American Art Education in 1980s Through Today (2012) Research Paper

American Art Education in 1980s Through Today (2012) - Research Paper Example The move to institute uniform art education program addressed issues such as teaching materials, teachers training, curriculum guide, and books among other issues. Previously, art education in America did not address issues like teacher training, which influence the system adopted by teachers in teaching art education. In 1980s, art curriculum for K-12 focused on progressive education and self-expression. Through this education, American technology education on art was founded, which is based on the cultural industrial education history (Foster 2). This focus addressed the need to develop art talent in children while nurturing their natural abilities. Art teachers taught painting, sculpture, drawing, ceramics, and other forms of art skills. The result of this approach was quite impressive. Many children were able to grasp the skills and produce aesthetic work. Another notable thing with revising of the art education curriculum in 1980s is that it revitalized art education. Art educat ion looked at history, traditional systems, and broader aspect of art to make art education interesting to pupils and the teachers. The 1980s curriculum stressed on art making while blending it with studies of art history, aesthetics, and criticism. The art education curriculum of 1980s did stress on visual art education. ... This argument led to the push for more realistic studies in art over the formal system. Notably, art education in 1990s has emphasized the need for visual art in all aspect of art education (Mary 5). Curriculum developed to cater for the needs of pupils and students in post primary schools address current issues. For instance, visual art stresses on current events or realities. In other words, the curriculum does not stress on abstract art. The 1990s art education curriculum identified the need to incorporate place based art education. This is a reform in art education since it exempts traditional aspect of art education in previous decades. Another important observation about art education in 1990s is that art education incorporated other disciplines such as history, current environmental events among others in the art curriculum (Keyon 2). Scholars and lovers of art argued that this approach gave the learner the ability to use art to solve current issues in the society. For instanc e, music art education takes place in special classes while addressing current events in the society. In 1990s, art curriculum has developed various degree programs in art, which address individual needs (Mary 7). Other than professional development programs introduced in 1990s, art studies have created room for students to choose from a wide range of programs. Art education development led to the visual culture experienced today in art schools. Educators and stakeholders in art emphasized on the use of technology in visual art. For instance, National Standard, which was introduced in 1995 as per the California Teaching Standards has become a top producer in weld wire and several industrial wire

Human resource management in Foxconn Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Human resource management in Foxconn - Essay Example It began in 2009 where a factory by the name of Sun Dayong, committed suicide just because he lost an iPhone 4 prototype in his posession (Barbosa 2008). It was followed by 14 suicides 2010 until 2012, the latest in June of 2012 where suicides were directly related to wage. Obviously, there is something very wrong in the human resource management practice of Foxconn which needs to be addressed. Human resource issue The kind of technology that Foxconn supplies to Apple may be cutting edge and its client, Apple Inc may be a revolutionary company but the human resource practice of Foxconn is medieval that even predated classical management theorists whose theorists were already debunked by modern practice of management. Foxconn workplaces were often described as labor camps due to the horrible treatment of its employees that include abuse and illegal overtimes to the point that employees commit suicide. Worst, Foxconn also make their employees sign waivers that gurantee that Foxconn wil l not be sued by its employees up to their descendants if something happened to them whether they died, get injured and committed suicide (Malone 2010). In its Mexico plant, it was even alleged that the bus that was supposed to take the workers to and from the plant were deliberately delayed by Foxconn so that the managemend could force its employees to do an overtime work without pay while waiting for the bus. This issue had been compounded until riot broke loose in February 19, 2010 where employees set fire in the company’s gymnasium. These actions only manifests how callous and abusive Foxconn in treating its employees. Their human resource practice virtually breaks every rule in good human resource management. Their human resource practice did not even conform to the basic tenet of Taylor’s scientific management which is the most basic management concept available today. Taylor management theories may have been dismissed as outdated but at least, Taylor had the mot ivation concept that if employees will be paid well, they will also be motivated to work well (Butler 1991). Foxconn is notorious in this aspect that its employees are even driven to suicide out of frustration of the company ‘s level of pay. It would find ways where it can force its employees to work overtime without pay such as delaying their commuter bus. It may be a cheap strategy but Foxconn would resort to it for as long as it can make more money out of its employees never mind if they will commit suicide later. Foxconn has also no regard for its employees welfare. Instead of addressing the root cause of its suicide issues in the company which is mismanagement and oppressive pay, it instead made its employees sign a contract that would deter them in suing the company if anything happen to them in the company. This is Foxconn’s response to its human resource issue which is to protect itself from legal complications instead of mending its management practice (Dalrymp le 2009). What Foxconn should have done? Applicable human resource theories. Had Foxconn been a conscientious company, it should have addressed the employees grievances instead of seeking legal protection. If the issue is pay, Foxconn should have increased the wages of its workers at least for it to become competitive industry and not at its current level where it drives employees to suicide. Second, it should have conducted leadership and management trainings to its

Diversity and Human Capital and Indias Workforce

Diversity and Human Capital and Indias Workforce A diverse ethos like India not only showcases unity in diversity but also the potential to create waves in innovative thinking. India, largely an agro-based economy has undergone a massive facelift in the recent decade due to the dotcom boom, giving the economy a phenomenal push. Statistics reveal that India will be a youth country in the coming decades. Given the immense knowledge pool, diversity and youth population at the countrys disposal, it is only natural to predict that India will be the global leader. At the same time, amendments are required to manage these great resources effectively to deliver what we dream to achieve. Challenges faced by India Inc. are not only population burst, corruption, terrorism, etc but also management of youth the immense knowledge base available along with attitude refinement to facilitate retention of knowledge. The country which boasts of a plethora of natural resources should reinforce ways to utilize these depleting resources and the talent pool available to the best of its potential. This paper looks into few of these issues and suggests methodologies for managing the diversity. INTRODUCTION A country like India is a perfect example of unity among diversity with a mix of cultures, languages, religions, age groups, etc offering a tremendous opportunity to learn and garner knowledge. The country has evolved over centuries into a multi-dimensional ethos, learning and assimilating a vast pool of knowledge. But have we succeeded in managing and utilizing this talent pool to its full potential? This provoking question leads us to the topic, Managing Diversity: The Challenges Faced By India Inc. A key distinguisher and common asset, knowledge is of importance. The healthy diversity along with a huge population does India an opportunity to grow fast. New ideas and fresh perspectives are natural offshoots of diversity and should be seen as blessings in disguise, rather than a challenging hurdle towards growth. But in this age of information technology and speed, application of knowledge, will majorly contribute to the countrys growth story. Diversity in India and its implicationsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Between 2003 and 2050, India will add about 250 million people to its labour pool à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ By 2020, 61% of Indians will be under 35, i.e. about 780 million Indians will be in this age group. The statistics indicate that future India will be home to more young minds, thus increasing the average disposable income, and facilitating greater youth participation in decision making activities with fresh outlook. The youth and baby-boomer generations together can contribute a lot in adding value to the knowledge chain. The acquired knowledge should be practiced or else the country cannot thrive on the potential knowledge leaders diverse knowledge pool available. The concept of Knowledge Learnt, Used Thrown, entrenched in the young minds will have to be given up to produce innovators and thought leaders, and stress on practical application of knowledge is quintessential. Knowledge is of no value unless you put it into practice. -Anton Chekhov LITERATURE REVIEW A knowledge economy and its attributed index primarily depend upon 4 key pillars listed by The World Bank as Innovation, Education, Information Communication Technology (ICT) and Economical Incentive Regime (EIR) under the Knowledge Assessment Methodology (KAM) and Knowledge Economy Index (KEI). This index ranked India at 101 indicating a large scope for improvement on the knowledge front. As per our analysis, innovation has the highest weightage in the methodology used. Sample data shown below Innovation or the pioneering application of knowledge has a great impact on the countrys overall knowledge economy index. The contribution towards patents is closely related. Patent data largely by the US (KEI Rank 10). In context with the categories of knowledge-based assets, two broad classifications have been made explicit or tacit. Included among the former are patents, trademarks, etc i.e. things that can be archived and codified. Much harder to grasp and record is tacit knowledge, which leads to knowledge creation. The challenge inherent with tacit knowledge is figuring out how to recognize, generate, and share it. The basic framework that employs knowledge creation as a black box driving economic growth is usually called the endogenous growth model. The literature using this black box includes Shell (1966), Romer (1986, 1990), Lucas (1988), Jones and Manuelli (1990), etc. The basic variable of study is a knowledge worker (or K-worker). Every time a K-worker researches with their best partner(s); the new knowledge jointly created becomes shared knowledge, thus dynamically builds up knowledge in common. Heterogeneity in K-workers provides an opportunity to cooperate and is endogenous to the model. In this way, the heterogeneity or diversity of all K-workers changes endogenously over time. Thus, a partnership in knowledge creation is most productive when common and differential knowledge are in balance. From a birds eye view, the ability of a nation to use, synergize and create knowledge capital determines its capacity to empower its citizens. Aptly in the words of Dr. Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India, The time has come to create a second wave of institution building, and of excellence in the fields of education, research and capability building so that we are better prepared for the 21st century. India today needs a well defined knowledge-oriented paradigm of development to provide a competitive advantage in all the fields. The National Knowledge Commission (NKC) in India has been entrusted to study the parameters and suggest corrective measures to give India the competitive knowledge edge in the coming decades. The KEI model of World Bank has been re-visited from the Indian context introducing various parameters which make plausible sense in the country. The model: METHODOLOGY The paper explores both tangible and intangible parameters for enhancing the knowledge capital in India. The world in future will be driven by a knowledge-base economy and this notion is not foreign to India. Indias history is marked with events that reinforce the countrys potential to learn and showcase unity through diversity. Think about the Indian War of Independence and it will make sense. India is and will remain for some time one of the youngest countries in the world. This demographic dividend is seen as an opportunity to accelerate the countrys rate of growth. We have a critical mass of skilled, English-speaking knowledge workers. The knowledge economy of the twenty-first century demands competencies not only in the area of ICT but also in group learning, risk-taking ability, tolerance to multicultural views, learning from nature and synergizing to innovate. The gathered knowledge needs to be effectively channelized, applied and disseminated to the people of this country. This eventually increases the common knowledge pool and benefits the economy as large. The scriptures, traditional knowledge and the baby boomer generation help us to think in a holistic manner for applying the knowledge. The attitude of young minds, if nurtured in the right way, can produce a positive impact. Like Victoria Abril puts ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Keep your ears open, your eyes open, grab everything you can, react, and learn The countrys youth should be encouraged to research and get an insight on various subjects to tackle real life challenges through innovative methodologies. Traditional scriptures like the Vedas are treasure chests of knowledge and teach us how to deal with state problems, how to teach and grow, etc. They should be shared with the common man, to enable him to think and utilize age old wisdom in an age of intense competition. In Sanskrit, the importance of knowledge is quoted as Nahi Jnanena Sadrsham Nothing is equivalent to knowledge FINDINGS ANALYSIS A burgeoning young human capital is bound to have positive implications on the economy. If not tended well, this boon can turn into a bane. The age distribution of India is projected to change by 2020. The population in the age group 15 -59 years (currently 58 percent) is projected to increase to nearly 64 percent. This shift is shown below India would then have a handsome mix of youth and grey-haired wise men to share different views and synergize to suggest solutions by application of their acquired knowledge. But, this upcoming bulge will also have its own set of ideologies thoughts and would thus have to develop a tolerance level and attitude to learn from their older generations about the vanities and gyan of life. The baby boomers have retained knowledge imparted to them about 80 years back and continue to apply them in real life problems. The youth needs to appreciate this and concentrate on application of gathered knowledge rather than garner degrees. The flip side is that the countrys education system forces one to memorize more and remember the same till exams. The classroom learning limits the students perception. The lessons are merely learnt, used thrown today. More nature and environment based learning would give students a fresh perspective. QUALCOMM has pioneered and introduced solutions inspired from nature like Low-friction ship hulls inspired by shark skin, etc. If all the young minds of India can be guided to think this way, imagine what wonders can be created. The knowledge imparted and discussed should be taught along with examples from diverse backgrounds. At graduation level, students should be encouraged to pursue research work apply knowledge creatively, and indulge in good communication. These are imperative for attitude refinement of individuals which needs tendering to keep them receptive to ideas. This could proactively nurture entrepreneurs at an early stage. Today with a demand driven economy, there is a tendency of people to learn, use throw (forget) the acquired knowledge and comment it doesnt matter well start afresh and learn fast. For facilitating retention, reframing teaching patterns is equally important along with grooming of students. This grooming would include exercise based teaching, vocational training and soft skills training. The habit of reading gaining perspective about varied issues is dwindling and should be emphasized at an early age. We need to strike a healthy balance between self made efforts outsourced tasks to help develop a rational outlook on activities around us. This is imperative for creating a sustained cadre of knowledge workers. It is clear that workers with equal unequal skill sets create better synergy and lead to value addition in knowledge pool. The overall literacy rate in India is highly unsatisfactory. There are areas in India where the abundance of knowledge gets eclipsed by the inability to communicate. Due to this disparity, thoughts and ideas are stalled without getting discussed. Such barriers need to be removed, to educate and tap the knowledge base available. Socrates subtly quotes, The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance. Illiteracy is one of the acclaimed evils in society. The initiative to educate is not with the Government alone but requires active support from every citizen. Empowering minds and sharing knowledge will corroborate the Indian growth story and make it flourish. Management of gargantuan diversities like India will be effective only when citizens rightfully learn, teach apply acquired knowledge for betterment of the country at large. Diversity in population provides an excellent opportunity to explore and learn. A clichà ©d process might be holistically applied for a different cause to apply, learn and grow. If, like the IT companies the concept of collating ideas can be practiced at the national level it would keep the minds of people busy and help everyone learn more from the surroundings and contribute more. Heterogeneity plays a major role in this context. The quote below from Mahatma Gandhi states how important it is to share knowledgeà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ If you give me rice, Ill eat today; if you teach me how to grow rice, Ill eat every day. Innovation in a developing nation requires a favorable climate, one that is free from bureaucratic regulatory obstacles and fosters interactions across boundaries. The sources of knowledge might be universities, research institutes, think tanks, etc but the right to information is the prerogative of every individual. With this, we conclude our paper and hope to ignite thoughts through an insightful Sanskrit shloka about knowledgeà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ CONCLUSION India has showcased unity integrity for umpteen causes. Now she is faced with the new challenges of growing population and managing knowledge. For the nation to become a leader in knowledge based economies, the same commitment and unity needs to be shown by each citizen. Today in an intense global market, few variables will give India a competitive advantage. Lifelong learning, youth population and synergy between diverse cultures and attitude to learn, to name a few. In the next few decades, India will have a large youth base. Given this demographic advantage over other countries, we are optimally positioned to establish a knowledge-oriented paradigm of development. An economy that creates, acquires, manages, adapts, and uses knowledge effectively for its economic development, can overcome many challenges while its individuals learn, retain and re-use the knowledge base to innovate and grow perpetually. In the words of our Prime Minister, to leapfrog in the race for social and economic development. The attitude towards learning would also differentiate a country as a trend-setter. Inventive education patterns, fighting illiteracy, and application of knowledge are important tasks for India Inc. amidst exiting challenges. The proactive involvement of elder generations in designing learning programs for students and future managers, to incorporate their traditional wisdom and insights on real life challenges is important. In short, the message is to learn, share, apply and manage through diversity and adversity. Hope and inspiration along with dedication to the task are equally important to the success of a vision. This thought has been beautifully quoted by the former Indian President and visionary Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam in his book Wings of Fire, For all your days prepare, And treat them ever alike, When you are the anvil bear, When you are the hammer strike

Comparing Themes in Frosts Two Tramps in Mud Time :: comparison compare contrast essays

Diverging Themes in Frost's Two Tramps in Mud Time On the surface, Two Tramps in Mud Time seems to display Robert Frost's narrow individualism. The poem, upon first reading it, seems incongruent, with some of the stanzas having no apparent connection to the whole poem. The poem as a whole also does not appear to have a single definable theme. At one point, the narrator seems wholly narcissistic, and then turns to the power and beauty of nature. It is, however, in the final third of the poem where the narrator reveals his true thoughts to the reader, bringing resolution to the poem as a single entity, not merely a disharmonious collection of words. At the outset of the poem, the narrator gives a very superficial view of himself, almost seeming angered when one of the tramps interferes with his wood chopping: "one of them put me off my aim". This statement, along with many others, seems to focus on "me" or "my", indicating the apparrent selfishness and arrogance of the narrator: "The blows that a life of self-control/Spares to strike for the common good/That day, giving a loose to my soul,/I spent on the unimportant wood." The narrator refers to releasing his suppressed anger not upon evils that threaten "the common good", but upon the "unimportant wood". The appparent arrogance of the narrator is revealed as well by his reference to himself as a Herculean figure standing not alongside nature, but over it: "The grip on earth of outspread feet,/The life of muscles rocking soft/And smooth and moist in vernal heat." Unexpectedly, the narrator then turns toward nature, apparently abandoning his initial train of thought. He reveals the unpredictability of nature, saying that even in the middle of spring, it can be "two months back in the middle of March." Even the fauna of the land is involved with this chicanery; the arrival of the bluebird would to most indicate the arrival of spring, yet "he wouldn't advise a thing to blossom." The narrator points to the conclusion that, while on the surface, things appear to be one thing, there is always something hidden below, much like "The lurking frost in the earth beneath..." In the final three stanzas of the poem, the "frost" within the narrator comes to the surface. The humility of the narrator comes to light, with the narrator saying that the tramps' right to chop wood for a living "was the better right--agreed.

Lifestyle Disease Essay

Lifestyle disease which may also be referred to as Non-Communicable Disease, has in recent times become an issue of grave concern for governments both globally and regionally. The World Health Organization (WHO) Secretary-General, during a General Assembly Summit (first ever summit on deadly chronic illnesses) in 2011 deemed in a statement â€Å"†¦the spread of non-communicable diseases as a socio-economic and development challenge of epidemic proportions†¦Ã¢â‚¬  . In another report from WHO, Dr. Ala Alwan, the organization’s Director-General for non-communicable diseases further states, â€Å"lifestyle diseases are responsible for 63 percent of global deaths based on WHO’s estimates for 2008.† Here in the Caribbean Governments have begun taking steps to arrest the problem of lifestyle disease through an initial Heads of Government meeting of Caricom held in September 2007 to â€Å"start a campaign to galvanise the Region against the scourge of such disorders as obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, heart attack and some kinds of cancer.† So what is meant by the term lifestyle disease? Lifestyle disease has been defined as being a disease that is associated with the way an individual or group of people live their lives and can be caused by such factors as poor diet and nutrition, lack of exercise and chronic stress. Poor diet and nutrition is a major cause of lifestyle disease in both adults and children. Individuals in these modern times live a â€Å"fast-paced lifestyle† and have become â€Å"wrapped up in raking in the moolah† and take very little time to nourish their bodies properly. Many persons now eat out more often than before, consuming a lot of ‘fast food’ and ‘junk food’ with high salt content and saturated fat. Individuals are also consuming more meat and eating less fruits and vegetables and getting less fibre in their diets. Many persons also because of their busyness skip meals causing many to overeat and others due to their circumstances may under eat therefore not getting proper or enough nutrients into their bodies. The drinks being consumed also contribute to poor nutrition. The sodas individuals drink especially children have high sugar content which is not healthy. The habitual consumption of alcoholic drinks can also affect one’s health in a negative way. What one eats is important to one’s health and the practice of poor nutrition and diet can have negative long term effects on one’s health such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and  diabetes. Another major contributor to lifestyle disease is lack of exercise. According to WHO, â€Å"physical inactivity causes 2 million deaths a year worldwide†. In a world where one has access to many types of exercise gadgets and various exercise videos, individuals fail to avail themselves with these devices and have become lazy, and lead more sedentary lives. People including children now choose to spend more time indoors instead of going outside and doing any kind of physical activity to stimulate the heart. They are either watching television or sitting in front of a computer playing or working, or on a tablet or phone for many hours at a time. Many persons even in the work place do not use the stairs and instead choose to use the elevator or escalator to move from one floor to the next. It is said that laughter is the best medicine but do you know that exercise can cause your body to release chemicals that cheer you up? The human body was meant to move and lack of physical activity can lead to such health issues as obesity, lack of energy, stress and it can also affect the heart. Lifestyle disease is associated with the daily habits of people and is a direct result of the lifestyle someone lives. It can be caused by several factors such as bad food habits, physical inactivity and stress, all of which negatively affect one’s body thus contributing to disease.

International Trade and Finance Speech

Economics Paper 5 International Trade and Finance Speech Financial Pitfalls 2 Ladies and Gentlemen of the House, good afternoon to you all. I would like to thank you for the opportunity to speak to you this today on such an important topic – our economy. Our economy is in crises mode. To say that our economy has slowed down would be an understatement. The economy, to date, has taken a step backwards and the direction we are heading will take us from a record long-lasting recession to an all-out financial depression. Americans consume far more goods than we produce on a monthly basis.What that means, simply put, is that we continue to build more debt and get poorer with every passing month. Think of it like this – the average person goes through a certain amount of managed stress each day. When outside stress, or variables are added to daily stress it places more pressure on the body and mind. If this outside stress isn’t dealt with or managed, and as more is adde d, the body will either explode or shut down. Our economy is like the average person’s body. Most of us do not understand the current economic state of affairs.Not that we wouldn’t be able to comprehend the status, but most are unaware, as the media and national political heads are sheltering Americans from the truth and not diving in to the true issues at hand. We currently have a surplus of imports in our great nation. This should be of no surprise to us – countries that we currently hold the largest amount of deficit through imports are: †¢China †¢Mexico †¢Japan Financial Pitfalls 3 With the Chinese enjoying a spike in export capital over nearly past ten years, they have become a giant on the global economic scene.On a closer level, one that strikes the heart of every American man and woman, the impact of this surplus is being felt in our automotive industry – the true backbone of this great country. China has grown into an auto-parts mo nster as they have increased over 900 percent in exports since the beginning of the century. How are they doing this? By producing quality parts at a cheaper rate is nothing new but the Chinese are being criticized by many for benefitting from illegal currency manipulation which leads to unfair trade policies.These policies pose a real threat to American automotive jobs in the near future. International trade has a significant effect on the Gross Domestic Product. The GDP is the true market worth of officially recognized goods or services produced in a country. Think about this for a moment – if you were to go into a department store and found two shirts that were identical in color, material and stitch but one was priced ten dollars higher than the other. Which one would you choose? Easily you would pick the cheaper product and that is the issue American consumer’s face each day.Larger corporations have the ability to mass-produce products and pay their workers far le ss than those here in the states. They do this across the globe in what is called slave labor. As a result, there are fewer jobs available in the United States, more across the globe, and more goods being imported into the country and a more dramatic effect on our economy. Financial Pitfalls 4 We have exhausted our means to generate additional income for our nation through tariffs and sanctions on goods being brought into the country.The taxes levied on goods and the limits placed on incoming products and goods can impact and possibly obstruct international trade. This may also increase production costs and the possibly have an effect on the foreign exchange market. Exchange rates are driven for the most part by the amount of currency bought and sold either through speculation or international asset transactions in either services or goods. There are two types of exchange rates: short-term and long-term. The short-term exchange rates swing from minute to minute and are caused throug h changes in supply and demand for money as it is being sold from one country to another.Long-term rates are more directly affected through national monetary policies created by global governments. This has a global effect on economics. With our current national election trail heating up and the nation’s economic state of affairs in the center of discussion, there will be promises made by each candidate. The focus will not only be today’s economy but how we will move out of the red and back into the black. There are many ideas but in my mind it is simple as an old saying – you must spend money to make money. For us o make money and become financially independent, better yet, a global leader in economics, we must learn from our past. Financial Pitfalls 5 As President Bill Clinton discussed in a recent interview with Fortune Magazine, he laid out the three keys to bring our economy back – †¢Unleash the large amount of capital that is being held but not invested †¢Accelerate the resolution of the home mortgage crisis †¢Bring back manufacturing Sounds easy but it isn’t – this is not a short fix to a growing crisis but will take time for us to work together to climb back to the top. International Trade and Finance Speech International Trade and Finance Speech ECO372 March 25, 2013 The impact of international trade on the United States economy is quite significant. While historically the United States had been a nation that provided credit to other countries, it is now in a decline. This decline has caused the United States to become a major debtor, owing millions of dollars in interest to other countries. This is a result of an excess of importing, which has resulted in a surplus of imported goods. This surplus can be necessary to help offset the current deficits, but may stunt the economic growth of the United States.When there is a surplus of imported goods from foreign countries, the United States slips into a deficit. This deficit is created from the trade balance. The largest quantity of imported goods is the transportation equipment. Between 2006 and 2010, automobiles were the highest ranked import, followed by energy-related products. This surplus of imported vehicles resulted in the inability of American automobile manufacturer to produce comparably priced vehicles. This further resulted in U. S. automobile manufacturers needing to either receive government aid in some cases, or file bankruptcy and close for good.The closing of several automobile manufacturing companies and plants resulted in an increase in the unemployment rate, as displaced workers have been unable to find comparable work. International trade can also have a major impact on the Gross Domestic Products (GDP). It can affect the level at which imports and exports are operating, it can reduce consumer spending, and affect the unemployment rate. A higher rate of exports to imports will increase the GDP, while more importing will have the opposite effect. These fluctuations in trading have negative and positive effects on the U.S. economy. The more the United States exports, the more income it is gaining. This is good for the rate of employment, as the higher demand for U. S. products requires more producti vity. Trading deficits also have an impact on consumer spending. When consumer spending is high, trading deficit percentages increase. The opposite is true when consumer spending is low. Domestic import markets also increase as the value of the American dollar increases. International relations and trade are affected by tariffs and quotas implemented by theUnited States government. Tariffs and quotas allow the U. S. to differentiate between the domestic supply and the world supply. Due to protection from the government, domestic markets need not fear competition from foreign producers who provide higher quality, lower cost products. However, too many restrictions on imports could cause a decline in productive trade with foreign countries. These other countries could institute tariffs on U. S. goods which would result in the United States having to pay higher prices for imports.In addition ot all of this, international trading relationships remain unaffected, as free trade agreements allow countries to buy and sell goods at fair market value. Another factor in international trade are foreign exchange rates. Foreign exchange rates are the rate one country’s currency may be exchanged for the currency of another country. It is an economic measure implemented by the government to ensure equilibrium of trading activities. A decline in the exchange rate decreases a country’s purchasing power.Foreign exchange rates are affected by the interest rates imposed by a country for currencies as a result of demand. These interest rates are managed by the central banks of each country, in the United States this would be the Federal Reserve, or the FED. Exchange rates are determined by several factors, interest rates, productivity, inflation and debt are all factors in determining the exchange rate of any given country. Since the 1970’s, when president Nixon took steps to fully normalize relations between the United States and China, China has become one of the major import countries for the United States.While it would seem that the United States could impose many restrictions on trade with China, many would argue that it would be very unwise. A restriction on imports from China could be very detrimental to the United States economy. New restrictions would not only prompt monetary action from China, such as higher prices, it could also prompt civil actions, perhaps even war. Free trade allows countries to engage in trade without additional tariffs or quotas. If China is not imposed with high tariffs and quotas, the United States government knows that the savings will be passed on to the consumers.Limiting the amount of goods imported from china would also greatly limit the variety of products available to U. S. consumers. This would reduce profit and lead to an increase in unemployment. This could continue on the result in an unstable United States economy. In conclusion, international trade has a major impact on the economy of the U nited States. Historically the United States has been a major power in international trade and finance. Currently, the U. S. is in a decline which has cause some major debts.An increase in imports, a decrease in the GDP and fluctuations in the exchange rate have led us to being indebted to many countries while we work though the current recession. Resources: Colander, D. C. (2010). Macroeconomics (8th ed. ). Boston, MA: McGraw-Hill/Irwin. McTeer, B. (2008). The Impact of Foreign Trade on the Economy. Retrieved from http://www. economix. blogs. nytimes. com U. S. Consumption Spent on Foreign Imported Goods. (2011). Retrieved from http://www. americawakeup. net International Trade and Finance Speech International Trade and Finance Speech ECO/372 International Trade and Finance Speech Macroeconomics consists of the large scale economic factors such as interest rates and national productivity. International trade, finance and exchange rates are a large part of this study. Today, we will dive into the basic definitions and descriptions of simple terms and concepts as they relate to macroeconomics. â€Å"The trade balance is the difference between a country’s exports and imports† (Colander, 2010).When a country is exporting more than they are importing a surplus is created, so there is more production than consumption. The opposite is true for a trade deficit. A country that imports more than it exports is running in a deficit; consumption is more than production. An example of a product in the United States with a surplus is oil. Seven years ago the U. S. imported about two-thirds of their oil consumption. By 2014 it is expected that the U. S. will only import 6 billi on barrels of crude oil per day; this is about one-third of what the country uses and by 2020 U. S. il production will exceed Saudi Arabia’s (Phillips, 2010). The problem is that the oil produced in the U. S. is high-quality crude and the oil imported is heavy, sour oil. Since the refineries are currently equipped to refine the heavier oil the U. S. has a surplus of the high-quality crude. One would expect lower oil prices with the surplus, but as the current gas prices reflect this is not the case. While the process and the politics involved have many components not discussed here the crux of the situation is that a surplus of an import can cause business and domestic consumers to suffer.Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is the value of all goods and services produced in one country during a one year period. GDP is made up of consumption of goods (expected to last three or more years such as food and clothing), services, government expenditures (schools, upkeep of roads, and mili tary expenses), residential and non-residential spending, and business inventories. The equation is all of the items listed less ay imports to other countries. International trade influences the GDP by expanding markets with imported goods and services that are either not available in the U.S. or are less expensive if imported. Some of the goods imported are coffee, bananas, oil, and automobiles from Germany and Japan. The imports of these goods increase the economic GDP, but also allow the U. S. to export products to other countries. A result of this economic expansion and diversity of goods and services is competitive pricing and an increase in the market competition among producers providing domestic consumers with less expensive products. A major advantage of trading is the ability of certain producers to concentrate or specialize in certain goods.A disadvantage would be the government imposition of restrictions and limitations to protect the domestic production and market. Gove rnments have imposed taxes on trading transactions which increases the cost of importation. Many governments also restrict or limit the import of goods and service to their country. These impositions are known as a tariff or quota. Tariffs are taxes governments place on international traded goods – generally imports (Colander, 2010). They are most commonly used to restrict international trade and promote domestically produced goods.Quotas are put in place for the same reason but rather than taxing imports the quantities of product are limited. Tariffs affect trade patterns, but they also create revenue for the government often offsetting the loss of consumer surplus (â€Å"Impact of Trade Tariff Cuts: Long-Series Historical Evidence†,  2013). The exchange rates are â€Å"the price of one country’s currency in terms of another’s currency† (Colander, 2010). To understand the determination of an exchange rate one needs to think of currency as just a nother good (Colander, 2010).Consumers demand other’s countries’ currencies to buy goods and assets in that country. Foreign exchange rates are determined by supply and demand of goods. An example to understand how the demand-supply balance moves is to examine the dollar vs. rupee exchange. The dollar/rupee exchange rate will depend on how the demand-supply balance moves. When the demand for U. S. dollars in India rises and supply does not rise correspondingly, each dollar will cost more rupees to buy.Exchange rates are in a constant state of fluctuation because of the countless activities of the foreign exchange market. China currently supplies the U. S. and many other countries with goods. It would be difficult to discontinue because â€Å"buying from China is in fact buying American† (Chen, 2011). Chen, 2011 reported that America imported $374 billion of goods and services from China in 2010 and exported $115 billion to China. This created a trade deficit of $260 billion. But if calculations are based on alue-added contributions by the two countries, America actually has a trade surplus of $70 billion. One should think about the jobs that are created from the importing of goods from China rather than the jobs it is taking away. Apple employs thousands of associates in America to sell iPhones, Target employees over 350,000 American workers who sell Chinese imports, and thousands of UPS and FedEx workers deliver Dell computers, Hasbro toys, and Nike shoes to American families (Chen, 2011).Thank you for your time and I hope the information provided gives a high level understanding of international trade and finance as it relates to the current state of the U. S. macro economy. References Colander, D. C. (2010). Macroeconomics (8th Ed. ). Retrieved from The University of Phoenix eBook Collection. Phillips, M. (2013). Falling U. S. Oil Imports Will Reshape the World Crude Market. Retrieved from http://www. businessweek. com/articles/2013-01- 16/falling-u-dot-s-dot-oil-imports-will-reshape-the-world-crude-market Impact of Trade Tariff Cuts: Long-Series Historical Evidence. 2013). Retrieved from http://www. globalpolicyjournal. com/articles/world-economy-trade-and-finance/impact-trade-tariff-cuts-long-series-historical-evidence Alden, E. (2013). A U. S. -China â€Å"Trade War†: Time to Abolish a Silly Notion. Retrieved from http://thediplomat. com/pacific-money/2012/10/31/a-u-s-china-trade-war-time-to-abolish-a-silly-notion/ Chen, B. (2011). Buying From China Is in Fact Buying American. Retrieved from http://www. forbes. com/sites/forbesleadershipforum/2011/12/22/buying-from-china-is-in-fact-buying-american/

Why the Cerfew Law Should Not be Passed essays

Why the Cerfew Law Should Not be Passed essays Many adults today say that all teenagers are basically immature. Just because they act, and do things differently then they did when they were younger. So then they come up with laws, stupid laws, for teenagers such as curfews. In this essay Im going to give you three good reasons why this law should not be passed. First I think that the parents should decide on whether there child should be out after 11:00 o clock or not. I feel that it would be their job to determine which time their child should be home, Because not all teenagers are irresponsible. Many teenagers are responsible, so they should be aloud to stay out longer than others should. Just for the fact of being responsible. Second, if this law was passed many kids wouldnt have a life, because they go to work right after school and get home around 7:00, they still need to get ready and leave around 8:00, and there friend lives an hour away. They get there about 9:00 and they have to leave in an hour to get home before curfew. Third, what happens if you and your friends go to a movie like Titanic for instance and we all know how long that is, you can only make the 9:15 movie but the problem is it ends at 11:30. That means your out past curfew and youre breaking the law. In conclusion I think by passing this law it will just confuse things and mess up many peoples life, and also discriminate very mature young teenagers who want a life. ...

A Patient essays

A Patient essays A patient, lethally ill or in very bad pain, does not have the right to commit suicide or die by help of a physician. This, of course, is my opinion and I believe that you should always try to keep them alive as long as possible. If you are suffering and are lethally ill, then that is the way that God has it planned out for you. I dont think that anyone has the right to take his or her own life or take the life of someone else. In this country, taking the life of someone else is a major felony and could result in the death penalty. On the other hand, committing suicide or attempting to commit suicide isnt a crime by any means. In an unusual way, this could contradict itself. Can you really put ownership on life? Do we control our own destiny? Why is it that attempting to commit suicide is completely fine but someone depriving someone else of life will most likely result in the rest of his or her life in a cell? We are losing a life either way so what difference does it make? Ask yourself this is it really our life to take in the first place? Do we own it? Everyone has heard about the mass suicide cults that used to thrive in the 70s and 80s. Was the leader of the cult a criminal? If so, why? He didnt kill any of them; they ended their own lives. He may have mislead them and lied to There is only one state in the entire United States where it is legal for a physician to give a patient lethal medicine if they have a deadly disease and are in severe pain. That state is Oregon. This is only done under very tight conditions. This issue is not specifically mentioned in the laws of Utah, North Carolina, and Wyoming. Conversely, it is a criminal act in every other state. Physician assisted suicide or PAS is a big issue in the medicine world these days. ...

What is a History Research Paper

What is a History Research Paper Whats the difference between a history essay and a history research paper? Read here to get the answer. What Is a History Research Paper? A history research paper differs from a common history essay by requiring greater effort while doing background research, organizing structure, reviewing the literature and so on. These factors are actually lying on the surface, but if you dig deeper, you will see at least a dozen other parameters that need to be taken into account. Unlike a simple history essay, which only requires proper structuring and language, research papers on history topics require a more substantial approach, which will be discussed further. Although the topics below are aimed to write a history essay on, they may serve you as good ideas for your research paper topic: 50 Ideas for History Essay Topics General Tips for Writing a History Research Paper 1. Select a topic  that is neither too broad nor too narrow. The pitfalls of either choice are obvious: if the topic is too narrow you will have nothing to research or write about. 2. Present an argument. Your research paper should be designed in such a way that it should give your opponents the chance to ask questions. Your role is substantiating your claim by referring to the background research. The quality of your argumentation will determine the overall success of your paper. 3. Rely on primary information. Your history project should rely on primary sources and thoroughly analyze secondary information. History projects require that you work with primary facts and then interpret them, showing your judgment and analysis. Again, dont forget to back up your claims with facts and research. 4. Think of a title. Think of a good eye-catching title for your paper, it will provoke readers interest in your paper, at least on initial stages. 5. Consider your opposition. You take into account the audience you are writing for and write having your specific audience in mind. 6. Use proper language. Research papers require a use of formal language, dont allow any slang, contractions and also demand that the overall voice of your research paper remains consistently objective throughout the text. Needless to say that your paper should be proofread for errors, should contain no mistyped words and flow nicely. 7. Dont forget formatting structure. The structure and format are generally dictated by the writing format. Depending on whether you have APA, MLA, Chicago or Harvard standards to follow, you should modify your paper accordingly. The writing standard will impact almost everything in your research paper, starting from your cover page and formatting to referencing and the bibliography page. Therefore format should be paid great attention to from the start. Bear in mind the above-mentioned tips to write your research paper on history. If this writing task is too complicated  for you, we are here to assist you. Visit our Order Page for details.

Shortage of Nurses Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Shortage of Nurses - Research Paper Example Current global shortage of nursing staff has contributed to an increased number of mortality rates. Causes of nursing staff shortage Shortages of nursing staff have been attributed to various factors; addressing these factors can drastically reduce these shortages. Issues related to these shortages include insufficient enrollment of students into the nursing profession, underinvestment by the involved country’s government into health sectors, high turnover rate, poor working conditions, rapid increase in population, increased incidences of rare diseases, and few number of institutions offering nursing education (Andrist et al, 2006). Insufficient enrolment into nursing Students enrolling for nursing education are far much below to address the existing shortage. According to the survey by international nursing council, the number of students enrolling for the nursing profession is below the expectation to address the shortage of staff, and there is a need to increase the number of intakes. Comparing the number of students enrolling for other faculty and with those entering into nursing, few students pursue nursing profession. Reasons for this low enrollment have been contributed by the poor pay that nurses receive, poor working condition, long working hours, and high cost associated in training. Nurses work hard to improve the quality of patient’s life. Despite deplorable working condition, nurse’s wages are much below, hence shying off many students. Because of shortage in staff, nurses end up working for many hours than expected working hours. Most of institutions offering nursing education charges high fee, increased cost in educating nursing student has led to many parents and guardians to convince their children to pursue other courses that are less costly and have better pay (Cowen & Moorhead, 2011). Another contributing cause of the shortage in the nursing industry is an inability of nursing schools and college to enroll a large numbe r of students. According to America, association of nursing (AAN) there has been regulation in the number of annual intake in nursing college. According AAN, the Regulation in number of students is to avoid flooding the industry with many nurses. Despite an increase in the shortage, colleges have not taken an initiative to increase the number of nurse’s students. In addition, the numbers of institutions and colleges offering nursing training are few. This has translated to reduce in number of students enrolling for nursing (Kalisch, 2004). Underinvestment in health sectors Most of the developing countries have invested a lesser amount of their budget in health sectors. In Philippines, the country invests 3.6% of their gross domestic income to health sectors. This is contrary to what United States invests; it invests 16% of their gross domestic income. Because of this underinvestment, it has been difficult to attain millennium development goal (MDG) where it aimed at reducing child mortality rate and improving maternal health. Because of poor investment, it has led to poor recruitment programs. Less number of nurses are employed annually; this weak recruitment has failed to breach the gab in the existing shortage. In addition, due to less investment, nurses are paid less salary; inadequate wages have shy off many student to pursue nursing, hence causing a shortage of nursing staff (Kalisch, 2004). Poor

Democratic Peace-International Relations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Democratic Peace-International Relations - Essay Example Since World War II, realists have sought a balance of power between the US and the USSR as a means of maintaining the peace. Constructivists have sought to socially construct a new political reality based on liberal values, trade, and international organizations. In a world with weak international organizations, such as the United Nations, the world is left to anarchy. Veto power by selected member nations has left the UN as an impotent body to determine the lawful respect for sovereign states. The US War in Iraq is an example where a weakened UN was powerless to stop a unilateral action. According to Brown, "Anarchy alone does not create the insecure, competitive, and war torn world... Social structures and shared knowledge determine whether states are friends or enemies. The fact that social structures are socially constructed does not, however, mean that they can be changed easily" (xxxi). Institutionalists hold some hope for order, but "treat states as rational egoists operating in a world in which agreements cannot be hierarchally enforced, and that institutionalists only expect interstate cooperation to occur if states have significant common interests" (Brown 384). Common interests most often revolve around trade and commerce. Actors do not wish to disrupt trade agreements and lose economic benefits. In the post Cold War period of nuclear availability, realism presents some clear dangers. The break-up of the Soviet Union has left a Europe where nationalism could be problematic in a scenario where a nuclear balance of power exists. Realism, a pessimistic view of human nature, would lead to further tensions in Europe and while it may provide a temporary lull in hostilities, it is incapable of solving the complex social problems of immigration, religious zeal, global health issues, or world environmental problems. Humanitarian intervention has

General motors transnational strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

General motors transnational strategy - Essay Example General motors’ is a multinational organization with and have factories manufacturing vehicles and vehicle accessories in at least 37 countries and has 10 established brands (Pelfrey 2006: 129). The company was the leading automotive seller for 77 years which is the longest time that any automotive company has dominated the automotive industry (Holstein 2010). However, the company was seriously affected by the 2008 economic crisis which led to it closing three of her brands. Since 2008, the company has been observed to continue declining in terms of revenue earned.The data needed for this research will be collected by analyzing different papers that have been written regarding the strategies written by general motors and also scrutinizing its financial performance from the company annual reports. There are many studies that have been conducted to analyze GM performance.Expected resultsThis has resulted in creation of competition among different brands thus the company ends up sabotaging its own products (Husted & Allen 2011: 49). The structure is also vertically organized which inhibits communication between the top managers and the employees. This has resulted in a lot of labor union problem which has affected the company productivity (Crumm 2010: 267). GM has also failed to cater for the needs of the customer by developing alternative fuel vehicles in this age of energy crisis. Nevertheless, the company has been successful in entering emerging markets such as China and this has improved its global presence.

African American History Since 1877 (PT 3) Essay

African American History Since 1877 (PT 3) - Essay Example Some slaves escaped and others worked for their freedom during the slave era. Even then freedom only meant not being owned. African Americans could not receive the same education as whites. They could not socialize with whites. Jobs were limited to them. Freedom was not really free. After the Civil War, slavery ended. However, Jim Crow laws forced segregation between blacks and whites. African Americans could not drink from the same water fountains, sit on the same park benches, go to the same school, sit together in restaurants, and could not intermingle. Rules forced African Americans to the back of the bus. African Americans could not vote, or had to pass a reading test to vote. Many whites thought segregation was equal, but segregation was not equal. The Supreme Court ruled that segregation was not equal. This did not change the minds of white people, especially in the Southern States. Other than the Jim Crow laws, the KKK and other groups limited the freedom of African Americans. If an African American was perceived as out of line, KKK or white supremacist would burn crosses on African American’s yards, beat them, or even lynch them. As a result, many African Americans were afraid to exercise their limited freedom. Fear allowed them to be kept virtual slaves to their white neighbors. During the Civil Rights Movement, Jim Crow laws started to be overturned. Even though Jim Crow laws started to be overturned, some whites did not share the opinion of the courts. Activists, black and white, trying to register people to vote, or fight for African American rights, were harassed, beaten, and even killed. Once again fear kept African Americans from freedom, but hope and defiance kept the movement going to provide more freedoms. Today, legally African Americans enjoy equal freedoms with their white counterparts. That does not mean that everyone follows the law. In American, everyone is entitled to on opinion.

Development of Pprogram for Non-Verbal Communication Skills Research Paper

Development of Pprogram for Non-Verbal Communication Skills - Research Paper Example Everything communicates, including material objects, physical space and time systems. Although verbal output can be turned off, non-verbal cannot. Even silence speaks. Non-verbal signals are powerful, instinctive, genuine and more honest. Social etiquette limits what can be said, but non-verbal cues can communicate thoughts. MODES OF NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION Non-verbal communication has the following modes – Proxemics – Nearness or physical distance between speakers. Chronemics – Time systems. Oculesics – Eye contacts and reflection of mind through eyes. Haptics – Touch sensation Para-language – features of intonation, stress etc. Kinesics – gestures Silence Inaction Demonstration Environment NEED AND IMPORTANCE OF RESEARCH Words are accented and punctuated by body movements and gestures while the face shows a myriad of expressions. While communicating, non-verbal messages can interact with verbal messages in five ways – repeati ng, conflicting, complementing, substituting and moderating. It is important to be aware of the dominance of the non-verbal message. The validity and the reliability of verbal messages are checked by non-verbal actions. Verbal and non-verbal messages within the same interaction can sometimes send opposing or conflicting messages. A person verbally expressing a statement of truth while simultaneously fidgeting or avoiding eye-contact may convey a mixed message to the receiver in the interaction. Conflicting messages may occur for a variety of reasons often stemming from feelings of uncertainty or frustration. When mixed messages occur, non-verbal communication becomes the primary tool people use to attain additional information to clarify the situation. Great attention is placed on bodily movements when people perceive mixed message4s during interaction. This mode of communication increases the degree of the perceived psychological closeness between people. Non-verbal communication s kills pervade all areas of life like business, marketing, management, trade and education. It is natural. Instinctive and universal and can serve to bridge the communication gap in the global scenario. LITERATURE REVIEW There is abundant research on communication but cooperatively, much less attention has been given to non-verbal communication. Most of the studies in this field are carried out by doctors or medical practitioners. They are related to autistic children or mentally retarded children or children having special needs. Albert Mehrabian, an American psychologist, has studied the relative importance of verbal and non-verbal communication. He came to the conclusion that there are basically three elements in face-to-face communication – word, tone of voice and body language. According to Mehrabian, these three account differently for the meaning of the message. Words account for 7%, tone of voice accounts for 39% and body language for 55%. For meaningful and effective communication, these three elements need to support each other. While verbal communication is only 7%, non-verbal consists of 38 + 55= 93%. Hence, there is no doubt as to its importance. REVIEWS 1. The researcher conducted a study on schools children and concluded six ways of improving NVC skills, like miming, watching video clips and interpretation of gestures. (Vicki Ritts )

Kaizen Process Improvement Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Kaizen Process Improvement Assignment - Essay Example ? Q3: In what ways did the team engage or not engage in Kaizen as the game progressed? We successfully identified some wastes and dealt with them. We were also constantly reflecting on our work for problems and incorporating changes throughout the process. We failed to evaluate the entire value stream though: the team should have identified the value that the product was supposed to generate for the ‘customer’. In this scenario, the goal was to have the most number of planes in the bucket, rather than quality of the planes. Thus, the first thing that the team should have argued on, before round three, was that the customer wanted quantity. It did not matter if the creases of the plane were fine enough, or the nose of the plane was sharp enough – ‘the customer’ wanted more planes in the bucket. There ended up being too much undelivered goods by way of wasted planes on the floor, rather than bucket. ? Q4: If we continued, what would your suggestions be for new process improvements for the team? Look at the entire value stream.

Development of Pprogram for Non-Verbal Communication Skills Research Paper

Development of Pprogram for Non-Verbal Communication Skills - Research Paper Example Everything communicates, including material objects, physical space and time systems. Although verbal output can be turned off, non-verbal cannot. Even silence speaks. Non-verbal signals are powerful, instinctive, genuine and more honest. Social etiquette limits what can be said, but non-verbal cues can communicate thoughts. MODES OF NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION Non-verbal communication has the following modes – Proxemics – Nearness or physical distance between speakers. Chronemics – Time systems. Oculesics – Eye contacts and reflection of mind through eyes. Haptics – Touch sensation Para-language – features of intonation, stress etc. Kinesics – gestures Silence Inaction Demonstration Environment NEED AND IMPORTANCE OF RESEARCH Words are accented and punctuated by body movements and gestures while the face shows a myriad of expressions. While communicating, non-verbal messages can interact with verbal messages in five ways – repeati ng, conflicting, complementing, substituting and moderating. It is important to be aware of the dominance of the non-verbal message. The validity and the reliability of verbal messages are checked by non-verbal actions. Verbal and non-verbal messages within the same interaction can sometimes send opposing or conflicting messages. A person verbally expressing a statement of truth while simultaneously fidgeting or avoiding eye-contact may convey a mixed message to the receiver in the interaction. Conflicting messages may occur for a variety of reasons often stemming from feelings of uncertainty or frustration. When mixed messages occur, non-verbal communication becomes the primary tool people use to attain additional information to clarify the situation. Great attention is placed on bodily movements when people perceive mixed message4s during interaction. This mode of communication increases the degree of the perceived psychological closeness between people. Non-verbal communication s kills pervade all areas of life like business, marketing, management, trade and education. It is natural. Instinctive and universal and can serve to bridge the communication gap in the global scenario. LITERATURE REVIEW There is abundant research on communication but cooperatively, much less attention has been given to non-verbal communication. Most of the studies in this field are carried out by doctors or medical practitioners. They are related to autistic children or mentally retarded children or children having special needs. Albert Mehrabian, an American psychologist, has studied the relative importance of verbal and non-verbal communication. He came to the conclusion that there are basically three elements in face-to-face communication – word, tone of voice and body language. According to Mehrabian, these three account differently for the meaning of the message. Words account for 7%, tone of voice accounts for 39% and body language for 55%. For meaningful and effective communication, these three elements need to support each other. While verbal communication is only 7%, non-verbal consists of 38 + 55= 93%. Hence, there is no doubt as to its importance. REVIEWS 1. The researcher conducted a study on schools children and concluded six ways of improving NVC skills, like miming, watching video clips and interpretation of gestures. (Vicki Ritts )

Database Essay Example for Free

Database Essay Database systems are the spinal cord of any health care organization. It can be define as the collection of health data. The use of such systems has improve the health care system for decades helping set standards and even regulations to help the system be more efficiently productive. There are different database architectures available to meet the needs of each organization individually. There is a need for the continuum of database across the health care system. Definition A database is a structure that can store information about multiple types of entities, the attributes of those entities, and the relationships between the entities (Pratt Adamski, 2012, Chapter 1). How data is received, stored, processed, and made available to others has an effect on the success or failure of an organization. The use of different architecture is a most to fit the needs of the organization, however the value of the data still remains in been able to access and extract information from the database system, and the only way this can be reached is by organizing, storing, and analyzing it effectively. For many organizations these systems have become an essential part of their structural and operational success. The effectiveness of databases is based on the fact that from one single, inclusive database much information regarding a range of organizational principles can be obtained. In the health care industry database systems allows information to be shared and available to different users; it can provide an accurate, consistent, and up-to-date information about a patient’s condition and treatment, as well as provide a security measure so that the information is only viewable to those who should see it. Database Architectures A database consists of one or more tables; each containing data stored as individual records. Different database architectures determine how the tables and records are organized or related to one another. According to Penn State University (2008), â€Å"There are four structural types of database management systems: 1. Hierarchical- A hierarchical database is organized in pyramid fashion, like the branches of a tree extending downwards. Related fields or records are grouped together so that there are higher-level records and lower-level records. 2. Network- is similar to hierarchical databases by also having a hierarchical structure. There are a few key differences, however. Instead of looking like an upside-down tree, a network database looks more like a cobweb or interconnected network of records. 3. Relational- connects data in different files by using common data elements or a key field. Data in relational databases is stored in different tables, each having a key field that uniquely identifies each row. Relational databases are more flexible than either the hierarchical or network database structures. 4. Object-oriented- are useful for handling small snippets of information such as names, addresses, zip codes, product numbers, and any kind of statistic or number you can think of. It can be used to store data from a variety of media sources, such as photographs and text, and produce work, as output, in a multimedia format† (Database Fundamentals). The organization and delivery of healthcare services is an information intensive effort. Generally, the efficiency of healthcare operations is drastically affected by the level of the integration of information across all sectors (Wright, n.d.). Healthcare organizations that have not yet make the effort to integrate their data and relate information in an effective and efficient way will find it difficult to stay afloat or even compete within this part of the market. The healthcare market is undergoing changes were information technology has become essential to their every day functional activities. The need of database users across the health care continuum would increase with the demands of technology to be to focus on striving to provide a patient focus services in different entities. Recent advances in policy, practice and research are compelling health care leaders across the continuum of care to move beyond aspiring to be more patient- or person-centered to taking action to realize that vision. A growing body of evidence is linking adoption of a patient-centered approach to care to improved outcomes, including reduced lengths of stay, avoidable readmissions and emergency department visits, and increases in patient satisfaction and employee engagement (Planetree.org, 2012). Database systems serve as a connection pathway to future strategies of care. The need to keep up and try as much as possible to meet the demand is a most in the health care field. Since many changes are been made to health care, database systems would continue evolve, to improve and standardized the ability to organize, save, and share information throughout the system providing a more efficient and effective line of service for their customers and the demands of their markets for years to come.

The History of the Clock

The History of the Clock The history of clocks is very long, and there have been many different types of clocks over the centuries. Not all historians agree on the history of the clock. The word clock was first used in the 14th century (about 700 years ago). It comes from the word for bell in Latin (clocca). Using the Sun The first way that people could tell the time was by looking at the sun as it crossed the sky. When the sun was directly overhead in the sky, it was the middle of the day, or noon. When the sun was close to the horizon, it was either early morning (sunrise) or early evening (sunset). Telling the time was not very accurate. Sundial Clocks The oldest type of clock is a sundial clock, also called a sun clock. They were first used around 3,500 B.C. (about 5,500 years ago). Sundials use the sun to tell the time. The shadow of the sun points to a number on a circular disk that shows you the time. In the big picture below on the right, the shadow created by the sun points to 9, so it is nine oclock. Since sundials depend on the sun, they can only be used to tell the time during the day. Water Clocks Around 1400 B.C. (about 3,400 years ago), water clocks were invented in Egypt. The name for a water clock is clepsydra (pronounced KLEP-suh-druh). A water clock was made of two containers of water, one higher than the other. Water traveled from the higher container to the lower container through a tube connecting the containers. The containers had marks showing the water level, and the marks told the time. Water clocks were very popular in Greece, where they were improved many times over the years. Look at the picture below. Water drips from the higher container to the lower container. As the water level rises in the lower container, it raises the float on the surface of the water. The float is connected to a stick with notches, and as the stick rises, the notches turn a gear, which moves the hand that points to the time. Water clocks worked better than sundials because they told the time at night as well as during the day. They were also more accurate than sundials. Dividing the Year into Months and Days The Greeks divided the year into twelve parts that are called months. They divided each month into thirty parts that are called days. Their year had a total of 360 days, or 12 times 30 (12 x 30 = 360). Since the Earth goes around the Sun in one year and follows an almost circular path, the Greeks decided to divide the circle into 360 degrees. Dividing the Day into Hours, Minutes, and Seconds The Egyptians and Babylonians decided to divide the day from sunrise to sunset into twelve parts that are called hours. They also divided the night, the time from sunset to sunrise, into twelve hours. But the day and the night are not the same length, and the length of the day and night also changes through the year. This system of measuring the time was not very accurate because the length of an hour changed depending on the time of year. This meant that water clocks had to be adjusted every day. Somebody finally figured out that by dividing the whole day into 24 hours of equal length (12 hours of the day plus 12 hours of the night), the time could be measured much more accurately. Why was the day and night divided into 12 parts? Twelve is about the number of moon cycles in a year, so it is a special number in many cultures. The hour is divided into 60 minutes, and each minute is divided into 60 seconds. The idea of dividing the hour and minute into 60 parts comes from the Sumerian sexagesimal system, which is based on the number 60. This system was developed about 4,000 years ago. Pendulum Clocks Before pendulum clocks were invented, Peter Henlein of Germany invented a spring-powered clock around 1510. It was not very precise. The first clock with a minute hand was invented by Jost Burgi in 1577. It also had problems. The first practical clock was driven by a pendulum. It was developed by Christian Huygens around 1656. By 1600, the pendulum clock also had a minute hand.http://www.arcytech.org/java/clock/images/pendulum2.gif The pendulum swings left and right, and as it swings, it turns a wheel with teeth (see the picture to the right). The turning wheel turns the hour and minute hands on the clock. On the first pendulum clocks, the pendulum used to swing a lot (about 50 degrees). As pendulum clocks were improved, the pendulum swung a lot less (about 10 to 15 degrees). One problem with pendulum clocks is that they stopped running after a while and had to be restarted. The first pendulum clock with external batteries was developed around 1840. By 1906, the batteries were inside the clock. http://www.arcytech.org/java/clock/images/pendulum_mechs3.gif As you already learned, a clock only shows 12 hours at a time, and the hour hand must go around the clock twice to measure 24 hours, or a complete day. To tell the first 12 hours of the day (from midnight to noon) apart from the second 12 hours of the day (from noon to midnight), we use these terms: A.M.Ante meridiem, from the Latin for before noon P.M. Post meridiem, from the Latin for after noon Quartz Crystal Clocks Quartz is a type of crystal that looks like glass. When you apply voltage, or electricity, and pressure, the quartz crystal vibrates or oscillates at a very constant frequency or rate. The vibration moves the clocks hands very precisely. Quartz crystal clocks were invented in 1920. Time Zones Because the Earth turns, it is daytime in part of the world when it is nighttime on the other side of the world. In 1884, delegates from 25 countries met and agreed to divide the world into time zones. If you draw a line around the middle of the Earth, it is a circle (equator). The delegates divided the 360 degrees of the circle into 24 zones, each 15 degrees (24 x 15 = 360). They decided to start counting from Greenwich (pronounced GREN-ich), England, which is 0 degrees longitude. In the continental United States, there are four time zones: Eastern, Central, Mountain, and Pacific. Each time zone varies by one hour, so when it is 7 p.m. in the Eastern time zone, it is 6 p.m. in the Central time zone, 5 p.m. in the Mountain time zone, and 4 p.m. in the Pacific time zone. Time Time, a central theme in modern life, has for most of human history been thought of in very imprecise terms. The day and the week are easily recognized and recorded though an accurate calendar for the year is hard to achieve. The forenoon is easily distinguishable from the afternoon, provided the sun is shining, and the position of the sun in the landscape can reveal roughly how much of the day has passed. By contrast the smaller parcels of time hours, minutes and seconds have until recent centuries been both unmeasurable and unneeded. Sundial and water clock: from the 2nd millennium BC The movement of the sun through the sky makes possible a simple estimate of time, from the length and position of a shadow cast by a vertical stick. (It also makes possible more elaborate calculations, as in the attempt of Erathosthenes to measure the world see Erathosthenes and the camels). If marks are made where the suns shadow falls, the time of day can be recorded in a consistent manner. The result is the sundial. An Egyptian example survives from about 800 BC, but the principle is certainly familiar to astronomers very much earlier. However it is difficult to measure time precisely on a sundial, because the suns path throug the sky changes with the seasons. Early attempts at precision in time-keeping rely on a different principle. The water clock, known from a Greek word as the clepsydra, attempts to measure time by the amount of water which drips from a tank. This would be a reliable form of clock if the flow of water could be perfectly controlled. In practice it cannot. The clepsydra has an honourable history from perhaps 1400 BC in Egypt, through Greece and Rome and the Arab civlizations and China, and even up to the 16th century in Europe. But it is more of a toy than a timepiece. The hourglass, using sand on the same principle, has an even longer career. It is a standard feature on 18th-century pulpits in Britain, ensuring a sermon of sufficient length. In a reduced form it can still be found timing an egg. A tower clock in China: AD 1094 After six years work, a Buddhist monk by the name of Su Song completes a great tower, some thirty feet high, which is designed to reveal the movement of the stars and the hours of the day. Figures pop out of doors and strike bells to signify the hours. The power comes from a water wheel occupying the lower part of the tower. Su Song has designed a device which stops the water wheel except for a brief spell, once every quarter of an hour, when the weight of the water (accumulated in vessels on the rim) is sufficient to trip a mechanism. The wheel, lurching forward, drives the machinery of the tower to the next stationary point in a continuing cycle. This device (which in Su Sungs tower must feel like a minor earthquake every time it slams the machinery into action) is an early example of an escapement a concept essential to mechanical clockwork. In any form of clock based on machinery, power must be delivered to the mechanism in intermittent bursts which can be precisely regulated. The rationing of power is the function of the escapement. The real birth of mechanical clockwork awaits a reliable version, developed in Europe in the 13th century. Meanwhile Su Sungs tower clock, ready for inspection by the emperor in 1094, is destroyed shortly afterwards by marauding barbarians from the north. Clockwork in Europe: 13th 14th century AD Europe at the end of the Middle Ages is busy trying to capture time. The underlying aim is as much astronomical (to reflect the movement of the heavenly bodies) as it is to do with the more mundane task of measuring everybodys day. But the attraction of that achievement is recognized too. A textbook on astronomy, written by Robert the Englishman in 1271, says that clockmakers are trying to make a wheel which will make one complete revolution in each day, but that they cannot quite perfect their work. What prevents them even beginning to perfect their work is the lack of an escapement. But a practical version of this dates from only a few years later. A working escapement is invented in about 1275. The process allows a toothed wheel to turn, one tooth at a time, by successive teeth catching against knobs projecting from an upright rod which oscillates back and forth. The speed of its oscillation is regulated by a horizontal bar (known as a foliot) attached to the top of the rod. The time taken in the foliots swing can be regulated by moving weights in or out on each arm. The function of the foliot is the same as that of the pendulum in modern clocks, but it is less efficient in that gravity is not helping it to oscillate. A very heavy weight is needed to power the clock, involving massive machinery and much friction. Nevertheless the foliot works to a degree acceptable at the time (a clock in the Middle Ages is counted a good timekeeper if it loses or gains only a quarter of an hour a day), and in the 14th century there are increasingly frequent references to clocks in European cities. A particularly elaborate one is built between 1348 and 1364 in Padua by Giovanni de Dondi, a professor of astronomy at the university who writes a detailed description of his clock. A 14th-century manuscript of his text has the earliest illustration of a clock mechanism with its escapement. The worlds three oldest surviving examples of clockwork date from the last years of the 14th century. The famous clock in Salisbury cathedral, installed by 1386 and still working today with its original mechanism, is a very plain piece of machinery. It has no face, being designed only to strike the hours. Striking is the main function of all early clocks (the word has links with the French cloche, meaning bell). In 1389 a great clock is installed above a bridge spanning a street in Rouen. It remains one of the famous sights of the city, though its glorious gilded dial is a later addition and its foliot has been replaced by a pendulum (in 1713). The historical distinction of the Rouen clock is that it is the first machine designed to strike the quarter-hours. In 1392 the bishop of Wells instals a clock in his cathedral. The bishop has previously been in Salisbury, and the same engineer seems to have made the new clock. It not only strikes the quarters. It steals a march on Rouen by having a dial, showing the movement of astronomical bodies. With escapements, chiming mechanisms and dials, clocks are now set to evolve into their more familiar selves. And the telling of time soon alters peoples perceptions of time itself. Hours, minutes and seconds are units which only come into existence as the ability to measure them develops. Domestic clocks: 15th century AD After the success of the clocks in Europes cathedrals in the late 14th century, and the introduction of the clock face in places such as Wells, kings and nobles naturally want this impressive technology at home. The first domestic clocks, in the early 15th century, are miniature versions of the cathedral clocks powered by hanging weights, regulated by escapements with a foliot, and showing the time to the great mans family and household by means of a single hand working its way round a 12-hour circuit on the clocks face. But before the middle of the 15th century a development of great significance occurs, in the form of a spring-driven mechanism. The earliest surviving spring-driven clock, now in the Science Museum in London, dates from about 1450. By that time clockmakers have not only discovered how to transmit power to the mechanism from a coiled spring. They have also devised a simple but effective solution to the problem inherent in a coiled spring which steadily loses power as it uncoils. The solution to this is the fusee. The fusee is a cone, bearing a spiral of grooves on its surface, which forms part of the axle driving the wheels of the clock mechanism. The length of gut linking the drum of the spring to the axle is wound round the fusee. It lies on the thinnest part of the cone when the spring is fully wound and reaches its broadest circumference by the time the spring is weak. Increased leverage exactly counteracts decreasing strength. These two devices, eliminating the need for weights, make possible clocks which stand on tables, clocks which can be taken from room to room, even clocks to accompany a traveller in a carriage. Eventually, most significant of all, they make possible the pocket watch. Watches: 16th 17th century AD The first watches, made in Nuremberg from about 1500, are spherical metal objects, about three inches in diameter, designed to hang on a ribbon round the neck. They derive from similar metal spheres used as pomanders, to hold aromatic herbs which will protect the wearer against disease or vile odours. The first watchmakers place their somewhat primitive mechanism inside cases of this sort. A single hand set into a flat section at the base makes its way round a dial marked with the division of twelve hours. For their first century and more, watches are worn outside the clothes and are regarded more as jewels than as useful instruments (a comment also on their timekeeping abilities). The best of them are exquisitely decorated in enamel. The spherical watch of this kind evolves in the late 17th century into the slimmer pocket watch, thanks largely to Christiaan Huygens. This distinguished Dutch physicist makes two important contributions to time-keeping the pendulum clock and the spiral balance spring. The pendulum clock: AD 1656-1657 Christiaan Huygens spends Christmas day, in the Hague in 1656, constructing a model of a clock on a new principle. The principle itself has been observed by Galileo, traditionally as a result of watching a lamp swing to and fro in the cathedral when he is a student in Pisa. Galileo later proves experimentally that a swinging suspended object takes the same time to complete each swing regardless of how far it travels. This consistency prompts Galileo to suggest that a pendulum might be useful in clocks. But no one has been able to apply that insight, until Huygens finds that his model works. A craftsman in the Hague makes the first full-scale clock on this principle for Huygens in 1657. But it is in England that the idea is taken up with the greatest enthusiasm. By 1600 London clockmakers have already developed the characteristic shape which makes best use of the new mechanism that of the longcase clock, more affectionately known as the grandfather clock. The pocket watch: AD 1675 Nineteen years after making his model of the pendulum clock, Huygens invents a device of equal significance in the development of the watch. It is the spiral balance, also known as the hairspring (an invention also claimed, less convincingly, by Robert Hooke). This very fine spring, coiled flat, controls the speed of oscillation of the balance wheel. For the first time it is possible to make a watch which is reasonably accurate and slim. Both elements are important, for the sober gentlemen of the late 17th century are less inclined than their ancestors to wear jewels round the neck. A watch which will keep the time and slip into a waistcoat pocket is what they require. Thomas Tompion, the greatest of English clock and watchmakers, is one of the first to apply the hairspring successfully in pocket watches (of which his workshop produces more than 6000 in his lifetime). The new accuracy of these instruments prompts an addition to the face of a watch that of the minute hand. The familiar watch face, with two concentric hands moving round a single dial, is at first considered confusing. There are experiments with several other arrangements of the hour and minute hand, before the design which has since been taken for granted is widely accepted. Chronometer: AD 1714-1766 Two centuries of ocean travel, since the first European voyages of discovery, have made it increasingly important for ships captains whether on naval or merchant business to be able to calculate their position accurately in any of the worlds seas. With the help of the simple and ancient astrolabe, the stars will reveal latitude. But on a revolving planet, longitude is harder. You need to know what time it is, before you can discover what place it is. The importance of this is made evident when the British government, in 1714, sets up a Board of Longitude and offers a massive  £20,000 prize to any inventor who can produce a clock capable of keeping accurate time at sea. The terms are demanding. To win the prize a chronometer (a solemnly scientific term for a clock, first used in a document of this year) must be sufficiently accurate to calculate longitude within thirty nautical miles at the end of a journey to the West Indies. This means that in rough seas, damp salty conditions and sudden changes of temperature the instrument must lose or gain not more than three seconds a day a level of accuracy unmatched at this time by the best clocks in the calmest London drawing rooms. The challenge appeals to John Harrison, at the time of the announcement a 21-year-old Lincolnshire carpenter with an interest in clocks. It is nearly sixty years before he wins the money. Luckily he lives long enough to collect it. By 1735 Harrison has built the first chronometer which he believes approaches the necessary standard. Over the next quarter-century he replaces it with three improved models before formally undergoing the governments test. His innovations include bearings which reduce friction, weighted balances interconnected by coiled springs to minimize the effects of movement, and the use of two metals in the balance spring to cope with expansion and contraction caused by changes of temperature. Harrisons first sea clock, in 1735, weighs 72 pounds and is 3 feet in all dimensions. His fourth, in 1759, is more like a watch circular and 5 inches in diameter. It is this machine which undergoes the sea trials. Harrison is now sixty-seven, so his son takes the chronometer on its test journey to Jamaica in 1761. It is five seconds slow at the end of the voyage. The government argues that this may be a fluke and offers Harrison only  £2500. After further trials, and the successful building of a Harrison chronometer by another craftsman (at the huge cost of  £450), the inventor is finally paid the full prize money in 1773. He has proved in 1761 what is possible, but his chronometer is an elaborate and expensive way of achieving the purpose. It is in France, where a large prize is also on offer from the Acadà ©mie des Sciences, that the practical chronometer of the future is developed. The French trial, open to all comers, takes place in 1766 on a voyage from Le Havre in a specially commissioned yacht, the Aurore. The only chronometer ready for the test is designed by Pierre Le Roy. At the end of forty-six days, his machine is accurate to within eight seconds. Le Roys timepiece is larger than Harrisons final model, but it is very much easier to construct. It provides the pattern of the future. With further modifications from various sources over the next two decades, the marine chronometer in its lasting form emerges before the end of the 18th century. Using it in combination with the sextant, explorers travelling the worlds oceans can now bring back accurate information of immense value to the makers of maps and charts. A millennium clock: AD 1746 In 1746 a French clockmaker, Monsieur Passemont (his first name is not known), completes a clock which is almost certainly the first in the world to be able to take account of a new millennium. Its dials can reveal the date of the month in any year up to AD 9999. It is a longcase clock, in an ornate baroque casing which conceals a mechanism consisting of more than 1000 interconnecting wheels and cogs. Their related movements, as they turn at their different speeds with each swing of the pendulum, are designed to cope with the complexities of the Julian calendar. Thus, for example, one large brass wheel has the responsibility of inserting February 29 in each leap year. This particular wheel takes four years to complete a single revolution. When it has come full circle, it pops in the extra day. (M. Passemont decides, however, not to grapple with Gregorian refinements; the absence of February 29 in 1700, 1800 and 1900 has had to be manually achieved.) Louis XV buys the clock in 1749, three years after its completion. It is still ticking away two and a half centuries later in the palace of Versailles. The minutiae of daily time-keeping are also adjusted by hand (the clock loses a minute a month), but Monsieur Passemonts masterpiece requires no assistance in making a significant change in the first digit of its year display from 1 to 2, at midnight on 31 December 1999.

Life is precious :: essays research papers fc

Life Is Precious   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   It has been argued that it should be made legal for patients to have doctor-assisted suicide, or mercy-killing, which is the term used to describe ending life through the voluntary self-administration of lethal medication, expressly prescribed by a physician for that purpose (DHS-Internet). By approximately a two-to-one ratio, most adults in the US agree that it should be this way. â€Å"When read a brief description of the Oregon proposition, allowing physician-assisted suicide for patients who are thought to have less than six months to live, a 61% to 34% majority said that they would favor such a law in their state†(Harris # 2). However, I myself feel, that it shouldn’t be approved for several reasons: this matter does not belong upon human beings to decide; physicians and family members, rather than patients are likely to be the real decision makers; terminally ill patients are not sufficiently conscious to make end-of-life decisions.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  First of all, no one should have the right to decide about ending lives, even if it is his/her own. For the breath of life was given without being requested, therefore no one has the power to decide upon when it should end or be taken away from a person. Indeed, most Americans feel that it is fine for terminally ill patients to take away their own lives. However, if the suicide is successfully done, who will be able to say that person would not have recovered if they had waited patiently? We have all heard some cases about people who were dying and for some reason, a miracle happened which made them react and live again. I myself have a similar experience in my family. About five years ago, my brother was under no condition to live, due to a serious chronic kidney complication. He got to the point to where the doctors asked for the family’s consent to turn the machines off because there was no more chance of survival. For many diverse reasons we chose to wa it upon time to see what would happen. Not very long after that, the one who was supposed to be already dead miraculously reacted and started to live again. This shows that many times though doctors seem to know the best escape, time and patience proves them otherwise. According to Stephen R. Katz M.D., the term doctor-assisted suicide may sound reassuring, almost comforting, and maybe even a peaceful alternative to a sometimes agonizing death, but the true meaning is that it is nothing but the act of taking of a life by another human (Doctor Inform-internet).

Chaucer and the Humor of the Canterbury Tales :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  My presentation is based an article titled The Inhibited and the Uninhibited: Ironic Structure in the Miller’s Tale it s written by Earle Birney. The literary theme that Birney is discussing in his essay is structural irony. Structural irony is basically a series of ironic events and instances that finally build up to create a climax. The events and the climax the Birney chooses to focus his essay on are the events that lead towards the end when almost each character suffers an ironic event: Absolon: kisses Alisoun’s backside Nicholas: gets his backside burned John: falls from the tub and breaks his arm Ironic events and play on words were used to lead to this ironic climax. First Event Birney writes that the description of each character as sweet or using the word sweet to describe them on Chaucer’s part is ironic. Nicholas: sweet singer, sweet smelling of herbs all day & Being uninhibited. l. 97, l. 99., l. 107 Birney p. 76 middle Alisoun: naturally sweet as well as Nicholas, her mouth is described as sweet. l. 153 Birney p. 78 top. Absolon: is a contrast, he is artificially sweet, he chews spices an herbs to try to be sweet. Birney p. 79 lower. These three descriptions are the first things in Birney’s article that are beginning the ironic structure that Chaucer has carefully built. Second Event   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Next, Birney examines the irony between the rivalry of Nicholas and Absolon in order to gain Alisoun’s kiss, affection, or to have an affair with her. Nicholas: has no rivals in a way he just becomes forceful and persistant he offers himself in an aggressive manner and he gains her permission to do what he pleases to her body. l. 165-186, Birney p. 78 (before the quote).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Absolon: approaches her by going to her window at night and serenading her mind you he does not have a sweet voice (sqeaky, feminine) his approach is the most pathetic and apologetic Then he tries to woo her by giving her gifts such as waffles and sweet wine Birney argues that he should not have tried to give sweet gifts to someone who is naturally sweet. l. 245- 259, l. 270 – 272, Birney p. 79 lower –80 top & 80 middle. Third Event: The Climax Finnaly, the third event has been unraveled and anticipated, through The two first events. The greatly anticipated climax begins to unravel. Absolon: kisses Alisoun’s rear end and the vengefully burns Nicholas instead of Alisoun (he dosen’t really care).