Module 4 Case Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Module 4 Case - Assignment Example In order for the delivery cycle of the trucks to be regulated in a manner that utilizes time the best, the arrival time intervals are left as they are since the trucks are not be driven any faster to accomplish the need for better time management (Wilco, n.d.). Based on the principles of linear programming, it is required that the number of arrivals be provided with a more efficient unloading period such that more trucks can be unloaded at the same time. The current data indicates that the 83.333% capacity utilization is capable of providing room for a larger number of arrivals besides the current rate of 3.5. The issues facing the delivery system involve the underutilization of the system. Starting with the current single-server situation, The attached MS Excel file, single-server, shows that the maximum number of trucks that can be handled at a 95.89% is 22.374% out of a total number of 23.33% (see table 1). This data shows that at any given time during the working hours, 22.374% trucks will be waiting in a queue while a total of 23.33% will be accounted for. In order to achieve this score, the server takes into consideration the change in service rate from the current 4.2 to 3.65. The change in service rate amplifies the number of truck s serviced in an hour since the reduced servicing rate means more trucks can be unloaded in an hour. Based on the previous data, only 4.2 trucks can be unloaded in an hour and only 3.5 trucks are unloaded within the hour. This shows that reducing the servicing rate would require the reallocation of the servicing personnel as there are fewer trucks to unload unlike the number of arrivals. However, provided that various situations lead to the underutilization of capacity, the probabilities that 5, 6, and 7 trucks will be in queue at the same time takes three assumptions into account. Firstly, there are no changes in the arrival rate, 3.5 trucks per hour, and

When is it important for innovators to protect their intellectual Essay

When is it important for innovators to protect their intellectual property Compare and contrast three different approaches to the protection of intellectual pr - Essay Example Protection for intellectual property leads to a healthy competition and enhances value and quality of products, thereby promoting economic growth by means of technological development and enriched cultural advancement. It opens fresh trade avenues and enhance standard of living. The governments have to act and ensure implementation of intellectual property system to sustain businesses in a theft free environment to enable steady growth (Sebban, Guy 2005). Intellectual property is the name given to any new product or design or process and creative work of art or literature. Any invention or innovation involves dedicated effort on the part of an inventor who spends long hours in research and development. In addition, a significant amount of expenditure is also incurred towards development of new and innovative products or designs. If not protected and free copying is allowed, the inventor or innovator would soon get de-motivated, bringing stagnation to further development. Thus, protection of intellectual property assumes paramount importance. Intellectual property protection is essential to all businesses to exploit their new ideas and articles in the market and prevent piracy and theft by others. All art works also need to be credited for their creativity to enhance cultural growth (Sebban, Guy 2005). The protection methods can be broadly classified as ‘formal or institutional’ and ‘strategic’. Formal protection methods include patent, trade secret, trade mark, and copyright, while strategic methods cover agreements of confidentiality, secrecy, lead and complexity (Iandiorio, Joseph S 1995). In the subsequent paragraphs, we would discuss, in detail, two formal methods, namely, patent and copyright, and one strategic method, namely, confidentiality agreement, bringing out differences, merits and demerits of each. A ‘patent’ is a grant from a country’s government that provides security or protection to a new invention or innovation by an

Investigation into social media remarks

Investigation into social media remarks Conviction before an Investigation Takes Rights away from  both the Victims and the Accused A recent uproar at the Dalhousie Dentistry educational institution is leaving both sides of the argument feeling wronged. The controversy is based on the supposed remarks posted on a private Facebook page for a group referred to as the â€Å"Class of DDS Gentlemen† which includes 13 members. It recently came to light that some of the students have been accused of posting violently sexual remarks directed towards women on that Facebook page. Some of the comments directly reference students from that dentistry class. The editorial argues that the partial suspension is only beneficial for the culprits and in no way helps to support the victims in which the harmful sexual comments were directed towards. I support this editorial’s perspective about the way the school handled this case which illustrates a lack of consistency. The attention given to the perspective of the victims that are involved with this case is not justified but I will be critiquing the author’s rea soning and arguing that the accused students should be suspended. I will argue that not all 13 students should be reprimanded based on the information provided within this editorial as this piece illustrates a complex view of which members are truly the wrongdoers. I will also argue that a variation of classes should be offered based on the partial suspension the school has initiated to honour the idea that no suspect should be deemed guilty before a proper evaluation of all the information. The author of this editorial strongly argues that all 13 members of this Facebook page should be suspended based on what was posted on Facebook. The author clearly states. â€Å"the violent, misogynist comments posted by some of the members of the private Facebook page called â€Å"Class of DDS Gentlemen†Ã¢â‚¬  (Thestar.com). Comments referenced some female students from the class, asking â€Å"‘who would you like to hate f—k?’ — where they rated their choices. Other posts joked about using chloroform on women. In another post, a woman is shown in a bikini with a caption that says ‘Bang until stress is relieved or unconscious (girl)’† (Thestar.com). The severity of the supposed postings by some members of this class illustrates the violent sexual content illustrating the need to investigate those who posted this information. Not all 13 students should be punished if they did not all make any comments connected with this harmful content. The first thing that must be reviewed is exactly which members of the group directly posted the comments or supporting discussion that was linked to a sexually violent nature of conversation. The author’s argument that the school did not handle the situation properly is relevant, however the outcome that is proposed defies the legal system that is meant to operate in a fair and just manner. Firstly the author is correct in indicating anger that it was â€Å"nearly a month after women complained† that something was done by the school. In support of following the proper procedures of a justice system the school should have acted immediately. The author indicates that the action should have been a full suspension. The argument that is offered indicates â€Å"so far. Dalhousie has gone a long way towards balancing the rights of the accused and those of potential victims. However, it has fallen short on one important point: it should suspend the 13 men involved from classes as well as clinics† (Thestar.com). The point is not well argued as it defies the very idea of rights that entitle the accused to a fair proceeding. The school has suspended the students partially indicating a grave concern that these men are in contact with innocent patients within the clinical component of this semester. The author argues, â€Å"the partial suspension is serious. 13 fourth-year students cannot work with patients or classmates in the school’s dental clinic, a requirement for graduation this spring† (Thestar.com). The fact that the school has taken action to protect patients is a strong argument that is presented by the author. In agreeing with this opinion, the lack of attention to the female students in the class is alarming, as they have either directly or indirectly have been spoken about within a violent and sexualized context by those accused fellow classmates. The author’s concern is valid, however, I will argue that they should not be suspended from class but should be offered an independent study period while the accusations are being investigated. The first issue that is recognized within this editorial is the wrongful grouping of all members of this Facebook group as being regarded as directly involved with the accusations that are being made. The author argues that some of the members posted those comments. It is recognized that simply being a part of a group does not make everyone necessarily responsible for the deeds that may be performed by several members of that party. The author of this editorial indicates that those who are guilty of posting such degrading and violently abusive comments should be punished. This is justifiable; however, the need to ensure that those who are guilty of these very actions that are being described must be clarified. This editorial continuously calls for the suspension of all 13 men; however, this is a flawed argument. The need to act in a just manner as argued in the editorial on behalf of the victims should also be extended to those who may be in the group but may not have offered any of the negative remarks being reviewed. The recognition that there could be members of the group who may not have added comments must be acknowledged. It is important to ensure only those connected with posting those comments face the ramifications of being investigated and facing the temporary rules issued by the school during this process. The second argument offered reinforces the necessity of issuing a fair trial to ensure that both sides of this conflict are treated in a just manner. The editorial suggests for the immediate suspension from all classes of the 13 members of this Facebook group. That is unfair to the rights of those who currently have been accused of this action. The need for a fair trial is necessary before such extreme and final action can be made. That direct suspension could jeopardize the school career of these students. Should they be found innocent, or connected to foul play this represents an unfair situation for the students. The editorial indicates that the victims should be treated with respect and that a balance needs to be struck between the opposing parties. That being said the author is correct that the balance of justice should be maintained. The proposition that should be offered is a compromise between what the editorial has suggested as well as the actions that the school has taken. To suspend the students is to illustrate that they are guilty but this has not been determined as yet as the investigation is still under way. The school has already acted in a harmful manner by taking action a month after the information was brought to their attention. The suggestion is to let the accused student’s remain connected with the professors (outside of the classroom) based on the current scenario. They have paid their tuition and are entitled to be educated until this matter is fully investigated and resolved. The school feels that they should not be able to interact with clinical patients to protect those individuals should these students be found of wrongdoing. That being said, that same courtesy must be extended to the other students in the classroom. Specific females in the class were ridiculed and referenced in a sexually violent manner that is quite disturbing. Their rights must be protected as they may feel threatened and the school must act accordingly. An other example that may be used to offer a correlation to this case could be reviewed in the case of a parent who may be accessed of abuse. The children are removed from custody to ensure that they are protected while the matter is investigated. The school must also protect these female students during this time. The suggestion, however, of suspending the accused students fails to ensure the rights of those men. The editorial argues for the balance of rights to be performed within this scenario. To ensure the women are offered a fair set of rights also means the accused men should also be treated in a fair manner. Justice can only work if everyone is treated equally. If the justice system does not adhere to that model of equilibrium, then no one is safe, undermining the freedom of everyone. The editorial does not offer a sense of balance as suggested by the need for suspension as that illustrates a commentary of guilty before a trial has even begun. The women must be protected and cr eating an alternative level of study for the accused students becomes pertinent as further investigations are completed. The editorial takes a strong stance on the actions that Dalhousie has taken in light of the postings that have been made public. The necessity to be ready to properly deal with these types of concerns swiftly and justly illustrates the need to protect victims at the centre of these cases. The editorial rightfully highlights an imbalance between the victims and the suspected culprits. The flaw in this work indicates the passing of judgment before a rightful investigation has been made. Accusing all 13 men and saying they must be suspended undermines the integrity of the justice system. To use the justice system to protect these women means adhering to the rules that govern that very system. Firstly, the determination of the men who are connected to the comments should be found. Only those men should be offered another form of schooling outside of the current parameters of class lectures and clinical practice. The school’s failure to immediately address this issue is where the t ension of being perceived as flippant about the safety and well-being of the victims is recognized. One month is far too long to take action against the allegations of sexually violent comments being made against classmates. The school must set an example that they will immediately act in a fair manner to both sides to ensure that the reputation of the school is not tarnished. Suspending the students before a full investigation of the case fails to respect the justice system. The fulfillment of the guidelines that promote justice is necessary to protect these women as well as those only suspected of this crime. The responsible thing to do is to act right away and prevent any emotional turmoil, which results in the suspected students being investigated while continuing their classes in a diminished and altered capacity. The threat of sexual violence, even in a joking manner, is unethical and to combat that problem acting in an ethical and just way is necessary and can only be achieve d by fulfilling a thorough investigation and maintaining the rights of all parties at all times. Works Cited Dalhousie Should Suspend Accused Dental Students from Classes: Editorial. Thestar.com. The Star, 6 Jan. 2015. Web.

Virginia Wolf :: essays research papers

TEST NO. 1, QUESTION 1   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In Virginia Woolf’s two passages describing two very opposite meals that was served at the men’s college and the other at the women’s college; reflects Woolf’s attitude toward women’s place in society.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When Woolf describes her meal at the men’s college she describes in such a way that implies luxury and choice. The syntax and diction work with Woolf to possess this tone, â€Å"many, various, rewards, succulent, and heaven† all contribute to Woolf’s view on men. The implication is she sees that men are of superiority to women further more the fact that men have choices in means is parallel with the idea that they have choices in society a la voting.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The description of the women’s meal could be summed up in one word, plain. Syntactically there are many examples promoting the simplicity of women in society at the time. For the excerpt to open with, â€Å"Here was my soup,† shows the monosyllabic words being used and the simplicity of the sentence all imply just that of women’s roll in society; simple, short-lived, and unimportant. The sentence, â€Å"the plate was plain . . . transparent . . . no pattern,† just so does a painter thinks of his canvas of white – colorless. The quote reinforces that idea also illustrating that to use the plain ties in with women and their roll in society.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The behavior mentioned in the women’s excerpt, â€Å"everyone scraped their chairs back; the swing-doors swung violently to and fro.† The women being described are women who are careless of the way they carry themselves due to their place in society where they cannot do nothing but be a lady. Virginia Wolf :: essays research papers TEST NO. 1, QUESTION 1   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In Virginia Woolf’s two passages describing two very opposite meals that was served at the men’s college and the other at the women’s college; reflects Woolf’s attitude toward women’s place in society.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When Woolf describes her meal at the men’s college she describes in such a way that implies luxury and choice. The syntax and diction work with Woolf to possess this tone, â€Å"many, various, rewards, succulent, and heaven† all contribute to Woolf’s view on men. The implication is she sees that men are of superiority to women further more the fact that men have choices in means is parallel with the idea that they have choices in society a la voting.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The description of the women’s meal could be summed up in one word, plain. Syntactically there are many examples promoting the simplicity of women in society at the time. For the excerpt to open with, â€Å"Here was my soup,† shows the monosyllabic words being used and the simplicity of the sentence all imply just that of women’s roll in society; simple, short-lived, and unimportant. The sentence, â€Å"the plate was plain . . . transparent . . . no pattern,† just so does a painter thinks of his canvas of white – colorless. The quote reinforces that idea also illustrating that to use the plain ties in with women and their roll in society.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The behavior mentioned in the women’s excerpt, â€Å"everyone scraped their chairs back; the swing-doors swung violently to and fro.† The women being described are women who are careless of the way they carry themselves due to their place in society where they cannot do nothing but be a lady.

Sequential Analysis of Airline Industry in Nigeria

Many wonder about the influence of product /service contents or features on business function. Why do people prefer certain airlines and not others? Some insist on KLM, while others prefer emirates  . Some choose virgin atlantic airways, while some others go for british airways. Yet many people contend that there are no significant differences among well – known airlines. The passengers’ choice may be influenced by the quality of services offered or the attractive price package, or value for money programme. Frequency, the ticket price, in-flight services, punctuality, time schedule, seat comfort and other characteristics combine to project an image to the prospective passenger. Consequently, these features are input element in a marketing programme. The aim of this study is to investigate the factors influencing choice and the extent to which customers are likely to exhibit loyalty in the face of severe price competition. This study explores the change in airline passengers’ preferences in situations where service quality improves. This study is informed by the influx of foreign airlines into Nigeria and the attendant issue of how a prospective buyer takes a decision on which airline to fly. This investigation is conceived with the objective of measuring the effect on airlines the decision variable per passenger’s preferences. The aim is to ascertain how the effect of factors influencing the choice of airline significantly improves the marketing strategies employed by these airlines. This research problem is undertaken by utilizing an approach which involves a literature review to identify key construct and a survey. The information gathered are then used in the development of a questionnaire. The key issues influencing the choice of airline are identified. In other to test the hypothesis, that ‘value for money’ acts a s key decision variable, a survey of customers is conducted using a convenient sample of respondents who have been responsible for purchasing airline tickets for themselves to undertake international travel in the prior twelve months. Respondents rate the importance of a variety of issues relating to airlines choice. A factor analysis of these items is then carried out using a varimax rotation. Under the advance exploratory analysis, a multivariate analysis of variance is therefore undertaken to analyze the impact of some of these determining factors on likelihood to fly on an airline. The analysis shows that the two top factors affecting passengers’ choice of airline are â€Å"schedule of the time† and â€Å"safety†. The actor of seat comfort is ranked fourth by the total number of passengers. The analysis of pasenger’s satisfaction tells us the quality of airline services that passengers actually received. The result shows that â€Å"seat comfort† is ranked far behind the other eight factors, indicating that the service quality that passengers received is below average. Under the choice model, the sign of price is negative implying that the passengers prefer the airline with lower ticket to that with the higher ticket fare which is identical with normal expectation. The sign of seat type is positive which indicate passengers’ actually view seat comfort as an important factor in their choice decision. The above findings show that this market segment currently lacks loyalty and is driven solely by price related features. It may therefore be necessary for airlines to undertake further investigation that allows them to develop strategies and packages that particularly target the need of this group.

Education Is Not the Key to Success Essay

Unfortunately, as the years went by, the idea of â€Å"Education is the key to success† got more, and more  enforced. People eventually started to believe that education was the single way to succeed, and the  only thing needed for success. Despite the fact, many Americans believe a college degree will lead  them to be successful, in reality, education is not the solitary way to succeed. Not everybody can receive an education, or even an excellent education from a â€Å"decent academic† college/university. There are many students who have no desire to attend college and who  would be much better off if they received training that would qualify them for a better- paid job with  just a high school diploma† (Finneran, 22). Many students today that are receiving a secondary  education are either doing it because they think it is the right thing to do, or because their parents told  them that the only way to succeed in today’s world was through a c ollege degree. Parents put a lot of  pressure on their children when it comes to college, and receiving an education. Some students are so  overly pressured that they believe that in order to be somebody n life, he/she must both attend college,  and receive a college degree; if it is possible go beyond bachelors. What many students and parents fail  to comprehend is that book learning is not the only thing needed to succeed. Success is made up of many skills; sure education is a building block of it, but it is not the key  to it. Success can be different for everybody. There are many careers out there that pay a good amount  of money and do not require a college degree. Some examples of careers that do not require a college  degree are: Police men, Dental Hygienist, Online Advertising Manager, Web Developer, Insurance agent,  Mechanic, hair stylist, construction, electrical technician, etc. If a person wants to be a police all he or she  needs to do is obtain 60 credits in any courses and go on to learn the skills he or she really needs for his or her  career. Education or book learning had nothing to do with the success of those people that chose to take  another path rather than the typical one (education). People can be successful in any field with the right  skills. Book learning has a lot to do with the knowledge a person has, but not with the skills a person  has. There are many A+ graduates out there that cannot get a job, or are stuck working at a place that had  nothing to do with their degree. A numerous amount of students in college care more about grades  than knowledge; some graduate having forgotten everything they ever learned. So there goes a college  graduate with little knowledge and no skills. Can a person like that succeed? No. That’s why education  is not the key to success. People cannot just go to college and expect that passing classes will get them  to succeed. The main thing a person needs in order to succeed is drive, motivation and passion. He/she has  to know what their end goal is and what they need to do to get it. â€Å"Commit to the achievement of the  elusive goal in your life† (Arcement, 101). The person has to go about learning what skills will take her  or him to be successful. One of the main skills a person should have is persistence. A person must  always keep going after his or her goal even if it takes years to reach. â€Å"Persistence takes discipline. Discipline is doing what you need to do, even though you don’t feel like doing it† (Lyman, 4). Two other  skills a person needs, is to be friendly, and kind. Being nice and friendly is significant. Like Lyman said,  being kind is important because it will beothers that will help a person be successful. Other people will  help a person get to where he or she wants to be. They will help the person envision what they want  and obtain a job. They will also help a person gain opportunity. People like to help others, but only if  the person is nice and friendly. Others want to have people with those qualities around them. Besides persistence and being nice and friendly a person also needs to have other life skills in order  to succeed. One of the skills a person needs is public speaking. A person needs to be able to express  themselves clearly in front of a group of people. â€Å"People who are effective speakers come across as  more comfortable with themselves, more confident, and more attractive to be around† (Wax, #1). Another skill is self-management, and the skills needed to obtain self-management are: strong sense of  discipline, sturdy organizational skills, and impressive productivity habits. A person needs to keep him  or herself on track. A third skill that a person needs is to know how to network. Knowing how to  network can build relationships nd those relationships can help a person land a job or career and take  them one step forward at being successful. These skills are really important to have. There are more skills that are really important to have in order to be successful in life, in a job,  or in a career. A person needs to know how to make effective decision making. â€Å"Being able to take  over the scene and respond quickly and effectively is what separates the doers from the  wannabes† (Wax, #6). Another skill that a person will need is time management. A person needs to  show that he or she is hungry for success and that he or she wants to be where he or he is at. What  employer would want to hire a person that will always be late? None. People should not be pressured to do something that they don’t want to do; parents should not  pressure their children into receiving a college education and obtaining a college degree. As it was  shown and proved, having a college education and obtaining a college degree can help you succeed, but  is not the key to success. In order for a person to succeed, he or she needs to have more than just bookà ‚  learning. A person needs to have skills to go with his or her career, job or education.

WW2 effctes on the world essays

WW2 effctes on the world essays effects of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki: The Atomic bomb was created using the scientific discovery of Albert Einstein that E=MC2 . When it was dropped, little was known about the actual power in which it contained. During World War Two, two of them were dropped in Japan in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The damage was so drastic, it ended World War Two and they have never been used in a war since. The short and long term effects were also very drastic and caused many major changes in the world. From the creation of a new Japan to the Anti-nuclear war pacts still around today, it had many effects. In 1941, Japan felt it was time to conquer China and to fortify itself for any counter attacks that were to take place after their major attack. The major attack was on Pearl Harbor in America. The spurred America into joining World War two on the side of the Allied forces which led to the eventual downfall of Japan and Germany. One of the major factors that made America such a large factor in the winning of the Allied forces was the creation of the atomic bomb. Albert Eienstein, an acentric scientist who escaped Germany to America before the concentration camps were started, invented the theory which was the major factor in creating the atomic bomb. Energy equals mass times the speed of light squared or E=MC2. Meanwhile in Cambridge, England, the reverse process was seen. John Cockcroft and E. T. S. Walton broke apart an atom. The fragments had slightly less mass in total than the original atom, but they flew apart with great energy. It seemed like their was going to be no end to the bloodshed that was taking place during World War Two. America was faring very well against Japan, but the more men that were killed, the more men that appeared. The death count was rising steadily and rising fast. Something needed to be done to end the war. Noone was sure of the power of the atomic bomb, but thy were sure it was g...

The eNotes Blog April is National Poetry Month! Here Are 14 Ways toCelebrate

April is National Poetry Month! Here Are 14 Ways toCelebrate These days, it seems like so many arbitrary things now have their own National Day (or week, or month- National Candied Orange Peel Day*, anyone?), but Poetry Month is a celebration that has been going on for twenty years! Regardless of the duration of its appreciation month, its safe to say that poetry has been immeasurably influential throughout human history; even before the invention of writing,  people  told stories to one another in the form of long, epic poems. Now, candied oranges are pretty great, and chances are theyve been around for a long time too, but were betting that they havent had quite the same societal and artistic impact. It may seem that poetry is much less common these days than it was back when the Bard was around, but that isnt necessarily true. While we dont all wait for the latest poem with baited breath, poetry still plays a big part in expression and art in todays world. But with its loss of mainstream prevalence, there has been something of a loss of education in the poetic field, so to speak. Many students these days arent introduced to poetry until middle or high school, and by then, it can be increasingly difficult to get into it. So, we at have done some research into some of the best ways to celebrate this month of poems. Even if were getting started halfway through the month, the April celebration of all things poetic  need not stop on the 30th; if you like what youre doing, why not bring the spirit into May? 1. Sign up for a Poem-a-Day service On  Poets.org  you can take out a subscription and get a free poem delivered straight to your inbox every morning! 2. Sign up for a poetry class or workshop A big part of whats daunting about poetry is that a lot of people dont really understand what its about or how to begin writing or appreciating it. Poetry classes are surprisingly common, so look up the public classes in your area and find one that deals with poetry. 3. Explore various forms of poetry If youre one of the many people who think that something has to rhyme in order to be a poem, you may want to look into doing a little research! There are so many kinds of poetry, its a little crazy. If you want a little limerick, of course there are tons of those, but there are also sonnets, free-verse, haiku, epic Basically, there are as many types of poems as there are genres of novels- maybe even more. 4. Look into some international poetry Delving further into the idea of poetry genres, you may find it worth your while to look into some poetry from around the world. Not only will you be introduced to a bunch of new authors you may not have otherwise become acquainted with, but youll also discover some unique styles (i.e. the Japanese haiku, or the ancient Persian ghazal). 5. Check out a poetry slam Let me start by saying that poetry slams are pretty cool; where else can you go and listen to  local authors perform their work with some serious passion? Poetry slams are great opportunities to hear about unique perspectives on social issues (good and bad) in the company of your peers. These slams can get pretty competitive and intense, so if you do go to one, be prepared for an emotional rollercoaster. In a good way. A good place to start is Button Poetrys YouTube page and also our poetry slam post with a selection of moving  social justice poems. 6. Start  a poetry club If poetry is your thing (either reading it or writing it), why not find others that share that passion? Sharing poetry is hard, especially if its a poem that youve written yourself; poems share a special piece of your psyche, and opening up on that level isnt easy. So if you can find some fellow  aspiring poets, it may be beneficial to share your work with one another and get a little soul-baring practice in a safe space. 7. Memorize a poem that means something to you Having some inspirational and/or beautiful words to call upon when youre feeling blue can be a highly therapeutic tool. It can be a long poem or a short one, but either way, you may find that making a poem with a calming message into a mantra may be a good way to keep you in a happy place, even in the tough times. 8. Set aside some time to write Chances are that youre a busy person, and when youre a busy person, sometimes the last thing you want to do in your free time is, well, more work. But writing doesnt have to be something you just do for school. If you like poetry, it may be nice to set aside a chunk of time to let your brain do its artsy thing and create something meaningful. 9. Draw a poem One great thing about art is that so many of its forms can be blended together. For example, how often do you listen to a song and find yourself daydreaming  or imagining something awesome? Poetry works to inspire us in much the same way; next time you read a poem, imagine the imagery it creates and give drawing it a try. At the very least, youll have a cool piece of art to put on the wall. 10. Think metaphorically A metaphor is a powerful poetic device that can be defined as  a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable. Metaphors are so common that often we dont really pay attention to one when we hear it. For the rest of April, keep a list of metaphors you hear day-to-day. It may be fun to look back at the end of the month (or whenever) to see what little expressions people are using these days. 11. Check out TED Talks Chances are youre at least familiar with the concept of a TED Talk. If not, TED is a non-profit devoted to spreading ideas and education, usually in the form of short but passionate speeches. Poets and poetry are frequent stars of the TED stage, so if you cant make it to a slam or are looking for a particular type of poem, check out some TED Talks online or find out  if theres one coming to your area. Click here to check out some poetic TEDs! 12. Download a poetry app Hit up the app store for your smart-device (whatever it may be) and download  Poetry Magazines app for inside information about poetry, poems, and poets of the past and present. 13.  Celebrate on Twitter Post a poem with the hashtag  #NationalPoetryMonth to get your work  noticed. Also fun:  search the hashtag and take a look at poems others have already tweeted. 14. Tune into NPR This month, NPRs Tell Me More has some poetically inclined features, including the reading of listener-submitted poetry (another opportunity to share your art with the world, and this way you could be as anonymous as you please). *In case you were wondering, National Candied Orange Peel Day does actually appear to be a thing, and it falls on May 4th.

Negative Health Effects of Global Warming

Negative Health Effects of Global Warming Climate change driven by global warming is a reality; the health effects which can be attributed to the changes are measurable and increasing in severity. The World Health Organization reports that between 2030 and 2050, climate change is likely to cause approximately 250,000 additional deaths per year, from malnutrition, malaria, diarrhea, and heat stress. Key Takeaways: The Health Effects of Global Warming Health effects of climate change have been recorded and are being actively studied in five areasClimate change indicators include sea level rise of 7 inches since 1918, global temperature of 1.9 degrees F higher than in 1880  More than 4,400 people have already been displaced by climate changesHeat waves and other weather-related events are increasing Climate Change and Health According to the United States NASA, in 2019, the global temperature was 1.9 degrees Fahrenheit higher than it was in 1880: 18 of the 19 warmest years since then have occurred since 2001. The global sea level has risen 7 inches in since 1910, a fact which is directly attributable to the rise in ambient and sea surface temperature leading to the shrinking of glacial ice at the poles and in the tops of the highest mountains.   In 2016, the British scientific/medical journal The Lancet announced the Lancet Countdown, an ongoing study to be written by  an international team of researchers tracking climate change and its health impacts, as well as supporting efforts to ease the associated problems. In 2018, the Countdowns groups of scientists were focused (in part) on five health-related aspects: health effects of heat waves; change in labor capacity; the lethality of weather-related disasters; climate-sensitive diseases; and food insecurity.   Health Effects of Heat Waves   Heat waves are defined as a period of more than three days during which the minimum temperature is greater than the minimum recorded between 1986 and 2008. The minimum temperatures were chosen as measures because coolness in the overnight hours is a vital component helping vulnerable people recover from the heat of the day. Four billion people live in hot areas worldwide and are expected to experience significantly reduced work capacity as a result of global warming. Health impacts of heat waves range from a direct increase in heat stress and heat stroke to impacts on pre-existing heart failure and acute kidney injury from dehydration.  Elderly people, children younger than 12 months, and people with chronic cardiovascular and renal disease are particularly sensitive to these changes. Between 2000 and 2015, the number of vulnerable people exposed to heatwaves increased from 125 million to 175 million. Changes in Labor Capacity   Higher temperatures pose profound threats to occupational health and labor productivity, particularly for people undertaking manual, outdoor labor in hot areas. Increased temperature makes it more difficult to work outside: the global labor capacity in rural populations decreased by 5.3 percent from 2000 to 2016.  The level of heat impacts health as a side effect of the damage incurred to peoples economic well-being and livelihoods, particularly on those who rely on subsistence farming. Lethality of Weather-Related Disasters   A disaster is defined as either 10 or more people killed; 100 or more people affected; a state of emergency is called, or a call for international assistance is made. Between 2007 and 2016, the frequency of weather-related disasters such as floods and droughts has increased by 46 percent, compared to the average between 1990 and 1999. Fortunately, mortality of these events has not increased, due to better reporting times and better-prepared support systems.   Climate-Sensitive Diseases   There are several diseases which are considered sensitive to climate change, falling into the categories of vector-borne (diseases transmitted by insects such as malaria, dengue fever, Lyme disease, and plague); water-borne (such as cholera and giardia); and airborne (such as meningitis and influenza). Not all of these are currently on the rise: many are being effectively treated by available drugs and health services, although that may not continue as things evolve. However, the cases of dengue fever have doubled every decade since 1990, and there were 58.4 million apparent cases in 2013, accounting for 10,000 deaths. Malignant melanoma, the least common but most lethal of cancers, has also been steadily rising over the past 50 years- annual rates have risen as rapidly as 4–6 percent in fair-skinned people.   Food Security   Food security, defined as the availability and access to food, has decreased in many countries, particularly those in East Africa and Southern Asia. Global wheat production drops 6 percent for every 1.8 degree Fahrenheit rise in growing season temperatures. Rice yields are sensitive to overnight minimums during the growing season: an increase in 1.8 degrees means a decrease of 10 percent of rice yield.   There are one billion people on earth who rely on fish as their principal source of protein. Fish stocks are declining in some regions as a result of sea surface temperature rise, salinity increases, and harmful algal blooms.   Migration and Population Displacement   As of 2018, 4,400 people have been displaced from their homes solely as a result of climate change. Those include Alaska, where over 3,500 people had to abandon their villages because of coastal erosion, and in the Carteret Islands of Papua New Guinea, where 1,200 people left because of sea level rise. That has health impacts on mental and physical health of individuals within those communities, and in the communities where the refugees end up.   That is expected to increase, as the sea level rises. In 1990, 450 million people lived in regions that were below 70 feet above sea level. In 2010, 634 million people (about 10% of the global population) lived in areas that are less than 35 feet about current sea level.   Health Effects of Global Warming Hardest on Poor Nations Climate change and global warming are impacting the entire world, but it is particularly hard on people in poor countries, which is ironic because the places that have contributed the least to global warming are most vulnerable to the death and disease higher temperatures can bring. Regions at the highest risk for enduring the health effects of climate change include coastlines along the Pacific and Indian oceans and sub-Saharan Africa. Large sprawling cities, with their urban heat island effect, are also prone to temperature-related health problems. Africa has some of the lowest per-capita emissions of greenhouse gases. Yet, regions of the continent are gravely at risk for diseases related to global warming. Global Warming is Getting Worse Scientists believe that greenhouse gases will increase the global average temperature by approximately 6 degrees Fahrenheit by the end of the century. Extreme floods, droughts and heat waves are likely to strike with increasing frequency. Other factors such as irrigation and deforestation can also affect local temperatures and humidity. Model-based forecasts of health risks from global climate change project that: Climate-related disease risks of the various health outcomes assessed by WHO will more than double by 2030.Flooding as a result of coastal storm surges will affect the lives of up to 200 million people by the 2080s.Heat-related deaths in California could more than double by 2100.Hazardous ozone pollution days in the Eastern U.S. could increase 60 percent by 2050. Selected Sources Abel, David W., et al. Air-Quality-Related Health Impacts from Climate Change and from Adaptation of Cooling Demand for Buildings in the Eastern United States: An Interdisciplinary Modeling Study. PLOS Medicine 15.7 (2018): e1002599. Print.Costello, Anthony, et al. Managing the Health Effects of Climate Change: Lancet and University College London Institute for Global Health Commission. The Lancet 373.9676 (2009): 1693–733. Print.Gasparrini, Antonio, et al. Projections of Temperature-Related Excess Mortality under Climate Change Scenarios. The Lancet Planetary Health 1.9 (2017): e360–e67. Print.Kjellstrom, Tord, et al. Heat, Human Performance, and Occupational Health: A Key Issue for the Assessment of Global Climate Change Impacts. Annual Review of Public Health 37.1 (2016): 97–112. Print.Mora, Camilo, et al. Broad Threat to Humanity from Cumulative Climate Hazards Intensified by Greenhouse Gas Emissions. Nature Climate Change 8.12 (2018): 1062–71. Print.M yers, Samuel S., et al. Climate Change and Global Food Systems: Potential Impacts on Food Security and Undernutrition. Annual Review of Public Health 38.1 (2017): 259-77. Print. Patz, Jonathan A., et al. Impact of Regional Climate Change on Human Health. Nature 438.7066 (2005): 310–17. Print.Patz, Jonathan A., et al. Climate Change and Global Health: Quantifying a Growing Ethical Crisis. EcoHealth 4.4 (2007): 397–405. Print.Scovronick, Noah, et al. The Impact of Human Health Co-Benefits on Evaluations of Global Climate Policy. Nature Communications 10.1 (2019): 2095. Print.Watts, Nick, et al. The Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change: From 25 Years of Inaction to a Global Transformation for Public Health. The Lancet 391.10120 (2018): 581–630. Print.Wu, Xiaoxu, et al. Impact of Climate Change on Human Infectious Diseases: Empirical Evidence and Human Adaptation. Environment International 86 (2016): 14–23. Print.

Practice reflection essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Practice reflection - Essay Example He is waiting for his endoscopy test. His laboratory test on his clozapine evaluates an alarming low level of concentrations indicative to noncompliance of medication instructions. The patient’s illness and behavior display. David suffers from schizophrenia with chronic positive symptoms and secondary depressive illness to uncontrolled psychotic state that needs high level care and treatment. It was recorded that he had a number of hospital admissions in a period of 20 years. He also attempted suicide in 1980’s. Few years ago he managed to be an outpatient directly under his mother’s care. His new medication, clozapine, was able to sustain him then. Lately, David believes someone is waiting to murder him due to tax he thinks he owes so he leaves his house only to collect medication and benefits scheduled twice a week. He is very sensitive to strong smells and fragrances such as aftershave, alcohol, and soap powder. He eats maximum of twice a day only because he believes someone is trying to poison his food that leads him to settle lesser food intake for mobility’s sake which resulted to detrimental weight loss. Sometimes he throws h is food away of same reason. His mother observes his deteriorating mental and physical health for the past three months and requested minimal viewing of television as this contributes negative effects on him. He is getting disturbed by messages and scenes on television. Aggravated by the absence of social life or zero communications with neighbors and friends, his paranoia continues to lead him to believe death will get him any moment and complains of persistent abdominal pains and nausea which the doctor is currently trying to perform diagnosis. It maybe related to his mood. However there is no presence of illegal substance or alcohol misuse. Healthcare. David has access to services of a Consultant Psychiatrist arranged by his psychiatric Social

Peotry Review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Peotry Review - Essay Example The poet recalls the time the runner won a race, gaining him the public’s admiration, "Man and boy stood cheering by; And home we brought you shoulder-high". The poet relates this happy time to the present, where "Shoulder-high we bring you home; And set you at your threshold down". With this couplet â€Å"he compares the race to the funeral procession. The honor of being held high was endowed the first time for victory, and the last time for homage. The "threshold" represents the grave of the athlete, his doorway into the life after death. The reader is forced to consider the inevitability of death. He asks himself that whether the athlete is to be envied for dying so soon after his achievements, rather than being pitied for his premature death. Housman portrays the premature death of the runner as something desirable. â€Å"Smart lad, to slip betimes away† The poets tone is satirical as he congratulates the runner on his death. Later on the mood becomes forlorn with â€Å"Eyes the shady night has shut†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬  In essence the poem can be seen as either providing solace to those left behind by the runner’s death, by dwelling on the fact that in death the runner has achieved a different kind of immortality. An immortality in which his glory is preserved and not overtaken by better achievements of athletes later on. Or it can be seen as a lament by the friends and co-achievers of the runner who were left behind to age and see their glories fade and their â€Å"laurels† wither. Housman has used simple two syllable words which convey complex meanings. His lyrics express a Romantic pessimism in a spare, simple style. The form of the poem is a couplet, for two lines work as a unit. An example would be: "The time you won the town the race/ We chaired you through the marketplace/ Man and boy stood cheering by/And home we brought you shoulder-high." Metaphors are in abundance such as "roses,""garland,"and "laurel†, representing the short

Chinese Literature Final 1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Chinese Literature Final 1 - Essay Example For proof of the key roles Wang Shao and Tanqian played in the campaigns, Wang Shaos (d. 601) authorship of the Shenli ganying ji, a anthology of miracle account associated with the first two relic-distribution campaigns. And, based on a judgment of the regret text used during the campaigns and a work by Tanqian, Chen influentially argues that Tanqian in all likelihood composed the former as well. Han Yu thought that Buddha was repulsive. Buddha did not respect royal and citizen rights. Yu thought that Buddha’s principles that would have had him incarcerated in modern days. Yu having found Buddha dirty and unclean felt that a reputed bone from Buddha was a bad sign. Since the royal courts were in themselves divine to bring an unclean relic in them was sacrilege. The reputed Buddha bone was also considered dirty due to the fact it was part of a dead man. The dead had no part in the royal residences or around the king. Great care was taken when discarding a dead body, so disease and uncleanness would not spread. Yu went on to defend this view by asserting that even if Buddha came back and struck him down, his duty was to the king first. Religion and relics came second, Yu’s loyalty was to the

Linda Hogan's Dwellings - Knowledge Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Linda Hogan's Dwellings - Knowledge - Essay Example For example, industries dealing with oil continue to be developed, and the remaining land continues diminishing so as to make room for the industrial establishment in the modern world. People have forgotten about the beauty that nature creates, and hence the Mother Nature continues to die day by day. She talks about the relevance of human beings seeking a terrestrial knowledge with the natural world. She melds phenomenal descriptions of the environment with crucial reflections on human’s place in their relationship with nature. A crucial discussion topic in the novel is knowledge. The westernized culture encourages people to gather knowledge through science, and other concrete ways of thinking that are logical. On the other hand, native people gain knowledge through experience and they accept abstract ideas as real ones. Hogan disputes the western definition of knowledge and believes that it is evident through the results, and knowledge of the natural world and cycles. Through her words, it is evident that science has also contributed to evil among humans and also brought isolation of knowledge. Human have developed and are unwilling to accept the things that are superior to them in the natural world. Western culture influence creates a perception that human beings have dominance over nature (Hogan 25). In relation to knowledge, Linda Hogan is a well learned person with a complete knowledge and focuses on the various ways that nature relates with human beings. For example, she had a wider knowledge about terrestrial intelligence. She looks at the various perspectives in the world and has developed philosophies regarding nature. In Dwellings, her focus lies on the terrestrial intelligence of dwelling places and living creatures reinforce the notion of earth as a vital place for all living organisms. Her questioning of Western meanings based on components of the natural world makes us understand the anthropocentric constructions of nature as an ideology wi th many fixed meanings. Dwellings are like a challenge to the places and meanings of people’s perceptive. Dwellings guide us on how to nurture a spiritual connection with everything in the world. Hogan’s approaches are nothing less than magical, mystical, and mythical, which are mostly on the American Indian mythology. She argues that myth is usually false, but after examining myths, they are a form of truth. Animals and places symbolise within the natural world used to dismantle the existing western notion which comes from these myths and shapes her worldview (Hogan 28). In the chapter, â€Å"The Bats†, Hogan describes the bats which associate with blood sucking terrors of Dracula, as sacred creatures that live in two worlds, crediting them with considerable insight and wisdom. There are two animals merged into one as they are milk producing rodents that bear live young and a flying bird. For Hogan, bats have a spiritual relevance in that they act as guardians in the passage into a spiritual state and are intermediaries. According to her, bat people live in between two worlds, and hence referred to as intermediaries between the world and the next. As intermediaries, western culture stigmas have associated them with fear and evil. The bats, therefore, are guidelines to a spiritual existence as opposed to being creatures associated with horrifying darkness (Hogan 42). Another Hogan’s take is on snakes and is similar to that of the bat. She views this in association

Poverty and Suggested Solutions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Poverty and Suggested Solutions - Essay Example In fact, â€Å"of the world’s 6 billion people, 2.8 billion—almost half—live on less than $2 a day, and 1.2 billion—a fifth—live on less than $1 a day, with 44 percent living in South Asia† (World Bank). Countries that are economically well-off are not absolutely without cases of poverty too. When the global financial crisis hit these, their poverty levels also grew substantially. However, when compared to the developing and underdeveloped countries, these are still far better. Poverty becomes more glaring and reprehensible if it exists while there are a few that enjoys immense wealth. It is the economic inequalities that actually make people conscious of their impoverished situations. According to the World Bank report â€Å"the average income in the richest 20 countries is 37 times the average in the poorest 20 – a gap that has double in the past 40 years† (2001). The global financial crisis that gravely affected the economies of the developed countries did not level the economic conditions or reduced the gap. While the developed countries did suffer from the crisis, those that are poorer were also badly affected. What happens is that when an economic recession of a global scale occurs, the most developed countries get badly hurt but it is the underdeveloped majority in Africa, Latin America, and most of Asia that get the worst beating. It is necessary to define poverty accurately so that determining its existence and severity in every society is made possible. If it is not defined in the most objective and precise manner, there is the tendency to exaggerate it or to ignore its seriousness. In many underdeveloped countries with less democratic governments, the tendency is to deny its severity in attempts to make themselves unaccountable for the impoverishment of their respective citizens. Timo Airaksinen â€Å"distinguishes relative and absolute poverty, explaining relative poverty as the inability to r each an ‘acceptable’ and ‘average’ standard of living, whereas for absolute poverty, the words used are ‘minimal’ and ‘bare survival’† (Axinn, 1985, p.59). The World Bank, on the other hand, that poverty generally means being in the state of hunger, lacking in shelter and clothing, not having access to healthcare and education. Airaksinen may be right when he stressed that poverty can be relative, considering that this becomes more pronounced when there are a few that are enjoying extreme affluence. While it may be appropriate to describe poverty as it is, analyzing it further for the purpose of achieving an accurate definition may lead to consider relativity. The fact is that people tend to feel the pain of poverty more if they had experienced living a relatively more affluent lifestyle before or if they see that there are others who are. The World Bank report pointed out the three dimensions that are prominent among the imp overished (2001). First is the lack of economic capabilities in the form of income from productive activities and assets or properties. It is because of this poor people do not have the purchasing power needed to acquire the basic necessities such as food, shelter, and clothing, as well as the fundamental health services and education. The second is their apparent powerlessness in the political sphere. Even in countries that claim having a political system modeled after the key democracies in the West,

Storm Drainage Design Project Study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Storm Drainage Design Project Study - Essay Example As we go along this course work ,we will be able to understand what hydrographs are. The graphs above are the results of the Cynon river study data. The study took 4 days to finish nonstop. The measurements of the river height and the discharge are done every hour for 96 hours. The rainfall was plotted using the bar graph and the discharge was plotted using the line graph. In the analysis of the rainfall, you will notice that the rainfall is fluctuating. It is not as though there is a steady rise in the rainfall. The line graph shows the rise of discharge of water in the river, As the rainfall increases, the discharge also increases. The graph satisfy the components of a hydrograph. From the start of the study, you will notice that there is almost a steady flow of water in the river. That means that there is no increase in rainfall. At the start of the 44th hour, the water start to rise. This part of the graph is called the rising limb. This is the part of a hydrograph when water rises too the point of peak discharge. After it reached the peak point, the water stars to recede and this part is called the falling limb or the receding limb. This part denotes that rainfall is finally over and that the accumulated water in the river starts to stabilize again. The part of a hydrograph that is the highest point is called the peak discharge.. this is when there is the greatest amount of water in the river. The lag time is the period of time taking place between the peak rainfall and peak discharge. Computations By the application of the Manning's Formula, we will be able to get the value of breadth b of the open channel with the following data Channel design Given Data Q = 1.0 m3/s n = 0.012 S = 1/2000 = 0.0005 d = 0.5 Formula to be used V = where: v = velocity Q = Av R = Hydraulic Radius Q = A S = slope A = bd n = Manning's coefficient R = Q = discharge Computations: A = db = 0.5(b) Q = A R = 1.0 = 0.5b 1.(0.012) = 0.5b 0.012 = 0.5b = 0.5 0.5429 = 0.5 = 1.0858 = (1.0858)3 = b3 1.2801 = 1.2801 = 1.2801 (1.0 + 2b + b2) = 0.25b5 1.2801 + 2.5602b + 1.2801b2 = 0.25b5 1.2801 + 2.5602b + 1.2801b2 - 0.25b5 = 0 b = 2.2104 m. The value of depth of the river is also needed in order to solve for the value of the discharge of water in the river. The acquired value for depth will help us acquire the value fro the cross-sectional area of the river. In that way, we will be able to solve for the value of the discharge on the river. Computations; Q = Av where: A = cross-sectional area v = velocity = 4.0 m/s A = bd b = 15 m. A = 15(d) R = R = v = v = 4.0 = 4.0(0.012) ==2.1719 =(2.1719)3 =10.2451 =10.2451(225 + 60d + 4d2) = 225d2 2,305.1475+ 614.7069d + 40.9804d2 = 225d2 2,305.1475+ 614.7069d + 40.9804d2 - 225d2 = 0 2,305.1475 + 614.7069d + 1 84.0196d2 = 0 By quadratic equation; solve for the

Poverty and Suggested Solutions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Poverty and Suggested Solutions - Essay Example In fact, â€Å"of the world’s 6 billion people, 2.8 billion—almost half—live on less than $2 a day, and 1.2 billion—a fifth—live on less than $1 a day, with 44 percent living in South Asia† (World Bank). Countries that are economically well-off are not absolutely without cases of poverty too. When the global financial crisis hit these, their poverty levels also grew substantially. However, when compared to the developing and underdeveloped countries, these are still far better. Poverty becomes more glaring and reprehensible if it exists while there are a few that enjoys immense wealth. It is the economic inequalities that actually make people conscious of their impoverished situations. According to the World Bank report â€Å"the average income in the richest 20 countries is 37 times the average in the poorest 20 – a gap that has double in the past 40 years† (2001). The global financial crisis that gravely affected the economies of the developed countries did not level the economic conditions or reduced the gap. While the developed countries did suffer from the crisis, those that are poorer were also badly affected. What happens is that when an economic recession of a global scale occurs, the most developed countries get badly hurt but it is the underdeveloped majority in Africa, Latin America, and most of Asia that get the worst beating. It is necessary to define poverty accurately so that determining its existence and severity in every society is made possible. If it is not defined in the most objective and precise manner, there is the tendency to exaggerate it or to ignore its seriousness. In many underdeveloped countries with less democratic governments, the tendency is to deny its severity in attempts to make themselves unaccountable for the impoverishment of their respective citizens. Timo Airaksinen â€Å"distinguishes relative and absolute poverty, explaining relative poverty as the inability to r each an ‘acceptable’ and ‘average’ standard of living, whereas for absolute poverty, the words used are ‘minimal’ and ‘bare survival’† (Axinn, 1985, p.59). The World Bank, on the other hand, that poverty generally means being in the state of hunger, lacking in shelter and clothing, not having access to healthcare and education. Airaksinen may be right when he stressed that poverty can be relative, considering that this becomes more pronounced when there are a few that are enjoying extreme affluence. While it may be appropriate to describe poverty as it is, analyzing it further for the purpose of achieving an accurate definition may lead to consider relativity. The fact is that people tend to feel the pain of poverty more if they had experienced living a relatively more affluent lifestyle before or if they see that there are others who are. The World Bank report pointed out the three dimensions that are prominent among the imp overished (2001). First is the lack of economic capabilities in the form of income from productive activities and assets or properties. It is because of this poor people do not have the purchasing power needed to acquire the basic necessities such as food, shelter, and clothing, as well as the fundamental health services and education. The second is their apparent powerlessness in the political sphere. Even in countries that claim having a political system modeled after the key democracies in the West,

Why I Decided To Go To College Essay Example for Free

Why I Decided To Go To College Essay For this essay I will be giving a better understanding about how I ever decided to buckle down and get into taking college courses to get a Bachelors in health and sciences. Then discussing what kind of learning style I have most dominant and which style is my weakest. Being in the United States Coast Guard, you have to sit down with your supervisor every six month to do a personal evaluation. During the last evaluation, he asked me about college and I told him that I wasn’t interested. He told me that I shouldn’t waste this opportunity to get a cheap higher education and doing it all online makes it possible for anybody that works ridiculous hours. After the evaluation, I looked into what kind of degree I wanted. I didn’t know what I was interested in doing outside the military. So my wife and I sat down and we discussed what I could see myself happily doing. It came down to health and science or outdoor education. I figured with a better understanding of the effects of what physical strains does to the body would be a more appropriate choice. After doing all three inventories for this assignment, it showed that my most dominant learning style hands down was being a kinesthetic learner and that my weakest learning style was audible. Being a Kinesthetic learner means that the more hands on the better you will remember something. Instead of you learning with more of your ears or eyes, you retain more information through the whole body with muscle memory.† If your highest preference is kinesthetic, you prefer to be a hands-on learner and most likely love to move around frequently, like athletics, and to build things with your hands. Be grateful for your talents and also, it is important to know that most company and school environments cater to people  whose highest learning style preference is visual.† (The Center for New Discoveries in Learning, 2012, paragraph 03)  instance, in boot camp, we had lectures and seamanship class. In these lectures it would be a sit and listen to the Company Commander about the lesson trying my hardest not to fall asleep and getting the whole company in trouble. Whereas seamanship class we would interact with the Company Commander as a unit learning different types of vessels stabilities and getting hands on time about how to tie knots, fighting fires onboard a cutter, and the lighting off different types of flares for distress purposes. Having the audible learning style as my weakest means that I have a hard time sitting down and listening in on classroom discussions. After taking all three inventory test and all of them calling me a â€Å"Tactical† (Bixler, 2010) or a kinesthetic learner, I would have to agree with it. Growing up I hated going to class and not being able to move around or just staring outside waiting for the bell to ring. But now I defiantly use my kinesthetic learning style to my advantage at work. Working outside all day gives me the opportunity to exercise it. In conclusion, I have decided to go to online college to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in health and science after my supervisor encouraged me. After taking three different learning style tests, I have come to realize that I am a kinesthetic learner. This means that I learn better through physical activities rather than sitting down and listening to the Company Commanders at boot camp. I agree to the results of being a kinesthetic learner. Refrences The Center for New Discoveries in Learning. (2012). Learning styles inventory. Retrieved from http://www.howtolearn.com/learning-styles-quiz Bixler, B. (2010). Learning style inventory. Retrieved from http://www.personal.psu.edu/bxb11/LSI/LSI.htm

The Classification Of Outliers Psychology Essay

The Classification Of Outliers Psychology Essay The concern over the outliers is one of the challenge existed for at least several hundred years. Outliers are the observations those are apart from the bulk of data. Edgeworth (1887) wrote that discordant observations those appeared differently from other observations with which they are combined. Almost every data set has the outliers in different percentages. Grubbs (1969) said that an outlier is one that appears to deviate significantly from other values of data. Sometimes outliers may not be noticed but most of the times they can change the entire statistical data analysis. As Peter (1990) explored those observations which do not follow the pattern of the majority of the data are called outliers. At the earlier stage of the data analysis, summary statistics such as the sample mean and variance, outliers can cause totally different conclusion. For example a hypothesis may or may not be rejected due to outliers. In fitting regression line outliers can significantly change the slope. The detection of outliers before analyzing the data analysis is not done then it may lead to model misspecification, biased parameter estimation and incorrect results. It is therefore important to identify the outliers prior to proceed further for analysis and modeling. An observation (or subset of observations) that appears to be inconsistent with the rest of data set is called an outlier (Barnet1995). The exact definition of an outlier depends on the assumption regarding the data structure and the methods which are applied to detect the outliers. Outliers are observations that appear to be unusual with respect to the rest of the data. Classification of Outliers Outliers are classified into one of four classes. First, an outlier may arise from procedural error, such as a data entry error or a mistake in coding. These outliers should be identified in the data cleaning stage, but if overlooked, they should be eliminated or recorded as missing values. Second, an outlier is the observation that occurs as the result of an extraordinary event, which is an explanation for the uniqueness of the observation. In this case the researcher must decide whether the extraordinary event should be represented in the sample. If so, the outlier should be retained in the analysis; if not, it should be deleted. Third, outliers may represent extraordinary observations for which the researcher has no explanation. Although these are the outliers most likely to be omitted, they may be retained if the researcher feels they represent a valid segment of the population. Finally, outliers may be observations that fall within the ordinary range of values on each of the var iables but are unique in their combination of values across the variables. In these situations, the researcher should be very careful in analyzing why these observations are outliers. Only when specific evidence is available that discounts an outlier as a valid member of the population should it is deleted. Outliers may be real or ericaceous. Real outliers are observations whose actual values are very different from those observed for rest of the data and violate plausible relationships among variables. Erroneous outliers are observations those are distorted due to misreporting errors in the data-collection process. Data set either come from homogeneous groups or from heterogeneous groups, have different characteristics regarding a specific variable, outliers occurred by incorrect measurements including data entry errors or by coming from a different population than the rest of the data. If the measurements in correct, it represent a rare event. Outliers are often caused by human error, such as errors in data collection, recording, or entry. Data from an interview can be recorded incorrectly, upon data entry. Outliers may cause from intentional or motivated misreporting. Many times the outliers come when participants purposefully report incorrect data to experimenters or surveyors. A participant may make a conscious effort to sabotage the research or may be acting from other motives. Depending on the details of the research, one of two things can happen: inflation of all estimates, or production of outliers. If all subjects respond the same way, the distribution will shift upward, not generally causing outliers. However, if only a small sub sample of the group responds this way to the experimenter, or if multiple researchers conduct interviews, then outliers can be created. Another cause of outliers is sampling error. It is possible that a few members of a sample were inadvertently drawn from a different population than the rest of the sample. Outliers can be caused from standardization failure like the weak research methodology, unusual phenomena; faulty equipment is another common cause of outliers. By these causes data can be legitimately discarded if the researchers are not interested in studying the particular phenomenon in question. One type of data entry error is implausible or impossible values, for they make no sense when considering the expected range of the data. An out-of-range value is often easy to identify since it will most likely lie well outside the bulk of the data. Another common cause for the occurrence of outliers is the rare event. Extreme observations that for some correct reason are just fine, but do not fit within the typical range of other data values There are many possible sources of outliers. Firstly, purely deterministic reasons those include: reading or measurement error, recording error and execution error. Secondly, some reasons are pointed out by Beckman and cook (1983) they arrange the reasons of outliers into three broad categories. These are global model weaknesses, local model weaknesses and natural variability. When we replace the present model with a new are revised model for the entire sample. Measurement of response variables are in the wrong scale is called Global model weakness. Local model weaknesses are applied only on the outlying observations and not to the model as a whole. And Natural variability is the variation over the population rather than any weakness of the model. These reasons are uncontrollable and reflect the properties of distribution of a correct basic model describing the generation of the data. The outliers occurs due to entry error or a mistake in coding should be identified in the data cleaning stage, but if overlooked, they should be eliminated or recorded as missing values. 1.3 Problematic effects of outliers Outliers of either type may influence on the results of statistical analysis, so they should be identified by using some suitable and reliable detection methods prior to performing data analysis. When potential outlier(s) is encountered, the first suspicion may be that such observations resulted from a mistake or other extraneous effect, and should be discarded. However, if the outlier in real it may be contained some important information about the underlying population of real values. Non judicious removal of observation that appears to be outliers may results in underestimation of the uncertainty present in the data. In the presence of outliers, any statistical test based on sample means and variances can be distorted. There will be Bias or Distortion of estimates and it will give wrong results. The inflated sum of squares makes it unlikely and will partition sources of variation in the data into meaningful components. The decision point of a significance test, p-value, is also distorted. Statistical significance is changed due to presence of a few or even one unusual data value. The strong building of the statistical methods is based on weak legs of assumptions. Incorrect assumptions about the distribution of the data can also lead to the presence of suspected outliers. If the data may have a different structure than the researcher originally assumed, and long or short-term trends may affect the data in unanticipated ways. Depending upon the goal of the research, the extreme values may or may not represent an aspect of the inherent variability of the data. Outliers can represent a nuisance, error, or legitimate data. They can also be inspiration for inquiry. Before discarding outliers, researchers need to consider whether those data contain valuable information that may not necessarily relate to the intended study, but has importance in a more global sense. . The considerable effects of outliers are bias or distortion of Estimates, inflated sum of square and ended analysis of the entire data set at faulty conclusions. The key features of descriptive data analysis like the mean, variance and regression coefficient are highly affected by outliers. 1.4 Aspects of outlier There are two considerable aspects. The first aspect explains that, outliers have a negative effect on data analysis. Outliers generally cause to increase error variance and reduce the power of statistical tests. Outliers violate the assumption of normality. Outliers can seriously influence estimates. The second aspect of outliers in that they are correct, and they may be provides useful information about data set. It the outliers are most information points they should not be automatically discarded without justification. In this case the analyses perform the analysis both with and without these outliers, and examine their specific influence on the results. If this influence is minor, then it may not matter whether or not they are omitted. If their influence is substantial, then it is probably best to present the results of both analysis, and simply alert the researcher to the fact that these points may be questionable. The data set may contain outliers and influential observation. It is thus important for the data analyst to be able to identify such observation; if the data set contains a single outlier or influential observation then identification of such an observation in relatively simple. On the other hand, if the data set contain more than one outlier or influential observations the identification of such observation becomes more difficult. This is due to the marking and swamping effects. Masking occurs when an outlying subset goes undected because of the presence of adjacent subset of outliers. Swamping occurs when good observations are incorrectly identified as outliers because of the presence of other outliers. An outlier is the observation that occurs as the result of an extraordinary event. In this case the researcher must decide about that event. If it represents the sample then that outlier should be retained in the analysis. If that event should not represent the sample it should be deleted. Some time outliers may represent extraordinary observations but the researcher can not explain it. These types of the outlier may be omitted but sometime the may be retained if the researcher feels that they represent a valid segment of the population. Both the detection and the suitable treatment of outliers are therefore important. In the present scenario of modern sciences where the messy data sets are generated, potentially troublesome outlier detection method(s) should be researched and presented at one place The main feathers of such identify criteria is that imperative to correctly identify outliers amongst large masses of data, so that experts can be alerted to the possibility of trouble and investigate the matter in detail. Outliers can provide useful information about the process. An outlier can be created by a shift in the location (mean) or in the scale (variability) of the process. Though an observation in a particular sample might be a candidate as an outlier, the process might be shifted. Numbers of treatments are taken in order to deal with outlier(s) involved studies. Accommodation of outliers uses techniques to mitigate their harmful effects. One of its strength is that accommodation of outliers does not need to precede identification. These techniques can be used with prior information that outlier exist. One very effective way to work with data is to use nonparametric methods which are robust in the presence of outliers. Nonparametric statistical method fit into this type of analyses and should be more widely applied to continuous or interval data than their current use. Often the observed data set do not follow the any of the specified distribution then it is better to transform the data by applying appropriate transformation(s) so that data set could follow the specific distribution. Only as a last resort should outliers be deleted, and then only if they are found to be errors they can not be corrected or lie so far outside the range of the remainder of the data that they distort statistical inferences Our goal in this thesis is firstly to collect the outliers detection methods in univariate and bivariate/ multivariate studies followed the Gaussian and Non-Gaussian distributions and secondly to modify them accordingly. 1.5 Univariate Outliers In unvariate data sets, the study of outlier(s) is relatively simple but demands careful attention. Outliers are those values located distant from the bulk of the data and can often be revealed from simple plot of the data, such as scatter plot, stem-and-leaf plot, QQ-plot, etc. Sometimes univariate outliers are not easy to identify as would appear at first sight. Barnet and Lewis (1994) indicate that an outlying observation, or outlier, is one that appears differently and deviate markedly from other members of the sample, in which it occur. A common rule for outlier identification might be to calculate the sample mean and standard deviation, and classify all those points as outliers which are at 2 or 3 standard deviations away from the mean. It is an unfortunate reality that the presence of two or more outliers could leave some or most of the outliers invisible to this method. If there is one or more distant outlier and one or more not so distant outlier in the same direction, the more distant outlier(s) could significantly shift the mean in that direction, and also increase the standard deviation, to such an extent that the lesser outlier(s) falls less than 2 or 3 standard deviations from the sample mean, and goes undetected. This is called the masking eff ect, and results in this particular method and all related methods being unsuitable for use as outlier identification techniques. It is illustrated with an example, borrowed from Becker and Gather [1999]. Consider a data set of 20 observations taken from an N (0, 1) distribution: -2.21, -1.84, -0.95, -0.91, -0.36, -0.19, -0.11, -0.10, 0.18, 0.30, 0.31, 0.43, 0.51, 0.64, 0.67, 0.72, 1.22, 1.35, 8.1, 17.6, where the latter two observations were originally 0.81 and 1.76, but the decimal points were entered at the wrong place. It seems clear that these 2 observations should be labeled as outliers; let us apply the above method. The mean of this data set is 1.27 while the standard deviation is 4.35. Two standard deviations from the mean, towards the right, would be 9.97, while three standard deviations would be 14.32. Both criteria regard the point, 8.1, as expected with reasonable probability and do not consider it an outlier. Additionally, the three standard deviation boundary for detecting outliers seems rather extreme for an N (0, 1) dataset, surely a point would not have to be as large as 14.32 to be classified as an outlier. The masking effect occurs quite commonly in practice and we conclude that outlier methods based on classical statistics are unsuitable for general use, particularly in situations requiring non-visual techniques such as multivariate data. It is worth noting, however, that if instead of the sample mean and standard deviation, robust estimates of location and scale were used (such as the sample median, and median absolute deviation, MAD), both outliers would be detected without difficulty. 1.6 Multivariate Outliers Multivariate outliers are the challenges that do not occur with univariate data sets. For instance, visual methods simply do not work in case of multivariate case studies. Even plotting the data in bivariate form with a systematic rotation of coordinate pairs will not help. It is possible (and occurs frequently in practice) that points which are outliers in bivariate space, are not outliers in either of the two univariate subsets. Generalization to higher dimensions leads to the fact that a multivariate outlier does not have to be an outlier in any of its univariate or bivariate coordinates, at least not without some kind of transformation A successful method of identifying outliers in all multivariate situations would be ideal, but is unrealistic. By successful, we mean both highly sensitive, the ability to detect genuine outliers, and highly specific, the ability to not mistake regular points for outliers.

Who Has Seen The Wind - The Godlessness Of Formal Religions :: essays research papers

The essence of God isn't found in today's formal religions. It is evident throughout the novel Who Has Seen the Wind that author W.O. Mitchell intrinsically believes and wishes to convey this message. He states that the prairie is nature in it's simplest form, complete onto itself, and that the religious structure of today's "God" is simply made up by people to ease their pain and fears. Underlying everything is the sense that we as human beings don't really know where we're going, or for that matter, where we're coming from, in our search for God and the truth. W.O. Mitchell sees the prairies as the basic fundamental unit of nature. "Here was the least common denominator of nature, the skeleton requirements simply, of land and sky- Saskatchewan prairie" (WHSTW, p3) One might assume that this implies that God doesn't exist; That somehow, since the prairie is already complete, God is effectively out of the picture. Not the case! Rather, this implies, perhaps subtly, that God exists incorporated into nature itself, living with it, and not as the heavenly arbitrator he is supposed, by modern religion, to be. This is perhaps the most important message we are shown in the book. God is real, lives in real things, and, as we will see, is not bound by the finicky limitations and expectations of human beings. It is apparent that there is a definite message we are willed to decipher when we come across Brian creating his own "gods" on paper. This act is symbolic of the childish way in which we've created our own religious conventions and beliefs. Brian feels sad and lonely, so he solves the problem by copying what he sees as religion's solution: Brian was wishing that Forbsie didn't have the mumps†¦ He didn't want to draw men, he wanted to ride a vacuum cleaner up into the sky where it was blue†¦ on the paper he made blue with his crayon. And God was there. (WHSTW, p31) Brian, being a child, is impervious to the horrible sin of blaspheme. This, in conjunction with his natural curiosity, allows him to take religion at face value exposing it to the readers for the hollow shell it is: Not as a means to God, but a means to solving personal problems of loneliness and fulfilling dreams. This "confusion" on Brian's part is used by W.O. Mitchell to show insight into the falseness of religion as a means to God.

Different Types of Digital Libraries Essay example -- Computer Technol

Digital libraries are libraries in which collections are stored in a digital format. A digital library has also been known as a virtual or electronic library. In this essay, different types of digital libraries will be compared. This essay will provide an in depth look at the many different digital library programs that have had a profound impact on the field of digital libraries. Archival formats will be explored. Techniques for the conversion of textbased formats into digital formats will be analyzed and compared. This essay will also uncover the pros and cons of a digital library compared to a traditional library. Suggestions for the future of digital libraries will also be considered. In 1945, Vannevar Bush had a vision. In his article, "As We May Think," he describes a technical fix for the information explosion that begun after World War II. Vannevar named this technical fix the Memex. The Memex was descibed as "a device in which an individual stores all his books, records and communications which is mechanized so that it may be consulted with exceeding speed and flexibility" (Bush, 1945). Vannevar was most certainly a visionary. His ideas were well before his time. His idea of the Memex can be considered the basis for digital libraries and maybe even the world wide web. In the 1980s, libraries card catalogs were being replaced by Online Public Access Catalogs (OPACs). These were usually closed systems that could contain little more than bibliographic data. Most OPACs were are done in Machine Readable Cataloging (MARC) format. It generally represents an individually published item or "information product," and describes the physical characteristics of the item itself (Brenner et al, 20... ... Materials. A Case for Full Information Capture. Digital Library Magazine. Digital Library Foundation (1995). America's Heritage: Mission and Goals for a Digital Library Federation. Retrieved April 25, 2007, from http://www.diglib.org/about/dlfcharter.htm American Memory, The Library of Congress. Mission and History. Retrieved April 24, 2007, from http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/about/index.html Morgan, E (2007). Alex Catalogue of Electronic Texts. Retrieved April 26, 2007, from http://www.infomotions.com/alex/ Alexandria Digital Library Project (2007). About ADL. Retrieved April 26, 2007, from http://www.alexandria.ucsb.edu/research/about/history.htm CSDL (2007). The Center for the Study of Digital Libraries. Texas A&M. Retrieved April 25, 2007, from http://www.csdl.tamu.edu/csdl/center/center.html

Nursing As a Discipline Essay

Is nursing a discipline or just a profession? The term discipline describes the practise of training people to obey rules or a code of behaviour, so can nursing be placed under this classification? The term profession described as a paid occupation or a body of people engaged in a particular profession, so can nursing be placed under this classification? Yes nursing is a paid occupation, thus allowing it to be placed under the classification of nursing as a profession. However, nursing can also be placed under discipline as you are trained to obey a code of behaviour. Nursing as a discipline has interrelated relationships between nursing practice, knowledge and research and these relationships help to advance the discipline of nursing. Is nursing a profession or a discipline? The goal of the discipline is to expand knowledge about human experiences through creative conceptualisation and research, (Parse, R.R, 1999). The goal of the profession is to provide a service to humankind thro ugh living the art of science, (Parse, R.R, 1999). Through those definitions of the nursing discipline and the nursing profession, it can be seen that the nursing practice can be thought as a discipline or a profession. The discipline of nursing encompasses the knowledge in the extant framework and theories that are embedded in the totality and simultaneity paradigm, (Parse, R.R, 1999). The profession of nursing consists of person educated in the discipline of nursing according to nationally regulated defined and monitored standards, (Parse, R.R, 1999). You can see that nursing is both a profession and a discipline and you can see that there are interrelationships between nursing practice, knowledge and research. In nursing as a discipline you can see that there is an interrelationship between nursing practice, knowledge and research. It has been said that that understanding of knowledge base is essential for judgement and decision-making that occurs before, during, and after the actual tasks are preformed, (Evans, R.J, 2006). This shows that the relationship between nursing practice and knowledge is strong and can be seen in everyday practice. â€Å"An awareness of the relationship(s) between skil ls and other competencies is essential to understanding the complexity of the dynamics of nursing practice†, (Evans, R.J, 2006). This shows the importance of being able to back up the choices made with the knowledge and research. The relationship between knowledge and research is just as  important as the relationship between nursing practice and knowledge. Having that relationship allows for the knowledge to be gained by research and in the overall picture is allows for the interrelationship between nursing practice, knowledge and research to be seen by others that are not in the health care workforce. |A proposed model that builds on work by Benner, (1984), illustrated that nurses moves through a number of phases in nursing, from novice to expert. The authors here propose that the knowledge, skill and judgement possessed by the nurse also pass through the same phases. The skills implemented by a nurse are not performed contextually free. They are always supported by the knowledge acquired through basic and continuing education, experience, research findings, and intuition that nurses develop as they move through Benner’s levels of novice to expert. The performance of a skill cannot stand alone; it is always supported by the knowledge and judgement. The second part of the model revolves around the understanding that knowledge, judgement, and their skills and their interrelationship do no remain static. We believe that the knowledge, skill and judgement that nurses possess and display also change in a similar manner.| (Evans, R.J, 2006). This demonstrates that having this relationship in the nursing profession helps to advance it as a discipline. By having these relationships public within the nursing profession it shows that they know what they are doing. It gives a support when with the patients. These relationships help the families and carers of those we look after. The interrelationships between nursing practice, knowledge and research have helped advance nursing as a discipline but also keeping it within a profession. As the definition goes discipline is training of people to obey a code of behaviour, and that’s what the interrelationships between nursing practice, knowledge and research shows. Having these advancements plays a significant role on nurses and the nursing career as they give nurses a broader role within the workforce, as they are not just looking after pa tients and being there advocates, nurses are now showing their knowledge in their judgements and decision-makings. Overall, the nursing career can be classified as a profession as well as a discipline due to the interrelationship between nursing practice, knowledge and research. They have had a big role in the advancement of nursing as a discipline. Nurses now have the role of demonstrating their knowledge through their judgements  and decision-making within the nursing practice. By doing this they illustrate the large interrelationship between nursing practice, knowledge and research. References: Evans, R. J., & Donnelly, G. W. (2006). A model to describe the relationship between knowledge, skill, and judgment in nursing practice. Nursing Forum, 41(4), 150-7. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.utas.edu.au/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/195028141?accountid=14245 Bryant, R. B., Foley, E. R., & Percival, E. C., A.M. (2008). The role of RCNA in promoting transcultural nursing as a discipline of study, research, practice and management in australia. Contemporary Nurse : A Journal for the Australian Nursing Profession, 28(1), 3-11. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.utas.edu.au/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/203177534?accountid=14245 Parse, R.R, (1999), ‘Nursing: The discipline and the profession’, Vol. 12, No.4, PP. 275-276, viewed 8 May 2013, < http://nsq.sagepub.com.ezproxy.utas.edu.au/content/12/4/275.full.pdf>

Huckelberry Finn Essay

I have decided to analyze three different journal articles related to the novel ‘The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn’, written by Mark Twain in 1884. I chose this topic because the novel is widely considered a masterpiece. In fact, Ernest Hemingway described its importance with the following sentence: â€Å"All modern American literature comes from a book by Mark Twain called ‘Huckleberry Finn’. In addition, the topic has a great interest because the novel has always been a subject of controversy due to racial issues and the alleged praise of juvenile delinquency that it portrays. The three articles that and I am going to comment on are the following: 1) Huckleberry Finn and America (Chicago Tribune, January 17, 2002) 2) Huck Finn, Censorship and the N-word Controversy, by Delia Lloyd (www. politicsdaily. com, January 6, 2011) 3) Light out, Huck, They Still Want to ‘Sivilize’ You, by Michiko Kakutani (The New York Times, January 6, 2011). Look more:  satirical play essay In order to compare and analyse these three articles, I am going to focus on two main points: the overall opinion that the authors of the different articles have about the book (which is usually very good) and what they comment on the controversial matters that  novel deals with. First of all, I will concentrate on the overall opinion that the authors express regarding ‘Huckleberry Finn’. On article 1, the author (whose name is not revealed) defines the novel in the following terms: ‘Few books in the U. S history have been as influential—or as controversial—as â€Å"Huckleberry Finn†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢. Furthermore, he added: ‘ â€Å"Huckleberry Finn† not only has survived the efforts to bury it, it has thrived and it has grown as a teaching tool’. As we could see, the author praises the novel strongly. In addition, he rejects the most critical opinions and defends Twain’s intentions (†¦Twain was  skewering hatred and racism, intolerance and religious bigotry, royalty and imperialism’). In the case of article 2, the author, Delia Lloyd, does not express a clear opinion about the novel itself. However, she declares herself as â€Å"a devotee of Mark Twain’, so it is likely to think that he has quite a positive opinion about the novel. Regarding article 3, its author, Michiko Kakutani, quotes Hemingway’s famous sentence about Twain at the beginning of the article. Apart from that, there are not any more explicit opinions about the novel itself. However, a thorough reading of the article evidences a strong defence of it, and the author shows a very defiant attitude with those who criticize it. In terms of controversy, the articles express different opinions and ideas, and the authors make clear what they think about the nature and the novel and the convenience of altering it. For instance, it is important to point out the different dates in which the articles were written. Whereas article 1 was written in 2002, articles 2 & 3 were written the very same day (January 6, 2011) and were triggered by the same cause (a university  professor, Alan Gribben, had written a new version of ‘Huckleberry Finn’ replacing controversial words such as ‘nigger’ or ‘injun’ for more neutral, inoffensive terms). The author of article 1 is very critical with those who aim to disapprove the novel. In fact, he stated: ‘Twain wrote satire, and there are glorious lessons in his books even if they ruffle readers or appear, simply in the telling of the unvarnished truth, to somehow glorify injustice and racism’. In addition, he ends the article with a sentence that leaves no doubt about his opinion regarding racial and social controversy arisen by the novel. (‘Huckleberry Finn is a glorious celebration of friendship and tolerance triumphing over the racism and hypocrisy of the day. That is why it’s a hard book to read—and why it is one of the greatest works of American Literature’). Delia Lloyd express a somehow ambiguous opinion about whether is convenient or not to introduce changes in the novel. On the one hand, she says to be ‘sympathetic’ with several authors quoted in her article, who are in clear contrast with Gribben’s version of the novel (for instance, Matt Blum is quoted as saying ‘How can we expect children to learn real history if we sanitize it for them? ’, whereas Elon James White argues that ‘the only way to get Americans to deal openly and honestly with prejudice is to force students to be uncomfortable with terms that—unpleasant though they may be—are part and parcel of our country’s blatantly racist past’). On the other hand, Delia Lloyd also makes some positive remarks about Gribben’s ideas later on in the article, probably based upon her experience as a mother (‘As a parent, however, I’m less sympathetic to Gribben’s critics’, or ‘†¦there are more practical reasons to think that having a cleaned-up version of â€Å"Huckleberry Finn† isn’t, as Salon’s. Mary Elizabeth Williams’ puts it, â€Å"the worst thing in the world† ‘). Finally, article 3 is opposed to change the original version of the novel. This could already be implied from the title, which misspells the word ‘civilize’. This is a clear reference to the tendency of some characters of the book to pronounce words wrongly. Michiko Kakutani develops this idea throughout the article, refuting Grribben with subtleness and irony. As a result, he sometimes describes Grubbin labour with adjectives in inverted commas (‘improved’) or using aggressive ones to refer to him and his work. (‘Being an iconic classic, however, hasn’t protected the novel from being banned, bowdlerized and bleeped’). To conclude, I must say that, after reading the novel and several articles related to it, I think that the novel should be preserved in its original state. As far as I’m concerned, such a masterpiece deserves to be respected and remain unaltered. In addition, teachers should be very careful when explaining it to children, and try to transmit them the real (and benevolent) intentions of Mark Twain. Bibliography -Huckleberry Finn and America (Chicago Tribune, January 17, 2002). An article  written in the scope of the PBS series directed by documentary filmmaker Ken Burns, which appeared shortly after the article. -Huck Finn, Censorship and the N-word Controversy, by Delia Lloyd (www. politicsdaily. com, January 6, 2011). It is an ambiguous article about the necessity of changing ‘Huckleberry Finn’’s most controversial parts. -Light out, Huck, They Still Want to ‘Sivilize’ You, by Michiko Kakutani (The New York Times, January 6, 2011). A strong defence of the novel and fierce critic of those who intend to change it. -Playing in the Dark: Whiteness and the Literary Imagination (Toni Morrison, 1992).