In Defense of Globalization - International Trade and Free Markets Essay - 1

In Defense of Globalization - International Trade and Free Markets - Essay Example One of the most important provisions under neoliberalism has been international trade and free markets. This concept of free and market-based economies can be traced back to more than 200 years back when the idea was born during the years of the Industrial Revolution. Evidence of the emergence of this idea can be traced to the discussion of such ideas in a book titled The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith in 1776, which professed that in order to attain maximum efficiency, any form of intervention into the working of the market had to be withheld by the government and all kinds of taxes and surcharges on manufacturing and commerce had to be done away with. Given the old practices of the olden days, such new and innovative ideas were immediately opposed, due to which, free markets had to be introduced by force. The introduction of free markets led to a strong growth of the economies of the countries (especially the ones in Europe) that were undergoing the industrial revolution. However, the booming trade and the discovery of new lands prompted these nations to promote trade overseas, which did not go according to what Free market theory had professed. The mercantilist system helped the imperial powers in carrying out unfair trade practices, which helped them to get richer at the expense of the overseas territories, which became poorer and poorer. This led to the creation of a financial imbalance in the world order, which saw some nations getting very prosperous at the behest of other nations, whose people were forced to remain poor. The trend in this direction continued to persist until the Second World War, whose culmination witnessed a reduction in the economic might of the empires. This reduction of strength prompted the colonized countries to break free one after another. However, the massive changes in the world geopolitical system saw the evolution of different forms of government in various countries, such as democracy in India and Communism in the Soviet Union and Russia.     

Trends in Business Communication Essay Example for Free

Trends in Business Communication Essay Over the past two decades technology has advanced rapidly, bringing substantial change in how people communicate in business. While traditional methods of communications such as formal letters and business meetings still take place, even these types of communications have changes dramatically. With the rise of personal computers and the internet in the early 1990’s, nearly every form of communication in business today would be largely unrecognizable to businesspersons from previous decades. The development of these business communication methods are one of the biggest reasons for movement toward an increasingly global economy today. In today’s business environment, typed letters are seldom used. In the times when they are used, they are used as more of a formality than as an everyday form of communication. From personal business experience, they are mainly used to personalize a relationship with clients and most often times are reinforced with electronic communications. Even the way letters are written in today’s business environment is drastically different from years past. Electronic methods for producing and personalizing the letters have been greatly enhanced by the software available today. As for non-formal written communications such as memos, from personal experience they are almost never received in hardcopy. They are all disseminated via e-mail. E-mail is the communications forum that has most affected business communications. Whether formal or informal, it provides for immediate transmittal and reply. A common issue with e-mail communications is that they may become too burdensome, however. The ease of mass dissemination and the prevalence of its use can often lead to large volume of relatively unimportant e-mails. There have been methods developed to lessen this burden, however, including the ability to identify relatively important e-mails such as flagging them. While e-mail has provided a much more fluent and easier method of communication among co-workers and clients, there have been advances that allow businesspersons to accomplish many tasks with less communication with people than was necessary in the past. In today’s business environment, almost all successful companies have interactive websites for customers to research information or to directly communicate with customer support. Data research is constantly required for customer inquiries or for data mining in almost every position within a company. The development of networked databases and cloud computing has allowed employees to conduct almost all necessary research without even speaking to a customer or another employee. The advancement of cloud computing in recent years allows businesses to store and access data remotely, rather than maintaining their own infrastructure. It allows you to access data using any device with a network connection as well as to work on documents with other businesspeople in multiple locations. Cloud computing also allows unlimited storage space and through subscription to the software, allowing businesses to only use what they need. Telecommunications has also been developed into something drastically different than from just a few years ago. While almost all conferences and meetings took place in person not too long ago. More frequent meetings that include all personnel are now increasingly possible with advances in teleconferencing and on-line meetings. In my current position, meetings are held several times a week from offices all around the country on-line. Training is also being conducted in this manner with live training sessions on-line where you can interact with the instructor through instant messaging and telephone. Because of these methods, business can be conducted from almost anywhere a networked computer is available. Another trend that is being allowed by business communication is that employees are increasingly working from remote locations. Devices such as wikis, PDAs, and much more powerful networks and transportable computers have made many of these advances in business communication much easier. In a previous position, our director often worked from remote locations while away on either vacation or business trips almost seamlessly. In my current position, I frequently interact with employees who work from home. The continually advancing technology of recent years has brought about dramatic changes in business communication. In the years to come, it will allow companies to become increasingly paperless will likely provide even greater changes to the way that businesses communicate. Rapidly advances in mobile devices and the software available for them will make what today is viewed as extraordinary the norm. In all, the developments of the last few years have greatly enhanced business communication, improving productivity and generally lowering costs while enabling a company to increase revenues. Effective communications play a critical role in all relationships within a business from management to employee to client. slide 1 of 10 The efficiency and overall profitability of businesses who have quickly adapted to the new communication methods has greatly improved, leaving all other companies no choice but to try and keep up. Communication is probably the most critical factor in the business world of today and companies who can more quickly to develop more effective communication will almost certainly have a substantial advantage on their competition.

The Era of Privatisation :: Business Management Studies

The Era of Privatisation Introduction It was under the Thatcher government that the era of privatisation started and it was â€Å"the most radical change in the 20th century British politics† (Young, 2001, p. 1). From 1984 to 1991, the telecommunications, gas, water and electricity industries which were under government control, were sold to become privately owned and controlled. The privatisation of the electricity industry occurred in 1990 but had already begun in 1987 with the creation of a programme describing the different tasks involved in privatising the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity. According to Young (2001), the considerable number of privatisations can be explained by the intention of improving the efficiency and a more economic reason concerning the proceeds of the flotation. As far as the case of electricity is concerned, David Parker (1999) argues that the main reason was to promote competition and that all the producers of the four activities (generation, transmission, distribution and supply), could be divided into separate corporations responsible for each activity and open to competition. After the privatisation of the electricity industry, a regulatory office was created, the Office of Electricity Regulation - also known as Offer. The need for regulatory bodies such as Offer can be explained for example by the requirement of preventing unfair competition when several companies work in the same fields or provide customers the same service, or the need to protect the work force. Moreover, as Parker argues it can attract international attention. This essay will firstly attempt to explain the situation of the electricity industry before 1997 and the changes it was subjected to, then it will identify the regulation office responsible for this industry and the role it plays, and finally it will highlight the benefits and the drawbacks of this regulation. I- The situation of the British electricity industry A) A historic review up to 1997 Ø The early days As John Surrey (1996) explains, the Electricity industry existed for about 150 years and it has always required a form of regulation especially when the technology started progressing. The first model of regulation were acts of legislation taken for example after the First World War, in 1926, by the Conservative Government to â€Å"establish the Central Electricity Board as the owner of a national grid† (Surrey, 1996, p. XV). Some of the issues were solved, such as the voltage distribution between the different regions but others remained, like the considerable numbers of suppliers. All these considerations tend to explain the nationalisation of the industry in 1948. Ø Privatisation State control lasted forty years until 1989, however the need to promote competition in generation and in retail electricity supply, and to separate the transmission from the generation, led the Thatcher

Democracy in America

The Formation of American Identity Morgan Hersha IAH 201 Professor Emily Conroy-Krutz February 21, 2013 Americans pride themselves on their nation and its achievements, but most of all, their freedom. â€Å"Nothing is more wonderful than the art of being free, but nothing is harder to learn how to use than freedom. † It is a blessing to live under such a great constitution and we as citizens should be knowledgeable about where, when, and how it all it began. People are who they are because of the experiences that they have been through throughout their life.This is the same case for America. The United States has formed its identity through experiences, both good and bad. After a long history of both conflict and peace, the United States formed as a union influenced both by European cultures and Native American culture. It all started when Christopher Columbus set sail and him along with the Europeans colonized to America. The Europeans brought their culture and ideas with the m. We Americans just like any culture like to pass on our traditions to the generations to come.The things that I have learned in this class have tied into things today, or at least their origin. The shared history and culture that was developed is still evolving today. During the colonial and revolutionary periods of American history, Native Americans, wars, and European culture all impacted what it meant to be American, and its identity. Native Americans contributed to American identity tremendously. Early American settlers developed many skills that they learned from the Native Americans such as agriculture, language, and even governmental structure.Without the Native Americans it would have been difficult for colonists to be successful and survive. The colonists played a role like a tourist, and the Native Americans acted as guides. Native Americans depended on trade, and they shared this strategy with the colonists. Europeans would send things such as fur in return for things s uch as guns and salt. The French trading company was set up. It was thought the Native Americans receive civilization and Christianity, while the Europeans receive labor and land.This was obviously extremely unfair and the colonists were highly upset over this. The colonists were practically raised by the Native Americans, but once they were able to stand on their own two feet, they took a stand to the Native Americans due to their frustration. During the colonial times of America, multiple wars took place in order to get rid, or displace the Native Americans. During this time the Native Americans were treated horribly. It was their homeland and it was being taken from them, and some were even taken in as slaves.The colonists started to build on the Connecticut River Valley, but the only thing stopping them was the Pequots. At this time is when the colonists and Native Americans decide to unite against the Pequots, starting the Pequot War in 1637. The English set fire to a fort, whi ch burned down the whole thing leaving about 5 survivors. The English believe that their easy victory meant that God was on their side. The English wanted to adopt the women and children and bring them into their own tribes and convert them into Christianity. The Wampanoag Indians did not want to live by the moral code of the Puritans.Massasoit was chief of the Wampanoag, he then died and Wamsuette took over which is when things began to fall apart. The sudden death of Wamsuetta was believed to be the cause the King Phillips war in 1975-1976, said to be the bloodiest war in history. During this war 5,000 Native people did, and Phillip retreated home. Many people argue over the justification of taking the land of the Native America. â€Å"It was a solemn sight to see so many Christians lying in their blood, some here and some there, like a company of sheep torn by wolves. Some say that the colonists came there to express their religion and gain wealth, while others see the colonists as cruel and unfair people. Today Native Americans, or Indians, have been given reservations, or land in order to repay them for what had been taken from them. There is much controversy on what else the Indians receive, but the United States is putting in some effort to justify what they had done. What is warfare? According to Webster’s Dictionary, warfare is the process of military struggle between two nations or groups of nations. Warfare is a part of just about every nation’s history.What influenced the American Revolution? There were a series of events that impacted the way Americans thought and gave them courage to rebel. The Haitian Revolution put thoughts in the Americans head to become free when the slaves rebelled and took Haiti from the French. By 1770’s about 1/5 of the British Empire was made up of Americans. The Sugar Act and Stamp Act were both two occurrences that made the colonists extremely angry, and after mass rioting the act was repealed. Br itain came up with the Townshend Act, which placed import on glass, paint, paper, lead and tea.To enforce the act the British would use blank search warrants and search any building for any reason. The colonists became very upset and scared. As a result of this there were many outbreaks, which led up to the Boston Massacre. With many civilians being killed during the Boston Massacre, this is when the people start to realize that Americans need to be independent. The Americans start to make homespun clothes and homemade food and tea, which starts to bring patriotism, which makes it easy to put together a military.The French come to aid of the Americans by providing cash to help defeat the British. The American Revolution had major impacts. Examples of these impacts include things such as independent states with a centralized government, decentralized colonies to independent states with a central government, formation of a constitution, and separation of church and state, and the rest riction of slavery. This American Revolution plays a very crucial role in who we are as Americans today. The last major impact on American identity is the influence that the British had on the Americans.The United States continues to be dependent on the British for culture and other things showing that America as a nation still followed Britain. Manufacturing has not yet been developed so the Americans are still depending on England to get their goods. America starts to take off when Jedidah Mose, a minister from Connecticut, creates an American geography for classroom use. The Europeans eventually do not have local knowledge about America and start asking for information. Goods start being carried on American ships, which is a symbolic change as a new point in history of the US. America is a land of wonders, in which everything is in constant motion and every change seems an improvement. † The point when Americans are seen as free and equal is when the Empress of China, the f irst US ship to go to China, sets sail. On that same day a ship leaves from New York to go to London, to pronounce peace terms. These actions are not being done by the government, but by merchants, although the people see it as a national action. Americans can now enjoy buying things on their own terms. Americans continue to judge themselves as British, and the English do not respect them.Americans are very eager to always read British reports that are talking about America, and they are very sensitive to this. Americans need to cut ties with British if they want to have their own identity. Between the dates 1810-1830 America shifts between being dependent on the British, and being independent. Native Americans, warfare, and European culture have all been major factors that formed the American identity, and who we are today. Some of our values and trends may have changed throughout the years, but we still hold onto the roots of our culture.It is a blessing to live with freedom, and sometimes people take that for granted. Today, we are just born into the US and we are granted these freedoms, but in the colonial times, they had to fight for it. ——————————————– [ 1 ]. Tocqueville, Alexis D. Democracy in America. N. p. : Penguin Group, 2003. Print. [ 2 ]. Krutz, E. Conroy. â€Å"American Empires, Colonies. † Lecture. Michigan State University. January 10, 2013. [ 3 ]. Krutz, E. Conroy. â€Å"American Empires, Colonies. † Lecture. Michigan State University.January 10, 2013. [ 4 ]. Krutz, E. Conroy. â€Å"Indian Wars and Captivity. † Lecture. Michigan State University. January 15, 2013. [ 5 ]. Krutz, E. Conroy. â€Å"Indian Wars and Captivity. † Lecture. Michigan State University. January 15, 2013. [ 6 ]. Krutz, E. Conroy. â€Å"Indian Wars and Captivity. † Lecture. Michigan State University. January 15, 2013. [ 7 ]. Rowlandson, Mary. The Sovereignty and Goodness of God. N. p. : n. p. , 1682. Print. [ 8 ]. Krutz, E. Conroy. â€Å"French Revolution. † Lecture. Michigan State University. January 15, 2013. [ 9 ]. Krutz, E.Conroy. â€Å"French Revolution. † Lecture. Michigan State University. January 15, 2013. [ 10 ]. Krutz, E. Conroy. â€Å"Tourism, Commerce, and American Identity. †Lecture. Michigan State University. January 15, 2013. [ 11 ]. Krutz, E. Conroy. â€Å"Tourism, Commerce, and American Identity. †Lecture. Michigan State University. January 15, 2013. [ 12 ]. Tocqueville, Alexis D. Democracy in America. N. p. : Penguin Group, 2003. Print. [ 13 ]. Krutz, E. Conroy. â€Å"Tourism, Commerce, and American Identity. †Lecture. Michigan State University. January 15, 2013.

Should College Athletes Be Paid Essay

Why College Athletes Should Be Paid $53.4 Million the combined salary of the top 15 paid coaches in division 1 college football, $0 the combined salary of all student-athletes. Over the past few decades, college athletics have gained popularity across the United States. Whether it is football, basketball, or baseball, ever since the turn of the century, intercollegiate sports have brought in a surplus of revenue to their respective Universities. A recent study found that the University of Texas’ Athletic Program had the highest revenue of any other University at a little over $120 million. Yet with this large sum of money, NO college athletes are legally compensated for their work. According to NCAA rules, â€Å"You are not eligible for participation in a sport if you have ever: Taken pay or the promise of pay, for competing in that sport†. While it may seem odd and unjust to pay college athletes, the reality is that compensation of such athletes is a necessity not only to keep competition at a steady level in college athletics, but also to encourage students to graduate and get their college degrees. Student athletes should be compensated for their work, as they are the sole reason for the Athletic Program’s surplus in revenue. These athletes are working for the schools and are doing a service to the college that seems to go unnoticed. Colleges are using these athletes to boost their respective reputations and bring in revenue while not compensating these athletes for their work. Everywhere else athletes are paid, so why shouldn’t college students too? Some critics may argue that these student-athletes are amateurs, and if paid then are becoming professional athletes. The minor league for baseball could be considered an amateur sport, although they do receive pay according to the team’s revenue. Also, with all the time practicing and working in the classroom, how many athletes have time to actually get a job? Another argument that supports paying college athletes is that these â€Å"full-ride† scholarships given to the best athletes do not actually cover all their expenses. Many athletes still can’t afford to have their parents come to the stadium and watch the games. With all of the respect and publicity of these athletes, it goes unnoticed that a great deal of the players live very near to the poverty line. Due to this lack of money, black-markets are created. Here, boosters that represent the University give these playersâ€℠¢Ã‚  cars, spending money, or anything they truly want, and in return, these players go to their respective University. There have been many instances of this before, one prominent example is that of Reggie Bush, the running back for the University of Southern California from 2003-2005. Bush was paid by boosters to attend USC, which violated NCAA rules. Bush’s mother was having trouble paying rent for her apartment at the time in Pasadena. Bush felt obligated to take this offer, as there was no other way to make money and pay for his mother’s home. These boosters’ actions are not only are illegal, but create unfairness in competition amongst the NCAA. These universities that violate NCAA rules have an upper edge in recruiting top prospects. Schools are then tempted to violate such rules to even out the playing field. The last and arguably the most important reason to pay college athletes, is that it will ensure that most student-athletes will complete their college degrees. â€Å"Paying student-athletes would provide an incentive to stay in school and complete their degree programs, instead of leaving early for the professional leagues† Which brings me back to the question, â€Å"Should college athletes get paid?† If athletes are paid to play, not only can they cover some of their college expenses that scholarships couldn’t, but also now they will want to finish their education. NCAA prides itself on all student-athletes are students first and athletes second, however, it seems that more popular athletes leave early for the pros. In college basketball, many freshman stars are referred to as â€Å"one and done† players as they complete one year of college and go to the professional leagues early, as they want money and need it as soon as possible. The importance of their education is lost. The University seems to be hypocritical in its actions when it doesn’t pay its athletes, because it seems they support college athletes leaving for the Professional league early. One author suggests that every university pays the same flat rate to each college athlete for three years, and then offer a raise to senior athletes. This bonus will create that incentive for students to receive their degrees. While it may seem odd and unjust to pay college athletes, the reality is that compensation of such athletes is a necessity not only to keep competition at a steady level in college athletics, but also to encourage students to graduate and get their college degrees. The truth of the matter is that many college athletes are already being paid under the  table which creates a black-market that is not only illegal, but is also unfair to universities that abide by NCAA regulations. Universities are exploiting these students and allowing them not to receive any revenue that they clearly earned. College Athletes Should Be Paid! Works Cited â€Å"College Athletics.† Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/College_athletics. Transcript of Informational Hearing: College Athletes. Sacramento, CA, Senate Publications, 2003.

Académie Française, the Moderator of the French Language

Acadà ©mie Franà §aise, the Moderator of the French Language The Acadà ©mie Franà §aise, often shortened and simply called  lAcadà ©mie, is an organization which moderates the French language. The primary role of the Acadà ©mie Franà §aise is to regulate the French language by determining standards of acceptable grammar and vocabulary, as well as adapting to linguistic change by adding new words and updating the meanings of existing ones. Due to the status of English in the world, the Acadà ©mies task tends to be focused on lessening the influx of English terms into French by choosing or inventing French equivalents. The Primary Function of the Acadà ©mie Officially, the Article 24 outlines that The primary function of the Acadà ©mie will be to work, with all possible care and diligence, to give our language definite rules and to make it pure, eloquent, and capable of dealing with art and science. Maintaining a Common Linguistic Heritage The Acadà ©mie fulfills this mission by publishing an official dictionary and by working with French terminological committees and other specialized organizations. Strangely, the dictionary is not sold to the general public, so the Acadà ©mies work must be incorporated into society by the creation of laws and regulations by the above-mentioned organizations. Perhaps the most notorious example of this occurred when the Acadà ©mie chose the official translation of email. Obviously, this is all done with the expectation that French speakers will take these new regulations into consideration, and in this way, a common linguistic heritage can theoretically be maintained among French speakers around the world. In reality, this is not always the case. Created by Cardinal Richelieu in 1635 The Acadà ©mie Franà §aise was created by Cardinal Richelieu under Louis XIII in 1635, and the first Dictionnaire de lAcadà ©mie ranà §aise was published in 1694 with 18,000 terms. The most recent complete edition, the 8th, was finished in 1935 and contains 35,000 words. The next edition is currently underway. Volumes I and II were published in 1992 and 2000, respectively, and between them cover A to Mappemonde. When complete, the 9th edition of the Acadà ©mies dictionary will include approximately 60,000 words. Its important to note that this is not a definitive dictionary, as it generally excludes archaic, offensive, slang, specialized and regional vocabulary. Linguistic and Literary Patronage The secondary mission of the Acadà ©mie Franà §aise is that of linguistic and literary patronage. This was not part of the original purpose of lAcadà ©mie, but thanks to grants and bequests, the Acadà ©mie now offers about 70 literary prizes per year. It also awards scholarships and subsidies to literary and scientific societies, charities, large families, widows, underprivileged persons and those who have distinguished themselves by courageous acts. Peer-Elected Members Essentially a linguistic jury, the Acadà ©mie franà §aise is a group of 40 peer-elected members, commonly known as Les Immortels  or  Les Quarante. Being chosen as an Immortel is considered a supreme honor and, except in extreme cases, is a life-long commitment.Since the creation of lAcadà ©mie Franà §aise, there have been more than 700 Immortels who were  chosen for their creativity, talent, intelligence and, of course, particular linguistic adeptness. This range of authors, poets, theater people, philosophers, doctors, scientists, ethnologists, art critics, soldiers, statesmen and churchmen assembles at lAcadà ©mie into a unique group of people who make decisions on how French words should be used by analyzing how they actually are, creating new terms, and determining the beneficiaries of the various awards, scholarships, and subsidies.In October 2011, the Acadà ©mie launched an interactive feature called Dire, Ne pas dire on their website in the hopes of bringing pure French to the cyber masses.

How to Deal With Suckers and Watersprouts on Trees

How to Deal With Suckers and Watersprouts on Trees In horticulture, the terms  sucker  and  watersprout  refer  to vigorous new shoots that grow from root stock or dormant bud tissue on trunks and branches. They are mostly a problem on fruit trees and some types of landscape trees. Suckers and watersprouts may occur on any tree when the tree has experienced stressful conditions, such as drought, severe pruning, or loss of a limb.   Watersprouts vs. Suckers Watersprouts and suckers are similar, but not exactly the same. They differ primarily in their location on the tree. A sucker is effectively a new propagation of a tree, but one that originates at the basil root level rather than by a seed. Suckers typically sprout up from below ground level, or very near the ground. They grow up as an extension of the roots. On grafted trees, such as many fruit trees, the sucker will sprout up below the level of the graft. If left to grow, the new tree will have the characteristics of the root stock tree, not the grafted stock. Such suckers should be removed when they appear. Certain species of trees typically propagate themselves through this type of reproduction, and suckers are also common on them. Privet and hazel trees are two such species. Here, too, suckers are considered invasive  and should be removed. Left unattended, suckers can gradually overtake a yard.   A watersprout is a form of shoot that originates above ground,  on the trees trunk or branches at the location of latent bud tissues. Watersprouts are very likely to arise in response to pruning or damage to the tree, such as branches broken off in storms. They are undesirable because the tissues in a watersprouts are not as strong as normal branches. In fruit trees, watersprout branches normally produce little, if any, fruit.   Sucker sprouts and water sprouts can sometimes provide clues to a  trees health. Both types of sprouts may indicate that there is injury or dead wood above the level of the sprouts. This is likely when a tree without a history of such sprouting begins to send out suckers and watersprouts. They are a compensatory mechanism, an attempt by the tree for to find vigor when it is not being provided by other vegetation.   How to Remove Suckers and Watersprouts It is best to remove suckers and watersprouts immediately. These shoots  divert energy from upper growth on the tree, and removing them will promote development  of the upper greenery. Suckers and watersprouts  can also quickly ruin the aesthetic appearance  of a tree.  Ã‚   Some care should be taken when removing suckers and watersprouts  to ensure clean edges. Tearing away sprouts can leave ragged edges where bacterial or fungus can take hold, so cutting them away with sharp tools is a better strategy.   Mix one part bleach and 10 parts water in a bucket.Dip your hand pruner or lopping shares into the bleach solution to sterilize the blades.  Cut away the sprout with the blade held at a 45- to 60-degree angle, as close as possible to the trunk, tree branch, or tree base. The goal is to cut inside any bud areas where new sprouts might emerge. Take care not to damage the trunk or main branch.   Where suckers or watershoots are extremely  prevalent, or when they appear suddenly on a tree with no history of them, it may indicate a major problem with the tree.  Removal of the tree  may be your only solution when suckers are too numerous. You will then need to apply a brush killer to control the sprouts that may come up from the remaining stump.

Why ACT Reading Paired Passages Are So Hard

Why ACT Reading Paired Passages Are So Hard SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Paired passages on the ACT are a relatively new phenomenon, first announced by ACT, Inc in spring of 2013. Just as the changes to the new SAT have made it resemble the ACT, so have some of the changes to the ACT made it more like the SAT. What are paired passages, why are they suddenly on the ACT, and what’s the best way to prepfor them? Read on to find out. feature image credit: Pencil Biting by Walt Stoneburner, used under CC BY 2.0. ACT Reading Paired Passages: The Origin Story As far as I’ve been able to research it out, the first time any mention of two short passages (paired pasages) appeared in the â€Å"preparing for the ACT† manual was 2012-2013 (in 2011-2012, the Reading section was still made up of â€Å"four prose passages† with questions that asked about individual passages). For a long time, however, despite the fact that as early as June 2014 the ACT was including paired passages on official test administrations (as per PrepScholar co-founder Allen Cheng, who took the ACT then), the only place with official practice for ACT paired passage questions was the ACT website, which provided 9 paired passage questions (3 of which asked about multiple passages). Most prep books (including The Real ACT, 3rd (and current) edition, Kaplan's ACT Premier 2014 guide, the ACT Black Book, and Meltzer's The Complete Guide to ACT Reading) do not include paired passage practice questions, let along any strategies to deal with them. As of July 2015, the new 2015-2016 "Preparing for the ACT" guide finally includes a test with paired passages and 10 questions on these passages (incuding another 3 on both passages). Fun fact: as I was looking through the new guide, I noticed that the ACT Reading questions looked really familiar, and so I double checked with Allen's June 2014 booklet (acquired through TIR) and confirmed that yes, the test included in the "Preparing for the ACT: 2015-2016" guide is the (US administered) June 2014 ACT. Why Does This Make Paired Passages on ACT Reading Extra Difficult? I don’t mean to climb on my soapbox, but I see this as more than a â€Å"minor† change. We at PrepScholar have always stated that the best way to practice for the ACT is to use actual ACT Reading practice questions, because only the ACT words the questions (and answer choices) in that certain way. If there are no (or relatively few) questions to practice with, how are students supposed to prepare for the test? Moreover, how can the scores of students who took the ACT without paired passages on the Reading section (any student who took the ACT prior to June 2014) be compared to those of students who are taking the ACT with paired passages (any student who took the test June 2014 or later)? For the most part, answering a question about multiple passages is more difficult than answering a question about just one passage, because nswering questions on multiple passages requires you to synthesize more information and juggling multiple perspectives in your head, as you try to keep track of who said what where and when did she say it. This is definitely a valuable skill to develop, particularly for students heading to college. However, ACT Reading is already a big time crunch (35 minutes to answer 40 questions), and going from 4 to 5 passages, even if those passages are now 2/5 shorter, is not insignificant. chubby soapbox by daretoeatapeach, used under CC BY 2.0. This is clearly a photorealistic portrait of me done as I was writing this article. Clearly. Paired Passage Question: A Comparison Below is a comparison of a paired passage question with a single-passage question, modified to be on the same topic. For each question, I list the steps needed to successfully answer the question. Paired passage example (adapted from an ACTual ACT Reading question): Based on these two passages, which pair of phrases best compares Stark’s relationship to Science and Banner’s relationship to Science? F. Aimless researcher versus idle dreamer G. Fascinated onlooker versus pragmatic worker H. Casual alchemist versus thoughtful artist J. Indifferent outsider versus sarcastic farmer How do you answer this question? You must go through Passage A and find information about Stark’s relationship to Science, then go to Passage B and find information about Banner’s relationship to Science, then compare the two, and then see which answer matches reality. That's a four step process. When answering a comparable question on a single passage, you only have to go through two steps. Take the following (adapted) ACT question: Stark’s approach to the task of converting the junk in the cave to a functioning energy source can best be described as: F. reluctant until his companion’s plans inspire him.G. enthusiastic until his companion’s error puts them both in an awkward position.H. apprehensive until he discovers his error is not a devastating one.J. thrilled until he remembers that his companion is a poor planner. All you need to do in order to answer this question is go through the passage and find information about Stark’s approach to converting junk into functioning energy source and then see which answer matches reality. What Can I Do To Practice Paired Passages? Since there are so few official sample questions out there, this makes it difficult (but not impossible!) to create tailored advice. I recommend starting with my article on how to attack paired passages in ACT Reading, which goes into great detail on this very topic. In short, though, here are the takeaway strategies from that article: 1. Answer questions on individual passages first. As I discussed above, questions on single passages are generally less complex than those on multiple passages, which makes them better to tackle first. In addition, answering questions on a particular passage may lead to your finding information that is useful for answering multipassage questions. 2. Guess on all multi-passage questions. If you’re not aiming for above a 31 on Reading, you can safely skip/guess on the 3 questions per ACT Reading section that ask about multiple questions, and still have some room for other errors. Choose your favorite letter pair (A/F, B/G, and so on) and go for it! 3. Eliminate three wrong answers (yes, that good old standby). Answer choices to questions on multiple passages tend to be relatively complicated, but this means that they can also be easier to eliminate, since if any part of the answer choice is wrong, then the whole thing must be wrong. 4. Practice with official SAT paired passage questions. Currently, there are 8 free official SAT practice tests that contain ACT-length paired passages. Each set of these paired passages has around 12 questions, for a total of 95 paired passage questions (yes, I did actually go in and count it). That's exactly 5x as many questions as compared to the 19 total (not just free, but TOTAL) official paired passage questions provided by the ACT. What’s Next? Want to make sure you're practicing ACT Reading as effectively as possible? Find out more about paired passages and strategies to help answer questions on multiple passages here. How should you approach passages in the first place? Our blog has explanations of three different ways to approach the passage on ACT Reading. Want to improve your ACT Reading skills? Read our series of targeted articles on big picture, little picture, and vocab in context questions - articles about function and inference questions on ACT Reading are coming soon! Want to improve your ACT score by 4 points? Check out our best-in-class online ACT prep program. We guarantee your money back if you don't improve your ACT score by 4 points or more. Our program is entirely online, and it customizes what you study to your strengths and weaknesses. If you liked this Reading lesson, you'll love our program.Along with more detailed lessons, you'll get thousands ofpractice problems organized by individual skills so you learn most effectively. We'll also give you a step-by-step program to follow so you'll never be confused about what to study next. Check out our 5-day free trial:

Political Cartoons, Chinese Immigration and the Manifest Destiny Essay

Political Cartoons, Chinese Immigration and the Manifest Destiny Belief - Essay Example The Whites, as a result, started portraying in negative stereotypes as evil and corrupt. With time, the Chinese population tripled and continued replacing those blacks and whites who were striking for higher wages. This led to Sino phobia a fear for Chinese people and as a result, the implementation of the Exclusion Act to control Chinese immigration. The Act resulted in a major decline among the Chinese population. The Chinese faced extreme violation of their rights but could do nothing since they were not citizens. The woman is an allegory of independence. She represents freedom from the hampering conditions.The Chinese man’s hair and cultural cloak represent resistance to American progress. Ironically, the woman has the railroad to the west inscribed in her dress meaning she is advocating for white civilization to the west. The cutting of the Chinese man’s hair is the significance of assimilation into the white culture. Manifest Destiny was a belief by the white Amer icans that they were to possess and occupy the North American Continent. People got lured to move westwards. In the belief, that they were to acquire large tracts of land at low prices. .The idea of Manifest Destiny thus relates to the image since the woman with the railroad inscribed in her gown symbolizes the Whites civilization towards the west despite resistance by the Chinese. It shows that the Whites will stop at nothing since they believe it is their divine right to do so. Reasons why the Chinese artists lacked recognition in the U.S in the 19th Century. Most of the immigrant races in America could blend into the Anglo society. Unfortunately,due to their physical appearance, The Chinese faced a lot of discrimination and got denied citizenship. Therefore, they had no access to justice in case their rights got violated. They lacked access to pursue professional painting. They did not have the resources to engage in the scholarly art. The Chinese were illiterate thus practicing painting as an art was difficult for them. Most of them had travelled to the States in pursuit of greener pastures to cater for their families. Unlike the Whites, the Chinese were not recorded for inclusion in the historical sources of art meaning there would be no source of remembrance for them. The Chinese rarely participated in the Western European art of oil painting that would have provided a platform to master and sharpen their skills. However, those who did such as Wore’s students received very little recognition. The Chinese focused only on their cultural heritage and whatever paintings they worked on got sent home to their families. They did not include European complements and signs of status. The Exclusion Act led to heightened Sino phobia. This led to confiscation of their art objects which made it difficult for them to practice the art profession. Part Two: Short Answered Questions 1. Significance of Edmonia Lewis’ Forever Free Sculpture The sculpture is a visual proof to a society in which the female is inferior to the male. It presents a reformed image of the African-American family after slavery.The role of women applied to free black people as well as to white people, and in this sense, Lewis' freedwoman got connected to all women.Like partner, the African-American female was supposed to be submissive and pious.The enslaved woman lived in paradox. She was both the

LEGAL ENVIRONMENT 4 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

LEGAL ENVIRONMENT 4 - Essay Example to get the contract approved by the Niger president. The bribes were accepted by the Niger officials and the contract to supply arms went through. Analysis : According to the provisions of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act it is unlawful for any U.S. citizen / company, to bribe or to make a corrupt payment to a foreign official of any govt. or company for the sole purpose of obtaining or retaining business in order to beat the competition. According to the Anti- Bribery provisions of the FCPA it applies to any individual, firm, officer, director, employee, or agent of a firm and any stockholder acting on behalf of a firm. Also the person who makes or authorizes of making the payment should have a corrupt intention, and the payment must be directed to induce the recipient to misuse his official position to direct business wrongfully to the payer or to any other person. -- The FCPA completely prohibits payments, making a offer of bribe, or making a promise to pay (or authorizing a third party or intermediary to pay or offer) money or anything of value. The prohibition applies to any foreign public official irrespective of his ra nk or position, it also extends of making corrupt payments to a foreign political party or party official, or any candidate for foreign political office. According to FCPA the prohibition applies to payments made in order to assist the firm / company in obtaining or retaining business for or with, or directing business to, any person. ( S 78dd-2. Prohibited foreign trade practices by domestic concerns).Now if we analyze the facts of the Niger case in light of the provisions of the FCPA the case is crystal clear. In the Niger case the Vice President of NAPCO Richard H. Liebo was directly involved in first promising to pay one Captain Ali Tiemogo, chief of maintenance for the Niger Air Force in return for getting the contract of supply of arms by NAPCO to be approved by the president. Even later, Liebo was directly involved as a representative of NAPCO in paying bribes to Captain Ali Tiemogo and his cousin Tahirou Barke who incidentally was also the first consular for the Niger Embass y in Washington,DC. NAPCO issued commission checks to three "agents" identified as Amadou Mailele, Captain Tiemogo's brother-in-law; Fatouma Boube, Captain Tiemogo's sister-in-law; and Miss E. Dave, Mr. Barke's girlfriend. It is immaterial that Neither Mr. Mailele, Ms. Boube, nor Ms Dave, however, received the commission checks or acted as NAPCO's agent and these individuals were merely intermediaries through whom NAPCO made payments to Captain Tiemogo and Mr. Barke as according to FCPA even payments made to or through intermediaries is liable to prosecution. Even the fact that neither NAPCO's corporate president, Henri Jacob, nor another superior of Mr. Liebo's approved the payment of these "commission payments." is immaterial and NAPCO is liable for prosecution as per the penal provisions of FCPA. This position is also supported by the judicial decisions in United States of America, Appellee, vs. Robert Richard KING, Appellant.( 2003 WL 22938694 (8th Cir.(Mo) and USA versus David Kay(Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas(No. Crim.A.H-01-914)

Individual Research Repor Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Individual Research Repor - Essay Example It achieves that by various cost cutting strategies that hinders the human resource practices in Wal-Mart. It tries to builds its low cost on the employment policies by achieving extraordinarily low costs on the employment. In order to maintain its competitive advantage Wal-Mart incorporates various low cost HR practices. It has tried to cut down cost right from the time of hiring by recruiting large number of employees and not only that by violating cheap child labour and the minors. The cheap price of acquiring such labours give them more of cost competitiveness than its competitors. Wal-Mart has even been seen showing discrimination towards employees who has certain disabilities, though such people may have the appropriate skills but they would be more costly for the firm. Wal-Mart has set high demand standards which have forced the workers to work beyond their normal working hours. They even show discrimination towards women working in their organization by denying them promotion s, and at times even paying them less compared to men. They are even demoted if they complain just for the reason that Wal-Mart has to maintain cost reduction than its competitor. There is not an effective pay and reward model followed by Wal-Mart that would in turn help the employees to remain motivated. Wal-Mart follows its low cost strategy by cutting down the cost on wages every year. It pays very less wages to its Chinese labours. Wal-Mart maintains very low employee relation by not even providing them with proper healthcare facilities. The works have to pay 36% of the premium cost for the health insurance as the company does not bear any additional cost in order to follow its low cost strategy. Wal-Mart has down the line exploited its workers which in turn will reduce the dedication and loyalty of these employees towards the company. A less satisfied employee will not perform above the mark to deliver appropriate profits for the company. As Wal-Mart is on

Automobile Workers v. Johnson Controls Inc Case Study - 15

Automobile Workers v. Johnson Controls Inc - Case Study Example This prompted a group of the employees to file a case in the District Court. They argued that the policy discriminated against the female gender and violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Automobile Workers v. Johnson Controls Inc 1991). The district court and the court of appeal granted the respondents a summary judgment on grounds that their fetal-protection policy is reasonably necessary to further the industrial safety concern (Automobile Workers v. Johnson Controls Inc 1991). The petitioners claimed that excluding fertile women from lead-exposed jobs, respondents policy creates a facial grouping based on gender besides marginalizing them 703(a) of Title VII (Automobile Workers v. Johnson Controls Inc 1991). They claimed the policy is not neutral because it does not apply to males despite evidence lead’s exposure posing great harm to their reproductive system. They cited that, provided that the fertile women performed their duties as expected, the company has no right to segregate them. Although the respondents argue that, they are concerned about the other coming generation’s status regardless of the law exclusively being for the parents (Automobile Workers v. Johnson Controls Inc, 1991). No, the company does not satisfy its expected moral and ethical standards as required in the society by passing a policy that stigmatizes the female gender. Additionally, it also violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that protects all genders from discrimination (Automobile Workers v. Johnson Controls Inc 1991). By so doing, the company would be creating a facial categorization that utilizes gender to segregate women (Automobile Workers v. Johnson Controls Inc 1991). The policy is also not neutral and fair to both the two genders and how the lead affects them.  According to the company, the lead affects only the female gender despite concrete evidence that it poses adverse effects on the male reproductive organs.The law also cites that, unless the pregnant employees differ from others in their expertise, they must all get both equal treatment and opportunities

Understand the Individual Elements of the Extended Marketing Mix Assignment

Understand the Individual Elements of the Extended Marketing Mix - Assignment Example Philip Kotler and other academicians (In 1965, Philip Kotler described 4P’s as various marketing variables in his article) proselytized the concept in coming years (Schultz, and H Schultz, 2004, p.7). Proctor & Gamble Proctor & Gamble is a renowned American consumer goods company. The company is headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. The organization was established by William Procter and James Gamble in the year 1837. The company serves over eighty countries across the world. Sales volume has touched a record mark of $82,500 billion in the year 2011. The company has established category leadership in various segments like House Care, Skin Care and Oral care. More than 127,000 people work in the company. The consumer goods company markets more than two hundred and fifty brands across the world. The company enjoys leadership in almost twenty four brands in its category and able to fetch billion of dollars annually from each of the brands. The consumer goods organization has es tablished twenty eight technical centres across the globe (PG-Global, n.d.). Product Strategy Product strategy of P&G is influenced by one seventy year old vision statement established by James Gamble that is being honest in product making. The study will focus on product strategy in terms of cosmetics division for the company. They have noticeably changed time tested cosmetics business into a new height by implementing strategic and holistic approach of new product development. Before 1994, the company tried to maintain product systems complemented with Olay, Clarion and Cover Girl but failed due to their unfocused business effort. Real breakthrough was achieved during late 1990’s when the company launched Diamond initiative and developed new product... Understand the Individual Elements of the Extended Marketing Mix Sales volume has touched a record mark of $82,500 billion in the year 2011. The company has established category leadership in various segments like House Care, Skin Care and Oral care. More than 127,000 people work in the company. The consumer goods company markets more than two hundred and fifty brands across the world. The company enjoys leadership in almost twenty four brands in its category and able to fetch billion of dollars annually from each of the brands. The consumer goods organization has established twenty eight technical centres across the globe. Product Strategy Product strategy of P&G is influenced by one seventy year old vision statement established by James Gamble that is being honest in product making. The study will focus on product strategy in terms of cosmetics division for the company. They have noticeably changed time tested cosmetics business into a new height by implementing strategic and holistic approach of new product development. Before 1994, the company tried to maintain product systems complemented with Olay, Clarion and Cover Girl but failed due to their unfocused business effort. Real breakthrough was achieved during late 1990’s when the company launched Diamond initiative and developed new product Olay. Previously the product was meant for whole body usage but the new campaign targeted the product for facial usage. They streamlined distribution network and supply chain management according to market demand.

Wastewater Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Wastewater Management - Essay Example With the increase in population, the demand for water has increased drastically over the years. As a matter of fact, besides the water that is locked in the glaciers and icecaps, about 97 % of the fresh water is in the lakes, rivers, streams, and groundwater. The pollution of these water resources is a serious concern all over the world. As the number of industries is increasing, growing volumes of industrial wastewater are being discharged to surface waters. Due to the lack of funds and proper initiatives, the treatment provided is usually poor to protect the desired uses of the receiving waters. Before getting into the principal steps involved in industrial wastewater treatment, it is important to understand that reducing the generation of waste through proper management of resources could be an easier step than treating the effluents. Thus, through this process, the companies will benefit from the reduced input cost or the expenditure on raw materials and also reduces the wastewater treatment costs. It also improves the efficiency and the working conditions in the industry. Industries that use large amounts of water for processing have the potential to pollute waterways. Industrial waste consists of both organic and inorganic substances. Organic wastes include pesticide residues, solvents and cleaning fluids, dissolved residue from fruit and vegetables, and lignin from pulp and paper industry. Effluents can also contain inorganic wastes such as salts and heavy metals. When these effluents are released into the water bodies without proper treatment, it can cause serious damage to the ecosystem. Besides, it can also affect the people who use this water for drinking or any other household purposes. It is therefore essential that the industrial effluents are treated to high standards before they are released.

Understand the Individual Elements of the Extended Marketing Mix Assignment

Understand the Individual Elements of the Extended Marketing Mix - Assignment Example Philip Kotler and other academicians (In 1965, Philip Kotler described 4P’s as various marketing variables in his article) proselytized the concept in coming years (Schultz, and H Schultz, 2004, p.7). Proctor & Gamble Proctor & Gamble is a renowned American consumer goods company. The company is headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. The organization was established by William Procter and James Gamble in the year 1837. The company serves over eighty countries across the world. Sales volume has touched a record mark of $82,500 billion in the year 2011. The company has established category leadership in various segments like House Care, Skin Care and Oral care. More than 127,000 people work in the company. The consumer goods company markets more than two hundred and fifty brands across the world. The company enjoys leadership in almost twenty four brands in its category and able to fetch billion of dollars annually from each of the brands. The consumer goods organization has es tablished twenty eight technical centres across the globe (PG-Global, n.d.). Product Strategy Product strategy of P&G is influenced by one seventy year old vision statement established by James Gamble that is being honest in product making. The study will focus on product strategy in terms of cosmetics division for the company. They have noticeably changed time tested cosmetics business into a new height by implementing strategic and holistic approach of new product development. Before 1994, the company tried to maintain product systems complemented with Olay, Clarion and Cover Girl but failed due to their unfocused business effort. Real breakthrough was achieved during late 1990’s when the company launched Diamond initiative and developed new product... Understand the Individual Elements of the Extended Marketing Mix Sales volume has touched a record mark of $82,500 billion in the year 2011. The company has established category leadership in various segments like House Care, Skin Care and Oral care. More than 127,000 people work in the company. The consumer goods company markets more than two hundred and fifty brands across the world. The company enjoys leadership in almost twenty four brands in its category and able to fetch billion of dollars annually from each of the brands. The consumer goods organization has established twenty eight technical centres across the globe. Product Strategy Product strategy of P&G is influenced by one seventy year old vision statement established by James Gamble that is being honest in product making. The study will focus on product strategy in terms of cosmetics division for the company. They have noticeably changed time tested cosmetics business into a new height by implementing strategic and holistic approach of new product development. Before 1994, the company tried to maintain product systems complemented with Olay, Clarion and Cover Girl but failed due to their unfocused business effort. Real breakthrough was achieved during late 1990’s when the company launched Diamond initiative and developed new product Olay. Previously the product was meant for whole body usage but the new campaign targeted the product for facial usage. They streamlined distribution network and supply chain management according to market demand.

Construction management Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Construction management - Assignment Example One of the considerations that was taken with respect to this particular project concerns the dangers and potential hazards of deconstructing the old pipeline. Although full safety inspections will of course be conducted prior to any activity of actual deconstruction being engaged, it is not unlikely that a potential hazard might be engaged and additional time and/or personnel required in order to de-construct the existing pipeline in and ineffective, efficient, and environmentally sustainable manner (Maddox-Abbott & Laskowski, M 2014). As a means of countering this particular risk, the project has been divided into two distinct phases. The first phase is with respect to those areas that are not densely populated. Similarly, the second phase is contingent upon those regions that are densely populated. As such, rather than dividing the project based upon the actual geographic area of pipeline replacement within these two geographic spheres, a risk management approach has indicated tha t a disproportionate amount of time must be provided for contingencies or eventualities within the densely populated region of Jersey Island. Even though it is true that the total geographic area of pipeline replacement that is encompassed within these areas is a minute fraction of the overall project scope, fully 30% of all available time for this phase of the project has been devoted towards these regions to counter any contingencies that might arise. Some of the contingencies that were considered with respect to these urban areas were concentric upon damaged infrastructure, potential leaks, and other issues arising from the physical deconstruction of the existing and old pipeline infrastructure (Golob et al, 2013). Another relevant risk that was considered and planned for accordingly has to do with issues pertaining to shipment. As was noted within the initial project proposal, there are no factories on Jersey Island that are capable of producing the type of infrastructure that

Greenhouse gases Essay Example for Free

Greenhouse gases Essay â€Å"Gases that trap heat in the atmosphere are often called greenhouse gases† (Environmental Protection Agency, 1). Some greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, occur naturally and are emitted into the air through natural processes and human activity. Other greenhouse gases are emitted only through human activity. These include â€Å"carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and fluorinated gases† (Environmental Protection Agency, 1). Carbon dioxide is emitted through the burning of fossil fuels as well as through solid waste and tree and wood products. Methane is emitted during the transport of coal, natural gas and oil. Nitrous oxide is emitted during agricultural and industrial activities. Fluorinated gases are emitted through a variety of industrial processes (Environmental Protection Agency, 1). These are all dangerous emissions that have a serious impact on the integrity of the environment. However, there are many natural processes that can cause an emission of greenhouse gases and these get far less attention than those associated with human activity. â€Å"Cattle numbers have more than tripled in the last ten years† (Hao, et al, 376). An analysis of the greenhouse gas emissions of these increasing cattle herds as compared to automobiles and planes is offered. The Problem with Cattle â€Å"Associated with intensification of livestock operations in an increased amount of feedlot manure produced each year† (Hao, et al, 376). Typically, cattle manure is disposed of by applying it directly to fields. â€Å"However, this has created environmental concerns† (Hao, et al, 376). Composting manure before applying it to fields has been suggested as an alternative because it â€Å"reduces odor, pathogens, weeds and fly breeding potential† (Hao, et al, 376). However, it has also been shown that composting the manure before application â€Å"contributes to emissions of greenhouse gases† (Hao, et al, 376). The process of composting the manure results in an increase in several different gases including methane and carbon dioxide. As the manure is composted, â€Å"heat is generated and the temperature of the compost increases. † As the temperature increases, greenhouse gas emissions also increase (Hao, et al, 384). Finally, â€Å"composted manure can be trucked further distances† which also adds to the overall greenhouse gas emissions associated with cattle manure (Hao, et al, 376). It is the by products of the cattle that cause a large part of the overall greenhouse gas emissions related to the livestock trade. The chemical composition of the by products are what contribute to an increase in greenhouse gases. Therefore, as cattle herds increase so does their by products which, in turn, increases gas emissions. â€Å"Globally, methane emissions from cattle are five to six percent of total emissions while nitrogen emissions are seven percent of total emissions† (Hao, et al, 37). As the cattle herds grow the amount of manure that is produces also grows and this results in an increase in overall greenhouse gas emissions over time. When manure is composted it is required to remain in one place over a long period of time. As the manure composts its temperature increases which only adds to the greenhouse gas emissions that comes from the manure Therefore, it can be shown that greenhouse gas emissions from cattle are larger than greenhouse gas emissions from automobiles and planes, particularly as the global number of cattle herds increases so does global output of methane and nitrogen. These greenhouse gas emissions are far more dangerous than the emissions from automobiles and planes. While sustainable development has received global attention it has â€Å"limited influence on the transportation sector† (Bartle, 214). While people all over the world are attempting to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by also reducing their driving and/or purchasing more efficient vehicles, the United States air industry â€Å"is unsustainable and forecasted trends suggest that this problem will get worse† (Bartle, 214). Current pollution control policies do not adequately address the issues associated with greenhouse gas emissions and airplane use. However, there are many reforms and new policies being considered in order to make air travel more sustainable while also reducing total greenhouse gas emissions during flying. While automobile and airplane travel have the capacity and ability to find new and innovative ways to reduce their overall greenhouse gas emissions, this is much more difficult for the cattle industry given the rapid increases in cattle herd size as well as manure output. Further, livestock are a leading source of greenhouse gas emissions but much more emphasis is placed on how to reduce emissions from automobiles and airplanes and much less focus is placed on how to reduce emissions within the livestock field (LA Times, 1). The cattle and livestock industry contributes more â€Å"silent and deadly emissions† than the â€Å"entire world transportation sector† (LA Times, 1). Many politicians and environmentalists do not realize the enormous problem that cattle emissions really are and often scoff at how much greenhouse gas they emit â€Å"but livestock emissions are no joke† (LA Times, 1). Further, much of the focus is placed on carbon dioxide and the majority of people do not realize the negative implications of methane and nitrous oxide – two major emissions from cattle. These two gases are more efficient at trapping heat in the environment than carbon dioxide is. Methane has â€Å"twenty-one times the potential for heat generation than carbon dioxide† does and cows can produce up to â€Å"one hundred thirty gallons† of methane per cow per day (LA Times, 1). Environmentalists tend to focus more on the greenhouse gas emissions from automobiles and planes which downplays the role of the livestock industry. At the same time, the public is not aware of the problem. Livestock, particularly cattle, are responsible for â€Å"eighteen percent of greenhouse gases worldwide – more than all the planes, trains and automobiles on the planet† (LA Times, 1). The problem appears to be getting worse. As previously mentioned the cattle herd sizes are increasing. Similarly, as living standards across the globe increase so does â€Å"a fondness for meat and dairy† (LA Times, 1). For example, meat consumption in the developing world doubled between 1980 and 2002 and it is expected to double again by 2050. â€Å"That means the environmental damage of ranching would have to be cut in half just to keep emissions at their current, dangerous level† (LA Times, 1). As more emphasis continues to be placed on the transportation sector, less emphasis is placed on the danger that the cattle emissions pose to the overall integrity of the environment. â€Å"The global livestock sector is growing faster than any other agricultural sub sector† (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 1). â€Å"It provides livelihoods to about 1. 3 billion people and contributes about 40 percent to global agricultural output and is an important â€Å"source of renewable energy (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 1). While this type of growth is certainly good for farmers and their bottom line, it has negative implications with regards to the overall integrity of the planet’s environment. As cattle herds continue to grow larger the problem is only going to get worse. Therefore, it is essential that the livestock industry be made aware of their contribution to greenhouse gas emissions so they are able to research and implement solutions that will help reduce their impact on the planet. Recommendations As mentioned previously, â€Å"the environmental costs per unit of livestock production must be cut by one half, just to avoid the level of damage worsening beyond its present level† (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 1). Manure is the primary source of greenhouse gas emissions, specifically methane and nitrous oxide. The cattle industry â€Å"generates sixty-five percent of human related nitrous oxide† which has â€Å"two hundred ninety-six times the Global Warming Potential than carbon dioxide† (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 1). The cattle industry also accounts for â€Å"thirty-seven percent of all human induced methane† which has â€Å"twenty-three times the Global Warming Potential than carbon dioxide† (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 1). These high levels of greenhouse gas emissions from the cattle industry prove the importance of changes in order to reduce the impact that cattle has on the environment. The problem also takes much of the emphasis off of carbon dioxide and places it on methane and nitrous oxide since they have much more capability for damage. One suggestion is for human beings to begin â€Å"cutting back on read meat† as this would reduce the high demand for cattle and lower overall greenhouse gas emissions (LA Times, 1). A similar effect would be reached through a reduction in overall dairy consumption. However, for health reasons this is not a popular or feasible recommendation the way that reducing red meat consumption is. Further, politicians and lobbyists are reluctant to take on the cattle industry because â€Å"it is extremely hazardous for politicians to take on the U. S. beef industry† (LA Times, 1). Therefore, researchers are being forced to develop ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions even as the demand for meat and dairy continues to increase. Cows have â€Å"four stomachs† and the â€Å"first stomach is called the rumen† and this is where the methane problem lies (LA Times, 1). â€Å"The bacteria in the rumen produce methane† that is released through both ends of the cow (LA Times, 1). Scientists are currently working on a type of feed that are more â€Å"energy efficient and generate less methane† as well as experimenting in order to â€Å"produce a less gassy breed of cattle† (LA Times, 1). As mentioned in the beginning of the paper, researchers are also scrambling to devise ways to reduce the contribution of manure to the overall greenhouse gas emission problem such as â€Å"storage methods and temperature† (LA Times, 1). This correlates with the research studies presented in the beginning of the paper because this research supports the notion that finding better storage methods and controlling the overall temperature of the manure can have a positive effect on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Conclusions The majority of attention has been placed on the role that automobiles and airplanes play in degrading the integrity of the environment. However, few people realize the negative impact that the livestock industry has on the overall quality of the environment. It is much harder to place blame on human activity associated with driving and flying and ignoring the impact that human activity with regards to eating has on the environment. As the demand for quality beef and dairy products continues to increase so will the greenhouse gases emitted by increasing numbers of cattle herds. Humans can help reduce this impact by cutting their red meat consumption and making more sustainable choices with regards to their eating habits. This can go a long way towards improving the situation while scientists work diligently towards creating a solution that will ensure that beef demands be met while also reducing overall impact on the earth. Bartle, John R. â€Å"The Sustainable Development of U. S. Air Travel. † Public Works Management and Policy 10. 3 (2006): 214 – 224. Environmental Protection Agency. â€Å"Greenhouse Gas Emissions. † 2009. 27 April 2009 http://www. epa. gov/climatechange/emissions/index. html. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. â€Å"Livestock a Major Threat to Environment. 29 Nov 2006. 27 April 2009 http://www. fao. org/newsroom/en/news/2006/1000448/index. html. Hao, Xiying; Chang, Chi; Larney, Francis J. â€Å"Carbon, Nitrogen Balances and Greenhouse Gas Emission During Cattle Feedlot Manure Composting. † Journal of Environmental Quality 33. 1 (2004): 37 – 45. Hao, Xiying; Chang, Chi; Larney, Francis J. Travis, Greg R. â€Å"Greenhouse Gas Emissions during Cattle Feedlot Manure Composting. † Journal of Environmental Quality 30. 2 (2001): 376 – 387. LA Times. â€Å"Killer Cow Emissions. † LA Times 15 Oct 2007. 27 April 2009 http://articles. latimes. com/2007/oct/15/opinion/ed-methane15.

The Border Patrol State Essay -- Leslie Silko Illegal Drugs Smuggling

The Border Patrol State In â€Å"The Border Patrol State† Leslie Silko makes accusations of the border patrol’s mistreatment of American citizens of Mexican decent, making the argument with almost evidence. Silko, a critically acclaimed poet, sees the border patrol as a governmental assembly addicted to interrogation, torture, and the murder of those they see fit. Leslie Silko certainly makes accusations that some could argue far exceed the boundaries of journalism integrity, and fail to deliver with evidence to back them up. The author of this piece is a Mexican-American living in the Southwest United States. The author is using personal experience to convey a problem to his or her audience. The audience of this piece is quite broad. First and foremost, Mexican-Americans just like the author. People who can relate to what the author has to say, maybe someone who has experienced something similar. The author also seems to be seeking out an audience of white Americans who find themselves unaware of the problem at our borders. The author even offers up a warning to white America when she notes, â€Å"White people traveling with brown people, however, can expect to be stopped on suspicion they work with the sanctuary movement†(125). The purpose of this writing is to pull out a problem that is hidden within or society, and let people see it for what it is and isn’t. This topic is a problem, but it may not be all that it is said to be. Throughout this piece the author shows us what is wrong with system of keeping illegals out of our country. She opens talking of her cousin Bill Pratt, who she claims rode freely from New Mexico to Arizona without disturbances throughout the early 1900’s. From a story of freedom of the past, s... ...ontradicting herself, and pointing the finger. Although she most likely has experienced these acts of unjust treatment, she seems to put the reader in the position to doubt the credibility of what she has to say time and again. In wrapping up the analysis of Silko’s paper the reader is left with a bitter taste. Although Silko points out an important issue, she seems to be too overdramatic when telling of personal experience. Silko leaves the reader too skeptical of what she has to say. The reader has a hard time believing what they read. Silko finds refuge through her writing, but does not handle the subject with as much care as it is due. Silko’s evidence to not justify her accusations, and that hurts the credibility of the work. Works Cited: Silko, Leslie Marmon. (1994). "The Border Patrol State." The Nation, vol. 259, no. 12, October 17, pp. 412–416.

The American Dream in Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller, and The Gre

The American Dream in Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller, and The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald In a majority of literature written in the 20th century, the theme of the ' American Dream" has been a prevalent theme. This dream affects the plot and characters of many novels, and in some books, the intent of the author is to illustrate the reality of the American Dream. However, there is no one definition of the American Dream. Is it the right to pursue your hearts wish, to have freedom to do whatever makes one happy? Or is it the materialistic dream prevalent in the 50's, and portrayed in such movies as Little Shop of Horrors? Or is the American Dream a thought so intangible, it changes in the heart of every person and can never be truly defined? Or is it an 'American' Dream at all, is it simply a human drive to pursue a better life? In the book, The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, and the play Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller, the writers portray two completely different literary works which have an amazing connection. Both works are written to illustrate two viewpoints on the American Dream; either the pursuit of happiness, or the pursuit of material wealth. In both literary works, the authors show a comparison between these two visions of the American Dream, and in the end, the authors message is the same; the American dream cannot be a materialistic goal. Or, should not. For many Americans, the American Dream is a 2-door garage in a suburb, but as illustrated in the literary works, this sort of an American Dream leads to unhappiness, depression, and in the case of Willy Loman, suicide. In The Great Gatsby, it is Daisy who has a materialistic dream. She loved Gatsby. When he was a soldier, she loved him, but Gatsby knew he could never marry her, because of class. So, Daisy married Tom Buchanan, a wealthy man, a good looking man, but Daisy did not love him. In the book, Daisy is miserable. She knows Tom is having an affair, and she often cries. She wishes for her daughter to be " a beautiful little fool"( Gatsby 21) so that her daughter will not be smart enough to be unhappy. Daisy loves Gatsby, but she loves her lifestyle. And when she had the decision between the two, she chose her lifestyle, and she will regret her decision time and again. The concept of the American... ...attered, enough so that he could see who his father truly was. Biff had to reevaluate his life, and he came to a realization; " To devote your life to keeping stock, or making phone calls, or selling or buying. To suffer fifty weeks a year for the sake of a two week vacation, when all you want is to be outdoors"( Death 139). Biff came to the conclusion that humans were not meant to work in pursuit of this economic goal, but were meant to work outside. His father could never accept that, and if Willy had, the story would have had a much different ending. The American Dream has no singular definition, but a multitude of interpretations. Yet, in these two completely different literary works, the authors share the same message; the American Dream should not be a materialistic goal, but a goal in pursuit of true, spiritual happiness. This is shown in both Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller, and The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Both authors feel very strongly about the issue, as do many other authors writing today, who fear American Economic views could doom the human race to a meaningless existence. With an ending not too dissimilar from Brave New World.

Automobile and Car Pooling Essay

Car pooling, also known as ride-sharing or lift-sharing, can save you big bucks on gas, wear and tear on your vehicle, oil resources and reduce all the associated nasty environmental impact associated with your driving. The benefits of carpooling are many. If you are currently driving every day, you’re going to save money on your commute costs by carpooling. In some cases, depending on the length of your commute and the number of days you don’t drive, the savings can be significant. You’ll endure less stress on your commute. Finally, by driving less you’ll be helping to keep the air clean. First, car pooling saves you big bucks on gas by, instead of you and your friend, cousin, or relative both taking different cars and you both are going to the same place, you both can take the same car and share the gas money instead of taking your own cars and paying much more gas money. Couple months ago gas prices were going up, I think that people are deciding to car pool more so they can save big bucks on gas. Also, rather than you and your buddy or cousin both adding mileage on your cars you both can just go together and add mileage to one of your cars instead both cars. This can also lower the risk of car accidents that happen on the road if there is less cars being used. If you and your friends car pool then you guys need to always plan the times because no one want to be late to work or any other place you have planned. Car pooling also has big responsibilities because the driver has to be on time to take the friend or buddy to work and also has to be on time to pick that person up. Second, another thing that car pooling is good for is that it keeps the environment and air much cleaner. One example of this would be is rather than two car engines working at once and putting a lot of nasty pollution in the air you could take one car and keep the air half cleaner. If car pooling goes in effect and many people decide to do this then there will be less cars on the road which will leave much less traffic jams. Also, this will make it easier for the road construction workers if there is less cars on the road because then they could work more and get there job done earlier. Finally, car polling is good because it leaves much more parking places in many crowded areas. One example of this would be is that when students go to school in the morning it is usually hard to find a parking place because they are all taken by other students cars but if a couple of friends used on car then this will leave much more parking place for others. Statistics show carpooling is very safe. However, you must keep your personal safety in mind. If you are considering carpooling with people you do not know, you should meet with them in person before hand. This meeting will serve two purposes. First, you’ll have a chance to discuss your ideas on setting up a carpool without obligating yourself to do it. Then, you’ll be able to assess your comfort level with the people. Ask questions and trust your instincts. If you are not comfortable with that person then just tell them you have decided not to carpool anymore. If you known the person your carpooling with than that is much easier for you to be comfortable with them but also carpool with people you trust because your putting your life in there hands by being the passenger and letting the driver control the vehicle because anything can happen on the road and one example of this would be an accident. I think in my opinion that carpooling is good because it saves you big bucks on gas, helps you keep your wear and tear on your vehicle less, and it also helps the environment out by putting less pollution in the air. I always carpool with my friends because of these reasons, but remember pick right carpooling partners or partner that you trust and are comfortable with before you start to carpool with them.

Thesis for Gun Control

COM 220 Gun Control I belive there is a need to increase gun control in an effort to decrease crimes that are related guns. The control of guns has been a controversdial topic as far back as 1813. In today’s society the issues regarding gun control have been controversial. Many strict laws have been passed by the federal government to regulate ownership of guns. In an attempt to regulate gun control many people believe that past familiar high profile political shootings have been as a result of the impactful gun control restrictions.In 2008 there was a battle taking place in The Supreme Court that voted five to four in favor of the American people’s constitutional right to keep a loaded handgun at home for self-defense. The ruling has made anti- gun supporters disagree and angry. Weapons are tools used for a variety of reasons weather it’s for safe guarding material that is highly pilfer able or protection of a family home. Guns are tools that should be treated a nd handled with respect and should not be abused or misused by any means.It is a privilege as well as a right that a person may own a weapon if he or she should decide to do so. I support the right to own and bear fire arms. I understand that if weapons get into the wrong hands tragedies can be a result. I believe that there should be stricter laws for those who have commited felonies, have been a respondent to a restraining order, committed assault, or any other hanous crime. I understand that crime will never cease in this world but that should not be the factor to make an infringement to the Second Amendment.

Lab Safety Report Essay

The lab safety video has provided valuable information to better prepare me to be safe in lab and go by the Seminole State College Lab protocol. I watched the lab video link-http://flash.seminolestate.edu/vod/chemistry/startingwithsafety/startingwithsafety.html, and learned lab safety. The topics addressed were dressing appropriately, how to handle chemicals safely, Bunsen burner and glassware safety, and the emergency equipment available in the lab. I feel I have been informed of the proper procedures and rules to stay safe and protect my classmates, teacher and my personal safety in the laboratory setting. Before entering a lab one should consider the rules that need to be applied. The attire considered necessary are proper googles, long pants, long sleeves (not too loose), jewelry removed, gloves (if required), and apron (if necessary). Also a student is responsible for their behavior and should store personal items, not fool around, and never bring food and drinks to the lab. Then a lab can be conducted in a safe manner with the additional awareness provided in the following topics. The first topic addressed was how to handle chemicals safely. When using acids or bases in a lab proper eyewear, gloves, and aprons should be worn if necessary. The chemicals should be kept from the eyes and skin, and if happen to get in eyes use an eye wash or shower immediately. When mixing chemicals: read and reread labels, only mix chemicals when told to by teacher and use the proper sized (usually smaller) container. When using acid only add acid to water, not the reverse order. In the case of an accident, report the spill to teacher immediately. Upon lab clean up, throw materials in proper containers and do not pour acids down the sink. The second topic addressed was Bunsen burner and glassware safety. The Bunsen burner is dangerous and therefore precaution needs to be taken. The setup should start with the proper connection of the gas hose, and when ignited stand clear. The burner should be turned off immediately if the flame goes out, sputters or flames happen, or there is a smell of gas. The Bunsen burner can be used with glass beakers for heating chemicals. However,  the glassware should be checked for cracks, and once hot should be removed with tongs or gloves. When using fragile glass tubes, hands should be protected with leather gloves and lubrication should be used with rubber inserter and then washed off. If a thermometer is needed the appropriate temperature (alcohol or mercury- depending on temperature range) should be used and understood that no shaking is necessary. The Bunsen burner is among some of the equipment used frequently but can cause harm if used improperly. The final topic addressed the emergency procedures and equipment needed if accidents were to arise in the laboratory. The lab room is equip with first aid kits, fire extinguishers, fire blankets, eye wash stations, emergency chemical showers, and proper deposal containers. However, hopefully one will not need to be used with careful precautions and common sense. For example, if a breaker is on fire simply cover it to contain the flame before a fire extinguisher or evacuation is needed. The emergency equipment is there to ensure safety in case of an accident or emergency and should be used appropriately. In conclusion, the laboratory is a dangerous place if the proper concern for safety is not taken seriously. Therefore the video has given the proper guidelines and protocols needs to operate a safe lab for all to enjoy.

Analytical Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Analytical Paper - Essay Example Thus, the world portrayed in this novel resembles that of the nineteenth century laboring America. The paper involves an analysis of how the family, violence, and youth culture issues are manifest in the novel and their existence in the early nineteenth century America. Just like any setting, the author reveals that he has a well-established family and the existence of his family becomes a turning point to him when he finally realized the costs of his youthful acts (William 5). Running from home, after his father whipped him for disobeying his order, he finds himself in a situation of having to serve as a common slave in the ship commonly referred to as his majesty. When he finally finds a way of escaping the shame of constant whips, inadequate food, and clothing, he remembers his family in Hull city and decides to go home. He finds himself in a shock to learn that his family had already gone to America, but just as expected, he finds assistance from his uncle who finally agrees to stay with him as he makes plans of joining his family in America. This makes it clear how important a family is, but the same novel reveals a situation of reliance of the man as the supreme law holder of the family. This is in line with the American nineteenth century la boring society in which every member of the family held importance, and during the securing of slaves by the â€Å"slave masters’’, it was pretty obvious how painful it was to lose a member of the family and not be able to see them for life. A factor, amongst many, that led to the civil rights’ movements of the abolition of vile acts like slave trade. Additionally, women in the novel, besides being generous, are a people who have a lot of influence the controversial issues pertaining to the family. For instance, when William Otter was on his journey to find his parents in Hull, he had

Can organizational cultures be changed Research Paper

Can organizational cultures be changed - Research Paper Example Despite the many changes that occur worldwide, an organization can stay impermeable towards change. According to Miller, et al. (2003), if the organization is deeply rooted with their institutional context, thickened and insulated from the outside world and with predefined organizational dynamics, then the said organization can be impermeable with change. An organization can be measured with its history. The values, philosophies, vision and strategies of the organization during their foundation years contribute to the culture of that organization. Every personal history of the individual within the institution contributes to the current and future decisions, behaviors and choices of the organization as a whole. And with time value, this organization becomes formalized and standardized thereby making them change resistant. The managerial practices and the core values demanded by this organization require new entities to follow their norms and whoever disagrees from it can leave anytim e. If the leaders of the organization are tightly bounded with their set of standards and rules, they are bound to stand resistive of what is around them making culture change impossible. This has been a reality in countries such as China, which is embedded with Confucianism, and Russia rooted with Communism (Miller,et al., 2003:393-394). Culture contributes highly to the overall functioning of an organization. It has an impact on the effectiveness of the organization which reflects the reasons why the organization existed in the first place. There have been a lot of researches done by various organizations to achieve that optimum effectiveness and functionality. According to Denison and Mishra (1995), for the function of a certain organization to be highly effective, there are various elements involved such as involvement, consistency, adaptability, and sense of mission or long-term vision. These traits can indicate the organizations flexibility, sense of response, open-mindedness, direction, and integration. With these traits evident in the culture of an organization, it is easier to predict the growth, quality, satisfaction, profitability and the overall performance. To gain these traits, it is inevitable for the organization to steer with change throughout time. With time factor drifting from one era to another, it is imperative for everyone to adapt with change. The change in technology, communication, transport, machineries and other aspects, humanity are forced into dependence upon these changes for greater gain. The advent of 20th century has toppled the traditional practices and various individuals and organizations must be creative in using their knowledge-based human capacity to balance their organization’s culture with the fast paced change happening in the world today. This has been a challenge for various minds, scholars and individuals to develop new and keen theories and methods applicable for organizations. Organizations of today are no longer conformed to the geographical location, religious beliefs and nationality. Instead, there is a global vision, expansion, influence and competition going on (Walsh, Meyer and Schooenhoven, 2006). This has been evident to the many industries that are present today. Multinational industries with global influence have adapted various changes in their organization culture to cope with the realities that

308 2nd assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

308 2nd assignment - Essay Example This essay considers these strands of Adam Smith’s theory of classical economics by investigating their interrelation. In the Wealth of Nations Smith offers a famous example of a primitive value system. Using the example of a beaver and a deer, he states that it takes twice as long to hunt the beaver as the deer, so that the beaver should be worth twice as much as the deer. In this example the value of a good is directly related to the labor that is required to procure it, therefore the profit is the compensation or cost of doing business. Smith states, â€Å"In this state of things, the whole produce of labour belongs to the laborer† (Medema & Samuels, 2003, p. 162). Smith acknowledges that such an example is not only simplistic, but due to the complications of the contemporary economic structure is no longer feasible. Indeed, the contemporary market (18th century United Kingdom) has given way to a process he refers to as division of labor, which complicates this example. In the Wealth of Nations Smith argues that one of the fundamental characteristics of the 18th century British economic structure is the division of labor. According to the division of labor In Chapter 1 (Medema & Samuels, 2003), Smith describes a situation where labor is divided within a pin factory so that the ultimate number of pins produced is greatly increased. In order to achieve this increase in production the capitalist must engage the services of the laborer and the landlord, and invest heavily in machinery. It follow that â€Å"In every society the price of every commodity finally resolves itself into some one or other, or all of those three parts† (Medema & Samuels, p.162). Smith is ultimately stating that the price of the commodity, after factoring in the costs of the land, labor, and machinery, is the residual profit. Smith distinguishes between natural prices and

Family Planning among Teenagers Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Family Planning among Teenagers - Term Paper Example The provision of family planning services to a minor depends on the legal concept of â€Å"personal representative.† According to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2003), a personal representative is a person who has the legal authority to make health care decisions on behalf of the individual as in the case of minors (n.p.). Parents are often the personal representatives of minor children; thus, parents have the right to obtain health information about a minor child. However, the Privacy Rule specifies three circumstances in which certain minors can obtain specified health care without parental consent such as when the State or law does not require parental consent when obtaining particular health services (e.g., mental health treatment), when the court determines other authority rather than the parents to make treatment decisions for the minor, and when the parent to confidential relat ionship between the minor and the physician (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2003, n.p.). In the case study presented, the 14-year-old teenager in an unemancipated minor with parents acting as the legal authority. ... A physician can prevent the transfer of billing/insurance information to reach parents by letting the minors use the option of requesting restrictions on disclosure of confidential communications. 2. What is the normal age range for menarche? According to Pillitteri (2009), the normal or usual age range for menarche is 9 to 17 years with average age of onset at 12.4 years (p. 99). The 14-year-old female in the case study experienced menarche at age 13 and thus, falls within the normal range. 3. What are some common treatments for dysmenorrhea? In the case study presented, the teenager stated that she experiences pain when she has her menses. The teenager also stated that the pain is occasionally bad enough that she misses school. The teenager suffers from a condition called dysmenorrhea or painful menstruation where treatment measures are geared towards pain relief and development of coping strategies. Treatment measures are grouped into three, namely: administration of low-dose oral contraceptives or Depo-Provera to suppress endometrium, administration of prostaglandin inhibitors or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to reduce pain, and initiation of lifestyle changes. Patients treated with NSAIDs are usually prescribed to take Ibuprofen 400-800 mg or Naproxen 250-500 mg both three times a day (Ricci & Kyle, 2009, 94). In addition, patients treated with NSAIDs must be advised to take it with meals, cautioned against taking with aspirin or alcohol, and watched for signs of GI bleeding. Meanwhile, low-dose contraceptives are taken daily with advice to take active pills for an extended period of time to reduce the number of monthly cycles while the 150 mg of Depo-Provera is administered intramuscularly every 12th week with information that one could be