Thursday, October 31, 2019

Discuss the diversity of young children's experiences of language and Essay

Discuss the diversity of young children's experiences of language and literacy at home. To what extent can there be a match be - Essay Example 4). Since the mind is believed to be a blank slate, the culture or the behavior prevalent in the child’s surroundings may affect the way he learns language. The infant can learn through social interaction and transmitted learning, which is largely behavioral in a sense that what he observes dictate the way he learns language. However, the behaviorist theories on language were criticized by Noam Chomsky saying that the mind is already structured and that language learning is highly psychological through his theory of Universal Grammar. Chomsky believes that children’s language acquisition is â€Å"closely tied to the theory of the mental mechanisms children use in acquiring language† (Pinker, n.d.). A part of the brain which Chomsky called â€Å"learning acquisition device† is part of the â€Å"human genetic endowment† which makes the person involuntarily and innately learn his natural language (Kellog, 1997, p. 242). If Chomsky’s theory shoul d be followed, there would be no formal pattern as to how children learn how to talk, since they do it â€Å"their† way and not because of behavioral ‘patterns.’ Since each child is unique in his way of learning the language, there could be no one way to teach it nor there is one process which stood above all others in terms of effectiveness and accuracy. Children are born with their own facet of learning the language and the environment’s role is just to aid the development of language learning through experience; the idea of Chomsky reveals to be more relevant if basing on the effectiveness of teaching strategies following such principle. Language Learning in the Early Years One of the most unique characteristics of humans apart from other animals is the use of language in many ways, aside from communication. Through language, people were able to build civilizations with sophisticated culture and arts which were innovated by the present age for utility a nd fashion. Truly, human’s leap towards the development of language leads them to discover more about themselves and their surroundings. The transformation of language is magnificent, but what truly is amazing is how people learn the language in the early years of life considering that babies are born without a language. This idea wonders linguists from different times; they explored a human’s language development and made theories about it, but still, no absolute principle is governing the process of language acquisition. Bock (2005) revealed more interesting findings about babies and their language. She reported the findings of Patricia Kuhl, a university professor, found out that the babies’ mind is set by birth to distinguish different sounds that they have â€Å"no trouble hearing distinctions and sorting out sounds† (Bock, 2005, p. 4). The same claim was made five years earlier through an experimental research by Professor Peter Eimas of Brown Unive rsity. In the experiment, Professor Eimas took advantage of the baby’s habit of sucking. The baby subject, Jean-Paul, is French exposed to French culture and language. The recorded sound pattern of his sucking became the basis of comparison along the process. When he was initially exposed to the Russian language, he sucked the rubber nipple more vigorously and began to subside as he tend to ‘get bored’ with the Russian sound. When the researcher exposed him back to the French language, he showed

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Kodak and Digital Revolution Essay Example for Free

Kodak and Digital Revolution Essay In 1976 Kodak controlled 90% of the film market and 85% of camera sales in the United States. By 1992 the share of film market decreased by 5%. In 1991 they launched the first professional digital camera. In 1998 they spent $1. 2 billion to two joint ventures with the Chinese government and by 1999 became number two in digital cameras in the United States with a 27% market share. In 2001it launched â€Å"Where it all clicks† theme to stimulate digital imaging and in 2002 launched the first mass-market product for digital film processing. By 2003 they controlled most photofinishing transaction in the United States with 15% unprofitable digital camera market. Digital imaging was a disruptive technology that was emerging in early 80’s and Kodak got blind sighted by its extreme focus on existing customers and their needs. They followed a customer focus strategy instead of taking digital imaging as a disruptive innovation. Their focus was to provide products that its existing clients want in a cost effective manner. Kodak’s strategy for digital imaging has been way off and its first digital product, the â€Å"Photo CD† which was a failure. It couldn’t leverage upon world’s first electronic image sensor that they launched earlier that was widely used by computer industry worldwide. They used all strategies to the disposal but its timing was way off. They used Radical to incremental innovation an example is their digital photography compared to Sony’s Then their strategy shifted from convergence of digital and film based imaging to selling hardware such as digital cameras and printers by alliancing with computer and electronic industry. This strategy also failed as competition was too fierce by 1995 and profit margins shrunk. Then strategy was changed to picture business and network consumables with at least 50% market share. These strategies were based to the changing market needs and competition especially from Fuji films Kodak is a showcase for failing to innovate; they missed the digital revolution because they were focused on protecting its core business, traditional photographic film. The reality is different, though. Kodak was in fact one of the first companies to have worked on digital imaging it’s not that they were ignoring the digital revolution! Today, Kodak is still leading digital imaging, as the company holds many patents in this field that are used in products such as HP printers. The painful Kodak factory closures that one can see nowadays are nothing but the price to pay to transition from one era to the other, from the era when Kodak was a chemist to an era when it is a software company. For all its mistakes, Kodak is doing what few companies have been able to do. Lessons Learned No doubt, Kodak was victim of the innovators dilemma. The most immediate takeaway from the fall of Kodak is clear: Don’t be afraid to cannibalize your own business in the name of progress. But Kodak’s inability to make any of its products stand out over the last decade is demonstrative of an overall reluctance to innovate.

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Financial Ratio And Operating Indicator Analysis Case Study

Financial Ratio And Operating Indicator Analysis Case Study Riverview Community Hospital operates as a not for profit facility with 210 inpatient beds. The financial ratio and operating indicator analysis of Riverview Community Hospital will attempt to determine their performance within their market. The further assessment of the cash flows, Du Pont equation, and economic value added (EVA) will offer insight to their financial performance. The assessment of the hospitals cash flows will allow the evaluator to determine if the companys core operations were profitable, how capital was raised, and how the institutions financial strategies effected their cash position. The ending cash and investments for 2009 were reduced by almost forty-five percent from the previous year. This downward trend may become an area of concern, because it could create an inability for the hospital to pay its daily operating commitments. The fixed asset acquisitions have continued to exceed the depreciation indicating a possible area of investigation for budget development to control costs. This was a decrease of forty-six percent from the previous year and may require further financial strategies to justify their expenditure. The most significant factor affecting the change in the cash flow was the payment of long term debt ($1.4 million) as compared to the previous year when more than $3.5 million was incurred to cover for their capital purchases. The Du Pont analysis offers the management an overall understanding of the profitability of the institution. Riverviews total margin of 6.75% falls within the upper quartile of the industry data for hospitals with 200-299 beds (Table 2). This higher profit margin indicates that Riverview has attained better control over its total expenses than the majority of similar size hospitals. The asset turnover of 0.67 falls within the lowest quartile of comparable hospitals. This asset utilization indicates that the hospital is not very efficient in generating revenues for every dollar of asset. The equity multiplier of 1.69 falls below the median data group. This indicates that the institution possesses lower debt financing and lower risk than the average hospital but this results in reducing its financial leverage. Riverviews return on equity (ROE) falls just above the median of similar size hospitals at 7.66% which translates to 7.6 cents profit for every dollar of revenue. This is signifi cantly lower than the top quartile of comparable facilities that had more than double Riverviews ROE. The analysis of the income statement and the balance sheet requires the calculations of financial ratios to obtain meaningful data that can be compared to industry values. There are numerous ratios that can be utilized to assess the financial status of a business. The profitability ratios of Riverview fall within the median range, except their total profit margin of 6.75% (Table 3). This level places it within the upper quartile of comparable hospitals. This would indicate that Riverview manages to control expenses well. Riverviews current ratio and days cash on hand fall within the top twenty-five percent of the industry data. These liquidity ratios indicate that Riverviews current assets would provide $2.67 for every dollar of current liabilities, and they have 32.72 days of cash on hand. These ratios indicate to their creditors that they are in position to meet their financial obligations. The debt management ratios all fall within the median range. The asset management ratios fal l within the median range except the fixed and total asset turnover. Riverviews utilization of assets falls within the lowest quartile. The fixed asset turnover of 0.86 times may be an indication of their inability to offer specific services. The total asset turnover of 0.67 times is not as low as its fixed asset indicating they are utilizing current assets better than fixed assets. Inflation or age of the hospital may adversely affect these ratios; however, Riverview has an estimated fixed asset age of 6.12 years. Riverview falls within lower quartile to indicate that their hospital offers more recently purchased acquisitions. The operating indicator analysis examines internal data to determine the factors that contribute to the financial status of the company. These indicators are used by managers to identify and guide financial strategies for the future. Riverviews profit indicators are within the median range of the industry; however, the significant downward trend for profit per inpatient discharge should be followed closely (Table 4). The profit per outpatient visit has improved but is still negative. The net price per visit and revenue percent of outpatient services are both within the upper quartile. The outpatient services are still not producing a profit with the increased price per visit. Riverviews occupancy rate is within the median range, but their average daily census is within the lower quartile. This would further indicate their need to utilize fixed assets more effectively. The hospitals adjusted length of stay is within the lowest quartile indicating a good management of discharging patie nts. The intensity of service indicators show that the cost per discharge and visit are within the lowest quartile but their case mix is in the upper quartile. They are providing more intense service to their patients at a lower cost. The outpatient labor hours per visit are within the upper quartile at 9.24 hours. The outpatient service would require further investigation of these higher labor hours to increase efficiency. The economic value added (EVA) measures the managements ability to create or destroy wealth for their company. Stern Stewart Co. (Stern, 2010) developed this metric to offer a more effective evaluation of managements ability to provide stockholders value. The EVA analysis of profitability takes into account all costs including: capital, equity, and its financing. The higher the EVA measure, the more effective management is at creating value for their shareholders. The EVA measurement for Riverview has trended negatively over the two previous years but has improved twenty-five percent this past last year to -1.2 million (Figure 1). The factors contributing to this negative change were shrinking profits and an increasing accumulation of capital. The EVA dollar amount in 2009 improved due to decreased capital purchases and reduction in long term debt. The limitation of the EVA calculation; does not offer an allowance for the social value provided to the community by the not-for-profit facility. The assessment of the financial performance of Riverview Community Hospital reveals several areas of concern. The further analysis of fixed asset acquisitions should be justified by the hospitals financial strategies. These capital purchases significantly outpace the yearly depreciation allowance. Riverviews REO analysis reveals a significant decrease in total margin that remains in the upper quartile of their industry. The hospital should assess the viability of improving both total asset turnover and equity multiplier to bring their ROE in line with their level of total margin performance. They should determine if improved fixed asset utilization will better leverage them within the market. The profit of their outpatient services is an area that should be targeted for effective cost reduction strategies. The financial ratio and operating indicator analysis may have several limitations that need to be addressed. The income from non-operating revenue for not-for-profit hospitals can be unpredictable and inconsistent. This outside source of revenue can be a significant portion of their income. This could distort the calculations based on that highly unreliable income. The many financial ratios may not fully account for the not-for-profit status of the hospital and may need further analysis to determine their validity. The unaccounted equity provided to the community is not factored into the equations. The additional healthcare benefits provided to the shareholders of the community may out weight the decrease in effective asset utilization by the facility.

Friday, October 25, 2019

Supernatural in Shakespeares Macbeth - The Witches Role :: Macbeth essays

In Shakespeare's time, many people were superstitious; they believed that that their lives were strongly influenced, if not dictated by fate. They also thought that the world was full of supernatural creatures, such as witches, ghosts, and many other such beings. Shakespeare incorporated these aspects of belief in his play Mac Beth. The witches, although accurately predicting what would occur, i.e., Mac Beth would be king, they did not specify how their prophecies would be realized. The witches did possess some sort of power (unless they were privy to some political information which MacBeth was not aware of), otherwise, how could they have known that MacBeth had been appointed Thane of Cawdor? Of course, once MacBeth, who, living in such a society, was superstitious, is presented with Cawdor's title, he believes that the other prediction, namely his kingship, must come true. Banquo notes the danger inherent in believing (and subsequently acting on) the witches' predictions; he says, "Were such things here as we do speak about?/Or have we eaten on the insane root/That takes the reason prisoner?" Act I, scene 3, ll.83-85. MacBeth is quite overwhelmed when he hears that he is now the Thane of Cawdor. However, almost immediately, he starts thinking about how to bring about his rule as king. "{Aside} Two truths are told, As happy prologues to the swelling act Of the imperial theme.—I thank you, gentlemen. {Aside} This supernatural soliciting Cannot be ill, cannot be good. If ill, Why hath it given me earnest of success, Commencing in a truth? I am the thane of Cawdor. If good, why do I yield to that suggestion Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair And make my seated heart knock at my ribs, Against the use of nature? Present fears Are less than horrible imaginings; My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical, Shakes so my single state of man that function Is smothered in surmise; and nothing is But what is not." (1.3.127-141) MacBeth seems to be fantasizing about having a direct role in Duncan's downfall. He apparently believes that the only way to make the witches' predictions come about, is to act on his urges (although he attained the title of Cawdor without any extraneous effort). A wife has a large influence on her husband's thinking. Lady MacBeth tries to persuade MacBeth to murder Duncan. Throughout Act I, scene 5, there are many speeches in which she tries to convince him. However, the monologue most relevant to my theme is Lady MacBeth's first speech:

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Red Dog Film

How does Red Dog Use The Distinctively Visual to Present Unique Australian Ideas of Mateship?The film â€Å"Red Dog†, directed by Kriv Stenders, effectively uses the distinctly visual to present unique Australian ideas of mateship and the harshness of the Australian outback. It is though film techniques such as camera shots, sound, colour and lighting that creates the distinct images of the Australian identity.A number of different factors combined create this great film demonstrating the typical Australian values. These include the setting, the comedic script, nostalgic elements, the love story and the pure ‘Australianness’ of the story and its characters. The film highlights the harshness of the Australian outback as well as the natural beauty of the region that serves as a scenic background for the close friendship in rural, working communities. However it is more than just a scenic backdrop, it is a landscape that portrays issues of very real threat of isolati on, starvation and death in the vast dry rural landscape. In â€Å"Red Dog†, the danger of the outback is demonstrated by John Grant’s sudden death on the desert road.In the opening sequence of the film, aerial shots are used to establish the setting and show the vastness of the landscape and the harshness of the environment. Many sound effects of bees, flies and crickets are heard by the audience as Thomas walks to the bar, to indicate that the area around is a dry arid landscape.The film represents the hot, harsh Australian outback through the use of colour and lighting. In particular, the colour of the dust (rustic red or orange) is an iconic and distinctly Australian outback colour. It symbolises the relentless heat in the outback. The degree of intensity is the strong blocks of red that is established in this scene. The bright colours and lighting and high saturation (strong colours) shows how stark the environment or heat is as well as the brightness of the sun. The orange or red tinges highlight the heat. Throughout the whole film, these ‘warmer’ colours have been used to resemble Western Australia, one of the hottest, driest parts of Australia. The colours make the terrain look dry, hot, barren and somewhat isolated.In Red Dog’s death scene, long shots are used to let the audience view the Australian outback terrain. This part of the scene opens up with an extreme long shot, highlighting the isolation that exists in the Pilbara and emphasises the vastness of this land. The film effectively provides a realistic portrayal of the harsh Australian outback through distinctly visual techniques such as camera shots, sound, colour and lighting.The familiar Australian bush-story theme of mateship, loyalty and respect between man and dog, a traditional identity of Australian life, is conveyed in â€Å"Red Dog†. The director uses skilful camera and visual techniques to portray this stereotypical value of mateship. The dire ctor uses an anthropomorphic approach through the anthropomorphism in his representation of â€Å"Red Dog†.This can be seen when the character Jack begins to explain Red Dog to Thomas and states â€Å"It’s not what he did but who he was†. This has the effect of privileging Red Dog as equal to Jack and everyone else. This also gives Red Dog an identity. He is not just some dog that they all loved, he had developed a personality and the townspeople understood Red Dog. Red Dog is a mate of the townspeople.Red Dog is a story about mateship, especially in the isolation of this big harsh country. It is a story about a man and his dog, or a dog and his master, told through the lens of mateship. The Australian notion of mateship is highlighted when Joko suggests that they erect a statue to â€Å"somebody who lives and breathes desolation, somebody that has red dust stuck up their nose and in their eyes and in their ears and up their arses!Mates who are loyal by nature no design†¦ somebody that represents the Pilbara in all of us and I say that somebody, dammit, IS A DOG!† It is also depicted in the line â€Å"More than a man’s best friend. A mate to the entire community†. The unique Australian idea of mateship between dog and human is a key theme in Red Dog which is reflected using distinctively visual techniques.Unique Australian ideas of mateship and the harshness of the Australian outback are presented through the use of the distinctly visual in Stenders’s film â€Å"Red Dog†. The director captures these Australian identities by using skilful camera and visual techniques, creating a film shaped with meaning and life.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Días feriados federales y estatales en EE.UU. en 2019

Dà ­as feriados federales y estatales en EE.UU. en 2019 En Estados Unidos hay 10 dà ­as feriados federales, es decir, aplican en todo el paà ­s y tambià ©n en los territorios como, por ejemplo, Puerto Rico. En los feriados federales por ley tienen dà ­a libre y se les paga a todos los trabajadores no esenciales del gobierno federal. Tambià ©n cierran bancos y escuelas. Sin embargo, las empresas privadas no estn obligadas a brindar el dà ­a libre a sus empleados pero lo habitual es que sà ­ lo hagan y, adems, les paguen el salario del dà ­a feriado como si lo hubieran trabajado, si bien hay importantes excepciones como, por ejemplo, el caso de comercios o restaurantes. Dà ­as feriados federales en Estados Unidos en 2019 1 de enero, lunes, Aà ±o Nuevo21 de enero, lunes, Dà ­a de Martin Luther King18 de febrero, lunes, Dà ­a del Presidente27 de mayo, lunes, Dà ­a de la Recordacià ³n4 de julio, jueves, Dà ­a de la Independencia2 de septiembre, lunes, Dà ­a del Trabajo14 de octubre, lunes, Dà ­a de Cristà ³bal Colà ³n11 de noviembre, lunes, Dà ­a de los Veteranos28 de noviembre, jueves, Accià ³n de Gracias.25 de diciembre, mià ©rcoles, Dà ­a de Navidad El feriado del Dà ­a del Presidente no se celebra en todos los estados y el Dà ­a de los Veteranos no es feriado pà ºblico en Wisconsin. Los dà ­as feriados en EE.UU. como regla general son un lunes, si bien hay excepciones a esta regla. Asà ­, el Dà ­a de Navidad, Aà ±o Nuevo, Independencia o el de Accià ³n de Gracias se celebran el dà ­a de la semana que coincida con el dà ­a del mes de su celebracià ³n. Sin embargo, en esos dà ­as, si el feriado es un dà ­a sbado, el dà ­a libre se adelanta a viernes. Por el contrario, si es un dà ­a domingo, el dà ­a libre se retrasa al lunes siguiente. Dà ­as feriados en los estados en 2019 Los estados pueden establecer dà ­as de observancia pà ºblica de acuerdo a su historia o a sus intereses. Las oficinas estatales cierran y los trabajadores cobran por ese dà ­a, sin embargo, las empresas privadas no estn obligadas a seguir esa norma y deciden segà ºn sus propias reglas. Entre los dà ­as feriados los ms comunes en los estados destacan: El viernes siguiente a Accià ³n de Gracias que, con carcter general, es feriado en los siguientes estados: Arkansas, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Idaho, Kentucky, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, Nuevo Hampshire, Nuevo Mà ©xico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Carolina del Sur, Texas, Washington y Virginia Occidental. El 31 de marzo, Dà ­a de de Cà ©sar Chvez.  Esta conmemoracià ³n es uno de los festivos opcionales y se celebra en Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, Nuevo Mà ©xico, Texas, Rhode Island, Utah y Wisconsin. El 24 de diciembre, Nochebuena, que es feriado en Carolina del Sur, Dakota del Norte, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Oklahoma, Texas, Virginia y Wisconsin. El 26 de diciembre, dà ­a siguiente al de Navidad, es feriado en Carolina del Norte, Carolina del Sur, Texas y Virginia. Cabe destacar que Texas es uno de los estados con ms dà ­as feriados. Adems de los federales y de celebrar el Dà ­a de Cà ©sar Chvez, Nochebuena, Dà ­a despuà ©s de Accià ³n de Gracias y de Navidad, son feriados pà ºblicos las siguientes fechas: 19 de enero: Dà ­a de los hà ©roes confederados.2 de marzo: Dà ­a de la Independencia de Texas21 de abril: San Jacinto19 de junio: Dà ­a de la Emancipacià ³n27 de agosto: Dà ­a de Lyndon B. Johnson Dà ­as no feriados pero celebrados en EE.UU. Estos dà ­as reciben gran atencià ³n en los medios de comunicacià ³n y, en muchos casos, las tiendas y las escuelas estn muy involucradas en las celebraciones. Sin embargo, ni las empresas privadas y las oficinas federales y estatales no estn obligadas ni a dar el dà ­a libre a los trabajadores ni a compensarlos econà ³micamente si no trabajan. 2 de febrero, sbado, Dà ­a de la Marmota14 de febrero, jueves, Dà ­a de San Valentà ­n17 de marzo, domingo, San Patricio19 de abril,Viernes Santo21 de abril, domingo, PascuaCinco de mayo, domingo.12 de mayo, domingo, Dà ­a de la madre.16 de mayo, domingo, Dà ­a del padre.31 de octubre, Halloween Dà ­as feriados y compras En Estados Unidos es habitual que los dà ­as feriados coincidan con grandes rebajas. Sin embargo, no debe confundirse con los los dà ­as conocidos como feriados de impuestos y que se celebran en algunos estados y que implica que en determinados dà ­as no se cobran impuestos a las ventas en determinados artà ­culos. Puntos claves: Dà ­as feriados en EE.UU. Nà ºmero de dà ­as feriados federales en EE.UU.: 10. Los estados pueden decidir no observar algà ºn dà ­a en especà ­fico.Dà ­as feriados que no son siempre un dà ­a lunes, sino que se observan en su fecha: Aà ±o Nuevo, Independencia, Veteranos, Navidad. Adems, el Dà ­a de Accià ³n de Gracias es siempre el cuarto jueves del mes de noviembre.Dà ­as feriados ms comunes en los estados: Cà ©sar Chvez (31 de marzo), viernes despuà ©s de Accià ³n de Gracias, Nochebuena y dà ­a despuà ©s de Navidad. Este artà ­culo es informativo. No es asesorà ­a legal.

Monday, October 21, 2019

What are the differences between Kant and Arendt on radical evil Essays

What are the differences between Kant and Arendt on radical evil Essays What are the differences between Kant and Arendt on radical evil Paper What are the differences between Kant and Arendt on radical evil Paper he was a normal family man. This was concluded after a long series of psychological tests. How could somebody so normal be responsible for the deaths of so many people? Even the judges had trouble accepting that Eichmann was normal and incapable of telling right from wrong. They preferred to conclude that he was a liar. 9 Eichmann was not alone. He was part of a nation responsible as a whole for racial genocide. He could not have completed his objectives alone, without the help of normal, everyday people. These ordinary people were merely carrying out [orders] given by Hitler10 It is not surprising then that they guilty not of crimes but acts of state11 Brutal acts of murder were objectified. Killing with lethal gases for us seems a heinous crime but for those who carried out such acts during Hitlers regime it was a medical matter12 Arendt deduced from these experiences that evil is the absence of thought the shallowness of the evildoer. For Arendt, thinking amounts to a quest to understand the meaning of our world, the ceaseless and restless activity of questioning that which we encounter internally and externally. The value of thinking is not that it yields conclusive results in the same way that empirical knowledge does, but that it constantly returns to question again and again. This, for Arendt, is the cause of our moral responsibility. It was precisely the failure of this capacity that characterized the banality of Eichmanns inclination to participate in political evil. As Plato said thinking is an activity without which life would not be much. Our lives would become mechanical and determined. We are according to Arendt obliged to question things like justice and love etc The people of Germany had the task of thinking alleviated by their Fuhrer. Hitler had created a culture which seemed legitimate to those living in it. With his clever use of propaganda and symbolism he managed to convince his people of the legitimacy of his ideals and intentions. He used stricking phrases such as: the battle of destiny for the german people13 which created a false image of the Nazi regime. The battle of destiny implies that the war against the Jews was a battle that was destined to happen and was unavoidable. Architecture was another tool used by Hitler to create the symbol of world domination and the Nazi ideology. The Olympic stadium, for example, designed by Walter Marsh, symbolized the self confidence of the masters of the German people. These were a contribution to the mind set that all is under control and therefore officially legal and morally correct. Eichmann epitomised the natural gullibility of human beings in general. He, as did many others did not realize that [he was] being manipulated14 They were not aware that Hitler had conspired to present himself with divine radiance. Albert Speer, Hitlers architect was quoted to have said that he was thinking as a specialist and not as a human being. [He] forgot that humanity is the most important part of life. 15 With the benefit of hindsight it is easy to say that it is better to be out of tune with everyone else than with yourself. Hannah Arendt said in her essay, Thinking and Moral Considerations a Lecture, that within our minds is an original split. We have within us the reflector and the reflected. We in effect witness our own thoughts, thus creating an internal dialogue between me and a certain otherness. It is this dialogue that manifests consciousness and it is extremely important to be friends with this other. Socrates once said that he can be friends with the sufferer of evil but I cannot live with a murderer. This implies that we are internally punished for our external actions, but, only those who know that they are doing wrong will suffer as a result of this internal dialogue. The people who do not suffer are the ones who do not know that they are doing wrong.

Sunday, October 20, 2019

The History of Fathers Day

The History of Fathers Day Fathers Day is held on the third Sunday in June to celebrate and honor fathers.  And while the first Mothers Day was celebrated in 1914 after President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation making Mothers Day the second Sunday in May,  Fathers Day did not become official until 1966.   The Story of Fathers Day Who invented Fathers Day? While there are at least two or three different people credited with that honor, most historians consider Sonora Smart Dodd  of Washington State to be the first person to have proposed the holiday in 1910. Dodds father was a Civil War veteran named William Smart. Her mother died giving birth to her sixth child, which left William Smart a widower with five children to raise on his own. When Sonora Dodd married and had her own children, she realized what a tremendous job her father had done in raising her and her siblings as a single parent. After hearing her pastor give a sermon about the newly established Mothers Day, Sonora Dodd suggested to him that there should also be a Fathers Day and proposed that the date be June 5, her fathers birthday. However, her pastor needed more time to prepare a sermon, so he moved the date to June 19, the third Sunday of the month. Fathers Day Traditions One of the early ways established to celebrate Fathers Day was to wear a flower. Sonora Dodd suggested wearing a red rose if your father was still living  and wearing a white flower if your father was deceased. Later, presenting him with a special activity, gift, or a card became commonplace. Dodd spent years campaigning for Fathers Day to be celebrated nationally. She commissioned the help of mens goods manufacturers and others who might benefit from a Fathers Day, such as the makers of ties, tobacco pipes, and other products that would make for a suitable gift for fathers. In 1938, a Fathers Day Council was founded by the New York Associated Mens Wear Retailers to help with the widespread promotion of Fathers Day. Still, the public continued to resist the idea. Many Americans believed an official Fathers Day would be just another way for retailers to make money since the popularity of Mothers Day boosted the sale of gifts for mothers. Making Fathers Day Official As early as 1913, bills had been submitted to congress to recognize Fathers Day nationally. In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson pushed to make Fathers Day official, but couldnt muster enough support from Congress. In 1924, President Calvin Coolidge  would also recommend that Fathers Day be observed, but did not go so far as to issue a national proclamation. In 1957, Margaret Chase Smith, a senator from Maine, wrote a proposal that accused Congress of ignoring fathers for 40 years while only honoring mothers. It wasnt until 1966 that  President Lyndon Johnson  finally signed a presidential proclamation that made the third Sunday of June, Fathers Day. In 1972, President Richard Nixon made Fathers Day a permanent national holiday. What  Gifts Fathers Want Forget about snazzy ties, cologne, or car parts. What fathers really want is family time. According to a Fox News report, About 87 percent of dads would rather have dinner with the family. Most fathers dont want another tie, as 65 percent said they would rather get nothing than another tie. And before you go running out to buy mens cologne, only 18 percent of dads said they want some kind of personal care product. And only 14 percent said they want automotive accessories.

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Organization Behavior Reflection Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Organization Behavior Reflection Paper - Essay Example One of conditions of successful choice of profession is presence of a complex of psycho-physiological and the personal qualities necessary for successful work. As leading characteristics of a person’s readiness to the certain professional work should be considered not only theoretical knowledge, the mental abilities, and special skills, but also own outlook, personal characteristics, valuable orientations, motivations, physical development, and particularities of behavior. On coming to some company or organization a worker has his own purposes, needs, values, norms, style of behavior and certain demands to the employer (conditions of work, salary, etc). A company in turn has own purposes and goals, and makes certain demands to an employee’s education, qualifications, productivity, discipline, etc. It expects the worker will fulfill all rules, social norms, and respect and follow the developed traditions of the organization. Except for a professional role a worker of any company carries out some social roles (becomes the colleague, subordinates, or the head, a member of the trade-union organization). Here we deal with the process of adaptation of own personal style, values, and preferences with job preferences, skills, and ability to work with others Process of adaptation will be the more successful, the more values and norms of behavior of the company will become simultaneously values and norms of behavior of a worker. As for me I consider myself as a person who should be occupied with some job connected with communication with people. I am really communicative and open person. I can easily come to an understanding with different people. Moreover to my opinion one of the most necessary features of character that a person working with people should process is a capability to keep out of conflict situations. All my friend and relatives admit that I am very sociable person. I am sure that sociability on one

Friday, October 18, 2019

Contrast Mackays Tulip Bulb story with the US housing market of the Essay

Contrast Mackays Tulip Bulb story with the US housing market of the past 45 years - Essay Example The recent credit crunch bothering the US economy in particular and the world economies in general, unleashed by subprime mortgages amply reveals the susceptibility of markets to speculative fads and misinformed human avarice and greed. In the given context, Mackay's 'Tulip Bulb' story published in his book 'Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds' seems to be highly relevant. Infact the given narrative is a crystal clear example of a debilitating dichotomy between the prices of a coveted asset and the market fundamentals (Garber 14). The story is based in the year 1559, when the tulip bulbs became a priced commodity in Holland. Infact tulip bulbs were widely traded in the local market exchanges and the people went to the extent of stretching their speculative propensities far beyond their means and started investing in the tulips bulbs that sometimes fetched a price as high as 2,000 guilders. This obsessive herd mentality was totally oblivious of the pragmatic market realities and was solely driven by mass instinct (Peers 29). Eventually, in February 1637, the tulip bubble busted and brought the Dutch economy down to its knees. The story being discussed certainly draws one's attention to the housing and real state bubble that dominated the US economy in the last five years.

Steelco Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Steelco - Research Paper Example Thus theirs is a typical business-to-business product, and the direct buyers rely more on the standardized specifications in the industry rather than going by any other criteria or mandate. So far the brand of Steelco is concerned, it is already a known brand within the industry and the key players down the line who act as the direct customers of the products sold by Steelco are aware about the products as well as buy them. Thus it is clear that brand awareness is not required by Steelco. However, given that the new products have not been taken well by the direct customers of Steelco, the branding strategy needs a thorough relook so that both the existing products as well as the new products may be branded in such a way that demands for both these product lines may be augmented. In this regard, in order to take a relook at the branding strategy deployed by Steelco, the first step could be to analyse the existing branding strategy as well as activities of the firm. To this end, the concept of POP and POD comes into play. Kotler (2007) has noted that points of parity or (POP) refers to those associations that are not essentially unique to the brand, however these points may overlap with other brands. He has further noted that the concept of competitive points of parity holds that the associations that are designed in order to negate the points of difference of the competitors. On the other hand, Keller, Jacob and Parameshwaran (2011) have been of the opinion that points o difference are attributes or benefits that consumers strongly associate with a particular brand and are even of the belief that the particular point cannot be found to the same extent with any other brand available. In this context, Steelco has already gone by the typical routes of business to business marketing as well as brand building activities. Their awareness about the new product program has included informing about the latest development at their end to their customers through

Balancing Technology, People and Organisations in Information Systems Essay - 1

Balancing Technology, People and Organisations in Information Systems Development Education - Essay Example The company’s IS performance is therefore largely determined by the people’s knowledge. It was therefore noted that there is every need to bridge the gap that may exist particularly in understanding systems as well as the technology involved hence the need for proper education. Information technology (IT) and information systems (IS) continue to dominate in today’s corporate environments and they have a significant impact on their operations. Information technology is one of the topical issues in doing business during the contemporary time. In the same vain, there is also need to educate people about these wonderful features of the latest developments in IT and IS so as to attain great results in business. IT and IS have improved dramatically since the invention of computers where information processing was still centralized and only accessible to a few individuals who had access to the computers. However, the scenario today has changed where there are many end-users who can also benefit from the developments in IT and Is. For instance many people had no direct link or access to any IS in an organisation but today that access has been made possible by the new technology in information technology. Many people within an organisation are more directly involved with the systems as they can navigate their own way of doing work via an interactive user interface, thus assuming more responsibility for their own applications. Thus, according to (Ives, Olson, & Baroudi, 1983) cited in Travica (2008), the ability to capture and measure end-user satisfaction serves as a tangible measure in determining the performance of the IS as well as IT function and services. It is therefore important to evaluate whether IS in an organization meet users’ expectations and there ought to be relevant knowledge about how the system operates. In this case, there is need to draw a balance between the people’s knowledge and the operations of technology

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Describe the impact of neuronal and neurotransmitter abnormalities on Essay

Describe the impact of neuronal and neurotransmitter abnormalities on brain function - Essay Example All of them are associated with decreasing patients’ intellectual abilities and certain physical abnormalities that affect significantly normal human activities (Deb S., McHugh R, 2010). Neurons are special nerve cells in human organism, which are able to transfer the information from one cell to another within the whole human body, and in such way support normal human activities and provide adequate reactions for all outside and inside irritants. According to Stufflebeam, â€Å"neurons  are the basic information processing structures in the CNS† (Stufflebeam, 2008).   Neurons are joined in some kind of network with neuroglial cells that support and protect them providing all the conditions for transmitting electric impulses and special chemicals called transmitters. â€Å"Every information processing  system  in the CNS is composed of neurons and glia; so too are the  networks  that compose the systems (and the maps)†¦   Glia  (or  glial cells) are the cells that provide support to the neurons.  Ã¢â‚¬  (Stufflebeam, 2008).   There is a huge amount of different categories of neurons, which are quite diverse within their structure. Usually, the types of neuron cells are classified in the following way (Stufflebeam): sensory neurons  serve for transmission of the information from sensory receptors to CNS by means nerve impulses though their long axons. Motor neurons  are also equipped with comparably long axons and convey nerve impulses from CNS to muscles and glands in human body. Interneurons  are also known as relay or connector neurons and commonly have cells of smaller size with a lot of interconnections to transfer information among different types of neurons. Neurotransmission process The main function of neuron cells is to receive the needful information from other neurons and to send it further through the whole human body. The process of information transferring is quite sophisticated and even nowadays th ere exist a lot of disagreements concerning its certain features. â€Å"Neurotransmission  (or  synaptic transmission) is communication between neurons as accomplished by the movement of chemicals or electrical signals across a synapse† (Stufflebeam, 2008).   There are two main stages in neuronal information transmitting (Stufflebeam): intracellular signaling represents communication between neurons through the instrumentality of special chemical mediums called neurotransmitters. intercellular signaling means that information is transmitted inside one neuronal cell in a form of electric impulses, which speed could reach 150 m/s. These impulses are called action potentials and are transferred through neurons’ axons. Further, they are transformed into transmitters at chemical synapses. According to Stufflebeam, â€Å"for any interneuron, its function is to receive INPUT "information"  from other neurons through synapses, to process that information, then to send "information" as OUTPUT to other neurons through synapses† (Stufflebeam, 2008). Brain abnormalities Peter and Singer (2006) state that most of the brain’s cognitive functions are founded on the synchronized communications of many neurons, which leads to the obvious conclusion that even tiny deviations in normal neurons functioning could cause quite serious

WASTE INCINERATION Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

WASTE INCINERATION - Assignment Example The Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations (2005) 7. The Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations (2006). (UK Waste†¦) It should be noted that the above list is not exhaustive. The purpose of all these legislation is to protect the environment and all natural substances such as air, water, land, animal, plants and surroundings, from the ill effects of hazardous chemicals and industrial wastes. The Risks Associated with Existing Incineration Sites Incinerations are not a right waste disposal technique for the following reasons. Destroying Valuable Resources Incineration of waste simply means that materials have been used only once and then are destroyed. It is a fact that all natural resources that we make use of have finite supplies. All natural resources whether it is iron, aluminum, copper, plastic, glass do not have unlimited supplies then why are we not thinking on recycling of these natural resources? Precious natural habitats and forests in Indonesia, Brazil, Malaysia, and Myanmar were exploited on mass scale for the supply of timber and production of pulp for paper mills. This is also the reason why some of the species have become extinct and natural ecological system has been put in jeopardy. Wood and paper recycling is need of the day to save our forest area. For that matter recycling of all natural produce is a necessity in these ever increasing consumer demands. A small study on SELCHP Incinerator It is a myth that incinerators finish the waste. Einstein’s principle holds true here also that matter cannot be destroyed but are only transformed from one form to another. Essentially, incinerators do not destroy them they just convert it into gases and ash. Household waste which is a cocktail of many harmful substances when burnt in incinerator produce many harmful gases and part of it gets released into atmosphere through chimney. The residue known as ash goes for landfill. Incinerators burn the wastes that create toxic fumes. Though the norms are made by regulatory authorities; often they are violated by the incinerator operators. Two incinerators that are in operation in south London (SELCHP) and North London (Edmonton) were fined for infringements innumerable times in the last 15 years. It is known that domestic waste contains fluorescent tubes and bulbs which have mercury in it, plastic materials, cadmium and many other harmful compounds. Besides, some of the electrical appliances contain cadmium, chromium and lead. They cause more volatile compounds in the heat of incinerator and generate dangerous vapors which get escape from chimneys of the incinerator into the atmosphere polluting natural environment and air. (SELCHP INCINERATOR 2002) Dioxin–a most Potent Threat to the Mankind The plastic materials like PVC, CPVC which contain bound chlorine with them and release dioxins when gets burnt. Dioxin, most toxic substan ce second only to radioactive waste, falls under the class of super-toxic chemicals that forms during burning of plastics and organic chemicals. In the past, people were made to leave the places such as Love Canal and Times Beach, Missouri due to excessive contamination of dioxin. Various plasticizers used in production processes of plastic are also

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Balancing Technology, People and Organisations in Information Systems Essay - 1

Balancing Technology, People and Organisations in Information Systems Development Education - Essay Example The company’s IS performance is therefore largely determined by the people’s knowledge. It was therefore noted that there is every need to bridge the gap that may exist particularly in understanding systems as well as the technology involved hence the need for proper education. Information technology (IT) and information systems (IS) continue to dominate in today’s corporate environments and they have a significant impact on their operations. Information technology is one of the topical issues in doing business during the contemporary time. In the same vain, there is also need to educate people about these wonderful features of the latest developments in IT and IS so as to attain great results in business. IT and IS have improved dramatically since the invention of computers where information processing was still centralized and only accessible to a few individuals who had access to the computers. However, the scenario today has changed where there are many end-users who can also benefit from the developments in IT and Is. For instance many people had no direct link or access to any IS in an organisation but today that access has been made possible by the new technology in information technology. Many people within an organisation are more directly involved with the systems as they can navigate their own way of doing work via an interactive user interface, thus assuming more responsibility for their own applications. Thus, according to (Ives, Olson, & Baroudi, 1983) cited in Travica (2008), the ability to capture and measure end-user satisfaction serves as a tangible measure in determining the performance of the IS as well as IT function and services. It is therefore important to evaluate whether IS in an organization meet users’ expectations and there ought to be relevant knowledge about how the system operates. In this case, there is need to draw a balance between the people’s knowledge and the operations of technology

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

WASTE INCINERATION Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

WASTE INCINERATION - Assignment Example The Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations (2005) 7. The Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations (2006). (UK Waste†¦) It should be noted that the above list is not exhaustive. The purpose of all these legislation is to protect the environment and all natural substances such as air, water, land, animal, plants and surroundings, from the ill effects of hazardous chemicals and industrial wastes. The Risks Associated with Existing Incineration Sites Incinerations are not a right waste disposal technique for the following reasons. Destroying Valuable Resources Incineration of waste simply means that materials have been used only once and then are destroyed. It is a fact that all natural resources that we make use of have finite supplies. All natural resources whether it is iron, aluminum, copper, plastic, glass do not have unlimited supplies then why are we not thinking on recycling of these natural resources? Precious natural habitats and forests in Indonesia, Brazil, Malaysia, and Myanmar were exploited on mass scale for the supply of timber and production of pulp for paper mills. This is also the reason why some of the species have become extinct and natural ecological system has been put in jeopardy. Wood and paper recycling is need of the day to save our forest area. For that matter recycling of all natural produce is a necessity in these ever increasing consumer demands. A small study on SELCHP Incinerator It is a myth that incinerators finish the waste. Einstein’s principle holds true here also that matter cannot be destroyed but are only transformed from one form to another. Essentially, incinerators do not destroy them they just convert it into gases and ash. Household waste which is a cocktail of many harmful substances when burnt in incinerator produce many harmful gases and part of it gets released into atmosphere through chimney. The residue known as ash goes for landfill. Incinerators burn the wastes that create toxic fumes. Though the norms are made by regulatory authorities; often they are violated by the incinerator operators. Two incinerators that are in operation in south London (SELCHP) and North London (Edmonton) were fined for infringements innumerable times in the last 15 years. It is known that domestic waste contains fluorescent tubes and bulbs which have mercury in it, plastic materials, cadmium and many other harmful compounds. Besides, some of the electrical appliances contain cadmium, chromium and lead. They cause more volatile compounds in the heat of incinerator and generate dangerous vapors which get escape from chimneys of the incinerator into the atmosphere polluting natural environment and air. (SELCHP INCINERATOR 2002) Dioxin–a most Potent Threat to the Mankind The plastic materials like PVC, CPVC which contain bound chlorine with them and release dioxins when gets burnt. Dioxin, most toxic substan ce second only to radioactive waste, falls under the class of super-toxic chemicals that forms during burning of plastics and organic chemicals. In the past, people were made to leave the places such as Love Canal and Times Beach, Missouri due to excessive contamination of dioxin. Various plasticizers used in production processes of plastic are also

Tersiary education in South Africa Essay Example for Free

Tersiary education in South Africa Essay Many young south Africans face the problem of deciding what to study after school. Tertiary education is a higher form of education that furthers a learners knowledge of a particular field. Tertiary education is also referred to as third stage, third level, higher education and post-secondary education, it is the educational level following the completion of a school education (after grade 12). tertiary education includes universities, technikons, internships and institutions that specify in skills such as FET colleges. There are also other higher education facilities such as nursing schools There are 4 main options for higher education in South Africa Universities the dictionary defines university as a high-level educational institution in which students study for degrees and academic research is done. There are many universities in south Africa, but they are often hard to be accepted into. They require students who are prepared to study long hours and and make sacrifices in return for a degree which takes a minimum of 4 years to complete Universities are mostly revloved around theory and do not include much practical work. Universities only accept students after grade 12. Benifites of university: Degrees are required for a wide range of careers such as Medicine, Education, Engineering, Accounting and Law. A university education will help establish a career. University graduates gain professional qualifications that are recognised and respected worldwide. University graduates are offered higher pay and greater financial stability. Requirement and thing to do to increas your chances of admittion For a undergraduate diploma study the student must have atleast a NSC cod of 4 (40-49%) and for a bachelors degree study, learnes must of achieved a minimun o a NSC cod 5 (50-59%) To increas chances of getting in to university: apply early, achieve high marks/ higher than NSC code 5, get strong letters of recogmendation , particxipate in extra cirriculem activity and participate in community servise. They also check your social network accounts so delete anything that may bring your character down. FET collages Further education and training collages offer vocation courses which get you ready for a particular job. FET collages focus on scarce skills and careers. They are practical but also involve theory. They provide opportunities for work experience as part of there course. Some FET courses are accepted at university, meaning you can continue to further your knowledge/degree at university, which could get you higher paid jobs. FET collages accept students from grade 9-12 and offer exciting practical courses. Advantages of FET collages: Finding jobs are more easy. Collages have links with institutions and corporal world You don’t have to pass grade 12 to be accepted Requirements and things to do to increas your chances of attening a FET collage; at least a grade 9 certificate is required . to help your chances of being accepted, apply with a grtade 12 certificate, they get first preference, get good references, show interest in community projects and sport. Apply early Technikon or university of technology Technikons offer mainly diploma and certificate courses, as well as degree courses and diploma courses usually take three years to complete. Technikons focus more on the technical study fields a practical form of training, as one third (e. g. one year) of the study period consists of on-the-job training and experience. A technikon is basically a mix between a university and a fet collage. They offer the same level of study as a university Advantages students are exposed to the world of work at an early stage high-quality work and motivation might lead to full-time employment very quickly after graduation. Requirement and thing to do to increas your chances of admittion For a  undergraduate diploma study the student must have atleast a NSC cod of 4 (40-49%) and for a bachelors degree study, learnes must of achieved a minimun o a NSC cod 5 (50-59%) To increas chances of getting in to university: apply early, achieve high marks/ higher than NSC code 5, get strong letters of recogmendation , particxipate in extra cirriculem activity and participate in community servise. They also check your social network accounts so delete anything that may bring your character down Learnerships  A learnership is a s learning process that involves on the job training, where you gain practical skills and theoretical knowledge in ajob which leads to a qualification. Learners participating in a learnership have to attend classes at a college or training centre to complete classroom-based learning, and they also have to complete on-the-job training in a workplace. The workplace experience must be relevant to the qualification. You can also get payed while doing a learnership . Some learnership programmes do not require any entry requirements while others require a Grade 12 certificate. Learniships do not usually cost anything, most are free of charge. What are the benefits of a Learnership? You will receive a nationally recognised qualification upon successful completion of the learnership proramme. You will gain work experience that will improve your chances of getting work. You gain links with the employment network, increasing your chances to find work. You can earn a promotion or be redeployed into a more satisfying job. You can progress onto a higher level learnerhship for personal growth and development. Requirements and things to do to increase your chances of admission; . A grade 12 certificate is required to join and a good letter of recogmendation also good marks will assist. Many people have the believe that university is the best option, because you get better qualifications and a degree. But it might not always be the best option of study and it might not be possible to attend a university. Many companies look for people that have work experience, which university students will not have after sitting inside lecture rooms for 4 years. Universities are also extremely expensive. They can cost a small fortuin, which the average person does not have readily available. Yes loans can be taken out but it may take years to repay and can lead to further debt due to the increase in interest rates. Its not always possible for students with a bad perfermance in grade 12 to attend universities. Universities do not accept students with extremely poor marks. To enter university a bachelors pass is required, which is a NSC with an achievement of rating 4 (adequate achievement 50-59%). FET collages and learnerships are a great option for under performers that want to improve there skills , they involve lots of practical work that can be very benifitial. At the end it all comes to the marks you got in school that effect your choice in tertiary education, those who normaly get bad marks chose learnerships and collage and those who get good marks go to univerities and techhnikons. But there might always be that surprising clever student that wants to persue something practical. The choice is yours.

Monday, October 14, 2019

Overeating In Youths And Adolescents Health And Social Care Essay

Overeating In Youths And Adolescents Health And Social Care Essay Overeating is a major social problem. Throughout the history, perception of overeating has been changing with time owing to the changing social, political, and economic situations. Overeating is an eating disorder which is centrally characterized by addiction to food that leads to binge eating. Individuals who suffer from compulsive eating disorder suffer from episodes of uncontrolled eating. It has been shown to have psychological connection as these individuals tend to experience pressured and frenzied feeling. As a result, the individuals continue eating even after they become uncomfortably full. Binge eating tends to be followed by intense guilt and sometimes depression. While bulimics will purge themselves with vomiting or use of laxatives, individuals suffering from compulsive eating disorder rarely vomit or use laxatives and hence they continue to accumulate weight. Overeating has been recognized as one of the factors contributing to increased incidences of overweight and obes ity which are major public health concerns. Overeating is a social problem which means that the problem has taken different dimensions throughout history. It has been defined and understood in different ways depending on the changing political, social, and economic conditions. Even during the medieval period, overeating was recognized but it was not understood the same way it is understood today. This implies that understanding of the problem has been changing with time and though it was recognized as a sign of wellness in the past, it is considered a major health problem today. Overeating today affects people across the social demographic divide. The problem is today compounded by social values and health concerns. The government has put in place different programs with an aim of mitigating the effect of the problem but little has been achieved. Despite the current understanding of overeating as a social and health problem, and the programs that have been instituted to mitigate its effects, it still remains a major social and health concerns in the world today. Historical Background of Overeating Overeating is a social problem that has changed over time. Since the medieval period, overeating has been understood in different ways depending on the changing economic, social, and political environments. The problem has also been understood in different ways depending on the dominant social values and the changing philosophy of social welfare (Levi et al., 2008). Definition and understanding of the problem have transformed with changes taking place in the environment. The current definition and understanding of the problem is very different from how it was understood during the medieval period. In order to define and understand overeating, it is important to first look at the historical definition and understanding of the problem. Historical understanding of binge eating dates back to the medieval period. At a time when the society was highly stratified, binge eating was understood as a sign of excesses (Tanofsky-Kraff, 2008). It was mainly practiced by those who had excess to eat, mainly those in the upper class. This means that the understanding of overeating during that time was mainly engraved in indulgence since these were only those who could afford plenty of food who ate more. Interestingly, overeating was not recognized as a health problem during the middle ages. Historical accounts have revealed that the ancient Greece and Arabia had texts which showed description of binging and purging which means both were recognized at that time. Also in ancient Rome, historians have shown the existence of constructed vomitoriums places where individuals or feasters threw up food. This is a sign of existence of overeating even at those ancient times. It has recorded that Roman Emperor Claudis who ruled between 10 B.C. to A.D. 54 and Vitellius who ruled between A.D 15 to A.D. 19 were both bulimic. These historical accounts affirm to the fact that eating disorders were recognized as early as 10 B.C. Although it was not recognized, overeating was the main cause of obesity in ancient times. Obesity, which results from overeating, is an age-old problem whose perception has changed over time. During ancient civilization, obesity was perceived in much different ways just like other overeating disorders. For example, ancient Egyptians considered obesity as disease. There have been wall drawing in Egypt which depicted obesity as an illnesses. There was also the famous statuette of Venus figurines, which depicted the image of an obese female torso and which are presumed to have played major roles in carrying out rituals. Ancient Chinese also showed that they understood the problem of obesity and its effect on the longevity of the problem. The Aztecs firmly believed that obesity could be considered as a supernatural problem which was affliction of gods. Hippocrates, who is regarded as the father of medicine, recognized that there were many sudden deaths which could be attributed to obesi ty, and this was expressed clearly in his writings. However, this perception changed from place to place. In areas where food was scarce, overeating and consequential obesity were considered as signs and symbols of wealth and a higher social status. In some African cultures, brides were plumped up in order to prepare them for child bearing period. Before a wedding, a bride was plumped up until she reached the expected weight to assist her to bear a child. This shows that overeating and obesity were perceived in different ways. However, serious focus on the prevalence of eating disorders did not take place until the 19th and 20th century. At the time, there was great scientific advance which provided for research framework to carry out studies to understand the existence of these diseases. For example, it was in 1979 that a British psychiatrist, Gerald Russell, made official description of existence of bulimia. He is the one who gave it its current scientific name, bulimia nervosa. He had carried out a scientific study between 1972 and 1978 (Munsch and Beglinger, 2005). What sets apart the description of Russell from those of ancient Greece and Arabia is that Russell identified that bulimia was carried out in order to cut weight, while the ancient studies did not identify the reason for existence of binging and bulimia. Throughout history, overeating has been perceived in different ways. This perception has changed greatly with changing times, especially in the course of 1900s. For example, French designer Paul Poiret showed that overeating and consequential obesity were unfashionable. Poiret designed skin-revealing women clothes in order to reveal the body image. In the course of the 19th century, the rate of obesity continued to increase at an alarming rate as a result of different factors, among them change in eating patterns, especially overeating and changing lifestyle. Despite the historical records of existence of binge eating, it had not been recognized as a health problem until 1959. In 1959 psychiatrist and researcher Albert Stunkard first described overeating or binge eating as a social problem (Cooper and Fairburn, 2003). He first described it as Night Eating Syndrome and later the term Binge Eating Disorder was used to describe overeating behavior that did not have nocturnal component. This meant that the problem was recognized as a social problem only in 20th century despite its existence for many years. Although the problem has been observed for a number of years, there has not been any scientific study that looked into the trends of overeating. At the time Stunkard described the problem, he had observed there was increasing number of people who were becoming overweight. He noted that overweight individuals had more incidents of overeating compared to the rest of the population (Levi et al., 2008). The clinical observation convinced Stunkard that overeating was somehow related to obesity and only individuals with obesity showed recurrent episodes of overeating. With increase in the number of obese individuals owing to the changing lifestyle, it was easy for Stunkard to relate the prevalence pattern and the risk it posed to the general population. Since then, there have been several studies that have looked into the problem in greater details. From the perception of a sign of excesses during ancient times, binge eating was now recognized as a health issues (Munsch and Beglinger, 2005 ). Since Stunkard recognized the problem in overweight individuals, it was not recognized by the medical authorities in the country despite a number of consequent studies that have outlined the effects of the problem. It was not until 1994 when Binge Eating Disorder (BED) was introduced in the DSM-IV criteria. However it was introduced as a provision psychiatric disorder that required further research. It is important to understand that during 1950s when the problem was recognized as a major social problem, there were a lot of changes that were taking place in the social, political, and economical environment. This period marked the end of the Second World War and the world was drawing the attention away from war and political bickering to focus on social and health welfare of the population. The end of the Second World War ushered the world into a new era that was more focused on social welfare of the people. Since the turn of the century, the world has been much occupied with First and Second World War and the Great Depression that have wiped away wealth and people scrambled for food rations. This means during the period after the end of the Second World War, people could access more food. Change in technology has been recognized as another factor that contributed to increased incidence of overeating (Munsch and Beglinger, 2005). The changing nature of life, mainly driven by technology, led to food process technologies that made food available outside the kitchen. Traditionally, food was only found and prepared in the kitchen which meant that people had limited chances of eating. However, the introduction of modern food processing technology, especially with the emergence of fast and convenient food, people have more chances of eating and this factor contributed to incidence of overeating. With availability of food in different public spaces, and with emergence of food chains like MacDonalds, which have been established in almost every corner, people are encouraged to eat more often (Levi et al., 2008). The increased incidence of overeating led to rising cases of obesity and this was one of the factors that drew attention to the issue of overeating. Changes in social life, especially in working conditions, were another factor that contributed to the increased cases of overeating. Unlike times when people labored for hours in the field, the emergence of office jobs where manual jobs are left to machines encourages people to eat more (Munsch and Beglinger, 2005). As the number of working hours reduced and more work was taken over by machines, people had more time to relax and eat. Even at work, the emergence of fast food meant that people could carry food to work and continued to eat while working. There were a number of changes at home that also marked increased cases of overeating. The emergence of television sets and other entertainment devices stationed at home meant that people spent more hours watching TV while eating. At the end, they ate more than they would have eaten if they were not watching TV (Munsch and Beglinger, 2005). Apart from positive impacts of technological advancement and wealth creation like having TVs at home, there are other psychological changes that come with change in life that have been pointed out as possible causes of overeating. As people became busy and pre-occupied and the economy changed, the level of stress kept on rising (Levi et al., 2008). High levels of stress and depression have also been pointed out as possible reasons why people engaged in overeating. Research evidence has shown that compared to the past, economic crisis of modern time, where life is centered on economic performance, has contributed to high levels of stress. It is therefore evident that throughout history, definition and understanding of overeating has dramatically changed in line with emerging social, political, and economic trends. Earlier definition of overeating is quite different from the modern one. Binge eating has changed from a sign of wealth in ancient times to a health problem that is attributed to the changes in the modern lifestyle. While the overeating and obesity have remained a problem for the wealth in earlier times, most of the obese individuals nowadays are found in the middle and low class. Description of the overeating in youths and adolescents Since the 1950s, overeating and accompanying overweight and obesity complications have become major public health concerns in the United States. As has been the tradition with the United States government, it responds with policies aimed at mitigating the effect of the problem but rarely puts in place policies to prevent the problem. Since overeating was noted as a public health concern in 1950s, it took the government several years before any policy was put in place to address the issue. With time, overeating, coupled with changing life style including reduced engagement in physical exercises has led to overweight and obesity, which are considered to be the major public health issues facing the country (Tanofsky-Kraff, 2008). Binge eating disorder is currently a major problem that cuts across the whole population. Each and every year, there are millions of Americans who succumb to different threatening eating disorders, but binge eating remains a major problem across the whole popul ation. It is estimated that about 16 million Americans suffer from one or more eating disorders including anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa (Tanofsky-Kraff, 2008). However, a higher number, 25 million Americans, are documented to suffer from binge eating. Interestingly, the problem is more pronounced in women than in men. Statistics shows that more than 90% of those who are affected by these problems are women (Hudons et al., 2007). Unlike other health problems that have been known to occur with age, either very early or very late in life, eating disorders occur in the middle life. It has been documented that about 86% of individuals who report eating disorders are slightly below the age of 20, which means the problem starts developing early in life. For example, research findings show that about 11% of high school students have one or more eating disorders, with binge eating being a major problem (Raderprograms, 2010). However, research shows conflicting results. A number of studies have pointed out that the prevalence of binge eating is not clear in the population. This is because the prevalence differs from place to place depending on the social economic status. However, it has been shown that the prevalence of binge eating in the general population ranges between 1-3% (Bull, 2004). As was earlier observed in 1950s, binge eating remains a major problem facing overweight and obese individuals. A number of studies have clearly shown that among the overweight and obese individuals, binge eating rangers from 25% and more (Bull, 2004). In adolescents and youth, binge eating has been described as a major health concern. Studies have shown that lost of control eating or BED is prevalent in young people not only in the United States but in the whole world (Tanofsky-Kraff, 2008). Binge eating is associated cross-sectionally with adiposity in children and youth and has been identified as a major factor predisposing them to overweight and obesity. Overeating is therefore a major social problem not only in adults but in youths. There are several reasons why the society is getting concerned with the problem of overeating. Since the second half of the 20th century, increasing incidence of overeating has attracted public attention owing to the social and health ramification on the general population. Overeating was recognized as a problem associated with obesity. The reason why the society is becoming more concerned with increasing incidence of overeating can be related to the rising cases of overweight and obesity in the population. Obesity is an epidemic in the United States that affects people across the social demographic divide. It is estimated that about three quarters or accurately more than 64% of American adults are overweight while 26% are obese (Levi et al., 2008). The number of obese people in the United States has grown steadily from 19.4% in 1997 to the recent 26.6% in 2007 (Hudons et al., 2007). By 2015, it is estimated that about 75% of the United States population will be overweight while 41% will be obese (Hudons et al., 2007).While obesity has been considered a problem for the aging individuals, demographic prevalence portrays a worrying trend as children and adolescents shows increasing cases of overweight and obesity. In the last two decades, it has been observed that children and youths are becoming victims of complications associated with overeating, with 15-25% of American children considered obese while the number keeps on growing (Tanofsky-Kraff, 2008). Worrying trends show that one in every five children is overweight and has a higher likelihood of becoming obese. By any standards, these statistics are worrying and call for action from the concerned stakeholders. The above statistics clearly reveals why overeating is considered a major public health concern. What is more worrying is the observation that overweight and obese children and teens are likely to become obese when they grow up to adults. This means that there is likelihood of having a generation of obese adults in the cause of time if nothing is done (Munsch and Beglinger, 2005). Although there are multiple sources which contributed to overweight and obesity, overeating has been singled out as the main cause of obesity in children and teens. A recent study that was carried out by World Health Organization Collaboration Center for Obesity Prevention found out that while researchers have long faulted decrease in physical activity as the main cause of obesity, increase in overeating should rather be pointed out as the main cause of obesity. For children, overeating rather than other compounding factors is the main cause of obesity (RWJF, 2010). If the above trend is anything to go by, then overeating should be a major concern for all individuals in the society and indeed, it is a call for the government to come up with measures to mitigate the effects of overeating in children. There are many social, economic, political, and media forces that have garnered to define overeating as a major social problem. Socially, the perception of overeating has been changing with time and today it is no longer perceived as a sign of wealth and excesses but rather as a social problem. Research has shown that children who are overweigh and obese are likely to be bullied or face cynicism from their peers. They are perceived to be irresponsible, which means they suffer socially. This means that overeating is no longer accepted as a social practice as it leads to overweight and obesity (Levi et al., 2008). Economically, people are becoming well off and the living standards have really improved. However researches point out that overeating is not an economic problem as it cuts across the divide, which means even children and teens living in low income areas are suffering from the problem. This means that there are more underlying economic factors, like the model of economy that lays less emphases on hard work that increases calorie consumption which has conspired to aggravate the problem. Political forces that have lead to recognition of the problem include government policies that have defined the issue. In 1994, the government took a bold step to include BED into the DSM-IV criteria which means it was already recognized as a health problem. Through the relevant organizations, the government has funded a number of programs aimed at mitigating the problem (Munsch and Beglinger, 2005). However, the most instrumental force that has shaped overeating as a social problem is the media. Now and then, the media carries out campaigns that are aimed at keeping children out of overeating. The media has been critical of multinational corporations like McDonalds which have encouraged overeating. On the other hand, media portrayal of desired body size, especially for teenage girls, forces them to engage in weight loss programs that lead to emotional binge eating. The public understanding of overeating is coming to a convergence. As has been reviewed earlier, ancient understanding of overeating was quite different from the modern understanding. There were some societies that encouraged overeating in women to give them strength to bear children while in some societies, overeating was perceived to come with health effects. Nowadays, with the increased understanding of consequence of overeating in reference to overweight and obesity, public definition of the overweight portrays it as a major psychological problem. According to DSM-IV criteria, binge eating is defined as a disorder marked by eating larger than usual amount of food in a short period of time, most specific, within a period of two hours. It is lack of control on ones eating behavior or eating that cannot be controlled (Munsch and Beglinger, 2005). In this definition, there are important values and ideologies that have are put into consideration. Most important, the definition puts in to consideration the health value in belief that while eating is good; it may come with consequential health effects. Concretely, overeating in youths and adolescent is understood as a psychological and behavioral problem that comes with grave consequences especially overweight and obesity. However, overeating is still understood in different terms by different social segments. For some parents, overeating in their children may be a sign of growth in appetite (Munsch and Beglinger, 2005). Parents understand that throughout the life span, children feeding behavior keeps on changing and therefore overeating in adolescents corresponds to nutrients needs in their body, which means they do not consider it to be a problem. However, for others, overeating is already recognized as a major health problem and hence they are doing their best to assist their children to overcome it. Prevalence patterns show that Binge Eating Disorder affects millions of people in the United States, especially youths and adolescents. However, the problem is more pronounced in females than males. In the United States, the problem affects 3.5% females compared to 2% males (Decaluwe and Braet, 2003). The problem is also more pronounced in individuals who are overweight and obese as more than 30% of individuals seeking weight reduction treatment have shown signs of BED (Decaluwe and Braet, 2003). The fact that binge eating is twice common in females than males shows that the problem is not related to caloric needs as assumed by most parents. The most devastating effect of binge eating is that it leads to health complications like overweight and obesity. Binge eating leads to increased adiposity in children and adults which increases incidence of overweight and obesity. Since the problem cuts across the social demographic divide, including wealthy people and those from low income area s, there are no social injustices which are associated with the problem. Generally, it can be recognized as a problem associated with increase in wealth, modern food processing technology, and changes in different spheres of life (Munsch and Beglinger, 2005). Social value and political ideologies have impacted differently on the way the problem is viewed. As social value keeps on changing, so has the public perception of overweight and obesity. For example, traditionally, people with big bodies who can currently be categorized obese were valued and viewed as well up. However, this has changed with the changing media perception of ideal body weight. If any, there are few individuals in the society who want to maintain big bodies (Decaluwe and Braet, 2003). This means that if overweight is being viewed negatively in the society, binge eating, which is a causative factor for overweight and obese conditions are also viewed negatively by the people. Politically, there has been less government concern on obesity and overweight until recently when the government took bold steps in face of public threat posed by overweight and obesity incidences to institute measures to deal with the problem, for example inclusion of overeating in DSM-IV (Levi et al., 2008). Overweight and obesity are tied to the political ideology of capitalism which is defining the modern society. In capitalism, individuals amass more, and indulge in culture of consumerism hence driving forward the culture of overeating (Levi et al., 2008). Overeating can be explained using different social theories. One of the recent theories that have been used to explain overeating is reversal theory which explains overeating as a response to high-tension stress (Sue et al, 1998). This theory has shown that women who engage in weight reduction program suffer from tension and stress which forces them to engage in overeating. The same model has also been expressed by psychosomatic theory which shows that emotional eating results from confusion and apprehension related to emotional states that are in turn related to hunger and satiety (Terry, 2005). Another theory that explains overeating is habituation theory which suggest that when one habituates or adjusts a to food cues, one is less likely to get satisfied and keeps on consuming food (Munsch and Beglinger, 2005). In line with this theory, social learning theory also shows that overeating is a learned behavior that is learned due to physical surrounding and interactions. Cognitive th eories have pointed out that overeating is deeply rooted in cognitive process which means it is a cognitively driven process. This means that the brain is motivated to eat more and more with no feeling of satiety (Terry, 2005). In reference to the above theories, it can be deduced that there are biological, social, and psychological causes of binge eating. In biological causes, it has been revealed that body parts and hormones like hypothalamus which control appetite may fail to send correct message for hunger and fullness and hence lead to overeating. Psychological sources have shown that depression and binge eating are closely linked to each other. The U.S Department of Health and Human Services shows that more than half of binge eaters are depressed or have suffered signs of depression in life (Levi et al., 2008). On social factors, it has been shown that social pressure adds shame on binger eaters but this only fuels their emotional eating (Munsch and Beglinger, 2005). Environme ntal factors like parental practice of use of food to conform children fuels binge eating. A causal chain that explains pathway to overeating may be constructed as follows: Ideology/Values -Social influence desired body size, peer influence -Economic influence change in working patters, convenient and fast food, less physical work -Media influence pressure on desired body size Positive influence Increased food intake due to positive influence like availability of food, eating while watching TV, and others Emotional eating Triggered by stress/depression Effects Overweight Obesity Insomnia Relationship problems Suicidal thoughts Depression and anxiety Overeating causes many health related physical, emotional, and social problems, including overweight and obesity, stress, insomnia, suicidal thoughts, and many others. Depression, anxiety, and sometimes substance abuse have been pointed out to be possible side effects of binge eating (Munsch and Beglinger, 2005). Binge eating also comes with social problems like interference relationship and career. In terms of effects and benefits, overeating can be looked from two angles, from the point of view of those who benefit and those who suffer from the problem. To start with, there are much more people who suffer from the problem than those who benefit from it. Those who suffer from the problem include individuals who are suffering the consequences of such problems like overweight and obesity, close family and relates who are related to the individual and also suffer from the problem, the government which has to incur billions of dollars in treating complications associated with the problem, and many others (Hudons et al., 2007). On the other hand, those who benefit from the problem include businesses which deal with food and others like pharmacies which sell medical supplements to deal with complications of overweight and obesity. Currently, there are many programs which are dedicated to mitigation of the problem. It is important to note that most of these programs have taken the approach of providing education to youths and adolescents on causes, effects, dangers, and ways to prevent overeating. While the government has instituted such policies as school feeding policy that encourage healthy eating, most of the programs are run by the private sector in conjunction with the government, most of them existing in their own microenvironment. Some of these programs include Focus Adolescent Services, The Center- A Place of Hope, Eating Disorder Hope, and many others. These programs have used the most accessible information dissemination media, mainly through the internet to reach as many youths and adolescents as possible.

Sunday, October 13, 2019

Ethan Frome Essay -- Essays Papers

Ethan Frome Ethan Frome written by Edith Wharton in 1905 is a novel about the dilemmas of a poor New England farmer named Ethan Frome, his wife Zeena, and Zeena's cousin, Mattie Silver. The first person narrator, an engineer, comes to the town of Starkfield and becomes curious about the crippled, taciturn Ethan Frome. The tragic consequences of Ethan's unhappy marriage and forbidden love are revealed in a flashback to twenty-four years before the narrators arrival in Starkfield. In 1992, a movie was made of Ethan Frome which kept this plot in tact but included a number of changes in how the story was narrated and in some of the details about the characters and the plot. Some of the changes were effective; others were not so effective. Some of these changes didn't even make that much of an effect on the way the movie was compared with the book. One of these changes would have to be that the narrator was an engineer in the book and in the movie he was a minister. This change was not that big of a deal. This seems like it wouldn't really make that much of a difference. In the movie they didn't go into that much detail about before the accident so it mad no difference if the narrator was an engineer or a minister. Either way it would have made no difference if he was a bartender or an exotic dancer. It may or may not have made the story a little more interesting, but who really cares what the narrator's occupation is. Some of the changes in the book seemed to m...

Saturday, October 12, 2019

Steroids: A Growing Role in Society Essay -- Sports Drugs Steroid Essa

Steroids: A Growing Role in Society Dear Mr.: Here is my research project on steroids and its effect on society. While conducting my research I have learned that steroids are becoming a serious and dangerous problem in society. I believe that my research project would be a good reference for anyone interested in the science and culture of steroids in America. Some of the topics I covered in my project are topics that have for the most part been ignored by most scholarly works on steroids. For example, I have devoted a whole section of my paper to the prevention and care of steroid use. I also included a large section on the scientific facts and effects that steroids have on the body. The issue of steroids in society is a very hot topic and I was able to find many helpful materials from many different sources. One of these sources is a controversial book written by a former Major League Baseball player. Other sources are from newspaper and magazine articles written in lieu of the recent controversies. By using subjective materials such as these I was able to get a feel for the opinions within American culture regarding the use of steroids. I’ve enjoyed working on this project, and would be happy to answer any questions. Sincerely, Name Abstract   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Steroid use is a growing problem in society. There is a multitude of research pertaining to the science of steroids but the prevention and treatment of steroid use has for the most part been largely ignored. In order to get to the root of the problem the research should contain not only the basics of steroids, but also the culture of steroid use.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The reasons why people use steroids range from improving sports performance to prevention of abuse and rape. By focusing not only on the obvious reasons for steroid use, the prevention and treatment of steroid use becomes a much bigger and more complicated problem than most would assume.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There are many different procedures being used to control steroids and their abuse. Some of them appear to be working but many of them do not. Only telling people the adverse affects of steroids is the most ineffective way to control the problem. Rather, teaching people the risks and rewards of steroids and how to receive the same rewards without actually using the drugs seems to be the most effective method.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Steroids have now t... ...2005). Juiced: Wild Times, Rampant ‘Roids, Smash Hits, and How Baseball Got Big. New York: Regan Books.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ciola, T. (2004). Steroids Kill. Orlando: Axion Publishers.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Gallaway, S. (1997). The Steroids Bible. Belle Intl.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Info Facts: Steroids. (2005). National Institute on Drug Abuse. Retrieved March 28, 2005, from the World Wide Web: http://www.nida.nih.gov/infofacts/steroids.html   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Kerr, R. (1982). The Practical Use of Anabolic Steroids With Athletes. Research Center for Sports.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Lukas, S. (2001). Steroids (The Drug Library). New Jersey: Enslow Publishers.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Paris, J. (2005, April 16). Steroids: dangerous, illegal and so very easy to obtain. North County Times [Online newspaper]. Retrieved April 16, 2005 from the World Wide Web: http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2005/04/17/sports/amateur.txt   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Silverstein, A. (1992). Steroids: Big Muscles, Big Problems. New Jersey: Enslow Publishers.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Teens and Steroids. (2000). Focus Adolescent Services. Retrieved April 10, 2005, from the World Wide Web: http://www.focusas.com/steroids.html   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Yesalis, C. (2000). Anabolic Steroids in Sports and Exercise. Philadelphia: Human Kinetics Publishers.

Friday, October 11, 2019

Yellowstone Super Volcano

The Yellowstone volcano is known to many as the most dangerous volcano is America. Right now, the ground underneath Yellowstone National Park is rising at an alarming rate. In fact, it is rising at the rate of about three inches per year., which is practically unheard of. The reason why this is such a concern is because underneath the park sits the Yellowstone supervolcano, the largest volcano in North America. Scientists tell us that it is inevitable that it will erupt again one day, and when it does the devastation will be almost unimaginable. But could it cause a mass extinction? A full-blown eruption of the Yellowstone supervolcano would dump a 10 foot deep layer of volcanic ash up to 1,000 miles away, and it would put much of the United States as uninhabitable. With enough warning, the states near Yellowstone could be evacuated, which would largely avoid a great number of deaths caused by the downpour of ash. However, that's just in the short term, the aftermath would be the pro blem. For several days, ash would hang in the air, making it difficult to breathe. That blanket of ash covering the country would smother vegetation and pollute the water supply, which will quickly lead to a nationwide food crisis. As for the rest of the world, it would face a few years of mild climate change caused by the supereruption's ash cloud, which would wrap around the globe, casting Earth in shadow for several days and altering the chemical composition of the atmosphere for a decade or so. However, recent research shows the global impacts of supervolcanoes are less severe than scientists once thought.Scientists now think the vast majority of Earth's species would weather a Yellowstone supereruption just fine. They don't see any evidence in the geologic record of mass extinctions coinciding with supereruptions. In conclusion, they don't predict extinctions to result from such geologic events in the future.References1) http://www.nps.gov/yell/naturescience/volcanoqa.htm 2)htt p://www.livescience.com/20714-yellowstone-supervolcano-eruption.html