Sunday, January 19, 2020

Leadership Essay -- Leader essays research papers

Everyone has probably played the game â€Å"Follow the Leader† back in elementary school. It is a game where the leader stands in front of the line. He or she can say or do anything, and her followers (standing in a straight line behind her) must repeat exactly the same thing he or she does or says. Whoever was picked to be the leader must have loved the experience because one had the freedom to do whatever they please, while others followed miserably or happily depending on what the leader is saying or doing. However, if one was the follower, one would wait anxiously to be the next chosen leader. At the same time, one must somehow express his or her self in a fashion that will make them stand out from the rest of the students. Whether he or she is perfectly imitating the leader or behaving really respectfully of others. Nonetheless, who determines who should be the leader? What kind of characteristics must a leader possessed? What makes a great leader (Robbins, 2005)? Is the re only one kind leadership? These questions will be answered as you continue to read on. In addition, you will come across case studies, real life experiences, and my own observation on how leaders in my work setting exhibit leadership behavior and how followers respond to it.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Leadership is the capability to influence a person or a group to achieve many goals (Robbins, 2005). To elaborate, leadership is a complex process by which a person influences others to accomplish a mission, task, or objectives and directs the organization in a way that makes it more cohesive and coherent by applying their leadership attributes such as values, ethics, knowledge, skills, and belief (Clark, 2000). Most importantly, not all leaders happen to be managers, and not all managers are leaders (Robbins, 2005). Even though one is positioned as a manager or a supervisor (he has the power to accomplish certain tasks within the organization) it does not necessarily mean he is a leader unless he makes people want to achieve high goals and objectives. He has the authority to tell his subordinates to do the task and they will do it just to complete it but is not interested in achieving higher goals. However, â€Å"leaders can emerge from within a group as well as being formally appointed [manager]† (Robbins, 2005).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  What is great leadership? According to the trait theories, some personality traits may lead pe... ... be technically proficient; one must know his job and the duties of his employees. A leader should always look for new ways to guild your organization to new heights. And if it does not work, re-evaluate, take corrective action and move on to the next challenge. However, do not look for someone to blame. A good leader is not an authoritarian leader. A good leader sets good examples (employees should also see and hear what they are expected to do) and work as a team. A good leader always look out for the well being of their people and always keep them informed. (Clark, 1999). Leadership is like an ART! REFERENCE Ballentine, k., George, A., and Hamburg, D. (1999). Preventing deadly conflict: the critical role of leadership. Archieves of General Psychiatry; 56, 971-976. Clark, D. (2000). Big dog’s leadership page-concept of leadership. Retrieved on December 02, 2004 from http://www.nwlink.com/~donclark/leader/leadcon.html. In Brief; do women make better leaders? (2004). Harvard Mental Health Letter, pNA. Pree, M.D (1992). Leadership jazz. New York: A Dell Trade Paperback. Robbins, S. (2005). Essentials of organizational behavior. New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall.

Saturday, January 11, 2020

Overtime vs Hiring: A Case Study Essay

Abstract This report aims to address the debate over whether it is more beneficial to hire new employees when faced with shortages, or cover the shifts with overtime. The issue is examined from the viewpoint of Columbia University’s Department of Public Safety, and takes into account factors and costs as found therein. This report includes a graphical comparison of the costs associated with each option, and analyses and discusses the greater expense of hiring. One of the most debated topics in management is whether it is more beneficial to hire new employees or pay overtime to increase production or coverage. Many factors go into this decision, including benefits, duration of the period of extra work needed, and even type of work involved. In Columbia University’s Department of Public Safety, this issue gets more attention than at most places of business. Minimal staffing levels, union regulations, and round-the-clock posts – among other factors – conspire to make this decision one that is faced often. When all factors are considered, is it better for the department to hire new officers when coverage is lacking, or to utilize overtime to staff positions as needed? Executive Summary In almost all instances, it is more cost-efficient to fill gaps in coverage with overtime rather than hiring new officers in this department. This report will examine the factors involved, analyze the financial implications, and discuss exceptions to the findings. Explicit and implicit costs to the department will be discussed, along with their relevance to the decision-making process. This report will also compare the costs of new hires and overtime to find an equilibrium point beyond which the decision should change, and introduce the concept of diminishing returns. Finally, it will summarize the process and discuss application. Definition In Columbia University’s Department of Public Safety, there is a minimum level of on-duty staffing required at all times. Department employees are licensed, uniformed personnel belonging to the Transit Workers’ Union, Local 241. Management is required to ensure sufficient coverage on a daily basis, while conforming to the guidelines of the collective bargaining agreement. Sick time, vacation time, requests for guard services or special details, and emergencies such as natural disasters can create shortages in coverage that need to be addressed. Failure to cover these openings is not an option, and so management is left with two choices: hire additional full-time personnel to cover the openings, or pay overtime – at the rate of one-and-one-half times normal salary. Spending large amounts on overtime raises concerns in multiple areas, such as yearly budget reviews and union negotiations. This report aims to examine the issue in depth, and decide which option is mor e fiscally appropriate in a given situation. Factors and Costs As previously mentioned, there are numerous factors that influence this decision. The following are the most critical points that must be considered: * Department employees are unionized. Due to contractual agreements, the department must maintain all currently occupied positions. Any vacated position must be filled, somewhere in the department; for example, if an officer resigns, the department must fill that vacancy, whether in the same position or laterally, or be found in violation of the collective bargaining agreement. * Note that this is regardless of shortages, and only applies to permanently vacated positions. If the department has three extra officers on a given tour, and one resigns, the department may not continue to operate with two extras; rather, it is necessary to hire a new third extra. If an officer goes out on extended disability, however, it is not contractually necessary to fill that opening. In these cases, the department can cover the shortages, if any, through other means. Hiring remains an option, but the mandate to retain positions applies to newly created positions as well. In effect, if a new officer is hired in this situation, and the disabled officer returns to duty, the department is now obligated to keep both positions filled permanently and has a new minimum level of staffing. * New hires are paid at a rate of 80% salary for the first two years, then 82.5% the third year, 85% the fourth year, then 100% from year five on. * Overtime is paid at one-and-one-half times salary for any work done beyond 40 hours in a week. If an employee works a shift during all 7 days of the pay period, work done on the 7th day is paid at twice salary. * Any mandatory overtime performed without at least one hour of advance notice is paid at double time. This is relevant because when electing to not cover openings with additional personnel, any emergency shortages could lead to mandatory overtime without notice. * Most posts on campus require continuous coverage 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. This means there are three distinct tours with their own unique dynamics for coverage. The 8Ãâ€"4 tour, for example, has the highest concentration of senior officers, meaning they accrue more vacation time than junior officers. The summer months are obviously prime time for vacation picks, and two officers are allowed out at a time during summer. This means that summer vacation time is booked solid on the 8Ãâ€"4, so the tour is perennially short two officers all summer. Also, as a medical research facility in addition to a university campus, there are more posts open during the 8Ãâ€"4 tour than any other. As a result, it makes a difference where the shortage occurs. * Shortages on the night tours are easier to absorb, because there are fewer posts, but there is also night differential to consider: any officer working between 4pm and 8am makes an extra stipend of $1.80 per hour for night differentia l. As a fixed bonus separate from salary, however, night differential has no impact on this decision, as shown later. * New employees must be trained for a minimum period of one month before being able to assume post unsupervised and unassisted. This not only reduces the utility of a new hire for the first month, but also reduces the utility of the officers assigned to train him or her. * The department provides, as a service, officers for hire on campus for special events. The department charges $50 hourly for this service per officer assigned. If there is extra coverage on the tour during which the guard service is requested, an officer may be reassigned from a non-mandatory post, at a significant savings to the department. By using already assigned personnel as opposed to paying overtime for another officer in addition to the scheduled non-mandatory officer, the department can significantly reduce the overtime budget. For the purposes of this report, it will be assumed that no overtime is covered in this way, to preserve an empirical comparison of salary costs. * Officers are paid hourly, and thus are a variable labor cost. If the amount of time worked during a pay period changes, the officer’s salary for that period will change accordingly. For the purposes of this report, it will be assumed that labor costs are fixed. All officers not assigned to overtime always work exactly 40 hours per week, and those assigned to overtime always work in increments of exactly 8 hours per additional shift. Docking pay for tardiness will be disregarded. * The department pays an amount equal to 37.7% of each officer’s salary for his or her benefits package. This payment remains in effect so long as the officer is on the University’s payroll, whether or not he or she actually works or is paid. Officers on vacation, sick leave, or disability still incur this cost. While the cost of benefits itself is highly relevant, and will be used extensively in analysis, the fact that disabled officers still incur this cost even when not being paid by the department is not relevant to this discussion. Measurement In trying to determine how best to fill coverage, the most obvious comparison is between costs of a new hire and overtime. As previously stated, overtime is equal to one-and-one-half times salary (S). Cost of overtime can therefore be represented by the equation COT=h(1.5S), where h represents hours worked. New hires, who incur a cost of 37.7% of their salary, have a cost of CNH=h(1.377S). New hires always have a starting salary of 80% of full pay, while officers working longer than two years have a gradually increasing pay scale. One eight hour shift of salary at the rookie wage scale is equal to $149.20. For a third-year officer, that rises to $153.84, then $158.56 for a fourth-year employee. Finally, upon completion of four years of employment, the wage scale tops out at $186.48. A new hire will always work 5 shifts a week, leading to CNH=5(1.377)(149.2), or CNH=1027.24. COT, on the other hand, varies based on how many shifts of overtime are required that week, and the seniority of the officer performing the overtime. Plotting those equations against each other leaves us with the first graph below, labeled Weekly Salaries, New Hires vs Overtime at Each Level of Seniority. As expected, officers receiving full pay cost significantly more to cover with overtime than any other officer, but even at that escalated rate, there would need to be shortages in excess of 3 positions per week to justify hiring a new officer. For all other levels of seniority, 4 shifts of overtime could be covered per week at a lower cost than one new hire. In order to simplify the situation, this report will henceforth take an average of the salary levels and assume that all officers working overtime earn that rate of pay. Weekly Salaries, New Hires vs Overtime at Each Level of Seniority After applying this assumption, full pay is removed as an outlier, and it becomes always less expensive to fill four shifts of overtime than to hire one new officer. Weekly Salaries, New Hires vs Average Overtime Rate for Day Shift As seen in these graphs, the presence of night differential increases cost equally across the board, and therefore has no impact on this decision. Weekly Salaries, New Hires vs Average Overtime Rate for Night Shifts Analysis The graphs provide striking evidence that new hires are significantly more costly for small to reasonable shortages, seemingly four or fewer per week. However, due to the nature of the department, this is an underestimation. Since all three tours need to be covered, and officers must contractually be assigned to a stable tour, each tour must have its own graph. It is clear in every graph above that if there are five or more shifts of overtime per week, it is always less costly to hire a new officer; this is not completely accurate. During a given stretch, if there were expected to be 6 shifts of overtime that need to be filled each week, but the shifts are distributed evenly, with two shortages per tour per week, hiring one new officer will not account for five tours of overtime, but two. As presented by Bob Thomas (2006, p.13), â€Å"adding officers does not automatically reduce an equivalent number of overtime hours by the amount of the actual hours worked.† Thomas explains that while adding officers reduces overtime, it also raises costs disproportionately in an example of diminishing returns, an effect found mirrored in the previous graphs in this report. In essence, hiring additional officers beyond a certain point will produce reduced utility with each new hire. Hiring additional officers will add utility, but at a much higher cost per unit of utility, creating an inefficient Summary The measurements set forth in this report clearly show that only the most extreme of shortages justifies hiring an additional employee from a cost-effectiveness standpoint, but this is not the only factor to consider. Most important among these is the contractual obligation of the department to hire a new officer each time a position is vacated. Fatigue is a concern that is often raised regarding the use of overtime to fill gaps in coverage. Steve Earley’s report for the Riverside Fire Department (2001, p.14) cited studies finding a correlation between the number of hours worked and work-related injuries. The department has already taken steps to mitigate this, as employees are prohibited from working longer than 16 consecutive hours, and are strongly dissuaded from working 7-day weeks. Overtime is also distributed in a rotation, by seniority, so that no one officer has significantly more overtime opportunities than any other. In conclusion, the data is so compelling that whenever possible, shortages should be covered with overtime rather than hiring. Works Cited Earley, S. (2001). An Analysis of the Utilization of Overtime Versus Hiring Additional Personnel. Riverside, CA. Thomas, B. (2006). Corrections Overtime Planning Study. Olympia, WA.

Friday, January 3, 2020

Ethnography on People Who Do Hot Yoga - 3167 Words

Yogis For many people with hectic, stressful lives, relaxation means zoning out in front of the TV at the end of the day or getting some extra sleep at the end of the weekend, but for a certain group of people relaxing does not include this. These people are called yogis; those who achieve relaxation through the art of meditation, breathing, stretching, and finding inner peace. In today’s fast paced society it is hard to find a way to fully relax because people are constantly being forced to push their minds and bodies to the limit, which can result in high levels of stress. Rather than fighting against life’s hardships, people who practice yoga value deep relaxation in order to be free of stress and live each day in peace and harmony†¦show more content†¦Also, the use of cell phones is a big contributor to high levels of stress in people. In an article, â€Å" Stress of Cell Phone Use Disturbs Sleep, Mood,† Dr. Z writes about the effects of cell phone usag e and how it increases people’s stress. He explains, â€Å"A major prospective study over a period of one year of young adults who used their cell phones frequently reveals significant disturbances to sleep patterns, increased stress symptoms, and an increased incidence of clinical depression.† (Dr. Z) A cell phone is something that pushes people to use their minds and can cause a lot of problems. People who do yoga don’t want this fast-paced society to get to their heads, so they choose to exclude anything that will stop them from achieving peace and relaxation. We sat down on a colorful little bench to fill out our forms, and we both agreed to be respectful during the session. While Caroline was still filling out her forms I took a look around the entrance room. There were a lot of peace signs, Buddha’s, and flowers, which made the scenery calm and peaceful. These types of decorations are all a part of achieving inner peace. Peace signs stand for peace, Buddha’s are looking to achieve peace, and flowers are always peaceful and welcoming. Yogis value peace because they are people who are always striving for harmony and balance to reach inner peace. WhenShow MoreRelatedThe Starbucks Brandscape and Consumers10413 Words   |  42 Pagespresent two key theoretical oversights. First, global brands carry meanings that stand in sharp symbolic contrast to local alternatives, meanings that exist against a backdrop of societal anxieties about the power We changed the way people live their lives, what they do when they get up in the morning, how they reward themselves, and where they meet. ( ORà N SMITH, Starbucks CEO) T he marketing success of Starbucks is legion. The Starbucks revolution transformed gourmet coffee from a yuppieRead MoreStephen P. Robbins Timothy A. Judge (2011) Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition New Jersey: Prentice Hall393164 Words   |  1573 PagesAppendix A Research in Organizational Behavior Comprehensive Cases Indexes Glindex 637 663 616 623 Contents Preface xxii 1 1 Introduction What Is Organizational Behavior? 3 The Importance of Interpersonal Skills 4 What Managers Do 5 Management Functions 6 †¢ Management Roles 6 †¢ Management Skills 8 †¢ Effective versus Successful Managerial Activities 8 †¢ A Review of the Manager’s Job 9 Enter Organizational Behavior 10 Complementing Intuition with Systematic Study 11 Disciplines

Thursday, December 26, 2019

Both Sides of Stem Cell Research Essay - 889 Words

Stem Cell Research Paper Stem cell research has been quite a controversial topic since its origin in the 1960s by Gopal Das and Joseph Altman. Of course, anything that uses a human embryo would be. Stem cell research could open a vast number of new doors for modern science, it could let us test new drugs, one of which could be the unfound cure for AIDS or Alzheimer’s disease. However, this branch of science comes at a high price, the price of a human life that is only five to six days old (NIH). It is quite nearly impossible to take a stand in this argument from an unbiased viewpoint. What is a stem cell? A stem cell is an unspecialized cell, meaning it is not a heart, brain, or any other type of cell that has a special purpose,†¦show more content†¦Pluripotent stem cells are just like Totipotent cells, but they can only become cell derived from the three germ layers, which contain over 200 specialized cells. Multipotent stem cells can only become blood cells, such as red blood cells, white blood cells, or platelets. Unipotent stem cells can only transform into one type of tissue or specialized cell, but it can divide over and over again (Wikipedia). These embryonic stem cells can divide again and again through mitosis (a type of cell division in all body parts except reproductive parts). Medical specialists and leading scientists conclude, that these cells could help cure as many as seventy-three diseases, which up to now were thought incurable (NIH). The controversy due to embryonic stem cells is quite debatable. Both sides present many strong reason s that prove their point, but it is still, frankly, nearly impossible to take a stand from an unbiased view. This is the first study showing that embryonic stem cells can be used for brain and spinal cord repair in an animal model of a human neurological disease, said researcher Oliver BrÃ… ¸stle (a neuropathologist at the University of Bonn in Germany) referring to the study done on rats (CNN). Just like Oliver BrÃ… ¸stle many scientists around the world agree that embryonic stem cell show much welcomed hope of cure of spinal and brain repair. In addition to healing spinal and brain injuries, the embryonic stem cells can also treat diabetes, a disease which 54%Show MoreRelatedEssay about Embryonic Stem Cell Research1357 Words   |  6 PagesHuman Embryonic Stem Cell Research Embryonic stem cell research is a highly controversial topic in todays society, this kind of stem cell commits to regenerate any type of tissue. Unfortunately, Embryonic Stem Cell Research has a dark side. To obtain these cells will kill the embryo automatically. In other words, the acquirement of the Human Embryonic Stem Cell includes performing an abortion. To obtain these cells, it would kill the embryo. This has created controversy since abortion is suchRead MoreThe Debate Of Embryonic Stem Cell Research1292 Words   |  6 PagesEmbryonic stem cells research is the most debated type of stem cell research. The moral standings of embryonic stem cell research have been debated since the research started. The side against the research claims that it is wrong to value one’s life above another and that the elimination of the most basic form of life is murder. While the side supporting the research claims that the research could bring about the cure for many types of diseases and help save the lives of millions. Embryonic stem cellsRead MoreEssay On Human Life1389 Words   |  6 Pagesdiscovery of human embryonic stem cells. This sparked curiosity and enlightenment in the eyes of medical professionals everywhere. Nineteen years later the world is riddles with a plethora of controversy, fabrication, and fallacies in regards to the use of embryonic stem cells. Contrary to this, these â€Å"super cells† have the growing potential to put an end to many medical disputes. Firstly, to understand the stigma and information behind embryonic stem cell research, there must be a common understandingRead MoreStem Cell Research : Is It Humane?1686 Words   |  7 Pages2 25 February 2015 Stem-Cell Research--Is it humane? The studying of stem cells is a very controversial issue that has been around since 1998 when the research of the use of embryonic stem cell treatment began. The main issues surrounding the discussion of treating people with life-altering disabilities through the use of these pluripotent cells is the ethicality of the matter and whether or not it is a savage act against a fetus. Many who oppose the use of these stem cells derived from excessRead MoreA Research Study On Stem Cell Therapy1511 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction Stem cells are homogeneous cells found in the human body which have potential to change into, or differentiate into a range of specific types of cells (Stoppler, 1996). The refurbishment and protection of many adult tissues are safeguarded by stem cells (SCs) which exist in the top of the cellular sorting section of these tissues (Beck, 2013). Practical assessments, such as transplantation, in vitro clonogenic assesses (technique used to study efficacy of exact agents in terms of theRead MoreEssay on Stem Cell Research: Should it be Permitted?868 Words   |  4 PagesStem cell related diseases affect over 100 million americans (White). Right now, there are plenty of government funds for stem cell research, and if we continue on the same path as we are now, stem cell research should be successful; however, the ethics used for embryonic stem cell research are incomprehensibly horrific (Stem cell policy). If this continues to be funded, it could have answers to numerous major disease s, including why they are caused, prevention, and cures for the diseases. MoreRead MoreThe Federal Funding Of Embryonic Stem Cell Research1554 Words   |  7 PagesThe subject in this article is about the federal funding of embryonic stem-cell research. The argument is about Research on human embryonic stem cells and the development of therapies for chronic and debilitating diseases. The question is should the federal government of the United States provide funding for the stem cell research? The thesis of the argument is â€Å"others worry that even if research on embryos is not wrong in itself, it will open the way to a slippery slope of dehumanizing practicesRead MoreThe Debate Over Stem Cell Research1196 Words   |  5 Pagescontroversy over the topic of stem cell research. It seems to be that the main controversy when it comes to the topic of stem cell research is an ethical debate, and because of this it seems that the side opposing stem cell research always wins due to the ir use of pathos when it comes to their argument. I personally do not side with those against the idea of stem cell research because I believe that the pros outweigh the cons when you break it down this way. Stem cell research could be the gateway to findingRead MoreEthical Concerns Of Stem Cell Research1508 Words   |  7 Pagesof Stem Cell Research This day in age disease, infection, disorders and mysterious syndromes are more present now than ever. */***You forget to wash your hands after using the restroom? You just spread viruses like E.Coli and put someone s life in danger*/***. But in a world full of diseases that are seemingly becoming harsher and more resistant to conventional treatments, answers to the latest ailments are popping up in the form of miniscule pieces biological tissue called stem cells. Stem cellsRead MoreSpinal Cord Injury Essay1096 Words   |  5 Pagespluripotent stem cells have found a way to potentially cure this condition, with the grafting of iPS cells to the human spine. It is impossible to argue with the results of recent research studies, which clearly demonstrate its capability to treat this condition. However, there is still some way to go until these studies can be applied to the treatment of humans, furthermore there are still many obstacles that must be overcome before research can proceed to the next level. iPS cells have the potential

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Does Texting Affect Writing Essay - 1392 Words

Does Texting Affect Writing: A Critical Analysis of the Influence of Text Speak in Student’s Writing We as a society are evolving with each generation to come. We are getting stronger, faster, and smarter. Just as cell phones are no longer square blocks with numbers on them and TV’s are not in black and white, writing itself has also evolved. Once upon a time many wrote and spoke in a Shakespearean form of language and over the years it has evolved into something we call modern English. In recent years, technology has advanced greatly and cell phones have become one of our primary use of communication. With cell phones came a new form of writing called text messaging. Text messaging is used to send short, concise messages to anyone around the world. Often times text messages involve the use of abbreviations which stand for different things and also involves frequent use of emoji’s as a form of expression. This form of writing is now considered informal writing and is not acceptable in academic settings. In Michaela Cullington’s essay â€Å"Does Texting Affect W riting?† she touches on both sides of whether texting is hindering students writing or if it’s actually having a positive effect. She then makes is clear that she believes most students are educated enough to know when text speak is appropriate and when it’s not so therefore it has no effect on students. Although, I agree with her thesis, she lacks credibility due to her insufficient evidence. In addition, I also believeShow MoreRelatedDoes Texting Affect Writing By Michaela Cullington739 Words   |  3 PagesPatrick Angyal English 1013 September 6, 2017 Summary Essay In Michaela Cullington’s essay titled, â€Å"Does Texting Affect Writing?† the author tests the ongoing question of how today’s youth handles the effects of texting in the education system. Using successful evidence from both sides of the argument as well as participating in her own experiment, Cullington is able to fully demonstrate how texting does not interfere with today’s students and their abilities to write formally in the classroom. To openRead MoreThe Effects Of Texting On Teens And Their Writing886 Words   |  4 PagesIn recent discussion of, â€Å"Does Texting Affects Writing† by Michaela Cullington, one view is that texting has a negative impact on teens and their writing. Cullington shows both sides of what students, teachers, and professors have to say about the issue of texting; yet after research this belief may not prove to be true. Then she writes about personal experience regarding the issue.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Text has become one of the most common ways teenagers communicate with others. This led to many people believingRead MoreComment and Response to Texting and Writing by Michaela Cullington691 Words   |  3 PagesComment and Response to Texting and Writing by Michaela Cullington After reading Texting and Writing, by Michaela Cullington, I do not agree with many of her viewpoints. Cullington argues that texting does not affect a students writing. Textspeak, the abbreviation and shortening of words like used when writing a text message, does affect the way a student writes because they use the abbreviations, and their writings tend to lack punctuation. When a writer uses excessive abbreviations on a regularRead MoreHow Texting Affects Teen Literacy1624 Words   |  7 Pages How Texting Affects Teen Literacy When most people think about teen literacy, they refer to texting. Most people think that texting harms teenagers, but in reality it does not. Text messaging is perhaps one of the things people do most daily, especially teenagers. These days teens are nearly inseparable from their phones. Teenagers are growing with an increasing rate with these cell phones. Teens depend on their cell phones to get through day to day things dealing with personal and professionalRead MoreThe Effects Of Texting On Children s Children1120 Words   |  5 Pagestool to a social tool (Marilyn, 2005). Texting is such an important communicate channel for teenagers, but what does texting mean exactly? Texting is an action which describes not using proper English grammar to send messages. Data suggest, 63% of all teens said they exchange text messages with other people every day. Until today, this trend is still continue developing. The most teenagers all said they cannot leave text in lives (Kuehn, 2012), doe s it affect school-aged children in literacy? AbsolutelyRead MoreTexting And Teen Literacy : Understanding And Knowing How Texting Affects Literacy Overall, Particularly With Teenagers1206 Words   |  5 PagesTexting and Teen Literacy My personal interest in researching this topic is understanding and knowing how texting affects literacy overall, especially with teenagers. I know that communication has evolved and as we move forward with technology, there are/will be positive and negative results that will arise and affect our daily and normal lives in how we communicate This will affect not only our day-to-day communication but also in how we learn. I would like to know more about this topic becauseRead MoreTechnology And Technology1027 Words   |  5 Pages An example of this scenario, is the essay â€Å"Is Google Making Us Stupid?† by author Nicholas Carr where he talks about how the Net is becoming a bigger part of our lives, and how it is consuming our minds. Another example, is the essay â€Å"Does Texting Affect Writing?† by author Michaela Cullington where she discusses how many teachers and professors believe text messaging has affected many students in their ability to write. One reason why I believe new technology is a threat to our brains is becauseRead MoreTexting : How It Is Ruining The English Language?989 Words   |  4 PagesLanguage Texting is a convenient little invention; one can just send small messages to his or her friends with the push of a few buttons. It is a fast and effortless way to communicate, but has anyone thought of the potential harmful effects of texting? Sure, people think about the messages that were taken the wrong way, or messages meant to be insignificant, but what is the worst thing that can happen? What about the destruction of an entire language? People think nothing of texting because theyRead MoreInfluence of Texting on Literacy847 Words   |  4 Pagescountries own smart phones that have the ability to send and receive text messages. Texting, short messaging services, has existed since the early 1990s and today, 64% of teenagers in the United States participate in texting. Psychologists from various universities such as Coventry University and University of Tasmania have composed studies to establish if texting does, in fact, have an affect on literacy. Texting and literacy have been shown to be linked in these various studies and articles. TodayRead MoreMobile Phones And Its Impact On The Way1559 Words   |  7 PagesIn today’s world you cannot go anywhere without seeing at least one person attached to their cell phone texting. This day and age sending a text is the quickest and most efficient form of communication. The Berkman Center for Internet Society at Harvard University found that (78%) of teens now have a cell phone and almost half (47%) of those teens have smartphones. That translates into (37%) of all teens who have cellphones, up from just (23%) in 2011(Madden). Today, people tend to use their

Monday, December 9, 2019

In 1976, the US Senate ordered a fresh inquiry int Essay Example For Students

In 1976, the US Senate ordered a fresh inquiry int Essay o the assassination of John F Kennedy, who was murdered in 1963 during a motorcade in Dallas, Texas. People who had been involved in the original Warren Commission investigations were asked to make fresh statements. The FBI and the CIA were persuaded to release more of their documents on Oswald. New lines of inquiry were opened and individuals who had not previously given evidence were persuaded to come forward. Most important of all, pieces of evidence such as photos and sound recordings were subjected to scientific analysis using the most up-to-date methods and equipment. The House Select Committee on Assassinations (HSCA) completed their investigation in 1979 and they finally came to a discrete verdict that Lee Harvey Oswald fired three shots at Kennedy, one of which killed the president. The fourth shot was fired from the grassy knoll. They concluded that John Kennedy was assassinated as a result of a conspiracy. There are many reasons why the HSCA came to this verdict, but firstly it was important that the American people understood why this case was re-opened over a decade later! The investigation was set up as direct result of the assassinations of two other major political figures; the civil rights leader, Dr Martin Luther King and the Presidents brother Robert Kennedy, in 1968. Naturally this aroused immense suspicion and the American public started questioning why so many key US figures had been assassinated in the space of just four years when previously this type of incident had been rare. At the time there was also an increasing amount of corruption and scandal within the government. This alarmed the public who had completely trusted the government before. The Watergate Scandal in 1974 involving President Nixon had clearly shown that this was not the case anymore. Nixon had abused his authority and power to his advantage. This indicated that even politicians were prone to sleaze and scandal. As a result of this, people also started questioning the behaviour of the government. This is most likely why they were more receptive in accepting that Kennedy was the victim of a conspiracy, later on. The public also became increasingly interested in the Kennedy assassination as books such as Rush to judgement by Mark Lane and Inquest by Edward Jay Epstein, started to be written. They immediately became best sellers and played a large role in raising awareness regarding the assassination. As a result people started to inquire more and rumours began that other people or organisations had been involved in Kennedys assassination i.e there had been a conspiracy. As people became more and more aware about the events surrounding the assassination, many blamed the Dallas police as being incompetent in handling the whole investigation. They had proven to be extremely unorganised despite the fact that the President had just been murdered. The fact that interviews hadnt been recorded was one of the reasons why there was so much confusion. Yet the only excuse the Dallas police could come up with was that they couldnt find a tape recorder! The questions that were asked by the officers proved to worthless and what little records were kept are said to be inadequate. However more seriously, the Dallas police were wildly believed to be at fault for Oswalds death and even the world wide doubt over his guilt. Even though previously an attempt had been made to kill Oswald, no further security precautions had been taken to prevent this from happening again. Considering that they were holding the alleged assassin of the President in custody, the security was appalling. At the hands of Jack Ruby, one bullet had proved sufficient enough to kill Oswald. .uef1a5b4b57f2f494bbb70a6f7a625fb5 , .uef1a5b4b57f2f494bbb70a6f7a625fb5 .postImageUrl , .uef1a5b4b57f2f494bbb70a6f7a625fb5 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .uef1a5b4b57f2f494bbb70a6f7a625fb5 , .uef1a5b4b57f2f494bbb70a6f7a625fb5:hover , .uef1a5b4b57f2f494bbb70a6f7a625fb5:visited , .uef1a5b4b57f2f494bbb70a6f7a625fb5:active { border:0!important; } .uef1a5b4b57f2f494bbb70a6f7a625fb5 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .uef1a5b4b57f2f494bbb70a6f7a625fb5 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .uef1a5b4b57f2f494bbb70a6f7a625fb5:active , .uef1a5b4b57f2f494bbb70a6f7a625fb5:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .uef1a5b4b57f2f494bbb70a6f7a625fb5 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .uef1a5b4b57f2f494bbb70a6f7a625fb5 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .uef1a5b4b57f2f494bbb70a6f7a625fb5 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .uef1a5b4b57f2f494bbb70a6f7a625fb5 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .uef1a5b4b57f2f494bbb70a6f7a625fb5:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .uef1a5b4b57f2f494bbb70a6f7a625fb5 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .uef1a5b4b57f2f494bbb70a6f7a625fb5 .uef1a5b4b57f2f494bbb70a6f7a625fb5-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .uef1a5b4b57f2f494bbb70a6f7a625fb5:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: TOK Essay Summary The fact that reporters were allowed to mingle around Oswald as he was escorted out of court, probably caused the death. Public access to Oswald should not have been permitted under any circumstance. Oswald was murdered in front of cameras and video footage of the incident shows that the police didnt make hardly any attempts to prevent the murder, but literally just stood there. Many people have found this to be extremely suspicious. Some believe that Jack Ruby killed Oswald to silence him and the police .

Monday, December 2, 2019

The Olympics have been bringing people of differen Essays - Sports

The Olympics have been bringing people of different backgrounds together for much longer than many people realize. The first ancient Olympic Games can be traced all the way back to 776 BC, when they were dedicated to honoring the Olympian gods. Centuries later, the Olympics were institutionalized in 1896, with a broader purpose of bringing people of different nationalities together in order for them to build meaningful relationships across borders and languages. More specifically, by bringing people closer and making the world a more united place, the International Olympic Committee now hopes to promote "a way of life based on the joy of effort, the educational value of good example, social responsibility and respect for universal fundamental ethical principles." While these goals have been achieved to a limited degree since 1896, contemporary Olympics have largely failed to effectively promote these core values as players become more and more obsessed with winning and less with main taining the integrity of the Olympics. In fact, recent games show countless cases of blood doping, drug abuse, bribery within the IOC, and even outright cheating among the players. Clearly, these incidents are hardly representative of the core values of responsibility and respect the IOC is striving for, and it does not seem like this trend is going to decrease any time soon. In recent years, the number of drug abuse among the players have increased dramatically, bringing the integrity of the Olympics into question. According to the Smithsonian article, "The Top Athletes Looking for an Edge and the Scientists Trying to Stop Them," doping is nothing new to the Olympics. Even the ancient Greeks ingested special drinks to enhance their performances and it was not until 1960 when Daniel cyclist Knut Jensen passed out during a race due to drug-overuse that the Drug testing was established in 1968. In 1999 and 2000, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) were established respectively to oversee drug testing with the Olympic organizers. The original purpose of setting up this system of drug testing was to prevent athletes from overdosing to the point of fatal injury or even death. The IOC president Thomas Bach would say that this system is by and large working, with increased numbers of more rigorous anti-doping tests, acc ording to the Sydney Morning Herald. Bach even said the number of positive tests "is not really relevant" because he believes what really matters is that the athletes who abuse drug are being caught. However, from the perspective of the IOC president, it is hardly surprising that Bach would promote the drug testing system in a positive light. However, as Aschwanden points out in the Smithsonian article, the increased drug use is becoming a "high-stakes competition between Olympic athletes who use banned substances and drug testers out to catch them," which is most definitely not reflective of "social responsibility and respect for universal fundamental ethical principles." The simple fact that the drug tests even need to be continually fortified to prohibit unfair advantages goes against the core values the IOC hopes to promote, regardless of how effective the tests are. Furthermore, the credibility of the drug tests is not as strong as Bach states it is. As Aschwanden notes, offici als are reluctant to tarnish their stars so the governing body that oversees the drug tests might not always be rigorous about prohibiting drug use. This means the number of athletes caught with the drug test might not necessarily be representative of the athletes who actually use prohibited substances. Therefore, the questionable credibility of the drug tests, in addition to the continual fortification of the tests themselves, shows that the core values of the Olympics have not been in recent games. Additionally, the IOC that is supposed to work to promote its core values has also been deeply associated with rampant bribery that are not reflective of the organization's mission. For example, the Salt Lake City Olympic scandal in 2002 revealed that there were up to 16 IOC members who have been involved in the bribery for decades. According to the article "Olympic Games: IOC report shows decades of bribery,'" a confidential IOC report showed that Salt Lake City spent more than 400,000 pounds in