Popular Indian Religion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Popular Indian Religion - Essay Example Translation of a segment included in this Vedic literature â€Å"Âpastamba's Yagà ±a-Paribhà ¢shà ¢-Sà »tras† was conducted by F. Max Muller which was related with the ‘General Rules of the Sacrifice’. ‘Yagà ±a’ or sacrifice in Sutra I of this literature is stated as an act to offer or rather to surrender, i.e. ‘pruputti’ of a living or a non-living object to the God (Muller, 2004). ‘Yagà ±a’ is made to the God or Goddess with the expectation to attain a reward in terms of blessings. These rewards have often been termed to be related with the ‘path to heaven’, prosperity or ‘samridhi’ and absolute enlightenment or ‘samyak-sambodhi’. The Sutras in â€Å"Âpastamba's Yagà ±a-Paribhà ¢shà ¢-Sà »tras† reveal a variety of rituals to perform sacrifice in order to satisfy the worshiped God or Goddess. Rituals and objects for the ‘Yagà ±a’ differ according to the God or Goddess and similarly the process also varies in each case. In the traditional art of Hinduism, the rituals of sacrifice also differed on the basis of the caste system, i.e. Brà ¢hmana, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Sudra (Oldenberg, 1892). ... The importance of sacrifice and the raison d'etre of the ritual has also been explicitly defined in all the four main Vedas of Hindu Shastra, i.e. Rig, Yajur, Sama, and Atharva Vedas (Oldenberg, 1892). It is in this context that the Sutras mentioned in the literature had a significant impression on the society during the traditional period where Brahmanas and Kshatriyas were termed to be the higher castes possessing the rights to perform every kind of sacrifice and thus were referred to be better connected with the spiritual world in comparison to Vaisyas and Sudras. In relation to the influences of the rituals mentioned in the sutras on the Hindu society and from an ethical point of view it is quite apparent that â€Å"Apastamba's Yagna-Paribhasha-Sutras† played a crucial role in introducing hierarchical caste systems in the then Hindu society. On the similar context, in the â€Å"Grihya Sutras† of Gabhila in Kandika 5, it has been stated that a worshiper should even s acrifice a ‘black-cow’ or a ‘white-cow’ in order to please God and thus barricade the harms caused due to Asvattha, Palaksha, Nyagrodha, and Udumbara to the house. Notably, these are termed to be the favourite trees of Surya, Yama, Varuna, and Pragapati (Muller, 2004). The question that arises in this context relates to the issue where on one hand the religion tends to term cow as a sacred animal and similarly teaches to have mercy on every living creature on earth respecting them as the blessings and creations of God himself, the rituals of the same asks to sacrifice an animal. Concerning these issues, followers of other religions such as Budhists, Jains and Ajivikas have remarked the ritual of sacrifice to be a symbol of ‘ascetic practices’.

Aggregate Demand and Supply Models Essay Example for Free

Aggregate Demand and Supply Models Essay When examining unemployment and supply and demand it is imperative to examine the affects one has on the other and vice versa. If no new jobs are created or layoffs occur, there are no jobs to supply the needs. As the availability of money lessens a smaller amount is available for the purchase of goods, therefore fewer goods are sold. As the demand lessens sales forecasts also become smaller, these forecasts project fewer orders placed to the manufacturers. Merchants do not want to hold onto a disproportionate amount of inventory, which can be extremely expensive, both from the standpoint of cash/credit expenditure and for the storage fees. The smaller the orders are for manufactured products will result in a smaller customer supply level (United States Unemployment Rate, 2013). It is essential to amplify government funding to generate new jobs in order for the unemployment rate to be reduced. From a Keynesian viewpoint increasing government, spending is a multifaceted benefit for everyone, and this will control the aggregate level. From a Classical perspective, it is best to let the economy naturally adjust, to incorporate the unemployment ratio. Consequently, for that reason, increased spending would not be fitting in this economic model. Expectations In the first three months of 2013, the GDP in the United States has grown at a 2. 5% annual rate. Although the GDP has risen from the last quarter of 2012, 2. 5 is still almost a full point under the expectations of economists for the year. Although the economy is in a more stable point than in the 2008 collapse it has become apparent the United States economy has been stuck for quite some time now. According to Neil Irwin (2013 Washington Post) â€Å"the biggest culprit in the weak report was the government sector, which fell at a 4. 1 percent rate, after a 7 percent pace of decline in the fourth quarter. Unfortunately, this year the private sector of business has proved of no expansion and no signs point to change. As for the expectations for the rest of the 2013 year, its economist’s jobs to identify trends in the market and make assumptions of change in the economy based on those findings. Unfortunately, there seems to be little to any trends that look promising enough to quicken the recovery of the 2008 collapse. As it stands currently, the United States economy will slowly continue to grow, but not quickly. * Consumer Income According to Sivy (2013), â€Å"Personal income fell 3. 6 percent in January, the biggest decline in 20 years† (p. ). If one takes into account taxes and inflation, the accurate disposable income is closer to 4%. Many economists believe that even though there is a slow recovery from the recession the standard of living for many American’s has declined. It has become difficult for the middle-class income to keep up with rising taxes and unemployment. There does not seem to be any movement toward restoring income for middle-class households, which affects the GDP in a negative manner. The relationship to the aggregate supply and demand curve is that the consumers will only consume the number of goods and services their budget allows. When a consumer has a lower level of income, he or she is less likely to purchase high quantities of products and services, causing a negative effect on the aggregate supply and demand. Less wealth leads to less consumption, bring down the demand for goods, and causing a shift in output (to the left). Interest Rates The Federal Reserve Board (also known as the Fed†) controls interest rates. â€Å"When the Fed raises or lowers short term interest rates, banks can raise or lower the interest rates they charge borrowers, including the prime rate† (Northrop Grumman, 2013). In today’s current economy, there is a rise in interest rates. One may ask, what does this mean for the consumers in our economy as well as businesses. A number of things can happen. If the interest rates rise, consumers may not be inclined to purchase home and auto loans. Ehling (2013), â€Å"Since April, mortgage rates have jumped almost 1 percent, causing concern for those in the market to buy a home† (Para 2). This rise in interest rates can hurt businesses because fewer consumers are spending money. However, businesses can also use this to their advantage because they can put pressure on consumers to buy sooner rather than later before the rates increase even higher. When rates increase, the economy is usually strong and in good health. The Fed is usually trying to slow down economic growth. While interest rates rise, the aggregate demand curve shifts up and to the right. When interest rates are lowered, the aggregate demand curve shifts down and to the left. The short-term aggregate supply curve is also affected. When interest rates are low, this will cause the curve to shift to the right, and when the interest rates are higher the curve shifts to the left. It would be wise to lower the interest rates a little because the economy is still recovering. Raising the interest rates in a span of weeks could result in hurting the economy’s health. In today’s economy, if we lowered interest rates a small amount this would increase consumer spending and will create more jobs. Recommendations After reviewing the above mentioned, we have determined the following recommendations to help the economy grow. The above are in some way or another intertwined and affects each other as well. Our recommendation is to spend less, owe less, and grow the economy (Joint Economic Committee, 2011). To reduce government budget the use of more fiscal consolidations are essential. These programs ultimately reduce government spending, which in turn can accelerate short and long-term economic growth. Increasing tax rates are not good for the economy because it affects the long-term economic growth. In addition, decreasing the number of government workers would be a way for the government to reduce its spending, along with compensations (Joint Economic Committee, 2011). Eliminating agencies and programs is also another way to reduce spending costs. Last, reforming and reducing transfer payments to households will boost GDP growth because it will enhance the credibility of fiscal consolidation programs (Joint Economic Committee, 2011). This will also encourage younger workers to work more, save, and retire older. Part Two Evaluation of Recommendations Keynesian economists believe in applying financial and fiscal policies to lessen the effects of economic recessions. Keynes argued that in times of recession, spending is a public good that benefits everyone (Colander, 2013). The government should be spending and providing jobs to stimulate the economy. Unfortunately, during a recession most do the opposite. Businesses and government seems to cut back on military spending and cause major layoffs. Businesses are reluctant to invest because they already have more capacity than they can use. However, the government can jump-start the economy through increased spending and investment. These investments would go a long way to strengthen the economy. Currently the leadership in the White House has implemented policies that stem from the Keynesian theory. This is in large due to the previous recession that the country faced after the attacks of 9/11. The Keynesian theories allow the government to intervene and help stimulate the economy. During a stagnate or failing economy the government generates revenue and jobs sometimes by adding money into the economy and thus keeping interest rates low. This has shown to be an effective approach because the economy is starting to recover and grow again Classical economists believe on creating long-term solutions for economic problems. They argue that any imperfections in the economy will be corrected automatically, and no government intervention is needed. â€Å"While the Keynesian economists believe in implementing monetary and fiscal policies, the classical economists believe that the best monetary policy during a crisis is no monetary policy† (Patil, 2012). Although both theories are important, one may say the best solution is to have a mixture of both theories. There are many economic situations where one theory might work better than the other is; however, a wise economist is not only preparing for short-term solutions, but long-term solutions as well. Conclusion In conclusion, it is important in business to be open to looking at situations (i. e. the economy) from angles. Looking at the economy from both points of views could be critical to the success and forecasting of our economy in the future. However, after reviewing both Keynesian and Classical we still feel that the Keynesian approach will have a more significant impact on the economy. The recommendations we have suggested for the President reaffirm this.

Impact Of Security Risks On E Commerce Information Technology Essay

Impact Of Security Risks On E Commerce Information Technology Essay A security risk often can be represented as the event that compromises the assets, operations of an organization. The impact of the security risks is different on different kind of systems depending on the environment in which they are being utilized. That mean the impact on server systems is different to that of the impact on the client systems. Because of its openness and convenience Internet has become the biggest and most important market for people to do business and transactions. The security risks are mainly due to Intruders, viruses, worms, Trojans which have their own impact on the data systems. So here the scope of this research paper covers the security issues and their impact on the e-commerce. This focuses on a risk in case of e-commerce and it is defined as a function by security business professionals and the impact on the systems because of various security threats and vulnerabilities with real time examples and scenarios. These security issues are basically consists of various vicious attacks, these attacks, from a technical view can be sort into some categories; Loss of Confidentiality, Loss of Integrity, Loss of Availability, Loss of Accountability. And there are some threats that affect the computer systems such as; Web Server threats, Database threats, Programming threats, Threats to physical security of Web Servers which also affects the e-commerce. INDEX Introduction Risk in e-commerce Risk as a function Literature review Findings and discussions on typical Impact of risks on e-commerce systems Conclusion References 1.Introduction: With the development of Internet is still on the fast track even after the .COM bubble burst, more and more companies, enterprises especially small and medium size companies came to realize the opportunity that electronic commerce can brought to them. Therefore, they are trying to catch up with those forth goes in this area. In the meantime, quite a lot of companies that are in the leading position of e-commerce implementation are caring more on how to strategically avoid, reduce and manage the potential risks behind the   e-commerce  stage. Here this paper narrates; what is a risk in case of e-commerce? How it is defined as a function by security business professionals? What is the impact on the systems because of various security threats and vulnerabilities with real time examples and scenarios? In early days of using computer systems, most of the systems are standalone and the security was accomplished by the physical controls over the access to the computers. Burglar alarms, alarmed doors, security guards, security badges, cameras allowed the people to the most secured and sensitive areas. The interaction with the systems at that time is very less and its confined to very limited numbers i.e. to enter the data, manipulate it. The network of the systems is also confined to limited number of terminals and the security of it is in the hands of a limited persons. But now the condition has changed extra-ordinarily that millions of people around the globe are able to access to the network at a single moment of time effectively. So as the information from one place is being accessed by someone in another place over the computer networks, the security issue arises. Lots and lots of sensitive information are being accessed over the both private and public networks. So along with the fast growing technology the security threats are also increasing day to day. 2. Risk in e-commerce: What is risk in case of e-commerce? A risk may be defined as a security breach in which there might be a loss or theft of some information or assets containing the secret issues. The E-commerce systems are depending upon internet use, which provides open, flexible and provides a way for easy communications on a global basis. However, may be because of any reason the internet is unregulated, unmanaged and uncontrolled, so it posses many and wide range of risks and threats which in turn will affect with a great impact to the systems operating on it. Anecdotal evidence indicates that the main risks which are associated with e-commerce concern intruders, hackers, viruses, worms and interception of credit card numbers which are passing over the telecommunication lines or channels.  These risks can lead to the events resulting in the deliberate or inadvertent loss of many assets and this deliberate loss of assets can result from disclosing of the information, fraud, and deliberate disruption of service.   3. Risk is a function of three factors: Risk as a function Most of the security professionals will see that risk is a function of three primary factors: threats; vulnerabilities; and their business impact. Combining all these provides a standard formula for the risk that is often used in security and business continuity planning. So, E-commerce has had a big impact on all these three factors. Threats: Threats are naturally increased with the exposure. The more exposed a system is to people or other systems, the greater will be the odds that someone or something or some system will attack that system like Cyber squatting, Eavesdropping, Web Jacking, Denial of service attacks. E-commerce magnifies this exposure of systems by making various business services available via the Internet or other kind of networks and by integrating them with the back-office systems, such as some softwares, mainframes and by using enterprise resource planning software. Vulnerabilities: Vulnerabilities are those which increase with complexity. If the system is more complex, then there would be a greater likelihood of software defects, system defects or configuration defects/flaws that make that system susceptible to compromise. E-commerce increases complexity by promoting the more use of Web services, distributed databases, security zones, multi-tiered applications and other sophisticated technologies. Impact: Here comes the main subject of this research paper, the impact can be of any type-business or personal. Business impact is the one which increases with the business value of the system, as well as the amount or the length of time the system is compromised during an attack. There is some relationship that exists between these-business impact, its value and length of time of attack. The relationship between business impact and its value is almost linear, where as the relationship between business impact and the length of time is very rarely linear i.e. the maximum loss of the information or anything may be incurred instantaneously. For example, consider an attacker may steal the information of 100 credit card numbers and the associated customer profiles very quickly after compromising a banks or financial institutions database server. Here the E-commerce affects the business and its value directly on bottom line. 4. Literature Review: While the concept of e-commerce is no longer be considered as a new concept, an important part of E-commerce which is still relatively new is the issues of security risks that greatly affect the economy of the e-commerce business that directly connects with the customers to sell the products and services. The main trend in the E-commerce is to rely greatly and heavily on the network of computers connecting with all the databases. And they have the ability to provide a connection directly with the customers regardless of location and in the way that builds loyal and trust relationships between a customer and seller. However, it is important to examine a full range of issues related to the e-commerce strategy of the security risks as a way to attempt to connect with customers and increase their revenues. There are issues such as the issue of the impact of the security risks due to viruses, worms, bugs, attacks, frauds around the world, and even the way in which these attacks and frauds on the e-commerce systems affecting the revenue and making the trust of customers towards the business sites to decrease to a great extent. The information about the actual success of e-commerce methods and strategies that are based around business networking and an idea that the customers insight has been reduced because of the ease with which people can communicate will also is examined. In this review of the recent academic literature regarding E-commerce related to the use and impact of security risks and frauds, information about the reduction of customers insight into the commerce websites due to frauds and the impact on E-commerce strategies due to which the revenue is reduced is also reviewed. Even more, with the academic literature that is seen and reviewed, the strategies and variables that are very important for E-commerce companies i.e. how the security risks will affect the revenue and how the customers lost their information due to frauds will also be discussed. 5. Findings and discussions on typical Impact of risks on e-commerce systems: There are various threats to the e-commerce systems: threats posed to files, databases by viruses, Trojans, botnets etc, card payment frauds, malicious attacks from in and out of the business, hacker threats etc. So now we see the findings based on the function of the risks i.e. we see threats like web bugs, active content, integrity threats: Cyber vandalism, spoofing , Necessity threats: denial of service, web server threats, database threats and vulnerabilities and the impact of them on their business and systems. Impact by Trojans, viruses and botnets- Viruses and worms are the computer programs that spread across the computers and networks by making multiple copies of themselves i.e. usually without the knowledge of a computer or system user. A Trojan horse is a type of program which appears to be a legitimate but it actually contains another type of program or block of undesired malicious, infected code, disguised and hidden in a block of the desirable code. It can be used to infect a computer with a virus. A back-door Trojan is a program that allows a remote user or hacker to bypass the normal access controls of a computer and gain unauthorized control over it. Typically, the virus is used to place a back-door Trojan into a computer, and once it is online, the person who sent that Trojan can run programs on the infected computer, access personal files, and modify and upload files. So these merely affect the computer systems which are involved in the transactions, these by installing themse lves into the computers make some mess with the data in it or make it vulnerable for other type of attacks and in case of a Trojan the impact is very high that the attacker can bypass the access to the resources for the unauthorized use. Example: There has been a new wave of malware attack that has started affecting BlackBerry and it has originated from Poland. The aim is to extract banking passwords. So by this the attackers can affect the e-commerce transactions by using the credit card or bank details. A botnet is one of the infected vaults which are a group of infected, remotely-controlled computers. The hacker sends out a virus, Trojan or worm to ordinary computers. These computers can then be used to launch denial of service attacks, distribute spam e-mails and commit click fraud, identity theft and thefts of log-in details and credit card numbers. The impact due to the web bugs makes the user or customer to feel bad about some companies which involve e-commerce. This is because the attackers who attack with web bugs gains the information of the ISPs of the system, so the web bugs are introduced in the e-mails and makes that e-mail address a valid one. Active content is the content which is used by the e-commerce sites to display their items, perform check out tasks and calculate tax and shipping information etc. This active content may include java applets and java scripts. Many websites have the options to control the active content but despite the attacker use this active content to impose their code into the website. By this the attacker can do a mess with the content of the website and can gain some private information about the customers. So the impact is very risky that the users details such as the card details etc can be by passed to other attackers terminal. The impact of the Cyber vandalism is very bad that the customer may get disgusted by the web site presence which in turn makes the customer never come back to this web site thereby decreasing the business of this website. This is because the attacker will replace or defaces the content of the website with his own content such as with porn content. So this cyber vandalism made a serious dent in the customer confidence in internet based e-commerce. This is a type of integrity attack in which the impact is majorly on the information present in the website. Example: When the Internet was new for the home users, the young hackers would gleefully deface websites; they break into corporate, e-commerce computer networks and try to outdo each other at how much mischief they could cause for the corporate networks, looking for fame among their contemporaries.  (Husted, 2011) Spoofing is another type of attack by which many websites are victims and its impact is great on the economy of the e-commerce websites. In this type of attack the perpetrators make use of the loop holes in the DNS servers and make their fictitious website as a real and original website to spoof the website visitors, so when the visitors have submitted their credit card details or any private information the attackers use these details to order the items and make them to ship to other addresses. Even the big e-commerce companies such as Amazon.com, AOL, eBay are the victims of this attack. Example: Recently many of the individuals are getting the e-mails that found to be legitimate from the original e-commerce websites such as Dell, Amazon that these e-mails will encourage the victims to click and submit usernames, passwords and some of their private information like card details, so then boom, they are spoofed i.e. the attackers now use their credit card details and can do all the mess which may be expected. The impact of the Denial of Service on the e-commerce is great that the websites which are attacked with this delay in service cannot handle the requests given by the customers thereby decreasing the sales and commerce. The attackers will keep the central server that handles the request very busy by sending the inappropriate requests. This makes the customers of a particular e-commerce website disgusting and they automatically go for the other competitor website. This can also be seen in the credit card payment gateway in the websites making the customers waiting for longer times and leave the website. Example: On December 8, 2010, a group called anonymous launched a Denial of Service attack on organizations such as  Mastercard.com,  PayPal,  Visa.com  and  Post Finance and made the payment gateways as dead for many hours irritating the customers of many e-commerce websites.( Addley, Esther; Halliday, Josh, 2010) The web servers threats also had a great bad impact on the e-commerce business. Actually the web servers are responsible for delivering the web pages upon the request through http protocols. So here when there are vulnerabilities the attackers will do mess and in affect the e-commerce business degrades. Web servers can compromise the security by prompting the users to enter their usernames and passwords when the user visits multiple pages in the same web servers protected area. The passwords that the user selects can be a threat. They select the simple passwords. If the file containing the private details is compromised, an intruder can enter into the privileged areas, and obtain the usernames and passwords. The database threats also pose a great impact on the e-commerce business. Besides storing the information the database servers also connected to the web servers which contain valuable private information that could damage the whole company irreparably if disclosed or altered. And most of the database servers rely on the username and password security that if compromised can cause a great impact on the whole website. Generally the database that contains the usernames and passwords are encrypted but some of the databases of some companys may not be encrypted, so if the unauthorized users obtain the authorization information then they can masquerade as the original database users and can get the confidential and potential valuable information like bank details etc. Once if the database of a certain company is compromised then the attackers may play with these details that they can use the card details and can buy the things they want in the e-commerce websites and can ship to their addr esses. The impact by Server Root exploits refer to techniques that gain a super user access to the server. This has a very big impact on the e-business because it is the most coveted type of attack and the possibilities are limitless i.e. the attacker can play what he wants. When the attacker attacks a shopper or his personal computer, he can only affect that single individual. But with this kind of root exploit, the attacker can gain control of the merchants, sellers and all the shoppers information that has links with the site. The attacker uses are two main types of root exploits: buffer overflow attacks and executing scripts against a server. The consequences may be very high that the attacker can do a mess with the website. In a buffer overflow attack, the hacker here takes the advantage of a specific type of computer program may be a bug that involves the allocation of storage of information during the program execution. This technique involves tricking of the server into executing a code written by an attacker. The other technique uses the knowledge of scripts that are executed by the server. This step is easily and freely found in the programming guides for the server. The attacker then tries to write the scripts in URL of a browser to retrieve information from his server. This type of technique is frequently used when the attacker is trying to retrieve data from the servers database and after getting he or she may misuse the details of the users who shop through online. This will intern make the customers not to visit the particular site again as they got crapped by it. Example: AS MANY as 9000 New Zealanders may have had their credit card and personal details stolen after a Lush cosmetics website was hacked. This company has urged its online customers in New Zealand and Australia to contact their banks to discuss cancelling their credit cards (Rogers, 2011). In 2007, IC3 Internet Crime and Complaint Center received 219,553 complaints that totaled $239,090,000 in financial losses in the form of assets or in form of theft. The average loss per complaint is around a $1000. C:UsersBharathDesktop2007_ic3report.jpg Source: Internet Crime and Complaint Center 2007 Report 6.Conclusion: This article outlined the key security attacks and impacts in an E-commerce system. The Current technology allows for secure website design. The rise of users identity theft and the fraud that attackers do and it has long been seen as a threat to e-commerce revenue growth. With the complaints of identity theft, loss of private information and phishing attacks on the rise, many customers may shy away from buying goods and services online. It is up to the site developing team to be both proactive and reactive in handling the security threats to reduce the high impact on the e-commerce business, and up to the shopper to be more responsible and vigilant when shopping online.

Maturation in Bless Me, Ultima Essay -- essays research papers

In Bless Me, Ultima, Rudolfo Anaya defends the assertion, â€Å"for in much wisdom there is much grief, and increase of knowledge is increase of sorrow,† from Ecclesiastes. Tony endures many trials throughout the novel, therefore increasing his knowledge of life but also increasing his grief and sorrow. After witnessing Lupito’s death, Tony realizes that people are not always what they appear to be. Tony also begins to question his religion because of trials in the novel, some of which include Lucas’ cure and the sighting of the golden carp. In his trek during the blizzard, Tony learns of his brother’s sinful doings and he witnesses the death of a good man. Tony gains much knowledge in these scenes, but, unfortunately, with this knowledge comes grief. Lupito’s death marks the first scene in the novel in which Tony’s grief is a direct consequence of his knowledge. Tony’s naivetà © causes him to take people at their face value, not realizing that they may not be as they seem. Narciso is the town drunk, yet he is the only man on the bridge that maintains his common sense. â€Å"’I...

Inception Film Analysis Essay

Inception came out to theaters last 2010. It is an action, adventure and sci-fi film starring Leonardo DiCaprio (Cobb), Joseph Gordon Levitt (Arthur) and Ellen Page (Ariadne). The movie revolves around Cobb, whose job is to steal information from the minds of people through their dreams. He was given the task to perform the reverse called Inception on a businessman named Fischer in exchange for having the charges against him dropped and going back to America to finally see his children again. In the process of doing his job, Mal (Cobb’s wife who already passed away) keeps on appearing in the dreams as a projection of Cobb’s subconscious and becomes a danger to Cobb and his team. Christopher Nolan Born in London in 1970, Christopher Nolan began making films at the age of seven using his father’s super 8mm camera and an assortment of male-action figures. He graduated to making films involving real people, and his super 8mm surreal short ‘tarantella’ was shown on PBS’ ‘image union’ in 1989. Chris studied English Literature at University College London while starting to make 16mm films at the college film society. His short film ‘larceny’ was shown at the Cambridge Film Festival in 1996, and his other 16mm shorts include a three- minute surreal film called â€Å"doodlebug. † He directed other genuis films such as Following, Memento, Insomnia, Batman Begins, The Prestige, The Dark Knight, The Dark Knight Rises. Christopher Nolan usually starts his movies by introducing the main character/s with a Close-up shot of their hands. He is known for making use of flashbacks or scenes from the end of the movie as an opening. The movies that he directs are also usually about characters who have psychological disorders or who develop a physical or psychological handicap throughout the film. In the case of Inception, the lead actor Leonardo DiCaprio wakes up on the shore with his hands trying to reach or point out to his children who were playing with the sand. This scene reappears again in the end and plays an important role to explain the essence of the movie. Finally, Mal represents the psychologically deranged character since she was not able to tell the difference between reality and dreams anymore thus leading to her death. The scenes altogether is about seven minutes long. Cobb and Ariadne go into a fourth dream layer and try to find Mal because she has captured Fischer. Mal is still trying to convince Cobb that he does not know what reality is anymore but Cobb is very certain that Mal is just a projection of his subconscious. This is also the part when Cobb confesses the reason behind his projection of Mal and his feeling of guilt. This is the essence of the scene- letting the audience know what Cobb was feeling inside. The first Inception actually took place when Cobb tried to plant an idea in Mal’s mind. Mal could not accept the fact that they were still in a dream so Cobb went deep into her mind and made her think that her world was not real and that death was the only way to come back to reality. When they awoke, Mal felt as if she was possessed by an idea – an idea that her world is still not real. She felt as if she was still dreaming so she killed herself again in the real world. By telling this truth that Cobb has been keeping, he is now then able to let go of the idea of Mal. This scene explains Cobb’s motive in pursuing the task given to him. It was not only to come back to America and see his children but also to be able to let go of Mal and the fact that she has passed away. It also introduces to the audience what the root of everything is – discovering Inception that lead to Mal’s death. The scene revolves around Cobb and Mal talking while Ariadne listens to their conversation. As the audience, we see what is happening through the point of view of Ariadne. Cobb and Ariadne are the protagonists whose goal is to find Fischer so they could continue with their mission. Mal acts as an antagonist and prevents them from reaching their goal. She has captured Fischer and is only willing to give him up in exchange for Cobb staying with her. In the course of their dialogue, Mal asked Cobb what he was feeling. Cobb explained that he was feeling so much guilt because he was the one who caused Mal to question her reality. When they were stuck in a dream, he wanted to help her realize that they were still in a dream so he planted this idea in her mind not knowing that the idea would still linger after she awoke. This confrontation is a way of Cobb breaking free from the guilt he has kept for a long time. Upon finding out, Mal feels betrayed. On the other hand, Ariadne is also shocked by the confession of Cobb. Their relationships intertwine except between Ariadne and Mal who seem to have no connection at all. When the flashback started, there had been a detachment mostly from the part of Mal because of her delusion but at one point, we can also see the relationship of the couple being intimate and personal. Mal still wants Cobb to keep their promise of being together despite having him performed inception on her. At the beginning of the scene, Ariadne and Cobb expect to find and get Fischer from Mal and Mal expected Cobb to stay and believe that she was real. In the end, they all got what they wanted except for Mal. Cobb being a really skilled mind extractor, was so sure that Mal is not real and that in reality, she is already gone. Mal was not successful in her attempt to make him stay. Ariadne was able to give herself and Fischer the â€Å"kick† while Cobb stayed and went into limbo to find Saito, another member of their team who died in the third dream layer. He was also able to reach his underlying goal – which was to talk to Mal, accept that they cannot be together anymore and let her go.

Outline to Water Speech Essay Example

Outline to Water Speech Essay Example Outline to Water Speech Essay Outline to Water Speech Essay To in provide reliable information on the topic of tap water and bottle and why you should drink tap water. What are the types of waters and the facts of bottled water and tap water? What are the standards and regulations over bottled and tap water? Why you should drink tap water? Based on research I believe that tap water is a better choice because of the FDA regulations and standards places on it, the effect it has on the environment and the overall cost and health effects of tap water. Tap Water Vs Bottled Water What are the differences between these two glasses of water? Most would say there is no difference but the truth is there is. The one on the left is bottled Aquafina and the one on the right is regular tap water. I have always thought different types of water all tasted differently and I wanted to know why. So I have done some research which makes me more informed on this topic to share with you. What are types of water and some facts of bottled water and tap? The main types of water include; Spring which is water that is collected from an underground formation that collects water, purified which is water treated with processes such as distilling and de ionizing, mineral which is trace minerals that were contained from the source not added to the water, sparkling which is carbon dioxide that was obtained at the source and not added after collecting, artesian which is underground water sources where water is naturally purified by rock or sand, well is water from a hole made in the ground to tap a water source and lastly municipal or tap which is water piped right into your home from a water processing plant. According to Reader’s Digest, It takes 3 times the amount of water to produce the bottle than to fill it with water, only 1 out of the 5 water bottles with be recycled the other 4 will contribute to 3 billion pounds of waste from plastic bottles. Another effect on the environment , It takes 17 million barrels of oil to produce water bottles, enough to fuel 1 million cars for a year. Bottled water costs consumers 10,000 times more than the cost of tap water. US consume 8. 6 billion gallons of water a year which is 53 billion gallons globally which generates 61 billion dollars a year! According to pulpfactor. com, Americans are paying 3 times as much per gallon of water than gasoline. Americans choose bottled water because of taste. Many taste tests have been conducted, tap water comes out on top. Many Americans believe it will taste differently from where it is bottled. Example, Dasani is bottled from the Detroit River; more than 25 percent of bottled water is from a public source. Many Americans believe bottle water is healthier; again this is not the case. Many bottled waters do not contain the trace elements that are added to tap water such as fluoride. Many dentists have seen an increase of cavities with the increasing liking of bottled water. Lastly many advertisements make bottled water convey a message of purity, healthy living and social status which consumer then use in their everyday lives. What are the standards and regulations over bottled and tap water? Bottled water does not have to be tested for ecoli, required to provide a source, required to produce quality reports while tap water does. Bottled water can be sold if these standards are not meant but tap water cannot. According to ABC news, tap water has strict standards of the EPA, environmental protection agency, again no standard for bottled water. In conclusion, drink tap water. Why, because it is cost effective, better for the environment and has better regulations and standards to keep us healthy and safe. What is next I pay for water and I would also like to pay for air too. JUST SAY NO TO BOTTLED WATER!

How to Answer Tough Interview Questions in 60 Seconds

How to Answer Tough Interview Questions in 60 Seconds We all know it’s good to prepare answers to the standard interview questions, plus the not-so-standard ones that might come up in a particular interview at a particular company. But often we are so prepared that we forget to edit our answers down to their most surgical and concise form. Here are six standard but tough interview questions and the snappy sorts of answers you should start rehearsing right now. 1. Why you left your last jobMaybe the answer is as simple as your company was downsizing, but if you left in order to challenge yourself further or pursue more meaningful work, try saying something that emphasizes some skill or experience you wanted to develop professionally. Talk about how it wasn’t possible to do so at your former job, and so you are committed to mastering it and see the perfect opportunity to do so at this company. Bonus points if you can prove you’re already well on your way to developing this skill, whether by having taken a class or ear ned a certification.2. Your greatest weaknessStep one: pick a trait that won’t scare them off, and doesn’t in any way affect your ability to perform this job. Don’t humblebrag. â€Å"I’m just too good at work!† But do try and pick something with a positive spin. Maybe  you’re too much of a perfectionist or you go flat out until a project’s done without taking a break.  Or choose a weakness that you’ve since worked hard to convert into a strength. Formula for the latter: â€Å"Well, I was noticing that I was x, so I took , so I took step y in order to improve, and ended up in situation z (which is infinitely better and makes you a stronger candidate for the job).†3. Why you seem overqualifiedRather than agree with them and say how much this job is beneath you, emphasize why (and pick three or so specifics) this job is perfect for you right now, and how it fits into your career growth plan. Your resume probably shows t hat you can do this job, use this answer to prove that you want it.4. Why you’ve changed jobs a lotCan be a red flag to some employers who haven’t gotten the memo that job-shifting isn’t necessarily a red flag anymore. Try telling the truth. Either it’s as simple as: â€Å"For reason x, we moved around a lot and so I was forced to†¦Ã¢â‚¬  or you have a unique opportunity to document your drivenness and your desire to learn new things and acquire new skills that make you such a stellar candidate with such passion for what you do. Emphasize how all this hopping has uniquely prepared you to land on their precise lily pad, and why you’d want to stay put for a good long while.5. Why you’ve been unemployed for agesIf you’ve been out of the workforce for a year or more, you’re going to have to explain yourself. Either go for the â€Å"I took some time off to evaluate my career needs and wishes in order to come back refreshed a nd well-prepared and hungry to do this kind of work,† or the â€Å"I’ve just completed x course or accreditation in order to make myself more valuable in my field.† They’ll eat either up.6. Your ageIt’s illegal to discriminate in hiring decisions based on age, but not illegal to ask. If you’re on the older end of the job market spectrum, use your answer to assuage their fears that you’re just in it for the drudgery and the paycheck. Emphasize how much passion you still have and how much invaluable experience you bring to the table. You’re not done yet!

Bronze Age Mobile Pastoralists of Central Asia

Bronze Age Mobile Pastoralists of Central Asia Steppe societies is a collective name for the Bronze Age (ca. 3500-1200 BC) nomadic and semi-nomadic people of the central Eurasian steppes. Mobile pastoralist groups have lived and herded in western and central Asia for at least 5,000 years, raising horses, cattle, sheep, goats, and yaks. Their borderless lands intersect the modern countries of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Xinjiang, and Russia, affecting and being affected by complex social systems from China to the Black Sea, the Indus Valley and Mesopotamia. Ecologically, the steppe can be characterized as part prairie, part desert, and part semi-desert, and it extends in Asia from Hungary to the Altai (or Altay) Mountains and the forests in Manchuria. In the northern parts of the steppe range, rich grasslands covered in snow for about a third of the year provide some of the best pasturelands on earth: but in the south are dangerous arid deserts dotted with oases. All of these areas are part of the mobile pastoralists homelands. Ancient History Ancient historical texts from the settled parts of Europe and Asia describe their interactions with steppe people. Most of that admittedly propagandist literature characterizes the Eurasian nomads as fierce, warlike barbarians or noble savages on horseback: for example, the Persians described their battles between the nomads as the war between good and evil. But archaeological studies of the cities and sites of the steppe societies have revealed a far more nuanced definition of the nomad life: and what is revealed is a wide diversity of cultures, languages, and methods of life. The people of the steppes were the builders and maintainers of the vast Silk Road, not to mention the traders who moved countless caravans across the pastoralist and desert landscapes. They domesticated the horse, invented war chariots and also probably the first bowed instruments. Butwhere did they come from? Traditionally, steppe societies are believed to have been arisen from agricultural societies around the Black Sea, becoming increasingly reliant on domestic cattle, sheep, and horses, and then expanding eastward in response to environmental change and the need for increased pastureages. By the Late Bronze Age (ca 1900-1300 BC), so the story goes, the entire steppe was populated by mobile pastoralists, called by archaeologists Andronovo culture. Spread of Agriculture According to research by Spengler et al. (2014), the mobile Steppe Society herders at Tasbas and Begash were also directly involved in the transmission of information concerning domestic plants and animals from their points of origin into Inner Asia during the early third millennium BC. Evidence for the use of domesticated barley, wheat, and broomcorn millet has been found at these sites, in ritual contexts; Spengler and colleagues argue that these nomadic herders were one of the ways in which these crops moved outside of their domestications: broomcorn from the east; and wheat and barley from the west. Languages of the Steppes First: a reminder: language and linguistic history do not match one-to-one with specific cultural groups. Not all English speakers are English, nor Spanish speakers Spanish: that was true as much in the past as the present. However, there are two linguistic histories that have been used to try to understand the possible origins of the steppe societies: Indo-European and Altaic. According to linguistic research, at its beginnings ca 4500-4000 BC, the Indo-European language was largely confined to the Black Sea region. About 3000 BC, Indo-European language forms spread outside of the Black Sea region into central, southern and western Asia and the northern Mediterranean. Part of that movement must be tied to the migration of people; part of that would have been transmitted by contact and trade. Indo-European is the root language for the Indic speakers of South Asia (Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi), the Iranian languages (Persian, Pashtun, Tajik), and the majority of European languages (English, German, French, Spanish, Portuguese). Altaic was originally located in Southern Siberia, eastern Mongolia, and Manchuria. Its descendants include Turkic languages (Turkish, Uzbeck, Kazakh, Uighur), and Mongolian languages, and possibly (although there is some debate) Korean and Japanese. Both of these linguistic pathways seem to have traced the movement of nomads throughout and across central Asia and back again. However, a recent article by Michael Frachetti argues that this interpretation is too simplistic to match the archaeological evidence of the spread of people and domestication practices. Three Steppe Societies? Frachettis argument lies in his assertion that the domestication of the horse cannot have driven the rise of a single steppe society. Instead, he suggests scholars should look at three separate areas where mobile pastoralism arose, in the western, central and eastern regions of central Asia, and that by the fourth and early third millennia BC, these societies were specialized. Western Steppe: east banks of the Dneiper River to the Ural Mountains and north from the Black Sea (modern countries include parts of Ukraine, Russia; cultures include Cucuteni, Tripolye, Sredny Stog, Khvalynsk, Yamnaya; sites include Moliukhor Bugor, Derievka, Kyzl-khak, Kurpezhe-molla, Kara Khuduk I, Mikhailovka II, Maikop)Central Steppe: east of the Urals to the Altai edge (countries: parts of Kazakstan, Russia, Mongolia; cultures: Botai, Atbasar; sites: Botai)Eastern Steppe: east of the Irysh River to the Yenesei (countries: Russian Siberia, cultures: Afanas’ev (sometimes spelled Afanasievo); sites: Balyktyul, Kara-Tenesh) The sparsity of the archaeological record continues to be an issue: there simply hasnt been a great deal of work focused on the steppes. It is a very large place, and much more work needs to be accomplished. Archaeological Sites Turkmenistan: Altin-Depe, MervRussia: Sintashta, Kyzl-khak, Kara Khuduk, Kurpezhe-molla, Maikop, Ashgabat, GornyUzbekistan: Bukhara, Tashkent, SamarkandChina: TurfanKazakhstan: Botai, Krasnyi Yar, Mukri, Begash, TasbasUkraine: Moliukhor Bugor, Dereivka, Sredny Stog, Mikhailovka Sources This glossary entry is a part of the About.com guide to Human History, and the Dictionary of Archaeology. See page two for a list of resources. Sources This glossary entry is a part of the About.com guide to Human History, and the Dictionary of Archaeology. Frachetti MD. 2012. Multiregional emergence of mobile pastoralism and nonuniform institutional complexity across Eurasia. Current Anthropology 53(1):2. Frachetti MD. 2011. Migration Concepts in Central Eurasian Archaeology. Annual Review of Anthropology 40(1):195-212. Frachetti MD, Spengler RN, Fritz GJ, and Maryashev AN. 2010. Earliest direct evidence for broomcorn millet and wheat in the central Eurasian steppe region. Antiquity 84(326):993–1010. Golden, PB. 2011. Central Asia in World History. Oxford University Press: Oxford. Hanks B. 2010. Archaeology of the Eurasian Steppes and Mongolia. Annual Review of Anthropology 39(1):469-486. Spengler III RN, Cerasetti B, Tengberg M, Cattani M, and Rouse LM. 2014. Agriculturalists and pastoralists: Bronze Age economy of the Murghab alluvial fan, southern Central Asia. Vegetation History and Archaeobotany: in press. doi: 10.1007/s00334-014-0448-0 Spengler III RN, Frachetti M, Doumani P, Rouse L, Cerasetti B, Bullion E, and Maryashev A. 2014. Early agriculture and crop transmission among Bronze Age mobile pastoralists of Central Eurasia. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 281(1783). 10.1098/rspb.2013.3382

Choose any appropriate title ( ART MUSEUM) Assignment

Choose any appropriate title ( ART MUSEUM) - Assignment Example den collection of the Naà ¯ve American materials found in the Chase Fine Arts Center-present the continuing display of their artworks that are in the permanent collection. All the works in the museum covers the modern and contemporary arts providing an extensive overview of creative works from the year 1990 to the most current. All the objects emphasize on the artist works of persons living in the western half of the US. 3. Have a look at the ceramics cabinets 1 through 4 (on the 2nd floor.) What are the organizing principles for each cabinet? What common elements do the objects within each cabinet share and why have they been arranged in that way? In the second floor there are a number of mediums that are used in the museum are utilized. For instance, the piece called Flowers of fate is on display. Painting having a clock and mirror pieces that are well oil painted on a piece of wood. This piece of wood is centered on the idea of our daily experiences. For instance, the clock represents the different perspective of time and the light form above represent the accent of light in our life (Danilov, Victor,59 ) For this reason, the message brought about the piece that demonstrates our everyday experiences on the pieces of art. 4. Objects and items from the museum’s permanent collection are displayed in the gallery areas on the lower first floor. Identify three pieces of art each of which is an example of a distinct genre or style. For each painting/object explain what the genre/style is and why the piece fulfills the generic criteria. Marie Eccles Caine Foundation Gift Klompen has arranged in a different composition a exhibited the spaces and other locations in creative way. The most recent pyramid-like arrangement placed at the Nora Eccles Harrison Museum Art has a composition of 20n different compositions with various rhythms and tones. The world currently seems complex and fragile. This originates from fragile and temporary installation and continues with

Evaluating Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Evaluating - Essay Example As of December 2009, it had about not less than 2,200 retail branches in the United Kingdom through its subsidiaries, not less than 220 branches and network of business banking offices in Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland and not less than 1500 retail banking offices in the United States (Reuters.com, 2009a). This paper seeks to evaluate RBS using relevant valuation models based on the company’s annual reports and other external information. This paper will analyze first the historical performance of the RBS for the past five years. This will be followed by a forecast of the short-term performance of RBS by constructing different scenarios for various competitive positions taking into consideration the current industry and company’s strategic position. This will then value cash flows beyond the forecast horizon using a continuing value by discounting cash flows to their present value using an estimated cost of capital by CAPM model. Calculation and interpretation of the results will come afterward within the strategic changes (Pearce II, Jr. and Robinson, 2004) envisioned for the firm and the required decisions that need to be taken to maximize the value of the company. Analysis of historical performance of RBS is accomplished by studying its revenue growth for the past five years or from 2005 to 2009 by understanding its profitability and efficiency, connecting the results with its liquidity and financial and financial advantage (Helfert, 2001). The same information need to be related further to other external information including that of its competitors from the financial services industry and other macroeconomic variables. The summary of the historical performance of RBS can be found in Appendix A. RBS revenues, in the form of interest income because of its nature business, showed an average annual growth of 13% for the past five years

Strategic Human Resources Planning Research Paper - 1

Strategic Human Resources Planning - Research Paper Example Corporate expansion is an issue that aims as wining a larger market share with the aim of increasing sales and hence more profit. Though to many business organizations corporate expansion is aimed at making more profit, it is not always the case. It is an act of risk taking with speculations that objectives will be achieved. When the expected outcome is not realized, the organization gets a big loss. This is the reason why Ericson (2007) depicts that despite the fact that corporate expansion is a fundamental form of strategic variation for business entities, it is the least understood outcome in the business sector, in which incentives, and constraints abound. For Hilton Hotel to achieve organizational expansion successfully, several financial actions must be taken. Obviously, in expanding into new markets, one of the main reasons is to beat growing competition. This means that proper planning must be factored in. Since the main objective of corporate expansion is to typically bettering existing corporate performance through increased profitability, enhancing business growth, and increasing the chances of survival in the market, several financial actions must be taken. To begin with, the organization must have evaluated the potential clients thus must establish land where the infrastructures will be build. The amount expected to set up a hotel is notably high. For high-class hotels like Hilton, the amount of money required is relatively high. This is because the organization is aimed at accommodating high-class people meaning that expensive materials are required. When the Hotel is already established, it must be equipped and the necessities put in place. These include food and accommodation facilities. In such a case, money will be crucial to ensure that the standards of Hilton Hotel are maintained. This aspect comes in as a form of production where by more finances are set aside to provide more and

The Impact of Price Changes on the Brand Equity of Toyota in Saudi Essay

The Impact of Price Changes on the Brand Equity of Toyota in Saudi Arabia - Essay Example .............................................................................................................. 5 Table of Contents .................................................................................................................. 6 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................... 8 1.1 Background of the Research Problem ........................................................... 9 1.2 Problem Statement ........................................................................................ 11 1.3 Aims or Purpose of this Study....................................................................... 12 1.4 Research Objectives ....................................................................................... 12 1.5 Research Questions ........................................................................................ 13 1.6 Significance of the Study ..................................... .......................................... 13 1.7 Rationale for Choosing the Research Topic.................................................. 13 1.8 Research Procedure ...................................................................................... ... ............................ 19 2.1 Conceptual Framework and Research Hypothesis ........................................ 20 2.1.1 Conceptual Framework .................................................................. 20 2.1.2 Research Hypothesis for Further Verification ............................... 22 2.2 Importance of Establishing Strong Brand Equity †¦.....†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 26 2.2.1 Brand Loyalty ................................................................................ 29 2.2.2 Brand Awareness ............................................................................ 34 2.2.3 Brand Association ........................................................................... 36 2.2.4 Perceived Brand Quality ................................................................. 39 2.3 Importance of Effective Pricing Strategy ...................................................... 41 2.4 Significance of Pricing over the Development of Bran d Equity †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦...... 46 2.5 Significance of Price Changes on Consumer Behavior ............................... 49 2.6 Chapter Summary ....................................................................................... 53 3. Research Methodology ............................................................................................. 56 3.1 Research Hypothesis ..................................................................................... 3.2 Research Survey Questionnaire Design........................................................ 3.3 Target Population, Sample Size and Research Venue .................................. 3.4 Research Ethics ............................................................................................. 4. Research Findings and Analysis

Research paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 9

Research paper - Essay Example However, as with most aspects of the advanced economy, there are a number positive factors that the existence and proliferation of money provide as well as a certain number of drawbacks and disadvantages that the current system provides as well. As a function of analyzing these advantages and disadvantages, it is the hope of this author that the reader will be able to integrate a more full and complete as well as nuanced understanding of the current issues surrounding the monetary basis that society relies upon. The first disadvantage to money is the fact that it is one of the most definitive means by which individuals are judged based upon their overall worth as a human being. Due to the way in which the economy has developed and money has been placed as something of the supreme god to which all people worship, the level to which a person is able to accrue wealth has become of more importance than character, morality, or other primal determinants of human integrity (Webster, 2010). This is not necessarily the fault of money; rather it is the fault of the way in which human culture always seeks to find a way to separate one group from another and ascribe value to each and every situation that might be represented within society. With regards to the advantages of money, one can of course point to the fact that it allows a convenient and equitable means of exchange in order for individuals to purchase key resources and provide for themselves and for their families. Moreover, as compared to the prior barter economy that existed in past history, money provides something of a solid and relatively stable means of exchange that oftentimes carries an implicit value and is not dependent upon a good harvest or other key factors to determine its value. By simplifying the method of exchange, money is able to provide a degree and/or level of certainty whereas prior

The Birth Stories Of Christ And Buddha Research Paper

The Birth Stories Of Christ And Buddha - Research Paper Example The young Gautama was engaged in an excessive consumption and indulgence of sensual pleasures and he gave all these up only in his thirties as he must have gotten tired of temporary and fleeting pleasures. Jesus Christ lived a poor life as a young child and adolescent because his father Joseph was just an ordinary carpenter while the prince Gautama Buddha lived in a palace with all its luxuries and extravagance such that he himself got exhausted with all these pleasures. In the story of Jesus Christ, he forswore all material things in life and made the conscious or deliberate decision to live a life of poverty and humility because he knew early in his life he was destined for a work of proselytizing the unbelievers and pagans at the time. In contrast, Buddha realized his mission in life only much later when he saw an extremely old man and became worried about his own fate when he himself will grow old someday. Jesus Christ preached a gospel of love and brotherhood in order to gain en try to the Heavens through a life of sacrifice, denial, and re-connection with God the Father while the Gautama Buddha preached his teachings based on the so-called "Four Signs" to attain a level of enlightenment that is free from material or bodily desires. Both preached the twin virtues of humility and renunciation of all material things in order to attain eternal bliss in the next life. Christ promised redemption through atonement while Buddha pledged release from material torment through a series of rituals to suppress karma.

International Cross Cultural Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

International Cross Cultural Management - Essay Example Culture refers to the way of living of a people basically referring to the way people carry on in their daily life. Each and every group of people has its own culture and this is what creates a difference between various groups of people. National culture is commonly used to refer to or is described as the shared programming of the mind of the people nationally. This makes one country unique from another. Individual countries have various cultural rituals as well as cultural activities. This includes the way that these people understand and think about the world, the values and beliefs they hold. The differences in national culture are more often reflected in the basic solutions given to the organisational issues and problems in various countries. The various national cultures normally have differences in the preferred ways towards the organizational structure as well as different modes of motivating the employees. For instance, some organizations minimise on the options appraising employee performance, managing the organization by objectives, and the use of strategic management. National culture is not an individual affair but rather a function of a group. The boundaries between countries usually put boundaries for national culture. This form of culture is usually instilled in individual's right from birth. The national culture has everything in regard to what is perceived as proper, polite behaviour in that particular country. This includes for example how to behave in front of the family, colleague's strangers, family. Germany's National culture Germany is a culturally diverse state. German is the language spoken by almost every citizen. Other cultural groups found in Germany include the Frisians, Danes, Sorbs, and Gypsies; these are the people who are non-Germany minorities. The religious beliefs observed in Germany include Protestants which has the largest percentage of approximately 38%, the Catholics who form a proportion of 34% and a small portion of Jews. Islam has also become common from immigrants. The culture of this country has been influenced by the middle ages. The philosophers from Germany have assisted in shaping the culture of this nation. There is a lot of influence by the guild system of the medieval times. This system has today seen Germany attain an apprenticeship system. The people have a pride in their occupations and the organizational managers need not work too hard on their motivation. The country is rated as having very productive personnel but does not have good leadership skills. Magala, S. (2005). The united Kingdom The UK is made up of North Ireland and the Great Britain. The United Kingdom is culturally diverse wit a total population of close to 58,587,194 people. Majority of these people live in the suburban and urban areas. The UK is home to different cultures especially due to immigration. The people have their origins in China, the Caribbean, Africa, India, South Asia, Pakistan and continental Europe. The indigenous people include the Celtic, Anglo-Saxon, Roman, and the Pre-Celtic. The dominant language spoken here is English. Other languages include Scots aw well as the insular Celtic Languages. The religious beliefs are also diverse with reports of having Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, and

The Birth Stories Of Christ And Buddha Research Paper

The Birth Stories Of Christ And Buddha - Research Paper Example The young Gautama was engaged in an excessive consumption and indulgence of sensual pleasures and he gave all these up only in his thirties as he must have gotten tired of temporary and fleeting pleasures. Jesus Christ lived a poor life as a young child and adolescent because his father Joseph was just an ordinary carpenter while the prince Gautama Buddha lived in a palace with all its luxuries and extravagance such that he himself got exhausted with all these pleasures. In the story of Jesus Christ, he forswore all material things in life and made the conscious or deliberate decision to live a life of poverty and humility because he knew early in his life he was destined for a work of proselytizing the unbelievers and pagans at the time. In contrast, Buddha realized his mission in life only much later when he saw an extremely old man and became worried about his own fate when he himself will grow old someday. Jesus Christ preached a gospel of love and brotherhood in order to gain en try to the Heavens through a life of sacrifice, denial, and re-connection with God the Father while the Gautama Buddha preached his teachings based on the so-called "Four Signs" to attain a level of enlightenment that is free from material or bodily desires. Both preached the twin virtues of humility and renunciation of all material things in order to attain eternal bliss in the next life. Christ promised redemption through atonement while Buddha pledged release from material torment through a series of rituals to suppress karma.

Consider Laertess contribution to the theme of revenge Essay Example for Free

Consider Laertess contribution to the theme of revenge Essay Of the various parallels between Hamlet and Laertes is one of the most telling. From the beginning of the play we see the two in comparable situations, each young men of the court, each seeking university, each spied on by Polonius, each (it would appear) loving Ophelia, in different ways. Therefore, when Laertes finds himself in Hamlets position of having a father murdered, the audience watches with interest to see how he will react, and how this will compare with Hamlets behaviour in the same situation. In fact, although Hamlet points out that: by the image of my cause I can see The portraiture of his Laertes reaction to murder of his father is very different from hamlets, and indeed he is everything which Hamlet rebukes himself for failing to b. He forms the very epitome of a traditional avenger, and almost everything he does forms a contrast with what Hamlet does not do. Immediately as he returns to the court in a riotous head, having recruited a rabble, to aid him in his revenge. Thus we see that he finds both opportunity and means to destroy his fathers supposed murderer as soon as he possibly can. It is sometimes argued that Hamlet has little opportunity, doing the first two acts of the play, at least, to confront Claudius and exact his revenge. However, it is clear that particularly since he is loved by the distracted multitude Hamlet might have actively created such an opportunity for himself, just as Laertes does. Furthermore Laertes is determined that he will dare damnation in order to revenge his father. This is very important when soliloquy beginning, To be or not to be, in which he confesses that the dread of something after death is, in part, what makes him lose the name of action, for again we see hamlets attitude to his task differs radically from that of a traditional avenger. This is also apparent when Laertes says that he would cut (Hamlets) throat I th church ! , since we are immediately reminded that Hamlet refused to kill Claudius, when given the perfect opportunity, because he was in prayer. Hamlets refusal to kill Claudius at this time (because his prayers make him fit and seasoned to go to heaven which is hardly a fitting revenge for a man who has sent his brother to be judged with his crimes broad blown) may if we decide that they are more than just another rationalization (an entirely debatable point in itself) prove that Hamlet reflects more carefully than Laertes on the business of revenge and that he is more caught up in the need for a perfect and fitting revenge. Nevertheless Laertes clear opinion that Revenge should have no bounds, and his immediate and unhesitating action, in comparison with Hamlets continual prevarication, persuade us that he is the more effective avenger. Laertes falls into the same category as Fortinbras, who with his unimproved mettle hot and full seeks revenge on Denmark for winning and taking control of what had been his fathers lands, and Pyrrhus, who brutally kills an old and defenceless man in the name of revenge. All these characters unhesitating and decisive action, and what seems to be their lack of fear at the consequences, throw Hamlets indecisiveness very much into relief, for whilst he can only unpack (his) heart with words, they can sweep to revenge as he longs to. However, it is \Claudius, not Laertes, who actually states that Revenge should have no bounds, which is not only ironic, since it is Hamlets hesitation alone which has saved him so far, but I feel also has sinister undertones, since one would hardly have put such words into the mouth of the clearest villain of the play without implying that this sentiment is also, somehow, villainous. Of course, as Claudius is here manipulating Laertes strong desire for revenge, it would be unwise to attach too much importance to this point, but it is nevertheless interesting to examine our attitude to Laertes attitude towards revenge as opposed to Hamlets. After all, the impetuous approach of the former allows him to believe: ; The people muddied, Thick and unwholesome in their thoughts and whispers. Thus he promptly accuses the wrong man (Claudius, rather than Hamlet) of killing his father. Compare this with Hamlet well aware that all is not necessarily what it seems in Denmark who creates an elaborate plan to catch the conscience of the king before he proceeds. It might also appear to the audience that Laertes defiance of damnation is more to do with a lack of reflection on the undiscovered country than courage in facing it. After all, as hamlet points out: the native hue of resolution Is sicklied oer with the pale cast of thought Laertes is all resolution, untroubled by the words and thoughts, which impede hamlets action. (We never see Laertes in soliloquy, of course, because he is morally certain of what he must do, and does not explore the subject further. ) However, we possibly feel some sympathy with the view that: blest are those Whose blood and judgement are so well co meddled That they are not a pipe for Fortunes finger. Ironically, these words, spoken by Hamlet in praise of Horatio, actually describe the former in some respects, and particularly when we see him in comparison with Laertes. After all, whilst his endless reflection might appear to serve, at times, only to exacerbate and rationalize his delay, at least he can only rarely be accused of being rash. Laertes believes that, That drop of blood thats calm proclaims me bastard. However, this rage, this refusal to reason calmly and to reflect on what has happened, allows the slippery Claudius to manipulate Laertes for his own ends, leading to the treachery which destroys Claudius and Laertes themselves, and Gertrude, as well Hamlet. Ultimately, there is a certain nobility t be found in the exchange of forgiveness between hamlet and Laertes (the final link the latters assurance that: Mine and my fathers death come not upon thee, Nor thine on me! Which is greater than Laertes revengeful triumph over Hamlet. This is not to say that Shakespeares presentation of Laertes serves entirely as an indictment of the process of revenge. Both hamlet and Laertes speak of the honour of revenge, and finally does kill Claudius, that he is justly served. However, I can feel that considering Laertes contribution to the theme of revenge is only useful when seen alongside hamlets reaction to the same theme, and perhaps this portrayal of a traditional avenger who is only useful when seen alongside hamlets reaction to the same theme, and perhaps this portrayal of a traditional avenger who is rash, manipulative and finally self-destructive, allows us to see hamlet in a more favourable light when he is unable to assume the same role as traditional avenger.

Impacts of Workplace Violence in Nursing

Impacts of Workplace Violence in Nursing Introduction (1/2 page) In this paper, I will explore the concept of the Workplace Violence with three following issues of sense of powerlessness, job satisfaction and psychological and physiological effects on the victim’s well-being. An example of the clinical situation detailing an environment, facts and events leading to the development of the clinical situation will be provided, followed by the short discussion of relevance of this topic to myself both clinically and personally. The evidence from existing literature will be incorporated into the detailed identification, discussion and analysis of each of the three issues. A special section with a discussion on how my further practice as a registered nurse influenced by the lessons learned from these events will follow. Conclusive remarks with some key elements in the paper will be elaborated at the end. Description of the Clinical Situation (1 page) While working as a newly recruited registered nurse (RN) in the short stay unit at our local hospital I was providing care for a 25 years old woman. She was 13 weeks pregnant and a missed abortion. The patient was in the process of passing products of conception, experiencing a severe pain, constantly screaming and demanding me to provide her with much stronger pain medication. I have explained that I have already administered painkillers, as prescribed, and it would take time for them to kick in. Yet, patient was not listening and continuously demanded to see the physician. After numerous unsuccessful attempts, I contacted the physician, explained the situation and was immediately yelled at, instantly being labeled as â€Å"unworthy, not knowing anything, unable to do my job† with many other degrading and demeaning remarks at each phone call. Shocked, I contacted my supervisor and asked for an advice, but got the reply that â€Å"these things happen†¦ welcome to the rea l RN life, calm down and try to contact him again†. I did it again and got exactly same treatment. I have documented and reported these incidents on the same day. I learned that, apparently, the yelling, and name-calling was an acceptable pattern of behavior from this physician directed at all new RNs and I was told to accept the â€Å"facts of life â€Å" that, hierarchically, nurses are at the bottom of the â€Å"feeder† (Christie Johnes, 2009) and should not go against the physicians, advise them or even ask for help. This news really threw me off. The following day I called in sick. I felt emotionally distressed, powerless, unprotected and could not convince myself for making a right decision by choosing RN as my profession in Canada. I have never encountered these kind of physician-nurse relationships before. Discussion of Relevance of Clinical Situation/ Topic Both Personally and Professionally (1/2page) The situation of the workplace violence speaks to me directly as it affects not only my personal wellbeing, but also impacts the quality of care I provide. Unsafe workplace environment allowing for re-occurring violence outbreaks in any form ultimately leads to deteriorating outcomes in emotional and mental health of the nurse, personal well-being and patient safety. As a nurse and a human being, I have a full right to work in a safe workplace environment, protected from any form of physical and emotional abuse from either my clients (patients, visitors) or my co-workers and supervisors. The fact that doctor continuously treated me as having less knowledge and his ongoing demeaning remarks as well as forcing me by staff nurse to accept such oppressing behaviour I consider as acts horizontal violence. (Johnson, 2009). (2) Review of literature(1/2 page) I have reviewed the available literature on the topic†¦ and †¦found†¦.list here statistical information of the prevalence of the horizontal violence, resulting powerlessness, nurse dissatisfaction, effects on the physical and mental state of nurses. The frequency with which hospital violence occurs is rather shocking. The Emergency Nurses Association (ENA, 2010) has conducted a study that found that 8%–13% of emergency department nurses are victims of violence every week. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 46% of all violent acts in the workplace that necessitated time off were against RNs. (1) - Identification, Discussion and Analysis of 3 Issues of the Concept Within the Clinical Situation (6-9) Issue 1: Powerlessness (2 pages) Hincherberger (2009) identified that one of the symptoms of the dynamics surrounding oppression that creates a sense of powerlessness in its victims is a horizontal violence. In order for the horizontal violence to occur a formalized working relationship, where individuals are mutually working to achieve a certain goal, must be present. (Ventura-Madangeng Wilson, 2009,p.40). Evidently, in my situation, we had a formalized working relationship between physician and myself as a nurse, working together to achieve a common goal of helping our patient to overcome severe pain followed by the procedure. An understanding how to deal with nurses’ experiences of powerlessness within the workplace resulting from the acts of horizontal violence is essential for nursing practice and ultimately effective delivery of patient care (Coursey, Dieckmann, Austin Rodriguez, 2013). While horizontal or lateral violence is generally defined as any type of unwanted abuse or hostility within the workp lace it is considered as an act of aggression among healthcare professionals (Becker Visovsky, 2012). Experiencing an aggression makes a nurse feel powerless. Some of the characteristic circumstances leading to the experience of the powerlessness involve evidence of the exercising physician control or dominance in incidents involving fundamental human situations triggering strong emotions in all involved (Coursey et all, 2013). Pain and miserable condition exhibited by my patient has stimulated strong emotions and desire to provide better patient care. Another defining attribute of horizontal violence is the use, misuse and abuse of power in an attempt to disempower the individual, to elicit favourable response and that is used within formal relationships to achieve goals and objectives through an interpersonal process (Ventura-Madangeng Wilson, 2009, p.40). Doctors have traditionally dominated those groups lower in the hierarchy, most notably nursing (Dykema, 1985). Diminishing of nursing care and disregard for nursing decisions are often manifested through power plays (Dwyer, 2011). Newly recruited nurses, myself not exception, frequently see themselves as having little or no power while in the role. Physician’s continuous degrading statements about my practice quality and methods in an attempt to force me to act independently or convince the patient clearly demonstrated physician’s power control and push for dominance. Subsequent supervisor’s comments about the general acceptance of the existing unhealthy hierarchical relationship created frustration, unwanted feelings of being out of control, understanding of non-existent collegial support, pressured, isolated, hopeless, demoralized and invalidated. A detailed analysis of the impact of powerlessness arising from incidents involving horizontal violence has helped to identify its numerous effects. Being constantly subjected to the effects of horizontal violence nurses, in general, feel o ppressed (King-Johnes, 2011). The oppression of nurses is perpetuated by both the hierarchical structure of health care organization they work in, and by nurses internalized oppression. The greatest impact is on the nurse as victim, professional practice, and the implications for patient care. Zerabvel Wright (2012) believed that being exposed to harmful effects of horizontal violence made nurses less empathetic to the wounds of others. And what is more alarming is that coping with feelings of powerlessness members of the oppressed group contributed to displacing all aggressiveness and negative emotions onto each other rather than onto actual perpetrators or members of the dominant group (King-Johnes, 2011). Issue 2: effects on physical and psychological well being (2 pages) Boykova (2011) indicated that based on hospital power hierarchies, nurses as a group, are always subject to various types of oppressions. She also, suggested that nursing continues being perceived inferior to the medical profession. Oppressors are always clearly identified, but are not frequently reprimanded. Various researchers have identified members of medical team and nursing management as a valid oppressor of other nurses in an attempt to absorb lower status nurses into existing hospital power hierarchies (Roberts, Demarco, Griffin, 2009). Being repeatedly told that all new nurses with this doctor â€Å"have gone through similar events† and indirect indication that these events were not to be taken personally, but to be accepted â€Å"as is† created an unwanted psychological effect of viewing myself as a weak and unable to provide good care nurse. Hutchinson, Vickers, Wilkes Jackson (2010) found that horizontal violence exercised by the members of medical team and management can ultimately affect nurse wellà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ being. Effects of exposure to horizontal violence include psychological and physiological impacts on victim’s well-being often results in health and mental problems. Many psychological unintended consequences occurring sometime after an event affect the victim with such outcomes as increased fatigue, frequent mood swings, negative changes in personal life and values and frequent ranting to partner. Faced with organizational resistance to support me, I emotionally reacted manifesting not one but several symptoms at once including sadness, frustration, irritability, hurt, anger and most importantly stress. An analysis of several studies confirmed that approximately 80% of health care employees experienced at least one adverse symptom in response to work-related violence, while 25% of victims of nonphysical violence experienced five or more troublesome symptoms (Kitaneh Hamdan, 2012; Findorff, McGovern, Sinclair, 2005; APNA, 2008). Additionally, Thomas and Burke (2009) examining narratives of nurses experiencing horizontal violence stated that the greatest impact of horizontal violence is stress. Stress-related health and workplace problems include increased blood pressure, avoidance of professional relationships, depression, anxiety, lowered work performance, toxic work environment, and an emotionally oppressive environment (Broome, 2008). Physical and psychological maladies deriving form exposure to stress include weight loss/gain, hypertension, cardiac problems, gastro-intestinal disorders, headache, insomnia, chronic fatigue, anxiety, depression, substance abuse, and feelings of isolation, insecurity, low self-esteem, post traumatic stress disorder, and suicidal and homicidal thoughts (Bigony et al. 2009). One of the emotions shared by the bullied and bystanders is fear. Fear is a very real and powerful emotion that can result in negative consequences. Exposure to horizontal violence can result in anxiety, weight changes and exacerbation of previously controlled conditions such as hypertension or irritable bowel syndrome (Faminu, 2011). Randall (2001) studied the effects of bullying in adulthood and states that targets of bullying may develop autonomic reactions (e.g., feeling out of breath, blood pressure changes) muscle manifestations (e.g., backache, neck pain), cognitive reactions (e.g., inability to concentrate, irritability, sensitivity) up to and including post-traumatic stress disorder. Intimidation and fear of retaliation prevents reporting of bullying behavior by both the target and the witnesses allowing the negative behavior to continue (Lally, 2009). The greatest danger of fear in healthcare is the fear of conflict that can result in medical errors if those intimidated by aggressive behavior fail to speak up (Langlois, 2009). Adult targets often do not have the capability of productively handling a bullying situation. Their attempts to manage the situation frequently escalate the conflict, particularly if the bully has greater authority. The negative behavioral effects on the target progress from anxiety to loss of motivation and to outbursts of emotion. Loss of emotional control can result in the target displaying aggression and escalating the conflict and bullying behavior (Lee Brotheridge, 2006). Must ADD some line of how all of the above linked back to my clinical situation Issue 3: decreased job satisfaction/motivation (1.5page) Work-related violence in the health care system is a complex and dangerous occupational hazard and impacts the job satisfaction and motivation as well as the quality of the care provided (Arnetz Arnetz, 2001; Needham et al., 2005). Research identified multiple situations in which nurses felt unheard, unappreciated and disrespected by their medical colleagues that ultimately led to nurses’ re-examination of their stand on patient-organization loyalty. (Aytac Dursun 2012; Rodwell Demir 2012). As in my clinical situation, this manifested in moral distress and dilemma, as I felt my loyalty should be primarily to the patient. It is obvious, that the greatest negative effects of workplace violence are felt by the victim (Kvas, 2011). Budin et al. (2013) confirmed that it not only affects the victim’s health, satisfaction with work and life, confidence, but also causes emotional exhaustion and burnout. Being subjected to this situation I was depressed, anxious and basically encountered a work-related stress (Aytac Dursun 2012; Rodwell Demir 2012).(kvas) Many psychological unintended consequences arising from experiencing acts of non-physical horizontal violence have a strong impact on the victims with such outcomes as decreased job satisfaction, performance and absenteeism (Merecz, Drabek Moscicka, 2009; Schat Frone, 2011). The following day I felt tired, upset, unhappy and did not come to work reporting being sick. I believed that my knowledge and my skills deserved better recognition either from physician on call or from the nurse manager. When I finally went back to work I noticed my decreased job performance especially in the daily routine activities. Gerberich et al. (2004) observed that workers exposed to nonphysical violence had high rates of quitting or job transfer. Continuous exposure to the disrespectful remarks and unwillingness of management to deal with situation as it arose I immediately started to research other departments at our hospital where I could transfer to work with physicians known to be more respectful of nurse’s skills. An analysis of the issue clearly sheds a light to the fact that perceptions of violence affects job satisfaction and motivation. (Roche). Generally, nurses experiencing horizontal violence felt less happy at work, had greater work stress, lower morale, less respect for staff compared to unexposed nurses and perceived less supervisory support. The number of violent exposures is inversely correlated with feelings of job safety and satisfaction (Ienacco et al, 2013). Violence is not a constituent part of the profession and nurses deserve to work in a safe working environment. To achieve this goal, all members of the nursing profession must, jointly with other stakeholders (doctors, patients, relatives), actively contribute to changes.(kvas). Discussion of How My Future Practice May be Influenced (1-1.5 pages) Nurses must acknowledge the existence of horizontal violence, confront horizontal violence, and take appropriate actions to mitigate it (Vessey et al., 2010). A policy of zero tolerance for any sort of horizontal violence in the workplace is the goal (Center for American Nurses, 2008). Nursing staff must take a role in combating horizontal violence. Nurses must know the policies that govern professional conduct in the workplace (Maxfield et al., 2005), and feel empowered to take actions against HV. Strategies for empowerment consist of confronting and teambuilding (Kupperschmidt, 2006), mentorship programs (Latham, Hogan, Ringl, 2008), and cognitive rehearsal (Stagg et al., 2011). Maxfield and colleagues (2005) found only 5%- 15% of nurses would confront a colleague concerning unprofessional behaviors. Only 10% of nurses felt comfortable enough to confront a coworker displaying HV (Wilson et al., 2011). Based on the impact horizontal violence had on the me as a nurse, especially effects of psychological and physical on well being, sense of powerlessness and dramatic reduction in job satisfaction I learned important lessons from it. First lesson was that I wanted to continue working as a nurse I have to stop thinking of myself as a member of the oppressed group, start being proactive, disallow any attempts on diminishing my efforts or stop any occurences of any demaning remarks directed at me from any member of medical team being so physician, supervisor or colleage. Second lessond I should maintain a healthy view of self, so as not to personalize attacks of HV (Kerfoot, 2007). avoid unnecessary emotional turmoil, learn to be assertive (Exhibiting assertive behavior at the time of the event is considered an acceptable response to HV behaviors. If possible, actions that constitute bullying should be confronted during or immediately following the incident. Conversation must remain both empathic and factual (Randle et al., 2007).) in situations of horizontal violence. Journaling, another strategy to address HV, can serve dual purposes. First, keeping a detailed journal will help the victim maintain a timeline of events (Cleary et al., 2009). Second, journaling may provide an emotional outlet for the psychological distress associated with HV. Good documentation requires a list of witnesses to the accounts and all notes, texts, or emails from the perpetrator also be kept as part of the journal (Cleary et al., 2009; Edwards OConnell, 2007). Final lesson, that influenced my further practice was job satisfaction†¦ Summary/Conclusion (1/2 page) Text here Kitaneh, M., Hamdan, M., (2012) Workplace violence against physicians and nurses in Palestinian public hospitals: a cross-sectional study, BMC Health Services Research 2012, 12:469 retrieved from http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6963/12/469

The Benefits of Nursing Homes Essay -- Health Care

In the early twentieth century, what we now call nursing homes did not exist. If elderly citizens had nowhere else to go, they were sent to live in rundown poor farms. On August 14, 1935 President Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act, which provided matching grants to each state for Old Age Assistance (OAA). This in turn set in motion the opening of private homes that allowed people to live in a care facility and collect the OAA payments as well. It was not until the 1950’s when nursing homes started developing into the facilities most of us are familiar with today. It was then that nursing homes were required to follow state set standards for licensing and some even received Federal grants if they possessed a hospital like atmosphere. Throughout history, nursing homes have faced many dilemmas, laws, and legislations. However, it has been these ups and downs that have contributed to the quality of modern nursing homes. In my opinion, nursing homes are a good choice becau se they provide seniors with companionship, medical treatments, and reliable safe shelter for those who do not have a safe environment at home. Nursing homes provide companionship to elders and fun activities with people in their age group. The Four Seasons Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, offers a variety of services for the elderly. According to their website, the Four Seasons have a Therapeutic Recreation Department which â€Å"coordinates and plans all therapeutic activities for all Four Seasons residents† (2012). These activities revolve around an individual’s specific needs and can include activities such as book readings, music, arts and crafts, games, and even holiday dances. In February 2011, my grandmother suffered a stroke and needed to go to a te... ...aving their family members at home. In the end, it all comes down to the individual family deciding what would be best for their loved ones. Works Cited Four Seasons Nursing and Rehabilitation Center (2012). Recreation. Retrieved from http://www.fourseasonsnh.com/Recreation/recreation.html Kapp, M. B. (2003). Resident safety and medical errors in nursing homes. Journal of Legal Medicine, 24(1), 51. Minority Staff of the House Committee on Government Reform (2001). Abuse of residents is a major problem in U.S. nursing homes. Washington, DC: U.S. House of Representatives. PBS (2012). The Evolution of Nursing Home Care in the United States. PBS The Online News Hour. Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/nursinghomes/timeline.html Stiegel, L. A. (2011). Power of Celebrity at the Senate Special Committee on Aging Hearing. Bifocal, 32(4), 43-45.