Choices – creative writing

Life is full of choices. Kelly, my best friend, made many choices; life altering choices. It sculpted the rest of her entire life. I, Karmen, was standing by her. Whatever happened to her. She was the only girl I had ever known who had the ability to hurt me, make me cry, make me loathe her, but still deep down, let me love her. Of course in this day and age some mocked our friendship; perceived it as something more. However, only we knew what we meant to each other. She was my life; she was like a sister to me. Our friendship undeniably was not the easiest, but whose is? Despite all of this, I loved Kelly Mainers more than anything in my life. Let me start from the beginning. Seven years to the day, I met Kelly. It was a cloudless day, at the beginning of September, it was apparent by the looks on everyone's faces that none of us wanted to be there. The weather was showing no signs of cooling, so it felt like we were attending school in the middle of summer. I noticed this girl waving her parents good bye at the gates of Whitmore Girls. She had a thought provoking face. Long brown hair outlined her heart shaped face, and her vivid bright green eyes were the focus. She caught me staring and smiled, I did the same. We were eleven and young, fresh out of junior school, we just thought of each other as people to talk to. After a while our friendship deepened. We had instantly clicked. Neither of us had brothers or sisters, so we filled that void in each other's lives. We were mocked at school for constantly being together. No one would ever catch us without the other, and when they did, they knew something serious must be happening. The years passed, as we grew older, our friendship grew stronger. However, at around 15, gradually our personalities began to differ. Kelly was into boys, make-up and clothes, whereas I was into music, food and television. We still conversed, but the spark that we had encountered at the beginning of our friendship just was not there anymore. We did not feel the need to be around each other constantly. It was sad, and we both had noticed it, but we did not let it jeopardise the little communication we had left with each other. We both acquired more friends outside our own friendship, which in a way helped me, but not Kelly. Kelly's new friends influenced her in a way that I can only describe as detrimental. I was inclined to call them the â€Å"Shriek† crew, due to their incessant screeching whenever they spotted a member of the opposite sex. They turned Kelly into mini clones of themselves, which I am sure you can guess, was not a good thing. After much deliberation, one Saturday at the beginning of the summer holidays, 15 and free, I gave in and agreed to go out with Kelly. I usually tried to avoid doing this in case one of the â€Å"shriek† crew decided to tag along. After a long time, it was just the two of us. Looking back, it was the last time that Kelly and I had spent some real quality time together. We spent that whole afternoon just talking. We caught up on everything, I felt like I was getting to know her all over again. She had changed a lot, but deep down I knew she was still Kelly. The Kelly I ‘chose' to be my best friend all those years ago. I had had one of the best days of my life, so obviously something had to come and spoil it. Just our luck, it was Karl, Karl Daniels. It was obvious to anyone who laid their eyes on him that he was good looking. Consequently, this boy was classed as Whitmore Boys finest specimen. I can still recall the effect that Karl had on Kelly and me when we first saw him. We were walking and I noticed him first. I stopped dead in my tracks; he literally took my breath away, all clichis aside. He had an utterly captivating face. After this day, Karl became the focus of all our attention. He was the type of boy that girls lusted after and a select few actually got. Some spent their lives throwing themselves at him. I had personally fawned over Karl for quite some time. However, soon his effect on me died down. Kelly, on the other hand, had a completely different take on this. As she grew older, her lust for him grew stronger. It was seven o'clock, and Kelly and I were still out and about on our â€Å"Bonding Session† when Karl called out to us, â€Å"So, you two wana come my way? † I scowled quietly. Kelly, right on cue, giggled and tossed her hair. She had switched into flirting mode. â€Å"Hey Karl, you all right? † Kelly simpered, as a wide slow grin spread over her perfect features. â€Å"Uh-huh, so what you saying? You two guna come? It's this massive party down at my yard, love it if you could be there,† Karl replied. Blatantly he was only asking me to come along out of politeness. This was a regular occurrence: the guys chat Kelly up whilst I sit on the by lines watching, and assume the nickname ‘moody bitch'. Nothing new there. Kelly looked pleadingly at me, and I gave her one of my ‘don't even think of asking me, you know what my answer is, do what the hell you want' looks. She seemed displeased. â€Å"Karl, I'd love to come you know that, but it looks like my friend isn't in the party mood, and would rather I didn't go, sorry,† Kelly stated. My heart went out to her, she had fancied this boy for ages and she was doing this all for me. However, Karl, being a boy, persisted further, â€Å"What? She your mum now? Who says you have to go with her? You can come with me girl. Trust, you'll have fun with me too! † Karl responded winking at her. That small insignificant gesture made Kelly's mind up instantaneously. With a few rushed apologies she sauntered off, arms linked with the â€Å"sex god† of year 11. She had picked Karl over me, a twinge of pain swept through my body. I was aware she fancied him but she could have at least tried to persuade me to accompany her. Little did she know that going to the party would change the course of her whole life; she could do nothing to stop it. It was the first day back to school from the summer holidays. I was late, and was darting around trying to get to my new form room. I had not spoken to Kelly for four weeks since that day she chose Karl over me. Neither of us had bothered to pick up the phone to each other during this time. However, Kelly was the kind of girl I tended to call a sporadic caller, i. e. they only call when they want something! Personally, I thought it should be Kelly's duty to do this especially as she was the one that left me that serene Saturday. Things like this rarely traversed Kelly's mind. My mobile bleeped and said â€Å"four messages received†. All of them were from Kelly begging me to find her in the school toilets. As usual, Kelly called and I ran to her side. I made a slight detour on the way to my form room and found Kelly sitting on a toilet. The door was ajar, and I found Kelly crying hysterically. I was at a complete loss. I did not know what to do; why was she so upset? Kelly's sobbing ceased momentarily, whilst she urged herself to talk, â€Å"Karmen, I have something to tell you and please don't interrupt me for once, I just want to come out with it†¦ I'm pregnant. † I was gaping at her; it was like a bombshell. Kelly looked so vulnerable; I wanted to reach out and hug her. Suddenly something snapped in me; I could not put my finger on it but in a space of a second, everything had changed. Something was stopping me reaching out and touching my best friend. Why? She again burst into full-fledged tears and I just could not bring myself to console her, it was impossible. I tried to reach out and touch her arm but it was as if an invisible string was holding me back, making me keep my distance from her. I am not sure why this piece of news had such an effect on me. I think it was because deep down I wanted Kelly to realise for herself that the people that she hung out with were wrong for her. The old Kelly would not just up and leave and go out with a boy that she hardly knew. â€Å"The eyes are the windows to your soul,† Kelly had said to me five years ago. Until now, I had never understood what she meant, but she was right. When I was staring into her eyes, I could feel every facet of emotion she had in her. I was scared for Kelly. What would her destiny be 15 and expecting? â€Å"Whose baby is it then? † I asked, mentally running through the string of boys that we were acquainted with. Karl's,† she replied with a sniff. I studied her face intent on getting the truth, but Kelly made this task very easy for me – â€Å"Look Karmen, I don't see the point in being in denial, Karl raped me ok? I know what you're going to say ‘I told you, you shouldn't have gone with him in the first place blah blah blah'. I know i t was entirely my fault and I know you think it is to. We were making our way to the party and he was being so nice. Treating me well. Before I was drunk at the party, I didn't really know anyone, so I hung around with him. One thing led to another and was kissing him, nothing more. I went and hung out with some of the â€Å"shriek† crew and that was all right. Then a couple of hours later, Karl came up to me. His breath stank of alcohol and he tried to kiss me. I pushed him away. However, in the end I just could not help it, I liked him so much and I gave in to temptation. I was in his room and we were just talking,† Kelly again broke down into tears, I let her cry it out, but she started to talk again. â€Å"I am an idiot I was kinda drunk; I didn't even know what I was doing, let alone when, where and how. I doubt I even enjoyed it. I mean I liked him yeah, but not enough to do something like that with him. I don't know, I lost my virginity to him and I didn't even want to. He was so rough, and his eyes were evil. It was as if a different Karl had taken over. He wasn't the same sweet, innocent faced boy that I had fancied for so long. I am such a mess, and I am so sorry I didn't ring you. I did not know what to do with myself; I've been a nervous wreck. Seriously Karmen, as a mate, I need to know that you'll be here, right beside me. † What could I say? After hearing all that, the invisible string that was holding me back let go. Apart from anything else, I managed to give her some degree of solace. I doubt I alleviated any of her pain but I did my best. Something that really bugged me was the fact that she did not seem too bothered about Karl raping her. Rape, the dictionary defines it as a) if a man rapes a woman, he violently forces her to have sex with him against her will b) rape is the act or crime of raping a woman. The next day, Kelly talked for two hours straight, and I just listened. Listened to what she had to say and how she felt. It was her time and not mine. I came out of it feeling different. Different as in doubtful but not once did Kelly speak about how she had been violated by Karl. I thought a lot over the next few days. I recalled all the conversations that Kelly and I had had about Karl (which was quite a few). All the evidence pointed to the fact that Kelly wanted this to happen. Not that it was pre-meditated or anything, more that she wasn't bothered about the fact that she had been violated and her virginity had been lost to a terrible crime like rape. It would make sense, I mean she had always fancied him, and I was positive that her feelings for him were more physical than anything else. She was not so much upset about the fact that he raped her, more the fact that she was pregnant. I mean obviously the suspicions that I had were not rock solid, but they felt right. A few months passed, I consciously distanced myself from Kelly. Not that she had noticed, of course. She got a lot of teasing when her bump started to become prominent, but those people soon refrained from this when she began coming out with her version of the ‘truth'. She was basking in the glory of being one of the only girls to lose their virginity in year 11. However, what she called basking, I called bragging. She was bragging that she had had sex with Karl. What was she? Did she not realise what she was saying? I only caught snippets of her conversations but I was quite sure what I had heard was true. Kelly was claiming to the rest of the class that Karl did not rape her, but that she was the consenting party in this. This just consolidated my suspicions. My best friend was a liar. â€Å"Yeah, I know. He looked too buff that night. He was so sweet. I'm glad my first time was with him,† I heard Kelly say. Since when had rapists been sweet? It was not that I was eavesdropping; more determination determined to unveil the truth. â€Å"Seriously! Yeah I heard from someone that you got off with him that night! How was it? You're such a lucky bitch, us lot would all kill to be with Karl! † the unknown gossip hungry girl said. â€Å"Look, I ain't the type of girl who kisses and tells you know! You wana know what went on, you have to ask him,† clearly Kelly was avoiding the question. So, did this mean she was raped? I mean at the beginning of the conversation, it sounded like she had wanted this to happen; am I right? However, towards the end, it was the complete opposite to that. I had concluded that if I was going to get my answers, there were two things that I needed to do and have a) courage and b) confront her. Eventually, I did muster up enough courage to confront her. The thought of Kelly hiding all her pain from people was hurting me. Did she not trust others with her secret? Obviously the paranoid side of me kicked in and I thought that maybe she had not been raped, and it was all a ploy to get attention from me. I mean we had grown apart but lying about something so serious, that was uncalled for. Therefore, the purpose of the conversation was to get the truth, the real truth from what they call the ‘horse's mouth'. In a way, deep down, at that time, I thought I knew the truth, I just needed to hear it for myself. Kelly, did Karl rape you or not? I don't understand, you came to me and told me that he had raped you, and at the very same time you're bragging to all your other friends that Karl had had sex with you. I'm sure you can see how I feel; I am confused and I can't help it you're sending me mixed messages. Were you raped or weren't you? Did you want him to? Is that why you went telling the whole year how you got off with him? You disgust me you know that; to even think that I spent time thinking of you, hoping it would all get better; whilst you're sitting here weaving all your lies. † She was silent. For once in her entire life, Kelly had no comeback for me. She had not taken her eyes off me for five minutes straight. None of us had uttered a word, just exchanged menacing looks. She offered me no explanation, and just before she walked off, she told me â€Å"Maybe if you came with me to the party this wouldn't have happened, you thought about that Karmen? † â€Å"Typical Kelly, can't face up to anything can you, so you shift the blame onto someone else. You've been found out and you can't handle it,† I shouted after her. I watched the back of my ‘best friend' as she walked away and realised we were the complete opposite of that. We had changed so much along the way; I hardly knew who she was anymore. I could not take it. Why should I have to be responsible for all the mistakes that she makes? She had the audacity to say that it was my fault she got pregnant because I didn't go to the party with her. I could not just be there at her disposal all the time, day in and day out. There was a time when I considered Kelly as my one and only best friend. I had moved on. This girl was some kind of alien to me. I was physically disgusted with her. I had considered her my own flesh and blood and now she was having a baby. The old Karmen would have stood by her, but not now, she was on her own. I had decided that I was going to make a stand for myself, see how she could handle her life without me. As evil as I must sound by saying this, it was all-true. My capricious friend had her comeuppance, and to some extent, I was glad. With hindsight, I regretted doing this. I did not realise how much my words had affected her, how much me not being there for her had done to her. A few short months after the confrontation, I had not heard or seen Kelly around. According to gossip, she had had a baby girl. Kelly's mum left countless messages for me on my answering machine everyday, begging me to come and visit her. Her last few messages started to become a bit more desperate and personal. Kelly had postnatal depression; she was rejecting the baby. That was Kelly all right; she could not face up to anything, not even something as serious as this. A few days after Kelly's mum's message about her postnatal depression, I received a letter from Kelly – Dear Karmen, Letters, don't you find they are the best form of communication? Remember when we used to write letters to each other day in and day out. I still have all of them you know, they mean so much to me, please don't ever forget that. This may be the last letter I will ever be writing, to you, or anyone else. Do you remember the first day of Whitmore? I smiled at you, you smiled back. From that moment onwards I knew that we were meant to be friends, we clicked you know? I knew that you were the only one like me in that hellhole. To this day, I stand by that comment. Do you remember the days when we were literally obsessed with Karl, and we spent the whole day looking for his house? Took us ages, but we persevered and found it. Since you have stopped talking to me, my whole world has literally crashed around me. Have you forgotten all the good times that we spent together? I haven't. I sat in bed last night, just thinking about all the times we've spent in each other's company; sitting on the terrace, contemplating on life. Those were some of the best days of my life. I miss that; in fact, I miss you. My life feels like nothing without you by my side. I know people were always commenting about how close we were for just friends, but was and still is true, we are more than friends. I consider you as a sister. I will be the first one to admit, that the â€Å"shriek† crew were some of the people that thought we were more than that. I told them otherwise. I stood up to them Karmen, that was something you always said I couldn't do. I found this in a book†¦ Don't walk in front of me, I may not follow Don't walk behind me, I may not lead Just walk beside me and be my friend When the whole Karl raping me thing happened, I didn't know what the hell to do. I felt so violated by him, but I couldn't tell anyone. Everyone had been at the party and seen what had happened, they all just thought I'd got a bit carried away and slept with him. But, it wasn't like that. You should have seen his face when he did it, it was so indelicate. I cried for days on end after it had happened. To make it worse, the â€Å"shriek† crew all assumed that I had wanted it to happen with him. Yes, I was physically attracted to Karl, but not to the extent that I felt I needed to lose my virginity to him. It stung when you insinuated that I had lied to you, when I had not. You confronted me that day and I blamed you for this happening to me, I realise I shouldn't have. It was your choice not to come with me, and now, looking back, I wished I had not gone either. As usual, I felt I needed someone to blame for my actions, but you weren't the one. All I wanted was for someone to tell me, â€Å"Kelly, it wasn't your fault†, but no one did. I thought I had to put up a front for the â€Å"shriek† crew. I didn't want to be known as the freak that was raped. Besides, I know them better than you do; they were overtly laughing that time when Chrissy got raped by that university guy. How would I tell them this? So, as usual to get out of it, I spun my intricate web of lies to get out of the predicament. I wasn't lying to you; you are the one person in my life I would never dream of deceiving. Karmen, I trust you with my life. Do you know what kept me going that day and night? No? That I could tell you and you could give me the support that I needed. I did not need the â€Å"shriek† crew if you were there by my side. Where were you Karmen? Where were you when I needed you most? I had my baby, where were you then? I called and called you for days on end, why didn't you ring me back? I love you so much, and the one time in my life I needed you, you just were not there. Was this some kind of punishment for the ways I've treated you in the past? I didn't deserve that. I had just been raped by a guy that I had fancied for ages and you were punishing me, I could not comprehend. When I told Karl that I was pregnant with his baby, he literally told me â€Å"Well, that's your fault, leave me alone and stop telling people the baby is mine. † Can you even begin to imagine how I felt? I had been raped by him. Foolishly, assuming that he had an iota of decency in him, he would help me; obviously he didn't. I rang you so you would know what I called my baby – Karmen. Do you know why I called her that? Because when baby Karmen grew up, I wanted her to be just like you. A strong, good person, not like her mother. I rejected baby Karmen, I had postnatal depression, and did you come and see me then? Numerous times my mum left messages on your phone for you to visit me, and did you? Did it cross your mind to talk to the girl that you spent the better part of you life with? I better cut to the chase; I know how you hate long letters. I can't take life anymore Karmen. I just cannot take it. It's such a mess, baby Karmen I did not and still do not want her, and I doubt I ever will. I love her, but I cannot outwardly show my love. How do you think that makes me feel? Every night she sits and cries and I can't go anywhere near her. I'm afraid of what I could potentially do to her. What Karl did to me affected me psychologically in a way I doubt anyone will ever understand. To some extent, not even I understand why I'm feeling this way. I don't think the true effect of the rape really hit me until after I had Karmen. Before that I had comprehended with the fact that I had been raped, I just had not had time to get over it. I'm a weak person Karmen, all this pressure I cannot deal with. Without you, I had no one to offload my worries and problems onto. No one to talk it all out with. Now you're not here for me, I don't see the point in living. I want to die. It's not just one of my phases, I've been feeling suicidal for quite some time. Only now have I built up the courage to do something about my life, and my choice is to end it. This is the last letter you will ever be receiving from me, and the last time you will be hearing from me in general. So, I just want to say – â€Å"You were like a sister to me Karmen, the child that my parents didn't have but always wanted. You are irreplaceable, and I know some other girl will take my place as your best friend. Being the kind hearted person that you are, you will be equally good to them as you were to me. I thank you so much for all you did for me in the time that I have known you. I love you Karmen, and whether I am dead or alive, nothing is going to change that. I am sorry I'm leaving it this way, I wish I didn't have to, but I feel I no longer have any other choice. Goodbye Karmen, I love you with all my heart. † Kelly x P. S. You always said that I have to be the one who the makes choices in my life. This is my choice. I choose not to be alive anymore. I chose to lie about Karl and all that. I control my life now that is what you always told me to do; I've done it Karmen. I have finally taken control of my life; it is all in my hands now. I read the letter; I was just numb and immobilised. My world had been instantly transformed. She had hung herself. As disrespectful as this must sound; I thought that if Kelly ever killed herself, she would take pills. However, she did not, she chose something that would hurt her, she did not take the easy way out for once. I mean hanging yourself is not exactly the most comfortable position. Kelly and I had both made many choices in our lives. Hers, however, were very drastic. It all started when she chose Karl over me. If she had not she probably would not be dead right now. The grief I was undergoing inside of me was overwhelming, all I could think of was â€Å"what if I had just gone with her to that party? † â€Å"What if I had just believed her and not confronted her that day? † â€Å"Returned all her phone calls†. All these questions were literally eating me alive. For the first time in my life, I felt guilty. It was terrible; it was like a wave of heat frequently swept over me. Every time this happened, I felt like being sick, I hated it; I wanted all this grief to go. The recollection of the letter brought tears to my eyes. What must she have been feeling when she wrote it? I was astounded †¦ she was gone, and I could not come to terms with it. The other day the â€Å"shriek† crew decided to confront me, they blamed me for her death. They are truly heartless. I had just lost a best friend and they were lecturing me about how I should not have ignored all her calls etc. What do they know? They were the downfall of Kelly, if she had just realised they were not the right sort of people she should have been hanging around with, she may have been alive at this moment in time. It was the day of her funeral. Kelly's parents were distraught; they could not fathom what made her do this. According to them, Kelly was always such a happy girl, and towards the end, she had shown no signs of feeling suicidal. Evidently, they were not the most observant parents. The last choice that I made concerning Kelly was to give the eulogy at her funeral. It was my last attempt to discern why, why I neglected her in the recent months. Then it came to me – it was my choice to.

Work force Up-skilling

Organisations usually view its work force as their driving force. The work force is believed to be the determinant of how far the company will go in terms of achieving its objectives. Organisations usually formulate strategies aimed at upskilling this workforce. This is usually done through methods aimed at improving the skill possessed by its workers. Organisations usually formulate strategies, which are aimed at achieving their workforce level objectives (Argyris, 1976p. 34-56). Since the organisations are required to try and create a team that possess high skills the process of coming up with a workforce of higher skill need not be universally accepted. The companies are supposed to adopt a way of moving towards higher skill that fits its requirements (Terry, 1960p. 104-109). This method of creating a workforce of higher skill should be formulated the best way possible an organisation can manage considering its requirement in terms of organizational strategy (Torbert, W. 2004p. 41-42). Workforce structure. Work force in organisations is usually composed of two categories depending on the type of workers. These categories are: – (i) Skilled workers (ii) Unskilled workers Skilled workers refers to workers of organisations who are believed to possess qualities such as possession of a certain level of good education in their field of specialisation. The Skilled workers are also believed to have acquired experience in their fields of specialisation. Skilled workers are required to have other features that enable them to be termed as efficient in their duties. Examples of these features include good communication skills and also interpersonal skills which aid incase one has to work in a group. Skilled workers are also termed as having broad level of general knowledge which is a factor in efficiency in their duties. Examples of skilled workers include Mechanical engineers, doctors, management accountants, finance officers and also civil engineers. Unskilled workers are workers in organisations who do not need to have any educational (formal) background. These workers need not have any experience to get jobs in an organisation. Unskilled workers are believed to have no skill for the jobs they carry out for organisations. These are the workers in an organisation who are believed to be at the bottom under the consideration of the level of qualifications. Most of the employees who are unskilled in organisations include cleaners and also loaders in stores. According to statistical data in the UK the skilled workers usually get the task of seeking employment easy. This is because most of the employment vacancies available are skilled occupations. It has been found that out of every 1,000 skilled job seekers, 75% end up succeeding. The statistical data has also revealed that the organisations in the UK give better working conditions to the skilled employees. It has been found that this preference in terms of better working conditions to skilled workers is usually an attempt by the organisation to maintain skilled teams in their organisation. This is not the case with unskilled workers. These workers find it hard to get good working conditions in organisations (Bass, & Avolio1995p. 100-123). The reason deducted for this occurrence is the fact that unskilled workers are readily available and incase their turnover tends to be high, there is no actual loss to the organisation. Human resource management refers to the process of handling matters concerning work force in an organisation. Each organisation usually has a department overseeing the efficiency of its work force. The human resource management is done by application of various models such as the goal Management Model. This human resource management model emphasizes on the need for organisations to handle their human resource in a manner likely to lead to the goal achievement. In the even of workforce upskilling a company should create a team of higher skill through assessment of the company’s goals. The organisations should use strategies likely to incorporate the needs of the organisation in terms of employee level of skills. The organisation should apply a strategy based on the level of skills required in achieving given goals. Another example of these models is the Culture change Model this is a model in human resource management which emphasizes that organisation changes their culture (House, 2004p. 23-31), and therefore the employees / workers should be upskilled to match the changes. Kurt Levin developed this model. Open systems Model is another model, which emphasizes that the human resource in an organisation should be managed as per the open system concept. This concept views systems as units that exchange requirements. The model argues that in employee upskilling the organisations should be able to get new employees from outside but not just develop the existing workers (Lowman, 2002p. 54-61). This model gives an organization option of acquiring workers of higher skills. All the three models described above show that there is no generally accepted way of upskilling an organisation workforce. The models suggest that an organisation should adopt a movement, which will be in agreement with the events at the organisation. For example when the organisation is faced with a change in its organizational culture, Lewin’s human resource management model should be adopted. When an organisation finds out that it cannot get the level of skill in the current workforce the open system human resource management model should be adopted, or just develop the existing workers to the level required, a characteristic of the Path Goal leadership model. Organisations usually emphasise on employee development in the attempt to reach a higher skilled work force. Employee development refers to the process in which employees of an organisation are involved in training in the organisation. Employee development involves a programme whereby the employees participate in their own will, the employees schedule their learning hours, the content to be learned is usually extra of what the job training requires and the workers select the content to learn without the influence of the organisations. Most companies in the UK emphasize on employee development since it is believed to give higher skilled employee workforce. Some of the companies in the UK, which emphasize on employee development, include Siemens UK and also Roll Royce Cars. These companies give a given level of provision in terms of sponsorship for employee training in the employee. The personal development theory in employee development argues that workers should be in a position to enhance the programme of employee development. The workers are required to be willing and interested in developing as employees of a given organisation. The employee motivation theory argues that the organisations should put efforts in the process of employee development. The organisations efforts should be in the form of programmes likely to boost the morale of employees (Stacey, 1992p. 31-39). The Benziger theory also provides directions on the employee development programmes in an organisation. In the process of employee development the organisations can create programmes bearing in mind that workforce usually consist of skilled and unskilled workers. The organisations should create programmes likely to give formal education, experience, skills and also general knowledge to the unskilled workforce. This is likely going to improve the skill of employee team hence likelihood of a success towards organizational strategy. The organisations should create programmes which will enable the skilled workforce improve their efficiency and also make them acquire certain level of vital attributes such as confidence and self-initiative (Warneka, 2006p. 23-29). Employee development should be structured in a way likely to make the organizational strategy give desired results. The employee development should be done in a way likely to put all the levels of the work force at a higher level of skill (Burns, 1978p. 65-71). Organisations should not copy the programmes adopted by their competitors or other comparable organisations. Copying of employee development programmes would not help organisations in the process of up-skilling its workforce since it might not suit the organisation. The organisations should structure these programmes as per their workforce requirement bearing in mind that the best workforce is that which is at a higher level in terms of suitability to a specific organization. Conclusion. Organizations should try as much as possible to avoid the perception that, workforce up-skilling is standardised (Heifetz, 1994p. 12-19). Organizations should formulate organizational strategies aimed at effective teams’ suited to the needs of specific company. The above is only possible if the right human resource models are applied and practiced.

Description of the Film Separation by Asghar Farhadi Assignment - 1

Description of the Film Separation by Asghar Farhadi - Assignment Example This provides the basis for the conflict within the movie. The characters in the movie are believable and have been developed effectively to depict the setting and themes of the story. The producer manages to use a mix of innocence, temperament, wisdom, and naivety among the characters to bring out the story. Within the conflict between Nader and Simin, the director manages to bring in a different perspective by introducing the innocence of their daughter Termeh. The judges of the family court are presented through the story as wise and prudent. This is evident from both cases involving the divorce filed by the warring family. In the first instance, they rebuffed the claims of Simin by insisting that the complications were insufficient. However, they finally warrant the divorce after analyzing the situation and the irreconcilable differences. The producer holds off Nader’s temper until the point where he boiled over. Symbolism has been used in the movies to great effect. The title of the movies, A Separation, is the main symbol used throughout the movie. The separation that was intended to be away from Tehran eventually turns into one between Simin and Nader as the story concludes. Other instances of separation within the movie include Razieh separating from the traditions in order to be able to provide for her family. Terhem is initially separated from her mother then later by her father. The other elements of separation within the story include Nader father’s death and the miscarriage. The separation, which was disclosed at the beginning of the story in the divorce case, was also a consequence of another attempt to separate from the environment in Teheran. There is an array of thought provoking themes that are presented in the movie A Separation. Social division is the major theme that is explored in the movie. The divisions within the movie have been perpetrated using perceptions around religion, occupation, gender, and age.  Ã‚  

Company(Target) Firm Analysis Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Company(Target) Firm Analysis - Research Paper Example Target Corporation’s retail segment is inclusive of food discount stores, general merchandise stores, and an integrated online business, target.com. Target Corporation also operates a segment for credit cards that offers Visa credit cards and branded proprietary products. TGT currently operates one thousand seven hundred and sixty seven target stores across forty-nine states in the U.S. (Forbes.com 1). Target corporation’s fiscal year ends on January the 31st. This paper is a company research project on â€Å"Target Corporation†. Target Corporation aims to reinforce the company’s value proposition via the striking of a balance between the core components of its brand mission and promise, i.e. expect more and pay less (Forbes.com 1). Expect more refers to target Corporation’s emphasis on trends, which differentiates it from its competitors, for example, Walmart while pay less is meant to underscore the Corporation’s notion concerning compellin g presentation of its consumables and commodities as their key strategy. Target Corporation’s recent rollout of their P-fresh expanded food format is likely to connect well to their consumers, which should improve traffic, as well as same store sales growth (Forbes.com 1). Solid underlying trends within target Corporation’s credit business are expected to provide a boost to the company’s earnings in the future. ... Target Corporation’s well differentiated stores will give it an edge their main competitors, like Walmart. Their balance sheet and cash flow remain in a healthy position. However, increased competition and a competitive pricing environment from Walmart are expected to portend an adverse effect on the future of target Corporation. TGT seems to be losing focus on the sale of women’s apparel that accounts for more than ten percent of their total sales (Forbes.com 1). Target Corporation’s credit business is increasing their exposure to various deteriorations in the credit trends of their consumers, for example, higher default rates that could have a significant impact on their profitability. Their escalating utilities and healthcare costs could lead to increased SG&A expenses. Digest Group analysts estimate the Corporation’s long-term growth rate, as ranging from lows of nine percent to highs of fifteen percent, coming up with an average of 11.3% (Forbes.com 1 ). These analysts at Digest Group are of the belief that target.com is the company’s fastest growing segment. This segment provides an online shopping experience, which adds new online tools, for example, the online gift finder that is driving sales up. In addition, TGT is building a seamless shopping experience for their stores, Target.com and their catalog. Over the last decade, TGT has utilized its marketing expertise in the transformation of the trademark bull’s eye into a symbol that is universally recognized, which, in turn, has helped to establish its retail format into a unique destination for clients from the United states (Forbes.com 1). TGT’s marketing approach is focused on the retail end as a brand. TGT perhaps, has played the

Supply Chain Management and Innovation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Supply Chain Management and Innovation - Essay Example Though the concept of innovation is not an unknown or new concept for many of the organizations, the old fashioned strategies that were adopted in the olden days may not suit to today's business environment. In order to improve the performance and profitability, today, organizations are required to involve in the most exciting innovative experiments. This would definitely help them create a nice future for the organizations failing which they may not be able to compete with the increasing competition and other innovative competitors. Though most of the companies believe that innovation is one of the factors that help the organization perform and achieve huge profits, it is revealed through a recent study that only 25% of the organizations across the world believe in innovation being the key strategy for the organization's success. Actually, this approach should not be followed. The organizations and all the employees of the firm are required to give the highest priority to innovation in order to sustain the competition and achieve higher profits and also to perform better. (Supply Chain Management) 2. Poor cross-firm integration and collaboration lead to supply chain planning problems. This situation was faced by a company called Leitax, a consumer electronic company. In order to overcome the problems in integration, the company introduced a new system that helps it resolve the existing problems and create better integration among the different functions of the supply chain. The major benefits of increased-integration are better information-sharing, accurate planning and also aligned execution of the plans. Information sharing doesn't simply mean sharing of information among different members. The scope is much broader. Sharing of information requires a lot of attention to be paid to aspects like behavioral dynamics of the operations management. Along with integrating the information requirements for planning within the supply chain, coordination of systems can also help in upholding the organization differentiation that is perceived by the various stakeholders. In a dynamic and yet challenging supply chain environment, a consensus forecasting system can be advantageous in buy-in integration and many other similar concepts. Operationalizing the integration as a functional alignment can yield better results to any organization. Alignment is always a positively influenced by collaborative engagement. Alignment encouraged by collaborative engagement can be more important than achieving, superior performance along such dimensions as speed or accuracy in individual information processing steps of the S&OP process. (Watson) Bibliography 1. Supply Chain Management. Sypply chain management case studies. 3 November 2007. 12 November 2007 . 2. Watson, Rogelio Olivia and Noel. Cross functional Alignment in Supply Chain Managment. 6 Spetember

Interpretation of financial statement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Interpretation of financial statement - Essay Example 60% (2010) = (17,250,000) / 53,580,000 = 32.19% Debt to Equity Ratio Debt to Equity Ratio = Total Debt / Total Equity (2011) = (33,760,000) / 37,160,000 = 90.85% (2010) = (17,250,000) / 36,330,000 = 47.48% Interest Cover (TIE) Interest Cover = (Earnings before Interest and Taxes + Interest Expense) / Interest Expense (2011) = (12,920,000+ 2,000,000) / 2,000,000 = 7.46x (2010) = (16,905,000 + 1,700,000) / 1,700,000 = 10.94x Profitability Ratios Gross Profit Margin Gross Profit Margin = Gross Profit / Sales (2011) = 25,800,000 / 61,000,000 = 42.30% (2010) = 33,980,000 / 73,200,000 = 46.42% Operating Profit Margin Operating Profit Margin = Operating Profit / Sales (2011) = 14,920,000 / 61,000,000 = 24.46% (2010) = 18,605,000 / 73,200,000 = 25.42% Net Profit Margin Net Profit Margin = Net Profit / Sales (2011) = 7,320,000 / 61,000,000 = 12.00% (2010) = 9,578,000 / 73,200,000 = 13.08% Return on Assets Return on Assets = Net Profit / Total Assets (2011) = 7,320,000 / 70,920,000 = 10.32% (2 010) = 9,578,000 / 53,580,000 = 17.88% Return on Equity Return on Equity = Net Profit / Total Equity (2011) = 7,320,000 / 37,160,000 = 19.70% (2010) = 9,578,000 / 36,330,000 = 26.36% Return on Capital Employed (ROCE) Return on Capital Employed = (Earnings before Interest and Taxes/Capital Employed)* (2011) = 14,920,000/55,160,000 = 27.05% (2010) = 18,605,000/47,330,000 = 39.31% * Capital Employed = Total Assets – Current Liabilities MARKET RATIOS Earnings per Share Earnings per Share = Net Profit / (Average no. of Outstanding shares) (2011) = 7,320,000 / (20,000,000) = ?0.37 (2010) = 9,578,000 / (18,000,000) =?0.53 Book Value per Share Book Value per Share = Common Equity / (Average no. of Outstanding shares) (2011) = 37,160,000 / (20,000,000) = ?1.86 (2010) = 36,330,000/ (18,000,000) =... BLS Ltd., manufacturer and supplier of customized furniture and fittings in the UK construction market has expanded its operations in newer markets in recent times. The company’s performance improved significantly up till 2010 as the new management which took over in 1996 made strong decisions and adopted an approach based on quality and perseverance. However, analysis of the company’s financial ratios suggests that its financial performance has deteriorated considerably during the last year.Liquidity Ratios The current ratio of the company is just acceptable at 1.27. However this ratio has declined from 2.54 to 1.27. This is a worrying sign for the company as it implies that the company is just about covering its current assets with its current liabilities. In other words, the company is finding it much more difficult to meet its short term obligations now than a year ago (Besley et al. 2008). As a result, the working capital of the company has also decreased by a sign ificant margin. Consequently, BLS Ltd.’s liquidity position has also worsened. The decrease in Quick/Acid Test Ratio from 1.36 to 0.68 is also quite alarming. This ratio is obtained by removing inventories from the equation which are considered to be the least liquid of all assets. This ratio implies that the company is covering just around 68% of its liabilities. The chief reason for these changes is the increase in current liabilities by more than 100% as the company has expanded its activities.

One nation under Wal-Mart Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

One nation under Wal-Mart - Case Study Example This research will begin with the statement that as a retailer, Wal-Mart can be characterized as quite successful. As noted in the case study, currently, the stores of Wal-Mart are estimated to, at least, 4,750, a figure that it is quite high if taking into consideration the level of growth of other retailers globally. The rapid and impressive expansion of Wal-Mart has resulted in strong conflicts, in regard to the role of the firm in the society. For many people, Wal-Mart has helped towards the increase of equality in society; people of different financial status have the potential to visit one of the firm’s stores and buy products of various prices. In other words, Wal-Mart eliminates barriers related to buying, as a critical human experience; such barriers are common in societies of non-developed countries which are characterized by extreme gaps between rich and poor. This means that Wal-Mart helps towards the reduction of social inequality, a fact that promotes peace at al l levels of social and private life. At the same time, the stores of Wal-Mart are structures in such way so that they can offer to customers the chance to make their choice among products of different quality/ characteristics. In this way, customers are given the freedom to develop their decision-making skills. The above positive influence of Wal-Mart in regard to a person’s social and private life is highly appreciated by consumers; as noted in the case study ‘about 138 million shoppers visit the firm’s stores every week’.... capitalism and globalization are promoted. Such view could not be accepted for the following reasons: a) Wal-Mart cannot be blamed for the changes in the life of style, including the development of new modes of retailing, similar to that promoting by Wal-Mart. Large retailers exist in all developed countries, being part of daily social life; b) Capitalism and globalization, as concepts, are not related solely to retail; they rather reflect a radical change on traditional views of life and priorities. In fact, retail is just an aspect of capitalism and globalization; existing political systems worldwide are the key supporters of these concepts. According to the above, it would be not fair to claim that Wal-Mart has promoted capitalism and globalization. Still, the success of Wal-Mart proves that people worldwide tend to support capitalism and globalization, at the level that products of well known brands, that are popular worldwide, are highly preferred by consumers. As a result, work ers have become willing to spend on products that meet the standards of fashion, even if these products are going to cover the workers’ primary needs. In any case, these trends cannot be considered as based on Wal-Mart’s strategies. Rather, Wal-Mart has aligned its objectives with the principles of capitalism and globalization which are, in any case, indispensable part of modern life. 2. Can a retailer ever become too large and too powerful? In the context of modern market, a firm can increase its size and its power by following specific rules. For the retail industry a similar rule exists. Primarily, emphasis needs to be given to consumers’ preferences, as influenced by local ethics and culture. At the next level, it is necessary for the firm to identify brands that

Parents as Educators Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Parents as Educators - Essay Example This paper investigates that anyone who plans a career in the field of young children’s education must have a clear understanding of the value of play because this is an important medium through which children learn about the world. Children are vulnerable to many dangers in childhood, and it is important for me to identify the needs of any child in my care and work in collaboration with others to ensure that each child has the best possible start in life. I feel that it is essential to work alongside parents and carers, supporting them in their own individual approaches to childcare. School and playgroup environments can provide some additional support, but there is nothing that can fully replace the family based bonding and relationships that help a child to become socialised in the world.This research stresses that  children grow up within a family and the family in turn is located within a whole social environment consisting of the wider family members, the neighbours, a nd various other known persons and strangers. Imaginative engagement by a caregiver is an important way of passing on cultural values and instructions on how the child should fit in with his or her local social environment.   One international study compared for example American Irish and Taiwanese families, and noted that there are some universal features, relating to developmental milestones for the child, and some variable features related to the culture of the family group in the way that caregivers initiate and support play with young children.... hool and playgroup environments can provide some additional support, but there is nothing that can fully replace the family based bonding and relationships that help a child to become socialised in the world. One aspect that I have reflected on is the need to be aware of different cultural contexts and to learn about varieties of play that may be preferred on different social and cultural groups. Some parents may be very achievement oriented, and they may be more or less child centred in their family environment, while others prefer passive storytelling activities, for example. II think it is part of my role to help families extend their repertoire so that parents and children both gain from productive kinds of play. Why family engagement supports early child development and learning Children grow up within a family and the family in turn is located within a whole social environment consisting of the wider family members, the neighbours, and various other known persons and strangers. Imaginative engagement by a caregiver is an important way of passing on cultural values and instructions on how the child should fit in with his or her local social environment. One international study compared for example American Irish and Taiwanese families, and noted that there are some universal features, relating to developmental milestones for the child, and some variable features related to the culture of the family group in the way that caregivers initiate and support play with young children (Haight et al., 1999). Similarly Farver and Howes (1993) found that there are differences between Mexican and American mothers’ strategies in guiding their children’s play, and this suggest that wider social norms are an important factor, as well as individual differences in each

Weeks v. United States Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Weeks v. United States - Essay Example The police had entered his house without a warrant and searched through his personal property. Finding objects, namely papers, that they felt would lead to a conviction, they confiscated the personal property of Weeks, later using it against him during the trial. The evidence that the police had obtained proved vital in leading to a conviction. However, Weeks, in a stand for his rights filed a complaint, bringing to light this violation. The case reached the Supreme Court, who decided that Weeks’ rights had indeed been violated by the illegal search and seizure of his property and that the resulting decision should be reversed (Weeks vs. U.S., 1914). Now there are many who would argue on behalf of the exclusionary rule. For example, the exclusionary rule has often been considered a candidate for abolishment but it has been argued that â€Å"the drive to abolish the exclusionary rule is fundamentally misguided on constitutional grounds, for the rule can and should be justified on separation of power principals, which conservatives generally support† (Lynch, 1998). However, the constitution was established to uphold principals that the founding fathers believed were important to the country. No doubt, they did not envision a place where the truth could be suppressed and criminals could get away with crimes due to issues of ‘red tape’. The exclusionary rule has the ability to suppress the truth. In fact, this rule is not actually contained in the constitution but is said to be derived from the constitution. As it has been reported, â€Å"the justices who announced the rule viewed it is as judicially implied but constitutionally mandated† (Seligman, 2010). However, what is brought forth through implication is subject to perception, and so arguable. Any instance where those proven guilty beyond a doubt can get away is an issue that needs to be examined and reformed. Otherwise, the law can become meaningless and void; its powers without effect. In

Power of Religion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Power of Religion - Essay Example There are various elements in the world which are beyond the power human intellect and it is this incapacity which has made him to seek the refuge in religion from time immemorial. Thus, one finds that world religions offer its followers the scope for finding meaning to basic elements that are beyond human intellect. This important role of religions, as commented by Ezra Niesen, includes providing â€Å"an explanation for what makes the universe work, some way for people to escape their physical mortality, ways for people to build healthy families and strong communities, and ways for people to make themselves feel satisfied with their lives.† (Niesen). There is obvious role of religions to provide the humans with the capacity to understand the factors which completely beyond the power of their intellect. It is through the working of the hankering in every human being to go beyond what he or she can grasp and it is through the power of the intellect and the will that humans are able to reach things beyond their knowledge.

The primary purpose of satire Essay Example for Free

The primary purpose of satire Essay Discuss the accuracy of this statement for the two texts you have chosen. Within all satirical works, there is a deeper seriousness beneath the text. Two such texts are Ben Eltons Dead Famous and Christopher Guests Best in Show, which both take a satirical viewpoint on contextual issues within society and have an underlying seriousness. Dead Famous is an early 21st century mock genre that satirises the idea of reality television. Dead Famous is set within a reality television series entitled House Arrest in which 10 inmates are put within a house with thirty television cameras for sixty-three days and compete for the publics affection, all of which is constantly overseen by Peeping Tom who controls what goes on within the house. Underneath this satire, the composer raises serious issues about societies obsession with reality television, how real reality television is, and questions what entertainment really is. At the beginning of the 21st century, the worlds obsession with reality television was rising to a peak. Many countries around the world had had a first season of Big Brother (On which Dead Famous was based), and had screened many other reality television programs such as Shipwrecked, Survivor and Temptation Island. The text takes the reality television genre and subverts it. This subversion comes about within the text by the composer by taking a reality television program and ridiculing. The major technique used by the composer to ridicule reality television is hyperbole. Within the text, all regular aspects of reality television (in particular Big Brother) have been taken to extreme proportions. This includes the overuse of sexual references within the text and the melodramatic events that happen within the house. These sexual references have been scattered throughout the text, much like those on reality television. However, these sexual references are taken to extreme proportions with the inmates coming very close to engaging within the act of sex quite early within the show. This hyperbole has also been used through the event of a murder that occurs within the house, this melodramatic event is one which would never occur on a reality television program, however has been included within the text as it is a gross exaggeration of the events that would occur within a Big Brother house. Dead Famous also questions the reality of reality television. The composer takes the idea that what is shown to the public on House Arrest (and other reality television programs) is not truly what happens within the house. The composer does this by showing the responder several points of view. The first point of view is that of the inmates and what really happens within the house on most days, in the sequence that they occurred. This point of view also allows the responder to see the thoughts and feelings on activities and situations that the cameras cannot pick up, or choose not to broadcast. This includes footage of the Confession Box (a soundproof room in which contestants can privately speak to Peeping Tom) that the editors manipulate and play selectively to the national audience. Kellys first visit to the confession box was selectively played in an attempt to make her the designated hate figure of the House Arrest series. Another point of view is that of the producers and editors within the editing room. From this perspective, the responder is shown how the footage within the house is manipulated to show the public what the editors want them to see, and how the editors are paid to look at what was actually said and find what we [the producers] want to be said. Within this perspective the viewers are shown the devices used by the editors to create a house favourite for the public to love and a designated hate figure or bitch for them to hate, and vote out. Through this, the responder is shown that not everything that occurs within the house is what is shown to them. The third perspective is that of what the investigators are shown through the daily show which is viewed by the public as a day-by-day account of what occurs within the house. Through the daily show, the responder is shown the effects of the editing room. They are shown the way in which the people they have seen through complete footage are shown to the public. The disgusting Woggle is an example of how the responder is shown his filthy habits during the actual footage, yet within the daily show all that is shown is what the public likes to see, his ability to stir trouble and cause conflict amongst other inmates, therefore making him the favourite housemate. The example of woggle is one that demonstrates how at all different points within the programming (inmates, editors and viewers) one person can be seen in completely different ways.

Human sexuality Essay Example for Free

Human sexuality Essay She was barely eight years old when together with seven of her age mates ,she was handed over to a traditional circumciser who took them through the painful process of FGM. it has been many years since ,and she has accomplished so much in life, but the incident remains fresh in her mind. The old woman who took them through the process was going blind, she says, and three of the eight who underwent the procedure died due to excessive bleeding. One of them was her very close friend. Luckily for her, the bleeding was not too much and she had a savior at hand. Her father, who was a policeman, took her to a hospital in Garissa using a police land rover. This was the traumatizing experience that nominated Member of Parliament, Sophia Abdi Noor went through when her mother blessed her to undergo the rite of passage that would cleanse her and make her acceptable for marriage according to tradition. Never before in history of the august house had a member used her own life experience to move debate as Ms.  Sophia did when supporting the bill to outlaw female genital mutilation. Female genital mutilation is the term used for operations or removal of all or just part of the external parts of female genitilia. This practice has for a long time come under increasingly intense international scrutiny from the news media, feminist and human rights organizations. The main reasons for continuation of FGM are firstly, as a rite of passage from girlhood to womanhood; a circumcised woman is considered mature, obedient and aware of her role in the family and society. Secondly, FGM is perpetuated as a means of reducing sexual desire of girls and women, thereby curbing sexual activity before and ensuring fidelity within marriage. Although opposition to female ‘circumcision’ has been articulated throughout the twentieth century, starting with missionaries and colonial administrators, the current resurgence of indignation was ignited in part by activists at conferences honoring the United Nations Decade for women(1975-1985). (Shell-Duncan. B,Hernland-Y;pg 23) The practice of circumcising women has very deep roots that touch all aspects of the cultures that continue to inflict it upon their girls. However,it still remains to be a practice that violates the human rights of affected women in a moral and ethical sense because it generates psychological torture, low self-esteem, tampers with a woman’s sexuality and is a health hazard. Psychological torture The pain inflicted by F. G. M does not stop with the initial procedure, but often continues as an ongoing torture throughout a woman’s life. Intense pain and hemorrhage experienced during the procedure can lead to shock. A 1985 Kenyan study found that nearly 97% of the 269 women interviewed experienced intense pain during and after F. G.  M and more than 13% went into shock. According to WHO, It is self-evident that any form of surgical interference in the highly sensitive genital organs constitutes a serious threat to the woman, and that the painful operation is a source of major physical as well as psychological trauma. The extent and nature of the immediate and long-term mental disturbances will depend on the girl’s inner defences, the prevailing psychological environment, and a host of other factors. The family no doubt does its best to mitigate the painful effects of the operation; nonetheless, they necessarily undergo overwhelming experiences. Even before the operation, the threat of ‘cutting’ and fear provoking situation may disturb the mental state of the child to the degree that it causes worry, anxiety, sleeplessness, nightmares or panic. As anticipating precautions against these anxieties the family commonly uses various forms of traditional magi co-religious practice such as fumigation, or the wearing of amulets. On a religious perspective, the scripture prescribes that special efforts be made to care for those who are most vulnerable. (Deut 10:17-19,Ps 82:3,4; Ps24:11,12;Luke 1:52-54) Jesus taught that children should be loved and protected. Therefore,the genital mutilation of young girls violates the biblical mandate to safeguard children and protect them from harm and abuse Tampers with a woman’s sexuality. Sexual intercourse can only take place after opening the infibulation, through surgery or penetrative sexual intercourse. Consequently, intercourse is frequently painful during the first weeks after initiation. Although it is difficult to verify reports or women’s sexual experiences, physical complications from FGM often impede sexual enjoyment. FGM destroys much or all of the vulva nerve endings, delaying arousal or impairing orgasm. Lacerations loss of skin elasticity, or development of neuron (a tumor or mass growing from a nerve) can lead to painful intercourse. In a 1993 Kenyan study, 5% of women interviewed experienced painful intercourse while 9. 3% of them reported having difficult or impossible penetration, and that many of the married ones only accepted it only as a duty. Scripture celebrates the divinely ordained gift of sexual intimacy within marriage (Eccl9. 9;Prov 5:18,19). The practice of female genital mutilation should be renounced because it threatens the creator’s design for the experience of joyful sexuality by married couples. For married couples, the gift of sexual union may be further blessed by the birth of children (Prov 31:28). The fact that successful childbirth is threatened by FGM is additional grounds for opposition to this practice. Health hazard. In October 1994, as a response to the call to Global Action,UNICEF issued an executive directive declaring that FGM is a health hazard to children and violation of their human rights. FGM in any form should not be practiced by health professionals in any setting including hospitals or other health establishments. Unnecessary oddly mutilation cannot be condoned by health providers. FGM is harmful to the health of women and girls and violates their basic human rights and medicalization of the procedure does not eliminate this harm. On the contrary, it reinforces the continuation of the practice by seeming to legitimize it. Health practitioners should provide all necessary care and counseling for complications that may arise as a result. Group circumcision, where the same unsterilized instrument is used on several girls at a time, repeat cutting and stitching increases risk of HIV infection. The Bible presents the goodness of God’s creation, including the creation of human beings (Gen 1:31; Ps 139:13, 14). God is the source and sustainer of human life (Job 33:4; john 1:3, 4). He calls for preservation of human life and holds humanity accountable for its destruction(Gen 9:5,6;Ex20:13,Jer 7:3-34). The human body is the â€Å"the temple of the Holy Spirit,† and followers of God are urged to care for and preserve their bodies, including the Creator’s gift of sexuality, as a spiritual responsibility (1cor6:15-19). Because FGM is harmful to health, threatening to life, and injurious to sexual function, it is incompatible with the will of God. Having discussed the side effects that FGM pauses to victims, various communities have come up with measures to fight this procedure, an alternative rite of passage in the abandonment of FGM is used. It involves a four-step procedure Preparation Seminars for both parents and initiates are encouraged. The topics will include side effects of female circumcision, and get prepared to attend a residential seminar to elaborate on what the alternative procedure entails. Actual Circumcision In the alternative Rite of passage, actual circumcision should be stopped since we have learnt that it is not necessary to make a woman an adult nor mature. The side effects of F. C both short and long terms are to be avoided if actual circumcision is not performed. Parents can select a teacher and trainer, for their daughter who will accompany her to the residential centre for an alternative rite of passage seminar. Seclusion. For this the girls will attend a residential seminar for one week away from home. The initiate will be accompanied with their teacher and trainer. Women both circumcised and un circumcised from the community will facilitate during the seminar. Additional topics-AIDS, STI’s, simple hygiene and great women in the Bible, in community and in Kenya. Rites and rituals will be optional. Girls of circumcision age are between six and twelve years old. For the purpose of effective learning, the girls will be divided into two groups; girls between six and nine, ten and twelve. Graduation Graduation is expected to be brief and colourful. Songs, drama, plays and poems will be encouraged. Parents, community leaders, politicians and government officials will be invited to attend to witness the graduation of whole girls. Certificates of graduation will be awarded and prayers, blessings conducted. Exchange of gifts for newly graduated girls will be carried out and finally the graduates will be handed over to the community,chief,church elders and clan elders. Since it’s an annual event, committees are to b e established to plan for the following year.

Internal System Unit Components Computer Science Essay

Internal System Unit Components Computer Science Essay The processor or the CPU Central Processing Unit is the brain of the computer. The processor carries out the instructions in a program and controls all the work in the computer. Each of the separate components of CPU on its own is relatively simple. The key components of a CPU are the arithmetic logic unit (ALU), control unit and registers. Control unit control the flow of the information through the processor. This component receives, decodes, stores the result and manages the implementation of the data that flows through the CPU. It decides what actions it has to take and ensure that the data is sent to the appropriate components in the computer. Arithmetic Logic Unit is the part of CPU where all calculations are made. ALU performs the mathematical functions of addition, subtraction, multiplications, division and the logic operations. These include timing, number system and instructions. Registers is basically controlled by control unit and a necessary part of the CPU. Registers are temporary memory where it used to keep the data and other information while the program is running. Another type of registry is to accumulate, which is responsible for storing the next value that will be processed by the CPU. Processors also communicate in different ways. Like AMD and Intel; AMD is using the chipset hyper transport and Intel is using the front side bus to communicate. Motherboard Motherboard allows all the computer parts to communicate to each other and it also the primary hardware component inside a computer system. The main components of motherboard are: CPU Chip: The CPU is Central Processing Unit which controls all the calculations and decisions inside the PC. The CPU have all the control over the work is running on PC. RAM: Random Access Memory provides the working area for the CPU. Its keep all the temporary memory of the running programs and stores the data or informations as temporary. Floppy Controller: Is the hardware responsible for interfacing the floppy drives on your computer. It manages the flow of information from floppy to system processor. IDE Controller: Integrated Drive Electronics is connection for you hard drive or CD/DVD drive. It has the responsible for controlling the hard drive. PCI Slot: PCI slot can be used for components such as Ethernet cards, sound cards and modems. The PCI bus is used to connect I/O devices to the main logic of the computer. CMOS Battery: This is motherboard battery. This battery is used to allow the CMOS to keep its settings. AGP Slot: Stand for Advance Graphic Port and this is to connect the graphics card in to the motherboard. Power Supply Plug In: This is the component that supplies power to the other components of the computer. It communicates with other parts of the computer and supplies the power to it. BIOS Basic Input Output System is a chip located on all the computer motherboard which contains instructions and setups for how the system should boot and to make sure that all the other chips, hard drives, memory and CPU functioning together. The BIOS chips are a ROM (Read Only Memory) that means that you can access the information and read it by the user, but not modified it. Some main functions of BIOS are: Its ensures that the hardware on computer is properly functioning before starting the process of loading operating systems. Allow you to configuration against the configuration data. Hardware settings and other system settings you can use the diagnostic tool and fix the problem. BIOS also give the computer basic information about how to interact with some critical components. Power supply Power supply is the component that supplies power to make the computer and components work. It provides all of the different voltages your computer needs to operate properly. The power supply needs to produce enough wattage to allow the motherboard processor and other component to work properly. There are two different types of power, internal (Alternating current) and external (Direct current). The power supply also referred as switching power supplies. The power supplies pull the required amount of electricity and convert the AC input current to DC voltages. The typical voltages supplied are: 3.3 volts 5 volts 12 volts Fan and heat sink or cooling Its a physical device to keep the processor cool from the heat. Keeping processor is a major part of PC performance. Without them the components on your computer can get damage or even crash the system. The fan extracts the hot air from the case and keeps the components cooled down all the time. Heat sink is another device which sits over the CPU and keeps the CPU cooled down. The CPU is the one of the most important chip and to make the system more efficient the CPU most work properly. Some components generate a lot of heat and these can affect other chips close to them. Like 3D video cards and graphics cars generates a lots of heat. Hard drive configuration and controllers (e.g. SATA, IDE, EIDE, Master, Slave) Hard disk is a computer component where you can save large amount of data and other information that you need on it. You may also be used as a backup device. It is also called as Non-Volatile memory. There are three main hard drive controllers which is SATA, IDE and EIDE SATA: Serial Advanced Technology Attachment is a mass storage device where you can save your data and information on it. Its the next generation drive interface from the traditional Parallel ATA. The main function of SATA is to send data in serial mode. IDE: Integrated Drive Electronics have two different types of IDE controller, a primary IDE controller and a secondary IDE controller. It is a standard electronics interface between a computer motherboard and the computer disk. IDE is used to connect different drives to the computer but the main function is to send and receive data to and from the drive. The secondary IDE controller can be used on CD, DVD drivers and floppy drives. EIDE: Enhanced Integrated Drive Electronics is a standard electronics interface between your computer and storage device. EIDI is an improved version of IDE which provides much faster data rates than the original one and make it easy when you are working with computer hardware. The EIDE is also knows as ATA-2. There are two IDE controller, primary and secondary controller. You can assign master and slave to the primary and secondary drives to them. This allows one drives controller to tell the other drive when it can transfer the data or from the computer. The slave drive makes a request to the master drive if the information or the data can be sent. Its up to master to decide what action it has to take. If the master drive is not communicating with the computer it allows to send the information otherwise it tells the slave drive to wait. Communication ports e.g. USB, parallel, serial A communication port allows you to transmitting the data between a computer and peripheral device. A communication port is also called serial port and uses a transmitter to send data, one bit at time. Most computer has communication port because no extra or other hardware is needed other than a cable to connect. Internal memory (RAM, ROM, cache) Specialized card e.g. network, graphics cards Peripherals: Output devices eg monitor, printer, plotter; (11) input devices eg camera, scanner; (12) cabling eg coaxial, optical, twisted pair; Backing Storage: Portable and fixed drives types eg disks, pen drives, optical media, flash memory cards;

Binding Languages: ‘American’ Identities and Bilingual Education :: Free Essays Online

Binding Languages: ‘American’ Identities and Bilingual Education The turning points in one’s lifetime remain imprinted in a person’s mind like stamps on an envelope. They are always vivid and no matter how long time passes, the smells, noises and emotions felt always remain on our minds. The day I arrived at St. Vincent Ferrer ’s elementary school, I was only nine years old. Three days earlier, I had stepped off a plane at the Cincinnati’s international airport from Italy. My English knowledge was constrained to naming colors and counting up to one hundred. And yet, when I first stepped in my new 4th grade class, I felt welcome. Perhaps this was because I was the novelty in the class and all eyes that day remained on me. Many stood in awe wondering how and if an Italian girl looked, dressed, or talked differently from an American girl. That day, I was assigned to spend the day with Amanda, a girl with blue eyes and brown hair who seemed to have a happy expression on her face. It is still amazing to me today that, despit e completely not understanding each other, Amanda and I got along. This became evident during recess when she taught me how to play tag, a game not common in my native land, by using gestures to explain the rules. However, this use of gestures could not remain as the permanent mode of communication between us. Soon, the inability to interact with others because of a language barrier would impede my social development. This not only meant that I could not grow deep friendships with my peers, but also that I was left completely alone. No one talked to me during lunchtime; no one included me in his or her games; no one wanted to be my partner in any activity. Furthermore it would also slow down my intellectual expansion. Being unable to understand the meaning of words spoken by my teacher, I could not understand what the lesson was about. This made me feel as if I had lost my intelligence and my capability of learning. However, if I had been allowed to speak my own language within the school system while learning English, perhaps much pain and frustration might have been spared. The bewilderment, excitement and sense of fitting in on the first day of classes began and ceased that day. It would take months before I would feel again that I could belong with these people.

Cyberculture Essay :: Internet Technology essays

Cyberculture Essay E-mail today is the medium of choice when it comes to formal or informal exchange of written information. It has changed the way we thought about writing and drastically changed the way we correspond through writing. E-mail has added a certain type of convenience and its own unique style, although impersonal at times, to the written form of today’s communication. James Sosnoski said it well when he wrote in 1995, â€Å"reading electronic texts on screens is likely to be the predominant mode of reading in the very near future† (Tribble and Turbek 400). If he had only known how right, he was. E-mail today, in short has made the act of simple written correspondence so easy and convenient for all to do. Just over ten years ago, I can imagine many could never have fathomed that they would be able to write to a friend halfway across the world and have them receive the message in a matter of minutes. Writing letters on paper has lost its novelty. It used to be, not long ago that receiving a written letter wasn’t very uncommon, whereas today, it’s simply a rarity. Now not only are you able to send a letter in a matter of minutes, but you can save yourself the pains of writing several of the same copy; you can foreword or carbon copy them to as many people on your address list as you like with a click of a button. The act of revision and attention to spelling and grammatical error has all but eliminated itself in the development of this modern marvel. Dennis Baron wrote, â€Å"It wasn’t so much that I couldn’t think of the words, but the physical effort of handwriting, crossing out, revising, †¦ now seemed to overwhelm and constrict me, and I longed for the flexibility of digitized text† (Tribble and Turbek 36). Perhaps, part of the appeal that E-mail withholds is its ease of use. What was once considered painstaking, the task of writing, revising, and rewriting has now become a thing of the past. Its digitized text can easily compose with the stroke of a key and cut one’s precious time in half. With ease and convenience comes a change of what you might call the formality of written correspondence.

Where Have You Gone, Joshua Chamberlain? :: Free Essays Online

Where Have You Gone, Joshua Chamberlain? To some, it may be considered a minor inconvenience. To others, a drawn-out ordeal with annoying aspects, but one they realize will be completed shortly. Yet to some, to a select, elite group of young, paranoid, and, let’s face it, broke, lot of people known as college students, it’s a travesty. An impossibility. An object traveling deep into the Void, never to be seen again. This trip into the parallel universe to which some objects traverse without return is known as: The Loss of a Package Sent by your Parents. It wasn’t a package of cookies -- oh no, it couldn’t be something sweet, simple, and purely meant as a tasty surprise. Nor was it a warm, knit blanket, something to keep me toasty warm during long, cold nights of studying in my fairly-heated dorm room. Mail accidentally sent to my home address instead of my brand-new, thoroughly unfamiliar college address it was not. It was a package of books, hand-picked by my dad, for my first college presentation, discussing the life of a Civil War general, Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain. My father is somewhat of a self-taught expert on the subject. A man who has been that annoying voice in the back of a group tour, constantly asking questions and making comments (this â€Å"he-usually-makes-fun-of-this-person† day took place at the Joshua Chamberlain Museum in Brunswick, Maine). A man who has scoured every remote bookstore location in Maine, searching, praying, for another addition to his collection of scores of books concerning the late, great Joshua Chamberlain and the 20th Maine. This past summer, he hit the jackpot. While walking in Freeport, Maine, land of the wondrous L.L. Bean store, my father stumbled upon a small shanty of a store with a meager painted sign which read: â€Å"BOOKS: 20TH MAINE.† With bated breath, my dad entered the store. And there, among rows of Civil War memorabilia, regiment flags and extremely overpriced bronze replicas of battles such as Little Round Top, Dan Beaulieu found heaven. To this day, I wonder if he breathed once in that store, for fear that a puff of air might blow away his Holy Grail of bookstores. After a very exciting hour of buying T-shirts with inspiring quotes

I Heard a Fly Buzz When I Died and After the Apple PIcking: An Analysis Essay

A poet uses the elements of poetry to express his/her theme. This is particularly true in the poems I Heard a Fly Buzz When I Died by Emily Dickinson and After the Apple Picking by Robert Frost. Both poets use metaphor and rhyme scheme to accentuate the themes of these two famous poems by two of America’s most beloved poets. Metaphors, comparing two unlike or unrelated things, are essential to poetry and the purpose of poetry is to evoke an emotional response. Therefore, there must be a theme, or main point, to a poem and that point is what will awaken emotion in the reader. I Heard a Fly Buzz When I Died is a work that when the title or first line is read, sets a tone of uneasiness because it deals with death and flies. Most people do not want to dwell on their own mortality and no one can find tolerance for a fly. However, Dickinson portrays death in a way that it is only thought of as part of the natural process of life and she does this through the use of metaphors. The most obvious metaphor is where death is compared to a fly. The fly is seen as an annoying insect that is drawn to putrid decaying things that were once alive. The fly is insignificant where humans like to think that the whole world will be affected by their deaths, in reality, it will be as common as a house fly. The next metaphor is tied to the first in that the deathbed watchers are waiting for the King to make his presence known in the room. The King is obviously a metaphor for a royal personification of death. While they are anticipating some type of pageantry, death shows himself as a fly which heightens the theme of the commonality of death. After the Apple Picking is also rich with metaphors. The most obvious metaphor is the comparison of death with sleep. The narrator has finished a hard day’s work picking apples and he is extremely tired. In fact, he has fought sleepiness all day. The setting is late fall to early winter which also points to the end of life. This sleep is something that the narrator can not fight just as a person can not fight death. When the time comes, there is nothing a person can do but give into it. Rhyme scheme is another way that Dickinson and Frost accentuate the theme. In After the Apple Picking, the rhyme scheme is varied and subtle just as death can be. Death is certain like the rhyme scheme, but it is different for each person and it is not always earth shattering. Dickinson’s rhyme scheme in I Heard a Fly Buzz When I Died does follow a pattern, but it is also subtle. Her use of subtly takes the form of slant rhyme so that there is not a harshness that would detract from the theme of the commonness of death. Theme is the major element of poetry and through the use of other poetic elements, it can be conveyed effectively. Emily Dickinson and Robert Frost knew this and made use of rhyme scheme and metaphors to enhance the meanings of their poems.

Higher Education and Vocational Degree Essay

Whats Wrong With vocational School, by Charles Murray is an cite that states Vocational schooling would be discover off than a tetrad course of study College point in time. In Murrays opinion, college should only be with those with a lofty IQ govern of 115 or higher and subject to handle rigorous and challenging courses. If you argon at an IQ below cx it becomes an issue and you would be more than self-made in a Vocational program.This term calmly and rationally presents the nonion that the macrocosm would be go served by the reintroduction of more training for cargoners in trade occupations meet more prominent, at that placefore creating more transmission line opportunities for mass graduating with a vocational layer. some(prenominal) students that graduate from a four division University do not learn what is mandatory to go into the working field. Murray states For a few occupations, a college degree still certifies a mental reservation. This pay backs up t he question, why do we hale everyone to get a four stratum degree?In our society the college you go to means more than your actual qualification or talent you might excite. Employers track down to pick a student that graduated from a university over that of a vocational school student just because of the name of the school not the talent the man-to-man has. The degree itself also does not automatically qualify the student for the job and there argon a lot faster and better ways much(prenominal) as a vocational degree for young people to provide credentials to employers.These credentials are needed in the job commercialise for students with vocational degrees. As Murray says, Finding a good lawyer or atomic number 101 is easy but finding a good carpenter, painter, or linesman is neat difficult. The jobs needed such as an electrician or painters are those with vocational degrees. We practically over feeling some of the great jobs that taket require a degree and are stil l very rewarding. A vocational degree can bring just as much income sometimes even more than a four year college degree in half(prenominal) the time.We have a mindset that a four year degree is much more valuable than a vocational degree. As Murray conveys this is not true he used an example of a armorer bringing intrinsic rewards with high income. Vocational degrees are becoming more open in our community. A college degree is no more important than any different high tech occupation such as an NBA player or a cabinet maker. Many of our most high income people do not have a college degree and do not care because they are living blithely without it.Murray states the social cachet of a college degree still remains but entrust erode over time when macroscopic numbers of high income people do not have college degrees. Many employers are looking more at the exhibit you are good at something without the arrive at of a college degree and will addition more overtime. If this does continue our false medical prognosis of a college degree will diminish. As a society we look at the only way of becoming winning is going to a four university and look over vocational degree programs.

Retail food protection

Protection of food is essential to ensure more food safety. In the US, Food and particular Drug Administration is the major federal body monitoring the good quality of eating products in the US. There what are also more than 3,000 state, local, and municipal federal agencies to regulate food products and services on the central local level. Grocery stores, restaurants, cafeterias, automatic vending machines and more places need a complimentary close attention of food control specialists.Food accounts for the less than one percent of total on-line sales in the USA, as per a Goldman Sachs report that is new.Kitchen closed shop for many of your requirements that how are gadget! Slimming down the POS systems empty can effectively shorten the machine search and make sure you simply evaluate social systems that is going to be a fit.Food preparation additional information ought to go from the kitchen.

public Catering may be used to pleasure passengers.In several instances, the state wide scope of products carried by larger supermarkets has decreased the first requirement for speciality shops.Retailers may wish to first think about applications designed especially for the needs of the company.Stores can throw better off enormous amounts of food.

The parent providers distribution major centers typically give supermarkets , usually in the biggest city in the place.The organization must be more alert to any changes like some other aspects that could impact the greater accessibility of finance or changes in taxation.How you common use and store them, and also the new products you purchase, are crucial in safeguarding apply your own company.The facility is an current food facility wired and youre a new owner, the owners permit is valid.

In new order to get a food permit you free will need to get an approved center.Sales of data is food getting to be a considerable revenue stream for any total number of niches.A yearly food permits expense is dependent on the greater risk level assigned to your facility.Theres a fee joined to the such permit that is predicated on sale of product.