Contribution of an engineer to develop a country Essay

We all know sri lanka is an island , It is called as â€Å"Pearl of the indian ocean†, as well as a sri lankan we should have a proud, I have it, because we are the lucky people with everything even with less economy in the world (proud ancient, temperate climate, curious nature,†¦.. etc.), I think even location of the sri lanka is also special. i could find it from a very early article of an English web site. (gravity strength around sri lanka, such as scientific things and other things connecting with Buddhism and other religions) I here doesn’t mention it, because here my objective is, discuss about the Contribution of engineer to economic development of Sri Lanka. It is good chance for now, because it has been finished very dangerous ethnic conflict in the world. So there is a responsibility to an engineer, develop the economy of sri lanka straightly, because we are borrowers to our motherland, we have used free education since over 12 years. So we should do ma ximum to our motherland, this is our country, our mother†¦.. before discuss about it ,we should know about ancient sri lanka and economy around it. For that I decide to break my topic to parts. (i) Who is an engineer (ii) Achievements in engineering field in ancient sri lanka (iii) Engineering education in sri lanka (iv) Potential of engineers in spearheading the economic progress of sri lanka (v) Analyze/appreciate the contribution of sri lankan engineers in recent mega projects (i) Who is an engineer Engineers solve problems and making new things work more efficiently and effectively. They apply the theories and principles of science and mathematics to research and develop economical solutions to technical problems. Their work is the link between social needs and applications. Engineers are design products, design plans, and supervise construction of buildings and ensure their safety and stability against hazards, design highways, bridges, railways and transit systems, irrigation canals, design dams, design ports, harbours as well as develop and implement improved ways to extract, process, and use of raw materials; develop new materials that improve product and take advantage of advances in technology, and electricity for supplying a nation’s power needs and such as many of etc.  Now can you see? With such a wide and vast environment of their activities, it is not difficult to understand what is the title â€Å"Engineer† . So it has been become word of Engineering , one of the most misunderstand word. Now, lot of engineering students have dream to be a software engineer. It is one of the vast subject or valuable academic course/ module in the world . everyone run behind a rabbit. They consider about only salary, not their talents, As a result of this, there are plenty of engineers who do not know the exact meaning of engineering. That itself reflect the tragedy of technical education in the country. If you look at a doctor or accountant, you can see what they try to do. But an engineer, what is he suppose to do? That is important when we do this subject. It is affected to develop economy and technical researches of a country. The key tasks of engineering are Ananalysis and Design. Mathematics and logical thinking plays key supportive role in those two tasks together with inventive skills. So I hope you get a clear understanding of what engineering and what engineers are suppose to do in the society. In the next topic we discuss about engineering of ancient sri lanka. (i) Achievements in engineering field in ancient sri lanka Engineering was a key component to the development of a great civilization, that is why it is produced unthinkable structure in our minds today. concrete is major components of construction materials. However, such large structures in ancient sri lanka that were engineered needed only nature items. (stone, woods†¦) ,they are still remained. One of the biggest engineering achievements of this era was the water system. aqueduct lines that start from lakes carried two hundred million gallons of water into whole Rajarata area. The science of the aqueducts was use very small scattered slope changes. Because of gravity, the water would flow downward all the way to whole area from sources. Stones were used to change way of aqueduct lines. As well as Bisokotuwa is special creation of sri lankan ancient engineers. Bisokotuwa is located inside the Dam. The water from the reservoir flows into the Bisokotuwa with very high pressure through strong tubes made of stone, which the high pressure water flows in. While the water  is forced to move upwards inside the Bisokotuwa, the pressure reduces. Then the water exits the Bisokotuwa to a second Bisokotuwa, where the same process is repeated further reducing the water pressure. Finally the water, unbelievably disciplined and calm, flows out through a larger tube to the outside of the Dam . This was an outstanding idea, which was based on mathematics. Such were the skills, and the talents of the Sinhalese engineers. We have had great knowledge about the water pressure. Sinhalese had the World’s Best Irrigation network. And also building construction was a great engineering in ancient sri lanka. When we consider about pagodas , they have been built very strongly, that means they have used suitable height according to area of pagoda. that is to say ,the have had great knowledge about mathematics such that trigonometry, circumference and area, and effect of wind resistance. As well as they have used suitable materials that sustain for heat of the sun, rain such as external effects. As well as Parakramabahu Palace, This is a majestic palace build by king Parakramabahu with have 1000 chambers, Today you can see the massive walls , half of the main stairway which led to upper floors. Inside the building you can see parts of melted brick walls caused by intense heat when this was set fire by Tamil invaders at the end of Polonnaruwa era. Around the main palace there are remains of more buildings where the ministers, solders and servants lived. Large holes in the wall probably held massive wooden structures that formed the floor of the upper levels. This is a great achievement by sri lankan ancient engineers. (iii).Engineering Education in Sri Lanka There are 3 main engineering universities in Sri Lanka, they are Moratuwa,Peradeniya and Ruhuna Universities. Moratuwa university is main engineering universityof sri lanka among 3 of them. In Moratuwa there are Electronic and Telecommunication, Computer Science, Civil, Electrical, Chemical and Material engineering degree courses in there. All courses are conducted in English. There is a learning methods in engineering education. That is the way to derive an perfect engineer. There are lot of sources (such as books, internet , †¦.) to self-studies. In University Moratuwa there is a big library with all facilities such as internet and online databases.  And also they have chance to do practical and test experiments. And Lecturers give some points go through subject contents. Actually when we consider about current situation of engineering students , they look like run behind a rabbit. They don’t give first place to what their talents, they are trying to enter most demand ed field. So it has been become most comparative situation in University of Moratuwa. As well as should mentionhere there are very talent students there. (iv)Potential of engineers in spearheading the economic progress of sri lanka There is a great reliance on technology to solve environmental problems around the world today with an almost universal reluctance by governments and those who advise them to make the social and political changes that would be necessary to reduce growth in production and consumption.Technology is not independent of society either in its shaping or its effects. In the data of human experience, our tools need to interact with every component of our existence: physically, environmentally, educationally, psychologically, socio-economically, politically and spiritually in order to be fully relevant to human needs. Sustainable economic development is the challenge of meeting human needs for natural resources, induce trials products, energy, food transportation, shelter and effective waste management while conserving and protecting environmental for future human and capital development when they are fully harnessed to create jobs and generate income for the government for the purpose of economic development and transformation of society to the glory of God. To enable engineers fully be part of the economic development, there should be broadening and strengthening the education of engineers and finding innovative ways to achieve needed economic development in all areas while conserving and preserving natural resources. Economics can be defined in many ways; following are some of the definitions. Economics is the human Science which studies the relationship between scarce resources and their various uses which compete for these resources.Economics is the study of how people choose to allocate limi ted resources to satisfy their unlimited wants. Economics is the study of how society decide what to produce, how to produce and whom to produce. Purpose of studying economics by engineers is  to learn how not to be deceived by economists. Economic development is the development of economic wealth of countries or regions for the well-being of their inhabitants.The economic development process supposes that the legal and institutional adjustments are made to give incentives for innovation and for investments so as to develop an efficient production and distribution for goods and services. Economic development is a sustainable increase in living standards that implies increased per capita income, better education and health as well as environmental protection. Development is economics on a social level that has evolved into a professional industry of highly specialized practitioners normally working in public private partnership that are sanctioned and many times at least partially funded by local, regional and state/ provincial t ax dollars. These economic development corporations function as individual entities and in some cases as departments of local governments. Their role is to seek out new economic opportunity and retain their existing business wealth. There is intensive competition between communities, states and nations for new economic projects. The creation and retention struggle is further intensified by the use of many variations of economic incentives to the potential business. These incentives vary greatly and can be highly controversial. The measurement of success within this industry is normal job creation, economic growth and increased or retained tax base. Sustainable economic development can only occur as a result of the creation of a world wide caring community. A Community of people who are working together for common ends and to meet the basic needs of all our people. The concept of sustainable economic development is central to the achievement of these key goals. It can be taught of in terms of policies and programs designed to meet their own needs. The achievement of sustainable economic development requires a new and different approach to policy making and its implementation. The Government is looking for greater integration and co-ordination of policy making and its implementation across the public sector an d across social economic and environmental policy portfolios. It is also looking for an approach characterized by greater partnership between central government, local government, economic entities, private industry and other community groups. Engineers must lead this new industrial economic revolution.There is some excellent leadership by professional organizations such as the  institute of electrical and electronic engineers(IEEE), world engineering partnership for sustainable development (WEPSD), world federation of engineering organization (WFED), Nigeria society of engineers (NSE), American society of civil engineers (ASCE), and world business council for sustainable development (WBCSD), among others to make sustainable economic development high priority in engineering and business both in practice and in the education of future engineers. They are promoting codes of practice education, mentoring programs, and policy changes that will encourage the engineering profession to lead this economic revelation. The engineering courses being studied in higher institution of learning should also include borrowed courses that bother on acquiring business knowledge and skills at the first and at the second year level in order for the engineers to be able to relate their engineering practice to the business reality on ground in order to contribute fully to the economic development of their respective nations. That’s one way the engineers can be fully integrated into the running of the countries of their origin. Designing a sustainable future requires a paradigm shift towards a systematic perspective which encompasses the complex interdependence of individual, social, cultural, spiritual, economic and political activities and the biosphere.The engineers of the future must be much more interdisciplinary – the lines between the traditional engineering disciples must be much more fluid. Engineers will have to join forces with biologist, chemist, meteorologist, economics, planners, political scientists, ethicists, religionists and community leaders in unprecedented ways to lead the society on a sustainable economic path. Since it is likely that we will double the amount of housing and building construction in the twenty-first century (and buildings utilize a tremendous amount of materials and energy) it is imperative that civil engineers team up with architects, planners and other engineers to revolutionize construction. I believe that there is a special role for civil/environmental engin eers in the future. Rather than being engineers that primarily design technologies to control or remediate pollution, I believe the environmental engineers will be interdisciplinary, system specialists who will bring together, coordinate and manage the entire specialist to solve complex environmental problems and promote sustainable development. Moreover, all engineers must play a much stronger role in the  public policy process to provide the right incentives for industry and others to move on sustainable path so that engineers can be encouraged and supported to design sustainable technology for the purpose of economic development that benefits society in a holistic way now and in future. As Don Roberts advocates, we must become better informed of the interdependence of environmental, economic, health and social issues, inform others and become leaders, otherwise the agenda will be set by others who neither know the benefits nor the limit of technology in a sustainable modern society. Such a shift in the thinking, values, and actions of all individuals and institution worldwide calls for a long term societal effort to make environmental and sustainable concerns a control theme in all education, particularly for engineers, economists and business people. If we are to achieve a sustainable future, institutions of higher lea rning must provide the awareness, knowledge, skills, and values that equip individuals to pursue life goals in a manner that sustains human and non-human well-being. This is critical since higher education prepares most of the professionals, who develop, manage, teach and influence society’s institutions. The organization of seminars and workshops by professional engineering organizations like IEEE and NSE will go a long way in educating their engineer members on their role in contributing effectively to national economic development. Several prominent engineering schools such as Georgia Technology are making important strides by making sustainable technology a core mission and MIT with its program in Environmental Education and Research (PEER). Despite these effort and those of a number of Colleges and Universities which have active environmental studies programs and train graduate professionals, education and research about the interdependence of and a sustainable relationship between human and the rest of the environment is not a priority in higher education. Sustainable economic development relies on technological change to achieve its aim but will governments take the tough steps that are required to force radical technological innovation rather than the technological fixes that have been evident to date? Such measures would require a long-term economic cost while industry will readjust. It would appear that so long as sustainable development is restricted to minimal low-cost adjustment that do not require value changes, institutional changes or any sort of radical cultural adjustment, the  environment will continue to be degraded unless sustainable change occurs, the present generation may not be able to pass on an equivalent stock of environment goods to the next generation. First, the rates of loss of animal and plant species, arable land, water quality, tropical forest and cultural heritage are especially serious. Second, perhaps more widely recognized is the fact that we will not pass on to future generation, the ozone-layer or global climate system that the current generation inherited. A third factor that contributes overwhelmingly to the anxieties about the first two is the prospective impact of continuing population growth and the environmental consequences if rising standa rds of material income around the world produce the same sorts of consumption patterns that are characteristic of the current industrialized countries. Even if people put their faith in the ability of human ingenuity in the form of technology to be able to preserve their life styles and ensure an ever increasing level of consumption for technological systems rather than continue to apply technological fixes that are seldom satisfactory in the long term, technological optimum does not escape the need for fundamental social change and a shift in priorities. That was the mistake many in the Appropriate Technology movement made. It takes more than the existence of appropriate or clean technologies to ensure full sustainable economic development. Engineers have a leading role in planning, designing, building and ensuring a sustainable future. Engineers provide the bridge between science and society. In this role, engineers must actively promote and participate in multidisciplinary teams with other professionals, such as: ecologists, economists, medical doctors, and sociologists, to effectively address the issues and challenges of sustain able economic development because engineers working on a global scale will help promote public recognition of the engineers and understanding of the needs and opportunities in today’s fast developing world in order to ensure the engineers’ role in a sustainable economic development in it. (v).Analyze/appreciate the contribution of sri lankan engineers in recent mega projects A megaproject is an extremely large-scale investment project. Megaprojects include bridges, tunnels, highways, railways, airports, seaports, power plants, dams, wastewater projects, Special Economic Zones, oil and natural gas extraction projects, public buildings, information technology systems, aerospace projects,  weapons systems and, more recently, large-scale mixed use waterfront redevelopments; however, the most common megaprojects are in the categories of hydroelectric facilities, nuclear power plants and large public transportation projects. In Sri Lanka recently we have built 2 International Cricket Stadiums that located Pallekale and Hambanthota. That is a great mega project that can earn huge income. And also Hambanthota harbour and Hambanthota Airport are also big projects. Nowadays it is going on road development programme. These are some projects of in Sri Lanka. They can contribute to sri lankan economy straightly. So there are many ways to contribute to economy development of sri lanka to an engineer after ethnic coflict.

Race and Ethnicity Essay

The list comprised in this article is unfortunately true and eye opening. Many white people are unaware of the natural advantages that are written here. They take it for granted thinking everyone else is also entitled to these rights. Since I am not white, I can clearly see that these are privileges given to whites only. I can even say that I have never experience some of the things written in McIntosh’s list. I disagree with many of these terms. The item on her list that I feel most strongly about is: 10. Whether I use checks, credit cards or cash, I can count on my skin color not to work against the appearance of my financial reliability. People should not relate other’s financial situation based on their skin color. That is very wrong. It has been engraved into people’s minds that all black people are on welfare or food stamps because they don’t work. But that is not true. Just because someone is black does not mean that they are poor and unable to support themselves. If you are judged for walking into a high end store just because of your skin color, that is very unfair. Race and ethnicity does not have anything to do with someone’s financial reliability. Another that I think is unfair is: 12. I can swear, or dress in second hand clothes, or not answer letters, without having people attribute these choices to the bad morals, the poverty, or the illiteracy of my race. For the same reason as the previous one, race should not be a factor in the judgment of others. McIntosh sees these are privileges for white only when in fact; it should not be a privilege. Anything written on this list should be given to everyone, regardless of the race. I definitely agree with McIntosh that: whites are taught to think of their lives as morally neutral, normative, and average, and also ideal, so that when we work to benefit others, this is seen as work which will allow â€Å"themâ€Å" to be more like â€Å"us.† The idea of white privilege relates to the themes of white power because it is giving whites an overall advantage in life. White privilege also relates to the themes of white supremacy because it makes them more powerful. Privilege is being of a favored state by birth or luck. If the things stated McIntosh is called privilege, then it is extremely misleading. The idea of white privilege makes them feel confident, comfortable, and oblivious; on the other hand, other groups were likely being made unconfident, uncomfortable, and alienated. White power and white supremacy is all about making white people the most powerful and advantageous, white privilege also supports that.

Interracial Relationships in Mississippi Masala Movie Review

Interracial Relationships in Mississippi Masala - Movie Review Example The focus in Mississippi Masala shall be on three key parts of the film- the family’s displacement from Uganda owing to the â€Å"Africa for the Africans† ethnic cleansing movement started by the dictator Idi Amin and their friendship with Okelo, the racism prevalent within historically marginalized groups seen in the stigma against dark skin within the Indian family and the manner in which the relationship between Mina and Demetrius reveals the racism embedded within their respective families. The backdrop is significantly the Mississippi countryside with a long history of slavery and institutionalized racism, the lingering effects of which continue to inform the film’s thematic concerns.The forced immigration of Mina’s family from Uganda is a deliberate backdrop to the romance between Mina and Demetrius. The intolerance that the Indian family faces in the dictatorial regime of Idi Amin quite ironically does not render them (albeit Mina) more egalitarian in their views on race. Despite their close personal ties with the nation of Uganda and their relationship with Okelo, a man who ensures their safe departure amidst much racial profiling and persecution at severe personal risk, their reluctance to accept their daughter’s relationship with an African American man shows the way in which racial intolerance can dwell in vicious cycles. In a somewhat similar episode from the film, the figure of the Indian hotel owner is shown to express a phony notion of unity between people of color when he faces the threat a potential lawsuit from Demetrius and Tyrone. This apparent camaraderie is shattered when meeting Mina and Demetrius in Biloxi and learns of their affair. He defames Demetrious and robs him of much of his business. Demetrius, in turn, files the lawsuit that he has earlier agreed to forego on goodwill further deepening the hostility between the two communities.

Journal Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Journal - Research Paper Example I know what it is when I encounter it through common sense, interpretation and history. Furthermore, I know what it is when I encounter it if I presume that the source of information can be reliable or trusted. This is because I do not judge to know the truth otherwise, and also I do not want to entrust neither to the reality nor to the invalidity of that which I come across. In particular, since the environment can only be viewed through our brain, the things we come across can only be known or interpreted subjectively. Plato’s Myth of the Cave I hold the view that if we as human beings did not have reason then we would not be proficient to live better.   As Plato noted, inside man dwells two very powerful aspects, that is an appetitive aspect and the spirit aspect (Reale 231).   For that reason, the world of ideas was always there, that is why the only approach we can truly make sense of it all involves uncovering by our self. Knowledge cannot be affected any more than i ndividuals can and it is only reason which can help a person to decide. Without reason we take steps in a manner which pay no attention to rational sense. Therefore, the initial step is to recognize that knowledge goes beyond what is simply present in experience, and then recognize that there exist notions which can only be acquired through hard thinking. An example in my life is the Goldfish in my tank, since the Goldfish cannot reason, I usually feed it what it ought to eat and if I give it more food than what it is required, it will continue feeding until it eats a lot than it can withstand and finally die.  Thus, the goldfish does not possess the capability to think, or to reason, and this supports Plato view that the ability for enlightenment rests within the soul and knowledge or education are not issues of native capacity but they are of moving from the cave or generating things to focusing on eternally ideal nature or real things or knowledge . Reason Human nature is defin ed by reason since human beings are not merely in steady interaction with the environment, but also under constant interaction with their inner reality. Therefore, reason entails individual’s reactions to life stresses arising from diverse nature (Velasquez 53). Reason possess higher stature in determining human nature, since it is something that people share with nature itself, even as it connects the apparently immortal aspect humans mind with the universal order. Reason is the natural sovereign which presides over other human parts like spiritedness or emotions. As Aristotle put it, the highest level of human happiness lived consistently, exceptionally and wholly is in agreement with reason. The source of reason is the environment since the human environment offers certain callous demands or incentives, and when their concentration and occurrence are inside the confines of human tolerance, then they can stimulate a person motivation and improve the capacity to make sense o f things (Reale 30). This is because reason is the capability to

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Solve one world problem - Essay Example There are two issues related to the problem that I would like to address. One is the neglect caused to an elderly member of the family on the basis of ageism and the diminishing ‘value’ of a human life based on materialistic concerns. The second issue is the general aversion people show towards a family member who is terminally ill, which leads to a situation where s/he is put in a hospice, at the care of others. Though it may be a good idea at times to entrust aged and terminally ill people to the care of those specialized in such care, I believe the involvement of family members in the whole procedure will improve the prospects of a person retaining a lot of positive energy even as s/he nears the last phase of life. My view on this is related to the immense value a human life has and the need to address the cruelty from others who give up on the life of someone simply because s/he is too old and sick. I believe that this universal issue can be solved only through proper sensitization. This has to start from the kindergarten, where kids should be taught the ways in which they should respect life. Along with the awareness that should necessarily be passed on with regard to the unnecessary evils of a World War and the impending disasters of Global Warming, each and every child should learn how to treat elderly people. They should be fully aware of the different phases of human life, and the inevitability of growing old and dying. They should know how to help elderly people keep their dignity through their suffering related to sickness, even as they are at the care of those who are trained to treat them. Apart from functional treatment, older people need and deserve a lot of love and care. I have witnessed many cases where a dying grandfather or grandmother craving for the attention of their family, while all they get is words of consolation from the home nurses. This is a very sad s ituation, and I

Paper 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Paper 2 - Essay Example Disgruntled Kenyans felt that they could rely on the judiciary hence took matters into their hands. The Kenyan presidential system has a very strong President hence it is prone to corruption that destabilizes the democracy. The author states that the Kenyan election had very apparent, and visible irregularities since the President and his people wanted to cling to power by all means possible (Khazan, 2013). The President further has total immunity against any legal actions hence neither the legislature nor the executive can check and regulate the president’s authority. Developing countries such as Kenya have diverse ethnic groups. In the Kenyan case, the Kikuyus and the Luos are the main ethnic groups that define the electoral processes. Kenyans vote for personalities rather than ideologies hence most political parties are merely ethnic vehicles into power. The country has a high poverty due to a weak economy as well as runaway corruption (Khazan, 2013). Most ethnic groups, therefore, view a win by their presidential candidate as a means for them to secure civil service jobs, government tenders as well as other favors. The opposing side sees the loss as a blow because the ruling government awards economic incentives according to ethnicity and political alignment (Khazan, 2013). Khazan, O. (2013, Mar 5). What Causes Some Elections to Go Violent? The Atlantic. Retrieved from

Technology in an ERP Implementation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Technology in an ERP Implementation - Essay Example The company also shows interest in its overall progress as the management wants to implement ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) system for increasing the efficacy of its processing. Previously, the company made use of MRPII (Materials Resource Planning) system, however, in 2000, the management acquired ERP system (Edwards and Humphries 2005, 144). The new system proved to be a failure because of a number of problems identified by the investigative team. Organizational and technical changes are required to be implemented so that the newly developed system is according to the needs of the users. Training must also be given. This paper evaluates the case study in terms of change management and implementation of ERP successfully. PowerIT’s Acquisition Strategy of ERP The company consisted of an IT department but that department lacked the expertise required for the development of a software of that scale for which, the company required a software (Edwards and Humphries 2005, 147). ... This solution opts because software development expertise is high, application domain expertise is high, however, local company knowledge is low (Edwards and Humphries 2005, 147). The third-party vendor is the most suitable choice for the company as the company does not have to rely on its own IT staff that is good at local company knowledge but lack the other two expertise. Company’s local knowledge can be attained but the expertise of software development and application domain must be there in order to get the software developed according to the requirements of the company. The case writers assert that the "areas of relative strength" of this option rank as "High", "High", and "Low" because the third party vendor is expert for the first two fields, so high is ranked and lack local knowledge to a certain extent, so low is ranked. Major Problems before and after Implementation PowerIT faced many problems before and after the implementation of ERP system. During the selection and implementation phases of the project of ERP, the management of PowerIT showed concern towards inefficient working of the old system that was MRPII. The management also identified a problem with the MRPII system, which was that it was an antique system and because of its usage, they were left behind as compared to their competitors (Edwards and Humphries 2005, 148). Therefore, they showed unwillingness for the old system’s further improvement. When the management accepted the system, they evaluated the system’s inadequacies to fulfill all the requirements of the business. In addition, the newly developed system and its requirements asked for an additional budget that was not previously set by the company (Edwards and Humphries 2005, 149).  

Cross-functional teams Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Cross-functional teams - Term Paper Example The sectors most affected by M&A activity have been service and knowledge based industries such as banking, insurance, pharmaceuticals, and leisure. Although M &A is a popular means of increasing or protecting market share, the strategy does not always deliver what is expected in terms of increased profitability or economies of scale. While the motives for mergers can variously be described as practical, psychological, or opportunist, the objective of all related M&A is to achieve synergy, or what is commonly referred to as the 2 +2 = 5 effect. However, as many organizations learn to their cost, the mere recognition of potential synergy is no guarantee that the combination will actually realize that potential (Cartwright, 1996). Understanding the Problems - Dysfunctional Organizations Most people have difficulty stating their organization’s strategy: what the organization wants to become, how it would like its people to behave, and what it will provide to which customers. In t he future, the reality is that the organization’s business and operating units march to priorities different from, if not contradictory to, those implied by its strategy. The majority of the people in an organization focus on day-to-day operational matters and their individual aspirations. Consequently, the strategy is never realized. Frustrated by the lack of forward progress, executives launch new communication, reorganization, process redesign, or technology initiatives. Everyone is doing more, and yet performance stagnates or even declines (Hammer, et al. 2001). Losing the Value of Mergers and Acquisitions AKPMG report found that, though 82% of respondents believed the deal they had transacted was a success, 83% of the same mergers failed to increase shareholder value. Of these transactions, 30% produced no discernible difference in shareholder value and 53% actually reduced value. Acquiring, merging, and demerging companies need long-term ways of enhancing shareholder va lue once the initial and obvious savings have been taken. But they usually focus on tactical integration, such as, organizational structure, support service or policies rather than on strategic integration in regards to customers, products, people or systems. However, to succeed both are needed (Kaplan, at el., (2001). The burning question remains – why do so many mergers fail to live up to a shareholder expectations? In the short term, many seemingly successful acquisitions look good, but disappointing productivity levels are often masked by onetime cost savings, asset disposals, or astute tax maneuvers that inflate balance-sheet figures during the first few years. Merger gains are notoriously difficult to assess. There are problems in selecting appropriate indices to make any assessment, as well as difficulties in deciding on a suitable measurement period. Typically the criteria selected by analysts are Profit-to-earnings ratios Stock-price fluctuations Managerial assessmen ts Irrespective of the evaluation method selected, the evidence on M&A performance is consistent in suggesting that a high proportion of M&A’

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One Federal Law Enforcement Organization - Assignment Example In counter-terrorism, the agency serves a variety of functions entailing nuclear security, aviation and chemical security concerns, fraud and counterfeit and information sharing. The roles of the DHS in border security and immigration include apprehension, convicting and deporting of illegal immigrants which are geared towards ensuring that the USA is secure (DHS, 2012). Due to overlap in crime fighting responsibilities, the DHS, state and local law enforcement agencies are interlocked in crime fighting. The DHS undertakes some activities with the aim of maximizing cooperation and assisting the local agencies in their objectives in crime fighting. For instance, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) branch of the DHS collaborates with local and state agencies to create a united and seamless front for disruption of transnational crime (DHS, 2011). The DHS also bears better capacity in logistics and intelligence from which local agencies gain through information sharing. The relationship between the DHS and local and state law enforcement agencies has not always had a positive effect. The overlap in crime fighting responsibilities that exists between the two- federal (DHS) versus local and state levels- has not been traditionally well managed. For instance, the roles of the DHS in special operations, forensics, criminal intelligence and disaster response may clash with local and state arms charged with special investigations, forensic services, criminal investigations and emergency planning and response (Richman, 2000). In such cases, it is evident that counteractive clashes in interests may hinder crime fighting and, thus, jeopardize the missions of all levels of law enforcement involved. The main cause of the problems noted above stems from the occurrence of crimes that are multi-jurisdictional. This situation results in a situation where the federal, state and local law enforcement agencies deem

Essay of Mahatma Gandhi Essay Example for Free

Essay of Mahatma Gandhi Essay Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was a great freedom fighter. He was born in the town of Porbander in Gujarat on 2 October 1869. He had done his schooling in nearby Rajkot. At that time, India was under British. His father died before Gandhi could finish his schooling. At the young age of thirteen, he was married to Kasturba who was even younger. In 1888, Gandhi set sail for England, where he had decided to pursue a degree in law. After one year of a none too successful law practice, Gandhi decided to accept an offer from an Indian businessman in South Africa, Dada Abdulla, to join him as a legal adviser. The Indians who had been living in South Africa were without political rights, and were generally known by the derogatory name of ‘coolies’. Gandhi himself came to an awareness of the frightening force when he thrown out of a first-class railway compartment car, though he held a first-class ticket, at Pietermaritzburg. From this political awakening, Gandhi was to emerge as the leader of the Indian community, and it was in South Africa that he first coined the term satyagmha to signify his theory and practice of non-violent resistance. Gandhi described himself as a seeker of satya (truth), which could not be attained other than through ahinsa (non-violence, love) and brahmacharya (celibacy, striving towards God). Gandhi returned to India in early 1915, and never left the country. Over the next few years, he was to become involved in numerous local struggles, such as at Champaran in Bihar, where workers on indigo plantations complained of oppressive working conditions, and at Ahmedabad, where a dispute had broken out between management and workers at textile mills. Gandhi had ideas on every subject, from hygiene and nutrition to education and labor, and he relentlessly pursued his ideas in newspaper. He would still be remembered as one of the principal figures in the history of Indian journalism. By this time he had earned the title of Mcthatma from Rabindranath Tagore, India’s most well-known writer. When tragedy happened in the Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar Gandhi wrote the report of the Punjab Congress Inquiry Committee. Over the next two years, Gandhi initiated the non- cooperation movement, which called upon Indians to withdraw from British institutions, to return honours conferred by the British, and to learn the art of self-reliance; though the British administration was at places paralysed, the movement was suspended in February 1922. In early 1930, the Indian National Congress declared that it would now be satisfied with nothing short of complete independence (purna swamj). On March 2, Gandhi addressed a letter to the Viceroy, Lord Irwin, informing him that unless Indian demands were met, he would be compelled to break the ‘salt laws’. On the early morning of March 12, with a small group of followers, Gandhiji led a march towards Dandi on the sea. They arrived there on April 5th: Gandhi picked up a small lump of natural salt, and so gave the signal to hundreds of thousands of people to similarly defy the law, since the British exercised a monopoly on the production and sale of salt. This was the beginning of the civil disobedience movement. In 1942, Gandhiji issued the last call for independence from British rule. On the grounds of Kranti Maidan, he delivered a speech, asking every Indian to lay down their life, if necessary, in the cause of freedom. He gave them this mantra, â€Å"Do or Die†; at the same time, he asked the British to ‘Quit India’. After a long struggle, India got independence on 15th August 1947. One evening, Gandhiji was late for his prayers. At 10 minutes past 5 o’clock, with one hand each on the shoulders of Abha and Manu, who were known as his ‘walking sticks’, Gandhiji commenced his walk towards the garden. Gandhiji folded his hands and greeted his audience with a namaskar; at that moment, a young man came up to him took a revolver out of his pocket, and shot him three times in his chest. Bloodstains appeared over Gandhiji’s white woolen shawl. His hands still folded in a greeting, Gandhiji blessed his assassin, â€Å"He Ram! He Ram† and left us.

Task Centred Approach And The Crisis Intervention Social Work Essay

Task Centred Approach And The Crisis Intervention Social Work Essay This short study takes up the evaluation and assessment of two social work intervention theories, namely the Task Centred Approach and the Crisis Intervention Method, with special regard to their implications and applications for social work practice. Social workers, in the course of their practice, are often called upon to help people in coping and dealing with different types of difficulties in their lives. Human beings face situations of crisis at one time or the other during their lives (Roberts, 2000, p 11). The crisis theory postulates that the occurrence of crises is normal to life. Such crisis situations can occur suddenly, like family illnesses or a loss of jobs, or be unpredictable, like entering school or growing older (Roberts, 2000, p 11). Individuals attempt to cope with crises with their available mechanisms, but face problems when such mechanisms do not work or when earlier unresolved crises get reactivated. Social workers are often called upon to intervene with individuals and help them in coping with their crises (Roberts, 2000, p 11). The task-centred approach is a progressive and goal-orientated method for social work practice. It constitutes a practice-based approach that is built on research and is being used in a diverse settings and circumstances (Nash, et al, 2005, p 33).  It represents a social work method wherein clients are assisted in carrying out problem reducing tasks within specific time periods. It is structured, problem focused and time-restricted and is being increasingly used in contemporary social service interventions (Nash, et al, 2005, p 33). Crisis intervention is often grouped together with the task centred approach. Malcolm Payne (1991, p 4) sees significant common ground between crises intervention and task centred approaches to social work practice. Both methods focus on problem solving, deal with brief interventions and are related to learning theory. This essay takes up the examination and assessment of these two theories, with especial regard to their communalities, their differences and their relevance for social work practice. Due regard is given to the implications of anti-oppressive practice. 2. Crisis Intervention Theory The crisis theory states that it is important for people to resolve their crises situations and experiences in order to cope with new developments and crises (Aguilera, 1998, p 47). If individuals are unable to resolve their earlier crises, they become more vulnerable to inability to resolve new crises. Individuals who learn new skills to resolve their crises are on the other hand strengthened in coping with future crisis situations (Aguilera, 1998, p 47). Human beings have considerable capacities for handling or dealing with difficult situations. It is only when such difficulties assume significant proportions and people do not have appropriate resources, personal, emotional, social, spiritual or physical, to deal appropriately with stressful circumstances or events that they become involved in crises. Difficult or stressful events do not by themselves result in crisis situations (Aguilera, 1998, p 47). Crises are actually determined by the responses of individuals to specific stres sful circumstances or events and their responses to them. Crises develop only when individuals perceive specific events to be significant and threatening, try to handle such events with their usual coping strategies without success, and are not able to use other alternatives (Aguilera, 1998, p 47). Behavioural and psychological experts perceive crises to be akin to states of psychological disequilibrium. Individuals experiencing crises are likely to experience a range of emotions like feelings of apprehension, anxiety, fear, guilt and helplessness (Nash, et al, 2005, p 37). Other indicators include alterations in eating and sleeping patterns, activity and energy levels and ability to concentrate. People in crises are also commonly known to suffer from depression and withdraw from social intervention (Nash, et al, 2005, p 37). Social work experts argue that whilst the majority of crises run their course or reach some semblance of stability within one or two months, it is necessary for skilled intervention to take place to strengthen the coping mechanisms of individuals. The failure to do so will result in the existence and continuance of crisis associated behaviours, even as the opportunity for change will be forgone (Nash, et al, 2005, p 37). People in crisis often have little by way of solutions and are receptive to external help and assistance (Roberts, 2000, p 19). The provisioning of skilled intervention by social work practitioners during the occurrence of the crises can result in opportunities for individuals experiencing crisis to learn new skills, achieve beneficial behavioural change, and regain stability. Individuals who have been able to successfully cope with crises are strengthened by such experiences and can use their skills in future times of difficulty (Roberts, 2000, p 19). Crisis intervention is essentially a professional response that is limited in terms of time and is used to assist individuals, families, and groups (Hepworth, et al, 2002, p 83). Social workers aim to assess the openness of individuals experiencing crises to learning of new skills and mechanisms for coping. They also help individuals in reducing their feelings of helplessness, isolation, and distress and use social resources to help in restoring individuals to their prior functional levels, as soon as practically possible (Hepworth, et al, 2002, p 83). Such social work intervention is done through listening, validation, acceptance, normalisation, reassurance, education, advocacy and brokering resources (Nash, et al, 2005, p 38). Crisis intervention can be specifically segregated into 7 stages, namely (a) establishment of communication and development of feelings with individuals that circumstances can become better, (b) assessment of situation, (c) exploration of available strengths and resources, (d) goal setting with the use of such strengths and resources, (e) implementation of plan, teaching of new skills and mobilisation of other support if required, (f) evaluation and adjustment of the plan and (g) follow up and termination of relationship (Hepworth, et al, 2002, p 83). It is important for social workers to be skilled in crisis intervention because of the constant demand upon them for helping people in crisis situations (Roberts, 2000, p 19). Social workers are liable to encounter clients with diverse needs, which may in turn require research, strategic planning and the providing of individualised person centred support (Roberts, 2000, p 19). The nature of crisis intervention work also calls for confidentiality and emotional separation in order to deliver services in a professional manner (Roberts, 2000, p 19). 3. Task Centred Approach The task centred approach emerged in response to the slow and inadequate results that were being achieved through traditional casework methods (Reid, 1997, p 134). Traditional casework methods in social work were felt to be of limited use because of their resource intensive nature, their lack of focus, and their ambiguous outcomes, which were difficult to assess and quantify (Reid, 1997, p 134). Reid and Shyne engaged in extensive study in the late 1960s to explore alternate approaches to casework and developed the task centred approach for social work practice, which called for limited but intensely focused intervention periods. The approach was essentially client oriented and required the social worker to act as a facilitator (Reid, 1997, p 134). With the task centred approach helping clients to improve their difficulties quickly, the process was soon adopted for replication and development in the United Kingdom (Reid, 1997, p 134). Studies on the task centred approach revealed that unfocused help, as was provided by the psycho-social approach and the case study method, over long periods, resulted in reduction of hope and self confidence on the part of the client (Nash, et al, 2005, p 42). It also resulted in negative dependency and unnecessary attachments to specific organisations or particular social workers (Nash, et al, 2005, p 42). It was also seen that the setting of time limits for achievement of specific outcomes helped in building expectations of the possibility of rapid change and enhanced participant energy and motivation (Nash, et al, 2005, p 42). Whilst the task centred approach proved to be practically beneficial for clients and also served, reduce and optimise utilisation of limited social work resources, it also facilitated a shift towards the person centred approach, the negation of the assumption of the professional being the only source of expertise, and helped in achievement of greater empowerment and reduction of oppression (Naleppa Reid, 1998, p 63). The task centred approach calls for attention to be paid to social and external issues that affect individuals rather than on perceiving individuals and their psychological histories to be the main cause of their difficulties (Naleppa Reid, 1998, p 63). The task centred approach involves a structured method wherein the social worker firstly assists the service user in articulating the problems in the ways perceived by service users (Hepworth, et al, 2002, p 87). The social workers subsequently helps the service user to detail and breakdown the problems, taking care to redefine them wherever necessary and helping the service user to locate important areas for action (Hepworth, et al, 2002, p 87). The social worker finally motivates the service user to categorise and prioritise his or her individual problem in line with his or her perceptions (Naleppa Reid, 1998, p 63). The social worker and service user thereafter work in partnership to (a) specify and identify outcomes, (b) agree to contracts and (c) review and assess progress. Social workers who use the task centred approach should be able to positively engage service users and instil trust and confidence (Hepworth, et al, 2002, p 87). Commonalities in Task Centred and Crisis Intervention Approaches Task centred approaches and crisis intervention methods appear to merge well in both theory and practice (Watson, et al, 2002, p 96). Social work research indicates that the use of these methods have proved to be effective with a wide range of clients. Both theories emerged in response to the apparently ineffective outcomes of case work approaches that were grounded in psychodynamic theory (Watson, et al, 2002, p 96). Both methods additionally focus on brief and short term interventions. They are connected to learning theory and based upon problem solving ideas (Watson, et al, 2002, p 96). Both these approaches call upon social workers to engage in participative and joint activity with service users, first to assess and analyse problems and their causes and then take action to deal with such problems (Sandoval, 2002, p 63). The application of these methods thus calls for the use of the person centred theory, the need to place the service user at the centre of the issue and the urgency of viewing the issue from his or her perspective (Sandoval, 2002, p 63). Social workers need to be very good listeners in order to be able to locate the real issues that are troubling service users and thereafter be able to help them with measures to tackle their difficulties (Sandoval, 2002, p 63). Like other social work methods, the task centred approach does have its limitations. It is in the first instance predicated upon the rationality of service users and their willingness to work with social workers (Nash, et al, 2005, p 53). It is also difficult to apply it without appropriate agency support. Despite such limitations the two approaches continue to be very useful, especially because of their instrumentality in increasing empowerment and their integral anti-oppressive approach (Nash, et al, 2005, p 53). The methods increase the abilities of service users through the inculcation of new skills and allow them to deal, not just with their current situations but with future circumstances of difficulty and oppression (Nash, et al, 2005, p 53). Conclusions Social work practice is influenced by many factors that require the taking account of the perspectives of service users, social workers, agencies and society. The approach of individual workers is bound to be influenced by numerous factors that can leave them confused and looking for guidance in their task of assisting service users in difficulties. The task centred approach and the crisis intervention theory provide useful tools to service users to assess the true conditions of service users, participate with them in structured, time bound and joint resolution of problems and empower them to face and overcome oppression. Social workers do however need to understand the implications of these theories and refrain from labeling their actions in all difficult situations to be task centred or critical intervention in nature. The true understanding of the potential and use of these theories will help them significantly in their practice scenarios.

The Benefits and Future of Distance Education :: Education Teaching

The Benefits and Future of Distance Education What is Distance Education? Education has traditionally consisted of a student or group of students receiving instruction from a teacher; with everyone involved in one location. Distance education is changing the way instruction happens today. Distance education is "the acquisition of knowledge and/or skills wherein time and/or space separates the learner and provider" (McMahan 4). Distance education in its most basic sense happens when student(s) are in one location and the teacher(s) are in another location. In traditional education students use textbooks, listen to lectures, and use other locally available resources. In distance education students use a variety of technological resources (that is, interactive video, television, computers, and even audio and video cassettes). Distance education changes the practice of the student coming to the teacher. It gives students and teachers more flexibility and options concerning when and how to study and teach. Distance education "has provided students with more opportunities to participate in a richer, broader educational experience" (Kessler and Keefe 44) by crossing city, state, and international borders. Where Did Distance Education Come From? "Although the term distance education is of recent coinage, the concept of learning at a distance is not new at all" (Neal 40). Distance education has been around in many forms for hundreds of years. "Almost anyone who has received any formal education has at some time engaged in distance learning. The oldest and most common form of distance learning is probably homework. The teacher constructs a learning activity that can be accomplished without the presence of the teacher, and the student completes it independently, or with the assistance of someone other than the teacher" (Davey 44). Correspondence courses were the earliest form of distance education courses. "This was the accepted norm until the middle of the century, when instructional radio and television became popular" (Sherry 337). In the past, use of distance education was not widespread because the equipment was costly and difficult to use. Distance education was also a new and unknown field and our society tends to shy away from the new and unknown. The technologies currently being utilized in connection with distance education are now easier to use and are commonly available. The costs have also become more affordable, making distance education more available. The fast paced hectic life of the 20th century also makes distance learning more desirable.

My Dad :: Personal Narrative Profile

Personal Narrative- My Dad Oh my god, I thought this day would never come. He'll be all right, I hope? Why him, why not some one else? On the far southwest corner of the ranch the cool wind whispered through the tall cotton wood trees, forcing me to feel helpless. Time was winding down and I was to. Indescribable hot sweats came over me, my knees began to buckle. I heard my dads voice say, "I'm a goner" echo through the dust cloud that my jittery feet were creating. He was never wrong, in my opinion, but I wanted him to be so badly. I said a prayer and we said, "I love you" for the last time. The ambulance putted up the road barley cleaning it while I sat and watched my daddy slip away, in front of my eyes. Suffocating and fading fast he looked right at me and I thought I had lost my best friend forever. After many years of hard labor as a mechanic, my dad developed bone spurs in his upper spine at the age of 51. Pain was involved in his everyday life but never stopped him from taking care of his family. Although he could still maintain the ranch, he lost an asset that we loved, and that was throwing a ball here and there. After a while it took control of his life and he wasn't able to do anything. A family discussion was held, options flew here and there, finally a verdict. He would get the surgery, and be back and happy in no time. While making this decision there were things we had talked about. Such as what would we do if we lost you? In addition, is it a safe surgery? It was a touchy subject but we had to talk about it. The doctor told us he had never had a death and that it was a common operation. This made my mom and I feel a wee bit more comfortable until the day of surgery. He couldn't eat or drink certain things, no painkillers, and was even told to think about happy things. These precautions were taken to lessen the chance of a problem during surgery smaller. The next week flew by quickly and during that week my family spent every moment together like it was our last. My dad and I threw the ball, just like old times, even though it hurt him.

National Debt :: Argumentative Economics Economy Papers

National Debt I agree with what was said above. The debt although large will never need to be paid off. Cutting off social services in the government is not and will not solve the problem it will only prolong it. The social government shutdown that went in effect at 12:00a.m. monday night does not solve a thing. It only cuts what some people desperately need to servive. True this will save our government some money, but not near enough to erase the debt. Mr. Clinton came into office wanting to make health care affordable for all. Mrs. Clinton made a name for herself trying to get her health care plans passed. Now they turn around and pull this shutdown. I realize the shutdown is not all his falt, but he is the President and he should get negotiations moving in a positive direction. Our government needs to start comprimising both sides of the proposals. Democratic and Republican ideas need to be combined in order to get something passed that will work. If the governme! nt is so concerned with the national debt then they need to work something out instead of just dragging the problem out with the parshall gov't shutdown. My proposal to some of the national debt is to start selling some of the items in our stock houses. I once saw 60 minutes do a piece on the stock houses. It amazed me on how many items we have in surplus. You see, the gov't buys articles off of businesses when they need them during a war time production. After the war is over though, the gov't continues to purchase the same amount of goods even though we don't need them. This allows the business who sells the product to keep their head above water and profit a little which in turn allows the workers to have more money and purchase more goods. This is nice of our gov't to do this, but the surplus items should be used or sold to Americas

Computer Games Addiction Essay

There are five aspects of internet addiction noted by Shaw and Black (2008): Cyber sexual addiction, cyber-relational addiction, net compulsions, information overload, and computer addiction. The main subtype we will be looking at is computer addiction, as it is described as â€Å"Many computers come equipped with pre-programmed games and people become addicted to playing them at the cost of work performance or family obligations†. There is a lot of controversy over the overlap of devices in gaming, which has resulted in an ambiguous definition for computer games and computer game addiction. For instance, a game that was made for a video game console now has an internet version, a computer game has moved onto the tablet, gambling has also moved to the internet, etc. We will extend their definition to include all computer games playable on a web-enabled device that is not a video-game console, as computer games are recreational activities that are meant to be enjoyed, and outsi de of educational games have little productive value. The following are in depth examinations of computer-game addiction symptoms as studied by researchers as well as real life-examples. Running Head: Persistence, or behavioral salience, is an activity that dominates a person’s behavior to the point that self-maintenance is neglected. In 1938, Skinner created a device that allowed rats to push a lever that would release a pellet into their cage. Once the rats realized that the action of pressing the lever resulted in a reward, they continued to press the lever until exhaustion. Doing so demonstrated an aspect of operant conditioning called positive reinforcement, in which a reward stimulus will result in the continuation or increased frequency of a behavior. In Loftus and Loftus’ (1983) study, they found similar behavior in humans, except with video arcade games such as Pac-man and Invaders. The reward stimulus is often a higher score, accomplishing a task, or defeating a virtual enemy which causes a feeling of achievement. People would gain injuries by standing in front of a machine for hours and repeatedly moving a joystick or pushing buttons, resulting in blisters, callouses, etc. These injuries were given humorous names, such as Pac-man’s Elbow which refers to a mild form of tendinitis. These injuries have become more varied across different platforms for gaming and computing usage. Commonly cited injuries include tired eyes, carpal tunnel syndrome, etc. due to staring at a computer screen and repeating the same keystrokes when playing. Besides repeating an action to the point of self-harm, computer game addiction is more associated with ignoring bodily needs in favor of playing. The BBC (2005) posted an article about a man in South Korea who played for 50 hours straight in an internet cafà ©, and eventually collapsed from exhaustion. He died in the hospital from heart failure. There are several reports of gamers refusing to use the bathroom or using a bottle to release their urine, and eating little food or snacks to nourish themselves; all to remain in front of the computer for a while longer (Chappell et al., 2006). Many of these stories usually stem from developed countries in Asia such Running Head: COMPUTER GAME ADDICTION Poon 8 as China, South Korea, and Japan where computer gaming is more accepted and popular than in the United States. For instance in South Korea, StarCraft is a popular spectator sport and one needs a license in order to qualify to play as a pro-gamer. Computer Game Addiction has been recognized as a formal disorder in these countries, and the government has taken steps against it by creating programs and clinics to battle against it. In South Korea, after repeated incidents of self-neglect leading to death, and the death of a child that was neglected by its parents, they have enacted policies to fight against computer addiction(Cho, 2010). These policies include opening several counseling centers, boot camps for addicted children and teenagers during summer and winter break, and people under eighteen being prohibited from playing in internet cafes between midnight and 8 am (Bosker, 2010; Cain, 2010). China has also enacted policies that include opening treatment centers and requiring minors to use their government IDs to track and shorten usage (Sung, 2009). The government targets the young, as they are under the care of their parents and are also at risk for computer game addiction (Thomas and Martin, 2010). The popularity and acceptance of computer games in developed Asia, as well as their policies against computer game addiction could be a possible future for America. Risked Relationships In addiction, one may drift away or alienate one’s close relations in favor of the substance or activity. In a two case study by Griffiths (2010), he examined two different sides of the social aspects of computer gaming. The first case featured Dave who began to play World of Warcraft for ten to fourteen hours a day after finishing his degree and before getting his first job. Although he played excessively, he was able to gain and maintain new friends through the game, only played because he was in a situation with a lot of time, and eventually dropped out of playing when he formed new commitments in real life. In the second case, a married man with two Running Head: COMPUTER GAME ADDICTION Poon 9 children named Jeremy, was interviewed. He claimed that he played in order to escape from his problems. In the midst of his addiction he played up to fourteen hours a day, began to lose his close connection with his wife, and called in sick at work in order to play more. He eventually lost his job and his wife. He has since been referred to a clinical psychologist. Although Dave played as excessively as Jeremy, he was able to stop playing and it did not ruin his life. Jeremy’s gaming ended up being both the solution and problem that caused a vicious cycle of abuse which resulted in him losing his family and his work. It has also been reported that several parents have neglected their children in favor of computer and/or internet games. In the case of the Kims, they played a game named Prius, a fantasy, Massive Multiplayer Online Role-playing game (MMORPG). They raised a virtual child named Animus in the game, while only feeding and changing their child in between gaming sessions. The child died due to malnourishment, and they were sentenced to jail. Another parent, a single mother, played a social game named Small Worlds, and neglected her small children and two dogs. The children fed themselves from bean cans every day, and the two dogs died from malnourishment. Gamers often become too invested and immersed in their games, and as they play longer hours they begin to lose contact with their real world relationships. Although in Dave’s experience, in which he displayed excessive behavior, he did not display this addictive symptom. For some gamers, it is possible to play long hours and not be considered addicted, and there are varying levels of risked relationships. In young teenagers, they may simply pass up on family engagement in order to play games (Thomas & Martin, 2010). In the situations of the Kims, Jeremy, and the single mother, they all played excessively and ignored their social responsibilities. The basis of any addiction is the negative consequences that come with using a substance or doing an activity. With pathological gaming, the criteria for it includes resorting to crimes to fund one’s own activity or pay off debts one has accumulated. However, articles in the media indicate a trend that many crimes may occur either due to frustration surrounding the game, or to copycat violent acts from the game. One man in China stabbed his friend because the friend had sold a virtual sword on eBay for money (BBC, 2005). In another case, a mother in Florida shook her 3-month baby to death for crying when she was playing Farmville (CBSNews, 2010). In the instance of grand theft auto, there have been copycats who have set out to repeat the crimes they committed in game; one group of teenagers in Garden City, New York decided to live out the popular action-adventure, crime game named grand theft auto. They committed burglary, beat some men, attempted to steal a car, and even punched a police officer in the face. Their only motivation was that they were bored (Crowley, 2008). There is a media stereotype that violent games will increase a child’s propensity for violence. Markey and Markey (2010) attempted to predict certain personality types that would be most affected by violent video games. They found that those high in neuroticism and low in agreeableness and conscientiousness are susceptible to violent games, but only a few individuals truly act on these impulses in a manner that is noticeable. The individuals that are noted above may have had other disorders which caused them to act in this violent manner. Tolerance Weinstein (2010) conducted a study that looked at levels of Dopamine in both a control group and a group of former ecstasy users. They allowed both groups to play a motorbike-riding computer game and monitored brain chemistry using single-photon emission computed before and after game play. They found that there were increased levels of dopamine in the ventral striatum, which is comparable to amounts produced by amphetamines. Former ecstasy users had little change in brain chemistry, which may be due to tolerance from previous ecstasy usage. The researcher also found that males had greater activation and functional connectivity in the meso-cortico-limbic system than in females. Weinstein (2010) suggests that gaming usage/craving may use the same neurological reward system as substance dependence, that gender differences explain why there are more males playing and addicted to games, and that computer game addicted players may also show reduced dopamine levels after playing computer games due to sensitization. This study may not be very valid concerning the ex-ecstasy group, as they only recruited users and the sample size was small. Thaleman et al. (2007) confirmed these results by examining male computer players of different playing intensities, and seeing how they reacted to computer cues. Using Electroencephalography, they found that the excessive computer game players had stronger cue-reactivity to computer scenes than casual players. They also came to the conclusion that sensitization of the mesolimbic dopaminergic system caused greater computer salience in a similar manner of substance abusers to drugs. Debt In the case of many computer games, you purchase a single game and then you hand out no more money. However, game companies have changed their model to increase profits, and now offer money options to buy more in-game weapons or power-ups, gain advantages within the game, or to renew a subscription to a game. In the case of buying in-game items, children who do not understand money and have access to their parents’ credit card may accidentally rack up a debt (Insley, 2010). They may not understand that money purchased for the game translates into real world money. Furthermore, internet gambling has become increasingly popular and may soon be legal (Jonsson, 2011). It is possible to bid real money and earn money, as well as lose money. The same problems of gambling addiction occur without a casino, and with the convenient use of the computer. Internet gambling may be even worse as it is a solitary activity and it is possible to play for hours or days without anyone seeing or stopping oneself. Furthermore, virtual money that has been converted from real money no longer seems like having monetary value, and thereby creating an inhibiting effect which would cause greater spending. It is harder to determine the difference between 100 dollars and a thousand dollars when it is on the screen, and there is nothing physical within one’s hands. Emotional Dependence. Emotional stability is dependent on a secure attachment to a person or thing (Arntz, 2006). In Griffiths (2010), the case study of the Jeremy demonstrated one of the motives for playing computer games: escape. Computer players may use computer games as a way to solve emotional problems, and to get away from reality. This may create a self-repeating cycle, as the problem is not solved and only delayed which creates more conflict for the individual and cause them to play more. Stetina et al. (2011) looked at male MMORPG game users and found that they tend to have low self-esteem that use gaming as a way to interact socially. In this manner, some or perhaps many gamers are more emotionally and socially invested in their gameplay than someone who does not need computer games to interact. In Hussain and Griffiths‘ (2009) study, they gave an online questionnaire to online gamers of MMORPGs, and found that they displayed behavioral and psychological dependence to gaming. This attachment to computer games may negatively impact one’s work. Thomas and Martin (2010) looked at Tasmanian secondary and college students and split them into groups depending on game play hours. They found that students preferred playing over spending time with friends and family and doing homework which negatively impacted their Grade Point Average. The researchers also found that the college populations used games to escape their problems or unpleasant feelings as well as to chase a higher score. Emotional dependence may be either symptomatic of addiction, or a cause of computer game addiction. Computer Game Addiction – Symptoms, Treatment, & FAQs What is computer game addiction? Computer game addiction generally refers to an excessive, unhealthy amount of playing computer games.Rather than engaging in the real world, an addicted user devotes the majority of his or her time to gaming. The addicted gamer often isolates him/herself from others, ignores more important responsibilities, and is often obsessed with obtaining higher status / rankings / achievements in his/her favorite computer game. Is computer game addiction a diagnosable disorder? According to the DSM-IV (the current manual for classifying emotional, psychological, and mental disorders), no. Although there have beencalls from some mental health professionals (and parents) to recognize computer game addiction as a â€Å"real† disorder, it has not been granted official diagnostic status. As more research on the effects of excessive gaming is conducted, many believe that it is only a matter of time before computer game addiction is classified as a compulsive behavior similar to gambling addiction. What are the symptoms of computer game addiction? Because there is no official diagnosis of computer game addiction, there is obviously no universally agreed upon list of symptoms. Psychologists and other mental health professionals initially adapted the diagnostic criteria for gambling addiction and used this as a rough assessment tool for computer game addiction. This classification approach is rarely used today and for better or for worse, it is essentially up to the individual researcher or clinician to define the symptoms of computer addiction. Still, there are some signs and behaviors that are almost always included in definitions of computer addiction, such as†¦ †¢Significant interference with school, work, or relationships †¢Often avoiding other commitments in order to keep playing †¢Frequently turning down social invitations in favor of gaming †¢Using most or all of one’s free time for gaming †¢Regularly playing late into the night and which results in poor sleep habits †¢Loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities †¢Regular gaming â€Å"binges† of 8 hours or more nonstop Who is most at risk for computer game addiction? Although virtually anyone who plays computer games could become addicted (see â€Å"Boyfriend or Husband Addicted to Video Games?†), certain groups appear to be more likely to develop unhealthy levels of play. These groups include: †¢Males †¢Children and teens †¢People with other psychological difficulties (e.g., depression, low self-esteem, anxiety) †¢Individuals with long periods of unstructured time (for example, a teen who is not involved in other activities outside of school) †¢Those with higher levels of neurotocism †¢Children who are more impulsive and have weaker social skills See the article â€Å"Video Game Addiciton Risks Factors† for more information. Why are computer games addictive? First, note that some types of computer games are clearly more addictive than others. For example, most research suggests that MMOs (like World of Warcraft) and FPS games (like Call of Duty) are more addictive than racing games and platformers. For a detailed explanation of why this is, please see â€Å"Why are Video Games Addictive?† In brief though, the most additive video games usually employ many well-established psychological principles to encourage longer and longer periods of play. For example, the most addictive computer games†¦ †¢are based on a leveling system that requires only minimal effort to â€Å"level-up† in the early stages†¦which slowly evolves into very long gaming sessions to reach the next stage as the game progresses †¢are open-ended with no clearly defined end †¢require cooperation with other human players to advance in the game†¦which creates a sense of obligation and dedication to one’s teammates†¦which translates into more and more time strengthening characters and improving skills †¢are based on variable-ratio or variable interval schedules of reinforcement that encourages long periods of gaming even in the absence of rewards

Elizabeth, the Monster and Patriarchy Essay

In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, some blatant parallels are made between Dr. Frankenstein’s adopted sister, Elizabeth, and the monster he created. Both of these innocent creatures, together represent all of mankind in their similarities and differences, Elizabeth being the picture of womanhood and goodness, the monster representing manhood and evil. Both Elizabeth and the monster belong to and structure their lives in terms of Dr. Frankenstein, leading to overall destruction and, ultimately demonstrating the dangerous properties of patriarchy, which Dr. Frankenstein embodies. Dr. Frankenstein begins his narrative, most logically, in telling the story of his childhood. Dr. Victor Frankenstein’s mother was a loving, benevolent woman, moved by the plight of the impoverished and forever doing all in her power to give charity to those in need. It was thus that she came across a poor Italian family with a flock of dirty children, one of them stood out, she was blond and fair and especially angelic. Victor’s mother decided that it was her duty to raise this blond girl as her own, or, rather, as Victor’s own. This girl was Elizabeth who is, in a way, given to Victor as a gift, and thus begins his unnatural relationship with power and creation; â€Å"On the evening previous to [Elizabeth] being brought to my home, my mother had said playfully, ‘I have a pretty present for my Victor-tomorrow he shall have it.’ And when, on the morrow, she presented Elizabeth to me as her promised gift, I, with childish seriousness, interpreted her words literally and looked upon Elizabeth as mine-mine to protect, love, and cherish.† (56) On her deathbed, Victor’s mother expresses her desire for the ultimate union of Victor and Elizabeth. The fate of Elizabeth is thus utterly dependent upon Victor’s, and Victor’s relationship with his fellow humans is forever grossly twisted due to his near ownership of Elizabeth. The arrangement of their odd marriage is never questioned by either one of them, and neither are ever able to repair their relationships with other people/beings, their experiences being so inhuman. In his college years, Victor develops a desire, and acquires the necessary knowledge, to actually create life. After just a couple of extremely productive years at the University, Dr. Frankenstein discoveries an amazing thing, he states in his narration; â€Å"After days and nights of incredible labor and fatigue, I succeeded in discovering the cause of generation and life; nay, more, I became myself capable of bestowing animation upon lifeless matter.† (51) But it was not enough for Dr. Frankenstein merely to know how to give life, he had to do it himself. His goal was far from modest, he planned to create not a frog or a fruit fly, but a man. Dr. Frankenstein was excited by the power of his act, he likened himself to god, â€Å"A new species would bless me as its creator and source: many happy and excellent natures would owe their being to me.† (52) Victor’s egotism and corollary want for power frame him in the classic definition of the Patriarch. He believes that whatever he creates will love and cherish his being for the mere fact of his being its creator, his word is the final word and the right word The being that Dr. Frankenstein creates is the monster of the novel, this monster is at once an independent being, and a possession. It is the beautiful being that Dr. Frankenstein longed would look up to its supreme creator with servile gratitude. Dr. Frankenstein did not fully understand how horrific was his deed, until it had been done, regarding his first glimpse at the now living creature, Frankenstein remarked, â€Å"How can I describe my emotions at this catastrophe, or how delineate the wretch whom with such infinite pains and care I had endeavored to form?† In the  monster’s first moment of consciousness, he stretched out his arm towards his creator, a sign of ultimate compassion and the gratitude for which Dr. Frankenstein had longed. Dr. Frankenstein responds by turning his back and running. Dr. Frankenstein embodies the irresponsible leader, the unfeeling man, the Patriarch with grand intentions but no means of the necessary compassion. During the time in which Dr. Frankenstein is away from home, studying in the University, he receives a multitude of letters from the longing Elizabeth, and replies to none. Elizabeth remains at home in Switzerland, fulfilling her womanly duties to the Frankenstein family, her only hope for future happiness lies in her marriage with Victor, for she is nothing without him. The power that Dr. Frankenstein holds over Elizabeth has striking similarities to the dynamic of power he described as desiring over his creations. The pattern of neglect that Frankenstein demonstrates first with Elizabeth, then with the monster does not seem to phase their unconditional, and unreasonable, love for him. Dr. Frankenstein does not think of Elizabeth as an equal, for she is a woman, and he does not think of the monster as even a man, for he created him. Within a Patriarchy, the government feels justified in its neglectful actions for it feels itself better than the women and low lifes over which it rules. Just as a population allows their government to proceed with its cruel deeds without question, so do Elizabeth and the monster initially turn a blind eye to the evil acts of Dr. Frankenstein. Elizabeth and the monster are not only similar in their actions relative to Dr. Frankenstein, but both seem to occupy quite the opposite end of the spectrum of humanity. Elizabeth is submissive and self-sacrificing. She is blond and fair-skinned and described as â€Å"angelic†. Elizabeth encompasses womanhood and goodness at once. The monster, on the other hand, ends up dedicating his life to the destruction of Dr. Frankenstein’s livelihood. The monster is ugly, the mere sight of him puts people into shock. The monster is a self described â€Å"fallen angel† and he even likens himself to Adam, the first man. Thus the monster encompasses evil and manhood at once. Elizabeth and the monster together represent all of man, the oppressed, the poor, the  ugly and the helpless victims of a system built to benefit a select few. While Dr. Frankenstein represents the ruling class, Elizabeth and the monster together represent the under-privileged ruled class. War is a classically male act. War is the tool and the game of the Patriarchy and the innocent civilians are its pawns. When Dr. Frankenstein oversteps the limits of human power, he takes control over things for which man should not be responsible, he states â€Å"Life and death appeared to me ideal bounds, which I should first break through.† In commencing a war, the Patriarch puts himself in charge of the lives and deaths of many men, an extremely unnatural act. When Dr. Frankenstein meddles with the natural limits of life and death, he is creating the chaos of war in his own life. The death and destruction which results from Dr. Frankenstein’s creation, the death of his younger brother William, Justine and Elizabeth, are merely examples of the multitude of unnecessary deaths caused by the Patriarchal wars. Just as many wars could have been prevented through simple negotiations, had it not been for the arrogance of one man with too much power, so too could have the destruction in Frankenstein have been prevented had Dr. Frankenstein merely conceded with the monster’s simple request, with which he ended his own narrative; â€Å"My companion must be of the same species and have the same defects. This being you must create.†(137). Had Dr. Frankenstein for once done something for someone other than himself, in this case, create a female companion for the monster, many lives could have been saved. Shelley was clearly making the statement that the absence of womanly compassion in government is what leads to unnecessary destruction in war. In creating a man, Dr. Frankenstein takes on, unnaturally, a woman’s role, it is thus that he can neglect Elizabeth, deeming her unnecessary. This is the biggest mistake at all. Just as Elizabeth, or any woman, was left out of the creation of this man, so has woman been neglected from the makings of governments and societal structures in Patriarchies everywhere. Elizabeth and the monster represent a balance that Dr. Frankenstein lacks, because he rejects everything feminine and human, he must bear the consequences. At the time this book was written, many technological advances were being made, discoveries in science were flourishing and scientists themselves were  gaining the highest forms of respect. Unfortunately, due to the style of government and power structures at the time, these incredible advances benefited everyone but women and the poor. Infant mortality was still very high and other health issues related to women were being utterly ignored by the scientific community, which seemed to have no place for femininity. Shelley displays this discrepancy in the novel first with the many deaths of mothers, Elizabeth’s mother, Dr. Frankenstein’s mother, Clerval’s mother and Justine’s mother all died relatively early on in the novel. While Dr. Frankenstein could create life, no one could seem to save a mother in childbirth or make food for a starving family. To emphasize the lack of female influence in science, Dr. Frankenstein completes the most womanly act there is, creation of life, without a woman. Dr. Frankenstein’s unnatural power over Elizabeth and the monster eventually lead to the destruction of them all. It is not long before the roles are reversed between the Doctor and the monster. While the monster is initially enslaved to the doctor, by the end of the novel the doctor believes himself to be the slave of the monster. It is Dr. Frankenstein’s arrogant, patriarchal ego that gets his true love killed, his power destroys his life. Dr. Frankenstein’s divergence from all that is feminine and human led to chaos for all. Because Dr. Frankenstein dedicates his life to vengeance against the monster for the murder of Elizabeth, he becomes the slave of both the monster and Elizabeth: the tables turned. In the last moments of Dr. Frankenstein’s life, he cries â€Å"Scoffing devil! Again do I vow vengeance; again do I devote thee, miserable fiend, to  torture and death. Never will I give up my search until he or I perish; and then with what ecstasy shall I join my Elizabeth and my departed friends, who even now prepare me for  the reward of my tedious toil and terrible pilgrimage.† (195) Just as conditions must sometimes reach their lowest point before the people  break into revolution, and their rulers never renounce their sins in life, so did the worst type of destruction have to occur before Dr. Frankenstein realized what his role must be. Mary Shelley lived in a time when a woman novelist was believed to be putting her name on her husband’s work, the advancement of technology ran beyond human interests and only the rich received some sort of security against sudden death and rampant disease. Shelley saw the chaos and destruction that resulted from unequal representation in a power-hungry, Patriarchal government. Elizabeth and the monster embody the missing aspects of this un-representative ruling class; compassion and humanity, it is the absence of these things that Shelley displays the horrific result of in her novel. Frankenstein is more than a ghost story, it is a social narrative and a political manifesto.

Frankenstein Monologue †the Monster Essay

‘But your not what I thought it would be, I thought I was making an angel !’ were the first words I heard when I came to life. He doesn’t think I’m an angel, well if he doesn’t think I’m good enough to be his angel then so be it. Nobody will be able to judge me, pick on me when I run away, far away into the deepest depths of the forest where the wolves attack. As i ran up to the small house, when I heard her voice she sounded so sweet, she was so sweet. She was the first person who actually cared for me, who actually talked to me without trying to kill me. She believed I was good, then he came and hurt me. He thought I was nothing, that I had no feelings but little did he know I would destroy the whole town. He didn’t even let me talk, he just took one look at me and thought I was bad, that I would hurt people but as soon as he shot me I changed. I no longer was the creature that tried to love and be loved by all, no I was the creature that people would fear most! I would care for no one, as they didn’t care about me. They turned me bad, they turned me evil! I would get revenge, I would get revenge for the very first words I heard. I didn’t think about anything at that moment, I only thought about what I was about to do. When I saw him playing he seemed so peaceful but they are all the same, they all think the same. It was the very first time I laughed. It felt good to finally get revenge on frankenstein, to destroy his world like he destroyed mine. The day finally came, the day that Frankenstein fears most. The day when I killed his brother was the day he promised he would make me a partner. That day 2 years ago was the first time I acted like a human being and I did it out of all of the rage and anger that had been building up inside of me. I would finally feel complete once she comes alive, once I can finally hold her in my arms.

Basketball Skills Essay

Andrew Lorentz Prof Berkhof PE 141 Basketball Skills 10/14/09 Basketball Skills Reflective Assessment Essay Basketball Skills was a great physical education class because I got to improve my overall basketball skills and learn some exact specifics about the sport I love to play the most. I’ve been playing basketball since I was very young and will continue to throughout my life. I have quite a few strengths while playing basketball. One is that I am a skilled ball handler.Anyone who knows anything about basketball will tell you that in order for your team to win, you need to have that one guy or girl that can handle the ball, also called the point guard. I’ve played point guard ever since elementary school traveling to those all day basketball tournaments on Saturdays. I fit the role of the point guard because I am small and quick with excellent hand-eye coordination. I value my skill as a ball handler because my teammates rely on me to bring the ball up the court with ease without the defender stealing the ball from our team before advancing it past half court.I was valuable when our team had to break a full court press put on by the opponent because I am quick and can get open easier than all of my teammates could. Another strength of mine is that I am a fundamentally sound passer. Being able to pass the ball well in basketball relates to playing the point guard position in some ways because most point guards can dribble and pass well. I love making that assist to my teammate that forces the opponents to freeze on the court because my pass was that perfect.In high school, playing point guard my teammates and coaches would expect me to make that one pass, or the exceptionally good passes during games and practices because they knew I was capable of it and performing to my highest skill level was vital for our success as a team. Another strength I have is I am fast and quick. These skills attribute well for playing defense particularly. I was one of the best defensive players on our high school team because my coach always wanted me to guard the opponents’ quickest player. He knew I could â€Å"mirror† him and not let him score or hardly touch the ball.With strengths come weaknesses and I have a number of weaknesses while playing basketball. One is that I need to be more aggressive overall. My teammates and coaches knew I could shoot and always encouraged me to shoot or drive to the hole more. I know I could have started more games in high school if I was just more aggressive. Another weakness is my lack of being a vocal leader. For playing the point guard position you could assume that I was the captain and leader of our team but that was not the case. Since I am a more introverted person in general, I carry that with me on the basketball court.I am vocal on defense but more of a â€Å"follower† versus a hardcore leader. Basketball relates to Frequency because you could add more time in your day to play basketball. Whether that be practicing your fundamental skills more or playing more in pick-up games. Intensity is all about you as the player in basketball. Your attitude and energy that you have will show boldly on the court when you’re playing. When coaches or teammates tell you to pick up your intensity, that means focus and start getting more aggressive like driving to the hole more.Or being more active on defense: shuffle your feet and stop being lazy with your hands. Also being more vocal to get your teammates hyped up. Time relates to how much basketball you play at a time. Sometimes you might spend more time playing and others day you could be just too tired or not in the mood to work on your game. Playing basketball many days of the week could vary as far as how much time you specifically spend. You might not want your routine to be the same all the time. Type is simply doing different activities while playing basketball.In order to be a great ball player you need to be sharp in more aspects than just being able to shoot well. For instance, you could run sprints the length of the court or practice shooting from various spots around the arch. Shooting free throws becomes muscle memory with practice. Type refers to practicing different types of skills in basketball. I will continue to keep basketball in my life even though I no longer play competitively like in high school. It’s hard to stop playing a sport you’ve been playing all your life that you love to play and watch.Every winter, my high school puts on an alumni basketball tournament on one weekend. It’s a lot of fun to play with my high school friends again and play against some of the old alums of the high school that I don’t know of. Basketball to me is more than just the game itself. You can learn a lot of life lessons playing basketball, such as how to work as a team. I also love playing outside in my driveway at home. It’s a great way to practice m y shooting skills. I’m glad I took this class this semester because it was a fun class with a great coach/teacher.