Discuss attitudes towards food and/or eating behaviour (24 marks) Essay

There are many explanations for the different attitudes of food and eating behaviour. One of the main explanations is social learning theory. This emphasises the impact of observing other people on our attitudes and behaviour. In terms of parental modelling, it is suggested that children can acquire their attitudes towards food by observing the behaviour of their parents. This is because the children are observing their parents eating patterns and therefore the parents are acting as eating role models. Children will notice that their parents are rewarded when they enjoy certain foods. The children will then imitate these eating behaviours as they will expect to get rewarded by doing so. Social learning theory therefore expresses the fact that children their food preferences as a result of vicarious reinforcement. As expected, there is a significant correlation between the diets of parents and their children. Brown and Ogden reported consistent correlations between parents and their children in terms of snack-food intake, eating motivations and body dissatisfaction. This is support for social learning theory because it is showing that observation in the home during childhood is a significant factor in determining eating behaviour and food attitudes. As well as this, in an experiment carried out by Duncker (1938), children observed a series of role models making food choices different to their own such as: their mother, a friend, an unknown adult and a fictional hero. The findings showed that all the role models had an impact on the children’s subsequent food choices except the unknown adult. Therefore children are more likely to sample unfamiliar foods after they have seen a significant role model (particularly their mother rather than a stranger) eat the food. This therefore supports the social learning theory explanation because it shows that parental attitudes and behaviour is especially an essential part of the social learning process of food choice and eating behaviour. Media is another factor that has an influence on our attitudes and behaviour towards food. The role of social learning is evident in the impact of media because throughout childhood, children are exposed to widespread food advertising on television to make food seem more attractive. This exposure can be effective in developing preferences, but unfortunately it can have negative effects because the advertised food tends to be high in fat and carbohydrates which can contribute to problems such as child obesity. Children observe role models in the media and due to vicarious reinforcement; they are often motivated to imitate the behaviour that they see. This means that advertisements involving food as well as role models are definitely powerful in shaping people’s food preferences. The role of social learning through media effects is supported in a study by MacIntyre et al. , who found that the media has a major impact both on what we eat, and our attitudes to certain foods. When evaluating social learning as an explanation of attitudes to food and eating behaviour, there is quite a lot of research support. The importance of social learning in attitudes towards food was demonstrated by Meyer and Gast. They surveyed 10-12 year old girls and boys and found a significant positive correlation between peer influences and disordered eating. The ‘likeability’ of peers was considered to be the most important factor in this relationship. However, this study shows that eating behaviour can be learned through alternative role models other than just our parents. Even though this study shows support, there are still issues with the theory and research into social learning as an explanation of attitudes and eating behaviour. For example, most studies and research support use correlations as their main evidence. Although these correlations allow us to study links between variables, they do not prove that one variable causes the other (e. g. media causes disordered eating). There may be other, extraneous variables that can explain why the co-variables being studied are linked. These studies may therefore lack in internal/external validity. As well as this, the social learning explanation has been criticised for ignoring other factors that have influenced attitudes to food and eating behaviour. It has been recognised that attitudes towards food are clearly a product of much more than social learning alone. For example, evolutionary explanations of food preferences suggest that our liking of fatty and sweet food is a direct result of an evolved adaptation among our distant ancestors over 2 million years ago. Therefore, we may not be able to completely rely on findings based on social learning theory as there could be many other factors that are contributing to our eating behaviour. Another explanation for our attitudes to food and eating behaviour is our mood. Low mood can often result in comfort eating, and low mood also seems to influence binge eating behaviour. Davis et al (1988) showed that low mood often preceded binge eating in bulimics. The same seems to apply in those with no known eating disorder. Students were asked to record their mood and eating habits over a two week period. Days that included binge eating tended also to be days of low mood, but significantly, binge eating did nothing to improve mood afterwards. So although we may binge when down it seems to do little to make us feel better. This influence of mood on our eating behaviours is supported by Garg et al. who conducted a study that focused on the impact of different films on mood and therefore eating behaviour. They observed food choices of 38 participants as they watched either an upbeat, funny film or a sad, depressing one. Participants were offered buttered popcorn and seedless grapes throughout the films. They found that those watching the sad film consumed 36% more popcorn than those watching the upbeat film, but the upbeat film group ate a lot more grapes. Garg et al. concluded that people who feel sad or depressed are more likely to go for a snack that tastes good in order to escape their negative mood. Happy people want to extend their upbeat mood and so choose to eat healthier foods. Even though there is support for mood influencing our eating behaviour, it is unclear why a binge-eating episode as a result of low mood is reinforcing for the individual, especially as any benefit appears to be brief at best. Many studies have also reported a mood decrement in individuals immediately after their binge. In terms of IDA, gender bias is an issue with most studies focusing on attitudes towards food and eating behaviour. These studies mainly focus on only women’s attitudes to eating behaviour, particularly in terms of body dissatisfaction and disordered eating. However, a large number of studies have also shown that in men, homosexuality is a risk factor in development of disordered eating attitudes and levels of dieting. This suggests that studies that concentrate only on women offer a limited view of attitudes of food and eating behaviour and their findings will not be reliable if they were to be generalised to the population as a whole.

Discuss the powers and constraints on the power of the Prime Minister

The British Prime Minister (PM) is holder of great power(s). ‘The PM is the most powerful figure, indeed the most powerful figure in the British system of government’[1]. He or She leads a group of political figures some of whom have a party or national standing in their own right. At the beginning of the 20th century the PM was described as primus inter pares- first among equals. The PM has can exercise powers which are denied to other members of the cabinet for example the power of patronage. He/she has formal powers inherited by the monarch such as the ability to go to war and more informal powers such as the media. The PM also has constitutional powers for example being able to decide the election date. This essay shall outline some of the powers at the disposal of the PM as well as some of the constraints that can limit the PMs freedom of action. Firstly, ‘The Prime Minister’s role is peculiarly British in two ways. The first is that as the Head of Government, he must control the House of Commons to remain in office[2]. The fact that the PM is head of government gives him/her considerable power. The PM owes his or her position to the party and must not forget such a connection. He or she will use the powers of leadership to keep the party united, working out compromise solutions as necessary. As leader of the majority party the PM retains support of the parliament. As long as the majority is a workable one, the PM and his or her cabinet colleagues are in a position to persuade the House to adopt party policies. In this sense a good relationship between the Pm and his or her party is crucial in allowing the freedom of choice for the PM. Secondly, the PM exercises power under the royal prerogative, powers which can be used but are traditionally powers of the crown. Powers relating to the legislature-e. g. ‘the summoning, proroguing and dissolution of parliament; the granting of royal assent to bills; legislating by Order in Council (e. g. in relation to civil service) or by letters patent; creating schemes for conferring benefits upon citizens where Parliament appropriates the necessary finance’[3]. Powers regarding the armed forces ‘Powers relating to the armed forces e. g. – the Sovereign is commander in chief of the armed forces of the Crown and the control, organisation and disposition of the armed forces are within the prerogative’[4]. Furthermore, ‘the power of appointment and dismissal, can be, and is, used by the Prime Minister to shape the general and specific direction of policy, as Margaret Thatcher demonstrated in September 1981 when she reinforced her Governments commitment to its economic policy by dismissing several so called wets[5]. Thirdly, the PM determines the date of the next general election. The PM alone decides when to ask the monarch when to dissolve parliament and therefore the time of the polling day. Normally this will be after four years in office. The PM will choose a time when victory looks most likely[6], his or her choice may be influenced by party performance in the polls, opinion polls and also by-elections, there are a number of various influences that cast the deciding factor into when election Day is. On the other hand, a constraint on the powers of the PM could be his/her cabinet colleagues. It clearly limits the freedom of action for any PM. No PM can survive long without the support of his or her cabinet colleagues. The fall of Margaret Thatcher in 1990 is often said to be largely the work of her cabinet, ‘the introduction of the Community Charge for local government sounded the death knell for Thatcherism’[7] And her presidential style of leadership were making her unpopular. In 1990 there was a challenge to her leadership. Michael Heseltine stood against thatcher in a challenge to her leadership but ‘despite being only four votes short of outright victory, she stepped down after advice from her Cabinet’[8]. fewer votes than she did but enough to damage her authority to such an extent that in a succession of face to face interviews her cabinet colleagues convinced her not to stand in the second round, thus leaving the way open for john major to be elected. Thatcher was therefore removed from office largely due to the work of her cabinet colleagues. John Major also had some difficulties in his second ministry with some of his cabinet particularly John Redwood and Michael Portillo, because of their underhand opposition to his policy. Brown enjoyed the advantage of being able to reshuffle his cabinet thoroughly when he took over as PM, hence ensuring the exclusion of his enemies and rivals. He made sure to include some of his ‘inner circle’ including Ed Balls sometimes named Mr Browns ‘representative on earth’ [9] A second constraint on the powers of the PM is the support of the media or lack of it. If a PM is to be popular and hence successful, he or she needs the support of a large section of the media; this usually itself can be dependent on the popularity of the PM. The Murdoch press is often credited, especially by the newspapers themselves as having more influence than they really have, a Guardian article affirms ‘ Rupert Murdoch's spell is broken. But not his baleful influence’[10]. Moreover when they transferred their support from Major to Blair in the mid-1990s/ it was certainly harmful to Major’s electoral success. However, if Major had still been popular in the country, it is unlikely that the sun and the times would have switches sides as they did. Brown initially enjoyed a favourable press, largely due to the novelty factor. ‘By the skilful and sustained use of propaganda, one can make a people see even heaven as hell or an extremely wretched life as paradise’ Adolf Hitler’s remarks about the media make the impression that the correct use of it can prove a powerful thing. But by contrast we have seen that when the media turns against the PM it can be a constraint on the power of the PM. Finally, the size of the majority in the commons can have a substantial effect on the PMs ability to push things through. Tony Blair enters Downing Street on a wave of goodwill after a landslide election victory, his Commons majority of 179 ending 18 years of Conservative rule[11]. Tony Blair was fortunate between 1997 and 2005 with two large majorities. This was an important factor in his success, and his ability and his government’s ability to get programs passed in parliament. However, it is arguable that because his majority was so huge, some dissidents on the backbench were more willing to cause trouble than they otherwise would have been. In 2993-5, there were a number of Labour backbench revolts which greatly reduced the government’s theoretical majority in the commons. So perhaps it is better to have a large, rather than enormous majority. But governments with small majorities such as Wilson and Callaghan in the period 1974-0 and then John Major in 1992-7 can suffer considerably in the event of a backbench revolt. Over Europe, Major had great problems within his own party and only managed to ratify the Maastricht Treaty with a majority of one vote because of a backbench revolt. This sort of difficulty undermines the PMs Authority more generally, in the media and among the voters as a whole. Blair found this out for himself in his third term, with a reduced majority, and his first defeat in 2005 on the terrorism bill. Brown of course inherited this slimmer majority from Blair and in March 2008 he faced back-bench rebellions over his counter terrorism bill. In conclusion, it has been argued that the PM has acted beyond the constitutional role which is primus inter pares (first among equals). The PM can exercise powers held by the crown or prerogative powers for example the ability to go to war. Also the PM decides the election date. But most importantly, he or she is leader of government and by definition the most powerful politician in the country. However, should the PM forget the connection established between the press, the people and his or her party the PM will find it hard to succeed as Margaret thatcher’s downfall highlighted.

Henry Howard Holmes, One of Americas first Serial Killers

I researched who is to be believed as the one of america’s First Serial Killers, Herman Webster Mudgett aka Dr. Henry Howard Holmes. He had confessed to 27 murders, but only 9 could actually be proven. He had several victims during his time and choose what he felt was the perfect place for these murders. Herman was born on May 16th, 1861 in Gilmanton, New Hampshire to Levi Horton Mudgett and Theodate Page Price, both of whom were descended from the first settlers in the area. His father was a very violent alcoholic and his mother was a Methodist who would often read the bible to her son. Holmes had a privileged childhood. It has been said that he appeared to be unusually intelligent at an early age. Still there were haunting signs of what was to come. He expressed an interest in medicine, which reportedly led him to practice surgery on animals. Some accounts indicate that he may have been responsible for the death of a friend. As a child Herman was scared of the local doctor and when this got out bullies at his school forced him to view and touch a human skeleton. It turns out that this fascinated Herman so much that he actually scared the bullies who forced him into very badly. During much of his life he was considered a loner and very shady. Herman would later graduate from the University of Michigan Medical School in 1884, but while he was enrolled there he began to explore a new area or hobby. He would steal bodies from the lab disfigured the bodies, and claimed that the people were killed accidentally in order to collect insurance money from policies he took out on each deceased person he had stolen. After Graduation he began to dabble in more shady work such as pharmaceuticals, real estate and promotional deals under his created alias H.  H. Holmes. On July 4th 1878, Holmes married Clara Lovering in Alton, New Hampshire; their son, Robert Lovering Mudgett, was born on February 3rd 1880 in Loudon, New Hampshire (in adult life Robert was to become a Certified Public Accountant, and served as City Manager of Orlando, Florida). On January 28th 1887, while he was still married to Clara, Holmes married Myrta Belknap in Minneapolis, Minnesota; their daughter, Lucy Theodate Holmes, was born on July 4th 1889 in Englewood, Illinois. (in adult life Lucy was to become a public schoolteacher). Holmes lived with Myrta and Lucy in Wilmette, Illinois, and spent most of his time in Chicago tending to business. He filed for divorce from Clara after marrying Myrta, but the divorce was never finalized. He married Georgiana Yoke on January 9th 1894 in Denver, Colorado while still married to Clara and Myrta. He also had a relationship with Julia Smythe, the wife of one of his former employees; Julia later became one of Holmes's victims. While in Chicago, Holmes had started to grow even more shady and criminal. Holmes took a job in a drugstore which he would buy and promise to let the current store owner live even after her husband died. When her husband died however she simply disappeared and as people began to question where she was Holmes lied and told them she went to California and liked it there so much that she decided she would stay there. These people would actually turn out to be his first victims in his long murder spree and it is unknown how and when he murdered them. Holmes purchased a lot across from the drugstore and built what would be later known as his Murder Castle (which is where it is believed that he hid the bodies of Dr.  E. S. Holton and his wife). Holmes would open it up as a hotel for the World's Columbian Exposition in 1893, with part of the structure used as commercial space. The ground floor of the Castle contained Holmes's own relocated drugstore and various shops, while the upper two floors contained his personal office and a maze of over one hundred windowless rooms with doorways opening to brick walls, oddly angled hallways, stairways to nowhere, doors opened only from the outside, and a host of other strange and labyrinthine constructions. Holmes repeatedly changed builders during the construction of the Castle, so only he fully understood the design of the house, thus decreasing the chance of being reported to the police. Holmes selected mostly female victims from among his employees (many of which were required as a condition of employment to take out life insurance policies for which Holmes would pay the premiums but also be the beneficiary), as well as his lovers and hotel guests. He tortured and killed them in some of the worst possible ways you could imagine. Some were locked in soundproof bedrooms fitted with gas lines that let him asphyxiate them at any time and some were locked in a huge soundproof bank vault near his office where they were left to suffocate. He would then take the victims' bodies and drop by secret chute to the basement where some were meticulously dissected, stripped of flesh, crafted into skeleton models, and then sold to medical schools. Holmes also cremated some of the bodies or placed them in lime pits for destruction. Holmes had two giant furnaces as well as pits of acid, bottles of various poisons, and even a stretching rack which he would use to help dispose of the bodies and any evidence. Through the connections he had gained in medical school, he sold skeletons and organs with little difficulty and therefore was able to get rid of even more evidence. He had some of the best methods for disposing of all of his victims and the evidence that anything had ever even happened which is why it is so difficult to determine just how many victims he actually had and who they were. There were also trapdoors and chutes so that he could move the bodies down to the basement where he could burn his victims’ remains in a kiln there or dispose of them in other ways. All the while, Holmes continued to work insurance scams and it was one of these scams that led to his undoing. He joined forces with Benjamin Pitezel to collect $10,000 from a life insurance company. Holmes would leave Chicago due to the economy and move down to Fort Worth, Texas, to a property that he inherited from two sisters he promised to marry and later murdered. He had planned to build another castle, but would abandon that idea and move about the US as well as Canada and he was believed to have killed several more victims on his travels, but no evidence of this could be found. Holmes's murder spree finally ended when he was arrested in Boston on November 17, 1894, after being tracked there from Philadelphia by the Pinkertons(a national detective agency). He was held on an outstanding warrant for horse theft in Texas, as the police had little more than suspicions at this point and Holmes appeared ready to leave the country, with his unsuspecting third wife. After the custodian for the Castle informed police that he was never allowed to clean the upper floors, police began a thorough investigation over the course of the next month, uncovering Holmes's efficient methods of committing murders and then disposing of the corpses. While Holmes sat in prison in Philadelphia, not only did the Chicago police investigate his operations in that city, but the Philadelphia police began to try to unravel the Pitezel situation, the fate of the three missing children. Philadelphia detective Frank Geyer was given the task of finding out and his quest for the children, like the search of Holmes's Castle, received wide publicity. He would eventually discover their remains essentially sealed Holmes's fate, at least in the public mind. Holmes was put on trial for the murder of Pitezel and confessed, following his conviction, to 27 murders in Chicago, Indianapolis and Toronto, and six attempted murders. Holmes was paid $7,500 ($197,340 in today's dollars) by the Hearst Newspapers in exchange for this confession. He gave various contradictory accounts of his life, claiming initially innocence and later that he was possessed by Satan. His faculty for lying has made it difficult for researchers to ascertain any truth on the basis of his statements. On May 7, 1896, H. H. Holmes went to the hangman's noose. His last meal was boiled eggs, dry toast, and coffee. Even at the noose, he changed his story. He claimed to have killed only two people, and tried to say more but at 10:13 the trapdoor opened and he was hanged, it took him fully 15 minutes to strangle to death on the gallows. Afraid of body-snatchers who might capitalize on his corpse, Holmes had made a request: He wanted no autopsy and he instructed his attorneys to see that he was buried in a coffin filled with cement. This was taken to Holy Cross Cemetery south of Philadelphia and two Pinkerton guards stood over the grave during the night before the body was finally interred in a double grave also filled with cement. No stone was erected to mark it, Larson states, although its presence is recorded on a cemetery registry. Holmes attorneys had turned down an offer of $5,000 for his body, and even refused his brain to Philadelphias Wistar Institute, which hoped to have its experts analyze the organ for better understanding of the criminal mind. Larson recounts a series of strange events afterward that gave credence to the rumors that Holmes was satanic, including several weird deaths and a fire at the D. A. s office that destroyed everything there save a photograph of Holmes. During this case, another American phenomenon arose from society's fascination with sensational crime. Thousands of people lined up to see the Chicago murder site, so a former police officer remodeled the infamous building as â€Å"Holmes's Horror Castle,† an attraction that offered guided tours to the suffocation chambers and torture rooms. But before it opened it mysteriously burned to the ground. So many people who'd rented rooms from Holmes during the fair had actually gone missing that sensational estimates of his victims reached around 200, and some people perpetuated this unsubstantiated toll even today. Its likely that Holmes own figure from his recanted confession is low, but there is no way to know just how many he actually killed. In the end he was so worried that someone would want to do to him what he had done to so many others that he felt the only way he could rest in peace was to be encased in concrete. He was one of the first ever serial killers and one of the worst. It was horrible what he did and all of the lives lost because of this man. In my opinion his request for a protected grave was one of the things that show you how crazy this man really was and how smart he was all at the same time. In my opinion the starting point in H. H. Holmes spiral to murder would be that as a child, schoolmates forced him to view and touch a human skeleton after discovering his fear of the local doctor. The bullies initially brought him there to scare him, but instead he was utterly fascinated, and he soon became obsessed with death. He started by stealing bodies from the morgue, would disfigure them and then claim they were accidentally killed so he could collect on an insurance policy he would take out on each person. Some of his fellow students became scared of him while trying to bully him, he was a bigamist, some felt he was charming, he was manipulative, and many of those around him viewed him as suspicious and shady. H. H. Holmes seemed to have the perfect idea on how to get rich and how to get away with murder and in fact he did for a long time. He was a very smart man and that is the reason that I believe he was able to go so long without getting caught. On New Year's Eve, 1910, Marion Hedgepeth, who had been pardoned for informing on Holmes, was shot and killed by a police officer during a holdup at a Chicago saloon. Then, on March 7, 1914, the Chicago Tribune reported that, with the death of the former caretaker of the Murder Castle, Pat Quinlan, â€Å"the mysteries of Holmes' Castle† would remain unexplained. Quinlan had committed suicide by taking strychnine. Quinlan's surviving relatives claimed Quinlan had been â€Å"haunted† for several months before his death and could not sleep.

Care Plan Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Care Plan - Assignment Example self in the planning and resolution process to bring about awareness of his present condition and how to go about making lifestyle changes to resolve the painful issues and restore good health. By involving the patient in the clinical process, the care rendered would be less stressful because the patient would make better adjustments where food, hygiene and other activities were concerned. The symptoms experienced by the patient were severe spasms of pain in the umbilical area accompanied by nausea, and feelings of warmth, sweat and vomiting. From these symptoms, the diagnosis drawn was that the patient suffered from gastroenteritis. The delivery of care was customized according to the needs of the patient in order to ensure better adjustment and better health outcomes. The format used for this clinical case was SOAP (Subjective, Objective, Assessment and Plan) format in order to arrive at the right diagnosis. Subjective data such as the health issues of the patient, the background he came from, occupational and financial status, substance abuse, emotional stability and information of other social activities was collected through dialogue with the patient and other friends and members of his family. Subjective data included that the patient was a male 60 years of age and was a retired school teacher with a Master’s degree in education. He and his wife live off a state teacher’s pension, though his wife continues to work at a grocery store. They have two children, a son and daughter who do not live with them. He is also covered by health insurance. He is a sociable individual because he showed inclination of wanting to involve himself in community work. He denies substance abuse but admits to drinking wine and eating fast foods on a regular basis. His primary complaint was that he had acute pain around the umbilical region accompanied by nausea, queasiness, sweating and a fee ling of vomiting and these symptoms prevailed for the past 24 hours before his visit

POLICE ADMINiSTRATION COMPLETE 4 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

POLICE ADMINiSTRATION COMPLETE 4 - Essay Example Second is depression; the nature of law enforcement makes officers to have interpersonal conflicts. These conflicts can escalate to depression causing levels. This can be detrimental to the officers’ health and work performance (p7). Professional handling of interpersonal conflicts reduces depression among officers. Others include post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatizing images like crime scenes etc. They usually lower officers work performance and it is good for administrative officers to ensure that officers are counseled to avoid these issues. As an administrative officer, the action i would take to ensure that my officers don’t get burnt includes; providing good working environment reduces stress and depression. Secondly I would ensure that they receive counseling services after traumatic experiences. This would reduce depression and post-traumatic stress disorder cases. After an ugly incident, I would recommend that my officers get counseling from professionals to ensure that they don’t get nightmares and bad images (233 words). 2) Using the internet and the text (chapter 13) give a narrative overview of the Kansas City Preventative Patrol Experiment, detailing the findings and analysis of this controversial experiment. (Minimum of 200 words) According to Kelling et al. (1974) The Kansas City Preventive Patrol Experiment was a year-long experiment that was carried out in Kansas City between 1972 and 1973 to find out if police prevalence in an area can prevent crimes from being committed. Three controlled levels of routine preventive patrols were created and applied in the experimental areas. The areas were termed as â€Å"reactive† this is the area that received no preventive patrol. In this area, police officers only visited the area after receiving a call from the citizens which reduced police visibility. The second area was termed as â€Å"proactive,† in this area police visibility was increased two to three times its usual

The evolution of Italian Fashion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

The evolution of Italian Fashion - Essay Example The essay "The evolution of Italian Fashion" discovers the evolution of fashion in Italy. Gucci noted that Savoy Hotel customers used quality leather luggage, prepared by European craftsmen. He discovered that the wealthy individuals were obsessed with quality, and never cared much about the cost. Later, Gucci returned to Florence where he worked in an antique store before moving to a leather firm. After the World War I, Gucci began working in a leather firm that manufactured quality leather products. The owner of the firm, Franzi, taught Gucci all the elements of leatherwork, including the tanning processes, selection of hides, and how to work with different kinds of leather. Gucci started his own leather business in Florence in 1921; the store prepared leather for the affluent tourists who visited Florence. Since the business grew the reputation of Gucci, quality luggage started to spread in Europe. By the end of 1923, Gucci gained wide recognition for its distinctive craftsmanship . The dictatorship of Benito Mussolini in 1920s led to harsh sanctions on the country. As a result, Gucci was not able to purchase all leather he needed in his shop. Gucci began designing and making handbags and luggage of both leather and canvas. In his book, Jones notes that affluent customers of Gucci products increased thus enhancing the business in both Florence and Rome. Wallets, belts, and Gucci floral scarf were among the products of Gucci stores. Guccio died in 1953, and immediately, his son Aldo.

Lysistrata by Aristophanes Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Lysistrata by Aristophanes - Movie Review Example Protesting war was just as risky for Lysistrata as it is for many today. She chose to do it defiantly, courageously and in a very public way. Protestors today may not share the same immediate threats as Lysistrata, but the dangers are still there. Lysistrata is such a compelling figure of strength and determination that even a Greek guy wearing a mask could evoke the emotion Aristophanes infused in this character. Of course, modern sensibilities prefer that a strong, intelligent and probably beautiful actor be used to bring this character to life. This is the way of Hollywood, after all. But from the standpoint of acting and emotion, the real character of Lysistrata lies in the writing of Aristophanes. The medium used to bring this character to life is almost irrelevant. The story is so compelling and tragic, yet triumphant, that modern or ancient audiences would find much to enjoy and ponder in any staging of this

Memo to the teacher Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Memo to the teacher - Essay Example This memo will seek to clarify the problems in the topic (the Mozart) and send it to the respective recipient with solutions. The structure and presentation of the Mozart advert topic is ambiguous. Specifically, an effective topic of a memo possesses the element of information. In this case, a topic of a memo appears effective when it provides readers with substantial information about the purpose of the article. Additionally, a sound memo topic makes a recommendation or simply asks for action after describing its content Concerning the Mozart advert topic, analysis shows that it does not support the school’s position. This leaves the readers with questionable doubts about the point of view of either the advert or the institution. A closer outlook into this topic reveals that the advert seeks to persuade. However, the since its topic seems to have a bit of problems, it is vital to provide a list of solutions in order to avoid repetition of such a thing in the future. First, the Mozart advert should restructure its topic and provide a precise, persuasive heading that grabs the concentration of every single reader. A persuasive advert increases the number of readers, which in turn increases the number of people taking action. Taking action in this scenario means having more students enrolling for music classes in Mozart School of Music. Lastly, this memo serves to suggest a specific action whose aim is to improve the current situation. Regarding the Mozart ad topic, the problem of ambiguity and obviousness needs to be addressed through changing it to have a persuasive message with a recommendable course of action in the end. Further still, the Mozart ad is clear with regard to the second component of a memorandum. This is so because it shows the benefits that a student will get upon enrolling at Mozart School of Music. I am sure that you will find these solutions valuable and approve them for action. I also the change will take course immediately as

Italy Centripetal and Centrifugal Forces Term Paper

Italy Centripetal and Centrifugal Forces - Term Paper Example New Europe shares 3 common divisors: Hellenism, Germanic migration and Christianity. The Germanic who ran into the Roman Empire about the 1st century A.D. was changed to Christianity [Catholicism] in final years of Western Roman Empire. In 800 A.D. the pope laurelled Karl [Karl der Grosse], the king of Germanic Frank, as the Emperor of Western Roman Empire. Karl’s enthronement was a historical milepost intending that the Rome society which transmitted Hellenism Culture was mixed with the Teutonic by Christianity. Thenceforth Western Roman Empire was separated into 3 different territories, inherited by Karl’s 3 grandkids severally, and they turned the source of present Germany, France, and Italy. 2 sources of the European centripetal force are in general recognized to have motivated the European conjugation following the World War II: 3 common divisors [Hellenism, Christianity and Germanic attitude which Europe has been dealing after the fourth century, and balancing of Germany and France which had been in opposition for numerous years. However 3 European common divisors never exist in parallel mode; they made multilayer structures, lapping in numerous layers in strain relations. Likewise, Germany-France association had formerly been under the significance of such multilevel constructions even earlier than the enthronement of Karl, whom both France and Germany admire as the founder of a nation. Then how and when such multilevel constructions were made and what do they do to the conjugation of Europe today? Let’s take a nearer look. Chapter II refines on how centripetal forces were integrated into multilevel shapes.

Research methods on financial management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Research methods on financial management - Essay Example This paper analysis the Fishers hypothesis using data for the UK over the last 20 years, the main aim of this paper is to analyze the relationship between interest rate and inflation, the main aim of this analysis is to show that real interest rate is equal to expected inflation rate plus nominal interest rates, the paper also analysis the underlying theories that depict the relationship between the variables. Interest rates and inflation are important economic variables, high levels inflation in an economy shows that there is something wrong in the economy and policy makers will try and reduce the high inflation rate. However the Fishers model may not hold in the short run given that the policy makers may alter interest rates in the short run, a study by Yuhn (1996) showed that the relationship between interest rate and inflation was stronger over the long run than in the short run. The Fishers hypothesis depicts that nominal interest rates do not depend on monetary policy measures and that there is a positive relationship between nominal interest rate and the expected inflation rate. The Fisher hypothesis model states that real interest rate is equal to nominal interest rate plus expected inflation rate stated as R = I + ÃŽ  e where R is real interest rate, ÃŽ  e is the expected inflation rate and I is nominal interest rate. The Fishers hypothesis model is also stated as I =ÃŽ ± + ÃŽ ²ÃŽ  et where I is nominal interest rate and ÃŽ  et is expected inflation. The value of ÃŽ ² is expected to be positive and a value of ÃŽ ² = 1 shows the strong version of the Fishers hypothesis. The paper analysis the correlation between the variables and help identify whether there is a strong positive relationship between inflation and nominal interest rate, however the correlation coefficient value only shows how two variables move together and this means that there is need to run a regression model that states the

Gun control Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 2

Gun control - Research Paper Example The proponents of gun rights argue that the availability of gun in the public spheres allows the people to protect themselves, and this ultimately is a solution to the gun crisis that exist in the affected states. Gun control is indeed not a solution for the violence and killing that are evident in states such as America. The Gun culture is an issue that started back in the 1970s when citizens were given the right to possess a gun as a defense weapon. In the famous westward expansion in the history of America, the citizens were allowed to safeguard their lives from attackers and wild animals in a period that was characterized with war and rivarly. This implies that the initial motive of providing gun rights was to protect the people from criminal acts that were threatening the people. In a period of high crime like the 21stcentury, the purchase of guns has increased as people prepare to counter these crime rates in the public domain. The supporters of the Gun rights argue that this i s the period that people need more personal protection than ever in the history of America (Moorhouse 103-124). Consequently, legalizing the purchase of guns in USA will empower the citizens to be more conscious of crime at their homes. Statistics compiled in 1990 have pointed out to the aggravation of criminal activities in the United States, most of which were perpetrateted by arm owners. Crooker (1) points out that atleast one person dies in America every 18 minutes which amounts to a total of about 30, 000 deathst very year. Of these, less than 50% of people who die are killed while the rest are victims of accidental gun shots and other commit murder using legally owned weapons. The question that emerges from these kind of statistics is whether legal arms or illegal arms result to the increased number of gun deaths in the united states. From the point of critical evaluator, legal arms as well are dangerous in the public sphere and the question of withdrawing gun rights can be ra ised at this point. Withdrawing the public right to own a gun would help to reduce the number of accidental deaths as well as the rate of suicide that has threatened the existence of the citizens in America. On this ground, most supporters of gun control feel that both illegal and legal arms should be withdrawn from the public to ensure that the people are safe from sudden deaths. However withdrawing the gun from the public spheres may not be an ultimate solution to the number of gun deaths that are increasing each day as more rifles find their way into the public sphere. DeConde (172) presents the pros and cons of denying the public the rights to possess legal firearms which has underpinned the death of more citizens every year. Depossessing the public with the right to own firearms will ensure that the rates of suicide would decrease considerably and the consequent drop in the number of people who die from stray bullets. However, the impact that this would have is that illegal arm owners, who are mostly criminals ,would have an advantage over the public, which is likely to trigger higher crime rates in the American society.In essence, this will be leaving the public more vulnerable to criminals which will lead to the death of loyal people and the thrive of criminals. Otherwise, the government would be forced to be more responsible of the security which is practically impossible given the high population

Importance of Accountabilty in the Military Essay Example for Free

Importance of Accountabilty in the Military Essay Accountability is defined by answering or accounting for one’s actions and results. It is something every leader should aspire to obtain and uphold. Accountability is easily talked about but can be very hard and uncomfortable to apply to one’s self. You will rarely hear someone stating that they should be more accountable for their actions, yet we do hear that from our peers and leaders on how we should take more accountability for our day to day actions and how they could eventually affect our futures. In the Army it is extremely important to be accountable for one’s self and their soldiers. From the purposes of a squad leader it is always important to know where and what your soldiers are doing. Prime case is if you notice that your soldier is not at accountability formation and they never have missed that formation before it would probably behoove you to try and get in contact with the soldier. Granted their tardiness most likely may be due to something as trivial as oversleeping, forgetting to turn on or wake up to their alarm or being stuck in traffic on slight chances it could be something terribly worse such as hospitalization or death. In my own experience I have seen a stellar soldier who one day did not show up to morning formation and his squad leader failed to recognize his absence and towards the end of the day is when everyone found out that the same soldier had committed suicide the night prior. I am not saying that the squad leader is at fault in any way for the soldier’s choice to take his own life, however his entire chain of command failed to recognize his absence which could have resulted in an earlier reorganization of the tragedy. But I digress from my tangent and shall go on further to discuss the importance of personal accountability ranging from the lowest ranking private to the highest ranking officer. The bottom line is that accountability means letting your actions rise above your excuses. In the midst of everything accountability is really about being specific. Specific expectations and specific outcomes and specific consequences. All soldiers have learned since the beginning of their time in the military that there are certain expectations of them and the core facts are to be in the right place at the right time in the right uniform. If one soldier is constantly late or doing the wrong thing than as a leader it may be easier to turn a blind eye to the actions and dismiss them for forgetfulness but regardless of that one mustn’t sweep poor performance under the rug because it could cause friction in a unit or team. When one person’s performance is not up to par it brings the group down and gives the impression that this behavior is acceptable when in reality it is not, especially in the military world. As a leader you must always make your standards very clear and follow through with rewards and punishments, and that can only be done by being specific. Never beat around the bush about what your expectations are or what information needs to be put out. Failure to inform and plan is planning to fail. We tend to think of our actions and shortcomings as consequences to the now and that they may not have any effect on us in the future. Which in all means could be true but it might just be the seed to bad habits forming. Doing something mistakenly wrong once and never receiving reprisal may give the weak willed the false idea that they may repeat said actions and receive the same results, which could in turn show peers that this same behavior is tolerable and then it becomes a habit in the organization and reflects on leadership. When soldiers realize that their actions no matter how small either help or hinder their unit or organization and not just themselves their personal accountability becomes evident like a slap in the face. Once that becomes clear a soldier will recognize that their performance directly impacts their developmental opportunities which could include promotions, awards or schools. In all ones performance is a direct reflection of their commitment to their self and job. In the army one of the most important time of the day is morning accountability formation. It is where you get your orders and outlines of the day. For leaders it is pivotal for sending up personnel whereabouts. If a soldier is not present and it is not due to being on leave or on detail then there could possibly be a big problem. Accountability and duty go hand in hand. The Definition of that Army value is to fulfill your obligations and to accept responsibility for your own actions and those entrusted to your care. To find ways to improve yourself for the good of the group. It also is very similar to integrity by basically understanding that from bottom to top and left to right and anyway in between everyone is going to and willing to do what is right even when no one else is looking. Even when taking personal accountability into mind you must always keep an eye out for your buddy and hold them accountable also. Doing the job correctly and ensuring others do it as well and do it safely, because we all know that even when not in combat we could potential be in a very dangerous situations given with our various equipment, weapons and training environments. Certain examples include live fire ranges- needing to be accountable of where you are and that you have the right equipment on. If you do not have your plates in your vest and heaven forbid a misfire happens and you are struck there is no one to blame but yourself and lack of personal accountability. Another example is out in a field exercise- making sure you bring all the necessary equipment and that you have ensured that it has all of its components and is in working order. If you fail to do so you could put your health at risk in regards to sleep tents, extra clean clothing and weather appropriate clothing articles. In leadership accountability plays a special role in setting standards of behavior and actions that will ensure that they, their peers and subordinates operate with integrity and great moral values. With this in mind as a leader you should always lead from the front and never put yourself in situations that you yourself would punish a subordinate for. Leading by example provides junior soldiers a person to aspire to be and what a great leader looks like. In my years in the military it has been like finding a needle in a haystack when it comes to finding great non-commissioned officers. Too many are taking the easy road and falling well under the expectations that they themselves have imposed on their soldiers. I feel in the Army today many are too willing to become non-commissioned officers for the money and are not really thinking about the fact that they are leaders and they have to be the example. However, I have been honored to have to the experience of learning from a few great non-commissioned officers who have always tried to do the right thing at all times and are not afraid to admit when they are wrong or when they just don’t know, but they will find out. Keeping the mindset that you are now and forever, as long as you wear the uniform and those stripes, under a microscope be mindful of the actions you possess and the words that you say. Your actions justify to newly soldiers of what may or may not be right. Your words can both uplift and encourage or they can tear down a soldier’s views or spirit. Accountability formation is important for many reasons. It lets the commander and command team know where all of their soldiers are at that precise moment. It is also essential because it lets leadership know how many people are available for the day to perform daily duties or how many people they have readily available for additional tasking’s. At this formation most information on daily activities are put out. In this formation it is vital for leaders to look at their soldiers and assure that they are in accordance with all grooming standards held in AR 670-1. During this time there could also be a time for the urine lottery of a urinary analysis, if you are not at the formation to hear your name there could possibly be some consequences. Other types of accountability are with your gear for example weapons and ammunition. It is important that if you are entrusted with a weapon and ammunition to keep track of it and never leave it lying around. If there is a time that you are not able to keep up with these items you should either secure them in a locked safe place or entrust one of your fellow soldiers to keep track of it for you, this is a short time period solution. Losing or misplacing these things can get yourself in really hot water. Not only will you definitely be receiving punitive punishments for your ignorance you can also be allowing the military to take money from you. If it is lost you are going to pay in sweat, tears and cash. Looking beyond the fact of punishments that would immediately follow your actions what if that gear landed in the wrong hands. It could very well cause a very bad situation. Accountability doesnt just mean showing up on time. It means responsibility. It means that if you fail your small part of the mission (to be on time), you must be held liable for your failure. Lets say you were supposed to depart for a mission outside the wire on a deployment. You are late to the convoy brief, the convoy brief must be given to you again, everyone is late to mount up, and the convoy misses its SP time (departure). The Infantry unit waiting to link up with your convoy for additional protection might get ambushed because your convoy is late. All because you didnt arrive on time. I know that this example is a bit of an overreaction especially if you are just late or miss PT formation nevertheless it just goes to show a slippery slope that all actions have to impact the others around you. Accountability is the act of taking responsibility for that which falls under your domain—in other words, it’s doing what you say you’re going to do. Accountability is the cornerstone of integrity, which is the result of consistent honesty and responsibility in your actions. In the military, it is absolutely imperative that you do what you say you’re going to do and that you agree to be held accountable for those orders that are directed specifically to you or those in your command. A breakdown in leadership and responsibility can be bad anywhere, but it has the potential to be downright catastrophic in the military. Being in the military, you’ve obviously built some level of trust with those above and below you in order to get to your current rank. For those just starting out, the time in training helps superiors gauge your abilities and your commitment to the whole. Aside from all this, you have to build a trusted reputation with those with whom you work directly and are of equal rank. In the case of armed encounters, these are the people who will cover your back, and who need to be able to trust you to cover theirs. Nothing breeds trust like consistent, sustained accountability.

The Environmental Protection Agency

The Environmental Protection Agency The Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, was founded on the premise to protect human health and the environment in 1970 under the Nixon administration (U.S Environmental Protection Agency). Since then, the federal government agency has put legislation and programs into action concerning our environment and our nations health. With the constant change in climate, population, and issues, the EPA has had to adapt to a growing concern from the public. The EPAs mission has remained to promote a healthy and safe environment, and they have initiated several programs nationwide to provide consumers with energy conserving products to reduce waste and conserve resources in America. Although the EPAs intention has been centered on the well being of the country from the start, the agency has received opposing opinions and controversy. Discussed in this paper will be three critical issues the EPA regulates, three voluntary programs put into action by the EPA, and some major conflicts the agen cy has faced since its introduction. Before the creation of the EPA, the federal government had no regulating control over environmental pollutants. Concerns of pollution sparked national attention after the 1969 fire on the Cuyahoga River in Ohio. Time magazine described the Cuyahoga as the river that oozes rather than flows and in which a person does not drown but decays (Great Lakes). Sending concern throughout the country about toxic waste and pollution, the Cuyahoga River incident began a chain of legislation including the Clean Water Act, and later the founding of the federal Environmental Protection Agency and the smaller Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. The Clean Water Act became the primary federal law in the United States battle with water pollution (Clean Water Act). The Cuyahoga River incident and legislation that followed was only the beginning of the governments involvement and concern with the environment. Before 1969 was Rachel Carsons research of the dangers of pesticides to our environment which s he published in her book Silent Spring in 1962. The biologist warned against the effects of DDT, a synthetic pesticide. Carsons early introduction of the dangers of pollution didnt spark public interest until the later 1960s after the Cuyahoga River incident. The American public began to react to the issue of pollution on the earth and by 1970 more than 50% of Americans were rating pollution a top issue (Harmon 34). Legislation continued to be passed in the late 1960s, including the Air Quality Act of 1967 which provided federal guidelines for monitoring and guarding the quality of air we breathe, but no national standards were set (Harmon 34). The government began to take control. In 1969, under the Nixon administration, President Richard M. Nixon created the Environmental Quality Council; a panel that would address pollution concerns and advise him the necessary actions. This was another step forward for government control of environmental pollution. Shortly after, Nixon signed Co ngress National Environmental Policy Act, or NEPA. The act required planners of new construction to review and study the environmental impacts of their projects. This led to the installation of the Environmental Protection Agency, collaborating smaller government programs and bureaus with different environmental concerns. Under a single umbrella agency, the EPA could now tackle the nations environmental issues. Following the passage of NEPA, the United States experienced its first Earth Day on April 22, 1970. Millions of Americans participated in demonstrations across the country to draw attention to the environmental problems. Soon after, local and state organizations were created to find solutions to the growing issue. The federal government also got its big break for environmental control when Nixon proposed the Reorganization Plan No. 3 to combat the fact that our national government today is not structured to make a coordinated attack on the pollutants which debase the air we b reathe, the water we drink, and the land that grows our food (Reorganization Plan). The Plan organized various aspects of existing federal departments including the Department of the Interior and the Department of Health to create a collaborated federal effort to establish and enforce environmental protection standards, conduct environmental research, provide assistance to others combating environmental pollution, and assist the CEQ in developing and recommending to the President new policies for environmental protection (Lewis). The Environmental Protection Agency proved a great move in the direction toward environmental awareness and protection for years to come. When Nixon created the EPA, he appointed William D. Ruckelshaus as the first head of the agency in 1970. Since then, a total of 12 administrators have led the EPA; including the current administrator Lisa P. Jackson who took over in 2009. Jackson was nominated in 2008 by Barack Obama for her experience in the field. Prior to her role as administrator, Jackson worked 16 years for the EPA, Chief of Staff in New Jersey during John S. Corzines term, and also the Commissioner of New Jerseys Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Jackson was appointed in January of 2009, where she promised as Administrator, I will ensure EPAs efforts to address the environmental crises of today are rooted in three fundamental values: science-based policies and programs, adherence to the rule of law, and overwhelming transparency. By keeping faith with these values and unleashing innovative, forward-thinking approaches we can further protect neighborhoods and communities throughout the country (Jack son). As Administrator, Jackson stated seven priorities after her first year; taking action on climate change, improving air quality, assuring safety of chemicals, cleaning up EPAs committees, protecting Americas waters, expanding the conversation on environmentalism and working for environmental justice and building strong state and tribal partnerships (Jackson). The major issues the EPA tackles include air pollution, climate change, environmental emergencies, green living, health and safety, land and clean up, pesticides chemicals and toxics, waste, and water pollution. The three discussed will be air pollution, water pollution, and hazardous waste and toxins. Air pollution was a growing concern before the creation of the EPA, but since then the agency has passed legislation and founded programs to control this growing threat. EPAs mission on air pollution is to protect and improve air quality in order to avoid or mitigate the consequences of air pollutions harmful effects (Learn the Issues: Air). Among the first legislation pushed by the EPA was The Clean Air Act. The Clean Air Act is the law that defines EPAs responsibilities for protecting and improving the nations air quality and the stratospheric ozone layer (Clean Air Act). Initially created in 1963, the act has experienced its changes in 1970 and 1990 with the change in climate. The Clean Air Act was a serious step in the right direction for government involvement with the environment. By addressing air pollution, the EPA could enact standards ensuring the issue was under control. The amended Clean Air Act in 1990 proposed solutions for addressing acid rain, ozone depletion, and tox ic air pollution. This included vehicle emissions in which the EPA had to set control standards for. The Clean Air Act also required the EPA to set National Ambient Air Quality Standards for six common air pollutants. The six include ground-level ozone, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and lead. Of the six pollutants, particle pollution and ground-level ozone are the most widespread health threat according to the EPA (Six Common Air Pollutants). These severe pollutants are called criteria pollutants according to the because of their regulation of the human-health and/or environmentally based science-based guidelines for setting permissible levels (Six Common Air Pollutants). Another major issue addressed by the EPA is water pollution. The agency acknowledges water in coral reefs, drinking water, ground water, lakes, oceans and coastal estuaries, rivers and streams, storm water, wastewater, watersheds, and wetlands. Water is not only used for drinking, it also holds purpose for household needs, recreation, fishing, transportation and commerce. Like air pollution, water pollution was a concern long before the founding of the EPA. However, since its creation, the agency has supported legislation and created programs to keep our limited supply of water on earth clean. The EPAs mission for water pollution is [enforcing] federal clean water and safe drinking water laws, [providing] support for municipal wastewater treatment plants, and [taking] part in pollution prevention efforts aimed at protecting watersheds and sources of drinking water (Water Topics). The EPA issued substantial legislation with the passing of the Clean Water Act in 1970-80s, which include d the Federal Water Pollution Control Amendments of 1972, expanding on the Federal Water Pollution Control Amendments of 1948 and was further amended in the Clean Water Act of 1977 and the Water Quality Act of 1987. The Clean Water Act or CWA as it is referred was introduced around 1972 with the addition of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), which is still in existence today. The NPDES permitted a system for regulating point sources (EPA NPDES). These point sources included industrial facilities, municipal governments and other government facilities, and some agricultural facilities. By regulating the pollutants from these major sources and homes across the country, the EPA is able to significantly improve the quality of our nations water. Another important piece of legislation pushed by the EPA is the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) passed in 1974. With a number of threats to drinking water: improperly disposed of chemicals, animal wastes, pesticides, human wastes, wastes injected deep underground, and naturally-occurring substances it is no question this act is completely necessary in our country (Safe Drinking Water Act). Amendments were made to the original act including in 1986 and 1996 which required actions to protect drinking water and its sources: rivers, lakes, reservoirs, springs, and ground water wells (Safe Drinking Water Act). The SDWA affects every single public water system in the country and according to the EPA, there are more than 160,000 public water systems providing water to Americans every day. The EPA and its programs work every day to ensure the safety of our drinking water and the water that surrounds us for our health and well being. Another huge, and more recent, issue among the EPA is toxic and hazardous waste. As defined by the EPA, hazardous waste is a liquid, solid, contained gas, or sludge waste that contains properties that are dangerous or potentially harmful to human health or the environment (Wastes). Because of the introduction of chemicals and engineered unnatural substances and bi-products of industry, the EPA has had to address the growing issue. Major legislation passed concerning hazardous waste was in 1976 with the passage of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, commonly known as RCRA. RCRA was approved by Congress to to address the increasing problems the nation faced from our growing volume of municipal and industrial waste (History of RCRA). RCRA provided national standards for protecting human health and the environment from the potential hazards of waste disposal, conserving energy and natural resources, reducing the amount of waste generated, and ensuring that wastes are managed in a n environmentally-sound manner (History of RCRA). By creating these standards, the RCRA was able to manage Americas growing waste crisis. To promote this, the RCRA enacted three programs; a solid waste program, a hazardous waste program, and an underground storage tank (UST) program. The RCRA also banned all open dumping of waste and encouraged responsible acts such as source reduction and recycling. The RCRA deals with current and future facilities and has been amended in two occasions; the Federal Facility Compliance Act of 1992 which strengthened enforcement of RCRA at federal facilities, and the Land Disposal Program Flexibility Act of 1996 which provided regulatory flexibility for specific wastes (History of RCRA). The EPA continues to strive to protect and ensure the safety of American citizens and the environment. Over the years, the EPA has created numerous programs, each devoted specific tasks including conserving energy, water, and air quality. These programs address modern issues that have been created recently concerning over-usage and waste of natural materials and energy. Efficiency has become a hot topic as programs like Energy Star, Water Sense, and fuel efficient cars have hit the market. Energy Star, one of the most successful EPA programs, was created in 1992 as a voluntary labeling program designed to identify and promote energy-efficient products to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (History: Energy Star). At its introduction, Energy Star began by labeling computers and monitors. By 1995, however, Energy Star labels were displayed on office equipment and even domestic heating and cooling appliances. In 1996, Energy Star progressed and partnered with the U.S Department of Energy to fully expand its energy efficient label. Saving Americans $18 billion in 2010 alone, Energy Star has become an innovative ally in the energy efficiency market. From dishwashers to light bulbs, Energy Star has created convenient blue energy saving labels for the American consumer. Saving energy isnt the only reward to using Energy Star products. Consumers who choose Energy Star products receive tax deductions as well as long term savings. According to the EPA, to rate an Energy Star label t he appliances as well as computers, lighting and about 50 other products generally use 20 to 30 percent less energy than required by federal standards (Tugend). By supplying newer, more energy efficient products and appliances, old ones can also be traded out for recycling. By taking away old appliances, Energy Star creates a convenient way to become green in America. Not only are consumers awarded for purchasing Energy Stat labels, but small businesses have also been recognized for efficiency. Annually, the EPA awards small businesses across the country for their energy saving efforts. In 2010, nine businesses were honored the award including AutoFair Companies of Manchester, N.H. and Dagher Engineering of New York, N.Y. According to a statement by the EPA, through effective energy management practices and innovative efficiency solutions, all nine organizations demonstrate that no matter the size, it is possible to save money and use significantly less energy and to power the bui ldings where Americans work, play, and learn (Kika). Energy Star continues to be a huge factor in energy conservation in the U.S today. A second program initiated by the EPA is Water Sense. Like Energy Star, Water Sense is a voluntary rather than a regulatory program. A more recent addition to the U.S, Water Sense was introduced in the summer of 2006 to protect the future of the U.Ss water supply. By educating the public on how to efficiently use the limited water available, Water Sense has been successful in conserving resources, limiting consumption, and saving U.S consumers money. Water Sense products include efficient toilets, faucets, and showerheads. Products that bear the Water Sense label are 20 percent more water efficient than the other products in their category. Since its creation in 2006, Water Sense has reported the program has helped consumers save a cumulative 46 billion gallons of water and $343 million in water and sewer bills (Program Accomplishments). Water Sense strives to help not only the average American consumer, but also businesses and corporations across the country conserve water. Manufact urers of brands like recent additions KB Homes and Moen have contributed to the Water Sense movement by raising their standards and meeting the Water Sense conservation requirements. Another vital program initiated by the EPA concerns fuel economy. The EPA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) require labels displaying fuel economy information on new cars and light-duty trucks (Fuel Economy). By providing easy to read labels, cars and trucks can be easily compared for maximum miles per gallon efficiency (MPG). The EPA and NHTSA work to update these labels to provide consumers with the simplest energy and environmental comparisons between all vehicles types including electric vehicles (EV), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV), and conventional gasoline/diesel vehicles (Fuel Economy). These labels contain new information such as ratings on fuel economy, greenhouse gas emissions, and other air pollutants, onto the label as required by the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007 (Fuel Economy). By providing details like these, consumers can conveniently scan and compare fuel economy and energy use of new cars and trucks to mak e the most sensible and economical decision. All three programs; Energy Star, Water Sense, and efforts with fuel economy all prove a step in the right direction for energy conservation and preservation in the U.S. The EPAs initiative and constant work to create modern and convenient products for the U.S consumer promote a better tomorrow for the environment and the health of our nation. Although the EPA has contributed tremendously to the preservation of our nations climate and health, the agency has been confronted with controversy. One specific instance of this was after the September 11th attacks in Lower Manhattan in New York City. The true air quality and health risks following the attack were disputed among government officials. At the center of it all was EPA Administrator Christie Todd Whitman. In a news article reporting the controversy it was stated that In a Sept. 13, 2001, press release, the EPA said the air around the disaster site was relatively safe (Barrett). This struck controversy after a series of health issues including was called the Ground Zero illness flooded victims and officials involved in the 9/11 attacks. The EPA played a key role in the nations response to the terrorist attacks including monitoring of air, water and dust for potential environmental hazards, the vacuuming of debris and dust from streets and other outdoor spaces in Lower M anhattan, the manual disposal of hazardous waste from the WTC site, the creation of an online database to report monitoring results to the public and press, setting up wash stations and providing protective equipment for recovery workers, and the development of cleaning and testing programs for indoor residences in Lower Manhattan (EPA Response to September 11). Despite these efforts, the EPA was still struck with a series of questions and hearings from the government and public as to the true condition of the air quality that September day. Some five to seven years after even the EPA was continued to be questioned as to the condition and experience of their employees and scientists and the condition of their political leadership. In a 60 Minutes special, former EPA Administrator Christine Todd Whitman spoke and defended the EPA and criticized NYC authorities for not enforcing proper safety regulations for the workers. The Environmental Protection Agency has given new hope to the word environment in America. By promoting green living, sustainability, conservation, and preservation, the EPA has given Americans a chance to save the nation for future generations. Initiating programs such as Energy Star, Water Sense and efforts with fuel economy, the EPA has proven they are committed to promoting health and well being in America. Even with rapid chance among the U.S, the EPA has jumpstarted legislation to combat the waste and pollution in the country and on earth. Legislation including the Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, and efforts to reduce hazardous waste has proven the EPAs success across the nation. Even met by controversy, the EPA has held a tight grip on regulation and conservation throughout the country, and will continue to hold on for future generations. Furthermore, the EPAs mission has been to protect. An agency dedicated to conservation and preservation has rooted itself in American societ y. Without the Environmental Protection Agency, not only would America have a bigger mess on their hands, but as our health would be at risk as a nation as well.

Impact of Organizational Communication on Employee Performance

Impact of Organizational Communication on Employee Performance Man is a social animal. He cannot overcome the worldly activities alone. He needs help from other people to do his usual deeds. We spend a lot of time in writing, reading, talking and listening, infect most of our time is spent while communicating. For the implementation of our routine activities we always need someones help. Then process of communication starts. No one can communicate alone. Theres always a sender and one or more receivers. Communication is a source of delivering messages form one to another. Through communication people share their ideas, feelings, thoughts and emotions. Man carries out his needs and also helps others by knowing each other. And life will pass with the same zeal. Communication plays a vital role in the working of any business. Organizations have to communicate to carry out their business activities. Researches indicate that organizations cannot meet their goals unless they have effective communication. In the triumph of any organization, the relationship between manager and his subordinates plays the significant role. In any business activity manager is a key player. Communication is a ribbon, which binds the management and its official together, and is very obligatory for the success and excellent performance of any organization. Communication helps the organizational members to make both personal and organizational goals. And also help them to co-ordinate on the internal activities of the organization. To the extent the less effective communication of any organization is, the less effective its performance will be. E.g. the new employee orientation program is the first and most essential step for any organization towards efficient communication. New employees feel a great sense of confidence with orientation program. And this thing leaves a positive impact on their performance. In this respect the job of a manager cannot be ignored, because problems occur when directions are not clear. Every manager should be a good communicator. Because he is one who communicates the message to one or a group. (Ivancevich Matteson, 2002) Effective communication increases the efficiency and productivity of any business. And also make the employees more satisfied. Researches illustrate that effectual and well-organized communication positively relates to the job satisfaction, performance and positive attitudes of employees. A study by University of East London shows that the concept of communication is immeasurable in modern management, and it seeks to meet clear understanding between manager and all the employees. It explains that employee communication is; infect exchange and clear provision of information, commands and directions between management and employees. And it makes the organization to work properly and employees to be well aware about their responsibilities and duties. (University of East London, 2009) Communication is a course of action in which information is being shared from one person or group to another by using common symbols. Though science and information technology become advance now even yet the human element of communication cannot be ignored, because communication within the organization is preferred for any business. It is necessary for the healthy environment of any establishment. Communication is a pervasive activity through which people become able to know each other and they combine their efforts. Today employees want to know what is happening in their surroundings, what their co-workers are doing and how they are participating in the organization, and how the daily functions of the organization are carried out? Today the manager requires more effective and logical communication in all the directions i.e. upward, downward; lateral etc. when there is effective communication in the organization it provides a bridge of understanding to people. In this way they can better understand each other. And this bridge of understanding helps them to cross the river of misinterpretation. Communication is not what the sender says; it is to what degree the receiver understands the message. Organizations cannot survive without communication. When there is no communication, workers were not clear with their everyday jobs, management cannot get the information, group leaders and executives cannot lead and direct their employees. (Newstrom, 2007) Through communication we can better understand each others feelings, opinion, beliefs and principles. Communication makes it possible for the organizations to perform their daily management functions e.g. organizing, planning, controlling and leading. Co-ordination is an essential element to carry out the business actions. When there is no effective internal communication, co-ordination of work also becomes impossible. And organizations have to suffer a lot in this situation. Co-operation also becomes impossible because people will not discuss their ideas and feelings with others. This will lead to low productivity and low performance in the organization. Innovation also stumps in this way. According to Balondi, companies that are very good at communication are effective listeners to their employees, and also they plan effectively. He explains that effective internal communication keeps the employees on track and it increase the financial performance of the companies. The results of the study confirm that companies with effective communication, their market value increases by 20 percent. (Balondi, 2006) Communication is the stream of information, material, knowledge and insight between different people and various departments of any organization. It influences each and every action of the organization. Infect, it is a chain of perceptions which moves the organizations towards their goals. Organizations cannot meet their goals and challenges until they communicate well. Good communication leads to good results, and toward more satisfied, motivated and dedicated employees. And boost their morale as well. Communication is possibly the most imperative thing for the continued existence of any business. The purpose to have good communication in any organization is to have employee involvement in the organization. There should be good communication between management and their officials, because internal communication plays a fundamental role in the performance of any organization. BROAD PROBLEM AREA Every organization has its own culture and patterns on the basis of which they conduct their functions and activities. The present study is an attempt to analyze the factors which affects the performance of employees in the organization, as in organizations there are several things which affects the employees performance. The communication is the most important thing in this respect. Many studies have conducted in this regard but those did not discuss the factors which affects the employee performance with respect to communication. From a managerial perspective, it is important to discuss the relationship between management and employees with reference to communication. As there are many factors which relates to communication and enhance the employee performance in the organizations e.g. co-operation, co-ordination, job satisfaction, employee motivation, image of the organization and accomplishment of goals. Keeping this in mind, the study of communication and managerial behavior requires an in-depth analysis of all those circumstances in which the functions of the organization takes place. This study will focus on the managerial behavior and patterns of communication in the organization which leads to employees performance. This study will incorporate the attitude of managers/organizational leaders towards their employees by taking in-depth information from the concerned functionaries. LITRETURE REVIEW A literature review discusses published information in a particular area, and sometimes information in a particular subject area within a certain time period. A literature review can be just a simple summary of the source, but it usually has an organizational pattern and combines both summary and synthesis. A summary is a recap of the important information of the source, but a synthesis is a re-organization, or a reshuffling, of that information. It might give a new interpretation of old material or combine with old interpretation. Or it might trace the intellectual progression of the field, including major debates. And depending on the situation, the literature review may evaluate the sources and advise the reader on the most pertinent or relevant. According to Hellweg Phillips (1982), the worker productivity increases when there is communication within the organization. Besides many other things the communication within the organization helps the employees to perform their tasks well, to have information about the duties they have to perform, and about the goals of the organization. They argue that existence of communication within the organization lead to the effective decision making. Smidts, Pruyn, Riel (2001) define the employee communication as communication transaction in their study. They argues that employees who are well informed about organizational activities as goals and objectives, new developments and achievements can enable the organizations members to develop such characteristics which differentiates it from other organizations. They found that communication climate is an important variable in the relationship between employee communication and organizational identification. In their point of view the lack of communication within the organization affect the organizational decision making. According to them, its the foremost duty of the manager to pay serious attention towards the internal communication climate, by giving each employee opportunities to speak, get involved and be listening and guide them for the fulfillment of goals. A study by Harshman Harshman (1999) concludes that the structure of the organizations is changing day by day as the environment is changing. The changing social and economic atmosphere in any country brings change in the work settings of any organization. Organizational communication is the critical function, and it affects the content and structure of the organization. These changes lead to change in formal and informal patterns of communication in the organizations. The previous researches show that there is a strong bound between communication and other organizational functions. Another study by Monge, Cozzens, Contractor (1992) shows that communication variables like information sharing and communication between group members leads to innovation in the organization. They found that communication variables have a strong effect on the organizational outcome. They argue the participative environment within the organization, increase its productivity and improve its performance and outcomes. Effective communication in the work setting of any organization promotes trust in the employees. When they are getting involved in decision-making or when they are empowered this thing will increase their confidence level and definitely have a positive effect on the performance of the employees. In connection to this another pertinent study to be quoted is the one proposed by Dirks Ferrin (2001) on the role of trust. Their findings show that trust is an important element in the organizational settings as it positively relates to the attitudes, perceptions, behaviors and performance outcomes within the organizational settings. It has direct effect on the various outcomes. Trust is an essential building block in the functioning of an organization. They found that trust is directly relates to increase productivity, positive attitude of the employees, their good behaviors and more likely to the high level of cooperation between management and employees. A study of manager-employee surveys, Trinka (2006) found that managers can increase their overall effectiveness by 50-60 percent by focusing on communication. He argues that employees are interested in learning communication skills to make a healthy and co-operate working environment. He proposes that a manager can play an important role in retaining employees and in their performance. He found that those managers, who discuss and communicate the performance standards with their employees, get more effective results and outcomes. A study at BigCo Company of USA found, those leaders who follow the bureaucratic model in the company, results as restricted interaction patterns. The social interaction between employees is very low which indeed leads to low sharing. They argue that social interaction is the core of any business and there should be good interaction between the leaders and the employees. They further illustrated that women are more efficient and active at communication. They found in their research that women working at BigCo are more likely to bridge the communication in the company. They explain that the coordination between top management and the subordinates is very less which seems divergent in the complex world of information and technology, as communication and coordination are two most important ingredients in the working of any organization. (Kleinbaum, Stuart, Tushman, 2008) Previous studies conducted on organizational communication suggests a visible relation between trust and communication. In relation to this, Yamaguchi (2009) proposes that there exists a strong relation between these two factors i.e organizational communication and trust. He predicted that bad news such as about failure of proposals or low performance, results in developing a bad perception of employees about their boss. Wheras as good communication between superiors and employees leads to good results in the organization. He further explain that good communication can change the attitude of employees for the desired results. Communication decreases the uncertainity and effective communication enhance the trust, increases the job satisfaction, employees commitment and their loyalty towards work. He found that effective communication breaks the wall of misunderstanding and conflicts can be avoided in this way. Yukl Falbe (1992) gave the relation between soft and hard communication tactics in his study. He found that the hard communication tactics are not as effective as the soft ones. He predicted that consultation is the most effective tactic and it leads to the positive results in the organizations because hard communication tactics are least successful in the organizations. Hard communication tactics make the employees violent and they mistrust their superiors. He argues that to influence the people is the most important thing in the managerial effectiveness, that how the manager motivates his subordinates. Gray Larry (2005) suggests that CEO is the supreme head in the organizations and he lead the employees and workers to achieve the goals. They give directions and their behaviours sets the culture in the work setting that how to fulfill the objectives and achieved the visiion and mission. They found that, employees are most satisfied with those Executives and CEOs who are good communicators. The CEO and Executive communication influence the employees perceptions. They explain that communication is not only information sharing but also to create a sense of understanding. Organizations are nothing without their people, success of organizations is not possible until there is a balance between employees and the tasks. Employees can only be able to get full results when they are clear about their assigned tasks and duties, and when there is a relation of trust and appreciation. The strong relation between management and employees results in many positive aspects in the organization. Goris, Vaught, Pettit ( 2000) proposes that job performance and job satisfaction can be achieved only when there is a balance relationship between employees needs for growth and job characteristics. They found that high level of downward communication in the organizations make employees to feel dependent on their bosses. And when there is too much upward communication, employees sometimes assume that their superiors dont know how to perform their tasks and duties. He further agues that excess of everything is dangerous in the same way excess of any communication direction in the organization creates trouble for workers. Negative reactions can be the result of too many good things or too little things. In lateral communication employees compare themselves with their co-workers and this thing negatively affects employee sstisfaction and their performance. Communication is considered to be an important ingredient in the work setting of the organization. Organizational communication is a way to develop a strong culture within the organization to achive the set goals and objectives. In this regard Scholfelder (1998) defines organizational communication as an approach in which everyone should participate to create an effective culture within the corporation. This leads to sharing of knowledge, opinions and ideas which results as innovation, effective decision making and also increases the productivity of the organization. He found in his study that managers spend 70-80% of their daily time in communicating with others and if their communication skills could increase by 10 % this will lead to 7 % increase in the productivity. Trust in an important element in getting the effective and efficient result. Researches further makes this point more clear and understandable. Goris, Pettit, Vaught (2000) examines the relationship between trust in and influence of superiors and job satisfaction and job performance. They propose that trust and influence are two vast concepts in the organizational context. And this permits the supervisors and managers to attain desired results and enhance positive working conditions. Trust in supervisors is related with job satisfaction and innovation. Whereas influence of supervisors leads to employees satisfaction. They found a positive relationship between trust in supervisors, influence of supervisors and job performance and satisfaction. Denton (1993) define the relation between communication and productivity. He found that 88% of the engineers strongly believes that least productivity is the result of poor co-ordination and lack of communication between different business units. CEOs also on the view that good communication with employees directs the job satisfaction. General Electric, is a well-known organizatation, expierencing the open communication to make employee relations more effective and to increase productivity. This helps them to eradicate the communication problems because CEO;s and leaders of their 14 business units are in direct communication with each other. This results as effective and quick decision making. He further explains that Cypress Semiconductor Corporation, California uses the open communication and gets the drastic change in their productivity. When employees feel that they are listened and they are important for the organization, this increases their motivational level. Open communication is simply sharing and trusting each other in the work setting. The corporations use open communication, gets the employees satisfaction, motivation and cooperation. The improvement in the employee relations leads to the increased productivity. Role of communication cannot be ignored in any establishment. communication between management and employees keep them up to date about what is happening in their sorrundings. Dinsbach, Feij, de Vries (2007) founds that there is a positive and strong relation between communication, job satisfaction and organizational identification. They talked about in the terms of discrimination between employees and found that those employees who are treated unequally leads to negative outcomes. Whereas those employees who are treated equally are more satisfied and committed to their management. They examined a positive relation between communication and job attitudes and outcomes. The study demonstrates that communication is the best way to know about tha attitudes of employees. They explain that communication among people is essential in all type of organization, because when there is good public relations this results as increase productivity, job satisfaction, positive attitude of employees t owards their organization and also organizational identification.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder :: Post-traumatic stress disorder, PTSD

The Post-traumatic stress disorder is a mental illness that may develop in people after a horrible experience. This is a big reaction to extreme stress. There are many causes, symptoms, and treatments for the post-traumatic stress disorder. There are many causes this disorder has, and this includes: coming out of war, being raped, or attacked, child abuse, natural disasters, car accidents, and even people who witness traumatic events could develop this disorder. A person who has experienced a bad traumatic event has a better chance of developing this disorder than a person who experienced a less traumatic event develops. This works the same way with people who witness something horrible. Some people also have biological or psychological problems that make them more likely to develop this disorder. Or having anxiety disorders in their families that may have inherited genetics to react more severely to stress and trauma than other people. Persons early childhood experiences that made them feel that events are uncontrollable have a greater chance of getting this disorder. Some people are kind of like protected from this disorder by having a strong social network with their friends and family. In war veterans they call this disorder shell shock or combat fatigue. People with this disorder "relive" the event again and again though nightmares and memories during the day. They will sometimes have flashbacks where they will fall into their own world and relive images, and sounds from the trauma. Because of their extreme anxiety and distress from the event, they will try to avoid anything that would happen to remind them of it. They may seem emotionally numb, detached, irritable, and easily startled. They may feel guilty about surviving a traumatic event that killed other people because they now think that they should have done something. Other symptoms include trouble concentrating, depression, and sleep difficulties. Symptoms of the disorder usually begin shortly after the traumatic event, but some people may not show symptoms for several years. If left untreated, the disorder can last for years. Post-traumatic stress disorder can ruin someone's life. The emotional pain of reliving the trauma, the symptoms of the disorder may cause a person to think that he or she is "going crazy." People with this disorder may have angry outbursts at family members. At other times, they may seem to have no affection for their loved ones. Some people try to mask their symptoms by abusing alcohol or drugs. Others work very long hours to prevent any down periods when they might relive the trauma. Such actions may delay the onset of the disorder until these individuals retire or become sober.

Inner Truths in The House of the Seven Gables :: House of the Seven Gables Essays

Inner Truths in The House of the Seven Gables It was Hawthorne’s belief that romances deal with inner truths, while novels are based on "mere fact." Because he held himself to be a romance writer, inner truths were elemental themes in The House of the Seven Gables. The truths that he conceived, and expressed, in the story range from the concept that death and suffering do not discriminate based on one’s position in society to the karmic effects one generation may have on those of future generations. Hawthorne saw these themes as important concepts that went beyond simple didactic commentaries. As a romance writer he wanted his reader to understand his conceptions on a complete level, and to achieve this he realized that he must delve into an unusual space in the reader's mind. The supernatural plays an important role in this goal in The House of the Seven Gables. The Supernatural challenges the reader to use her imagination and step out of her usual stereotypes and beliefs so that she may observe the story as Hawt horne wrote it. This challenge is meant to help the reader grasp Hawthorne’s conceptions. Maule’s curse at the gallows is the beginning of the development for one of Hawthorne’s central themes: guilt will stay for generations. In regards to this "karmic" theme, Maule’s curse, a supernatural power, foreshadows the future of the Pyncheon family. Maule insists, "God will give him blood to drink!" and as we read on it appears that this portion of the curse does indeed come to pass. But the effects of the curse do not end there. As men began to build the Pyncheon home on Maule’s land, the famous spring water on the property "entirely lost the deliciousness of its pristine quality." The land that Colonel Pyncheon intended to have for his family immediately started losing its value as the "pristine" well became foul. As the story goes on it, becomes clear that the curse will similarly effect the Pyncheon family, making what once was rich very poor. Maule’s supernatural power is further developed with the use of ghosts. The use of these spirits implies that all inhabitants of the house are in a state of unrest. Although Colonel Pyncheon was the one to commit the sin against Maule, all his relatives will pay for the deed. Alice Pyncheon was said "to haunt the House of the Seven Gables and.