Employee Rewards Essay

Introduction The purpose of this essay is to critically examine the processes used by Scotia Learning and identify if their rewards are appropriate to those of the market. The report will begin by discussing the background of Scotia Learning and follow on to define reward management highlighting the objective and constraints within the reward strategy. We will then consider the legal framework and examine why there are variations in pay and how job evaluation can ensure equity and fairness is achieved. Finally we will discuss the concept of motivation and the implications of pay for performance within the reward strategy. The report ends with an analysis of the key issues of the topic. Scotia Learning is the case study for this essay and is one of a network of university-based study centres offering preparation for students wishing to study undergraduate and postgraduate degrees for progression into university degree courses. The company has joint venture partnerships with top universities throug hout the United Kingdom, Ireland and United States of America. â€Å"Reward management is concerned with the formulation and implementation of strategies and policies that aim to reward people fairly, equitably and consistently in accordance with their value to the organisation† (Armstrong & Murlis, 2007, p3). Research by Redman & Wilkinson (2009) indicates that reward is an enormously complex issue and has to take account of three fundamental principles in determining systems and structures: internal equity, external equity and business strategy. In addition Thorpe & Homan (2000) state that the organisation should identify what objectives and behaviours the payment system should have for example, labour market competitiveness and management skills whilst Perkins & White (2009) highlight the importance of legal regulations that can put constraints on organisations, for example minimum wage (legal), collective bargaining (trade unions), and the external labour markets. Scotia Learning does not recognise a trade union however it does recognise that collective bargaining has been influential in discussing and setting pay arrangement due to internal and external rates of pay not being equal. Within the employment legislation pay has always been an area of controversy especially when one considers employee’s collective concerns (Brown et al., 2003). The introduction of The Equal Pay Act 1970 outlawing unequal pay for men and women having since evolved into equal pay for equal work and the Equal Pay (Amendment) Regulations 1983 after the UK joined the EU in 1973 (Perkins & White, 2009), now gives employees a certain degree of protection in their employment relationship. To strengthen current legislation The Equality Act 2010 was introduced highlighting human rights and discriminatory factors, such as equal pay, sex discrimination, race, disability and equality (religion, sexual orientation, and age) (Equality and Human Rights Commission, 2012). In response to this Scotia Learning are aware that they have a ‘duty of care’ to all employees and comply with the Equal Opportunities Policy by ensuring the relevant training is undertaken by managers and employees ensuring everyone understands the importance of and their responsibilities under this Policy. This is also promoted in all recruitment documents, ensuring that wording of job advertisements does not discriminate against any potential applicants. As part of this legislation, employers are legally required to ensure their pay structures are not discriminatory against men and women in terms of valuing work between them in their employment and in order to defend themselves against equal pay claims, organisations must be able to prove that the jobs within their grading system are valued according to the job rather than the gender of the person doing the job. Failure to adhere to these regulations can result in a tribunal claim and if proven the organisation will have to pay all money accrued which can be backdated six years in England and five years in Scotland. In the case of (Birmingham City Council v Abdulla and others [2012] UKSC 47), the Supreme Court ruled that equal pay claims brought in the High Court more than six months after the end of the claimants’ employment, which would have been out of time in an employment tribunal, should not be struck out under section 2(3) of the Equal Pay Act 1970. The reasons for a claimant’s failure to bring a timely claim in a tribunal are not relevant in any way to the notion of convenience under section 2(3). (PLC Employment Law Weekly email). Within Scotia Learning pay and benefits are provided on the basis of objective criteria, free from discrimination taking into account the principle of equal pay for equivalent work or work of equal value. In addition we ensure transparency within the reward system is clear to all employees in that they understand how their pay is worked out and what is required from them to achieve this. Job profiles and person specifications for each new vacancy are drawn up in keeping with other jobs of a similar size and responsibility which focus on the skills, experience and qualifications that are directly relevant to the job. Armstrong & Murlis (2007, p115) state that â€Å"the payment system is important as it not only conveys a signal to the employees what the organisational priorities are but also a cts as a catalyst for wider organisational change† a view reiterated by Armstrong (1996) in which he proposes that the foundations of reward management are to achieve the individual and organisational behaviour that a company needs if the business goals are to be met. Therefore the term ‘employees are the key to enhanced organisational performance’ becomes relevant with links to Kessler and Purcell (1994) where they emphasise that payment systems are related to recruitment, retention and motivation of staff and that the determination of pay is not only the interaction of market forces but also employers. It is also acknowledged that variations in pay can occur for a variety of reasons and from a legal perspective it is important to understand why (Redman & Wilkinson, 2009). Firstly the power scenario, in that if labour is scarce, employees will have more power and hence may be able to demand higher pay, in contrast with an over-supply of labour employers have the power and hence may be able to hold pay at lower rates (Redman & Wilkinson, 2009). Secondly, it has been acknowledged that ‘the rate for the job’ should be the same for employees doing the same job but considering organisational performance is reliant on the empl oyee’s effort, skills and competencies, it is not logical to assume that effort should be rewarded and pay should vary accordingly. A view shared by Redman & Wilkinson (2009, p161) who advocate that â€Å"variable pay schemes (VPS) are said to hold out the promise towards the creation of internal labour market that is fairer in rewarding people as it is only ‘fair’ that rewards should have a direct link with effort†. The argument with this theory is that ‘risk adverse’ workers will be less willing to ‘gamble’ on pay related performance than a set amount of pay. Thirdly, we should also take into consideration the external market rate of pay and uneven market pressures such as differing regional or occupational rates of pay as Kessler (2007, p167) states â€Å"external equity is an organisational imperative as failure to respond the labour market changes will leave organisations at a disadvantage competitively†. Scotia Learning responds to these challenges by regularly benchmarking and studying the market rate of pay within the educational sector. Data collected is beneficial in determining pay to ensure pay scales are in line with and competitive with similar jobs. For example, when recruiting teaching staff, the use of organisations such as SATEFL and other educational websites are particularly useful, for administration staff we would use S1jobs.com and jobseeker.gov.uk website and with management we would use agencies. However, although the aforesaid strategy is very useful, Scotia Learning is a relatively large organisation with Centres worldwide and other factors have to be taken into consideration, such as location and cost of living. In determining the value of jobs within our organisation, although we consider the external market pay rates, decisions concerning pay are done through a coherent wage and career structure internal to our organisation which ensures consistency and fairness in our reward systems. It has been reported that issues with this reward system have arisen within the banking sector resulting in Government intervention to deal with inequalities of pay setting at senior management/director level and low pay via the nati onal minimum wage. This is not an area of concern for Scotia Learning as the annual salary increase is a % rate consistent throughout the organisation and our pay structure process involves a job evaluation â€Å"a systematic process for establishing the relative worth of jobs within an organisation† Redman & Wilkinson (2009, p141). In addition Scotia Learning is accredited to the British Council and British Accreditation Council and all HR policies and personnel files are properly documented and filed. Our job evaluation comprises of an analytical (i.e., jobs are broken down into individual components) broad-band pay structure with a range of factors such as knowledge and skills, problem solving, decision making and then allocating points to them. It is interesting to note that research by IRS (2007) showed that an average of 86% of organisations use this form of job evaluation. Within this broad-band pay structure we have 6 wide overlapping salary bands made up of management, HR, teaching staf f, finance, student services and cleaning staff with a salary range for each bank of at least 75%. Progression up the bands will be by skills and qualifications, performance and competence enhanced through individual career development thus supplying the motivation for continuous learning. To support this, the annual performance review takes place, however it is not linked to pay or rewards and is based on the objectives of skills and competence which are linked to organisational performance. In terms of equity and fairness the rate of pay for full-time and part-time teaching staff is calculated on the same hourly rate therefore ensuring consistency and fairness within the system. It is interesting to note that research by Redman & Wilkinson (2009, p139) argues that by paying an hourly rate â€Å"employers control over pace and performance is reliant on either direct supervision or the willingness of employees to engage with the task† synonymous with the argument surrounding ‘risk adverse’ workers. This point of view may be viable in organisations such as ‘call centres’ where technology enables the monitoring and regulating of work by measuring output and input and within the customer service industry where we have the ‘secret shopper’, but within the education sector autonomy is part of the job as is their professional code of ethics which includes commitment, motivation and discretionary behaviour which is contradictory to the argument by Thorpe & Homan (2000) who suggest that non-financial aspects are secondary and rarely given the same prominence in the design of payment systems. Managing rewards is largely about managing employee expectations linking to their psychological contract which is concerned with pay, performance and the development of skills (Armstrong & Murlis, 2007). The argument then becomes, if reactions to rewards depend on the psychological makeup, values and needs of individual, one cannot wholly rely on performance related pay schemes to enhance all employees’ performance as not everyone is motivated by money. Motivation only takes place if rewards are worthwhile to the individual and if the process is seen to be fair, therefore, it would require to be customised for every individual in the organisation (Armstrong & Murlis, 2007). For example, an employee nearing the end of their career may be more interested in job satisfaction (intrinsic reward), whereas a graduate beginning their career may be more interested in training and development (extrinsic reward). For that reason it can be argued that both intrinsic rewards such as respect, recognition, job satisfaction and responsibility are just as important as extrinsic rewards such as pay rises, bonuses, training and development opportunities and benefits such as annual holidays, company sick pay and company pension. This highlights the importance of implementing an equitable and fair reward strategy in that by incorporating financial and non-financial rewards is that they can be used as a tool to enhance employee motivation resulting in improved organisational performance. Finally the importance of management skills cannot be undermined as they are a fundamental element of human resource management. The management strategy within Scotia Learning is based on autonomy, communication and high levels of trust between management and employees. Evidence to support this is the turnover rate of staff with one employee resigning over the past two years and the annual absence levels within Scotia L earning for all staff inclusive stands at 0.1% of working hours, which is the lowest in the entire organisation. Conclusion This objective of the report was to establish the processes that ensure equity and fairness in the reward systems. We have covered the legal aspects, strategies, market awareness, motivation, job evaluation and performance appraisal and it has become evident that Scotia Learning complies with all legal legislation, and displays equity and fairness within the reward systems. However there was an air of negativity surrounding performance and reward as within Scotia Learning the annual appraisal is not yet connected to pay for performance. It is possible that issues could arise if this was implemented, namely, it could seriously affect the dynamics of the office environment between a very closely-nit team of employees, managers and directors in that, how does the manager justify their decision in the event of a low reward without affecting the equilibrium of the office environment and within a unionised organisation all trade unions argue against performance linked to pay. Schemes relating pay to performance, although generating a tremendous amount of interest have very little in the way of conclusive evidence concerning their effects on performance (Redman & Wilkinson, (2009). This echoes Thompson (1992) findings in which he states, â€Å"research fails to provide convincing evidence of a link between individual performance-related pay schemes and improvements in productivity†. The evidence supports that other approaches should be considered in rewarding employees, for example a one-off bonus payment which would not affect the employees’ annual salary. References Armstrong, M. (1996) Employee Reward, London: Kogan Page/IPD Armstrong, M., and Murlis, H. (2007) Reward Management. 5thedn. London: Hay Group Brown, W., Marginson, P., and Walsh, J. (2003) The management of pay as the influence of collective bargaining diminishes. In: P.K. Edwards, Industrial Relations: Theory and Practice, Oxford: Blackwell IRS (2007) Job evaluation is thriving, survey finds: Employment Review, 667 Kessler, I. (2007) Reward Choices: strategy and equity. In: Storey, J. HRM: a critical text 3rd edition, London: Thomson Learning Kessler, I., and Purcell, J. (1994) Performance Related Pay: Objectives and application, Human Resource Management Journal, Vol.2, No.3 Perkins, S. J., and White, G. (2009) Employee Reward: Alternatives, consequences and contexts, 2nd edn. London: Chartered Institute Of Personnel and Development, Redman, T., and Wilkinson, A. (2009) Contemporary Human Resource Management: Text & Cases, 3rd edn. London: Prentice Hall, Thompson, M. (1992) Pay fo r Performance: The employers experience, Brighton, Institute of Manpower Studies Thorpe, R., and Homan, G (2000) Strategic Reward Systems, Harlow: Financial Times Williams, S., and Adam-Smith, D. (2006) Contemporary Employment Relations: A critical introduction, Oxford: University Press Equality of Human Rights Commission, available from: http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/human-rights/ – date accessed 23/10/12 PLC Employment Law, available from: employment@email.practicallaw.com – date accessed 26/10/12

Drilling Machine

Drilling Machine Chapter-4 ?Drilling machines ?Any component manufactured has one or more cylindrical hole in them. ?The process of making a hole is known a drilling. ?The cutting tool, which is used for making holes, is known as drill. ?The drill is a multipoint cutting tool. ?Definition: Drilling is the operation of making holes in a work piece using a drill bit. ?The hole is generated by the rotating drill, which exerts large force on the work piece clamped rigidly on the machine table. ?What is a Drilling machine ? A power operated machine tool, which holds the drill in its spindle rotating at high speeds and when manually actuated to move linearly simultaneously against the work piece produces a hole. ?Drilling machines ?Types Of Drilling Machines †¢Portable drilling machine †¢Bench Drilling Machine (Sensitive drilling machine) †¢Upright drilling machine †¢Radial drilling machine †¢Gang drilling machine †¢Multiple spindle drilling machine †¢Aut omatic drilling machine †¢Deep hole drilling machine. ?Portable drilling machine ?It is a small and compact machine, which can be conveniently held by hand, and drilling operations can be carried out. These machines are used to drill small holes in large work piece. ?Portable machines run at high speeds, powered by electrical motor or pneumatic. ?The maximum diameter of hole it can drill is 12 mm. The feed is applied by hand. ?Portable drilling machine ?Portable drilling machine ?Bench Drilling Machine (Sensitive Drilling Machine) ?Bench drilling machine ?These are light duty machines used in small workshops. ?Also called Sensitive drilling machines because of its accurate and well balanced spindle. ?Holes of diameter 1 mm to 15 mm. ?The main parts of the machine The main parts of the machine are Base, ?Vertical main column, ?Moving head ?Work table, ?Spindle and ?Driving mechanism. ?Bench Drilling Machine ?Upright Drilling Machine ?In construction the upright drilling machine is similar to a sensitive drilling machine for having a vertical column mounted upon the base. ?This machine is designed for handling medium sized work pieces. ?For drilling of different types of work a large number of spindle speeds and feeds are available. ?Upright Drilling Machine ?Upright Drilling Machine ?There are two types of Upright drilling machine †¢Round Column Section or Pillar drilling Machine Box Column Section. ?Round Column Section or Pillar Drilling Machine ?It consists of a round column that rises from the base which rests on the floor, a round table assembly, drill assembly and an arm. ?The arm and the table may be moved up and down on the column for holding work pieces of different heights and also moved in an arc up to 1800 and may be clamped in any position. ?The maximum size of holes that the machine can drill is up to 50mm ? Box Column Section Upright Drilling Machine ?It has square table fitted on the slides at the front face of the machine column. The table can be moved up and down by an elevating screw. ?It is suitable to work for heavier work pieces. ?The holes above 50mm in diameter can be drilled by this type of machine. ?Radial drilling machine ?These are heavy duty and versatile drilling machine used to perform drilling operation on large and heavy work piece. ?Holes up to 7. 5 cm can be drilled ?Radial Drilling Machine ?Radial Drilling Machine Base ?It is a large rectangular casting that is finished on its top to support a column at one end and work table at the other end. In some machines two or more number of bases are provided when drilling is done on a work pieces supported on anyone of the bases, another workpiece may be set up on the other for continuous operations. ?Radial Drilling Machine Column ?It is a cylindrical casting mounted vertically at one end of the base. It supports the radial arm which may slide up or down on its face. Radial arm ?It is mounted on the column extends horizontally over the base. ?It is a casting with its front vertical face accurately machined to provide guide ways on which the drill head may be made to slide. Radial Drilling Machine Drill head ?It is mounted on the radial arm and drives the drill spindle. ?A small drill head may be made to slide on the guide ways of the arm for adjusting the position of drill spindle with respect to work. Spindle drive and feed mechanism ?A constant speed motor is mounted at the extreme end of the radial arm. ?Working ?Work piece is marked for exact location and mounted on the work table. ?Drill bit is then located by moving the radial arm and drill to the marked location. ?By starting drill spindle motor holes are drilled. Radial drilling machines Plain radial drilling machine ?In this type of machine provisions are made for vertical adjustment of arm. ?In addition horizontal movement of drill head along the arm and circular movement of the arm in horizontal plane about the vertical column is also possible. ?Radial drilling machi nes Semi universal column ?In addition to the above movements the drill head can be swung about horizontal axis perpendicular to the arm. ?Other than the normal position the drill head permits to drilling a hole at an angle to the horizontal plane. Radial drilling machines Universal machine ?In addition to all the above mentioned movements. The arm holding the drill head may be rotated on a horizontal axis. ?This helps the universal machine to drill a hole on the work piece at any angle. ?Gang Drilling Machines ?Gang Drilling Machines ?Gang Drilling Machines ?The working features of a gang drilling machine are similar to other types of drilling machines. ?The only exception in a gang drilling machine is that a number of single spindles are placed side by side on a common base and are mounted on the same table. Each of these spindles can be independently set for different speed and depth of cut. ?Such machines are useful when number of holes of different sizes are to be drilled on th e same workpiece. ?Multiple Spindle Drilling Machine ?Multiple Spindle Drilling Machine ?Multiple Spindle drilling machine ?In these machines the head assembly consists of multiple spindles driven by a single motor with gear drives in the head. ?These machines are mostly used in continuous production shops where several holes of same diameter or different diameters are to be drilled simultaneously and accurately. ?Deep hole drilling machine These machines are used for drilling holes where depth exceed normal drill size. ?These machines are operated at high speed and low feed. ?These machines are very useful for drilling deep holes in rifle barrels, crank shafts, etc. ?The drill is withdrawn automatically each time when it penetrates in to the work to a depth. ?Deep hole drilling machine ?Drilling Machines Specification ?The specification of the radial drilling machine are ?Diameter of the column ?Length of the column ?Length of the arm ?Maximum & minimum drilling radius ?Spindle spe ed ?Feed. ?Drilling Machines SpecificationThe other details of the drilling machine are ?Maximum diameter of the drill that machine can operate. ?Table size ?Rise or lowering of the spindle ?Power ?Drilling Operations The different operations that can be performed in a drilling machine are †¢Drilling †¢Reaming †¢Boring †¢Counter boring †¢Counter sinking †¢Spot facing †¢Tapping †¢Trepanning ?Reaming ?It is a process of smoothing the surface of drilled holes with a tool. ?Tool is called as reamer. ?Initially a hole is drilled slightly smaller in size. ?Drill is replaced by reamer. ?Speed is reduced to half that of the drilling. ?Reaming ?Boring It is process carried on a drilling machine to increase the size of an already drilled hole. ?Initially a hole is drilled to the nearest size and using a single point cutting tool the size of the hole is increased. ?Counter boring ?This process involves increasing the size of a hole at only one end. ?Cutt ing tool will have a small cylindrical portion called pilot. ?Cutting speed = two-thirds of the drilling speed for the same hole. ?Counter sinking ?This is an operation of making the end of a hole into a conical shape. ?Cutting speed = half of the cutting speed of drilling for same hole. Spot facing ?It is a finishing operation to produce flat round surface usually around a drilled hole, for proper seating of bolt head or nut. ?It is done using a special spot facing tool. ?Tapping ?Process of cutting internal threads with a thread tool called as tap. ?Tap is a fluted threaded tool used for cutting internal thread ? Cutting speed is very slow. ?Trepanning ?It is a method of producing a hole by removing a disk shaped piece usually from flat plates. ?The hole is produced by removing the metal along the circumference of a hollow cutting tool. A hole is produced without removing much of the material from the workpiece, resulting in saving of material. ?Trepanning ?Tools used in drilling machine †¢Drills †¢Reamers †¢Taps ?Drills †¢Flat drills †¢Straight fluted †¢Twist drills ?Flat drill ?Straight fluted drills ?Straight fluted drills ?Twist Drill ?Twist drills are rotary end-cutting tools having one or more cutting lips and one or more straight or helical flutes for the passage of chips and cutting fluids. Twist drills are made with straight or tapered shanks, but most have straight shanks. ?Drill tool ?Twist Drills ?Nomenclature of Twist Drill ?Point ?Body ?shank ?Point Point is a cone shaped end of the drill. ?chisel edge or dead centre – sharp edge formed at the extreme tip of the drill by intersection of two conical surfaces. ?Point ?Flank – is the conical surface of the point. ?Lip – is the cutting edge formed at the intersection of the flank and inner surface of the flute. ?Body ?Body is the portion of the drill that extends from the tip of the drill to the lower edge of the neck. Flutes – are helical g rooves that are cut on the cylindrical surface of the drill. ?Body Margin – is the narrow strip along side of the flute. It guides and prevent rubbing of heel in the drilled hole.Heel- is the edge formed by the intersection of the flute surface and undercut surface of body. ?Body Body clearance – narrow surface gap between the margin and undercut portion of body. Web – is the thickness between two flutes. ?Shank ?Shank is the portion of drill above the neck. ?It will be straight or tapered. ?End of the shank is provided with small taper called as tang. ?Helix angle – angle formed by leading edge of the land with a plane having axis of the drill. ?lip relief angle – the angle formed by flank and a plane at right angles to the drill axis. ?Point angle – angle formed between two flanks.

Anais Nin Biography

Anais Nin Biography Essay Anais Nin was a passionate woman, not only in her works but also in her life. The fact that she lived life to the fullest is what made her books so intriguing. Although her diaries were a chronicle of her experience, her fiction showed the reader sides of her while displaying everyones innermost desires. In her own words Nin says, the role of the writer is not to say what we can all say, but what we are unable to say Rollins, and she does exactly that. For this reason her works take one on a journey through ones soul and allows the pondering which may never have been considered. This feeling of self discovery is quite powerful and erotic; the enpowerment supplies a feeling of utter enjoyment. This is why Anais Nins books are ageless, and they are impossible to parallel or surpass. Though many authors draw their story ideas from life experiences. Anais takes most directly in order to make them pure and unclouded by the imagination. This is why her favorite method of writing was the use of her actual diaries. She wrote of her many love affairs and personal traumas in order to educate the reader as well as to examine her true self. For it is known that one person could not experience all that is possible, and therefore one must learn from others mistakes as well as their own. Nin is greatly renown for her diaries, especially for her famous letters of her affair with Henry Miller . This later amounted to a movie based on the relationship Henry and June in 1986 site 1. Yet her fiction, although quite intellectual and harder to grasp than her diaries, also reveals a lot about the writer and open views on all aspects of living. She is creative enough to allow all to draw something personal from her writings, and this makes reading her novels an experience that one could associate with some aspect of their own life. Nins heightened sensitivity and perception site 1 are derived from her fiery lifestyle which started when she was very young. She was born in France, a country of vast influence, and she traveled throughout Europe for most of her childhood. When She was twelve years old she was relocated to New York, where the culture and diversity is unparalleled. She experience d so many lifestyles as various occupations: a dancer, a teacher, and later on even a psychoanalyst Scholar 5. She lived a very free life style for the time period, and she enjoyed this liberation to the fullest. She had many affairs, but she also had many great relationships that helped her improve and most of all experience. Through all of this she never lost the ability to appreciate her solitude. As her fictitious novels are analyzed it will be shown that a large part of Anais Nin resides in every one of her works, but she made sure to leave enough to allow a little piece of every reader to fit.! In this way the reader may be alone but in good company. Anais creates this aura by using the literary device known as negative capability, which is basically concurrence with the philosophy of saying less is saying more Walsh. She writes in such a way that allows one to see a general idea that does not cheapen a complicated idea by trying to isolate and define it. The theories which she attempts to explain are often too complicated for words, so Nin often turns to surrealism when she can think of no other way to address them. READ: The Lottery by Shirley Jackson EssayHuman emotion and existence is not something that can be black or white, and Nin describes it as somewhere in the gray area Knapp 39-68. The use of poetic and stream-of-conscientiousness phrasing allows the reader to find there own relative truth, since absolute truth in these situations are impossible. Her metaphors are powerful and shocking, but Nin was not an extreme surrealist. She believed in the fusing of the conscious and unconscious minds to allow one to see the total picture, instead of only looking from one point of view. Negative capability is best displayed in The House of Incest since this book was based largely upon Nin own dreams. She embarks upon a journey of self-discovery in this novel and starts out in a very logical place, the womb. The idea of a sense of peace and structure are seen through liquid and fuzziness which seem to make one want to remain there forever. Yet one does not attempt to live then one may be punished for this passive approach. Intellectual and social growth is a human need and must be met or else despair is inevitable. Therefore Nin traces the paths of human emotions and stances through many different people, who in actuality are all parts of a whole. She also explores the themes of lesbian love and incest by detailing how they allow the whole to feel safe and nurtured. Nin feels that one can not become too comfortable in one position or stuck in a rut that can cause on to die emotionally. Therefore her incestual character Isolina is sent to a horrible place, the house of incest, because she has tried to hide behind her brothers protection. Isolina never escapes or repents for her sins unlike her counterpart the dancer who recovers from selfishly cling to the ones she loved Nin House of Incest. Therefore she escaped her torment: And she danced, she danced with the music and with rhythm of earths circles, she turned with the earth turning, like a disk, turning all faces to light and to darkness evenly, dancing towards daylight DISCovering Authors. In these vague identifications and character references Anais presents, she suggests to the reader that man is a sum of many parts that will never equal the ideal self. Consequently one can not ignore any of their personalities or demand perfection without falling into decay or someplace equal to the dreadful house of incest DISCovering Authors. The prose style of the work lends to the subject matter extremely well and makes the insinuations appear simpler than they actually are. The Four-Chambered Heart investigates the complications of love, which will be contemplated by humans until no more exist. The relationship of Djuna and her musician lover, Rango, is again set in the fluctuating water on a house boat. She uses this to show the reader more than what is said; the relationship has the potential to sail, but instead it stays moored an increasingly in need of repair. This whole boat acts as a microcosm for their relationship throughout the novel. Rango is a married man which is attached to the shore by his hypochondriac wife who is comparable to Zeena in Edith Whartons Ethan Frome. She uses her manipulative powers to connect them all in a chain of mutual parasitism. They eventually come to resent each another, and they become parts of heart that are unable to communicate but able to work together to nearly emit life. This dependence eventually becomes unbearable. Nin relates this feeling to the reader by using the metaphor of a rag doll who has committed suicide. Djuna feels that by entering this relationship she has given up her life, which is very true. She eventually obtains release but feels as if her heart has stopped. This writing device allows the reader to identify with her dejected situation and the destruction of her dreams and the pain of her being. READ: Great Expectations by Charles Dickens EssayNin The Four-Chambered Heart. This tale was taken from an actual point in Nins life in which she had an affair on a house boat on the Seine Knapp 122-130. She used this story to analyze her situation and let others grow from her disheartening experience. This novel was a therapeutic device for Nin in which she could review her life objectively from different perspectives. Similarly, the diaries helped sort her feelings, and The House of Incest allowed her to delve into her surrealistic side. Nins flowing style and intangible ideals allow her novels to grow and influence the individual reader on many different levels, both of the subconscious and conscious mind. She was a writer who transferred her passion for life into the written word by the closest resemblance to actual thought. The more one tries to explain the greater the meaning is lost in translation. Nin had a passion like no other author I have read, as she states: If what Proust says is true, that happiness is the absence of fever, then I will never know happiness. For I am possessed my a fever for knowledge, experience, and creation. site 1. This fever is found in every page of the authors works, especially her erotic novels which are blunt and an education of experience that remains unparalleled. Yet with more subtlety she displays this burning in her tamer fiction, if one can read between the lines and fuse their beliefs with those that Nin wishes to convey. Her tales ignite the fire burning in the curious soul who has not yet to live or imagine half of what the author has experienced. Consequently she is an influential author on many young minds because she feels that her books are an emulation of her morale. The major themes found in The Four Chambered Heart and The House of Incest are presented in a way that allow everyone to be satisfied because Nin believed that We dont see things as they are, we see things as we are site 2. In conclusion, the use of negative capability permits the reader to see things as we are. This warrants the endurance of her writings through the passage of the decades for they still remain relevant to all of society.

E-waste Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

E-waste - Essay Example Regardless of the efforts by some individuals in reducing the level of e-wastes, it is unlikely that such efforts will solve the problem. E-waste, described as electronic products nearing their useful life is one of the biggest concerns for the environmentalists. Although the term e-waste describes electronic products near their useful life, some of the environmentalists use the term to describe a number of by-products and wastes dumped in the environment. According to Leonard (film), e-waste is any material dumped into the environment and has a negative effect to the environment or negatively affects the health of the people. Any by-product of the manufacturing process such as toxic fumes and wastes dumped into rivers and the soil as well as the unwanted products that consumers dispose of, whether obsolete or useless, according to Leonard (film) is e-waste. This generalization thus encompasses a number of by-products regarded as e-wastes to the environment. Since e-wastes do not dec ompose, they contribute to the biggest crisis facing human beings in this era  (Reinhardt web). Although there are efforts to recycle them, not all of these wastes are recyclable. As such, the only way that people can solve the problem is by reducing the amount of wastes produced and dumped into the environment. ... Different factors contribute to the increased amount of e-wastes in the environment. Although most of the studies concentrate on the effects of dumped e-wastes as the main contributing factors to the e-wastes, Leonard (film) includes all the stages involved in the product life cycle. As Leonard argues, â€Å"in the past decade, the world has used at least one third of the total natural resources†, which portrays a danger in waiting. While the third world countries do not take part in the high level of manufacturing, developed countries such as the united states, after extensively using their natural resources have resulted to the developing countries for raw materials. This balances the level of resources consumption in the world. The manufacturing process is yet another stage that significantly contributes to the high level of e-wastes in the environment. As the process involves the use of toxics, these contribute to the high number of toxic wastes released to the environment . The manufacturing process waste people too as they work in the highly toxic environments. They inhale the fumes from the production process, which contributes to the high levels of cancer diseases. Moreover, the production process releases fumes into the environment as well as effluents that are by-products of the manufacturing process. However, the increased culture of consumerism the world has adopted in the recent past contributes to the high level of e-wastes dumped in the environment. According to Leonard, â€Å"an average us person consumes twice as much as they consumed 50 years ago,† yet there is no way of changing this culture of consumerism in the society. the designing of

Medical School Essays Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Medical School Essays - Essay Example I then decided to become a doctor and to concentrate on medical research. Moreover, I have learned to value my education more, and this premium is reflected in the numerous academic accolades and scholarships that I have received during the last four years of my education. My parents are Mexican immigrants; while poor, they have lofty ambitions for their children. Because of our financial constraints, I have learned to live up to the responsibility of supporting them financially. I am able to provide my family with strength and inspiration because of my doggedness in obtaining a medical degree despite our poverty. They have also been edified by my example of struggling to learn the English language, and they too have taken courage to learn the language. I grew up in a neighborhood that was distinguished by poverty, with predominantly blue-collar workers. Because majority of residents were minimum wage earners, the neighborhood was characterized by crime and violence. I have been exposed to communities that lived in dire poverty, and I have witnessed their need for decent healthcare. This is also one of my motivators in pursuing a medical degree. This has developed in me compassion for the poor, and an authentic desire to help. My ethnic heritage has not hindered my social growth as a whole, but it had in the past affected my ambition to further my education financially. But my family’s difficult financial circumstances and my chance to witness poverty in the immediate community has given me all the more reason to work hard towards obtaining a medical degree. Perhaps, through my example, my family and my neighborhood will realize that poverty is not a reason for ignorance and for not going after your dreams. While it may be i ronic, I have taken inspiration from all these difficult circumstances that I grew up in. My

Mark-to-market accounting Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Mark-to-market accounting - Assignment Example Another benefit for companies of using such accounting treatment is the recording of unrealized gain on mark to market of financial assets e.g. in the case of investment in shares, the unrealized gain would be the difference between the cost price of those shares and the market price of those shares on which it is currently being traded in the stock market. Mark to market accounting is criticized now and then based on the fact that at times it is quite complicated to accurately determine the fair value of a particular asset or liability. The fair value of financial assets is liabilities are based on the expected income or expense in future periods. Uncertain and volatile economic condition can be major hindrance in forecasting such values. 2) For mark to market accounting it is very essential for trading to be in practice as the buyers and sellers are the two factors who determine the fair value of the assets and liabilities. In times financial crises trading is minimal and the markets are destabilized. The companies, during financial crises, have losses to report on in their P&L statements as the fair value of their assets has decreased below their cost price. Recording of such losses erodes the equity of companies which significantly reduces their asset holding capacity. Since every company in the economy practices mark to market accounting, the affect of economic downturn prevails throughout and the business cycle takes a down turn which causes further exacerbation. The banks and financial institution are affected the most as their balance sheet comprises mostly of financial assets. As a result, bankruptcy, large- scale fire-sale of assets and layoffs takes place. 3) During financial turmoil, relaxation in the requirement of mark to market by the regulators can certainly be a boost for the companies facing financial difficulties. Instead of valuing the assets based on the fair value in the market, the company should be allowed to use

Comparison of Aims, Objectives and Purpose of Marks & Spencers And Essay

Comparison of Aims, Objectives and Purpose of Marks & Spencers And Lidl Ltd - Essay Example This paper illustrates that business news and subjects have always formed a considerable hype among people and the race among the business firms are of particular interest to readers. However, this article is not about competition but reflects the internal aspects of business management and compares two top-ranking firms and their business practices. One of the companies is a front line retailer and supermarket chain operating globally, Marks & Spencer’s while the other one is the discount supermarket chain, Lidl. In reference to the selection of the companies, it is important to justify that these companies have been selected in order to understand the differences in their management and operational practices in relation to their particular industry traits. The company started its operations in the year 1940 and expanded their operations in 20 countries in Europe during the period of 1973. The privately held company with headquarter in Germany, over time, evolved as the fifth largest retailer in the globe in terms of sales, as per the statistics of 2011. The sales of the company rose to higher levels with the increase in their service processes and also helped them gain a reputation in the national retail and supermarket industry. The business operation of Lidl highly reflects the mission incorporated by the company. Lidl is well-aware about their existing size and customer base and aims to integrate customers across customers with different values and traditions. Lidl infuses systematic approach to achieving their primary goal i.e. customer satisfaction. The company understands the importance of the value of money for the customers and accordingly formulates the corporate strategies. The excellence of such strategies is reflected from the pricing decision and promotional strategies used by Lidl.

Digital Intellectual Property Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Digital Intellectual Property - Essay Example If that source code—or the idea behind the software—is not available to the public, then the software is â€Å"closed source† (Anderson, 2004). In the case of open source software, the opposite is true. The source code is available to the public and can be altered by the public without a violation of the license. Thus, software can range between having its source code completely blocked off from the public, to software where the source code is read-only to the public, to software where the source code is open to the world and alterable (Richard, 2003). This issue of making software â€Å"open source† and freely available to all to change creates some ethical problems in the era of rapid transfer of files over the internet. There are a number of avenues to use when analyzing any ethical issue. Perhaps the most common method in academic philosophy is a utilitarian perspective. Built on the concern that any action should maximize the happiness of society as a whole, utilitarianism would not be able to answer the question of whether open source software is ethical. Many of those questions, such as â€Å"is human knowledge advanced by full and free access to all information?†, are unanswered and reflect larger discussions about intellectual property protection (Ravitch, 2010). ... With respect to rights, the matter hinges upon the existence of individuals’ rights to their intellectual property, which is a guaranteed offered under United States federal law. According to the philosophy of the GNU Operating System distributors, â€Å"‘Free software’ is a matter of liberty, not price. To understand the concept, you should think of ‘free’ as in ‘free speech,’ not as in ‘free beer.’† (GNU Webmasters, 2009). When compared to the right to free speech, the comparison invites further questions about whether the two are truly comparable, or even similar, in nature. Beyond the rights issue, there is also the virtue perspective, in which some have argued that open source helps people think and learn as they share useful knowledge, therefore contributing to the well-being and human flourishing of all. Sharing this knowledge is, to some, â€Å"a fundamental act of friendship† (Ravitch, 2010). However, t o others, this knowledge only came about through effort and time, which therefore gives it some monetary value. Therefore, the argument could be made that open source software is encouraging the virtues of thieves, not friends. Again, another perspective on ethics raises more questions than it answers. Finally, the common good perspective on open source is optimistic about the potential for good done to the whole of humanity. According to the Catholic Church, â€Å"cyberspace ought to be a resource of comprehensive information and services available without charge to all, and in a wide range of languages† (Foley & Pastore, 2002). Although this kind of view depends on accepting some of the other ethical tenants of the Church, this perspective is valuable in

Sustainable Enterprise Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Sustainable Enterprise - Assignment Example There are important reasons why this could be substantially true. Monsanto was able to make a strong point that agriculture is a remarkable sustainability driver in the 21st century. The reasons are simple. There are continuing problems about decreasing yield in agriculture, population and income growth, urbanization and even the environment in general which face the society in reality. In the case of environment for instance, as a chemical company, Monsanto has considerable ideas regarding on how chemicals could create diversified environmental pollutions. Applying the concept of sustainability, Monsanto was finally able to create genetically engineered plants which have resistance to pests and diseases, which would make application of chemicals in farming obsolete in the future. In general, Monsanto created a need out of the ongoing reality in the world and from that a significant business surfaced which was in a form of life science strategy of food, health and hope. For some Europeans, genetically modified foods or plants are not actually integral components of exact science. In other words, they are quite hesitant about the issue of safety and control regarding on foods or plants that have undergone the process of genetic engineering in the field of biotechnology. Europeans are not actually oblivious about the significant promises of genetic engineering and biotechnology. However, European backlash is just a reminder that people should also consider the issue of safety and control. After all, integrating genetic materials with the original plant is not the usual or natural process of food production, so probable issues of safety are what the Europeans would like to emphasize, prior to acceptance of Monsanto’s life science strategy of food, health and hope. However, in developing world, concerns were on feeding a hungry stomach, ensuring high production or yield and advancement in agriculture. In other words, compared to safety

Enviromental Issues of Global Warming Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Enviromental Issues of Global Warming - Essay Example Nitrous gas, ozone and water vapor. This is called the greenhouse effect where the short wavelength radiations are allowed to pass through the gases but the long wavelength radiations reflected by the earth’s surface are blocked from penetrating by these gases and are reflected back to the earth. This raises the over the surface temperature above the average and this has had major affects on different aspects in the world. Effects of global warming on: Plant life; global warming and climatic change have become the major cause of the change in the functioning and the distribution of plant life. This change has led to the problem of speciation and extinction of plants. The plants thrive under certain conditions which when altered my reverse or terminate the process while their physiological functioning like that of their life cycles is defined. The way the plants synthesize is affected in that there is increased water intake efficiency, increased growth of these plants and also increased capacity to photosynthesize the result of this is the thickening of the plant community structure and functioning. North Gerald R J Schmandt Jclarkson eds. (1995) ni their book, the impacts of global warming, highlighted that, depending on the environment, there are different responses which may result to competition among different species of plants. In addition to this, there may result to a change in the herbivore nutrition due to the variation in the Carbon Nitrogen ratio. The rise in the climate has increase the rate of pests and disease multiplication. The organisms have shifted their range forward to higher elevations. The butterflies, dragons, beetles and moths are now living at higher latitudes and altitudes where survival was previously not possible due to the cold that infested these regions. More so, they arrive earlier in the spring season and take longer than usual to depart. These insects have terrorized the plants found in the world as heir multiplication a nd survival has been favored. The changes in the climatic conditions for example the temperature shifting may cause the phenology of the plants to change like the flowering of the plants. J.T Houghton.L.G.MJ FilhoD.J GriggsK. Maskell. (1997) observed that the flowering annual plants have been seen to flower earlier than the perennials while the insect pollinated plants flowering before those which are pollinated by wind and this will have an ecological effect. The change in the climatic conditions has had a tendency of altering the species composition in certain regions. While other place species fail to thrive under these changed conditions, other s may find it favorable and start developing in these regions. The result is an inevitable relative abundance in the composition of species. On animals: The animals have suffered an adverse effect due to global warming. Most of these effects are like those of the plants but the animals may face a worse deal as the extinction of some plant s may also cause the animals to cease in existence. The major effects of this problem is that the climatic change may change the composition and distribution of the animal species, a variety of stresses including the destruction of food sources like for polar bears and the polar ice melting plus the destruction of the glaciers may result to the fish which is its food to lack, thus leading to the polar bear extinction. The other result of stress is that the animals may be forced to migrate to other regions. This may

Socialization and Criminal Behavior Essay Example for Free

Socialization and Criminal Behavior Essay He was attractive, smart, and had a future in politics. He was also one of the most prolific serial killers in U. S. history. Ted Bundy screamed his innocence until his death in the electric chair became imminent, then he tried to use his victims one more time to keep himself alive. His plan failed and the world got a glimpse of the true evil inside him. Theodore Robert Cowell was born on November 24, 1946 in the Elizabeth Lund Home for Unwed Mothers in Vermont. Ted’s biological father was an Air Force veteran, and was unknown to his son his whole life. His mother was Lousie Cowell. After she had her birth with him, they has moved back to Ted’s grandparents in Philadelphia. While growing up there, his was taught that his mother was actually his sister, and that his grandparents were his parents. They did this in order to protect his mother from harsh criticism and prejudice of being an unwed mother, At the age of four, him and his mother moved to Tacoma, Washington, with some relatives. It was there where his mother had fallen in love with a military cook named Johnnie Culpepper Bundy, In May 1951, his mother married the cook, and Ted had then assumed his stepfather’s last name, and had gotten the name Ted Bundy. During the marriage, they had more children, and Ted found himself babysitting many days after school. In school, he was terrible shy and uncomfortable in many social situations. He was often the one teased in school or made the head butt of the jokes and pranks. Author Stephen Michaud analyzed his behavior and decided that â€Å"he was not like the other children. Despite his parental circumstances and meager surroundings Bundy was well behaved and grew into an attractive teen who was generally liked and who performed well in school. Throughout his years at high school After high school he entered the University of Puget Sound and continued to do well academically, but felt uncomfortable around his fellow peers who were predominantly wealthy. In his sophomore year Bundy transferred to the University of Washington to escape the uncomfortable feeling of his financial inadequacy.

Education Key to Success Essay Example for Free

Education Key to Success Essay In the 21st century technology should replace traditional teaching methods in order to stimulate student engagement. As social networking becomes more and more famous and teachers have to compete with something they Just dont have the right tools to fight them with the fight is Just unfair. With all the modern technology that todays students are surrounded with their attention spans have drastically decreased and with entertainment at the touch of a button away from them it becomes very hard to keep a class of 30 students entertained for an hour and as time passes by this will gradually get more and more orse. I am personally a very geeky technical person to me computers are like real life people who talk to you and guide you as long as you ask them right questions. I have started depending so much on computers that whenever I need help rather than asking my teacher I look it up on google because it is so much faster and easier to do but that information is not always true. I think the solution to this problem isnt to completely get rid of todays teaching methods or not allow students to use their technological devices at all I think the solution is a medium between these two paths o that the teachers have an easier time teaching and students find it more enjoyable to learn education materials. I think todays use of power points in lectures makes it so much more easier for teachers to make their lesson plans and for students to access them later on whenever they need it. But for a couple of years that is where its been stuck it power points get more and more fancier but they arent necessarily helping the students engage into the material that they are learning in class. I think school district should have a set amount of money put aside for labs and competitions where students can ruly discover their talents. I think science classes in high schools are kind of pointless where students never actually get to experience how it truly feels like to be a scientist that thrill of having succeeded in performing a lab right is Just a fantasy to them which rather than doing it themselves they watch others do in their science class on the projectors. Parent support is also necessary for these type of activities they are always worried about keeping their children safe and not exposing them to dangerous things but the truth of the situation is that the world is unpredictable and hat isnt necessarily good or bad but they also have to encourage students as well as teachers to be creative with their work. One of the rising problems the education system is facing today is the low standards set in math classes. Students have such a hard time in math today and rather than pushing themselves to try and work harder students take out the easy way and only fulfill the required math classes that they need to take some even avoid taking math classes if possible and pursue careers where they dont have to do any math at all I am not an expert but Just from personal experience I think math after pre-calculus ust becomes so abstract that I stopped seeing the real life applications of pre- used to love math when I was in elementary and middle school but that all changed once I took pre-calculus what once used to be my best friend was now my sworn enemy I would do anything to avoid doing math homework I understood the concepts that was never the problem but I always knew where it would end everyday me sitting in front of that same smart board everyday seeing the teacher solve problems and asking him every day where in real life I could apply it to use and the answer would always be the same Oh you need this for higher level hysics or Oh you use this in engineering I had grown so bored of these redundant answers that I completely shut myself down in my math class. I knew the math I was learning in class was to be appreciated it was Just ingenious but I never understood its purpose in MY life so I never bothered with it. And I am sure that I am not the only one my friends would complain about the amount of math homework they had to do each day and how much they regretted having taken a math class that year but I think it can all be changed if the students were Just given something more tangible to nderstand not some strange concepts that brilliant mathematicians had worked their lives on using proofs and theorems that I cant even begin to pronounce. Another problem in todays education system is the need for results everyone wants higher test scores no matter what and scientific research has proven that tests dont necessarily show if you understand the concept or not its Just how good of a test taker you are. This is causing a lot of psychological issues in todays students they are all awfully stressed out right before a major exam or test and that stress later on leads to medical conditions. I think we need to rethink our approach to tests they dont fulfill their purpose yet they are valued so much. I think I might have a simple solution for that problem rather than wasting money on standardized tests schools across the nations should have and end of the year project varying from subject to subject which would actually show how much of the material that they have actually learned and how much of it have they retained. Tests today are Just unfair to most of the kids they are not only timed they are State Standardized so whatever material that your teachers didnt go over is also put in the test it can result in loss of onfidence early on in the test totally ruining the students test scores. Last but not least the final problem I want to address in this essay is the motivation that the students lack which can either be the result of teaching material or teaching method either way resulting in a loss of years and years of education. Students all around the world already know what they want to become the second they leave high school they have been exposed to all the subjects enough but in U. S we barely scrape the top of the iceberg over 80% of college bound students go undecided into college t isnt necessarily bad but they waste years doing something that though they liked in high school but end up changing their major I think students can reach their potential faster if the standards in high school are increased every year or so. The more the students are exposed to different kinds of learning materials the easier it is for them to find what they truly like once they leave high school. it is used that might make it look that way but if technology were to combine with education the results would open up unbelievable opportunities for teachers and students.

Reflective Essay on Smoking Cessation

Reflective Essay on Smoking Cessation This essay provides a reflective account of the delivery of an opportunistic smoking cessation intervention. In constructing this account, Gibbs (1988) model of reflection has been utilised, which incorporates the following components: description; feelings; evaluation; analysis; conclusion; and action plan. Description Whilst shadowing a practice nurse, I was provided with the opportunity to implement a brief smoking cessation intervention with a patient. The patients name will not be used, in respect of confidentiality (NMC Code, 2008; NHS Confidentiality Code of Practice, DH 2003), however, for the purpose of this reflection she will be referred to by the pseudonym Sarah. Sarah is a 65-year old female presenting with a number of health issues. She is an overweight smoker who has recently been diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a lung disease characterised by the narrowing of the airways. COPD also refers to chronic bronchitis and emphysema, the latter of which Sarah has been diagnosed with. It is emphysema that is Sarahs primary health problem at present. The health promotion strategy adopted was a brief intervention comprising motivational interviewing (Rollnick, Miller and Butler, 2007), which took place within the practice surgery as part of Sarahs consultation. Motivational Interviewing is a directive patient-centered style of counselling designed to help people resolve ambivalence about behavior change, such as smoking cessation. Alongside motivational interviewing, some specific props and teaching aids were utilised, including the provision of evidence-based information, the creation of a COPD self-management plan (British Lung Foundation, 2010), and details of helpful resources Sarah could utilise for further support. This included the Surrey NHS Stop Smoking Service (www.surreyquit.net), which offers free NHS support tailored to the individual (i.e. weekly clinic visits or telephone contact). Feelings I was initially quite anxious about this health promotion opportunity, as I was not confident in my ability to provide constructive support in the limited time we had. However, on initiating a conversation with Sarah, using open questions as recommended within motivational interviewing, the anxiety disappeared as I listened to Sarahs story. Active listening requires concentration, which in turn focused me on how I might be able to help Sarah. In establishing that Sarah was concerned for her grandchildren, who stayed with her quite frequently and were thus around second hand smoke, this provided an anchor to facilitate the development of Sarahs motivation to change. In turn, this anchor also provided me with a patient-centred method for relieving my fears, since I had found a way of engaging Sarah in the process. Interestingly, as Sarahs motivation grew, so did my own motivation to ensure that Sarah gained as much from this brief intervention as possible. With every question that I could answer, I gained in confidence and enjoyed my role as educator and learner within the collaborative partnership between myself and Sarah. In this sense, the collaborative approach that underlies motivational interviewing and much of healthcare practice today can benefit both the patient and healthcare provider. My overall feelings regarding the interaction with Sarah are one of fulfilment. I feel I positively contributed to this patients increased resolve to stop smoking for both herself and her family. Evaluation Motivational interviewing was selected as the most appropriate health promotion intervention for Sarah for a number of reasons. Firstly, evidence regarding behaviour change and, in particular, smoking cessation, shows that level of motivation is an important factor in devising the best health promotion method or teaching plan for a patient (Prochaska, DiClemente, and Norcross, 1993). This approach takes into consideration humanist learning theory and the principles of self-directed learning. According to Prochaska et al.s (1983) five stages of behaviour change, Sarah currently resides in stage 2 of the following stages: Stage 1 (pre-contemplation) is when the individual does not intend to change behaviour; Stage 2 (contemplation) is when an individual is considering change; Stage 3 (preparation) is serious resolve to embark on smoking cessation; Stage 4 (action stage) is the first few crucial weeks and months where an individual is actively taking positive actions towards smoking cessation; and Stage 5 (maintenance) is about 6-months to 5-years after the initiation of the smoking cessation decision, where behaviour change has been sustained. Being in the contemplation stage suggests that Sarah still has some unresolved ambivalence about change and thus needs help moving to stage 3, where she can start to prepare for smoking cessation. If I had started to help Sarah plan for smoking cessation before she was ready, this could have been detrimental in both the short- and long-term. For example, it has been shown that overcoming the hurdles associated with smoking cessation can increase an individuals self-efficacy (i.e. confidence) in their ability to succeed at their quit attempt, which in turn acts to reduce the likelihood of a relapse and increase the likelihood of long-term sustained smoking cessation (Schnoll et al., 2010). If Sarah was pushed towards a quit attempt before prepared, her risk of relapse would have been high; this would have ultimately reduced her self-confidence to try again. The transition from the contemplation stage to the preparation stage has been cited as being critically important to the outcome of quit attempts (Prochaska, DiClemente, and Norcross, 1993), as has the fact that healthcare professionals can be extremely influential at this stage Long et al., 1996). I considered motivational interviewing to be key to influencing Sarahs decisions regarding smoking cessation since it was designed specifically to help people resolve ambivalence about behavior change, which is the main characteristic of people in the contemplation stage of motivation. Motivational interviewing can achieve the resolve of ambivalence by avoiding confrontation and guiding people towards choosing to change their behavior themselves. I was aware that motivational interviewing would need to be accompanied by detailed education about smoke-related health issues and the likely course of COPD, together with possible complications and its association with increased morbidity and mortality. Sarah is an intelligent individual and keen to receive such information and reading material. Unfortunately, however, I was unable to answer all of her questions. In particular, I could not answer her questions regarding the pathophysiology of smoking. Unanswered questions can act as a barrier to progress, something which I do not wish to produce in a patient who requires such barriers removing. Fortunately, I was able to answer Sarahs questions whilst referring to an educational information leaflet. I do, however, feel that I would have been able to engage with Sarah more effectively if it had not been necessary for me to focus my attention on the leaflet before me. It became apparent throughout the consultation that although Sarah was most certainly considering quitting smoking, she possessed some traits that might hinder her efforts. In particular, Sarah appeared to have an external health locus of control. This means that she attributes control over her behaviour to external factors as opposed to internal factors. It is well documented within the literature that an internal locus of control is more productive to behaviour change and healthier lifestyle choices (Wallston and Wallston, 1978; Tones et al., 1992). Taking this into consideration, I was mindful to acknowledge Sarahs control over her choices. In one instance, I used her husband as an example since Sarah had informed me that her husband had quit smoking. I asked her how he managed to achieve this and in recognising her husbands role in his own smoking cessation, Sarah appeared to be adjusting her locus of control towards a more internal one. Nevertheless, Sarahs self-efficacy remained low throughout the consultation despite attempts to boost her confidence. It is believed that increased self-efficacy, which can be achieved via motivational interviewing, is an important factor involved in the success of smoking cessation (Brown et al., 2003; Karatay et al., 2010), thus I felt this was an important aspect to include in Sarahs self-management care plan to set herself an achievable goal each week that would gradually build her confidence. Analysis The Department of Health have been working with the NHS, patients, and healthcare professionals since 2005 to develop a strategy to improve the care and outcomes of people with COPD (DH, 2010). This strategy places a large focus on the prevention and treatment of smoking, as well as the importance of providing patients who have COPD with behavioural support and access to stop smoking services. The Department of Health (2009) have produced guidance on effective stop smoking services, offering three levels of behavioural intervention: brief interventions (level one); intensive one-to-one support and advice (level two); and group interventions (level three). In terms of level one, brief interventions, the National Institute of Clinical Excellent (NICE) have published guidelines and recommendations for smoking cessation (NICE, 2004). Furthermore, previous UK guidance has emphasised the importance of offering opportunistic, brief advice to encourage all smokers to quit and to signpost them to resources and treatments that might help them (West, 2005). They Department of Health guidance states that all smokers should be advised to quit and asked if they are interested in quitting; this is unless there are exceptional circumstances such as other medical conditions that might hinder smoking cessation. Those who are interested in quitting should then be offered a referral to an intensive, level two, support service such as NHS Stop Smoking Services. Sarah was referred to the Surrey service and informed of the success rates found for NHS Stop Smoking Services. There is evidence that such services are effective in the short-term (4-weeks) and the long-term (52-weeks); indeed, between 13-23% of successful short-term quitters remain abstinent at 52-weeks (NICE, 2007). Conclusion Approximately 900,000 people in England and Wales have been diagnosed with COPD (NICE, 2004) and it is the fifth most common cause of death in the UK, resulting in over 30,000 deaths annually (National Statistics, 2006). By 2020, it is estimated that COPD will be the third most common cause of mortality worldwide (Lopez et al., 2006). Smoking is the largest risk factor for developing COPD, with 20% of long-term smokers eventually developing clinically significant levels of the disease and 80% developing lung damage (Garcia-Aymerich et al., 2003). These statistics highlight the urgency of grasping opportunistic health promotion and utilising brief intervention skills to help deliver the DH strategy and improve the care and outcomes provided to people with COPD. Delivering brief opportunistic interventions for smoking cessation requires an approach that does not create defensiveness but develops a patient/provider partnership conductive of the patient making their own decisions, with support, as to their lifestyle. Motivational interviewing and consideration of individual patient characteristics and traits (i.e. locus of control, stage of readiness to change, etc.) provides a method of achieving this partnership within limited time and resources, as is often the case in busy healthcare environments. Learning the skills within motivational interviewing will add to a healthcare professionals repertoire of techniques for supporting patients through behaviour change, as I found in the case reflected upon within this essay. Action Plan The UKCC Code of Professional Conduct (1992) proposes that nurses should maintain and improve her professional knowledge and competence. In relation to my own knowledge and competence in opportunistic health promotion, I have recognised that I need to increase my skills for nurturing patient self-efficacy. Patient confidence is fundamental to successful behaviour change and although I feel satisfied with my approach to Sarah, it would have been useful to have possessed a larger repertoire of techniques for enhancing self-efficacy. I could also benefit from a greater understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms by which smoking causes COPD. Sarah was particularly interested in the physiological effects of smoking and whilst I could offer her basic information verbally, I needed to refer to information leaflets for more detailed insight, which disrupted the flow of conversation. I have started to explore these issues via a search of the literature on behaviour change and health promotion. As part of this search, I have come across the concept of implementation intention (Gollwitzer, 1999). The theory behind this concept is that in order for someone to implement a desired behaviour, it is necessary for them to devise a specific plan that will increase their intention to pursue that behaviour (Gollwitzer and Sheeran, 2006). This is an interesting technique that could be integrated into motivational interviewing and health promotion via the self-management care plans currently provided. I intend to explore this further and to discuss it with a superior. Using Gibbs reflective model to structure this account has helped me to recognise my strongest skills and those that require further development. I will endeavour to take a proactive approach to utilising this greater insight into my professional abilities.

Innocent Man by John Grisham Essays -- essays research papers

The innocent man is the story of Ron Williamson who was unjustly convicted of murder and spent twelve years on death row before being exonerated by DNA evidence. Ron Williamson was born in Ada, a small town in Oklahoma. His future looked bright when he was young and he was an exceptional athlete who was drafted by the Oakland Athletics. After an unsuccessful career in the minors Ron Williamson became a drug addict and an alcoholic whose life steadily got worse. He could not keep any job and he began spending most of his time in bars, and living with various friends. He soon accumulated a criminal record that included DUI?s, check fraud, and two rape charges that did not result in conviction. He became a heavy user of prescription drugs on top of his alcohol abuse, and after his baseball career ended he developed several mental llnesses and began to spend brief spans of time in mental hospitals. When a waitress who worked at a bar he often frequented was raped and murdered he became a suspect. Eventually he was convicted of the crime which he did not commit and was sentenced to death. A friend of his, Dennis Fritz was also wrongfully convicted as an accomplice and sentenced to life in prison. It was a terrible ordeal that Ron Williamson and Dennis Fritz suffered being wrongly convicted of a murder. They both spent 11 years in prison, fritz serving a life sentence and Williamson on death row, locked up with heartless killers and treated like an animal. The book also has a subplot revolving around the abduction of another girl in Ada who to this day has never been found. Two men, Tommy Ward and Kurt Fontenot were convicted of a rape and murder and are currently serving life sentences. Although no concret... ...tem. It is unbelievable how lax, inadequate, and unjust the justice department can actually be in our country that we thought was civilized. It is ludicrous that many of the same people who convicted two innocent men of crimes and nearly got one killed are still working in the same offices even after they were proven unethical, and disrespectful to their duty. This book was not written help Ron Williamson or Dennis Fritz, they have already been exonerated and have received compensation. It was probably not written for money, John Grisham stated in a speech that he feared a lawsuit. (law.virginia.edu) This book was written to make a political point. Even though this book is somewhat biased against the death penalty it still should enrage an American citizen who believes that a person is ?innocent until proven guilty,? and ?has a right to remain silent.?

Husband Battering Essay -- essays research papers

Husband Battering: A Serious Problem Billboards, radio, and TVads across the country proclaim that â€Å"every fifteen seconds a women is beatenby a man.† Violence against women is clearly a problem of national importance,but has anyone ever asked how often men are beaten by women? The unfortunatefact is that men are the victims of domestic violence at least as often aswomen are. While the very idea of men being beaten by their wives runs contraryto many of our deeply ingrained beliefs about men and women, female violenceagainst men is a well-documented phenomenon almost completely ignored by boththe media and society. The first reaction uponhearing about the topic of battered men, for many people, is that of incredulity.Battered husbands are almost a topic for jokes - such as the cartoon image of awoman chasing her husband with a rolling pin. One researcher noted that wiveswere the perpetrators in 73% of the depiction of domestic violence in newspapercomics (Gelles 1974). Battered husbands have historically been eitherignored or subjected to ridicule and abuse. In 18th-century France, a batteredhusband "was made to wear an outlandish outfit and ride backwards aroundthe village on a donkey" (Langley & Levy 1977). Even those of us wholike to consider ourselves liberated and open-minded often have a difficulttime even imagining that husband battering could take place. Although feminismhas opened many of our eyes about the existence of domestic violence, and newspaperreports often include incidents of abuse of wives, the abuse of husbands is ararely discussed phenomenon. One reason researchers andothers had not chosen to investigate husband battering is because it wasthought to be a fairly rare occurrence. Police reports seemed to bear this out,with in some cases a ratio of 12 to 14.5 female victims to every one malevictim. But another reason is that because women were seen as weaker and morehelpless than men due to sex roles, and men on the other hand were seen as moresturdy and self-reliant, the study of abused husbands seemed relativelyunimportant (Steinmetz 1978). In 1974, a study was done which compared male andfemale domestic violence. In that study, it was found that 47% of husbands hadused physical violence on their wives, and 33% of wives had used violence ontheir husbands (Gelles 1974). Half of the respondents in... ...involves denying thatwomen are victims. Women’s groups that help battered women could also helpbattered men, while men’s groups that counsel abusive men could make theirexpertise available to violent women as well. Continuing to portrayspousal violence solely as a women’s issue is not only wrong – it’s alsocounterproductive. And encouraging such unnecessary fragmentation anddivisiveness will ultimately do more harm than good. No one has, or shouldhave, a control on pain and suffering. But until society as a whole confrontsit’s deeply embedded stereotypes and recognizes all the victims of domesticviolence, we will never be able to solve the problem. Domestic violence is aneither a male or a female issue – it’s simply a human issue. References Farrell, W. (1986). Why men are the way they are.New York: McGraw-Hill. Gelles, R. (1974). The violent home: a study ofphysical aggression between husbands and wives. Beverly Hills: Sage. Langley, R., Levy, R. (1977). Wife beating: thesilent crisis. New York: Pocket Books. Mercy, J., Saltzman, L. (1989, May) â€Å"Fatal violenceamong spouses in the United States, 1976-85† American Journal of Public Health,79, 595-599.

Getting Enough Sleep Essay -- Research Sleeping Health Essays

Getting Enough Sleep Did you know that sleep is one of the most vital necessities of life? Laboratory animals die when they are deprived of sleep, and likewise, humans would too (Johnson 5). Many people don’t realize how important sleep is. The man who attempts to do 15 hours of work, in only 7 hours is only hurting himself. This man who stays up late trying to finish his work, believes that he is working hard, and therefore will be able to sleep hard for a little while. This is definitely not the case as he will feel less and less refreshed each morning and will feel more and more tired each day. What the public needs, is to be informed about good sleeping habits and sleeping disorders that go unnoticed. We should wake up to the importance of sleep and how the amount sleep not only affects themselves, but also society. In 1959, The American Cancer society surveyed more than 1 million Americans about their sleeping habits. Conclusions drawn from the study showed that people who got less than 7-8 hours of sleep on average per night, had a higher mortality rate. A six year follow-up was done to the people surveyed. The results showed that men 30 years old or older that got 4 hours of sleep a night had more than double the risk of dying than men who averaged 7-8 hours. The risk was only about 1.5 times higher for women. Similar results were found in a different study of 4,713 people. Those getting 6 hours of sleep or less had a 30% higher death rate (Pressman 29). Although we can see what happens when people don’t get enough sleep, scientists are still unable to explain the function of sleep. The amount of sleep not only affects your mortality but also your personality. Some people are by nature long sleepers, and some a... ...nts with insomnia can benefit from restructuring their bedtime habits and sleep-wake cycles. With 7-8 hours of sleep per night, there will be many less problems with sleep disorders, accidents in cars and planes, and other health concerns. Shakespeare once commented on sleep as, "the great restorer." We need to understand the function and importance of sleep and relate this to improving our health and our bodies. In order for our country to continue to be a world leader, the people of the United States should not have to deal with fatigue and should have an optimal level of alertness and performance. Works Cited Johnson, Laverne, and Paul Naitoh. The Operational Consequences of Sleep Deprivation and Sleep Deficit. San Diego: AGARD, 1974. Pressman, Mark R., and William C. Orr. Understanding Sleep. Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association, 1997.

Information Technology security control Essay

There are a number of Information Technology security controls. The three most common are: physical, technical, and administrative controls; however, many organizations break down administrative controls into two separate categories: procedural and legal controls. â€Å"Security controls are the means of enforcing security policies that reflect the organization’s business requirements, † (Johnson). Security controls are implemented to guarantee the information security C-I-A triad. Furthermore, security controls fall into three types of control classifications, they are: preventive, detective and corrective. These classifications are used to specify when a security control applies. Physical Controls are exactly what they sound like, physical obstacles used to prevent or deter access to IS resources. Physical controls can be barriers such as locked doors, requiring some sort of authentication/authorization command to enter, like a cipher lock or keycard. Biometric scanners are also excellent controls to identify and allow access to authorized personnel. Video cameras and closed-circuit television are also examples of physical controls. For organizations requiring extreme security measures, perimeter barriers such as walls or electric fences are used; additionally, security guards fall into the physical controls category. Technical Controls are logical and/or software related controls designed to restrict access to the network infrastructure, components, and data. Controls such as discretionary, mandatory access controls, rule- and role-based access controls, and passwords are all examples of technical controls. Physical controls are used to prevent physical access to the physical components; whereas technical controls are implemented to prevent digital/logical access if physical access is achieved. Some physical hardware can also fall under the technical control category because they contain the software utilized to prevent or allow access to the network; components such as firewalls and routers are examples. Administrative Controls can best be described as the paper-based controls designed to inform personnel who can do what, when, where, why and how. As stated above the administrative controls are sometimes broken down into two separate categories, procedural controls and legal controls. Procedural Controls are an organizations policies and procedures that all employees must follow for each specific circumstance for which they were written. Examples of these include: security awareness and training, incident response plans, and change controls. Some of these procedures will include step-by-step instructions that must be adhered to handle each topic; whereas others will be more general controls that may or may not relate to other policies. Legal Controls are controls that must be in place for organizations to operate. Compliance regulations/laws/standards fall into this category. Examples would include HIPAA and PCI DSS, GLBA, SOX, FERPA and CIPA. Administrative controls also protect the organization, by allowing to inform employees of the punitive measures that can/will happen for non-compliance violations, such as the Acceptable Use Policy.

Business Profile of Ireland Essay

Ireland is an island located in the eastern part of the North Atlantic Ocean. Almost all the areas of the country are covered by coastal areas. The density of rainfall is much in the western part of the country that receives heavy which exceeds 3000 mm (120 inches) per year and only 60% of rainfall is received in remaining areas having 762 mm rainfall per year. The country is hugely populated with Christian’s community (Thompson, 1849). The official language of the country is English and mother tongue is Irish. The education background of the country is that, 52.3% of the population are primary educated, 23.3% of the population are secondary and only 24.4% are t highly educate (Hall, 1995). Ireland is one of the most emerging countries of the United Kingdom. It allows the enthusiastic entrepreneurs to commence small as well as medium sized industries which facilitates in the growth and prosperity of the country. For this the so many assistance were provided like financial assistance from both the sides of government body and other institutions, imposing tax   at concession rate, simplified procedures for incorporating, economical tariffs and transportation costs. And other running costs prevailed is also lower compared to other parts of the UK. In addition to these the country is filled with energetic, enthusiastic, young, skilled and highly educated workforce. Ireland is a developing country with a total population of 436, 6193 according to the survey carried out in 2007.   Since1980, about 40% of the inward investment in the European Electronics sector has been contributed by Ireland (Hall, 1995). Now, it is being accepted as one of the growing countries in the world. Most of production functions are undertaken by the country itself and the well known software packages are designed in this country i.e. around 60% of the total software packages sold in different parts of the world. It is also well known that for the software export in the world. Out of top 15 pharmaceutical companies, 13 companies have been manufacturing and conducting R&D operations in Ireland. It also has been a full member of Euro Currency Zone from its inception. It can also simplify the transactions including cross border transactions and other administrative costs that enables the Irish market to gain competitive advantage over costs and gets economies of scale. ‘The Doing Business Report’ reports that the country is ranked 7 out of 181 economies in terms of ease of doing business (Economy Ranking, 2008). The report also documents that the country is accepted as the 5th economy among the 181 economies across the world to start a new venture. Source: (The Doing Business Report 2009, Economy Ranking, 2008) Political Environment The country’s political stability, risk assessment, administration and policy-making are very much feasible to the business people in domestic and their foreign policies are too favorable to the investors. Evaluating and anticipating the political stability and security to the business environment in Ireland, it can be said that the political stability of the country plays an important role in determining the entrance of new ventures in to their market. Their trade policies attract many new entrepreneurs to commence their business operations in the country. Recent emergence of emigration, environmental risk and the affect of technological changes to the political agenda   have been seen along with Ireland’s economic   performance, their   peace process, the policy areas of health, housing and industrial relations of the country. Economic growth rate since past decades of the country in terms of per capita GDP level showed a higher trend. The reason behind such development was imaginative i.e. the dynamic programs developed by Irish political and administrative leaders irrespective of the governing body mainly focused on the development of the country as a whole and not as an individual. Ireland’s good working condition and better relationship with the United Kingdom has enabled the two governments to achieve significant progress and developments in the country. Comparative advantage of the country When we are talking about the comparative advantage of the country it is necessary to evaluate the overall development of the country. There is a good sign in inflation rate which is showing decreasing trend from last decades, this resulted in increase in the purchasing power of the people and also the micro factors GDP and Per Capita of the country also showed a positive sign. In addition to these foreign exchange rate increased. This inspired more and more outside companies to establish their business in the country and increased the amount of contribution of the foreign companies in the country, this factor provided employment opportunities to the people of Ireland. The following are the various categories that offer large amount of employments to youth. –  Ireland Industries – Ireland Hi tech – Ireland real estate – Ireland Services – Sundry The other comparative advantage of the country is the prevailing taxation policy of the country. It impose lower rate of taxation for existing industries as well as new industries. The policy of taxation is based on the individual income .In other words, higher the income higher the rate of tax payable. Companies those who are following the conditions as mentioned in the assessment year of July 1998, only 10% corporate tax will be applicable. This tax slab rate will remain unchanged till 2010. If it is a passive income only 25% is applicable (Cantillon, 2001). Income tax imposed on individuals is also low as compared to other countries in the world. For an individual, tax will be payable according to income earned in Ireland and overseas who follows the requirements to become a resident of Ireland for. A foreign resident who is employed in Ireland is also liable to pay tax on income earned in Ireland. It is yet another comparative advantage over other countries. Besides this they are also preventing the levy of double tax to the foreign companies even though it is followed in other parts of the country. In addition to these advantages, the government of Ireland provides VISA to the foreigners to do business in their country. In certain occasions they give passport having 3 months validity to the foreigners to stay. And a work permit will be given to the foreigners by the government if all the conditions in the gazette are complied by them. And suppose they are issued without fulfilling the conditions it will badly affect the employ Tax. They are liable to pay tax on income earned in Ireland and overseas by an individual who meets the test of a â€Å"permanent resident† of Ireland. A foreign resident who is employed in Ireland pays tax only on income earned in Ireland and not on overseas. The work permit is granted for the period of one year if required it can be extended. The major industries of Ireland The major industries located in Ireland are Agriculture, Beverages, Chemicals and Fertilizers, Clothing, Construction, Electronics and Data Processing, Food Processing, Machinery, Pharmaceuticals, Textiles, Tourism. Major companies working in Ireland Barry’s Tea Ltd It is a privately owned company. It was founded in Republic of Ireland in 1901 whose headquarter is situated at Cork. The main products of the company are Tea. About 73 employees are working in the company. The annual turnover of the company is â‚ ¬ 31 million. Baltimore Technologies It was founded in 1976 at Dublin, Ireland. About 12 employees are working in the company. The main products of the company are Public Key Infrastructure Solutions. The Company was acquired by Oryx International Growth Fund in July 2006. Airtricity The company was established in 1997 in Ireland. Paul Dowling is the current CEO of this company. Mainly they are producing electronic items. About 380 employees are working in the company. Arnotts It is one of the oldest and largest department stores at Dublin, Ireland. It was established in the year 1843 by Sir John Arnott. It is a privately owned company. â‚ ¬ 750000000 is the asset of the company. Market capitalization of the company is US$13billion.

My Hobby- Kayaking Essay

Ladies and gentlemen, I have come here to talk to you about one of my hobbies, kayaking. A common misconception is that a kayak is the same as a canoe, but this is not the case. There are a number of differences between a kayak and a canoe, the main difference is that in a kayak, you are enclosed, unlike in a canoe, whose cockpit is much like a boat. Also, a kayak is normally for one person only and a canoe is for a number of people. Finally, in general, a canoe has only one paddle. While a kayak has two that are joined together with one shaft. The word kayak means â€Å"hunter’s boat†. The kayak was developed by cultures in the arctic of North America for hunting. To these people, the kayak meant survival. Without it they couldn’t get food. There wasn’t much time for recreation. To obtain food they used kayaks to hunt in extremely harsh conditions. Archaeologists have found evidence that indicates kayaks to be at least 4000 years old. Hunting in a kayak was very dangerous. Sometimes a wounded animal wound attack the kayak, and walrus and whales were especially dangerous when injured. Occasionally the harpoon line would tangle and damage the kayak. Because the escaping normally was so hazardous, these people became quite proficient in the â€Å"Eskimo Roll† (where if you get flipped upside down, this is called capsizing, you flip yourself up again instead of exiting the kayak). The reason for this is that in emergencies, exiting the kayak into the water was very perilous; the animal that they were trying to hunt could be even more dangerous if they were attacked while inside of the water. Rolls that are thought of as tricks now were based on actual survival techniques. The hunter may have been hurt by a wounded animal or have their hand tangled in the harpoon line, and therefore the Eskimo roll is essential to avoid drowning These paddlers used jackets made from waterproof skins and seal intestines. Today, these waterproofs are also used as well, they are called cagoules,  but they are fortunately made of fabric! I like kayaking because it gives you a sense of freedom. The fresh air and water can be very refreshing and relaxing. A great thing about kayaking is its great diversity. The number of things that you can do and the many ways that you can do it is overwhelming. You can go with as many or as little people as you want. You can go in almost any weather as long as you wrap up warm in colder circumstances. You can do tricks such as the Eskimo roll. You can race your friends and even play games such as bulldog. Finally you can go on long sightseeing tours. The scenery is frequently breathtaking, you can get close to wildlife such fish swimming and it is not uncommon to see the adorable sight of a duck and a line of chicks following its mother. There is a large sense of satisfaction when you get better or learn something new. Today, these hunters have replaced their kayaks with motorboats, but kayaking has become a very popular form of recreation in other parts of the world. Today’s kayaks are mainly made of plastic and wood. Their design runs from small white-water boats to 20 foot long touring kayaks that can carry several week’s provisions. The reasons we paddle may have changed, but the kayak remains a quiet, efficient and fun means of transportation whose design has stood the test of time. Thank you for listening