Smokers vs. non-smokers Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Smokers vs. non-smokers - Essay Example They observed ETS-associated increases in heart rate and, more weakly, in DBP, consistent with increases in sympathetic stimulation. Ultrafine particles are associated with oxidative stress, as well as with reduced HRV. In conclusion, the study contributed to the evidence that exposure to second-hand smoke increases cardiac risk through cardiac autonomic dysfunction. Protection from passive smoking can benefit health. on changes in cardiac autonomic function, specifically, in a commercial airport as measured by HR and HRV in a panel of adult nonsmokers. The authors suggested that altered cardiac autonomic function, as reflected by decrements in HRV, may be part of the pathophysiologic mechanisms by which exposure to ETS leads to increased risk of cardiovascular mortality. Maziak et al (2005) mentioned that the exposure to ETS causes deleterious effects in the respiratory system of adults and children in Syria. Exposure to ETS was assessed from multiple self-reported indices combined into a composite score (maximum 22), while outcomes included both self-report (symptoms/ diagnosis of asthma, bronchitis, and hay fever), and objective indices (spirometric assessment of FEV1 and FVC). They evaluated the relation between ETS score and studied outcomes as well as the association between ETS exposure and respiratory health. The results indicated that there was a significant dose-response pattern in the relationship of ETS score with symptoms of asthma, hay fever, and bronchitis, but not with diagnoses of these outcomes. This study provided an evidence for the extensive exposure to ETS among adult nonsmokers in Syria, and its dose-response relationship with respiratory symptoms of infectious and noninfectious nature. It also called for an elaborate effort to increase awareness of this public health problem and to enforce regulations aimed at protecting non-smokers. Oncken et al (2002) evaluated

ASEAN Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

ASEAN - Essay Example Then it discusses the origin of ASEAN in detail. This section stresses on the kind of economy existing in the South East Asian countries prior to the formation of ASEAN. It also highlights the role of United States and Japan in the formation of ASEAN and the implication of the development of this organization. ASEAN has certain restriction in the achievement of its goals The reason for the limitations to attain its goals are discussed in detail. The second part of the paper mainly concentrates on the achievements of ASEAN. It describes in detail the role played by it in the economic and the political affairs of the South East Asian countries. The successful ASEAN strategy that has developed the economy of India and China, the endeavor of ASEAN in the global market place and the growth rate of ASEAN countries are also highlighted in this section. The various achievements discussed in this section are the benefits of free trade, the growth of outside economic relations, technological innovations, the increasing buying potential of various countries, market unification and monetary assistance. The initiatives taken to strengthen political stability and to combat terrorism in the region is also one of the aspects discussed. The third part of the paper deals with the kind of challenges faced by ASEAN to achieve and sustain its primary goal. Some of the challenges that ASEAN faces because of relations between member nations and concerns faced in resolving these issues are the important aspect of this section. The kind of security threats that appears in South-east Asia is mentioned in detail. The challenges due to economic development of certain south East Asian countries, the monetary crisis, and the issues due to the incorporation of new member countries in ASEAN are some of major topics, which are discussed in detail. The fourth part of the paper stresses on the response to challenges and the future of ASEAN. ASEAN follows a certain strategy to face the challenges in future. Hence, the first part of this section concentrates on the objectives of the formation of ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), Dispute Settlement Mechanism (DSM). The importance of regionalism and steps taken to ensure peace in the South East Asian countries are also covered. There are suggestion put forth to face its future challenges. The various steps taken by ASEAN to eliminate the barriers of trade and the development in the infrastructure of the south East Asian countries is also discussed at length. The different strategies to enhance the dealing of trade, the technological advancements, necessity of transparent, specific rules and treaties, initiatives taken in the field of finance and planning are some of the other aspects dealt with in this section. The second part of this section ascertains the future of ASEAN. The reason for the existence of ASEAN, changes anticipated in future to ensure the security of southeast nations due to increased terrorism and the need to initiate in its financial policies are discussed. The change in role of ASEAN, some of the benefits of extending this establishment, the change in the utility of the concept of regionalism are some of the changes in the structure of ASEAN that is discussed under this section. The change in the

Diageo Marketing Strategy

Diageo Marketing Strategy Introduction Diageo began as a world leader in branded foods and drinks, formed in December 1997 through a merger of Guinness PLC and alcohol and Grand Metropolitan plc (The Gale Group Inc, 2006). In 2000 2002, a strategic decision by Diageo was made to exit the companys food interests by divesting its food companies and exclusively focusing on premium alcohol. A detailed history of Diageo plc up to and immediately after its creation is set out in Figure : Our Business Diageo History Family Tree Diageo is currently the worlds largest drinks company by volume, net sales and operating profit (Diageo PLC, 2012) with a large collection of brands which include spirits, beer and wine. There are currently 14 brands which Diageo identifies as global priority brands. These are: Johnnie Walker whisky Smirnoff vodka Crown Royal whisky Ciroc vodka JB whisky Ketel One vodka Windsor Captain Morgan rum Buchanans whiskey Jose Cuervo tequila Bushmills whiskey Tanqueray gin Guiness stout Baileys liqueur (Diageo PLC, 2008) Diageos Current Business Strategies Diageo owns seven of the worlds top 20 spirits brands. Diageos beer brands include the only global stout brand, Guinness, and together these beer brands account for approximately 20% of net sales while Diageos wine brands represent approximately 5% of Diageos net sales. This means that Diageos size provides for scale efficiencies in production, selling and marketing. This enables cost efficiencies and the dissemination of best practices in business operations across markets and brands allowing Diageo to serve its customers and consumers better. From 2005 to the end of financial year 2011 (ending 30 June 2011), Diageo managed its operations by four regions: Europe, North America, International and Asia Pacific. In financial year 2012 (FY 2012) the International region was split into Africa and Latin America sections, producing five geographical regions globally. This general structure brought about good results. Analysis of Diageos annual reports from 2007 to 2012 shows that gross sales rose from  £ 9,704,000 to  £14,594,000, an annual average increase of 7%. Due to the level of continued change in global markets and the requisite innovation necessary, it has Diageo completed an operating review in 2011 which recommended changes in structure and focus, and this resulted in a net movement of personnel from developed market regions to emerging market regions. The changes are expected to be fully implemented by 30 June 2013 (Diageo PLC, 2011) (Diageo PLC, 2012) . This restructuring should allow Diageo to improve its effectiveness and the productivity of its operations and to position resources nearer to the market and to the geographical regions where there is a great potential for growth. Read through and differentiate the different strategies under headings .i.e. Business strategy- Generic strategies (Diageo uses focused and differentiation) and Interactive strategies. Put everything under headings Competitive Strategies (Johnson, Whittington, Scholes, 2011, p. 199) define competitive strategy as being concerned with how a strategic business unit achieves competitive advantage in its domain of activity. Therefore a Strategic Business Unit (SBU) creates competitive advantage when it creates value for its users where the cost effectiveness of supplying it is superior to that of rival SBUs. (Johnson, Whittington, Scholes, 2011) further add that Porter defines three generic strategies which create competitive advantage for a company are; differentiation, cost leadership and focus strategies. This report has seen that Diageo uses both Focused and Differentiation strategies when pushing its products to its target market. This is because Diageo focuses on premium liquor that is targeted to a particular market. Tools: advertising (localisation), vertical integration, premiumisation, seasonal pricing strategy, first-mover advantage, employee training SABMiller. Diageos strategy is to drive top line growth and margin improvement in a sustainable and responsible way, to deliver consistent value creation for shareholders over the long term. It will do this through its geographic breadth, its outstanding brands across beverage alcohol categories and the expertise of its people. (Diageo PLC, 2012). Production and supply Diageos supply organization is responsible for producing, distilling, brewing, bottling, packaging and distributing its brands. It is committed to efficient, sustainable production. Diageo has created a competitive advantage in both its cost base and in the first class customer service it delivers. Investment in production facilities is focused on building capacity for the production of scotch, beer and rum, with both high speed and high volume, cost efficient production lines and with flexible production facilities to create an industry leading supply chain for innovation, especially in luxury products. The business recognizes that it operates in a world where natural resources are limited. Diageo has set itself challenging environmental targets covering water efficiency; increasing use of sustainable packaging and reduction in pollution, carbon emissions and waste-to landfill (Diageo PLC, 2012). Differentiation strategy Products For a company to use this strategy it should prove unique products for which their customers will be prepared to pay a premium price. This is seen in Diageos recent launches which focused on the consumers wish for luxury, the tastes and increasing affluence of the emerging middle class consumer which ultimately increased the accessibility of spirits through flavor extensions and packaging and drink formats (Diageo PLC, 2012). Premiumisation [jubilee scotch] innovation around RTD products, adult progressive drinks. Customer care and Retention When it comes to customer care and sale of its products, Diageo works in collaboration with its customers to drive profitable category growth, by building partnerships with retailers and on-premise customers. The Diageo Way of Selling program equips both Diageo and its customers with the tools to be the best sales force in the industry and to create commercial and strategic value for all parties. The European Customer Collaboration Centre provides a state of the art facility to bring consumer, shopper, retailer and distributor insights together to facilitate integrated planning with customers. These tools enable Diageo to realize its ambition to become an indispensable business partner to its customers (Diageo PLC, 2012). This means that when the customers go to buy their products its a fulfilling experience and they get all their questions or suggestions met and this works well with Diageo as they use this as feedback. Environmental and socially responsible Diageo being the socially and environmental responsible company, it has a history of being a sustainable and responsible company dating from Arthur Guinness who was responsible for philanthropic community programs and through the 1930s when its predecessor companies marketed their brands in a responsible manner. Diageo understands the social, environmental and economic impact of its activities and has adopted a structured approach to manage these impacts, to build engagement across stakeholders, to create value, especially in emerging markets; and to protect Diageos license to operate (Diageo PLC, 2012). Balance of alcohol in the community (Diageo PLC, 2012) states that the company is not all about profits and losses, it ensures that even the employees are proud of the responsible manner in which its brands are marketed and the role that moderate consumption of its brands can play as part of the balanced lifestyle for millions of people. Diageo seeks to be at the forefront of industry efforts to promote responsible drinking and works with key stakeholders to combat alcohol misuse. Eco-friendly technology Diageos production teams have created award winning technologies to meet these targets with the aim of reducing Diageos environmental footprint, delivering business efficiencies and securing supply into the future. Diageo is committed to generating prosperity in the communities in which it operates, especially in the emerging markets by integrating its supply chain into the local community and via direct community initiatives such as Learning for Life and Water of Life (Diageo PLC, 2012). Development of the workforce Diageo believes that industry leading performance will be delivered through a talented and diverse workforce and great leadership. The company has active programs that ensure the development of its management and leaders. Great leadership combined with a culture of good governance and ethics protects Diageos reputation and supports the sustainable efficient growth of the business (Diageo PLC, 2012). Focus Strategy (Johnson, Whittington, Scholes, 2011) state that focus strategy focuses on a particular segment of market and modifies its products and services to fulfill the needs of that exact segment while excluding others. In terms of relationships with distributors and suppliers Diageo has strong routes to market which leverage local expertise. In the United States Diageo is required by law to operate via a three-tier distribution system which separates suppliers, distributors and retailers. Diageo works with distributors who provide a substantial dedicated sales team of over 2,900 people. Outside of the United States Diageo owns and controls the route to market in many markets, and where Diageo has not established its own subsidiary, the route to market is through joint ventures, associates and third party distributors (Diageo PLC, 2012). This kind of command on distributorship and supply is why Diageo is known for its quality products and this ensures customers get what they pay for. The Strategy process Intended Strategy Development Strategic Leadership: the role of vision and command In 2000, the newly appointed CEO of Diageo, Paul Walsh, embarked on a strategic review of all operations and was determined to recreate Diageo as the worlds leading premium drinks business (Davidson, 2004). By selling off the companys food concerns and concentrating on the marketing and innovation of its core premium drinks brands, Paul Walsh refocused and reenergized the company (Encyclopedia of Business, 2012). Walshs leadership gravitates towards the visionary style since it more closely follows one that motivates others, helps create the shared beliefs, and shapes more detailed strategy (Johnson, Whittington, Scholes, 2011, p. 400). Strategic Planning Four key pillars of the formulated strategic plans can be identified as: Promotion of the global strategic brands Vertical integration Cost reduction Acquisitions, mergers and divestments Exploring new territories Promotion of global strategic brands Strategic brands (formerly global priority brands) have always been a key pillar of its strategy. In 2007 there were eight of these Johnnie Walker whisky Smirnoff vodka JB whisky Captain Morgan rum Tanqueray gin Jose Cuervo tequila Guiness stout Baileys liqueur (Diageo PLC, 2007) These are brands which Diageo considers to have the greatest current and future earnings potential (Diageo PLC, 2007, p. 9). By 2012 the number of brands in this category had risen to 14 as set out in Table . Although the company was structured into four distinct geographical regions, the global priority brands took precedence over the regional divisions. ref Since the eight brands constituted the lions share of earnings, it was considered important to manage these products at the highest level. Growth strategy and promotion was engineered at the corporate level. However that did not mean that regional business units were spoon-fed material from corporate level. There was a great deal of localisation in promoting these products. An example of a major long-running campaign which has been progressively adapted to different regions is the Walk with Giants campaign which in FY 2012 featured the respected long distance Olympic champion Haile Gebrselassie in an Africa campaign. Vertical integration Diageo has taken considerable control of the supply chain, being involved in developing, brewing, distilling, bottling, packaging, distributing, and marketing. It has physical plant which covers the previously listed activities as well as specialised functions such as malting, packaging plants, vineyards, maturation warehouses, cooperages, distribution warehouses, and bottle manufacturers (Diageo PLC, 2007). In Kenya the process goes as far as involvement in the growing of input cereals to brewing ref. In the USA, total vertical integration is moderated by law, which states that there should be three levels of supply: manufacturing, distribution and retail. In that market therefore, Diageo works to identify solid partners in distribution, usually only one partner per state. Acquisitions, mergers and divestments Strategic acquisition and sale of unfocussed business units was in Diageos business genes, as it was formed from a succession of such moves. It has continued to be a key part of its growth. Since 2000 the organic growth of th Exploring new territories Although Diageo had possession of many of the worlds strongest liquor brands, and could have been satisfied with continuing to depend on this cash cow business, it has as a company been quite adventurous and curious in enacting a deliberate policy of exploring emerging markets. Part of Diageos growth strategy includes expanding its business in certain countries where consumer spending in general, and spending on Diageos products in particular, has not historically been as great but where there are prospects for growth (Diageo PLC, 2007, p. 17). This arm of the business was only delivering 20% of the revenue in 2007, despite representing considerable complexity in management. Emerging markets can be difficult to manage due to the relatively low purchasing power, poor infrastructure, and traditional local involvement in distribution channels. However this persistence has clearly paid off for the company. From a small but hopeful difference in growth compared to developed country market s in 2007, the emerging markets have increased in strength and importance, until in 2012 they represented 40% of revenue, which is expected to reach 50% by . Diageos strategy is to drive top line growth and margin improvement in a sustainable and responsible way, to deliver consistent value creation for shareholders over the long term. It will do this through its geographic breadth, its outstanding brands across beverage alcohol categories and the expertise of its people. (Diageo PLC, 2012) Emergent Strategy Development Logical incrementalism PESTEL reactions Advertising in US about spirits on TV product change Levels of distribution. 2008 credit crunch emerging market growth smarter at localised promotion? Diageo hiding behind EABL my country my beer. Managing Strategy Development [figure with the five regions and amended brand strategy] Reconfigured structure concentrating more on emerging markets. Overall growth highlighted graph showing growth. Evaluation of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Practices Diageo is always innovative and this is in its strategies all through the company. All the stakeholders know what is expected of them and there is always something new that Diageo is coming up with. Below are some of the new ideas that have been rocking Diageo: Innovation unlocks growth in developed markets. In Ireland, for example, we have introduced new dispense technology to bring perfect cocktails to bars which do not usually serve cocktails. Smirnoff Mojito is available in over 600 Irish outlets which are now selling a total of nearly 40,000 cocktails a week (Diageo, 2012). Diageo entered the Indian made foreign liquor segment (IMFL) with the launch of Rowsons Reserve, a premium IMFL whisky. It is a blend of selected premium Indian whiskies and reserve stocks of the finest aged Scotch whisky matured in American oak casks that are mellowed to give a rich smooth finish. It has a well-rounded and balance flavour profile, with a soft, lingering aftertaste. Its distinctly superior liquid and premium packaging allows it to stand out as a premium offering (Diageo, 2012). Smirnoff, the worlds number one vodka, revealed an exciting new flavour variant, exclusive to travel retail. Smirnoff Gold Collection with the luxury of gold in every drop is unique, cinnamon spiced vodka. Gold cues feature prominently in all executions and the gold etched bottle itself showcases a flurry of real, edible gold leaf flakes, magically suspended in this truly indulgent vodka (Diageo, 2012). Guinness Black Lager has the refreshing taste of lager, but all the character of Guinness which consumers love. We take immense pride in the quality of our product and ensured that we built on the Guinness legacy. The refreshing taste is locked in by the bespoke amber Guinness bottle. The contemporary packaging design combines premium, detailed silver and blue colour with hallmark symbols of Guinness brewing provenance and heritage (Diageo, 2012). This March saw the launch of Orijin, the latest drinks innovation from Guinness Cameroon. Perfect for all social occasions, this authentic ready to drink alcoholic beverage ,an alternative to beer, is made from a blend of traditional African herbs such as kola nuts, ginger and cloves, and sweet tropical fruits, giving it a refined, bitter-sweet and uplifting taste (Diageo, 2012). We need to offer more choices to female consumers. In Kenya, we launched Snapp. Women there told us they didnt like drinking beer, particularly in the on trade because both the packaging and the liquid were viewed as too masculine. Snapp is a premium, crisp apple tasting drink that provides women with a more stylish and sophisticated alternative to beer (Diageo, 2012). As a darker, spiced rum from Captain Morgan, Captain Morgan Black Spiced expands the brands footprint into the bolder, more masculine whiskey occasion. The brand honors the legend of the real Captain Morgan, whose spirit is said to still roam the waters of the Caribbean today. Captain Morgan Black Spiced Rum is best enjoyed on the rocks, but is also delicious as the key ingredient in edgy, new twists on classic cocktails, such as Henry Morgans Old Fashioned (Diageo, 2012). The new frozen Ready to Serve pouch format from Parrot Bay offers consumers an easy and affordable way to enjoy the drinks they love. Parrot Bay frozen tropical drinks are your favourite tropical drinks perfectly mixed every time, available in Pià ±a Colada, Strawberry Daiquiri, and Mango Daiquiri. Just freeze, squeeze and enjoy (Diageo, 2012). Offering a credible, exciting new alternative to beer for British males, Jeremiah Weed Brews is a range of two products Mash and Root Brew. The combination of an authentic American brand, independent positioning, simple design and a unique jam jar serve over ice has helped deliver the masculine credibility of beer with an enjoyable taste. Jeremiah Weed has now been rolled out to 7,000 on trade outlets in Great Britain (Diageo, 2012). Harp Lime is Nigerias first flavoured beer. With a clean and crisp taste, and just a hint of lime, it is uniquely refreshing. Harp Lime has been well received, with distribution growing steadily, and the distinctive Harp Lime advertising impacting positively on the Harp Trademark equity. Harp Lime is available in both sleek 30cl bottles and cans (Diageo, 2012). The Tusker brand has been enjoyed in Kenya since 1922, and now new Tusker Lite keeps the brand innovative and relevant by addressing todays consumers balanced lifestyle choices with a refreshing low calorie beer. Tusker Lite is positioned within the same mainstream segment as the parent brand Tusker Lager (Diageo, 2012). This years Asian Festive season gifting design was inspired by the characteristic big, bold flavors of the Johnnie Walker brand. The packs were launched in stages, from India for Diwali and then across Asia Pacific for Chinese New Year. The eye-catching limited edition gift boxes boast a beautiful design that allows each variant to stand out on shelves, with impressive and refined packaging including an embossed box and gold foiling (Diageo, 2012).

Public Grazing on Bureau of Land Management Land :: Agriculture Farming Environment Essays Papers

Public Grazing on Bureau of Land Management Land The Bureau of land Management is an agency of the department of the Interior. It manages 264 million acres in the western lands and over 700 acres of mineral estate nationwide. The purposes of these lands are mineral development, recreation, timber, and grazing. The on that we are going to talk about is grazing on the BLM lands and how they are improving them. In the 1930's, overgrazing was damaging the Western rangelands to a dust bowl. In Wyoming during 1909 the sheep numbers reached six million. Most of these sheep operations were nomadic, with that meant that some of these operations were keeping their sheep on public land all year round. The range land became deteriorated bye this way of grazing. By the 1920's and 1930's the ranchers and the conservationists wanted something to be done before the land got any worse. Congress knew that they had to do something before they lost their country's biggest asset. The Taylor Grazing Act (TGA) of 1934 was passed. What the TGA did was regulated grazing on public lands through using permits. With regulation of public lands they could control numbers of occupancy and uses on the land. It also could preserve the land from destruction, with that it could improve the land and develop it better. In 1964 Public Land Law Review Commission was established to make recommendations on how to manage the lan d. Congress responded to that by passing the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) in 1976, which keeps the lands in Federal ownership. The Public Rangelands Improvement Act of 1978 was another act that improved rangelands. It realized that public rangelands were producing less than their potential. This act helps maintain and improve the conditions of the rangelands so that they become productive and usable to their highest potential again. The Executive Order 12548 of 1986, signed by President Reagan, stated that there would be annual fees for domesticated livestock grazing on public rangelands. Just in Oregon and Washington the federal government will receive over $1.8 million annually for grazing about 250,000 animals on BLM land. The BLM has improved the rangeland in Oregon by one hundred percent. With the Oregon Trail having immigrants and their cattle coming through, it destroyed the land with no grass left to graze. The BLM scattered cattle throughout the land and the grazing has improved, so has the water development.

Aligning Elementary School to Middle School Curriculum Essay

There has been an upsurge in curriculum alignment actions among educational institutions in an attempt to reinforce the efficiency and effectiveness of instructions and assessment programs (Marsh & Willis, 2003). The need to eliminate the differences in both learning and teaching has compelled leaders in educational settings to examine the concepts and skills taught in educational institutions (Marsh & Willis, 2003). Also, the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) program of 2002 justifies the significance of curriculum alignment activities (Clarke, Kayona, Ruebling & Stow, 2006). In curriculum development, there are three essential areas that need great considerations. One, the curriculum document needs to â€Å"give direction, focus, and accountability in the learning environment. (Clarke, Kayona, Ruebling & Stow, 2006). Two, the curriculum document should be revised on a regular basis by at least two educational leaders and three; student outcomes that recognize what the learners acquire prior to graduation should align with the standards set by the state. According to Clarke, Kayona, Ruebling & Stow, (2006) many educational institutions have not yet integrated successfully the essentials standards within their curriculum nor maintained a written document to guide instruction. Again, the important role of leaders in educational setting to develop and implement curriculum is evident with the alignment of taught, written and tested curriculum. Clarke, Kayona, Ruebling & Stow, 2006) also affirms that the lack of curriculum alignment can result to lower achievement where educators teach contents that is not part of the curriculum document and nor is it part of assessment material. This dissertation will analyze the curriculum articulation and alignment between elementary school and middle school social studies, specifically, fourth and seventh grade. Inclusive of this dissertation will be a plan to improve curriculum articulation and alignment between elementary school and middle school social studies as well as improve the academic progression of student and the consistency of the curriculum. Summary of Original Analysis The curriculum for the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction is a standards-based design that lays emphasis on the student’s ability. The curriculum is divided by subject, grade level and standard. It explains the core contents for each subject with proficiency descriptors. The curriculum document is relevant to the mission of the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction as well as the objectives for the subjects. The Social Studies curriculum document for North Dakota Department of Public Instruction has five major themes for both elementary school and middle school as well as benchmark expectations in each category. The main ideas and academic expectations are the same for both schools. The design of subject matter for adjoining educational stages includes concepts, skills, understandings, and the core content useful in assessment. The curriculum documents of North Dakota Department of Public Instruction for the elementary and middle school comprise vertical alignment between the adjoining educational levels. The concepts, skills and understandings become more complicated amid the two educational levels. Therefore, learners should understand the concepts and skills of the elementary school before learning the concepts and skills of middle school. The concentration of the elementary school is narrower than that of middle school. The curriculum documents of both elementary and middle school do not exhibit horizontal alignment. Improvement of curriculum alignment, student progression and curriculum consistency Curriculum alignment is necessary to guarantee harmony between the curriculum’s intentions and the instruction of the curriculum by testing what is taught. In effect, there is little or no space left for differences in curriculum implementation. The educational leaders thereafter, assess educators by the degree in which the learners meet the set standards through standardized examination (Marsh & Willis, 2003). The vertical alignment links subjects that express a relationship and a particular order and then match the curriculum to the particular order. In this, students will gain vital knowledge prior to the next subject. The alignment aids in material reinforcement and offers teachers knowledge in relation to students’ ability. In addition, Melvin (2007 notes that vertical alignment enhances learning for students as well as communication between teachers at various educational levels. Horizontal alignment transversely brings together curriculum objectives between subjects. Horizontal alignment benefits learners in that learning transmits to new situation where students realize the significance of the knowledge gained (Wraga, 1999). The social studies curriculum within the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction between elementary and middle school, puts emphasis on standards and outlines objectives needed by students to learn. So as to improve curriculum alignment, it is necessary for curriculum at adjoining educational levels to lay emphasis on these objectives at every appropriate occurrence but not only within a particular grade. Glatthorns (1999) suggests it is important that the curriculum contain objectives for constant development, which can center on learning as well as testing when probable. Again, the curriculum should include enhancement units for all learners. Educators can then assess the standards and align the taught, written and tested curriculum. By gathering the acknowledged state standards and applying resourcefulness, tutors can develop unit which, will be interesting to the students. Teachers’ flexibility can also be put in play where the curriculum can be adjusted to meet the requirements and capability of the learners. In this strategy, educators align the written curriculum with the tested curriculum and the taught curriculum with the written one. As they implement the curriculum, In addition, teachers can include objectives for ongoing development and enhancement units. This process will allow learners to achieve high grades on tests while the ongoing students will have units of study that are comprehensive and thus will get their interest (Glatthorn, 1999). The North Dakota Department of Public Instruction maintains a standards-based curriculum that contains list of fundamental details and abilities at the lower end of Bloom’s Taxonomy, with no intention for connecting the fundamental details into more important outcomes of learning. Marsh and Willis (2003) contends that the progression that has been mandated by state would then be trussed by practical and fundamental knowledge with minimal consideration of lasting learning competency that is necessary to life as well as other areas of learning. A curriculum that lays out the necessity to address all students and concentrates on cognition development at a higher-level whilst keeping the standards-based curriculum is the most suitable to put into practice for the two adjoining educational stages (Wraga, 1999). A combined curriculum that is integrated, inclusive and student centered with holistic and multicultural aspects will enhance curriculum alignment both horizontally and vertically. In addition, this kind of curriculum will enhance learners’ academic progression and assist in curriculum consistency. Wraga (1999) admits that the standards-based curriculum must contain curriculum alignment of a larger curriculum that ensures lifelong learning. A curriculum that contains intrapersonal improvement encourages the learners to discuss learning and associate in relation to the learners’ life. Teaching and nurturing social skills through the curriculum allows cooperation of learners with other individuals, builds conflict resolution skills, and assists in team building. The curriculum within the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction shall integrate multicultural aspect so as to align the curriculum with the today’s society. Learners will get to value diverse culture and as a result develop communication among cultures. An all grade inclusive curriculum which is also adaptive is valuable to all learners; it will offer equal learning opportunities to students with disabilities as well as allow all students to embrace diversity among individuals. A student-centered curriculum focuses on the learners but not the curriculum materials, content to be covered or written goals. When there is implementation of a standards-based curriculum in association with a combined curriculum and high-stakes testing, students are assured of quality education. Layton & Lock (2007) asserts that student assessments are vital and in an effort to assist in academic progression of student educators should build tests that assess student learning correctly and adjust tests for the at-risk learners. Educators can unearth better ways of evaluating test results so as to identify learning needs of students and revise instruction. In addition this plan integrates authentic assessment. Authentic assessment demands the relevance and integration of skills vital to solve complicated problems and allows enhanced substantiation of the students’ ability to prosper in all situations. Learners have a chance to explain themselves allowing teachers to better understand the learning process and get instant feedback for learners. Furthermore, the application of authentic assessment sets up teacher collaboration and collegiality as well as expands the reflection and inquiry by the teacher. Conclusion Curriculum alignment involves matching a curriculum’s content to the use of tests so as to assess the learning of student (Marsh & Willis, 2003). Curriculum alignment calls for educational institutions to ensure consistence in the objectives, guides, textbooks, and tests that make up the curriculum (Marsh & Willis, 2003). Leaders in educational settings determine academic achievement through standard testing as a means to find out what happens in schools. Institutions of education emphasize effectiveness through increasing academic achievement where they term decline in academic achievement as a problem in the quality of the curriculum. Thus, aligning the intended curriculum with the taught curriculum seems to resolve this problem (Marsh & Willis, 2003). By integrating the previous aspects into the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction curriculum, a more significant learning experience can be achieved by both educators and students. Lastly, curriculum alignment will be seen, student academic progression as well as curriculum consistency will improve (Marsh & Willis, 2003). References Alexson, R. G. & Kemnitz, C. P. (2004): Curriculum articulation and transitioning student success: Where are we going wrong and what lessons have we learned? Educational Research Quarterly, Retrieved from ProQuest Education Journals database. Accessed on September 26, 2007 Biessman, J. B. (2006): An examination of curriculum articulation in Wisconsin high school and post-secondary introductory biology courses. Retrieved from ProQuest Digital Dissertations database. Accessed on September 25, 2007. Carnoy, M. (2005): Have state accountability and high-stakes test influenced student progression rates in high school? Educational Measurement, Issues and Practice, 24. Retrieved from ProQuest database. Accessed on September 26, 2007. Clarke, N. A. , Kayona, F. , Stow, S. , Ruebling (2006): Developing standards-based curricula and assessments: Lessons learned from the field. Retrieved from EBSCO host database. Accessed on September 26, 2007, Cumming, J. J. & Maxwell, G. S. (1999): Contextualizing authentic assessment. Assessment in Education, 6. Retrieved from ProQuest database. Accessed on September 26, 2007 Hodgkinson, H. (2000). Educational demographics: What teachers should know. Educational Leadership. John, B. (2003): Curriculum audits: achieving alignment for student success. Education Today. Retrieved from CBCA Complete database. Accessed on September 26, 2007. Odden, A. (2000): The costs of sustaining educational change through comprehensive school reform. Ornstein, A. C. & Levine, D. U. (1990): School effectiveness and reform: Guidelines for action. Porter, A. C. (2005): Getting the Content of Instruction Right. Retrieved from CBCA Complete database. Accessed on September 25, 2007 Layton, C. A. & Lock, R. H. (2007): Use authentic assessment techniques to fulfill the promise of no child left behind. Intervention in School and Clinic. Retrieved from ProQuest database. Accessed on September 25, 2007 Marsh, C. J. , & Willis, G. (2003): Curriculum: Alternative approaches, ongoing issues, 3rd edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson. Wraga, W. G. (1999). The educational and political implications of curriculum alignment and standards-based reform. Journal of Curriculum and Supervision. Retrieved from ProQuest database. Accessed on September 25, 2007 Young, M. L. (2004): High-stakes assessment and school accountability: A multicase study describing and comparing the best practices of five K–6 elementary schools that have demonstrated significant increases in student achievement as measured by the norm-referenced SAT-9 assessment and the Academic Performance Index of California. Retrieved from ProQuest Digital Dissertations database. Accessed on September 25, 2007

Broken Families and Social Problems: Effects and Coping styles Essay

Review of Literature The following paragraphs present the different ways of how teenagers in a broken family cope with their problems. It is first summarized after the divorce of the child’s parent followed by its effect on the child until it reaches its youth days. After the Divorce of the Child’s parents According to Green (2014), after divorce, children of all ages may experience deficits in emotional development and may seem tearful or depressed, and that can last several years after a child’s parents’ have separated. Some older children may show very little emotional reaction to their parents’ because they are actually bottling up their negative feelings inside. This emotional suppression makes it difficult for parents, teachers and therapists to help the process her feelings in developmentally appropriate ways. In school most of the children with broken families end up having poor academic and change of lifestyles. This poor academic progress can stem from a number of factors, including instability in the home environment, inadequate financial resources and inconsistent routines. Divorce affects children’s social relationships for several ways. Some children act out their distress about their broken family by acting aggressive and by engaging in bullying behaviour, some may experience anxiety and can make it difficult for them to join co-curricular activities, and develop a cynical attitude towards relationship, harbour feelings of mistrust towards both parents and potential romantic partners. At home their lifestyle will change, more chores, heavier responsibilities, and the older sibling may have to act a parental-type role when interacting with younger siblings. Children of divorce tend to fall in their academics and in their social life. Children are already affected when the divorce is on the process, not before. Effects on the child to its youth days Children are most likely to move or change school after divorce and can’t catch up with making friends and their academics. Most of the children who don’t know how to cope with their situation ended up having low self-esteem, anxiety, and trust issue. (Mann, 2011) And there is a higher suicide rate for children of divorce than for children of normal families. There is no  correlation found between the death of a parent and suicide of a child. The suicide seems to be triggered by being rejected by a parent. (Larson, 1990) In general, children of divorce feel emotionally unsafe as a child. Most of them don’t feel any attention and are 6 times more likely to feel alone as a child. When in need of comfort they do not go to their parents. (Marquardt, 2005), they are mostly unhappy, behave impulsive and irritable. They are socially withdrawn and as a result, they feel lonelier, insecure, anxious, and are less obedient to their divorced parents. (Wallerstein, 1991) The so called â€Å"sleeper effect† kicks in on children of divorce on a later age. Most Young boys tend to express their emotions and frustrations freely. Their emotions fade out. Young girls however, keep their emotions internally more often. They do not deal with them. Their emotions stay within and they surface when they mature. Usually, this occurs in a period in which they make essential decisions for their lives for many years to come. They are unconsciously influenced by the anxiety and fear resulting from the divorce of their parents long ago. (Wallerstein & Blakeslee, n.d.) If children are confused with different things going on in the family or at school and they have feelings of frustration, more disagreements may occur. Behaviour problems tend to increase for boys when a step-father is introduced to the family (Muzi, 2000). It is said that half of the world’s community is plagued by broken families and crime. Over the past few decades, marriage has become less important and that is the cause of the problem. Better parenting and stronger families is the key to mending the broken society. (Problem of the Broken Family, 2014) In single family homes, children develop greater autonomy where they tend to spend more time alone or with peers. It was found that sons are more likely to resist directives and rules, where as daughters typically have a closer relationship to their mother (Freeman, 2002). However, if mothers inappropriately discuss financial matters with their children or express a negative feeling toward their ex-spouse, it can decrease the desire for the child to spend time with the parent due to increase confusion about the whole situation (Bigner, 2002). Adjusting issues that children may have include academic problems, internalizing and externalizing problems, low self esteem, and early engagement in sexual activities (Anderson 1999) Current Situation It is said that half of the world’s community is plagued by broken families and crime. Over the past few decades, marriage has become less important and that is the cause of the problem. Better parenting and stronger families is the key to mending the broken society. (Problem of the Broken Family, 2014) Families are the core of society. When families fall apart, society falls into social and cultural decline. Ultimately the breakdown of the world’s family is at the root of nearly every other social problem and pathology. Most children grew up in intact, two-parent families. Today, children who do so are a minority. Illegitimacy, divorce, and other lifestyle choices have radically changed almost every family, and thus have changed the social landscape. â€Å"There is a mountain of scientific evidence showing that when families disintegrate, children often end up with intellectual, physical and emotional scars that persist for life.† He continues, â€Å"We talk about the drug crisis, the education crisis, and the problem of teen pregnancy and juvenile crime. But all these ills trace back predominantly to one source: broken families. (Zinsmeister, n.d.) Broken homes and broken hearts are not only the reason for so many social problems. They are also the reason for the incumbent economic difficulties we face as a culture. The moral foundation of society erodes as children learn the savage values of the street rather than the civilized values of culture. And government inevitably expands to intervene in family and social crises brought about by the breakdown of the family. Sociologist Daniel Yankelovich puts it this way: people suspect that the nation’s economic difficulties are rooted not in technical economic forces (for example, exchange rates or capital formation) but in fundamental moral causes. There exists a deeply intuitive sense that the success of a market-based economy depends on a highly developed social morality–trustworthiness, honesty, concern for future generations, an ethic of service to others, a humane society that takes care of those in need, frugality instead of greed, high standards of quality and concern for community. These economically desirable social values, in turn, are seen as rooted in family values. Thus the link in public thinking between a healthy family and a robust economy, though indirect, is clear and firm. (Anderson, 1994) Statement of the Problem This research seeks to gather information on how high school students with  broken families cope with their problems. Specifically, the following questions are asked: 1. How high school students are socially affected with broken families in Zamboanga city. 2. How do they cope with their â€Å"broken family† situation? References Bigner, J. (2002). Parent-Child Relations: An Intoduction to Parenting. (6th ed). Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Merrill Prentice Hall. Freeman, H. S. Family transitions during the adolescent transition: implications for parenting. Adolescence. Fall 2002. Retrieved September 27, 2004 online via www.findarticles.com. Muzi, M. J. (2000). The experience of Parenting. New Jersey: Prentice Hall. Wallerstein, Judith S. (1991). The long-term effects of divorce on children: A review. Journal of the Ameri ­ can Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychia ­ try, 30(3), 349-360.

Investigating cratering on the moon Essay Example

Investigating cratering on the moon Essay Example Investigating cratering on the moon Essay Investigating cratering on the moon Essay I am planning to investigate factors that affect the diameter and depth of a crater formed when a meteorite strikes the moons surface. The moon is covered with a powdered crust. When meteorites strike the surface we obtain impact craters. To simulate this without actually going to the moon I shall drop a ball bearing into a tray of dry sand. Variables Variables that might affect the outcome of this experiment: * Height (The higher up, the more speed the bearing will pick up) * Size of bearing (This will determine how much sand will collide with the bearing as it falls) * Mass of Bearing (The heavier, the faster and with more force the ball will fall) * Depth of the sand (If too shallow some craters may not properly form as they might hit the base of the tray) * Velocity (this will depend on the mass and height) * Flat sand surface (Must be smooth and same depth for fair test) * Type of sand (If too dense or big particles the bearing may not displace as much) * Angle of impact from the bearing (This would affect the width and depth of crater as the bearing would go in at an angle so the ball wont have to balance force with the compression of sand underneath) I will take 10 results (100mm through to 1000mm) and then do them again in total of 3 times and then take the average of the 3 tests to give a wide and reliable range. I am going to change the height from bearing and the surface of the sand. I will try and keep the other variables the same during the experiment (this is to keep it a fair test). I am going to use the same bearing so the size + mass will stay the same; I am going to drop the bearing from the same angle (horizontally) and will try to keep the surface of the sand as even as possible because if the bearing hit a small stone in the sand it would cause more friction and an upward force due to the larger surface area of the stone compared to a grain of sand. To make this a fair test I will: * Try to get the surface of the sand as smooth and same depth as posible * Use a clamp to keep accurate heights. * Use all of the same equipment each time I use it, including the same bearing so there will be no size or weight differences. Method * Tray (for the sand) * Ruler (1 meter) * Ball bearing (15mm diameter, 15.5g) * Clamp (1 meter tall), boss + clamp * Sand (fine sand) * Magnet * Vernier Calliper How to do the test * Fill a the tray about half full with sand. * Set up the apparatus like so: * Drop the bearing from the clamp at a height of 200 1000mm (in 100mm steps) * Use a magnet to lift the bearing out from the crater. * Record the dimensions of the crater with the Vernier Calliper. * Record the results * Fill the hole and smooth the surface ready for the next test. * Do the hole experiment two more times Prediction I predict that if the height (from which the bearing is dropped) is doubled, the depth of the crater will double. I chose the depth instead of width because the bearing can only go up to a certain width because the displacement will only work while the bearing is above the sand surface once below there will be no displacement above ground. This equation proves my prediction: Ep = Weight x height As the bearing is dropped, potential energy transfers into kinetic energy. When the bearing hits the surface of the sand, an upward force (work) causes it to slow down and stop. Work done = Force x Distance Stopping distance = work done force work done = energy transfer force = mass (10N) e.g. A bearing (0.5kg) and is held 5 meters above the surface of the sand. Its is: Mass x Gravity x Height = potential energy 0.5 x 10 x 5 = 25J So, before the bearing hits the sand it has 25J of kinetic energy. Braking Distance = Work done force = 5J/2.5N = 2 Results: Height from bottom of the ball to sand surface Diameter (mm) 1st 2nd 3rd Average 100 25 25 27 26 200 33 30 30 31 300 37 37 34 36 400 37 42 37 39 500 43 40 36 41 600 48 42 39 43 700 48 47 38 44 800 48 50 42 47 900 50 51 44 48 1000 54 50 46 50 Height Depth (mm) 1st 2nd 3rd Average 100 3 5 6 5 200 4 7 5 5 300 6 10 7 8 400 8 10 8 9 500 8 12 10 10 600 9 13 11 11 700 10 14 12 12 800 10 14 12 12 900 12 15 13 13 1000 13 15 14 14 Analysis My results did not provide evidence towards my prediction. So my prediction was not accurate. The Depth of the crater is not doubled if the height is doubled. The line of best fit shows 2mm of depth vs. 200 height. So the graph shows roughly that the depth is a 1:100 ratio against the height. The results on both graphs show a rise in a steady trend. My prediction could be wrong because I didnt take into account that friction caused by the sand will affect the end result. The displacement of the sand as the ball strikes the surface would also have an effect on the stopping distance, because kinetic energy will transfer into heat and sound energy easier. When the bearing is lifted higher above the sand surface, it potential is raised and more kinetic energy will be released when it strikes the surface. The higher the bearing hits the sand from, more sand is displaced and the ball bearings kinetic energy transfer to heat and sound, so the crater becomes wider because as the ball displaces more sand. All of my results follow an upward trend, which I expected. I also expected that the results would level off at some point, because as the ball reaches terminal velocity, it gained maximum kinetic energy and the crater cannot get any bigger in diameter or depth as the kinetic energy does not change and will not me falling without anymore force when past Terminal velocity. At this point, the line will level and becomes horizontal. This was not shown on my results but this does not mean it wouldnt happen it may have happened much later at higher drop points, but I couldnt drop the ball from much higher than I have already done. Evaluation If I was going to do this test again I would: 1. Do the experiment over at least 5 times. 2. Drop the ball from higher points (if possible) 3. Use finer sand which would make the test fairer because the bearing will not deflect off any stones or larger particles in the sand. 4. Somehow take the measurements better and more accurate, a vernier calliper is the best thing I could think of which is accurate but is easily wrong by a few millimetres. 5. Take my experiment further by using a table tennis ball with a small hole in the side to change the mass of the ball without changing the shape or air resistance of the ball. 6. Look at different velocity and see how that might affect the outcome. This could be achieved by either launching the ball from a catapult of some sort or dropping the ball from a much higher point. 7. Try different type of sands (or soil, fine gravel, etc) maybe a fine sand would have a different result than coarse sand. Because maybe the cosmic dust covering the moon isnt of the same texture. The experiment was a success in one way, that I learnt by my mistakes. But my results did not match up with my prediction so in that sense it was a failure. I dont think I took enough results, more results could have been taken to make a wider and more reliable range but that would of need more time.

Benji Franklin essays

Benji Franklin essays Benjamin Franklin made many contributions to the American Revolution and the newly formed federal government that followed the war. In addition to being an author, diplomat, and philosopher, Franklin was a scientist who created practical inventions like the bifocal lense, the stove, the chimney, the lightning rod, and the use of electricity as a power source. (Encarta) Franklin thrived in an era known as the Age of Enlightenment where knowledge was based more upon science and reason than religion. Benjamin Franklin ranks among the country's greatest statesmen. Although Franklin was a common man, who possessed some immoral flaws, he ascended to a leadership role in colonial America, Although not formally educated, having attended only two years of grammar school (Spectrum Biographies), Franklin was a very intelligent man. He was also an astute businessman. His business ventures included the purchasing of the Pennsylvania Gazette (Spectrum Biographies), which after his improvements was considered one of the best colonial newspapers in America. In addition to the Pennsylvania Gazette, he wrote the Poor Richards Almanac, which was much referred to by a colonial America. In 1731, Franklin founded the first public library in Pennsylvania. Several years after establishing the first public library, he established the first fire department, a police force (Morris), and the academy of Philadelphia, which is today known as the University of Pennsylvania. (Spectrum Biographies) In 1748, Franklin sold his printing business and two years later was elected to the Pennsylvania Assembly where he served for sixteen years. In 1753, Franklin was appointed deputy postmaste r general for the colonies. In 1754, he became a delegate from Pennsylvania to the intercolonial congress. Franklin served as an important diplomat during the American Revolution. He was sent by the colonial congress to England to petition the King for the right to levy ...

Battle of Cape Esperance at Guadalcanal

Battle of Cape Esperance at Guadalcanal The Battle of Cape Esperance took place the night of October 11/12, 1942. It was part of the Guadalcanal Campaign of World War II. Background In early August 1942, Allied forces landed on Guadalcanal and succeeded in capturing an airfield that the Japanese were building. Dubbed Henderson Field, Allied aircraft operating from the Guadalcanal soon dominated the sea lanes around the island during daylight hours. As a result, the Japanese were forced to deliver reinforcements to the island at night using destroyers rather than larger, slower troop transports. Dubbed the Tokyo Express by the Allies, Japanese warships would depart bases in the Shortland Islands and make the run to Guadalcanal and back in a single night. In early October, Vice Admiral Gunichi Mikawa planned a major reinforcement convoy for Guadalcanal. Led by Rear Admiral Takatsugu Jojima, the force consisted of six destroyers and two seaplane tenders. In addition, Mikawa ordered Rear Admiral Aritomo Goto to lead a force of three cruisers and two destroyers with orders to shell Henderson Field while Jojimas ships delivered their troops. Departing the Shortlands early on October 11, both forces proceeded down The Slot towards Guadalcanal. While the Japanese were planning their operations, the Allies made plans to reinforce the island as well. Moving to Contact Departing New Caledonia on October 8, ships carrying the US 164th Infantry moved north towards Guadalcanal. To screen this convoy, Vice Admiral Robert Ghormley assigned Task Force 64, commanded by Rear Admiral Norman Hall, to operate near the island. Consisting of the cruisers USS San Francisco, USS Boise, USS Helena, and USS Salt Lake City, TF64 also included the destroyers USS Farenholt, USS Duncan, USS Buchanan, USS McCalla, and USS Laffey. Initially taking station off Rennell Island, Hall moved north on the 11th after receiving reports that Japanese ships had been sited in The Slot. With the fleets in motion, Japanese aircraft attacked Henderson Field during the day, with the goal of preventing Allied aircraft from locating and attacking Jojimas ships. As he moved north, Hall, aware that the Americans had faired badly in previous night battles with the Japanese, crafted a simple battle plan. Ordering his ships to form a column with destroyers at the head and rear, he instructed them to illuminate any targets with their searchlights so that the cruisers could fire accurately. Hall also informed his captains that they were open fire when the enemy was sited rather than waiting for orders. Battle Joined Approaching Cape Hunter on the northwest corner of Guadalcanal, Hall, flying his flag from San Francisco, ordered his cruisers to launch their floatplanes at 10:00 PM. An hour later, San Franciscos floatplane sighted Jojimas force off of Guadalcanal. Expecting more Japanese ships to be sighted, Hall maintained his course northeast, passing to the west of Savo Island. Reversing course at 11:30, some confusion led to the three lead destroyers (Farenholt, Duncan, and Laffey) being out of position. About this time, Gotos ships began appearing on the American radars. Initially believing these contacts to be the out of position destroyers, Hall took no action. As Farenholt and Laffey accelerated to reassume their proper positions, Duncan moved to attack the approaching Japanese ships. At 11:45, Gotos ships were visible to the American lookouts and Helena radioed asking permission to open fire using the general procedure request, Interrogatory Roger (meaning are we clear to act). Hall responded in the affirmative, and his surprise the entire American line opened fire. Aboard his flagship, Aoba, Goto was taken by complete surprise. Over the next few minutes, Aoba was hit more than 40 times by Helena, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, Farenholt, and Laffey. Burning, with many of its guns out of action and Goto dead, Aoba turned to disengage. At 11:47, concerned that he was firing on his own ships, Hall ordered a cease-fire and asked his destroyers to confirm their positions. This done, the American ships resumed firing at 11:51 and pummeled the cruiser Furutaka. Burning from a hit to its torpedo tubes, Furutaka lost power after taking a torpedo from Buchanan. While the cruiser was burning, the Americans shifted their fire to the destroyer Fubuki sinking it. As the battle raged, the cruiser Kinugasa and destroyer Hatsuyuki turned away and missed the brunt of the American attack. Pursuing the fleeing Japanese ships, Boise was nearly hit by torpedoes from Kinugasa at 12:06 AM. Turning on their searchlights to illuminate the Japanese cruiser, Boise and Salt Lake City immediately took fire, with the former taking a hit to its magazine. At 12:20, with the Japanese retreating and his ships disorganized, Hall broke off the action. Later that night, Furutaka sank as a result of battle damage, and Duncan was lost to raging fires. Learning of the bombardment forces crisis, Jojima detached four destroyers to its aid after disembarking his troops. The next day, two of these, Murakumo and Shirayuki, were sunk by aircraft from Henderson Field. Aftermath The Battle of Cape Esperance cost Hall the destroyer Duncan and 163 killed. In addition, Boise and Farenholt were badly damaged. For the Japanese, losses included a cruiser and three destroyers, as well as 341–454 killed. Also, Aoba was badly damaged and out of action until February 1943. The Battle of Cape Esperance was the first Allied triumph over the Japanese in a night battle. A tactical victory for Hall, the engagement had little strategic significance as Jojima was able to deliver his troops. In assessing the battle, many of the American officers felt that chance had played a key role in allowing them to surprise the Japanese. This luck would not hold, and Allied naval forces were badly defeated on November 20, 1942, at the nearby Battle of Tassafaronga. Selected Sources US Naval Historical Center: Battle of Cape EsperanceOrder of Battle: Battle of Cape Esperance

Evaluating systamtic reviews(evidence based medicine) Article

Evaluating systamtic reviews(evidence based medicine) - Article Example The search for the study was relatively complete and there was some validity to the study because it was shown that CBT was effective for 4 months, but there was no difference compared to GP by 1 year. Individual data was not used in the study rather it was grouped together in order to run statistical analysis to determine significance. CBT is more effective than GP at lowering depression by 4 months, but by 1 year there is no significant difference. 2. How effective is meditation in the treatment of exam anxiety? There was no exact clinical question. It was a randomized trial study to see if people with a diagnosable anxiety disorder would benefit from different types of meditation in comparison to their counterparts of: pharmacological treatment, other psychological treatment, other methods of meditation, or no intervention at all. This study does not have much validity due to the fact that there are many different types of anxiety that are being measured. Individual patient data w as not used specifically in analyzing the results. Meditation is effective at cognitive restricting which can reduce anxiety, but does not reduce the anxiety as a treatment solely by itself.

A critical analysis of Roald Dahl Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

A critical analysis of Roald Dahl - Essay Example However, a sense of the failures of family and the retribution that could be unleashed should magic be real can be found within the pages of his amazing work Charlie and the Chocolate Factory has inspired two films based on the book. These films are somewhat different in their treatment of the story, but the result has touched several generations of film buffs as well as given Dahl a wider audience for his delightful tales. Matilda, James and the Giant Peach, as well as The Fantastic Mr. Fox have all found their way onto film. The stories by Dahl are highly unique and original in such a way as to have a noticeable exceptionality in the way in which they are accepted. Peter Hollindale (2008), relates a story of a British comedy that begins with a man reading a story to two children The story becomes increasingly disturbing until he turns it over and checks the cover. With a sigh of relief, as if understanding, he says â€Å"Oh, it’s by Roald Dahl† (271). This was the power of his extraordinary point of view. Much is forgiven in the way of the dark tales because the writing is such that it makes sense by the end. This is not to say that there isn’t a great deal of criticism over his work. According to Steinberg and Kinchella (2004), the story of Matilda has an aspect of disrespect toward parents within the content that has been an area of concern for some parents in reading it to their children (185). Another aspect of Dahl’s work that creates criticism is in the way that there is a defined separation between children and their parents and that there is a defined right and wrong type of family that suggests that all families should be alike (Alston 2008: 64). This sense of separation is further exacerbated by a sense that adults tend to be less intelligent sometimes than their children, encouraging a point of view that children should trust themselves over the influence of a parental decision. Still, the

Best Assessment Strategies in Secondary Schools Essay

Best Assessment Strategies in Secondary Schools - Essay Example Interactive assessment in the classroom assumes special significance at the secondary level as students need constant feedbacks for the learning activities they undertake. There should be regular assessment at the secondary level. This is rightly suggested by E.C. Wragg when he remarks: " In most of the class rooms, assessment tends to be regular and informal, rather than irregular and formal. This is because teaching often consists of frequent switches in who speaks and who listens, and teachers make many of their decisions within one second." (Wragg, 2001). The purpose of this paper is to analyse critically the best assessment strategies in secondary schools. Interactive assessment, coherent assessment systems, self assessment, peer assessment, and feedback are identified as the most effective strategies in the assessment of the learning outcomes of secondary students. The teaching-learning process is highly interactive and assessment during each stage of the interaction is an essential prerequisite for effective learning process. ... One of the major advantages of the interactive assessment is that it creates a strong conviction in the minds of the learners that they are an active part of the instructional process and that their views and thoughts are being taken into account. This can provide them with better confidence to take part more enthusiastically in the teaching learning process. A remarkable study conducted by Eichorn, D. & Woodrow, J. (1999) "indicate that the use of interactive assessment promotes student self-monitoring, goal setting, time management, responsibility and mastery learning. Teachers report that the use of interactive assessment facilitates and supports student-centred, instructional practices." (Eichorn & Woodrow, 1999, P.193-199). Celina Byers (2001) also believes that the teacher has to measure and evaluate whether all the instructional objectives have been achieved and how far learning has taken place is to be assessed. She is of the opinion that there should be a learner centred act ive assessment in the classroom itself :- "Making the measurement an integral part of class activity allows the identification of problems and consequent improvements even while the course is ongoing. Learner-centred active assessment both provide direct objective measurement of learning and stimulate the use of holistic assessment tools to assess the entire learning environment." (Byers, 2001). For her assessment in the secondary school should never be limited to mere summative evaluation. Instead, there should be interactive assessment in the class room as "it permits important course improvements, made in conjunction with the collaboration of the students themselves, while the course is ongoing.

Owners Equity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Owners Equity - Essay Example When a company makes profit, supervision has one of two options: they can either disburse it out to share controllers as a money dividend, or keep the earnings and re-invest them in the company. When the management makes a decision that income should be hold on to, they have to give an explanation for them on the financial statement beneath Shareholder Equity. This let the investors to examine how much money has been devote in the business over the time in years. Once evaluating the income report has been learnt, the retained earnings numerals can be utilized to make a conclusion on how sensibly supervision is organizing and spending the shareholder's money. If a company has been recognized as investing all of its income to support itself and does not seems to experience remarkably high increase, it is definite that the stock holders would be well served if the board of managers affirmed a dividend. So, earned capital or retained capital is important in this sense that it is used to uphold existing functions of the company or to bump up sales and profits by improving the business. Basic EPS, that is, Basic Earnings per share let the investor be known about how much of the earnings of a company fit in per share of the reserve.

Budgets are primarily p ressure devices used by management to ensure Essay

Budgets are primarily p ressure devices used by management to ensure organisational objectives are achieved - Essay Example Some of the purposes of budgeting in the hotel industry include: - helping to plan work effectively; - assisting in allocating resources; - aiding in controlling resources during the budgeting period. Moreover, it is important to understand that a budget is developed to insure that management is working toward the same goal, with a knowledge base of the organizations' resources and constraints. Although strategic planning, budget forecasting, performance analysis are inclusive operations of the budgeting process; it is ultimately up to the financial analyst to determine whether the budget is guiding the company toward the achievement of its goals. Sometimes inefficiencies result due to poor integration of the finance and strategy. â€Å"Budgeting and performance are typically overseen by the finance department, whereas planning s coordinated by strategy department. Often, the two processes aren't well integrated, resulting in strategies that are often dictated by the budget process instead of vice versa† (Gary 2003). The reason for this could be that everyone involved may be attempting to accomplish the same goals, but also trying to make sure that the outcome will be beneficial to them, such as a substantial bonus or a reward. Although many companies implement this reward theory in an effort to increase organization effectiveness, this theory does not always work. According to Aranya, â€Å"participation may create intrinsic valences due to a tendency for individuals to become â€Å"ego† involved in decisions which they have contributed, and this affects their subsequent performance† (Aranya 2001). " (Aranya 2001). Forms of budgeting There are many forms of budgeting, but in the hotel industry "the first step in the budgeting process is to develop and communicate a set of broad assumptions about the economy, the industry, and the organizations strategy for the budget period" (Marshall, 2004). By establishing an operating and financial budget for a future period, management can identify problems in advance. This can be maintained by forecasting for future predictions. A forecast is a reflection of the future. When forecasting is taken into account, two key aspects to consider are cash budgets and sales forecast. The cash budget, usually 1 to 2 year increments, is a statement of the company's inflows and outflows of cash. It allows the company to estimate the short-term cash limitations, with attention to potential planning for excess cash or shortages. On the other hand, sales forecast estimates the monthly cash flows that will result from projected sales receipts, production and inventory. Management can also det ermine the level of fixed assets required to support the forecast level of sales and production. However, it is important to obtain reliable data. As a result, this data should be acquired by internal, as well as external means. The internal sales forecast is based on unison of sales forecast through the company's internal network. External forecast, on the other hand, is based on the relationship between the company sales and key external economic indicators. This means being able to identify how future economic events will affect the business as a whole. This includes looking at consumer outlook, inflation, and political events. Many companies are now implementing a new concept of rolling forecasts in an effort to reflect the most recent market trends. "Rolling forecasts have considerable merit. A forecast produced on a quarterly basis will

Environmental Studies Lecture Notes Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Environmental Studies Lecture Notes - Case Study Example Next he went over the homework assignments and the reading assignments. As we finally got started with the class itself, he started a discussion what renewable sources of energy are. Essentially it's an energy source that renews itself without effort; they can be used over and over again. These kinds of sources can include solar, wind, biomass, hydrogen, geothermal energy, hydroelectric energy, and ocean energy. This class is focused more on production more than previous classes in the program because it's more cost-effective to conserve energy before you try to produce it. Each of these sources of energy have some positive and potentially negative elements that might come into play. Some of the first vocabulary he went over was solar constant, which is the amount of energy that goes by the earth. Insolation talks about how much solar radiation hits the ground and there are three different kinds - direct, diffuse, and reflected. One sun is another term that will come up often and ref ers to the amount of sun an area gets in a day. Azimuth and altitude angle. Altitude is the height of the sun in the sky. Azimuth angle is the angle from the south. This has an effect on where and what orientation we build solar panels to achieve maximum power source. The optimum is to go south, west is better than east, and consider areas of shade. The angle of the solar panels should be equal to the latitude, but can be adjusted in consideration of the uses of the project (summer, winter, other environmental conditions like fog). Although some utilities will pay you for excess power you produce, but they aren't obligated to do so by law. Basics of PV cells is that it is a semi-conductor electron pump that creates about .5 volts of DC power per cell, a number of cells are collected to create a module and a collection of modules is an array. Types of PVs are stand alones (sometimes with batteries) or Grid intertie (tied into the grid and the meter goes backwards), and they're made o f crystalline silicon (multicrystalline is the most popular right now), thin film, and concentrators or tracking devices to add greater efficiency. Building integrated PV means a low efficiency PV system that works with the building to provide additional comfort and collect power at the same time. After going over a normal set-up and some examples, we discussed the need for battery backup systems - 3-5 days of backup is typical and should provide power for the essential systems such as refrigerator, etc. There's a lot of estimating about installing a system - you have to estimate the load and the production, the available sunlight, and the reliability of the system. Have to know the difference between kW (unit of power) and kWh (energy). Factors that affect output include temperature, dirt, wiring losses, and AC to DC conversion. Then we discussed how to calculate energy. We ended the lecture with an introduction to solar thermal - heating hot water, space heating, or pool heating - and replaces the need for natural gas. Again, conservation takes precedence over efficiency. Systems are better than they used to be in the 70s. Types of thermal systems are batch heaters (collection and storage are together) and flat plate collectors (collection and

Budgets are primarily p ressure devices used by management to ensure Essay

Budgets are primarily p ressure devices used by management to ensure organisational objectives are achieved - Essay Example Some of the purposes of budgeting in the hotel industry include: - helping to plan work effectively; - assisting in allocating resources; - aiding in controlling resources during the budgeting period. Moreover, it is important to understand that a budget is developed to insure that management is working toward the same goal, with a knowledge base of the organizations' resources and constraints. Although strategic planning, budget forecasting, performance analysis are inclusive operations of the budgeting process; it is ultimately up to the financial analyst to determine whether the budget is guiding the company toward the achievement of its goals. Sometimes inefficiencies result due to poor integration of the finance and strategy. â€Å"Budgeting and performance are typically overseen by the finance department, whereas planning s coordinated by strategy department. Often, the two processes aren't well integrated, resulting in strategies that are often dictated by the budget process instead of vice versa† (Gary 2003). The reason for this could be that everyone involved may be attempting to accomplish the same goals, but also trying to make sure that the outcome will be beneficial to them, such as a substantial bonus or a reward. Although many companies implement this reward theory in an effort to increase organization effectiveness, this theory does not always work. According to Aranya, â€Å"participation may create intrinsic valences due to a tendency for individuals to become â€Å"ego† involved in decisions which they have contributed, and this affects their subsequent performance† (Aranya 2001). " (Aranya 2001). Forms of budgeting There are many forms of budgeting, but in the hotel industry "the first step in the budgeting process is to develop and communicate a set of broad assumptions about the economy, the industry, and the organizations strategy for the budget period" (Marshall, 2004). By establishing an operating and financial budget for a future period, management can identify problems in advance. This can be maintained by forecasting for future predictions. A forecast is a reflection of the future. When forecasting is taken into account, two key aspects to consider are cash budgets and sales forecast. The cash budget, usually 1 to 2 year increments, is a statement of the company's inflows and outflows of cash. It allows the company to estimate the short-term cash limitations, with attention to potential planning for excess cash or shortages. On the other hand, sales forecast estimates the monthly cash flows that will result from projected sales receipts, production and inventory. Management can also det ermine the level of fixed assets required to support the forecast level of sales and production. However, it is important to obtain reliable data. As a result, this data should be acquired by internal, as well as external means. The internal sales forecast is based on unison of sales forecast through the company's internal network. External forecast, on the other hand, is based on the relationship between the company sales and key external economic indicators. This means being able to identify how future economic events will affect the business as a whole. This includes looking at consumer outlook, inflation, and political events. Many companies are now implementing a new concept of rolling forecasts in an effort to reflect the most recent market trends. "Rolling forecasts have considerable merit. A forecast produced on a quarterly basis will

A Quick Look at Castiglione and Cellini Life Essay Example for Free

A Quick Look at Castiglione and Cellini Life Essay Lawrence in his book Culture and Values A Survey of the Humanities, stated that Early sixteenth-century Renaissance culture was a study in contrasts. The period not only marked a time when some of the most refined artistic accomplishments were achieved, it was also a period of great social upheaval(332). In fact, there were many outstanding artists at that time, among them were Castiglione known for their philosophy of life and Cellini the first artist who really lived his own life. Castiglione was a well-rounded man with chivalry spirit as the author described He was a versatile man a person of profound leaning, equipped with physical and martial skills, and possessed of a noble and refined demeanor(332). The fact that he well-educated and aristocratic, he worked at the Urbino court from 1504 to 1506 and decided to write The Courtier that took him dozen years. According to the book he wrote, a true gentlemen should have brain and have adequate knowledge about history but the most important thing is do not rely in Christian. He also mentioned in his book about how to refined courtesy because when we redefined courtesy, we can clean the court. A cleaned court leads to a clean country. In addition, a well-rounded person according to Castiglione should do all thing sprezzatura means behavior in which every action is do not with effort and though about it. The influence of his book mainly impacted to the upper classes that taught what gentlemen should be. He imagined a courtiers world is a world very wealthy and aristocratic. Cellini was a talented Florentine goldsmith and sculptor whose life, frankly chronicled, was a seemingly never-ending panorama of violence, intrigue, quarrel, sexual excess, egotism, and political machination(333). He lived a period of religious, political, social and military. He was the first artist ever frankly tell about his personal life at this period. In contrast with Castiglione who wrote The Courtier, Cellinis life was very normal, he did whatever he want, he dared to love and do not care how public criticized him. In short, Cellini did not consider the most talented sculptors and nobody can deny his skill as a craftsman. An airy look of Castiglione and Cellini show us the contrast in humans way of life. In one hand, Castiglione was seemed to be perfect but in my point of view, his imaginary world was hard to be reach. In the other hand, I like Cellini who was a normal guy with his own talent. Life is short and maybe he knew it and he dated to do unusual thing despite of public opinion. Work cited:Lawrence Cunningham and John Reich, Culture and Values A Survey of the Humanities, Thomson Wadsworth, 2005.

The Ongoing Objectification of Woman

The Ongoing Objectification of Woman Men look, women are looked at, said John Berger in his seminal 1972 documentary series Ways of Seeing, and in this one sentence, Berger summarised the relationship between men and women, and the objectification of women by men. From Susannah being looked at by the Elders, to Manets Luncheon on the Grass, women in art have been continually portrayed as not only objects of desire, but objects to be owned. One might like to think that feminism, and women, have come a long way, not only from the bra-burning days of the 60s and 70s, and the power-suited days of the 80s, that saw women in positions of power in the city, and in politics; even from the days of early suffrage. Yet one has only to look at a daily newspaper, a womans magazine, a Hollywood movie, let alone a mans magazine, to realise that the objectification of women is as rampant (and I use that word deliberately) as it has ever been. Even in the world of High Art, paintings such as Lucien Freuds of a pregnant Kate Moss still portray woman as something that can be looked at, desired, owned. One would most definitely like to think that women have come a long way since Rousseau stated, in typically succinct fashion, that the doll is the peculiar amusement of the females; from whence we see their taste plainly adapted to their destination. One presumes Rousseau was talking about baby dolls, little girl dolls, to be played with and dressed up in pretty clothes, to sit quietly, prettily and well dressed in a corner, unobejcting and unobjectionable, good practise not only for motherhood but womanhood; but he could equally as well have been talking about that most contemporary of dolls, the Barbie curvaceous, well dressed and pretty, with a wardrobe of clothes that would enable her to follow any career, from astronaut to vet, sexy but sexless, epitomised by the most recent addition to the sisterhood, Burqa Barbie, so that all girls feel represented in a globalised 21st century. All girls that are curvaceous and well dressed, pretty and sexless and quiet, anyway. Mary Wollstonecraft, the mother of European feminism, believed that as long as men saw women as trophy wives, and took mistresses, that the oppression of women should continue, yet she did not solely blame men, believing also that women were complicit in their own objectification, and referring to them as clay figures to be moulded by men. Girls, Wollstonecraft believed, were enslaved to men through their social training. With the coming of post-feminism, one could hope that women had finally broken this male-oriented patriarchal perception of them, but it seems in fact to be the reverse. Young women expose more and more of themselves, stating that they are in control, and they may show as much flesh as they wish in this post-feminist world, but one cannot help but think that Wollstonecraft was right women still base their worth on how much a man values them, and on precious little else. Barbie may be a 21st century astronaut, but unless she is busty and beautiful, Ken will not be i nterested, and Barbie will be worthless, both in her own eyes and those of society. In this essay, I propose to explore how feminism and post feminism have influenced my development as an artist, and to question how the medias continued portrayal of women as a commodity has affected other contemporary artists, both positively and negatively. The goal of feminism, said an early spokeswoman, was to change the nature of art itself, to transform culture in sweeping and permanent ways by introducing into it the heretofore suppressed perspective of women. Barbie as a symbol of woman as object can be found not only in contemporary art, but also in contemporary literature; she has moved into everyday speech as a contemptuous comment on glamorous women (Shes nothing but a Barbie doll! is a derisive criticism aimed at a woman perceived to be beautiful but dumb, ironic when one considers how it is precisely this image that is being sold to us by the media!) Mattel may market Barbie as a modern career girl, far more independent than the original 1950s clothes horse, but is she as complicit in the objectification of modern women as Mary Wollstonecraft stated over 200 years ago? The London based photographer Alex Kliszynski would seem to agree with Wollstonecraft, and has directly questioned such attitudes in a body of work that combines the imagery of pornography with Barbie dolls. (http://areyoushaved.net/2009/10/art-culture-nude-human-barbie-dolls/) The instant reaction of the spectator is one of revulsion, a feeling that something is not right. Such a highly sexualised childs toy is obscene, but maybe that is the intended point of the artwork? Barbie is the ultimate commodified, sexist, male-fantasy view of what women should look like. She has a tiny waist, long legs, and enormous breasts. However, oddly, if you think about it, this highly sexualized body actually lacks sexual parts, or the parts of the body we would see if she were fully nude. She has no vagina. Her breasts have no nipples. In addition, Action Man, an idealized, sexualized male specimen, has no penis and no scrotum. By placing a sexless doll in a lascivious and crude position that should show all the sexual organs but doesnt, Kliszynski is making a comment on the dehumanising of women (and men) by media led objectification; it is his intention to call attention to that disconnection , to make the viewers aware of the sexualized images of women and men that Bar bie and Action Man dolls trade in. However, I think there is another, yet more sinister, way of reading Kliszynskis art work. The dolls are a monstrous combination of human and plastic; even the title of the work is Human Barbie Dolls, suggesting an abnormal mixture of the two. It is possible to understand Kliszynskis piece as a comment on the modern phenomena of body dysmorphia, a disorder that causes a person to believe there is something terribly wrong with an aspect of their face or body, and which often leads them into a series of cosmetic surgeries. Kliszynskis human Barbies symbolise this body dysmorphic tendency prevalent in so much of (western) society, this desire to turn the human body into a work of art, a perfection of flesh and plastic to match the abnormal perception of idealised beauty encouraged by the media. In her poem, Barbie Doll, Marge Piercy makes much the same point: This girlchild was born as usual and presented dolls that did pee-pee and miniature GE stoves and irons and wee lipsticks the color of cherry candy. Then in the magic of puberty, a classmate said: You have a great big nose and fat legs. She was healthy, tested intelligent, possessed strong arms and back, abundant sexual drive and manual dexterity. She went to and fro apologizing. Everyone saw a fat nose on thick legs. She was advised to play coy, exhorted to come on hearty, exercise, diet, smile and wheedle. Her good nature wore out like a fan belt. So she cut off her nose and her legs and offered them up. In the casket displayed on satin she lay with the undertakers cosmetics painted on, a turned-up putty nose, dressed in a pink and white nightie. Doesnt she look pretty? everyone said. Consummation at last. To every woman a happy ending. Both Kliszynski and Piercy have recognised the detrimental effect on the mental and physical health of women (and men) of societys objectification of the human body. By constantly portraying an idealised myth of not just the body but the very role of women in society, the media (and sections of the art world) have created a culture which views the body in its natural human state as somehow wrong and abnormal. Equally, both Kliszynski and Piercy have recognised the complicity of women in this culture; the girl in the poem is healthy and intelligent, born as usual, presumably normal in all respects, and yet she accepts the truth of her low value in society because she is not perceived as physically perfect. Only in death, with her nose cut off and a cosmetically enhanced putty nose in place instead, can she be seen as pretty. Her value as a strong and useful member of society is non-existent in a world that refuses to see past her face. Kliszynski himself has said that the main body of my work is a number of human-dolls that aim to raise questions about the numerous images of the objectified and idealised body that we see in the mass mediaà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦I came to make this work as a reaction to the lowest-common-denominator approach to masculinity taken by the media which serves and perpetuates the lad or raunch elements of our culture. Curiously this lad/raunch culture seems also to be embraced by many young women; a phenomenon which seems contrary to a properly progressive understanding of gender and identity in a post-feminist era. (http://lostinasupermarket.com/2010/09/barbie-porn-seriously/) Lad magazines such as Maxim, Stuff and various other UK-based magazines intended for teenage boys and young men are notorious for endorsing a highly commodified view of the world men and boys are encouraged to buy lots of bling like cars, stereo components and expensive suits etc. By their very placement in such magazines, in glamorous soft-porn poses, female models become as much merchandise as the gadgets featured in the articles; and as the reader must own the right phone to attain status, so he must have the right woman. Yet this attitude of the body as commodity is ironically trapping men as much as women, and both sexes are in a crisis of identity. Men are met on a daily basis with conflicting images of themselves, from the traditional Action Man role of husband, father, provider, patriarch, to the more sensitive, metro sexual Ken, whose status, like that of Barbie, is defined by how he looks and what he owns. This crisis is as important for men as for women; statistics show that young male suicides are increasing, there is a high rise in cases of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in males, crime statistics are rising, divorce rates are going through the roof, and with mothers routinely given custody of the children even the role of fatherhood itself has come into question, exacerbated by the rising number of fertility clinics and the ability for women to so easily be single parents. Role models such as Ken and Action Man are without doubt as harmful to young men as a role model such as Barbie can be to young women. No longer seen as breadwinners, or the head of the family in a patriarchal society, men are frequently represented in the media by characters such as Homer Simpson, a chauvinistic, ignorant man who is depicted as very lazy and obsessed with food; his son Bart, often cruel to his sister, is discourteous and ill behaved. He alternative is often portrayed as Ken, an idealized, de-sexualized male with only the acquisition of material items his goal, fast cars and fashion his only interests. Even television shows like Sex and the City imply that men are just there for the sexual gratification of women. It portrays men as tactless, stupid beings that are only there for female entertainment and pleasure. These negative portrayals are as damaging to both genders as the comparative attitudes to women, rooted as they are in gender objectification and the denial of identity. Alternatively, could we welcome this shake-up of traditional gender images? Could it not be that multiplicities of roles are now establishing themselves in modern society? Toys such as Action Man often stereotype men in aggressive roles, and this convention has been questioned in the work of Susan Hiller, who explores social conditioning and attitudes to childhood in her work Punch and Judy. Punch and Judy looks closely at the brutality of slapstick comedy. First filming segments of live Punch and Judy shows the artist then transposed these images on the walls of a square room inviting the viewer to stand in the room with the puppets images looming over them, the puppets acting out violently as so often seen in their performances. Hiller examines how such stereotypical role-play in toys reinforces the assumptions placed on boys and men and how they should act in society. Where feminism fought against such patriarchal, capitalist belief systems, post-feminism seems to be buying right into the raunch culture that Kliszynski highlights. I would define Raunch culture as the whole juvenile, laddish culture that includes the lads magazines as well as strip clubs, prostitution and the celebration of prostitution, highly sexualized adverts and a general attitude that whats best about female empowerment is that more men get to see more women naked. Berger referred to it as the male gaze, Kliszynski as raunch culture, but I believe they are very similar, and it seems to be embraced by many young women, who accept whole-heartedly the entire condescending nonsense of girl power. According to Wollstonecraft, men have widened what should be merely a biological gap of physical differences into a sociological gap: But not content with this natural pre-eminence, men endeavour to sink us still lower, merely to render us alluring objects for the moment. Women, it follows, cannot help but be intoxicated by the adoration which men, under the influence of their senses, pay them. Has Barbie, in representing the most materialistic aspects of modern day culture, encouraging a stereotypical image of womanhood, become a remorseless goddess of modern society? A doll without any social conscience (or conscious), reliant solely on material belongings to bring her happiness, worshipped by millions, representative of a culture that objectifies and vilifies women, no aspect of her suggests any form of spirituality, or higher morality. When Mary Wollstonecraft accused women of their own complicity in this stereotypical view of their gender she caused ripples of anger and irritation down the centuries. How could a so-called feminist turn on her own sex with such accusations? And yet, when one takes the time to think about it, one can see how right she was. Girls play with Barbie dolls bought for them by mothers and aunts, and will, to echo Rousseau, grow up to give Barbie dolls to their daughters, thus fulfilling their destiny. They are complicit in the encouragement of stereotypical values. But what is the alternative? A girl may play with the stereotypical toys of girlhood such as dollies and prams, all pink and sparkly, mass marketed products imposed on them by a performative oriented society, or she may play with the male version of such consumer items, Action Man, cars, trains, guns . . . But what message is actually being sent? If a girl plays with Barbie dolls, she is viewed with contempt for being a typical girl; if she plays with stereotypical boys toys, she attains value in the eyes of society, for being more like a boy. No matter what she does, Barbie girl can never achieve social value by being a girl, and post-feminism has been complicit in such social values. Consuming Passions  was published in the 80s, author Judith Williamsons theory is hardly common knowledge, most likely because it is threatening. She deduces that, contrary to the ideal posed by Mattel and  Barbie, the desirable shape for a woman . . . is that of a  boy.   The highly idealised Barbie has not been without competitors, however. In 1998, Anita Roddick started an Anti-Barbie campaign, under the guise of self -esteem. Roddick started marketing posters of a doll called Ruby: The Real Deal, with posters in the UK shops she owned, all depicting images of the generously proportioned doll with the attached slogan: There are 3 billion women who dont look like supermodels and only 8 who do. With the intention of challenging stereotypes of beauty and countering the pervasive influence of the cosmetics industry, and with a tongue in cheek approach, the underlying message was far more serious and could easily be applied to the stereotypical image of woman and the way western culture objectifies women. Ruby started a worldwide debate about body image and self-esteem, but she was not universally loved. In the United States, the toy company Mattel sent a cease-and-desist order, demanding the images of Ruby were removed from American shop windows because she was making Barbie look bad, an admission surely, that Barbies impossible to achieve figure was detrimental to girls in comparison to the more realistic Ruby? In Hong Kong, posters of Ruby were banned on the MTR (Mass Transit Railway) because the authorities were concerned they would offend passengers. Like Barbie, Ruby was a de-sexualised toy, having no nipples, genitalia or pubic hair; other advertisements on the MTR whic h showed surgically enhanced, partially dressed female models, were allowed to stay. It is hard not to jump to the conclusion that it was the realistic portrayal of the female body that was offensive (and to whom? the male commuters?); in a world where the female body is perceived to be a purchasable status symbol, the male buyers were presumably offended by the depreciation in value of their idealised fantasy. Feminist artist Helen Chadwick (1954-1996) made many works that dealt directly with the role and image of women in society. In Ego Geometria Sum:The Laborers X created in 1984, she had large replicas of childrens wooden bricks transposed with images of her naked self. One may read many meanings into this artwork: is Chadwick struggling with the weight of her own image? By superimposing her naked image onto a childs brick, is she suggesting that she is nothing but a plaything, a toy? She appears to compare herself to a troll doll, held by the hair in a disembodied fist with an inane grin on its face. The troll doll is ugly and deformed looking, and Chadwick is implying that this is how society views her, and womanhood in general, from childhood onwards, if one does not conform to how society wishes one to be. All is not without hope though; Chadwick also portrays a door on one side of the brick, suggestive not only of closure, but also of the potential to open, to allow something in, or something out; a means of escape. As a Jungian archetype, the door also is representative of the feminine, with all the implications of a symbolic opening. In this artwork, is Chadwick exploring issues of entrapment and escape? Several of her works address the role and image of women in society using a wide range of materials, such as flowers, chocolate and meat. She questioned the role of the female body in art as a decorative object; just as decorative and aesthetic ideas about art themselves had been questioned in the 20th century. In 1990, she worked again on themes of sexual identity and gender with her Cibachrome transparencies entitled Eroticism which depict two brains side by side. On the surface, this is yet another apparently simple, if stunning, piece of work, but like the brain itself, this piece contains a multiplicity of layers, waiting to be explored and teased out. The work shows two brains, side by side, mirroring each other. On the sides adjoining, the brains are enlivened by what appears to be blue sparks, or flashes, suggesting brain activity. According to The Wordsworth Dictionary of Symbolism, blue is the colour of the intellect, and of spirituality; it is the medium of truth. In Eroticism, Chadwick is playing with the idea of a meeting of two minds, an attraction based on the intellect and the emotions. Yet we also associate the colour blue with something a little bit naughty, a bit risque, like a blue movie, and I would suggest that Chadwick was also bearing in mind the idea that the brain is often referred to as the largest sexual organ in the body. For Chadwick, in this piece at least, it is the attraction of two people based on a meeting of i ntellect and commonality that is important, not the outward appearance so vital to society. In the 1790s, when Mary Wollstonecraft was writing A Vindication of The Rights of Women , she argued for the need for more civil rights for women, a cause which she believed could only be achieved by permitting women a better education. She argued that a woman was capable of any intellectual feat that a man was provided with and that her early training should not brainwash her into deference to men. Wollstonecraft believed that men discourage women from achieving the same education that they receive routinely, and as long as women are denied this education, they can never hope to achieve equality with men. She builds on this lack of equal education for women in her argument adding that all men (contemporary to her) have a general lack of respect. Two hundred years later, in the 1970s, women were still fighting to achieve this basic level of respect and equality in the academic and artistic worlds, and it was the 1970s that saw the beginnings of a new art movement, the Contemporary Feminist Art Movement. The movement was inspired by demands for social, economic and political change and by the desire of female artists to try and force art galleries and museums to establish a fair representation of their work; there were very few female art teachers at that time, though the majority of students were female. It was common and widely accepted for art exhibitions to contain the works of men only, women being discriminated against openly, with some having to face the double discriminatory blow of also being black. Faith Ringgold (b.1930), an American artist, was told she could only exhibit in the museums devoted to African American art after all the black male artists had had their shows. By the 1970s, feminists and artists had started forming consciousness awareness groups that demonstrated at galleries and museums to expose some of these sexist practices, and opened galleries together for more exposure of their works. With feminist artists wanting to go further than equal representation, their works were often full of political and social content crying out for political change. The womens movement in America had one such artist by the name of Judy Chicago. Born in 1939, Chicago often reflected on issues relating to the lack of female representation in her work, saying Because we are denied knowledge of our history, we are deprived of standing upon each others shoulders and building upon each others hard earned accomplishments. Many female artists voiced these opinions at that time, wishing to transform traditional fine art and sculpture to include feminist awareness, with many exploring the female body with the intention of reclaiming the sexualised images that had been created by the male artist that preceded them. Chicagos piece Dinner Party called out for both art critics and establishments (and the Establishment?) To readdress the fact that so many female artists had been and were being excluded from art history texts used to educate the (largely female) art students currently attending the art education. This large work depicts a banquet, the settings embroidered representations of the vulva in a style appropriate to the women being represented, women Chicago wished to honour, with a further 999 women engraved in gold on the floor tiles. The geometric shape of this piece is fascinating, with the table laid out at a triangle, representing the tri-partite nature of women, the maiden, the mother and the crone. Indeed, an upside down triangle has long been used in paganism to represent the feminine. This work has gone a long way in encouraging women artists to reclaim their identity in representing the female form, and readdress the frequent degradation of female genitalia previously represented in male-created art. The Dutch artist Christina Camphausen (b. 1953) is another example of a female artist intent on reclaiming for women the representation of the female genitalia, publishing a book of her work with the vulva as sole subject. Entitled Yoni Portraits, it is filled with delicate drawings revealing the vulva in all its beauty and variety, images that are sometimes realistic and sometimes symbolic. Taken from ancient Sanskrit, the word Yoni refers to the vulva and womb and better describes femininity than its clinical counterpart (vagina) or its crude pornographic variants (cunt); in Indias sacred language it carries an inherent respect for this intimate part of a womans body which is lacking in English. In the books accompanying texts, the artist makes clear that there is nothing about the Yoni to be ashamed of. Rather, it is a body-part which in many cultures has had very different connotations of power, beauty, fertility and delight. Of her motivation, Christina says: With my work, I endeavour to assist in restoring the Yoni to her rightful and original place of honour, and to induce everyone to regard her with respect, to recognize her beauty and magical power. Though the last decades make it seem that our modern societies are sexually liberated, there still rests a taboo on this intimate part of our bodies. In general, women enjoy more freedom than they used to have, yet it surely is no advance in self-determination that many contemporary women have their intimate, lower lips corrected in order to conform to some artificial standard prescribed by cosmetic surgeons or professional nude models in glossy magazines. To make artwork with the vagina as your subject is still a very brave act, as it is a subject that is often considered inappropriate and generally thought of within the context of pornography, and, in almost all cases, for the exclusive pleasure of men. Many feminists have attempted to remove these prurient connotations by encouraging us to consider vaginas, something not to be ashamed of, but as powerful and expressive components to be proudly protected as an assertive and positive manifestation of our being. Exhibitions are now starting to show that this has changed dramatically in recent years, with many artists who have incorporated imagery of the Vagina in their works exhibiting together. One such exhibition, organized by Francis M. Naumann and David Nolan, and entitled The Visible Vagina took place on January 28, 2010 at the David Nolan Gallery in New York and included artworks by people ranging from Judy Chicago and Nancy Grossman to Robert Mapplethorpe and Pablo Picasso. The most interesting aspect for me is that there was such a strong male presence in the exhibition, and indeed it was arranged by men, a potent sign of how things have progressed. The most striking work in the exhibition for myself has to be the work of Sarah Davis and the piece Britney (Notorious), for amongst over one hundred artworks, very few of which objectify women or suggest a salacious use of imagery, this piece, a painting identical to a paparazzi-type photograph taken of the music star, hovers between art and porn; indeed, in its representation of both, it beggars the question of how art and porn can be addressed within feminist issues. If we accept that art is intended to stimulate the spectator on many levels, academically and emotionally, and that porn is needed to stimulate on a purely sexual level, I wonder how this transformation from paparazzi photograph and all the connotations of furtiveness, spying and secretiveness to painting can alter ones perception. I would like to believe that the artist who views Britney Spears as a strong, confident, self-made woman is a feminist who has staged the initial photograph to reclaim her identity by exposing her vagina just as in Yoni Portraits, believing there is nothing to be ashamed of by showing the power, beauty, fertility and delight this body part represents. Often in the media gaze, Spears is used as an example to criticise young women today, nothing but a Barbie doll. Her abilities as a mother, her career and social life are frequently held up to public scrutiny. Men that are in the public gaze however, may be criticised for their affairs, heir drug dependency, their fights etc., yet rarely for their dress code or indeed for their roles or abilities as fathers. This is a gender bias that has become commonplace and widely accepted. In addition, when Spears chose to wear a revealing dress and decorate her body with piercings and tattoos, the tabloids turned on her viciously, and accused her of mental illness when she publicly shaved her hair off. I feel though, that Spears was sending a message, via the media, about her sense of identity and her value as a woman. By shaving her hair off Spears was questioning the male perception of femaleness and femininity; she was a Rapunzel trapped by her beauty in a tower created by the male gaze. The only way to take control of the situation and to escape, was, like Rapunzel, to chop off all her hair and reassert her own identity away from social expectations and the medias critical portrayal of women. In Ways of Seeing, John Berger explores the difference between nudity and nakedness, suggesting that when one is nude, the spectator (and there must be one) merely sees the human body unclothed. When one is naked, the spectator (even if that is only oneself) sees the real ess ence of the person. Nakedness is far more intimate than nudity. When Spears cut off all her hair it was as if she had removed a disguise, and showed herself to the world fully naked, expressing her inner self. It is this aspect that Davis has picked up on in her piece of art: Britney Spears as a model of sex positive feminism, the un-Barbie goddess of post-feminism. Sex positive feminism, also known as sexually liberal feminism or sex-radical feminism began as a movement in the 1980s. Many women became involved in a direct response to the efforts of anti-porn feminists such as Andrea Dworkin, as they argued that pornography was the centre of feminist theory for womens oppression. This period is known as the feminist sex wars, a time of heated debate between anti-porn feminists and sex-positive feminists, between the notions of the sex industry as an abusive and violent environment for women and the beliefs in womens ability to choose to be highly sexual beings and raises the question of who is exploiting who? When Spears posed for a statue by American sculptor Daniel Edwards (b.1965) for the pro-life movement, she was once again steeped in the controversy of is it art or is it porn? Entitled Monument to Pro-Life this work is a full size sculpture of a naked Britney Spears in childbirth. The sculpture shows Spears on all fours on a bearskin rug, her mouth slightly open and her eyelids heavy, looking as if she is about to cry out. There is no indication of pain or pleasure; it is not at all indicative of sexual provocation or pornography. Her hands lie wrapped around either side of the head of the bear, as if she is using it to act as a medium to the spirit world communicating with the animalistic urges childbirth conjures up. Yet the media has criticised this piece, stating that: Britneys in a position that most would sooner associate with getting pregnant than with giving birth. I believe that in some ways things have deteriorated rather than progressed: the beauty industry and the porn industry, in their own sometimes-converging ways, have caused a lot of that. Going back to the early 70s, as women began to enter the workforce in larger numbers, some of that earning power was used against them by aggressive beauty product marketing. The result has been an increasing focus in the last three decades on dieting, an explosion in both sexes