Monday, September 30, 2019

Magic Springs

Khiana Carr Professor Ansbro ENGL 1010 16 November 2012 Magic Springs Many family and friends love to visit and enjoy the many attractions and fun from amusements parks. Every state and city has at least one good loveable memory about it. The hot and enjoyable attraction in Hot Springs, Arkansas is the awesome water and amusement park Magic Springs and Crystal Falls. There are many activities to do in Hot Springs like the following: shopping area, cite seeing in the mountains, the spa, and more. Most people go to enjoy the exciting attractions of Magic Springs, a place the entire family could enjoy.Magic Springs and Crystal Falls, Magic Springs for short, is a combination of an amusement park and water park all in one. Magic springs have everything for the family entertainment, including an Amphitheater for a variety of musical events and more. The park is open weekends from April through October and daily late-May through mid-August. The owner has really put in a lot of work to make the park what it is today. One can learn the history of Magic Springs, the many rides and thrilling descriptions there are, and many reviews from satisfied visitors.For those who love Six Flags and Disney World would also love Magic Springs. Magic Springs opened around 1978 in July in Hot Springs, Arkansas. In the beginning the park was going through a quite bit of financial problems. The park was sold in the mid 1980 to a businessman by the name of Melvin Bell. Soon after the inventors had landed into a huge pile debt, then Bell was forced to close down the park in 1995. The park was up for sale in an auction and reopened in 2000 as Magic Springs and Crystal Falls.The new management by CNL Lifestyle Properties and operation by Amusement Management Partners, LLC turned the park into an ongoing attraction for many. Ever since, Magic Springs has gotten innumerous visits from people all the country. Magic Springs is an amusement park offering a lot of attractions for the whole family, from fearless daredevil to the gentlest cat. There is a total of 20 rides throughout the park including the water rides. For the thrill seekers there are a good select few one would love to take for a ride. The top three amazing thrilling rides are the Gauntlet, the Hawk, and the Arkansas Twister.The Gauntlet is a â€Å"eight-story drop into a whirling dervish of inverted loops and mind-blowing bends† (Magic Springs), it is a 2,2000 feet 50 mph ride that will for sure take anyone on the ride of their lives. The Hawk is a 70feet 13 rpm speed exciting twirling machine that will take a person to new heights. The ride has many loops and turns and even rotates360 degrees clockwise and counter-clockwise throughout the ride it might even stop, while you hanging upside down! The Arkansas Twister is a wild 50 mph 3,300 feet heart pounding thrill.It is a 90 feel drop rollercoaster with all the heart racing effects, â€Å"to experience Magic Springs, one must experience the Arkansas T wister† (Magic Springs). With accommodating all the thrill seekers of the world Magic Springs have rides for little children as well. The two most enjoyable kiddie rides are the Li’l Leapin’ Lizard and Looney Ballooney. The Li’l Leapin’ Lizard zooms into the air and gently returns to the ground, just enough excitement for the little ones. A ride that reaches the sky and beyond is what all the kids want to go on, all the kids love being in the spinning hot air balloon Looney Ballooney.The park has many separate rides that ignite the fun in every member of the family, but there are a couple family rides everyone can enjoy together. The number one family favorite is the Old No. 2 Logging Company Log Flume. The ride takes off as it twists and turns into a water maze that ends with a splash of cooling water. Last but not least, the many water rides and pools. All the rides are loveable for every family member, which is what keeps the satisfied visitors c oming back for more. The park has had many reviews and has been rated A+ by the BBB business review and more.The happy visitors left wonderful reviews of Magic Springs. On satisfied customer said, â€Å"Me and my family enjoyed the water and the gospel concert held at the park that day. I plan to get the season family passes next year we had so much fun† (Trip advisor). â€Å"I live not too far from Hot Springs and have heard how cool it is to go, but finally made my way there with other friends and family. It was an awesome experience. There are plenty of areas for small children and plenty of rides adults are able to enjoy. My personal favorite was the Gaunlet, so much so I rode it twice. † (Trip advisor).The Gaunlet is the number one favorite of all rides at Magic Springs. â€Å"The park was VERY clean, the workers we encountered were friendly overall, and there were NO lines. We rode every ride that we wanted to at least once and many of them twice with no waiting . Every ride was up and running. We went to Crystal Falls after that to cool off and stayed until it closed at 6 pm. It was wonderful as well. Not crowded at all and a great variety of play/pool areas for all ages† (Trip advisor). â€Å"Love the rides, the music, the water and the water rides! Lots to do here. You can spends days and never get bored! (Trip advisor), it is very self-explanatory that the Magic Springs is a very enjoyable place for fun in the sun. In conclusion, Magic Springs and Crystal Falls have been recognized for family entertainment they have attracted people all over the country. Hot Springs have plenty of activities for any family member. Magic Springs have gotten a lot of good reviews and awards from the public. The water park is extraordinary the rides are full thrilling fun; the park is really a lot of fun in the sun. Including the Amphitheater, the amusement park has a lot of famous concert performances.The new owners of Magic Springs and Crystal Fal ls have really turned out the new park for the best. All the heart racing roller coaster to the gentle carousel does well accommodating to the entire family. The many reviews and increasing number of visitors show that the Magic Springs will not be losing any business any time soon. Works Cited â€Å"Magic Springs and Crystal Falls – Hot Springs, Arkansas – combination family amusementpark and water park. † www. city-data. com. 2012. 06 Nov. 2012. www. citydata. com/articles/Magic-Springs-and-Crystal-Falls-Hot. html â€Å"Magic Springs & Crystal Falls. Magic Springs & Crystal Falls. Web. Np. Nd. 06 Nov. 2012http://www. magicsprings. com â€Å"Magic Springs Water and Theme Park. † – Hot Springs. Web. Np. Nd. 06 Nov. 2012http://www. arkansas. com/attractions/detail. aspx? id=23423. Magic Springs & Crystal Falls, Hot Springs. † Magic Springs & Crystal Falls. N. p, n. d. Web. 15 Nov. 2012. http://www. tripadvisor. com/Attraction_Review-g60856-d2 74499Reviews-Magic_Spr ings_Crystal_Falls-Hot_Springs_Arkansas. html Going up up away Ready to ride. People in front ready for the Arkansas Twister to take off! my sister ready to swim. On the way tooooMagic Springs!!

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Binge Drinking Among College Students and Consequences Essay

Binge drinking is a problem that has continued to have a toll on the lives of college students despite efforts by the government and school administrators to curb the trend. Many studies have been conducted to reveal the facts behind binge drinking in colleges and campuses. It is clear that for the problem of binge drinking in colleges to be resolved, it must all start by understanding the factors that influence college students to engage in this behaviour and the impacts that binge drinking have had on the lives of college students. This is because students who do engage in binge drinking have their reasons to justify their behaviour but often have failed to recognize the magnitude of risks that they are exposed to by binge drinking. Among the government initiatives to reduce this problem has been to increase the national drinking age though this has not had much impact on the level of binge drinking among college students according to several studies. It is worth noting that many students have been indulging in binge drinking with the excuse that it is normal as per the culture in their colleges. There are other factors that influence college students to binge drink including environmental, social, developmental, and cognitive factors. Though most students who binge drink defend their behaviour by citing the positive side of binge drinking such as curbing stress and elevating self-confidence, the consequences are often costly and regrettable. This essay provides an argument on the factors that influence college students to indulge in binge drinking, including the various false beliefs about alcohol consumption. In addition, the essay will shed light on the consequences of binge drinking and show that contrary to the tendency of college students to glamorize binge drinking, it is a risky and costly endeavour. Binge drinking has been defined as heavy episodic alcohol consumption in which men end up taking five or more drinks in a si tting while women take four or more drinks in a sitting (Nelson and Wechsler 287). The prevalence of binge drinking on college campuses has remained high, posing serious health, academic, social, and legal implications. In order to understand binge drinking, it is worth mentioning that drinking is measured in terms of frequency or quantity. While quantity refers to how much, frequency is concerned with measuring how often consumption takes place. A drinking behaviour qualifies as binge drinking if large quantities of alcohol are consumed within a short time frame (Binge Drinking). By looking at the history and prevalence of binge drinking among college students, it leaves no doubt that changing drinking age over time has had little impact on the prevalence of drinking on college campuses. Beer drinking among college students is not a new phenomenon as tales dating back to 19th century are told of college students engaging in drinking. A survey conducted by Yale University researchers in 1949 gave an idea of the prevalence of drinking on college campuses. The survey found that 6% of women and 17% of men engaged in drinking more than once per week. In the 1960s and 70s the minimum drinking age in many states was set at 18 to agree with the requirement that those joining the military ought to be old enough to drink (Dietz 88). However, this action only paved way for increased drinking on college campuses given that now drinking was legal. The government had to act swiftly to arrest this trend and in 1984, the minimum drinking age was set at 21. Even then, the level of drinking remained almost the same as most college students had attained this age and thus regarded themselves as being entitled to drink (Krock). Drinking rates over the past 20 years have remained relatively at the same level and now it is estimated that 80-90% of college students are into drinking. Heavy drinkers constitute 15-25% of college students and 44% of college students report frequent or occasional binge drinking (Dietz 88). These statistics are indicative of the fact that binge drinking is a problem that is deep rooted in other factors such as the kind of cultures in colleges, environmental, cognitive, and developmental factors. Therefore, altering the national drinking age while it has shown positive impacts in the general population in terms of decreasing the prevalence of binge drinking, cannot offer a comprehensive solution to the same problem in colleges (Krock). The culture of drinking on campus has contributed a great deal to the high prevalence of binge drinking. While acknowledging the fact that unique cultures exist among individual colleges, these individual cultures harbour certain sub-cultures that encourage excessive consumption of alcohol. Within these sub-cultures, a common message is perpetuated that drinking is a normal and essential component of social interaction. Therefore, many college students conduct themselves in a manner that agrees with what the prevailing culture dictates (Ho pe and Ham 727). The culture of drinking on college campuses is composed of a number of elements. The first element is drinking events which encourage students to indulge in drinking to mark certain events (Dietz 89). In the same way that universities and colleges have a strong sense of tradition, the drinking culture has deep roots in most colleges. Therefore, many students engage in binge drinking in the process of honouring certain events that to them require people to drink in order for the commemoration to have real meaning (Dietz 89). In as much as the culture of drinking in many colleges and universities is difficult to do away with, it has only served to make students make the wrong decision of involving themselves in heavy episodic drinking characteristic of binge drinking. The bottom line is that in the disguise of marking particular events, many college students involve themselves in binge drinking thus exposing themselves to detrimental consequences. Drinking games is an element of drinking culture in colleges that have contributed to the high prevalence of binge drinking. In some colleges, students have tended to glamorize the aspect of drinking alcohol to the extent that drinking gam es are held in which students compete in drinking alcohol. Some drinking games are highly competitive while others just dictate rules regarding how much participants are expected to drink (Dietz 89). Nevertheless, the fact is that whether a drinking is highly competitive or not, by the virtue of portraying drinking as totally harmless, such games have encouraged binge drinking to the detriment of many students. It is true to say that in order to create opportunities for excessive drinking, students in many colleges have perpetuated drinking games entrenched in the culture of drinking. A good example of a drinking game in colleges is Beer Pong in which 6-16 cups partially filled with alcohol are taken by each team. The person playing the game is expected to throw a ping-pong ball aiming at the opponent’s cup across the table. If the ball lands into the partially filled cup, the opponent has to drink the content. The team that runs out of cups first is considered the loser (Dietz 89). By considering the nature of such a game, it is prudent to note that its objective is to encourage excessive drinking judging by the number of cups involved. Therefore, students who get involved in such games more often than not end up binge drinking in the name of having fun but in reality exposes themselves to negative consequences. Another important factor which makes college students to indulge in binge drinking is the kind of choices they make in terms of the groups they want to identify themselves with given that college students are eager to have a sense of belonging. One study targeting to investigate how college students seek to have a sense of belonging revealed that those students who joined Greek organizations drank consistently and more heavily than those who did not join Greek societies (Hensley). Greek societies are known to be prevalent in colleges and often entice students to join them in order to gain a sense of brotherhood or sisterhood. However, many students who agree to join these organizations are exposed to a life of excessive drinking in the disguise of obeying induction rituals. Eventually, the life of excessive drinking becomes part and parcel of these students (Dietz 90). While it is understandable that many students joining college are eager to identify themselves with particular groups or organizations, it is expected of them to make prudent decisions which would not compromise their studies and their lives in college. Unfortunately, many students have ended up in binge drinking through making inappropriate decisions only to realize when things go terribly wrong. Athletics is also another element of college culture whereby, students take the moment as an excuse for drinking but then end up binge drinking. When students drink excessively during sporting events, they often cause incidences and fall in trouble with authorities. Drunken fans are known for causing chaos during and after games irrespective of the game outcome. Consequently, property may be damaged and both bystanders and the rioters suffer serious injuries (Dietz 91). For students who binge drink because of sporting events, it is just a flimsy excuse and the consequences are often regrett able. Therefore, drinking games, sporting events, traditional drinking events, and Greek organizations are the elements of the culture of drinking on college campuses which make many students involve themselves in binge drinking. Unfortunately, the notion that alcohol is essential for complete social life on campus is a misconception whose consequences are harmful. Apart from the culture of drinking, college students are influenced into binge drinking by environmental, developmental, and cognitive factors. Regarding the environment, logic dictates that the way someone behaves is more often than not influenced by what is going on in the surrounding. Therefore, when students drink in environments where people have carried alcohol to drink, drinking games are being played, hard alcohol is available in plenty, and the people around are intoxicated; binge drinking can always be predicted. On the other hand a drinking environment where drinking is taking place in a family setting, in the context of dating or where food is available, studies have shown that in such environments, binge drinking is very unlikely (Dietz 92). Though this suggestion carries weight, it is paramount to reckon that studies that have been done on such environmental implications on the likelihood of binge drinking have been largely correlational. What this means is that though the first kind of environment may contribute to the occurrence of binge drinking, it is also a possibility that those students who indulge in binge drinking are already present in such an environment. Therefore, it would be difficult to determine for instance whether playing of drinking games in such an environment resulted from the presence of binge drinkers or whether students ended up binge drinking because of being in an environment where people played drinking games (Dietz 92). Nevertheless, it leaves no doubt that depending on the kind of environment that students expose themselves to, the likelihood of binge drinking either increases or decreases. Cognitive factors constitute another influential force which has led many college students to develop binge drinking behaviour. The cognitive influences are deeply rooted in misleading beliefs about alcohol, the notion that binge drinking is something that is acceptable, and misinformation about the effects of excessive alcohol consumption. Regarding the false beliefs or myths that some college students confidently hold on to, there are those who believe that everybody is engaging in binge drinking and thus experiences similar negative consequences (Binge Drinking). This is a misguided thought because a significant percentage of college students do not engage in binge drinking. At the same time, the negative consequences experienced by those who indulge in binge drinking vary and cannot be the same. For instance, according to the direct effects model, binge drinking consequences are determined by both the drinking beliefs and the binge drinking tendencies. Going by this model, students who hold more risky myths such as â€Å"everybody is doing it† is more likely to experience harsher consequences. This is because; such students are often lured into thinking that binge drinking cannot make them suffer physical harm. Consequently, they are more likely to involve themselves in highly risky behaviours after binge drinking and hence experience more severe consequences compared to those who do not hold such a myth (Turrisi, Wiersma and Hughes 343). Another myth among binge drinkers is that binge drinking enhances sexual performance and sex appeal. The fact is that binge drinking predisposes students to risky sexual behavior in which some students may engage in unprotected sex which can lead to the contraction of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections (DeSimone 2). In fact binge drinking causes disorientation and those who engage in it are incapacitated from making rational decisions when they are drunk. The belief that their sex appeal is enhanced is misguided. There is also the belief among those who attempt to justify binge drinking that binge drinking is a remedy for stress and that it can enhance social interaction. On the contrary, binge drinking has been associated with hangovers and even suicidal thoughts. Binge drinking does not enhance social interactions but instead it triggers quarrels, arguments, fights, and incidences of blacking out and vomiting (Wechsler). Others believe that alcohol is not harmful to the body. Again, such a belief is the total opposite of the fact since alcohol consumption has been associated with serious health consequences including alcohol poisoning. The other aspect of cognitive influences is that some students will engage in binge drinking because they perceive the behavior as acceptable in the eyes of their parents and friends. In other words, they find consolation in the idea that binge drink is not bad after all since their parents and friends do not show any disapproval of the behavior (Dietz 94). Developmental factors also help to explain why college students engage in binge drinking. It is worth noting that once students reach this level of maturity, they naturally develop the desire to be regarded as mature adults who can make independent decisions and be responsible for the consequences of their actions. Therefore, binge drinking behaviour among many college students emanate from this desire to assert their adulthood. Moreover, college students are usually at their prime physically and thus they feel much confident in terms of being able to withstand the impacts of drinking alcohol which may also lead them into drinking excessively (Dietz 91). Though regarded as normal development, the fact that college students are likely to regard as adult hypocrisy anti-drinking messages from people, only puts them at more a vulnerable position. It is also noteworthy that college students are at a stage of critical social and emotional development. For instance, this is a time that they experience a higher level of autonomy since their parents are not around to monitor them. This increased freedom makes many students to make autonomous decisions and often experiment with behaviours that their parents had forbidden them. Moreover, many college students are still continuing with the process of devel oping their identity and in the process, often indulge in behaviours such as binge drinking in search of more sensational experiences (Hope and Ham 727). Peer influence is usually at the centre of identity development as students try to fit in new environments with a sense of belonging. Therefore, given that in many colleges students are confronted with a drinking culture, it is not a wonder that some result to binge drinking. However, many students fail to realize that with more freedom comes the need to be more responsible. This is because too much freedom without a sense of self-control or restraint is harmful. In this regard, in as much as certain developmental factors are normal, it cannot be justified as the excuse for engaging in heavy drinking. Binge drinking has a wide range of negative consequences which many college students fail to foresee before plunging themselves into the risky behaviour of binge drinking. Some students do not think that binge drinking can lead to any immediate negative consequence while others lean on the belief that alcohol does not pose harm to the body at all. Such notions are null and void given th at bingers are often caught in a wide range of crises such as engaging in unplanned or unprotected sex and getting into trouble with the authorities. In addition, bingers are more likely to engage in dangerous acts such as driving while drunk than nonbinging drinkers. Drunk driving is a major cause of car accidents and many young people have lost their lives because of it (Nelson and Wechsler 290). Some of the beliefs about the benefits of binge drinking among college students include the idea that by binge drinking, one can get more sexual opportunities. On the contrary, binge drinking only serves to make bingers behave irresponsibly and engage in risky sexual behaviours such as unplanned or unprotected sex. Consequently, some may contract STIs and HIV/AIDS which is a very high price to pay for being irresponsible. Unwanted pregnancy is another possible outcome of binge drinking which adds to the social burden and compromises the studies of the affected student. Contrary to the notion that binge drinking helps to relieve stress, one of its notable consequences has been the increased risk of committing suicide among college studen ts. Given that 67% of suicide incidences in colleges result from alcohol abuse, the idea that binge drinking causes relaxation is a nonstarter (Wechsler). The health consequences associated with binge drinking are severe. For instance, liver cancer is a fatal illness which can lead to death if not treated early. Another terrible consequence of binge drinking is alcohol poisoning which is a health condition that is not reversible once it occurs. This is a fact which is contrary to what people believe that alcohol poisoning can be reversed by drinking black coffee, walking, sleeping, or taking a cold bath. Time is the only factor that can determine whether the condition will get better or worse. However, due to the high level of alcohol in the blood, there may be no time for the alcohol level to decrease. Instead, the increase in blood alcohol level may continue even after quitting drinking. Consequently, death can result from interruption of breathing functions or the patient may choke on his/her vomit while unconscious (Do You Understand Binge Drinking?). Binge drinking causes students to be left behind in school work and academic performance of binge drinkers is rendered poor. For instance, due to hangovers and disorientation that comes with excessive drinking, students often fail to complete their assignments or to attend lectures. Consequently, their grades continue to deteriorate and their academic life may become a nightmare (Hensley). Such outcomes are contrary to the notion among young binge drinkers that they have the ability to control the effects of excessive drinking. The fact is that the consequences of binge drinking are stronger than one may try to imagine and many students only regret later when it is too late. The second hand effects of binge drinking are also real and come in the form of insults, sleepless nights, unwanted sex advance, arguments, and a ssaults (Wechsler). From this discussion, it leaves no doubt that binge drinking is highly prevalent on college campuses, something that has been contributed by different factors. This is supported by the evidence of many studies showing that despite the national drinking age being increased to 21, binge drinking especially among female students has increased. The consequences of binge drinking are detrimental. This has been witnessed in the form of the escalating cases of road accidents which has cost many lives of college students. Despite the belief among many college students that alcohol consumption enhances social interaction and sex appeal, binge drinking results in quarrels, arguments, and risky sexual behavior. In addition, students who binge drink have often found themselves in trouble with authorities. Poor academic performance due to inability to focus is a big problem among binge drinkers. Contrary to the belief that alcohol releases stress, statistics have proved otherwise. In fact, incidences of suicide have been on the rise among binge drinkers. The notion among binge drinkers that they are able to control the impacts of alcohol is a nonstarter given the high incidences of rape, assault, and vandalism among college students who binge drink. Regarding the culture of drinking in most colleges, this is something that bingers lean on as an excuse for their behavior. Issues of autonomy and the urge to identify with particular groups though real only imply that individual students must make prudent choices amidst the pressure. It all has to start by correcting the misconceptions and wrong attitudes among college students. Nevertheless, binge drinking remains a nagging issue whose consequences are a threat to many generations. Annotated Bibliography 1. Binge Drinking. n.d. Web 25 Nov 2011 . This article presents an argument regarding the way binge drinking has been defined by researchers and helps the reader to understand the controversy surrounding what actually amounts to binge drinking. It acknowledges that binge drinking is characterized by repeated intoxication with alcohol which makes a person become careless and abandon his/her responsibilities. In this case, it is useful in this research paper in terms of shedding light on what amounts to binge drinking and the possible consequences. It also alludes to the fact that binge drinking is still prevalent on college campuses. However, it points out that most of the research results about binge drinking on colleges have not reflected the real picture of the situation. 2. DeSimone, Jeff. Binge Drinking and Risky Sex among College Students. 2010. Web 25 Nov 2011 . This article is useful in this research to the extent of addressing one of the main consequences of binge drinking; risky sexual behaviour. The information in the article is presented in form of a report based on research aimed at finding out the relationship between binge drinking and risky sexual behaviour among college students aged between 18 and 24 years. Its findings that binge drinking increases promiscuity and inability to opt for safer sex such as condom use help to build on the paper’s argument. However, it fails to recognize other numerous negative consequences of binge drinking besides risky sexual behaviour. 3. Dietz, Christine M. â€Å"Development of Binge Drinking Behavior in College Students: A Developmental Analysis.† Graduate Journal of Counseling Psychology (2008): 1(1), pp. 86-96. The journal presents valuable information on the factors that influence college students to engage in binge drinking. It extensively addresses the culture of drinking in most colleges which many students lean on as an excuse for intoxicating themselves with alcohol. In addition, the journal discusses the developmental, cognitive, and environmental factors that play a big influential role in binge drinking. The information in the journal is quite useful in this research paper as it presents a broad picture of what has led to the high prevalence of binge drinking on college campuses. However, it falls short of addressing the details of the consequences of binge drinking. 4. Do You Understand Binge Drinking? 2011. Web 25 Nov 2011 . This is an article that explores in a brief but precise manner, what binge drinking is, the myth surrounding binge drinking, and the main health consequences of binge drinking. It helps to build the argument that contrary to what many college students perceive as being invincible to harm, binge drinking is a monster that induces slow death regardless of age. 5. Hensley, Laura G. â€Å"College Student Binge Drinking: Implications for a Constructivist Approach to College Counseling.† Journal of College Counseling (2 001): Vol 4. The journal covers the most fundamental elements presented in this research paper in the form of an argument. It begins by explaining the prevalence of binge drinking and the factors causing this trend such as students joining Greek societies and succumbing to peer pressure. It then highlights the behavioural, health, and academic negative consequences that result from binge drinking. Though the information is useful in building an argument, the journal presents it in form of a report or literature review. 6. Hope, Debra A and Lindsay S Ham. â€Å"College students and problematic drinking: A review of the literature.† Clinical Psychology Review (2003): Vol 23, pp. 719-759. This journal review explores the problem of excessive drinking among college students by citing the findings of a number of studies that have been conducted in the past. It acknowledges the importance of considering frequency and quantity when defining binge drinking. Besides highlighting the consequences of binge drinking, it also explores other aspects such as gender difference in the likelihood of excessive drink ing. Nevertheless, it contributes to the research paper since it also addresses factors such as sensation seeking, personality and environmental factors, and cognitive processes as influencing college students to engage in binge drinking. 7. Krock, Becca. Higher drinking age lowers binge drinking for all except college students. 2009. Web 25 Nov 2011 . The article presents important findings from a recent study which revealed that though the national drinking age was set at 21 and has remained so since 1984, the effects on the level of binge drinking among college students have not been significant. However, the article points out that a major decline in the prevalence of binge drinking among teenagers has been noted. The article is relevant to the research paper since it helps the reader to see that altering the drinking age is not enough to curb the issue at hand. The main idea in the article is that since most college students are already 21 years and above, it’s legal for them to drink and the situation is exacerbated by other factors. 8. Nelson, Toben F and Henry Wechsler. â€Å"Binge Drinking and the American College Student: What’s Five Drink?† Psychology of Addictive Behaviours (2001): 15(4), pp. 287-291. The journal article discusses the importance of the clinical five/four measure of binge drinking in evaluating its various consequences. By citing findings about the consequences of binge drinking among college students, the article helps to build the argument presented in this paper. The article notes that there is a huge difference in the severity of binge-drinking consequences between bingers and non-bingers. However, the article does not address the fundamental factors that influence students to engage in binge drinking. 9. Turrisi, Rob, Kimberly A Wiersma and Kelli K Hughes. â€Å"Binge-Drinking-Related Consequences in College Students: Role of Drinking Beliefs and Mother-Teen Communications.† Psychology of Addictive Behaviors (2000): 14(4), 342-355. The information presented in this journal article is highly relevant to the argument since it not only focuses on the false beliefs about alcohol among college students but also the relationship between these beliefs and the consequences. For instance, the article asserts the findings that a direct relationship exists between drinking beliefs and binge-drinking consequences. However, there is no direct relationship between drinking beliefs and consequences when it comes to health matters and physical risk. Overall, the article helps the reader to understand the phenomenon of binge drinking in terms of why students engage in it and the difference in the nature of consequences expected by bingers and the actual consequences. 10. Wechsler, Henry. Binge Drinking on America’s College Campuses. 2009. Web 25 Nov 2011 . In this article, the question of binge drinking is discussed in light of its prevalence which according to the article has remained relatively steady. At the same time, the article notes that more dangerous forms of binge drinking have been on the rise. The far-reaching consequences of binge drinking including alcohol poisoning, poor academic performance, vandalism of property, and physical harm have been highlighted. It helps to underscore the fact that by believing that they are able to control the effects of alcohol, many college students have only predisposed themselves to harm.

Saturday, September 28, 2019

The Competitive Global Market and Change Research Paper

The Competitive Global Market and Change - Research Paper Example Moreover, the report will also attempt to identify the benefits or drawbacks witnessed by Apple and its employees due to the affect of globalisation. Different Countries Involved Besides, its headquarters in United States, Apple majorly operates in various other countries, such as United Kingdom, Japan, Australia, Canada, Italy, China, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, France and Netherlands among others. More than 350 Apple stores are established all over the countries across the world (Apple Inc, 2012). Thus, its focus on the development of supply chains and major partners in the business is necessary in order to maintain sustainability in the global markets. Utilization of Outsourcing In the late 2000s, Apple decided to outsource its products from various countries where raw materials are available at cheaper rates. The motive behind outsourcing is to earn significant margin of profit while experimenting in developing creative products. A report by New York Times revealed that 90 perce nt of raw materials used in Apple’s iPhones are manufactured abroad and are outsourced. Major sections, such as display panels and circuitry from Taiwan and Korea, advanced semiconductors from Germany, chipsets from Europe, memory from Japan and Korea and uncommon metals from Asia and Africa which are later assembled and packaged in China. Technological companies depend upon the availability of low-cost materials and therefore, focus on countries that provide the advantage. The outsourcing strategy gained the momentum of growth and subsequently, Apple earned a considerable amount of profit strengthening its foothold in the global markets (Duhigg & Bradsher, 2012). Benefits of Globalisation Similar to many other multinational companies, Apple has benefitted by a large extent due to globalisation. The company shifted most of its production unit jobs to countries where cheaper workforces are available along with legal support and favourable economic conditions. This has been evi dent by a report that revealed only 13,920 employees are associated with the company’s US based plant compared to 27,250 employees working at other countries, i.e. nearly twice more than US. The report further revealed that the American employees took over approximately US $750 million whereas; workers employed abroad took only US $320 million. Thus, the comparison in cost related to wages can be identified as almost double in US compared to abroad (Freeland, 2011). Globalisation has also resulted in the inflow of creative talents from across the world, to which the company gives prime importance. The incredible talents in Apple are encouraged in various ways to develop products that are unique in its class acting as a ‘trend setter’ in the industry. These engineers earn healthy paycheques from the company which are being supported by the cheap costs incurred by the bottom-line employees working abroad (Freeland, 2011). Drawbacks Due to Globalisation Steve Jobsâ €™ main target behind the incorporation of Apple was to become the leader of the industry in terms of creative products. His aim was to dominate the market in regards to sales and have a partially monopolistic environment prevailing in the global markets. However, due to globalisation many competitor brands have used the strategy of manufacturing abroad and reap equal benefits in terms of cheap labour and raw materials. Therefore, the

Friday, September 27, 2019

Guernica and The Death of General Wolfe Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Guernica and The Death of General Wolfe - Essay Example The republican Forces which were loyal to the newly elected government, were under the attack from a fascist coup which was led by Generalissimo Francisco Franco (Guernica). Prosperity and stability to the people of Spain was a word of promise by Franco, yet only death and destruction were the subjects of deliverance from his side. Anticipating a bold visual protest to Franco's corruption from Spain's most prominent artisans, colleagues and representatives of the democratic government came to Picasso's place in Paris in order to ask him to paint the mural. Picasso used to avoid politics generally, and used to disdain over political art, though his sympathies clearly fell parallel to the new Republic. The official theme of Paris Exposition is a celebration of the modern technology. The organizers hoped that this vision of a prosperous future will jolt the nations out of the economic depression and social unrest of the thirties (Guernica). With the unfolding of plans, the Aeronautics Pavilion generated huge excitement, featuring the latest technological advances in aircraft design and engineering. As a result, no one would have ever suspected that this dramatic progress would result in such a dire consequence. On the 27th of April, 1937, unprecedented outrageousness was perpetrated on behalf of Franco against the civilian citizenry of a little Basque village in the northern Spain. The hamlet was pounded with high-explosive and incendiary bombs for over three hours because it was chosen for bombing practice by Hitler's burgeoning war machine. The town people were cut down as they eloped from the crumbling buildings. Guernica burnt for three days consecutively and sixteen hundred civilians were killed and wounded (Guernica). By the 1st of May, the information of the massacre at Guernica reached Paris, where more than a million protestors flooded the streets to voice their atrocities in the largest May Day demonstration the city had ever come across. The reports of all the eye-witnesses filled the front pages of the news papers of Paris, leaving Picasso stunned by the black and white photographs. Picasso was appalled and enraged when he rushed through the crowded streets in his studio, and qu ickly sketched the first images for the mural he called Guernica. This brought an end to his search for an inspiration. From the beginning itself, Picasso chose not to represent the horror in Guernica in realistic or romantic terms. He transferred some key figures such as a woman with outstretched arms, a bull, an agonized horse, which were refined sketch after sketch, and then were brought in to the capacious canvas, which were reworked by him several times. He quoted that, a painting is not thought out and settled in advance, however, whilst it

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Old Elevators Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Old Elevators - Research Proposal Example s old elevators; this proposal is made taking into consideration the potential financial support of the state – especially if eco-friendly technology will be used (see the example of the ECO-Space EB technology supported by KONE, 2010). In the Canada’s economic Action Plan published recently by the government (see the website of the Department of Finance but also the Canada News Centre – government of Canada – where a similar initiative is promoted) it is made clear that a significant amount of money will be invested on the modernization and the update of the federal infrastructure – the University could be included in the specific program. It is proposed that the new elevators are of eco-friendly technology in order to guarantee the financial support of the state in their replacement; at the next level, a detailed project of the tasks required for the completion of this project will be submitted so that all funds necessary will be easily estimated in advance. Through this study the following benefits are expected to result: a) modernization of the University’s infrastructure without having to cover all expenses – since the state is expected to support the project, b) implementation of technology that is more friendly to the environment – this initiative could also urge other institutions and organizations across the country to proceed to a similar project. In order to complete this study, the following questions need to be answered: a) which will be the most appropriate technology for the specific organizational sector, i.e. which elevators would be appropriate for the specific environment – the needs of the University but also the market trends would be taking into consideration for replying to this question, b) which is the average cost of the new elevators – a market research should be developed for replying to this question, c) which would be the financial support of the state – i.e. would the state cover the whole cost or just part of

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Mechanical Dynamic Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Mechanical Dynamic - Research Paper Example Designers now face a higher challenge of product development and thus they require better tools and equipment for testing. Mechanical dynamics is one important and useful factor today. Dynamic mechanical was established initially as a simple heating and air conditioning company which started out in Sacramento. The major requirement was to make its customers happy through the use of it. It started out in 2003 with one operation which basically led to its growth. It was used in the commercial sector widely. Michael V the owner of dynamic mechanical was basically associated with construction industry. It started off with majorly the heating and cooling equipments followed by training the employee to work in order to meet the requirements. The system is required to work at peak efficiency. The technology used for testing, analyzing dynamics of mechanical structure and modeling is of high importance. The modes of vibration here play a very important role as it is the major link between th e testing and the method used for analysis. There are basically four options and alternatives which are taken , taking forces and motion in mind. Design is one of the major concerns faced. Styling of the machinery is another important aspect which needs to be in mind which includes the sizes and shapes which are of great importance. The entire layout matters not only the outer part. The outward appearance is not only important the entire mechanical system is of great importance. Structure should be such which can withstand forces and which can also transmit forces; a static analysis is carried out to make sure that the forces are strong. The suspension spring of the automobile should have enough strength to support the body, engine along with the weight. In order to have proper motion there are rotating and moving part which are setup in the system. There are some problems which are known as the kinematics. There are many shafts, pulleys, chains, cams, rotating gears and many other instruments which will go through many changes they will have to develop major relative motions so that the engine can run properly. The designer has to make sure that the structure go through proper affects of forces and motion, this thing depends a lot on the dynamic environment however there are many factors which affect this which include the forces and motion which come together and that finds out some major problems which include the problem of vibration and noise (Measurement and the analysis of the dynamics). These problems which are caused by the inertial forces along the structure behavior of the structure and these problems are extremely difficult to solve. The dynamic structure is divided into two classes for the purpose of modeling the dynamics. These two classes include the elastic and rigid bodies. There are many elastic structures whose dynamics are simplified to a very large extent through significant loss of accuracy with major assumptions that they are assembled t ogether through springs and damper elements in a very rigid way. Straightforward manner is used to analyze the system through the use of Newton’s second law which is crucial for masses in the system. Modes of vibration cannot be observed physically and they can not be identified by major people. Linear dynamic model also plays an important role here and it is defined through this. Mathematical model and its development depicts an important link which is between these modes of vibration and the elements of the modeling

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

The Global Financial Crisis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Global Financial Crisis - Essay Example Firstly, the credit crisis played a significant role in determining the global financial crisis. Kolb (2010), brings out the point that, as at mid 2007, a great number of investors in the USA had lost trust in the value of mortgages as the government had offered loans to too many people that could not manage paying back the debts. In response, liquidity was evident, which resulted to the US disbursing more funds to the financial market. By 2008, the situation worsened, as the stock markets had totally disintegrated. Nanto (2009) argues that the stock markets were extremely unstable. For fear of the worst, the investors did not have any trust in the government and opted to withdraw. This argument concurs with that of Keynes theory that specified that, spending by the government is the major reason behind UK’s crisis. In the case of employment, Keynes (2006) reported that employment rates increase the amount of spending and that wages must be kept constant. Secondly, yet another factor that led to global financial crisis is that, the US government had granted loans to many individuals, even those who could not pay the debts, which put the market at a higher risk of collapsing. Igan et al (2010) uttered that the value of the mortgages dropped with the borrowers being left with losses to count. The banks were faced with a lot of deficits to deal with, forcing them to repossess their assets that were of lesser value. Chacko et al. (2011) attribute excessive lending to the major contributor of the global crisis, as the banks found it tasking to deal with the liquidity issue, and the low lending rates due to misappropriate lending by the banks. Lack of proper regulation measures in terms of lending - unethical behavior, cost the globe financial crisis that could not be solved in a day. It is vital that Fredrick’s thoughts are applied in the case of solving the crisis in UK. In his work, he notes prices must be well monitored so as to avoid inflation in a country. However, his thoughts do not match with those of Friedman (2004) who believes in a free market, devoid of barriers from the government. Thirdly, the collapse of Lehman Brothers on 14th September, 2008, marked a new phase of the financial crisis (Savona, Kirton & Oldani, 2011). Due to their collapse, net capital inflows in the financial market reduced, as well as in the domestic stock markets. Griffiths &Wall (2008) attest to the fact that, the concerned governments, just like business economics states, had to come up with solutions to rescue their financial institutions. The housing and stock markets were in a terrible situation. Furthermore, Doyle (2008) notes that, though the Lehman failure had no direct implication on the domestic financial status, massive changes were experienced in the external market status. Large capital outflows were experienced, external commercial borrowings decreased, and acquiring credits became more difficult. Statler & Shrivastava (2012) reve aled that by December 2008, the US reserves recorded losses of an approximate thirty three billion from fifty four billion. On another point of view, Aizenman & Jinjarak (2010) emphasized that UK is one of the countries at its peak in terms of spending on reducing the impacts of the 2008 crisis. The government employed the fiscal policy approaches in an endeavor to handle the crisis, as well as a free floating exchange rate to curb inflation. Maximilian (2009) accentuated that fiscal policies spare the country from a decrease in the demand for domestic goods. The UK government in addition, reduced its expenditures and increased the taxes from seventeen

Monday, September 23, 2019

Strategic Accounting Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Strategic Accounting - Assignment Example Widgets Gadgets Helios Total MH = MH per unit* number of units 100,000 200,000 120,000 Total DLH = DLH per unit* number of units 350,000 120,000 60,000 Number of set-ups 120 200 200 Customer orders 8,000 8,000 16,000 Supplier orders 3,000 4,000 4,200 Assigning overhead to the product lines: Activity center Widgets Gadgets Helios Total Machining Services 100,000 MH x 0.85 per MH 85,000 200,000 MH x 0.85 per MH 170,000 120,000 MH x 0.85 per MH 102,000 357,000 Assembly Services 350,000 DLH x 0.60 per DLH 210,000 120,000 DLH x 0.60 per DLH 72,000 60,000 DLH x 0.60 per DLH 36,000 318,000 Set-Up Costs 120 set-ups x 50 per set-up 6,000 200 set-ups x 50 per set-up 10,000 200 set-ups x 50 per set-up 10,000 26,000 Order Processing 8,000 orders x 4.875 per order 39,000 8,000 orders x 4.875 per order 39,000 16,000 orders x 4.875 per order 78,000 156,000 Purchasing 3,000 orders x 7.50 per order 22,500 4,000 orders x 7.50 per order 30,000 4,200 orders x 7.50 per order 31,500 84,000 Total Costs Assigned 362,500 321,000 257,500 941,000 Profitability by product using Activity-based cost system is the following: Widgets Gadgets Helios Total Units 50,000 40,000 30,000 120,000 Selling price 45 /unit 95 /unit 73 /unit Sales Revenues 2,250,000 3,800,000 2,190,000 8,240,000 Direct labour and material costs 1,600,000 3,360,000 1,950,000 6,910,000 Overhead 362,500 321,000 257,500 941,000 GROSS MARGIN 287,500 119,000 -17,500 389,000 GM, % 12.8% 3.1% -0.8% Under Activity-based costing, Widgets and Gadgets exhibit positive GM rates of 12.8% and 3.1% correspondingly, while the new product Helios has a negative GM rate of -0.8% and decreases the division's overall profitability. Noteworthy, Widgets... Application of the traditional methods of overhead allocation to products based on any single activity measure can produce distorted product costs. In brief, the traditional volume-based approach led to an overestimation of the unit costs for Widgets and Gadgets products for 2.30% and .49% correspondingly and underestimation - for Helios by 2.99%. Although the difference percentage is comparatively not high - sometimes the distortion can reach the level of 300% (Emblemsvag, 2003, p.124) - it leads to false conclusions about the performance on the product level. It is obvious that the Helios product should be reassessed and the decision regarding its future should be taken by the management as the product currently makes a negative contribution to the overall result. Yoram Eden and Boaz Ronen (2002) note that "In general, it may be claimed that the greater the complexity of manufacturing a given product the greater the degree to which traditional costing underestimates the cost to be attributed to that product" (p.55). Bingley Products division's case proves this general rule. Helios requires high number of set-ups, as well as quantity of customer and supplier order processing activity. Traditional costing widely used because of its simplified nature and m

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Public Police and Private Security Essay Example for Free

Public Police and Private Security Essay Abstract         Public police and private security agencies will hardly find a compromise. Public police votes for limitation of private security rights. Private security becomes more popular with the increasing criminalization of the society. In reality, the objectives of public police and private security significantly differ.       The increasing popularity of private security agencies has raised substantial concern among the public police officers. The objectives of public police and private security differ, but public police agencies fear that private security will bury traditional policing standards, and will replace the major policies objectives and responsibilities.          In the general structure of public policing responsibilities, private security guards traditionally fulfill â€Å"supporting roles†. By hiring contractors, some federal agencies save up to 50 percent of their traditional expenditures. â€Å"One firm provides security for six major public transit systems around the country, transports prisoners, maintains booking and security for a juvenile assessment center, and supplies security for court houses in 40 states† (Youngs, 2004). Although private security agencies possess full range of policing equipment, personnel, and opportunities, such agencies are permanently restricted from fully participating in public policing. Potentially, private security and public policing could have similar objectives, but public policing remains purely a state structure. Public police agencies use private security firms to concentrate on their major tasks. In many aspects, these strategies remind outsourcing principles, which are often employed business. In Ontario, private security was given some freedom â€Å"to observe, report, and deter [†¦] elsewhere private security companies are offering quasi-police services in low-income housing projects† (Harman, 2000). Although private security and public policing could effectively combine their efforts, and work for the decrease of criminalization in the country, public policing insists on the fact that public police and private security cannot follow the same objectives.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Public policing continues fulfilling its â€Å"traditional crime-fighting duties. Private security carry out their mission of protecting their companies or clients’ people, property, and information, while at the same time serving the homeland security objectives† (COPS, 2004). Private security and public policing are still too far from joining their efforts and objectives for the benefit of criminal situation in society. References COPS. (2004). Private security / Public policing. Harman, A. (2000). Private security use debated. Law Order, 48 (6), pp. 125-126. Youngs, A. (2004). The future of public / private partnerships. FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, 73 (1), pp. 7-12.

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Jennifer Lopez Essay Example for Free

Jennifer Lopez Essay Jennifer Lopez is a successful Hispanic women that has been influential. She has done many positive acts throughout her life. From all the accomplishments she has achieved much success. Jennifer Lopez was born July 24th, 1969 in Bronx New York. She was a daughter of Puerto Rican parents Guadalupe Rodrà ­guez and David Lopez. She has two sisters Lynda and Leslie that she grew up with. Lopez was into singing and dancing starting at the age of five. She spent her whole entire career in catholic schools. She grew up with the religion of being a Roman Catholic. During her adult years she had financed in singing and dancing lessons for herself at the age of nineteen. Lopez divided her time between working as a notary public in a legal office, dance classes, and dance performances in Manhattan night clubs. Jennifer Lopez started to get into the music and the acting career. After months of auditioning dance roles she was selected as a dancer for various music videos. Jennifer’s first album was released June 1, 1999 and reached the top ten Billboard 200. Her acting career started in 1995. Lopez became the first actress singer to have a film at number one the same week. She has still continued her music career throughout the years. She has also had an acting career. She received wide-spread praise for her performance in the movie ‘Selena’ including a Gallah Globe Award for best actress. She also acted in many other movies. Even though there was many good things happening in Jennifer’s life she also had problems. For example in her marriage which later led to divorce. There were both personal and professional jealousies. Mark and Jennifer didn’t get along anymore and they decided to go their separate ways. On July 15, 2011, following seven years of marriage to Mark Anthony, the couples representative told Us Weekly that their marriage was over and as painful as it would be for all those involved, the couple were separating. Jennifer Lopez accomplished many acts throughout her life. She was the first Latina getting paid over a million for a project of music . In 2003, she was the highest paying Latina in Hollywood. Her second album was five times platinum. She was the first women to have a number one movie and album at the same time. Jennifer Lopez perfume â€Å"Glow† was the number one perfume in more than nine countries in more than 4 months. She was number one in the FHM’s list of the sexiest females in the world. She owned a clothing line â€Å"J.Lo† By Jennifer Lopez† 25 million copies were sold worldwide. She is a supporter of Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles. She was presented with the Children’s Humanitarian Award. She worked with the sounds of Pertusis March and Dimes. For all her great work and accomplishments Jennifer Lopez has been one of the most influential Hispanic women. For all the great things that she has done women of all ages admire her as well as men who arfe her fans.

Friday, September 20, 2019

Leadership Case Study: Oticon

Leadership Case Study: Oticon A range of materials have detailed the various approaches to leadership, development of leadership and its management competency structure in a number of organizations. The information provided here is intended to communicate to the readers and markers whether or not actions, activities, and behaviors of Oticon and its President meet entrepreneurial texts. This paper also shows the different kinds of strategies adopted by a leader to help maximize the success of a business. Leadership as a complex process that concerns the extent to which a set of standards, qualities and or competencies can capture the nature that makes some leaders and organizations thrive and others unproductive (Burns, 1978). In Oticon, the political, structural, and cultural obstacles that are present in many organizations have not been a problem or hindrance to the company in obtaining its set objectives. Oticon has been able to meet its objectives because the leaders are aware of these hindrances and have come up with appropriate solutions to overcome them completely (Hofstede, 1977). Leadership style is the manner of directing, implementation of plans, and motivation of individuals in an organization. There are a number of theories that have been discussed to show their effectiveness in the organization. Power in Oticons leadership style has been streamlined to all managers. They have shown that change is good, but one should take note of the power source which greatly impacts the growth of the business and attainment of organizational goals and objectives. Power in this case leads us to understanding the importance of leadership roles in the organization. In the conclusion, we see the appropriateness of the leadership style used in Oticon Company (Yukl, 1989). Managing versus leading Leadership ensures that the organization and all the stakeholders do the right thing. It has the authority to set direction, make decisions, and create different policies. They also have the responsibility of ensuring that the organization is well managed, resources available are associated with expectations, and that they are operating within the legal and ethical boundaries stipulated. Management on the other hand, assures that the staff and volunteers of that organization follow to the latter the direction that has been set by the boards of directors and do things right. This is achieved through the use of strategic plans that relate to the operational plans which are later presented to the board to explain to them how well the operational plans have been implemented. The management ensures that the board understands the presented data (Vroom and Yetton, 1973). Lars Kolind displays to his managers and staff certain emotions which have enabled most of them understand and fully accommodate the feelings of others. His high emotional intelligence (EI) has vastly contributed to his role of instilling change in others working in his organization. For those with anger, enjoyment, love, and sadness while working, he has motivated them which have seen to the growth of the business. In the case study, we see that before using the disorganized organization strategy the profits obtained were very low. However, when Oticon started using it, more profits were obtained in a very short period of time. This was achieved by considering the emotional intelligence of its workers who were not sure of how effective the leadership style would help the organization obtain its objectives effectively. These attributes do transfer to leaders outside the business sphere for example, if one is always angry and sad, no one will be able to freely socialize with him/her f or fear of being assaulted. Those filled with fear cannot be able to do anything for their own not even engaging in any business. Leadership functions Effective leadership of change means that, when the leader uses new methods of administration to achieve the desired goals, the staff and managers should accept and implement them fully. The contingency or situational school of thought indicates that the style to be used is dependent on factors such as the situation, the people, the task, the organization, and other variables of the environment (Fiedler, 1967). Fielders contingency model is a theory under the situational school of thought that clearly postulates that managers do not have a single way that can be described as best for leading the organization. Situations will be the ones creating the different style requirements for managers. The best solution accorded for a managerial situation is conditional on the factors that encroach on the situation. For example, in Oticon, repetitive mechanical tasks have become a norm to the workers (dynamic environment), thus a more flexible, participative leadership style has been used. The leader-member relation is good because both the managers and employees relate with each other on a regular basis. The task is unstructured, but the power position is still maintained (Sims and Lorenzi, 1992) Variables of the environment can be measured by using favorable or unfavorable terms depending on the task oriented style. Managers do reshape their environmental variables to suit their leadership styles. Leader-member relations are the amount of devotion, reliability, and employee support received by the leaders. In an unfavorable relationship, the task is unstructured and the leader has possession of limited authority. Position power is measured with the amount of authority the manager sees that has been given to him or her by the organization for the sole purpose of directing, rewarding, and punishing those subordinates who fail to adhere to the rules and regulations stipulated. Positioning of power of managers depends on decreasing the favorable and increasing the unfavorable power of decision making of the employees of the organization (Clegg, 1975). Relationship-motivated style builds interpersonal relations and extends extra help for team work development in the organization. The task- motivated style leader has delight and fulfillment in accomplishment of the task at hand. Oticon Company sees to it that the satisfaction of the customer has been achieved; the company has established a good image which has seen to the increase of the sales record, and has outperformed its competitors. Leadership theories have developed from Great Man and Trait theories to Transformational leadership. These early theories focused mainly on the characteristics and behaviors of leaders who have achieved success, while the modern theories put into consideration the role of followers and the contextual nature of those leading an organization (Hersey and Blanchard, 1977). Transformational leaders have displayed behaviors that are linked to five basic styles of transformation: Idealized behaviors (living on ones ideals), Inspirational motivation where leaders inspire others, Intellectual stimulation where others are being stimulated, Individualized considerations that deals with coaching and development of individuals, Idealized attributes which include respecting, trusting, and having faith in others. These leaders are proactive in many unique ways. They optimize on development which includes the maturation of ability, motivation, attitudes, and values of the organization (Likert, 1961). Transformational leadership is the approach taken by most leaders in creating a shared vision, develop and coach employees who will become future leaders, encourage innovation in others in the organization, and act with high ethical standards and integrity (Bass Avolio 1994). Dispersed leadership is an informal, emergent, or dispersed leadership where the leaders role has been dissociated from the organizational hierarchy. At all levels of the organizations, individuals have been given the power to exert leadership influence over their workmates hence influence the leadership of the organization. Oticon is a good example. The tasks of the managers have been restructured. A charismatic leader is based on self-belief where people follow others whom they admire (Gordon, 1998). This method of leadership is not a good way of conceptualizing leaders since there are those who dont have the charisma of attracting individuals but are admired. Leaders do not perform their roles. Their concent ration drifts to pleasing individuals at the expense of attaining the organizational goals. Leaders functions from the above with regard to change addresses the need for the leaders to inspire employees rather than direct them, involve them in decision making rather than divide, encourage diversity and challenging methods rather than accept the old routine that was being used, encouraging employees to think widely, trust in the projects they come up with and support them, and commitment of the leaders in ensuring that their projects are carried out effectively by the organization by providing them with the resources they require are just a few of the functions (Bass, 1985). Leadership Roles Oticon Company is different from other existing companies since they instilled change in the workplace for the better by using a different kind of leadership style in leading and managing the organization. In creating a vision for the organization, I will bear in mind the objectives of the organization which are of importance when stipulating the vision. If one does not put it into consideration, the goals and objectives of the organization may not be attained in time. Teams have managed to access shared information that has helped in lifting the performance of the organization, but in places like banks and hospitals, such freedom has been minimized to the leaders only since this will bring about confusion in the organization as it deals with very sensitive matters (Daft, 2002). Substantive actions and results of management concerning changing the decision making patterns are the decisions that largely result from external constraints and power-dependence. Symbolic action (expressive) is where management uses symbols and political language in legitimizing and rationalizing the policies and decisions of the organization. The effect of symbolic action is participatory decision-making that reflects the occurrence taking place in the current world (Bennis and Goldsmith, 1997). Oticon Company workers should be given training and education programs that relate to substantial change that is bound to come their way in the next financial year if need arises. Many organizations that try to impose change on the organization end up failing to meet the targets they intend to achieve since the workers are against the form of change being imposed on them. The structure of the organization was changed and needed to be communicated to the workers so that they can be aware of how activities are being conducted in the new organization (Byrd, 1987). By communicating to the workers, the leaders were presenting them with the new responsibilities accorded to them by the President of the Company. Redesigning of the jobs enabled the organization to have a high quality of work performance since the needs and capabilities of the employees were fully met. Face-to-face dialogue of the management (Campbell, 1970) and employee made communication effective and thus they related on a very common ground that enabled them to exchange ideas and information easily without being distorted at any given time. Not specifying the workstations made it possible for all the workers to mingle and get to know each other well, this contributed greatly to the cohesion that existed among them (Belbin,1993). The idea of projects made employees more active in the activities of the company and thus they aimed at maximizing profits and satisfying the customers whom they served. Developmental change has been able to reinforce the need for incremental change orientation process because it is people oriented (empathetic). The leader determined that the maturity level of the employees in relation to the task to be accomplished increased greatly thus reduction of the task behavior by the leader had changed and relationship behavior was increased (Bergmann, Hurson, Russ-Eft, 1999). Conclusion Emphasis has been made on the key points of change in leadership as part of the set management functions stipulated, and these functions can be traced back to the works of many philosophers. The functions of leaders in the traditional society have changed due to the shift that has occurred in the sources of personal power (Bunce, 1981). Technology was an attribute associated with the growth of an organization, but it is not the case. The one factor that contributes to an organizations growth and expansion is effective leadership skills used. Emotional intelligence has also been discussed widely. Theories have also been cited to show how the Company uses the leadership style to manage and lead its employees effectively. Leadership roles and functions are also seen to be changing with time bearing in mind that if a leader wants to achieve effectiveness in his work, then change of leadership should be looked into. Several skills and attributes that are desired by most leaders are very essential. Strategic and operational, traditional management and leadership styles have been discussed to show how they have managed to embrace the various skills available for an effective change in a leader to emerge (Kreisberg, 1992). Leadership style effectiveness can be adopted at different levels as discussed depending on the change itself. We are now conversant with the approach to take when situations arise and the type of leadership style to adopt. Can the Concept of Realism be Plausibly Applied to film? Can the Concept of Realism be Plausibly Applied to film? Realism is arguably the most important concept within film theory. Since its inception, film has generally been concerned primarily with facsimileing real life events for the audience via photographing and camera techniques. In the process, the aim of film from its early days has been to realise both fictional and non‑fictional events. As Ellis (1998:38) explains, the essence of cinema has always maintained an ongoing and deep‑seated relationship with both visual and aesthetic reality. â€Å"Cinema as a photographic medium instantly poses its images and sounds as recorded phenomena, whose construction occurred in another time and place. Yet though the figures, objects and places represented are absent from the space in which the viewing takes place, they are also (and astoundingly) present.† It is important not to confuse cinematic realism with the realistic and naturalistic dramatic output of theatres. Though the two have often collaborated and interchanged over the past one hundred years, the reality inherent in plays is inevitably different to the reality inherent in films. Theatre by nature, with its long pauses, set changes and asides to the audience, is inexorably less realistic than cinema where the division of scenes and the pace of the plot are subject to the whim and the taste of the film‑maker. Moreover, whereas realism is a difficult term for theatre analysts to digest dictated entirely by the skills of the actor (Styan, 1983:1) the film‑maker is able to use scenery, music, lighting and architectural design in order to re‑create a particular context or feeling. For the purpose of analysis, the following account of realism and films must adopt a dualistic approach. One the one hand, the essay must seek to define realism within film theory, especially with regards to conceptualising the different kinds of realism prevalent in cinema. On the other hand, it must necessarily look at examples of realism in action to show how film‑makers are able to apply theory to practice in a seamless transition. A conclusion will be sought that attempts to show that the realism is the most important paradigm in not only in film but in all serious artistic and creative endeavours. Although realism in film theory would appear to be a straightforward concept, roughly adhering to the Greek idea of memesis (imitation), the history of film has coincided with the history of modern western philosophical tradition, which since the middle of the nineteenth century has sought to rebel against the classical notions of the romantic movement in fiction and in painting (Stam, 2000:15). This signals that realism is a relatively recent phenomenon in western artistic ideology. As such, it would be naà ¯ve to presume that it has not been (and will not continue to be) the subject of vast theoretical changes. The following is therefore a brief overview of the variations of realism in film that have been witnessed throughout the past century. Early films could not hope to achieve realism on camera until the advent of sound. With this development, film was in possession of sight, sound and context to aid its replication of real life. This facilitated the classical era of American film with classical realism used as a staple part of the Hollywood diet in the films of the 1930’s and 1940’s. The aim was to create spatial and temporal continuity. Classical realist films achieved this via the utilisation of conventional devices for denoting the passing of time, editing devices and the adoption of a strict etiquette with regards to changing from scene to scene (such as camera close‑ups.) It is important to note that this classical ideal of film theory did not seek to exactly replicate real‑life scenes so much as present â€Å"an optical illusion of truth.† (Stam, 2000:143). This, it was hoped, would result in the production of a transparent kind of film, removing all traces of the physical and technical construction of the movie in the process. Yet, by definition, classical realism in films could not bequeath an overly elaborate plot. Rather, the concept of classical realism is concerned with episodic construction in order to convey the naturalism of the movie. â€Å"The structure of the realist film, one that attempts to look at the world objectively, differs from that of the usual narrative film in either being very simple or episodic†¦ Each episode or sequence of the film suggests random occurrences that are typical and representative of the people or environment portrayed.† (Wead and Lellis, 1981:325) Angels with Dirty Faces (1938) is a prime example of this classical early Hollywood realism in action. The movie concentrates on portraying the realism of the American crime era in a way that had not been attempted beforehand. Whereas previous productions had tended to sway towards the stereotypical view of the underworld, Angels with Dirty Faces looks to a depicting a classical realist film with characters that are believable with a plot that rests solely on the human element of the complex world of the American gangster rather than the more idealistic, impressionist view that had hitherto been championed by Hollywood impresarios. The American model of realism has been applied with equal vitality to European cinema where the depiction of another kind of reality has been achieved, particularly since the end of the Second World War. This is not surprising as artistic realism cannot thrive in a climate of oppression and authoritarianism like that which characterised mainland Europe during the 1930’s and early 1940’s. The life span, for instance, of leftist film‑maker Brecht was directly related to German politics at the time. In addition, it is surely no coincidence that the heyday of French poetic realism in mainstream French cinema (where Jean Renoir stands out as the most prominent realist film‑maker of his day) came in the late 1930’s, just before the collaborationist Vichy regime strangled the creative life out of all of the national arts. It is an important point and one that should be remembered throughout the remainder of the discussion: realism is directly affected by t he social and political context in which it is expressed. Moreover, when this expression is denied by law it likewise affects the vision of realism that a film‑maker wishes to convey. Post‑war incarnations of realism were reflective of the mood (certainly in Europe) in the immediate aftermath of fighting. Indeed, after this point, cinema was increasingly seen as the vehicle through which to transport real life to the viewer. This was a highly significant factor in the realism and neo‑realism of the time. It is worth remembering that cinema was partly responsible for the unprecedented carnage of the previous decades with the fascists in particular using film as a means of propaganda to seduce the people into acquiescence. Thus, neo‑realist film‑makers of the post‑war era such as Orson Welles and Roberto Rossellini wished to seduce the audience back into seeing cinema for the positive medium that it is, not the tool of despotic politics it had hitherto come to represent. â€Å"In spite of conflicts of style, neo-realism tends to give back to the cinema a sense of the ambiguity of reality.† (Bazin, 1997:69) In the UK, the concept of realism has been applied to film with arguably greater frequency and arguably a more accurate result than in any other comparable western country. British cinematic realism differs from the American and European models of realism in its strict representation of social reality, bequeathing the cinematic concept of social realism. Certainly, with its bleak architecture and temperamental weather, Britain provides the realist film‑maker with the raw materials for accurately depicting the social realties of modern life. These films are consequently oppressive with a strong focus on the human element. In this sense, British social realism can be seen to be apolitical, though it can also be argued that this can never really be the case. Regardless of such theories, social realism is a highly useful means of understanding the value of realism in movies. The late 1950’s and early 1960’s witnessed a spate of such social‑realist films. Room at the Top (1959), Look back in Anger (1959), Saturday Night and Sunday Morning (1960) and The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner (1962) are all testimony to the introspective path that British film had taken in the post‑war years. Part of the impetus behind this change in direction can be attributed to the domestic artistic world being opened up to younger film‑makers of varying degrees of social class who wished to portray British life as they saw it as opposed to British life as viewed through the eyes of the traditional socio‑political elite. This ‘kitchen sink’ realism was superseded by a more urbanised, radical realism in British film in the last decade of the twentieth century. The major difference between the two is the way in which the realism of the 1990’s was so much more pessimistic in its outlook than the realism of the m iddle of the century. No one film‑maker better represents this slip into melodrama than Ken Loach the architect of â€Å"documentary realism†. (Hill, 2000:182) At this point, mention must be made of the alternatives to realism as a dominant film theory. While European and North American cinema continues to view realism in all of its forms as a highly useful means of social and cultural expressionism, the movies that tend to make by far the most money at the box office continue to be the typical Hollywood blockbuster. These films are defined as cinematic escapism: the diametric opposite to films that rely on depicting realism to tell a story. Blockbusters are increasingly divorced from the social realties of the day with science fiction movies being a luminous example of the way in which cinema and realism are often at odds with one another; an uneasy alliance between make‑believe and the movies that has served to make Hollywood cinema the most profitable industry in the USA. In terms of consumption, it would appear to be that it is not the films of realism that are the most important partners in film; rather it is the non‑real ism, escapist films that appeal to the most broad‑based conception of the public audience. Indeed, focusing on the viewer and the audience asks further questions as to the ultimate validity of realism in films. Although the actor, the director and the producer may all feel that they have collaborated in making a truly realistic film, their judgement is in the end irrelevant. Movies may be made by film‑makers, but the final verdict on its artistic (as well as commercial) success always resides with the audience. As such, it is surely the viewer and the audience who must state whether or not a film is realistic. This, of course, â€Å"involves readerly or spectatorial belief, a realism of subjective response, rooted less in mimic accuracy than in a strong desire to believe on the spectator’s part.† (Stam, Burgoyne and Flitterman‑Lewis, 1998:185) Therefore, in the final analysis, each and every viewer will have a different opinion with regards to whether a film was on the whole realistic or not. No two viewpoints are ever likely to be the same. This is surely the defining reason why films are made: to encourage divisions of opinion and cultural debate on matters that are of relevance to the society in which the audience lives. Only films that are rooted in the concept of realism are able to achieve this kind of debate, which is in itself testimony to their ultimate value to the artistic community. Those films which seek to transport the audience away from reality are generally more concerned with the enormous commercial impact of films in the modern era, not with inciting intellectual debate. Serious film‑makers, on the other hand, will always tend to be attracted to the inherent realism afforded by the technology of film and it is for this reason that it is surely the most fundamental paradigm not only of film‑ making but also of any artistic endeavour that truly seeks to engage its audience in any meaningful way. BIBLIOGRAPHY Braudy, L. and Cohen, M. (Eds.) (1999) Film Theory and Criticism: Introductory Readings Oxford: Oxford University Press Ellis, J. (1998) Visible Fictions: Cinema: Television: Video London: Routledge Lay, S. (2002) British Social Realism: from Documentary to Brit Grit London: Wallflower Lehman, P. (Ed.) (1997) Defining Cinema London: Athlone Murphy, R. (Ed.) (2000) British Cinema of the 90s London: BFI Stam, R., Burgoyne, R. and Flitterman‑Lewis, S. (1998) New Vocabularies in Film Semiotics: Structuralism, Post‑Structuralism and Beyond London: Routledge Stam, R. (2000) Film Theory: An Introduction London: Blackwell Styan, J.L. (1983) Modern Drama in Theory and Practice, Volume 1: Realism and Naturalism Cambridge: Cambridge University Press Wead, G. and Lellis, G. (1981) Film: Form and Function Boston: Houghton Mifflin Selected Articles Bazin, A. (1997) The Evolution of the Language of Cinema, in, Lehman, P. (Ed.) Defining Cinema London: Athlone Hill, J. (2000) Representations of the Working Class, in, Murphy, R. (Ed.) British Cinema of the 90s London: BFI

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Robert Frost Home Burial - The Three Tragedies of Home Burial Essay

The Three Tragedies of Home Burial  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Robert Frost’s "Home Burial" is a narrative poem that speaks of life’s tragedies. The theme of "Home Burial† centers around the death of a child. During the time period in which the poem is set, society dictated that men did not show their feelings. Therefore, men dealt with conflicts by working hard and being domineering. "Home Burial" demonstrates how one tragedy can cause another to occur. The unnamed couple in this poem has lost a baby to death. The mother grieves openly, and it could be said that she has never recovered from this loss; bereaved parents never forget, but most people in this position gradually work out a way of dealing with their grief, and go on with their lives. This the young mother cannot do. The baby is buried in the family graveyard, which is visible from an upstairs window of their house. Day after day she goes to the stairway window looking out upon the nearby family plot. The sight of the raw mound where her child lies buried reopens her grief. But, another emotion wells up as well – anger and bitterness at her husband, which is at first unexplained. The first hint of the rift between them shows up on lines twelve to thirteen, she "refused him any help, with the least stiffening of her neck and silence." Their dialogue is cold and antagonistic. "What is it—what? /Just that I see. / You don’t, she challenged. /Tell me what it is."(18-19). The death of child, which should bind husband and wife closer in their common grief, pries them apart instead (Gerber 128). In the husband’s first two lines as wells his last one, his attitude toward his wife is domineering and seems insensitive. First he tells her " he wants to know" what she keeps looking at ... ...n the mind’s eye one could see the gravel sliding back into the hole. We could actually visualize the mound getting higher. There were three different tragedies that transpired throughout this poem. The burial of the child was first; second was the burial of the marriage and finally the most symbolic and ironic tragedy is the burial of the home. Because of unfortunate circumstances these three things became closely associated with the home being buried. All of these tragedies occurred as a result of the child’s burial. The couple’s marriage could not survive such an emotional loss. Therefore the marriage becomes buried. When the marriage became buried the home became its own burial spot for this family’s life. Works Cited: Frost, Robert. 1972. "Home Burial." Robert Frost’s Poetry and Prose. Ed. Edward Connery Latham and Lawrence Thompson. New York: Holt.

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

The Euro and the European Union :: Politics Economics

The Euro and the European Union Many people would agree that Europe is a continent in which regions identify with each other even if they are not part of the same country. For that reason, as well as others, in 1957 the Treaty of Rome "declared a common European market as a European objective with the aim of increasing economic prosperity and contributing to 'an ever closer union among the peoples of Europe'" (www.euro.ecb.int). Later, in 1986 and then in 1992, the Single European Act and the Treaty of European Union tried to build on the previous treaty to create a system in Europe in which one currency could eventually be used all over the land under the heading of the Economic and Monetary Union. (www.euro.ecb.int) However, the question remains, why would the leaders of various European nations want to create one currency when the rights of national sovereignty have always been an issue for countries all over the world. Why, in 1998 did they create the European Central Bank, and why in "The third stage of EMU... on 1 January 1999, when the exchange rates of the participating currencies were irrevocably set" (www.euro.ecb.int) did eleven, and later twelve, countries link themselves economically in a way that has never been done before? The answer lies in history. "The need to link separate distinct political communities in order to achieve common objectives is an ancient one" (Woodard). One such example is the Greek independent city states that were linked by a league that dealt with economic issues. The same type of league linking towns in Italy can be found in medieval times. (Woodard) Later, "The United States made the key breakthrough. The states originally formed a loose relationship with weak central government (the Confederation). They replaced this system with a new constitution in 1789 creating the modern United States and defining federalism in its current sense" (Woodard). In doing so, it began a global discussion of the use of federalism to hold regions, and in particular colonies, together. In September of 1946, Winston Churchill made a speech at Zurich University in which he called for a "'United States of Europe'" (www.euro.ecb.int); clearly, this was not a new idea. Churchill thought that by uniting Europe, they would be able to put an end to Europe's decline economically in markets that the United States was quickly taking over.

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Health and Social Care Qcf Lvl 3

Communication and Sensory Loss ( units 301& 393) Explain the methods of communication used by individuals with hearing loss Individuals with hearing loss may use a variety of methods to communicate, depending on their preference. Often individuals may compensate for hearing loss by relying on their sight or responding to cues from others, therefore non verbal and written communication methods can be used. Non verbal methods include the use of eye contact, facial expression, touch, gestures, signs or sign language. Written communication methods include letters, pictures, texts or emails.Individuals may also use communication professionals such as lip speakers to enable them to respond and participate when communicating with others. Explain the methods of communication used by individuals with sight loss Due to sight loss individuals may communication using auditory, verbal and non verbal methods. Verbal methods such as talking face to face or over the phone may be used. Auditory metho ds such as listening and responding to taped information could also be used depending on the individuals preference.Non verbal methods such as touch, gestures and tactile methods including the use of brail could also be used. Depending on the severity of the sight loss other methods such as low vision aids could also enable the individual to respond and communicate with others. Explain the methods of communication used by individuals who are deafblind Depending on the individuals preference, age of onset, strongest sense, education or background, individuals who are deafblind may use a variety or combination of communication methods. Read also: â€Å"Advice About Communication†Sensory methods may be used such as touch, gestures or facial expressions. The use of brail could be used to enable an individual to read and responded to others or alternatively the use of the deaf blind manual alphabet. Other rare methods such as tadoma could also be used. Depending on the onset and nature of the individuals condition, methods such as sign language could also be used if sight has been lost later on. Describe how you could use your environment/setting to make communication more effective with individuals with sensory lossDepending on the nature of an individuals sensory loss, the environment can be adapted effectively to facilitate communication . It is important that background noise and the acoustics of environments are considered, as this could impact on an individuals ability to communicate or interpret information from others. It is therefore important that background noise is kept to a minimum and environments are adapted appropriately as individuals who are blind or partially deaf will be relying on their hearing to engage and interoperate others effectively.Effective use of lighting, visual cues and colour to create contrast between surfaces could be adapted within an environment. This could enable individuals, particularly with partial sight loss to communicate more effectively and feel more engaged within their environment. Taking into consideration the importance of privacy where appropriate is also important, to enable individuals to feel more comfortable and secure within their environment and to facilitate communicate. Explain how effective communication can have a positive impact on the lives of people with sensory lossEffective communication can have a positive impact on the lives of individuals with sensory loss, as it can enable individuals to engage with others and within their environment, therefore facilitating participation and promoting engagement in everyday life. Effec tive communication can also enable individuals to make informed choices about their everyday life and have control over the life choices that they make. Through effective communication individuals can also therefore maintain their dignity and feel more empowered and engaged in their every day tasks.Describe the different things you should think about when you are promoting effective communication When promoting effective communication, it is important to consider different preferences individuals may have regarding communication methods they would like to use. It is important that assumptions are not made regarding communication methods, as different backgrounds, age, cultures or educational backgrounds could influence individuals choice of communication. By taking into considering such components, individuals will be treated in a person centred manner.When promoting effective communication it is also important to consider the impact of stereotyping and discrimination. These factors could impact upon individuals with sensory loss and those who communicate with them. Individuals with sensory loss may be portrayed as lacking capacity or being dependant on others. It is therefore important that when promoting effective communication, independence, access to information and choice is also promoted to help eliminate discrimination and enable individuals to feel more empowered.It is also important to consider physical and environmental barriers which may effect an individuals ability to communicate. In order to promote effective communication it is important to consider such factors as they could impact further on an individuals ability to communicate and access facilities or services. Explain how individuals from different backgrounds may use different communication methods, and may interpret communication in different ways An individuals background may effect their communication methods and also their interpretations of communication.Cultural backgrounds could inf luence how individuals perceive certain gestures or body language as certain gestures are not universal. Different cultures also hold a variety of different values and beliefs which can influence how an individual chooses to communicate and with who. Language differences could also impact on how individuals perceive others and may affect their ability to communicate. Different generations of people may also use communication methods differently and interoperate others in other ways.Older people for example may not feel confident communicating using new technology or may hold certain beliefs about communication which they have internalised over their lives. Explain how and where you would get extra support or services to assist individuals to communicate effectively There are a variety of different services and places to access extra support for individuals, to enable them to communicate effectively. The National Registers of communication professionals can be accessed to find suitab le professionals to assist individuals in communicating effectively.Social services departments can be contacted, as social workers are trained to work with those with visual and hearing impairments to assist them in accessing services or communicating with those involved in the individuals care. Occupational therapists can also be contacted to carry out assessments and provide aids, equipment and adaptations. Such adaptations and equipment can promote independence and enable individuals to communicate more effectively. Other health services such as audiology, eye health clinics and salt can be contacted to provide further assessments and treatment.Opticians can also provide care by monitoring eye health in order for adaptations to be made when needed, to insure that effective communication is maintained. The Royal National Institute for the Blind and Action on Hearing Loss can provide further support for individuals as well as evidenced based information for those in contact with i ndividuals to promote effective communication. Other services such as The British Institute of Learning Disabilities, The Alzheimer’s Society and mental health services can also be accessed through the internet or doctors to provide care and information, depending on the needs of the individual.