Journal opinion article Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Journal opinion article - Essay Example In earlier years, the government followed the policy of increased government expenditure and public debt in order to boost the aggregate demand in the economy of the country. The fiscal policy of the government embraced budget deficits in order to fuel the GDP growth rates of the country. An examination of the demand supply curve would help to explain the previous fiscal policy of the government. With the increase in government spending, the flow of money in the economy increased leading to higher purchasing power which boosted the demand of the market. Thus the demand line shifted upwards as shown in the graphical representation. In order to maintain equilibrium in the markets, the private investments and production in the economy rose thereby resulting in increased GDP growth rates. As a result of the increase in demand against the prevailing supply in the market, the prices of goods and services also increased. With the occurrence of financial recession, the production level in th e economy fell and thus due to the fall of supply in comparison to the demand, inflation cropped up. The slowdown of the economy of US resulted in job cuts and increase in unemployment rates which cropped up to even 9.1% in the periods after the financial crisis. Along with the plunge in economic performance, the displacement in the position of equilibrium resulted in the hike in prices of goods and services. This prompted a change in the policies of the government of US. The occurrence of economic depression highlighted the drawbacks of Keynesian economic policies of increasing government expenditure in order to boost the demand of the economy. In doing so, the US government incurred a deficit of $ 1 trillion (Elwell 50). Thus the fiscal policies adopted by the US government were framed with an objective to achieve economic consolidation and reduce budgetary deficits. After the presidential election of 2012 in US, the democrat government in US adopted the policy of reducing the gov ernment expenditures in order to control the budgetary deficits. The government decided to impose cuts on the military budgets while spending on areas like health care and education. The budgetary deficits have been reduced and it is forecasted that the government would keep the deficit under control in near future. In order to stabilize the economic scenario of the country and to neutralize the effect of decline in government spending, the revenue collection of the government was also decreased by adopting fiscal policies of tax reduction. This fiscal policy of the government is likely to continue in future till the time the economic position of the country is revived. The taxes have earned the highest revenues for the country through ages. The government strategically adopted the policy of reducing the collections through taxes in order to maintain a balance with the reduction of government spending. Leaving the conventional path of boosting private investments though government e xpenditures, the US government focused on the growth of the middle class and the labor markets, thereby encouraging the services industry. In order to reduce unemployment in the country, the government has brought new legislations on outsourcing. The unemployment rates have decreased comparatively post 2012 from 8.3% to 7.6%. In order to gain economic revival, the government has almost doubled its exports in order to tap the opportunities of overseas markets. The growth in exports of

Qvc Case Analysis Essay Example for Free

Qvc Case Analysis Essay Case QVC Author: NA HG495 – Case Analysis Instructor: NA Abstract This case analysis will be focused on the company QVC (Quality, Value, and Convenience). We will perform an analysis review, which, will provide a comprehensive insight into the company’s historical and current business structures, strategies and efficiencies in their operations. It will include a detailed SWOT Analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) (Humphrey) and the primary activities of the Value Chain Analysis (Porter), to provide greater insight into the firms’ competitive advantage. These key concepts will be used to analyze QVC’s business model, define potential challenges and initiate a plan of execution. We will then recommend solutions such as advocating products with higher profit margins, finding evolving technologies and untapped markets and streamlining logistics. These strategies would expand the customer base and create higher ROI (Return of Investment), positioning the company towards timely growth. Introduction: QVC is a multimedia retailer, specializing in televised home shopping, broadcasting in five countries (US, UK, Germany, Japan and, Italy), 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to over 90 million households in the United States and 160 million homes worldwide. They offer a wide range of products with over 1500 major brands and 50,000 products, including beauty, fashion and accessories, jewelry, craft and leisure, home electronics, garden, and do-it-yourself (DIY), and clearance goods. The company has store operations in the US, which includes Delaware and Pennsylvania. QVC also has a lucrative website called iQVC (www. qvc. com) that generates over 1 billion of sales on its Internet operations. Since it was launched in 1986; QVC has rapidly grown to become the largest television shopping network. By 2006, its reach had extended to over 95 percent of all U. S. cable homes, as well as, over 25 million satellite homes. It shipped over 140 million packages during 2006 to customers around the world, resulting in almost $7. 1 billion in sales and over 1 billion operating profit. Sales were made to over 10 million customers, who watched its shows across the US, UK, Germany, Japan and Italy. Problem: Doug Rose, QVC’s vice president of merchandising brand development, claims that the interactivity in all aspects of the firm’s business and operations, including its television shopping channel, will need to become more pronounced. Making it easier for customers to act on what they see. QVC believes that it still has a lot of room to grow, since only about 2% to 3% of its television viewers currently purchase at any given time. Bringing that percentage higher is the main problem that affects the major revenue stream and would require an internal/external analysis (balance scorecard) to bring in new viewers/customers to purchase their products. There are other challenges that can attribute to generating more revenue, such as, selling products with higher margins and offering shopping channels to customers outside North America. They could also add more interactive features that would allow more access.

Tennysons Merlin and Vivien Essay -- Lord Alfred Tennyson Papers

Tennyson's Merlin and Vivien Known as one of Victorian England's finest poets, Lord Alfred Tennyson epitomized the agony and despondency of the degradation of one's character. His masterpiece, The Idylls of the King, explicates the grand scheme of corruption of the Authurian age while simultaneously paralleling Tennyson's own internal struggles. A most intriguing chapter of The Idylls, "Merlin and Vivien" portrays the manipulative Vivien, identified as pure evil and hatred, as her corruptive beauty leads to Merlin's self-destruction. The Victorian era, from the coronation of Queen Victoria in 1837 until her death in 1901, was an era of several unsettling social developments that forced writers more than ever before to take positions on the immediate issues animating the rest of society. Thus, although romantic forms of expression in poetry and prose continued to dominate English literature throughout much of the century, the attention of many writers was directed, sometimes passionately, to such issues as the growth of English democracy, the education of the masses, the progress of industrial enterprise and the consequent rise of a materialistic philosophy, and the plight of the newly industrialized worker. In addition, the unsettling of religious belief by new advances in science, particularly the theory of evolution and the historical study of the Bible, drew other writers away from the immemorial subjects of literature into considerations of problems of faith and truth. Tennyson's writing displays evidence of doubt and concern towards England's government, both present and past. His distinctive style can be differentiated from many Victorian poets by diction and syntax alone. Also, Tennyson can b... ... harmony. His poem "Merlin and Vivien" of The Idylls of the King displays Merlin's self-chosen downfall in exchange for the temptations of Vivien, the manipulative evil. "For Merlin, overtalked and overworn,/ Had yielded, told her all the charm, and slept." (ll.963-964) Bibliography: Works Cited Culler, Dwight. The Poerty of Tennyson. London: Yale UP, 1997. 238-239. Hain, Donald. Tennyson's Language. Toronto: Toronto UP, 1991. 144-148. Hellstrom, Ward. On the Poems of Tennyson. Gainsville: University of Florida Press, 1972. 117-118. Kincaid, James. The Major Poems of Tennyson: The Comic and Ironic Patterns. London: Yale UP, 1975. 177-182. Marshall, George. A Tennyson Handbook. New York: Twayne Publishers, 1963. 140-141. Reed, John. Perception and Design in Tennyson's Idylls of the King. Athens: Ohio UP, 1969. 48-58.

Essays on Death and Suicide - Death of My Father :: Example Personal Narratives

Death of My Father The most significant and life changing experience in my life was when my dad died two years ago. It really awakened me to how the world works and how fragile life is. I remember the day perfectly. I was working with my guitar teacher, George at Nick Rail Music, when my dad passed away in a car crash at Mussel Shoals. Later we learned that his heart had stopped while he was driving on the freeway due to an infection in his heart. Therefore his car went out of control when he lost consciousness, and drifted into the oncoming traffic. Unbeknownst to my mom and me, we went home and I went to my friend Land's house, who lived downstairs in the condo complex that we lived in at the time. We spent the entire afternoon together and surprisingly my mom didn't even call me up for dinner, so I stayed with them and we had a barbecue. I remember sitting on the bench eating a grilled Portobello mushroom, relaxing with Land and his parents, and thinking how great life was. After dinner Land's mom went off somewhere, I wasn't sure where, but I just figured she went for a Pepsi run as usual. I stayed and listened to music while Land worked on his guitar. Then I got the expected call to go back upstairs. So I said goodnight and went on my way. My mom sounded lost and very calm on the phone, not her usual happy self. Wondering what was happening I slowly opened the door to see my mom and Land's mom, Carol, sitting together on the blue and white couches. My mom asked me to sit down, so I sat between them while my mother began to explain how my dad had been in a car accident earlier that afternoon. "His car veered into the oncoming traffic and was hit from the side...he didn't survive." I remember at that moment Carol clenching my shoulder so much it hurt, but I was numb to the pain, we all were. I didn't cry. None of us did. We were unable to comprehend how this could possibly be true. My dad had gone to work that morning seemingly fine.

Genetically modified organism Essay

Genetically modifying foods might seem very unorthodox with the changing of traits and genes within the foods, but genetically modifying foods does not hurt the consumer in any way. Earlier in the 1990’s, genetically modified foods were announced by the Food and Drug Administration to not be â€Å"inherently dangerous†. However, when a type of transgenic corn was pulled from the market when it was mistakenly entered into the open food supply in 2000 that was not fit for human consumption, it led to growing concerns of the safety of consuming genetically modified foods. These foods are not only safe, but transformative. Agricultural biotechnology has lessened the amount of chemical pesticides and herbicides used in these foods. This science has been making important contributions to the relief of world hunger, genetically modified foods are obviously safe to consume. Genetically modified foods are definitely safe and nutritious because if the consumption of genetically modified foods posed a health threat, we would have known it by now. The biotechnology within the foods has made it possible to have a safe consumption. Genetically modified foods have never been proven to be harmful to humans. â€Å"Genetically modified (GM) food has become so common in the U. S. that most people do not even know when they are consuming it† (â€Å"Update: Genetically Modified Food†, 2008). If the foods were harmful, people would be getting sick all the time since most of the time we don’t even know that we are consuming it. â€Å"The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) declared that GM foods were not ‘inherently dangerous’† (ProQuest Staff, â€Å"At Issue: Genetically Modified Foods†, 2013). The FDA is a huge association that regulates the purity and safety of foods, drugs, and cosmetics. If they say that the GM foods are safe, then they are definitely safe. Genetically modified foods are safe for the environment. â€Å"Most GM crops have been modified to be either herbicide- or insect-resistant†¦because the plants themselves are poisonous to insects, farmers do not need to spray their crops with pesticides, which harm the environment. Biotechnicians also say modifications like those lead to more efficient farming and, in turn, result in higher crop yields† (â€Å"Update: Genetically Modified Food†, 2008). Since farmers do not need to spray their crops with pesticides, they don’t damage the earth, making genetically modified foods safe. â€Å"By raising the oil content of other plants non-petroleum, organic lubricants can be harvested, reducing dependence on fossil fuel† (â€Å"Modified Food May Enrich Our Health†, 1999). Less fossil fuel will be produced, making the genetically modified foods safe for the earth. Not everyone is for genetically modifying foods, though. According to the article, â€Å"Genetically Modified Food Should Be Banned†, products of the biotech industry cannot be considered safe because there has only been one human health study published in 2004 called â€Å"The Newcastle Study† (Andy Rees, â€Å"Genetically Modified Food Should Be Banned†, 2003). Having only one published story of the health effects of genetically modified foods is a legitimate reason to want to ban the cultivation of the GM crops, but from a scientific perspective, there really should not be a concern of GM foods being more harmful compared to the non GM foods. Genetically modified have no scientific evidence of not being safe. GM crops can contribute to a great future for all people, but if the cultivation of GM crops were to be banned, no research could be done to find the positives and negatives of GM crops. According to the article, â€Å"Genetically Modified Food Should Not be Banned, but Carefully Monitored†, some crops that are genetically modified to be resistant to maybe herbicide or pests are exposed to a lot less of the chemical contaminations than most of the foods we eat are (Conor Meade, â€Å"Genetically Modified Food Should Not be Banned, but Carefully Monitored†, 2003). So, it is possible that GM food is not bad for us at all. And although GM crops are not the solution for the sicknesses of the world, if the technology is handled by publicly funded institutions, they can find possible ways to modify the foods to create a much greater future for the people unable to consume them. Genetically modified foods are definitely safe and nutritious because if the consumption of genetically modified foods posed a health threat, we would have known it by now. Because of the incapability to prove that GM foods are definitely neither safe nor unsafe, the issue will remain controversial. People will always be uncertain about conducting research of the topic because of that, but if it remains like this, foods will not be able to be modified to help the health of others by creating allergy-resistant products, and we will never be able to find any more information about the GM crops making them always remain a health risk mystery. In addition, GM crops could be very beneficial and make a great future for all people. But without careful and frequent study and research, proper decisions about the cultivation and use of GM crops can never be made. Research on GM crops by public institutions is absolutely necessary in order to find more information about the issue. Without this research, a ban on GM crops is definitely not the best idea. Since genetically modified foods have been on market shelves for over twenty years and there has been no proof that they hurt anyone, it is safe to assume that no one will have a late health consequence from digesting a GM food they had over a decade ago. Instead of banning the research and cultivation of the GM foods, research should be accepted to be searched about the topic because eventually the GM food industry could do wonders. Works Cited Meade, Conor. â€Å"Genetically Modified Food Should Not Be Banned, but Carefully Monitored. † Genetically Engineered Foods. Ed. Nancy Harris. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2003. At Issue. Rpt. from â€Å"Careful Stewardship of GM Crops Is Needed, Not a Ban. † Irish Times 23 June 2007: 13. Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. Rees, Andy. â€Å"Genetically Modified Food Should Be Banned. † Genetically Engineered Foods. Ed. Nancy Harris. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2003. At Issue. Rpt. from â€Å"GM Potatoes—Facts and Fictions. † The Ecologist 36. 9 (22 Sept. 2006): 14-15. Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. ProQuest Staff. â€Å"At Issue: Genetically Modified Foods. † ProQuest LLC. 2013: n. pag. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. â€Å"Update: Genetically Modified Food. † Issues & Controversies On File: n. pag. Issues & Controversies. Facts On File News Services, 31 Dec. 2008. Web. â€Å"Modified Foods May Enrich Our Health. † Vancouver Sun (Vancouver, Canada). 20 Dec 1999: A12. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web.

The Difference Between Amateur and Proper Writers; And Why You Shouldn - Freewrite Store

The Difference Between Amateur and Proper Writers; And Why You Shouldn - Freewrite Store Commit to your new job. Let me paint you a picture, one of those bizarre scenarios, frisky tableaus, that slowly segues into the topic and theme of the title. Imagine a big, bawdy bar, with a barkeep of barreled brawn, brined brains, and bedeviled behavior. A sprawling dome sanctified by the Gods, christened by Baco and sponsored by the good folks at Guinness†¦ in other words, a pub. A proper (we only serve booze) pub. Now, take that majestic construct and catapult it 100 years into the future, and since we are already breaking the space-time-continuum let’s shatter this flimsy facade called logic - and cement its pillars on one of the heaven’s marshmallow clouds. â€Å"The Cloud Nine† pub in the sky. There’s a marquee on the brick side by the petunias: â€Å"Jesus once came here for a pint.† Inside our celestial haberdashery, patrons dance, dames frolic, and inebriates fight and fess-up. In one corner, Oscar Wilde and Lord Byron are playing footsies under the table. By the jar of pickled eggs, Hemingway is displaying his legendary attitude towards liquor. By the door, giving a rousing and confusing speech on wordplay, Shakespeare. Tolstoy and Marx dip their wet fingers on a pile of salt, trying desperately to hoover the last crumbs of peanuts. Throughout all this madcap, watermark fandango of insanity, a conga line has formed: Maya Angelou, Charlotte Bronte, and Virginia Woolf do the cha-cha-cha while Austen and Christie follow with a brilliant rendition of the chicken dance. The lit cream of yesteryear rubbing shoulders and other naughty parts. The night carries on, sooner or later Karaoke comes into play and bonds are forged mid-way through â€Å"Bohemian Rhapsody†;even Poe manages a smile. Then Twain, that rascal that he is, poses a question:    â€Å"When is a writer no longer an amateur, but a professional?†    Noggins and cookies start boiling. Fitzgerald drools on the virtues of speaking from experience. Lovecraft gives a fairly decent argument towards making pacts with Old Ones. Hemingway zig-zags into a yarn about fishing, while Woody Allen tries to hit on the waitress. On and on they ping-pong the question around the room. Some manage to hit the ball, others evade it, preferring to occupy their minds with the physics of lager. Up and down, hours and hours, the philosophical item is examined; no real answer reached, no consensus patted down. Then, just before the rooster is about to call it a night, a voice is heard among the revelry:    â€Å"Oh, that’s without a doubt the easiest question out there.†    Everybody turns, eyes adjusting in the gloom and rum haze. Sitting on a stool, right next to a Pac-Man machine and flicking through a jukebox’s selection of Golden Oldies, the man himself†¦ Mister Stephen King.    â€Å"Like I said, you turnip heads, there’s a simple answer.† He takes a sip of his coke. â€Å"A writer is truly a professional writer, the minute, nay, the second he gets PAID. A check for something you’ve written instantly grants you pro-writer status. Easy peasy lemon squeezy.†    Mouths catching flies, everybody stares at the horror master, knowing full well that that Gordian Knot of a riddle had been sliced in two and packaged away with alacrity.    â€Å"OK,†goes Twain â€Å"Let me re-frame the question: when do you pass from being a mediocre writer aproper writer?†    Stephen King gets up, understanding that the wordsmith has him by the furry bits The man, having just read â€Å"50 Shades of Grey†, his belief in the power of humankind and the essence of his craft shaken to the very foundation, simply walks off. So, the conundrum still stands: when is a writer a proper writer?As a published author, I’m going to toss my two-cents into that fountain and hope they don’t get lost among the treasured detritus of others. In my opinion, a writer becomes what he is meant to be the second he stops measuring himself up to others of his profession. The second you manage to tie down your voice, tone and make it your own, without trying to copy someone else’s beats, that’s the minute you are a professional. That’s the minute you become something truly unique and irreplaceable.    â€Å"But,† you ask â€Å"How do I get to that point?†    It’s not easy, so here are a few tips: Commit to your new job. Writing, penning out articles, manuscripts, stories, poems, scripts, and all other wordy fragments of wisdom or sheer entertainment is a full-time, 24/7 task. There’s a lot of talk going around town about the power of visualization; I’m here to tell you that’s just nothing short of Hocus Pocus. In reality, you can visualize all you like. Buy the hipster hat, the flowing scarf and talk like a lofty SOB at your next family get together. Do the whole fandango and tango†¦ You’re still not a writer. Imagine as many unicorns and pie-in-the-sky ideas as your greedy little brain will allow, at the end of the day you’ll still find yourself at the stable wondering why your horse can’t fly or who stole his magical horn. The only way to become a writer is to sit down and put in the work. Plant your rear on a seat, or couch, snatch your tools and scribble ‘til you hit gold or have something worth publishing.    â€Å"What about the muse?†    Poppycock! My advice is to grab those Grecian mistresses and take them out back; two shots to the back of the skull for each. Neil Gaiman and Larry Correia will help you hide the bodies while Hemingway mops up the blood. The truth of the matter is that some days you’ll get up in the morning, slug your way to your laptop and discover that fiend writer’s block sitting on the ledge of your table. The specter is pointing out your worthlessness and handing out wanted ads; circled in crimson: â€Å"full-time accountant, great pay.† Before you log on and give Facebook a chance, open up your word-processor and freaking write. Maybe, after four hours of clacking away, you’ll have a sentence or two worth a lick.    A professional writer writes until his ass is raw and his fingers bleed. An amateur writer dabbles with his computer as long as there is nothing good on the television. A structured existence. Let’s build a bridge between the island up above and this grassy archipelago. It’s time to set down rules, to set down goals and lay the foundations that will eventually make you a professional writer. Hacking away at your diary isn’t, unless you’re Anne Frank, professional writing. Every great or at least successful writer has a process. Stephen King reads four hours a day and writes for another four. Dan Brown wakes up at the crack of dawn, stretches and then works until noon. Janet Evanovich finger-dances across the keyboard in the morning and edits at night. Carl Hiassen faces his desk against a blank wall and snaps on shooting-range earmuffs against his head. Hemingway strolled to the nearest bar, sat down and jotted down 500 words, celebrating each victory at the end with a stiff drink. Every single one of them, like Rowling at a coffee shop in Edinburg staring at a cemetery, had their magic recipe. And, unlike any thaumaturgical hootenanny, their â €Å"IT† wasn’t based on a virgin’s blood and a Saint’s holy tears; it was grounded on a businesslike attitude, by the numbers, by appreciation of their skill set. It’s all about discipline, especially when you don’t have a boss riding your ass. Establish a passable set of rules to live by; that’s the Golden Ratio. This is a nine-to-five job; you clock in, you clock out. You need a space for yourself, especially if you are working at home. Otherwise your novel will be slowly devoured and digested by those rugrats you call offsprings. You need to mark down daily goals and, even if you have to go over time, fulfill them.    A pro will edge at least 500 words a day. She’ll dip her arm into a fiery pit, 500 times, just to get those words out. She’ll wake up every day, forget her family exists, juggle divorce like a pro and become a statue in her office ‘til she hits the mark. An amateur will wake up whenever she feels like it, take her time with her coffee, play with her kids, talk to her partner and, finally, scratch out twenty words and say the day was productive. Sharpen your tools. I’m going to step into a Stargate and zoom our narrative into another whimsical dimension. Did you know that Eric Clapton became Eric â€Å"Oh dear lord Layla is the bomb† Clapton after hearing and jamming with Jimi Hendrix? Did you know the Bob â€Å"I just won a Nobel Prize† Dylan purposely bought a house close to Tom Petty, Roy Orbison, and George Harrison? There’s a reason why there was The Police, before Sting. Why Don Henley needed that adrenaline shot known as the Eagles. Why Lennon needed Paul, George, and Ringo. There’s a time in every artist’s life when the chords, the beat, the rhythm, the skills are all learned and mastered; you can either stagnate or take it to the next level. If you’re not a music lover, then let’s flip that analogy onto another field†¦ snatch your boxing gloves and go beat up someone better than you. One of the keys to being a legendary artist is to know you are part of a community. You have to purge that misconception that art is a lone wolf’s hunt. Nope, DiCaprio became an Oscar winner thanks to Scorsese. Hemingway earned his legendary status on account of Gertrude Stein. Frankenstein was penned thanks to an oddball weekend with Lord Byron, Percy Shelley and John Polidori in Switzerland. Talent is partly like an STD. It’s more contagious than syphilis, and some of your peers are so infected with it that you’re liable to catch it by mere osmosis. Surround yourself with people in your neck of the woods. People that appreciate your craft and actually dabble in it. Think about the mid 20s and roaring 30s, or the Beatnik movement, or SoHo London; flash back to those rocking times. Everybody was doodling everybody. Post-coital carnal caper chats ensued on the craft recipe of the day. Pores sweaty, salty and open, your soul as bare and naked as the rest of you. Your mind lathered and frothed by livid libations and popping endorphins. A sultry poetista whispering Keats into your ears; the primordial soup in which creativity is stewed and prepared. Or, if you’re a bit square, the following Open Sesame phrase will win over any writer: â€Å"let me buy you a beer!†If you toss in some Wild Turkey, we will allow you to pump us for as much info as you want.    A pro will, after getting up at the crack of dawn, crawl his way into an avant-garde play at midnight. He will wallow past the existential dingus, toast with his artsy friends at 3 AM, decline a snort of Peruvian moon dust at 5 AM, get an UBER at 6 and start the day on Red Bull just to start writing again. He’ll do that and more just to bathe and float in creative juices. An Amateur will call it a day at 4 and switch on the ballgame. Know your genre. Every platform has guidelines. You can break them, you can go all Gonzo on Journalism, but first, you have to conquer them. Once you have them down to a science, once you can build your rifle with your tongue while blindfolded and barking like a loon, only then can you defenestrate those pesky commandments and dash them against the rocks. Genres have tropes, they have verified axioms that somehow still manage - in many cases - to seem original. For example, in mythology - and most Marvel and DC movies - the age-old Hero’s Journey is the archetype; Campbell’s 17 stages, the playbook Batman was built on. In hard-edge journalism, the â€Å"Five W’s† are the linchpin of any piece. Analyze your sandbox. Take it apart and put each grain of dust under the microscope. Want to Tolkien your way to the top of the fantasy aisle? Then you better have your world-building criteria down on paper. There’s a reason why publishers search for word counts for each genre . Why Westerns shouldn’t be more than 65k words; why Horror has to be at least 100k; why Game of Thrones is considered a hostile mallet in certain New York City boroughs. Here’s another example with the same sentence done and tweaked for different schools of thoughts.    â€Å"It was twilight, five minutes past 6 in New Jersey when†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Journalism.    â€Å"In the Kingdom the sun had dipped below the marbled turrets, bronzing the golden crest when†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Fantasy.    â€Å"A crisp and sharp wind bit into John’s cheek. Night was fast approaching, his instincts coming full force with it†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Action.    â€Å"The sun decided to call it a day. Happy Hour was starting up just to thewest, and that flaming ball of gas needed some Sake, Geisha Hanky-Panky and, oddly enough, a dose of Sumo†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Comedy.    â€Å"A funeral shroud clawed its way pass the horizon, digging its long bloody talons into the last rays of light that clung to the day. A Halloween orange snapped just past the emerald mountains, scatting for a second the landscape in a multicolored afterglow. Then, in a flash and with the same feral ferocity, bewilderingintensity, and vivid violence it disappeared into the ether. With it, all sense of safety was snuffed out. A Stygian wave rolled over the street; pulling in all sights and sounds into its ravenous event horizon†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Horror.    A Pro will hit her head against the head, for an hour, just to catch that word - that perfect word - that’s dangling at the tip of her tongue. She’ll study and read every great book published in her genre before daring to approach that theme. She’ll take months penning that perfect book or article. An Amateur will hook from the pond whatever word comes swimming by and stitch it onto his pieces just to be done with it. She’ll ask herself: â€Å"Why not just say the clown is scary and be done with it† when discussing IT with her friends. Tips from this side of the table. Here are some Golden Rules that truly construct pieces worth printing. Rethink every adverb you place in your text. Anything that ends with â€Å"ly.† The trick to good storytelling is to show and let your audience infer. How was he â€Å"calmly† walking to the gallows? Be mindful of alliterations. They work great in comedy, but might sound funky in other genres. Grammar, in fiction - especially in horror - is flexible. This is paramount when placing your commas, periods and semicolons. Every paragraph has a beat and rhythm; you’re the artist, you build. Then Edit some more. Dean Koontz, for example, will edit each page to death before starting to write another one. It helps to get everything into perspective and, if you’re playing with a novel, it slices the task into digestible sections. Get a thesaurus and learn some odd words. Each genre has a formula, a dictionary to it, get cracking and know your theater’s vocabulary. H.P. Lovecraft used to trudge around, constantly searching for bizarre and arcane words to fill his manuscripts with. Read like a madman. And, when you are not reading, get some audio books. Before shipping and closing the chapter on anything, read it out loud. There’s a reason why storytellers were so adored back in olden days before the printing press. Your phrases or sentences have to hit the ear just right. Critics are right monstrous Unfortunately, they are also your best friends. Before you publish anything, pass it around. Start by copying some of your favorite author’s tone and pattern, learn from them. Slowly start molding them to your frame of mind. You have to mature and nurture your unique voice, but before that happens that fertile egg has to be inseminated†¦ so pick a proper genetic input. And finally, and most importantly, get someone to bankroll you. If you’re getting paid for it, then you’re a writer. Money in the bank, despite what the critics say, is the bar you have to measure yourself against.

The High School History Classes You Should Take

The High School History Classes You Should Take SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips History. Maybe it's written by the victors. Maybe it repeats itself, first as tragedy and second as farce. Or maybe it doesn't repeat, but rhymes. In any case, it's a key part of your high school (and lifelong!) education. But how should you study it? What classes should you take in high school to satisfy college requirements? What options are there for going above and beyond? And what can you do if you are a history fiend who simply cannot get enough learning about the past? Read on to learn about high school and college expectations, honors and AP classes, and ways to expand your understanding of other social sciences! What Do High Schools Expect? Like the car commercials say, your mileage may vary – in this case, each high school has its own standards for how many years of history and/or other social sciences you need to take to graduate. Most public schools in most states require 2 to 3 years of social sciences (this may be different for private schools). Besides history, social sciences are classes like economics, geography, world cultures, civics, and government. So, definitely check with your own high school to see how many years you need and what counts as a social science. Random pile of rocks or the remains of England's wealthiest abbey after Henry VIII and his Reformation was done with it? History = amazing true stories. What Do Colleges Expect? Again, there is no hard and fast rule. Still, most colleges want you to have taken at least 2 standard history courses: American/US history World history or European history Overall, colleges want to see 2 to 3 years of social science classes, but you should definitely check the admissions requirements of your target school to see what they expect. Sometimes colleges don’t have requirements but they do offer suggestions. For example, while UCLA requires at least two years of social sciences, Harvard suggests a minimum of two years. Sometimes expectations depend on what you’re applying to study. For example, if you want to study engineering, you probably don’t need to take as many social science courses. Conversely, if you're applying with a plan to study social science, this is where you need to excel and demonstrate your interest. How Can I Exceed Expectations? The Do-More Kid slowly hovered upstairs, mildly exceeding the expectation that he would simply walk. Honors Classes If you're angling to exceed expectations, the best place to start is with your own school. Honors classes will most likely be similar to the standard classes your school offers, but they will go into more depth and explore broader contexts for the historical topics you study. On the one hand, you'll have to work much harder, but on the other hand you have a richer understanding and be way better prepared for college-level history courses. AP History Classes There are three history AP options: AP World History, which divides everything from 8000 BC to now into six periods, each with its own questions and thematic concerns AP European History, which focuses on everything that happened in Europe from the mid-1400s through 2000 AP United States History, which covers American history from about the time Native Americans first encountered Europeans to the present day IB Diploma Classes There are two different IB course progressions for history: the first focuses on the history of Europe and the Islamic world the second focuses on world history in the 20th century What If I Want Even More History? Finding more resources to feed your interest isn't at all impossible. Find a great elective or two This is the time to ransack your high school's course catalog. Are there any electives which focus on a specific era in history (like the 19th century) or on a particular group of people (like the Mayans)? Design your own course You know what teachers love? Interested and engaged students! Can you ask a teacher to help you set up an independent project or independent study to explore your interests? For example, you could focus on a particular slice of history (like trade along the Silk Route), or you could trace the development of one specific idea through time (like the concept of passive resistance). Take a class online For instance, Stanford University has an online high school which features 5 history courses and 1 guided independent study option. You can sign up to take just one class or all of them. Brown University also offers a set of online pre-college courses, including two related classes on history and American studies. Take a class over the summer Check out our guide to the Summer Institute for the Gifted or our description of Stanford’s two summer programs. Take a college class Finally, if you’re super confident in your abilities, or if you have a specific interest you really want to learn about, you can take an online college-level class. Not only will you get a sense of what history classes are like in college, but doing well will also look great on your transcript. You may even get college credit, just like for an AP course! How Else Can I Study Social Sciences? So maybe you are already a history buff, and are ready to explore other ways of studying how societies, cultures, and peoples interact. Then this is the time to investigate other classes that will broaden and deepen your understanding of history by putting into other contexts! These are classes like: economics, civics, government, politics, world cultures, world religions, geography, and so on. Check out other social sciences AP classes: AP Comparative Government Politics AP Human Geography AP Macroeconomics AP Microeconomics AP Psychology AP United States Government Politics Also, check out other social sciences IB classes: economics geography global politics information technology in a global society philosophy psychology social and cultural anthropology world religions There are even 3 IB social science classes offered online: Economics Information Technology in a Global Society Philosophy How Else Can I Show My Social Science Achievements? Ask your school counselor if you can apply to make your school a local chapter of the Rho Kappa Social Studies Honor Society from the National Council for the Social Studies. This way, you and others like you can be inducted into this society, which is the only national organization for high school juniors and seniors that recognizes excellence in the field of Social Studies. What’s Next? So excited about history that you can't wait to grab a textbook to learn? We're here for you. Read through our biographic sketch of Ida Lewis, lighthouse keeper (and so much more); use our guide to understand the Platt Amendment and its ramifications; and grapple with the US political system with our articles on checks and balances and how the executive branch can check the judicial branch. Still wrestling over whether AP or IB is better? Check out our guide to deciding which is right for you. Ready to kick back and learn some history (but not in a school way)? Our articles on the history of hip hop, invention of the 3-hole punch, and Loomis Fargo heist should do the trick. Curious how your history skills will apply to the SAT? Well, for one thing, they’ve probably made you a better writer. Read about how to improve your SAT Writing score, or better yet, how to get a perfect 800 and how to get a 12 on the SAT Essay. And don’t forget to read about the new enhanced ACT Writing test. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

What Is a GED Should You Get One

What Is a GED Should You Get One SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips If you don't have a traditional high school diploma, you can still earn an equivalent credential by getting your GED. But what is a GED? Basically, it's a credential that can subsitute for a high school diploma. Since most employers (and all colleges) will require you to have graduated fromhigh school, it's usually a good idea to get aGED if you don't complete high school. Doing so helps to ensure thatyou'll have access to more opportunities later in life. In this article, I'll go through what GED stands for, the advantages this credentialcan give you, and how to get your GED. What Is a GED? How Is It Different From a High School Diploma? GED is an acronym that refers to the General Educational Development Test. The test measureswhether students possess the academic skills equivalent to those of graduating high school seniors. People who dropped out of high school initially, but are concerned about their prospects without a diploma, often take the GED Test. The four content areas that comprise the GED Test correspond to the four most prominent core subjects in high school: Reasoning Through Language Arts Mathematical Reasoning Social Studies Science This is a recent change instituted in 2014 (there used to be five subject areas, with Reading and Writing as separate tests).The test has been updated from the 2002 version to require a deeper understanding of the material and more advanced reasoning skills. If you pass the GED Test, you will earn a GED credential, which may be a diploma or certificate depending on the state.A GED certificate or diploma is technically considered just as valid as a regular high school diploma.However, some employers and colleges will favor students with high school diplomas over those with GEDs because of the skills each measures.Since you can earn your GED by taking one test (well, a series of tests, but I'll get to that later), it may not be seen as an indication of your academic perseverance on par with a traditional high school education. If you’re still young enough (usually under the age of 20, although policies differ across states) that you have the opportunity to go back to high school rather than get yourGED, I would strongly recommend trying to complete your course of study so you can earn a regular diploma.Still, it’s better to have a GED than no degree at all, and with recent changes to the test to make it more rigorous, it might be viewed differently in the future. Who can tell what the future holds for any of us? Does free will exist? Is life just a circular hallway where all exits lead to the unfeeling void of eternity? Ok, back to the GED, sorry. Will You Be Able to Get Into College With a GED? According to the College Board, 95 percent of U.S. colleges and universities will accept GED graduates who meet their other qualifications for admission. Some examples of the few colleges that don't accept GEDs include Fairfield University, Sewanee – University of the South, and Bowdoin College.Keep in mind, though, that many colleges require students to submit results from the SAT or ACT, and they are looking for a well-rounded application that includes a good GPA.If you dropped out of high school relatively early, you might not have a ton of information to put on your application.For this reason, many people who earn GEDs start out at community colleges or technical schools and transition to four-year colleges after a year or two. It can also be tough for students with GEDs to acquire the study skills needed for success in college because the test doesn’t prepare them for more in-depth assignments and long-term projects.If you had problems keeping up with assignments when you were in high school, you might want tothink about how you can revise any bad study habits you had in the past before you enroll in any competitive college programs. You should also know that college financial aid is just as readily available for students who have earned their GED as it is for traditional high school graduates, depending on your needs. You could benefit from using a planner in college if you're not the organized type (although personally I'm so disorganized that I forget to write things in planners, so that might be a problem). How Can You Earn YourGED? You must be at least 16 years old to take the GED Test, and you must not be enrolled in high school.You should also meet state eligibility requirements for the amount of time you’ve been out of high school.In some states, you have to be out of high school for at least 60 consecutive days before you’re allowed to take the test. Contact the program administrator in your state for more details. You must pass all four subject tests in the GED battery of tests, which means scoring at least a 150 on each test (scores range from 100 to 200 on the 2014 version).A score of 170 on each test is the benchmark for college and career readiness, and you will receive an Honors distinction if you reach this score.The four tests take seven and a half hours total and are administered by computer. You don't have to take them all on the same day, but some states enforce specific time frames for completing the tests.All questions are multiple choice except for one essay question on the Reading Through Language Arts test, one essay question on the Social Studies test, and two short answer questions on the Science test. If you don’t pass a test the first time around, you can retake it,although different states have different requirements for people who need to retake GED tests (such as additional fees or proof of attending a preparation class).Testing accommodations are available for those with disabilities; you can sign up for them through your online account after you register.You usually have to pay to sign up for the tests, but the cost varies from state to state. After you take each test, you willreceive your scores within24 hours.Here are some more details about the score report. Once you complete all four tests, you'll earn your GED in an elaborate ceremony where you must construct a giant pie chart that symbolizes your accomplishments. How Can You Prepare for the GED Test? You can call 800-62-MYGED (800-626-9433) to get referrals to local GED prep programs and testing sites along with more information and study materials.You can also sign up for an account on the GED website to register for the test and get access to practice tests and other materials that will help you prepare. Make sure to do some review if you’ve been out of school for a while and you think your skills might be rusty.Here’s a link to some free practice tests in both English and Spanish that you can take right away.According to the information on the GED site, most people manage to pass the test and earn their GED certificate or diploma within three months, so it doesn’t have to be a super long process! Should You Get Your GED? You still may be wondering whether it's really worth it to get your GED as compared to other options. In comparison to no diploma at all, it's a good idea to earn a GED. As I've mentioned, you'll have access to many more opportunities in life, and you may be able to continue your education further.You could also get your HSED or High School Equivalency Diploma, or you could choose to go back to high school if you're still young enough. In comparison to a regular high school diploma, a GED will make you look slightly less qualified to some employers and colleges. If you have the ability and opportunity to do so, I strongly recommend going back to school and finishing your courses. If this isn't an option for you, you could also consider earning a High School Equivalency Diploma instead of a GED. The HSED has a couple of additional requirements, but you'll still have to take the same tests as you would for the GED in most states. The HSED is accepted by a slightly larger range of employers and colleges, although it probably won't make a huge difference in your prospects as compared to a GED. A high school education is vital if you want to be eligible for most professional jobs and all colleges. Even if you didn't finish high school as planned, earning your GED will show that you are as qualified as other high school graduates for a wide range of opportunities in the future. Put up a new road sign on a highway called YOUR LIFE. What's Next? Are you concerned about the costs of higher education? Read our practical guide detailing the best ways to save money for college. If you or someone you know is juggling a college education and the responsibilities of raising a child, you should check out this list of great scholarships for moms and single mothers. You also might qualify for a federal Pell Grant if you need help managingthe costs of college. Find out if you're eligible here. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Interview with leaders or managers in any organization Essay

Interview with leaders or managers in any organization - Essay Example As a unit manager, she reports directly to the department manager of nursing. Her responsibilities include planning, organizing, directing and controlling all aspects of operations pertaining to the two units: cardiovascular and telemetry. Aside from the nurse managers who are directly involved in governing nurses for patient care and for the delivery of health care services, as unit manager, she performs all responsibilities involving administration and governance of the units. These responsibilities include performance appraisals and evaluation; scheduling of vacation leaves and monitoring of sick leaves; monitoring the upkeep and maintenance of supplies and equipment for the units, as well as the general functioning of the patients’ rooms and amenities and the emergency cart; completion of reportorial requirements of staff nurses; and monitoring the upkeep of cleanliness and maintenance of the units’ facilities to ensure maximized operations of the units with minimal costs. When asked what the meaning of management was in her personal opinion, Ms. Rodgers replied that the term management actually involved compliance with functions of planning, organizing, directing and controlling all aspects or areas being governed. Managers create an environment for effective performance. They have the responsibilities of integrating tasks, structure, technology, resources and people into a productive and performing configuration. As revealed, Ms. Rodgers indicated that managers achieve goals through the efforts of people and they have to design strategies to influence the behavior of the people they govern. In this regard, managers have to be leaders, as well. Leadership was noted as the process of influencing people so that defined goals are effectively achieved. Leaders focus on influencing behavior towards the attainment of an identified objective. They could or could not necessarily be managers in organizations. On the other hand,

Check point Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Check point - Assignment Example iabetes risk factors include: overweight; people over the age of 45 years; family history with diabetes; higher blood sugar levels; high blood pressure; abnormal lipid levels; body inactivity (lack of exercise); blood vessel problems that affect the brain, heart and legs; and individuals with polycystic ovary syndrome (Sjà ¶strà ¶m et. al, 2006). If an individual discovers that they I have any of the above items, they are advised to seek medical attention. Diabetes disease is common with over age people (above 45 years) and obese individuals (Simmons, Thompson & Volklander, 2001). Some lifestyles also increase chances of contracting the disease. The disease affects the economy negatively since a lot of resources are used in treating the disease. Individuals are also rendered inactive hence can’t participate in their economy-developing activities. This health problem also affects their social life. Worldwide, more than 380 million people are affected by

Gender Gap Between Male and Female Obstetrics and Gynecology Essay

Gender Gap Between Male and Female Obstetrics and Gynecology - Essay Example This gender gap is not only in Britain but in the United States as well and hence making the gender gap continue to increase (Higham and Philip 142). Male as well as female medical students all receive the same kind of training in medical colleges on gynecological and obstetrician training and are therefore competent. This, therefore, means that female patients should not be afraid to be examined by the male doctors because they may even have more experience and expertise than some of the female ob-gyns when it comes to diagnosis and even treatment (Tseng and Jon Mark 17). The lack of involvement or totally keeping male students out of this field of medicine shuts men out of women’s health issues including the issues on reproduction especially relating to contraceptive which should be a shared decision between men and women (Boulis and Jerry 154). There will also be a lack of gender equality which is being advocated for in society in all careers and also there will be a lack of future role models in the society. Higham, Jenny, and Philip, Steer. â€Å"Gender gap in undergraduate experience and performance in obstetrics and gynecology: analysis of clinical experience logs.†

Global Marketing Plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Global Marketing Plan - Essay Example The present study would focus upon the international expansion plan of the UK based cosmetic firm Avea in the Indian market. The study would include an analysing of the Indian consumer market as well as a general framework for the strategic initiatives of the firm to enter the Indian market. The study would also contain a product mix that would be used by the firm in the Indian consumer market. Finally a feedback and control mechanism would also be framed that would help the firm to evaluate its strategies and generate sustainable competitive advantage in the Indian market. Introduction Globalisation has changed the dynamics of business environment as firms have expanded beyond geographical and political boundaries to reach out to new markets. The present study would focus upon the international expansion of Avea into the Indian consumer market. ... These figures also generate significance for firms like Avea as the cosmetic industry alone is being valued at 274 million US dollars. The personal cosmetic products hold the biggest potential for the entire industry with personal wash based items being valued at 989 million dollars (IBEF, n.d., p.90, 92). Target Country Profile/PEST The external environment of an organization is largely based upon the aspects of political, economic, sociological and technological factors (Wakley & Chambers, 2005, p.38). Political India is the world’s largest democracy and has been a role model for a democratic state. The nation has a stable government that is headed by the president who acts on the advice of the Prime Minister and his council of ministers that are elected democratically. This makes it one of the most attractive destinations for investment for business organizations (CIA, 2011). Economic India is one of the fastest growing economies of the world registering favourable GDP grow th rates. The growth of economy also implies higher disposable income of the residents of the nation (CIA, 2011). This holds good opportunities for business organizations like Avea to expand its operations into the Indian consumer market. Sociological India is the second most populous nation of the world having a population of approximately 1,189,172,906 individuals as of 2010. A majority of this population falls within the age group of 15-64 years which is the target market for the company. The median age of the population is pegged at 25.6 years that again represents good opportunities for cosmetic marketing firms like Avea (CIA, 2011). Technological Technological aspects also hold widespread implications on the business prospects of an

Treatment plan Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words - 1

Treatment plan - Case Study Example It is important to consider what a good group counseling can assist Sarah to cope with the death of her father and learn the importance of having friends. Also, to learn the importance of socializing and talking out issues affecting her. Group counselling, in the case of Sarah, mainly intends to heal the new family structure after the loss of her father`s life, who seemed to have been very close to her. Therefore, it is up to the group to assist her to know that her mother is now there with her to assist her and talk to her. The group is set to assist her manage the crisis situations in her life. The intention of group counselling is finding solutions to problems that are existent through sharing with one another. Sarah has the potential of improving in a group setting to help her deal with the trauma of losing her father, and also, assist with her other trauma-based problems like improving her personal communication and social skills. The advantages of group counselling for Sarah are fundamental for improving her social skills. Sarah has an awkward relationship with her friends because she withdraws from communicating with them, as well as a non-existent communication with her mother, and also, learning new ways from the members of the counselling group that assist her in coping with her acting out and fits of anger (Prout & Brown 2007). Sarah can benefit from group counselling as she is bound to realize that she is not alone. Group counselling is a great eye opener for Sarah to realize that there are others like her who experience the same problems as she is, and hence, develop a sense of understanding and coping with the problems. Group counselling gives the participant a better understanding and a wider perspective of the problem. The disadvantages in group counselling do not have effective leadership for the clients that are debilitating to the group members. It can result to

Global Marketing Plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Global Marketing Plan - Essay Example The present study would focus upon the international expansion plan of the UK based cosmetic firm Avea in the Indian market. The study would include an analysing of the Indian consumer market as well as a general framework for the strategic initiatives of the firm to enter the Indian market. The study would also contain a product mix that would be used by the firm in the Indian consumer market. Finally a feedback and control mechanism would also be framed that would help the firm to evaluate its strategies and generate sustainable competitive advantage in the Indian market. Introduction Globalisation has changed the dynamics of business environment as firms have expanded beyond geographical and political boundaries to reach out to new markets. The present study would focus upon the international expansion of Avea into the Indian consumer market. ... These figures also generate significance for firms like Avea as the cosmetic industry alone is being valued at 274 million US dollars. The personal cosmetic products hold the biggest potential for the entire industry with personal wash based items being valued at 989 million dollars (IBEF, n.d., p.90, 92). Target Country Profile/PEST The external environment of an organization is largely based upon the aspects of political, economic, sociological and technological factors (Wakley & Chambers, 2005, p.38). Political India is the world’s largest democracy and has been a role model for a democratic state. The nation has a stable government that is headed by the president who acts on the advice of the Prime Minister and his council of ministers that are elected democratically. This makes it one of the most attractive destinations for investment for business organizations (CIA, 2011). Economic India is one of the fastest growing economies of the world registering favourable GDP grow th rates. The growth of economy also implies higher disposable income of the residents of the nation (CIA, 2011). This holds good opportunities for business organizations like Avea to expand its operations into the Indian consumer market. Sociological India is the second most populous nation of the world having a population of approximately 1,189,172,906 individuals as of 2010. A majority of this population falls within the age group of 15-64 years which is the target market for the company. The median age of the population is pegged at 25.6 years that again represents good opportunities for cosmetic marketing firms like Avea (CIA, 2011). Technological Technological aspects also hold widespread implications on the business prospects of an

Theoretical Approaches to Counselling- Case Study Essay

Theoretical Approaches to Counselling- Case Study - Essay Example His wisdom enables him to spot clients whose ideal self-concept is far from the truth, (i.e. the mistaken perception of one’s greatness in a skill when in reality, he is very poor at it). His goals include helping his clients have an openness to experience, a trust in themselves, an internal source of evaluation and a willingness to continue growing (Corey, 2005). The ability of a therapist to accurately empathize with a client’s subjective experiences on an interpersonal, cognitive and affective level is essential in fully unlocking the client’s perceptions, feelings and motivations for his behavior (Corey, 2005). The therapist’s enormous capacity to understand and accept the client no matter what communicates to the client that he is a worthy person. However, the therapist must caution against being swayed by emotions of his clients to justify excuses for wrong decisions, as he must always have a firm grasp of what is right and wrong. As the saying goes, â€Å"Love the sinner but not the sin†. This is not to say that the therapist holds the moral compass in the therapy sessions, but he is in a position to influence the â€Å"awakened† client to come up with his own appropriate decisions from the therapy point forward. A client comes to a counselor with a feeling of helplessness, powerlessness and an inability to make decisions or effectively direct his own life. He finds refuge in therapy with a warm, trustworthy and accepting friend who is there for him in his seemingly lowest point. He feels safe enough to shed his mask and just be. He finds freedom to express his innermost feelings, be they positive or negative, and is assured that he will remain acceptable. In this kind of relationship, the client finds opportunity to grow and overcome his feelings of failure – and commences his healing by deciding on a positive action towards self-actualization. Assessment procedures are not given

Social Responsibility and Sustainable Business Practices Essay Example for Free

Social Responsibility and Sustainable Business Practices Essay Businesses, specifically larger corporations, play a major role in what occurs in society therefore, they are responsible to their stakeholders not only to pursue economic goals but the greater social good as well. Corporate social responsibility (CSR) means that a corporation should act in a way that enhances society and its inhabitants and be held accountable for any of its actions that affect people, their communities, and their environment. (Lawrence, 2010). Social responsibility is becoming the norm so much so that some businesses have incorporated it into their business model. There are three components of the bottom line of social responsibility in business: planet, people, and profitability (3P). This is also the formulation of the triple bottom line, or TBL. In this report we look at the Network Data Center (NDC) in Tucson, AZ which provided technical support to the Army installation. The business consists of 120 people supporting over 6,000. Each employee has a minimum of one computer, some have multiple for different classification levels, and two monitors. There are a few classrooms with multiple computers in them as well. The company provides network, server, helpdesk, customer management, information assurance, and various other information technology services to the base. We take a look at the TBL of social responsibility in the view of environmental, ethical leadership, organizational viability, and legal and regulatory considerations and make recommendations for implementation. Environmental Businesses are going beyond regulatory compliance and becoming green. This gives companies a competitive advantage as well as legitimacy and product differentiation, moral commitment to the economy, and cost savings. Environmental analysis is a method managers can use to gather outside information on current issues and trends and turn that information into  actions that minimize threats and take advantages of new opportunities. Many corporations use the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) to farm out guidelines and use them in their own business. Some considerations to take into account are the materials used and the percentage of those materials that are recycled, direct and indirect energy consumption, water withdrawal, biodiversity, emissions, effluents, and waste, reclaimed products and services, compliance, environmental impacts of transportation of products, and the overall protection expenditures. For the NDC, we consider electronics recycling, energy conservation, and waste m anagement. Considerations. Electronics Recycling. When the company does its annual lifecycle of computers, laptops, monitors, servers, and the like, I recommend research and review of the possibility of upgrades in lieu of new machines. Then when replacing parts, the old unserviceable ones will be sent to a recycling facility. The company can go to http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/materials/ecycling/donate.htm to find a place to recycle electronics. Best Buy offers in-store, event, and online recycling program options. I recommend the company review and implement a computer/ electronics recycling program. By upgrading versus new purchase, the company will benefit from cost savings and may be able to upgrade to better machines than they would if buying full new systems. This cost savings can be reinvested elsewhere in the business. Energy Conservation. The company currently has a high energy consumption in their electronics. Little is done to conserve. Before budget crisis within the company, the rule was everyone had to leave their computers on all night and updates were run at night to maintain information assurance compliance. Since the budget downfall a few years ago, all updates must be done during the day. Employees still leave their machines on at night, restarting before they leave for the night, because the rule has never changed. Efficiency efforts could be in place here to save energy. Waste Management. Since we already discussed electronics recycling, this  consideration is for the waste management of municipal solid waste (MSW) – or everyday items. MSW is the everyday things we use and throw out in the office. This can include items such as packaging, grass clippings, old furniture, bottles, food scraps, and batteries. According to the EPAs annual report on MSW, Americans throw away about 4.3 pounds of waste per person, every day. Preventing waste should be considered as well as recycling and composting. Recommendations. Electronics Recycling. Electronic recycling is one consideration the company can do better with. Recycling in general lowers greenhouse gas emissions that are caused by manufacturing items for the first time. Recycling electronics conserves natural resources making cleaner air and water. The valuable resources computers and electronic components carry are metals, plastics, and glass. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), recycling a million laptops would give back enough energy for 3500 American homes’ electricity. A million cell phones would could yield 35,000 pounds of copper, 772 pounds of silver, 75 pounds of gold, and 33 pounds of palladium. Instead of throwing out the old computers and blackberry’s, the company could simply upgrade the hardware or software and then recycle the parts necessary. Energy Conservation. To conserve energy, it is my recommendation that the company have employees shut down computers at night in lieu of restarting. Although some equipment such as the servers and UPS will still need to run, 150+ computers shut down at night will save energy resulting in cost savings for the company. Not only will this save money in utility billing, but also extend the life of the machines. When purchasing new pieces, parts, and machines, I also recommend looking for energy star equipment that uses less energy when it is running. Waste Management. I recommend the company implement better plans on waste prevention such as utilizing the electronics we have to manage records instead of printing hard copies. Some of the older generation employees  like to have a backup paper copy of items and are not held accountable to the paper reduction policies in place. Preventing excess printing results in cost savings for the company in paper and ink. A recycling and composting plan should be set in place by the company. The waste company provides free recycle and compost containers. NDC simply needs to implement and plan and educate employees on when and how to recycle and composting when appropriate. Employees should be encouraged to use recyclable paper, glass, and metals for meals, dishes, and utensils instead of Styrofoam plates for example. Recycling and composting is free and will scale down the amount of actual waste is used by the company. This essential results in cost savings to the company as well. In addition to the benefits to the company, the efforts of less disposables diminishes the carbon dioxide equivalent into the air helping preserve the earth. Ethical Leadership All leaders in business have a responsibility to earn a profit but ethical leaders take it one step further by going above and beyond the regulatory guidance. Bad ethical leadership can cause competitive pressure such as with Enron who fired the bottom 20% of performers every year. This caused employees to focus heavily on numbers and became unethical. Poor ethics in the workplace can cause issues because of personal gain and selfish interest or if there are conflicts of interest. Ethical leaders behave ethically, value and live by ethical behavior, set the pave through expectations and examples, establish an environment of continuous improvement, provides opportunities for people to grow personally and professionally, and they care and act with compassion. Ethical workplaces encourage long time employees who continue to work there until retirement. Ethical leaders choose to lead. They are the people want to follow, they are not just obeyed by force. These leaders provide vision and inspiration that makes employees feel important and appreciated. Ethical leaders facilitate a positive culture in business motivating and shaping employees’ attitudes. Ethical leadership covers the â€Å"people† part of the 3P in the TBL. Some considerations we look at in this category are labor practices and decent work, human rights, society, and product responsibility. Consideration. Occupational Health and Safety. This metric falls under labor practices and decent work and covers rates of injury, occupational diseases, lost days, and work related fatalities. For NDC, the rates of injury are the most troublesome. Employees are often sick, office by office as they pass around a virus or bacteria. Ill employees are not asked to utilize their sick leave and stay home. Another thing to consider in this category is employees going home from injuries from lack of ergonomics. There is a climate from management that if a worker asks for an ergonomic accommodation it is because that employee is weak or making excuses. Employees live with wrist or back pain or the like until they are hospitalized or require surgery. Discrimination. Another consideration for the company is in human rights, or in particular discrimination. There are multifaceted ways discrimination can surface. Although the company does well in most cases, there are few areas where discrimination is not as blaringly evident but still needs to be addressed. For NDC, there is a discrimination of single parents. Single fathers are looked upon with sympathy and empathy. Accommodations are made with scheduling and compliance to regulations. Single fathers who are late because they had issues getting their kids to school are given the compassionate â€Å"it’s ok† response. Single mothers are hardly looked at through the same lens. They are viewed as the troublemakers who can’t get their act together. In one such incident a single father divorced because of his own infidelity with multiple women, most coworkers. The company immediately accommodated his schedule and put him on the coveted day shift so he could work around daycare. In his department, they are required to change schedules and work a different shift, every quarter. He has been on the same schedule for two years because management feels for his â€Å"situation†. Another young mother called in one day to let the company know her mother was sick and could not watch the kids. She would be two hours late because she had to wait for her backup daycare to open and take the kids there. When she arrived at work she was given a discipline note  explaining that daycare issues are not the organizations problem and she was put on probation of losing her job. When the female employee inquired about the inconsistencies between women and men, they eloquently reminded her she was on probation. These type of incidents continuously happen in NDC. The company should consider their actions, intentional or not. If daycare issues are personal and not a concern of the company, then they should not be a concern for anyone. Discrimination is unethical behavior that looks poorly on the company and ruins morale. Recommendations. Occupational Health and Safety. It is my recommendation that the company provide hand sanitizer lotion to each employee as well as some in common areas. This will help prevent the spread of germs in the offices. Although union issues limit the supervisor’s ability to make employees use their sick leave to stay home when they are sick, they can educate workers on the importance of not spreading their illness. Masks can be offered to shield sick employees from the healthy ones as well. The local hospital offers free ergonomic evaluations and recommendations for employees regardless if they work in the warehouse lifting heavy equipment, or sitting at a desk all day. I recommend management change their way of thinking on ergonomics and allow employees to receive the care they need. Implementing preventative actions now will save the company money later. Medical bills will remain lower if people are not having carpel tunnel syndrome surgery or surgery to correct a spinal disk out of place. The company will benefit from having the employees at work and not paying employees to be gone on medical leave. This holds true for caring for sick employees as well. Keeping the healthy employees free from contagions, will save the company time and money as well as get more work done. Discrimination. My recommendation for the company is to review the accommodations and special exceptions it gives to employees. Sensing sessions should be conducted with the employees or anonymous surveys to bring these type of issues to light. Any discrimination acts reported by employees should be immediately addressed and taken seriously. Unethical  behavior by management causes employees not to trust them. Unhappy employees can become disgruntled and even unethical themselves. Someone who is being treated inappropriately will not be as productive and retention can become an issue for the company. Ethical leaders foster communication and better working environments, leading to better business. Organizational Viability Long term survival and sustain profits over time. The longer the company is profitable, the better its viability. To be socially responsible, a company must remain viable. Opportunities, threats, stagnant times, times of growth, and initiating innovative ideas are all opportunities to lower costs and stay ahead of competitors. There are many ways to measure sustainability of a company. The company can use sustainability accounting, conduct shareholder value analysis, lifecycle assessment, balanced scorecard, activity based costing, lifecycle costing, full cost accounting, expected value analysis, and sensitivity analysis. The company must look at itself from a financial perspective, but also from a customer, internal business process, and learning and growth perspective as well. Considerations. Market Presence. Being present in the market is core to viability. The company makes purchases from contracts with small businesses throughout the country to level the economic balance. The company also provides services to any local government agency. NDC has a local internal extranet for customers for processes and procedures to request assistance as well as self-help. The hiring process for the company is an online one that is long, difficult, and confusing to someone new to the system. Prospective employees must first create an account and build a resume using the specific template provided. This lengthy process uses a lot of jargon and requires very specific information. Once the account is created, the prospect can search for jobs which can be time consuming if unfamiliar with the jargon. If a job is found, the user can click apply which attaches their resume created in the profile, and then asks multiple questions. These questions  are a combination of checkboxes and written responses. This assessment is typically from four to nine pages in length. After applying, a computer scans resumes for matches of key words, words that were not in the job announcement. Then, the resumes that pass are sent to a human resources department that review for actual qualifications. The remaining qualified resumes are then sent to the hiring branch. The branch has to score each resume based on a preapproved rubric about two pages in length. Once scored, the top people are called for an interview. Once interviews are conducted, the selection is made and sent back to human resources. Human resource department offers the applicant the job and works on the details. The process often takes months. Customer Service and Competitive Advantage. Understanding customers’ needs and wants and implementing service based on those desires through a strategic plan is key to maintaining a competitive advantage. Companies must be able to adapt quickly to customer demands. A company must be either low cost or a value added type business. In the case of NDC, the value added is one of providing differentiated products and services that contain only attributes associated with the base. The scope is specialized. The company must still maintain social responsibility in this area and can do so by providing excellent customer service. Without the customers, there would be no business. The company’s customers take many forms. There are civilians, Soldiers, contractors, and suppliers. All services provided by the company are followed up with the opportunity to conduct a survey. Metrics of the work done versus the surveys is also collected and reported to higher headquarters. Service req uests that come in are documented in a local system however, phone calls are not recorded. Recommendations. Market Presence. NDC can improve its market presence with upgrading its current internal website and creating social media venue presence to address the current issues at hand. The company can research competitor sites and come up with more ideas that appeal to the target market. The hiring process needs some work. A thorough analysis of the process should be conducted  reviewing the most time consuming portions. For example if the scoring of the resumes at the branch is the issue, maybe a team is created that does only that so the process will go faster. Too often when an applicant is offered the job, it has been so long they have been offered a job elsewhere and decline the invitation. Losing the best qualified employees hurts the company and the bottom line. Remaining in the market competitively involves having the best employees available to provide the best service available. Customer Service and Competitive Advantage. Although the surveys are sent to higher management, the metrics are not utilized locally. The only time the feedback is mentioned at all, is if there is a majorly negative survey that comes in and is sent back down to the director. It is recommended that the company have local supervisors review the metrics for their own personnel and address the overall performance of its own employees at the lowest level. This will help improve the customer experience and keep them coming back. Positive customer service should be rewarded and negative ones, addressed. Clear indications of the level of service that is expected should be communicated. Valid and verifiable expectations should be measured and identified. Customer expectations should be priority, customer service strategy should be analytical and communicated to all units on base internal and external. This will give customers an opportunity to recognize when service is not met as promised. The company should also consider recording its phone calls and conducting quality assurance on the calls to catch issues missed by customers skipping the survey. Legal and Regulatory Considerations Social Responsibility within the confines of legal and regulatory considerations and recommendations are similarly important. To remain social responsible, companies must adhere to laws. In addition to conducting business within the confines of the law, companies should proactively anticipate new regulations and act proactively. Since the NDC is a government entity, it must operate within the boundaries of local and federal laws. Considerations. FAR. The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), found at http://www.acquisition.gov/far/current/pdf/FAR.pdf, is the governing regulation used by all federal executive agencies in the acquisition of supplies and services. â€Å"It became effective on April 1, 1984, and is issued within applicable laws under the joint authorities of the Administrator of General Services, the Secretary of Defense, and the Administrator for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, under the broad policy guidelines of the Administrator, Office of Federal Procurement Policy, Office of Management and Budget.† The NDC uses the FAR for all acquisitions. Specifically in part 39 of the regulation, Information Technology acquisitions are covered. The FAR governs that appropriated funds are not to be used to acquire information technology that is not deemed necessary to the function and operation of the agency. Too often in the government and in NDC specifically, the latest and greatest are highly sought after items. The contracting agency sometimes scrutinizes the justification of products too harshly and in other times, not enough. The regulation states that contracting officers must be cognoscente of the rapidly ever changing information technology world. In NDC, users requesting items for purchase must submit the required documents to include justification into a SharePoint portal which is then processed by the acquisitions team. The team reviews and sends completed packets to the contracting office. The contracting office then makes a determination on the item(s). Exchange of Material and Disposition. Disposition of property in the government is governed by US Code Title 10, chapter 153, Exchange of material and disposal of obsolete, surplus, or unclaimed property. Basically the company is not allowed to see equipment but rather uses it until it does not meet the mission and then the process is to turn in the equipment and recycle most materials. Sometimes older machines, servers, or other information technology pieces of equipment are still in good working order, just not robust enough to accomplish the Army mission or provide proper security. The US Code Title 38 covers veteran’s benefits and part VI chapter 83 covers the acceptance of gifts and bequests. NDC does not donate any items to organizations outside of itself. The company is being social responsible in disposition of equipment the right way however, it could improve by making more donations. Business Processes. Federal laws, regulations, and mandatory IT standards for securing private sector information technology systems and data in critical infrastructure sectors is managed by the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO). Information Technology is considered a critical infrastructure sector coming more popular after enactments of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and the Clinger-Cohen Act of 1996. â€Å"GAO has identified a set of essential and complementary management disciplines that provide a sound foundation for information technology (IT) management. These include: IT strategic planning, Enterprise architecture, IT investment management and Information Security.† (GAO, 2014). Part of the IT disciplines identified in the law is that best practice is to require that processes are documented to account for all operations and be integrated with strategic and operational planning processes. In NDC, the company realizes its social responsibility to create processes. The company has created a web page to host the processes for all things IT. This relates to helpdesk issues, do it yourself ideas, budget and acquisitions information, enterprise license agreements, service level agreements, and a number of other processes. This repository can be accessed by anyone with a government common access card (CAC). The issue with the site is that is it disorganized and mostly unknown to the general public on base. Recommendations. FAR. Information Technology acquisitions are justified by the users and the contracting office makes a determination if the justification is valid. The company must be social responsible in spending the governments money because it is the tax payers who fund the government. A contractor who is not an Information Technologist, would not be able to make a fair determination if a piece of equipment is needed for the operation of the business or not. It is recommended that the contracting office have an Information Technologist liaison who can help determine if the purchases are valid, or if they are  just the users â€Å"I saw it so I want it† desires. This would assist the government in getting the items that are needed to perform the job better, and would cut costs on the items that are not necessary to the government. Exchange of Material and Disposition. One year NDC life cycled all 357 computers for new and improved ones that were capable of handling more security issues. Since it was such a large quantity, the business offered to donate some of the machines to other small businesses in need. One of the smaller reserve units nearby had really old computers with I think Windows 3.1. So NDC donated about 11 computers and the Soldiers were able to work more efficiently during drill weekends. This situation was out of the ordinary. Usually the computers are sent in to a central facility and then cycled out from there. Although this is a social responsible action, I recommend the company look into donating more items in the future. The US Code 38 8301 specifically says that â€Å"The Secretary may accept devises, bequests, and gifts, made in any manner, with respect to which the testator or donor shall have indicated the intention that such property shall be for the benefit of groups of persons formerly in the active military, naval, or air service who by virtue of such service alone, or disability suffered therein or therefrom, are or shall be patients or members of any one or more hospitals or homes operated by the United States Government, or has indicated the intention that such property shall be for the benefit of any such hospital or home, or shall be paid or delivered to any official, as such, or any agency in administrative control thereof. The Secretary may also accept, for use in carrying out all laws administered by the Secretary, gifts, devises, and bequests which will enhance the Secretary’s ability to provide services or benefits.† (US Code 38 Veterans Benefits) This means the company can donate their used and useful equipment to assist the Veterans Association (VA) to enhance the ability to provide services or benefits. There would not be lengthy tax paperwork but only a small hand receipt trail of the transfer. This would benefit both agencies as well as the Veterans and Soldiers effected by the quality of care. Business Processes. It is recommended that NDC take the time and consideration to re-do their web pages. A team should be created to specifically handle the project and all shareholders should be involved. This means the company should discuss with the customers as well as the NDC employees on a strategy to build a better more informative site. Once built, the site should be advertised in the base paper, on the installation homepage. These processes should be better organized and updated regularly so NDC remains social responsible to its customers. Social responsibility is essential to the bottom line. By taking the recommended steps above, NDC can work towards becoming a more social responsible company with constant upward mobility. References Lawrence, Anne (2010). Business and Society: Stakeholders, Ethics, Public Policy. 13th Edition. McGraw-Hill Learning Solutions, 2010. VitalBook file. Bookshelf. Federal Acquisitions Regulation (2005). General Services Administration, Department of Defense. Retrieved from http://www.acquisition.gov/far/current/pdf/FAR.pdf 21 June 2014. U.S. Code: Title 38 Veterans’ Benefits. 38 U.S. Code Part VI Acquisition and Disposition of Property. Chapter 85—disposition of deceased veterans personal property ( §Ã‚ § 8501–8528). http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text Government Accountability Office (GAO) (2014). Best Practices and Leading Practices in Information Technology Management. http://www.gao.gov/key_issues/leading_practices_information_technology_management/issue_summary

What Is Empirical Knowledge Philosophy Essay

What Is Empirical Knowledge Philosophy Essay Posteriori knowledge, or empirical knowledge is propositional knowledge obtained by experience or sensorial information. Posteriori knowledge is a contrast to priori knowledge, which is knowledge that is gained through the apprehension of innate ideas, intuition or pure reason. Debate has focused on analyzing the nature of knowledge and how it relates to similar notions such as truth, belief, and justification. It also deals with the means of production of knowledge, as well as skepticism about different knowledge claims. The traditional analysis of empirical knowledge states that you know that P if and only if you have empirically justified true belief that P.  [1]   You dont know why or have any idea of why reaction A follows situation B but you have seen it happen so many times that you know that is what is going to happen. I know how to drive a car in so far as I know that I use the accelerator to go and brake to stop and use the steering wheel to manoeuvre. I can get from A to B. In that respect I know how it functions in practice, but have little knowledge how cars actually work. Is it important to have knowledge of how things work? A person who knows how a car works doesnt automatically know how to drive or may not be a better driver because of his particular knowledge. Many people and animals live quite a happy existence oblivious to knowledge or complicated thought process. I have gained knowledge over the last eighteen years without knowing about empirical knowledge. The notion of innate ideas proposes that certain knowledge is present from birth. Empiricists would not want to deny that all bachelors are unmarried is a truth independent of experience, however they would deny that such a truth could be innate. For empiricists, the mind is a blank slate, Tabula Rasa. They believe that when we learn or experience things, it is as if the mind is being written on. Rationalists believe that the mind is similar to a computer, in which the hardware already has some functions, innate ideas, before the software, specific knowledge is loaded onto it. John Locke believed that our experiences provided us with what he termed simple and complex ideas. A fine example of a simple idea may include the redness of a rose. We thereafter use these ideas in order to understand the world. An example Locke gives, is If someone burnt their hand on a flame but also on a extremely cold piece of ice, then one would form the conclusion that it is not heat that is responsible for the burns, but the difference in temperature. Thus, Locke thinks that the simple sensations and experiences for the basis for more abstract ideas. Locke believed that knowledge could be of certain types depending on how ideas could be compared. Locke considered that the idea of black could be contrasted with that of white; and other ideas which share a common source, such as light and fire, which often go together. These ways of building up information, Locke thought are the main means by which we turn simple ideas into complex ones. Locke considered that there are three main types of knowledge. Intuitive, Demonstrative and Sensitive. Intuitive knowledge, black is not white is the most certain form of knowledge because it is the most difficult to doubt, and Locke argues that they are so obvious that we except them intuitively, as a priori. Demonstrative knowledge is when we begin to put simple ideas together and form complex ones, demonstrating something. Comparing the heat of the sun to the heat of a fire, one would be able to demonstrate that they are both made of similar substances. Locke argues that this form of knowledge i s posteriori. Sensitive knowledge, Locke argues, is the most uncertain because it relies merely on the evidence of senses. If I look to see how many chairs there are in another room, I am relying on sensitive knowledge, which although considered a posteriori, can easily be mistaken Rationalists argue by asking the question, that if one was to reject the idea that all of our knowledge comes from rational principles, how could we tell which of our perceptions are real or true? Lockes answer to this lies in the existence of primary and secondary qualities that an object has. Applying this theory to a table, Locke considers the tables primary qualities to be its size and shape, whereas the tables secondary qualities are produced by powers in the object itself, which act on our senses to produce sensations and impressions. The colour, taste, and temperature of the table are all examples of a tables secondary qualities. George Berkeley pointed out that if all we ever see are primary or secondary qualities, how do we know that substance really exists? Berkley believed that there may be no such thing are matter, a view called Idealism. Berkley thought that Locke and other philosophers had potentially opened the door to atheism and scepticism by this view of knowledge. Berkley attempted to show that rather than sensations of objects arising from powers in the object itself, the experiences were actually in the perceiver. Berkley argues that the object does not need to possess any powers with which it produces effects on our senses, because the object does not exist apart from our perception of it. Berkley adopts the sceptical argument that we do not see objects as they really are. Berkleys main argument was intended to show that it is possible for something to exist without being perceived. Berkley argues that it we cannot imagine what the perception of something must be like, we cannot really say that it exists. Berkley uses the idea to attack the notion of substance or matter, for if all the qualities that we ascribe to it are either primary or secondary qualities, can we actually say that the substance itself exists? David Hume disagreed with such philosophers as Descartes that the mind contained innate ideas. He also disagreed with the idea that we could be certain about anything outside our experience or the true nature of the world. Hume divided knowledge into what he termed relations of ideas and matters of fact. Relations of ideas are analytic truths or priori statements that we cannot conceive of being otherwise, such as the statement 2 + 2 = 4 and All bachelors are unmarried. Matters of fact, however can be falsified. The statement The sun will rise tomorrow is extremely likely, however it is not impossible that it will not. considered the answer to this is to suggest the existence of what he calls primary and secondary qualities. Hume argues that all our knowledge of cause and effect came through habit. So, for instance, if we see the Sun rise it is not because it corresponds to some eternal and unchangeable law, but because we have seen it rise countless times what he terms, constant conjunction. Therefore, the more we have experienced things, the more certain they will be. Theoretical and practical knowledge and understanding and experience are different types of knowledge. I think there is an important distinction between knowing that and knowing how. People knew that things fell down long before they knew why or there was an explanation of gravitation. Such knowledge was empirical. Most assumed knowledge or studies of things are known as theories. Peoples ideas or take on things. Theory of evolution. Theory of relativity. Over time opinions are developed, they can be tested and become theories. Some theories become more certain and may become factual, but some remain doubtful or perceptions can alter, new light comes to ground that changes ones knowledge. Once it was thought that the earth was flat, and people could fall of the edge. Edmund Gettier called into question the theory of knowledge and the traditional definition of knowledge. Gettiers argument is that there are situations in which ones belief may be justified and true, yet fail to count as knowledge. He contended that while justified belief in a true proposition is necessary for that proposition to be known, it is not sufficient. According to Gettier, there are certain circumstances in which one does not have knowledge, even when all of the above conditions are met. Gettier proposed two thought experiments, which have come to be known as Gettier cases, as counter examples to the classical account of knowledge. He argued it is possible to arrive at an assumption based on belief which is deemed justified, but happens to be true only by chance, because the outcome was predicted for the wrong reason and so cant be classed to be knowledge. Responses to Gettier have been varied. Usually, they have involved substantive attempts to provide a definition of knowledge different from the classical one, either by redefining knowledge as justified true belief with some additional fourth condition, or as something else altogether. We are left a legacy of knowledge from those who have lived before us and thus accumulated knowledge over thousands of years. It would be impossible for any individual to experience all this knowledge first hand. I have learned that there is a difference between knowing that (facts and information) and knowing how (the ability to do something), because it is one thing to know what empirical knowledge is, but another to have the ability to convey this in an essay, to show this knowledge. In conclusion from continued observation things should become obvious. For things to become factual I guess they should be observed by several people and the same conclusion be deducted. Should one believe or trust other peoples conclusion of events? Or is it necessary to observe and test theories oneself in order to form ones own conclusions and gain knowledge. Im not really sure there is one conclusion to be made. It is possible to judge some things for ourselves but not all things because we dont have the means, time or inclination it would take forever, or longer ad infinitum. But is there such a thing as infinity anyway? One thing is certain I will never find out.