Developmental Theories Essays

Developmental Theories Essays Developmental Theories Essay Developmental Theories Essay â€Å"All developmental theories can be distilled into one powerful statement – if there is no development, there is no learning. † Do you agree? Use examples from some of the theories that you have encountered to justify your response. Over the years, many psychologists, scholars, mathematicians, teachers and counsellors have pondered this exact statement. I, at the risk of being predictable, agree with this statement but then also think that the idea can be reversed – saying that without learning, there will be limited development. This is not a hasty decision, the studies of Piaget and Vygotsky, along with numerous others cited in Educational Psychology (Woolfolk and Margetts, 2007) and academic journals all point to the conclusive outcome that development is essential to learning. Development, on a biological, social, emotional and cognitive level is defined in Educational Psychology as â€Å"certain changes that occur in human beings†¦between conception and death† (Woolfolk and Margetts, 2007) and â€Å"[these changes] are generally assumed to be for the better and result in behaviour that is more adaptive, more organised, more effective and more complex† (Mussen, Conger and Kagan, 1984). Development is therefore essentially PROGRESSION. Another source even says â€Å"the development of children unfolds along individual pathways whose trajectories are characterized by continuities and discontinuities, as well as by a series of significant transitions† (Shonkoff and Phillips 2000), showing that development is a process and a period of transition. Jean Piaget (1954) is explained in Educational Psychology to believe that â€Å"our thinking processes change radically, though slowly, from birth to maturity because we constantly strive to make sense of the world† (Woolfolk and Margetts, 2007). Piaget also â€Å"began to suspect that the key to human knowledge might be discovered by observing how the childs mind develops† (Papert, 1999). He then went on to discuss the term â€Å"social transmission† which means learning from others, and commented that â€Å"the amount people can learn from social transmission varies according to their stage of cognitive development† (Piaget in Woolfolk and Margetts, 2007). Piaget essentially believed that â€Å"cognitive development has to come before learning – the child has to be ‘ready’ to learn† (Piaget in Woolfolk and Margetts, 2007) and Diana Fox repeated this in her essay, Ages and Stages – â€Å"it is often said that the early childhood years are the getting ready phase of development and learning† (Fox, 2002). Jean Piaget pioneered the concept of the four major stages of cognitive development, the sensorimotor, pre-operational, concrete-operational and formal-operation. All of these stages are very closely linked to the idea that development and learning go side by side, for instance, in the pre-operational stage, Educational Psychology states that you can â€Å"see the rapid development of that very important symbol system, language† (Woolfolk and Margetts, 2007). The child therefore needs to â€Å"develop† the capacity to learn the language and if they didn’t develop, they wouldn’t learn. So from Piaget’s teachings about the stages of operation and the way in which we learn, it is clear that learning can only come about with cognitive development. Lev Vygotsky (1978) recognised that â€Å"the child’s culture shapes cognitive development by determining what and how the child will learn about the world† (Woolfolk and Margetts, 2007), thus confirming the other statement being made in this essay – that the lack of learning will affect the development of the child. Vygotsky said that â€Å"interaction encourages development by creating cognitive conflict that motivated change† (Vygotsky in Woolfolk and Margetts, 2007). This shows that through social interactions between peers (learning), it fosters development to a higher learning level – hence moving into the territory of Piaget’s work. Vygotsky had the theory of â€Å"the zone of proximal development† which is â€Å"the distance between the actual developmental level as determined by independent problem solving and the level of potential development as determined through problem solving under adult guidance or in collaboration with more capable peers†. He shows that â€Å"the key to hearty intellectual growth was for children to be supported in this zone. That way, learning could actually shape development† (Thurber, 2003). For the child to be assisted by a supportive and non-judgemental elder, the potential development is far greater then if the child was left to perform in his or her own capacity. For a child trying to learn un-assisted, cognitive development that is â€Å"more adaptive, more organised, ore effective and more complex† (Mussen, Conger and Kagan, 1984) would be lesser than learning with an experienced other because, according to Thurber, â€Å"physical and sensory exploration boost cognitive development† (Thurber, 2003). The statement, â€Å"children are active participants in their own development, reflecting the intrinsic human drive to explore and master ones environment† (Shonkoff and Phillips 2000), can also support the notion that development and learning go hand-in-hand. The drive to explore and master is obviously a means of learning about ones surroundings and the statement shows that through this learning, development occurs. Furthermore, Shonkoff and Phillips (2000) also go on to say that â€Å"human development is shaped by a dynamic and continuous interaction between biology and experience†. Therefore children require â€Å"continuous interaction† with wiser mentors (Vygotskyan theory) and their development occurs while they attempt to â€Å"master† their environments (Piaget). When commenting on Piaget’s work, another source commented that â€Å"as children grow older, they develop progressively better rules and strategies for solving problems and thinking logically† (Seigler in Woolfolk and Margetts, 2007). He then went on to say that teachers can help students develop their capacities for learning. This infers that students or children need to develop in order to learn. Without the development of these learning capacities, learning will not take place. But as we look at Vygotsky, we can see an extension of Piaget’s theories, detailing that without learning, development will be limited.

Understanding Term Spreads or Interest Rate Spreads

Understanding Term Spreads or Interest Rate Spreads Term spreads, also known as interest rate spreads, represent the difference between the long-term interest rates and short-term interest rates on debt instruments such as bonds. In order to understand the significance of term spreads, we must first understand bonds. Bonds and Term Spreads Term spreads are most often used in the comparison and evaluation of two bonds, which are fixed interest financial assets issued by governments, companies, public utilities, and other large entities. Bonds are fixed-income securities through which an investor essentially loans the bond issuer capital for a  defined period of time in exchange for a promise to repay the original note amount plus interest. Owners of these bonds become debt holders or creditors of the issuing entity as entities issue bonds as a means of raising capital or financing a special project. Individual bonds are typically issued at par, which is generally at $100 or $1,000 face value. This constitutes the bond principal. When bonds are issued, they are issued with a stated interest rate or coupon that reflects the prevailing interest rate environment at the time. This coupon reflects the interest that the issuing entity is obligated to pay to its bondholders in addition to repayment of the bond principal or the original amount borrowed at maturity. Like any loan or debt instrument, bonds are also issued with maturity dates or the date at which full repayment to the bondholder is contractually required.​​​ Market Prices and Bond Valuation There are several factors at play when it comes to the valuation of a bond. The issuing companys credit rating, for instance, can influence the market price of a bond. The higher the credit rating of the issuing entity, the less risky the investment and perhaps the more valuable the bond. Other factors that can influence a bonds market price include the maturity date or the length of time remaining until expiration. Last, and perhaps the most important factor as it relates to term spreads is the coupon rate, particularly as it compares to the general interest rate environment at the time. Interest Rates, Term Spreads, and Yield Curves Given that fixed-rate coupon bonds will pay the same percentage of the face value, the market price of the bond will vary over time depending on the current interest rate environment and how the coupon compares to newer and older issued bonds that may carry a higher or lower coupon. For instance, a bond issued in a high-interest rate environment with a high coupon will become more valuable on the market if interest rates were to fall and new bonds coupons reflect the lower interest rate environment. This is where term spreads come in as a means of comparison.   The term spread measures the difference between the coupons, or interest rates, of two bonds with different maturities or expiration dates. This difference is also known as the slope of the bond yield curve, which is a graph that plots the interest rates of bonds of equal quality, but different maturity dates at a specified point in time. Not only is the shape of the yield curve important to economists as a predictor of future interest rate changes, but its slope is also a point of interest as the greater the slope of the curve, the greater the term spread (gap between short- and long-term interest rates). If the term spread is positive, the long-term rates are higher than the short-term rates at that point in time and the spread is said to be normal. Whereas a negative term spread indicates that the yield curve is inverted and the short-term rates are higher than the long-term rates.

Using PESTLE framework, analyse the impact of external business and Essay

Using PESTLE framework, analyse the impact of external business and economic environment of your focal organisation that affect its strategic decisions and performance - Essay Example The factors analyzed using PESTLE model includes political, economic, social, technological, and legal and environment (Henry 2008, P.51). Political factors in this case include government policies, conflicts, and wars, pressure groups, trading policies, grand, findings and initiatives and government term and change. Economic factors include general taxation, situation of home economy and trends, market and trade cycles, international economies and trends, factors affecting industries, monetary issues, exchange, and interest rates among others. Social factors analyzed include demographics, lifestyle trends, media views, consumer’ patterns of buying, Company, brand and technology image, lifestyle trends, consumer attitudes and preferences, and religious/ethnic factors. Others include major events and influences, publicity and advertising and changes in laws that impact on social factors. Technological factors include technological advancement, maturity of technology, laws governing technology, and consumer purchasing mechanism among others. Legal factors on the other hand include current and future legislations, European/foreign legislations and regulatory processes and bodies. Finally, environmental factors include corporate social responsibility expectations and awareness, environmental legislations, consumer buying patterns, public awareness on issues affecting the environment and political issues pertaining to the environment (Allen 2010, P.54). Wars and conflicts are some of the elements of the political factors that affect an organization’s strategic decisions and performance. Wars and conflicts usually come because of political instability and lack of democracy in a country. The UK is one of the most stable countries politically, which has witnessed minimal incidences of wars and political unrest for more than 3 decades. This trend is expected remain constant in the future following the measures

Educational Organization Evaluation Process Research Paper

Educational Organization Evaluation Process - Research Paper Example Evaluation should be considered as an important part of the development process for an educational organization. Primarily, educational institutions use evaluation data to exhibit effectiveness and secondly, to present performance measure, which would be a very good marketing tool. Such evaluation is a specialized activity that educators must undertake in order to assess and develop the learning experience that they are offering (Stronge & Helm, 1990). An outline is presented showing the required processes for the educational organization evaluation. The process provides guidelines for designing, implementing, assessing and improving the identified form of evaluation. Each of the steps aims to promote evaluations that are proper, useful, feasible, and accurate. The following steps could be undertaken in order to evaluate and analyze the Educational organization (Stufflebeam, 1999). The process could also be used to research and assess the effectiveness of the educational system which is used in an educational institution vital in the formulation of educational policies geared towards the realization of an empowered and globally competitive citizen. Goals for undertaking the evaluation should be clearly defined because these goals will significantly impact the shape of the organization’s efforts. Before the purpose could be fully identified, it is important to use information that is already available. Valuable information of a student can be obtained from the student’s classroom teacher, the cumulative file, and the parent regarding the learning problem.

Drug Addiction Essay Example for Free

Drug Addiction Essay This essay will outline the main points for an addict and will serve as a guide for an addict or family of an addict. Addictions are very dangerous for a person, emotionally, psychologically, and physically. There three main points to an addiction, the actual addiction and the symptoms, the addiction cycle (downhill spiral), and how to treat or where to treat an addiction. This essay will hopefully outline the main points for an addict and will hopefully serve as a guide for an addict or family of an addict. Addiction Addiction is defined as an overuse of any substance that changes the natural chemical balance of the brain. Most addiction specialists agree that addiction includes biological, psychological, and behavioral factors. There are many opinions as to what causes an individual to become susceptible to drug addiction. Many believe there are underlying physical and mental issues that contribute to developing an addiction. There are many different causes of addiction. Regardless of how or why an addiction began, there is a definite cycle of addiction that many individuals get trapped in. This addiction cycle is often referred to as the downward spiral. Breaking the addiction cycle can be a long and difficult process, depending on the nature of the addiction. There are many different types of addiction. An addiction can be developed by anyone; it is not reserved for certain personality types, social standing, or career fields. The best defense and recovery tool against addiction is education. Individuals caught up in the addiction cycle often try to hide or disguise their addictive behavior. They even try to hide the addiction from themselves. There are certain types of behavior that can assist a loved one or family member in identifying drug addiction. Once the drug addiction is identified, it is important that someone confront or intervene with the individual suffering from the addiction. Drug Addiction Cycle A cycle, simply put, means something that goes around and around like the wheels on a bike, or a brightly painted carnival carousel. Cycles can be a positive thing such as the annual review and raise that one might receive at work, or they can be negative. When is a cycle a negative or dangerous pursuit? When it threatens to destroy a quality life. If the Earth does not have snow and rain in the winter season, it dehydrates and is parched in the summer. It starves and so do we. If the wheels on the bike stop moving, the bike and rider fall over. If an addict cannot break free from the destructive and life threatening patterns of drug and alcohol addiction, they and/or others may suffer and die needlessly and harshly. The cycle of drug addiction never has a positive outcome and all efforts should be made to achieve a healthy, productive and long-term recovery from this dark and sinister downward spiral. To recreate a new pattern of living from a torn path will be the greatest and most empowering inner expedition an addict will ever encounter. The first step is to truly want it†¦so sincerely that a person can think of little else other than getting clean. It may be for oneself, a loved one or better yet a combination of both. Unfortunately, the reality of the addiction cycle and breaking free from its grip, is not that uncomplicated. Breaking free can be a very difficult process with occasional periods of personal let down, but this fact cannot in any way be allowed to discourage those seeking freedom from drug addictions. A person’s body, in almost every aspect of its being, is addicted when one is a mild to chronic user and abuser. The nervous system, brain, and muscle tissue are all living in anticipation of the next high. So, for the addict, it is crucial that the cycle of behavior, is broken. The addict needs to pull up the anchor that keeps them from moving forward. This means changing environments, patterns and even sometimes friends and social associates. Once an addict has made the personal commitment to change old habits, the next step is to establish new, safe and positive influences in their life. These can be found in quality support groups, hospital substance abuse centers and drug rehab centers. No matter what the setting, it is important to be around strangers. Being in proximity to familiar places and people may promote the tendency to fall back into old thoughts and behaviors. Of the aforementioned options, private drug rehabilitation retreats seem to be gaining popularity, in part, due to the impressive success rate they boast. What parents should know about drug addiction Drug and substance abuse among children, especially teens, is substantial. According to the most recent statistics available, (http://www. nationalyouth. com) 1. million of our youth age 12 to 17 meet the diagnostic criteria for dependence on drugs and approximately 1 million of our American youth (http://www. drugabusestatistics. samhsa. gov/) are being treated for alcohol dependency. Although these statistics may be surprising, there are many things that parents can/should know about the prevention of drug addiction including how to recognize the signs/symptoms of drug/alcohol addiction and what they can do to help their child once a problem has been recognized. Studies have shown that parents are often the first line of defense in the prevention of drug addiction. Numerous public service commercial announcements advertise parents as â€Å"the anti-drug. † Parents need to understand that ignorance is not bliss. Parents need to be well armed with the facts on prevention and treatment. Parents need to spend quality time with their children and be open to discussions on drugs and alcohol. Parents need to know who their child’s friends are, where they are going, what they are doing, etc. Parents need to make their expectations very clear and establish that they will not tolerate drug use of any kind. If all of these factors are utilized, children will be less likely to use drugs. It is also important that parents educate themselves about the types of drugs currently available. Although some of the standard drugs (drugs that may have been popular while the parent was a youth) are still around (marijuana, LSD, etc) there are also a number of new drugs that are very popular with today’s youth such as the inhalants (huffing). Conduct research on the Internet or attend a local community meeting regarding substance abuse. There are three categories of substance abuse: Use: The occasional use of drugs without developing tolerance of withdrawal symptoms when not in use. Abuse: The continued used of drugs even while knowing that the continued use is creating problems socially, physically or psychologically. Dependence: Where three of the following factors must be present: the substance is taken in large amounts over longer periods of time; their child has an everlasting desire for the substance and has been unable to control their use; child may suffer from repeated periods of intoxication or detoxification; child continues to use even though the substance is causing problems; and the child takes more of the substance in order to relieve any withdrawal symptoms they may be experiencing. It is important for parents to note that different substances lend themselves to different groups of drug addiction symptoms. In all cases however, the most visible symptom is a radical change in behavior. If a parent suspects that their child is abusing drugs, consult with a personal physician or pediatrician, an educational consultant whose expertise is this area, an addiction therapist or a drug counselor. These professionals will help the parents assess the situation and seek the proper addiction treatment. How to Find a Drug Rehab Center The first step is to contact a Doctor or a health professional. They will be able to point a person in the direction of a good drug rehab center. It is important that they be consulted with since they know the person and a bit about their history. They also might know and understand the addiction, and therefore be able to direct the addict to a drug rehab center that can cater to specific needs. If this option does not work, try to talk to local authorities that deal with drug addiction treatment. Most places that deal in mental health or in health practices will know exactly where to find good drug rehab centers. Free clinics and walk-in addiction counseling services, will have a lot of information regarding drug rehab centers. Another place to look for drug addiction treatment is the Yellow Pages. Researching on the internet might get you more information about the drug rehab centers a person is thinking about going to. There are also many online drug rehab referral services that can assist a people in making a decision. No matter how a person goes about finding a drug rehab center, there are important things that have to be kept in mind while doing so. Does the rehab center deal with this particular drug addiction? What are the costs and are they affordable? Is this particular facility covered by insurance? Is it covered by Medicaid? In addition, keep in mind that there are many state and government drug rehab centers that are available at no cost. These might be a big help as the cost of recovery is expensive. Another very important thing to keep in mind, are the services that the drug rehab center provides. Do they have in patient services as well as out patient services? Do they have counseling sessions that one can attend after the in-patient treatment is completed? Do they have information that they can give the patient/ family to read, and do they have any services for the addict’s family and loved ones? Make sure to find out about the staff to patient ratio, and how much time is going to spent at the drug rehab center. Most importantly, one should seek a drug rehab center where one can feel safe and comfortable. An addict is going to make the most progress in a place where they feel at ease and can be themselves. Recovery is a long and hard road, and if it is done in an environment where a person can feel the most comfortable, and just be themselves, they are going to be the most successful. Getting help for an addiction is something that is not easy, but a drug rehab center is a place where it might all seem to be a little bit less difficult.

Great Leaders Essay -- Informative, Greatness, Leadership

Greatness Great leaders are often thought of as history’s heroes and corporate commanders, but they can be seen in all areas of life. Without them, our society would fall to shambles for â€Å"the problems that require leadership are those that the experts cannot solve† (Manthey, 2004). I used to feel that leaders and managers were the same. However, I have learned that you can be a leader without being a manager, and vice versa. Acceptable leaders are a dime a dozen, but exceptional leaders are few and far between. Every individual at some period during his or her life will come across both ineffective and exceptional leaders, as well as a vast range between the two; the best of them drive others to become great in their own right. Core Greatness To successfully inspire greatness in others, leader must discover the greatness within themselves. â€Å"Everyone comes with certain gifts—but not the same gifts.† (Dupree, 26) People can only perform on strengths, and should focus on improving them. It makes little sense to focus on improving areas of low competence, as the energy required would be far more useful elsewhere. (Drucker, 2005, p. 3-5) Only when this personal evaluation has been preformed can one begin to effectively lead others. Great leaders recognize that all members of an organization are individuals with different needs, values, and desires. These emotional necessities are often at the core of conflict, as conflict arises when one person’s wants differ from another’s. Ineffective leaders simply impose their power in a conflict-type of situation, further aggravating the problem. This managerial method accomplishes nothing â€Å"You only succeed in stripping that person of self-dignity and making yourself an unwelco... ...ing an environment that both allows and encourages everyone to contribute to the vision, attempting to reshape the organization into the most socially and financially successful system possible. Organizational change is a complex task that often times receives resistance. When employees must change their way of thinking in order to meet new goals and challenges, opposition is often met. (Dummies, 287) To overcome this conflict, leaders must create a vision that instills confidence in new organizational practices, while at the same time, empowering their employees to actively seek out new ways of doing things. (Leader, 17) When leaders discuss their vision, effective and transparent communication is essential to its success. If the reason for this change is properly conveyed, voluntary commitment by employees will be nonexistent. (Bennis & Nanus, 2003, p. 172)

Kant’s Views on Space and Time Essay

In his Critique of Pure Reason, Immanuel Kant wrote about the science of the transcendental aesthetic in which he argues that space and time exist as a priori intuitions in the human mind. Space and time, for Kant, are the pure forms of intuition that order our empirical intuitions or sensations and allow us to have them. Thus, the essence of his view in this regard is that space and time are subjective human conventions that our mind brings to the realm of experience. There is one argument of Kant’s for space being a pure intuition in particular that I find compelling. Essentially, Kant says that empiricists advocate that the concepts of space and time are derived from our sense experience. Kant argues however, that it would be impossible for space and time to be concepts derived from sense experience because of the fact that all of our sensory experience is already ordered spatially. Kant poses that there exists, a noumena other than phenomena. Reality can either be the empirical/phenomenal world, or the non-empirical noumenal world, or they could be both. The noumena may somehow house or emanate the manythat is in our minds in order to perceive empirical space and time. Kant points out that we can simultaneously view both the empirical reality of space as well as the transcendental ideality. As far as a whole or one whole, Kant posits that we cannot successfully conceive of the whole or entire entity of time, or space because it is supposed to be infinite as, in never-ending and formless. I can show you the finite shape or form of an object, whether felt, heard, felt, tasted, or shown, but I cannot successfully show you the shape or form of either space or time itself, only the objects and events that reside within them. Kant points out that we dream, yet dreams are not empirically spatial. We can only say, I had a dream at such and such a time, yet we cannot go there, as in going to an actual physical place, so dreams are only temporal. Yet, dreams are still part of reality. The same applies for time and space.

Beauty is not caused. It is. (Emily Dickinson)

Numerous documents and articles criticize and downplay physical beauty. Credible, educated sources encouraging physical beauty are few and far between. Society fetishly discredits standards and beliefs Marilyn Monroe established. Media reporters emphasize Marilyn wore a size 16. By today’s standards, a size 16 is obese. These reports fail to inform audiences a size 16 at that time is comparable to a size 3 today. Health warnings accompany hair bleaching, tanning, and weight control. Political influences attempt to change opinions regarding physical beauty.Political correctness regarding physical beauty standards controls words used by the media. Words used by the media have no impact on reality. Looks do matter. Physical attractiveness and weight management opens realities regarding career, relationships, luck, court decisions, and better health care. Physical appearances determine first impressions. Vision senses override audible senses. Political influences imply obesity is socially acceptable. An overweight person gives the impression of increased risk for injuries and insurance claims in the workplace.Before job applicants say the first words, an unchangeable opinion formed in the interviewers mind. Political correctness portrayed by media reporters or women’s groups does not change perceptions of an obese person. Blonds attract more attention, therefore more customers. People seeking potential dates or marriage partners gives priority to their identity, not research. Individuals are perceived by the appearance of his or her mate. Personal priorities determine individual opinions of physical beauty. Contradiction describing physical beauty is everywhere.Career objectives, goals of attracting certain marriage partners, and other life decisions determine which research and statistics regarding physical attractiveness accepted. External physical appearances visually display personal lifestyle choices. People who prioritize excellent or improved h ealth disregard research stating extra body weight is healthier than being thin. Proportionate weight results from selecting healthy food choices and participation in effective cardio exercise. People walking around with 12% body fat and visible muscles live a significantly different lifestyle than someone weighing 115 pounds.Athletic people avoid restaurants, eat clean foods, and organize his or her life around exercise and proper nutrition. Someone concerned with weight management and general health keeps his or her calories low and exercise moderately. Athletic lifestyles are too intense for ordinary individuals with average goals. Friends are selected or rejected based on their visible lifestyles. A person’s weight is an advertisement of daily living habits. Society views weight as a measure of physical appearance. Body image acceptance is often translated as a measure of self esteem, happiness and self-worth.People wishing to change his or her weight desire to change the ir priorities. Anorexia nervosa inevitably shows up every time physical appearance is mentioned. Anorexia nervosa is a mental illness. Physical appearance plays very little part in anorexia. People obsessively refusing to eat are acting out a fear relevant to obesity from his or her past. Perhaps someone remembered from childhood developed a drug problem. Weight gain triggered the drug problem. Depriving the physical body of food has nothing in common with dieting down to 95 or 100 pounds.The media and psychologists attempt to associate the two behaviors. They have nothing in common. Media, psychologists, and investigative reporters imply eating disorders is a desire to become thin. Society pushes theories implying thinness is unattractive. Physicians and dieticians emphasize weight is determined by genes and hereditary. These findings are to discourage eating disorders. Verbally, this logic may be accepted. In actual behavior, the idea is rejected. A self confident person remains u nchanged by outside influences.Self confidence encourages behavior resulting in pleasant physical appearance. No one obtains above average looks by accident. Extremely attractive people stir up negative emotions from others. â€Å"Beauty draws as much hostility as it does desire. Other women hate you. If you are not available or interested, men hate you too. Beauty makes other people who are insecure about their own looks resentful, which erects a barrier that can be difficult to bridge† (Shriver, 2006). Beautiful women constantly receive make-up tips, suggestions to change their hair or fashion advice.Secure people ignore such suggestions. Self esteem is hardly affected by advice, insults and any media program. Fitness industries would close. Society’s opinions are ever changing regarding perception of physical beauty. Changeable opinions are verbal. Reactions physically attractive people receive remain focused. Reactions to physical attractiveness are never planned. Gentlemen offering their seat to an attractive lady, smiles, heads turning, stares, insults, envy, and unplanned facial expressions are true constant perceptions of physical beauty.Marilyn Monroe symbolizes beauty. Extremist groups continuously seek ways to alter the perception of Marilyn Monroe’s physical characteristics. Research attempts to alter behavior emphasizing health risks. Health scares do not change actual behavior. The reality to change what is accepted as physical beauty never changes. Notes; Lionel, Shriver, (8/16/2006) The Curse of Beauty, Daily Manuel. http://search. ebscohost. com/login. aspx? direct=true&db=nfh&AN=21963650&site=ehost-live

Mike Tyson the Iron Life Essay Example

Mike Tyson the Iron Life Essay Example Mike Tyson the Iron Life Essay Mike Tyson the Iron Life Essay Chris Torres Mr. Breen History-1945 The Life of â€Å"Iron† Mike Tyson What do you think it takes to be called â€Å"Iron† Mike Tyson? What kind of experiences do you have to go through before you are labeled as the â€Å"Baddest Man on the planet†? What people don’t understand is the life style and background in which Mike Tyson grew up in. The surroundings meaning the streets, the gangs and the era of drugs kicked in and kicked in enough that teens were aware of what was on the streets and how to get it. Every person is different and no matter what the case is if you don’t have the proper parenting and descent area to live in then chances of you engaging in crimes are very high. Mike Tyson got lucky with the talent that he had but if not found and trained the way he was then he would have committed worse acts than the ones committed to this day. He made the best out of his talents but it goes to show you that money, fame and your athletic abilities won’t hide where you came from and the life you once lived not too long ago. Mike Gerard Tyson was born of June 30th, 1966 in Brooklyn, New York from the parents of Jimmy Kirkpatrick and Lorna Tyson. Sadly only after two years together Mikes Father decided it was too much for him to handle and left his mother with little Mike. Mikes mother didn’t have a lot of riches. It was hard for her to come up with money so they moved to a town in Brownsville, New York where unfortunately was known for their high crime rate. Mike was a very shy small kid. He also was the target of bullying from older kids and other distractions around the way. To add insult to injury Mike began developing his own style of street fighting. Building his experience of being a criminal, the mentality is what drives you to continue committing crimes. Once you have felt that feeling even when you get rid of that criminal feeling it will still be in the back of your mind waiting for another chance to take over. Gang banging is a parent’s worst nightmare. Not knowing right from wrong and the lack of discipline was the problem with Mike. Lacking a father figure hurts emotionally and mentally. Mike joined a gang around his neighborhood called the Jolly Stompers. A name with the ability to speak for itself, kids that enjoying committing crime. Committing robberies with the older members and giving mike assignments like cleaning out the cash register when victims are held at gun point. A kid doing this at an age you would be never guess, 11. This was a kid that often ran in contact with the police over his small petty criminal activities and by the age of 13 Mike was arrested an astounding 30 times. Mike Tyson’s horrible behavior gave him a boot out of his public school and into a reform school in upstate New York. Although it was a tough time for Mike something great came out of leaving the school in where he came from. Mike met a counselor by the name of Bob Stewart who had previously been an amateur boxing champion. Mike made a decision which could have been the turning point of his life by asking Bob if he could train him how to use his fist but with every offer comes a sacrifice. Mike would have to stay out of trouble and do better in school. Two things that are expected out of kids that go to school. Mike did so and was determined to learn it all when it comes to the boxing life. There was one other man by the name of Constantine â€Å"Cus† D’Amato who was a legendary boxing manager. DAmato was known for taking personal interest in promising fighters and he immediately recognized Tysons ambition to be a heavyweight contender, telling him, If you want to stay here, and if you want to listen, you could be the world heavyweight champion someday. (Mike Tysons Biography) Tyson agreed to stay. Constantine not only was his manager but also turned into this father figure that he never had. Cus took Mike under his wing and made sure to his best ability that he would succeed and be one of the best ever. It was around the early 80’s when Mike had entered into DAmatos full-time custody finally someone else than his mother cared about the fatherless kid. But 2 years later in 1982 Mike Tyson’s life would take a turn for the worst when his mother pasted away. A feeling no person wants to go through but has to at one point. One of the greatest debuts in boxing history came when the much anticipated Mike Tyson went against the strong and experienced Hector Mercedes. A quick one and done in the 1st round gave him his 1st hit and the image of an experienced champion. With the help of his two trainers and his work ethic in and out of the boxing ring gave Mike possibly felt the best he has ever felt in a while. This gave Tyson the ability to level his opponents quick in the 1st round, and that earned him the nickname Iron Mike. On November 4, 1985, DAmato died of pneumonia. Tyson was heavily hit by the death of the man he considered his blood father. Boxing trainer Kevin Rooney took over DAmatos coaching duties and less than two weeks later, Tyson continued on the path that DAmato had laid out for him. It goes to show you that guidance and support from people you love and love you back helps you move on to the next obstacle in your life regardless if they are there physically or emotionally. Tyson never fully recovered from the loss and many around the world blamed that to the boxers future behavior problems With the record of a true champion but no titles yet came an opportunity to flip that around. 22-0 with 21 knockouts gave him a title shot against Trevor Berbick for the World Boxing Council heavyweight championship. Tyson knocked out Berbick in the 2nd round making him the new WBC heavyweight champion. Also making him the youngest heavyweight champion of all time, Mike Tyson also gained to more belts and quickly gaining the respect of many. With fame did come some negative distractions to Tyson’s career. Tyson’s life from childhood delinquency to boxing champ put him in the center of the spotlight were most people don’t know how to handle the pressure. Mike became partying harder than ever and hanging with Hollywood stars that he didn’t belong with. Slowly after life as a superstar kicked in everything started to go sour for mike in the worst way. June 1988 both his wife and his manager wanted out of Mikes life as well wanted in on Mike’s money. Mike behavior got worse and worse after getting into street brawls and nearly killing himself by committing suicide trying to crash into the late D’Amato’s home. His family life was getting to the point of no return after his marriage being called â€Å"Pure Hell† by his wife Givens. You would think that one would learn their lesson but mike came back to criminal acts to later be sued by two women after being grabbed and insulted by Tyson. February 11, 1990 a date never to remember if you are a fan of Iron Mike Tyson. His first lose also his first time ever being knocked out by an underdog boxer named Buster Douglas. This fight changed the boxing world and stirred up so much noise about the loss but Mike still had other issues he had to deal with as well. More trouble came after Mike had also lost another fight not in the ring but in the court the day of November 1, 1990 several months after his 1st lose in his career. Mike Tyson was found guilty for both his incidents in his bathroom incident in 88’ and then soon in 91’ when e was accused of raping a Miss Black American contestant. Mike Tyson was ordered to jail for 6 years due to the law of Indiana it also had to be effective as soon as possible. The death of his father didn’t really faze Mike Tyson nor did he really care to take a leave from prison to take part at the funeral. It shows how much hate and disappointment Mike has from that event al one. He is a man of his own and everything he learned was from his own mind due to the fact that his whole life was a mission to find who he really is. He never really gave himself the chance to change because of all the events that occurred during the process of his life expanding. After six years of marriage, second wife Monica Turner filed for divorce  in 2003, on grounds of adultery. That same year, he also filed for bankruptcy after his exorbitant spending, multiple trials, and bad investments caught up with him. Tysons hard-partying ways caught up with him again in late 2006. Tyson was arrested in Scottsdale, Arizona, after almost crashing into a police cruiser. Mike was suspected of driving while intoxicated. Soon after that assumption police pulled Tyson over and searched his car. During the search police discovered cocaine throughout the vehicle. On September 24, 2007, Mike Tyson pleaded guilty to possession of narcotics and driving under the influence. So much of Mike Tyson’s life has been taken away due to the fame and fortune but also from all the bad decisions he made as well. You can’t always get what you want and I feel as if he didn’t act the way he did during every incident he would be fine to this day. Tysons life seemed to mellow over the next few years, and the boxer began seeking sobriety by attending (AANA) Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous meetings. But in 2009, Tyson was dealt another blow when his four-year-old daughter, Exodus, accidentally strangled herself on a treadmill cord in her mothers Phoenix home. The tragedy  was yet another dark period in Tysons troubled life I want to leave you with a quote said by Mike Tyson that is real and from the heart. Something said due to experience and growth with life aging away from him so quick. The quote goes (Bad Intentions, The Mike Tyson Story) My whole life has been a waste Ive been a failure. I just want to escape. Im really embarrassed with myself and my life. I want to be a missionary. I think I could do that while keeping my dignity without letting people know they chased me out of the country. I want to get this part of my life over as soon as possible. In this country nothing good is going to come of me. People put me so high; I wanted to tear that image down.

10 Fascinating Facts about Bess Beetles

10 Fascinating Facts about Bess Beetles The  amiable bess beetles  (family Passalidae)  make great classroom pets, and are fun to watch. Bess beetles are so much more than cute; theyre also some of the most sophisticated bugs on the planet. Dont believe it? Consider these 10 fascinating facts about bess beetles. 1. Bess beetles are important decomposers Passalids live in hardwood logs, munching away on the tough tree fibers and turning them into new soil. They prefer oak, hickory, and maple, but will set up shop in just about any hardwood log that has sufficiently decayed. If youre looking for bess beetles, turn over rotting logs on the forest floor. In the tropics, where bess beetles are more diverse, a single log may house as many as 10 different Passalid species. 2. Bess beetles live in family groups Within their log homes, both bess beetle parents reside with their offspring. With their powerful mandibles, they excavate rooms and passages to house their family. The bess beetle family guards its home against any and all intruders, including other unrelated bess beetles. In some species, a large, extended family of individuals lives together in a colony. This subsocial behavior is quite unusual among beetles. 3. Bess beetles talk Like many other insects – crickets, grasshoppers, and cicadas, for example – bess beetles use sounds to communicate with one another. Whats remarkable, however, is how sophisticated their language seems to be. One North American species, Odontotaenius disjunctis, produces 14 distinct sounds, presumably with different meanings. An adult bess beetle talks by rubbing a hardened part of its hindwings against spines on the dorsal surface of its abdomen, a behavior known as stridulation. Larvae can communicate, too, by rubbing their middle and hind legs against each other. Captive bess beetles will complain loudly when disturbed in any way, and squeak audibly when handled. 4. Bess beetles co-parent their young The vast majority of insect parents simply deposit their eggs and go. A few, like some stink bug mothers, will guard her eggs until they hatch. In fewer still, a parent might stick around long enough to keep her nymphs safe. But rare are the insect parents that remain together as a pair to raise their young to adulthood, and bess beetles are counted among them. Not only do the mother and father bess beetle work together to feed and protect their offspring, but the older larvae stick around to help with rearing their younger siblings. 5. Bess beetles eat poop Like termites and other insects that feed on wood, bess beetles need the help of microorganisms to break down the tough plant fibers. Without these digestive symbionts, they simply couldnt process the cellulose. But bess beetles arent born with these vital fungi and bacteria living in their guts. The solution? They eat their own poop, much like rabbits do, to keep a healthy number of microorganisms in their digestive tracts. Without enough frass in its diet, a bess beetle will die. 6. Bess beetles lay their eggs in nests of poop Baby bess beetles are at an even greater digestive disadvantage, because their mandibles arent strong enough to chew wood and they lack gut microorganisms. So mama and papa bess beetle start their babies out in a cradle made of masticated wood and frass. In fact, when a  bess beetle larva reaches its final instar and is ready to pupate, its parents and siblings work together to construct it a cocoon made of frass. Thats how important poop is to a Passalid. 7. Bess beetles have a lot of nicknames Members of the family Passalidae go by a long list of common names: bessbugs, bessiebugs, betsy beetles, bess beetles, horned passalus beetles, patent leather beetles, peg beetles, and horn beetles.   The many variations on bess seems to derive from the French word baiser, which means to kiss, and is likely a reference to the smooching sound they make when they stridulate. If youve seen one, you already know why some people call them patent leather beetles – theyre quite shiny and black, like patent leather shoes. 8. Bess beetles look menacing, but are surprisingly gentle The first time you see a bess beetle, you might be a bit intimidated. Theyre hefty insects, often well over 3 cm long, with the massive mandibles youd expect from a beetle that eats wood. But rest assured, they dont bite, and dont even grab hold of your fingers with their feet the way scarab beetles do. Because theyre so easygoing and big, they make good first pets for young insect lovers. If youre a teacher interested in keeping insects in your classroom, you wont find one easier to care for and handle than the bess beetle. 9. Most bess beetles live in the tropics The family Passalidae includes roughly 600 described species, and nearly all of them live in tropical habitats. Only four species are known from the U.S. and Canada, and of these, two species havent been seen for decades. Some bess beetle species are endemic, meaning they live only in a certain area, such as on an isolated mountain or a particular island. 10. To date, just a single bess beetle fossil has been found The only prehistoric Passalid known from the fossil record is Passalus indormitus, collected in Oregon. Passalus indormitus dates to the Oligocene epoch, and lived about 25 million years ago. There are no known bess beetles living in the Pacific Northwest today, interestingly. Passalus indormitus is most similar to Passalus punctiger, a living species that inhabits Mexico, Central America, and parts of South America. Sources: Bringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants, by Douglas W. TallamyAmerican Beetles: Polyphaga: Scarabaeoidea through Curculionoidea, Volume 2, edited by Ross H. Arnett, JR, Michael C. Thomas, Paul E. Skelley, J. Howard FrankInsect Behavior, by Robert W. Matthews, Janice R. MatthewsNinety-nine Gnats, Nits, and Nibblers, by May BerenbaumBess Beetles of Kentucky, University of Kentucky Entomology website. Accessed December 10, 2013.Borror and DeLongs Introduction to the Study of Insects, 7th edition, by Charles A. Triplehorn and Norman F. JohnsonEncyclopedia of Entomology, 2nd edition, edited by John L. Capinera.

In the light of the global financial crisis, discuss how the Essay

In the light of the global financial crisis, discuss how the remuneration of chief executives of banks should be determined - Essay Example In the U.S, for example, this was followed by acquisition of properties from defaulters. Despite a given financial situation, the banks’ chief executives have always enjoyed a constant pay through basic salaries and bonuses. Their positions have been secured by tenures and extensive pension plans. The banks have defended such payments as a way of protecting the interest of the bank by ensuring that they beat the competition for CEOs in the country. It is this unfounded huge salaries and allowances to CEOs despite financial situation, global or local, that needs to be reviewed. Such review should assist in ensuring that banks do not incur unnecessary expenditure when they should be recording increased investments and value for the shareholders. This paper will look into various ways that the remunerations of the chief executives of banks can be determined. In drawing up the analysis, various factors that add up to their pay such as pensions, office tenure, bonuses and gross sal ary will be looked into. Components to Be Monitored In determining the total remuneration of a CEO, various components should be given consideration. Such components are given priority owing to the fact that they motivate better performance by the CEO come the following financial year. They should also act to retain the person in office and within the bank to beat the market demand of such personnel. The components include salaries, bonuses, compensations, stock options and incentive plans. Salaries Like any other employee in a bank, the CEO is entitled to an annual or monthly based salary. Owing to the high number of companies willing to pay large sums for a given CEO, competition for such personnel has heightened considerably in many countries. Given a bank’s need for a well performing CEO, it is essential to ensure that a CEO is paid accordingly in an effort to retain them. Considering the constant nature of the salary, financial crisis should be given consideration when c oming up with figures (CNN Money, 2013). For some banks like Citi bank in the United States, the CEO’s salary is determined and approved by the shareholders. This ensures that the figure protects the interests of the bank’s owners. Any increase or decrease should be given room in cases where either is deemed necessary. In an Annual General Meeting (AGM), the shareholders may approve to reduce or increase the CEO’s salary as an effort to protect the interests of the bank during crisis (New York Times, 2009). Bonuses CEOs are usually awarded bonuses based on their previous performances. In most of the banks, the bonuses are based on profits realised within a given year. Such bonuses act as motivation to the CEOs and incentive for better future performance. With bonuses, complexity arises when it is eminent that the following year will be faced with financial crisis. Bonuses are essential as they act as incentives to the CEOs although over a very short period. Such incentives are meant to ensure that the CEO performs better by increasing on the growth of the bank through increased profits and shareholder value. It is the same bonuses that have been misused by many CEO to increase their pay. CEOs may lie about the profits realised by presenting deceiving figures to the board. Such an action has seen banks award bonuses to CEOs based on misleading information. To save banks during financial crisis or within a period preceding the crisis, bank financial accounts should be properly audited to ensure that the

Are states the driving force behind globalisation, or its victims Essay

Are states the driving force behind globalisation, or its victims - Essay Example It is for this reason that arguments and counterarguments have been advanced, concerning states as the driving forces in international relations, or victims of the same. A clear analysis of international relations and politics reveals that states are the main actors or the driving force in international relations, as shall be seen in the discussion that ensues forthwith. That states are the main actors behind globalisation, is a matter that is well underscored by the events that surrounded and succeeded Cold War. Although globalisation can be said to have started towards the end of the 16th century AD as feudalism was being replaced by capitalism in Western Europe, yet states played a pivotal role in triggering the advent of globalisation. The role of the state in globalisation is underscored by the fact that the pace in which globalisation takes place has mainly been commensurate with interests and input of the major powers in international relations. This is in complete consistence with all the theoretical frameworks that make attempt at explaining international relations. This is to say that if states have the might to hinder globalisation, then they also have the wherewithal to catalyse globalisation (Peet, 2009, 105). Scholte (2005, 125) is poignant that the role that states play in international relations is even more pronounced when international relations is viewed through the prism of realism. Realism has it that the world of politics is driven by self-interests which are highly competitive in nature. Realism continues that the very international system wherein states compete is anarchic. By this, it is not meant that international system is inherently chaotic, but that there is no higher power that can hinder aggression or make arbitrations on disputes. Because of this, this anarchical system forces states to arm themselves in