of course, is that we can not keep it up. There will be change, and as a society, we cannot live in denial of this fact. We must hurry up and figure out how to take control of this change before the change happens to us. What would happen if we let our society continue on its current path without rethinking our values? It is very hard to conceive of our "powerful" nation and fast-paced, glittery way of life ending. I am sure that few Americans really can picture what would happen. It is easiest to assume that we could remain indefinitely in this state of more or less comfortable obliviousness. As long as we have a fresh supply of new products around us, the instantaneous, superficial pleasures can keep us distracted. To try to break through this lazy mindset, I considered looking at similar situations over a larger time scale. There have been many boom civilizations throughout human history that thought they were the pinnacle of existence and could never be defeated. But they all ended, sooner or later. The Greeks, the Romans, the Spanish, the British, etc. etc. etc. (there are plenty from pre-history as well - the more we learn, the more fallen civilizations we find). They are either taken over by another group, are ruined by disease, or because of their inability to change they use up or degrade the resource base that sustained them. To look from a larger scale than just humans, the archaeological record shows the rise and fall of many groups or species in a similar way. Earth was once "ruled" by microscopic organisms, later by dinosaurs, then by megafaunal mammals, and now by us (forgive the major jumps in evolution- I'm just trying to make a point). Current trends towards globalization and thus worldwide spread of materialism and consumption mean that we no longer can consider our fate as an individual "civilization." We now must realize that whatever fate befalls us, befalls humans worldwide. Luckily, more and more people are figuring this out and getting worried. I propose that there will be a cultural backlash against the modern consumptive society, and that the trends will begin to reverse. Just as each generation rebels to some extent against the previous one (and each decade is appalled by the fashion sense of the one before), the next generation or so will be disgusted with the overconsumption and excess of The Sustainability Revolution of the Twenty-First Century :: Politics Political Essays The Sustainability Revolution of the Twenty-First Century The direction the world is heading now is unsustainable. We have explored the many facets of this unsustainability throughout our seminar. It is real. And the essence of unsustainability, of course, is that we can not keep it up. There will be change, and as a society, we cannot live in denial of this fact. We must hurry up and figure out how to take control of this change before the change happens to us. What would happen if we let our society continue on its current path without rethinking our values? It is very hard to conceive of our "powerful" nation and fast-paced, glittery way of life ending. I am sure that few Americans really can picture what would happen. It is easiest to assume that we could remain indefinitely in this state of more or less comfortable obliviousness. As long as we have a fresh supply of new products around us, the instantaneous, superficial pleasures can keep us distracted. To try to break through this lazy mindset, I considered looking at similar situations over a larger time scale. There have been many boom civilizations throughout human history that thought they were the pinnacle of existence and could never be defeated. But they all ended, sooner or later. The Greeks, the Romans, the Spanish, the British, etc. etc. etc. (there are plenty from pre-history as well - the more we learn, the more fallen civilizations we find). They are either taken over by another group, are ruined by disease, or because of their inability to change they use up or degrade the resource base that sustained them. To look from a larger scale than just humans, the archaeological record shows the rise and fall of many groups or species in a similar way. Earth was once "ruled" by microscopic organisms, later by dinosaurs, then by megafaunal mammals, and now by us (forgive the major jumps in evolution- I'm just trying to make a point). Current trends towards globalization and thus worldwide spread of materialism and consumption mean that we no longer can consider our fate as an individual "civilization." We now must realize that whatever fate befalls us, befalls humans worldwide. Luckily, more and more people are figuring this out and getting worried. I propose that there will be a cultural backlash against the modern consumptive society, and that the trends will begin to reverse. Just as each generation rebels to some extent against the previous one (and each decade is appalled by the fashion sense of the one before), the next generation or so will be disgusted with the overconsumption and excess of

Analysis of Centaur Abducting Woman with Fallen Lapith Man Essay

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Perhaps the most interesting period in Greek sculpture is the Classical period. During this glorious period of unbelievable craftsmanship, numerous pieces celebrated the Greek’s infatuation with fable and war. The sculpture, nicely titled Centaur Abducting Lapith Woman and Fallen Lapith Man, is a wonderful symbol of the artistic period and image of war. Sculpted somewhere around 447-438 B.C., the sculpture was carved out of solid marble to produce a beautiful, and yet horrifying scene from a battle.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  This sculpture was most likely the artist’s attempt to capture the essence of some fable that had been passed down through the generations. Perhaps more likely, it could have been the artist’s own imagination that fathomed the macabre beauty of the rendered scene. The sculpture is done in high relief, carved out of a solid block of marble. The lines and curves of the sculpture give each character within it great definition. It almost appears though, from the way in which the centaur holds the woman, that he has no head. This adds to the already existing complexity of the sculpture. It is very similar to other sculptures of the Classical period in the way that it depicts a man at death’s doorstep, and a woman being abducted. It seems to be a reoccurring theme.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The sculpture is done in a monochromatic brown hue. It depicts a valiant centaur with a Lapith woman slung over his shoulder. A Lapith...

Task 310.2.1-05

Business ethics can be defined as â€Å"written and unwritten codes of principles and values that govern decisions and actions within a company. † (Love to Know, n. d. )  Behaving ethically is extremely important for businesses in order to cultivate an image of responsibility and grow a loyal customer base. Companies have a moral obligation to help the communities from which they profit to grow and prosper. Company Q, a small local grocery store chain, has recently closed two stores. These stores were located in a high-crime area and the company reported that they consistently lost money. The area’s food bank requested that Company Q donate day-old merchandise, which management denied. The decision was made to throw away the unused food and the reasoning was that revenue might be lost due to stealing or fraud. Customers of Company Q began requesting more health-conscious and organic products years ago. The company decided to offer a limited amount of these high-margin items. Company Q is not acting in a socially responsible way by closing the stores in the high-crime areas. They had created a local brand and employed members of the community. By closing these two stores, Company Q would only be furthering the the decay of the community by creating more empty store fronts. Once the stores close, its employees would be without work. This will also contribute to the decline of the community. The loss of the local stores would be a hardship to residents, because they would have to spend more time and money to travel further to get the essential items they need. This added hardship would most likely have an effect on the community since there would be fewer resources available to help improve the community Company Q could help contribute to the revitalization of the local areas by increasing their presence in the community and expanding programs designed to engage and include community members. One way to help the company deal with the loss of money from these stores would be to create a more visible security presence. The visual deterrent of security guards, cameras and perhaps even increased police presence could help create a safer environment in which the residents could shop. The area food bank’s request for day-old product donations would be an xcellent way for Company Q to prove their commitment to the community. By helping the local food bank, Company Q would simultaneously help the community’s less fortunate citizens and it help improve their own corporate image. Community interaction and support should be intimately associated with the corporate well-being of the company, as good community stewardship is a very important factor in evaluating the value and social â€Å"worth† of the company. Throwing away food instead of donating it to needy food banks conveys the image that the company does not have a commitment to the community and its people. Neighborhood residents see food being thrown away that could help improve their lives and the lives of those around them and have no real incentive to help make sure that Company Q’s stores prosper in their area. The decision by management to not donate food due to fears of employee theft and fraud shows that the company has no faith in the employees that they have hired. By partnering with their employees and leading by example, Company Q could increase employee loyalty and help show the community that the company does care about them. Employees that are loyal to the company could go above and beyond in their pursuit to have their stores thrive. Offering a more robust organic foods and products selection would certainly benefit the community. Since these items are higher-margin items, the company would prosper even more. Acting in a more socially responsible and ethical manner could help Company Q keep the stores open that they are planning to close. It may also allow them to expand. References Love to Know Business (n. d) Retrieved from: http://business. lovetoknow. com/wiki/A_Definition_for_Business_Ethics, on December 8, 2011