Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Police science College Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Police science College - Essay Example 42). Police discretion has been further addressed and defined at the highest levels of the American criminal justice system. The United States Supreme Court, the ultimate arbiter of the reasonableness of police procedure, has sanctioned the use of police discretion in 4th Amendment search and seizure cases. Indeed, "There are many other intrusive activities that the Court leaves solely to the discretion of the police on the grounds that the individual has no "reasonable expectation of privacy" in the place or premises targeted by the police" (Maclin, 1996: np). In short, even from a constitutional point of view, there are situations when the use of police discretion is not only allowed, but necessary. Police discretion, therefore, can best be characterized as the use of judgment in fluid situations and settings. O'Connor presents a four-part framework for defining police discretion for a particular community: (1) discretion as judgment, (2) discretion as choice, (3) discretion as discernment, and (4) discretion as license (2005, np.). A police officer's judgment, for example, ought to be based on his experience, his particular area of expertise, and his insight into different situations as defined by that community. ... Discretion is therefore highly individualistic. Discretion one community might be exercised differently than in a different community. Choice means trying to find alternative solutions to problems. This aspect of discretion involves a weighing of the costs and the benefits of alternative courses of action. Discernment refers to an examination of the underlying merits of a situation. The police officer must use discretion, for instance to determine whether someone is being scapegoated or unfairly accused. Perhaps there is some excuse that, while not legally recognized as a defense, nevertheless is a very reasonable reason for employing discretion. Finally, the notion of discretion as license reflects the fact that there are times when it might be wiser to disobey standard operating procedures and rules. This is an area where the possibility for the abuse of discretion is the highest. In short, discretion is a multifaceted concept and it tends to be applied on an individualistic basis. Question 3: What is it about YOUNG PEOPLE AND THE POLICE Why is there so much conflict and animosity It has been established that police discretion exists, that police discretion is defined in various ways, and that there are many inaccuracies or myths surrounding the application of police discretion. The sources of police discretion regarding young people, however, are more definitely categorized and defined. O'Connor, citing the extensive research summaries presented by Gaines et al, breaks the causes of police discretion down into three main categories. The first category focuses on the age and the history of the offender and deals mostly with age-related factors. Does the offender, for example resist or respond

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Challenges Caused by the Knowledge Economy

Challenges Caused by the Knowledge Economy With reference to the concept of the corporate curriculum, how far do you consider an organisation with which you are familiar to be meeting the challenges presented by the knowledge economy? Introduction: With the emergence of the new knowledge-based economy, organisations are slowly starting to see a new need to apply knowledge management practices and principles to their corporate curriculum. In todays competitive landscape, organisations must develop different capabilities and strategies in order to meet the demands of the knowledge economy. In order to do this, firms must be able to effectively deploy, utilize and manage knowledge. Knowledge management can be harnessed to foster learning in the organisation. It is also important to identify and use knowledge through strategic capabilities, knowledge productivity, and corporate curriculum. Managers of today should think critically about the use of learning and knowledge processes in order to be successful. Increasing globalization, continuous improvements in technology and growing competitiveness of the different industries around the world are just some of the pressures which are forcing some organisations to streamline their business processes and utilize not only their traditional and competitive resources but also their collective knowledge. Every organisation survives in an atmosphere that conditions the way the organisation carries out its business. There are business drivers that have influenced how organisations behave towards knowledge management. The airline industry as a member of the professional services sector recognizes knowledge as a product, people as primary source, mobile workforce and mergers are some of its key business drivers (Abel and Oxbrow, 2001). Learning and Knowledge Management There are many ways to define knowledge management as much as there are a lot of approaches to implementing it and using it. In the context of learning, Alavi and Leidner (2001) describe knowledge management as a dynamic and continuous organisational phenomenon that involves distinct but interdependent processes of knowledge creation, knowledge retrieval, knowledge transfer, and knowledge application. Ponniah (2001, p. 54) defines knowledge management as a systematic process for capturing, integrating, organizing, and communicating knowledge accumulated by employees. He further describes it as a vehicle to share corporate knowledge so that employees may be more effective and be productive in their work. In every organisation, innovation or learning occurs as a result of the flow and transformation of knowledge and other intellectual assets. Accordingly, innovation, whether reorientation or variation, is a reflection of the internal organisational positioning of the firms innovative unit, the character of technological interdependencies in a particular innovation, and the character of knowledge and technological interdependencies (Goodman and Lawless, p. 240). According to Andreu and Sieber (2001, p. 61), differences in knowledge led to differences in learning. For organisations, it is important to have a clear idea about what types of knowledge are present in individuals within the organisation. It is also important for organisations to incorporate relevant knowledge from the environment so that they are capable of offering to potential clients whatever becomes standard in the marketplace. Nonaka (1991) says there is another way to think about knowledge and its role in business orga nisations. He cites as examples some Japanese companies like Honda, Canon, and Sharp. He says that managers of these firms tap on the tacit and often highly subjective insights of employees which often results to a spiral of knowledge at continuing higher levels and it is not simply the processing of factual information. As organisations grow, the level of learning and the quality of knowledge becomes more important and critical to the business inputs and processes. Andreu and Sieber (2001) support this fact by saying that it is the interaction of individuals in a group and therefore the collective character of work in organisations that gave rise to the concept of organisational learning. It is also through organisational learning that organisations are beginning to see the impact of using intellectual assets as another means to fight their way out of the doldrums. Challenges of the Knowledge Economy The information age is marked by the rise of mass customization, dynamic processes, virtual organisations, and a whole set of new practices and administrative structures enabled by global communications and information systems (Meadows et al, p. 38). The essential resources to consider in todays knowledge economy therefore are knowledge, labor, and organisational capabilities (Meadows et al). In an economy that is becoming increasingly driven by new shifts in technology and competition, it is no longer possible for traditional organisations and industries of today to concentrate on their static assets. They must constantly move their resources and adjust to certain communications structures, management practices, personnel development, and sales and marketing strategies. The increasing rates of change, increasing global competition, a more diverse workforce, a more demanding and satisfaction-conscious customers are just some of the challenges that organisations are facing today as they make a transformation from an industrial organisation to a knowledge-based organisation. The greater challenge however lies on how to use knowledge in order to bring out innovative ideas and create more value for the organisation and trigger product and services differentiation. The Corporate Curriculum For an organisation to meet the challenges presented by the knowledge economy, learning and development should be incorporated in the overall corporate plan and business process. The organisation must adopt a corporate culture which integrates the transformation of the organisation using the available intellectual and the internal and external knowledge assets with the corporate development process. Formalized training programs should include a corporate curriculum plan match with the prevailing job and managerial skills of individual members of the organisation to the needs of the entire organisation. It should also provide an avenue for knowledge and the entire learning processes to flourish and help the organisation sustain its competitive edge. There should be programs for enhancing the strategic communication which would guide managers and employees on the how to communicate the mission-vision and the corporate strategy to different levels and departments of the organisation. It should also be able to skillfully impart its mission-vision and guiding principles to its members and clients as well. Programs should also showcase the effective management skills which come with the recruitment and selection process of employees, encouraging motivation, giving due and just compensation, providing coaching and training programs, and enhancing the performance management. Using human resources and learning methods for knowledge management purposes include knowledge management awareness and development of a knowledge sharing attitude and skills as part of a corporate curriculum (Efimova and Swaak). Leadership and personal development should be able to help define the dynamic character of a leader and enhance leadership styles and approaches suitable for the organisation and its environment. It should also help enhance team building activities and help and empower members of the organisation to take charge of their own career development. Sales and Marketing courses should help improve the negotiating and selling skills and market analysis and planning skills as well. Service Excellence should be able to make changes to certain strategies in order to improve customer satisfaction and allow room for a creative problem solving strategy. In this paper, Singapore Airlines (SIA) was chosen as the organisation of choice because the company operates in an emerging economy of Asia which offers an ideal situation in which to discuss the challenges encountered in an evolving knowledge economy. The company is also recognized as an innovation-based organisation that places strong emphasis on value creation through knowledge (Goh, 2005). Strategic Communication Large organisations like SIA take into account the importance of having good communication strategies in order to bring their messages across their members located in different cities and subsidiaries around the world. Kaufman says that SIA publishes a variety of newsletters and company-wide magazines on top of having regular dialogue sessions between management and staff. New suggestions are constantly heard and put forward in different business meetings which was then called Staff ideas in Action (Kaufman). This scheme ensures that feedback from front-line workers was taken into consideration when improving the delivery of services and products. Internal staff communication and information dissemination with employees is also encouraged through a variety of regular departmental meetings (Goh, 2005). These meetings provide the forum for further evaluation of sales, yields and customer satisfaction levels. Goh (2005) adds that over the years, SIAs technology strategy has involved hug e investments in many state-of-the-art technologies In order to strengthen its knowledge networks for predicting the demand and supply of airline seats. SIA deemed it important to use networked knowledge resource as a vital asset in optimizing the allocation of airline seats more effectively. If this networked knowledge is well managed, they are a good influence for pursuing further innovation based on superior performance. Knowledge is therefore best viewed as the catalyst for exploring innovative ideas which occur between and within organisations at knowledge exchanges due to stepped up transfer between knowledge communities. Nonaka (1991) therefore says that managing the knowledge-creating company requires the building of overlapping company information, business activities, and managerial responsibilities which encourages further communication and helps create a common ground for the transfer of open knowledge. In order to innovate effectively, organisations like SIA should also adopt knowledge management practices based on a collaborative knowledge strategy through symbiotic relationships by knowledge sharing. Todays knowledge-based environments require the assimilation of knowledge from diverse disciplines which can be drawn from a variety of fields of expertise. This often results to superior innovative products and practices. In a highly competitive environment such as the airline industry, success generally means that the provision of products and services before ticket purchase and after passenger arrival must be taken seriously. If we are to consider how SIA innovates on its strategic communication process, it is worth noting that SIA management greatly understands the value of constant feedback and the establishment of open communication channels with customers at all times, in any place, and in any situation as the best way to improve on its corporate competitiveness. SIA makes an intensive effort to stay in touch with customers by listening to hidden wants and needs and ensure rapid response to customer complaints. Effective Management Skills SIA is constantly challenged from almost all fronts. Even though its business model is often an envy of other industry players, theres still a lot of room for improvement. In here, SIA must respond by continuously creating new value for the market it serves. It has recently moved from resource allocation of physical assets towards the pursuit of knowledge innovation. This move has enhanced corporate competitiveness by using knowledge together with scientific, technological, organisational, and managerial assets. Managing knowledge is basically managing people (Goh, 2005). It must be made clear however that people-centered priorities are most crucial in a successful knowledge-based enterprise. Machines and technology are often proficient in gathering and performing information tasks. People are more involved in knowledge tasks. It is said that people are the real intelligent agents in knowledge management solutions regardless of how powerful and advanced the technology may be. People are the ones who can identify, assess, analyse, and act upon opportunities for learning brought about by the acquisition of new knowledge in order to help sustain the organisation. Kaufman says that training and other educational programs at SIA are not one-time affairs. SIA recognizes the changing customer expectations and the complexity in handling daily customer contacts can be an exhausting experience. One of SIAs competitive advantages has been its total commitment to talent. SIAs consistency in its training programs allows it to surge ahead in service quality (even during economic slumps) when its competitors are cutting back on training costs. It also demonstrates to all its members that continuous learning and improvement are essential principles for success, and not just for add-ons. Compared to the current industry standards, SIA goes to extraordinary lengths to attract, develop, and retain the best people by recognizing that only people who are trained with the right technological tools can intelligently assemble, interpret, and utilize knowledge for the purpose of servicing the advancement of the organisations innovation goals. Kleiman (1999) contends that training practices and skills development illustrates the commitment of management to constantly improve the skills of its personnel. By investing and incorporating these programs within the overall corporate curriculum, employees do not only get to have an avenue for career development and improve their skills and knowledge. They also bring in different forms of information and expertise (and knowledge) which can be potent weapons by the company in maintaining its competitive advantage. People are motivated to grow for a lot of reasons. First, it augments a persons human capital and labor market position. Second, it aligns the growth with deeper personal intrinsic motives (Wijnhoven, p.303). According to Wheatley (2000, p. 6), human needs and motivation lead us naturally to create knowledge. Studies confirm that people want their work to provide growth, recognition, meaning, and good relationships. We want our lives to mean something, we want to make contributions to society and to other people, and we want to continually learn and improve our skills. Inducing people to work in new ways for quality and innovation may also involve overcoming past habits, values, beliefs, and identity (Michela and Warner Burke, p. 234). Skyrme (2000, p.78) discovers that many companies do not reward people for sharing information. Management consultancies now include peoples contribution to their knowledge bases as part of their performance and salary review. At SIA, excellent staff performance is rewarded with increased pay and position. Individual innovation on how to respond to unique customer situations with exceptionally positive, innovative, or selfless acts of service is added knowledge to the company and is also aptly rewarded with increased pay and position. By empowering their employees and supporting decentralization of decision making and broader workforce participation, employees are usually given prominent roles in running the business. It also encourages greater responsibility for individual and group actions on decisions they make. Leadership and Personal Development Management suggests custodianship, control and a concentration on managing resources that already exist. According to Skyrme (2000), a better term for knowledge management is knowledge leadership. It is more about constant development and innovation of information resources and of knowledge and learning networks. It embraces both the sharing of what is known, and innovation which are the two thrusts of a knowledge-enhanced strategy. Successful knowledge innovations are not characterized by instruction-centered production tasks, and corporate leaders should reduce top-down structures that hinder productive knowledge processes (Goh, 2005). The traditional hierarchy structure and style of management is often seen as detrimental to a knowledge generating culture. In SIAs management hierarchy, managers always have time to listen to employee feedbacks and these feedbacks are valued at every level of the hierarchy. In the concept of a knowledge-based economy, everybody is considered a knowledge worker (Wheatley, 2000). If everybody is assumed to be creating knowledge, then the organisation has a responsibility to provide open access to information to everyone. It is therefore assumed that knowledge will be found everywhere in the organisation, not just in a few places or levels of the organisation. At SIA, the staff is regularly evaluated for performance and potential (Kaufman). Senior managers are frequently rotated within the top positions of the company. The management team is described as having a shared understanding of the big picture due to the great breadth and depth of their experience and reach within the company. Collaboration and team building is closely evidenced by the fact that SIAs products, services, and solutions are heavily invested in order to foster a strong knowledge-sharing culture (Goh, 2005). The introduction of web-based technologies and a company-wide focus on developing team-based competencies to improve the companys capabilities in knowledge collaboration also support the personal development of the organisation. Sales and Marketing According to Kaufman, SIA keeps track of their competitors progress closely while keeping an open eye for new ways to improve and grow. Whenever other service industries (like hotels, banks, and restaurants) take steps forward in their amenities and comfort, SIA takes the initiative to analyse and study innovative ways in which it can leverage and adopt these existing opportunities for their customers satisfaction. To address customer demands, SIA developed a quarterly Service Performance Index that provides a consolidation of statistics relating to customer service (Goh, 2005). This index is closely monitored globally and benchmarked against the service standards of leading airline competitors in the Asian region. SIA also undertakes an environmental scan on consumer trends of competitors and other similar services. Service Excellence In a new knowledge-based economy, clients are more informed and more perceptive and sensitive of their needs and wants. To ensure that these clients new needs are met, knowledge-based organisations should be more customer-centric. At SIA, its strategic centerpiece is on ensuring that customer get the best deal and value on every deal that it makes with its stakeholders. Conclusion: The success of knowledge innovation depends on members of the organisation who utilized the knowledge and not the knowledge itself. In order for an organisation to succeed and sustain its competitive advantage, organisations should have a formal and knowledge-friendly environment where it can promote and cultivate a knowledge-oriented culture and knowledge-driven management and personnel programs. Singapore Airlines is known as one of the best airlines in the world in terms of customer satisfaction and ability to weather the onslaught of new competitors. In general, SIA is faring much better than its competitors because it has consistently aligned its strategic goals and innovation investments with a collaborative knowledge strategy. SIAs technology strategy involved modern technology to strengthen its knowledge network. It has a people-centered philosophy by training and developing its people in order to have knowledge workers in their ranks. SIAs hierarchical management style is st ructured to encourage and value feedback from different levels of the organisation. To meet the challenges of knowledge economy, SIAs corporate curriculum offer a wide range of inspiring and demanding educational programs that continually motivate, upgrade, and improve their employees and managers performance. The main reason why SIA has continually flown on both wings on the sky is that it has found good ways and means of using an intangible asset in the form of knowledge to fuel their drive towards customer service perfection. Bibliography Abel, A and OxBrow, N (2001), Competing with Knowledge, Library Association Publishing, London. Garvey, B and Williamson, B (2002), Beyond Knowledge Management: Dialogue, Creativity, and the Corporate Curriculum, Pearson Education, Harlo, UK. Goodman, R and Lawless, M (1994), Technology and Strategy: Conceptual Models and Diagnostics, Oxford University Press, New York. Kleiman, L (1999), Human Resource Management: A Managerial Tool for Competitive Advantage, 2nd edn. Ponniah, Paulraj (2001), Data Warehousing Fundamentals, John Wiley and Sons, Canada. Andreu, R and Sieber, S (2001), Organisational Learning and Knowledge Management: Where is the link?, Malhotra, Y (ed), Knowledge Management and Business Model Innovation, Idea Group Publishing,London. Meadows, C et al (2001), Building a Competitive Advantage in the Knowledge Economy,Malhotra, Y (ed), Knowledge Management and Business Model Innovation, Idea Group Publishing, London. Michela, J and Warner Burke W (2001), Organisational Culture and Climate in Transformations for Quality and Innovation, Ashkanasy, N et al (eds), Handbook of Organisational Culture and Climate, Sage Publication, London. Skyrme, D (2000), Developing a Knowledge Strategy: From Management to Leadership, Morey, D et al (eds), Knowledge Management: Classic and Contemporary Works, MIT Press, London. Wijnhoven, F (2001), A Framework for Stakeholder-Based Knowledge Valuation in Organisations, Malhotra, Y (ed) Knowledge Management and Business Model Innovation, Idea Group Publishing, London. Efimova, L and Swaak, J (2003), Converging Knowledge Management , Training, and e-Learning: Scenarios to make it work: Proceedings of I-Know 03, Graz, Austria, July 2-4, 2003, Retrieved: February 21, 2006 from i-Know-center online database. Kaufman, Ron (n.d), How Does Singapore Airlines Fly So High? Retrieved last February 21, 2006 from Abel, A and OxBrow, N (2001), Competing with Knowledge, Library Association Publishing, London.

Friday, October 25, 2019

The Best and Worst College Degrees Essay -- Education College Career E

The Best and Worst College Degrees Abstract In today’s society everyone thinks they need to go to college, and over 80% of kids out of high school are. Out of all these kids going to Universities, the majority don’t even know what they want to be the rest of their lives once they get to college. Common sense would tell us that people would go into the field that paid them the most money, this is not always true. So what are the most popular fields to go into when getting out of high School? We did a little research and some comparative analysis, and this is what we came up with. Engineering: Research shows that the third most popular degree in demand is engineering. This pertains to the three major types of engineering. Whether it is mechanical, electrical, chemical Engineering, to achieve a Bachelors degree in any field of Engineering, the basic core classes consist of, mathematics, sciences, biology, chemistry, and/or physics. The number one reason people are obtaining engineering degrees, is for the cold hard cash. Engineers are ranked among some of the highest paying workers in the job force. One starting out in electrical engineering can plan on receiving over $50,000 the first year on the job, with a 2.9% increase after that. Engineers do many diverse jobs, such as architectural work, designing new medical equipment, and testing and fixing all sorts of electrical circuit. Business: Although business isn’t the highest paying profession, it still ranks second, when looking to a nation wide survey, on the most popular degrees. A business degree is one of the broader; more generalizes degrees that encompass many different courses from all aspects of the University. The main reason for getting an bachelors in busi... ... qualified. Your job is to know when this is happening. The bottom line is no matter what degree you pursue, or what job field you’re going for, make sure that you enjoy the work. Works Cited Gloecker, Geoff. (2007). â€Å"The Major Attractions Of A Business Minor†: Business Week Online. p1-11. Retrieved March 22, 2007. â€Å"Health Majors are Top Choice†(1997). : Techniques; Making Education & Career Connections; Oct. 1997, Vol. 72 Issue 7, p6. Retrieved April 1, 2007. â€Å"Job Outlook Strong For 2007 ME Grads†(2007). : ASHRAE Journal; Feb 2007, Vol. 49 Issue 2, p6-7. Retrieved March 22, 2007. Smith, Brendan.(2005). â€Å"The Buzz†: Careers and Colleges. Vol. 26 Issue 1, p2-48, Retrieved March 28, 2007. â€Å"The Top 100 Employers and the Majors in Demand for the Class Of 2004†(2004). : Black Collegian; Feb 2004, Vol. 34 Issue 2, p12-26. Retrieved April 1, 2007.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Language diversity Essay

I understand â€Å"language diversity’ to refer to the use of a vast range of different languages (an expression of communication). In the case of the prescribed article, this is applied in the context of South Africa as a country. It is our cultural diversity and by extension, our â€Å"rainbow nation† image that is one of the first things foreigners associate with us as a country†¦ well, that and Madiba and Bafana-Bafana. It is an image we sell to the world, of the once divided country who overcame the crippling stigma of apartheid to rise as one people, one nation. This is one reason why it is so painful to see the statistics listed in the article, that a staggering third of the people who participated in the study felt threatened by other cultures. The study attributed this partially to the large number of people in this country who fall into the lower income bracket, who may not necessarily come into contact with other cultures. While I accept that this may be the case in some instances, I find it very difficult to see this as the main, contributing factor. Apart from our rainbow nation image, South Africa has a reputation for being the land of possibilities. Where other countries may turn a blind eye to the suffering in other parts of the world, leaders like Desmond Tutu and Madiba have never been afraid of speaking up about the injustices done to people. We have become a country of refuge, for people who simply cannot survive in their own country of origin. The incidents that have been reported in the news recently show us that there is definitely a feeling of being threatened by other cultures. Foreign owned businesses under attack and people fleeing for their lives. One cannot attribute this to not having contact with other cultures. I think it is a combination of factors, one of the most pressing being the overwhelming levels of poverty we see in these communities. Desperation breeds intolerance and ultimately, violence. Another is the legacy that has been left behind by apartheid. Fear and discrimination of differences. In the light of the present political climate, it is people like the Greaves family who may just be the example we look to; of how we need to move forward as a nation. People who do not let culture and race be the determining factor in who they choose to love and call their own; who embrace the unifying element of humanity over other dividing differences, as difficult a process as it may be. Taking the step to adopt across cultural and colour divides would present many challenges and questions like these could be raised: 1. How do families who adopt children from a different language background cope? I imagine that it must be a very difficult process for both the child concerned and the family, to assimilate oneself into a different culture. Different language and cultural backgrounds determine not only the spoken word, but our behaviour. Older children especially, who have been raised in one culture and then removed and placed in another, could have major problems adjusting and miss-communication between the members of the new family unit could occur. Language and culture are intertwined, and something as simple as lowering one’s gaze in the presence of an elder out of respect could be misinterpreted as insolence, or fear, etc. This is just one example of why it is so important for prospective parents to research and learn about the culture surrounding the children they would like to adopt. An article I read online (find at: http://family.findlaw.com/adoption) suggested some creative ways for adoptive parents who want to create a family life more inclusive of their child’s culture/language. Some of these suggestions included: Becoming members and participating in multi-cultural support groups Participating in religious services. Researching and including food and festivals into family life. Learning the child’s birth language. Placing the child in a school environment that encourages and celebrates cultural diversity, with students across the culture spectrum. How do people deal with the issue of multiple languages in the same family? Multilingual families are formed for many different reasons. There is the monolingual family who deliberately introduce a new language into their home and lives as they feel it enriches them as people; the family who emigrates and therefore has to learn the new language of their new home, or the family unit where both parents come from different language backgrounds. Then there  is the case of the multilingual family who learn a new language as a result of it being their adoptive child’s home language and the child learning theirs. Christina Bosemark, founder of the Multilingual Children’s Association, suggests the following ways where multilinguism in a family can not only be managed, but fostered: 1. Both parents should be in full agreement of which languages will be spoken in the family home. It could be detrimental to the family dynamics if an insecure parent feels excluded by virtue of his/her spouse speaking to their child in a language that he/she doesn’t understand. 2. While it is an exciting prospect to learn a new language, one needs to remain realistic about the time it will take. Research indicates that children need to be exposed to a new language on average of 30% of their day, in order to be fully conversational in it and to learn the finer nuances of it. 3. Create a plan and follow it. If the parents are learning their adoptive child’s language of origin, they need to figure out the best way for them to do so and move forward with it. Conversational language classes, formal lessons, etc. If it is the child who is learning a new language, look at the age of the child and their interests as a starting point on which methods may be best for them. Younger children learn best in context to their real-world life, their environment. Immersing themselves in the new language, speaking and being spoken to in it; is often the best way for them to learn it speedily. Teenagers learn differently to younger children. It is important that they be able to choose the learning methods best for them. Most do not learn in a linear fashion anymore due to the digital world they have been brought up with, this should be a point considered when deciding on the best methods moving forward. 4. Networking is not only a domain of the workplace. Building a support network with other individuals who are also raising their children in the same languages as you are, are an invaluable asset. Apart from providing emotional support and sharing knowledge, your children will benefit from learning the language from others their own age through play-dates. Research constantly shows us that children learn best through play, so books, movies, toys, etc., in the new language are fantastic  educational tools. 5. Lastly, patience is the greatest virtue when embarking on such a difficult journey. I presume there would be many hurdles on the path to a happy, truly multilingual family. For every setback, it is important to remind oneself about the bigger picture. If a plan is not working, never be afraid to re-examine and work out alternatives. All families are not the same and what works for one may not for another. Is adoption across cultural, ethnic and language divides a good thing? This question is obviously very loaded, not to mention, an extremely subjective one. I think that it boils down to the particular couple doing the adopting. People like the Greaves family obviously do not think that the colour of a person’s skin defines them as an individual; nor is it something to consider when it comes to the choice of whom to love. However, not all people feel the same way. Research shows that for many South African couples, the choice of adopting a child from another culture is based on availability. Statistically, there are more children from black backgrounds and for some reason, coloured boys, not girls; than there are white, Indian, Chinese, etc. People looking to adopt within their race can be put on a waiting list for years before they can find the baby of their choosing, if at all. From my own family, I know of a few people who have chosen to go the adoptive route, after having tried unsuccessfully to have children of their own. One couple flew to Pakistan and went through the costly and long wait to adopt a baby who would fit into their Indian-Muslim family, a child who wouldn’t raise eyebrows in their community. Another distant cousin flew to Chechnya to adopt. She adopted two boys, at 4 year intervals. In her case, the process was even longer and even more expensive. Her first son was adopted as an infant but the second son was adopted at the age of 5. He had memories of his first family and the war-torn country he had grown up in. Also, he had lived in an orphanage for  the last two years of his life and had become, like many children do, â€Å"institutionalised† in his demeanour and behaviour. Back in South Africa, they struggled to help him with processing his insecurities and difficulties. At meal times he would eat until he became physically ill because as much as they reassured him that they would always have food available, his memories of near starvation haunted him. His adoptive mother tried everything to get him to bond with her and see her as a parent but beyond acknowledging them as a provider to his physical needs, he refused to engage with her and her husband. After many, many years of therapy and work, they are now in a much stronger place as a family. I have heard the reasoning, of how it places a lot of pressure on parents and their adoptive children when there are race differences within a family. Of the communities that can be cruel and the challenges it presents. I remember when an Indian, Muslim friend of mine and her husband adopted a little black boy. An old aunt of hers wept openly, and implored her to consider the consequences of her actions. When her son grew up, her aunt reasoned, who in their community would give their daughter’s hand to him in marriage? I hear the reasoning but personally speaking, I applaud the couples and individuals who do it anyway. If we are truly going to build a better world where we see people as people and not as merely a representative of a particular faction, it starts with families like these. Success and happiness are surely sweeter when one knows that one had to work at gaining it. And there are many advantages to having a family that is multicultural too. In response to any bias they may face from outsiders, probabilities are that a family that is multicultural will be a very close one with the children feeling very supported by their parents. Children from these homes are taught acceptance and tolerance of differences. Research shows that children who grow up in a multi-lingual home develop the ability to be flexible in their thinking abilities, probably as a result of receiving and processing information in more than one language. People who come from  multi-cultural homes are often rich in heritage and multi-faceted in character. The question to adopt across divisions is ultimately a very personal one. A person should look very carefully at who they are as individuals before taking the leap. As difficult as it may be though, I’m sure any family who have done so will tell you that the wonderful family they created was definitely worth the challenges they faced. Bibliography of articles researched: 1. http://www.omniglot.com/language/articles/bilingualkids1.htm 2. http://www.omniglot.com/language/articles/bilingualkids1.htm 3. http://princessa.hubpages.com/hub/How-to-raise-multilingual-children 4. http://www.adoption.org.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=62:story5&catid=12:adoptive-parents-&Itemid=83 5. http://babiesinmind.co.za/adoptions 6. http://adamcap.com/schoolwork/the-pros-and-cons-of-intermarriage/ http://ddeubel.edublogs.org/2010/08/02/the-teenaged-language-learner/ http://termcoord.eu/2014/02/age-factor-second-language-acquisition/ 7. http://family.findlaw.com/adoption)

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

American Fast Food

The most popular American fast food products are hamburgers, cheeseburgers, hot dogs and French fries. Fast food has become an important part of the American Food Culture for a long time. In fact, America is called a fast food country due to its strong fast food habits. According to some surveys, Americans spend more money on fast food than on education, new cars and computer software buying; 200 millions of Americans visit fast food restaurants weekly; nearly 90 percents of American children visit McDonald's every month. There are several reasons why this is happening. Firstly, as the industrialization and technology keep developing, Americans seem to be much busier with their life. As a result, they pay much less attention and less time for their meals. People need foods which require short time to get but still taste good. And those are exactly the characteristics that fast food has. Secondly, American culture is very individualistic. This individualism results in many people living alone at a very young age. And those who are single or living alone are more likely to rely on fast food, because they think it is simply a waste of time to spend 45 minutes cooking and cleaning for one or at most two meals for one person. Many in the average households of two, three, or four feel the same way about cooking. Thirdly, fast food is very convenient. They can be packaged and carried everywhere. In addition, you can easily find fast food chains even at mid-night. Moreover, fast food companies have even simplified the buying process by creating the drive-through restaurants, which allow customers to purchase products without leaving their cars. Next, fast food is usually cheap. It’s affordable for the consumers, especially when the economy is having a difficult time like these days. However, fast food is not good for our health. Fast food nutritional information shows that most meals contain high numbers of calories, saturated and trans-fats. In fact, you can eat all the calories your body needs for the day in one meal. Furthermore, you will actually receive very little nutrients from all of these calories. The white breads, sugars and animal fats that are packed into most fast foods contain very few vitamins and minerals. Eating these foods with tons of calories and fat on a regular basis leads to obesity. Obesity has become a big problem in America. Americans are heavier and unhealthier than ever before. This has led to millions of people suffering from threatening conditions such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, reduced bone strength and many other health elated problems. For someone who consumes these too much, it may lead to liver failure due to the high amount of fat, salts and oil in it. Too much of fast food on a regular basis can make a person overweight due to the extra calories given in those foods. It affects the concentration levels in studies and other activities too. Although fast food has a lot of bad sides, Americans can not eliminate them due to its conveniences. In short, fast food is an important part of the Food Culture; it has become a way of life for many Americans.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Isocrates and Plato on the Art of Rhetoric essays

Isocrates and Plato on the Art of Rhetoric essays Isocrates and Plato on the Art of Rhetoric Sophists in Greek times featured practical knowledge, which include governing and decision making. Sophists were willing to teach anyone who could pay for their services; therefore you had to have been raised in a wealthy family in order to be included. Isocrates was a sophist and opened the first permanent institution of higher liberal arts education. He taught the art of writing essays and how to become a great orator in his school. He focused mainly on the morality issues of topical political issues. Critics of these teachings were lead by Plato. The emphasis taught by Isocrates was contrary to the traditional philosophers, like Plato, who were engaged in seeking the truth. Plato made his skills of governance available to anyone, regardless of birth and wealth. Plato viewed rhetoric as, Mere flattery and as a vehicle for misleading others, (Golden, p.9). Isocrates and Plato had different views of what rhetoric meant; their views are contrasted throughout the paper. Isocrates believed that rhetoric was meant to be read rather then delivered. The rhetoric he taught exhibited vocabulary, figures of speech, and many illustrations from history and philosophy. Isocrates thought that a rhetorician should manipulate the style of language to meet the needs of the speech. Isocrates thought that language could take fundamental forms, These were to be mixed, shaped, fitted together, in the same way that a painter mixes colors or a sculptor smoothes a joint, (www.1cc.gatech.edu/gallery/rhetoric/figures/isocrates.html). Isocrates distinguished himself from his contemporary rhetoricians by not believing that any general rule can be applied to rhetoric. Isocrates thought that, All general principles must fail because they screen out the particulars of a given situation, which must be taken into account in all truly good moral and rhetorical decisions&quo...

Monday, October 21, 2019

Free Essays on A Black Mans Justice

A Black Man’s Justice Going down a back road, carrying groceries for her mother, Tonya Hailey walked toward her home. All of a sudden she feels a sharp pain in the back of her head, falls to the ground unconscious, and is dragged to the back of a yellow pick-up truck. Hailey woke up with her hands tied to a tree, and two legs spread apart and tied to separate fence posts. She smelled beer and liquor on the two men who were tying her up. She cried for her daddy, but he could not be there for her. The two men take turns raping her, ignoring the fact that she is bleeding. When they have finished, they spit on her, they cuss her, and they urinate on her. Thinking they will get rid of her, they dump her in a near by river, hoping and believing she will drown. But she does not drown; she lives, and she is found. This is a preview to the beginning of the book I read- A Time to Kill. This book is about a black girl who was raped by two white men. The white men are found guilty, but even so, the girl’s father, Carl Lee Hailey, kills them both. After the two white men, Billy Ray Cobb and Pete Willard, have been tried in court, they are walking out, handcuffed, and the angry father who seeks revenge runs from a janitor’s closet and shoots them both. They die almost instantly. Obviously, Carl Lee Hailey will be taken to jail. His kids and wife are left at home to fend for themselves. His wife had no job and could not imagine how she would get along with no money and no husband to provide for her family. She is scared, and because of Tonya’s hospital bills, they are even more so in debt then ever. Carl Lee remained in jail. Before Carl Lee killed the two white men, he consulted a lawyer friend that he knew named Jake Brigance. Jake is an average lawyer in a small town. He is white, unlike Carl Lee, and although he realized how angry Carl Lee was, he did not figure that he would do something crazy like kill the ... Free Essays on A Black Man's Justice Free Essays on A Black Man's Justice A Black Man’s Justice Going down a back road, carrying groceries for her mother, Tonya Hailey walked toward her home. All of a sudden she feels a sharp pain in the back of her head, falls to the ground unconscious, and is dragged to the back of a yellow pick-up truck. Hailey woke up with her hands tied to a tree, and two legs spread apart and tied to separate fence posts. She smelled beer and liquor on the two men who were tying her up. She cried for her daddy, but he could not be there for her. The two men take turns raping her, ignoring the fact that she is bleeding. When they have finished, they spit on her, they cuss her, and they urinate on her. Thinking they will get rid of her, they dump her in a near by river, hoping and believing she will drown. But she does not drown; she lives, and she is found. This is a preview to the beginning of the book I read- A Time to Kill. This book is about a black girl who was raped by two white men. The white men are found guilty, but even so, the girl’s father, Carl Lee Hailey, kills them both. After the two white men, Billy Ray Cobb and Pete Willard, have been tried in court, they are walking out, handcuffed, and the angry father who seeks revenge runs from a janitor’s closet and shoots them both. They die almost instantly. Obviously, Carl Lee Hailey will be taken to jail. His kids and wife are left at home to fend for themselves. His wife had no job and could not imagine how she would get along with no money and no husband to provide for her family. She is scared, and because of Tonya’s hospital bills, they are even more so in debt then ever. Carl Lee remained in jail. Before Carl Lee killed the two white men, he consulted a lawyer friend that he knew named Jake Brigance. Jake is an average lawyer in a small town. He is white, unlike Carl Lee, and although he realized how angry Carl Lee was, he did not figure that he would do something crazy like kill the ...

Sunday, October 20, 2019

Definition and Examples of Grawlixes in Comics

Definition and Examples of Grawlixes in Comics The term grawlix refers to the series of typographical symbols (such as #$%!) used in cartoons and comic strips to represent swear words. Plural: grawlixes.   Also known as jarns,  nittles, and obscenicons, grawlixes usually appear in maledicta balloons alongside the comic characters who are uttering the oaths. The term grawlix was introduced by American comic artist Mort Walker (creator of Beetle Bailey) in the article Lets Get Down to Grawlixes (1964) and revisited in his book The Lexicon of Comicana (1980). Examples and Observations Mort Walker It started out as a joke for the National Cartoonists Society magazine. I spoofed the tricks cartoonists use, like dust clouds when characters are running or lightbulbs over their heads when they get an idea. My son Brian thought I should expand the idea and make a book of it. I spent many hours at the museum going over old cartoons and recording their language. I created pseudoscientific names for each cartoon clichà ©, like the sweat marks cartoon characters radiate. I called them plewds, after the god of rain, Joe Pluvius. I considered it a humor book. When it came out, I looked for it in the humor section of a bookstore and finally found it in Art Instruction. I inquired and they said, Whats funny about it? I said, The names. They said, We didnt know what those things were called. I said, They werent called anything till I called them that. It was another case of satire falling flat. I gave up and am selling it now as an instruction book.–Mort Walkers Private Scrapbook. Andrews McMeel, 2000 Bill Schmalz The symbols that work best [for grawlixes]  are those that fill up space: , #, $, %, and .  Hyphens, plus signs, asterisks, and carets (^) leave too much white space within the body of the  grawlix  for it to look like a single word. Wiktionary recommends #$% as the standard grawlix. This uses the five beefiest symbols in the order they appear on an American keyboard. (If you curse with a British accent, try # £%.)... Because it represents words spoken in anger or excitement, the  grawlix  should always end with an exclamation mark,  even if its an interrogative grawlix:  #$%?! Finally, as a word of caution, you should reserve your use of grawlixes for emails to close friends. Grawlixes are highly inappropriate for professional writing.–The Architects Guide to Writing: For Design and Construction Professionals.  Images, 2014 Shirrel Rhoades Cartoonist Mort Drucker [sic] invented an entire lexicon to describe such symbols.Emanata are lines drawn around the head to indicate shock or surprise. Grawlixes are those typographical symbols that stand for profanities. Agitrons are wiggly lines around a character to indicate shaking. Plewds are sweat drops that convey worry. Squeans are tiny starbursts or circles that represent intoxication or dizziness. Solrads are lines that radiate from a light bulb or the sun to indicate luminosity. And so on. A language all its own.–Comic Books: How the Industry Works. Peter Lang, 2008 Alexander Humez, Nicholas Humez, and Rob Flynn ï » ¿Other symbols reveal the mental or physical state of a character, such as squeans (the centerless asterisk-like burst marks in the air around the head of a drunk), spurls (the corkscrew line above a character who is passing out), crottles (the crosses on the eyes of someone out cold), or plewds (the teardrop-shaped indicators of sweat and/or stress)these last classified by Mort Walker, creator of the long-running Beetle Bailey comic strip, as a subcategory of what he calls emanata, along with the waftarom (the doubled curved line emanating from savory food) and the solrads and indotherms (wavy lines indicating that the sun or other object is radiating heat... ).–Short Cuts: A Guide to Oaths, Ring Tones, Ransom Notes, Famous Last Words, Other Forms of Minimalist Communication. Oxford Univ. Press, 2010

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Idea for Business Plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Idea for Business Plan - Essay Example The competitors in the industry are large-scale dairy farmers and milk processing companies. Large scale farmers produce dairy products in large amounts and hence most customers will prefer their products since they are sure of a constant supply. Processing companies are big competitors since they have loyal customers. Nevertheless, the business people in the venture do not produce enough supply of dairy products and hence small businesses have a chance for growth under the stiff competition. The business will ascertain that its products are of high quality, and cleanliness will be paramount. Customers of dairy products mainly consider quality and health before making purchases and hence the business will be at a better position to thrive. The business will offer delivery services that will lure many customers into making orders from my firm. Dairy farming has a lot of opportunities in the greater Cleveland area since most milk products are brought from other places. Operating the business in Cleveland will minimize the operational costs and hence I can use price as a competition

Friday, October 18, 2019

Spiritual Movement of Tantra Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Spiritual Movement of Tantra - Research Paper Example Even in modern day religions, or in religions that have been altered by New Age adaptations, like Tibetan Buddhism and branches of Hinduism, elements of Tantra are widely implemented and very evident. Since Tantra does not focus on cosmology and deities, it is easily combined with other religious and spiritual practices. Given its widespread use, especially in the Western world, Tantra has more than one definition, and many of them clash with one another. Western scholars define Tantra as a form of western scholarship, and not in any relation to a religious system. They place little to no significance on its origination in Asia, nor on its connection with other spiritual practices. Those who actually practice Tantra openly reject this definition, insisting that Tantra is merely the teachings and practices found in the scriptures known as tantras. Furthermore, practitioners of Tantra believe that Tantra cannot be defined as a whole, as the Western world has tried to do, but based on each individual tantra scripture. As such, Tantra is not just a philosophy, which is the belief of many Westerns, but also a spiritual way of life. The tantra scriptures are the most vital parts of the Tantra path. A tantra is considered a tantra when it â€Å"elaborates copious and profound matters, especially relating t o the principles of reality and sacred matters, and because it provides salvation† (Jain 37). Tantras refer not only to the designated scriptures that started the movement, but scriptures, practices, and rituals that were created subsequent to the origination of Tantra. Further tantras were created when practitioners had perused the primary Tantric scriptures, which are known as the agama. The agama is made up of four parts: descriptions of metaphysical knowledge (jnana), contemplative procedures (yoga), ritual regulations (kriya), and religious and ethical commands (charya). When new tantras are designed, if they are able to be placed within one of these four categories, they are usually accepted by other practitioners. These many scriptures are, in essence, the guidebook of being Tantric. The purpose of Tantra and of following these scriptures is to reach a higher level of existence, one that can be obtained by individuals other than ordained monks, which is the appeal of Ta ntra. Ordinary people are not exempt from achieving the highest and greatest level of existence. Tantra’s belief system focuses on reality as a whole, coupled with a single Divine Consciousness, a consciousness that individuals have, yet share with others. Moreover, as Tantra erased the line between the spiritual and the mundane, practitioners are able to experience spiritual realization in every aspect of their day-to-day lives. Tantra allows laymen to have access to the Divine Consciousness and the liberation and salvation that comes with adhering to the tantra scriptures in a normal, nonspiritual setting. The overall spiritual goal of Tantra is to â€Å"bring about an inner realization of the truth that ‘Nothing exists that is not Divine’† (Guenther & Trungpa 41). Buddhist Tantra explains it best, claiming that we are all in union with universal energy; we have everything that we need to be complete within us right now, but we just need to learn how to recognize it. This is where Tantra comes in. Every individual has the ability to be Divine, as this is their true nature, albeit untapped. It is through Tantra that individuals can reach this state of divine existence. Tantra brings liberation ignorance and from suffering, which is a common goal in Eastern-based religions, with an emphasis on the individual being the one that holds their own

China has excellent environmental policies on paper. The problem is Essay

China has excellent environmental policies on paper. The problem is that the policies are not implemented do you agree with this - Essay Example â€Å"The high-growth, resource-intensive development strategy China has pursued, coupled with the norms and institutional relationships designed to support this development strategy, have no doubt played a critical role in the deteriorating quality of the environment† (Jahiel, n.d., p. 34). The decentralization of economy has provided the officials both operating at the provincial level and at the regional level with incentives and means to develop and advance the local economies. There has been a pervasive emphasis on the consumerism, development, and profit in the proclamations of the government as well as throughout the society. This has made the local governments feel justified in intervening against such regulations as environmental protection since they are considered unfavorable to the growth of economy. Rapid growth of economy has been the major goal of the Chinese state since the 1990’s. This goal has been supported by the state by means of institutional arran gements like creation of the consumerist and growth-oriented social norms, and the decentralization of political economy that spurs local initiative. ... ild pursuit of economic growth, and failed to avoid some of the worst pollution scenarios we, as policymakers, had predicted† (Geping cited in King, 2013). In its attempt to maintain the economic boom, the enterprises owned by state in China that account for the employment of up to 110 to 115 million workers need to be shut down or streamlined, which would result in the ruse of social dislocation as well as unemployment (Knup, n.d., p. 9). There is a lot of tendency of growth in the social unrest as the urban centers teem with the unemployed people providing them with no previous benefits. Demands of more consumer goods and food have increased because of the rising standards of living at the same time, that have increased the pressure on the government to sustain further growth of economy since the expectations of the people have to be satisfied. Indeed, the biggest challenge that the Chinese leaders are facing today is how to sustain the growth of economy and simultaneously ad dress the rising social challenges. China faces significant environmental challenges-what is it doing to head them off? Transformations in the environmental policies of China are a fundamental component of the Scientific Outlook on Development that is amongst the major national strategic theories of China. With the frequent occurrence of natural disasters and climate changes on a global scale, the whole world has paid attention toward China’s environmental policy, since it is a major power of the world in the present age. China induced major changes in its environmental policy in the 1990s. The environmental policy was integrated into the growth strategy of China. China went on board with a comprehensive approach to the environmental policy as the administration of Hu Jintao commenced in the

Prophesy, History and Context as Explored through the Period of Essay

Prophesy, History and Context as Explored through the Period of Isaiahs Prophecies - Essay Example The background of the book of Isaiah is an essential part of understanding the meanings of the writings that are within the book. The historical background puts the writing into context, helping to inform the reader on which aspects were relevant to the contemporary and which are relevant to future events. Although not every part of any of the passages of the ancient writings can ever fully be identified as one or the other, there are some frameworks of meaning that are well known and can be related in order to help the reader interpret what is read. According to Oswalt, the way to understand the writing is through the time and place in which it was written, that â€Å"God’s revelation is always incarnational† or humanized through the context of location in which they are written. Therefore, it is essential to discuss the nature of historical context of the book in order to begin to understand the nature of the meanings that are revealed. To begin with, it is highly likely that the book is the work of multiple authors, each contributing through their own perspective. One of the first indications of this way in which the book came into existence is because there are three distinct time periods in which the book relates events. The first time period occurs during Isaiah’s lifetime and likely represents 739-701 BCE.... One of the first indications of this way in which the book came into existence is because there are three distinct time periods in which the book relates events. The first time period occurs during Isaiah’s lifetime and likely represents 739-701 BCE. The second and third time periods are reflections of the time periods after the death of Isaiah and are about the time of the exile (605-439 BCE), which is discussed in chapters 40-55, and the return (539-500 BCE) which is defined through chapters 56-66 (Oswalt 4). The first section of time, the time of Isaiah’s life, is also representative of Assyria’s last period of great influence as part of human expansion. This period of Assyrian influence ended in 609 BCE as the Medo-Babylonian culture completely destroyed the Assyrian seat of power. Part of the destruction of Assyria came about through a series of very weak ruling Kings who could not hold what their ancestors had gained through conquest. Therefore, the areas t hat were at the outer edges of the expansion of the Assyrians had a period of tranquility, lasting from approximately 810 to 750 BCE. Two of the regions that benefited from this tranquility were Judah and Israel. During this time, the second king named Jeroboam was in rule over Israel and the kingdom of Judah was being ruled by Azariah, or sometimes known as Uzziah. Because of this time of peace, the Judeans and the Israelites believed that God was pleased with his children, the efforts of both prophets that had been sent to warn them of coming doom unheeded, the messages of Amos and Hosea. Through the apostate course that the nations were traveling, the end of this peace was inevitable (Oswalt 4-5). A

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Genetically Modified Organisms and Concerns of Safety Research Paper

Genetically Modified Organisms and Concerns of Safety - Research Paper Example Humans have long sought to push the boundaries and experiment well outside the zones of comfort and recommendation. Such pushing of the envelope has given us the age of jet travel, space exploration, advanced science, and many other inventions and realities that we would not otherwise have. Yet, the fact remains that pushing the envelope and seeking to engage in something that is unknown is a process which only certain individuals within society have been comfortable at performing. Due to such an understanding, it becomes obvious that expecting all of society to engage in an activity that might be entirely outside of their comfort zone is neither ethical nor advantageous. This is very much the situation with regard to the use of GMOs in food supplies around the globe. With the rapid advance of science, scientists and researchers have been able to genetically modify a host of different plants and organisms as a means of tweaking the way in which they produce. This level of scientific manipulation has been able to provide the world with heartier and more productive crops; however, the fact of the matter is that the true levels of drawbacks that are exhibited within these genetically modified organisms are not fully understood. Due to the level of incomplete knowledge that exists with regard to GMOs within the food, many nations around the world have banned them entirely. However, the United States and several other developed nations have not. As a means of analyzing the potential drawbacks and negatives that GMO might exhibit within a nation’s health and food supply, this particular analysis will focus upon several of these determinants and seek to provide relevant and up-to-date information.

The Role of the Principal Officer Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Role of the Principal Officer - Essay Example The position of Principal Officer has an expanding role through the implementation of shared service, NOMIS, the Phoenix Program, and contestability. These programs not only demand a greater accountability of our resources, but also allows us a vision of where we fit in the organisation. Ultimately it can reach beyond human resource management and allow us to see the Service as the single entity it has become by tying us together through technology. The Principal Officer has many responsibilities and obligations under NOMS. We have a primary obligation to offer the prisoners a safe and healthy environment while encouraging skills programs. We likewise have a duty to provide our employees with a safe workplace and the tools they need to accomplish their job. We're bound by our mission to provide the public with the assurance that released prisoners will make an easy transition back into the community. We additionally need to commit to assuring that prisoners will not re-offend. Our obligation extends to other departments such as health and safety, police, probation and court systems. We need to interact with these agencies to provide them with timely and accurate information and offer plans and proposals in a continuing effort to improve our service. We have a responsibility to the Service to follow policies and procedures and insure fiscal efficiency. The effective Principal Officer will be able to balance these responsibilities as they compete for time and resources. The competent Principal Officer must be a good listener. To facilitate change it is necessary to evaluate how the changes are affecting the people that work for you and with you. Employee feedback is a valuable tool to gain knowledge of what we are doing right or what we are doing wrong. Employees need to feel free to comment and offer suggestions or criticism in an open environment. A well placed trust in the workforce and a view of the staff as trained professionals who are motivated to do an outstanding job will insure open communication with the Principal Officer. Motivating our employees is a many sided endeavour. We first listen and then we take action as deemed appropriate. We need to be proactive in the areas of fairness and respect. Regular meetings with employees to insure that they have an in depth understanding of frequently changing policies will allow workers to perform their jobs with confidence. Encouraging diversity is a way to bring in new ideas and methods and is critical to our continued improvement. Timely and adequate assessment of job performance is also crucial to keeping employees striving to succeed and excel. People need to be recognised for their outstanding efforts and rewarded accordingly. Along with recognition and rewards, we need to offer our employees a clear career path with focused career goals. This helps the employees remain involved with their work and offers them a reason to excel and the motivation to meet our organisational objectives. This will not only aid in retention of our quality employees, but will also attract a higher quality workforce. By providing clear career objectives we will produce a climate that can offer improved performance and greater dedication. As important as it is to interact with other agencies, the Principal Officer also must interact with their employees and involve them in the day to day operation of the system.

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Genetically Modified Organisms and Concerns of Safety Research Paper

Genetically Modified Organisms and Concerns of Safety - Research Paper Example Humans have long sought to push the boundaries and experiment well outside the zones of comfort and recommendation. Such pushing of the envelope has given us the age of jet travel, space exploration, advanced science, and many other inventions and realities that we would not otherwise have. Yet, the fact remains that pushing the envelope and seeking to engage in something that is unknown is a process which only certain individuals within society have been comfortable at performing. Due to such an understanding, it becomes obvious that expecting all of society to engage in an activity that might be entirely outside of their comfort zone is neither ethical nor advantageous. This is very much the situation with regard to the use of GMOs in food supplies around the globe. With the rapid advance of science, scientists and researchers have been able to genetically modify a host of different plants and organisms as a means of tweaking the way in which they produce. This level of scientific manipulation has been able to provide the world with heartier and more productive crops; however, the fact of the matter is that the true levels of drawbacks that are exhibited within these genetically modified organisms are not fully understood. Due to the level of incomplete knowledge that exists with regard to GMOs within the food, many nations around the world have banned them entirely. However, the United States and several other developed nations have not. As a means of analyzing the potential drawbacks and negatives that GMO might exhibit within a nation’s health and food supply, this particular analysis will focus upon several of these determinants and seek to provide relevant and up-to-date information.

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Art Appreciation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 3

Art Appreciation - Essay Example A spiral design can be seen throughout the work. The spiral design was used by the artist with a view of presenting perseverance. The artist seems to have found a number of examples regarding the spiral design as petroglyphs, which is common to many tribes. Each tree surface is covered using images as well as text, which chronicle the Indians history. Regarding the themes of each tree, they seem to be presented roughly in a chronological order. Tree One is the starting point of the artwork and it depicts imagery mainly from Ancestral Puebloans (Denver Art Museum). This comes out as a way of representing ancient times. Tree Two, on the other hand, shows the history of Bent’s Fort. It further explores the themes of coexistence. This exploration is specifically the relationships that are based on trade between the various nations presented. Bent’s Fort has a tepee and shows the existence of a close relationship between the tribes and Fort. On this tree, question marks are indicated in reverse form. These marks indicate the impression of the non-existence of peaceful trade relationships (Denver Art Museum). Tree Three deals with the tribes of Cheyenne and Arapaho. These two tribes occupied the eastern side of Colorado. Besides, two historic massacres that point to the destructive effect of the United States Amy as well as the expansion of railroad on the native people. The tracks, in this case, are read in terms of the railway’s wounds approaching the native communities.

Monday, October 14, 2019

Tata Nano Cars In The New Zealand Market Marketing Essay

Tata Nano Cars In The New Zealand Market Marketing Essay Globalisation is the trend which has an impact on countries, organisations and peoples. Global markets help organisations to do their business on a worldwide scale (Bradley, 2005). This report is divided into five sections. In section first it describe about the chosen Indian automobile company which is Tata motors and the chosen product which is Tata Nano car. It also discussed the rate in which the car is sold and who are target customer and where product is marketed. In section second it describe marketing situation about the car. Further, it presents a review of the product and explaining its features as to why the car has to be launched in New Zealand which is the target country. Moreover, pricing strategy is mention which is followed by the promotion techniques. In section third it consists of objectives of it and in section fourth implementation of the marketing strategy is done by analyzing the present marking and giving ideas to market the car. Finally, in section fifth futu re research about the product is carried out. 1. Overview about the company Tata Nano is the cheapest motor-car in the world. It is traded in domestic nation, India for about Rs 1 Lakh (Guardian, 2010). It is constructed by Tata motor limited, the biggest vehicle industry in India. Its chairperson, Mr. Ratan Tata envisions that Tata Nano to turn out to be a peoples car which is cheap for everyone (Tata, 2010). Tata Nano was started in India on 1st April 2009 and anticipated in Indian marketplace by July 2009(Tata, 2010). While launching, it has made an enormous buzz among the Indians. By the initial of launching, it has encountered by 5500 registrations for the car (Tata, 2010). Since from launching, the production of the car is still growing high. Target market and customer If 4 wheels cost as small as two wheels, that would quickly alter among the people. Last year about seven million scooters and motorcycles were traded in India, generally among 30,000 INR to 70,000 INR, about 936 NZD to 2185 NZD (Times of India, 2010). Tata is aiming a cost of 100,000 INR as a single of 100 thousand, by Indian conditions of evaluation or about 3122 NZD at present to replace the rates, for that motor-car. Its impossible that which is affordable in the west however persists three times upper than Indias yearly per capita money. The medium wage for industry employees at Tata motors is just $5500 per annum (Gupta, 2009). There are three kinds of model available of Tata Nano car that are Tata Nano, Tata Nano cx and Tata Nano lx (Tata, 2010). In most of the countries the Tata Nano car is introduced. Here the target place is New Zealand marketplace. So, due to warm climate in New Zealand, exclusive Tata Nano cx shall be launched in New Zealand. The retailing cost of Tata Nano cx in New Zealand will be NZD 5746.90 as a whole. With this price, the focus of the marketplace is wide for the company as the average income of the people is NZD 838.70 per month (New Zealand Income Survey, 2009). So, the company can target the people who need their own transportation facility and desire to have luxurious in a very low cost. 2. Situational Analysis 2.1 Product review à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ There are three variants in the Tata Nano stage: Tata Nano, Tata Nano cx and Tata Nano lx (Tata, 2010) à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Exclusively the Tata Nano cx variant could be prefaced in the New Zealands marketplace for the initial phase à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Tata Nano lx shall prefaced in the New Zealands marketplace since the subsequent years the motor-car has attained its base expense by minimizing costs on needless luxuries, the fundamental Nano car approaches unless frontage and back fog glows, unless a heater or ambience disciplining, unless anti-lock brakes, single windscreen wiper, manually functioned windows, guidebook steering with nothing ambience purses, small 12 wheels, plastic body portions added with paste besides of more traditional metal and welding and a two cylinder 623 cc locomotive that renders a big highest speed of 65 mph (approximately 105 km/h) (Dhingra,2009). 2.2 Stylish and comfortable The peoples car, planned with a component of mind, has a spacious passenger compartment with benevolent leg gap and head room. It can be contentedly placed by 4 members. 4 doors with elevated seating places create ingress and egress. Length with a distance of 3.1 meters, breadth of 1.5 meters and an altitude of 1.6 meters, with sufficient land clearance, it can effortlessly access on busy roads in metropolises as fine as in countryside fields(Infibeam, 2010). Its mono-mass plan, with wheels at the corners and the power train at the back, facilitates it to unique aggregate of the couple space and the ability of movement that shall group a standard between little cars. 2.3 Fuel-efficient engine The peoples car has a back-wheel drive, all aluminum, two-cylinder, 523 cc, 33 PHS, multi point fuel infusion petrol locomotive (Infibeam, 2010). This is the initial occasion that a two-cylinder gas locomotive is being applied in a car with a one balancer ray. The lean plan strategy has availed to minimize the load that aids to maximize the activity as a whole expended and renders elevated fuel accuracy. Activity is ascertained by particularly planned electronic locomotive administration. 2.4 Environment-friendly The peoples car tailpipe releases the activity beyond the restrictive necessities. In conditions of total pollutants, it has a less pollution than the two-wheelers being constructed in New Zealand nowadays. The elevated accuracy also assures that the motor-car has less carbon dioxide emissions, thereby offering the twin advantages of a cheap transportation solution with a less carbon footprint (Guardian, 2010) 3. Financial Analysis 3.1 Pricing strategies The cost expense is an approximated USD 2,420 that involves importing revenue, responsibilities excise, trades revenue, shipment costs and gathering cost. The retailing expense for the New Zealand marketplace is comprehensive of principle supplements; however omit road revenue (NZD 29.40), listing payments (NZD 62.90), number plate (NZD 21.00) and possession endorsing payment (NZD 21.00), trades revenue (NZD 574.70) that numbered to NZD 134.20(New Zealand Govt., 2010). The on-the-road expense shall be NZD 6624.80.those issues replicate a strategy for accepting a portion from found competitors, such as peroduas paradigm of kancil and viva (Farris, et al 2009). 3.2 Setting the price selecting price objectives Tata Nano New Zealand has a group of three aims in its attempt to place itself in the New Zealand moving marketplace. The aims are: survival, highest current incomes and highest market income. Survival Strong contest from New Zealands latter motor-car producer, perodua for a portion of the moving marketplace chapter for the under 1,000 cc sort shall spur Tata Nano New Zealand to assure that the motor-car expense conceals the variable costs and certain determined costs. In this example, existence is a concise word goal as in the lengthy execution, Tata Nano New Zealand shall append rate such as joined security characteristics to the Nano stage (Omar, 2009). Highest current incomes Tata Nano New Zealand has a group of expense that shall enlarge the present earnings, currency run and continues on asset, later than accepting into assumption the requirement and costs committed. As this sort of little overseas cars chapter has not been absolutely tested by other producers, hence the requirement is alternatively hard to approximate however Tata Nano New Zealand is self-assured of a better acknowledgement that towards the entrance in the New Zealand markets (Times of India, 2010). Highest market income For the New Zealand marketplace, Tata Nano shall execute the marketplace-diffusion pricing that is to group a low expense for a recent motor-car in sequence to lure a huge number of customers and a huge marketplace portion. This shall be finished by accomplishing the elevated trades and their outcomes in low costs, admitting the industry to reduce its expense. The base-expense entrance shall render New Zealand customers with a feasible option to perodua -New Zealand latter federal motor-car. More relaxation is anticipated as New Zealand implements the Asian independent sale domain contract that commits the New Zealand regime to reduce the overseas motor-car taxes (Michael, 2009). 3.3 Total sales estimation The expenditure choice of 100 thousand INR is absolutely moving to create a numerous people that transit to four-wheeler fold and that will burst the requirement (Tata, 2010). The fundamental cause was the certainty that the aim of the expenditure will modify the four wheeler sector. It was chosen to group the organisation with 500 thousands car per year capability and increase upward in levels, with expand of small car in marketplace requirement (Fill, 2006). 4. Advertising and promotion 4.1 Promotion strategies The actual missions are to boost the Tata Nano in New Zealand and to expand the trades periodically. Tata Nano is very recent for New Zealand, they sense new with their recent trademark and procedure of this motor-car. Thus the goal for promotion plan is their objective to build trademark consciousness and procedure/information of this recent motor-car Tata Nano. This is the cheapest motor-car in the world and explodes into the global marketplace in the concise occasion. However this is the recent trademark for the New Zealand, thus it performs the announcement and manages the occasion or operation in adequate information to constitute the better trademark approaches (Gillespie et al, 2007). Trademark consciousness is essential to render the establishment for trademark fairness. The target to build, preference, certainty, and buy a Tata Nano motor-car it can perform the evaluation with other cars that are very expensive. However, company shall convince the consumer that the company will provide a trial to drive the Tata Nano for before purchasing it and will also render its guarantee for Tata Nano (Shah, 2008). 4.2 Promotion tag line Tata Nano peoples car Why we constitute this label line? This is to create that all the New Zealand people to memorize that Tata Nano is for the people. Tata Nano is for security and it can migrate universally by Tata Nano name with the peculiar entertaining for the people, however it just want to wage all of this at lesser expense -pay fewer and obtain more. Along that the people can enjoy their globe size and cost expenditure (Cadbury, 2008). 4.3 Online advertisement Initially, the launching of Tata Nano in New Zealand will be done by online announcement. The company will develop a website for intercommunication with their customer. In the website, the company will upload photos and videos of the car and will ask for the feedback from the customer. These help people to get latest news about Tata Nano and gap for common acknowledgement. More than that, blogs have turned out to be an essential outlet that is routinely updated by online diaries. Blogs is bestowing collectively by people with general interests. They differ in broad and can impact enormous listeners due to numerous web clients to study blogs. The company can constitute the web blogs network and cautiously supervising to determine out what is on peoples mind. This is a cheapest and better manner to construct trademark consciousness (Schmidt Hollensen, 2006). 4.4 Television advertisement Television announcement is very costly however this is the most effectual to carry out the Tata Nano to the common people by showing Tata Nano properties and persuasively explaining their equivalent customer advantages. By lesser announcing spending plan, the company cant perform the TV announcement in altogether day (Srivastava, 2008) thus it can select the occasion time (7pm 11pm) for the announcement. 4.5 Radio advertisement Most of the New Zealand people hear to the radio day-to-day. Presently they have numerous services suchlike as mp3, hand phone and so on, is expedience for the people to hear the radio anytime at anyplace; this is an affordable and pervasive average for manufacturers to build the trademark consciousness by often hearing the announcement and the trademark identity. Benefits of the radio announcement are versatility, fast acknowledge and also more effectual media for reaching teens (Mooij, 2003). 4.6 Newspaper advertisement Along with the radio, most of the New Zealand people also read the newspaper daily. Thus this is better way for marketing the product (Alexander, n.d). Due to it company can obtain wide adoption and better reputation among the local people and it is cheaper also. 5. Objectives The objective of company is to fast-grow and accomplishing the aims for three years of the markets. First year goal is to accomplish 25,000 units of trades acquiring the market and to obtain the highest percentage. Second year goal is to accomplish 10% for expanding in periodical establishment (NZD 20381.00). Third year goal is to accomplish major people using Tata Nano by the end of 2014. 6. Implementation 6.1 Business and marketing analysis Tata motors limited is Indias biggest vehicle industry, with incomes of Rs. 35651.48 crores (used 8.8 million) in 2007-08(Brokersreport, 2008). It is the organizer in marketable automobiles in every chapter, and between the peak three in passenger automobiles with succeeding commodities in the constriction, midsize motor-car and usefulness vehicle sectors. The industry is the worlds 4th biggest truck producer, and the worlds latter biggest motorbus producer (Guardian, 2010). In March 2008, Tata motors adopted Fords UK depend motor-car brands Jaguar and Land rover (BBC news, 2008). As per the Ratan naval Tata (chairperson of Tata team), the requirement for the creation which is similar to Nano that has obtained to perform somewhat for the people of India and for their traveling, unavailability and bad feature of long travel is a general difficulty in India. So with this, Tata Nano is made as a safer mode of travel (Tata, 2010). The following will be key strengths and weakness within the company and describes the opportunities and threats facing Tata Nano. 6.2 SWOT Analysis Strengths The internationalization strategy thus distant has been to retain native directors in recent gains, and to exclusive transplant a pair of superior directors from India into the recent marketplace. The advantage is that Tata has capability to replace the expertness. The industry has a prospering federation with Italian bulk manufacturer fiat since 2006(Marketingteacher, 2010). This has improved the merchandise portfolio for Tata and fiat in conditions of generation and information change. For instance, the fiat polio elegance is started by Tata in 2007, and the parties have a contract to construct a select-upward that was aimed at middle and South America (Yoginvora, 2009). Weaknesses The industrys passenger motor-car commodities depends on 3rd and 4th production platforms, which places Tata motors limited at a demerit with opposing motor-car producers. It is frequently not recognized that in English the term tat implies garbage (Marketingteacher, 2010). Opportunities In the summer of 2008 Tata motors proclaimed that it have profitably purchased the Land Rover and Jaguar brands from fords motor (Marketingteacher, 2010). Two of the worlds comfort motor-car trademark have been joined to its portfolio of brands, and shall undoubtedly to the industry. The opportunity to marketplace automobiles in the comfort sector Tata motors limited adopted Daewoo motors marketable vehicle trade in 2004 for approximately used $160 lakhs (Marketingteacher, 2010). Nano is the cheapest motor-car in the world selling more than a motorbike. The recent and emerging industrial countries suchlike India, South Korea and china shall have a thirst for low-cost passenger and marketable automobiles. The stage of wonderful Milo fuel proficient buses is powered by wonderful-proficient, eco-friendly engines. The motorbus has optional biological grab with booster aid and best ambience intakes that shall decrease fuel expenditure by 10% (Marketingteacher, 2010). Threats Other opposing motor-car producers have been in the automobile industry for more than 40-50 years (Marketingteacher, 2010). Hence the Tata motors have to grasp in conditions of feature and lean generation. Sustainability and environmentalism would imply additional costs for this base-cost manufacturer. This would influence its underpinning spirited benefits. Apparently, as Tata globalizes and buys other brands this difficulty would be improved (Doole Lowe, 2005). Since the industry has concentrated on the marketable and little vehicle sectors, it has to explicit to the contest from abroad parties for the emerging Indian comfort sectors. Recently, in Pune city Mercedes Benz has decided to build 5000 car per year (Marketingteacher, 2010). Other participants of growing comfort cars aimed at the Indian marketplace that contains ford, Honda and Toyota. Growing companies in the international financial system which would pose a danger to Tata motors limited on a pair of faces. The rise in the cost of steel and aluminum is putting force on the costs of generation. The Tatas commodities which run on diesel fuel are turning very expensive for internationally and for inside its conventional domestic marketplace (Yoginvora, 2009). 6.3 Product strategies The product strategy that shall be accommodated direct product elongation that is trading the motor-car in an additional overseas marketplace unless some alteration was made. This is due to the products growth and its cost, constructing alters, or recent promotions (Bhanot, 2008). The Tata Nano cx, consisting of all the characteristics explained in the previous product study division, shall be traded with 3 yr guarantee or 100,000km guarantee, either approaches the initial stage. The company shall preface the Tata Nano lx since the subsequent annum, later than we have found our Tata trademark. The trademark and logo shall be showed on the motor-car as fine as in all trading sectors. 6.4 Branding Brands analyze the resource or producer of a product and permit the customers Persons or organisations which will allocate its problems for its activity to a specific producer. Marketing is endowing with commodities and facilities with the influence of a trademark. Its all about making dissimilarities among commodities. For marking plans to be prospering and trademark rate should be made, customers should be satisfied and there are significant dissimilarities between brands in the product or sustainable sort. In Tata nanos example, the marketing strategy is applied to the companies identity merged with single product names. This companys identity legitimizes and the identity individualizes the recent product (McDonald, 2007). 6.5 Marketing analysis Launching code is very essential for placing that the role of planning Tata Nano and picture to employ in New Zealand in the minds of the targeted marketplace. Launching code is also a single for the promotion plans to construct consciousness, via launching at common midpoint Tata motor shall preface the Tata Nano to marketplace. The company focus on trading operation that shall take position at all the IPTA and IPTS that can manage the convocation, by offering merchandise show and sign; and the people can have the knowledge with Tata Nano by rendering the chances to drive Tata Nano in the campus (Doore Lowe, 2005). For this operation, the title is better outlook with Tata Nano. In their processing existence however they cannot provide to purchase the too costly motor-car; multinational young people just want the motor-car that is under their financial system and by it in concise period for about 2-3 years for their adolescent existence in New Zealand. This is the cheapest cost by o ccasion or operation in the campus (Baden, 2008). Thus it can focus on lesser money team with module particularly these are arrived from New Zealand or India. By the e-mail, telephone, fax, email to intercommunicate with them. Low on historical, more of the Malay or India shall purchase the motor-car in some reasonable cost. Raya with Tata Nano can be the topic for our operation at this era, and boost the Tata Nano as the cheapest and security (Cadbury, 2008). After the arrival of Nano, New Zealand will have the mega trades due to the recent annum in the stop of the annum at altogether New Zealand thus that they have numerous people and shall move for purchasing. The company can manage the occasion at purchasing in midpoints. In New Zealand such as klcc, mid-valley, betrayal and sungai wang by offering merchandise show and sign (Bradley, 2005). Very soon most of the employees in New Zealand shall obtain the incentive in this era thus for buying influence will expand. The company shall perform the road display at each state (altogether New Zealand). The company can used the road display at the midpoint of the market such as the entire marketplace at all the state. Numerous people come to the marketplace for purchasing vegetable and essential entities. Among, them most of are ladies or housewife. Certain of them move to markets by motorcycle or by motorbus. So, they are aim trades for the company (Cadbury, 2008). The company can boost Tata Nano to it such as, Tata Nano is the cheapest motor-car in the world, obtain the Tata Nano to be latter motor-car for their module person particularly for their kids or senior root, simple existence with Tata Nano. Housewife or mother can move to market or anyplace by Tata Nano best than motorcycle or by motorbus for their total day-to-day issue more efficiently. When, the ladies obtain this news, they pass on others very instantly. This will support the company in boosting Tata Nano efficiently in the native com munity. At the road display, people also can obtain the knowledge regarding Tata Nano by having the chances to drive the Tata Nano motor-car. 7. Future Research To be successful, Tata Nano would be required to spend a handful of time in researching its target market. Firstly, it would be required to indentify what information is needed about its target audience, secondly, it is required to collect the essential data and finally to analyse the information which in return would help Tata Nano with its decision making. It is agreed that it is a matter of indentifying and understanding the customers choices, thoughts and behaviors which would play a large part in successfully launching its new product. Using the data collected, Tata Nano would be able to adjust or mould its product to make it most suitable for the customers experience. For the most effective approach, Tata Nano would be required to take a methodological approach to market research including qualitative and quantitative research. A qualitative approach could include the interviews of target consumers to see what opinions on the product are, this is normally done on a small scale to give a detailed response. A Quantitative approach would include random sampling of the target audience in the form of surveys or questionnaires. A mix of both forms of research should give them the information and knowledge to penetrate the market with their new product.

Sunday, October 13, 2019

Rabbit Genetics :: essays research papers

Rabbit Genetics The similarity between the physiology of rabbits and humans makes the rabbit a good model for research into human disease. The most prevalent types of rabbits are cottontails and European rabbits. Domestic rabbits are tame assortments of European rabbits. The Californian, Florida White, and New Zealand White are the most common breeds used in research. Until 1912 rabbits were classified as rodents. Scientists discovered that the two types of animals differed in several distinct anatomical ways. Rabbits, for instance, have a second pair of upper incisors, known as "peg teeth," that are found behind the two main visible incisors in the upper jaw. Rabbits have elongated hind legs adapted for moving at high speeds over open areas. Rabbits generally move in a hopping motion. They also have webbed toes to keep them from spreading as they hop. Rabbits have flexible necks, which allow them to turn their heads more than rodents. Their spines are long and fragile and susceptible to fractures if the animal is held improperly. Research The ability to produce tumors in rabbits makes them useful models to study chemo/immunotherapy, as well as immunoprevention of certain cancers. Cholesterol studies: Rabbits have been used to test Probucol, a drug that lowers blood cholesterol and retards the development of hardening of the arteries. Eye ear and skin studies: Rabbits are used to study middle and inner ear infections, which affect millions of infants and children each year. †¢ Rabbits are also used to study Entropion, a condition in which the eyelashes are turned inward, as well as Glaucoma, which often results in blindness. †¢ Rabbits are used in eye and skin irritation tests to develop appropriate procedures for handling certain chemicals and to predict the toxicity of accidental exposure. †¢ More than 10,000 blind or visually impaired people have benefited from corneal transplants, possible only because of hundreds of trials on rabbits. Drug metabolism: Rabbits have been used to study the effects of marijuana on the central nervous system. Pregnacy Test Presently a woman who wants to find out if she's pregnant need only make a quick trip to the local drug, grocery, or convenience store; purchase an over-the-counter home pregnancy test kit; perform a simple test; and she'll know the results within a matter of minutes. Not so long ago, however, it was not nearly as quick or easy: Awomawho thought she might be with child had to schedule an appointment with her doctor, make a trip to his office, give a urine sample, go home, then spend an anxious couple of days waiting for the office to telephone with the test results.