Indian Bronze Sculpture at the Art Institute Chicago Essay

Indian Bronze Sculpture at the Art Institute Chicago - Essay Example In that sense, Shiva is also the deity of reproduction. Because of the association with death and anger, Shiva is the most-feared god in Hindu religion and at the same time, is the epitome of love and salvation. Shiva is also the Mahayogi, the greatest ascetic who through his intense meditation breaks the barriers for the river Ganga to flow down to the plains from his abode in Mount Kailash in the Himalayas. His love for his consort, Parvati, is intense and depicts the tense relationship between man and woman (1stholic). The symbolism in Shiva's physical features depicts the earthly life cycle. The torrent of the Ganga river that Shiva brings about through his meditation flow as Shiva's locks of hair, thereafter transforming into the seven big rivers in the land. Among the physical attributes of Lord Shiva, other than the cobra (symbolizing worldly forces), a skull (implying Shiva as lord of finale) and the mermaid Ganga also find the falcate moon (the container of the holy nectar). Shiva wears two earrings - the right ear has a Linga or male earring and the left ear has a Yoni or female earring. The image, in other words, is androgynous and includes both male and female. Shiva has four arms and two feet, the body carrying strap and ornaments of the classical dancer. Rising out of Apasmara is the "circle of fire" (the Prabha Mandala), namely, the real circle of creation--this observed world where we are placed in. Lastly, the whole image sits on a lotus base, lotus being a symbol of cleanliness grow ing out of the dim waters of the mysterious (Objectives For Myths, indiana.edu). Shiva, the lord of the Lingam (or sexuality), the husband of Shakti-Devi (or Parvati), is also Nataraja, King of Dance, who transforms man into a higher level. In Hindu philosophy, dancing is considered as an art form in which the dancer is metamorphosed into a being gifted with extraordinary powers. The dance, like yoga, generates daze, elation, the experience of the celestial, the self- realization ("atmanam biddhi") and, lastly, uniting with the godly spirit. The dance, in Hindu societies, has grown along with the remarkable rigors of the meditation - fasting, breathing exercises, total withdrawal. To work magic upon others, one has to be fascinated oneself and dance is an act of creation, resulting in a new state and taking the dancer to a new and higher persona, stirring dormant energies to mold the world (Zimmer, Philosophies of India). The typical Nataraj is shown with four hands, two on either side, the upper left hand gripping a flame, the lower left hand indicating down to the devil Muyalaka, or dwarf (Apasmara) symbolizing unawareness, shown to be holding a cobra. The demon is trampled by Shiva's right foot and the other foot is lifted. The upper right hand clutches a drum, the lower one is in the abhaymudra ('be without fear'). The hair is plaited and jeweled, some of his locks reeling as he dances; inside the crinkles of his hair are a coiled cobra, a skull, and the form of Ganga, the Hindu holy river. The whole figure stands on a lotus plinth bordered by a ring of flames, touched by the hands gripping the drum and the fire (Coomaraswamy, 1957). The dance represents five activities: Shrishti (creation, progress); Sthiti (conservation, maintainence); Samhara (annihilation,

My life in Alaska Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

My life in Alaska - Essay Example These differences are brought about by numerous factors, such as, background, place, and condition of birth and life, cultural milieu, and most importantly the country in which one spends most of one’s life. As an Alaskan, I have certain unique experiences to share and have been brought up in a characterized manner. This is what characterizes my life in a manner that it is present. It makes me feel bound to my roots and proud of my background.  Alaska is a country that lies north of the United States of America. It is located on the continent of North America, and is not very linked with the outside world, owing to freezing temperatures and a completely different lifestyle. The climate at Alaska is mostly foggy, with rainfall every now and then. It is mountainous and the living areas are surrounded by mountains, mostly. The food available at Alaska is basically seafood, owing to the high availability of sea-creatures. In addition to this, the transport system at Alaska is qu ite different. It is tough to make one’s way through the snow-covered passageways and the water that lies beneath the ice! There exists a ferry system sometimes, wherein people need to use them to cross over since there are a number of small island-like masses of lands.  In fact, the indigenous people of Alaska follow their own system of traditions and culture. Food is prepared through a smoke house, wherein sea food is prepared. The animals are used in every possible manner, to better the living of man in these regions.

Balance Of Payment And Exchange Rate In Egypt Economics Essay

Balance Of Payment And Exchange Rate In Egypt Economics Essay Is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Thereby, Egypt is a transcontinental country, and is considered to be a major power in North Africa, Mediterranean Region, African continent, Nile Basin, Islamic World and the Red Sea. Covering an area of about 1,010,000  square kilometers (390,000  sq  mi), Egypt is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, the Gaza Strip and Israel to the northeast, the Red Sea to the east, Sudan to the south and Libya to the west. Egypt is famous for its ancient civilization and some of the worlds most famous monuments, including the Giza pyramid complex and its Great Sphinx. The southern city of Luxor contains many ancient artifacts, such as the Karnack Temple and the Valley of the Kings. Egypt is widely regarded as an important political and cultural nation of the Middle East. Part 1 Balance of payment and Exchange Rate in Egypt: Balance of payments transactions are usually tabulated under two broad categories, current account and capital account. Current account includes visible (merchandise) trade as well as invisible items, such as tourism, shipping, and profits and other moneys earned overseas. Here is the results of studying an annual report for balance of payment and exchange rate in Egypt : The Year Balance of Payment (BOP) Exchange Rate The Comment 2005 5.5 billion 1$ = Selling price:1$ =5.77 Egyptian pound Purchasing price:1$=5.23 Egyptian pound Thats mean that the export rate will be greater than the import rate. So, the income of Egypt in this year is in good situation and it was the best situation in the last 5 years 2006 2.7 billion 1$ = Selling price:1$ =4.34 Egyptian pound Purchasing price:1$=5.99 Egyptian pound Thats mean that the export rate less than the import rate. So, the income of Egypt in this year is decrease and it was the worst situation in the last 5 years. 2007 3.1 billion 1$ = Selling price:1$ =4.76 Egyptian pound Purchasing price:1$= 5.00 Egyptian pound Thats mean that the export rate more than the import rate. So, the income of Egypt in this year is start increase again 2008 4.1 billion 1$ = Selling price:1$ =5.3 Egyptian pound Purchasing price:1$= 4.33 Egyptian pound Thats mean that the export rate more than the import rate. So, the income of Egypt in this year is still increasing 2009 5.38 billion Selling price:1$ =5.5 Egyptian pound Purchasing price:1$=5.23 Egyptian pound Thats mean that the export rate will be greater than the import rate. So, the income of Egypt in this year is increased Part 2: Economic reform in Egypt In The Political Economy of Reform in Egypt: Understanding the Role of Institutions, Carnegie Middle East Centers Sufyan Alissa finds that economic reform, considered a priority by the Egyptian government, has not been fully effective for three reasons: it lacks public support, Egypt has failed to foster a competitive business environment, and the lack of dynamic and transparent institutions.   Alissa argues that Egypt lacks the institutional capacity to implement better-coordinated reform programs that address its socioeconomic realities, including widespread poverty and unemployment, high inflation, and a soaring public debt. Reform is needed to improve the efficiency of Egypts bureaucracy, increase the accountability and transparency of politicians, and widen political participation for Egyptian citizens. Key Findings: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Ã‚  Egypt has failed to create a healthy and competitive environment for business development. Despite the passage of many laws to organize the business environment, the government has not developed an effective enforcement process for these new laws, and little progress has been made in the fight against corruption. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Ã‚  Economic reform lacks popular support in Egypt as reforms are perceived to cause more harm than good as previous reforms have consistently failed to address socioeconomic problems. Furthermore, future reforms are predicted to increase the gap between the Egyptian rich and poor before the masses can feel the positive effects. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Ã‚  The majority of the private sector and civil society is excluded from the debate over Egypts economic reform strategy. Public participation is crucial for advancing civil society institutions and promoting an effective role in designing and implementing comprehensive economic reform. Given the nature of the Egyptian state and the main actors in the market and civil society, developing the necessary institutions and, most important, making them function properly within a short period of time seems unrealistic. Hence, Egypt should make the choice: Either start developing these institutions soon or lag behind. Building these institutions is the responsibility not only of the Egyptian state but also of the private sector and civil society, contends Alissa. Part 3: Monetary Policy in Egypt: Egypts Monetary Policy Objective: Law No. 88 of 2003 of the Central Bank, Banking Sector and Monetary System entrusts the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) with the formulation and implementation of monetary policy, with price stability being the primary and overriding objective. The CBE is committed to achieving, over the medium term, low rates of inflation which it believes are essential for maintaining confidence and for sustaining high rates of investment and economic growth. The Governments commitment to fiscal discipline is important to achieve this objective. Fiscal Policy in Egypt: Fiscal policy is the use of Egyptian government spending and taxation to influence the economy. When Egyptian government decides on the goods and services it purchases, the transfer payments it distributes, or the taxes it collects, it is engaging in fiscal policy. The primary Egyptian economic impact of any change in the government budget is felt by particular groups-a tax cut for families with children, for example, raises their disposable income. Discussions of fiscal policy, however, generally focus on the effect of changes in the government budget on the overall economy. Although changes in taxes or spending that are revenue neutral may be construed as fiscal policy-and may affect the aggregate level of output by changing the incentives that firms or individuals face-the term fiscal policy is usually used to describe the effect on the aggregate economy of the overall levels of spending and taxation, and more particularly, the gap between them. Conclusion: Egyptian economy is one of the most attractive economies in the world that is because it faced mane ups and downs, also the large number of population in Egypt affects the economy in a very observing way. Thats why the economics ministry in Egypt must take care for its behavior.

Creationism in Public Schools Essay -- Teaching Education

Creationism in Public Schools Teaching Creationism in Schools The question as to whether or not creationism should be taught in public schools is a very emotional and complex question. It can be looked at from several different angles, its validity being one of them. Despite the lack of evidence to support the fundamentalist idea of creationism, that in itself is not enough to warrant its exclusion from the curriculum of public schools in the United States. The question is far more involved and complex. One way to address the question is whether or not creationism, in itself, is a valid idea to be taught in public schools. The answer to this can be yes. Not only should a student in American public schools learn and acquire knowledge in empirical sciences, and other tangible facts both in history and other courses, but he should also learn how to think and make decisions for himself. Unfortunately, as it turns out, creationism is in direct conflict with the biological theory of evolution. Many fundamentalist propose that creationism should replace, or at least be offered as an alternative to Darwin’s theory of evolution. This is not the right approach. Creationism, as exemplified in the book of Genesis, should not be taught in a science course. Science runs on a certain set of rules and principles being: (1) it is guided by natural law, (2) it has to be explanatory by reference to natural law, (3) its conclusions lack finality and therefore may be altered or changed, (4) it is also testable against the empirical world, and finally (5) it is falsifiable. These characteristics define the laws, boundaries, and guidelines that science follows. In a science course, all knowledge conveyed is shown, or has been shown in the past, to exemplify a strict adherence to these qualities. Creationism, unfortunately in the eyes of Christian fundamentalist, does not exemplify any adherence whatsoever to these rules and guidelines of science. Therefore, it should not be included in the science curriculum in public schools, even as an alternative to evolution. Another idea is that which is held by those who subscribe to the idea of scientific creationism. Scientific creationism, as it relates to this topic, states that God was the creator, and that evolution is simply a means, developed by Him, of conservation. Due to this definition ... ...plausible alternative. Even if the Book of Genesis happened to find a place in the English curriculum of public schools, or an any other curriculum for that matter, it would still violate the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States. Even if all these hurdles were overcome, it would still be hotly debated by different religions as to which story of creation to teach. For all of these reasons, it is impossible for any version of creationism to be taught in public schools in the United States. As one can see, the question of whether or not creationism should be taught in public schools is not so much a question of should it be taught, as it is more of a question of can it be taught. Can the Book of Genesis, or even a version of it be taught legally as part of a standardized curriculum? The answer is no. Can Native American versions of creation be taught? The answer is no. Can any idea of creation, subscribed to by any religion be taught legally? The answer is no. Should it be taught? Yes. Where then should it be taught legally, if not in the public school system? Probably, the best environment would be the home. The best teacher would probably be the parent.

My Best Memories Essay

Through out my life, I have lived with many special memories, some painful, sad, wonderful and happy. However, of all the memories, only exquisite memories are worth mentioning over and over again. Some people may have experienced similar memories; however, it all depends on how the individual holds a particular memory that matters in this regard. Sometimes, people will claim that their best memories were created with their lovers, traveling with family, or their childhood memories. As for me, my junior year in high school provided a special memorable event that I will always live to remember. There were several memorable instances such as joining the student association, meeting lots of friends at that particular time, everybody offered support to each other and we cared for one another. For me, school is not just a place to learn, but also a home and my haven. In 2004, I was studying at a missionary school called Taiwan Adventists Collage. Even though this was the first time I was living and studying away from home, I still remember that we sang together, cried together, laughed together, learned together and came through together, and sometimes we would hang out with my new friends till midnight. Now when I look back, I realize that it was not only fun, but also crazy and wonderful. At my gr. 10 year, I was really lively at school, and this made the School Student Association leader named Vicky to persuade me to join his group before my second year started. Certainly, YES! Joining this group was a privilege that I could not wish away. For my entire summer break, I worked with them for half a year on the school’s student activity project schedule. Vicky assigned me to the school’s sports day group and appointed me to be the group leader. She told me to prepare sports day with College Student Association and contact them about the first meeting. Nervousness, fear, and excitement described my mood before I met College group leader. It was a nice meeting at least for first time. I remember his name was Xian Sun. We talked about the time schedule, laid out the program, divided duties between his group and my group, and also planned for the next time we were going to meet. I had to inform my group of what had transpired in our meeting and the way forward. I still remember that this was my first time presenting something in front of the people bearing a very important announcement. My teammates were anxious, looking at me eagerly to deliver the message. â€Å"Well, we decided to separate all the teammates to work in different small groups together with the College students. We will become five different small groups of graphic/music, shopping, planning, labor, and administration; each group will have five members. Each small group must have a team leader; this leader will have to report the achieved percentage of scheduled plan to me. The leader will also join us in the meeting every time to highlight on the scheduled process,† I said. The first challenge came out when I was dividing the members. Some of my teammates did not agree with my decisions; they did not understand why they cannot work with their best friends in the same group while others did not like staying in the administration group but instead, they wanted to be in the shopping group. Subsequently, they started to threaten me because I was lower team leader in the hierarchy. I had to listen to their point of argument or else, they would tell our leader, Vicky and leave my team. At that moment, I was confused as to why they could not use their mind and understand that this was not for personal gain but for the benefit of the group as a whole? I was angered and had indignation to tell them that whatever I had done was the best way and cannot be changed anymore; if there were any questions then they should go ahead and tell Vicky. I did not care. Allover a sudden, Vicky came to meet me and asked me what had happened with some of my teammates and he offered to teach me on how to solve this problem. I tried to explain to the teammates the reasons as to why I separated friends into different groups. For instance, I put some people in the music group because they are good in music and others are good at planning programs or at administration issues and so on and so forth. In the end, all of them came to understand my decisions and accepted. We were all on the right track and we had to keep going before the second meeting with the college students. I later found out that the administration group was not necessary so I divided all students into four different groups. One of the groups was super strong for every sport. This group had the best players in school sporting disciplines like school basketball or track and field team players. For the other groups, they felt disappointed because they already knew that every sport game champion would come from the strongest group, this is their sport day, and not for other people. At first, I totally overruled their first team list and gave them second chance to change the membership of the group for this reason. They made some changes but still this was not enough to provide a fair playing ground. I was super angry and indignant to get the roll sheet changed to what it should look like. I did not know that they had decided not to do anything expecting that I will change everything unilaterally. I had not listened to them. What a big crime? How can I explain this? The other groups including the shopping group complained about labor group not going to support them in buying staff etc†¦ I tried to mediate and reconcile, oh how I wished sport day could hurry and come to pass! I tried my best to accommodate troubles and everything looked like going back to right way once more. I was busy all the time attending college group to meetings, our group meetings, catching up for support and anything, and reporting to my leader, Vicky. In a little while, I had a short meeting with College group and we kind of differed a little bit at that time. The reason to this was the money expenses were not going to be divided equally; College want high school to pay more because we have more participants than them. They want the high school to account for 65% of the expenses whereas the remaining 35% be footed by the College. â€Å"This is not fair† I told their leader, Xian Sun. I told him that I had to consult preceptor. Consequently, I went back and come back with the answer. â€Å"This is not a good deal for us, but I can agree on 60% for us and 40% for them† my preceptor said. â€Å"Sorry Xian Sun, this is only what we can accept anyway,† I said and looked at him and felt that he was kind of mad at me. Suddenly, I felt that this job was so hard for me. I was a mere 17-years old high school girl and I did not know how to communicate and balance this. I was not an adult enough to understand how to explicitly confer the bill. I did not understand why I had to care about those, why I was an evil being for everything. I felt sad, sorrowful and without confidence in my mind. I really tried to quit this job at that time. Vicky came to me and said, â€Å"Nothing is impossible, see the impossible word can be broken into Im and possible so that it can be, Im possible! Eva I believe you can finish this job and that was one of the reasons as to why I chose you to become a leader at this time. I believe you can do it! Do not worry, everything will be fine. Add oil Eva! Go Eva. † Subsequently this conversation always remind me of forces and dispassionate to govern and be hardy. Finally, the sport day came. Everything was perfect. The program went on unhindered. We were so happy to see this. Every student and the teachers had fun that day. I can see my teammates painstakingly strive with effort, and the fruits of that day. In end in our party, a lot of people turned to congratulate me because they had learnt a lot from me or from this activity. They knew something was wrong but did not want to tell me until I point out to them to their embarrassment. Anyway all passed, we still are friends. From there I learned that to be a leader is important, we can learn a lot from leadership, and according to what teachers have taught us, this process is the foundation of the future. Also being a leader is really good. Even though sometimes it was stressful from flights, reports, meetings†¦ etc, these were our responsibilities for what leaders should do. However, all of these memories will live with my heart forever and ever.

Bullying Essay

According to cyberbullying. org, cyber bullying can be defined as the harassment, humiliation, torment, embarrassment a child, preteen, or teen faces from another child, preteen, or teen. The perpetrator uses the Internet, interchangeable technologies, or even their cellular phones to carry out the illegal act. Those who are faced with such an issue should reach out and make their voices heard. Bullying by any means, is undoubtedly wrong and painful for those who are victimized by it the effects cyber bullying can have on a child or teen can be utterly dangerous or in some extreme cases, deadly. Quite recently, in the news, was a story about Rutgers University student, Tyler Clementi, committing suicide allegedly due to two students streaming a video of him and another male being intimate. The two students who live streamed and recorded Clementi were charged with two counts each of invasion of privacy. It is reported that 9 out of 10 gay children are harassed or bullied and are four times more likely to commit suicide than heterosexual children. In my high school, a dear friend of mine felled prey to cyber bullying. A group of classmates discovered a video online of a girl, who looked somewhat similar to my friend, in a sexual act. These classmates then went around the entire school, showed everyone the video, and attempted to convince students that the girl recorded was in fact my friend. However, the girl in the video and my friend had significant differences about them that made it clear to me that these bullies were simply targeting her based on their personal vendetta against her. As a result, unfortunately, my friend started missing many school days and later I discovered she was cutting not only her arms but her legs as well. Any type of bullying can lead to emotional distress, lack of self confidence, and thoughts of suicide; these effects could last a lifetime. According to bullyingstatistics. org and statistics from the I-safe  foundation, over half of adolescents and teens have been bullied online, and about the same number have engaged in cyber bullying. Countless amount of teens are unaware of the fact that the many things they post online, whether it be good or bad, can eventually come back and haunt them in the future, especially when applying for a job or college. What can truly be done about cyber bullying? Sadly, most incidents of cyber bullying go unreported; possibly because a great number of people don’t find the issue that big of a deal. In my opinion, cyber bullying can be averted by educating students on the matter, not only in schools but at home as well. Schools should set up programs and seminars educating students about bullying and its effects. The College of Mount Saint Vincent has taken the initiative of creating the counseling center where students can walk in and discuss any issues that their having with counselors who are more than willing to listen and offer their support. Parents should monitor their children and their actions. They should be conscious of who their children are talking to and who their friends are. For many like my friend and Tyler Clementi, cyber bullying has already taken a dramatic toll on their lives, but if more students come forth and speak on their experiences on the issue it is without a question that this horrific trend can  end.

Find Out If You Should Wear a Brace with Tendinitis

Find Out If You Should Wear a Brace with Tendinitis Tendinitis is a condition where the tissue connecting the muscle to the bone becomes inflamed.  This usually occurs when someone overuses or injures a tendon during a sport. The parts of the body most commonly affected include the elbow, wrist, finger, and thigh. How People Often Get Tendinitis Common types of tendinitis (also known as tendonitis) includes tennis or golfers elbow, De Quervains tenosynovitis, and swimmers shoulder. Tendinitis is most associated with older people, due to elasticity and weakness in age, as well as with adults who are active in sports. Tendinosis is similar to tendinitis but has chronic, long-term, and degenerative effects. Everyday activities that can cause tendinitis to come about may include household tasks like cleaning, gardening, painting, scrubbing, and shoveling. There are also more stagnant issues, like poor posture or stretching before activities, which can increase risk factors. Avoid Wearing a Brace for Tendinitis When dealing with tendinitis, limiting the repetitive stress is good but immobilizing the joint is bad. The worst is when you wear  a brace and continue to use the joint thats suffering from tendinitis, as the injury needs rest. A brace is often used as a crutch, and much like walking on a sprained ankle, you will continue to injure the tendon. You should not use a brace or splint unless under the direction of a medical professional who is proficient in repetitive stress treatments. If you are treating your tendinitis yourself, however, follow the guidelines below. Support Your Tendinitis in an Alternative Way Use a brace only at times of rest, when you wont be tempted to overuse the injured joint. At other times, allow pain to be your guide: if it hurts, dont do it. Remember that the goal is to heal the injury, not continue to work, further injuring the  body. If you need to use the joint, consider using a flexible support item, such as a sports wrap bandage. This can keep the area warm and supported while limiting the range of motion. Youll have less chance of causing further injury to the affected area or to overstress a new area (which can thereby injure that, a common side effect of using a brace). Get Help for the Pain Tendinitis pain can be helped in several ways, including with rest, slowing down exercises, applying ice and cold packs to the affected area, and using over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medicines like ibuprofen.  Tendinitis tends to fade in four to six weeks when properly healing. Getting enough sleep is also important and will help with overall health and fitness. Its equally as important to keep exercising, but any activity that will stress the affected area is to be avoided at all costs, even if the pain has stopped. Avoiding any motion that caused pain in the first place is recommended. Applying a range of motion exercises, like gently moving the joint through its full range of motion, also helps to prevent stiffness and strengthen the muscle around it.

SB2C Helldiver - Curtiss SB2C Helldiver

SB2C Helldiver - Curtiss SB2C Helldiver SB2C Helldiver - Specifications: General Length: 36 ft. 9 in. Wingspan: 49 ft. 9 in. Height: 14 ft. 9 in. Wing Area: 422 sq. ft. Empty Weight: 10,114 lbs. Loaded Weight: 13,674 lbs. Crew: 2 Number Built: 7,140 Performance Power Plant: 1 Ãâ€" Wright R-2600 radial engine, 1,900 hp Range: 1,200 miles Max Speed: 294 mph Ceiling: 25,000 ft Armament Guns: 2 Ãâ€" 20 mm (.79 in) cannon in the wings, 2 Ãâ€" 0.30 in M1919 Browning machine guns in rear cockpit Bombs/Torpedo: Internal bay - 2,000 lbs. of bombs or 1 Mark 13 torpedo, Underwing Hard Points - 2 x 500 lb. bombs SB2C Helldiver - Design Development: In 1938, the US Navys Bureau of Aeronautics (BuAer) circulated a request for proposals for a for a next-generation dive bomber to replace the new SBD Dauntless. Though the SBD had yet to enter service, BuAer sought an aircraft with greater speed, range, and payload. In addition, it was to be powered by the new Wright R-2600 Cyclone engine, possess an internal bomb bay, and be of a size that two of the aircraft could fit on a carriers elevator. While six companies submitted entries, BuAer selected Curtiss design as the winner in May 1939. Designated the SB2C Helldiver, the design immediately began showing problems. Early wind tunnel testing in February 1940 found the SB2C to have an excessive stall speed and poor longitudinal stability. While efforts to fix the stall speed included increasing the size of the wings, the latter issue presented greater problems and was a result of BuAers request that two aircraft be able to fit on an elevator. This limited the length of the aircraft despite the fact it was to have more power and a greater internal volume than its predecessor. The result of these increases, without an increase in length, was instability. As the aircraft could not be lengthened, the only solution was to enlarge its vertical tail, which was done twice during development. One prototype was constructed and first flew on December 18, 1940. Built in a conventional fashion, the aircraft possessed a semi-monocoque fuselage and two-spar, four-section wings. The initial armament consisted of two .50 cal. machine guns mounted in the cowling as well as one in each wing. This was supplemented by twin .30 cal. machine guns on a flexible mounting for the radio operator. The internal bomb bay could carry a single 1,000 lb. bomb, two 500 lb. bombs, or a torpedo. SB2C Helldiver - Problems Persist: Following the initial flight, problems remained with the design as bugs were found in the Cyclone engines and the SB2C showed instability at high speed. After a crash in February, flight testing continued through the fall until December 21 when the right wing and stabilizer gave out during a dive test. The crash effectively grounded the type for six months as the problems were addressed and the first production aircraft built. When the first SB2C-1 flew on June 30, 1942, it incorporated a variety of changes which increased its weight by nearly 3,000 lbs. and reduced its speed by 40 mph. SB2C Helldiver - Production Nightmares: Though unhappy with this drop in performance, BuAer was too committed to the program to pull out and was forced to push ahead. This was partly due to an earlier insistence that the aircraft be mass-produced to anticipate wartime needs. As a result, Curtiss had received orders for 4,000 aircraft before the first production type flew. With the first production aircraft emerging from their Columbus, OH plant, Curtiss found a series of problems with the SB2C. These generated so many fixes that a second assembly line was built to immediately modify newly built aircraft to the latest standard. Moving through three modification schemes, Curtiss was not able to incorporate all of the changes into the main assembly line until 600 SB2Cs were built. In addition to the fixes, other alterations to the SB2C series included the removal of the .50 machine guns in the wings (the cowl guns had been removed earlier) and replacing them with 20mm cannon. Production of the -1 series ended in spring 1944 with the switch to the -3. The Helldiver was built in variants through -5 with key changes being the use of a more powerful engine, four-bladed propeller, and the addition of wing racks for eight 5 in. rockets. SB2C Helldiver - Operational History: The reputation of the SB2C was well known before the type began arriving in late 1943. As a result, many front-line units actively resisted giving up their SBDs for the new aircraft. Due to its reputation and appearance, the Helldiver quickly earned the nicknames Son of a Bitch 2nd Class, Big-Tailed Beast, and just Beast. Among the issues put forward by crews in regard to the SB2C-1 was that it was underpowered, poorly built, possessed a faulty electrical system, and required extensive maintenance. First deployed with VB-17 aboard USS Bunker Hill, the type entered combat on November 11, 1943 during raids on Rabaul. It was not until spring 1944 that the Helldiver began to arrive in larger numbers. Seeing combat during the Battle of the Philippine Sea, the type had a mixed showing as many were forced to ditch during the long return flight after dark. Despite this loss of aircraft, it sped the arrival of improved SB2C-3s. Becoming the US Navys principal dive bomber, the SB2C saw action during the remainder of the conflicts battles in the Pacific including Leyte Gulf, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. Helldivers also took part in attacks on the Japanese mainland. As later variants of the aircraft improved, many pilots came to have a grudging respect for the SB2C citing its ability to sustain heavy damage and remain aloft, its large payload, and longer range. Despite its early problems, the SB2C proved an effective combat aircraft and may have been the best dive bomber flown by the US Navy. The type was also the last designed for the US Navy as actions late in the war increasingly showed that fighters equipped with bombs and rockets were as effective as dedicated dive bombers and did not require air superiority. In the years after World War II, the Helldiver was retained as the US Navys prime attack aircraft and inherited the torpedo bombing role previously filled by the Grumman TBF Avenger. The type continued to fly until it was finally replaced by the Douglas A-1 Skyraider in 1949. SB2C Helldiver - Other Users: Watching the success of the German Junkers Ju 87 Stuka during the early days of World War II, the US Army Air Corps began looking for a dive bomber. Rather than seek a new design, the USAAC turned to existing types then in use with the US Navy. Ordering a quantity of SBDs under the designation A-24 Banshee, they also made plans to purchase a large number of modified SB2C-1s under the name A-25 Shrike. Between late 1942 and early 1944 900 Shrikes were built. Having re-assessed their needs based on combat in Europe, the US Army Air Forces found these aircraft were not needed and turned many back to the US Marine Corps while some were retained for secondary roles. The Helldiver was also flown by the Royal Navy, France, Italy, Greece, Portugal, Australia, and Thailand. French and Thai SB2Cs saw action against the Viet Minh during the First Indochina War while Greek Helldivers were used to attack Communist insurgents in the late 1940s. The last nation to use the aircraft was Italy which retired their Helldivers in 1959. Selected Sources Ace Pilot: SB2C HelldiverMilitary Factory: SB2C Helldiver Warbird Alley: SB2C Helldiver

Who Is Aleister Crowley The Truth About His Life and Work

Who Is Aleister Crowley The Truth About His Life and Work SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips The name â€Å"Crowley† has become synonymous with occultism, magic, and secret societies- but who was the man behind it all? Who was Aleister Crowley, really, and why has his name come to be synonymous with esoteric writings? In this article, we’ll discuss who Crowley was, including his life story, the many controversies he inspired, his connection with the occult, and all his famous writings. If you’ve ever wondered about the inspiration behind characters like Supernatural or Good Omens’ famed demons, it all comes back to one famed occultist. WhoIsAleisterCrowley? Aleister Crowley (pronounced CROW-lee), born Edward Alexander Crowley in 1875, was a famed writer, occultist, and hedonist known for practicing magick- this unique spelling not only differentiated his practices from stage magic, but also encompassed all actions leading toward a person’s destiny, or their â€Å"True Will.† Crowley’s Early Life Crowley was born to a preacher and spent the first part of his life as an evangelical Christian. His father died when he was 11, and Crowley’s beliefs changed quite quickly- soon, he started rebelling by not only questioning the Bible, but also by engaging in all kinds of activities that the church frowned upon. His behavior eventually led to his mother calling him â€Å"the beast,† which he adopted and embraced. By age 20, Crowley had adopted the name ‘Aleister,’ the Gaelic form of Alexander, as his new name. Crowley spent some time attending Cambridge University but dropped out before completing a degree. During his time in college, he considered a career in Russian diplomacy, but an illness caused him to reconsider. The illness also caused Crowley to think more philosophically about life and death, spurring him further toward the occult. He was known to be sexually promiscuous, primarily with women, but occasionally with men as well- most notably, fellow Cambridge student Herbert Jerome Pollitt. Pollitt and Crowley were not able to make their relationship last, as Pollitt was not interested in Crowley’s occult pursuits. Crowley deeply regretted the loss of their relationship, and his feelings were folded into his religious practice. Crowley Joins the Golden Dawn After leaving Cambridge in 1898, Crowley turned his attention toward hedonistic pursuits and his new involvement with the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, a group dedicated to studying the paranormal and the occult. Over the year or so he was involved with the group, Crowley rose quickly through the ranks but found himself butting heads with prominent members, such as Irish poet W. B. Yeats. Some members of the organization found his hedonism off-putting as well as his bisexuality, and he was not permitted to join the higher ranks. Further infighting led to Crowley attempting to take control of certain parts of the Golden Dawn lodge, which discredited his remaining friends in the organization, particularly Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers. Crowley Forms the A∠´A∠´ After his time with the Golden Dawn, Crowley traveled the world, climbing mountains in Mexico and India while further developing his spiritual practice. In Paris, Crowley met Rose Kelly, who was set to be married to another man in an arranged marriage- the two instead married one another out of convenience in 1903, though they later fell in love. The two bonded over their mutual spiritualism, and during a meditation session, Rose reportedly passed on the message that Horus, an Egyptian god, was waiting for Crowley. Crowley pursued the idea, reportedly making contact in 1904 with a spirit named Aiwass who served as Horus’ messenger. During this contact, Aiwass is said to have dictated the text of what would later become The Book of the Law, or the sacred text of Thelema, to him. Crowley continued to travel the world, though Rose and their daughter, Lilith, remained behind. During this time, Rose developed a serious drinking problem and Lilith contracted typhoid, dying in 1906. Rose’s deteriorating mental health and their daughters’ death put increasing strain on their marriage, and the two divorced in 1909. Rose was later committed to an institution in 1911. Continuing his involvement in the occult, Crowley founded his own organization as a successor to The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, called A∠´A∠´, in 1907. Though he already had a reputation, a public court case in which his former friend Mathers sued him for disclosing secrets of the Golden Dawn in his own work shot him to even greater stardom. His involvement with the occult got him branded as a Satanist, a reputation he was more than happy to play up. Crowley’s Influence Grows Much of Crowley’s income came from publishing, as he continued writing and releasing books of poetry. He also wrote numerous articles for Vanity Fair, which at the time was edited by his friend Frank Harris. His articles included "On the Management of Blondes" and "Three Great Hoaxes of the War." His influence grew throughout the early to mid-20th century, as his writings drew in more practitioners of Thelema. He even started his own abbey in 1920, where he and other Thelemites lived and worshiped, practicing sex magic and creating art. His hedonistic lifestyle continued, and he developed a significant heroin problem. After significant controversy resulting from the quality of living at the Abbey of Thelema, Crowley was branded as â€Å"the wickedest man in the world.† He was deported from Italy under Benito Mussolini’s rule, and again deported from France thanks to his reputation. His hedonistic lifestyle and continued travels led to him becoming destitute. He took on students and even attempted to sue people he believed had libeled him, and though he won some cases, the legal fees were too much. He was declared bankrupt in 1935. After a brief interest in converting Adolf Hitler to Thelema, Crowley began associating with prominent members of British intelligence, specificallyBritain's Naval Intelligence Division, including Ian Fleming and Roald Dahl. He died in 1947, with his funeral being labeled a Black Mass by the press. Why Is Crowley Significant? Aleister Crowley achieved a level of fame quite unlike any other occult figure of his kind. While figures like Mathers and Allan Bennett may have been higher up in famous organizations like the Golden Dawn, it’s Crowley’s name that’s remembered, immortalized on the cover to Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and in Black Sabbath’s â€Å"Mr. Crowley.† Part of his fame no doubt comes from the influence of his philosophy. One of Thelema’s tenets, and one of Crowley’s major life mottos, was â€Å"Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.† Though there are multiple ways to interpret the meaning, one popular theory is that this motto, advocating for individualism alongside Thelema’s teaching that the world was approaching a new age, led into the cultural revolution of the sixties, which similarly embraced drug use and sexual liberation as a response to a straight-laced society. Many figures who helped catapult Crowley to posthumous fame, such as The Doors, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, and Black Sabbath, all grew out of the countercultural movement of the 1960s, even if they were not active during that period. These icons of rock and pop culture helped solidify Crowley’s cultural relevance, but that’s only part of the story- there’s also much to be said about Crowley’s courting of controversy. Why Was Crowley So Controversial? It’s not hard to see why Crowley was a controversial figure; he was unabashedly bisexual in a time when that was frowned upon, he embraced rumors that he was a Satanist and child murderer, and he founded a religious organization that operated in opposition to dominant religions like Christianity. But it wasn’t just rumor that fueled his reputation- numerous events also convinced people that he was literally dangerous. One such event was the death of Raoul Loveday, a Thelemite who lived at Crowley’s Abbey of Thelema in Italy. According to Betty May, Loveday’s wife, Loveday drank a sacrificed cat’s blood. Other rituals included cutting themselves with razors if they used the pronoun ‘I.’ Loveday died while living in the Abbey after drinking from a polluted stream, prompting May to leave and tell the story to the press. It was this event that got Crowley branded as â€Å"the wickedest man in the world,† by John Bull, a British tabloid. But other events raised suspicions as well, such as when Crowley feuded with a mountaineering group as they tried to climb Kanchenjunga. The group eventually refused to climb any further, and though Crowley warned them that it would be dangerous to turn back, they did so- all of them, except Crowley, died in an accident. Crowley also exhibited some controversial political and social beliefs, such as his interests in Nazism and Marxist-Leninism or his misogyny and racism. Richard Spence and Tobias Churton have both suggested and that his controversial persona and numerous eccentricities were in fact adopted to hide his true purpose: that of a British spy. According to this theory, many of Crowley’s strange activities were done to throw people off the scent. He supposedly joined the Golden Dawn to gather information on Mathers, a Carlist, and that his attempted seizing of power was meant to discredit Mathers. Spence further suggested that some of Crowley’s travels were attempts to further British interests, such as searching for Mexican oil or monitoring the opium trade in China. Crowley was rejected from the British Naval Intelligence Division but did spend some time in the company of famed British spies. Other historians have noted Crowley’s involvement with George Sylvester Viereck and his paper The Fatherland, which aimed to keep the United States neutral during World War I. Though some have said that this was because he was a traitor to Britain, one biographer, Lawrence Sutin, has written that this was a coordinated attack on German credibility in New York. Sutin argues that, by pulling bizarre stunts and being hyperbolic, Crowley was actually acting under the wishes of British intelligence to discredit the Germans. Though it’s possible that Aleister Crowley’s â€Å"wicked† persona was an affectation to cover up his spy work, that theory isn’t what has drawn people to him. His contemporaries and later generations have long been interested in his connection with the occult, his storied life, and his many magickal writings. Aleister Crowley's Books Though Crowley is best known as the â€Å"wickedest man in the world,† his writings were his main source of income throughout his life. From poetry to religious texts, Crowley’s work is a large part of why he’s such an iconic figure today. Below you can see a list of his most important and popular publications: White Stains, 1898 Alice: An Adultery, 1903 Liber AL vel Legis (The Book of the Law), 1904 Collected Works of Aleister Crowley 1905–1907 Konx Om Pax: Essays in Light, 1907 Clouds without Water, 1909 Which is also Falsely Called BREAKS. The Wanderings or Falsifications of the One Thought of Frater Perdurabo, which Thought is itself Untrue. Liber CCCXXXIII [Book 333], 1912 The Equinox: Volume III, Number I, 1919 Diary of a Drug Fiend, 1922 The Confessions of Aleister Crowley : An Autohagiography, 1929 Moonchild, 1929 The Stratagem and other Stories, 1929 The Equinox of the Gods, 1936 Little Essays Toward Truth. 1938 Eight Lectures on Yoga, 1939 Liber OZ, 1941 The Book of Thoth: A Short Essay on the Tarot of the Egyptians, 1944 Magick Without Tears, 1954 Liber Aleph vel CXI: The Book of Wisdom or Folly, 1991 777 and Other Qabalistic Writings of Aleister Crowley The Law is for All Magick, Liber ABA, Book 4 The Vision and the Voice Famous Aleister Crowley Quotes Aleister Crowley, as a prolific writer and public figure, has a great number of memorable quotes. Some of his most famous include: â€Å"Black magic is not a myth. It is a totally unscientific and emotional form of magic, but it does get results - of an extremely temporary nature. The recoil upon those who practice it is terrific. It is like looking for an escape of gas with a lighted candle. As far as the search goes, there is little fear of failure! To practice black magic you have to violate every principle of science, decency, and intelligence. You must be obsessed with an insane idea of the importance of the petty object of your wretched and selfish desires. I have been accused of being a "black magician." No more foolish statement was ever made about me. I despise the thing to such an extent that I can hardly believe in the existence of people so debased and idiotic as to practice it.† - "The Worst Man in the World" in The Sunday Dispatch (2 July 1933) â€Å"Every man and every woman is a star.† - The Book of the Law (1904) â€Å"Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.† - The Book of the Law (1904) â€Å"The conscience of the world is so guilty that it always assumes that people who investigate heresies must be heretics; just as if a doctor who studies leprosy must be a leper. Indeed, it is only recently that science has been allowed to study anything without reproach.† - The Confessions of Aleister Crowley (1929) â€Å"The customer is usually wrong; but statistics indicate that it doesn't pay to tell him so.† - Magick Without Tears (1954) â€Å"Remember all ye that existence is pure joy; that all the sorrows are but as shadows; they pass are done; but there is that which remains.† - The Book of the Law (1904) â€Å"Happiness lies within one's self, and the way to dig it out is cocaine.† - Diary of a Drug Fiend (1922) What’s Next? Want to know more about early 20th century literature? Learn more aboutThe Great Gatsby's title and how it reflects the themes of the book! Like your literature with a twist of the occult? This analysis of the character of Abigail Williams inThe Cruciblecovers her role in the fictionalized Salem Witch Trials of the play. Aleister Crowley's writings are pretty dense- if you need some help understanding him, check out this collection of AP language and composition terms!

Assessing and Planning Skills Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Assessing and Planning Skills - Essay Example Clinical supervision is used to assist the teacher provide good services to students by learning from the supervisor’s experiences. Also, it provides the link between administration and the staff by monitoring the extent of compliance with policies, goals and procedures set out by the administration (Shohet, (2001). Peer coaching is a technique that combines coaching and peer to peer skill sharing. The participants can share experiences in their work and also teach other vital professional practices. They work together to evaluate practices, develop new skills together, share ideas and develop strategies for the classroom. One type of peer coaching involves only a few teachers working around observations in teaching. Peer coaching might involve teachers planning and implementing a curriculum together to test for new approaches to teaching. Also, it may be used to conduct research by the formulation of hypothesis about classroom behaviours and teachers testing these hypotheses (Aly, 2013). The major strength of the clinical supervision model is its ability to promote staff retention as it improves performance delivery. So as to attain this, the model requires a healthy and productive relationship between the teacher and a supervisor that is knowledgeable and can objectively analyse strategies (Evans, 2000). The teacher should have a mentality of accepting direction and correction. For the model to be effective, the supervisor needs to have a strong rapport with the teacher so that he could constructively criticise the teacher, and the teacher can open up. In such an environment, the teacher can learn a set of new skills from the experience of the supervisor and air out their concerns. However, the reliance on a good rapport for the model to be effective is its major drawback. In some instances, the teacher might be resistant to the supervisor’s authority and resist any feedback

Regional Attitudes and American Identity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Regional Attitudes and American Identity - Essay Example My friend explained that the Philippine culture is very rich in diversity due to both history and geography. Historically, he explained that the Philippine people are actually composed of ethnicities from different foreign cultures that migrated centuries ago. The immigrants were mostly Malay and Muslim from the surrounding neighbor islands, while later years would bring the Chinese, then the Spanish, and then the North Americans. Geographically, the various mountain ranges and islands act as cultural borders, giving each separated region its own cultural development. My friend is from the capital city of Manila, which he believes is a place where the old face of his home country is being overlapped heavily by the new trends of globalization. He gives high regard to the old ways that place value on virtues, which are close to Western ideas of chivalry and a mix of the Oriental notion of filial respect. However, he also believes that the new ways of thinking are important if his country is to progress and to keep the pace of development without slacking. From how I understand it, this creates conflict between the two cultural perspectives that try to control the cultural plane. Scott and Sherson (1999) indicated that, â€Å"the problem for intercultural communication is that communication is never between cultures per se, but always between people. And people, and the contexts in which they interact, are unique, dynamic, and changeable† (p.4). My friend finds an example of such conflict between him and his mother. He stated that his mother is so attached to the old cultural ways that her methods of dealing with matters are ineffective and inefficient. On the other hand, he notes that his forward thinking and practical methods is taken as an upfront resistance or seen as disrespect to his mother’s sense of authority. According to him, such intercultural conflict exists in his country within homes and even between regions, beliefs

Business environment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Business environment - Essay Example The UK is experiencing an increasingly ageing population which means that there will be a corresponding rise in demand for products targeted to this demography such as medicines, fashion and accommodation (Gillespie, 2007). On the converse, companies will experience increased costs in the form of pension payments to staff that are living longer. One strategy that firms are using to tackle the rising pension costs is to tap into this labour pool of older employees, by keeping them on the job longer. Of note also it that the ageing labour is being replaced by UK high net immigration trend that is the largest in Europe (Walayat, 2010). Economy Watch (2010). The Economy of the UK, GB, British Isles (or Whatever You Want to Call It!). [Online]. 30 June 2010. Economy Watch. Available from: http://www.economywatch.com/world_economy/united-kingdom/. [Accessed: 2 January 2012]. Elliot, L. (2011). George Osborne given stark warning on cuts’ impact. [Online]. 12 September 2011. The Guardian. Available from: http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/sep/12/george-osborne-warning-cuts-impact. [Accessed: 2 January 2012]. Walayat, N. (2010). UK Population Growth and Immigration Trend Forecast 2010 to 2030. [Online]. 2 August 2010. The Market Oracle. Available from: http://www.marketoracle.co.uk/Article21565.html. [Accessed: 2 January 2012]. Weldon, D. (2011). The really big question in UK economic policy: What are low gilt yields telling us? [Online]. 20 December 2011. ToUChstone blog: A public policy blog from the TUC. Available from: http://touchstoneblog.org.uk/2011/12/the-really-big-question-in-uk-economic-policy-what-are-low-gilt-yields-telling-us/. [Accessed: 2 January

Contemporary Developments in Business and Management Dissertation

Contemporary Developments in Business and Management - Dissertation Example The dedicated food service worker, chef or manager, almost always finds it to be a rewarding, lifelong career. Thus, so many cookbooks written by these chefs have been published and almost all of them shout out and proclaim their love for this art as if they have finally discovered their nirvana. To the nutritionist, however, food is considered a means of therapy and in hospitals, food is one means of attaining recovery to health. Other than financial rewards, running a restaurant gives to its owner another high i.e. the opportunity to meet all kinds of people and to satisfy their palates via the use of their culinary talents. The restaurant business can be financially rewarding if the restaurateur comes to it prepared with all the knowledge and training and the management skills culled from years of academic training in management or hands-on-training on the same business. So many restaurant entrepreneurs have found their pot of gold in this business with the effect that myriads of other people are encouraged to follow suit. " According to the National Restaurant Association data, the industry is comprised mostly of small businesses. There were almost 731,000 locations offering food service in the USA as of 1993. It is estimated that almost half of all adults are food service patrons on a typical day, and over 43% of the consumers' food dollar goes to meals and snacks away from home. The industry is a major employer- more than 9 million are employed in food service, and employment is expected to reach over 12 million by the year 2005. In 1993, sales of restaurants of all types topped $236 billion" (Alonzo 1996, p. v).

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

OPERATION - Essay Example At the same time, Deere also aligned its production processes with sales forecasts, supplier lead times, and customer demand for the products, which enabled the company to immediately respond to rapid changes in product demand and reduce the company's vulnerability to external factors that affect its profitability and operations. Similarly, Revlon's recent inventory restructuring initiative was influenced by the increased need to optimize all aspects of the company's resources to meet greater customer-service expectations and to manage capital flows from inventory to other business activities such as research and product development. In contrast with Deere's efforts, Revlon emphasized a process-based approach to reduce inventory costs. This entailed targeting the inefficient parts of the company's supply chain for restructuring in order to achieve a better synchronization across the functional areas of the business. For one, Revlon focused on making sustainable changes by changing at titudes and behavior within the company that contributed to inefficient business processes in order to align leadership and management practices with the demands of the new inventory management process.

Tsunami Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Tsunami - Essay Example (Boork, 2005). a. Studies into the causes of tsunamis have revealed that there are actually many different factors that can lead to tsunami generation – including the already mentioned earthquake – but not every earthquake causes a tsunami and not every tsunami is caused by earthquake. b. Earthquakes can cause tsunamis. It is generally believed that earthquakes that move in a vertical direction are more likely to cause tsunami, but Dr. Tony Song from the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory has shown how â€Å"horizontal motions of continental slopes confer five times the energy of a vertical displacement.† (Mayer, 2006), indicating that movement of the continental margins should be the focus of tsunami detection. c. Landslides are another possible cause of tsunamis, whether they occur above or below the water level. Landslides that occur above water and slide into the water can cause tsunamis while underwater landslides can cause a high degree of water displacement. These landslides can be caused by excessive flooding or, more commonly as global warming continues, due to the melting of layers of permafrost. Sometimes underwater landslides work in combination with earthquakes to cause tsunami. â€Å"For example, submarine slope failures can be triggered by much smaller earthquakes which could not cause a tsunami by themselves.† (Lauterjung cited in Mayer, 2006). d. A third way in which tsunamis can be generated is with the eruption of volcanoes, again with equal devastating effect regardless of whether the volcano exists above or below the water level. â€Å"Tsunamis started by this process are uncommon, but present a real threat to residents of the lower Cook Inlet region, the Alaska Peninsula, and the Aleutian Islands.† (Haeussler, 2006). f. Characteristics of tsunamis caused by earthquakes and volcanoes are that they travel long distances from the earthquakes epicenter and strike coastlines thousands of miles from their

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

OPERATION - Essay Example At the same time, Deere also aligned its production processes with sales forecasts, supplier lead times, and customer demand for the products, which enabled the company to immediately respond to rapid changes in product demand and reduce the company's vulnerability to external factors that affect its profitability and operations. Similarly, Revlon's recent inventory restructuring initiative was influenced by the increased need to optimize all aspects of the company's resources to meet greater customer-service expectations and to manage capital flows from inventory to other business activities such as research and product development. In contrast with Deere's efforts, Revlon emphasized a process-based approach to reduce inventory costs. This entailed targeting the inefficient parts of the company's supply chain for restructuring in order to achieve a better synchronization across the functional areas of the business. For one, Revlon focused on making sustainable changes by changing at titudes and behavior within the company that contributed to inefficient business processes in order to align leadership and management practices with the demands of the new inventory management process.

Smoking Is Dangerous Essay Example for Free

Smoking Is Dangerous Essay The habit of smoking is increasing in popularity day by day. It is considered to be threat for everybody and for our environment. Every person must realize that smoking may cause many diseases such as: lung cancer; take into consideration that the more person smokes in a day the higher is the risk of lung cancer. Another disease that slowly destroys persons health is called emphysema. This kind of disease destroys persons ability to breathe. Breathing of smoke by secondhand smokers is considered to be very dangerous. Secondhand smokers may have headache, nausea, sore throat, etc. Smoking is also cause emphysema. This is a disease that slowly destroys a persons ability to breathe. Signs of emphysema include a cough, feeling of tiredness, weight loss, etc. But people with emphysema may have many other problems. And in the later stages of this disease, patients can only breathe with the help of an oxygen tube. Emphysema cannot be cured but it can be slowed down, only when the person stops smoking. Cigarette smoking is the number one factor which may cause cancer. Most people know that smoking can cause lung cancer, but they continue smoking. The more cigarettes person smokes in a day, and the longer he/she smoked, the higher is the risk of lung cancer. Not only smoking tobacco but also being around smokers may cause lung cancer. Take into consideration that smoking can cause cancer almost anywhere in the body, such as: cancer of mouth, nose, throat, bladder, kidney, stomach, blood, etc. Breathing of smoke caused by the cigarette is very dangerous. In passive smoking, the person is forced to breathe smoke of an active smoker. Secondhand or passive smokers can have a variety of effects, such as: cough, headache, sore throat, nausea, dizziness, etc. So non-smokers must always clean the air and completely eliminate smoking in indoor spaces. So smoking is a habit which individuals find difficult to give up. People should know and realize that smoking is dangerous for their health and it kills them gradually. By smoking person also should know that he/ she damages not only himself/ herself but also his environment and others.

Approaches On Factors Affecting Self Employment Commerce Essay

Approaches On Factors Affecting Self Employment Commerce Essay There are diverse approaches and theories to the factors affecting self-employment efforts of individuals. Lambing and Kuehl have pointed out personality traits, cultural influence, economic conditions and the combination of these factors as the major factors influencing self employment. Other authors like Saini and Rathore (2001:5-6) argue that social, religious and cultural, psychological, political, and economic policies are the main factors affecting self employment. Another approach to the factors affecting self employment is described in a more summarized way by Khanka (2004:33-37). These factors are economic aspect, noneconomic aspects and government measures. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ The economic aspects comprise of capital, inputs and the market; à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ The non-economic factors are the social and political circumstances such as social mobility, security and psychological factors à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ The Government measures and actions comprise issues such as economic and industrial policies and strategies which influence both the above factors. There are countless approaches to analyzing the factors affecting self employments, nevertheless the in one way or another, it seems they are all saying the same thing in different words. Regardless of their dissimilarity of treating the individual factors, they are harmonizing to each other. So much so that the major factors affecting self-employment schemes can be classified into various aspects such as support system factors, personal traits, government policies, and socio-cultural factors. Personality Trait Factors These are a set of aspects related to an individuals personality either inborn or learned which determine an individuals profession. The argument over learned or unlearned (inborn) character traits is endless in that a consensus has not been reached yet among scholars. When it comes to entrepreneurs, Lambing and Kuehl (2000:16) argue that entrepreneurs have an innate unique personality which cannot be taught. Schumpeter (in Deakins, 1999:11) holds the same idea Lambing and Kuehl (2000). This implies that the personality of entrepreneurs is inborn and learning has minor influence in becoming an entrepreneur. On the contrary, many authors, like Peter Drucker (in Lambing and Kuehl, 2000:15), believe that socio-cultural influences (learned traits) are sources of entrepreneurial personality. Kirzner also promotes that any one has the potential to be entrepreneur and he/she appears and operates within set production constraints (Deakins, 1999:11). Both ideas imply that, everyone having the inherited traits, environmental exposures are determinant factors of entrepreneurial qualities. However, still many others accept that both sources (nature and nurture) equally contribute to the individuals entrepreneurial personality. Thus, in this study, the researcher prefers to have the stand with the third group believing both factors have their own share of contribution to the entrepreneurial personality. According to Lambing and Kuehl (2000:16), whether entrepreneurial tendencies exist at birth or developed as the person matures, certain traits are usually evident in those who achieve success. Socio-Cultural Factors These set of factors focus on such aspects as values, norms, beliefs, family and community entrepreneurial traditions, societal attitude, etc. It is considered in terms of social behavioral approaches, which stresses the influence of the social environment. It has been identified that different cultures have varying values and believes (Lambing and Kuehl, 2000:18-19). That is, some culture encourages entrepreneurship whereas others discourage, some promotes achievement whereas others give low value to entrepreneurship. For example, the Japanese have been known to have an achievementoriented culture which helps entrepreneurs persist until they succeed. That is, they give high value to entrepreneurship and encourage entrepreneurs to succeed. With respect to this, McClelland (Deakins, 1999: 18) has identified that the historical role models influence of heroes on subsequent generation induced a high motive of achievement on the population. On the contrary, in some cultures, entrepreneur ship may be conceived as an occupation for low self-esteemed persons. For example, it is well described in Lelissa (2006:17) and UNESCO (2002:132) the negative social image held on the TVET program which discourages entrepreneurial ideas of TVET graduates (this will be discussed further in this section later). The entrepreneurial tradition of the family has the most significant impact on the early development of entrepreneurial personality. Young (in Batra, 2003:26) maintains that entrepreneurial activity is generated by a particular family background and experience as a member of certain kinds of group and as a reflection of general cultural values. In respect to this, Saini and Rathore (2001:5-6) described that entrepreneurial traditions of the family as well as the community are important factors within which the entrepreneur grows and internalizes the values and norms. In addition, Batra and Dangwal (2003:13) have stated that caste and community are the most important socio-cultural determinants of entrepreneurial supply and performance. With regard to societal attitudes, the TVET program itself is victim of negative image held by the society in Ethiopia. According to a research finding (Lelissa, 2006:17), it has been discovered that trainees of TVET institutions are considered as low achievers or failures of grade ten (national examination) students who are forced to attend TVET which discourages the potentially motivated students. This image of the society at large and the view of the graduates in particular is a barrier to have confidence and envision in their vocational career in general and starting new venture in particular. That is, the graduates feel inferior of their friends who joined the degree program and strive for higher education after a period of wage employment service which is a government requirement as a path way to higher education. This path way may force the TVET graduates to work on a paid employment for the sake of getting a two-year work experience which is levied by the government policy as a requirement. The negative images has been found to be global that a UNESCO monograph on perceived status of TVET stated as TVET is often seen as a poor alternative to university or college courses, and the career paths resulting from TVET programs are often seen as less desirable as far as the career success of young people is concerned (Hiebert and Borgen in UNESCO, 2002:132). Thus, the graduates are highly occupied by the drive to achieve higher education opportunity rather than thinking of job creation (self-employment). Demographic factors such as gender may also contribute to graduates entrepreneurial success as a result of the influence of backward social and cultural environment. Though in the relatively long past times women are confined in the four walls of houses performing household activities, currently they are emerging as successful entrepreneurs (Khanka, 2004:18). This is due to educational equity and technological advancement that helped women to come out of the four-wall confinement and enabled them currently to run their own enterprises successfully. Likewise, religion as one component of social factors, the performance of individual entrepreneurs is directly or indirectly inspired by religious ideas (Khanka, 2004: 14). That is, in some religions high profit and interests are considered as a sin deeds. Thus, the social and cultural environment at which the entrepreneur emerged is important source of entrepreneurship as well as entrepreneurial personality. Government Policies and Ations Under this category, factors that influence entrepreneurial success include governments economic and industrial policies, trade laws and legitimacy, promotion of free market, individual freedom, economic stability, introduction of new technology, etc. The economic and political environment includes various factors that either facilitate or inhibit the would-be entrepreneur the undertaking of a business venture which are necessary conditions for the success of the business. Among the economic factors lack of capital, working place, facilities and market are at the forefront. The week availability of credit services and the very limited accessibility of financial institutions is a barrier to start a new venture. A World Bank report (2005) has identified that some of the graduates are not interested to be self-employed due to lack of capital, lack of training and lack of national policy which favored self-employment. The problem of capital and inadequate provision of micro-credit services are therefore central to the TVET graduates to start new micro and/or small enterprises. Hence, government economic policies which encourage new entrepreneurs in the provision of credits, availability of facilities, presence of technical assistance (consulting personnel), establishment of entrepreneurial incubation centers, facilitation of infrastructures, arrangement of working places and market are some of them just to mention few. With respect to the policy that favors new entrepreneurs, the training areas (sectors) affect the extent to which graduates are self-employed. That is, in relation to the governments 70/30 (hard/soft skills) proportion training direction, soft skill training s such as business fields may not be benefitted from incentives and encouragements. There is a tendency to discourage soft skills (occupations) training areas and, as a result, low access to the opportunities to soft skills graduates, as experiences of entrepreneurial efforts of the soft skills graduates showed. In this regard, for example, an attempt of establishing a small firm on auditing service by accounting graduates was inhibited by a concerned governments Audit Office until related guideline is prepared but not realized and the graduates effort has been discouraged so that the group was banned. In addition, with respect to government actions and policies favoring new entrepreneurs, economic regulations and taxation benefits are also important factors. Political stability, freedom of entrepreneurs, promotion of free market, absence of corruption, guarantee of security, etc. are also influential factors connected to the political environment (Dollinger, 1999:57). Support System Services Factors related to available support services include a number of services such as the quality of training institutions, on the job training provision of companies, financial and commercial institutions, research findings, entrepreneurial personnel support, consultancy services, etc. These support services have their share to the success of TVET graduates in venture creation efforts. Some scholars generally assume that entrepreneurs are born and support services are less important. However, it is proved that with the right type of training, follow up support and assistance, one can develop oneself as an entrepreneur (Batra, 2003:35). It is clear that the latent potentials can be cultivated and developed through wellconceived and integrated type of training including entrepreneurial skills. With this respect, Batra has stated that the right type of entrepreneurial training helps to identify and develop the natural, inherent and potential virtues of the human being which are lying dorm ant. From this we understand that the type and quality of training offered in a TVET institution is vital for the TVET graduates entrepreneurial venture. Institutions (schools) with exciting courses in entrepreneurship and innovation tend to develop entrepreneurs and an entrepreneurial environment (Hisrich Peters, 2002:13). This shows that the institutions ability to equip the trainees with the necessary skills, knowledge and attitude paves the way to the idea of entrepreneurship and realization of a venture. In relation to the role of training, the quality of trainers in their entrepreneurial skills and awareness about the expected output (entrepreneurial capability of graduates) is also one pivotal input. Encouragement to self-employment is further stimulated by trainers (teachers), who can significantly influence individuals to regard entrepreneurship as a desirable and viable career path (Hisrich Peters, 2002:13). In addition to the trainers role for the entrepreneurial development of the trainees in training institutions, career guidance and counseling support is another contributing component of the quality of the TVET graduates. Hiebert and Borgen (in UNESCO, 2002:131) have well stated that guidance and counseling services are essential for the goals of TVET to be fully realized and that they should for that reason be fully integrated with all TVET programming. These services should be provided beginning at the time of enrollment in orienting their occupational choice, inculcating positive attitude through out their training and showing direction of their career path through the provision of career information including entrepreneurship. Another aspect of education and training background of the entrepreneur is experience of a previous business. This experience may be expressed in terms of any kind of exposure to a business environment be it free service ( practices in the form of apprenticeship or internship) or wage employment for a specific period of time. Some graduates choose wage employment because they acquire experiences without incurring cost such as know how to run a business, identify the way in which things operate in a business environment, learn skills of leadership and coordination, had a network of contacts, etc. In this respect, a research finding (Lambing Kuehl, 2000:90) in a survey on source of business ideas of 500 successful entrepreneurs revealed that most of them (nearly half) (43%) of the respondents said they got the idea for their business from the experience they gained while working for wage in the same industry or profession. Therefore, it is clear that work integrated training methods such as apprenticeship, internship, cooperative training and free practice programs are of paramount importance. In addition to the above factors, support services such as financial and commercial institutions, micro and small enterprise development personnel support, consultancy services, research findings, etc., have their own role for the entrepreneuri

U.S. Foreign Policy in the Late 19th Century Essay -- essays research

The United States, from its inception had a lust for real estate. From the original chants of "manifest destiny" to the calls for the annexation of Indian territories, America has been driven to acquire land. In this country's youth, land was needed for economic expansion; however, by the end of the 19th century, the entire continental United States had been in possession and the citizenry of this country turned their eyes out to sea. The United States no longer sought new lands to farm and work nor did they need new areas for their geological resources; the motives had changed. The United States was now driven by the temptations of world power and political supremacy. The self-absorbed citizenry looked upon their intrusion into foreign areas as a moral obligation; to spread the words of democracy and Christ throughout the world. The Spanish-American War in the final years of the 19th century perfectly demonstrated this "new" imperialism. In addition the American intrusion into Chinese affairs during the Boxer rebellion was also proof for the new motives which governed the international attitude. By the end of the 19th century Spanish forces in Cuba were in an all out battle with nationalist rebels. The Spanish army had tortured and killed thousands of innocent Cubans in their efforts to maintain control of Cuba. The American "Yellow Press" under the leadership of Pulitzer and others wrote horrific articles about the war in Cuba and called for... U.S. Foreign Policy in the Late 19th Century Essay -- essays research The United States, from its inception had a lust for real estate. From the original chants of "manifest destiny" to the calls for the annexation of Indian territories, America has been driven to acquire land. In this country's youth, land was needed for economic expansion; however, by the end of the 19th century, the entire continental United States had been in possession and the citizenry of this country turned their eyes out to sea. The United States no longer sought new lands to farm and work nor did they need new areas for their geological resources; the motives had changed. The United States was now driven by the temptations of world power and political supremacy. The self-absorbed citizenry looked upon their intrusion into foreign areas as a moral obligation; to spread the words of democracy and Christ throughout the world. The Spanish-American War in the final years of the 19th century perfectly demonstrated this "new" imperialism. In addition the American intrusion into Chinese affairs during the Boxer rebellion was also proof for the new motives which governed the international attitude. By the end of the 19th century Spanish forces in Cuba were in an all out battle with nationalist rebels. The Spanish army had tortured and killed thousands of innocent Cubans in their efforts to maintain control of Cuba. The American "Yellow Press" under the leadership of Pulitzer and others wrote horrific articles about the war in Cuba and called for...

Computer Repair :: Essays Papers

Computer Repair At Ford Motor Company, we have a passion for Better Ideas. Whether pushing the limits of technology and design, or bringing people together within a community, we work to approach every challenge with ingenuity and caring. Explore opportunities for doing business with us, visit the Investor Center, or learn more about us. Environmental Initiatives Learn what we're doing to build vehicles that are better for the environment as well as promote conservation in communities, schools, and our very own facilities. Corporate Citizenship Explore what corporate citizenship means at Ford Motor Company and how we are striving to make the world a better place. Safety & Security The safety of our vehicles and the families who rely on them is essential to Ford Motor Company. Read about our latest safety enhancements and how we're educating motorists to buckle up and drive smart. Design & Technology We're researching in Asia, partnering with NASA, and innovating in our plants and offices around the world every day. Get a preview of what's new and what's next at Ford Motor Company. Partnerships & Alliances We want you to know about the partners we work with and the programs we support. Our professional network includes some of the most exciting companies and collaborations in the marketplace today. Suppliers Ford Motor Company relies on strong relationships with suppliers and we welcome new suppliers with great products and ideas. Investor Information Access investor news, stock updates, and company reports. Heritage Trace the history of Ford Motor Company—learn more about Henry Ford and 100 years of innovation. Newsroom Get news, read press releases, and review our company policies on topics such as air quality and the Firestone recall. Global Sites Check out the websites, vehicles, and services that are available in over 120 countries. Careers Our success has been achieved through the concerted efforts and collective vision of a diverse workforce in the US and abroad. Find out about career opportunities with us. Site Map Privacy FAQs Contact Us Note: leads to an external site  ©Copyright 2001 Ford Motor Company. All rights reserved. Computer Repair :: Essays Papers Computer Repair At Ford Motor Company, we have a passion for Better Ideas. Whether pushing the limits of technology and design, or bringing people together within a community, we work to approach every challenge with ingenuity and caring. Explore opportunities for doing business with us, visit the Investor Center, or learn more about us. Environmental Initiatives Learn what we're doing to build vehicles that are better for the environment as well as promote conservation in communities, schools, and our very own facilities. Corporate Citizenship Explore what corporate citizenship means at Ford Motor Company and how we are striving to make the world a better place. Safety & Security The safety of our vehicles and the families who rely on them is essential to Ford Motor Company. Read about our latest safety enhancements and how we're educating motorists to buckle up and drive smart. Design & Technology We're researching in Asia, partnering with NASA, and innovating in our plants and offices around the world every day. Get a preview of what's new and what's next at Ford Motor Company. Partnerships & Alliances We want you to know about the partners we work with and the programs we support. Our professional network includes some of the most exciting companies and collaborations in the marketplace today. Suppliers Ford Motor Company relies on strong relationships with suppliers and we welcome new suppliers with great products and ideas. Investor Information Access investor news, stock updates, and company reports. Heritage Trace the history of Ford Motor Company—learn more about Henry Ford and 100 years of innovation. Newsroom Get news, read press releases, and review our company policies on topics such as air quality and the Firestone recall. Global Sites Check out the websites, vehicles, and services that are available in over 120 countries. Careers Our success has been achieved through the concerted efforts and collective vision of a diverse workforce in the US and abroad. Find out about career opportunities with us. Site Map Privacy FAQs Contact Us Note: leads to an external site  ©Copyright 2001 Ford Motor Company. All rights reserved.

Development through the Implementation of Physical Activity to Patients Suffering from Mental Illness.

Introduction Efficient delivery of care is the essence of nursing. Being a successful nurse revolves around the capability to deliver care which contributes to the wellbeing of the patients (Barker, 2005). In exploring the efficient delivery of care to patients suffering from mental illness, this paper consists of two parts. Part One outlines the practical and theoretical aspects of my chosen Service Improvement Initiative, and Part Two focuses on my personal development plan. The Service Improvement Initiative outlines a plan that strives to create a healing environment through the use of mental and physical activities, from sports to board games as a means of providing nursing care to patients. Apart from the medical aspect of this initiative, I will also analyze the theoretical aspects of health care to determine the professional role of nurses in providing care and support that aims to contribute to the wellbeing of patients. Additionally, I intend to discuss the importance of harnessing leadership qualities, management and communication skills of nurses in order to provide high-quality patient care. Mental Health and Physical and Mind Activities In the course of my observations in a psychological ward for adolescents aged 10-17 years, I noticed that there are very little, if any, physical activities such as sports (table tennis, basketball, snooker, etc.). However, over the years, an overwhelming wealth of evidence from nursing practice and research has clearly demonstrated the benefits of such activities (Hainsworth, 2006). Researchers have established that physical activity promotes physical health and brings about physiological benefits (Department of Health, 2004b). For example, Benloucif (2004) found that daylight exercises significantly improve neurophysiological performance and sleep quality especially when they emphasize extensive duration rather than intensity. However, not only does physical activity lead to physiological benefits, but it can also generate psychological benefits such as empowerment of patients and reduction of boredom, which in turn improve clinical outcomes (Ainsworth, 2006). Another major benefit of physical activities in hospitals and wards is the creation of a social environment in which patients thrive (Frost, 2010). For example, physical activities allow service users to socialize and engage in light conversations without showing aggression towards each other (Briles, 2005). Over time, patients will learn the importance of effective communication with other people, the purpose of staying at the hospital/ward, as well as the advantages of participating in decision-making and different activities (Wilkes-Whitehall, 2004). This is particularly important for patients who are vulnerable and are in need of re-establishing their social skills in a controlled environment, such as adolescents suffering from mental illness. In fact, research has demonstrated that a warm and supportive social environment is an important factor in the etiology of mental illness, but also in the therapeutic healing process (Cohen, 2004). Physical activity, such as exercise and sports, has also been found to generally improve mental health conditions, such as anxiety, depression and general wellbeing (Schmitz, 2004). According to Strohle (2009), sports and exercise can moderately reduce anxiety and depression in mentally ill persons. Martinsen (2008) has also demonstrated that some activities (e.g. resistance, aerobic) can prevent the risk of depression. Goodwin (2003) reported the low scores of depression among adolescents as a result of engaging in exercise. Drawing on a large sample of 8,098 adolescents and adults from the ages of 15-54, Goodwin (2003) found that individuals who regularly kept themselves physically active were less depressed. Other researchers (Penedo & Dahn, 2005) have further supported the claim that exercise may be associated with therapeutic benefit among individuals with major depressive disorder. Moreover, the majority of cross-sectional studies have showed that an improved cognitive performance is related to physical fitness (Callaghan, 2004). There are implications of these findings. For example, patients who frequently engage in physical activities may become much more open to considering alternative therapies and treatments. Aside from their physiological benefits, those who participated in this exercise-therapy also showed a generally more resilient and healthier psychological state. In fact, it is well-documented that physical activities and exercise are vital in strengthening self-image and self-esteem in all age groups, especially among children and middle-aged adults (Folkins & Sime, 1981). Research has demonstrated that people who participate in physical activity have an improved self-image (Elavsky et al., 2005). As self-image is an important factor in helping patients to be less vulnerable during social re-integration, clinical outcomes are improved. Additionally, Kirkcaldy, Shephard, and Siefen (2002) presented evidence that participating in physical exercises alleviates social withdrawal, low self-esteem, and depression which are the negative symptoms of schizophrenia. Taking the above-mentioned case studies as well as other relevant literature together, it is clear that there is considerable evidence showing that physical activity through exercise and sports is effective in improving the mental and physical conditions of mentally ill service users. These physical activities promote better life quality via boosting self-esteem, reducing anxiety, improving mood, sleep and resilience to stress (Ekeland et al, 2009). However, further research is still needed to identify the effective exercise regimes and feasible delivery modalities for patients with varying illnesses. It is advised that activities that are any way strenuous or too rigorous would not be suitable for mentally-ill patients with cardiovascular conditions. Also, in order to prevent any form of musculoskeletal injuries, the duration and intensity of exercises should be increased gradually. It is therefore clear that a full assessment of patients must be carefully done by the appropriate medical practitioner before such activities are implemented (Richardson, 2005). Prior to outlining the Service Improvement Initiative, I will first outline the theoretical aspects that need to be considered when implementing a new initiative, and how these can be applied in practical terms. Theoretical Aspects In order to implement a service improvement initiative and effectively manage the changes that ensue, a clear understanding of theoretical aspects must take place. In this paper, the theoretical aspects will be drawn from John Kotter’s model and Pender’s Theory of Health Promotion (1996). In the former model, Kotter’s eight distinct phases will be organized into three broad phases: 1) creating a climate for change; 2) engaging and enabling the whole organization; and 3) implementing and sustaining change (Campbell, 2008). In the latter model, an action can directly motivate the behaviour of others through an extensive and rigorous plan of commitment from which the expected benefits will result (Pender, 1996). This author will examine theoretical aspects such as change management; accountability and responsibility, leadership and management skills, and professional/inter-professional collaboration. The first phase will focus on the importance of urgency, the building of guiding teams and getting the vision right. In fact, it is particularly important that a multi-disciplinary team has a sense of urgency in achieving the programme’s aims. The team must possess four main skills as highlighted by Campbell (2008): up-to-date knowledge about the necessary changes, an ability to justify and add credibility to the changes, awareness of any relevant knowledge on the changes and a sense of leadership in carrying out the changes. Moreover, the vision of the team must be summarised into a short-statement that encapsulates the goals of the initiative. Thus, in the case of the service improvement initiative, it is pivotal that the team of nurses and other staff has exposure to the benefits of physical and mental activities. This can be achieved through a day of seminars given by external scholars and practitioners, as well as take-away booklets and handouts that emphasise the need fo r integrating physical activity into healthcare. The second phase involves communicating the proposed changes that will enable action to take place. On the communication of the proposed changes, it is vital that all individuals involved in the initiative are completely knowledgeable about the changes that are being proposed. There must be a constant dialogue among the people involved to ensure that all parties are kept in the loop (Campbell, 2008). In fact, a clear communication strategy is also important for raising sufficient funds for a server improvement initiative. In order to garner both emotional and financial support, it is imperative that the short-term and long-term benefits of a service improvement initiative are communicated. For example, in the case of the service-user initiative for improving physical activity, the importance of improving the patient experience and the overall clinical outcome needs to be emphasised. Finally, the third phase highlights the importance of keeping a momentum when implementing change By creating a drive and motivation amongst employees, it becomes necessary to ensure that change does not become institutionalized but is a forward-looking process (Campbell, 2008). According to Kotter, â€Å"culture change comes last.† In other words, when change has been successfully implemented for a certain period of time, that is when attitudes and opinions change. In light of this, one would expect that it would take a certain amount of time for the service user initiative to become rooted in the culture of the health-care community. Other important theoretical aspects that also need to be discussed include accountability and responsibility. It is important that each member of the multidisciplinary team, in particular the nursing staff, are vigilant in maintaining both accountability and responsibility. In this case, responsibility is equivalent to the duty of care in law. This applies to all nursing tasks, from simple things such as bathing a patient to complex ones such as surgery. There is a certain degree of risk in any nursing task. When practitioners accept responsibility to perform a task, they must ensure that they accomplish it with competence and at least to the accepted standard (Scrivener, 2011). Accountability is commonly defined as â€Å"an inherent confidence as a professional that allows a nurse to take pride in being transparent about the way he or she has carried out their practice† (Caulfield, 2005, p.24). This reflects the positive aspect of accountability and puts focus on the development and demonstration of competence in practice (Scrivener, 2011). The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC, 2008) states that all nurses are accountable for their own actions in practice. As the last few years have seen a rise in litigation for nurses (Diamond, 1995), accountability can be a source of anxiety for nurses. It is therefore imperative that nurses follow strict protocols and guidelines, verifying when unsure and being constantly alert to new situations and information. In relation to responsibility and accountability, according to the NMC, nurses must always ensure that they take complete responsibility for their actions, and always act in according to what is agreed with their patients, their families and carers, and in line with the laws of professional health bodies (Scrivener, 2011). Given these guidelines, in my service improvement initiative, I will ensure that the appropriate responsibility is handed to managers and nurses. Whilst the manager will be ultimately accountable and oversee and be the primary point of contact regarding the actions of the nurses and other staff, there will also be others responsible such as administrative staff. It is therefore essential that there are good management and leadership practices in place so that nurses should have to achieve the proper provision of health care. Another important theoretical aspect to consider is the importance of managing in order to achieve the goals of an organization. Thomas and Worley (2009) describe management as a process of coordinating actions and allocating resources to achieve organizational goals. Similarly, Hersey and colleagues (2001) explained that management is a way of working with and through individuals and groups to accomplish organizational goals. The researchers identified management as a special kind of leadership that concentrates on the achievement of organization goals. Koontz and Weihrich (2008) stated that management is the process of organizing and maintaining an environment in which individual working together in groups efficiently accomplishes selected goal or aims. In application to nursing profession, Sullivan and Decker (2011) define management as the abilities to plan, manage, organize and deliver care. It includes the process of discovering a good way of caring for patients. The goals of the service improvement initiative must therefore be clearly structured and outlined to ensure that both individuals and groups can work towards the initiative’s aims which are to improve the quality of patient care. Leadership may be defined as the ability to direct and influence the task or activities of the members of a group in its efforts to achieve certain objectives (Huczynski & Buchanan 2007). These authors further define leadership as the process of influencing the activities of an organized group in its efforts towards creating an environment focused on goal achievement. Mullins (2007) stated that leadership is a relationship through which one person influences the behavior or action of other people. According to Gopee and Galloway (2009), the key elements of leadership are leader’s personal characteristics, interpersonal relationships, team working and being a role model. They also identified four styles of leadership which include autocratic, democratic, laissez-faire and bureaucratic. In the context of nursing, Sullivan and Garland (2010) list many leadership and managerial skills required from a nurse. These skills range from the initiation and implementation of change, criti cal thinking, problem-solving, effective communication, time-management, appropriate delegation, budgeting and allocating resources and understanding power and politics. In the service improvement initiative, it is therefore important for nurses to acquire both leadership and management skills to be able to function effectively (Marquis and Huston, 2009). In fact, Barr and Dowding (2008) explained that management and leadership skills should be integrated in order to provide high-quality care to the patients. Finally, another critical element for a successful implementation of the service improvement initiative is a culture of â€Å"inter-professional collaboration†. The World Health Organization defines inter-professional collaboration as a process in which â€Å"multiple health workers from different professional backgrounds work together with patients, families, carers, and communities to deliver the highest quality of care.† An expert panel of Inter-professional Education Collaborative (2011) defines inter-professional competencies in health care as â€Å"integrated enactment of knowledge, skills, and values/attitudes that define working together across the professions, with other health care workers, and with patients, along with families and communities, as appropriate to improve health outcomes in specific care contexts†. In the context of the service improvement initiative, a panel of inter-professionals will be involved from the first day to actual implementa tion to ensure that the highest quality of care is given to patients. The Service Improvement Initiative To improve the nursing services in the ward, I plan to execute a six-month program involving 10 adolescent patients from the ages of 10-17, from the psychological ward. Patients will be invited to partake in a range of physical activities, such as exercise and sports, as well as mind games. The overall aim of this initiative is to establish whether such activities have any effect on the behavior or wellbeing of patients. A secondary aim of the initiative is to explore various aspects of the delivery of care, taking into consideration the different theoretical aspects of the nursing practice. The budget will be need to be closely decided in liaison with the manager to ensure that there is sufficient funding for purchasing the sport equipment and the personnel for facilitating and monitoring physical activities. Although the programme is to be conducted in a normal hospital setting, funding will also need to be allocated for the services of the experts and all the administrative and logistical aspects of the initiative. Whilst as a nurse, I can initiate the set of activities for patients, I will need to draw on the assistance and expertise of other medical practitioners for the intervention to be successful. It will also be necessary to set up a multidisciplinary team that will aid in the implementation and completion of the initiative. Team members will be psychiatrists, physical therapists, mental health practitioners, and other experts. It is particularly important to draw on the expertise of a Physical Therapist as it is essential to determine the capabilities of mentally ill individuals when it comes to engaging in physical activities. Psychiatrists also play an important role in assessing the clinical outcomes of patients within a certain time-frame. Given previous research on the risks of physical activity for mentally ill patients (Richardson, 2005), careful considerations shall also be made to ensure that the types of physical activity will depend on the psychological condition of the patient and all physical activities will be limited to light exercise and light sports, such as table tennis. The assessment of the clinical outcomes of the service improvement initiative for adolescent patients will take place on a weekly basis. The assessment criteria will be decided by consulting experts and mental health practitioners. The amount of exercise given in the following week will then depend on the clinical results of the patients at the end of the week. This allows a continuous assessment of patient improvement. It is important to note that the proposed initiative may face a number of challenges. These challenges include the specific culture of a workplace in which some staff may oppose the change, funding costs, fear of increase in work load amongst nurses and a subsequent increase in staff anxiety level (Paton and McCalman, 200; Sharma, 2008). Professional Development Plan Introduction In this section, I will focus on one of the aspects of my personal development which I intend to concentrate on within the first six months of registration. In my personal development plan I will explore my strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) and write an action plan that is specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and timely (SMART). Using the reflective tools and SWOT analysis (Appendix B), I have identified my strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, One of the main areas of expertise where I see the weakness and where I would like to see improvements in my knowledge and abilities in the management of medications. Being a nurse does not only require clinical skills but also good leadership, management and communication skills that are learned from practice. Action Plan Administration of medicines is a key element of nursing care. Drug administration is one of the major parts of the nurse’s clinical role. Although doctors traditionally take control of prescribing medicines, a registered nurse does have primary responsibility in administering the correct dosage of medicines. Nurses are responsible regarding the preparation of medicine, verifying and checking appropriate medication, monitoring the effectiveness of treatment and in certain cases, reporting any adverse drug reactions. Given research findings that patients do not always receive the correct medication at their drug rounds, nurses must be vigilant in ensuring appropriate medicine management (Andalo, 2006). However, there has been evidence that medicine management has not been given considerable priority by health care services, and that it is commonly excluded from pre-registration training or in practice (Snowden, 2011). The development of competency in medicine management requires an explicit academic component is present. This is particularly important given recent failures such as those highlighted in Francis Report (Wright, 2013). In this report, Robert Francis revealed the failure among nurses and healthcare assistants to feed patients and give them the basic elements of care such as dignity and respect. Initiatives to combat such behaviour in the future included holding nurses personally and criminally accountable, as well as holding hospital boards responsible should they fail to ensure that all patients are receiving high quality care (Wright, 2013). As I am a student who is in the transition period to a staff nurse, I am aware of the changing responsibilities and accountabil ity that are inherent to being a nurse. Personal Development Plan Nagelkerk (2005) highlights the importance of setting and identifying goals that are intrinsic to your personal development, as it allows you to reflect on your practice and also highlight your strengths and weaknesses, which gives you the opportunity to initiate and implement change. With this in mind, I plan to draw on Snowden’s â€Å"clusters on essential skills for medicine management†. This is relevant to the current service improvement initiative as it highlights the need for newly registered nurses to be completely briefed on patient history and able to responsible administer medicines (Snowden, 2011). Moreover, I will draw on the SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time) bound framework to set a time scale for my action plan. I will also draw on Snowden’s clusters on essential skills for medicine management as it is a parsimonious model that allows me to evaluate educational needs and professional development. During the first month of the programme, I will ensure that I am completely knowledgeable of the commonly administered medicines that the patients are taking, their actions and side effects. I will do this by liaising with doctors and psychiatrists, and also attending weekly ward rounds. Within the second month, I intend to increase my confidence when it comes to managing my medication round effectively using the eight rights checklist: â€Å"right medication†, â€Å"right patient†, â€Å"right dose†, â€Å"right time†, â€Å"right date†, â€Å"right route†, â€Å"right preparation† and â€Å"right documentation† (Morgan, 2000). I will also develop my knowledge of pharmacology such as the interaction of medicines with different systems of the body. In the third and fourth months of training, I will build up my knowledge on the necessary techniques for administering medicine. I will attend a series of sessions on medicine management as well as observe trained professionals. This is in line with research that nurses must constantly build their body of knowledge and develop their professional skills (Burton & Ormrod, 2011). The fifth and sixth months will focus on the application of the knowledge I acquired. This is where safety management, administration and monitoring of drugs come in. I will practice my skills in ordering medication, their storage and disposal of used medication. I intend to keep a reflective diary about all that I learnt from my own experience and experience of colleagues. The support and assistance of an experienced professional is very important and vital for a newly qualified nurse to gain confidence and practice effectively (NMC, 2008). With the right support and guidance from experienced colleagues, I should be able to manage medications safely and effectively. This will greatly enhance my professional confidence. Having clearly identified my goals and assigned a time limit to achieve them will help me to monitor my progress. I will work hard to make sure that my goals are achievable within the clinical setting. Conclusion Over the course of this paper, it has become clear that the responsibilities of a newly registered nurse are vast. The transition from a student to a nurse is not without its challenges and requires continuous training, support and guidance. To ensure that I am progressing in my knowledge of nursing, I will constantly engage in evaluations and assessment of my learning. For example, I will verify my learning in accordance with the standards of the Nursing and Midwifery Council. APPENDIX A Service Improvement Activity Notification Proforma Details of service improvement project/activity: The main aim of the Service Improvement Initiative is to provide physical activity to mentally ill adolescents aged 10-17 years. The initiative will assess the clinical outcomes following the physical activity intervention, as well as the development of nursing skills needed for the efficient and effective delivery of care. Reason for development: Based on my observations in a psychological ward for adolescents aged 10-17 years, there are no opportunities to be involved in activities such as sports (darts, snooker, etc.). These activities are proven to provide multiple benefits to the service users, both in terms of physical fitness and mental health. Time spent on the project/activity: The program will take place over a span of six months. Resources used: There are a number of resources needed for this initiative. Resources include sufficient funding for paying for the services of team members and experts, as well as a range of sporting equipment, such as table tennis tables. Who was involved: A multidisciplinary team consisting of a group of nurses a physical therapist, psychiatrists, mental health practitioners, and other experts will be set up. Future plans: The initiative will be implemented in six (6) months. It is hoped that the program will become successful and beneficial for the service users and the multidisciplinary team. APPENDIX B Strengths  ·Good communication skills,  ·Good team player  ·Positive attitude  ·Good interpersonal skills  ·Motivated and enthusiastic  ·Responsible Weaknesses  ·Assertiveness  ·Medicine management skills  ·Professional boundary issues Opportunities  ·Access to training  ·Learning from other members of inter-professional team.  ·Education, development and research  ·Effective supervision  ·Effective feedbackThreats  ·Lack of time  ·Staff attitude on ward  ·Staff shortage  ·My inexperience APPENDIX C Objective 1. Improve my knowledge of medication management. Where I am now Insufficient knowledge about medication. Goal To become competent in medication management. Action plan Read British National Formulary Check NICE guidelines on medication Work with colleagues on the ward. Administering medication regularly with supervisionTime 2 weeks 1- week 1- week continuouslyEvaluation Self-evaluation and evaluation by experienced professionals 2. Develop good knowledge of NICE guidelines on medication and current government policies on medication.Insufficient knowledge of NICE on medication management.Competency and ability to practice independently.Read through NICE guidelines on medication (internet, Nursing publications) Administering medication regularly with supervision. 2-month.Self- evaluation and evaluation by experienced professionals 3. Attend training on medication. Insufficient knowledge of certain medicinesGood knowledge about drugs, their use, dosages and side effectsAttend training and seminars on medication 4-monthReflects on the experience gained, discuss with mentor 4. Develop confidence in ordering medication, organising its storage and disposal. Inadequate knowledgeAbility to practice with confidenceActively participate in the daily running of the ward 6-monthEvaluation by mentor and reflecting on practice REFERENCES Andalo, D. (2006). Medicines management in English care homes: a grim and chaotic picture. The Pharmaceutical Journal. 276, 198-199. Barker, P., (2005). The tidal model: A guide for mental health professionals. London: Routledge. Barr, J. & Dowding, L. (2008). Leadership and Healthcare. London: SAGE Publications Limited. Beebe, L. H., Tian, L., Morris, N., Goodwin, A., Allen, S. S., & Kuldau J. ( 2005) Effects of exercise on mental and physical health parameters of persons with schizophrenia. Ment Health Nurs, 26, 661-676. Benloucif, S. (2004). Morning or Evening Activity improves neuropsychological performance and subjective sleep quality in older adults. Sleep, 27(8), 1542-1550. Briles, J. (2005). Zapping Conflict Builds Better Teams. Nursing Times, 35(11), 32. Burton, R., & Ormrod, G. (2011) Nursing Times: Transition to Professional Practice. London: Oxford University Press. Callaghan, P. (2004). Exercise: A neglected intervention in mental healthJournal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 11(4), 476-483. Campbell, R. J. (2008). Change Management in Health Care. The Health Care Manager, 27(1), 23–39. Caulfield H. (2005). Accountability. Blackwell Publishing, Oxford, 3. Cohen, S. (2004) Social Relationships and Health. American Psychologist, 59(8), 676–684. Daley, A. (2002). Exercise therapy and mental health in clinical populations: Is exercise therapy a worthwhile interventionAdvances in Psychiatric Treatment, 8, 262–270. doi:10.1192/apt.8.4.262 Department of Health (2004). Choosing Health: Making Healthy Choices. Diamond, B. (1995). Legal Aspects of Nursing. Hemel Hempstead: Prentice Hall. Ekeland, E. (2009). Exercise to improve self-esteem in children and young people. Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 1. Elavsky S. et al., (2005). Physical Activity enhances long-term quality of Life in Older adults: Efficacy, Esteem, and Affective Influences. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 30(2), 138–145. Folkins, C. H, Sime, W E. (1981). Physical fitness training and mental health. American Journal of Psychology, 36, 373-389. Frost, S. (2010). What are the benefits of activities in nursing homesLivestrong Publications. Accessed March 21 2013 from: http://www.livestrong.com/article/151544-what-are-the-benefits-of-activities-in-nursing-homes/ Goodwin, R, D. (2003). Association between physical activity and mental disorders among adults in the United States. Preventive Medicine, 36(6), 698-703. Hainsowrth, T. (2006), The benefits of increasing levels of physical activity. Nursing Times, 102(20), 21. Hersey, P., Blanchard, K. & Johnson, D. (2001). Management of Organisational Behaviour: Utilising Human Resources. 8th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall. Gopee, N., & Galloway, J., Eds. (2009) Leadership and Management in Healthcare. London: SAGE Publications Limited. Huczynski, A., & Buchanan, D. A. (2010). Organisational behaviour. 7th Ed. Harlow: Prentice Hall. Inter-professional Education Collaborative Expert Panel (2011). Core competencies for inter-professional collaborative practice: Report of an expert panel. Washington, D.C.: Inter-professional Education Collaborative. Kirkcaldy, B. D. et al. (2002). The relationship between physical activity and self-image and problem behavior among adolescents. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 37, 544-550. Koontz, H., & Weihrich, H. (2008). Essentials of Management: An international Perspective. New Delhi: Tata Mcgraw-Hill. Marquis, B., & Huston, C. (2009). Leadership Roles and Management Functions in Nursing: Theory and Application. 6th Ed. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer/Lippincott Williams and Wilkins. Martinsen, E. (2008). Physical activity in the prevention and treatment of anxiety and depression, Nord Journal of Psychiatry, 62, 25-29. Morgan, S. (2000). Assessing and Managing Risk: A Practitioner Handbook. Brighton: Pavilion. Mullins, L. (2007). Management and Organisational Behaviour. 8th Ed. Harlow: Pearson Educational Limited. Nagelkerk, J. (2005). Management Principles. In: D. Huber (Ed.) Leadership and Nursing Care Management. 3rd Ed. Maryland Heights: Saunders Elsevier. Chapter 2. Nursing and Midwifery Council (2008). The Code: Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics for Nurses and Midwives. London: Nursing and Midwifery Council. Paton, R & MacCalman, S. (2008). Change Management: A Guide to Effective Implementation. London; Sage Publication. Pender, N. J. (1996). Health Promotion in Nursing Practice, 3rd ed. Stamford, USA: Appleton & Lange. Penedo, F. & Dahn, J. (2005). Exercise and well-being: a review of mental and physical health benefits associated with physical activity, Current Opinions in Psychiatry, 18(2), 189-193. Richardson, C. et al. (2005). Integrating physical activity into mental health services for persons with serious mental illnesses. Psychiatric Services, 56(3), 324-41. Roussel, L. (2011). Management And Leadership For Nurse Administrators. Burlington: Jones and Bartlett Learning Savard J., Simard S., Ivers, H., et al (2005). Randomized study on the efficacy of cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia secondary to breast cancer, Part II: Immunologic effects. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 23, 6097-6106, Schmitz, N., Kruse, J., & Kugler, J. (2004). The Association between Physical Exercises and Health-Related Quality of Life in Subjects with Mental Disorders: Results from a Cross-Sectional Survey. Preventive Medicine 39, 1200–1207. Scrivener, R. et al. (2011). Accountability and responsibility: Principle of Nursing Practice B. Nursing Standard, 25(29), 35-36. Sharma, R. (2008). Change Management: Concepts and Applications. New-Delhi: Tata McGraw Hill Publishing. Smith, S. et al. (2007). A well-being programme in severe mental illness. International Journal of Clinical Practice, 61(12), 1971-1978. Snowden, A. & Barron, D. (2011). Medicines management in mental health. Nursing Standard, 26(3), 35-40. Strohle, A. (2009). ‘Physical activity, exercise, depression and anxiety disorders’, Journal of Neural Transmission, 116, 777–784. Sullivan, E.J. & Decker, P.J. (2011) Effective leadership and management in nursing. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson Prentice Hall. Sullivan, E. J. & Garland, G. (2010) Practical Leadership and Management in Nursing. Harlow: Pearson Education Limited. Taylor, A.H. & Faulkner, G. (2008). A new academic journal with a specific focus on the relationship between physical activity and mental health. Mental Health and Physical Activity 1(1), 1-8. Tappen, R., Weiss, S., & Whitehead, D. (2004) Essentials of Nursing Leadership and Management. 3rd Ed. Philadelphia: FA Davis Company. Thomas, G., & Worley, C. (2009). Organisation Development and Change. Canada; South-Western. Wilkes-Whitehall, D. (2004). Archives of Women’s Mental Health – Interpersonal psychotherapy for depressed adolescents, 7(4), 251-25.Elizah