Censorship of Electronic Communication Systems Essay

Communication system of society is changing rapidly with the time. In ancient ages people use to communicate with shouting. If people are much more apart from one another the letter writing was the only means of communication just before 500 years. Due to rapid development of science, now a days a message can be passed to millions of people who all are scattered in whole world by a simple electronic communication system. Due to electronic communication devices true as well as false message can be spread to the people with in short time, this may cause negative impact on society and country. For shake of betterment sometime it is necessary to censor some of the news, ideas, books etc in the electronic communication. Electronic Communication. Every day, in our work and in our leisure time, we come in contact with and use a variety of modern communication systems and communication media, the most common being the telephone, radio, television, and the Internet. Through these media we are able to communicate (nearly) instantaneously with people on different continents, transact our daily business, and receive information about various developments and events of note that occur all around the world. Electronic mail and facsimile transmission have made it possible to rapidly communicate written messages across great distances. Facebook, twiter, Hi5, blogs, online radio, online newspaper etc are the easiest way to spread a news or rumor. Censorship. Censorship — the control of the information and ideas circulated within a society — has been a hallmark of dictatorships throughout history. In the 20th Century, censorship was achieved through the examination of books, plays, films, television and radio programs, news reports, and other forms of communication for the purpose of altering or suppressing ideas found to be objectionable or offensive. The rationales for censorship have varied, with some censors targeting material deemed to be indecent or obscene; heretical or blasphemous; or seditious or treasonous. Thus, ideas have been suppressed under the guise of protecting three basic social institutions: the family, the church, and the state. Censorship is the suppression of speech or other public communication which may be considered objectionable, harmful, sensitive, or inconvenient as determined by a government, media outlet, or other controlling body. It can be done by governments and private organizations or by individuals who engage in self-censorship. It occurs in a variety of different contexts including speech, books, music, films, and other arts, the press, radio, television, and the Internet for a variety of reasons including national security, to control obscenity, child pornography, and hate speech, to protect children, to promote or restrict political or religious views, and to prevent slander and libel. It may or may not be legal. Many countries provide strong protections against censorship by law, but none of these protections are absolute and it is frequently necessary to balance conflicting rights in order to determine what can and cannot be censored. Example of Censorship: 1. Mobile network coverage was not allowed in Chittagong hill districts for insurgency problem. Insurgents and miscreants used to communicate with each other and operate against general people. 2. Censorship is also imposed on social media like facebook, tweeter, YouTube in many Muslim country like Syria, Pakistan , Bangladesh, Indonesia etc for protesting against disrespect to their beloved prophet. 3. People below 18 years are not allowed to watch or visit some of the adult site or web/books. 4. Recently in our country its one of the hot topic .Some blogger insulted our beloved prophet through the blog. To stop violation among people Bangldesh government stop some of the blogs. Benefits of Censorship It is evident that the hotly debated issue concerning media censorship is hardly started, especially in today’s ever changing media. With the ever changing medial rules and regulations, media authorities are always on their toes with regards to evaluating what is fit for publication or broadcast. This article aims at highlighting both the pros and cons of censorship. 1. National Issue: a. In present days a country involve in developing nuclear weapon impasses ban on telecasting or broadcasting any news regarding nuclear weapon subject. b. A scandal or spreading obnoxious picture of very high official of the country needs a immediate censorship on electronic midea. 2. Censorship on news: During martial law special censorship is done in print and electronic media. 3. Protects young children. The most obvious benefit of censorship includes radical regulations aimed at protecting children from obscene content. Moreover, media censorship help prevent hate speech and other organizations that spread hate ideologies. By filtering media content, parents are sure that their children are safe from obscene content. 4. Upholds social value Internet censorship, on the other hand suppresses the sharing of information to such an extent that some websites are not accessible. In fact, some countries from different parts of the world have installed internet/media censorship to help keep the values and tradition restored/ or alive. With that said, media censorship plays an essential role in safeguarding moral and social value in the society. 5. Protects against sexism and racism We are all familiar with the saying that our children are future leaders. Many folks have devoted their time to molding their children’s ‘’future’’. Since children learn from their peers and what they see on television, media censorship aims to protect them against sexism, racism and segregation. That way, children are raised well and with admirable social values.

Review of “the Propaganda of the Saints in the Middle Ages.”

The â€Å"Propoganda of Saints in the Middle Ages† article, written by Esther Cohen, goes over many of the methods the Catholic Church employed to gain power over the people in Europe. Cohen goes through the middle ages by describing how the Catholic Church was spreading its faith; mainly through the use of propaganda. An Age of Faith took place between the fall of the Roman Empire and the discovery of America. Cohen describes how the in the early years of the church, martyred Christians rapidly assumed a high position in the churches hierarchy of faith. These saints where given to have special powers and gradually became central to the Catholic Church; as opposed to God. Cohen describes a clear attempt from the Church to portray a consistent propaganda campaign aimed at raising the level of sainthood in the public eye. This was not difficult to do as the church had three things with it that gave it absolute power. First thing the church had, was that its message it brought with it that could not be questioned in any way. The information they brought with them could not be voluntarily accepted or rejected, and the church had an obligation to spread that message. Secondly, the churches message was absolute and its authority was unquestionable. The church had no competition in that there was no one who could match the propaganda they brought. Lastly, the church had a centrally organized, universal message, which meant that it could be easily tailored for the masses. Pilgrimages became common; this cemented the church even further as they build grand churches filled with â€Å"holy relics† of the saints. These relics were given to have special powers when yielded by the saints of the church. Many of the pilgrims believed this message and probably never questioned it. Many of them were filled with awe when they saw the grand magnificence of the church and the stained glass windows within them (peasants would never see such sights if it hadn’t been for the church). The fact is that all of the church’s teachings came from a central point, making the message more or less universal and uniform. The central church was able to put together its message, and then pass it along to other churches that administered it to the masses. The message was hammered in generation to generation. The Catholic Church was a big influence in the lives of people in Europe. This essay by Cohen illustrates just how big an influence it actually was. From the very beginning, it brought a centralized message which was labelled indisputable. The reason it was followed was that since no one could actually challenge their message; they destroyed everything in their way to ensure it. Cohen really describes the transgression well as he describes it progress thru the ages and develop into what amounts to an international conglomerate. They opened up many different franchises, preaching the same message. Of course the message had its deviations; much of the church’s beliefs stemmed from the local saints. As saints were given more and more power; this was another good way of getting the locals to support their cause. It is remarkable at the amount of effective propaganda that came from the church in the earlier period of history; as there is not too much in the way of intelligent, centralized, effective messages before that time period. The church truly did stand the test of time even until today. It has and had tremendous effects over people’s lives as they try to come to terms with the world around them. The reason it’s so important is that even though Gods message has always been around over time, no one was more able to use it to their advantage other than the Catholic Church. The message became centralized and faith was transferred from God to local Saints, which also took away from any truth that the church might have brought with it. Their reason for doing it may be obvious, in that they ended up controlling massive amounts of territory and even holding sway over Kings and Nobles; the ultimate aphrodisiac happens to be power. The church had no boundaries so it could cross vast amounts of areas relatively untouched. Cohen s article really is a shocking look at some of the practises of the Clergy creating magnificent churches and housing â€Å"Holy Relics† in them to prove their point. This is the precursor to what we knew as propaganda as it seems the Catholic Church must have had people working for them who knew how to get the masses attention. Their organization stood the test of time; and possibly did everything they possibly could to maintain it. Towards the end of the Church’s iron grip over Europe, the organization was so engrained in the people’s hearts and minds that it, even hundreds of years later, still holds tremendous sway over what kinds of decisions people make in their lives. Even if there are not as many people who follow the Catholic Church as much as they would have done in the past, the Pope is regarded as an important symbol for peace the world over (even though the words peaceful and the Roman Catholic Church can hardly be used in the same sentence). It appears that the Church values its image very highly, and tend to move with the times according to the general feeling what it would consider its subjects. In the past, the church would not hesitate to use force to establish themselves in a certain area; but in this politically charged world, they have given themselves more of a cleaner image by not physically attacking their opposition. It is shocking to read about how they Church went as far as to make fake relics filled with tears, etc. Going to the lengths they went to, it is clear how they could have held so much power. The Catholic Church was known to be ruthless in their all encompassing network. They went to great lengths to preserve this power. This is evident from the very beginning of the church as its entire history is drenched with warfare and power grabbing. One of the tools church had at its disposal was the power of knowledge, which it did its best to hoard. Knowledge is power, and keeping the masses ignorant helped it keep its power structure. The Catholic Church confiscated or destroyed everything that it considered against the church. This led to many works that may have criticised the power structure labelled as heresy; resulting in the torture and death of the writer or anyone associated with it. The article delves into some important details about the manipulation of materials to grab people’s attention. The strategies and tactics the church used were remarkable in that they built magnificent cathedrals just so they could bring in pilgrims to show them holy relics, which they were told had special powers. Having the knowledge and expertise to build such churches at such a time shows a very large concerted effort to push an agenda forward. The Catholic Church has truly stood the test of time in many ways; they were able to successfully push their message across and labelled it undisputable, at the same time making an effort to expand and keep the people eating from their hands. Even today, there are very few in politics who would dare cross the line to admonish the church, as it would mean suicide in the world of politicians. They would rather have the church as an ally, which does tend to give them a better image in the public’s view. In the past and even now, top elected officials have to appear to be faithful, or otherwise the mentality of the voting public would hardly chose them. In â€Å"Critical Theory and TechnoCulture: Habermas and Baudrillard,† Karl Marx’s theories are reviewed by two big contributors to communication theory: Jurgen Habermas and Jean Baudrillard. Mark Poster writes about how these two theorist dove into the areas where Marx was ambiguous and tried to explain the situation in more detail. Although they weren’t completely successful in their quest to explain the behaviour of mankind, Habermas and Baudrillard did make a big leap forward in their respective contributions. One of the problems with Karl Marx’s theories is that he tends to overlook or downplay the parts that are uncertain. Habermas and Baudrillard talked about how Marx failed to acknowledge basic communication theory, and the fact that he ignored technology as one of the biggest drivers of human civilization. Marx’s only aim seemed to be was the wage labourer to free himself from the greedy capitalist. Mark Poster attempts to ask about the theories of Karl Marx is that: did Marx give enough reasoning behind the relationships between technology and culture, labour and symbolism in work, and whether he really understood human consciousness? His argument is that Marx’s vision was too easy, and that he did not pay attention anything that was too complicated to explain or did not fit as part of his predictions. Poster understands that Marx knew his history, and was very knowledgeable about his topics, but there were still gaps in his writings that needed further explanation: The critique of political economy explores every turn of the capitalist structure; the critique of cultural politics is general, vague, and undeveloped. †[1] Poster explains that when Marx was doing his analysis, he did not theorize enough about the nature of social communication and how technology becomes signified objects. Technology is peculiar as it seems to have a two pronged approach; one where it levels the playing field for general society, or one where it extends the gap between the haves and have not’s. Language is termed as one of the central tools of social interaction and that needed more explanation before the theory could be complete. Without this missing piece, Marx was way off in his predictions of what would happen to capitalism and the role of workers. The spread of bureaucracy also solidified the way language was used. Technology and the change it brought also included change in language structure. The essay goes on to explain the extensions that Jurgen Habermas and Jean Baudrillard make to the critical theory. One of Habermas’s arguments is that Marx was unable to distinguish between emancipation and science. Habermas came from a school of thought which was worried about the fact that the scientific movement became the reason for domination, instead of it being used as a tool for freedom. He believes that Marx had left out the communication and language aspect of individuals which is a major part of our behaviour. For Habermas, speech has an important aspect as it can be used to distort the truth and can be a means of domination. His argument is that any time a speech situation fails; it can be down to the class struggle which Marx talked about. Of course, in practise, it is very difficult to find an ideal speech situation; making it difficult to analyse the truth. Jean Baudrillard criticizes Marxism’s analysis Marx analysis of the mode of production as the driving force of society. Commodities become social signifiers rather than something useful. One of the problems Baudrillard sees with Marxist ideology is that he ignores culture. The problem with Marx is that he never saw the symbolic nature of products and production. Baudrillard maintains that products become symbols whether by intention or not. The word â€Å"hyper-reality† is used to describe the fact that products began to contain their own reality; that is, nothing becomes more than ownership of the product itself. There is much missing from Baudrillards theories. He fails to describe what he meant by the â€Å"code,† which is how he described the relationship between consumers and consumed. At some points, he failed to realize the real positive potential that the media brought with it. But what Baudrillard brought to critical theory was remarkable. The insights provided by him went beyond convention to explain these theories in more detail. Mark Posters article brings a lot of interesting points about the missing pieces in Marx’s theories. There were many missing pieces of Marx and some of them are pointed out from the writings of Baudrillard and Habermas. One feels that Marx did leave out many details of his work, because people do not necessarily think about working for the state in the way it was described. Marx did not realize the importance of technology and its place in society. But in his world, there would not be much room available for research and development. When we put technology as a big part of human evolution, good things happen as the quality of life has improved. The idea behind everyone in society being equal sounds nice; but in practise, is rarely possible. The elements of language and technology where important to the framework of human interaction, this is one of the reasons why Marx’s predictions didn’t go to plan. He did not envision the fact that politicians would use bureaucracy to further establish their control over society. This use of language was not present in earlier periods, which may be why it may have been overlooked. New technology also changed the way language was used to further complicate the communication process. Technology also brought with it further divisions between those who have it and those who don’t. New products or technology has a materialistic nature to it that is still unexplained with the critical theory of Marx. One of the reasons Marx may have failed to have predicted violent revolt from the masses is that they do not want violent rebellion. Marx failed to foresee the fact that people would try to work together by creating unions and similar institutions to protect themselves from undue distress from their work. Marx was half right in that the powerful capitalists at the time were exploiting their workers for mostly the owner’s benefit. The other half that Marx did not envision was that most people would not choose violence; given the circumstances force became the last possible option. Technology also helped the regular working class to live comfortably by at home. Habermas picks up where Marx left in the explanation of critical theory. There were many missing pieces that Marx did not talk about; some of these were about technology and communication theories. Technology changes over time and can be very beneficial to us; failing to see its advantages and disadvantages is ignoring a big aspect of human behaviour and actions. As technology improves, our lives improve as well and modes of production change as well. Of course the other aspect of technology is that it can be used to dominate. Marx should have explored this topic further and he would have understood the consequences better. Ignoring these ideas shows that Marx probably had his own agenda in place as he wrote his theories. He may have deliberately left these things out in his argument to make it seem simpler than it first appeared. Maybe if he mentioned technology, it would have opened up a new world to mention and explain. The same can be said when it came to the communication aspect of Marx. Habermas also mentions how class struggle is bourne out of a failure in communication. This statement has a lot of fact because it is ultimately the class we identify with as the class we understand. The aspirations and lives of those who are poor are different than those of the middle class or ultra-rich, and those 3 groups barely understand one another. But these divisions will always exist – there will always be people who are well off and those who are not, even in a ideal communist society. Mark Poster also writes about how Habermas tries to fill in the gaps of communication theories left unexplained by Marx. Would the masses really want a violent revolution? People do not have a thirst for warfare; it is usually forced upon them by their leaders. Having endless war to bring about easier lives does not seem too economical; so they would prefer resistance by nonviolent means as it is understood that they are the drivers of the system. Without their input, machinery could not move, so the â€Å"greedy capitalist† was somewhat marginalized by labour unions and laws. Marx failed to see this, even though the powder keg was definitely in place. Habermas’s theories about the ideal speech situations are interesting. There would be very few times indeed that it would be true. It seems possibly one of the societies that come to mind that bear a place for the ideal speech would be the oral Greek tradition. A man who knows how to use speech could possibly get away with murder if he knows how to sway the audience. Again, the ideal speech situation might not garner good things; it may present powerful people with bad intentions using it to dominate their society. Baudrillards arguments about Marx have also have also showed gaps about critical theory. He feels that it can be dangerous for a society to be solely reliant on commodities for the states benefit. Every society has some sort of culture that it brings. Marx, in Baudrillards view, ignores culture as one of the major driving forces of society. Culture is ultimately what decides the direction society takes and the ideas it chooses to adopt. An idea from one culture might not be acceptable in other cultures, so it becomes difficult to transmit ideas across nations. Marx does not mention these facts and pretty much ignores them. It is difficult to understand how Marx, who was well aware of history and its nuances, could ignore such an important factor. Baudrillards analysis of products is an interesting one. It is remarkable that he could see that commodities become status symbols. This is exactly what happens to products; they become more for show than for the function they are supposed to carry. This is evident is the advertising that is presented in the mass media. These status symbols can become part of who we are as people, and this has always been the case throughout history; whether it is gold and other precious metals and stones in the past, or Bentlys and Valentino suits today. These things cannot change under any kind of rule, so ignoring these facts means ignoring our general makeup. In missing this analysis, Marx ignores the true nature of products and production; to keep the masses quite and consumed. One of the pieces missing from Baudrillard is the proper explanation of what he meant by his â€Å"code. The reader gets a sense of what he meant by reading and analysing his work, but a good definition would go a long way in explaining just what he was talking about here. It is unclear whether he is talking about the materialistic nature of things or the guidelines by which they are advertised. It is remarkable that Baudrillard understood these facts; he would have witnessed firsthand, the world of advertising taking its current form. This new form stopped advertising things with simple functional messages, and started advertising them with relation to fantasies that play against our minds to capture our attention. Early psychologists understood this and used their knowledge to help advertisers come up with these new messages. Mark Poster tries to explain the missing parts of Marx critical theory. The missing gaps were quite gapping and Jean Baudrillard and Jurgen Habermas exposed many of them. The essay delves into these gaps and tries to explain the missing pieces, as told by well known communication theorists. It seems that Marx, rather than a genuine interest in the freedom for man, has an agenda behind his writings. There as so many important gaps that he just completely ignored, so this scenario seems likely to be true. Technology and culture are important to us, without them, we can become aimless and self destructive. Poster brought it together very well by indicating that there are many parts still to be explored, indicating the work on the complete analysis for critical theory is still incomplete. Bibliography Cohen, Esther. â€Å"The Propaganda of the Saints in the Middle Ages. † Journal of Communication, 1981. Poster, Mark. â€Å"Critical Theory and TechnoCulture: Habermas and Baudrillard. † In The Second Media Age. Cambridge: Polity Press, 1992. ———————– [1] Poster, Mark â€Å"Critical Theory and Technoculture† pg. 97

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HISTORY Bachelor - Essay Example As far as Goldhagen's infamous chapter eight, "Police Battalion 101: Assessing the men's motives," the main point of argument with this chapter has to do with the accusation that many ordinary Germans had motivation to participate in the Holocaust, and had several motives for doing so. Many people have felt that the book's lacking cannot defend the attacks against it or, on the other hand, that the book's accomplishments do not explain its successful sales. However, this consideration of the book is shortsighted; focusing on Goldhagen tacks attention away from his important claims, and to examine the central points of the book itself. The book's thesis is quite familiar; its central claim reflects on a refutation of fifty years examination and research regarding the Holocaust. The important focus of chapter eight's concepts actually argues against the idea that the mass genocide of the Jewish people happened based on logic and the upper echelons of government. The mass murder of the Jewish people would have presented the Nazis with several difficult problems when planning how to approach the killings (Hilberg). However, the government planning was extremely complex, as well as the killing, which was very critical to the initial success of the extermination. The process by which the genocide was organized removed everyday individuals psychologically and morally from the actions of the government. This would mean that either the everyday individuals who took part in German society were unaware of the genocide, or may have even perhaps had some kind of resistance to the entire concept. However, Goldhagen does not ag ree with this concept; he feels that even ordinary Germans possessed anti-Semitic beliefs that allows them to somehow participate in, or overlook, the actions of the government. Goldhagen states that it was the "cognitive and value structures" of ordinary Germans--namely their virulently anti-Semitic beliefs--that constituted the "central causal agent of the Holocaust" (67-68). When first examining this concept, it really seems that Goldhagen's claim is perhaps more obvious than most would want to accept. If the everyday citizens of Germany were opposed to the mass extermination of the Jews, why would the Nazis have attempted so flawlessly to kill the millions they did murder Wouldn't the everyday German citizens make more attempts, personally and publicly, to assist the Jews The Anti-Semitism in Germany, therefore, was not an offshoot of the Nazis' own personal vendetta, but part of the social construct of all citizens of Germany. Therefore, Goldhagen feels that the Nazis cannot be blamed solely for the extermination of the Jews; the entire German people should be considered, as this seemed to have been more of a nationwide attempt. Hitler's leadership and conquering of Europe may have opened the door to mass killing; however, the media depiction of the Jews as subhuman and Hitler's control of the German people were not enough to undertake such a large pr oject of genocide. Instead, Goldhagen feels that the hating of the Jewish people by the German people came far before this, and predated Hitler's control of Germany. Rather, it seems to have been a part of the German culture for quite some time. Goldenhangen's proof comes not on the focus of the extermination camps present in Germany and

Law Evidence Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Law Evidence - Case Study Example So although Dennis states that we could include inadmissible evidence, it does not in essence be correct with the system in its fairness. However, Osborn argues that since the courts have been unwilling to set down guidelines as far as the interpretation of the section on improperly obtained evidence therefore we "are left to analyze the case law in order to predict in what circumstances the discretion may arise (1). Here the argument supports Dennis'claim that this form of retrieving evidence can never be lawful since we are left to decide the accused outcome based confessions, which arguably would have been excluded at common law in any event, on account of their inherent unreliability (Osborn,76). Evidence obtained in this fashion suggest quite evidently as Dennis stated they lack the moral functions even though it is evidence but we still have to uphold the law. In R v Nathaniel the accused had given a blood sample four years earlier when being investigated for two other rapes. The police had told him that the sample would be destroyed if he was found not guilty of those crimes. When due to an administrative error it was not, and was later used to convict him of a third unrelated rape, the Court of Appeal excluded the evidence."(Osborn,82) There is the universal issue of justice and fairness to both parties in the trial . English judges are not prompt to exclude real evidence which has been illegally obtained (Osborn, 78). There i s considerable favoritism that the courts have a right to every piece of evidence that could likewise tip the scales in favor.(78) The court decides whether they want to make the evidence legally feasible or dismiss it altogether. Their decision though fair in its essence lacks lacks the justice put forth by Ian Dennis for the outcome as to the verdict."Equating a criminal trial to a sporting match which has no correct outcome and only an actual one, demeans the court process and necessitates forsaking the central purpose of the trial-the just determination of guilt or innocence."(Osborn, 80) So in the bargain when you obtain a conviction it can never be legal because of the type of evidence involved. Andrew Choo gave us three possible reasons behind exclusion of illegally obtained evidence on the grounds of unfairness-deterrence, compensation and repute.(Osborn,97). So in the meantime these hinder reliability, protection (which includes compensation of the victim and broader considerations of judicial integrity.(97) This undoubtedly supports Ian Dennis' arguments that the legal system here cannot be expressed openly. Mary Hunter claims that a search of LEXIS reveals that between January 1986 and May 1992, there were 106 such cases, giving credence to the claim that PACE has widened the scope of the

Just introduction and conclusion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Just introduction and conclusion - Essay Example The paper discusses in detail the different strategies that can be implemented in order to design the timer for the above mentioned company. The paper also seeks to answer the questions related to the components needed to design, implement, and a test a timer for a company. The main aim of the report was to come up with question list following the inquiry from the client. The report also aims at improving the interpretation of the needs of customers and taking the necessary actions. Additionally, the paper also helps to gain the relevant experience to come up a preliminary product specification(Chou and Hsiao, 2005). ABC Limited is one of the leading companies in manufacturing company. Based on the company’s inquiry, the report will provide some of the electronic timer quotations. The electronic timer will be used to control the chemical processes in the company. To perform this, the more information was gathered from the client and recorded directly to the logbook. When R1 was connected the Vb total was found to be 20mV while the Vb for the alternating current was found to be 40mV. The main function of R1 was to reduce the Direct Current, which was placed at the bottom of the transistor. When C1 was disconnected the Vb total came to 24mV while the Alternating current for Vb was recorded at 50mV. The main purpose of the C1 was to add the Direct Current component into the transistor’s bases. In situations when the C1 was absent, the 0.7 Vc threshold needed was subtracted so that the transistor could be turned on. Additionally, in the process of the experiment, R3 was increase to 5.1 kilo ohms  (Xie and Shi, 2010). The function of R3 on this case was to limit the current that went into the base, therefore, reducing the collecting current, which later increased voltage via the collector. One of the limitation that was experienced is that when

The Team That Wasnt Essay Example for Free

The Team That Wasnt Essay Fire Art is a family owned business in the glass making industry based out of Indiana. The company has an 80 year history of producing high quality and high priced glass merchandise. About 18 month ago, sales and earnings bottomed out which drove the need to implement a strategic realignment plan to have the business running and winning within six months. The problem in this case is building a collaborative team with various backgrounds and skills to create a strategic realignment plan in the glass industry to take on the competition, build brand loyalty, increase sales and maximize earnings. Assumptions The assumptions in the case are the employees lack of knowledge of the family business being in trouble due to flat earnings and sales, participation in a team environment now needed versus contributing individually, the Directors of each division needs help with learning how to collaboratively operate and co-exist together to achieve company objectives, the company is not technologically savvy with the necessary tools to compete, and the company is not known nationally or global in their industry. Some of the key issues in the case are Team Dynamics, Team Development, Leadership Styles, Managerial Decisions, and Industry Competition which are discussed in further detailed as follows. Team Dynamics Team Dynamics plays a key role when forming a team because it is important to ensure the team is cohesive with positive energy. The team would need to reflect not only individual ideas but be mutual and complementary as they reach the goals set for the team. Team base activities are becoming standard in todays business environments. Having a team establishes a way for businesses to collaboratively reach their objectives and hold each other accountable for the tasks at hand. Teamwork is everywhere. More than ever before organizations are recognizing the types of situations for which group work can provide a key competitive advantage (Miller, 2003 p 121). Eric, the Director of Strategy had experience working in a team environment in his previous job function, however he lacked the experience needed for team development not utilized in a family business. Team Development Various reasons, such as different objectives, priorities, personalities, perceptions, methods and styles get in the way of having effective members on a team (Adkins, 2004). Teams are very conventional in new management thinking and have become a main stay in many businesses for collaboration of ideas, goals, and strategies. However, when having a team, there may be members who are not accustomed to a team environment and cause division within the team as they try to reach their objectives. To maintain team performance, it is increasingly important to ensure each individual on the team have high emotional intelligence. The premise for linking emotional intelligence to team performance is that high emotional intelligence enables team members to manage and be aware of their own emotions and the emotions of other team members (Jordan Troth, 2004). Emotional awareness and emotional management are essential attributes for team performance because they cultivate effective relationships with fellow workers to enhance team dynamics. Leadership Style Leadership skills are integral to team dynamics and development in order for the team to perform proficiently. Leadership encompass many styles and variations based upon several factors that make up the individual leader. Forbes magazine highlights four key styles of leadership, which are Visionary, Empathetic, Humble Servitude, and Moral or Ethical (Karlgaard, 2009). These key leadership traits work together when running a major business like Fire Art. Jack, the CEO, ran the company based on his family values and lacked the vision needed to forecast changes in the glass industry. To know and understand yourself is fundamental to knowing and understanding others and motivating them to follow your vision as a leader (Youngblood, 2010). There are several leadership resources available to develop oneself not only at the CEO level but at all levels in order for the company to achieve its objective in the marketplace and within their own businesses with employees. What family businesses value and believe about people, work, and money shapes their behavior toward their business and their employees. Without shared values, it is difficult to create a sense of direction for the business. Managerial Decisions The decisions that managers make when running a business, forming teams, or creating strategies are very important for the overall health of the business. Fire Art limited itself strictly in the Mid-Western region and did not embrace expansion outside of it current market area. This decision may have worked for many years in the company but it restricted its growth which allowed competition to gain market share in their industry. It is also imperative that management from a Senior level ensure their employees are aware of the direction the company wants to take in regards to increasing market share, sales and earnings particularly if they see a downward trend in those areas. Hence, the CEO vision for their business or company becomes increasingly important along with the belief the company has a viable product or service the consumer wants. A manager with strong beliefs about the right course of action will attract subordinates with similar beliefs. This alignment of beliefs between managers and workers in the same company gives direction to the firm and affects incentives and coordination (Wen Zhou, 2009). The CEO of Fire Art believes he can turn his family business around with a comprehensive plan for strategic realignment in the glass industry. He has made a key decision by tapping into his subordinates resources and skills along with bringing in a consultant to facilitate the process. Every business has to examine its own situation and decide what constitutes the critical aspects of its own environment (Heller, 1972). The Fire Art is a family own business without any mass production or national distribution. The business did not embrace current technologies or market strategies for their current industry and therefore needs to reexamine its needs in the marketplace. The use of information technology and the Internet between small family businesses and their economic environment enables resource exchange and electronic interaction inside the company, with their client base and vendors (Niehm, Tyner, Shelly, Fitzgerald, 2010). Fire Art has to fine tune their business in the technology area to keep ahead of their competition and remain competitive in the glass industry. Industry Competition Constant changes can be expected in products, in product lines, and models of existing products in a competitive society (Cassady, 1964). With the evolution of various products, todays technology plays an intricate part in how a business competes with their competition. Design, Manufacturing, and Distribution are all key roles that are intertwined together to put out the best product to the marketplace. Its imperative that businesses stay abreast of the new technologies as it relates to their industry in order to stay ahead or compete against their competitors. Fire Art is a family owned business that has stood the test of time for about 80 years as a high end glass manufacturer. Because of this, their Brand has longevity against the competitors in regards to standing out in the industry. In modern times, brands and brand management have become a central feature of the modern economy and a staple of business theory and business practice (Desai Waller, 2010). Fire Art can utilize their brand to propel them forward as realign and restructure their business to take on the competition in glass industry. Recommendations The plan of action is for the CEO to hold a companywide meeting to address the trouble the company is facing and why strategic repositioning needs to take place now. In order for the strategic repositioning to be effective and provide impact to the earnings and revenue, the CEO needs to incorporate senior level management in the newly formed team. Because the CEO has already brought in a Strategic Director for the job, he should allow Eric to interview the potential team members before forming the team to ensure the goals and objectives can be met. Once the team is formed a monthly report should be provided to the CEO to assess the progress of the strategic realignment. The CEO has requested the strategic repositioning to be done in six months. The recommendation here is to have a comprehensive plan in place in six months and then implement the plan in next six months to give the team time to work out any issues or factors that may prevent the team from reaching the ultimate objective of repositioning the company. In order to mitigate any problems that may arise during team development, it is recommended the selected team participants undergo the Stages of Group Development Model by Bruce Tuckman. Training and development is recommended for all employees to increase and maintain their current skills so they continue to be a valuable mployee to the company efforts to reposition. The company as a whole needs to invest and implement new technologies to have their product put to market faster to keep abreast of the competition. Currently Fire Art is limited to the Mid-Western region for their glass products. It would be advisable to look at expanding nationwide in the United States and then Globally. A market analysis should be conducted in regards to new design trends, pricing, manufacturing, distribution and other factors in regards to re-branding the family business beyond the Mid-Western footprint.

Overview Of The Presenting Condition Nursing Essay

Overview Of The Presenting Condition Nursing Essay This case study is intended to explain pulmonary oedema through Mr. Toscanas case. It will discuss the pathophysiology of pulmonary oedema and how Mr. Toscanas chronic renal impairment is related to this specific condition. Also, Mr. Toscanas ECG, aerial blood gas results and blood tests result will be analysed and explained. Moreover, a nursing plan based on Mr. Toscanas condition will be made. Overview of the Presenting Condition Pulmonary oedema is a serious condition of the pulmonary system. In simple terms, it is actually excess fluid in the lungs (skinner Mckinner 2011). To be more specific, it is fluid that moves out from capillaries into the extravascular spaces and causes additional pressure to the lungs (Craft, J 2011). Pulmonary oedema is affecting about 1% of people over the age of 65 (Johnson 2009). It is a worldwide condition and the mortality rate is about 40% within a year of diagnosis (Parissis et al. 2010). The accumulation of the fluid can be in a slow process for patients with chronic renal failure. It can also occur fast for patients who suffer from myocardial infarction (McPhee Hammer 2010). There are two types of pulmonary oedema, one is cardiogenic pulmonary, and the other in non-cardiogenic pulmonary oedema (Craft, J 2011). Pulmonary oedema is defined as alveolar or interstitial oedema, and such a condition can be identified by chest X-ray (Johnson 2009). And often patients oxygen satur ation is less than 90% on room air (Johnson 2009). Also severe respiratory distress, with crackles over the lungs and orthopnoea, is often associated with acute pulmonary oedema (Parissis et al. 2010). The most common cause of pulmonary oedema is untreated heart failure (Johnson 2009). The acute respiratory distress syndrome and capillary vessel injury are other common causes of pulmonary oedema (Craft, J et al. 2011). Its signs and symptoms often include dyspnoea, hypoxaemia and increased work of breathing (Skinner Mckinney 2011). In severe cases of pulmonary oedema, patients often bring up pink frothy sputum when coughing and their carbon dioxide level increases while oxygen level decreases (Craft, J et al. 2011). Pathophysiology that Underpins the Presenting Condition As mentioned before, pulmonary oedema is excess fluid in the extravascular space and according to McPhee Hammer (2010) the extravascular space is constituted by the interstitial space and the airspace (alveoli and airways). The excess fluid can be found in one or both spaces in patients with pulmonary oedema (McPhee Hammer 2010). Moreover, both spaces have different barriers to stop fluid from entering into them (McPhee Hammer 2010). The intersitital space is protected by the pulmonary capillary endothelium, i.e. inside layer of capillary and airspaces are protected by alveolar epithelium, namely surface of alveoli (McPhee Hammer 2010). It is normal for blood vessel to leak and about 0.01% of pulmonary blood flow will leak into interstitial space every hour (McPhee Hammer 2010). There are several factors that may influence the amount of fluid leaking into interstitial space and the most important one is net pressure (transmural pressure) (McPhee Hammer 2010). The transmural pressure maintains the balance between the net hydrostatic pressure that moves fluid out of the capillaries, and the colloid osmotic pressure that keeps fluid inside the capillaries (McPhee Hammer 2010). Any imbalance of these pressures can lead to pulmonary oedema. Pulmonary oedema can be divided into two types: the cardiogenic and the noncardiogenic. The former is caused by increased transural pressure (hydrostatic or osmotic) while the latter is caused by increased permeability (damaged alveoli and/ or airways) (Copstead Banasik 2010). Increased pulmonary venous pressure, increased alveolar surface tension, or decreased capillary colloid osmotic pressure can all lead to cardiogenic pulmonary oedema (Copstead Banasik 2010). Non-cardiogenic pulmonary oedema is normally caused by an acute respiratory distress syndrome, which often results from injury, infection or inhaled toxins (Copstead Banasik). In this case study, there is no evidence of injury of the lungs nor inhaled toxins, nor infection of any kind. Thus, Mr. Mario Toscanas condition is more likely to be cardiogenic pulmonary oedema. Although the case study does not address any cardiac problem based on his age and/ or history of chronic renal impairment, Mr. Toscana is prone to cardiac d iseases. In patients with chronic renal diseases, there are damaged nephrons that cannot be regenerated (Craft, J et al. 2011). Due to slow losses of nephrons, the remaining nephrons have to take the burden and try to maintain the normal function of the kidneys (Craft, J et al. 2011). However, over time this compensation will increase the loss of nephrons and the kidney will lose its normal function (Craft, J et al. 2011). This loss of normal function can result in electrolyte imbalance, which leads to various conditions (Craft, J et al. 2011). Fluid over load, hyperkalemia, metabolic acidosis, congestive heart failure and pulmonary oedema are all the common conditions of chronic renal diseases (Craft, J et al. 2011). Cardiovascular diseases often presents in patients with chronic renal diseases and they have a very high morbidity and mortality rate (McPhee Hammer 2010). Hypertension can be caused by excess sodium and fluid, and vascular calcification by decreased glomerular filtration rate (Craft, J et al. 2011). Moreover, vascular diseases can lead or contribute to coronary heart disease, left ventricular hypertrophy, heart failure and stroke. Heart failure is defined as a complex syndrome, which comprises of several cardiac dysfunctions and causes inadequate cardiac output (McPhee Hammer 2010). The common type of heart failure is the left heart failure, also known as congestive heart failure (Craft, J et al. 2011). Additionally, congestive heart failure can result in both systolic and diastolic heart failures, and any of the two can cause pulmonary oedema (Craft, J et al. 2011). In systolic heart failure, the contractility of the heart decreases because of the disease and it can result in the i ncrease of preload (Craft, J et al. 2011). Eventually, the combination will lead to decreased cardiac output and result in increased afterload (Craft, J et al. 2011). Due to the reduced cardiac output, renal perfusion diminishes and plasma volume increases (Craft, J et al. 2011). Patients with systolic heart failure often present with decreased urine output, oedema and pulmonary oedema (Craft, J et al. 2011). And patients with diastolic heart failure can maintain a normal stroke volume and cardiac output (Craft, J et al. 2011). However, left ventricular end-diastolic pressure is still increased by the decreased compliance of the left ventricular, and the abnormal diastolic relaxation (Craft, J et al. 2011). The pressure pushes fluid to go back to the lungs and causes pulmonary oedema (Craft, J et al. 2011). ECG Examination An ECG can provide information on the electrical movement in the heart and ECG graphs give information such as heart rate, rhythm and any abnormality that may involve the heart (Jevon 2010). With the method proved by Jevon (2009), Mr Toscanas heart rate can be calculated, which is 120 beats per minute. According to Jevon (2009) heart rate over 90 beats per minute is defined as tachycardia. Based on his other presenting conditions, Mr. Toscanas tachycardia is most likely caused by hypoxia. Hypoxia is resulted from hypoxemia, which is the decreased level of oxygen in the blood (Craft, J et al. 2011). In order to meet the oxygen demand, the heart is trying to pump harder and faster to bring up cardiac output (Craft, J et al. 2011). On the one hand, hypoxemia can cause dilation of arterioles, capillaries and venules, in order to increase the blood flow through them (Copstead Banasik 2010). Therefore, peripheral blood flow is increased as well as venous return (Copstead Banasik 2010). Ven ous return is a major factor that influences preload and the increased venous return means increased preload (Copstead Banasik 2010). Preload is one of the factors that determines stroke volume, and when preload increases, stroke volume increases as well (Copstead Banasik 2010). On the other hand, the cardiovascular system is controlled by medulla oblongata of the brainstem and the neurons communicate with the heart via autonomic nervous system (Craft, J et al. 2011). The Bainbridge reflex causes increased heart rate with increased venous return at the same time (Craft, J et al. 2011). Mr. Toscanas ECG shows elevated ST segment and tale T wave as well. They are both signs of hyperkalaemia (Humphreys 2007). This condition can also be confirmed by his potassium level. The normal range of potassium is 3.5-5mEq/L, and his potassium is 5.8mEq/L (Humphreys 2007). Interpretation of Pathology Tests Mr. Toscanas Arterial Blood Gas Result shows that pH is 7.34 and the normal range is 7.35-7.45, which means his pH is lower than normal range. Hasan (2009) states that pH lower than normal range represents acidosis. According to Cowley, Owen Bion (2013) that high level of blood carbon dioxide means respiratory acidosis, and low level of bicarbonate means metabolic acidosis. The Arterial Blood Gas Result of Mr. Toscana shows blood carbon dioxide and bicarbonate is 51mmHg and 18mmol/L respectively. The normal range of blood carbon dioxide is 35-45mmHg and that for bicarbonate is 22-28mmol/L. Thus, his blood carbon dioxide level is higher and bicarbonate level is lower, which explains that Mr. Toscana is suffering both respiratory and metabolic acidosis (Hasan 2009). Besides, Mr. Toscanas blood oxygen level is 70mmHg and the acceptability range is 75-100mmHg. According to Hasan (2009) low blood oxygen level indicates hypoxia. SaO2 (saturation of haemoglobin by oxygen) is the most common way to monitor oxygen level in the body. For a healthy person, SaO2 below 95% shows lack of oxygen in the body and can lead to hypoxia (Humphreys 2007). There are many causes of metabolic acidosis, such as hyperlactataemia, ketoacidosis and renal tubular acidosis (Halperin, Kamel Goldstein 2010). In this case, based on his history of chronic renal impairment, the cause of his metabolic acidosis is more likely the renal tubular one (Halperin, Kamel Goldstein 2010). One of the functions of the kidneys is to clear the bodys acid load (Halperin, Kamel Goldstein 2010). However, for patients with chronic renal impairment, their kidneys are already damaged and they are losing normal renal function (Craft, J et al. 2011). Therefore, kidneys cannot remove acid out of body in an adequate rate. When the acid builds up in the body, it will neutralise with bicarbonate and generate carbon dioxide (Halperin, Kamel Goldstein 2010). Normally carbon dioxide will be exhaled. However, in this case, because Mr. Toscana suffers from an acute pulmonary oedema, he cannot exhale carbon dioxide effectively (Craft, J et al. 2011). One of the symptoms of pulmonary oedema is hypoxemia, which is low level of blood oxygen in the body (Craft, J et al. 2011). This occurs as the excess fluid builds up in the extravascular spaces, and impairs normal gas exchange in the lungs (McPhee Hammer 2010). Moreover, pulmonary oedema can cause dyspnoea, which is a difficulty of breathing and eventually it can damage alveoli (Craft, J et al. 2011). Both dyspnoea and the damaged alveoli can worsen the inadequate gas exchange (Craft, J et al. 2011). Based on Craft, J et al. (2011) when inadequate gas exchange occurs, oxygen in the alveoli cannot get into vessels and the carbon dioxide cannot go in to alveoli to be exhaled. While carbon dioxide accumulates in the body, pH decreases and respiratory acidosis occurs (Halperin, Kamel Goldstein 2010). In this case, besides the inadequate gas exchange, the chronic renal impairment also contributes to the increase of carbon dioxide in the body. The blood test results show both high level of serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen. Based on Thomas Thomas (2009) creatinine results from muscular metabolism and will be cleaned out of the body by the kidneys. Urea nitrogen is resulted from protein metabolism and it will also be cleaned out of body by the kidneys (Thomas Thomas 2009). The reason for the increase in both creatinine and urea nitrogen levels is because of the decreased glomerular filtration rate, which is an indication of chronic renal disease (Craft, J et al. 2011). Holistic Plan of Nursing Care The first nursing care for Mr. Toscana is in fact to provide a reassurance to him as he is distressed by the tightness of CPAP mask and his difficulty in breathing. There is a very high chance that he will remove the CPAP mask. If CPAP is removed, it will make it even harder for him to breathe (Ducros et al. 2010). Nurses can educate Mr. Toscana on the use of CPAP and explain to him that by using CPAP, he can breathe more easily (Nehyba 2006). Nurses can also get his family involved to give reassurance to Mr. Toscana. Then, because Mr. Toscanas oxygen saturation is lower and he is presenting respiratory acidosis, nurses need to keep his oxygen saturation up (Lemone Burke 2011). Due to his acute pulmonary oedema, CPAP is a more effective way to deliver oxygen and open up more air ways, which in return improves his gas exchange in the lungs and reduces work of breathing (Ducros, L et al. 2010). Nurses need to remind themselves of a few things while looking after patients breathe with CPAP. First, CPAP mask needs to be sealed properly and tightened to provide a positive pressure air (Ducros, L et al. 2010). Second, nurses need to monitor the patients closely for any change in oxygen saturation and respiratory rate (Ducros, L et al. 2010). Third, they should allow breaks in between sections of the treatment so that patients can cough, drink or eat (Nehyba 2006). Also, breaks can release the pressure caused by CPAP mask and decrease the risk of pressure ulcer. Finally, like any other medical procedure, CPAP also has its adverse effects. When a full mask is used, CPAP therapy can lead to gastric distension (Nehyba 2006). In addition, some air can go into stomach and cause discomfort, splinting of the diaphragm and reduce lung expansion. Therefore, nasogastric tube may be required at some stage (Nehyba 2006) Monitoring Mr. Toscanas fluid intake and urine output is also important, as he has a history of chronic renal impairment and presenting pulmonary oedema (Lemone Burke 2011). A fluid balance chart can be used. If there is a negative balance, doctors need to be notified accordingly (Lemone Burke 2011). Nurses need to educate Mr. Toscana on adequate fluid intake. His vital signs also need to be monitored, especially his oxygen saturation and respiratory rate (Lemone Burke 2011). He is presenting signs of hypoxemia and respiratory acidosis, which can lead to respiratory failure (Craft, J et al. 2011). Therefore, closely monitoring his oxygen saturation and respiratory rate can identify any trend towards respiratory failure so as to intervene earlier to prevent it from happening. Cardiac monitoring is also required for Mr. Toscana because of the following reasons. First, his ECG shows heart rate of 120 which means tachycardia. Second, the most likely cause of his acute pulmonary oedema is heart failure. Third, abnormal potassium level can cause cardiac arrest (Humphreys 2007). Moreover, nurses need to check for any new arterial blood gas results and blood test results to be aware of any changing situation of the patient. Finally, as Mr. Toscana has a history of chronic renal impairment and both his arterial blood gas results and blood tests result show trend of renal failure, acute dialysis may be needed for him (Daugirdas, Blake, Ing 2012). For patients with chronic renal disease, their renal functions are impaired and some toxic wastes cannot be removed from their bodies (Craft, J et al. 2011). Dialysis is the only effective way to help them to remove these toxic wastes (Daugirdas, Blake, Ing 2012). Nurses cannot order dialysis. However, they can discuss patients conditions and tests result with doctors to arrange dialysis if necessary. Summary Pulmonary oedema is a crucial condition that can lead to respiratory failure. This condition can be caused by heart failure and worsen by chronic renal diseases. Procedures such as ECG, arterial blood gas test and blood tests can help nurses to understand patients conditions can identify any trend of deterioration. A detailed, holistic nursing care plan can help nurses to provide better care for patients.

Macbeths Upright Banquo :: Macbeth essays

Macbeth's Upright Banquo       There are some good military men in William Shakespeare's tragic drama Macbeth. One of them is Banquo, a fearless captain, like Macbeth, who helped rout the "Norweyan banners."    Clark and Wright in their Introduction to The Complete Works of William Shakespeare comment that Banquo is a force of good in the play, set in opposition to Macbeth:    Banquo, the loyal soldier, praying for restraint against evil thoughts which enter his mind as they had entered Macbeth's, but which work no evil there, is set over against Macbeth, as virtue is set over against disloyalty.   (792)    In Fools of Time: Studies in Shakespearean Tragedy, Northrop Frye explains the rationale behind Banquo's ghost in this play:    Except for the episode of Hercules leaving Antony, where mysterious music is heard again, there is nothing really supernatural in Shakespeare's tragedies that is not connected with the murder of the order-figures. In Macbeth we have Banquo's ghost instead of Duncan's, partly because of the emphasis on the repose that Duncan has gained by getting murdered, and partly because the line of the reigning monarch descends from Banquo. (24)    In his book, On the Design of Shakespearean Tragedy, H. S. Wilson says that the ghost of murdered Banquo has the greatest emotional impact on Macbeth of any adverse experience:    He is confident enough, even after the commission of the crime, to put his faith in the Senecan maxim, per scelera semper sceleribus tutum est iter, "Things bad begun make strong themselves by ill." After he has been shaken by the appearance of the ghost of Banquo, he reflects,    For mine own good All causes must give way. I am in blood Stepp'd in so far that, should I wade no more, Returning were as tedious as go o'er;    and this is as near as he ever comes to repentance. (71)    Fanny Kemble in "Lady Macbeth" contests the opinion that the ghost of Banquo is seen at the same time by Lady Macbeth:      Taking the view I do of Lay Macbeth's character, I cannot accept the idea (held, I believe, by her great representative, Mrs. Siddons) that in the banquet scene the ghost of Banquo, which appears to Macbeth, is seen at the same time by his wife, but that, in consequence of her greater command over herself, she not only exhibits no sign of perceiving the apparition, but can, with its hideous form and gesture within a few fee of her, rail at Macbeth in that language of scathing irony . Macbeth's Upright Banquo :: Macbeth essays Macbeth's Upright Banquo       There are some good military men in William Shakespeare's tragic drama Macbeth. One of them is Banquo, a fearless captain, like Macbeth, who helped rout the "Norweyan banners."    Clark and Wright in their Introduction to The Complete Works of William Shakespeare comment that Banquo is a force of good in the play, set in opposition to Macbeth:    Banquo, the loyal soldier, praying for restraint against evil thoughts which enter his mind as they had entered Macbeth's, but which work no evil there, is set over against Macbeth, as virtue is set over against disloyalty.   (792)    In Fools of Time: Studies in Shakespearean Tragedy, Northrop Frye explains the rationale behind Banquo's ghost in this play:    Except for the episode of Hercules leaving Antony, where mysterious music is heard again, there is nothing really supernatural in Shakespeare's tragedies that is not connected with the murder of the order-figures. In Macbeth we have Banquo's ghost instead of Duncan's, partly because of the emphasis on the repose that Duncan has gained by getting murdered, and partly because the line of the reigning monarch descends from Banquo. (24)    In his book, On the Design of Shakespearean Tragedy, H. S. Wilson says that the ghost of murdered Banquo has the greatest emotional impact on Macbeth of any adverse experience:    He is confident enough, even after the commission of the crime, to put his faith in the Senecan maxim, per scelera semper sceleribus tutum est iter, "Things bad begun make strong themselves by ill." After he has been shaken by the appearance of the ghost of Banquo, he reflects,    For mine own good All causes must give way. I am in blood Stepp'd in so far that, should I wade no more, Returning were as tedious as go o'er;    and this is as near as he ever comes to repentance. (71)    Fanny Kemble in "Lady Macbeth" contests the opinion that the ghost of Banquo is seen at the same time by Lady Macbeth:      Taking the view I do of Lay Macbeth's character, I cannot accept the idea (held, I believe, by her great representative, Mrs. Siddons) that in the banquet scene the ghost of Banquo, which appears to Macbeth, is seen at the same time by his wife, but that, in consequence of her greater command over herself, she not only exhibits no sign of perceiving the apparition, but can, with its hideous form and gesture within a few fee of her, rail at Macbeth in that language of scathing irony .

Children Affected By Divorce Essay -- essays research papers

CHILDREN AFFECTED BY DIVORCE & PROTECTING THEIR BEST INTERESTS On the 11th of June, 1996, the Family Law Reform Act 1995 came into effect amending certain sections of the Family Law Act 1975, in particular, those relating to the care of children involved in divorce situations. The object of these amendments, according to the new act, was to ensure two things. Firstly, â€Å"that the children may receive adequate and proper parenting to help them achieve their full potential,† and secondly, â€Å"to ensure that parents fulfil their duties, and meet their responsibilities, concerning the care, welfare and development of their children.† These recent amendments are clearly a positive step forward for family law because the law has recognised that the child is the only important factor in a divorce and that it is crucial that the rights of the child are protected. To fairly evaluate the effectiveness of these recent amendments in protecting the interests of the child, the social implications of the act, the principles taken into accoun t when deciding a case, the impact on stakeholders, and criticisms of the act must all be taken into consideration. In order to ensure that the child’s rights are protected, the courts aim is to ensure that parental responsibility survives any changes in the nature of the child’s parent’s relationship. Parental responsibility relates to â€Å"all the duties, powers, responsibilities and authority which, by law, parents have in relation to children.† When deciding a case involving a child in the event of a separation between the child’s parents, the child’s best interests are now the court’s paramount consideration. The concepts access, custody, and guardianship have been replaced in the amendments by contact, residence, and joint parental responsibility. Between 1987 and 1997, the annual number of divorces rose from 39,700 to 51,300. As a result of this increase, one fifth of all Australian children aged one to seventeen now live in single parent households. Of these children living with only one natural parent, 88% live with their mothers with the remaining 12% living with their fathers. This ratio of which parents children resided with remained constant between 1987 and 1997, indicating that the trend of the courts to favour mothers over fathers has continued despite the changes to the act. With the number of divorces consistently risin... ... the number of cases which can be funded has dropped from 6,000 last year to 4,000 this year. It now seems very unlikely that steps will actually be taken to remedy this problem by either of the suggested solutions due to the lack of funding and the budget cuts will most likely result in a worsening of the situation. Overall, it is difficult to judge the effectiveness of the amendments to the Family Law Act 1975 because it is impossible to measure how well a child’s best interests have been served. However, if the Family Court of Australia has adequately implemented the changes then one would expect that the amendments have been effective in improving the system of determining what is in the child’s best interests. Therefore the court’s final ruling with regards to the contact, residence, and maintenance of the child will be the option which is best for the child. In conclusion, when all of the factors have been taken into consideration, it appears that the recent amendments will result in a step forward for the way in which the rights of children are protected by the court’s decisions. Whether or not the courts will make use of this improved system, however, is another question.

the future of capitalism Essay -- essays research papers

Third World History Book Report . This book report reflects upon the writings of Lester C. Thurow in his 1996 book - "The Future of Capitalism". Thurow is a professor of economics at M.I.T. School of Management and has been a contributing editor to the Newsweek journal. "The Future of Capitalism" is an analytical look at the state of world economics in the late Twentieth Century. Thurow predicts the future of capitalism based upon recent trends in empirical data combined with his own political/economic analysis. Central to this book is a powerful analogy that Thurow uses to communicate his ideas and thoughts to the reader. The distribution of wealth in the world is likened to the surface of the earth - parts of the earth are characterized by high mountainous regions (areas of wealth) while others are of lesser altitude (areas of poverty). In Geology, it is understood that the earth's surface is constantly in a state of flux, impacted by gradual movements in the tectonic plates that float upon the earth's molten inner core. The five tectonic plates affecting the earth's surface (distribution of wealth) are analogous to the driving forces behind changes in world economics; the molten inner core represents the flowing currents of technology and ideology. Thurow contends that movements in the "plates" caused by ideological and/or technological changes can be gradual, having an imperceptible impact on the world's population or they can be sudden with far greater social consequences . When tectonic plates move suddenly, they cause earthquakes on the earth's surface; the distribution of wealth is changed over a very short period of time. In this analogy, periods of rapid change caused by sudden movements in the plates are equated to times of "punctuated equilibrium". Thurow describes "punctuated equilibrium" as fundamental changes in the state of world economics that redefine what it takes to be successful and thus increase one's wealth. By their very nature, periods of "punctuated equilibrium" threaten the status quo, the Midas touch is weakened, what was successful in the past might not be so in the future. "The Future of Capitalism" asserts that we are living in a time of "punctuated equilibrium" and that successful ... ...mained unchanged for millennia. For these countries, the "western way" is a formidable threat that must be thwarted at all costs. When a country's culture is synonymous with its religion, a threat to that culture leads to a rise in religious fundamentalism with often-violent consequences. Sadly, Thurow's prediction of rising religious fundamentalism rings true today. Thurow's book is a rational, well-communicated analysis of world economics. His arguments are based upon sound intuitive reasoning supported with the appropriate empirical analysis. Thurow's use of analogy to communicate his subject is the most impressive aspect of his book. The use of "plate tectonics" accurately reflects the inner workings of world economics; the drivers of change are not obvious to the average bystander. Thurow's book should be mandatory reading for those politicians with an adversity to looking beneath the surface; too many policies target the effect and not the cause. "The Future of Capitalism" stands out because it motivates the reader to look beneath the surface; it provokes a new way of thinking about the world in which we live.

Key Factors of the Cuban Missile Crisis Essay

The Cuban missile crisis of October 1962 is said to be the closest the world has ever come to nuclear war, even now in present times when arms are both more advanced and somewhat dispensable. It was â€Å"the single most dangerous crisis of the cold war era† and centred around Cuba in which the Soviet Union were found by the United States to have secretly installed ballistic missiles. For fourteen days the fate of the world lay in the hands of the two superpower leaders, namely the President of the United States, John Fitzjerald Kennedy, and the leader of the Soviet Union, Nikita Khrushchev, while they deliberated whether or not to take military action against one another. Resolution of the crisis came about as a result of both leaders coming to an agreement that said missiles would be dismantled and military action would not be taken. Having said this there was conflict, tension and complication to endure prior to this agreement. It is important to have a background understanding of what brought about the crisis before describing the resolving factors leading up to settlement. Carroll Quighey described how the pattern of a classic diplomatic crisis has 3 stages which are confrontation, recognition and finally settlement and we shall look at the Cuban missile crisis with help from this pattern. As mentioned above, the first stage of a diplomatic crisis pattern is that of confrontation, described by Quighey as â€Å"a dispute- a power struggle in an area of conflict†. In the case of the Cuban missile crisis the power struggle was between the United States and the Soviet Union and the area of conflict was Cuba. At this time, the Premier of Cuba was Fidel Castro. Relations between Cuba and the United States were poor and on April 17th, 1961, John F. Kennedy authorised an attempt to overthrow the Cuban dictator in an event known as the Bay of Pigs invasion. Kennedy’s anti-Castro rebellion failed but made the Cuban dictator wary of another US attempt to invade or attack. It was then that the Soviet Union increased its support for Fidel Castro’s Cuban Regime and secretly installed the ballistic missiles in Cuba. Kennedy was left in the dark about the missiles until Tuesday 16th October. McGeorge Bundy, the President’s National Security Advisor, handed Kennedy photos taken secretly from U-2 planes which conveyed nuclear-armed missiles being set up on the island of Cuba by Soviet soldiers. It was concluded that said missiles were of an offensive nature and that action needed to be taken against this nuclear threat. John Gaddis suggested â€Å"it was the largest amphibious operation the Soviet Union had ever mounted†. When confronted Khrushchev claimed that it was a form of humanitarian aid and his intensions were â€Å"to save Castro’s revolution from another American invasion. Contrary to this is the opinion that the Soviet Union leader saw personal opportunity in the missile instalment as a means of amending the strategic imbalance between the Soviet Union and the United States. It was all part of the arms race and â€Å"the presence of Russian missiles in Cuba had drastically altered the balance of world powerâ€Å" . Having said this, Khrushchev did not want to start a war and allegedly stated of the Americans â€Å"Every idiot can start a war but it is impossible to win this war†¦therefore the missiles have one purpose- to scare themâ€Å". Whether motive for Cuban protection or self gain, the tension between the Americans and the Soviet Union worsened and Kennedy recognised that something would have to be done. This takes us into the next stage as described by Quighey- recognition. Kennedy was well aware that action needed to be taken to resolve the growing conflict between the two superpowers but was unsure as to whether to take the diplomatic or military route of resolution. John Gaddis claims that â€Å"early critics went as far as to say that he (Kennedy) would have risked a nuclear war rather than trade even worthless missiles in Turkey† yet as will be revealed they could not have been more wrong. Choosing to declare nuclear war against the Soviets would have brought global devastation. The American Political Science Review stated that â€Å"had the worst occurred, the death of 100 million Americans, over 100 million Russians, and millions of Europeans (as well) would make previous natural calamities and inhumanities appear insignificant†Alternatively Kennedy could choose not to act and allow the Soviets to continue their collection of nuclear weapons yet this would mean that there would always be concern and uncertainty that the Soviet Union would attack at a later date. There was also concern that should he not confront the Soviets and allow multiplication of arms in Cuba to continue there would be a backlash from the many countries of the Western Hemisphere whose safety would be in jeopardy. How the resolution of the crisis would come about was in the hands of the superpower leaders and Khrushchev was for a few days unaware both that the United States government knew the extent of weaponry which was kept in Cuba and that they had photographic evidence. Allegedly Georgi Bolshakov whom was relied upon by both leaders for highly sensitive communications â€Å"even lied to the President face to face on the 18th October (about the missiles) by which time John F. Kennedy knew what was happeningâ€Å". The fact that Khrushchev was unaware of how clued up Kennedy actually was gave the President the advantage of time to weigh up his options. In an attempt to come to a decision as to how all could be resolved, Kennedy called for a meeting with 14 of his most trusted associates and during their discussion they circled different strategies. This group was known as the â€Å"Ex Comm†. At this point his focus was on military options and how to mute the crisis for a period of time until they had made a plan. Khrushchev remaining in the dark gave them an advantage. The first was to do nothing and to ignore the missiles in Cuba but this was ruled out as Kennedy’s concern for a Soviet surprise attack at a later date was great. The second option was negotiation. The United States would remove their nuclear missiles from Italy and Turkey in return for the Soviet Union dismantling those missiles in Cuba. The third option was to invade Cuba in an attempt to overthrow Castro and in doing so ensure the Soviet Union could no longer use Cuba as a military base. This plan was too much a reminder of the Bay of Pigs invasion failure however and was also ruled out. In addition they discussed the option of a naval blockade whereby the United States would prevent Russian delivery of military equipment from reaching Cuba by using naval forces. Finally considered was the bombing of missile bases via an air strike as well as simply using nuclear weapons against Cuba and/or the Soviet Union yet each of these were unappealing and seemed more likely to result in failure than not. Gaddis describes how although the general consensus was in favour of an attack rather than a more diplomatic resolution, Kennedy could not be swayed. He secretly recorded his meetings and the tapes show him repeatedly pushing for a compromise by saying â€Å"we can’t very well invade Cuba when we could have gotten (the Soviet missiles) ut by making a deal on the same missiles in Turkey†. Further clarifying his unwillingness to invade was a statement he made following his public statement about the Soviet missiles in Cuba where he was quoted as saying â€Å"though a lot of people want to invade Cuba. I would be opposed to it today. † A naval blockade was eventually decided upon. Kennedy organised a line of US navy ships 500 miles off the Cuban coast- this line was labelled a â€Å"quarantine line†. The purpose of the quarantine line was to inhibit the delivery of nuclear arms from the USSR to the island. Once the decision had been made a speech was prepared by Theadore Sorensen, an associate of Kennedy, explaining to the world the reasons for why it was necessary for the quarantine line to be in place. Even although the majority of Americans were pleased with this decision, in many cities elsewhere Kennedy’s choice of action was unpopular. This resulted in demonstrations and protest about the possibility of nuclear war. Having said this, the U. S. S. R seemed to accept the blockade without lashing out. The first break in the tension-filled impasse came†¦when a dozen of the twenty five Russian ships en route to Cuba either altered or reversed their course Khrushchev and Kennedy contacted each other through letters. As mentioned previously Khrushchev did not want to enter a nuclear war and merely warned Kennedy against it as well. He wrote to Kennedy personally saying â€Å"be careful, as we both tug at the ends of the rope in which we have tied the knot of war† conveying that war was not what he had intended . On October 26th, after the naval blockade was put in place, Khrushchev wrote to Kennedy. In his letter he requested that the naval blockade be lifted and for Kennedy’s word that the United States would not invade Cuba. In return, the Soviet Union would dismantle and remove the missiles as well as stop shipments of weapons to Cuba. Carol Quighey described his letter as â€Å"long and confused† and stated that â€Å"its tone clearly showed his personal panic† . Merely a day later Khrushchev sent another letter demanding that the United States remove their nuclear bases in Turkey. Prior to replying to either, Kennedy consulted his brother, Attorney General Bobby Kennedy. Bobby is credited for â€Å"showing political astuteness needed to resolve the ever more complex situation† by Robin Cross. Bobby suggested that Kennedy reply only to the first letter and disregard the second. Thus therefore, Kennedy wrote to Khrushchev agreeing not to invade Cuba and to lift the naval blockade if the missile bases from Cuba were removed. On Saturday 27th October the Soviet Foreign Officer published a very different text that suggested a deal had been made not only to take down the missile bases in Cuba but also those in Turkey. Kennedy had replied only to the first letter and ignored the second request involving Turkey. Despite the fact that said Turkey bases were to be dismantled regardless of Soviet interest, the White House rejected this publication and stated that they would remove the naval blockade in exchange for removal of Soviet missiles in Cuba and promise not to invade Cuba. On the following Sunday, Khrushchev announced his acceptance. Work on missile sites was stopped and dismantled under careful observation of the UN. To conclude, ultimately Kennedy prevailed and resolved the deathly fear of a nuclear war from within Cuba. Walter Trohan wrote about the Cuban missile crisis in the New York Tribute in November 1962 that â€Å"for the first time in twenty years the Americans can carry their head high because the President of the United States has stood up to the Premier of Russia and made him back down†.

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This involves creating the opportunity, space and time needed to think about practice and the appropriate action emerging from a reflective thinking process. We argue that being a ‘thoughtful agent' alls requires a deeper understanding of self and of the nature of personal engagement with ongoing reflective activity. This approach enables restrictions to question the ‘paradigms in which one is operating' (Peters and Vandenberg, 2011 : 63) and to be responsive to the need for change and quality improvement in relation to the specific needs of spellbinder, families and settings. Consequently, it requires an understanding of what we mean by being a reflective practitioner, including understanding the terminology we use and the interpretation we apply throughout this chapter.Table 4. 1 explains how we use the terminology that surrounds reflective practice in this chapter. Reflective practice has been identified by educators as beneficial for quality improvement (Arises and Ch on, 1978; Bout et al. , 1985; Brookfield, 1987; Broadband and McGill, 2007). It has been described as a generic term for ‘those intellectual and affective activities in which individuals engage to explore their experiences in order to lee ad to new understandings and appreciation' (Bout et al. , 1985: 19). In addition, reflection has the capacity to create ‘alternative and more productive ways of organizing the workplace' (Brookfield, 1987: 14).Together these two statements indicate that examining our actions and activities, both at a cognitive and an emotional level, can help restrictions to think and learn from experience in order to improve practice. Such reflective activity can also be creative, offering different, new and more effective ways of organizing things, whether applied when working with children or colleagues or to the way we organism the environment. Expressed simply, the core principles Of reflective practice involve reflective thinking and learning, whi ch are used to inform decisions and actions in practice, and by implication, improve quality. A number of ‘models' have evolved to support reflective thinking and practice. Many of these, such as Kola's (1984) model of experiential learning,Ghee and Ghee's (1998) ‘reflection-on-practice' and Brookfield (1995) ‘lenses', have the clear purpose of supporting critical thinking about experience and using what is learnt from this process 60 to inform future actions. In addition Ghee (2011: 28) draws on the work of Bandmaster (1991 ) and asks us to see reflection as a mainstreaming process that includes the satisfaction of four personal needs of purpose, value, efficacy and self-worth'. However, while many recognize the role of self- reflection and the influence of a range of personal ‘drivers', they do not serially encourage practitioners to understand, take ownership or utilities the unique nature Of their reflective activity.Ownership draws on a range Of personal factors, such as heritage, disposition, skills and understanding. A deeper level of engagement with reflective activity also requires understanding and appreciation of personal potential. Self-awareness can support reflective practice that is personally meaningful and therefore more likely TA produce the energy and drive necessary to make significant differences in terms of quality. This perspective includes recognition and acceptance of unique ways of being reflective and how this is supported by an individual's specific professional qualities. Such an approach values different ways of engaging with reflective activity and professes no single model or particular professional context.It also supports the development of reflexive practitioners who question ‘taken for granted beliefs' and develop an ‘understanding that knowledge is contestable' (Peters and Vanderbilt, 201 1: 63). Peters and Vanderbilt argue that such reflexivity supports a focus on ‘doing the right things rather than doing things right', a key principle hat we believe underpins the process of improving quality. An individual's reflective activity often takes place within dynamic and changeable socio- cultural context, which shapes the processes, responses and individuals involved. While the core values and principles of an individual al may remain constant and be articulated and understood as a basis for reflective activity, there are many ways of responding to issues according TA context.Developing as a reflective practitioner means being someone who is able to act in ways that make a qualitative difference and it requires an understanding of the current socio-cultural context and how this affects the nature Of professional responses. Brotherliness's (1986) ecological model may help us to explore this concept of socio-cultural influence on reflective identity and practice. According to Frontbencher an individual's development is affected by a series of environmental influence s: the ‘mortises' of family, school, or neighborhood; the ‘ecosystem' of a town, local policy, or economic influences; and the ‘Microsystems' of cultural influences, national policy, or pervading ideology.A practitioner's reflective reactive may likewise be influenced by colleagues, peers, managers and parents at a setting; who in turn may be influenced by local quality improvement policy, REFLECTIVE PRACTICE 15 THE KEY TO QUALITY IMPROVEMENT 61 risk awareness, and economic status; and overall this is influenced by central government policy and perhaps the perceived ‘culture' of the type of setting. Therefore practitioners may subtly shift in perceived identity and consequent reflective responses according to the social and environmental situation in which they find themselves. The ability to engage positively and constructively thin a changing professional landscape is supported by an individual's understanding of both that landscape and what is possible wit hin a particular situation in terms of their personal responses and qualities.Just as external socio-cultural spheres influence responses, the reflective activity by an individual may influence future qua a lit y improvement in others because the practitioner is an ‘active' agent within their professional context. Recognizing and valuing the impact of this agency may offer an opportunity for reflective practice to be a ‘means of empowerment, leading to change at the individual ND societal level' (Cable and Miller, 2008: 173). Developing a strong sense of one's own identity as a reflective practitioner can have a significant impact on both individual and collective confidence to engage in reflective activity as a means of improving quality.Reflective practice as a ‘way of being' Understanding reflective practice as a ;way of being' that is owned and experienced by a practitioner encourages the development of an individual as a ‘reflective professional practiti oner rather than as a technician' (Moss, 2008: xiii). This allows for the identification of different ways of engaging within a recess. A ‘technician' may go through' the motions of making changes in practice by following a prescribed model of reflective practice. However, it IS essential for a ‘reflective professional practitioner' to emotionally and intellectually ‘own' the process (Moss, 2008: xiii). Ownership means acknowledging that reflective practice can include the use of deeply embedded intuitive ‘reflex responses' and ‘ways Of knowing' (Atkinson and Clayton, 2000: 2).Atkinson and Clayton argue that we should value ‘other forms of reflection' that do not focus solely on reason and articulation; rather, unconscious insight draws on the whole of what has been known'; the enormity and complexity of which cannot always be articulated (2000: 5). Encouraging practitioners to use their full range of personal resources within reflective activity is essential. It is possible that compliance with a prescribed ‘model' limits reflective potential by indicating one preferred way of proceeding towards 62 reflection, or even towards quality improvement. We would suggest that without alternatives, such reliance on an external ‘expert' model may leave practitioners feeling De-skilled and disemboweled. Recognition of reflective practice as unique to individuals celebrates difference, recognizes personal development and is therefore inclusive.Enabling practitioners to utilities their full range of personal resources within reflective activity requires a critical view of what is involved. There is a view that intuitive forms of knowledge and ‘ways of knowing' have been unjustly ignored in our rational technical world (Atkinson and Clayton, 2000). For Atkinson and Clayton intuitive and ‘tacit' forms of knowledge in practice are of equal value and should be equally validated and respected. They even argue that the re are times when we can ‘think too much' in rationalizing processes when we should rely on a more instinctive way of being. This suggests that there is a form of professional reflection that is much more intuitive and instinctive and relies on the inner resources of a practitioner.We see this as important in the context of developing early years practice, which requires an understanding of many complex issues. Kernel and Sheep (2010) suggest that reflective intuition should be respected as a ‘way of knowing' that is particularly useful in dealing with complexity. Intuitive reflective practice respects and releases inner qualities and understandings, which inform actions taken to improve quality in practice. Many models of reflective practice represent what seems to be a relatively simple process. Investigation into the nature of a practitioner's ‘real life' participation in reflective practice reveals a complex array of professional qualities applied and synthesiz ed in different ways at different times according to the situation.Understanding the coming together of the individual al and context offers a way of understanding reflective activity from a deeply arsenal perspective. Through a process of making ‘human sense' (Donaldson, 1987) of one's own reflective activity, practitioners Gin evaluate the ways and extent to which they make changes for the better in all aspects of life. Personalized reflective activity that becomes a positive experience and rewards aspects of self is more likely to become a disposition or ‘habitat mind' (Arnold, 2003), owned by the individual. Practitioners who understand the nature of their own engagement in reflective practice are more likely to be . Emotionally as well as intellectually involved in the process.