US Border Patrol Pros & Cons Essays - MexicoUnited States Border

US Border Patrol: Pros & Cons The U.S. Border Patrol is the organization that polices the entry of illegal immigrants into our country. The official mission of the United States Border patrol is to protect the boundaries of the United States by preventing illegal entry, and by detecting, interdicting, and apprehending illegal aliens, smugglers, and contraband. Today, the United States Border Patrol consists of 21 sectors. Each sector is headed by a chief patrol agent. There are 145 stations located throughout the continental United States, and in Puerto Rico. The Border Patrol controls the border by land, sea, and air. The Border Patrol has jurisdiction across all United States borders and at least 25 miles off the border. The Border Patrol agents are responsible to check factories for illegal workers. As of September of 1995, the Border Patrol had 530 agents. The Border Patrol's efforts may be sufficient but many people believe that there are many problems in the methods of the Border Patrol. First, many people think that all of the equipment is costing the taxpayers too much. An estimation by TIME magazine states that in California alone, $400 million is spent on healthcare for illegal immigrants. CNN says that the care of illegal immigrants in one hospital in Jacksonville, Florida costs taxpayers $44.5 million. A Federal Government estimate says that $1.6 billion dollars is spent on the education of illegal immigrants each year in California alone. Just think of how much money is spent on illegal immigrants across the country. Now this is just the cost of the immigrants that get through the border patrol. These costs could be greatly lowered if the Border Patrol would do its job. Let alone the cost of the illegal immigrants that manage to get through the Border Patrol, the Border Patrol alone is costing plenty. In an overview, some people believe that we are spending too much money on the border patrol, considering that they simply are not doing their job. We are giving them so much money to get the latest equipment, but still people are getting through. The people in favor of the Border patrol have the basic idea that, yes, the Border Patrol used to be ineffective, but now due to many improvements in federal money, manpower, and technology the Border Patrol is very effective. They say that the reason for all the illegal immigrants in the U.S. is due to when the Border Patrol was not as effective as it could or should be. From the start of the Clinton administration, a $500 million crackdown on illegal immigration was put into effect, most of that money put into the Border Patrol. "Operation Gatekeeper" financed new lights, fencing, vehicles, equipment, and agents. It was the most extensive crackdown ever made against illegal immigrants. Robert Bach, the top policy and planning official for the immigration agency states, "It is a wonderful progress in an area where, frankly, most of us never believed that government intervention like this would work", "This is historic. These routes of travel that Mexicans have been using for decades. We have broken that up." After only one year of "Operation Gatekeeper," the size of the Border Patrol has doubled. The amount of immigrants caught has also almost doubled. In an overview of the supporters argument, they believe that new improvements in the Border Patrol have indeed decreased the amount of illegal immigrants and should be allowed continuing funding to further decrease the amount of illegal immigrants entering the country. As you can see, there are many different views toward the processes of the Border Patrol. There is no doubt that the Border Patrol and the illegal immigrants getting into the country is costing the American Government a lot of money, but is the money being spent as well as it could be? Do you think that there should be more or less funding of the border patrol? Where do you find yourself in this debate? Are you for or against the efforts of the United States Border Patrol?

6 Steps to Supercharge Your Resume in 2017

6 Steps to Supercharge Your Resume in 2017 Whether you want to put out some new-job feelers in the new year or you’re happy with your current job, you should take this fresh-start opportunity to overhaul your resume. But why, you ask? It’s a good resume. It got you this far. And you could always update it if there’s a specific need, right? All valid points. But let’s look at this as an improvement opportunity for yourself. It’s like an annual eye exam. You might not think your vision has changed much, but your insurance requires an annual exam anyway to make sure your vision needs haven’t changed. There’s always room to make your life better and present yourself in a way that shows who you are at a given moment. Your work self is no different.1. Look at resume trends, especially in your industry.This can be just a basic search online. Is everyone including social media links on their resume these days? Are infographics to show revenue and statistics the way to go? It may be as basic as checking to see whether particular sections or formatting are current.For example, conventional wisdom used to say that an â€Å"objective† statement was a part of a well-balanced resume. Now, that has fallen out of favor as employers look for more straightforward, cut-to-the-chase bullet points about results. Don’t let your resume look like the professional equivalent of the Ford Edsel when everyone else is sending in a sleek hybrid.2. Include more iOS, less Apple II.If you have skills listed for software programs and applications that don’t exist anymore or are no longer widely used, ditch ‘em. Make sure your listed tech skills match the current crop of tools for your field.3. Do a self-audit of the past year.Does your resume offer your most recent skills and accomplishments? This is a chance to review your year in general and have a list of your successes ready to go for annual review time. Even if you have no plans to leave your current job, h aving an updated list of this information can give you a leg up when it comes to negotiating for a bonus or a raise.4. Decide what doesn’t need to be there anymore.If your resume still includes your job responsibilities from four jobs ago, it’s time to consign some of your old information to history. If those old jobs are super-relevant to a particular job you’re seeking, keep some of the information; but your resume’s focus should definitely be your most recent job(s). In other words, it’s probably fine to let go of that student office job you had back in college. Hiring managers want to see the professional you are now, not necessarily the one you were 10 years ago.5. Make sure everything is accurate.Every time you open your resume, be nitpicky. Is everything in it exactly as it’s supposed to be? Dates, numbers, skills? This goes hand-in-hand with proofreading to make sure your resume is also typo-free. To err is human, but to hand in a re sume containing easily preventable mistakes is embarrassing.6. Find a resume buddy.A second pair of eyes never, ever hurts. Have a friend or family member review your resume as neutrally as possible. They may see information that is incomplete or doesn’t make sense, or notice typos your own eyes might have missed.Your resume is a snapshot of where you are in your career, so here’s your chance to make sure it’s a great selfie as you gear up for the new year.

Discuss the definitions and characteristics of White Collar Crime Essay

Discuss the definitions and characteristics of White Collar Crime - Essay Example White collar fraud does not carry any act of violence with it. The chief trait of this fraud is to beguile the victims and making them the ‘ insects towards lamp’. Perpetrators are not easily caught and punished, since most of the victims do not make a complaint of their loss at an early stage. By the time the victims realise their plight of being cheated and try to make the issue open to the society, the perpetrators either vacate the scene or gain still more strength of popularity that shields them from the punishments. Naturally neither an individual nor a group of people award punishment for the lapse of the self. At the point of realisation, the question of awarding punishment to the self disappears. Thus analysis of crime and awarding punishment are always carried out in second person only and not in first person. The power of punishing is usually vested with people of higher status of socio economic arena. Crime is simply human. Status difference are not actually correlated to what is termed activities of crime. But since, the powered people are capable of making and breaking the rules, crimes committed by them are generally not treated as violent as the crimes of blue collar people. Sutherland’s definition of white collar crime goes this way: ‘white collar crime is the crime committed by a person of respectability and high social status in the course of his occupation†. Hazel Croall, (2001), has scrutinised this definition and found some deficiencies in it. He has pointed out that Sutherland’s definition is silent on the issue of identifying the activities of white collar crime. He was very much concerned about the miniature mentioning of white collar crime in many research findings and the low tone in the expressly declared results. The Marxist approach of criminology, which used to control the activities of the low powered or powerless, did keep

Final Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Final - Term Paper Example However, majority people assume that a single male who is the main source of income, earn more than enough to support himself and his family. There was not at all a mutual agreement on in what ways a living wage can be define, however, there were number of administrative bodies and governments who take initiative in taking up the mission of developing multifaceted formulas (David, pp. 6-11) In modern times, this phrase living wage has reoccurred in United States of America. In the period of early 90s, focus was given more on jobs with low wage. Protesters in Baltimore, Maryland suppress their government to look for a policy tool so that their problems can have proper solution. The city then passed an ordinance known as living wage ordinance according to which any firm which hires workers must pay their employees or workers a good living wage. The idea was spread quickly in every part of the country. Today, after approximately seventeen years later, in 140 cities, multiple countries a nd countless universities this living wage ordinance is implemented. ... After some calculations, it is anticipated that more or less one-fifth of the entire population of the world are suffering from lack of adequate shelter, on the other hand, approximately a million or more people, mostly children, die every day due to lack of proper housing majority of which are targeted in developing world. There were many scholars who argue that it is quite complicated to make standardized criteria for sufficient housing in this entire world but there are some general norms which are: authorized security of residence, availability of infrastructure and services, accessibility, habitability, affordability, cultural and location adequacy. The rapid expansion and development in many cities go along with speedy increase in the total number of urban residents who reside in overcrowded and sub-standard conditions. The statistics of developing countries illustrate that town inhabitants represent approximately an average of twenty five to sixty percent of the population in urban areas. The current situation shows that the estimated percentage of urban population who lives in intense poverty is more than fifty percent; however, this may rise to almost seventy nine percent in most of the cities. More than one billion of urban dwellers are included in urban poor, whereas low income groups consist of approximately half of the existing urban population (Moser & Satterthwaite, 1985). Over the past three eras, there were many programs of official housing started in developing countries were unsuccessful in order to reach significant segments of the group, particularly households which are below twenty to thirty percent of the entire population. The

Distinguish the mnemonic functions of the hippocampus, striatum and Essay

Distinguish the mnemonic functions of the hippocampus, striatum and amygdale - Essay Example Hippocampus can be related to limbic system of the brain and it has a significant role in not only maintaining long term memory but also in spatial navigation. These roles of hippocampus make it a structure of critical importance for a brain. When we talk about hippocampus’s critical role in the brain, we should also mention its importance in the formation of factual and autobiographical memories in the brain of a human or a mammal. Hippocampus can also work as a gateway for the memory (Cohen & Eichenbaum, 1993). It is in a sense that all new memories pass through this gateway before getting into the permanent storage area of the brain. If we talk about the structure of hippocampus, we can call it a paired structure which is formed so that mirror image lies on both sides of the brain (Matthews, 2000). Damage to this critical structure of the brain can lead to a very detrimental disease which is anterograde amnesia. In anterograde amnesia, new memories can not be formed by the brain because it loses the ability of formation of any sort of new memories in the brain (Traub & Miles, 1991). In such case, older memories don’t get affected and they are kept safe in the brain. The affect is only on new memories. When a person gets damage to the hippocampus of the brain, he loses the ability to store new memories but all those memories which have a relation with his past, are kept safe in the brain. But it is not the case with skills and abilities of a person. Skills don’t get affected by the damage to hippocampus. Even new memories which are related to the skills and habits of a person can be formed without a proper functioning hippocampus in the brain (Buzsaki, 2006). There are various researches which are being made these days by the researchers in the medical field in order to determine those memories which don’t get affected due to improper functioning of hippocampus. These researches are

Cultural Influences on Accounting and Its Practices

Cultural Influences on Accounting and Its Practices 1. Introduction Recent research in comparative accounting has led to a number of interesting theories and models that have attempted to analyse the causal factors behind the evolution of dissimilar accounting and financial systems in different countries. These diverse ways of accounting are in the process of being harmonised because of global business imperatives, and international accounting bodies are trying to bring about convergence between the accounting systems of different countries.[1] The work of Geert Hofstede[2] on cultural effects on accounting development, expanded and elaborated by Gray[3] later in his theory of cultural relevance in the formation of accounting systems is one of the more discussed models of comparative accounting. It is the purpose of this assignment to elaborate on this model and use it to analyse the differences in the development of accounting in China and Japan in the late nineteenth century. 2. The Hofstede-Gray Framework The broad framework for this model was created by Hofstede, but later adapted by Gray to explain the influence of culture on accounting systems. While, the normal practice is to treat these two models separately, a joint reference makes it much simpler to explain and use. The Hofstede-Gray model fist lays down the argument and then goes on to elaborate the various premises that support the theory. It is essentially deductive in nature and logical in its approach. Hofstede, in 1980, developed a model of culture that distinguishes members of one human group from another and stated that culture manifests itself at four levels, symbols, heroes, rituals and values, all of which work towards â€Å" accounting systems to vary along national cultural lines†[4] His theory was further modified during the next ten years. In1984 he expounded the four very interesting dimensions of culture, which vary from one group to another and consist of Individualism V Collectivism, Large V Small Power Distance, Strong V Weak Power Avoidance and Masculinity V Femininity. These, he said are the most common societal preferences that distinguish one society from another. Societies which prefer individualism consist of people who live in small units and prefer to look after their very own, whereas collectivism represents a social structure where relationships are interlinked and people expect their larger extended clan of relatives to look after them in exchange of loyalty. Power distance represents the extent to which its members accept the inequality in distribution of power. Large power distance societies are thus essentially unquestioningly hierarchical in nature. Uncertainty avoidance represents the degree to which members of society are ready to accept uncertainty and vagueness. The lesser the acceptance of uncertainty the stronger is the rigidity of thought and belief in a particular society and its resistance to change. Masculinity, in a society, stands for its dominant preference for achievement, heroism and similar symbols while femininity is associated with qualities like compassion, care for the weak and quality of life. In 1991,[5] Hofste de added another dimension that dealt with Short Term V Long Term Orientation. Short term orientation stood for values like speedy achievement of social status, overspending and a concern for quick results whereas long term orientation looked at gradual achievement of results, a thrifty approach towards savings and an adaptation of tradition to meet modern needs. In 1998, Gray took up Hofstede’s cultural hypotheses and linked them to the development of accounting systems in a meaningful way, stating that cultural or societal values permeated through organisational and occupational subcultures, and vice versa, though obviously the degree of integration differed from place to place. â€Å"Accounting systems and practices can influence and reinforce societal values†.[6] These basic premises were succeeded by the formulation of four hypotheses on the relationship between specifically identified cultural characteristics and the development of accounting systems. a) Professionalism versus statutory control: This cultural value denotes an inclination for the exercise of individual professional judgment and self-regulation as opposed to observance of authoritarian lawful needs and legislative writ. As such, the higher a country ranks in terms of individualism and the lower it ranks in terms of uncertainty avoidance and power distance, the more likely it is to rank highly in terms of professionalism. b) Uniformity versus flexibility: This reflects a preference for the enforcement of standardized accounting practices between firms, and for the unswerving use of such practices, vis a vis flexibility in accordance with the perceived circumstances of individual companies, e.g., the higher a country ranks in terms of uncertainty avoidance and power distance and the lower it ranks in terms of individualism, the more likely it is to rank highly in terms of uniformity. c) Conservatism versus optimism: This value results in an inclination for cautiousness in measurement that enables systems to handle the ambiguity of future events, as opposed to a positive, risk-taking approach, thus implying that the higher a country ranks in terms of uncertainty avoidance, the more likely it is to be conservative and resistant to change. d)Secrecy versus transparency: This premise states that an inclination for confidentiality and revelation of information about businesses only to those who are closely concerned with its administration and financing, is linked to higher societal preferences for uncertainty avoidance, power distance and masculinity, The Hofstede-Gray model stands out among various models of comparative accounting for its comprehensiveness in linking culture with the development of various economic tools like accounting systems. 3. The Development of Accounting Systems in China and Japan in the Nineteenth Century Global accounting systems, including the various country GAAPs and the IFRS, is moving towards convergence of accounting systems spurred by the requirements of all transnational players to present one set of financial statements and eliminate multiple reconciliations. Even China, with the introduction of the Chinese Accounting Standards (CAS) is putting its state controlled accounting practices aside and moving towards the IFRS. This assignment deals with a similar historical situation in the nineteenth century when aggressive western businesses had begun to dominate eastern trade and commerce and western accounting systems were establishing their predominance in vastly different business cultures. At this time both China and Japan had accounting systems that had developed through centuries and served the purposes of businesses in both countries. In China a primitive method of double entry existed, which permitted the extraction of trial balances and the determination of profit on a cash basis. The country had developed a â€Å"four-leg† accounting system that allowed for the recording of cash and non cash transactions in journals and subsequent posting in ledgers, using double-entry techniques. Despite their availability, these systems were used mainly by banks and large state enterprises. The bulk of businesses continued to use single entry recording techniques and did not provide for differentiation of private and business accounts. Even though the systems were adequate for the running of normal business operations, the needs changed with the emergence of business enterprises from the west and the establishment of joint stock enterprises for coal mining and iron manuf acture. The structure of the new business enterprises required the computation of profit and loss for the purpose of dividends, and asset and depreciation accounting. The indigenous book keeping systems proved to be deficient because of existing practices that depended on trust, the absence of formal source documents, unnumbered books, lack of cross referencing and sequence, lack of differentiation between capital and revenue expenditure and relative unimportance of profit determination. â€Å"In view of their weaknesses, the indigenous bookkeeping systems were of limited use as a basis for internal control.† [7] The development of accounting in neighbouring Japan, had also developed significantly, though on dissimilar lines. While accountants did use a system of double entry in some of the bigger businesses, there was no uniform method of accounting and â€Å"separate bookkeeping methods were developed and kept secret by independent economic powers, such as the Tomiyama, the Tanabes, the Nakais, the Hyogos, the Kondohs, the Honmas, the Hasegawas, the Ishimotos, the Onos, the Kohnoikes, and the Mitsuis.† Methods used thus ranged from the primitive to those that were reasonably adequate. Although the double-entry concept was applied, most Japanese merchants practiced single-entry bookkeeping, called the daifukucho There was no systematic classification of accounts, nor any distinction between capital and revenue expenditures, and the cash basis of accounting was adopted. As in China, the indigenous accounting systems were adequate in a feudal economy where production and distribution were on a small scale [Nishikawa, 1956; Someya, 1989]. [8] The accounting systems of the two countries towards the middle and latter part of the nineteenth century, though developing independently, thus had many things in common. These deficiencies made them inadequate for the purposes of larger joint stock business corporations, brought in by the proliferation of British imperialism in Asia and the commencement of business with the United States. In subsequent years, the responses of China and Japan to these challenges were vastly different. The Chinese businesses steadfastly refused to adopt western accounting technologies and the majority remained with the single entry, four pillar balancing method until the twentieth century; even in companies that made use of large scale western machinery. This led to numerous difficulties and the emergence of widespread defalcation because of lack of control, and also unfortunately to the gradual takeover of businesses by western companies, because of lack of control. â€Å"Not surprisingly, from 1884, the opportunity to gain mercantile support for private investment in kuantu shangpan joint-stock enterprises vanished [Chan, 1996]† [9] In Japan, the response was enormously different. Japanese students travelled in large numbers to the west to to imbibe science, technology and entrepreneurial skills. Accounting modernisation occurred rapidly and â€Å"western-style double-entry bookkeeping was introduced as the foundation on which a capitalist economy could develop.†[10] A number of western accounting books, adequately translated, found their way into japanese markets and nationalised Banks adopted British balance sheets. Legislation was introduced for businesses to adhere to standardized accounting systems and a number of accounting schools started providing qualified accountants to service businesses. The large scale adoption of western accounting by Japan and its rejection by the Chinese has exercised the curiosity of business historians for many years. The answers are now coming through and are related mostly to differences in culture, as put forward by the Hofstede-Gray model. In China political power was centralised, the society was resistant to change, learning was narrow and restricted to Confucianism, and society was in a state of â€Å"bureaucratic feudalism†. The economy was self sufficient and isolationist. In Japan, however, political power was dispersed; the society was open to change and very much dependent on foreign trade. Learning was broad based and the culture pro-merchant. While the continuous political conflict in Japan kept it perpetually unstable it also reduced intolerance and made it much more open to accepting western techniques in accounting. The reasons for the Japanese adoption and Chinese rejection of western accounting principles were largely c ultural and social. While, they contributed largely to the flow of foreign capital and formation of much larger companies in Japan, they also inversely led to the gradual impoverishment of the Chinese economy and the emergence of the communist regime. 4. The Relevance of the Hofstede-Gray Model to the Chinese and Japanese Accounting Systems The Hofstede-Gray model of the influence of culture on the development of accounting systems appears to be perfectly valid in evaluating the divergent behaviour of two different cultures to the same stimuli. Social and cultural patterns in China led to very high levels of Uncertainty Avoidance and Power Distance. The central government had far reaching powers and control. The main activity was agriculture and the primary source of revenue came from land. The scholar bureaucrats were inward looking and not willing to progress beyond Confucian tenets. Bureaucracy was all pervasive and stability in society was maintained despite intermittent conflict. The whole system thus revolved around age old customs and levels of uncertainty avoidance were extremely high. Similarly the land based feudal bureaucracy ensured large levels of power distance and these two factors, along with the isolationist, closed door approach of centuries led to inflexibility, conservatism and secrecy; and the conse quent non-adoption, if not downright rejection of modern western accounting principles. Japan, on the other hand, though not far away from China, had a very different social and cultural milieu. There were a number of economically and politically powerful landowners and these, along with the priesthood that controlled independent Buddhist shrines, were able to successfully disperse political power. The country, unlike China was largely dependent on foreign trade, which resulted in an intellectual open door policy and flexibility towards the requirements of trading partners. The country thus had very low levels of uncertainty avoidance and the dispersion of political power had made people more independent and thereby reduced the power distance. All these factors led to high levels of flexibility, forward thinking optimism and openness to new ideas, as required by the Hofstede-Gray framework, making it much easier to adapt to western accounting systems when the situation demanded. 5. Conclusion Research into comparative accounting is a recent phenomenon and still under great discussion and debate. In fact, Gray’s framework is less than a decade old and has been questioned at length by other experts, with people arguing that the conclusions are subjective and capable of different interpretations. The fact remains that accounting systems have grown in divergent ways between countries that, though physically proximal, are culturally quite divergent. Another major example is that of the UK and The Netherlands, where, despite similar trading, commercial and expansionist practices, accounting systems grew differently, and remained so, until the emergence of the EU and globalisation initiated moves for convergence. The Hofstede-Gray theory thus does appear to give some of the answers to the enigma concerning the adoption of different accounting, financial and even auditing systems between countries which have divergent social and cultural norms. Bibliography Doupnik, T.S., Tsakumis, G .T., and George,t, 2004, A critical review of Gray’s Theory of Cultural Relevance and Suggestions for future research, Retrieved November 18, 2006 from findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3706/is_200401/ai_n13602153/pg Dr. Geert Hofstede, 2006, The International Business center, Retrieved November 18, 2006 from geert-hofstede.international-business-center.com/index.shtml Gray, S. J. (1988) Towards a Theory of Cultural on the Development of Accounting Influence Systems Internationally. Abacus;, Vol. 24 Issue 1, p1-15 March 1988 Environmental Influence on Accounting Development, 2001, Retrieved November 18, 2006 from https://ep.eur.nl/bitstream/1765/1888/5/Chapter+2.doc. The need for International Accounting Standards, 2000, International Accounting, Retreieved November 18, 2006 from http://wwwfp.mccneb.edu/intercultural/Documents/2003/InternationalAccounting.doc. Nobes, C., 1998, â€Å"Towards a general model of the reasons for international differences in financial reporting† Abacus Volume 34 2 1 Footnotes [1] The need for International Accounting Standards, 2000, International Accounting [2] Dr. Geert Hofstede, 2006, The International Business center [3] Doupnik, T.S., Tsakumis, G .T., and George,t, 2004, A critical review of Gray’s Theory of Cultural Relevance and Suggestions for future research [4] Doupnik, T.S., Tsakumis, G .T., and George,t, 2004 [5] Environmental Influence on Accounting Development, 2001 [6] Environmental Influence on Accounting Development, 2001 [7] Environmental Influence on Accounting Development, 2001 [8] Doupnik, T.S., Tsakumis, G .T., and George,t, 2004 [9] Doupnik, T.S., Tsakumis, G .T., and George,t, 2004 [10] Doupnik, T.S., Tsakumis, G .T., and George,t, 2004

The Character of Puck in A Midsummer Nights Dream Essay -- Midsummer

The Character of Puck in A Midsummer Night's Dream      Ã‚   Considered one of William Shakespeare's greatest plays, A Midsummer Nights Dream reads like a fantastical, imaginative tale; however, its poetic lines contain a message of love, reality, and chance that are not usually present in works of such kind. All characters in the play are playful, careless and thoughtless, and Puck: one of the central characters in the play: is significant to the plot, tone, and meaning of A Midsummer Nights Dream, thus becoming a representative of the above-mentioned themes.    The plot in this one of Shakespeare's plays is comical and, at times, ironic. As summarized by Puck in the last stanza of the play:    If we shadows have offended Think but this, and all is mended: That you have but slumb'red here While these visions did appear. And this weak and idle theme No more yielding but a dream Gentles do not reprehend: If you pardon, we will mend. And, as I am an honest Puck If we have unearned luck Now to scape the serpent's tongue We will make amends ere long; Else the Puck a liar call: So, good night unto you all. Give me your hands, if we be friends, And Robin shall restorer amends. (Shakespeare 89)    Puck suggests to both the watchers and, consequently, to the readers, that if they did not enjoy the tale, they should pretend it was a dream: a notion so convincing that at times the audience is left bewildered; this effect of his works made Shakespeare seem so cunning, like Puck. The lines above formulate the ending of the play to be ironic and humorous, much in the same way as the rest of the story was told. The general plot, with certain char... ...ctions and attributes of other characters and Puck helps contribute to deceitful aura of the play. Another key factor of this play were its many inclinations toward a comical relief and Puck's involvements of making mishaps occur. The mood, implication, and scheme are all carefully weaved together in the play, with Puck being a symbol or a catalyst for nearly every one of them.    Works Cited Shakespeare, William. The Riverside Shakespeare. Houghton Mifflin Company. Boston. New York. 1997.    Works Consulted    Briggs, Katharine M. The Anatomy of Puck. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1959.    Nevo, Ruth. Comic Transformations in Shakespeare. New York: Routledge, Chapman & Hall, 1981.    Rhoades, Duane. Shakespeare's Defense of Poetry: "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and "The Tempest". Westport, CT: Greenwood Press,1986.

Distinction of Sex and Gender

1. The sex/gender distinction. The terms ‘sex’ and ‘gender’ mean different things to different feminist theorists and neither are easy or straightforward to characterize. Sketching out some feminist history of the terms provides a helpful starting point. 1. 1 Biological determinism Most people ordinarily seem to think that sex and gender are coextensive: women are human females, men are human males. Many feminists have historically disagreed and have endorsed the sex/ gender distinction.Provisionally: ‘sex’ denotes human females and males depending on biological features (chromosomes, sex organs, hormones and other physical features);‘gender’ denotes women and men depending on social factors (social role, position, behaviour or identity). The main feminist motivation for making this distinction was to counter biological determinism or the view that biology is destiny. A typical example of a biological determinist view is that of Ged des and Thompson who, in 1889, argued that social, psychological and behavioural traits were caused by metabolic state.Women supposedly conserve energy (being ‘anabolic’) and this makes them passive, conservative, sluggish, stable and uninterested in politics. Men expend their surplus energy (being ‘katabolic’) and this makes them eager, energetic, passionate, variable and, thereby, interested in political and social matters. These biological ‘facts’ about metabolic states were used not only to explain behavioural differences between women and men but also to justify what our social and political arrangements have to be.It would be inappropriate to grant women political rights, as they are simply not suited to have those rights; it would also be futile since women (due to their biology) would simply not be interested in exercising their political rights. To counter this kind of biological determinism, feminists have argued that behavioural and psychological differences have social, rather than biological, causes. For instance, Simone de Beauvoir famously claimed that one is not born, but rather becomes a woman, and that â€Å"social discrimination produces in women moral and intellectual effects so profound that they appear to be caused by nature†.Commonly observed behavioural traits associated with women and men, then, are not caused by anatomy or chromosomes. Rather, they are culturally learned or acquired. Although biological determinism of the kind endorsed by Geddes and Thompson is nowadays uncommon, the idea that behavioural and psychological differences between women and men have biological causes has not disappeared. In the 1970s, sex differences were used to argue that women should not become airline pilots since they will be hormonally unstable once a month and, therefore, unable to perform their duties as well as men (Rogers 1999, 11).More recently, differences in male and female brains have been said to explain behavioural differences; in particular, the anatomy of corpus callosum, a bundle of nerves that connects the right and left cerebral hemispheres, is thought to be responsible for various psychological and behavioural differences. 1. 2 Gender terminology In order to distinguish biological differences from social/psychological ones and to talk about the latter, feminists appropriated the term ‘gender’.Psychologists writing on trans sexuality were the first to employ gender terminology in this sense. However, in order to explain why some people felt that they were ‘trapped in the wrong bodies’, the psychologist Robert Stoller (1968) began using the terms ‘sex’ to pick out biological traits and ‘gender’ to pick out the amount of femininity and masculinity a person showed. Along with psychologists like Stoller, feminists found it useful to distinguish sex and gender.This enabled them to argue that many differences between women and men were socially produced and, therefore, changeable. For instance Gayle Rubin's thought was that although biological differences are fixed, gender differences are the oppressive results of social interventions that dictate how women and men should behave. Women are oppressed as women and â€Å"by having to be women† (Rubin 1975, 204). However, since gender is social, it is thought to be changeable and adjustable by political and social reform that would ultimately bring an end to women's subordination.Feminism should aim to create a â€Å"genderless (though not sexless) society, in which one's sexual anatomy is irrelevant to who one is, what one does, and with whom one makes love† (Rubin 1975, 204). In some earlier interpretations, like Rubin's, sex and gender were thought to complement one another. The slogan ‘Gender is the social interpretation of sex’ captures this view. Nicholson calls this ‘the coat-rack view’ of gender: our sexed bodies are like coat racks and â€Å"provide the site upon which gender [is] constructed† (1994, 81).Gender conceived of as masculinity and femininity is superimposed upon the ‘coat-rack’ of sex as each society imposes on sexed bodies their cultural conceptions of how males and females should behave. This socially constructs gender differences – or the amount of femininity/masculinity of a person– upon our sexed bodies. That is, according to this interpretation, all humans are either male or female; their sex is fixed. But cultures interpret sexed bodies differently and project different norms on those bodies thereby creating feminine and masculine persons.So, this group of feminist arguments against biological determinism suggested that gender differences result from cultural practices and social expectations. Nowadays it is more common to denote this by saying that gender is socially constructed. This means that genders (women and men) and gendere d traits (like being nurturing or ambitious) are the â€Å"intended or unintended product[s] of a social practice† (Haslanger 1995, 97). But which social practices construct gender, what social construction is and what being of a certain gender amounts to are major feminist controversies.There is no consensus on these issues. (See the entry on Intersections between Analytic and Continental Feminism for more on different ways to understand gender. ) 5. Conclusion This entry first looked at feminist arguments against biological determinism and the claim that gender is socially constructed. Next, it examined feminist critiques of prevalent understandings of gender and sex, and the distinction itself. In response to these concerns, the final section looked at how a unified women's category could be articulated for feminist political purposes and illustrated (at least) two things.First, that gender — or what it is to be a woman or a man — is still very much a live is sue. Second, that feminists have not entirely given up the view that gender is about social factors and that it is (in some sense) distinct from biological sex. The jury is still out on what the best, the most useful or (even) the correct definition of gender is. And some contemporary feminists still find there to be value in the original 1960s sex/gender distinction.

Writing a Memoir from Occupied Palestine

Writing a Memoir from Occupied Palestine In Gaza, I Dare to Dream: Writing a Memoir from Occupied Palestine Rana Shubair is a writer from Palestine specializing in English language training, testing, and translation. Her first book, In Gaza I Dare to Dream, is a powerful memoir detailing everyday life within the Gaza Blockade.I discovered my passion for writing at the age of 12. I'd buy a stack of paper and sit at the back of the school auditorium, scribbling down my thoughts. As a babysitter, I would write poetry for hours, long after putting the child to bed. It was a way of collecting my thoughts; I could express my feelings, if only to a diary. Over the years, I bought many locked diaries and wrote in them every day. It was my retreat, my passion, and my remedy.My country has been a place of turmoil for the past 68 years. Denied basic human rights like freedom of movement and access to proper medical care, the daily struggles we Palestinians endure under the Occupation is almost unbearable. In the city of Gaza, we have been under an Israeli-imposed siege for ten whole years now, locked in a big open-air prison and denied a normal life.   These harsh conditions pushed me to voice my thoughts, igniting a desire to speak to the outside world.I can't end this post without mentioning my book and cover designer, Domini Dragoone. What I loved most about her was her sincerity and enthusiasm for my project and the help she gave me beyond her design work.   Here is what she had to say about my manuscript: "I'm very moved by your book and hope it gets into the hands of many readers; I feel like your story has the power to inspire such compassion and understanding, both things that the world can use a lot more of! I don't always get to work on projects with topics that I care about a great deal, so it has been a treat to work on a book that feels very important".Now having published my first book,In Gaza I Dare to Dream, I'm happy to say that one of my dreams has come true. And I couldn’t have done it without the help of some great people.In Gaza I Dare to Dream  is  available on Amazon  for Kindle and Paperback.

Recovery-watch - Emphasis

Recovery-watch Recovery-watch Last month we announced the launch of our index tracking the use of the words green shoots and recovery in the newspapers. So where are the press putting us now? Junes references to recovery actually topped Mays (1323 compared to 1185), while green shoots held steady. Merely counting these key words wont give you the entire story, of course. The articles focuses have largely switched, from the general publics need to put faith into the markets and their restoration to the Governments failure to do what they must. The push for positive attitudes is making way for renewed caution and uncertainty, though the Independent (arguably the most optimistic paper) whisper[s] about forecasts of mild global recovery in 2010. In fact, according to the Times, optimism itself may now be a taboo word (and attitude) for public figures to admit to. The paper reminded us early this month about the derision faced by Treasury Minister Baroness Vadera for claiming she believed green shoots were visible back in January. (To be fair though, she walked straight into a trap laid by Sky News, who fed her the term and asked her to respond.) This might go some way towards explaining the Governments cautious attitude of late.

Tom Izzo Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Tom Izzo - Research Paper Example Izzo played as guard for the men’s basketball team from where he achieved a school record for minutes played; and so he acquired the name a Division II All- American (Michigan State Men’s Basketball). In 1991 he was inducted to Northern Michigan University as well as to Upper Penisula Hall in 1997. After completing the graduation from Northern Michigan, he undertook the responsibility of the head coach at Ishpeming High School for one year. Subsequently he worked as assistant coach and part-time assistant coach at Northern Michigan University (1979-1983) and in Michigan State in 1983 respectively. After resigning the post of assistant coach at University of Tulsa, he returned to Michigan State. While the assistant Mike Deane got promoted to the head coach at another college he took the role of the assistant. In 1991, prior to the last seasonal performance, the present head coach Jud Healthcote elevated him to the associated head coach at Michigan State. Based on his per formance and by the recommendation from the Michigan State Athletic director, he was promoted to the men’s basketball head coach for MSU (Michigan State Men’s Basketball). As the head coach, Izzo molded his team members to tough players. His coaching strategy is entirely different from that of other coaches. He made his trainees fit both physically and mentally to perform in accordance with the changing situations. Izzo’s motto is that â€Å"It doesn’t matter, morning, noon or night, and it doesn’t matter who it is† (Tom Izzo. Cited in Amadeo) . He teaches his trainees to motivate each other by undertaking various responsibilities with intent to inculcate ownership feeling between them. In his view, great players and good players are different; great players help their co-players to be more active in the field. His training strategy includes strength training, toughness training and conditioning. Izzo gives equal preferences to both physical and mental health of team members. By winning his 341st game on November 2009 he became the most winning coach in the school history. As a result, he could beat the previous head coach Heathcote. Even though he couldn’t make the tournament in his first two seasons, he could bridge the previous limitations by MSU’s record in conference and by winning the first of his six regular- season Big Ten championship in addition to the two Big Ten tournament titles( Michigan state: Mens Basketball). In 2000 his team MSU won the NCCA national championship against Florida Gators. As a head coach, the whole players recruited and trained by him were allowed to participate in the final four, and among them eighty two percent completed their qualification from MSU with a degree. It indicates his outstanding potential in coaching field. This extraordinary achievement lifted his demand as a coach. To illustrate, by considering his great coaching experience, some other professional baske tball teams and NBA pursued him. However he decided to continue at his present position and informed his decision to the Michigan State University’s Board. This decision which would be good news to his Spartans indicates his real dedication to his career. During his outstanding coaching career, he was several times awarded for his great contributions to the game. His achievements include ‘Associated Press National Coach of the Year Award’ in 1998 and ‘Henry Iba Award’ in 1998, Big Ten Coach of the Year

Strategic Management of Quest Diagnostics Essay

Strategic Management of Quest Diagnostics - Essay Example Ideally, the diagnosis is established with beyond a reasonable doubt certainty, but substantial uncertainty or frank diagnostic error can afflict the diagnostic process for a variety of reasons. Many of these diagnostic problems are explained by failures of decision-making. Their main strategic approach, competency, and challenges are explained herewith. Quest Diagnostics is the nation’s leading provider of diagnostic testing, information, and services. They are the largest providers of global central laboratory services performed in connection with clinical research trials on new drugs and these trials assess the safety and efficiency of these new drugs. Quest Diagnostics operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year providing their customers with a comprehensive menu of routine and specialty laboratory tests and services. Their major services include laboratory health care services, featured lab tests, online services and medical research etc. In New York City by 1967 Dr. Paul Brown launched the clinical laboratory industry with his vision to offer the high quality, highly automated and cost-effective clinical testing. Corning Incorporated purchased Met Path in 1982 and continued to build the company. The business continued to expand and additional companies were acquired, including Damon in 1993, Maryland Medical Laboratory in 1994 and Bioran in 1994. Also in 1994, Corning acquired Nichols Institute, world-renowned for esoteric testing. On December 31, 1996, Corning Incorporated spun off the laboratory testing business to its shareholders, establishing Quest Diagnostics as an independent company trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the Symbol "DGX.†. The acquisition enabled the company to enter into a testing related business, providing services to the life insurance industry.