Obamas Health Care Reform and Utilitarian Theory

Obamas Health Care Reform and Utilitarian Theory Introduction Ethics is one of the five branches of philosophy that deals with human character and how humans conduct themselves in the society. Since humans have freedom of doing various activities that benefit them, ethics is essential because it defines their character and conduct. Essentially, ethics systematically assesses human activities with a view of establishing whether they are right or wrong. In the society where chaos and disorders prevail, ethics offers the appropriate solution because it provides moral values, principles, norms, and ideals, which humans should adhere to as standard practices of human conduct and behavior.Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on Obamas Health Care Reform and Utilitarian Theory specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More According to Cavico and Mujtaba (2010), the aim of ethics is to understand the epistemology of human conduct and character so that it can define the best ways in which humans can co-exist and attain the real meaning of life. In this view, ethics enables humans to regulate their conduct and character to be in line with the moral values, norms, ideals, and principles that society cherishes and upholds amidst chaos and confusion. To define and expound ethics, diverse philosophers have come up with theories and models such as utilitarianism, deontology, pragmatic ethics, and postmodern ethics. Hence, this term paper seeks to use utilitarian theory and model in assessing whether it is moral for Florida Blue to implement the Obamas health care reform. Utilitarian Theory Utilitarian theory is the dominant ethical theory that philosophers and ethicists apply when analyzing human conduct and character. John Stuart Mill is one of the pioneers and proponents of utilitarian theory. Fundamentally, utilitarian theory belongs to the category of consequential theories that assess morality basing on the consequences of an action. According to Mill (2010), rightne ss or wrongness of an action is dependent on its consequences rather than the nature of the action.Advertising Looking for term paper on ethics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More On this assertion, utilitarian theory rejects the assessment of morality basing on the actions. Hence, utilitarian theory assumes that human actions have no morality in themselves unless assessed using their consequences. Cavico and Mujtaba (2009) argue that an action is morally right if its consequences are good, and it is morally wrong if its consequences are bad. Hence, the consequences of an action are central in determining if an action is right or wrong. The utilitarian theory also assesses the degree of morality or the extent to which an action is right or wrong. According to the utilitarian theory, for an action to be morally right, it must generate greatest happiness or pleasure to most people and cause the least pain and harm (Mill, 2010). In this view, the theory does not only assess the degree of morality basing on the consequences, but also assesses morality basing on the number of people that gain happiness or experience pain. The consequence of an action may be good, but it does benefit the greatest number of people in terms of happiness and pleasure. In the examination of utilitarian theory, Cavico and Mujtaba (2009) state that the consequence of an action should be good and beneficial to most people in the society. In this view, utilitarian theory requires consideration of action’s consequence and the number of people that experience happiness or pain.Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on Obamas Health Care Reform and Utilitarian Theory specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Thus, an action is morally right if its consequences are good and beneficial to most stakeholders, and it is morally wrong if its consequences are bad and harmful t o most stakeholders. Utilitarian Model and Utilitarian Analysis The use of the utilitarian model in the assessment of human actions provides a quantitative way of analyzing morality. The utilitarian model apportions numerical values to goodness and badness of an action’s consequences. The goodness of an action has a positive scale of 1 to 5 (1 to 5) while the badness of an action has a negative scale of 1 to 5 (-1 to -5). Zero is an intermediate value on the scale, which shows that actions’ consequence is neither good nor bad to a specific stakeholder. The utilitarian model quantifies the degree of pleasure and pain, which are consequences of an action (Cavico Mujtaba, 2009). Therefore, the term paper utilizes the utilitarian model in establishing if it is moral for Florida Blue to implement the Obamas Heath care plan. The act that the term paper seeks to evaluate using the utilitarian model is whether it is moral for Florida Blue to implement the Obamas health care reform. The following are the stakeholders that the implementation of the Obama’s health care reform affects, both directly and indirectly. The government The foreseeable good is that the government will improve general health of the population, and thus enhances the health of the nation. However, the foreseeable bad consequence is that the cost necessary to sustain health care reforms may not be sustainable in the end. Health care system The foreseeable good of the health care reforms is that the health care system will offer improved quality of healthcare services (Rosenbaum, 2011). Given that quality of healthcare services depend on many factors, the foreseeable bad is that the quality of care may deteriorate with time. Florida Blue The foreseeable good of the health care reform in Florida Blue is that it will increase the number of patients and thus improve its growth. However, Florida Blue may not be able to satisfy the demands of the patients.Advertising Looking for term paper on ethics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Insurance companies If Florida Blue implements health reforms, the foreseeable good is that it will provide a competitive environment for insurance companies. The foreseeable bad consequence is that the insurance companies will increase insurance premiums. Healthcare providers and working environment The foreseeable good of the health reforms is that it will improve competence, remuneration packages, and the working environment of healthcare providers. Since the number of patients will increase in Florida Blue, the foreseeable bad consequence is that healthcare providers will have to perform extra duties to serve all patients. Patients The foreseeable good among patients is that they will receive quality services that they have been unable to afford. Nevertheless, the foreseeable bad consequence is that the quality of healthcare services offered to patients may deteriorate with time. Citizens and society Given that health care reforms legally require citizens to take health insuranc e cover, the foreseeable good is improved health status and the lifespan of the people. However, the foreseeable bad consequence is that the cost of health insurance may increase and become unaffordable to many people. Quantification of Good and Bad Consequences Stakeholders Foreseeable Good Foreseeable Bad The government +5 -2 Health care system +4 -3 Florida Blue +3 -3 Insurance companies +5 -1 Healthcare providers +3 -3 Environment +4 -2 Patients +5 -2 Citizens +3 -3 Society +4 -2 Total 37 -22 Conclusion The assessment of the act of implementing the Obamas health care reform in Florida shows that it has more good than bad. Since the good consequences of implementing Obama’s health care reform outweigh the bad consequences, from the utilitarian perspective, it implies that the act is moral in Florida Blue. The utilitarian analysis shows that Florida Blue should implement health reforms to improve healthcare s ervices that it provides to all stakeholders. References Cavico, F., Mujtaba, B. (2010). Business Ethics: The Moral Foundation of  Effective Leadership, Management, and Entrepreneurship (2nd ed.). Boston, Massachusetts: Pearson Custom Publishing. Mill, J. (2010). Utilitarianism. New York: Broadview Press. Rosenbaum, S. (2011). The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: Implications for Public Health Policy and Practice. Public Health Reports, 126(1), 130-135.

Top Causes of Lake Pollution

Top Causes of Lake Pollution In an extensive sampling effort, the Environmental Protection Agency, with the help of state and tribal agencies, coordinated water quality assessments for the country’s lakes. They evaluated 43% of the lake surface area or about 17.3 million acres of water. The study concluded that: Fifty-five percent of the study’s water acreage was judged to be of good quality. The other 45% had waters impaired for at least one type of use (for example as drinking water supply, for recreational fishing, swimming, or aquatic life support). When considering man-made lakes alone, the proportion that was impaired jumped to 59%.Water quality is sufficiently high to allow swimming in 77% of the waters assessed.Aquatic life was not supported adequately by 29% of lake waters.For 35% of the lake waters surveyed, fish consumption was not recommended. For the impaired lakes, the top types of pollution were: Nutrients (problematic in 50% of impaired waters). Nutrient pollution occurs when excess nitrogen and phosphorus make their way into a lake. These elements are then picked up by algae, allowing them to grow rapidly to the detriment of the aquatic ecosystem. Overabundant cyanobacterial algae blooms can lead to toxin build-up, oxygen level drops, fish kills, and poor conditions for recreation. Nutrient pollution and the subsequent algae blooms are to blame for Toledo’s drinking water shortage in the summer of 2014. Nitrogen and phosphorus pollution comes from inefficient sewage treatment systems and from some agricultural practices.Metals (42% of impaired waters). The two main culprits here are mercury and lead. Mercury accumulates in lakes mostly from atmospheric deposition of pollution coming from coal-fired power plants. Lead pollution is often the result of accumulated fishing tackle like sinkers and jig heads, and from lead shot in shotgun shells.Sediment (21% of impaired w aters). Fine-grained particles like silt and clay may occur naturally in the environment but when they enter lakes in large quantity, they become a serious pollution problem. Sediments come from the many ways soil can be eroded on land and carried into streams then lakes: erosion can originate from road construction, deforestation, or agricultural activities. Total Dissolved Solids (TDS; 19% of impaired waters). TDS measurements can be interpreted as how salty the water is, generally due to high concentrations of dissolved calcium, phosphates, sodium, chloride, or potassium. These elements most often enter the roadways as road salt, or in synthetic fertilizers. Where do these pollutants come from? When assessing the source of pollution for the impaired lakes, the following findings were reported: Agriculture (affecting 41% of impaired waters). Many agricultural practices contribute to lake water pollution, including soil erosion, manure and synthetic fertilizer management, and the use of pesticides,Hydrologic modifications (18% of impaired waters). These include the presence of dams and other flow regulation structures and dredging activities. Dams have extensive effects on a lake’s physical and chemical characteristics, and on aquatic ecosystems.Urban runoff and storm sewers (18% of impaired waters). Streets, parking lots, and rooftops are all impervious surfaces that do not allow water to percolate through. As a result, water runoff speeds up to storm drains and picks up sediments, heavy metals, oils, and other pollutants, and carries it into lakes. What Can You Do? Use soil erosion best practices whenever you disturb soil near a lake.Project lake shorelines on your property by preserving the natural vegetation. Replant shrubs and trees if needed. Avoid fertilizing your lawn close to a lake’s edge.Encourage the use of sustainable farming methods like cover crops and no-till farming. Talk to farmers at your local farmers market to find out more about their practices.Keep septic systems in good working order, and have regular inspections conducted.Encourage local authorities to use alternatives to road salt in winter.Consider your nutrient inputs from soaps and detergents, and reduce their use whenever possible.In your yard, slow down water runoff and allow it to be filtered by plants and soil. To accomplish this, establish rain gardens, and keep drainage ditches well vegetated. Use rain barrels to harvest roof runoff.Consider using pervious pavement in your driveway. These surfaces are designed to let water percolate into the soil below, p reventing runoff. Choose alternatives to lead when selecting fishing tackle.   Sources: EPA. 2000. National Lake Assessment Report. EPA. 2009. National Lake Assessment: A Collaborative Survey of the Nation’s Lakes.

Thinking Globally Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Thinking Globally - Case Study Example Local companies tried to adapt to the problem by trying to send their money abroad to avoid inflation. However, Argentina’s central bank ordered all companies to receive clearance first before engaging in such transactions. For this reason, companies had to wait for several months before receiving authorization. In addition, the government ordered that payments be done in dollars something that also made the companies to pay extra in comparison to the value of the peso. The companies were forced to operate according to the Argentines policies despite entering the country in the 90’s with the wave of the free market. Most of the US companies that were forced to collect their revenues in peso had no otherwise but to submit to the authorities and incur extra costs that were dollar related.In case of rising inflation, the citizens are usually the worst hit. That is because inflation comes with many disadvantages such as loss of jobs. It also becomes very expensive for the c itizens to conduct their daily activities since food products and other services become expensive. Immediately after President Duhalde announced the ties between the peso and the dollar, the economy collapsed and the citizens reacted angrily by attacking politicians, banks, and culminating in protests in the streets over the high cases of inflation. For over a decade Argentina has been amassing debts that it is unable to pay to date. That means that for over a decade now Argentina’s citizens lost their spending power due to inflation.

Smoking in Public Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Smoking in Public - Essay Example These are particles that are both medically dangers, as well as obstructing the quality of view of the surrounding area (‘Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report’). Studies have also demonstrated significant improvements in air quality after smoking bans were established (‘Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report’). This data indicates that smoking in public significantly hinders air quality. While there are many arguments supporting the ban of smoking in public places, there also exist a number of counter-arguments to this contention. Even as medical evidence has emerged that strongly demonstrates the detrimental health impacts of second-hand smoke, a number of civil rights activists have argued that this does not constitute a significant enough reason to restrict the rights of others. Indeed, a number of counter-arguments to smoking bans have emerged that list the restriction of human rights as a significant objection (Hoggart). Perspectives within this realm o f thought argue that since smoking is legalized they should subsequently be granted the right to smoke in public places. In this context of understanding one considers that although smoking in public has a detrimental medical affect, it is more of an infringement of individuals rights to restrict this action. Another prominent argument supporting smoking bans is that in allowing smoking in public places the air quality is significantly affected in negative ways. Counter-arguments to this claim emerge along a number of lines. Similar to the argument that smoking bans infringe on human rights, the argument that smoking in public places causes air pollution is objected to on the grounds that restricting this constitutes a significant human rights violation. In addition to these arguments, a number of... The paper shows the prominent argument against smoking in public is the significant impact it has on air quality. From a qualitative perspective, one notes that the smoke that emerges from cigarettes can be pervasive to the point of obstructing individual’s views of surrounding scenery, or significantly hindering the public atmosphere and environment. In the report we can find out many arguments supporting the ban of smoking in public places, there also exist a number of counter-arguments to this contention. Even as medical evidence has emerged that strongly demonstrates the detrimental health impacts of second-hand smoke, a number of civil rights activists have argued that this does not constitute a significant enough reason to restrict the rights of others. Indeed, a number of counter-arguments to smoking bans have emerged that list the restriction of human rights as a significant objection. In conclusion, this essay has considered arguments in favor and against banning smoking in public places. Supporting arguments have indicated that smoking in public holds significant negative medical impacts for both the smoker and individuals suffering from the secondhand smoke. Smoking is also demonstrated to cause significant air pollution. Counter-arguments to these claims contend that banning smoking is both an infringement on individual rights and bad for businesses. Ultimately, it’s demonstrated that banning smoking is the most socially responsible action to take, as this prohibition holds the greatest benefit for the greatest amount of people.

An Analysis of Satrapi’s Persepolis Essay Example for Free

An Analysis of Satrapi’s Persepolis Essay Persepolis presents the Islamic Revolution in Iran through the point of view of a child who questions the most fundamental practices and assumptions of Islam. Growing in a household that frowns upon the dictates of Islamic fundamentalism at a time when there is a growing presence of Islamic fundamentalists, the point of view in the graphic book offers a different look into the local Islamic movement in Iran. Through that perspective, my understanding is that the movement placed the people within the limits of a religious fence that does not give room for questions. Challenging the dictates of the Islamic institution is also seen as a challenge to the religion itself, which in turn explains why those who openly opposed the movement were physically harmed by the advocates of the Islamic Revolution. My understanding of the impact of the Islamic Revolution in Iran is that it caused people like Marjane Satrapi’s child character in Persepolis to develop an attitude that tries to resist the forces of the movement. At least in terms of forming a household behavior deviating from the principles put forward by the movement, the child is able to question her surroundings and find the answers to satisfy her desire to be fully aware of what is happening around her. In general, I see the Islamic Revolution as a double-edged sword—while it rebuilds and strengthens the piety of the Muslims to their religion and its edicts, it also threatens to lose the devotion of those who are against some of the principles advocated by the movement. Unfortunately, the movement creates a wide gap between those who are for the movement and those who are against it, dividing the believers into two extreme opposites which defeat the essence of religion. Some of the cultural and political issues raised by Satrapi’s narrative include the negative response of Islam towards the Western societies, the conflict between fundamentalism and the changing trends in the modern world, and the issue of sacrificing or repressing individual liberty in exchange for following stringent religious doctrines. In the narrative, the parents of the child try to expose their child to the Western culture right in the midst of the conflict in Iran. They gave her posters of Iron Maiden and Kim Wilde and they drink wine in their home despite the fact that their religion forbids them to do so. Her parents are Marxists and they try to teach her about the glaring evils of the Iranian regime. These things indicate that Iran at that time was a country where there is no stability in terms of politics and culture. The fact that the Islamic fundamentalists at that time tried to repress those who were against their principles suggests the apparent conflict that creates the impression of turmoil. There was a struggle and it was one that was far from being over. The conflict between fundamentalism and the Western world present in Iran is best seen in terms of the attempt of the Islamic fundamentalists to do the opposite of what most democratic Western societies practice. While most democratic Western societies encourage their citizens to practice social liberty and freedom of expression, Islamic Iran under the clutches of the fundamentalists are trying to â€Å"veil† their society, in a manner of speaking, from the influence of the Western societies. In a way, the fundamentalists do not only discourage the Iranians from replicating the beliefs and practices of the Western societies; they also give sanctions to those who attempt to become religious subversives. Satrapi’s graphic novel comments on those issues by presenting the conflicts in Iran from the life of a little girl who, despite being a child, sees her Iranian society as a crumbling society, whose principles do not promote the interests of the people but rather promote the interests of the religion. The strip also injects a bit of humor on the issue, using language that invokes comedy along with the horror of some of the images in the strips. The use of humor indicates that the weight of the issues involved in the Islamic Revolution is so heavy that it leaves no space for the lighter side of life. Instead, the movement rejects all assumptions of gaiety in religion and culture simply because it sees those two things as entirely serious matters that require even the most harassing and physically daunting sanctions to those who stand against its way. Islamic fundamentalists are portrayed in the strip as extremely violent individuals who are more than willing to inflict harm to their fellow Muslims if only to further the goals of the movement. They are portrayed in a negative light precisely because they are seen as agents of conservative religious principles that fail to recognize the worth of individuals. They oppose those who oppose them up to the point of assaulting them if only to silence their opposition or to put an end to those who confront the movement with questions and arguments. I think that the portrayal of the Islamic fundamentalists in the graphic novel is closer to the truth than one can begin to imagine. I think that it is also honest portrayal although I am somehow tempted to believe that some of the illustrations of the fundamentalists are not fair on their part. For one, it is a fact that violence has been a part of the Islamic fundamentalist movement in the past. In fact, religious jihad is an integral part of the Islamic faith, promoting violence for the name of Allah and so as to quash the presumed enemies of the religion. Violence in protests against the religion arises because of the intolerance of the fundamentalists towards those who oppose them. I understand that, perhaps, the graphic descriptions of the fundamentalists in the strips were only part of the observations of Satrapi in her life. However, I do think that there is a deep reason as to why these fundamentalists act the way they do. I believe that their violent actions are results of their deep ties with their religion and these strong ties cannot be opposed or deposed by those who think otherwise. The nature of the antagonists in Satrapi’s graphic novel is fierce and violent whereas the nature of the antagonists in Lorrie Moore’s â€Å"How to Become a Writer† is one that adheres to convention. In a way, the antagonists in Persepolis—the Islamic fundamentalists—do not permit deviance from the status quo or from the tradition. Instead, these antagonists strongly advocate the practice of the old and traditional religious habits. They promote intolerance so that the challenges to their beliefs will not displace what they see as the proper way of living under Islamic tenets. On the other hand, the antagonists in Moore’s article exhibit conventional behaviors. They seek to influence the protagonist to follow the accepted conventions of writing because they see the protagonist’s literary style as inappropriate and technically inefficient. In forcing the protagonist to stick to the rules and convention instead of deviating from them, the antagonists limit the development of the protagonist as a writer who is not only unconventional but is also one who is a master of the freedom of expression. To a certain degree, the antagonists in Moore’s article and in Satrapi’s novel share the similar characters of intolerance and conservative attitude. They do not subscribe to the idea of changing the status quo or of allowing others to deviate from the convention because they do not find it suitable to what they are espousing. Works Cited Moore, Lorrie. â€Å"How to Become a Writer. † Self-Help. New York: Knopf, 1985. Satrapi, Marjane. â€Å"The Trip. † Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood. New York: Pantheon, 2003.

Informix Revenue Recognition Essay -- essays research papers

MEMORANDUM Re:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Group 2 - Case 2.1 â€Å"Software Revenue Recognition: Informix Corporation† Companies following GAAP can manage earnings by simply altering its accounting policy to select those accounting principles that benefit them the most. Entities have a host of reasons for selecting those principles that will paint the rosiest financial picture. Some would argue that the market demands it, as reflected by the stock price punishment for companies that differ by as little as one penny per share from prior estimates. External market pressures to â€Å"meet the numbers† conflicts with market pressure for transparency in financial reporting. Most fraudulent financial reporting schemes involve â€Å"earnings management† techniques, which inflate earnings, create an improved financial picture, or conversely, mask a deteriorating one. Premature revenue recognition is one of the most common forms of fraudulent earnings management and the case of Informix Software Inc. unfortunately illustrates closely this practice. The analysis of this case will shed light on issues like: v  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Informix’s revenue recognition policy prior to 1990 and its compliance with FASB Concept #5, FASB Statement #86, GAAP protocols. v  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Informix’s reactions to AICPA SOP in changing the revenue recognition procedures and Informix’s reason to prematurely and voluntarily implement the new policy v  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The changes that took place at Informix and the financial results reported during 1990 Furthermore, we will also evaluate the software industry practices and the regulations in place at that time. We conclude with lessons learnt and recommendations towards identifying and discouraging non-GAAP revenue recognition practices. 1986-1990 Revenue Recognition Policy at Informix Corporation REVENUE RECOGNITION POLICY BEFORE THE PROPOSED AICPA SOP Prior to 1990 the software industry had the FASB Statement of Financial Accounting Concept No.5 and the FASB Statement No. 86 to provide guidance in the revenue recognition concepts. The Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB) No. 45 which discussed long-term construction type contract was also available but did not specify application for the software industry and so it was ignored. Before 1990 (refer exhibit 1) Informix recognized ... ...nbsp;  ($1,503.00)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  ($327.00) Net Income(Losses)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  $0.00   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  ($10,311.00)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  ($11,146.00)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  ($1,503.00)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  ($327.00) Income per Share Before Extraordinary Items  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  $0.00   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  ($0.80)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  ($1.00)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  ($0.13)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  ($0.05) Net Income (Loss) per Share (Fully Diluted)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  $0.00   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  ($0.80)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  ($0.94)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  ($0.12)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  ($0.03) Total Assets  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  $0.00   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  ($32,102.00)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  ($17,173.00)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  ($3,411.00)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  ($573.00) Long-Term Obligations  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  $0.00   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  $0.00   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  $0.00   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  $0.00   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  $0.00

Falling in Love with Fall Essay

A cool, crisp breeze with just a tinge of warmth brushes my face. The pearl-grey sky and sound of leaves twisting and twirling – I watch as they dance carelessly through the air. My favorite season is autumn because of the many changes and feelings of gratitude it brings, the festivities, and fashion. One of the main reasons I enjoy autumn is because of the many festivities and activities. Not only is the weather cooler, especially in Texas, for outdoor fun but people’s spirits seem brighter. Every year there are so many things to do, festivals and carnivals to picking pumpkins and haunted houses. For me, it’s the sound of kids crunching through the leaves with laughter filling the air; their excitement is contagious and reminiscent of my childhood. The competitive feeling of who can get the most candy and the anticipation of shuffling through it all and scarfing down the best pieces. Because fall allows me to socialize with loved ones and new friends alike, it is my favorite season. Another reason I love the autumn are the feelings of change and gratitude. It might seem like a New Years idiom, but for me autumn is the most perfect time to mark new beginnings and reflect on the year that’s gone by. Maybe it’s the transition the environment makes, the colors of the leaves and the warm air turning cool. It’s intoxicating. As I crack open my bedroom window and curl up on my bed draping a cashmere throw over my legs, the smell of the leather from my journal mixes with the cool air and aroma of a newly opened bottle of wine. I sit and write about the year behind me, the memories and thoughts the ideas of my future. A nice counterpart to enjoying time with loved ones, it’s a perfect atmosphere to enjoy time alone; this is why it is my favorite season. I’ve saved the best for last, another great reason to love fall – fashion. Gone are the days of strappy tops and sandals, fall bring in a fresh cozy style. It’s a new excuse for shopping! Every year, come mid-September I make my way to the mall. With a delicious pumpkin spice latte in hand I fill my arms with an arsenal of clothing and accessories for fall. Tall boots and heeled booties are first on my list then its flowing cardigans,  poncho and double breasted jackets. The warm tones of purple and gold fill my bags and I can’t wait to show off my new collections at the many gatherings and festivities fall will bring. It is especially because of this, that autumn is my favorite season. With so many reasons to love fall, the best are those that engage your heart. It’s magical that even with the cool air; autumn can make a person feel warm. New beginnings at school and the gathering of loved ones, the smell of burning fireplaces hitting the cold air, watching as the trees shed their leaves. You can’t help but to feel a calm sense of hope this time of year.

Mobile Phone Usage Among College Students Essay

1. Introduction A mobile phone or mobile (also called cellphone and handphone) is an electronic device used for mobile telecommunications (mobile telephone, text messaging or data transmission) over a cellular network of specialized base stations known as cell sites. Most current cell phones connect to a cellular network consisting of switching points and base stations (cell sites) owned by a mobile network operator. In addition to the standard voice function, current mobile phones may support many additional services, and accessories, such as SMS for text messaging, email, packet switching for access to the Internet, gaming, Bluetooth, infrared, camera with video recorder and MMS for sending and receiving photos and video, MP3 player, radio and GPS. The International Telecommunication Union estimated that mobile cellular subscriptions worldwide would reach approximately 4.6 billion by the end of 2009. Mobile phones have gained increased importance in the sector of information and communication tech nologies for development in the 2000s and have effectively started to reach the bottom of the economic pyramid. The Indian telecommunication industry, with about 506.04 million mobile phone connections (Nov 2009)[update], is the third largest telecommunication network in the world and the second largest in terms of number of wireless connections (after China). India has become one of the fastest-growing mobile markets in the world. The mobile services were commercially launched in August 1995 in India. In the initial 5–6 years the average monthly subscribers additions were around 0.05 to 0.1 million only and the total mobile subscribers base in December 2002 stood at 10.5 millions. However, after the number of proactive initiatives taken by regulator and licensor, the monthly mobile subscriber additions increased to around 2 million per month in the year 2003-04 and 2004-05. Read more:  Essay About Harmful Effects of Mobile Phones on Students Kerala is the state with highest teledensity and the number of subscribers in the state has crossed 1.7 million. The increase in mobile phone usage in Kerala had been led by the growth in the state’s non-resident population and the fall in call rates. In its backward Malappuram district with a huge expat population, already there are more phones than people. It is with this understanding and regard that the mobile phone market has been burgeoning in India that we proceed to conduct this survey as an attempt to understand the mobile phone use pattern among the specific group – youth, by narrowing down the study in the campus of Sacred Heart College, Thevara. Over the years the bad side of technology has also been brought to forefront placing the onus of bad behaviour as always on the youth. It is an accepted fact that mobile technology has corroded the lives of many young people and has reduced their productivity within the college campus. This study, then, while being a trend analysis survey, is also relevant in the context that it attempts to bring out solutions to this problem of â€Å"mob menace-on-campus† on the basis of the responses of the students (purported victims) in question. 2. Objectives The objectives of this survey may be drawn out as follows; a. To identify the average number of students using mobile phones within the campus b. To identify the income versus consumption pattern with respect to purchase and further spending on mobile phones by students who use mobile phones c. Sketch the current trends in mobile phone usage among students d. Understand whether a majority have the propensity to get into trouble using mobile phones e. Come up with possible solutions to reducing mobile phone menace within the campus 3. Methodology In keeping with the above stated objectives, we adopted the methodology of simple random sampling to attain a sample of 77 students in the ratio of 1:2:4 for 1st years, 2nd years and 3rd years respectively, accounting for a total of 11 departments offering undergraduate courses within the college. Therefore we have a total of 11 first years, 22 second years and 44 third years. The third years who have been acclimatized with the college  surroundings provide the most reliable and consistent data, first years stand on unsure ground and 2nd years show rebellious tendencies. Of these, a majority of trends were analysed on the basis of responses of only 64 (out of 77) students who possessed mobiles within the campus. The survey was conducted with the help of a written questionnaire consisting of a variety of questions numbering a total of 31 (see Appendix I). 4. Findings and Conclusions Before moving to the major conclusions derived from the survey, it would be worthwhile to understand the basic characteristics of the sample of 77 students surveyed. 4.1 Basic Characteristics[1] Among those surveyed:  a. 58% are females, with relatively more male samples (55%) coming only among second years b. 56% fall under the age group 18-20, the remaining in 20-22 group c. Arts and Science groups together contribute more to the total sample strength, in keeping with the relatively greater number of departments that they have in the college. d. 75% of the respondents are day-scholars e. A small percentage of 31% of respondents are engaged in any form of part-time or other income earning activities along with their studies, with the greatest contribution coming from 3rd year students of upto 34%. f. Overall 52% of the respondents claim monthly incomes of over Rs. 5000, but internal vagaries can be noted with about 36% of II year students putting their monthly income at only Rs. 1500-3000. g. Among those surveyed, a majority i.e. 83% confess to bringing and using mobile phones within the campus. The highest usage may be seen among the III years (91%) and lowest among II years (68%). From this we can deduce that on an average between 65 to 80% of all students in the college are using mobile phones within the campus. 4.2 Income-Spending Patterns in Mobile Use As against popular belief, mobiles are mostly seen as utilities rather than prestige goods by the students in that while 52% claimed incomes above Rs.5000 only 31% of the respondents actually possessed mobile phones ranging above Rs.5000. The entire 5% of respondents, who possess mobile costing over Rs.10, 000 not surprisingly, consists of male respondents reflecting male fondness for gadgets. A. Ownership of Mobile We also see that parents consider it a matter of great necessity that their wards possess mobile phones as even though 31% of the respondents worked, only 28% had purchased the mobile out of their own income. A big majority, 72% students, possessed mobiles with the complete knowledge and acceptance of parents. B. Monthly Spending on Mobile It is interesting to note that females are considerably frugal when it comes to spending money on mobile phones in lieu of recharges or normal bill payments, never going beyond an average of Rs.500/month. Males still have a tendency to cross Rs.500 with 24% of then doing so and a very small percentage (4%) dare to cross Rs.1000 a month. On an average, however, a good majority of 67% are able to limit their monthly expenses to less than Rs.300. This may be attributed primarily to the fact they use pre-paid mobile connections offering minimal top-up recharge cards aplenty in the market. 4.3 Trends in Mobile Usage To identify the current trends among mobile users in college we use the responses of 83% of respondents who confirm that they bring and use mobiles within the campus. The following are the major trends noticed. A. The most used mobile handsets: Nokia B. The most used type of mobile connection: Pre-paid 56 of the 64 respondents prefer to use pre-paid and not post-paid connections. The reasons may be that it allows cheap and easy recharge and prevents too much interference from the parents regarding usage and convoluted processes of bill payments. Further it also prevents over-the-budget use of mobiles by restricting the number of calls, messages etc that one can make during a given recharge period. C. Preferred Mobile Network: Airtel The top three mobile service providers among the students surveyed are Airtel, BSNL, and Vodafone. While Airtel being the leading provider was not a surprise result, BSNL emerging the second most popular service provider was quite against the expectations, given the recurrent troubles in connectivity and overall poor performance. However the attractively priced student plans must provide the incentive to purchase the connection. D. Most Communications go to Friends/Classmates While overall we see that friends/classmates surpass family in receiving communications from students, this marginal overtaking occurred in case of the III years alone. Among I years and II years family comes first in terms of maximum communications. Again, the 11% of people who agree to communicating most with their boyfriend/girlfriend may also seem as too small a percentage. Here again the III years (almost 9%, especially boys) were more given to accepting that they had relationships and frequently communicated with them. E. Primary time of use: Evening F. Service Most Used: SMS The top two services for which the mobile is used are to send SMSes and to enjoy music. Calls (ironically, the primary purpose of mobiles) come only third. The fact that GPRS facility is least used points to the fact that a  good majority of students are still not much acquainted with mobiles having higher end facilities. While analyzing the use of important mobile services, it would also help to separately present the behaviour of males and females in this regard. Even though females form a greater number of respondents, only 5% actually use the GPRS facility against 24% of males. A similar trend is seen in case of Camera/Video usage and also FM/music player. G. Most Popular form of communications: Forwards A whopping 42% of all respondents prefer to communicate via forwarded messages alone. This is primarily because of the numerous â€Å"free SMS† plans provided by the pre-paid connections. While they could make use of this facility to send personalized messages, a lack of sufficient personal thoughts to send to one’s friends and classmates (whom one meets everyday) and a relatively larger store of forwards traveling through the mobile networks, it affords a cheap and easy way to stay in touch. The second most preferred method of staying in touch is found to be missed calls. H. Main reason for bringing mobiles to college: Family While this may seem quite contradictory to the earlier result, note that earlier it was mentioned that only III years gave friends/classmates precedence to family. The trend is similar in this case as well. But over all keeping in touch with family is believed to be the main reason to bring mobiles to college. Our earlier conjecture that mobiles are no longer luxuries or prestige goods is revalidated here with only 4% of boys affirming that they bring mobiles in order to impress others. We can also safely state that the entertainment value of mobiles is of great importance to the students with an overall of 27% agreeing that they bring the mobiles to college only in order to listen to music or play games during free hours. 4.4 Mobiles: Danger or Saviour? Now, it is necessary to tackle the issue of propensity of the youth to entangle themselves in serious problems by using/misusing the services of  mobiles. The survey shows interesting results. A. Mobile as a tool for social networking? No! A majority of students seem to be aware of the dangers of making friends through the mobile and hence have successfully avoided any attempts to network using mobiles. But among the 13% of those who have been adventurous, it is quite disturbing to note that 75% are male students. B. Trends of Disturbing Calls/Messages? While a majority claim that they have definitely at various times received disturbing calls/messages from random unknown persons, only 22% admit to having sent such calls or messages. Again, the propensity to do so is higher in males (40% in males as against 10% in females). C. Knowledge of troubles related to Mobiles in college: Very Less D. Mobile as a Saviour? 4.4 Possible Solutions to Mobile Menace In order to postulate solutions to mobile phone menace on campus, we must first find out whether the students feel that mobile phones are actually a menace on campus. From the above section what we understand is that a good majority of students using mobiles are rational and mature preferring to stay away from troubles, known or unknown. And they have most often felt that mobiles are more helpful in contacting their close ones in times of difficulty. In this line, the result is that 44% don’t think mobiles are a menace (including those who don’t possess mobiles in campus). But at the same time 30% are also undecided between the advantages and disadvantages of having a mobile in college. Hence these results cannot be taken at face value. We need to probe further with regard to two specific problems namely, camera phones and loss of attentiveness in class. A. Yes to a Camera Ban Females, naturally being concerned about their safety, over the 3 years of college, uniformly support a ban on camera phones in college campuses. The trend among males is quite peculiar. A majority of first years and third years are in support whereas the number drastically falls in the case of second years. This can only be attributed to the fact that a majority of second years often go through a phase of rebellion within the college, where rational thinking becomes faint. The result is purposeful disregard of all bans and regulations, which is very evident throughout the survey. B. Yes to Mobile Jammer In case of the possible use of mobile jammer too we see that I years in all eagerness to please and learn are willing to comply with its use during class hours. The II year students are more prone to bunking, disregard and involvement in extra-curricular activities and hence both males and females are quite against the idea of mobile jamming during class hours (as that is when they would require the mobile most!). Again, once students enter III year being more conscientious and exam-oriented, they are more willing to comply with such a possible jam. Therefore the compliance behaviour of students varies greatly with their mental makeup, objectives and peer behaviour which changes from year to year. Universally it was felt that I year and III year responses were more grounded, rational and in keeping with objective decision-making process. C. Provision of Mobile Phones by College: A Possible Solution While camera ban may be partially effective, recurrent programmes and festivals prevent it from becoming fully functional. Mobile jammers (especially of partial formats) can involve huge technological costs and also real costs in terms of time lost in communicating between departments not only for students but also for faculty and other staff. Then what can be done? What we did with laptops/computers; make it available to students. It is obvious that even after successive bans mobiles are being used in the campus. The main reason as we have found is the need to stay in touch with family and friends, due to odd timings, blocks and other transportation  problems, and also as a source of entertainment. So what would be the response of students to a possible offer from the college to provide low end basic phones (all of which nowadays come with FM/Music player) to be used during the period of graduation? The only condition we put was an extra payment of Rs.500 (which can be seen as a refundable caution deposit) at the beginning of the course. And quite surprisingly, without any other incentive, 40% responded in affirmative; they are willing to use this facility. The most promising response came from III years where 50% said yes, and among I years 36%, but it was least in II years at 23%. While 40% may seem as a small number, it is also important to understand that the remaining 60% doesn’t completely disown this scheme. Instead there is a very important group; the ‘Can’t Say’ group. It has always been seen that these are the people who make or break plans. As much as 17% are undecided regarding the adoption of the scheme. They represent the group of people who carefully weigh incentives and take decisions. Since they have not received all information they desist from committing to the programme. On the other hand a string of incentives such as – free connections, group calling cards, self-payment (without interference, atleast at superficial levels, from college), pre-fed numbers for emergencies etc. would considerably shift the 17% towards yes. In case of indecision also we see that the II years are ahead, whereas III years who have confidence in the system, and understanding of the utility of mobiles have least indecision. One can ponder over the cost elements of making such a provision available, but doing that would not fall under the purview of this study. But a general note should be made that most companies would be willing to provide such facilities within the campus at low cost (in case of bulk supply). It is also interesting to note that among the 17% of students who don’t possess mobile phones, 38% (comprising of 60% girls) said yes, an equal number were undecided and only 24% said a strict no. They perhaps represent those students who are totally averse to use of mobile technology itself. Recent reports in newspapers surrounding this debate have also shown that parents are willing to accept such a provision (some parents themselves put  forward this idea). Our survey shows that, if it is implemented when students enter first year itself, there is a high chance of gaining uniformity in mobile usage (preventing any possible demonstration effects), almost completely eliminating camera phones (with the agreement of students), and a knowledge that ultimately it is the property of the college and must be returned with the trust that authorities have reposed in them would decrease chances of misuse. The idea is to come up with an incentivised plan to encourage students to make use of the facility if put into effect. It would also encourage teachers and students to reduce barriers and open all channels of communications at all times. In Conclusion: The mobile technology has undoubtedly spread through the college, but mostly as a utility rather than a luxury. But the fact that it provides outlet for entertainment makes it more endearing for the students. Male students are more likely to venture into the technological sides of the mobile while girls keep it basic. The spending is kept generally within limits of Rs.300/month. Other trends include a majority use of Nokia handsets with pre-paid connections, to communicate with family/friends. A good majority treats mobiles with safety and stay away from dangerous use. But the boys have a greater tendency to take risks in this regard. Generally mobiles are perceived more as a saviour than a danger. There is no possibility hence that they will stop using mobile phones, thereby making a ban ineffective. But logical sense prevails in that they are aware that camera bans are meant for their safety and security. Overall 44% are also tending toward a possible partial (during class hours only) use of mobile jammers as well. But it seems that if the college is willing to invest in low-end mobile phones for students, while it may not ensure 100% compliance and riddance to technology related problems, it can go a long way in ensuring uniformity, constant communications and closer links between authorities and students on the basis of trust and confidence.

Oliver Stones Jfk essays

Oliver Stone's Jfk essays Oliver Stone's JFK (1991) is about the assasination of United States president John F. Kennedy as he passed through Dealy Plaza in Dallas Texas on the 22nd of November, 1963. This film seeks to raise concerns that had been building up for some time about the nature of Kennedy's murder. It is a film that seeks to raise a new myth surrounding the assassination that will, in Stone's own words, "interpret history in order to create lasting universal truths...Our film's mythology...hopefully...will replace the Warren Report, as Gone With the Wind replaced Uncle Tom's Cabin, and was in turn replaced by Roots and The Civil War." (pg. 201, The Cinema of Oliver Stone) The Warren reprt is the official investigation that took place regarding Kennedy's murder which concluded that Kennedy was killed by "lone nut" Lee Harvey Oswald who acted alone in the murder and was in turn killed by vigilante Jack Ruby who was also acting alone. Though this is the official conclusion reached in the case it has been suggested that, even before the movie was made "depending on whose poll you quote, between 55 and 75 percent of Americans today believe there was a conspiracy to kill Kennedy." (Dr. Grover B. Proctor, Jr., The Saginaw News, December 21, 1991) That is to say that, after the conclusion was reached by the Warren report, most Americans found it hard to believe that Oswald was acting alone for a number of reasons and came to their own conclusion that he must have been part of a larger plan: a conspiracy. Stone became interested in the conspiracy surrounding the J.F.K. murder when he read Jim Garrison's book On the Trail of the Assassins (1988). Garrison was the District Attourney of New Orleans at the time of Kennedy's murder who, 3 years after the murder actually took place, began to have suspicions that the Warren commision had not found out the entire truth. This led to his becoming obsessed with the case and eventually bringing New Orleans business m...

Second Grade Science Fair Projects

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POPE, ALEXANDER Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

POPE, ALEXANDER - Research Paper Example Indeed, for people with little exposure to the stories, it can be said that Shakespeare himself is doing history even though we do not conventionally read him as a historian. As will be argued in the following, Pope wrote in many genres precisely as an act that intended for us to question the nature or the notion of genre itself. The following will examine his life's works alongside his lifelong concern with genre. Alexander Pope arrived in London in 1705, and was in that early period, a member of the Kit Kat Club. The members of the Kit Kat Club were all writers and included figures of the age, like, William Walsh and Lord Landsdowne [Dennis 200]. While only seventeen at the time that he moved to London, it would not be long before he started to make a mark for himself as a writer. His earliest publications was the Pastorals and An Essay on Criticism which was published second. While his first work did seem receive some praise, it was his work on criticism that first drew significan t attention to himself. A well known critic of the time, referred to Pope's â€Å"rising genius† in relation to his criticism, but his poetry was his primary or most consuming passion as far as writing goes [Bateson and Joukovsky 154]. As the title itself indicates, a 'pastoral' concerns nature, and the individual struggle or relationship with nature. While his ambitions were to be admired and respected as a great poet, it can be argued that the respect he sought was realized more as a consequence of his early book of criticism, or the publication of An Essay on Criticism which was first published in 1711 [Dennis 249]. Pope was a formalist in the eighteenth century sense of the term. As a writer, he was arguably more concerned with the 'form' of the work than the content. There were incredible transformations occurring in his age in terms of challenges being made to traditional or conventional forms or genres of writing. Poetry, in general, was being redeveloped or experiment ed on with the aid of odes, ballads, elegies, satire, parodies, song, and finally, lyrical poetry. As with all genres, there are often areas of cross-over, but for Pope, and many of his contemporaries, the inter-mixing of genres can be described as almost an obsession [Sitter 106]. For Pope, this obsession was fueled or furthered by his interest in translation. Moreover, his interest in a wide variety of writing including Shakespeare. With regard to translation, he rendered into Latin some Greek texts or originally, Greek texts, like Homer's Iliad and the Odyssey. Likewise, the Roman or Latin poet Virgil was a constant source of inspiration for him, but in terms of influencing his literary style, but also as someone whose writings embodied ethical or moral virtues that he admired or could identify with. Following the publication of 'An Essay on Criticism', Pope struck a balance between his study of literature and his exposition of it. His focus on those years, was largely directed t oward writing poetry even though criticism became an ongoing source of study for him. In 1714, 'The Rape of the Lock' was published and it was for Pope, the most impactful piece that he had produced by this time. The first run or first printing, yielded a sale of over three thousand copies, and when it was reprinted in the following year, the response by the book buying populace

Bullying Causes School Violence Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Bullying Causes School Violence - Research Paper Example Bullying involves â€Å"a person’s or a group’s intentional and hurtful action towards one person or more than one person and involves a complex interplay of dominance and social status† (Sutton, Smith, & Swettenham, 1999). Physical violence, slander, and verbal intimidation are just of the few manifestations of bullying. Incidence of bullying are so prevalent in schools that a national estimate of more than 1.5 million students bullying and being bullied on a weekly basis in the United States (Nansel et. al., 2001). By surveying more than 15, 000 students in grades 6 through 10, the researchers found that one in seven students is either a bully or victim. This research was also supported by different self-methodological reports which generally yields that a wide range of bullying prevalence estimated with as many as 75% of youth reported that they are being the target of peer harassment at least occasionally (Olweus, 1993; Cowie & Dawn, 2004; and Sanders & Phye, 2004). Such harassment may include physical contact, verbal assault, making obscene gestures or facial expressions, and being intentionally excluded. Although numerous programs have been created to decrease the violence and harassment occurring at school, there are indications from numerous studies that provide startling results about the frequency of bullying in schools. Such statistics suggest that bullying is quite common and not decreasing (Olweus, 1991; Glew et. al., 1997, and Bradley & Daniels, 2011). Because of this, there is a need to examine the implications of aggression, violence, and bullying among children and young adults across the country. Reactive and Proactive Bullying Because of the growing concerns of the prevalence of bullying in schools, researchers have begun to distinguish... This report approves that bullying is a serious matter involving a substantial number of students. No one knows at this point exactly what caused students such as Charles Andrew Williams, Eric Harris, Dylan Klebold, and Cho Seung-Hui others to shoot and kill their fellow students at school, but bullying is frequently mentioned as a possible contributor. The report released by U.S. Secret service that two thirds of school shootings have been caused by attackers who experienced bullying clearly showed how grave the bullying climate at US schools is. This essay makes a conclusion that bullying may be a barrier that impedes effectiveness of teaching, the primary mission of school personnel, yet recent studies found that evidence-based, whole-school approaches to bullying are rarely implemented in elementary schools. Implementing anti-bullying interventions in the elementary years, before bullying becomes a part of school culture, might improve schools’ ability to carry out their educational mission by improving students’ ability to focus on learning and establishing an atmosphere of respect early on. Well-conducted, comprehensive bullying prevention programs can be effective in reducing the number of bullying incidents and creating a climate that discourages bullying behavior. We should begin to look at bullying as a behavior fraught with inherent violence that can contribute to a horrific cycle of mayhem and at its worst, death of school children in the country. The information presented in this paper provides additional evidence of the need for elementary school personnel to implement bullying prevention programs, not only to prevent school shootings but also to prevent potential barriers to providing education: student feelings of lack of safety, belonging, and sadness.