Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Lectio Divina (Genesis 18 1

Lectio Divina (Genesis 18 1 Interpretation Based On Secondary Sources Abraham is a man who was patiently waiting for God’s promise. The promise of a son is given in genesis 12 and scholars indicate that he had to wait for 25 years before the promise was fulfilled by God. As argued by Brown, Fitzmyer and Murphy (21), the eighteenth chapter marks the beginning of a climax in Abraham’s narrative. Genesis 18: 1-5 is the first section of a broader picture presented in the whole of genesis 18. This first section focuses on Abraham and his encounter with two men while the rest of the chapter focuses Sara’s place in relation to the promise they had been given by God.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Lectio Divina (Genesis 18: 1- 5) specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Although verses 1-5 of Genesis 18 seem to focus on Abraham’s generosity, they have a connection to the larger text. These verses seem to be mere introductions to th e bigger story beginning from verse 9 onwards (Montgomery, 15). However, on further reflection on the text, interpreting them merely as stage setting or introductory verses proves limited. The generosity expressed by Abraham is typical of the hospitality norm that pervaded Middle East societies (Montgomery, 15). Although it was cultural to be hospitable, Abraham seems to go overboard in his welcome. The lavish attitude towards strangers portrays a man who is keen on not just being culturally right but a blessing to others. Scholars suggest that this has some touch of the promise by God that he would be a blessing to the nations. The men are three which alludes to the trinity (Montgomery, 9). Whether they are all angels or God is represented in the person of one of them is not clear. What is more crucial to note is that Abraham and Sara do not initially connect the presence of the three men with the presence of God. It is only later that they are able to connect the words of the thre e men with God. This is a pointer to the larger theological fact that our encounter with God happens in the basic mundane things of daily living. It is in our daily events, activities and encounters that we experience or encounter God. In the context of the promise they had been given by God, they challenge Abraham and Sara faced was how to continue believing and holding to it in their rather ordinary lives (Montgomery, 13). Nothing out of the ordinary was happening yet in the ordinary they had to recognize and acknowledge God’s sustaining presence and unfailing promise. The final element worthy considering is the identity of the three men. It is only later that they are defined as angels (Brown, Fitzmyer and Murphy, 20). When Abraham sees them, they are ordinary men who in a way needed Abraham’s help. This is also a great pointer that others or fellow men are and should be God’s face to us and among us. Fellow men in essence can be rightly referred to as messen gers of God. Personal Interpretation Following from my lectio divina exercise and the interpretation given above, it is clear that although the reading falls in the larger picture of the promise to Abraham and how it comes to be fulfilled, the Genesis 18: 1-5 has a lot to teach us about encounter with God. We live in a socio-cultural atmosphere that questions the presence and promises of God. Personally I think Abraham also had such like a struggle. God had promised him a child. God had promised him that he was to be the father of nations, a blessing to many nations. However, the reality he was living was that of ordinariness.Advertising Looking for essay on religion theology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The passage states that he was sitting outside on a hot sunny day. This gives a picture of a very rough day. Many people would not find a hot sunny day comfortable. This statement must have an allusion to condit ions of living. It is an indicator to some rough conditions of life occasioned by the weather. This is an indicator that Abraham lived the ordinary conditions of living that were characterized by struggles and hardship. Abraham meets three ordinary men and treats them with reverence and honor. Although Abraham treats the men impeccably, this also was an ordinary happening based on generally accepted cultural norms. What is critical is the fact that it is from these ordinary happenings that Abraham experiences an encounter with God. It is, therefore, valid to infer that God comes and has always come to his people in the ordinary happenings or order of daily living. However, to experience and discern God’s presence, one needs a given disposition. The approach of Abraham to the ordinary is characterized respect, humility and honor. He approached the men and with his face touching down welcomed them. Such an approach is only possible or enabled by a given disposition. From the fo regoing analysis, it would appear valid to conclude that the major theme of Genesis 18: 1-5 is encountering the mystery of God’s presence in the ordinariness of our lives. Brown Raymond Edward, Fitzmyer A. Joseph, Murphy, Roland, Edmund. The New Jerome biblical commentary. 3rd Ed. New York: Prentice Hall, 1999 Catholic Online Bible. New Jerusalem bible. Retrieved from https://www.catholic.org/bible/ Montgomery M. Robert. An introduction to source analysis of the Pentateuch. Montreal: Abingdon Press, 2008

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Discovering the Occupations of Your Ancestors

Discovering the Occupations of Your Ancestors Do you know what your ancestors did for a living? Researching ancestral jobs and occupations can teach you a great deal about the people who make up your family tree, and what life was like for them. An individuals occupation may give insight into their social status or to their place of origin. Occupations can also be used to distinguish between two individuals of the same name, often an essential requirement in genealogy research. Certain skilled occupations or trades may have been passed down from father to son, providing indirect evidence of a family relationship. Its even possible that your surname derives from the occupation of a distant ancestor. Finding An Ancestors Occupation When researching your family tree, it is usually fairly easy to discover what your ancestors did for a living, as work has often been something used to define the individual. As such, occupation is an often listed entry in birth, marriage and death records, as well as census records, voter lists, tax records, obituaries and many other types of records. Sources for information on your ancestors occupations include: Census Records - A good first stop for information on your ancestors job history, census records in many countries- including the U.S. census, British census, Canadian census, and even French census- list the primary occupation of at least the head of household. Since censuses are usually taken every 5-10 years, depending upon the location, they may also reveal changes in working status over time. If youre U.S. ancestor was a farmer, the U.S. agricultural census schedules will tell you what crops he grew, what livestock and tools he owned, and what his farm  produced.   City Directories - If your ancestors lived in an urban location or larger community, city directories are a possible source for occupational information. Copies of many older  city directories can be found online on subscription-based  websites such as Ancestry.com and  Fold3.com. Some free sources of digitized historical books such as  Internet Archive also may have copies online. Those that cant be found online may be  available on microfilm or through libraries in the area of interest. Tombstone, Obituary and other Death Records  - Since many people define themselves by what they do for a living, obituaries generally mention the individuals former occupation and, sometimes, where they worked. Obituaries may also indicate membership in occupational or fraternal organizations. Tombstone inscriptions, while more brief, may also include clues to occupation or fraternal memberships.   Social Security Administration - SS-5 Application RecordsIn the United States, the Social Security Administration keeps track of employers and employment status, and this information can generally be found in the SS-5 application form that your ancestor filled out when applying for a Social Security Number. This is a good source for the employers name and address of a deceased ancestor. U.S. Military Draft RecordsAll males in the United States  between the ages of 18  and 45  were required by law to register for the World War One draft throughout 1917 and 1918, making WWI draft records a rich source of  information on millions of American males born between about 1872 and 1900, including occupation and employment information. Occupation and employer can also be found in World War II draft registration records, completed by millions of men living in America between 1940 and 1943. Wills and  probate records, military pension records, such as Civil War union pension records, and death certificates are other good sources for occupational information.   What is an Aurifaber? Occupation Terminology Once you find a record of your ancestors occupation, you may be puzzled by the terminology used to describe it. Headswoman and hewer, for instance, are not occupations you commonly come across today. When you run across an unfamiliar term, look it up in the Glossary of Old Occupations Trades. Keep in mind, that some terms may be associated with more than one occupation, depending upon the country. Oh, and in case you are wondering, an aurifaber is an old term for goldsmith.   What Made My Ancestor Choose This Occupation? Now that youve determined what your ancestor did for a living, learning more about that occupation may provide you with additional insight into your ancestors life. Begin by trying to determine what might have influenced your ancestors choice of occupation. Historical events and immigration often shaped the occupational choices of our ancestors. My great-grandfather, along with many other unskilled European immigrants looking to leave behind a life of poverty with no promise of upward mobility, immigrated to western Pennsylvania from Poland in the early 20th century, and found employment in the steel mills and, later, the coal mines.   What Was Work Like for My Ancestors? Finally, to learn more about your ancestors day-to-day work life, you have a variety of resources available to you: Search the Web by occupation name and location. You may find other genealogists or historians who have created engaging Web pages full of facts, pictures, stories and other information on that particular occupation. Old newspapers may include stories, ads, and other information of interest. If your ancestor was a teacher you may find descriptions of the school or reports from the school board. If your ancestor was a coal miner, you may find descriptions of the mining town, pictures of the mines and miners, etc. Thousands of different historical newspapers  from around the world can be accessed online. Fairs, festivals, and museums often afford the opportunity to watch history in action through historical reenactments. Watch a lady churn butter, a blacksmith shoe a horse, or a soldier recreate a military skirmish. Take a tour of a coal mine or a ride a historic railroad and experience the life of your ancestor first hand. How to Learn Your Ancestors Occupation Visit your ancestors hometown. Especially in cases where a lot of residents of a town held the same job (a coal mining town, for example), a visit to the town can offer the chance to interview older residents and learn some great stories about day-to-day life. Follow up with the local historical or genealogical society for even more information, and look for local museums and displays. I learned much about what life was probably like for my great-grandfather through a visit to the Frank Sylvia Pasquerilla Heritage Discover Center in Johnstown, PA, which re-creates what life was like for the Eastern European immigrants who settled the area between 1880 and 1914. Look for professional membership societies, unions, or other trade organizations related to your ancestors occupation. Current members can be a great source of historical information, and they may also maintain records on the occupation, and even past members.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Decision of Uncertainty Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Decision of Uncertainty Paper - Essay Example In case of any manufacturing defects or the product failing within the period, the company will replace them with fresh ones. Meanwhile the customer service team has recently been receiving complaints from customers that some of the weights are not able to take the load and are developing cracks. This has caused more concern to the marketing department. The marketing team wants to ensure that the campaign will be profitable to the company. As a response to this concern, the quality department has proposed that the testing methodologies have to be made more advanced and the current practices are inadequate. The quality team has proposed a laser testing machine which can replace the current destructive testing. The laser machine can scan all the weights manufactured by the company and can notify defects in an effective manner. The laser testing method involves higher costs in terms of machinery, installation, maintenance and training. The quality has estimated a total investment of about $ 100,000 towards these expenses. The management however feels that the current testing methods are sufficient and the campaign will be profitable. However the decision is still uncertain. In order to reduce the uncertainties in making the decision, a research is designed and carried out. The last 200 batches that were sold by the company were chosen as the sample. Each batch contains 50 weights and hence a total of 1000 products are considered for this research. After collecting data from the customer service department, it has been found that 40 instances were reported where weights have developed cracks, i.e., a total of 40 weights out of 1,000 were reported broken. Hence the probability of a defective weight (impact testing) is 0.04. The quality team has informed that the laser machine will be very accurate and help identify the defective weights and will bring down

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

The Importance of Motivation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Importance of Motivation - Essay Example Thus, it could be concluded that money is not always a motivator (Herzberg, 2003). In order to explain leadership, Edmondson et al. (2001) illustrated examples of two hospitals namely Chelsea and Mountain Hospitals. The leaders at both hospitals adopted different strategies for the implementation of new technologies. The leader at Chelsea, regardless of being experienced and senior, found the technology to be difficult for the team members. It was because of the poor understanding of the leader and his communication with the team. On the contrary, the leader at Mountain hospital was junior. However, he tried to utilize technologies differently. He became a part of the team and did not become a dictator unlike the one at Chelsea (Edmondson et al., 2001). Persuasion is defined as a magic by Robert B. Cialdini. Through persuasion, individuals can convince others and ask for favors. It should be noted that persuasion can be done following the six principles of persuasion. Furthermore, individuals can be easily persuaded through social proof. According to the author, researchers in 1988 were able to conduct research on persuasion in two different American cities. The results showed that people could be easily persuaded through social proof, i.e. if they see others (their neighbors, friends or family) doing the same thing then, they are most likely to get convinced. Strong organizational culture is an important aspect of organizational success. In order to develop a strong organizational culture, strong and effective leadership is required. However, it should be noted that leadership and culture are informally associated with each other. It suggests that if less formal direction provided to employees regarding strategies, then they will put greater efforts and will take the ownership. The liabilities of strong organizational culture are many, however, the notable ones are ethical liabilities, pieces of training, reward system, etc.

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Comparing and Contrasting Essay Example for Free

Comparing and Contrasting Essay Comparing and Contrasting The man with the twisted lip with Front  There are many similarities and differences in both Front and Twisted lip, but the most apparent relation between the two stories is the keeping up appearances (or keeping down appearances in the case of Twisted lip) theme, meaning they are about someone or something trying to conceal the truth or simply the truth isnt so obvious in the case of Front, the other less prevailing similarities/differences will be analysed later on in the essay. The beginning of both stories differ quite strongly, Front begins with a narrator describing her experiences of seeing something that she would compare to as one of the seven wonders of the world and there some definite references to class Five streets down the comma after the word down brings emphasis towards it and sets the impression that the narrator feels (or later on in the story, felt) that she is in a sense not worthy, or in awe with her surroundings, as the story shows that she is quite concerned about class, and the economic standings of her and her family as this will be pointed out later on in the essay, and becomes quite obvious when reading the story. The Writer also gives the reader the impression that this girl thinks very highly of this place, and although she imagines it to be so far above the town she feels she is not good enough, I wanted to be forced to leave, the writer portrays the girl to be intimidated by this site she is seeing as it reads that she did not mention the crescent to anyone afterwards as if I had been trespassing, and needed to conceal the fact with all of these displays of almost worshipfulness and the fact that she thought back on it with great nostalgia the impression the writer has given the crescent would be hard to top. In Twisted lip however, a character (although not a very substantial one) is introduced as the first word in the story, with a short background on his dead brother and how he died of an opium addiction. This being quite pointless at first is quite a cunning trick the writer has introduced here, as for the next few paragraphs the reader thinks that this Isa Whitney is what the story is based on, the trick being the writer has made the story out to be something it is not, which is intentionally ironic as the story is based on a man trying to conceal the truth. A more close up view to Twisted Lips construction there a few references to class, like dregs of the docks and a vile alley, these let the reader understand Dr. Watsons train of thought and how he considers himself to be, within the very thick walls separating class at this time. When Watson reaches the opium den he refers to it like it was a tomb, a glimpse of bodies lying and using words like lacklustre, the writer sets a very dark, dreary place and referring to the smoke as gloom. Soon after Isa makes his way to the cab Sherlock Holmes inevitably makes an appearance, after a brief introduction Isa and his troubles have left the picture and Watson and Holmes take the limelight of the story. This point is quite a major difference as it shows the authors different style of writing compared to Front, as Front has quite a few characters and even less are properly introduced with past family history, whereas Twisted Lip portrays a much larger world to the reader and even though Isa Whitney is key to the irony and depth of Twisted Lip the reader wont realize that until approaching the end of the story, this just shows how similar and quite different the two stories I am comparing are. When the introduction in Twisted Lip is over and the complication of the story begins to unfold, it seems like another introduction to the actual story (or so it seems) and the previous little fiasco (that to an untrained eye could seem like the baseline of a story) was almost completely irrelevant to the complication of the main plot. This brings the reader to Watson and Holmes sitting in a cab heading to the home of the missing Neville St. Clair and as they travel Holmes tells Watson the story so far. Sherlock Holmes narrative lasts about fourteen paragraphs long, and describes the events passing and it becomes quite obvious that Holmes has been working on this case for some time. Holmes tells Watson what sounds like a murder inquiry and starts to explain the life of a successful man with a lot of money in the bank, no reason there-fore, to think that money troubles have been weighing upon his mind which facilitates the irony of Twisted Lip as it says later in the narration that the beggar that actually is Neville St. Boone put all his coins from begging that day into his coat to weigh it down. Another hint is when Holmes mentions the cripple looking a powerful and well nurtured man. The writer is obviously dropping these clues for a reason and an intelligent reader may pick up on these tell tale hints, but they are still very discreet and the impression of a murder story still sets the theme. The lack of references to class in Holmes narrative shows to the reader that Holmes is quite a different man to Watson, and that he doesnt really care about where he stands economically or anyone else, unless it has some relevance to his case for example; he has 220 standing to his credit. The writer portrays the villa and Nevilles wife to be definitely well off, using the mousseline de soie as a direct indication of the financial security of the missing mans wife and in doing so, adds to the eagerness later on of why Neville had became a beggar if he had all this wealth in the first place, but it is to the readers surprise that his begging money paid for the house as well, this gives the reader the motive to Nevilles begging addiction, the vast amount of money he could make. Showing the characters motives in stories give the characters depth, that is why this was an important point to make.

Friday, November 15, 2019

Article Review (entertainment) :: essays research papers

â€Å"On the Money†, an article written by Allison Hope Weiner, is a brief article written as an effort to help explain the controversy surrounding the celebrity telethon that was held almost three months ago. The telethon, America: A Tribute to Heroes, ended up receiving donations totaling an estimated one hundred and fifty million dollars all put into a fund overseen by the United Way, called the September 11th Fund. This fund has received over three hundred and forty million dollars all from donators. The controversy of the telethon arises with the distribution of the money. During the telethon, celebrities were stating that all of the money donated would go directly to the victims of September 11 and their families. Even though the charity supporting the event, the United Way, relinquished their administrative costs, the other organizations that were awarded donated money did use some of the donations to pay for their operating costs. The other controversial issue that is explained in this article is length of time taken to deliver the donated money to the victims of the national tragedy. The article explains that it takes time for charities to give money to disaster victims. Plans must be in place for who obtains the money and how much they receive. The last controversial issue examined in this article is the celebrities who encouraged people to donate to this fund and their role in how the money is spent. Bill O’Reilly has accused the celebrities of using the telethon to improve their public image instead of helping the victims of September 11. He also states that if celebrities put more pressure on the charities involved they would be better organized and aid the victims further. I believed that this article was important to the entertainment industry in the segment of celebrity endorsements. When celebrities, such as George Clooney and Julia Roberts that are idolized by the American public, endorse a product, or give their opinion on a controversial subject, they usually have a following of their fans that agree with them. People tend to trust celebrities and their opinions on subjects. This very great power was illustrated well during the telethon in discussion. When this power is misused or used to benefit the celebrity at the cost of victims of a horrible tragedy, the public image of the celebrities involved becomes marred. During this telethon, many celebrities told us that one hundred percent of the money donated would go directly to the victims of September 11.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Police Work and Stress Essay

Stress is part of every people’s life. No matter what profession one is practicing and whatever lifestyle an individual is accustomed to, stress is always involved. In particular, police officers embrace stress as part of their profession. The moment they decided to become a police officer, bearing with stress has become inevitable. For one, their main goal, to save people who are in danger and to protect them from harm, is stressful. In effect, they become exposed to danger themselves and face this reality as part of a police officer’s job. They are also not allowed to any kind of violation because they are the ones who impose it. When it comes to police work, stress is expected more than the regular or average jobs. It is given than this profession always put police officer’s life at risk. Stress comes from different sources and comes in various forms. There are direct and indirect factors that imply the involvement of stress in the police profession. It affects not only the life of the police officer but also the life of the people inside and outside the organization—their family, the organization, and their own life and personal identity. Occupational stress is derived from what rank a police officer holds in the organization. Police officers deal with every kind of violence and alarming assignments each day of their lives. However, since they pledged an oath to fulfill their duty to the best of their abilities, they are not thinking much about stress and focus on their service instead. There are times when police officers encounter personal troubles which have a negative implication on them. This time, it cannot be accepted as a normal part of their duty because it is already outside the profession. Dealing with family matter makes police officers lose their focus and fails to do their job properly. On the other hand, their family also experience stress because of the kind of job. Being in the said profession also requires police officers to be available at all times. The working schedule also causes them stress because of rotating shifts and unexpected call of duty. Aside from the aforementioned causes, this paper aims to delve into police-related stress, what causes it, what are the effects, and how it affects their obligations in the field of law enforcement. Defining Stress and Stressors Stress is a disorder that affects an individual’s motivation (Crane, 1996). It bring about pressure not only physically but also mentally. There are two types of stress according to Crane (1996) in his book entitled Psychology of Stress. The first stress type is known as distress. This type of stress is relentless which makes one not capable of adaptation (Crane, 1996). Distress can cause mental disorders, depression, and anxiety if not given proper resolution (Crane, 1996). Another type of stress is the eustress. This stress is accumulated through experiences that cause positive reaction. Unlike distress, this type of stress can improve the function of physical and psychological aspects of an individual through training and work (Crane, 1996). Stress occurs when one experiences pressure and demands which are not compatible to his/her ability to either physically or mentally deal with the situation (Leiter & Masslach, 1988). Conflicts, painful events, limitations, struggles, and lack of control are the common causes of stress (Leiter & Masslach, 1988). It affects the overall functioning of the individual, rendering him or her incapable of thinking and acting normally. It can also cause certain disorders including hypertension, ulcer, insomnia, anxiety attack, and many more. Stress deteriorates the individuals’ over-all health depending on how the person copes with it (Violanti, 1996). Hence, stress generally affects lives as it modifies the ability, mental functioning and behavior of individuals in fulfilling their roles, regardless of the kind of profession that they have (Violanti, 1996). Stressors pertain to the primary causes of stress. They could be an immediate superior, a family member, an event, or a profession (Shirom, 1989). Coping up with stress comes in two ways: reduction or avoidance. A person may either face the situation to put an end to the stress (reduction) or make some sort of escape to experience immediate relief (avoidance) (Shirom, 1989). Everyday, many stressors are faced by individuals that make or break them as a person. Absence of stress is impossible because everyday, new challenges and changes are experienced by everyone. The best way to deal with stress is by coping with it. Thus, it is always better to confront the situation rather than avoiding it (Shirom, 1989). Work Stress As individuals become adults and start working, they have to deal with professional accountability. Work is necessary to support every need and want in life. Most of the time spent by professionals is in their workplaces where they encounter work stress in different forms each day. Usually, stressful situations spring from pressures and demands in their job which are beyond their knowledge and capacity, or from fears and anxieties in accomplishing their tasks. Some of the professions which greatly involve stress due to the nature of job include a fireman, a doctor, and a police officer, among others (Lee & Ashforth, 1996). Stress can be positive and negative for the worker depending on the response of the individual him- or herself and the circumstances. A positive kind of stress usually makes the worker more motivated and focused in accomplishing their duties and responsibilities. On the other hand, negative stress may occur when there are unexpected events that can make them lose composure which, in effect, become detrimental to their performance (Lee & Ashforth, 1996). Police Stress Basically, police stress is the kind of stress experienced in the law enforcement community. This is brought about by direct and indirect factors that are incorporated the nature of the job and the organizational structure of the law enforcement community. As police officers are mainly responsible for protecting and serving the society and its people, they are required to be physically, emotionally, and psychologically prepared at all times because they are expected to be always available. In addition, they are expected to keep an active presence of mind and make sensible decisions especially during crucial situations such as criminal encounters and hostage takings. Because of these expectations, police officers experience stress twice of the stress endured by other professionals. The work environment of the law enforcement officers has a great impact on the employees and the employee’s level of work, including their work productivity and their general physical and emotional health (Kurke, 1995). There is a notion that a cyclic relationship persists between work and home life of police officers from which police stress develops (Kurke, 1995). Stressors in the police work not only affect the police officer but their family as well. It is likely that police stress negatively affects their relationship with others and their personal lives. For instance, most police officers experience marital problems because of the effects of the stressful events of their day which they unintentionally bring home with them. This gives rise to their involvement in various problematic domestic issues such as violence, alcoholism, substance abuse, and child neglect (Brief et. al, 1981). When police stress is rampant in the law enforcement community, it affects the performance of the police officers and at the same time, it puts everyone in the society at risk. Police stress is a social issue that should not be taken for granted because it affects these individuals who chose to pursue this highly important profession that constitutes the maintenance of peace of order of the society. Causes of Police Stress Many sources of police stress can be found inside the police organization. The job itself and the people within the law enforcement community cause police stress. The characteristic of the profession is considerably difficult to look at. Being a police officer requires dedication and commitment to put their lives at risk while they are on duty. They are also expected to comply with the given work schedule and special assignments. There are encounters which will cause trauma to police officers. Yet, they only receive poor compensation (Leiter & Maslach, 1988). There are also times when lack communication among administrators, poor supervision and inadequate training cause police officers to feel stressed. Another source of police stress comes from the officers themselves because they often doubt their capacity to perform a given task. There are also issues regarding favoritism and politics within the law enforcement community that discourages a police officer to carry out a given assignment (Leiter & Maslach, 1988). The following sections present the most common organizational stressors in the work of a police officer, along with other direct and indirect factors that cause police stress. Direct Factors Job Characteristics The profession itself causes stress to police officers. Fear and danger make police officers suffer from stress. They always need to set aside their doubts, gather their courage in every dangerous situation that they get into. Physical danger is always at hand because they should be ready to battle against unexpected criminals (Kurke, 1995). Adequacy and Control Perception of adequacy and control also causes police stress. The ability of a police officer to work on a job is based on his/her perception the skills that he/she possesses, and whether his/her skills are adequate to complete all the assigned task given to him/her, and. Hence, to meet the demands of the job, law enforcement officers should be well-driven. They should also have the necessary composure and confidence. When police officers doubt their capacity to serve, it definitely instigates stress (Axelbend & Vaile, 1979) Control is defined as the ability of police officers to govern on special assignments. This is because as police officers, they are expected to control every situation that they get into. When a police officer lacks the necessary control to carry out an assigned task because he/she is hindered or manipulated by others, it brings out stress and at the same time leaves the case unsolved (Tenerowicz, 1993) Role Ambiguity Role ambiguity also results in stress among police officers. This usually happens when they lack the necessary knowledge in fulfilling their roles and at the same time control the conditions of the work outcomes (Lee & Ashforth, 1996). When this occurs, police officers feel stressed as they are not yet prepared for the job. Role ambiguity is caused by a weak organizational structure and it hinders the police officer from performing his/her task. Most cases of role ambiguity is experienced by those who are in the administrative position because their functions are not clear to them. At the same time, they are not aware of up to what extent is their jurisdiction on their job (Shore, & Shore, 1995). This becomes a source of stress because it makes police officers doubtful of their capacity to serve. They tend to question themselves if they are able to perform well because they themselves are not aware of the position given to them. They are afraid of not being respected by their subordinates which gives them a feeling of insecurity. Work Schedule Police officers are expected to work based on a shifting schedule, rotating shifts, irregular days off, holiday work, unexpected overtime and involuntary overtime (Kurke, 1995). This kind of schedule apparently affects their work performance because they are not getting enough sleep and energy. It also causes their moods to change and develop negative feelings. In the end, police officers experience stress and end up with poor performance (Kurke, 1995). Special Assignments There are special tasks given to police officers which in turn are greatly prized (Kurke, 1995). However, certain assignments require more focus and demand greater pressure from the police officer. There are special assignments which are needed to be completed at a given time frame. As a result, police officers become stressed because they are expected to finish the said task as soon as possible. It also involves longer hours of training and longer working hours that separate them from their families. Because of depression and frustration when an assigned task is not completed accordingly, stress is developed (Kurke, 1995, p. 191). Role Conflict According to Kurk (1995), â€Å"many officers report difficulties related to the many demands inherent in law enforcement† (p. 191). Role conflict usually happens when police officers need to execute two roles with different conflicting demands or values. One example of this is when a police officer catches delinquent teens in the community only to discover that one of those caught is his/her son. This puts the police officer in a conflicting situation because he/she is faced with the demand of arresting the suspect but at the same time he/she needs to protect his/her son (Lee & Ashforth, 1996). Family of Police Officers Another cause of stress for police officers comes from their families. They always harbor feelings of fear and danger when they are out of their homes for duty. It develops stress to police officers because they are thinking of their families while they are on duty. This will make them lose focus and may end up not completing the assigned task. There are also instances when family occasions are set aside because of special assignments. This makes police officers more stressed because they develop sadness of not being able to participate in an important family occasion. When a family member gets sick, it is also hard for the police officers to concentrate on their jobs because they are preoccupied with family problems.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Common Stereotypes in Society Essay

As a society, we tend to stereotype. Whether our presumption is right or wrong, some common stereotypes are still accepted as truth no matter how much evidence there is proving another point of view. Three common stereotypes I see are those that involve abused women, Blacks and their love of fried chicken and the ability of older people learning foreign languages. Many of these stereotypes are reinforced by cultures and what is commonly seen within their culture. These stereotypes can have a long lasting effect on the people that are judged by the stereotype and a long lasting effect on the perception of those people. When most people think about an abused woman, many see the woman with a black eye not realizing that abuse is more than physical. Verbal and mental abuse are also used to control the victim. In many cases, physical abuse is the latter and verbal and mental abuse is the first type introduced. Although there are many shelters and agencies available to abused women, many believe that these women are too afraid to leave the relationship and are blamed for any further abuse they suffer because they didn’t leave or call the police. On the contrary, â€Å"more than 77 percent of them had self-reported to the police. (Barrett, B. , Nov 2011). In the cases when the women have children, many think that they stay because they do not have the means to provide for their family if they leave the home. Based on a handbook by the Santa Clara Probation department, â€Å"victims of domestic violence leave their abuser seven times on average before they are able to stay on their own† (Prophet, T. , 2006). Many of the abused women are presumed as weak and people in general, do not want to assist a weak person because they will more than likely go back to the situation they were just helped out of. There are many shelters available but the funding needed is scarce due to the previous mentioned fear. The second common stereotype is that all Black people like fried chicken. I was taught in school that any statement that expresses that â€Å"all† of anything is definitely a false statement. This stereotype was started a long time ago, and is probably associated with situations related to slavery. â€Å"The most obvious explanation derives from the historical fact that fried chicken dishes were popular in slave homes on Southern plantations. In many cases, chickens were the only livestock animals that slaves were permitted to raise on their own† (Bering, J. (2011). This just proves that the reason fried chicken is associated with African Americans is not because they enjoy the food so much but it was the only choice they had when it came to what was availbe to them. The other reason there is such a negative connotation associated with fried chicken is because the slavery era itself was not a good time for African Americans (Bering, J. 2011). As an unhealthy and inexpensive food, fried chicken invokes images of poverty, ignorance, sloth, and other racist associations† (Bering, J. 2011). Not only is the mention of fried chicken and African Americans considered negative, it has also been viewed as racist. Advertisers seem to gear their commercials towards the African American community when advertising for fried chicken. Mary J. Blige received a lot of flack for being in a Burger King commercial advertising their New Crispy Strips Tortilla Wraps. The commercial was eventually pulled from rotation due to the backlash received. Other high profile individuals have also been targeted by the chicken industry, including President Obama. Although it’s no secret that these people do enjoy fried chicken, associating these people with the food generated a negative or racial tone. There is nothing wrong with these people liking fried chicken, as there are many other racial groups that also enjoy this cuisine. The third common stereotype would be the idea that older adults will have a harder time learning foreign languages when compared to younger children. One of the reasons for this stereotype can be attributed to the older adult and the teacher, they have doubts about their ability to learn a foreign language. Although most people have accepted the generalization of learning as â€Å"the younger the better† (Schleppegrell, M. , 1987), this is not the case when it comes to learning language. There have been studies that have determined that aging does not decline a person’s learning ability. The way older adults learn a new skill is the only adjustments that need to be made. These studies also show that older adults learn at a more rapid rate than children (Krashen, Long, and Scarcella, 1979). There are two reasons why being a poor language learner is attributed to adults, and those are â€Å"a theory of the brain and how it matures, and classroom practices that discriminate against the older learner† (Schleppegrell, M. , 1987). The â€Å"critical period† hypothesis that was put forth in the 1960’s was based on then-current theories of brain development, and argued that the brain lost â€Å"cerebral plasticity† after puberty, making second language acquisition more difficult as an adult than as a child (Lenneberg, 1967). Due to advances in the study of neurology, it has been determined that adults have superior language learning capabilities. These studies and facts should dispel any accepted stereotypes related to older adults and their ability to learn foreign languages. One thing that is common amongst all of these stereotypes is that the â€Å"victim† has accepted these stereotypes to be true and doesn’t challenge any of the information that would affirm or deny such claims. This could also be the first step into getting some of these stereotypes removed from our culture so that people are able to benefit positively and not have to worry about any negative impacts from doing activities that are natural.

Friday, November 8, 2019

Ethics in design

Ethics in design Basically, ethics can be defined as the branch of philosophy that deals with the moral principles of a person with respect to the appropriateness and wrongness of particular measures and to the goodness and badness of the intentions and ends of such measures. These rules of conduct are usually acknowledged in respect to a particular class, group, culture, organization or profession.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Ethics in design specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Every profession as well as organization usually has its own fixed ethical principles which are typically in regard to the mode of operation, the effects of the products or services offered and in the association with clients and stakeholders. Ethics in the workplace of any profession helps in ensuring that a strong moral compass is maintained when there is conflict and confusion in times of crisis.[1] As in other professions, maintenance of professional eth ics is required in the design profession. Professional ethics are referred to as the ethical issues that usually come up because of the proficient knowledge that the professional have achieved and the ways in which this knowledge should be administered during the provision of the specific service to consumers. Since the professional has obtained more superior instruction in a specific field as compared to the average people, he/she is competent in making and operating on informed information and thus is seen to carry extra moral responsibilities.[2] A person with this kind of added and superior knowledge is more often than not, accorded more authority and power and the clients often place their confidence on the professional with the belief that the services provided to them will either be of assistance to them or bring profits. It is therefore relatively possible for a professional to misuse the authority he/she has and take advantage of the clients’ lack of understanding. T o avert such client exploitation as well as safeguard the integrity of the profession, there are codes of practice, which all specialists must follow, enforced in nearly all professions.[3] Generally, there are fundamental principles which constitute the basic make up of a principal. The first principle in the ethical practices of design is founded on the client’s needs and states that any and every action should be first and foremost, client centered. Every designer should make sure that their practice places the customer’s interests before their own.Advertising Looking for essay on ethics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This means that a professional designer should adjust to the client’s standards in terms of business and design but staying within the confines of professional responsibility and the context of the professional duty. In relation to this, a designer is expected to avoid working simultaneously on assignments that are bound to create a conflict of interest without the consent of the clients concerned. The only exemption is in the case where there is a principle in that trade for a designer to work at the same time for several competitors.[4] Another basic principle is founded on equality and diversity. Every professional, while practicing should ensure that he/she is promoting as well as demonstrating a commitment to equality and diversity. A designer should ensure that he/she is maximizing the life chances of all the service or products consumers.[5] Therefore a designer should not in any chance, refuse to offer services to a client based on any kind of discrimination of race, tribe, gender, nationality, religion or social and educational status. Conversely, a professional designer should be underpinned by an obligation to encourage diversity and equal opportunity for all people and wherever there is an opportunity, to rectify the impact of educational and social drawbacks.[6] Impartiality is another elementary principle in ethical practices of most professionals including in design. This principle states that a professional, designer or otherwise, must make sure that the delivery of any information, recommendation or guidance services should be duly unbiased. In order to attain this therefore, a designer is expected to make clear anything that limits or creates a barrier to their professional knowledge or other things that are in the framework in which they function that may lead to bias or favoritism. A designer should give a client full and sufficient information about the range of options that are available so that the client has a chance to make a definite and knowledgeable decision. Any design organization should also make its stance on impartiality clear while creating its code of ethics so as to avoid any misconceptions, as well as indicate any constrictions that may limit the variety of options they put before service users.[ 7] In addition, there is the principle of confidentiality which is paramount in any codes of ethics of any profession. In this case, the client’s confidentiality is put at the forefront and should be treated essentially with respect. A design professional should make a clear commitment of their intent on confidentiality and should inform their clients at the earliest time possible on anything that may cause limitation to confidentiality. herefore, every designer is expected to treat any work pertaining to a client with confidentiality and should avoid divulging any of the information in any manner. In this case, that would include the work that is presently in progress preceding the completion of a project as well as any knowledge of the intentions of a client, and details in relation to the work. A professional designer should also make sure that other staff members act accordingly and uphold discretion in their work.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Ethics in design specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More It should also be made apparent to everyone in the personnel staff that the delivery of a service should be done with respect for the privacy of the client and disclosing any information should only be done with informed consent with the exception of situations that create serious risk to the welfare of the individual or other people involved.[8] However, even with these basic principles put in place, there is a need to instill them in the minds of the professionals and staff members in a working environment. Clearly outlining the principles does not necessary guarantee that the employees will follow them as required and thus the need for an ethics implementation program. Presence of an implementation program ensures that the involved members are inspired to put the ethical principles into use and generally reflects on the professions integrity, character and beliefs. First and foremost, it is important to make sure that the principal body appointed to create the code of ethics has a genuine commitment to the ethics initiative and is willing to devote enough financial resources in the development and maintenance of the program.[9] This way, there will be no slacking in its implementation and progression due to lack of resources. It is also important to assign a single senior supervisor to concentrate only on the implementation of this program. He should be able to visit all organizations whose work entails design and revise and record on the implementation of the code of ethics. He should then keep records, do follow ups and most importantly report directly to the chairman of the program board on the day-to-day aspects of the program.[10] An independent assessment of the current ethical climate in the profession should also be done through interviews, focus groups and anonymous written surveys. This will make it possible to compare the existing codes to those of the up to date and well working programs used in other professions and accordingly make alterations where needed. It would also be encouraging to professionals to create an open ended helpline in which designers can seek for guidance and direction in relation to the ethics principles. This should also include a reporting system whereby individuals can present ethical concerns or violation reports. Publicizing the ethics program throughout the profession and encouraging organizations to adopt it would go a long way in its implementation. In addition, the ethics program board should make a point of reviewing the agenda and principles at least one or twice a year.[11] Bibliography Brenner, Steven N, Ethics Programs and Their Dimensions. Journal of Business Ethics, 11, no 4 (1992): 391-399.Advertising Looking for essay on ethics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Dean, Peter J. Making Codes of Ethics Real. Journal of Business Ethics, 11, no 6 (1992): 285-290. Ferrell, Fraedrich Linda Ferrell. Business ethics: ethical decision making and cases, New York: Cengage Learning, 2006. Fox, Warwick. Ethics and the built environment, Newyork: Routledge, 2000. Gandz, J. Bird, F. G. Designing Ethical Organizations. Business Quarterly, 54, no 2 (1989, Autumn): 108-112 Gardner, Csikszentmihalyi William Damon, Good Work: When Excellence and Ethics Meet, New York: Greenwood Publishing Group, 2002. Golany, Gideon. Ethics and urban design: culture, form, and environment, Canada: John Wiley and Sons, 1995 Russ, Tom. Sustainability and Design Ethics, Florida: Taylor Francis Group, 2010. Sims, Ronald, R. Teaching business ethics for effective learning. New York: Greenwood Publishing Group, 2002. Toffler, B. Doing Ethics: An Approach to Business Ethics Consulting. Moral Education Forum, 16, no 4(1991, Winter): 14-20 Von Weltzien Hoivik, Follesdal European B usiness Ethics Network, Conference. Ethics and consultancy: European perspectives, NM: Springer, 1995 . Footnotes Ferrell, Fraedrich Ferrell Linda. Business ethics: ethical decision making and cases, New York: Cengage Learning, 2006. Russ, Tom. Sustainability and Design Ethics, Florida: Taylor Francis Group, 2010. Von Weltzien Hoivik, Follesdal European Business Ethics Network, Conference. Ethics and consultancy: European perspectives, NM: Springer, 1995 . Dean, Peter J. Making Codes of Ethics Real. Journal of Business Ethics, 11, no 6 (1992): 285-290. Golany, Gideon. Ethics and urban design: culture, form, and environment, Canada: John Wiley and Sons, 1995 Sims, Ronald, R. Teaching business ethics for effective learning. New York: Greenwood Publishing Group, 2002. Brenner, Steven N, Ethics Programs and Their Dimensions. Journal of Business Ethics, 11, no 4 (1992): 391-399. Fox, Warwick. Ethics and the built environment, New York: Routledge, 2000. Toffler, B. Doing Ethics: An Ap proach to Business Ethics Consulting. Moral Education Forum, 16, no 4(1991, Winter): 14-20 Gandz, J. Bird, F. G. Designing Ethical Organizations. Business Quarterly, 54, no 2 (1989): 108-112 Gardner, Csikszentmihalyi William Damon, Good Work: When Excellence and Ethics Meet, New York: Greenwood Publishing Group, 2002.

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

How the Dow Jones Industrial Average Is Calculated

How the Dow Jones Industrial Average Is Calculated If you read the newspaper, listen to the radio, or watch the nightly news on television, you have probably heard about what happened in the market today. Its all fine and good that the Dow Jones finished up 35 points to close at 8738, but what does that really mean? What Is  the Dow? The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI), commonly just referred to as simply The Dow, is an average of the price of 30 different stocks. The stocks represent 30 of the largest and most widely publicly traded stocks in the United States. The index measures how these companies stocks have traded over the course of a standard trading session in the stock market. It is the second-oldest and one of the most referenced stock market index in the United States.  The Dow Jones Corporation, the administrators of the index, modifies the stocks being tracked in the index from time to time to best reflect the largest and most widely traded stocks of the day. The Stocks of the Dow Jones Industrial Average As of April 2019, the following 30 stocks were constituents of the Dow Jones Industrial Average index: Company Symbol Industry 3M MMM Conglomerate American Express AXP Consumer Finance Apple AAPL Consumer Electronics Boeing BA Aerospace and Defense Caterpillar CAT Construction and Mining Equipment Chevron CVX Oil and Gas Cisco Systems CSCO Computer Networking Coca-Cola KO Beverages Dow Inc. DOW Chemical Industry ExxonMobil XOM Oil and Gas Goldman Sachs GS Banking and Financial Services The Home Depot HD Home Improvement Retailer IBM IBM Computers and Technology Intel INTC Semiconductors Johnson Johnson JNJ Pharmaceuticals JPMorgan Chase JPM Banking McDonald's MCD Fast Food Merck MRK Pharmaceuticals Microsoft MSFT Consumer Electronics Nike NKE Apparel Pfizer PFE Pharmaceuticals Procter Gamble PG Consumer Goods Travelers TRV Insurance UnitedHealth Group UNH Managed Healthcare United Technologies UTX Conglomerate Verizon VZ Telecommunication Visa V Consumer Banking Walmart WMT Retail Walgreens Boots Alliance WBA Retail Walt Disney DIS Broadcasting and Entertainment How the Dow Is Calculated The Dow Jones Industrial Average is price-averaged meaning that it is computed by taking the average price of the 30 stocks that comprise the index and dividing that figure by a number called the divisor. The divisor is there to take into account stock splits and mergers which also makes the Dow a scaled average. If the Dow werent calculated as a scaled average, the index would decrease whenever a stock split took place. To illustrate this, suppose a stock on the index worth $100 splits is split or divided into two stocks each worth $50. If the administrators did not take into account that there are twice as many shares in that company as before, the DJI would be $50 lower than before the stock split because one share is now worth $50 instead of $100. The Dow Divisor The divisor is determined by weights placed on all the stocks (due to these mergers and acquisitions) and as a result, it changes quite often. For example, on November 22, 2002, the divisor was equal to 0.14585278, but as of September 22, 2015, the divisor is equal to 0.14967727343149.   What this means is that if you took the average cost of each of these 30 stocks on September 22, 2015, and divided this number by the divisor 0.14967727343149, youd get the closing value of the DJI on that date, which was 16330.47. You can also use this divisor to see how an individual stock influences the average. Because of the formula used by the Dow, a one point increase or decrease by any stock will have the same effect, which is not the case for all indices. Dow Jones Industrial Average Summary So the Dow Jones number you hear on the news each night is simply this weighted average of stock prices. Because of this, the Dow Jones Industrial Average should just be considered a price in itself. When you hear that the Dow Jones went up 35 points, it just means that to buy these stocks (taking into account the divisor) at 4:00 p.m. EST that day (the closing time of the market), it would have cost $35 more than it would have cost to buy the stocks the day before at the same time.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Week 5 Discussion 1 Law Enforcement Research Design and Analysis Essay

Week 5 Discussion 1 Law Enforcement Research Design and Analysis - Essay Example he reason for using mixed method as being due to research projects being non-linear but facing unanticipated directions with time which result to changes in the purpose. However, the researcher defines that the original purpose should be retained such that any changes within the research whether consistent, resistant or contrary to the original purpose can aid the researcher to craft them to meet the needs of the original purpose. The author gives examples of the use of mixed methods theory with a consistent original purpose through the Finn and Achilles (1990) to identify the failure of students to learn reading and math (Newman, Ridenour, Newman, & Paul DeMarco). This made it possible to draw implications to support the study or the reason for conducting the study. With the results, then it is possible to craft them to meet the needs of organizing school environments. The author advances propositions of the theory through a typology of thinking through the research process using the researcher’s lens. At any given time, the researcher should work using only one lens since more than one lens used simultaneously results to failure of even good research intent. While the original purpose (independent variable) drives the lens used by the researcher, the resistant, consistent and contrary purposes of study are dependent on it and can only be crafted in line with it. Based on logic theory, the purpose of the study is bound to change owing to unanticipated events but this does not automatically change the original grounded and rooted purpose of the research. In this respect, the original meaning has to remain intact and craft the meaning of the changed

Friday, November 1, 2019

Personal statement Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Personal Statement Example It is my belief that working hard and aiming higher is the key to successful. Other short courses include HP Certificate in Photography obtained in the year 2007. I have successfully completed a non- academic course in Germany language and academic courses in French. I complicated a two-week Translation Course in Media under the Saudi Gazette (George Mason University, 2012). The following is my educational background. Between 2008 and 2009, I studied MA Psycholinguistics and Neurolinguistics in Essex University, Colchester in the United Kingdom. I achieved my diploma in Italian Language in The Italian Consulate Jeddah in Saudi Arabia between 2005 and 2007. Finally, I attained my BA in English Literature and Linguistics in the University of King Abdulaziz, Jeddah in Saudi Arabia in the period between 2002 and 2007. I have learned computer and gained knowledge in various computer packages including SPSS, PowerPoint, Internet, MS Word, MS Excel as well as English and Arabic typing skill s. Based on the knowledge and skills that I have acquired I am in a position to handle complicated issues which require application of such skills (George Mason University, 2012). I have work experience from different institutions. In the period between July 2005 and August 2005, I worked as English tutor in the Saudi Cultural Centre, Jeddah where I taught English from level one to five. Apart from teaching, I was in charge of different activities like using computer labs for the purposes of learning computer. I also taught English in the same college between July and August 2006 still holding the same responsibilities. Between august and September 2006, I worked in the Advanced System Company, Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. My role was to translate the contracts of the company from English to Arabic language. Lastly, I worked for AlHayet Newspapers, Jeddah at the customer service. My role was to receive and call back the newspaper customers in addition to filling questions and settling an y disputes which may arise (George Mason University, 2012). Apart from working for to earn something, I have gained experience through voluntary work. I worked as a librarian in the special Library for Linguistics in the University of Essex, Colchester, United Kingdom. This took place between the months of February and June 2008. My duties involved helping students and teachers open accounts, recording down books which have been borrowed, helping borrowers in making the choice of books which would be of great help to them, putting the books in order and finally making follow-ups of books which have not been returned. I worked for The Child Legal Center, University of Essex as a translator of English into Arabic language between the months of February and May 2008.My duty was to translate legal articles from English to Arabic language so that they can be traced for on-line use (George Mason University, 2010). My hobbies include watching all kinds of movies. I am especially more inter ested in watching comedies, drama, documentaries and novel-based movies. I am also interested in understanding the history of Russia, America, Britain, Greece and Roman. In order to achieve the goals I and some other colleagues have formed groups to discuss books which document the history of those countries. From 2008, we have been meeting once in a month for that purpose. The group is mainly formed by academic