The Sicilian Mafia

For some people, the mere mention of the name â€Å"Mafia† paints a portrait in the subconscious of burly or corpulent, thuggish-looking men, with peppered or jet black hair, a scar somewhere on their face, dressed in black or gray pinstriped suits garnished with a flower in their lapel, a fedora cocked angularly over their brow, their necks and fingers decorated in gold jewelry, and carrying a briefcase or any means of transportation for weapons or money. This image is typically cliche of the average early 20th century gangster found in big cities such as New York City and Chicago, and of those individuals found in classic films such as â€Å"The Godfather† and â€Å"Scarface†. So then, what is, or who are, the â€Å"Mafia? † From where did they come? What did they do? Where are they now? To truly understand what the Mafia is and represents, one must travel back in time, centuries ago, where the word, and the people associated, are rooted from an area known widely for its bountiful history of arts, war, and honor – Sicily, Italy. A thorough understanding of what the Mafia consists of would not be complete without an understanding of the Sicilian concepts of â€Å"vendetta† and â€Å"omerta. † The Italian word vendetta is rooted in the Latin vindicta meaning â€Å"revenge. † A more modern equivalent would be violent and vengeful â€Å"pay back†. The vendetta was often a prolonged series of retaliatory, hostile acts in exchange for previous violent acts, such as an â€Å"eye for an eye† concept or otherwise known as lex taliones. In ancient times, when enforcement of law by reliable authorities was virtually unknown, families would often take matters in their own hands, and exact â€Å"payment† or revenge for a wrong-doing by another by means of vendetta, often by employing violence, to include murder, to redress their grievance and restore honor to the injured group or family. Equally important in understanding what Mafia is about, is the Italian concept of â€Å"omerta. In its present day usage, omerta is simply a â€Å"code of silence,† much like the Blue Curtain of Secrecy employed by law enforcement or omissions of knowledge that friends will utilize if a comrade is accused of a crime. Historically, however, the root meaning of this Italian word is â€Å"manliness,† not unlike the Spanish concept of â€Å"machismo,† which is considered an integral part, if not the very core value, behind the â€Å"code of honor. † It was in 13th century Sicily that such â€Å"men of honor† organized themselves to drive out foreign invaders, and were willing to kill, if necessary. Protecting the identities of their brothers in the event of capture, these â€Å"men of honor† invoked omerta, a code of silence, by refusing to provide governing authorities any information. The concept of omerta, then, served to provide a modicum of protection for the remaining body of those â€Å"men of honor. † No one is certain of the enigmatic origins of the name given to groups of organized criminals from Italy, and the word itself had been long debated. One theory takes place during the time in the middle ages when the island of Sicily was plagued by foreign invaders, particularly by the French Angevins, who imposed unfair taxes upon the Sicilians. Rising up against their oppressors, several numbers of male citizens, who later came to be called â€Å"men of honor,† banded together to overthrow the French, while shouting, â€Å"Morte alla Francia Italia anelia! † Translated, the phrase means: â€Å"Death to the French is Italy’s cry! † Taking the first letter from each word in this Italian phrase, the word â€Å"M-a-F-I-a! † was created. Another theory thought to be true is that the word â€Å"Mafia† was created in 1282 when an enraged group of Sicilian â€Å"men of honor† struck back against a French soldier, killing him in retaliation for raping a Palermo girl on her wedding day. Taking away a young woman’s virginity before it is given to her spouse is a heinous crime, and during this era, was punishable by death. As news of this revolt spread from one town to the next, other Sicilians rose up against their French occupiers, killing literally thousands, thus running them off the island, while crying out, â€Å"Ma fia! Ma fia! † Literally meaning, â€Å"My daughter! My daughter! Although neither theory has been proven, it is apparent that the basis of the name Mafia comes from some root of honor. The structure of the Mafia is originally based on a close-knit famiglia or family structure, where the eldest male, such as a grandfather who is wise in the ways of family operations based on heritage and traditions, is the capofamiglia, otherwise known as the head of the family or the boss – such as the â€Å"godfather†. His second in command or right-hand man who acts as a â€Å"pseudo-boss† when the capofamilglia is away, is the sotto capo, or underboss, and could have originally been a brother or first born son. The capofamiglia may have one or more advisors, made up of close friends, brothers, or cousins, who aid him in any decision making regarding la famiglia, known as consigliere. Following the sotto capo are crews of â€Å"soldiers†, or capodecina, commanded by the sotto capo. The capodecina, literally meaning â€Å"head of ten† is selected by the capofamiglia, and usually coordinates units of soldiers made up of about ten people. Lastly are associates, who have no familial ties with the famiglia, through blood or initiation, but aid the famiglia through legal and illegal means. Associates usually consist of corrupt officials, such as police officers, judges, or religious heads, who help la famiglia by providing any important information. An associate, to la famiglia, is seen as nothing more than a tool, and may be discarded of easily if their services are not needed anymore. The only way to join the famiglia in the past was to be born or married into the family. As time went on, family of friends, as well as friends of friends, were admitted, but only after partaking in an initiation ceremony and swearing their allegiance to la famiglia, or else face the consequences of horrific mutilation or death. Initiation ceremonies included a variety of oaths and pledges, where potential members would carry out various acts to show their loyalty. Some acts included, but were not limited to, killing their own family members due to an unpaid debt to the famiglia, finding a â€Å"rat† within the famiglia and sending him a warning, such as mutilation or terrorizing their home life, or other heinous and illegal acts that would show devotion. Other means of initiation were ceremonies where a blood oath was implemented. In a testimony from the police interrogation of Leo Pellegrino, from the village of Sciacca, Agrigento province, 15 March 1876, Leo proceeded to explain the ceremony he was involved in: â€Å"Marsala tied my index finger of my right hand tightly with a string. He pricked the finger with a pin. The blood dripped on the image of a female saint. He burned the image, divided it into two portions and gave me one. We ground up our portions in our hands and then threw the result into the air. As part of the ceremony I swore that I would remain a member of the Societa that has as its capo Don Vito Vita, and its aim is to commit crimes against persons and property. I was told that the Societa has affiliates in other towns, each town with its own capo, and if an affiliate does not carry out his assigned duties he would be judged by the Societa and condemned to death. Then they taught me the mode of recognizing other affiliates. † Prior to Benito Mussolini becoming Italy’s dictator during the Fascist movement, the Mafia was the one of the ways of providing protection and justice throughout Sicily without involving law enforcement and government officials. The Mafia would rid neighborhoods of vandals and criminals, while collecting fees for their services. What work they provided for the people would be repaid in money, goods, or by marrying into families so they would profit from farming lands. By the time Mussolini came to Sicily, the Mafia had acquired a great deal of power and respect from the citizens they protected and profited from. In 1924, when Mussolini visited Sicily, he was angered by the reception he received. The capofamiglias treated him as nothing more than a mere guest to their land, and told Mussolini that he was under their protection. Enraged by this notion, fearing opposition to his regime, the dictator avowed to suppress the Mafia by means of violence and honor. Mussolini names Ceaser Mori as Prefect, and ordered him to crack down with â€Å"steel and fire† against the Mafia. Because the Mafia’s power was equal to that of the State, an invasion of western Sicily took place, and during 1926-1928, 11,000 suspects in the Mafia were arrested. Ceaser Mori felt that the Mafia and Sicilian people were not one in the same. Rather, that the island had been suffering under the reign of terror known as the Mafia because the State was absent. Poor governing had created the menace known as Mafia, and that by eliminating that power, encouraged the people of Sicily to break away from unlawful oppression. He wanted the Mafia to appreciate that the State was stronger and wanted the â€Å"men of respect and honor† to be brought to their knees and be humble for their vanity and arrogance. During Mori’s suppressive action of rounding up any individual, proven or otherwise, under suspicion of â€Å"association for criminal purposes,† hundreds fled Sicily to other countries – as many as five hundred entered the United States, some illegally with help from family currently residing in the Unites States. Those arrested and unable to flee were found guilty and imprisoned. They were tortured in order to gain confessions, whether true or not, and violence towards individuals was common. Communities would be rounded up to ensure that those guilty would not flee the country. Innocent people would be caught up in the violence and tyranny with no ounce of concern from the State or other government officials. With Mussolini in control, Sicily faced a reign of terror. After capturing Don Vito Cascio Ferro, the â€Å"greatest capo the Mafia ever had,† Mori attempted to extract a confession from Don Vito, that he was, indeed, the capofamiglia of the Sicilian Mafia. Don Vito denied any accusation, regardless of the countless beatings Mori and his police committed. Finally, after having his legs clamped between a block of wood, Don Vito confessed to his involvement, and was sentenced to life imprisonment. Mussolini announced to the nation shortly after that the Mafia was no more and no force would ever be able to revive it. Following the Fascist movement and World War II, the crime rate in Sicily soared in amongst the upheaval and chaos. Many criminals escaped from prison and bandits roamed the streets, wreaking havoc where ever they came. As Fascist members were disposed of, replacements were appointed, many of which turned out to be part of the Mafiosi, such as Calogero Vizzini and Giuseppe Genco Russo. They would present themselves as political dissidents and would become further desirable with their anti-communist position. The Minister of Agriculture, a communist, pushed for reforms where peasants would receive larger shares of produce and own land that was forced to be sold by owners of large estates. The Mafia had connections to many landowners and murdered several social reformists; however, they were unable to stop the process, and many landowners chose to sell their land to the Mafiosi, who offered more money than the government. After the war, the government poured money into rebuilding Sicily, where two Mafia connected officials took control of Palermo’s Office of Public Works. They gave out building permits to just five people, who were probably Mafia front men. Any construction companies unconnected with the Mafia were forced to pay protection fees, and many illegally constructed buildings were put up before the city’s planning was finalized. This was the re-birth of the Sicilian Mafia. During the early 1960s, the first high-profile Mafia conflict occurred in post-war Italy. The Sicilian Mafia has always had a long history of violent rivalries, but this was the first to involve many lives, some of which were innocents. In December of 1962, a heroin shipment to America turned up missing, and when the Sicilian Mafia Commission could not decide who to blame, the La Barbera clan, one clan involved, took matters into their own hands. They murdered a Mafioso, or member, of the Greco clan whom they had suspicion of stealing heroin. Therein, triggering a war where many would lose their lives. In April 1963, several non-mafiosi were wounded during a shootout in Palermo. Two months later, six military officers and a policeman in Ciaculli were killed while trying to dispose of a car bomb. Because the conflict spread beyond Sicily and claimed several innocent lives, a crackdown commenced in which nearly two thousand arrests were made. Mafia activity fell as a result as clans disbanded and many Mafiosi went into hiding. The Commission was dissolved and would not reform until the late 1960s and early 1970s. During the 1970s, the Mafia in Sicily resumed its normal illicit business, and Corleonesi, the mafia family from the town of Corleone, slowly began growing in power and prestige under the brutal and ambitious leadership of Luciano Leggio. Luciano Leggio became the boss through simply shooting the previous boss, Michele Navarra. Corleonsi’s primary rivals were the bosses of various powerful Palermo Mafia Families. The Sicilian Mafia Commission was re-established in 1970, with Luciano Leggio as one of the three leaders, although his underboss, Salvatore Riina, represented him as he was in hiding in mainland Italy for various crimes committed. After Leggio was captured and murdered in 1974, Riina took over as boss and began winning over allies amongst other Mafia families. In 1978, Riina arranged the murders of Bontade and Inserillo’s allies, the Reisi and Catania clans’ bosses. This caused the bosses of Palermo and their men to become isolated. After the murder of Stefano Bontade, another member of the commission, the Second Mafia War began. Hundreds of enemy Mafiosi and relatives were killed by each other, and even some of those who were traitorous in their own clans. In the end, the Corleonesi faction won, and Riina became widely known as the â€Å"boss of bosses. † By the early 1980s, the magistrates Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino began a campaign against the Sicilian Mafia. With the arrest of Tommaso Buscetta, a mafioso turned informant, Falcone and Borsellino compiled their testimonies and organized the Maxi Trial, which lasted twenty-eight months. Four hundred seventy-four mafiosi were put on trial, of which 342 were convicted. By 1992, the Italian Supreme Court confirmed these convictions. The Mafia retaliated violently, and in 1988, they murdered a Palermo judge and his son, a prosecutor and an anti-mafia businessman. Four years later, Falcone and Borsellino were killed by car bombs, and this led to a public outcry, along with a massive government crackdown, resulting in the arrest of Riina in 1993. Following Riina’s arrest, the Mafia began a campaign of terror on mainland Italy. Tourist spots were attacked, such as places in Florence, Milan, and Rome, leaving ten dead and 93 injured, two churches bombed, and an anti-mafia priest shot dead. Leadership of the Mafia was held for a short time by Leoluca Bagarella, and then was passed to Bernardo Provenzano after Bagarella was captured in 1995. Provenzano ceased the violent campaign and replaced it with pax mafiosi, the quiet mafia, where it allowed the Mafia to slowly regain the power it once held. Provenzano halted the murders of state officials and informants. He felt that by not killing them and their families, it would encourage informants to retract their statements and testimonies and return to the famiglia. After eleven years of leadership, Provenzano was arrested in 2006.

Distinctive Periods in History Essay

1. Discuss the causes of the Protestant Reformation. Which do you feel are most important? Why? The Protestant Reformation was caused by a number of cumulative factors ranging from socio-political developments during the 1600s to several blatant weaknesses in the Catholic Church. The socio-political factors range from the ongoing European decentralization during that period with the rise of independent nation states and the breakdown of a formerly medieval set-up under the leadership of the Pope.   Meanwhile, the causes for the breakdown of the medieval society were owed to the Black Death caused by the bubonic plague and the Hundred Years’ War between France and England. Another socio-political factor was the rise of the renaissance period wherein there was a renewed interest in humanism and a rebirth and rediscovery of the ancient arts and culture. Oh the other side of the spectrum, visible weaknesses in the Catholic Church caused a lot of discontent and rebels even among the most faithful within the Roman Catholic organization – the monks and the nuns.   The weaknesses can be further categorized as administrative divisions within the Catholic Church hierarchy, the proliferation of questionable rituals and practices, and rampant corruption and abuse of power in Church. The most blatant abuse came in the form of the sale of indulgences, certificates of remission from Purgatory and Simony or sale of higher Catholic offices to the highest bidder. However, the most important factor of the collapse of the control of the Roman Catholic Church over its followers is primarily because of the exclusion of the ordinary and regular people of direct communication with their God.   Earlier practices, literature and celebration of the Sunday Mass were all done in Latin.   Only the most educated and privileged sectors of society had access to the language.   Hence, the majority of the people felt alienated to it own religion.   Soon, several sects and break off organizations from the original Catholic practice of Christianity began to form their own groups and organizations. Some credit the start of this movement of Protestant Reformation to the posting of martin Luther King’s â€Å"95 Thesis on the Power of Indulgence† on October 13, 1517. It was a straight protest of the corruption of the Catholic Church and the inability of the Pope leadership to bring the Church to the people by making translations of the Latin version of the literatures of the Church like the Bible to plain everyday language like English.   From thereon, some of the more important Protestant groups to break away were the Lutherans, the Reformed/Calvinists/Presbyterians, the Anabaptists, and the Anglicans. The movement also led to a Catholic or Counter-Reformation within the Roman Catholic Church. 2. What advice does Machiavelli give a prince? The advice given by Machiavelli to the Prince is: â€Å"The Prince ought to have no other aim or thought, nor select anything else for his study, than war and its rules and discipline; (Machiavelli)†. In giving this advice, Machiavelli has put the full weight of a country leader’s responsibility to that of mastering the art of war and defense of its own country.   He iterated again and again that it is the single most important task of a true leader.   Furthermore, he iterated that if a leader cannot take up arms and master the craft of war, he could descend into the rank of a private (Machiavelli). However, a private who has mastered the craft of arms and war could ascend to the rank of a leader (Machiavelli).   Hence, for purposes of maintaining his ascendancy or right to lead, a leader (or prince as referred to throughout the text), should be able to protect his domain above all else (Machiavelli). Another advice that Machiavelli gives the leader (or prince) is that of ensuring he is instills fear in his subjects or domain so that nobody would dare cross him.   He further explains that such a preference of being feared instead of being loved will ensure his throne because of the nature of men.   Men apparently find â€Å"no scruples† over betraying people they love but would find it harder to go against somebody they feared (Machiavelli).   Hence, if there is a choice to be made between being feared or being loved, the leader (or prince) should have no qualms that he should make sure he is feared.   A precaution added here though is that the leader (or prince), while assuring he is feared by his subjects also should ensure he is also not hated by them (Machiavelli).   Apparently, this he can do by making sure he respects their property and their women (Machiavelli). The last advice given was in tune with the practice of the times during the 1600 when nobilities and kings would often abuse their positions and wantonly take what they want from their subjects including the so called â€Å"right of first night† with total disrespect for the husband and also the women during that time. 3. Discuss the Age of Exploration. What were the motivations for the age? The Age of Discovery or Exploration came about when the rise of capitalism was surging throughout Europe and established nations like England and Spain started looking outward of their own domain to plot new territories and sources for gold, silver and spices. From the early 1600s to the 1800s, or for more than 200 years, it was not just the age of discovery for new lands but also a surge in technological innovations of equipment and machines.   The period saw a lot of improvement in the study of cartography and a more realistic global map of nations and territories. Aside from   cartography, improvements in navigation, firepower, and shipbuilding were also flourishing. Why is it significant? This period was significant for establishing the modern day map and the confirmation that the fundamental theories that the world is round and that global meridians do exist.   This period would also plot the socio-political divisions of global powers and their respective and strategic holds on territories and influences. Please name two explorers and describe what they ultimately accomplished. During this period of exploration and discovery, there were several individuals who were made their mark in history because of their contribution to the charting of new found continents and territories.   Among these prominent individuals were Captain James Cook and Ferdinand Magellan.   Captain James Cook was from England and Ferdinand Magellan was from Portugal, but served Spain after being refused by the administration of Portugal to be entrusted with an exploration fleet (Swenson). James Cook James Cook’s beginning was humble, being born to a farm laborer father.   But at sixteen old, his interest in sea voyage was triggered by being an apprentice in a shop located in a seaport with a window overlooking the vast sea.   After more than a year, he began apprenticeship in a merchant’s vessel.   Soon, James Cook went on to study algebra, geometry, trigonometry, navigation, and astronomy.   Ultimately, these skills proved very helpful in helping him pass his apprenticeship, and later on command his own ship.   To expedite the process, he joined the British Royal Navy. He participated in the Seven Years’ War.   He was an active participant in the siege of Quebec.   Here, he was able to use the various skills he learned during his first apprenticeship when he was sixteen yearrs old.   He displayed a talent for cartography and surveying. His main contribution to this age of exploration was his mapping of the Saint Lawrence River that helped General Wolf in his famous attack on the Plain of Abraham.   Capt. James Cook was also responsible for accurately mapping the coast of Newfoundland (part of Canada). He produced the first large scale accurate maps of Newfoundland, despite rough conditions   This started his huge career and impact on the British’ direction of discovery and exploration of new territories.   His most famous quote,   â€Å"To go further than any man has been before me, but as far as I think it is possible for a man to go (Collingridge)†, revealed his primary goal in life. Ferdinand Magellan The second other prominent individual during this age is Ferdinand Magellan. Ferdinan Magellan first approached the administration of   the Portugese royalty, but was refused.   Hence he tried the neighboring nation of Spain, and he was granted an audience and given a chance to prove himself, and his objective of circumnavigating the globe via a westward route to the Spice Islands of Indonesia (Swenson). The fleet of ships started with 270 crew members.   However, only 18 of the original crew was able to circumnavigate the globe and reported the success of Magellan’s team (Swenson). Ferdinand Magellan established the colonial reign of Spain in the Philippine Islands and was the first person to successfully cross all the meridians of the globe.   He also lead the crew   to sail westward from Europe to Asia, and successfully cross the Pacific ocean. Before his discovery of the Philippine Islands, this part of the world was totally unknown (Swenson).

Reasons Why Cloning is Unethical Essay

From the day that ‘Dolly the sheep’ made it to the headline news, the controversy regarding her existence has never ceased. It is quite amazing, how the issues surrounding a sheep could create such a great divide on public opinion, stir up much debate in scientific halls, and whose implications caused a dilemma that reached a magnitude which needed a presidential decision. Needless to say, the debate did not concern agriculture or animal rights, but on how she came to be — by cloning. Contrary to popular belief, these clinical ventures though, were not done by sheer sense of adventurism, or by simple acts of human arrogance of ‘playing God’. Instead, this breakthrough in the field of biotechnology, along with other related cases, was carried out with the legitimate purpose of propagating livestock that carry desirable traits. Breeders can easily then raise farm animals that have the preferred traits and thus increase productivity and yield. Also, lab research for the noble intention of developing drugs, require numerous testing on animals before it can finally be declared effective and safe for human use. Cloning would allow them to produce test-animals that display similar or identical characteristics and thus help validate results. There are several other reasons why cloning is held by many scientists as an essential means for improving human condition. However, such so-called conditions had now been raised to the point of fulfilling needs other than physical necessities. Man’s many woes and flaws in life such as the pain of losing a loved one or childless couples having to bear the unfulfilled desire of loving and rearing their own children, are just a few of the many disadvantages that confronts finite man. Today through science, man is longing to challenge and ‘correct’ these impossible odds. Would cloning be the answer? II. Man’s Contemporary Alternative: Merits of Cloning-to Produce-Children Distinguished British philosopher Mary Warnock, expressed her support in favour of utilizing the technology of cloning to produce children. She believes that there is nothing wrong with this procedure and thereby there should be no question on the ethical soundness of such an endeavour (Connor, 2002). Together with the rest of those who agree with her, they believe that cloning offers an excellent solution for the following problems: A. To Help Sterile Parent/s Obtain Biologically Related Children Individuals or parents who long to have their own offspring, but are hindered by sterility or some other reason — the only presented solution so far have been adoption. There are different reasons why some had found this unsatisfactory. With cloning, a sterile man can now have the opportunity of producing a child that bears his own characteristics. The need to find a sperm donor is eliminated, and consequently eliminates the possibility of their child acquiring and passing on undesirable traits to future generation outside the couple. Such a method also opens for an attractive possibility not only for sterile couples but for homosexual couples and individuals who desire to raise a child of their own but do not want the entanglements of a marriage union. B. Pass-on a Genetic Disease Individuals or parents who carry defective genes such as a genetic disease can now hope to eliminate passing the disease to the following generations. Cloning would assure the parents of being able to raise children who will not be troubled by the heritable disorder. C. Pain of Losing a Loved One The grief of losing a loved one can now be alleviated by cloning the dying or dead significant person. Since cloning involves the passing on of exact physical characteristics, producing a cloned individual would invariably cause ‘replication’ of the deceased loved one or relative. Those who are left, will be comforted by ‘seeing’ their dead spouse, child or relative ‘live again’ on the cloned individual. Although, there would be major differences in experiences which would make it entirely impossible to make an exact copy of an individual in all aspects, cloning would bring a connection of the lost loved one with the grieving members. D. Society’s Desire to Have Individuals with Superior Abilities or Qualities Cloning brings families and societies to have super-human individuals by cloning outstanding athletes, musicians, men and women renowned for their beauty, or geniuses. By replicating these individuals, it is presumed that these superior qualities are determined by certain genetic make-up and thus, will be passed on through cloning. III. Reasons for Argument Cloning violates the ethics of human experimentation on the following grounds: A. Concern on Safety Of utmost concern when cloning humans is the high risk involved. As of the moment, the cloning procedure being done in experimenting mammals has shown how unsafe it is to be even applied in humans. Many embryos got wasted as it took 277 attempts before finally producing Dolly the sheep (Gawler, 2000). Barely just being six years old later, Dolly became severely ill and had to be submitted for euthanasia. Careful examination revealed that her chromosomes had shown premature signs of aging (â€Å"Cloning†). The possibility of creating inborn abnormalities or congenital defects caused by the procedure should even bring parents with a hereditary disease not to employ cloning. While it could hold promise of not passing on genetic diseases to their child, the latter is also vulnerable for congenital malformation. Also, since several donor eggs and substitute mothers are needed before achieving success, this places risks on several women. Experiments on animals had shown that there is high occurrence of premature abortion on cloned fetuses. If done on humans, continous abortion could lead to greater possibility of maternal death. B. The Issue of Consent Cloning also undermines the right of the cloned individual. In contrast to the risks that could bring to surrogate mother or the gene donor, the risks posed at the cloned individual do not have the individual’s consent. Most often, the right to exercise freedom is often called by those who promote it. This is often based on the ‘freedom to reproduce’. This means that the constitution protects individuals or parents to freely choose whether they are to have children or not (Eisenstadt v. Baird, 1972). However, in exercising that right, it overrides the freedom of choice on the cloned individual. True, reproductive freedom permits anybody to decide whether to have a child or not without hindrances by the government. It does not however, in any way, allow anyone to do it by whatever means and in complete disregard for the welfare of others. C. Possible Exploitation of Women Since cloning requires numerous tests before any attempts could become fruitful, large quantity of donor eggs will be needed. Getting the egg would subject the woman donor of hormonal treatment that gives high health risks. Furthermore, what would most likely happen is that these women donors would be offered a substantial amount of money, and thus could lure poor women to compromise their health in exchange for financial gain (Council on Bioethics, 2002). IV. Conclusion More often, the concern for safety is limited on the aspect of limiting or perfecting the procedure. It does not consider the possible undesirable effects it would have — after it is accomplished. This perspective of safety does not take consideration on the unexpected effects it would have on the individual, family involved and society in general. The relationships between members of those with cloned children would greatly be altered compared to conventional family set-up. Would the cloned individual of a father be his child or twin? Obviously, cloning will rearrange how family relations will be treated. Before any attempts to cloning-to-produce children be done, would be parent/s should give grave concern on the potential psychological effects this would have on the one being cloned. What also needs special consideration is it’s the social impact caused by confusion. Cloning might open for unnecessary expensive legal battles, over custody as to who really are the child’s parents. Each individual who has a part of the cloned child might fight to claim for custody over the child. Given that such asexual means to produce children is not strange, faulty or imperfect, there is serious error on the purpose by which it longs for implementation. It places more significance on the one which will be cloned by replicating the person, rather than the cloned child. Human experience has revealed that man has the tendency to abuse, and therefore such technology can be used for vain reasons. Cloning somehow claims to provide solutions for man’s problems, the solution however, creates more problems. Given the demerits of the cause, it would far benefit society to keep from toying with strange methods. Works Cited: 1. Connor, S. (2002). Warnock: ‘No ethical reason to ban cloning’. The Independent. Retrieved 20 Nov. 2008 2. Gawler, DM. Human cloning: Scientific, ethical and regulatory issues. [Electronic Version] Retrieved 20 Nov. 2008

Class Reflection 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Class Reflection 2 - Essay Example Furthermore to appreciate what the Bible teachings about His attributes of, perfect wisdom, perfect love perfect holiness, perfect mercy, perfect goodness, and complete truthfulness (Wilkinson et al., 24). Spiritual Formation part of the class changed my walk with God and most surprising aspect of the Conference Group discussion and prayer times is the understanding God’s command to us to give thanks to Him is by giving thanks to Him I identified as an essential characteristic of true worship. Thus, true worship involves taking a good; look at who He is and what God has done and responding suitably to what we perceive. Thanksgiving is an important element in that response. Considering that a refusal to give thanks to Him is the essential characteristic of ungodly individuals. Given the opportunity I would share Gods word with diligence and truthfulness. The class and the Means of Grace studied and prayer times, and our Conference Group discussion has enhanced my attitude and understanding toward reading the Word of God. Specifically 1 Thess 5:18-24 provides understanding of true faithfulness with God and the hope it brings (Wilkinson et al.,

Influence of Technology on Society Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Influence of Technology on Society - Essay Example According to the paper findings the impacts of technology are both negative and positive. On the positive side, technology has make things easier in the way people do activities, keeps time, boosts production, and abridges communication, enhanced educational settings and enhanced health care. On the negative side, advancement in technology has made people lazy as most users of technology are so dependent on new advanced tools. The implication is that the laziness has led to reduced innovation, influenced the environment due to increased pollution that has adverse impacts on the Ozone layer resulting in global warming. Technology has also led to increasing risks to health as technology users spend less time on exercise. Regarding education, learners are now more dependent on computers and calculators to solve simple tasks, which mains that they cannot teach their brain to resolve easy tasks that makes them inactive in classrooms. However, the following are positive effects of technolo gy that have transformed lives.This discussion highlights that  advancements in technology have assisted businesses and companies save time and production expenses that have been a benefit to all enterprises as companies manage such improvements to gain competitive advantage.  Advancement in technology in health care and medicine has assisted in saving countless innocent lives. Human health sciences and medicine have improved significantly.

Kitchen Design Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Kitchen Design - Essay Example These being the changing Role of Women, Domestic Science, Industrialization, Food Safety and Health Determinants (Moody and Vineyard, 476). From these probably the two most important factors were the changing role of women in society and industrialization. Industrialization bought kitchen appliances in homes with microwaves ovens becoming the most popular appliance that later even replaced the traditional stoves in certain homes.The changing role of women is another factor worth discussing. With health issues being raised after the advent of the industrial revolution and people realizing the importance of kitchen for food safety, servants were being replaced by women in the kitchen. The abolition of slavery further limited domestic help in the kitchen. However, industrial appliances became the new servants for these women. While women accepted the kitchen, they were also exploring the corporate world and thus they began a dual life where they began managing both the kitchens and thei r jobs.Evolution of Kitchen DesignIn the early times, kitchens were very different from what we have today. The advent of the industrial revolution greatly changed the landscape of the traditional kitchens as modern kitchens were fitted with the industrial appliances and also had water fittings. At the turn of the twentieth century, kitchens came fitted with iron stoves, sewers and gas pipes. But industrialization in the twentieth century brought bigger changes in the original design of the kitchens.

Peer review form Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Peer review form - Assignment Example Nonetheless, the paper does follow the direction of the thesis because the following paragraphs are related to the thesis. The first part of the introduction is well crafted because it starts by introducing the paper. The writer uses suspense to hook the reader up, and this is effective. For instance, in the introduction, the writer avoids availing all the information about the story which compels the reader to read the other parts. Thus, they are effective, and almost require no suggestion. 3. How does the writer use textual evidence and analysis to back up his or her claim? Comment on several examples and offer any suggestions that you have. Do you think that the writer â€Å"digs deeply† into the text (vertical thinking)? Why or why not? What are some of the implications that the writer draws from the examples? In a bid to back up claims, the writer quotes from the story. For instance, to show the relationship between animals and danger, the writer states that the doctor kept two animals: a cheetah and a baboon. Another entails the snake which is portrayed as sharing similar traits with one Roylott because of the ruthlessness demonstrated. The suggestion is that author ought to have indicated the page numbers where direct quotations were used. The writer had dug deeply and this is confirmed by the implications such as humans resembling humans in terms of characteristics. 4. Comment on the organization of the paper. Is it logical and clear, why or why not? Is each paragraph unified around one main idea, indicated by a topic sentence? Note any issues that you see concerning paragraph unity, general organization or awkward transitions? Offer suggestion where appropriate. Notwithstanding the use of examples, the paper’s organization is poor. Whereas the overall message is clear and logical paragraphs are poorly arranged. For instance, there is no indication

Optimal Educational Environment Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Optimal Educational Environment - Assignment Example Under these constitutional rights, any student facing expulsion or removal from school would be entitled to a written notice. Where a student is facing long-term suspension, they would have right of hearing in which student may present their defense based on evidences. Although ABC School does not follow corporal punishment however any observation of such punishment violates Eighth Amendment protection against cruel and unusual punishment. For general search purposes, The Fourth Amendment right shall be followed by the administration on reporting of teacher. b) Optimal Learning Environment in Classroom 1. Guidelines for Teachers & Students The primary responsibility of acting as a role model for students in terms of civilized and disciplined conduct rests on teachers. Therefore, teachers of ABC School are expected to refrain from any action that can be categorized as malicious and uncivilized. These actions can further be divided under the categories of harassment including physical and mental abuse, intimidation, bullying, expression of hatred and sexual misconduct. Upon discovery of such actions by teachers, the matter will be dealt in accordance with policies of Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI, 2013). It is important to note that there are some researches that have criticized the regime of zero tolerance towards offenses committed by students (American Psychological Association, 2008). Therefore, punishments designed in this policy are provided to support positive enforcement and prevention from actions that can be considered as disciplinary breach. 2. Types of Violence ABC School’s administration strictly refrains from corporal punishment or any kind of physical abuse. In addition to that, any verbal instructions and reprimand is performed in isolation and not in front of other students. The purpose of doing so is to refrain from causing students to lose interest in attending school and causing damage to their self-esteem. Usual offenses may be divided into physical, sexual and emotional ones. Where physical violence can be dealt directly by teacher, any sexual violence will be addressed by the Office of Principal only. Where corporal punishment is not used in ABC School, in order to address issues of violence and breach of code of conduct by students, teachers may use demerits policy as a punishment. The actions that can be categorized as offensive are: a) Failure to follow teacher’s clear instructions’ b) Failure to follow guidelines provided in school orientation i.e. food and drinks in classroom, attire that can be labeled as sexually and racially offensive, actions that can cause damage to school property and endangers other students’ wellbeing including theft, c) Falsification of statement or cheating in exams d) Insubordination 3. Addressing Disciplinary Violations Depending on the severity of act, different demerits can be assigned by teachers including suspension of varying dur ations, loss of driving privileges, notifications/ warning letters issued and required to be signed by parents, community service or extra classes. In order to ensure that students are guided to operate in a disciplinary manner, a holistic approach will be followed which also includes involvement of parents (Osher, Bear, Sprague & Doyle, 2010).  

Marco Polo Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Marco Polo - Essay Example "Marco Polo, Christopher Columbus and other explorers couldn't resist the urge to trade in goods that they could not find at home, such as precious metals, spices and silks." (Jones, 100) Marco Polo has always been regarded as making a more important contribution to the Western world as he found the significant silk root to China to pioneer the explorations of the East. Apart from the contributions he made through his various explorations, Marco Polo also made a commendable input to the world of explorers through his book Il Milione, also known as Oriente Poliano. In other words, he is considered the most famous Western explorer who excelled the other voyagers with his determination, his writing, and influence over the following generations. Thus, this great explorer of the Europe travelled on the Silk Road to reach further than his predecessors, and explore the new land of China, and returned to his land to narrate the tales of his explorations that later became the greatest travelo gue to humanity. Bartolomeu Diaz (c. 1450 - 1500), the Portuguese navigator, has been remembered as the first explorer to round the Cape of Good Hope, which was considered an unattainable task. Diaz's name is written in golden letters in the history of European explorations as he was one of the great Portuguese sailors who helped find the south-eastern sea route between Western Europe and Asia. "The first European to see the stormy Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa was Bartholomew Diaz (or Dias), a courageous Portuguese sea captain and explorer. Diaz was one of the great Portuguese seamen who helped find the south-eastern water route between Western Europe and Asia." (Bartolomeu Dias (or Diaz): Portuguese Adventurer & Explorer) He was master to Vasco da Gama as well as he pioneered the later expeditions of the East through the African coast. Vasco da Gama (1460-1524), the Portuguese explorer, discovered an ocean route from Portugal to the East and his explorations were proved significant for the later European exploration and colonization of the East. His voyage from Portugal to India eventually helped the European Imperial and colonial interests to make him a famous explorer of Europe. Starting his sail from Lisbon, Portugal, in 1497, Vasco da Gama rounded African Cape of Good Hope to reach Calicut, India, in 1498. Though he was well-received in India in the beginning, da Gama left the land in 1498, when he was asked to pay a large tax and leave all of his trading goods. "When he left, da Gama took his goods with him, together with some Indian hostages. Upon his return, da Gama was treated as a hero and was rewarded by the king." (Vasco da Gama: Explorer) Christopher Columbus (1451 -1506) was another Italian explorer who made significant voyages across the Atlantic which resulted in the European discovery of the American continents. There is a distinct and unrivalled place for Columbus in the history of exploration and voyages. It is mainly the characteristics of his explorations and the great spirit of exploration to give a shining model to the following explorers that Columbus is mainly known. Examining the mostly southward voyages of the Portuguese into the Atlantic and Africa, Columbus realized that the sail westward would ultimately get to India and he took the different root. "The fundamental difference between

Inside a Computer Laboratory Lab Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Inside a Computer Laboratory - Lab Report Example Some offer specialized functions such as transaction processing, discrete mathematics, statistical data analysis while others simply offer an internet connection. Additionally, computers can use for gaming and entertainment and develop software. Purchasing a laboratory or business PC can be sometimes a frightening experience and sometimes very confusing. When making the purchase, it is probable that you will have a general idea of what you may want in the PC and how you would like to make the configurations work for you. Computer systems as you may be aware consist of both software and hardware. The hardware components are tangible components of the system: main memory, CPU, peripherals such as a monitor, video display etc. The software part is the set of instructions that define what the actions of the computer hardware (Alagar and Peryasammy 2011). Typically a computer requires both the system software In the process of purchasing it is important to that you ask yourself some quest ions regarding the computer specification. First, you need to list down how the computer is going to be used. Secondly, the software that will be used can follow and here you determine whether any specialized functions are going to be used. ... The ICT department decided to purchase Desktop PCs with the following specifications: Central processing unit AMD, Hard Drive Storage - 80 Gigabytes Random Access Memory - 4GB SDRAM Hard Disk Speed: (5400 RPM) Visual display unit -Graphics Card. Motherboard Monitor – Liquid crystal display. Operating System - Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit Desktop Case Optical Drive: DVD Reader and Writer Justifying the above selection. Central Processing Unit (CPU) - AMD A highly effective processor assists the computer to function optimally. The CPU is the center or brain of the computer and it executes and controls the highest percentage of the work done by the PC. CPUs are major of two types; Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) and Intel processors and the procurement manager in the ICT department made the choice from the options. CPUs are commonly defined by their processing speed and power- gigahertz (GHz) or in megahertz (MHz) - and this directly refers to the number of commands and operations they can execute per second (Shiva 2007). The higher the processing speed value, the faster and more efficient the PC will perform and it follows that it will be more expensive. The most recent dual-core CPUs have two processors embedded on a single chip and they operate more efficiently at lower speeds, for example, AMD’s Athlon X2 CPU and Intel’s Pentium family. Most recently more scalable and powerful processors that use a 64 Bit internal architecture, compared to the previous 32 Bit internal architecture models, have been deployed in the market. Computers built with a Dual-core CPU can perform comparatively faster than those using Mono-core processors, specifically when multitasking. It is therefore advisable to make the choice of computers

Managing People in a Global economy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Managing People in a Global economy - Essay Example Without the employees, an organization can never be able to work, therefore, it is essential for an organization and its management to consider the ethical issues while taking work from their employees. Dan Amos informs in the article, â€Å"Aflac’s Ethics in Action: Pay for Performance—Keep Stakeholders Informed† (2009) that taking care of employees is very essential for the business and also if the management will take care of the employees, as a response, the employees will also take care of the business. Therefore, it is quite clear that the consideration of ethics in an organization develops a mutual relationship between the management and the workers of an organization. The ethical behavior is affected by individual behavior. Some individuals in the organization enjoy an influential position such as the leaders of the organization, the managers and many others. Due to these influential individuals, the steps that are taken regarding ethical behavior are copied and performed by other organizational employees due to which, a culture of ethical behavior is created. The company Aflac is a pay-for-performance company due to which, they decide on the basis of the performance of the employees and pay them accordingly. According to Dan Amos, the organization gives enough consideration to civility and ethics (Amos, 2009). The leaders play an affective role in influencing the stakeholders of a company as they are the one who help the stakeholders to act according to the needs of the organization and who are able to understand the ethical policy of the organization. They are the people who make sure that the employees work according to the code of conduct or code of ethics. They are the individuals who can impact the ethical behavior of an organization to a great extent. The management of the company considers itself in strong bondage with its stakeholders on the basis of its ethical policies (Amos, 2009).

IOM and Nursing Transformation Essay Example for Free

IOM and Nursing Transformation Essay The Institute of Medicine (IOM) is an American, not-for-profit, non-governmental, unaffiliated, organization created for the sole purpose to serve as an advisor to the government and every sector in society in order to make better informed health care decisions. Established in 1970 the IOM organization has been answering the nation’s most pressing questions about health care over the past 4 decades. October 5, 2010, the IOM in collaboration with The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), released its recommendations on nursing in the United States. The report entitled, â€Å"The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health† explore the need for health care nursing professionals to evolve and prepare for the dynamic work environment in which they will take part, providing an action-oriented blue print for the health care professional as a guide to practice (Institute of Medicine, 2010). The IOM report continues to have an immense impact on nursing care today, transforming primary practice, education, and the leadership roles of health care provider. Within the IOM report, 4 key messages were provided as follows, 1. Nurses should practice to the full extent of their education and training. 2. Nurses should achieve higher levels of education and training through an improved education system that promotes seamless academic progression. 3. Nurses should be full partners with physicians and other health care professionals in redesigning healthcare in the U.S. 4. Effective workforce planning and policy making require better data collection and an improved information infrastructure (Institute of Medicine, 2010, p. 4). On the grand scale, nursing is by far the largest force in health care, by sheer numbers the impact nurses make in health care is astounding. Nurses are vital to the change and success of health care reform. The IOM cites the Affordable Care Act (ACA), a new law signed into effect March 23, 2010, by President Obama. The ACA allows the public better access to care, stronger Medicare, more affordable coverage, and stronger consumer rights and protections (THE WHITEHOUSE.GOV, n.d.). What The ACA means for nursing practice is, with insurance becoming more readily accessible to the public, it is inevitable that patient loads will increase causing a higher demand for educated and skilled nurses. New rules mandating patients and practitioners meeting face-to-face at the start of care and mandating regular check-ups as preventative care will also increase demand for nurses. To meet this growing need for health care professionals current and prospective providers look to provide motivation. Funding has been made available to nurses as an incentive to pursue advanced degrees and become lifelong learners by creating stricter regulation for continuing education requirements. Employers are becoming extremely cognizant of the growing demand and are willing to provide career assistance, and tuition reimbursement in order to remain competitive in the healthcare industry as well as increase employee retention. Education is vital to achieve the goal of the IOM desiring to increase the number of BSN educated nurses from 50% to 80% by the year 2020(The Forum of Nursing Workforce Centers, 2012). With education, comes responsibility. As part of the vision of the IOM, nurses should become full partners in collaboration and shall become leaders, whether it be formal or informal. Leadership should be integrated in all aspects of nursing, â€Å"from the bedside to the boardroom† (Institute of Medicine, 2010, p. 221). Leaders aren’t just policy makers and managers anymore, they are mentors, teachers and advocates, for their patients as well as each other. As leaders nurses should collaborate with multidisciplinary team members to provide safe and effective care, sharing their knowledge, skills and critical thinking expertise. Being an informal leader also involves mentoring peers and acting as a resource, fostering an environment conducive for growth and success as well as professional development. Addressing the call to action by changing practices to meet the recommendations is vital to the transformation of nursing. To meet this call to action, my first goal is to obtain my Bachelor of Science in nursing degree. Education is the foundation the gives us the ability to grow and thrive in our profession successfully. I challenge myself to continue with my education and going forward continue on the path as a lifelong learner. I vow to seek opportunities available to me to enhance my knowledge and skill base whether it is through my employer, my state required continuing education credits (CEU’s), or a nursing organization such as my membership with the American Association of Critical Care nurses (AACN). I will continue to collaborate with all team members, be an advocate and to be a mentor and a resource to my peers, and promote education and learning through them as well. And finally I will accept this call to action by challenging my other peers and cohorts to do the same. References Institute of Medicine. (2010). The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health. Retrieved from http://books.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=12956page=R1 THE WHITEHOUSE.GOV. (n.d.). http://www.whitehouse.gov/healthreform/healthcare-overview#healthcare-menu The Forum of Nursing Workforce Centers. (2012). http://nursingworkforcecenters.org/Resources/files/StateImpactOfIOMReportOnNursing.pdf

Conceptual Framework in Accounting Board

Conceptual Framework in Accounting Board Introduction A conceptual framework has its basis in a set of concepts. These concepts are linked to a system of methods, behaviors, functions, relationships and objects. The conceptual framework for financial reporting â€Å"†¦..seeks to identify the nature, subject, purpose and broad content of general-purpose financial reporting and the qualitative characteristics that financial information should possess†. (Deegan, 2005, p.1184). It is of fundamental importance to the future development of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). Conceptual framework of an Accounting Board: Defines the objective of financial statements Identifies the qualitative characteristics that make information in financial statements useful Defines the basic elements of financial statements Specify how the elements are recognised and measured in financial statements. The focus of this essay is on conceptual frameworks propounded by Accounting Standards Board (ASB), the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) and the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and also the improvements proposed in the IASB and FASB Joint Discussion Paper. ASB is a subsidiary company of the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) responsible for formulating Financial Reporting Standards. FASB is an Accounting Board that establishes rules governing accounting practices throughout the US. The mission of the FASB is to establish and improve standards of financial accounting and reporting for the guidance and education of the public, including issuers, auditors, and users of financial information. IASB is the youngest Accounting Board of the three. It was founded on April 1, 2001 as the successor of International Accounting Standards Committee (IASC) based in London, UK. IASB is responsible for setting International Accounting Standards. IASB has adopted many of the regulations of its predecessor. It uses IASCs 1989 ‘Framework for the Preparation and Presentation of Financial Statements’. Thus, IASB’s conceptual framework of accounting standards are outdated as the accounting standards prescribed by IASB reflect the accounting thought in1989. In contrast, ASB pronouncements are more contemporary. IASB and FASB Joint Discussion Paper In October 2004, US FASB and the IASB accepted that their existing frameworks move in different directions and were not complete and up to date. They decided to develop a single common conceptual framework that converges and improves the existing individual conceptual frameworks of the boards. They published a consultative document in 2006 setting out their preliminary views on an enhanced conceptual framework. Differences between Conceptual Frameworks The conceptual frameworks put forward by the three Boards can be compared on the basis of: Purpose of the framework Objectives of financial statements Qualitative characteristics Elements of financial statements Recognition and measurement criteria These are examined in detail below: Purpose of the Framework The three conceptual frameworks have similar purpose. The purpose of each framework is described below: ASB: The framework seeks to describe the fundamental approach propounded by ASB to strengthen the financial statements of profit-oriented entities. It provides a reference point to help ASB in developing new accounting standards and reviewing existing ones. IASB: Like ASB, IASB’s framework also serves as a guide to the Board in developing accounting standards. It also acts as a guide to resolving accounting issues that are not addressed directly in an IAS or IFRS or Interpretation. With a revision to IAS 8 in 2003, the importance of conceptual framework has increased further. The IASB framework applies to all business entities both in the private or public sector. FASB: The purpose of the FASB framework is also to assist standard setters in developing and revising accounting standards. The framework does not override accounting standards, and therefore in this respect it has a lower status than specific accounting standards. The FASB framework applies to both business and not-for-profit entities in the private sector. Despite the similar purpose of all frameworks, the emphasis of the framework differs from board to board. For instance, the IASB framework has a broader purpose than the FASB framework. The IASB framework not only assists IASB in developing or revising accounting standards but also assists preparers, auditors, and users of financial statements. There is also a difference in the status of the frameworks. For instance, the IASB framework is considered at a higher level in its GAAP hierarchy than the FASB framework in the U.S. GAAP hierarchy. The management of entities preparing financial statements under IFRS is expressly required to follow the IASB framework. IASB and FASB Joint Discussion Paper: The Discussion Paper states the purpose of conceptual framework to establish a common framework of the concepts that underlie financial reporting. The common framework is expected to suit the requirements of both FASB and IASB. However, this may lead to a problem. If the arguments contained in the discussion paper are adopted as the common framework, this will distance preparers and auditors as the framework will become theoretical and long and act only as a reference manual for standard setters. Objectives of Financial Statements Conceptual frameworks put forward by Accounting Boards put forward similar objectives of financial statement. ASB: According to ASB â€Å"†¦the objective of financial statements is to provide information about the financial position, performance and the financial adaptability of an enterprise that is useful to a wide range of users† (1999:1) FASB: The FASB framework specify objectives for business entities and non-business entities. According to FASB in SFAC 1 â€Å"†¦financial reporting is not an end in itself but is intended to provide information that is useful in making business and economic decisions†. (1978:9) IASB: According to the IASB’s Framework for the Preparation and Presentation of Financial Statements â€Å"†¦the objective of financial statements is to provide information about the financial position, performance and changes in financial position of an enterprise that is useful to a wide range of users in making economic decisions.† (2001:12)Unlike FASB framework, the IASB framework has a more limited scope. It discusses objectives in the context of business entities only. IASB and FASB Joint Discussion Paper: The discussion paper states that the objectives of financial reporting are to provide information: Useful to present and potential investors and creditors and others in making investment, credit, and similar resource allocation decisions. Useful in assessing cash flow prospects About an entity’s resources, claims to those resources, and changes in resources and claims Despite the similarity of objectives propounded by the various frameworks, the differences may arise due to the focus on users. The focus depends on the body producing the statements and establishing parameters. Qualitative characteristics The conceptual frameworks identify primarily four principal qualitative characteristics in common: Understandability Relevance, Reliability and Comparability. However there are differences in terms of what constitute ‘relevant’ and ‘reliable’ information and which characteristic is more important than others. ASB: The ASB narrow down the scope of their conceptual framework by establishing parameters which clearly defines the inclusions and exclusions. It defines the qualitative characteristics of the information which merits inclusion, for example, relevance, reliability, and comparability. UK ASB treats information to be reliable if it is free from material errors. Though freedom from material error is included as a sub-quality of reliability, the framework excludes verifiability as an essential element for reliability of information. The conceptual framework of ASB favours relevance over reliability if there is a conflict between relevance and reliability concept. IASB: According to IASB, information is relevant when it influences the economic decisions of users and is reliable if it is free from material error and bias and can be depended upon by users to represent events and transactions faithfully. IASB framework treats all four qualitative characteristics as primary qualitative characteristics. It treats materiality of information and its timeliness as a component of relevance. IASB does not give importance to one characteristic over the other. There is sometimes a tradeoff between relevance and reliability and judgement is required to provide the appropriate balance. IASB expects management to exercise prudence or conservatism to provide this balance. FASB: Unlike IASB, FASB framework set out the qualitative characteristics in a hierarchy, treating understandability as a user-specific quality separate from the others, relevance and reliability as the primary qualities, and comparability as a secondary quality. IASB and FASB Joint Discussion Paper: The discussion paper proposes replacing the qualitative characteristic of ‘reliability’ in the current frameworks with ‘faithful representation’. The paper also highlights areas where the qualitative characteristics of both IASB and FASB conceptual framework can be improved. For example, both frameworks emphasise neutrality, prudence or conservatism and expect that the exercise of prudence or conservatism does not allow the deliberate understatement of net assets and profits. However, the hard fact is that a concept of prudence or conservatism is inconsistent with the concept of neutrality. Elements of Financial Statements There are differences, though not major, between frameworks in relation to elements of financial statements ASB: ASB classifies transactions and other events into 5 elements: assets, liabilities, ownership interests, gains and losses. Assets, liabilities and ownership interest are included in the Balance Sheet and gains and losses in the Profit Loss Account. IASB: Like ASB, IASB framework also has 5 elements of financial statements: Assets, Liabilities, Equity, Liabilities, Income and Expenses. The first three elements form a part of the Balance Sheet and the last two a part of the Income Statement or Profit Loss Account. The assets, defined as a resource controlled by the enterprise as a result of past events and from which future economic benefits are expected to flow to the enterprise, has a central role. All other element definitions are based on the definition of assets. FASB: FASB framework has seven elements in all. Elements, such as assets, liabilities, and equity are for describing the financial position. Unlike two elements for IASB, the FASB framework includes five elements relating to financial performance: revenue, gains, expenses, losses, and comprehensive income. Though assets definition is still primary, there are differences in terms of how assets are defined by IASB and FASB. The FASB framework includes â€Å"probable† as part of the definition of assets and liabilities, whereas the IASB framework includes the term in its recognition criteria, and the meaning of the word is not the same. In addition to this, as per IASB, the asset is the resource from which future economic benefits are expected to flow, whereas as per FASB, the asset is the future economic benefits themselves. IASB and FASB Joint Discussion Paper: The discussion paper finds gaps in the existing frameworks in respect of the following aspects of elements of financial statements and requires the converged conceptual framework to focus on these: The distinction between liabilities and equity Definition of a liability The effect of conditions, contingencies, or uncertainties Accounting for contractual rights and obligations Recognition criteria for financial reporting The objective of financial statements is achieved by depicting in the primary financial statements the effects that transactions and other events have on the elements. This process is known as recognition. Frameworks differ with regard to recognition of effects of transactions. ASB: According to ASB framework, if a transaction leads to creation of a new asset or liability or to adds to an existing asset or liability, the effect will be recognised in the balance sheet. This recognition will happen only if there is sufficient evidence that the asset or liability exists and can be measured reliably enough in monetary terms. Except when there has been no change in the total net assets or the whole of the change is the result of capital contributions or distributions, a gain or loss will be recognised at the same time. ASB does not take into account probable effects. IASB: Unlike ASB, IASB framework includes ‘probable’ test for recognizing effects of transactions. For example, the IASB framework requires that an asset is recognised in the balance sheet when it is probable that the future economic benefits will flow to the enterprise and the asset has a cost or value that can be measured reliably. Similarly, a liability is recognised in the balance sheet when it is probable that an outflow of resources embodying economic benefits will result from the settlement of a present obligation and the amount at which the settlement will take place can be measured reliably. FASB: FASB framework also specifies a criteria to be satisfied before items are recognized in the financial statements. The framework also requires that only items that are relevant should be recognised. Like ASB, FASB framework also does not include probability as a recognition criterion. Measurement of the Elements of Financial Statements Measurement of elements of financial statements means assigning a monetary value to it. Frameworks differ on this account. ASB: ASB uses ‘value to the business’ (VTB), or ‘deprival value’ of the asset for measurement of asset. Similarly, liabilities are measured on the basis of the ‘relief value’. Moreover, ASB adopts mixed measurement system as against outdated frameworks that adopt a single consistent system. Mixed measurement system is flexible and allows the historical cost and current value to be changed as accounting thought develops and markets evolve. This implies that the use of current value will become more prevalent as markets develop and evolve. This approach is used by the majority of large UK listed companies and involves measuring some balance sheet categories at historical cost and some at current value. IASB: The IASB Framework acknowledges different measurement bases including: historical cost, current cost, net realisable value, present value. However, it does not recommend a preferred technique for measurement of assets and liabilities. The most common basis of measurement adopted by the framework is historical cost. Thus, there is no formal recognition of a ‘mixed measurement’ system in the framework. This is its biggest drawback and makes it an outdated framework as it belongs to a different period. This approach was abandoned by the ASB in favour of a ‘mixed measurement’ system. Even though many existing IFRSs are based on the concept of ‘fair value’, it is not referred to in the Framework. Again, such an omission suggests that the international framework measurement provisions are limited and out-of-date. FASB: Like IASB, measurement is one of the most underdeveloped areas of FASB framework. FASB frameworks also provides a list of measurement attributes similar to ones prescribed by IASB that are used in practice. However, like IASB, FASB framework does not recommend measurement criteria for any element. In other words, it too lacks fully developed measurement concepts. IASB and FASB Joint Discussion Paper: The discussion paper clearly highlights a need to consider whether the conceptual framework should include not just measurement concepts, but also guidance on the techniques of measurement. Conclusion The conceptual framework(s) contained in the ASB, the FASB, and the IASB have formed the basis of accounting standards for some time. The current IASB and FASB frameworks are increasingly out-of-date, as they ignore many of the developments that have been undertaken by national standards. There are certain limitations that need to addressed in a way that issues that cross-cut across standards are taken care of. For instance, a new framework is required which is not based on a single value-based model but a ‘mixed measurement system’. References Accounting Standards Board. (1999), An Introduction to the Statement of Principles for Financial Reporting, ASB Publications, London. Financial Accounting Standards Board, (2001- 2004) ‘Business Combinations: Purchase Method Procedures and (including Combinations between Mutual Enterprises) Certain Issues Related to the Accounting for and Reporting of Noncontrolling (Minority) Interests Solomons, D. (1988), Guidelines for financial reporting London, UK: ICAEW. Hines, R. (1991). The FASBs conceptual framework, financial accounting and the maintenance of the social world. Accounting, Organisations and Society, 16, 313-331. Research Memorandum (April 2004), Standard-setting and the myth of neutrality : Boundaries, discourse and the exercise of power, accessed from http://www.hull.ac.uk/hubs/05/research/memoranda/Memorandum%2047.pdf, accessed on 18 January 2007.

Effect of the Outdoors on Mental Health

Effect of the Outdoors on Mental Health Topic: Mental Health Big Ideas Overview Mental health disorders are known to affect most people at some point in their lives (Government Office of Science London 2008, as cited in Barton 2010). Indeed, rates of depression and other psychological illnesses (e.g. anxiety, etc.) are predicted to increase in the future (Maller et al. 2005, as cited in DFH 2008). Over the past several decades, research has shown that contact with nature aids mental health and restoration. Mental health improvements resulting from exposure to natural environments include increased positive emotions and mood, decreased negative emotions and stress, and increased mental balance, energy, and revitalization. Systematic literature reviews conducted in the past five years continue to show a consistent beneficial relationship between exposure to green, natural environments and mental health. Environmental contexts examined in these studies varied from urban to rural, and compared natural and synthetic environments. Exposure to natural environments might include exercising in natural environments, being within a natural place, or even looking at a view of trees from a window. For example, in a hospital, views of nature are associated with a faster recovery, decreased painkiller use, shorter hospital stays and fewer postoperative complications (Dijkstra 2006). Outdoor space and views at a workplace is associated with decreased stress (Singhal, Paney and Pandy 2013). Regular interaction with nature is connected to lengthened lifespan and decreased risk of mental health illnesses in seniors living in megacities (Takano 2002, as cited in Barton 2010). There is also mixed evidence that exercising outdoors in natural environments could have mental and physical benefits above and beyond exercising indoors. Green exercise for as little as 5 minutes has been shown to improve self-esteem and mood (Barton 2010). There is some evidence that people enjoy exercising outdoors more than indoors, and have a greater intention to repeat the activity, and improvement in social connections (Coon et al 2011). If exercising outdoors is more likely to be maintained in the long term, then motivating people to be active outdoors (e.g. gardening, walking, and biking) could be an important means of staying active. If exposure to outdoor green spaces has immediate positive mental health outcomes, then inaccessibility to such spaces could promote health inequalities. Given the associations between mental health and proximity to green spaces, there is an inherent opportunity for planning and designing both public and private open space. What the Research Says Things for Certain (or semi-Certain) Exposure to green outdoor spaces improves mental health. Examples: Barton and Pretty, 2010: The article concluded that exposure to green has positive health impacts. Coon et. Al, 2011, 1762: â€Å"Experimental research has demonstrated that exposure to views of nature can improve people’s health and wellbeing by providing restoration from stress and mental fatigue,12† Design for Health, 2007, 1: â€Å"A strong research base has continued to demonstrate how direct contact with nature (water, trees, bushes, flowers, and other vegetation, whether cultivated or wild) leads to increased mental health and psychological development.† Lee, A.C.K., R. Maheswaran, 2010, 212: â€Å"Physical and psychological benefits have been linked to green spaces through their purported effects on physical activity.7 †¦It also improves mental functioning, mental health and wellbeing16– 22 and may have long-lasting psychological benefits.23 Benefits on longevity have also been reported.24† Even just a view of nature is beneficial to mental health. Examples: Design for Health, 2007: For example, in a hospital context views of nature are associated with a faster recovery, decreased painkiller use, shorter hospital stays and fewer post-operative complications. Since older persons use hospitals more, views of nature are especially relevant to this population. Dijkstra, 2006: Sunlight and views of nature out the window had positive effects on patients’ mental and physical health. Having a sunny window with a view of nature may have a positive impact on aging patients staying at healthcare facilities. It should be noted that some varied effects happened for patients with dementia or depression. Singhal, Paney and Pandy, 2013: Green space surrounding a work environment reduces stress and benefits mental health. This has been demonstrated consistently in the literature, and anecdotally in this article. Things up in the Air General significance for public health. Example: Bowler, 2012: Overall, the studies are suggestive that natural environments may have direct and positive impacts on well-being, but support the need for investment in further research on this question to understand the general significance for public health. If greater biodiversity in nature increases mental health benefits. Example: Dean, van Dooren and Weinstein, 2011, 878-879: â€Å"Based upon this review, we identified only one original research paper that directly investigated the link between biodiversity per se and mental health allowing the authors to specifically argue that their results ‘indicate that successful management of urban green spaces should emphasize biological complexity to enhance human well-being in addition to biodiversity conservation ([33, p. 390]).† How different user groups, subcultures and types of outdoor environments differ in impact. Example: Design for Health, 2007: â€Å"†¦ more limited knowledge on aspects of nature most relevant, maintenance importance, and different user groups/subcultures. Varied definitions and types of outdoor space make it difficult to compare studies.† Whether there is a causal relationship between green space and mental health. Example: Lee, 2010, 212: â€Å"Most studies reported findings that generally supported the view that green space have a beneficial health effect. Establishing a causal relationship is difficult, as the relationship is complex. Simplistic urban interventions may therefore fail to address the underlying determinants of urban health that are not remediable by landscape redesign.† If exercising outdoors (or with a view of nature) has mental and physical benefits above and beyond exercising indoors. Examples: Coon et al., 2011: found exercising outdoors did have greater mental and physical benefits above and beyond exercising indoors, whereas Lee 2010 found mixed results at best. Implications Standards Mental health benefits can come from very little exposure to natural spaces. Just a glimpse of green will do. Example: Design for Health, 2007, 5: â€Å"Working thresholds for HIA: Provide views of green spaces, with canopy trees, from all buildings. These can be trees at the street level or, for upper-level situations, views to parklands, etc. Tree densities with greater than 22 trees per acre have a positive effect in terms of presence and sense of safety in a population of low-income, public housing residents (Kuo et al., 1998, 45). This is not a very high density of trees.† As little as 5-minutes of activity outside is enough for mental health improvements. Example: Barton and Pretty, 2010: A quantifiable exposure to green was set as a threshold. As a result, greatest changes come from 5 min of activity, and thus suggest these psychological measures are immediately increased by green exercise. Insights Exercising outdoors may be easier to stick to than exercising indoors. Example: Coon et. Al, 2011, 1762: It might be argued that physical activity in health club gyms is a viable alternative to outdoor exercise, but the failure to persevere with indoor exercise initiatives on a long-term basis is well recognized. For example, 40-50% of individuals terminate gym membership within a year of joining.19 Anecdotal evidence suggests that long-term adherence to exercise initiatives conducted in outdoor natural environments or urban green spaces may be superior to that of indoor exercise interventions.20 Urban Chinese migrants have worse mental health than non-migrants. Example: Lin et al., 2011: Rural migrants in China’s cities experience more discrimination and this discrimination is connected to worse mental health. Sources Jo Barton and Jules Pretty, What is the Best Dose of Nature and Green Exercise for Improving  Mental Health? A Multi-Study Analysis, Environmental Science and Technology, 2010 May  15;44(10):3947-55. doi: 10.1021/es903183r. Bowler, Diana E., et al. A systematic review of evidence for the added benefits to health of  exposure to natural environments. BMC Public Health 10.1 (2010): 456. Coon, J. Thompson, K. Boddy, K. Stein, R. Whear, J. Barton, and M.H. Depledge. 2011. â€Å"Does  Participating in Physical Activity in Outdoor Natural Environments Have a Greater Effect on  Physical and Mental Wellbeing than Physical Activity Indoors? A Systematic Review.†Ã‚  Environmental Science and Technology 45:1761-1772. Accessed February 20, 2014. doi: 10.1021/es102947t. Dean, Julie, Kate van Dooren, Philip Weinstein. 2011. â€Å"Does biodiversity improve mental health  in urban settings?† Medical Hypotheses 76: 877-880. Accessed February 20, 2014. doi:  10.1016/j.mehy.2011.02.040. Design for Health. 2007. Key Questions: Mental Health. Version 2.0. www.designforhealth.net Dijkstra, Karin, Marcel Pieterse, and Ad Pruyn. 2006. â€Å"Physical environmental stimuli that turn  healthcare facilities into healing environments through psychologically mediated effects:  systematic review.† Journal of Advanced Nursing 56 (2): 166-181. Accessed February 20,  2014. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2648.2006.03990.x Lee, A.C.K., R. Maheswaran. 2010. â€Å"The Health Benefits of Urban Green Space: A Review of the  Evidence.† Journal of Public Health 33(2): 212-222. Accessed February 21, 2014. doi:10.1093/pubmed/fdq068. Lin, Danhua, Xiaoming Li, Bo Wang, Yan Hong, Xiaoyi Fang, Xiong Qin, and Bonita Stanton. 2011.  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Discrimination, Perceived Social Inequity, and Mental Health Among Rural-to-Urban  Migrants in China.† Community Mental Health Journal 47:171-180. Accessed February 21,  2014. doi:10.1007/s10597-009-9278-4. Singhal, Vijai, Deep Pandey and Pushp Deep Pandey. 2013. â€Å"Workplace Green Space for Health  and Happiness.† Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board, Jaipur India.

Time is a major theme in Ian McEwans The Child In Time. Essay

Time is a major theme in Ian McEwan's The Child In Time. "Time is always susceptible to human interpretation. And though time is partly a human fabrication, it is also that from which no parent or child is immune." Time is a major theme in Ian McEwan's 'The Child In Time'. He treats the subject irreverently, 'debunking chronology by the nonlinearity of his narrative.' - Michael Byrne. McEwan uses the setting of Stephen's dull committee as the backdrop for his daydreaming. Even Stephen's thoughts are not choronological, and his daydreams constantly flit between different times, although this could be to emphasise the overall flexibility of time. At first sight, it seems that the loss of Kate will be the central event, but McEwan strays through a wide spectrum of events, including the central one, Stephen's encounter at 'The Bell', to try and explain his feelings. The scene at The Bell also refers to a vivid dream McEwan had, where he walked towards a pub knowing he would find the meaning of his life, knowing he would be terrified, but also needing to go on. This is the most important event in the book, and the most difficult to interpret in terms of the behaviour of time. The book does not even begin with the loss of Kate, as you would expect, but Stephen on a normal morning. He relates everything he sees to time, the passing of which is even more important to him than anything else. After all, 'the heartless accumulation of days, after the loss of Kate, has driven Stephen to deep depression, and endless thought. In his depression, he lives for Kate, the only purpose of his existence. This is how he knows he is alive, how he counts the days. 'Kate's growing up had become the essence of time itsel... ... views on time and he contrasts them to show how differently each character interprets that time. It holds utmost control, even though it is not independent. Nobody can ever escape it. Stephen, Julie and Kate couldn't escape time, and Stephen 'was to make efforts to re - enter this moment, to burrow his way back through the folds between events, crawl beneath the covers, and reverse his decision' but, as Thelma said, 'Time - not necessarily as it is, for who knows that, but as thought has constituted it - monomaniacally forbids second chances.' Acknowledgements Time and the Child - Michael Byrne - The Antigonish Review www.antigonishreview.com/bi-123/123-mbyrne.html He Turned Around and She Was Gone - Rebecca Goldstein - The New York Times Back to the Future - Author Unavailable - Publisher Unavailable Emma Warburton - The Guardian newspaper

Feminist Objections to Kantian, Utilitariansism, and Egoism :: Feminism Philosophy School Thought Essays

Feminist Objections to Kantian, Utilitarianism, and Egoism   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Many feminists have problems or objections to Kantian morals, utilitarian ideas, and egoism. The feminist morals are based on care and equality. Many of these ethics have a lot of problems when relating to a feminist.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Feminists have a lot of objections to Kantian morals. For example, there is too much emphasis on duty. For example, a feminist might argue that because feminists emphasize care so much, duty can sometimes overshadow care. Also, science is extremely important in feminism. Kant believes that science is not important where it is a defense in many cases of feminism.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Feminism also has many objections to utilitarianism. Sometimes it is more difficult to see the greater good in things. This also could interrupt the care for someone. For example, the Terri Schiavo case. The husband might feel it is his â€Å"duty† to let her die because he thinks she has suffered or didn’t want to be alive too long. It seems that the greater good would be to let her live and then her family would be happy, plus there are a lot of other people in the country that seem to have wanted her to live. This also interfered with the care of Mrs. Schiavo. Also in utilitarianism it says that contracts can be broken to bring about the greater good. If Terri Schiavo had made a living contract saying that she wanted to stay alive under any circumstances and he broke that contract. Then it would completely reject the feminists approach having to do with care. Also sacrificing others can be brutalizing and degrading. I am sure that Mr. Schiavo the husband is being degraded by family members and brutalized over his decision.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Feminists also have some objections to egoism. Egoism makes giving advice in certain situations not valid or even impossible. Let us say that there is an egoist deciding whether or not to take his/her sick friend to the doctor. He/She would probably decide not to because he/she doesn’t want to get sick. The better option for the friend would be to go to the doctor so he/she can get medicine or will not be sick anymore.

Gov’t Paper

People each have different personalities that others like and dislike about them. These individuals can be funny or serious; nice or a jerk; a talker or a listener. All this makes up a person and who they are. A person's personality is similar to a news program; sometimes they can be biased and unreliable; other times they are spot-on and trustworthy. Hardball and O'Reilly are both news programs that display their news differently. While both commentators give their opinions on the subjects, Chris Matthews pushes his opinion more than O'Reilly. During times where Matthews has guest speakers, he always tends to argue with the one that does not agree with his opinions; he pushes his ideas into his opponents' head, not letting them express their thoughts. Even though he refuses to let one's opinions out, Matthews allows the other, who agrees with him, to talk. In other words, he is hard-headed and believes his opinion is right. On one occasion, Jonathan Alters, gave his opinion about how the Republicans are attempting to woo the Latinos' votes, Matthews shuts him up by talking over him, basically yelling. Alters looks as if he was about to burst into tears. On the other hand, O'Reilly tends to ask for his guest speakers' view first, then adding his own. He actually allows them to finish their views, seeing their points out, instead of cutting them off. O'Reilly and Chris Matthews both have different perspectives in the topics that were discussed. O'Reilly leans towards the liberal side, while Matthews is a conservative. For example, O'Reilly notices how everything is based on race, and believes no one should be judged by that. However, it seems that Matthews only wants the Republicans to focus their targets on the white people and not Latinos. In one specific topic that both commentators discussed, the Zimmerman trial, it seems each were on one or the other sides. Chris Matthews argues that Zimmerman acted on self-defense, while O'Reilly gave both sides, but showed sympathy towards Trayvon Martin's family. O'Reilly has more facts, making it seem like his show was a news' show, while Hardball with Chris Matthews is all about argumentative opinions. O'Reilly adds statistics to show subjects and backs each topic with facts. For example, there was a segment about the Arizona forest fire that killed nineteen firefighters. O'Reilly gave facts like how the firefighter had contacted the headquarters, saying that they are using their heat shelters, which was the last resort. Then O'Reilly explains what these heat shelters are, a foil-like blanket that can protect the firefighters from the heat for a certain amount of time. Unlike O'Reilly, Matthews did not give facts, only his own opinions. During the Zimmerman trial segment, he only showed Mark Osterman taking the stand to defend his best friend. He then argues with the guest defense attorney, when she was explaining the harm that was inflicted on Zimmerman. It seems that O'Reilly is more genuine and actually cares about the public's interest. At the end of his show, he had a tip of the day, giving feedback to the audience who sends him e-mails. Hardball had a serious attitude, while O'Reilly had a calm attitude. During Hardball's segments, there was a lot of tension with the arguments. Also, his introduction had the serious music like it was life or death. In O'Reilly's introduction, it had funny captions, and in his segments, he had a calm manner. While Chris Matthews attempted to add humor and jokes into his show, it was not understood. He used a blue cow reference, but some people do not know the meaning of it, so it proved to be ineffective to draw the audience in. However, in O'Reilly's segments, the humor and jokes had a positive impact. After a serious discussion about the Zimmerman trial, to lighten the tension, Megyn Kelly and O'Reilly joked around. Megyn Kelly had given him a chocolate bar as her way of buying dinner. Then she explains that she is going on maternity leave until the fall, but O'Reilly jokingly said she won't be back until next year. Both persons continue to banter back and forth, while the camera crew laughed in the background. This was of course not planned, making it actually humorous. There has been significant issues about race in political topics. In Fremont, Nebraska, the townspeople are frustrated with the undocumented immigrants obtaining jobs in the town. Since Fremont is a meat packaging town, these townspeople need the jobs that the immigrants are taking. These illegal immigrants are sending money back to their home country to their families, so Fremont does not profit from this. In an attempt to stop this, he townspeople want to banned the undocumented individuals from renting apartments and houses without proper documentations. According to U. S. District Judge Laurie Smith Camp, it is a discrimination to deny housing permits to those who were not in the country legally and it interferes with federal laws. However, the town counters back with a policy that requires businesses to use the federal E-ve rify software to check on the employees. Another topic discussed was how Republicans were trying to win the Latin American voters. The Republicans think that if they talk about the immigration reforms they will gain more voters. However, it was stated that no matter what, Latinos will most likely vote for Democrats even if immigration reforms were discussed by the Republicans. The most important topic discussed was the Zimmerman trial. When this first happened, people across the country defended Trayvon Martin, thinking that he was targeted for being a colored person and looking suspicious by wearing a black hoodie at night. Zimmerman was on the night watch around his neighborhood when these two ran into each other. A fight broke out, leading to Zimmerman pulling and shooting the gun at Martin. Zimmerman pled that he was acting in self-defense. All over the country, people even news station wanted Zimmerman to plead guilty to avoid race riots to occur. Nowadays, news delivery is on the decline of being trustworthy. Reporters, journalists, and those who deliver the news to the public now will spin the news to fit what the audience wants or to fit their own opinion. These people can twist a person's opinion just by intensifying the language and speech. The audience will then notice, â€Å"Hey, they are using powerful words; this makes them sound smart so therefore correct. If the newscasters exude confidence and seem to â€Å"know what they are talking about†, they will have more followers. The public tends not to look for the credibility of the sources or even the sources themselves to see if they are reliable. Instead, the public will definitely look for superficial materials like the appearance of the person delivering the news, how the program looks, or if other p eople like it. If someone were to wear casual clothes, their credibility increases; also if the newscaster was attractive, people tend to listen to them. For example, people tune in to Anderson Cooper on CNN and practically worship the ground he walks, just because of his appearance. If the delivery of the news looks not well done, not all people will want to read or view it. People want professional, not something that someone can program in five minutes. An individual will also tend to get advice from their peers as to what to read or watch. For example, if a person trashed a news station to his or her friend, the friend will not want to get information from that news station. With that being said, nowadays, people judge the book by its cover and not by the information provided. Most news station are affiliated with a political party. For example Fox News, when taking politics will favor the Republican view while MNSBC will favor the Democratic view. With that being said, each will attract a different group of people who agree with that the news station has to say. This makes the shows heavily biased. What I've learned through these research sources, is that there are still racial conflicts throughout the United States. Watching the two news program, Hardball and O'Reilly, each segment had something to do with race and ethnics. Latinos are especially targeted, whether it is to win their votes or to get them out of â€Å"American† jobs. Even though, today there are still some segregation in the communities, people will band together to defend someone of different skin color. What I do not get is that if people will defend Trayvon Martin and not know what actually happened, why can't they support the Latin Americans coming into America in search of an opportunity? I think people are just on the bandwagon. They think that supporting Trayvon Martin will make them look like the good guys, but in reality it just makes them look ignorant and stupid. I also learned that each news program is affiliated with a political party, making them biased and untrustworthy because they only address one side of the story. I know that they are just doing that to gain viewers, but if they just address both sides, there will be more educated people and not opinionated. I think the audience should also be aware of what is happening in our country right now. After watching these two shows, I am more aware of these topics. I never paid attention to the political topics and did not know how the Republicans were trying to woo the Latin American voters. My opinions on the two shows differ from each other. I absolutely could not stand watching Hardball. I think Chris Matthews is a hard-headed jerk. He does not think the other opinions matter but his. He yells at his guests when he is talking to them. I could not wait for it to end, and I nearly celebrated when it was over. On the other hand, I was more interested in O'Reilly just by how he represented the topics. He did it in a formally fashioned way; it felt like a conversation with some debates. I actually paid closer attention because of the humor and learned a few things along in the show. I felt that O'Reilly actually cared about the subjects because he gives both sides to the story. Both Hardball and O'Reilly display their information differently. These news shows are like a person's personality; they express emotions and thoughts. Each individual has a different personality that makes them who they are. A personality can make someone like or dislike an individual.