Tuesday, November 26, 2019

The Case of the Missing Italics

The Case of the Missing Italics In a column by Boston Globe journalist Ellen Goodman, this odd-looking sentence caught my eye: Lets go back to a McCain op-ed that did run in The New York Times before the invasion. Funny, but Id seen this sort of thing before- in a George Will column (from May 2007) that appeared in the online edition of The New York Post: This citys taxi cartel is offering an audacious new rationalization for corporate welfare, asserting a right a (BEG ITAL)constitutional(END ITAL) right, (BEG ITAL)in perpetuity(END ITAL) to revenues it would have received if Minneapolis City Council had not ended the cartel that never should have existed. Obviously, the parenthetical remarks are computer-speak for begin and end italics- a message that in these two cases had been improperly coded, transmitted, or received. Not an especially newsworthy matter, perhaps, but the question arises: why do newspapers still experience such problems with italics? An answer, of sorts, can be found in The Associated Press Stylebook, the (American) journalists bible: Italic type face cannot be sent through AP computers. Turning for amplification to Ask the Editor at APStylebook.com, we find a number of inquiries pertaining to italicsall of them answered patiently by David Minthorn in more or less the same way: Is it correct to italicize car names, for example, would Prius in Toyota Prius be in italics? - from Pasadena, California on Wed, Jul 30, 2008Italics arent used for car names or anything else in AP news stories. Dont be confused by italicized examples in the AP Stylebook.What is the rule for the title of academic journals? Should they be italicized or put in quotation marks? - from Little Rock, AR on Wed, Jul 09, 2008AP uses straight type for titles of academic and other journals, no quotation marks or italics, principal words capitalized.Us Magazine (entire thing ital) or Us magazine (no ital on magazine)? - on Tue, Jun 03, 2008 Us Weekly . . . AP doesnt use italics in news stories.What is the correct style for the New England Journal of Medicine? Italics or quotation marks? Thanks in advance. - from Washington DC on Tue, May 06, 2008No quotes or italics for titles of publications, so its correct as written.Boat/Ship names should be italicized, but in the instance of USS Arizona, wo uld USS also be italicized? - on Tue, Apr 22, 2008The AP Stylebook would only use USS Arizona in italics as an example, to differentiate from a definition. In AP news stories, italics arent used because the typeface doesnt transmit through all computers. Were left to wonder which model of Kaypro computer the AP still relies on. Most style guides (those without AP in the name) advocate the use of italics for emphasis and with titles of complete works- books, plays, movies, magazines, CDs, television series, and works of art. But then, if you subscribe to The AP Stylebook, theres really nothing left to learn about italics. More About Online Resources for Writers: Top Three Grammar and Usage Advice SitesTop 10 Blogs for Writers, Editors, Teachers of WritingTop Five Business Writing Sites

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Jihadi or Jihadist Defined

Jihadi or Jihadist Defined Jihadi,  or  jihadist,  refers to a person who believes that an Islamic state governing the entire community of Muslims must be  created and that this necessity justifies violent conflict with those who stand in its way. Although jihad is a concept that can be found in the Quran, the terms jihadi, jihadi ideology and jihadi movement are modern concepts related to the rise of political Islam in the 19th and 20th centuries. Jihadi History Jihadis are a narrow group made up of adherents who interpret Islam, and the concept of jihad, to mean that war must be waged against states and groups who in their eyes have corrupted the ideals of Islamic governance. Saudi Arabia is high on this list because it claims to be ruling according to the precepts of Islam, and it is the home of Mecca and Medina, two of Islams holiest sites. The name that was once most visibly associated with jihadi ideology was the late  Al Qaeda  leader, Osama bin Laden.  As a youth in Saudi Arabia, bin Laden was highly influenced by Arab Muslim teachers and others who were radicalized in the 1960s and 1970s by the combination of: The Arab defeat in the 1967 war with IsraelOppressive and corrupt Arab governmentsRapidly urbanizing and modernizing society Dying a Martys Death Some saw  jihad, a violent overthrow of all that was wrong with society, as a necessary means to create a properly Islamic, and more orderly, world. They idealized martyrdom, which also has a meaning in Islamic history, as a way to fulfill a religious  duty. Newly converted jihadis found great appeal in the romantic vision of dying a martyrs death. When the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in 1979, Arab Muslim adherents of jihad took up the Afghan cause as the first step in creating an Islamic state. (Afghanistans population is Muslim, but they are not Arabs.) In the early 1980s, bin Laden worked with the  mujahideen  fighting a self-proclaimed holy war to oust the Soviets from Afghanistan.  Later,  in 1996, bin Laden signed and issued the Declaration of Jihad Against the Americans Occupying the Land of the Two Holy Mosques, meaning Saudi Arabia. A Jihadis Work Is Never Done Lawrence Wrights recent book, The Looming Tower: Al Qaeda and the Road to 9/11, offers an  account of this period as a formative moment of jihadi belief: Under the spell of the Afghan struggle, many radical Islamists came to believe that jihad never ends. For them, the war against the Soviet occupation was only a skirmish in an eternal war. They called themselves jihadis, indicating the centrality of war to their religious understanding. Those Who Strive In recent years, the word  jihad  has become synonymous in many minds with a form of religious extremism that causes a great deal of fear and suspicion. It is commonly thought to mean holy war, and especially to represent efforts of Islam extremist groups against others. Yet, the current modern definition of  jihad  is contrary to the  linguistic meaning of the word, and also contrary to the beliefs held by most  Muslims.   The word  jihad  stems from the Arabic root word J-H-D, which means strive. Jihadis, then, would literally translate as those who strive. Other words derived from this root include effort, labor, and fatigue. Thus, jihadis are those who attempt to practice religion in the face of oppression and persecution. The effort may come in the form of fighting the evil in their own hearts, or in standing up to a dictator. Military effort is included as an option, but Muslims view this as a last resort, and it in no way is meant to mean to spread Islam by the sword, as the stereotype now suggests. Jihadi or Jihadist In the Western press, there is a serious  debate about whether the term should be jihadi or jihadist. The  Associated Press, whose newsfeed is  seen by more than half the world’s population every day via AP newspaper stories, television news, and even  the internet, is very specific about what jihad means and which term to use, noting that jihad is an: Arabic noun used to refer to the Islamic concept of the struggle to do good. In particular situations, that can include holy war, the meaning extremist Muslims commonly use. Use  jihadi  and  jihadis. Do not use  jihadist. Yet,  Merriam-Webster, the dictionary AP generally relies on for definitions, says either term- jihadi or jihadist- is acceptable, and even defines jihadist as  a Muslim who advocates or participates in a  jihad. The respected dictionary also  defines the term jihad  as: ... a holy war waged on behalf of Islam as a religious duty;  also:  a personal struggle in devotion to Islam especially involving spiritual discipline. So, either jihadi or jihadist is acceptable unless you work for the AP, and the term can mean either one who wages a holy war on behalf of Islam  or  one who is undergoing a personal, spiritual, and internal struggle to achieve supreme devotion to Islam. As with many politically or religiously charged words, the correct word and interpretation depend on your viewpoint and worldview.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

As a health care administrator, it is important to be able to apply Research Paper

As a health care administrator, it is important to be able to apply risk management strategies in your organization to prevent o - Research Paper Example Oakpointe Villa Nursing Centre, previous steps have been taken to protect them. They must provide all residents with the reasonable care that their condition requires (Smith, 2005). Oakpointe Nursing Centre was liable for the death of their resident because they failed to provide her with safe sleeping arrangements. (Bryant v. Oakpoint Villa Nursing Centre). Bed rails have been known for several years to actually increase the risk to confused or uncontrolled movement patients, because add the obvious asphyxiation risk above as well as increasing the height of fall if a resident does manage to climb over them. Between 1985 and 2009, 480 patients have been reported as dying and 138 were seriously injured due to a hospital bed accident. From a strictly administrative standpoint, that represents 518 possible lawsuits. In 2006, the FDA published â€Å"Hospital Bed System Dimensional and Assessmment Guidance to Reduce Entrapment†, encouraging manufacturers and care facilities to rec onsider the design of their beds (FDA, 2009). Despite this, they are still in place for at least 10% of patients (Span, 2010). The Safe Medical Devices Act of 1990 requires the reporting of all accidents invoving hospital equipment, including beds and bedrails. (Sleep Safe, 2010).

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Market Entry Strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Market Entry Strategy - Essay Example From the Porter’s five forces, the study has identified that South Africa’s accounting industry is highly competitive and the bargaining powers of suppliers is low and that of buyers is high. The market has high skilled experts in the industry, which is a critical factor attracting accounting and consulting firms in the market. From the analysis done on the market, this study has recommended Rodl & Partner to invest in the market using licensing and has guaranteed that the market is a viable one for foreign investors who are willing to expand their international market presence. However, it is recommended that the company explores the market to ensure compliance with national and international standards for the company that will be chosen for licensing agreement. This will help in ensuring that the company’s reputation is maintained. Introduction Different market entry strategies can be used to enter a new market, these strategies include mergers, acquisitions, j oint ventures, exporting, Greenfield project, strategic alliances, franchising/licensing and whole subsidiary ownership (Janssen 2004, p. 556). Some of the factors that influence the choice of a market entry strategy include price localization, trade barriers, competition, export subsidies and localized knowledge (Grunig & Morschett 2012, p. 151). Globalization and foreign direct investments have been vital in global expansion of companies (Hill 2005, p. 67). This study suggests licensing as a market entry strategy that could be adopted by Rodl & Partner in its entry to South Africa (Rodl & Partner, 2012). South Africa is one of the well known markets that have well developed accounting, auditing and consulting industry and this makes the selection a suitable one for Rodl & Partner. South Africa enjoys a stable and developing economy and this has been a key attraction for foreign investors. Rodl & Partner Ltd Background of the company Rodl & Partner is an international consulting an d accounting firm with German origin. The company has established and built unique capabilities in the global consulting industry particularly in accounting, tax planning and attestation services for companies across various continents. The company has about 3200 partners located in about 130 countries across globe. The company provides customers with distinctive and high quality service in the various categories of accounting services (Rodl & Partner, 2012). Rodl & Partner has its strengths in tax, assurance and specialist advice. Rodl & Partner will be entering South African accounting and consulting industry in July 2012 and this will require the company to be well prepared in expanding its business in this new market so as to be able to promote its brand awareness in the global market. PESTEL analysis Economic environment: South Africa has risen from international isolation and economic stagnation caused by apartheid era. The new phase of economic reconstruction has received enc ouragement and acclaim internationally (Thompson 2001, p. 23). The country was rated 25th in terms of advanced industrial sectors in the world in 1990s and has since then marked increasing growth. Political and legal environment: South Africa has had stability in its political and legal systems. Policies made by government are focused on strengthening economic power of the country and this makes

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Critical Success Factor Analysis Essay Example for Free

Critical Success Factor Analysis Essay This wasnt the case for AA. They had clear Organisational vision and views set out from the beginning. Their reason for the new system was to improve the standards of customer service for customer loyalty and to reduce their cost which is their organisational strategy.  This resulted in three main business requirements for the new IS. Development of a nationally-based system   Separation of the functions   The provision of a base for new products or services  AAs system was definitely a business-led system. They had the idea for AAHELP long before technology caught up enough for the system to be implemented. Their IS system was led by a long-term vision from way back. A lot could be contrasted during the implementation phase also. In AAs case, they used a phase-by-phase approach. Each phase would have a business case. This was to make the job of convincing the board easier. This proved useful not only in convincing the board, but also in that it allowed a certain degree of flexibility, as the system could be adapted in order to deal with the changes in the organisation more generally. This gradual incremental approach to the development meant that even though the overall time of the project took longer, the system was checked more thoroughly, and thus was much less likely to have problems later on when it would cost a lot more to fix.  This is shown very clearly in the Symons case. They hired ProSys to deliver the full system in one go. During implementation, they found a lot of costly errors such as differences in Numbering Systems, and changes to the system which cost them an additional à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½15,000. IT TEAM There were some differences between the two even in their I.T Team. Firstly, AA had their personal in-house I.T staff while Symons hired programmers. There are several benefits of in-house I.T staff. It takes shorter time for problems to be sorted out. Another difference was that the IT Team all worked in one location only. This built team spirit and encouraged formal and informal communications. Working so close together also meant that problems would be noticed, and sorted out much faster. Strategic Information Systems Planning Methodologies  The task of strategic information systems planning is difficult and often time organizations do not know how to do it. Strategic information systems planning is a major change for organizations, from planning for information systems based on users demands to those based on business strategy.  Vitale, et al. (1986) classifies SISP methodologies into two categories: impact and alignment. Impact methodologies help create and justify new uses of IT, while the methodologies in the alignment category align IS objectives with organizational goals. Impact Methodologies  Value Chain Analysis  A form analysing business activities. It helps in devising information systems which increase the overall profit available to a firm and identifying the potential for mutual business advantages of component businesses, in the same or related industries, available from information interchange. It concentrates on value-adding business activities and is independent of organizational structure. Strengths: It concentrates on direct value adding activities of a firm and thus pitches information systems right into the realm of value adding rather than cost cutting  Weaknesses: Basic concept of a value chain is difficult to apply to non-manufacturing organizations where the product is not tangible and there are no obvious raw materials. It also fails to address the developmental and implementation issues. Critical success factors analysis can be considered to be both an impact as well as an alignment methodology. Critical Success Factors (CSF) in the context of SISP are used for interpreting more clearly the objectives, tactics, and operational activities in terms of key information needs of an organization and its managers and strengths and weaknesses of the organizations existing systems. Critical success factors are limited areas of the business where if the result is satisfactory, will ensure successful competitive performance for the organisation Strengths: CSF analysis provides a very powerful method for concentrating on key information requirements of an organization, a business unit, or of a manager. This allows the management to concentrate resources on developing information systems around these requirements. Also, CSF analysis is easy to perform and can be carried out with few resources.  Weaknesses: CSF analysis by itself is not enough to perform comprehensive SISP because it does not define a data architecture or provide automated support for analysis. CSFs also focus primarily on management control and thus tend to be internally focused and analytical rather than creative

Thursday, November 14, 2019

The Avian Flu Virus in Chicken :: virus illness china Essays

The Avian Flu Virus in Chicken There are only ten more days until we celebrate our biggest holiday of the year, Chinese New Year. It is the year of the monkey, the monkey in our culture is supposed to be very lively and mischievous and full of energy. It has been three months since I had chicken, I have been eating fish and vegetables, but I really miss eating chicken meat. In our village where there are 20 families, 14 families are in the business of selling poultry to support their income, many of them also sold eggs to supplement their income. Our village has a population of 125, yet ten of the villagers have been diagnosed as having the avian flu virus, more commonly known as the H5N1 virus and of them, three had already died because of this virus. Everyone in our village is on edge as we are afraid of whether we will be the next one infected with the virus or not. Today I am going to the market to buy flowers, red meat, fruits and red envelopes to help my parents to get our house ready for the New Year. The mood in the market is the same as normal, there are more businesses than usual because everyone is busied trying to prepare for the New Year. If a visitor came to our village for a visit, the visitor would not notice any difference in our village life. However, underneath that normal exterior, something is very wrong in our village. Normally, the market is the busiest as people flocked to buy chicken and eggs so that they can cook for the New Year. The place where usually I have to shout and push my way so that I could buy a chicken from that place is now emptied. I could even hear my own echo when I shouted which disturbed me very much, I never thought that I could hear my own voice. As I walked back from the market, I stop by my neighbor and friend's house, Ngoc, to say hello to her. Her little brother, Tuan, was one of the victims of the avian flu, but unfortunately, he did not make it. I came inside her house and went to her back yard where she is holding a chicken that her father had just killed, while on the floor, there are more than 150 dead birds laying on the ground. The Avian Flu Virus in Chicken :: virus illness china Essays The Avian Flu Virus in Chicken There are only ten more days until we celebrate our biggest holiday of the year, Chinese New Year. It is the year of the monkey, the monkey in our culture is supposed to be very lively and mischievous and full of energy. It has been three months since I had chicken, I have been eating fish and vegetables, but I really miss eating chicken meat. In our village where there are 20 families, 14 families are in the business of selling poultry to support their income, many of them also sold eggs to supplement their income. Our village has a population of 125, yet ten of the villagers have been diagnosed as having the avian flu virus, more commonly known as the H5N1 virus and of them, three had already died because of this virus. Everyone in our village is on edge as we are afraid of whether we will be the next one infected with the virus or not. Today I am going to the market to buy flowers, red meat, fruits and red envelopes to help my parents to get our house ready for the New Year. The mood in the market is the same as normal, there are more businesses than usual because everyone is busied trying to prepare for the New Year. If a visitor came to our village for a visit, the visitor would not notice any difference in our village life. However, underneath that normal exterior, something is very wrong in our village. Normally, the market is the busiest as people flocked to buy chicken and eggs so that they can cook for the New Year. The place where usually I have to shout and push my way so that I could buy a chicken from that place is now emptied. I could even hear my own echo when I shouted which disturbed me very much, I never thought that I could hear my own voice. As I walked back from the market, I stop by my neighbor and friend's house, Ngoc, to say hello to her. Her little brother, Tuan, was one of the victims of the avian flu, but unfortunately, he did not make it. I came inside her house and went to her back yard where she is holding a chicken that her father had just killed, while on the floor, there are more than 150 dead birds laying on the ground.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Industrial Production and Capitalism Drivers of Social Change

Industrial Production and Capitalism: Drivers of social change in history Ho Xin Qian Louise In this essay, I will illustrate why industrial production and capitalism were major causes of social change in history by stating three main arguments. Firstly, I put forth the case that industrial production and capitalism have changed the role and nature of markets in history. In doing this, I trace how the market has become the central system of social coordination via market instruments, encompassing even the elements of industry like land, labor and money.In exemplification, I explain how industrial capitalism has brought about the rise of mass production and mass markets, enabling the market system to expand its influence. Secondly, I will illustrate how industrial capitalism has changed the social relations of production, as well as the social organization of work, resulting in class struggle and socio-economic stratification in history. Lastly, I touch on the changes in norms and cul ture within institutions due to industrial production and capitalism.For the purpose of this paper, I define industrial production as production brought about by mechanized technology and industrious labor in centralized locations. Capitalism is defined as a system of profit making commerce made possible by the usage of money, decentralized circulation of capital and the market exchange of commodities. I use the term industrial capitalism to denote the amalgamation of both forces. The Role and Nature of Markets in History It is my contention that industrial production has changed the role and nature of markets in history, placing it in the centre of society and economy.It is true that industrial capitalism presupposes the existence of a market system. However, the market system was never the dominant system of social control until the development of isolated markets by mercantilist means, and subsequently the transnational interaction and proliferation of markets into a market econo my, brought about by industrialization in the 18thC. It is due to this transcendence of boundaries and displacement of market activity that gives rise to the â€Å"market† as an abstract mechanism.According to Polyani, before the rise of markets, the society organizes itself via systems of redistribution, house-holding and reciprocity, of which operates on non-economic motives like social prestige and kinship (Polyani 1944: 46-58). After the rise of markets with long distance and local trade, markets have started to take on a more important role in providing necessities; however, they did not function for a majority of the population, who were still dependent upon common exchange and subsistence systems.Thereafter, mercantilism created isolated national markets which consolidated local economic activity and increased trade. However, it was not until the Industrial Revolution in the mid 18thC that the market system became the main driver of social change across different count ries through the creation of mass markets. The industrial revolution has brought about new forms of technology and power, transformed modes of production and created factories as centralized locations for mechanized production to take place.Mass production techniques like specialization, standardization, time-discipline, rational capital accounting and centralization allow for production costs to decrease with volume, thus generating a high amount of output, providing goods more cheaply than one could have done outside of the factory. As a result, people buy their essentials from these mass markets rather than produce by themselves. Also, they produce solely for the market, deriving income to purchase other goods in the circulation of commodities.Moreover, with industrial capitalism, the market mechanism has also come to allocate factors of production such as land, labor and money, which according to Polyani were not real commodities, but merely have exchange value because they beco me privately owned by use of legal contracts and sales (Polyani 1944: 68-76). Since then, mass markets have come to synchronize most economic activities like consumption, production, distribution and even finance in the most efficient fashion (Swedberg 2005:238-240).These markets become far reaching and displaced in light of industrial capitalism because of communicative and transport technology, the mobility of money and relations of free trade, which re-defined the notion of markets from a place to an abstract network of actors across national boundaries. Also, the nature of markets has changed from being state-controlled to being self-regulating. The market system becomes the center of economic and social life as it coordinates most economic activities not by state regulation but by economic instruments like the price mechanism, supply and demand aggregates.Social Relations of Production and Organization of Work Industrial capitalism has, with the change in material means of prod uction, brought about a change in the social relations of production and organization of work. In capitalistic societies, instead of directly interacting with nature in production, human beings depend on each other by exchanging their assets in place of producing for subsistence. Hence, they inevitably enter into social relations of production between those who own the means of production (capitalist) and those who do not but are economically compelled to sell their labor power (worker) for wages.In the circulation of capital, surplus value can be derived from the difference between capital invested and capital retrieved because capital (such as land, factory and machinery), only when combined with labor, transforms products to sell for higher exchange values, thereby generating surplus value and profit. This circulation of capital is durable because capitalists aim to invest their capital to make even more profits while workers can only increase their wages by working harder or by investing in their skills.Since then, the relationship between capitalists have become increasingly competitive due to the drive for profits while the worker-capitalist relation has replaced family (sexual division of labor) as the primary relation of production. According to Marx, as the ownership of means of production is exclusive and alienable, the society becomes separated into two distinct classes – the bourgeoisie (capitalist) and the proletarian (or worker), where between them is a relationship of domination and exploitation.Marx observed that the capitalists tend to exploit the workers by privately appropriating the surplus value produced by the workers, giving them much less than the use value of their time and effort invested in production (Marx 1848: 23). Also, the exploitation goes further by manifesting itself in the working conditions of factories, where workers were forced to work for long hours and children were also engaged as child labor. The exploitation a nd domination over workers exists because of the profit motive of decreasing costs and increasing revenue, as well as the fact that workers have less argaining power over their jobs than their employers. Capitalism has also re-defined the social organization of work by the formation of labor markets and complex division of labor. Prior to the onset of industrial capitalism, work was just defined as any effortful activity which attributes use value to commodities. However, with industrial capitalism, the formation of labor markets constituting workers, employers, jobs and networks is possible, and they function to allocate labor resources and allow capitalists to negotiate labor price and working conditions.Here, there is a clear demarcation of what is considered paid â€Å"work† and what lies outside of the labor market in the informal economy. Within the labor market, the exchange value of labor depends on the quantity and quality of labor, which denotes different labor proc esses and skills. The differentiation in wages is due to the complex division of labor brought about by industrial capitalism.Unlike the simple division of labor, where society is categorized into different occupations as in craftmanship, the capitalistic industry has a tendency to control and divide the mass production process into many simple tasks which all unskilled workers are capable of accomplishing. Workers are subdivided into different capabilities and made to specialize in simple tasks to be able to perform quickly and productively. This organization of work greatly improves the efficiency of the system, bringing costs down with more units of production.As seen in the Fordist model of mass production, workers as such are being â€Å"deskilled† and made interchangeable to the extent that they can be fired or hired according to production requirements (Womack 1990: 19-46). Thus, the market value of such menial labor is very low as opposed to professions (doctors) and skilled labor (technicians). The way work is being socially organized into skilled and unskilled labor has thus brought about socio-economic stratification in production relations. Marx has criticized this form of organization as being â€Å"alienating†, especially for the menial workers.As workers are being made interchangeable by the subdivided nature of production process, their labor is being looked upon only as a commodity, at their employer’s disposal. The worker loses control over his produce, the work process and his ability to creatively express himself. Moreover, their menial labor becomes cheapened in the process of unemployment and labor surplus. On the other hand, professionals are able to safeguard their interests by exclusive job administration channels, keeping their wages high due to marketable specialized knowledge.As a result, socio-economic stratification has also become defined by consumption relations such as occupational prestige and status group s. Norms and Culture Lastly, it is clear that industrial capitalism has brought about important changes in norms and culture. Most explicitly, industrial capitalism has changed the culture of work in the society. Prior to this time, work was characterized by disparate tasks that one is required to do in the day, and is oriented to what is necessary to be attended to. There is little divide between work and life.In industrial-capitalistic societies, work is characterized by a series of jobs which need to be synchronized in terms of sequence and speed. Time-discipline is important for work in the capitalist economies because productivity and time are highly correlated (Thompson 1967, 60:61). People are expected to use time allocated for work efficiently and solely for work. As the stimulus for work has changed from subsistence to wage incentives, there is potential of increasing wages by putting in more effort put into work.Thus, as competition for jobs and within jobs increase, peopl e are pushed to work harder and longer in their jobs. Also, in the 18thC, industrial capitalism has led to the trend of rapid urbanization due to rural urban migration and international migration in seek of factory jobs. This has led to a major restructuration of society within countries like England, where the working class poor tend to congregate near the city centre for employment and the more affluent middle class tend to decentralize away from these city centers, where living conditions are bad.The result is a case of socio-economic polarization within cities, where differences in standards of living are stark between gated communities and urban slums. In all, industrial capitalism tend to generate disparate levels of wealth and poverty amongst the working and capitalist classes. Lastly, industrial capitalism is likely to produce changes in habits and lifestyle which are oriented towards the market. The culture of consumerism is prevalent in many industrial and post-industrial societies, brought about by both producers and consumers.Producers aim to increase the capital return from their investment by either catering to existing needs or by creating new needs and wants. With the use of marketing strategies and production technology, they are able to sell their products at a high profit margin. Consumers, on the other hand, are faced with the proliferation of goods and services available at competitive prices. With the wages they have earned, they are able to afford more goods at a lower price. In all, this paper contends that industrial production and capitalism are major drivers of social change in three ways.Firstly, industrial capitalism has changed the role and nature of markets in history, from an auxiliary mechanism to the main instrument of social coordination. Secondly, industrial capitalism has revolutionized the social relations of production, from humanity’s struggle with nature to dependency on each other. It has also changed the social organization of work, by re-defining what is work and by organizing work into skilled and non-skilled categories with varying consequences. Thirdly, industrial capitalism has influenced the norms and culture of society through â€Å"industriousness†, urbanization and consumerism. (1991 Words)

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Online Education vs. Traditional Education Essay

While most believe online education is easy as the student is just sitting in front of the computer, attending class online is more challenging than attending class in a classroom because requires time management skills and requires self-discipline. Attending college online requires the college student to have excellent time management skills. The majority of online students have responsibilities other than attending school. Usually this is why the decision to attend school online is made. The online student must be able to balance school, work, and a family. Attending school at a traditional school is not as flexible as the time schedule is set in place and the student must arrange their schedule around school, work, and family. Online education allows more flexibility in the online class schedule. However, proper management must be maintained in order to balance all of the responsibilities and be successful in all areas. â€Å"Not only do students need to monitor their progress in an ongoing fashion and adjust their strategies for learning based on their progress, they also need to maintain a time management schedule in order to complete online learning activities in the allotted timeframes. † (Orellana, Hudgins, & Simonson, 2009, p. 470). The online student must be able to continue to work full-time and take care of family. All of these things must be done including attending school. Adding online education to the list of responsibility may assist the online student becomes well organized. An online student can possibly check-in the online classroom during lunchtime while at work. Homework assignments can be done during â€Å"homework hour† at home with the children. In order to be successful attending school online, the online college student must practice self-discipline. In a traditional classroom, the student the instructor holds the student accountable for all assignments and participation in class. While the same applies for the online college student, accountability is the student. There will not be a â€Å"reminder† from the instructor on a daily basis whether the student is participating in the discussion group or if the student has completed an assignment. â€Å"Online learning can be more convenient, effective and rewarding than traditional classes, but convenience doesn’t mean it’s easier,† says Gwen Hillesheim, interim chief academic officer and provost of Colorado Technical University, a leading provider of education for career-motivated students. â€Å"Successful online students need to be proactive in their studies and take responsibility for their own learning. It takes self-discipline and time management to do your best. But when the student is engaged, the learning can be significant and the experience fulfilling. † ARA, (2010, November 3, Creston News Advertiser). Online students must comply with the University participation requirements in order to succeed. Self-discipline is required as it is solely up to the student to log in each day and participate in class. Unlike traditional classrooms where the schedule is set and students are reminded by staff daily to participate; the University notifies online students that do not make the required participation requirements after they have failed to do so. Most individuals that opt to attend school online are returning to school to complete a college degree. Usually this option is chosen due to work schedule as well as time with the family. Online education is not for everyone as it takes great discipline and maturity in order to be a successful online student. â€Å"At the same time, online education is not for everyone — you have to have a certain level of maturity and self-motivation, since you have to juggle coursework with job and family responsibilities. It demands a great deal of individualized work and you have to manage your schedule to meet class requirements rather than attend at a specific time of the week. â€Å"Michele Smolik, Director of Instructional Technology at Columbia College. Traditional students usually are not full-time employees. A person attending a University on campus is usually either taking one class or a full-time student working a part-time job. Online education allows an individual to maintain a full-time job however in order to qualify as a full-time student two classes are taken at a time. Traditional students attending class on campus have the advantage of accessing the instructor during class instruction if a question should arise. Online students must communicate with instructors via email or by utilizing the message board located on the student portal. This type of learning is not the right choice for everyone as some need individual instruction. Some argue that online students are â€Å"teaching† themselves, as there is no verbal instruction from an instructor. At most online universities instruction is given weekly during the discussion group forum by the instructor. The online student must make it a responsibility to participate in weekly discussion forums as well as keep up with weekly readings. Students that delay themselves in participating in the discussion group usually maintain a low grade. All of this is vital in order to be a successful online student. Assignments for class are usually due weekly and due at the end of the week. Students must submit the assignment via the class portal. It is imperative that the student have the correct software in order to submit the assignment as it is the student’s responsibility that the assignment is submitted on time with no exceptions. This is not an issue for traditional students as instructors are able to accept assignments in person from students. Essays and other assignments can be submitted by hard copy, which eliminates the concern of computer complications or the non-compatibility of software with the University. Online education has been debated throughout the years of its brief existence however most will agree that it is much more challenging than traditional education. Attending school is challenging whether in a traditional classroom setting or attending school online as responsibility is the main factor. However, as an online student it is imperative to be organized, responsible, and maintain strict discipline in order to be a successful online student. These factors make attending school online much more difficult as it is magnified much more. References The Perfect Online Course: Best Practices for Designing and Teaching (Orellana, Hudgins, & Simonson, 2009, p. 470) ARA, (2010, November 3).

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Foreign Language Requirements for College Admissions

Foreign Language Requirements for College Admissions Foreign language requirements vary from school to school, and the exact requirement is often not clear for any individual school. For example, is the minimum requirement really adequate? Do language classes in middle school count? If a college requires 4 years of a language, does a high score on the AP fulfill the requirement? Requirements and Recommendations In general, competitive colleges require at least two years of foreign language classes in high school. As youll see below, Stanford University would like to see three or more years, and Harvard University urges applicants to take four years. These classes should be in the same language- colleges would much prefer to see proficiency in one language than a superficial smattering of several languages. When a college recommends two or more years of a language, they are clearly signaling that language study beyond two years would strengthen your application. Indeed, no matter where you apply for college, a demonstrated proficiency in a second language will improve your chances of being admitted. Life in college and after college is becoming increasingly globalized, so strength in a second language carries a lot of weight with admissions counselors. That said, students who have just the minimum can win admission if their applications demonstrate strengths in other areas. Some less competitive schools dont even have a high school language requirement and assume some students will simply study a language once they get to college. If you score a 4 or 5 on an AP language exam, most colleges will consider that evidence of adequate high school foreign language preparation (and youre likely to get course credit in college). Check with the schools to which you apply to find out exactly what their Advanced Placement policies are. Which Foreign Language Is Best In general, colleges want to see foreign language proficiency, and they dont really care which language you study. Most students, in fact, have few choices. Many schools offer just a couple of languages such as French and Spanish. That said, it can be a plus if your study of a foreign language aligns with your career goals. German and Chinese are both valuable languages for students interested in business, and strong French skills would be ideal for someone who wants to teach English or work in public health in Francophone Africa. In 2018, when Harvard Universitys Dean of Admissions testified in court about the schools admissions policies, he revealed that students who studied Greek and Latin and showed an interest in the ancient classics had a slight edge over many other applicants. On the whole, however, study the language that you are most interested in learning. Let your passions guide you. Where would you be most interested in traveling? What language is most likely to intersect with your future plans? If you might study abroad, where would you go? Examples of Foreign Language Requirements The table below shows the foreign language requirement at several competitive colleges. School Language Requirement Carleton College 2 or more years Georgia Tech 2 years Harvard University 4 years recommended MIT 2 years Stanford University 3 or more years UCLA 2 years required; 3 recommended University of Illinois 2 years University of Michigan 2 years required; 4 recommended Williams College 4 years recommeneded Keep in mind that 2 years truly is a minimum, and you will be a stronger applicant at places like MIT and the University of Illinois if you take three or four years. Also, its important to understand what a year means in the context of college admissions. If you began a language in 7th grade, typically 7th and 8th grade will count as a single year, and they should show up on your high school transcript as a unit of a foreign language. If you take a true college class at a college, a single semester of a language will typically be the equivalent of a year of high school language (and those credits are likely to transfer to your college). If you take a dual enrollment class through a collaboration between your high school and a college, those classes are often a single-semester college class spread out over the course of a full year of high school. Strategies if Your High School Doesnt Offer Adequate Language Classes If youre a high achiever and want to graduate from high school with three or four years of language classes but your high school offers only introductory-level classes, you still have options. First of all, when colleges evaluate your high school academic record, they want to see that you have taken the most challenging classes available to you. They recognize the significant disparity between schools. If upper-level and AP language classes simply arent an option at your school, colleges shouldnt penalize you for not taking classes that dont exist. That said, colleges want to enroll students who are well prepared for college, for these students are much more likely to persist and succeed if admitted. The reality is that some high schools do a much better job at college preparation than others. If youre at a school that struggles to deliver anything beyond remedial education, your best bet may be to take matters into your own hands. Talk to your guidance counselor to see what opportunities exist in your region. Typical options include Taking language classes at a local community college. You are likely to find evening or weekend courses that work with your high school schedule, or you may be able to take an early morning or late afternoon college class during a high school class period.Taking online language classes. If there is no college in your area, you can find many options for online college language classes. You may even be able to get high school credit for an online college course. Ideally, youll want a course that includes audio or video conferencing so that you can develop the listening and conversational skills that are so important to language learning. Be forewarned that many colleges will not transfer language credits earned online.Self-studying to take an AP language exam. There are lots of programs out there such as Rosetta Stone, Rocket Languages, and Babbel that can help you learn speaking, reading, and writing skills. An AP study guide can help guide your self-study so that you are targeting ma terial that is likely to be on the exam. Travel that immerses you in a foreign language can also be extremely beneficial. Ideally, youd want to take the AP exam your junior year so that youll have the score in hand when you apply to colleges. Earning a 4 or 5 on the exam (and perhaps a 3) is a convincing way to demonstrate your language knowledge. Note that this option is only good for self-motivated students. Languages and International Students If English is not your first language, you most likely wont need to worry about foreign language courses as part of your college education. When a student from China takes the AP Chinese exam or a student from Argentina takes AP Spanish, the exam results arent going to impress anyone in a significant way.   For non-native English speakers, the much bigger issue will be demonstrating strong English language skills. A high score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), the Pearson Test of English (PTE), or a similar exam will be an important part of a successful application to colleges in the U.S. A Final Word About Foreign Language Requirements As you consider whether or not to take a foreign language in your junior and senior years of high school, keep in mind that your academic record is almost always the most important part of your college application. Colleges will want to see that you have taken the most challenging courses available to you. If you choose a study hall or an elective course over a language, the admissions folks at highly selective colleges wont view that decision positively.

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Understanding and Using Stipulative Definitions

Understanding and Using Stipulative Definitions A stipulative is a  definition that assigns meaning to a word, sometimes without regard for common usage. The term stipulative definition is often used in a pejorative sense to refer to a definition that appears to be deliberately misleading. Stipulative definitions are also known as Humpty-Dumpty words or legislative definitions. Examples and Observations Michael Ghiselin A lexical definition, such as one that occurs in a dictionary (a lexicon), is a kind of report on how language is used. A stipulative definition proposes (stipulates) that language shall be used in a given way.–Metaphysics and the Origin of Species. SUNY Press, 1997 Trudy Govier Words in a language are public instruments for communication in that language, and a stipulative definition is useful only if it sets out predictable and comprehensible standards of use that are workable for the purpose at hand. If a stipulated definition becomes popular, the word defined in its new sense then becomes part of public language, and it is open to changes and variations in use just as other words are.–A Practical Study of Argument, 7th ed. Wadsworth, 2010 Patrick J. Hurley Stipulative definitions are misused in verbal disputes when one person covertly uses a word in a peculiar way and then proceeds to assume that everyone else uses that word in the same way. Under these circumstances that person is said to be using the word stipulatively. In such cases the assumption that the other person use the word in the same way is rarely justified.–A Concise Introduction to Logic, 11th ed. Wadsworth, 2012 Jon Stratton Stipulative definitions that slant or bias meanings are called persuasive definitions. They are meant to persuade and to manipulate people, not to clarify meaning and encourage communication. Persuasive definitions are sometimes encountered in advertising, political campaigns, and in discussions about moral and political values. For example the definition, A caring mother is one who uses Softness brand disposable diapers, is persuasive because it unfairly stipulates the secondary designation Softness user. The term caring mother is much more significant than that!–Critical Thinking for College Students. Rowman Littlefield, 1999 Use in Literature â€Å"There’s glory for you!† â€Å"I don’t know what you mean by ‘glory,’ Alice said. Humpty Dumpty smiled contemptuously. â€Å"Of course you don’t–till I tell you. I meant ‘there’s a nice knock-down argument for you!’† â€Å"But ‘glory’ doesn’t mean ‘a nice knock-down argument,’† Alice objected. â€Å"When I use a word,† Humpty Dumpty said, in rather a scornful tone, â€Å"it means just what I choose it to mean–neither more nor less.† â€Å"The question is,† said Alice, â€Å"whether you can make words mean so many different things.† â€Å"The question is,† said Humpty Dumpty, â€Å"which is to be master–that’s all.† Alice was too much puzzled to say anything; so after a minute Humpty Dumpty began again. â€Å"They’ve a temper, some of them–particularly verbs, they’re the proudest–adjectives you can do anything with, but not verbs–however, I can manage the whole lot of them! Impenetrability! That’s what I say!† â€Å"Would you tell me, please,† said Alice, â€Å"what that means?† â€Å"Now you talk like a reasonable child,† said Humpty Dumpty, looking very much pleased. â€Å"I meant by ‘impenetrability’ that we’ve had enough of that subject, and it would be just as well if you’d mention what you mean to do next, as I suppose you don’t mean to stop here all the rest of your life.† â€Å"That’s a great deal to make one word mean,† Alice said in a thoughtful tone. â€Å"When I make a word do a lot of work like that,† said Humpty Dumpty, â€Å"I always pay it extra.†Ã¢â‚¬â€œLewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass, 1871 Use in Film Nancy: Can you, like, define the meaning of love? Fielding Mellish: What do you... define... its love! I love you! I want you in a way of cherishing your totality and your otherness, and in the sense of a presence, and a being and a whole, coming and going in a room with great fruit, and love of a thing of nature in a sense of not wanting or being jealous of the thing that a person possesses. Nancy: Do you have any gum?–Louise Lasser and Woody Allen in Bananas, 1971

Sunday, November 3, 2019

A comparative analysis between Total Quality Management(TQM) and the Term Paper

A comparative analysis between Total Quality Management(TQM) and the Six Sigma system of quality improvement as they both relate to healthcare - Term Paper Example s set of processes and techniques to measure, improve and control the Quality of care and service based on what is important to the customer (Woodard, 2005, p.229).† (Majdi, 2009, para.1). care sector, thus offering maximum safety and degree of care in heath care provision. The main areas in which SS could possibly offer its services are medication, supply chain management strategies in tandem with suppliers and vendors, medical reporting, settlement of claims and the outcome of the condition of patients in different levels of care giving. One of the most significant aspects of SS is that it is amenable to quantitative measurements and analyses by the implementation of DMAIC, that is, define, measure, assess, identify and control. Total Quality Management (TQM), on the other hand, is more subjective in its approach, and fundamentally, â€Å"The goal of a TQM program in a clinical healthcare setting is to reduce costs and improve customer (patient) satisfaction.† (Weinheimer, 1993, para.2). Thus, the main objectives of TQM in hospital settings are to find ways and means to improve the quality of service - lesser waiting time, attending complaints promptly and efficiently, providing computer generated prescriptions, reducing medical errors and malpractices to minimal levels, and in short, rendering maximum health care service possible in the minimum timeframe. All these are qualitative aspects, but given the scope for improvement, a blending of SS and TQM (both quantitative and qualitative) could deliver maximum benefits and advantages to customer, clients and patients in a well rounded and innovative way. Perhaps, the best comparison between SS and TQM could be in the delineation of common goals and objectives of these two systems- total patient care and commitment using measuring tools and industry benchmarks. While their respective methods may be slightly different in approach and technique, the ultimate objective of maximum patient care and redefining the