Why Levitt’s Analysis is Awry Essay Example

Why Levitt’s Analysis is Awry Essay In chapter 3 of Freakonomics by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner, Levitt demonstrates how false predictions are often led by conventional wisdom and why drug dealers still live with their moms. I agree with the author that conventional wisdom is often wrong or plainly insufficient to answer many important questions.   Crime did not keep on soaring in the 1990s, money alone does not help politicians win elections, and drinking eight glasses of water a day has never actually been shown to do a thing for one’s health.   Conventional wisdom is often shoddily formed and devilishly difficult to see through as it is associated closely with confusion of association and causation and also fallacy of composition.   While it is true that a healthy person may drink eight glasses of water each day, it does not necessarily mean that drinking eight glasses of water a day is good for one’s health.   Association and causation are entirely different.   Just like smoking cigarettes does not necessarily cause cancer – simply because two events are associated (in time, for example), it does not necessarily follow that one is the cause and the other is the effect.à ‚   People often confuse association and causation become it is convenient to assume that the apparent, easy answers are the correct ones.   The erroneous view that what is good or true for the individual is necessarily good or true for the group is another example of conventional wisdom that cannot be explained by reality in all its manifestations.   All the same, it is very convenient for people to just accept conventional wisdom, especially while the media and advertisement are also enforcing it.   This is one of the reasons why most people in the world do not turn into scientists. We will write a custom essay sample on Why Levitt’s Analysis is Awry specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Why Levitt’s Analysis is Awry specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Why Levitt’s Analysis is Awry specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Indeed, it is possible to analyze the truth or untruth of conventional wisdom by asking the right questions.   There even exists a basic procedure that is used in many scientific works to avoid conventional wisdom in building and testing theories.   The procedure follows a set of guidelines.   First, the researcher decides what it is that he or she wants to explain or predict.   Second, the researcher identifies the variables that he or she believes are important to what he or she would like to explain or predict.   Third, the assumptions of the theory must be stated.   Fourth, the hypothesis must be stated.   Fifth, the theory must be tested by comparing its predictions against real-world events.   Sixth, it is recognized that if the evidence supports the theory, no further action is necessary, although it is a good idea to continue to examine the theory closely.   Seventh, if the evidence rejects the theory, the researcher must either formulate a new theory or ame nd the old theory in terms of its variables, assumptions, and hypothesis.   As an example, a researcher may have predicted that the housing market would experience a boom in the coming years.   If this does not happen, he or she is required to change the old theory or create a new one altogether.   But it if happens, the researcher would be required to continue monitoring the conditions of the market to actually prove his or her hypothesis.   The fact that the housing market actually experiences a boom does not necessarily imply that the boom will create economic growth or not turn into a slump soon enough, thereby invalidating all growth processes expected for the boom period, and which had supported the boom theory of the researcher. Bearing in mind the various stages of scientific analysis, I disagree that the drug dealers still live with their moms – as Levitt proves in chapter 3 – because they have incentives other than making profits that compel them to work at lower than the minimum wage for such a high risk job.   I believe that the main motivation for countless people who are willing to do such risky jobs is high profits for sure.   Considering the costs and benefits, as Levitt demonstrated in chapter 3; the marginal benefits for the foot soldiers to sell drugs are much smaller than the marginal costs, if indeed the income of drug dealers is very low while drug dealing is a very high risk job.   There seems to be no incentive for the foot soldiers to perform a high risk job for low incomes.   Only those who are drug addicts already may accept the job because of their poor mental condition as well as the fact that they need the drugs to keeping entering their bodily systems.   Moreov er, the marginal costs continue to increase as the longer they sell drugs on the street the more chances there are for them to get caught or shot.   Marginal benefits, on the other hand, continue to decrease.   Seeing that the marginal benefits will never equal the marginal costs, there is definitely no efficiency in drug dealing.   If Levitt is correct to state that the drug dealers are working at lower than minimum wage, then no one would want to sell drugs as human beings are rational but selfish, and risk- and effort- averse. It is important to consider the four meaningful factors that determine a wage – which Levitt uses to explain why the typical prostitute earns more than the typical architect.   The factors help explain why the typical drug dealer actually earns a high wage.   Just as little girls do not typically grow up dreaming of becoming prostitutes, individuals cannot be expected to grow up dreaming of becoming drug dealers and ending up being imprisoned or killed.   The skills of the drug dealers, while not necessarily specialized, are practiced in a very specialized context.   The job is unpleasant because of the high chances faced by the drug dealers of being imprisoned and getting killed.   Yet, the demand for service that the job fulfills is extremely large.   The office of national drug control policy has estimated that Americans spent $140 billion on illegal drugs in 1990 and about 1 in 15 Americans aged 12 and over currently uses drugs.   The estimates for worldwide drug use may also be considered to get a clearer picture of the demand situation for drugs.   After all, drug supply around the world is part of a global business with innumerable links. The incentives for the street drug dealers that Levitt demonstrated in chapter 3 do not apply to the majority of drug dealers in the United States.   The examples of drug dealers that he used are only the poor black people who have grown up in a housing project on Chicago’s south side.   To them the path to a decent legitimate job was practically invisible and crack dealing was a glamour profession.   If the same sampling bias is used on the prostitutes, they would be impossibly earning more than the architect.   Just as the typical prostitute earns more than the typical architect, the typical drug dealer earns more than most people sitting behind office desks.   Many teenage drug dealers have managed to earn well enough to be able to afford private art schools and nice cars.   Furthermore, many of the drug dealers are able to lead lives of luxury.   It is the type of neighborhood that they sell drugs in that makes the biggest difference in their lifestyles.   In other words, it is the business environment and the income of the consumers in their immediate market that actually determines whether drug dealers would live with their moms or in their personal mansions.   After all, the drug dealer who sells drugs to the rock stars and movie stars in Hollywood is not expected to live with his or her mom, while the drug dealer who deals in the tenderloin in San Francisco probably would. Levitt also compared the crack dealing business with the entertainment business in the sense that a lot of people are competing for a very few prizes in these businesses.   Criminals, like everyone else, would like to believe that maybe one day they would become the leaders of the crack cocaine dealing business and afford to lead lives of luxury.   This coincides with my belief that the monetary factor is what actually drives the drug dealers.   Levitt explained that crack dealing is similar to the glamour professions, whether they concern the movies or sports, although there is a different dynamic at play.   Swarms of bright young people throw themselves at grunt jobs that pay poorly and demand unstinting devotion as they all have to play the same game viewed as a tournament.   In the entertainment industry, like all other highly competitive industries, the workers at the bottom are poorly paid.   At the same time, however, people are usually willing to work long and har d so that they can move up and eventually get paid more.   The high-school quarterback, infamous actors and actresses, as well as musicians and designers may earn lower than the minimum wage before hitting big.   Thus, before the drug dealer or the entertainer is made famous, he or she must be poorly paid. Drug dealing is the opposite of many competitive industries in a variety of ways, despite the fact that it shares important business principles with them, e.g. the quest to maximize profits.   There is no dearth of jobs in the drug business, as the demand is extremely huge.   Additionally, there is very high risk attached to the job, while the job itself does not make the drug dealers proud.   Needless to say, people are not expected to be attracted to drug dealing as a job unless they are drug addicts who do not mind the risks.   Hence, it is important to consider the labor supply of the market for drugs.   As the demand is extremely large and inelastic because cocaine and crack are very addictive, the prices of the drugs are higher then the equilibrium price.   Levitt mentioned that cocaine is, indeed, very expensive.   It is but commonsense that the selling of cocaine must yield high profits.   Indeed, this is the very incentive for which the labor supply increases . This is also the strong incentive that causes the drug business to expand.   After all, the drug business is virtually uncontrollable and constantly expanding throughout the world.   Oscar Danilo Blandon helped to establish a link between Colombian cocaine cartels and inner-city crack merchants.   According to his explanation, the supply curve shifted outwards as the price of relevant resources decreased because there was no middle man.   Thus, the invention of crack as the invention of a new technology resulted in increased supply.   The drug dealers around the globe are making bigger profits than the technology experts perhaps.   People continue to be more driven to sell drugs. Drugs dealers do, indeed, make a lot of money. They still live with their moms because the nature of this business involves high risks.   Thus, it is very unstable.   Because of the high chances of getting caught or shot for drug dealing, many dealers quit before they have made enough money to support themselves for the rest of their lives.   Even so, there are drug dealers in America who make a huge amount of money selling to the rich and famous.   Indeed, the income of a drug dealer is dependent on the socioeconomic status of his or her customers.   The business is unregulated in most parts of the world, so therefore its prices are unregulated.   Moreover, the expanding drug business around the world proves that drug dealing must be highly profitable for numberless people.   The drug business must also have its role to play in global economic growth.   If it is underground, it does not necessarily mean that the business does not help the economy grow.   Thus, conv entional wisdom must always be questioned for the researchers to find the best possible answers to our burning questions.   Settling for less, that is, inappropriate albeit simplistic answers, is not sufficient for the level of intelligence that is conducive to high economic growth.

Mercury Essays - Chemistry, Matter, Mercury Compounds, Mercury

Mercury Essays - Chemistry, Matter, Mercury Compounds, Mercury Mercury Mercurys symbol is Hg, its atomic number is 80, its atomic mass is 200.59, its in group 12 and in period 6, and it also has two valence electrons. Its standard state is liquid at 298K and it is the heaviest known elemental liquid. It has a silvery white color. It is named after the planet Mercury the origin of the symbol Hg is the Latin word hydrargyrum meaning liquid silver. Mercury was known to ancient Chinese and Hindus before 2000 B.C. and was found in tubes in Egyptian tombs dated from 1500 B.C. Mercury is the only metal liquid at ordinary temperatures. Mercury is sometimes called quicksilver. It sometimes occurs free in nature and is found mainly in cinnabar ore, which is HgS. Cinnabar ore is found in Spain and Italy. Mercury is a heavy, silvery-white metal, which forms alloys easily with many metals like gold, silver, and tin. These alloys are called amalgams. Its way of amalgamating with gold is made use of the recovery of gold from its ores. Mercury is a bad conductor of heat and an okay conductor of electricity. The most important salts are mercuric chloride HgC12 that is a corrosive and violent poison. Mercurous chloride Hg2Cl2, which used to be used in medicine. Mercury fulminate Hg(ONC)2 used as a detonator in explosives and mercuric sulfide HgS used as a high-grade paint pigment. Organic mercury compounds are important and dangerous. Methyl mercury is a lethal pollutant found in rivers and lakes. Mercury is a virulent poison and is readily absorbed through the respiratory tract, the gastrointestinal tract, or through unbroken skin. It acts as a cumulative poison since there are few pathways available to the body for its excretion. Since mercury is a very readily vaporizable element at a relatively low temperature, dangerous levels are readily attained in air. Air saturated with mercury vapor at 20C contains a concentration that exceeds the toxic limit many times. The danger increases at higher temperatures. It is therefore important that mercury be handled with care. Containers of mercury should be securely covered and spillage should be avoided. Mercury should only be handled under a well-ventilated area. Mercury is well known because of its use in many thermometers. It was common to demonstrate the formation of mercury in the laboratory by heating mercury s ulfide. This method forms the basis of commercial extraction to get mercury. The prepared cinnabar ore is heated in a current of air and the mercury vapor condensed. Bibliography 1. Mercury (element), Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia 2000 http://encarta.msn.com 1997-2000 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. 2. Bentor, Yinon. Chemical Element.com - Mercury. Dec. 6, 2000 . 3. Encyclopedia Britanica-Mercury Liquid Metal Volume M-R. Pages 253-260.

cannabis and psychosis

cannabis and psychosis The association between substance misuse (cannabis however they impose a considerable personal and public health burden (Degenhardt Regier et al. 1990). This Comorbidity as a result largely enhances cost associated with treatment, predominantly in relation to hospital and other institutional services. The majority of the evidence regarding prevalence of substance use and mental illness comes from the United States, though European standpoint on prevalence is rapidly rising. One of the first and most famous US study is The Epidemiological Catchment Area study conducted by Regier et al. 1990 across 5 US sites, which involved over 20.000 participants. This study tried to measure how common dual diagnosis was and stated that 47% of the participants they surveyed with schizophrenia or schizophreniform disorder also met the criteria for substance use disorder/dependence at some point in their life. Furthermore, the likelihood of having substance use disorder amongst patients with psycho tic illness was notably higher compared to those in the general population without a psychotic illness (Kessler et al. 1994; Regier et al. 1990). In sharp contrast, studies that have been conducted in the UK have reported more moderate rates of substance misuse amongst those with psychotic disorders. For instance, Cantwell in 2003 undertook a study with 316 patients with schizophrenia and only 7% had stated that they had a problem with substance misuse in the previous year, and 21% had reported problematic use some time before that (Cantwell, 2003). Similarly, Wright and Colleagues identified patients with psychotic illnesses who had been in contact with services in the London Borough of Croydon and reported that prevalence rates of dual diagnosis were 33% for the use of any substance and lifetime history of any illicit drug use was 35% of the sample (Wright et al. 2000). Cannabis is the most frequently used substance in patients with psychotic disorder (Van Mastrigt et al. 2004; Ba rnett et al. 2007) and the literature indicates fairly consistently the association between regular uses of cannabis and developing first-onset psychosis[1] (Grech et al. 2005). However, the causes for the links are still hotly debated. Nevertheless, cannabis has damaging effects on the course of the illness on top of being an economic burden on health services (Atakan, 2009). More specifically, estimates of frequency of cannabis abuse amongst patients with first-episode psychosis is said to range from 20% to 70% (Miles et al. 2003; Isaac et al. 2005). A systematic review of 53 treatment samples and 5 epidemiological studies looking at the prevalence of cannabis use and misuse among those with psychotic illnesses stated lifetime use in 42% and lifetime misuse in 22.5% of the sample while current use was 23% and misuse 11.3% (Green et al. 2005). Furthermore, epidemiological studies also have shown that cannabis is the most frequently abused substance amongst younger people (Van Mastr igt, 2004; Addington Wade et al. 2007) with lower educational background (Mueser et al. 1990) and it is more common in men than in women amongst first-episode psychosis patients (Barnett et al. 2007; Addington Barnes et al. 2006). Inevitably, cannabis abuses among youth experiencing a first-episode psychosis results in negative consequences for prognosis and relapse and therefore complicate treatment and impair recovery (Archie et al. 2009). It is constantly reported in the literature that patients with first-episode psychosis who abuse cannabis had considerably more hospital admissions rates as well as more psychotic symptoms compared to first episode psychosis patients who do not abuse cannabis (Wade et al. 2006; Negrete et al. 1986; Turkington et al. 2009)

Care of the patient having Cytotoxic Chemotherapy (GM50Z8) Essay

Care of the patient having Cytotoxic Chemotherapy (GM50Z8) - Essay Example To think that patients are already in a very critical condition, they still have to deal with problems of comprehension. Many are confused especially on the technicality of their disease or treatment. Not everyone can easily understand a doctor’s intellectual explanation. The emergent proliferation of Patient Information Leaflets (PILs) has become an immediate solution to this problem. Leaflets are free consultation take-outs from a trusted doctor; it is an instant consultation. Whenever you forget some details about a disease or a treatment, you can always refer back to your leaflet. The leaflet must contain answers to most frequently asked questions. It can save time and consultation fees. However, the issue at hand is, are they effective? Do patients/relatives/supporters do actually read them. The challenge is to make them read and understand leaflets. Specifically, the main question of this paper is, is the leaflet on Cytotoxic Chemotherapy a helpful guide and preparation for cancer patients and a good source of information for relatives and supporters of these patients? The following paragraphs will be a critical review of â€Å"A Patient’s Guide to Chemotherapy†. The leaflet is aimed to guide adult cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, their families and supporters as evidently mentioned in the first section of the leaflet. Definitely, they are the target audience of the leaflet and not the patients suffering with any other disease or illness. It would be useless to distribute leaflets to those who will not use them. It is very important that these leaflets must go to the hands of the target audience. Leaflets as mentioned earlier are answers to most frequently asked questions, and the leaflet on chemotherapy should answer a cancer patient’s questions on his or her own chemotherapy treatment. It should clarify any gray areas on the said topic. After reading it, the patient or the patient’s supporter must greatly understand the

Dissertation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Dissertation - Essay Example There are several ways by which such developments are undertaken and one such technique is merger and acquisition. Merger and acquisition is a concept in which two or more companies’ works together in the market. This study seeks to scrutinize the impact of merger and acquisition on a company. The company chosen is PTT Global Chemical Company based on Thailand. The study revealed that the company has been both positively as well as negatively affected by the merger and acquisition activity. However, in order to deal with the negative impacts the study recommended strategies by which the company can overcome the same. Table of Contents Table of Contents 3 Chapter I – INTRODUCTION 6 1.1 Background of the Study 6 1.2 Introduction to Merger and Acquisition 7 1.3 Background of PTT Global Chemical Company 8 1.4 Relevance and Importance of the Study 9 1.5 Aim of the Study 9 1.6 Research Objectives and Research Questions 9 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW 10 2.1 Introduction 10 2.2 Definition of merger and acquisition 10 2.3 Classification of merger & acquisition 12 2.4 Global M&A activity levels and Regional trends 14 2.5 The impact of Economic Climate against M&A activities 15 2.6 Rationale for M&A and motivations 17 2.7 The impact of M&A on companies 18 2.8 Benefits & Drawbacks of M&A 19 2.9 Types of strategies for M&A 22 CHAPTER 3 – RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 23 3.1 Introduction 23 3.2 Research Philosophy 23 3.3 Research Approach 24 3.4 Type of Research 24 3.4.1 Quantitative Research 24 3.4.2 Qualitative Research 25 3.5 Data Collection Method 26 3.5.1 Sampling 27 3.5.2 Data Collection Instruments 27 3.6 Data Analysis 28 3.7 Ethics in Research 28 3.8 Justification 28 CHAPTER 4 – FINDINGS & ANALYSIS 29 4.1 Findings and Analysis of Primary Research 29 4.2 Findings and Analysis of Secondary Research 31 Chapter 5 – Discussion 32 Chapter 6 – Conclusion and Recommendations 33 6.1 Conclusion 33 6.2 Recommendations 34 Reference List 36 Append ix 44 Chapter I – INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background of the Study Once upon a time, the subject of merger and acquisition was especially the area of experts in the industrial origination. However, following the two upheavals, this territory was lost. The first change took place in the form of shift towards diversifying mergers and move away from the traditional combined competing or vertically relating the companies (â€Å"in the United States; less in other industrial countries†). The second change occurred in the form of development of â€Å"event studies† (â€Å"a method of inferring the profitability of mergers ex ante from changes in stock-market values at the time when the transaction is announced†) (Caves, 1987, p.150). Hence, from the above discussion it is evident that the concept of merger and acquisition underwent a drastic shift since these two upheavals took place. Earlier studies have shown that merger and acquisition have been responsible for incr easing the social welfare, augmenting the value of the assets of the firms involved into merger or acquisition (Agrawal, Jaffe and Mandelker, 1992; Augustine, 1995). The notion of merger coincided with history long back during the year 1708 (Caves, 1989; Franks, Harris and Titman, 1991; Franks and Harris, 1989). For example, during this period the East India Company merged with one of its erstwhile competitors for the principal purpose of restoring its monopoly in the Indian trade environment. In the similar way, the year 1784 experienced the two Italian giant banks Monte Pio and Monte dei Paschi united to form

Centuries and Primary Crop Uzbekistan Essay Example for Free

Centuries and Primary Crop Uzbekistan Essay Population:With 26,851,195 (in 2005) people, Uzbekistan has the largest population of the former Soviet republics in Central Asia, and the third-largest population of any former Soviet republic. Population density is 60 people per sq km. The population was 37 per cent urban in 2003 and life expectancy was 61 years for men and 68 years for women. The countrys population growth rate was about 1.7 per cent per year in 2005. Health Problems:In 1999 there were 354 people to each doctor, and in 2005 the infant mortality rate was 71 deaths per 1,000 live births. Expenditure on health in 2002 was 3 per cent of GDP. Economy:The GDP per capita of Uzbekistan is a low $2000 US, with 33% of the population that lives below the poverty line. This even though it exports $5 billion f.o.b. Tertiary, Primary, secondary industries:Agriculture contributed about 35 per cent of GDP and accounts for 34 per cent of total employment. Cotton is the primary crop†¦ Uzbekistan is a leading producer of seed cotton. The republic is also the largest producer of silk and karakul pelts in the former USSR. Other important crops include wheat, rice, barley, and a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. Since most of Uzbekistans agriculture is devoted to cotton-growing, however, the republic has become very dependent on outside sources of food. It must import about two thirds of the grain, one third of the meat, one quarter of the milk, and half of the potatoes consumed in the republic. Legislation was passed in 1992 to permit private enterprise in agriculture and by 1996 more than 90 per cent of state farms had been transferred to the private sector, which accounted for more than 98 per cent of agricultural production in the same year. Civil Unrest:Uzbekistans rate of violent crime, including against foreigners, has increased in recent years. In urban areas, travelers are urged to take the same precautions against crime that they would take in a large American city. In Uzbekistan, many riots arise due to mainly political issues, sometimes causing a massive civil war. One major example of this is the Andijan massacre. When Uzbek Interior Ministry and National Security Service troops fired into a crowd of protesters in Andijan, Uzbekistan on 13 May 2005. Estimates of those killed range from between 187 (the official count of the government) and 5,000 people, with most outside reports estimating several hundred dead. The exact number of victims is still uncertain. The bodies of many of those who died were hidden in mass graves after the massacre. Colonial History:Although Uzbeks have lived in the area of present-day Uzbekistan for centuries, a national Uzbek political entity was formed for the first time in the 1920s. The region of present-day Uzbekistan was the site of the ancient Persian province of Sogdiana and was conquered by the Macedonian leader Alexander the Great in the 4th century BC and by the Arabs in the 8th century AD. It was incorporated in the Mongol empire of Genghis Khan in the 13th century and the Mongol empire of Tamerlane in the 14th century. The Uzbek khanates of Bukhara (also spelled Bukhoro) and Khiva emerged in the 16th century, and the Kokand khanate was formed in the 18th century. Russian control was extended over the region between 1865 and 1873, with Khiva and Bukhara remaining vassal states of Russia. Natural Resources:Uzbekistan is rich in mineral resources that include natural gas, petroleum, coal, gold, silver, uranium, copper, lead, zinc, molybdenum, and tungsten. Irrigation systems fed by the two major river systems sustain agricultural production around the fertile river valleys. Electrical production is principally by thermal plants but there are some hydroelectric sources. Political Stability:Chief of state: President Islom KARIMOV (since 24 March 1990, when he was elected president by the then Supreme Soviet)Head of government: Prime Minister Shavkat MIRZIYAYEV (since 11 December 2003)Cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president with approval of the Supreme AssemblyElections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term. The election results: Islom KARIMOV reelected, % of vote = Islom KARIMOV 91.9%, and Abdulkhafiz JALALOV 4.2%-Last election was last held on the 9th January 2000 (next to be held in 2007). -Prime minister, ministers, and deputy ministers are appointed by the president. Bibliography: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikihttps://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/

Time Management Essay -- essays research papers

TIME MANAGEMENT FOR 110   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   One of the most important self-management skills involves controlling and budgeting your time. Gaining control of your time and your life involves identifying time wasters and determining your peak energy level. Managing time also involves identifying goals, setting priorities, and creating an action plan. Determining what tasks should be done first and overcoming procrastination are major factors in creating success. All these steps and issues involve critical thinking skills. Use critical thinking to answer these questions. You will need to use resource materials such as the Internet and the library to answer some of the questions. Justify and support your answers. Please write in complete sentences unless otherwise instructed. Some of the questions (there are 18) have multiple parts. Be sure to answer all parts. Note: Make sure you have read the online lecture in the course site before attempting this assignment. 1.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  What are the major activities and tasks that take up most of your time? †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Work †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  School 2.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  What activities or things cause you to waste time? †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Television †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Time out for myself †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Online Surfing 3.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  What activities can you eliminate or reduce in order to create more time, especially for online college work? I could reduce or eliminate all together the time I allow myself to watch television, in which I already took the TV out of my room where I do all work and school work. This has reduced the time it takes to complete a task already. 4.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Define Circadian Rhythm. When is your high-energy time? What activities are you completing during this high-energy time? Circadian Rhythm is a metabolic or behavior pattern that repeats in cycles of about every 24 hours. It is a rhythm that spans about a twenty-four-hour day, such as that of the sleep-waking cycle. Circadian rhythms in humans originate from a clock circuit in the hypothalamus that is set by i... ...;  8m Time to spare:  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  52m Day 6: Saturday   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Watch TV.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  5h Online Class.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  8h Study other class.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  2h Misc. (fun)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  4h Go to sleep.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  5h   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Total Hours:  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  24h Total Minutes:  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  0m Time to spare:  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  0m Day 7: Sunday   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Watch TV.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  5h Online Class.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  8h Study other class.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  2h Misc. (fun)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  4h Go to sleep.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  5h   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Total Hours:  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  24h Total Minutes:  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  0m Time to spare:  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  0m Spare Time at the end of the week= 4.3 hours to spare for me

The novel Lord of the Flies

Why is evil attractive? Lord of the Flies by William Golding dramatized the primordial evil that is in man’s subconscious. Although normally,   civilized human beings consider evil undesirable and therefore to be avoided, the fact is, many are drawn into it. Evil holds some kind of a seductive quality that less morally discerning people find hard to resist. Setting evil intentions in context In this novel, Golding gave life to various characters that represent the two basic types of people in this world, the good and the bad. Ralph, Piggy, and Simon were the good ones, while Jack and Roger were the evil ones.   Stranded in a deserted tropical island, Ralph and Piggy wanted to establish rules,   build shelters, secure clean water and food. But the tasks to achieve these were boring and   most of the boys wanted just to play and hunt. Jack who was the leader of the hunting party, would soon emerge as the more attractive and powerful leader. Playing and hunting are not evil   in themselves but in the novel, these were seeds of evil that would soon grow into disturbing magnitude. The boys in Jack’s group enjoyed hunting and killing the animals and eventually became obsessed with hunting and killing Ralph. This paper analyzes how evil holds some kind of attraction and why people are drawn into it. There are at least three hypotheses–   (1) Evil is attractive because it gives a pleasurable experience; (2) Evil is attractive because it satisfies bloodlust, considering the belief that there is a murderous inclination in every man; and (3) Evil is attractive because of the opportunity it provides to play God, to be in control, to be powerful. With Golding’s work as point of reference, this paper illustrates how the conflict between good and evil continues to occur in various ways, in different people.   The film by Adrian Lyne,   Unfaithful that starred Diane Lane and Richard Gere is used here as one example. In this film, all the mentioned premises above were   portrayed. Like the English boys in the novel,   Connie and Edward, the couple in the said film were decent, intelligent, and admirable. However, when thrown in a critical situation that tested their character, the evil in them triumphed over the good.   The basic assumption of course is that man is dual, both good and evil. Always man struggles with this internal conflict. Lust for flesh, blood and power In the novel, â€Å"†¦ Jack found the throat and the hot blood sprouted over his hands. The sow collapsed under them and they were heavy and fulfilled upon her.† (Golding) The imagery evoked by this description is   sexual.   A primordial bloodlust was satisfied. In the film, Unfaithful,   Connie was drawn into an affair with Paul because of the sheer pleasure of the experience, despite the fact that she had a good home and a fulfilling marriage. The film seemed to suggest that her motivation was irrational. She had an affair because a strong wind was blowing. She slipped on the road and cut her knee. The irresistible lover-to-be was passing by and offered help, invited her to his apartment to dressed her wound. Later she called to thank him. He invited her for coffee and she accepted.   From there began a series of trysts. Connie’s hubris ( Greek for sin of pride) was assuming she was in control, that she can have an affair and then forget about it and go on with her life. Unfortunately, she kept coming back to his flat and   began to neglect her duties. When Edward, her husband found out,   he also assumed he was in control and attempted to confront Paul, the lover in a civilized way.   However, when Edward saw their wedding anniversary gift in the lover’s bedroom, he lost control and   bash Paul’s head, thus killing him. Connie and Edward eventually became partners in crime as they worked to dispose Paul’s corpse and lied to the police. Connie chose not to channel her passion into something creative. She yielded to her sexual energy instead.. Her pride and   confidence, her sense of adventure overpowered her. She probably knew what she was doing was wrong but went ahead because she had not been very spiritually discerning lately.   She was young, attractive, comfortable, loved, secure. It never occurred to her to pray to be a faithful wife. She assumed she can get away with infidelity, never thought she was putting   her marriage and loved ones at great risk when she chose to give in to lust for flesh. Edward was good and tried to make things right, perhaps persuade the lover to stop seeing his wife. But in a sudden burst of insane rage triggered by the sight of   their wedding anniversary gift that found its way into Paul’s room,   Edward killed the latter..   Suddenly his lust for blood craved to be satisfied. In the end, both wife and husband wanted to assume ultimate control over the evil they have done. Instead of trying to rectify their sins,   regain their worth as human beings and pay for their crime, Connie and Edward chose instead to cover up their evil deed. They have totally given in to the machination of the devil. Man cannot just kill the beast Man, in his foolish naivete, continue to believe the devil’s lies about happiness,   knowledge, and power. In the song, â€Å"Hotel California† by Eagles, a few lines mentioned â€Å"the beast.† And in the master’s chamber They gathered for the feast But with their steely knives They just can’t kill the beast. Man can not just kill the beast in him, and so he has to be alert and spiritually discerning. The evil in man’s subconscious may surface when he least expect it and cause him   to commit a sin   that would destroy him and those around   him.   Always, the attraction of pleasure, bloodlust, and power will entice mankind to commit evil. The antidote is found in the New Testament,   in the book of Ephesians 6: 10-17, about putting on the   helmet of salvation and   the armor of God, consisting of truth as belt, justice as breastplate,   zeal to propagate peace as footgear, faith as shield,   and the word of God as sword of the spirit. Biblography Eagles. â€Å"Hotel Califoria.†   Wea International. May 2006. Golding, William. Lord of the Flies. 1954. Lyne, Adrian (Director). Unfaithful. Fox 2000 Pictures. 2002 The New American Bible. Thomas Nelson Publishers. 1971.      

Enrollment System Essay

Enrollment is the focus of the Compfuturist that would lessen the institution’s difficulties in their Information System processing, solve data problems and an easier access of the establishment’s information. Every enrollment, 80-100 enrollees come for the dates of admission having a maximum of 30 for each level, in present time classrooms are consist of 15 students. An easier recording of files and a database to save documents will lessen the space being occupied by the records of the students. A faster transaction, easier ways for inputting datum and a convenient ways for saving files are offered for the use of the establishment by the enrolment system. The commonly used advertisements of schools are brochures, leaflets, banners and calling cards; the group also offers a website that will be used to improve its approach to people. The website would be a help for parents about the notice or updates of events and gatherings, it would also be a way to know the history of the institution and the contact details of the establishment. The incomplete requirements are the main problems during the enrollment, one of which is the student information, some of the information needed is not filled up and some are important to the school records. In the Pre-School it is required for them to have the copy of their birth certificate, two (2) copies of a 2Ãâ€"2 photo and an interview with the Pastor or Principal. For the grade-schoolers a photocopy of the birth certificate, the form 138, a certificate of Good Moral Character for transferee and an interview with the Pastor or Principal. Due to the uninformed people about the requirements needed some are not brought and are filed to be uncompleted forms. Each student has a folder that contains his or her information about the birth certificates, previous records from the earlier institution he or she attended, the quality point average for each year and also the permits signed by the parents. Enrollment takes time and effort from the parents, students and also from the teachers; every step of an enrolment, a teacher is assigned to instruct a parent or guardian what to do and where to go next. The slow process of enrolment makes the parents furious and makes the job even harder for the teachers for them to rush, that sometimes some records are not being filed or are not properly assigned. Missing documents are also a cause of problem for the institution, it might be placed to another folder or the parent forgot about it. A school’s updates about events and gatherings are the problems for teachers and parents. Students forget to tell their guardians or forgot to give the letter accustomed by their advisers. The result of the forgotten events cause students not to wear the proper attire, parents does not attend meetings and gatherings, students are thought to be absent for specific happenings and also parents become indignant about the unknown proceedings. Project Framework The Compfuturist Group offers the instituion. a system and a website that would shoulder the difficulties of the institution. The school appoints teachers to handle the student information during the enrollment. Software that is specially made only for Mabalacat Christian Academy and a website that would help the advertisement of the school increase. The system can only be open by an authorized member or the principal of the institution. Passwords and accounts would be made for the privacy policy made by the institution to safeguard each student’s information and background. The Student Information Sheet or Form would consist of the basic details about his or her family, previous schools the child attended, number of siblings, if there were awards he or she got from previous levels, address, contact number of the parent or guardian and more information that are to be filled by the guardian. An option will be given to the parent or guardian if the transaction of payment would be a full payment or a partial payment every quarter and a choice to have it paid through cash or cheque. A database would be given with a maximum capacity of 300 and a number of 50 students per level. A website would be provided for the institution that would only be used for the use of the school’s advertisement, featuring the facilities of the establishment, faculty members, and history of the school and updates of happenings. The page would be the source of parents to be updated to the school’s events; when, where and what to wear. Specific events require students to wear a garment requested by the institution for uniformity. The page can also be a source and guide for parents and guardians to know the details and history about the school. Contact details would be posted and an added detail of the page is that if parents are working abroad they could send the uncompleted requirement to the email of the school with attachment of the requirements. The Facebook page of the institution is also posted to the website and could be directed to the page created by the faculty members of the school. Statement of Objective Website and Enrollment System is a program extended to Mabalacat Christian Academy, a program that would make the transactions of requirements and documents, and also help about the school’s reputation about the improvement of its ways. It could solve the problems of the school since it started; the system only solves the problem of the school paperworks and will lessen the space of the documented files. The System is a program that would make the process of filing student information faster and easier to save for the school. The enrollment system’s purpose is to give a database for the files of students, a maximum of 300 files for the whole institution and an easier way of searching student files. A transaction that would make the access of information system easier for the authorized people, a faster accessibility in information provided and an improved process; the admission and acceptance of enrolees would be faster for the completion of forms would not be difficult for teachers to save and keep. The Website will inform the parents of the situations, cancellation of classes, school events, PTA meeting schedules, examination dates and payment dues. An account will be given to the principal or school head to access the student accounts and website if changes are to be made, the account given to the principal can also be used to check the number of students enrolled and to what level they are assigned to Importance of the Study The Compfuturist created a system only from Pre-School to Elementary levels and for an institution with one section per level, the system subjects only to the enrollment, saving and filing of documents and the postage of contact details of the institution. The use of the program is to lessen the burden of alphabetizing envelopes for each level and student, it also makes the search of a student file faster compared to the manual based of searching through metal drawers. A database that would show and save documents for specific purposes and privacy of files will be kept and safe from others to see. Only the Principal and the appointed faculty or member of the institution could access the information system of the database provided by the system. The institution would benefit from the free system that could be used for years and less updates of program would be given for the system is only for the use of Mabalacat Christian Academy. Parents and students would also benefit from it because information given from the old students will not be inputted again but be moved to the folder that consists of the level he or she is. The editing and adding of details is convenient even to those people who are not good in using computers. Less stressing and easier to use, is the way that the program or system offers to its benefactors. Radio buttons, scroll bars and more features of the program and website would be given to lessen the difficulty that some encounters in web pages and softwares. A free ten (10) months of maintenance is given for the institution and would make things better compared to the existing manual system.

Modern Estates Church, Nobility Peasantry

Modern Estates Church, Nobility Peasantry The three chronological estates (Church, Nobility, Peasantry) can be used analogically in the current western society. This is a critical provision when considered decisively. The first modern estate relevant in this context is the Executive Branch of most governments in the contemporary western society.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Modern Estates: Church, Nobility Peasantry specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In the medieval society (analogically), the church (clergy) was given power to make decisions, give credible directions, and provide viable living wits. As the top (powerful) arm of the society, it manipulated and molded the concerned society to favor its religious, governance, and societal interests. Currently, this is relevant in the executive branch of most governments in the contemporary western society. The current governments dictate how people should live, interact, eat, drive, solve disputes, own prop erties, and relate in the society among other provisions. This is a critical provision in the context of governance as indicated earlier. Executive arm of government has the final say in the contemporary western society. Rules (modern laws) have been set to govern most institutions and other considerable provisions relevant in this context. Considerably, this estate (in the modern setting) would form the governmental entity meant to provide operational directions in the contemporary western society. It is important to understand this provision in various analogical contexts. The description provided indicates how this group (estate) should appear in order to conform to the provisions of the first estate. The second analogical group in the contemporary western society is the legislative arm of government. Currently, the society elects politicians (legislators) and other officials to fight for their demands and enact fair distribution of national resources. This is meant to establish and ratify equity.Advertising Looking for essay on political culture? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Additionally, the legislative branch of government establishes and passes laws that will fight and help in providing the desired equality among citizens in the western community. Similar to the second estate in the medieval society (Nobility), the contemporary western society possesses the legislative arm of government as an equivalent. It is critical to understand this provision as indicated earlier. While considering how this estate would be and describing its appearance, the legislative arm of government possesses (analogically) numerous provisions. Firstly, they possess considerable powers over their respective states and subjects. Concurrently, they should continuously fight for their opinions and propose viable governmental and societal provisions for common citizens. Analogically, this group enjoys special tre atment in the society based on profiles and roles subjected to them. This is evident in the realms of remuneration, security, healthcare, and retirement benefits. The third group (analogical to the ‘Peasantry estate’ in the medieval society) is the working class (individuals who work tirelessly to support the nation). Through its efforts, the working class ensures that the entire society is fed appropriately. They pay taxes to support the first two groups mentioned earlier. Analogically, this group refers to the entire public, which constitutes the fast food workers, office staffs, and other employees in diverse sectors. In the medieval society, the ‘Peasantry’ estate referred to the low class individuals who toiled to support the rest of the society. This provision is relevant in the contemporary western society.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Modern Estates: Church, Nobility Peasantry specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/ page Learn More Nonetheless, it is crucial to understand the entire survival and categorical aspects of the modern world. Precisely, is suggestible that the contemporary western society can be put into three groups namely the executive arm of government, the legislature, and the working class. Analogically, these groups are similar to the mentioned medieval divisions.

Health Education Plan Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Health Education Plan - Assignment Example Particularly, in Los Angeles, more than one in five students in Grades 5th, 7th and 9th were found to be obese (ibid.). This truth puts the youth at risk of obesity. This paper addresses the present problem by proposing a community health education plan for parents of at-risk and obese youth in Los Angeles. First, the paper tackles the present problem based on recent statistics and community health analysis. Second, it proposes a comprehensive education plan aimed at parents to guide them in child weight management. Third, it suggests relevant research to control the obesity situation in the Los Angeles community. The health education program shall run for six months, and a monthly assessment should be done to note down the improvements not only in the weight of the population but likewise in their eating habits and view of nutrition. The program shall include nutritional information, cooking sessions, exercise drills, activity planning, school and house-to-house visits, and follow u p sessions. The objectives of the program are as follows: To provide information on obesity, its causes and effects, and other related information To improve the eating and cooking habits of families by conducting cooking sessions, information campaign, and school/home visits To increase the physical activity and exercise habits of the community by conducting physical exercise, teaching them how to plan and monitor their children’s physical activities, and providing means for physical activity among the youth To inculcate the value of health and good nutrition among the youth by holding poster-making contests, rhythmic gymnastics, and other forms of exercise. The participants shall be composed of parents and children. Mothers and fathers are both welcome to attend the activities, which shall be held for two hours every Saturday morning and may extend in the afternoon, to give way for other activities such as contests, exercise, and other physical activities for children. The success of implementing a health education program depends on proper planning and assessment. Thus, in order to achieve success, an analysis of the target population and Los Angeles county based on Windshield Survey must be conducted first. A Windshield Survey of Los Angeles primarily shows that it is a well-populated county. It is home to different ethnicities including African-Americans, Latinos, Whites, and Asians. In a research conducted in 2001 (cited in County of Los Angeles Department of Health and Services, 2003), it was found out that 55 percent of the county’s population is either overweight or obese, and many others are at risk for becoming overweight. Similarly, more than 15 percent of the adolescent population is overweight. African-Americans were found to have the highest incidence of obesity, and the problem is mostly related to low economic status (OHAE, 2007). Thus, the highest prevalence of obesity was noted among families with the lowest incomes. The relati on between poverty and obesity suggests the poor nutrition that families can afford. Families with low income usually feed their children with starch and carbohydrates, which is opposite the daily nutritional recommendation of five servings of fruits and vegetables and little fat. In this regard, it is important to include in the health education seminar the proper nutrition or recommended foods that parents should provide their children. This topic should be included in Day 1. The first session should

Fitting into society is not the easy way Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Fitting into society is not the easy way - Essay Example At first, I found it difficult and impossible to adjust there as I was very weak in English. The condition of my written and spoken English may be compared to the situation of mother’s English in Amy Tan’s novel. As Amy describes it â€Å"I can think of no way to describe it other than â€Å"broken,† as if it were damaged and needed to be fixed, as if it lacked a certain wholeness and soundness† (62). I used to get irritated and annoyed while communicating to friends, teachers and other associates. The difference of language and accent made me feel low and helpless. My social circle was shortened to an extent that I felt isolated and lonely. This was the worst effect of moving from my native land to a new state. In China, we used to live and work in groups. Our decisions were based on the suggestions and perceptions of others. However, the American culture emphasizes on individuality and personal decision making. I found it really difficult to choose everything from the choice of my clothes to the academic field which I had to opt. In addition to this, the Chinese culture places more emphasis on the respect and acting upon on elders advices. I used to respect them and our communication ways with elders was more respectful and loving with children. However, in America, I experienced a major flaw in the society. Youngsters do not tend to give that level of respect and importance to elders which I was habitual of. I expected the same respect from the youngsters and loving attitude from the elders. However, this misconception ended as I experienced certain events and faced behaviors of American people in the park. I went out to the park with my college friends. It was a wonderful day. Everyone was enjoying and we were cracking jokes, listening to music and having fun. The first thing that irritated me was the song choice which differed greatly. But since most of the Americans