Social Psychology - Delinquency Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Social Psychology - Delinquency - Essay Example The decision to shoplift is driven from within by the thought processes of the individual, placing it squarely in the realm of psychology as part of the social exchange theory (Brehm, Kassin, & Fein, 2005). Along a similar line it is possible that the individual engaged in shoplifting in order to gain items that would create the perception of financial success so prized in our society. The pressure to act came from outside the individual and is an example of the structural-functional theory of sociology (Zappen, 1998). What if an equal emphasis comes from outside the individual Perhaps the shoplifter has many friends, peers, and role models that shoplift. The saying birds of a feather would point to the sad fact that the individual would eventually be labeled as a shoplifter by association. So if people expect the individual to shoplift he will be more likely to do so. Or so the labeling theory would have us believe (Sociological theory, 2008). It could also be argued that shoplifters learn the behavior from their peers as explained by the social learning theory of psychology. When an individual repeatedly sees a behavior being done it becomes the norm for him and engaging in it is not seen by the individual as deviant, delinquent or criminal. A similar method can be used to dis

Film Genre Essay Example for Free

Film Genre Essay â€Å"Words have no power to impress the mind without the exquisite horror of their reality†. Popular fascination with shock, horror and psychological thriller genre has been situated at an ultimate high, with school students wanting to learn about these popular genres. From watching videos and reading books from these exquisite genres, students receive various in site from the different eras and how those particular eras were controlled. Throughout the range of poetic genres each author has their own way of express feelings, protruding language techniques and helps show and feels emotions. Authors who illustrate genres in a particular way should be a part of the English curriculum, for the way they display the particular genres and help students understand the nature of fear, guilt and human conscience. Particular language techniques are used in shock, horror and psychological thriller genres. The language techniques have changed intensely over the years and this is due to how lifestyles are controlled and how woman and men portray themselves to each other. The differences between sentences from today society and society from years ago have changed dramatically. A sentence from ‘Macbeth,† Wherefore was that cry†. Today’s society â€Å"what was that noise or where did that noise come from†. Another quote from Edgar Allan Poe shows that the sentence structure were simple but complex and had intended to mean so much through such little words, â€Å"We loved with a love that was more than love.† Sentence from Authors who lived in different eras are interesting to study because we received a brilliant in site to how the language techniques were portrayed to being simple but complex. With the evidence provided, it is easy to see that Authors from different eras have much better language techniques. From directors, narrators, author and actor, in their plays, movies and shows a high variety on universal themes are shown. A universal theme is human emotions that the audience can relate to throughout the play, movie or show. A universal theme is themes were the actor or character is feeling sad, happy, angry or betrayed. Universal themes are defiantly very important for a student to learn about, and understand these different terms. These themes are used to interact with the audience and make the audience involved and when using universal themes in a scene it helps the audience interact  with that particular scene and helps the audience feel apart. Thirdly, students in today’s society are more engaging in English themes that they are wanting to learn about or what they enjoy learning about. With shock, Horror and the Psychological thriller genre at high demands and statistics say that these 3 genres are the most demanded genres in the world. With Shock, horror and psychological thriller genre being taught in schools, will most likely make school students engage in the Lesson more because they want to actually learn and be involved in the lesson. The final criterion is the difference in shock, horror and psychological thriller genre to now and 100 years ago has changed dramatically. These genres a long time ago were about simple fighting, simple killing, blood and guts. And in this century these genres mean people playing sick mind games and torturing, ghosts, demons, spirits, haunted houses, more in depth gory scenes and lots more. It is very important for students to learn about the difference in these genres and to compare them together they have changed a lot. School students today learn a lot from shock, horror and psychological thriller genre. The students learn a lot from particular language techniques, universal themes and how these particular genres have changed and evolved over time. If the Queensland censorship board considers banning these genres, they are taking a lot away about history that students need to learn about and are essential to the English learning curriculum.

Hester Prynne, of Nathaniel Hawthornes The Scarlet Letter, and Margare

Hester Prynne, of Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter, and Margaret Fuller, Themid-nineteenth-century Campaigner for the Rights of Women "Endowed in certain respects with the sensibility of Margaret Fuller, the great campaigner for the rights of women, Hester Prynne is as much a woman of mid-nineteenth-century American culture as she is of seventeenth-century Puritan New England." Is this an accurate assessment of Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter? Margaret Fuller (1810-1850) was an author, critic, editor and teacher who "possessed more influence on the thought of American women than any woman previous to her time" [1]. She contributed significantly to the American Renaissance in literature and to mid-nineteenth century reform movements. A brilliant and highly educated member of the Transcendentalist group, she challenged Ralph Waldo Emerson both intellectually and emotionally. Women who attended her "conversations" and many men of her time found Fuller's influence life-changing. Her major work, Woman in the Nineteenth Century published in 1845, profoundly affected the women's rights movement which had its formal beginning at Seneca Falls, New York, three years later. Hester Prynne is the protagonist of Nathaniel Hawthorne's romantic novel, The Scarlet Letter, which is set in seventeenth-century Puritan New England. As a young woman, Hester married an elderly scholar, Roger Chillingworth, who sent her ahead to America to live but never followed. While waiting for him, she had an affair with a Puritan minister named Dimmesdale, after which she gave birth to Pearl. Found guilty of adultery (through the absence of her husband and the birth of Pearl), Hester is punished by being forced to wear a scarlet lette... ...on, 1996 4 The Scarlet Letter, p.263 5 Puritanism in Early America, edited by George M. Waller, p.6 6 The Scarlet Letter, p.53 7 Ibid. p.144-5 8 Ibid. p.195 9 Ibid. p.165 10 Ibid. p.86 11 Ibid. p.263 12 Charles Capper, in An American Romantic Life. p.ix. 13 The Scarlet Letter, p.165. 14 Ibid. p.263 15 Ibid. p.263 16 An American Romantic Life, p. xi 17 The Scarlet Letter, p.94 18 Ibid. p.263 19 Ibid. p.263 20 Margaret Fuller, Julia Ward Howe, 1889 21 The Scarlet Letter, p.113 22 Ibid. p.117 Bibliography Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. History of Woman Suffrage, 1881 Nathaniel Hawthorne. The Scarlet Letter, Oxford World's Classics, 1990 The Concise Oxford Dictionary, Ninth Edition, 1996 George M. Waller, (Ed). Puritanism in Early America Charles Capper. An American Romantic Life Julia Ward Howe. Margaret Fuller. 1889

Motivational Factors Toward Pursuing a Career in Special Education Essay

This study investigated factors which motivated individuals to initially pursue careers in special education, factors which contributed toward their plans to remain or leave the field, and their perceptions of school districts’ effective and ineffective recruitment and retention practices. The sample comprised of 15 individuals employed in public schools throughout north Texas who initially pursued careers in special education. Data were collected through the form of audio-recorded semi-structured telephone interviews. Empathy towards students, family, and opportunities to fill job vacancies were factors that participants cited the most for initially pursuing careers in special education. Furthermore, most of the interviewees reported satisfaction within their jobs, but noted excessive demands and lack of administrative support as contributing to job dissatisfaction. Motivational Factors toward Pursuing a Career in Special Education. Chronic shortages in the field of special education continue to pose challenges for public schools across the United States (Billingsley, Carlson, & Klein, 2004; Boe, 2006; Billingsley & McLeskey, 2004; Brownell, Hirsch, Seo, 2004; Singh & Billingsley, 1996; Strunk & Robinson, 2006; Thornton, Peltier, & Medina, 2007). The limited number of individuals entering and/or remaining in the field of special education has resulted in school districts’ inability to fill the necessary teaching positions; such shortages have been linked to difficulties in the recruitment and retention of qualified individuals (Olivarez & Arnold, 2006). Although difficulties with the recruitment of teachers, low retention, and high attrition rates are evident across all teaching professions, it is much more prevalent among special educators. Specifically, teachers of students with emotional/behavioral disorders exhibit the largest shortage, followed by those serving students with severe/profound disabilities, and learning disabilities (McLeskey, Tyler, & Flippin, 2004). Our national school districts are in a crisis. Specifically, districts are scrambling to find qualified special educators to fill the vacant teaching positions. According to Plash and Piotrowski (2006), a projected 611,550 positions in special education will need to be filled by the year 2010. However, the inability to recruit the necessary number of eligible individuals to fill positions continues to be a major problem for school administrators. An infinite number of research studies have been conducted in an attempt to identify barriers which deter people from entering the field (Billingsley, 2004; Gersten, Keating, Yovanoff, & Harniss, 2001; McLeskey et al., 2004; Olivarez & Arnold, 2006; Thornton, Peltier, & Medina, 2007). Studies have identified perceptions of low social status associated with being a special educator, poor working conditions, high rates of stress, excessive paperwork, and low salaries with the decreased number of individuals entering the field of special education (Barmby, 2006; McLeskey et al. , 2004; Rice, Goeling, & Peters, 2005). A vast amount of research also exists regarding factors which have contributed to the decisions of individuals to leave the field of special education (Billingsley, Carlson, & Klein, 2004; Singh & Billingsley, 1996; Thornton, Peltier, & Medina, 2007) and consequently contribute to the shortage of and high attrition rates of special education teachers (Barmby, 2006; Fish & Stephens, in press; McLeskey, Tyler, & Saunders, 2004). According to Plash and Piotrowski (2006), 13. 2% of special education teachers leave their position each year. While six percent of special educators leave the field of education altogether, 7. 2% transfer to general education positions. Prevalent variables identified as contributors to the exodus from the field include occupational stress, burnout (Botwinik, 2007; Greiner & Smith, 2006), weak support by administrators, unreasonable caseloads, large class size, low salaries (Darling-Hammond, 2003), testing and accountability pressures (Tye & O’Brien, 2002), and ineffective in-service programs (Kaufhold, Alverez, & Arnold, 2006; Plash & Piotrowski, 2006). A study conducted by Brownell, Smith, McNellis, and Lenk (1994) investigated the contextual variables related to teacher attrition. Findings indicated that those teachers who decided to stay in the field of special education were more committed to teaching students with disabilities, had a higher sense of efficacy, felt more prepared by their pre-service and initial teaching experiences, and exhibited more effective coping strategies than those who decided to leave the field. Two international studies were identified which focused on the motivating factors of individuals initially pursuing careers as general educators (Barmby, 2006; Watt & Richardson, 2007). Based upon a study conducted in England and Wales, Barmby identified intrinsic (e. g. , the activity of teaching children) and altruistic (e. g. , desire to help children succeed) reasons which contributed to the teachers’ decision to pursue careers within the field of education. Similar findings (e. g., working with children, shape future of children, and make a social contribution) were reported by Watt and Richardson who investigated the motivational factors which influenced Australian individuals to initially pursue a career in general education. In addition to investigating special educators’ job satisfaction and decisions to remain in the field, obtaining an understanding of individuals’ motivations for entering the field of special education have implications which may assist in the increased recruitment and retention of special educators. Such findings would contribute to enhanced teacher educational planning, curriculum design and policy decisions. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to obtain perceptions of special educators with regards to factors that contributed toward their (a) initial pursuit of special education careers, (b) job satisfaction and/or dissatisfaction levels and (c) decisions whether to remain on the special education career path. Participants were further asked to provide recommendations that school districts could take to effectively recruit and retain special educators. Design of Study Qualitative methodology was utilized in this study in the form of audio-recorded semi-structured telephone interviews to obtain the perceptions of special educators. Qualitative research is appropriate in dealing with potentially multiple realities, mutually shaping influences, and value patterns (Lincoln & Guba, 1985). Interviews serve the purpose of â€Å"obtaining here-and-now constructions of persons, events, activities, organizations, feelings, motivations, claims, concerns, and other entities† (p. 268). According to Bogdan and Biklen (1998), semi-structured interviews encourage interviewees to expand upon ideas, which provide the researcher opportunities to generate abstract ideas through descriptive material. Participants Respondents participating in this study consisted of 15 educators employed in public school districts throughout the north Texas area. This purposive sample was comprised of 11 special education teachers, three diagnosticians and one former special education teacher currently serving as a high school principal at the time of the interviews. Four of the 11 special education teachers within this study were previously general education teachers. Data Collection and Analysis The interview questions conducted for this study focused on factors which contributed toward special educators initially pursuing careers in special education in addition to conditions that would contribute toward them remaining in or leaving the field. Interviewees were additionally asked to provide feedback pertaining to their school districts’ special educator recruitment and retention efforts. The following open-ended questions were asked to each of the 15 participants.

Was female rule unacceptable in early modern Europe?

This narrative will be investigating the political and royal policies of early modern Europe and it's reasoning behind preferring (and insisting) that only male royal blood lines should maintain the throne. I shall be researching how Queen Elizabeth 1st was able to take the throne as a single female, as well as (despite never being able to take the throne herself) the years that her sons ruled is now known as the ‘age of Catherine De Medici'. It will be necessary to look at religious opinions and political laws, as well as literary opinions from the 16th and early 17th century (in some cases earlier) across early modern Europe, England and Scotland, regarding women and their place in society and how that relates to women in positions of power Early modern Europe was segregated by extreme religious fault lines. With England, Scotland, Germany, The Netherlands and France fighting (both politically and literally) for superioty of their chosen religion, these were; Calvinism, Lutheranism, Roman Catholicism and Protestantism, with a small minority of Anglican followers also. The majority of Spain, Portugal and Italy remained virtually wholly Roman Catholic, which lead to many wars and disputes with bordering nations. The Royal policy of the time was to use marriage to cement literal boarders between neighbouring countries in an effort to create great nations, and also to make intangible connections that cemented power between nations creating beneficial alliances. Political and social opinion of women at the time was largely due to the writings of St. Paul in the New Testament regarding Adam and Eve, and how Eve carried out the first human sin, disobeyed God and tempted Adam with the apple. This therefore made Eve responsible for the fall of mankind, and left women being seen as the source of all evil and sin. Coupling this with Aristotle's premise that a woman was an inferior version of the perfect male form, meant that the opinion of women was not something to be fought against, it was simply irrefutable fact. Because of this, religious political and social opinion of women in early modern Europe, women were only seen as valuable for their usefulness in connecting families through marriage or continuing family legacies through childbirth. Therefore families could effectively marry their daughters off like chattel. Women in early modern Europe were seen as feeble and weak minded, unable to be decision makers, and think for themselves. They (women) by religious opinion were created by God for man. Therefore giving man the right to rule them. As Martin Luther put so plainly; ‘Women are created for no other purpose than to serve men and be their helpers. If women grow weary or even die while bearing children, that doesn't harm anything. Let them bear children to death; they are created for that. ‘ Even women in positions of power were aware that they were not comparable to men. As Queen Elizabeth recognised, ‘I know I have the body of a weak and feeble woman, but I have the heart and stomach of a King'1 Queen Elizabeth the first, was arguably one of the most famous female rulers in our history, yet her road to power was a difficult one. Elizabeth's rule while she was alive, and even after her death, has been shadowed by questions regarding the legitamacy of her right to the throne. The Catholic populace never fully accepted her, as her father Henry VIII broke with the Catholic Church to divorce his first wife: Catherine of Aragon to marry Anne Boleyn (Elizabeth's mother). However Henry VIII and Catherine (his first wife) had a daughter Mary, Henry VIII went on to have Elizabeth with his second wife and a son: Edward with Jane Seymour his 3rd wife, and despite Catholic beliefs regarding divorce, (which made Elizabeth illegitimate, but not Mary or Edward) the only surety was that Henry's male heir was going to take the throne first. After Edward took the crown Mary was to follow closely succeeded by Elizabeth. The only other candidate that could possibly take a rightful place over Elizabeth was Mary Stuart, who was currently Queen of Scotland and Queen of France (by marriage), and with the ever looming threat of a two-pronged assault on England by the French and the Scottish, Elizabeth became the necessary and logical choice as the English people were at the time seen to be more ‘nationalistic than catholic' (and an exceptional ruler she went on to be), managing to influence both Roman Catholic's and Protestant's into a compromise, which arguably stopped England from falling into a religious war, as was the case in France. But it also conveyed to her public that she was able to accept both faiths and allow them to coexist in the efforts of peace, a feat that had not been accomplished so logically or peacefully by her male predecessor's. France was plagued by its own political difficulties and religious disputes, and having a female singularly ruling was intolerable to them, and with the medieval ‘Salic Law' still in force (of which some of its policies are still in use today) the French were able to regulate who took to the throne and who maintained power. Salic law was clear, however; it decreed a purely French solution. (Elsewhere, in countries where Salic law did not apply – Scotland, England, Spain†¦ women undoubtedly had the right to succeed to the crown, although their rights in other areas were very limited. )2 As Queen Elizabeth found herself when trying to deal with her Generals and war strategists, many of whom ignored her input refusing to consider that she would have any useful insights into battle planning. Salic law was particularly relevant to Catherine De Medici, as it kept her from the throne after the death of her husband. Catherine then put her sons on throne, where she was virtually able to rule by defacto for many years, due to her sheer iron will and the strong maternal hold she had over her sons – even when her son Francis II died, his wife Queen Mary (Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots) fled back to Scotland rather than be dominated by her mother-in-law. Even with Queen Elizabeth being in power in England, and Catherine De Medici's virtual rule in France there were still many who felt that female rule was unlawful. But this started a debate in the early 16th century as to whether female's born of Royal blood and extensively educated were able to overcome the short fallings of their gender. Were Queen Elizabeth and her sister Queen Mary, as well as Mary Queen of Scots and Catherine De Medici able to break these notions and change history? To conclude as to whether women were acceptable Queens able to fully rule, the answer is clearly no. Female rule in early modern Europe was unacceptable. Men did see women as more feeble, both physically and mentally, and assumed that they were automatically superior. Women were nothing more than the child bearers, a point exemplified by marriages that were able to be absolved if no children were born (regardless of religion). It would appear that one of the factors of fearing female rule would be felt by the current King preparing to hand power to his daughter, the King (from any nation) would be aware that opinion of females was poor, and that the new ‘queen' would need to take a husband to guide and assist her. Which then leads to the question of whom should marry the future queen? Her right to power would automatically revert to her husband – very probably a Prince or King from another nation, which would leave the current King to foresee the fall of his Kingdom to a foreign land. France kept with the extremely old salic law, that was first made policy in medieval time's to make sure that only males of French blood from royal lines could ascend to the throne. But it would seem as was the case across Europe and England that Salic law, and English/Catholic opinion and preference on female rule only counted if it suited. If the alternative ruler was unpalatable (for instance Mary Queen of Scots) then the nobles and governments would find alternative methods to crown their ruler of choice. The debate of female rule was never about what was best for France, England or whomever, but quite plainly about those in power keeping that position for as long as possible at whatever the cost. Historic and modern literature written about Queen Elizabeth I, Catherine De Medici, Queen Mary I and Mary Queen of Scots can paint a picture of a very manipulative, autocratic and sometimes capricious class of Queen, but with the severe adversities they faced I feel that as independents they were utilizing their femininity, as well as their individual strong wills and education to keep a firm control. These famous rulers from our history did bring about change, and they forever altered the face of Royalty as well as assisting (even if only selectively) the view of women across the world.

Compensation and Benefits †Deer Valley Homebuilders, Inc.

Compensation and Benefits – Deer Valley Homebuilders, Inc. Free Online Research Papers Deer Valley Homebuilders was founded in January 2004 by eight gentlemen with over 125 years of industry experience, including General Management, Production, Sales, Customer Service, and Finance. The management team will operate to the highest standard of business, moral ethics, and will approach business with an open mind through communication, positive attitude, and teamwork. Deer Valley Homes has about 430 employees, which build quality homes. Deer Valley Homes focus on manufactured mobile homes and has a small number of modular homes. These homes appear to be manufactured mobile homes that are triple wide and bigger. They have limited architectural options but are a better choice than standard manufactured homes. (Deer Valley Corp, n.d., p. 1) For many corporations and companies, it is standard practice to offer highly discounted access to medical and dental insurance to its full-time employees. Typically, these companies pay a large portion of their employees health insurance bills. The employees forfeit a certain fraction of their pay toward the rest of the benefits. The amount they pay is nominal in comparison to the average price of a full health insurance package to a typical citizen. Currently, Deer Valley Homes does not offer a 401K program. A traditional 401(k) plan offers the maximum flexibility of the three types of plans. Employers have the discretion to make contributions on behalf of all participants, to match employees’ deferrals, or do both. These contributions can be subject to a vesting schedule (which provides that an employee’s right to employer contributions becomes non- forfeitable only after a period of time). In addition, a traditional 401(k) allows participants to make pre-tax contributions through payroll deductions. Annual testing ensures that benefits for rank and file employees are proportional to benefits for owners/managers. fA SIMPLE 401(k) plan was created so those small businesses could have an effective cost-efficient way to offer retirement benefits to their employees. A SIMPLE 401(k) plan is not subject to the annual nondiscrimination tests that apply to the traditional plans. Similar to a safe harbor 401(k) plan, the employer is required to make employer contributions that are fully vested. This type of 401(k) plan is available to employers with 100 or fewer employees who received at least $5000 in compensation from the employer for the preceding calendar year. In addition, employees that are covered by a SIMPLE 401(k) plan may not receive any contributions or benefit accruals under any other plans of the employer. Savings Incentive Plan for Employees (SIMPLE plans) There are two types of SIMPLE plans: SIMPLE IRAs and SIMPLE 401(k)s. Both are simplified retirement plans designed for small employers with 100 or fewer employees. Each plan allows for voluntary employee pre-tax deferrals equal the lesser of 100% of compensation or the maximum deferral limit. The maximum limit is: Year SIMPLE Elective Limit Age 50+ Catch-up 2009 $9,000 $1,500 2010 $10,000 $2,000 2011 on $10,000 $2,500 The employer is required to make a contribution to the plan. The employer may choose from the following contribution options: A non-elective (basic) contribution of at least 2% of compensation for all eligible employees earning at least $5,000; OR at least 100% matching contribution up to the first 3% compensation. With SIMPLE IRA plans only, the employer has the option to reduce the matching contribution as low as 1% for no more than two out of five years ending with the current year. The option to reduce the matching contribution below 3% is not available with SIMPLE 401(k) plans. Withdrawal amounts form a SIMPLE IRA during the first two years of participation would generally be subject to a 25% penalty tax; the normal 10% penalty applies afterward. The employee must always be 100% vested in both employee deferrals and employer contributions. To offer a SIMPLE plan, employers must satisfy two requirements: 1. During the previous year, the employer had 100 or fewer employees who earned at least $5,000, and 2. The employer does not sponsor any other retirement plan Although employers can open plans up to more employees, the minimum requirement is that employees are eligible if they earned at least $5,000 from the employer during the previous two years and it is reasonable to expect that they will earn at least $5,000 during the current year. (Simple 401K, 2006, p. 1) Once you have decided on the type of plan for your company, you will have flexibility in choosing some of the plan’s features such as which employees can contribute to the plan and how much. Other features written into the plan are required by law. For instance, the plan document must describe how certain key functions are carried out, such as how contributions are deposited in the plan. (Employee Benefits, n.d., p. 1) Ritz-Craft has always been a family-owned business. Their employment focus is aimed towards providing consistent employment at competitive wages and salaries for all employees. Ritz-Craft offers a complete benefits package that includes health insurance, a dental plan, paid vacations and a 401(k) plan that is available to all employees. Employment at Ritz-Craft is very much entry into a family. In fact, the average Ritz-Craft employee has more than 10 years experience with the company. Ritzs of this type of plan are 401(k), 401(a), Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), Savings Plans and Profit Sharing Plans. (Ritz-Craft Corporation, n.d., p. 1) Based in Dallas, Texas, Palm Harbor Homes is one of the nations largest marketers of factory-built homes. The companys vertically integrated operations set it apart from others in the industry. Palm Harbor builds, sells, finances and ensures the best-manufactured homes available today. Palm Harbors focus is the high-end, customized niche of the manufactured home market. Four out of five homes produced in its 18 manufacturing facilities across the country are customized with owner-selected features. Palm Harbor sells its homes through 115 company-owned superstores and more than 350 independent retailers. (Plant City Manufactured Mobile Homes, n.d., p. 1) Palm Harbor has two primary goals satisfying their customers and making their company the best job their associates have ever had. Palm Harbors Employee Benefits Package includes: Medical PPO program includes a minimal co-pay, prescription card and well-care benefits. Palm Harbor pays for the majority of the cost. Dental the dental plan covers, among many other comprehensive dental benefits, $2,000 of orthodontic services for adults and children. Vision – the vision plan covers traditional services as well as some laser vision correction services. Disability Protection Short and/or long-term disability coverage is available to associates after three months of service. Life Insurance life insurance includes accidental death and dismemberment and is provided to all associates at no cost. Additional life insurance for spouses and children is offered at nominal rates. 401K Savings Plan All employees are eligible to contribute to the 401(k) Plan upon their date of hire. I n addition, after one year of service, Palm Harbor will match employee contributions in the amount of 25% for every $1.00 contributed up to 6%. The Plan offers over 28 different investment options to choose from with options available in every major fund style category, including company stock. Rollovers are also accepted from other company plans. Stock Purchase Plan employees can be a shareholder immediately. Associates may buy Palm Harbor stock via payroll deductions in the stock purchase plan. Palm Harbor pays for the administration of the plan and the participants share commission costs. Holidays the company observes eight holidays per year for most associates. Some locations may observe an additional holiday for local customs. Vacation Time and Personal Time Off Salaried associates with five years or less of service enjoy ten vacation days per year. Those with six years or more of service enjoy fifteen vacation days per year. In addition to our holiday and vacation package, our company offers one personal day to all associates with one year of service with Palm Harbor and two personal days after three years. Sick Leave Salaried associates accrue sick leave credits each month with a maximum earned of 45 days. Employee Assistance Programs PHH has contracted with Ceridian to provide all associates with a wide range of services, including: counseling for any work or life situation (counseling provided via the phone and/or in person,) along with college counseling, auto and home services, long term care solutions, debt and legal counseling, books, tapes, videos and much more. There is no cost to the associates and the counselors are available 24/7.A NurseLine is also provided for assistance with emergencies and for guidance with other medical situations. (Plant City Manufactured Mobile Homes, n.d., p. 1) The current impediment would be lack of a great benefits package, which would include a quality 401k plan. One impediment is the affordability to Deer Valley and the employees. Another impediment is finding the right company to provide all sought benefits in one place. Recommendations for Deer Valley Homes: Health Insurance Insurance premiums will probably cost you about 8% to 10% of your payroll amount. The majority of this will be your health insurance premiums. So what are your options and how do you find the best deal? There are currently three main types of health coverage you can offer to your employees: traditional coverage (fee-for-service), HMO (health maintenance organization), or PPO (preferred provider organization). I would recommend a traditional health coverage plan; your employees will have the most flexibility. It pays to find a good broker when looking for health insurance policies. The broker may represent plans from up to 15 different insurers, allowing you to get a better feel for what is available and do more comparison shopping. Make sure there is a good range of services offered and that long-term illnesses and pre-existing conditions are covered. There should also be at least $1 million in coverage. Long and Short-Term Disability short-term disability (STD) provides employees income on a short-term basis as a result of a disability, and is usually equal to about 60% of the employees gross weekly pay up to 26 weeks. Long-term disability is lost-income coverage that kicks in as a result of a disability. It is also based on about 60% of the employees gross income. There is usually an elimination period of 30 to 180 days before the benefits will begin, so it typically picks up where short-term disability ends. LTD benefits can continue on for life, although most terminate at age 65 when social security kicks in. Many employers pay all of the long-term disability premiums. Some companies pay for short-term disability and make the long-term optional, at a reduced cost to the employee. The logic behind this is that you want the employee to come back to work after a short, unforeseen accident or injury employers rarely see an employee come back from long-term disability. If the co mpany pays for the benefit, it is considered taxable income; if the employee pays for the benefit, it is considered insurance and is non-taxable. The life insurance plan currently offered is a good policy and the cost is minimal so I would recommend keeping your current provider. Deer Valley is lacking and needs a quality 401K plan; 401(k) plans let your employees save for retirement easily and conveniently through pre-tax automatic payroll deductions. Its money they dont see, so they dont miss it. Implementing a 401(k) plan can improve employee morale and help in luring in new employees. The money your employees contribute, as well as your contributions and their account earnings, are all tax-deferred until they actually withdraw the money when they retire. Employees have full control over their investments. Withdrawals are also permitted at the termination of employment or during financial hardship, but a 10% penalty tax is charged if they are younger than 59 1/2 years old. Many companies allow terminated employees or employees who elect to leave the company the option to keep their 401(k) account, but they can no longer contribute to it. As an employer, you are not required to match contributions or contribute at all to your companys 401(k) plan; however, to be competitive, most employers do. You do have the flexibility to alter your contributions year to year based on the profitability of your company. You even have the option of contributing on behalf of employees who are nt participating as long as they are eligible. Your contributions are tax deductible. You can also set up a vesting schedule for the contributions you make to your employees accounts. This is just another way to help motivate employees to stay with the company longer. (Obringer, 2003, p. 1) The best way to obtain good employees and retain them is to offer better compensation and benefits. Deer Valley has a poor compensation and benefits package. Being a small business does not have to limit your benefits. There are several different approaches Deer Valley can take, decide on a great benefits package and keep it in-house or outsource the compensation and benefits to another company that handles these areas. I would recommend with the current staff to handle your compensation and benefits in-house. Now you just have to decide which benefits best serve Deer Valleys needs at present and the future. Not having a good benefits package is hurting your desire to obtain and retain good employees. By offering and providing your current employees at Deer Valley with good quality compensation and benefits it will help boost morale. When offering a quality compensation and benefits package we will be able to attract and retain well-trained employees more so than other local manufacturing companies in your area. With the best employees in the business, your facility will be more productive, you will have a better-built product and must higher efficiency rate. â€Æ' References Deer Valley Corp (n.d.). About Deer Valley. Retrieved November 3, 2008, from www.deervalleycorp.com/ Employee Benefits (n.d.). 401(k) Plans For Small Businesses. Retrieved November 05, 2008, from www.business.gov/guides/employment/managing/benefits/ Obringer, L. A. (2003). How Employee Compensation Works. Retrieved December 8, 2008, from Howstuffworks.com Plant City Manufactured Mobile Homes (n.d.). Our Benefits. Retrieved December 2, 2008, from www.palmharbor.com Plant City Manufactured Mobile Homes (n.d.). Palm Harbor Village. Retrieved November 30, 2008, from www.palmharbor.com Ritz-Craft Corporation (n.d.). Company History. Retrieved November 26, 2008, from www.ritz-craft.com Simple 401K (2006). Simple 401k Plans. Retrieved November 28, 2008, from www.simple401k.com Research Papers on Compensation and Benefits - Deer Valley Homebuilders, Inc.What are Stock OptionsExempt vs Non-Exempt EmployeesEmployment Law EssayOrganizational Behavior Analysis of Wal-MartResponsible for Occupational Health EssayThe Legal ProcessDr. Edward Deming EssayDigital Marketing Mix Google EssayInternational PaperGap Analysis: Lester Electronics

This Fabulous Century essays

This Fabulous Century essays This Fabulous Century, written by Henry R. Luce, is a book about the history of the United States of America from 1910 to 1920. I chose this book because of the American way of life during that time period. I find the way that the United States handled the new century with the first of the two World Wars to be very fascinating. Since I am a visual person, the large pictures on every page of this book helped me to enjoy it even more. The accomplishments made by America then are miraculous. I think that all American history is of great value. I would like to learn more about this time period in American history. This is why This Fabulous Century was a great learning experience for me. This Fabulous Century explained each event of the 1910s in America very well. The book starts out with six pages of pictures that illustrate how Americans lived their lives back then. The first chapter is called The End of Innocence the beginnings of the Great Depression. The next two chapters are called The Many Faces of a New Freedom and The Big Breakthrough, both of them related to the new woman. Then the next six chapters are about The Flickers, which I think were movies, plays, how the people and the critics reacted to them. Chapters ten and eleven are about The Tin Lizzie, or the Ford T-Model vehicle, which was the first vehicle ever made. The next seven chapters were about the Culture of the time period. These chapters included issues on what the literature was and how the artists expressed the push to not join the War. Chapter nineteen was called America Sits for its Portrait, which contained portraits of very significant times in a persons life. The next three c hapters were about Fun and Games for the children. These chapters contained the toys and the games children played and how children contributed to ...

GDI Graphics in Visual Basic .NET Tutorial

GDI Graphics in Visual Basic .NET Tutorial GDI is the way to draw shapes, fonts, images or generally anything graphic in Visual Basic .NET. This article is the first part of a complete introduction to using GDI in Visual Basic .NET. GDI is an unusual part of .NET. It was here before .NET (GDI was released with Windows XP) and it doesnt share the same update cycles as the .NET Framework. Microsofts documentation usually states that Microsoft Windows GDI is an API for C/C programmers into the Windows OS. But GDI also includes the namespaces used in VB.NET for software-based graphics programming. WPF But its not the only graphics software provided by Microsoft, especially since Framework 3.0. When Vista and 3.0 were introduced, the totally new WPF was introduced with it. WPF is a high-level, hardware accelerated approach to graphics. As Tim Cahill, Microsoft WPF software team member, puts it, with WPF you describe your scene using high-level constructs, and we’ll worry about the rest. And the fact that its hardware accelerated means that you dont have to drag down the operation of your PC processor drawing shapes on the screen. Much of the real work is done by your graphics card. Weve been here before, however. Every great leap forward is usually accompanied by a few stumbles backward, and besides, it will take years for WPF to work its way through the zillions of bytes of GDI code. Thats especially true since WPF just about assumes that youre working with a high-powered system with lots of memory and a hot graphics card. Thats why many PCs couldnt run Vista (or at least, use the Vista Aero graphics) when it was first introduced. So this series continues to be available on the site for any and all who continue to need to use it. Good Ol Code GDI isnt something that you can drag onto a form like other components in VB.NET. Instead, GDI objects generally have to be added the old way by coding them from scratch! (Although, VB .NET does include a number of very handy code snippets that can really help you.) To code GDI, you use objects and their members from a number of .NET namespaces. (At the present time, these are actually just wrapper code for Windows OS objects which actually do the work.) Namespaces The namespaces in GDI are: System.Drawing This is the core GDI namespace. It defines objects for basic rendering (fonts, pens, basic brushes, etc.) and the most important object: Graphics. Well see more of this in just a few paragraphs. System.Drawing.Drawing2D This gives you objects for more advanced two-dimensional vector graphics. Some of them are gradient brushes, pen caps, and geometric transforms. System.Drawing.Imaging If you want to change graphical images - that is, change the palette, extract image metadata, manipulate metafiles, and so forth - this is the one you need. System.Drawing.Printing To render images to the printed page, interact with the printer itself, and format the overall appearance of a print job, use the objects here. System.Drawing.Text You can use collections of fonts with this namespace. Graphics Object The place to start with GDI is the  Graphics  object. Although the things you draw show up on your monitor or a printer, the Graphics object is the canvas that you draw on. But the Graphics object is also one of the first sources of confusion when using GDI. The Graphics object is always associated with a particular  device context. So the first problem that virtually every new student of GDI confronts is, How do I  get a Graphics object? There are basically two ways: You can use the  e  event parameter that is passed to the  OnPaint  event with the  PaintEventArgs  object. Several events pass the  PaintEventArgs  and you can use the to refer to the Graphics object that is already being used by the device context.You can use the  CreateGraphics  method for a device context to create a Graphics object. Heres an example of the first method: Protected Overrides Sub OnPaint( _   Ã‚  Ã‚  ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.PaintEventArgs)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Dim g As Graphics e.Graphics   Ã‚  Ã‚  g.DrawString(About Visual Basic vbCrLf _   Ã‚  Ã‚   and GDI vbCrLf A Great Team, _   Ã‚  Ã‚  New Font(Times New Roman, 20), _   Ã‚  Ã‚  Brushes.Firebrick, 0, 0)   Ã‚  Ã‚  MyBase.OnPaint(e) End Sub Click Here to display the illustration Add this into the Form1 class for a standard Windows Application to code it yourself. In this example, a Graphics object is already created for the form  Form1. All your code has to do is create a local instance of that object and use it to draw on the same form. Notice that your code  Overrides  the  OnPaint  method. Thats why  MyBase.OnPaint(e)  is executed at the end. You need to make sure that if the base object (the one youre overriding) is doing something else, it gets a chance to do it. Often, your code works without this, but its a good idea. PaintEventArgs You can also get a Graphics object using the  PaintEventArgs  object handed to your code in the  OnPaint  and  OnPaintBackground methods  of a Form. The  PrintPageEventArgs  passed in a  PrintPage  event will contain a Graphics object for printing. Its even possible to get a Graphics object for some images. This can let you paint right on the image the same way you would paint on a Form or component. Event Handler Another variation of method one is to add an event handler for the  Paint  event for the form. Heres what that code looks like: Private Sub Form1_Paint( _   Ã‚  Ã‚  ByVal sender As Object, _   Ã‚  Ã‚  ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.PaintEventArgs) _   Ã‚  Ã‚  Handles Me.Paint   Ã‚  Ã‚  Dim g As Graphics e.Graphics   Ã‚  Ã‚  g.DrawString(About Visual Basic vbCrLf _   Ã‚  Ã‚   and GDI vbCrLf A Great Team, _   Ã‚  Ã‚  New Font(Times New Roman, 20), _   Ã‚  Ã‚  Brushes.Firebrick, 0, 0) End Sub CreateGraphics The second method to get a Graphics object for your code uses a  CreateGraphics  method that is available with many components. The code looks like this: Private Sub Button1_Click( _   Ã‚  Ã‚  ByVal sender As System.Object, _   Ã‚  Ã‚  ByVal e As System.EventArgs) _   Ã‚  Ã‚  Handles Button1.Click   Ã‚  Ã‚  Dim g Me.CreateGraphics   Ã‚  Ã‚  g.DrawString(About Visual Basic vbCrLf _   Ã‚  Ã‚   and GDI vbCrLf A Great Team, _   Ã‚  Ã‚  New Font(Times New Roman, 20), _   Ã‚  Ã‚  Brushes.Firebrick, 0, 0) End Sub There are a couple of differences here. This is in the  Button1.Click  event because when  Form1  repaints itself in the  Load  event, our graphics are lost. So we have to add them in a later event. If you code this, youll notice that the graphics are lost when  Form1  has to be redrawn. (Mimimize and maximize again to see this.) Thats a big advantage to using the first method. Most references recommend using the first method since your graphics will be repainted automatically. GDI can be tricky!

Zara Fast Fashion From Savvy Systems Coursework

Zara Fast Fashion From Savvy Systems - Coursework Example BBC in a business article described Zara’s advancement into the global market as beating expectations in each quarter (BBC, 2010). Tiplady described the rising of the company past the former leader in the industry, H&M (Tiplady, 2006). She dramatically expressed the rise as beating off the pants from the leader and everyone else. Fox described it as a global achievement story (Fox, 2011). The company’s innovativeness has been hailed as the spine of the Spanish success story (CNN, 2001). The image of the firm has looked incessantly looked up in the global stage. This is convoyed by a steady elevation of revenue indexes. The company’s size trebled from1996 to 2000, and then jumped from $2.43 billion in 2001 to $13.6 billion in 2007. By August 2008, sales overtook Gap, making Inditex the global leader in apparel retailing (Hall, 2008). The growth of the company has been proped by seven other brands, and Zara is unquestionably the firm’s crown jewel and growth engine, accounting for roughly 2/3 of sales (Murphy, 2008), opening a store a day and entering new markets in 68 countries so far. The chain’s profitability is among the highest in the industry (Sull and Turconi, 2008). The growth of the company is deemed to emanate from three innovating characteristics. All analysis reviews cite short lead times, lower volumes and more styles, as the drivers behind the company’s achievements. ... Additionally, the company strives to respond with swiftness to the demands of the market. The company’s visions are to be a part of the customer’s life, achieve a customer’s experience inside its shops and achieve a social action perception. Additionally, the company aims to contribute to the sustainable development of the society and the environment. Situational Analysis The apparel industry is a very dynamic industry. What is in demand today may be junk tomorrow. Unlike other industries, apparel manufacturing is work intensive rather than resource intensive. It is highly subjective to political factors; laws are passed which significantly affect the industry. Other dynamics include changing social trends, market development and global economic trends. Environmental Analysis The environmental analysis utilizes the PEST model. This evaluates the political, economic, social and technological factors affecting the apparel industry (Thompson & Martin 2005, p. 86). T he labor-intensive nature of the industry makes it dependent on such factors as employment laws and consumer protection. The employment laws are significantly complicated in developed countries. Regulations within this law which have hit the industry include the minimum wage and health protection laws. Coupled with globalization, this has led to companies shifting their production to developing nations. Investment in PPE has reduced across the industry. Developing countries have in turn opened up their countries in an attempt to boost FDI. There has been an improvement in the nature of international commerce laws which has attracted many companies to offshore production. One of the most devastating economic factors to the industry is demand. In 2007, demand in the

Business Law and Ethics Final Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Business Law and Ethics Final - Essay Example Treating workers fairly and equally is important. Making them feel that they are fairly treated is even more vital. Perhaps, the freedom for employees, and by extension, for Americans is the greatest contributing force towards the continued country’s prosperity and development. Indeed, our very founding can be traced back on the yearning of equality and freedom. As the economy continues to soar, the labor force and working patterns are also constantly changing. Besides, more enterprises are becoming multinational, and, as a result, more Americans are working abroad. In the light of this, the discussion in this paper explores more on the principles of freedom and equality. As a prelude to the understanding on how the principles of freedom and equality have been applied in American companies in overseas, it is critical to define some of the major terms that constantly feature in the paper. By definition, the term freedom refers to the power to think or act without restraint or hindrance (Pollock, 2003). It stems from the word free, which means not been under the control of anyone or been able to act as one wish. However, one peculiar definition of this term is that freedom is never free. Basically, this means that freedom comes at a cost. For instance, in colonial days, people fought for freedom. On the other hand, equality ensures that individuals (workers) are treated fairly without any discrimination on the basis of sex, race, gender, religion, age, or disability. Harassment, victimization, and bullying are considered as diversity and equality issues (Callinicos, 2000). Freedom is the foundation of our society. In the workplace, giving workers the chance to voice their objectives can be a solid move towards attracting and retaining top talents. Managers should value employee’s freedom and flexibility in the workplace. Freedom in the

Project management Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

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Case Study 1 Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

1 - Case Study Example GE Company, in its effort to remain relevant in the last century, has resorted to modest management practices as a strategy to remain competitive in the business market. This article seeks to examine the management developments that GE Company has applied in the last century. According to Cole (5), the traditional management practices have been phased out by modern management practices. In his theory of management, Cole (7) regards innovation as the core value in modern management strategies. To a large extent, GE has remained innovative in modeling its strategic goals and objectives in the last century. One indicator of innovation in this company is the adoption of employee empowerment stages, which is a dominant strategy in modern management. For instance, the organization has upheld employee training as a way of keeping to at par with changes in worker environment, and apart from planning, the organization has exercised expertise in the implementation of its innovations. Another a ttribute of modern management theory that can be identified in this organization is the use of research management as a tool for overcoming business threats and taking advantage of opportunities. Cole (76) points out that business in the last century has been phased by the forces of competition, and that the only way to survive in the dynamic market research strategies should be employed to identify market opportunities and to initiate differentiation strategies. GE has embarked on corporate research to identify possible areas of business development, which has helped it to remain unique in the energy provision sector. In this regard, it is possible to regard the management development patterns adopted by GE as relevant to the pattern proposed by the management theories. Which of GE’s management innovations seems to draw on a classical management perspective? Which seem to draw on a behavioral management perspective? How does the contingency perspective explain the management changes that GE has made over the years? Explain each of your responses. Classical and Behavioral strategies of management are different schools of thought that seek to optimize productivity in an organization. In classical management, managers seek to maximize output by optimizing the productivity characteristics of employees. GE has employed classical perspective in their innovation strategies by capitalizing on marketing strategies to enhance product flow to the customers. Marketing is a push strategy that aims at rolling out business products to the target customers and is crucial in optimizing organizational productivity. In addition, the organization has capitalized on worker experience to improve their productivity. In fact, the CEO of GE points out that employee in this organization relies on ‘past experience’ to improve their efficiency within the organization. As Griffin (13) explains, the use of classical perspectives is still superior in modern strategic ma nagement strategies. Behavioral perspectives are part of organizational management strategies that pay attention to employee empowerment as a way of aligning employee goals to the organizational goals and strategies. Griffin (14) regards behavioral management as a modern approach to organizational management that is relevant in the dynamic business environment. GE has

The Role of the Clinical Nurse Specialist as an Advance Practice Nurse Research Paper

The Role of the Clinical Nurse Specialist as an Advance Practice Nurse - Research Paper Example The operational scope of clinical nurse specialists is wide, and this offers them a wide scope of coverage in their service delivery. The spectrum of operation includes dealing directly with patients, nursing personnel and the wider organizational structure of management concerned with issues of policy formulation and research implementation. The clinical nurse specialists may thus participate in the direct care of patients or engage in indirect care processes, which affect the care of a wider part of the patient population. Therefore, a clinical nurse specialist could take part in patient evaluation in one instance and in the next instance be part of a team building or overhauling a unit of healthcare professionals by making policies and recommendations on new evidence-based incorporations. The role of the clinical nurse specialist pervades the whole healthcare continuum, which includes interaction with the three important elements of the care system including the patient, nurse and system. These spheres overlap in the care continuum, and the roles of the CNS reaches all these spheres in an effort to improve nursing care and patient outcomes (Newhouse et al., 2011). The only difference in the operational set up is that the roles of the clinical nurse specialist vary subtly as s/he moves from one sphere to another in particular practice instances (Canam, 2005). Purpose of the Clinical Nurse Specialist as an Advance Practice Nurse The

Health Promotion Theory Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

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The Role of the Clinical Nurse Specialist as an Advance Practice Nurse Research Paper

The Role of the Clinical Nurse Specialist as an Advance Practice Nurse - Research Paper Example The operational scope of clinical nurse specialists is wide, and this offers them a wide scope of coverage in their service delivery. The spectrum of operation includes dealing directly with patients, nursing personnel and the wider organizational structure of management concerned with issues of policy formulation and research implementation. The clinical nurse specialists may thus participate in the direct care of patients or engage in indirect care processes, which affect the care of a wider part of the patient population. Therefore, a clinical nurse specialist could take part in patient evaluation in one instance and in the next instance be part of a team building or overhauling a unit of healthcare professionals by making policies and recommendations on new evidence-based incorporations. The role of the clinical nurse specialist pervades the whole healthcare continuum, which includes interaction with the three important elements of the care system including the patient, nurse and system. These spheres overlap in the care continuum, and the roles of the CNS reaches all these spheres in an effort to improve nursing care and patient outcomes (Newhouse et al., 2011). The only difference in the operational set up is that the roles of the clinical nurse specialist vary subtly as s/he moves from one sphere to another in particular practice instances (Canam, 2005). Purpose of the Clinical Nurse Specialist as an Advance Practice Nurse The

The Melody of the Nightingale - an Existential Pathway for Finding Essay

The Melody of the Nightingale - an Existential Pathway for Finding Peace - Essay Example With that said, a close look will be taken into John Keats’ â€Å"Ode to a Nightingale† to highlight his version of transcendent beauty and define how he struck out against the oppression of the aristocracy. The wind blows softly in the distance, rustling autumn leaves across the dirt path. Small, broken branches are strewn about, as if from a recent storm, but the dirt is dry and blows little dust tunnels at the slightest provocation. In eight stanzas, the â€Å"Ode to a Nightingale† by John Keats sets a reader up in this little moment in time to exhibit the pristine beauty of the nightingale in contrast with the harsh reality of his world. Using the power of poetry, Keats is able to become one with the nightingale, to cast off his world of death and despair and enjoy the beauty of the melody for its enchanting quality of escape. In fact, the very â€Å"act of writing the poem has already allowed him to join the nightingale† (Minahan 173). But, by the fin al stanza, his imagination is such that he is struck by a newfound despair when the object of his words takes flight and leaves him. To understand the speaker of the poem’s true despair and the beauty he finds from the melody of the nightingale, an explication will be taken into the words of Keats’ poem as he takes his reader on an emotional journey while highlighting the enchanting power that nature has in enabling the foundation of inner peace. It’s painful, so beautiful a melody that the speaker of the poem is struck by a profound pang upon hearing the nightingale’s song. It’s as though he is experiencing a â€Å"drowsy numbness [that] pains/[his] sense† (lines 1-2). He compares the sound to drinking hemlock (line 2) or taking opiates (line 3) and gives his reader a vision of him staring up at the beautiful nightingale, cursing it for its unendurable ability to be outside his current reality and at peace in some transcendent dimension. By the middle of the stanza, the speaker of the poem is studying the nightingale with solicitous eyes, noting that it must be through â€Å"some melodious plot† (line 8) that the aria can achieve such divine beauty. For the speaker, such a carefree attitude seems an impossibility—an incongruous aspect shining inconceivably in a futile and oppressive world. By the second stanza, the speaker is searching for an intoxicant to escape into the world of the nightingale and enjoy a similar untroubled life. He calls for a â€Å"beaker full of the warm South† (line 15) to immerse himself in a figurative and literal sense, into the song of the nightingale. His mind lingers over the â€Å"beaded bubbles winking at the brim† (line 17) that he could become one with nature, allowing him to â€Å"fade away into the forest dim† (line 20). In the third stanza, he is taken over by the promise of his intoxicant, waiting to leave behind â€Å"what thou among the leaves has never known† (line 22). In words tainted by despair, he defines this world as one full of sorrow and strife, with â€Å"weariness†¦fever†¦and fret† (line 23), one in which man endures the suffering of illness, hardship, and worry until, in the end, his life culminates in a thankless death. It is a world that beauty cannot even see, where the nightingale â€Å"cannot keep her lustrous eyes† (line 29). It is a world only glimpsed through the melodious chimes of the

Economics Essay Example for Free

Economics Essay 1. What did Keynes think some of the chief benefits and defects of capitalism were? Keynesian theory which was developed by Keynes advocates for a mixed economy where the government and private sector are important. In Keynesian model economy is assumed to be below full employment.   Keynesian argues that the aggregate demand for good which seek to increase employment of resources in the country is the driving force of an economy.   According to Keynes, the government’s role is to reduced unemployment rate and deflation level to enhance increased output in an economy (Baqliano and Bertola, 2003). Capitalism developed by Max argues that the poor in capitalistic society are so because of exploitation by the merchants who own the means of production and distribution.   The merchants are said to exploit the poor through low wages.   Marx argued that the value of any economic good should be determined by the labor used to manufacture.   Any cost that is higher than the cost of labor represents the surplus which is the profits the capitalists realize from exploitation of their laborers.   Marx believes that all means of production should be owned by the government or should control by the government.   Marx advocated for socialist government that owns the means of production or democratic administration that control them. Economists who include Keynes deny the claims of Marx that labor is the only measure for surplus.   According to Keynes who support capitalism, employers and employees are guided by the prevailing market wages hence employers offer employment to willing workers. John Keynes believes in capitalistic economy and called on the government to stimulate it but not eliminate it.   However, Keynes site defect in capitalism where he argues that capitalism does not promote full employment, wealth and incomes which the model seeks to achieve in the long run. Keynesian ideologies have been employed by politician but both abuse of the model, inflation has resulted.   This is evident with government manipulating policies to make economic conditions favorable during election which has led to high inflation in most state.   Action by government leads to reduce real wages and real incomes which do comply with Keynes model.   Capitalism has led to segregation of the society into strata according to income and wealth owned.   Most politician use Keynes ideologies by making promises that will earn them votes.   Implementations of the promises require higher taxation which reduces income of individuals (Baqliano and Bertola, 2003). Keynesian advocate for full employment which should be accompanied buy steady controlled inflation level as an effective means of guiding the economy in he interests of capital.   Keynes argue that real wages can be allowed to fall, government expenditure on schools, hospitals and infrastructure can be reduced as anti-inflationary measures and this inflationary measure should be continued until employment level desired is achieved. According to Keynes denied that unemployment is contributed by capitalism. However Keynes argued that unemployment in capitalism is brought by inadequate demand of personal articles of consumption and productive articles of consumption.   Keynes argue that inadequate demand is as a result of the workers tending to accumulate part of their incomes through savings and the inadequate demand   for productive consumption is brought by failure of people to invest their capital profitability which would lead to increase in output and hence reduced unemployment. Keynes advocates that employment can be increased by lowering real wages through inflation introduction and decreasing rate of interest.   Increased rate of interest will encourage investment of capital which will increase aggregate demand.   The government should then expand its budget to allow mass investment. Consumptive demand can be increased through increased extravagance of the ruling class; investing in war prone areas and increased non-productive expenses by the state.   The increased non-productive expenses to attain full employment of the population will actually lead to diminished living standards of laborers. Keynes in his support for capitalism argued that the workers should not be assisted to rise above the capitalists because capitalists who consist of intellectuals are the quality of life and they carry seed of achievement.   Keynes argued against socialism where the government owns the production. Keynes in support of capitalism advocates the governments to support monopoly.   The wage freezing policy by the federal government in Middle East helped increase the profits of the monopolies while lowering the living standards of the workers. Keynes argue that inflation bring about equilibrium position I n capitalism.   In Capitalism â€Å"Boom lead to increased profits and hence increased prices.   Production expands up to overproduction point where equilibrium is achieved through â€Å"boom bursting. 2. What is the `identification problem` in using econometric analysis? Identification problem in ecometrics involves solving unique values of the parameters of the structural model from the values of the parameters of the reduced form of the model.   Reduced form of a model presents a model where endogenous variables are expressed functions of exogenous variables. For example prices in a marker are determined by supply and demand, hence must establish the demand and supply functions.   However, the equation obtained by regressing quantity on market price cannot be identified specifically as either supply or demand function.   In special cases, we use regression to get demand function.   While holding supply function constant or vice versa, but cannot obtain regression while accommodating fluctuation changes in both (Baqliano and Bertola, 2003).

Significance Of The Sermon Of The Mount Religion Essay

Significance Of The Sermon Of The Mount Religion Essay In this essay, I am going to explain the significance of the Sermon of the Mount and how it relates to the rest of the teachings of Jesus. I will start by defining the meaning of the term Sermon of the Mount, the significance of the sermon of the mount and the structure of the Sermon of the Mount in Matthew 5:3 7; 27. Furthermore, I will discuss the key theological themes in the Sermon of the Mount. I will conclude by reflecting on the centrality of the Sermon of the Mount to the other teachings of Jesus in the gospels. WHAT IS THE SERMON OF THE MOUNT? The term The Sermon of the Mount originated from the title of Augustines commentary on Matthew 5 7, De Sermone Domini in Monte, which was published in 391 396 AD. Matthew 5 7 became well known as the Sermon on the Mount in the 16th Century. The modern term of Matthew 5 7 is Sermon on the plain. This term is used mainly to differentiate between Lukes shorter version of the sermon of the mount from Matthews version. There are two versions of the Sermon on the Mount: Matthews version Matthew 5: 3 7:27 which consists of 106 verses. Lukes version Sermon on the plain Luke 6:20-49.  [1]   THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT ETHICAL TEACHING The gospel of Matthew provided the Jewish Christians with evidences to ascertain their faith in Jesus as the Messiah. Jesus in the gospel of Matthew introduced the kingdom of heaven. Hence, the sermon of the mount is of great significance because it expounds the ethics of the Kingdom of heaven which was introduced by Christ Jesus. Therefore, the sermon of the mount summarised the code of conduct in this new kingdom of heaven. Furthermore, the sermon of the mount set the standards of discipleship in the kingdom of heaven. In this sermon, Jesus showed his disciples how to live the life of the kingdom. This kingdom way of living lays great emphasis on the inner life which is in contrast to the outward workings of religious activities of the Sadducees and the Pharisees.  [2]  In addition, Jesus stated that, the ethical conduct of the disciples must exceed that of the scribes and the Pharisees before they can enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:20). Henceforth, the disciples of Jes us are called to a superior ethical conduct which is by the Grace of God. This ideal character of Discipleship in the kingdom of heaven is achievable by the infusion of the gift of righteousness in the spirit of the New Testament believer. THE STRUCTURE OF THE SERMON OF THE MOUNT The Beatitudes forms the main introduction of the sermon of the mount. The central section of the sermon is from Matthew 5:17 to Matthew 7:12. This section opens and closes with Reference to The Law and The Prophets. The sermon ends by an epilog in Matthew 7:13 27.  [3]   THE KEY THEOLOGICAL THEMES OF THE SERMON OF THE MOUNT 1) The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3 12) The Beatitudes are named from the Latin word Beatus meaning blessed. These are the rewards from the blessings and responsibilities of discipleship. The Greek term means happy, fortunate  [4]  . In Matthew, there are nine beatitudes and four in Lukes version of the Sermon on the Mount. The word Makarios is at the beginning of the beatitudes. It means happiness which is as a result of God given salvation  [5]  . Jesus revealed in the beatitudes, the essential nature of true happiness. This happiness is achieved by relying and depending wholly on God.  [6]   Andrew Perriman points out that the beatitude described a marginalized group within Israel that will benefit from future turn of events. His view established the eschatological dimension of the rewards of true discipleship in the kingdom of heaven  [7]   Matthew 5:14 states You are the light of the world. A city that is set a hill can not be hidden. In John 8:12, Jesus said I am the light of the world, he that follows me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life This teaching in the Sermon of The mount has a direct comparison with Jesus teaching in the gospel of John. Jesus expects His disciples to shine in the midst of the darkness of this world. Hence, as Jesus is the light, the disciples will eventually become the light of the world. 2) The Law and the Prophets (Matthew 5: 17 20) The new ethical standards put forward by Christ deals with the motives behind the actions of men. In accordance with Christs Standard, sin begins in the mind and in the will of men  [8]   In addition, Jesus said he has come to fulfil the Law and the Prophets. His ethical instructions reveal how the Law of the Torah will operate under the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, the Law and the Prophets are fulfilled in the inner life of motives behind the actions of men. The kingdom of heaven is within the heart of the New Testament believer. This kingdom is expected to produce corresponding actions that reflects the inner life of peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. 3) The Antitheses (Matthew 5: 21 48) The structure of the sayings of Jesus within Matthew 5: 21 48, have the same pattern: You have heard that it was said (by God) to those of old à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ but I say to youà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ The style of Jesus words repeats itself in six paragraphs. Three of the six paragraphs have similar parallels with Lukes Sermon on the Plain. The phrase but I say to you seems to suggest that the sayings of Jesus is in opposition to the scripture of the Torah. Therefore, Matthew 5 : 21 48 is often referred to as the Antitheses. Matthew is known for the antithetical structure of his writings. However, this antithetical style of writing can also be found in Luke 6: 27 But I say to you who hear à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. According to Davies and Allison, the antithesis has two primary functions: It shows the kind of attitude and behaviour that is required by Jesus in the life of His disciples. The demands of the ethical standards of Jesus surpassed those of the Torah without contradicting the Torah. For example, one can abstain from committing adultery and still lusts in his heart  [9]   4) The Golden Rule and the Greatest commandment (Matthew 7:12, Luke 10:25 28, Matthew 22: 34 40). Whatever you wish that others do to you, do so to them. This statement has been known as the Golden Rule since the 18th century. There are various parallels to this statement in Greco Romans, oriental and Jewish writings. The Golden Rule in Matthew 7: 12 according to Jesus is Law and The Prophets. That is, it sums up the whole essence of the Law and The Prophets in the Torah. The teaching of Jesus on the two greatest commandments in Mark 12: 28-34 love God and love your neighbour as yourself. In Matthew 22:40, Jesus said on this two commandments hang all the Law and The Prophets. The Golden rule and the love commandments are the very essence of the scriptural teachings of Jesus. Furthermore, the Golden Rule in the sermon of the mount is the bedrock of all the teachings of Jesus as it is revealed in the gospel account of Luke, Mark, and John. In summary, the Golden rule in the sermon of the Mount has direct relationship to the major teachings of Christ in the gospels.  [10]   THE EPILOG: TWO WAYS The Epilog of the Sermon Of the Mount contains a series of contrasts. It starts with the contrast between the gate and the way which leads to death or life. There are other examples of contrast between two ways in Deuteronomy 11:26, 30:15, Jeremiah 21:8 and many Jewish and Christian writings. The Epilog summarizes the picture of the beauty in the life of anyone who makes the right decision in life.  [11]   CONCLUSION In this essay, I have attempted to show the significance of the Sermon Of the Mount and its relationship with the other teaching of Christ in the gospels. I approach this essay by exploring the theological themes in the Sermon on the Mount. The Golden Rule in the Sermon on the Mount is the foundation of the Law and the Prophets. This rule parallels with the two greatest commandments, which is Love the Lord your God with all your heart and love your neighbour as yourself. In conclusion, the Sermon on the Mount summarizes the totality of the ethical teachings of Christ in the gospel.

The Theme of Hope in One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich Essay

The Theme of Hope in One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich      Ã‚  Ã‚   In Alexander Solzhenitsyn's novel One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich, the strong themes of hope and perseverance are undercut by the realization that for Ivan there is little or no purpose in life.   This is not to say that the themes of hope and perseverance do not exist in the novel.   There are numerous instances in the novel where Shukhov is filled with hope. However, these moments of hope amidst the banal narrative of the novel raise the interesting question:   Are these moments of hope pointless?   The answer to this question may lie more in the individual human nature of the reader than in Solzhenitsyn's literary technique.   Whether pointless or not, Solzhenitsyn offers many instances in the novel where the themes of hope and perseverance are evident.   The glimpses of hope which Ivan Denisovich sees includes the few moments after reveille that the prisoners have to themselves, respecting his fellow prisoners, taking pride in a job well done, and enjoying simple food and tobacco.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Solzhenitsyn wrote One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich in such a fashion that the brutality of the Soviet labor camps is not emphasized.   Instead of focusing on the brutality of the camps, Solzhenitsyn focused on one day in the life of a very ordinary prisoner.   However, the fact that Ivan Denisovich Shukhov is such an ordinary man and is still able to find hope in the most menial of tasks is inspiring.   Joseph Frank states that "Solzhenitsyn's fundamental theme is precisely the affirmation of character, the ability to survive in a nightmare world where mora... ... Research Inc., 1992. Lucid, Luellen.   ^à ®Solzhenitsyn^à ±s Rhetorical Revolution.^à ¯   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Twentieth Century Literature 23 (1977):   498-517.   Rpt in   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   ^à ®Solzhenitsyn.^à ¯Ã‚   World Literary Criticism:   1500 to the   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Present.   Ed. James P. Draper.   Detroit:   Gale Research   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Inc., 1992. Remnick, David.   Ressurrection:   The Struggle for a New Russia.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   New York:   Random House Inc., 1998 Solzhenitsyn, Alexander.   One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Trans. Max Hayward and Ronald Hingely.   New York:   Bantam   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Doubleday Dell Publishing Group Inc., 1990. Terras, Victor.   A History of Russian Literature.   New Haven:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Yale University Press, 1991. Wilson, Edmund.   A Window on Russia:   For the Use of Foreign   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Readers.   New York:   Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1943.   

Are humans naturally good or naturally evil Essay

Are humans naturally good or naturally evil? Paul Bloom’s (psychologist) answer is yes. Most adults know wrong from right, for the excep*on of psychos. The heroes who come to the rescue, the ones that are disappointed, by some of the things that occur in our society and the act of kindness. There is a push to make the wrongdoers pay for what they commi-ed, help the needy, also emo*onal responses that revolve around morality. Research in laboratories, prove the claim that sense of good and evil are bred in the bone. Babies and toddlers can judge others ac*ons based on whether they are evil or good. They feel the same way about evil and bad and react the same way as adults. They also like Nikki Daniel 2/12/14 1st current event of quarter 3 per 2 those who do too. Based on their behavior, their judgments and ac*ons we can tell what they like and dislike. There is limit to morality. Babies start slow and then start seeing themselves as a group. Most humans obtain general moral ideas. Our ac*ons fall low compare to our moral principles. Communica*ng with people with the same morals and values as you is a big part of growing up to be a good person. This research might change the way that many people feel about their babies and children. Some think babies are bad seeds others think they are psychopaths. Our surrounding can change our natural moral senses. Understanding moral psychology can make the world a be-er place. The Nikki Daniel 2/12/14 1st current event of quarter 3 per 2 science of baby morality is all about human natures best and worst. It is actually pre-y goal that babies and li-le kids can tell the di5erence between good from bad. I think with people with be-er morality, the world would be a be-er place. Many people believe in one thing and do something completely di5erent. I learned something new. Honestly, I thought babies’ brain was like a size of a peanut and did not know right from wrong. I knew they could sense when someone is a good person or bad person but I did not know about all of this.

Heart Disease

Heart Disease Kayla Tusa Adelphi University Abstract This paper is aimed to view heart disease and show the effects that it can have on the person who has it. The points made in this paper will show what heart disease does to the body. It shows symptoms and treatments that are used with this disease. It mainly shows the facts about heart disease. The illness in my family that I feel poses the greatest threat to me is heart disease. Heart disease has been in my father’s family for a few generations. My father has heart disease and has had two heart attacks during his life.My father had to have quintuple bypass surgery after his second heart attack. My grandfather and great grandfather on my father’s side also both had heart disease and passed away from heart attacks. Since I have all of the knowledge I am aware of this disease and the effects it can have. I also realize the risk I have and take precautions as often as I can. The full name for heart disease is coronary he art disease. This is when there are blockages in the coronary arteries. These blockages are usually cause by atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is the buildup of cholesterol and fatty deposits, also called plaques, on the inner walls of the coronary arteries† (A, 2). When these blockages start to form issues come about. Since the arteries are being blocked, it can result in less blood traveling to the heart. If the blood traveling to the heart is restricted then this can cause problems to arise. If the heart does not get enough blood that means it is also not getting enough oxygen and nutrients. One signal that shows this is occurring is chest pains. The name of these chest pains is angina.Another problem that can occur from this blood restriction is a heart attack. A heart attack happens when the heart needs more energy than can be supplied to it from the blood supply it is receiving. There are many factors and causes that heart disease can have. â€Å"The most common risk fac tors include smoking, family history, hypertension, obesity, diabetes, high alcohol consumption, lack of exercise, stress, and hyperlipidemia† (A, 8). Studies have shown that about 54% of cases are linked to smoking, 20% of cases are linked to obesity, and 7-12% of cases are linked to lack of exercise (A, 9).I have asked my father what the causes have been for his heart disease. The causes of my father’s heart disease were smoking, family history, and stress. My father is not able to control family history. He also cannot control when he has stress but he has made efforts to manage his stress better. One thing he has done is that he quit smoking after his second heart attack. He knew that he needed to do this in order to not make his disease worse. A person can also have a higher risk of having heart disease if they have a history of high blood pressure in their family (A, 13-14).There are symptoms of having heart disease. Unfortunately these symptoms are not always not iceable. Sometimes the symptoms are obvious and sometimes there are no symptoms at all. In the early stages of heart disease it is likely for there to be no symptoms. Angina is the most common symptom of heart disease. This is why chest pains are seen as being very serious. The chest pains are felt when the heart is not getting what it needs to function properly. The pain that one experiences differs depending on the person (B, 14-15).This is very dangerous because when the heart is not getting what it needs there may be pains in other parts of the body. The pains do not always occur in the person’s chest. Pain may be felt in the neck, arms, stomach, upper back, or under the sternum (B, 16-17). This is dangerous because one may not realize what the cause of the pain is and may not get the proper treatment for it. When my dad had his second heart attack he did not have chest pains. He had pains in his upper back and was not planning on going to the hospital. He ended up changi ng his mind and was lucky he did because he needed immediate care. Women, elderly people, and people with diabetes are more likely to have symptoms other than chest pain, such as: fatigue, shortness of breath, and general weakness† (B, 20-23). Heart disease cannot be cured, but it has been proved that people can reduce it by making some changes in their lifestyle. One thing listed is a plant-based diet which was shown by Caldwell Esselstyn and Colin Campbell. It states that this diet is â€Å"effective as a treatment of coronary disease, and generalized atherosclerosis† (A, 16-17). Some other changes that can help are weight control, not smoking, avoiding trans fats, consuming fish il, decreasing psychosocial stress, and exercising. When exercising, it is most helpful to do aerobic exercises like walking, jogging, or swimming because it can help decrease blood pressure. When having heart disease, people may take medications as well. One type of medication that is used i s a daily intake of aspirin. Other medications used are usually ones that lower cholesterol. If someone with heart disease has enough blockages in their arteries, they may need to have coronary artery bypass surgery. This surgery is also known more commonly as open heart surgery.This surgery helps clear the blockages that are in the arteries. Another option for treating blockages is coronary angioplasty. This is more commonly known as stents and it is non-surgical (A, 27-29). Multiple tests must be done before heart disease can be diagnosed. Some of the tests that are done are: coronary angiography, echocardiogram, electrocardiogram, electron-beam computed tomography, exercise stress test, heart CT scan, and a nuclear stress test. Coronary angiography is â€Å"an invasive test that evaluates the heart arteries under x-ray† (C, 29). An echocardiogram allows doctors to see the heart beating, and to see the heart valves and other structures of the heart† (D, 14-15). Electr on-beam computed tomography is used to look for calcium. Sometimes there is calcium in the lining of the arteries which increases the chance of getting heart disease. â€Å"An exercise stress test is a screening tool used to test the effect of exercise on your heart† (E, 1). A Heart CT scan is â€Å"an imaging method that uses x-rays to create detailed pictures of the heart and its blood vessels† (F, 1-2).A nuclear stress test is performed to see the blood flow is to the heart both when the body is resting and when it is active. Heart attacks are likely to occur when someone has heart disease. â€Å"Most heart attacks are caused by a blood clot that blocks one of the coronary arteries. The coronary arteries bring blood and oxygen to the heart. If the blood flow is blocked, the heart is starved of oxygen and the heart cells die† (G, 3-4). The substance that could block these arteries is plaque. This is the most common cause for a heart attack. When someone has a heart attack the cause of the heart attack cannot always be determined.Heart attacks can happen at many different times. Some of these times are, â€Å"when you are resting or asleep, after a sudden increase in physical activity, when you are active outside in cold weather, or after sudden or severe emotional or physical stress, including an illness† (G, 10-15). Heart attacks can come suddenly and can cause a lot of damage, so it is very important that they are dealt with right away. As soon as someone thinks they may be having issues they should get help and not wait. This is because with heart attacks, the patient is more likely to die within the first few hours of having the heart attack.Some other symptoms of a heart attack that have not been stated are anxiety, cough, fainting, light-headedness, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, and sweating (G, 30-37). Heart attacks with no symptoms are known as â€Å"silent heart attacks† and are dangerous because the person has no signs. When someone goes to the hospital for a heart attack they will be cared for in many different ways. The patient is first hooked up to a monitor so that the doctor is able to see how their heart is beating.The patient also receives oxygen because it helps relieve the heart and takes stress off of the heart because it doesn’t have to work as hard. The patient is also giving an IV because this gives medications and nutrients to the patient. Some people may receive a drug such as morphine in order to reduce chest pains. Another medication that can be given is aspirin. The medication that is administered to the patient depends on what is safe for the patient. If the patient has abnormal heartbeats then they may need electric shocks in an attempt to fix these (G, 57-62).Heart disease is the number one killer of men and women. Heart disease is deadly and can take someone’s life before they know they are in any danger. My great gr andfather had heart disease and passed away after having a heart attack. My grandfather passed away after having a heart attack as well. He was having a normal day and doing his day to day routine when he had his heart attack. He did not speak of any symptoms and had a sudden deadly heart attack. My father has had two heart attacks in his lifetime. He went to the hospital for his first heart attack because he was having chest ains. He had his second heart attack he went to the hospital because he had pains in his back. Soon after being there he found out he had five arteries blocked and needed to have immediate surgery. The recovery took a very long time for him, but he has made some changes in his lifestyle for the better. Heart disease is a serious illness. It is a disease that has been in my family for generations. I am scared because I feel I am at risk of getting this disease. Although I am nervous I am also very informed on the topic and what steps I can take to try to prevent this disease.I am very cautious and try to shape my life around preventing heart disease from entering it. Works Cited a- http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Coronary_disease#cite_note-Prevent_and_Reverse_Heart_Disease-11 b- http://www. ncbi. nlm. nih. gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0004449/ c- http://www. nlm. nih. gov/medlineplus/ency/article/007115. htm d- http://www. nlm. nih. gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003869. htm e- http://www. nlm. nih. gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003878. htm f- http://www. nlm. nih. gov/medlineplus/ency/article/007344. htm g- http://www. nlm. nih. gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000195. htm