Personal Financial Planning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Personal Financial Planning - Essay Example Jeff has now 5 years of job remaining. The best way to utilize his resources to save the money for his retirement is to invest the amount to get a good return. So that he may have enough money to complete his post-retirement plans. Jeff is also having full National Insurance contributions and has some savings. He has won the lottery ticket prize of ï ¿ ¡800,000. Now he has to use the entire amount wisely because he has various plans to be fulfilled. These plans can only be completed by having proper use of the available cash. For that purpose, Jeff needs complete personal financial planning. Now Jeff needs to be very careful to use the money in such a way that he may fulfill his plans after retirement. Obviously he would like to use his money to earn some profit on it. The financial institutions are there to help such people. They offer different rates for the investment of 5-10 years and so on. They have different policies so one should be aware enough to choose his required package of investment according to the rates. He should deposit the amount for annuity and get the reward at the end of fiscal periods. In UK market, the present rate of pension annuity is about 40% and it also varies by institution to institution. So if Jeff starts investing his money for pension annuity then this activity will be fruitful at the time of his retirement. Moreover, statistics shows that there are chances of increase in the annuity rate in coming years. Normally the pension annuity period goes to the age of 75 in UK but mostly people avail the opportunity at the time of retirement i.e. 65. Though some people go for other options to hold their finance or maximize it. That is the remedial measure to adopt such steps during the job to secure the life after retirement. During the job, this may be the best way to save money for future. But there is another fact that if anyone at the age of 65, wants to utilize his annuity amount then there will be surely reduction of 1% in profit. This is the reason people go for other options. More the time will be; more the chances to get higher profit for annuities (Murthi, July 2000). All the people whether they are skillful or not, consider the financial planning a very important thing. With the passage of time people became aware of its importance. It’s not necessary that they have the knowledge to plan perfectly for their selves or not. The thing is that they have vision of the importance o f financial planning and they want develop a financial plan for themselves to save their financial resources for the future life. The advice of an expert financial advisor also helps the individual lot. A research study shows that only 13% people are known with the skills of financial planning. Everybody has his own preferred resources to identify the needs to plan for future life (Murphy, 2010). In Jeff’s case, we need to consider the rates of different institutions and compare their rates of annuities. The highest rate of return will be considered. Basically, the rates are linked with the period of time you are investing money for. If the time period is longer, the rate will be higher and vise versa. The investor gets the highest rate in the later years so that is the main purpose of pension annuity. This thing helps the individual to secure their future after retirement. So this will be beneficial for Jeff to invest money in pension annuity and make it more of the original . We can go for fixed annuity. In such annuity, the annuity is sure for some years e.g. we say that we have an annuity for 5 years. So it is the annuity in which number of years is fixed. The financial institution will make the payment at the end of that period. Jeff can get more of this plan. Another option is the Maximum Investment Plan offered by different

The Effects Of Divorce On Children

The Effects Of Divorce On Children The term divorce is defined by Merriam Webster Langenscheidts Pocket Dictionary as an act or instance of legally dissolving a marriage. It is usually between a man and a woman. However recent evolution and other social constructs have tended to see divorce as a legal dissolution between partners, for example, a marriage between gay or lesbian partners. The latter statement goes to explain the fact that some jurisdiction recognizes marriages between the same sexes. Therefore the definition of marriage cannot be restricted to the traditional description of what marriage is. It must also be noted that various cultures have a way of dealing with divorce. To Margulies, Sam (2004), the decision to divorce is the beginning of two streams of events. Firstly, filing for divorce triggers legal, emotional and financial process in which the house hold must be split into two. The second stream of event is the building of new lives, households, who has custody of children of the union and new protocols being negotiated. Again, one of the things that makes divorce such a unique and often troubled experience is that it involves a complex interaction between two different processes. Firstly, divorce is a difficult emotional process. It causes intense feeling of sadness humiliation, abandonment, disappointment, rejection and rage. Most of all, divorce engenders fear, particularly fear of loss. People fear lost of identity as spouse and parents, loss of economic and security, loss of control over their lives and loss of dignity. So the emotional process of divorce is one in which people have to manage all their feelings at the same time. As with any other transition, there are stages that most people pass, beginning with initial turmoil, followed by struggle with change, and eventually with adaptation and adjustment. Children of the marriage to be honest are not speared the pain of these processes. Margulies, Sam (2004). For the purposes of this academic discourse, a child is somebody who is primarily under the age of eighteen or someone who is not yet twenty three but still in a training program. For instance, it concerns a person who is studying in a training institution like Sheridan College. The word consequences as would be used in this research represent the various experiences, children whose parents are going through divorce face. This paper will therefore establish and make clear a hypothesis to be analyzed. Various arguments would be adduced to support and prove the said hypothesis. On the other hand a counter argument will be made to refute the hypothesis. A balance discussion on the research will also be delved into. Finally a presentation on the outcome of the research will be done. HYPOTHESIS The hypothesis is there are lifelong consequences for children whose parents go through divorce. Almost 50 percent of children whose parents divorce show signs of psychological damage during the first year after the event. According to a 1994 policy statement from the American Academy of Paediatrics, such boys become aggressive whiles adolescent girls get depressed. To prove further the devastating nature of divorce on children whose parents go through divorce are more likely to develop drug and alcohol problems. Pemberton K.C.(1998) in reviewing Psychologist Judith Wallersteins twenty- five (25) year study on the impact of divorce on children, found out that although the divorcing man and woman might be able to overcome the trauma and challenges associated with divorce, the circumstances of the children are different. Children of such unions can carry the ill effects of divorce into their own adult years. Such adults tend to have fear of commitment, unstable father-child relationshi ps and bitter memories of the legal system. In explaining this position further, Pemberton K.C. (1998), asserts I do not argue that children have no chance of healthy or happiness after their parents had divorced but the challenges children must meet after their parents divorce are severe and devastating. As much as scholars like Pemberton K.C. (1998) and Emery (2004) have painted a horrible picture of the situation, the same scholars have conceded to the fact that some children who experience this phenomenon grow to live a healthy and a successful life. For example there are enhancing programs in our schools that go a long way to support and prepare such children for future healthy living. ARGUMENT TO PROVE HYPOTHESIS As it has been noted, there are various arguments that go to support the premise that, children whose parents go through divorce suffer lifelong consequences. Some of the issues are best explained when put under emotional, physical and social consequences. To most children, divorce will constitute the first major crisis of their lives. Children turn to exhibit many emotional and psychological traumas. For instance in a conversation I had with a child and youth worker at Apple wood Height secondary school as part of my preparation towards gathering information for this project, enumerated that, children whose parents had gone and are going through divorce turn to be withdrawn in class. This behaviour tends to manifest itself in their academic performance. This Psychological effect makes them act aggressive towards their peers and seems to struggle with normal processes of growing up. In much the same way, Emery, E. R.(2004), supported this hypothesis by stating that There are those who contend that divorce inevitable and invariable devastates children and set the stage for a lifetime of emotional problems, period. To prove this point further, he attempted to compare the behaviour and attitudes of children who are perceived to be normal because they are under the guidance of their two parents and those children whose parents are going or had gone through divorce. He found out that, the very process of divorce between parents causes the children to struggle through the pain and upheaval of their parents divorce. Secondly, through sensationalistic media or our own hysteria, we lay the burden of carrying a ticking time bomb on kids by inaccurately trumpeting the tug of war between the parents. Even if parents seem to be doing well by handling the divorce crisis, children are inevitable doomed or damaged because of divorce. After the divorce process, it introduces huge changes into the lives of most children. This encompasses direct involvement in parental conflict, economic hardship, changes in residence and school. To him, divorce also increases the risk for psychological, social and academic problems among children. This increased risk is a legitimate concern for children, parents and the community. Finally, he stipulated that, despite parents fervent desire to protect children of divorce, the mere divorce process is a burden to children. To prove further the long term consequences divorce has on children whose parent are going and had gone through divorce, Emery, E. R. (2004), made available some statistic to throw light on his thoughts. These are; such children are twice as likely to see a mental health professional, up to twice of such children are likely to have problems managing their behaviour. He also said, perhaps 1.25 to 1.5 times are more likely to have problems with depressed moods. Again, twice of such children are likely to drop out of school before graduation. What is more interesting and sad enough to support the Hypothesis is the realization that, 1.25 to 1.5 times of children at one point or the other experienced the challenges of their parents divorced. Similarly, the same children are likely to get divorced themselves. Is this not scary enough to prove the hypothesis? Besides, Price E. (2000), in her book Divorce and Teens has not described the situation in any positive way. She explained that, the issue of parents fighting each other, why are my parents divorcing, why must one parent move out, must I tell my friends and what should be my level of loyalty to each parent, all go a long way to frustrate such children. Eventually, anger takes over and this manifest itself in aggressive behaviour towards life issues. Another practical perspective to the situation at hand is cleverly summarised by his lordship, Mr. Justice Harvey Brownstone as follows; After more than fourteen years of presiding in family court, one question has never seized to amaze me: how can two parents who love their children allow a total stranger to make crucial decisions about their leaving arrangements, health, education, extracurricular activities, vacation time and degree of contact with each parent? This question becomes even more mind-boggling when one considers that the stranger making the decision is a judge, whose formal training is in the law, not in family relations, child development, social work, or a psychology. Now add the fact that, because of heavy case loads and crowded dockets, most judges have to make numerous child custody, access, matrimonial property and support decisions every day on the basis of incomplete, subjective and highly emotional written evidence (called affidavits), with virtually no time to get to know the parents and no opportunities to meet the child whose life is being so profoundly affected. What person in their right mind would advocate for this method resolving parental conflict flowing from family breakdown? This are some of the questions that family called judges agonize over. Some say the answer are complicated and have much to do with social conditioning, economic class, level of education, sophistication, familiarity with community resources and even culture. I say the answers are simple. The institution of marriage has not been a great success in North of America Brownstone, J.H. (2009). P.1. COUNTER ARGUMENT TO THE HYPOTHESIS In spite of the scary picture painted by the various authors supporting the hypothesis that, there are lifelong consequences for children whose parents go through divorce, the same topic and ongoing controversies have resulted in the change of authors views. For instance, Emery (2004) has stated that The Risk of Divorce Are Real but Not the Whole Story. By this, he has discounted some of the arguments he had put forward to support the hypothesis. He acknowledges that divorce increases childrens psychological problems but also sought to emphasize the need to put it into its right perspectives. To him, the large majority of children from divorced families do not suffer from psychological problems. His argument is centred on the theory of correlation and causality. He went further to explain that divorce is correlated with more psychological problems among children but this does not mean that it is the cause of all the problems. Scientific evidence has at least proven that divorce canno t be the cause of all the affected childrens emotional problems. Another important factor, Emery (2004), considered is that what happens after divorce can go a long way to eliminate risk and promoting resilience. Besides, he used the half full and half empty analogy to refute the premise that all the children who experience their parents going and had gone through divorce face, Emery (2004). He duelled heavily on a major national study conducted by Nick Zill, Donna Morrison and Mary Jo Cairo. The study looked at children between the ages of twelve and twenty-one. The study revealed that 21% of children whose parents have had divorce received psychological assistance. In comparison, 11% percent from married families also received similar help. It is a fact that, there is a 100% increase between the two groups. Once again, this situation looks scary but the truth of the matter is that, if 11% of children from the normal situation seek psychiatrist assistance, then it presupposes 89% do not. On the other hand, if only 21% of the said troubled children seek for psychiatrist assistance, then the whole phenomenon is not a case of the glass being half empty and half full but rather the statistics sh ould be looked at in both ways. When this happens, it can be adduced that the glass is only 20% empty and 80% full. There are no doubt that divorce disrupts the lives of almost every child who goes through those challenges. However, great majority of these children are able to sort through these difficulties and succeed. We must not also lose sight of the need to applaud and build on the strengths (strength based approach) of such children. Besides, evaluating it from both scientific and statistical point of view, shows that psychological problems of children whose parents had gone through divorce starts before the actual divorce issues begin to manifest. Emery (2004). To back up his finding, a substantial figure of 50% was found. A BALANCE DISCUSSION ON THE RESEARCH At this point, it is important for one to have a balanced analysis of the overall views of the topics of divorce. That is, the ideas which support the hypothesis and the ones that refutes it. On a personal reflection however, I still stand by the hypothesis that, there are lifelong consequences for children whose parents go through divorce. The opponents of this hypothesis have sought to argue that divorce, in itself, does not impose any lifelong consequences. Realistically, most children from divorced families are resilient. There are instances where such children have gone through those challenges and still succeeded in their life endeavours. Most have good careers and are happily married. This disproves the stance portraying children whose parents have gone through divorce as a serious and unimaginable consequence. To me, what those children go through emotionally are equally experienced by children who stay and grow with their parents. Some have even tended to suggested that, it is a normal process of growing up. As noted above, only 20% of such kids experience the phenomenon. Looking at my social location, I was from a divorced family. However, I had the benefits of some social and traditional structures to support me and my sibling. For instance, my grandmother took up the fathering responsibility so we never felt the absence of our father. Similarly, when we migrated to Canada, the school system has counselling facilities that helped to sustain us to go through the normal processes of growing up. I am proud to say my brother and I are now in college and are determined to succeed in our choosing endeavours. These achievements would probably have not been possible in a case of somebody living with parents. This example goes to support Emery (2004), assertion that even after a separation, what you do is the most important determinant of whether your children are at risk or resilient. In-spite of the argument put up by the opponent of the hypothesis, proponents still argue that children whose parents go through divorce experience lifelong consequences. It has been proven above that such children suffer emotional and psychological consequences. It is estimated that over 21% of such children have mental health issues and are likely to fail in their marriages. To substantiate this point further, I would like to draw once again on the conversation I had with the Child and Youth Worker at Apple Wood Height Secondary School. She explained the following points from her practical perspective. She said children who have experience the consequence of divorce lack trust. They are unable to give back love because psychologically it has been registered within their sub conscious mind that if their parents who claim to love them are fighting and doing things regardless of the interest of such children, then whom are they to trust. Isolation of such children from peers and some school activities affects their ability to develop properly into adulthood. In most cases, they are seen to be withdrawn from extracurricular activities because of the shame, having to explain to friends that their parents are divorced. This is more prevalent in religious based schools like the Catholic schools. The issue of step-parents does not help matters either. In the unlikely event that the step-parents do not get along with such children, it raises tension within the household and puts the child under constant psychological trauma. I am of the opinion that it is some of these problems that makes these children have mental health issues. Finally, what is more dangerous to society is the fact that such children are unable to establish and maintain positive relationships. Some traditional views, though not fully supported by me, have suggested to the belief that it is some of these societal problems that have led to the emergence of the sub-culture like gay and lesbian communities. Research Outcome From the above discussion, it has been established that different communities and different scholars have divergent views on the impact of divorce on children. One perspective view is that such a situation is not serious. However, those who support the hypothesis of which I support still believe that there are lifelong consequences for children whose parents go through divorce. This new found knowledge will form as the basis for new theories to be developed. It will also give the opportunity for other research to be carried out in this area. Practically, it will enable single parents form alliances to advocate for policy change in schools and child centres to strengthen child and youth counselling within such facilities. This research will also assist people within the helping profession such as Psychologists, Child and Youth workers and Social workers to come to the realization that this phenomenon is very prevalent within our schools and that serious efforts should be made to assist children with such challenges to overcome them. As an anti oppressive Child and Youth Worker, it is necessary to pay special attention to the situation even if a child suffers as a result of our inaction to deal with the situation.

Tears, Idle Tears :: Tears, Idle Tears

Everyone should have his own characteristics. Some of those characteristics should be positive while some should be negative, and they might be changed as time passes and things happens. Throughout the  Ã‚   story "Tears, Idle Tears" , the author shows that   Mrs.Dickinson has characteristics of a beautiful, independent and demanding person.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   It is so common to describe a woman a beautiful. Especially when Mrs.Dickinson is a typical model of beauty. She is well fashioned in what she wears, she has real good dressings. "She was a gallant-looking woman, wearing to-day in London a coat and skirt, a silver fox, white gloves and a dark-blue toque put on exactly right".(P110) As a model of beauty, she is also very attractive on herself. "She was a charming woman walking by herself". (P112) Because she is such a good looking, lovely woman, there is no question that many men couldn’t resist her attractiveness and want to marry with her. "Several man wanted to marrt her".(P113)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Mrs.Dickinson is a widow because her husband died in a plane crash. That makes her to be a independent person. After the death of her husband, she has no help in anyway. She tend take care of the family by herself. Financially, she has to go out and work, she has two jobs which will earn her money to live. "She helped a friend with a little hat shop......bred puppies for sale". Emotionally, she is independent. Her son, Frederick, is the only one lives with her. She hasn’t marry any other man in five years after the death of her husband. "It was five years since her tragedy and she had not married." (P112) She also try to raise her son by herslef. There is no baby-sister to take care of Frederick. She is the only one who puts Federick on first place. "But you see, there’s Frederick. He’s the man in my life now. I’m bound to put him firstt". (P113) As she becomes a widow, she try to do everything on herslef, without anyone’s help.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   By reading the story, it is so easy to realize that Mrs.Dickinson is a bery demanding person. Demanding is not a bad thing, but she is doing it at a wrong way. She is have too much demands on Frederick. As Frederick cries, she demands him to stop cring. "Frederick, you can’t --- in the middle of Regents’s park".

Is America a Christian Nation

â€Å"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. † Thomas Jefferson wrote those words to express the emotions of a nation that desired freedom, and to shake the foundation of the British Empire. However, this simple, but eloquent phrase has sparked one of the greatest debates in American history. Is America a Christian nation? One question has divided the nation and its politicians since the founding and forming of America.This fiery debate has sparked more controversy than any other debate in modern politics. When the facts are analyzed and examined it points to the side that America was not, and is not a Christian nation. It is not a Christian nation because the Founding Father’s ideas for this country were no meant to be entangled with a national religion. There are clear and precise arguments on both s ides, but one must put aside all biases and see that America’s founders had no intention of making America into a nation that was centered on one religion.Through their own writings, letters, and actions the founders have shown that creating a government that protected the rights and liberties of the people was the primary and fundamental goal. The War for American Independence was not fought because the colonists wanted to separate from England, which already had a national religion, to create another nation based on a religion. It was fought in order to free themselves from the tyrannical monarchs that lived hundreds of miles away. In order to discover the solution to this debate the founding of this nation must be analyzed in detail.Furthermore, it is important to look at this history because this debate deals directly with the founding principles, rather than the evolution of American government. The first question that must be asked is why the founders would be opposed t o a national religion (or Christian nation) if that is what they had before. For instance, one battle cry of the revolution was, â€Å"Give me liberty, or give me death! † It was not, give me religion or give me death, so it was clear to see that the people in America were not revolting because they felt their freedom of religion was in danger. It was an important part f their history though. As a matter of fact, the fear of religious persecution was not far removed from their memories. The men that had come to America had witnessed firsthand the results of a corrupt national church. They had come from the Anglican Church, which was created solely because Henry VIII wanted to divorce his wife. Many came to the colonies of America because the corrupt church was challenging their beliefs and not allowing them to worship as they saw fit. These men and woman realized that having a national religion did not give more rights or promote religion, but simply corrupted it.The founders believed that religion should be left up to the people to carry out how they see fit, without interference from any type of government. Those who claim that America was a Christian nation often point to the phrase in the â€Å"Declaration of Independence† where Jefferson invokes the name of the â€Å"Creator. † Even though this seems like a valid point, the truth is that Jefferson and many of the other Founding Fathers were not Christians, but rather Deists. This worldview states that a higher power created the universe and all those in it, but then left it alone and does not care or pay attention to his creation.Jefferson may have been referring to god, but it was certainly not the Christian God of the Bible. Like many of the prominent statesmen of that day, Jefferson knew who he was addressing. In the colonies, the majority of people would be considered Christians. Whether or not Jefferson or the other founders believed in the Christian God, they knew they had to se cure the support of the people. People, would certainly be more likely to follow a plan to take on the greatest empire in the world if they believed their cause was supported by God.Secondly, when supporters of the Christian nation idea point to the Declaration as proof they fail to realize something. The Declaration is not law. Nothing in the Declaration legally guides the way American government or its people function. Even though it set up the foundation for this new nation, it cannot be regarded as any type of legal document that would give evidence of a Christian based nation. However, even if someone were to look at the Declaration as proof, there are more misconceptions. The idea in the Declaration of a government that derives its power from the people is adically different from the theory of divine rights that is seen in the Christian kingdoms of the past. The founder’s idea of a government by and for the people completely rejects the idea of a government where man de rives the right to maintain power from a divine being. Moreover, if the founders had wanted to remain in that type of society than they could have used much simpler terms, rather than using the confusing, vague terms such as â€Å"Creator. † Since the Declaration is not in fact a law, one must look at the actual document that guides the way American government is supposed to act, the Constitution.If the founders had intended to create a Christian nation, then it would follow that their laws would follow in that way. However, this is not the case. In reality, it could not be further from the truth. For example, in Article VI section 3 of the Constitution it states that will be no religious test for public office. If the founders intended for a national religion, then why not make influential, political figures be held to some religious standard? Once again, the evidence points to the founders trying to avoid the route of so many of the nations that came before them.In yet anot her attempt to make sure there was no national religion, the 1st Amendment to Constitution states that, â€Å"Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. † Clearly, the founders knew that establishing a national religion would result in the persecution of any other religion or belief system. Also, the establishment clause has been interpreted to mean there is a wall of separation between church and state, according to the Supreme Court. Even though this â€Å"wall† is not in the Constitution, it is implied through the 1st Amendment.Finally, the laws and fundamental beliefs were based off the ideas of John Locke and Greek philosophers. The argument that states that common law and the natural rights of man came from any type of religious belief system cannot be used. Therefore, the foundation of this country was not based on Biblical (or any other religious) standards, when it came to the policies and fun ctions of the US government. If the laws and history of the founders point to a rejection of national religion, what about how they lived out these policies? What did their actions and writings say about how they intended to run America?When one looks at the founder’s polices and laws, it is obvious that they never intended for America to have an established religion. Firstly, in 1779 Thomas Jefferson presented the â€Å"Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom† to an assembly in Virginia. This statute would greatly influence the 1st Amendment in that it was concerned with the corruption of national religion and the persecution of those who think differently. â€Å"Whereas, Almighty God hath created the mind free; that all attempts to influence it by temporal punishments or [burdens] or by civil incapacitations tend only to beget habits of hypocrisy and meanness. Clearly, the founders were aware of the eminent dangers that would follow creating an establishment of relig ion. Moreover, this statute was supported by James Madison, who is considered to be the author of the Constitution, and a group of Baptists that had been largely persecuted when there was an established religion. Furthermore, before the Constitution was ratified there was much debate over what type of government to have. â€Å"The Federalist Papers† were a series of essays defending the Constitution and a more powerful federal government than that of the Articles of Confederation.One of the main fears of the Federalists was the creation of factions. This meant groups, most likely political parties gaining control and causing a tyranny of the majority. Under the pseudonym â€Å"Publius† James Madison argued that even religious sects could become tyrannical when he wrote, â€Å"A religious sect may degenerate into a political faction in a part of the Confederacy; but the variety of sects dispersed over the entire face of it must secure the national councils against any danger from that source,† Obviously, this is an argument for a Union rather than a confederacy, but it clearly shows the founders fear of a national religion.They believed, like they had seen in the past that an established religion would be nothing more than a corrupt, political faction. Moreover, the most glaring, apparent proof that the founders did not want a national religion was when they were dealing with foreign nations. After the War for American Independence, the former colonies had to deal with the Barbary pirates themselves as they no longer had protection from England or France. Therefore a treaty was signed at Tripoli, in order to ensure peace and friendship between the two battling sides.This document was signed and ratified by President John Adams and was unanimously voted through by the Senate. Article 11 of the treaty states that, â€Å"As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion; as it has in its elf no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquility, of Mussulmen; and, as the said States never entered into any war, or act of hostility against any Mahometan nation, it is declared by the part that no pretext arising from religious opinions, shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries. Even though this was a treaty it showed what the founders truly believed about the nation that they had created. Furthermore, according to Article VI section 2 of the Constitution all treaties made by Congress shall become the supreme law of the land. There is the idea that this article was merely added to please the Muslim nation, which is a valid point. However, because it was a treaty it became law after it was ratified by the Senate. Why would the founders make such a bold statement that would become the supreme law of the land if they did not really mean it?It is apparent that the founders were clearly stating, in this treaty, what the y had already considered to be true. The study of history is important because it allows people to learn from the mistakes and errors of those in the past. The founders were some of the most intelligent men that have ever walked this earth and were certainly scholars of history. Therefore, they saw the corruption and persecution that was brought upon by the establishments of national religions.In no way were the founders hostile towards Christianity, Judaism, Deism, or any other religious beliefs. If anything, when the arguments are analyzed the founders were trying to protect religions and peoples religious beliefs more than anything else. By not allowing the establishment of religion they ensured that, for example, Christianity would be handled by the different churches and denominations of that religion, and not by a unitary government figure.Through their actions, writings, and policies it was evidently clear that America was never meant to be a Christian nation. In order to mai ntain the principles of liberty, the founding fathers had to create a nation where religion could flourish without the flaws and corruptions that come with combining a source of power with religious belief. If they had not done this, history would have surely repeated itself and the corruption of the church and government would have been much greater.

Richard Nixon

Richard Nixon is Good Richard Nixon is considered to be one of the worst presidents of our time and for very good reasons. He lied under oath about knowledge of the Watergate scandal, he illegally invaded Cambodia and violated international law, and he installed wiretaps. All these actions caused him to resign from the Presidential office. What we don't think about, is all the good he did. Nixon did a lot for our country.From foreign affairs o the environment, he accomplished much during his time as president. First of all, one of his greatest accomplishments was the d ©tente with the Republic of China. He was the first president to visit the country, and he opened trade with China and bettered the economy by making China its biggest trade partner. He came to agreements with both China and the Soviet Union where the use of nuclear weapons would stop being used. Nixon accomplished much with our nation's environment.He passed many acts hich included the National Environmental Policy of 1969, The Environmental Protection Agency of 1970, The Clean Air Act Extension of 1970, Marine Mammal Protection of 1972, the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974, and the Endangered Species Act of 1973. We can thank him for making our environment a better place. Besides improving our environment, President Nixon also accomplished much under Civil Rights. It is because of Nixon that women have equal pay and employment opportunities today.Nixon also worked towards racism towards African Americans and helped stop the segregation towards them in the school systems. Even though President Nixon had a lot of faults and made a lot of mistakes, he couldVe handled things a lot better. So why look at only his faults? He did a lot for our country and doesn't deserve all the mistrust that people feel towards him. History seems only to remember the faults of people, but in the very end, he was actually a really good president Richard Nixon Richard Nixon is Good Richard Nixon is considered to be one of the worst presidents of our time and for very good reasons. He lied under oath about knowledge of the Watergate scandal, he illegally invaded Cambodia and violated international law, and he installed wiretaps. All these actions caused him to resign from the Presidential office. What we don't think about, is all the good he did. Nixon did a lot for our country.From foreign affairs o the environment, he accomplished much during his time as president. First of all, one of his greatest accomplishments was the d ©tente with the Republic of China. He was the first president to visit the country, and he opened trade with China and bettered the economy by making China its biggest trade partner. He came to agreements with both China and the Soviet Union where the use of nuclear weapons would stop being used. Nixon accomplished much with our nation's environment.He passed many acts hich included the National Environmental Policy of 1969, The Environmental Protection Agency of 1970, The Clean Air Act Extension of 1970, Marine Mammal Protection of 1972, the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974, and the Endangered Species Act of 1973. We can thank him for making our environment a better place. Besides improving our environment, President Nixon also accomplished much under Civil Rights. It is because of Nixon that women have equal pay and employment opportunities today.Nixon also worked towards racism towards African Americans and helped stop the segregation towards them in the school systems. Even though President Nixon had a lot of faults and made a lot of mistakes, he couldVe handled things a lot better. So why look at only his faults? He did a lot for our country and doesn't deserve all the mistrust that people feel towards him. History seems only to remember the faults of people, but in the very end, he was actually a really good president Richard Nixon On August 8th 1974 Richard Nixon became the first American president ever to resign from office. His final action was the imminent consequence of more than two years of political controversy, of public displays of discontent towards the media, and ultimately of obvious attempts to minimize and cover up a scandal that, in the end, proved to be fatal for the outcome of his presidential mandate. He would later recall, â€Å"This was the nightmarish end of a long dream† (Associated Press, 1999). His last address to the nation as a standing president must be seen through this perspective and through the lens of the historical circumstances of the time.The overall perception of the exact purpose of the speech is still debatable, some of his critics accusing him of not giving a resignation speech, but rather a persuasive one. Despite these differences in ideas, one can reach a common ground and the conclusion that Nixon, while making his final official speech, also tried to save a di gnifying image for posterity, later on implicitly underlining the importance the judgment of history had for him: â€Å"The jury has already come in, and there's nothing that's going to change it. There's no appeal. Historians will judge it harshly.†(Stacks, 1994).In order to fully grasp the complex message behind the speech delivered by Nixon, certain elements are essential for building a proper image of the historical background of the time. Cristina Schaffner, in citing Christoph Sauer, points out the necessity for analyzing the wider context of the political discourse in order to understand and capture its overall meaning.She considers that â€Å"the analysis of political speeches in particular and political discourses in general should relate linguistic structures to larger contexts of communicative settings and political functions. Any public speech is part of a larger, more extensive communicative process and it is characterized as a strategic move in an overarching c ommunicative plan. It can therefore be assessed properly only if the larger context is taken into account†( Schaffner, 1993, 203).Richard Nixon was the 37th elected president of the US and had the uphill endeavor of leading his nation through some of the most trying times of its history. Henry Kissinger, his Secretary of State would later on acknowledge the fact that â€Å"Nixon was the first president, after Theodore Roosevelt, to lead his country’s foreign policy largely in the name of the national interest†(Kissinger, 1995, 636). He admits, as do numerous other experts in external policy, that â€Å"the Nixon Administration was given the task of withdrawing the American troops from its first experience of a lost war, and from the first external commitment in which the American moral convictions collided with what was possible to achieve†(Kissinger,1995, 586).Therefore, the Vietnam War was the major issue of Nixon’s presidency. Another critical is sue was that of the US-USSR relations that were in a tight point at the beginning of his term in office in 1969. Intimately connected was the situation with China which proved to be delicate and in demand of a diplomatic resolution. Stacks points out these elements: â€Å"By sheer endurance, he was the most important figure of the postwar era.Nixon put the country through some of its worst times, leading the red-scare politics of the 1950s, escalating the war in Vietnam in order to end it, trying with all his enormous energy and guile to defeat the legal processes that closed in on him during the Watergate scandal†(Stacks, 1994). Thus, it not the conduct of the foreign policy that brought his resignation, but rather his continuous conflicts with the Congress, that is the dispute between the Executive and the Legislative. All these aspects of the political reality are dealt with, some more than others, in his final speech.Depending on his motivation, Nixon targeted more than o ne audience in his speech. Smith argues that â€Å"understanding the American audience in terms of the issues it holds dear, the positions it takes on those issues and the way it measures character is crucial to crafting speeches that resonate with the public.   Furthermore, due to the modern media, the president often addresses more than one audience at a time† (Smith, 2006).It was expected of him to start with the most pressing development of internal politics, which was the Watergate scandal. His political career had been stained by the possibility of being accused of obstructing justice procedures and abuse of power, yet his considerations on the matter were rather reluctant and until the final end, set for denial of all evidence shown to him in this respect (Impeachment, 2006). It was only after the irrefutable proof of taped conversations demonstrating his implication in the scandal that he tacitly admitted his guilt and acted on his resignation (Legacy: Richard M. Ni xon, 37th president, 2006).Stacks even comments on the idea, calling the attention to the fact that â€Å"no other President in American history had been revealed to be so cynically, so selfishly breaking the law to preserve his own power. Other Presidents may have acted as ignobly, but none was caught so nakedly† (Stacks, 1994). Nixon’s mentioning of the scandal in the speech was quite lapidary, the term â€Å"Watergate† only being used twice throughout the text. It is therefore clear to say that he attempted to underplay its importance and to change the focus of the attention towards other aspects of his political actions.Within this line of argumentation, Nixon tried to appeal to the general public. He made use of personal references, by mentioning that â€Å"my family unanimously urged me to do so (to carry through to the finish whatever the personal agony it would have involved)†( Scholing, 2003) structuring his address on the need to reach out to th e American people and thus offer them a certain justification of his actions, which he even stresses were carried out as â€Å"to do what was best for the nation†. Therefore, one of the aims of the speech was to attract the sense of public acceptance and along with this, a closure of the chapter.Throughout his speech though, he created for himself a number of different occasions to address the general public, the electorate and subsequently those who decide in a democratic system. One such occasion was the referral to the possibilities of the American people â€Å"to have not only the blessings of liberty but also the means to live full and good, and by the world's standards even abundant lives†( Scholing, 2003). Such political rhetoric could only have pointed to the important achievements his administration had registered, although he did mention the inflation problems facing the society.Even so, he managed to draw the attention on the wellbeing of the nation by simil ar comparisons with the rest of the world. In justifying the wide media and public attention that the Watergate scandal had received, and, at the same time, in supporting Nixon’s confidence in the internal and external US position, Walter McDougall, a historian at the University of Pennsylvania, said that â€Å"the American people could afford to obsess continuously over this affair and paralyze the nation†¦the American people wouldn't have put up with that if they had thought the country was in danger†(Anderson, 2004).Nixon pointed out the successes of his administration in relation to the main international actors such as the USSR, China and the players in the Middle East. Even though, in general, the American public is less interested in foreign affairs and more in domestic issues, the Vietnam War and the broader context that determined its final outcome had provoked great unrest among regular Americans, and had created a rift in the society. Therefore, when in voking the fact that â€Å"we have ended America's longest war† (Scholing, 2003) he also tried to offer a sense of reassurance that would, in the long run, help heal the wounds of the nation.A well delimited part of the speech was aimed at underlining the distinctiveness between â€Å"I† and â€Å"Congressional and other leaders†. While addressing the public, he tried to make a clear delimitation between what the public might consider â€Å"good† such as himself, and â€Å"evil† such as those in search of his indictment. He strongly stressed the lack of Congressional support in his strive to uphold what he considered to be â€Å"the constitutional purpose†. There were even opinions that considered Nixon to have â€Å"acknowledged his lonely isolation in his televised resignation speech† (Anderson, 2004).Therefore he subtly lets himself to be portrayed as the less eager to continue the battle with the Congress, fact that had an opposit e effect on the elective body. By mentioning his lack of further action for the purpose of revenge, as he would not â€Å"continue to fight through the months ahead for my personal vindication† (Scholing, 2003), he skillfully managed to sow the seed of doubt in the public’s mind over the real reasons for the Congress’ actions. Furthermore, he would appear in the eyes of the public as the one that appealed to a common and acceptable solution on behalf of both parties. Therefore, it could be said that, in the public view, he managed to partially save a certain political dignity.The presentation of the new president was, from a strictly political perspective, an electoral maneuver. Its placement after the subtle â€Å"attack† of the Congress insured the transfer of the political support he enjoyed among his own traditional electorate. His reaffirmed trust in Ford’s capabilities was also meant to lie to rest any uncertainties in the future course of po licy. It is rather obvious that, following that passage, the continuous and vigorous call for mobilization to take further the actions started by his administration, Nixon attempted to give an additional level of credibility to all that was previously said. His determination and explicit support for his successor was designed as a display of confidence and conviction in his arguments that, among others, motivated his innocence in the Watergate scandal.Taking into consideration the concurring factors that eventually led to the resignation of President Nixon, it can be concluded that his final speech addressed exactly the variety of these issues. Summing up the pulse of the era, McDougall considers that â€Å"even Watergate will some day be put in a larger context and will be seen as the most dramatic episode in a rebellion by Congress and the courts against executive power† (Anderson, 2004). In addressing the American people, he tried both to justify his actions and to subtly state the difference of opinion with the Congress.BibliographyAnderson, Hill. â€Å"Analysis: Nixon's watershed presidency†. The Washington Times. 2004. 14 Mar. 2006. Associated Press. â€Å"Nixon's resignation changed American politics forever†. Aug. 1999. 14 Mar. 2006 ;http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/stories/1999/08/06/nixon.resigns/;â€Å"Impeachment†. American Experience. 2006. 14 Mar. 2006. ;http://watergate.info/impeachment/impeachmentarticles.shtmlhttp://odur.let.rug.nl/~usa/P/rn37/speeches/resign.htm;Kissinger, Henry. Diplomacy. London: Simon ; Schuster, 1995.â€Å"Legacy: Richard M. Nixon, 37th president†. 2006. 14 Mar. 2006.;http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/presidents/37_nixon/nixon_legacy.html;Schaffner, Cristina. â€Å"Political speeches and discourse analysis†. Current issues in language and society. 1996: 203. 14 Mar. 2006.; http://www.multilingual-matters.net/cils/003/0201/cils0030201.pdf;Scholing, Peter. â€Å"Richard Milhous Nixon. Res ignation Speech, August 8, 1974†.From Revolution to Reconstruction. 2003. 14 Mar. 2006.;http://odur.let.rug.nl/~usa/P/rn37/speeches/resign.htm;Smith, Craig R. â€Å"Speechwriting in the Nixon and Ford White Houses†. California State University. 14 Mar. 2006;http://www.csulb.edu/~crsmith/nixford.html;Stacks, John F. â€Å"Victory In Defeat†. Time. 2 May, 1994. Richard Nixon Richard Nixon is Good Richard Nixon is considered to be one of the worst presidents of our time and for very good reasons. He lied under oath about knowledge of the Watergate scandal, he illegally invaded Cambodia and violated international law, and he installed wiretaps. All these actions caused him to resign from the Presidential office. What we don't think about, is all the good he did. Nixon did a lot for our country.From foreign affairs o the environment, he accomplished much during his time as president. First of all, one of his greatest accomplishments was the d ©tente with the Republic of China. He was the first president to visit the country, and he opened trade with China and bettered the economy by making China its biggest trade partner. He came to agreements with both China and the Soviet Union where the use of nuclear weapons would stop being used. Nixon accomplished much with our nation's environment.He passed many acts hich included the National Environmental Policy of 1969, The Environmental Protection Agency of 1970, The Clean Air Act Extension of 1970, Marine Mammal Protection of 1972, the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974, and the Endangered Species Act of 1973. We can thank him for making our environment a better place. Besides improving our environment, President Nixon also accomplished much under Civil Rights. It is because of Nixon that women have equal pay and employment opportunities today.Nixon also worked towards racism towards African Americans and helped stop the segregation towards them in the school systems. Even though President Nixon had a lot of faults and made a lot of mistakes, he couldVe handled things a lot better. So why look at only his faults? He did a lot for our country and doesn't deserve all the mistrust that people feel towards him. History seems only to remember the faults of people, but in the very end, he was actually a really good president

A Hella Cool New Dictionary Entry

A Hella Cool New Dictionary Entry A Hella Cool New Dictionary Entry A Hella Cool New Dictionary Entry By Mark Nichol Merriam-Webster, publisher of the print and online dictionary that is perhaps most widely consulted by wordsmiths in the United States, has made what some may consider an audacious decision: Hella is now officially a member of the English language. As an aficionado of etymology, I have always been pleased to have been near a word’s geographical and chronological epicenter; that’s something not everybody can boast of. Having lived near Silicon Valley, and having worked at Wired magazine during its early years, I often rubbed shoulders with neologisms back in the day. Hella is near and dear to my heart because it was the first fledgling word I recognized as such. It’s unofficially been part of the lexicon for at least four decades; I first heard it in the late 1980s, spoken by white children in Berkeley who likely had overheard black classmates use it. They, in turn, had heard it from older siblings or neighbors, who had by then been using it for years. (That’s an intriguing case study for those interested in the distinction between a word’s likely birthdate and its date of first attested, or documented, use; hella was first attested in 1987. Another curious detail is that the Oxford English Dictionary welcomed hella in 2002, fourteen years before a dictionary across the Pond gave it the thumbs-up.) Although I was an adult by then, I immediately grew fond of the word, a contraction of â€Å"hell of a† and â€Å"hell of a lot of† that modifies not nouns, like the phrases from which it came, but adjectives. It’s an intensifier, as seen in the headline for this post. But, you may splutter, hella is such an uncouth word! It sullies the dictionary with its presence. Well, so does the next Merriam-Webster entry, hellaballoo (a variation of hullabaloo, meaning â€Å"uproar†), a hick of a word if I ever saw one, though it’s older than the United States. And hellacious (â€Å"very difficult, large, or powerful†), which follows hellaballoo and goes back at least a hundred years, is a country-bumpkin cousin of hella. Why are these and so many other louche locutions in the dictionary? Because that’s what a dictionary is for- it is a record of our language’s astonishingly rich, ripe diversity. That may be a bit confusing for those who consider a dictionary to be a guide, not a museum, but hellacious isn’t exactly a dusty, brittle artifact: Five years ago, it popped up in the title of a video game, Hellacious Acres: The Case of John Glass, and it’s available for anyone who needs a rip-snorting adjective. And though I’d steer around hellaballoo, I can easily imagine using the original from which it is derived to humorously describe a cacophonous commotion. And hella? It may not belong in a business report, a textbook, or an academic journal (except for one about linguistics). But it has its place in many media: blogs, young-adult novels, youth-culture publications, and even general-circulation periodicals. If you need it, use it. The same goes for two other neologisms that have been awarded the Merriam-Webster badge of validity: TMI (an initialism abbreviated from â€Å"too much information†) and FOMO (an acronym derived from â€Å"fear of missing out†). (The distinction between initialisms and acronyms is that the former are pronounced letter by letter and the latter are pronounced as words.) It intrigued me that although I’ve been titillated for years by TMI- a protestation in response to being told more personal details than one wants to hear- I had never heard of the abbreviation for a phrase pertaining to anxiety about not being part of stimulating and/or trendy experiences. That term’s existence is a telling commentary about our increasingly vapid culture, but it’s also hella cool. (I know- irony alert!) Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:100 Beautiful and Ugly WordsAbstract Nouns from AdjectivesWhen to use "an"

Goal Setting Exercises to Help Dreams Become Reality

Goal Setting Exercises to Help Dreams Become Reality Goal setting is a topic that transcends the traditional curriculum. It is a key life skill that if learned and used daily can truly make a difference in your students lives. Goal setting materials are abundant, yet many students fail to receive adequate instruction in goal setting for two reasons. First, most teachers cannot afford to neglect their subject matter for several weeks, and second, purchasing textbooks with the intention of using only a single chapter on goal setting is hardly a justifiable use of limited educational funds.   Many teens need be taught to dream for themselves, for, if they are not, they are apt to accept goals foisted upon them by adults and thus miss the joy of seeing personal dreams fulfilled. Introducing Goal Setting Since visualizing the future is often difficult for teens, it is helpful to begin the unit with daydreaming. To integrate goal writing into your course, introduce the unit with material related to your content that refers to dreams or goals. This might be a poem, a story, a biographical sketch or a news article. Be sure to distinguish between dreams as sleep experiences and dreams as aspirations. Defining Goal Areas Explain to your students that it is easier to think about our lives in categories than it is to think of all aspects at once. Then ask them how they might categorize the various aspects of their lives. If they have difficulty getting started, prod them by asking them to list people and activities that are important to them and to see if they fit them into from five to eight categories. It is more important that students devise their own categories than that they create perfect classification systems. Allowing them to share ideas will help students realize that a variety of categorization schemes would work. Sample Life Categories Mental Families Physical Friends Spiritual Hobbies Sports School Dating Jobs Finding Meaning in Daydreams Once students are satisfied with their categories, ask them to select one that they would like to focus on first. (The length of this unit can easily be adjusted by the number of categories you guide students through. Care should be taken, however, that students dont work on too many categories at once.) Distribute goal dreaming worksheets. Explain to students that their goals must be only for themselves; they cannot set a goal that involves anyones behavior but their own. They are, however, to spend at least five minutes daydreaming about themselves related to this category, imagining themselves in the most wonderful ways - successful, glorious, and as perfect as imaginable. A three to five minute period of silence may be helpful for this activity. Next, ask students to describe how they imagined themselves in this daydream on the goal dreaming worksheet. Although this writing could alternatively be assigned as a journal entry, keeping this sheet with later, related goal activities may be more helpful. Students should repeat the process with one or two additional life categories. Students should then determine what part of their dream seems to call to them. They should complete, the sentences, The part of this daydream that most appeals to me is __________ because__________. Encourage students to explore their feelings fully, writing as much detail as possible because they may use some of these ideas later when they write their personal goals. When two or three goal dreaming sheets are complete, students should select the category they want to write goals for first. Getting Real The next step is to help students identify a desire from which to form a goal. To do this, they should look at the reasons certain aspects of their daydreams appeal to them as well as the daydreams themselves. For example, if a student dreamed of being a lifeguard, and decided it appealed to him because he would work outdoors, working outdoors may be more important to him than actually being a lifeguard. Thus, students should spend some time reflecting on what seems truly important. It may help to have students highlight ideas that seem really important.Then they should also examine which aspects of their daydreams seem far fetched and which seem within the realm of possibility. While it is popular wisdom that we should teach youth that they can achieve anything if they want it badly enough, badly enough is rarely translated by teens into years of dedicated work and dogged determination. Instead, youth interpret this popular wisdom as meaning that if their desire is strong enough, mi nimal effort will is all that is needed. Thus, when we present as role models, individuals who achieve unexpected accomplishments such as Christopher Reeves directing movies after nearly complete paralysis, we should always describe the grueling work that came between the goal and its fulfillment. Directing the Dream without Damaging the Dreamer Another problem created by people espousing you can do anything is the tendency to ignore the requirement for superior intelligence, which cannot be created by will power or diligence. Tackle this issue delicately so as not to discourage students from having dreams while keeping in mind that if you encourage students to set goals they have little chance of meeting you deprive them of the joys of achieving personal goals. You can help students make realistic self-assessments without hurting their feelings if you point out that people are happiest when they work and play in areas of their interests and relative strengths. Discuss the concept of multiple intelligences, letting students read the short descriptions of each type of intelligence, marking those they think are their areas of strength. This allows students with low intellectual ability to focus on an area of potential success without having to announce he is incapable of being something requiring superior intelligence. If you have time and resources for personality and interest inventories, these should be given at this time point in the unit.   Remember, although most of us would love to teach a unit on goal setting that includes a variety of assessments, career exploration, goal writing, scheduling, and self-reinforcement is ideal, most of us also have packed curriculums. Nevertheless, if students spend a few hours practicing goal writing in many different classes together, perhaps, we can teach students how to make their dreams come true. Once students have summarized results of various assessments  on a summary sheet or have simply decided which is their area of strength on a list of multiple intelligences, and they have chosen one of the goals they want to work on first, they are ready to learn to write a specific, personal goal. General goals are just the first step in making dreams come true. Once students have established general goals and have identified what appeals to them, they should be taught to write specific goals the way winners do. Suggestions for Teaching Students to Write Specific Goals Students will have to be coaxed to state their goals positively and are likely to argue that they cant say they will accomplish a particular goal because they are not sure that they can. Tell them that, despite their reservations, it is essential that they use the words, I will... since the wording will affect their belief in their ability to meet the goal. Be insistent on this, even to the point of saying they will not get credit for the assignment unless they follow your directions.At first, some students will have difficulty translating a general goal to one that is specific and measurable. Class discussion is very helpful both for learning how to be specific and seeing a variety of possible goals. Have students suggest ways that that various goal could be measured for students who are having difficulty. This might also be done in cooperative learning teams.Estimating completion dates troubles many students. Tell them just to estimate a reasonable time that it should take to accom plish their goal and to be honest with themselves about when they plan to actually begin working on it. Since estimating the completion of big goals involves completion of steps or sub-goals, have students list the steps and the length of time they estimate is needed for each. This list will be used later to make a Gantt chart. Have students hold off on beginning to work on the goal for a week to give you time to teach scheduling and reward techniques. After listing the many steps required to reach a goal, some students may decide it is too much bother. It is helpful at this point to have them write the benefits they expect to derive from completing their goal. These usually involve feelings about themselves. Be sure students are still enthusiastic about their goal. If they cant regain their original enthusiasm, have them start over with a new goal.If the goal involves various steps, creating a Gantt chart is helpful and fun for students whether they use project software or fill in a chart by hand. Some students have trouble with the concept of putting time units across the top, so be sure to walk around and check each students column headings. You may want to check your software to see if you have any project management programs since they probably can be used to make Gantt charts. The examples of Gantt charts found on the Internet are not clearly marked, so you may want to show students a simpler one done by hand or with software that makes grids such as Microsoft Word or Microsoft Excel. Better yet, if you could use a project management software since it is likely to be a strong motivator. Once students have learned to write specific goals and to schedule sub goals on a Gantt chart, they should be ready for a lesson on self-motivation and maintaining momentum. Focusing on Whats Next Once students have made goals, sub-goals and a schedule for completion, they are ready for the real work: Changing their own behavior. Since telling students that they are beginning a difficult task can be discouraging, you will have to use your professional judgment to decide when to discuss the difficulties people encounter when they attempt to develop new patterns of behavior. Helping them to see this opportunity as a challenge that successful people master may help. Focusing on people who have overcome major challenges in their lives could also lead nicely into a unit on heroes. Begin the lesson this third goal lesson by asking students to review their goal dreaming worksheet for the goal area they are working on and their goal writing worksheet. Then lead students through the steps on the worksheet Maintaining Motivation and Momentum.

Make good writing second nature - Emphasis

Make good writing second nature Make good writing second nature A question for the drivers: how much of the drive to work this morning do you remember? The answer, probably, is not much, because youre so used to the process that you no longer need to consciously think about it. Its the same for learning any new skill, including writing. With sustained effort and attention, the skill becomes second nature. This is why we recommend to clients that they follow up their training day with a Coaching clinic, to reinforce the progress made on the course and follow up on any continuing concerns. There are four stages to learning a new skill, according to a model developed by Gordon Training International, and you have to go through each to reach the point where you can perform the skill well, seemingly without thinking. 1. Unconscious incompetence You dont know what you dont know 2. Conscious incompetence You know what you dont know 3. Conscious competence You know how to do it, but you have to think about it 4. Unconscious competence Youre practised enough to do it automatically. Mistakes are common at the conscious competence stage, even though you know by then what you need to do and how to do it. This is why we offer one-to-one follow-up coaching on all our courses. Before training, we gather writing samples from each participant and analyse them in detail, producing a graph that identifies and quantifies your individual problem areas. We go through this process again after the initial course to see where you have improved and what you still need to work on, so that in the follow-up coaching the trainer can work with you to iron out lingering errors. If you or your staff have been trained by us and would like to arrange follow-up coaching, or you would like to talk about arranging both, email us or call us on +44 (0)1273 732 888.

Is terrorism a threat to international order Essay

Is terrorism a threat to international order - Essay Example However, even after the most significant and iconic terrorist strikes known to us i.e. the 9/11 attacks, the world order and the existing international relations have not changed significantly. In fact, if anything, the international order and the relationships between various countries (particularly western allies) have been more strongly defined since the attacks. Again, this definition may not remain true in the long term since international order is not solely dependent upon one evil character being the terrorist and one heroic country saving the world. The image of a country being good or bad is nearly always dependant on the perception of the people and it is irresponsible of the media or the government to present a very biased viewpoint since perceptions can be difficult to change overnight. Coady (2005) says: â€Å"There are very bad policies and very bad political leaders, but realism dictates that we recognize the presence of evil wherever and whenever it occurs. It also dictates that we take cognizance of the fact that the monsters of today were our allies of yesterday and may be our allies of tomorrow, and that our own shining virtue often appears in a different light to others. (Coady, pg. 16, 2005)† Of course the countries and individuals who are labelled as being terrorists by others quite simply reject it and take themselves as freedom fighters, separatists, even revolutionaries. Similarly, the titles given to terrorists range from evil to inhuman and responsible members of the international community are asked to shun them and force the surrender of terrorist group members since they are a threat to international order (Baylis, 2002). Undoubtedly there are several issues surrounding the debate and the first is the justification for terrorism. Martin & Martin (2003) report that it was St. Augustine who first gave the two

CriticalThinking Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

CriticalThinking - Essay Example This will probably be a rural setting and thus may feel inferior while speaking the formal language. On the other hand, the person who prefers the formal language may be from an urban setting and thus more exposed than the letter. The argument above clarifies to us how the language spoken may say almost everything concerning our values and affiliations (Fisher 43) . Consequently, it is indispensable for one to be vigilant on which language to use when he wants to portray a specific impression. It is also evident that anyone who ignores this is either a child who is naà ¯ve or a drunkard who is simply careless. On the other hand, considering the views of another philosopher, it is very necessary, if we consider objective analysis of views before accepting them as lies or truths. To begin with, we look at a situation were by an individual is giving a testimony in a court of law. In this case, the judge must be careful, analytical and sensitive in order to give a fair judgment. He must make good use of critical thinking, in order to achieve this. In this context, we must make use of certain critical thinking facts, such as having a good understanding of things that may influence our judgment. Some of these factors may include Perception, which is something that may come up in our mind in terms of an impression (Fisher 99). Depending on our upbringing, there are things that we grew to learn as either wrong or right. Dogmatism where an individual only wants to believe in only what he knows and does not want to know anything knew. An individual’s past experience will always influence his thoughts and decisions. For instance, a child who fell from a tree when he was young will always avoid climbing on trees, or if he does climb on one, he will be very careful. These factors will always influence once decisions, and as a result, one must consider them (Fisher 63). In this case, the judge must be able to observe and

Nigeria's point of view in the UN SECURITY COUNCIL REFORMATION Essay

Nigeria's point of view in the UN SECURITY COUNCIL REFORMATION - Essay Example The submission of these issues was considered timely following the September 2008 decision (GA) 62/557 to move the issues from Working Groups to the Intergovernmental Negotiations’ (Martini 2). The Nigerian undertaking was in accordance with policies laid down by his Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and his Cabinet, and consisted of proposals to increase the elected members to thirty-five, to change the nature of the power of ‘veto’ from being an instrument of ‘individual power’ to a collective and democratic instrument and to subject nuclear powers to accountability within a circle of client states. The meeting was attended by all fifteen members currently sitting, and there was a standing ovation after the conclusion of Mr. Oedin’s speech. Private consultation prior to sitting had also yielded some positive results – there is clearly a ‘climate for change’ among the members. However, when two of the delegations late r approached the Nigerian desk, with the intention of arranging a private meeting in April, it became immediately clear that there was a discrepancy between the intended content of our document and the interpretation by these delegations. Nevertheless, a window of opportunity has opened up for further discussions. Background to Problems The UN Security Council (UNSC) is the enforcement arm of the United Nations and has been in operation since 1945, with initially eleven members of which five were permanent, with individual powers of ‘veto, and six were elected members. In 1965, the latter body was increased to ten, bringing the total number of UNSC members to fifteen. The mandate of the UNSC has remained unchanged during the 55 years of its operation and it is now – as it was then – charged with keeping the Peace. The missions the UNSC carried out under this aim were greatly hampered during the ‘Cold War’1, obscuring systemic problems within the stru cture of the UNSC for over forty years. It is therefore mainly during the past twenty years that these problems have become obvious, through repeated unauthorized military actions by states as well as self-motivated use of veto powers by the permanent five members (Butler 10pp). In addition, the increase in member states of the United Nations between 1947 and 2011, from 50 to 1921 is in no way reflected in the increase in the numbers in the UNSC during the same period. The former nearly quadrupled whereas UNSC membership has only been increased by less than a quarter, making it questionable that member states are now adequately represented. This is particularly true when viewed from a regional perspective, as Latin America, the Middle East and Africa do not currently have a permanent voice through a permanent UNSC member (Jaramillo). Although Nigeria has been able to represent its concerns on three previous occasions3, this does ultimately not amount to permanent representation. Thi s is clearly also a general sentiment among the UN member states, which have often felt that the decisions of the Security Council do not reflect the will of the General Assembly as a whole but rather are often motivated by self-interest (Martini 2). There have been numerous past reform proposals for both the membership numbers and the powers of veto but, despite all efforts so far no solution has emerged that might have success of being debated in the UNSC (quotation needed) Nigerian proposal for reforms tabled at the March Council: His Excellency,

Kuder Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Kuder - Assignment Example These reflect my personality as well as my upbringing. I have always been an individual who is ready to help and would not think it impossible to advance the interest and welfare of others above my own or in the interest of the greater good. In looking at specific variables in the result regarding the potential industries that I would thrive in, I realized that these are aligned with what I have been interested early on. For instance, I got high marks on health science. This was not really surprising because I have always been interested in biology in high school. I could still remember promising to be a doctor after we viewed a video lesson about avian flu and the impact of an epidemic on people. The focus of my extracurricular activities also reflected my interest in areas such as communication, technology and relationship with people. There are certain areas in the result that perplexed me a little. I scored high in education and training yet I did poorly in hospitality and tourism industries. The reason for this is that I have been considering a career in the latter cluster since I do like to cook and I am curious about the hospitality industry whereas the academe has not entered my mind as yet. But when I saw my work values I sort of understood this part. I am quite independent with a deep hunger for accomplishment: that is, I had to know and feel that I am doing something meaningful and important not just for others but also for the society. This thought also helped me understand why – according to the assessment - I might not excel in managerial and administrative positions. My ethnic background sets great importance to management position and those around me tend to believe that it is one of the ultimate objectives of any career, to be the boss. I found that I will be more successful elsewhere. With all the information I have from the Kudder and Work Values assessments, I feel I am more in the position to choose the

Visual Impairment Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Visual Impairment - Assignment Example Due to this, they are not able to differentiate colors as well as to evade obstacles that may come across their path. While walking with blind folded eyes, all one sees is darkness which makes it impossible to describe the surroundings in which you are in for example whether ugly or beautiful. Spatial awareness also is an important feature that visually impaired people lack. This is the ability to distinguish the surroundings in which a person is which helps one to easily spot and comprehend issues. As such, a visually impaired person may not be able for example to translate other people’s facial expressions which could help him to read their attitude towards an issue. During the activity, various environmental and physical issues were encountered. For example it was difficult to walk without the help of a cane. Using it made it easier to stabilize the body thus making walking much easier. It also helped to evade physical obstacles thus reducing the chances of causing an accident or being injured. Accessing doors was also difficult since it was hard to estimate their exact location. I had to be guided by another person in order to access the doors without falling through the stair cases that lead to the doors. During this time also, it was difficult to follow the directions that were given to me since it was not possible to approximate the exact distance that I was supposed to cover in order to make turns that would lead to my destination. Getting around the campus with a visual impairment is a difficult task especially while navigating through the numerous foot paths which lead to different sections of the campus. Finding directions required the support of another person i.e. my partner, who held my hands and guided me to the right places after I almost fell into a drainage tunnel. Accessing doors was the most difficult task first

DISABILITY & PHYSICAL ACTIVITY Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

DISABILITY & PHYSICAL ACTIVITY - Essay Example One a person fall under the stated description, there are several laws and immunities that protect the fundamental human rights of the person. One of these rights is the right to stay healthy and participate in activities that keeps the person healthy (Antonio, 2005). Indeed one of the ways for a disabled person to keep him or herself is through sporting activities. Luckily, this consideration has been made at the world level to such an extent that the world Olympics committee recognizes the involvement of disabled people in Olympic Games through the Paralympics Games. Sadly though, there are repairable challenges that continue to face disabled people in the country as far as access to sports facilities is concerned. This report looks at the peculiar instance of challenges faced by disabled sports personalities in Islington Borough and these can be solved. Indeed the city is privileged to have a number of sports facilities that are enviable for the promotion of sports and constitutes a very good account of Islington Borough as a sports destination. Some of these sports facilities include fitness studios, swimming pools, squash centre, climbing walls and physical enhancement training gymnasiums. This not withstanding, there are basic prohibiting factors to the access and progressive use of these facilities by the disabled sports personalities in the Borough. The first of such challenges is the absence of a sell resourced volunteer sector to offer help and assistance to disabled sports men and women. By well resourced, reference is being made to volunteers who are well trained, professionally qualified to handle disabled people and who are well motivated to go about their duties. It must be established that people with disability are people who have been identified to needing great deal of support in order to excel in sports (Adams, 200 1). In the absence of such basic support, it will be very difficult for them

Visual Impairment Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Visual Impairment - Assignment Example Due to this, they are not able to differentiate colors as well as to evade obstacles that may come across their path. While walking with blind folded eyes, all one sees is darkness which makes it impossible to describe the surroundings in which you are in for example whether ugly or beautiful. Spatial awareness also is an important feature that visually impaired people lack. This is the ability to distinguish the surroundings in which a person is which helps one to easily spot and comprehend issues. As such, a visually impaired person may not be able for example to translate other people’s facial expressions which could help him to read their attitude towards an issue. During the activity, various environmental and physical issues were encountered. For example it was difficult to walk without the help of a cane. Using it made it easier to stabilize the body thus making walking much easier. It also helped to evade physical obstacles thus reducing the chances of causing an accident or being injured. Accessing doors was also difficult since it was hard to estimate their exact location. I had to be guided by another person in order to access the doors without falling through the stair cases that lead to the doors. During this time also, it was difficult to follow the directions that were given to me since it was not possible to approximate the exact distance that I was supposed to cover in order to make turns that would lead to my destination. Getting around the campus with a visual impairment is a difficult task especially while navigating through the numerous foot paths which lead to different sections of the campus. Finding directions required the support of another person i.e. my partner, who held my hands and guided me to the right places after I almost fell into a drainage tunnel. Accessing doors was the most difficult task first

FOUR TOP DOCUMENTARY FILM MAKERS FROM UK AND AMERICA Essay

FOUR TOP DOCUMENTARY FILM MAKERS FROM UK AND AMERICA - Essay Example This book introduces different ways by which documentary can be discussed. It has achieved this by introducing the limitations that are accompanied by documentary theorization. The knowledge of bias uses a confusing stress on documentary theory and training in 3 relatively different methods. First of all, it is presented as a problem to attaining the objectivity of explanation that has frequently been understood as a vital or difficult component of the documentary development. Nevertheless, acknowledgment of the biased as an unavoidable and inspiring element of documentary work reasonably than a problem to be controlled by harsh techniques and knowledge is now the leading attitude here (Renov, 2004). Secondly, bias is perceived as a thematic area in its own right, with the bias of the movie and program creators themselves in self illustration by means of pictures and voices. There is an innovative extensiveness to be distinguished here too, even though there is a remaining intelligence that lasting for too long on biased matters jeopardies a likely deviation from main documentary goals. A lesson in Documentary Movies is a new arbitrated scholarly journal dedicated to the past, philosophy, criticism and training of documentary film. This journal will allow a careful method to global documentary movie past, philosophy, criticism and training helping a vibrant and developing global community of documentary movie researchers (Nichols, 1992). The journal printed articles and evaluations, in English, from scholars all over the world in search of broadening the area of documentary movie grant. Some of the subjects recommended comprise; new methods to documentary past; new progresses in documentary concept and new knowledge in documentary movie. Global styles in documentary movie practice; Official invention in documentary movie

Application Of Mechatronics In Automobiles Engineering Essay

Application Of Mechatronics In Automobiles Engineering Essay Most of them spend lot of time with their Automobiles. Every ones expectations is for better performance, safe to drive, user friendly and security in the ongoing development of Automobiles. Modern mechatronics can be applied to make their expectations come true with smarter mechanisms, via improved efficiencies, speed controls and system interaction. Disclaimer I declare the following to be my own work, unless otherwise referenced, as defined by the Universitys policy on plagiarism. Introduction Before the evolution of Information technology and microprocessor embedded mechanical systems, Mechatronics was simple and mainly focused on servo-technology, such as automotive door openers, servo valves and AC/DC servo motors etc. Nowadays the mechanical systems are reliable, accurate and have a very high efficiency especially in automobiles with electronic engine controls technology that enabled the on-impact triggering of airbags, evolution of sophisticated sensors, active and passive safety devices has predicted a record in car navigation system. 4.0 Applications 4.1 Car engine management Fig: 1 Car engine management Car engine management system consists of many electronic control systems involving microcontrollers, the engine control system being one, its aim is to control the amount of fuel to be injected into each cylinder, ignition, Engine revolution limit, turbochargers wastage control, variable cam timing and gear controls. The system consists of sensors supplying, after suitable signal conditioning, the input signals to the microcontroller and its providing output signals via drivers to actuate actuators. Figure: 1 shows some of these elements in relation to an engine. The engine speed sensor is an inductive sensor, basically a toothed metal disk mounted on the crank shaft and stationary detector that functions to cover a magnetic coil through which the current passes through, as these metal teeth begins moving past the coil, the magnetic field is distracted and thus a wave of pulses in the current is created. The temperature sensor is usually a thermistor whose resistance varies according to the temperature. The mass air flow sensor may be a hot wire sensor, as air passes over a heated wire it will be cooled, the amount of cooling depending on the mass rate of flow. When temperature reaches more than 300 centigrade the sensor becomes permeable to oxygen ions and a voltage is induced between the electrodes. [Ref 5] 4.2 Electronic stability control These control system uses sophisticated sensors, the cars central computer and mechanical actions for a safe drive. The electronic stability control system doesnt work by itself, it also uses the cars other safety and regulatory devices, to correct problems before they get into accidents. 4.2.1 Yaw control sensor This sensor is located as close as possible to the centre of the car. If the experiences a movement in vertical or side by side axis the Electronic stability system detects that car is swinging, as soon as it detects it activates the brake system and reduce the throttle to lower the speed. The sensor differentiate between the direction of the steering wheel and the direction the car is headed, the cars computer then makes necessary corrections to bring the vehicles direction of travel in line. [Ref 1] Fig: 2 Sensor fusion of a car ESC (Electronic stability control) information fed into the cars central computer through 3 types of sensor 4.2.2 Wheel speed sensors Wheel speed sensor is used to measure the speed of the wheel with which the computer can then compare to the speed of the engine. This sensor is located at each wheel. [Ref 1] 4.2.3 Steering angle sensors It measures the direction the driver aims to drive the car, if it is deviated from the cars actual direction, the ESC system will come in line. This sensor is located at the steering column of a car. [Ref 1] 4.2.4 Rotational speed sensors The sensor consists of a magnetoresistive sensor element. The frequency of the digital current output signal is proportional to the rotational speed of the gear wheel. 4. Cruise control acceleration and deceleration The cruise control system controls the speed of a car by adjusting the throttle position. Instead of pressing a pedal, cruise control actuates the throttle valve by a cable connected to an actuator. The throttle valve controls the power and speed of the engine by limiting how much air the engine takes in. In Figure 3, you can see two cables connected to a pivot that moves the throttle valve. One cable comes from the accelerator panel, and another from the actuator. When the actuator is engaged, it adjusts the throttle by moving the cable connected to the pivot, when the cruise control system is engaged the pedal moves up and down since the actuator also pulls on the cable that is connected to the gas pedal. [Ref 2] Fig: 3 One cable is connected to the gas pedal, the other to the vacuum actuator. In most of the cars the throttle unit is controlled by the actuators powered by engine vacuum. These systems use a small, electronically-controlled valve to regulate the vacuum in a diaphragm. This works in a similar way to the brake booster, which provides power to the brake system. [Ref 2] Fig: 4 The electronically-controlled vacuum actuator that controls the throttle 4.3.1 4.4 Airbag Inflation The goal of an airbag is to inflate rapidly during automobile collision and prevent the passengers from striking interior objects. Majority cases of death are due to air bags and seat belt is not worn. There are three parts to an airbag that help to achieve its function Fig: 6 the airbag and inflation system stored in the steering wheel Fig: 7 the airbag and inflation system stored in the steering wheel The bag itself is made up of a thin nylon fabric, which is folded into the steering wheel or dashboard or, more recently, the seat or door. Advance systems have solid state crash sensors that contain a piezoelectric crystal or a micro machined accelerometer, a device used to measure acceleration or vibration shock built into a microchip that produces an electrical signal when jolted. The airbags inflation system is by the reaction of sodium azide with potassium nitrate to produce nitrogen. Hot blasts of the nitrogen inflate the airbag. [Ref 3] 4.5 Power door locks In this system the door lock/unlock switch actually sends power to the actuators that unlock the door. In more complicated systems, the body controller decides when to do the unlocking. The body controller is similar to a computer which monitors all of the possible sources of locking and unlocking signal in a car. The system monitors the radio frequency and unlocks the doors when the correct digital code is received from the radio transmitter. When the actuator moves the latch up, it connects the outside door handle to the opening mechanism. When the latch is down, the outside door handle is disconnected from the mechanism so that it cannot be opened. Fig: 8 Inside a car door In a specific interval of time, the body controller supply power to the door lock actuator to unlock the door. The construction of actuator system is very simple. A small electric motor turns a series of spur gears that serve as a gear reduction. The last gear drives a rack-and-pinion gear set that is connected to the actuator rod. The rotational motion of the motor is converted to linear motion by the rack in order to move the lock. [Ref 5] 4.6 Conclusion Mechatronics can be defined as the intersection of mechanics, electronics, computers and controls. The synergistic use of aspects of each of these fields in designing products and processes is driving advances in automobiles the actual cars and components, as well as the equipment needed to build, diagnose and service them.

College or University Graduation Speech :: Graduation Speech, Commencement Address

I have chosen as my topic the complex subject of your ancestors. Not, of course, your biological ancestors, about whom I know nothing, but your spiritual ancestors, about whom I know a little. To be specific, I want to tell you about two groups of people who lived many years ago but whose influence is still with us. They were very different from each other, representing opposite values and traditions. I think it is appropriate for you to be reminded of them on this day because, sooner than you know, you must align yourself with the spirit of one or the spirit of the other. The first group lived about 2,500 years ago in the place which we now call Greece, in a city they called Athens. We do not know as much about their origins as we would like. But we do know a great deal about their accomplishments. They were, for example, the first people to develop a complete alphabet, and therefore they became the first truly literate population on earth. They invented the idea of political democracy, which they practiced with a vigor that puts us to shame. They invented what we call philosophy. And they also invented what we call logic and rhetoric. They came very close to inventing what we call science, and one of them-Democritus by name-conceived of the atomic theory of matter 2,300 years before it occurred to any modern scientist. They composed and sang epic poems of unsurpassed beauty and insight. And they wrote and performed plays that, almost three millennia later, still have the power to make audiences laugh and weep. They even invented what, today, we call the Olympics, and among their values none stood higher than that in all things one should strive for excellence. They believed in reason. They believed in beauty. They believed in moderation. And they invented the word and the idea which we know today as ecology. About 2,000 years ago, the vitality of their culture declined and these people began to disappear. But not what they had created. Their imagination, art, politics, literature, and language spread all over the world so that, today, it is hardly possible to speak on any subject without repeating what some Athenian said on the matter 2,500 years ago. The second group of people lived in the place we now call Germany, and flourished about 1,700 years ago. We call them the Visigoths, and you may remember that your sixth or seventh-grade teacher mentioned them.