Apply for graduate school, MA in Economics Personal Statement

Apply for graduate school, MA in Economics - Personal Statement Example In spite of the fact that I already have a degree for developing a career, becoming an outstanding professional with specialized knowledge in my field is my immediate objective for pursuing the course. This is because my previous academic background is so wide with inadequate ‘in-depth’ knowledge in economic principles and theories for practical application. I further believe that taking the course from a distinguished institution like yours, which is also a key competitive advantage in the job market, and eventually establishing my career in a reputable international organization will be a key to my professional objective. The need for highly rated economists to solve existing economic problems at different levels of the society, local, national, and international levels has also motivated my desire to pursue the Masters degree in economics because it provides an opportunity to influencing policies for the society’s economic benefit. My intention to complete the masters program also factors in a number of personal goals. Upon completing the degree, I hope to work with a social international agency that specializes in economic empowerment of communities in ‘poverty-stricken’ developing countries, a position from which I shall be able to initiate positive transitions in people’s lives besides conducting research into economic theories. Sharing my acquired knowledge with other members of the society is also my goal into the course. I for instance intend to apply my knowledge in lecturing university and college students as a part time activity. Further, upon attaining my professional goal towards a recognized social status, I hope to be a socially responsible member of the society through mobilization and empowerment of the youth towards pursuits for higher education, entrepreneurial ventures, and social responsibility. This is because the youth lacks dedicated

Theories Regarding How the Pyramids at Giza Were Constructed Essay Example for Free

Theories Regarding How the Pyramids at Giza Were Constructed Essay The Great Pyramid of Giza is one of the key structures listed in the seven wonders of the ancient world. It is important to notice that what makes this structure supreme and memorable? This wonder was the tallest man made composition in 3800 years which is not only a will to its robustness but to mark it as the most remarkable structures. This monument exemplifies the accomplishments and advancements of architecture in Egypt (www. personal. psu. edu))t. There are many mysteries that are raised for its construction and also introduce different theories. It is important to notice that it is not the pyramid that is eye capturing but the method and process of creating it is certainly fascinating. There are two particular theories such as transport theory which is presented by engineer and inventor, Andrzej Bochnacki and Limestone concrete theory by Materials scientist, Joseph Davidovits that hold the focus of many historians and scientists Discussion One of the most refined pyramid construction theories has been proposed by Polish engineer, Andrzej Bochnacki. In the book of â€Å"Different Story about Pyramids†, Andrzej suggests very inventive technology for moving the pyramid blocks from the pits to the construction place. He presents the method from which the stones moved to making the entire pyramid. He said that they must have made the paper boats which were placed on the top of the blocks and knotted up with ropes (Bochnacki, 1994). These movable boats were in wait to raise the water of Nile and so they can be easily dragged to a preferred destination. The easiest way was to drag them to the west region of Nile where water flooded the fields. There is a sketch that portrays the moving of stones for making pyramid. Moreover, there is another great theory presented by Materials scientist, Joseph Davidovits. He claimed that Pyramid’s block are not the carved stone, but was mostly made from limestone concrete and they were forcefully thrown like modern concrete. As per this theory, soft limestone with high kaolinite capacity was tapped in the gully on the southern side of the Giza Plateau. He suggested that the limestone was then dissolved in Nile pools till it became slurry. It is important to notice that lime and natron are greatly in use in mummification by Egyptians. It might be possible that the pool were then allowed to evaporate, leaving a clay-like mixture. The scientist mentioned that this wetly concrete material will be carried to the site of construction where it would be filled into recyclable wooden molders and after few days it would undergo in a chemical reaction. , he suggested that new blocks can be casted in the place on the top of other blocks. This composition was tested by using the similar compounds which were brought out at the institute of geopolymer in northern France. It was discovered that these limes could pile a structure of 1. 3- to 4. 5-ton blocks in few weeks (Barsoum, Ganguly Hug, 2006). But it is essential to notice that this theory was not accepted by the mainstream of academics. Davidovits’ method does not cover the entire reasoning as the stones weighted more than 10 tons and his theory defines only 4. 5 tons growth. Moreover, different Geologists have cautiously inspected the suggested technique of Davidovits and concluded that his reasoning came from innate limestone tapped in the Formation of Mokattam. This theory is currently supported by Michel Barsoum, who is a researcher of material science. Barsoum and his fellows printed their findings at Drexel University which supports the theory of Davidovits in 2006 in the Journal of the American Ceramic Society. They further discussed that air bubbles and mineral compounds are the samples of limestone and the blocks of pyramid are not made up of natural limestone. I think that this theory holds certain reasons as a petrographer, Dipayan Jana also made a presentation in 2007 to the ICMA, in which he talks about the work of Barsoum and Davidovit and concluded that we are more far to accept the remote possibility of manmade structure of pyramid stones. Conclusion Certainly, the construction of Pyramid is mystery and many scientists and researchers have tried different methods to resolve this puzzling mystery. In my opinion, the theory of limestone concrete is more appropriate in its reasoning as it is based on the mere research of the stone material and certainly portrays the accuracy. The mystery holds great significance as it is about one of the world’s wonder that could not be easily left my scientist. The resolution to this mystery seems no ending as there are many discussions and debates have taken place regarding this construction enigma. The entire study of the Construct Pyramids at Giza was very interesting to know about the interest of people in ancient monuments and their origins. It certainly enhances the understanding about the cultural and historical usage of things and how people’s hard work and traditional ways brought outstanding creations.

the best thing :: essays research papers

6:02 a.m., Saturday morning. It’s early but my eyes crack open slightly and I roll underneath my covers. I stretch my arms and legs, making loud groans as my body twists and turns. Half awake, my legs drag me to the window and I pull up the shades. Blinded by the morning light, my fingers feel for the window locks and unlock them. As I pull open the window the cold, winter air fills my room. I shiver, hugging myself to hold in the warmth. My eyes finally adjust and a smile creeps across my face. Winter’s first snow has arrived. I take one last whiff of the morning air and shut my window gently. Everyone is still sleeping, enjoying the comforting warmth of their beds. However, I am wide awake and excited. Slowly, I strip off my pajamas and pull on a first layer of clothing. Heading to the kitchen, I start my parents’ coffee and slide a tray of biscuits into the oven. It won’t be long before everyone is awake. Lightly tiptoeing to the closet and opening the door soundlessly, I rummage through the mess. At last I spot the bag. All the way in the back closet it sits and has been sitting since last winter. I notice my mother as usual, has clearly labeled the outside â€Å"Winter Stuff† and folded all the contents. With a bit of excitement, I tip the bag upside down letting the insides pile onto the floor. Sorting through the items one by one, I separate them into each family member’s belongings. The smell of biscuits has filled the kitchen and is slowly making its way to the bedrooms. It won’t be much longer now. A rustling sounds from my parents’ room and then a creak from the bed. A single grunt escapes my dad’s mouth and his footsteps begin. Scratching his head, he enters the kitchen. He notices the biscuits and the mess I’ve made on the floor. He chuckles softly and smiles at me. One by one they wake up and enter the kitchen looking slightly dazed and confused. They catch a glimpse of what I have started and they all smile immediately. This isn’t just my favorite family tradition. My little brother and sister run towards the window and stare out in awe. They giggle excitedly and high-five each other. After eating our breakfast, each of us grab our pile of â€Å"Winter Stuff† and head to our rooms to change. My dad hollers, â€Å"Are you guys ready yet?† and we all sprint as fast as we can

The Ideal Man Defined in The Fountainhead :: Fountainhead

The Ideal Man Defined in The Fountainhead  Ã‚     Ã‚   Ayn Rand has based her novel, The Fountainhead on the projection of an ideal man.   It is the portrayal of a moral ideal as an end in itself.   She has placed 'man-worship' above all and has brought out the significance of the heroic in man. Man-worshippers are those who see man's highest potential and strive to actualize it.   They are dedicated to the exaltation of man's self esteem and the sacredness of his happiness on earth. The Fountainhead has brought out the greatness of man - the capacity, the ability, the integrity and honesty in man - as an ideal to be achieved.   It is based on the idea of romanticism which means that "it is concerned not with things as they are but with things as they might be and ought to be." The Fountainhead is the story of an architect, Howard Roark-, whose genius and integrity were as unyielding as granite and of his desperate battle waged against the conventional standards of society.   It is a tale of hatred and denunciation unleashed by the society against a great innovator; of a man who has great conviction in himself; of a person who believes that man's first right on earth is the right of the ego and that man's first duty is the duty to himself, a man who redefines egoism.   An egoist, in the absolute sense, is not the man who sacrifices others to self.   He is the man who stands above the need of using others in any manner. Roark doesn't function through others. He needs no other men. His primary goal is to achieve perfection. He is a man with uncompromising values and integrity. In order to make her philosophy clearer, Ayn Rand has simultaneously given an account of people like Peter Keating and Ellsworth M. Toohey.   Peter Keating - a man who cheats and lies but preserves a respectable front.   He knows himself to be dishonest but others think he is honest and he derives his self-respect from that.   His aim in life is greatness - in other people's eyes.   Other people dictated his conviction which he did not hold but he was satisfied that others believed he held them.   Others were his prime concern.   He didn't want to be great but to be thought great.   He borrowed from others to make an impression on others.

Article of Confederation Essay

The first constitution was written in the United States was called the â€Å"Articles of Confederation. † It established a loose league of friendship between thirteen sovereign states and proposed that each state have its sovereignty, freedom, and independence. The Articles of Confederation approve in 1781, which led to a period of crisis between the years 1781 and 1789. This period refer as the Critical Period. The Articles of Confederation was the precursor of the United States Constitution because of the many reasons it had weaknesses and replaced by the United States Constitution. The Constitution of the United States comprises the nation’s fundamental law, providing the framework for its governance and the principles under which it must operate. When the constitution was written, it was intended to endure for ages, be flexible, and adaptable for future generations. The constitution was intended to be the supreme law of the land. â€Å"To win the required approval from all 13 states, drafters changed the plan and granted the Confederation control of western lands. After four years, the Articles finally won ratification in 1781. † (Created Equal, pg. 77) The Articles of Confederation, which were ratified in 1781, became the first constitution. The Articles of Confederation dealt with three problems: taxation, representation, and the extent of control over western territories. First, the Articles of Confederation weakness was that the central government did not have the power to collect taxes. As the Articles of Confederation illustrate, â€Å"According to the Articles, Congress could not collect taxes or regulate trade; it could only requisition funds from the states. Shares would vary depending on each state’s free population. (Created Equal, pg. 177) Under the Articles of Confederation, the state government can only send its contribution annually to the national government but they cannot be compelled to pay taxes. Due to this huge weakness, many problems arose in the U. S, which were signs of the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation. The trade agreements Congress had made with other nations were not always carried out. Many people soon started importing goods from other countries that they refused to pay for. Consequently, people in other nations soon became reluctant to trade with the U.  S; even Great Britain closed its commerce to it, which resulted in the loss of a lot of money because of lack of trade. There was also competition among the states, as they started levying taxes on goods passing through them to other states. Taxes are the lifeblood of the nation. Without it, no government machinery will function. Thus, the national government could not perform its functions because it did not have the funds. Second weakness was the enactment of laws. Under the Articles of Confederation, the enactment of laws needed the approval of 9 out of 13 states. The voting obligation is quite high. As a result, five states could easily prevent the enactment of laws, which seriously jeopardized the enactment of laws that needed to be passed. The Articles of Confederation note, â€Å"Moreover, the Confederation had no separate executive branch; executive functions fell to various committees of the Confederation Congress. † (Created Equal, pg. 177) There was no executive branch to institute the policies for the entire nation. As a result, the state governments did not have a cohesive policy that every state government should follow. Consequently, the state governments individually created their own policies. Since there was no national judiciary, the state courts were tasked to interpret laws. As George Mason indicates, â€Å"The Judiciary of the United States is so constructed & extended, as to absorb and destroy the Judiciarys of the several States; thereby rendering Law as tedious intricate and expensive, & Justice as unattainable, by a great Part of the Community, as in England, and enabling the Rich to oppress & ruin the Poor. † (Mason, Paragraph 2, pg. 10) It had become clear that it was necessary to abandon the Articles of Confederation in favor of a constitution that provided for a stronger national government, created a national judiciary and strong Congress. Finally, the United States had different issues that they had to deal with. These were foreign affairs, economic conditions, and Western land. The Articles clarify, â€Å"In addition, to the dismay of land speculators, the Congress would not control the western domains that several large states had claimed. † (Created Equal, pg. 77) The government was weak due to poor economic conditions and the people still feared the power of the central government. These weaknesses posed a threat to the effectiveness of the government. Under the Articles of Confederation, there was a unicameral legislature. There was one house and there were no executive or judiciary branches. Each state had the same number of representatives and their own currency. The states taxed each other and affecting the value of money to decrease and posed a threat to the economic stability of the United States, which was already weak and in need of reformation. The Articles of Confederation was the precursor of the United States Constitution because of the many reasons it had weaknesses and replaced by the United States Constitution. It brought the colonies together as a loose confederation with the state’s rights being more important than the power of the federal government. Even though the government under the Articles of Confederation was very weak, it was still more democratic because it gave more rights and power to the states. The Articles unified the states under a loose confederation, which lacked a strong, central government. Although the Articles of Confederation had several successes, it created far more weaknesses and failures. The failures of the Articles had to be addressed, so a new constitution was created and drafted at the Constitutional Convention, which determined the many failures of the Articles, and created a strong central government. A controversial issue has been debated over whether the government under the Articles of Confederation or the Constitution was more democratic. The Articles of Confederation created a more democratic government because it gave power to the individual states and to the people.

Modern Science and the Creation Story

Modern Science and the Creation Story Introduction Since time immemorial, the world has been in war for varied reasons, differences in ideological beliefs, aggression from other states, scramble for resources, and territorial violations. However, the longest lasting and most contested battle, pitting the world’s largest groups, Christians and Scientists, against each other, is of the origin of man and the universe.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Modern Science and the Creation Story specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Religious groups like Christians, Muslims, and Jews believe in the biblical story of creation. The creationism theory states that God created Adam and Eve in his own image and placed them in the Garden of Eden where all forms of life began. According to this theory, the universe is approximately 6000 years old as calculated by Archbishop Ussher in the sixteenth century. Scientists, who claim life form existed in the world millions of y ears ago, have watered the credibility of the creation theory. Fossils excavated from seabeds and sedimentary rocks ascertain this claim. Scientists’ attempts to explain the origin of the universe have led to the development of many theories, all having their shortfalls. As a result, none of the theories has gained universal acceptance as the most probable origin of man and the universe. This has left moral, religious, and cultural forces to play a great role in shaping people’s stand on the origin of the universe. The Creationist Theory To establish the reason for the many scientific researches on the origin of the universe, it is prudent to explain the theory all works of science seem to tear apart, The Creationism Theory. Widely held by Christians, Muslims, and Jews, the theory explains that God is the creator and controller of the universe. In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the fa ce of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day†¦And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree†¦Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.Advertising Looking for essay on philosophy? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth†¦after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind and God saw that it was good†¦ Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind†¦ And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth†¦So God created man in his own image (New International Version BIBLE, Gen. 1.1-29). The creationists believe that God created living creatures on earth and can take them away at will. According to this theory, the world is 6000 years old. The theory draws its strength from the complexity of human life that science cannot explain. Furthermore, research has proven that some major occurrences mentioned in the bible are true. The big flood that swept the whole World and the Ark of Noah are examples of proven happenings. Balsiger (2010) supports the flood’s occurrence by saying, â€Å"Geologists who have climbed mount Ararat, the landing site of Noah’s Ark, have discovered a varriety of seashells and other evidence that this mountain was once under water.â⠂¬  Similarly, Harris (1997) provides crucial evidence of the detention and enslaving of the Israelites in Egypt as mentioned in the bible. It is easier to believe the creation story and let life continue. However, scientists are leaving nothing at stake in their bid to answer questions on the existence of the universe they consider not addressed by the theory. Further, they claim incorrect timing and unmentioned crucial facts about the creation theory â€Å"cast doubt† on the overall theory (Caputo, 2006). First, the creation theory’s timeframe calculated by Archbishop Ussher, and generally accepted by creationists, is far from what scientists consider the true age of the world.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Modern Science and the Creation Story specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More â€Å"The discovery of fossil types of man or manlike organisms†¦from South Africa, in the early Pleistocene strata of 1,000,000 million years ago†¦now classified as Homo erectus†¦Ã¢â‚¬  is evidence that the world has existed for at least a million years, as opposed to the 6000 years advocated by the theory (Adler, 1993). In fact, according to Fortey (2009), the oldest documented case of living animals is over 540 million years. The theory is also under condemnation for failing to explain the beginning of human races just as it explains language diversity. If all human beings, as explained by the theory, are descendants of Adam and Eve, why is the world’s population so diverse? Why do we have Whites, Blacks, Reds, and the Colored races? Lack of answers for such crucial information has led to the emergence of many theories attempting to provide the much-needed answers. These theories include, Evolution proposed by Charles Darwin, Intelligent Design, the Steady State Theory, and the Big Bang Theory. The Big Bang Theory In 1984, Long claimed, â€Å"The big bang theory is the most popular of all the scientific theories that attempt to explain the origin of the universe.† Georges Lemaitre, a Belgian priest and professor who lectured at the University of Louvain, developed the theory. Georges’ argued that the fast movement of other galaxies away from our own in all directions is symbolic of an ancient force pushing them away from our universe. Long (1984) confirms that the proponents of the big bang theory believe the vast universe was compressed into a tiny finite volume, which exploded and has been flying apart as the universe ever since. This compressed state is believed to have existed for just split seconds before the big bang. According to this theory, a massive explosion caused the universe’s matter and energy to disperse ten to twenty billion years ago. Immediately after the big bag, the universe expanded with speed beyond understanding from the tiny size to the current astronomical scope. Even though the expansion continues, it is n ow happening at a much slower speed. Fox (2002) describes this phenomenon in details. In the beginning, there was nothing†¦nothingness in which packets of energy fleeted in and out of existence, popping into oblivion as quickly as they appeared†¦One of these fluctuations had just enough energy to take off. It inflated wildly out of control – one-moment infinitesimally small, moments later, light-years across. All of space and time was created in that instant, and as that energy slowed, it cooled and froze into matter (p. 9).Advertising Looking for essay on philosophy? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The theory seeks to justify the occurrence of a massive blast by pointing out the existence of cosmic microwave background radiation throughout the universe. The theory asserts that these waves are leftovers from the big bang. Despite its wide acceptance by scientists as the most probable origin of the universe, the big bang theory is equally criticized as it leaves many scientific questions unanswered. For example, the theory gives no explanation on the evolution of the universe after the big bang. Worst still, the theory completely fails to explain the â€Å"origin of the big bang† itself (Edwards, 2001). How then can it be good enough to explain the origin of the universe when its own origin is blurred? The Evolution Theory In 1959, Charles Darwin published his book, â€Å"The origin of Species† in which he explained that man evolved from tiny living creatures through environmental adaptation over millions of years (Darwin, 1958). He further argued, â€Å"Animals t hat were incapable of adapting to environmental changes perished† (p. 27). The depth and breadth of Darwin’s research findings easily convinced many scientists that natural selection provided the most concrete and firm foundation on origin of man. In fact, Darwin himself exuded a lot of confidence in his findings when he said, â€Å"I cannot possibly believe that a false theory would explain so many classes of facts† (p. 27). Darwin’s study of evolution was triggered by observation of life in South America. He stated, â€Å"When on board H. M. S. Beatle as a naturalist, I was much struck with certain facts in the distribution of organic beings inhabiting South America, and the geological relations of the present to the past inhabitants of that continent† (p. 1). Darwin further explained that the facts â€Å"seemed to throw some light on the origin of species† and went ahead to give a detailed account of the facts (p. 1). In furthering his exp lanations, Darwin gives the example of a giraffe. He said taller giraffes had a better chance of survival because they could reach taller tree leaves even during drought as compared to shorter ones. In order to survive, the giraffes gave birth to progeny that grew taller and taller over time. In this same manner, Darwin holds that animals and humans have adapted, evolved, and survived. Animals that were incapable of adapting themselves perished. This principle of survival of the fittest is what Darwin called â€Å"means of natural selection.† If variations useful to any organic being ever do occur, assuredly individuals thus characterized will have the best chance of being preserved in the struggle for life; and from the strong principle of inheritance, these will tend to produce offspring similarly characterized (Darwin, 1958). The evolutionists hold that humans grew from particles that randomly clang together to form DNA molecules. These molecules grew continuously to be th e humans we know today. The possibility of man evolving from tiny living creatures, as proposed by Charles Darwin, is mathematically near impossible. Sapse (2000) states, â€Å"For life to be formed, the right mix of life sustaining amino acids must be united.† Webb (2002) reinforces the idea by claiming that the probability of random processes creating a nucleic acid or a protein is tiny. In further support of this claim, Davis (1999) says that hundreds of thousands of proteins are required to sustain life, and that the probability of these proteins coming together â€Å"randomly† is 1040000. Additionally, the theory fails to highlight the origin of the tiny particles that randomly unite to give forth life. It could be easy to believe the evolution process, but without a strong foundation on the origin of the tiny living creatures, it is baseless. The theory also claims that the earth is four billion years old, a time not long enough for the tiny particles to form the complex human life we know today. The Intelligence Design The idea that human’s complexity is a result of a superior, powerful, and all knowing designer whose ability is beyond man’s understanding has existed for years. In fact, the theory existed long before Charles Darwin came up with the evolution theory. William Paley, a renowned English theologian, is the accredited exponent of the theory. Paley illustrated the theory with the famous watchmaker analogy. He claimed that if one found a pocket watch in the field whiles walking, concluding that it is a product of evolution is unfounded. Rather, one should know that it is a result of a designing being’s intellect. Likewise, he concluded that the existing complex life in the world is a result of super natural creator’s activities. The intelligence design theory is linked to the creationist theory because it supports the existence of a supernatural deity as the designer of the universe. The proponents of t his theory differ with the creation theory’s timeframe. Rather, they agree with the evolutionists in the belief that the world has existed for millions of years. Some believers of the theory claim God designed life and the universe, while others claim it is not clear who designed the universe, but agree that it must be a civilization superior to ours. Still others believe our existence on the universe is the work of aliens, using human race as subjects of experiment. There is not a single evidence of this claim, but refuting it is equally hard as there is no evidence to the contrary of the belief. This theory may hold ground to some extend since the modern man’s appearance on earth seems sudden and unexplained. Whereas there are many discovered fossils of animals dating back to 540 million years old, the oldest fossil of modern man, Cro-Magnon, is only thirty to forty thousand years old (Fagan, 2010). Furthermore, there seems to be no fossil evidence of humans evolving from any other animals or beings. The lack of evidence of existence of man until 30 million years ago could probably point out that they â€Å"dropped† from somewhere. The supporters of intelligent design argue that the theory offers explanation to some concepts that evolution cannot account for. Irreducible complexity is an example of a concept evolution cannot account for. Here, they argue that some components of nature or biochemical systems are so well matched to be mere products of evolution. Irreducible systems are only complete as a whole, any attempt to remove any part results to error as all their parts are necessary. The characteristics of the parts being so intricate and interdependent cannot be a result of evolution. The stand by intelligent design theorists that no evolution has taken place is widely criticized by a section of scientists who believe it is based on ignorance. The critics claim it is unrealistic, improper, and grave to deny evolution as it continu es even today. For example, they claim if an individual cuts himself, the blood responds by producing plasma cells that clot the blood around the cut to reduce and eventually end the blood flow. â€Å"The key proteins that clot blood fit this pattern, too. They are actually modified versions of proteins used in the digestive system†¦evolution duplicated, retargeted, and modified these proteins to produce the vertebrate blood-clotting system† (Curry Chang 2006). Such responses, they claim have existed from the very existence of man and have ensured his survival (Campbell, 2009). The Steady State Theory A group of renowned scientists developed the steady state theory in 1948 as an alternative to the Big Bang theory. The scientists involved in the development of this theory included, Hermann Bondi, Thomas Gold, and Fred Hoyle all whom were Cambridge physicists. Bondi states, â€Å"The Steady State Theory differs from other creation theories†¦the problem of creation, is brought within the scope of physical inquiry, and is examined in detail instead of, as in other theories, being handed over metaphysics† (Bondi, 1952). The theory made it acceptable in the late 1960s that the universe had no known beginning at all. Instead, it held that matter is created continuously during the expansion of the universe, which ensures perfect adherence to cosmological principle. This theory further asserts that despite the continuous expansion of the universe, its appearance has not changed over time. Due to the continuous expansion of the universe, a notable change to its components is only impossible if new matter is continuously created to maintain the average density of matter in the universe. The scientists claimed that hydrogen is the continuously produced matter that keeps the universe stable. In 1993, the theory was reinforced and additional information that lacked in the initial version added. Quasi-steady state theory is a result of the modificati ons, which suggest that there are pockets of creations occurring within the universe commonly referred to as mini-bangs. Even though the steady state theory is widely discredited, there are people who believe its premises. Evidently, the scientific theories put forward by various scientists have failed to address, comprehensively and conclusively, the â€Å"missing links† in the creation theory. Instead, they have torn the world into different directions, pitting people against each other, consequently spinning the world to a completely irrelevant direction, of seeking the dark and little known past, instead of focusing on the future and how to make his stay in the world most comfortable. Humanity has greater enemies in diseases, famine, and poverty. Therefore, greater effort should be directed at fighting these enemies. Scientific discoveries have helped humans greatly by inventing medicines for curing diseases thereby reducing mortality rate, explaining phenomena that were once mysteries, and introducing new technologies, which have improved living standards. However, it must be accepted that scientific research on the origin of the universe, has hardly contributed towards improving man’s well being. Instead, it is divisive and baseless. Every individual has the freedom to choose what theory to believe concerning the origin and existence of the universe and all the creatures in it. Whichever the choice, every individual must put effort in tolerating others who hold contrary opinion. References Adler, M. J. (1993). The Difference of Man and the Difference It Makes. New York, NY: Fordham University Press. Balsiger, D. W. (2010). Miraculous Messages: From Noahs Flood to the End Times. Florida: ReadHowYouWant.Com. Bondi, H. (1952). Cosmology (2nd ed.). Cambridge: Dover Publications. Campbell, B. G. (2009). Human Evolution: An Introduction to Mans Adaptations (4th ed.). New Jersey: Walter de Gruyter. Caputo, J. D. (2006). The weakness of God: a theo logy of the event. Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press. Curry, J., Chang, I. (2006). Evolution. Bronx, NY: Halsey William Wilson. Darwin, C. (1958). On the origin of species (6th ed.). New York, NY: Sterling. Davis, P. (1999). The 5th Miracle: The Search for the Origin and Meaning of Life. London: Penguin. Edwards, R. B. (2001). What caused the big bang? Amsterdam: Rodopi. Fagan, B. M. (2010). Cro-Magnon: how the Ice Age gave birth to the first modern humans. New York City, NY: Bloomsbury Press. Fortey, R. (2009). Fossils: The History of Life. New York City, NY: Sterling. Fox, K. C. (2002). The big bang theory: what it is, where it came from, and why it works. New York, NY: John Wiley and Sons. Genesis. (2011). In Holy Bible: New International Version. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan. Harris, N. (1997). The history of ancient Egypt. London: Chancellor Press. Long, B. (1984). The origins of man and the universe: the myth that came to life. London: Barry Long Books. Sapse, A. (2000 ). Molecular orbital calculations for amino acids and peptides. Basel: Birkhuser. Webb, S. (2002). If the universe is teeming with aliens where is everybody?: fifty solutions to the Fermi paradox and the problem of extraterrestrial life. New York City, NY:Springer.

Nuclear Weapons Essays - Nuclear Weapons, Nuclear Warfare

Nuclear Weapons Essays - Nuclear Weapons, Nuclear Warfare Nuclear Weapons A major problem concerning the world today is the disposal of nuclear weapons. With the Cold War, we have seen a massive build up of nuclear weapons, and no, that we are no longer in a state of global warfare, what is to be done with them? As a result of the build-up in nuclear weapons during the cold war the world is now facing major environmental problems trying to deactivate them, and in addition major debate are occurring on the policies of disarmament and deterrence as solutions to this global problem. Countries are becoming more aware of the fact that their citizens do not want to have to worry about a nuclear attack or environmental effects of nuclear weapons testing. The people of the world are calling for an end to this senseless destruction of the earth. The explosive power of a nuclear weapon comes from nuclear fission or nuclear fusion, or both in the case of the Hydrogen bomb. A typical small nuclear weapon has the explosive yields of tens of thousands of tons of the conventional explosive TNT. A large nuclear weapon can kill hundreds of thousands of people, and when carried on a ballistic missile, can travel intercontinental distances in less than half an hour. The deployment of tens of thousands of these weapons, primarily by the United Sates and the Soviet Union, has threatened annihilation of millions of people with little or no warning. Strategic (long-range) nuclear weapons include land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM), submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) and bombs and cruise missiles carried on long-range bombers. Tactical nuclear weapons are shorter-range weapons allocated for regional use or for use in support of battlefield operations. As a result of the Cold War, the build-up of nuclear weapons today has never been greater. The term "Cold War" refers to the strategic and political struggle that developed after World War II between the United States and its Wester European allies on one side, and the former USSR on the other. The Soviet leaders considered the objections of the United States to Soviet actions in Poland, Hungary, and Romania a betrayal of wartime understandings about spheres of influence in Europe. Therefore the Soviet Union was placed under a military and political barrier. The stockpile of nuclear weapons that available today is the direct result of the arms race which was the highlight of the cold war. Nuclear arms at the time of the cold war were considered to be a way for countries to discourage other countries from attacking, mainly the United States and the USSR, which were the key players in the arms race of the 1950's and 60's. While the dissolution of the Soviet Union has r! educed the concern about nuclear war waged with strategic weapons between the Russia and the U.S., other issues have become more pressing. As far as is known, only eight countries now have nuclear weapons. "The five declared nuclear powers are : the United States, over 9,000 warheads deployed and some 11,000 in reserve or awaiting dismantling; Russia, over 10,000 warheads deployed and some 18,000 in reserve or awaiting dismantling; France, over 500 warheads; China, about 450 warheads; U.K., about 300 warheads." "In addition to the key countries there are 'threshold' states which have not officially confirmed the possession of nuclear weapons: Israel, India and Pakistan," all countries in which there is great possibilities of a civil war breaking out and the nuclear weapons being utilized. The realization by the people of the massive amounts of nuclear weapons stockpiled and disastrous environmental hazards has caused much protest among the people. During the cold war thoughts of massive destruction and human suffering dominated people's minds, but no one really knew how grave the situation would be after a nuclear bomb was dropped. Until recently, scientific research had not addressed the potential long-term climatic and environmental damage of a nuclear conflict. Scientific research suggests that a nuclear conflict could inject enough smoke and dust particles into the atmosphere to block out sunlight and cause severe drops in surface temperatures over a significant period of time. This, in turn could adversely affect plants, animals, and humans. The term "nuclear winter" has been coined to describe these

Free Essays on Leo Tolstoy

of Sarah Lawall, Tolstoy illustrates lucidly how â€Å"the life of civilized people is a great lie simply because it disguises and ignores its dark background, the metaphysical abyss, and the reality of Death.† This is also apparent when we notice that all of Ivan’s colleagues can only think about the affect that his death has on their own lives. Tolstoy deliberately toys with the diction in his story to prove his point. He ... Free Essays on Leo Tolstoy Free Essays on Leo Tolstoy Leo Tolstoy established himself as a novelist with his early literary work, which depicts contemporary manners in Russian aristocracy. He presented what he saw with clarity and objectivity. However, later on in his lifetime, he revolutionized his lifestyle and his writing style. He modified his writing style to portray only a moral romanticism; focusing on the proper way one should conduct one’s life. An excellent example illustrating the ideals of Tolstoy’s new revolutionary approach to life is his short story, â€Å"The Death of Ivan Ilyich.† Tolstoy skillfully expresses his newfound attitude towards life and religion through his portrait of Ivan Ilyich’s character development. In contrast, one can also recognize Tolstoy’s earlier attitude, in his portrayal of the other characters in the story and of their interactions with each other. In this novel, Tolstoy shows us how people, during his lifetime, led a futile and self-absorbed life. From these character sketches, we can then interpret Tolstoy’s true intent – to reveal how one should really live one’s life – striving to be a virtuous and moral person. Tolstoy wastes no time exemplifying his perception of Russian aristocracy. The story begins with the announcement of Ivan Ilyich’s death and his colleagues’ responses to it. This scene demonstrates their insensitivity towards other human beings. Through this demonstration of insensitivity, Tolstoy portrays the thoughtlessness and insensitivity that existed during his own lifetime. In the words of Sarah Lawall, Tolstoy illustrates lucidly how â€Å"the life of civilized people is a great lie simply because it disguises and ignores its dark background, the metaphysical abyss, and the reality of Death.† This is also apparent when we notice that all of Ivan’s colleagues can only think about the affect that his death has on their own lives. Tolstoy deliberately toys with the diction in his story to prove his point. He ...

Composers in the 19th Century Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Composers in the 19th Century - Essay Example Some of the greatest music ever produced came from composers in the 19th century. It was a period of renaissance and change throughout the globe brought about by numerous events both political and cultural. Nationalistic movements and the sweeping tide of romanticism were just two of the major events that influenced musical output during the time.The period of romanticism acted as a counter to the dawning age of enlightenment where truth through the process of scientific deduction became the new way towards modernity During the 1848 revolution, music critics defined Romanticism as a political and philosophical matter. It had very little to do with what was happening in society among the common folk. Most romantics were viewed as embracing romanticism, not to avoid the real world but to deal with the new age of enlightenment where rationality was threatening to sweep away religious and arcane beliefs. Romanticism was concerned with feeling, emotional expression, imagination and boundl essness rather than rationalistic thinking or subject matter. The movement was exemplified in the arts - literature, music and paintings, with emphasis on the aesthetic experience and the wonderment in the magnificence of nature. . Among the other attributes of Romanticism were a profound appreciation of all things natural, a heightened praise of emotion over logic and the human senses over the intellectualism; a rather introspective examination of oneself and personality with all its facets, including moods, emotional attachment and cognitive potential; also a obsession with the inner self where the hero lies and the awakening of the genius; a call to action from the extraordinary individual; attention to the passions and internal struggles; a fresh look at the artist as the gifted originator of the art forms be it literature, paintings or music; an artist who demonstrates that his passion for his art form is far more important than adherence to established convention or set of law s that the rest of society follows; a greater importance to the imagination as the access door towards inspirational experience that is uplifting and spiritual in nature; an imagination that is employed for the quest of truth and higher learning; also an unusual interest in the occult, the mystic and folklore; study of native and ethnic development, also of medieval practices; a penchant for all things exotic and outlandish, isolated and far away, the mystifying and bizarre, the horrifying and devilish. Romanticism served as a reaction to classicism which was characterized by order, harmony, balance and rationality. Classicism had its roots in historical beliefs and practices founded on Greek and Roman philosophy of life and the universe, particularly referring to the period when both the cultures were at their pinnacle. Classicism speaks of the art or music that was created in olden times while neoclassicism speaks of the artistic work prior to the present time but after antiquity. The term romanticism is attributed to a group of individuals - artists, actors, writers, musicians and thinkers. One of the most famous composers who was part of the romantic movement was Ludwig van Beethoven. Others include Chopin, Wagner, Tchaikovsky, Liszt, Weber, Schubert, and Mendelssohn. Many of them expanded their orchestra and experimented with atypical orchestrations to convey other worldly influences. These composers were a product of their time, swayed by the political and nationalistic events occurring around them.The year 1809 was marked by significant shifts in political and economic landscape that pushed Beethoven's political views in a new direction (Rumph 2004). The French Revolution that successfully toppled the French monarchy in favour of republicanism is generally believed to have inspired the movement of romanticism.

Impact of Affordable Healthcare Act on North Carolina's Uninsured Essay

Impact of Affordable Healthcare Act on North Carolina's Uninsured population - Essay Example However, the Affordable Care Act has given two percent of North Carolina’s uninsured adult parents the eligibility for Medicaid (Ronai, 2011). It has been noted that there are some North Carolinians who are eligible for coverage under Medicaid but have not enrolled partly because of historic enrolment barriers and partly because they are not aware of their eligibility. It is projected that the coverage expansion of the Affordable Care Act will reach out to more of the individuals who are eligible for cover but are still uninsured as it streamlines North Carolina’s enrolment processes thus increasing the enrolment of eligible persons for Medicaid. Uninsured North Carolinians who earn above the limit of premium tax subsidies will not be covered under the Affordable Care Act. The Affordable Care Act does not cover uninsured undocumented North Carolinian immigrants (Milstead, 2013). According to the Affordable Care Organization (ACO) concept enacted in 2010 by congress, healthcare organization can be looked at in two dimensions, the ACO and individual healthcare institutions that can constitute an ACO. One of impacts of the economics of providing care to patients from an ACO’s point of view is the demand for caution in navigating the complex formula for reimbursing its member hospitals and physicians. The complexity of this formula draws from the combination of fee-for-services under Medicare and shared-savings for hospital and physician ACO participants. ACO has an added duty of upholding accountability for the quality and cost of patient care including the overall care of its fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries. ACOs have to design legal framework that would allow for the reception and distribution of payments for shared savings to its participant physicians and hospitals. ACOs have to meet the patient-centeredness criteria provided by the Secretary including patient and caregiver assessments and provision of

Resources regarding English 1 writing Annotated Bibliography

Resources regarding English 1 writing - Annotated Bibliography Example The types of writing included on this page are cause/effect essay, comparison/contrast essay, definition essay, description essay, narration essay, persuasive essay and process analysis essay. Each page gives three to four points that should be included in this type of essay. It is a handy reference when I’m trying to figure out what to write. This site has a lot of the same information as the â€Å"Types of Writing† site, but adds to it. It discusses the types of writing in a lot more detail, so it would be helpful to come here after I have decided on the type of writing from the other site. After getting an idea of the type of paper I’m going to write, this site would fill in the details of what is expected and gives extra help on how to write an essay and many other forms of writing. This site gives very practical help on how to write a good essay for university. The author is the wife of a teacher and has a long history of editing and helping students. She points out some of the common mistakes students make and will be helpful to make my essays better. This site walks visitors through the writing process. It helps you get your ideas together, organize them neatly and put them together in an academic way. It is helpful because it gives you choices based on different answers to questions like when the topic is assigned or when no topic is assigned. This site talks about the various styles that people can write in such as a conversational style or a poetic style. It is helpful because you don’t always think about styles like this and it helps to use the right style for the kind of writing you are doing. This site gives a lot of writing help like some of the other sites I’ve found, but I think it will be most helpful for helping me find out how to do better research. It provides some resources to go to and talks about the research process. The other sites have better information about the writing

Discrete and Combinatorial Mathematics (Week 4) Assignment

Discrete and Combinatorial Mathematics (Week 4) - Assignment Example 8.) Figure 11.10 shows an undirected graph representing a section of a department store. The vertices indicate where cashiers are located; the edges denote unblocked aisles between cashiers. The department store wants to set up a security system where (plainclothes) guards are placed at certain cashier locations so that each cashier either has a guard at his or her location or is only one aisle away from a cashier who has a guard. What is the smallest number of guards needed? 15.) For the undirected graph in Fig. 11.12, find and solve a recurrence relation for the number of closed v-v walks of length n ≠¥ 1, if we allow such a walk, in this case, to contain or consist of one or more loops. 22.) For the graph in Fig. 11.37(b), what is the smallest number of bridges that must be removed so that the resulting subgraph has an Euler trail but not an Euler circuit? Which bridge(s) should we remove? You are an electrical engineer designing a new integrated circuit involving potentially millions of components. How would you use graph theory to organize how many layers your chip must have to handle all of the interconnections, for example? Which properties of graphs come into play in such a circumstance? If the likelihood of the edge (v1, v2) is 50%, then there are equal chances that that edge will not be a section of the edge set. Similarly, for all the pair of vertices we can say that there is equal probability of having or not having an edge between those two. So, if there are n vertices in the vertex set then there can be maximum n "single connected component" (in which no edge is there) of that graph or minimum one connected component in which all the vertices are connected to each

Inside Obama's Presidency Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Inside Obama's Presidency - Essay Example The second challenge was the huge bonuses awarded as compensation to the banks; .the public was angry. When Obama met with the top banks C.E.O’s, most people expected that he would take on a hard approach against them, but this was not the case to the dismay of many. The banks seemed to have gotten it all on silver Plata. Another challenge was the reforms on the health care. Again he tried to take a bipartisan approach, but there came the problem; dealing with the congress that often slows down processes. The republicans were on his case: they did not vote for the motion. When faced with the issue of terrorism and handling Osama Bin Laden, he had to make the verdict to send U.S troops to Iraq. Leon Panetta, the CIA director, had information that Osama lived in a compound in Pakistan. The American troops went for the raid, and that reported that Osama had been killed. Another obstacle came which Obama had not foreseen. During the mid-term elections, his party lost to the republicans. Most of his supporters had been ousted, and he now had to take another approach to get things done. To take care of the debt crisis, he met John Boehner, who let him down when he needed him the most. To Obama it seemed that he had total confidence in his governance. He was so sure that his bipartisan approach would work. But if we would gauge his performance on this, I’d say that he was not successful. In all instances, he had to look for a second option. For example, looking at the stimulus bill, it passed without the votes from the republicans. Clearly, his promise to offer bipartisan solutions did not see the light of day. This was not because he was not willing to do so, but because the republicans were not ready to cooperate. From the first term’s performance, Obama tried too much to change how things worked: he had too many expectations that there wouldn’t be politics. He ought to have taken it as it is. In politics, everybody tries to be better

Three common physiological disorders manifested in developing Coursework

Three common physiological disorders manifested in developing countries - Coursework Example The most common physiological disorders manifested in developing countries include diabetes, hypertension (high blood pressure) and Alzheimer’s disease. High blood pressure is often regarded as silent killer due to its significant risk for causing heart attacks. Similarly, diabetes caused by increased content of sugars in blood and Alzheimer’s disease caused by mental disorders such as loss of memory affect human health on a wide scale. The rapid rise of casualties due to these chronic or so-called non-communicable diseases has surpassed casualties due to other diseases in the people of developing countries and has been listed by Geneva-based World Health Organization (WHO) in their report on global health, to be cured properly and on urgent basis. Diabetes, one of the prominent metabolic syndrome, occurs when level of glucose (sugars) in blood gets increased (Haslam and James, 2005) either due to inadequate production of insulin or inability of body to respond to insulin and even sometimes, due to combination of both factors. The common treatments available to cure for this disease include treatment with insulin in order to control blood sugars along with increased physical activities and stringent control on diet and weight. The intake of a balanced and nutritious diet that is low in fat,  cholesterol, and simple sugars may be quite helpful in regulating levels of blood sugars. Diabetes can be monitored by checking blood glucose levels on daily basis. It can be screened in patient due to its easy recognizable symptoms such as  frequent urination, intense thirst and hunger, weight gain, injuries that do not heal, tingling in hands and feet, male sexual dysfunction and fatigue. Diabetes is closely linked to increase in obe sity which may further lead to several cardiovascular diseases. During diabetes, the glycosylation (addition of sugars) of some advanced

Discrete and Combinatorial Mathematics (Week 4) Assignment

Discrete and Combinatorial Mathematics (Week 4) - Assignment Example 8.) Figure 11.10 shows an undirected graph representing a section of a department store. The vertices indicate where cashiers are located; the edges denote unblocked aisles between cashiers. The department store wants to set up a security system where (plainclothes) guards are placed at certain cashier locations so that each cashier either has a guard at his or her location or is only one aisle away from a cashier who has a guard. What is the smallest number of guards needed? 15.) For the undirected graph in Fig. 11.12, find and solve a recurrence relation for the number of closed v-v walks of length n ≠¥ 1, if we allow such a walk, in this case, to contain or consist of one or more loops. 22.) For the graph in Fig. 11.37(b), what is the smallest number of bridges that must be removed so that the resulting subgraph has an Euler trail but not an Euler circuit? Which bridge(s) should we remove? You are an electrical engineer designing a new integrated circuit involving potentially millions of components. How would you use graph theory to organize how many layers your chip must have to handle all of the interconnections, for example? Which properties of graphs come into play in such a circumstance? If the likelihood of the edge (v1, v2) is 50%, then there are equal chances that that edge will not be a section of the edge set. Similarly, for all the pair of vertices we can say that there is equal probability of having or not having an edge between those two. So, if there are n vertices in the vertex set then there can be maximum n "single connected component" (in which no edge is there) of that graph or minimum one connected component in which all the vertices are connected to each

Three common physiological disorders manifested in developing Coursework

Three common physiological disorders manifested in developing countries - Coursework Example The most common physiological disorders manifested in developing countries include diabetes, hypertension (high blood pressure) and Alzheimer’s disease. High blood pressure is often regarded as silent killer due to its significant risk for causing heart attacks. Similarly, diabetes caused by increased content of sugars in blood and Alzheimer’s disease caused by mental disorders such as loss of memory affect human health on a wide scale. The rapid rise of casualties due to these chronic or so-called non-communicable diseases has surpassed casualties due to other diseases in the people of developing countries and has been listed by Geneva-based World Health Organization (WHO) in their report on global health, to be cured properly and on urgent basis. Diabetes, one of the prominent metabolic syndrome, occurs when level of glucose (sugars) in blood gets increased (Haslam and James, 2005) either due to inadequate production of insulin or inability of body to respond to insulin and even sometimes, due to combination of both factors. The common treatments available to cure for this disease include treatment with insulin in order to control blood sugars along with increased physical activities and stringent control on diet and weight. The intake of a balanced and nutritious diet that is low in fat,  cholesterol, and simple sugars may be quite helpful in regulating levels of blood sugars. Diabetes can be monitored by checking blood glucose levels on daily basis. It can be screened in patient due to its easy recognizable symptoms such as  frequent urination, intense thirst and hunger, weight gain, injuries that do not heal, tingling in hands and feet, male sexual dysfunction and fatigue. Diabetes is closely linked to increase in obe sity which may further lead to several cardiovascular diseases. During diabetes, the glycosylation (addition of sugars) of some advanced

Ten Commandments for CEOs Seeking Organizational Change Essay Example for Free

Ten Commandments for CEOs Seeking Organizational Change Essay In our ever-changing, fast-paced world, competitive relationships Can shift quickly when companies respond too slowly to increased competition in their industry group. Succeeding in such a competitive and changing environment demands that CEOs reshape their organization to meet todays challenges and competitive realities. But responding to change remains highly elusive because there is a natural resistance to change at all levels within the organization, including at the top. CEOs and other members of the executive suite need to take a hard look at their existing organization and culture, ask tough questions about its appropriateness for the current competitive environment, and take concrete, implemental steps to forge a preferred culture and drive it downward throughout the entire organization. But therein lies the challenge, for few management teams both establish a comprehensive strategy for remaining competitive and take a hands-on approach to implement change internally. By not getting involved, they signal to employees that the change really isnt very important. A key premise of this article is that cultural change or any organizational transformation is essentially a top-down activity. It cannot be delegated. If the CEO perceives the need for change, makes it a top priority, and gives it a great deal of time and attention, the organization will change. By the same token, if the CEO offers only limited lip service, needed changes just wont happen. This article outlines how the CEO can be an enthusiastic sponsor of change by paying enough attention to implementation to make the transformation take place. Reynierse and Leyden (1992) provide a case study incorporating these steps. 1. Strategy-Driven The process I am advocating will be relatively ineffective without a strategic framework to provide competitive advantage. This process is not a substitute for such a strategy. Rather, the strategy is the starting point that establishes the context for all other steps. However, strategies will be relatively ineffective when management pays insufficient attention to their impact on the work forcefor ultimately it is the work force who will implement the strategy and make it succeed or fail. The point is that unless such a strategic plan is implemented and executed effectively, it will not be fully realized in the competitive marketplace. An overview of this process is depicted in Figure 1. A companys business strategies, plans, and goals are the starting pointnot the endof this exercise. They formalize the CEOs vision, setting the tone and establishing direction for the company in both the long and short terms. They provide a context for all other activities and decisions, establishing the limits for making many choices along the way. In addition, they determine the direction and boundaries for building the new organizational culture, including molding employee expectations. Resources are scarce in every organization, and management must accept the fact that it cant do everything. Strategic choices reflect judgments about where companies think they have marketplace competitive advantage so that plans implemented here enable them to grow faster and earn more than their competitors in these market segments. Similarly, the resources dedicated to building the organization are determined by this strategic focus. 2. Top-Down Involvement If something is important, a good rule of thumb is to have a top-down approach to getting it done. Ideally, then, the CEO must get involved. If the CEO attends to the organization, it will improve and gain competitive advantage. Conversely, if the CEO gives it scant time and attention, little organizational growth will occur. In short, the CEO who enthusiastically sponsors a broadly conceived program for building the company is more likely to succeed and reap the benefits down the road. A company-wide initiative needs an enthusiastic and supportive CEO who does not hesitate to play a continuing role during the change process. But where is the top? And who is the CEO? Building organizations is often better served by dealing with chunk-sized bites rather than the whole company. Particularly for large companies, it often makes better sense to deal with natural strategic business units (SBUs) rather than the entire company. At one level, there are often unique problems or opportunities in a unit or company division. At another level, it is most meaningful for those involved to deal with issues that directly concern them and their business unit. The approach I am advocating includes determining the firms core values and mission. It is unlikely that every SBU or company division will share the same core values or mission. Individual business units often have unique customers, competitors, product maturity, strategies, and objectives. These units need the autonomy to develop their own focus. For such cases the division executive is functionally the CEO for that unit and can provide the vision, enthusiasm, and driving force for success. Throughout, however, the CEO must remain interested and provide broad support for what is taking place. Even when the primary leadership role resides elsewhere, the CEO must be an advocate for change and reinforce actions taken at these lower levels. 3. Organizational Assessment Periodically it is valuable to take an objective snapshot of the broader organization. This not only provides information about the companys strengths and limitations but can also identify how those strengths and limitations measure up to the mission and the core values. Effective organizations have employees who share these values, and a carefully conceived organizational assessment will identify pockets of agreement and resistance. Several techniques, including surveys, interviews, and focus groups, are used for these organizational assessments. The organizational dynamics survey (Reynierse and Harker 1986) has been particularly effective, because it provides an objective measure of the underlying values that mold organizations. For example, the surveys broad customer orientation category taps a cultural value related to making customers a priority and satisfying their needs. Surveys are particularly important because they get every employee involved; everyone has the chance to be heard. Surveys also provide an opportunity for management to pay attention to employees concerns and to build their trust. This is achieved when management openly communicates with employees regarding key issues and responds to problems by taking timely, corrective action. At the same time, establishing trust is the first step in getting employees to buy in to managements broader vision. 4. Clarify Core Values Peters Waterman (1982) have one all-purpose bit of advice for management figure out your value system. Decide what your company stands for. Today many frequently echo this management theme. Identifying and clarifying core values are central to this approach as well. When they are integrated with a companys business strategies, core values help provide a focused mission. All too often, companies or their natural business units lack focus; their employees are confused about what the company stands for and what it is trying to achieve. However, when the focus and the mission are clear, they can drive the entire organization or SBU. Mission statements ideally should be brief, concise, and to the point. They should identify primary business activities, integrate key strategies, and reflect the firms core values. When we speak about core values we are dealing with many attractive virtuesMcLaughlin, McLaughlin Lischick (1992), for example, identified more than 100and it is tempting to include as many as possible. In my experience, however, an organization can give proper attention to only a fewsay, three to fiveclearly stated core values. Anything more will be too diffuse and will only confuse employees and dilute managements efforts. In other words, management has to make some hard choices, and established strategies provide the context for focus. There are no shortcuts; there is no generic mission statement. To build a focused organization, the management team has to participate in the process. We use a value clarification exercise when working with top and senior management. This exercise consists of 30 corporate values that are relevant (and credible) for business and industry. Each is defined and serves as an effective probe, placing key issues on the table for discussion. Some representative examples are shown in Figure 2. Because many are presented with a different thrust or emphasis, they can generate a provocative and lively discussion. This value-clarification process gains agreement for key priorities and direction, and fosters team-building through shared values and mission. Similarly, it lays the groundwork for resolving internal differences between functional groups that may have varied goals or priorities. Finally, it sets the stage for driving the process downward through the entire work force so other employees can buy in and share the focused mission as well. The risk in all this, says Peters (1992), is that management does such a good job that these values become fixed, even though they no longer are appropriate. The necessary caveat here is to return to strategy and competitive marketplace reality. Very simply, if the strategy is no longer appropriate and requires changes, the core values and focused mission probably need to be changed as well. They must therefore be revisited and modified as necessary to be congruent with any new strategies. A case can be made that because clarifying core values is so central to this approach, it should occur earlier in the process. There are benefits, however, of having it follow the organizational assessment step because this gives management another opportunity to respond to the input and reactions of the work force. Their perceptions of what the company really values are important and may indicate that changes are needed. 5. Work Force Involvement and Participation One of the advantages of the employee survey approach to assessing an organization is that all employees have the opportunity to participate and express their opinion. In other words, at an early stage in the process they have the chance to level with management, provide an employee perspective, and establish an agenda for later stages. While we begin the more intensive activities at the top with senior management, we involve lower-level employees, particularly lower levels of management, as quickly as possible. Although every situation will be different and will require different solutions, management should be vigilant for opportunities to involve new participants. A valuable tool is the use of focused task forces to address any priority issues that may have emerged from the organizational assessments or team-building sessions. This permits additional employee involvement at the problem-solving and solution-generating stages of the exercise. A fundamental assumption is that a focused organization requires a work force that shares this focus. The key to successful implementation, then, is the steps that are taken to drive the process downwardto downstreamso that all employees feel they are a part of this focused mission. Implementing managements vision demands paying attention to employees, managing their expectations, and responding to their concerns. Building the firm requires taking action steps that promote the core values and focused mission. I call these steps the culture carriers. It is through them that senior management can reinforce values consistently and frequently. Put another way, the culture carriers provide direction for marketing the core values and mission with all employees. The five culture carriers we have identified are summarized in Figure 3 and will be discussed separately. 6. Inspirational leadership Our studies of corporate culture indicate that there are two ways management stays in touch with what is going on in the company: 1. By visiting work areas and being visible to their employees. This is inspirational leadership at its best and is similar to the idea of Managing by Walking Around (MBWA), as developed by Peters Waterman (1982) and Peters and Austin (1985). 2. Through the balance sheet and financial focus. In general, however, many top executives emphasize financial performance and focus to the extent that they neglect their leadership roles. The broad process for organizational change outlined here provides structure for MBWA and for being a cheerleader. Although executives tend to underestimate their leadership effectiveness, they in fact exert considerable power by virtue of their leadership positions. As DePree (1989) observed, Leaders need to be concerned with the institutional value system. Each time they go out to a work area and talk to an employee or group of employees represents an opportunity to exercise influence and reinforce the companys mission and core values. This clearly communicates to employees what is important to the organization and what is expected of them. When the CEO or division head is leading the charge, everyone quickly picks up on it, and any ambiguity regarding what is taking place is quickly removed. The results are multiplied when this leadership role is being exercised by the entire management team. As an example, the management team of one of my client organizations made a contract with one another during a planning retreat to spend 15 minutes a day walking around, getting to know employees, and talking with them in each of their subordinate organizations. Though initially they were ambivalent and self-conscious about their task, it soon became an accepted and high-priority activity. They would confront each other daily by asking, Have you spent your 15 minutes walking around yet today? This, together with several other steps, quickly led to a turn-around in an otherwise demoralized work force. It was an important step for management to become informed, get on top of operations, get in touch with its people, and communicate direction. 7. Communication Put as simply as possible, employees cannot accept or implement top managements vision if they are unaware of it. Frequent formal and informal channels of communication are needed with all employees to introduce the focused mission and core values and reinforce them over a period of time. Executives must make liberal use of meetings, video presentations, posters, newspaper articles, brochures, and so on. If there is a rule of thumb, it is that you cant do too much in this area. Some of our clients have successfully used kick-off meetings in which they celebrated the focused mission and core values, gave every employee a wallet-sized card containing the mission statement, and provided other symbolic itemspins, coffee mugs, pencils, hatsthat focused on elements within the mission and its values. Primarily held to share information, the meetings were also used to rally employees and build enthusiasm for the new organization. The informal mixing that occurs at such kick-offs is also a va luable time for management to energize employees and talk with them further about the focus. 8. Financial Focus Well-ran companies have a strong financial focus that emphasizes both profitability and cost containment. It can play a significant resource allocation role that simultaneously provides increased funds and resources to programs that support the core values while denying (or at least sharply reducing) funds and resources to established programs that are less important to the mission. How capital is invested and what activities are expended carry important messages to employees. It is necessary to examine investment decisions in terms of a strategic standard that includes the companys core values and focused mission. Having done so, it may be necessary to withhold capital or budgetary expense dollars for those projects that fail to qualify under this standard. When capital investments and highly visible expenses are consistent with the values and mission of the company, they will provide support for and reinforce this focused mission among employees. But when inconsistency abounds, emp loyees will be confused and may withhold their support.

Analysis of hospitality industry: Kedar Country Lodge

Analysis of hospitality industry: Kedar Country Lodge Kedar Country Lodge It is a four star lodge with 85 employees, its divided into different department namely Food and Beverage, Front Office, Kitchen, Housekeeping, Maintenance, Garden, Sales, Human Resources, Administration and IT. The property is 640 hectors with antelopes animals, it has Paul Kruger Museum, 65 rooms, 7 conference rooms, Restaurant and Bar. Most of their guests come to do conferencing and as well leisure. Task 1 Staff Organization At Kedar Country Lodge they are using Hierarchical structure, where by each department has a leader whom the junior staff report to and then they report to the operations manager then he reports straight to the general manager. The Roles and Responsibilities of a supervisor The supervisor at Kedar is second eye for a manager, he/she deals with staff directly. Their roles and responsibilities are as follows: To check day to day operations To guide and train staff To be present all the times if there’s service To attend to the guest’s complains To make sure company standards and procedures are being followed To solve conflict among staff To motivate staff To make sure that staff complete their jobs before they go home To make sure that staff are safe in their working areas The Roles and Responsibilities of a Manager She is the one who is in charge for everything going on at Kedar property and makes finally decisions, the roles and responsibilities are as follows: To do plans to get business To decide the salaries of staff To make a finally decisions on hiring To make sure the target and goals are being reached To maintain good communication among staff Planning Staff Rota The staff rota is being done by supervisors and double checked by the manager whether it’s correct. They do it according to business occupancy and there’s no favoritism. On staff rota there are only four different shifts firstly from 06:00 -15:00, secondly from 08:00 – 17:00, thirdly from 14:00 – 23:00 and lastly from 23:00 08:00. Staff rota helps them a lot to see who in and who off. They are using excel to do the staff rota, on a first column they put the staff names and followed by how many days offs did the company give you, on first raw they put the number of guests in-house followed by the dates and days, at the end there’s a column of days off being owed to staff or days being owed to the company by staff. They save staff rota in computers to keep their records or for later changes. Staff is allowed to request certain days offs if they do have some appointments but it will depend how busy it will be that day. When staff rota is done it will be taken to the relevant department and put them on notice board so that everyone can see it. The Purpose and Features of Contract of Employment Contract of employment is an agreement between the employees and the kedar owner, it is presented in a form paper with 5 pages and if they are hiring the employee has to sign as well as the employer. It also contains the code of conducts. At kedar the employees are working during the holidays but in return they will be paid each holiday worked. Purpose of a Contract – to define both employees and kedar owner’s responsibilities with respect to a desired development outcome to the level of detail necessary to make both comfortable with respect to the relationship and to specify rights, obligations and conditions of employment Features of Contract of Employment The job title and description Which department will employee be working with Company residential address, post address and phone numbers To whom the employee will be reporting to When the employee will start working For how long is the employee on probation The entitlements of employee (salary, leave, days off) The rules regarding sick leave, family responsibility leave and unpaid leave Which shifts will the employee be working Financial and Legal Implications of Different Types of Contract They are using the permanent or fixed term employees and casual employees. The permanent employees – these are the employees which the company has agreed to keep them forever as long they are still willing to work for the company. They do give them the permanent contract if they have passed the fixed or probation contract for three months and if the company is happy with their performances. Their permanent staff they are entitled to: Holiday offs – their employees are entitled to it and its either they are off or they will be paid double for each holiday worked for. Annual leave – they give their employees 21days leave after 12 months and they will be fully paid. Study leave – they grant them to employees who are doing part time studies when they are writing their exams. The company will give the employee the day off during the day he/she is writing and pay them full. Compassionate leave – they give them three days off per 12 months and pay them full salary. The compassionate leave applies when the employee has to deal with emergency involving someone who depends on him/her e.g. child, husband or wife. Sick leave – They are entitled 12 days off sick in a year, if the employee exceeds then they will subtract the days from annual leave and give them full pay. If it may happen that they have taken the entire annual leave they then notify the employee to take an unpaid leave and they won’t pay any salary to the employee. Time off – they are entitled to off 6 days a month of which they work five and half days and get off. They will be paid full salary. Worker’s Compensation – If an employee gets injury at work the company will pay hospital bills and pay the employee the employee full salary during those days not at work. Casual employees At kedar they use casual employees when it’s too busy and they pay them an hour rate. They are only entitled to worker’s compensation when they can get injured whilst working. If they use them during holiday they pay them double the amount they are being paid. The Cost of Employing Staff At kedar there is few cost of employing staff which are: Time and cost to do advertising about available position Selecting and interviewing applicants Type of job and number applicants To increase the space to accommodate new employees To buy new equipment for them to use To pay them their salaries To feed them To pay transport for them To train them so that they can be more skillful and to gain job knowledge The cost for their entitlements, .e.g. sick leave, worker’s compensation, public holidays Motivation It is to make someone believe in himself/herself and like what he/she doing. The Link between Motivation and Productivity They motivate their staff to have good productivity. They always do have competition like the employee of the month and the employee of the year, they give prize to the winner, by doing this each employee works harder in order to be a winner and on the other hand there is a good productivity and a lot of job done. There are also the prizes of name of the employee being mentioned most by guests, this makes the employees to get involved with guests or to help them more at the end the guests will be happy for good service and they will spread the word to others by doing so a lot of guests will love the place and visit more often and company gain more profits. The Characteristics of Effective leader They do have good leaders who are leading the company, they treat their staff like their children and they are fair, honest, responsible, trustworthy, strong, competitive and confident. They are good motivators to their employees, they are always active in planning ahead and solving any problems amongst the employees. They are good communicators, listeners and also supportive. They do train and grow them to be good leaders as well. They are mentors of their employees and they make the company to be their second home and everyone is happy. They don’t feel bored and they are patience. An Effective Team The way Kedar employees are you may think they are brothers and sisters, they are one and they can die for one another because of the good unit they have, the following are the characteristics which makes them a good team: They sacrifice for each other They have got clear common goals They are united They always rotate the leadership among themselves Honest to each other If they do have problems or conflicts they solve them in a civilized manner They share same stories They don’t judge or discriminate each other They discuss or argue about work but at the end they will come to conclusion of which its normal They all cooperate They are free to each other The Principles of equal Opportunities in the Workplace They treat their staff fair and equal regardless of where are they coming from, gender, race, age, color, physical abilities, status, language and religion. Equal Opportunities in Employment They respect and recognize staff’s and customer’s religion and culture The employees are happy at the workplace all times The more skillful employees are promoted They are fairly treated at work Whatever decision is being made by management it is fair to all employees They train their employees to be better so that they can deliver good service to customers No employee is being bullied, harassed and discriminated, they are all free Diversity They do understand each other and they have put their differences aside, in a safe, positive and nurturing environment. Their employees are mixed; they do have foreigners, locals, mixed races (whites, blacks, Chinese and Indians), different genders (males, females, gays and lesbians) and different ages. They are one family. They do business with more different countries and all their customers they feel welcome as if they are in their countries or home because of friendly and respectful employees. Diversity makes their company more attractive, their employees are growing and it helps with alternatives solutions when dealing with issue or ideas to grow business. It also motivates the employees. Since they have more different tribes it helps their business grow. Purpose of an Industry Code of Ethics A code of ethics is a vital document for Kedar, as breaches of ethics can land the company in serious trouble with consumers, other organizations or government authorities. Creating a code of ethics makes decision-making easier at all levels for them by reducing uncertainty and considerations of individual perspectives in ethical standards. It is truly a unified effort in which Kedar works to ensure there is no compromise in service, quality, or integrity Purpose A code of ethics guides all managerial decisions, creating a common framework upon which all decisions are founded. This helps them to create a cohesive understanding of the boundaries within an organization and the standards set for interacting with external companies. A formal, well-communicated code of ethics helps them to protect their companys reputation and legal standing in the event of a breach of ethics by an individual employee. Importance of Ethics Public image Productivity and Teamwork Asset protection Retain good skillful employees Industry Code of Practice Industry code of practice its rules or guidelines to be followed, they are there to protect their customers and Kedar owners. It makes it clear to public or customers what they are allowed to do and what is prohibited. These rules or guidelines are made by the owners to let the customers know how they run their business some by government protecting locals or internationals. Need for industry code of practice To deliver a certain standard of practice To encourage consumers confidence in a particular industry To avoid customers or owners taking advantage Use of IT in Tourism and Hospitality IT stands for information technology, it is the application of computers and telecommunications equipment to store, retrieves, transmits and control data, it can be people who are well trained working with those technologies. Kedar they do have their own permanently hired IT that are responsible for programming the systems, repairing and to assist with technical related issues. Importance of IT in Hospitality Industry To store their important information and history of previous customers To communicate with customers via email To market their lodge through website To use it for checking in and checking out of the guest To do bookings online To do function sheets To do staff roasters To capture and keep records of stocks To print necessary documents To show the prices and customers still to pay To show the forecast and occupancy For guest to access internet The following are the IT applications used from Kedar: Computer systems – to do various different jobs, .e.g. doing emails, writing their menus etc Aloha system – they use it to show prices of different food, beverage and to show them what has been sold when doing their stocks.(Product mix) Reservation system – they are using room master to check in and check out their customers, it also makes it easier to check the availability and it shows how many guests are arriving, departing and staying so that the kitchen can know how many to carter for and housekeeping to know which rooms to prepare and how. Internet – for guest to access or to do money transfer. They have made easier for their customers by having Wi-Fi. Mobiles – managers contact the customers using mobile Business Letters At Kedar they write their business letters using word program from Microsoft office 2003 of which they purchased it from Microsoft company to owner it and they installed into their computers. Their business letters are straight forward. In the letter it contains contact details on the top left and underneath contains the initials of the owners. The general manager is the one who gives the finally decision, she firstly check it. The following are some types of letters being written at Kedar: Apologizing letters Welcoming letters guest on their arrivals Welcome back letters for guests who are coming for the second or third time at Kedar Confirmation letter for booking Quotation letters Anniversary letters if the guests have told them prior to arrival Birthday letters if the guests have informed them Spread sheet A spreadsheet is a paper sheet that shows data in rows and columns, it is mostly used by accounts doing variances to show how company does, sales department use it to show how are they doing with bringing in the clients and to show forecast, kitchen using it to keep the records of their menus and to do their menus of the week and stock controller for capturing, displaying and controlling data. They use it mostly when doing their stocks takes. The software that has this is Microsoft offices excel. Benefits of using spreadsheet It does have formulas to calculate You can keep as many as you can the data on spreadsheet as long you save it You can do the changes and save your work It allows you to put yours inputs indifferent colors It does have futures that allow you to control data on how you want to put it. The Use of PowerPoint and Access Database PowerPoint – it is mostly used by sales and marketing doing presentation to their clients, managers or human resources doing training with employees and the managers presenting what are they planning about the company to the Director, CEO and Chairman. Access Database – they use it to store contacts of clients, Email Email is another way of communicating; it is done through electronic exchanging messages through the use of internet and networks. The use of Email in Hospitality Industry It is cheaper than using telephone, e.g.it will be to cost full using a phone for internationals than just sending an email It can be used as a means of marketing by sending them the information booklets and special about your hotel or lodge It is fast and efficiency Limitation of Email They must be careful when using humour – it is often misunderstood Avoid sarcasm and colloquialisms It’s not safe or private wrong people can hack It may happen that the receiver may not have seen the email and it was urgent Internet Internet is a worldwide system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard internet protocol suite to link several billion devices worldwide, it carries an extensive range of information resources and services and it consists a lot of private, public, business and government packet switched networks. Internet makes it easier for marketing and doing online bookings. If there was no internet it was going to be difficult for Kedar. Internet makes it easier for them to work.

Economic and Social Development and Causes of Underdevelopment :: human capital approach to education

Q1. ‘What is Development’? Outline an interpretation of this concept that you feel is most appropriate, with reference to at least two of the ideas proposed in the course. According to Aristotle, â€Å"Wealth is evidently not the good we are seeking; for it is merely useful and for the sake of something else† (Classics.mit.edu, 2014). According to Sen also (1999, pp. xi), we are many times richer than a century ago. Yet many people are still unhappy. Hence, definition of development should encompass a scenario, where money is means, and not the ends of development. Therefore, â€Å"Development can be seen, as a process of expanding the real freedoms that people enjoy† (Sen, 1999, pp.3). These freedoms mainly include political freedoms, economic facilities, social opportunities, transparency guarantees, and protective security. The alternative where development is mainly characterized as economic growth poses many limitations on people’s living conditions. For example, imagine rich women living in a wealthy country, where women risk punishment, from state, for expressing opinions publicly, attending education, going out in public alone, etc. Even if that country has very high Gross domestic product (GDP), the rich women might not achieve their preferred conditions for living. However, economic-growth is very important as means for expanding freedoms, as it can be used to provide for food, clothes, hospitals, social care etc. Defining of development as freedoms rather than just economic-growth will help to focus in fulfilling broader human needs. For example, political freedoms through free speech and election can help to promote participation. Participation in social opportunities such as education and health can promote collective economic growth (Todaro and Smith, 2011, pp.359). Economic participation and protective security can increase personal wealth, which can be invested in social facilities, food, health etc. (Sen, 1999, pp.11) Despite all this, Sen’s (1999) definition has been criticized for not analysing the framework in which the freedoms occurs, namely unequal power distribution at both national and international level. In 2000, 16.7% of population controlled two-thirds of land in Bangladesh. As a result, around half of population were vulnerable to famine even though Bangladesh is a democratic country and has political freedoms. Hence, Sen’s definition of development cannot work practically without analysing power distribution, or who has control over resources (Navarro, 2000, pp.672). At international level, concept such as human rights is depoliticised. For example, United Nations’ Human Development Reports greatly analyses the consequences of inequalities growth. But the reports fails to analyse in detail, the political topic of which countries has the influence of creating and removing these inequalities.

Billy Pilgrims Coping Mechanism for PTSD in Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-Five :: Slaughterhouse-Five

In Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-Five, Billy Pilgrim becomes â€Å"unstuck† in time. The question here is, why? The fact of the matter is that he does not actually begin to time-travel. Billy â€Å"becomes unstuck† as a coping mechanism to deal with his traumatic experiences during the war. Billy attempts to reorganize his life’s events and cope with a disorder known as post traumatic stress (PTSD). â€Å"Post traumatic stress disorder is a debilitating condition that follows a terrifying event† (Marilyn 8). It occurs when one has witnessed or experienced a traumatic event, such as war, child abuse, or other types of violence. Victims may claim to relive or re-experience events that were traumatic to them. They may even â€Å"feel† or â€Å"hear† things from the event. Other symptoms may include: â€Å"forgetfulness†¦amnesia, excessive fantasizing†¦trancelike states†¦imaginary companion, sleepwalking, and blackouts† (Putman 2). A lot of times, coping mechanisms fail and the following inner dissonance can lead to a multiplicity of upsetting emotional and physical symptoms (Robert Saperstein 2). Some children suffering from PTSD may show traumatic play. This refers to the reenactment of a traumatic experience. Usually, children will change the ending to make it happier. This is an extreme example of using the imagination as a way to escap e the terrible memories. Billy has all the symptoms associated with the disorder as he also used his imagination to escape his bad memories. When Billy Pilgrim goes to war in Germany, he is soon captured by the Germans and taken to a prisoner camp. While there, he is mocked and ridiculed. He is a very passive character, and so is not bothered by this taunting, but when Billy realizes that the war doesn’t just affect soldiers and people, but all animals, such as the horses they find after the bombing of Dresden, his life is scarred forever. He sees that the horses are bleeding from their mouths and that they are in agony when walking. When Billy sees that his colleagues had mistreated the horses, he realizes that that is what war does to the entire world. Billy is forever changed and even weeps (197). This may have been the trigger for PTSD in Billy’s life to begin with. One of case post traumatic stress disorder tells of a Vietnam veteran sleeping with a gun under his pillow and having nightmares so intense that he woke up strangling his wife. Another time, the same veteran saw a neighbor walking outside after dark and dodged under a bush and started crawling around with a gun (McGirk 1).