Democracy in Modern World Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Democracy in Modern World - Essay Example Gladys argument focuses on the fact that democracies cannot wage successful wars as the case of Athenians waging war in Sicily’s. I do support her argument that democratic countries should distinguish between good and bad leaders, but I find certain flaws in her argument. I agree with Gladys’ premises that suggest the country frightened their generals into sending better news home than the facts on the ground and chose weak generals to wage the war. This argument leads to her argument that democracies cannot wage a successful war. A look at all the premises helps Gladys conclude that a democratic country cannot lead such a war is viable.Her argument in her conclusion is valid since there need to be better strategies in war, and the failure of Athenians was a result of poor strategies and poor execution by the generals. There was a need to evaluate leaders and have better alternatives. In her argument, it is clear that poor intelligence brought the wrong generals, and th ey were overextended. This situation showed that to have the best plans there is a need for good executors for it to be successful. In conclusion, I agree with her argument that democratic countries cannot wage successful war since their strategies are prone to hope and checks and balances. Such checks limit the passion experienced in such wars but to be on the safe side all parties in a war need to appreciate and differentiate between choosing weak and strong leaders to wage wars.

Betrayal and Manipulation in the Accidental Billionaires Essay Example for Free

Betrayal and Manipulation in the Accidental Billionaires Essay In the Accidental Billionaires, the motif of manipulation and betrayal is prevalent. Mark Zuckerburg is the prime embodiment of manipulation and betrayal throughout the course of the work. Another character also attributed with such qualities is Sean Parker. Mark and Sean are similar in this aspect; manipulating their own world to achieve their goals. In the first few chapters of the book, the reader is introduced to the Winklevoss twins. The twins turn to Mark to aid them in their social networking idea, the HarvardConnection. After trusting Mark with their program, Mark begins to manipulate the idea into his own. In a very subtle way, Mark delays the twins in time to sire his own program. This action reveals to the reader that Mark is a lone wolf. Mark, told to us in the book, is not interested in money. For example, â€Å"†¦Microsoft had offered Mark between one and two million dollars to go to work for them-and amazingly, Mark had turned them down† (Mezrich 15). This action should be noted as the aspect of working alone seems to be, to Mark, the most efficient way to achieve fame. Mark is highly influenced by Bill Gates, a man who rose out of the very same school Mark attends and manipulated his way throughout his pursuits of Microsoft, and in Mark’s point of view, individual. With his displeasing physique and social incompetence, it is easy to see why people underestimate Mark and are taken advantage of. Another character to note is Sean Parker. Sean Parker is a foil to the protagonist, Mark. Mark pairs up with Sean after he launches ‘thefacebook’. Sean has a history of manipulating his way through major companies with the agenda of getting rich only, quite the opposite of Mark. Sean is extremely energetic, whereas Mark seems to be lazy as represented by his lack variety in his attire- flipflops, jeans, etc. Sean, however, was betrayed by those companies he used to work for, but, ironically, he pursues yet another company that betrays him in the end. Betrayal, through manipulation, is in the subtitle of the book, â€Å"A tale of sex, money, genius, and betrayal. † Betrayal is mentioned last in this climax because that is to show the most important motif and a symbol of the book’s overall structure- It goes from Eduardo and Mark seeking attention to ‘get laid’, then pursue money with genius innovation of modern social networking, and finally, Mark’s betrayal is concluded when he removes Eduardo and Sean from his life because they threatened his brainchild, Facebook. The motif of betrayal is very subtle to the reader. Even after reading the subtitle that Mezrich so blatantly states before the beginning chapter, I was manipulated into completely forgetting about betrayal and instead was focused on the pursuit to fame. Even the title fools the reader in stating the plural form of billionaire, but only one billionaire is spawned at the conclusion of the book. Just as the twins, Eduardo, and Sean, Mark’s real agenda was cloaked to me, until it finally dawned in the closing chapters.

Feminism: A Constant Stride Towards Equality Essay -- Gender Studies

â€Å"Women are the only oppressed group in our society that lives in intimate association with their oppressors.† -Evelyn Cunningham Feminism is an idea based on the assumption that women have the same human, political and social rights as men, furthermore, that women should have the same opportunities as men in their personal choices regarding careers, politics and expression (Reference.com). A feminist text states the author’s agenda for women in society as they relate to oppression by a patriarchal power structure and the subsequent formation of social ‘standards’ and ‘protocols’. It points out deficiencies in society regarding equal opportunity, and the author will make certain the reader will be aware of this motive (Bahar). In a work of fiction, the main character, or heroine, personifies the social struggle against male domination. Unfortunately, feminism is said to have too many negative connotations and thus it seems the term, and therefore the movement, is restricted by the glass ceiling, of which it aims to fight (Ferguson). Numerous works which we explored throughout t he semester possess characteristics of feminist works, in particular, the short story â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper†, written by Charlotte Perkins Gilman and â€Å"A Good Man is Hard to Find†, written by Flannery O’Connor. These are both considered feminist texts because they aim to portray women as stronger, more independent subjects, and to defy the norms that have been created by men in the past. The feministic ideas that are touched upon help to strengthen the works as well as critique modern society. â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper† tells a story about a woman’s struggles against male-centric thinking and societal ‘norms’. Feminist allusions are abundant throughout this s... ...y 36.3 (2011): 733-757. Literary Reference Center. Web. 11 Apr. 2012. Gilman, Charlotte Perkins. â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper.† 1912. Making Literature Matter: An Anthology For Readers and Writers. 5th ed. Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martins, 2012. 954-968. Print. Hinely, Susan. â€Å"Charlotte Wilson, the â€Å"Woman Question†, and the Meanings of Anarchist Socialism in Late Victorian Radicalism.† International Review of Social History 57.1 (2012): 3-36. ProQuest Military Collection; ProQuest Research Library; ProQuest Social Science Journals. Web. 10 Apr. 2012. O’Connor, Flannery. â€Å"A Good Man Is Hard To Find.† 1955. Making Literature Matter: An Anthology For Readers and Writers. 5th ed. Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martins, 2012. 1283-1296. Print. â€Å"Reference.com - A Free Online Encyclopedia & Information Reference.† Reference.com. Web. 8 Apr. 2012. .

The Struggles of Undocumented Students Essay -- Immigration, Legal Iss

If we talk about undocumented immigrants in United States, we usually focus on the benefits and jobs they take from our country, but have we ever stood in their shoes and imagine what life is like for an illegal immigrant? To live as an undocumented immigrant is a bad situation, but I believe to be a child of an undocumented immigrant is even worse, because their choices are limited and they are unaware of their rights to attend colleges. In this research, I will focus on undocumented immigrant students, who are unable to afford for higher education, and the fear of their unknown future which is mainly cause by their undocumented status. The largest invisible group in America, to explore â€Å"what are the struggles and unsolved problems of undocumented students?† Early statistic provide from scholar article has proved that since the 1970s to 80s, Census by state has documented a high population of undocumented immigrants in the United States. Passel and Woodrow indicate that the estimation of undocumented immigrants is 2.06 millions in 1980s; most of the undocumented immigrants are Mexicans. By the year 2000, more than 1.6 million captures were along the U.S border. In southern California, â€Å"with almost 2.5 million unauthorized immigrants residing in the state, California is home to almost one fourth of the nations unauthorized† (Gonzales 473). This group can split into two major types, which are people who enter U.S illegally and people who enter through admission with their overstay visa. The Mexican group represents 60 percent of those who entered between 1970 and 1980. Mexico is the only single country which accounts the largest number of undocumented immigrants residing in the U.S. In 1980, 55 percent of the illegal immigrants... ...onvinced that my original question is an important one, therefore I am continuing with this formulation: â€Å"This invisible group in United States: the struggles and unsolved problems of undocumented immigrants† is going to be my argument of supporting â€Å"Undocumented students†. They deserve the rights to extend their education in order to achieve their American dreams. Their choices shouldn’t be limited by their statues, if they could achieve their academics successfully. United States cannot deprive undocumented immigrants of their academic rights for long term because this is a lost-lost situation. If U.S gives the undocumented immigrants their opportunities, there will be more educated people in the country, and they will give the country back with their skills. As a result, the entire country can move forward as a whole to becoming a better and stronger country.

Principles of Communication in Adult Social Care Settings Essay

1.1 The diffrent reasons people communicate are to tell others what there needs are for example there are hungry they need the toilet they would like something they need help to carry out a action and many more. They may like to exress or share ideas about themself or others. To obtaine or recive infomation maby about there children family or friends residence in a care home often worry about there family and when they are going to come to see them ect. People communiate to form relationships with others and share life experiences and to get to know each other. people comminicate to do most things it is very important. 1.2 Communication affects relationships in an adult socal care settings for encouraging participation in activities that go on in the home eg bingo outings film days music sessions theres all require communication but are very good to keep are brain active. To create equality so everyone has the same choices and chances in the home. To share understadings to make a better understanding for yourself. Read more: Identify different reasons why we communicate  essay 2.1 Ways to establish the communication and language needs are meet and the wishes and preferences of an individual are just simply asking the person if they are able to communicate verbally in some cases the individual may have had a stroke so may not be able to do this so body language plays a big part if you work with a individual a lot you can read what there needs are just from the way they act.You should always read a care plan before carrying out care so you should have some knowldge on the client but if you are unsure of anything you should go back and read it again. If you do not know the individual well you could ask other staff members who may no alot more about that client and may no the answer to you questions. 2.2 Factors to consider when promting affective communication would be as simple as the way you approach the client and your tone of voice as this makes a big diffrence its not always what you say its the way that you say it. Your body language can also play a big part we as humans can read body language very well. The enviroment is a big factor to consider as if its very loud around the client may not be able to hear you and what you are asking them to do or you may not hear what they are asking you or telling you what they need. If there is poor lighting they may not be able to see the things around them so well so this would effect communication also. Us as care providers must respect values, beliefs and diffrent culture.You must also check if they use communication aids as this is very important if a client can you hear very well they will have a hearing aid this must be in when communication is needed or they will not be able to hear and understand everything you are trying to help them with. 2.3 There are a range of communication methods and styles to meet individuals needs there are non-verbal communication are this things like written words,facial expressions,touch,behaviour,gestures,eye contact,behaviour and flash cards or pictures. The other type of cummunication is verbal these include verbal,pitch and vocabulary. communcation styles mat include positive,assertive,warm and supportive. 2.4 It is important to respond to an individuals reaction when communicating to respond in a appropiate way and to share a understanding when in a care home setting staff and residence become close and genrally get a good understanding of one another. If the individuals reaction is missed they may become distressed, fustrated or maby even frightened as they may be trying to tell you that something is wrong or they are in a need for help this would be more common with individuals who cant communicate verbally. 3.1 Individuals from diffrent backgrounds may use communication mathods in a diffrent ways. Examples of this may be someone who has been in a very close loving family may use touch much more than a individual who has been brought up and lived alone may be very uncomfortable with touch and may like as minimal as possible. Clients from diffrent countrys may use diffent languages and if they are unable to speak english or staff are unable to speak there known language then other forms of communiacation must be used. Peoples tone of voice may be used diffrent depending on there background this must always be respected and understood. 3.2 Barriers that effect communication are not making sure communication aids are avaliable like hearing aids and not checking they are working. If you do not allow sufficient time to listen then the client cant tell you if they need anything else or that they have any problems. If you are a care worker are dismissive they may not feel they can talk to you and this may cause them great stress. You must always give the client privacy if this is not done the client mat become very distressed. A lot of noice when you are trying to communicate is not good things may not be understood or heard from both sides. 3.3 Ways to overcome barriers to communicate may be adapting communication methods so all clients have a way to communivate with staff in a possitive effective way. To make information avalible in a variety of formats so all clients have the chance to udersand the information in the best possible way for them. We as care providers must ensure all the support needed is avalible at all times this will help make the client feel safe and secure. We must always establish an individuals needs and wishes and there culture and abide by there needs. 3.4 Statergies that can be used to clarify misunderstandings may include asking the individual to repeate what they said again and confirming understanding so they understand you didnt hear then correct the first time but when they repeated you understood. You may also ckeck with other that the undertanding you got from the client is correct. 3.5 To access extra support or services to enable individuals to communicate effectively may be there GP,individuals family or friends,socal workers.support groups or a specialised nurse.This would be if there was a problem with communiacation and the client needed extra things to be put in place so there was more effective communication for the client this would make sure all there care needs are meet and it prevented the client possibly becoming very distressed. A service may incude a speech and language service who can help people who can not communicate verbally in a effective way. 4.1 The meaning of confidentiality is to keep information private and only people who have a need to see it are to be able to access information. It also means keeping information safe in the correct locked place. You must only pass private information on with the indivduals permission to others who have a right to it. 4.2 Ways to maintain confidentiality in day to day communication are to keep all written records safe so not leaving records in places where other may see. You must ensure confidentual information is passed on only to other who have the need to know it. There must be paswords protecting electronic files and only people who need to know the passwords to know. We must always ckeck the identity of a person before passing personal information on to them. And we must provide a private environment. 4.3 The potential tension between maintaining an individuals confidentaility and disclosing concerns to agreed others may include breaching a confidence with an individual, It may also raise a safeguarding issue. It also may put the rights of others before those of an individual there are many other health profesionals who may be the agreed other like colleagues,GP,nurse,physiotherapist,family,advocate,dementia care advisior or socal worker. 4.4 When unsure of how to seek advice we should speak with are manager and if still unsure how we should speak with CQC who are the care quality commision. But we should always follow the organisations confidentiality policy.When to seek advice may be when claification is needed or when confidential information needs to be shared with agreed others.

The Controversy of Clinical Versus Actuarial Prediction Essay Example

The Controversy of Clinical Versus Actuarial Prediction Essay Example The Controversy of Clinical Versus Actuarial Prediction Paper The Controversy of Clinical Versus Actuarial Prediction Paper In clinical prediction, psychologists use their clinical experience to formulate a prediction based on interview impressions, history ATA and test scores (Melee, Clinical versus Statistical 4). The formula in the title refers to statistical or actuarial prediction. In actuarial prediction, clergies access a chart or table which gives the statistical frequencies of behaviors (Actuarial Prediction). Advocates of the clinical method say that clinical prediction Is dynamic, meaningful and sensitive but actuarial prediction Is mechanical, rigid and artificial (Melee, Clinical versus Statistical 4). On the other hand, advocates of the actuarial method claim that actuarial method Is empirical, precise and objective but alnico prediction Is unscientific, vague and subjective (Melee, Clinical versus Statistical 4). The controversy of clinical versus actuarial judgment is not limited to the field of psychology; it also affects education in terms of predicting school performance, criminal justice system in terms of parole board decisions and business in terms of personnel selection. Although this controversy can be traced back half a century ago, social scientists today are still asking: Which of the two methods works better? Can we view any prediction dichotomously as either clinical or actuarial? And, if actuarial predictions are more accurate, should we abandon clinical predictions all together? On one side of the controversy, some people feel that using mere numbers to determine whether students can enter graduate schools or whether prisoners should be released Is dehumidifying (Melee, Causes and Effects 374). In her book about social psychology, Thompson describes a young woman who complains that It Is horribly unfair that she has been rejected by the Psychology Department at university of California on the bases of mere numbers, without even n interview (88). When my psychology teacher surveyed our class on this issue, about 20 percent of students believe that it is unethical to make predictions based on mere numbers (Brenner). The crux of this ethical concern lies on the belief that each individual is so unique that rigid statistics or equations cannot make the correct prediction in every single case. Indeed, most psychologists agree that rigid statistics are not sensitive to special cases. Paul Mà ªlà ©es well-known broken-leg example Illustrates how the special powers of the clinician can predict behaviors ore accurately in some special cases: If a sociologist were predicting whether Professor X would go to the movies on a certain night, he might have an equation Involving age, academic specialty, and Introversion score. The equation might yield [a very high probability] that Professor X will go to the movie tonight. But if Professor X Ana Just Darken Nils leg Ana en Is In a nil cast Tanat wont NT In a denature seat, no sensible sociologist would stick with the equation. (Clinical versus Statistical 24-25) Essentially, it is very important for clinicians to detect the characteristics of each unique individual and make predictions accordingly because clinicians deal with individual cases; they make predictions for each unique individual, not for a group of people. Thus, it is the individual case that defines the clinician (Melee, Clinical versus Statistical 25). Because of the insensitivity of statistics to special cases and the importance of predicting individual cases, many psychologists argue that statistics simply cannot apply to individuals (Melee, Causes and Effects 374). They believe that clinicians can make predictions about individuals can transcend the predictions bout people in general (Melee, Causes and Effects 374). For example, Patriots emphasized in his research on personality inventory that: In [nonproductive] tests, the results of every individual examination can be interpreted only in terms of direct, descriptive, statistical data and, therefore, can never attain accuracy when applied to individuals. Statistics is a descriptive study of groups, not of individuals. (633) On the other side of controversy, advocates of the actuarial approach have questioned the logic behind the assumption that statistics do not apply to single individuals or events. Stanchion uses a very good analogy to illustrate the fallacy behind this assumption (179). He asks us whether we want our operation done by an experienced surgeon who has a low failure probability or an inexperienced surgeon who has a high failure probability (179). Of course, any rational man will choose the experienced surgeon. However, if we believe that probabilities do not apply to the single case, we should not mind to have our operation done by the inexperienced surgeon. This question brings us to think about the role of chance in making reductions. Stanchion noted: Reluctance to acknowledge the role of chance when trying to explain outcomes in the world can actually decrease our ability to predict real-world events Acknowledging that our predictions will be less than 100 percent accurate can actually help us to increase our overall predictive accuracy. (175) An experiment done by Fainting and Subsidiaries (58-63) demonstrates Stanchions last point that we must accept error in order to reduce error. In this experiment, the participant sits in front of a red light and a blue light and is asked to predict which eight will be flashed on each trial (60). The experimenter has programmed so that the red light will flash 70 percent of the time and the blue light 30 percent of the time (59). Participants quickly pick up the fact that the red light is flashing more, thus they predict the red light roughly 70 percent of the time and the blue light roughly 30 percent of the time (62). The problem is that they do not understand that if they give up on trying to predict correctly on every trial, they can actually be more accurate. We can demonstrate the logic of this situation through a calculation on 100 trials. In 70 of the 100 trials, the red light will come on and the participant will be correct on about 70 percent of those 70 trials. That means, in 49 of the 70 trials (70 times . 70), the participant will correctly predict that red light will flash. In the same way, we can calculation that approximately in 9 trials (30 times . 30), the participant will correctly predict that the blue light will flash. Therefore, the participant can only predict correctly 58 percent of the time (49 percent from the red light and 9 percent from the (B). However, IT ten participant simply gives up on getting every trial relent Ana just predicts the red light on every trial, he can predict correctly 70 percent of the time (because the red light will come on 70 percent of the time), which is 12 percent better than switching back and forth trying to get right on every trial. This is what Stanchion means by accepting error in order to reduce error. Research on this controversial issue has consistently indicated that actuarial prediction is more accurate than clinical prediction. In Paul Mà ªlà ©es classical book Clinical versus Statistical Prediction, he had reviewed 22 studies comparing clinical and actuarial prediction (83-126). Out of these 22 studies, twenty show that actuarial prediction is more accurate than clinical prediction. These twenty studies cover almost all the clinical prediction domain, including psychotherapy outcome, criminal recidivism, college graduation rates, parole behavior and length of psychiatric hospitalizing. A graduate student at JIBE had also done a study comparing clinical and actuarial prediction (Simmons 3). In this study, Simmons compared the predictions made by a regression equation and by two experienced counselors on the school performance of JIBE freshmen (Simmons 3). The results again indicate the actuarial prediction using the regression equation was more accurate (Simmons 64). In addition, a recent meta-analysis using 136 studies has also confirmed that actuarial prediction is better regardless of the Judgment task, type of Judges, or Judges amount of experience (Grove et al. 9). Researchers found that actuarial prediction substantially outperformed clinical prediction in 45 percent of the studies whereas clinical prediction was more accurate in only 10 percent of the studies (19). Regarding the research consistently showing that actuarial prediction is more accurate , Paul Melee said, There is no controversy in social science which shows such a large body of qualitatively diverse studies coming out so uniformly in the same direction as this one (373-374). Mà ªlà ©es actuarial stance is strongly challenged by Robert R. Holt, who is also a renowned clinical psychologist. Holt criticizes that the twenty studies Melee cited in his book only focus on the final step of the prediction-making process, which is making the prediction (339). Holt rejects the dichotomous classification of studies as clinical or statistical because in field settings, clinicians do not simply make a prediction by evaluating the given data (338). In field settings, before the clinician can make the prediction, he has to carefully identify the criterion he can predict and choose predictive variables he wants to use. (Holt 339-340). For example, if a counselor wants to predict the school performance of first year university dents, he first identifies the criterion he is able to predict; the criterion can be Gaps or average marks of the students, but it can also be the students lecture attendances. He also has to choose which predictive variables he should use; he may use the students entrance grades or their scores on an aptitude test or a combination of both. Then, finally, he can make the prediction using either an equation or his own Judgment. This example shows that even if the clinician uses actuarial approach in the final step of the prediction-making process, he still plays an important role in all the preceding steps. I agree with Holt that Melee has oversimplified the distinction between clinical and statistical prediction. I believe that we should view these two methods as falling on a continuum rather than make an all-or-none distinction. Some predictions that can be completely done on computers are more statistical toner protections, Tort wanly psychoanalysts need to collect Ana analyze data, are more clinical. I also agree with Holt that we should still value clinical judgment although it is not as accurate. Without clinical Judgment, scientists will to be able to form hypotheses and theories, and to analyze research results and data. Like Western and Weinberg said in their article reviewing this controversial issue, try as we might to eliminate subjectivity in science, we can never transcend the fact that the mind of scientists, clinicians or informants is the source of much of what we know (609). Nevertheless, when countless research findings point toward one direction, I think we should recognize that actuarial predictions are more accurate than clinical predictions (at least in the final step of the prediction-making recess). Some people think that using mere numbers to make predictions is dehumidifying. They feel that using an equation to forecast a persons action is treating the individual like a white rat or an inanimate object (Melee Causes and Effects 374). However, I argue that in certain cases, it is unethical to use clinical judgment when actuarial approach has shown to be accurate. For example, when a clinical psychologist makes a prediction about whether a student is going to commit suicide within a year, would it be more ethical to use the actuarial prediction that is here times more accurate than the clinical prediction (Brook et al. 03)? The answer to this question should be as obvious as the question about whether we want our operation done by an experienced or an inexperienced surgeon. By admitting that actuarial Judgment is more accurate, clinicians who engage in activities in the role of experts and imply that they have unique clinical knowledge of individual cases may lose prestige and income; however, the field of psychology, and society, will benefit if we underst and that accepting error is reducing error.

Analysis of Grendel, by John Gardner essays

Analysis of Grendel, by John Gardner essays The Novel Grendel by John Gardner gives the reader a different viewpoint of the good against evil plot scenario.   From the beginning of the book the reader can see that this book is very well written and that Gardner has a very unique way of writing it.   It is clear that the narrator is a very attentive and how he changes his writing to illustrate the growing up of Grendels writing as well.   The reader many times before has dealt most likely with a hero defeating an evil villain.  Although the twist to the story is that, the traditional, evil monster is telling his side of the story.   Having to be forced to now view the events from Grendels eyes, Gardner allows his readers to see the other side of the coin.   Thus, during the events that play out in the entire novel, it gives the reader a chance to comprehend how Grendel plays an important role to how humans are conveyed. Whenever Grendel first encountered humans, he was fairly young at the time, and described it as a bad experience.   After unintentionally catching himself in a tree he was noticed by a group of Hrothgars men walking through the woods.   As the men got nearer, Grendel tries to communicate to them, having no intention of harming these "ridiculous" (Gardner 24) creatures that "moved by clicks." (Gardner 24). After the men bump into Grendel, they are very confused and dont know what to make of the situation. Like wild animals, they are afraid of anything that they are not used too.   Whenever Grendel tries to speak and connect to the men, while hanging from the tree, the men showed ignorance.   Instead of taking the time to understand the abnormality in their world they panic and do the only thing they know how to do to best, destroy it.  Had the reader not read Grendels side of the story, the reader would have assumed that the men had every reason to attack Grendel, but in r eality they didnt.   An altern...

Free Essays on Auto Saftey

Safety is very important in the automotive shop. Knowing and following all your safety rules can help prevent injury and damage. There are many different little sections of safety in the shop for example, gasoline handling, housekeeping, general shop, fire, and hazardous materials. It’s recommended for the people to first know the rules and later apply them as they go on. There are also laws involved regarding hazardous waste disposals. So there fore they have to know the proper disposal methods. The Occupational Safety and Health Act was passed down by the United States government in 1970. This act is to teach the citizens of the United States about safety and good working conditions, and also providing them with information and training about safety and health. Shop hazards can be avoided by following the safety rules and procedures of the shop. Here are some hazards. * Flammable liquids must be stored properly away from fire. * Batteries contain corrosive sulfuric acid solution and produce explosive hydrogen gas while charging. * All types of liquids can be harmful either to the skin or eyes. *High-pressure air can be very dangerous if penetrates the skin and goes into bloodstream * Electrical equipment and lights may result in electrical shock. * Carbon monoxide from vehicle exhaust is poisonous. * Loose clothing, jewelry, long hair may entangle in rotating parts causing serious injury. * High noise levels from shop equipment can be harmful to the ears. * Oil, grease, water in shop floors can cause someone to slip and fall causing injury. Personal protection in the automotive shop. Here is some equipment you should and should not wear. * Always wear safety goggles or face shield in the shop. * Wear ear plugs or covers if high noise is encountered. * Always wear boots or shoes to provide foot protection, and falling. * Do not wear watches jewelry or rings when worki... Free Essays on Auto Saftey Free Essays on Auto Saftey Safety is very important in the automotive shop. Knowing and following all your safety rules can help prevent injury and damage. There are many different little sections of safety in the shop for example, gasoline handling, housekeeping, general shop, fire, and hazardous materials. It’s recommended for the people to first know the rules and later apply them as they go on. There are also laws involved regarding hazardous waste disposals. So there fore they have to know the proper disposal methods. The Occupational Safety and Health Act was passed down by the United States government in 1970. This act is to teach the citizens of the United States about safety and good working conditions, and also providing them with information and training about safety and health. Shop hazards can be avoided by following the safety rules and procedures of the shop. Here are some hazards. * Flammable liquids must be stored properly away from fire. * Batteries contain corrosive sulfuric acid solution and produce explosive hydrogen gas while charging. * All types of liquids can be harmful either to the skin or eyes. *High-pressure air can be very dangerous if penetrates the skin and goes into bloodstream * Electrical equipment and lights may result in electrical shock. * Carbon monoxide from vehicle exhaust is poisonous. * Loose clothing, jewelry, long hair may entangle in rotating parts causing serious injury. * High noise levels from shop equipment can be harmful to the ears. * Oil, grease, water in shop floors can cause someone to slip and fall causing injury. Personal protection in the automotive shop. Here is some equipment you should and should not wear. * Always wear safety goggles or face shield in the shop. * Wear ear plugs or covers if high noise is encountered. * Always wear boots or shoes to provide foot protection, and falling. * Do not wear watches jewelry or rings when worki...

The Change in Male and Female Roles Before & Today Essay

The Change in Male and Female Roles Before & Today - Essay Example Speaking of social expectations for both, males are expected to provide for the family or pay for dates at all times while females are to manage the children, the household, and provide emotional support (Jaffari, TTS Holistic Counselor Mehdi, n.d.) Looking at the male and females roles in relationships today in contrast to what I have mentioned above, there has been a lot of reversal of roles. Females today are not secluded to giving signals when showing interest in a guy. Being direct and honest about the feeling, verbally or inaction is already welcome. When it comes to courtship, males are not the only ones who does the pursuing. There are a lot of aggressive girls today who will do everything to get what she wants, and taking a guy out for dates have started to be a common thing. When it comes to male and female responsibilities, males are not the only ones expected to bring in food in the table. Instead, women today are more empowered to take on a job and a journey towards self-actualization that does not stop when she finally gets married.

Windber Medical Center Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Windber Medical Center - Essay Example Adherence to staff hierarchy and unquestioned physician authority were the norm. However, with the demise of the coal industry, Windber Medical Center lost its key clientele, influence and revenue dipped. To make matters worse Congress enacted the Balanced Budget Amendment Act that changed how reimbursements would be made to small, nonteaching and non-rural hospitals such as Windber. This meant that Windber would have to find a way to be more competitive in order to attract more patients, government funding and funding from other third parties. Diagnosis: What problems was Windber Medical Center facing? According to the report from Ernst and Young, Windber was not making enough money and it faced an imminent demise in five years’ time because of the changes in insurance reimbursements, changes in government reimbursements and heightened competition due to increased penetration of managed care products in the market. Furthermore, Windber was located in an area where the populat ion was migrating out of thus reducing the size of its market. However, the root cause of Windber’s problems was that it operated in an archaic system that saw patients as â€Å"disruptions† rather than as customers.... The new president charged with implementing the change made appointments to meet with each employee and members of the medical staff individually. This assessment method was effective because it enabled the president to understand the organization’s culture fully as well as its influence on each employee. A similar tactic with the medical staff was not successful, however out of its failure the president learnt about the hidden, informal power structure. He learnt that there were sixteen physicians who were the nucleus of power among the medical staff. Out of this assessment it was also noted that senior managers who believed in the power of physicians sided with them on every decision. Design: What is the desired state or goal? The ultimate aim of the change effort at Windber Medical Center was to make patient-centered care the organization’s premier priority. To support this goal the organization also committed to providing a loving, nurturing environment to patients and their families as well as to addressing all patient and patient family issues quickly and efficiently. Implementation: What interventions were employed to reach this goal? Four techniques were adopted by management to advance the change effort: training, rewards, dismissals, feedback sessions and media communications. Trainings were done through: (1) peer-to-peer where four employees from different departments were trained offsite and brought back to train their peers; (2) hiring of a management consultant; (3) taking head of departments on tours to learn new models of care; and (4) annual refresher courses. Rewards were given to employees caught caring and this motivated others to do the same. After three years nearly 10 percent of the workforce

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) - Essay Example Foreign direct investment has increasingly been a business trend of multinational corporations within the global economy.Foreign Direct Investment is defined by Ho and Yiu Lau as the investment of a company in a foreign country which aims at acquiring a long-term economic interest in business enterprises within the host country. FDI can also be defined as an investment of a company in a foreign country by building a factory within the host country. It is through a company’s direct investment in machinery, building and equipment in another country that foreign direct investment is made possible. With the emergence of globalization and the global economy, FDI has played a leading role in the development of global business enterprises. Kennedy (2001, p. 585) say that the definition of foreign direct investment has been broadened with the increased change in the patterns of global investment by companies. As a result, FDI includes acquisition of managerial interests in companies a nd enterprises in foreign countries. The managerial interest may not involve investment in buildings or equipment but managerial decisions are determined by executives who are foreign to the host country. The rapid growth of companies which is attributed to the internationalization and use of technology has expanded FDI to incorporate the growth patterns of world economies as demonstrated by Constant and Yaoxing (2010, p. 99) Foreign direct investment is a reaction to the increased liberalization of business activities, changes and advancements in information and communication technology and capital market changes. Jermakowicz and Bellas (1997, p. 33) explain that through the liberalization of national and regional business regulatory frameworks and governance, foreign direct investment has been achieved. Globalization has enabled foreign direct investment to be achieved by international companies and corporations. It is however argued that information and communication technology h as played the most significant role in the achievement of foreign direct investment. Technology has allowed companies to invest in foreign countries due to the ease of management that is made possible through the adoption and implementation of information systems. In return, foreign direct investment has enabled the process of internationalizing businesses and companies hence promoting the growth of the global economy as said by Fahim-Nader and Zeile (1995, p. 57). Foreign direct investment can take several forms. According to Driffield and Munday (2000, p. 21), there are many forms of foreign direct investment and these include joint ventures, construction of facilities, acquisitions, mergers, strategic alliance, licensing and input of technology. Joint ventures as a form of foreign direct investment includes a company engaging in a business endeavor with another company within a foreign country. The business activities of the joint venture are usually carried out within the host c ountry. Joint ventures within foreign direct investment include two companies from two different countries coming together with an intention of undertaking a business in a specific industry for achievement of common goals. Belderbos, Jie-A-Joen and Sleuwaegen, (2002, p. 155) assert that in foreign direct investment, companies may construct facilities such as factories, hospitals, institutions or infrastructure in a foreign country. This form of foreign investment thus involves direct and active input of capital for construction of these facilities. The investor company that ventures in the foreign direct investment through building structures usually takes the ownership of these structures even though they provide economic benefits to the host country. Lowe (2006, p. 34) explains that acquisitions as a form of foreign direct investment includes a company acquiring the assets of another company within the foreign country. The acquisition of a foreign company makes the investing compa ny the

Qualifying Exam Theories Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Qualifying Exam Theories - Essay Example International organizations backed by World Bank have been advocating poverty alleviation through economic policies that are international in nature but have the potential to influence national policies (Introduction to international relations: Social constructivism, 2012, p 170). There is an emerging ‘global anti-poverty agenda’ that has changed the rules the way people, government and other public organizations are tackling poverty (Noel, 2006). There are several theories that have emerged to explain and tackle poverty; however, all theories seem to agree upon the issue of tackling the problem as inherent and arising in the social structure, which is also seen to be the best solution seems (Altatis, 2012). Liberalism postulates freedom of thought and expression and opposes conservative and authoritarian views. It is a doctrine aimed at helping the outward welfare of men and does not take into account the inner welfare. It is concerned with the outward conduct of men. This doctrine recognizes that inner welfare cannot come from outward, materialistic possession. However, it posits equality of material possessions based on division of labor and individual capability to labor and materialistic possession. Outer well being as advocated by liberalism and its proponents is very much needed for man as it gives every individual a chance and the right to equal opportunity. This theory is based on equality of men in line with the natural law and law of enlightenment and demands equality of political and civil rights to all men. It is based on the assumption that differences between men are artificial and that all men are created equal, and hence need to be given equal rights (Mises, 2012). With equality under law, each individual will have the right and freedom to work to his capacity to be able to attain social equality. Although private ownership is said to create differences in terms of material possession, liberalism with its stress on materialistic

Bullying in USA Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Bullying in USA - Essay Example This percentage amounts to about 5.7 million U.S teens. (National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center). A common misconception about bullying, is that bullies behave and act out to hide feelings of insecurities or self hatred. Studies have found this to be a misconception. In fact, studies have indicated that bullies are quite confident and use violence and physical aggression to achieve their wishes. Most bullies are hot tempered and easily provoked. They tend to prey on smaller, weaker individuals as a means of gaining control over that individual or individuals. (National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center). As far as gender oriented bullying goes, males are more likely to bully both male and female targets while female bullies are more likely to only target other females. Female targets are more likely to endure sexual comments from male bullies and male targets are more likely to suffer physical abuse at the hand of other males who are bullying. Bullies tend to fit a profile of making poor grades, frequent disciplinary actions due to misbehavior, a dislike for school and a propensity for drinking and smoking. The actions of parents may play a major role in whether or not their children engage in bullying behavior. Parental guidance that is extremely lacks or extremely rigid can lead to their teens becoming bullies. Also, lack of emotional support and loving home environments can also lead to teens becoming bullies. Lack of parental supervision or involvement in a child’s life is another factor in whether or not a teen becomes a bully. Parents who are involved in a positive way, in their teen’s life, reduce the chances of having a teen that bullies others. Teens that tend to be insecure, anxious and lacking in social skills are at risk for being bullied. Teens that fit this profile are often the victim of bullies, â€Å"One study found that the most

Operations Management At BMW Mini Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Operations Management At BMW Mini - Essay Example Multistage and single-stage production systems that have a supply chain flexibility are based on multiple production sites with dependency on how the firm’s allocation of products and resources to various sites. Formalization of BMW’s strategic planning process, as well as interfaces across strategic load planning, defines the firm’s partial strategies. BMW has rigid location strategies, allocation strategies, flexibility and capacity strategies, and make-or-buy strategies. The characteristics of such strategies are critical to impacting premium car manufacturing, unlike mass product manufacturers (Riesenbeck & Perrey, 2009, p 156). For example, the determination of location strategy means that BMW should consider the availability of qualified personnel in foreign countries and positive impact on the production image of Germany. Determination of the allocation strategy is based on BMW’s goal to make highly customized cars based on orders and requires more flexible assembly lines to be used for any product within the plant. The direction of BMW’s sustainability strategy is based in the global focus on international markets. Involvement of all management board members schedules planning processes for sustainability and convenes diverse interest and assessments of the company’s progress. Responsibility for the operative implementation includes evaluation of measures among individual company divisions and the focus of the sustainability circle. The implication is that there are representations on sustainable business operations and environment responsiveness. The responsibilities of the institution include evaluation and identification of opportunities and risks relating to sustainability. The concept also oversees continued product enhancement in terms of sustainability strategies (Lussier, 2011, p 78). The firm’s performance refers to sustainability

Change mangement Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Change mangement - Case Study Example This identified the country among the best countries with air airline facilities until after the Second World War. Airline industry in the country started operating in the year 1910 and offered diversified services such as transporting passengers, commodities, parcels and even medical supplies. Development in the industry however begun with construction of aircraft models in the late 19th century but the models were only constructed in the 20th century and approved in the year 1909 before the first flight occurred in the year 1910. Military application of airlines followed two years later and the services were used in many European countries. A number of aviation colleges were also established in the same decade. In the following decade, flight trials were conducted across international airlines before diversified airline services were offered. The country’s airline industry has however continued to experience changes in its internal and external environments to warrant notabl e changes. Qantas is one of the significant developments in the industry (Australian Government, 2008). Competition within the industry is partially regulated by the country’s political environment. The Trade Practice Act is an example. The industry however allows for market forces’ effects, in competition, such as â€Å"predatory pricing† that offers large firms an advantage over small firms in the industry (Parliament of Australia, n.d., p. 1). The industry’s competitive environment has also shifted from its previous duopoly system to a competitive market system. Some of the major players are Qantas, virgin Blue, and Ansett group among others and the firms use product differentiation as the major tool to attracting and retaining their customers. Qantas however remains the largest controller of the industry’s market in Australia (Parliament of Australia, n.d.). Qantas, one of the major players in the Australian airline industry, has a rich history that extends

Operations Management At BMW Mini Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Operations Management At BMW Mini - Essay Example Multistage and single-stage production systems that have a supply chain flexibility are based on multiple production sites with dependency on how the firm’s allocation of products and resources to various sites. Formalization of BMW’s strategic planning process, as well as interfaces across strategic load planning, defines the firm’s partial strategies. BMW has rigid location strategies, allocation strategies, flexibility and capacity strategies, and make-or-buy strategies. The characteristics of such strategies are critical to impacting premium car manufacturing, unlike mass product manufacturers (Riesenbeck & Perrey, 2009, p 156). For example, the determination of location strategy means that BMW should consider the availability of qualified personnel in foreign countries and positive impact on the production image of Germany. Determination of the allocation strategy is based on BMW’s goal to make highly customized cars based on orders and requires more flexible assembly lines to be used for any product within the plant. The direction of BMW’s sustainability strategy is based in the global focus on international markets. Involvement of all management board members schedules planning processes for sustainability and convenes diverse interest and assessments of the company’s progress. Responsibility for the operative implementation includes evaluation of measures among individual company divisions and the focus of the sustainability circle. The implication is that there are representations on sustainable business operations and environment responsiveness. The responsibilities of the institution include evaluation and identification of opportunities and risks relating to sustainability. The concept also oversees continued product enhancement in terms of sustainability strategies (Lussier, 2011, p 78). The firm’s performance refers to sustainability

Time Is Wealth Essay Example for Free

Time Is Wealth Essay Life is all about managing time and dare for venture. This universe is nothing just a main manesfactation of routine and a splendid example of time management. It is said, â€Å"Coming and going is a part of man dunce life but if time lapse it will never ever come again†. â€Å"Time and tide wait for nothing†. Islam also makes it compulsory for it as five prayers at fix time. It is a factor to be looked upon in order to complete shoulder to shoulder with world. As the famous saying is, â€Å"today and not tomorrow† and â€Å"don’t put it till tomorrow that you can do today†. Procrastination and indolence are vices that must be killed at their birth. Life an undoing current the time of life is flowing out. All the time is valuable but there are certain precious moments to be looked upon. A lost moment is lost for good. Hence, the need of making the best use of every minute that is flowing out in eternity. As William Shakespeare said, â€Å"time is health as well there is a proper period of life when health has to be cared for so as to prevent its lost in future. This time is youth. From the beginning to the end of education every effort is made to impress upon us the supreme value of time. it is said,’time and tide wait for nothing†. It is true to some extent as if it is lapsed, one can’t find it anymore. Life on earth is depend out, both for existence and development on proper utilization of certain processions and quantities whether it is inherited from ancestors or given by nature. One of these is time by which is meant the total spam of our life. In day to day existence we are left about 8 to 10 hours of time after accommodating certain demands of our nature such as eating and sleeping. Thus calculated a span of life covering on an average a length of 60 years is reduced to not more than 20 years, if the years of childhood are not taken into account because we are not aware of doing my thing. These 20 years should be used properly. It is said, â€Å"Time is wealth, it is true for great extend for the money we earn is after all the return we receive for use of our time that we make our income therefore, varies according as our time is used or misused†. â€Å"Those who manage time succeed in every walk of life†.

Earthquake Resistant Vernacular Architecture | Analysis

Earthquake Resistant Vernacular Architecture | Analysis The role of Earthquake Resistant Vernacular Architecture in Kashmir Introduction Vernacular architecture is the response from a community or a group of persons needs in regards to the built environment using locally available resources. It is tailored to the climatic, geographic, sociological and aesthetic needs of specific localities and emulates local traditions. As it usually a community based activity without qualified architects, the approach tends to be more unpedigreed and constantly evolving. Rural buildings in Kashmir are designed by the people living there and thus reflect the local cultural heritage as well as the strength of the community itself. In general, buildings in Kashmir have relied entirely on mud, bricks, stone and wood for a long time. In recent times, non-local materials have become more available for the communities living in Kashmir, especially more prosperous regions1. Background Information Indian-administered Kashmir includes Jammu and Kashmir sharing a border with China, in the north and east. Pakistan-administered Kashmir terrorities are Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltisan which are part of the greater Kashmir region. The Kashmir region is on the northern borders of India and Pakistan and the southwestern border of China. Gilgit-Baltisan is the northern most region of Pakistan-administered Pakistan, bordering Azad Kashmir in the south. The irregular topography accounts for the variation in temperature and is largely regulated by the Himalayas, surrounding mountainous and water occupying regions. Despite this, Kashmir has still got four distinct seasons with the highest temperatures reaching over 30 °C and the winter temperatures as low as -4 °C during the nights with snowfall. The climate is known to milder than other surrounding regions to the relatively low altitude2. The soil found in Kashmir is described as clayey, loamy rich and light with alluvial origin. Allu vial soils are known to be more vulnerable to ground failure when seismic vibrations take place. Softer soils are found in Srinagar and across the Valley of Kashmir and they can contribute to making an earthquake last longer3. The economy of the area heavily relies on agriculture with 60% of the area relying on irrigation for major crops such as rice, maize and wheat. There are dense forests that can be divided into two zones (Sub-Himalayan and Himalayan) providing an invaluable source for timber in construction4. Earthquake Risk The Himalayas itself have been created by the collision of two tectonic plates, making it one of the worlds most earthquake prone zones. The Kashmir region is a seismically active experiencing several earthquakes in the Valley of Kashmir throughout history. The boundary of the Indian tectonic plate is colliding with the stationary Eurasian plate creating areas of high stress. Studies show that the Indian tectonic plate moves at 1.8cm a year beneath the Himalayan tectonic plate. Between 1904-2015, there have been 102 earthquakes recorded at this region and there are records dating back to the 15th Century detailing severe earthquakes4. The built environment around Kashmir has changed to help minimise the impact of these earthquakes Initiatives such as the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) collaboration with India in 2006 after the 2005 Kashmir Earthquake have advocated for the preservation of vernacular buildings but also to discuss alternatives in earthquake-resistant buildings with world-renowned international experts5. Evolution of Vernacular Buildings Most of the buildings in the Kashmiri area are constructed because of the communitys adaptation to living in a disaster-prone area. Many towns and villages in Kashmir are found on soft soils or on former prehistoric lakes, therefore it is essential to have characteristic yet simple residential houses. For example, in places with soft water-laden soils, the evolution of timber-laced construction is a necessity for structural survival in the long term. These buildings tend to lean and tilt slightly with little rigidity. For a long time, the heating and cooking systems of these houses has remained intact. Wood-burning stoves were and still are made from easily sourced mud and a copper vessel embedded into the masonry wall to heat up the water. Due to very little additional expenditure, stoves made from galvanized iron sheets have become more popular. Timber-laced masonry construction systems in Kashmir date back to the 12th century, however it was only in the beginning of the 19th centu ry that these systems split into two main traditional construction styles: taq and Dhajji dewari. There has been other earthquake resistant vernacular constructions found in Kashmir after the 2005 earthquake, such as balconies resting on wooden joists, well-designed trusses and ceilings with joists that rested on the wooden built bands spread across walls. There are variations of these styles that are found in heavily mountainous areas where soft soils are not a problem.6 Therefore, the major factors that controlled vernacular architecture are access to good soil for brick-making, to water and to timber, as well as earthquake resistance. Taq (bhatar) buildings Taq buildings are a traditional form of Kashmiri construction and are known for their resistance against earthquakes. The taq system involves load-bearing masonry walls with horizontal timbers embedded in them. The unreinforced masonry is low-strength which is known as masonry laid in lime-sand or mud mortar. The masonry piers are tied together in a ladder-like format by the timber beams in each floor and window level. The symmetrical positioning of windows in a characteristic feature of taqs and is where the name originates from. These timbers resist earthquake collapse by allowing movement of the masonry and the confinement of the brick mud or rubble stone of the wall. The timbers allow an increase in ductility when absorbing the energy released from an earthquake. The full weight of the masonry can be placed on the timber allowing the structure to be held in place. These buildings have enough flexibility to sway in an event of an earthquake. However, the materials in taq are not i ndividually ductile and dont typically exhibit plastic behaviour under stress. Although, since it works as a system, the behaviour that shows this form of flexibility is because of the energy dissipation from the friction between the timbers and the masonry. This friction only occurs when the masonry has been consisted of mortar made from low-strength mud or lime. The Kashmiri house size measurements is defined by the number of window bays, for example, a 5 taq house is five window bays wide. All materials that allow flexibility are easily sourced in Kashmir yet these naturally occurring materials tend not to be strong enough to provide rigidity to the buildings. These ancient taq buildings originally possessed structural and traditional Kashmiri patterns and designs, and held a cultural significance amongst communities7. There has been an area of debate amongst engineers in introducing modern elements to taq buildings, however these have proved to be incompatible. For example, usin g steel reinforcement inside the walls however the rusting of steel when iron converts to iron oxide results in an expansion and thus, the force of this has a negative impact on corresponding materials by breaking them, e.g. the masonry. In addition to this, using steel rods and other incompatible methods such as welding, requires more skill as it is more advance2. Dhajji dewari The Dhajji dewari buildings is a mixture of timber and masonry construction that is also found in non-earthquake zones. Dhajji dewari is a Persian term meaning a patchwork quilt wall. The walls are lighter and thinner and are made of timber framing with infills of brick or sometimes stone masonry. The wall is usually one-half brick thick and then mostly made of timber and masonry. The infil is commonly brick that is made from fired or unfired clay, or rubble stone in more mountainous regions. The vertical and horizontal cage that is formed by the timber frame allows diagonal movement against sheer stress. Timber studs are used to subdivide the infill which help resist the progressive destruction of the wall and of diagonal shear cracks. The buildings are usually found in flat terrain and are detached. They are found in more rural areas since urban areas of Kashmir (e.g. Mirpur, Azad Kashmir) use modern materials such as cement and steel in present time. These materials are affordable to areas where there are less agricultural based jobs, and more industrial based employment. Dhajji buildings in urban areas can also be up to four stories high and more extravagant. In general, Dhajji buildings are mostly found in the western Himalayas in both the Pakistan and Indian-administered sectors of Kashmir. This construction type has been used for over 200 years due to the speed, cost and availability of the resources required to produce these structures. The skill required is not exhaustive for the labour involved and in fact, easier to repair than to make a new house. Dhajji buildings tend to perform better after earthquakes than the original taq buildings, however it cannot be a choice for everyone in the region due to economic means. Despite the locally sourced timber, the judicious use of it in taq and Dhajji buildings means that over the years it has become more in demand, especially post-earthquake times. Towards the 21st century, several people would construct in reinforced concrete however the disadvantages included the poor thermal performance of hollow concrete block construction, this was especially seen in the cold winter seasons. Rich merchants and politicians tend to have very large houses constructed in the Dhajji format and it works as a multi-family housing unit, especially in a region known to have extended families living together. A lot of Dhajji houses are also used for shelter for livestock. Agriculture and farming are an integral part of Kashmiri society, therefore sheltering animals during an earthquake is essential. It is also difficult for communities to move elsewhere in the region since land ownership is the main form of inheritance and records go back to 500 years8. This is another reason why buildings are built upwards on one land plot as well the high density of development in these areas. There is a sense of craftsmanship in making these buildings as simple and reproducible for the community as possible. Cator and Cribbage There are several historic mosques in Srinagar that have employed a cator and cribbage style which is another variation of timber-laced masonry. These structures have also proven to be stable in earthquake-prone regions. The timber-laced masonry is much heavier with a greater use of timber and have been around for approximately 1,000 years. The corners of the building are made of a cribbage of timber with masonry, which connects to the timber belts (cators) running across the walls. These concepts of design come from the Islamic cultural influence from the Middle East, notably in Turkey where it dates back 9,000 years. The walls would usually have religious carvings and symbolism8. Fig.5: Cater and Cribbage technique A comparison of Modern Vernacular Architecture with Traditional Vernacular Architecture After the 2005 Kashmir Earthquake with a high magnitude of 7.6 killed approximately 80,000 people and over 3 million Kashmiris left homeless. Despite the government introducing more steel and reinforced construction over the last 20 years, it made little difference to the impact that the earthquake had, infact Dhajji and bhatar construction turned out to be more stable. This result from reinforced concrete has been witnessed in other earthquakes e.g. Ahmedabad in 2001 and Iran in 20038. Survival rates of those trapped under these constructions was higher than those trapped under concrete based buildings. There has been a modernization of cities such as Srinagar involving the replacement of masonry and timber based constructions with reinforced concrete, affecting the aesthetic appeal of the traditional buildings. Local traditional design usually involves large windows for the summer seasons, however with concrete houses, central heating during the harsh winters is poor and a large ma jority of Kashmiris fall into the lower economical class where they cant afford the fuel to heat up their homes. Due to their flexibility over the years, Taq and Dhajji buildings have showcased that they can survive low to medium Richter Scale earthquakes. Using natural occurring resources such as mud mortar and locally available supplies such as bricks and wood have allowed Kashmiri traditional houses to have a lower level of thermal conductivity than concrete, and thus greater insulation. This is a crucial need for those living in Kashmir because although the summers are short, they can be very warm therefore a house without windows is futile. The materials used for these structures is also useful in the sense that they were recyclable, and it was easier to re-build or reuse the materials for another purpose after an earthquake. This is much more difficult for a concrete building. There are more problems left for the residents after a concrete house has collapsed, such as the removal of debris and rescuing survivors. However there has been strain on the timber supplies due to the deforestatio n rate increasing as the number of earthquakes and population increase. This has led to a larger number of cement plants in Kashmir. Although, high-strength cement-based mortar is now a generic material recommended by most engineers for building on earthquake areas, but Kashmir which experiences considerably larger earthquakes, the mortar ceases to make a beneficial difference once the walls of the building begin cracking. With timber-based masonry, the low strength mortar is used to hold the bricks apart, rather than together allowing the dissipation of the earthquakes energy to other units of the structure. Therefore, internal damping is an area that differs between both kinds of buildings. In addition to these construction problems, many people in the region are more likely to have poor construction practice (due to the more complicated procedures and skills) such as poor mixing or inadequate hydration of concrete which increases the likelihood of a collapse. Tourism has also become an economically beneficial industry in the Kashmir regions providing new employment for its communities, therefore the need to keep its natural attractions is crucial. Prices of timber have increased over the years too and the cost to maintain wood structures has deterred many residents. Overall, the need for modernization and emulating westernization standards of housing has shifted what the communities want, rather than need. Taq and Dhajji dewari have become a symbol of the old times and the prevalence of architecture as a profession has helped create this shift. International architects and engineers have introduced new ideas and concepts to an area that has little similarity to other places in the world, due to its unique geography and climate. The consequences of the 2005 Kashmir Earthquake have caused a detachment from traditional architecture, despite the uniqueness and the performance of it under previous natural disasters. Using Vernacular approaches in Modern Times: Yasmeen Lari One architect that has adopted a vernacular approach in the Kashmir regions is Yasmeen Lari. Lari is Pakistans first female architect. She has been known to be an advocate for the preservation of historical and cultural Pakistani sites. Like others in Kashmir, she has a keen interest in maintaining cultural heritage yet also having a modern perspective. She has built 45,000 structures since 2010 withstanding earthquakes and even flash floods. Lari has also created the Heritage Foundation of Pakistan employing architecture students to teach and train the local community to build more sustainable homes. The foundation aims to increase the involvement of women in rebuilding their homes after natural disasters. Previously, male family members would be part of the community activity of rebuilding and restoration due to cultural reasons. Her technique involves using mud, bamboo, lime and mix lime with mud to create a strong foundation for buildings. The pillars of the houses consist of bam boo roofs, the walls are made from a mixture of mud, lime and other locally sourced material. The rood is known as the Karavan roof, whereby the bamboo can last for 25 years when covered with straw matting, and to make it waterproof a layer of tarpaulin and pozzolana is added. The sizes of the houses range from a single room to a larger room suitable for 5 people, kitchen, bathroom and verandah. After 3 years, it was found that these houses were still standing and in good condition. The reluctance to use cement, steel and burnt bricks for her was since these high-cost materials dont work as efficiently under a disaster situation. It also provides help to communities that arent as economically stable as others in Kashmir (e.g. Mirpur in Pakistan has a large British Pakistani population allowing greater expenditure on buildings) and are not in favour of modernisation. The idea behind Laris concept is the same that has been used in Kashmir for years before modernisation occurred, it ba sically ensures that buildings are simple enough to be rebuilt by inhabitants when in need. The importance of local involvement has been witnessed in the building of Taq and Dhajji Dewari buildings. Laris main objective is to enhance the focus on heritage methodology and learn from the past and advocate zero-cost and zero-carbon solutions9. Conclusion In current times, the Dhajji dewari system is still being used in and adapted in places such as Srinagar, although the principles are the same, new additions such as mud mixed with straw for brick infill are being explored. However, the shift to reinforced concrete buildings is noticeable and has left some taq and Dhajji buildings out of fashion. The combination of vernacular techniques and methods with modern materials and technology are slowly being advocated by groups such as UNESCO. Taq and Dhajji dewari systems have become a symbol of continuity and tradition. The idea of improving the quality of life by modernization has overshadowed the need for traditional timber-based masonry buildings in an extremely earthquake zone. The evolution of earthquake resistance buildings in Kashmir has been rushed to the most generic and common answer (reinforced cement construction), but the disadvantages of this have been witnessed by communities, especially poorer communities. Older designs te nd to complement the climate and the resources available to a higher degree but reverting completely back to them is not ideal. There is general rediscovery of the advantages of old fashioned methods by the government too and a conscious shift to a pre-modern Kashmir but with also new building science. References Vernacular Architecture By Henry Glassie pg 12 Living in Harmony with the Four Elements 12-14 December 2010 Earthquake Resistant Traditional Construction is Not an Oxymoron* The Resilience of Timber and Masonry Structures in the Himalayan Region and Beyond, and its Relevance to Heritage Preservation in Bhutan By Randolph Langenbach Auerbachs Wilderness Medicine By Paul S. Auerbach, Tracy A Cushing, N. Stuart Harris pg 1926 History of Natural Disasters in Kashmir Valley, Jammu and Kashmir with Special Reference to Earthquakes Sidrat Ul Muntaha Anees M. Sultan Bhat Dont Tear it Down!Text and Photographs by Randolph Langenbach Preserving the Earthquake Resistant Vernacular Architecture of KashmirBOOK EXCERPT:Showing Forword, (2) pages 59-61: Section 3.6.2 corner vertical rebar in taq [timber-laced masonry bearing wall] constructionand definition of taq and dhajji dewari construction. FROM:Orig inal publication Info:Produced by UNESCO Cultures and Disasters: Understanding Cultural Framings in Disaster Risk edited by Fred Krà ¼ger, Greg Bankoff, Terry Cannon, Benedikt Orlowski, E. Lisa F. Schipper pg 65 Traditional Earthquake Resistant System Kashmir Mohd Akeeb Dar Sajad Ahmad Hazards and the Built Environment: Attaining Built-in Resilience International Journal of Civil and Structural Engineering Research ISSN 2348-7607 (Online) Vol. 2, Issue 2, pp: (86-92), Month: October 2014 March 2015, Available at: www.researchpublish.com Building of a disaster By Shahnawaz Khan Srinagar, July 3, 2014:  http://www.tabletwoproductions.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Yasmeen-Lari.pdf

Comparing the Philosophies of Brave New World and Anthem Essay

The Philosophies Brave New World and Anthem       The books Brave New World by Aldus Huxley and Anthem by Ayn Rand are both valuable twentieth-century contributions to literature. Both books explore the presence of natural law in man and propose a warning for what could happen when man's sense of right and wrong is taken from him. In this essay, I hope to show how these seemingly unrelated novels both expound upon a single, very profound, idea.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Before launching into the implications of these two novels, I believe a summary of the general human experience in each of the two societies is necessary. Brave New World illustrates a society in which science has been elevated to a god-like position. In this novel, human thoughts and actions are controlled by conditioning, which in turn is controlled by a select few members of the dominant caste. Depending on the caste they are bred for, individuals in Brave New World are developed differently. All humans are created in a laboratory and higher caste individuals are allowed to develop relatively free from any mutation. Lower caste citizens, however, are created in mass quantity and are conditioned even as fetuses to enjoy hard labor. After being born, a process referred to in the novel as decanting, children are raised in group homes. From infancy through adolescence, children are conditioned into their society's worldview: "Everyone belon gs to everyone else."   They are carefully conditioned to accept and reject things based on the society's best interests. While citizens in this world believe they have complete freedom, they are in reality unable to behave in any way other than how they have been conditioned. They date, but monogamy is out of the question. To grow... ...has taken them to an unintended extreme.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   These books are both valuable to the study of natural law, human psychology, government, and many other fields. They very much enforce the theory C. S. Lewis proposed in his book, Abolition of Man, in which he states that without the Tao as a standard, men will inevitable create their own standard, which in Brave New World and Anthem happens to be the good of society.    Works Cited: Corliss, Richard, "Who's Feeling No Pain?" in Time Magazine, April 28, 2001. Available   http://www.time/magazine/printout/0,8816,102079,00.html. Huxley, Aldous.   Brave New World.   New York: Harper Collins Publishers, Inc., 1998. McMichael, Charles T., "Aldous Huxley's 'Island': The Final Vision," in Studies in the Literary Imagination.   Vol. 1, No. 2, April, 1968. Rand, Ayn   Anthem New York: Signet 1961. Comparing the Philosophies of Brave New World and Anthem Essay The Philosophies Brave New World and Anthem       The books Brave New World by Aldus Huxley and Anthem by Ayn Rand are both valuable twentieth-century contributions to literature. Both books explore the presence of natural law in man and propose a warning for what could happen when man's sense of right and wrong is taken from him. In this essay, I hope to show how these seemingly unrelated novels both expound upon a single, very profound, idea.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Before launching into the implications of these two novels, I believe a summary of the general human experience in each of the two societies is necessary. Brave New World illustrates a society in which science has been elevated to a god-like position. In this novel, human thoughts and actions are controlled by conditioning, which in turn is controlled by a select few members of the dominant caste. Depending on the caste they are bred for, individuals in Brave New World are developed differently. All humans are created in a laboratory and higher caste individuals are allowed to develop relatively free from any mutation. Lower caste citizens, however, are created in mass quantity and are conditioned even as fetuses to enjoy hard labor. After being born, a process referred to in the novel as decanting, children are raised in group homes. From infancy through adolescence, children are conditioned into their society's worldview: "Everyone belon gs to everyone else."   They are carefully conditioned to accept and reject things based on the society's best interests. While citizens in this world believe they have complete freedom, they are in reality unable to behave in any way other than how they have been conditioned. They date, but monogamy is out of the question. To grow... ...has taken them to an unintended extreme.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   These books are both valuable to the study of natural law, human psychology, government, and many other fields. They very much enforce the theory C. S. Lewis proposed in his book, Abolition of Man, in which he states that without the Tao as a standard, men will inevitable create their own standard, which in Brave New World and Anthem happens to be the good of society.    Works Cited: Corliss, Richard, "Who's Feeling No Pain?" in Time Magazine, April 28, 2001. Available   http://www.time/magazine/printout/0,8816,102079,00.html. Huxley, Aldous.   Brave New World.   New York: Harper Collins Publishers, Inc., 1998. McMichael, Charles T., "Aldous Huxley's 'Island': The Final Vision," in Studies in the Literary Imagination.   Vol. 1, No. 2, April, 1968. Rand, Ayn   Anthem New York: Signet 1961.

Honesty :: essays research papers

Essay on Honesty   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  You pull up to the second window at the McDonalds’s drive-through to pick up the shake you just ordered and paid for, and the person working there hands you a huge bag of food while asking you if this is what you ordered. Do you A: Answer â€Å"Yes† and take the food or B: Answer â€Å"No† and tell him/her that you only paid for a shake? Yes this really did happen to me. What did I do? Believe it or not, I did the honest thing and gave the food back. But the real question is what would a majority of American’s youth do in a similar situation. There are two potentially dishonest acts in this situation, lying and stealing. In my opinion most high school kids are not above lying and/or stealing. The reason this is true is simply that many of today’s parents are not above lying and/or stealing. So after observing people that hold a high place of respect do things unmoral like this, their conscience says to itself, â€Å"Okay, lying and/or stealing is not really that bad, and is acceptable to my parents.† A majority of Americans youth today are morally confused, due to the un-honorable actions of their parents.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  1984, by George Orwell, shows an example of un-honorable actions of parents, rubbing off on their children. About 99% of the population in this book, were uncaring robots. They would turn their best friend into the â€Å"thought police† at the drop of a hat. They don’t think for themselves, and therefore are robots. The children of 1984, were even worse because they would turn their own parents into the â€Å"thought police†, with no sense of shame, and they actually felt proud about their actions. This is a perfect example of the unmoral actions of the parents rubbing off on their children. This could be the fate of our country if we don’t take parenting more seriously. If this pattern continues on it’s current course, we will have a society with no boundaries to govern life.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  What can we do to remedy, you ask? Well we can start by thinking about what we do before we do it and putting ourselves into the other person’s shoes. How would you feel if you are working at McDonalds and you make this huge bag of food and give it to the wrong car. Then the next car pulls up waiting for its food and you realize what happened, so you explain it to the person and rush to make some more food.

Multiculturalism and America’s identity Essay

I think multiculturalism strengthens America’s identity By allowing other from other countries come here, accepting them as US citizens, giving the opportunities that we have here in the US that they may not have in their own countries. Many other countries do not have a lot of the freedoms as we do, and allowing and accepting multiculturalism we are showing the world we are a fair and caring country that is open minded to giving others chances and breaks in their lives that they can get within their own country. Multiculturalism is the acceptance of multiple ethnic cultures, where people from different religious backgrounds, countries and tradition are given equitable status in schools, neighborhood, cities and nations. This has given rise to multiculturalism here in America. It has brought a change of social layers, but also made the citizen enjoy equal rights and liberty. It has given us a chance to learn things about other countries, their traditions, religious beliefs, and cultures. Multiculturalism in the US has definitely shown positive aspects and is still supporting a large number of immigrants, who have come here received great education and many have opened their businesses. The only downfalls I see are language barriers, I strongly believe if one lives in the United States they should speak English, it does create some issues in regards to communication. And that many people are not open minded enough to allow others enjoy the freedoms that we do here in the United States, there are many people that feel when people from other countries come here they take away from US citizens.

Deped’s Thrusts Essay

1. The ALS Accreditation & Equivalency Test formerly known as the Non-formal Education A&E Test is a paper and pencil test. The test is designed to measure the competencies of those who have not finished either the formal elementary or secondary education. Passers of this test are given a certificate/diploma certifying their competencies as comparable to graduates of the formal school system. Hence, they are qualified to enroll in high school (for elementary level passers) and to enroll in college (for secondary level passers). 2. Philippine Educational Placement Test (PEPT) is the principal instrument used in Accreditation and Equivalency Program (AEP) which was first established in 1977. The main objective is to retrieve out-of-school youths and place them in the formal school system, if they so desire, and to place over-aged in-school youth in the grade/year level corresponding to their ages. The PEPT tests the competencies gained through formal, informal and non-formal education which is equivalent tot hose developed in five subject areas – Communication Arts in English and Filipino, Science, Math and Social Studies – from first grade in the elementary school to fourth year in the secondary school. 3. Special Education is an educational program or service designed to meet the needs of children with special needs that cannot profit from general or regular education because of disabilities or exceptional disabilities. The ultimate goal of special education shall be the integration or mainstreaming of learners with special needs into the regular school system and eventually in the community. Special education also aims to develop the maximum potential of the child with special needs to enable him to become self-reliant and shall be geared towards providing him with the opportunities for a full and happy life. It gears up to the development and maximization of learning competencies, as well as the inculcation of values to make the learners with special needs a useful and effective member of society. 4. Every Filipino child now has access to Early Childhood Education through the universal Kindergarten. At 5 years old, children start schooling and are given the means to slowly adjust to formal education. Research shows that children who underwent Kindergarten have better completion rates than those who did not. Children who complete a standards-based Kindergarten program are better prepared, for primary education. Education for children in the early years lays the foundation for lifelong learning and for the total development of a child. In Kindergarten, pupils learn the alphabet, numbers, shapes, and colors through games, songs, and dances, in their Mother Tongue. 5. The Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) work focuses on supporting the children’s development through this vital period – ensuring they are physically healthy, cognitively stimulated, emotionally resilient and socially competent. ECCD program also strengthen children’s protective environment by supporting parents and pregnant women, as well as looking for wider contexts such as government policies and attitudes. 6. The Drop Out Reduction Program (DORP) aims to curb the high dropout rates in public schools by offering alternative modes of education for students at the risk of dropping out (SARDO). First implemented in 1998, the DORP is already perceived to have achieved some success, with a decrease in the dropout rate from 12. 51% in AY 2005-2006 to 7. 45% in AY 2007-2008. A â€Å"dropout† is defined by the DORP as a student who has stopped attending school before completing the prescribed level of education within the specified school year. The dropout rate, meanwhile, is the percentage of students who drop out from a level of education in a given school year, including those who complete the school year but fail to enroll in the next. In a school implementing the DORP, a DORP support team must be formed. They shall be tasked with organizing, designing and implementing the school’s DORP through setting the targets for the program and choosing the appropriate intervention methods in the context of the available school and community resources. 7. The Alternative Learning System is a free education program implemented by the Department of Education (DepEd) under the Bureau of Alternative Learning System which benefits those who cannot afford formal schooling and follows whatever is their available schedule. ALS aims to open more educational opportunities for Filipino citizens of different interests, capabilities of demographic characteristics, socioeconomic origins and status as well as addressing the needs of marginalized groups. The program cuts the time needed to finish high school, hence, significantly cuts the expenses as well. Aside from giving hope to the less fortunate, it also provides opportunities to Out-of-School Youths (OSY) and adults elementary and secondary school drop-outs; industry-based workers; housewives; maids; factory workers; drivers; members of cultural minorities; indigenous people and the disabled/physically challenged. 8. The Adopt-A-School Program is enacted in 1988 for the very purpose of providing a venue for the strong and dynamic private sector to participate in nation-building through investments in the education of Filipino children. The rewards of such investments come through an educated generation that will succeed ours, run our enterprises, and steer this nation to greater heights. Over the years, DepEd introduced interventions to reduce student dropouts and keep the youth off the streets. It has sought to increase student achievement levels and improve teacher performance. It continues to bring the issues and needs of public education to every Filipino who cares, in an effort to invite each and everyone to help boost education opportunities for our young. With Adopt-A-School, each Filipino can have the opportunity to enjoy his right to education, to open his eyes to the wonders and challenges of the world, to pursue his dreams, and to contribute capably towards the nation’s progress. 9. The Arabic Language and Islamic Values Education (ALIVE) is designed for the Muslim Migrants to be able to positively contribute to the peace efforts of our government in order to improve that quality of life of Muslim out-of-school youth and adults. It teaches the language of the Holy Qur’an and the beliefs and value system of the Muslim religion. It has components, namely, Basic Literacy Program + ALIVE, Accreditation & Equivalency (A&E) Program + ALIVE, Informal Education + ALIVE, Technical Vocational Education Program + ALIVE and Entrepreneurship Development +ALIVE. In the Philippines, the teaching of Islamic values and Arabic used to be done only in Islamic schools, however, DepEd ordered the mainstreaming of these lessons in the curriculum in some selected public elementary schools particularly those who have Muslim communities. The order mandated the teaching of Islamic values and Arabic language in public elementary school with at least 30 Muslim students. 10. Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses for schools are use to pay expenses for utilities like electric and water expenses. It can also be to pay salaries for janitorial and security services or use for other mandatory expenditures except for the procurement of textbooks and other instructional materials and school furniture and equipment. Other uses of MOOE include travelling expenses, communication services, repair and maintenance, transportation services and many others. 11. Brigada Eskwela is a nationwide voluntary effort which started in 2003, bringing together teachers, parents, and the community to do clean up and repairs in public schools to prepare the facilities for the June school opening. Undertaken in all public schools every third week of May or two weeks before classes begin, it is participated in by private organizations, individuals, national and local government agencies, local businesses, and international organizations and foundations, among others. Volunteers paint classrooms, repair furniture, and clean up the school grounds. Materials and supplies are usually donated by the parents or by private businesses and foundations. Brigada Eskwela encourages the public to share their time, strength and resources in kind. In 2012, Brigada Eskwela pooled more than P1. 5 billion-worth of resources-in-kind and man hours by over six-million volunteers in various parts of the country. 12. K to 12 aims to make basic education sufficient enough so that anyone who graduates can be gainfully employed locally and globally and will have a productive life. The K-12 Education plan is to add two years in the secondary level plus kindergarten and it will look at the specialized education in high school which will focus on a specific field of interest. If the K-12 Education Plan becomes successful, then the Philippine education system can become more competitive among other countries around the world. Though there are still some problems that the government needs to solve before they can successfully implement the plan. Such elements include the number of public school classrooms plus the adequate supply of classroom chairs, books, etc. If the government could allot a bigger budget to educational needs, then we could be one-step ahead towards the success of the K-12 program. Furthermore, parents (especially those who belong in the poor sector) should be properly informed and motivated of the advantages of the K-12 Education Plan. This is very important since parents play a major role in providing the child’s school allowances, supplies, and fees for other school projects and activities. Once this succeeds, it is best hoped that Filipino students would be more literate, skilled, and competitive to be able to find jobs more easily and contribute to the country’s pride as well as the country’s economy. 13. A Lingua Franca is a language systematically used to make communication possible between people not sharing a first language, in particular when it is a third language, distinct from both speakers’ first languages. Examples of lingua francas are numerous, and exist on every continent. The most obvious example is English, which is the current dominant lingua franca of international business, science, technology and aviation. There are many other lingua francas centralized on particular regions, such as Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish. With the rich experiences and lessons learned in the implementation of the use of lingua franca or mother tongue as language of instruction, the DepED has expanded this in its multilingual education implemented in SY 2008-2009 until SY 2012-2013. The project is called Lingua Franca and Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education (MLE). Its main goal is to develop lifelong learners who are proficient in the use of their lingua franca or mother tongue (language 1), the national language (language 2) and other languages (language 3 and language 4) who take pride of their heritage and culture. This move helps to improve schools performance indicators specifically dropout, repetition, retention and completion rates among elementary pupils; increase pupils’ academic performance through the acquisition of oral fluency, reading and writing skills in their lingua franca or first language that provide them a bridge to learning Filipino and English enabling them to become more competent in all areas of study; and demonstrate self-confidence and pride in one’s culture, tradition and values. 14. The Mother Tongue-Based Multi-Lingual Education (MTB-MLE) has been implemented in all public schools, specifically in Kindergarten, Grades 1, 2, and 3, as part of the K to 12 Basic Education Program, starting the School Year 2012-2013 to support the goal of â€Å"Every Child-A Reader and A-Writer by Grade 1. † The MTB-MLE aims at language development which established a strong education for success in school and for lifelong learning and at cognitive development which focuses on Higher Order Thinking Skills. It also aims at academic development which prepares the learner to acquire mastery of competencies in each of the learning areas and at socio-cultural awareness which enhances the pride of the learner’s heritage, language, and culture. In the MTB-MLE implementation, the following eight major languages or Lingua Franca and four other languages will be cited as learning area and utilized as language of instruction for SY 2012-2013: Tagalog, Kapampangan, Pangasinense, Iloko, Bikol, Cebuano, Hiligaynon, Waray, Tausug, Maguindanaoan, Maranao, and Chavacano. 15. In anticipation of over two million students enrolling in the start of the school year, the Department of Education sees the Alternative Distance Learning Program as a way to decongest schools which will allow students to do their schoolwork without coming to school every day. Instead, the students will study at home and report to school for exams and group activities. DepEd created also the Internet-based Distance Education Program (iDEP) as an alternative way for students to complete their education in an attempt to reduce high school dropout rates in the country. iDEP offers formal secondary education to qualifying students using Internet-based technologies and classes are conducted and managed completely online. The program is seen to benefit many students, as well as those working in the entertainment industry, those with health and financial problems, and those in rehabilitation centers.