Wednesday, December 25, 2019

Legalizing Marijuana Essay example - 1598 Words

Marijuana 2 While it seems that numbers are steadily increasing, to legalize marijuana, there are still many states who have yet to legalize the use of medical marijuana. Many of the public feel that, due to the recent legalization of medical marijuana, the U.S. is a step closer to legalization marijuana for use by the general public. Choosing to legalize marijuana for the general public will cause an increase in users and put users health at risk, both mentally and physically. In 1937, a legislation was passed, the marijuana tax act, giving the government control over the drug which made it illegal. Twenty years later, harsher laws with mandatory sentences for any drug convictions were put in place. A movement in the 1970’s†¦show more content†¦Marijuana 3 Marijuana contains a mind altering drug and contains 400 other chemicals, some of which are known as cancer causing chemicals. (abovetheinfluence.com, 2010). Smoking these 400 chemicals in one marijuana cigaret te is like smoking one entire pack of cigarettes. (marijuana addiction) THC changes how the brain works, as stated on the website abovetheinfuence.com in the article â€Å"Marijuana Facts (Pot, Weed)† , it acts as a downer causing depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts. A study found that smoking marijuana on a regular basis increased the risk of psychosis by 40%. Teens who smoke marijuana before age 15 will also be more likely to have anxiety and depression in early adulthood. (abovetheinfluence.com, 2010). Marijuana is often times referred to as the â€Å"gateway drug† meaning many users often start out just using marijuana but then crave for a greater high and move on to more harsh drugs like cocaine and heroin. Marijuana is known to increase the heart rate which can cause additional health problems such as high blood pressure or even cause a stroke or heart attack. Users seem to get extremely paranoid and have impaired judgment and coordination. (abovetheinflue nce.com) Loss of short term memory is a side effect that is widely reported by users. Marijuana is not physically addictive. â€Å"Marijuana addiction is theShow MoreRelatedLegalizing Marijuana2983 Words   |  12 PagesDecember 3, 2012 The topic of marijuana has been a big topic for the past few years. The United States considers marijuana as a drug, in some other countries they say it is a natural herb that is grown from the ground. The issue at hand is â€Å"should marijuana be legalized?† the congress of the US stay in a constant debate on this subject. Why is the subject of marijuana such in high demand, if the US already considers it a drug? There are many facts that need to be looked at before a finalRead MoreReasons for Legalizing Marijuana841 Words   |  4 Pagesï » ¿ Reasons for Legalizing Marijuana Abstract Marijuana can be used by the public for many purposes. Medicine is an important part of our lives and marijuana has been tested to cure cancerous cells as well as help people with their epilepsy. Using marijuana for medical purposes is one major aspect that people should take into consideration for legalizing it. Marijuana’s market has also been brought to many people’s attention because it has been poised to grow faster thanRead MoreThe Battle Of Legalizing Marijuana1289 Words   |  6 Pages Jake Mincher Mrs. Hasty English 1, 1st Hour 4/20/17 The Battle to Legalize Marijuana in the United States The United States is splitting up into two sides with the date of 4/20 coming closer with one wanting the legalization of the plant substance and the other opposing it. According to the United Nations, 158.8 million people around the world use marijuana—more than 3.8% of the planet’s population. Marijuana was legalized on the 20th of April in Colorado in 2014. It has been legalized in variousRead MoreThe Issue Of Legalizing Marijuana1324 Words   |  6 PagesDoes it really come to morality after all? The decision to legalize marijuana has been subject for debate since first introduced in 1969; many arguing the fact that we are sitting on an industry worth an estimated 113 billion dollars. For once we have an opportunity to make a real impact in our economy. We have an aid on â€Å"the war on drugs†. But are we then showing our children that legalizing drugs is really the answer to our problems or does only the big picture mater in the end? Will this bringRead M oreThe Issue Of Legalizing Marijuana1821 Words   |  8 PagesThe issue of Legalizing marijuana is a very controversial topic of modern times. The use of marijuana is all over the media with celebrities doing it and young people in on the craze. Marijuana is the world’s oldest illegal drug, not only that, it is also the drug that is most widely used among society today (Aanstoos, 2015). Different types of people use this drug for a variety of reasons, such as, as a way to disconnect from todays hectic world, something they are peer pressured into, or even medicalRead MoreBoth Sides of Legalizing Marijuana1316 Words   |  5 Pagesof us know, marijuana has been legalized in Washington and Colorado for recreational use. According to polls and predictions, Oregon may be one of the up and coming states to legalize it next. But here comes to question, Should marijuana be legalized? Why or why not? There are many pros and cons to this situation, and they all affect not just our s tate but our country as a whole. That is exactly why I chose this topic. Since middle school, there has been talk about whether marijuana should be legalizedRead MoreLegalizing Marijuana For Recreational Use926 Words   |  4 PagesLegalizing Marijuana in Texas for Recreational Use The well known debate over the legalization of marijuana for recreational use in The United States has been ongoing since 1935. Recently Colorado and Washington have legalized the use of marijuana for recreational use. By doing so, the legalization of the recreational use of marijuana has become more of an issue than it already was and now brings other states to question whether or not they should legalize marijuana (Breecher). Which brings aboutRead MoreThe Debate over Legalizing Marijuana967 Words   |  4 PagesMarijuana is a drug which is used for recreational purposes as well as medicinal purposes. However, the medicinal use of marijuana has only been suggested in the recent years because previously it was just a drug which used to be exploited by the teenagers, adults and others for their own personal purposes. Many people get arrested for illegal possession of marijuana because it is still illegal to have marijuana despite the ongoing debate of making it legal. There are many people who are againstRead MorePositives and Negatives of Legalizing Marijuana1886 Words   |  8 PagesI have always been against the use of all illegal drugs including marijuana, but while researching this topic, I have learned a lot about some of the positives of legalizing marijuana use. Considering it is classified as an illegal controlled substance, I have always been under the assumption that marijuana was bad for people, no matter what my friends may have said about how good it was. I was peer pressured into trying it when I was fourteen. I knew right away that it was not for me. It madeRead MoreLegalizing Marijuana For Open Recreational Use1261 Words   |  6 Pagesand use of marijuana for medicinal and/or recreational use. While hotly debated on both sides, one of the more ironic factors regarding the issue of legalization is that it was found to be perhaps the most logically and fairly debated topics of the state’s recent mid-term elections. T he facts of legalization are becoming more black and white and less about morality, which may be a testament to why 24 U.S. states and the District of Columbia have enacted laws legalizing medicinal marijuana. Of those

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

The Homicides Committed By Ortiz - 879 Words

While neutralization and differential association theory both explain the homicides committed by Ortiz, the elements of differential association provide a more in-depth explanation. Ortiz learned from a very young age what attitudes and values were viewed as acceptable by his gang affiliated parents and peers. Ortiz was jumped into the 500 Block gang when he was only eleven years old. He was the youngest member of the gang ever allowed in. Considering his role models included his father, mother, aunt and older brother, which were successful gang members, he did not observe or experience an adequate exposure to conventional norms. Becoming a gang member was part of the family business. Many generations before Ortiz served in the gang and it had became a family tradition that Ortiz was expected to carry on. His friends were also in the gang because they lived in the same housing project as he did. The housing project that the gang formed due to where Ortiz was raised. The gang thrived from the poverty and disparity that was present in the housing development. The age of onset, duration, intensity and frequency are important in analyzing the influence on Ortiz s learned behaviors. Differential association states that with overexposure to non-law abiding attitudes and values, such as the ones present in the 500 Block gang and at the home of Ortiz, comes the learned behavior that committing homicide is acceptable. Like any other learned behavior, Ortiz learned thatShow MoreRelatedThe Juvenile Death Penalty Should Not Be Illegal1777 Words   |  8 Pagesbecause of the crimes that they have committed when they were juveniles (Cothern 11). When looking at the trends of juvenile crime rates when the juvenile death penalty was legal in certain states, this idea might be discouraged. In the journal Trends in Juvenile Violence by James Alan, Figure 7a shows the trends of homicide arrest rates in the years 1989-1994. This figure shows that in both age groups, 14 to 17 years old and 18 to 24 years old, the homicide arrest rates increased. In the 1 4 to 17Read MoreThe History of Capital Punishment as a Deterrent to Crime Essay2614 Words   |  11 Pagesoffenders from killing prison staff or other inmates (299 homicides occurred in state prisons between 2001 and 2006) or taking hostages to further escape bid† (pros and cons). â€Å"Texas is the leader in state executions with 387, followed by Virginia (98), Georgia (39) and Pennsylvania (3)† (Connors 17). One particular case in Texas was with a man named Ricardo Samaneigo Ortiz, who was executed this year for the murder of an inmate which he committed a little over a decade ago, in the El Paso County JailRead MoreAaron Is An Nfl Star1867 Words   |  8 PagesGainesville, Florida when an unknown shooter shot at their car, injuring two people in the car. Hernandez was suspected of being that shooter, but he was never charged with the crime. His 2015 murder conviction has led to further investigation of that homicide. For several years after, he seemed have limited his criminal involvement to small crimes and/or, maybe perhaps, to keep him from getting caught when committing more serious crimes. He tested positive in a drug test, indicating illegalRead MoreThe Black Men And Public Space By Brent Staples, The Myth Of A Latin Woman, And Shooting2366 Words   |  10 PagesStereotyping and Prejudice There has been many years of racial stereotypes and wanting to fit into a group. The essays that show this theme are Just Walk on By: Black Men and Public Space by Brent Staples, The Myth of the Latin Woman by Judith Ortiz Cofer, and Shooting an Elephant by George Orwell. Staples shows his audience the struggles he has gone through as a black male. Cofer shows her audience the stereotypes that surround Latin women. Orwell shows his audience the overwhelming desire ofRead MoreFemicide: A Cause for Global Economic Concern?2937 Words   |  12 Pagesencompasses some of the countries with the highest rates of femicide. A study performed by the Avante Brasil Institute in Brazil found that 40,000 women were murdered between 2001 and 2010. In 2010 alone, a femicide was committed every two hours. This translates to 4.5 homicides per 100,000 women (20 years). Various women’s groups have been formed in communities in both rural and urban areas due to the fact that the governments in th e region have deliberately ignored the situation; some governments

Monday, December 9, 2019

Foundations of Mythology free essay sample

†¢How is the word myth used popularly? For example, what does the statement, â€Å"It’s a myth† mean? In contrast, how is the word myth used in the academic context? After considering the definition in your textbooks and course materials, write a definition in your own words. The word â€Å"myth† is popularly used to provide understanding or reasoning behind many of the complex questions that we may have in our lives. Questioning our existence and the struggle to understand why we are on the earth has provoked the creation of many myths that attempt to give meaning to the world we live in. In an academic context, the word â€Å"myth† is what we use to describe the way our ancestors perceived the world around them at that time. When we study ancient cultures we refer to many of their beliefs as myths because over time we have gained a better understanding of the world around us and can provide logical explanations for why certain events have occurred. And also it can more of a dismissive tone to it. Where someone can take something that disobeys reality or the realm of possibility and just excuses it bye just utter the words â€Å"That’s Just a Myth† and everything is excused and fantasy. Why do myths from different cultures around the world address such similar or universal themes? Think about how myths explain the unknown and the tribulations of mankind. Some of the reasons myths share similar and universal themes are throughout history early civilizations have used myths to explain away thing that early man could not understand. Things that today seem silly such as a god of thunder that controlled thunder and lighting and that would hurdle them down on us from above like spears would seem plausible and take on a life of their own. Other natural phenomena like, night and day, the changing of the seasons, lunar cycles, and natural disasters could all be associated with a myth or a god the controlled everything. Also the three major religions of the world today all seem to have their origins at least in part from the same part of the world and have spread all over the world. It is not a stretch to believe that there might be some similarities all over the world. †¢What is the relationship between belief, knowledge, mythology, and religion? Where do mythology and religion intersect? Where do they diverge? Think about the function of myth and religion in helping human beings cope with change, suffering, loss, and death. The relationship between belief, knowledge, mythology, and religion is one that interweaved, where religion, mythology and belief share the most in common, knowledge is just as important. Mythology and religion intersect in their origins; because of the belief in mythology religion grew. I don’t believe you can really have one without the other. Most religions today at least the big 3 rely on a foundation or a belief in a Supreme Being or deity that takes on mythical status and is the bias of those religions. Without the belief in the myth the religions would fall apart. And that leads us to the where they diverge, in to today society more and more people have begun to question religion atheism is one of the fast growing problem facing modern day religions. Where religion once relied and mythology for its origins in today day and age religion itself is being categorized as mythology itself. How would you defend mythology’s relevance in contemporary culture? Think about familial and cultural traditions. Also, consider how mythology is used in the arts and in advertising to typify human experience. In today’s world mythology is divided, if you are a person of faith then mythology is very important ones religion is built on a belief in a supreme being which in todays â€Å"I need prove proof† society makes it hard so mythology plays a part there to build upon the mystic of the religion. As noted earlier in today society I believe religion has been reduce to a form of entertainment, a very good form I believe. It has its place it all depends on how one looks at the world. One who is open minded can believe in a religion / mythology and yet still have that â€Å"I need proof† mentality, one just has to put thing into prospective. Some of my favorite interest involves mythology but not religion. I don’t believe that today any believes that gods control the world if they do that is there option I chose not to believe in that.

Sunday, December 1, 2019

Review Of After Hours Essays - American People Of German Descent

Review Of After Hours Review of After Hours On Thursday, November 30, I went to see some Kutztown students perform After Hours at Schaeffer Auditorium. It was an all around great show. With the help of a talented band, they did a wonderful job. I'm really not interested in the kind of music that they sang, but they kept my attention the whole time. I thought the back-up band, or whatever you want to call them, was great. You could tell that they really enjoyed what they were playing, and what they were hearing. Alan Apple, who played the piano, was very entertaining. Personally, I thought he made the whole performance even better than it already was. He was very funny and showed great enthusiasm. With Steven Meashey on bass, Andy Scoles on drums, and Joseph Mixon on guitar, everything sounded terrific. The singers themselves had wonderful voices. The only think I didn't like about the show was the music; only because I don't like that kind of music. But because of their great singing and energy, my attention was kept throughout the whole show. The soloists sounded great. I especially loved the way everyone danced their own way, but they stilled seemed so together. After hours was a very enjoyable show. The students and musicians did a wonderful job. I really had a nice time watching and listening to them. Even though I am not really interested in that kind of music, they made me see what people do like about the music. Music

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Piano Teaching Method essays

Piano Teaching Method essays There is lots of piano teaching method and each one has its strengths and weaknesses. Now, I am going to inform you about the most common three methods for children Alfred, Suzuki, Amadeus. First of all, the Alfred method uses visual things such as colored pictures and graphics using software, compact discs, andor cassettes is the newest updated one in this method (Piano Teaching Method 1). As you know, a picture is the greatest friend to children and it helps them, even adults like us, to understand something a lot easier. Additionally, it could grab childrens attention more easily and quickly than a verbal explanation. For example, you can make a little card to show the scale or the relationship between notes. It is going to be helpful because students can look at it over and over. If you add colors or some pictures to that, it also would be helpful to get students interest. This method gives students strength in reading intervals and seeing the intervalic relationship between notes (Piano Teaching Method 1). However, it might cause students to play by totally relying on position playing instead learning how to read the notes because it uses the concept of position playing (Piano Teaching Method 1). In other words, students memorize the hand position fingering but not read the notes. And some people point out that the major composers should be presented to the students at a much earlier stage than is typical in this method (Piano Teaching Method 2). This method is recommended for very beginning teachers who need a certain prepared lesson plan to follow and once the teachers become more comfortable and get to know about different methods, they are urged to expand from this method (Piano Teaching Method 2). ...

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Site and Situation in Urban Geography

Site and Situation in Urban Geography The study of settlement patterns is one of the most important aspects of urban geography. Settlements can range in size from a small village with a few hundred residents to a metropolitan city of over one million people. Geographers often study the reasons behind why such cities develop where they do and what factors lead to their becoming a large city over time or remaining as a small village. Some of the reasons behind these patterns are thought of regarding the areas site and its situation. Site and situation are two of the most important concepts in the study of urban geography. Site The site is the actual location of a settlement on the earth and is composed of the physical characteristics of the landscape specific to the area. Site factors include things like landforms, climate, vegetation types, availability of water, soil quality, minerals, and even wildlife. (i.e., is the area protected by mountains or is there a natural harbor present?) Historically, these factors led to the development of major cities worldwide. New York City, for example, is located where it is because of several site factors. As people arrived in North America from Europe, they began to settle in this area because it was a coastal location with a natural harbor. There was also an abundance of fresh water in the nearby Hudson River and small creeks as well as raw materials for building supplies. Also, the nearby Appalachian and the Catskill Mountains provided a barrier from moving inland. The site of an area can also create challenges for its population. The small Himalayan nation of Bhutan is a good example of this. Located within the worlds highest mountain range, the terrain of the country is extremely rugged and hard to get around. This, combined with the incredibly harsh climate in many areas of the country has made much of the population settle along rivers in the highlands just south of the Himalayas. Also, only 2% of the land in the nation is arable, with much of it located in the highlands, making a living in the country highly challenging. Situation The situation is defined as the location of a place relative to its surroundings and other places. Factors included in an areas situation include the accessibility of the location, the extent of a places connections with another, and how close an area may be too raw materials if they are not located specifically on the site. Though its site has made a living in the nation challenging, Bhutans situation has allowed it to maintain its policies of isolation as well as its own highly separated and traditionally religious culture. Because of its remote location in the Himalayas getting into the country is challenging and historically this has been beneficial because the mountains have been a form of protection. As such, the heartland of the nation has never been invaded. Also, Bhutan now controls many of the most strategic mountain passes in the Himalayas including the only ones into and out of its territory, leading to its title as the Mountain Fortress of the Gods. Like an areas site, however, its situation can also cause problems. For example, Canadas Eastern Provinces of New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island are some of that countrys most economically downtrodden areas due in large part to their situations. These areas are isolated from the rest of Canada making manufacturing and the little agriculture possible too expensive. Also, there are very few close natural resources. Many are off the coast, and due to maritime laws, the government of Canada itself controls the resources. And, many of the traditional fishing economies they did have are now crashing along with the fish populations. The Importance of Site and Situation in Todays Cities As shown in the examples of New York City, Bhutan, and Canadas East coast, an areas site and situation played a significant role in its development both within its boundaries and on a world stage. This has occurred throughout history and is part of the reason why places like London, Tokyo, New York City, and Los Angeles were able to grow into the prosperous cities that they are today. As nations around the world continue to develop, their sites and situations will play a large role in whether or not they will be successful. Though todays ease of transportation and new technologies such as the Internet are bringing nations closer together, the physical landscape of an area, as well as its location in relation to its desired market, will still play a large role in whether or not such areas will grow to become the next great world city.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Quality improvement in long term care Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Quality improvement in long term care - Essay Example 40% of the residents require assistance with feeding. The high numbers of non-ambulatory patients put this facility put it among only 10% in the state. On May 10, 2004 the facility was investigated for a complaint which resulted in a substandard quality of care under Quality Indicator number 4, a prevalence of depression symptoms that also include two of the following; negative comments from residents, agitation or withdrawal, unpleasant mode upon waking, suicidal, weight loss or recurring thoughts of death. I choose the number 4 Quality Indicator for Emotional/Behavior Patterns due to its effect on quality of life. It may also be the end result of the other deficiencies at the facility, which included a high percentage of indwelling catheters, excessive amounts of medications and lack of assistance with personal care. The Quality Indicators for Emotional/Behavior Patterns of agitation and suicide could be signs of overdose of antidepressant medications. Sadness and withdrawal might be symptoms of depression as well as thoughts of death or weight loss, which needs to be treated. Depression encompasses both physical and mental health and can alter the responsiveness to nutritional and physical therapy as well as medical treatments. This deficiency has a potential for more than minimal harm. As per guidelines of the American Medical Directors Associ... Blood tests should include a chemistry profile, complete blood count, serum levels for anticonvulsant or tricyclic antidepressants, thyroid test or other levels pertaining to the individual in question. Before addressing pharmacogenesis of depression, however, consider another factor: Depression in the older adult if often more difficult to diagnose than in younger people. One reason is a prevailing misconception within general society, and even with the professional community, that older adults are supposed to be depressed, that it a natural part of getting older. In fact, an older adult's functional status, or level of impairment thereof, is often more influential than mere aging in shaping a person's mood. The residents of nursing homes usually have significant levels of debilitation, often arising from numerous chronic conditions. The complex nature of these conditions often frustrates physicians and treatment staff, often leading residents to have a sense of sadness or depression. (Garavaglia, 2006) If psychological testing and laboratory testing demonstrate that the resident is in need of psychiatric services, medical treatment or a medication adjustment and those measures lead to improvement, then the nursing staff needs to monitor the behavior and attitudes of the resident to prevent any digression or reaction to prescribed medications. If the depression does not appear to have a physical cause then assessment of the resident's environment and quality of life is the next step. Nursing should ask a few questions to determine the Quality of Care Improvement Plan. Is the resident capable of doing more personal care for himself, but needs clothes laid out or some other measure to maintain some independence If the resident is

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Marketing Strategies 4050 Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Marketing Strategies 4050 - Research Paper Example Our Java Cafà © would be focusing on customers who are environmentally conscious of their actions. While coffee is enjoyed by people of all ages, it is important to develop a primary target market so that we are able to develop a marketing strategy targeted towards this specific market. Our primary target market includes: Students: Students form a big part of the target market for Java Cafà ©. The Auraria Campus located in downtown Denver accommodates more than 40,000 students and thus could be a good potential market for our Java Cafà ©. Students have a hectic daily routine from pressures of work as well as having to survive on limited budget. Most students cannot afford coffee machines for themselves and rely on coffee shops for their daily cups of coffee. However, since they are on a limited budget, they cannot afford to buy from Starbuck or Mc Cafà ©, and thus they look for cheaper options that do not compromise on the quality of services. As our Java Cafà © offers Wi-Fi, it would be a further attraction for the students since this generation is addicted to the internet and travels with its personal gadgets such as cell phones, laptops etc. ‘For them, technology is not a thing to be considered. It is a way of life’1. Furthermore, students usually have a common hangout place where they can meet up with their friends and peers. In this case, word-of-mouth promotion can help improve sales for Java Cafà ©. Young Professionals: Young Professionals are another target market for Java Cafà ©. Young Professionals in Denver make up 64 percent of the total population and Denver has the highest number of college graduates. Professionals from surrounding counties also visit lower downtown during their pre-working, lunch time and after working hours. These college graduates and young professionals are also busy people trying to make a position in the corporate world. They usually visit the coffee

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Lane Book Rotc Essay Example for Free

Lane Book Rotc Essay Conduct Day and Night Land Navigation training and evaluation. (4) Conduct two nights of patrol base operations to simulate conditions at LDAC. End State: Cadets from all three universities are challenged both mentally and physically, MSIIIs are prepared for LDAC, and MSIs and MSIIs are better trained for further responsibility in the ROTC program. 4 Concept of the Operation 26APR12 Phase 1: Movement to Camp San Luis Obispo. All personnel on post, ready to train NLT 1600. Integration and Written Land Navigation Exam (MSIIIs only). MSIs MSIIs attend round robin classes. Once the exam is finished, all cadets attend round robin training. 27APR12 Phase 3: STX Lanes, Patrol Base Operations, and Night Land Navigation. 1st PLT moves to East, 2nd PLT to West. Each SQD conducts 5 STX lanes. After chow, the PLT will move as one unit to the first PB. They will leave their rucks and all will return for Night Land Nav. 28APR12 Phase 4: Patrolling Lanes and Patrol Base Operations. PLTs will form into their patrolling elements and switch sides. SQD pairings will be 1/3 SQD and 2/4 SQD, each will conduct 3 lanes, after chow they will move to separate PBs. 29APR12 Phase 5: Night Land Navigation and Day Land Navigation. MSIIIs conduct Night Land Nav before dawn. All Cadets conduct Day Land Nav after morning chow. Phase 6: Recovery and Return to Schools. Key tasks include weapons cleaning, accountability of all Cadets, sensitive items, and equipment and clearing of all facilities and training areas. 5 Area of Operations Barracks/DFAC/Main Gate East Side West Side 6 Primary Comms Primary Communications for STX and PTRL Lanes will be radios. Each respective site (East West) will use a specific set of radios that will only work within the range of that training site. Radios will be issued by S-4 at he TOC prior to movement to the training areas. STX: Each lane will have two radios to communicate between Evaluator and OPFOR. Each lane will remain on their assigned. Patrol is assigned two radios for communication between PL and APL. Prior to beginning the lane, change CHANNEL to the specific lane you will be running. NET CALL: At the conclusion of the AAR, the Evaluator(s) will move the SQD or PTRL to the next lane. For STX, establish a positive link-up and return to your assigned lane Prior to the start of each rotation, CDT OICs will radio each Evaluator to confirm SQD arrival.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Chaucers the House Of Fame: The Cultural Nature Of Fame :: essays research papers

Chaucer's "The House of Fame": The Cultural Nature of Fame QUESTION 7. DISCUSS THE CULTURAL NATURE OF FAME AND ITS TEXTUAL EXPRESSION WITH REFERENCE TO ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING: ORAL HEROIC POETRY, CHAUCER'S DEPICTION IN THE HOUSE OF FAME AND THE MODERN CONSTRUCTION OF THE CANON OF ENGLISH LITERATURE. YOU SHOULD FOCUS YOUR ANALYSIS ON THE INTERPLAY OF ORAL AND LITERARY TRADITIONS IN THESE CONTEXTS. Many critics have noted the complexities within Chaucer's The House of Fame, in particular, the complexities between the oral and the literary. The differences between these methods are constantly appearing; Chaucer is well aware of rapidly changing communicative practises and contrasts the preservation of utterance with the longevity of literary texts. He achieves this by discussing the nature of "Fame" and the difficulties that arise from it. "Fame" can both destroy and create. It can result in the eternal preservation of great works and their creators. However, Chaucer is quick to note the precarious nature of "fame" noting the unreliable process of attaining it and its potentially momentary existence. Every creator with their respective work/s naturally crave and desire "fame"; they want their subjects to remain fresh in the minds of their audience. Chaucer, while neither totally praising the written nor the oral, reveals how essentially the written word is far more likely to become eternal as opposed to the oral. The relative "fame" of any work is dependent on many factors. Many traditional and classical ideas result in the formation of the English canon, yet as Chaucer indicates, the "fame" of these works can easily become annihilated. The arrival of new readers with different ideals and thereby changing tradition, can reject classical or "canonical" work and their "fame" will melt into nothingness. Most stories, histories and legends that emerge from oral heroic poetry are to herald the achievement of the powerful and wealthy so that their histories will not fade from the memories of the population. The stories of Beowolf are a clear example of this, as within these stories, (whether embellished or no), Beowolf's fame and legend reaches the modern reader hundreds of years later. Clearly, Beowolf is still very much dependant on the conventions of oral traditions and written to leave a permanent reminder of Beowolf, to enforce Beowolf's fame. The use of "Hwaet" to mark the start of an oration, emphasises the continuation of oral tradition. Most oral cultures (usually illiterate), pass on stories and legends learnt from the previous generation, basically using the authority of recalled memory, not as an actual witness; rather 'I have heard it said` than 'I know this to be true`.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Deschooling Essay

In the contemporary society, many people believe that as an integrated part of society, the purpose of education is to capacitate individuals to reach their full potential as human beings, individually and as members of a society. These individuals will receive education which will enable them to think and act intelligently and prepare them for community life (Literacy Philosophy, 2012). However, Ivan Iillich proposes the notion of ‘deschooling’ which he thinks the rights of learning for most people are taken away because of the obligation to attend school (Illich, 1971). The deschooling thesis calls for â€Å"the disestablishment of the norm mandating institutionalized education† (Kahn & Kellner, 2007, p. 438). The school is in crisis and will not last for much longer. In this essay, I intend to provide a critical overview of Illich’s main ideas of ‘deschooling’, and explain how his vision is relevant to today’s views on the purpose of education. The thesis of Illich’s notion of deschooling is â€Å"universal education through schooling is not feasible† (Illich, 1971, p. vii). He explains if people are educated in the institutions which are built on the style of present schools, education will be no longer feasible (Illich, 1971). Instead of facilitating knowledge to learners, school takes away people’s abilities and desire to learn. More precisely, the increase on educational expenditure is gradually growing inefficiently which makes some children do not have the opportunity to study at school (Illich & Verne, 1976). Most people wrongly believe the more money spends on education, the better education students can receive. Nevertheless, Illich (1971) contends the money spends on education is insufficient to improve the teaching quality and the performance of students who have disadvantages. Aiming at increasing the equality of receiving education, many governments provide funds to those schools with many students from low- income families. However, the tremendous costs of schools force the governments to provide more funds to those schools. The poorer students need funds to enable them to learn, but normally the funds are spent on the development of the school rather on the poor students themselves (Illich, 1971). Illich (1971) indicates that school gives â€Å"unlimited opportunity for legitimated waste, so long as its destructiveness goes unrecognized and the cost of palliatives goes up† (p. 10). So the money is insufficiently spent. As a result, children from poor families still cannot receive the opportunity to go to school. In some developing countries, some children even do not have the opportunity for the most basic education. However, Illich (1971) states that even in schools with equal quality, the poorer students still cannot catch up with the rich as an effect of relative poor financial conditions. The poor parents cannot afford to pay their children’s tuition fees and books. Some filed trips or vacation travels which are good for students’ learning, are unreachable for the poorer children. It is obvious that the poorer children are self-abased. In general, the poorer students fall behind as long as they depend on school for learning (Illich, 1971). Moreover, in some nations, some parents even do not allow their children to attend school. Even more essentialis the fact that some parents deliberately keep their children at home, or wink at their staying away from school. Sometimes this is a matter of sheer economic necessity. Parents are often forced to rely on children as a means of supplementary support. They need their children to work. So in those countries, only a small number of children attend to school although hundreds of thousands money have been spent to make the school attendance higher (Illich, 1971). Reimer (1971) who has the same opinions about school as Illich describes â€Å"schools are simply too big to treat concretely† (p. 10). There are too many people in the school institutions. In turn, individuals may have bad habits which they learn from others in the school. So some parents may worry about the harmful habits that their children may learn from school. In sum, schools limit students’ abilities to learn to a certain extent. Another illusion, which Illich thinks most people have, is â€Å"learning is the result of teaching† (Illich, 1971, p. 12). He argues schools cannot possibly achieve their goal of promoting learning. Schools often teach students that instruction produces learning; yet learning is the result of personal activity, not the result of instruction (Illich, 1971; Gintis, 1972). Specifically, most people not only acquire knowledge inside school but also need to learn more about extracurricular knowledge outside the formal schools, which cannot be taught by teachers in the class. For example, if a person wants to learn a second language, he can travel to other countries and live with local people. Speaking under a good language environment can make him speak well than just sitting in the classroom and listening to the teacher. Therefore, individuals can reclaim responsibility for their own learning away from the constraints of the educational institutions. People are often taught that valuable learning is the result of attendance, the more classes students attend, the better grades they will get. However, some students attend school and study every day, but they still cannot get good grades and certificates. School takes away people’s desire to learn. Thus, like all other bureaucratic service institutions, â€Å"schools fail by their very nature† (Gintis, 1972, p. 85). Illich also emphasizes his opinions about alternatives to schools. In terms of alternatives in education beyond the official system, Illich considers learning exchanges as an effective way for people to learn where people are able to make contact with each other to teach or learn, â€Å"without the need to enrol at some institutions offering formal courses† (R. Small, Ivan Illich and de-schooling, April 5, 2013). He proposes the network of ‘learning webs’ to replace school. Moreover, he regards skill exchanges as an essential way to â€Å"provide people who want to learn a skill with access to those persons who have mastered the skill and have the ability to demonstrate it† (Arsdall, 1975, p. 31). Training skill teachers are quite expensive. A person who wants to be a teacher needs to get the certificate for teaching. Therefore, there are merely a small number of teachers who have potential skills. From Illich’s point of view, everybody who has a skill can also teach it and share with others. Even the best businessmen and artists are more skillful, talented and creative than most of the arts and business teachers (Illich, 1971). Consequently, people do not need to learn skills from teachers. He also states the professionals who engage in operating educational institutions must be replaced by a new breed of â€Å"educators†. The proposed educators should be able to â€Å"create and operate the various educational networks† (Arsdall, 1975, p. 32). Further, the opportunities for skill-learning are multiplied. People are able to learn skills effectively from different people. Additionally, learning exchanges are more economical than schools, and they are cheaper or even free so that everyone can share in them (Reimer, 1971). The sharing of skills can easily motivate people to learn by guaranteeing freedom to teach or exercise them on request (Arsdall, 1975). On the other hand, some people staunchly oppose Illich’s idea of deschooling society. In contrast to Illich’s opinion of againsteducational institutions, those opponents argue that schools are necessary for the society. Many people respond to the controversial theses against schools published in Deschooling Society (Zaldivar, 2011). Amongst those critics who take part in the debate, Paul Goodman most radically oblige Illich to revise his thinking. Goodman thinks there are some problems for schools, but schools should be improved instead of being disestablished. Other critics claim that Illich’s opinion of alternatives is ideal and unable to be applied in practice. As a matter of fact, the alternatives offered by Illich are â€Å"often disqualified, seen as utopian and with no practical direction† (Zaldivar, 2011, p. 621). Besides, according to Greer (1971), the most pivotal mistake in Deschooling Society is that Illich upholds disestablishing school, but he does not propose the effective instruction for transforming the most important educational institutions (cited in Zaldivar, 2011). Further, as one of the most significant critical texts against Illich theses, Gintis represents the most articulated critique of Iillich studies in his essay entitled Toward a Political Economy of Education: A Radical Critique of Ivan Illich’s Deschooling Society (Zaldivar, 2011). Gintis (1972) critiques Iillich’s Deschooling Society, argue that, â€Å"from the fact that schools do not promote learning, however, Illich does not conclude that schools are simply irrational or discardable. Rather, he asserts theircentral role in creating docile and manipulable consumers for the larger society† (p. 3). In addition, according to Small (2013), the solutions such as increased funding, special programmes and new curriculum approaches, which Illich thought inefficient are still being advocated today. With respect to learning exchanges system, it has been proved work reasonably well with arts and crafts, as well as learning other languages, but it might be useless for scie nces or other academic subjects. However, some of Illich’s opinions are relevant to today’s education. His negative definition of schooling indicates the problems of education in the present day. Everybody should have an equal chance to education. Yet, it is undeniably true that in the poor nations, especially in some poverty-stricken rural areas, some school-age children cannot go to school because of lack of financial support. Many kids drop out of school because they cannot pay the fee every year. In this case, Illich’s view of education offers a multi-pronged critique of schooling, reflects the shortcomings and defects of modern education in equality. Furthermore, with respect to public purpose of schooling, schools are supposed to educate positive values to students (Reimer, 1971). It is a general recognition that the purpose of modern education is to cultivate qualified talents in both ability and integrity. Nevertheless, in the specific educational practices, schools cannot fully play a positive role in education; sometimes even have a negative effect on students. For example, teachers tell students to be friendly with others, but outside the classroom, some teachers even denigrate other teachers in public. It has a negative influence on students. In addition, Ivan Illich’s concern with learning webs, which he calls educational or learning webs, has struck a chord among many people. According to Smith (2001), Illich’s propose of learning exchange is an approach to find some enthusiastic proponents within non-formal education. As the best example of a learning exchange, the world-wide web enables people to gain access to any learning resource which may help him to define and reach his own goals (Smith, 2001; Small, 2013). It appears certain that technologies like computers have driven the current construction of education. With the development of technology, it is possible for students to develop their own weblogs and get resources on line by themselves. With Internet students can share their personal diaries, discuss what they are reading, learning and doing in relation to coursework, post hyperlinks to useful Internet sites, debate over issues being discussed in class or of current topical interest(Kahn & Kellner, 2007). As a consequent, communications among young peers are highly developed. According to Nussbaum (2004), online learning exchanges become a highly involved and interesting cultural forum (cited in Kahn & Kellner, 2007). So Illich’s conceptions of ‘webs of learning’ have a significant implication on education in the present age. Illich’s notion of deschooling reflects today’s view of education. In conclusion, Illich’s critiques of the school and call for the deschooling of society have caused great repercussions among many workers and alternative educators (Smith, 2001). Although many people oppose his vision of deschooling society and some of his ideas have been proved to be unsuccessful, his work can provide â€Å"new insight into ongoing studies of modernity† (Zaldivar, 2011, p. 24). Further, his propose of educational webs or networks connected with an interest in ‘non-formal’ approaches has a considerable influence on people’s understanding of searching for new formal educational institutions except schools. It is no doubt that some of his views retain considerable and thought-provoking power (Smith, 2001). What we should consid er carefully is to think how we can improve modern education effectively in the future with Illich’s suggestions and proposals.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

The Night the Power Went Out

THE NIGHT THE POWER WENT OUT! It was a dark rainy night; the rain came down hard, sheet upon sheet, of bone chilling rain. I lay relaxed on the couch watching a horror movie when suddenly there was a loud crack of thunder and then there I lay all alone in complete darkness. I felt a little nervous but hazardously made my way to the kitchen by the guidance of the moons light. I went in search of a torch and found one on the kitchen table. I flicked it on and at that precise moment I heard a crash from above. I started to make my way towards the stairs; torch clutched tightly in one hand and a gun in the other. As I ascended the stairs I felt an ice cold gust of wind which made me tremble all over. As I reached the second floor I found that the window was no more but shattered glass on the ground. I spun around in search of the perpetrator. As I made my way towards the shattered window something powerful tackled me and knocked the breath right out of me. I started to collapse to the ground; this sent my torch and my gun flying through the air and land in complete darkness. I turned towards my attacker and gasped in shock. It seemed like a vicious, four eyed beast with long fangs which looked like it was craving flesh; my flesh. I searched along the ground for a weapon that may assist me and to my relief I came across a sharp object. It was the shards of broken glass from the window. I grasped it tightly and started to stab the beast ferociously. Its skin was hard but I could feel the glass piercing it and its unusually thick blood oozing down my arm. I felt its hot putrid breath upon my face as it growled viciously revealing rows upon rows of sharp yellow teeth. It started to back away but I could see that it was preparing for one final attack. The moon lit up the entire room with an array of bright light and I managed to spot the gun. I made a dive for it and at the same time the beast made a dive for me. It ripped through my leg with is enormous teeth as I grabbed the gun. BANG! I heard a loud yelp and found the beast staggering backwards. BANG! BANG! The beast now lay sprawled on the floor motionless. I picked myself up feeling rather traumatised and with a huge cut on my leg, I limped myself to the phone but someone or something had chewed it to bits. I limped towards the open window and it was as if a cloud of fear was cast through my whole body. My heart was beating faster than ever because down on my lawn there lay hundreds of four eyed, flesh eating beasts. I patched my leg up and gathered my torch and a lot of guns and made my way through the darkness of my home. As I reached the entrance I thought, â€Å"I have 2 options. I can stay here and wait for the beasts to feast on my flesh or I can give them a fight worth living for. † I kicked the door open and yelled, â€Å"If I’m going to die at least I’m going to die fighting†, and as the beasts closed in I got my guns out and now the real fight for survival began. BANG! BANG! BANG! THE END!

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Augustines Confessions Essay Essays - Aurelii, Church Fathers

Augustine's Confessions Essay Essays - Aurelii, Church Fathers Augustine's Confessions Essay In the Confessions, by Saint Augustine, Augustine addressed himself articulately and passionately to the persistent questions that stirred the minds and hearts of men since time began. The Confessions tells a story in the form of a long conversion with God. Through this conversion to Catholic Christianity, Augustine encounters many aspects of love. These forms of love help guide him towards an ultimate relationship with God. His restless heart finally finds peace and rest in God at the end of The Confessions. Augustine finds many ways in which he can find peace in God. He is genuinely sorry for having turned away from God, the source of peace and happiness. Augustine is extremely thankful for having been given the opportunity to live with God. Augustine uses love as his gate to Gods grace. Throughout The Confessions, love and wisdom, the desire to love and be loved, and his love for his concubine, are all driving forces for Augustines desire to find peace in God. The death of his friend upsets him deeply, but also allows him to pursue God to become a faithful Christian. Augustine often experiences darkness, blindness, and confusion while attempting to find rest in God, but he knows that when he eventually finds him his restless heart will be saved. Augustine started out in childhood with a restless heart because he had to live in two different worlds. These worlds consisted of that of his mothers religious faith, and the world of everything else. These two worlds confused and disturbed Augustine as a child. In his mothers world, talk consisted of Christ the Savior and about the mighty god who helps us especially to go to heaven. In the other world, talk was about achieving. It seems as if Augustine felt that if he were to live in both of these worlds, his life would tu rn out to be nothing. He believed he would not accomplish anything he would be remembered for. He became unhappy with the idea of his life amounting to nothing. This is why Augustine turned to love. He felt that love might help him have a direct purpose in life and would help him through his conversion. Love should not be that of evil. Saint Augustine searched for the answer of a question that asked if love reaches out hopelessly and harmfully, how can it turn around to be productive and wholesome to the human soul? Love became a necessity for all people. For Augustine, the answer to this question was love. The first love must be for the love of God in Augustines mind. It must come before all other forms of love. Augustine states that, The thought of you stirs him so deeply that he cannot be content unless he praises you, because you made us for yourself and our hearts find no peace until they rest in you (I, 1). Augustine talks of many different forms of love. Another form that he talks about and demonstrates many times in The Confessions is the desire to love and to be loved. Augustines relation to his mistress focuses on the problem of restless loves, while showing that Augus tine had the desire to love and the desire to be loved. For one thing, he went to Carthage wanting to be in love. He evidently was not in Carthage long before he found his mistress. Many young men stayed with a woman until the time came to marry them back then. This is what Augustine did. He states that, In those days I lived with a woman, not my lawful wedded wife but a mistress whom I had chosen for no special reason but that my restless passions had alighted on her. But she was the only one and I was faithful to her (IV, 4). Wisdom itself meant that the one true order of the world is what makes everything stick together. Augustine later recognized this as Gods truth and word, by which God had made all things. This wisdom came into the world as Christ. Augustines conversion is clear in outline and was greatly influenced by different variations of love. From childhood he had loved the name of Christ and associated

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Info Overload

Info Overload Seth Godin, a management guru youve probably noticed I enjoy reading, recently spoke about how were enduring cognitive overload. Too many choices. I wholeheartedly agree which is why I recently withdrew from three professional organizations. I also canceled a cruise to the Baltics. What started as the trip of a lifetime turned into chaos. Too many choices. Charters, places to visit in each port, too many ports, meal selections, a long list of chores to take care of before leaving. . . I was exhausted and hadnt left home. Then when the tour agent threw an unforeseen choice at me, one that would take a few more dollars, I canceled. Surprised her. She found all these choices fun. To me, however, they threw a burden on the whole experience that was meant to epitomize relaxation. Turned into anything but. Publishing is like that. Marketing is like that. And if you let it, writing can be like that if you cannot decide what project to focus on. What do you want to do with your writing? Not sure? Talk to writers. Go to a conference. Give yourself a month or two to read everything you can get your hands on. Then shut it off and make your plan. Once you design a path, quit letting more ideas filtrate in that will only make you second guess yourself. Everyone has a better way. Better ways are endless. The nature of humans is to develop a better or easier way to accomplish something. The cycle never stops. Your job is to choose a path, develop the plan to the best of your ability, and follow it. If you follow every piece of new advice out there, youll spin in circles forever.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Partnerships and Limited Liability Partnerships Assignment

Partnerships and Limited Liability Partnerships - Assignment Example Fiduciary implies a particular individual on whom extreme assurance and faith has been placed by another to handle and guard finance or possessions. It is referred to as an association where an individual is obliged to do something for the advantage of another individual5. It has been further added that there are three most important duties that arise where there exists such an association. The foremost is the duty or responsibility of loyalty which means the responsibility to do something on behalf and in support of the particular individual or body towards whom the responsibility is outstanding and not taking benefit of, or damaging, it or him. The second is the duty or responsibility of obedience which means the obligation and responsibility to do something inside the limits of the power of faith. The third is the duty or obligation of care which means the duty to do something cautiously. At times the obligation of disclosure of complete material information is stated as the fourt h duty6. These fiduciary duties relating to sections 33, 34 and 35 of the Partnership Act 19637. The only fiduciary responsibility for which a particular partner is indebted to the other existing partners and the partnership is the responsibility of loyalty or faithfulness and the responsibility of care. A particular partner’s responsibility or obligation of loyalty is restricted to provide accounts to the partnership regarding any kind of possessions, profit or advantage that has been obtained by that partner in carrying out the business of partnership or by using a property that is possessed by the firm and all the partners jointly and also to cease from transacting with the firm where he has been acting as a partner, as an unfavourable party or entering into a competition with the firm in the course of carrying out the business of partnership. Similarly, a partner’s obligation of care is restricted to abstaining from grossly negligent or irresponsible behavior, misb ehavior that was on purpose or for disobeying a law intentionally. These obligations might not be surrendered or disposed of in the agreement of partnership and in order to accomplish them, every individual partner ought to act time and again in relation to the responsibility of trust and fair dealing. These are pertinent to all the contracts as well as agreements of partnership. It is allowed for a partner to follow one’s own interests but it should be ensured that in the course of doing so, the above-mentioned responsibilities should not be violated8.  

Thursday, October 31, 2019

Cognitive Assessment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Cognitive Assessment - Essay Example Parents are sometimes unable to understand the problems that their children might be going through. On the other hand, the parents may use forceful instructions to teach their children without knowledge on the underlying problems. Studies indicate that most children who have persistent poor performance have attention disorders. Attention disorders such as Attention Disorder Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are one of the commonest conditions among younger children that are hard to identify among school-going students. Parents may sometimes think that their children are impulsive and inattentive whereas such symptoms indicate serious attention deficits. However, it is important to ensure that the exact underlying issue is identified before the child is put into a serious strategy for resolving the learning problems. In the context of Jamir’s case, it would be necessary to diagnose the problem that the child suffers from. This will help in the identification of the best strategy to be applied in order to assist the student. The mother thinks that Jamir does not listen to the instruction. This is an assumption that might be more dangerous to the child. Children like Jamir normally have impulsive behaviors that prevent them from concentrating in certain activities. For Jamir to be able to listen and read, certain strategies must be used (Shaheem, 2012).

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Jack Londons life, reputation, and characteristics of literature that Essay

Jack Londons life, reputation, and characteristics of literature that he has written - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that Jack London was a social activist, journalist, and an American author. He has written various short stories, novels, and poems and with time has shown the world that even exciting tales, taking place in bizarre places can have numerous intricacies of wonderful literature. It is without a  doubt that London’s literary work is based mostly on his childhood experiences, which he clearly illustrates using elements such as symbolism and imagery to develop exceptional themes such as existentialism and survival. Jack London was born on January 12th, 1876, in San Francisco. His childhood formed his personality as well as his outlook on his later literary life. Research shows that he spent most of his time in solitude; hence, developed competent skills in storytelling. He did not have a definite home; thus, most of his early ears he lived with his wet nurse and as time went by he lived with a black woman who was called Virginia Prentis s, then his mother flora Wellman. Despite Flora’s flaws as a mother, she instilled the significance of education in London; hence, by the time he was five years old, he could read and attend numerous grammar schools until the age of fourteen years. Therefore, in 1891, he graduated from Cole grammar school though his real education emanated from the public libraries. When he was ten years old, he started going to the public libraries and his voracious reading skills and quiet demeanor impressed Donna Smith, the librarian; hence, became his guide.

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Sainsburys Ratio Analysis

Sainsburys Ratio Analysis Accounting and Finance Assignment Sainsburys Ratio Analysis Nowadays, it is important for organizations to know how to survive in the competitive market in which they are involved, markets that require managers who understand and are aware of the internal and external factors that concerns to the company. Therefore, it is vital to know the existence of different techniques of measurement such as financial tools, which can give an idea on how the companys financial situation is going to affect its performance in the marketplace. One of these tools can be the used of financial ratios, which gives to managers the information to set up strategies in order to make decisions in the future. However, it is important to highlight that this ratios provide an overview of the businesss financial condition, but an analysis in depth is needed to know the reasons why certain changes have occurred (Maclaney and Atrill, 2002). Nevertheless, there are some limitations in the used of financial ratios, for instance, the information is out of date so it does not reflect the real situation of the company, hence it can lead to wrong decisions, also, the analysis made from the financial statements gives symptoms of such situations but not the causes of it (Berry and Jarvis, 1997). The purpose of this report is to analyze Sainsburys financial performance using the analysis of ratios as a financial tool. This information will be taken from the annual reports of 2003 and 2004. In addition, it will include external and relevant information of the company which adds value to the analysis and thus to the financial performance in the already mentioned period of time. This will also help to compare Sainsburys with its competitor Tesco, in order to identify and evaluate the performance of both companies. Finally, this report will give conclusions and recommendations to those investors who want to make an investment in a secure company. RATIO ANALYSIS Profitability Ratios According to Maclaney and Atrill (2002, p. 197), Profitability ratios provide an insight to the degree of success in achieving this purpose. For instance, the profitability ratios of Sainsbury plc are: Profitabiliy Ratios 2004 2003 Return on Capital Employed 8.53% 9.29% Return on Equity 7.64% 8.95% Gross Profit Margin 8.65% 8.14% Net Profit Margin 3.91% 4.25% Table 1. Profitability Ratios (Base on data contained in Appendix A) Regarding on this table, Sainsburys profitability ratios show a moderately deterioration in profit from 2003 to 2004 in a margin of 6%. This downward trend is due to several changes the company had such as, (1) the sell of JS Development and Shaws supermarket, this has an impact on the companys current assets (cash) and profit, in one hand it brings in cash for the sell but on the other hand it stops the daily cash input, consequently there were a decline in profit in 2.6%; (2) the purchase of Swan Infrastructure Holdings Limited, which consist of a whole modern IT system and it is part of a Business Transformation Programme, therefore, there was a rise in 6% of the capital employed (fixed assets and net debt), and also a significantly fall in cash in 27%. Because of all these reasons, there was a drop in profit, but as it is a long-term investment it is estimated to be an income generation in the future. Efficiency and Effectiveness Ratios These ratios are used to try and identify the strengths and weaknesses of a business using a variety of different ratios (Giles et al., 1994, p. 371). The following table illustrates the efficiency ratios used in Sainsburys case. Efficiency and Effectiveness 2004 2003 Fixed Asset Turnover 2 times 2.17 times Debtor Collection Period 1.51 days 2.48 days Creditor Payment Period 28.83 days 28.78 days Stock Holding Period 17.61 days 18.67 days Table 2. Efficiency and Effectiveness (Base on data contained in Appendix A) The fixed asset turnover has slightly decreased due to the acquisition of Swan Infrastructure Holdings Limited, which caused a rise of 7.73% on Sainsburys fixed assets in comparison with the year 2003. Moreover, sales have remained constant which have risen in 0.3%. The purchase of the IT systems will give opportunities to enhanced operational effectiveness, a stronger platform, low costs and an increased in sales. In what a debtor collection period concerns, although this ratio shows a very little period to collect debts from customers, it is logic for this kind of business to be like that owing to the fact that being a supermarket, sales are in cash, only a 8% of the current assets are related to debtors, which had a fall in almost 40% comparing with 2003. On the other hand, the creditor payment period has stayed constant and it shows good rates. The cycle of both debtor collection period and creditor payment period demonstrates that the company receive the money from their debtors before paying to their suppliers, which is good since they do not need to finance themselves but pay with the cash they get in from debtors. Regarding to the stock holding period, even though it has fallen in 1 day, it still is high for a business like supermarket in which the stock plays an important role because the rotation has to be in short periods of time to keep the food fresh. However, it is good to consider that Sainsbury also have a stock of electro domestics, entertainment, house-wares, etc., that the rotation is meant to be in long periods of time. Liquidity Ratios As Maclaney and Atrill (2002, p. 197) said, Certain ratios may be calculated that examine the relationship between liquid resources held and creditors due for payment in the near future. These ratios in Sainsburys company are as follow. Liquidity Ratios 2004 2003 Current Ratio 0.83:1 0.87:1 Acid Test (Quick Ratio) 0.67:1 0.70:1 Table 3. Liquidity Ratios (Base on data contained in Appendix B) The current ratio has a slightly fall, due to the current liabilities rising faster than the current assets. Looking at the current liabilities it can be seen that the company is using bank loans to finance the acquisition of the IT systems by the group, which increased in 63%. The current assets have also been affected by a decreased in 27% of cash account since a 10% of the purchase was made in cash. Similar situation happened with the acid test ratio with a slight fall in the rate. These ratios show a low rate, due to the fast stock rotation which produces cash sales. Although, it seems like the current assets do not cover the current liabilities, the liquid assets are used as productively by the growing of the business to make it more effective, thus profitable. Capital Gearing Ratios This is the relationship between the amount financed by the owners of the business and the amount contributed by outsiders (Maclaney and Atrill 2002, p. 197). For instance, Sainsburys capital gearing ratios are: Capital Gearing Ratios 2004 2003 Gearing Ratio 28.54% 25.97% Times Interest Covered 5.91 times 5.31 times Table 4. Capital Gearing Ratios (Base on data contained in Appendix B) The gearing ratio has increased by 9% due to the long-term debts rising faster than the capital employed during the period from 2003 to 2004. The long term debts went up by 14%, which is because the purchase of IT fixed assets and also the company resort to operations in the capital market and by operating subsidiaries to deal with the interest rate and current risk these finance involves. On the other hand, the times interest covered stayed constant and even though is a low rate, the company still can cover its interest with their profit. Investor Ratios Certain ratios are concerned with assessing the returns and performance of shares held in a particular business (McLaney et al., 2002, p. 197). In this case, the investor ratios for Sainsburys are the followings: Investor Ratios 2004 2003 Earnings per Share 0.20 0.23 Price Earnings Ratio 12.63 times 9.54 times Dividend Yield 6 6.89 Dividend Cover 1.32 1.52 Table 5. Investor Ratios (Base on data contained in Appendix B) The earning per share has fall by 13% mainly caused by the higher profits on business disposals that the company went through last year, so the return to shareholders was a lower rate per share. In contrast, the price earning per share growth by 24%, due to the increase in the market share price in 14%, this is a good new for Sainsburys since it reflects that the market confidence grew from 2003 to 2004. The dividend yield had a slightly decreased since the dividend per share only increased by 0.7% from last year. This was a decision from the company and it reflects the reduction in the earning per share already mentioned and the fall in the dividend cover by 13%. RECOMMENDATION TO POTENTIAL INVESTORS According to the information given by the ratios analysis in the last section, it can be said that even though the companys ratios showed a decreased rates from 2003 to 2004, the expectations of the business performance looks profitable. This is due to the Business Transformation Programme, which consists on the acquisition of IT systems and the sell of Shaws Supermarket and JS Development. The former will be a positive impact in the financial performance of the company in a long-term by increasing sales and reducing costs; and the latter will be used to develop and make more effective the financial and management resources, hence it will enlarge Sainsburys core UK business and strengthen its market position. Therefore, from the ratios analysis, it can be stated that Sainsburys is not a good company to, at present time invest in, since the company has not showed a significant growth in profit during the last financial year. To conclude, if Sainsburys finances start to grow, there is no doubt that investors should consider this company to invest in as it plans a better performance in the long-term. In the next part, it will be given some additional information about Sainsburys and also a comparison with Tesco. RELEVANT INFORMATION ABOUT SAINSBURYS The acquisition of IT system was an important contribution to lead Sainsburys strength its position in the high competitive marketplace. Whereas the group chief executive of Sainsburys said: The net reduction in costs will provide Sainsburys with additional resources to develop our customer proposition, by investing in quality and innovation and improving further our competitive offer, as we move towards trading our business harder from summer 2004 (http://www.j-sainsbury.co.uk/index.asp?PageID=19subsection=Year=2004NewsID=384), there are some opinions that contrast with the statement already mentioned, which states that this acquisition of sophisticated technology was too ambition and did the approach too quick, now Sainsburys is in a worst position than it was before (Smiddy cited OBrian, 2004). In addition, after have used the new IT system, Sainsburys realized that the supply chain system have failed and it did not work as they have expected, it did not increased productivity and the costs were higher than they were years ago (http://www.computerweekly.com). SAINSBURYS vs. TESCO The supermarket industry is very competitive nowadays, and even more when it comes to the customers satisfaction which is more and more demanding, so it is important for companies in this business to be focus in valued than in profitability, since the former leads them to the latter. Sainsburys and Tesco are two of the principles supermarket chains in UK. Both chains have similar things to offer, such as own label goods; have concern about consumers needs for example healthy and organic food; launched loyalty cards; expand their products such as clothing, electro domestics, etc. and others. On the other hand, they have some differences that make one stand out from the other. While Tesco have a good supply chains and a good strategy, which is having low prices and improving customer satisfaction by having the right products in shelf, Sainsburys is facing some problems in what a supply chain relates to the implementation of the IT system (http://proquest.umi.com), which causes the lack of products in the shops and also the customers find it more expensive than its competitors, where they can have equal quality products with lower price (http://proquest.umi.com). There are other differences between Sainsburys and Tesco, but there is an important question which is where to invest?. It is important to draw attention to the fact that Sainsburys financial situation does not attract investors, due to the decrease in the profit and sales. In addition, the company has being going through its first loss in 135 years of history (www.accountancyage.com). This reduction was mainly caused by the 554 million acquisition of IT system, and by the drop in profits for the financial year. Thus, it can be said that Tesco might be a better choice to invest in, but this is open to discussion. CONCLUSION Taking into consideration the ratio analysis applied to Sainsburys, it can be said that the company had some variation between 2003 and 2004. Whereas, most of the profitability, efficiency and effectiveness, liquidity and investor ratios demonstrate decline, the gearing ratios demonstrate a rise due to the growth in the long-term debts and the capital employed. Understanding the ratio analysis and the relevant information gathered looks like Sainsburys has gone through some difficulties in their supply chain and their financial and marketing management. Although they have invested in a long-term project and are positive in a potential growth in the coming years, to reach their aim they have to work hard and play in the same field its competitors (Tesco and Asda) are doing, by having low prices and good quality food always available in their shelf for all kind of consumers. Sainsburys still have a strong position in the retail sector in the UK. For this reason it is good for investors to wait and see its performance for the next years, currently is not a good moment to invest in. REFERENCES BERRY, A. and JARVIS, R., 1997. Accounting in a Business Context. 3rd Edition. London: International Thomson Business Press. GILES, R. and CAPEL, J., 1994. Finance and accounting. 3rd Edition. London: MacMillan. HARDING, D., 2005. Supermarket sweep-up for Sainsburys. Accountancy Age. Available from: [http://www.accountancyage.com/news/1139885] Accessed 22/Apr/2005. MARKETING WEEK, 2004. Reinvention is the only option left for Sainsburys. Marketing Week, pg. 30. Available from: [http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=727035691sid=8Fmt=3clientId=15517RQT=309VName=PQD] Accessed 20/Apr/2005. MARKETING WEEK, 2005. Sainsburys promises must mean business. Marketing Week, pg.22. Available from: [http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=792773011sid=9Fmt=3clientId=15517RQT=309VName=PQD] Accessed 20/Apr/2005. MCLANEY, E. and ATRILL, P., 2002. Accounting An Introduction. Second edition. London: Prentice Hall. OBRIEN, L., 2004. Sainsburys blames profit warning on supply failures. Supply Management, 9 (22). Available from: [http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=749826531sid=8Fmt=4clientId=15517RQT=309VName=PQD] Accessed 20/Apr/2005. SAINSBURYS WEBSITE, 2005. Annual Report and Financial Statements 2004. Available from: [http://www.j-sainsbury.co.uk/index.asp?pageid=20] Accessed 15/Apr/2005. SAINSBURYS WEBSITE, 2005. Sainsburys simplifies financing of IT contract with Accenture. Investor News. Available from: [http://www.j-sainsbury.co.uk/index.asp?PageID=19subsection=Year=2004NewsID=384] Accessed 20/Apr/2005.

Friday, October 25, 2019

steinback :: essays research papers

Jesus is William Blake’s â€Å"The Lamb†? William Blake’s poem, â€Å"The Lamb" is broken into two stanzas. Both stanzas have ten lines each. In the first part, each line rhymes with the next. There are a total of five rhyming parts in the first stanza. In the second stanza â€Å"name† and â€Å"Lamb† do not rhyme, but the other lines have the rhyming endings. The first two and the last two lines of each stanza are either the same or close to being the same. This is almost like a chorus to a song. In the first stanza â€Å"The Lamb†, opens with "Little Lamb, who made thee?" A child is most likely the speaker and asks the lamb how it came to be. The speaker wants to know how the lamb chooses where it feeds. Next, the speaker asks where the lamb got its’ wool "clothing" and its’ "tender voice" from. In the next stanza, the speaker tries to answer his own question. The speaker tells us that the lamb was made by someone who is called â€Å"a Lamb". The creator is a lot like a lamb. He is seen as gentle and pure, just like the speaker, a child, and a lamb. The lamb most likely symbolizes Jesus Christ. Every time Blake uses the word â€Å" Lamb† it is in The traditional image of Jesus, in the Catholic church, is seen as a lamb. The Christian values of gentleness, purity, and kindness are not only in Jesus but, also a lamb. In lines 16 and 17 the word â€Å"child† is mentioned. Jesus could also be seen as a child. Jesus left His mother and father in search of knowledge, as all children do when they go to school. He also lived under the watch of God, His father, like all children do. Finally, most people have heard how Jesus was killed on the cross. That showed how Jesus was seen as vulnerable, much like every child.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

The Great Water Debate

The Great Water Debate Canada is a country that is well known for being a global competitor due to its vast natural resources. However, the trade of some resources has been a subject of argument for many years; specifically water. It is a well-known fact that Canada has a fifth of the world’s fresh water resources. Making Canada the target of many global and domestic arguments ranging from â€Å"No Way! † to â€Å"Without any doubt, certainly! Beyond personal opinion, there is also the issue of whether, under the terms of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), water is a â€Å"vital resource† like the air we breathe, or a â€Å"commodity† to be sold and traded. No matter the personal opinion of the people, the federal government usually has the last say, however, in this case, the decision is down to the provincial governments. â€Å"There is a voluntary provincial ban on bulk exports, but any province could break it any time, and would it not withstand a NAFTA challenge† .However, Canada does still trade water but not in the expected manner. Canada sells water in containers (no larger than 30 liters) to other countries. There are a lot of advantages to exporting Canadian water in bulk. â€Å"Canada has only a half percent of the world's population but it holds one-fifth of the planet's freshwater supply† . A big thing to consider is about 7%-9% of the fresh water is renewable, this means that even though Canadians have the second highest water usage in the world, they still have an excess amount of water left over.This is water that if commoditized, could turn Canada’s economy around. Resulting in a huge profit for the government which can help support Canada’s public healthcare system or even cut the country’s taxes. These are all the advantages of treating water as a commodity, allowing the selling and trading of it internationally. However, there are huge disadvantages to trading Cana dian water internationally in bulk which in my opinion easily out weight the advantages offered in this situation. One thing to consider is that Water is not only a need by human being but by all living things the ecosystem.If Canadian lakes’ waters are to be decreased by simply an inch, it can affect hundreds of living things and cause chaos to the natural order of things. Therefore, it is clear that it will be harmful for the environment. Second thing to consider is that the cost of transporting water internationally may be over-whelming for the government and might not worth it. The price that the water would be sold at once it reaches the target country might be under the total cost of transportation or just barely over, resulting in it not being a good investment at all.Thirdly, in contrary to popular belief, only 1 per cent of water in the Great Lakes is renewable; leading me into the next point that â€Å"Once it’s gone, it’s gone†. Water is a fini te resource. Exporting water at bulk permanently will result in even more Lakes drying up than already, due to the climate change. Lastly, at some time in the near future, water bankruptcy around the world will result. A United Nations study that says by the year 2025 – less than 25 years – two-thirds of the world will be â€Å"water-poor. † If Canada manages to conserve its resources of fresh water till the much dreaded year of 2025.Canada can be making many times the profit that they would be currently making if they were to export all their water now. With all the given points, it seems quite clear that reserving Canada’s water for the future is an intelligent and environmentally friendly decision. There is also another aspect to consider when making the decision of whether selling Canada’s water internationally is a good idea or not. That is the ethical issue of selling water. â€Å"Water is an essential need, a public trust, not a commodity. It belongs to everyone and to no one. – Canadian Environmental Law Association. Without water, no human being or any living creature in fact would live longer than a couple of days. By putting a price tag on water, Canada would be allowing the rich to enjoy an excess amount of water and purchase at will while the poor will have to die of thirst throughout the world. Another aspect to consider is, as previously stated, the killing of many living organisms that live and use the lake’s fresh water. By removing water from the lakes, Canada would cause a global rage and hatred towards itself by activists around the world.As previously stated, my personal point of view is that Canada should not sell its water internationally; at least, not yet. Water is not a commodity to be bought and sold. Bulk water exports will not address the issues of water scarcity. Allowing water to be traded as an export would create a market system that would determine access to water by ability to pay. Considering these points, I still do not believe that it should be banned; instead, it should be saved for a great profit opportunity for the future when water becomes as valuable as the oil in middle east. By: Amir Sheidaei

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Inferiority Complex

Inferiority Complex â€Å"I do not know anything; I have got nothing to show the world; I do not have any worth. † These are the common thoughts of a person with inferiority complex. The study of this condition was first pioneered by Alfred Adler. Inferiority complex is characterized as a feeling that one is lesser than others in some way. People with this illness do not feel good about their selves or refuse to listen to anything positive about them. It is not just the usual feeling of inferiority that people sometimes have. It is a much higher condition which can result to a person’s withdrawal from social contacts. This abnormal state can be caused by parental attitudes and upbringing, physical defects, mental limitations, social disadvantages and discriminations. Parental attitudes and upbringing refers to the parents’ behavior during one’s childhood that usually results to unfavorable outcome to a child’s personality. Such behaviors like emphasizing the mistakes and shortcomings of the child and the approval of negative remarks, instead of encouraging them to do better next time can be the cause. Physical defects may also cause a person to feel inferior from others, especially when his appearance makes him feel or think that he is deprived. Mental limitations, social disadvantages and discrimination also are other factors that can promote inferiority complex for these also induce fear. It is usually the fear of competitions because one’s weaknesses can be exposed in such things. There are some possible solutions to this problem. First is enhancing one’s strength. By enhancing the strengths of a person, he can have a higher self esteem. His goals in life can be achieved only if he has confidence with himself. Next, a can camouflage his weaknesses. If he can not convert his weakness into his strength, he can always find things in which he is good at. Through this, attention will be focused on the good things he has, rather on his disabilities. Lastly, one can consult a psychiatrist. The fact that it is their expertise means they can contribute so much in the process of surpassing the condition. Though inferiority complex may be hard to conquer, one must not think that he is at the end of the cliff. Probably, the best thing to do is to consult a psychiatrist. Not only he will be guided along the way; he will also be assured of positive results through both of their efforts. Help is always available, but of course one must have the courage. If one will not help himself, overcoming this problem will be too difficult. So, if you or anybody you know has this condition, find or seek help. A consultation to a psychiatrist would not hurt. In fact, it is definitely a big help.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Infant Attachment To Caregivers Rather Than Mothers Social Work Essay Essays

Infant Attachment To Caregivers Rather Than Mothers Social Work Essay Essays Infant Attachment To Caregivers Rather Than Mothers Social Work Essay Essay Infant Attachment To Caregivers Rather Than Mothers Social Work Essay Essay 46 of 58 babies, at 12 months and 75 % at 18 months, so unafraid fond regards observed this research seemed to be stable over clip ( Juffer A ; Rosenboom, 1997 ) . Another survey of fond regard between furthering parents and baby besides demonstrated that mother-infant attachment quality in middle-class adoptive households is similar to the consequence found in households with merely biological kids ; nevertheless, interracial acceptance were more likely to hold insecure fond regard between female parent and baby ( Singer, 1985 ) . This might be explained by which households who adopt kids of a different race than themselves are less likely to have hearty support from extended household, friends, and neighbours than are households who adopt kids of the same race. Higher rates of insecure fond regard besides have found among babies who were placed to furthering households after disbursement at least 8 months in a Rumanian orphanhood. Babies who adopted at an earlier age, by contrast , do non look to hold an elevated rate of insecure fond regard to their adoptive parent ( Chisholm, 1998 ) . From these consequences, although adopted age of babies seems to be a critical factor whether they develop secure or insecure fond regard to furthering patents, adopted babies appear to be capable of accommodating their new parents as a secure base, and in bend, adoptive parents appear to be sensitive plenty so that they can run into the demands of their adopted babe and go a beacon every bit good. Since babies can develop firmly attached relationship to other health professionals, the long term effects such as resilience to new environments and holding positive behaviours and expectances are assumed to be similar to which mother-infant relationship likely to hold. Even though the overall comparing of fond regard in adoptive and non-adoptive households was moderately similar, the result sometimes do non except the possible importance of insecure or disrupted post-infancy household relationships as a footing for the accommodation jobs of the adoptee. The survey noted that as school-age kids begin to understand the deductions of acceptance, including the world of being relinquished by biological parents, hence, they frequently feel baffled, unsure, and insecure sing their current adoptive household relationship ( Singer, 1985 ) . However, it seems that the higher happening of problems reported subsequently in life in adoptive households can non be explained merely by early fond r egard jobs because early secure fond regard counteracts to these jobs and buffers the negative emotion to some grade. In decision, babies can develop unafraid fond regard non merely to their female parents but besides other health professionals, including male parents and adoptive parents. It seems that babies can go affiliated to any health professionals, provided that those health professionals interact with them on a regular footing, supply physical and emotional attention, and are emotionally invested in the kid. Sensitivity plays an of import function in development of secure fond regard between health professional and baby ; on the other manus, the sum of clip parents and kids spend together is much less than what they do with that clip. The similar positive result of unafraid fond regard can be expected to the fond regard relationship among father- and adoptive parents-infant. Children are born prepared to organize relationships with those who care for them, and those early experiences influence the relationships that they develop within the household and in the greater universe outside of th e place. Consequently, relationships affect childrenaa‚Â ¬a„?s healthy development, and childrenaa‚Â ¬a„?s development, in bend, transforms their ulterior mulct relationship.

Monday, October 21, 2019

Germanys Economy and Challenges as a country and as a member of the

Germanys Economy and Challenges as a country and as a member of the Germany's Economy and Challenges as a country and as a member of the EU – Essay Example Germanys Economy and Challenges as a Country and As a Member of the EU The Current Political and Economic Situation of Germany within Europe Germany, a dominant country in Europe, enjoys several benefits as a member of the European Union (EU). The adoption of the euro spurs investments in European countries since there is lower interest rates. German companies and investors have a competitive edge owing to its stable manufacturing base and the economic and political environment. The current economic and political situation of Germany within Europe offers some current and future challenges. Economically, Germany has the largest national economy within Europe. The country plays an important role in a period where there is extensive globalization, especially in economic terms. Germany has a globalized economy mostly because of its social market economy policy, which has consequently ranked it as among the world’s leading exporters. Apart from hosting trade fairs, Germany has the largest stock market listed companies globally. Alongside the United States, it is committed to an open, ever-changing and ever-expanding world economy. The economic environment offers several current and future challenges as a member of the EU. Germany fairs well in terms of national debt than the other EU countries, characterized by high tax revenues and a thriving economy. Even though, its spending surpasses tax revenues, coupled by an extremely high debt in most states and municipalities. In addition, Germany mainly constitutes an aging population, and this coupled by soaring unemployme nt rates, means that there is less tax revenue because of the depletion of social security at a faster rate than before. As a requirement of the EU, Germany lowered its budget deficit below 3% of GDP, to avoid future fiscal problems. Politically, Germany has a parliamentary government that promotes a democratic constitution. Its constitutional structure accentuates the protection of individual freedom and division of powers in a federal arrangement. There are several political parties, such as Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union, Social Democratic Party, and Free Democratic Party, which influence the political situation for the region. The Basic Law provides stability and liberty in the region, which is similar to the liberal Western democracies. The political environment offers several current and future challenges. Violent hate crimes, racism, and neo-Nazism are current challenges that affect the future of Germany as a member of the EU owing to their intermittent turmoil. In addition, the euro-crisis is a pivotal foreign-policy issue that affects the operations of the country. The political fragmentation in the region is bound to worsen the situation because the country’s leader does not ha ve a majority vote and an overriding support from its citizens (Ewing 2013). Germany is the worlds biggest single exporting nation, dominates the European Union, and there is recent interest in the use of the German-based euro as an international currency. These economic factors are significant if Germany strives to avert any future challenges because of its political and economic situation. Germany is a globally competitive player owing to its political standing and economic policies, which most of its European neighbours have not adopted suitably. References Ewing, J. (September 16, 2013). Germany’s Political Fragmentation May Pose Challenge for Merkel. The New York Times.

Sunday, October 20, 2019

Confidence Intervals and Confidence Levels in Sociology

Confidence Intervals and Confidence Levels in Sociology A confidence interval is a measure of estimation that is typically used in quantitative sociological research. It is an estimated range of values that is likely to include the population parameter being calculated. For instance, instead of estimating the mean age of a certain population to be a single value like 25.5 years, we could say that the mean age is somewhere between 23 and 28. This confidence interval contains the single value we are estimating, yet it gives us a wider net to be right. When we use confidence intervals to estimate a number ​or population parameter, we can also estimate just how accurate our estimate is. The likelihood that our confidence interval will contain the population parameter is called the confidence level. For example, how confident are we that our confidence interval of 23 – 28 years of age contains the mean age of our population? If this range of ages was calculated with a 95 percent confidence level, we could say that we are 95 percent confident that the mean age of our population is between 23 and 28 years. Or, the chances are 95 out of 100 that the mean age of the population falls between 23 and 28 years. Confidence levels can be constructed for any level of confidence, however, the most commonly used are 90 percent, 95 percent, and 99 percent. The larger the confidence level is, the narrower the confidence interval. For instance, when we used a 95 percent confidence level, our confidence interval was 23 – 28 years of age. If we use a 90 percent confidence level to calculate the confidence level for the mean age of our population, our confidence interval might be 25 – 26 years of age. Conversely, if we use a 99 percent confidence level, our confidence interval might be 21 – 30 years of age. Calculating The Confidence Interval There are four steps to calculating the confidence level for means. Calculate the standard error of the mean.Decide on the level of confidence (i.e. 90 percent, 95 percent, 99 percent, etc.). Then, find the corresponding Z value. This can usually be done with a table in an appendix of a statistics text book. For reference, the Z value for a 95 percent confidence level is 1.96, while the Z value for a 90 percent confidence level is 1.65, and the Z value for a 99 percent confidence level is 2.58.Calculate the confidence interval.*Interpret the results. *The formula for calculating the confidence interval is: CI sample mean /- Z score (standard error of the mean). If we estimate the mean age for our population to be 25.5, we calculate the standard error of the mean to be 1.2, and we choose a 95 percent confidence level (remember, the Z score for this is 1.96), our calculation would look like this: CI 25.5 – 1.96(1.2) 23.1 andCI 25.5 1.96(1.2) 27.9. Thus, our confidence interval is 23.1 to 27.9 years of age. This means that we can be 95 percent confident that the actual mean age of the population is not less than 23.1 year, and is not greater than 27.9. In other words, if we collect a large amount of samples (say, 500) from the population of interest, 95 times out of 100, the true population mean would be included within our computed interval. With a 95 percent confidence level, there is a 5 percent chance that we are wrong. Five times out of 100, the true population mean will not be included in our specified interval. Updated  by Nicki Lisa Cole, Ph.D.