Corporate Social Responsibility of Maruti Suzuki

â€Å"while working to enhance shareholder wealth , Maruti Suzuki will regularly engage with all stakeholders to assess their needs and through its products, services , conduct and management initiatives , promote their sustained growth and well being Policy Guidelines Company will follow responsible business practices in all its function and operations and will strive to implement them at its suppliers, dealers and other business partners.Company will continue to remain ahead of law in pursuit of environment protection and energy conservation at its manufacturing facilities, and in development of products that use fewer natural resources and are environment friendly Company will deeply committed towards the welfare of its employees, their families and communities around its operations to improve quality of life as whole.Company will develop products and services that fulfill the aspirations of customer,delight them with after sales services and availability of spares, build a stron g and lasting bond with them and proactively support them during natural calamities Company will continue to provide technological and managerial support to its suppliers and dealers to further their profitable and sustainable growth.As an expression of thanks to the local community and the people of the country, company will undertake initiatives that might not be directly linked to its business Company will partner with government, NGOs, business partners to contribute positively towards economic and human development of the society especially underprivileged people.Company will encourage and recognize its employees for volunteering in the community in the sprit of serving and sharing their expertise and skills Company will strive to constantly build organizational capabilities, like any other competency, position suitable people and have a proper organizational structure to ensure implementation of CSR policy, guidelines and programs.Company will engage with reputed external agen cies for audit of its CSR activities for the purpose of identifying areas of improvemet , authenticity of data reporting Company will monitor the progress on various CSR programs in a structured manner, document the performance against the set targets and publish a report every year on its CSR performance and share it wits its key stake-holders.

Ethics Essay

The case study of Jerry McCall, one of the medical assistants in Dr. William’s office, describes one of the many challenges that occur on a daily basis while working in a doctor’s office. There are many different levels of staff present in an office that have an array of different job duties and scopes of practice. Jerry was presented with a patient that was in need of a prescription refill on a medication that he is not allowed to issue without direct authorization from the physician. Unfortunately for Jerry he was covering a lunch break and the only one in the office at that time. There are a number of different ethical decisions that Jerry is faced with in which we will cover below. Jerry’s medical training as a medical assistant does not include the release of any type of refill of prescription medications without the authorization or direction from the physician. The scope of practice for a medical assistant includes performing â€Å"administrative and certain clinical duties under the direction of physician. Administrative duties may include scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing, and coding for insurance purposes. Clinical duties may include taking and recording vital signs and medical histories, preparing patients for examination, drawing blood, and administering medications as directed by physician† (Medical Assistant Job Description, 1997-2013). It is also stated in the case study that Jerry is a Licensed Practical Nurse, which is also only to refill a prescription under the direction of the physician. Would it make a difference if the medication requested were for control of high blood pressure that the patient critically needs on a daily basis? There should not be a difference between what types of medications Jerry is asked to authorize to refill for a patient. This type of duty is not part of the medical assistant’s scope of practice. There are other alternatives that Jerry can turn to in order to problem-solve this situation that will be discussed below. If Jerry calls in the refill and the patient has an adverse reaction while flying, is Jerry protected from a lawsuit under the doctrine of respondent superior? The doctrine of respondent superior is a â€Å"legal doctrine most commonly used in tort, that holds an employer or principal legally responsible for the wrongful acts of an employee or agent, if such acts occur within the scope of the employment or agency† (Cornell University Law School, 2010). This is stating that the physician is also responsible and can be held accountable for the actions of Jerry. Jerry must practice within the scope of practice set for medical assistants and within his job description. The physician can be held liable by the patient and can have charges pressed on him based on this doctrine. The advice I would have for Jerry is to make sure he is looking at this situation as if it were the governing board for medical assistants looking at the same issue. He should not make a decision that is above his job description and out of his scope of practice. This could cause serious problems leading to Jerry possible losing his job. Jerry has a code of ethics that he needs to abide. The patient’s safety should be what Jerry is concerned with. Major legal and ethical issues that may affect Jerry’s decision are very clear in this situation. If Jerry authorizes this prescription without the physician’s direction he is practicing outside of his scope as a medical assistant and will lose not only his job, but his license. Ethically, he is knowingly performing an illegal act and can be held accountable for this in a court of law. Some problem-solving methods that might be helpful to assist in making an ethical decision are for Jerry to review his code of ethics. This will educate Jerry that â€Å"the code of ethics of American Association of Medical Assistants shall set forth principles of ethical and moral conduct as they relate to the medical profession and the particular practice of medical assisting, render service with full respect for the dignity of humanity, and uphold the honor and high principles of the profession and accept its disciplines† (Fremgen, 2009, p. 328). Another ethical way to problem-solve this issue it to simply call the physician to let him know this patient is in need of a refill which needs to be called in as soon as possible for the patient. This will place the responsibility back to the physician where it should be. Jerry should instruct the patient that authorizing a refill without the physician’s direction is against the law, and Jerry will notify the physician right away to make him aware of the patient’s needs. In conclusion, Jerry should stick to his code of ethics as a medical assistant and handle the prescription dilemma as any medical assistant should do within his scope of practice. Jerry should also take into consideration that any ethical decisions he makes can result in the physician he works for being held accountable for Jerry’s actions. The advice for Jerry to call the physician to make him aware of the patients needs would allow him to make the best ethical and legal decision available. Like any working professional, Jerry is held to a code of ethics that he took a vow to uphold, and should remember this when dealing with the safety of any patient.

Law of Tort Master Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Law of Tort Master - Case Study Example Stevenson (1932). It is well established that an employers owes a duty of care to his employee. In a negligence action, the employee will have to show that the employer's conduct fell below the standard that could be expected of reasonable employer. Because of the indirect relationship between Harry's wife and the three companies, the neighbour test should be considered. The courts will consider the interests of the victims whilst being fair to the said negligent parties. This brings in the question of sufficient relationship of proximity between the plaintiff and the defendant. 1 Proximity', does not mean physical. It is based on reasonable foreasibility. For example in Donoghue V Stevenson (1932). P's friend purchased a bottle of ginger beer manufactured by D and gave it to P. P drank most of the bottle but then noticed the decomposed remains of a snail in the bottom of the bottle. P subsequently became ill and sued D in negligence. D's defence was that he did not owe a duty of care to P because there was not contract between D and P. (Purchaser was P's friend) It was held that a contractual link should no longer be the unliquidated - damages determined by the court and previously not agreed by parties test for determining whether or not a duty of cares was owed. The House of Lords stated that a duty of care is owed to any person who we can reasonably foresee will be injured by our acts or omissions. The court described such persons as 'neighbours'. It was held that D could reasonably foresee that somebody apart from the original purchaser may consume his product and therefore P was held liable. 2 In the same argument, Betty could claim that despite not loving a contractual link with the three companies, they are liable for her injury. The plaintiff must show that as a result of breach of duty, she has suffered some damage: a) The damage must be caused to a substantial extent by the defendant's conduct. b) The damage must be sufficiently closely related to the negligent act, it must not be too remote. c) In most cases, the damage must be either physical injury to the plaintiff's person or property or economic loss consequential upon. The said breached duty of care by the three companies to Betty Bloke is arising due to their relationship with her husband, Harry. Harry worked for the three companies in a period of 35 years. He was employed by the companies. This implies there was a contract of employment between the companies and Harry Bloke, either expressly or otherwise. The contract of employment is a contract of service and not for services. Under a contract of service, a person places his/ her labour at the disposal of another and thus the relationship is constituted of employer and employee e.g. in the case of a chauffeur. In contract for services, the relationship is that of employer and independent contractor e.g. in the case of a taxi - driver. This distinction is important to determine general liability of torts within employment. (Dobson, P and Schnithoff, 1991). The employment protection (consolidation) Act 1978, (E.P.C 1978) S. 153 (1)

Project planning exercise Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Project planning exercise - Coursework Example However, on the table the timing is not indicated as it is counted as no work is done on that particular day. Free float is one day. This because the earliest time to complete the activity is day two and the earliest time to start the preceding action is day 3.So they there is an extra fee day floating for the workers to relax for the next activity. In activity C, the latest time to start the activity is day four, the earliest time to start the activity is day four. In this case, the total float is one day. However, the free float is three days. It is a minimal time that the workers would require to embark on activity D. The action begins on day six of the scheduled time. The earliest time to purchase the kits is day five because the workers are free on that particular day. The latest time to buy the tools would be on day six when the activity begins. The total floating time would then be one day. On the other hand, free float only one day before embarking on the purchase of the furniture. Free float is only one day because the activity is not very exhausting so the workers would need minimal time to relax. This activity begins on day eight, and it is required that by day thirteenth, all the activities scheduled for that day is finished. The total float time for the activity is just one day. Free float five days. It is because the earliest time expected to complete the business would be day twelve and the earliest time to start the action would be day seven. This action starts on day thirteenth and is expected to be done by day eighteenth. The total float time one day, free float is five days because the earliest time to begin the activity is day twelve and the earliest time expected to be finished the activity is day seventeen. The activity is expected to be done within seven days. The earliest time to start the activity is day seventeen and the earliest time to finish the activity is day

Short and Long-term Financing Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Short and Long-term Financing - Assignment Example Sainsbury plc uses different types of financing such as borrowing, bank loans, term loans and equity funds to acquire needed cash. Long term finance is usually paid off after a long period of time such as 10-25 years. On the other hand, short term finance needs to be paid off within a year. Long term finance is acquired to fulfil a company's long-term funding needs whereas short term funds are used to finance company's working capital. Sainsbury relies on short term bank loans, bank overdrafts and short term notes for short term financing, and relies on equity shareholder's funds, medium term notes, finance leases and loan stock for long term financing. The company relies on too much loan capital, which is mostly high interest bearing in the long-term. High payments of interest reduce the company's profits. Also, high loan capital weakens a company's credit worthiness and increases risk in future. Equity financing carries high cost because it is more risky for investors. However, equity financing can be used to generate huge capital and payment of dividends is not compulsory. On the other hand, debt financing requires fixed payment of interest compulsorily. Businesses cannot rely on one source of finance rather they endeavour to maintain a mix of debt and equity capital. Companies with high debt capital are considered as more risky and therefore, the cost of capital will rise as creditors will demand more return i.e. high interest because of high risk involved. High risk, high return for investors and high cost for the company. Evidence B Working Capital Management- Sainsbury plc Working capital can simply be defined as the amount of funds in excess of current assets over current liabilities. It is basically the sum of money which is left after keeping aside the funds that are to be paid off to short term creditors. Working capital is used to finance a company's short term business needs and expenditures Working capital has two major elements viz. the current assets and the current liabilities. It can be mentioned as: Working capital = current assets-current liabilities In order to analyse a company's working capital management, it is useful to calculate ratios such as current ratio, quick ratio, receivable turnover ratio and stock turnover ratio (see appendix I). All these ratios help to determine a company's working capital position. Current ratio shows the ability of a company to meet its short term expenses and obligations out of its current assets less current liabilities. Sainsbury plc's current ratio is 0.79:1 at the end of the year 2006 whereas it was 0.57:1 in 2005 and 0.83:1 in the year 2004. It shows that the working capital position of the company has declined by about 5% over the last three years. The company is able to pay off only 79p for every 1 borrowed. Quick ratio is a variant of current ratio. It is calculated on the basis of only the current assets that can be readily converted into cash, excluding inventory and prepaid expenditures. Sainsbury plc's quick ratio is 0.67:1 at the end of year 2006, 0.46:1 in 2005 and 0.67 in 2004. This means that the company is only able to pay off 67p for every 1 of its short term obligations out of its quick current assets. For efficient working capital management, it is very essential that the company is able quickly convert its receivables and inventories into cash. The receivable turnov

Timing of market entry strategy for Samsung Galaxy S5 Research Paper

Timing of market entry strategy for Samsung Galaxy S5 - Research Paper Example More customers are using mobile phones with smart applications and features. The use of smart phones with multiple capabilities and features has become common among the global consumers. In the initial stages of the introduction of smart phones in the market, consumer uncertainty towards the new technology was higher. Over years, the customer preference has come to a level where there is enormous potential for new technologies to attract more consumers easily. Customers are looking for innovative and distinctive features in their smart phones and are experiencing more certainty in using new technologies. The prevailing customer preferences for smart phones coupled with the high end features like latest operating systems, large display, a 16 MP camera, fingerprint identification and other unique features have made it appropriate for Samsung to capture the market by introducing this product. The previous offering of Samsung in mobile phones was the Galaxy S4 which was launched in the first quarter of 2013. The Galaxy S4 was accepted widely and the product had more than 10 million pre orders. The commercial reception as well as the critical reception of the product was impressive. The Samsung Galaxy S5 was launched almost a year after the launch of Galaxy S4 as the immediate successor of the model. However, after the introduction of Samsung Galaxy S5 in the market in 2014, it was noticed that there is only a slight improvement in this model over its predecessors like Samsung Galaxy S3 and S4.

Music and Adolescence Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Music and Adolescence - Essay Example Each adolescent has their own individual preferences with the type of music they regularly listen to. Some of the past research studies have tried examining how the music preferences of the listeners affect their mood (happiness, sadness, anger, fear, tenderness, power, brightness, melancholy, relaxation, and grace) (Zacharopoulou & Kyriakidou, 2009) while others have tried to examine the impact of tempo, rhythmic clarity, rhythmic complexity, pitch level, harmonic complexity, variation of loudness, variation of tempo, rapid changes in loudness, and rapid changes of tempo over the listeners’ mood (Saarikallio & Erkkilà ¤, 2007). To determine the common type of music that captures the interest of the adolescence, a quantitative and qualitative research survey study combined with a personal one-on-one interview with a couple of randomly selected individuals will be invited to participate in the study. Basically, the proposed research study will be conducted to examine the factors that could possibly contribute to the listeners’ preferences.

The War on Drugs in America Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The War on Drugs in America - Research Paper Example However, researchers agree that criminal activity in America and the rest of the world is strongly associated with drug availability and usage (Dobkin & Nicosia 2009). During the 90’s youth gangs surged all over United States. Interestingly, during the same time crack cocaine also became the drug of choice for many. Youth gangs high on crack brought the third and inevitable problem; gang related violence. In the 1960’s gangs were not involved in drug trafficking or abuse, but the rapid growth in the number of cocaine users led to the gang members not only becoming drug abusers but also getting involved in the trade of drug. This in turn brought crack cocaine in easy access of the masses, as even the street corner gangs started thinking of drug trade as an easy way of making money. Studies show that by the 1990’s gang members were involved in higher levels of drug use as compared to non-gang member population (Howell & Decker 1999). Of course, preceding decline in manufacturing jobs did not help the situation. Selling drugs was and still is considered a way of making quick money. Most of the new jobs created in the 80’s and 90’s were in suburbs. This left the inner city residents to fend for them and drug marketers were the only one providing work. Drugs affected the social life of these gang members in other ways as well. Firstly, their new economy forced them to rethink their pathways in life. The traditional work, marriage and family lifestyle was now out of question for many. These young gang members would no longer be influenced by norms and traditions. Instead, their gangs acted as families with social control over its members. This was followed by the violence. Gangs ferociously guarded their areas and turf wars broke out. Research into the relationship between drugs and violent crime has outlined three ways in which drugs can lead to violence. First, the pharmacological effects of a drug can make its user violent and se condly, violence occurs when an abusers is forced to commit violent crimes in order to secure financing for their expensive habit. Lastly, violence is the product of the drug system in which it is the only way of ensuring expansion of drug market share and protection from other market participants (Howell & Decker, 1999). Another side effect of drugs being sold on the street corner is that those who were already dealing with the harsh realities of life found an easy way out of their problems, even if it was for a little while. This led to many women to abuse drugs as well. The increase in prostitution can also be coincided with the increase of drugs in the American society. It is too, a never-ending cycle as prostitutes use drugs to deal with the humiliating aspects of their profession while indulging in it to finance their expensive habit of drug abuse (Young, Boyd & Hubbell 2000). Many people think that drug addicts simply lack the will to leave their addiction or they are morally corrupt because they consciously want to do all the bad things that happen. The reality is that drug addiction is a disease that alters the brain chemistry of a person making it impossible to simply wash the addiction away. Every year more than $600 billion are spent in health and crime costs related to drugs. However, even these numbers are insufficient to explain the harm caused by drugs to our society, as

Introduction to Engineering - Truss Bridge Design Essay

Introduction to Engineering - Truss Bridge Design - Essay Example Introduction to Engineering - Truss Bridge Design This model successfully worked to hold desired load and effectively fulfilled the load resistance qualities that a practical bridge must have. Keywords Truss bridge, bridge competition, bridge model, bridge stability. Introduction Bridge design is the fundamental part of civil engineering and most critical as well. It is designed for transportation of heavy traffic; meanwhile, it is constructed to cope with environmental effects like storms. There are many types of bridges that are being used around the world, among them most common are arch bridges, girder bridges, truss bridges, cantilever bridges, cable stayed bridges, moveable bridges and suspension bridges(SWE, 2012). The type of bridge that we incorporated in our design is the truss bridge. These are the oldest and the most economical bridges found around the world with excellent weight bearing capacity(BuildingBig, 2010). Atypical truss bridge is shown below: Specialty of truss bridges is the triangular elements present in the structure to share the load applied on the bridge by the traffic(JHU). In a typical truss bridge design the horizontal members are responsible for bearing loads as a result of horizontal as well as dynamic compression. In our bridge design we made use of Popsicle sticks to create truss members as well as the base of the bridge. These sticks were joined together by making use of glue. Where required, the sticks were cut to the required lengths for making triangle structures of the bridge. For providing strength to the design, the sticks were stacked over each other in 3 to 4 layers and the whole structure was made which is shown below: Before finalizing the above bridge design, we tested a number of bridge structures before as well by making use of west point bridge design, but all those designs failed while testing. By making use of strategic techniques to design practical bridges based on load distribution errors were reduced and thickness of trusses and other members was increased. This gave stability to the bridge design. After that we started working in the structure of the bridge. For that purpose the first task was to select the appropriate material for constructing truss bridge which goes we ll with our dimensional requirements. Therefore, popsicle sticks were chosen as a preferred material. After that all the sticks were marked at the point of applying glue. Initial step was to design the the bottom frame of the structure in which three layers of sticks were used. Here is the view of one bottom structure. Total two rails were made for the bridge. After structuring the bottom next step was to structure the rectangular truss portion of the bridge. For that purpose first two steps of bottom design were used; to collect popsicle sticks and gluing them together. After that, triangular portions were structured and joined together. These trusses were then connected to the bottom rails as shown below: Last step was to connect the assembly of both the trusses and bottom rails to each other by making use of popsicle sticks and gluing them to the bottom. In this way the final structure was drawn. Results and Discussion In the design of first bridge, total 145 popsicle sticks were used and the resulting weight of the bridge was calculated to be approximately 198.3lbs. The designed bridge

Environmental Science Essay Example for Free

Environmental Science Essay Our world looses 40,000 species a year, while ocean fisheries collapse and global warming threatens ecosystems from the coral reefs to the melting of the North Pole poles to the grain-producing mid-latitudes. There is a greater need than ever before to understand ecosystem processes, man’s impact on these processes, and the value systems that will determine our future interactions with our own ecosystem. Conservation is akin to problem solving, hence the emphasis on the art of solving problems and the critical-analytical approach toward understanding the underlying issues. Conserving nature is thus related to solving problems arising from human interference. It thus combines the complexity of nature with the human dimension, which is complicated to say the least. Hence the multitude of dimensions, confusion of ideas and the widespread involvement in all facets of daily life.Conservation is rooted in the belief that something can be done to prevent the loss of an endeared entity. When we saw native forests disappearing to shipbuilding and firewood, we began to protect them, goes the story. However, the truth follows a slightly different path. Forests were saved because people discovered coal, which was much more efficient to use. Instead of building ships from timber, steel proved to be a better choice. Instead of burning firewood for locomotives, coal proved more efficient. Thus coal and steel saved the remnants of native forests. Likewise it was fossil oil that saved the whales. If no economic replacement can be found, people will use the resource to the last little bit. Conservation in its early days, often happened by accident. However, today, people are using knowledge, foresight, labour and technology for proactive conservation. Soil conservation: soil has become threatened by human cultivation and climate change, resulting in loss of fertility, erosion and desertification. Water conservation: water is needed for food and industry, but in many nations a severe shortage is looming as humans use over 50% of fresh water that never reaches the sea. Atmosphere conservation: clean air is needed by all organisms on Earth. The atmosphere regulates the Earths temperature and protects it from harmful radiation. Global warming and ozone depletion threaten all organisms, including humans. Natural habitat conservation: wildlife needs natural habitat, Wildlife conservation: preventing extinctions, maintaining biodiversity. Mineral conservation: the mining of minerals rests almost exclusively in the hands of mining companies. Their business is to supply an ever hungrier market. Conservation of minerals can be done only at the consumers end, by reducing the need, reusing by-products and recycling wastes Energy conservation: energy is the main driving force behind industry and indeed our civilisation. Our entire standard of living depends on energy to the extent, that people in developed countries use the equivalent of 50 human slaves each, or more. Fossil fuel is going to run out and alternatives have to be found, as well as energy conserved. Urban conservation: in recent times, many cities have grown so rapidly that they have become unlivable due to overcrowding, traffic jams, inadequate public transportation systems, air and water pollution, noise, and lack of recreational parks. People flee the cities to live in suburbs, causing urban areas to sprawl, which exacerbates the transport-related problems. Urban conservation aims to make cities more livable, while halting urban sprawl. Marine conservation: the marine environment has its own rules. To do conservation for the benefit of nature is difficult enough, but because humans are involved in every step, the matter becomes very much more complicated. In fact, this aspect can become quite time-consuming and energy-sapping, often obscuring what the whole purpose of conservation is all about. Human society has become more complicated over time, and will continue to do so. People have occupied every bit of land, and have also been allowed to own it. By having an interest in an area planned for conservation, or an extractable species, human lives are affected and conflicts arise. People who have a claim to be considered, call themselves stakeholders. Dont be surprised that a stakeholder can live hundreds of kilometres away from the place of conflict. Here are the human interests that need to be considered along every step: economic: peoples incomes are affected. Countries with a Bill Of Rights, require such people to be compensated financially. It increases the cost of conservation. However, often new opportunities present themselves, and people can get better jobs through re-training. Where fishing is stopped, boat owners and skippers can learn to earn a living from eco-tourism. Park rangers are required, and those displaced from the area make good rangers due to their local knowledge. rights: over time, people have given themselves all kinds of rights. Their present predicament is seen as a right obtained through custom, and any change to it is seen as an infringement of such rights. tradition: people have been doing what they do for many generations, often passed down in families from father to son. Villages have a tradition, and so do areas. A conservation effort may upset such traditions. culture: every ethnic group has a different culture. Within a culture, specific rights and beliefs are held dearly. Conservation may infringe on such cultural values. spiritual: persons and groups may have spiritual values, arising from beliefs and superstitions. emotional value: people often value a place or a species emotionally. Such values cannot be measured but are real to the beholders. A large range of emotional values can be held. race: racial matters may dominate conservation efforts. Original People like the Maori in New Zealand, the Aborigines in Australia and the Indians in America and Canada, have lived in the area for a long time, and have cultural and spiritual ties with an area. However, often the race issue is used to gain power and income. Nevertheless, it seems that the three underlying causes, population growth, economic growth and material needs (standard of living) are too holy to be stemmed, or even discussed. So it happens that all our conservation efforts are directed at fixing problems, rather than preventing them. Worse still, the concept of sustainable development requires us to increase economic activity while also conserving the environment, two opposing goals. Conservationists now try to improve our quality of life, the need for a clean environment, such as clean air and water, uncluttered living areas, and unspoiled scenic lands. Only very recently has the concept of biodiversity entered the conservationists vocabulary. It requires healthy ecosystems, not just for the benefit of people but also for those other millions of species. The ecological crisis, as an outcome of human impact on nature, has reached a point that could threaten the very survival of humanity. In keeping with the economic interests of a small minority, new production forms be implemented faster and faster, with no prior evaluation of their ecological consequences. These minority interests also require maintaining production techniques recognized as harmful. This is going on while technological progress is increasing the possibility of acting upon nature, and hence upsetting or destroying it. Industry, transports and the breakdown of more or less durable consumer goods release a great variety of toxic substances into the air. The unbridled and apparently uncontrollable growth of motor vehicle traffic makes this the primary source of sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide, far ahead of household and industrial heating. Formic aldehyde, mercury and asbestos, for example, are industrial pollutants. These are also found to a very significant extent in everyday consumer products, such as building materials in the case of formaldehyde and asbestos, and mercury in batteries. Waste, of household, agricultural or industrial origin alike, is carried off in the worlds waters, turning them into gigantic sewers. Continental waters, rivers and lakes are the hardest-hit, but pollution is reaching the sea more and more, via rivers and coastal cities. The direct consequences are the accumulation of heavy metals; mercury, cadmium, etc, and highly toxic organic compounds, in sediment on the ocean floor, riverbeds and lakebeds. Above all, fertilizer build-up, involving nitrates and phosphates, has led to an unbridled proliferation of algae and water plants. Their breakdown then exhausts the oxygen dissolved in the water: resulting in a massive death of aquatic life. Among the most dramatic manifestations of the ecological crisis, the destruction of the worlds forests is among the most disturbing, because of the extent of its consequences. In 50 years, one third of the worlds woodlands has disappeared. This has hit tropical countries the hardest. In the industrialized countries, the wooded area has remained relatively stable, but forests are slowly dying from air, oil and soil pollution. However, in the Third World, deforestation is at the heart of the ecological crisis. Deforestation is the outcome of a vicious cycle of poverty and depletion of arable land. Another cause is the over-harvesting of tropical woods, with no concern for sustainable management. This destroys biodiversity the tropical forests are home to over 50% of the plant and animal species of our planet and the forest populations resources, in order to provide a cheaper product for Western building and furniture markets. In future, we must see our neighbours as partners and friends rather than as poachers and foes. This partnership can also extend to adjoining industries, farming enterprises and business ventures. It does, of course, mean that human attitudes and behaviour will have to change. We should all see ourselves as custodians of the environment and learn to live in harmony with it. Only then will we see light at the end of a dark tunnel. Worked Cite: Daniel B. Botkin, Edward A. Keller Published by Wiley Text Books (June 2002) Environmental Science: Earth as a Living Planet

Computer Assisted Instruction in Education Essay

Computer Assisted Instruction in Education Essay INTRODUCTION BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY In recent years, due to advancement of computer technology, the concept of Computer Assisted Instruction is now more prevalent, and has become a trend (Yang Wang, 2001). Electronic learning popularly referred to as e-learning is increasingly becoming acceptable in tertiary institutions all over the world. This is as a result of the opportunity provided by higher institutions and more students taking part in it (OECD, 2005). Digital learning is basically the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) to enhance and support learning teaching and research (Eteng Ntui, 2009). With digital learning, there is a shift from the traditional approach of teacher-directed didactic to modern methods where computer technology plays an significant role, thereby improving the quality, efficiency and effectiveness of teaching, learning, research and educational management. Its methods including the integration of the World Wide Web, multimedia, information search, electronic libraries , and remote learning. In this digital age, teachers must deal with the challenge and developmental opportunities of how to appropriately use information technology and how to integrate various educational materials into course design and teaching methods (Rosenberg, 2001). The characteristics of digital learning is different from the characteristics of traditional classroom environment learning, and can improve upon some learning problems of students who are physically or mentally challenged, helping them to learn more effectively (Chen, 2003). It provides stimulation from different channels such as words, pictures, sounds, animation, and images, and can frequently help students use learning functions of different sensory organs, and achieve the learning targets of diverse wisdom (Li, 1998). In designing digital learning, scholars emphasize that learning ideals rather than computer technology should lead the design of a computerized learning environment (Chiou Chong, 1993; Yang W ang, 2001). The need for digital learning has now become important more than ever before as the objective of university education in Nigeria as defined in the National Policy on education (2000) includes the provision of high level manpower for national development and this is to be achieved through its programme of teaching, learning and research. Digital learning can help adults in developing their literacy and innumeracy skills, while also building Information Communication and Technology skills for life and work (CILIP, 2005). In spite of the bright prospect of digital learning in the country, it is so worrisome that there are some hurdles militating against the effective use of the educational technology in Nigeria. Folorunso, Ogunseye, Sharma (2006) and Resnick (2002) indicates that mass unawareness, low computer literacy level and cost were identified as critical factors affecting the acceptability of digital learning by students and lecturers of Nigerian universities. Sharma, Ekundayo, Ngige (2009) points out that digital learning place high demand on learners who have to be more proactive and disciplined than in traditional face-to-face education whereas this proactiveness and discipline is lacking. Various barriers to ICT use in Africa schools have been identified to include: poor infrastructure, epileptic power supply, lack of electricity, lack of trained personnel, poverty, inadequate funding and limited or no internet access (Aladejana, 2007; Jegede, 2005). STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM While there had been a giant attempt at integrating digital learning into instruction in other advanced countries, Nigeria is not yet fascinated by the potential of technology to enhance teaching and learning. Many of our schools are lagging behind in integrating technology into instruction. Teachers are apprehensive about improving and modifying instruction by incorporating the new technologies (Huckle, 1997). According to Salomon (1989), there are clear indications from many developing countries like Nigeria that the supply of relevant and appropriate software is a major bottleneck obstructing wider application and utilization of digital learning in Nigeria tertiary institutions. Schulmeister (2006) states that experience proved that the benefits of digital learning could not be fully taken advantage of, expectations could not be met and that technology often was used to simply reinforce outmoded approaches to learning. Resnick (2002) criticizes that even though Information Communi cation Technology is applied in education, the approaches to teaching and learning remain largely unchanged. There is therefore non-availability of internet access in some tertiary institutions because of the recurrent cost of bandwidth. Inequality of access to technology is the challenge of digital divide existing among the student in Nigeria tertiary institution (Omofaye, 2007). Thus, some of them are unable to afford computers due to the relative cost to the average income of workers in the country (Ajadi, Salawu, Adeoye, 2008). The cost of accessing the internet in Nigeria is still on the high side, some students find it a challenge to afford (Arikpo, Osofisan, Usoro, 2009) PURPOSE Based on the aforementioned research background and the statement of the problem, the purpose of this study is to explore the utilization and effect of digital learning on students in Lagos state Tertiary Institutions. RESEARCH QUESTIONS The following questions will guide this study: What is the level of awareness of students on the availability of Digital learning in Nigeria tertiary institution? What is the status of the utilization of digital learning? What are the challenges faced in the utilization of Digital learning on students? SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY The study is significant in that it will provide information about the current status of utilization of modern technology in Nigerian secondary schools. It will also provide baseline data for future policy regarding technology training and the development of strategic plans aimed at encouraging technology-based innovation in teacher education programs. It is also hoped that this study will trigger off more research studies that will inform/encourage implementation of new technology in teacher education. This study will be useful to inform teachers on how use digital learning to teach students which will address the needs of students with different learning styles and motivation. It will offer great potential to transform and improve student learning, engagement and retention and support student success which will help institutional goals with potential benefits including improved retention and time savings for instructors. Average teachers will benefit as digital learning will help r each their excellent peers and take complex tasks off their to-do lists, enabling them to focus on the parts of teaching at which they can excel. Through technology, they can also obtain real-time data and advice about how to help each of their students succeed, saving time and improving performance. It will make it easy for teachers to personalize instruction, which many average teachers find difficult or impossible to achieve with whole classrooms of students with a wide array of needs. Also teachers will increasingly be able to teach more students in person as digital learning replaces portions of instruction in an individualized fashion and provides time-saving student data; reach students remotely via technology; and capture and share their performances and methods widely through video and smart software that individualizes learning. Even among excellent teachers, various people will thrive in different roles. By emphasizing the use of simulation games to teach mathematics, it is hoped that the study will lead to the improvement of mathematics teaching and learning in our secondary schools. The general poor performance of students in mathematics and their attitudes towards some aspects of the subject are expected to be better. With this study, the researcher aims at exposing the teachers and students to the importance of using simulation games to improve the teaching and learning of mathematics. Technology and digital learning can increase the ability to meet the needs of individual students. Whether through the availability of timely data or the ability to connect students with the content and activities that meet their learning styles and needs, technology and digital learning provide opportunities for teachers to personalize learning for more students at any given time. HYPOTHESES There is no significant difference between the challenges faced in the utilization of digital learning and students performance. There is no significant difference between the level awareness of students and availability of digital learning in tertiary Nigeria institutions. There is no significant difference between status and utilization of digital learning. SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY This study will cover the teaching and learning activities in Lagos State Tertiary Institutions. CHAPTER TWO:  LITERATURE REVIEW DIGITAL LEARNING RESOURCES In this study, the term digital learning resources refers to learning premises and platforms that include technology enablers such as laptops, multimedia, CD-ROMs, and Internet resources. Digital learning resources can give students authentic as well as up-to-date information that is not necessarily available in textbooks. Generally, e-learning resources are useful as they represent a collection of cultural and scientific knowledge accumulated over the years (Yeo Tan, 2008). Moreover, this type of resource can be useful to students because it can foster their learning and their critical thinking, their ability to make connections between different concepts, and bridge the gap between their theoretical and practical knowledge (Palmer, 2007). Despite this, availability of resources does not lead to automatic learning improvement; in fact, productive use of resources can be difficult to achieve (Bera Liu, 2006). Technologies and Methods of Teaching There are evidences supporting the introduction and use of new technologies in instruction. The World Bank (2004) opined that ICTs should be considered within education for the purpose of reforming curriculum, reinforcing teaching/learning and to improve leaning. The UN Secretary of State (2005) speaking on the role of technology in education said we must ensure that Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) are used to help unlock the doors of education. As a result, Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) came up with this policy to co-operate with the private sector, to make available the benefits of new technologies, especially ICTs to increase educational opportunities and unlock the door of education. As a result of this, new technologies are being disseminated into educational institutions at a rapid rate. For the new technologies to be effectively utilized, teachers at all levels need not only to be proficient in the technologies but must also be well versed in its effect ive integration into their instruction. The major area Nigeria could meet this expectation is the teachers preparation in the methods class. It is in the methods class that the students can see their teachers modelling the use or lack of use of the technology. The use or lack of use of the new technologies may widely affect the students in future as regard whether to use them or not. CHALLENGES OF DIGITAL LEARNING The information on any subject which has been put on the web need to be transformed to knowledge at some stage for it to be made useful. As suggested by Mehdi (2004) it can be extremely easy and quick to transfer information from one place to another, it is often very difficult and slow to transfer knowledge from one person to another .There have been devised several methods to ease the process of conversion of information to knowledge, digital age has enabled swift transfer of information and now strives to produce faster ways to convert it to knowledge. Teresa John (2007) talked about the various evolutions in digital learning like word-processing, hypermedia, Computer-mediated Communications, New Literacy Studies, Digital Archives and Information Literacy. The best effective method for this conversion cant be defined as learning ability differs from person to person and different tools produce different results in individuals. We usually tend to divide these groups based on age, country or technical background. The various needs for direction of development in the field of digital learning have been felt since a long time. We cant expect every individual to respond in a similar manner to tools that are available for digital learning. Therefore different tools and teaching methods are required for different groups of people which can be implemented with the help of human computer interaction (HCI) as emphasized by Bee Laurel (2004). Another issue is the awareness to all new tools which can be helpful to a learner which can also be done with human computer interaction. Also a matter of concern is that there still exists a small population who is completely devoid of digital learning even if they can afford it. This is largely because of various myths and unawareness. As marked by Guerra, Alfonzo, Suarez, Hernandez Milan (2007) teaching aids have moved from blackboard to projector transparencies and then to video projectors and PowerPoint. The teachers are u sually not able to produce very effective multimedia or other forms of digital learning. This is quite obvious as we cant expect every teacher to be a multimedia expert. The Development of various tools was done so as to enable the learners to acquire he knowledge easily. Another issue is the capital required for the spreading awareness, conducting workshops, providing training and releasing new education tools and multimedia products for learning. PERCEPTION ON DIGITAL LEARNING To successfully create digital learning program, we need to ensure that value really is there and it is in concrete terms. That means we need to sell learners on the truthful proposition that participation will provide benefits worth the time and effort. The curriculum needs to be the point of reference for creating an effective digital learning. Doing so will stimulate vital motivation and give the program a chance to succeed (Allen, 2003). Bad digital learning perception may be due to lack of understanding, lack of communication, and lack of trust or conflicting agendas in appropriate use technology. Some goal coaching and awareness exercises are probably needed to strengthen peoples perception (Allen, 2003). It is important to realize that learners are both emotional and intellectual; and emotions have much effect on peoples perception and what they do. In some digital learning studies conducted in developing countries, it was found that lack of vision and framework in implementin g digital learning lead to a failure of these digital learning projects (Kizito Bijan, 2006; Pal, 2006). Lack of both technical and social skills required for implementation contributes to the failure of some projects. If learners cannot use adaptive tools they might feel ashamed and this affects perception. When learners feel ashamed and guilt it is because they are sent in environment in which they are not entirely pleased. The feeling will influence their study situation, as well as the whole learning process and this result in negative feedback, which may reduce concentration and motivation (Ostlund, 2005). Digital Learning Models Horn Staker (2011) offers this summary of various digital learning models: Face-to-Face Driver This approach retains teachers to deliver most of their curricula in a traditional brick-and-mortar school setting. The teacher deploys online learning on a case-by-case basis to supplement or re-mediate, often in the back of the classroom or in a technology lab.   Rotation   The common feature the rotation model is that students rotate between learning online in a one-to-one, self-paced environment and in a traditional classroom. The face-to-face teacher usually oversees the online work.   Flex   Programs with a flex model feature an online platform that delivers most of the curricula. Teachers provide on-site support on a flexible, as-needed basis through in-person tutoring sessions and small group sessions. Many dropout-recovery and credit recovery blended programs fit into this model.   Online Lab The online lab model relies on an online platform to deliver the entire course, but in a brick-and-mortar lab environment. Usually these programs provide online teachers. Paraprofessionals supervise, but offer little content expertise. Often, students who participate in an online lab program also take traditional courses.   Self-Blend The most common version of blended learning is the self-blend model, where students choose to take one or more courses online to supplement their traditional schools catalog. The online learning is always remote, which distinguishes it from the online lab model, but the traditional learning is in a brick and mortar school. All supplemental online schools that offer a la carte courses to individual students facilitate self-blending.   Online Driver   The online driver model involves an online platform and teacher that deliver all curricula. Students work remotely for the most part, Face-to-face check-ins may   be included. Some of these programs offer brick-and-mortar components as well, such as extracurricular activities. THE NEED FOR DIGITAL LEARNING IN NIGERIA TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS The world is advancing at a rapid rate. Events have moved to the electronic stage with the computer at the centre. This development has brought a lot of innovation and revolution into teaching and learning. The 3Rs (reading, writing and arithmetic) which forms the nucleus of the old system of education has witnessed series of literacy reforms. The world is now in the age of information technology or computers age; hence, there is a need to keep abreast of time. One of the ways of achieving this is through the introduction of computer education in our institutions of learning (Ajibade, 2006).

Huckleberry Finn, a Book of Controversy :: essays papers

Huckleberry Finn, a Book of Controversy Since its publication over one hundred years ago, Mark Twain?s Huckleberry Finn has caused many disagreements and much controversy. The style and language used by Mark Twain is found as offensive to some, uplifting to others and yet bittersweet to me. All sides have strong arguments, ones that are educated and heartfelt. That is what makes it so difficult to decide whether to teach or read aloud Huckleberry Finn in the classroom. Opponents of the teaching, or usage, of Huckleberry Finn in the classroom say that they find the book despicable, ?trash? and other harsh adjectives. One of the main reasons they criticize the book is for the usage of racial slurs towards the African-American people, such as ?nigger.? They also claim that the author, Mark Twain, stereotypes Jim, an escaped African-American slave, as to be a fool with less intelligence than a fourteen-year-old Caucasian boy does. As John H. Wallace puts it, ?It [Huckleberry Finn] contributes to their [the African-American students] feelings of low self-esteem and to the white student?s disrespect for black people As you can see feelings of some are bitter towards the usage of Huckleberry Finn in the classroom. Proponents of the book claim that the book should be taught for several reasons, including the anti-slavery message of the book. In contrast to the opponents, David L. Smith writes, he [Mark Twain] portrays Jim [the escaping slave] as a compassionate, shrewd, thoughtful, self-sacrificing, and even a wise man.? Supporters also point out that Twain actually condemns white society of the day for their barbaric practice of slavery. Supporter, Kenny G. Williams, feels that the novel should be read, for it uncovers a basic historical reality, which is important for the advancement of equality. Now you can see how people?s positions on the usage of Huckleberry Finn vary greatly from on another. I have not yet read the book, yet through some research I have found that I more support the book than denounce it. I interviewed a dark skinned friend of mine, Sanjay Nakka, and he had a positive message. He said, ?The usage of this book [Huckleberry Finn] is quintessential to the acceptance of racial equality. Sometimes we need some controversy to bring a problem to light, where you can work on it, you know I also tend to lean towards his opinion, for I have heard strong arguments against the book, yet I have heard stronger, more heartfelt and educated arguments for the use of Huckleberry Finn in the classroom.

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight :: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight - Gawain Finds The Green Knight's Castle PASSAGE ANALYSIS LINES 763-841 Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is an Arthurian story about the first adventure of Sir Gawain (King Arthur's nephew). The author and date of this romance are not exactly known but may be dated circa 1375-1400, because the author seems to be a contemporary of Geoffrey Chaucer. From the very start of the story, the author gives a grand introduction for Arthur and his court, and then Arthur's men are described as "bold boys" (line 21) which means that they are brave, but only boys. If they are so brave why then did the author not describe them as men? Chaucer uses this kind of irony to describe his characters in "The General Prologue" of The Canterbury Tales. Chaucer made no direct judgements on his characters in the "General Prologue," nor does the unknown author of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. This particular passage (lines 763-841) from Sir Gawain and the Green Knight deals primarily with Gawain, Arthur's most courteous and well-mannered knight, finding the castle of the Green Kn ight, whose name is Bercilak, and then there is a lengthy description given of the castle. Gawain is on a journey to find the Green Knight almost one year later. He promised to take his hits from the Green Knight. The most important item in this passage is the description of the castle. Bercilak's castle is well protected and similar to other castles during this period. This castle is unlike others, however, because it is magical and because of its symbolism. Castles in the Middle Ages A Summary of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Analysis of Passage In this particular passage, Gawain is a knight who is on a journey with deep faith in his religion. This is expressed through his fervent prayers to Christ and Mary. No one is here to help him except God who he speaks to and asks to hear mass on Christmas Eve. He humbles himself "meekly before God" in the snow and cold. His prayers are then answered immediately. Bercilak's castle appears out of nowhere, green with trees and grass as if it were springtime. It is almost as if the castle were provided for Gawain by God. He is at Bercilak's court, but of course, does not know this until the end. After praying, he crosses himself three times and then this grand estate appears before him like magic. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight :: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Sir Gawain and the Green Knight - Gawain Finds The Green Knight's Castle PASSAGE ANALYSIS LINES 763-841 Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is an Arthurian story about the first adventure of Sir Gawain (King Arthur's nephew). The author and date of this romance are not exactly known but may be dated circa 1375-1400, because the author seems to be a contemporary of Geoffrey Chaucer. From the very start of the story, the author gives a grand introduction for Arthur and his court, and then Arthur's men are described as "bold boys" (line 21) which means that they are brave, but only boys. If they are so brave why then did the author not describe them as men? Chaucer uses this kind of irony to describe his characters in "The General Prologue" of The Canterbury Tales. Chaucer made no direct judgements on his characters in the "General Prologue," nor does the unknown author of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. This particular passage (lines 763-841) from Sir Gawain and the Green Knight deals primarily with Gawain, Arthur's most courteous and well-mannered knight, finding the castle of the Green Kn ight, whose name is Bercilak, and then there is a lengthy description given of the castle. Gawain is on a journey to find the Green Knight almost one year later. He promised to take his hits from the Green Knight. The most important item in this passage is the description of the castle. Bercilak's castle is well protected and similar to other castles during this period. This castle is unlike others, however, because it is magical and because of its symbolism. Castles in the Middle Ages A Summary of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Analysis of Passage In this particular passage, Gawain is a knight who is on a journey with deep faith in his religion. This is expressed through his fervent prayers to Christ and Mary. No one is here to help him except God who he speaks to and asks to hear mass on Christmas Eve. He humbles himself "meekly before God" in the snow and cold. His prayers are then answered immediately. Bercilak's castle appears out of nowhere, green with trees and grass as if it were springtime. It is almost as if the castle were provided for Gawain by God. He is at Bercilak's court, but of course, does not know this until the end. After praying, he crosses himself three times and then this grand estate appears before him like magic.

Delivering Moral Messages in Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been a

Delivering Moral Messages in Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been and A Good Man is Hard to Find School shootings, bombings, rape, and murder are words that are commonly seen in newspaper headlines and heard on the morning news. To most people these acts seem like senseless violence. However, writers like Joyce Carol Oates and Flannery O’Connor use these same violent images to deliver a powerful moral message. Their stories â€Å"Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?† and â€Å"A Good Man is Hard to Find† are very comparable in the lessons that they teach. Joyce Carol Oates’s â€Å"Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been† begins with the introduction of it’s main character, Connie, a fifteen year- old girl. Oates makes Connie’s vanity quiet well know by telling the reader that Connie has the â€Å"habit of craning her neck to glance into mirrors†. Indeed, it is this vanity and Connie’s innocence that places her right in the path of Arnold Friend. Arnold will confirm this by telling Connie that there is nothing else for â€Å"a pretty girl like you but to be sweet and give in.† In fact, critics generally interpret this story as Connie’s initiation into evil. What’s in a name? If you’re talking about one of Joyce Carol Oates’s characters, a name can say a lot. Arnold Friend’s name can be interpreted as â€Å"aren’t no friend† or â€Å"A. Friend† (Johnson 150). Either way his is a demonic figure that represents the death of Connie’s spirit. In fact, Arnold Friend is based on a serial killer know as â€Å"The Pied Piper of Tucson.† As Oates reports, this â€Å"tabloid psychopath† specialized in â€Å"the seduction and occasional murder of teenage girls† (Wesley). The Pied Piper was in his thirties; yet, he managed to counterfeit teenage dress, talk, and behavior. He also stuffed rags into his leather boots to give him height. These elements of the Pied Piper’s behavior are very obvious in Oates’s portrayal of Arnold Friend (Johnson 148). Joyce Carol Oates dedicated â€Å"Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been† to Bob Dylan. His song â€Å"It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue† was her inspiration. The many lines from Dylan’s song obviously influenced the story (see appendix A). The vagabond who’s rapping at your door Is standing in clothes that you once wore. However, the mood and tone of the story also reveal more subtle connections (Davidson). â€Å"Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been† has ... ... and The Misfit play similar demonic roles and serve as a reminder that evil can come in many forms. They both violently lead their victims to make religious epiphanies. The price paid for their spiritual rebirth is an immediate death. Both Flannery O’Connor and Joyce Carol Oates have been criticized for their violent writings. However, the acts portrayed in their stories aren’t senseless. They are meant to show the purification of the involved characters. Also, they serve as a catharsis or reassurance of faith for the reader. Works Cited Davidson, Rob. Dedication of Joyce Carol Oates’s Short Story to Dylan. 16 Mar. 2000 . Friedman, Melvin L., and Clark, Beverly Lyon. Critical Essays on Flannery O’Connor. Boston: G.K. Hall & Co., 1985. Johnson, Greg. Joyce Carol Oates: A Study of the Short Fiction. New York: Twayne, 1994. Portch, Stephen R. â€Å"O’Connor’s ‘A Good Man Is Hard to Find’.† The Explicator 37 (1978): 19-20. Schott, Webster. â€Å"Flannery O’Connor: Faith’s Stepchild.† The Nation 201 (1965): 142-44, 146. Wesley, Marilyn C. â€Å"The Transgressive Other in Joyce Carol Oates’s Recent Fiction.† Critique: Studies in Contemporary Fiction XXXIII (1992): 255-62.

My intercultural communication at school Essay

My ESL classes at Heald College took six months and these were necessary requirements so that I could pursue major courses in Architecture. There were other students like me from other countries and it felt good to belong to a group that was being taught the American way of life and culture. It felt good because it gave me the feeling that I was not alone in my hardships. It did not feel so bad and odd being with a group struggling with nuances of the English language and pronunciation and the idiosyncrasies of American culture. While I considered myself an out-group when I was with natural-born Americans, I felt like a member of an in-group when I was with the foreign students. Probably, this feeling springs from the fact that one naturally feels out of place when all others behave and talk in a different way. There is some comfort gained from knowing that one is just like the others. My struggle to fit in was at times frustrating, as I could not be properly understood by the teacher on account of misplaced accents or outright mispronunciations. At first I really felt stupid when the teacher would rephrase my statement and ask if it was what I meant. When I would say it was not what I meant, another classmate would butt in with a genuine intention to help me out but I would end up all the more confused and misunderstood. Realizing the setbacks of my lack of facility with the language, I resolved more than ever to master the English language. My Intercultural Communication at Work Working as a busboy and later, as a waiter in a restaurant gave me the chance to encounter more people and gain more facility with the English language. Finding work was quite an exhilarating experience for me. I felt that I could already communicate my ideas clearly and so I gained more confidence. Of course, there were still some instances when some patrons would fail to understand how I pronounce my words but whenever such a thing happened, I would remember the word and practice saying it correctly when I got home. I had discarded my Dari-English dictionary and I could already carry on a conversation with a native speaker of American English without fumbling for the right word or halting. I once attempted to be friendly with other waiters hoping to generate deeper camaraderie while we were up and about with our tasks. To my horror, I found that Americans seem to be single-minded and so focused when they go about their work that banter is misconstrued as not being serious about work. From then on, I learned to be very business-like while doing my work, bearing in mind that I was not working in an Afghan setting Conclusion This profound reflection on my sojourn in America has made me realize a lot of things that I once took for granted. First, I realized that I possess the resilience and tenacity that is a hallmark of a true Afghan. I used to take for granted the lore and history that due to the Afghan experience of a succession of foreign invasions, Afghans are by nature strong in spirit and character. Indeed, it is no easy task for an 18-year-old boy to force himself to become an adult almost overnight due to peculiar personal circumstances. I realized too that exposure to another culture widens ones horizons and makes one more tolerant of other people. Assimilation into another culture truly begins and is facilitated by an earnest desire to learn the language to a level that one speaks it like one born into the language itself. Together with this is a keen sense of awareness of the seemingly insignificant cultural differences between one’s culture of origin and the host culture. Cultural sensitivity, if I may use the term, enables one to steer clear of problematic situations. Indeed, it is not always wise to act and behave according to one’s cultural orientation when one is in another cultural setting. My intercultural communication with the Peterson family was at first regulated by cues from the reactions of Mr. Peterson. I came to know what he disliked by observing how he reacted. Yet, the sincere sharing of cultural traditions was the factor that truly made our relationship rise up to a higher level. Mutual respect and understanding resulted from the open sharing and this could not have happened by merely observing each other’s reactions. Truly, if one wants to have a meaningful intercultural communication, it must begin with an honest sharing of culture and traditions. It makes it possible to view the other person from their own cultural perspective. The moment I stopped my automatic comparison of Afghan and American values whenever I encountered an unfamiliar cultural practice, I became more accepting of American culture. As Holliday, Hyde and Kullman advise, â€Å"Put aside simplistic notions about what is real and unreal in your perception of another culture, and appreciate that every society is as complex and culturally varied as your own†. (10) The moment I began to have this attitude in my attempt to fully integrate myself into American society, I may have taken the first step towards â€Å"intercultural competence†. Alred and Byram (2002) define intercultural competence as â€Å"the ability to behave appropriately in intercultural situations†¦. the ability to stabilize one’s self-identity while mediating between cultures† (340). I may have taken the first step but I still have a long way to go. All people regardless of culture have the innate need to feel a sense of belongingness. I am sure this is the reason why I felt at ease with my fellow Afghans as I did with other foreign students who were struggling to deal with language difficulties. Yet, once a genuine intercultural communication is initiated, it leads one to learn and marvel at the diversity and richness of all cultures around the world. Works Cited Alred, Geof and Mike Byram. â€Å"Becoming an Intercultural Mediator: A Longitudinal Study of Residence Abroad. † Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development 23. 5 (2002). Retrieved from http://www. multilingual-matters. net/jmmd/023/jmmd0230339.htm on April 25, 2007. Holliday, Adrian, Martin Hyde, and John Kullman. Intercultural Communication: An Advanced Resource Book. New York: Routledge, 2004. Questia. 25 Apr. 2007 . Robson, Barbara, Juliene Lipson with Farid Younos and Mariam Mehdi. â€Å"Afghans Their History and Culture, Cross-Cultural and Adjustment Challenges, published by the Center of Applied Linguistics, The Cultural Orientation Resource Center last updated 6/30/02. Retrieved from http://www. cal. org/co/afghan/acult. html on April 25, 2007.

‘Death of a Salesman’: Everyone fails in a waste of misplaced energy and Miller offers no comfort to his audience

‘Death of a Salesman' is dominated by the theme of failure and the protagonist Willy Loman is certainly the main exemplifier of this. The complexity of this play, however, makes it difficult to label with such a generalised comment. I would not disagree that the action of the play centres around failure but I feel that some comfort is offered through other characters such as Charley, Bernard, Howard and Ben. Willy Loman has undeniably failed in every aspect of his life. He has been defeated in business, he is a poor father and a poor husband. As Dukore says ‘The inadequacies of what he buys mirror the inadequacies in his sales, which in turn reflect his inadequacies as a parent'. Willy is not a success in business, despite describing himself as a ‘big-shot' to his sons. He dedicates a lot of time to his work and has been employed by the same firm for 34 years, however, he has to borrow money from his neighbour Charley as a means of survival as he is cruelly cast off by his ruthless boss, Howard. Willy unsurprisingly finds this humiliating and difficult to believe, ‘you can't eat the orange and throw the peel away – a man is not a piece of fruit'. Willy has no status as a businessman and he confesses that ‘the trouble is, Linda, people don't seem to take to me'. Willy believes in the fantasy of the American Dream which suggests that wealth and an attractive personality alone can make him happy. We even see Willy being patronised when his boss addresses Willy as ‘kid', representing that Willy is still seen as a kid in the business world. Willy is a failure at home and his sons, Biff and Happy, ‘both seem condemned to repeat their father's failure and relive his self-deception'. We see this as Biff steals a fountain pen from Bill Oliver as if the family are trying to grab onto any bit of success that they can find. Willy has brought his children up telling them that all they need is to be well liked to succeed. Happy rates success by how many girls he can seduce and he describes his relationships as ‘like bowling or something. I just keep knockin' them over and it doesn't mean anything'. Willy repeatedly sends contradicting messages to his sons desperately trying to find something to help them to become successes. Willy also fails as a husband. He had an affair which is only known to Biff, but Willy's guilt is represented through the stockings that Willy gave to his mistress. He has cheated Linda as she still has no knowledge of his affair. The play shows ‘a man's destruction through the tearing away of his protective covering of lies and self deceit' as Willy is constantly lying to himself and to his family about who he really is. Willy shares his faith in the American Dream with other fictional characters including Lennie and George in John Steinbeck's ‘Of Mice and Men' and others of Miller's characters like Marco and Rodolpho from Miller's play ‘A View From The Bridge'. Similar to this play, ‘Death of a Salesman' could be described as a modern Greek tragedy. Miller is very interested in this style of writing and applying it to a modern audience. ‘Death of a Salesman' could be described as a tragedy as it addresses many of the elements that Aristotle outlined. This play gives unity of time, place and action and we only see the last 24 hours of Willy's life. Again fitting in with Aristotle's ideas, the protagonist is flawed and this is Willy's determination and commitment to the American dream, and the play encourages the audience to feel catharsis at the catastrophe. Miller has, however, deliberately rejected Aristotle's idea of status and has made Willy an ‘un-heroic hero'. Miller wanted to show the ‘tragedy of a common man'. Even Willy's name ‘Loman' shows us that he is exactly that – a ‘low-man' and is similar to Elmer Rice's ‘Mr Zero' in his play ‘The Adding Machine' but Willy also seems to be an everyman and Miller said that ‘everyone knows Willy Loman' because as well as showing the destruction of one man. Despite its realistic trappings, ‘Death of a Salesman' is universal, thus a more vivid dramatisation of a modern everyman' – Willy is also representing the destruction of everyone who has bought in to the American dream, and in this way the play could also be called a political play. The mixture of traditional tragedy and Miller's own unique brand of drama allows the audience to recognise the protagonists' flaws in themselves. Willy's energy is certainly wasted as he spends the majority of his time at work, without anything to show for it. This could contribute to his failure as a husband and a father as dedicating more time to these things may help to repair broken relationships. Willy is so committed to the American Dream that everything else in his life seems to be breaking around him including household items like the fridge and the car. This symbolises Willy's race against age and limiting factors to be a success, and he fails to do this. We learn in the play that Willy is good at practical work and this work is admired by Charley, ‘That's a piece of work. To put up a ceiling is a mystery to me. How do you do it? ‘ Willy obviously has a skill but this skill is not used. Willy would be happier working in the country using his hands but he works in the city to try and satisfy his value of success which is to be working in the city and people have said of Willy that he has been ‘dwarfed by his surroundings' which I would agree with. Willy is in an environment in which he cannot survive and this idea is represented by the seeds that we see Willy desperately trying to plant at the end of the play. Like Willy, the seeds cannot grow in the environment that they are in. Willy wastes his energy as he ‘fears the present and romanticises the past' and his confusion of past and present is shown in the play through retrospective exposition. Willy spends a lot of his time talking to characters of the past instead of focussing on the present and facing up to his problems. The original title of the play was ‘The Inside of His Head' and this was because through the play we are seeing exactly what is happening inside Willy's head which is a mass of contradictions. He misplaces his energy in the past whilst still living in the present and this is what essentially causes Willy's eventual suicide. We see Happy also failing in the play as he is still a strong believer and follower of the American Dream to the end. He mirrors his father as he is still lying to himself about this fantasy and he refuses to admit that he is a failure. During The Requiem, Happy still insists that ‘He had a good dream. It's the only dream you can have – to come out number-one man'. Happy is still fooling himself and he has learnt very little even after this tragic experience, and this offers no comfort to the audience, it merely demonstrates how Willy's failure still lives on in Happy and shows Happy's wasted energy. Other characters in the play, however, are successful showing that not everyone in the play fails, and in contrast to Willy's downfall we hear the story of Bernard, Biff's school friend who succeeds due to hard work and becomes a lawyer. He shares our pity for Willy. The audience also meet Charley, Bernard's father who is a very compassionate, benevolent and caring man who is also a success in business and we see through Charley and Bernard that you do not have to be ruthless to be successful. There are, however, ruthless characters such as Bill Oliver, Biff's former boss, and Howard Wagner who was Willy's boss. These men are ruthless businessmen as we see through Howard's dismissal of Willy and Bill Oliver's unwillingness to speak to Biff about business propositions. Both Bill Oliver and Howard Wagner understand the business world – something which Willy fails to do. They both acknowledge that to succeed they need to be brutal and this is what we see Howard do. It could be said that Howard is a cruel man for dismissing Willy, however, for his business to survive it would seem the obvious thing to do as Willy no longer credited the company. I would disagree that Miller offers no comfort to his audience. By the end of the play, Biff admits to his father that ‘I'm a dozen, and so are you' and instructs his father to ‘take that phony dream and burn it before something happens'. Biff's turns his back on the American Dream and this is certainly comfort to the audience because he has found himself and knows who he is unlike his brother, and his father. There is a lot of failure in this tragedy. The focus of the play is Willy Loman who does fail and it would also be true to say that Willy does misplace his energy and there is little comfort due to the emotion of Willy's suicide. Miller said that ‘Most human enterprises disappoint' and this view is certainly shown throughout the play and through Willy's life. Bernard and Howard, however, are very successful due to hard work and if nothing else this is comfort to the audience as they represent a type of success which isn't based around being ‘well liked'. Biff's enlightenment at the end of the play is also comforting as there is now some hope of success beyond the American Dream and hope that Biff's energy will be used in a more constructive way.

The Debilitating Effects of Tv on Children

Subject: â€Å"The Debilitating Effects of TV on Children† Topic: u02d2 The Debilitating Effects of TV on Children Author: Dolores Staggs Date: October 18, 2012 1:15 AM J. Grohol (2009, September 9) â€Å"The Debilitating Effects of TV on Children† The main arguments that the author is making are:TV can be very detrimental to the mental development of children and teenagers. And that it should only be allowed in moderation. Not â€Å"whenever they want† and â€Å"as much as they want. † The main purpose of this article is: To show that Americans watch way too much TV and are raising their children in the same manner.Oblivious to its negative effects on their child's development. The evidence or facts the author uses in this article to support their arguments are: Researchers at Columbia's College of Physicians and Surgeons concluded in 2007, for example, that 14-year-olds who watched one or more hours of television daily â€Å"were at elevated risk for po or homework completion, negative attitudes toward school, poor grades, and long-term academic failure. † Those who watched three or more hours a day were at even greater risk for â€Å"subsequent attention and learning difficulties,† and were the least likely to go to college.The main conclusion[s]/inference[s] in this article are: Kids who watch TV are more likely to smoke, to be overweight, to suffer from sleep difficulties, and have other health risk. And are less likely to be successful. No child under age two should watch television at all, the Academy of American Pediatrics advised in 1998. The main assumptions underlying the author’s thinking are: Most parents tend to use TV as a babysitter and do not monitor or care what their kids watch regardless of the future consequences. References Grohol, J. (2009). The Debilitating Effects of TV on Children.

Competency Standard Essay

I maintain being professional on a daily basis by doing the following. Letting all families in my care know we have a confidentiality policy. That we implement each and every day discussing only the info we need to with appropriate staff members. Children and their family’s info will only be discussed if we feel abuse or neglect is present. Then we are required to inform the proper authorities. I demonstrate being professional by following my job expectations entailed for my position when I was hired. I always have a positive attitude with my children and families and co-workers daily. I arrive on time and am prepared to start my day promptly. I dress appropriately for my day making sure I have clothes presentable but can engage in messy activities to. I use good judgment when making decisions for the children in my care. I will be an advocate for each child I have by meeting their educational and emotional and physical needs daily. Each child will be treated as an individual. I will also provide a quality educational program to all children in my care to support success for them. If a child shows signs of developmentally delay I will work with the family and any agencies to ensure a bright future for them. I will also take advantage of any opportunities offered to me to continue my own education and growth. Keeping updated on any new laws and regulations plus new teachings and always striving to learn more will make me the best teacher I can be. I chose to become an early childhood professional because. When I got out of high school I needed a job to pay my bills naturally. But the main reason was because I loved being around children and at the time I didn’t have any of my own yet and there were none in my family either. So I thought what a great way to spend the day and get paid was to spend time with other people’s kids. In the being it was really hard though. It was not all play time there were rules and regulations to follow. Daily planning to ensure the kids stayed busy and engaged at all times. Lots of hand washing and potty training but even after all that I learned that first week. I still couldn’t stay away. And found my calling and after 14 yrs this is still the best thing that I ever did besides having my own child who is now 8 yrs old. The most important professional traits I possess to me are. I am reliable and I enjoy working with children and I always stay positive no matter what.

16th Century U.K. Epidemics and its Impact on the British Essay

16th Century U.K. Epidemics and its Impact on the British - Essay Example This paper discusses the impact of epidemics upon the British people in the 16th century (1500-1600) with reference to three common diseases. The first part is a brief introduction on what an epidemic is and its causes.The second part is on England before and during the 16th century to show why it became prone to epidemics The third part is on epidemics of malaria, influenza, and the plague in 16th century England and its effects on the English people and their history.An epidemic is an outbreak of a contagious disease that affects an unusually large proportion of people or involves an extensive geographical area. Epidemics such as the recent SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) outbreak in Asia may last for a few months, but some last for years, such as the plague that ravaged Europe for six centuries (Encarta, 2007; Ranger & Slack, 1992).Epidemiology is the study of how diseases are transmitted and how people infected by diseases can be cured to control the extent of epidemics. Diseases are caused by organisms such as bacteria or parasites, some of which lie dormant until they reside in a living host.Others are caused by viruses, strands of DNA that enter cells of living creatures and cause mutations that affect the living body. Once these organisms enter the host through infection, they multiply and cause the host to get sick, turning the host into a carrier of disease-causing organisms in very large numbers. Disease-causing organisms are spread by contamination of food and water, physical contact, or the exchange of bodily fluids like saliva, semen, or blood, or through insects, rodents, and other disease-carrying animals known as vectors or agents that infect human populations. In the past, these diseases were believed to be caused by "germs" that spread their evil effects in the air. So lethal were these germs that they changed the fates of human societies in the last 13,000 years (Diamond, 2005). Germs went through a deadly cycle of mutation and adaptation, infecting animals and humans, each mutation giving rise to deadlier forms or diseases. Bacteria, parasites, and viruses need to eat in order to live and multiply. Germs (or microbes) do not exist to kill other living beings. Death is an unfortunate consequence, and if germs had their way, they would prefer their hosts to stay healthy, as millions of bacteria already do in the human body, helping in digestion and fighting deadlier diseases. Disease and death are unintended consequences of germs finding living bodies in which to live, encouraged by environmental conditions and the habits of the living hosts. Poor living conditions and poor sanitation, the concentration of populations into a smaller area that encouraged greater and frequent social contact, the thirst for discovery and travel to foreign lands, the search for greater wealth and prosperity, changes in weather conditions, and even a rise in promiscuity were the factors that increased the frequency of disease and epidemics (Wilkinson, 1992). Epidemics eventually die down once the conditions for their transmission disappear. In several parts of Europe in the Middle Ages, the plague disappeared from a town because half its population who were still healthy and uninfected were able to get away, while half including animals were infected and died. With no new living hosts, the bacteria could not survive. Weather changes also affected the rate of infection, whether they encouraged people to stay home or to go out. Either way, infection could spread at a faster rate through proximity and social contact. These conditions led to epidemics that would die down when these factors disappear. England in the 16th Century At the turn of the 16th century, Spain and Portugal was the European superpower, and having just discovered America through Columbus, it launched until the middle of the 16th century several sea voyages that led to the discovery of South America, Africa, the Pacific

Give recommendation to Partners Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Give recommendation to Partners - Assignment Example In comparison, the second investment is a high interest saving account that provides 2% on a daily compounding basis for a six monthly investment. When compared through the effective rate of interest, the high interest saving account only provides up to 0.02% higher than the nominal interest rate of 2%. The two short term investments were then evaluated through future value analysis as well. The future value calculated for the Certificate of Deposit came out to be $2,030.15 which is $30.15 higher than the present value of $2,000 invested at the beginning of the six month period. In comparison to the Certificate of Deposit, the future value earned in the high interest saving account was $4,020.05 which is only $20.05 higher from the investment amount which was $4,000 for six months. This clearly indicates that the Certificate of Deposit is a better short term investment opportunity for the organization than the high interest saving account. There are various analyses which can be conducted on short term investment opportunities. A number of opportunities can be utilized in a combination as well to provide large savings for the organization. The main concept behind any short or long term investment is the investment objectives of the organization. If the organization believes in liquidity and requires ready cash then the best options would be those that help liquidate investments immediately. In that context high interest saving accounts may be a better choice than certificates of deposit, if high interest saving accounts do not have a conditional drawing clause. On the other hand, if the organization believes in saving rather than liquidity, then certificates of deposit would be a better choice in the short term where the money is fixed and cannot be drawn for the next six

Enquiry Systems Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Enquiry Systems - Case Study Example They have discovered that some of their previous customers simply plan their holidays by searching all touristic information about their destination on the internet. They can simply reserve a hotel in another country and they can easily reserve and buy their flight tickets through the World Wide Web. In addition, many airlines has sold travel packages to their customers themselves and they found they did not need to pay a commissions to travel agencies. The managers of Garbett Tours have also found that some travel agencies in recent years have changed/adapted their business to the changes of information technology. They have discovered that the concepts of B2B (Business to Business) and B2C (Business to Consumer) determines the relations of online businesses in new and modern information technology. Having a view on some of successful online travel agencies, they are determined to adapt Garbett tours to new internet based market. The method of enquiry for this case study is based on UST (unbounded system thinking) since the problem is complicated and the source of the problems seems to be the entities which effect each other. Therefore finding an exact source of the "problem", is difficult because we are dealing with the innovations in IT industry, change of the way other providers like Airlines serve their customers, the drivers that effect the tourism industry and the idea of removing layers from the package holiday distribution network. In order to resolve the problems faced by Garbett Tours, creative approaches to the solution are needed which will be discussed in following tasks. Task 2 "According to Poirier (2000) tourism today is second only to oil as the world's leading export commodity, accounting for global earnings of more than $300 billion, or nearly 25 per cent of total world GNP. Over the last two decades, tourism has proved to be the world's fastest growing economic sector, with average growth of 7.1 per cent per year in arrivals and 12.5 per cent in receipts."1(Citation Needed) "Despite these statistics, tourism growth in many countries has not been this high, in particular those countries confronted with various political instabilities that have slowed development in tourism."(JR Ryu, 2006) Political stability and political relations influence the image of destinations in touristic regions (Hall and O'Sullivan,1996, JR Ryu, 2006). "The political aspects of tourism are interwoven with its economic consequencestourism is not only a "continuation of politics" but an integral part of the world's political economy. In short, tourism is, or can be, a tool used not only for economic but for political means" (Edgell, 1990, JR Ryu, 2006). History shows that tourism has been always affected by political instabilities. An example of political instability is the issue of Tiananmen Square, June 4 1989 in China. "Prime time news coverage showed army tanks threatening the civilian population. After that, Tiananmen Square incident Hotel occupancy rates in Beijing dipped below 30 per cent and as a result, Tourism earnings for China declined by $430 million in 1989 alone."( JR Ryu, 2006) (This needs a citation) Other political drivers are the effects of military coups

Personal Reflection reaction paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Personal Reflection reaction paper - Essay Example The entire scientific enterprise can be characterized as the development of sensitivities and ideas necessary to become more fully aware of what is happening all around us. Seen in this perspective, the discovery of the birthplace of the universe is a four-million-year learning event (Swimme, 1996, p. 1). In the present-day times, we face the challenge of identifying the meanings such discoveries have for human existence. It has become essential to integrate science’s understanding of the universe with more ancient intuitions concerning the meaning and destiny of the humans. This would be an opportunity to conciliate science, cultural tradition and religion. We are challenged here with understanding the significance of the human enterprise within an evolving universe. Upon our success in meeting this challenge rests the vitality of so much of the Earth Community, including the quality of life all future children will enjoy (Swimme, 1996, p. 3). The enterprise of cosmology –that is, the exploration of the origin, development and destiny of the universe– started at the beginning of humanity. As humans, we require a cultural orientation. â€Å"We are not given a fixed and final form to our orientation in life but must discover and deepen this orientation through the process of psychic development† (Swimme, 1996, p. 9). We have many different answers to the question â€Å"What does it mean to be human in this universe?† Brian Swimme proposes us to reflect on this issue, which has implications for our daily life, our family and our role in communities. From the primitive cave dwellers, people have marveled at the mystery of the cosmos, and created explanations for its origins and essence. However, Swimme points out that modern humanity might be the first culture to ignore the primordial tradition of celebrating the

Service Encounter Journal and Analysis Personal Statement

Service Encounter Journal and Analysis - Personal Statement Example I stopped at this convenience store to buy fuel and get a newspaper. I was involved with an employee at the check-out register. My overall satisfaction is rated at 2, because the cashier was upset when I misspoke about how much money I had, so she had to cancel the transaction on her register. Although I apologized for causing her the extra work, she did not look appeased, and made a remark to her coworker about it as I left. I am definitely not going to purchase from them again (score of 1). I visited this store to pick up a few groceries and had two interactions with employees: one directed me to the right part of the store to find cake mix, and the cashier rang up my purchase. My overall satisfaction is rated at 7, because the employee who directed me completely stopped what he was doing to talk, made eye contact, and appeared pleased to help. Also, the cashier let me use the special discount card they keep for customers who forgot theirs. They were professional and efficient, so I will definitely return (score of 7). My object in visiting the bank was to purchase two savings bonds. The bank uses tellers to complete such transactions. My overall satisfaction is rated at 2, because the teller clearly did not want to conduct this lengthy business. I wrote down important information for her, but she copied it incorrectly into the computer, so it had to be changed. I only had time to buy one bond, and then had to leave because I was going to be late for another appointment. Perhaps I could have come in the middle of the morning when the bank was not so busy. The teller could have been more efficient and not shown her displeasure. Still, my accounts are there, so I rate my likelihood to return at 7. Journal Entry: 5 Week: 5 Firm: Bill's Barber Shop Type of Service: Personal care My hair was getting long, so I visited the shop for a trim. Employee involvement came from the person who greeted me and the barber who cut my hair. My overall satisfaction is rated at 4. I received a good haircut at a good price, but it took a very long time. The barber should have kept working while he talked to me, but instead, liked to stop and make eye contact for every sentence! I could have asked the barber to work faster, or he could have sensed that I felt it was taking too long. My likelihood of returning is rated at 1. There are other shops in town. Journal Entry: 6 Week: 6 Firm: Nationwide Insurance Co. Type of Service: Auto and home insurance It was time to make my car insurance payment, and I dealt with a representative who accepted my check and gave me a receipt. She also set me up for electronic fund transfers. My overall satisfaction is rated at 6, because she was quick, efficient, and courteous. There was nothing she or I could have done to make the transaction better. My likelihood of returning is rated 7. They have earned my business and loyalty. Journal Entry: 7 Week: 7 Firm: US Postal Service Type of Service: Package delivery I had to ship a large package, and the