Followed †creative writing Essay

The streets of London enclosed this humble infant. Unaware of where he is; where his mummy is, he continued to patrol the distant streets. The exhaustion of the young boy is unbearable to think of. Although unfamiliar with his surroundings he continued to walk, crying with anticipation: where is he? Freddy had been visiting London for the first time with his adorable mum. They got on so well. His mum was a rather rounded figure with big blue eyes and elongated eyelashes to balance her silhouette. She was a comical woman always entertaining her companions. Never a dull moment when she was around. Freddy loved her with all his heart and hoped he was just dreaming. Freddy and his mum were visiting sights in London, but he wasn’t happy with this. He despised it, the thought of walking around all day long; looking at tedious buildings that all appeared identical made him aggravated; what was the point? â€Å"Live life while you can! † is what his mum used to say to him. † What’s the point spending a beautiful Sunday morning indoors while you can be outdoors, celebrating the beauty of our capital city! † Nothing could ever bring her down†¦ even Freddy’s bad behaviour. He thought it would just be about influential buildings, powerful statues and overcrowded town centres! But more was to come†¦ When they first arrived, Freddy was being rather disrespectful; mocking fellow tourists, giving his mum the cold shoulder and even locking himself in the cafi bathroom! But his mum understood, she always did. Freddy walked and walked, not enjoying the scenery; with hope he would soon find somewhere appealing. As he continued to trek, he noticed the reflection of a daunting old man on the trunk of a passing car. The reflection seemed lifeless yet full of hatred and anger. His long black slimy hair wrapped across his large forehead with blue eyes just visible beneath it. He was wearing a long black leather jacket almost touching the floor with a large shiny object poking out from the inside pocket. He could see his full length jacket flapping from side to side as it harmonized with the rhythm his walk. He appeared to be a tall man with big broad shoulders yet with a petite frame. His image seemed worthy of that of a monster. Freddy stopped. Looked for his mum, she was nowhere to be seen. He peered over his right shoulder, to what seemed like his worst nightmare. Hastily attempting to rush through a crowd of passing pedestrians trying to get away as quickly as possible. But suddenly he tripped to found himself landing on the rotting pavement. His pulse now increasing as if his heart was being snatched out of his chest then receiving a brutal punch to the whole in which was left. Blood was rushing from his head to his toes and back and forth, back and forth. Quickly rising to his feet he continues to run, running faster and faster, trying to find somewhere to hide. Scared that if he stops, the old man would catch him, torture him, hurt him, the thought was unbearable. The poor little boy was petrified, trembling with fear, looking for somewhere to escape to. He glimpsed behind his shoulder and to his surprise the man had gone. â€Å"What just happened? † Freddy distraughtly thought to himself. Was it a hallucination caused by his mum’s disappearance, or was it real, was that man really there? Freddy now tried to stay in places where people were around, but his racing mind couldn’t shoot nasty thoughts out his head. He wanted his mum to be there so desperately, she; his best friend, he needed her now. â€Å"I need to find her! † he thought to himself. But where was he to start? He was in a city he did not know his way round of and eventually remembered his mum saying that if something happened and she wasn’t around then to meet her just off Oxford street at a cafi called ‘Don’marche’. â€Å"Quick! I have to get there now! † Rapidly gazing behind the peculiar cardboard box he was hidden behind, he checked both ways to make sure that the man wasn’t around, once left, once right, and again just to be sure. Once he had the reassurance he wasn’t around, his legs where already in motion trying to get back to his original destination. After a few moments of none stop running, he heard a familiar sound from behind. Turning round slowly to see if he could see it, he noticed a shadow upon the wall. A shadow with large broad shoulders but yet with a petite frame, a shadow of extreme familiarity but not that of good familiarity but that of a horrific familiarity already experienced by Freddy. Freddy’s immediate reaction was to run, but that of the gaze coming from the man is too strong to pull away from. The contact between the two if disrupt able and yet strangely comforting, but only for the fact that his eyes are big and blue with beautiful elongated eyelashes, just like those, that stare at him daily with love and care. After a moment of bewilder ness he hears a screaming voice coming from the bottom of the road, he peers over the mans right shoulder to see a rather rounded figure running up the road. Elation fills Freddy’s heart. His shoulders start to relax and the view of his adorable mum makes him feel at once comforted. He and his mum spend hours, it seems, in an embrace, but eventually realising that the man is standing behind him he turns and quickly tells his mum about what has happened. She just stands there and laughs! â€Å"Freddy darling, I brought you to London to meet your uncle! Say hello to uncle Fred! † Freddy doesn’t reply. He looks up at his mum in complete awe but eventually pulls them both into an embrace with a sigh of relief.

Principles of safeguarding and protection Essay

Principles of safeguarding and protection in health and social care SAFEGUARDING This booklet is designed to be used as a reminder and reference for people who work in the care profession The following are all types of abuse and their definition. Physical abuse: hitting, slapping, kicking. Sexual abuse: unwanted advances, indecent exposure, harassment of a sexual nature. Emotional/psychological abuse: intimidation, blaming. Financial abuse: misappropriation of monies/funds, not giving correct change. Institutional abuse: where a person is not treated as an individual. Neglect: inadequate care, denial of basic rights Physical Abuse †¢ Injuries that are the shape of objects. †¢ Injuries in a variety of stages or injuries that have not received medical attention. †¢ A person being taken to many different places to receive medical attention. †¢ Dehydration or unexplained weight changes or medication being lost. †¢ Behaviour that indicates that the person is afraid or avoiding the perpetrator. †¢ Change of behavior and personality. Sexual Abuse †¢ Sexually transmitted diseases or pregnancy. †¢ Tears or bruises in genital/anal areas. †¢ Soreness when sitting. †¢ Signs that someone is trying to take control of their body image, for example,anorexia, bulimia or self-harm. †¢ Sexualised behavior. †¢ Inappropriately dressed. Emotional Abuse †¢ Difficulty gaining access to the service user on their own. †¢ The adult not getting access to medical care or appointments with other agencies. †¢ Low self-esteem or lack of confidence and anxiety. †¢ Increased levels of confusion. †¢ Increased urinary or fecal incontinence. †¢ Sleep disturbance. †¢ The person feeling/acting as if they are being watched all of the time. †¢ Decreased ability to communicate. †¢ language being used that is not usual for the service user. †¢ Deference/submission to the perpetrator. Financial †¢ Sudden loss of assets. †¢ Unusual or inappropriate financial transactions. †¢ Visitors whose visits always coincide with the day a person’s benefits are cashed. †¢ Insufficient food in the house. Essential equipement not provided or removed †¢ Bills not being paid. †¢ A sense that the person is being tolerated in the house due to the income they bring in; sometimes with that person not included in the activities the rest of the family enjoys. Institutional †¢ treating adults like children. †¢ arbitrary decision making by staff group, service or organization. †¢ strict, regimented or inflexible routines or schedules for daily activities such as meal times, bed / awakening times, bathing / washing, going to the toilet. †¢ lack of choice or options, such as food and drink, dress, possessions, daily activities and social activities. †¢ lack of privacy, dignity, choice or respect for people as individuals. †¢ unsafe or unhygienic environment. †¢ lack of provision for dress, diet or religious observance in  accordance with an individual’s belief or cultural background. †¢ withdrawing people from individually valued community or family contact. Neglect by others (or self) †¢ Malnutrition. †¢ Rapid or continuous weight loss. †¢ Not having access to necessary physical aides. †¢ Inadequate or inappropriate clothing. †¢ Untreated medical problems. †¢ Dirty clothing/bedding. †¢ Lack of personal care. The correct course of action if you suspect an individual is being abused. If you suspect a service user in your care is being abused, you should report it immediately to your manager verbally and ensure the safety of the service user was paramount. Your manager has the responsibility to investigate and assess the suspicion of abuse. Your company policies and procedures should define what actions to take, and it is your responsibility to follow them, to ensure safety of your service users. All employees have a duty of care to report any concerns of abuse they have. These might include evidence or suspicions of bad practice by colleagues and managers (whistleblowing), or abuse by another service user, staff or their family and friends. The correct actions to take if an idividual tells you they are being abused. The key things to do when an individual discloses abuse is: Assume the person is telling the truth. Speak to them in a clam and sensitive way. Listen carefully and make sure you record what was said. If the person needs medical attention you would call the emergency service or call a doctor as appropriate, and inform your line manager immediately, or another senior person. If this is a criminal matter i.e. an alleged assault, rape or indecent exposure, call the police, if a senior was not on duty/available to do so. How to ensure that any evidence of abuse is kept safe It is important to record everything that has been said or disclosed, in the event of alleged abuse, include date/time, and sign it. This is because the information needs to be accurate, in case it is to be used in a legal investigation or proceedings. The written record should be stored in a secure place, for safety and to prevent others from seeing its content. If the alleged abuse is of sexual nature, it is advisable to ask the victim of abuse not to ‘wash’ themselves, or dispose of any clothing, as they may be contaminating/disposing vital evidence of the alleged abuse. This evidence could be used to convict the abuser, and uphold the allegation. The national policies that set out requirements for safeguarding individuals Safeguarding vulnerable adults’ policy. Protection of Vulnerable Adults. No Secrets. In Safe Hands. Organisational safeguarding policy. GSCC (General Social Care Council) Codes of Practice. Local and organisational systems for safeguarding Employer/organisational policies and procedures Multi-agency adult protection arrangements for a locality Local authority practice The roles of different agencies and professionals that are involved in safeguarding individuals Safeguarding Adults Board An interagency forum, which promotes the protection of vulnerable adults from abusive behavior and practice. Independent Safeguarding Authority Created to help prevent unsuitable people from working with children and  vulnerable adults, and work with: Criminal Records Bureau An agency which checks to see if people wishing to work with children or vulnerable adults have a criminal record. Sources of advice, support and information to help social care workers understand their own role in safeguarding Your employer has own policies relating to abuse, whistle blowing etc. Your line manager will help these and should be approached. These policies are my working documents as they inform my practice on how to meet my responsibilities whilst performing my role. However, there are local and national policies relating to abuse, which also have to be condered.

Fall in and Who’s for the game? Essay

These two examples of poems are typical of the war propaganda of the period, they are propaganda posters to make normal people get up, tell their friends and to join the army, navy or RAF. They try to embarrass people who like to be masculine and question their masculinity; this makes them prove to people that they are a man so they go to fight in the war. The poem teases unmasculine men and tries to make them feel bad for not going to fight. Harold Begbie exclaims that all the MEN who fight in the war will be praised in the street, women will love them (which is not true if they are severely handicapped), everyone will ignore you if you don’t go and everyone who does will be heroes. Men hate getting ignored by women therefore they will want to join up Jessie Pope’s idea of a game makes the reader feel as if war is a football ball match or a great sporting event. Going with the LADS makes it feel like there is comradery and a good time to be had with cool people, there’s no mention of any death, killing people, blood or any other gruesome details, it only says you may get a broken leg which will appeal to men who want to look macho and as if they’ve been fighting, it will make them look tough and brave. SONNY is used to patronise the reader, to make him feel unworthy of being a big strong man but more like a little boy who’s just a bit of a joke. SONNY is used to make a man try to prove himself and go join up. The author creates a feeling of everyone else will be talking of the war and become popular but you will be ashamed because you did not go and you will try and avoid everyone so they wont know. Normal people rushed out to beat the foe which means they left with no hesitation or worries and knew they’d be back anyway really quickly. The author says when you are old you will tell your children and grandchildren of exiting war stories and adventures. But if you’re too much of coward not to join even your children and grandchildren will be ashamed and embarrassed. The painting on the front shows a woman guiding a young man to where he should be going, the old lady wants the young man to fight as she’s to old but its his duty, it feels like the lady is pressuring the man to join up, he doesn’t want to see the look of disappointment on her face if he says no. The effects of these poems is that people get mislead into believing the war will be over really quickly, you’ll get good pay, really nice uniforms, travel all over the world, meet nice people. If you don’t go then your great country will be taken over by horrible people and everything will be ruined. Harold Begbie’s language is extremely persuasive in his poem called â€Å"Fall In†, in it keeps repeating direct and rhetorical question like Where?, What?, How? Why? When? and, Will you†¦? The author also uses religion to scare people into thinking that they will be upsetting God by not fighting in the war. He tries to make you seem uncaring when he writes â€Å"And right is smashed by wrong?† He imagines you only caring about football, cinema, the pub and the betting shop as if you only think about yourself. Jessie Pope’s language is also just as persuasive. The poem she writes is called â€Å"Who’s for the game?† in her poem she also repeats direct and rhetorical questions. She uses Who? as in who’ll do this? and who’ll do that? The who’s refer to you. The use of who in most of her poem is very repetitive and therefore the Who†¦? will stay in your mind. Also her slang phrasing appeals to ordinary people who feel as if she’s down to earth and makes the writing feel friendly, this encourages them to read on and not feel threatened with a formal very important looking poster.

Historical Documents Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Historical Documents - Essay Example Most economists attribute the 1929 stock market crash in the United States as the trigger for the great depression. 4Trade and incomes experienced a dramatic drop. This led to a dip in tax collection for the treasury. At the peak of the great depression, unemployment rates stood at 25% in the United States. Other developed nations had unemployment rates of over 30% of the working age population. Many historians and economists believe that there are two theories that best describe the cause of the Great Depression. 5 The Demand theory argues that service and products were being over produced while the demand was not keeping up with the supply. Companies were over investing in products that had no matching demand meaning the companies were spending more than they were making6.This led to huge losses and companies going out of business leading to high unemployment rate. The monetarist theory believes that the depression was minor problem that was compounded by poor decisions and mistakes by financial institutions7. These institutions inflated debts causing people to stay indebted for much longer period8. Whatever triggered the great depression is still subject to debate but it cannot be denied that its effects were felt globally10. I used the online library to get my sources specifically Google books section. I opted for this source since it was the easiest way to access some books which the local library may not have .Hence it is convenient and can be accessed 24 hours a day. The books have various strengths and weaknesses which led me to choose them after evaluation. The secondary sources though have are recently published books and rely mostly on previously published works whose accuracy may not be easily verified. Their main advantage over the primary sources is that they may tap into more studies and research works that may not have been possible hence provide a more comprehensive and

Memorandum of Law Paper - Should men get paternity leave from work Essay

Memorandum of Law Paper - Should men get paternity leave from work - Essay Example Nonetheless, the giving men paternity leave should be considered necessary and healthy for the growth of the child at his or her earlier stages of growth as well as for the wife. Different nations often have different laws and regulations managing the paternity leave. Most countries offer paid parental leave that is immensely considered maternity leave. However, this kind of leave is only for employees who have worked in their current job or with their current employers for a certain period of time that is either specified by different labour laws or different company policies and regulations. The national laws usually vary significantly depending on the politics governing each jurisdiction. Before analysing the benefits of paternity leave either to the mother or the father, it is vital to analyse the existing child care policies (Einarsdo?ttir 85). Constitutionally, there are three vital child care policies that include the parental leave policies, child care policies, and early chi ldhood policies. The parental leave policies often assist the employed parents prior to giving birth. These policies require that the parents remain home for a period that they are able to take good care for the child once he or she is born. The main advantage of these policies is that they allow parents (who in most cases, is the mother) to prepare psychologically and materially for the coming of the child. Otherwise, they may be caught unaware, and such may lead to complications in many different ways. The child care policies targets at assisting parents in the non parental child care (Valdimarsdo?ttir 55). These policies are vital in subsidizing any type of care the parent may be will to select or rather public parenting programs. However, it should be noted that the child care programs serve the working and the non working parents. Finally, there are the early childhood benefits (English 23). These are new policies that have been initiated to support parents in all their day to day child care. In the United States, the government offers the early childhood benefits in the form of cash grants that aim at covering the costs for caring for infants and or toddlers. The United States among other countries including Liberia, Swaziland, and Papua New Guinea are the only states in the entire globe that do not have national laws mandating paid time off for the parents expecting or having new born. However, in the United States, the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA) provides up to twelve weeks of potentially unpaid but job protected leave. This kind of leave also engulfs the parental leave, and it is usually provided to all American workers (Einarsdo?ttir 57). Therefore, provided that the provides unpaid leaves, men should be allowed parental leave to help in early childhood caring since the employer is not bound to any liability of time wastage or paying an employee for the time he never worked. It should be noted that the state of California never mandat es paid family leaves including parental leave for the same sex partners. Except of the above tensioned countries, many countries often offer more than ten paid weeks of maternity leave. Nearly 163 countries constitutionally give women paid maternity leave and the same leave should be given to men. It is necessary to note that parental leave is essential for both parents

Why Fast Foods Can Be Bad For Your Health Research Paper

Why Fast Foods Can Be Bad For Your Health - Research Paper Example Another issue with fast food is that it is easily available and can be much easier than trying to cook or provide a more nutritious meal for your family – meaning that people often each much more fast food than they should (French et al, 2004). This type of problem has led fast food to become a victim of much controversy in the media as well as getting many analyses in the scientific literature that has led it to become a dangerous topic. The purpose of this essay is to explore the literature on fast foods and examine why it can be bad for your health, as well as completing a discussion and analysis of the research available. It will become evident that there are many reasons why fast food can be bad for your health, and these claims are backed up by evidence that supports this claim. The term fast food was popularized in the United States in the middle part of this century. The term is used to refer to any food that can be prepared and sold extremely quickly, making it easy t o access and available to many. The fact that many fast food restaurants do not have typical waiting staff (preferring to rely on a collection or takeaway method) means that it can be even quicker and sold at an extremely low price. All of these have led to the popularization of fast food across the Western world, with many chains having outlets in many countries. There are many different types of fast food, although the most popular types include hamburgers, fries, pizza and other foods which are high in fat and many contain a high level of additives and addictive substances (French et al, 2004). One of the main reasons that fast food is considered to be so dangerous is that it is linked to the main health problem in the United States – obesity (French et al, 2004). Because fast food is so easy to obtain and can be bought for relatively low prices, those who are on low incomes or who work long hours are more susceptible to obesity (Block, Scribner & DeSalvo, 2004). Additiona lly, Jeffery & French (1998) have shown that there is a strong association between eating fast food and watching television, and together these two activities are strongly linked to obesity – particularly because they reduce activity levels in many people. Kwate, Yau, Loh & Williams (2009) also did a study considering whether the high availability of fast food makes it bad for your health. The study found that those who lived in areas with a high density of fast food chains were more likely to be obese and have related health problems. The reasons for this were multiple. For one, those who merely had to order food to get it delivered were likely to do less exercise to get to their food. Secondly, the content of the food was much higher in fat than meals that had been prepared in the home, leading to weight gain. As we will see, weight gain can lead to health problems such as type II diabetes. Pereira et al (2005) did a study examining the links between fast food habits, weigh t gain and insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is important because it is an early indicator of type II diabetes, and therefore any sign of increased insulin resistance can be considered a health risk. There was found to be a strong link between fast food eating and a resistance to insulin, particularly because many of the foods have a high level of sugar and carbohydrates. This is what makes the foods more appealing and taste nice, but consuming sugar in high levels can lead to obesity and type II diabetes in later life. In this sense, eating a lot of fast foods is definitely bad for your health. Another major concern with fast food is that they contain some additives, not all of which have been fully tested

Assignment 6 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Assignment 6 - Essay Example It is for this reason that Liberal philosophers should support exemptions to the rules and norms of society for minority cultures: by promoting cultural exemptions, they will also support autonomy and equality. Before proceeding further with an argument for the importance of cultural exemptions to Liberalism, it is probably a good idea to define some terms and make sure that the concepts of Liberalism, autonomy and cultural exemptions are fully understood. Liberalism, as describe above, basically espouses the idea that everybody should be treated equally. As we saw in earlier chapters, like the one on the art of Benin, this is not always the case. In regards to Benin, they were seen as less â€Å"civilised† than the British, and this led to their being abused and mistreated when the two cultures clashed. This would not have happened if the British at the time had followed Liberalism, because it accepts that different cultures have â€Å"differences in moral values; different tastes in art, literature or music; differences in social customs and traditions; and differences in belief† (Pike 97). However, Liberalism itself has varying traditions. Two of those which are discussed in this chapter are difference-blind Liberalism and the Liberalism which accepts â€Å"rule and exemption approach† (Pike 106). The first of these seems fairly straight-forward. It basically means that the philosopher ignores any sort of difference whatsoever between any two people. The â€Å"rule and exemption† idea, on the other hand, involves creating rules for all people and then giving people exemptions based on cultural, social, or religious differences. In this case, then, the philosopher would acknowledge some that differences are important and need to be taken into account. On the surface, difference-blind Liberalism seems perfectly reasonable when your philosophy is â€Å"that every human being is of

Modern woman in TV show Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Modern woman in TV show - Essay Example These shows get women to take off all their clothes and stand stark naked in front of the entire world to see. Or they are used as a seduction technique. They might also be used as dolls/objects which can be bought or fooled into having sex with a man at any time. They are blamed more for every crime that they commit. They are also shown to be the object of drug and sex trafficking. There is a famous method of showing cars in a movie about cars and that is with a large number of girls surrounding it, standing on it or lying on it, naked or nearly naked. This is shown only for the sake of attracting the larger masses. TV shows and movies aside, even the video games, play-stations and the famous X-BOX have animated women appearing at every nook and corner of the game and are used only as a sign of sexuality and femininity. Many of today’s famous TV shows which include this element of sexuality include â€Å"How I met your mother†, â€Å"vampire diaries†, â€Å"Nik ita†, â€Å"Gossip girl†, â€Å"One tree hill†, â€Å"Small-Ville†. Many of these shows bring out women harassment as a joke or a sick humor. But some of them use women sexuality openly, completely owning this fact about their show. Of all the shows, this report will discuss an episode form the season â€Å"Nikita†. The episode is 15 and from season 1. Background of the Show In this, one of the lead actresses, Alex is called out to work for her company as a spy in the form of a very sexy young girl who is spitted out of a blind-dating site to the target person. Alex is forced to wear low-necked and tight clothes, with her hair open and flowing so that she successfully seduces the target victim and steal a gadget from him. During the show she is caught by her old captors who were sex-traffickers. She is then forced inside a cage and heavily drugged. This exploits the factor of women’s weak body and strength. During the show we see that Alex ha d been sold to these sex traffickers as a child, proving men’s inability to take pity even on small girls and using them as symbols of sex and pleasure. We also see that another one of the girls is badly beaten by her captor, which shows that the captor thinks of women only as objects to be threatened and oppressed. Anatomy of the Show The show is divided into two parts: one where Alex is sent on her mission as a sexy girl out for a date, and the second where she has been recaptured by her previous captor, locked in a small cage and interrogated. Part one of the Show In this part, the viewers are shown a beautiful girl, who just became the date for the night of a very weird nerd. Alex has been ordered to dress up sexually and adorable so that the nerd boy (also the target) falls for her beauty and completely surrenders to her. This in turn would pave a way for her to easily steal a device from the nerd. Here we see that the heroin is doubtful if the nerd person would accept s omeone like her as a date, so she asks her boss who replies with a â€Å"please† looking her up and down, as if to prove his point. It is clear from the way the show unravels, that viewers are being told that the women species can be a great sexual device and an amazing criminal/ thief, if they used their femininity and apparent innocence, to good use. After Alex is ready to go to the bar with her new date, looking as sensual as any perfect

Employment Law Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 3

Employment Law - Case Study Example In fact, corporate accounting team was among the top performing teams of the company. But from last two months some misunderstandings evolved between the members of the team. The performance of last two months of this team also decreased at a substantial rate. This decrease in performance led to an investigation into the matters of the team. Upon interviews with all team members and other team member of other concerned departmental teams, some important issues between the above mentioned three members of the corporate accounting team have been identified. These issues must be brought into your knowledge. These issue need to be dealt in earnest to avoid some dire consequences. After working for years in a team, Mary and Michael become close friends. They go for lunch together. They often hang out together. John who is heading the corporate accounting team was also working with Mary for years. Mary is an attractive young lady and John also likes her and has developed feeling for Mary. But John is also jealous with the close relation between Mary and Michael. John is an able person and an important employee of the company. On the other hand the performance of Mary and Michael is also good. Last month John, Mary and Michael behaved normal during everyday happenings. But this month they frequently entered into arguments which the other team members think is not normal and therefore not good for the company. Due to this tension between John and Michael, the everyday matters of the team are getting disturbed. Whereas, John has many times favored Mary unduly thereby bypassing the merit. Actually, Michael is senior after John and is eligible for a promotion to head the team. John is also eligible to become manager, so after the promotion of the Michael, John would have to head some other larger team. But John wants to keep closer to Mary. At the same time John wants to keep Mary and Michael far

American Television Comedies Essay Example for Free

American Television Comedies Essay

Reflective Analysis of A Beautiful Mind

Reflective Analysis of A Beautiful Mind In my opinion, this movie was one of the best I have ever see. By far this is me saying a lot because I hate old movies. The way the director portrayed schizophrenia was wonderful. At the beginning of the movie I thought what he was seeing was real myself, and even his roommate that he thought he had. I really want to know where he really went when he thought he was getting chased by the Russians. The entire movie had me guessing as to what would happen from beginning end. I even started to think that his wife might have been part of his hallucinations too. It was very sad to see how his wife had to deal with him. I felt bad because I felt as though their relationship was one sided and she was putting in most of the effort. I would have liked to see more of his son; and how he viewed his dad knowing he had this disorder. It was nice to see in the end that he did give credit to his wife and I thought that was the best part of the movie. I understand that back then they did not have many options when it came down to medication. When I saw them using the insulin shock therapy I was very stunned. I dont know what insulin does to the body but when I saw him shaking and trembling I saw concerned. I was asking myself questions like how does this help him or what are the effects of using this treatment. I didnt understand how the insulin shock therapy would help him in any way; and I still dont know how it works. Although as I seen it did help him with his hallucinations along with the pills that he had to take. Although I would have liked it more if they showed the other options they had for medication.ÂÂ   I dont know if they used electro shock therapy but I would have loved to see how that procedure went. When it comes to schizophrenia those who have it may not all have the same type of schizophrenia. Such as, someone with schizophrenia could be delusional. This means that they have beliefs that can be proven wrong. For example, having super powers, being a famous person, or having friends that arent really there. Disorganized speech is another form of schizophrenia that someone could have. Someone who has disorganized speech may use words or sentences that dont make sense to others. Exhibiting strange behaviors is one more form of schizophrenia. This is harder to categorize because what may be strange to us may not be strange to them. Strange behavior may include acting in an odd or repetitive manor; like walking in circles, sitting perfectly still or being quiet for hours on end. Withdrawn and lifelessness is another form of schizophrenia. People who have this show no feelings or motivation, or they lack interest in normal daily activities. Since the symptoms for schizophrenia vary the amount of impact it has on a persons life can range from troublesome to dangerous. Everything can be affected from school, to work, to home etc. someone with schizophrenia could have a change in friends or isolate themselves; they could also have difficulty in school, sleep problems, or being very irritably. These types of change usually happen when the person is an adolescent. Once they become adults these symptoms could get worse and are harder to deal with. For example, having hallucinations and delusions are symptoms that can occur during adult hood. Disorganized speech, catatonic behavior, muscle immobility are also examples of symptoms that an adult with schizophrenia could have. All these symptoms can cause someone with schizophrenia to lose their job, it can impact their social life, make having relationships difficult. Life with schizophrenia makes it hard to function as a person and can lead to depression. Its also very hard on the family members who have to take care of the person. Schizophrenia takes up much time and effort for the families who have to help manage. Sadly, if the person with schizophrenia doesnt redraw from the family the family may redraw from them. If I knew that everything and everyone I knew didnt exist I think life would be hell. I really dont know how I would deal with this honestly. But if I had to explain it would probably be how the main character handled it. I would try to see who or what part of my life wasnt real. Once I found the unreal part of life I would try to either ignore it or find a way to deal with it. Depending if I had a wife or girlfriend at the time I dont think anti-depressant pills would be an option due to the erectile dysfunction. If I didnt have a wife or girlfriend that is the only way, I would consider those pills. I also think it would be harder to recognize whats real and what isnt real. I think I could live with someone suffering from schizophrenia depending on the symptom they have. If they were having hallucinations, then I could live with that due to the fact that I could help them realize whats real and what isnt. what I couldnt live with is the lifelessness symptom that someone with schizophrenia could have. I think this is the worst because if you cant communicate with the person it would be rather difficult to help them. Although that doesnt mean I wouldnt try to help them because I would be like I said it would be difficult. Do I think people with schizophrenia should be permanently hospitalized? Again I would say if depends on the symptoms they have and how bad they have it. In society today people with mental disorders are treated unfairly. Some people view them as monsters instead of treating them like humans. I am kind of the same way because sometimes when I see a person that I know has a mental disorder I feel uncomfortable towards them. Other times I feel bad for them because although I dont know how they are suffering I can understand what they could be going through.

Turnkey Rental Properties Investment

Turnkey Rental Properties Investment AÂ  type of rental property that many first-time or younger investors like to try their hand at is a turnkey rental. The term turnkey describes any product, property or otherwise, that is ready for the consumer immediately after the time of purchase. When the term is used to describe real estate investments, its meant that the investor buys, fixes up, and sells or rents the property through a third party, usually from a distance. The goal is to make the whole process as simple as possible, so all that has to be done is turning a key. Turnkey Companies There are many different turnkey real estate providers all over the country, and not all of them operate the same way. Some providers will buy a property, fix it up, rent it out, and then sell it to you. However, for the purposes of this book, thats not the kind were going to talk about. Were focused on using turnkey providers to find properties to rent. Some companies will do everything for you, while some will have you do the heavy lifting if there is rehab work that needs to be done, so its important to know going in what method your company will be using, and what will be expected of you. Benefits to turnkey investing While flipping houses and wholesaling are great options for real estate investing, some investors prefer turnkey investments because it affords them several benefits over doing it all yourself. Distance: The most obvious benefit that many investors reap from turnkey investments is the ability to invest in a property from a distance, without having to live in the area. Its not always easy to be a landlord, and the challenges that come with that are often made even more difficult when you live several thousand miles away from the property. Many people who live on either coast, or even are located outside the United States, rely on turnkey companies to invest in great markets, like the Midwest, where cash flow tends to be highest. Insight into the market: Another reason many investors prefer to use turnkey companies over doing everything themselves is that a good turnkey company will know their market, likely far better than an outsider could. As a lone investor, you might be able to do some research into the area and learn about things like crime reports, school system ratings, and price ranges, but those are all just naked numbers without knowledge of the heart of the area, something that good turnkey companies have. They know how the people of an area think and feel about that area: which blocks are popular and why, which area of town is better than another. Theyll know what kind of reputations certain businesses and neighborhoods have, and theyll be aware of shifts in the local economy. This kind of knoweldge is generally limited to long-time locals of an area, which a good turnkey company should be. Skilled marketers: Since good turnkey companies might buy, sell, and rent dozens or hundreds of homes and properties per month, they have a lot of experience in marketing those properties, and many more resources than a single investor may have on their own. As well as having many resources, their resources are also varied, and they may use things like radio ads, television ads, billboards, and more, to help drive interested and motivated tenants and sellers to their business. Because of their experience and resources, they may be able to find better deals than you could, as well as be able to get tenants faster than you could. Experience managing properties: Most people, real estate investors included, are not good managers. However, if you work with a turnkey company, you have someone to help with this. Turnkey companies are generally pretty experienced in dealing with contractors during rehab and general maintenance, as well as tenants. Their experience often allows them to make better decisions than someone lacking that experience would make, as well as cut down on the learning curve experienced by a new investor/manager. Professional, helpful staff: Unless youd like to take care of all of the rehab, maintenance and upkeep, and administrative duties that come with being a property manager, a turnkey provider can help. They usually have in-house staff to take care of things like a broken toilet, to answer the phones, and to sign leases with new tenants. If they dont have in-house staff, they will work closely with vendors to provide these services. Keeping it simple: The final benefit to turnkey investing could be said to be one of the most important: simplicity. No matter which turnkey company you invest with, they all have the same goal: to make the investment easier for you. If you invest in a property on your own, you have to take care of all of the moving parts yourself, which many investors find to be overwhelming. The ideal turnkey company seeks to make the investment simple for you, so all you have to do is receive and write checks. It is for this reason alone that many investors have turned to turnkey investing. Downsides to turnkey investing While there are many benefits to investing in turnkey rental properties, there are also downsides, and these are the reasons why many investors stay away from turnkey investments. Its important to be aware of possible downsides and pitfalls of any investment youre thinking of making, and this is no different when considering whether to invest in a turnkey rental property. Here are the two main downsides to turnkey investing: Trust is required: This is possibly the greatest risk when you choose to invest in a turnkey rental property. You must place a great deal of trust in the provider. Turnkey investors are, as I mentioned earlier in the chapter, generally located far from their investment property. Therefore they must place a great deal of trust in their turnkey company, trusting them to choose a property that will yield a profit, in a desirable location, and find a reliable tenant, as well as manage that tenant. The turnkey company will get paid regardless of whether or not you, as the investor, make any profit off of the property, so its a great deal of trust that you place in one of these companies to make you money. It is very easy for a turnkey provider to take advantage of an out-of-town investor who is unfamiliar with the area, convincing them to invest in a property in a bad location. There have been many stories told by investors where that situation happened to them, and the property ended up being whats referred to as a pig in lipstick, one that seemed fine but immediately after investing began to cost the investor a lot of money in repairs and other issues. Finances: The second downside to turnkey rentals is another great risk: that of money. A turnkey company is a business just like any other, and the driving force behind any business is to make money. They have to in order to stay operable, and they will do this several ways. Turnkey companies will often buy properties at a nice discount, and then turn around and sell the investment to you at a higher rate, essentially flipping the property to you, for a high price. After that, they make yet more money by managing the property for you. This is the catch to turnkey properties. You cant have the simplicity of this kind of investing without paying a premium for it. Either you have simplicity, or you pay less and deal with complications yourself, but either way you pay, whether its in money or your time. Turnkey companies operate on the idea that people want to simplify their investments, and make a profit off of that desire. That said, as I mentioned before, turnkey companies are very go od at marketing, and are very often able to find incredible deals in their area, so even if theyre going to make a great profit when they sell the investment to you, youre still often getting a very good deal. Keep in mind important details Turnkey investing can be a great option for investors who wish to have a more hands-free investment, those who are located in more expensive markets where they may be unable to find good investments for their budgets, and newer investors who would like some help with the particulars and complications that come along with real estate investing. Turnkey companies have great resources for investors. However, it is very important to be a smart investor. Experts suggest that, even though turnkey investing is a great option for those who are located far away from the property, prospective investors should go check out the property in person, even if that means flying across the country, so that they know what theyre investing in. Its also advisable to know your property manager well. As an investor, youll be putting a lot of trust into the turnkey company, so its important that youre on the same page. Some helpful and important things to ask your property manager are: How much experience does your company have? What fees does your company charge? How long, on average, does it take your company to find tenants for new properties? Will your company provide statements each month so I can keep track of expenses and income? What are your companys weaknesses? How well do you know the area? Generally, turnkey rental properties are a great form of real estate investing for those investors without the time, interest, or ability to personally renovate and maintain real estate investments. The most important thing to remember about turnkey investments is to do your research and know what youre getting into, and not be blinded by the possible benefits to this kind of investment.

Eriksons Psychosocial Theory Of Development: Young Adults :: Psychology Young Adult Development

The young adult has numerous stresses placed upon them through the route of development. Erikson has theorized developmental stages of growth into tasks. Of Eriksons' theoretical tasks, one task describes the theory of intimacy versus isolation. This task theory can be examined using the normative crisis model. The knowledge of developmental tasks of the young adult can be beneficial to the nurse especially associated with their ability to relate to the young adult. One of the stages in life is the young adult, which suggests significant changes and an increase of responsibility. This stage of development is described as between twenty and forty years, where "...the potential for furtherance of intellectual, emotional and even physical development occurs". (Gething, 1995, p.377). As people age the progress of the developmental stages can differ, so they have formulated to assess the progression by using two principal crisis models. The first, are the normative crisis model and the second includes the timing of events crisis model. The normative crisis model has been powerful in shaping the psychology of the developmental stages as it has allowed theorists to imply that stages of development can follow an age related time sequence. (Gething, 1995). The normative crisis model suggests that human development has a built in ground plan in which crisis as describe by Erikson are seen as a requirement that must be resolved by the person before successful progression from one developmental stage to another. Such achievement of this task crisis should provide the young adult with the ability to challenge previous ideas held by the adolescent about intimacy and isolation. This model is adapted for progression of the tasks to follow the chronological age of the adult, while the related social and emotional changes progress through a sequence that Erikson characterises in to eight specific crisis tasks over the life span. (Kozier, erb, blais & wilkinson, 1995.). The second crisis model depends upon the timing of events and is not dependant upon resolution of crisis or a ground plan, but stresses the importance of each event that occur in the young adults life. Life events that proceed as expected will encourage development, where as life events that are unexpected can result in anxiety and a slow progression of development. (Gething, 1995.). The young adult according to Erikson's theory of personality should be progressing through the psychosocial crisis of intimacy versus isolation. The tasks for this stage of life consist of courting and selecting a "mate", marriage and associated choices, e.g. children and monogamous relationship, career choices and lifestyle changes and furthering intellectual abilities to accommodate choices. (Turner & Helms, 1987.).

A Tougher Death Penalty Will Reduce Crime Essay -- Expository Cause Ef

We Need a Tougher Death Penalty      Ã‚   Many people, in general, are trying to abolish the death penalty. Why? Why try to abolish something that is in need in our corrupt world? Like for instance, in the case of the monster named Westley Dodd. The death penalty is doing the world of crime some good. If the people could see the right in their negative outlook.       Westley Dodd had been imprisoned for child molesting in many occasions and in 1989 committed a crime that of horrific nature that made even the detectives cry. Westley Dodd preyed on children, one of the many, stuck out in everyone's minds. Dodd caught the attention of five-year old boy named Lee Islei, knocked him unconscious, then dragged him to his apartment. Dodd then tortured him and molested him repeatedly for several hours, and then had the obscurity to capture it all on videotape. Dodd ended up strangling the beat-up child to death and keeping his underwear as "a souvenir" (Lerch). In Dodd's trial, he explained that he could never restrain from committing brutal sex-homicide crimes. Thankfully, the jury sentenced him to death. He requested to be executed by hanging, and was, on January 5, 1993 (Lerch). This is a perfect situation that was in definite need of the death penalty. Believe it or not, many of these sick, perverted men get out of jail. Dodd did before he murdered Le e Iseli. That's why the death penalty comes in real handy in instances like these.       There are also many points that can be proven and objects that can be expressed concerning the death penalty. The one that is going to be the main topic of this paper is, Is the death penalty an effective deterrent in the outlook of the growing crime of murder? There is a tremendou... .... DiIulio Jr., John J. "The Death Penalty Is an Effective Deterrent." The Death Penalty; Opposing Viewpoints .California:Greenhaven Press, 1997.   "Friends For Life." "Friends For Life"--the organization. [On-Line]. Available: http://www.friends-for-life.demon.co.uk/. Search: Internet. Lerch , Randy. "The Pro Death Penalty Pages." [On-line] Available: http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/8169/. Search: Internet. January 31, 1997. Lewin, Tamar. "Punishable By Death: Who Decides Who Will Die?" New York Times . New York: SIRS 1995 Corrections. 1995. Sowell, Thomas. "The Death Penalty Is an Effective Deterrent." The Death Penalty; Opposing Viewpoints .California:Greenhaven Press, 1997. Steamer, Robert J. "Furman vs. Georgia." Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia. 1995. Appendix A. New York: SIRS 1995 Corrections. 1995. A Tougher Death Penalty Will Reduce Crime Essay -- Expository Cause Ef We Need a Tougher Death Penalty      Ã‚   Many people, in general, are trying to abolish the death penalty. Why? Why try to abolish something that is in need in our corrupt world? Like for instance, in the case of the monster named Westley Dodd. The death penalty is doing the world of crime some good. If the people could see the right in their negative outlook.       Westley Dodd had been imprisoned for child molesting in many occasions and in 1989 committed a crime that of horrific nature that made even the detectives cry. Westley Dodd preyed on children, one of the many, stuck out in everyone's minds. Dodd caught the attention of five-year old boy named Lee Islei, knocked him unconscious, then dragged him to his apartment. Dodd then tortured him and molested him repeatedly for several hours, and then had the obscurity to capture it all on videotape. Dodd ended up strangling the beat-up child to death and keeping his underwear as "a souvenir" (Lerch). In Dodd's trial, he explained that he could never restrain from committing brutal sex-homicide crimes. Thankfully, the jury sentenced him to death. He requested to be executed by hanging, and was, on January 5, 1993 (Lerch). This is a perfect situation that was in definite need of the death penalty. Believe it or not, many of these sick, perverted men get out of jail. Dodd did before he murdered Le e Iseli. That's why the death penalty comes in real handy in instances like these.       There are also many points that can be proven and objects that can be expressed concerning the death penalty. The one that is going to be the main topic of this paper is, Is the death penalty an effective deterrent in the outlook of the growing crime of murder? There is a tremendou... .... DiIulio Jr., John J. "The Death Penalty Is an Effective Deterrent." The Death Penalty; Opposing Viewpoints .California:Greenhaven Press, 1997.   "Friends For Life." "Friends For Life"--the organization. [On-Line]. Available: http://www.friends-for-life.demon.co.uk/. Search: Internet. Lerch , Randy. "The Pro Death Penalty Pages." [On-line] Available: http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/8169/. Search: Internet. January 31, 1997. Lewin, Tamar. "Punishable By Death: Who Decides Who Will Die?" New York Times . New York: SIRS 1995 Corrections. 1995. Sowell, Thomas. "The Death Penalty Is an Effective Deterrent." The Death Penalty; Opposing Viewpoints .California:Greenhaven Press, 1997. Steamer, Robert J. "Furman vs. Georgia." Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia. 1995. Appendix A. New York: SIRS 1995 Corrections. 1995.

Dealing with culture Essay

It has already been mentioned earlier that for effective intelligence work there must be an ability to understand other people’s culture especially that of the enemy. But there is also another type of culture that must be addressed and understood – it is the culture that exists within the US intelligence community. It must be made clear though that no organization or community does not develop values or norms overnight. This only means that any initiator for change must be ready for the long haul because it will not away that easily. There is always organizational culture, it helps define the group and guides its members on the proper course of action. According to Amy Zegart the culture that exists within the intelligence community can be described as parochialism, risk aversion, resistance to change, and that â€Å"need to know trumps need to share† (2007, p. 64). All of these need to be transformed in order to have a much improved intelligence community. Coordination The 9/11 fiasco as seen in the nine-one-one report clearly calls for better coordination among the different counter-terror agencies of the US government. This realization leads to the recommendation that for America to be safer there is a great need for more coordination among the said groups. But as many have known this is easier said than done. According to Zegart the CIA from the onset was not really given the power to coordinate all government agencies related to intelligence gathering and as a result: The existence of so many separate agencies and the absence of formal mechanisms to integrate them became reinforced by bureaucratic procedures over time. Throughout the Cold War, different intelligence agencies developed their own budgets and set their own priorities, hired their own staffs and trained them in separate programs, communicated by separate e-mail systems and kept intelligence in incompatible databases (2007, p. 66). Jurisdiction is one of the major stumbling blocks in solving a crime or gathering data. When this term comes up immediately more barriers will shoot up immediately preventing the agency with a significant lead to pursue even further. Now, there is a good explanation for jurisdiction and it is the need for order, focus, and responsibility. But most of the time it only serves one thing and it is to be sure who to blame when there is a failure in the system. One of the painful realizations in 9/11 is the fact that terrorists do not respect jurisdiction, they come and go as they please and successfully exploited the civil liberties offered to individuals living in this country. So a member of a terror group can be living in Asia for one year and then at the end of that period decides to fly to Los Angeles and then from there move around the country in preparation for a major attack. Who then is in charge to track this guy? Sharing of Information Aside from the lack of coordination, another related problem is the strong dislike for information sharing. And again this is understandable; each group is rewarded for their effort. If one has caught a huge quantity of fish by being up all night on a fishing expedition there is no logic to sharing it with others who did not put up the same effort. On the other hand there are cases wherein the failure of one agency is the failure of all. Take for instance 9/11, there is no use shifting blame or pointing fingers at the CIA because the destruction is close to the heart of America where everyone is affected. This leads to the argument that information should not be the standard-operating-procedure but there are cases where information sharing is a must. And one way of doing this is by classifying cases, finding out which one requires the collaboration of those working internationally, on the national level or local level. Improvements The preceding pages clearly demonstrated that there is a need for positive change in the US Intelligence community. If civilians and those who are from the outside looking in can provide key observations on areas that needed change then those who are working within the intelligence community are painfully aware of their shortcomings. The following pages will describe the improvements made by various counter-terror groups within the fold of the Federal Government. Need to Share Information One of the areas that requires overhaul is with regards to information sharing. This has not been lost to the analysts and strategists working under the U. S. Department of Homeland Security and its think tank the Homeland Security Advisory Council who proposed the Intelligence and Information Sharing Initiative: Homeland Security Intelligence and Information Fusion. The key term here is fusion and this program calls for the: †¦ managing of flow of information and intelligence across levels and sectors of government and the private sector to support the rapid identification of emerging terrorism-related threats and other circumstances requiring intervention by government and private-sector authorities. It is more than the one-time collection of law enforcement and/or terrorism-related intelligence information and it goes beyond establishing an intelligence center or creating a computer network (see Homeland Security Advisory Council). This relatively recent move by the DHS is not only audacious but shows how they have completely acknowledged the error of their ways. There is no single or central agency that can do all the work when it comes to apprehending terrorists. The lowly policeman may not be wearing fancy suits and may not even pull top dollar from his work but a police officer does the dirty work. The operatives of counter-terror groups may have the firepower and the resources apprehend a terror group but they can be far away; it will take them precious time to leave their offices in and pursue. Whereas the local police department is in close proximity to the terrorist cell and therefore there is no reason why they could not be dispatched to stop the said terror group from executing their plans. To get a better idea with regards to how serious DHS is in improving their capabilities, the anti-terror agency is not only acknowledging the need for sharing information and intelligence but they are also admitting that crucial data can come from anywhere. The DHS pointed out the sources of relevant information to be coming from: a) Federal; b) State; c) local; d) tribal; e) various government entities; f) General public; and g) Private-sector entities. Therefore, there is a great need to improve on the process of information analysis and information dissemination. The following steps are designed to jump-start the said process (see Homeland Security Advisory Council): †¢ The use of common terminology, definitions, and lexicon by all stakeholders; †¢ Identifying critical information repositories and establishing the process, protocols, procedures, and technical capabilities to extract information and/or intelligence from those repositories; †¢ Understanding and elimination of impediments to information collection and sharing (i. e. , it should be a priority for the Federal Government to provide State, local, and tribal entities unclassified terrorism-related information); †¢ Extensive and continuous interaction with the private sector and with the public at large. The FBI It was mentioned earlier that in the decades of the 70s and 80s the Federal Bureau of Investigation was forced to mellow down its tough investigative stance. The lack of aggressiveness was criticized in the aftermath of 9/11. Today new laws are giving new life to the FBI invigorating the said agency to pursue suspected terrorists. Aside from the new mandate – following 9/11 – that allow the FBI to step on the accelerator the President of the United States issued a new directive in 2005 that would forever transform the FBI. On June 28, 2005 the President directed the FBI to create the National Security Branch within the FBI that will result in, â€Å"Integrating investigative and intelligence activities against current and emerging national security threats†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (see National Security Branch Overview, 2006). This new mandate from the President allows for the creation of the following: a) the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division (CTD); b) the Counterintelligence Division (CD); c) the Directorate of Intelligence (DI); and d) the Weapons of Mass Destruction Directorate (WMDD). This simply means that the FBI is no longer typecast as the main investigative body of Federal government it now also functions as counterintelligence and counterterrorism arm of the government as well as the main agency that will handle weapons of mass destruction in the domestic sphere. Conclusion The United States of America, its leaders and its citizens must come to terms with its new found status. And it is the sole superpower in the global arena. There is nothing that comes close to the US in terms of economic and military might. This is good news for those who come to enjoy the protection of a superpower – a protector who believes in democracy and the rule of law. But this is not a welcome thought for American citizens who are now perceived as enemies by those who have a sick worldview such as extremists. These fanatics are frighteningly angry at the US and their blabbering and crazed invectives show that they may not be coherent at times but are dead serious in causing harm. The US Army is capable pulverizing a small country into smithereens and even able to bring a powerful enemy nation to its knees e. g. Iraq but it does not have the moral authority to simply barge in and decimate suspected enemies. The Federal Government is therefore dependent on an effective and efficient intelligence gathering arm. It has been shown earlier that it is no longer possible to rely on one single agency to combat terrorism and therefore what is needed is coordination and information sharing. One of the major issues that was resolved was in dealing with a prevailing culture of fragmentation, parochialism, and the insistence of need to know versus sharing of information. After 9/11 it is easy to consider changing negative attitudes and adopting a new view on coordination and information sharing. Thus, after 9/11 the U. S. Department of Homeland Security was tasked to break down barriers as it has become painfully clear that the lack of coordination was the simple explanation as to why suspected terrorists were able to undergo flight training under the noses of Federal officials. Concrete steps are made to ensure information dissemination as well as the creation of structures and human resources that will be able to analyze data coming from different parts of the world. Aside from these the U. S. Intelligence community acknowledged the fact that everyone is involved including the State, local and even tribal entities. The big wigs from the Federal Government are also acknowledging the importance of local law enforcement agencies as a deterrent as well as the most effective and efficient aspect of the whole counter-terrorism apparatus of the US. A welcome development was the strengthening of the capabilities of the CIA and the FBI. Special mention is appropriate for the President’s directive to vastly improve the ability of the FBI not only as an investigative arm of the Federal Government but also as a counter-intelligence as well as counter-terrorism agency especially when it comes to weapons of mass destruction that could be potentially deployed in the homeland. All of these changes and improvements combined will greatly deter terrorist activity and would help in the speedy arrest as well as dismantling of terror cells before these groups can wreak havoc in the same magnitude as September 11, another day that will also live in infamy. References Carafano, J. & M. Sauter (2005). Homeland Security. New York: McGraw-Hill. Federal Bureau of Investigation. (2006). National Security Branch Overview. Retrieved 07 February 2008 from http://www. fbi. gov/hq/nsb/whitepaper12-06/whitepaper. pdf. Ganor, B. (2005). The Counter-Terrorism Puzzle: A Guide For Decision Makers. New Jersey: Transaction Publishers. Hulnick, A. (2004). Keeping Us Safe: Secret Intelligence and Homeland Security. Westport, CT: Praeger Publishers. Paine, T. (2005). Homeland Security: The American Tradition. In M. Sauter & J. J. Carafano (Eds. ). Homeland Security. New York: The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Perl. R. (2007). Terrorism and National Security: Issues and Trends. In A. L. Fitzgerald (Ed. ). Terrorism and National Security. New York: Nova Science Publishers, Inc. Posner, R. (2006). Uncertain Shield: The U. S. Intelligence System in the Throes of Reform. Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc. Sands, A. (2005). Integrating Open Sources into Transnational Threat Assessments. In J. E. Sims & B. Gerber (Eds. ). Transforming U. S. Intelligence. Washington, D. C. : Georgetown University Press. Sims, J. & B. Gerber. (2005). Transforming U. S. Intelligence. Washington, D. C. : Georgetown University Press. The 9/11 Commission Report. Retrieved 08 February 2008 from http://www. 911commission. gov/report/911Report. pdf. Turner, M. (2005). Why Secret Intelligence Fails. Dulles, Virginia: Potomac Books, Inc. U. S. Department of Homeland Security. (2005). Intelligence and Information Sharing Initiative: Homeland Security Intelligence & Information Fusion. Retrieved 07 February 2008 from http://www. dhs. gov/xlibrary/assets/HSAC_HSIntelInfoFusion_Apr05. pdf . Warner, M. & J. K. McDonald. (2005). US Intelligence Community Reform Studies Since 1947. Washington, D. C. : Center for the Study of Intelligence. Zegart, A. (2007). Spying Blind: The CIA, the FBI, and the Origins of 9/11. New Jersey: Princeton University Press.

Exams Should Be Abolished Essay

Exams – a word that many students dread to hear, a word that many students fear of, a word that seems to have the magical power to transform a happy and cheerful person into a frustrated and nervous wreck. What are exams and should they been done away with entirely? Exams are longer and more comprehensive versions of tests held every term. Initially created to monitor and check how a student was performing academically, they now have so much more pressure on them that students are burning the midnight oil to study for an exam. This results in some students becoming ill due to stress and lack of sleep. They have become more and more stressful and, even worse, a constriction to the ideal of learning. It is a well known fact that when it comes to exams, students compete, not only with themselves, but with other students. They no longer want to see an increase in their knowledge, but want to beat other people to the top of the class. Even parents take exams as a race to see whose children are more intelligent. Read more: If There Were No Exams Students shouldn’t be judged on their performance on one day when they might be ill. The exams might not be completely representative of the student’s skills as everyone can have a bad day. They are a poor method of assessment as they don’t reflect the use of knowledge in a practical environment. They don’t reflect how well you’ll be able to use your knowledge in real world occupations. Many successful individuals are bad at exams but can perform well under other methods of assessment such as essays and oral presentations which still prepare students in coping with pressure. Some people would argue that exams are not a fair assessment of intelligence and aren’t favourable to those with poor memory skills, those who suffer under pressure, and those who get so nervous in such situations that they shut down in exams. It’s  very easy to know content but to completely fail an exam because you are nervous. They aren’t an accurate representation of a student’s knowledge as some people are just better at taking exams than others. If you happen to mess up in your exams due to stress or panic then your goals can disintegrate leaving you unable to reach your full potential and having to settle for second best.

Leader’s Ability Essay

The level of difficulty a new leader will experience throughout the progression of business growth will depend on the leader’s ability. Any person can become a successful leader either through luck or through hard work. Luck may come in the form of inheritance or support from a family member or a close contact. Ability will be earned through hard work and dedication, which will reward the leader with knowledge and respect. To compare the two, luck may be a quicker way to success, however, ability through hard work and dedication will surely build a stronger foundation for ability to maintain the earned power; thus, allowing the leader to have a firmer grip on his position and enable him to keep his power for longer. The leaders employees having seen him progress through different stages, growing and working towards his goal of obtaining power will have respect for him, because the average employee can relate to him having seen the leader do the employees work in the past. Chapter 6 elaborates on a theme of personal ability. â€Å"Virtà ¹Ã¢â‚¬  is the Italian word Machiavelli uses to describe a successful leader, the meaning of which does not have an English equivalent; however, comes closer in meaning to the Latin word virtus,†virility† in English. Although the exact meaning of â€Å"virtu† has not been specified, it is understood to describe ability, skill, energy, forcefulness, strength, ingenuity, courage, or determination. Virtà ¹ is the quality which defines a successful leader, and is the quality one must possess in order to succeed in the world of business. Having to evaluate any successful leader of the current times, each one of them possesses this quality, taking for example Donald Trump whom inherited his fortune, or Warren Buffett whom grew his account from nothing to billions of dollars. Also, it is stated in this chapter that virtà ¹ without opportunity is wasted, and opportunity without virtà ¹ is wasted as well. This suggests that having all the qualities of a successful leader will not guarantee that one will become as such without being given the opportunity. Alike with being given numerous opportunities, one will not succeed without having the qualities, or at least having the potential of the qualities required to become a successful leader. All the opportunities without the ability to take advantage of them will be wasted. Business Relevance The following are two examples of acquiring power; one is through inheritance, the other through hard work and dedication. Trump was born in New York City in 1946, the son of real estate tycoon Fred Trump. Fred Trump’s business success not only provided Donald Trump with a posh youth of private schools and economic security but eventually blessed him with an inheritance worth an estimated $40 million to $200 million. Donald Trump then went in his father’s footsteps to become the next real estate tycoon before continuing on elsewhere in his career. This is a classic example of inheriting a parent’s fortune and using it to obtain power through taking advantage of opportunities made available to Trump through his father’s success in real estate. Born in Omaha in 1930, Buffett worked at a grocery store run by one of his relatives for a good period of time. He even sold assorted products as a door to door salesman. He used some of the money that he earned to fu nd a bank account. He also used some of his money to buy different items that he could invest in with the intention of earning money. It is estimated that he had earned about five thousand dollars from his work when he graduated from high school. Later, Buffett created Buffett Associates, Ltd. in 1956. He was able to get a few partnerships with some businesses during this time and eventually got to where he had nearly $300,000 in capital around the end of that year. The partnership of Buffett Associates, Ltd. helped make Buffett a millionaire in 1962. Nearly a million dollars of the $7 million that the partnership had came out of his money. This example explains Buffett’s success through hard work and dedication. Buffett grew his account from zero to millions over the period of thirty years. He did not inherit a fortune, therefore he had to work from the bottom up. People around the world respect him and seek his expertise on becoming successful. Regular folk can relate to him because they know he used to be one of them, he too used to no money, and a great amount of determination to become successful. Right or Wrong Machiavelli explains that the level of difficulty a new leader will experience throughout the progression of business growth will depend on the leader’s ability. This is true for both Donald Trump and Warren Buffett because they both became successful leaders through luck and through hard work respectively. For Donald Trump, success came in the form of inheritance from his father, which was a quick way to gain knowledge and power. However, there are a lot of people who view Trump as an amoral capitalist. This supports Machiavelli’s theory of quick success and how it brings about disrespect. Donald Trump’s case however is not supported by Machiavelli’s theory of short lasting power. The reason for this is that the theory cannot be always accurate, there are exceptions. Also, at this time and age, having the knowledge and the funds to gain power, will give one the ability to keep their power. For Warren Buffett, his ability was earned through hard work and dedication, which rewarded him with respect. Buffett’s dedication to succeed surely built a stronger foundation for ability to maintain the earned power. This has turned Warren Buffet into an investment guru whom people all around the world look up to and respect. His investment strategies are highly successful and are adopted by investors everywhere. Warren’s power came from working from the bottom up and demonstrates a well-built foundation for acquirement and maintenance of power and success. This supports Machiavelli’s theory of long earned and long lasting power directly. In conclusion, Machiavelli was right; however, his theory does not apply to every single case and thus, is not a completely reliable way to evaluate or forecast one’s position in an industry or the potential of gaining power and becoming successful.

India and Pakistan: Most Different Systems

It is a cardinal truth that one of the most important factors in the political environment of the Asiatic region is the relationship between India and Pakistan. The system analysis with regard to India and Pakistan is a most interesting affair for an obvious reason. It shows how a people who had lived together for centuries can drift apart on communal question. Not only that, it also shows that due to differences in political culture the two states have, in spite of an equal start, chosen two divergent ways. As such, their fundamental differences have become clearly visible and practically speaking, it is very difficult, if not impossible to bridge the gulf. Particularly, their conflict has, in the meanwhile, turned this Asiatic region into a storm centre which may at any time trigger off a nuclear holocaust. Above all, this political tension has merged with global politics and, hence, the problem has become more acute. Before August 15, 1947, India was a unified state. The two dominions – India and Pakistan – came into being as separate states on that very day as a result of communal frenzy and blood-strained riots. It is a significant fact that the British rule was introduced in India by overthrowing the Muslim rulers and, hence, the Muslim community had a bitter hatred of the British. This hatred soon turned into an enmity with the western culture as well as their science and literature. But the Hindus accepted English and, thus, soon they were acquainted with the western culture and their thoughts – specially the concepts of liberty. As such, political consciousness grew up rapidly and in 1885, the Congress came into being as a national organization for political agitation. Though it was a secular entity and many Muslims joined it with a genuine eagerness, some Muslim leaders dubbed it as a Hindu organization and Sayid Ahmed, in particular, taught the Muslims that their interests were different and even at cross purposes. Thus, a counter movement came to the fore, swearing loyalty to the British. â€Å"The British also pulled strings behind the scene† (De, 103). In this way, the British authorities pursued the ‘Divide and Rule’ policy for its own interests and, thus, the gulf began to enlarge. With the British encouragement, the Muslim League was formed in 1906 for acting as a counterpoise for the Congress. Lord Dufferin, the Viceroy, once observed that ‘fifty millions of men were themselves a nation and a very powerful nation’. Similarly, Lord Salisbury, the Secretary of state for India announced that ‘it would be impossible for England to hand over the Indian Muslims to the tender mercies of hostile majority’. The British government was, thus, sowing the seeds of Pakistan more than half a century before it was actually born (Chopra, 16). But the elections of 1937 under the government of India Act hastened the crisis. While the Congress captured power in eight provinces, the league was totally disillusioned. The poor election results convinced Jinnah, the League-leader, that the only way to counteract the Congress was to inflame communal feelings among the Muslims (Sen, 263). Soon, in 1940, the League passed the Pakistan resolution for a separate state (Moon, 41). The rift soon reached the boiling point. The differences bitterly came up during the Cripps Mission and Cabinet Mission. Jinnah called for the ‘Direct Action Day’ on 16th August 1946 which resulted in a terrible blood bath. Soon an interim cabinet was formed – but it was torpedoed by the League Ministers (Bose, 135). It was, thus, realized that the two communities would not be able to live together – on August 15, 1947, two Dominions came up after a partition. Basic Differences Though both India and Pakistan had an equal start, the differences have become discernible which are discussed hereunder as follows: Political: Constitutional India has adopted a democratic system in which the actual power resides on the people. The central and provincial cabinets are, under Art 75 (2) and   Art 164 (1), responsible to the Lok Sabha and local Assembly respectively, which are composed by popular election. Moreover, Art 326 has granted the right to vote to each person irrespective of class, creed, religion etc. after reaching the age of 18. Thus, this is a dynamic representative democracy (Basu, 23). However, soon after the birth of Pakistan, it came under military dictatorship. Though on occasions, civil governments came to power, it is primarily a military system virtually from 1969 (Agarwal, 422). Foreign Policy: India has adopted the principal of non-alignment in its foreign policy when in the post war period most of the states joined either of the two power blocs, India, along with a few other nations, adopted the policy of equidistance from them. It means the independence of action. India’s foreign policy does not allow herself to follow a previously defined path. This independence of action enables India to judge each issue in its own merits and without any prejudice (Keswani, 512). But, in order to enlist American support on the Kashmir issue, Pakistan, soon after its birth, joined the American bloc. Pakistan sought artificial strength by her alliance with America and through SEATO and the Baghdad pact (Khanna, 78). But, curiously, after the Sino-Indian war of 1962 (when America came forward with its men, machines and money to save India from a probable Chinese destruction), Pakistan entered into a friendly treaty with China, a stalwart of communist camp. It means, unmistakably, that Pakistan has no consistency in its foreign policy. Most surprisingly, while Pakistan resorted to a friendly relation with America, it is also maintaining (at least reportedly) a positive relation with the Middle Eastern states – some of whom are even arch rivals of the United Sates. Its main consideration is enmity with India. Party System India had, initially, a ‘one party dominant system’ (Morris-Jones, 215). However, with its gradual eclipse, coalition politics has spread over the country. It obviously implies some alliances and compromises among the leaders of various parties for directing the political affairs. But, Pakistan is dominated not by the political leaders, but by the military Generals. One General has captured power by removing another through military coup. Thus, politics has been dominated there by militarism and an understanding between the Government and the Opposition has been a rare affair. Religious India has accepted the principle of secularism which implies governmental impartiality in religious affairs. Its Preamble has granted ‘liberty of thoughts, expressions, faith, beliefs and worship’. Moreover, Articles 25, 26, 27 and 28 have been the sheet anchor secularism (Johari, 394). Above all, by the 42nd amendment of 1976, it has inserted the term ‘Secular’ in the Preamble. Thus, religious tolerance is the basic feature of the Indian system. But, Pakistan is an Islamic country which has accepted Islam as the state religion. However, on the morning of July 13, 1947, Jinnah declared Minorities, to whichever community they may belong, will be safeguarded. Their religion, or faith or belief will be protected in every way possible. Their life and property will be secure. There will be no interference of any kind with their freedom of worship. They will have their protection with regard to their religion, their faith, their life, their property, and their culture. They will be, in all respects, citizens of Pakistan without any distinction of caste or color, religion or creed. (qtd. in Kauba 89) However, being a typical Islamic state, Pakistan accepted Islam as the state-religion and, in most cases, knows no tolerance of other faiths. The laws are based on ‘Sheriyat’ which is claimed to be derived from the sacred Quran. In such states, ‘Ulemas’ and ‘Imams’ guide the social and religious life and a sharp discrimination exists between the Muslims and the other subjects living within the state. People belonging to other creeds such as the Christians, the Buddhists, and the Hindus etc. are looked down upon and seldom treated with dignity and honor. The public sectors hardly tolerate any of these creeds at higher designation in the organizational hierarchy. Moreover, the educational syllabus is over burdened with religious lessons instead of practical industrial requirements. Economic Economic systems of the two countries are quite different. India adopted a unique blend of the ideals of socialistic and capitalistic economies. Since the early 1950s it has been proceeding towards economies of development through Five Year Plans (Bhattacharya, 1). It is thus a planned economy with big private sectors. Since its globalization and liberalization policies of 1992, giant multinationals throughout the world has shown serious interest on the Indian market. Resultantly, India has emerged as the fastest growing and the fourth largest economy of the world (Paul, 215). However, Pakistan has adopted purely a capitalistic economy where planning has no place at all. Due to its religious intolerance, political disorders, and dictatorial environment the foreign companies are often too much hesitant to invest in that market. Natural Resources India is much richer in natural resources. It has a vast territory where different types of agricultural crops are produced and mineral resources are harvested. In comparison, Pakistan is surly poor. Rice and wheat are the main crops. It has some mineral wealth, textiles, jute and tea – (Clement, 64). Some Problems Problems Both India and Pakistan are disturbed by some acute problem. After the gradual erosion of the Congress, a multi – party chaos has gripped India and it has evoked political atmosphere. There are nearly 350 political parties and most of them are leased upon narrow opportunism. Naturally, the task of nation-building has been cast down by such trifling conflicts. Economically also, India is facing a crisis. In spite of planned endeavor for five decades, a gross disparity of income and wealth has been. Communalism is also a formidable problem. Hindu-Muslim conflict has become a common affair and there may be riots just for anything or nothing (Das, 400) In foreign affairs too, some problems seem to be insoluble. With America and China, two super-powers, its relationship is less than normal. Pakistan, its neighbor, is the worst enemy and, Bangladesh, for which it fought in 1971, has drifted far away. Pakistan is, similarly, disturbed with some crucial problems. The conflict between the Siyas and Sunnis often result in severe blow-birth. Moreover, some political parties often agitate against the autocratic Government and it ultimately results in awful bloodshed. But, above all, while there is a large-scale poverty, a considerable part of the national income is to be diverted to the war-preparation. In fact, the Government has to encourage a frenzied bellicosity in its relations with India in order to mobilize public support. In 1949, Pakistan was pushed back in Kashmir and in 1951, 1965 and 1971 it suffered a terrible defeat by India. So the Pak-rulers have been forced to adopt a war-economy, though the national poverty badly needs a peace-time growth-program. Nuclear Preparation   It is interesting to note that fear of war has compelled both India and Pakistan to enter into a race of armament. Thus, through a prolonged endeavor both of them have now become atomic power. But, it is well known that fear of war increases armament and increase of armament increases the fear of war. In this way, their rivalry has ushered in an era of permanent panic. If a war actually breaks out, it would be profitable to none, because the nuclear bombardment would surely bring about a total catastrophe for not only the belligerents but also for the entire region. For this reason, some sort of understanding is urgently necessary. Of course, Kashmir is the bone of contention between them and none is prepared to give up its claim over this strategic spot. But, unless some compromise is reached, the conflict of Kashmir might one day, obliterate the both of them from the global map. Conclusion But, by any means, they must find out a way towards the lasting peace. It is interesting to note that though Germany was divided into two parts after the Second World War. However, they have, after five decades, merged together. In this sense, India and Pakistan cannot, perhaps in the near future, mingle together in this way. But, for realistic reasons, they must come nearer and build up a workable relationship. Of course, Kashmir has stood up as the stumbling obstacle. But mutual war and conflicts can never bring about a peaceful solution. Only an understanding on the basis of ‘give and take’ policy can solve the problem which has thrice dragged them into armed conflict. Particularly, Pakistan must remember that it has no legal claim over Kashmir. Before the partition of undivided India, the Instrument of Accession offered the Princely states the right to join either of the two Dominions. The king of Kashmir (Hari Sing) duly signed a treaty with India for joining it. (Mahajan, 343). The portion of Kashmir (Pak occupied Kashmir) which is now under Pakistan’s control, was captured only by illegal infiltration by several terrorist groups. Hence, it is beyond any iota of doubt that history can go a long way in setting the problem to the right perspective. Works Cited Agarwal, R.G. Political Theory, Chandra Books, Allahabad, 1996, 422 Basu, D.D. Introduction to the Constitution of India, Prentice Hall, 1978, 23 Bhattacharya, D.C. India’s Five Year Plans, Joy Library, Calcutta, 1996, 1 Bose, N.S. Indian National Movement, Pharma K.L.M. Pvt. Ltd, 1974, 135 Chauba, K.L. India and Pakistan, Raj Kamal Publications, New Delhi, 1948, 49 Chopra, P.N. India’s Struggle for Freedom, Publications Division, 1984, 16 Das, H.H. India: Democratic Government and Politics, Himalaya Publications, New Delhi, 1991, 400 De, B. Freedom Struggle, Publications Division, New Delhi, 1992, 103 Johari, J.C. Indian Government and Politics, Vishal Publishing House, New Delhi, 394 Kauba, K.L. Inside Pakistan, Raj Kamal Publications, New Delhi, 1948, 89 Keswani, K.B. International Relations, Himalaya Publishing, Mumbai, 1996, 512 Khanna, V.H. Foreign policy of India, Vikas Publishing, Chennai, 1997, 78 Mahajan, V.D. The Constitution of India, Modern Books, New Delhi, 1979, 343 Moon, P. Divide and Quit, Modern Books, Mumbai, 41 Morris-Jones, W.H. Government and Politics of India, B.I. Publications, New Delhi, 1979, 215 Sen, S.N. History of Freedom Movement in India, New Age Publications, 1978, 263

Proposal Technique for Creating Behavior Change Essay

Proposal Technique for Creating Behavior Change - Essay Example They may succumb easily to repeated traumatic events that may be related to other experiences of interpersonal violence, including child abuse. The individual has feelings of intense fear and low self esteem. Prey to incidents of disrespect and more victimization, our client no longer expresses assertiveness. She is easily agreeable and prey to incidents of disrespect and more victimization. It is suggested that she undergo sessions cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) in order to recognize and identify the thought patterns that she has which lead to distorted feelings about herself. The therapist will use CBT in a way such that the young lady will be able to accept and internalize a positive mirror of herself, first initiated by the therapist, so that she may constructive a credible and non-destructive self image. Discussion Cognitive Behavior Therapy Cognitive Behavior Therapy was developed by psychiatrist Aaron Beck during the 1960s and 1970s. CBT recognizes core beliefs which individ uals have built and internalized over their lifetime. They are called schemas and they give rise to intermediate beliefs of rules, attitudes, and assumptions. These collections of schemas produce instant automatic thoughts that, not based on reasoning or deliberation, are immediately evaluated and accepted as true. If the schema have been developed on irrational or dysfunctional beliefs, the individual will produce irrational behavior from stimuli that could often lead to depression, anxiety, or anger. The task of the CBT therapist is to interact with the patient in a systematic way so that the patient gains confident to begin to correct irrational thought patterns. CBT is goal directed and problem solving focused. The typical regimen may involve 14 sessions, two a week that gradually disperse to a one weekly and then biweekly delivery, all over a two to three month period. There are booster sessions which can occur quarterly and some dysfunctions, more rigid, may require longer per iods. The CBT therapist interacts with the patient to initially identify automatic thoughts in the first sessions and gradually advances to evaluation of intermediate and core beliefs. Techniques include Socratic questioning, guided discovery, positive mirroring, behavior therapy and gestalt therapy. Homework assignments are made, the patient, if capable, writes out many responses. With collaboration and active participation between the therapist and the patient, sessions are structured and outlined as parts dealing with previous review, agenda (in case of new considerations), review of homework, new homework, and feedback. The patient is taught to learn to focus and identify dysfunctional thinking, to evaluate thinking validity and to set a plan of action. The patient learns to understand how thinking is organized and how thoughts influence emotions. By doing homework and practicing session techniques, the therapist’s goal is to help the patient toward self application and t he practice and use of constructive techniques. Cognitive Trauma Therapy Kubany et al have developed a version of CBT as Cognitive Trauma Therapy for battered women (CTT-BW) who face incidents of posttraumatic stress disorder (2009). They have highlighted CBT techniques of stress management, relaxation training, and exposure homework dealing with trauma responses. Guilt was identified as a major treatment target with a focus on creating

No Child Left Behind Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

No Child Left Behind - Essay Example According to the research findings Wang and Fahey do not propose any particular questions but write that their research project had to examine the â€Å"growth patterns of parent volunteerism by national region, metropolitan status, gender, ethnicity, and immigrant status†. Later in their article, Wang and Fahey specify that their main hypothesis is that parents living in regions with strong civic traditions are more likely to volunteer than those living in large metropolitan areas. Wang and Fahey hypothesized that, in metropolitan communities, the lack of the sense of closeness failed to encourage parents to participate in their children’s learning, whereas parents in nonmetropolitan communities would be guided by the sense of cohesion and display stronger intentions to participate. There is no explicit conceptual framework for parental volunteerism and its implications for education. However, Wang and Fahey build on previous studies and use the results of their litera ture review to create a complex conceptual image of parental volunteerism and the factors affecting it. As such, Wang and Fahey link the concept of parental volunteerism to region and metropolitan status, gender, ethnicity, and immigrant status. Since parental volunteerism is not a theoretical but practical construct, no connections between the authors’ empirical observations and real-world settings have been provided. The analysis of previous findings makes it easier for the reader to develop theoretical-empirical links based on the study results. That Wang and Fahey (2010) provide a detailed discussion of the dependent and independent variables is one of the strongest sides of their research. In this study, the dependent variable was Volunteer, whereas independent variables included the time trend (Year 2002, Year 2004, and Year 2006), the regional status trend, gender, race/ethnicity and citizenship (Wang & Fahey, 2010). The notion of trends is extremely vague, and it is r ather difficult for the reader to develop and understand strong connections between the dependent and independent variables. Unfortunately, the researchers do not explain the meaning of these dependent variables, nor do they provide any detailed explanation of the components that make up these trends. Consequentially, tracing the process and progress of the statistical analysis is rather problematic, although the research design and procedure fit in the purpose and conditions of the discussed study. Wang and Fahey (2010) used the benefits of cross-sectional study design and relied on quantitative methods of data analysis. Statistical analyses were performed with the help of SAS 9.2. The benefits of statistical analyses cannot be overstated, as they ensure greater precision and accuracy of study results. The choice of logistic regressions was justified by the need to find and explain correlations among independent and dependent variables. In this sense, the statistical procedure is c onsistent with the goal and expected outcomes of the discussed research. Nevertheless, the choice of statistical methods raises the question of the applicability and practicality of the study findings and their implications for understanding the major education processes under the influence of NCLB. Wang and Fahey (2010) claim, that they collected their data from the Current