The current macroeconomic situation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The current macroeconomic situation - Essay Example This means that the people in America were borrowing in order to fund spending (Tilton, 2011). A deficit then is created. This situation is expected to result into inflation. Nevertheless, as of 2010 until the present, the private sector’s spending has been in moderate level (Tilton, 2011). There is a rise in saving and a drop of spending (Tilton, 2011). The country’s GDP (Gross Domestic Product) is used to determine this fact. Second, credit conditions have improved for both smaller businesses and individuals; more and more banks have stabilized their lending standards (Tilton, 2011). This means that banks are not anymore imposing strict policies in terms of lending. If this is the case, then, it would be easier for smaller businesses and consumers â€Å"to spend a bit more† (Tilton, 2011). Despite these good economic findings, there are three key factors which could hinder full economic growth in the United States. These are the following: (1) large federal bud get deficit; (2) large increases in commodity prices; and (3) weakening of housing prices (Tilton, 2011). To prevent these factors from becoming a big economic problem, the federal government should adopt fiscal tightening instead of fiscal expansion. At this time, to use an expansionary fiscal policy would worsen the situation.

Henry V Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Henry V - Essay Example â€Å"Henry V† grossed 10 million dollars in the United States. Branagh was nominated for Oscar for Best Director and Best Actor in a Leading Role; Phyllis Dalton won the British Academy Award and Oscar for Best Costume Design. The soundtrack to the movie by Patrick Doyle is noteworthy; it is became known on its own. The film also received other awards such as European Film Awards and awards from the National Board of Review and the New York Film Critics Circle. The movie tells the story of the young King of England Henry V. He, being stirred by high church officials and advisors is contemplating to start a war with France on the ground of claims for the throne of France. At the time when the King is talked into the war, he is also insulted by the King of France. French think of Henry as of a young boy they have no reasons to be afraid of, so the Dauphine of France sends him tennis balls as a royal gift. King Henry seizes the opportunity for a war as a chance to change his ima ge and to live up to expectations of his people, so he leads his troops into battles against France. He has to deal with treason, lack of supply and exhaustion of his soldiers, their morale lowering. He is a good commander of his army, loved by his soldiers, firm and cruel with those, who break the law and noble in his interactions with French. He also has to face his own uncertainties and find strength in communion with God. The culmination of the war is the Battle of Agincourt, won by handful of English man compared to the large French army. Then, the treaty is signed between England and French, and King Henry woos princes Katherine into marriage. â€Å"Henry V† is considered to be one of the most historically accurate movies ever filmed. However, there are a few inconsistencies. The source of historical information for Shakespeare’s play was the â€Å"Chronicles† of English history written by Raphael Holinshed. But, to create a dramatic and intriguing story, authors had to take liberty and change some of the details, albeit, not significant. The events, portrayed in the movie, took place in 1415. The film presents accounts of only a portion of a long lasting unresolved conflict between France and England, known as the Hundred Years’ War. The beginnings, origins and causes of the dispute were very complex, but the reason for an open conflict was the argument over the rich and beautiful French territory of Gascony. According to the play and the movie, the immediate cause of the war was Henry’s claim to the French throne. However, the claim to the French throne was made earlier than that. The French king Philip VI made an unsuccessful attempt to retake Gascony, but the defeat of the Scottish uprising in the battle of Halidon Hill literally crossed out all his plans. Embarrassed and humiliated, he decided to eliminate all English influence from the territory of France. After scouting English settlements on the English Channel, he gathered enough courage to challenge English authority. In retaliation, King Edward claimed that he was de facto the legitimate heir to the throne of France. Phillip, of course, was furious by this proud claim and formally declared war to England. So Henry V was not the one who made the allegation to the French throne; he only continued the demand of his ancestor, Edward, which began the war in the first place. Also, the movie shows the two nations supposedly living in peace with

Poultry Waste as an Organic Fertilizer

Poultry Waste as an Organic Fertilizer LITERATURE REVIEW The several studies have been reported that the higher amounts of metals are present in different organic wastes, such as poultry fertilizer (Lopes et al., 2011; Bolan et al. 2004) and poultry fertilizer composts (Haroun et al. 2009; Farrell and Jones 2009a; Chen et al. 2008; Cai et al. 2007; Goi et al. 2006; Ihnat and Fernandes 1996; Ayuso et al. 1996; Ciavatta et al. 1993). These metals are potentially bio-transferable to soils and to different crops (Lopes et al., 2011; Achiba et al. 2009; Odlare et al. 2008; Bose and Bhattacharyya 2008; Kidd et al. 2007; Casado-vela et al. 2007; Korboulewsky et al. 2002; Cole et al. 2001; Bazzoffi et al. 1998; Pinamonti et al. 1997). Literature survey have suggested the both concerns of metals availability and mobility to humans environment, and their necessity for regular agronomic practices. The application of poultry waste as an organic fertilizer is major source for improving soil productivity and crop yield (Dikinya 2010; Cooperband et al. 2002). However, beside these beneficial applications of poultry waste, it is also responsible for different problems and adverse effects towards soil and plants and the trace level of these metals in plants may pose health hazards to plants consumers such as humans and animals (Singh R 2010; Arroyo et al., 2014; Diaz-Barrientoset al. 2003). The induction of HM due to poultry waste land practices to agricultural land may behave a different role in affecting soil composition and the growth of plant (Zhou et al., 2005; Miyazawa et al. 2002, Walker et al. 2003). Tao and Mancl 2008, estimated daily manure production by a broiler and laying hen to be 0.09 kg and 0.18 kg, respectively. Moreki JC and Chiripasi SC 2011; Edwards 1992, described the factors that influence manure production include type of chicken, age and breed, stocking densi ty, feed conversion, kind and amount of feed, litter, floor, moisture content of manure, and even climatic impacts during absorption. Ritz and Merka, 2009 reported, that the factors affecting composition of manure are type of birds, feed nutrient density, bedding material and amount, time in use and other management factors. 2.1. Beneficial impacts of poultry waste The poultry waste amendment in soil as a fertilizer is a common practice for centuries and it had been used the most desired natural fertilizer due to contents of high amount of nitrogen (Sloan et al., 2003) and nourishes plants with necessary nutrients. Poultry fertilizer have enhanced the product yield in several crops, such as Bermuda grass, wheat, rice, orchard, grass fescue, and corn (Moore 1995; Edwards and Daniel 1992; Wood 1992; Miller et al. 1991). Such practices of manures to agricultural soil raises organic contents, provides nutrients, improves soil structure and increases nutrients which are induced by crops (Lopes 2011; Singh and Agrawal 2008; Weber et al. 2007). It is reported that the increase in crops yield is due to the higher contents of Nitrogen present in waste, whereas, in rice crop S, Zn, P, K and N cannot duplicated in graded soils (Moore et al. 2005; Miller et al. 1991). Sunarlim et al., 1999 has been stated that, the application of chicken farm waste provide nutrients as well as134 increases the biological, physical chemical and properties of agricultural soil. It has been investigated by Jamali et al. 2008; Scancar et al., 2000 that, the higher amount of organic content and significant concentrations of P and N in solid waste endorse its usage, in the most cost- effective mode, as an agricultural manure or as a soil conditioner. Caviatti et al., 1993 11 stated that increase in pH of composite lowers the mobility of HM. The disposing of animal waste is the beneficial land disposal method and increases agronomic production (Ekop et al. 2011; Obasi et al., 2008). This is a typical economic sustainable means of changing waste to wealth. Due to the high cost of inorganic fertilizers, small scale farmers now apply livestock and poultry manure, sewage sludge and municipal waste to improve soil fertility (Odoemelam and Ajunwa, 2008; 51). In terms of HM stabilization in polluted sites, very small metal concentration of metals into shoot/stems is acceptable to prevent their induction to food chain via ecosystem described by Pichtel et al., 2000. Singh et al. 2012, reported that the nutrient accumulation amount vary by crop specie and variety. As reported by ul Islam et al. 2007, the association of microbes and root and soil and plant acts an active specie in regulation of HM transference from agricultural soil to edible parts of plants. Chibuike 2014; ul Islam et al. 2007 and Baker 1981, reported that these plants are able to tolerate the HM via three mechanisms, namely, (a). exclusion: restriction of metal transport and maintenance of a constant metal concentration in the shoot within the higher range of soil concentration (b). inclusion: metal concentrations within the shoot reflecting relationship; and (c). bioaccumulation: accumulation of metals in the shoot and roots of plants at both low and high soil concentrati ons. Thomas et al. 2012, stated that the essential and non-essential metals may accumulated in soils by means of wastewater irrigation, sewage sludge and poultry manure application by the use of fertilizers and agrochemicals. 2.2. Adverse effects of poultry waste Nowadays, environmental pollution is of high global concern issue. Regarding to this issue, HM pollution in agricultural soil has always been deeply focused by the scientific community 34. (A. K. Chopra., 2009; 34) reported that the HM are usually present at lower concentrations in soil, due to their toxicity and cumulative behavior HM does not only have toxic effects on plants but also create human health problems. The existence of HM in animal excretion (livestock and poultry manure) may contained in their feed or other supplements (Hamid and Jawaid 2013; Lopes 2011; Petersen et al. 2007; European Commission 2003). Therefore, the extent of HM in manure is usually moderate for lead and cadmium. The micronutrients such as Zn and Cu, generally added to animal feed supplements, to enhance the production and disease prevention (Nicholson et al. 1999). It was reported by Barathi et al., 2013, Kelleher, et al., 2002, that utilization of poultry waste as fertilizer have many adverse impacts, such as ground and surface water contamination, odors and insect accumulation with decrease in crop production. (FAO, 2006) stated that the aerial emissions of pollutants from poultry production facilities can affect air quality. Ammonia emitted into the atmosphere is arguably the most environmentally significant aerial contaminant related with poultry production. Zhang et al. 2005 reported that, the excreta of poultry farms contain some harmful components, such as HM, pathogenic microorganisms and veterinary drugs. McLaughlin et al., 1999 has reported that all HM are toxic at higher concentrations. Ligaba 2011 and Barazani 2004 reported that, the HM due to oxidative damage in plants may responsible to create toxicity to higher plants , including enhanced lipid per oxidation, oxidation of protein and reductants in the cell DNA impairment, , 12 stated that the, toxic metals have negative impact on crops may be due to oxidative stress, dislocating of enzymes or essential metals within the pigments present in plants, disruption of the molecules, metabolic processes and reduce the growth and production yield (Stohs and Bagchi, 1995, Zhang, et al., 2000). Bolan et al. 2004 and Park et al. 2011 stated that the beneficial effects, concern over the potential hazards associated with organic manures continues to attract the attention. Dean 2008 stated that, the PM may contain relatively high concentrations of several trace metals such as: Pb, Cu, Cd, Fe and Zn as reported by Unwin, 1998; Sims and Wolf, 19 94; Bolan et al., 2010. A.K. Chopra, 2009, reported that, HM are the important pollutant group, these are stable and cannot be degraded or destroyed, therefore these tend to accumulate in soils. The HM also occur in nature, their excessive accumulation can create carcinogenic and other toxic effects in living organisms. Further he reported that, various industries are playing a key role in this context by discharging a large amount of effluents on the land soil. According to Gupta 2007, the distribution and absorption of HM in tissues of vegetable plants are important to assess and monitor the role of phytoremediation in metaliferous soils. Lente, J. 2014; Drechsel, 2014 and Muchuwati M. 2006, described that, the regular assessment in agricultural soils and crops is therefore, very important to analyze concentration and conceive the method to reduce contamination, in order to reduce risks to human health. In vegetables these HM accumulate in edible parts (fruits, leaves and roots) and the HM are most often found in vegetables include cadmium, copper, arsenic, chromium, lead, zinc, cobalt and nickel earlier described by Drechsel, 2014; Lakmalie 2011 and Muchuwati et al., 2006, stated that other than the safety risks, HM higher than the permissible limits also pollute soils and affect quality and growth of crops. The trace levels of HM may create problems in soil, such as food chain contaminations and phytotoxicity as stated by Kumaragamage an d Indraratne 2011; Nicholson et al., 2003 and 35, 85. Arunakumara et al., 2013; Sadon et al., 2012; Chand et al.,2012, have been reported that contamination of agricultural soils with HM, created significant environmental problems and Rotkittikhun 2007 stated that, their uptake by plants can have strong adverse impacts on human health contaminated via food chain. McLaughlin et al., 2000; Pierzynski et al., 2000 have documented that synthetic fertilizers and pesticides contain trace metals as impurities or active ingredients. Singh and Aggarwal, 2006 reported, the crop yields get contaminated, the excessive metals in the plant can result in decreased crop yield too due to the inhibition of plant metabolic processes. Baig et al. 2011; Cooper et al., 2011 and ul Islam 2007 estimated that, thresholds of nutritional toxicity in soil to plant system and accumulation of HM in plants may vary with several factors. Roeper et al. 2005; 41 contended that the problem created due to the poultry industries is the excreted manure, it is hazardous to livings and environment due improper disposing and treatment methods. Furthermore, it spread diseases, contaminate the groundwater resources and agricultural soils, if not handled properly. 2.3. Sequential Extraction of HM The bioavailable and mobile HM, and their ecotoxicity to crops, rely and depend upon the origin of bonding and their definite chemical forms 35. In order to evaluate and monitor geochemical forms and harmful effects, these physicochemical forms should be evaluated, rather than the total metal concentration investigated by Fuentes 2004; Pueyo et al., 2001; Fernandez et al., 2000; Perez -Cid et al., 1999; Legret, 1993. The environmental behavior of potentially toxic metals critically rely on their origins (Bacon et al. 2008; Kazi et al. 2006; Ure and Davidson 2002). The way by which HM bound to solid components of environment, like sediments and soils, this act may affect the bioavailability, mobility and toxicity of metals towards livings (Bacon et al. 2008). The Sequential Extraction scheme was firstly suggested by Lasheen 2009; Kersten and Forstner 1986; Tessier et al. 1979; which comprises five steps: Yao 2009 (i) Exchangeable fraction, (ii) Carbonated bound fraction (extracted by acetic-acetate buffer), 114 (iii) Fe/Mn oxide bound fraction (extracted by hydroxylamine), (iv) Organic matter bound fraction (extracted by hydrogen peroxide in nitric acid) and (v) Residual fraction. The Community Bureau of Reference (BCR) in 1987 also began a scheme to harmonies the procedure used in the sequential extraction schemes to determine the levels of HM in various environmental samples, it was also used to define CRM (certified reference material) by Ure et al., 1993. This procedure has been historically used to various matrix, such as soil (Vieira 2009; Vidaland Rauret, 1993), sewage sludge (Prez-Cid et al., 1996, Alvarez et al., 2002), sediment (Thomas85et al., 1994, Marin et al., 1997), ash (Villar et al., 2001) and composts (Oyeyiola 2011; Gre enway and Song, 2002). The BCR sequential extraction, a simple 70 3-steps and an additional step, which give rise to four different fractions that was thoroughly tested by inter laboratory trials reported by Delgado 2011; Tokalioglu et al., 2000. The original procedure was reported by Quevauviller et al., 1994 and Quevauviller, 1998, Cappuyns 2009, consist 3-extractions which separated ‘acid extractable’ (CH3COOH 0.11 M), ‘reducible’ (NH2OH.HCl, 0.1 M, pH 2) and ‘oxidisable’ (H2O2 30%) fractions. 2.4. Modified BCR Procedure The reducing extraction (NH2OH.HCl) fraction in the BCR sequential extraction scheme was found to suffer from a lack of reproducibility (Cappuyns 2007). After testing different reaction conditions (concentration of the reagent, pH), the NH2OH.HCl concentration was changed to 0.5 M and the pH of the reagent was adjusted to 1.5 by addition of a fixed volume of HNO3 instead of 0.1 M NH2OH.HCl at pH 2 39. Original BCR procedure recently being superseded by a modified version and this procedure is very popular during recent years and their application has increased lately, during the certification of Reference Materials reported by Sahuquillo et al.,1999, Rauret et al., 2000; 103 Perez Cid et al., 2001, Sutherland and Tack, 2002, Mossop and Davidson, 2003; Kazi et al., 2006. The revised protocol involves use of an increased concentration of NH2OH †¢HCl and lower pH (Mossop 2003). It improves reproducibility due, it is thought, to a more efficient dissolution of the reducible fraction of the soil matrix, most probably the iron oxyhydroxide phase. 2.5. Single Extractions The single extraction procedures are widely used as a general tool to evaluate metal polluted sediments, sewage sludge (MarguÄ ± 2004; Hardaway et al., 1999), construction materials and soils (van der Sloot et al., 1996). Ph. Quevauviller et al., 1997, investigated that for soil and environmental samples the most commonly used leaching/extraction tests were selected in order to identify the degree of similarity, exchangeability and/or complementary nature of data. These tests consisted of single extractions using water, mild (CaCl2, NaNO3), acid (CH3COOH) and complexing extractants (EDTA, DTPA) (Houba et al., 1990, Gupta and Aten, 1993). According to MarguÄ ± 2004, the leaching test, which is based on a German Standard Method (DIN 38414-S4) was developed to assess leaching of sludge and sediments from water and wastewater treatment. Among single extraction methods, CaCl2 and DTPA were the most widely used extractants (Wang 2004; Houba et al., 1996; Novozamsky et al., 1993). 2.5.1. Complexing extractant (EDTA) Beckett, 1989, McLaughlin et al., 2000, 33 has been to express heavy-metal levels in soils as plant- or potentially plant-available metal levels rather than â€Å"total† concentrations. This implies that â€Å"weaker† extractants or chelating agents be used in heavy-metal studies. EDTA, in either the di-sodium or di-ammonium salt form, has been used extensively in a host of studies as an extractant of potentially plant- available heavy metals. Baig et al. 2010; David Fangueiro 2002; Ure et al., 1993, Quevauviller et al. 1998 reported using a single extraction scheme such as extraction with EDTA has been suggested by the Measurement and Testing Programme, in order to analyze the bioavailable HM. However, these methods of evaluation are attained under equilibrium conditions and the bioavailability and distribution of species, achieved only by thermodynamic considerations is also of limited application. 2.5.2. Calcium chloride (CaCl2) 0.01 M Calcium Chloride (Jones 2007; McBride et al., 2003; Houba et al., 2000; van Erp et al., 1998) have been suggested as measure of phytoavailability for selected HM in soil and solid samples. The bioavailable extractable trace and toxic HM were also evaluated by using 0.01 M CaCl2 as an extractant (Menzies et al., 2007; Kuo et al., 2006). Xiao-ping et al., 2004 have described that the CaCl2 is one of the main constituents of soil background electrolytes. The HM, which are accumulated in soil, may weaken and break the bonding sites of calcium (Razic 2006). 2.5.3. Water extraction fraction (DIN test 38414-S4) Leita and Nobili, 1991, examined that most readily bioavailable fractions of organics and HM are the water-soluble in composts applied to soils. So that the water soluble extraction in soil is always thought to be the portion of the most weakly bound forms to the solid phase (Akira Takeda. 2006). The deionized water was used for the water extraction, these extraction methods were initiated with 1:10 ratio of soil and extract volume, at room temperature and shaken for 2-hours then flirted and analyzed (Berti and Jacob, 1996).

cheats :: essays research papers

110,000 Credits In 30 Minutes Buy a Toyota Integra Type-R and upgrade it to the maximum. Now go to the Type-R meeting in the begginer leauge. Do the series race (5 races) and you get 5,000 for every race and 10,000 at the end. 35,000 already! Now you get an Acura worth 75,000. Sell this and you have gained 110,000 credits in 30 minutes. Easy money! 75% completion Complete 75% of the game and you will be rewarded with a Mazda 787B. Accelerate faster If your gears are in automatic then hold R1 when you start to move and wait to the Rev gets to the Red bit and release ( You must release it - otherwise the car wont change gear! ) All Japanese GT Championship prize (Amateur League) Win the All Japanese GT Championship in the Amateur League to unlock the Honda Arta NSX JGTC and Denso Supra Race Car. Altezza Championship Race prize (Amateur League) Win the Altezza Championship Race in the Amateur League to unlock Tom's X540 Chaser and Toyota Vitz RS 1.5. Best way to start the game Your first car should be the PT cruiser, then save up and buy a chevrolet camaro SS, then buy a Toyota Supra. Save up and fully tune it, it will have around 1000bhp! Then make sure you have the IA license and enter the super speedway endurance race. This will take around an hour, it will then win you a F1 car and 200000cr!! The F1 car can enter and easily win most races. Be warned though because you may not win the F1 car first time round, but both times I have tried, I did. Bonus tracks Complete each tier of tracks in arcade mode on any difficulty setting to unlock the next tier of tracks: Tier 1 Super Speedway, Midfield Raceway, Smokey Mountain, Swiss Alps, Trial Mountain, Midfield Raceway II. Tier 2 Smokey Mountain II, Tokyo R246, Grand Valley Speedway, Laguna Seca Raceway, Rome Circuit, Tahiti Circuit. Tier 3 Swiss Alps II, Trial Mountain II, Deep Forest Raceway II, Special Stage Route 5, Seattle Circuit, Test Course. Corvette C5R Simply beat 50% of the simulation game and you'll be given a Corvette C5R. CorvetteZo6 with 793 horsepower It's not really a cheat, but it's a hint. Buy a CorvetteZo6 for $54,000, and upgrade it to the maximum. Then you're ready to go. Deutsche Tourenwagen Challenge prize (Amateur League) Win the Deutsche Tourenwagen Challenge in the Amateur League to unlock the Volkswagen Lupo Cup Car, Volkswagen Beetle Cup Racer, Astra Touring Car, and RUF 3400S.

Leaving Home and Memories

Leaving home, yes, I remember leaving home, can you? Leaving home for me was quite unlike the leaving home of what I would call the usual. It December 27, 2009. That day I won’t forget for my entire life, that day when it was the change in everything, that day when I was saying goodbye, the teary goodbyes to relatives and friends. Getting closer to time to leave home, I started to remember and retell, in my head, the bittersweet memories of leaving the loving nest. As my family and I arrived to the airport, my heart was heavy, and I started to feel sad because of what I hate and I’ve always hated, it is separation from my best friends, however I knew the time has come to leave. I felt an unsettling feeling in my heart and a kind of longing to stay back forever. But at the same time, I was excited. I have been reflecting on what my life would become and what it could have been and, eventually, I plucked up the courage to walk away and started a new life. In the plane, I sat with closed eyes, reliving those wonderful and fond memories, I left behind.  Like read about memories? Read also  Flashbulb memory! Today is a life change. It’s awaking me and saving me, striving forth happy, confident and bold, into a world that’s familiar but friendly. Into this new life my spirit will send me, Living, laughing, and loving it all. Now I’ve been sitting around this life, I can see just where it all went, Cherish every moment of this new life. Later, I woke up; I could hear the faint humming of the airplane engines. We were over the Atlantic Ocean. I noticed the journey viewer showed that only 2 hours to go. I was going to be in Canada after what seemed a lifetime of waiting, anticipation, obsession with it all. I was going to touch down, to take a first Canadian breath of air, in only just two hours, what an exciting feeling. I couldn't even believe I slept in the first place, but I had. After almost 2 hours, my dad told that we are flying above Canada. Canada! A smile took over my face. I sat there Looking out the window at the vast earth we live in. somewhat calming being so high up above the clouds, its peace, its tranquil, and mesmerizing. Without moment’s notice, I was jolted form, my calming wander to the sound of a belt light; it was time to fasten our seat belts as we were going to start descending on Canada. Finally, smiles all over. Only moments away before I knew it, I saw clouds rushing past my window, faster and faster, it was like a moment of such anticipation, as to what will be at the end, through the clouds. What I will see, what is going to be my first image, my first real life visualization of Canada? More clouds rushed past, more and more, I never thought it was going to end. It was hilarious, where is it, I remember I kept on thinking, where is Canada, show yourself to me, â€Å"SHOW ME†. Within three minutes, I looked down and I knew I was staring into my new land, my new home. I know as soon as I touch down, I’m not leaving for a long time, I knew it. Afterwards, I took a breath as I walked through the tunnel. I saw the steps, I seemed to count how many there where, I reached the last one, 17 steps, it was the last one, and I went down. I felt good, that first touch, that first moment. I breathed my first Canadian breath of air, all I thought in this moment; this is a grand moment in my life. It was Toronto in December, so it was cold. I could see my breath each time I talk. There were Glittering mounds of fluffy white snow, streets illuminated with warm golden Christmas lights, stars twinkling in the night sky. It’s almost like a fairytale. The roads were long and never-ending, darkness cut through by powerful glowing headlights. When I went to the hotel, no one was talking, we’re all too tired. I wanted to take a hot, steamy shower and just go to my bed. I was really tired, however, I was able to sleep, I kept thinking about my day. And I was looking up for my future in this country. In conclusion, To all of you out there who are faced with or contemplating leaving home, cherish the sweet moments and battle with all your courage against the bitter moments until you find your final home – then vow never to leave it.

Informative Speech: Media And You Essay

Speaker: Specific Purpose: At the end of my speech, the audience will be able to take steps to ensure they and their loved ones are using social networking sites to their full advantage. Central Idea: Time is money and a huge aspect in our lives which we cannot rewind so we must use it wisely and efficiently especially in regards to the time spent on social networking sites to have a positive impact on our lives. Introduction: According to the Nielsen Company survey back in August 2009 social networking and blogging sites accounted for 17% (about one in every six minutes) of all time spent on the internet. That statistic is three years old, as of today that percentage has increased rapidly due to the almost one billion members on Facebook alone, while Twitter is growing at an increasing rate. In the wise words of the great Jim Morrison â€Å"Whoever controls the media, controls the mind,† are extremely valid because everything we talk about in our daily lives has been influenced by another person whether it be reading a newspaper, listening to the radio, or watching television. In the ensuing few minutes I will be discussing the positives, and negatives of social networking while also how we can incorporate the benefits into our lives to make social networking a huge advantage in our lives. Body: I. Disadvantages of Social Networking A. Privacy Issues 1) Stalkers and complete strangers can view your pictures and information such as telephone number, email address, and also residing location. 2) Hackers can hack into one’s account gain valuable and personal information which can lead to identity theft and fraud. B. Could Lead to Bad Reputation 1) Your Facebook or Twitter profile is the essence of you and a digital page which represents you, but if someone posts information or other inappropriate comments on your page it leads to bad reputation. 2) The consequences of a bad reputation online could lead to hard time finding a  job or being fired by your current employer. C. Makes Relationships Impersonal 1) Any relationship you have could be family and boyfriend or girlfriend is impacted by social networking sites. 2) Digital Communication is replacing personal communication because we are messaging each other or chatting one another instead of face to face conversations or phone conversations. 3) Digital Communication is impersonal and with time lowers the quality of the relationship. D. UNPRODUCTIVITY & WASTE OF TIME 1) Social Networking leads to procrastination and being unproductive. 2) Social Networking sites take away time from the more important things in life and in reality and therefore sets you back in scheduled routines and goals. II. Advantages of Social Networking A. Allows to Reconnect with Family and Friends 1) Eases communication with anyone all over the world. B. Allows one to share their thoughts and Opinions 1) By posting statuses and posts you are spreading your ideas and thoughts. 2) Social Networking Sites allow you to become familiar with people that have several similarities with you and your interests. C. Allows for increased Business opportunities and helps the business advertise. D. Eases of Communication 1) You can spread knowledge and information to millions of members on social networking sites easily and conveniently. III. How to make Social Networking beneficial for yourself A. Put a time limit on how long you will be using any social networking site so it allows you to communicate but does not lead to unproductivity and waste of time. B. Make sure to set your profile on private so it can only be viewed by friends that you have accepted and not complete strangers. C. Do not put any private information on the internet. D. BE ALERT!!! Conclusion: So today, we looked at the disadvantages and advantages of social networking while also learning about how we can make social networking beneficial for us. We are a new generation obsessed with technology and spend so much time on the internet so it is our responsibility to use it wisely and knowledgably. â€Å"The Way of the World Is Meeting People Through Other People,† which is why social networking is a positive and effective factor in our lives.

AIDS and Ignorance essays

AIDS and Ignorance essays When it comes to STDs there is one that strikes fear into anyone who thinks they might have it. AIDS is one of the STDs that does not have a cure, along with Herpes and Human Papillion Virus, but what sets AIDS apart from the other incurable viruses is its violent and destructive nature. Herpes, in most cases when taking care of, can be classified as more of an annoyance because it is most likely to annoy the person infected but will not kill them. AIDS, when untreated, will send the infected person to an early death, but when treated, it will still destroy a person immune system but at a slower rate although it still sets the victim up for an early death. AIDS (acquired Immunodeficiency syndrome), is the last stage of the HIV virus (Human Immunodeficiency virus). HIV works by attacking ones immune system. The virus starts out by attaching itself to a host cell within a person. It then penetrates the host cell and begins replication. While replicating, the virus kills the host cell, which is most likely the T cells and B cells whose main function is to attack invaders by binding two them. While attacking the T and B cells the virus punches holes in the cells membrane. Therefore wreaking the cell so when it fuses with other cells in order to fight the virus back it actually ends up spreading the virus creating massive replication within an infected person. This process is what kills the person immune system subjecting them to many other viruses. It is at this point Human Immunodeficiency virus has become acquired Immunodeficiency syndrome because the person immune is totally destroyed which eventually kills the person. HIV and AIDS cannot be spread through casual contact but instead it is contracted mainly through exposure to blood and blood products semen and female genital secretions from an infected person. The virus is also present in breast milk. A pregnant woman can pass the virus to her fetus across...

President James Madison Fast Facts

President James Madison Fast Facts James Madison (1751-1836) was Americas shortest president standing at only 54. He was very important in the founding of America. He was one of the three authors, including Alexander Hamilton and John Jay, of the Federalist papers which helped persuade states to ratify the Constitution. He was also the Father of the Constitution in that he was influential in its construction and terms.   This article provides a list of fast facts for James Madison. For more in depth information, you can also read the James Madison Biography. Birth: March 16, 1751 Death: June 28, 1836 Term of Office: March 4, 1809-March 3, 1817 Number of Terms Elected: 2 Terms First Lady: Dolley Payne Todd Nickname: Father of the Constitution James Madison Quote: Every word [of the Constitution] decides a question between power and liberty. Major Events While in Office: Non-Intercourse Act (1809-1810)War of 1812 (1812)Star Spangled Banner written by Francis Scott Key (1814)Treaty of Ghent (1814)Battle of New Orleans (1814)Hartford Convention (1814-1815)Second Bank of the United States Chartered (1816) States Entering Union While in Office: Louisiana (1812)Indiana (1816) Related James Madison Resources: These additional resources on James Madison can provide you with further information about the president and his times. James Madison BiographyTake a more in depth look at the fourth president of the United States through this biography. Youll learn about his childhood, family, early career, and the major events of his administration. War of 1812 ResourcesThe fledgling United States needed to flex its muscle one more time to convince Great Britain it was truly independent. Read about the people, places, battles, and events that proved to the world America was here to stay. War of 1812 TimelineThis timeline focuses on the events of the War of 1812. US Constitution FactsJames Madison was responsible for drafting much of the US Constitution. Here is an overview of major facts, and key points about this pivotal document. Revolutionary WarThe debate over the Revolutionary War as a true revolution will not be resolved. However, without this struggle America might still be part of the British Empire. Find out about the people, places, and events that shaped the revolution. Chart of Presidents and Vice PresidentsThis informative chart gives quick reference information on the Presidents, Vice-Presidents, their terms of office, and their political parties. Other Presidential Fast Facts: Thomas JeffersonJames MonroeList of American Presidents

Famous Japanese Fish Proverbs

Famous Japanese Fish Proverbs Japan is an island nation, therefore seafood has been essential to the Japanese diet since ancient times. Although meat and dairy products are as common as fish today, fish is still the main source of protein for the Japanese. Fish can be prepared grilled, boiled, and steamed, or eaten raw as sashimi (thin slices of raw fish) and sushi. There are quite a few expressions and proverbs including fish in Japanese. I wonder if this is because fish are so closely related to Japanese culture. Tai (Sea bream) Since tai rhymes with the word medetai (auspicious), it is regarded as a good luck fish in Japan. Also, the Japanese consider red (aka) as an auspicious color, therefore it is often served at weddings and other happy occasions as well as another auspicious dish, sekihan (red rice). On festive occasions, the preferred method for cooking tai is to boil it and serve it whole (okashira-tsuki). It is said that eating tai in its full and perfect shape is to be blessed with good fortune. The eyes of tai are especially rich in vitamin B1. Tai is also considered as the king of fish because of their beautiful shape and color. Tai is only available in Japan, and the fish that most people associate with tai is porgy or red snapper. Porgy is closely related to sea bream, while red snapper is only similar in taste. Kusatte mo tai (è… Ã£  £Ã£  ¦Ã£â€šâ€šÃ© ¯â€º, Even a rotten tai is worthwhile) is a saying to indicate that a great person retains some of their worth no matter how his/her status or situation changes. This expression shows the high regard the Japanese have for tai. Ebi de tai o tsuru (æ µ ·Ã¨â‚¬ Ã£  §Ã© ¯â€ºÃ£â€šâ€™Ã©â€¡ £Ã£â€šâ€¹, Catch a sea bream with a shrimp) means, To get a big profit for a small effort or price. It is sometimes abbreviated as Ebi-tai. It is similar to the English expressions To throw a sprat to catch a mackerel or To give a pea for a bean. Unagi (Eel) Unagi is a delicacy in Japan. A traditional eel dish is called kabayaki (grilled eel) and is usually served over a bed of rice. People often sprinkle sansho (a powdered aromatic Japanese pepper) over it. Although eel is rather costly, it has been very popular and people enjoy eating it very much. In the traditional lunar calendar, the 18 days before the beginning of each season is called doyo. The first day of doyo in midsummer and midwinter is called ushi no hi. It is the day of the ox, as in the 12 signs of the Japanese zodiac. In the old days, the zodiac cycle was also used to tell time and directions. It is customary to eat eel on the day of the ox in summer (doyo no ushi no hi, sometime in late July). This is because eel is nutritious and rich in vitamin A, and provides strength and vitality to fight against the extremely hot and humid summer of Japan. Unagi no nedoko (é ° »Ã£  ®Ã¥ ¯ Ã¥ ºÅ , an eels bed) indicates a long, narrow house or place. Neko no hitai (çÅ' «Ã£  ®Ã© ¡ , a cats forehead) is another expression that describes a tiny space. Unaginobori é ° »Ã§â„¢ »Ã£â€šÅ  means, something that rises rapidly or skyrockets. This expression came from the image of an eel that rises straight up in the water. Koi (Carp) Koi is a symbol of the strength, courage, and patience. According to Chinese legend, a carp which courageously climbed up waterfalls was turned into a dragon. Koi no takinobori (é ¯â€°Ã£  ®Ã¦ » Ã§â„¢ »Ã£â€šÅ , Kois waterfall climbing) means, to succeed vigorously in life. On Childrens Day (May 5th), families with boys fly koinobori (carp streamers) outside and wish for boys to grow strong and brave like carp. Manaita no ue no koi (㠁 ¾Ã£  ªÃ¦  ¿Ã£  ®Ã¤ ¸Å Ã£  ®Ã© ¯â€°, A carp on the cutting board) refers to the situation that is doomed, or to be left to ones fate. Saba (Mackerel) Saba o yomu é ¯â€"ã‚’è ª ­Ã£â€šâ‚¬ literally means, to read the mackerel. Since mackerel are a common fish of relatively low value, and also rot quickly when fishermen offer them for sale they often inflate their estimate of the number of fish. This is why this expression has come to mean, to manipulate the figures to ones advantage or to offer false numbers intentionally.​

The Analects from the Writing of Confucius Essay

The Analects from the Writing of Confucius - Essay Example Confucius talked about ways through which a perfect social order can be established, arguing there is wisdom in encouraging the good characters and punishing to discourage bad deeds. Through this, Confucius envisioned a bright society that would thrive in what is good for all humanity. Consequently, Confucius belittled the principle that says, â€Å"Injury should be paid with kindness† (â€Å"Analects† 2), claiming that kindness should be reciprocated while injury should be met by justice. This is true even today, and the works of Confucius holds true to the establishment of many nations. The establishments of rehabilitation centers for offenders borrow from Confucius teaching. Moreover, punishing lawlessness is an act of helping the suspects so that they can become better individuals. Through this, people in authority do expand their humanness. Further, he questioned the disparity in society as he found nothing imperative in accumulating wealth because â€Å"riches an d honor are a floating cloud†. Confucius argued that virtuous does not stand-alone, and the rich requires the not so rich to survive. In this regard, a virtuous man is whom that shares his wealth.Confucius was angered by the laxity of a political leader. For instance, he reassigned from public office due to internal conflict and political disagreements (Zukeran). Thus, the short stint he had in the position of authority may have influenced his writing on what completes a man.

Updating Computer Operating System Research Paper

Updating Computer Operating System - Research Paper Example Upgrading computer operating system means adding the latest versions of computer programs to run the computer with more speed. It includes updating in software and in hardware of the system. Updating in software system means to install advanced enhancements over old versions, whereas an upgraded hard drive enables the computer system to perform in a better way (Wempen, 2002). It is important for every user to maintain and upgrade the personal computer. Computer upgrading process analysis approach includes the following steps: 1. Arranging: Arrange a back-up for all important records to any other hard disk. It is important because if a problem occurs during the upgrading process, there is a risk of losing some or all data of the computer. Defragmentation of the hard disk is another important task because it helps the computer to read fragmented files more efficiently which are located in different areas. These files can slow down the speed of computer functions (Thompson & Thompson, 2 006 ). In order to install a new operating system, a new folder should be made. Until you are sure that everything is working perfectly on the new operating system preserve your whole data of computer into another windows directory.

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

Philosephy - Essay Example He also intends that his work will be used by anatomists of reason away from historical knowledge. Because the content of his work is something new, Kant contends that the time for philosophical historians will come after critics and anatomists are done with their work. His intent behind writing this essay is to show that metaphysics requires openness in order to get fresh insights, rather than its reduction to something already known in scientific circles. Simply, Kant intends to restrict metaphysical investigations to the knowledge and experience that will make it actual or possible. The question on whether a science is possible shows that there is doubt about its actuality. The metaphysics that Kant refers to is only possible through virtue of its existence, as well as what he calls illusionary knowledge, which works to render it unviable as a science. Kant proposes several conditions that must be satisfied for a possible science like metaphysics to become actual science. He contends that possible science must have universal recognition with its validity being a major feature. He also says that possible science must have lasting recognition with featured acceptance in order for it to be considered actual science, while it should also undergo continual advancement and cumulative progress. Finally, possible science should also possess standards of knowledge that aid in discrimination of ignorance. There needs to be a careful and accurate investigation of pure reason’s existing critique, which, if absent, should render all pretensions of the possible scienc e impractical. The modern idea of science is that there should be knowledge that is experimentally verifiable and methodical, which are the critical factors and conditions of an actual science. Kant argues that it is no possible to extend knowledge to speculative metaphysics, which is a super-sensible realm in his words. He argues that

Metabolic Changes Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Metabolic Changes - Essay Example While discussing these changes, the expose will analyze the reasons why these changes take place. A discussion on metabolic changes will not be complete without a discussion on aerobic and anaerobic exercises. In this regard, this expose will discuss the differences between aerobic and anaerobic exercises and the types of exercises involved in aerobic and anaerobic exercises. Finally, this discussion will not be complete without a discussion on the physical changes that take place in muscle fibers during exercising. Martin identified the most visible change in an individual’s respiratory system during exercises as increased minute ventilation. In this regard, it is common knowledge that the body exchanges more carbon dioxide and oxygen during physical exercises than when at rest. In line with this, these changes affect the respiratory system and the cardiovascular system during exercises. Martin indicated that the changes were a result of increased supply of oxygen due to an increase in the tissue oxygen extraction and the delivery of oxygen by the arteries. In addition, Martin noted that there was increased transportation of the carbon dioxide to the venous side. During exercises, glucose and body fats use the increased oxygen in the body to form adenosine triphosphate (ATP) that produces energy necessary for cellular reactions in the body (Martin). Martin identified the ability of the heart rate to increase immediately during exercises. In this case, the consumption of oxygen is related to the cardiac output with the stroke volume, which is the amount of volume of blood pumped from one ventricle of the heart. Effectively, this increase is responsible for the increased heart rate during exercises. In addition, the heart rate increases due to the extra cardiac output that delivers oxygen to the exercising muscles (Martin). The extra cardiac output that delivers

Digital Economic Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Digital Economic - Essay Example It is worthwhile to mention that Internet and mobile devices are two separate entities in this global environment of today. Internet is interconnecting the countries and cultures. On the other hand, mobile devices are providing ease of accessibility. Combining the two technologies is having a drastic effect on today’s business houses and their strategies. While developing a 21st century business strategy, strategists are now trying to focus on the nature and behaviour of target audiences or user groups. Today’s users or potential customers are far more agile, informed, and active across the social networks. Websites like Facebook, Top Ten Reviews, etc. have increased the scope of interaction between users and customers in a drastic manner. In such circumstances, a strategist must think in an innovative way, so that he/she can create a positive impression of his/her company all across the Internet. For example, a company can now develop its own app (a very concise form o f software application). This kind of customised software utilities can be easily installed in mobile devices (e.g. a tab or a smartphone). Then, users can easily try or look into the commodities or facilities that are being provided by the company concerned. Besides, websites like Facebook allow business enterprises to create their dedicated pages for publicity. Now Zara is a big retailer of textile and fashion products, which appears to have diverted from the general course of Internet-based business application development and strategic adjustments. It does limited advertising and propaganda. This policy is maintained across the Internet too. Frequency of online advertisements is considerably controlled by Zara. However, this can be noted as a complex influence of Internet/mobile technologies. Since most of the fashion retailers are now overly emphasising on Internet and mobile technologies, Zara possibly wants to look different and reach its loyal

Response to the Movie Sicko In medical sociology terms Essay

Response to the Movie Sicko In medical sociology terms - Essay Example rom the 2006 National Health Interview Survey† highlighted that in 2006, â€Å"there were 43.6 million Americans of all ages who did not have health insurance (at the time of the interview), or 14.8% of the population† (cdc.gov). With this, some people could not help but complain to the somewhat awful situation that they are in. In the same way, SiCKO (directed by Michael Moore), a movie from The Weinstein Company and Dog Eat Dog Productions, documented the alarming health issues that the contemporary Americans are facing nowadays. The movie revealed how health services in the US are made nearly unavailable and mostly unaffordable to its citizenry by its increasing costs and profit maximization by giant insurance companies. Also, SiCKO compared US’ health care to other nations such as Canada, Great Britain, France, and even Cuba, with an astonishing revelation of their free and low-costs health care services to its people. Thus, the following sections of this pape r exemplified my response to the movie in medical sociology terms. As we all know, without even mentioning the exact figures, Americans are now living in the world where there is a significant increase in diseases like cardiovascular disorders and cancers. Of course, this can be attributed to people’s negative health behaviors and lifestyles, which include lack of exercise and dietary conditions that predispose them to these diseases. In an instance, Michael Moore narrated in the movie that in France, people get to enjoy their wine, cigarettes, and fatty foods. These behaviors and lifestyles do have a direct impact on health. But Moore augmented that despite these French indulgences, just like Canadians and Brits, they live much longer than the Americans do. â€Å"Something about that seemed grossly unfair†, said Moore. Moreover, Dr. Jacques Milliez, Head of Obstetrics, St. Antoine Hospital, said in his interview with Moore that in France, â€Å"you pay according to your means and you receive according

Digital Economic Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Digital Economic - Essay Example It is worthwhile to mention that Internet and mobile devices are two separate entities in this global environment of today. Internet is interconnecting the countries and cultures. On the other hand, mobile devices are providing ease of accessibility. Combining the two technologies is having a drastic effect on today’s business houses and their strategies. While developing a 21st century business strategy, strategists are now trying to focus on the nature and behaviour of target audiences or user groups. Today’s users or potential customers are far more agile, informed, and active across the social networks. Websites like Facebook, Top Ten Reviews, etc. have increased the scope of interaction between users and customers in a drastic manner. In such circumstances, a strategist must think in an innovative way, so that he/she can create a positive impression of his/her company all across the Internet. For example, a company can now develop its own app (a very concise form o f software application). This kind of customised software utilities can be easily installed in mobile devices (e.g. a tab or a smartphone). Then, users can easily try or look into the commodities or facilities that are being provided by the company concerned. Besides, websites like Facebook allow business enterprises to create their dedicated pages for publicity. Now Zara is a big retailer of textile and fashion products, which appears to have diverted from the general course of Internet-based business application development and strategic adjustments. It does limited advertising and propaganda. This policy is maintained across the Internet too. Frequency of online advertisements is considerably controlled by Zara. However, this can be noted as a complex influence of Internet/mobile technologies. Since most of the fashion retailers are now overly emphasising on Internet and mobile technologies, Zara possibly wants to look different and reach its loyal

Discourse on Tamil Tigers Ideology Essay Example for Free

Discourse on Tamil Tigers Ideology Essay â€Å"I would prefer to die in honour rather than being caught alive by the enemy† (Towards Liberation 83). V. Prabakaran, leader and founder of the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam), said this during an exclusive interview with the magazine the â€Å"Sunday. † This statement represents how most Tamil Tigers feel about their fight for freedom. Tamil Tigers are dedicated to dying in battle rather than being caught by the enemy (Sri Lanka military). The Tamil Tigers were founded in May 1979 and they were defeated on May 18, 2009. They are still active, but they are no longer officially recognized as a terrorist organization because they don’t have a base and their leader is dead. They are a national separatist group in Sri Lanka whose ideology can be traced to Marxism, Leninism, and nationalism. The Tamil Tigers are a terrorist group that has been fighting the Sri Lanka government for independence. They are also known as the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam or LTTE. The armed conflict between the LTTE and the Sri Lankan government is one of the longest ones in Asia. The LTTE’s first attack was on a military troop transport that killed thirteen soldiers. This sparked riots against the Tamil people, which in turn, caused many youths to join insurgent groups against the Sri Lankan government. The LTTE at one point had a navy and an air force. They also had a special unit called the Black Tigers, which was a suicide unit based solely on suicide attacks. The navy has sunk 30 Sri Lankan ships, including 29 small inshore vessels and one freighter. The air force tigers had at least four aircraft, but all of them are destroyed either from suicide missions or being shot down. The Black Tigers have carried out between 100 to 200 missions with over 330 members being killed. The Tamil Tigers believe in Marxism. They want a socialist and classless society with equality for â€Å"everyone†, but Muslims and Sinhalese people. In fact, the LTTE has committed several massacres against Muslims and Sinhalese people. Their most notable attack on Muslims is the Kattankudy mosque massacre which occurred on August 4 1990. LTTE soldiers raided four mosques during prayer and killed 147 Muslim men and boys. It appears the Tamil Tigers want a Marxist society, but only for the Tamil people. Several times in the LTTE’s history they have evicted Muslims and Sinhalese from their land and either killed them or forced them to leave. Since 1985, the LTTE has forcibly occupied 35,000 acres of Muslim-owned land. This is what the Tamil Tigers believe Marxism is; equality for one group and not the others. Just as the LTTE believe in Marxism they also believe in a similar ideology called Leninism. The main concept the LTTE believe in from Leninism is that a nation has a right to secession and statehood (Towards Liberation 64). Lenin once said, From their daily experience the masses know perfectly well the value of geographical and economic ties and the advantages of a big market and a big state. They will, therefore, resort to secession only when national oppression and national friction make joint life absolutely intolerable and hinder any and all economic intercourse. In that case, the interests of capitalist development and of the freedom of the class struggle will be best served by secession (Towards Liberation 70). Lenin said this in his essay The Right of Nations of Self-Determination and the Tamil Tigers included it in one of their press releases. The Tamils believe that they should be able to secede from Sri Lanka and make their own independent state. They feel that their population is large enough to have their own state. They also believe that they will have the economic stability to function as a nation. The Tamils wish to create a state in north and east Sri Lanka, but the Sri Lanka government won’t allow them to. One reason they won’t allow them to create a state is that region is to rich in resources to give up. In addition to Marxism and Leninism, the LTTE also believe in nationalism. This is probably their strongest belief, where most of their roots as a terrorist organization come from, and what they are fighting for. To be specific, the LTTE believes in a specific type of nationalism called Tamil nationalism. Tamil nationalism is the concept that the Tamil people have a right to create an independent and self-governing state, specifically in North and East Sri Lanka. (See map on last page) As you can see from this map, the majority of the people living in the area the Tamil people want to make a state are Tamil. There is one district where ninety-five percent of people living there are Tamil. That means ninety-five percent of people living in that district want to break away from Sri Lanka. The area shown on blue in the map is roughly the area that the LTTE controls. The majority of the people in those districts, excluding the thirty-four percent and eighteen percent districts, support the LTTE. The concept of Tamil nationalism began in the 18th century under British control when Tamil Hindus tried to counter Protestant missionary activity. Later in the 20th century, the Tamils realized they were a minority ethnic group and began to believe they should have their own country. At first, the Tamils tried to get equal representation in the government along with other minorities, but it never happened. Since this did not work, Tamil terrorist groups, like the LTTE, formed. The insurgent groups formed to fight for Tamil nationalism. All in all, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam are a national separatist group based in Sri Lanka. Their ideology has roots in Marxism, Leninism, and nationalism. The Tamil Tigers have been recognized by 32 countries as a terrorist organization. They believe in the Marxist idea of a classless society, the Leninist idea of a nation’s right to secede, and nationalism.

Advantages of Time Management

Advantages of Time Management What you accomplish during a 24-hour period depends on your own motivation, your energy, your skills and abilities, and other resources. Since there are always demands on your time, it may be helpful to think about what you will do with your time and to consider some strategies for more effective time management. Time management is not a way to make you work harder and longer, but a means to help you work smarter to accomplish your work more easily and rapidly. Benefits of time management: If you can manage your time more effectively, you will be rewarded in a variety of ways: Efficient: You will be more efficient in serving your district and will be able to support your clubs better. Successful: You will achieve greater success in your very important, and highly visible, role as a Lions Leader. Healthy: On a personal level, you will certainly feel healthier, more energetic, and in a generally better mood. -Obstacles to effective time management: There are a lot of things that make it difficult for us to manage our time effectively. Lets consider some of the most common ones, and see if they apply to us: Unclear objectives: Its hard to hit a target with your eyes closed, and its just as hard to accomplish something when you arent exactly clear about what you want to achieve. Disorganization: Its easy to see when your desk is too messy, but sometimes you have to step back and ask yourself if you are taking an organized approach in completing all of your tasks. Inability to say no: We all want to be as helpful as we can when others need us, but this can mean taking time away from other priorities to do something we may not have planned. Interruptions: Many times we are in the middle of accomplishing something really important and the telephone rings. These calls can not only take you away from your task, but sometimes they interrupt your train of thought and you cant return to where you were without retracing your steps. More interruptions: We all like to visit with others, but conversations at inappropriate times can cost us time when we have to stop what we are doing and redirect ourselves from our plans. Periods of inactivity: As much as we think we are busy, there are times in our day when we are not really doing anything. Recognizing and making use of these times can have a positive effect on our efforts. Too many things at once: Many of our tasks are not routines. They require concentration to detail. When we are attempting to do too many different things at one time, each individual task suffers as a result. Stress and fatigue: Everyone experiences stress from time to time, and sometimes we actually operate a little better when there is some level of stress. Too much stress, on the other hand, causes our work to suffer and wears us down physically and mentally. Dealing with stress is an important part of time management. All work and no play: Most successful people know how to balance work and play. When work takes over your life, you not only give your body little time to re-energize, but you may end up sacrificing the really important things in life like family and friends. What can we do? The obstacles that we face are not insurmountable. Sometimes, the hardest thing to do is to identify that these obstacles exist and are affecting your ability to manage your time. When you have identified your obstacles you can begin to overcome them. Strategies you can use to overcome the obstacles we just examined: Set goals The first, and most important strategy you can employ to manage your time is to set clear goals for yourself. As a Lions leader, you will want to accomplish many things in your time of office. The best favor you can do for yourself is to determine what those goals are and make sure your efforts are always directed toward their achievement. Effective goals share a number of characteristics in common. Effective goals are: Specific: When a goal is too vague, you may never know how to reach it or even when you have reached it. Make sure that you know exactly what you hope to achieve Measurable: When you have a goal that is measurable, you will know how far you have to go to reach the goal, and when you get there Achievable: It is commendable to set your sights high, but sometimes we try to accomplish more than we can actually do. Training and certifying ten Certified Guiding Lions in your district in one year may or may not be achievable at this time for a number of reasons. Your goals should be such that, if you extend yourself you can just reach them. Realistic: Can you establish a program in your district to help everyone with vision problems? It is certainly a worthwhile goal, but it may not be realistic at this time. It might be better to work on setting up a program with schools to provide vision testing and eyeglasses for disadvantaged children. Time-based: Most of the goals that you establish in your position as a Lions leader will not be long-term. It is important to set time guidelines for your goals, so that you can keep track of your progress as you are going along and can be alert to when you are falling behind schedule. Prioritize As a leader in your club or district, you will be faced with many tasks. It is safe to say that you will not be able to do everything, so it is wise to periodically make a list of the tasks that confront you and prioritize them. The following technique may be helpful in prioritizing: Do: Determine from the list the things you think are most important to accomplish, and are things you should do yourself. Delegate: Remember that there many Lions within your district with skills, experience, and motivation to carry out a wide variety of tasks. A truly effective district governor understands that real leaders do not try to accomplish everything themselves and recognizes that some things are better handled by others. Delegating not only frees up your time for other things, it ensures that resources are used wisely and that Lions who want to help are motivated and involved. Delay until another time: Some things can wait. The danger is delaying too many things until deadlines are near. The best policy here is to consider when things are due, how long it will take to accomplish them, and what your current workload will allow. For instance, registrations and request forms that are not yet due could be sent to LCI earlier if you have time. It makes sense to delay things that are not due when you are overburdened and to accomplish them ahead of time when you can. Delete: If you have set goals using the guidelines we mentioned earlier, you may recognize that some of them are not achievable or realistic, or that they are just not important. A good leader knows when to concentrate on the important and eliminate the rest. It is important when you have prioritized your tasks that you: Address the urgent: Take care of things with short-term consequences as soon as possible. Accomplish what you can early: Reports, registrations, requests that can be handled early should come next. Dont put off until tomorrow what you can do today. Attach deadlines to things you delay: When you have determined that something can definitely wait, dont just toss it aside until later. Establish a deadline for the task in your schedule, and make a note to remind you to begin working on it. Organize As you prioritize tasks and set deadlines, you will want to organize your plans and actions. Some of you may be more comfortable using paper and pencil, so I urge you to make use of a planner with a calendar and plenty of space to make notes. Many planners contain not only calendar space, but also room for daily activities, contact information, and to do lists. Find a planner that fits your needs and use it. You will find this to be an indispensable tool for managing your time. Maybe you use, or would consider using, a computer to help in organizing your time. Todays computers often come equipped with software programs that include calendars, task lists, reminders, and contact information. If your computer does not have such a function, software is readily available that you can install. Learn when to say NO The strategies we have mentioned so far have all concerned common business practices. Now I would like to address some more personal strategies that you can apply to your life. These also have a great impact on how effectively you manage your time. The first of these strategies is being able to say NO when it is appropriate. Your life in Lions has always been about giving all that you can to serve your community. That doesnt change, but as your duties expand as a Lions leader you will find you are called on to do much more than you have ever been asked to do before. When you learn to say NO you are not closing the door on your responsibilities, but rather you are making sure that you can meet your commitments and accomplish the maximum possible in the time available to you. To be able to say NO you will have to accept these three principles: * I realize that I cant do everything * I wont agree to undertake a task or project that I know I will not be able to complete in the timeframe required * I will not make commitments that are not consistent with the goals and objectives I have set for myself -Use your waiting time Another personal time management skill is to make good use of your waiting time. Have you ever thought about how much time you spend doing nothing during an average day? Usually this is not a situation where you planned to do nothingà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦it just happened. Think about all of the things you could accomplish if you could make use of this time. For instance: Time you spend commuting on a train or bus Time you wait at the doctor or dentist office for your appointment Time you spend on a plane, waiting for your plane, or the time you spend waiting for your baggage Time you spend on hold on the telephone Time you spend when you arrive at work or at a meeting earlier than you had anticipated There are two ways to look at these periods of time. You can either consider them as wastes of time or as gifts of time. If you choose to think of them as gifts of time, you can use them as opportunities to accomplish routine tasks that are necessary, but dont require large periods of time. Most successful people have already found that there are a number of things that they can accomplish while they wait. The trick to making use of your waiting time is to always make sure you have something with you that you can accomplish in the event that you are kept waiting. For instance: Reading correspondence: Take your mail with you and read it while you are waiting or traveling. Some PDAs have e-mail capability, so you can read your e-mail on a train or plane or at the doctors office. Writing letters or memos: While you wait, you can take out a notepad or use a PDA to write letters or memos. This could also be a good time to update your planner. Reading or listening to tapes: Carry a book or magazine or a tape with you. You can also download books and articles to your PDA. There is often no time in your schedule to keep current on books or articles related to your business or to self-improvement. Instead of being impatient when you are delayed, this could be a perfect time to advance your own knowledge and skills. Concentrate on the task at hand You will be juggling many tasks while you serve as a Lions leader. There is no way around this fact. But one important strategy to keep in mind is to concentrate completely on the current task. Concentration can be difficult when you have a lot on your mind. Your time will be better spent if you are able to: Focus on your goal: You may have many commitments and many concerns, but you will accomplish more when you keep focused on the one task you are performing at the moment Tune out interruptions: You will find your concentration is at its highest level when you can set aside times during the day when you will not answer the phone or schedule visitors. You cant isolate yourself all of the time, but by avoiding interruptions for specific periods of time, you may find you can accomplish tasks successfully in far less time than you anticipated. When you must respond to phone calls, be assertive in minimizing interruptions by asking if you can call back at another time or meet another day. Consider your personal prime time Are you one of those people who gets up before the sun rises and starts working? Is the early evening, after the evening meal, your time to work? Or are you someone who prefers to wait until the quiet of the late night hours to do the really hard tasks? Everyone is different. Most research shows that tasks that take the most mental concentration are most effectively accomplished early in the day, but even these studies acknowledge that this is not always true, and that everyone has a personal prime time. When you plan your tasks, think about your own prime time. If you do your best work early, plan to do the routine tasks later in the day and concentrate on the more challenging tasks when you are at your best. If you dont really get going until later, handle the routines in the morning and save the more difficult tasks for later. Celebrate your success Celebrate the achievement of your goals to maintain a healthy balance in life between work and play. Reward yourself when you complete a task or finish a project. If you worked in a team setting, or delegated some tasks to others, reward the efforts of all involved. Celebration is a vital part of all project management. No matter how tight your schedule looks, this is TIME WELL SPENT! Conclusion Finally, as time management skills develop, your stress and anxiety levels will go down and productivity will go up Time management tools which include day planners, to-do lists, weekly and long-term calendars will increase organization and help eliminate procrastination.

tragoed Oedipus the King (Oedipus Rex) as Ideal Tragic Hero Essay

Oedipus Rex as the Ideal Tragic Hero If we give ourselves up to a full sympathy with the hero, there is no question that the Oedipus Rex fulfills the function of a tragedy, and arouses fear and pity in the highest degree. But the modern reader, coming to the classic drama not entirely for the purpose of enjoyment, will not always surrender himself to the emotional effect. He is apt to worry about Greek fatalism and the justice of the downfall of Oedipus, and, finding no satisfactory solution for these intellectual difficulties, loses half the pleasure that the drama was intended to produce. Perhaps we trouble ourselves too much concerning the Greek notions of fate in human life. We are inclined to regard them with a lively antiquarian interest, as if they were something remote and peculiar; yet in reality the essential difference between these notions and the more familiar ideas of a later time is so slight that it need not concern the naive and sympathetic reader. After all, the fundamental aim of the poet is not to te ach us about these matters. but to construct a tragedy which shall completely fulfill its proper function. Nevertheless, for the student of literature who feels bound to solve the twofold problem, How is the tragedy of Oedipus to be reconciled with a rational conception of life? and How does Oedipus himself comply with the Aristotelian requirements for a tragic hero? there is a simple answer in the ethical teaching of the great philosopher in whose eyes the Oedipus Rex appears to have been well-nigh a perfect tragedy. In other words, let us compare the ideal of the Ethics with the ideal of the Poetics. Aristotle finds the end of human endeavor to be happiness, that is, an unhampered activity of the soul i... ... in accordance with reason. In the Oedipus Rex Sophocles had already shown the reverse. The man who sees but one side of a matter, and straightway, driven on by his uncontrolled emotions, acts in accordance with that imperfect vision, meets a fate most pitiful and terrible, in accordance with the great laws which the gods have made. This philosophy of Aristotle and Sophocles is clearly expressed in the drama itself. "May destiny still find me," sings the Chorus, "winning the praise of reverent purity in all words and deeds sanctioned by those laws of range sublime, called into life throughout the high, clear heaven, whose father is Olympus alone; their parent was no race of mortal men, no, nor shall oblivion ever lay them to sleep: the god is might in them and grows not old." Works Cited: Sophocles. Oedipus Rex. New York: Dover Publications, Inc., 1991.

Essay --

Gerard Manley Hopkins, born in 1844 and who is an optimist, is also one of the greatest poets of the Victorian Era (Academy of American Poets). There's also William Wordsworth born in 1770 is another optimist and another great poet, but of the Romantic Era (Harriet Monroe). Both of these poets from two separate time periods have the same idea of society and the human population in general. Materialism is a trait that can torment both the rich and the poor and is described as both culturally destructive and very much self destructive (George Monbiot). In both poem of â€Å"God's Grandeur† by Gerard Manley Hopkins and â€Å"The World is too Much with Us† by William Wordsworth, both of these poems have similar ideas of expressing their opinions of the advancement of technology and the growth of complexed architecture. In Hopkins' piece of work, he puts together a lyrical poem that's filled with alliteration in order to make his phrases more memorable and melodious (Skylar H. Burris). An example may be â€Å"It will flame out, like shining from shook foil† (Hopkins line 2). The diction of the words â€Å"flame,† â€Å"shining,† and â€Å"shook foil† creates the imagery of warmth and liveliness. On the other hand, â€Å"grandeur† is a word used to describe magnificent and impressive (Brian Wasko), but in Hopkins' poem, he describes the â€Å"grandeur† as wearing out or is becoming thin. Hopkins message to his readers is that by people rejecting the power of God, people are also attracting negative situations into their lives. ... ...stent when it comes to the topic of God. In other words, Hopkins tends to shove religion down people's throats while Wordsworth only mentions God once in line 9, while the rest is about the departure of human and nature. In conclusion, Hopkins and Wordsworth both consider that people are beginning to get too caught up in material matters to admire nature because without nature, people wouldn't have any of the objects they would have. As a matter of fact, their would be no life, but only darkness just as Hopkins described. Hopkins and Wordsworth would both agree on the matter that humanity was and is loosing touch with nature. If they were both upset with how their society was back in their time, then they would have been terror-stricken.

Admission Essay for Johns Hopkins Master in Marketing

Everything that a man wishes to happen in life comes at the right time and with a great purpose. As a promising professional in the field of Business, I aspire for higher educational opportunities which will make me more equip in the future.I want to broaden my knowledge and cultivate more of my skills so that I can land to a better and good paying job in the future. I am confident that the Master’s in marketing degree from Carey School of Business at John Hopkins University will make me another step closer to my dreams. It will enable me to meet all my goals in life and share what I have learned through service to people.My name is Amin Khayat a graduate of University of New Haven, Connecticut in 2004 with a degree in B.S in Marketing and Electronic Commerce. The vast knowledge and experience I gained from both my academic and professional life is not yet sufficient to satisfy my craving for education and success.The nature of my job is really diverse and I was astonished by the fact that there is a program   offered by John Hopkins University that will make my professional life more meaningful and productive. I have learning needs in terms of defining product strategy and road map, gathering and prioritizing product and customer requirement, compiling market data to deliver winning products, setting   product prices, pricing strategy and meeting company revenue and profitability goals.There are also analysis and understanding skills that needs to be developed on my part so that I can battle against market competition in the future and be more available for professional opportunities. A state of the art communication and marketing is greatly needed in the business world. I believe that this is also part of my primary needs which made me more motivated to attend the program at John Hopkins University.I have set career goals both in long term and short term. Securing a med level position with a firm that offers me greener pasture and chances of having more opportunities is part of my short term goal. I believe that the program is designed to make promising students like me to be more equipped in the acquisition, competence and scope of responsibility at any marketing firm. I am determined to find a job at a firm that will guide, advice, inspire and counsel me.After acquiring the right amount of experience, I will pursue my long term goals and that is to establish a firm of my own. Through hard work and dedication, I believe that nothing is impossible for me to do because all the things I will learn from the program will be maximized into full potential.I hope to rise in the corporate hierarchy and attain a level of marketing management that would enable me to use not only my undergraduate and graduate studies, but to make use of my own imagination and my creativity to contribute to the financial success of the firm that employs me. I would find a deep and intense personal and professional satisfaction and gratification from eith er of these two career paths.The MBA program of John Hopkins Carey School of Business will provide me with the adequate knowledge and skills far better than my previous academic and work experience. It is an advantage on my part to have diverse personality because I can meet different people from all walks of life.My ability to communicate in my first language, Arabic, and my second language, English, becomes evident from global communication. All these can also lead me to greater heights in my future profession. I anticipate my future with success. Through the MBA program I will meet both my needs and goals in life because this university recruits only the best and finest students.It has wide array of academic resources and competent professor who will teach me the expertise in Business marketing. I feel truly blessed to find myself free to pursue my immediate academic goals to reach my fullest potential, without undue concern about financial support.   Your school can help me ac hieve my goals of competence as a generalist and a specialist in marketing management.

Factors Contributing to Disproportionate Minority Representation in Special Education

The disproportionate representation of minority students in special education has been a constant and consistent concern for nearly four decades (Klingner et al. , 2005). Currently, there are disproportionate numbers of minority students who are referred, assessed, identified, classified, and placed in programs for students with disabilities. The issue of disproportionate representation for minority students has been and continues to be an incessant dilemma that has detrimental effects on the educational opportunities and outcomes for this specific group of students.Concerns about disproportionate representation are focused on the â€Å"judgmental† categories of special education (learning disabilities, emotional disturbance, and mental retardation), those disabilities usually identified after the child starts school and by school personnel rather than a medical professional. Children identified with these disabilities usually do not exhibit any obvious discernible features, y et they are still considered to have internal deficits that affect their learning and/ or behavior (Klingner, et al. , 2005).One of the earlier discussions on disproportionality (Heller, Holtzman, & Messick, 1982) noted that it cannot be assumed that ethnic disproportionality in special education is a problem, since it could be that certain groups of students require special education services in greater amounts than those from other ethnic categories. The panel declared that â€Å"the adequacy and appropriateness† of all phases of the special education process as well as the outcome had to be determined before recognizing disproportionality as a problem.The existence of bias or inappropriate practice at any phase of the process was the feature that would determine that disproportionality was indeed problematic. In its 26th Annual Report to Congress, the U. S. Department of Education (2005) presented the percentage of students ages 6 through 21 who were served under IDEA by d isability and race/ethnicity. Specific learning disability was the largest disability category for all racial/ethnic groups.Hispanic/Latino children represented the largest racial/ethnic group (58. 3%) diagnosed with a specific learning disability. American Indian/Alaskan Native students were the next highest group (55. 3%) identified with a specific learning disability. The highest percentage of minority students served under IDEA for mental retardation was African American/Black (16. 8%). Mental retardation can be defined as sub-average intellectual functioning that concurrently exists with deficits in adaptive behavior.Similarly, African American/Black students also represented the highest percentage of children served under the category of emotionally disturbed students (11. 3%) (U. S. Department of Education, 2005). It is critical to note that the existence of this problem has been repeatedly documented by the U. S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR), in th at it has confirmed the overrepresentation of minority students in special education programs with data for the past thirty years.In addition, the issue of determining whether students of different racial or ethnic groups are disproportionately identified for special education has been a longstanding public and professional concern; however, the causes of disproportionality and factors contributing to this problem are not clearly understood (Donovan & Cross, 2002). Thus, this paper aims to examine factors contributing to disproportionality of minority in special education. Firstly, the paper examines historical background of disproportionality problem. Finally, some conclusive remarks are presented.History of the Disproportionality Problem The problem of overrepresentation of minority students in special education is not a new phenomenon and has been a serious concern for the last 40 years. Dunn (1968) cited statistics from the U. S. Office of Education and concluded â€Å"about 60 % to 80% of students in mild mental retardation classes were from low status backgrounds, including African Americans, American Indians, Mexicans, and Puerto Rican Americans; those from nonstandard English speaking, disorganized and inadequate homes; and children from nonmiddle class environments† (p.6). Mercer (1973) documented disproportionate representation of minority students in special education classes in Riverside, California. She concluded that the percentage of African Americans placed in special classes for students diagnosed with mental retardation was three times their percentage in the population. In a similar manner, the percentage of Mexican American students placed in classes for mentally retarded children was four times their percentage in the population (Mercer, 1973). The overrepresentation problem has also been documented over time through court cases.Two notable cases, Diana v. State Board of Education (1970) and Larry P. v. Riles (1971) dealt with issues related to assessment bias, disproportionate placement, and the long-term consequences of special education placement (Donovan & Cross, 2002). Larry P. v. Riles (1979) was a class action suit on behalf of African American/Black students in the San Francisco Public School System who were placed in mildly mentally retarded education programs. At that time African American/Black students represented 28.5% of the district's student enrollment, but 67% of the students in mildly mentally retarded programs were African American/Black. The plaintiffs argued that intelligence tests were culturally biased. The court ruled that intelligence tests were culturally biased against African American/Black students and that reliance on biased instruments was related to the overrepresentation problem. Overrepresentation of certain ethnic minority groups, such as African Americans/Blacks or Hispanics/Latinos, in certain special education environments is a serious problem for a number of reasons.Heller , Holtzman, and Messick (1982) stated that disproportionality is a problem if children are invalidly placed in programs for mentally retarded children, if they are unduly exposed to the likelihood of such placement by virtue of having received poor regular education, or if the quality and academic relevance of the special instruction blocks students' educational progress, including decreasing the likelihood of their return to the regular education classroom. In their review of the literature, Hosp and Reschly (2003) discussed three main reasons why disproportionate representation in special education is problematic.Such reasons include negative effects of labeling, segregation of placement, and presumed ineffectiveness of special education (Hosp & Reschly, 2003). For example, labeling a child handicapped has been found to reduce teachers' expectancy for the child to succeed (Dunn, 1968). Furthermore, removing a child from regular education to special education may contribute signifi cantly to feelings of inferiority and problems with acceptance by peers (Dunn, 1968). Factors Contributing to Disproportionate RepresentationSeveral variables related to the disproportionate representation of some students in special education have been documented in the literature. Specifically, research has examined possible reasons that might explain the overrepresentation of minorities in special education including bias in the referral process, bias in assessment tools, English Language Proficiency of a child, poverty, gender, race, and poor academic achievement (Hosp & Reschly, 2004). Referral process One factor that may contribute to disproportionality involves the referral process for special education.Referral for assessment has been cited as an important predictor of subsequent special education placement (Ysseldyke, Vanderwood, & Shriner, 1997). Ysseldyke et al. (1997) found that 90% to 92% of referred students are tested and 70% to 74% of tested students were then declar ed eligible for special education placement. Thus, if a child is referred to a multidisciplinary team for special education eligibility consideration, there is a high probability that the student will be identified with a disability and be placed in a special education program.One possible explanation for overidentification of students for special education may be due to the information processing strategies of multidisciplinary team decision makers, which can cause the presence of a confirmatory bias (O'Reilly et al. , 1989). Confirmatory bias can occur when the multidisciplinary team decision makers have a tendency to gather information that confirms a hypothesis that is being tested and ignores contradictory information. This can result in special education decisions that are not based on objective evidence and lead to inappropriate placements.Thus, if teachers are biased in their referral decisions, psychologists may confirm already flawed judgments (Podwell & Soodak, 1993). In terms of demographics, research has shown that teachers over refer African American, Hispanic/Latino, and American Indian/Alaskan Native males to programs for students with learning disabilities, emotional/behavioral problems, speech and language disorders, and mild cognitive disorders in comparison to female and White middle class students (Grossman, 1995).The majority of teachers nationwide are White; therefore cultural misunderstanding of expectations may affect referral rates of non-White students (Hosp & Reschly, 2003). For example, differences between students and teachers in learning style, verbal style, social style, and cultural information has been suggested to account for some proportion of minority students poor school performance which may lead to referral and subsequent placement in special education (Harry, 1994). Assessment procedures Overrepresentation could also be a result of bias in the assessment procedures used to identify students for special education.Assessm ent procedures that are not suited to the diverse characteristics of the students evaluated may result in misleading and biased information about their academic abilities (Grossman, 1995). For example, unfamiliarity with the assessment process may invalidate results. Grossman (1995) cited research that African American/Black and Hispanic/Latino children may be more anxious during assessments to the point that the anxiety interferes with performance because they are not familiar with the assessment process.Today, more minority children continue to be placed into special education on the basis of intelligence tests, even though it has been suggested that intelligence instruments as a basis for placement are imperfect and unfair (Agbenyega & Jiggetts, 1999). The validity and reliability of intelligence tests has been discussed when such measures are used with minority students (Reschly & Grimes, 2002). Intelligence tests are valid only if they measure a student's ability to learn and t o predict how the student will function in specific learning situations (Grossman, 1995).Furthermore, since the reliability of many assessments is established by studying their use with White students, they may be unreliable when used with non-White students (Grossman, 1995). It has been asserted that intelligence tests reflect the cultural knowledge base and cognitive and linguistic orientations of their creators (Harry, Klinger, Sturges, & Moore, 2002). Intelligence tests have been criticized as being culturally, socially, and racially biased because they reflect White, middle class values and experiences and therefore, are not applicable to minority children (Agbenyega & Jiggetts, 1999).It has been suggested that traditional measures of intelligence are not biased if certain standards are met. For example, standards should require a rigorous implementation of procedural safeguards in the referral, classification, and placement process; implementation of multifactored assessments designed to identify specific educational needs by a group of professionals; and programming and placement decisions made by a team that included professionals and parents (Reschly & Grimes, 2002).Nevertheless, there are concerns about using intelligence measures like the Wechsler scales in making identification decisions. Such concerns include that different environments provide different preparation for the test, the narrow item content of the test, and negative outcomes associated with the use of intelligence tests (Reschly & Grimes, 2002). Therefore, the use of more culturally fair measures of cognitive processing, such as the CAS, may be an important step in addressing the disproportionality problem in special education.English Language Proficiency Since most standardized tests are administered in English and normed on proficient English speakers, a linguistic bias may also invalidate the results of an evaluation if the assessment is conducted in a language that the student is not proficient in. For example, English Language Learners have been found to perform lower than proficient English speakers on standardized assessments in reading, science, and mathematics (Abedi, 2002).However, the performance gap between English Language Learners and proficient English speakers was greatest in content areas that required a higher language demand (i. e. , reading) and less or almost non-existent in content areas that required less language demand (i. e. , mathematic computation). The linguistic complexity of the actual test items, unrelated to the content being assessed, may be a reason for poorer performance for English Language Learners on standardized tests.Thus, these tests may function more as an English proficiency test than a test of ability or achievement (Abedi, 2002). This problem can impact special education identification and placement because there are very few school psychologists who are bilingual and are able to provide linguistically appropriate as sessment services in the school (Grossman, 1995). The consideration of English Language Proficiency is important since it is estimated that more than 3. 5 million children in U. S. schools have Limited English Proficiency (U.S. Census Bureau, 2003). However, there has been limited research on the representation of English Language Learners in special education programs since state departments of education often do not gather data about language proficiency of students in special education. Artiles et al. (2005) assessed the magnitude of disproportionate representation of English Language Learners in 11 urban California school districts. Placement patterns at the elementary level indicated an absence of overrepresentation in special education.However, overrepresentation of English Language Learners was detected at the end of elementary school (4th grade) and continued through the high school years. Children who demonstrated limited proficiency in their native language as well as in E nglish had the highest rate of identification in high incidence special education categories (i. e. , learning disability). Impact of gender Other variables have also been examined to evaluate their influence on the disproportionate representation of minority students in special education.For example, recent research has looked at gender as a predictor of special education placement (Coutinho & Oswald, 2005; Coutinho et al. , 2002). In general, gender disproportionality has been found to exist in special education with male students more likely to be overrepresented in special education. Boys are about twice as likely as girls to be identified with a learning disability and almost three and half times more likely to be identified with a serious emotional disturbance (Coutinho & Oswald, 2005). Coutinho et al.(2002) investigated the extent of disproportionality among students with a learning disability and described the relationship between ethnicity, gender, and socio-demographic var iables (i. e. , poverty indicators, Limited English Proficiency status, parent education, etc. ). The findings showed an association between ethnicity, gender and the odds of being identified as a student with a learning disability. White, African American/Black, American Indian/Alaskan Native, and Hispanic/Latino males were all at least twice as likely as White females to receive special education.African American/Black and Hispanic/Latino females were essentially as likely as White females to receive special education. American Indian/Alaskan Native females were more likely than White females to receive special education. Asian males and females were both less likely than White females to receive special education services (Coutinho et al. , 2002). In addition to student characteristics, results indicated that socio-demographic characteristics were important in determining the likelihood of being identified as learning disabled.However, the impact of the socio-demographic characte ristics was found to be different for each gender-ethnicity group. For example, increased poverty was associated with increased identification of a learning disability for African American/Black, Hispanic/Latino, and male Asian students. For White and American Indian/Alaskan Native students, increased poverty was associated with lower identification rates (Coutinho et al. , 2002). Economic, demographic, and achievement factors Oswald et al.(1999) examined the influence of economic and demographic variables on the identification of minority students for special education. The study examined the extent U. S. school districts displayed patterns of disproportionate presentation in the identification of minority students as mildly mentally retarded (MMR) and serious emotional disturbance (SED). It also analyzed the extent disproportionate representation at the district level is predicted by other district characteristics including school characteristics and demographic and economic facto rs (Oswald et al. , 1999).Oswald et al. (1999) used predictor variables that included median housing value, median income, percentage of children below the poverty level, percentage of adults in the community with a 12th grade education or less, percentage of children enrolled in school who are considered â€Å"at risk† (i. e. , from a single parent home, below the poverty level, and where the mother does not have a high school diploma or GED); and percentage of children who were Limited English Proficient. Race of the student was classified as African American/Black or non-African American/non-Black.Results indicated that African American/Black students were 2. 4 times more likely to be identified as MMR and approximately 1. 5 times more likely to be identified as SED than non-African American/Black students. Additionally, environmental and demographic variables were found to be significant predictors of identification of students as MMR or SED. For example, as poverty and d rop-out levels increased, more African Americans/Blacks were identified as MMR, but less were classified as SED.Furthermore, there was a disproportionate number of African American/Black students classified as SED in wealthier communities. It was suggested that these results may indicate that wealthier communities are more tolerant of cognitive impairments and less tolerant of emotionally challenging behaviors of African Americans/Blacks (Oswald et al. , 1999). Poor academic achievement is often a reason for referral and eventual placement in special education.Hosp and Reschly (2004) hypothesized that differences in academic achievement between racial and ethnic groups may lead to differences in referral and subsequent placement rates for special education. These researchers expanded on findings of Oswald et al. (1999) and included achievement variables with demographic and economic predictor variables of White, African American, Latino, Asian/Pacific Islander, and American Indian/A laskan Native ethnic/racial groups in an effort to better understand disproportionate representation of minorities in special education.In their study, demographic predictors included the base rates of various ethnic backgrounds (base rate of White students, base rate of African American/Black students, base rate of Hispanic/Latino students, base rate of Asian/Pacific Islander students, base rate of American Indian/Alaskan Native students) in the district, percentage of students in the community who were Limited English Proficient, and base rate of students in the district identified who had a disability.Economic predictors included median house value of the community, median household income, percentage of adults in community who have a 12th grade education or less, and percentage of children who are considered at risk. Academic predictors included percentage of each ethnic group who achieved mastery in criterion reading and criterion math. Results indicated that economic, demograp hic and academic blocks of variables contributed to the prediction of disproportionate representation.Specifically, Hosp and Reschly (2004) found that the block of economic variables was the strongest predictor for mental retardation diagnosis, the demographic block of variables was the strongest predictor for emotional disturbance, and the academic block of variables was a strong predictor for a learning disability diagnosis. For African American/Black, Hispanic/Latino, and American Indian/Alaskan Native students, the demographic variables were the strongest predictors for emotional disturbance and learning disability.It is not possible to comment on the influence of each individual variable in its ability to predict special education eligibility since related variables were grouped together as broader blocks of variables. An ecological framework How bias in the referral process, bias in assessment techniques, English Language Proficiency, gender, socioeconomic status, and demograp hics contribute to the disproportionate representation of minority students in special education may be better understood by considering an ecological developmental framework.According to Bronfenbrenner (1992), understanding human development requires a consideration of the interaction of diverse characteristics of a child and of the environment in which the child is embedded. Bronfenbrenner (1992) suggests a hierarchy of ecological contexts that effect human development that move from the most proximal to the most remote. The first of these contexts is the microsystem, which has the most power to influence the course of development for the child (Bronfenbrenner & Crouter, 1983).Bronfenbrenner (1992) defined a microsystem as â€Å"a pattern of activities, roles, and interpersonal relations experienced by the developing person in a given setting with particular physical and material features, and containing other persons with distinctive characteristics of temperament, personality, and systems of belief' (p. 227). Such settings include the home, school, or peer group. The microsystem considers the immediate environment a child develops in, as well as the characteristics of all other people (i. e. , parents, teachers, siblings, etc. ) also in that environment.The characteristics of other people in the child's environment might include demographic features (age, race/ethnicity, and sex), cognitive abilities and skills, or temperaments/personalities. For example, a child whose parents only speak a language other than English may have difficulty acquiring English, which may put them at risk for lower achievement scores and a higher probability of being referred for special education services. Children interact with their teachers daily. Personalities and belief systems of the teacher may impact how he/she views the child and therefore, influences how the teacher interacts with the child.A teacher who lacks cultural awareness may inappropriately refer a child to th e multidisciplinary team. Thus, the microsystem may be the most important ecological level to consider when analyzing factors that relate to the overrepresentation of specific racial/ethnic groups because it considers not only the characteristics of the environment a child develops in, but the characteristics of those who interact with that child. The most distal ecological system is the macrosystem. The macrosystem is the largest ecological level and is typically defined by region, societies, cultural values, and governmental and economic institutions.The macrosystem involves the belief systems prevailing in the world. At this level, the individual has little control over the factors related to disproportionality, but it is important to understand the intent of the laws governing special education programs and the national goal to decrease the overrepresentation of minority groups in special education. Conclusion Disproportionate representation is a complex phenomenon without a def inite etiology or solution. As a result of this complexity, consensus has yet to be reached regarding the actual causes of this persistent dilemma.What is clear is that a variety of educational, sociocultural, socioeconomic, and teacher and school-related factors appear to contribute to the disproportionate representation of minority students in special education programs. Current literature on overrepresentation of certain students in special education focuses more on the general patterns of disproportionality rather than examining if there are specific variables related to special education representation (Donovan & Cross, 2002). Thus, the causes of the disproportionate representation of minorities in special education are not clearly understood.Therefore, it is important to consider structural and community level variables to provide a framework for analyzing the problem. Indirectly these variables affect the prescribed evaluation procedures, parental involvement in the special e ducation process, and the availability of alternative programs (Turnbull & Turabull, 2001). Bronfenbrenner's (1992) expanded ecological paradigm provides a conceptual framework for examining and understanding the factors that influence disproportionate representation of minorities in special education.An ecological approach considers the context within which individuals function and that influence individuals. In using Bronfenbrenner's framework, the larger issue of disproportionality should consider the combined influences of various contexts a child is a member, including the locality (type of neighborhood and resources), the organization (school factors such as performance, racial/ethnicity composition, teacher:student ratios, or discipline), the microsystem (family characteristics such as size, socioeconomic status, and education level), and the individual (unique characteristics of the child)