Monday, September 30, 2019

How does communication device helps students in their studies Essay

Background Over the years as technology keeps improving, more and more people are using it in their daily lives. Over these past few decades, there has been a significant advancement in the field of technology. What is more obvious in the public eyes nowadays is the advancement of communication devices. Communication devices are equipment or hardware designed to move or convey information or data from one place to another. In other words, allowing one person to communicate with another. In the olden days, there is only one form of communication device which is the telephone. At that time, the phones can only be used to make calls or receive them. However, in this modern age, phones can do much more than that. In fact, there are many more sophisticated communication devices available besides phones. Communication devices have evolved over time. Besides making and receiving calls, phones nowadays are equipped with abilities such as taking pictures and connecting to the Internet. Humans have also developed various types of communication devices such as computers, smartphones, tablets and many more. What’s more is that most of these communication devices can access to the internet. Internet is what makes these communication devices flourish. This is because the internet is the most powerful, global data communications system making it the greatest invention of science because of its wide range of benefits and uses in the world today. The biggest benefit of the internet can be found in the educational sector. Educators can obtain learning material from it, prepare courses online and deliver audio and visual information to students. It is a valuable source for referencing material and tool in enhancing their knowledge. Example of one of the most effective and most used form of internet technologies in the educational sector is E-learning. According to (Ove, Salleh & Iahad, 2010): â€Å"E-learning is the use of Information and Communication Technology e.g. Internet, Computer, Mobile phone, Learning Management System (LMS), Televisions, Radios and others to enhance teaching and learning activities. E-learning is a unifying term used to describe the fields of online learning, web-based training and technology delivered instructions.† E-learning is a popular learning approach in higher educational institutions due to the fast growth of internet technology. Nowadays due to the competitive advantage, many universities have implemented E-learnings. By doing so, it left a huge positive impact on the students’ performance. The internet also provides a faster and more efficient ways of communication such as video conferencing, emails and more. With just the click of a mouse a person can be connected to someone who is in another city or even halfway across the world. Distance is erased within seconds and spatial boundaries have come crashing down due to instant messaging services. For a student, information such as the student details, notes, documents and etc. can be transferred instantly from anywhere with the help of internet. Besides that, students can also leave short messages or notification to others by using e-mails. This is both convenient for students, lecturers and also faculty staffs of the university. However, communication devices are needed in order to access to the internet. There is no way to connect to the internet without using communication devices these days. Therefore, this shows the importance of communication devices for people especially in the workplace and educational sectors. Reference: 1. N.D.Oye, Noorminshah A. Iahad, Madar, M. J., NorZairah Ab. Rahim (2012). The impact of E-Learning on students performance in tertiary insitutions. http://www.ijcnwc.org/papers/vol2no22012/2vol2no2.pdf. Accessed on 29th July 2014. 2. Shamsul Arrieya (2012). Student perspectives on M.Learning for local cultural studies in Malaysia. http://www.academia.edu/3129483/Student_perspectives_on_mLearning_for_local_cultural_studies_in_Malaysia. Accessed on 30th July 2014. 3. Computer Hope (2014). Communication devices. http://www.computerhope.com/jargon/c/communication-devices.htm. Accessed on 20th July 2014. 4. Teach-ICT (2014) Communication devices. http://www.teach-ict.com/gcse_computing/ocr/211_hardware_software/types_hw/miniweb/pg6.htm. Accessed on 20th July 2014.

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Rational Choice Theory Essay

With the exception of a person who has a severe mental disability, every human thinks and weighs out the benefits and the consequences of a crime they are about to commit. People do not get as much credit for committing a crime as they should and this can result in getting a lesser punishment. Rational choice theory states that law violating behavior is the result of carful thought and planning. This theory has been used by many scientists to try and get a better understanding on why people make the choices they make. The main concept of the theory of rational choice was brought up by a man named Cesare Beccaria and Jeremy Bentham which influenced the criminal justice system greatly giving scientists a new way to look at the criminal mind. Beccaria mainly looked at rational choice as a free will in a way; Ones ability to make choices based on certain factors. Beccaria’s original concept was declined by the end of the 19th century. Later in the 1960’s a man named Gary Becker said that other that people with a severe mental illness, an individual makes a decision by looking at the good and the bad possible in the outcome of a decision. Rational choice theory denies any type of reasoning for an action other than that people weigh out possible outcome. The theory states that any and all law violating behavior should be looked at as an individual that makes a decision based on their situational factors such as valuable items, money or living necessities. Crime is directly related with the choice of an individual. Rational choice theory is currently a strong bias in the decision making process in the court system of the United States. When a severe crime is committed most investigators and lawyers tend to look for a medical answer. Now why is it  that they’re not looking at what they did and understand that it wasn’t just a medical issue generating the outcome by itself? Scientists will look into what could physically or psychologically cause an individual to commit such a crime. Lawyers don’t want to actually find out what the medical condition is to help the criminal; they want to find an excuse that will make a judge really think about giving the criminal a lesser punishment. If a lawyer gets paid based on their defendants punishment being lesser they will find even the slightest excuse possible for why they did what they did. Let’s look back to the murder trial in 1979 where Dan White, a former police officer, was accused of murdering two people. In court the defense claimed that White was suffering from a mental lapse brought on by a series of events in his life that left him temporarily insane. They also related the fact that he had been eating junk food to the murders saying that he had diminished capacity. When they claimed it was due to diminished capacity they said that he could not think critically due to the junk food. With this defense he actually got a lesser offense. He was initially accused of murder but only got manslaughter. This completely takes away the fact that he was using his own critical thinking to commit this murder. The court actually believed that he was not in control of the situation. These days when someone commits a well-planned and though out crime such as a mass murder or a shooting, the only thing the individual would have to do in court is plead insanity and they get a lesser sentence which takes away the deterrence of punishment. If you look into the shooter in Aurora, Colorado you can see exactly how well he planned out this mass murder. The gunman bought mass amounts of ammunition online and in stores. He obtained tear gas, masks, and all necessary items to commit a mass murder. He had his apartment wired to kill any law enforcement or investigators who entered. This was a well-planned murder where he had a specific location, at a specific time, with specific weapons. A lot of people may look at this and think that it was a well thought out murder and some will look at it and actually think that this is because some mental illness and was not entirely his fault. He is in court and is pleading not guilty due to insanity but just recently they uncovered sea rches from his computers and smartphones. The main focus of his search history was â€Å"rational insanity†. He had actually planned out how he was going to get away with this crime after he was caught and in court. Luckily with modern technology investigators were able to find out all of the planning that went into this murder or the case could have ended up like a lot of cases where they plead insanity or something else that would give them a lesser sentence and in a way get away with murder. This is definitely a man who has serious problems but he is in fact a very smart man with a well thought out plan that could play out in his favor. The shooter looking up the words â€Å"rational insanity,† shows that he looked at the potential consequences before he committed the crime. He obviously thought that he could commit this crime and cover it up with a mental condition. When you look at cases like this you start to realize what people are actually capable of. Yes we are all humans and have minds of our own so why do we look into making it easier on a criminal who is trying to wipe out as many humans as he can taking lives? People make rational choices about everything they do. People will think about the crime they are about to commit. They will make a choice on their own and it should be put on no person or condition, but on them. Rather than what the shooter did in the Aurora, Colorado movie theater shooting some people look at the possibilities of them getting away with the crime. Most people who commit crimes such as bank robbers or any thieves most likely think about the possibilities of them getting caught versus the possibilities of them getting away with the crime. To do this the criminal must look into the crime deep enough to be able to weigh out exactly what they will need to do to complete their task flawlessly. Criminals will look at the crime they are planning as sort of a challenge in a way. If they can complete the task successfully they will get some sort of pleasure out of it. Whether it is stealing a small item from a convenient store or stealing hundreds of thousands from a bank or jewelry store the criminal with have a well thought out plan to make it successful. They usually know exactly what the punishment could be and also how serious. Depending on the criminals living situation this could affect the choice that is made. Rational choice is a strong topic studied today in the criminology world.  Scientists are always finding reasons and sub theories to add into rational choice. Rational choice theory doesn’t directly explain reasons why people make the decisions that they do but it explains that deviant activity when violating a law is aimed directly at the individuals thought process. The United States should continue to carryout trials with the rational choice theory to help prevent criminals from taking advantage of pleading insanity for a lesser sentence. Work Cited Articles: Draper, E. (n.d.). Theater shooting suspect’s computer used to search â€Å"rational insanity† – The Denver Post.Colorado Breaking News, Sports, Weather, Traffic, Jobs – The Denver Post. Retrieved October 15, 2013, from http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_24282613/theater-shooting-suspect-did-computer-searches-rational-insanity Gado, M. (n.d.). The Insanity Defense — Twinkies as a Defense — Crime Library on truTV.com. Crime Library. Retrieved October 15, 2013, from http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/criminal_ Books: Siegel, L. J. (2010). Criminology: the core (4th ed.). Belmont, CA: Thomson/Wadsworth. Eriksson, L. (2011). Rational choice theory: potential and limits. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. Samenow, S. E. (1984). Inside the criminal mind. New York: Times Books.

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Case Studies in Busines Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Case Studies in Busines - Essay Example The Army has been forced to deal with several high-profile sexual harassment cases. Its former top enlisted man was court-martialed on sexual-misconduct charges, but a jury cleared him of all but an obstruction of justice count. A retired major general was convicted at court-martial of having affairs with the wives of his subordinate officers. (Scarborough, 2000) The case of sexual harassment is related to the top-ranking generals of the United States army – Lt. General Claudia Kennedy and Major General Larry Smith. The incident was occurred in October 1996. Initially, the incident was avoided even it was not confirmed that whether the inquiry was in progress or not. Later, it was confirmed that the Army inspector general (IG) was investigating Gen. Kennedys charge. Kennedy became famous and had been the focal point of the media in the year 2000 as a general who has accused another general. She lodged her complaint when she was the deputy chief of staff for intelligence that she was accused by the Major when she was a major general and assistant deputy chief for intelligence. During the case, Kenneth Bacon, spokesman for Defense Secretary William S. Cohen said that the Pentagon policy is "a zero tolerance for harassment. And thats been made clear by Secretary Cohen and by all military leaders. There are established channels for reporting allegations of harassment. And the IG is one of those channels." (Scarborough, 2000) Major General Smith gave his clarification by saying that he did not harass her and denied the charge. He told the investigation team that he only gave her a hug and perhaps a light kiss as they concluded an Oct. 11, 1996, meeting. The critiques also raised some concerns as why did she go to the army inspector general with her complaint about the Smith’s act, when he was announced to be the next deputy inspector general of the army, a

Friday, September 27, 2019

The Democratization of China Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

The Democratization of China - Essay Example in 2011 sparked public outrage as the government was criticized sharply through blog sites in China with around 200 million followers (Ahlquist and Erik 449). The examples shows how democracy in China is being fought for at a price and they show that the country is soon to experience the independency of the civil societies thus illustrating that the countrys political regime is now facing the challenge of making China a democratic state (Liu and Dingding 41). Also, over the last few decades, academicians especially from the western countries have always used some typical terms to refer to the political situation in China where terms like authoritarian resilience, rightful resistance, and illiberal adaptation have been used to describe the countrys democratic future (Liu and Dingding 43). However, the situation is fast changing where China is now moving closer to modernization that states that economic development is the basis for democratization. Therefore, there is hope for democracy in China as this essay outlines the country’s struggle to become a pure democratic state and also the challenges that may confront the Chinese in their question to become democratic. One of the major problems with the Chinese economic geography is that resources are more concentrated on the urban areas where most of the affluent population lives (Wang 409). However, there is the imminent marginalization of the poor population who lives in the rural areas. In effect, there is an unequal distribution of resources, and this forcing the Chinese to pile pressure on the government for economic democratization (Liu and Dingding 41). The implication is that the unequal distribution of resources brings with it some political consequences where more visible inequality makes the population be disconnted with the political situation. On the other hand, inequality has become a significant political issue in China as more rural dwellers are moving to cities to access apartment buildings,

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Education Administration No Child Left Behind Essay

Education Administration No Child Left Behind - Essay Example Next is the improvement of flexibility and local control. It also provides an increased number of options for parents. Lastly it stresses on proven teaching techniques. The phrase, "No Child Left Behind" (NCLB) has become a slogan for the federal scheme to increase "accountability" in American education. But despite the fact that NCLB is a federal plan, it will be up to the individual countries to make the plans and procedures that accomplish NCLB requirements. NCLB does not provide the new mandate with adequate funds. Thus this has an effect on opinions of many schools and parents. Many states have implemented this policy by now, but this has an impact on the parents and schools as they had to face many difficulties while coping up with the policy. This article further describes the effect, changes and pros and cons of the policy. (Edwards & Perry 2004) This act generally stresses on developing American schools to a standard in which all students are given equal opportunities. As in the act it states "close the achievement gap between high- and low-performing children, especially the achievement gaps between minority and non-minority students, and between disadvantaged children and their more advantaged peers." This clearly reflects that NCLB aims to offer reasonable and equivalent opportunities to the students so that they can attain education of high standards. One of the most important terms of NCLB is the obligation that the states should set values in the field of education and should perform yearly evaluation of schools to check the progress of the school and analyze if the schools have been successful in improving the student's educational achievements. NCLB gives funds for the training of teachers; it provides special support to students who face difficulties with reading and supports immigrants and homeless students. Overa ll NCLB holds the states, districts and the schools to take accountability of the student's achievements. States are entitled to report the progress of students who suffer from problems like reading and writing. They are also directed to report about the students who are from different ethnic groups and who belong to families of low income. Strengths NCLB provides a safe and sound environment to the students. Its aim is to provide the students with all basic needs for studying thus giving them a 'study environment'. It has many provisions which provide a way to improve the whole study structure in U.S.A. The states set an annual report of the students, teachers and schools which is reviewed by the parents. This helps in giving the parents an opportunity to analyze their children strengths and weaknesses. It also gives parents an overview of the school's performance. This helps in getting a better view of the prevailing situation and helps in taking necessary steps in the improvement of the education structure. Each state is responsible for the schools performance in their jurisdiction. The states further report to the NCLB and they act accordingly. (Yall & Drasgow 2005) WEAKNESSES While on the contrary this Act has not proved to be a perfect solution to all the problems. According to Darling-Hammond, "The biggest problem with the NCLB Act is that it mistakes measuring schools for fixing them." This act has made the states to decrease their values and has persuaded some schools to enhance their performance by asking the under performing students to leave. This

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Legal Rights Before and After Arrest Research Paper

Legal Rights Before and After Arrest - Research Paper Example What Constitutes Crime? Principle IV of the Principles of International Law recognized in the Charter of the Nurnberg Tribunal and in the Judgment of the Tribunal, 1950, states as follows: â€Å"the fact that a person acted pursuant to order of his government or of a superior does not relieve him from responsibility under international law, provided a moral choice was in fact possible to him† (Principles of International Law, 1950). In addition, Principle II of the same proclaims that even if the internal law does not punish a person, the person is still liable to be punished under international law. Here, it is surprising to note that the International Law gives way to morality, and it does not mention what is meant by morality. In a world where both monogamy and polygamy exist together; where capitalism and communism exist together, and where both non-violence and cannibalism are practiced, it is surprising to note that the legal fraternity still thinks about morality. ... er (2001) opined that what is considered as crime ‘at one place and time, culture or location’ may not necessarily be considered as a crime ‘at another time, in another culture, or even across the street’ (Henry & Lanier, 2001, p. 7). Durkheim, one of the founding figures of sociology, rightly interprets the concept of crime, and according to him, law cannot be considered as something that exists in abstraction or a plain-fact situation. It starts from developing the concept of crime, identifying some event as a crime, responding to that crime, and the action taken by the state agencies to punish the criminal. According to Durkheim (1982, p. 71), these all depend on the cultural world that exists at that time. Considering this fact, Wayne Morrison points out that considering some action as a crime depends on the role of that action in the context it was committed. In order to clarify the claim, she describes the incident of the yacht Mignonette. As the yacht collapsed in mid sea, in the year 1884, the crew had to escape in a small open boat with no food and water. After nearly three weeks of wandering in the sea without food, one of the crews killed a cabin boy who was reportedly delirious and all the crew drank his blood and fed on is body. After a few days, all were taken ashore by a passing boat. The judge who heard the case made a wonderful statement that it was the duty of the captain of a ship to take care of his passengers, and the sentence given to the men was six month’s imprisonment. In fact, it was common for seafarers in similar conditions to cast lots and the one with the shortest lot to be killed and eaten, and hence the men were not guilty according to the existing law. Here, one thing becomes evident; there is a considerable amount of risk

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Explain how the MIS ( Management Information System) function area can Essay

Explain how the MIS ( Management Information System) function area can leverage , information, data and knowledge in terms of competitive advantage - Essay Example The system itself can be designed in such a way that it can control the information of the business so as to provide it with a competitive advantage. The system can be used differently and this essay would revolve around the particulars of this system as to how it can help the businesses flourish in a competitive world. Management Information System is defined as a set of technologies which include hardware and software along with human elements so that the decision making process of the respective business can be made easier (Bidgoli, 2010). This clearly tells us that the system is a way through which the businesses can integrate information and present accordingly to the relevant individuals. The system is designed to simplify decisions and carry out processes through which the decisions are made quickly and efficiently. In general the firms are given competition in the industry through different means. Porters Five Forces allow to understand these competitive forces as they tend to exist in the industries accordingly. These five forces revolve around products, bargaining power of customers and suppliers and the threat of new entrants. Management Information System takes a leap on these five forces to ease it on the business who will use the system in an efficient manner (Laudon & Laudon 2013). MIS should always be aligned with the objectives of the business so that it can be used efficiently to break down the threats of the competitive forces. Information Technology should always be constructed in a way so that the profitability of the company is increased with every step that the business takes. Information technology works by the methods of numbers and the business should always identify its goals and strategies with the help of the system. The progress of the businesses can be monitored with the help of information technology and this in turn would help the stakeholders decide in accordance to the

Monday, September 23, 2019

Zara Strategy Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Zara Strategy Analysis - Essay Example The chain offers a diverse clothing lines for women, men, and children, legions in latest designs. It operates through â€Å"The Cube† under the command of the giant Inditex Corporation. The corporation has been on the rise since 1996 recording massive sales ahead of its competitors like Gap. Thus, the firm became the world’s largest fashion retailer in 2008 with its eight brands. However, the corporation’s growth rate attributes to the success in Zara sales, which amounted to two-thirds of the corporation sales. Zara is venturing in fast expansions all over the world with new markets in over 68 countries in the globe. It is the most innovative and devastating fashion retailer in the world with immense profits though its products are relatively cheap. The chain relies on latest blend of technology to devise its market strategy. The chain has unleashed a strategy that shuns advertising, does not run sales, and keeps its huge investments of production at home. In a field where almost all firms outsource their manufacturing processes to low-cost countries, the Zara Company seems to negate all the fashion industry rules thus remaining vertically integrated in the market. However to analyze the success of Zara strategy in the market, we will need to consider various factors in relation to technological advancements. The analysis will consider the internal and external perspectives and use strategic models and theories in drawing a conclusive decision. The analysis will focus on critical issues that would guarantee long-term success. The analysis will also look into the sustainability of the strategy, its feasibility, and acceptability in the fashion industry. ... marise the key findings from the analysis and make informed recommendations in an effort to maintain the growing success of the company.  The paper will use the SWOT analysis to summarise the analysis and reach a defined conclusion. The paper will apply the Igor Ansoff Matrix models, seven s analysis, and pestle, in the analysis. Igor Ansoff Matrix model (Ansoff, 1988, n.p) Existing markets New Markets Existing New In using this model, I will try to show the market penetration of Zara products in the existing markets. I will also highlight the market development of Zara products in new territories in both new and existing markets. Additionally, the model will note diversification of Zara products in new markets using the existing capabilities. The model will henceforth highlight Zara product development in both new and existing markets using the existing capabilities. External analysis PESTLE (Johnson et al, 2009, n.p) PESTLE Summary Zara Company is subject to political stability a nd attitudes to competition. This rises from its major establishment and dominance in one country. In case of political instability and change of attitude in competition, Zara market advantage will crush. Factors of global recession and economic growth will equally affect the company since it has stores in many countries. Changes in lifestyle and social mobility will jeopardize the company sales since it concentrates mostly on two stores located in the same country. Changes in technology will significantly affect the company since its operations rely on technology and machines. Competition, employment laws and difference in laws between nations has a great significance in the mode of competition, recruitment of staff, and the running of the company in various nations it plans to invest. The

Sunday, September 22, 2019

The Muslim women are in the western world Essay

The Muslim women are in the western world - Essay Example This essay is based on my own cultural background. It will explore the reasons for honour killing. There are female artists in the West who have used the idea honour killing in their works. Artist, Hayv Kahraman’s work becomes significant because it represents the state of women who are exploited and abused. Women’s position is such that they are caught between what Islam preaches and what the cultural dictates. This is because, Asian families expose their daughters to the western culture; daughters are not given the same life chances and opportunities as sons. The Muslim children are left perplexed and confused and left to cope with this form of sexism. First generation Muslim women were forced to marry at a younger age: a time when they did not realize the need for emotional, physical or economical dependence, they were married off. It is a disturbing notion that women from several so-called Islamic households are only seen as somebody’s possession, who are giv en away at the time of marriage. While sons carry on the family name, hence they are given more importance in a family structure. A prevalent backward custom practiced by most parents is to keep daughters at home who may or may not dishonor the family’s name; they are not proponent to invest in their daughters’ well-being and instead consider it a waste of money eventually women are not encouraged to pursue their aspirations. They are believed to have only three roles - to be a dutiful wife, bear children, and serve her family. Times have changed; education is making a difference for the generation of today, letting women decide their own good. However, the education system propagates the western culture which is in direct contradiction with the ways of the East. Parents are not willing to accept that their daughters and sons have equal rights according to Islam. As a result, women feel the need to abandon their own Islamic beliefs and adopt those of the west. A Muslim woman’s position is such that she is helpless and cannot escape subjugation. Honor killings are committed if a woman is seen associating with the opposite sex she is assumed to put the family name to disgrace and is sentenced to death at the hands of her own family. The height of this injustice is such that women are the only ones who bear the burn of the honor killing. This essay will explore Hayv Kahraman’s works, which is rooted in the social context of Iraq’s Islamic society. She has managed to experiment with the ide a of honor killings and incorporate it into her work. Her work shows the reality of the honor killings in a subtle way, and also questions the justification of such acts from the world outside. The isolated and hidden nature of honor killings and other such injustices against women are perpetual in patriarchal society. It is an important investigation since it helps highlight the idea of such crimes with formal and aesthetic concerns. Main Body In a traditional society, men are thought to believe that women are an â€Å"object owned by the man who assumes responsibility for her behavior and her life† [Mirza, 2005]. Women are expected to meet the demands of their father, brother or husband and should be forcefully domesticated. Since Islam gives importance to husband and their well-being, women are made to believe that their sole purpose is to fulfil the wishes of her husband or she will not enter paradise. However, the same men who live by this rule of thumb forget that the v ery same religion has given women far more important rights to remember and practice. For example, â€Å"the role of mother is given a higher status in Islam, the Prophet said that Paradise lies under a mother’s feet† [Unknown, 2007]. In Islam women have property rights and the rights to own wealth, to work, to get an education, to run a business and have the freedom to choose who to marry. However, at home, parents make justifications for the way they treat their daughters. Sons are seen as the

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Linguistics Lecture Essay Example for Free

Linguistics Lecture Essay Today’s Objective †¢ Begin to understand the fundamental ways of thinking in Linguistics. Some properties of grammar †¢ †¢ †¢ creativity generality parity Some properties of grammar: Parity ? all grammars are equally valid prescriptive grammar descriptive grammar ? ? Is this statement a scienti? c observation? A. Yes B. No People who live in East Hamilton often say â€Å"I seen him† where they should say â€Å"I saw him† Clicker frequency is BD. Is this statement a scienti?  c observation? A. Yes B. No In Finnish, prepositions come after nouns. Kissa on poydan alla cat is table under â€Å"The cat is under the table† Is this statement a scienti? c observation? A. Yes B. No If you end a sentence with a preposition you sound ignorant. Gymboree is one of the stores that I shop at. Gymboree is one of the stores at which I shop. Clicker frequency is BD. Clicker frequency is BD. Some properties of grammar: Universality ? ? ? ? all grammars share some universal properties phonological syntactic etc. Some properties of grammar: Mutability ? ? ? ? all grammars change over time sounds words word forms sentence structures [w] not [hw] in Canada by age Some properties of grammar: Inaccessibility ? almost all grammatical knowledge is unconscious (a. k. a. implicit) How can we observe unconscious knowledge? Some properties of grammar ? ? ? ? ? ? creativity generality parity universality mutability inaccessibility.

Friday, September 20, 2019

Social Phobia And Fear Of Public Speaking Psychology Essay

Social Phobia And Fear Of Public Speaking Psychology Essay A phobia is an  intense  fear of something that poses little or no actual danger. Common phobias and fears include closed-in places, heights, driving, flying insects, snakes, and needles. However, people can develop phobias of virtually anything. Most phobias develop in childhood, but they can also develop during adulthood. If you have a phobia, you probably realize that your fear is unreasonable, yet you still cant control your feelings. Just thinking about the feared object or situation may make you anxious and when youre actually exposed to the thing you fear, the terror is automatic and overwhelming. The experience is so nerve-wracking that you may go to great lengths to avoid it; inconveniencing yourself or even changing your lifestyle. If you have claustrophobia, for example, you might turn down a lucrative job offer if you have to use a lift to get to the office. If you have a fear of heights, you might drive an extra 20 miles in order to avoid a tall bridge. Understanding your phobia is the first step to overcoming it. Its important to know that phobias are common. Having a phobia doesnt mean youre crazy! It also helps to know that phobias are highly treatable. You can overcome your anxiety and fear, no matter how out of control it feels. It is normal and even helpful to experience fear in dangerous situations. Fear is an adaptive human response. It serves a protective purpose, activating the automatic fight-or-flight response. With our bodies and minds alert and ready for action, we are able to respond quickly and protect ourselves. But with phobias the threat is greatly exaggerated or nonexistent. For example, it is only natural to be afraid of a snarling Doberman, but it may be irrational to be terrified of a friendly poodle on a lead, as you might be if you have a dog phobia. The difference between normal fear and a phobia Normal fear Phobia Feeling anxious when flying through turbulence or taking off during a storm Not going to your best friends island wedding because youd have to fly there Experiencing butterflies when peering down from the top of a skyscraper or climbing a tall ladder Turning down a great job because its on the 10th floor of the office building Getting nervous when you see a pit bull or a Rottweiler Steering clear of the park because you might see a dog Feeling a little queasy when getting an injection or when your blood is being drawn Avoiding necessary medical treatments or doctors checkups because youre terrified of needles Rottweiler dog Feeling a little queasy when getting an injection or when your blood is being drawn Avoiding necessary medical treatments or doctors checkups because youre terrified of needles Normal fears in children Many childhood fears are natural and tend to develop at specific ages. For example, many young children are afraid of the dark and may need a nightlight to sleep; that doesnt mean they have a phobia. In most cases, they will grow out of this fear as they get older. If your childs fear is not interfering with his or her daily life or causing him or her a great deal of distress, then theres little cause for undue concern. However, if the fear is interfering with your childs social activities, school performance, or sleep, you may want to see a qualified child therapist. Which of my childs fears are normal? According to the Child Anxiety Network, the following fears are extremely common and considered normal: 0-2 years   Loud noises, strangers, separation from parents, large objects. 3-6 years   Imagination (i.e. ghosts/monsters), sleeping alone, darkness, strange noises. 7-16 years   Fears such as injury, illness, school performance, death, natural disasters. Common types of phobias and fears There are 4 general types of phobias and fears: Animal phobias.  Examples: fears of snakes, spiders, rodents, and dogs. Natural environment phobias.  Examples: fears of heights, storms, open water, and darkness. Situational phobias (fears triggered by a specific situation).  Examples: fears of enclosed spaces (claustrophobia), flying, driving, tunnels, and bridges. Blood-Injection-Injury phobia.  The fear of blood, injury, needles or other medical procedures. Some phobias dont fall into one of the four common categories. Such phobias include fears of choking, getting a disease such as cancer, germs, illness, death and fear of clowns (yes, really!) Social phobia and fear of public speaking Image-social phobia fear of speaking Social Phobia, also called social anxiety disorder, is fear of social situations where you may be embarrassed or judged. If you have social phobia you may be excessively self-conscious and afraid of humiliating yourself in front of others. Your anxiety about how you will look and what others will think may lead you to avoid certain social situations youd otherwise enjoy. Fear of public speaking, an extremely common phobia, is a type of social phobia. Other fears associated with social phobia include fear of eating or drinking in public, talking to strangers, taking exams, mingling at a party, and being asked to speak in class. Agoraphobia (fear of open spaces) image of angrophobia(fear of open spaces) Agoraphobia is another phobia that doesnt fit neatly into any of the 4 categories. Traditionally thought to involve a fear of public places and open spaces, it is now believed that agoraphobia develops as a complication of  panic attacks. Afraid of having another panic attack, you become anxious about being in situations where escape would be difficult or embarrassing, or where help wouldnt be available immediately. For example, you are likely to avoid crowded places such as shopping centres and cinemas. You may also avoid cars, planes, and other forms of travel. In more severe cases, you might only feel safe at home. Signs and symptoms of phobias The symptoms of a phobia can range from mild feelings of apprehension and anxiety to a full-blown panic attack. Typically, the closer you are to the thing youre afraid of, the greater your fear will be. Your fear will also be higher if getting away is difficult. Physical signs and symptoms of a phobia Difficulty breathing Racing or pounding heart Chest pain or tightness Trembling or shaking Feeling dizzy or lightheaded A churning stomach Hot or cold flashes; tingling sensations Sweating Emotional signs and symptoms of a phobia Feeling of overwhelming anxiety or panic Feeling an intense need to escape Feeling unreal or detached from yourself Fear of losing control or going crazy Feeling like youre going to die or pass out Knowing that youre overreacting, but feeling powerless to control your fear Symptoms of Blood-Injection-Injury Phobia The symptoms of blood-injection-injury phobia are slightly different from other phobias. When confronted with the sight of blood or a needle, you experience not only fear but disgust. Like other phobias, you initially feel anxious as your heart speeds up. However, unlike other phobias, this acceleration is followed by a quick drop in blood pressure, which leads to nausea, dizziness, and fainting. Although a  fear  of fainting is common in all specific phobias, blood-injection-injury phobia is the only phobia where fainting can actually occur. When to seek help for phobias and fears Although phobias are common, they dont always cause considerable distress or significantly disrupt your life. For example, if you have a snake phobia, it may cause no problems in your everyday activities if you live in a city where you are not likely to run into one. On the other hand, if you have a severe phobia of crowded spaces, living in a big city would pose a problem. If your phobia doesnt really impact your life that much, its probably nothing to be concerned about. But if avoidance of the object, activity, or situation that triggers your phobia interferes with your normal functioning or keeps you from doing things you would otherwise enjoy, its time to seek help. Consider treatment for your phobia if: It causes intense and disabling fear, anxiety, and panic. You recognize that your fear is excessive and unreasonable. You avoid certain situations and places because of your phobia. Your avoidance interferes with your normal routine or causes significant distress. Youve had the phobia for over 6 months. Self-help or therapy for phobias: which treatment is best? When it comes to treating phobias, self-help strategies and therapy can both be effective. Whats best for you depends on a number of factors, including the severity of your phobia, and the amount of support you need. Self-help is always worth a try. The more you can do for yourself, the more in control youll feel-which goes a long way when it comes to phobias and fears. However, if your phobia is so severe that it triggers panic attacks or uncontrollable anxiety, you may want to get additional support. The good news is that  phobia treatment has a great track record. Not only does it work extremely well, but you tend to see results very quickly-sometimes in as a little as 1 or 2 sessions.  ©Fearless Putting Ltd. All rights reserved. This site is for information only and NOT a substitute for professional diagnosis and treatment.

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Harry Potter Essays -- essays research papers

Harry Potter and The Sorcerers Stone   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The book I read was called Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s stone. The author of this book was a woman by the name of J.K. Rowling. This book has two settings, in the beginning, when Harry is living with his Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia; he is at # 4 privet drive. After he is sent off to Hogwarts, the setting is at the gigantic school for wizards and witches.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The main character in the book I read was Harry Potter. He is rather skinny, has dark brown hair and bight green eyes and glasses. He also has a scar in the middle of his forehead in the shape of a lightning bolt. Ron Weasly, Harry’s friend, has red hair and brown eyes big lips and is slightly larger than Harry, especially in the middle. Hermonie Granger is another friend of Harry’s; she has long light brown hair that is a little poofy. She has dark brown eyes and thick eyebrows. In the beginning, Harry was dropped off at his aunt’s and uncle’s by a giant and a warlock. He had 12 long years of being beat up by his spoiled cousin and his gang. One day, letters came down the chimney, shaking the whole house. This caused his uncle to propose a vacation. When they got to their destination, Harry remembered that it was his birthday. That night, Harry drew a cake in the sand on the floor and watched the clock strike midnight. Then a giant pushed down the door. The giant had an argument with Harry’s uncle about whether or not ...

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Essay on Corruption of the Family and Society in Kafkas Metamorphosis

Corruption of the Family and Society Exposed in Metamorphosis Franz Kafka's existentialistic perspective on the meaning of life (or rather, the lack thereof), is clearly portrayed through Gregor Samsa in Metamorphosis. Kafka's belief that there is no meaning to life nor any reason to hold an optimistic outlook towards life, is a dominant force in the story. The author is able to create conflict by portraying Gregor as being the complete opposite of his own personal beliefs: Kafka's almost paradoxical belief that, though there is no meaning to life, the individual can create one for himself, is entirely missed by Gregor. Kafka's weighty emphasis on individualism and the corruption that society and the familial infrastructure represent is demonstrated through Gregor's interactions with the members of his own family and those of society. This leads to the development of Gregor Samsa as more than a sympathetic character, and makes Metamorphosis a novella of fantastical, fable-like proportions, complete with a moral and a superficially happy ending. Kafka's Metamorphosis was written in 1912, in the midst of a German cultural, social, and economic metamorphosis. Industrialization had reached Germany, and changed the mindset of the people. The increasing number of factorial jobs available, the numbing shifts and schedules, . . . - all this came with industrialization, and it was to this that Kafka was writing in protest. Through Gregor, Kafka demonstrates the dehumanization that industrialization was bringing to Germany, to the extent that there was little to no difference between humans and animals. By turning Gregor's physical being into an unnamed and abhorrent bug, Kafka emphasizes the similarities between th... ... followed by a period of "vacant and peaceful meditation" (Kafka, 127), in which he reflects with new insight his past life, and, while in the process of making tentative plans for the future, dies a peaceful death. Gregor's death, followed so closely by his dawning comprehension of individuality, closes the story to a full and complete circle, which began with his physical transformation into a bug and ended with his humanization. Kafka uses Gregor Samsa as almost a fable-istic character, as if to warn his reader "Don't be like Gregor! Follow your own paths or die a death like a dung bug!" Kafka's emphasis on individualism and how the corruption that society and familial infrastructure affects a human being develops this story into one with moralistic consequences for the reader, persuading him to review his own priorities and to reset them accordingly.

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Ethics Essay Essay

What is Ethics? It is the binding good character, being respectful, and having trustworthiness amongst others. The topics that will be touched on is the differences between morality and ethical theories. Finally, I am going to touch on my personal experiences in relation to virtue, values, and moral concepts. Morality and ethics are almost one in the same in the greater scheme of things. They both work together to make up ethical decisions by a person. For example there are five key terms that breaks down the theories; which are Consequential, Egoism, Utilitarian, Act Utilitarian, and Rule Utilitarianism. Therefore, ethical theories and moral theories are broken down into two different categories consequential and non-consequential theories. Now what is the consequential theory exactly? The consequential theories basically mean, the result of a person’s behavior can result in either morally good consequences or morally bad consequences (Manias & Monroe, 2013). The breakdown can go even further; in the simplest terms morality relates to non-consequential theories and ethical decisions lead to consequential theories. For example, an ethical decision could be a police officer runs a red light, without having police sirens on; the consequence is a law abiding citizen might be further dissatisfied with the police force in the area. A moral decision is basically the action of right and wrong; which is really not a consequence. The decision of right and wrong is decided on oneself feelings about a certain scenario or person at any given time. For example, a student cheats on a test; why does he or she cheat? One may ask, is this situation right or wrong. The judgment or verdict is for you to decide, whether it is the person themselves; has good morals or not. One of the three theories that relate to me is Utilitarian. I have two children and I am always constantly trying to them to be well mannered and teach them good aspects of life. I myself always want to produce the  greatest possible good out of everything. Whether it is teaching my children something or making someone else laughs. In conclusion, ethical decisions can lead to misunderstandings and have great consequences. Moral decisions decide right and wrong. My personal experiences relating to Utilitarian theories are something that I now know about. It hoped that this explanation will help the further understanding of the subject. References Page Manias, N., & Monroe, D. (2013). Ethics Applied (7th ed.). http://about.nike.com/pages/sustainability

Monday, September 16, 2019

EEI Corporation (EEI) Essay

EEI Corporation (EEI) was incorporated on April 17, 1931 as a machinery and mills supply house for the mining industry. The Company eventually expanded into provisioning construction services and a broader range of industrial machinery and systems. EEI is a member of the Yuchengco Group of Companies, a conglomerate with interests in banking, financial services and property development. EEI has been involved in the installation, construction and erection of power generating and transmission facilities, oil refineries, chemical production plants, cement plants, food and beverage manufacturing facilities, semiconductor assembly plants, road, rail and bridge infrastructures, and high rise landmarks. It also operates a steel fabrication plant. EEI’s subsidiaries includes EEI (BVI) Ltd. & Subsidiaries; EEI Construction and Marine, Inc.; EEI Power Corporation; EEI Realty Corporation; Equipment Engineers, Inc.; Gulf Asia International Corporation; Bagumbayan Equipment & Industrial Plant, Inc.; Philrock Construction and Services, Inc.; Philmark, Inc.; EEI Corporation (Guam), Inc.; and EEI Subic Corporation. The Company has also been involved in several joint venture companies through ECW Joint Venture, Inc. and Al Rushaid Construction Company Ltd. Board of Directors

Sunday, September 15, 2019

The Largest Earthquake in the World

The largest earthquake in the world had a magnitude of 9. 5 and took place in Chile. The Valdivia Earthquake, also know as the Great Chilean Earthquake, happened on Sunday, May 22, 1960. It is the largest earthquake currently on record. It occured in the afternoon and the resulting tsunami affected southern Chile, Hawaii, Japan, the Philippines, eastern New Zealand, southeast Australia, and the Aleutian Islands in Alaska. The epicenter of the Valdivia earthquake was near Lumaco, a coastal city with a population of roughly 11,405.Various estimates of the total number of fatalities from the earthquake and tsunamis have been published, with the USGS citing studies with figures of 2,231; 3,000; or 5,700 killed, and another source uses an estimate of 6,000 dead. An estimated cost of 2. 9 to 5. 8 billion in damage. The 1960 Valdivia earthquake was actually just a series of many strong earthquakes from May 21 to June 6,1960. The first was the Concepcion earthquake and the strongest was the Valdivia earthquake. The first Concepcion earthquake was on May 21,1960.Its epicenter was near Curanilahue. The second and third Concepcion earthquakes occurred a few hours apart from each other on May 22. The Valdivia earthquake occurred on May 22. This earthquake affected all of Chile between Talca and Chiloe Island, more than 150,000 sq mi. Most coastal villages disappeared. At Corral, the main port of Valdivia, the water level rose 13 ft before it began to recede. A wave of 26 ft struck the Chilean coast, mainly between Concepcion and Chiloe. Ten minutes later another wave measuring 33 ft was reported.Hundreds of people were already reported dead by the time the tsunami struck. One ship, Canelos, starting at the mouth of Valdivia River sank after being moved 0. 93 mi backward and forward in the river; its mast is still visible today. A number of Spanish-colonial forts were completely destroyed. Soil subsidence also destroyed buildings, deepened local rivers, and created wetlands in places like the Rio Cruces and Chorocomayo, a new aquatic park north of the city. Extensive areas of the city were flooded.The electricity and water systems of Valdivia were totally destroyed. Witnesses reported underground water flowing up through the soil. Despite the heavy rains of May 21, the city was without a water supply. The river turned brown with sediment from landslides and was full of floating debris, including entire houses. The earthquake did not strike all the territory with the same strength. The two most affected areas were Valdivia and Puerto Octay near the northwest corner Llanquihue Lake.East of Puerto Octay in a hotel in Todos los Santos Lake piles of plates were reported to have remained in place. Two days after the earthquake a volcanic vent erupted. Other volcanoes may also have erupted, but none were recorded due to the lack of communication in Chile at the time. The relatively low death toll in Chile, estimated at 6,000, is explained in part by the low population density and by buildings being built taking into account that the region has many earthquakes and volcano eruptions.Other possible reasons include a high number of wooden houses and that coastal towns also tended to be located on higher ground. After the eruption, began the landslides. The earthquake triggered many landslides, mostly near the Andes. These landslides did not cause many fatalities nor significant economical losses because most of the areas were uninhabited with only minor roads. One landslide did cause destruction and alarm following its blockage of the outflow of Rinihue Lake.About 100 km south of Rinihue Lake, landslides in the mountains around Golgol River caused this river to dam up and then burst creating a flood down to Puyehue Lake. The Valdivia earthquake led to the formation of the ONEMI. ONEMI is the Spanish acronym for National Emergency and Information Office. ONEMI helps solve problems after earthquakes, large or small. The Valvidia earthquake was also referenced in two fictional novels, and the tsunami following the earthquake was referenced in a Hawaii Five-O episode titled â€Å"Forty Feet High and it Kills! â€Å".

Saturday, September 14, 2019

If Othello had been set in a modern era, how would it differ Essay

The play Othello is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare in around 1603. The story has four central characters: Othello, Desdemona, Iago and Cassio. Othello or â€Å"the moor† is a black general, admired for his superb leadership skills. He falls in love with Desdemona, and against Brabantio’s will they elope before embarking on a campaign against the Turks. However, in Cyprus, a storm destroys the Turkish fleet and the real battle turns out to be the one of Iago against Othello. Iago’s hatred for Othello is mainly caused by his anger at missing out on a promotion added to his racism. This leads to his revenge on the protagonist. In this assessment, I am going to analyse how the play would have differed if it had been set in a modern era. The play opens with a heated discussion between Iago and Roderigo. Iago complains about Othello’s decision to promote Cassio as lieutenant. He confesses that he only remains in service of the general in order to succeed in his evil plan: â€Å" I follow him to serve my turn upon him† act 1 sc 1 l. 42. Othello is described as â€Å"the moor†. This epithet often substitutes his actual name â€Å"Othello†. Moreover, Roderigo describes Othello’s with terms such as: â€Å"thick lips†, â€Å"old black ram† and â€Å"devil† Act 1.sc 1. An Elizabethan audience would not have frowned upon the use of these terms, not finding them disturbing, offensive as it would be in our politically correct, multicultural and mobile society where distances between cultures and races have been significantly reduced. It also important to point out that there were few blacks in London during that period; there is evidence to prove this as the rise of black settlements in London occurred only during the 17th- 18th Century. Christianity further exacerbated these racial ideas as it linked the colour white to goodness and the colour black to the devil and sin. Shakespeare shows that he was open and a brave writer who was willing to stand apart from his society, choosing to make a black individual his protagonist. This choice makes him the tragic hero who the audience is encouraged to sympathize with. The second difference that rises between an Elizabethan Othello and a hypothetical modern Othello is the power men have over women. This can be seen immediately in Act 1 Scene 3 with regards to Brabantio and Desdemona. Othello’s true love for Desdemona is not accepted by Desdemona’s father, who accuses him of having used witchcraft to control Desdemona’s feelings. â€Å"She is abused, stol’n from me, and corrupted By spells [†¦] For nature so preposterously to err, Being not deficient, blind, or lame of sense Sans witchcraft could not† Act 1 Scene 3 lines 59 -64 Not only does Brabantio believes that Desdemona belongs to him as if she was of his property, her elopement disturbs him even more knowing that Othello is black. Brabantio cannot fathom how the beautiful and gentle Desdemona is attracted to the black Othello. The only way he can justify this relationship is by accusing Othello of having practiced spells against her. These accusations can be seen as typical of that time- average Londoners, such as those who attended and enjoyed Shakespeare’s plays, had very little knowledge about science and relied on popular ‘wisdom’ and religious doctrines to support their beliefs. A modern audience with a more global outlook would not hold – or be loath to admit to- even though racism has not been eradicated. In modern times the power Brabantio has over choosing his daughter’s husband would also not be accepted. Today in most western countries, it is considered a right for women to choose their own partner. The fac t that Desdemona and Othello elope and show a romantic and poetic union: â€Å"Desdemona: That I did love the Moor to live †¦ with him, My downright violence and storm of fortunes May trumpet to the world: my heart’s subdued Even to the very quality of my lord: I saw Othello’s visage in his mind, And to his honour and his valiant parts Did I my soul and fortunes consecrate.† act1 sc3 line 245 demonstrates Shakespeare’s modern thinking and the independency from accepted views and beliefs of the time. The third important factor that would distinguish from an Elizabethan Othello from a modern Othello regards the character of Emilia. Emilia is Iago’s wife and Desdemona’s close friend. Iago uses this friendship to get access to Dedemona, in particular, asking her to steal Desdemona’s handkerchief (a gift from Othello to Desdemona). Emilia does this to â€Å" please his fantasy † even though she admits â€Å"What he will do with it,/ Heaven knows, / not I† Act 3 scene 3 line 290. and the consequences of her actions lead to tragic developments, which have vital importance in the play. From this quote we can see Iago’s hold over Emilia and how she honours her duty as a wife- something that would puzzle us even though there are also women nowadays who are at the mercy of their husbands and do not leave destructive relationships. However, as the play unfolds, particularly in the last two acts we increasingly note that Emilia is an ambiguous character: she is Iago’s victim but also has a strong opinion about men and women that is now reflected in modern society. â€Å"Emilia: But I do think it is their husbands’ faults If wives do fall: say that they slack their duties, And pour our treasures into foreign laps, Or else break out in peevish jealousies, Throwing restraint upon us; or say they strike us, Or scant our former having in despite; Why, we have galls, and though we have some grace, Yet have we some revenge. Act 4 sc 3 line 16† This would probably be a feeling shared by Elizabethans but in reverse- they would identify Emilia as a faithful wife initially but would probably be confused and maybe even shocked by her words to Desdemona and equality between men and women when it comes to desire. In conclusion, we can say that elements of the plot would have undergone marked changes if Othello had been written in modern, politically correct times. Brabantio wouldn’t be making such a drama out of the fact that his daughter has married a black man; Emilia wouldn’t be stealing at the command of her husband and racist terms would not have been used by noblemen and colleagues. If the play had been set in modern times, it wouldn’t be the same play and perhaps it wouldn’t be as exciting and powerful either. Despite the fact that the play was written hundreds of years ago and we think that things have changed, racism and sexism haven’t ended and Shakespeare’s play makes us think.

Managing communication knowledge and information Essay

London’s Heathrow is one of the world’s busiest airports. It is used by over 82 airlines flying to 180 destinations (in 85 countries) worldwide. The airport has five passenger terminals and a cargo terminal. In the 1950s, Heathrow had six runways, now it has just two parallel runways running eastwest of the airport. Heathrow has witnessed strong growth over recent decades, currently handling about 72.3 million passengers and over 477,000 flights a year compared to around 48 million passengers and 427,000 flights a year in 1996. In the absence of any increase in runway capacity, this growth has resulted in Heathrow’s runways operating at around 98% capacity compared to its main European competitors which operate at around 75% capacity, leading to increased delays, lower resilience and fewer destinations served. As the UK continues to face the challenge of airport capacity, Heathrow is considered the most deliverable solution – because it builds on one of the UK’s strongest national assets. Over the last decade since 2003,  £11bn has been spent on making Heathrow world-class, with the award-winning Terminal 5 and the new Terminal 2 (The Queen’s Terminal which opened in June 2014). There are other several reasons why Heathrow is best placed to deliver more jobs, more exports, business opportunities and air travel options for passengers. For example, the centre of economic gravity is to the west of London. There are 120 of the UK’s top 300 company HQs located within a 15 mile radius of Heathrow, compared to just 16 within 15 miles of Gatwick. Several businesses are located closer to Heathrow as they recognise the greater long-haul connections and surface access it has – making it easier for them to do business around the globe. The Thames Valley area, for example, has 60% more international businesses than the national UK average, 100% more US businesses and 260% more Japanese businesses. Heathrow will  help more UK businesses go global with a third runway as it already carries more freight exports and imports than every other UK airport combined, and cargo facilities will be doubled as a result of this plan. However, Heathrow authorities have faced a big problem, whether to build a new airport (option 1) or to increase the capacity of the existing one by building the 3rd runway and a sixth terminal (option 2). The second option needs less investment and is potentially easier to accomplish, but needs more political and social support and agreements as there are many stakeholders with different views about the proposal of a 3rd runway. On one side there are economic benefits, on the other side are considerations involving the environmental impact, increasing noise level and discontent of the people, particularly those living on the area close to the airport. The Airports Commission has been tasked with recommending the best way forward on the UK airport capacity issue. (Adapted from www.heathrowairport.com/about-us/, 2014) You have been recruited as a consultant to provide some contributions to the members of the Airports Commission, who have been tasked to produce a detailed report with recommendations that will help the Heathrow authorities in finding the best way forward on the 3rd runway plans to increase the airport capacity at Heathrow. Your communication skills, understanding of information needs and knowledge management will be crucial for you to be effective in this role. Note: This scenario is for Task 1 and Task 2 that cover Learning Outcomes LO1 and LO2. Dr Knowledge Mpofu September 2014 Semester Assignment Tasks Task 1: Assessing information and knowledge needs Based on Scenario for Task 1 and Task 2, you are expected to: AC1.1 Discuss  the range of decisions to be taken by the Heathrow Authorities and Management  Guidelines: Your answer should discuss the various possible decisions that can be taken by the Heathrow authorities in dealing with the issue highlighted in the scenario. AC1.2 Examine the information and knowledge needed to ensure effective decision taking based on the scenario Guidelines: In your answer to this question, you need to think about, and give examples of, the different types of information and knowledge needed by Heathrow authorities in order to ensure effective decision making in this case. The examples of types of information and knowledge you can give may be of different forms that include qualitative (descriptive information), quantitative (statistical data), official and unofficial information, policy and opinion, tacit and explicit knowledge. AC1.3 Assess internal and external sources of information and understanding based on the scenario Guidelines: Your answer should clearly identify the key sources of information that can help Heathrow authorities. These sources might include internal and external stakeholders of the company, formal and informal sources, team workers and customers. It will be useful to give examples in your answer. Task 2: Stakeholders, Personal networking and Decision-making process Based on Scenario for Task 1 and Task 2, you are expected to: AC2.1 Identify both internal and external key stakeholders of Heathrow airport who should be involved in the decision-making process in the issue highlighted in the scenario. AC2.2 Explain how Heathrow authorities can make contact with their internal and external stakeholders, and develop business relationships. AC2.3 Explain how Heathrow authorities can involve the identified stakeholders in the decision-making process, as appropriate. Guidelines: Your answer should explain the possible ways through which Heathrow authorities can connect, interact or share some ideas with some of the identified stakeholders of the organisation in order to develop business relationships with them. In addition, explain how these identified stakeholders can be involved in the decision-making process with a view to finding the best way forward on the 3rd runway plans to increase the airport capacity at Heathrow. AC2.4 In your role as a consultant in this case, design strategies for improving personal networking and involvement of stakeholders in the decision-making process based on the scenario and, (AC1.4) justify your recommendations for improvement. Guidelines: Your answer should suggest and describe possible ways (strategies) which you could use to improve your personal networking or connections with the identified stakeholders and involve them in discussions and decision-making processes based on the scenario. Any relevant approaches, illustrations or diagrams can be used in designing the strategies for improving networking and stakeholder participation in decision-making process (AC2.4), and your recommendations for improvement should be clearly justified to meet the assessment criteria AC1.4 as well. In this task, you will need to select and analyse the communication processes in an organisation which you are familiar with. In your selection of the organisation, make sure you will have access to both internal and external communication processes used by that organisation. Other students and lecturers will be interested to learn about the communication processes from your selected organisation. You are aware that you will need to find effective ways of communicating this to your colleagues and lecturers. In particular, you recognise that effective communication helps to improve relationships at work and other social situations by deepening your connections to stakeholders and improving teamwork, decision-making and problem solving for the success of an organisation. Based on Scenario for Task 3, you are expected to: AC3.1 Report on existing processes of communication that you have researched and observed in your selected organisation: (i) between management and employees (ii) between the organisation and its customers Guidelines: Your answer should clearly show evidence of some research carried out to identify the different information technology (IT) systems used within the organisation for communication purposes. The answer should also show how people within the organisation meet or create platforms for sharing ideas and decision-making. These opportunities for meetings could be structured and coordinated, planned, face-to-face, formal and informal. AC3.2 Design ways to improve the appropriateness of the communication processes (that you have identified in AC3.1 above). Guidelines: In designing the ways to improve the appropriateness of the communication processes, your answer may include some relevant illustrations or diagrams and specifying the IT systems involved in the process. AC3.3 Explain how the improvements to the ways and IT systems (that you have suggested above in AC3.2) can be implemented to ensure greater integration of systems of communication in the organisation. AC3.4 Based on Scenario for Task 3, create a personal plan to improve your own communication skills. A self-reflective summary is also be needed in this part of the task. Use the following guidelines to help you in preparing and creating an effective personal communication development plan: (i) Identify five communication skills relevant to your role These could be classified under verbal, non-verbal and written communication skills. (ii) Identify three strengths in your communication skills, and describe how each strength will enable you to be more effective or achieve in your role. (iii) Identify three weaknesses in your communication skills and describe how each weakness can be improved. (iv) Create your own Action Plan using a SMART Objective technique: Guidelines: Your Action plan should include the following: a. At least three SMART objectives that can be followed to improve your own personal communication skills b. Specific actions that can be taken to address each objective c. Possible barriers for each objective, and how you think the challenges can be addressed d. Resources and/or support required to achieve each objective e. Time scale: When you expect each objective to be achieved? (v) Produce a Self-Reflective Summary Guidelines: Finally, you are required to produce a Self-reflective summary on how you think the production of your Personal Communication Development Plan has helped you to understand your communication skills, and how to improve them. Your self-reflective summary may also include:   Information on how useful you found the techniques applied in this task (e.g Skills Audit table, SWOT analysis and Action plan based on SMART objectives). How helpful do you think the process of developing your Personal Communication Development Plan has been, and how this may be useful for you in the future. Task 3 covers assessment criteria AC3.1, AC3.2, AC3.3 and AC3.4 under LO3 Task 4: Improving Access to Systems of Information and Knowledge Scenario for Task 4: You are an Information Systems development specialist working for a Knowledge Management company in London. You have been hired by a University in London to produce information systems that could be used by registry and both students and lecturers in supporting their teaching and learning. In this role, you will produce technology systems which will specifically help the University to improve collection, formatting, storage and dissemination of information and knowledge, and assist in improving access to these resources for the benefit of the stakeholders of the university. Based on the Scenario for Task 4, you are expected to: AC4.1 Report on existing approaches to the collection, formatting, storage and dissemination of information and knowledge to support the teaching and learning at the University. Guidelines: Your answer should identify and explain how different information technology systems (IT) and other approaches which are used by the University particularly for collection, formatting, storage and dissemination of information and knowledge available to support their teaching and learning process. In your answer, you may also think about approaches that help to ensure the knowledge and information available within the University to their students is consistent, reliable, current, valid, legal and kept safely and confidential. AC4.2 Carry out appropriate changes to improve the collection, formatting, storage and dissemination of information and knowledge involving the teaching and learning at the University. Guidelines: Your answer should suggest possible changes that can be done to  improve the collection, formatting, storage and dissemination of information and knowledge at the University. You may think about better ways to handle knowledge and information, including how these could be displayed and disseminated to students, lecturers and other stakeholders within and outside the University while ensuring that the information is consistent, reliable, current, valid, legal and kept safely and confidential. AC4.3 Suggest one possible way (strategy) which you think can be used more effectively to improve access to information and knowledge for students, lecturers, management, employees and other stakeholders within and outside the University. Your answer should highlight some possible benefits of creating a way which can be used to increase access to information and knowledge that help in supporting the teaching and learning at the University.

Friday, September 13, 2019

Starbucks Success Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Starbucks Success - Essay Example In the history of Starbucks, the company has never lowered the prices of the coffee so as to attract new customers and maintain the loyal customers but rather the company has been increasing the prices of coffee. In some cases, the company has been able to maintain their product price level with high-quality coffee. If the price of coffee is increased, it is due to the rising labor costs and non-coffee commodity cost. Reduction of prices is done when the supply is high and the cost is still low in other countries. The pricing strategy that the company use is the right customer and the right market, making sure that the brands are of high quality leaving the loyal high-income consumers that perceive the brand as an affordable luxury which everyone cannot go without. Another pricing strategy that is used is product versioning and price communication where the company is able to enjoy the profit from the customers who buy the large sized packed coffee that is as a result of price hike ( Quelch, 2008). The price communication is based on how the company is able to attract the consumers where the price communicates through an increase to manipulate the customer perception of the coffee. Dunkin Donuts is a major competitor of Starbucks together with Tim Horton’s which offers the same product like Starbucks. Stiff competition is experienced since the companies still have expanded to other locations where they usually use the same strategies like the Starbucks.

Thursday, September 12, 2019

Ethics and Environmental Economy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Ethics and Environmental Economy - Essay Example In a world where the poor are drastically more in number then the rich and where the force of the economy are more powerful than the investment by the rich to ease create viable and sufficient income for the poor is perhaps more important than redistribution of earnings. In a world entwined in multiple predicaments simultaneously, active commitment to solving the problems is conceivably more serious than charitable sharing. And in a world where some people are particularly wealthy while others are besieged, measures to improve the standard of living of the well-off are positively of lower precedence than measures to advance the welfare of the less well off. In the past it was understood that firms could keenly follow the private good because governments would look after the public welfare. But the change in the balance of corporate and government power, with more and more control in the hands of a few corporate giants, based on the globalization of the economy, means that governments are less keen and able to guarantee suitable outcomes and the old distribution of labor will no longer work. Firms are now so powerful collectively that the private interest is expected to prevail over the public good. In recent years, environmental performance and economic performance of the firms has drawn significant importance in the literature of business ethics and environmental economy. Some researchers have looked at the obligations of a firm to meet the goal of its shareholders, (Clarkson 115). These reports definitely have some historic implications for corporate, ecological and social activities (Epstein, 74). On the other hand other researchers have established that the economic objectives of a firm do not clash with the environmental objectives for instance Russo and Fouts (534) concluded that environmental consciousness and economic performance are completely connected in the US, with environmentally aware portfolios, attaining better returns balance That is, firms' ecological consciousness may, in fact, be definitely associated with economic functioning as environmentally oriented firm introduce its reputation among customers that are aware about environmental issues. For instance, research through the resource based theory shows that positive reputation produced economic rents for a firm. It is, however, a reality that the economic goals of a firm-like profit maximization, may be in variance with those stakeholders and environment, above all in the short-run. A firm may consider the fixed cost acquired on waste removal, remediation, and sanitization as damaging to its productivity in the short run. Consequently, the short-term income maximization purpose of a firm may collide with what the society wants: a secure and fresh environment, and may generate a motivation for it to act in ways which are not environmentally ethical, depending on how information is spread among shareholders. The misinformation between a firm and the society may occur because a firm usually knows more about the ecological influence of its goods, method and the waste it discharges into the environment than the community. For this reason, a firm's unethical behavior yield fee in the short run and firm avoids the costs of waste removal, relocation and environmental cleaning. Even self-interest among the management can invade their individual ethics and result in augmented unethical behavior

Wednesday, September 11, 2019

How is modern technology used in Medical centers Essay

How is modern technology used in Medical centers - Essay Example 2 Introduction A poet, philosopher and an artist of an early 20th century named Khalil Gibran, who lived in a pre-computer era, stated that (Pasupathy 18-21) â€Å"A little knowledge that acts is worth infinitely more than much knowledge that is idle†. It is surprising that he is concerned about the knowledge management systems in the 20th century. However, this idea has become more useful if this statement is meditative in the long-term care industry. In addition, by computerizing long-term care industry a massive enhancement has been noticed. But long-term care institutions still require a lot more knowledge associated with technology in order to enhance nursing homes, progress through administration techniques, improve the medical processes and gain knowledge associated with system management (Pasupathy 18-21). The administrator of a nursing home must understand the core objective of management system and the purpose of long-term care organizations before procuring, executi ng and promoting these systems, as it will consequently aid in understanding the characteristics and features of the system (Pasupathy 18-21). ... It is made possible by the sound knowledge in health care that locate a new direction in the field of health and social care system. A 24-hours care support has been established by the NHS that provides full support to the patients, as well as to the public keeping in mind the concept of primary self-care. However, the NHS must maintain the acquisition of new technologies and innovative working practices to facilitate people with long term conditions to live a healthy life (Robinson 9-12). Likewise, health services are provided to the patients via national ICT infrastructure that is designed to support multi-channel services in order to provide 24/7 constant recommendations and knowledge regarding self-management and the management of long-term health conditions (Bradbury 309-314). Moreover, many patients find it difficult on how to find adequate solutions related to any health condition or how to contact their regular care service providers in late working hours or in some cases aft er working hours. In 2004, the problem has been aggravated for several patients due to out-of-hours (OOH) services (Bradbury 309-314). The NHS direct has made this possible for patients to get reliable and useful information through any medium such as telephone, internet, digital TV (DiTV). In addition, NHS Direct is continuously providing sound knowledge to spread awareness among the patients (Bradbury 309-314). A number of communities are using different technologies such as, point-of-care (POC) documentation and financial software, as mentioned in a long-term living trend survey ('Long-Term Living's Survey of Technology Usage', 65-65). In that survey it was concluded that the latest technology acquisition will

Tuesday, September 10, 2019

The advantages and disadvantages of the concentration of ownership Essay

The advantages and disadvantages of the concentration of ownership - Essay Example The advantages and disadvantages of the concentration of ownership With the advent of globalization, the seemingly uncontrollable force of capitalism, and the rapid development in technology, the media has become a commodity that can be sold and acquired like any goods or services in the market. By 1980s, the United States gradually deregulated the American media industries, paving the way for the open trading of media ownership. As a result, media ownership becomes increasingly concentrated as many companies and individuals see the benefits and power that come with controlling an effective tool in shaping public opinion and influencing all policy networks. Currently, six media conglomerates operate the majority of mass media platforms not just in the US but worldwide – News Corporation, Bertelsmann, Vivendi, AOL-Time Warner, Disney and Viacom; while only three news agencies lord over the reportage and syndication of news and journalistic materials. This paper will summarize the advantages and disadvantages of the concentration of mass media ownership. Advantages The main advantage allowing media consolidation is primarily in the economic front. Concentrating several smaller or individual outfits under one owner means better management, better access to funding and other resources. Biagi (2006) underscored that a large company can afford to train employees better, pay them higher wages and provide for better working conditions. (14). In addition to this, large companies who gobble up smaller media outfits are in a better position to manage the organization effectively. According to Wilkins and Christian (2008), the consolidation of ownership allows media practitioners to benefit from standardization and centralization of production (333). All in all, the benefits-arguments boil down to economic efficiencies. This fact is supposedly important in order for media outfits to survive in an increasingly competitive environment. Disadvantages Critics argue that the concentration of media ownership hurts the public interest most. The main position is that because large media owners want maximum financial returns and always susceptible to increased commercial pressures, it would go at great lengths in producing contents that would deliver the most profit, and in the process increase advertiser and sponsor influence, compromising the integrity of the news, often becoming unethical, and so forth. The consolidation works roughly the same the monopoly wherein the owner exercise a higher degree of control and power not just over a media organization but, more importantly, to the content that the organization produces. The disadvantage is greatly felt in an environment wherein the mass media finally evolved into humungous organization wielding enormous political power. Today, the largest media conglomerates were responsible for a large number of media statutes and regulations that are biased towards the interest of their corporations instead of the interest and welfare of the general public. According to Gupta (2006), for instance, th ere is now â€Å"little substantive coverage of the spectacular media deals in terms of the perceived effects of these deals,† and that â€Å"in most cases, journalists are directly affected but they do not report their own concerns† because of internal pressure (289). Finally, the concentration of power that results as a consequence of the consolidation of media outfits supposedly limits the diversity of opinion and the quality of ideas available to the public and greatly diminishes the so-called message pluralism (Biagi 14). Diversity and message pluralism is important because they reinforce the concepts of individualism and freedom. According to Perreira (2007), this is done by ensuring balanced

Monday, September 9, 2019

Of Emilie Carles' book is The Transformation of a Countrywoman Essay

Of Emilie Carles' book is The Transformation of a Countrywoman - Essay Example This paper makes an attempt to show the challenges that Emilie Carles was confronted with as a teacher and a woman. Her contributions are also discussed. Emilie Carles Emilie Carles was born at a time when women were considered lesser human beings. Her life was full of challenges. When she was six, she fell off a two storey building, but fortunately survived (Carles and Robert 5). The village where she lived led a harsh life. When she was just four years, her mother passed on while working in a farm after being struck by lightning (Carles and Robert 7). Her siblings also passed on. It was fortunate that death spared her. Furthermore, when she started attending school, fate seemingly sided with her temporarily and she was sponsored to continue her studies to high school. She wanted to become a teacher and later she became one. Emilie Carles was an extraordinary teacher and woman. Despite going through a troubled childhood, she was able to pick the lessons that needed to be passed on t o the next generation. Her wish to be a teacher was more because of her strong desire to teach kids to question what they were told. She believed that children were very vulnerable and needed to be told the truth because what they were told was what would shape their lives. ... She believed that the real change in the society could be realized if teachers helped the youngsters to shatter the barriers they were locked in. The people were made to believe that participation in wars was a show of patriotism when in the real sense it was only the political leaders and career soldiers who benefited while the common people heavily suffered. After being married, she lost her child to a military truck. Her pain was intense, nevertheless she even became more formidable to stand up for what was right. During World War II, her husband was on top of the list for potential hostages for German soldiers. Despite all these, she was committed to telling the truth to the youngsters in schools. Her spirit to fight against the abuses of the government on its people continued even after her retirement from teaching. She went on to fight for her community and encouraged her people to fight for their rights. At one time, she led fellow citizens to stop a freeway being constructed through the valley (her village). This freeway was not going to benefit the local community in any manner but rather destroy it (Carles and Robert 250). The contributions that Emilie Carles made to her community are immeasurable. She was a watchdog for her community all her life. She knew her people were ignorant and that the politicians took advantage of this societal ignorance. She was disgusted by the fact that politicians could repeat the same words since 1789 and the people never seemed to note the monotony (Carles and Robert 252). Definitely, she is an example of a strong willed person who went against all odds to stand up for what was right. Her strong determination saw her overcome pain and the many challenges she faced. It is worth noting that the challenges were strong given

Sunday, September 8, 2019

Globalization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 6

Globalization - Essay Example n has led to creation of new social networks and activities that have increasingly overcome traditional cultural, political, economic and geographic boundaries. This has played a critical role in the intensification and acceleration of social exchanges and activities hence increasing human consciousness and interdependence. Steger (23) brings the concepts together and defines globalization as â€Å"a multidimensional set of social processes that create, multiply, stretch and intensify worldwide social interdependencies and exchanges while at the same time fostering in people a growing awareness of deepening connections between the local and the distant.† According to Appuradai (1), it only takes the merest acquaintance with the facts of the modern world to note that it is now an interactive system in a sense which is strikingly new. Hughes (34) states that historians and sociologists, especially those concerned with translocal processes and with the world systems associated with capitalism have long been aware that the world has been a congeries of large scale interactions for many centuries. Yet today’s world involves interactions of a new order and intensity. According to Hansen (34), cultural transactions between social groups in the past have generally been restricted, sometimes by the facts of geography and ecology, and at other times by active resistance to interactions with the other. Appuradai (6) has proposed an elementary framework for exploring various disjunctures applied in globalization. The framework looks at five dimensions of global cultural flow which includes: ethnoscapes, mediascapes, technoscapes, financescapes and ideoscapes. The suffix scape points out to the fluid, irregular shapes of the landscapes, shapes which characterize international capital as deeply as they do to international clothing styles. The landscapes are therefore the building blocks of the imagined worlds of persons and groups To start with, ethnoscape refers to the

Saturday, September 7, 2019

Challenges in College Recruiting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Challenges in College Recruiting - Essay Example This aspect at times has resulted in use of illegal methods to recruit athletes (Howard, 2010). NCAA is one of the well-organized associations, which is utilized in preparing varied types of athletic programmes for numerous colleges (Keene & Wharton, 2011). It attracts various skilled and unskilled athletes, resulting in attainment of desired success in intercollegiate athletic programs. It helps in amplification of the corporate image and identity of the college among other renowned institutions in the region. However, unfortunately, in this era of modernization, the procedure of recruitment acts as a condemnation for the young athletes, which needs to be stopped by the higher authorities (Howard, 2010). The objective of the paper is to identify and to highlight the aspect of illegal recruitment of athletes within the intercollegiate team of sports. It also includes a brief introduction about the recruitment procedures of the athletes. Moreover, it also discusses varied illegal processes of recruitment by the authorities of sports department. In addition, it also embraces the aspect of paying high salary to the high profile athletes as compared to others. Along with these, the negative impact of obtaining high compensation payers over the society is also described in this assignment. The requisite features, which can attract the best athletes into the sports college teams, resulting in augmentation of the image of the university among other reputed institutions in the region, have also been taken into consideration. In recent era of modernization and industrialization, college sports have expanded as a multi-dollar industry due to the evolution and development of a number of sports institutions. However, the illegal procedures employed in recruitment have created a huge impact over the high school athletic

Friday, September 6, 2019

Hitlers rule Essay Example for Free

Hitlers rule Essay However, historian Geoff Layton appears to disagree. He states that Although the idea of Nazism as a form of totalitarianism held great sway in the 1950s, such a view is not now so readily accepted. However, he also said that there emerged in the SS an organisation which was the mainstay of the Third Reich which would supports the view that force was the main factor in keeping the Nazi Party in power. This essay intends to analyse the significance of force as a tool to stay n power, through their creation of a Police State, the reformation of the German Courts as well as their elimination of both external and internal political opposition and their indoctrination of the German youth. It will also be necessary to analyse the various other factors which were employed by the Nazi Party between 1931 and 1939 such as control of the economy. Central to the forceful methods the Nazi Party used was undoubtedly their creation of a Police State. The SS, or Schutzstaffeln, was formed in 1925 as an elite bodyguard, due to Hitlers uncertainty regarding the loyalty f the SA, or Sturmabteilung. The SS had several functions, the first of these being as an internal security service. The SS police, the SD, worked in conjunction with the Gestapo to perform arrests and often interrogations by way of torture, and murder on citizens who were viewed as opponents of the regime. A separate sector, the Totenkopfverbande, or Deaths-head Unit, had the duty of guarding the concentration camps. The concentration camps were initially created in 1933 to hold political prisoners and opponents. The SS also provided elite troops who were fanatically loyal o the F?hrer to fght alongside the Wehrmacht. This meant that Germany, and more significantly, the Nazi Party, always had supporters in the army, meaning they were highly unlikely to face mutiny. Crucially, the SS were also in charge of the genocide against Jews, and this was furthered by their status as an example of racial purity. The Police system of Nazi Germany was extremely well organised, though it had many branches and subsections. Initially split into the SS and the Police, there were several further splits. The Police consisted of, of course, the regular Police, however, this also onsisted of the Security Police, under which fell the Criminal Police and, more significantly, the Political Police, or Gestapo. It is no secret that the regime used extreme cruelty as a means of policing, and in fact, Hermann Goring stated that men who used firearms in their duty would benefit from his protection, as well as saying that those who failed in this duty would be punished. In 1936, all of the police powers were united under Heinrich Himmler as Chief of Police. This police force was answerable only to Hitler himself and as such, had considerable powers. It was, ssentially, above the law, as its actions were not open to review by the These extensive powers placed the Gestapo in a strong position of almost boundless authority. If there was any doubt regarding a persons loyalty or ability to fit into the Nazi regime, the Gestapo could punish them as they saw fit. To go against the Party was almost always fatal, and this certainly contributed to the low profile kept by many anti-Nazis. Alongside this went the atmosphere of fear which was prevalent in Nazi Germany. The country under Nazi rule was permeated with Nazi spies and nformers, making it almost impossible to talk openly for fear of being overheard and harshly punished for any oppositional views. In this way, much of the potential opposition to the Nazi regime was suppressed, as it was extremely difficult to share any oppositional views. As such, little opposition was expressed, and this effect was further abetted by the terrible punishments of torture, interrogation and murder which were performed on those citizens who became outspoken. It is also possible to see how far the influence of the SS extended, as historian Andrew Boxer explains that he network of concentration camps became the basis of a vast SS economic empire controlling enterprises involved in quarrying, brick-making, forestry, clothing, furniture and even soft drinks. The SS in itself was far more than a barbaric police division; it was an institution. This is supported by historian Geoff Layton, who says that the SD system not only preserved the Nazi regime by its brutal and repressive policies of law enforcement, but gradually extended its influence into the vital areas of military and economic affairs. In this way it became the key interest group in the Third Reich. However, the power of the SS would have been greatly reduced were it not for the reformation of the German courts. The system known as Independence of the Judiciary requires that the Judicial system is not influenced by politics or the Government, so as to prevent the Government from persecuting opponents through the Justice system. However, in 1933-4, all anti-Nazi and Jewish Judges were sacked to ensure verdicts were in keeping with Nazi ideology. Judges who were thought to have een too lenient or to have misconducted trials were severely admonished, and in some cases, Hitler was known to correct sentences. From 1934, cases of treason were transferred to Peoples Courts which were run by Nazi Judges. This meant, of course, that opponents could be dealt with without any semblance to genuine law. By 1935, people could be tried for Acts hostile to the National Community without having violated any written law. This essentially meant that the Nazis could punish anyone beneath the guise of a legal procedure. People could also be convicted as enemies of the state as a result of their racial origins or their mentality hostile to the state. Two particular concepts were also created, known as protective custody and preventive arrest, which were used to Justify the detention of people who had completed their sentences or who had been acquitted by the regular court. These violations of the Judicial system allowed for the removal of any known or suspected opponents, which helped to secure the Nazi rule. The political measures taken by the Party must also be taken into consideration. Firstly, it is necessary to examine the olitical events outside the party which helped the Nazis to keep power. A political coup for the Nazis was the Reichstag fire of 1933. This destroyed the Parliamentary building and was blamed on a young, Dutch Communist named Marinus van der Lubbe. The man was of questionable sanity and was possibly framed; however the German Communists, including leaders of the German Communist Party on grounds of conspiracy to stage a putsch. This meant that the Nazis managed to increase their share of the vote significantly. In the 1933 election, the rules were significantly bent o favour the Nazis, and the Power of the State was turned against anti-Nazi parties, as the left-wing parties were disadvantaged. Once the Nazi Party was in power, the next step in their political domination was the elimination of any remaining political opposition. The KPD and SPD, both left-wing parties, were banned, and many other parties dissolved themselves. In March 1933, the Nazi Party successfully campaigned for the Enabling Act, which would allow Hitler to govern for four years without consulting the Reichstag. However, at the time of the proposal, the SS were present, hus presenting a distinct threat to those who may vote against it. This was another step along the road to a dictatorship. As of July 1933, a law was passed which stated that the Nazi Party was the only party in the Reich. This meant that there was no other option for the people of Germany. There were no longer any other political parties to replace the Nazis, so the Nazis remained in power. To quote historian Andrew Boxer, German democracy had been destroyed in less than six months. Another central aspect of this internal political change was undoubtedly the Night of he Long Knives, on the 30thof June 1934. This was an internal purge of members of the SA, as Hitler saw them as, in short, too independent. SS men shot around 400 people, including Ernst Rohm, the leader of the SA, and several other senior members. This asserted Hitlers power within the Party, making the Nazi Party inevitably stronger from the inside, as Hitler had removed those whom he suspected may be potentially disloyal, or even simply too free-thinking. The Nazi regime was irrefutably strengthened by the indoctrination of the German youth. Hitler clearly aw the significance of loyal, Nazi youth, saying in a speech in November of 1933: When an opponent declares, l will not come over to your side, l calmly say Your child belongs to us already What are you? You will pass on. Your descendants, however, now stand in the new camp. In a short time they will know nothing else but this new community. This was, though chilling, certainly true, and great focus was placed on youth policy.