Woody Allen – Annie Hall

Changes Woody Allen’s Annie Hall is a film that depicts the life of a character named Alvy Singer, a comedian who always seems nervous, is full of self-loathing, doesn‘t have a positive perspective on life, had an unhappy childhood and has been divorced twice. He knows he has problems but can’t figure out how to solve them in a dignified way so uses sex as a substitute. By the end of the film however, he shows a significant change in his outlook on life, due mostly to his recent relationship with a woman named Annie Hall.They end their relationship but Alvy learns from it, makes changes in his life, and uses it as a stepping stone into his future. The first moment where he shows change is when he compliments Annie after her first performance at a night club. She thinks she did horribly so he gives her reasons why she wasn’t as bad as she thought which cheers her up. This signifies Alvy turning a bad situation into a good one and shows confidence for the fir st time. Another moment where he shows change is his meeting with Annie in Los Angeles after they have broken up for good.He does things that he is usually reluctant to do: leaving New York City, driving a car, and eating at a health food restaurant. Although it doesn’t end like he hoped, he accepts that they aren’t going to be together any longer and doesn‘t complain, which is his usual response. In addition, he shows growth when he writes a play about his relationship with Annie, which shows their last meeting in L. A. but with an alternate ending with them together; proving that the relationship affected him enough to analyze and critique it.He views the relationship as a learning experience and uses the play to articulate his experience in a productive way, something he hasn’t done yet. Lastly, the ending of the film shows the most significant change from Alvy. He meets with Annie and seems genuinely happy to spend time with her and says he’s gl ad that he got to know her, contrary to his prior notion to have sex to solve his problems. Alvy’s first noticeable change occurs after Annie’s audition at the club.It’s her first time and she thinks that her performance was awful because the audience wasn’t paying attention and there were distractions such as microphone feedback, dropping glass, and a ringing phone. After her performance, they’re walking down the street and he cheers her up by telling her that the crowd was â€Å"a tad restless† and that she has a â€Å"wonderful voice† (42). He usually saw things in a negative light before this moment and this was the first time in the film where he turned a bad situation into a better one.This helped Annie continue her singing and she improved later because of Alvy and opened new doors for her, thanks to Alvy’s persuasion and change of view. He saw the possible relationship between them as something worthwhile and it ultimat ely led up to his transformation at the end of the movie. He makes her feel better–confident enough to brag, â€Å"Yeah, you know something? I never even took a lesson, either† (42). She accepts his support and Alvy realizes he would need to support her through rough times to keep the relationship rolling.And it meant that he would have to adjust his views and habits to keep her happy. They both changed a little in this scene with both of them being more positive toward bleak situations and Alvy bringing benefits out of this situation. After this, he convinces her to kiss him saying that it will â€Å"digest their food better† (43). Maybe he said this joke just to have sex with Annie (which he does in a few scenes) and wouldn’t be much of a change. But he wanted to be in a long term relationship because he told Annie that he wouldn’t let her quit singing.He foresaw that he could help her become a better person and maybe figure himself out along the way, reiterating that he was aware of his problems and wanted to change his ways. After they break up and Annie moves to Los Angeles, Alvy takes the initiative for the first time and flies to L. A. from New York City to try and convince her to marry him. He rents a car to see her and when he tells her this on the phone, she seems surprised causing Alvy to say â€Å"What-why is that such a miracle? † (97).He isn’t fond of California and despises driving so it’s obvious that he wants to be with Annie because he’s doing things he that he usually doesn’t and tries new things to get what he wants. Even Annie notices the change because she knows that Alvy doesn’t like driving. He fights to get back with Annie, a noteworthy change for a man who has been divorced twice and uses sex to relieve his problems. When Alvy arrives at a health food restaurant, he tells the waitress â€Å"I’m gonna . . . I’m gonna have the alfalfa sprouts and , uh, a plate of mashed yeast† (97). It’s a very dd combination, but his choice proves that he was willing to try new things to be with Annie. He figures that he has to make adjustments in his own life in order to better suit Annie’s way of life. But they immediately start bickering with Annie vehemently saying â€Å"Alvy, you’re incapable of enjoying life, you know that? I mean your life is New York City. You’re just this person. You’re like this island unto yourself† (98). Alvy then stutters on but doesn’t say anything coherent, her words hitting him like two tons of bricks, knowing that what she said was true.He knows that his problems are unlike other people’s. He knows that he has to change his negative perspective on life if he ever wants to be with Annie or get into any other meaningful relationship. He knows that no one knows him like Annie. So he accepts her criticism for the first time and takes her words into c onsideration. He realizes he would have to stop living â€Å"self-consciously in his own world of illusion† (Conard 109). The play Alvy is directing about his rendezvous with Annie in Los Angeles indicates that he used their relationship to his advantage and now understands himself better.He writes what really happens until he makes his character say â€Å"Okay, if that’s all that we’ve been through together means to you, I guess it’s better if we just said goodbye, once and for all! † (102). Although it may seem immature of him to change the ending to end on his own terms, it proves that he knew that he could’ve acted better instead of arguing with Annie the entire time. That moment was monumental in his transformation and is still working it out in his head. He also changed the last scene to end in his favor with Annie saying â€Å"Wait! I’m-I’m gonna . . go with you† and â€Å"I love you†(102). This shows growt h in Alvy because he is expressing his heartbreak in a healthy manner instead of feeling sorry for himself. Also, changing the ending suggests that he knows he can control his life now that he has a better perspective on it. In reality though, she told Alvy that she didn’t love him so he makes her say it to envision how he would have liked it to end, on his own terms and with his own decisions. After this scene he looks at the audience and says â€Å" Tsch, whatta you want? It was my first play.You know, you know how you’re always tryin’ t’ get things to come out perfect in art because, uh, it’s real difficult in life† (102). He knows that he’s changed but still has some work to do in order to get the ending he wants. His life isn’t perfect and uses the play to figure himself out and is still using that relationship to become a better person. He’s now able to reflect on his mistakes and turn them around to work for him. The final part of Alvy’s transformation is shown when he runs into Annie in New York and they go out for lunch.After lunch, they â€Å"shake hands and kiss each other friendly like† (105). Their prior encounter ended in disarray and she wouldn’t have kissed him if she didn’t have a good time this time around. It can be interpreted that Alvy has changed for the better and Annie has noticed this change, causing the friendly kiss. He then exclaims â€Å"I realized what a terrific person she was and-and how much fun it was just knowing her† (105). She was the first woman that he came across that he actually appreciated rather than use for sex.He’s glad that he got to know her because she helped him change his perspective on relationships from lust and sex to just having a partner who can make him better himself. It’s clear that he views relationships differently when he tells his last joke, this guy goes to a psychiatrist and says ‘ Doc, uh, my brother’s crazy. He thinks he’s a chicken. ’ And, uh, the doctor says, ‘Well, why don’t you turn him in? ’ And the guy says, ‘I would, but I need the eggs. ’ Well, I guess that’s pretty much how I feel about relationships. You know, they’re totally irrational and crazy and absurd and . . but, uh, I guess we keep goin’ through it because, uh, most of us need the eggs. (105) He realizes that we all go through the tribulations of relationships because of what lies at the end of the road. It may be positive or negative and in Alvy’s case, it turned out that it made him a better person. He now knows how to handle a relationship and knows that it’s not all about him. After dealing with his problems, he learns that the aftermath can benefit him. Annie Hall may be a romantic comedy, but we can use it to help ourselves.According to Michael Castrignano’s biography on Allen, he was divor ced twice before the release of this movie, similar to Alvy. Alvy used to be a negative person who didn’t want to solve his problems but after a bad situation, turned his life around. He learned how to turn a negative into a positive, that he has to take the initiative, how to express himself instead of feeling sorry, and that relationships can’t be all about sex. Perhaps Allen used Alvy to help himself and we in turn can use Alvy as an example on how to deal with our problems.We may not necessarily have the same types of problems but we can make turn a negative into a positive. He reflected on the whole situation and used it to change his views on life. We all go through bad times but if we change our perspectives on certain things, we can usually benefit from it. Works Cited Castrignano, Michael. â€Å"Biography for Woody Allen. † IMDb. 2010. 25 March 2010 Conard, Mark T. , ed. , and Aeon J. Skoble, ed. Woody Allen and Philosophy: You Mean My Whole Fallacy is Wrong? Peru: Open Court, 2004. Four Films of Woody Allen. New York: Random House, 1982.

Impact of Project Investments on Firm Value Essay

Generally in all decisions concerning investments in capital projects, the management selects only those projects that are expected to contribute a positive net present value. Further the project should be capable of providing an internal rate of return which should be greater than the hurdle rate. (Ross et al 2005) These criteria for the selection of capital projects are considered valuable from the perspective of the evaluation of the capital projects. However the phenomenon of value maximization of the firm is not being focused by these evaluation methods. It may be noted that a project will be considered financially viable only when it satisfies the condition of meeting the evaluation criteria and should also be in a position to provide super-normal returns on the investments to add value to the business proposing the investment. Several avenues can be cited which could be used by the project to result in super normal profits to the firm which results in the enhancement in the value of the firm. To cite a few avenues; by ensuring better economies of scale, by providing other cost advantages, by enabling the firm to offer better quality products that are distinct in the market, by improving production efficiency, by providing better access to distribution channels and by ensuring increased brand recognition the new project investments would be able to add value to the firm. Project Investment and Stock Valuation  The potential for growth and improvement in sales of the company will significantly be impacted by the proposed expansion of the company into new markets and new product lines and this will improve the position of the company in terms of profitability and return on equity. As a natural consequence the expansion by achieving the projected financial expectations will impact the value of the company’s stock. The market value of the stock is likely to go up once the expansion pays off the results by way of increased profits. Further the internal valuation of the shares will also get increased or decreased depending on the financial decision for sourcing the additional funds required for investing in the capital projects. Based on the changes in the leverage the book value of the shares will be affected. When the company decides to finance the expansion through issue of new common stocks the equity will get diluted to the extent of the stocks issued for public subscription. This in turn will have its impact on the free cash flow to the equity, since there will be increase in the number of shares and therefore the valuation of shares will get impacted. (Discussion Issues and Derivations) Strategic Considerations Normally the execution of any project investment decisions can be influenced by the governmental regulations on which the management does not have any control. But there are certain other factors, the course of which can be altered by taking some strategic decisions by the management. By selecting those projects which offer the best return on investment through better economies of scale the management can strategically increase the returns and value of the firm. The other alternative is to look for avenues that will enable the company to enlarge the economies of scale on the existing operations of the firm Improving the quality of customer service and timely deliveries to the customers has been found to be proven strategies for improving the reputation of the firm and thereby improving the value of the firm. Establishment of unique and efficient distribution channels much above the ability of the competitors to achieve can be looked at as another strategic move. In making any project successful an important factor is the quality of the management and the ability to take strategic and tactful decisions. It is essential that the quality of management must be related to the quality of projects the firm is contemplating to invest in.

Solid Waste Generation

Solid waste generation is an inevitable consequence of production and consumption activities in any economy (Bennagen, M. E., 2002). Dumping of solid wastes in unauthorized places such as roadside, drains, and undeveloped piece of land leads to accumulation of solid wastes in the environment. Agricultural wastes are solid wastes that contribute to the amount of accumulated solid wastes in many parts of the world. The Philippines, which is considered as an agricultural country, contributes a large percentage of agricultural wastes in the world. The country contributes more than 10,000 tons of solid wastes per day (Bennagen, M. E., 2002).  This large amount of accumulated solid wastes contributes to problems such as flooding in urban areas, uncollected garbage, and inadequate disposal sites. The effects of accumulated solid wastes in the environment are becoming one of the major concerns of the country and worldwide.In the field of civil engineering, the effects of solid wastes on the hydration process of concrete have been investigated and the studies provided promising results (Okonkwo, 2012). Attempts have been made by various researchers to convert solid wastes to beneficial applications with high level of success in helping to reduce solid waste. Therefore, identifying analogous material from the waste products and using for beneficial application is an idea worth embracing.Eggshell is an agricultural waste that litters the environment. It is a common waste product in fast food, restaurants, and other food-related business establishments. This waste material was found out to be mainly composed of compounds of calcium. Eggshells are composed of 93.70% calcium carbonate, 4.20% organic matter, 1.30% magnesium carbonate, and 0.80% calcium phosphate (Rabiu A. and Mtallib M., 2009). Eggshell is primarily composed of calcium carbonate, which is the primary raw material in producing cement. This compound, which is naturally occurring and abundantly found in the Earth's crust, can also be found in bones, marbles, stalactites, and stalagmites. On the basis of the common compositional characteristics of cement and eggshells, heating or incineration of eggshells to produce eggshell ash and adding controlled amounts would significantly affect the properties of cement in its application to concrete.

Social Justice in Colombia, Historical through today Essay

Social Justice in Colombia, Historical through today - Essay Example Popular landmarks include the Caribbean coast to the north, the Pacific coast to the west, and the Amazonia rainforest in the south-east. The land area of Colombia contains rich natural resources required for agricultural and commercial systems (Merchant, 4). Columbia’s apt topographic location, rich natural resources, and good climate patterns were the reasons why colonists are being driven towards Colombia to create subsistence- and market-oriented societies. The arrival of the Spanish colonizers has created a diverse population of 41 million people of Spanish descendants, African-slave descendants, immigrants, and indigenous people. It is believed that social injustices peaked during comprehensive land reform and slavery when Columbian government has been struggling for democracy. Social Injustice and Colonialism The development of social gap and inequality in Colombia reveals a historical link to colonialism, particularly to the cognitive and institutional path dependence between Spanish colonialism and contemporary Colombian society as evidence by violence, exploitation, slavery, and highly visible inequity in Colombia (McCormack, 106). The encomienda system, which was established during early colonialism, is an example of exploitation, slavery, and social injustice experienced by Columbians. This is a labor system that bonds colonialists and farmers. Colonialists were given free land and labor from Columbians and those who were under the hacienda of the military or local rulers have to work hard, endure cruelty, be a slave, until death succumb the worker. In addition to agrarian control, colonialists have also a hand at Columbia’s economy. Spanish rulers have full control and the church acts as the sole bank and source of education and social services. Excessive taxations are being implemented in a country where private ownership and union formations are prohibited. The economy was not good until Colombia gained its independence. Columbia ha s become independent but not in all aspects. Economy booms but not the status of the majority of farmers in Colombia. They remained as tenants and laborers and property rights became an issue as economy booms. Let us have a closer look on coca workers. While the Liberal and Conservative presidential candidates’ battle against each other, agrarian and poverty issues remained high. As a result of poverty, coca boom began in late 1970s and the high profits derived from the lure of drugs have resulted in massive migration of unemployed and landless peasants to the FARC-controlled colonized regions (Leech, n.p.). Thus, social injustices have pushed local farmers to become coca workers to ease poverty and improve employment conditions. Sad to say, the guerillas who claimed that they are only fighting for their rights were also in partnership with the drug lords. Guerillas controlled coca growing regions while drug lords took charge of production and trafficking. FARC or political f orces also see the benefits of coca boom as the taxes imposed on maintaining social order in the local population increased dramatically. Collected taxes are then used for improving weaponry and military forces. Coca boom partnership did not stay for long and narco-landowners organized own paramilitary services while drug

Is spontaneous order a form of social justice for Hayek Essay

Is spontaneous order a form of social justice for Hayek - Essay Example us order that is not bound to any region field or society it is the property of change and revolution where ever these two properties will be the process of spontaneous order will take place. Spontaneous order Example This is simply an ideology which is applicable in different areas of the life, due to its applications it is popular ideology in economical field and various economist appreciated its application in the practical economical market scenarios and process .According to this ideology the market economies can be emerged by any creative individual spontaneous order specifying their own rules and boundaries of working. Spontaneous order Markets application In economic field many classical liberals thinkers like Hayek proposed that the market economies are result of the creative spontaneous order according to his thinking more accurate resources allocation process on accurate places and output getting process is possible by the spontaneous order application, as compared to the organization working methodology. The economist think that it is the ever best methodology to apply as on the spot economical problems solving techniques applications is possible by it by any individual any time according to the situation beyond the limits of any frame work as it is not bound to follow any central decision or policy. The Foundation for Economic Education president Lawrence Reed, says about the spontaneous order as follows: Spontaneous order emerged when people feel alone and when entrepreneurs do their best for the desires of people and then according to the desires provide for them they act upon the market needs and check the prices which tells them what is the need of people and in what quantity it is demanded and it is better and productive way as compared to reliance on... Is spontaneous order a form of social justice for Hayek? In place of the spontaneous order the other word self organization is also used it is the process related to different individual related to different field of life and in different process the term is used and applied such as physical ,biological and social networks and economics ,so we can say that the spontaneous order is a process which is emerged by various kinds of social orders by the interest and willingness of the self interested and motivated persons who not preplanned the things or unintentionally who create order without planning . New needs new demands new ideas make smooth the way of spontaneous order and provide growth for this phenomenon. One mile stone when achieved in this journey produce new way for the next mile stone to achieve so the spontaneous order process and growth is directly proportional to the new coming needs and time. Hayek was economist best known for his work in the field of the economic s according to his work spontaneous order is the key of success in the economical field and can assure promoting new ideas and revolutions as compared to the pre planned strategies further he established a relationship in between the spontaneous order and the social justice he said social justice is interlinked with the spontaneous order as the individuals gets right to do free according to their mind set irrespective of the laws boundaries, he faced many critics too due to this ideology ,but he defended at most of his side his ideology .

Article review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 6

Article review - Essay Example 1). A Mouse Resource Browser (MSR) was presented, â€Å"a database of mouse databases that indexes 217 publicly available mouse resources under 22 categories and uses a standardised database description framework (the CASIMIR DDF) to provide information on their controlled vocabularies (ontologies and minimum information standards), and technical information on programmatic access and data availability† (Zouberakis, et.al., 2010, par. 1). The discourse briefly introduced the need to achieve the authors’ identified objective and progressed by proffering the design, implementation and accessibility of the proposed database. The MRB which was the focus of the article was described as â€Å"the front-end of a relational, fully normalized PostgreSQL database, and is a typical Java EE application that follows the MVC architectural pattern, generating three transparent layers: the Enterprise JavaBeans (EJB) layer, the intermediate Session layer and the interface/web layer† (Zouberakis, et.al., 2010, par. 5). The general content of the article was explained in greater detail in terms of management, delivery and structure. Likewise, an online questionnaire was designed for curatorial purposes. Several illustrations and graphical representations were provided to diagram the MRB architecture and to depict the online responses, curatorial information, ontologies, and accessibility, among others. Finally, a discussion of the proposed MRB’s beneficial contributions to scientists and professionals in the fields of genetics and biomedical sciences was clearly expounded; and the source of funding was appropriately acknowledged. The authors were effective in attaining their objective to â€Å"provide useful information to both bench scientists, who can easily navigate and find all mouse related resources in one place, and bioinformaticians, who will be provided with interoperable resources containing data which can be mined and integrated† (Zouberakis,

Emergence of Modern Europe Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Emergence of Modern Europe - Essay Example The age of enlightenment, also known as age of reason refers to the period of intellectual awakening known as enlightenment (Lindberg 2008 p. 18). It was a time of scientific awakening largely dominant in Europe. From the viewpoint of socio-political phenomena, enlightenment period is believed to have started close with the thirty years of wars and came to an end after the French revolution. This period called for use of reason as a means of developing and establishing an authoritative system of ethic, government, religion, and aesthetics, which will give human beings an opportunity to attain objective truth about reality of this world. The enlightenment thinkers believed that reason would salvage man from religious authoritarianism and superstition that had brought suffering, misery, and death to many people in religious wars. In addition, knowledge was made available to the masses through encyclopedias, which led to enlightenment cause of educating human beings. The age of enlighte nment just like the renaissance and protestant reformation, had a profound impact on society. The European States turned towards science between 1700s, which led to focus of life as experience of human being. By doing so, the enlightenment period influenced greatly on modern western European States. There were developments in mathematics, physics, astronomy, and anatomy during that time that were successfully applied to medicine, astronomy, and mechanics. The usage of these ideas motivated a sense of western emergence into contemporary or modern time that had real and precise technological knowledge of this world. The philosophers at that time argued that science provided scientific method as general view of life. Popularization of science During enlightenment period, popularization of science led to growth and change in society in that individuals in the 18th century adhered to new codes of sociability and enjoyed equitability in society. Women who took part in the enlightenment de bate were seen as enhancing and promoting enlightenment ideas in the public arena. In addition, they were viewed as civilizing force determined to overthrow the old totalitarian regime (Bowler 2009, p. 89). The spread of enlightenment ideas across Europe was enhanced by production of cheap books by renowned philosophers such as Diderot and Voltaire. Scientific inventions like works of Isaac Newton and Copernicus changed mathematical philosophy of Europe in that people realized the need of creating new and orderly world and the need for integrating philosophy of science that would help in transformation of secular and religious life. People argued that if Newton was able to order the cosmos using his natural philosophy, it would also be possible to order the politics using political philosophy. During this, time people adopted new ways of ordering things based on divine right and natural law. Using divine rights, it led to creation of absolutist ideas while natural law would enhance liberty to human race. Some people argued that the universe was ordered by rational God and therefore, his representatives on this world had powers of God. This according to such thinking meant that Gods’ power translated to the powers of the monarchy. Natural law rose to react against such thinking of divinity with the aim of creating new order in society. They argued that God did not govern

Analyze two poems Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Analyze two poems - Essay Example Poems have particular structures and require the appropriate utilization of language in order to depict the feelings of the poet but still maintain the basic poetic nature. Such features do not change and has not changed through time since the earliest poets such John Donne employed them in their poems and so are the modern day poets as discussed in the essay below. Poems tell stories by addressing specific features of the society. They do these by analyzing the social occurrences in the form of thematic issues, which the poets analyze poetically and represent in their works while maintaining the relativity of thought and feelings enjoyed by artists. John Donne did this in his two works in which he portrays several thematic issues. In The Legacy, the poet discussed the gravity of separation, relationships break, and families separate for different reasons. Such separations are always sad and emotion. The pot discusses this using several social factors which he feels best describe the feelings people have whoever separated by their loved ones (Donne 31). Among the social factors, he sues in discussing the importance and gravity of separation is death. Death is a social phenomenon that has been in the society since time immemorial. Humans feel pain whenever they lose their loved ones to death. John Donne thus compares the pain his separation creates to that of his death (Carey 54). He does the same with The Flea in which he discusses sexual sin. Sex just as death in the Legacy has been a part of humanity since time immemorial. People attach immense importance to sexual relations and so does John Donne in the poem. The persona in the poem tries to convince a woman to sleep with him and in doing so; the persona explains his belief in relation to sexual intercourse. He for example explains that during the intercourse their blood would mingle thus making them one. In composing the poem, the author discusses several social and physical phenomena that help describe the nature of his society. One of such is Christianity, religion. By personifying the flea, the poet represents the trinity a basis of the Christianity. He uses the flea and its blood sucking nature to portray the mingling of human blood during sexual intercourse. Poems have natural features that help them qualify as such. As a renowned poet, John Donne portrays immense understanding of the structure and features of poetry thus employ them effectively. Among the important features of poetry and poems is the need for rhythm. Rhythm refers to the specific sound patterns that poems have thus making their recital easier. The poet employs different poetic elements in establishing rhythm in his poems. Among the most evident elements, he uses are rhymes and the use of chorus among many others. Rhymes are an essential aspect of poems that help develop the rhythm thus making recital of poems easier. The poetic element refers to the use of words with similar sound patterns in the lines of a stan za. The words placed at the end of the lines should have similar sound patterns during pronunciation thus helping recite the poems as they lead the audience from a line to the next. Rhymes thus have patterns and The Flea has one definite rhyme patterns throughout the entire poem. The first two lines end in a similarly sounding word as so are the second two lines as the poem progresses. Such a pattern is known as the aa, bb, cc, dd, ee. The poet creates the

State mental health care management Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

State mental health care management - Term Paper Example However, there are those states that have adopted a public mental healthcare system so that it conforms to their already established common systems. As there is no standardized way of offering public mental healthcare across state lines, many problems arise with the individualized systems. Generally, success for such a system can only be guaranteed by precise planning and the careful use of public resources. The planning process should be inclusive of all stakeholders and other interest groups. Medicaid now caters for over 41 million individuals from low-income backgrounds. Its main aim is to provide funding for mental healthcare and all other healthcare. However, the amount that is used up in the provision of mental healthcare is dwarfed by the amount of other types of healthcare. Managed care of disabilities was expanded by the government to include mental healthcare; a move that has been lauded by some quarters and termed as controversial by others. Decision makers within the stat e have however disputed both divides but instead have cited that cost shifting across the expanded systems will inevitably worsen the current situation. In the same instance, it may reduce costs as ultimately, those that were institutionalized for 24 hours may be held on lesser times and new problems may be unearthed that may be state related and not necessarily representative of the country as a whole. Discussion The management of public mental healthcare has had some positive reports. Among the changes that have been noted is the increased access to a wide array of people, the expansion in the number of services that are provided, the consistency in care and decision making due to centralized care aided by the formulation of specific goals, increased accountability and emphasis on the positive outcomes and decrease in the use of inpatient care which may not be necessitated. Public state officials in local government authorities who are charged with the planning and implementation of appropriate public mental healthcare have encountered a number of problems despite the many gains that they have realized. The public care is too focused on the care of acute cases such that they are thin on resources aimed at rehabilitation and like services that could guarantee the long-term functionality of those people with relatively better mental conditions. The use of Medicaid applies to those people who are contracted under this system and it means that there are many people who are not encompassed in the program. There is also a problem that is associated with billing and receiving payments from people that have been served during the initial set up of the program. Finally, since it is difficult to measure the outcomes of care that has been given, it is very hard to guarantee consistency in a range of regions as the feedback is not forthcoming. In an attempt to change the way that public mental healthcare is offered, practitioners have encountered a limitation in the for m of the organizational structure and the finances availed. The expectations of the public and the common practices in public healthcare also largely shape the eventual outcomes of the programs provided. The focus of decision makers is on how to customize public mental healthcare so that it is outcome oriented and offers the customers high quality care consistently. Just like all other management decisions, there is need for elaborate planning including precise goals and

Manufacturing and Production Enterprises Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Manufacturing and Production Enterprises - Essay Example CIM is the core avenue towards realization of success in U.S manufacturing. It involves integration of all components that are essential in production process and is a unifying factor of basic functional areas of manufacturing firms. It integrates design, production and management ensuring effective and quality production (Markert & Backer, 2009). Obstacles preventing high velocity in production such as complex setups, poor physical flow, excess material handling and interruptions in production process have been resolved by adopting lean manufacturing. Lean manufacturing simultaneously integrates the various aspects of product design, development and production. Just –in-time (JIT) has facilitated reduction of cost, production of high quality products and on-time production through, minimization of idle facilities, equipment’s or workers. Its main emphasis is having the right part, at right time, in the right quantities in manufacturing area (Markert & Backer, 2009). Many organizations have also undergone restructuring to reduce managerial layers and increase profits. This has put more decision making and responsibilities to line managers and the assembly line workers. Companies are adopting supply- chain management, which makes significant changes in the way a particular product is produced. As a result, dependence on external suppliers and outsourcing has increased helping organizations manage inventory and maximize production (Markert & Backer, 2009). Organizations have been struggling with cost especially the cost of material handling. Material requirement planning (MRP) is one technique that helps firm plan future purchase orders and production lots according to the required material to complete a production schedule. Intensive global competetion is a key driver of the ongoing trend of strategic implementation of

Qatari law Essay Example for Free

Qatari law Essay Qatar is located in a peninsula jutting out 100 miles into the Persian Gulf from Saudi Arabia. The country is mainly barren and is situated with Saudi Arabia on its west and United Arab Emirates on its southern border. Qatar occupies a total land area of 11,437 square kilometers. (Infoplease, 2007) Climate experienced in this region is generally hot and dry due to the desert landscape. The air is usually humid but is sultry during the summer time. Naturally occurring disasters experienced in the area are haze, dust storms and sandstorms. Qatar has only 1% of its land area that is classified as arable while 5% of the land is used for raising pastures. Qatar has an estimated population of 1,000,000 (in 2007), and approximately 200,000 are citizens. Nearly all Qatari profess Islam approximately 95% of the population. Majority of the population migrated due to the availability of employment for the oil industry in Qatar. Arabic serves as the official language while English and other languages are also spoken in Qatar. Many Qataris trace back their roots to natives of the Arabian Peninsula. Migratory tribes have settled in Qatar during the 8th century. There were also migration from gulf Emirates and as well as Persian merchants. Today, most of Qatar’s inhabitants cluster in Doha, the capital city. Foreigners with temporary status comprise 52% of the total population and make up approximately 89% of the total workforce. In 2004, the country had a total population of approximately 1,000,000 (in 2007), of whom approximately 200,000 were believed to be citizens. Of the citizen population, Shia Muslims account for approximately 3 percent and Sunni Muslims comprise the remaining 97 percent. The majority of the estimated 800,000 non-citizens are individuals from South and South East Asian and Arab countries working on temporary employment contracts in most cases without their accompanying family members. They are of the following faiths: Sunni Muslims, Christians, Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Bahais. Most foreign workers and their families live near the major employment centers of Doha, Al Khor, Messaeed, and Dukhan. The Christian community is a diverse mix of Indians, Filipinos, Europeans, Arabs, and Americans. It includes Catholic, Orthodox, Coptic, Anglican, and other Protestant denominations. The Hindu community is almost exclusively Indian, while Buddhists include south and East Asians. Most Bahais in Qatar may come from nearby Iran. Religion is not indicated on national identity cards and passports, nor is it a criterion for citizenship in Qatar according to the Nationality Law. However, Qatari citizens are either Sunni or Shia Muslims with the exception of a Bahai and Syrian Christian and their respective families who were granted citizenship. Shia, both citizens and foreigners, may attend a small number of Shia mosques. There is some limitation of the religious liberty of Christians. No foreign missionary groups operate openly in the country. Culture Qatar explicitly uses Sunni law as the basis of its government, and the vast majority of its citizens follow Hanbali Madhhab. Hanbali (is one of the four schools (Madhhabs) of Fiqh or religious law within Sunni Islam (The other three are Hanafi, Maliki and Shafii). Sunni Muslims believe that all four schools have correct guidance, and the differences between them lie not in the fundamentals of faith, but in finer judgments and jurisprudence, which are a result of the independent reasoning of the imams and the scholars who followed them. Because their individual methodologies of interpretation and extraction from the primary sources were different, they came to different judgments on particular matters. Qatari law When contrasted with other Arab states such as Saudi Arabia, for instance, Qatar has comparatively liberal laws, but is still not as liberal as some of its neighbors like UAE or Bahrain. Women can legally drive in Qatar, whereas they may not in Saudi Arabia. The country has undergone a period of liberalization and modernization after the current Emir of Qatar, Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, came to power after becoming Emir in place of his father. Under his rule, Qatar became the first Arab country in the Persian Gulf where women gained the right to vote. Also, women can dress mostly as they please in public (although in practice local Qatari women generally don the black abaya). Before the liberalization, it was taboo for men to wear shorts in public. The laws of Qatar tolerate alcohol to a certain extent. However, public bars and nightclubs in Qatar operate only in expensive hotels and clubs, much like in the UAE and Bahrain, though the number of establishments has yet to equal that of UAE. Qatar has further been liberalized due to the 15th Asian Games, but is cautious of becoming too liberal in their law making the country viable weekend immigration from their western neighbor. Overall Qatar has yet to reach the more western laws of UAE or Bahrain, and though plans are being made for more development, the government is cautious Economy Before the discovery of oil the economy of the Qatari region focused on fishing and pearling. After the introduction of the Japanese cultured pearl into the world market in the 1920s and 1930s. Qatar’s pearling industry faltered. However, the discovery of oil reserves, beginning in the 1940s, completely transformed the state’s economy. Now the country has a high standard of living, with many social services offered to its citizens and all the amenities of any modern state Qatar’s national income primarily derives from oil and natural gas exports. The country has oil estimated at 15 billion barrels (2.4 km3), while gas reserves in the giant north field (South Pars for Iran) which straddles the border with Iran and are almost as large as the peninsula itself are estimated to be between 800 – 900tcf (Trillion Cubic Feet – 1tcf is equal to around 80 million barrels of oil equivalent) (Anonymous, 2005). Qatar’s primary source of income relies on its oil reserves, which constitutes more than 30% of its Gross Domestic Product. An estimated reserve of 3. 7 billion barrels is predicted to last up to 23 years with sustained level of output (Qatar: Background, 2007). Qatar also has one of the world’s largest reserves for Natural Gas, estimated to be more than 5% of the world’s total reserve or amounting to 7trillion cubic meters. These two natural resources constitutes the backbone of Qatar’s economy (Qatar, 2002). Oil industry in Qatar On 1935, a 75-year oil concession was granted to Qatar Petroleum Company, which was owned by Anglo-Dutch, French and USA. At Dukhan, located at the western side of Qatar, high quality oil was discovered. Oil exploitation was delayed due to the onset of World War II and Qatar was only able to export oil during 1949. Due to the increase in revenue from oil export during the 1950s and 1960s, Qatar entered the start of its modern history. This was the start of Qatar’s prosperity, rapid immigration was experienced due to employment brought about by the oil industry and substantial social changes was experienced. When UK announced in 1968 the policy of ending the treaty relationship with the Gulf Shiekdoms, failed talks with the other sheikdoms in a plan to form the United Arab Emirates resulted to Qatar declaring independence on September 3, 1971. Oil still forms the cornerstone of Qatar’s economy well into the 1990’s. Today Oil still accounts for about 62% of total government revenue. In 1973, income generated from oil production and exportation gradually increased the country’s revenue. This has helped Qatar move from previously ranked as one of the world’s poorest countries into one of the highest per capita income in the world. In 2006, the country has a per capita income of $62,000, which is ranked as fifth in the world (Beureau_of_Eastern_Affairs, 2007). During the 1990’s, OPEC or Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries had lower oil production quotas resulting to fall in oil prices. The result was an unpromising outlook in the international markets and reduced earnings in oil products led to recession in Qatar. Many small businesses were affected and expatriate staffs were affected by massive lay off. However the country was able to regain economically by the late 1990’s and expatriate population have grown again. Qatar’s oil production is currently estimated around 835,000 barrels a day. It is expected to reach 1. 1 million barrels per day by the year 2009. With the current rate of producing oil, reserves in Qatar are expected to last up to more than 40 years. However Qatar has other resources that are also exploited for production. It’s proven reserves of natural gas are the third largest in the world. The gas reserves of North Fields in Qatar exceed more than 900 trillion cubic feet or 14% of the worlds total gas reserves. Qatar is the largest producer of Liquefied Natural Gas with more than 31 million metric tons per annum. By 2010, Qatar is expected to produce 77. 5 million metric tons per annum and will account for one third of the world’s LNG supply (Beureau_of_Eastern_Affairs, 2007). Qatar’s oil fields are estimated to be depleted by 2023. But with the discovery of natural gas in the Northern fields, Qatar economy received a great boost from gas reserves income generated from exportation of Liquefied Petroleum Gas. Currently Qatar exports gas to Korea, India and China via shipping lines while gas is delivered via pipelines to Kuwait, UAE and Bahrain. Exploration: Early exploration took place in May 1935 as part of an agreement between the English-Persian Corporation and the Sheikh of Qatar at that time Abdullah Bin Jassem Al-Thani to explore oil for a term of 75 years. The agreement was executed by a corporation, which is later known as Qatar Oil Associated Corporation. Exploration, however, was adjourned due to border problems with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, but eventually started in 1938 extensively (Country profile: Qatar, 2008). In 1949, Qatar started to export oil through Mesaieed port on the East Coast. The first exported quantity was 80,000 tons on board President Liner on 31/12/1949 for a price of 5. 9 million Indian rupees received in 1951. Qatar developed its production speedily; and in 1951, it reached 46,500 barrels a day compared to only 34,000 a day before that time (Energy and Resources—Sources and Definitions, 2003). The State of Qatar became number 11 among oil exporting countries in 1952, with a production of 67,700 barrels a day, i. e. , 0. 5% of world production. Consequently, oil revenue increased to 4. 2 million US dollars in 1951, and 12 US million dollars in 1952.

A Discussion on Realism and Impressionism Essay Example for Free

A Discussion on Realism and Impressionism Essay The world was changing dramatically in the late 18th century. In North America, the British colonies had successfully revolted against the English empire and formed the United States of America. Fueled by this success, Europeans began to feel a strong desire for change, most notably in France, where the search for liberty led to the bloody French Revolution, which lasted from 1788 until 1799. At the same time, populations were starting to rapidly expand, and science and technology were producing the engines and tools to make the Industrial Revolution possible. It was in this atmosphere of change that a new artistic movement was born; a movement that wanted to view the world around it in a different way. Prior to this era, works of art commonly exemplified idealized scenes from historic events, or placed the subject in larger-than-life, heroic circumstances. Artists of the new movement wanted to show life as it really existed; its triumphs as well as failures; its beauty as well as its baser attributes. These artists were a part of the new movement: Realism. See more: Analysis of Starbucks coffee company employees essay As the name of the movement implies, Realism was an artistic movement toward attempting to capture the subject of the artwork in a true-to-life manner. Stated simply, realist artists sought to produce accurate and objective portrayals of the ordinary, observable world, with a focus on the lower classes and with a critique of the established social and political order (MindEdge, 2012). Considered by many to be the father of Realism is the French painter Gustave Courbet (1819 – 1877). In his life-sized depiction of two workmen he met along the roadside called The Stonebreakers (1849-50), we see the hallmarks of the Realist movement. (Courbet, 1850) Not only does Courbet pay careful attention to the detail in order to â€Å"paint as he sees it†, but he treats the subject matter with almost reverent respect. The laborers are not being extolled as heroic figures in an epic struggle, as would be expected in a more Romantic-style work of art. Instead, the two workmen are seen busy at a most ordinary task, that of breaking and moving heavy stones by the roadside. The simple act of everyday, hard labor is glorified and given a dignity that transcends heroism. This new-found, at least for the time period, respect for the common person and his or her struggles and successes in everyday life, as well as the desire to depict those struggles and successes with accuracy, are the true hallmarks of Realism. The paint had hardly dried on the early works of the Realist movement when another group of artists began to focus on a different aspect of artistic expression. This new technique was begun by the French artist Edouard Manet (1832 – 1883). Manet was a Realist painter who also wanted to bring truth to the color and light involved in his paintings. Manet and others of this new style had found that, rather than mixing colors on the palette and applying this mixture to the canvas, by juxtaposing different colors close together on the canvas, a more intense hue could be produced. This caused the painting have an almost unfinished look to them, especially when viewed from close range. This effect, along with the treatment of light on the subjects to capture time, motion and emotion in daily life and nature, is a key element of Impressionism. One of the most well-known of the Impressionist painters was Claude Monet (1840 – 1926). His work, Impression, Sunrise (1872), is quite characteristic of the Impressionist movement. (Monet, 1872) This depiction of a harbor scene in France is done in very loose brushstrokes, suggesting the subject matter rather than clearly defining it. The painting creates a â€Å"feeling† of water and boats in the early morning. This treatment of the subject and the light illuminating it gave art critic Louis Leroy the idea, in 1872, to ridicule the painting using its own name against it; implying that the impression he perceived was that the work was incomplete. While his critique has not proven to stand the test of time, his description of the work did help to label the artistic movement Impressionism. How do Realism and Impressionism compare? The choice of subject matter is often similar. Artists of both schools often chose scenes from everyday life and attempted to portray them on the canvas. While Courbet’s, The Stonebreakers, does show us clearly delineated characters in a realistically depicted scene, and Monet’s, Impression, Sunrise, imparts the â€Å"feeling† of the scene and allows the viewer to build context around that feeling, both paintings pay homage to a common, uncomplicated activity with a certain dignity and respect. In this sense, Impressionism can be seen as a natural extension of the Realist movement. Impressionism took Realism in another direction, however, with its unique treatment of light on the subject matter and in its coloring technique. This allowed Impressionist painters to capture feelings of motion, time and emotion in their art while continuing the Realist’s quest to examine the beauty in everyday life. As can be seen with an examination of the various movements in art history, Realism artists reacted to the fanciful, larger-than-life depictions of subjects in the Romantic period by turning toward detailed, â€Å"as you see it† renderings of the life and times of the common man and his surroundings. Impressionism, resonating with the tenets of Realism, took the movement even further, seeking to portray, not only life as we know it, but also life as we experience it. This opening up of the artistic mind to the possibilities of greater experimentation and more liberal viewpoints can be seen as the first salvo in an assault on the sterile, regimented ideology of the more traditional schools of artistic thought. The cracks created in the armor of traditional art styles allowed for future generations of artists to explore even further into their imaginations in order to redefine art in the modern era.

Socio-economic Influences on Health

Socio-economic Influences on Health Scenario You are employed by the Public Health England as an assistant to the regional Public health officer in UK. Your manager has asked you to produce a report on why the life expectancy of individuals in the Midlands is lower than the London. Your report should cover AC 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3 (Evidence type-Report) AC 1.1 Explain the effects of socio-economic influences on health. Your report should highlight the reasons for the difference in life expectancy for the two regions M1. The term socio-economic has been developed from the sociology and economic disciplines which, respectively, explore and examine people which comprise society and the economy which encapsulates finance. Together, social and economic factors, their interaction is examined to identify its impact and/influence on outcomes such as health. Socio-economic factors include income/low or no income, employment/unemployment, the environment, access to information, and citizenship status. The availability of jobs, and the type of jobs, is, in the main, the factor which impacts on life expectancy. Income is derived from employment, whether self or external, and with income housing can either be purchased or rented, food can be bought and citizenship issues can be resolved; albeit across a range such as the quality of food and housing stock. However, it is quite often the case that without income acquiring food, clothing and shelter is problematic. Over many years the main industries, which allowed families to manage their lives, have been either reduced or eliminated across the UK, and more so in some areas than in others. In the Midlands many of the textile industries no longer exist, as too the car manufacturing industries, and training in new technologies, available in other areas of the UK such as London, has either not been made available or is available in specific areas as opposed to all areas. Hence, without investment in other technologies by both the private and public sector jobs in areas such as the Midlands are limited; educated Midlands people whose voice may have been heard in demanding better civic services, such as in regular weekly bin collection, are no longer heard as many migrate to London for employment, and/or better employment opportunities. High socio-economic factors almost guarantees good health in that the quality of food is most likely to be nutritious and with ready access to health information, whether in text or through networking such as having a neighbour who is a doctor or a medical researcher, high socio-economic individuals will manage and monitor their health with regular visit to alternative practitioners and gyms as they practise a preventative health lifestyle to avoid negative socio-economic health conditions. Obviously, some health conditions cannot be prevented if they are hereditary but, conditions linked to obesity for example, are more likely to be avoided with the assistance of a physical fitness trainer for example. In so doing, obesity is avoided and linked lifestyle conditions such as Type 2 diabetes and hypertension can either be avoided or delayed. This may not be the case with those living with low incomes, either owing to poorly paid employment positions or unemployment. Such people would n ot be able to afford a personal trainer who may also assist them in constructing a menu conducive to a healthy lifestyle; notably not all vegetables are of the same nutritious quality so even if low income families are eating healthily they may not be eating quality health food when compared with those with a high income (Fowajuh, 2007; Joseph Rowntree Foundation, 2011). Based on available employment opportunities, it would be safe to claim that high income individuals/families are more likely to be found in London than in the Midlands, with the observation that life expectancy being greater in London than in the Midlands. Along with the quality of food purchased, and opportunities to purchase help to support a healthy physical regime, is the issue of housing. Low income individuals may have to content themselves with having a roof over their heads, irrespective of damp which brings on mould, poor heating and a generally unpleasant environment. Conditions, as stated in previous sentence, impacts on respiratory health, and if a child grows up in such conditions, these conditions can either exacerbate asthma or increase the chances of developing it, with long-term effects into adulthood and quite limiting life expectancy. A child from a high income family may have asthma but the chances of his or her home environment aggravating the condition is quite minimal, if at all. In addition, those with high disposable incomes are more likely to live in hospital trust areas which are well resourced and well-funded, and if not they are more likely to make a fuss to try and force a change or have the know how to de mand a second opinion or go to the private sector; Low income individuals are unlikely to do the same and most certainly will not have the finance to go private Quite, unfortunately, socio-economic factors, which are greatly affected by income leave certain regions in the UK at the mercy of those dispensing healthcare, whether it is adequate and fit for purpose or not, hence the discrepancy in life expectancy in regions such as London and the Midlands. In essence, the central socio-economic factor, Money buys goods and services that improve health. The money families have, the better the goods and services they can buy. [and] For various reasons, people on low incomes are more likely to adopt unhealthy behaviours smoking and drinking, for example while those on higher incomes are more able to afford healthier lifestyles (Joseph Rowntree Foundation, 2014). AC 1.2 Assess the relevance of government sources in reporting on inequalities in health in England There are many various government sources reporting on the levels of health experienced by public service users across England. These sources include Health Survey for England (HSFE), Acheson Report Independent Inquiry in Inequalities in Health (1998), Census Data and Health and Lifestyle Surveys (HALS). These sources, with the exception of the Census Data, provide a snapshot of health of public health service users in England. The information acquired from these different sources assist the government in its decision making when allocating health related funding to the various regions in England, recognising that the variation in health needs, or to be precise health inequalities, within one particular region may be as great, or greater than, the variation in needs between regions. In a blog, on the Guardian website in 2010, the following statement partly explains the relevance of government sources in reporting on inequalities in health in England in that It has been said that each stop on the District line to east London cuts life expectancy by a year (Guardian, 2010). The District line runs through some of the most expensive areas in London through to some of the most deprived. Drawing on statistics produced by the Office of National Statistics (ONS), this same blog highlighted the following: the average life expectancy age of a man in London is 78.6; however along the District Line, from west to east, the following boroughs showed variants around this average age, as follows: Ealing 78.9 Hammersmith Fulham 78.1 Kensington Chelsea 84.4 Westminster 83.4 Tower Hamlets 76.0 Newham 76.2 Barking and Dagenham 76.5 (Guardian, 2010). In an NHS study on life expectancy it was observed that Money may not buy you happiness, but it is linked to good health (NHS, 2015). Notably, this report considered the North-South divide in England, but this observation is very much applicable to the findings included in the Guardian blog above. Either side of the two richest boroughs in England, Kensington Chelsea and Westminster, the link between money and health, in London, is clear. At the west end of the District line male life expectancy differs from the London average by tenths of a percentage point; Ealing being six tenths of a percentage point higher, while Hammersmith and Fulham is five tenths of a percentage point lower. Overall family income levels are not as high in these two boroughs when compared with Kensington Chelsea and Westminster, however, family income levels are higher than those in Tower Hamlets, Newham and Barking Dagenham which have all been classed, at various times, as deprived boroughs (Hill, 2015). Although, the examples of life expectancy above are for men in London, the point should not be missed that money, or to be precise the lack of money, does play a part in health inequalities. Thus, it is undoubtedly necessary for the government to be fully conversant with the varying conditions of wealth, which impact health outcomes, across England. In this way, funding and resources should be deployed to areas experiencing inequalities in health, and in so doing health inequalities should be address for the benefit of the population most in need of public funded health care. AC 1.3 Discuss reasons for barriers to accessing healthcare. There are many reasons why there are barriers to accessing healthcare. These reasons include a lack of education, information, funding for staff and facilities and mobility, plus limited or no access to GPs and other health professionals. In detail, there is a somewhat convoluted cycle of lack which may results in those with the most health needs not receiving the necessary medical attention. A lack of education may prevent a potential public service user from accessing and/or receiving the relevant information even if it is available, which may assist them in making an informed decision as to which health professional could be seen first. In England, now, a pharmacist could be the first point of call, avoiding possible long waits to see a GP. Therefore, simple and treatable conditions could get worst while awaiting a GP appointment. Without the appropriate information a public service user may not know that a certain question should be asked; it is difficult to ask a question if one is ignorant of the fact that a question should be asked. Lack of information, along with restricted numbers in staffing contributes to ignorance in health related conditions, since the staff which could possibly mitigate the outcomes, arising from no written information by sharing that information in discussion, may have been cut owing to limited and/or reduced funding. Funding, or the lack of it, reduces staffing levels and the appropriate facilities to address public health issues. Funding also impacts on GP availability if a health trust decides to cut funding per patient to a GP; in this way GPs may be reluctant to accept new patients, or reduce surgery cover which may impact on the services provided by other health professionals linked to a surgery. Without a nearby and accessible surgery, those service users with mobility issue s may find it a struggle to attend the nearest surgery which requires a journey involving two or more changes using public transport. Whatever the reason, or combination of reasons, for being unable to access healthcare, most negative outcomes are probably quite preventable, and as such more costly to the public health providers when corrective action must be taken. REFERENCES Fowajuh, G. (2007) West Midlands Key Health Data 2007/08 Chapter Ten: Inequalities in Life Expectancies in the West Midlands Available online at  http://medweb4.bham.ac.uk/websites/key_health_data/2007/ch_10.htm  accessed on 27/02/17 Hill, D. (2015) Londons Poorest Boroughs Once Again Prepare to Make the Biggest Cuts Available online at  https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/davehillblog/2015/feb/23/londons-poorest-boroughs-once-again-prepare-to-make-the-biggest-cuts accessed 27/02/2017 Joseph Rowntree Foundation (2011) Does Income Inequality Cause Health and Social Problems? Available online at https://www.jrf.org.uk/report/does-income-inequality-cause-health-and-social-problems accessed on 27/02/17 Joseph Rowntree Foundation (2014) How does Money Influence Health? Available online at https://www.jrf.org.uk/report/how-does-money-influence-health accessed on 27/02/17 NHS (2015) Study Finds North-South Divide in UK Life Expectancy Available online at http://www.nhs.uk/news/2015/09September/Pages/Study-finds-North-South-divide-in-UK-life-expectancy.aspx accessed on 27/02/17

Ecological Self :: essays research papers

Diversity is a whirlwind of color through a society. There are no two people in the world that are exactly alike. Individuality distinguishes one person or thing from others (Landau, 364 Ed). A person’s environment as a whole: an interaction with others, experiences, and time, makes a collage of traits that distinguishes someone as an individual. David Sibley’s theory of the â€Å"Ecological Self† or Identity is bound by his determents of social, cultural, and spatial context. Sibley believes that class, race, gender, and nation shapes our identity, it is a single concept that is molded by our experiences from the world. I do not agree with this claim because people are individuals, not a development of their surroundings. Identity is not a single concept, there are many factors that shape it, environment cannot just effect identity. Sibley is a British sociologist that has dedicated his life to the studies behind the â€Å"Ecological Self.† Sibley claims that the â€Å"Ecological Self† is not internal, it cannot be separated from the physical. â€Å"The social positioning of the self means that the boundary between self and other is formed through a series of cultural representations of people and things which frequently elide so that the non-human world also provides a context for selfhood (Sibley, 250).† The â€Å"other,† that is being spoken of, is also known as the â€Å"Generalized Other.† This is when we cannot separate from the physical and consider it to be the norm.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  How do I know who I am? Where do I fit in? Internal and external forces mold our sense of self. Heredity and personal moral are examples of internal forces. Children are often most effected by this. â€Å"The forces of physical inheritance takes place mainly in childhood, though even as adults we have the possibility of dealing in our personal development (Grunewald, 2).† Environment also plays an important role in the formation of self-identity. The surroundings, which can include people, places, and experiences, mold an individual into whom they become. The past shapes our identities, and builds from our experiences. â€Å"It is our memories which help us make the connections, gives us the insights, and provides us with the sense of continuity, which is so important for our personal identity (http://ozcountry.com/life/tip5.html).† â€Å"When we go through times of crisis, massive changes, serious illness, deep conflicts or stress, our sense of sel f can be seriously challenged, particularly if we have not faced such experiences before. Ecological Self :: essays research papers Diversity is a whirlwind of color through a society. There are no two people in the world that are exactly alike. Individuality distinguishes one person or thing from others (Landau, 364 Ed). A person’s environment as a whole: an interaction with others, experiences, and time, makes a collage of traits that distinguishes someone as an individual. David Sibley’s theory of the â€Å"Ecological Self† or Identity is bound by his determents of social, cultural, and spatial context. Sibley believes that class, race, gender, and nation shapes our identity, it is a single concept that is molded by our experiences from the world. I do not agree with this claim because people are individuals, not a development of their surroundings. Identity is not a single concept, there are many factors that shape it, environment cannot just effect identity. Sibley is a British sociologist that has dedicated his life to the studies behind the â€Å"Ecological Self.† Sibley claims that the â€Å"Ecological Self† is not internal, it cannot be separated from the physical. â€Å"The social positioning of the self means that the boundary between self and other is formed through a series of cultural representations of people and things which frequently elide so that the non-human world also provides a context for selfhood (Sibley, 250).† The â€Å"other,† that is being spoken of, is also known as the â€Å"Generalized Other.† This is when we cannot separate from the physical and consider it to be the norm.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  How do I know who I am? Where do I fit in? Internal and external forces mold our sense of self. Heredity and personal moral are examples of internal forces. Children are often most effected by this. â€Å"The forces of physical inheritance takes place mainly in childhood, though even as adults we have the possibility of dealing in our personal development (Grunewald, 2).† Environment also plays an important role in the formation of self-identity. The surroundings, which can include people, places, and experiences, mold an individual into whom they become. The past shapes our identities, and builds from our experiences. â€Å"It is our memories which help us make the connections, gives us the insights, and provides us with the sense of continuity, which is so important for our personal identity (http://ozcountry.com/life/tip5.html).† â€Å"When we go through times of crisis, massive changes, serious illness, deep conflicts or stress, our sense of sel f can be seriously challenged, particularly if we have not faced such experiences before.

My Development as a Writer Essay -- Reflection of my Writing

My English Literature major has helped me to achieve an outstanding level of appreciation, enjoyment, and knowledge of both American and British Literature. As a high school AP English student, I struggled through great works like Hamlet and To the Lighthouse. My teacher’s daily lectures (there was no such thing as class discussion) taught me merely to interpret the works as critics had in the past. I did not enjoy the reading or writing process. As a freshman at Loras, I was enrolled in the Critical Writing: Poetry class. For the first time since grade school, my writing ability was praised and the sharing of my ideas was encouraged by an enthusiastic and nurturing professor. Despite the difficulty of poetry, I enjoyed reading it. Because of my wonderful experience in Critical Writing, my love for reading and writing was renewed and my confidence in my abilities as a writer had been restored. I decided to take a second chance on English by declaring Literature and Writing a s my majors. Over the past three and half years, my love to read and write has been continually nourished and supported by the English department at Loras. Professors enlightened me to the real meanings and values of great literary pieces. Class discussions fueled by ideas and questions from both the professor and the students helped me to form my own ideas about literature and to think about literature on a higher level. My ability to analyze, synthesize, critique, research, and make my own judgments flourished because I finally had professors that truly were passionate about literature and helping their students. More importantly, the personal attention and wonderful feedback I received on my papers and assignments strengthened and honed my writing ... ...sm are fundamental to pharmacy. As a pharmacist, I will be analyzing the effects of medication on patients, researching and developing new drugs, and studying the criticism of specific drug therapies and trials. While I may only see my patients through the window at the pharmacy counter, I will be able to relate to them on a deeper level because the study of literature has helped me better understand human nature. In addition, literature has played a significant role in shaping and affirming my morals and values. Consequently, I will bring a high standard of ethics to a field in which they are essential. Today, pharmacists are the most trusted professionals in the United States. I know that the passion, the skills, and the abilities that I have developed as a result of my English Literature major will provide me with a strong foundation to build my pharmacy career.

Free Essay on Nathaniel Hawthornes The Scarlet Letter - Good vs. Evil :: Scarlet Letter essays

Good vs. Evil in The Scarlet Letter The Scarlet Letter is a wonderful and not so traditional example of the good versus evil theme. What makes this a unique instance of good versus evil is that either side could be considered either one. Hester could very easily have been deduced as evil, or the "bad guy," as she was by the townspeople. That is, she was convicted of adultery, a horrible sin of the time. As for punishment, a sentence to wear a scarlet "A" upon her chest, it would hardly be considered a burden or extreme sentence in present day. Another sin that Hester committed was the fact that she never told who the father of her child, Pear, forcing her to be without a father. Hester's silence also caused Dimmesdale to live in torture every day. Chillingsworth was also hurt by Hester's act of adultery and because of her, his life was destroyed and the only thing he could do was seek revenge against the man who had been with her. Hester's child Pearl had to be raised by only one parent and that caused the child to be less disciplined and more outrageous making the townspeople more suspicious of who the child's father was. It also caused the religious leaders to wonder about the religious stability of the child, and if there might be witchcraft involved, "The little baggage have witchcraft in her"(p112). Hester also caused numerous a sleepless night for Dimmesdale. If Hester had just announced that Dimmesdale was the father he would have never have lived through all the guilt that she forced him into. Dimmesdale was a weak and frail man because of Hester's silence. Chillengsworth was pushed into a life of revenge and anguish since Hester had betrayed their marriage and Chillengsworth's trust in her. She had turned Chillengsworth into a fiend, "I have already told thee what I am, a fiend!" (P169). Hester admitts to causing Chillengsworth into becoming the fiend as well. The guilt rests solely on Hester Prynne for destroying not just her own life from this sin but also of many other people such as the minister Dimmesdale, the physician Chillengsworth, and her own daughter Pearl. Free Essay on Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter - Good vs. Evil :: Scarlet Letter essays Good vs. Evil in The Scarlet Letter The Scarlet Letter is a wonderful and not so traditional example of the good versus evil theme. What makes this a unique instance of good versus evil is that either side could be considered either one. Hester could very easily have been deduced as evil, or the "bad guy," as she was by the townspeople. That is, she was convicted of adultery, a horrible sin of the time. As for punishment, a sentence to wear a scarlet "A" upon her chest, it would hardly be considered a burden or extreme sentence in present day. Another sin that Hester committed was the fact that she never told who the father of her child, Pear, forcing her to be without a father. Hester's silence also caused Dimmesdale to live in torture every day. Chillingsworth was also hurt by Hester's act of adultery and because of her, his life was destroyed and the only thing he could do was seek revenge against the man who had been with her. Hester's child Pearl had to be raised by only one parent and that caused the child to be less disciplined and more outrageous making the townspeople more suspicious of who the child's father was. It also caused the religious leaders to wonder about the religious stability of the child, and if there might be witchcraft involved, "The little baggage have witchcraft in her"(p112). Hester also caused numerous a sleepless night for Dimmesdale. If Hester had just announced that Dimmesdale was the father he would have never have lived through all the guilt that she forced him into. Dimmesdale was a weak and frail man because of Hester's silence. Chillengsworth was pushed into a life of revenge and anguish since Hester had betrayed their marriage and Chillengsworth's trust in her. She had turned Chillengsworth into a fiend, "I have already told thee what I am, a fiend!" (P169). Hester admitts to causing Chillengsworth into becoming the fiend as well. The guilt rests solely on Hester Prynne for destroying not just her own life from this sin but also of many other people such as the minister Dimmesdale, the physician Chillengsworth, and her own daughter Pearl.

Jeremiah as a Christ Figure in Peace Like a River

Jeremiah as a Christ Figure in Peace like a River In the novel Peace like a River, Leif Enger creates the character Jeremiah Land as a Christ figure in order to convey the character’s role as a person whose life is spent serving others. Throughout the novel, there are many miracles performed, and some seem to obviously connect with Jeremiah. The intent of making Jeremiah a Christ figure comes to fulfillment by the novel’s end, when Jeremiah sacrifices his life to save his son, Reuben.In the creation of Jeremiah as a Christ figure, Enger reminds the reader of the importance of self-abnegation and apprehension for others, attitudes that make the pains of human experience tolerable. As stated, there are many miracles in the novel. In the beginning of the novel, Reuben sneaks outside to use the bathroom, when he sees his dad, praying in the bed if the truck and he walks straight off and continues walking without falling. At Christmas time, Davy gives Swede a saddle, but it has an unfixable break in the seam, which is miraculously fixed after Jeremiah tripping over it and bringing it up to her room.One night, after Davy had broken out of jail, Tin Lurvy stops by the Land house and is served soup, but after at least eleven bowls total were served, the pot in which it was made was more than half full. Some miracles are very obviously connected to Jeremiah, like his walking off the truck, but there are others that are not so obvious. In the New Testament, Jesus feeds five thousand people with five loaves of bread and three fish, which connects to the somehow refilling pot of soup that Tin Lurvy kept eating.Supposedly, Jeremiah would boil water with some vinegar and that would help Reuben breathe better, but I believe it was Jeremiah himself when he made it for him. There is a point in the novel where the miracles seem to cease. It is the arrival at Roxanna’s house. They were running on the extremely small amount of gas that apparently lasted for th e entire morning until the found Roxanna and the gas company. After a while, Jeremiah had decided to court Roxanna, and the miracles stopped after that, for he spent most of his time in the Airstream inherited from Tin Lurvy after his heart attack.Reuben still had trouble breathing, but when Swede made the boiled water for him, it didn’t work well. After identifying many facts that support the claim, it is certain that Enger created Jeremiah Land as a Christ figure. But, miracles sometimes being called â€Å"acts of God†, most are not. There are many ordinary miracles happening all over. A woman that works two jobs an still finds time to take her kid to soccer practice; a teenager who says no to drugs and yas to an education; these are miracles you see each day, all the time, everywhere.

Adult learning Essay

Every person has a reason for what motivates him/her to learn. These four reasons are called contexts that motivate learning. They are based on the research of Malcolm Knowles (1984) and they are called Practical Context, Personal Context, Experiential Context, and Idealistic Context. Practical Context is when a person wants to learn in order to obtain a new skill set or ability. Without this tangible end result, a person will not have the motivation to learn. Personal Context refers to a person who is motivated to learn because they want to reach a personal goal. That goal may be work related (like a promotion), or a personal goal (learning to play the piano), but it will be a goal that only he/she can say they accomplished. When a person is apt to Experimental Context learning, he/she relies on their â€Å"inner self† to learn. It is when a person can take new ideas and compare them with their past, that this person will thrive in a learning environment. They are motivated by being able to take examples from the past to shape the present and the future. On the other hand, an Idealistic Context learner is motivated by the  opportunity to gain knowledge. Not motivated to learn by the past nor the future, they are instead driven to learn by the pursuit of knowledge itself. What motivates a person to learn is unique to that person. However, thanks to the four learning contexts, we can guide our learning to ensure we get the most of our education. My motivation to learn is to reach my future goals and it falls under the Personal Context category. The reason why I have decided to obtain my BA in Human Resource Management is  simply to start a new career once I retire from the US Postal Service. I have had the opportunity to lead many talented men and women. However, my experience does not translate well into a resume. Though I now I have extensive management experience, I am missing the final peace, the education. By reaching my goal of obtaining my degree, I will be able to demonstrate that I have the education and experience needed in today’s job market. Every business needs organized management. A great manager sets goals, motivates people, and exceeds expectations. I have the people skills to lead men and women from the â€Å"deck plate level†, that is to say lead by example. But I understand that I must study the subject of management. I must become intimate with the theories and history behind it. Doing so will make me a better manager and person. And that is why I am a Personal Context Learner. I have a clear goal and path that I shall take to obtain my degree and earn a wonderful career after the government. References: Alexander, M. , Clugston, W, & Tice, E. (2009). Learning online and achieving lifelong goals. San Diego, Bridgepoint, Inc. Adult Learning Essay DISCUSSION BOARD Do you believe they have any benefit for teaching adults? Why or Why not? Share a personal example of each that supports your view. Based on your own experiences, do you believe that children and adults learn differently? Give examples to support your thoughts. Metaphors, rehearsal, imagery and mnemonics are concepts used for teaching children. These tools benefit teaching creating venues that will effectively and efficiently nurture learning. For teachers, the more tools and bag of tricks the teacher has, the deeper and wider student learning styles he can reach, whether his students are adults or children. Studies show that children are fast learners as seen in their growth rates compared to adults. However, due to the innate nature children in as much as it could benefit teaching adults. Teaching adults as a general practice involves introduction of new concepts, facilitating learning processes and of human beings to learn using their mind, heart and hands, it is safely assumed that man’s learning is continuous and does not end with being adults. From experience, adult learning takes into consideration integrative tools to get the concepts across. In a way, if the teacher is able to create an atmosphere where adults can become children again, learning can become faster and insightful. Metaphors and the ability to use them denote higher literacy levels due to the cultural shades the metaphors require. For adults, the use of metaphors for learning is effective in evocative process of teaching. The adult learner by its manipulation of thought, experience and words, can further deepen their insights on the subject being learned. For example, in teaching a second language to adults involves using learning tools that can help the learners claim a new vocabulary. It usually takes six kinds of experiences or activities before non-native speaker acquires new vocabulary. Using metaphors will help the adult learner visualize, analogize and understand the new concept via exploration of likeness. The word blue can be analogized as â€Å"cool†, â€Å"sky†, or â€Å"water†. Another reason why metaphors are effective is that in adult learning, high level of inhibitions needs to be broken up before the learners start to let go and trust the teacher and their co-learners. Metaphors are good tools to slowly break the barriers of communication especially when the topic that is being discussed is sensitive. For teachers, when adult students use their own metaphors, the teacher can get a new perspective on how the student was able to digest the concepts being imparted. Rehearsals are exercises that instill mastery skills. Adult learning includes mastery of skills especially when the concepts that need to be learned involve tactile efforts. Rehearsals can range from mental rehearsal of knowledge as well as physical rehearsal of skills. An example of rehearsal in adult learning is the teaching of artistic craftsmanship, selling and management techniques, or any hands on skill. Computing is mastered through repeatability of the ability. Repeating something like cooking is a kind of rehearsal. The use of imagery is effective in adult learner where collaboration is imperative. With adult learning, the teacher’s imposition as all knowledgeable is less. The teacher’s role lies more on bringing tools such as images that can stimulate knowledge, skills and attitudes. Just like in children where the visuals can stimulate sensory skills, adults can develop the power of their own senses to stimulate their mind, relax their bodies and imbibe more learning in a healthier way. Malcolm Knowles takes this collaboration in adult learning into the organizational level. â€Å"When applied to the organization of adult education, a democratic philosophy means that the learning activities will be based on the real needs and interests of the participants; that the policies will be determined by a group that is representative of all participants; and that there will be a maximum of participation by all members of the organization in sharing responsibility for making and carrying out decisions.† (Knowles, 1980) An example of using imagery in adult education is using film as take off point for classroom discussions. Visual stimulus can be a painting just like in children’s education but in adult discourse, the insights are more mature and evoked from varied experience. Mnemonics helps teachers increase confidence of adult students in recalling vocabulary and concepts. Teaching through mnemonics is as much fun and rewarding to adults as it is on children. The memory enhancing strategy is usually used to teach information that’s already known but need to be easily recalled. The use of this technique accommodates students from a wide age range. In adults, it is easier because with rich and diverse experience, the class can create more associations to a word, making it easier and more fun. â€Å"Most people believe that their memory gets worse as they get older. This is true only for people who do not use their memory properly: memory is like a muscle – the more it is used, the better it gets. The more it is neglected, the worse it gets. While in education most people have to use their memory intensively – simply to remember facts and pass exams. When people leave full time education, they tend to cease to use their memory as actively, and so it starts to get flaccid.† (Chennai Interactive, 2002) Adult education that uses mnemonics will be able to help adults that have ceased to use their memory after leaving formal learning venues. The memory muscle just like any adult muscle will be able to recall its ability to remember vocabularies, theories and concepts with the mnemonic type of learning. People who learn how to bike, never forgets to how to bike. Even the concepts of mathematics will easily be recalled if mnemonics is used to recall mathematical jargons or concepts of other subjects. Adult learning is very much parallel children’s way of learning. There is no better challenge for adult educators to prime their students into the level of child like learning where the student is more open to new ideas, prepared to embrace new experience and able to digest their new knowledge into the levels of reflection and insight. REFERENCES Chennai Interactive Business Services (P) Ltd., 2002. Memory Techniques. Retrieved October 27, 2006, from www.chennaionline.com/education/2002/mete.asp Knowles, Malcolm S., 1980. The Modern Practice of Adult Education: From Pedagogy to Andragogy, Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall/Cambridge. Adult Learning Essay Adult learning is a complex subject that in recent years has become more of a necessity than a personal pursuit. There are three factors present in the American society today that necessitate the need for adult learning. These factors are: Dramatic changes in demographics, the global economy, and technology. (5) Demographics are concerned with growth and development of adult learners and emerging groups of learners with special needs. There are more adults in our society than ever before and the population will continue to age and increase in the number of older adults. This fact along with the growing cultural and ethnic diversity existing in America today, although, provides many benefits for the society by mixing talents from many lands, but it also, requires a certain amount of familiarization and education to minimize the risks involved by diversification. The second factor influencing the need for adult learning is the global economy. The birth of global interdependent economy has led to changing work practices, which require different kinds of preparation and training. The emphasis has been shifted to improved product and service quality, having more educated workers with more responsibility and stronger team work. This has resulted in control of education shifting more to business. More and more companies opt to provide work place literacy programs, training and development packages, and encouraging their employees to learn how to learn, to keep up with a constantly changing global service based economy. Ethnic make up and increased number of women in the work force are also contributing factors for adult learning. (5) The third factor that should be considered is the explosion in the information technology sector. With the development and advancement of computers within the last decade or two, an environment has been created in which the settings for a formal training session, has been outdated. The society is experiencing an increase in mental ability which is growing drastically with the availability of horizontal networks and the advancement of telecommunications. Information is rapidly distributed and easily available and accessible. This causes for efficient use of information. This allows the learner to have better access with those who teach information access skills, it helps the development of higher levels of thinking skills while at the same time, it creates a comfortable environment for the educators. Although consideration must be given to the ethical implication of the information access creates. (1) The three factors above have become intertwined forces. Demographics, the global economy, and technology have come together in adult education in the blurring of the field’s content and delivery mechanisms, dividing up the setting for adult education into formal, non-formal and informal activities. Blurring is also occurring in higher education sector where older students are now making up for about 50 percent of the college attendees, and finally, a blurring of content and delivery is found in such popular slogans as â€Å"workplace literacy† and â€Å"critical thinking. † which focuses on development of skills needed to be productive and informed members of a highly technical society. There are three types of opportunities in which learning occurs for adult: Formal institutional setting, non-formal setting and informal setting. For most adult, learning in adulthood brings to mind a classroom setting. Yet when we ask these same adult about what they have learned informally over the last year, they typically respond with descriptions of learning activities outside these formal settings. However, the use of technology has increase the delivery of learning programs, expanding our picture of learning in an informal setting. Informal learning occurs most often in ones natural setting in which we learn things from our daily experiences. On the other hand, non-formal settings have been used most often to describe learning opportunities outside the formal educational setting that complement the needs of underserved adults such as churches. Knowing why some adults participate in adult education does not tell us why many don’t . The two often cited reasons for non participation are lack of time and money. There is no single theory or model that can explain or predict participation in adults education . The main reasons most commonly used are cite job-related motives, achieving some other personal goal, sake of the activity itself, social relationship (making a new friend), external expectation (complying with the wishes) and cognitive interest engaged for sake of learning itself. Nonparticipation has been from the perspective of the individual’s motivation, attitudes, beliefs, and so on .However they may be social factors that influence the decision . This can also be family-related. (2) Whatever the stated or actual purposes of a learning activity, adult education is usually a form of social intervention that often begins with a problem that needs to be solved . What is seen as problematic depends on one’s values, social position, and perspective. The purpose of adult education today for which there is public support, clusters around the ability of the United States to sustain a competitive edge in the global economy. Purpose of adult education is to improve the self and to improve society. In America all individuals have access and the opportunity to benefit through education. (4) In total the answer to the question of who benefits is clear: It is those who have benefited in the past, and those who have the â€Å"cultural capital†. Those most likely to be the recipients of the dominant cultures are those who, as a result of birth and upbringing, have already acquired the cultural capital to receive it and to take advantage of opportunities. Everyone can improve his/her life situation through learning, every adult can choose to participate in any adult learning activity . There are other reason that certain adults have more access to learning opportunities than other adult . Where one happens to live, what color, age, or sex one happens to be, what one does for a living, all contribute to the participation pattern in adult education (framework) by way of illustrating how these framework conditions can determine who is more likely to benefit from adult learning opportunities. Where and how one lives makes a difference. (3) Individual educators and individual learners are likely to be fairly explicit about why they are engaged in a particular learning activity. Such easily identified objectives are usually aligned with the content of the activity. Underlying many of the state purposes of adult education in America is the assumption that the idea of a society must be maintained, and that education is one way to do this. Individualism, Independence, and a protestant-capitalist work ethic frame the actual provision of adult education in America. (1) Several things are known about self-directed learning: (a) Individual learners can become empowered to take increasingly more responsibility for various decisions associated with the learning endeavor; (b) Self-direction is best viewed as a continuum or characteristic that  exists to some degree in every person and learning situation; (c) Self-direction does not necessarily mean all learning will take place in isolation from others; (d) Self-directed learners appear able to transfer learning, in terms of both knowledge and study skill, from one situation to another; (e) self-directed study can involve various activities and resources, such as self-guided reading, participation in study groups, internships, electronic dialogues, and reflective writing activities; (f) Effective roles for teachers in self-directed learning are possible, such as dialogue with learners, securing resources, evaluating outcomes, and promoting critical thinking. (g) Some educational institutions are finding ways to support self-directed study through open-learning programs, individualized study options, non-traditional course offerings, and other innovative programs. ( 1) self –directed learning as a process of learning , in which people take the primary initiative for planning, carrying out, and evaluating their own learning experiences, has received a great deal of attention in the literature. This form of learning can take place in both inside and outside institutionally based learning programs. (2) Staff development that improves the learning of all students applies knowledge about human learning and change. No matter the age at which it occurs, human learning is based on a common set of principles. While adults have more life experience to draw on than younger learners and are often clearer about what they want to learn and why it is important, the means by which the learning occurs is remarkably similar. Consequently, it is important that the learning methods used in professional development mirror as closely as possible the methods teachers are expected to use with their students. It is essential that staff development assist educators in moving beyond comprehension of the surface features of a new idea or innovation to a fuller and more complete understanding of its purposes, critical attributes, meaning, and connection to other approaches. To improve student achievement, adult learning under most circumstances must promote deep understanding of a topic and provide many opportunities for teachers and administrators to practice new skills with feedback on their performance until those skills become automatic and habitual. Such deeper understanding typically requires a number of opportunities to interact with the idea or procedure through active learning processes that promote reflection such as discussion and dialogue, writing, demonstrations, practice with feedback, and group problem solving. Because people have different learning styles and strengths, professional development must include opportunities to see, hear, and do various actions in relation to the content. It is also important those educators are able to learn alone and with others and, whenever possible, have choices among learning activities. Another important dimension of adult engagement in change processes is the feelings that such change often evokes in individuals. Even under the best of circumstances, pressure for change, no matter what its source, may produce feelings of anxiety, fear, and anger. Such feelings are most effectively addressed through skillful listening and problem solving within a respectful and trusting school culture. It is helpful for educational leaders to appreciate that, to some degree, such feelings are natural and an inevitable part of the change process. Such appreciation is aided when leaders have a deep understanding of the change literature, particularly the Concerns- Based Adoption Model, and are able to apply its insights when planning and implementing new practices in schools. A third dimension of change is the life stage of individuals engaged in the change process. While recognition of life stage differences would not alter expectations for performance, it may affect an individual’s availability and interest in additional work responsibilities during different phases of his or her life. Recognition of life stage differences may also help staff development leaders in tapping educators’ strengths and talents, such as asking skillful veteran teachers to serve as mentors or coaches for their peers. Electronic forms of learning may prove particularly helpful in providing alternatives that respond to differences in learning styles and availability due to life stage issues. Staff development content may be accessed via the Internet or other forms of distance technology that will enable learning throughout the day in various settings using media that appeals to different learning preferences. (6) References: 1-What is self directed learning? Http://home. twcny. rr. com/hiemstra/sdlhdbk. html 2-Read write plus, DFES, Quality and Training Http://www. dfes. gov. uk/readwriteplus/quality 3-Finding from a national survey of States Directors of Adult Http://www. ncsall. net/fileadmin/resources/reasearch/rep9. pdf 4-Acve-Race and Gender in Adult Education Http://www. calpro-online. org/ERIC/docgen. asp? tbl=tia&ID=92 5-How adults learn: Ageless learner Http://www. agelesslearner. com/intros/adultlearning. html 6-NSDC-Standards: About the Standards-Learning Http://www. nsdc. org/standards/learning. cfm.