Compare and contrast Judaism and Christianity Term Paper

Compare and contrast Judaism and Christianity - Term Paper Example Usually, the Christ’s statutes are prevalent in both Testaments that act as a prediction of the coming of the Christ (Spencer, 2007). The faith has various denominations: the Catholic Church, the Orthodox Church, and the Protestants. Though there are small diversities in their beliefs, they adhere to the same statutes. Christians hold the notion of Eternity reserved for the upright and perpetual damnation as a reprimand for unrighteous life on earth (Doerfler, 2011). Judaism versus Christianity Judaism is a Jewish creed that that sticks to the statutes unraveled to Moses by God. The main belief of Judaism is the notion that persons of all denominations are God’s children (Taubes et al., 2010). They believe in equality before God. The Jews do not acknowledge Jesus is the Messiah; they usually contend with argument that their Messiah, the real one, will emerge when the entire world attains peace. Christians embrace Christ as their Messiah and liberator (Taubes et al., 2010). The Jews normally claim they are God’s elect and live in accordance to His directives contrary to other nations. This argument emanates from the old patriarchs whom they emulate. Though their creed normally refers to them as â€Å"forefathers† due to their astuteness, statutes they adhered to are irrefutable and attained them from the Almighty (Spencer, 2007). Since the time epoch of the forefathers, much time has elapsed; Jews, however, are not ready to abandon their teaching as they refute other doctrines and consider them fake. Despite the Messiah having emanated from their land and been rejected by their ancestors, they think that those who believe in him have false convictions (Taubes et al., 2010). ... The Christians claim that they sinned, so God sent Jesus for their liberation. Some Christian denominations like the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church utilize statues to portray Christ and the saints. Conversely, Judaism seldom allows the use of statues because it perceives them as idolatry (Spencer, 2007). Argument behind the statutes is that they are tools that remind the faithful of heavenly things in diverse occasions. Catholics are notorious with this style where the images are constituted of saints or remarkable events that occurred in the past (Taubes et al., 2010). Additionally, there are medals which bear significant implications such as protection by saints or angels. Conversely, this belief is nonexistent in Judaism since it is God who is the doer of everything and certain entities cannot assume His place (Spencer, 2007). The Christian and the Judaic creeds are alike in that they both worship one superlative being, though people mistake Christians for portraying Trin ity (Spencer, 2007). Christians perceive Judaism as an incomplete creed for it does not acknowledge Christ as the Messiah. They also contend that Islam and Buddhism form false religions (Taubes et al., 2010). Jews hold the notion that Christians believe in the false Messiah. The rationale is that the world has not attained the rightful age of 6000 years. These religions amidst them do have diverse and acute differences that they normally protect or argue fiercely when one raises any criticism against them. For example, Jews fail to recognize Muhammad as a spiritualist of the Islamic belief (Taubes et al., 2010). The Protestants refute that Holy Mary through prayer can

Quarterly Performance Review Essay Example for Free

Quarterly Performance Review Essay Being a retail store we all know how important customer service is, but many don’t see the importance of good vendor support as well. Vendors are important and should be looked after. Since they provide us with our foundations to running our business with providing us with the products and merchandise we sell. Elaine Bridgewater, our retail relationship manager, has been a great addition to our team. With her experience she is able to bring technical knowledge about the industry giving us a competitive advantage over many other golf equipment stores. Everyday Elaine brings her boundless energy and she is always driven and motivated. Elaine’s engaging personal style has built numerous new retail relationships for our company. However I do have some concerns regarding Elaine’s performance. Since she is the first person our retailers contact it is important to be attentive to the retailers needs. Unfortunately we have received complaints from various retailers that their calls are not returned the same day, but usually days later. If retailers email Elaine they seem to get lost in the email conversation since email message from Elaine could have been written clearer, making a simple email go back and forth numerous times due to confusion. Furthermore weekly reports are not created with care, but seem as if they were thrown together quickly. Although these may not seem like critical issues, and they are all simple fixes, but are very crucial to the survival of our business. With some standardized guidelines and practice these are areas Elaine could easily improve on. The retail channel is a very important aspect to the survival of our company and so it is important that that channel is maintained at all times. To help make the changes easier we will establish appropriate standards and guidelines for the retail division. All call and emails should be responded to within 24 hours of receiving it. We will also provide an array of email response templates since most of the correspondences are routine.

Topology :: Math Mathmatics

Topology Topology is a modern branch of geometry. It has been called qualitative geometry because instead of thinking about the traditional characteristics of an object (like angles, length, etc.), topologists study features that can’t be altered by stretching, twisting or shrinking the object. After any alteration all points in the object that were connected must still be connected and all points separated by a hole must remain separated. Topology also attempts to explain objects that cannot exist in three dimensions using mathematical equations, since it is nearly impossible to imagine such objects within our frame of reference. The dimension of an object can be thought of in two ways: intrinsic and extrinsic. The perception of a â€Å"creature† occupying, say a line, is one-dimensional, since he can only move in one dimension. However, we draw a line on a plane, so extrinsically it is two-dimensional (1). So how do objects occupying the same dimension diff er topologically? A doughnut shaped object, called a torus, and a sphere are topologically different. Both of these objects are extrinsically two-dimensional, since we only deal with the surfaces of the object. There is no â€Å"inside.† The reason for the topological difference is the hole in the middle of the torus. No permitted alterations (stretching, twisting, shrinking) can be made to the sphere that will transform into a torus. Topology emerged out of Euler’s work on graph theory in the early 1700’s. Leonhard Euler was born on April 15, 1707 in Switzerland. His father was a minister and wanted his son to follow in his footsteps. He sent his son to the University of Basel in 1720, when Leonhard was only 14. It was here that his interest and natural capabilities in mathematics really began to show. After completing his studies and showing very promising mathematical talent, Euler moved to St. Petersburg, Russia to teach mathematics, at the age of only 19. He remained in Russia for several years (4). And it was here that he made contributions to mathematics that would later be seen as the first steps towards topology. Graph theory studies how points are connected without giving any regard to the distance between them or the actual shape of the line connecting them.

World Wide Fund for Nature

There are well over five thousand endangered species on Earth and humans are the cause of it. Many animals are suffering and several hundred are already extinct. Many of the most beautiful creatures are now evanescent. People are also causing the destruction of the environment, which is home to millions of animals worldwide. Through poaching and obliteration of nature, humans have managed to diminish the very place they call home. There are charities such as the World Wide Fund for Nature with the motive to halt and reverse the annihilation of the environment.The international organization World Wide Fund for Nature works on issues regarding conservation, research, and restoration of the environment. The WWF was formed on April 26, 1961, when a small group of passionate individuals had the idea of building a future where humans live in harmony with nature. Their mission was to preserve the planet’s resources, reduce pollution, and conserve the world’s life diversity. Th e WWF’s original name was World Wildlife Fund and was later changed to World Wide Fund for Nature.The panda has become the logo for WWF because it was an endangered species and served as a strong recognizable symbol that was adored by many people in the world for its appealing characteristics. Originally, their aim was to protect the wildlife species and habitat. Today, organization has grown to repopulating several different species worldwide and seeks to didactically educate people on how to have a more ecologically friendly lifestyle.The World Wide Fund for Nature is the world’s leading environmental conservation organization with a global reach of one hundred different countries. They help protect endangered animals and their habitats. The WWF does this by collaborating with businesses, governments, local communities, and other organizations to secure funds and ensure the safety of wildlife. They focus on the underlying causes of environmental deterioration.The ent ire planet depends on organizations such as this, and without it, the nature living on it would continue to be whittled down by apathetic people until it is too late. Humans will soon become their own nemesis, unless they show some solicitude, and be a partisan in restoring the planet. The WWF, with over one million members in the United States and nearly five million worldwide, is one of the most impactful charitable organizations in history. The WWF gives hope to the future of the environment and fixes the problems that previous generations have caused.Because of this organization, the earth’s environment’s status has drastically improved. They are bringing back the serene environment, and shielding the forlorn animals that inhabit it. The World Wide Fund for Nature is a very impactful charitable organization that aids in restoring the planet’s environment and saves the lives of animals that are in need. The international organization World Wide Fund for Natur e works on issues regarding conservation, research, and restoration of the environment.

Fiction and Post-modernism

Post-Modernism is similar to Modernism because in many respects the two movements are similar. Post-Modernism simply means that a new generation concluded, as its elders had done, that there are no certainties and that life has no meaning beyond what we can impose upon it. It is in technique that Post-Modernism distinguishes itself from Modernism and it started in Europe and Latin American in 1945 and in North America in 1960. In Post-Modernism, there was a notion that it was absurd that literature could see life steadily and see it whole. Instead, fragments, individual perceptions, incoherence and even drug-induced hallucinations seemed more real and in touch with the times than any claim of stability or unity. The stories I will be looking further in to, to see how they represent Post-Modernism, are: â€Å"The Babysitter,† by Robert Coover, â€Å"The Balloon,† by Donald Barthelme, and â€Å"Jealous Husband Returns in Form of Parrot,† by Robert Olen Butler, Jr. â€Å"The Babysitter† is a fragmented story about a babysitter taking care of two children while their parents attend a cocktail party. The story has many elements of sexuality in it and the same storyline included different endings, such as the babysitting being raped by her boyfriend and his friend, the children’s father seducing the babysitter, and even the possibility of the young child drowning in the bathtub. The babysitter is watching television shows and switches back between a drama and a mystery, and this mirrors the fragmented situation that is given to the reader. This story represents Post-Modernism because Post-Modernism does not look for a unified sense of self in the individual; like the world the individual is a random collection or collage of miscellaneous pieces of the external culture. In this story, the reader can be very confused as to what is truly happening. Did she actually get raped by her boyfriend and his friend? Or did she get seduced by the children’s father? At the end of the story, we don’t know what happened and it is hinted that there was a murder, but there is no way to confirm this. This story has over 100 paragraphs, and they do not connect with each other. Going back to try to piece them together to make different plots is impossible because some paragraphs don’t even indicate which plot they are a part of. Along the same lines, this work of fiction embraces all aspects of the present culture and puts them in a fantastic combination as a way of conveying the fragmentation of contemporary life. Events in life aren’t always neat and in order; we can live scattered lives and this story represents how we see things in our everyday life. There is no chronological narrative, but instead scattered fragmentations that do not always make sense, just like how a person’s true life is. Lastly, this story represents Post-Modernism because it is metafiction; the â€Å"point† of the story is about the process of making fiction. I felt this story had a mixture of different fiction stories in it, and as a reader we are not sure which one is the truth, or if any of them even happened for that matter. A device of metafiction is the story addressing specific conventions with the story itself, and â€Å"The Babysitter† accomplished this by using the conventions of paragraph and plot, and portraying them in an unconventional way. There were many elements of Post-Modernism used in â€Å"The Balloon† as well. This story is about a seemingly purposeless balloon that suddenly appeared in NYC. It seems the narrator inflated the balloon one night while people were sleeping and covers almost the entire southern half of Manhattan. Everybody is mesmerized by this balloon and are so fascinated as to where it came from and what it means. By the end of the story, it is unsure as to whether there really was a balloon there or whether it was just part of the imagination of the narrator. In Post-Modern thought, any sense of a unifying idea or philosophy or even the notion of scientific progress is rejected. In this story, there was no logical reasoning as to what the balloon represented. It appeared there and people were amazed by it, but there was no real explanation as to how it appeared and what the purpose of it was for. Imagination seemed to be used more than logic and reason. Also, a characteristic of Post-Modernism is that art cannot provide any explanation or unity for experience; it cannot explain or unify experience. To me, the balloon was an artistic representation. People were trying to figure out what it was meant for, but it seemed to provide no purpose for them. The only person it might’ve provided purpose for was the narrator, but I find it odd how he would inflate this big balloon and put it in a place where half of NYC can see, only to use it for his own purpose. Just like with â€Å"The Babysitter,† the point of the story is more about the process of metafiction rather than telling a story. I feel the narrator was using the balloon as a symbol in his own story. The balloon represented a time of unhappiness for him because his love was away; and when she came back the balloon was removed and reserved for another time of unhappiness. Lastly, there are elements of Post-Modernism in â€Å"Jealous Husband Returns in Form of Parrot. † This story is about a parrot that supposedly used to be a man, but had died and was now a parrot. The parrot was bought by his widow, and now he could look around and see how her life is now and to reflect on his previous life and the way he is now. Post-Modernism does not look for a unified sense of self in the individual; like the world the individual is a random collection or collage of miscellaneous pieces of the external culture. This story really did not have much unity and it wasn’t certain whether the parrot was supposed be like a reincarnation of the man, or just a symbol of what he had become. Most people in life don’t believe that a man could die and then become a parrot, and when the parrot is exploring the world around him, it is a random collection. All of the miscellaneous things he sees around him now, he sees in a different light. Similarly, art itself is a collage, a collection of fragments that create no unity. It isn’t certain whether the parrot was only alive after the man had died, or if the man’s soul was transformed in the parrot. The pieces of the story do not always fit together so the reader can be confused as to what truly happened and at the end the fate of the bird is unknown. Also, a characteristic of Post-Modernism is that satire, parody, jokes, and black humor often dominate the tone of a work of fiction. This story had some funny elements in it. There is a scene where the man, in the form of the parrot, is mocking the man that his widow is with. He struggled to say words, and is able to call the man a â€Å"cracker† and also makes a comment when the man is nude and says â€Å"peanut,† and this goes without saying that he is mocking the man’s manhood size. He figured there is no way he can get his widow back, so he resorts to name calling in order to make the man who is loving his wife feel less superior. Post-Modernism was very similar to Modernism, but there is no unified sense of self in the individual. In most of these stories, the individual, like the world, is a random collection or collage of miscellaneous pieces of the external culture. I enjoyed reading these stories because they make you think a lot about what the point of the story is, if there even is one; or the author could be using the metafiction for the story. Either way, these short stories challenge the reader to figure out why the author portrayed the characters and plot the way they are, and what we as readers can take away from the story.

The Theory of Connectivism

The Theory of Connectivism Educational theory Learning is a crucial activity in the lives of humans and its forms the basis of the educational process (Isman (2011). Consequently, a lot of attention has been paid to the understanding of how learning takes place, leading to the formulation of numerous theories of learning and instruction. These theories have evolved over the years as developments in other areas of education continue to happen.Advertising We will write a custom dissertation sample on The Theory of Connectivism specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More There is no one theory that can be described as the perfect theory that fits in all learning situations. This means that different theories are applied to different learning situations. The various theories of education and learning describe how learning occurs, the factors that shape learning, the importance of memory in learning, and how knowledge is transferred (Ravenscroft (2011). Behaviorism is one of w ell known learning theories. The theory posits that human beings receive a stimulus in the process of learning, which they respond to. According to Isman (2011), this mode of learning is best promoted by task-based learning. Learning under behaviorism is also influenced by the rewards that are obtained from learning, as well as punishment. Repeated experiences end up establishing memory. Cognitivism is the other theory of learning, which posits that learning occurs in a structured way. Yilmaz (2011) argues that knowledge is transferred by duplicating the knowledge of the instructor in cognitive learning. Consequently, problem solving type of learning highly promotes this mode of learning. The third most common learning theory is constructivism, which is a theory that proposes that knowledge is passed through socialization. Social and cultural factors seem to influence learning under this theory. A more recent theory of learning is the connectivism theory, which posits that knowledge is transferred by connecting to the source if knowledge. According to Ravenscroft (2011), connectivism is a complex learning mode where learning is distributed in a web and it is enhanced by technological advancement. Connectivism According to Thomas (2010), the emergence and development of diverse communication tools and the subsequent deployment of these tools in the discharge of education has resulted in the alteration of the learning environment. What is meant here is that there is a lot of change in the way education is discharged.Advertising Looking for dissertation on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This comes from the fact that education is changing from the traditional perspective where it was delivered in specific learning environments that were largely confined in nature to the development of a virtual learning environment where content is not only guided by the teachers, but is also discharged by students who use technology to advance learning between and among themselves. This literature review contains the discussion of how the theory of connectivism has been applied in the field of education. Siemens (2011) argues that information technology has transformed the traditional learning environment in a significant way that necessitates a new learning theory. One rationale for the creation of a new theory of learning is that in the digital age, most learning environments are intertwined, technological, and social in nature (Kaufman Mann, 2007). Kaufman and Mann (2007) further observe that the different connection points in learning have been developed in learning where the use of technology, especially the web 2.0 technology tools are used to create learning groups by students. This is done both in formal literacy and informal literacy within the wide learning environment that is becoming wider due to the prevalence of diverse technology platforms for discharging learning activities. Dunaway (2011) observes that connectivism is one of the foundational theories that provide a critical framework on which learning on the part of the students is characterized in the contemporary learning environment where information and communication technology is taking center stage in the learning environment. The contemporary application of information and communication tools and technologies in learning is slowly but surely resulting in limiting the role and actual influence of teachers as the moderators of learning and is promoting scenes where students are taking the center stage in the contemporary learning environment. At this juncture, it is imperative to revisit the observation by Thomas (2010), whose argument about the application of the connectivism learning theory in the modern learning environment that is technology driven, reiterates on change in the manner in which literacy instruction is discharged.Advertising We will write a custom dissertatio n sample on The Theory of Connectivism specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The connectivist approach to learning can, thus, be better informed by looking at the real attributes of learning and literacy as fostered by both the learners and the educators (Dunaway, 2011). Pan and Franklin (2011) found that students had a comfort level customizing social media and educational tools to meet their learning needs. However, for many teachers, it was their first experience with online collaboration and Web 2.0 tools in an educational context. Kvavik (2005) noted that for Web 2.0 tools and a connectivist theory to be embraced, teachers should be eager and ready to utilize the technology. As the online environment matures, the role of both teachers and students grows, especially within group discussions where students interact with one another as opposed to interacting exclusively with the teacher. The connectivist learning theory alters the role of the t eacher, ensuring that students are involved and engaged in learning by answering each others posts as opposed to answering the teacher (Livingston, 2011). In a case study of blogging and its use in the connectivist learning theory, Garcia, Brown, and Elbeltagi (2013) found that connectivism has influenced the way blogs are used in teaching and learning. The change may not only be from the acceptance of blogging as a part of the instructional process, but also in how teachers and students have embraced the connectivist learning style (Garcia et al., 2013). Blogging provided collaborative opportunities for students to communicate online (Richardson, 2010). Another component of blogging that supported the connectivist learning theory is the manner content or remotely located experts could become involved in the learning environment. Blogging also represents an essential aspect of the connectivist principle that students can make associations for learning, while being associated within a network (Boitshwarelo, 2011). Technology has facilitated learners to access a wealth of information resources; for instance, online libraries, peer-reviewed journals, and book reference services along with social media, blogging, and Web 2.0 tools (Lemke, Coughlin, Garcia, Reifsneider, Baas, 2009). The availability of content and the fact that leaners can access information through these tools is a positive indicator of using technology in facilitating learning.Advertising Looking for dissertation on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More With the availability of information, the use of teachers as the source of information as embraced in traditional learning environment is quite limited. This is in lime with the observation by London and Hall (2011), who noted that the intense deployment of Web 2.0 technology tools in learning in the contemporary learning environment denotes a shift from the teacher-controlled models of learning to the learner controlled model of learning. The emergence of digital literacies (print to paperless) has also intensified the need for connectivism. Lee, Messom, and Yau (2013) studied one school’s e-book implementation and determined that many surveyed students preferred e-books due to the Web 2.0 component. In the case study, students could post information on discussion boards and join to e-books so that their fellow students and educators could react and remark on posts that were freely accessible by course participants. As theory-guided practice in this case study, cooperation a mong students empowered them to interpret e-book content and to impart information among other learners (Lee et al., 2013). This indicates the ease with which collaboration and networking in learning can be attained in social and technological networks that are developed courtesy of the availability of technology. Tu et al. (2012) applauds the fact that learning is broadened because of the fact that learners can easily connect and establish learning networks on the technology platform. Collaborating on discussion boards facilitated many of the features in a connectivist learning model; for example, allowing communication between students, (Ferdig Trammell, 2004) elevating peer groups to assist in learning (Glogoff, 2005), and the evolution of discussion groups (Macduff, 2009). With the use of technology, students can now easily establish and sustain important learning networks, with only limited support from the instructors (Boitshwarelo, 2011). Another important aspect captured in the new paradigm is the emerging collaborative nature of education (Dunaway, 2011). Williams, Karousou, and Mackness (2011) studied Connectivism and Connective Knowledge (CCK08) at the University of Manitoba. With a rolling enrollment, students were able to plan their own path through the course content that was available on the course website. Students agreed that all knowledge would be created collaboratively and openly shared among all course members. Williams et al. (2011) remarked that CCK08 fulfilled key conditions for a connectivist course, such as asynchronous and synchronous learning events, daily aggregation of knowledge, content experts, discussion boards, and student responsibility for their own learning goals. Williams et al. (2011) noted that many of the students in CCK08 withdrew from the course. Consequently, the authors concluded that connectedness alone does not guarantee collaboration, let alone connectivist learning. CCK08 was a failed attempt to illustrate the application of theory, where the learning process has shifted from a one-sided and impersonal process into a dynamic one characterized by interpersonal communication, distant support, and increased platforms for information besides the instructor, such as access to world-class resources and experts (Kaufman Mann, 2007). Connectivism has informed the practice of librarians seeking greater student engagement in information literacy. Dunaway (2011) proposed that the learning theory of connectivism be merged with the framework of metaliteracy. In so doing, librarians can promote the development of personal learning networks for students. Mackey and Jacobson (2011) defined metaliteracy as a framework that integrates emergent technologies with various literacies, such as cyber, digital, media, and information literacy. Here, connectivism learning theory is embedded in the fact that a lot of people are engaged on social networks supported by the emergent technologies that support these ne tworks. Therefore, different locus of knowledge sharing and dissemination emerges, thereby challenging the traditional culture of learning that emphasized on a single dimension of learning; the use of instructors in discharging learning activities. Friesen and Lowe (2012) observed that the social media, which is part of web 2.0 technology tools, is promoting connective learning in the sense that it promotes the creation of engaged learning environments. New forms of leaning environments that are more engaging keep coming up as people embrace the use of social media in communication. References Dunaway, M. (2011). Connectivism learning theory and pedagogical practice for networked information landscapes. Reference Services Review, 39(4), 675-685. Friesen, N. N., Lowe, S. S. (2012). The questionable promise of social media for education: connective learning and the commercial imperative. Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, 28(3), 183-194. Isman, A. (2011). Instructional design in education: New model. Turkish Online Journal of Educational Technology TOJET, 10(1), 136-142. London, M., Hall, M. (2011). Unlocking the value of Web 2.0 technologies for training and development: The shift from instructor-controlled, adaptive learning to learner-driven, generative learning. Human Resource Management, 50(6), 757-775. Ravenscroft, A. (2011). Dialogue and connectivism: a new approach to understanding and promoting dialogue-rich networked learning. International Review of Research in Open And Distance Learning, 12(3), 139-160. Thomas, H. (2010). Learning spaces, learning environments and the dis‘placement’ of learning. British Journal of Educational Technology, 41(3), 502-511. Tu, C., Sujo-Montes, L., Yen, C., Chan, J., Blocher, M. (2012). The integration of personal learning environments open network learning environments. Techtrends: Linking Research Practice to Improve Learning, 56(3), 13-19. Yilmaz, K. (2011). The cognitive perspective on learning : its theoretical underpinnings and implications for classroom practices. Clearing House, 84(5), 204. doi:10.1080/00098655.2011.568989

How to become a school counselor

How to become a school counselor School counselors are some of the most important professionals in the educational system. They can help bridge the gap between personal and educational issues for students and help students navigate life issues throughout their school careers. If you’re interested in both psychology and teaching, it can be a fulfilling career path. What does a school counselor do?School counselors (often referred to as guidance counselors as well) are educational administrative professionals who work with students to assist them on a variety of issues that can affect a student’s school day. Issues can range from class scheduling, to behavioral issues, to issues at home. Any given group of students’ needs are going to be diverse, and so the school counselor must be a versatile professional.School counselors are tasked with supporting students and promoting positive academic, social, and personal development. Their responsibilities may include:Meeting with students one-on-one or in groupsAssisting with college applications, job applications, and financial aid applicationsCounseling students on social, academic, or emotional problemsMeeting with parents as necessaryFacilitating peer counseling programsMediating conflicts between students, or between students and staffFacilitating help with personal problems like substance abuse, eating disorders, bullying, or other personal issues students may haveReferring students to social or emotional help resources like psychologists, mental health professionals, or social workersAdvocating for student well-beingSchool counselors work at all levels, from elementary school up through high school. Like teachers, school counselors work primarily during the school day and school year, but because there is an administrative component to the job there may be after school or year-round work related to the job. School counselors work in public schools, private schools, or other facilities that have educational components.What ski lls do school counselors need?Because this is a role that combines the academic needs of teaching with the personal skills of a psychologist, the skill set for school counselors is heavy on people skills and understanding.Observational Skills:Â  School counselors need to be able to determine issues and potential solutions, even if they’re not getting direct information from students. That means being able to piece together academic, social, or behavioral problems, or at least being able to assess students’ needs accurately.Listening Skills:Â  Much of a school counselor’s job is talking with students, determining what’s wrong, and working with them to find a solution (or more help). Active listening skills are key in helping students, who may have varying levels of communication skills.Conflict Resolution Skills:Â  Many students end up in a school counselor’s office because they need help resolving issues- whether that’s in the classroom, at home, or with other students. A school counselor needs to be well-versed in techniques for opening up communication, and finding healthy ways to resolve disputes.Communication Skills:Â  School counselors communicate with a number of different people: students, families, school colleagues and staff, and others. Clear, concise writing and speaking are very important, as is a strong sense of audience-appropriate communication.Organizational Skills:Â  School counselors may be working with a number of different students on a diverse range of issues, from college applications to bullying. It’s essential for the counselor to be able to keep information properly organized, so they can help meet students’ needs.Discretion:Â  School counselors can be privy to all sorts of private information about students, and so they need to be discreet.What do you need to become a school counselor?Most school counselor jobs require, at minimum, a bachelor’s degree in counseling, psychology, or a related subject. School counselors typically also have a master’s degree specifically in school counseling. Most states require some form of licensing, so make sure you know what your own state’s requirements are for school counselors.How much do school counselors make?According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), school counselors make a median annual salary of $54,560 per year.What’s the outlook for school counselors?Like most educational careers, this is a path that will continue to grow as student bodies increase and student needs get more complex and diverse. The BLS anticipates that the demand for school counselors will grow by 11% by 2026, which is faster than average for all jobs.If you’ve got a background in psychology (or are thinking about one) and have an interest in working with students, then becoming a school counselor could be the right educational career path for you. Good luck!

A Guide to Homeschooling in North Carolina

A Guide to Homeschooling in North Carolina If youre considering homeschooling, learning the requirements of your state is one of the first steps. Homeschooling in North Carolina isnt complicated, but its important to understand how to get started and how to follow the law.   Making the Decision Deciding to homeschool your child is an incredibly significant decision and one that will certainly change your life. People decide to homeschool their children for many different reasons, some of which include: dissatisfaction with the public school system, desire to train their child within a specific religious framework, frustration with their childs current school situation, in order to meet a child’s special learning needs or wishing to keep a close family bond throughout the early school years. If you live in North Carolina, one or more of the other 33,000 families in the state who have already decided to homeschool one or more of their children may also influence your decision. Most everyone in North Carolina probably knows at least one family who has chosen to homeschool their kids. These families are wonderful sources of information and support as you make this important decision, and they can give you an honest appraisal of the ups and downs of committing to the homeschool journey. Following the Laws to Homeschool in North Carolina Homeschooling in North Carolina is not overly regulated, but there are a few edicts that everyone must follow. North Carolina does not require you to register your child as a homeschooler until he or she reaches the age of seven. Depending on the age your child is when you begin homeschooling, you may complete one or two grades before you even formally register your school. Approximately one month before your child reaches the minimum age, or one month before you plan to begin homeschooling an older child, a parent or guardian sends a Notice of Intent to the North Carolina DNPE. This Notice of Intent includes choosing your schools name and certifying that the primary supervisor of the homeschool has at least a high school diploma. Besides the requirement to file the Notice of Intent, North Carolina has the following other legal requirements for homeschooling in the state: Operating on a regular schedule  at least nine months out of the calendar yearMaintaining immunization records and attendance records for each child being schooled at homeAdministering a nationally standardized test to each child at least once per school yearMaking attendance, testing and immunization records available to the DNPE for examination each yearNotification to DNPE when deciding to terminate your homeschool A 180-day school year is recommended but not required. Deciding What to Teach The most important part of choosing what to teach your child is understanding exactly who your child is. Before you begin perusing curriculum catalogs and internet curriculum reviews, it is wise to find out how your child best learns. Learning style inventories and personality quizzes are abundant in most homeschooling resource books or on the internet, and these are wonderful for understanding how your childs mind works, and therefore which type of curriculum would be best for him or her. Families new to homeschooling quickly discover a dizzying array of choices when it comes to selecting a homeschool curriculum. There is no more popular discussion on the web than homeschool curriculum reviews by homeschool families. After sifting through the reviews, most parents end up mixing and matching homeschool curricula, trying to create the best match for their child. For families with more than one child, choosing a homeschool curriculum can even be more problematic. What works for one child may not work for another. What works for one subject may not work on the next. Experienced homeschooling families will tell you that there is actually no single, best homeschool material. Rather than feeling torn between homeschool resources, parents should feel free to select a diverse blend of materials and activities. Locating Resources Making the decision to homeschool your child and choosing the curricula you want to begin with are just a part of the homeschooling experience. The homeschool community has grown exponentially, and the resources available to homeschoolers now can seem endless in scope. Some common resources to investigate are: Online Homeschool mega-sites, such as NHEN or About Homeschooling for researching specific homeschool informationOnline homeschool forums and Facebook groupsHomeschooling magazines and newslettersOnline homeschool articles and blogsLocal or regional support groups, often including curriculum and resource sharing, as well as group field trips and outingsBooks about homeschooling from your favorite bookstore or local libraryStatewide homeschool organizations, such as NCHE, HA-NC, and NCAA whose goals are to support the rights and resources of those choosing to homeschool in North CarolinaHomeschool programs available through your local library, YMCA, 4H-Club, or Parks and Recreation Department Many museums, state parks, and businesses offer special classes and discounts for homeschool students. Check your local resources for opportunities available to you as a homeschooling family. Keeping the Dream Alive When your homeschooling adventure begins, everything is new and exciting. Your homeschool books smell like they came straight from the printer. Even lesson planning and record keeping seem more fun than a chore at first. But be prepared for the honeymoon phase to ebb and tide. No one has a perfect homeschool year, month or even week. It is important to intersperse your daily curriculum with field trips, play dates and  hands-on activities. North Carolina is full of  educational destinations  that are an easy day’s drive. Also, take advantage of your city’s visitor’s center or website to discover treasures in your own town that you might have overlooked. Whether you chose to homeschool from the beginning or came upon homeschooling accidentally, you are bound to experience slumps. It is almost certain that over time your homeschool will relax into something more familiar and predictable, but that is also the time when you usually notice that  this homeschooling thing  is more than just a passing phase. You have become one of the over 33,000 families in North Carolina who are proud to call themselves homeschoolers!

Week one day one Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Week one day one - Assignment Example On the other hand if employees are not satisfied they will show work deviant behaviour, cyber loafing, presenteeism and counterproductive behaviour. As there should be person-job fit for an employee to perform exceptionally. An employee would only be satisfied when there is person-organization, person-supervisor, person-ability and person-environment fit. A manager can deploy an employee at such a tasks where the employee’s mental and physical abilities matches with the job. The five factor model helps to determine the personality traits and it can be effectively used to determine the personality of employees and placement can be made where they can perform well. For example employees high on openness will perform better at creative jobs, those high on extroversion will be good at sales, those on agreeableness with perform better as a team leader and those high on conscientiousness will perform better on conventional jobs. By accessing the personality types a manager can align the job type with personality to achieve maximum results. If I am the manager I would use big five personality questionnaire to assess the personality types. It would also be the part of recruitment process to ensure that employee’s personality will be aligned to the job he/she will perform. Also for the current employees it will help to determine areas which need training, for example increasing the emotional stability with help of stress management training sessions. The results will be evaluated with the help of feedback forms; they will also be depicted through employee job satisfaction, performance and work

Tort assignment , Discuss the issues of tortious liability in this

Tort , Discuss the issues of tortious liability in this scenario - Assignment Example These unfairness outcomes in a wrong or detriment, form the foundation of a wrong toed alliance. A tortuous liability is related to the duty of care and negligence of that duty, with respect to persons with whom there is no contractual liability. For example if a property owner fails to maintain proper safety standards on his property and a passerby is injured by something falling from the roof, the property owner is liable for the damages to that person even though there are no contractual obligations between them. A person who commits a tort is known as a tortfeaser, or wrong doer. Where there are more than one, they are called joint tortfeasers. Their wrong doing is called a tortuous act and they are liable to be sued jointly and severally. The person who suffers the injury or damage is called the injured or aggrieved. The tort law’s primary objective is to offer assistance for damages incurred. Its aim is compensation of victims or their defendants. Capacity, loss of earni ngs and pain are the damage types. Objectives of Law of Torts To determine rights between parties to a dispute. To prevent the continuation or repetition of harm To protect certain rights recognized by law To restore property to its rightful owner where property is wrongfully taken away. Torts are categorized into three major classes: 1. Intentional torts. An example is intentionally beating up someone 2. Negligent torts. An example would be disobeying traffic laws and causing an accident 3. Strict Liability torts. An example would be defective product’s selling and making. The law of tort is used as an instrument for making people adhere to standards of reasonable behavior and respect the rights and interests of one another. A protected interest gives right to a legal right, which in turn gives rise to a corresponding legal duty. An act, which infringes a legal right, is a wrongful act but not every wrongful act is a tort. To constitute a tort or civil injury the following m ust have taken place:- There must be a wrongful act or omission The wrongful act or omission must give rise to legal damage or actual damage The wrongful act must be of such a nature as to give rise to a legal remedy in the form of an action for damages. The discussion is on two scenarios, PC Nosey Parker and Romulus PLC. It will centre around tortuous liability specifically negligence tort. Negligence is the failure to use ordinary care through either action or omission. It occurs when somebody does not exercise the amount of care that a reasonably careful person would use under the circumstances. It also occurs when somebody does something that a reasonably careful person would not do under the circumstances. PC – Nosey Parker Tort Liability Case Background: PC Nosey Parker inherited ? 2.9m from his Arsenal supporting grandmother. He is a worker for Essex based in Billericasy. On April 1 he witnessed A & B robbing an old lady. The following happened. He manages to arrest A and handcuffs him to a weak pole attached to the door of the shop. He goes after B and returns to take A to the Police Station, in the process he carelessly pulls off the weak pole which falls and injures the foot of a passerby Alf a premier Division football player. As a result of the injury Alf is able to play for his club for 2 months. Alf’s club can only sell him for ?1m instead of ?2m before his injury Alf’s club loses ?20,000 in ticket sales during the 2 months absence of Alf. Thelma, Alf’

Federal elections and policy implications in 2012 Research Paper

Federal elections and policy implications in 2012 - Research Paper Example There are often different types of federal policies in the United States. These policies are usually subdivided according to the subject matter. The policy issues Almanac provides the background upon which information, links, and archived documents to cardinal America’s public policy issues are organized and categorized (Gleick, Christian-Smith, and Cooley 13). The United States has divided its public policies into nine categories: †¢ Criminal justice that include death penalties, drug policies, and gun controls †¢ Cultural and social policies including abortion, art, and civil rights †¢ Economic affairs policies that include taxes and budgets †¢ Education policies that incorporate elementary, secondary, and higher education †¢ Environmental policies that concentrate on global warming and quality of air †¢ Government operation policies that govern the campaign financing reforms and the privatization †¢ Health care policies that include health insurance and Medicare †¢ Social welfare policy that deals with social security and welfare †¢ Foreign affairs and national security policies that govern spending on the national defense ... Notably, during the 2007 elections, president Obama promised much on the economic recovery. At the end of his first tenure, it seems that he did not deliver fully as he had promised and the economy that was affected by Bush policies and administrations still moved to the worse. These facts have made the economic affair policy environment  quite volatile for either party (Coleman 127). Regardless of who could have won the 2012 presidential elections, the economic affair policy environment still remains heated. Additionally, the health policy was also a significant issue in the 2012 presidential campaigns. Despite the differences in opinions concerning the appropriate health care policies to be enacted, at some point Mitt Romney at one point agreed with some elements of the Obamacare (Gleick, Christian-Smith, and Cooley 21). Regardless of these agreements in opinions, the health affairs policy environment also remained a heated campaign throughout the campaign period. Other policies were viewed as one party or presidential aspirants show. For instance, president Obama mainly addressed the cultural and society policy on same sex marriage. Regardless some significant policies were not given concentration  they deserved. For instance, the environment policy is a radical policy that not only threatens United States but the entire globe. The environmental policies are the concerns of the citizens since from the 2008 election campaigns; it seemed the sure way of providing the cheap energy alternative (Gleick, Christian-Smith, and Cooley 54). The 2008 presidential campaign captured the attention of numerous Americans since the â€Å"DRILL, baby, drill† promised Americans cheap and reliable energy that was to be produced at home rather

Case Study Suicide Among Adolescents Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Case Study Suicide Among Adolescents - Essay Example At first he seemed upset but more or less normal. Nothing in his behaviour was different than any other young man who had had his heart broken. However, over the weeks that then followed he began to act increasingly strange. He began to sing sad songs to himself and began to drink heavily and use drugs. He drew strange pictures on the walls of his house and even on his clothes. When the new school year began, his behaviour worsened. He began to harass Samantha’s friends, in one case leaving dead flowers on one of their doorsteps, addressed to Samantha. He also began a relationship with a girl he met on the Internet. This girl was effectively a shut-in with no social skills. At times, their relationship gave the appearance of abuse. John began to make threats about killing himself. His friends tried to support him, but increasingly John pushed them away. His behaviour was sporadic. He stopped attending classes and was often drunk in the daytime. He began to steal from his friends. When walking down the street he would sometimes skateboard into traffic. He often described the world as evil and as a joke. John’s father, Herman, came to visit John and try to comfort and support him. He told him that he was loved and tried to get him to open up to him. He tried to talk about what was happening, but John was not responsive. Herman had to go back home to go to work. John appeared increasingly agitated and anxious. He withdrew almost entirely from his friends and roommates and no one knew where he was. A few days later he tried to hang himself. What treatment should be used on John? He is living on a knife’s edge and he needs immediate help. His problems have been unaddressed for too long, in part because he is not being supervised by anyone. Too many of the people who should have a responsibility for him live too far away. That support structure should be addressed. He should be a started on a course of

Self Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Self Analysis - Essay Example In this regard, upon close review and evaluation of the skills honed and improved from the course modules, I am hereby detailing the personal progress made in writing through the student learning outcomes and written communication hallmarks, as required. Effective writing needs more than rules to compose a fairly effective essay. Rules are merely practical guides that give the writer direction and focus on the concepts and theories which he already has a competent grasp of. Writing, to be effective, has to consider other factors such as the audience or the reader, the writing process itself, and even the elements of communication. This course enabled me to be exposed to effective writing structures composed to suite various purposes and readers. Thereby, I put a score of 9. 2) Engage in a writing process that includes exploring ideas, considering multiple points of view, developing and supporting a thesis, revising with the help of peer and instructor feedback, editing, and proofreading. One of the rules in effective writing is to always check your work for accuracy and completeness. This is always true. The method of seeking the assistance of peers and the instructor for feedback is effective in evaluating and reviewing my work. Due to the fast pace of work that needs to be completed on time, there are also tendencies to fail checking the accuracy and completeness once work is accomplished. Contemporary writing already provides appropriate utilization of technology to facilitate checking; the grammar and spelling check provided in Word software programs used for typing and encoding, recognize the need to change and edit words which are not properly punctuated. However, it is still effective to use peer review and instructor’s comments for second and third opinions regarding the ideas explored and compliance to required structure. The feedback mechanism is critical in making corrective actions in cases of weaknesses and mistakes. This tool is

Enterprise resource planning Literature review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Enterprise resource planning - Literature review Example Taking into account all the necessary precautions described in this review, readers can develop an accurate and effective ability to choose the correct ERP to fulfil their company’s needs. Enterprise Resource Planning The development of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) packages has evolved the software market in the most valuable segments of modern organizations. They have transformed over the past decade, every aspect of organisational process including sales, marketing, manufacturing and staffing. The first ERP systems that emerged were very expensive for small and medium companies and also required complex processes and maintenance to incorporate them. The detrimental effect that ERPs possess over the entire organization is deemed important for the development and prosperity of a business (Livermore & Ragowsky, 2002). As, such a combination of human and technical expertise is required in order to make a correct selection of vendor, implement the system accordingly and p rovide adequate support and maintenance. The instances of companies going bankrupt due to implement failure of an ERP system include prestigious firms, such as Mobil Europe, Nike, Reebok and Hershey. The continuous failures of the ERP system have raised the question of their viability and the risks involved with incorporating such practices (Chen, 2001). Based on available literature and real-life examples, this review will analyse the tasks needed in order to choose the correct ERP system, the implications that need to be considered, important procedures needed for implementation and future directions for research are proposed. History of ERP The predecessors of modern ERPs were made in the 1960’s with the manufacturing of early Material Requirements Planning (MRP) software by the partnership of J.I. Case with IBM.. However these solutions were big and expensive because they required a large technical staff to support the mainframe computers. In 1970’s the developme nt of faster and higher capacity storage enabled the development of a more integrated business information system. The introduction of COPICS concepts for IBM computers and subsequent birth of software companies such as SAP (Systemanalyse und Programmentwicklung) and Oracle among others, lead to increased technological advancements in MRPs. Its functions included scheduling and releasing manufacturing work orders and purchase orders (Chen, 2001). The MRP II system was created in the early 1980’s by J.D Edwards was later named manufacturing resource planning rather than its original acronym and adopted the MRP-II term to conjoin with the newer capabilities, such as integrating primary functions (production, marketing and finance) and personnel and engineering to improve the efficacy of the enterprise. During the late 80’s the update of CIM (Computer Integrated Manufacturing) framework offered a strategy to help integrate information in a consistent manner across the e nterprise, which was the key to the migrating path between MRP and ERP systems (Chung & Snyder, 2000). The term enterprise resource planning (ERP) was named in the early 1990s by the Gartner Group and included certain criteria to asses the extent of integration across many functional areas such as production from raw materials to work-in-process (WIP) to finished goods inventory (FGI), shipping and receiving

Self Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Self Analysis - Essay Example In this regard, upon close review and evaluation of the skills honed and improved from the course modules, I am hereby detailing the personal progress made in writing through the student learning outcomes and written communication hallmarks, as required. Effective writing needs more than rules to compose a fairly effective essay. Rules are merely practical guides that give the writer direction and focus on the concepts and theories which he already has a competent grasp of. Writing, to be effective, has to consider other factors such as the audience or the reader, the writing process itself, and even the elements of communication. This course enabled me to be exposed to effective writing structures composed to suite various purposes and readers. Thereby, I put a score of 9. 2) Engage in a writing process that includes exploring ideas, considering multiple points of view, developing and supporting a thesis, revising with the help of peer and instructor feedback, editing, and proofreading. One of the rules in effective writing is to always check your work for accuracy and completeness. This is always true. The method of seeking the assistance of peers and the instructor for feedback is effective in evaluating and reviewing my work. Due to the fast pace of work that needs to be completed on time, there are also tendencies to fail checking the accuracy and completeness once work is accomplished. Contemporary writing already provides appropriate utilization of technology to facilitate checking; the grammar and spelling check provided in Word software programs used for typing and encoding, recognize the need to change and edit words which are not properly punctuated. However, it is still effective to use peer review and instructor’s comments for second and third opinions regarding the ideas explored and compliance to required structure. The feedback mechanism is critical in making corrective actions in cases of weaknesses and mistakes. This tool is

Reflections on Transformations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Reflections on Transformations - Essay Example Through fully expressing my thoughts on my experiences, I began to see the individuality that was connected through my way of seeing the artwork within the museums. I realized that this experience, though undoubtedly somewhat universal, was not universally shared with everyone. Not everyone has the opportunity to see the things I have had the privilege to see. In writing about it, expressing how it impacted my life, I began to feel a deeper connection to my own identity. Not every attempt at writing was fully successful. I feel that some of the work I created could have been enriched by a better understanding of what I was trying to say. I realized that in writing comes a new sense of a topic, that it becomes something alive that grows from the discussion. However, sometimes the discussion goes beyond one’s control and bringing it back is not always an easy task. Being a part of the experience of writing sometimes reminds one how much one has not learned, rather than expressin g how bright and wonderful are the thoughts that are begging to be set to paper. I have been grateful to find the humility within the act of writing as well as the exhilaration when the words form just the right impression of what I am trying to say. Even when the work is difficult or when the words do not give the right intent, the satisfaction of being able to express yourself makes writing an experience that helps to transform and define the individual, just the same as seeing a piece of artwork.

Romeo and Juliet Essay Example for Free

Romeo and Juliet Essay Both the movie and the play, Romeo and Juliet were called star-crossed lovers, meaning their fate lead them together, and neared them to their tragic demise. The movie had shown their first encounter as a magical affair where enchanted music played in their ears and the two fell deeply in love with one another. Seconds earlier, Romeo had also been deeply in love with another woman, Rosaline Capulet. Romeo had described young Rosaline as a beautiful young lady, who had rejected him and swore to remain chaste for the rest of her life, which had devastated him. But from the moment he laboth the movie and the play, Romeo and Juliet were called star-crossed lovers, meaning their fate lead them together, and neared them to their tragic demise. The movie had shown their first encounter as a magical affair where enchanted music played in their ears and the two fell deeply in love with one another. Seconds earlier, Romeo had also been deeply in love with another woman, Rosaline Capulet. Romeo had described young Rosaline as a beautiful young lady, who had rejected him and swore to remain chaste for the rest of her life, which had devastated him.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt :: essays research papers

Franklin Delano Rooesvelt   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  This essay will focus on the life of Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Roosevelt devoted much of his later years in life to help the needy. As president, Roosevelt passed as many bills, lobbing for as much congressional support as he could get to aid him in his attempts to help the unemployed, starving and poor people that society had forgotten. President Roosevelt has often been called the most beneficial president that America has had in the twentieth century, some may argue that he was the best president since Lincoln. Roosevelt truly dedicated his life to humanitarian efforts worldwide, never stopping to take a break until his unfortunate early death.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Never in the history of the United States had there ever been such a terrible, long-lasting, economic depression then the one that began just before President Roosevelt ran for his first presidential election. Thirteen million people were out of work, about one quarter of the working age population and cities - as well as states - were losing money fast, as there were no taxes to be collected. Schools were closed because the states did not have enough money to fund them and people were homeless and starving; living - and dying - on the very streets where just a few years ago America experienced its first economic boom. This sets the stage for the most triumphant presidency this country has ever seen. Triumphant not only over the war that was to follow but also over economic as well as social barriers. It would be nothing short of the truth to say that President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and his staff saved this country from total economic collapse. President Roosevelt’s heritage traces all the way back to our great nation’s colonial times. Being of Dutch and English ancestry, his ancestor, Klaes Martensen had been a Dutch immigrant, settling in New York in 1645. Almost two hundred years later, on January 30, 1882, Franklin Delano was born. Both of his parents had come from upper-class families. His father, James Roosevelt was the vice president of the Delaware and Hudson Railway Company. Franklin lived a life almost all would envy, growing up about 100 miles north of New York City on his parents’ Hyde Estate. The estate, totaling about 100 acres in size overlooked the Hudson River and had a breathtaking view of the Catskill mountains. He led a good life, going to well-renound private schools then graduating, to attend Harvard and later Colombia Law School.

Violent Video Games Dont Lead to Increases In Violent Behavior Essay

A young, blonde woman stands with her fists raised. She shifts her weight back and forth, staying in constant motion. Her jaw is set and her blue eyes dangerous. She faces her opponent with no fear. Her fellow combatant is a skilled warrior and a member of a Shirai Ryu clan. He’s spent years mastering his own special style of martial arts. The woman observes him carefully. He’s muscular and, no doubt, fast. She cannot see most of his face, as a gold and black mask obscures it, but she can see his eyes. They’re merciless. She eyes the harpoon at his hip. He’ll probably go for that first and try to stun her with it. The cue is given and, sure enough, he grabbed his harpoon and aimed it at her, snarling, â€Å"Get over here!† She’d anticipated his moves well and she sidestepped his harpoon. He figured out that she knew his obvious attacks, he began to use more quick attacks, moving quickly in the shadows, confusing her. He soon overpowers her. Dazed and dizzy, she is at his mercy. Unfortunately, mercy is a quality he lacks. He wraps his harpoon around her neck and opens a portal. She’s pulled into it and he holds onto his chain tightly. Another portal opens above and her body dangles from it, strung up by his chain. The announcer’s voice lets out in a deep grumbling voice, â€Å"Fatality†. Meanwhile, in a living room, the gruesome scene fades to black and two friends laugh at each other for the graphic execution and go on playing the newest release of the Mortal Kombat series. While today’s games are ridiculously violent, can one honestly believe they can open a portal to hang their enemies? Do video games really warp the mind and cause players to be aggressive? Recent studies say no. It is not the game’s fault for a player to react viol... ...While there are violent games out there, children could, with the help of their parents, play cleaner games such as The Legend of Zelda or any game in the Mario series, and in the end, be benefited from it. Whether their stress is relieved, their brains stronger, or their connections with their families made unbreakable, video games can truly be a good thing for kids. Works Cited Hanna, Patrick. â€Å"Players. Not Games, Cause video game violence.† New Zealand Herald. New Zealand Herald, 27 July 2010. Web. 24 October 2011. Jayson, Sharon. â€Å"Study the Player, Not the Game.† USA Today. USA Today, 15 September 2011. Web. 24 October 2011. Jayson, Sharon. â€Å"Video Games Tied to Aggression.† USA Today. USA Today, 1 March 2010. Web. 24 October 2011. Paulson, Ken. â€Å"How obscene is video game violence?† USA Today. USA Today, 2 November 2010. Web. 24 October 2011.

Employees’ Issues in Hcl Axon Malaysia

ORGANIZATIONAL ISSUES AND PROBLEMS Peripherally, HCL AXON is an excellence organization with increasing sophistication of its information technologies and offer huge scope of business benefits. HCL’s engaging in information systems projects and timely subjects helps yielding substantial achievement and continue to be robust. However, HCL AXON’s branch in Malaysia, HCL AXON Malaysia is actually having a big trouble in human resource management. HCL AXON Malaysia today fall prey to the same basic problems that were apparent all over the years in the organization.Questions have to ask whether organization is learning. Questions must also be asked about the quality of training given to project managers, developers as well as the IT support engineer. The employees are bewildered in a suffocating quandary which consists of rigidity in the Human Resource department, negligence of employees’ welfare, and the lack of employee development. i. Rigidity in the Human Resource department The HR department shows negligence in updating its information system. For instance, the working contract between a computer technician, Morty with HCL AXON Malaysia is expired in February 2012.Without contract extension, he is still working in the organization and being paid his salary every month until today. In fact, this situation is insecure to Morty because no one guarantees the termination would not descend one day against him. Furthermore, there is another similar example. A former employee, Tom quitted his job from HCL AXON Malaysia in September 2012. However, he was still being paid his salary in the next two consecutive months. After being informed about this case, only the HR department rectified the system.These might caused by the lack of initiation in the HR department towards developing deep awareness for contracting, staffing and recruitment system. They keep running the existing system like doing a daily routine, paying the fixed amount of wages to empl oyees on the list without any updating. Subsequencely, the HR system is not developing in fully aligned system which includes aligning the organization’s policies and human systems i. e. staffing. ii. Negligence of Employees’ Welfare Besides, the HR department in HCL AXON Malaysia never takes employees’ elfare and needs seriously. For instance, the IT engineers or computer technicians are usually work overtime and carrying out work-shift every week. The employees are also ought to work on public holiday. However, there are no allowance and bonus given. Employees crave for the benefits and compensation system would be ameliorated, but their request and allegation are being ignored by HR department. Meaning by that, the HR department shows laziness to get input or feedback from employees to improve the exacting situation.An IT engineer in HCL AXON Malaysia, Terence claims that the employees in the organization are mostly having low job satisfaction. iii. The Lack of Employee Development The changing environment and technologies such as launching of new software and IT systems as well as the unpredictable issues regarding foreign countries’ client system urge HCL AXON to utilize system approach to make continuous-improvements. The HR department of HCL AXON Malaysia promised to conduct training sessions to the employees which is training of using new software. However, the managers and supervisors never work diligently to meet the commitment.

Dilemma of International Community

The US prevention strategies against international terrorism have come a long way since the mid-1990s. The disciplined, centralized organization that conducted the September 11 is diminished because most of the group’s senior and midlevel leaders are either incarcerated or dead, while the majority of those still at large are on the run and focused at least as much on survival as on offensive operations. However, Al Qaeda still has the potential to impose lethal threat.From the critical standpoint, the key challenges for contemporary counterterrorism efforts are not as much Al Qaeda or any other terrorist organizations as what will follow them. The emerging primary terrorist threat includes the global network of mostly Sunni Islamic extremists, which extends beyond members of Al Qaeda. The foundations of these extremist sources remain very much alive and in some cases are growing deeper. Practically, they contain the interconnected economic and political systems of the Muslim w orld.In addition to â€Å"Muslim† factor, there is a widespread opposition toward U. S. policies within and toward the Muslim world, especially the U. S. political position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and, which is more important, the invasion and occupation of Iraq (Byman, 2003:61). Considering the mentioned trends and reasons, the counterterrorism challenges after the liquidation of Al Qaeda may very well be even more complex than they were before.Decentralization and secretive nature of terrorist plots as well as indeterminate nature of the final target imposes extreme challenges on the intelligence. While the mission of intelligence in counterterrorism is to monitor and prevent terrorist activity, practically it may become vain due to its inability to identify terrorist groups and individuals. However, even a decentralized terrorist threat has some connections that can be discovered, and this will constitute the core of intelligence counterterrorist efforts.From t he practical standpoint, although almost every extremist can be connected at least indirectly to the network of Sunni Islamic terrorists, the majority of linkages includes only casual contacts and do not involve preparations for terrorist operations directed against the United States. No intelligence service possesses the resources to monitor all of these linkages, to construct the life history of every terrorist, or to compile comprehensive sociograms of the radical Islamist scene (Rothkopf, 2005:34).International community’s willingness to assist in the struggle against terrorist organizations to the major degree has depended on Al Qaeda’s record and menacing capabilities. However, from the contemporary point of view, foreign cooperation becomes more problematic as the issue moves beyond Al Qaeda. Mentioned difficulties that the United States has already encountered in dealing with Lebanese Hizballah depict some of the problems in more generally enlisting foreign hel p against terrorist groups (Byman, 2003:63).An underlying limitation to the willingness of international community to collaborate with the United States on antiterrorist efforts is the skepticism among foreign political elite that the most powerful country in the world needs to be preoccupied with small groups of radicals. Critically, the skepticism of foreign community can be considered in terms of fact that the U. S. preoccupation is no longer with the group that carried out the terrorist attacks on September 11 (Nash, 2004:56). However, the most significant challenge to the U. S.counterterrorist efforts that may emerge along with a more decentralized terrorist threat is the ability to uphold the nation’s own commitment to struggle it. Surprisingly, the American society has revealed that its determination to fight counterterrorism can be just as inconstant as that of foreign publics. During the past quarter century, the U. S. public and government has given different and co ntradictive attention, priority, and resources to U. S. counterterrorist programs, with interest and efforts increasing in the aftermath of a major terrorist incident and declining as time passes without an attack.International Threats of Terrorism From the critical standpoint, it is clear that even being the world’s only superpower the United States can no longer sustain a war on terrorism. Due to inability of the US to provide detection, monitoring and elimination of 100 percent of international terrorist groups, international cooperation in this area seems to be a promising solution. Moreover, terrorist organizations are now acting across the domestic borders of hosting states, jeopardizing security of entire international community and recent terrorist acts in London’s subway became an evident support for this statement.Brian Jenkins underlines that the success of terrorism has much to do with the perception of a nation’s capability to deal with such crises, proposing that â€Å"public perceptions of government standing and competence in combatting terrorism are based not on overall performance, but rather on performance in a few dramatic hostage incidents, where the government, of course, suffers disadvantages from the outset† ((Jenkins, 1983:10). Indeed, the public sees the government only in crisis, demonstrably unable to provide security for its citizens, sometimes yielding to terrorists to save lives, unable to bring its enemies to justice.Practically, a rescue attempt or successful prevention of an attack adds immeasurably to a nation’s image of military prowess, while an attempt that fails does incalculable damage. Many statistics exist to quantify the activities, numbers, types, locations and targets of international terrorists. It was reported in 1986 that â€Å"incidents of terrorism – those involving citizens or territory of more than one country – have doubled in number since 1975, to slightly o ver 800 last year [1985]† (Hanley, 1986:3).Notwithstanding the bombings in August 1998 in Kenya and Tanzania, there are analysts who believe terrorism has been in decline in recent years. â€Å"Patterns of Global Terrorism: 1997†, published by the American State Department, reported that there were a total of 304 acts of international terrorism, one of the lowest annual totals since 1971 (US Department of State, 1997). According to Patterns of Global Terrorism: 1998, the number of acts of international terrorism dropped to 273 attacks. However, in 1998 there was a record high toll of 741 people killed and 5,952 injured in terrorist attacks (US Department of State, 1998).In 2000, there were 423 terrorist acts, an increase of eight percent from the 392 attacks in 1999. The death toll for 2000 was 405, and 791 were wounded (US Department of State, 1999, 2000). The year 2001 witnessed a dramatic increase due to the audacious attacks on 11 September of that year. Many commen tators agree that terrorist violence is, and will likely remain, an integral part of international relations. As Scotland Yard’s counterterrorist specialist George Churchill-Coleman stated, â€Å"Terrorism is with us now, whether you like it or not. You’ve got to adjust your way of life to that† (Hanley, 1986:3).This mentality has now reached the American scene as the head of the Office of Homeland Security, Tom Ridge, noted, â€Å"We need to accept that the possibility of terrorism is a permanent condition for the foreseeable future. † He stated, â€Å"We just have to accept it† (Calabresi & Ratnesar, 21). At airports there is a â€Å"get on with the job† attitude and in daily living one must accept the need to be on guard, like steering clear of suspicious packages and reporting them to the local police. One columnist wrote, â€Å"By not surrounding the (terrorist) incident with hysterical posturing, we cut it down to size.We make it seem a nuisance rather than a cataclysm. We stifle its capacity to instill terror. We decline to be afraid† (McCabe, 1996a:4). In that regard, Great Britain is one of the few nations which is intimately familiar with terrorism and its impact. Lacking any other alternative, the British have essentially learned to live with the threats and the bombings. Moreover, the British have learned to live with intrusive surveillance cameras, the cost of bomb insurance (3. 2 billion dollars a year), as well as a higher awareness of the threat that has been assimilated into the society over the years, particularly since the late 1960s.Even despite the recent terrorist attacks in London’s subway, â€Å"the British approach to terrorism, developed over many years, seems natural in a culture that places great store on a ‘stiff upper lip’† (McCabe, 1996b:8). The prognosis becomes ever more frightening as terrorists seek out softer targets, as witnessed in the 1998 bombing s of the American embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. This is because international police and security agencies will, for the most part, strengthen the defenses of consulates, embassies and residences, and will provide other forms of personal security for the more likely terrorist targets.Therefore, terrorist attacks will probably become more indiscriminate. The bombing campaigns in Paris during the summers of 1986 and 1995, aimed at government buildings, restaurants and cafes, the bombings in London during the spring of 1992 of commuter train stations and the financial district, and the use of sarin in the subway in Japan by the Aum Shinrikyo in 1995, and the February 2001 reported discovery by the British police of a terrorist plot to release sarin into the London underground system as well as the suicide hijacking of four airliners in September 2001 are examples of what we may expect.(Other examples of indiscriminate terrorism are the strikes at airports such as those in December 1 985, in Rome and Vienna. ) Furthermore, targets abound in highly developed industrialized societies and analysts anticipate that terrorist groups will begin targeting vital points such as â€Å"computer systems, power grids and other key links of industrial societies† (Hanley, 1986b:2). Reports underline that terrorists are expanding their interests in nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons as well as information warfare.Some of these concerns were highlighted in December 1999 when the Solicitor General of Canada, Lawrence MacAulay, told the House of Commons that Canada needed to strengthen the government’s capacity to address the threat of a nuclear, biological or chemical attack by terrorists. Although the possibility of such an attack happening was low, Mr. MacAulay felt all levels of government must be prepared to deal with such eventualities (Evenson, 2001:2).His concerns followed warnings by scientists of the Health Protection Branch that a release of the dead ly anthrax bacteria in a major Canadian population center could kill upwards of 35,000 and cost 6. 5 billion to the health care system, underlining the fact that medical facilities were not prepared to deal with such an incident (Evenson, 2001:2). In the fall of 2001, a series of letters containing the anthrax virus were mailed to media centers in New York City.The letters were sent to ABC, NBC and CBS, and were orchestrated to attain the maximum amount of media coverage, while concomitantly stirring up popular fear and anxiety about these and other possible attacks. Another issue that relates to this is that of nuclear scientists who represent a valuable resource to those nations developing nuclear programs, such as modern Iran. Potential Responses to Terrorism: International Scope The evolution and deployment in the 1970s of elite counterterrorist teams in Israel and West Germany was in response, partly, to the frustrations of employing a series of so-called â€Å"non-force† methods against terrorists.Livingstone has argued that â€Å"governments have employed a variety of nonforce strategies in their efforts to resist terrorism, including diplomacy, negotiation, concessions, and cooptation. Occasionally such methods have worked, but more often than not they have failed or only provided a temporary prophylaxis to an endemic problem† (Livingstone, 1982:176). Now it is widely recognized that, under most circumstances, making concessions to terrorists only invites further acts of terrorism. This fact, combined with the failure of the U. N.to take concerted action to develop effective remedies to the problem of international terrorism, has resulted in a growing tendency on the part of national governments to resort to unilateral military action against terrorism in the belief that, if it is not possible to make terrorists answerable to the law, then they must be answerable to the gun. It is apparent from recent twentieth-century history in Western countries that the responsibility for combating terrorism has been, for the most part, that of law enforcement authorities.On occasion, army units were tasked and, for the most part, were found to be operationally wanting in a number of areas such as strategy, methodology and structure. Conventional military forces and tactics have not met the challenge of terrorism: â€Å"Not only are contemporary weapons and tactics far too destructive to be employed in heavily populated urban regions, but also the deployment of large numbers of soldiers against terrorists simply increases the number of targets at which they can strike† (Livingstone, 1982:176).General George Grivas, the famous Cypriot terrorist leader, noted that the level of terrorist operations is much lower than that of conventional military operations. Counterterrorist operations demand specially adapted and trained soldiers, tactics and strategy. He noted the â€Å"only hope of finding us was to play cat and mouse: to use tiny, expertly trained groups, who could work with cunning and patience and strike rapidly when we least expected† (Taber, 1977:118).In short, one must use those same weapons and tactics belonging to the terrorists’ inventory – psychology, stealth, speed, surprise and cunning – against the terrorists themselves. Moreover, candidates for such units must have motivation and determination, physical and mental stamina, initiative and self-discipline, be capable of operating in small groups during long-term isolated operations, and they must have the aptitude to assimilate a wide range of skills and think laterally. This type of military operation demands a different type of soldier, namely one who can develop a broad spectrum of skills.Practically, contemporary counterterrorism demands highly trained and motivated commandos, operating in small groups; skilled in electronics, communications, demolitions, marksmanship, deception, silent killing; and familia r with terrorist tactics and behavior. References Byman, Daniel (2003). Should Hizballah Be Next? Foreign Affairs 82, no. 6, November/December: 54-66. Calabresi, Massimo, & Romesh Ratnesar (2002). â€Å"Can We Stop the Next Attack? † Time, 11 March, 16–26 Evenson, Brad (2001). â€Å"Canada Poorly Prepared for Germ Warfare. † National Post, 1 FebruaryHanley, Charles (1986a). â€Å"Experts Note Common Traits in Terrorists. † Ottawa Citizen, 19 April Hanley, Charles (1986b). â€Å"International Terrorism: Global Order Shaken by Wanton War. † Ottawa Citizen, 19 April Jenkins, Brian Michael (1983). New Modes of Conflict. Santa Monica, California: Rand Corporation, June. Livingstone, Neil C (1982). The War against Terrorism. Lexington, Massachusetts: Lexington Books McCabe, Aileen (1996). â€Å"Britain Learns to Live with Terrorism after Decades of Blasts. † Ottawa Citizen, 4 August McCabe, Aileen (1996).â€Å"Facing Terror with a Stiff Upper Lip . † Montreal Gazette, 3 August Nash, James L (2004). Prevention or cure. Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. The OECD Observer. Paris: May:56 Rothkopf, David (2005). Can Technology Fix U. S. Intelligence. Technology Review. Cambridge: Feb. 108(2) Taber, Robert (1977). The War of the Flea: Guerrilla Warfare Theory and Practice. St. Albans, Frogmore, Herts, Great Britain: Paladin United States, Department of State, Patterns of Global Terrorism: 1997 Retrieved From < http://www. mipt.org/Patterns-of-Global-Terrorism. asp> Accessed Jan 3, 2006 United States, Department of State, Patterns of Global Terrorism: 1997 Retrieved From < http://www. mipt. org/Patterns-of-Global-Terrorism. asp> Accessed Jan 3, 2006 United States, Department of State, Patterns of Global Terrorism: 1999 Retrieved From < http://www. mipt. org/Patterns-of-Global-Terrorism. asp> Accessed Jan 3, 2006 United States, Department of State, Patterns of Global Terrorism: 2000 Retrieved From < http:/ /www. mipt. org/Patterns-of-Global-Terrorism. asp> Accessed Jan 3, 2006

All about Botox

Botox is the notable drug for the toxins generated by a bacterium called Clostridium botulinum. When taken in large amounts, the said toxin may be the cause of botulism which is closely related to food poisoning. Although paralysis is the most serious complication that may be brought about by botulism, scientists have formulated ways as to how the said toxin may be beneficiary for humans. The application of small concentration of the Botox, which is done through injection in specific muscled areas, controls the weakening of the muscles.This was approved in the latter part of 1980's by the FDA. The discovery of the Botox was found to be an aid for some ailments like the uncontrolled blinking, which is known as the blepharospasm and the lazy eye which is also called strabismus. It is also well documented that most cosmetologist has been using Botox for many years proving that it can successfully treat skin conditions like wrinkles and facial creases (â€Å"Skin Conditions: Botox Cosme tic Treatment,† 2008). The injection of Botox relaxes the facial muscles that form and cause wrinkles so that they appear less noticeable.However, Botox injection does not last long. The use of Botox among adults whose age ranges from 18 to 65 was approved by the Food and Drug Administration only that it should be used as a temporary treatment for cases of average to extreme frown lines found amidst the eyebrows, otherwise known as glabellar lines. In some cases Botox can also be employed as a treatment for other wrinkles found in the face, including the lines that extend from the eye corner known as crow's-feet and the forehead furrow.Also, aside from being a treatment for wrinkles, it was also found out that Botox are used for the treatment of other health conditions such as black eyes, headaches, problems of the eye muscle, spasms in the muscles, as well a condition called hyperhidrosis which is characterized by excessive sweating (Botox Injections, 2008). Botox works in a way that it serves as a blockage for the nerve signals going towards the muscles. This avoids the muscles injected with Botox to contract, which, in turn, softens and relaxes the wrinkles.The Botox procedure only takes a few minutes, and there is no anesthesia involved. A fine needle is used to inject the Botox in particular muscle areas with only little discomfort (â€Å"Skin Conditions: Botox Cosmetic Treatment,† 2008). The number of injections needed to be applied depends on various factors which may include the features of a person's face, the degree of the wrinkling, as well as the area that is being treated. Usually, the crow's feet condition is required to have at least two to three injections, while the forehead furrow may require at least five or more injections.The whole procedure takes full effect within three to seven days, and it does not call for any downtime, which means that the person who underwent a Botox treatment may immediately return his or her daily act ivities (Botox injection, 2008). One week prior to the treatment, a person who wishes to undergo Botox treatment is required to avoid alcohol, while medications such anti-inflammatory and aspirins are required to be stopped two weeks prior to the treatment period so as to reduce the bruising after the process.The Botox injection has effects that only last for four to six months. By the time the action in the muscles moderately returns, it is more likely that the wrinkles will re-appear as well and another treatment should be done. However, unlike the first occurrence of the lines and the wrinkles, by the time the effect of the Botox fades away, the appearance of the lines and the wrinkles become less severe because Botox trains the muscles to relax (â€Å"Skin Conditions: Botox Cosmetic Treatment,† 2008).After the Botox procedure, it is expected that a patient would have a headache, but the treated area should not be rubbed or massaged so as to avoid the migration of toxins i n other areas of the face. If the toxins migrate to another area of the face, this may result in temporary weakness of the face, or it its possible that the patient’s face may droop (Botox injection, 2008). It may seem that, after undergoing Botox treatment, the face appears good from a distance, especially for people who are advocates of beauty.However, it is still a medical fact that Botox is a poison, and it is a procedure that may be beneficial for one but dangerous for another (Williams, 2008). Although in practice, some of the fatal effects may be rare which are often attributed to the doctor's skills or to the specific area to be treated, the effects of Botox are not always positive. Hence, it is highly important to know its side effects before one accepts the treatment. The general effects of Botox are dizziness, skin rash, tiredness, muscles spasms, numbness, weakness all over, drowsiness, dryness of the mouth, stiffness, headache, and flu-like syndrome.For specific areas that were treated such as the eye area, there could be a drooping of the upper eyelid, drooping brow, mild inflammation of the eyes’ surface, difficulty in closing the eye, overflow of tears, dryness of the eye, and sensitivity to light. There are some cases that such effects may be encountered: eye surface inflammation, eversion or turning out of the eyelid, turning in or inversion of the eyelid, double vision, facial weakness, drooping of the face, and blurred vision.Effects such as swelling of the eyelids, development of ulcers on the eye surface, as well as glaucoma which is characterized with the increase of the eye pressure, are said to be the effects of Botox that are extremely rare (â€Å"Side Effects and Dangers of Botox,† 2006). Not all people are fit to undergo the Botox procedure. Because of the risks involved with Botox, the biggest problem that a person may have is that rather than looking beautiful and younger, as this is the goal of a person who w ishes to undergo the procedure, it is most likely that an individual may end up looking older (â€Å"Botox,† 2008).Also, some people cannot undergo the procedure due to their condition, especially pregnant patients, mothers who are breastfeeding, and people who are suffering from neurological diseases such as peripheral motor neuropathic disease or meuromuscular functional disorders (â€Å"Side Effects and Dangers of Botox,† 2006). However, it was reported that botulinum toxins are applied to some cases of cerebral palsy as a way to control the spasms of the limbs even though this kind of treatment was not authorized by the food and drug administration.Several investigations by the FDA was documented that the occurrence of several deaths which involve children who were treated for spasms of the leg and some cases of illnesses were accounted for the usage of Botox by the said people to aid certain conditions. It was also discovered that the use of the toxins for cosmeti c treatments may result in the spread of the drug to other areas of the body that may affect the muscles for breathing and swallowing. This may have serious implications which may be fatal (Keenan, 2008).In general, Botox may bring about certain effects that depend on the capability of the doctor who will perform the procedure and the person who will undergo the treatment. Botox may be beneficial for many, but it is still highly important to have knowledge on the underlying negative effects that are overshadowed by its benefit. Although there are rare reports on the fatalities brought by Botox procedure, it is still proven that botulism is to take the blame. This should be taken into consideration before engaging in the procedure.Furthermore, it is suggested that comprehensive studies should be made in order to clarify some points that were not discussed in the study, because the results that were framed in are limited in some areas. References Possible botox risks. (2008). Linkroll . Retrieved August 4, 2008 from http://www. linkroll. com/botox/possible-botox-risks. php. Botox injections. (2008). Mayo Clinic. Retrieved August 4, 2008 from http://www. mayoclinic. com/health/botox/MY00078 Keenan, S. (2008, February 9). The dangers of botox treatments. eNews 2. 0.Retrieved August 4, 2008 from http://www. enews20. com/news_The_Dangers_of_Botox_Treatments_05715. html Side effects & dangers of botox. (2006). Essential Botox Resources. Retrieved August 4, 2008 from http://essential-botox-resources. com/side. html Skin conditions: Botox cosmetic treatment. (2008). Web MD. Retrieved August 4, 2008 from http://www. webmd. com/skin-beauty/botox. Williams, Z. (2008, February 4). We all know that botox is stupid. Now it looks as if it can kill. Guardian News and Media Limited. Retrieved August 4, 2008 from

Argument Paper - President Obama's Nobel Peace Prize Essay

Argument Paper - President Obama's Nobel Peace Prize - Essay Example The news media has variously spoken in favor of the prize and against it, and ordinary citizens are equally divided. There is little question, however: Barack Obama does not deserve the Nobel Peace Prize. The Nobel Peace Prize, as Alfred Nobel envisioned it, is awarded to â€Å"champions of peace† who genuinely contribute to bringing peace to the world (â€Å"A fitting prize† para. 6). During his acceptance speech, Obama commented, â€Å"Throughout history, the Nobel Peace Prize has not just been used to honor specific achievement; it’s also been used as a means to give momentum to a set of causes† (Schneider para. 7). In other words, Obama himself is apologizing to those who do not think he deserves the prize, saying that he has momentum even if it appears he’s not going anywhere. This is a gracious way to accept this prestigious prize, but might indicate that Obama himself is questioning the motivations of the Nobel Committee, just as detractors have in the press and on the news. One of these detractors has even gone so far as to state, â€Å"Anyone saying the Peace Prize Committee does not have a political agenda needs to consider the timing and nature of these choices more carefully† (Reid-Henry para. 2). The Prize committee’s timing was cut a little close: the nomination was made two weeks after Obama’s inauguration. Not only had Obama had no time to accomplish any of his lofty goals at the time of the award, he had barely put his toothbrush in the White House medicine cabinet at the time of his nomination. As a political slap in the face to the previous administration, the Nobel Committee’s message could not be more clear. The committee is indeed investing its â€Å"extraordinary faith, a belief even, in the powers of politicians to lead and to thereby solve the ills of the world† (Reid-Henry para. 7). The Peace Prize Committee may believe that