The Changes in Corporate Governance of Japanese Companies Essay

The Changes in Corporate Governance of Japanese Companies - Essay Example The essay "The Changes in Corporate Governance of Japanese Companies" talks about the Toyota company marketing strategy, its history from the company's inception and its main goals for the company's future. Toyota was initiated in the year 1933 as a branch of Toyoda Automatic Loom Works with the main purpose of vehicle production under the direction and control of Kiichiro Toyoda, the son of the founder. It initial automobiles was the G1 and the A1 passenger car produced in the year 1935. In the year 1937, the Toyota Motor Company was initiated as a separate and independent company. In the year 2008, the Toyota Motor Company became numbers one globally in terms of sales; it surpassed the sales of General Motors. In the year 1924, Sakichi Toyoda came up with (invented) the Automatic Loom of the Toyota Model G. this invention ensured that the automobile stops itself automatically when a problem occurs. This automatic loom thereafter became part and process of the Toyota car production process. In the year 1929, Sakichi Toyoda sold the automatic loom patent to a British company; and hence automotive development startup capital was found. In August 1937; the name of the company was changed and trademarked as Toyota Motor Company. As from September 1947; Toyota Motor Company sold a small vehicle under the Toyopet name; for example Toyopet SA, Toyopet SB truck, and Toyopet Crown. However, in 1957 the Crown name was not well received in the United States of America because of connotations to toys or pets.

Examining Cultural Elements Essay Example for Free

Examining Cultural Elements Essay The following paper will look at the ways a therapist may be able to look upon and treat a family keeping all the cultural and the social boundaries, also known as the ethnocentric barriers aside. When looking at the view of the therapist, it may be important to look at the context of the family theories which have been introduced by sociologists all over the world. This idea was particularly introduced by the GAP or the group for the advancement of psychiatry. The association explained that it may be important for the families to be ascribed roles which are not specified when looking at the family. thus, if in any family which has an increasing amount of conflict, it may be helpful if it is somehow possible for the therapist to ensure that there are not any such roles put forward and emphasized. Note that in such a case particularly in a country with the traditional societal rules, it may be unlikely that such informality and the absence of clear cut roles would be possible. In such a case the therapist must allow for a setting and an environment such that the rigidity formed by the society is minimized so as to ensure an effective functioning of the family. This way neither the societal norms will be completely challenged, nor would there be any difficulty associated with the societal stereotypes. Another aspect which needs to be taken into consideration is that of the process of mystification. This process of mystification has been described as a process by which there are attempts made by one party to keep the other party in an awe state by maximizing the distance that they have between each other. When applying to the family life it implies denying the childs experience by relabelling it. in other words if there is going to a conflict in the family, it may be very likely for the parents to blame the children rather than excepting their own mistakes because they lie in a superior position in contrast to the child. When talking about it with relation to the therapist, making sure that this element of mystification does not occur in a strict family environment where there may be a great deal of respect for the elders may be problematic. However, the therapist, by looking upon at all the aspects of the problem should make sure that such biases are not essentially a part of the experience he encounters when treating the family. perhaps, the therapist can take the family to a different setting, perhaps away from the present place where they are in order to ensure that such a problem does not occur that much. Apart from this, the therapist may also be able to effectively provide for therapy by looking at how the family has and follows the system of double blinds. By this we imply a system in which there are two contractory points. It may thus be very likely for an individual to take up one and not both the points. For instance how boys are told to be tough and at the same time not be harsh with their mothers. These situations imply that an individual can follow only one and thus a family conflict may very likely occur. In such a case, the therapist should easily identify the double bind situation and then allow for a dialogue or a discussion to take place between the related parties. After looking and keeping all the things into consideration there can be a presentation of the values and norms of the societies and then there can be an agreement reached upon. No only this, but an important thing that should be done by the therapists is to carefully observe the way these discussions take place. This would be more and way better than a mere speculation because the therapists may make an increasing amount of assumptions which may otherwise not be made in case of a proper observation. not only this, but it may also be important to note that by observing, it may be possible that other possible forms pf conflicts that occur within the family and may not completely be realized or perhaps are otherwise hidden are highly likely to come up. It should be noted that the observations by the therapist must also be made first and fore mostly, perhaps even before one to one counseling of the families occur. This may be so that there is an absolute certainty that there are no previous biases left for evaluation. Therefore, one may say that there may be numerous ways through which the cultural and societal biases can be avoided by a therapist. First and for mostly can be a clear evaluation of the conflict that occurs in the family with a particular look at the element of mystification as well as double binds. Not only this, but also observing the family to look and obtain additional data may also be very helpful. Reference: How the students’ culture effect their behavior www. literacynet. org/lp/hperspectives/culteffect. html Lyman Stone, How much does culture and lifestyle affect behavior? http://www. helium. com/items/493732-how-much-does-culture-and-lifestyle-affect-behavior What makes lives, what influences Behavior? alcor. concordia. ca/~dwharton/txt/sgt/50. html

Desertion in Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong :: Things They Carried Essays

Desertion in Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong  Ã‚   The "Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong" is a story of many things when looked at from the right perspective. The validity of the story actually has nothing to do with its main purpose, which is to explain how Vietnam changed the American soldiers who were a part of the conflict. O'Brien's purpose is to inform his readers of the effect that Vietnam had on American GI's. Told by Rat Kiley, the "Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong" can be seen as a touching love story; sweethearts united even during a war. However, the true focus of the story is not love but change and desertion.   Kiley is telling the story to illustrate how all GI's changed in their Vietnam experience. The fact that the main character is a woman drives his point even farther home. She is the very portrait of mainstream, wholesome America; the only thing she lacks is an apple pie. Kiley describes her as "This cute blonde - just a kid, just barely out of high school - she shows up with a suitcase and one of those plastic cosmetic bags." (O'Brien 90) This girl is the antithesis of what one would expect to find in Vietnam. She is pure and innocent. Throughout her time in Vietnam she changes from this image to something very different, she spends less time with her boyfriend, Mark Fossie. Mary Anne hangs around with the Green Berets, who are very different from the other soldiers. Eventually she becomes one of them, marking a total transformation, "There was no emotion in her stare, no sense of the person behind it. But the grotesque part, he said, was her jewelry. At the girl's throat was a n ecklace of human tongues. Elongated and narrow, like pieces of blackened leather, the tongues were threaded along a length of copper wire, one overlapping the next, the tips curled upward as if caught in a final shrill syllable." (O'Brien 110) Vietnam changed Mary Anne; it forced her to become something as foreign to America as the war itself.   The "Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong" is also a story of desertion: desertion of people and customs. Mary Anne deserts her boyfriend and her culture. As she becomes more involved into Vietnam she drifts away from her boyfriend, Fossie. She disappears one night and Fossie is distraught, "'Gone,' Fossie said, 'Rat, listen, she's sleeping with somebody.

Erickson’s Psychosocial Theory Essay

Erick Erickson is a well known theorist. He was a student of Freud and was greatly influenced by his work. Erikson’s theory is known as one of the best theories of personality in psychology. While he accepted Freud’s theory of psychosexual development, he felt that it was incomplete. It did not recognize social and cultural influences It did not recognize development changes beyond adolescence It did not put enough emphasis on ego development This theory focused primarily on development of neurotic and maladaptive behavior and did not give enough consideration to healthy development. Erikson believed that personality developed in a series of eight stages. He argues that development occurs across a whole lifespan. He developed his theory based on the basis that cognitive and social development occurs at the same time. Erickson believed that during development people go through a series of psychosocial crises. These crises identify a conflict between two personality conflicts. Erickson developed detailed definitions of these psychosocial stages and the crises associated with each one. Each stage builds on the preceding one and prepares the individual for the next (Martin & Fabes 2009). The 1st stage is trust versus mistrust (Main Question: â€Å"Is the world a trustworthy place?). This stage focuses on infants needs being met by parents. Infants depend on their guardians for food and comfort. Their understanding of society comes from their interactions with their guardian. If a child is exposed to consistent positive interactions, and dependable care, the infant will build trust. If the parents fail to provide and meet the basic needs the child will feel a sense of mistrust. Stage 2 is Autonomy vs. Shame & Doubt (Toddlers 2 to 3 years). Main Question: â€Å"Can I do things myself or must I always rely on others?† As children gain control over their body and motor skills they begin to claim possessions and develop a sense of independency. However, parents still provide a key role of  security from which the child can venture out to assert their will. When parents’ are patient and encouraging it helps promote autonomy. Otherwise, they are likely to impose the child with a sense of doubt which decreases their willingness to try new tasks. Stage 3 is Initiative vs. Guilt (Preschool, 3 to 6 years).Main Question: â€Å"Am I good or am I bad?† At this stag e, children want to begin and complete their own actions for a purpose. They are learning how well they can do things. They are also learning that, just because they are able to do things, does not mean it is a good idea to do it. Guilt is a new emotion at this time. Children are beginning to learn that some behaviors may make them feel unhappy about themselves. They are beginning to develop sense of right and wrong. Stage 4 is Industry vs. Inferiority (6-12). Main Question: Can I make it in this world? At this stage children begin to develop a sense of pride in their achievements. This is a crucial time for teachers because they play an increased role in the child’s development. When children are encouraged and reinforced for their initiative, they begin to feel industrious and their confidence is increased. If this initiative is not encouraged or controlled by parents or teacher, then the child will feel inferior and doubt their abilities. Stage 5 is Identity vs. Confusion (early teen). Main Question: Who am I? What can I? During this stage there is a transition from childhood to adulthood, which is very important. This is when the child becomes more independent, and begins to look at the future in terms of career, relationships, families, housing, etc. They explore and begin to form their own identity based on the outcome of their experiences. The sense of who they are can be hindered, which causes confusion about themselves and their place in the world. Stage 6 is Intimacy vs. Isolation. Main Question: Can I love? During this stage it is the period of early adulthood when people are exploring their personal relationships. Erikson believed it was important for people to develop close and committed relationships with others. Those who are successful at this stage will develop secure relationships. Erikson believed that a strong sense of personal identity was important to developing intimate relationships. Stage 7 is Generativity vs. Stagnation (middle adulthood). Main question: Can I make my life count? During establish this stage is when adults careers. They settle down within a relationship and begin to develop a family of their own. There is a sense of giving back to  society through raising children, working, and being involved in community activities and organizations. When adults fail to achieve these objectives, they lack self worth and feel unproductive. Stage 8 is Ego Integrity vs. Despair. Main question: Am I happy with the way that I have lived my life? This is the final stage of development in which adults grow older and become seniors. They tend to slow down in general. During this time they think about their accomplishments and are able to develop honesty about our achievements. This is when it is decided how productive one has been and if life goals have been accomplished (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erikson%27s_stages_of_psychosocial_development). Critique: Erickson was one of the first psychologists to become aware of the influence of culture on behavior. His theory focused on three key points: Body Mind Culture Erickson acknowledged cultural differences and contributed significantly to the study of adolescence and how they formed their identities. He felt that we should look at life in its entirety. He believed that development expanded through adulthood and that there were crises that adults encountered. His theory conflicts Freud’s in the fact that his emphasis was on the role of the ego rather than the id. This makes Erickson’s theory more positively oriented than Freud. Erickson’s theory is geared toward a positive outcome. However, many theorists doubted Erickson’s academic integrity. There is also very little research that has been conducted on childhood and adult psychosocial crises. It has been noted that many of Erickson’s theoretical propositions are difficult to test. Some were even impossible (Martin & Fabes, 2009). It has also been argued that Erickson’s theory is more applicable to boys rather than girls. â€Å"There is debate as to whether people only search for identity during the adolescent years or if one stage needs to happen before other stages can be completed† (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erikson%27s_stages_of_psychosocial_development). Reflection: Out of all theorists that I have studied, Erickson is by far my favorite. After exploring Erickson’s stages of development, I agree that his theory does describe the changes in one’s life. I do feel that we face a  crises/conflict in each stage. Although I cannot remember my early stages of development, I have experienced them with my children and as a teacher I have witnessed these crises. At this time I have a child in each stage of development. I know my infant depends on me and I feel that if I do not meet his needs he will develop a sense of mistrust. I also have a child that worries about fitting in and constantly worries about relationships with friends. I feel that I am currently in the middle adulthood stage. I have settled down. I have a family, and I have started a career. Erickson stages of development are especially useful for teachers. Teachers as do parents, play a key role in helping or hindering children in their personality development. Erickson viewed development as a reflection of relationships with parents and family within the broader context of society (Brewer, 2006 p.21). Teachers that follow Erickson’s belief will develop programs that allow children the opportunity to build trust and bonds. School age children are dealing with the demands of learning new skills, fitting in with their classmates and accomplishing goals (Morrison, 2007p. 125). I believe that Erickson’s stages of development will be beneficial in assisting teachers with observing and responding to their students needs. Resources: Morrison, G. (2007). Early childhood education today (10th ed.). Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson Merrill/Prentice Hall. Brewer, J. (2006). Introduction to Early Childhood Education: Preschool Through Primary Grades (6th ed.). Boston, New York: Pearson/Allyn & Bacon, Martin, C., & Fabes, R. (2009). Discovering child development (2nd ed.). Boston, NewYork: Houghton Mifflin Company. http://info.psu.edu.sa/psu/maths/Erikson%27s%20Theory%20of%20Psychosocial%20Development%20%282%29.pdf http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erikson%27s_stages_of_psychosocial_development

Collins and Yeskel

Rising personal debt is one of the consequences of growing inequality. Over 60 percent of americans carry a personal debt every month and the average family is said to cary a nine thousand dollar debt. The reading talked about how people are now using credit cards to pay for things like groceries and gas, something we would of paid for in cash on the regular in the past. I find this very dangerous. The main reason i find this dangerous is because having to buy groceries and gas on credit probably means you don't feel you have the money at the given time to actually pay for it.This means a person is living pay check to pay check and has little to no money to put in savings which could hurt in the future. I feel this is primarily dangerous for middle to low income households. If one of these households are buying food and gas on credit and cant afford to put money in savings and they happen to fall on a hard time they will put themselves into further debt and cause family issues.Suburb anization of america was driven by the government and contributed disparities of wealth between whites and blacks by creating areas between the 1930’s-1960’s that were categorized by zones where certain people could live. On maps areas were broken down by color to determine the most desirable places to live. Green was a desirable area where it was predominately white and red was an undesirable place to live where it was mostly black, mixed race, or other races.The FHA would give loans based off of this data based off of who applied for them and also loans interest rates would be adjusted accordingly in the same fashion. Today we see that older generations properties in these suburban areas are starting to mix racially since this older style of suburbanization has been outlawed. Over time the larger interest rates and zoning has created problems between different ethnic groups and not areas are becoming more diverse.

Special Event In My Life

Special Event In My Life A Mother's Love As the years go by I have encountered many remember able moments from my first horse to the terrible car accidents. No matter if, it was good or bad times nothing can or could surpass to compare to the gift of becoming a mother. There are so many memories wrapped in this these packages of happiness, joy, and even times of fear knowing they don't come with instructions, but to learn as time goes on. From the first moments as a mother when coming into my world was like a new beginning of the chapter of life. All my worries and fears of becoming a mother had been washed away, I knew that moment of time life wasn't going to be the same. I was going to take life day by day and enjoy my life with my new family not to be so concerned about the small details that life brings.John Lennon AnthologyMy life has become complete, I feel as though with this fresh start that myself as one can complete my dreams and hopes to a better future for us. As the long nights drag on to days a nd months of studying go by I feel a moment of quitting, then I watch them both sleeping without a concern in the world only wanting to keep their image of the safe and peace of theirs dreams t come true. Each day watching them grow brings me back to memories of my childhood. How your birthdays seemed like almost like the best day compared to Christmas morning, and knowing that my children are feeling and imaging those same thought as I did so long ago. The hours go by as though they are seconds, the seasons flash past as though there is no stopping. One...

The Values of Freedom and Liberty

The Values of Freedom and Liberty Free Online Research Papers Throughout the course of the development of western civilization, there have been varying amounts of political changes and revolutions that have come to shape the world as we know it. Topics that were of importance in the past are still just as important to take into consideration during the present day, and lay out a groundwork on which we can continue to build upon in order to help our modern society avoid problems that have risen in the past. Although there are a number of themes that can be derived from the historical evaluation of western culture, it is most important to look at the theme of freedom and equality, and how the prominence (or lack thereof) has been changing since way back in the past, and how it continues to change into the present day. During the Age of Enlightenment, changes in thinking began to develop. People were starting to look at things from a more critical viewpoint, as well as beginning to think for themselves. Due to this sudden emergence of individual thought, there came a more heavy emphasis on the issues of freedom and equality. People began to question the things that were going on around them, and dissatisfaction was commonplace at this time. It is not as though the points of freedom and equality were not present in the past. This was just a time when people were beginning to come out from the overbearing shell of their corrupt government, and exercising their right to be heard. People were beginning to see that they had a right to equality, and the freedom to say what they needed to say. Due to this, there was also a surfacing of philosophes and individuals that had no qualms of discoursing, such as Francois Marie Arouet, famously known as Voltaire. He spoke very freely, criticizing matters of government and religion in a very sarcastic and satirical way. For example, his book â€Å"Candide†, writing with a sordid, mocking tone, made use of it’s characters (such as Professor Pangloss and Cunegonde) to fully satirize the concept of religion at the time. Although his portrayals of society were not always appreciated, they characterized the freedom of speech that the citizens were beginning to enjoy about that time. One of the targets of Voltaire’s criticisms was the actions taken in the Calas case, as well as the execution of Damien. The horrendous amount of torture that was inflicted upon these alleged perpetrators is a gleaming example of the lack of freedom that people really had at that time. Voltaire was explicit in expressing his grievous distaste for this type of corporal punishment that the government employed. However, from these courses of events, the â€Å"Declaration of the Rights of Man† was drafted, attempting to promote the three basic values that the French Revolution was based upon: Freedom, equality, and fraternity. However, even this document was not immune to the perpetuation of inequality based on the usage of the language in the document. Based on the wording, this document favored those with a higher standing or social status, and focused on the great disparity between the classes. The original document maintained that separation, and was unfairly writ ten to favor the upper class. However, through the amendment of article IV, which was changed to state that â€Å"†¦it must be the same for all, whether it protects or punishes† and also that â€Å"All citizens, being equal before it are equally admissible to all public offices†¦and employments, according to their capacity, and without other distinction than that of virtues and talents†, more equality was established. Developments continued to occur during this time, including the instigation of the Industrial Revolution in Europe. Great transformations were occurring, as well as women becoming able to go and work in the factories. However, despite the write up of the â€Å"Declaration of Rights of Man† and the changes that were being undertaken, there was still distrust harbored in the government at this time. John Stuart Mill, in his work â€Å"On Liberty†, talks about the conflict between â€Å"Liberty and Authority†, or rather, the struggle between the rights of the people and the actions of the government. He characterizes the same points that I had mentioned about the Age of Enlightenment and the emergence of the voice of the individual, saying that a point came â€Å"†¦in the progress of human affairs, when men ceased to think it a necessity of nature that their governors should be an independent power, opposed in interest to themselves†. Within this time period of the French Revolution and the Industrial Revolution in Europe, freedom and equality are two very important ideas that need to be taken into consideration when determining the health and functioning of a society. However, these continue to be important and ever changing continuing on through western civilizations historical past. With the materialization of nationalism and the unification of states, the existence and lack of freedom and equality continually affects the societies at the time. From century to century, new developments, such as changes in political structure including anarchical overthrows if tyrannical governments continue to change the ever-fluid opinions and beliefs on what freedom and equality are, and the manifestations of such within the sociological sphere. Uprising revolutions of the 1840s, colonialism and imperialism of Europe, and the coming of the second industrial revolution are all factors that affect the stances of the ever changing ideas of freedom and equality. The 1840s were a time of revolution, particularly within the European Nations. Countries were reclaiming their heritage and their sense of unity. Nationalism was becoming a driving factor in the reasoning behind these revolutions. Nationalistic sentiment was taking European societies, causing explosions in all places where dissatisfaction with political agenda was brewing. During this time, freedom and equality were very important to those involved. This point was a step towards working towards a less monarchistic way of government for all, and rebuilding the ineffective governments in countries where the political processes were not conducive to the happiness of the common people. In our Western Civilization textbook, for example, Giuseppe Mazzini, trying to incite the unification of the Italian nations, attempted to cause an â€Å"awakening of the Italian people and of the common people’s mission to bring republicanism to the world† . Wikipedia defines republicanism as the â€Å"ideology of governing a nation as a republic, with an emphasis on liberty, rule by the people, and the civic virtue practiced by citizens†. It is very clear that heavy emphasis on freedom and liberty for all is a very important value during these times. However as colonial and imperialistic times began to descend, things changed drastically. During the â€Å"new† imperialistic and colonial times, the weight of the value of freedom and equality was not as significant. To further explain, it seems as though freedom and equality were important to the Europeans, but they did not believe that all people aside from them deserved these things. For example, it is true that it was within the self interest and benefit of the Europeans to go out and explore, conquer and convert. Rudyard Kipling, in his poem â€Å"The White Man’s Burden†, delves into this topic, believing in the civilizing and â€Å"westernizing† mission of the colonialists. The poem implies that it is for the good of all mankind when It states that â€Å"By open speech and simple/ And hundred times made plain/ To seek another’s profit/ And work another’s gain†, as though they may be taking from one, but in the end working toward the betterment of them as well. Although it has been said that the explorers and settlers were on missions due to their belief that prosperity for them meant economic and developmental gains for other parts of the world, it is accurate to say that this was not necessarily the case. Written 20 years later, Edmund D. Morel piece of work entitled â€Å"The Black Man’s Burden†, which criticized the imperialistic tendencies of Europe at the sacrifice of the indigenous people, showed how detrimental the colonialism of this time period was for the future of Africa. It seems as though it was a time of independence and freedom in Europe, but a time of domination and subjugation for any man, woman, or country that ended up in its warpath. In the coming of the second industrial revolution, the sentiment became more inwardly directed as opposed to the external, outwardly, conquistador-like sentiment that was present for a period of time. Therefore, there was a very heavy focus and high public opinion about the values of freedom and equality. During this time, due to the changes and progressions in the industrial sector, new ways of thinking and viewpoints began to emerge. For example, with the introduction of the â€Å"Manifesto of the Communist Party†, communism was born. From the viewpoint of Marx, this was something that granted freedom from the doomed political structure that the society was currently built upon. To him it was a better plan, built upon breaking down the disparity between the classes, and empowering the working class. Marx was very cynical about the outcome of capitalism, and saw failure within its own basic structure. Revolutions, imperialism and colonialism, and industrialization are all factors that changed and skewed the manifestation of freedom and equality in the past. Changes in political structure and conflict between the classes and government were strong driving factors in influencing public opinion. Many times, the differential in the importance of these two things were reflected in the governmental sphere. These things are all important to note so that similar mistakes are not made again. This continues to be reflected onward through the course of western civilization. After the first world war, things were kind of in disarray around the globe. Due to bad economic health in various countries, and an increase in social conflict, things did not appear to be going to well for democracy. In the Soviet Union, under the rule of Lenin militarism was rising again, but the New Economic Policy allowed for the peasant to live in a somewhat capitalistic framework; being able to own their own land and trade, with the addition of fixed taxes. However, with the rise of Stalin, a severe dictatorship once again arose in the USSR. Collectivization completely reversed the freedom of privatization that Lenin had allowed, and the â€Å"Great Terror† destroyed important elements of the Soviet Union and killed and imprisoned many civilians. The freedom that Lenin had allowed his citizens was completely taken away. However, this was not the only place that this would occur. Mussolini was the leader of the Italian Fascist movement. Fascism is defined as the centralization of power around an authoritative leader. Although he was taking away the freedom of his people, Mussolini defended himself by saying that he had saved the country from economic ruin. In his work â€Å"Born of a Need for Action†, Mussolini sums it all up within the first section of his writing by saying that â€Å"Fascism was not the nursling of a doctrine worked out beforehand with a detailed elaboration: it was born of the need for action and it was itself from the beginning practical rather than theoretical†¦Ã¢â‚¬ . He acknowledges taking away the aspect of freedom and equality within his society, saying that â€Å"†¦Fascism denies, in democracy, the absurd conventional untruth of political equality dressed out in the garb of collective irresponsibility, and the myth of â€Å"happiness† and indefinite progress†. For the betterment of the country, people needed to sacrifice themselves in order to help stimulate their motherland. However, this type of dictatorship did not end there. One of the most poignant events that deal with freedom and equality is the rise of Nazism in Germany. The dictatorship that Adolph Hitler led was in great violation of the values of freedom and equality. However, his persecution of the Jewish people was the most blatant act of disregard to these two virtues. In his work â€Å"Mein Kampf†, Hitler talks about the poisoning of the Aryan race by the â€Å"degenerate† Jewish people. He lays out the many ways that he believes the Jewish people are inferior, as well as saying that â€Å"†¦the Jew possesses no culture-creating energy whatsoever, as the idealism, without which there can never exist a genuine development of man towards a higher level, does not and never did exist in him†. He goes on to say that â€Å"His intellect, therefore, will never have a constructive effect, but only a destructive one†¦Ã¢â‚¬ . Voicing these ridiculously skewed statements, Hitler continued on with his extermination o f the Jewish people. He continuously had them rounded up, shipped off to camps, and then eliminated. The Jewish people had no say, no voice in any of this, living in a society where an authoritarian dictator was deciding their fate. The emergence of the Second World War is also very significant in the issue of freedom and equality. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Japanese-Americans, under Executive Order 9066, were ordered into internment camps all along the western coast. This was quite obviously in direct violation of their freedom. However, much worse then that was the dropping of the atomic bomb on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Although it may possibly be based upon the matter of personal opinion, I believe that the dropping of the bomb violated the human rights of the thousands of innocent Japanese citizens that were mercilessly destroyed by these atomic weapons. The United States and all these other countries at war due to the fact that they were trying to preserve their own freedoms, and what they believe to be their own rights in the name of equality. However, the dropping of the bomb was a direct statement against those basic principles. Just as in the times of imperialism and colonia lism, the dropping of the bomb constituted the rights of the United States, but complete disregard for anyone else beyond that. Although people try to justify this act and defend it, it was not necessary. While the two bombs did speed the ending of the war, the sacrifices that were made in the process were not worth it in the end. With the beginning of the anti-colonialist movements, the importance of freedom and equality seem to make a reemergence, such as in the cases of the Chinese revolution, and the decolonization of India. The latter is one of the most important times for historical India, signifying a time for the Indian people that they had actually achieved freedom from British rule for the first time. The nonviolent movements that Mohandas Gandhi led were revolutionary and without them, the Indian people would never have seen peace. For many many years, India had been colonized by Britain. Everything that was produced in India was all property of the British, and there was nothing that the country could do in order to try and build up their homeland due to this reason. With Gandhi working on their side, the Indian people were eventually able to reclaim their land, and begin to establish themselves as an individual nation. Freedom and equality are two very important themes that reoccur in different degrees throughout the course of western civilization. From the beginning of the French Revolution, to the start of the second coming of the Industrial revolution; From the rise of Nazism to the explosion of the Second World War, freedom and equality have teetered back and forth on the scale of justice, affecting societies and countries alike. It is not enough to acknowledge the disparities that have occurred throughout the course of history. It does not do us any good to just read about the atrocities that have gone on. What needs to happen is the growth of an awareness of the wrongs in the past, and what caused these things to happen. It is very important that lessons are learned from each chapter, and we do not make the same mistakes that we have made in our historical past. This is the only way that we will be able to positively affect and shape our own future. Research Papers on The Values of Freedom and Liberty19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraQuebec and CanadaAssess the importance of Nationalism 1815-1850 EuropeIncorporating Risk and Uncertainty Factor in CapitalAnalysis Of A Cosmetics AdvertisementCapital PunishmentRelationship between Media Coverage and Social andInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesThe Masque of the Red Death Room meaningsCanaanite Influence on the Early Israelite Religion

SAT Syllabus What’s on the Exam and How to Prep

SAT Syllabus What’s on the Exam and How to Prep SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Are you taking the SAT soon but aren’t sure what to expect?Not to worry! This guide will give you an in-depth look at the SAT syllabus and what to expect on the exam. For each section of the SAT, I’ll explain the format of the section, thetypes of questions you’ll see, and the skills it tests.At the end of this guide, I'll also go over the top tips you need to know when preparing for the SAT to help you achieve your highest score. Overview of the SAT Before we start looking in-depth at the SAT syllabus, let’s first get a broad overview of what the SAT covers.There are three main sections on the SAT: Reading, Writing and Language, and Math. There is also an optional essay. More information about each section is available in the chart below. Section Minutes Given Number of Questions Reading 65 52 Writing and Language 35 44 Math 80 58 Essay (Optional) 50 1 Total 3 hours, 50 minutes (3 hours without the essay) 154 (+1 essay prompt) The SAT sections will always go in this order, beginning with Reading and ending with (if you choose to take it), the SAT Essay.The Math section is divided into two groups, the first where you can’t use a calculator (25 minutes and 20 questions), and the second, where a calculator is allowed (55 minutes and 38 questions). Below, for each section of the SAT, I’ll explain what subjects it covers. SAT Reading Number of Questions Minutes Given Time Per Question 65 52 75 seconds Format The SAT Reading section consists of passages with 52 multiple-choice questions. In this section, there will be four individual passages and one passage pair, which means there will be about 10-12 questions for each passage/passage pair.At least one of the passages will have graphics, such as tables, graphs, and charts accompanying it.Each passage, or passage pair set, will be at about 500 to 750 words. There will be at least one passage from each of the following topics: U.S. or world literature U.S. founding document or a text inspired by one Social science (such as economics, psychology, sociology, etc.) Science (Earth science, biology, chemistry, or physics) Types of Questions All questions on SAT Reading are multiple choice with four answer choices. There areeight main different questions types you may see in this section. Big Picture/Main Idea These questions ask about the overall purpose of the passage, such as what is the passage about, what is it trying to accomplish, or what the point of it is. The main purpose of each passage is to A) compare brain function in those who play games on the Internet and those who browse on it. B) report on the problem-solving skills of individuals with varying levels of Internet experience. C) take a position on increasing financial support for studies related to technology and intelligence. D) make an argument about the effects of electronic media use on the brain. Little Picture/Detail This type of question will usually refer to a specific line or phrase within a passage and ask you about a specific detail, such as what a particular phrase means or why the author chose to mention something. In the context of the passage, the author’s use of the phrase â€Å"her light step flying to keep time with his long stride† (line 3) is primarily meant to convey the idea that A)Ethan and Mattie share a powerful enthusiasm.B) Mattie strives to match the speed at which Ethan works.C)Mattie and Ethan playfully compete with each other.D)Ethan walks at a pace that frustrates Mattie. Inference Inference questions will ask you to deduce the meaning of a line or phrase from the passage or the entire passage itself. Even though you’ll have to do some interpretation on these questions, they all have to have one objectively correct answer with evidence in the passage you can use to support your choice. The passage most strongly suggests that Adelita used which of the following to navigate her 9,000-mile journey? A)The current of the North Atlantic gyre.B) Cues from electromagnetic coils designed by Putman and Lohmann.C) The inclination and intensity of Earth's magnetic field.D)A simulated "magnetic signature" configured by Lohmann. Vocabulary in Context For these questions, you’ll be asked to define a specific word in the question. Be careful, because sometimes common words are used in unusual ways and you have to correctly identify the definition used in the passage. As used in line 38, â€Å"intense† most nearly means A) emotional.B)concentrated.C) brilliant.D) determined. Function Function questions refer to how a phrase or sentence works within a passage and what effect it has on the passage. The analogy in the final sentence of Passage 2 has primarily which effect? A) It uses ornate language to illustrate a difficult concept. B) It employs humor to soften a severe opinion of human behavior. C) It alludes to the past to evoke a nostalgic response. D) It criticizes the view of a particular group. Author Technique The questions will ask you to analyze the author’s tone, style, perspective and/or attitude. For paired passages, you may have to compare author techniques between the two passages. During the course of the first paragraph, the narrator’s focus shifts from A) recollection of past confidence to acknowledgment of present self-doubt. B) reflection on his expectations of life as a tradesman to his desire for another job. C) generalization about job dissatisfaction to the specifics of his own situation. D) evaluation of factors making him unhappy to identification of alternatives. Evidence Support Evidence support questions refer back to a previous question and ask you to provide evidence for your answer. For example, if you were asked an author technique question, after it there may be an evidence support question asking you to identify which lines in the passage support your answer to the author technique question. 1. The description in the first paragraph indicates that what Ethan values most about Mattie is her A)fitness for farm labor.B)vivacious youth.C) receptive nature. D) freedom from worry. 2. Which choice provides the best evidence for the answer to the previous question? A) Lines 1-4(â€Å"Mattie... farm†) B) Lines 4-8 (â€Å"He had... anyhow†) C) Lines 8-10 (â€Å"But it... hearth†) D) Lines 11-13 (â€Å"She had... will†) Data Interpretation These questions refer to the diagrams, charts or graphs included with some of the passages. You’ll have to analyze the information the graphics present. 1. How does the graph support the author’s point that internal waves affect ocean water dynamics? A) It demonstrates that wave movement forces warmer water down to depths that typically are colder. B) It reveals the degree to which an internal wave affects the density of deep layers of cold water. C) It illustrates the change in surface temperature that takes place during an isolated series of deep waves. D) It shows that multiple waves rising near the surface of the ocean disrupt the flow of normal tides. Skills Tested There are three main skills tested in SAT Reading, all of which relate back to critical reading skills. Command of Evidence Being able to find evidence in a passage to support the answer to a question, understand how authors support their claims, and interpret diagrams. Words in Context Using clues from the passage to identify the meaning of a particular word and understanding how the word’s the author chooses affects tone, style, and meaning. Analysis in History/Social Science and Science Being able to examine hypotheses, interpret data, consider implications in passages that cover the subjects of history, social studies, and science. SAT Writing and Language Number of Questions Minutes Given Time Per Question 44 35 48 seconds Format Like the Reading section, all questions in the SAT Writing and Language are based on passages. This section contains four passages with 11 questions following each passage. Passages will cover either Careers, Social Studies, Humanities, or Science. Careers passages could discuss trends or debates in major professional fields, such as medicine, technology, or business. Social studies passages might focus on topics from history, anthropology, psychology, political science, or sociology. Humanities passages could feature an author or explore trends in literature, drama, art, music, or dance. Science passages will focus on Earth science, biology, chemistry, or physics. There is no fiction writingin this section, instead, passages will either be argument-based, explanatory, or nonfiction narrative, and at least one passage will be accompanied by a chart, graph, or table.For SAT Writing and Language, each of the passages will be filled with punctuation, word choice, sentence structure, and organization errors. Your job will be to identify and correct those errors in the questions. Types of Questions Like SAT Reading, all questions on SAT Writing and Language are multiple choice with four answer choices. Questions in this section will ask you about four main ideas.About 24 questions will focus on Command of Evidence, Words in Context, and Expression of Ideas, and about 20 questions will be on Standard English Conventions. Command of Evidence You’ll be asked to improve how the passages develop and present ideas and information to the reader. For example, when reading a passage you should understand how an argument could be strengthened or a detail added to improve clarity. Words in Context For some questions, you’ll need to improve the word choice used in the passage in order to improve tone, style, and/or clarity. Expression of Ideas You’ll need to be able to understand how a passage is structured and the point it is trying to make. Questions testing this skill may ask you to analyze how the passage’s message or organization could be improved. Standard English Conventions These questions test your grammar skills, such as sentence structure, usage, punctuation, verb tense, parallel construction, subject-verb agreement, and comma use. Skills Tested Sixteenmain skills are tested on this section, focusing on focusing on the development and organization of ideas and effective language use as well as grammar rules. Agreement Concision Conventional expression Logical sequence Modifiers Parallel Structure Possessives Precision Pronouns Punctuation Sentence function Sentence structure Style and tone Syntax Transition Verb Tense SAT MATH Number of Questions Minutes Given Time Per Question No Calculator 25 20 75 seconds Calculator 55 38 77 seconds Format SAT Math is divided into two sections, depending on whether or not a calculator is allowed. During the first section, when you cannot use a calculator, you’ll have 25 minutes to answer 15 multiple-choice questions and 5 grid-in questions. For the second section, when you can use a calculator, you’ll have 55 minutes to answer 30 multiple-choice questions and 8 grid-ins, including an Extended Thinking problem. Types of Questions Multiple Choice The majority of questions on SAT Math will be your standard multiple-choice questions where you’re presented with a problem and have to choose the best answer from four answer choices. Aaron is staying at a hotel that charges $99.95 per night plus tax for a room. A tax of 8% is applied to the room rate, and an additional onetime untaxed fee of $5.00 is charged by the hotel. Which of the following represents Aaron’s total charge, in dollars, for staying x nights? A)(99.5 + 0.08x) + 5B)1.08(99.5x) + 5C) 1.08(99.5x + 5)D)1.08(99.5 + 5)x Grid In On SAT Math, 22% of questions will be grid-ins. On these questions, instead of choosing the correct answer from a list of options, you’ll have to solve the problem and enter your own answer on the grid provided in the answer sheet. Ifwhat is one possible value of Extended Thinking A few of your questions will be part of an Extended Thinking problem. The Extended Thinking problem will appear as part of the grid-ins, typically near the end of the section. You’ll see a graph, table, or word problem and have to answer several questions about it. Extended Thinking questions often focus on real-world situations. An international bank issues its Traveler credit cards worldwide. When a customer makes a purchase using a Traveler card in a currency different from the customer’s home currency, the bank converts the purchase price at the daily foreign exchange rate and then charges a 4% fee on the converted cost. Sara lives in the United States, but is on vacation in India. She used her Traveler card for a purchase that cost 602 rupees (Indian currency). The bank posted a charge of $9.88 to her account that included the 4% fee. 1. What foreign exchange rate, in Indian rupees per one U.S. dollar, did thebank use for Sara’s charge? Round your answer to the nearest whole number. 2.A bank in India sells a prepaid credit card worth 7,500 rupees. Sara canbuy the prepaid card using dollars at the daily exchange rate with no fee,but she will lose any money left unspent on the prepaid card. What is theleast number of the 7,500 rupees on the prepaid card Sara must spendfor the prepaid card to be cheaper than charging all her purchases onthe Traveler card? Round your answer to the nearest whole number ofrupees. Skills Tested SAT Math covers 24 main topics, within four main subject areas. Over half of the questions will be on algebra, while a maximum of 10% of the questions will focus on Additional Topics such as geometry and trigonometry. Basic Algebra Linear functions Single variable equations Systems of linear equations Absolute value Advanced Algebra Manipulating polynomials Quadratic equations Dividing polynomials Exponential functions Function notation Solving exponential equations Systems of equations with nonlinear equations Problem Solving and Data Analysis Ratios and proportions Scatterplots and graphs Categorical data and probabilities Experimental interpretation Median, median, mode, standard deviation Additional Topics Coordinate geometry - lines and slopes Coordinate geometry - nonlinear functions Geometry - circles Geometry - lines and angles Geometry - solid geometry Geometry - triangles and polygons Trigonometry Complex numbers SAT Essay Number of Questions Minutes Given Time Per Question 1 essay 50 50 minutes Format The SAT Essay is the only optional section of the exam. If you decide to take it, you’ll have 50 minutes to plan and write one complete essay. Types of Questions You’ll be given a passage by an author who has taken a stance on a particular issue, and you’ll need to analyze how the author builds her argument, what the strengths and weaknesses of the argument are, and how the argument could be improved. You won’t be taking your own stance on the issue. Skills Tested The major skill you are graded on for the essay is your ability to analyze an argument and understand how evidence and rhetorical devices contribute to an argument.While you’ll want your essay to be clear and easy to understand, a few minor spelling and grammar errors won’t lose you points, so you don’t have to worry about your essay being technically perfect. How to Use ThisSAT Syllabus Now you're an expert on the SAT syllabus, but how does this information help you? First, knowing what's on the SAT will make you feel more comfortable on exam day. You'll know the format, content, and types of questions you'll be asked. This can help you feel more prepared and help reduce test anxiety. Second, understanding the SAT syllabus can significantly help withyour SAT studying. When you know what subjects are tested on the SAT, you'll know what to focus on during your preparation, and you're less likely to skip material you should know or study material that won't be on the test. Additionally, when you take practice tests and are looking to see where you got most of your answers wrong, you can easily pinpoint which area(s) you should work on. Maybe your SAT Math score was lower than you wanted it to be, but where exactly were you making mistakes? Did you get all the algebra questions correct but struggled with geometry? Then you can focus primarily on studying geometry questions. Knowing what's tested on the SAT will help you pinpoint the areas where you need to improve and increase the effectiveness of your studying. How to Prepare for the SAT Knowing the SAT syllabuswill help you become more comfortable and familiar with the exam, which will likely help your score. Follow these three additional tips to be sure you’re getting the most out of your SAT prep. Create a Study Plan Before you begin in-depth preparation for the SAT, you’ll want to create a study plan.A study schedule can help you know when you’re supposed to be studying and can keep you on track.Setting aside a regular time to study each day or week, such as weekdays from 8:00-9:30 or Sundays from 12:00-4:00, will make it easier to study because you’ll know ahead of time when you should be studying and can fit the rest of your schedule around it. You should include regular goals in your study schedule that you hope to meet, such as, â€Å"I want to understand how to answer geometry questions by the end of the weekend,† or â€Å"I want to raise my math score ten points by the end of the month.†Setting these goals can help encourage you to study and ensure you are on track to meet your goal scores. Use High-Quality Study Materials Your studying is only going to be as effective as the prep materials you use, so be sure to use the right materials for you.A high-quality prep book can be one of the best resources you use. Check out some of the best SAT prep books here. A good prep book will effectively explain the content tested on the exam, have high-quality practice questions similar to those on the real SAT, and include full-length practice exams (discussed more below). Take Complete Practice Exams During your studying, you’ll want to take at least one (and ideally at least threeto four) complete practice SATs.Taking complete practice SATs is important because it gives you the most realistic idea of what the real SAT will be like. You’ll learn how taking a test for several hours affects you and if you get tired and distracted towards the later sections. Also, after you score your exam, you’ll have a good idea of how well you’d do on the actual SAT, and you can use this information to identify which areas you should focus on for future studying. Be sure to take your SAT under realistic testing conditions. That means take the test all in one sitting, timed, and with minimal distractions.Try to use official practice tests since they’ll be the closest to the real SAT. We have links to several free and official SAT practice tests you can use. Conclusion Knowing the SAT syllabuswill help you know what to expect for the test and how to prepare.Each of the three main sections of the SAT covers multiple subject areas and contains several question types. There is also an optional essay at the end of the test. To prepare for the SAT, be sure to create a study plan early on, use high-quality study materials, and take full-length practice tests to get a good idea of the progress you’ve made. What's Next? Wondering what a good SAT score is? Learn how to set a score goal based on the schools you want to get into. Thinking about using Khan Academy for SAT prep?Khan Academy can be a great resource if you know how to use it correctly. Read our guide to learn how to make the best use of Khan Academy! Want to learn more about the new SAT? We have a complete guide to the revised SATthat goes over exactly what changed, what stayed the same, and how it affects you. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points?We have the industry's leading SAT prep program. Built by Harvard grads and SAT full scorers, the program learns your strengths and weaknesses through advanced statistics, then customizes your prep program to you so you get the most effective prep possible. Check out our 5-day free trial today:

Discussion board 2 org dyn Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Discussion board 2 org dyn - Essay Example Simms et al. (1994) note that understanding organizational dynamics and human behavior helps to better develop the conceptualization of the organization’s life, which is the main goal of all theorists of organizations. Understanding human behavior within an organizational can help the leader understand the interests of his/her followers and hence effectively position them in the various labor divisions. This leads to increased productivity, besides increasing workers commitment and satisfaction. When workers are allocated in their areas of interest, they work hard leading to increased organizational performance and hence profits. This ensures that the companies are able to survive the tough economic times without major difficulties. This knowledge is also valuable in helping an organization to enjoy a competitive edge as well as well as improve it decision making. According to Shuler (2009), understanding human behavior and organizational dynamics helps a leader to build an enterprise that entails a wide analytical capability which is more important than having laboring professionals who have no sense of direction. Analytical analysis of employees’ talents at all levels provides valuable da ta that leaders can use to make decisions in the organization, thus generating good business results. A business also faces various challenges from its dynamic nature. These include profits, losses, high demand for its products, and few market and product competition among others. Therefore, understanding these dynamics and their cycle in the business can effectively help a leader to predict and plan for such changes in advance. This knowledge can be used by the leader to make decision that will maximize the benefits and minimize losses as much as possible. Such results produce good financial reports for the organization, which it can use to access financial support

Psycho Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Psycho - Essay Example Fictional plots within a movie have been included to present a manipulated cast to focus on the motive in bringing entertainment. Horror and epic plots are the movie examples that have led to unrealistic denouement within the plot development. In the horror setting, the distinction is issued on the virtues that present threatening, measures to individual sustainability. Psycho is a movie created by Alfred Hitchcock in a time that experienced a varied form movie production including strong visual implementation of horror scenes. Through Hitchcock, the manipulation of the subconscious had been developed to present reality that was unimaginable to humanity. He managed to represent that provisions that contributed to an imagination that threatened the psychological view of a sound mind. Although Psycho had been a horror based movie, the presentations that had been issued on the middle class society in influencing progress and relationships were highlighted. The production of a horror film has been linked to the provisions that are presented in arguing and developing confidence and courage for the unknown. Greenberg (118) has presented the movie to be the reflection of Hitchcock’s view on human corruption and the vulnerable form of behavioral traits. Hitchcock had been linked to create themes that evoked human emotions to presents characters that had been recognized as impairments to progress. The nature that he created the scenes had cumulated to provide an experience to the viewer and linked the plot to a horrific event. Psycho is a story created around the life of Marion Crane who is explained to meet the challenges presented within the society. Her desire to achieve progress leads her down the scandal that involved $40, 000 dollars. The movie begins on a high note when the violence is created within the first 40 minutes (Taylor 30). This provision has been the developed plot within modern horror movies that creates the incent ive to evoke the

Program Proposal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 6000 words

Program Proposal - Essay Example hes to Syndrome X factors ,as were available on standalone basis, some 15 years back; Record the present evolution of the holistic approach; List out nutraceuticals that have been accepted.; Trace developments in other nutraceuticals.;Correlate syndrome X states with nutraceutical remedies both as leading medicine as well as support medication within the holistic approach; Have a clear view on advantages of various approaches-say allopathy;Similarly have a clear view of disadvantages of various approaches; Map out management strategies with predefined degrees of severity; Train the participants in the art of modulating and fine tuning such strategies depending upon the case at hand; Review clinical stages of obtaining therapeutically approval for nutraceuticals,and study evolution of law in therapeutic approval. Syndrome X is a disease state which has been identified, not very long ago, along with the constellation of diseases it encompasses. The concept is an evolving one and is an all important concept. Its importance is enhanced by the fact that a large population suffers from Syndrome X symptoms and has the fear of escalating into more disease state if one particular disease state is ignored or not adequately addressed. Thus, an enhanced understanding of the holistic conceptualization of syndrome X would bring about a much better approach to treatment approaches. A conventional approach is to treat only one of the disease states within the constellation of the disease states identified under syndrome X and focus either lifestyle based or allopathy based treatment on this particular approach. This makes the healthcare system ignore several other symptoms which might be aggravating elsewhere. As and when these symptoms grow noticeable these are again taken up with either of the above appr oaches for treatment. It is widely acknowledged that the usual approach is to focus on allopathic drugs with lifestyle contributions coming only in the form of supplementary

Investment Appraisal Project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Investment Appraisal Project - Essay Example WACC=wdkd(1-T)+wpkp+wsks Where   Kd = interest on debt   Kp = cost of preference shares   Ks = cost of shares and retained earnings.   WACC is calculated by multiplying the cost of equity by the market value of the equity and cost of debt by the market value of the debt. Cost of equity can be defined as the minimum rate of return that a company must generate and offer to their investors in order to provide a return on their investment and for assuming some level of risk. If the company does not offer this risk to the investors, there is a chance that the shareholders might sell these shares in the market. Selling of the company shares can be interpreted as a negative sign for the financial outlook of the company and will put a downward impact on the market value of the company. Cost of company’s equity can be calculated through ‘Dividend Growth Model’ and ‘Capital Asset pricing model.’ The formula for dividend growth model is as follows. E = D o Ke - g Where E is the market value of the equity, Do is the recent dividend paid or the dividend projected for the next year, Ke is the cost of the equity and g is the growth rate of the dividend. The dividend growth model assumes that the dividend grows in perpetuity at a definite rate. This growth rate can be computed by observing the historical dividend pattern of the company and calculating the growth rate through simple discount rate formula. Cost of debt is actually the rate at which the present value of the interest payments and redemption amounts equals the current market value of the debt. The following formula further clarifies. Where M is the market value of the bond currently on which it is being traded in the market, i is the interest payment and kd is the rate of return required by the debt holder. From the formula it can easily be deduced that the market value of any bond is the present value of the interest payment. But the above formula is only applicable in the c ase of debt having maturity till perpetuity. In case tax is involved, the interest is taken after tax. Cost of debt is basically the internal rate of return. As provided in the given information, the company’s debt equity ratio is 50%, which means that 50% of its operations are financed through debt and the other half is through equity. The company has available cash balance of ?450,000 and thus, in case the company opts to purchase any of the buildings, it will have to issue bonds by acquiring more debt. Since the company anticipates that the interest rates are likely to be increased in the future, it would be prudent to raise more funds through equity in order to curtail the impact of increased finance charge on the profitability of the company. The project under consideration requires a careful estimation of all the relevant costs and revenues; a misjudgment in the forecast will cause an error in the project net present value, which might result in the acceptance of a proj ect which is not financially viable. CALCULATION BASED ON DISCOUTNED CASHFLOW First, consider the building A which costs ?1,112,000. The following table presents the calculation of the Net Present Value (NPV) of the particular investment decision. Item Amount in ? '000 Years Now 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Cost of the site (1,112) Cash in-flow

Parents who neglect their children due to methamphetamine addiction Assignment

Parents who neglect their children due to methamphetamine addiction - Assignment Example The new changes in the law clearly show that using or possessing methamphetamine in the presence of a child is child abuse under the abuse and neglect code. In addition, the same law extends to indicate that manufacturing methamphetamine in the presence of a child is felony (Doerner & Lab, 2012). If the mother is petitioned in the new law, it will not serve under the former but it will apply under the latter give that the mother allowed the drug to be manufactured by the boyfriend in the presence of the children and cause bodily harm to the infants. If the boyfriend if proved guilty because of the methamphetamine lab evidence, the mother is likely to bear the same penalties which in my case may be charges for felony. All the children will be withdrawn and placed under foster care (Reardon & Noblet, 2009). As the sole responsible adult to the 2, 5 and 7 year old children, the mother is actually a victim of the case. The mother owes the children a duty to care as a mother hence had the sole responsibility to guard the children against the violent boyfriend after consuming methamphetamine (Doerner & Lab, 2012). Incase the mother is not petitioned, the children according to the law must be kept safe by the department of Health and welfare which is responsible for keeping children safe. The services that the department will offer to the children are designed to assist in children protection while strengthening families to block abuse and neglect (Doerner & Lab, 2012). The department looks into the concerns, notifies the family while assessing the situation and offer services to reduce safety concerns. Among the concerns will be removing the child from the family until it is safe for them to be returned back (Pelton, 2001). According to the US department of Health and Human services, several states define how drug is used,

Nebud Prices Hypothesis Speech or Presentation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Nebud Prices Hypothesis - Speech or Presentation Example cuss the results of hypothesis test for the average price of houses and average price per square foot of houses in comparison to the borough in which each neighborhood is located. Table 1 to 4 shows the 99% Confidence Interval for the average sale price of houses, average age of houses, average lot size of houses, and average price per square foot of the houses for Staten-Bright and Westbury LI neighborhoods. A 99% confidence interval for the average sale price of houses for Staten-Bright neighborhood is between $400,823 to $463,291. Thus, it can be said with 99% confidence that the average sale price of houses for Staten-Bright neighborhood is between $400,823 to $463,291. A 99% confidence interval for the average sale price of houses for Westbury LI neighborhood is between $445,167 to $619,461. Thus, it can be said with 99% confidence that the average sale price of houses for Westbury LI neighborhood is between $445,167 to $619,461. A 99% confidence interval for the average age of houses for Staten-Bright neighborhood is between 71.9 years to 85.0 years. Thus, it can be said with 99% confidence that the average age of houses for Staten-Bright neighborhood is between 71.9 years to 85.0 years. A 99% confidence interval for the average age of houses for Westbury LI neighborhood is between 48.2 years to 54.7 years. Thus, it can be said with 99% confidence that the average age of houses for Westbury LI neighborhood is between 48.2 years to 54.7 years. A 99% confidence interval for the average lot size of houses for Staten-Bright neighborhood is between 3,825 square feet to 4,827 square feet. Thus, it can be said with 99% confidence that the average lot size of houses for Staten-Bright neighborhood is between 3,825 square feet to 4,827 square feet. A 99% confidence interval for the average lot size of houses for Westbury LI neighborhood is between 7,590 square feet to 9,647 square feet. Thus, it can be said with 99% confidence that the average lot size of houses

Parents who neglect their children due to methamphetamine addiction Assignment

Parents who neglect their children due to methamphetamine addiction - Assignment Example The new changes in the law clearly show that using or possessing methamphetamine in the presence of a child is child abuse under the abuse and neglect code. In addition, the same law extends to indicate that manufacturing methamphetamine in the presence of a child is felony (Doerner & Lab, 2012). If the mother is petitioned in the new law, it will not serve under the former but it will apply under the latter give that the mother allowed the drug to be manufactured by the boyfriend in the presence of the children and cause bodily harm to the infants. If the boyfriend if proved guilty because of the methamphetamine lab evidence, the mother is likely to bear the same penalties which in my case may be charges for felony. All the children will be withdrawn and placed under foster care (Reardon & Noblet, 2009). As the sole responsible adult to the 2, 5 and 7 year old children, the mother is actually a victim of the case. The mother owes the children a duty to care as a mother hence had the sole responsibility to guard the children against the violent boyfriend after consuming methamphetamine (Doerner & Lab, 2012). Incase the mother is not petitioned, the children according to the law must be kept safe by the department of Health and welfare which is responsible for keeping children safe. The services that the department will offer to the children are designed to assist in children protection while strengthening families to block abuse and neglect (Doerner & Lab, 2012). The department looks into the concerns, notifies the family while assessing the situation and offer services to reduce safety concerns. Among the concerns will be removing the child from the family until it is safe for them to be returned back (Pelton, 2001). According to the US department of Health and Human services, several states define how drug is used,

Dq Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Dq - Essay Example r product differentiation) where the selling strategy is to distinguish their product from competing products or services on the basis of workmanship and design. In an oligopoly setting there a few sellers that sell a differentiated or standardized product where the decision of competitors affects the sale of a firm. Therefore, firms consider the strategies of competitors to determine its output and price (McConnell 2005 p.177). A start up company can expect profit when the business is able to cover the expenses including the start up costs. The sale of products should earn enough revenue to meet ongoing expenses associated with the operation of the business. A start up business entrepreneur must realize that a product sales amounting to $10,000 will not cover a monthly overhead expenses of $10,000 because the sales returns has a gross profit of only around $4000. A business reaches break even point when the sales revenue is equal to all business costs. The break even point can be calculated by identifying the fixed costs and variable costs. Fixed costs are expenses which do not change with changes in the volume of sales. For example, administrative salaries and rent remains the same and are expenses that must be met regularly irrespective of the volume of sales. These are usually known as overhead costs. Variable costs fluctuate with changes in the volume of sales. Variable expenses like shipping, purchasi ng inventory and manufacturing costs of a product has to be met for a start up company to make profit. Market structure and the distribution of income raise concerns about the formation of monopoly power where increased concentration of control moves into the hands of few monopolistic firms. Monopoly leads to decreased competition among firms and inefficient distribution of resources in the economy. Monopoly has an impact on the distribution of income. Research indicates that monopoly power reduces the income share of workers when compared to capitalists,

Performance appraisal Essay Example for Free

Performance appraisal Essay Performance appraisals are tools that measure and evaluate a persons performance on the-job for a certain amount of time. There are many different types of appraisal techniques to assess the companys employees. Frequently these evaluations can lead to better benefits, promotions, and other rewards. The question is why do companies use appraisal systems? This paper will discuss the systems and answer this question. The performance appraisal assists in the monitoring and evaluating of high-quality and low-quality work performance inside the service organization. The performance appraisal system, when conscientiously integrated with the organizations mission, strategic plan, structure, job design, and motivation and reward system, can serve as a valuable tool to change the personnel profile in a positive way (Kettner, 2002). Performance systems are only good if they are carried out accurately by the managers or supervisors and are tactically planned out. A good Manager or supervisor can associate the objectives of an organization to a certain job tasks. The employees should be well aware of the company expectations of them before the appraisal. Good communication is crucial in the performance appraisals systems processes. The person doing the appraisals is to remain bias free in turn for the process to work accurately. The appraiser must assess the sections of performance that may need to be improved upon. For the most part of the process the appraiser needs to stay in the shadows and just watch the employees work without their knowledge, because when people know they are being evaluated they tend to mess up . Specific norms inside the ratings need to be set up in turn to reward performance successfully. The evaluation cannot just have a one or a two in evaluating people are different and should use a larger scale. Evaluating several qualities is the framework for an excellent performance appraisal procedure. The most important thing to remember throughout the process is to remain truthful and honest. An exceedingly industrious performance appraisal system will have the chance for staff enhancement. A well-integrated performance appraisal system is tied to the work performed, accurately indicates, through a scoring system,  each employees level of performance, and provides a reliable indicator of an employees strengths and weaknesses (Kettner, 2002). The top five employees after the appraisal may see beneficial rewards or an increased salary. This appraisal will happen frequently to give everyone a chance for the rewards. These appraisals will be conducted in a timely manner with little delay to work. A good performance appraisal can have a number of things, some are listed below. †¢Finishes all work in a timely manner†¢Abides by businesses procedures for work†¢Work is orderly and correct†¢Works as an individual or with a group good†¢On time for work†¢Takes notes in meetings and is involved†¢Uses time wisely and prioritize effectively†¢Initiates and remains productive with constant cooperation†¢Appreciate rules and regulations†¢Implements policies and procedures†¢Adapts to changes within the business†¢Uses procedures to resolve problemsCompleting work in a timely manner makes the task easier to complete, there will not be a great deal of work waiting for the next day. In order top have work completed in a timely manner the work and space needs to be organized. The more organized a person is the better he will do in the organization. Work and other aspects in life are alike, for example, if a person is organized in life then he will be at work to. Most people believe time costs money so if the time is being wasted then so is money, this is the reasons for procedures and protocols. Procedures are important to follow because this will cause fewer problems down the line. Rules and regulation need to be followed to the T because they are there to help keep things running smoothly. Problem-solving techniques are always a good thing to see. A good worker always uses policies and procedures to solve minor problems; this will look good during appraisals. Without procedures and policies to follow there would be chaos, people would be unable to work together. An employee needs to be able to work well with a group or by him self to grow in the work environment. A good employee is able to take notes while in a group meeting to refer to later if needed. Employees need to get involved with important conversations and voice their opinions for other to hear on a  topic. The more the employee talks and is cooperating the better he will be able to do his job. Time is important in any business, so it is crucial to be on time for work everyday. When the employee is late he might have missed an important meeting or crucial information. The employee needs to be able to prioritize and make sure things are in order to work effectively. Most important of all an employee needs to be able to accept and be able to adapt to change. The business community is changing every day and the business and employees need to change with it. A performance appraisal of the employees happens everywhere whether there is an official system in place or not. In a small company the official system is probably not used due to the fact there are not numerous employees. While in larger companies the formal appraisal system is a must because there are a number of employees that need to b e watched and rewarded if needed. Appraisals are meant to reward those who work hard and for those who could need a little extra boost to keep them going. This type of acknowledgment and ways to prevail over the problems are best accomplished by offering training to those who need it. When the appraisal is done, the results should be able to tell the manager or supervisor who needs rewarded and who needs a little help. The employees should understand that the appraisal is there to help them not to hurt them. When improvements are decided on the employees, managers, and supervisors should agree on these. The employees should be able to have a say in what type of training they would be doing because if the do not like it then it would be a waste of time. The performance appraisal ought to improve an employees inspiration and show the way for a course to new opportunities and adventures. References Kettner, P. (2002). Achieving excellence in the management of human service organizations. Boston: Allyn and Bacon.

A Study of Small Sculpture from the Mesoamerican Societies Essay

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Olmec, Maya, and Aztec were dominating societies of Mesoamerica, rich in culture, community, and art. While life may not be completely interpretable yet, much in known about how these societies were constructed, and how their religion dominated their lives. Much is generally made of their massive stonework, their ceremonial complexes, and ritual sacrifices, but their small jade, ceramic, and stone sculpture deserves as much attention as the works of much larger size have received.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Olmec were thought to have set many of the patterns seen in later cultures throughout Mesoamerica.1 San Lorenzo, the oldest known Olmec building site, as of the time of the Brittanica article, is known for its Colossal Stone Heads, all of which have prominent facial features. Las Bocas was excavated and many small jade figurines of people in the community were found. Some of these appear to have ritualistic purposes, judging by the incising noted on the sculpture.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Olmec culture spread northwest and southeast, and seemingly influenced later cultures in artistic endeavors.2   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The concept of sacrifice in Olmec art had ties to the belief of renewal; a birth-death scenario, where one is returned to the source - the underworld.3 Similar to monumental figures of men presenting children, wearing jaguar-baby masks, for sacrifice, human figures were sculpted in a much smaller scale, many of which are ceramic or polished jade (fig. 1).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Las Bocas site of the Olmec produced many small figurines that are thought to represent the people who lived there. These objects display Olmec symbols on their hairstyles or bodies, and because they were found at or near grave sites, these pieces are believed to have more purpose than simply the depiction of daily life.4 An example of this type of sculpture is of a man and woman embracing (fig. 2).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The â€Å"Wrestler† figure is an example of Olmec sculpture that should be viewed from all angles, not just frontal. â€Å"The long diagonal line of the figure’s back and shoulders is as beautiful and commanding as the frontal view.†5 The pensiveness of the expression on the man’s face suggests individuality and portraiture (fig. 3).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Jade was a really p... ...assic Maya Art and   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Architecture.† In The Ancient Americas: Art from Sacred Landscapes, ed.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Richard F. Townsend, 159-169. Chicago: The Art Institute of Chicago,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  1992. Miller, Mary Ellen. The Art of Mesoamerica from Olmec to Aztec, 2nd ed.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  London: Thames and Hudson, 1996. Reilly III, F. Kent. â€Å"Art, Ritual, and Rulership in the Olmec World.† In The   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ancient Civilizations of Mesoamerica, eds. Michael E. Smith and Marilyn   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A. Masson, 369-399. Oxford: Blackwell Publishers, 2000. Valdes, Juan Antonio. â€Å"The Beginnings of Preclassic Maya Art and   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Architecture.† In The Ancient Americas: Art from Sacred Landscapes, ed.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Richard F. Townsend, 147-57. Chicago: The Art Institute of Chicago,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  1992.

Theories of Criminal Behavior Essay example -- Sexual Offenders, Child

In this essay, two theories specifically focusing on sexual offending against children are compared and critical evaluated. Finkelhor’s (1984) Precondition model integrates four underlying factors that might explain the occurrence of child sexual abuse and categorizes them into four preconditions: motivation to offend, overcoming internal inhibitors, overcoming external inhibitors and overcoming child’s resistance that occur in a temporal sequence where each is necessary for the other to develop. The Precondition model provides a framework for assessment of child molesters but is criticized for a lack of aetiological explanations and for paying to little attention to cognitive factors. Ward’s (2003) Pathways model suggest that clinical phenomena evident among child sex offenders are generated by four distinct and interacting mechanisms: intimacy and social skills deficits, distorted sexual scripts, emotional dysregulation and cognitive distortions where each mech anism generates a specific offence pathway. Both theories have been influential in providing treatment goals and informing clinical assessment of child sexual abusers. Finkelhor ´s precondition model (1984) is widely recognized in the literature as a groundbreaking theory in the fact that it represents the first attempt at incorporating multi-factorial explanations to account for sexual offending against children (Howell, 1994; Marshal, 1996; Ward & Hudson, 1998). Finkelhor (1984) argues that child molestation is a complex phenomena caused by a variety of psychological, sociological and cultural factors. In order to explain differences within perpetrators as well as situational aspects of the offence, Finkelhor (1984) proposes four preconditions that need to bee met in ... ...y of multiple dysfunctional mechanisms, or ‘pure’ pedophiles – those with a primary sexual interest in children, consisting of individuals who portrait elements of all the pathways discussed above: deviant sexual scripts; distorted ideas about children’s sexuality; intimacy deficits and; dysfunctional emotional regulation. Ward & Siegert (2002) argue that their attempt to build on existing theoretical work such as Finkelhor’s (1984) Precondition model, the Pathway model constitutes a multifactorial theory evident in fact that it addresses psychological, contextual and biological mechanisms in its claim that vulnerability to sexually offend against a child originates from various learning, cultural and psychological variables. Both of the models mentioned above have some clinical utility and can be used in the assessment and treatment of child molesters.

Tangled and Repunzel

One would believe that a movie based on a storybook would have the same plot. In comparing and contrasting the movie Tangled to the short story â€Å"Rapunzel†, one can find many differences and very few similarities. Tangled was developed by Disney and has grossed 590 million dollars in the first year; however, â€Å"Rapunzel† is only a folk tale handed down through the years until it was finally written down in the 1800s. This is only the beginning of the differences. Looking closely at the plots, one can definitely see there is a difference in the two. In the following paragraph, the expositions of the movie Tangled and the short story â€Å"Rapunzel† will be compared and contrasted. In Tangled the parents were rich and lived in a kingdom. On the other hand, in â€Å"Rapunzel†, the parents were very poor and lived in a small house. In Tangled, Mother Gothel kidnapped Rapunzel for her magic gift, and kept her locked up in a tower and wouldn't let her leave. Every year on Rapunzel’s birthday, her parents, the king and queen, would light lanterns in the sky. They were hoping that one day, their lost princess would once again return. In â€Å"Rapunzel†, her parents practically traded her to Mother Gothel for stealing from her magic garden. Also in Tangled, Rapunzel’s hair is magic. Her hair glows and can turn a very old lady, to the youngest, and prettiest woman. In â€Å"Rapunzel†, her hair isn't magic or anything like that, it’s just very, very long. Now, we will be discussing the rising actions of the two stories. We will basically be stating their differences and similarities. In the movie Tangled, the guy that took her on her amazing journey was a poor thief. He was being chased, when he saw a mysterious tower. He then climbed that tower and that’s how he met Rapunzel. In contrast, in the short story â€Å"Rapunzel†, he was a prince who heard her singing. He went searching for her, because her beautiful singing softened his heart. In Tangled, Mother Gothel is evil and selfish. She could care less about Rapunzel, basically all she cared about was staying young forever. On the other hand, in â€Å"Rapunzel†, she was actually trying to help Rapunzel by getting her away from her unstable family. As you can see, the rising actions of these two stories are very different. Next, we are going to be comparing and contrasting the climax of these two stories. In Tangled, in the beginning of the climax, Rapunzel realizes that she is the lost princess. Rapunzel is furious with Mother Gothel, and she states that she will never ever let Mother Gothel use her hair again. Mother Gothel is determined to never let Rapunzel leave the tower, even if Rapunzel can’t stand her. Flynn Rider, the thief that Rapunzel met, was about to get hung for his crimes. He actually escapes, with the help of friends he met on his journey with Rapunzel. He gets to the tower, and climbs up it. He gets up there, and he then sees that Rapunzel is all chained up. Mother Gothel then stabs him, attempting to kill him. Rapunzel then promises to Mother Gothel, that if she lets her heal him, she will stay with her forever. When Rapunzel is just about to heal Flynn, he cuts all of her hair off. Rapunzel’s magic then fades, making Mother Gothel turn old and crusty. Mother Gothel falls out the window to her death at the end of the Climax. In the short story â€Å"Rapunzel†, Mother Gothel sees that Rapunzel has deceived her. Mother Gothel then cuts all of Rapunzel’s hair off, leaving her hair on the ground. Mother Gothel tricks the prince, leading him up the tower. When he finally goes in, Mother Gothel reveals that he will never see Rapunzel again. At the end of the climax, the prince is left heartbroken in tears. Now, the falling actions of the two stories will be compared and contrasted. In Tangled, Rapunzel returns to her family. The kingdom rejoices, because they now know that their lost princess has returned. In â€Å"Rapunzel†, the prince kind of lost himself. He wandered around the forest, and ate nothing but roots and berries, and only weeped over the loss of Rapunzel. He roamed around in misery for years, and then he finally came to the desert, where Rapunzel and her two twins she had given birth to, lived in wretchedness. He heard a voice, it sounded familiar to him. He went towards it, and when Rapunzel saw him she fell on his neck and cried. This ends the falling actions of the two stories. Next, the resolutions of the two stories will be compared and contrasted. In Tangled, Rapunzel and Flynn end up living happily ever after in the kingdom. In â€Å"Rapunzel†, the prince led Rapunzel to his kingdom where he was joyfully received, and they lived for a long time afterwards, happy and contented. There’s not much to the resolutions to these two stories. As you can see, the resolutions are a little similar, but mainly different. To end this essay, the movie Tangled and the short story â€Å"Rapunzel†, have two totally different plots. There were lots of differences and very, very few similarities. They both have some of the same characters, but totally different stories behind them.

Original Writing Essay

As she lay there silently on her back, staring deeply into the intricate yet excruciatingly dull pattern on the textured ceiling- as if it were a piece of fine, overpriced artwork, she let her thought processes wander over exhausted terrain. She thought of life, of death, of love, of hate, of god†¦ and everything along the way. What was it all for? She began to scribble a few notes down on a piece of paper in front of her. Her mind began to flutter from one feeling to the next. â€Å"I’m reading all the time of hate and anger and frustration. I’m hearing nothing but the pain of others. I see the agony of all around me. And I have felt it, breathed it, been engulfed by it. I understand the need to vent, to get it all out. But I realise now that I can no longer accept it. Blood is on the minds of millions of innocent children, searching for an answer to this emptiness that harbours our death wish. We hold, in our hand, the power to steal†¦ but nothing is taken without payment. Give and take, live and let live. No harm done, no penalty. Even the most gentle of beings get judged by the monster. This is no dragon, no giant; this is a group, a society, a network. This monster is sacrificing the happiness of the innocent for suicide. This monster is killing off what may be our last chance. Children beaten down and left to bleed and to cry, they are screaming but no one cares, no one sees them. They are irrelevant, theses children are†¦ they are the children of you and yours and people you know. They are outcasts these children are. They are banned from beliefs of any sort of rebellion or belief in other gods. But these children need no god. These children worship themselves. They are good and are portrayed as evil, yet they are shunned and thrown away. Put on display for window shoppers to point and stare and mock. These children are not different, they are not unique. The children are minions banned together to have their freedom. They are slaves to the system. Their innocence is overlooked but ignorant bystanders and administrators. These children are against everything, against god, against the devil, against you, against me. They refuse to worship the nine inch nails of your so called â€Å"Christ†. You will never win! The children will persevere. The children will run free. You will die someday. They will to. They know that in the end we are all alone and you’ve spent your lives convinced that there is always someone looking out for you and your heretic children. These children know better than you. These children know fate. They know yours and you can sense it. They can smell the fear in your shattered voice. They can smell failure. The innocent children have a blood lust and a hit list†¦ I guess this means you will die. Too bad we couldn’t save you from the innocent children†¦ they killed us too. We are locked inside our minds and we are rotting here now† ‘Everything dies’ she thought, but she still hadn’t figured out how to truly live yet. Would her life come to an end before she even knew the answers to all of her questions? It seemed meaningless. Everything seemed that way lately. Her life had become a painful cycle of the same boring events, day after everlasting day. Her friends had begun to slowly detach themselves from her, and it made her question herself. She’d been gone for so long when she moved away, and her world felt wonderful when she had returned to her home, and the people she had taken advantage of before. They’d all seemed glad to see her, and she’d never felt so important. She fell back into her circle of friends and remembered all that she had walked away from. She was happy again, and that was good. One day, it was like the world had shifted suddenly and everything changed. People stopped talking to her. They no longer came by at all odd hours of the night bearing gifts and happy drug-induced smiles. Distancing them. Maybe they all finally came to the conclusion that they hadn’t been missing much after all. People tend to romanticize things to a definite fault, and when they realize they’ve set themselves up for disappointment, they don’t always realize that they themselves are not the only ones being affected by their great epiphany. They sometimes forget the person in the middle of it all, maybe even unintentionally, but without even thinking twice†¦ She asked herself what she possibly could have done to turn them away so suddenly. Was it just her character in general? Were some mindless beings getting rushes of power by spreading dirty lies about her as their new form of narrow-minded offence? Were they sick of her already? The fact that she found herself with so few people left to talk to wasn’t what bothered her. It was the fact that she was entirely oblivious to the cause of all of this landfill that made her question herself over and over again. The more she thought about it, the wider the possibility grew that they had never really enjoyed her company in the first place; it was all a terrible charade. She hated that she could be that person that people associated themselves with for mere lack of anything at all better to do. Was she that person that they all talked about in her absence, like she had seen them do to others in times passed? Did they avoid her when they saw her in the streets? Were they all ‘two-faced’ after all? Again, her reasoning began to shift. She wanted no part in any kind of comradeship with a person too shallow to tell her to ‘go away’ in person. She felt, she knew she was better off by herself. Somehow she felt more at ease in her own company anymore. She’d learned a lot about people in the years prior, and it sickened her to think about what humanity has come down to, how meaningless people have become. She honestly didn’t mind not having friends. Of course friends are wonderful to have, but she had found that she became more herself everyday she spent alone, and she liked that. She had come to the abrupt realization long ago that people really aren’t worth much anymore; definitely not worth wasting your days trying to change or analyze, or even hold a civil open conversation with, for that matter. And again, it all comes back around to the irrelevance of everything. Why had she just wasted her time thinking about these people that she doesn’t even like to surround herself with anymore? Since she’d returned, everything had changed so dramatically. Her friends were not the same people they had been three years ago, and they never would be again. She knew she could do nothing, and had accepted this fact, but it lingered painfully in the back of the bedlam of a mind she possessed. She wished for simpler times. She began to let her mind jump to other things. She’d tired herself of pondering anything even remotely related her connections with other people, and had come to the conclusion that she was indifferent on the matter. She really couldn’t bring herself to care much anymore. If someone desired to speak with her, they’d approach her, and she would listen, but making any sort of an effort to please another person seemed ridiculous to her – Meaningless. The past three hours had been meaningless, and so were the thoughts she had spent that time thinking. And now, so were the people that had provoked these very thoughts.