Intelligent Buildings Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Intelligent Buildings - Assignment Example There is another aspect, however, to the design of the modern structure which today is discussed in terms of its use and how well humans who occupy it feel about it from a sensory perspective. From much of what has been written, the modern view of design must adhere as much to its function and it does its aesthetic appearance and usefulness in offering itself as a pleasing place to be. The intelligent building then must be a ‘multi-sensory experience’ (Clements-Croome, 2004, p. 58). We do not 'see' or perceive our environment only with the eyes, but with all senses. It is the job of the architect to acquiesce to those senses and create building designs that are more than warehouses—buildings that encourage from its occupants an emotional and natural interpretation of their environment through the interactive workings of the senses. The Multi-Sensory Perspective While speaking of aesthetics in architecture it is interesting to note that while the term technically a pplies to visual pleasure, in our field we are also speaking about the senses-- auditory, tactile, olfactory, thermal, and even kinesthetic. And while current thinking today favours a holistic or multi-disciplinary approach to building design, the same applies to the multi-sensory approach to design that in the end most affects the building’s occupants or users as well as those who view it. There are examples of this in many older buildings. ‘The delicate composition of the architectural elements in the Residence of the Middelheimpark, in Antwerp...creates an intensely poetical effect: a single tone, white, brings about a wide range of greys and creates optically intriguing effects’ (Farmer & Louw 1993, p. 320). So when the term aesthetics is used it is predominantly referring to the goal of an all-around positive aesthetic experience through all of the senses, often occurring in esoteric ways that must be carefully considered in the design process. Hands and ski n feel texture as pleasing or not; visionary sense elicits other sensory reactions; odours, as we have all experienced, may illicit memories of events and times, such as cooking smells make us think of our mothers’ kitchens. As Clements-Croons (2004: 63) found, ‘The human senses are extraordinarily sensitive, and it is through them that we experience life wherever we are’. From a psychological and spiritual perspective, it can not be emphasized too strongly that people, through their senses. need the stimulation of a pleasing well-considered environment. Buildings, viewed in a philosophical context then provide a high level of stimulation—stimulation that not only presents a pleasing result but a spiritually uplifting one metaphorically similar to those experienced in nature. This animation of the architectural experience is not unlike the lift of spirit one experiences through the senses when viewing a good piece of art. As a necessary life element, such experiences are crucial and as such sensory architectural details ‘should always be given high priority’ (Clements-Croons 2004, p. 58). Space, Sensory Perception and the Human Psyche In the words of filmmaker Murray Grigor, ‘To comprehend architecture, one needs to move through its spaces. After all, that’s how we all experience buildings, inside and outside: we walk,

How Businesses in Puerto Rico Are Using Social Networks Essay Example for Free

How Businesses in Puerto Rico Are Using Social Networks Essay Social Media Gives Industrial Companies Competitive Advantage, Says Thomas Industrial Network Report March 29, 2012 New York, NY Industrial companies that hesitate to embrace social media, believing that competitors are not using these platforms, are in danger of losing business opportunities, according to recent research from Thomas Industrial Network. In fact, seven out of 10 small and midsize suppliers (68 percent) are already engaging with prospects through these channels, gaining a competitive advantage over those who have yet to start. More than 3,000 respondents to Thomas surveys say that they routinely use social media to market their products and services, generate leads, answer questions, conduct research, and gain new business. Thomas studied the behaviors of suppliers (i.e., manufacturers and distributors) through its Industrial Marketer survey, and buyers through its Industrial Purchasing Barometer (IPB). The research focused on their use of platforms such as LinkedIn, YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, industry forums, and blogs. The responses paint a picture of an industrial sector that has made social networking a mainstream business practice. Buyers regularly rely on social media to conduct research on companies, and to seek others opinions on particular suppliers. Indeed, 56 percent of buyers now recommend that all suppliers establish a social media presence if they want to do business with them. In response, suppliers are jumping onto the social media bandwagon to provide information on their offerings (41 percent), find new prospects (27 percent), and learn what customers have to say about their companies (20 percent). The industrial sector is awakening to the fact that social media isn t just a passing consumer fancy, but an essential part of any branding and marketing program, said Susan Orr, Senior Director, Strategic Marketing, Thomas Industrial Network. Savvy suppliers also understand that the most effective social media programs need constant care and feeding. To influence prospective buyers, suppliers need to continually update their social media content, and to be actively engaging in and initiating conversations. But for many industrial suppliers, dedicating the resources and having the in-house expertise to manage social media is a challenge. In response, Thomas Industrial Network recently launched a new, cost effective program to help them take advantage of this important new channel. The Social Media Program helps suppliers reach prospects who are seeking information and advice for their businesses through channels such as LinkedIn, Twitter, Blogs, Facebook and Google+. Thomas takes the work off their hands, handling everything from strategy sessions and goal setting, to writing and posting unique content for each company. We re thrilled to offer a turn-key and affordable program that leverages Thomas 115 years of experience bringing buyers and suppliers of industrial products and services together, said Phil Paranicas, Director of Digital Media, Thomas Industrial Network. We have made it easy for any supplier to participate in social networking, and to begin reaching and influencing those prospects who regularly use these platforms. For more information on Thomas Social Media Program, please contact Mr. Paranicas at 212- 629-2134 or [emailprotected] Thomas has also just published a new, free white paper, Why industrial businesses need to have a social media presence and how to get started, which includes additional results of its surveys, and provides social media best practices. To download a complimentary copy, please visit: http://promoteyourbusiness.thomasnet.com/white-papers/. About Thomas Industrial Network ® Thomas Industrial Network is an innovative information and technology company that helps industrial businesses to connect, collaborate and grow. We help companies to develop a complete web strategy, enabling them to share product data through all of their sales channels. As a result, we help industrial companies to increase sales, improve customer relationships and expand into new markets. One of our key offerings is ThomasNet.com, the premier website for product sourcing and supplier discovery and selection. We also provide strategic website development, tools and technology for industrial businesses to manage and share product and service data internally and externally. They include WebCAD publishing, and syndication of detailed product data to channel partners. Custom SPEC was designed for the unique needs of custom manufacturers. Additionally, we offer social media programs and search engine optimization services to help these businesses build brand awareness and generate leads. Our Navigator Platform is the hub through which we help our customers to manage their information. Our focus on the industrial sector for more than a century gives Thomas Industrial Network a unique perspective to anticipate and deliver new solutions that help industrial businesses grow. Visit us today to learn more. Home Supplier Search Product Search Product News CAD Drawings About Us SiteMaps Categories Featured Companies Featured Categories Featured Products Community Log In to MyThomas Sign Up for MyThomas Contact ThomasNet Provide Feedback Forums Careers Additional Resources Guides | White Papers Resources Press Room Testimonials FAQs Tools Gadgets Job Board Deal of the Day Promote Your Business Free Listing Advertising Services Log In to Client Center  © 2013 Thomas Publishing Company. All rights reserved. See Terms and Conditions or Privacy Statement. Website Last Modified January 31, 2013. Thomas Register ® and Thomas Regional ® are part of ThomasNet.com. ThomasNet Is A Registered Trademark Of Thomas Publishing Company. http://www.thomasnet.com/print/pressroom/news/social-media-gives-industrial-companies 1/31/2013

Planning the Care of Terminally Ill Patients

Planning the Care of Terminally Ill Patients Critical care nursing is a challenging field in which nurses must be frequently confronted with ethical dilemmas. One of the most frequently encountered dilemmas that occur in this field is the management of care for terminally ill and actively dying patients. When providing care to such patients, it can become emotionally burdensome for the nurse to carry out medical interventions that may be uncomfortable or painful to the patient while not providing much of a benefit. Nurses in these environments often feel the desire to relieve the patient’s suffering and a sense of accountability for their comfort. When aggressive medical interventions are implemented for patients that are actively dying, it is important to recognize if any worthwhile benefits are achieved by the interventions. Sometimes in the ICU setting, the provided aggressive medical treatments do not offer notable medical or palliative benefit to an actively dying patient. The question that arises in these situation s may be: Should aggressive treatments be continued when they can be considered medically futile? One of the biggest challenges that surfaces when considering medically futile interventions is that there has been no universal agreement between medical professionals on how futility should be defined. For the most part, futility in relationship to medical interventions is defined as any clinical action which no longer serves a useful purpose in reaching a given patient’s goals and outcomes (Kasman, 2004). If a certain treatment only has the potential to prevent bodily death while not improving the health status of the patient or providing palliative benefit, it may be considered medically futile. When planning the care of terminally ill clients, it is important to weigh the effectiveness of the medical interventions against the benefits the treatment will bring as well as potential harms. The health care team must look at the patient as a whole instead of simply focusing on treating their specific diagnosis. Many factors come into play when considering which treatments may be appropriate and effective for these patients. Each patient’s unique goals should be evaluated thoroughly when the health care team creates their plan of care. For example, if an actively dying patient’s goal is to have a dignified and peaceful death, it may be considered maleficent to implement aggressive treatments such as intubation and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) (Kasman, 2004). It is important for the wishes of the patient and the patient’s family to be documented and known to the healthcare team when planning care. The problem of providing medically futile care has the p otential to affect everyone involved with the care on an emotional and intellectual level. This includes the patient, their family members, and members of the health care team involved. There are four ethical principles that must be considered when providing care to critically ill patients. These principles include beneficence, veracity, justice, and autonomy. The principle of beneficence in this context may be described as acting in a way which promotes the wellbeing of the patient. Veracity may be described as the truthful communication between healthcare providers and patients. The idea that all patients deserve to be treated equally according to their needs and that they should receive the appropriate level of care for their conditions describes the principle of justice. Autonomy is the principle that a patient has the ability to make their own individual decisions regarding their medical treatments. Beneficence is a commonly referenced principle in the context of providing interventions that may be considered medically futile. Because this principle is based on the idea of acting in a way that will have a positive impact on the patient, it would not be beneficent to provide care that is considered medically futile. This kind of care may succeed in prolonging the life of the patient, but it will likely have no net improvement on the patient’s quality of life, and may even result in a decreased quality of life. Veracity is a very important principle to implement in the critical care setting. Health care providers should be communicating with patients and their families in an honest manner about their medical condition. In some cases, providers may continue with life-sustaining treatments that will not result in a patient’s meaningful recovery for primarily emotional reasons including having concerns regarding the family’s reaction to the actual medical status of their family member (Suprising reasons for continuing futile treatment, 2012). This is an example in which the provider is not practicing veracity. It is important for the patient and their family to be given realistic expectations on the outcome of any treatment, even if it is a difficult discussion to have. Justice may be practiced in this setting by the careful consideration of each patient’s case individually. The healthcare team should evaluate each patient’s situation and consider what treatments will improve their condition as opposed to simply prolonging the life of their body. Even if a patient has decided they no longer desire to receive aggressive medical treatment, they still should be receiving adequate care and attention to their needs by the principle of justice. Autonomy is a vital component in providing care to critically ill patients. If at all possible, it is important for the patient to make their own decisions regarding their wishes during the end of their life. If the patient is not mentally competent or physically able to declare their decisions, the durable power of attorney would make these decisions if this person has been assigned prior to the patient’s incapacity. If there is no durable power of attorney, then the court will appoint a proxy that must act in a morally valid way and will make decisions with the patient’s best interests in mind (Kasman, 2004). When caring for critically ill patients, it can be challenging to understand the difference between interventions that are actually benefiting the client and interventions that will simply prolong the life of the client’s body. This is a concept that is especially difficult for family members who may not understand the severity of the patient’s medical status to understand. In some cases, the opinions of the healthcare providers and the opinions of the family members differ regarding what treatment options should be carried out for the patient. If this occurs when the patient is unable to make decisions for themselves and they have a surrogate appointed, the surrogate will make decisions on behalf of the patient. If the decisions made by the surrogate are not congruent with those of the physician, the physician may deny to carry out requested treatments if there are concerns of potential risks associated with them. If the surrogate continues to insist on the controversi al treatment, the patient’s case may be presented to other physicians. If the physician has serious concerns regarding the surrogate’s decisions, they have the right to request the court to replace the patient’s surrogate with one that has morals that are more sound. A recent case regarding medically futile care involved a man named David James who was originally hospitalized due to complications that arose with his stoma. During his stay at the hospital, he suffered from multiple organ failure. He was moved to the critical care unit with cardiovascular failure, respiratory failure, and renal failure where he was put on a ventilator. The patients medical condition was so bad that even aggressive medical treatments were unlikely to benefit him. As his condition continued to worsen, the hospital used the principle of beneficence and decided to place a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order in the patient’s medical record. The family disagreed with this decision, and the medical team took the case to the Court of Protection (Griffith, 2013). The court originally decided that treatment for this patient would not be futile and therefore withholding treatment would not be in the patient’s best interest. The ruling was not well accepted, and the case then moved to the Court of Appeal where the original decision was overruled. Here, it was decided that the results that the proposed treatments sought out would not be able to be produced in this patients case. The treatment that could be provided would likely not offer any therapeutic benefit to the patient or palliate the patient’s condition, so it was ruled to be medically futile treatment (Griffith, 2013). The decisions made in the care of critically and terminally ill clients are not usually obvious or straightforward. It seems as though as technology develops further, death appears to become viewed more as an option rather than a fact (Paris, Angelos, Schreiber, 2010). Because of the principle of justice, patients will still receive quality medical treatment for their illnesses even if they have a DNR status. It is important for all patients, especially those who do not have a long life expectancy left, to be knowledgeable about their options for end of life care. Everyone deserves the right to making autonomous decisions regarding their health. For a patient that does not desire to endure aggressive medical treatments at the end of their life, an alternative option could be either palliative care or hospice care depending on their individual case. The client would still be treated and more effort would be put towards relieving the symptoms of their illness rather than implementing aggressive medical treatments that could prolong their life at the risk of decreasing their quality of life. This could allow the client to have a more peaceful, dignified death, rather than having to endure several medical interventions that may be intrusive and painful such as intubation, ventilation, and CPR. It is important for the family to understand that just because many life-prolonging options are available due to modern medicine, it is not always the best choice to implement these options. Some opponents of the idea of medical futility claim that physicians aim to overpower less knowledgeable patients and their families. This leads opponents to believe that healthcare providers who have end of life discussions with families regarding medically futile care are consequently delivering paternalistic care. Some also believe that the idea of medical futility is simply a decoy used by physicians to convince patients and families to withdraw medical treatments in order to lower the costs associated with end-of-life care and to help ration the hospital resources (Kasman, 2004). There are many examples of professional literature exploring this topic, which discuss the reality of medically futile care, some of which have been cited throughout this paper. I believe that aggressive medical treatment should not be carried out if multiple health care providers share the same opinion and have decided that the interventions will not provide any foreseeable therapeutic medical or palliative benefit to the patient’s condition. Through researching this topic, it has become clear that with the advancements in medicine, death is becoming a fact that is not as accepted as it once was. Many people want their loved ones to live as long as possible at any given cost. Death is a fact of life, and once that is better understood and accepted by family members it may be easier for them to let go of their loved ones once the time arrives. The last moments of some actively dying patient’s lives may be of higher quality if they are able to spend time with their families and have the chance to say goodbye, rather than having the health care team fight the inevitability that is death (Ufema, 2001). This decision does not come in any conflict with my value system. I realize that death is an inevitable part of life, and at some point, this should be accepted by patients and their families. The quality of life for patients who are actively dying, yet still receiving numerous medical interventions simply to keep their body functioning as long as possible, does not seem just. I would like to think that patients have the right to die a dignified death without having to suffer from extensive medically futile interventions. Planning the care of terminally ill clients in the critical care setting can be a challenging and emotional process for everyone involved. It is important for providers to be honest with those affected by end-of-life decisions regarding the patient’s medical status. Although death can be very difficult to discuss and accept, all patients deserve the right to die a dignified death. As technology in medicine continues to advance, it is likely that people will view death increasingly as an option. Patients should be educated on deciding and documenting their end-of-life decisions while they have the chance to state their wishes so that they can experience the last moments of their lives in the manner that they desire.

Paintball Essay -- essays research papers

Paintball is a fast and furious sport. It is played on both a social and serious level by over 16 million people around the world (Cooke,11). It is one of the fastest growing sports on the planet. Paintball's history, games, guns, and safety are all part of the fun. In 1970, James Hale, an engineer, invented and patented the first commercially successful paintball gun. Paintball guns were first used by the National Forest Association to mark trees that would be cut down. Then, it was used to mark cattle by cowboys. One night while sitting around a campfire, one cowboy shot another and that is how the game of paintball got started. This "splotchmaker" can rightfully claim to be the grandfather of modern paintball guns (Peters, 73). Over the next two decades, Daisy Manufacturing Co. Inc. of Airgun Frames manufactured these guns under contract for the Nelson Paint Co. During this twenty year span, paintball evolved from a "survivalist" game into the wholesome, exciting, family game it is today. In paintball, there are two teams equipped with paintball markers. These are basically low-powered airguns that fire small capsules of paint. It is not a dangerous sport. The only real danger is getting hit in the eye with a paintball. Wearing specific goggles made for paintball easily stops this danger. This rule is strictly enforced at all reputable playing fields worldwide. Obviously if a player is out of sight of the referee and takes off his mask, then he is looking for trouble. American Insurance statistics show that it is safer to play paintball than to play golf or go fishing (Pierce, 17). Getting hit by a paintball generally does not hurt. You may get an occasional bruise, but on the whole the game is not painful. The excitement certainly outweighs any momentary discomfort a player may feel. To lesson the chance of being bruised, long sleeved shirts and pants are highly recommended. To be on the safe side, more than one layer should be worn. Bright colors should be avoided, purely because the more visible you are, the more likely you are to be shot. Most people like to wear camouflage clothing. This helps them to blend into the environment and not be easily shot. Also, good quality hiking or trail boots with ankle support is a good idea to protect both feet and ankles. There are many different leagues and tournaments you can participate ... ...If the surrounding team captures the item and returns it to their station, they win. Also, surrounding players alive at the end of the game can be assigned a point value to make their rescue even more important. The last game is a continuous play game. The only extra items you need are a paper punch and a player card. This is a great game to play when you have a continuous stream of experienced players arriving on the field at different times. Each player is given a card to keep track of how many times he or she is eliminated. When eliminated, the player comes off the field, punches the card and returns to the game. The team loses points every time a team member is eliminated. The team gains points every time they bring back the opposing side’s flag. Paintball is a fun and serious game. It does not glorify war. It is an old paintball adage that the sport actually proves how easy it is to be shot. The supporters of paintball like to prefer the sport as a tactical game of skill. (Cooke, 93) You need to wear protection and play fair so everyone stays safe. Also, you can play the regular, basic games or make up your own. The most important thing is to have fun and play responsibly.

Five Teachings Of Jesus

The five of the teachi8ngs of Jesus are the following: Be Merciful (Luke 6:36, Matthew 5:7, Forgiveness (Luke6: 37), Seek Goodness (Luke 6:45), Respect Others (Luke 14:11), and Be Kind (Luke 6:31). Be Merciful (Luke 6:31). â€Å"Be merciful just as your father is merciful.† (Matthew 5:7): â€Å"Happy are those who are merciful to others; God will be merciful to them.† The passage s teaches us mainly about being merciful to our enemy and God will be merciful toward us. Forgiveness of kind especially toward our enemy. We should not harm others even if they done bad things against us. We should show compassion towards others because if we don’t people might not show compassion towards us. The passage told us that Jesus is merciful even towards his enemies. Perfect example of this is forgiving Jusus’ enemy when he was put on the cross. Jesus even prayed for them to not punish them. Forgiveness (Luke 6:37): â€Å" Do not judge others, and God will not judge you; do not condemn others, and God will not condemn you; forgive others and God will forgive you.† The passage teaches us that we should forgive others and we will be forgiven. We should treat others, as we want to be treated. Jesus never judged or condemned others no matter what they did to him. Seek Goodness (Luke 6:45): â€Å"a good person brings good out of the treasure of good things in his heart; a bad person brings bad out of his treasure of bad things. For mouth speaks what the heart is full of.† The passage teaches us mainly about looking for the good in all, not for evil. We should look for positive thought in all, not for negative thoughts. Jesus always seeks goodness in all of us. Respect Others (Luke 14:11): â€Å"For everyone who makes himself great will be humbled, and everyone who humbles himself will be great.† The passage teaches us mainly about helping others if they need help. The people who you help will be thankful to you. Jesus became humble because he earned it by helping people who need help, even his enemy. Be Kind (Luke 6:31): â€Å"Do for others just what you want them to do for you.† The passage is mainly about respecting others especially he elders. Respect others, as you want to be respected. Jesus is respectful toward his family, elders, and enemy.

Free Essays on Delta Blues

Mississippi Delta Blues is a type of music that has been establish world wide. The blues were and still are a way to communicate the every day problems of common life. This is the principle reason the blues became so popular around the world, because everyone can relate to the artist and his message. Another reason the blues became so popular was because it was new and different. A majority of people were scared of how different the blues were, because of the real life situations it dealt with. The blues begin to spread across the United States like wild fire. Just as the blues were starting to gain respect in the music community a new sound was starting to take shape. This new sound was rock and roll. Once these two types of musical style started mixing this new sound had been born it was only a matter of time before artists such as Eric Clapton, and Jimi Hendrix combined these styles. There is no single artist who pioneered this field, rather it was a wave of artists which made th is sound take shape. The blues are as ancient as the nomadic people who wandered the African continent, thousands of years before the birth of Christ. The blues were transported to North America by men and women who were sold into slavery. These slaves sang these songs as they worked the land in the southern United States. These slaves did not sing cheerful songs, but rather songs which expressed the tremendous hardships they faced during their every day life. Because these slaves could not take any of their personal possessions with them, they had to make use of what was around them. These instruments varied from hundred dollar guitars to metal spoons, to a string attached to a barn. The sound which these instruments produced was unique to them. Many historians claim the first blues song ever published was "Dallas Blues" written by Hart Wand in 1912. The blues started to gain more popularity about 1911-1914 by the black composer W.C Handy who wrote "M... Free Essays on Delta Blues Free Essays on Delta Blues Mississippi Delta Blues is a type of music that has been establish world wide. The blues were and still are a way to communicate the every day problems of common life. This is the principle reason the blues became so popular around the world, because everyone can relate to the artist and his message. Another reason the blues became so popular was because it was new and different. A majority of people were scared of how different the blues were, because of the real life situations it dealt with. The blues begin to spread across the United States like wild fire. Just as the blues were starting to gain respect in the music community a new sound was starting to take shape. This new sound was rock and roll. Once these two types of musical style started mixing this new sound had been born it was only a matter of time before artists such as Eric Clapton, and Jimi Hendrix combined these styles. There is no single artist who pioneered this field, rather it was a wave of artists which made th is sound take shape. The blues are as ancient as the nomadic people who wandered the African continent, thousands of years before the birth of Christ. The blues were transported to North America by men and women who were sold into slavery. These slaves sang these songs as they worked the land in the southern United States. These slaves did not sing cheerful songs, but rather songs which expressed the tremendous hardships they faced during their every day life. Because these slaves could not take any of their personal possessions with them, they had to make use of what was around them. These instruments varied from hundred dollar guitars to metal spoons, to a string attached to a barn. The sound which these instruments produced was unique to them. Many historians claim the first blues song ever published was "Dallas Blues" written by Hart Wand in 1912. The blues started to gain more popularity about 1911-1914 by the black composer W.C Handy who wrote "M...

How Many Words in a Novel The ULTIMATE Guide To Novel Length

How Many Words in a Novel The ULTIMATE Guide To Novel Length How Long Should Your Novel Be? Our Editors Have the Answers With NaNoWriMo around the corner, many authors are gearing up to weave worlds, characters, and stories into novels with their words. But†¦ how many words does a novel make? And when it comes to creating art, just how important is it to stick to the rules - such as standard word counts?Well, if your goal is to publish and sell your novel, those rules are pretty darn important. As with many publishing standards, word count guidelines exist for a number of reasons - including marketing and sales - but also to help create stories that are free from plot or pacing issues that can exhaust readers. You wouldn’t be reading this article right now if a quick scroll down showed an apparent 10,000 words, would you?Why does word count matter?â€Å"Word count limits sometimes seem as though they are stifling artistic flow, but they are usually there for a reason,† says Freelance Editor Lisa Howard.If you’re hoping to land a book deal with a traditional publisher, you d on’t want to give an editor a reason to turn your book away. That’s why Freelance Editor Jessica Hatch urges you to follow their rules. â€Å"In the New York agencies I worked for, it was rare to see a 120,000-word manuscript avoid the slush pile. This is because we were groomed to understand that, even if a long manuscript is strong from start to finish, it would take considerable work to convince an editor to buy it at auction.† To bend or not to bend the rulesWe said it already, but it's worth repeating: authors should not underestimate the value of staying within standard word counts. Editors in traditional publishing houses believe that it’s easier to market books that meet genre expectations, and if you’re hunting for a book deal or for an agent, you want to eliminate any reason for them to push your manuscript to the side.This sentiment acknowledged, these days self-publishing has given authors the ability to play around with the rules. A good example of this is is John McCrae’s (aka Wildbow’s) novel, Worm, which was published as a web serial and is 1.75 million words long. And - in the vein of four-letter titles that start with â€Å"W† - there’s Hugh Howey’s Wool, which was originally self-published as a series of e-novellas.While sticking to standard word counts is definitely important from a sales or marketing standpoint, a greater pool of publishin g options means that writers do not need to view â€Å"the rules† as entirely rigid and unbendable - especially when going against the grain ultimately serves the story. As Kelly Lydick, advises, â€Å"Adhering to standard word counts can be important - but even more important than that is the telling of a good story. Even better - a great story.†What are your thoughts on publishing standards, such as word counts? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Free Essays on Fashion And Social Stratification

Fashion. I’ll admit†¦ it’s a subject that both frightens me and intrigues me. Probably because I’ve worn the same clothing for the last 6 years of my life with very little update on my wardrobe, and it shows. It amazes me how seriously people can take the subject of fashion while I’m just satisfied with what I have. Not that I don’t seek possessions, but I tend to seek possessions with a little more utility than high heels have for catching a bus. In this paper I’ll be discussing a few aspects of fashion that pertain to society and how they interact with the social class structure. Of these, I will try to focus on fashion and how society views the individual. We’ll begin with fashion. Fashion is the desire of self-identification and has been an important part of Human nature since we were Hunter-Gatherers. Teeth, bones, hair etc... were all displayed as trophies from the victory over foes. â€Å"An evidence of the wearer's prowess, and not of the prowess of another.† (Edward Ross, pg. 96) However, in societies with little social class movement or strict caste systems, we see little change in fashion. In ancient Japan, fashion was restricted to those who were believed to be inferior. Every detail of a farmer’s existence was given in length by law, including fashion. A farmer who produced an inadequate amount of rice per calendar year (less than 20 koku of rice) was unable to wear stockings and his sandals were to be made of bamboo. Other family members were affected as well. His wife was not to wear silk or tortoise ornaments in her hair nor was she able to wear anything but sandals made of wood or straw w ith thongs fashioned of cotton. Neither of them were allowed the use of sunshades or paper parasols to shield the sun during the hot days spent in the rice fields. In Izumo there were laws in place defining not only the material of the dresses to be worn by the women of various classes, but c... Free Essays on Fashion And Social Stratification Free Essays on Fashion And Social Stratification Fashion. I’ll admit†¦ it’s a subject that both frightens me and intrigues me. Probably because I’ve worn the same clothing for the last 6 years of my life with very little update on my wardrobe, and it shows. It amazes me how seriously people can take the subject of fashion while I’m just satisfied with what I have. Not that I don’t seek possessions, but I tend to seek possessions with a little more utility than high heels have for catching a bus. In this paper I’ll be discussing a few aspects of fashion that pertain to society and how they interact with the social class structure. Of these, I will try to focus on fashion and how society views the individual. We’ll begin with fashion. Fashion is the desire of self-identification and has been an important part of Human nature since we were Hunter-Gatherers. Teeth, bones, hair etc... were all displayed as trophies from the victory over foes. â€Å"An evidence of the wearer's prowess, and not of the prowess of another.† (Edward Ross, pg. 96) However, in societies with little social class movement or strict caste systems, we see little change in fashion. In ancient Japan, fashion was restricted to those who were believed to be inferior. Every detail of a farmer’s existence was given in length by law, including fashion. A farmer who produced an inadequate amount of rice per calendar year (less than 20 koku of rice) was unable to wear stockings and his sandals were to be made of bamboo. Other family members were affected as well. His wife was not to wear silk or tortoise ornaments in her hair nor was she able to wear anything but sandals made of wood or straw w ith thongs fashioned of cotton. Neither of them were allowed the use of sunshades or paper parasols to shield the sun during the hot days spent in the rice fields. In Izumo there were laws in place defining not only the material of the dresses to be worn by the women of various classes, but c...

Hobbe's notion of political obligation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Hobbe's notion of political obligation - Essay Example A proper insight into Hobbes’ concept of political obligation or the moral conduct that every individual must have towards political order has been provided within the scope of this paper. Every man has a moral duty to obey the laws of the land that he is bound by; this is the concept of political obligation. According to Hobbes, individuals came together in the form of a social contract in order to live in a civil society in a sophisticated manner. Hobbes presented this state of nature in the backdrop of the American Civil War in 1651 where life was brutish, poor, nasty, solitary and hellish for every man. Thus, he postulated the theory of a sovereign central power being there to guide everyone and provide them with certain rights and duties at the same time. Political duty has been said to be one of man’s main obligations; something that he is bound to follow and carry out in order to serve the State. Political obligation is thus an obligation or a duty that every cit izen belonging to a State has, to follow the law and live by the rules that have been laid down in the land. Anyone who has an obligation to obey the law thus has a moral duty to discharge, at least when there are no overriding moral considerations that justify disobedience. Obligation may differ from a duty or a sense of morality to be exact in a number of ways, the most simple of the reasons being that obligation is a compulsion or a ‘moral’ right of a man to carry out a duty. For Hobbes, the social contract theory meant that every man would have his own rights and powers and freedom and would not be restricted by others living within the same society. However, he would have to follow the sovereign authority of the state and would be obligated to derive and obey the law from the consent of the governing body. This raises a fundamental question in the minds of most political philosophers, â€Å"Why should we obey the government, and when, if ever, do we have the right not to? â€Å"The rational necessity of renouncing our rights and investing them in an all-powerful sovereign, he concludes that our obligation to obey such a sovereign is absolute, right up to the moment when he actually attempts our destruction.† (Duff, Konstancja) As per the laws of nature, Hobbes stated that if a man desired his own preservation in the eyes of the State then he must act according to the rules that were laid down by the sovereign powers. He writes that the judgement that the sovereign authority passes is maintained as the trump card or the deciding factor for everything that takes place within the State. Thus, following the same concept, political obligation recognises the same and as per this private normative judgements of the people might never be taken into account. Disobedience of the law of the land may only be taken into account when a person’s life is in immediate threat or danger. Political obligation in simple terms only refers to a civic duty that every citizen possesses. Hobbes maintained the fact that it was important to obey the rules and regulations laid down or dictated by anyone trying to maintain political order as a part of political obligation of a person. Such tyranny made people unhappy and uneasy to follow. He was opposed by political philosophers like John Locke for stating his version of political

Governmental Fragmental Versus Consolidation Article

Governmental Fragmental Versus Consolidation - Article Example For a very long time, arguments on how to organize and analyse urban governments that are in the US has been structured to fit around two basic perspectives of theories. One of these theoretical perspectives that has been advanced by the civic reform traditions gives greater emphasis on the socioeconomic interdependencies that is found in urban centres in America. As it emphasizes on the socio-economic interdependence of urban area, it also laments on the fragmentation of the government systems that have been designed to serve them. In trying to combine managerial and critical race theory paradigm, a method can be drafted to structure consolidated governments to handle different preferences of the citizens about the packages of tax service. Besides that a legal institutional created to measures and help in solving some of the alleged negative impacts of creating a larger units of local government authorities. Putting more emphasis on the larger representation as the opposed establish ment of the districts will provide a better way of involving citizens in important decision-making processes. Besides that, it will offer a formal mechanism in which hearing and handling of the grievances among the citizens can be done. Therefore, those citizens who are living in consolidated are less efficacious about their ruling government than those people living in highly fragmented systems. This proposition results into frustration and cynicism on the part of those local citizens who may not find a point of access.

Finance Policy and Practise Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Finance Policy and Practise - Essay Example The LTV ratio is used to determine whether the borrower is likely to default. A borrower who is considered rational is likely to default when the value of the collateral falls below the value of the loan by an amount which equates to the net cost of the transactions such as relocation expenses, future payments for being deficient and the stigma attached to the situation (Crawford and Rosenblatt 1995, cited in Qi and Yang 2009). There are various ways in which a bank such as VB may become exposed to default and these are matters to be discussed. 1.1 Assessment of Estimated Property Values In assessing the value of a property and the annual rental price a number of formulas are used. The gross rent yield and the price/rent ratio are very useful formulas. Global Property Guide (2012) indicates that the gross rental yield on UK properties is 3.43% and the price rent ratio is 29 yrs. The price/rent ratio was used to calculate the property values and the gross rental yield was used to calc ulate the rental. ... -to-value (LTV) ratios and interest cover (the number of times interest is covered by rental income) will be used to assess Virtual Bank’s existing property loan portfolio. 2.1 Loan-to-Value Ratio The loan-to-value (LTV) ratio is the standard risk measure that is used by lending institutions to analyse the risk attached to their loan portfolio. The formula for calculating LTV is: current value of property/loan. LTVs are rated as high, moderate or low. LTV’s in excess of 80% are considered high, 60 to 80% moderate and below 60% low. The information on sheet 1 shows that the LTV ratios after the revaluation are between 15.8% and 52.9%. This means that loans are properly secured and so VB faces no major risks as borrowers are not likely to default under the current valuation. 2.2 Assessment of Interest Cover The interest cover represents the number of times interest is covered by the operating profit from the property. The formula is operating profit before interest and ta x (PBIT)/interest expenses. Interest cover of 3 times or more are generally considered acceptable while 2 times and under are considered low (BPP 2009). The information on the spreadsheet labelled Sheet 3 indicates that the interest cover for all but three (3) loans is in the acceptable range of between 3 and 16 times. However, the loans to Plane (5,100), Russet (4,000), and Pearmain (8,000) show interest cover of 2.4, 2.1 and 2.5 respectively. These loans represent 4% ((17,100/428,448)*100) of the total loans drawn. This is a small percentage and there is no cause for a major concern because the interest cover although not in the acceptable region is still above 2. 3.0 Strategy for risk reduction The overall risk on the loan portfolio is considered low. However, there are some strategies that can be

Human Trafficking in Sudan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Human Trafficking in Sudan - Essay Example The legacies of slavery and colonialism can help to understand the current civil war and political violence as well as human trafficking. However, the emphasis in this paper will be on human trafficking and slavery. The foundation of slavery in Sudan has its roots in frontier war zones of eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.1 One important aspect in the slavery of Sudan as well as Muslim society is that the slave will be treated as part of the family or a member of it. However, the descendents of a slave are slaves until they are freed by their master. Hence, the abolition of slavery in the West did not affect the situation in Sudan and Arab as well as African leaders of Central Sudan encouraged human trafficking on the premise of Sharia or Islamic law and encouraged the enslavement of non-Muslims. As a result non Muslims from Brazil were sent to Central Sudan that witnessed the human trafficking as the slaves from communities of Arab traders and Islamicized local leaders were sold in Central African markets. The human trafficking developed on the name of religion as the leaders started selling the people who did not embrace Islam. As it is clear that the rulers have the privilege of using the religion for their materialistic needs, the ruling group has monopolized Sudan's slave trade and that resulted i n slaves being an important export commodity. As the slave ownership with the help of farming helped the merchant class to be wealthy, the leading merchants established the slave establishments. The girl slaves from the slave family were forced to do prostitution and have sent their part of the earnings to their master. The beneficiaries of the earnings of those prostitute slaves were known for their nobility and that resulted in economic development of a particular class by exploiting the slave population. In addition to that, the exploitation of slaves resulted in mobilization of labor on a large scale. The mobilization accompanied the appropriation of products of slaves. However, even in the context of mobilization, the small-scale household labor force characteristic indigenous non-Muslim societies were not eliminated. Instead to that the labor force has turned into a component of a multifaceted system of forced labor that developed the production in plantations. As mentioned ea rlier as the slavery is a result of war zones in the previous centuries, the territorial conquest resulted in acquisition of slaves. As enslavement and state expansion happened simultaneously, that resulted in cultural differences between different groups and developed political variations among social groups. The establishment of Funji Kingdom resulted in Islamization of Northern and Central Sudan that resulted in enslavement of non Muslims. 2 The enslavement of people enabled the people in Sudan to buy women in most states of Sudan and it is not impossible to buy a pretty girl or a boy as a slave according to your desire. The slavery in Sudan changed it into a source country for men, women and children who are trafficked for the purposes of labor as well as sexual exploitation. The slavery in Sudan has helped other Arabian countries to enjoy the fruits and labors of it. As the

The Moral Issues Of The Animal Testing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Moral Issues Of The Animal Testing - Essay Example The debates stemming from animal rights are one of the major issues being discussed in medical symposiums and environmentalists. In my opinion, animal testing is not justified. Animal testing is not only morally wrong, but also the results of the experiments are not hundred percent accurate. It has been estimated that over 50 to 100 million vertebrate animals are used in experiments and trials; the figure of animals used in testing is even greater. The animals that have not been weaned and invertebrates are not included in the aforementioned figure. A major fraction of the animals that have been tested upon is killed. Although many of the researchers are being conducted on the safety of animals, it is not justified to use animals for the purpose of human safety. It is not off beam to know more about animals and to study them in more detail like there is nothing wrong in furthering our research about planetary bodies. However, it needs to be noted that the researchers being done on an imals can be misleading. It is with experience and researches conducted in the past that have made us realize that some drugs may fail to elicit the same response as they did in animals. It is such failed researchers that attest to the fact that animals are different from humans. Using rats for cancer research was one such example where torturing animals were the sake of human good was pointless (Pakistan Politics Journal). Scientists had resorted to rats as test subjects until 1993 when it was reported that the genetic makeup of the rats renders them vulnerable to cancer, and so research on them ca never yield accurate results. Cohen adheres to the view that animals are not like humans and this is why he believes that they can be used for animal testing (94). Right is fundamentally a claim that one individual asserts over the other. A right encompasses the elements such as who holds the right and to whom it is against.

Pros and Cons of ARNP Independent Practice Research Paper

Pros and Cons of ARNP Independent Practice - Research Paper Example 2012). Nursing practices play a decisive role in the professional field so that the health needs of the individuals get fulfilled effectively. The ARNP Independent Practice tends to influence the nursing practice in the form of developing the nursing communities as per the desired level. Notably, this particular practice has a major influence on determining the combination of environmental health ideas and areas of varied nursing practices that significantly aid in lessening the gaps prevailing in the existing global healthcare system (Health Foundation Inc. 2012). In relation to the above context, certain advantages of a nurse practitioner owning a practice or ARNP Independent Practice become quite apparent. In this regard, one of such advantages includes providing the opportunity of specialization as well as maximizing patients’ care. Apart from this, the other advantage of ARNP Independent Practice lays in enhancing the ability of the nurse practitioners towards focusing on different interest areas including alternative therapy and women’s health among others. From the viewpoint of the nurse practitioners, it is worth mentioning that by performing the job roles as an independent healthcare provider, such healthcare professionals will avail the opportunity to work in a collaborative manner with different people. This might result in developing their skills of problem-solving, resolving any sort of conflict, dealing with unnecessary changes and executing effective strategies towards establishing a beneficial practice (Barberio, 2010). On the other hand, certain disadvantages or barriers relating to a nurse practitioner owning a practice are also quite apparent. In this regard, it can be apparently observed that experiencing excessive stress is one of the crucial factors, which restrict the nurse practitioners to own a practice,

Human Trafficking in Sudan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Human Trafficking in Sudan - Essay Example The legacies of slavery and colonialism can help to understand the current civil war and political violence as well as human trafficking. However, the emphasis in this paper will be on human trafficking and slavery. The foundation of slavery in Sudan has its roots in frontier war zones of eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.1 One important aspect in the slavery of Sudan as well as Muslim society is that the slave will be treated as part of the family or a member of it. However, the descendents of a slave are slaves until they are freed by their master. Hence, the abolition of slavery in the West did not affect the situation in Sudan and Arab as well as African leaders of Central Sudan encouraged human trafficking on the premise of Sharia or Islamic law and encouraged the enslavement of non-Muslims. As a result non Muslims from Brazil were sent to Central Sudan that witnessed the human trafficking as the slaves from communities of Arab traders and Islamicized local leaders were sold in Central African markets. The human trafficking developed on the name of religion as the leaders started selling the people who did not embrace Islam. As it is clear that the rulers have the privilege of using the religion for their materialistic needs, the ruling group has monopolized Sudan's slave trade and that resulted i n slaves being an important export commodity. As the slave ownership with the help of farming helped the merchant class to be wealthy, the leading merchants established the slave establishments. The girl slaves from the slave family were forced to do prostitution and have sent their part of the earnings to their master. The beneficiaries of the earnings of those prostitute slaves were known for their nobility and that resulted in economic development of a particular class by exploiting the slave population. In addition to that, the exploitation of slaves resulted in mobilization of labor on a large scale. The mobilization accompanied the appropriation of products of slaves. However, even in the context of mobilization, the small-scale household labor force characteristic indigenous non-Muslim societies were not eliminated. Instead to that the labor force has turned into a component of a multifaceted system of forced labor that developed the production in plantations. As mentioned ea rlier as the slavery is a result of war zones in the previous centuries, the territorial conquest resulted in acquisition of slaves. As enslavement and state expansion happened simultaneously, that resulted in cultural differences between different groups and developed political variations among social groups. The establishment of Funji Kingdom resulted in Islamization of Northern and Central Sudan that resulted in enslavement of non Muslims. 2 The enslavement of people enabled the people in Sudan to buy women in most states of Sudan and it is not impossible to buy a pretty girl or a boy as a slave according to your desire. The slavery in Sudan changed it into a source country for men, women and children who are trafficked for the purposes of labor as well as sexual exploitation. The slavery in Sudan has helped other Arabian countries to enjoy the fruits and labors of it. As the

Pros and Cons of ARNP Independent Practice Research Paper

Pros and Cons of ARNP Independent Practice - Research Paper Example 2012). Nursing practices play a decisive role in the professional field so that the health needs of the individuals get fulfilled effectively. The ARNP Independent Practice tends to influence the nursing practice in the form of developing the nursing communities as per the desired level. Notably, this particular practice has a major influence on determining the combination of environmental health ideas and areas of varied nursing practices that significantly aid in lessening the gaps prevailing in the existing global healthcare system (Health Foundation Inc. 2012). In relation to the above context, certain advantages of a nurse practitioner owning a practice or ARNP Independent Practice become quite apparent. In this regard, one of such advantages includes providing the opportunity of specialization as well as maximizing patients’ care. Apart from this, the other advantage of ARNP Independent Practice lays in enhancing the ability of the nurse practitioners towards focusing on different interest areas including alternative therapy and women’s health among others. From the viewpoint of the nurse practitioners, it is worth mentioning that by performing the job roles as an independent healthcare provider, such healthcare professionals will avail the opportunity to work in a collaborative manner with different people. This might result in developing their skills of problem-solving, resolving any sort of conflict, dealing with unnecessary changes and executing effective strategies towards establishing a beneficial practice (Barberio, 2010). On the other hand, certain disadvantages or barriers relating to a nurse practitioner owning a practice are also quite apparent. In this regard, it can be apparently observed that experiencing excessive stress is one of the crucial factors, which restrict the nurse practitioners to own a practice,

Response to Filipino Paintings Essay Example for Free

Response to Filipino Paintings Essay As we enter the National Museum of the Philippines Spoliarium 1884, oil on canvas A National Cultural Treasure by Juan Luna surprise us upon entering the hall. The super- sized painting depicts dark hollow beneath the Roman arena referred as the Spoliarium where the bodies of slain gladiators are being dragged away for disposal. For Luna, the lifeless gladiators represent the Filipinos during the Spanish period. Across the Spoliarium is the stunning painting by Hildalgo of The Assassination of General Bustamante and His Son. The painting depicts the murder of the governor in the hands of the friars and supporters and it was also inspired by true to life took place in Manila, year 1717. There’s also a whole room filled with Fernando Amorsolos sketches, paintings and memorabilia. At the center of the room is the Jose Ruiz Kariton Kathedral- a contemporary artwork representing the church and the reality faced by the faithful. The museum’s visual arts collection extends to the galleries on the second floor. It is in this exhibit hall where visitors view sample works of pre-war artists like Simon Flores, Fabian de la Rosa, Dominador Castaneda, Diosdado Lorenzo, and Felix Martinez. Together they are displayed side-by side with the works of contemporary artists like Nunelucio Alvarado, Nena Saguil, Romeo Tabuena, Jaime De Guzman, and Julie Lluch. These artworks show us the creativity of Filipino and we can also see the life of the Filipino have in the Philippines as every point of it tells history. Rizal interpreted the Spoliarium as a symbol of our social, moral, and political life. And so do other paintings, humanity unredeemed, reason and aspiration. Through these paintings, we can see the country’s norms before where many Filipino were slaved and murdered brutally. Comparing for today’s’ where life has an importance. To conclude, these works of art has continued to move direction in terms of innovation, since art is functional. The artists behind those paintings help our country to be known by their creativity and imagination giving us enhancements and emotions. It brings positive outcome to children and especially on students like us, motivating us to rediscover, to be eager on history of the Philippines, and to recognize well our own artists.

Mctaggarts Proof Of The Unreality Of Time Philosophy Essay

Mctaggarts Proof Of The Unreality Of Time Philosophy Essay It doubtless seems highly paradoxical to assert that Time is unreal, and that all statements which involve its reality are erroneous, and yet, in his 1908 paper The Unreality of Time, J.M.E. McTaggart attempts to prove just that. This essay will outline his arguments and examine their consequences. At the core of McTaggarts argument is the distinction between what he calls the A-theory and the B-theory of time. Positions in time, he says, can be ordered according to their properties, such as  being two days future,  being one day future,  being present,  being one day past, and so on.This temporal series of being past, present, and future, he calls the A-series. However,  he asserts that positions in time can also be ordered by dyadic relations such as  two days earlier than,  one day earlier than,  simultaneous with, and so on. This temporal ranking of events according to the relation earlier than, he calls the B-series. After making the above distinction, McTaggarts first step is to show that the A-series theory is essential to our concept time, by highlighting the essential nature of change in any such conception. It would, he says, be universally admitted that time involves change. A universe in which nothing ever changed, would be a timeless universe. He argues that the B-series, without the A-series, does not involve genuine change, since where the A-series changes (in that what was future is now past) the B-series positions are true timelessly-they are forever fixed. After addressing some possible responses by the likes of Bertrand Russell (which I shall discuss shortly) and establishing to his satisfaction that change can be accounted for only by A-series notions of time, McTaggart second step is to show that any A-series notions are nonetheless ultimately incoherent, and thus so is time itself. To start with, McTaggart argues that being future, being present, and being past, are incompatible determinations-they are mutually exclusive. Yet, in A-series interpretations of time, every event has them all. So, though McTaggart believes the A-series series is essential to time, he also believes it leads to a contradiction, and so cannot be true of anything in reality. Thus, time cannot be true of anything in reality either; therefore time is unreal. Despite McTaggarts arguments, most philosophers have remained convinced of the reality of time; partly because the appearance of a temporal order to the world is so strong; partly because the implications of its unreality are so vast and injurious to so many philosophical theories; and partly because, like me, they remain unconvinced of the proof itself. These philosophers normally dispute the necessity of the A-series in capturing the nature of time, and defend what P.T. Geach later called the Cambridge criterion of change. One such philosopher, Bertrand Russell-who Richard Gale hailed as [t]he father of the modern version of the  B-Theory- believes that McTaggart looks for change in the wrong place. He says that [c]hange is the difference, in respect of truth or falsehood, between a proposition concerning an entity and a time  T,  and a proposition concerning the same entity and another time  T, provided that the two propositions differ only by the fact that  T  occurs in one where  T  occurs in the other. In other words, change is simply the difference in the applicability of a predicate to a subject at different points in time. McTaggart addresses this argument using the example of a poker that is hot at T and cool at T. This, he says, does not constitute real change, because it is always the case that the earlier part of this event is hotter than the later part of this event. However, Russell would most likely have found this not entirely persuasive, as, though it may be true that th e poker does not change in regards to it being hot at T, such an argument does give us a criterion for what is for the poker to change. That is not to say, however, the McTaggarts proof proves nothing. At least one part of McTaggarts argument, the part about the contradiction inherent in the A-series, seems to be sound.  It is easy to dismiss the most obvious objection available to the defender of the A-series. As McTaggart says, one may claim that its never true of any event that it is past, is future, and is past. Instead, such an argument would run, the event is present, will be past, and has been future; or it is past, and has been future and present; or it is future, and will be present and past. There seems to be no contradiction here because, though the characteristics are incompatible, each term has all of them successively. But, according to McTaggart, such an objection fails given that the other times called upon to explain  the events incompatible A-properties must themselves possess all of the same A-properties (as must any further times invoked on account of these additional times, and so on  ad in finitum). This objection, therefore, can never resolve the original contradiction inherent in the A-series, because it simply reintroduces further notions of time, and so begs the same question. This does not mean that we must go so far as to deny the reality of time itself, for though McTaggart may establish that the A-series is unreal, he does little to convince B-theorists such as Russell  of its necessity.

Essay --

Cruel and unusual punishment is banned in many countries, including the United States. It is a big argument if torture should be acceptable to use in certain situations for justice to prevail. There are pros and cons to this argument but using torture can be used to save lives and find out critical information. The definition of torture is the act of causing severe physical pain as a form of punishment or as a way to force someone to do or say something (Webster). There have been different hypothetical situations looking at using torture to get a positive end result and how it could be successful. There should be strict restrictions, rules and guidelines that go along with using torture as a means to justice. Pro torture is not meant to be used for just any circumstance, but when many people are in danger and questions are not being answered, a certain type of punishment like torture could solve the case/save many lives. Today, we have lots of technology and all sorts of devices to help get to the bottom of figuring out if someone is guilty or not. These devices can find o...

Salinity Changes :: science

Salinity Changes I chose to experiment with the effects of salinity changes on the polychaete, Nereis succinea. Along with the other members of the group, Patty and Jeremy, I was curious to see whether the worms would engage in adaptive behavior when placed in a tank of water of foreign salinity, or whether they would simply continue changing osmotically until they reached equilibrium with the environment. The first step in our experiment was to simply observe the worms and get a "feel" for the ways in which they act. We did this on Wednesday, May 7, 1997 from 9:30am to 10:30am. Also on this day we learned how to mix and measure salinity, practiced weighing the worms, and deciding our exact schedule as far as when we would come in and for how long, etc. From what I observed, the polychaete is a salt-water worm that has adapted to live in estuaries. We kept the control tank at 20 parts per thousand to 24 parts per thousand, and the worms seemed very content and healthy at that level. The worms on which we experimented ranged in size from approximately four inches to approximately six inches. They weighed from 1.8 grams to 4.6 grams at the beginning of the experiment. They have a pinkish, almost salmon color to them, and on two opposite sides, they have these crimson hairs lined up in a row, stretching the entire length of their bodies (the hairs are less than an eighth of an inch long). If we were to call the two lines of hair "east and west", then on the "north and south" sides, there were dark lines that also stretched the entire length of their bodies. These were their primary blood vessels, and though we tried to locate the pulse that is supposed to conspicuously travel up and down this vessel, we were not able to locate it, exce pt once on one worm for less than 30 seconds. Also I often was not able to tell the difference between the head and the tail. Their actions were very basic. They seemed to like to stay still for the most part, hiding underneath the little bit of seaweed we put in the tank. We also put a glass tube at the bottom of the tank, thinking that they might try to crawl in there for safety, but we never saw them in there.

Technology in the 21st Century

If you think back 10 or 20 years ago, you may wonder how we ever did some of the things we are able to now. Technology shapes our society in a number of different ways. Before the invention of the internet, there wasn't email. Many people in the business world communicate solely with email and without it, they are lost. Have you ever lost your internet connection or networking device? You are literally stuck in a mess and have no idea what to do. Think back the first cell phones that were available, before the days of text messaging and blue tooth. Technology is essential in our society in order to grow and move toward the future. With the rising technology, a lot of issues have been done that have remained to be puzzle to many living in the twenty first century. This has further triggered a debate on the appropriate definition of the term technology. With others criticizing technology, most proponents of technology have suggested that technology refers to the employing the use of a variety of tools and approaches in the finding or deriving at possible solutions to certain problems. Technology has been associated with a variety of negative events that befell mankind and other creatures existing in the universe. However, the benefits have greatly surpassed the negatives associated with technology. Technology has played an immense part towards influencing the lifestyles of the present generation. In a particular, the emergence of internet services has given a great boost to the business industry. With it, We have the ability to shape the world we live in. The inventions we create allow us to transform our environment, explore the stars, connect societies across the world, and even extend our lifespan. The invention of the computer has brought economic and social change to the world. So what does the future of technology hold for our society? The possibilities are literally endless. Some of the key factors the government is working on surrounds information technology. With all the new innovations in technology, some people learn how to corrupt and abuse it. Protecting our individual privacy has become so important due to overwhelming cases of fraud and identity theft. The internet allows us to input personal information online for practically anyone to see. Social networking sites have become so popular that undercover policemen have stepped in to protect eople from rapists, murders, and pedophiles. There are tools and practices that exist to allow individuals control over their personal information, but it is not enough. Web site hacking goes along with individual privacy, but it impacts the future of several businesses. Government leaders are looking for ways to create a safe, secure and reliable computing environment for businesses and individuals. Protecting our children from inappropriate content is another popular topic among several businesses and government agencies. While the personal computer and the internet have revolutionized education, they have also opened the doors for exploration by curious children. Technology has allowed countries across the world to connect and interact without having to fly thousands of miles to communicate with each other. Governments and industries are able to communicate and work together towards the future. This allows successful countries to communicate with other countries who lack essential resources and help them find ways to combat their challenges. Digital information can be sent with the click of a button. Software, books, music and video files can be easily distributed to anyone, anywhere. For users, this is beneficial because for no cost, they can share videos of their new baby being born to their family who lives across the country. Of course, the government has had to step in to protect property rights of individuals to ensure that nothing is being digitally stolen. We should look at technology at the gateway to the future. The possibilities of what we can create are endless. Even as we have challenges with technology, we are still able to see amazing things come from it. Technology plays a critical role in our society. Creating technology that is secure and trustworthy is the future. Several companies are working together to achieve this goal and to help our society move forward. Technologies arise to satisfy our wants and needs, this is how society and technology shape the future for one another. As individuals, we are in control of the future. We should dream big and start finding ways to make our dreams into reality.

Organizational Design Behavior

If the organizational structure is meant to reflect it's situation, the Limora Hospital and the Community Health Centre's (LCHC) structures do not do this. The current structure does not reflect the complexity, dynamics, or the environment. There appears to be little consideration given to parameters of design. Organizational design is used to maneuver a series of criterion that determine the division of labor and coordination. The Limora Hospital and the LCHC have weaknesses in their design concerning the decision making system, the lateral connections between the superstructure, the format of the subunits and the individual job positions. These are integral parts of the structure and seem to be a weakness at both facilities. I would describe the structure of the LCHC as almost non-existent. Although the case study doesn't provide a lot of information about the actual parts of the for Limora Hospital or the LCHC, it does appear to be somewhat better at the Hospital then at the LCHC. As an initial step, it would help to combine some areas of the two facilities and better utilize its technostructure, support staff and operating core. The strategic apex is weak with no consistent, committed leadership or administration. There is confusion about the Bishop's power of authority. He appears to have given his power away, yet some employees indicate otherwise. In fact, there doesn't appear to be any real management to apply managerial leadership and direction. This kind of confusion and conflict demoralizes the apex and the middle line entirely. A common vision, mission, and active interest in the future must be demonstrated by the Executives if they are to flow down into the core of the organization. This is lacking and is sorely felt by Dr. Macdonald who cannot pass down anything more than he is capable of, or more, than he is receiving from his superiors. There is a small technostructure in high demand, a large support staff, and an operating core that is clearly not well managed. Most evident is the lack of linkages between management and the operating core. Although not as evident are the weak linkages between the core and the supporting staff. A limited horizontal decentralization might work where the strategic apex shares some power with the technostruture that standardizes everyone's work and some of these linkages. A well organized management team and employee links to them are necessary. A strong theoretical point is made in The Classical School of organizational theory by Henry Fayol, a French industrialist. He, and other theorists like Urwick, Gulick, Mooney and Reiley, emphasized the universality of the management function in all kinds of different organizations. Fayol's theory worked from the board of directors and chief executives down through the organization. He stressed the importance of planning, organizing, coordinating and controlling the administration of an organization from the top down. The weakness in Limora Hospital and the LCHC can be found in the management of the Apex and he middle line, and the operating core. No serious attention has been given to these areas so they can achieve the leadership and administrative control they need. The parts of the organization do not support the coordinating mechanisms required, and neglect to meet the needs of either facility. They should reflect the configuration for a professional organization that relies on the trained professionals who have a high level of control over their work. It is safe to assume that the Doctors and nurses have all been trained and have standardized their professional skills before working at the either facility. Coordination is achieved by the virtue of doctors and nurses having learned what to expect from one another. So they do have this basic mechanism of coordination. What is lacking, is the necessary organizational glue to hold it together. Perhaps the standardization of norms as another coordinating mechanism. The nurses don't seem to be able to coordinate their activities based on their common goal of caring for the sick and standardizing norms would be helpful. There has been an attempt at coordination by Dr. Macdonald, but the organization has been without strong consistent control for too long. Although there doesn't appear to be a middle line, Dr. Macdonald has been left to promote coordination and proper design on his own. His leadership attempt is valiant but he needs the help of qualified middle line managers. The missing parameters of design are Behaviour formalization, Training, and Unit grouping. Behaviour formalization would provide work processes and job descriptions to reduce confusion about what work people should be doing and how they should be doing it. On the surface, one may question whether a group of professionals need stringent rules and regulations.Although these professionals know the essence of their roles, and have a lot of control over what they do, they lack a framework within which to work and make decisions. Behaviour formalization could outline the framework within which they can take control and, identify the boundary where they need the assistance and cooperation of others. Also very important, is to identify the communication linkages to others inside and outside this framework. This would eliminate much confusion, instill confidence into the operating core, and bring cooperation among managers and workers. It seems to me that when you are dealing with the life, death, and the health of others, the last thing you want is dissension and confusion among those who are caring for you. Aside from the professional skills applied by the doctors and nurses, the simplest procedures in administration of core workers could be a disastrous for the patient. As an example, how is a specific report completed, when is it completed, who are the critical receivers of the report, when must they receive it, and what must be included in it, all involve linkages and cooperation among professionals, staff and management. If these are broken in some way or done incorrectly, outside of the prescribed framework, they can impact a life. Chester Bernard's book, The Functions of Executives, from the human relations school of thought, emphasized the need for clarity and cooperation among managers and workers to further the interests of everyone. Bernard said that organizations by their very nature are cooperative systems and cannot survive otherwise. He listed three forces to achieve this cooperation; executive leadership, subordinate acceptance of organizational goals, and the power of informal work groups. Clearly in a hospital there is room for strict rules and processes outlined by the leaders, but because there are also large areas of independent decision making, you must have a cooperation and a balance of both. Training, another parameter of design, can teach the professionals what the standards, processes, and procedures are, and clearly define the level of performance for each. The Limora Hospital must had some training on the hospitals procedures but when the nurses came over to work at the LCHC, they complained that they were not oriented to these properly. Training at LCHC is lacking in this area. The essence of the work done by the professionals is no different in either the Limora Hospital or the LCHC. What is different is the purpose for each facility and the level of output. One is a hospital that cares for the people who are already ill, and the LCHC is a community program that focuses on preventative health to try to keep people from ending up in the hospital. The hospital doctors and nurses would likely be prescriptive in their care for very ill patients over a shorter period. The LCHC would also prescribe but would likely be more descriptive in their care over longer periods of time in the community. Teaching these fundamentally different objectives to everyone, and what work is wrapped around them, would facilitate a clear direction for exactly what the jobs are in each facility. The Scientific Management theory advocates a systematic approach to job design, performance, and training. Not necessarily all of the theory components are applicable the systematic approach to training does apply to a health organization. There is a systematic way of applying medical tests to ensure there are no mistakes. Speed and efficiency are critical. There may be a departure from this theory as it relates to division of work and task specialization, but the scientific selection of training remains useful to our health care situation. Adam Winslow Taylor and Henry Gantt emphasized the need for systematic training of workers. Taylor particularly advocated that the role of management was to know their employees and to train them to do well. If this was done, it would produce maximum efficiency. Finally, both the LCHC and the hospital are dependent on the same resources. They both need analysts such as accounting and personnel, they both use the same nurses and doctors in their operating core, and both need the use of land rovers in their work. Conflicts have surfaced because the organizational structure does not leverage these like needs well. For example: Clear and accurate financial accounting for both areas They both need highly qualified doctors and nurses Their primary and supporting staff need similar training They are dependent on each other but the structure does not promote interdependency They both require processes and procedures to perform their jobs well Unit grouping would be the design parameter most required to help facilitate the mutual needs of each unit. Grouping these under the same supervision would encourage cooperation and help to promote a more efficient and cooperative working environment. Once the needs of each area are clear, you need to establish liaison positions, or roles that can coordinate the work of two units. These liaison positions are missing in the hospital and LCHC structure. Task forces are also missing. Task forces can plan meetings, bring the members of each unit together, and integrate mangers to coordinate what is important to the units. These initiatives would eliminate competition for the best nurses and doctors, and provide a fair an accurate financial accounting for both facilities. It is difficult to tell how much impact the support staff for either the Limora hospital, or the LCHC have on the operating core and the quality of care. I'm sure the support staff could also be optimized by unit groupings. Unlike the scientific management theory that did not provide a theory of general organizational design, the classical school of organizational theory did. Henry Fayol, from this theory, suggested that all jobs should be regrouped on some common basis to achieve coordination or unity of direction. Henry Fayol also saw the importance of working from the board of directors down into the organization, different from the scientific management school of thought which worked from the bottom up. Both are useful for our purposes. This regrouping theory and focus on the top levels of the organization are very applicable to the Limora Hospital and the LCHC. There are also some situational factors such as age, size, technical systems, power, and environment that need consideration. Understanding the impact of situational factors can help identify the weaknesses in the structure and how to improve them. For example, the hospital and the LCHC are only 10 years old and there are only 280 beds. This means they are relatively young and small and that their behaviours aren't yet formalized. The fact is there is a lack of organizational maturity. As the organization ages and grows in size, the behaviours will become formalized and the more homogeneous. Because the environment in a hospital is complex and decisions cannot be made by one person, one might decentralize the structure and push the decision making down. However, with the problems at the Limora Hospital and the LCHC, it would be wise to centralize some of its structure temporarily. Taking this action in the right areas would eliminate the current hostile environment. As the organization matures, selective vertical and horizontal decentralization can be applied where the power over different decisions is spread over different parts of the organization more readily. Finally we have the operating core, the key part of the organization that is composed of professionals. Although the basic coordinating mechanism of standardization of skills exists, standardization of processes, and outputs are weak. These together with the lack of leadership, have politicized the organization and the people are in conflict. Consequently, the structure of Limora Hospital and LCHC has become a professional bureaucracy, not uncommon in Hospitals. A view of Professionals is that they are attached to the organization, but still have extensive autonomy and freedom. This gives them the best of both worlds. From an organizational perspective, however, this environment is very difficult to control and measure. The hospital and the LCHC need to discover then prescribe, when and how the attachment to the organization is essential, and when autonomy is necessary. As stated earlier, as the organization matures, professionals will perfect their own skills and repeat what works for the overall success of their jobs. For right now, framework and guidance are required. Guidance, communication and leadership would maximize the professional's output, efficiency and morale. Another item that may be an issue for the hospital and the LCHC is professional incompetence in its core operations. Although incompetence is not indicated in the case study, it may be an undiscovered issue because it is difficult to identify it in a professional organization that has lots of autonomy. Hence one measure of control is to ensure you hire competent professionals, and you continue to upgrade and train them. The standardization of skills and norms will help, but does not address incompetence. In summary, the weakness in the organizational structure of the Limora Hospital and the LCHC are challenging, but fixable. It is important to step back and look at what parameters of control or freedom a health care organization requires. It seems a portion of a hospital operations needs a very stringent scientific approach to its organization, yet another portion demands that the professional skilled people to have the authority and power to assert their knowledge independently. Theoretically, I would apply Max Weber's Bureaucracy theory as an approach. This structure would ensure that there are clear lines of power, orderly procedures and rules that would remove any randomness and unpredictability from the hospital system. The interactions are based on standards Vs the personal feelings of peers and managers. It would add fairness and equity of evaluation. It is a rational and formal-structural response to organizational problems. The immaturity must be aided by making some structural changes. The superstructure appears to need the least amount of work. There is an existing Apex (which needs some focus), a middle line (which needs to grow), a small technostructure (which should be combined for both facilities to use), and an ill managed operating core. I hesitate to say too much about the support staff. Unfortunately, the case does not provide enough information about this unit for comment.. I must assume there is a support staff functioning at the hospital since they could not possibly continue without the support of a support staff. Most of the organizational changes need to be done in the essential design parameters of the subunits. Standardization of skills has already been achieved and the remaining would include: Behaviour formalization to help standardize work processes and procedures Training to teach the standards and procedures and achieve standardization Unit groupings to group jobs under one supervision for maximum efficiency and cooperation The structural changes will also facilitate more effective communications, enhance the ability of the leaders to lead, and increase intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. The complexities of organizational structure and organizational behaviour are huge. Because of these complexities, generally one theory, one behavioural model, or one method of structure does not always meet all the needs of the organization. There is no doubt, however, that guiding principles and basic fundamental models work and would work for Limora Hospital and the LCHC. What are the effects on motivation, leadership and communication because of the weaknesses identified in your answer to Question #1 at the Limora Communication Health Centre? The weakness in the organizational structure at LCHC hampers leadership, communication, and motivation. In reverse, the lack of leadership, communication and motivation have impacted the organizational structure. The definition of each of these explains the importance of their interrelationship to one another. Leadership is based on the ability to influence others to achieve organizational goals. Formal leaders hold a high rank in the hierarchy and informal leaders are recognized for outstanding skills and abilities. Managing is sometimes mistaken for leadership. The difference is that a manager brings order to the employees, and a leader makes useful changes in the organization. Communication is the process of two or more people exchanging information. The sender is the initiator of the message and the receiver is the one that the message is direct to. Effective communication is achieved when the message from the sender is received as it was intended. Motivation can be understood as a force within us that is triggered by various needs. This force then drives us to satisfy an unsatisfied need. There are basically two different categories of motivation. One is intrinsic and the other extrinsic motivation. Intrinsic motivation comes from inside ourselves and extrinsic from outside ourselves. All three of these are lacking at the LCHC. Some of them are highly impacted by the weaknesses in the organizational structure, and some are lacking in the individuals' as skills. Motivation, leadership and communication are dependent on one another and cannot function very well in an organization on their own. Leadership generally deals with the complexities of humans and human behaviour. There are many approaches to leadership, each with theories and models. The Traits theories would look at leaders and explore their traits or characteristics. Behavioural leadership theories centre around the behaviours demonstrated by effective leaders. Lastly, the contingency approach puts forward the notion that â€Å"it depends† on both behaviour and traits. Situations can effect what traits and behviours are most useful.. The most suitable leadership approach for the LCHC would be the contingency approach since it offers ways to look at behaviour and traits. It also lends itself to approaches for leading tasks and people. There are task issues and relationship issues at LCHC that need leadership. Paul Hersey and Ken Blanchard's situation leadership model offers different behaviours suited to either a task situation or a relationship situation. Some of the leadership weakness at LCHC are: The lines of authority for the division of labor between the apex and the middle line are not clear. This makes leadership difficult. The Bishop is not motivated to take on this leadership, or he does not have the leadership expertise to lead. It is the Bishop that should set forth the proper leadership characteristics, and develop the triggers that will motivate his organization. There seems to be no communication from him about the mission, strategy, or goals of either facility. If this is missing at the top, it cascades down throughout the organization very quickly. It is evident that the professionals in the operating core are confused, and don't have clear goals to follow. These goals would help pull all of them in the same direction. The middle line, where Dr. Macdonald is managing, needs qualified managers. When there are no qualified managers, and management systems are in chaos, leadership is compromised for the strongest of leaders. The above points in the structural weaknesses involve task and volatile relationships issues. The application of the Hersey Blanchard model of leadership will help both the task and relationship concerns. . Regarding communications, the LCHC does not adequately provide the network for good communications among all its employees. Unit groupings are weak and management does not seem to have a lot of integrity in their communications. Its important to have a place that can determine what communications vehicle should be used to gain the highest impact for any given message. Rich communication demands face to face interaction, next is the telephone, and the poorest is via memo or letter. There are no liaison positions in place at the LCHC. These positions could determine communication vehicles, disseminate information and improve upward, downward and horizontal communications. A very large part of good communications is also about listening and knowing how to communicate. Communication involves giving and receiving feedback. These skills are generally part of a good training program. The LCHC does not have a good training program in place that could help them increase harmony, efficiency and mutual understanding. When good communications are in place, feedback is at an optimum, therefore, managers and employees could actively participate in formal and informal evaluations processes. If the managers and employees are involved in the evaluation process, they are most apt to be fair and equitable in their assessment of each other. The employees at LCHC are not motivated. The lack of motivation is a direct result of the lack of leadership and effective communications. It can also be linked to the organization of the subunits. Grouping different jobs under common supervision can pull them together to achieve similar goals thus triggering motivation.. Employees also need, and are more likely driven by intrinsic motivators. These can come from reaching personal career goals, making enough money to buy a new house, or simply feeling good when a patient gets well as a direct result of their care. Putting a Human Resources management in place could provide rewards programs in the form of money, recognition, and promotion. These are all triggers for employees to set themselves goals to reach these rewards. Locke's goal setting theory says setting clear, challenging, realistic and acceptable goals raises performance. Goals invoke motivations since our thoughts and actions are directed by our goals. It is much easier for the LCHC employees to set their personal work related goals if they have been given short term departmental goals or milestones and long term organizational goals. Each department would work in a cooperative setting to reach these goals. When employees don't see or feel a sense of purpose, there is often conflict, competition, and behaviour is based on the fear of not knowing where they are headed. Consequently, this leads to low morale and demotivated employees. The LCHC should consistently communicate the rewards and results of effort and hard work. This will encourage employees to expect a reward for their work. Vroom's expectancy theory supports this idea. He says that if you put effort in, you will get a positive outcome. Individuals will look at a given situation in this way†¦.increased effort will lead to good performance, good performance will lead to certain outcomes, and then†¦ are the outcomes worthwhile. If they are, the effort will be put forth. In summary, leadership, communication, and motivation are a must for an organization's success. If the structure is aligned to support all three, there is increased productivity, high level of efficiency and high morale among the employees.