Thursday, November 28, 2019

Hate Crimes In America Essays - Behavior, Gender, Human Behavior

Hate Crimes In America Hate Crimes In America Did you know that people with blonde hair have low I.Q.s? Or that people less than five feet tall are more likely to spread a disease? How about that people with brown eyes are really worshipers of Satan? That did not sound very logical, did it? No, you know that people with blonde hair can be as smart or as unintelligent as the next person, that short people are not necessarily better hosts to disease, and that people with brown eyes can believe in whatever they want. Some people, on the other hand, would say these things made perfect sense when applied to a different race, religion, ethnic background, gender or sexual orientation. The idea of prejudice is as old as Mans' time on Earth, that someone who is different just is not as good. When a person thinks like this, it can clutter their judgement. They start to see others, different from themselves, as not even human let alone equal. Violence often ensues. When that happens, we have a hate crime. A hate crime does not necessarily have to be a physical violent act. Words and threats can be just as damaging on an emotional level as a physical blow is to the head. Laws have been passed to prevent these actions, however, year in and year out there are hate crimes against different groups running into the thousands?and those are just the reported incidents. The most common variety of hate crimes is committed against the African American community. Acts of violence and hatred against Blacks have been seen throughout history. The earliest forms of hate groups often led these attacks, and groups of old are still present today, such as, the Aryan Nations, and the Ku Klux Klan (http://sociology.ucdavis.edu/classes/grattetHate_Crimes_Class_Site/Hate_Groups.html). Although not thriving as they had in olden times, these groups still exist and have strong followings in many different places. Today, because of their lack of popularity amongst broad-minded people, hate groups have changed the way in which they present their ideals. All too often, hate groups try to pass off their outlandish beliefs as a truth of religion. Using quotes from the Bible and other religious texts and twisting them to fit their image (http://sociology.ucdavis.edu/classes/grattetHate_Crimes_Class_Site/Hate_Groups.html). They also attempt to draw the youth of communities. During a time when teenagers are confused, and feel exiled, they can come upon a web site of pro-Aryan content and easily be swayed. As a teen there is a need to belong, and there they can feel as though they do belong to something much larger than they are. It seems as simple as the sky being blue, ?These people are like me, and they believe these things. It does not cost me anything, all I have to do is agree with them.? That is where it begins. After years of subtle, and some not so subtle, ?brainwash? a teen can become an adult who would do anything for what they now believe to be truth. The idea that anyone who is not Caucasian and does not believe whole heartedly in Christianity, becomes the enemy. In the muddle an entire race can be downcast, and it was once. In a time when ignorant people were in control African American slavery was an everyday event, beating was practically expected, and they were treated as nothing more than the mule or the dog. As time progressed people realized their ways of thinking were wrong and slowly began to change what had always been. Still, in our day and age, Blacks face racial discrimination all the time. It does not seem as apparent, after the Civil Rights Movement, many people believe everything to be fine and well. This concept is far from the truth. There were, and still are, Whites who treated Blacks as objects, and degraded them at any opportunity. Hate crimes against blacks have been some of the most brutal of any hate crimes. Beating, hanging, and burning, have all occurred as recently as 20 years ago. Churches of gospel, or more commonly churches whose members are prominently African American, are attacked on a regular basis. Churches have always been the most important independent institution in the Black community,

Monday, November 25, 2019

Five steps to writing a great LinkedIn profile - Emphasis

Five steps to writing a great LinkedIn profile Five steps to writing a great LinkedIn profile LinkedIn, thats that online CV thing, right? Well, kind of. But with more than 200 million registered users, 2.8 million company pages and 2.6 billion page views per month, LinkedIn is more than just that, writes Emma Beals. It has 11 million users in the UK, and 74 million in the US. This represents a select audience, too. LinkedIn users are far more likely than non-users to hold university or graduate degrees and be earning in excess of 50,000 per year, which means they are doing some serious business. It has become a powerful professional networking and personal marketing tool. So whether youre keen to get your work or company noticed, or youre on the look-out for a new job, getting the LinkedIn basics right is the first step towards reaching your goals. So here are five sure-fire ways to use your writing skills to up your game on LinkedIn. 1. Complete your profile and keep it up-to-date This may sound obvious, but its very easy to forget this basic step especially if youve been in a role for a while or youve been busy on a project. The very things that are keeping you busy are probably the same ones you should be adding to your achievements and you should mention that promotion as soon as possible. 2. Write a profile summary One of the best ways to stand out is to write a great profile summary. This is a punchy piece that tells the reader something about who you are and what you do. You need to engage the reader from the first line, by writing a great introduction. Your profile statement should be vibrant and distil your skills and experience into a short, clear statement. This is the time for the active voice. You should include your objectives and a call to action. Are you looking to network or for new clients or opportunities? Say so, and suggest the best way to get in touch with you. 3. SEO your LinkedIn page Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) isnt just for websites and Google rankings. Thousands of recruiters and companies search LinkedIn every day, and you want to show up in their search. There are two key ways to push your profile page up the search results: Keywords In your position descriptions, profile statement and throughout your entire profile, make sure you use the words people are searching for. Your can-do attitude might be a wonderful asset in the office but no one is going to search for it. Use specific, search-orientated words throughout your profile, eg project management, social media lead generation, immigration law. Social clout The number of connections you have, the companies you follow and the groups you belong to all affect how far up the search results you appear. If you have shared connections of any kind with the person who is searching, youll come in higher than thousands of other profiles with the same skills and keywords. Prove yourself Once someone is on your page, you need to gain their trust and respect. Links to your other websites or your work, recommendations from colleagues and ex-colleagues and the quality of your connections will all have an impact. 4. Status updates Have you just won a new account, produced a piece of work, or written an article or blog for something related to your work? Here is the place to share it and promote your work to your contacts. This is a great way to be seen as a thought leader in your field and to keep your contacts informed of what youve been doing. It will also help keep your profile relevant and up-to-date think of it as personal marketing. 5. Recommendations You cant make your colleagues and ex-colleagues recommend you (though you can ask), but you can recommend them. What you write will also show on your own page, so its an excellent way to demonstrate the working relationships you have built. Youll find that those youve written about will be more likely to recommend you in return. Using LinkedIn is a great way to keep up-to-date on developments and news within your industry, and in touch with its influencers and to keep them in touch and up-to-date with you. If youre not on it, youre missing out. And if you are on it, come and say hello. Have you been on an Emphasis course? If so, why not join our LinkedIn group Emphasis alumni? You can use it to ask questions, debate issues, or just keep up-to-date with our business-writing articles.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Practicum Counseling Report Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Practicum Counseling Report - Case Study Example I explained at no time during the session would there be shaming, blaming, criticism or judgment. The goal of the session was to test listening and dialogue skills (Hendrix, 2008). Hope and Jermaine Bailey wanted to discuss their increasing feelings of isolation in their marriage. There children were grown and had left their house. The quiet of their home had become deafening for both of them and Jermaine was spending less and less time at home with Hope. The tradition of family dinners ended when the children left. Both Hope and Jermaine find themselves freer than ever before. They feel like they have let their relationship grow stale. Hope tells me that she feels like they don't have quality time together. She feels like Jermaine is uninterested in her - he works all day and is busy in the evening-Hope works during the day and is home in the evening. Hope explains that she feels like Jermaine's life is more exciting than hers. She is feeling frustrated because he doesn't seem to listen to her when he is home-he always seems preoccupied according to Hope. Hope doesn't feel like she is a part of Jermaine's life or the people he surrounds himself with. Jermaine explains that when he comes home he is always tired. I don't think she understands what I'm going through at work. I have a pretty stressful job. Jermaine says he is annoyed that Hope doesn't understand that he is tired and that he doesn't listen to her because she is a complainer. She talks at him instead of to him. Jermaine and Hope didn't have these insights when we first started the session. The couple first started talking about what they argue about-the dirty dishes and not being home at mealtime. By the end of the session, the real problems were divulged and it had nothing to do with mealtimes and dirty dishes. I explained that they were cut up in a trap and that they could get out of it. I gave an example of the trap they were in-he complains that she is irritable and argumentative and negative so he tunes her out, doesn't share his thoughts or feelings with her and becomes isolated. He shuts himself off from the relationship and she is pushing him a way from her while becoming clingy and needy because he is physically and emotionally removed from the relationship. Hopes clinginess and neediness is pushing Jermaine farther away instead of bringing him closer like she desires. By the end of the session Hope explained to Jermaine that she feels if she gives him more space they won't have a relationship. Jermaine explains to Hope that he worries that she loves him, but isn't in love with him any more. Both explain that they are feeling pressured in the marriage. Neither really feels that home is a safe haven anymore. Session #2: Date of session: October 6, 2008 Time of Session: 7PM Location of session: We returned to the same space used for the first session. The room was set up in the same way. The first few minutes of the session was used to calm the couple down through breathing exercises. I explained at no time during the session would there be shaming, blaming, criticism or judgment. The goal of the session was to recapture their feelings of isolation and to find ways to use dialogue more effectively (Hendrix, 2008). Background information: Hope and Jermaine began to see their patterns of behavior and

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Complex project management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

Complex project management - Essay Example Thus, in order to attain greater success in terms of completing the construction of a new hotel project in Oman will require the structuring of an appropriate plan based on which all the materialistic and financial resources requirements will be taken into concern (Aikins & et. al., 2014). The primary stage of this new hotel construction project in Oman will focus on evaluating and understanding all the governmental requisites and registration procedures that will be required for moving forward the entire plan. Taking reference of the hierarchical governmental structure prevailing in Oman, it can be stated that the nation takes into concern the fulfilment of a variety of permissible requisites before authorizing any such tourism and hospitality sector development based plan (Sultanate of Oman Ministry of Tourism, 2010). Depending on all these aspects, this new hotel construction project will have to attain its primary registration from the ‘Ministry of Tourism (MOT)’, which in turn will consider the decisions made by the following other governmental departments: In addition, the integrated form of decisions that will be made by the aforesaid governmental departments will be completely based upon the guidelines as mentioned in the ‘Royal Decree No. 65/2007 (Article 3).’ Likewise, the project development team will also have to abide by all the provided guidelines, which are specifically meant to guide them through each phase of the hotel construction including the design and the quality standards. As far as the legal aspects are concerned, it can be stated that within Oman, the Ministry of Tourism is completely accountable for approving such projects against all legal obligations. Regardless of these, the project will also need to adhere certain legalised acts and contracts based upon which, the environmental and societal impacts of such hotel construction projects will be

Monday, November 18, 2019

Unit 6 Assessment professionalism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Unit 6 Assessment professionalism - Essay Example The person simply withdraws from the whole situation or sidesteps it. Compromising refers to when a person looks for a solution that works for both of the parties concerned in the conflict. It is sort of loose- loose situation where both parties cooperate and work together to get a solution. Accommodating means taking in the other party’s concerns more than your own. It has a higher level of cooperation than assertiveness and is a perfect style when the other party is an expert in the situation leading to the conflict. Collaborating is when both parties in conflict work jointly to tackle the situation and come up with the best resolution to the situation. This style has equal levels of cooperation and assertiveness. In most conflict management situations, I prefer the collaborating strategy of conflict management because it comes up with a resolution that is mutually satisfactory to both parties in a situation. This is a win-win situation. Collaborating is still the best style in my opinion especially when it involves a long-term relationship, and it means that the problem will be actually solved. Conflict management means preventing unproductive conflicts in the work place and addressing those conflicts that cannot be prevented (Raines, 2013). Burnout is a condition of emotional, psychological, and bodily fatigue caused by extreme and extended stress. It comes about when a person feels weighed down and incapable to meet regular demands. As the stress builds up, the levels of motivation and productivity reduce. It leads to distrust and indifference. Some of the signs of burn out I would be on the lookout for including frequent fatigue and feeling drained most of the time. This means that the person feels a lack of energy and feels emotionally and physically exhausted. Another sign is that the person has reduced concentration and higher levels of forgetfulness. This later leads to a point where your

Friday, November 15, 2019

The Effects Of Divorce Children And Young People Essay

The Effects Of Divorce Children And Young People Essay Divorce is always a dreadful experience in a persons life, especially a childs. When parents divorce, children are not always acknowledged during the termination and settlement process. This oversight can lead to problems with the childs perception of day to day life. The impact divorce has on a family is far more noticeable to the children of the family than to the parents. As a child, there are many circumstances or situations that affect a view, opinion, attitude, and/or memory. Children have many daily struggles of their own to cope with, such as peer pressure and learning exactly who they are. Adults and parents sometimes forget what it is like to be a child dealing with some of the childhood pressures that children face, especially in todays society. Many parents do not realize how something like divorce could possibly affect their children as much as it does them. In any case, most children are strongly affected by divorce. Some react and handle the situation differently than others, but all experience some kind of emotional change. Divorce can cause many different emotions to arise that children may be unfamiliar with, and those behaviors may cause some behavioral changes. Feeling angry and sad are some common feelings of children dealing with divorce (Schor, 2004). Children have a hard time comprehending why their mother and father are arguing and cannot figure out why they are deciding to separate. The family needs to try their best to explain to the child why they are separating, while comforting the child as much as possible (Schor, 2004). Much research has been conducted to study the effects of divorce on children. While there are some basic truths these studies reveal, the fact is that each child is unique and may react differently from other children (Sember, p. 9). A child may have certain emotional reactions to separation and divorce, including sadness, embarrassment, concerns about being cared for, regression, maturity, and physical symptoms. It is believed that reactions to a divorce can be similar to the reactions of losing a loved one. According to Pickhardt, There is a fear of rejection: If my parents can stop loving each other, can they stop loving me? There is fear of the future: What will happen to me now? There is fear of abandonment: If my parents can leave each other, they can also leave me. In the face of these uncertainties, a child may regress by acting more immature and dependent in order to receive more attention and caretaking support. The fighting that occurs between parents can cause children to react negatively and they can begin to show aggression towards others. Children can also begin to act up in class and become defiant towards authority, which usually results in their grades dropping. Often children have difficulties learning to cope with their feelings and feel like they are on an emotional rollercoaster (Ford, 2005). Theyre also often stuck between a battle zone and as result can suffer psychological problems. Feelings of hopelessness may take over for many kids because they have no control or input to what is going on in their lives (Ford, 2004). Divorce itself is inevitably an unpleasant situation, but it has been seen that children with siblings tend to cope better than any single child household in most instances, especially in cases where thoughtless parents take the unpleasant route of trying to split up the children in an effort to hurt the other party. Effectively, children with siblings develop best with the divorce, single children trailing behind, with split siblings ultimately taking the worst mental beating out of the lot. The reasons for this may not at first be obvious, but let us take a moment to review the family dynamic itself and just what divorce does to the relationship of siblings. A once intact family is effectively torn in two with the legal action of divorce, children are torn in their views in loving both mother and father, and ultimately they mourn for what is almost literally the death of the family dynamic itself. It is no longer the normal life of mother, father, and children, but now a complicated life split between the children and their parents, possibly further complicated by a step family or the constant tension between mother and father. In this situation a sibling becomes a sort of buffer zone, an emotional barrier between the pain and loss of the divorce and a happy family life. The sibling represents something concrete, a brother or sister that will (or should) remain. An individual who shares in the same pain and can be used as a more than viable coping mechanism, perhaps one of the only truly healthy coping outlets available to a child going through the divorce process. Starkly in the opposite direction one can see the further damage caused when divorcing parents choose to split their off springs like they have their various possessions. Here, the child(ren) need not only cope with the loss of mom or dad, but must also wrestle with the torment of being removed from someone who has been a lifelong companion. Instead of being given a viable outlet in the shape of a brother or sister this child(ren) is removed from most everything he or she has known in one solid legal swoop. Divorce brings about a lot of legal issues, which include child custody, visitation, holiday issues, and child support. There are a few different types of custody arrangements. There is joint custody with visitation, which means that you share custody with the other parent. You are supposed to make all decisions together that may affect the child, and both parents must agree to the visitation schedule. Second, there is sole custody with visitation which is where one parent makes most of the decisions and does not need the other parents approval. Lastly, shared custody is where the childs time is split evenly between both parents. Both parents are responsible for all decisions and neither parent is considered residential. But regardless as to what type of custody agreement is decided, the child(ren) are the one(s) who will be the most affected by this decision. Once a custody agreement is made then the non-custodial parent is granted visitation. Visitation is important so that the child can spend time equally with both parents. This sometimes requires splitting holidays. Holidays are probably the worst part about visitations because children are use to spending the holidays together as a family, but as children age the visitation schedules change to accommodate both the child and the parents. This is simply because an infant shouldnt be expected to adhere to the same schedule as an older child. For example, infants may have a harder time adjusting because it is more important for them to stick to a schedule; frequent and short visits from the other parent is best. Also, sticking to feeding and nap times is important, otherwise, the baby can be extremely cranky. Toddlers have difficulty with separation anxiety from either parent. Transitions should be made gradually as toddlers often display aggression by biting or hitting. Preschool aged children begin to realize that their parents dont live together anymore and start to ask questions and they can also begin another type of visitation schedule, such as weekend visits. Elementary aged children need more time for homework after school and it is important for both parents to help the child stay organized so that they are able to turn in their assignments on time to their teacher. Children from 8-12 are considered tweens and may start to take sides or try to act perfect in hopes that their parents will get back together. It is ok to let them know that nobody is perfect and that nothing can bring you and the other parent back t ogether. You child will have more homework and more friends so it is important to fit this into the schedule as it continues to change through that childs life. Teenagers may experience the worst symptoms from the divorce. They often discredit marriage and refuse to get close to another person in that way or they blame themselves for the separation. In some cases they feel that they had to grow up quickly because they felt the need to assume the role of the other parent. It may also be difficult for teens to stick to a schedule because friends are more important now and they may also have jobs of their own that they are scheduled for. Dating also begins to become a factor in the scheduling conflict. The teen should be able to go out on dates as long as both parents agree, but there also needs to be a restriction on the number of outings so that both parents are able to spend the appropriate amount of time with their son/daughter. You shouldnt expect this to go perfectly, but do offe r the teen to give their input on the situation and try to all come to a compromise. Most days you experience with your child may be good days, so you should enjoy these days while they last because there may come a time when something happens and your child tells you that they hate you and would rather live with the other parent. This is just another part of trying to adjust. If most times are bad then it may be time to readjust your position. You may need to try to change some things including the visitation schedule. Divorce not only affects the child(ren) emotionally but it also plays a major role in many other aspects of their lives. Two of the strongest and most widely held beliefs about the family life today are that marriage should be a lifelong commitment and that parental divorce has serious negative effects on children. These convictions are held with such value that many people are alarmed by the high divorce rate in the United States.   The divorce rate is very high in the United States, where about 50% of all first marriages formed in the early 1990s ended in divorce (U.S. Bureau of the Census 1998).   According to the Heritage Foundation, Each year, over 1 million American children suffer the divorce of their parents and most children will see their parents divorce before they turn 18 (Fagan and Rector, 2000). What are the major impacts being seen in these children? What are the effects on these children?   One area where divorce has a major impact on children is in their academic progress.   In 2002, USA Today did a study that used a government-sponsored database that examined 10,000 adolescents (Crouch. 2002).   This study found that the psychological damage to the child builds before the divorce but dissipated afterwards, but academic progress continues to weaken.   It speculates that these children fall behind academically and then are not able to catch up once this happens.   They lose self-esteem and motivation.   There have been many studies done and the conclusion is the same.   One study found that students from intact families outperform those students from divorced families and have higher grade point averages.   Another one found that teens from single-parent homes are twice as likely to drop out of high school.   I found it interesting that one study found that parental divorce affected female high school students more that it affected male high school stude nts. A second area where divorce has a major impact on children is their housing arrangement.   The level of home ownership among people who have divorced is much lower than those who have married and never divorced.   According to the Census Brief published by the U.S. Department of Commerce in September of 1997, more than a quarter of Americas children now live with one parent.   They did a study with divorced and never-married mothers and found that divorced parents are more educated and less likely to live in rental homes, and are less likely to be poor in comparison to the never-married mothers.   It appears from this study that being a single parent divorcee has a slight advantage over a never-married mother.   This study also showed that four million children live in the homes of their grandparents. The third area where divorce has a major impact on children is the income level of the custodial parent.   Following divorce, custodial parents, mostly mothers, generally have less income than most two-parent families.   One of the ways that lower income may impact children is through disruptions that may result from less money.   Many divorced families change residence, which may result in changing schools, childcare, friends, and other supportive relationships.   In short, less money due to these disruptions may lead to more problems for children because of the stress that change creates. The fourth area where divorce has a major impact on children is the economic losses that it creates.   Studies have shown that custodial mothers often face dramatic economic losses following divorce, leading to feelings of stress that adversely affects parenting. Researchers believe that divorce is disruptive for children largely because the custodial parent faces a significant amount of economic stress in the time period immediately following the divorce (Furstenberg 1990). These economic losses may produce major transition periods for the child like moving, changing schools or living with other household members, which can adversely affects the childs well being. It is important to remember that not all of the effects mentioned in the studies above will be experienced by all children of divorce and those problems that do emerge can be made less intense with further education, nurturing, good communication, and lots of love.   Divorce not only affects the child(ren) emotionally but it takes a toll on the parent- child relationship. In the wake of a divorce, most custodial parents expresses differing degrees of anger, disorder, decreased expectations from their child(ren), and a decline in the aptitude to separate the child(ren)s needs and actions from those of the adults involved. Studies have shown that approximately 15% of children interviewed at the 10 year follow-up point in a 15 year study showed significant effects from taking on the role of holding a custodial parent together psychologically (Eloeff, 2008). Children dealing with divorce are often left with a lot of questions because they are going through something they have never experienced before. It is important to answer every question that might arise in order for the child to better understand what is going on. Change is hard and the fear of the unknown can be difficult for children to handle on their own. Both parents need to try to make this new adjustment period as comfortable for the children as possible (Schor, 2004). Everyones life is impacted by divorce and children often have a hard time adjusting to change. For all too many kids, nonresidential parents eventually will come to play a greatly diminished role in their lives. It doesnt have to be this way, and with sensitivity, planning, and common sense, parents can sidestep many common visitation problems (Neuman, p.272). So therefore, it is up to the parents to help their child(ren) to cope with the divorce and try to prevent this from happening. There are two general cha nnels that can be taken to help the child(ren) deal with the divorce experience. They are parental effort and outside help. During parental effort, it is important to communicate with your child(ren) that you love them and that you dont hate them even if you dont normally do those things, but it is important for your child(ren) to feel reassured. Avoid talking to your child(ren) about the divorce situation or any financial woes that you may be experiencing. It is best for your child(ren) to continue to be neutral to both parents. You should also not use your child(ren) as a messenger to see what the other parent is up to. This can make your child feel stressed and feel like they are betraying their other parent. Also, dont make promises you cant keep. It only disappoints them and causes them not to trust you. Children need to be reassured; just because the marriage is over doesnt mean that they arent a family anymore. Children must be told and told again: Divorce means your parents have lost love for each other and do not want to live together anymore. However, divorce in no way changes our love for you ( Pickhardt, p. 84). Both parents need to try to avoid bad mouthing the other parent in front of the child(ren). This may prevent the child from feeling stressed out about double loyalties. You need to keep a sense of normalcy for your child so that they can feel that their lives have some stability after such a drastic change in their living situations. One of the best ways to help a child feel rooted, protected, and loved, is to have rules (Pickhardt, p. 25). It is important to create the rules together so that the child has the same boundaries at either home and that the other parent doesnt appear to be better because the child has no responsibilities when they stay with them. The parents should keep the lines of communication open with their child(ren) and never stop attempting to make contact with their child(ren). They should also maintain an interest in what is going on with the child(ren); know who theyre hanging out with and how theyre doing in school and extracurricular acti vities. Most children want to make both parents happy, and it is up to the parents to make this an easy task. As for the outside help avenue, this is a route to take when the parental effort is not helping. Counseling and/or an intervention program can help improve matters by being a neutral third party. They help in accomplishing things like, helping children to express their anger, as well as helping the parents to better understand how to appropriately respond to the concerns that the child(ren) may have. Parents should consider seeking professional help when their child is having problems accepting reality about the divorce or seem to be going through some serious behavioral changes. Meeting with a psychiatrist or a counselor who specializes in divorce can be very beneficial for everyone involved. It doesnt matter which route is used to help them get through the divorce process as long as the child(ren)s best interest is kept as the top priority during and after the divorce. All in all, children can be severely traumatized by divorce. Many of the effects felt can be long lasting or some may go away within a few weeks. If the divorce is nasty or is prolonged due to a custody battle, then the effects can last a lifetime. Children face many issues when going through a divorce. There are issues with self-esteem, loss of sense of security, the sleeper effect, and it even has an effect on birthdays and holidays. These problems can last forever in a child, even into adulthood. When children have to go through a divorce, they deal with issues regarding their self-esteem. They may feel like they caused the divorce themselves. The child(ren) may also feel like they did something wrong to where mommy or daddy doesnt want to be with them anymore. If these issues are not addressed early on, they can be long lasting and when developing, the older child will have low self-esteem. This can lead to poor grades in school, little to no friends, using drugs, and trouble in the streets. Another issue children deal with when going through a divorce is in the area of security. The child(ren) may develop fears that both parents will abandon him or her. There may also be fears about what is to come. What will happen from here? Where does the child(ren) end up? These are thoughts about security that may come during a divorce. In addition, the absence of one of their parents can make the child(ren) feel extremely lonely. This can also last a lifetime if not dealt with early on. It can lead to the child(ren) growing up feeling scared and worried. He or she may have relationship problems and may not be able to trust anyone and can also lead to depression. Some studies suggest that there is a sleeper effect. This is the idea that a child that goes through a divorce and recovers rather quickly. Then, because of denied feelings at the subconscious level, they will have a resurgence of fear, anger, guilt, and anxiety which doesnt kick in until well into adulthood. These feelings tend to arise when a young adult is attempting to make important life decisions, such as marriage. Another effect divorce has on children is dealing with holidays and birthdays. This will last a lifetime, because birthdays and holidays will have to be split, if this is the agreement. If there is time-sharing in place, or an agreement has been made, the child may have to spend every other birthday with the mother and father. With holidays, there may be time-sharing involved, where the child spends half the holidays with the father, and the other half with the mother. This can certainly last into adulthood, because the family will not be together, and there may have to be time split between the two parents homes. Some children are affected more by divorce than others. However, all children will be affected by a divorce no matter what. The things that parents do and dont do will greatly impact exactly how much a child is affected by the divorce. In addition, the childs gender, age, psychological health, and maturity will also all affect how a divorce impacts a child. Dealing with the divorce as best as possible will help lessen the effects on a child and make it easier to get through. Only time will tell how much it has actually affected the particular child in a particular circumstance. Of course, as we all know, divorce is a painful process for everyone involved; the legal act of breaking apart a family is taxing on both the heart and mind, but we see this most in children. Divorce rates are high and our children are suffering. Everyone should take their childrens feelings into consideration when going through a divorce because the childs life is impacted as well. It is very important that parents help their children adjust to all the changes going on in their life and address any behavioral or psychological problems the moment they arise.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

The New America Dream is Green (and Sustainable) Essay -- Localization

Smallville is a city just like any other city in the world. It has crime, pollution, and social inequalities. However citizens everywhere are dreaming of the future. The reason people came to Smallville, or America, in the first place was to live the American Dream. This idea is that if a person works hard enough they can be or achieve anything they want. However, the current system of selfishness and ignorance of the masses has led to the destruction of this idea. In order for these dreams to survive, Smallville needs to promote change. There needs to be more information about the effects people have on their communities and the environment. There needs to be a shift towards long-term sustainability. Before there can be greener technology, ecologically friendly businesses, or sustainable energy citizens need to change their outlook on life. Every individual needs to realize their role in the community. There needs to be more emphasis on people living local, eating local, an d working local. The more localization and less globalization there is the better. The more people use what is readily available to them the more they will realize how important it is not to waste. In order for communities to get a long every individual needs to be respected. There needs to be social equality between men and women, different ethnicities, and an acceptance of the LBGTQ community. Once this is achieved, the New American Dream will be born. This new idea will include being anything you want to be while helping others reach the same goal. Smallville needs to take the steps towards a more informed and aware society so people can achieve their dreams while not destroying the dreams of others around the world. In order for Smallville to r... ...rt. "Accepting the gay person: Rental accommodation in the community." Journal of Homosexuality 36.2 (1998): 31. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 25 Mar. 2014. Page explains the struggles an LBGTQ citizen has when finding a place to live freely in a community. It shows that there needs to a major acceptance of the couple or even individuals who are gay by the community in order for the person to feel welcome. People usually do not like to live where they do not feel welcome. This will help me show where major change needs to be within the social realm of society. If people cannot accept each other they cannot join as a community and eventually fix other problems that require cooperation. This article's only bias is justified because it shows real stories of people being harassed. It does not give merit to the side that says these people are really the problem.

Monday, November 11, 2019

Disease Specific Program

In this paper, we would be discussing the application of self-management concepts involved in improving the health and quality of life for people with chronic Diabetes Mellitus. Diabetes Mellitus is a complex disorder of carbohydrate, protein, and fat metabolism in which a relative or absolute insulin deficiency is the essential feature, Drury (1986). Diabetes is recognized as a model of broader based communicable disease control programs, WHO (1991 – 1998).The metabolic derangement is frequently associated with permanent and irreversible functional and structural changes in the cells of the body, those of the vascular system being particularly susceptible. The changes lead in turn to the development of well-defined clinical entities, the so-called ‘complications’ of Diabetes which most characteristically affect the eye, the kidney and the nervous system. Introduction It is not too distant past one of the critical tests of the skill of a nurse was the ability to m eet the needs of a patient with an acute infectious disease such as Typhoid fever or pneumonia.When the patient recovered, the nurse could rightly take credit for having made an important contribution. As infectious diseases have been brought under control, the incidence of chronic illness has risen so that they now account for a significant portion of morbidity and morality. Chronically ill patients often have a wider range of problems and need a greater variety of services than are needed to meet the needs of the acutely ill.Res ¬toration of the patient to optimum status and preven ¬tion of progress of the illness often demands the con ¬tinued efforts of the patient, family, nurse, physician, and other health and welfare personnel as well as the members of the community. With patients in whom progress toward recovery is slow and in whom control or prevention of the progression of disease is the goal rather than complete recovery, the nurse may not be able to see immediate re sults of her or his efforts. Instead of a relatively brief and intense relationship in which the patient is dependent on the nurse, the nurse often has a more or less pro ¬longed relationship.This relationship with the pa ¬tient changes from time to time, from dependence to independence to interdependence. To meet the needs of the patient, the nurse should be able to identify clues indicating the type of relationship best suited to the needs of the patient at a given time and to adapt her or his behavior accordingly. A Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) is described as an administrator, leader, manager, collaborator, practitioner, advanced clinician, consultant, educator and researcher (Wilson-Barnett, 1994; Dunne, 1997; McCarthy, 1996).Literature Review Today the test of the skill of the nurse is the ability to meet the needs of the chronically ill patient. If a single disease was to be selected as the modern day test of nursing knowledge and skill, diabetes mel ¬litus would und oubtedly receive many votes. There are many reasons that this is true. Diabetes mellitus has a relatively high incidence. It affects all age groups. Its complications are many and serious. There are, however, effective means for its detec ¬tion, diagnosis, and treatment.With modern methods of therapy, persons with diabetes mellitus can live almost as long as those who do not have diabetes. Even more important, they can have full and useful lives with few restrictions on their activi ¬ties. Persons with diabetes mellitus have been Rhodes scholars, mountain climbers, hockey players, television stars and statesmen. They marry, bear and rear children, and can lead successful, vigorous, productive, lives-a far cry from the predictable fate of the diabetic before the era of insulin therapy. The nurse is always concerned about the epide ¬miology of disease.Understanding the distribution and dynamics (epidemiology) of a disease serves as a basis for meeting objectives of disease detec tion and for education of patient, family, and community. Because diabetes and other chronic diseases are not reportable, they are not subjected to the type of surveillance used for communicable diseases. As sur ¬veys and techniques of detection and diagnosis im ¬prove, reporting will increase and it may be possible to identify and to improve preventive measures.According to the 1975 National Health Interview Survey, a rate of 20.4 per 1,000 population or an estimated 4. 8 million persons in the United States reported diagnosed dia ¬betes. Between 1965 and 1975, the prevalence of diabetes increased by 50 per cent in the United States (Guthrie & Guthrie, 2002; Flarey & Blancett, 1996). There is some question if there is a true in ¬crease in the frequency. The data may represent an increase in recognition due to increased use of automated blood chemistry laboratory techniques.Diabetes mellitus occurs in all age groups and in both sexes. The prevalence rate increases with age, from 1.3/1,000 (1 in 77) for persons under 17 years of age to 78. 5/1,000 (1 in 12) in persons over the age of 65. Diabetes is reported more frequently in females (2. 4 per cent) than in males (1. 6 per cent). Females have a prevalence rate of 24. 1/ 1,000. This is a 50 per cent increase from 1965 data when it was 16. 1 /l, 000. The prevalence rate for males is 16. 3/1,000. The most dramatic changes in preva ¬lence of reported diabetes is the increase of diabetes in nonwhites under the age of 45. This group has a percentage change of 150 per cent.Non ¬whites are 20 per cent more likely than whites to have diabetes (Dunning, 2003). Incidence is the frequency of new cases of a disease developed during a specified time period. In 1963, 17 years after the first Oxford study, 65. 7 per cent of the residents aged 34 to 55 years who lived in Oxford during the first study were re ¬studied. The percentage of diabetics was found to be the same in the second as in the first study (O†™Sulli ¬van, 1969). In the 1930s and 1940s there was marked improve ¬ment in the life expectancy of diabetics. Since that time, there has been little improvement.This may be due to the fact that Diabetes patients are living long enough to develop the more dangerous concomitants (Kessler, 1971). Reasons for failure to prevent the concomitants of Diabetes are one of the problems being studied intensively today. The Management of Diabetes Mellitus The ideal treatment for diabetes would allow the patient lead a completely normal life to remain not only symptom-free but in positive good health, to achieve a normal metabolic state, and to escape the complications associated with long-term diabetes.Nowadays diabetic patients rarely die in ketoacidosis in any number, but the major problem which has emerged is the chronic invalidism, due to disease of both large and small blood vessels, of many of those whose duration of life has been extended. It is well known that diabetics show an i ncreased propensity to fall due to visual impairment and neuropathy, as well as foot problems (Wallace et al, 2002; Keegan et al, 2002) and presumably accelerated cognitive decline (Gregg et al, 2000).Data from clinical studies strongly suggest that although genetic factors affect the susceptibility to develop complications, the incidence of serious retinopathy is related to the degree of diabetic control achieved (Clark & Cefalu, 2000). It is therefore incumbent on all those who are involved in looking after diabetic patients to strive in every way to achieve as good control as is practicable in terms of blood glucose concentration. The management of diabetes demands a broad range of professional skills, which include communication, counseling, leadership, teaching and research to name but a few.The Diabetes Nurse Specialist has the expertise and specialist knowledge to incorporate these skills into practice and so develop standards of care that benefits the patient (Daly, 1997). T he Diabetes Nurse Specialist (DNS) plays a pivotal role within a multidisciplinary team. The recognition of the contribution of the Diabetes Nurse Specialist in helping patients achieve good diabetes control highlights his/her essential role in diabetes care, (DCCT,1995; UKPDS, 1998). Metcalfe (1998) states that a Diabetes Nurse Specialist works in collaboration with a team to ensure continuity of care, lends towards more successful management.Types of Treatment There are three methods of treatment, namely diet alone, diet and oral hypoglycemic drugs and diet and insulin. Each obliges the patient to adhere to a life long dietary regimen. Approximately 60% of new cases of diabetes can be controlled adequately by diet alone, about 20% will need an oral hypoglycemic drug and another 20%, mainly younger patients, will require insulin (Long, et al, 1995). A patient may pass from one group to another – temporarily or permanently. Role of the Nurse in Prevention and DiagnosisNurses have numerous opportunities to assist the identification of persons who either have diabetes or are potential diabetics. The CNS is prepared beyond the level of a generalist (The Report of The Commission on Nursing, 1998). Review of the etiologic factors gives the nurse clues as to the target populations. In addition she or he, regardless of the field of practice, must always be alert to the signs and symptoms of diabetes. Any individual with symptoms suggesting diabetes mellitus should be encouraged to seek medical attention. The Suspicion of the school nurse should be aroused when a child develops polyuria and polydipsia.The public health nurse who visits in the home should be alert to the possibility of diabetes in family members. Some patients are discovered to have diabetes after they are admitted to the hospital. Most hospitals have a rule that before a patient can undergo any type of surgical procedure, the urine must be checked for glucose. The nurse can also assist in commu nity screening programs. In addition to opportunities for the nurse to participate in programs for the identification of persons who have diabetes mellitus, nurses have a role in the prevention of the disease.Because of the frequency with which diabetes in the middle-aged person is associated with obesity, individuals are encouraged to avoid overweight by diet and exercise. The preventive aspects related to genetic counseling are less clear. Persons with diabetes or persons with families in which there is a known history of diabetes should be acquainted with the risks involved when planning marriage. Psychological Aspects Fink (1967) has proposed a model of the processes of adaptation to stressful situations. He proposes that psychological phases follow a sequential pattern as follows:Stage 1: Shock; in this phase the person's cognitive structure is characterized by disorganiza ¬tion. There is inability to plan or to reason. Stage 2: Defensive retreat characterized by denial. Stag e 3: Acknowledgment, giving up the past, and starting to face reality. Stage 4: Adaptation, acceptance. of the modification in health. Planning to care for self and to prevent complications. When a person learns that he or she has diabetes mellitus, even when its presence was suspected, he or she experiences disbelief and then grief. The degree of shock will depend on the individual and what the diagnosis and treatment mean to him or her.Any preexisting problem can be expected to be intensified. The pa ¬tient and family can be expected to react to knowl ¬edge of the diagnosis as they do to other crisis situa ¬tions in life. The patient compares dia ¬betes with health and prefers health. The nurse can usually be of more help to the patient if she or he can help in identifying and expressing feelings rather than telling the patient how lucky he or she is. During the period immediately following diagnosis, the patient and family require psychological support. This should start with the patient’s admission to the office of the physician, to the clinic, or to the hospital.The type and amount of support will vary with each individual. Both the patient and family have a right to expect professional personnel to try to understand their feelings and to accept their behavior as having meaning (Otong, 2003). The nurse should try to convey to the patient that, while understanding or trying to understand his or her feelings, the patient will be able to learn to do what must be done and will be provided with the necessary assistance. Control of Diabetes Mellitus Successful management of diabetes mellitus depends on the intelligent co-operation of the patient and the family.Unlike recovery from an acute infectious disease, recovery from Diabetes does not follow a period of acute illness. Diabetes Mellitus is permanent. Remissions can and do occur, but even these patients should not think of themselves as cured. The fundamental methods used in the treatment are diet, insulin or hypoglycemic agents, exercise, and education. The continued management and con ¬trol of diabetes mellitus depend on the patient. Edu ¬cation as to the nature and behavior of the disease is required so that the patient understands the rea ¬sons for what he or she must do and develops the skills required for it.Diet The keystone for management of the diabetic is dietary control. In most respects the goals of the diet for the diabetic patient are similar to those for the non-diabetic. They are to provide sufficient calories to establish and maintain body weight. The number will vary with the age, sex, body size, activity, and growth and development requirements along with an adequate intake of all nutrients, including minerals and vitamins. Modifications in amounts and types of foods as required in the control of complications of diabetes and other diseases.Meal spacing so that absorption coincides with peak levels of insulin in the blood and protects from hypog lycemia during the night. For patients on intermediate-acting insulin, food is usually dis ¬tributed in five meals-three main meals with a small meal about 4 P. M. and another at bedtime. For the patient who is taking insulin, it is essential that a regular meal schedule be observed. Integration of exercise and diet with medications is essential. Most diabetic diets contain 50 to 60 per cent carbohydrates with 10 to 15 per cent in the form of Disaccharides and monosaccharide.Fats should comprise no more than 35 per cent of the total calories. The remaining calories are protein (Arky, 1978). Patients are encouraged to select unsatu ¬rated fats as recommended by the American Heart Association. Concentrated sweets and refined sugars should be avoided. Insulin Treatment with exogenous insulin is indicated in the following situations: diabetic ketoacidosis, juvenile diabetes, diabetes developing before the age of 40, unstable diabetes, oral hypoglycemic failure, diet therapy failures , and during stress of pregnancy, infections, major surgery.For the ketosis-prone individual and the unstable adult an exogenous insulin supply is always required. For the others it may be an intermittent requirement (Bonar, 1977) that is required during periods of stress. In the non-diabetic, insulin is released in response to food intake. The beta cells have the ability to release approximately 40 units daily, and there are another 200 units stored for emergency (Ellenburg et al, 2002). The diabetic does not have an endogenous supply, and an exogenous form is provided. Various types of insulin preparations have been developed.They fall into three general categories: fast-acting (regular and semilente), intermediate (NPH and lente), and long-acting (PZI and ultra lente). The actions of each preparation vary as to time of onset, duration of action, and peak activity time. Hypogly ¬cemic reactions are most likely to occur at time of peak action. Regular insulin is the only form giv en intravenously, and it has a clear appearance. The other insu ¬lin preparations have a turbid appearance. Each type of insulin comes in three concentrations; U-40, U-80, and U-I00. This refers to the concentration of insulin per milliliter.U-40 has 40 units per ml, U-80 has 80 units per ml, and U-100 has 100 units per ml. Syringes are specially calibrated for each concentration. Eventually, the only concentration available will be the U-100 strength (Joshu, 1996). This will decrease confusion and cut down on errors. The objective of insulin therapy is to enable the individual to utilize sufficient food to meet nutri ¬tional needs and, within limits, the desire for food. For many patients this objective can be achieved by a single injection of protamine zinc insulin or one of the intermediate-acting insulin, either alone or in combination with crystalline insulin.The ideal preparation of insulin would be one in which the insulin is released in response to hyperglycemia. At this time there is no such preparation. Persons who require less than 40 units of insulin per day often do very well on a single injection of Protamine Zinc Insulin. Insulin-Equipment and Administration The patient must know the type of insulin, concen ¬tration (U-80, U-100), and the prescribed dosage. It is essential that the appropriate syringe be used for the insulin concentration prescribed.Diabetic pa ¬tients on insulin may use either disposable or reusa ¬ble syringes. The former are used one time only and then discarded. Patients find them highly desirable because they do not require sterilization. Although minimal, cost may be considered a disadvantage. If reusable syringes and needles are used they should be sterilized by boiling before each injection. Boiling is simplified by placing the separated barrel and plunger of the syringe and the needle in a metal strainer. The strainer is placed in a saucepan of cold water and boiled for 5 minutes.When the syringe is removed fro m the water, care should be taken not to contaminate any part of the needle or syringe that comes in contact with the insulin or is intro ¬duced into the patient. When the syringe and needle are kept in alcohol, the alcohol container should be emptied, washed, and boiled at the time the syringe is sterilized. Before the syringe is filled with insulin, alcohol should be removed from the barrel by mov ¬ing the plunger in and out of the barrel a number of times. The skin over the site of injection should be clean, and just before the injection is made, it should be cleansed with alcohol.The hour at which the patient takes the insulin will depend on the type of insulin, the severity of the diabetes, when blood sugar is highest, and the practices of the physician. The most common time is 20 to 30 minutes before breakfast for patients re ¬ceiving one injection a day. Modified insulin con ¬taining a precipitate should be gently rotated until the sediment is thoroughly mixed with th e clear solu ¬tion. Vigorous shaking should be avoided to prevent bubble formation. Insulin, though usually called a protein, is a poly ¬peptide and is digested in the alimentary canal. It must therefore be administered parenterally.The usual method is by subcutaneous injection into loose subcutaneous tissues. Because daily, or more fre ¬quent, injections are required over the lifetime of the individual, care should be taken to rotate the sites, so that one area is not used more often than once each month. Conclusion The nurse has major responsibilities in the care of the diabetic patient. She or he must provide instruction, guidance and understanding for the control and management of the condition. The nurse must be prepared to provide nursing care for the patient if acute or chronic complications should occur.Last but not least, the nurse must recognize that the diabetic is not exempt from other diseases. She or he must be prepared to evaluate the impact of a concurrent illn ess on the diabetes and the impact of the diabetes on the concurrent illness. The sick diabetic has all the problems of any person who is ill and they are compounded by the diabetic state. The special needs of the diabetic must be recognized and met. The nurse who assists in the care of the diabetic patient has the satisfaction of knowing that the quality of life of the diabetic can be improved by intelligent nursing care. References Arky, R.A. 1978. â€Å"Current Principles of Dietary therapy of Diabetes Mellitus,† Med. Clin. North Am., 62, 655-62. Bonar, J. 1977. Diabetes: A Clinical Guide, Flushing, N.Y.: Medical Exam Publishing Co, pp.20-22. Clark, Nathanial Goodwin & Cefalu, William T. 2000. â€Å"Medical Management of Diabetes Mellitus,† CRC Press. Daly F. 1997. â€Å"The Role of the Diabetes Nurse specialist,† Irish Medical times, 14(17), 18. Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT). 1995. â€Å"Annals of Internal Medicine,† 122: 561-568. Drury. 1986. â€Å"Diabetes Mellitus,† 2nd Ed, Blackwell & Scientific Publications. Dunne L.1997. â€Å"A literature review of advanced clinical nursing practice in the United States of America,† Journal of Advanced Nursing, 25: 814-819. Dunning. 2003. â€Å"Care of People with Diabetes: A Manual of Nursing Practice, p.65-69.† Ellenberg et al. 2002. â€Å"Ellenberg and Rifkin's Diabetes Mellitus,† McGraw-Hill Professional, p.82. Fink, SL. 1967. â€Å"Crisis and Motivation: A Theoretical Model,† Arch. Phys. Med. Rehab., 592–97. Flarey, Dominick L & Blancett, Suzanne Smith. 1996. â€Å"Case Studies in Nursing Case Management: Health Care Delivery in a World of Managed Care,† Jones and Bartlett Publishers. Gregg et al. 2000. â€Å"Is diabetes associated with cognitive impairment and cognitive decline among older women?† Study of Osteoporotic Fractures Research Group, Arch Intern Med, 160:174–180. Guthrie, Richard A & Guthrie, Diana W. 2002. â€Å"Nursing Management of Diabetes Mellitus: A Guide to the Pattern Approach,† Springer Publishing. Joshu, Debra Haire. 1996. â€Å"Management of Diabetes Mellitus: Perspectives of Care across the Life Span,† Mosby, 2nd ed. Keegan et al. 2002. â€Å"Foot problems as risk factors of fractures,† Am J Epidemiology, 155:926–931. Kessler, IJ. 1971. â€Å"Mortality experience of diabetic patients,† Am.J.Med., 51, p.724. Long, Barbara C et al. 1995. â€Å"Adult Nursing: A Nursing Process Approach,† Elsevier Health Sciences. McCarthy. 1996. â€Å"Advantages and Disadvantages of Specialism in nursing,† Paper presented to An Bord altranais Conference, Continuing Education for Nurses. Metcalf L. 1998. â€Å"Ensuring continuity of care for diabetic patients attending hospital,† Journal of Diabetes Nursing, 2(5):135-138. O’Sullivan, JB. 1969. â€Å"Population re-tested for diabetes after 17 years: New Prevalence Study,† Diabetologia, 5:4, 211-14. Otong, Deoborah Antai. 2003. â€Å"Psychiatric Nursing: Biological and Behavioral Concepts,† Thomson Delmar Learning. Report of the Commission on Nursing. 1998. â€Å"Government Publications,† Section 6.33, page 105. United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS). 1998. British Medical Journal 317(7160): 703-713. Wallace et al. 2002. â€Å"Incidence of falls, risk factors for falls, and fall-related fractures in individuals with diabetes and a prior foot ulcer,† Diabetes Care, 25:1983–1986. Wilson-Barnett J & Beech S. 1994. â€Å"Evaluating the Clinical Nurse Specialist: A review,† International Journal of Nursing Studies, 13 (6): 561-571. World Health Organization Publications.1991-1998.

Friday, November 8, 2019

How to Use Charts, Graphs, and Maps for Information

How to Use Charts, Graphs, and Maps for Information Many people find frequency tables, crosstabs, and other forms of numerical statistical results intimidating. The same information can usually be presented in graphical form, which makes it easier to understand and less intimidating. Graphs tell a story with visuals rather than in words or numbers and can help readers understand the substance of the findings rather than the technical details behind the numbers. There are numerous graphing options when it comes to presenting data. Here we will take a look at the most popularly used: pie charts, bar graphs, statistical maps, histograms, and frequency polygons. Pie Charts A pie chart is a graph that shows the differences in frequencies or percentages among categories of a nominal or ordinal variable. The categories are displayed as segments of a circle whose pieces add up to 100 percent of the total frequencies. Pie charts are a great way to graphically show a frequency distribution. In a pie chart, the frequency or percentage is represented both visually and numerically, so it is typically quick for readers to understand the data and what the researcher is conveying. Bar Graphs Like a pie chart, a bar graph is also a way to visually show the differences in frequencies or percentages among categories of a nominal or ordinal variable. In a bar graph, however, the categories are displayed as rectangles of equal width with their height proportional to the frequency of percentage of the category. Unlike pie charts, bar graphs are very useful for comparing categories of a variable among different groups. For example, we can compare marital status among U.S. adults by gender. This graph would, thus, have two bars for each category of marital status: one for males and one for females. The pie chart does not allow you to include more than one group. You would have to create two separate pie charts, one for females and one for males. Statistical Maps Statistical maps are a way to display the geographic distribution of data. For example, let’s say we are studying the geographic distribution of the elderly persons in the United States. A statistical map would be a great way to visually display our data. On our map, each category is represented by a different color or shade and the states are then shaded depending on their classification into the different categories. In our example of the elderly in the United States, let’s say we had four categories, each with its own color: Less than 10 percent (red), 10 to 11.9 percent (yellow), 12 to 13.9 percent (blue), and 14 percent or more (green). If 12.2 percent of Arizona’s population is over 65 years old, Arizona would be shaded blue on our map. Likewise, if Florida’s has 15 percent of its population aged 65 and older, it would be shaded green on the map. Maps can display geographical data on the level of cities, counties, city blocks, census tracts, countries, states, or other units. This choice depends on the researcher’s topic and the questions they are exploring. Histograms A histogram is used to show the differences in frequencies or percentages among categories of an interval-ratio variable. The categories are displayed as bars, with the width of the bar proportional to the width of the category and the height proportional to the frequency or percentage of that category. The area that each bar occupies on a histogram tells us the proportion of the population that falls into a given interval. A histogram looks very similar to a bar chart, however, in a histogram, the bars are touching and may not be of equal width. In a bar chart, the space between the bars indicates that the categories are separate. Whether a researcher creates a bar chart or a histogram depends on the type of data he or she is using. Typically, bar charts are created with qualitative data (nominal or ordinal variables) while histograms are created with quantitative data (interval-ratio variables). Frequency Polygons A frequency polygon is a graph showing the differences in frequencies or percentages among categories of an interval-ratio variable. Points representing the frequencies of each category are placed above the midpoint of the category and are joined by a straight line. A frequency polygon is similar to a histogram, however, instead of bars, a point is used to show the frequency and all the points are then connected with a line. Distortions in Graphs When a graph is distorted, it can quickly deceive the reader into thinking something other than what the data really says. There are several ways that graphs can be distorted. Probably the most common way that graphs get distorted is when the distance along the vertical or horizontal axis is altered in relation to the other axis. Axes can be stretched or shrunk to create any desired result. For example, if you were to shrink the horizontal axis (X axis), it could make the slope of your line graph appear steeper than it actually is, giving the impression that the results are more dramatic than they are. Likewise, if you expanded the horizontal axis while keeping the vertical axis (Y axis) the same, the slope of the line graph would be more gradual, making the results appear less significant than they really are. When creating and editing graphs, it is important to make sure the graphs do not get distorted. Oftentimes, it can happen by accident when editing the range of numbers in an axis, for example. Therefore it is important to pay attention to how the data comes across in the graphs and make sure the results are being presented accurately and appropriately, so as to not deceive the readers. Resources and Further Reading Frankfort-Nachmias, Chava, and Anna Leon-Guerrero. Social Statistics for a Diverse Society. SAGE, 2018.

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Maquiladoras in Mexico

Maquiladoras in Mexico Definition and Background The recent controversy over U.S. immigration policies regarding Hispanic people has caused us to overlook some very real economic realities regarding the benefits of Mexican labor to the U.S economy. Among those benefits is the use of Mexican factoriescalled maquiladorasto manufacture goods that will either be sold directly in the United States or exported to other foreign nations by American corporations. Although owned by Mexican companies, these factories often use materials and parts imported with few or no taxes and tariffs, under the agreement that the United States, or foreign countries, will control the exports of the products produced.   Maquiladoras originated in Mexico in the 1960s along the U.S. border. In the early to mid-1990s, there were approximately 2,000 maquiladoras with 500,000 workers. The number of maquiladoras skyrocketed after the passing of the North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in 1994, and it is not yet clear how proposed changes to NAFTA, or its dissolution, might affect the use of Mexican manufacturing plants by U.S. corporations in the future. What is clear is that currently, the practice is still of great benefit to both nationshelping Mexico reduce its unemployment rate and allowing U.S. corporations to take advantage of inexpensive labor. A political movement to bring manufacturing jobs back to the U.S. may, however, change the nature of this mutually beneficial relationship. At one time, the maquiladora program was Mexicos second largest source of export income, second only to oil, but since 2000 the availability of even cheaper labor in China and Central American nations has caused the number of Maquiladora plants to steadily dwindle. In the five years following the passing of NAFTA, more than 1400 new maquiladora plants opened in Mexico; between 2000 and 2002, more than 500 of those plants closed.   Maquiladoras, then and now, primarily produce electronic equipment, clothing, plastics, furniture, appliances, and auto parts, and even today ninety percent of the goods produced at maquiladoras are shipped north to the United States. Working Conditions in Maquiladoras Today As of this writing, more than one million Mexicans working in over 3,000 maquiladora manufacturing or export assembly plants in northern Mexico, producing parts and products for the United States and other nations. Mexican labor is inexpensive and because of NAFTA, taxes and customs fees are almost nonexistent. The benefit for the profitability of foreign-owned businesses is clear, and most of these plants are found within a short drive of the U.S.-Mexico border. Maquiladoras are owned by U.S., Japanese, and European countries, and some could be considered sweatshops composed of young women working for as little as 50 cents an hour, for up to ten hours a day, six days a week. However, in recent years, NAFTA has started to drive changes in this structure. Some maquiladoras are improving the conditions for their workers, along with increasing their wages. Some skilled workers in garment maquiladoras are paid as much as $1 to $2 an hour and work in modern, air-conditioned facilities. Unfortunately, the cost of living in border towns is often 30% higher than in southern Mexico and many of the maquiladora women (many of whom are single) are forced to live in shantytowns surrounding the factory towns, in residences that lack electricity and water. Maquiladoras are quite prevalent in Mexican cities such as Tijuana, Ciudad Juarez and Matamoros that lie directly across the border from the interstate highway-connected U.S. cities of San Diego (California), El Paso (Texas), and Brownsville (Texas), respectively. While some of the companies that have agreements with the maquiladoras have been increasing their workers standards, most employees work without even knowing that competitive unionization is possible (a single official government union is the only one allowed). Some laborers work up to 75 hours a week. And some maquiladoras are responsible for significant industrial pollution and environmental damage to the northern Mexico region and the southern U.S.   The use of maquiladora manufacturing plants, then, is a decided benefit to foreign-owned corporations, but a mixed blessing to the people of Mexico. They offer job opportunities to many people in an environment where unemployment is an ongoing problem, but under working conditions that would be considered substandard and inhumane by much of the rest of the world. NAFTA, the North American Free Trade Agreement, has caused slow improvement in conditions for laborers, but changes to NAFTA may well spell a reduction in opportunities for Mexican workers in the future.

Monday, November 4, 2019

WE 5 Mandi crj 546 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

WE 5 Mandi crj 546 - Essay Example She goes ahead to show their relevance systematically, allowing a reader to gain a clear understanding of her work. In addition, her work is written in a logical manner, ultimately engaging the reader, making him or her yearn to learn more. Personally, I have learned through her work about three types of photographs that play an insignificant role to the investigator regarding the crime scene. Jennifer’s article focuses on technological advancements used to detect fingerprints at crime scenes such as macro lens and alternate light source. Her clear abstract gives the reader an idea on what to expect from the article. Consequently, a reader becomes interested in the processes. Additionally, she clearly elaborates how these advancements work and how the forensic photographer is able to gather relevant evidence from the crime scene. A major enlightenment from this article is that forensic photographers must always take photographs without a standard of measure because it ensures that there is no alteration or removal of evidence. Lastly,I can firmly attest that her article greatly enlightens the reader on fingerprint photography and keeps the learner engaged from the start as information flows smoothly throughout the entire

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Review of You Know When the Men Are Gone by Siobhan Fallon Essay

Review of You Know When the Men Are Gone by Siobhan Fallon - Essay Example The author, Siobhan Fallon has invested in these stories a variety of emotions, realism and conciseness, which is prominent in the writing style and the tone used by the author. This book, â€Å"You Know When Men are Gone† movingly makes the citizens of the United States of America and its readers, recall, remember and pay tribute to the numerous sacrifices made by officials and staff of the naval, land, marine and the air forces of the country and not only the officials but also their parents, wives and children as well. This shows us that the sacrifices, like charity, when in the armed forces, begin at home. This book makes extensive use of different elements of literature, namely denotation and symbolism and these are used at numerous places, across all the stories. â€Å"Fallon provides a full three-sixty on military life, taking readers into the daily existences of both the women left behind to manage the mundane details and minor crises of domestic life and the loud-tal king, cursing, dreaming-of-home men who, knowing that they cannot control what happens while they’re away, grapple with the undeniable possibility that when they do finally return to home and family, they won’t find the same home and family they left† (Schinsky).   This book despite its very clear and denotative message of the absence of the military personnel from home, possesses a certain connotation. Set in the very secure colony of Fort Hood as well as the Green Zone in Iraq, the symbolism in this book by Fallon focuses on the world within the all the stake holders of war, especially the men fighting, the women waiting and the children crying. The stories in this capacity are inarguably out of the ordinary and attention grasping. This is not because of the fact that they are informative, emotional and heart wrenching but because they shed light on the truth—the profound, expressive truth of all the stakeholders of war and all those involved in these stories. This is because of the reason that the write Siobhan Fallon pursues first the complete realism of the life and surroundings of her book’s character. This she does through the prose which is concise and reverberating, later attaching with it a connotation. Therefore, the collection of short stories, received much praise from the masses and they exceeded expectations of all those who read them, primarily because of the fact that these stories were merely a narration by the author about her personal experiences. Each one of the short storiesput forth a varied theme, ranging from the partsthat military personnel, their staff and their colleagues must fulfill, regardless of the degree of command or the location, wherever they are, home or combat. This novel makes the readers aware of the elusive control that the military transmits even over the most apparentlyinsignificantfacets of time, how lengthy the grass may grow in the front yard, and the superiorand significant par t that is played by the families of these military personnel in each other’s lives. The family network, as described in the book is so inter woven that the families start feeling a certain sense of dependence upon each other. The author of this short stories collection Siobhan Fallon has taken great care of very intricate and seemingly lesser important matters. The author here has been very cautious and

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