California Health and Human Services Agency Essay

California Health and Human Services Agency - Essay Example Another criterion is to examine the currency of information on the site by looking for updated details on documents and links. Lastly, the coverage of the site shows that the objective of the site is clearly to be used as information updates only, and in no way presents any biasness towards any agencies or boards. Since the inception of the internet, many human services agencies have developed official websites to promote and create awareness for their organizations. One such agency is the California Health and Human Services Agency (CHHS). This paper will examine and analyze the value and relevance of this website to its target audiences using the criteria set out by the Wolfgram Memorial Library (WML) from Widener University. According to WML, there are five crucial criterions that can be used to determine the efficacy of the information on the site, and they include authority, accuracy, objectivity, currency, and coverage. (WML, 2009) The homepage for the CHHS website contains a welcome message by the Secretary, Kim Belshe, in addition to the vision of the agency, which informs "all Californians, especially those most at risk or in need (that they) have the opportunity to enjoy a high quality of life as measured by the sound physical, mental, and financial health of children, adolescents, and adults; strong and well-functioning families; safe and sustainable communities; and dignity for all." (CHHS, 2009) It is clear that CHHS is responsible for the contents of the page because the agency logo is visibly presented. To mark its affiliation with the State of California, there is a copyright mark and a link to the official website on every page. There is also a link to the website for the Governor of California. (CHHS, 2009) While the vision of the agency is stated, the agency goal is not quite as transparent. The closest form of explanation is perhaps under the link "About Us" which spells out the "responsibility f or administering major programs," (CHHS, 2009) and includes the contact information like the agency address and telephone number, which verifies the legitimacy of the agency. However, it is worth noting that an email contact is not provided for enquiries. This may be an indication that the site is meant more as a source of information rather than a site that promotes dialogue. The legitimacy of the website is well established with links to independent websites for all twelve departments and one board. However, at the time of writing this analysis, there was an error linking to the Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs (CHHS, 2009), which indicates a lack of quality control. Without an email contact available, the audience is then forced to either call the agency, or make the extra effort to look for this site online. If CHHS were meant to be only as a source of information, the agency's objective as an official site that "administers state and federal programs for health care, social services, public assistance, and rehabilitation," is clear. (CHHS, 2009) All links are directed to independent department sites that provide a more comprehensive presentation of each program's agenda. For example, the link to the Department of Community Services and Development details this department's programs and resources. (CSD, 2009) Any document or links in the website that highlight specific programs are also presented according to the most recently published so

Urban Life in Local Neighborhood Essay Example for Free

Urban Life in Local Neighborhood Essay Community Board 3 of Manhattan is a part of Chinatown, covering the Lower East Side of the town. It is a largely diverse community, with variety of races, languages, culture, and customs protecting the uniqueness of the district. Today, economy remains to be a major concern. Portion of the population thrive on assistance, others are homeless, and most of what makes up the population are of immigrant status. The district was a foundation on mixed cultures through the many immigrants who settled in the area. This is not surprising though. It is a frontier to immigration, an entryway. Therefore, it is not surprising if immigrants would opt to stay. Population Then and Now The population of the community is in a constant rise. In 1980, the recorded population is 154, 848. With this figure as a base rate, there was a 4. 4% increase in 1990 where the population recorded increased to 161,617. In the turn of the millennium in 2000, Manhattan Community Board 3 is home to 164,407 people, a 1. 7% increase from the 1990 figure. (Manhattan Community District 3, nd) Between 2000 and 2004, an interesting tabulation of births, deaths, and infant mortality has been recorded. In 2000, 14. 1 (2,320) per 1000 are being born. The rate decreased in 2004 where there are only 13. 7 (2,255) births in every 1000. In terms of death, the statistics were not too far apart. There were 7. 9 deaths in every 1000 in 2000, while there were 7. 7 incidences per 1000 in 2004. (Manhattan Community District 3, nd) Alarmingly, infant mortality is on a rise. In 2004, there were eight incidences of infant mortality. This embodies 3. 4 in every 1000 infants. In 2004, there became 13 deaths. This shows that there are 5. 8 deaths for every 1000 infants in the area. (Manhattan Community District 3, nd) Neighborhood Amenities The community offers several income support to its constituents. In 2000, there were more than 8,000 aids given as public assistance. There were more than 5,000 last year. Medicaid use increased from 16,012 cases to a whopping 54,727. The income support of the community has helped 23. 4 of the total population in 2000. In 2006, 74,609 or 45. 4%, almost half of the population, received help. (Manhattan Community District 3, nd) The community also features structural amenities for its constituents. It has about seven schools offering public education for elementary and secondary school students. There are more than 15 private and parochial schools for elementary and high school as well. There are also two college or post-secondary institutions. Apart from this education structures, the community also has libraries, museums, parks, playgrounds and other cultural spots. The community also enjoys hospital services, nursing homes, and other patient health services. Mental health institutions also exist in the community. The same goes with special treatment facility such as special children services and daycare services. Public safety is also not overlooked. Precincts, fire stations, narcotics unit, and battalion forces are available for the service of the people in Community District 3. Most especially, alcohol and drug abuse is being watched as the community knows that it can pose serious risks to the safety and interest of their people. Neighborhood changes Manhattan Community District 3 is a diverse community. Today, the community is undergoing a shift in its environment, dubbed as gentrification. As the community maintained a small locale atmosphere, many small establishments mostly owned by families have started closing down. They were replaced with bars and restaurants which were bigger or plainly just more commercialized. The changes in the environment still reap fruits. Nightlife has drastically increased, bringing jobs to many. (Manhattan Community District 3, nd) Neighborhood needs A primary problem in the community is homelessness. While prosperity is evident at some point, Manhattan Community Board 3 still is on the edge of everyday survival. As an example, many people were being displaced off their homes because the rents were becoming to high to afford. Alcohol is also fast becoming a problem. As more people get chances of frolicking, more establishments are acquiring licenses to sell alcoholic drinks. On the other hand, licensing is not strictly monitored. (District needs, n. d. ) Residential spaces are also fast becoming commercialized. Thus, the community needs stricter zoning monitoring and regulations. In effect, the authorities should also protect the smaller economy. The community also needs better transport system. Bus and subway systems of the community are pathetic. Traffic itself is bad with illegal parkings, sidewalk disturbances and reroutings. Sanitation is likewise unacceptable at some point as there is no real comprehensive recycling program in the area. (District needs, n. d. ) References Manhattan community district 3.. n. d. Retrieved December 2, 2007, from http://nyc. gov/html/dcp/pdf/lucds/mn3profile. pdf District needs. n. d. Retrieved December 2, 2007, from http://www. nyc. gov/html/mancb3/html/district/needs. shtml

hmos takes the care out of health care Essay -- essays research papers

HMOs Take The ‘Care’ Out Of Health Care.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the early 1990s insurance companies, in attempt to control spiraling medical costs, created what would be termed â€Å"health maintenance organizations†, also known as HMOs. What HMOs do is create a team of physicians and medical personnel that the patients agrees to use. Within the contracts both the patient and the doctor sign, limits and restrictions are put on what the hospital will reimburse and what they will or will not provide in order to keep the costs down. At the beginning, these organizations were successful in bringing medical costs down and has made health insurance more affordable than ever. However, the contracts that the HMOs have you sign basically limits the doctor on how he or she can treat their patients, thus putting their job as the physician in the hands of the HMO. As profits began to go up and down these organizations have put more effort into keeping their costs down and have lost sight of actually caring fir the patients they are insuring.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  To prove my thesis in this paper I will discuss how our senior citizens and the chronically ill have been hurt by recent cuts their HMOs have made. I will discuss the many reports of HMO negligence and the issues concerning the patient doctor relationship. I will also go into what actions, or lack thereof, our government has taken in response to HMO woes. All of these points will show that HMOs have lost the concept for caring for their patients including our elders who are one genre that are being hit hard by the actions these HMOs have taken.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In January of 2001, nearly one million senior citizens were kicked out of their Medicare health plan (â€Å"What’s Behind† 1). Why have so many HMOs dropped these health plans? The reason why is because these Medicare programs are for the elderly only and simply were not profitting, and in response, the insurance companies shut them down. The HMOs claim that federal reimbursement levels were not keeping up with the medical cost inflation forcing them to cut these programs. For instance, in 2001, the government’s reimbursement to the HMOs went up only 2 percent while the insurance company’s costs went up between 11 and 13 percent (par.3). Though the reimbursement level issues may have contributed to the HMOs decision to cut these pro... ...ted high levels of stress associated with dealing the multiple agencies and healthcare providers. Since managed care’s beginning, the way medical care has been provided and delivered as drastically changed, and this trend is more than likely to continue. No one is going to be hit harder by these changes than the families who have children with complex chronic medical conditions. Work Cited Alleger, Irene. â€Å"HMO’s- Business Masquerading as Medical Care.† Towsned Letter for Doctors and Patients 215 (2002): 135. par. 9. Almanac of Policy Issues. â€Å"Universal Health Care Coverage.† March 29, 2005. American Medical Student Association. â€Å"Myths & Facts About Single-Payer Universal Coverage.† Marc.h 29, 2005 Canadian Health Care . â€Å"Canadian Health Care.† March 29,2005. â€Å"HHS:HMO’s Ignore Medical Incompotence.† International Council fpr Health & Human Services 5.21 (2001): 1-2 par. 17. Tuleya, R.J. â€Å"The HMO Dilema.† Nutrition Health Review: The Consumer’s Medical Journal 79 (1999): 3. par. 22. â€Å"What’s Behind the Medicare Woes?† People’s Medical Society Newsletter 19.6 (2001): 1-2 par. 7. Universal Health Care. â€Å"Summary of recommendations Poor Health and Homeless. March 29, 2005.

Arbitration

Arbitration is the process of resolving an argument outside the formal court system.   An arbitrator listens to both parties and determines an agreement that is fairest to both parties.   As a part of the hiring process, many employers are mandating voluntary arbitration agreements between the employee and the company as part of the application process for hiring. These types of arbitration agreements have caused concern from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for employee protection.   One famous case arose between the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Waffle House.   The rulings from the case by both the Circuit Courts and the Supreme Courts have changed the structure and proceedings for the mandatory arbitration agreements between employees and employers. When an employee of Waffle House was fired after having a seizure during work hours, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed legal action against Waffle House. Because the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission was not part of the mandatory arbitration agreement between Waffle House and the employee the case was taken to the courts â€Å"In EEOC v. Waffle House, Inc., the Supreme Court held that an agreement between an employer and an employee to arbitrate employment disputes does not bar the EEOC from pursuing an independent lawsuit on the employee’s behalf and seeking employee—specific judicial relief.† (Labor and Employee Relations, 2002)   The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed a complaint that Waffle House was in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act and sought punitive damages and back pay for the employee. At first glance, one might come to the conclusion that the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has essentially replaced the arbitration process between employers and employees.   If the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission can file complaints because a representative of the commission had not signed an agreement with the company, it is natural to assume that companies would find such agreements to be futile and worthless.   Now employees can file an arbitration claim and an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission claim against employers. The main purpose of the mandatory arbitration agreements was to keep employee suits out of the court system to save both the employee and the company legal fees.   Under the Supreme Court rulings it would appear that employers are no longer protected and the use of arbitration agreements with employees would potentially increase the possibility of having a suit filed against the company. However, employers know that the number of cases that the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission actually takes to the courts is extremely low in comparison to the number of cases the commission receives annually.   The chances of a case going to litigation is significantly low as long as the employer has examined the wording of the mandatory arbitration agreements and has maintained safe and fair working practices. Even though the Supreme Court left open the statue of limitations on cases filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the type of damages that could be sought, mandatory arbitration is still viewed as a cost effective method to settle employee disputes with companies.   â€Å"If the employee failed to mitigate his or her damages, any recovery by the EEOC would be limited accordingly.† (Labor and Employee Relations, 2002) Employers who practice sound business procedures are still protected by the mandatory arbitration agreements because an employee is limited on the types of compensation that can be claimed either by the employee or by the commission on the employee’s behalf.   In addition, many employees that sign the mandatory arbitration agreements are completely unaware of the existence of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or that they can file outside of the company’s chosen arbitrator for law suits against the company.   Even though technically employees have two methods to file against an employer, the reality is that most employees are ignorant of the resources at their disposal. The Supreme Court’s decision to allow the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to represent employees outside of mandatory arbitration has not deterred companies from continuing the practice of these requiring these agreements.   Arbitration remains the most cost effective method to settle employee disputes by avoiding high legal fees for both the company and the employee.   The Supreme Court’s decision resulted in companies practicing more equitable work procedures. In addition, the decision forced companies to examine existing agreements and modify them to be more equitable to the employer.   With the changes in the arbitration agreements, the low percentage of cases taken to court by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the lack of knowledge by employees of the commission’s existence the use of mandatory arbitration agreements to settle employee disputes is still cost effective and on the rise for companies.

Hospital and Appointment Management Purposes

Homework Assignment #2 03/04/13 Please provide your answer after each problem and submit the file with your answers through Angel. Problem #8 from page 145 Using the Crow’s Foot methodology, create an ERD that can be implemented for a medical clinic, using at least the following business rules: a. A patient can make many appointments with one or more doctors in the clinic, and a doctor can accept appointments with many patients. However, each appointment is made with only one doctor and one patient. b. Emergency cases do not require an appointment.However, for appointment management purposes, an emergency is entered in the appointment book as â€Å"unscheduled. † c. If kept, an appointment yields a visit with the doctor specified in the appointment. The visit yields a diagnosis and, when appropriate, treatment. d. With each visit, the patient’s records are updated to provide a medical history e. Each patient visit creates a bill. Each patient visit is billed by o ne doctor, and each doctor can bill many patients. f. Each bill must be paid. However, a bill may be paid in many installments, and a payment may cover more than one bill. . A patient may pay the bill directly, or the bill may be the basis for a claim submitted to an insurance company. h. If the bill is paid by an insurance company, the deductible is submitted to the patient for payment. [pic] Problem #2 from page 173 Given the following business scenario, create a Crow’s Foot ERD using a specialization hierarchy if appropriate. Tiny Hospital keeps information on patients and hospital rooms. The system assigns each patient a patient ID number. In addition, the patient’s name and date of birth are recorded.Some patients are resident patients (they spend at least one night in the hospital) and others are outpatients (they are treated and released). Resident patients are assigned to a room. Each room is identified by a room number. The system also stores the room type (pr ivate or semiprivate), and room fee. Over time, each room will have many patients that stay in it. Each resident patient will stay in only one room. Every room must have had a patient, and every resident patient must have a room. I believe specialization hierarchy is 100 percent not appropriate.Although resident patients are an identi? able type of patient instance, there are not additional attributes that are unique to only that kind or type of patient. Participation in a relationship that is unique to a particular kind or type of instance is not suf? cient justi? cation for a specialization hierarchy. Indicating that only some instances will participate in a relationship is addressed by the optional participation designation. In this module, all resident patients must have a room; however, not all patients are resident patients so room is optional to patient.

Public Health and American Red Cross Essay Example

Public Health and American Red Cross Essay Example Public Health and American Red Cross Paper Public Health and American Red Cross Paper Community Teaching Work Plan Proposal Directions: Develop an educational series proposal for your community using one of the following four topics: 1) Bioterrorism/Disaster 2) Environmental Issues 3) Primary Prevention/Health Promotion 4) Secondary Prevention/Screenings for a Vulnerable Population Planning Before Teaching: Name and Credentials of Teacher: Sheila Sue Erickson RN House Supervisor Estimated Time Teaching Will Last: 20 minutes of speech, 20 minutes of practice, 20 minutes of questions. Location of Teaching: Classroom of Adolescent Unit Research Psychiatric Center 2323 EAST 63RD ST KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI Supplies, Material, Equipment Needed: Printed information and facts about earthquakes and survival from American Red Cross Estimated Cost: $2. 50 for reproduced paper on education Community and Target Aggregate: Adolescent Population of Research Psychiatric Center (13 patients) ages from 14 to 17. Topic: Earthquake Survival and Safety in case of a Disaster Epidemiological Rationale for Topic (statistics related to topic):  © 2014. Grand Canyon University. All Rights Reserved. From the website: Missouri Dept. of Public Safety SEMA State Emergency Management Agency From Dec. 16, 1811 to Feb. 7, 1812, at least three of the largest earthquakes to hit the continental United States rocked Missouri. With fracking going on so close to us it is imperative to educate all on earthquake preparedness. Nursing Diagnosis: Risk for Trauma Knowledge deficit related to environmental safety during an earthquake situation. Alteration in self-care related to trauma of family and the person involved in the situation. Readiness for Learning: Identify the factors that would indicate the readiness to learn for the target aggregate. Include emotional and experiential readiness to learn. This group is in the preplanning stage of readiness to learn. The research performed by the teacher was an assessment of what this population knew prior to any education about the event, the maturity level of the students, the situational factor that they are patients in a mental hospital and the ability to teach this age group without providing further trauma to their lives. Possible issues that could present are children leaving the room, disinterest in the subject, side effects from medication making the children tired and non-responsive. Asking this group to participate in demonstrations will be challenging due to some of the diagnosis that they are experiencing. Children who are attention seeking will dominate the conversation and the teacher needs to be able to redirect the conversation back to topic and give all a chance to learn. Learning Theory to Be Utilized: Explain how the theory will be applied. Teacher will ask who wants to be part of a presentation and learn something new. Teacher will assess with simple questions about what is an Earthquake. Has anyone experienced and earthquake, and who knows what to do in case of such a disaster. Presentation of information that is about the topic from the American Red Cross.  © 2014. Grand Canyon University. All Rights Reserved. Goal: Healthy People 2020 (HP2020) objective(s) utilized as the goal for the teaching. Include the appropriate objective number and rationale for using the selected HP2020 objective (use at least one objective from one of the 24 focus areas). If an HP2020 objective does not support your teaching, explain how your teaching applies to one of the two overarching HP2020 goals. Healthy People 2020 section IV Goal 1: WHAT? Address All Hazards Preparedness as a Public Health Issue. Most emergencies have the potential for serious adverse effects on the health of the public. Being  prepared by educating the public in what to do in case of a specific emergency in order to spare their own life and what to do post event. Training and exercises improve the ability of the public health workforce to respond to emergencies and save their own life. How Does This HP2020 Objective Relate to Alma Ata’s Health for All Global Initiatives (See page 116 in the textbook)? Alma Ata’s globalization of health recognizes that barriers between countries are blurring, that health issues cannot be isolated to one county. Page 114, 128, and page 131 discusses and speaks of the work of the community health nurse that involves  planning and providing health care services to all populations plus education. Develop Behavioral Objectives (Including Domains), Content, and Strategies/Methods: Behavioral Objective and Domain Example – Third-grade students will name one healthy food choice in each of the five food groups by the end of the presentation. (Cognitive Domain) Content (be specific) Example – The Food Pyramid has five food groups which are†¦. Healthy foods from each group are†¦. Unhealthy foods containing a lot of sugar or fat are†¦. Strategies/Methods (label and describe) Example – Interactive poster presentation of the Food Pyramid. After an explanation of the poster and each food category, allow students to place pictures of foods on the correct spot on the pyramid. Also, have the class analyze what a child had for lunch by putting names of foods on the poster and discussing what food group still needs to be eaten throughout day.  © 2014. Grand Canyon University. All Rights Reserved. 1. After the discussion about earthquakes, children will be able to demonstrate how to remain safe during the episode. 1. Discussion about what happens during the earthquake. Preparation for aftershocks. Lack of communication and safety during the critical  period. 1. Information from American Red Cross given as a format for discussion. 2. What to do when you are injured. 2. What to do in the case of aftershocks. 2. Preparation for an earthquake. 3. 3. Lack of communication 3. Storing of essential resources such as food and water. 4. 4. How to be prepared for an earthquake, storage of food and water. 4. Creativity: How was creativity applied in the teaching methods/strategies? The children were allowed to participate with falling boxes as to how they would react to glass breaking and shaking and how they would find a way or place to be safe. Creative discussion  was allowed and the children discussed where they would store food and what food would be considered safe. Question and answer time was allowed as well. Planned Evaluation of Objectives (Outcome Evaluation): Describe what you will measure for each objective and how. 1) Ability to choose a safe place in case of a disaster. Practice allowed. Fake drill to see what reaction is. 2) How to stay safe post-earthquake. 3) Safe food and water storage.  © 2014. Grand Canyon University. All Rights Reserved. 4) Planned Evaluation of Goal: Describe how and when you could evaluate the overall effectiveness of your teaching plan. Come back to the group later in the evening and see how much was retained by the groups. Planned Evaluation of Lesson and Teacher (Process Evaluation): 2 groups will discuss what answers they chose and what would be primary as far as safety. Barriers: What are potential barriers that may arise during teaching and how will those be handled? Children who are certain medication that will be too tired to participate will not be forced. Children that are autistic or do not wish to participate will just observe if they wish. Communication: How will you begin your presentation (hook them in)? How will you end your presentation (go out with a bang)? What nonverbal communication techniques will you employ? Time the reaction times and see if we can beat the one before us by using 2 groups. Information provided by American Red Cross. Ask who would like to participate in a class project that the House Supervisor is studying in school, peaking interest of children that are curious as to why House Supervisor is still in school. Letting children discuss and demonstrate what would save their life or a life of someone close to them.  © 2014. Grand Canyon University. All Rights Reserved.

Invasion of the Zebra Mussels essays

Invasion of the Zebra Mussels essays There has been an incursion into the sovereign territory of the United States of America. The Zebra mussel, an animal much akin to the clam, has colonized nearly every hard surface in the Great Lakes area, and many rivers and streams attached to them. These invaders arrived on ships from England, pumped out through the ballast. Zebra mussels are from a different environment (England), thus they are classified as an exotic species. These pesky animals threaten the entire Great Lakes ecosystem. The invasion has created many problems for the local ecosystem. First of all, Zebra mussels take the food for which native species already compete. Each mussel consumes about a liter of different types of plankton. Small fish lose their food, and their numbers dwindle. Big fish no longer have small fish to eat, and the entire food chain is disrupted. Now that the natives dont have enough food to go around, mortality rates are going up and they are starting to die out. Another problem theyve created is clogging on industrial units. They reproduce en mass and attach themselves to anything they find, including docks, boat ramps, and waste pipes. All the industries in the area now have to worry about scraping these mini-invaders off. Yet another problem theyve created is contaminated drinking water. The intake pipes in Lake Michigan and elsewhere are covered with mussels. Without being removed, they contaminate water and move on to clog up city pipes. Still another problem is their colo nization of rock reefs. With the mussels being several inches deep in places, their waste is poisoning the area and fish that would normally lay their eggs there must look elsewhere for nesting areas. Now natality is down and mortality is up. A final problem they cause is damage to property. By latching onto boats and other floating objects, they can and will damage them. They cause innumerable problems, so now the ...

29 ways on how to stay creative at work throughout the day

29 ways on how to stay creative at work throughout the day Creativity at work is letting the inner you shine through the work you produce. But being at work all day can sometimes drain you mentally and physically; getting  in your way of your creativity. With these 29 ways to stay creative, you can help with your ideas to flow throughout the day instead of reaching road blocks. Simple things such as taking breaks, getting feedback, making lists, and even singing in the shower can get your creative juices flowing. Here are some quick and easy tips that work magic for your creativity!Source [ Behance ]

The history of tequila in mexico Research Paper

The history of tequila in mexico - Research Paper Example Known as the tree of miracles, the Agave plant is the only source of Tequila drink (Earth Bar Magazine 1) where it takes about nine years for an agave plant to be ready for harvesting, processing, and distilling to make the Tequila drink. The history of Tequila in Mexico confirms that the drink is a symbol of cultural heritage with a cultural significance that supersedes the status of alcoholic beverage (James 1). The process that produces Tequila represents a cultural blend as it defines the indigenous Prehispanic culture of Jalisco, Mexico and the emergence of the Spanish distillation process (Festa 1). This marked a Spanish and Mexican cultural blend (James 1). This cultural blend has passed to the current generation where the production and consumption of Tequila in Mexico portrays a cultural blend. The ancient tribe of Mexico, the Aztecs, the Chichimecans, the Otomies, the Toltecan’s, and the Nahuatls who drank beverages made from the Agave plant initiated the history of the Tequila in Mexico (Earth Bar Magazine 1). Indeed, the Aztecs were the first people to ferment sap from the local agave plants that made Tequila in the pre-Hispanic times (La Cava del Tequila 1). On the other hand, the Nahuatl’s worshipped the Agave plant that made Tequila (Earth Bar Magazine 1). The blue agave plant that produces sugar that later forms Tequila is native to northwestern state of Jalisco (Earth Bar Magazine 1). The arrival of the Spaniards in Tequila, which is in a region of Techinchan in the old Aztec Empire and Jalisco state of Mexico, led to the introduction of the European influence on Tequila (Earth Bar Magazine 1). In the 1000 B.C the Mayan and Aztec leaders produced and consumed pulque, which was North Americas first known alcoholic beverage (La Cava del Tequila 1). The Mayan and Aztec leaders made the pulque drink from the fermented maguey plant’s sap (La Cava del Tequila 1). The

Project Papers ( Business Plan ) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Project Papers ( Business Plan ) - Essay Example Location is crucial to the success of any restaurant businesses. The location should always be accessible to customers. Therefore, prior to signing a business contract with a prospective establishment, it is important to determine the traffic of people passing by the area during day and night time. Is the venue crowded with people during weekdays and weekends? The rent expense should also be considered since a lot of restaurant businesses close down because of this factor. Rent expense is a fixed operating expense. Therefore, regardless whether the restaurant is earning good profit or not, the business owner still needs to pay the rent expense. For this reason, it is important to carefully select a venue that offers the lowest cost of rent with a huge number of people passing by the area for leisure purposes. The food preparation area is composed of ‘food bar’ and ‘spice bar.’ The food bar is where the customers could select a wide variety of fresh food items such as: vegetables, meat, noodles, etc. The spice bar offers a wide selection of sauce, oil and spices. As soon as the customers have gotten their bowl of selected food items, the customers need to wait for another line before they reach the cooking station. When the restaurant is full of customers, time wasted on lining up from the two-food preparation table and cooking station could result to wasted time and loss of business opportunity. Therefore, the restaurant manager should consider a strategic way to enhance the smooth flow of this process. Perhaps playing a fast-tempo music could enable the customers to finish their meal the shortest time possible. (Milliman, 1982) The number of manpower will depend on the size of the restaurant. Normally, the kitchen staff should have at least 2 cooks, 2 – 3 dishwashers, 1 assigned to refill the food and sauce bar. The

Saving Californias Surf Breaks Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Saving Californias Surf Breaks - Research Paper Example   With the advent of surfing environmentalism also came the task of educating both the surfing and non-surfing public of how waves are created, how rock formations in the sea and its other natural resources aid wave formation and how human interference, such as coastal developments and road constructions, affects the process. Educating the public about surfing basics is not complete without talking about surf breaks, which are crucial in creating wave breaks that surfers ride (Butt, 2009). â€Å"A surf break is defined as a permanent obstruction, such as a reef, headland, bombora [and] rock or sandbar, which causes waves to break† (Silmalis, 2007). Although what constitutes the actual wave that surfers ride involves a more complex combination of weather, wind direction, tides, and ocean current, an integral part of this fusion are surf breaks (Diel and Menges, 2008, p. 84). The texture and shape of the sea floor determine the height of the wave (p. 87). Hence, beaches rich in coral reefs—which are considered to be the best surf breaks—and blessed with great bombora and other rock and sand formations are considered to be prime surf spots (Almond, 2009, p. 93). California is home to some of the world’s best surf spots, and preserving the state’s surf breaks is a huge task that involves more than the occasional â€Å"Save the Beach† rallies. For instance, in 2008, about 3,000 surfers and environmentalists expressed their opposition to an $875 million toll road project that would â€Å"block sediment that creates world-class waves at San Onofre State Beach† by showing up for the marathon commission hearing (Flaccus, 2008). The Save the Waves Coalition is a prime example of a non-profit surfing environmentalist organization that teams up with local, national and international agencies to â€Å"preserve and protect surfing locations around the planet and to educate the public about their value† (Kampion, 2009, p. 117).     

Probable Chance of Showers Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Probable Chance of Showers - Essay Example Because of the above increased reliance on statistics and probabilities, the chances of wrong weather predictions are always there. This paper analyses how concepts used in probability theory are employed by meteorologist to determine when rain will rain in a certain region an how many inches.   In meteorological forecasting, the categorical forecast is one that has only two probabilities: zero and unity (or 0 and 100 percent). Thus, even what we call a categorical forecast can be thought of in terms of two different probabilities; such a forecast can be called dichotomous. On the other hand, the conventional interpretation of a probabilistic, forecast is one with more than two probability categories; such a forecast can be called polychotomous (Probabilistic Forecasting - A Primer) Dichotomous weather prediction is more accurate than polychotomous prediction. In polychotomous prediction more probabilities are there compared to the dichotomous prediction and it is impossible to the public to know how much rain may rain or at what time the rain starts. In other words, polychotomous prediction is only an assumption which lacks scientific facts. On the other hand, dichotomous prediction may have better scientific backing. It always says accurately whether rain comes or not at a particular period over a particular place. In other words, dichotomous prediction is 100% accurate. Dichotomous predictions are not always easy because of the changing climate cycles. Great uncertainties are prevailing in human life and weather prediction is also not free from uncertainties. Because of the increased element of uncertainties involved in weather prediction, probability theory is quite often used in weather prediction. â€Å"Probability starts with logic. There is a set of N elements. We can define a sub-set of n favorable elements, where n is less than or equal to N. Probability P = n/N† (Theory of Probability: Best Introduction, Formulae, Algorithms, Software). In w eather prediction, the favorable elements of rain are atmospheric temperature, humidity, pressure, cloud conditions etc. In other words, the above elements can determine whether rain happens or not at a particular period of time. When the number of favorable elements more, n > N and the probability becomes more than unity. When probability is more than one or equal to one, the chances of rain are more. On the other hand in some cases, N might be the double of n. In such cases, the probability becomes .5 or the chances of rain become 50%. For example while tossing a coin, the probability of getting a tail and head is 50%. Here the attempt made or N is 1 and the coin has 2 sides or n is 2. So the probability p= ? or 0 .5. Probability theory is used based on the frequency of occurrence of events also. It is an accepted fact that during monsoon period, heavy rain will take place. The arrival of rain during monsoon period has started long time back and it continues so. Weather or rain pr ediction during monsoon periods can be easy for the meteorologists by analyzing the frequency of occurrence of rain during the monsoon season. It is possible for meteorologists to analyze the rain data or statistics over a particular period of time and to predict the possible amount of rain which may happen in a particular year. All these calculations are made with the help of probability theory

Corporate Level Strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Corporate Level Strategy - Essay Example However, for a department like Police, a portfolio approach will be relatively better suited. Both the approaches towards corporate strategy requires a very well thought out approach towards viewing organization amid the competition it faces in the market place. It is however, important to understand that not all firms and organizations are established for competitive purposes as public sector organizations have to actually fulfill certain responsibilities without any commercial consideration. Organizations like Police Department therefore don’t focus on maximizing the profits as most commercial organizations do however, to work efficiently and effectively, it is important that such organizations also maintain a strategic outlook. Portfolio approach to corporate strategy may focus on achieving financial synergy while allowing business units to operate independently however, it is also important for allowing business units to operate on their own. The challenge for management however is to ensure that all the business units operate according to overall corporate strategy of the firm and overall execution of strategy remains well intact. Portfolio approach for a department like Police will be a relatively better approach because Police department, as a whole, works in different units. Not all units are assigned the same roles and responsibilities however, a close integration of all the departments is considered as necessary. However, various departments also need to ensure that they operate on their own to fulfill their strategic role while at the same time maintaining required synergy. Core competencies approach is relatively strong approach however this may not be suitable for a department like Police. Core Competencies approach requires that organization generate and maintain its core competencies across the whole organization. Each department and business unit therefore is required to ensure that organizational

Depersonalization as a method of representation and protection of Research Paper

Depersonalization as a method of representation and protection of personal data - Research Paper Example Computers and the Internet paved the way for more efficient and fast methods to gather, store and organize personal information. Since the 1970s the number of computer data banks or databases became staggering. There are the databases from Social Security Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Medical Information Bureau, state criminal justice systems, municipal data systems, credit card companies, telephone companies, Medicaid, and, recently, Google, Facebook and so much more. The huge amount of information that governments and businesses collect from individuals have become a cause of concern. Personal data collection encroaches on the individual’s right, particularly as it invades privacy or the right to control information about ourselves; there is a disclosure of private personal facts; and, the information can be used in such a way that a person is cast in a bad light or in a case of identity theft. The method of personal data collection, its use and security, hence, necessitate citizen protection. Through the years, laws have enacted that aim to protect personal privacy but they appear to be insufficient. This paper will explore depersonalization as an effective method of personal data collection, where privacy is still protected. ... 3. Access or the level of access provided to individuals on the gathered data about them. 4. Security or the responsibility of data gatherers to provide adequate protection for the information collected (Bidgoli 2004, 98). Based from these principles, a number of laws were enacted covering individual privacy across different sectors. For instance, the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act protects personal banking information; the Fair Credit Reporting Act provides the framework for handling personal credit data. There are also laws that cover the collection and use of medical and health data, government records, children’s privacy, and so forth. Laws are also enacted in other countries such as the European Union Data Protection Directive, the OECD privacy guidelines adopted by countries such as Mexico, Australia, Japan and Czech Republic (Conrad, Misenar and Feldman 2012, 401). But these laws and even some ethical guidelines (see Kluge 2000), no matter how specific and comprehensive, still fail to address privacy issues. Neubauer and Kolb (2009), for example, noted that approaches and methods for protecting privacy often do not comply with legal requirements or basic security requirements without suffering any penalty, (7). Szeto and Miri (2007) revealed the same findings when they studied the Canadian experience. According to Hildebrandt and Gutwirth (2008), this is because most statutes builds on traditional ways of thinking data, personal data and their abuse, without understanding or recognizing the new type of knowledge that result from modern data processing (321). It was further argued that even when recent or updated laws were effective regarding personal data, they are still not equipped to deal with correlated data, which is persistent today

Corporate Level Strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Corporate Level Strategy - Essay Example However, for a department like Police, a portfolio approach will be relatively better suited. Both the approaches towards corporate strategy requires a very well thought out approach towards viewing organization amid the competition it faces in the market place. It is however, important to understand that not all firms and organizations are established for competitive purposes as public sector organizations have to actually fulfill certain responsibilities without any commercial consideration. Organizations like Police Department therefore don’t focus on maximizing the profits as most commercial organizations do however, to work efficiently and effectively, it is important that such organizations also maintain a strategic outlook. Portfolio approach to corporate strategy may focus on achieving financial synergy while allowing business units to operate independently however, it is also important for allowing business units to operate on their own. The challenge for management however is to ensure that all the business units operate according to overall corporate strategy of the firm and overall execution of strategy remains well intact. Portfolio approach for a department like Police will be a relatively better approach because Police department, as a whole, works in different units. Not all units are assigned the same roles and responsibilities however, a close integration of all the departments is considered as necessary. However, various departments also need to ensure that they operate on their own to fulfill their strategic role while at the same time maintaining required synergy. Core competencies approach is relatively strong approach however this may not be suitable for a department like Police. Core Competencies approach requires that organization generate and maintain its core competencies across the whole organization. Each department and business unit therefore is required to ensure that organizational

Unit 8 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Unit 8 - Essay Example The author therefore lays out number of important elements of project management making up the best practices culture that must be observed by all project managers. training is particularly important considering the fast changing times and environments and as such companies have no options other than investing in continuous education for their project management teams and employees to keep up to date with industry standards. The first success point is for the project managers to get everything straight from the onset. It is important for managers of projects to understand the main goals of the particular project the needs of their clients in order to give the best. Secondly it is particularly important to carefully study and understand contracts before entering into any commitments. Assessing major clauses such as those on liabilities, indemnification warranties are worded right so as to avoid unnecessary legal suits and court cases. This eases the project implementation process and helps eliminate unnecessary delays. Another very important success factor in project management is the kick off meeting with a client. It is a very crucial meeting and therefore both the project managers and key project team members should be present in the meeting alongside key persons from the client end. This is because expectations are set in this meeting and as such it helps project teams figure out how to better manage the expectations of their client. The project managers should also never overlook stored materials; they should understand the way to bill for materials that are stored and also know the hidden costs that may come with early ordering of materials. To this end, timing is important especially when it comes to warranties. The warranty time begins counting immediately equipment are purchased and hence the earlier the installation the longer the period covered by the warranty. The final and ultimate success point in project

The Main Drivers Stimulating Globalisation Essay Example for Free

The Main Drivers Stimulating Globalisation Essay The following essay looks at the main drivers stimulating globalisation and how they impact on global strategies. Globalisation is about the increased interaction and linking of world societies and there economies. The world economy is now more closely linked than ever through global markets and the global organisation of the production of goods and services. â€Å"Globalisation is a process in which the world appears to be converging economically, politically and culturally. Globalisation is seen by many as a fundamental change where national borders become irrelevant, a process accelerated by development in information and communications technology. † (Needle, 2004) The first and probably the most important driver stimulating globalisation is the triumph of economic neo-liberalism with regards to changes in government policies. Neo liberalism is a set of economic policies that have become widespread over the past 25 years or so. These economic policies have on the whole been looking at reducing barriers to the movement of goods, services and capital across national borders. Many people believe the most important being the reduction of government created barriers to trade such as tariffs and quotas(GATT/WTO) which in the past would have minimised and stifled international trade. These changes in government policy interventions saw an increase in the moving from government controlled systems/business’s to privately run business’s that are run for profit which really kick started competition within the market. Due to these reductions in barriers to trade and tariffs business’s can look at the world as one big global market, they can export and import goods for a minimum cost, they can base production at a location to optimise production and therefore lowering costs(greater economies of scale) and they also have a greater access to cheaper raw materials in order to become more cost efficient. Another driver is the vast and growing spread of international governance and regulations, this being vaster regulations across many countries . This move from shallow to deep integration has seen regulations become more standardised across a variety of countries, has lowered barriers and resulted in more cross border activity. A linked world economy has been made much easier by the agreement on global standards , there are many global and regional organisations such as the UN,WTO and the EU that have contributed to this process of standardisation. If we take the EU this is a political economic community of 27 member states located in Europe. The EU has created a single market through the standardisation of systems and laws which apply in all member states, this guarantees the freedom of movement of people, goods services and capital. These type of policies and regulations have really drove globalisation as it is now easier to trade in different countries, source materials, get funding and recruit people from these countries as workers. This can lead to companies maximising production as they have a greater amount of skilled labour to choose from. They can also cut costs as they can recruit and pay foreign workers at minimum levels. The regulation of laws on things such as product quality has also had a great effect. Organisations can now buy materials from certain countries cheaply knowing they have to be of a certain quality dictated by EU law, this makes the market more accessible and global. The emergence of worldwide financial markets and better access to external financing has had an impact on globalisation. The additional trade and investment generated by globalisation required a greater financial mobility which was helped by the removal of restrictions on the movement of capital through banking, stock markets and the WTO. This made it easier for companies to source financial backing anywhere in the world making the idea of trading internationally far more appealing to many organisations. In addition to consumer goods financial goods such as foreign exchange, shares and insurance are now also traded globally. New stock exchanges have been created and emerged around the world in order to meet this expansion of global trade in the financial sector. It has been thought that much of the cross border activity that occurs now is flows of financial capital. Although this is good for investors and means companies can get funding and investment from throughout the world so much easier now it also has its drawbacks and can lead to a crisis within economies. This was highlighted in the financial crisis that hit Asia in 1997, Asia as an economy was growing which attracted many investors to invest money within various area of the Asian economy at that time. When the economy slowed and there was rumour of a crisis many investors withdrew leaving the economy and many business’s in financial ruin. Technological advancements and innovations have effected globalisation as the world now has become a smaller place, things are now readily available and accessible throughout the world wherever you are. The world economy is now networked electronically through innovations in transport particularly in air travel and communications. People and businesses can now contact each other quickly and efficiently throughout the world through the internet, e-mail, telephones etc so wherever the company is situated they can contact each other at minimum costs. Advancements in transportation have had a major influence on companies going global. They can now transport goods and bring in raw material from all over the world quickly, efficiently and at a minimum cost. This is down to transportation speed and the ability to get access to quicker methods of transport now than in the past. Aeroplanes can now transport goods anywhere in the world quickly and cost effectively. In the past companies could only source and get goods locally as these methods of transport weren’t available or feasible. We can see that such developments in transport and communications have made the movement of people, goods, money and services much easier and have really been a major influence in globalisation and its attractiveness. The final driver of globalisation is social and cultural convergence there is now an increased circulation of people of all nations around the world due to there being fewer restrictions on travel etc. People want and will search for global products as everything is now more accessible. There has been a change in individual tastes and preferences which are in the direction of favouring greater choice in the range and origin of goods and services. This is attractive for firms as they no there are potentially profitable international markets that want there products. There has also been a change in cultures there has been a growth in cross-cultures. People have the desire to enjoy foreign products and ideas, adopt new technology and have a real desire to participate in a world culture. This has lead to a change in peoples values, collectivism is being replaced by individualism in many countries, they are changing more from traditional societies to more modern ones which increases demand for international products from other countries. There are various types of strategies that an organisation can implement that are also influenced by the main drivers stimulating globalisation. The first and most simple would be a home replication strategy this is when a firm takes the strengths of the business and looks to replicate that in the international markets that they want to move into. This strategy is usually more popular with smaller business that target a niche market, they look to expand into other markets and target niche markets within that market. The multi domestic strategy which is the strategy most firms take assumes that consumers needs and wants differ from country to country. To become competitive in these markets they tailor there product and operations to suit that country. The power within the organisation is de-centralized to strategic business units in each country and power is given within these business units to managers to make decisions in that particular country. The main driver behind this strategy is the varying cultures between countries in the world. It would not make sense to sell certain products in countries that have strong feelings against the product and will not purchase it. The best way to become competitive in these markets is to differentiate your product within that country. E. g. McDonalds not selling beef in India as they do not eat beef and selling chicken instead is a prime example of a multi-domestic strategy. The Global strategy is based upon the idea that consumers want the same things wherever they are in the world. Within this strategy the organisations products and services are the same across all markets throughout the world. This design is based upon the worldwide centralisation of decision making and control at the headquarters of the organisation. It is the head office of these companies that make all the key decisions regarding production, marketing etc and tell the head of the strategic business unit in each country what to do, the only decisions they make are with regards to the legal side of the country the company are doing business in to make sure they are working within the law. If done well this strategy can allow the organisation to achieve economies of scale. The main drawback within the strategy is it is not flexible to local markets and is very difficult to respond to changes within the local market because of how centralised it is. The transnational strategy is when the organisation tries to achieve both a global efficiency and an ability to respond to local market needs . This can be difficult to achieve because there is a real emphasis on the strong central control of the organisation as well as coordinating the activities to achieve efficiency and being responsive to the local market. An example of this local responsiveness with global efficiencies would be a car manufacturer manufacturing cars for the left hand side and right hand side drivers. They create a uniform product e. g. body of car created then tailored to specific market depending on what side of the road you drive on. As we can see there are many drivers that stimulate globalisation and also many strategies that can be taken but when going global there are also many things that need to be taken into consideration when deciding on a strategy. Trade blocs need to be considered as they influence the ease of access to particular markets and influence costs of trading in different regions of the world e. g. EU, NAFTA. This may be a hindrance due to added cost of setting up and blocs on trading but if you were to locate within a trading bloc this could help reduce long term trading costs and be a beneficial strategy e. g. Japanese companies building plants in the UK to help overcome exposure to the common external tariffs. Economic factors need to be considered such as tax systems, financial markets- can capital be raised and easily moved within that area. Prices of things such as oil and petrol will influence decisions as transportation costs will be effected by this. Interest rates and exchange rates might also play a factor in influencing strategy as they effect costs making it less or more feasible to move into that market. Social factors may also be relevant such as religious considerations and the appropriateness of selling your product in there country e. g. selling alcohol in a Muslim country may not be a good strategy. Also ethical and cultural issues should be taken into account when thinking of setting up in various countries as many cultures will not except certain products. Other factors such as capability of the workforce in certain countries will need to be considered as if the appropriate skilled labour isn’t available in that country it may not be a worthwhile option. The access to technology can have a major influence on global business strategy such as access to the internet, pc ownership, sales technology, processing payments and sales is this technology available and easy to use, compatibility of technologies used e. . accounting systems and language differences may also have an impact on strategy. From this essay we can see there are many drivers that have stimulated globalisation over past decades. These drivers have had a major impact on strategies that are taken by organisations. It is important for an organisation when going global to look at all the factors involved and imp lement the correct strategy in order for them to be successful.

analysis Thomas Hobbes?s claim ?a state of nature is, or would be, a st

Thomas Hobbes argues that a state of nature will eventually become a state of war of everyone against everyone. According the Hobbes, the main reason behind this change will be the harsh competition over scarce resources caused by the nature of man. Through out this essay Hobbes’s reasons will be explained in greater detail.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In order to truly understand the logic behind Hobbes’s claim, we must first understand his point of view of human nature. The key element in Hobbes’s view on human nature was the importance of desires. Unlike many other philosophers such as Plato and Aristotle, Hobbes had a different approach to desires. He believed desires were real motive behind human behaviors. (Leviathan, p119) What motivated human actions were not virtues such as wisdom as Aristotle and Plato would claim, nor was it a sense of duty as Cicero would say. It was rather simple desire. Hobbes did not see desire as a harmful feeling, which must be avoided. He rather thought of it as a positive part of human nature, which could drive a person to achieve more and more.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Hobbes had a definition of happiness closely connected to desires. Hobbes defined happiness as a â€Å"continual successe in obtaining those things which a man from time to time desireth† He used the phrase â€Å"felicity† for this definition of happiness. (Leviathan, p.129) Important point here is, there is no limit to this attaining of goods and happiness is a continued process of desire fulfillment, which lasts from birth to death.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It would not be wrong if we claim all reasonable people would like to live a life of happiness or in other words, a life of felicity. Having accepted Hobbes’s definition of felicity, it can be further said that all people would want a life where all their desires are fulfilled.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Hobbes argued that despite minor differences, all people were close to being the same in both ability and intelligence. (Leviathan, p.183) Hobbes further stated, because people are close to being the same they also have similar desires. This is the point where the problems begin. All people have similar desires for certain goods as well as the same hope of attaining them but unfortunately most of these desired goods are limited in numbers. Because there aren’t enough resources for everyone to fu... ...ostly take care of their children with certain degree of love. Thinking that humans would become enemies to theirs seems illogical. In today’s world parents take care of their children not because laws force them but because they love them. This is an instinctive love necessary for the survival of human race and it is doubtful this love of children will be overcome by desire in a state of nature. The bottom line is that according to Hobbes, desires are the real motive behind human behavior. In order to live a life of happiness humans must constantly fulfill their desires. But, because human understanding of â€Å"good†, â€Å"bad† is interest based and the aim of â€Å"rationality† is no more than self preservation, a state of nature with no authority to fear from turns in to a state of war where every one is against everyone. With the reasons he has provided, Hobbes has put forward a good but not perfect argument. Even though there are some flaws, he has done a good job explaining how competition for desires leads up to a state of war. However, this â€Å"war† to take place between everyone against everyone including families doesn’t seem to be a realistic argument.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  

Legacy and Respect: The Usefulness of Feminism Essay -- Gender Sexuali

Legacy and Respect: The Usefulness of Feminism In a letter to students who participate in Bryn Mawr and Haverford Colleges' bi-college Feminist and Gender Studies department, Head of the Department Anne Dalke outlined an argument in favor of changing the program's name. She wrote, "Our argument for re-naming the F&GS program "Gender and Sexuality" is based on 3 claims: 1. that it will be enticing for prospective and current students and faculty, because it names their personal and intellectual interests and investments (while avoiding the word "feminism," which is off-putting to a large range of individuals) 2. that it accurately represents the current state of scholarship in the field 3. that it accurately names--and invites exploration of--where the interesting questions lie." At the date in which this statement was composed last April, I probably would have agreed with its relevancy and reasoning. I no longer accept this line of thinking, however, due to my education and involvement in Anne's co-taught class I am taking this semester, Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Gender. It is ironic that I began my study of gender four years ago as a freshman vehemently against feminism, and only now as a senior taking the only class required for every major or concentrator in that field have I come to appreciate the legacy and usefulness of feminism as a theory of practice and of education. My original concepts of feminism were that it was a theory that denounced men and elevated women beyond a fair or equitable place in society. I recognize now the stereotyping that I inadvertently allowed myself to feel. "Equating feminist struggle with living in a counter-cultural, woman-centered world erected barriers that closed... ...of a more perfect understanding. Works Cited Dalke, Anne. "Re-Naming the Feminist & Gender Studies Concentration: An Account of the Past Process of Deliberation--and a Sketch Towards the Future." CAP doc. April 14, 2004 Fuss, Diana. "Inside/Out." Critical Encounters: Reference and Responsibility in Deconstructive Writing. New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press, 1995. 233-240. hooks, bell. "Feminism: A Movement to End Sexist Oppression." Feminist Theory Reader. Ed. Caroline McCann and Seung-Kyung Kim. New York: Routledge. 2003, 50-57. Johnson, Allan G. The Gender Knot: Unraveling our Patriarchal Legacy. Philadelphia: Temple University Press. 1997. Rubin, Gail. "Thinking Sex: Notes for a Radical Theory of the Politics of Sexuality." American Feminist Thought at Century's End : A Reader. Ed. Linda S. Kauffman Cambridge, Ma : Blackwell, 1993. 3-64.

The Illegal use of Oxycontin

Attention Getter: A pill cutter, a bottle of water, a credit card, a straw, a thick white powdery line, then a sniff†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦This is the deadly and illegal use of OxyContin, or otherwise known in my town as OC†s. Credibility: This is a sad description of an on going problem in my very own town. This is a description of a very highly addictive painkiller called Oxycontin. This pain reliever is already controlling the lives of many of my friends and many people in this country. I feel as though precautions must be met to stop the illegal use of OxyContin from spreading. Purpose: The purpose of my speech is to explain to all of you the downsides and the heavy addiction that this pain reliever causes. I personally believe that this rapidly increasing problem must be stopped. I realize that there is no denying that it's recreational use and abuse are a problem, there is another more important problem of at least equal concern the needs of people truly suffering from chronic pain and in need of OxyContin for pain relief. Forecast Statement: The negative aspects for both street users and patients and explain what pharmacists, physicians and representatives from the Purdue Pharmaceuticals are doing to ensure that this medication remains available for those who need it and stays out of the hands of those who abuse it. The synthetic opioid OxyContin has become a drug of abuse, following in the steps of other prescription drugs that contain Oxycodone, the active ingredient in OxyContin. The level of abuse and the number of people who have died because of OxyContin abuse are growing. At first many pain specialist initially believed that the controlled-release oxycondone had a low potential for abuse, boy were they wrong. In recent years, this drug has exploded to the streets. The latest report from the DEA, the Drug Enforcement Agency, states that Oxycontins have played a role in over 282 people since the beginning of 2002. The DEA says that it is only a matter of time before every community in this country is confronted with the problem of Oxycontin abuse. No prescription drug in the last twenty years has been so widely abused after it†s release. Oxycontin was pain reliever meant to do good, not bad. Oxycontin is prescribed to patients, who are chronic pain, patients who are dying of cancer, recovering from major surgery and or suffering from unbearable headaches. This pain reliever is known for its significant improvement over all other pain relieving medications. The time-release mechanisms allow the right amount of the medication to be released to keep sustained relief for people in severe pain for up to 12 hours. Not only street users become addicts, patients also become very addicted to their own medicine. Many patients go threw heavy withdrawal symptoms when their prescriptions have ended. No longer will insurance pay or doctors write prescriptions. So they too must turn to the black market to fulfill their addiction. In the worst cases some patients turn to heroin because Oxycontins to expensive. Before a person is prescribed this pill, the patient is supposed to undergo a complete physical examination, the patients record should be contained with detailed documentation of the nature and intensity of the pain, current and past treatment, other illnesses, and their history of drug and alcohol use. Then the risks, type, dosage, and quantity of the pain medication must be explained to the patient. Prescriptions will only be filed out during office hours, lost prescription slips will not be rewritten or otherwise replaced, lost or stolen medications will not be replaced. If asked by the doctor, the patient can be submitted to drug testing and urine screening to ensure that the patient is taking a controlled release of the oxycodone. All of these steps must be taken before the prescription can even be written out by the doctor. The Connecticut Company, Purdue Pharma, first introduced Oxycontins in December of 1995. Since then the popularity of this pain pill has grossed to over 1 billion dollars in U.S. retail Sales last year with of 5.5 million prescriptions written. Street users are attracted to the drugs euphoric high. The time- release is licked or peeled off of the pill. It is then crushed with a hard object broken up to a white powder, then it is broken up into very small lines and snorted or mixed into a dilute and injected into their veins. The drug then provides a high very similar to heroin, like heroin, it becomes highly addictive. OxyContin is a narcotic drug. Narcotic drugs cause not only a physical addiction but also a psychological dependence. Narcotics are drugs that produce a change in response to sensations. Sounds appetizing doesn†t it. The problem with OxyContins is that each tablet contains higher amounts of narcotic than any other painkillers, because of the extended action of the medication. Authorities suggest that this is the reason for the streets popularity. OxyContin abusers who have never used heroin may be attracted to heroin when they can no longer afford the high street level price of OxyContins. Heroin is much cheaper and gives a stronger feeling of euphoria. You may ask how do these drugs get into the hands of abusers? Pharmacy workers take the drug directly from the shelf. People create fraudulent prescriptions. People with or without true illness visit several doctors, perhaps even in several states to obtain a large quantity of the drug. Dishonest doctors write improper prescriptions for money or favors. Addicts rob houses, nursing homes and pharmacies just to get high. On the other hand, many doctors don†t prescribe it because they don†t want to be suspected of irregular practice. As a result of numerous robberies many drug stores no longer carry Oxycontin for the fear of being robbed. All of these factors are hurting the people who are legally prescribed OxyContin or other narcotic pain relievers to treat legitimate conditions, often are unfairly accused of being addicted to the pain medications. Misconceptions about proper pain management sometimes lead to under-utilization of available pain medications. Cancer patients and people in recovery are at a high risk of losing their medication because of the increasing sillegal use of the drug. Many law suits are being brought against Purdue that might hurt the avaiblitly of the drug. What is being done to stop this rapidly growing epidemic? Purdue Pharma has responded to the growing problem of OxyContin abuse by distributing over 400,000 brochures to pharmacists and healthcare professionals to educate them on preventing diversion. Legislative initiatives are also being drafted to make Oxycontins distribution less appealing by creating more strict penalties. Meeting with law enforcement officials in several states. Offering grant money for education and drug abuse prevention programs. Purdue Pharma claims it is committed to finding solutions. In the long term, millions of dollars are being spent on research and development a new pain medication, less likely to be abused. A new painkiller, still in development, is not expected to be available for at least three years, and has yet to be named. Purdue Pharma is anticipating that clinical trials will begin in early 2002. However, years of research and the FDA approval process are hurdles which must be cleared before anything newly-developed can be marketed. Clearly, that is not an immediate solution to the OxyContin problem. That's why the DEA has stepped in with a sense of urgency, offering its proposals as deterrents to the abuse. There is way around it, illegal OxyContin use is a problem. It's both. OxyContin is one of the best-selling brand-name drugs in the world, and also one of the most abused drugs. Although, this pill is meant to help save lives it is killing more than it is helping. Many street users of OxyContin are young, like my friends at home are who are unaware of how potent these tablets can be. The addiction to this pill is so dangerous and if is not taken under control it will control you. If you know someone who may be addicted please get them help before there lives go down the tubes. I hope you all can see how important this subject is. It is affecting my life, I hope you can stop it from affecting yours.

Market Failures & Professional Dilemmas Essay

Based on the Edwards article which market failures or imperfections are present in the â€Å"Lobster Thermidor† case? And can you identify any in your professional life? Based on the Halbert & Ingulli reading (â€Å"Making An Ethical Decision†) apply the methods of ethical reasoning to these situations. Two market failures can be observed in the â€Å"Lobster Thermidor† case, a tragedy of public goods and informational deficiencies. First of all, the divers have to dive deeper, to the limit of diving safety, since overfishing has made the lobsters rare and to catch the lobster less than 30 meter down is getting harder and harder. This is the very typical case of public goods, where the public resources such as the lobsters under the sea are usually over-consumed by the individuals who try to maximize one’s interest. Deforestation, which has destroyed the entire farming industry and forced Miskitos out to entirely rely on diving, was another tragedy caused by the overconsumption of the public goods, forest. Secondly, both the divers and the end-consumers make wrong, irrational decisions cause of the lack of information. Divers, who do not recognize the true market price of lobsters as well as the true price of potential risks, bargain away their goods with little danger pay allowances. Also, the consumers, who have no idea about the severe fishing environment in Honduras, are reluctant to pay more than current prices, formed lower than it should be at the cost of human lives. The company where I worked prior to school has always tried its best to remove any little elements of competition in its area. If there were a small but promising start-up with innovative idea and technology, that company used every means –most were legal or grey while a few were nearly illegal- to get rid of the potential threats. For instance, it quickly imitates the new technology of the start-up, take out the similar patent, scout the core human resources, block off the critical suppliers and seed funds, cut the price of competitive goods to the minimum level, and do hostile M&A. This case also showed the issues related to public goods and informational deficiencies. The company attempted to minimize the production/dissemination of new technologies, which can be considered as public goods, and the newborn ventures could not protect themselves cause of the limited access to the information. From the utilitarianism perspective, these are reasonable and desirable attempts because the larger number of stakeholders can be satisfied. My company had more than 20,000 employees while the average start-ups have no more than 100 employees. Considering the families of employees, shareholders, subcontractors, and the related industries, maximizing profit of my company could bring higher utilities than the success of small ventures. Even in long-term, my company’s decision would not be wrong since the possibility of success of start-ups are extremely low compared to the global conglomerates. My company, which has the global network, huge infrastructure, and accumulated knowhow can exploit the new technology better and thereby encourage the social progress. In contrast, from the deontological view, it was absolutely wrong. My company not only hindered the fair competition but also committed illegal acts. Whether the result proved positive or negative is not important for the deontologists. Finally, it was not proper when applying the concept of virtue ethics since the motives of the actions of the company was not correct and contributes nearly nothing to the harmonious relationship with the community it belonged.

Case Study: Creedence Clearwater Revival

Case study: Creedence Clearwater Revival Introduction Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR) was an American rock band that gained popularity in the late 1960s and early 1970s (Lyrics Freak, 2010). â€Å"The group consisted of lead vocalist, lead guitarist, and primary lyricist John Fogerty, his brother and rhythm guitarist Tom Fogerty, bassist Stu Cook, and drummer Doug Clifford† (Lyrics freak, 2010). The foursome began early on as young teenagers and grew together. Throughout their time together there were many issues that arose that in the end led the group to disband. Cause of Demise CCR began their downward spiral that ended in disbanding in 1970; by 1972 the group had come to an end (Lyrics Freak, 2010). The cause of demise for the group entailed a lot of different factors. John Fogerty had taken business control of the group by 1971 and felt that a democratic vote would only cause problems, however the other band members felt they should have a say in things (Lyrics Freak, 2010). Cook and Clifford were not thrilled with the decisions that Fogerty was making, but ended up accepting what Fogerty offered (Lyrics Freak, 2010). Despite the differences that the members had with how things were going they continued on recording and touring. â€Å"Finally, on October 16, 1972 – less than six months later – Fantasy Records and the band officially announced the disbanding of Creedence Clearwater Revival† (Lyrics Freak, 2010). Legal Issues Each went their separate ways. John began a solo career as a one-man band, but still was under contract with Fantasy to finish eight more records (Lyrics Freak, 2010). John was not thrilled with the way Fantasy was handling the contracts and was upset that they had the copyright to his work. In order for him to break the contract and be free John signed over his rights to Creedence’s songs to Zaentz, the owner of Fantasy (Lyrics Freak, 2010). John fought with Zaentz over this and many other issues. One legal issue much that affected the whole group was that much of the money earned by Fogerty and Creedence was â€Å"lost in an offshore tax-shelter deal arranged by Fantasy† (DeCurtis, 2005). The group took Fantasy to court and after much trial and tribulations CCR won a considerable judgment (DeCurtis, 2005). After John Fogerty left CCR and Fantasy he created an album in 1985 â€Å"Centerfield,† which had the song â€Å"The Old Man Down the Road† on it (DeCurtis, 2005). Zaentz, from Fantasy, felt that he owned the copyright to that song because he felt it â€Å"was an illegal remake of Creedence's ‘Run Through the Jungle’† (DeCurtis, 2005). Zaentz sued Fogerty for $140 million â€Å"for plagiarizing himself† (DeCurtis, 2005). The battle between Fogerty and Zaentz became childish with lashes back and forth. Fogerty began to create songs about Zaentz that were disrespectful and rude. After many arguments and legal battles Fogerty won. Cook and Clifford formed Creedence Clearwater Revisited and decided to sing some of the old songs. They had asked for John Fogerty to join them, but he refused (Lyrics Freak, 2010). Lawsuits between the band members began to ensue because John felt the others had no right to use the names of the band and songs (Lyrics Freak, 2010). Financial Issues Financial Issues were always a problem for the group since the beginning. Although there were a few years where they had financial gain overall the group struggled. When CCR disbanded Cook made a statement to the press saying, â€Å"Over the years John Fogerty has done everything he could to devalue Creedence Clearwater Revival†¦He owes the rest of us a fiduciary duty to protect, enhance and help [the band] grow on a business level. And we believe that he has violated that† (Rolling Stone, 1997). Fantasy had made a deal with an offshore tax shelter, and according to Lyrics Freak (2010) the other members were not aware that John had signed off on this. This deal led to a downfall of finances for all of the members. The negativity that occurred between all parties led to distrust and the inability to work together. This negativity affected their work and before they disbanded the albums put out was not received well by the public, which brought in less revenue then desired (Lyrics Freak, 2010). Management Issues In 1964 CCR, formerly known as The Blue Velvets, signed with Fantasy Records (Lyrics Freak, 2010). From 1964 to 1970 the band had a good run of success under Fantasy, however dissension began to settle in the band and Fogerty took the reigns as business leader for the group (Creedence Online, 2009). Fantasy was the group’s management, but Fogerty began making the main decisions for the group. Eventually the group decided to run as a democracy, which turned into chaos because everyone had their own ideas on how to manage the band (Creedence Online, 2009). Band Interpersonal Issues Dissension arose amongst the band members. Success was something they all sought after, but could not handle. Each had their own ideas on what should be done, but it was rare that all were in agreement in how things should play out. Tom Fogerty became upset at how the band was reacting to situations and in 1971 left the band for good (Creedence Online, 2009). This left John Fogerty, Stu Cook and Doug Clifford, the trio continued on but could not get along enough to keep the band going. They tried by putting together the album Mardi Gras and had also decided to attempt a U. S. tour (Lyrics Freak, 2010). â€Å"Hecklers reportedly pelted the band with coins at the final stop of the tour on May 22 in Denver. Finally, on October 16, 1972 – less than six months later – Fantasy Records and the band officially announced the disbanding of Creedence Clearwater Revival. † (Lyrics Freak, 2010). Conclusion The many issues of the demise of CCR should be learning points for other bands and managers. If I were the one who had discovered CCR and became their manager things would have been different. It is important to understand how each band member reacts to situations and as the manager to make sure everyone is on the same page. It seems that Fantasy did not do this and that John Fogerty had his own agenda as well. Although a democracy is needed and good sometimes, a fine line must be drawn in order to effectively manage a band. First off I would have made it very clear that as the manager I am working for CCR and that everyone does get an equal say, however what is best for the band should always be taken into consideration above what each person desires for themselves. Secondly conferences would have been held to ensure that everyone is on the same page. This is extremely important during long hours of recording and touring. People tend to get tired and do not always think clearly during stressful times, so a re-hashing of the goals the band has is important to keep peace. Thirdly when it comes to the bands money all should have a clear understanding of how the finances are allocated. Every member should have the right to viewing statements. So decisions like the offshore account would not occur. Contracts to protect the members would have this stated in them to offer fairness to every party. By being honest, communicative and having legal protection for all parties I feel that CCR may not have disbanded in such a terrible way. It is shameful that the group could not remain working together after the split. However in 1980 the four did play together for Tom’s wedding lawsuits once again created an end of relationships amongst the group (Lyrics Freak, 2010). Even after the death of Tom John could not let bygones be bygones and still refused to play with former members Cook and Clifford (Lyrics Freak, 2010), References Lyrics Freak. (2010). Creedence Clearwater Revival: Biography. Retrieved March 4, 2010, from http://www. lyricsfreak. com/c/creedence+clearwater+revival/biography. html Creedence Online. (2009). Creedence Clearwater Revival History. Retrieved March 4, 2010, from http://www. creedence-online. net/history/ DeCurtis, A. (2005). John Fogerty Is Closer to Peace With a Label. The New York Times. Published: November 1, 2005. Retrieved March 4, 2010, from http://www. nytimes. com/2005/11/01/arts/music/01foge. html? ei=5088=a96cbcb6483ce99c=1288501200=1=rssnyt=rss=1182985952-kKlgvwEFB+csZpVxoY0czw

Van Gogh in Provance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Van Gogh in Provance - Essay Example Van Gogh found Arles to be an attractive destination with its Provencal landscapes and intense light and colors when he arrived there in February, 1888. During his time in Provence, he produced over three hundred paintings, water colours and drawings. Van Gogh’s drawings were made with a wide variety of tools and materials, and his subjects ranged from still life depictions to â€Å"interiors, gardens, parks, townscapes, landscapes, and seascapes to figure studies and portraits†. The skill and accuracy of van Gogh’s mark making in the mature reed-pen and ink drawings of the Provencal period are amazing to view. This paper has highlighted Vincent Van Gogh’s life when he was in Provence, France. The works that the artist created while in Provence, the unique qualities of nature characterized by luminous brightness and rich colors in the South of France that influenced his work were examined, his lifestyle and passion for creating his artistic works, and finally his attacks of mental illness and subsequent decline towards taking his own life were discussed. Van Gogh was passionately committed to understanding and recording his experiences of nature and to find the transcendant meaning of the radiant light of the Midi. Krohn believes that any inquiry into the nature of beauty is a noble enterprise. Most pilgrims who travel in this pursuit, discover that the investigation and the inward journey form the greatest rewards. The discussion of the life and powerful works of the artist van Gogh help to get insights into the artist dedicated to his work but was unable to find relief from his tormenting mental condition. His tremendous artistic productivity within a short span of time is remarkable, taking into account the high quality and commanding stature of his works.

Marxism and Durkheim Theory Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Marxism and Durkheim Theory - Essay Example There was a realized increase in loses because there existed poor agricultural techniques and storage method that could have preserved the yields experienced in the farms. Another attribute of this system was a minimal realization of the social classes within the society and most individuals experienced similar or less development. Individuals struggled to develop their livelihood in this society as a comfortable life led sought to revolve around agriculture and less on technology. Rural societies embraced this format of societal functioning and worked on improving the general family yield to support individual development. With the emergence of new technologies and a need to accelerate development especially in trade patterns, towns developed into trading centers. Here, knowledge and skills needed to control the general development impacted people’s creativity and agility in development. These impairments sought to the development of the industrial society where advanced adju stments were created to tackle problems that hindered productivity and development (Lee, 1982, 115). The industrial society was driven by technological advancements that improved productivity and supported more individuals who had then started specializing in various development sectors. Satisfaction in production was channeled from family basis to an industrial level that boosted overall development in societal technology and production. With the development of industries, labor force in the industries was boosted to accommodate required changes sufficient to support the growing economy. Industrialized societies brought much competition within individual and companies as urbanization took shape to improve the lifestyles that had been created by the capitalists. My essay dwells on two theories that may relate to these developments in the society in the struggle for development, Marxism and Durkheim’s theory. Marxism In this theory, Karl Marx believes that all the components o f the universe are natural and are based on nature’s law basing his theory in philosophical materialism. This theory disputes the presence of supernatural composition of the environments believing that all constituents are tangible and can be altered (Biorseth, 2009). Marx and Engels who invented Marxism generated the theory commonly known as dialectical materialism merging these two concepts to explain their resolve in the identification of the universal components to be materialistic (Marx, 1998, 68). They further stress on facts proving that there is continued evolution in the natural components and boundaries crated by people are virtual They further believe that the world consists of various elements that are all related and dependent. A change in one entity may result in an alteration in the other and all restrictions are majorly created by the human imagination limiting freedom. According to Marx and Engels, science is greatly applied in the quest to solve mysteries im pacting major revelations in obtaining explanation to difficult questions presented by nature (Jonathan, 2011). In Metaphysical type of materialism, Marx states that the type of idea or resolve within a particular individual is influenced by his brain components without stressing on anything else. In his work, Marx explained the development of

Adrenoleukodystrophy Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 1

Adrenoleukodystrophy - Research Paper Example However, promptly managed and cared for, this disorder is somewhat bearable for the individual who has it. But there is no treatment for ALD, only alternative medications that could delay the progression of the disorder. This paper discusses and analyzes childhood cerebral ALD in a patient case study format. An 8 year old boy from Alabama, New York was admitted at the East Alabama Medical Center with issue of continuous darkening of the entire body for 4 years already, continuing deterioration of vision, abnormal behavior and hearing difficulty observed for the last 2 months. At the age of five he began going to school, but was forced to stop because of visual deficiency and low level of attention. Progressively he also began experiencing hearing difficulties. He had one incident of seizure 2 months ago. While confined in the hospital he also exhibited signs of mental illness and experienced vertigo. His previous medical history was average. He was not taking any medications before his hospitalization. There was also nothing unusual in his family background. Test results showed generalized hyper-pigmentation of skin, as well as pigmentation of tongue, gum, and oral mucosa. His blood pressure was stable, and has scattered loss of hair. He has testicular atrophy according to genital tests. Audiometry reports deterioration of sensory-neural hearing in both ears; ophthalmological and neurological tests show bilateral primary optic atrophy. All regular examinations showed normal results, but one test showed high protein, with no alteration in microbiological, glucose, and cell count results (Rosenkilde et al., 1995). The diagnosis of adrenoleukodystrophy was firmly substantiated by the radiological and biochemical results, and medical history. Afterwards, treatment was initiated with prednisolone and antipsychotic (Rosenkilde et al., 1995). He is currently monitored on a regular basis. The medical

W3 Asign2 Strategy Map & Balanced Score Card Essay

W3 Asign2 Strategy Map & Balanced Score Card - Essay Example (Cokins, G., 2013) Using these two tools, this paper will attempt to identify the KPIs for Rotor-Rooter, a plumbing company that is based and provides services primarily in the United States. It was difficult to identify the KPIs for Roto-Rooter because aside from company-owned operations in the United States they also have independent contractors and independent franchises locally and internationally. (Roto-Rooter, 2014) Since the writer is of the belief that the independent contractors and franchises should probably have their own KPIs, this paper will focus on the performance of the company-owned branches. As mentioned earlier, this tool presents the objectives and KPIs needed to meet those company goals. For this company, the key indicators of performance start with, under Learning Growth, enhance technical skills for all Level 1 employees and improve managerial & administrative skills for Level 2 employees. I think these are important because Rotor-Rooter’s business requires its employees at these levels to practice technical skills to complete their work and organizational skills and management skills to coordinate with their many branches, franchises and contractors, respectively. For the Learning Process stage, the KPIs are to implement training programs for current and new employees and to implement management training programs to meet the objectives at the first level of the map. For the Customer Level, the KPIs are to attain customer retention at 100%, to continue providing quality service, and to provide after sales service. Finally at the Financial Stage, the KPIs are to increase revenue and to increase productivity. A balanced scorecard contains individual KPIs with a predefined target measure, and KPIs that are project-based and process-based. (Cokins, G., 2012) For Roto-Rooter, the balanced scorecard will show, as KPIs for the managers and employees, target outputs with

To what extent is substantive equality promoted through the Human Essay

To what extent is substantive equality promoted through the Human Rights Act 1998 and the Equality Act 2010 - Essay Example Second, the convention responded to the growth of Communism in Eastern Europe by protecting the member states from communist subversion. The constant reference to values and principles became norm within the Convention as it was deemed â€Å"necessary in a democratic society.† The Convention was drafted in 1950 by the Council of Europe, however, did not go into force until September 1953. This Convention established the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). The court hears cases from persons who feel their rights have been violated under the Convention by a state party. Any state party judgements are binding on the states concerned and they are obligated to execute them. Executions of judgements are overseen by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. Particular discretion is used to ensure that payment amounts awarded by the Court to the applicants are received in compensation for damages sustained. The establishment of an international Court to protect individua ls from human rights violations is a very innovative feature. This innovative feature gives the individual a very active role on the international field. Tradition will show that only states or members are considered participants in international law. However, the European Convention remains the only international human rights agreement that provides this high degree of individual protection. Parties of the state can take cases against another state party to this Court, but this power is seldom used. Ten members originally joined as members in 1949. After the fall of the communist regimes in 1989, several states from Central and Eastern Europe became members. There are currently 33 members. Several other countries or States have been granted observer status including the United States, Canada, Mexico and Japan. The ECHR consists of Eighteen Articles covering fundamental rights with respect to respecting rights, life, torture, servitude, liberty and security, fair trial, retrospect, privacy, conscience and religion, expression, association, marriage, effective remedy, discrimination, derogations, aliens, abuse of rights, and permitted restrictions. The Court also must abide by its five established protocols. The European Court of Human Rights historically has a distinguished track record. The Court judges thousands of cases every year and its opinions are internationally cited. Historically the Court’s jurisprudence on equality was based on a formal concept of equality. However, in recent years the ECHR has started to give equality more of a substantive content. Its â€Å"weak equality jurisprudence resulted from the limitations of ECHR, judicial procedure, and a formal concept of equality.† Article 14 of ECHR applies only specifically to the enjoyment of conventional rights. â€Å"The enjoyment of the rights and freedoms set forth in this Convention shall be secured without discrimination on any ground†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬  As far as procedure, o nly alleged victims can apply for complaints (excluded from states), and they first have to exhaust all other domestic remedies in their perspective states. The Convention furthermore was reluctant to draw inferences of discrimination from statistics. However, the most limiting factor was the ECHR’s formal concept of discrimination, which focused on direct discrimination. Recently the court has had some difficulty with cases involving covert discrimination or