Confession of a Former Drug Addict: Learning the Value of Family

Confession of a Former Drug Addict: Learning the Value of Family Misguided Youth â€Å"Oh now that I think back about it, I was really stupid when I was young and that my mother is really unfortunate to have a son like me! † Kong said as he ended with a short embarrassed laugh while he recounts the past he isn’t exactly proud of in mandarin. Kong, 36 , had spent most of his youth in and out of the drug rehabilitation centre and prison. His parents separated while he was still young and their mother decided to bring him and his younger brother along to move into their grandmother’s place at Ang Mo Kio.Kong was the eldest among the grandchildren left in his grandmother’s care. With his mother busy at work to support the family and his grandmother busy attending the younger kids, the mischievous boy always finds the chance to sneak out of the house. It was then when he got acquainted and started hanging out with the older kids around his neighborhood. These a re the friends that very much influenced and helped mold him into a teenage delinquent. â€Å"I was encouraged by them to join their gang, to skip school and hang out with them.And it was then when I learn how to shoplift, cutting chain off bicycles to steal, extorting money from other kids and getting into fight for the most minor reason, just for the sake of getting into trouble and seeking thrill out of it. †, Kong explained how he was a wayward boy that followed whatever his peers instigated. â€Å"And it felt really good to be part of the gang and ‘cool’ to be doing things other normal ‘good’ kids didn't dare to do. † It was then when young Kong’s misbehaviors and actions, prove that it can have direct consequence on his family, and the first to experience it was none other than his younger brother.Both brothers were studying in the same neighborhood secondary school. Kong’s truancy and bad records kept piling up and finally one day, he even threatened to hurt the school’s principal while being called to discipline. That’s when the school decided enough is enough, and Kong’s expulsion was announced. But not just him alone, his younger brother was to be expelled along with him. Sure the younger brother wasn’t exactly the good obedient student, had been seen around Kong, caused some mischief and playful enough to skip school occasionally.But he never crossed the line or got involved with Kong’s unlawful activities. Still, the school found these reasons enough to get the siblings off their ground permanently. â€Å"The principal felt that because he’s my younger brother, he’s nature is surely as bad as me! Just because he’s my younger brother. † Kong said while shaking his head slightly. â€Å"You may think that’s unfair but things were different back then during that time. Now if something like this happened nowadays, you will see the principal and school getting onto news! † Kong ended with a laugh. From Bad to WorseHis mother and grandmother blamed him for dragging his younger brother into that situation because of the troubles he brewed and being a bad influence. But this incident didn’t make Kong reflect on his actions. He didn't think of it as a big deal. He didn’t care about anything. The teenager’s rebellious nature only served to take things for the worse. Soon after getting expelled from school, he soon finds himself experimenting with drugs. It was the norm as people around him were doing inhalants and drugs. The first he experimented was glue sniffing. Then he moved on to trying out ecstasy and heroin etc.Experimentation turns into dependency. The addiction works in an insidious way, it crept in and slowly took over Kong’s life before he realized. Days of drug taking ritual turned to weeks, then months and years. It seems like Kong wasn’t the one controlling th e drugs, it was the other way round. Spending his life in a drug-fuelled haze, it revolved around being troubled over where to find money to support his next supply of drugs. Keeping up with the addiction proof to be not cheap. Although he had joined and worked for the lion dance troupe that was associated with his gang, it wasn’t enough to keep up with his expenses.To satisfy with his drug cravings, he resorted to theft and robbery, even stealing from his family. The one he hurt most during this period was his mother. Seeing her cry because of him was nothing new. His desperation for drug even made him turned his hand on his very own mother. Kong recalls that particular incident that he will feel bad for as long as he lived, â€Å"This one time I was having this great urge for drugs, but I didn't have money with me, I ransacked the house and approached my mother in the kitchen. But she wasn’t willing to hand me any money and was screaming at me to quit.I got impatien t and this sudden surge of anger rose up and I exploded,† He slapped his own mother across the face. Kong then continued remorsefully, â€Å"I was an unfilial and disgraceful son. Unfit to be human for hurting my mother like that. Like what they say, I deserved to be struck down by lightning. † Relatives chided him as being ‘useless, and a shame to the family. ’ Kong ended up caught and admitted to the drug rehabilitation centre. After his release, Kong was still mixing around with the ‘bad’ group of friends as he felt being shunned by the society and this was the group of people most accepting of him.He couldn’t stay clean and soon fell back to his old ways after gaining freedom. He was sent back to the drug rehabilitation centre once more for relapse. â€Å"I was stubborn and self-centered. I didn't really try hard or be determined enough to change my life. I just thought I was unlucky to be caught the first few times. ’ Kong s ays. He continued his old ways, involving in gang fight and robbery with hurt. He was sentenced to imprisonment for a total of 7 years and given 10 strokes of cane. Turning PointWhen he was finally released from Changi Prison, Kong, 30 by that time, felt that he had already wasted a large part of his youth. He made sure to remind himself of the guilt and shame. The heart wrenching moment etched in his memories when he saw how his mother broke down in tears when he was sentenced, how his aged grandmother with declining health having to make her way to visit him in prison over the years. â€Å"I robbed my mother for years because of my rebellious nature, because of my selfishness. All I did was lying and being dishonest with everything they confronted with me.I never thought about the damage I imposed on my family because of my actions. I took advantage on how they dote, only to make them heart-broken. † Kong confessed. Now, he deeply understands for mistakes he made, he wonâ⠂¬â„¢t be the only one paying his dues. His family and loved ones will inevitably bear his consequences one way or the other. Among the tattoos that he was inked over his body during his rebellious younger days, he is now sporting a ‘sak yant’ on his back, a traditional form of tattoo normally performed on followers by Buddhist monks in Thailand.He decided to embrace Buddhism and was on a religious trip to Thailand to receive a ‘sak yant’. But the tattoo wasn’t what he received. It was there where he got to know this local young woman from Chiang Mai, who soon became his wife. Kong and his wife now have two young daughters. Unfortunately, their first daughter Elina, 6, is diagnosed with minor autism and currently attending a special school. But their younger daughter has an even more unfortunate fate. Rita, now 3, was born with a severe spinal deformity which was curved at 80 to 90 degree in ‘S’ shape.She is the youngest and one of the m ost serious cases of congenital scoliosis in Singapore. Two titanium rods each 15 cm to 20 cm long was inserted into her body to straighten her spine and ribs when she was 2. Every six to nine months, Rita will have to go through operations until she is 14 years old, to expand the rods allowing growth. Being the sole breadwinner of the family, Kong currently works as a cargo assistant with a monthly salary of $1600. He tried to working overtime whenever possible so as to provide more support to his family.He was able to cover more about half of the medical expenses from his own Medisave and Medifunds for Rita’s medical expenses. He shared how he learnt humility and helpfulness receiving help from relatives and donations arranged by the hospital. â€Å"Sometimes I think that maybe it’s because of my past deeds, it might have been my karma that caused even my daughters to have to suffer. Being a father made me realized how much the heart hurts when parents see their chi ldren suffer, like how my mother used to feel.Even now, I haven’t revealed all Rita’s condition to my Thai wife. I’m worried she may not be able to take it. Sometimes she will cry while looking at the long deep surgery scars running on Rita’s back. .† Kong said. â€Å"I’m really grateful for my family and relatives who knew of my past, but still accepted me, loved and cared for my daughters as their own too. † Kong added. Even though life may not have turn up perfect, family is now the fuel and motivation for Kong to not turn back his old ways, to be a responsible father and son.

Newton Second Law of Motion Essay

According to newton’s second law of motion, Acceleration is produced when a force acts on a mass. The greater the mass is, the grater the acceleration is needed to move forward. This law basically states that a force applied to the objects changes its velocity overtime in the direction of the force that is applied, the acceleration is directly proportional to the force, as an example, if pushing on an object, causing it to accelerate, and then you push, the same object three times harder, the acceleration will be three times greater and the acceleration is inversely proportional to the mass of an object, if you push equally on two objects, and one of the objects has five times more mass than the other, it will accelerate at one fifth of the object. SUV’s have the greater mass than the car. So SUV’s need more force than light car to move forward in the direction the force is applied, we can say that SUV’s need more force to act than a car, for example driving an SUV and light car at the same velocity, the force needed for car would be less than the SUV and the car would run faster than a suv as it need less force than an SUV. SUV requires more fuel than a normal car. A Car could run faster than an SUV and it even requires less fuel. Therefore, the more mass the object has, it requires more force to make it move forward and to act on it. Newton’s second law of motion states that the heavier objects require more force to get them moving but smaller objects or lighter objects require less force to actually get them moving. The formula that is used is force equals mass times acceleration. For example if you throw a 5lb weight stone and a 2lb weight with the same amount of force the 2lbs weight will travel faster than the 5lbs weight, That is because there is less mass to be moved, A truck hits a car and allows the car to move forward. The truck provides the force and the car’s mass, and the acceleration is how quickly the car (mass) moves forward. The larger and heavier the car mass is, the more force it takes to move forward. If the car has very less mass it move’s forward quicker than the car with more mass. Thus, we can say that more people would prefer a car than a SUV’s because of it’s mass and fuel efficiency that is required which is very less in consumption in a car than compared to SUV’s.

Family Presence Article Critique

Family Presence Article Critique Inez Robbins Liberty University November 26, 2012 Abstract Family presence at the bedside during resuscitation is starting to become standard protocol in many emergency departments but research is limited in this area. The objective of the article reviewed is to explore the nurse’s perception of the benefit and/or harm to the family in a facility that has well established family presence protocols. The nurses’ perceptions of the effects on the family provide a positive influence on both the family members and the interdisciplinary team that is caring for the patient.The study confirmed long-term participation yields positive effects on the perception of family presence at the bedside during resuscitation in the emergency department. The nursing perception offers insight on the care and compassion towards the family in their critical time of need. Future nursing implications, future nursing research, and ethical implications are discussed , as there is a further need for education and research in these areas of professional nursing development. Key words: Family presence, resuscitation, nurse, perception.Family Presence Article Critique Review of Article A review of the Elinar Lowry, PhD, RN’s article â€Å"It’s Just What We Do†: A Qualitative Study of Emergency Nurses Working with Well-Established Family Presence Protocol published in the Journal of Emergency Nursing volume 38, number four in July of 2012 aims to describe the benefits and harm to patients family members who were present during patient resuscitation based on the perceptions of nurses whom work within a facility with an established family presence protocol.The article describes a study performed in which fourteen emergency room nurses’ perception of their experiences with family presence during resuscitation is documented. The facility in which all fourteen nurses were employed had a family presence protocol since 1992 (Low ry, 2012). There were pointed open-ended questions asked. These questions were meant to allow the nurses to elaborate on experiences that were both positive and negative. The results of the study found that nurses perceived there were benefits experienced by the family in several ways (Lowry, 2012).Some of these were: family was able to see the evolution of events or the patient’s progress during the resuscitation. The family was also able to confirm the effort used to save their loved one. Lastly, nurses confirmed that they felt the families appreciated that everything possible was done to save their family member. There was no perception of harm done to the family through observation of resuscitative measures (Lowry, 2012). Future Nursing Practice Implications of this study for future nursing practice suggest that long-term participation is directly related to acceptance of family presence by nursing.This information is encouraging for nurses whom wish to write and establis h family presence protocols within their facilities (Lowry, 2012). Care should be taken to identify and educate on tolerance of family member behaviors. Family presence protocols should also include limitations for the number of family members allowed at the bedside during resuscitative measures so that the staff members feel secure and comfortable with family presence practices (Lowry, 2012).Future Nursing Research Implications for future nursing research related to family presence should include family members who take part in family presence. All staff members should be surveyed to conclude the overall cultural belief on family presence (Lowry, 2012). Other potential topics for studies include: the right time to request the family’s presence, how to integrate new hire nurses into a potentially unfamiliar family presence protocol or practice (Lowry, 2012). Ethical IssuesAll of the nurses interviewed during this study held that family presence during resuscitation was the et hically right thing. Some of the nurses reported feelings of personal anguish at the family members grieving their loved ones. They also describe compassionate care to those family members (Lowry, 2012). References Lowry, E. (2012). â€Å"It’s just what we do†: A qualitative study of emergency nurses working with well-established family presence protocol. Journal of Emergency Nursing, 38(4). 329-334. doi:10. 106/j. jen. 2010. 12. 016

Strategic management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 20

Strategic management - Essay Example Instead, it has to adapt or speed up or change based on the constantly and rapidly changing business environment. There will be factors at â€Å"play† both in the external and internal environments of the organisations, and it is up to the organisation to play or function according to those factors. Although organisations may function or change based on those factors, it is of vital importance that how rapid and also how discontinuous those changes are. This is where the happening concept of rapid, volatile, discontinuous change comes into the picture. If an organisation initiates change management which is rapid and discontinuous, it can garner number of benefits for it, particularly strategic competitiveness in line with the strategic management process. It is imperative on the part of the organisational leaders or management or Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to initiate as well as manage this rapid, discontinuous change. So, the report starts by outlining the concepts of rap id, volatile, discontinuous change as part of literature review. Then, it will discuss where and how this concept fits within the strategic management process. Following that, the focus will be on the R.A.P.I.D, which can be used to assess the role, impacts and implications of rapid, discontinuous change for an organisation. The final section will focus on the role of CEOs during this change, particularly the ways they respond to the change as well as why they could not respond appropriately to the change during certain occassions. Organisations of contemporary times are operating in a dynamic business environment, and so they are bombarded by factors in its external and internal environment. Organisations need to initiate rapid and discontinuous changes on their part to match up with those internal and external changes. â€Å"This sort of rapid change can be triggered by major internal problems or by considerable external shock† (Todnem, 2005,

Technical factors affecting e-banking development in Iran Dissertation

Technical factors affecting e-banking development in Iran - Dissertation Example Research questions The purpose of this study is to get greater understanding of e-Banking phenomenon and find out its implementation obstacles in Iran. In the conduct of the collection of data; both primary and secondary data, it is important that the researcher has a guide on the kind of data to collect and which ones to ignore. In doing this, the following research questions have been set to guide the researcher on the exact data to go after. Therefore, the researcher tries to reach this goal by answering the following questions. 1 What have been the hindrances to the advancement of e-banking in Iran? Problem Overview In recent years acceptance of e-Banking has been rapid. In many west countries like Finland over 50% of bank customers use e-Banking services. On the other hand some evidence shows half of new customers that have used e-Banking for the first time, do not continue using this channel as an active customer.(reference needed) the development of new technologies in communi cations and information practices and the emergence of new services and increasing expectations and needs for banking services market caused our public and private banks to compete for providing new e-banking services. E-banking in recent decade has been carried out with various implementations in our country by a variety of public and private banks. Now each bank more or less seeks for efficient use of this new technology. However, it seems the use of e-banking is still not institutionalized in the culture of our people, and customers still do not use this technology with trust for large financial transactions. The Central Bank of Iran (CBI) observes that not many companies and organisations are taking advantage of... The paper tells that in recent years acceptance of e-Banking has been rapid. In many west countries like Finland over 50% of bank customers use e-Banking services. On the other hand some evidence shows half of new customers that have used e-Banking for the first time, do not continue using this channel as an active customer. the development of new technologies in communications and information practices and the emergence of new services and increasing expectations and needs for banking services market caused our public and private banks to compete for providing new e-banking services. E-banking in recent decade has been carried out with various implementations in our country by a variety of public and private banks. Now each bank more or less seeks for efficient use of this new technology. However, it seems the use of e-banking is still not institutionalized in the culture of our people, and customers still do not use this technology with trust for large financial transactions. The C entral Bank of Iran observes that not many companies and organisations are taking advantage of e-business as penetration rate in e-business is still very low. Iranian banks have made huge investments into e-business but this has not succeeded in changing the trend. According to BBC news 60 †¬percent of Iranians go to banks only to receive or pay cash to the banking network. Iranian banks talk about the spread of e-banking while Iranians spend a lot of time to pay the bills for water, electricity, gas, phone, or transferring money to other accounts and sometimes they stay in line for hours to receive or pay cash.

Short story that is character driven Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Short story that is character driven - Essay Example My mother used to say it, my teacher at school said it, but nothing in my life bore this out’, I paused to check if she was with me. She was listening intently, leaning forward a little. ‘Go on, Roy, it’s something I’ve always believed in†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ ‘Then you have got to hear this’, I cut in and settled back heavily as the sofa springs creaked in protest. My eyes glazed over to that day six years back. *** The rain had been falling in a steady torrent through the night. Whether it was the thunder that had raged night-long or the steady thumping of my adrenalin, I had been able to sleep barely a wink. My head pounded with thoughts of what I would say at the meeting: ‘Yes sir, I am a qualified chef†¦.. been to the best catering school in the country†¦. I have the training and the experience†¦.. have been saving up for this break†¦.. give it to me†¦..give it to me†¦.. oh, give it to me†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ The wor ds raced through my mind, sometimes reaching my lips, sometimes dying away as new thoughts leapt up. Would they think me good enough to make the investment? What if I fumbled? Was I stepping too much out of a comfort zone? What if I lost the initial deposit, my life’s treasure, if I didn’t bag the deal? At this, I jerked out of bed and felt the sweat trickle down the back of my T-shirt. I walked over to the tiny kitchenette and switched on the light. As warm light flooded my little nest, my nerves steadied and I glanced at my reflection in the cut-glass framed mirror in the passage. Bright eyes, a determined mouth and a springy shock of dark hair stared back at me. My teacher’s words came back, ‘Roy, you are the best I ever saw. You are not just a great chef, you have in it you to be an entrepreneur†¦. Go for it my boy’. I had gone to see Mr. Dias when I saw the ad in the newspaper. 50,000 dollars deposit, catering school background, proven exp ertise, a go-getting spirit and the drive to set up and manage an international catering franchise in Mumbai. The company, Great Grub, was an international chain looking for a young person with the above qualifications to set up their first venture in India. Besides the 50,000 dollars that I had to put up to enter the fray, they would take pick up the tab on the entire rigmarole – real estate, marketing, staffing, kitchen operations, everything. Woo hoo, it was a dream come true. Tailor-made, answer to all my prayers, the one thing I needed to jumpstart my career to the big league. As I put water to boil for that cup of coffee I so needed, I remembered the wrench I had felt those two months back when I had to finally dig into the bank deposit that my mother had begun the day I was born. ‘When you need it for your studies or something big, it will be there for you’, she would say. In those carefree growing-up years those words had meant little and the first time t he existence of that tidy sum registered was when her lawyer handed me the papers on my eighteenth birthday, a year after she was gone. As I sipped my coffee pensively, I recalled how much she had wanted me to make it big, how she had stood by me like a rock when I wanted to follow my heart to catering school, how she had rebuffed all those who had scorned my choice of career as too ‘girly’. ‘This one is going to be for you, mom’, I whispered. The day began to break in, as it normally did – a little sliver of light crept in from the east window, picking out first the chintz covered sofa and then the antique center table in

Wolseley Accounts Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Wolseley Accounts Report - Essay Example This report will analyse the financial performance of Wolseley Group and how the group has performed in the last year or so. The report has been divided into three sections; the first section of the report will discuss and analyse how the group has performed in the last three years, the second section of the report will analyse the financial performance of the company using financial ratios of the year 2010 and 2009. The third section of the report will discusses about one of the items in the current assets of the company’s balance sheet, financial receivables. Section 1: Analysing the performance of Wolseley Group Wolseley Group is the leading trade distributor of heating and plumbing products to different professional contractors. The group operates in 25 countries and has more than 4000 branches around the world with more than 47,000 employees working for the Wolseley Group (Wolseley Group, 2011). The financial crisis has made a huge impact on different industries therefore the industries to which the Wolseley Group has been offering its products were affected as well. The demand of the products had reduced considerably around the world and therefore it influenced the sales of the company negatively. One of the most important industries to which the group has been offering its products is the construction industry. The clients of the Wolseley Group include large construction companies, professional contracts, individual contracts etc. However, with the economic crunch, the overall demand of the of construction projects has reduced to a great extent. There have been several factors that have lead to the reduction in the demand of construction industry as currently the economy is suffering with more unemployment and lower credit available, large number of housing inventory remained unsold etc. Therefore all these have resulted in reduction in overall construction in both the commercial as well as the residential sector. The following image reflects diff erent sectors of the group and it can be seen that most of them are directly or indirectly related to the construction industry. (Wolseley Group, 2010) In several countries including United States of America, United Kingdom, Nordic region, France and Central and Eastern European countries, the sales have reduced however only in Canada the sales of the Wolseley Group grew in the year 2010. But the problem is that Canada only contributes 6% of the total sales of the company as it has been shown in the image below. (Wolseley Group, 2010) All in all, the overall performance can be said to have improved as the sales declined by almost 14% in the year 2009 however in 2010 this figure has reduced to 6% and therefore it can be considered as a positive sign for the group. (Wolseley Group, 2010) Section 2: Analysing The Financial Performance Of The Group Using Financial Ratios Financial ratios are used to analyse the financial performance of the company. Financial ratios are used to analyse a nd compare one company from the other and it is also used to compare the performance of the company with its past performances (Ross, Westerfield, and Jordan, 2009). This section of the report will analyse the compare the financial performance of the company in the year 2009 and 2010 using financial ratios. Different types of financial ratios like the profitability ratios, liquidity ratios and the efficiency ratios are used in this report to analyse the performance of the company in the two years under study. Profitability Ratios Profitability ratios are used to analyse the profitability of the company. The higher the value of the profitability

Research Paper on Potential Career Paths Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Research Paper on Potential Career Paths - Essay Example One of the most significant impacts the ICT has had is on the world of business. The adoption of ICT methodologies in business has seen the conversion of small enterprises to large multinational corporations in a matter of years. The economic crises of 2008 brought with it new challenges not only for businesses around the globe but also for the ICT industry (Lanvin, Dutta, & Bilbao-Osorio, 2013). In these crucial times businesses are looking to gain competitive edge over their rivals and obtain as much of the market share as possible. To achieve these objectives they heavily rely on innovative techniques that can only be provided by the ICT industries. These factors have contributed to the growth of the industry and have accelerated the progress of the industry to great speeds (Lanvin, Dutta, & Bilbao-Osorio, 2013). Issues of ICT sector: One of the main issues that have plagued the industry is the integrity of personal and corporate data. Data that is converted into digital format is usually vulnerable to a number of threats from different sources. Even with different security measures implemented there is no guarantee that the data would not be accessed by unauthorized personnel (Mathieu & Woodard, 1993). Another issue that the industry faces is its bad reputation regarding satisfaction of customer needs. In a number of cases customers complain that large corporations fail to meet their demands and provide an end product that is of no use to them (Norton, 2011). This usually gives the sector and those working in it somewhat a bad name. Moreover IT professionals tend to communicate with the customer in an arrogant manner portraying as if customers are of less intelligence because they are unaware of the basic fundamentals of IT sector. The customers may be oblivious to these fundamental facts but treating them in such a manner increases their ill feelings towards the IT professional they are dealing with. This adds to the deteriorating image of the industry as a whole (Norton, 2011). Since the invention of internet, mainframe and personal computers one trend has been seen increasing within the ICT industry every year and that is the complexity of software and hardware produced. The complex nature of products that are developed increases each year. This causes a huge dilemma for professionals working within the industry (Norton, 2011). These professionals must have thorough knowledge of all these products in order to be efficient at their jobs. However due to the increased complexities of these products companies need to hire entire teams and teamwork with one’s peers have become a lot more vital than it ever was(Norton, 2011). Description of SAP AG SAP AG is one of the leading software development companies. The foundation of the company was laid in 1972 and since then it has been providing businesses all around the world with IT solutions. One of its most popular software products is the SAP enterprise resource planning applicatio n systems and management (PR Carbon, 2013). The company has its headquarters in Walldorf, Germany however the company offers its services to a number of companies across the globe. The company has divided its operations with respect to four geographic regions it has created EMEA, America, LAC and APJ. EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) as the name suggests, operates within the Middle Eastern and the African regions.

The effect of Mass Media on Globalization Essay

The effect of Mass Media on Globalization - Essay Example media and commercialization of the global television has led to the widespread usage of cable and satellite channels that have in turn promoted globalization and free exchange of ideas. The turning point for globalization has been the development of optic fibers, electromagnetic waves, and geo stationary communication satellites that enabled the transmission of complete and uninterrupted messages and signals. These developments account for the modern era whereas back in the 18th and 19th century, globalization relied on the postal services, telegrams and later, amateur versions of phones and faxes. These were the mechanical advancements and then came the idea and implementation of the global codification that has turned the world into a global village where everything is just a click away. Where all the information is available on fingertips and anything, anywhere can be easily accessed anytime which is bliss, yet a concern for the privacy of the masses (Potter, 2012). The ideology of the possibility of a global village was predicted and put forward by a Canadian theorist, Marshall Mcluham in 1960. Though it seemed almost impossible back then, globalization has propagated and spread its roots so deep that the world has indeed shrunk to a global village in the presence of technology. Technological advancements have not only crossed the social and territorial boundaries of the world but have also brought about huge changes in all the aspects of people’s day to day lives (Peter, 2008). All the People of the world now live together, huddled up in what seems like technological dens where they share their happiness and sorrows with one another and be there 24/7 not hindered by the weather conditions or any other issues as came across in the past. They learn from each other’s inventions, researches and discoveries and keep themselves updated regarding the happenings of the world each second. It has become possible because of the media that enables the people to

Organizational Communications Strategy Essay Example for Free

Organizational Communications Strategy Essay Leaders are responsible for motivating people to do their work effectively and achieve common objectives. Some believe leaders are born but some of the qualities can also be embedded in leaders through training and learning. Communication is the process when one person conveys thoughts or feelings to another individual or collection of people. The effectiveness of the communication process can be measured by message intended is equal to the message extracted. Feedback is essential for the communication process as this provides a response to on how successful we have been in transferring our message as originally intended. Teams focus on a collective style of working where the team members work together to achieve common goals. In teams the synergy level is positive, that is the performance of the team is greater than the individual efforts. The self managed teams discussed in this case are linked with empowerment, empowering employees enables them to participate better in team decision making processes. Leaders should facilitate and gain the trust of these teams rather than try to control and dictate to them. This allows instant action to be taken against a problem leading to valuable solutions. Communication is the back bone of an organization; it is one of the most important aspects required for the survival and success of the organization, whether the objective is dealing with corporate clients, employees or general public. The aim of the massage is to get across the Messages clearly, convincingly and to the relevant targeted audiences, Content that is delivered should be conveyed using the most effective and efficient channels, and a important aspect which is to be kept in mind is that Communications are customized to reflect cultural, and local diversity so it should be utilized accordingly for the betterment of the organization. Every thing done in the organization is through communication so it is a very significant element of any organization. The company I have chosen of the fortune 500 is FedEx the communication strategy is accordingly to the current trends in the business, I will emphasize on IT for the purpose of communication whether it be with in the organization or out side to customers, the internet will be used in fact for this purpose, as it is the most efficient and effective communication medium of present era. IT internal use it is a blessing as at present organization are moving toward paper less offices and e-mails are the best way to correspond and to Provide timely responses to all questions and feedback received. For external use website is a best source to attract new and maintain present customer as a large population of the world uses the WWW, for socializing, checking e-mails, browsing etc. using this medium will help FedEx in Developing focused, targeted communications at the right time to the correct audience, Communicate concise, pertinent, interesting content with a positive tone to cater the market. Website will be used for the purpose of providing a repository of business wide communications and questions and answers that is easily accessible to all FedEx concern employees. Another vital source I would use for my communication strategy will be the mobile phone, it has been growing rapidly at present and the cell phone has become one of the most vital means to convey messages, as the general public who use cell phones are addicted to it. We could target our customer by mobile massages which are used at present companies to attract customer, further the merge of the mobile and the internet has had a positive impact on the industry. Further, we could use other means of promoting their Internet marketing efforts offline like newsletters, direct mails, etc in order to reach more people nationally and internationally. The same tools can be used to promote not only the website but the company as a whole at the same time based on data gathered about customers online. Conduct online promotion using banner ads, e-newsletters, e-zines, etc. Since internet marketing is a new concept, those people who do go online may not be aware of exactly which companies have websites now. Therefore it would be a really effective idea right now to start placing banner ads on websites, there should be an overall increase in awareness of the use of Websites to interact with their customers online. I believe that the postal system is not very reliable but the usage of online advertisement can increase the interactivity and understanding of consumers and become more personalized. The World Wide Web has got billions of users with a great deal of attention from press and industry analysts. It’s got big names like Amazon and Yahoo which makes it sound even more intimidating to small businesses to use the Internet as a big part of their marketing solution. Like traditional advertising, Web marketing does not need a catchy slogan or striking images or animations. To get started, all one needs to do is state just the facts: who you are, what you sell, where you’re located, and other basic information. It does not cost a lot to fix mistakes, add new information or make other changes. That’s one source of anxiety absent in Web marketing. The same free tools used to develop web pages can be used to fix them, add to them or expand them. Todays consumers rarely wait until they enter a store before they begin to develop a decision to purchase one brand over another. For most businesses this is one of the greatest opportunities of the Internet. By responding to the consumers need for information and providing them with the information they are looking for earlier in the sales cycle, a business of any size can develop the kind of branded relationship that at one time only corporations with large ad budgets could afford. To get maximum benefit one can blend conventional advertising with online advertising to further energize and empower the overall campaign and make it interactive. What is needed is creativity and imaginative thinking. There is no particular, sure-fire way of doing it right and there is hardly a code of conduct. That gives internet-advertising a lot of breathing space but also leaves no excuses for not being innovative. As I have mentioned above if we conduct a cost and benefit analysis it would portray more benefit than the cost, the major target market of this media are the corporate clients as they make up most of the market in using FedEx services, with this innovative medium we will attract new customer for our product as well, the stake holder are the employee, loyal customer, the management of FedEx etc. In order to cater cultural nuances of people from all over the world we will have website customized to match the particular countries culture, and we will endeavor to cater the worldwide culture accordingly for instance Take nudity, Many Mildest cultures are reluctant to displaying women’s skin, while Europeans are far more tolerant of public nudity than Americans, these cultural difference will be catered for the effectiveness of the organizational communications strategy. Culture is a very difficult term to define. However, certain people have gone on and defined culture well by saying that it is a ‘set of shared values, opinions and practices of a community or group of people. ’ (Definition of Culture) The importance of the understanding of a socio-cultural environment of any country is imperative to attaining business advantage and eventually translatable success. This understanding of socio-cultural environment is then translated effectively into business practices so that they appeal to the local crowd and create a positive image of the firm in their minds. (Cultural Barriers) In my opinion this organizational communications strategy will do wonders for the organization, I hope this strategy will be implemented for the betterment of the organization.

History of Hans Frank

History of Hans Frank Dylan Myers   THESIS STATEMENT In my Holocaust research report for Mr. Benevento and Mrs. Welch, I will discuss Hans Frank; I will focus on his diary, his imprisonment, his background and his purpose of the Holocaust. I will also talk about what happened in his life. Outline Holocaust Intro Quote Why its important to learn about. Thesis Statement. Hans Frank Background Birth Family Life Early Childhood+Education War/ Military Background How he got to his position Role in Nazi Admin Imprisonment Reason Diary Trial/Death Conclusion INTRODUCTION I ask nothing of the Jews except that they should disappear. (Hans Frank) The Holocaust was the murder of six million Jews. Hans Frank was the Governor General of Poland. He was arrested and murdered on October 16, because he killed a lot of Jews. In my Holocaust research report for Mr. Benevento and Mrs. Welch, I will discuss Hans Frank; I will focus on his diary, his imprisonment, his background and his purpose of the Holocaust. I will also talk about what happened in his life. Hans Frank was born on May 23,1900 in Karlsruhe, Germany. Frank was born into a middle-class Catholic family. Frank had an older brother, Karr Jr. and a young sister, named Elizabeth. Franks father was a lawyer so Frank went to Law school to become a lawyer as well. In 1917 Frank, served in the German army in the World War 2. Frank also joined the German Workers Party. On April 2, 1925 Frank married 29 year old Brigitte Herbst. Frank continued to study law and in 1926 he passed the final examinations and became a Legal Advisor for Hitler. Frank had 5 children Sigrid Frank born in 1927. Norman Frank born in 1928, Brigitte Frank born in 1935. Also had 2 other kids named Michael Frank born in 1937, and Niklas Frank born in 1938. While they had Other children their marriage didnt go so well so Frank asked for a divorce in 1942. Brigitte begged and begged for Frank not to divorce her. Frank became the Chief Administration officer for Polish territories. On October 12,1939 Frank became the Governor General of the Polish Territory. In 1939 Frank now became the President of the German Academy Of Law. Frank got his position in the Military because he went to school and studied law and because he had a contribute to the Fuhrestaat. Frank was actually one of Hitlers top lieutenants. Franks role in the Nazi was commissioner and reformer. During World War I Frank joined the German Army. After the war Frank joined the Freikorps. Soon after that Frank joined the Nazi party. After that he became a legal advisor for Hitler and the Nazi Party. Hitler appointed Frank Minister of Justice in Bavaria in 1933, after Hitler became Chancellor. In 1939 Hitler then mad Frank the Governor General of Poland. Hans Frank was arrested by troops on May 3, 1945 at Tegernsee lake in Germany. Hans Frank went to prison because he was responsible for the murder of thousands of Polish Civilians and Jews. While in prision Frank had a diary during his administration role.. The diary has a total of 38 volumes, and included speeches, transcripts of conferences, and minutes of cabinet sessions. Frank was captured by troops on May 3, 1945 at Tegernsee. On his first day in prison Frank tried to commit suicide by trying to cut his throat, but failed to do so. Hand Frank then went to trial on November 20, 1945. He then tried to commit suicide again two days after by lacerating his arm, but this failed as well. Frank was found indicted under four counts. Then Frank was found not guilty on counts one and two but found guilty on counts three and four. Frank admitted to his guilt in the Holocaust. Frank was sentenced to death on October 1, 1946. Frank was executed on October 16, 1946. Hans Frank was the only p erson who entered the gas chamber with a smile on his face. Frank even said im thankful for my treatment during my captivity and I want to ask god to accept me with mercy. This is all about Hans Frank. It talked about his background, his role in the war/ military, and his imprisonment. In his background it first talked about his birth, then his family life, then his Early childhood and education. The second thing it talked about was the War/ Military background. This talked about how he got to his position in the war and his Role in the Nazi Admin. The third thing it talks about is his imprisonment. This talked about the Reason he went to jail, his Diary he wrote, and his trial and death. This is all about Hans Frank. WORKS CITED Hans Frank. Retrieved from http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/nazi-germany/nazi-leaders/hans-frank/ Hans Frank. Retrieved from http://www.holocaustresearchproject.org/ar/frank.html Hans Frank. Retrieved from https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/nuremberg-trial-defendants-hans-frank Hans Frank. Retrieved from http://spartacus-educational.com/GERfrank.htm Journal And Office Records Of Hans Frank, Governor General O. Retrieved from http://nuremberg.law.harvard.edu/documents/3796-journal-and-office-records?q=*#p.1 Nuremberg Trial Judgements: Hans Frank. Retrieved from http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/nuremberg-trial-judgements-hans-frank United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Retrieved from https://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10007108 War And Social Upheaval: World War 2biographies Hans Frank. Retrieved from http://histclo.com/essay/war/ww2/bio/f/bio-frankh.html

Realism And Naturalism In The Literary World English Literature Essay

Realism And Naturalism In The Literary World English Literature Essay When people think of what is real, that often think of what is natural. When people think of what is natural, they often think of something real. However, these statements do not apply to literature. Although Realism and Naturalism seem as if they should be the same exact concepts, they have completely different meanings in the literary world. The movement towards Realism began after the Romanticism period when people became more interested in stories that could relate to their everyday lives. From there, Naturalism was invented. Realism is writing about something that is real, or possible. It has everyday people, ordinary scenarios, and familiar language to that culture. Although Naturalism captures some of the same ideas, it is often much darker and filled with a more Gothic feel of literary devices. The Death of Ivan Ilyich is a great example of a literary work from the Realism era. A work that describes the later movement to Naturalism is The Lost Phoebe. By contrasting these two examples, I believe you can identify the differences between Realism and Naturalism. The Death of Ivan Ilyich is the story of a man who has worked his way into a high social standing, married a good wife, and started what seems to be the perfect family. When a fatal illness takes over, Ivan starts to see himself change not only physically, but mentally as well. This story is a piece from the Realism movement. All the characters are living normal, ordinary lives. What seems to be the perfect family to outsiders is not so perfect on the inside. Everything that revolves around this piece could be true, or real, for other families. It was created to make a social change, often a principle of Realism. The idea was to use their own methods to reveal the cruelty of the society that many people, like Ivan Ilyich, take such pride in. In the beginning of the story, Mr. Ilyichs coworkers are all discussing his death and the effects that his death could cause. He had been ill for some weeks with an illness said to be incurable. His post had been kept open for him, but there had been conjectures that in case of his death Alexeev might receive his appointment, and that either Vinnikov or Shtabel would succeed Alexeev. The people that he spent most of his time with in a single day did not care about the fact he was ill or hurting in pain. The only thing that came to mind is how they could better themselves. This is a problem that we see in society from the past and now; it is a real idea yet told in a fiction setting. Another sad but true, realistic idea that is discussed in the story is marriage and love. Ivan Ilyich did not marry his wife for love. Several people tend to not marry for this reason and find other comfort areas like finance and success. To say that Ivan Ilyich married because he fell in love with Praskovya Fedorovna and found that she sympathized with his views of life would be as incorrect as to say that he married because his social circle approved of the match. Another point of view this story steps on is selfishness. Ivan had tried to give his only daughter the best possible life, even if it meant not being home most of the nights. When he becomes ill, she has no way to show love for her father because of the other things that are more important in her life. Their daughter came in in full evening dress, her fresh young flesh exposed, strong, healthy, evidently in love, and impatient with illness, suffering, and death, because they interfered with her happiness. Its hard to think from my own point of view how someone could act in such a way towards their own family; the Realism of this story is that scenarios like this happen everyday. Someone can pinpoint how the struggles in this mans life could be similar to what someone else is going through and how it could also correct us in the way that we live our own. The major point of view revolves around his life and the decisions he made on how to live. It was his choice and when death came upon him, he could decide if he made the right ones. In the story of The Lost Phoebe, an elderly man and his wife live together with the little money they have and they little food they can put on the table. Even though circumstances are not the best, happiness seems to come from just them being together. In the period of Naturalism, many of the ideas were focused around characters of a lower rank in life. It believed that life is deterministic; man is not a free agent, but he is an animal motivated by his chemistry, heredity, and environment of circumstances. Henry, the old man, seemed to find motivation in the love for his wife Phoebe. The ideas of this literary work still speculate around realism including original language of ordinary characters, but in this work, it seems to be a darker story with a semi-twisted happy ending. Henry had been married to the love of his life for 48 years. Old Henry and his wife Phoebe were as fond of each other as it is possible for two old people to be who have nothing else in this life to be fond o f. Henry always accused his dear wife of misplacing his belongings even though they most likely had no importance at all; other than that, their lives together were peaceful and sympathetic. Phoebe, Wheres my corn-knife? You aint never minded to let my things alone no more. Now you hush, Henry. If you dont, Ill leave yuh. Ill git up and walk out of here someday, and then where would y be? Y aint got anybody but me to look after yuh, so yuh just behave yourself. His wife always knew how to calm him and take control of the situation. Not long afterwards, Henrys wife passed away. Im sure he felt almost as if the whole world around him had fallen apart. He had not order to his life and the only thing that kept him motivated was Phoebe. Up into this part of the story, everything can relate to Realism. On the night that Henry spots the bright light of the moon, he takes a turn toward the unknown and becomes eager to fins his long lost Phoebe. Henry somehow took a illness that destroyed th e memory of his wifes death. He finally makes the decision to set out and search for her. He remembered her threat had always been, Yuhll not find me it I ever leave yuh. I guess I kin git some place where yuh cant find me. Henrys desperate attempt to find Phoebe lasted for seven long years going door to door and looking under every rock and in every hole until it eventually came to an end. Of a sudden there came to him now for the first time in many years the full charm of her girlish figure as he had known it in boyhood, the pleasing, sympathetic smile, the brown hair, the blue sash she had once worn about her waist at a picnic, her gay, graceful movements. He walked around the base of the tree, straining with his eyes, forgetting for once his cane and utensils, and following eagerly after. He thought he had finally found his one true love, Phoebe. In desperation to follow her and finally get her to come back home, Henry jumps to his death and to his Phoebe. You could think of thi s story with a tragic ending; a man who jumped off a cliff chasing after nothing but a dark shadow in the middle of the night. I think of this story as a love story; a man who had searched for his long lost love for seven straight years and he finally found her, through death. This work includes several of the same ideas of that of Realism; however, the main theories behind both of them differ completely. The Lost Phoebe includes many Romantic, Gothic ideations with a sense of Realism; the idea that creates Naturalism. In The Death of Ivan Ilyich, the author is reaching out through a real life scenario to make a change within a community and within peoples lives, a principle of Realism. It includes ordinary characters, familiar language, and a realistic point of view. In The Lost Phoebe, the meaning is much deeper. A man in search for his true love, but in all actuality, he never finds her. They learned to live in peace with the lesser things in life. Naturalism incorporated the same ideas as Realism just in a deeper and darker way.

America Underclass Essay -- essays research papers fc

It is believed that there is a tension between social classes in America. Typically, people of lower classes choose to imitate those of higher social status. As a result, advertisers have a tendency to take advantage of this tension in order to profit from people of the lower and middle classes. In â€Å"The American Upper Class,† G. William Domhoff says that â€Å"exhibiting high social status†¦ is a way of exercising power† (Domhoff p.34),† which is something important to all social classes. According to Judi Puritz Cook, author of â€Å"Consumer Culture†¦Sales Discourse,† advertisements in print as well as in visual media seem to create â€Å"the promise of status mobility through consumption (Cook p.373).† In the article, Puritz explains how television programs on channels such as the Home Shopping Network are examples of how the media exploits the anxiety caused by social standing. It is believed that American people in the lower and middle classes have needs for status mobility. For example, when browsing through a fashion magazine, one can find numerous sections that are dedicated to creating ways to look like the featured model or actress for half the price. The intention of the article, in most cases, is to give others the impression that you are of high social status. In addition, advertisers often use people in the entertainment business to model their products so that the viewer may purchase the product. For example, when mimicking the purchases of hotel heiress, Paris Hilton one may believe, â€Å"If I buy this, I’ll look cool just like Paris Hilton!† The fact that this method is usually successful is a product of the anxiety felt by lower and middle class families. For those reasons, it is likely that Domhoff’s statement that the upper class â€Å"creates respect, envy, and deference in others,† is true. It seems that many o f America’s lower and middle class families would like to create those same feelings of respect and envy in others. When flipping through Vogue, a well-known high fashion magazine, one can see that almost all the advertisement scream wealth and status. The magazine’s beautiful models as well as its expensive brands are major characteristics of the famous magazine. Members of the middle class skim through the magazine thinking, â€Å"Wow, if only I could look like this!† In Gregory Mantsios’ article â€Å"Class in America,† he says, â€Å"We are, on occasion, presented... ...consciously imitate† (Domhoff p.166). Various advertisers use the desperate need of people of the lower and middle classes to appear â€Å"rich† as a weapon. Domhoff’s statement is an explanation of why many people choose to emulate people of high social status. According to Domhoff, showing signs of high social status is one of the many reasons that the upper class generates feelings of envy and deference in those of lower social status. This seems to be the reason for the craze involving the imitation of celebrities as well as the wealthy. It is also believed that the lower classes attempt to look as much like the people in higher classes because of the feeling of significance that comes with the expensive clothes etc. As a result, advertisers use the tension between social classes to sell the idea of luxurious style. Works Cited Cook, Judi Puritz. â€Å"Consumer Culture †¦Ã¢â‚¬  Mass Communication and Society 3.4 (2000): 373-392. Domhoff, G. William. â€Å"The American Upper Class.† Great Divides: readings in social   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  inequality in the United States 2nd edition (2001): 159-167. Mantsios, Gregory. â€Å"Class in America: myths and realities.† Privilege (2003) 33-47.

The Witching Hour :: essays research papers

The Witching Hour Title: The Witching Hour Author: Anne Rice Copyright Date: 1990 Number of Page Read: 1043 Three main elements classify the genre: Gothic, Mystery, and Romance. I classify Gothic novels as stories pertaining to a dismal atmosphere, such as Edgar Allan Poe's literature. . Lovers who unlock thirteen generation's of Mayfair family secrets and incest; discovering that their intervention becomes a more complex-intertwining destiny. Our Antagonist Michael Curry, a 48-year old Irish man who had lost himself in a world in which he had accomplished his dreams, experienced his emotional pain, and yet he felt empty. Michael approached the rocks of the bay, thought of his life and emptiness, then he slipped and fell to his fatal doom in the sea. Found by a woman known as Rowan Mayfair , he discovered that he was dead for over an hour as he rested in the hospital. Michael also discovered that he had received the gift of seeing images by using his hands to touch objects, and that he chose to come back. He was burdened by the images and the vision after his death, that he had a purpose, that he was sent for a reason. Something that had to do with a doorway, and the number thirteen. After isolation from the press of the burden of his powers, he found himself wanting to go back on the deck of the boat where he was rescued. He wanted to talk to the woman who rescued him, for he thought that she would let him touch the boat to recover images that night. He discovered that this neurosurgeon, Dr. Rowan Mayfair, was the veritable love of his life. After he discovered how much he deeply loved Rowan, he began to reminisce the images of his purpose; that certain elements and images of his childhood hinted him to return to the house he had been fascinated with in New Orleans as a child. Another major character of the story, Englishmen Aaron Lightner, was a part of an archaic organization known as the "Talamasca". Aaron studied a family called the Mayfairs in New Orleans, because his organization had believed the Mayfairs to be witches. He devoted his life to the history of the Mayfair witches, and his organization had compiled a history of the Mayfairs since the days of the 17th century inquisition in Europe. As he watched Michael and Rowan from the corners of darkness, he intervened their lives to enlighten their knowledge of Rowan's family history—and its dangerous potential. Rowan did not know a single thing of her family history, as she was left in the dark her whole life by her aunt

Gap in Gender Pay Essay

INTRODUCTION: Although women are steadily making their mark in the business world and heading major corporations, the question remains, are they still earning less than their male counterparts? Throughout time there has been a definite difference between men and women and their median income. This wage gap cuts across a wide spectrum of occupations. However, in 1963 the Equal Pay Act was signed making it illegal for employers to pay unequal wages to men and women who hold the same job and do the same work. There may be many reasons for this gap in salaries; most of them may not be necessarily based on gender. The following research will investigate what causes the gap in earnings, if any, and examines various factors that may have an effect on the earnings of men and women. I. RESEARCH PURPOSE The purpose of this research is to determine whether or not women who are working the same types of jobs, with the same amount of education and experience are being compensated the same as men. Although women have made a significant pace in entering the workforce and in exploring a wider range of occupations, they may still be treading behind in wages earned compared to their male counterparts. Many years ago, it was thought that because women were not as well educated as men, did not have as much experience as men, and did not work as hard as men that the range of pay should not be the same. This is no longer true and women have been graduating from college at the same rate as men and are working just as hard as men. However, the wage gap between men and women remains and nationally, women earn 77 cents for every $1 earned by men (Head, 2008). Thus, despite a sense of continued progress toward gender equality in the workplace the gap between men and women still persists. The significance of this research issue may reveal an underlying discrimination between the sexes that many may believe has narrowed. The importance in equality of gender pay is not only that it is the right thing to do, but an equitable and competitive pay package improves employee recruitment and retention.  This concept benefits both the employer and the employee, male or female. Nonetheless, as long as this gap remains the more likely this issue will provide a main source of debate among the organizational workforce. II. PROBLEM DEFINITION: The study, by the American Association of University Women Educational Foundation, found that 10 years after college, women earn only 69% of what men earn. (USA Today, 2007) Defining the problem starts with an examination of the evidence to determine how big the gap truly is and whether discrimination is to blame. Essential variables that may have an impact on male-female wage differential such as ethnic background, age, and industry will be measured. Our team will research and find out how big the gap is what could be the cause, factors such as: a). Hours of work- some tend to think that men are more likely to work longer hours. b). Education levels-some tend to think that men on average is higher qualified and women invest less in their education. c). Workforce participation and experience-industries tend to think that women spend less time at work because of their domestic responsibilities to their children and family. The majority of organizations assume that young women are going to leave the workforce when they have children, and therefore will not promote them. d). Why is there such a gap between the amount on a man’s paycheck compared to a woman’s? e). Occupation type- some think women are looking for an easy way out and they tend to seek out and cluster around a few occupations and industries because of the tastes of employers, male employees and customers. f). Are women given the same opportunities for advancement as men? Our team will investigate what percentage of these factors contributes to the difference in pay between these two genders and seek to find out if discrimination plays a part in this pay gap and will the gap disappear through educational achievements. Why do woman not have equal job opportunities? Jobs held by women pay less than jobs held by men, even though the job requires the same education and skills. A newly hired woman will get a lower paying assignment than a man who started working there the same time for the same employer. Not only that also, women do not receive the equal chances in promotions like men. Equal pay has been an issue for all working women for the past few decades. III. RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS While some studies may reflect a sense of continued progress towards gender equality in the workplace, the federal government currently confirms that the workplace earnings gap amongst men and women is still prevalent today (About Management.Com). It is the educated guess of this team that men are paid at a substantially increased rate for performance in positions than women are paid to operate in those same positions. This hypothesis is deducted from observations made from current work situations, random peer discussions, and updated articles. More than forty years after the Federal Equal Pay Act, hard working women are still being paid less than men are on the job. There are numerous speculations that can be made in an attempt to explain this is behavior, such as career selections being made by men and women. Women tend to make decisions about employment based on convenience, meaning that women migrate to positions that will allow for them to maintain a active home life and still maintain a 40 hour work week, whereas men will more than likely trade an active home life for longer work hours, safety risks, frequent travel, longer work hours and extended commuting times to make the higher pay. While these practices may not be fair, they are a reality. The research provided in this paper will lead to three possible outcomes; it will either prove that men are paid at higher rates than women to operate in the same or similar positions, women are paid at higher rates than men to operate in the same or similar position, or men and women break even when it comes to wages and position. References Head, Lauren Lawley. (2008, April 23). Pay Gap Worth Steaming Over: Bizwomen.com. Retrieved April 29, 2008, from http://www.bizjournals.com/bizwomen/index.php/2008/04/23/pay-gap-worth-steaming-over/ Coutts, Justin. (2004, February). Policy Backgrounder, Business Roundtable. Retrieved April 29, 2008 from http://www.nzbr.org.nz/documents/policy/policy-2004/PB_No1.pdf Arndt, Bettina. (2006,October 16). Herald Sun.com. Why Men are paid More. Retrieved April 29, 2008 from http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,20586168-5000117,00.html

Patterns of Evolution

Patterns of Evolution Humans alter our environment to suit our needs rather than adapt to our environment based on environmental stressors. Due to this fact, we are unlikely to be affected by the pressures of natural selection. We will not likely be affected by further evolution. In convergent evolution, unrelated species living in the similar environments become more and more alike in appearance as they adapt to the same kind of environment. Dolphins and sharks are examples of convergent evolution. Although they are from different vertebrate groups, they live in similar environment. They have evolved similar characteristics like their body shape, coloration, location of back fins, and shape of tail. Divergent evolution is the process of two or more related species becoming more and more dissimilar. Adaptive radiation is an example of divergent evolution. Horses are an example of divergent evolution. Over time as they adapted to different environments, the species diverged and evolved into mules and zebras. Honeycreeper birds are examples of adaptive radiation. Species of birds evolved, seemingly from a single familial species, on a group of islands. Co-evolution is the evolution of one species influencing the evolution of another species. Predators and their prey sometimes co-evolve. Cheetahs and Thompson’s gazelles are examples of co-evolution. As a result of co-evolution, Cheetahs have evolved into the world`s fastest mammal and the gazelle is just slightly slower. As predators evolve, prey evolves and vice versa. Divergent evolution could have an impact on humans in the future. Although we are all different in appearances and characteristics right now, we could diverge in the future. Climates are different all over the world and as human move to and habitat in these environments, the body could adapt to the different atmosphere. This will cause humans to diverge in appearance. Head shape could change, skin and eye color as well. References Pruitt, N. L. , & Underwood, L. S. (2006). Bioinquiry: Making connections in biology (3rd ed. ). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.

Hr Aspect of a Company

This could be training the knowledge and clarity of thought that a retain kind of person is required to do a certain kind of task with a certain form of talent. Then starts the deal of profiling the said candidates and the best are chosen and taken aboard. The resumes of these candidates strictly related to the work the employee is meant to do or various other forms of training methods to improve the overall efficiency of the individual (Asks and Bellower 640). Training and development are closely related.All kinds of development that is seen in an employee stems from training In his/her work field or otherwise however, all forms of training need not serially lead to assured development. This Is when the human resources wing of the company comes Into the picture and Is expected to do a good Job. Calabash, Van Dam and Hutchins (2010) stated that â€Å"I didn't list listening as one of my skills, probably because I TLD hear what the Interviewer asked† (p. 1 94). This Is a typica l problem with inefficient human resources and it should be countered appropriately.The entire process of recruitment begins with are then studied to understand where their career is headed. This is done to keep in mind in case later on there is a chancy in a different position, the same people can be employed instead of hiring fresh from outside. In this article, the training programs available at the Marriott International Group of Hotels will be discussed at length. To start off, it is important to understand and accept that the labor force employed In the hotel and hospitality industry is the most refined and expensive.As a result, It Is essential that through various motivational, skill oriented and product related training, this workforce Is retained by a substantial period of time. Else the cost of recruiting fresh people will e unnecessary. This brand Is one of the top In the world, so as part of their corporate training responsibility, they ensure that proper training is me ted out to each and every member of the work force, right from the entry level to the head honchos (Fischer and Friedman 21).Marriott takes on board the smartest young faces from the universities and most hard working people from other sources to Join the team. Marriott management-training positions offer these candidates opportunities to enhance their careers and the future of the Marriott business (Fischer and Friedman 22). On a societal level, a complete and collective approach to the hospitality workforce has a direct impact on the money that communities make. Hotels create Jobs and salary is generated through both direct employment and a large network of suppliers.Woodlouse (2012) noted that â€Å"Some people today are wandering generalities Instead of meaningful specifics because they have failed to discover and mine the wealth of potentials In them† (p. 1141 Amorist's Management Development Program (MID) is a convenient program that is paced to suit individual training to entry-level Marriott managers with the knowledge and skills that are accessory to perform their work and provide top class customer service. This program will also assist in developing discipline oriented and on-the-Job technical acumen needed to be excellent in the Job.The management skills needed to ensure a path breaking career with this top notch hotel will improve as an assistant food and beverages manager will be different from the responsibilities of a floor manager. Career opportunities too are a plenty in Marriott. The example of Steven Craig is very popular in the circles of Marriott. He comes from the city of Chicago and loves the boy band Battles and plays guitar, bass and piano. Steven has also found a firm place in his career at Marriott.In Just a little over four years with Marriott, he has performed so well that his efforts have been recognized and show cased. He has maintained quite a good track record. Steven has already gained a lot of experience at several un ique large sized companies. Also, in his present role as Assistant General Manager, has even assisted in opening a hotel from the ground floor upwards (Chubbier, Van Dam and Hutchins 191). Steven Joined Marriott straight completing his graduation examination as a fresher, through the ManagementDevelopment Program of Marriott and has been very happy with the career development and enhancement possibilities that has been provided to him. He says that every day is an all new experience for him. There are plenty of challenges and hard tasks he has to complete but he feels grateful that invariably he gets the support he needs to deliver good customer service and his performance to the next level of excellence. Marriott understands its employees better than most in the market at their level. They understood that Steven has a great passion for music.Steven understands the importance of working harmoniously in the workplace too. He says that as an Assistant General Manager he has to get int o several roles and his work is not limited to any one area only. He has to oversee and supervise various functions of the hotel such as front office, food and beverages desk, room service, security and housekeeping. He has to ensure that his team is in sync and working together collectively as a unit and performing under all possible situations, favorable or otherwise.There has to be one person who has to keep people together, keep them motivated and pleased. It is a big challenge for him but that is part of his daily work and he enjoys it fully. He has to be available at all times for his staff in case they find themselves in a spot of bother. Stevens love for music makes him tuned in to his responsibilities so well (Woodlouse 1135-1137). The teamwork training opportunities are also healthy in the Marriott. Famous lecturers come to their training rooms to speak to the staff and motivate them to work together to reach their goals.They develop various training modules and workshops to help deliver them messages better. Big speakers here include Gregg Gregory who spoke to the team and beseeches them to come together during his personal loss and how Alex Shame and he rest of the team members allowed him to get over the emotional stress (Chubbier, Van Dam and Hutchins 197-199). Marriott is also well known for the communication training it provides to its employees. Their spoken language has to be impeccable to keep up their standards and their competitive place in the market.There are professional trainers available who hone the skills of the staff and also Woodlouse (2012) stated, â€Å"Library Instruction is beneficial to all students. Learning together as a group reduces some of the stress and anxiety students may have when trying to learn about the libraries' various resources. The instruction sessions are customized presentations, with hands-on training when possible, specifically tailored to class's assigned research† (up. 1137-1138). The think tank of Marriott is now slowly and steadily delving into the details and benefits of creative thinking on the part of its employees.

Do Child Beauty Pageants Create Sexualization? Essay

Every little girl dreams to be beautiful like a princess. Today’s children’s beauty pageants are prejudicial to a child’s development. These pageants can lead to low self-esteem and poor body image. I believe parents should not pressure these children to participate in these type of events. These beauty pageants overly expose little girls, that can eventually lead to a sex offender’s interest. Not only do these problems contribute to sexualization, these children are taught to be rewarded for their looks and appearance, not their personality. It is not right for a childhood to be taken over by superficiality. Kids should not be wearing make-up or worrying about their appearance for a pageant at such a young age. Child beauty pageants are contests judging on poise, looks and confidence. A certain argument supporting these beauty pageants is often used that pageants promote self-esteem in children. This argument only works if you are the winner of the pagean t, self-esteem would not be boosted if you lose. Take note not only of the time, effort, and money wasted. The child would feel sad that she was not good enough for the judges. Laura Buick, organizer of the Little Miss Bayside Pageant says,† The Little Miss Bayside Pageant is not about false teeth, fake tans and over the top rhinestone gowns. We want to encourage children and promote self esteem through a fun and supportive experience.† Pageants are based on children flaunting themselves for judges to get points that are based on their looks, this is not supporting self-esteem. No one feels better about themselves for losing, especially when you are a child and you lost because of your looks, it could be heart breaking for this child. Parents enter their child in beauty pageants because these competitions teach their children valuable life lessons and skills. Pageants can appear to be teaching children to be confident, how to handle themselves and dress appropriately, and can help them make friends as well. But in pageants, confidence is not boosted, self-esteem suffers and the way children act, showing themselves off and valuing their appearance, is not the person they should learn to be. When constantly being compared to others, being judged on how pretty they are, their self-esteem negatively is affected when losing in a competition. â€Å"Winning is very important, said 9- year old Brooke McClung, who added that when she doesn’t win she feels sad.†(canning). Beauty contests are based on looks, and with her mother’s expectations, it is no wonder why McClung feels sad and disappointed in herself. â€Å"I should’ve done better, I should have done better. I should have nailed it.† Children are made to feel they need expensive dresses, make-up, fake tans, to be acceptable. â€Å"I like make-up, and I like the hair spray, she said (4-year old Eden Wood). Make-up makes me feel happy. I like being pretty on stage with my make-up on†. This four-year-old girl has been doing pageants for her whole short life. â€Å"Wood said she can afford the $70,000 she spent on these pageants, what’s the benefit? You can only regain the money by winning. Eden’s mother claims she affords pageants, some families are going in debt because of the expenses. â€Å"Pageants officials admit some families have gone into debt, even paying entry fees before paying rent.† Parents are consumed in these pageants and are forgetting they have a family that needs a place to live and dedication from their moms. Should a child really be learning the desire to win a contest with minimal benefits are more important than having a place to live? (canning) The pageants, with all their negative side-effects, take up a large part of the child’s life. Issues with the child beauty pageants is that some participants are not even interested in it, it’s the parent’s choice. Some children are too young to make their own decisions, therefore too young to make to be exploiting their bodies, others participate because of the pressure from their parents. As Shasmus says in â€Å"Ugly Truth: TLC Show is an Abomination† the pageants are enjoyed far more by mothers of the children than the participants themselves, some tired contestants fell asleep during judging and their parents shook them awake to get back up on stage (shasmus). In Elizabeth’s Day’s â€Å"Living Dolls†, she asks a young pageant-goer about her experience. â€Å"Did she, Amber 7 years old contestant, enjoy entering the beauty pageant? Amber thinks for a second and then nods her head. Will she be entering anymore? â€Å"Yes, she pauses, a touch uncertainly, if my mummy told me to.† Perfect example of a parent pressuring their child into these competitions. Everything about a pageant is promoting superficiality. Why would we want to accelerate the process and pressure the children before even finishing primary school? Children should grow up learning that personality and intelligence are most important, not appearance. Do child beauty pageants threaten the realm of childhood and innocence? â€Å"Telka, an 11 year old who was a one-time pageant contestant, acknowledges that it was not nice to dress up, but I didn’t like the way really young children were putting on make-up. When you are a child, you are supposed to enjoy your childhood and have fun† (Day). Children should be out playing, not surrounded by an environment where they are taught the only thing important is looks. Child pageants contribute to the sexualization of younger girls. Children’s beauty pageants have risks, like low self-esteem and poor body image, also consume of money and time. A child’s well-being and mental health is not worth a trophy or tiara.

A critique of Music Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

A critique of Music - Assignment Example The Quintet uses a typical four movement format with Allegro, Larghetto, Menuetto and Allegretto giving variation in mood and pace back and forth from fast to slow. Like most classical pieces, there is a clear development in a straight line from start to finish, with repetition here and there which gives it a regular structure. Mozart uses chromatic harmonies but they are not allowed to dominate. One of the most noticeable features of the orchestration is how the clarinet and the other instruments alternate, as if they are playing with each other. A good example of this is the second movement which starts with the clarinet and cello, goes on to use clarinet and violin, and carries on with these changes so that the clarinet pops in and out of the music. It is not just a main clarinet with strings accompanying it. All of the instruments take over the melody and then give it back to the clarinet. The greatest strength of the piece is the lyrical voice of the clarinet which is fully used in all its range and flexibility. If it has a weakness, it is the adherence to the classical format, which is perhaps a little bit predictable. The piece is one of my favourites, especially the second movement because of the sadness that is pouring out of it. According to Wold and others (p. 233) Mozart is â€Å"the most nearly perfect musical creator in the history of Western music† and this quintet is one of his most popular and most perfect compositions and so it is unlikely that it will ever be

Final project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 5

Final project - Essay Example Aggregated demand curve represents the overall quantity of goods that are demanded at different price level. Second model that has been employed is IS-LM Model, and the third model is Keynesian model The concept of aggregate demand is that increase in total demand of products cause to increase the output that lead to the increased demand of labor. If the aggregate demand is lower it will cause to decrease the output and lead to decreased demand of labor (Anderton, 590). As in the case of United Kingdom economy is facing decrease in aggregate demand due to the financial crisis because this crisis made a significant impact over the purchasing power of people. People who have money are saving rather spending their money. This decrease in demand is leading country towards decrease output, therefore, towards unemployment; because firms working in the economy do not require workers to produce output. It has been observed that uncertainty shocks cause to slow down the demands. Therefore, economies have to face higher inflation rates. Such as in United Kingdom, the financial crisis showed huge uncertainty in the financial market that slow down the demand of goods market and result occur red in lower economic growth and increased unemployment rate. For example, the 2008 financial shock reduced the purchasing power of households. By using the right of postponing the purchases, households forced the firms to reduce the manufacturing and in result made delays in new hiring and increased firings of employees that contributed in high unemployment rate. The uncertainty increased the unemployment from the year of 2009 to 2013 in United Kingdom and now the effects are slowing down (Leduc & Liu, 1-30). Increase in the lowering demand of labor is high this time as compared to prior shocks of 1981. This is because this time â€Å" the zero lower bound† restrained the monetary policy on the nominal interest rate. As it has been observed that uncertainty shocks reduced the

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

MIS - Essay Example edman), globalization has entered a whole new phase and this reality can be judged from the speed with which technology is connecting different countries in a way which is also suppressing the distinguishing characteristics in terms of religion, race, culture, or language. My career might be working in the petroleum field in Saudi Arabia and globalization would surely influence my career as well. The fact that I belong from a different country and might be working in a totally different part of the world full of people speaking different language and following different cultures and values is not scaring me in a way it would have had globalization not been such a profound phenomenon presently. Also (according to Friedman), globalization has changed the world in a way that is eliminating the distinguished characteristics and a more harmonious working environment is made consequently at different workplaces around the globe. As countries continue advancing technologically, the world is also getting smaller in response. In an insightful and riveting piece titled In the Next Industrial Revolution, Atoms Are the New Bits, (Anderson) also discusses how the world is rapidly changing as globalization took its toll a few years back and how business should be able to boom both locally and globally by carefully leveling the playing field. Though revolution cannot be brought in a single day yet, by leveling the playing field and embracing creative ideas from local people like Local Motors did, the manufacturing future could be drastically changed. Local Motors let the common public design transportation and out ruled the global auto manufacturing giants. (Anderson) emphasizes that the future is not about relying on globally recognized manufacturing companies, rather the future should be majorly about trusting on local individual innovators with brilliant ideas so that business could flourish locally. What is now seen as big can lose to what was seen as small in the past only

Critique-Does the Internet strengthens Social Connections Essay

Critique-Does the Internet strengthens Social Connections - Essay Example Writer has given evidences from many sources to support his viewpoint however; enough evidence is available to counter the viewpoint of writer. This essay will make an effort to highlight that Internet does not strengthen social connections rather it is a source of weakening them. In particular, the paper will include different examples to discuss the above-mentioned statement. Writer (2011) has discussed â€Å"diffusion of information across a wide population† and â€Å"online communities or social networking sites â€Å"as big advantages. It needs discussion how much these linkages have benefited humanity and the world as a whole. One need to see whether world is a better place to live today than it was ever before. It is considered that internet is damaging basic fabric of human society by replacing Face-to-Face Communication with Online Communication. Over the years, people of all ages, especially younger ones prefer to surf the web in homes rather than spending time wit h family members. Reference is made to a study available regarding negative effects of internet on teenagers, which states, (Web) â€Å"The proliferation of pornographic materials is undeniably one of the alarming things that has brought about by the Internet. It does not only corrupt the minds of the young people that are exposed to them but also it paves the way for the degradation of human dignity. It also strains the moral make up of society. The Internet also alienates the person from his social self. While most think that talking to loved ones through the computer screens allows or offers the same satisfaction of social needs just like engaging in conversations personally, there really is a big difference between the virtual self and the social self. This could further lead to addiction, which could hamper a person’s way of living and those who are directly in contact with him. The Internet was intended to be used for military purposes. However, due to its versatility and applicability, we have it as how it is used today. It exists as our friend when used properly and our foe when misused†. Beyond doubt internet has facilitated means for interpersonal communication while using social networking site like Face book and MSN Messenger, but to what end ?, it has become a biggest time waster for American people specially youth. People are found deeply involved in a never-ending loop of chatting, instant messaging, emailing, video conferencing, webcam pornography and host of other activities related to net. Social connectivity resulting from cyber space is temporary and forgettable. Faces can be swapped on net like web pages, one leading to another as a chain reaction without real affiliation with any one. Utility of internet in establishing social connections is a fact however these connections are, in majority cases, short lived, temporary and forgettable. Parents are very commonly found complaining about kids always sticking to internet one-wa y or the other. In addition to negative socializing there are menaces like entertainment , pornography and anti- religion sites which have become a source of mental deviation rather disease for many people. Another menace introduced by net is mind wandering in which people are not mentally present where they physically are. Web reference (Web -Social Capital and College Students’) quoted by writer refutes use of social networking sites by saying: Although this early work acknowledged the ways in which offline and online networks bled into one another, the assumed online to offline directionality may not apply to today’s SNSs that are structured both to articulate existing connections and enable the creation of new

Poverty and Violence in a Complex Relationship Essay

Poverty and Violence in a Complex Relationship - Essay Example This paper will put the complexity into perspective. The question posed by the ‘Economist’ deserves critical consideration because getting viable answers to the causes of violence and poverty can serve as a benchmark. Such knowledge would prove very useful in defining the global priorities in the long-term venture of promoting human development. The fact that peaceful nations in the developing world have registered positive growth In the recent past, in rates that are markedly higher than those in violent nations, establishes a pattern (Heitmeyer, & Hagan, 2003:24). This fact proves Aradau and Brown’s argument that human security is a precondition for human development very relevant (Butcher, & Papaioannou, 2012: 31). Without security, people live under constant fear. The constancy of fear among people has the potential of causing developmental paralysis. The case study illustrated in the ‘Economist’ comparing Burkina Faso and Burundi serves to provide more insight (The Economist, 2011:1). In 1990, the two African states presented an almost equal potential for economic growth. However, the violence that erupted in Burundi following the assassination of its president derailed the economic growth. After more than a decade of instability and violence in Burundi, a comparison to peaceful Burkina Faso portrayed the detrimental effects of violence. Burkina Faso was doing better and had registered a wealth gain of two and a half times. This serves to highlight that violence has the potential of making a nation poor. In the absence of the violence that resulted, probably Burundi would be an emerging economy in Africa.

Impact of mass food production on food borne illness outbreaks Essay

Impact of mass food production on food borne illness outbreaks - Essay Example clude Campylobacter jejuni, Clostridium botulinum, Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella, and Listeria monocytogene, amongst others, but the ones mainly responsible for mass outbreaks are Escherichia coli O157:H7 (E. Coli), and Listeria monocytogene. These pathogens are extremely sustainable and productive, thus their ability to withstand the extremes in the production processes, and reproduce rapidly to contaminate the entire, or most of the production lines. This essay will conduct a research and give the findings of how directly responsible the mass food production industry is in causing Foodborne disease outbreaks. The World Health organization (WHO) conducts what is referred to as â€Å"public health surveillance† which is a process involving the collection, evaluation, and interpretation of the morbidity and mortality data that is essential for the plan, implementation, and evaluating of public health services, and relaying of the information in time for public health action. The aim of such is to identify strange clusters of outbreaks potentially transmitted through food, and might prompt a public health response or investigation (World Health Organization 9). The WHO and many other organizations conduct researches and studies, which indicate that, indeed, mass food production is a major potential cause of Foodborne illnesses. According to Monica Eng, a Chicago Tribune reporter, meat consumption has risen over the last forty years but the surprise in it is that people pay less than half of what is cost back then. The reason for this is the housing of thousands of animals in confined factory farms that cut down the cost of producing protein, thus the low cost of the commodities. However, Monica argues, these cheap production processes have potential dangers of their own, including the exorbitant rise of health care expenditures. She states, â€Å"But the system also has created disasters like last months recall of half a billion salmonella-tainted eggs. Critics

Shariah Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Shariah Law - Essay Example It seemed to me that there were no reasons to allow that to happen and yet it seemed that not only was it being allowed by the one being beaten but by those that were watching the beating. I just didn't understand and to be honest it was beyond anything I could imagine. The real sadness it seemed to me came from the fact that tsunami had so devastated this country and now it seemed the new government would devastate what was left. Stopping violence towards women and children is a worldwide concentration right now. The WHO has put major emphasis on it. This new policy seems to make that violence worse and in a part of the world where the respect for women is already very minor. There is also the fact that this police force appears to have a poor view of women as well as the poor. Not only do they have a poor view of women but of the people in general. To parade women in front of men in that culture is degrading and allows men to take advantage of them as well. Being raised in the United States makes one see many things differently. Americans have no real experience with this kind of problem. We cannot imagine allowing someone to beat us, no less in public. Freedom of religion is one of our basic rights and we take full advantage of that. To have any kind of punishment inflicted in the name of a God would be more than we would ever understand. There is a lot of controversy right now about the possibility that there are some cases when culture is incompatible and this may be one of them. How a culture feels about its religion and whether there is a recognition as to the fact that not everyone believes the same thing can affect all other things in life.. That is not the case in Indonesia and it appears the little bit of freedom they might have had for awhile is now gone. Along with freedom of religion, of course, comes freedom of speech. It appears from the example of the women talking among themselves that this is surely not allowed. There also seems to be very little respect for women at all which though it is still being improved, is somewhat better in many countries. Are there any courts This is a question that has to be ask. Punishing someone instantly which appears to the case regularly allows that a court is not necessary. So, another thing that many of us are used to is "innocent until proved guilty." In the United States, we believe that "all men are created equal." We have not shown that through our history but we are getting there. We also believe that we have a government by the people and for the people so it is difficult to imagine that any government has the right to come along and change the religious rules for the country and begin to punish those that do not follow the rules. We can only guess what they are going through. As health professionals, we have caring beliefs. It causes us great discomfort to see the wounded person both physically or mentally. To see a case of purposeful wounding is really quite difficult. Many American surgeons and nurses went to Indonesia after the tsunami and performed great helping services. This is an issue that needs worldwide help. However, we must also remember that the healthcare