It Was August 18, 2014, Just Another Beautiful Summer Day.

It was August 18, 2014, just another beautiful summer day. It was my first day back in the classroom as a third year teacher. I greeted all the smiling faces of my first graders that morning and rushed through the day, trying to get in everything that I had planned. The craziness of the first day of school quickly passed and before I knew it, it was time to start planning for the next day. But all I could think about was getting home and being with my 18-month old son. Before I had children, I would spend countless hours after school working, but once they came along, I vowed to not get burnt out in my profession and to spend the majority of my time at home with them. So, I left my piles of work at the classroom and headed home. I thought†¦show more content†¦My Daddy was a perfectly healthy man who only recently noticed a small lump on his cheek. How did that one little lump become a cancerous lymph node and change our lives? It was something that I would question constantl y. But through all of the heartbreak and anger, I continued to pray for peace, healing, and understanding. The next few weeks passed by slowly and in all honestly, it was all a big blur. My heart still physically and emotionally ached, and I was still trying to wrap my mind around everything. Before I knew it, it was September and time for my Daddy’s first chemotherapy treatment. My parents kept insisting that I didn’t need to go to the appointment with them, but I knew that I needed to go. Not only to support both of them, but also for healing for myself. As we walked into the chemo room, it was like reality slapped me in the face. Up until this point, I think I was in denial and not willing to fully accept what my Daddy’s future held. I can still visualize the room with all the chairs, monitors, and IV pumps. The next eight hours passed by quicker than I imagined that they would. My Daddy did fantastic with the treatment. 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Smoking Ban Persuasive Essay - 985 Words

BACKGROUND INFORMATION For several decades, smoking remains one of the most common and most unhealthy of human habits. Smoking, specifically in public, had generally been regarded as a personal choice that bystanders had little control over. Now for the first time, the act of public smoking is becoming regulated, even restricted in many cities worldwide. The city of Columbia has recently implemented a ban on smoking in efforts to reduce the negative effects of smoking on employees and customers of restaurants and bars. The issue is that smoke directly affects everyone in the vicinity of a public place, restaurant or bar. Based on the evidence that a ban on smoking prevents secondhand smoke, deters the unhealthy habit of smoking, does†¦show more content†¦A study in El Paso, Texas, proved that a smoking ban did not affect business. By comparing revenues from restaurants, bars, and retail establishments twelve years before and one year after the smoking ban was passed, the results of the study showed that there was no statistical difference in revenue (Huang). Another similar study conducted in New York City, New York, showed that businesses were not only unaffected by the smoking ban but eventually thrived, as tax receipts increased eight point seven percent. In addition, employment in restaurants and bars increased by 10,600 jobs in New York since the smoking ban began (The State). Thus, the claim of business in Columbia negatively affected from the smoking ban is inaccurate. Many critics claim that a smoking ban harms business in Columbia, because a few restaurants and bars have closed since the ban was in enacted. However they have failed to supply viable evidence that a smoking ban negatively affects business, forgetting to count for others factors such as bad food, location, and poor business decisions by owners. Besides not affecting business, a smoking ban deters smoking in general. With the ban in place it allows those who want to quit smoking the incentive to quit. A contributing factor to this is inhaling tobacco actually increases the number of receptors in the brain that crave nicotine. So, if there is no smoke being inhaled peopleShow MoreRelatedThe Need to Ban Smoking in Public Places: A Persuasive Essay744 Words   |  3 Pagesor not to ban smoking in public places has been ongoing for quite a long period of time. While there are those who are opposed to the banning of smoking in public places, quite a number of studies conducted in the past have clearly demonstrated that second-hand smoke has serious health implications for nonsmokers. 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The Day that changed my life forever free essay sample

It was a typical Sunday morning; I was in my bed sleep, completely oblivious to what was going on across the hall in my mother’s room. That’s when my little sister came in my room to tell me that my mom was crying. I didn’t believe her so I got up to see for myself. I’ve never heard my mother cry before so I thought she was laughing. I stood in the doorway for about five minutes when she looked at me with tears in her eyes and told me that my grandmother died in her sleep last night from a heart attack. I was in complete shock, I didn’t know if I should be sad, mad, devastated, or anything like that. I couldn’t believe that was she gone just like that. The day before, when I last visited her, she looked completely healthy. She was smiling and happy so when I heard she had a heart attack I kept thinking how, how could she be gone so suddenly. We will write a custom essay sample on The Day that changed my life forever or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Later on that Sunday, we went to her house to see how her brother was holding up. He asked me if I wanted to go in the house but I said, â€Å"No, I don’t want to go in there right now†. When he asked me why, all I said was, â€Å"I’m just not ready. † I couldn’t handle going in there because of all the memories that were in that were in her house and because of the fact that I was vulnerable, I was still in shock and afraid. For the next few days, all I could think about was her. When I went to class the next day, I didn’t say anything; I couldn’t even focus on my work, because I missed her so much. To me, my grandma was the rock that kept my family strong. She was what held us together at the seams. My grandma could make anyone laugh no matter what, and she helped any and everyone she could. She taught me things that would eventually help me in the future. After she died, my family just fell apart because we didn’t know what to do. We were afraid that we would break apart at the seams. We didn’t know who to turn to for advice, we were lost. Her death hit me the hardest because she was my best friend; we had a special bond that no one could break. I knew that one day that she was going back to her home with the God; I just didn’t expect it to happen so soon. There were still things I still wanted to do with her, places I wanted to go with her. Since I knew that she died, I knew that I would have to find some way to control my emotions, which is why I started writing poetry. Poetry helps me get my feelings out so that I could focus on my schoolwork and get my life on track. I know that she’s still watching over me, making sure that I grow into the mature young lady she knows I am. I’ve talked to her in my dreams many times, but it’s not the same as seeing her, and talking to her face to face. She was very influential and inspiring to me, because no matter what was going on in her life, she always had a smile on her face. She was the only person who I could talk to about anything, now I don’t know who I can talk to because her advice made me who I am today. My only regret is that I didn’t attend her funeral simply because I couldn’t bear the thought of seeing them putting her in the ground. Her death made me realize that your life can end at any moment, so you should live your life to the fullest, because you’ll never know when your time on Earth is up.

Service Quality, Customer Satisfaction, and Behavioral Intentions in Fast-Food Restaurants Essay Example

Service Quality, Customer Satisfaction, and Behavioral Intentions in Fast-Food Restaurants Essay The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at www. emeraldinsight. com/1756-669X. htm IJQSS 1,1 Service quality, customer satisfaction, and behavioral intentions in fast-food restaurants Hong Qin and Victor R. Prybutok Information Technology and Decision Sciences Department, College of Business Administration, University of North Texas, Denton, Texas, USA Abstract Purpose – This study aims to explore the potential dimensions of service quality, and examine the relationship among service quality, food quality, perceived value, customer satisfaction and behavioral intentions in fast-food restaurants (FFRs). Design/methodology/approach – The construct reliability and validity was assessed using exploratory factor analysis and con? rmatory factor analysis. Structural equation modeling was employed to estimate the relationship among service quality, customer satisfaction, and behavioral intentions. Findings – Results indicated that ? ve dimensions were signi? cant: tangibles, reliability/ responsiveness, recovery, assurance, and empathy. Service quality and food quality were two main determinants of customer satisfaction. The insigni? ance of perceived value is potentially due to the homogeneous nature of the construct within the FFR group rather than the importance of the perceived value construct within food service. Originality/value – The FFR success model, using the original ? ve in the SERVPERF scale and another new dimension â€Å"recovery† to measure service quality, was empirically examined in the fast food industry. Several potential antecedents of sat isfaction, including service quality, food quality and perceived value were also tested. Keywords Consumer behaviour, Customer satisfaction, Fast foods, Customer services quality We will write a custom essay sample on Service Quality, Customer Satisfaction, and Behavioral Intentions in Fast-Food Restaurants specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Service Quality, Customer Satisfaction, and Behavioral Intentions in Fast-Food Restaurants specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Service Quality, Customer Satisfaction, and Behavioral Intentions in Fast-Food Restaurants specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Paper type Research paper 8 International Journal of Quality and Service Sciences Vol. 1 No. 1, 2009 pp. 78-95 q Emerald Group Publishing Limited 1756-669X DOI 10. 1108/17566690910945886 1. Introduction Customers’ evaluations of the service quality are critical to service ? rms that aim to improve their marketing strategies (Cronin and Taylor, 1992; Jain and Gupta, 2004; O? r and Simonson, 2001). Firms that provide superior service quality also have a more satis? ed customer base (Aaker and Jacobson, 1994; Gilbert et al. , 2004; Gilbert and Veloutsou, 2006). Customer satisfaction is viewed as in? encing repurchase intentions and behavior, which, in turn, leads to an organization’s future revenue and pro? ts. As a result of the direct link with pro? ts, the issue of service quality and customer satisfaction has become a focus of the hospitality industries. More and more companies are compelled to assess and improve their service quality in an effort to attract customers (Gilbert and Veloutsou, 2006). There are some academic studies to address the service quality and customer satisfaction in fast-food restaurants (FFRs) (Brady et al. 2001; Gilbert et al. , 2004; Kara et al. , 1995; Lee and Ulgado, 1997; Qin and Prybutok, 2008); however, most of the studies are limited to the relationship between customer satisfaction and service quality. Some other potential determinants of customer satisfaction such as food quality and perceived value are ignored. Furthermore, to the best of our knowledge, very few studies have examined the recovery ability of FFRs, much less of its effect on the perceived service quality or customer satisfaction. Understanding the interplay between the recovery mechanism and customer behavioral intentions is important, because better recoveries increase the customer’s propensity to return to the same service provider whereas ineffective service recovery may reinforce the customer’s dissatisfaction with the service (Harris et al. , 2006). However, service recovery is not considered in the well-known SERVPERF model even though some ? ndings suggest that recovery dominates formation of customer satisfaction and behavioral intentions (Spreng et al. , 1995). This study contributes to the investigation of the above issues. First, we seek to develop a FFR success model by examining the key dimensions of service quality in the fast food industry. Speci? cally, another potential dimension, recovery, is incorporated into the SERVPERF instrument. After establishing suf? cient reliability and validity of this instrument, we proceed with the second objective – to examine the relationship among service quality, food quality, perceived value, customer satisfaction, and behavioral intentions. The organization of this paper includes another ? e sections. The theoretical foundation of perceived service quality and its dimensions are reviewed in the next section, followed by the research methodology including the development of the instrument. Then, the data analysis and ? ndings of this study are presented, followed by the conclusions and managerial implications. The paper concludes with a section on the limitations of this work and potential future research. 2. Theoretical foundation The importance of service quality is substantially addressed in the fast-food management literature. Superior service leads to satis? ed and loyal customers whose continued patronage is essential to the success of FFRs. Conversely, poor service quality increases customer dissatisfaction and the likelihood that customers dine at a competitor’s FFR and/or become an active champion in persuading others to go elsewhere (Gilbert et al. , 2004). Hence, it is crucial for service managers to understand how customers perceive the service they provide, and what components might determine the nature of the perceived service quality in FFRs. 2. Measurement of service quality Over the past two decades, the research related to perceived service quality has swelled enormously. An important contribution to that research stream is Parasuraman et al. ’s (1988) 22-item SERVQUAL scale. This scale measures service quality by the degree of discrepancy between customers’ normative expectations for the service and their perceptions of the providers’ actual performances (Parasura man et al. , 1985, 1988). Five dimensions are unsheathed as the main attributes of service quality across a variety of services. These dimensions include tangibles, reliability, responsiveness, assurance, and empathy. Subsequent empirical works have applied the SERVQUAL instrument to measure service quality in a variety of business settings (Bojanic and Rosen, 1994; Fu and Parks, 2001; Furrer et al. , 2000; Gounaris, 2005; Heung et al. , 2000; Lassar et al. , 2000; Lee and Ulgado, 1997). Service quality in restaurants 79 IJQSS 1,1 80 Although the SERVQUAL instrument is employed enthusiastically, it has received heavy criticism from both a theoretical and practical perspective. The issues questioned include the use of gap scores, the overlap among ? ve dimensions, poor predictive and convergent validity, the ambiguous de? ition of the â€Å"expectation† construct, and unstable dimensionality (Babakus and Boller, 1992; Carman, 1990; Peter et al. , 1993; van Dyke et al. , 1999). By discarding the expectation portion in the SERVQUAL model, Cronin and Taylor (1992) justify their SERVPERF or performance-only instrument in place of the gap measurement approach. In addition, they provide empirical evidence that the SERVPERF instrument outperforms the SERVQUAL scale across four industries: fast food, dry cleaning, banks and pest control. The performance-only measures are used and suggested by many scholars in various industries (Gilbert et al. 2004; Keillor et al. , 2004; Law et al. , 2004; Parasuraman et al. , 1994; van Dyke et al. , 1997). In addition to the research of Cronin and Taylor (1992) in fast food industry, Jain and Gupta (2004) compare weighted and un-weighted versions of the SERVQUAL and SERVPERF instruments by conducting a survey of FFR customers in India. They ? nd that the SERVPERF scale is more effective in explaining the service quality constructs and variations in service quality scores within the restaurant industry. For the purpose of this study, we are following Cronin and Taylor’s conceptual model and use performance only to measure service quality. Several previous studies suggest that modi? cation of SERVPERF is necessary for application to different service industries (Andaleeb and Conway, 2006; Carman, 1990; Olorunniwo et al. , 2006). This served as an impetus to investigate other in? uential components of service quality within the fast-food industry. Speci? cally, we investigated 60 customer reviews of FFR service at: www. my3cents. com. From those reviews, we gleaned that most of the customers experiencing dissatisfactory service were complaining about the poor resolution of their negative experience rather than the service incidence itself. This supports the contention that most customers can accept that service is not ? awless and mistakes are tolerated if they believe that the restaurant is concerned about resolution of the service problem. This is consistent with prior ? ndings in the literature (Bitner et al. , 1990; Heskett et al. , 1994; McColl et al. , 2005). Failure itself does not necessarily lead to customer dissatisfaction; however, failure to handle recoveries effectively can lead to lost customers and negative word-of-mouth (Heskett et al. , 1994; McColl et al. , 2005).

Senior Citizen Population by State Per 2010 Census

Senior Citizen Population by State Per 2010 Census This article lists the United States senior citizen population (i.e. sixty-five years old and over) by state, as recorded in the 2010 Census. This data is relevant to national and state elections because historically, more senior citizens vote Republican than vote Democratic. In the 2008 presidential election, senior citizens nationwide heavily favored Republican John McCain over Democrat Barack Obama by a margin of 53% to 45%. Reported campaign strategists Democracy Corps about the 2008 election in comparison to 2004, According to the exit polls, while Obama made gains with nearly all groups compared to John Kerry, this did not happen with seniors. They, along with gay and lesbian voters, were the big underperformers for Obama. However, in the 2012 elections, voters sixty-five years old and over could be upset enough over Republican proposals to cut and/or change Social Security and Medicare benefits to opt to vote for Democratic candidates. States with high concentrations of senior citizens include 2012 battlegrounds Florida, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, and potential battleground states Missouri, Arizona, Montana and Iowa. State Resident Population65 Years Old and OverAccording to the 2010 Census Very High Level of Senior Citizen Population 1. Florida - 17.3% 2. West Virginia - 16.0% 3. Maine - 15.9% 4. Pennsylvania - 15.4% 5. Iowa - 14.9% 6. Montana - 14.8% 7. Vermont - 14.6% 8. North Dakota - 14.5% 9. Arkansas - 14.4% 9. Rhode Island - 14.4% 9. Delaware - 14.4% 12. South Dakota - 14.3% 12. Hawaii - 14.3% High Level of Senior Citizen Population 14. Connecticut - 14.2% 15. Ohio - 14.1 % 16. Missouri - 14.0% 17. Oregon - 13.9% 18. Michigan - 13.8% 18. Arizona - 13.8% 18. Massachusetts - 13.8% 18. Alabama - 13.8% 22. Wisconsin - 13.7% 22. South Carolina - 13.7% 24. Nebraska - 13.5% 24. New York - 13.5% 24. Oklahoma - 13.5% 24. New Jersey - 13.5% Median Level of Senior Citizen Population 28. New Hampshire - 13.5% 29. Tennessee - 13.4% 30. Kentucky - 13.3% 31. New Mexico - 13.2% 31. Kansas - 13.2% 33. Indiana - 13.0% 34. North Carolina - 12.9% 34. Minnesota - 12.9% 36. Mississippi - 12.8% 37. Illinois - 12.5% 38. Wyoming - 12.4% 38. Idaho - 12.4% 40. Louisiana - 12.3% 40. Maryland - 12.3% 40. Washington - 12.3% 43. Virginia - 12.2% 44. Nevada - 12.0% Low Level of Senior Citizen Population 45. California - 11.4% 46. Colorado - 10.9% 47. Georgia - 10.7% 48. Texas - 10.3% 49. Utah - 9.0% 50. Alaska - 7.7% Unemployment Rates by State Foreclosure Rates by State Top 20 Labor Union States Hispanic Population by State African-American Population by State U.S. Census Bureau , Table 16, State Resident Population by Age and State: 2010

Vincent van Gogh Essays

Vincent van Gogh Essays Vincent van Gogh Paper Vincent van Gogh Paper Thesis:Vincent van Gogh was seen upon as a failure in his lifetime, which lead to various mental disorders and ultimately suicide, but is today viewed as the foremost representative Vincent van Gogh was seen as a failure in his lifetime which lead to various mental disorders and ultimately suicide, but today is viewed as the foremost representative of postimpressionist art.Unable to conform to normal life, Vincent turned to art to passionately express his feelings.His style of choppy brush strokes of brilliant colors was looked down upon by other artist of his time but with support from his brother, Theo, Vincent lived his dream of becoming an artist.Although he enjoyed painting, the intense feeling of failure and rejection by women, took a toll on Vincent.He went through long bouts of depression, which led to his suicide.Today, Van Gogh is seen as one of the most achieved and inspirational artists of all time. Vincent van Gogh was born on March 30, 1853 in North Brafant, Hollan d.He was the son of Theodorus van Gogh, an evangelical Calvinist, and Anna Cornelia Carbentus.He was the second son named Vincent, thefirst died an infant.This always made Vincent feel like a replacement son for his parents.As a child Vincent was shy, and preferred to be alone.He liked the outdoors and admired its beauty, which he portrayed is his paintings later in life (Schaffner Vincent spent thefirst twenty years of his life trying to discover his true calling.Hefirst worked as an art dealer for Goupil and Co. in Paris.While working here he learned alot about art and developed his own tastes and preferences.Van Gogh then decided that he wanted to go into the ministry.He went into theological studies at the University of Amsterdam.After failing his classes, Vincent served as a missionaryfrom November 1878 to July 1879 in a coal mining district in Belgium.Observing the lives

Business-Level and Corporate-Level Strategies Assignment

Business-Level and Corporate-Level Strategies - Assignment Example Moreover, AT&T provides GSM, TDMA and UMTS services. These are the example of niche marketing activities. AT&T has started to sell their wireless and GSM services in iphone, collaborating with Apple Corporation (Grant and Meadows, 2012). Its exclusive accord to competitive market place has differentiated AT&T from its potential competitors. Vast spectrum utilization of AT&T offers its subscribers the video conferencing service. AT&T wireless is the only telecom company in US market that promises; people can get connected with each other anywhere and anyway by its efficient telecom service. AT&T has successfully diversified their business in several international markets. It is the leading wireless service provider in global market that provides Voice-IP, Voice-PTT, HSPDA and video sharing. Moreover, efficient channel exposure has increased the competitive advantage of AT&T. The story of AT&T depicts the 130 years old history. The old giant company has efficiently served the customers in telecommunication sector. From the foundation in 1875 by Graham Bell to this present era, the global telecommunication industry has evidenced several key events of AT&T. The study focuses on the corporate-level strategies of AT&T. After the successful invention of telephone in the year 1875 by Graham Bell, the company has diversified their business. The vertical integration of the company created the opportunity of transferring the corporate skills of the company. In an addition, BTC also did acquisitions of many licenses. It actually increases the market power of BTC. Years after years the both vertical and horizontal integration helped BTC to create the economies of scope. Moreover, they have continuously generated the know-how technology. The monopolistic status of the company resulted many filed regulation suits. At one point of time AT&T lost the brand image and huge market share due to

Trade Associations Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Trade Associations Paper - Essay Example Today, the association represents a total of 400 companies, 9,000 brands, and over one hundred billion dollars in advertising and marketing. In many ways, the ANA is the prime example of a working regional trade association. The association is headquartered in two distinct locations, where both locations perform two different functions. The first location, in New York City, regulates the practices of marketers and sets forth industry initiatives. The second location, in Washington D.C., manages industry affairs and the relationship between marketers and legislative rights, as well as a focus on public policy. Because ANA membership is open only to client-side marketing organizations, agencies and media companies are not eligible for membership. Joining the association brings client-side marketers several advantages, including marketing/media committees, workshops, national conferences, advocacy initiatives, dedicated research experts, and marketing insights in an online database. Thus, ANA membership is beneficial to all sorts of marketing companies. With 45 companies looking to advance the interests of advertisers and their clients, the Association of National Advertising Managers evolved nearly a century ago in 1910. In 1914, with prominent clients such as Macey Company, Burroughs Adding Machine Company, and Sherwin Williams Company, the trade association adopted the current title of the Association of National Advertisers. Since its creation, the goals of the organization have not changed. The organization set out to support positive relationships between advertisers and agencies and regional and national industries. The association’s purpose is to maintain advertising as a necessary and valuable economic factor, as well as to promote efficiency and responsibility in advertising, which includes advancing the interests of its individual members. At the time of its formation, the ANA was structured to handle industry relationships and the interests

Separting the Components of Panacetin Essay Example for Free

Separting the Components of Panacetin Essay The purpose of this experiment is to investigate the composition of a simulated pharmaceutical preparation Panacetin, a proposed type of pain-killer. Panacetin is typically made up of sucrose, aspirin, and acetaminophen, but the third component in this experiment is unknown. The unknown component is suspected to be a chemical relative of acetaminophen, either acetanilide or phenacetin. Using techniques such as extraction, evaporation, and filtration, the three components will be isolated based on their solubilities and acid-base properties. The percent composition of Panacetin will also be deduced based on the masses of the three dried components; this is done to verify the composition attained is consistent with those listed on the preparations label. As a result of this investigation, my teammates and I allowed the Panacetin to undergo gravity filtration and separation techniques in order to identify whether there are any discrepancies in the components of the Panacetin. Furthermore, recrystallization and purification methods were used to determine if the unknown substance were similar in properties to either of the suspected unknown substances by comparing factors such as melting points to the chemical properties of phenactin and acetanilide. The results were as expected, based on the molecular weights and ratios of each separated chemicals, as well as the boiling point of the unknown it was determined that these ranges were close enough to indicate that the label is reasonably accurate in its composition. To add on however the identity of the unknown component differed from what the label indicated. In the end, the percentage composition attained based on our observations and yield confirmed that indeed the chemical composition of Panacetin were as indicated on the preparations label. The identity of the unknown component however suggested that the preparation did not contain acetaminophen as indicated, but instead was consistent with the chemical properties of acetanilide.

Social Welfare Past and Present Essay -- Papers History Aid Welfare Es

Social Welfare Past and Present Social welfare is an expansive system proposed to maintain the well being of individuals within a society. This paper will explain the progression from the feudal system and church provisions for the poor before the Elizabethan Poor Law to the gradual assumption of the responsibility for the poor by the government. A responsibility assumed not out of humanity and concern for the poor, but as a process of standardizing the ways in which the poor were to be managed. The history of social welfare reflects differences in values as they relate to social responsibility in taking care of the needy. Our society has been influenced by values like Judeo-Christian humanitarianism and the economic doctrine of laissez faire. Our present social welfare structure is also influenced by these values. Our English heritage has greatly affected social welfare today. Some of the standards set in England include: indoor relief; a national policy for the poor; the provision of serving the poor by placing them in institutions; and the categorization of the poor into two basic categorizes, the worthy poor and the able-bodied poor (unworthy poor). The Elizabethan Poor Law also set precedents which include: clear government responsibility for those in need; government authority to force people to work; government enforcement of family responsibility; responsibility for carrying out programs at the local level; and strict residence requirements. In England during the late 1700's there were other efforts that led to shaping the United States social welfare policies that address poverty. The Speenhamland Act of 1795 was one such effort. It "provided for the payment of minimum wages to workers and their fam... ...ed that health problems and lack of affordable health care were barriers for many of the AFDC recipients to get off welfare. Clinton also wanted the states to play a wider role in the design of federal welfare programs. State and federal legislation now focused on personal responsibility, limiting stays on public assistance and imposing far more strict work requirements. These efforts to limit the federal role in services to the poor and to shift the responsibility to the states means that there are now fifty-one different welfare programs in the United States. "Social welfare development in America has been fragmented and lacks comprehensive conceptual framework for its development. It continues to be in a constant state of evolution as the United States struggles with mitigating the effects of a market-based economy on certain segments of the population."

The Return: Shadow Souls Chapter 31

â€Å"I'm feeling much better,† Elena told Dr. Meggar. â€Å"I'd like to take a walk around the estate.† She tried not to bounce up and down on the bed. â€Å"I've been eating steak and drinking milk and I even took that vile cod liver oil you sent. Also I have a very firm grasp of reality: I'm here to rescue Stefan and the little boy inside Damon is a metaphor for his unconscious, which the blood we shared allowed me to ‘see.'† She bounced once, but covered it by reaching for a glass of water. â€Å"I feel like a happy puppy pulling at the leash.† She exhibited her newly designed slave bracelets: silver with lapis lazuli inserts in fluid designs. â€Å"If I die suddenly, I am prepared.† Dr. Meggar's eyebrows worked up and down. â€Å"Well, I can't find anything wrong with your pulse or your breathing. I don't see how a nice afternoon walk can hurt you. Damon's certainly up and walking. But don't you go giving Lady Ulma any ideas. She still needs months of bed rest.† â€Å"She has a nice little desk made from a breakfast tray,† Bonnie explained, gesturing to show size and width. â€Å"She designs clothes on that.† Bonnie leaned forward, wide-eyed. â€Å"And you know what? Her dresses are magic.† â€Å"I wouldn't expect anything less,† grunted Dr. Meggar. But the next moment Elena remembered something unpleasant. â€Å"Even when we get the keys,† she said, â€Å"we have to plot the actual jailbreak.† â€Å"What's a jailbreak?† Lakshmi asked excitedly. â€Å"It's like this – we've got the keys to Stefan's cell, but we still need to figure out how we're going to get into the prison, and how we're going to smuggle him out.† Lakshmi frowned. â€Å"Why not just go in with the line and take him out the gate?† â€Å"Because,† Elena said, trying for patience, â€Å"they won't let us just walk in and get him.† She narrowed her eyes as Lakshmi put her head in her hands. â€Å"What're you thinking, Lakshmi?† â€Å"Well, first you say that you're going to have the key in your hand when you go to the prison, then you act like they're not going to let him out of the prison.† Meredith shook her head, bewildered. Bonnie put a hand to her forehead as if it ached. But Elena slowly leaned forward. â€Å"Lakshmi,† she said, very quietly, â€Å"are you saying that if we have a key to Stefan's cell it's basically a pass in and out of prison?† Lakshmi brightened up. â€Å"Of course!† she said. â€Å"Otherwise, what would a key be good for? They could just lock him in another cell.† Elena could hardly believe the wonder of what she had just heard, so she immediately began trying to poke holes in it. â€Å"That would mean we could go straight from Bloddeuwedd's party to the prison and just take Stefan out,† she said with as much sarcasm as she could inject into her voice. â€Å"We could just show our key and they'd let us take him away.† Lakshmi nodded eagerly. â€Å"Yes!† she said joyfully, the sarcasm having gone right over her head. â€Å"And, don't be mad, okay? But I wondered why you never went to visit him.† â€Å"We can visit him?† â€Å"Sure, if you make an appointment.† By now Meredith and Bonnie had come to life and were supporting Elena on either side. â€Å"How soon can we send someone to make an appointment?† Elena said through her teeth, because it was taking all her effort to speak – her entire weight was resting on her two friends. â€Å"Who can we send to make an appointment?† she whispered. â€Å"I'll go,† Damon said from the crimson darkness behind them. â€Å"I'll go tonight – give me five minutes.† Matt could feel that he had on his most cross and stubborn expression. â€Å"C'mon,† Tyrone said, looking amused. They were both gearing up for a trip into the thicket. This meant putting on two of the mothball-clove-recipe coats each and then using duct tape to fasten the gloves to the coats. Matt was sweating already. But Tyrone was a good guy, he thought. Here Matt had come out of nowhere and said, â€Å"Hey, you know that bizarre thing you saw with poor Jim Bryce last week? Well, it's all connected to something even more bizarre – all about fox spirits and the Old Wood, and Mrs. Flowers says that if we don't figure out what's going on, we're going to be in real trouble. And Mrs. Flowers isn't just a batty old lady at the boardinghouse, even though everybody says so.† â€Å"Of course she isn't,† Dr. Alpert's brusque voice had said from the doorway. She put down her black bag – still a country doctor, even when the town was in crisis – and addressed her son. â€Å"Theophilia Flowers and I have known each other a long time – and Mrs. Saitou, too. They were both always helping people. That's their nature.† â€Å"Well – † Matt had seen an opportunity and jumped at it. â€Å"Mrs. Flowers is the one who needs help now. Really, really needs help.† â€Å"Then what're you sitting there for, Tyrone? Hurry up and go help Mrs. Flowers.† Dr. Alpert had ruffled her own iron-gray hair with her fingers, then ruffled her son's black hair fondly. â€Å"I was, Mom. We were just leaving when you came in.† Tyrone, seeing Matt's grim horror-story of a car, had politely offered to drive them to Mrs. Flowers's house in his Camry. Matt, afraid of a terminal blowout at some crucial moment, was only too happy to accept. He was glad that Tyrone would be the lynchpin of the Robert E. Lee High football team in the coming year. Ty was the kind of guy you could count on – as witness his immediate offer of help today. He was a good sport, and absolutely straight and clean. Matt couldn't help but see how drugs and drinking had ruined not only the actual games, but the sportsmanship of the other teams on campus. Tyrone was also a guy who could keep his mouth shut. He hadn't even peppered Matt with questions as they drove back to the boardinghouse, but he did give a wolf whistle, not at Mrs. Flowers, but at the bright yellow Model T she was driving into the old stables. â€Å"Whoa!† he said, jumping out to help her with a grocery bag, while his eyes drank in the Model T from fender to fender. â€Å"That's a Model T Fordor Sedan! This could be one beautiful car if – † He stopped abruptly and his brown skin burned with a sunset glow. â€Å"Oh, my, don't be embarrassed about the Yellow Carriage!† Mrs. Flowers said, allowing Matt to take another bag of groceries back through the kitchen garden and into the kitchen of the house. â€Å"She's served this family for nearly a hundred years, and she's accumulated some rust and damage. But she goes almost thirty miles an hour on paved roads!† Mrs. Flowers added, speaking not only proudly, but with the somewhat awed respect owed to high-speed travel. Matt's eyes met Tyrone's and Matt knew there was only one shared thought hanging in the air between them. To restore to perfection the dilapidated, worn, but still beautiful car that spent most of its time in a converted stable. â€Å"We could do it,† Matt said, feeling that, as Mrs. Flowers's representative, he should make the offer first. â€Å"We sure could,† Tyrone said dreamily. â€Å"She's already in a double garage – no problems about room.† â€Å"We wouldn't have to strip her down to the frame†¦she really rides like a dream.† â€Å"You're kidding! We could clean the engine, though: have a look at the plugs and belts and hoses and stuff. And† – dark eyes gleaming suddenly – â€Å"my dad has a power sander. We could strip the paint and repaint it the exact same yellow!† Mrs. Flowers suddenly beamed. â€Å"That was what dear Mama was waiting for you to say, young man,† she said, and Matt remembered his manners long enough to introduce Tyrone. â€Å"Now, if you had said, ‘We'll paint her burgundy' or ‘blue' or any other color, I'm sure she would have objected,† Mrs. Flowers said as she began to make ham sandwiches, potato salad, and a large kettle of baked beans. Matt watched Tyrone's reaction to the mention of â€Å"Mama† and was pleased: there was an instant of surprise, followed by an expression like calm water. His mother had said Mrs. Flowers wasn't a batty old lady: therefore she wasn't a batty old lady. A huge weight seemed to roll off Matt's shoulders. He wasn't alone with a fragile elderly woman to protect. He had a friend who was actually a little bigger than he was to rely on. â€Å"Now both of you, have a ham sandwich, and I'll make the potato salad while you're eating. I know that young men† – Mrs. Flowers always spoke of men as if they were a special kind of flower – â€Å"need lots of good hearty meat before going into battle, but there's no reason to be formal. Let's just dig right in as things are done.† They had happily obeyed. Now they were preparing for battle, feeling ready to fight tigers, since Mrs. Flowers's idea of dessert was a pecan pie split between the boys, along with huge cups of coffee that cleared the brain like a power sander. Tyrone and Matt drove Matt's junker to the cemetery, followed by Mrs. Flowers in the Model T. Matt had seen what the trees could do to cars and he wasn't going to subject Tyrone's whistle-clean Camry to the prospect. They walked down the hill to Matt and Sergeant Mossberg's hide, each of the boys giving a hand to help the frail Mrs. Flowers over rough bits. Once, she tripped and would have fallen, but Tyrone dug the toes of his DC shoes into the hill and stood like a mountain as she tumbled against him. â€Å"Oh, my – thank you, Tyrone dear,† she murmured and Matt knew that â€Å"Tyrone dear† had been accepted into the fold. The sky was dark except for one streak of scarlet as they reached the hide. Mrs. Flowers took out the sheriff's badge, rather clumsily, due to the gardening gloves she was wearing. First she held it to her forehead, then she slowly drew it away, still holding it in front of her at eye-level. â€Å"He stood here and then he bent down and squatted here,† she said, getting down in what was – in fact – the correct side of the hide. Matt nodded, hardly knowing what he was doing, and Mrs. Flowers said without opening her eyes, â€Å"No coaching, Matt dear. He heard someone behind him – and whirled, drawing his gun. But it was only Matt, and they spoke in whispers for a while. â€Å"Then he suddenly stood up.† Mrs. Flowers stood suddenly and Matt heard all sorts of alarming little pops and crackles in her delicate old body. â€Å"He went walking – striding – down into that thicket. That evil thicket.† She set off for the thicket as Sheriff Rich Mossberg had when Matt had watched him. Matt and Tyrone went hurrying after her, ready to stop her if she showed any signs of entering the remnant of Old Wood that still lived. Instead, she walked around it, with the badge held to eye height. Tyrone and Matt nodded at each other and without speaking, each took one of her arms. This way they skirted the edge of the thicket, all the way around, with Matt going first, Mrs. Flowers next, and Tyrone last. At some point Matt realized that tears were making their way down Mrs. Flowers's withered cheeks. At last, the fragile old woman stopped, took out a lacy handkerchief – after one or two tries – and wiped her eyes with a gasp. â€Å"Did you find him?† Matt asked, unable to hold in his curiosity any longer. â€Å"Well – we'll have to see. Kitsune seem to be very, very good at illusions. Everything I saw could have been an illusion. But† – she heaved a sigh – â€Å"one of us is going to have to step into the Wood.† Matt gulped. â€Å"That'll be me, then – â€Å" He was interrupted. â€Å"Hey, no way, man. You know their ops, whatever they are. You've got to get Mrs. Flowers out of this – â€Å" â€Å"No, I can't risk just asking you to come over here and get hurt – â€Å" â€Å"Well, what am I doing out here, then?† Tyrone demanded. â€Å"Wait, my dears,† Mrs. Flowers said, sounding as if she were about to cry. The boys shut up immediately, and Matt felt ashamed of himself. â€Å"I know a way that you both can help me, but it's very dangerous. Dangerous for the two of you. But perhaps if we only have to do it once, we can cut the risk of danger and increase our chance of finding something.† â€Å"What is it?† Tyrone and Matt said almost simultaneously. A few minutes later, they were prepped for it. They were lying side by side, facing the wall formed by the tall trees and tangled underbrush of the thicket. They were not only roped together, but they had Mrs. Saitou's Post-it notes placed all over their arms. â€Å"Now when I say ‘three' I want you both to reach in and grab at the ground with your hands. If you feel something, keep hold of it and pull your arm out. If you don't feel anything, move your hand a little and then pull it out as fast as you can. And by the way,† she added calmly, â€Å"if you feel anything trying to pull you in or immobilize your arm, yell and fight and kick and scream, and we'll help you to get out.† There was a long, long minute of silence. â€Å"So basically, you think there are things all around on the ground in the thicket, and that we might get hold of them just by reaching in blindly,† Matt said. â€Å"Yes,† Mrs. Flowers said. â€Å"All right,† said Tyrone, and once again Matt glanced at him approvingly. He hadn't even asked â€Å"What kind of things could pull us into the Wood?† Now they were in position and Mrs. Flowers was counting â€Å"One, two, three,† and then Matt had thrust his right arm in as far as it would go and was sweeping his arm while groping. He heard a shout from beside him. â€Å"Got it!† And then instantly: â€Å"Something's pulling me in!† Matt pulled his own arm out of the thicket before trying to help Tyrone. Something dropped down on it, but it hit a Post-it note and it felt as if he'd been whacked by a piece of a Styrofoam. Tyrone was thrashing wildly and had already been dragged in to his shoulders. Matt grabbed him by the waist and used all his strength to haul backward. There was a moment of resistance – and then Tyrone came popping out as if suddenly released like a cork. There were scratches on his face and neck, but none where the overcoats had covered him or where the Post-it notes were. Matt felt a desire to say â€Å"Thank you,† but the two women who had made him amulets were far away, and he felt stupid saying it to Tyrone's coat. In any case, Mrs. Flowers was fluttering and thanking people enough for three. â€Å"Oh, my, Matt, when that big branch came down I thought your arm would be broken – at least. Thank the dear Lord that the Saitou women make such excellent amulets. And, Tyrone dear, please take a swig out of this canteen – â€Å" â€Å"Uh, I don't really drink much – â€Å" â€Å"It's just hot lemonade, my own recipe, dear. If it weren't for both you boys, we wouldn't have succeeded. Tyrone, you found something, yes? And then you were caught and would never have been released if Matt hadn't been here to save you.† â€Å"Oh, I'm sure he'd've got out,† Matt said hurriedly, because it must be embarrassing for anybody like The Tyreminator to admit they needed help. Tyrone, however, just said soberly, â€Å"I know. Thanks, Matt.† Matt felt himself blush. â€Å"But I didn't get anything after all,† Tyrone said disgustedly. â€Å"It felt like a piece of old pipe or something – â€Å" â€Å"Well, let's have a look,† Mrs. Flowers said very seriously. She turned the strongest flashlight on the object Tyrone had risked so much to bring out of the thicket. At first Matt thought it was a gigantic rawhide dog bone. But then an all-too-familiar shape made him look closer. It was a femur, a human femur. The biggest bone in the body, the one from the leg. And it was still white. Fresh. â€Å"It doesn't seem to be plastic,† Mrs. Flowers said in a voice that seemed very far away. It wasn't plastic. Matt could see where little tiny bits had curled up and away from the exterior. It wasn't rawhide, either. It was†¦well, real. A real human leg bone. But that wasn't the most horrifying thing; the thing that sent Matt spiraling out into darkness. The bone was polished clean and marked with the imprints of dozens of tiny little teeth.

Audie Murphy

World War two was the greatest of all wars ever fought on this earth, with millions of men from every corner of the planet fighting for the cause that they felt right. Out of all of these men from this war and arguably any war Audio Murphy is the greatest. Born the seventh out of twelve children to a sharecropping family on June 20th 1924, all Audio wanted to do in life was â€Å"to be somebody' (Gale). To do this Audio had to fight against the odds his entire life on to his way to becoming one of America's most recognized and cherished people during and after the War.One of the reasons Audio was such an icon to the rest of America, is because at the end of the day he was Just an ordinary boy. Even before the war, at the age fifteen in 1939 Audio dropped out of school to help support his family. The year after that his father left his family making him the man of the house, only to have his mother die when he was seventeen in 1941. These events would cause most men to break but this Just drove Audio into trying to help the cause at war, to make himself somebody.At first he did not succeed in enlisting being only five foot five inches and a hundred and twelve mounds none of the branches of the armed forces would accept him. Eventually on the 30th of June 1942 the US Army accepted him, placing him in company B, 1st battalion, and 15th infantry regiment of the 3rd division. After extensive training in Africa he was in part of the invasion of Italy, after his first contact with the enemy he said â€Å"Ten seconds after the first shot was fired at me by an enemy soldier, combat was no longer glamorous, † Then later saying â€Å"But it was important, because all of a sudden I wanted very much to stay alive† (Gale).This represents very well of how America's youth, though ready felt with their first taste of war. Out of all the times that Audio went above the call in which he was asked to during his time at war, there were two instances in which he prove d to everyone that he was a hero. The first instance happened when his company made their way north the eastern border of France during â€Å"operation dragoon† (Biography). There was a hilltop dotted with German machine gun and sniper nest; he single handedly worked his way up the hill taking them out (Gale). In the midst of this his friend, Lattice Tiptop Joined him in the assault.The Germans at this point acted like they surrendered, with this Lattice stood up then was shot from the lying Germans (Biography). Seeing his friend getting shot, after being lied too, Audio went on a rampage taking out the remaining nest using the German guns and grenades (Gale). For this Audio was given the second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross, and for his next act of valor he is awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. Audio received the highest of all medals in woods in France. It all began when his B Company was ambushed by six German tanks and infantry.He then he ld position to call in artillery while his troops retreated to the wood lines safety. He then headed too tank destroyer that was already hit and mounted to 50 Caliber gun, proceeding to mow down the Germans infantry. He was exposed on three sides but with deadly accurate shots he kept off all the advancing troops. Artillery then came in with deadly effectiveness, a squad of Germans tried to sneak up on Murphy but when they were within ten yards they were taken out. He was hit in the leg but fired till the ammunition was gone, peeling back to the wood effective and drove the remaining Germans out.Audio at the end of it all saved his men and took fifty German soldiers in the conflict (Honors). After the Germans surrender to the allied forces, Audio returned home to America. He was paraded around for being a hero of war and was put on the cover of Life on July 16, 1945. After seeing this photo actor James Chaney asked Murphy if he would try a career in Hollywood. He started doing small movies and wrote a book about his stories in the European campaigns: To Hell and Back. The post war America loved this book became a national bestseller and later a movie in which he starred in (Biography).In conclusion Audio Murphy was perhaps the most import unit during the entire war. He killed two-hundred and forty enemies in the process of saving his men. He is the most decorated person in history with thirty-three medals, of them there are three Purple Hearts and French Crosses of War, a Silver Star, Distinguished Service Star, and a Congressional Medal of Honor. Through Audio Murphy's heroic acts of selflessness and by keeping his head level in horrific situations, he became one of America's most loved people during and after the war. Work Cited â€Å"Audio Murphy.

Standardized Tests

Standardized Tests Introduction No one can avoid being evaluated by society, where society includes oneself, at least once in a while. There are guidelines and benchmarks against which a person is considered ‘suitable’ or not.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Standardized Tests specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Formal education is not just a platform for the understanding of society and life at large as it is also a place for people to learn about themselves, who they are, love and eventually help them decide what they would like to do from a broad perspective for the society or the world especially in this era of globalization. But it is hardly one’s place to decide where one can fit for whatever role. Although such cases exist for example Steve Jobs, Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg, college drop-outs who have succeeded without having a university certificate to prove it, but such people are very rare. Otherwise, peop le are meant to be tested at every level of education; failing one level by not doing well in a test means that one is not fit for the next stage. Evaluation through Standardized Tests (STs) is only one of the ways through which people’s knowledge are quantified before they are considered ‘fit’. Definitely, STs are not the best way for doing the job, as they do not reflect the truth about one’s ability to learn. Discussion STs have been criticized for being too simplistic (Smith, 2011); given that they assume that the one who scores highest is the smartest. For instance, through STs one can find out if a student knows the year that World War I, for instance began. While the student may know the exact year, he/she may not know the factors that led to it or how it came to begin. One’s capability to learn is much larger than performance in STs. STs only measure one’s ability to pass exams, which requires that one can remember the ‘rightâ⠂¬â„¢ answers within the set time: â€Å"they reward a student’s ability to answer superficial questions that don’t need actual thought† (Fairtest.org, 2007). This ability to remember answers may be as a result of continuous drilling and rote learning, as well as the ability of one to cram small bits of facts. It does not cater for those who have the answers but are slow in catching up with the time deadline.Advertising Looking for essay on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Another limitation of Sts is their emphasis on the ‘right answers’ (Engine4ed.org, 2011) since STs insist that that there’s only one right answer to every single question. In addition, the student does not have the room to decide what the right answer is if it comes from the teacher. And these answers are not given to the students to provoke knowledge and develop intelligence, instead they are offe red because they are convenient and assessable (Engine4ed.org, 2011). The problem with the ‘right answer’ is that while it works for purposes of STs, real life situations are not as black and white. They can have all kinds of ‘right answers’, some of them contradictory which must be considered relevant as long as there are valid arguments to accompany ‘the’ answers. Unfortunately for the learners, having the ‘right answers’ hoodwinks someone into believing one is smart, yet, it is in the very hunger for such answers and knowledge that lays one’s ability to learn. A student’s ability to learn and how one learns it are two different things, but ‘how’ one learns defines a student’s ability to learn; this ‘how’ is known as aptitude. For instance, some students learn best through in-depth reading, while some learn best by listening to the teacher. It is likely that the latter student will f ail a Standardized Test, as he/she may not know the ‘right answers’ that the teacher gives in class. STs overlook a student’s aptitude, which is a cognitive process since these tests are still based on the argument of the old behaviorist psychological theories which assume that people learn by absorbing bits of broken knowledge (Fairtest.org, 2007). The recent theories on developmental and cognitive psychology acknowledge that people learn through associating the knowledge they have and that which they are searching for. This is the basis of inference; that one can use already acquired knowledge to respond to a new situation, by overlooking this, STs have overlooked the very basis of judgment on whether one can learn or not. And so STs fail to achieve the very task they set out originally to accomplish. The assumption of IQ tests is that â€Å"intelligence is a single entity that can be put on scale and measured†, and also that â€Å"intelligence is stati c and permanent† (Fairtest.org, 2007). Contrary to this stance, however is that psychologists think that intelligence is a variety of abilities since intelligence is the ability to answer to the question â€Å"what do you think†, while IQ enables one to answer â€Å"what is† (Smith, 2011). Intelligence includes one’s ability to write, to extract meaning from a text, to comprehend scientific reasoning and methods, to grasp concepts of social science, to use math and apply the same in real life situations.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Standardized Tests specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More A student’s ability to learn requires intelligences, not just IQ; STs insists on putting IQ ahead of intelligence. Since they do not allow students to exercise their skills, creativity, critical thinking, reasoning and deductive logic (Smith, 2011). As such it may end up rewarding all the wrong candi dates. There are so many arguments against ST’s approach that it is quite hard to come about documents that favor STs. For instance, proponents of STs argue that they are practical, meaning that they are easy to administer as well as efficient in term s of time and grading; that they prepare students for the college test-taking skills; that they are a consistent means of comparing student aptitude and knowledge; and that they are unbiased in the sense that they are graded by machines, and so test scores are free from subjectivity of the examiners (eCampusour, 2009). But these arguments look feeble in the face of criticisms that are directed at STs. No one argues against the fact that these tests are efficient; in fact, it is partly the need for this efficiency that STs are there. Opponents of STs are asking that efficiency is not to be emphasized at the expense of students who cannot cram for the sake of tests. But their argument on the objectivity of STs is debatable, if it is true for instance that STs are unbiased when it comes to grading. But this is just as far as that objectivity goes. However, every other aspect of it is human-manipulated; for instance, the contents and wording of the tests, the determination of the ‘right’ answer, choosing and administration of the test, and how the results are used are decided by ‘subjective’ humans (Fairtest.org, 2007). The implication of these arguments is that supporters of Standardized tests do not dispute the arguments presented again STs, which could also mean that they agree on these limitations of STs. The only difference is that, for them STs as a form of evaluation is all there is to it and so all they can do is to look on the ‘bright’ side, and avoid the ‘dark’ side of Standardized Tests. Conclusion The forwarded limitations of Standardized Tests are real, but it is equally important to note that, before this test can be removed or modified there ha ve to be proposals on what should guide the development and implementation of a possible new system of evaluation. One such factor is that that the next system, either new or a modification of the Standardized test should be able to test intelligence which encompasses a variety of other measures. As observed by one author â€Å"relying on IQ scores without substantiating/proving the findings with the help of other sources of data is a disservice to the students and gives wrong information to policy makers† (Gilman, 2001). Also, the assessments made and the consequent interventions should take into account the differences in individual aptitudes and development (Gilman, 2001). Lastly, tests should be designed as tools that facilitate students to learn and not for ranking and classifying purposes.Advertising Looking for essay on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In this regard, a close observation of a student by the teacher, tracking and documentation of a student’s work and assessments based on performance can be crucial ingredients. All these should involve an evaluation that directly checks a student’s real learning efforts and tasks, and ultimately provides teachers, parents, communities and the government with useful material for the implementation of such a policy (Fairtest.org, 2007). References eCampusour (2009). Arguments for and Against Standardized Testing in  College Admissions. Web. Engine4ed.org. (2011). Problems with Standardized Tests. Web. Fairtest.org (2007). What’s wrong with Standardized Tests? Web. Gilman, L. (2001). The Theory of Multiple Intelligences. Web. Smith, S. (2011). What Are Standardized Tests. Web.

A Beginner Guide to Comparing Values in Perl

A Beginner Guide to Comparing Values in Perl Perl  comparison operators can sometimes be confusing to new Perl programmers. The confusion stems from the fact that  Perl  actually has two sets of comparison operators - one for comparing numeric values and one for comparing string American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII) values.   Since  comparison operators  are typically used to control logical program flow and make important decisions, using the wrong operator for the value you are testing can lead to bizarre errors and hours of debugging, if youre not careful. Dont forget to catch whats written at the very bottom of this page for some last-minute things to remember. Equal, Not Equal The simplest and probably most used comparison operators test to see if one value is equal to another value. If the values are equal, the test returns true, and if the values are not equal, the test returns false. For testing the equality of two numeric values, we use the comparison operator . For testing the equality of two string values, we use the comparison operator eq (EQual). Heres an example of both: if (5 5) { print for numeric values\n; } if (moe eq moe) { print eq (EQual) for string values\n; } Testing for the opposite, not equal, is very similar. Remember that this test will return true if the values tested are not equal to each other. To see if two numeric values are not equal to each other, we use the comparison operator !. To see if two string values are not equal to each other, we use the comparison operator ne (Not Equal). if (5 ! 6) { print ! for numeric values\n; } if (moe ne curly) { print ne (Not Equal) for string values\n; } Greater Than, Greater Than or Equal To Now lets look at the  greater than  comparison operators. Using this first operator, you can test to see if one value is  greater than  another value. To see if two  numeric  values are  greater than  each other, we use the comparison operator  . To see if two  string  values are  greater than  each other, we use the comparison operator  gt  (Greater Than). if (5 4) { print for numeric values\n; } if (B gt A) { print gt (Greater Than) for string values\n; } You can also test for  greater than or equal to, which looks very similar. Keep in mind that this test will return  true  if the values tested are equal to each other, or if the value on the left is greater than the value on the right. To see if two  numeric  values are  greater than or equal to  each other, we use the comparison operator  . To see if two  string  values are  greater than or equal to  each other, we use the comparison operator  ge  (Greater-than Equal-to). if (5 5) { print for numeric values\n; } if (B ge A) { print ge (Greater-than Equal-to) for string values\n; } Less Than, Less Than or Equal To There are a variety of comparison operators you can use to determine the logical flow of your  Perl programs. Weve already discussed the difference between the Perl numeric comparison operators and the Perl string comparison operators, which can cause some confusion to  new Perl programmers.  Weve also learned how to tell if two values are equal to, or not equal to each other, and weve learned how to tell if two values are greater than or equal to each other. Lets look at the  less than  comparison operators. Using this first operator, you can test to see if one value is  less than  another value. To see if two  numeric  values are  less than  each other, we use the comparison operator  . To see if two  string  values are  less than  each other, we use the comparison operator  lt  (Less Than). if (4 5) { print for numeric values\n; } if (A lt B) { print lt (Less Than) for string values\n; } You can also test for,  less than or equal to, which looks very similar. Remember that this test will return  true  if the values tested are equal to each other, or if the value on the left is less than the value on the right. To see if two  numeric  values are  less than or equal to  each other, we use the comparison operator  . To see if two  string  values are  less than or equal to  each other, we use the comparison operator  le  (Less-than Equal-to). if (5 5) { print for numeric values\n; } if (A le B) { print le (Less-than Equal-to) for string values\n; } More Information on Comparison Operators When we talk about string values being equal to each other, were referring to their ASCII values. So, the capital letters are technically less than the lowercase letters, and the higher the letter is in the alphabet, the higher the ASCII value. Make sure you check your  ASCII values  if youre trying to make logical decisions based on strings.

Project on leaflet ordering within the workplace Essay

Project on leaflet ordering within the workplace - Essay Example These provide customers with comprehensive information regarding tenancy, ownership, entitlements, neighbourhood plans, safety, security and all supportive systems forming part of the housing scheme. Thesis Statement: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the process and effectiveness of changes implemented in the ordering and display of customer information leaflets at KHT’s six offices across the borough. When undertaking changes in any part of an organization’s functioning, the individual, team and organizational levels need to be taken into account. Effectively addressing the issues that require change through relevant management processes, leads to the required results. It is essential to consider beneficial outcomes for customers, cost-effectiveness for the organization, have both vision and pragmatism, â€Å"pay attention to global and local issues, and encourage individual accountability at the same time as enabling team work† (Cameron and Green 2004, p.3). Effective management of change provides competitive advantage, improves enterprise and helps to consistently meet organizational goals. Managing change is a â€Å"complex, dynamic and challenging process† (Paton and McCalman 2000, p.2) involving assessment of the situation, planning tactical, strategic processes, and implementing operational changes. The work profile includes travelling to each of the Knowsley Housing Trust (KHT) offices on a weekly basis, to check whether all leaflets pertaining to KHT and its various benefit schemes, support and services are displayed correctly. A short notice inspection revealed that some of the leaflets displayed were out of date. Secondly, it was found that staff members were not willing to take responsibility towards stock taking and ordering fresh stocks according to the requirement. This resulted in the ordering of excessive numbers of the information leaflets, causing expensive wastage. A

Balanced Scorecard & Tableau de bord Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Balanced Scorecard & Tableau de bord - Essay Example This paper discusses the differences and similarities between the two systems of measurements by reviewing their strengths and weaknesses and then recommending the balanced scorecard as the best to be used by the companies. Introduction Lately there has been an increased performance measurement’s system evolution. The use of measurements that are non-financial, together with more conventional economical, has become a common recommendation; even though its uses are not something new, they were only developed fully during then nineties (Anthony &Dearden, 2007, p23). The relationship between the process of strategic planning and measurement of performance has been emphasized, at all the levels of a corporation. Presently, the most highly rated system of strategic measurement is the balanced scorecard. Nevertheless, the balanced scorecard has actually brought about serious attention particularly in the United States of America, as well as in some other several countries (Atkinson, Waterhouse and Wells, 2007, p.43). However, in France, the system of performance measurement has not been welcomed with much enthusiasm like in the other countries. The academic reticence of France relies mainly on the fact that the Fre nch companies have used for more than fifty years a literary dashboard (tableau de bord), which is much more similar to the balanced scorecard. ... Balanced scorecard Since the year 1992, several articles and texts have been dedicated to the balanced scorecard. However, those who mostly advocated for the approach are Kaplan and Norton. Moreover, several publications have stressed its general deployment conditions or reported particular experiences. It translates a business unit’s strategy and vision into goals and measures of performance in four various areas namely; the financial, client, perspectives of growth and learning and internal business process (Kaplan and Norton, 1993, p.83). The financial viewpoint identifies the way the corporation wishes to be seen by its shareholders. The customer viewpoint identifies the way the corporation wishes to be seen by its clients. The internal business process viewpoint highlights the business process whereby the corporation has to be specifically proficient for the purposes of satisfying its clients and shareholders. This explanation results in the identification of the major in dicators of process that the corporation wishes to manage and which will be party to the balanced scorecard itself (Jenkins, 2000, p.73). Usage and effectiveness among the survey respondents Tableau de bord It is not an easy thing to describe the tableau de bord. The tableau de bord is old as compared to the balanced scorecard, and this means that it has gone through several changes since its inception. There are several versions of it than the balanced scorecard. In French, we find that the ‘tableau de bord’ refers to the dashboard, and therefore the manager is figuratively compared to a pilot. In accordance with this culture, it is a tool meant for the company’s top management, giving it a quick and worldwide

Effective Marketing Manager Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Effective Marketing Manager - Essay Example Affiliation is not, it seems, as much important as is finding a common goal or value. Diversity in groups will be a problem as each and every group type is different with its own focused goals. I think I finally understand the importance of diversity and how to approach people using certain strategies as a leader. I also learned fundamental lessons such as brand design, advertisement, and production of brand philosophy. Most importantly was adjustment of strategy as it relates to certain buyer attitudes or problems associated with the product or theory of sales. Setting the important selling price along with scheduling of ads in media are key activities in order to gain buyer beliefs. The group simulation angle of this learning was in terms of capacity and measuring those in your work group to determine whether they can create well-timed advertising through environmental or PEST analyses (or some other working model). It is necessary to understand the limits and benefits of a work gr oup in measurement of goal setting or achieving higher profit. The social dynamics of working in groups was honestly the largest lesson learned and it should not be ignored even over the more rigid and foundational values of business. If had to rehearse the simulation over again, I would have tried other approaches to gaining unification in the group that involved more feedback. Curiosity to discover different approaches was cited by Dearing (NCHIE, 1997) to be characteristics of a reflective learner. It is only through working in a group environment running through real business applications and problems that, it seems, one gains an real understanding of attitudes, beliefs, and capabilities of group members. In many cases, my decision-making was accepted by most in the group, but it was a more passive and conscientious group that did not challenge brainstorming or new opinions. I would have tried to draw out more innovation and assertive behaviours in the group members when coming up with new ideas or solutions in order to help build their role within meeting the group goals. To do again, I would have approached the group with a more team-focused attitude. Simulation exercises improve employability because they shed light on actual problems that occur in business and the role of human talent development in the face of it. Critical self-analysis and analysis of others in a group helps to paint a profile of the type of person that a worker or manager is dealing with. This improves their communication style or changes the mutual exchange of information in a way that provides more value. This can be beneficial by making accurate, and sometimes rapid, assessments of an interviewer that can assist in landing a job by being more on target with the personality dimensions of those assessing for the job. It can also help to establish better relationships with authority makers in the job environment so that the recruitment process meets with long-term consequences in my favour. The technical lessons learned associated with business also reinforce that there must be a blend of attitude, relationships and goal-setting. In a business environment, especially one that is diverse and complex, there are going to be inter-linkages between support staff in different areas that require ongoing communications and

Juvenile Crime Statistics Paper Essay Example for Free

Juvenile Crime Statistics Paper Essay The Federal Bureau of Investigation tracks four offenses murder, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault in its Violent Crime Index. The juvenile arrest rate for each of these offenses has been declining steadily since the mid-1990s. The murder rate fell 70% from its 1993 peak through 2001 (Snyder, 2003). Statistics: Research has shown that crimes committed by juveniles are more likely to be cleared by law enforcement than crimes committed by adults. The clearance data in the Crime in the United States series show that the proportion of violent crimes attributed to juveniles by law enforcement has declined in recent years. The proportion of violent crimes cleared by juvenile arrests grew from about 9% in the late 1980s to 14% in 1994 and then declined to 12% in 2001. (Snyder 2003). Cleared Proportions: The juvenile proportion of cleared forcible rapes peaked in 1995 and then fell, with the 2001 proportion still above the levels of the late 1980s. The juvenile proportion of robbery clearances also peaked in 1995 at 20% and fell substantially by 2001 to 14%, but was still above the levels of the late 1980s at 10%. The juvenile proportion of aggravated assault clearances was at 12% in 2001 and was slightly below its peak of 13% in 1994. This was still substantially above the levels of the late 1980s. The proportion of Property Crime Index offenses cleared by juvenile arrests in 2001 was below all but 2 years in the 1980s and 1990s. (Snyder 2003) Drug Offenses: The text highlights an overall increase in the rate of drug offenses as well as simple assaults amount juveniles. After review of arrest statistics, the finding were that law enforcement agencies made an estimated 202,500 arrests of young people for drug abuse violations in 2001. Of those 202,500 arrests a drug abuse violation is seen to be the most serious. There was a decline in juvenile arrests for murder between 1992 and 2001. During this time period there were a large number of increases as well though. Statistics showed 51% motor vehicle theft and 40 % burglary. There was also a major increase in juvenile arrests for drug abuse violations at a 121%. (Snyder 2003). Simple assault increased between the early 1980s and the late 1990s which was more than 150% between 1983 and 1997. This rate fell 7% between 1997 and 2001. Arrests of Females: Arrests of females for various offenses are increasing more than the arrests of males, and the overall juvenile arrest rate for simple assault in 2001 remained near its all-time high. (Snyder 2003). Of the juvenile arrests reported in 2001 females accounted for 23% of those arrests for aggravated assault and 32% of juvenile arrests for other assaults. Females also appeared to be the leading sex in regards to runaway violations. Females were involved in 59% of all arrests for running away from home. Arrests for curfew and loitering law violations were reported at 31% for female juveniles. Females accounted for 23% of juvenile arrests for aggravated assault and 32% of juvenile arrests for other assaults (i.e., simple assaults and intimidations) in 2001. Females were involved in 59% of all arrests for running away from home and 31% of arrests for curfew and loitering law violations. (Snyder 2003) Violent Arrests of the Races: The text points out that the disparity in violent crime arrest rates for black juveniles and white juveniles declined substantially between 1980 and 2001. In 2001 the juvenile population was comprised of 78% white, 17% black, 4% Asian/Pacific Islander, and 1% American Indian. Violent crime statistics  showed that 55% involved white youth, 43% involved black youth, 1% involved Asian youth, and 1% involved American Indian youth. The results for property crime arrests were 68% white youth, 28% black youth, 2% Asian youth, and 1% American Indian youth. Between 1980 through 2001 black-to-white disparity in juvenile arrest rates for violent crimes show a decrease. The black juvenile Violent Crime Index arrest rate was 6.3 times the white rate in 1980 and in 2001; the rate disparity had declined to 3.6. The reduction in arrest rate were primarily due to the decline in black-to-white arrest disparities for robbery, which was greater than the decline for aggravated assault. Conclusion The outlook for the juvenile crime rate is uncertain as there are many factors which will affect those final numbers. One thing is for certain and that is that the population is projected to grow throughout the county at a rapid pace. The number of juveniles age 11 through 17; the ages of juveniles responsible for 99% of juvenile arrests will increase in the next decade. This will ultimately cause a spike in juvenile offenses and arrest numbers. References: Snyder, H. (December 2003). U.S. Department of Justice. Office of Justice Programs. Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Juvenile Justice Bulletin. Juvenile Arrests 2001. Retrieved July 24, 2008, from http://www.ncjrs.org/pdffiles1/ojjdp/201370.pdf

twiggy :: essays research papers

Custom Papers English Foreign History Miscellaneous Movies Music Novels People Politics Religion Science Sports Technology Information Questions? Search results for 'mark and twain' -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Match: AllAnyBoolean Format: LongShort Sort by: ScoreTimeTitleReverse ScoreReverse TimeReverse Title Refine search: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Documents 1 - 10 of 527 matches. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Can't find it with this search, try this one! Mark Twain's Life in His Writings In Mark Twain's two major works, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, and it's sequel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, he develops and displays his humoristic abilities by concealing within them deeper meanings, ultimately producing a satire of the region in which he lived. Examined within this paper are ... Mark Twain Mark Twain "Man is made of dirt †¦ Man is a museum of diseases, a home of impurities, who begins as dirt and departs as stench."(1) -Mark Twain When Most people think of Mark Twain, they think of the Mississippi, or gold mining, or such things. But few people have come to realize the free ... Mark Twain Racisim Part 2: Was Mark Twain a Racist? For over thirty years critics of Mark Twain have called attention to the racial epithets in Huckleberry Finn as an example of the inherent racism of the author. African Americans in particular have objected to the book and in many school districts (most recently in Dallas ... How Mark Twain lived his life as an author during the late 1800's Question: How Mark Twain lived his life as an author during the late 1800's? Title: Mark Twain's biograph. I. Introduction A. Background 1. Childhood 2. Education 3 Professional life B. Problems: 1. Jobs 2. Literary works 3. Financial conditions II. Body A. Life style B. Family life C.General information ... Mark Twain Censorship The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a book written by Mark Twain. This book has been scrutinized, censored, and argued over since it’s publication. There are many ways to look at Huckleberry Finn. One can look at it as a derogatory book, focusing on the stereotyping of Negroes and the excessive use ... Mark Twain, Samuel Clemens, or None of the Above Mark Twain was one of the most popular and well-known authors of the 1800’s. He is recognized for being a humorist. He used humor or social satire in his best works. His writing is known for â€Å"realism of place and language, memorable characters, and hatred of hypocrisy and oppression† (Mark Twain 1 ... mark twain Mark Twain, a Racist?Mark Twain was a man that was way ahead of his time. In a time when people were judged on color,Mark Twain grew up in Florida, Missouri (Mandelbrot, Twain).

Movie Review: In the Womb

In the womb – the DVD – Review A must see movie for future parent's! Experience  the life before birth, The formation, a step by step in a film that have not been seen like him. In the womb, was produced for National Geographic Channel . Its includes  features in advanced technology, simulations that have been  generated by ultrasound photography in four dimensions. Before it takes its first breath, a human baby has been through an incredible transformation from a single cell to a complex, self-sustaining organism.Watch this amazing process in real time inside the womb. Recommendation + personal experience I remember that moment I realized that my wife's stomach size is what supposed to be my child, with God's help,  I studied this film, explaining   me something that is very difficult for me personally to understand: how our body produces live? How does it work? If you think that I got it after seeing the film and that I  understood all of these scientific facts, then you're wrong, its still seems like a crazy miracle that happens one after the other in the all wide World.I sthrongly recommend everyone to see that   movie, it shows the very little detailsof the process  and even shows us the fetus  in  a verity of positions, moves, making faces, etc that we cant see without that film. you will enjoy it. Source:  http://www. shvoong. com/exact-sciences/2000143-womb/#ixzz2cqvNjWSF Maybe this has already been talked about and I missed it, but I thought I would let all of you ladies know about a National Geographic special my husband recorded for me to watch called â€Å"In the Womb. † I HIGHLY recommend the film.It's a fairly new documentary about how babies develop and it's quite interesting. I thought I would do a little review for you all since some of you are midwives and others are looking for informational videos. There are good and bad things about the documentary, but the end made me so very, VERY happy that I've forgiven the film all of it's faults. Con: The intro is of a woman in labor screaming bloody murder like they do in the movies while giving birth. You'll forgive this later, however. Read on. Con: I kinda almost fell asleep at the beginning when they were covering conception.It was stuff we've all heard a million times in school, so it was pretty redundant. Get to the babies already! Pro: Some of the computer graphics and filming was really amazing. They use all new footage, no recycled stuff from other documentaries. Con: Sometimes the film would state some fact and then not back it up in any way, so you'd be left wondering â€Å"gee, that's new. Where on earth did they get THAT? † For example, during one part, they said that a woman is more likely to have a miscmarriage if she experiences stress, has an immune disorder, or if she has previously given birth to a boy.Now, I've had three miscmarriages, so I've read tons of information about it and never have I heard that givi ng birth to a boy makes you more likely to have a miscmarriage. I thought â€Å"wow, really? Where'd they hear that? † but they just went on to the next subject without explaining. Con: 99% of the babies in the film are not real – they are either rubber models (which look absolutely fantastically realistic, by the way) or these super creepy alien-looking computer generated babies that totally freaked me out. They were a bit disturbing looking.Con: They stressed the value of ultrasound in the video and I'm personally against it, but it doesn't lose a lot of points with me because a lot of women are pro ultrasound. Pro: They did mention that ultrasound might be harmful, though it is not â€Å"known† to cause problems in babies. They also mentioned that while we can't hear ultrasound, babies CAN because it creates an echo inside the water-filled uterus. They explained that babies â€Å"run† from it because it is extremely loud – somewhat like standing next to a subway train. Pro: They provided TONS of the most amazing 4D footage of babies I've ever seen.They had videos of babies only weeks old in the womb yawning, playing with their noses and feet, and twins interacting with each other. I cried at parts. Pro: Aside from a brief (and very low-key) clip where a doctor does a minor surgery on an unborn fetus along with a few short clips of doctors pperforming ultrasound, there were NO HOSPITAL SCENES or doctors in the film. Woot! The best part ever: The film follows only one mother through her pregnancy and ends with her giving birth. I grumbled my way through a few mildly irritating parts of the film, but whe I reached the end, I got a rather shocking surprise.When it's time for the mother to give birth, you see her standing – yes standing – next to a bed in a birthing center giving birth. There is not one doctor in the room or a machine beeping of any kind, only the woman, her midwife, the cameraman, and the husband . There are no bright lights and it's very quiet except for the woman's screams. Then, to my utter delight, the narrator informs the viewers that standing or squatting are the best positions in which to give birth and that it is better and more comfortable for the mother than laying on her back.I wish every reader could have been there with me as I whooped and hollered and punched my fists in the air in delight! Imagine a mainstream documentary saying something like that! The baby is immediately handed to the mother through her legs and she sits on the bed with her newborn, a smile plastered on her delighted face. No one takes her baby away. The midwife waits to cut the cord and then the mother is seen breastfeeding. WAY TO GO NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC!! So yes, any midwives out there who are looking for a good educational video, I'd have to say that this is the one.It's not about birth, it's about development, but it's the best I've seen so far and it's SO ultra pro-natural birth. ETA: S ORRY! The Youtube link seems to have been taken down. I'll keep an eye out for any other sites hosting the full video   -Amber National Geographic Channel's In the Womb by Inbar Maayan  Keywords:  Human development,  Movies,  Fetus Written, produced, and directed by Toby Mcdonald, the 2005 National Geographic Channel film  In the Womb  uses the most recent technology to provide an intricate glimpse into the prenatal world.The technologies used, which include advanced photography, computer graphics, and 4-D  ultrasound  imaging, help to realistically illustrate the process of development and to answer questions about the rarely seen development of a human being. The following description of the images and narrative of the film captures the major points of  In the Womb, and of embryonic and fetal development, as they are seen at the outset of the twenty-first century, depicted in only 100 minutes. In the Womb  opens with a glimpse of the mature  fetus  moment s before she is ready to emerge into the outside world.The narrator explains that at this final stage, she is equipped with all of the faculties necessary for full function outside the  womb. The main focus of the film, however, is the journey leading up to these final moments, a journey that begins with just a single cell. This journey is viewed intermittently tthroughout the film using 3-D and 4-D  ultrasound  scanning techniques which show the baby moving. 4-D refers to a string of 3-D images taken in real time (time is the fourth dimension), thus creating a movie of in utero events.In addition, the process is simulated by computer imaging based on observations, giving a vivid portrayal of embryonic and fetal development. The developmental narrative begins with millions of swimming  sperm, and an explanation of their unique purpose—carrying the father’s genetic information to the moment of  conception. The  sperm  are produced in a man’s  test es, and their quality depends on his lifestyle choices; they tend to be damaged by the consumption of various drugs and by heat, and stimulated by the consumption of coffee.A singlesperm  is filmed swimming across a black landscape, which accentuates the rapid, intricate movements of its tail. The tail’s flexibility allows the  sperm  to progress approximately a tenth of an inch per minute. Millions of  sperm  are filmed as they appear in the  vagina, many of them dead on their sides, with the vast crowd in the middle swimming toward the  uterus, the  fallopian tubes, and the  egg, which looks like a moon-like orb nestled among its protective agents. This  egg, like all her others, was formed during the mother’s own time in the  womb  and has resided in her body ever since.The film suggests that in order to find the  egg, the  sperm  Ã¢â‚¬Å"sniff it out† using their figurative sense of smell. A graphical simulation shows the  sperm   traveling toward the awaiting  egg, and one of them penetrating its outer layer. The bigger picture, in which the rest of the  spermare permanently shut out upon  fertilization, is filmed. Another graphical simulation follows, illustrating the fusion of the father’s and the mother’s genetic material at the moment of  conception. The narrator notes that this particular genetic combination has never before existed, and will never be duplicated in another human being.DNA, which carries the organism’s genetic information and is bundled in the chromosomes, is depicted as a long, energetic helix that carries the more than 20,000  genes  that make up an average human. These  genes  are responsible for various characteristics and are determined by paren'tal contributions. They are absolutely crucial to the development of new life. The various physical effects of genetic information are illustrated in the display of various shapes of eyes, noses, hair , and other features.The great variability of genetic effects on appearance is depicted by the morphing of a face to show a vvariety of characteristics, both male and female. It is noted, however, that while the parent's contribute equal amounts of genetic information, it is the DNA from the  sperm  that determines the child’s sex, via its twenty-third chromosome, which is either an X or a Y. The  genes  contributed by the parent's largely predetermine the child’s appearance and much of the child’s personality and predisposition for certain diseases.After the illustration and explanation of  fertilization, a description of the fertilized egg’s journey toward the  uterus  is accompanied by film footage of the process. As it sails along the fallopian tube on the first day of its journey, the single cell divides into two identical cells. Cell division continues and by the fifth day, the resulting ball of cells is made up of about 100 cells and is called a  blastocyst. At this stage, theblastocyst  will split into two groups of cells: the outer layer prepares to become the  placenta,  umbilical cord  and fetal membranes, and the inner layer prepares to become the embryo itself.The cells making up the inner part of the  blastula  are  stem cells, and have the ability to differentiate into all of the different types of cells that make up the human body. One week after  fertilization, the  blastula  reaches theuterus, where it will start to develop into a new human being. Three weeks into  gestation,  In the Womb  simulates the embryo folding inward and elongating as the basic body plan is determined. An actual embryo at this stage is shown and a basic spine is visible.The top of the embryo, destined to become the head and brain, is indicated; this region has already begun to generate  nerve cells  by the fifteenth day of the  pregnancy. These  nerve cells  will proliferate and eventually become the brain and the  central nervous system. The heart forms soon after this, and twenty-two days after  conception, begins to beat. This movement is initiated by a single heart cell which begins to beat and induces the cells around it to beat to the same rhythm. Close-up filming shows this pulse as heart cells proliferate and the organ continues to form.With the formation of the heart come thin veins and early blood cells responsible for transporting oxygen and nutrients; the blood in these veins moves to the beat of the heart. During the early stages of development the heart beats relatively independently, though its function will later be carefully regulated by the brain. By the time the embryo is four weeks old, preliminary eyes have appeared on her head. These look like dark spots on a pale landscape of surrounding tissue on which the early contours of the forehead, nose, mouth, and other parts of the mature face can be seen.In addition, arm and leg buds emerge. The n arrator mentions that even though thirty days have passed since  conception, the embryo is almost indistinguishable from the embryos of other mammals. The changes taking place in the embryo’s  morphology  over the following few weeks are shown through film progression. The face plates move in to better define facial features, arms and legs continue to take shape, and the head becomes more clearly defined. At six weeks, the embryo is about an inch long, has a firmly rooted and visible  umbilical cord, and the outline of her fingers can be distinguished as well.The eyes have developed by leaps and bounds, although they are not yet concealed by eyelids. The nostrils are now visible, wide-set beneath the eyes on a head that is giant in relation to the size of the body. By the end of eight weeks of  gestation, the embryo is called afetus  and is no longer dependent on the  yolk  sac that nourished it during the  embryonic stage of development. The  yolk  sac, a balloon-like structure of tissue with visible veins, vanishes at this point and the  fetus  becomes solely dependent on the  umbilical cord  rooted in theplacenta, and thus on the mother’s blood for nutrition.A close examination of the  placenta  reveals intricate blood vessels transporting the nutrients necessary for the embryo’s growth, while keeping out many of the toxins present in the mother’s own blood. Despite the placenta’s effectiveness, substances like drugs and alcohol cannot be completely be filtered out, and it’s up to the mother to limit her consumption of them. By nine weeks, the nervous system has developed dramatically and starts to allow the  fetus  to move. Although this movement, shown through computer simulation, is not yet connected to the brain, it premotes agility and further growth.After this point, the body will gradually come under the control of the brain. This change also has the effect of regulating heart rate, which may increase to more than 150 beats per minute before cerebral  regulation. A standard  ultrasound  is performed at the Create Health Clinic in London at the conclusion of the first  trimester, and the narrator explains how  ultrasound  waves function to create the image on the screen. While a physician explains the various tests that can be done at this stage of  pregnancy  using  ultrasound, the baby’s heart can be seen contracting and expanding in the moving image.A step beyond standard  ultrasound  is the 4-D scan, which shows the three-dimensional  fetus  moving in real time. This tool allows for even more accurate evaluation of the fetus’s health and development. It shows everything from the  fetus  moving her arms to yawning or playing with her nose. Four-dimensional scans of various babies at different stages of development greatly expand the amount of detail that is visible to the world outside the  womb. The n arrator also notes that this first  ultrasound  scan is the first oopportunity to ascertain the number of fetuses present in the  womb.Four-dimensional scans also allow us to see the preliminary steps of a baby’s literal first steps. These are manifested in scans of eleven- and twelve-week-old fetuses kicking and pushing off the walls of the  uterus  as they exercise the use of their appendages. This movement is called the stepping reflex, and it is controlled by the fetus’s nervous system. The five weeks leading up to this point, weeks six through eleven, are considered to be the period in which the  fetus  undergoes the most dramatic transformations in its developmental journey.By the end of the eleventh week, all organs have formed, but the  fetus  is still tiny—about three inches long—and thus must grow significantly before it can be  viable. Sex is also determined at this point, and the sex organs produce  hormones  that furth er regulate the sexual development of the  fetus. Miscmarriage beyond this point is far less likely than during the first three months of  pregnancy, since the  fetus  is more stable. As time goes on, the  fetus  looks more and more human, and her senses sharpen further.Simulation reveals highly developed hands and the hardening (ossification) of bones beneath the semi-transparen't skin. The face looks far more â€Å"human† as well, with the eyes now closer together and the nose and mouth more defined. By this time, the brain controls most of the body–including the heart–through thecentral nervous system. Aside from seeing the heart, a Doppler probe is also used to hear what the fetus’ heart sounds like. It beats at a frantic 146 beats per minute, which the physician indicates is a healthy pace for a  fetus  this age.At four months, she not only has control of her heart rate, but she also begins to respond to physical stimuli and to move a round a lot. She has also begun to develop proprioception, which is the awareness of the body’s position in its surroundings. She is shown feeling the sides of the  womb  and grasping at different parts of her body. Four-dimensional images of twins also reveal how interactive they are with each other; identical twins, however, interact much more than do fraternal twins, who have a membrane separating them.This membrane is also visible with this more detailed scanning tool. Eighteen weeks after  conception, fetal movements become readily detectable to the mother. In addition, the  fetus  starts digesting amniotic fluid as her digestive system begins preparation for the outside world. Another preparation has been revealed by 4-D scans, where thefetus  can be seen practicing the blinking reflex. Soon, she will even have her own fingerprints. At the conclusion of the second  trimester, the  fetus  is fully formed but still needs to experience dramatic growth and to develop her senses.The film states that at this stage, she begins to taste flavors from her mother’s food, and to hear the sounds that surround her cocoon, including the tone and cadence of her mother’s voice. Comfort with her mother’s various sense-inducing habits may even prove conducive to more healthy development once the baby has been born. In the Womb  also notes that, as well as providing a preliminary basis for diagnosis of complications,  ultrasound  scans also premote the development of paren'tal attachment to the yet-unborn child.Ultrasound is thought to enhance the relationship of the child with the parent's, both in infancy and later in life. At twenty-four weeks, this relationship could begin prematurely, for it is at this point that a baby could survive outside of the  womb; though still small and underdeveloped, with appropriate intensive care, she could be considered  viable. The greatest complications may arise due to the prematur e lungs, since the lungs only fully develop near the conclusion of the  pregnancyand are filled with amniotic fluid until breathing begins.The eyes, which have been fully developed since the middle of the  pregnancy, cannot see yet but are adorned with eyelashes by the twenty-fifth week. Babies are usually born with lighter-colored eyes than they will have later; babies of Caucasian descent are often born with blue eyes, while babies of Asian or African descent first have darker brown eyes. These colors will often change or deepen during the first few months of life, as the pigments in the eyes are exposed to light, which is absent in the  womb. In the darkness of the  womb, babies in their final  trimester  spend most of their time sleeping soundly.When they are awake, however, fetuses are often active, practicing their reflexes in response to provocations from outside the  womb. These include the startle reflex, when the  fetus  flings her arms out and over her h ead, and the swallowing and sucking process, crucial to nutrition outside of the  womb. The latter may be manifested in thumb sucking, which is thought to be sthrongly correlated with handedness during a person’s life. The  placenta  not only conducts oxygen, nutrients, and flavors to the  fetus, but it may also conduct the mother’s mood. The ear or anxiety that a mother might experience cascade through, eventually causing the baby’s heart to beat faster as well. Serious and sustained stress or anxiety have been found to result in stress in the child and a higher risk for stress-related physical and mental health complications. Past twenty-six weeks the  fetus  concentrates almost solely on growth; despite this, serious issues might arise even before birth. In the Womb  shows Dr. Kypros Nicolaides of King’s College Hospital in London diagnosing and pperforming  in utero  surgery on a  fetus  whose intestines are obstructing lung grow th.He performs this delicate surgery with the help of a fetuscope, which allows him to see inside thewomb  and is also used as a tool in the surgery itself. Nicolaides’ technique for treating this particular disorder has been met with a 50% increase in the survival rate of his prenatal patients. The last two months of  pregnancy  see the final steps toward a healthy birth. During this time, the  fetus  develops a layer of insulating fat and has even been found to develop consciousness and memory. The  fetus  may remember and respond to familiar sounds such as her mother’s voice or even her parent's’ favorite music.If the  fetus  recognizes music, she might even move in rhythm. Fast music has been found to stimulate and excite the  fetus, which seems to be almost dancing in the  womb, while classical music will often have a calming effect. The development of all of these complex functions prior to birth has also led some experts to posit tha t, developmentally, birth is not as significant as was previously assumed. This is because the brain of a maturing  fetus  is almost identical to that of a newborn. This ssimilarity is particularly striking considering the sighting of rapid eye movement (REM) in 4-D scans, since these are indicative of dreaming.From thirty-five weeks on, the  fetus  could be fully functional and self-supporting (aside from its need for external nutrition and warmth). The film notes that though it is not yet certain what sets off delivery, the maturation of the lungs may play a key role. When mature, the lungs release a protein that affects the  hormone  production of the  placenta, reducing  progesterone  production and initiating the production of oxytocin, which in turn triggers uterine contractions and inhibition of memory.These are useful when the  cervix  undergoes extreme widening—approximately 10 cm—as it conveys the baby’s large head out into the wo rld. In the Womb  has now gone full-circle, arriving again at the time of delivery. To ease the pain of delivery and risks of complication, the mother in the movie delivers standing up and leaning forward with her legs spread apart slightly. During this time, the baby releases large quantities of adrenalin, which keeps the heart pumping fast and prepares the lungs to take their first breathes of air. Soon, the baby’s head crowns and is followed by the rest of the body.As soon as the baby has emerged, it starts crying as its lungs fill with oxygen and it is exposed to the light and cold of the outside world. The  placenta, now unnecessary, detaches from the  uterus  and exits the mother’s body through the birth canal. In the Womb  reviews the entire process of the  pregnancy  and highlights the grand achievement that is transformation from a single cell into an entirely new individual. The newly born baby depends on adults for warmth and nutrition, althoug h all other functions rest solely in her tiny hands.