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Information Security Awareness Programs An Integral Part...

One of the greatest risks to a company’s information security is not a shortcoming in the technical control environment, rather it is their employees’ inaction or action that leads to security incidents (PCI, 2014). For instance, information disclosure leading to social engineering attack, access to sensitive information unrelated to the employee’s role, not reporting unusual activity are some of the scenarios that could result in compromise of an organization’s information security and privacy. Information security awareness programs also helps address the problems related to regulatory compliance like FISMA, HIPAA etc. Over the years, information security awareness programs have become an integral part of security management. Therefore, it is imperative for organizations to adopt a security awareness program that will ensure that its employees are conscious and aware of the importance of safeguarding organization’s sensitive and critical informati on, educating them to better handle information securely, and the risks of mismanaging the information. Information security awareness programs derived from standards and best practices mainly focuses on the processes and content of the program, without considering how security related decisions are made by individuals and how individuals synthesize security related information (Tsohou, Karyda, Kokolakis, 2014). An individual’s beliefs, perceptions and biases play a significant role in influencing security policy compliance.Show MoreRelatedEmergency Management And The Homeland Security Information Network Essay1420 Words   |  6 Pages Emergency management functions around four main ideas, mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. These terms are widely used throughout the federal emergency management agency, which in turn integrates them into every aspect of emergency management as a whole. Using the terms mentioned helps create programs such as web-based situational awareness programs the Homeland Security Information Network known as â€Å"HSIN†. Web-based situational awareness programs are vital programs to have duringRead MoreRisk Analysis : The American Red Cross1743 Words   |  7 Pagesis an integral part of data safety within an organization and the analysis is vital to the mission and success of an organization. Risk analysis is used â€Å"to identify threats and then provide recommendations to address these threats† (Taylor et al, 2006). Risk analysis encompasses not only the equipment and programs used in an organization but also covers the culture, managerial, and administrat ive processes to assure data security. A key factor in risk analysis is to have a good Information ResourceRead MoreDomestic And International Risks Associated With Terrorism And Other Criminal Activity Threats Posed For Port Maritime Operations1715 Words   |  7 PagesThere are several resources available to the port Facility Security Officer (FSO) in assessing domestic and international risks associated with terrorism and other criminal activity threats posed to port maritime operations. There are also several things to keep in mind as the FSO when trying to assess these risks. The FSO needs to build rapport with all law enforcement agencies, government agencies, stakeholders and all private security entities within the port. A collaboration of efforts is importantRead MoreNational Strategy For Homeland Security Agencies854 Words   |  4 Pagesimpossible as the whole town was in chaos. The local authorities could have coordinated with various Homeland security agencies to res tore normalcy. The Coordinated Responses and Key Resources office of the president has come up with three main strategies to respond to disasters and protect the critical infrastructure in the USA. The President has charged the National Strategy for Homeland Security (NSHS) with the responsibility to address the vulnerabilities that involve more than one sector or needsRead MoreHealthcare Information Technology For A Medium Sized Organization1552 Words   |  7 PagesHealthcare information technology is a growing and promising, tool with the goal of improving quality, safety, and efficiency of the delivery of healthcare. But with this technology comes possible risk of security breaches. It is imperative to run risk analysis and apply technical safeguards to protect confidential healthcare information. The Office of Civil Rights along with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act Privacy Rule protect the public’s rights of nondiscrimination andRead MoreWhat Is Ewaah?1439 Words   |  6 PagesEnhance Shared Situational Awareness: ESSA Description: The ESSA storefront provides evolving federated querying capabilities across the participating national cybercenters. The system is designed to be extensible, allowing multiple participants to join the effort through shared common specifications, the Trusted Automated eXchange of Indicator Information (TAXII) 1.1 and the Structured Threat Information eXpression eXtensible Markup Language (STIX XML) 1.1.1. It also allows participants adheringRead MoreThe Faceless Threat : Cyber Security And Critical Infrastructure1306 Words   |  6 PagesThe Faceless Threat: Cyber Security and Critical Infrastructure Our society continues to promote a culture that perpetuates overdependence on technology to monitor complex Internet-based systems. Thus, the U.S cannot ignore the devastation that could ensue from an attack by a nation-state, cyber terrorist, or hacker. As discussed in the 2014 Quadrennial Homeland Security Review, the number of CIKR systems that depend on the Internet or data processing networks for seamless operations are increasingRead MoreSecurity : A Critical Management Function1421 Words   |  6 PagesCCJS 345 Intro to Security Management Project 2: Paper on Security Roles 11 September 2014 â€Æ' Security is a critical management function in most businesses. Where security strategies and operations were almost unheard of 35 years ago, there are now vice presidents of loss prevention and even chief security officers (CSOs) at most multi-national corporations who report directly to the chief executive officer (CEO) or the chief operating officer (COO). In most instances, the security position has becomeRead MoreThe Vulnerability Of Network Infrastructure Vulnerabilities1436 Words   |  6 Pages Security services are an integral part of any network design. Assessing the vulnerability of network infrastructure to disruptive events is recognized as an important component of network planning and analysis. This section provides an overview of common network infrastructure vulnerabilities, essential network security concepts analysis and present. It illustrates the possible placement of servers including access paths to the Internet, intrusion detection systems (IDS), and firewalls. This paperRead Morecgmt 400 week 3 individual securing and protecting information1490 Words   |  6 Pagesï » ¿ Securing and Protecting Information Michael Anthony Horton University of Phoenix August 18, 2014 Instructor: Dr. Stephen Jones Securing and Protecting Information The specific purpose of this paper is to describe the authentication process and to describe how this and other information security considerations will affect the design and development process for new information systems. The authentication process is a necessity for

Pythagoras Free Essays

Pythagoras must have been one of the world’s greatest men. However, he wrote nothing and it is unknown how much of the doctrine of Pythagoras is due to the founder of society and how much is later development. Sometimes he is represented as a man of science, a mathematician, and even as a preacher of mystical doctrines. We will write a custom essay sample on Pythagoras or any similar topic only for you Order Now None of these traditional views, however, should be rejected, for he contributed his genius in each field. Pythagoras lived from about 569 BC to about 475 BC. His father was Mnesarchus, a merchant from Tyre; his mother was Pythais, a native of Samos. Pythagoras spent most of his early years in Samos but traveled with his father. He was taught by the Chaldeans and the learned men of Syria. Among his teachers, there were three philosophers who influenced Pythagoras while he was a young man, Pherekydes, Thales, and Aleximander. They influenced Pythagoras’ interest in geometry and cosmology, encouraging him to pursue his studies in Egypt. In 535 BC, Pythagoras went to Egypt where he visited many temples and took part in many discussions with priests. Then, after his journeys to Samos and Crete, Pythagoras founded a philosophical and religious school in Crotona. He was the head of the society with an inner circle of followers known as mathematikoi. Pythagoras influenced a group of early Greek scientific and religious thinkers, the Pythagoreans. They believed that the soul was immortal and separable from the body. Because they believed that the soul was reincarnated in different animal bodies, they practiced vegetarianism. The group was almost cult-like in that it had symbols, rituals and prayers. In addition, Pythagoras believed that â€Å"Number rules the universe,† and the Pythagoreans gave numerical values to many objects and ideas. These numerical values, in turn, were endowed with mystical and spiritual qualities. The Pythagoreans discovered irrational numbers. If an isosceles right triangle is taken with legs of measure 1, the hypotenuse will measure square root of 2. However, because this number cannot be expressed as a length that can be measured with a ruler divided into fractional parts, it deeply disturbed the Pythagoreans who believed that â€Å"All is number. † They called these numbers â€Å"alogon,† which means â€Å"unutterable. So shocked were the Pythagoreans by these numbers that they put to death a member who dared to mention their existence to the public. There are a couple of theorems attributed to Pythagoras or rather, more generally, to the Pythagoras. I. The sum of the angles of a triangle is equal to two right angles. II. For a right-angled triangle, the square of the hypotenuse is equal to the sum of the squares on the other two sides. In ancient times, the Egyptians used t heir knowledge of the Pythagorean Theorem to construct right angles. They knotted ropes with units of 3, 4, and 5 knot spaces. Then, using the three ropes, they stretched them and formed a triangle. They knew the triangle would always end up having a right angle opposite the longest side (32+42=52). Pythagoras and his followers also constructed figures of a given area and the five regular solids. In astronomy, Pythagoras taught the Earth was a sphere at the center of the universe. He recognized that the orbit of the moon was inclined to the equator of the Earth; and, he was one of the first to realize that Venus as an evening star was the same planet as Venus as a morning star. Finally, Pythagoras went to Delos in 513 BC to nurse his old teacher Pherekydes who was dying. He remained there for a few months until the death of his friend and teacher and then returned to Crotona. In 510 BC Crotona attacked and defeated its neighbor Sybaris and became involved in the dispute. Then in around 508 BC the Pythagorean Society at Crotona was attacked by Cylon, a noble from Crotona itself. Pythagoras escaped to Metapontium and died there, some claiming that he committed suicide because of the attack on his Society. Iamblichus quotes one version of events: Cylon, a Crotoniate and leading citizen by birth, fame and riches, but otherwise a difficult, violent, disturbing and tyrannically disposed man, eagerly desired to participate in the Pythagorean way of life. He approached Pythagoras, then an old man, but was rejected because of the character defects just described. When this happened, Cylon and his friends vowed to make a strong attack on Pythagoras and his followers. Thus, a powerfully aggressive zeal activated Cylon and his followers to persecute the Pythagoreans to the very last man. Because of this Pythagoras left for Metapontium and there is said to have ended his days. The evidence is unclear as to when and where the death of Pythagoras occurred. Certainly, the Pythagorean Society expanded rapidly after 500 BC, became political in nature and also spilt into a number of factions. In 460 BC the Societywas violently suppressed. Its meeting houses were everywhere sacked and burned; mention is made in particular of â€Å"the house of Milo† in Crotona, where 50 or 60 Pythagoreans were surprised and slain. Those who survived took refuge at Thebes and other places How to cite Pythagoras, Papers

Behaviour of Consumer on a Wide Level Free-Sample for Students

Question: Develop a Consumer Behaviour Report to be Submitted to Managing Director of a Medium to High Involment Brand and Product line of your choice to outline the key Issues Facing the Company in terms of Consumer Behavioural Issues. Answer: Introduction The edible oil and the products related to it are identified as one of the most promising products in the market. To make the financial arrangement on the bigger landscape, the industry selected should be branded and well-structured. The organization selected for the discussion is Wilmar. There are various varieties of oil identified by the organization. These oils are helpful in providing the major health benefits like controlling the cancer, diabetes, cholesterol, ageing many more. Wilmar is successful in launching a wide range of launching many products. The Palm oil is considered as one of the latest products of Wilmar. The main strategy behind this launch is to shift the existing customers of Wilmar into the new olive brand. The report shown below is mainly helpful in showing the behavior of consumer on a wide level. Background Wilmar is considered as the famous and most promising organization of Singapore which assists in providing suitable products as per the requirement of the customers. It was first introduced in the year 1991. The organization is considered as one of the most famous agribusiness organizations in the Asia. The Singapore is exporting the edible oils from last 20 years. In terms of quality standards, the organization is having recognition of ISO 22000: 2005, HALAL Certification BRC Global Standard. For the sake of consumers, the organization is manufacturing bets products. There are various packaging plants and delivering options by which the best quality products can be delivered to the consumers. The report shown below mainly aids in defining major areas related to the organization like SWOT analysis, PESTLE analysis, target marketing, buying and psychological behavior, personal aspects and four definite set of marketing strategy. The overall purpose of preparing the report is to make it appropriate for identifying the need of the consumers (STYLECRAZE, 2014). Company SWOT Analysis The SWOT analysis helps in providing the opportunity for identifying the defining set of strength, weakness, opportunity and threat on a wide level. With the help of this, the requirement of the consumer and their buying behavior can be identified. The SWOT analysis also assists in providing the suitable platform for the growth and development. The table shown below helps in highlighting the specific details. Strength More than 20 years of experience in the market. Strongest team player for the Agri- Business. The strong reputation and specific goodwill of the company will be helpful in attracting more customers towards the company. Weakness Introduction of new concept took time in the adjustment for managing the market. The market aspects and promotional standards are also high in contrast to the organization. It is more challenging to attract new customers in the existing market. Opportunity Increment in the growth factors. Management of the new opportunities. More consumers will attract towards the new products. Threat Increment in the competition. There are almost 11 leading players in the market who are selling the same products with brand identity. Introduction of the similar product in market with different price codes. All these aspects are considered before initiating the new product in the market. Apart from this, the PESTLE analysis is also identified on an initial level. PESTLE Analysis of Company Pestle analysis is identified as one of the supporting features which may help in performing the political, economic, social, technical, legal and environmental studies on the specific topic provided. In reference to the Political support, the organization is getting benefit from the various political benefits from all the aspects. Apart from this, the environment and trading conditions are also well developed. To manage the consumer choice, in such conditions can become easier. The Economic aspects are also well versed and define in a suitable manner. The market value and rate of shares is also well-defined in a definite direction. To manage the sale of the product more vibrant and live, it is essential to manage the suitable aspects related to the organization. The actual process of the market can also be identified with the help of the economic process. The social aspect of the organization is also well-versed. The organization is looking forward to the various opportunities to serve the society in a different manner. The ongoing CSR activities are there which may aid in providing the suitable guidelines for the promotion and development of the organization. The technical aspects are considered as one of the most important points to be discussed on the organizational level. There are various software and technical system defined in the organization for the suitable management. The technical aspect is also successful in providing assistance in the correct direction. This technical aspect may also help in improving the consumer related tissues (Brosekhan Velayutham, 2014). The legal and environmental aspects of the organization are well-defined. There is no issue in handling the current aspect related to the organization. All legal formalities can also be handled easily by following the specific rules. The environmental conditions of the organization are also effectively regulating the market. This will assist in defining the suitable criteria for the future processing. Target Market Decision making Process Target marketing refers to the relation between buyer and seller. The seller must need to identify the buyer buying behavior, so that it can fascinate the consumers towards their product. Nowadays, it is the most effective and widely used method which follows the individual concerns, occupation and demands (Kerr, 2014). Information Research Major constituents of target marketing are: who, where, why and how. We would have targeted the people who are using palm oil. As Willmar is one of the major edible selling company in Singapore, whose major edible oil product is Palm oil. According to United States Department of Agriculture Research, in edible oil there are two types of fats: - One is Saturated fat and another one is unsaturated fat. High saturated ratio in edible oil is harmful to human body high unsaturated is better. The specific details and description is defined below in the paragraphs below. According to the reports, in palm oil the presence of saturated fat is 49%, while in Olive oil it is only 14 %. The difference among these two is 35%, which is good for health. If we talk about unsaturated fat percentage in the palm oil, its ratio is only 51 %, while in olive oil it is 86 %, which is more than 35 %. Thus, it is highly recommended that the consumption of olive oil in our daily diet lead to a healthy body which is better than a person who is consuming palm oil. Thats the companys main target is to basically create more awareness among the citizens of Singapore for using better oil in their cooking to get a healthy and fit body. It will also help in the better development of children infants. Purchase Decision and Post Purchase evaluation So, the first target of the organization will be household ladies, the owners of various restaurants and hawkers. The decision for target marketing is being taken on the basis of area and locality too. The demographic and psycho-graphic features are also helpful in defining the most important aspects related to the expansion and growth perspective related to the organization. By this analysis, the consumer analysis aspects can be well-defined and managed. Target market decision process Our major target for olive oil will be household ladies, as they are the major decision maker regarding the cooking habits and majorly concerned for providing a healthy diet for their families. Then the other focus would be on the restaurants owners and street hawkers. This aspect is withdrawn by identifying the basic requirements of the consumers on an international and local level. According to a survey conducted by the Ministry of Health of Singapore in year 2014, 16 % deaths have been occurred due to heart attack. This is occurring because of consumption of wrong edible oil by the people living over there. There is another report from National University of Singapore (NUS), which concluded that eating palm oil increase the level of cholesterol in the body. These reports will help to influence/propagate the customers to shift from palm oil to Olive oil. Also, it will help the restaurant owners and food hawkers to gain the loyalty of their customers as they are providing them healthy food by using live oil. Due to these reasons, the target market for consumers is essential to identify. Our company will do the following activities for creating awareness about the launch of the new products: Activities in Societies The defined set of activities is planned for promoting the product in the societies. The oil can also be helpful in providing the assistance on the broader societal level. The introduction of fitness forum, identification of weight management activities and other aspects will be helpful in the promotion of new products in the existing market. All these aspects will give a better understanding about the product and will make them realize regarding the health benefit of olive in the family to live longer and get protected from heart attacks, cancer, bad cholesterol and a few other diseases. Hospitals Chemist outlets To gain the trust of consumers, few hospitals and trust are being identified. The banners and pamphlets can be distributed among the people, which will directly promote the usage of olive oil. GYM Fitness Centers For increasing the consumer support, it is essential to put the banners and brand promotion methods in the organized manner. People who visit Gyms and fitness centers are very concerned about their health and body. Promoters will definitely influence these people to purchase the olive oil of Wilmar (Outbrain, 2016). Paid Displays in Top Selling Outlets The company has planned to hire some space for top selling outlets where they would do the advertisement of the product. LED displays will be placed so that it can attract the end consumers. Also, the company is planning to provide some free samples to them. Online Promotion by throwing some offers: There are various offers and services that can be provided to the consumers by online promotions. The product with proper set of services can be circulated among consumer with new and attractive offers. This will be helpful in solving two purposes. The first aspect is improvement in the services and second aspect is the promotion of a product via internet which is the most reliable source of circulating the products. Social Influence on buying behavior Singapore Medical Association - It is a national medical organization and has been formed in 1959. Singapore citizens are very much influenced by it. SMA published a health magazine on a monthly basis, which is basically followed by most of Singapore citizens. We will publish an article in that magazine focusing the information about how to survive from heart attack, cholesterol and other diseases by using our product. Fitness Trainers - We will contact all the Fitness Trainers of Singapore they will educate people about how our olive oil will help to keep them fit. By different researches, it is already proved that Olive oil is the best edible oil for human body and also reduces the chances of heart attack, cancer, cholesterol and helps in diabetes as well. There are other 22 benefits of using olive oil for us. Senior Citizens Program The company also mentioned that they will also conduct senior citizens programs in which they will brief about the benefits of our products. Being an elder in families, members will follow to elders (Hui, 2016) Psychological influence on buying behavior Health and Long Life Today people want to live a healthy life. As, already mentioned, that olive oil contains 85% of unsaturated fat which is best for consumption. If they consume healthy food, they will live as long. Spain, Italy, Greece, Portugal and Turkey are the major countries counted for production of Olive oil and its proven that the citizens of these countries live a healthy and long life. Also, the death ratio due to cancer is very less in these countries compared to other (Filik Ozyilkan, 2003) Helpful in development of Children - As mothers are most concerned about the health of their children. So, their brand is proved best in quality and provides huge benefits for health, so hopefully the consumer will prefer the companys brands for the children. Personal Influence on buying behavior Occupation Our brand team will focus people who are in good occupation like doctors, ladies and Fitness trainers. These people are more concerned about their own and familys health. They focus on the good quality food and can spend money for good quality products which are best suitable for their health. Age Our target age will be the people who are more than 20 years of age. The people of this age are more conscious about their health. Also, we target people more than 70 years age, which are mostly diabetic patients. Economic Condition- Before making a purchase decision, everyone thinks about their income. Our target customers will be only those whose economic condition must be good as they can think for premium segment purchase. Range of product is directly proportional to the income of the consumer. If the buyer has enough money to purchase a high quality he/she definitely go for a superior product (SMA, 2017). Lifestyle People who have good lifestyle can be targeted for the product. An Individual interest, values, opinions and activities are the basic factors counted in lifestyle.. Marketing Strategy Social Marketing The company will adopt the social marketing medium, such as advertisements on Facebook, mails, Google, etc. Most of the young people today are quite active in the social media. So, it will be one of the best tools to represent our product to our target customers (Fernandesa, Puntonib, Osselaerc, 2015) Augmented Marketing - This type of marketing will help in attracting customers towards the product by providing various offers and discounts on products, like value aided discount. For example, 5 Singapore dollars off or buy 2 get 10 Singapore dollar discount on 3rd oil packaging. Direct Marketing This will help to interact the company with direct customers. By this, they can provide knowledge about the benefits of the products to the customers. For Example- Direct sales representative of company to market, Cold calling, through mails etc. Personal Marketing In this type of marketing strategy, any Celebrity or sports person will endorse our product. Like Stefanie Sun, Jackson Rathbone, Amos Boon, etc. By this, the company can target followers of such persons (Pal, 2015). Conclusion The organizational research and the data collected from various resources reveals that in Singapore, there is huge scope in the Olive Oil Segment. As the studies also show that WILMAR is the largest player in the edible oil industry over there. But, the concern is that they are selling a product is Palm oil. By different researches and medical associations, it is proven that Olive oil is better than Palm oil (Inc., 2012). Just three years back incident proved that Singapore citizens are not so healthy by consuming Palm oil, which is causing cardiovascular, heart attacks, Cancer, Diabetes and many other diseases to the people living over there. So, in case if the people should get awareness about the benefits of olive oil and harms of Palm oil, then they may start using Olive oil in their diet. The PESTLE and SWOT analysis of the organization are also helpful in defining the major aspects related to the organization at a definite level. Wilmar researched that, if they will try to shift the customers from palm to Olive, it may create more and more new business. Also, the olive segment has a huge opportunity to grow. So, the company has decided to launch its new olive oil product. The specific strategy and growth factors will also be helpful in making the strategy successful in the right direction (Wilmar International, 2014). Bibliography Brokers' Call: Wilmar International. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.straitstimes.com/business/companies-markets/brokers-call-wilmar-international Brosekhan, A. A., Velayutham, D. C. (2014). Consumer Buying Behaviour A Literature Review. IOSR Journal of Business and Management (IOSR-JBM). Retrieved from https://iosrjournals.org/iosr-jbm/papers/ncibppte-volume-1/1014.pdf Fernandesa, D., Puntonib, S., Osselaerc, S. M. (2015). When and why we forget to buy. Journal of Consumer Psychology, 363-380. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/10577408 Filik, L., Ozyilkan, O. (2003). Olive-oil consumption and cancer risk. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 191-191. Retrieved from https://www.nature.com: https://www.nature.com/ejcn/journal/v57/n1/full/1601497a.html Hui, P. C. (2016, January). The Oily Truth. Retrieved from https://www.straitstimes.com: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/the-oily-truth Inc., T. N. (2012). Wilmar International Limited (F34) - Financial and Strategic SWOT Analysis Review - new company profile report. TransWorld News. Retrieved from https://www.stockenews.com/NewsStory.aspx?ID=1040343 Kerr, M. (2014, December). What Is Target Marketing? Retrieved from https://articles.bplans.com/target-marketing/ Outbrain. (2016, February). Brokers' Call: Wilmar International. (Reuter, Editor) Retrieved from https://www.straitstimes.com: https://www.straitstimes.com/business/companies-markets/brokers-call-wilmar-international Pal, P. (2015, march). 12 Different Types of Marketing Strategy and Techniques. Retrieved from www.publishyourarticles.ne: https://www.publishyourarticles.net/knowledge-hub/business-studies/12-different-types-of-marketing-strategy-and-techniques/5536/ SMA. (2017). Be equipped to handle your patient's mental health needs. Retrieved from https://www.sma.org.sg/UploadedImg/files/Publications%20-%20SMA%20News/4903/Full%20PDF.pdf STYLECRAZE. (2014, December 13). 22 Best Benefits Of Olive Oil (Jaitun Ka Tel) For Skin, Hair, And Health. Retrieved from https://www.stylecraze.com: https://www.stylecraze.com/articles/amazing-benefits-of-olive-oil-that-you-never-knew/#gref Wilmar International. (2014). Wilmar International Limited SWOT Analysis. Journal of Health Sciences. Retrieved from https://hsl.med.nyu.edu: https://hsl.med.nyu.edu/resource/details/1250002

s Wine Indusrty

AMERICA’S WINE INDUSTRY: A GLOBAL SUCCESS J. EDWIN DIETEL After scarcely a generation, the US wine industry is challenging centuries-old European wineries America’s winemakers, most of whom are relative newcomers to the industry, are making superior wines and reaping global acclaim. In a single generation, and at a time when many US industries can no longer claim to be world leaders, the US wine industry’s global success is a fascinating story of entrepreneurial vision and savvy marketing. It remains to be seen whether the American industry has reached its peak, or if new innovations, new competition, and new markets will make the future rosy for US vintners. In terms of worldwide recognition and success, individual American wineries have made their mark only in the last 50-odd years. American experiments with wine-making for the past 200 years- including considerable efforts by Thomas Jefferson to replicate French grape-growing techniques at Monticello- had proved commercially unsuccessful. Not until the end of Prohibition in 1933 did the American wine industry take off on a large scale. America has now become the fourth largest producer in the world behind Italy, France, and Spain. US wine exports in 1999 were up almost threefold over 1990 levels, totaling 74 million gallons ($540 million). Quantity of production is but one measure of success of the industry. American wine producers also have become widely known for the quality of their products. The single event that brought global recognition to the American wine industry occurred in Paris in 1976. There, in a celebrated blind tasting by nine French wine experts, American Chardonnays were compared to their celebrated French counterparts, white Burgundies, while American Cabernet Sauvignons were compared to the prestigious French first-growth red Bordeaux. The American wi... 's Wine Indusrty Free Essays on America\'s Wine Indusrty AMERICA’S WINE INDUSTRY: A GLOBAL SUCCESS J. EDWIN DIETEL After scarcely a generation, the US wine industry is challenging centuries-old European wineries America’s winemakers, most of whom are relative newcomers to the industry, are making superior wines and reaping global acclaim. In a single generation, and at a time when many US industries can no longer claim to be world leaders, the US wine industry’s global success is a fascinating story of entrepreneurial vision and savvy marketing. It remains to be seen whether the American industry has reached its peak, or if new innovations, new competition, and new markets will make the future rosy for US vintners. In terms of worldwide recognition and success, individual American wineries have made their mark only in the last 50-odd years. American experiments with wine-making for the past 200 years- including considerable efforts by Thomas Jefferson to replicate French grape-growing techniques at Monticello- had proved commercially unsuccessful. Not until the end of Prohibition in 1933 did the American wine industry take off on a large scale. America has now become the fourth largest producer in the world behind Italy, France, and Spain. US wine exports in 1999 were up almost threefold over 1990 levels, totaling 74 million gallons ($540 million). Quantity of production is but one measure of success of the industry. American wine producers also have become widely known for the quality of their products. The single event that brought global recognition to the American wine industry occurred in Paris in 1976. There, in a celebrated blind tasting by nine French wine experts, American Chardonnays were compared to their celebrated French counterparts, white Burgundies, while American Cabernet Sauvignons were compared to the prestigious French first-growth red Bordeaux. The American wi...

Average ACT Score for Colleges What You Need to Get In

Average ACT Score for Colleges What You Need to Get In SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips If you're preparing for the ACT or you've taken the ACT, you probably want to know what score you need to get into college. What's an average ACT score for colleges? Do you need to do better than average to go to college? In this article, I'll explain average ACT scores and what they mean for you. Find out how to calculate the score you need to give yourself the best chance to get into your dream school. What Is the Average ACT Score for Colleges? The national average ACT scores stay roughly the same from year to year. Generally, the average is released for high school seniors each year. For the class of 2015, these were the average section and composite scores: Composite: 21.0 English: 20.4 Reading: 21.4 Math: 20.8 Science: 20.9 Because these averages are for all high school seniors who took the test and not for college-bound seniors, these scores may not be incredibly helpful for you. Some states require all students, even those who don't plan to attend college, to take the ACT. However, when you apply to college, you're being compared against other applicants, not against all high school seniors. How to Find the Average ACT Score of a Specific College While you may want to know how your ACT score stacks up against others who take the test, what really matters is how your score compares to other applicants of the colleges you apply to. Even though a 29 is well above the national average, a 29 is significantly below the average ACT for Ivy League schools. Therefore, even though a 29 is a very good score, you’ll be at a competitive disadvantage if you apply to any Ivy League school with a 29. On the other hand, if you apply to Cal States, a 29 will exceed the average of any California State University campus, and you’ll improve your chances of getting accepted if you that's your composite score. You can find the average ACT scores of different colleges in the PrepScholar database by googling â€Å"prepscholar (name of school) ACT† to find a school’s profile. On the school profile, you can see its average GPA, average ACT score, and acceptance rate. For example, according to the PrepScholar database, the average ACT score forBerkeley is a 30. Also, Berkeley's average GPA is a 3.86 and its acceptance rate is 18%. The University of Oklahoma has an average ACT score of 26, an average GPA of 3.59, and an acceptance rate of 80%. What Does the Average ACT Score of a College Mean to You? If you want to get into a certain school, your ACT score should be comparable to the average score for the college’s admits. To give yourself the best chance of gaining admission to a specific school, we recommend that your goal should be to get at least a 75th percentile score for that college. The 75th percentile score for Berkeley is a 33; therefore, if you want to go to Berkeley, your target score should be a 33. Because Berkeley's acceptance rate is only around 18%, you should try to surpass its average score to have a decent shot of gaining admission. Similiarly, the 75th percentile score for Oklahoma is a 29. If you dream of becoming a Sooner, you should shoot for a 29 on your ACT. Furthermore, because a certain number of spots will go to athletes, legacies, and children of big-time donors, your qualifications may have to be better than average if you aren’t in one of these categories. What If You Don’t Get Your Target Score? If you don’t get the 75th percentile score or even the average ACT score for a specific college, that doesn’t necessarily mean that you have no chance of getting accepted. However, if you still have time to reach your target score, it’s probably in your best interest tostudy and attempt toimprove your score. You can compensate for lower test scores with a higher GPA. Generally, schools place a greater emphasis on your transcript than on your standardized test scores. Also, on each school’s profile in the PrepScholar database, you can use our admissions calculator by entering your GPA and ACT score to get an estimate of your chances of gaining admission to that school. Furthermore, keep in mind that colleges tend to use holistic admissions, meaning that everything is considered when colleges determine whom to admit. They’ll evaluate your transcript, test scores, extracurricular activities, recommendations, application essays, and any other factors that admissions officers deem relevant. If you've faced any significant obstacles or you're from an impoverished background, colleges will also take this into account. Just because you don’t reach your target score doesn’t necessarily mean that you have no chance to get admitted. However, while most colleges don't claim to have a minimum ACT score, if your score isn't close to the average score for a particular school, you may have virtually no chance of getting accepted. Even if you have great grades and stellar extracurricular accomplishments, you probably don't have a realistic shot of getting into Princeton if your ACT score is lower than 20. While standardized tests aren't the only determining factor in college admissions, most colleges use the ACT to ensure that you're capable of succeeding academically. Your ACT score matters! What's Next? Now that you know more about average ACT scores, learn more about the scores you need to get into the Ivy League and top colleges. If you've already taken the ACT, find out if you should retake the test. Finally, not only do we have information about the average ACT scores for colleges, but also we've given you the average ACT scores by state. Want to improve your ACT score by 4+ points? Download our free guide to the top 5 strategies you need in your prep to improve your ACT score dramatically.

It's in the instructions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

It's in the instructions - Essay Example The product is now one of the most popular gaming devices in the world. The first playstation was developed on the technology of the cancelled Super disc, which was upgraded and developed into a product of its own. This new product was by far superior to other gaming devices such as the Sega or the Nintendo as it possessed a CD-ROM gaming system which was new in this era and easier for manufacturing. The first Playstation launched had a lot of development potential due to the CD-ROM system it used. The approach by the company to introduce third parties for marketing made the product even more appealing. The design was also modern, sleek and was superior to the other gaming devices. Playstation further enhanced its reach by gaining control of several franchises in the gaming word such as Spyro, Crash Bandicoot and Twisted metal which were all very popular games. These were made the faces of the console which was also an excellent marketing strategy. The next console to be introduced was Playstation 2 which was introduced in 2000 (Donovan et al., 10). This console had a superior appearance to the first Playstation and had record breaking sale figures. This is because Playstation had already acquired a loyal fan base and many people were awaiting the upgrade of the already successful Playstation. The sales of PS2 were more than 150 million in total. The success of PS2 also lies in the fact that they kept in touch with the requirements of the customers and introduced the popular characters from the first Playstation. In addition, there were new characters that were introduced. Particularly the first Killzone and God of War were all introduced on Playstation 2. These were also influential and helped in boosting the popularity of PS2. These games also enabled to create loyalty among gamers as they would be waiting for upgrades in the future versions. PS2 Slim was the next to be released and the selling feature of this console

Communication In Multidisciplinary Health Teams Essay

Communication In Multidisciplinary Health Teams - Essay Example Their historic experience has made nursing and midwifery the unifying catalysts in health teams. Their sustaining nodal core has been their humane 'caring'. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates a shortage of more than 4 million doctors, nurses, midwives, worldwide (1600 medical schools; 6000 nursing schools; 375 public health schools). Inadequate remuneration adds to the loss of trained health-care personnel, to emigration (a recent analysis of nearly 400 emigr nurses in London found that as many as two thirds of them were recruited from Cameroon by agencies to work in Britain). An additional 2% of the nursing workforce is lost to retirement, each year. The existing local health resources, left, have to confront the growing burden of high-priority services required to meet the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs)(2) established by WHO: To confront this world challenge with the existing shortage of nurses, the World Health Organisation has proposed the development of multidisciplinary teamwork at country level (3). This strategy multiplies existing health workforce in a synergy to surpass the sum of each individual. However, teamwork requires the leadership of nurses and midwifery to integrate and coordinate collaborative partnership, enhancing information exchange, as advanced technology creates medical specialisation and sub-specialisation. Shann DEFINITION Shannon-Weiner had described linear communication process as the flow of INFORMATION (message) between an INPUT (emissary), and an OUTPUT (receptor), through a modelling CHANNEL. Now-a-days, the INPUT runs the INFORMATION through the 'black box' (channel with an unknown inner mechanism, that gives an unpredictable OUTPUT), in system analogy. This exchange of a heterogeneous, concurrently running process distributes message transactions with unreliable execution. Non-linearity must be harnessed by clear inter-process workflow mechanisms to avoid entropy (the natural tendency towards disorganization and chaos). To better understand communication in multidisciplinary teams, we must first delve into the deeper meaning implied in each of these words, for a comprehensive analysis: "Teams" differs from "groups", because they unite people in a common purpose; whereas "groups" are encounter, meeting spaces where feelings, experience or ideas are shared and exchanged, without a fixed agenda. The original word, "team" comes from the Greek, meaning two horses or oxen, together, driving a plough. Multidisciplinary is a term coined recently to describe the multiple specialities (functional disciplines) that interact in a common job. Unlike interdisciplinary, which describes the interaction within the team, multidisciplinary teams work together towards a common objective. Multidisciplinary is external networking; interdisciplinary is internal interaction. Communication which comes from the latin "comunicare" stems for 'common'. It is interactive information that binds a "common" network. If, however, it is broken down into the prefix: cum- with and munio/munire- defense, historic origins from the need for defense to make for survival. Information has become the bonding link that fortifies a common front of understanding and protects against

DB Qs Dar mkt Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

DB Qs Dar mkt - Essay Example In this regard, the significance of online stores like Amazon cannot be denied taking buying preference to the next level. Companies need to switch to aggressive marketing strategies in order to respond to the marketing needs and consumers’ demands. Amazon should consider offering online platform to brick and mortar stores in order to help them in surviving rather along with maintaining the aggressive marketing channels to cater to the needs and demand of consumers. There are a number of factors affecting the buying behavior of consumers including the demographic, social, psychological, and economic factors. Keller 2 stated that demographic factors like age, sex, and gender determines the buying preference of consumers while social factors like preference for certain products along with availability also affects the buying process. Kotler 3 stated that economic factors in the form of availability of money and need also determine the buying behavior. However, factors like reference from others and marketing channels also affect the consumer behavior and their buying decisions in the long run. Keller 2 believed that business to customers and business to business are two different things that need proper understanding and analysis. In terms of the major difference, it can be said that business to customers is based on emotional connect, analysis of cost and benefits, and identifying the specific needs. On the other hand, business to business is based on analyzing the benefits on a broader note often based on personal and private presentations by the marketers stating the usefulness and benefits of the products and services. B2C is not very much personal in nature while B2B is often very personal in nature in terms of signifying the value and benefits. Keller 2 further added that B2C is further driven by the reference and recommendations of others while B2B is driven by the thorough analysis of the

Critical Analysis of Hospital in the Home Programs

Critical Analysis of Hospital in the Home Programs INTRODUCTION Health economics is linked to obtaining of maximum advantage of money spent for medical healthcare. The effectiveness of the healthcare infrastructure available needs to be linked to value of money. This is a step towards cost effectiveness with improved efficiency. Cost effectiveness is outcome of the best use of resources to achieve the desired outcome. (Haycox, 2009). Cost advantages of a ‘hospital in the home’ program The cost of healthcare services especially the acute care has increased that has compelled the governments to plan strategy for alternate methods and accordingly Hospital in the home (HITH) has been developed in response to this challenge. The studies have different views whether HITH provides cost savings compared with in-hospital care (IHC). There are differences in perception of HITH because of complexities involved in diseases. The culture also plays an important part especially while recognizing the beliefs and impact of patient’s health. The difference in view comes on surface during the interaction with health care professionals, health care practices and health care outcomes. These differences make the valid comparison with traditional hospitalization and HITH ( Macintyre, Druth Ansari 2002). Hospital at Home is an innovative model established to provide hospital level care to patient when he is at home instead of being admitted in hospital. The program has become suc cess and is adopted by health systems and home care providers mainly as a tool to reduce the cost without sacrificing the patient safety, quality of medical care and satisfaction. The patients admitted for hospital in the home need to meet the specific medical eligibility criteria. It is suggested by number of doctors that many patients would be better off being treated at home instead of in hospitals. Nothing to blame the organizations but the cost of hospitalization depends upon cost of doctors fee and salaries to other supporting staff. Though it is expensive for patients to be in hospitals but it will depend upon type of ailments and future risk of the patient. Critically, academically it seems to be expensive but if the similar amount of health care is required at home, the patient will need number of staff members spending many hours travelling from one patients home to another. That is a abnormal waste of time and money. Deloitte has conducted study wherein it has been conclu ded that there is savings of 32 per cent to treat patients at home instead of public hospitals. The inference from this study was accepted by the Australian Associated Press HITH society stating that lot of money can be saved by treating people at home. It also provide opportunity to hospitals to provide beds to needy patients and taking pressure off from emergency departments. It has been suggested that support for hospitals in the home programs can cut the odds of death and hospital readmission and save money as compared to cost of medical care in hospitals. The study has undertaken meta-analysis of 61 randomised controlled trials suggesting the reduction in mortality, readmission rates and cost in hospital in the home (HITH). This study also confirms the similar reductions in mortality for all age groups and HITH increased patient and carer satisfaction. Economically the cost of HITP was calculated as $1466 as compared to the cost of a day in the ICU (Bryan, 2012). How important is ‘hospital in the home’ in Australia and other countries – ie what percentage of total hospital admissions are accounted for by ‘hospital in the home’ patients. There has been serious concern about the healthcare systems in Australia and all the Australian governments agreed to the National Healthcare Agreement (NHA) in 2008. This agreement was introduced to improve the health outcomes of all the residents and ensure the sustainability of the Australian health system. Not only it is cost effective but it adds to other benefits for patients especially psychologically. It helps the patients to avoid exposure to serious diseases. The importance to this aspect is evidenced from the fact that Governments in Australia control the HITH Guidelines. The media reports, â€Å"The Canberra Times†, published copy of report stating that caring for eligible hospital patients in their own homes instead of hospital wards can cut costs by almost a third while delivering the same health outcomes. This publication also used research study by Deloitte. The data furnished that it was about $900 cheaper for the government if a knee replacement patient was c ared for at home rather than in hospital, $1200 cheaper for a cellulites patient and $145 cheaper for a patient with a respiratory infection (Canberra Times, 2011). It helps the service providers to have clear, standardised guidance in similarity to other Local Health Districts and Specialty Health Networks (LHD/SHN). The governments have ensured that all residents of Australia not only remain healthy but for meeting local needs they can utilize HITH services (NSW Health, 2013). To be aware of the importance of HITH, there is need to understand the estimated HITH separations in public hospitals. Same-day separations are categorised as admission and separation to total care (inpatient and HITH) occurred on the same day. It means that these separations had one day or less of HITH care. Recorded overnight separations generally involved some care delivered within the hospital followed by some care at home. The data analysed by research persons show that there were 51,279 public hospital separations with HITH care in 2008-09. Of these, 41,608 were overnight separations and 9,671 were same-day separations. The critical analysis indicate that a substantial number of HITH care separations occur in NSW. The analysis of data collected also provides information that the majority of HITH patients who are chronically ill with compound illnesses and require episodic acute care are at older ages. (DLA Phillips Fox, 2010). HITH patients who require short-term medical treatm ents are those of varying ages (Deloitte Access Economics, 2011). Three health services that could be provided in the home rather than in a traditional hospital? The best methodology used is to consult doctors and establish relationship and based on his recommendations the recovery process need to be started. This will be cost effective, save from future infections form hospitals and other miscellaneous expenses. Australian Governments has announced concession for patients with kidney disease that receive dialysis treatment at home. The concession will be given to patients and the concession is part of SA Health’s commitment under the SA Health Care Plan 2010-2017 to ensure patients throughout South Australia have the opportunity access health care, where and when they need it. The treatment at home will provide an alternative treatment option that can provide you with more independence and flexibility. There will no need to plan activities around pre-determined appointments and can receive treatment in the comfort of your own home. The concession is with effect from 2012 and will provide an electricity concession for patients who undertake dialysis at home. The concession is part of SA Health’s commitment under the SA Health Care Plan 2010-2017 to ensure patients throughout South Australia have the opportunity to access health care in the home (Govt of South Australia, 2012). Mothers and newborns, if eligible, may be admitted to HITH instead of keeping them in hospitals. The adopted healthcare unit will arrange for The Postnatal Domiciliary Grant (formerly the Variable/Maternity Services Grant) provides for post-discharge visits that cover postnatal domiciliary care to public maternity patients. The home birthing was included in HITH during the year 2010. It will provide basic postnatal health checks and appropriate lactation support. It will reduce the huge cost, if retained in hospital and it would not have given chance to other patients if bed was not made vacant (Department of Health, 2011). Deep Vein thrombosis is one of the common diseases. However, majority of the patients in this category are eligible for treatment under HITH instead of keeping them in traditional hospitalization mode. The doctors attending such patients take immediate steps but it is patients whoa re required to take future steps to avoid aggravation. They need doctor’s advice at regular intervals not at all times during the day. HITH is best suitable for them as it will ensure that blood thinners are given as directed. HITH will help the patients to look for excessive bleeding because of blood thinners or due to cuts or bruise. Taking medication for Anticoagulation during HITH is mandatory and can help patients to avoid seriousness. Can you see any disadvantages of such a program? There are disadvantages of HITH but because of number of amendments and strict regulations the risks have been mitigated to large extent. Majority of the diseases can become serious and unless immediate steps are not initiated this can become fatal. The cost effectiveness can lead to deterioration in services. Overall, do you think such a program could result in better health outcomes? The biggest advantage of HITH is providing medication to patients in their own homes instead of hospitals and reduces huge costs in this action. The special training imparted to HITH to include intravenous therapy (mainly antibiotics), anticoagulation, wound care and chemotherapy for suitable patients in their own homes. The only challenge is selection of patients that are eligible. The disadvantage is that method can include the development of complications, anaphylaxis and patient or family anxiety. However, in appropriate cases, hospital in the home is effective and safe. Above all it is highly cost effective for individuals and country as there will be less infrastructure expenses by Governments. REFERENCES Haycox Alan (2009), .Health Economics, accessed and retrieved from http://www.medicine.ox.ac.uk/bandolier/painres/download/whatis/what_is_health_econ.pdf Bryan Amanda (2012), Hospital in home benefits confirmed, MJA in Sight, accessed and retrieved from https://www.mja.com.au/insight/2012/43/hospital-home-benefits-confirmed. NSW Health (2013), NSW Hospital in the Home (HITH) Guideline, accessed and retrieved from http://www0.health.nsw.gov.au/policies/gl/2013/pdf/GL2013_006.pdf DLA Phillips Fox 2010, Report on evaluation of Hospital in the Home Programs, report for the Victorian Department of Health, Melbourne, http://www.health.vic.gov.au/hith/final_report2008-09.pdf, accessed 23 March 2011. Deloitte Access economics (2011), Economic analysis of Hospital in the Home (HITH) Hospital in the Home Society of Australasia, accessed and retrieved from file:///C:/Users/dell/Downloads/AccessEconomics-Final+Report+HITH_310811%20(3).pdf C. Raina Macintyre, Denise RuthAndZahid Ansari (2002), Hospital in the home is cost saving for appropriately selected patients: a comparison with in-hospital care, International Journal for Quality Healthcare, Volume 14, Issue 4, Page 285-293. Canberra Times (2011), Hospital house calls could cut expenses, accessed and retrieved from http://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/hospital-house-calls-could-cut-expenses-20110914-1wp67.html Government of South Australia (2012), Home dialysis electricity concession, accessed and retrieved from http://www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/35452a0049fa42109057fa3a89b74631/Electricity+concession+brochure-HSP-300112.pdf?MOD=AJPERESCACHEID=35452a0049fa42109057fa3a89b74631 Department of Health (2011), Hospital in the Home Guidelines, accessed and retrieved from www.health.vic.gov.au/hith/  © Copyright, State of Victoria, Department of Health 2011

Religions, Morals and Civilization Essay -- religious beliefs

Religions, Morals and Civilization   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Since the dawn of man, people have had their own forms of religion. Be it simple ceremonial burial or complex blessing rituals, each person had their own way to explain the wonders of nature like, how did we come here and what our purpose here was. Another thing that each individual person had was their own morals. Morals are what define a civilization. Labels like peaceful or barbaric are put on different civilizations because of their morals. The morality of each civilization defined their religious beliefs.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The lives of people who lived in the early ancient history time period were tough. They had to roam the land always looking for new game to hunt and plants and berries to gather. The people weren't united because of all this traveling, and therefore contact with other people was minimal. Morals are hard to develop without much contact with other people and so the religion of these early people was minimal. Then came the development of farming into this time period. Farming brought the people together. Small cities began to develop because the people didn't have to move around as much. With all this closeness, the people developed moral views on what to think about thieves or murderers. If certain civilizations didn't mind violence and killing, then they developed into a Brutal civilization. Consequently, the religions of these civilizations were evolved around sacrificial rituals and allegiance to brutal gods. The Assyrian civilization worked around this principle. They used scare tactics to overcome their enemies and treated their captives badly. They also believed in powerful gods who they feared. If certain civilizations became peaceful, then their religion reflected their peaceful nature and didn't have things like sacrifices. The people in peaceful civilizations believed in their religion because they wanted to not because they were afraid to. A good example of this is the Hebrews. The Hebrews were a peaceful people who disliked violence. Because of this peaceful nature, their religion taught values like brotherhood, charity, human dignity, and universal peace. Violent cultures cause violent religions and peaceful cultures create peaceful religion   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Greeks were a peaceful civilization. They believed in the idea of democracy and they strongly believed in philos... ...nce and being different. It isn't a coincidence that their religion contains many different gods each with its own personality and skills, like humans. The Roman culture dealt with so many different cultures, that its morals were frequently changing. The Romans changed their religion three times. During the Middle Ages, there was a decline of intelligence, cleanliness, and overall morals. The church became the tax collection agency, the hospital, and the school, which is a direct correlation between the decline in morals. So the increase in power of the church in the Middle Ages was because of a change in morals. The Renaissance was a rebirth of ideas and morality. These changes had the greatest effect on the church, which had grown strong in the Middle Ages. The peoples changing morals forced them to adopt new religions like Luthernism and Protestantism. Morals are what define a human being. They become present in every part of life, especially religion. Because civilization is moving so fast forward, peoples morals are changing rapidly too. When peoples morals change, it changes their whole life. That is why there have been so many different religions in the past.

Grendel as a Sympathetic Character Essay

Can you imagine being born and automatically being considered evil? This is what happens to Grendel. Throughout the book everyone’s feelings towards Grendel is that of a bad person or creature. In Grendel my sympathy for Grendel fluctuates. Grendel starts out as a sympathetic character because he is an innocent curious child with a mother who doesn’t talk, and lives in a cave. As the story moves on Grendel is misunderstood then starts to make decisions that makes my sympathy for him decrease. Throughout the book there are three stages to Grendels’ life. The first stage starts off with his childhood, which he spends exploring and questioning. He eventually finds the lake of firesnakes and the land after it is his introduction to a larger world full of danger and knowledge. The second stage starts when a bull attacks Grendel; this teaches Grendel that the world is full of danger and makes him question the meaning of life. Grendel tries to figure out the meaning of life by observing how humans go through life and it interests him. While Grendel is trapped and getting attacked by a bull some humans intervene and see him trapped. Grendel tries talking to the humans and ask for help, and all of a sudden they attack Grendel because they do not understand him and fear him because of his appearance. Grendel’s mother comes to the rescue to save her son. How could one be a monster yet be saved by his mother? This is an example of my sympathy for Grendel who is a misunderstood creature. Grendel eventually sees how Hrothgar treats other humans and decides that he does not like what he does to them. He eventually attacks the people in the mead hall all of the soldiers, which makes me lose sympathy for him but I could see why he does it. It is a personal feeling Grendel has towards Hrothgar. Grendel is a character that goes through many stages throughout the story, but to be born from evil does not necessarily make you evil. He was just a curious little creature who was still babied by his mother in the beginning and then learns of humans and does not like the way that they treat each other and eventually is killed by Beowulf.

The Economic Costs of Inflation

The Economic Costs of Inflation In general, people seem to know that inflation is often not a good thing in an economy. This makes sense, to some degree- inflation refers to rising prices, and rising prices are typically viewed as a bad thing. Technically speaking, however, increases in the aggregate price level need not be particularly problematic if prices of different goods and services rise uniformly, if wages rise in tandem with the price increases, and if nominal interest rates adjust in response to changes in inflation. In other words, inflation need not reduce the real purchasing power of consumers. There are, however, costs of inflation that are relevant from an economic perspective and cannot be easily avoided. Menu Costs When prices are constant over long periods of time, firms benefit in that they dont need to worry about changing the prices for their output. When prices change over time, on the other hand, firms would ideally like to change their prices in order to keep pace with the general trends in prices, since this would be the profit-maximizing strategy. Unfortunately, changing prices is generally not costless, since changing prices requires printing new menus, relabeling items, and so on. Firms have to decide whether to operate at a price that is not profit-maximizing or incur the menu costs involved in changing prices. Either way, firms bear a very real cost of inflation. Shoeleather Costs Whereas firms are the ones who directly incur menu costs, shoe leather costs directly impact all holders of currency. When inflation is present, there is a real cost to holding cash (or holding assets in non-interest bearing deposit accounts), since the cash wont buy as much tomorrow as it could today. Therefore, citizens have an incentive to keep as little cash on hand as possible, which means that they have to go to the ATM or otherwise transfer money on a very frequent basis. The term shoe leather costs refer to the figurative cost of replacing shoes more often due to the increase in the number of trips to the bank, but shoe leather costs are a very real phenomenon. Shoeleather costs are not a serious issue in economies with relatively low inflation, but they become very relevant in economies that experience hyperinflation. In these situations, citizens generally prefer to keep their assets as foreign rather than local currency, which also consumes unnecessary time and effort. Misallocation of Resources When inflation occurs and prices of different goods and services rise at different rates, some goods and services become cheaper or more expensive in a relative sense. These relative price distortions, in turn, affect the allocation of resources toward different goods and services in a way that would not happen if relative prices remained stable. Wealth Redistribution Unexpected inflation can serve to redistribute wealth in an economy because not all investments and debt are indexed to inflation. Higher than expected inflation makes the value of debt lower in real terms, but it also makes the real returns on assets lower. Therefore, unexpected inflation serves to hurt investors and benefit those who have a lot of debt. This is likely not an incentive that policymakers want to create in an economy, so it can be viewed as another cot of inflation. Tax Distortions In the United States, there are many taxes that do not automatically adjust for inflation. For example, capital gains taxes are calculated based on the absolute increase in the value of an asset, not on the inflation-adjusted value increase. Therefore, the effective tax rate on capital gains when inflation is present may be much higher than the stated nominal rate. Similarly, inflation increases the effective tax rate paid on interest income. General Inconvenience Even if prices and wages are flexible enough to adjust well for inflation, inflation still makes comparisons of monetary quantities across years more difficult than they could be. Given that people and companies would like to fully understand how their wages, assets, and debt evolve over time, the fact that inflation makes it more difficult to do so can be viewed as yet another cost of inflation.

The R Document essays

The R Document essays The book I chose to read was The R Document by Irving Wallace. It was filled with anticipation and kept you thinking the whole time. The main character is Christopher Collins and he is the new Attorney General. He is a very ambitious and honest man who fights with the director of the FBI over the proposed 35th Amendment to the Constitution. The 35th Amendment was controversial because there was a secret plot behind it all and it was meant for evil. Christopher spends the whole time trying to ratify this bill because of its evil. He succeeds in the end and shows to everyone how the government could expose such abuse of high power. In a small summary of the conspiracy in The R Document, they wanted to destroy the Bill of Rights in an attempt by the FBI to take over the country and end up controlling it. Collins begins to realize the evil in the government while laying on his deathbed and has to search for The R Document which shows the plan for the nations future. He had to hunt for this document while racing against time before the FBI took over. He finds out that the FBI was blackmailing and terrorizing a lot of important government leaders. The man behind it all was Vernon T. Tynan. He was the director of the FBI and the one that wanted to control the country. Tynan is finally defeated at the end of the book and gets what he deserves. This book would made a good movie because it shows how the government could abuse its power in the high positions. We all hope as citizens that this will never happen to a country like the United States. Sometimes it is scary to think because the conspiracy was surprising and intriguing. It makes you think if this could really happen to the government nowadays. ...

Is There Still a Role for the Monarchy in Modern British Society Research Paper

Is There Still a Role for the Monarchy in Modern British Society - Research Paper Example Based on the evidence which is provided in this essay, it would seem that the general public view is that the monarchy is an outdated system of pageantry and ceremony which no longer has relevance in modern British society. In today’s closely-linked global community, nature by which certain ruling parties conduct political and foreign affairs seems to always be in the media spotlight. With the growth of international trade and with social access to multiple, global media mediums, the method by which international relationships are formed is always at the forefront of the social consciousness. One representative of BBC News cites how Australia views the British monarchy, citing the opinion of Senator Natasha Stott Despoja who states, â€Å"The monarchy is simply not relevant to modern Australia† (Grossman, 1999, p.2). This statement comes from a reputable political leader in Australia, a developed country with considerable influence in global trade and foreign relationships. This Senator’s opinion is based on the difficult history between Britain and Australia and the author believes that most Australian citizens are â€Å"unimpressed by the pageantry and tradition of the crown and resentful that it is a British face that stares out at them from their notes and coins† (Grossman, p.2). What is being suggested here is that the modern British monarchy still attempts to use their traditional links with Australia to justify routine criticism of how the country is managed and politically-operated. Clearly, in the view of Australians, the British monarchy is so obsessed with showiness and spectacle that it is unable to recognise the attempts of the Australian people to create their own international identity without any links to the crown.

Barking Wellfare Organisation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Barking Wellfare Organisation - Essay Example Hence, it may not find ready applicability in all cases. Therefore, it has become necessary to consider the net present value (NPV) of projects using DCF method, known as discounted cash flow method. The main advantages of the DCF, is that a positive NPV, would indicate the fact that the project generates more cash inflows rather than resource outflows, used up for servicing of the project. It is, therefore, the discretion of the management to decide whether the project may be accepted and implemented after taking cognisance of all the related facts and figures. Financial analysis is important because they form the bedrock of strategic corporate decision making and creating value additions for shareholders and others who are having financial interests in the Company and its operations. Step 3: If the NPV results in a positive figure, the project may be accepted and if negative, it should be rejected. (Brigham, Eugene F. and Ehrhardt, Michael C. (2004): Financial Management Theory and Practice: Capital Budgeting: Capital Budgeting Decision Rules: 509) â€Å"The net present value method is a modern method of evaluating investment proposals .This method taken into consideration the time value of money and attempts to calculate the return on investment by introducing the factor of time element.† (Gupta & Sharma). In this case study, the NPV has been considered the best option available, since it recognises the time value of funds that are being injected into the project, and is best suitable since in this case, both the cash inflows from the sale of plants, are controlled by market forces, and also the outflows depend upon the use of assets at different points of time in the period of determination. In the first place, this Welfare Organisation has rehabilitated and made employable, the physically disabled people, to lead socially useful lives for themselves and their community settings.

Reflection Paper on Romance on a Global Stage, by Nicole Constable Essay

Reflection Paper on Romance on a Global Stage, by Nicole Constable - Essay Example There are more than 350 matrimonial and dating websites on the internet that match the profiles of men and women with people from all over the globe and romantic union clearly demonstrates the amalgamation of the global community. Nicole Constable has discussed this aspect of the society in her unique study and compiled it in her book titled â€Å"Romance on a global stage: Pen pals, virtual ethnography and mail-order marriage’, where the substance of her prose focuses on real individuals in a romantic or matrimonial alliance with people in a different country and culture. (Constable, 2003, p. 198-208) The basic premise of the relationship centers on men from the west and eastern women; primarily Filipina or Chinese women. Constables work is not only based on theoretical evidences but also anecdotal that gives the readers a general insight into the matter. Marriage is one the most universal concepts and as mentioned earlier, as the internet is becoming more and more synonymou s with the world’s population, online relationships and mail-order marriages have become extremely common and as a result the differences between the value system between people belonging to various cultural backgrounds have become even more pronounced; however, the values have undergone a series of change in recent, as a result the global community has become more uniform. ... Online dating and mail-order marriage is a long-distance relationship, and couples are able to stay in touch only through the internet, telephone or the conventional method of writing letters to each other. (Piper & Roces, 2003) Sometimes, individuals also pay visits to their significant others in their home country until they finally immigrate. The cost involved is very high and often the immigration procedure takes a really long while due to rampant bureaucracy and red-tapism that further prolongs the waiting period for the husbands and their wives. During this time there are a number of issues that the couples face and must resolve in order to ensure a prosperous future together. The Asian women, who have applied for an American visa, have to endure the biting remarks of their peers that their husbands might have found someone else. Often officials working at the immigration office or INS are governed by their prejudices and biases towards various cultures and races and in order t o vent out their anger, they delay the procedure and make the wait longer for couples. In case of Freddie, who had a Filipina wife was subjected to the anger and frustration brought about by the immigration procedure due to the fact that the immigration had a personal grudge against people from the Philippines and thought they did not deserve to be allowed in the country. Their grudges and anger towards the race is a deep-seated one and has it origin in the country’s history whereby, Philippines chose independence instead of becoming a pert of the United States. However, the current economic situation of the country cause the people to move to America in pursuit of greener pasture but before that they have to face the immigration

About My Childhood Essay Example for Free

About My Childhood Essay My name is Rouda Mohammed Al-Suaidi. I started kindergarten at the age of 4 in one of the finest schools in Abu Dhabi, which is Al-Worood Private School. I felt so scared on my first day of school and I didn’t go to school alone. My mother used to stay with me in class which made some of my classmates laugh at me. I remember they used to call me â€Å"A baby† and â€Å"Mommy’s little girl†. I used to cry a lot when they call me this. I spent my whole childhood there from kindergarten until High School. Throughout my childhood, I faced several successes and challenges. One of my successes in my childhood is being a famous basketball player in school. It first started at home, where I used to have a small basketball hall to practice and play with my family and friends especially in the weekends. At first, I didn’t have any idea on how to play this sport, but with the help of my precious father and uncle, they taught me all the ways and techniques to be an excellent basketball player. After being taught by my father and uncle, I started implementing the techniques and ways in mini basketball competitions, which were just amongst the students from grade 6-12. Although I was a fat, chubby young basketball player in school, my P.E teacher wanted me to compete with other international schools in Dubai and Sharjah. In the beginning, I was anxious and worried to compete with the schools in Dubai and Sharjah. Moreover, I was terrified because I had an image in my mind that the students their will make fun of me and laugh because I was fat. See more: Social process essay My P.E teacher motivated me and started training me after school time. After a lot of training and support from both my P.E teacher and family, I competed with the other schools and our school was ranked the 2nd best school in playing basketball. I was so happy about it but I wished to be ranked the first, but it never de-motivated me in practicing more and more. My father always told me: â€Å"be optimistic and never be pessimistic† and since then, I’ve been following my father’s quote until my recent life. Another success in my life was helping my cousin in raising two of her only children, a boy (Ali) and a girl (Sarah). At that time, Ali was just 18 months and Sarah was only 3 months. Ali and Sarah were everything to me. They were staying with me most of the time from the afternoon after I directly come back home from school till the evening around 10. However, in the weekends, they used to sleepover in our house. When I come back home, I used to eat lunch quickly and finish my school work quickly just to spend time with them. After I finished all my studies, I used to play with them, feed them lunch and dinner, bathe them at night before they leave in the weekdays and create a time for their naps during the day. The reason behind me helping my cousin in doing the mother duties is because my cousin was going through a process of having a divorce. After the divorce, my cousin went through depression and when I saw her like that, I offered to help her in her duties towards her children. So, she showed me how to do several things like: changing their diapers, play gently with them and taking turns while playing, share toys with each other, how to make them sleep, feed them and many other things. Although it is a very hard job raising a child, it didn’t prevent me from learning to be a successful mother in the future when I have my own children. Also, it didn’t stop my studies in sch ool. Moreover, it made me more focused in class and become a better student. Being a make-up artist is my third success through my childhood. In order to reach that success, I had to watch a lot of people putting make-up, ask them to teach me the techniques on how to put make-up and arrange the colors of the make-up when drawing the eyes, understanding and knowing the differences of all skin types for the make-up. Also, I used to watch people putting make up through T.V programs, watch the whole program and write down my questions on a piece of paper and send them an email in order to ask my questions and wait for their reply. Being a make-up artist was my childhood dream and after learning the basics and imitating it on the people, I became more confident and would want to expand my dream into opening my new make-up beauty center in the short term time. Although there were some successes in my childhood, I also faced many challenges. One of my greatest challenges was feeling embarrassed and lonely. During my childhood, I was always embarrassed of myself because I was very fat. The students in school used to make fun of me and call me different names: like â€Å"you look like pumba†, â€Å"you look like an old cow†, and many other names. I used to cry a lot to my mother when I go back home. Because I stood quiet and listen to students for years making fun of me, I turned to be a lonely person in my childhood. I used to be alone in the music lessons, art lessons and in the break times. I used to like walking alone, not playing with other children like all other normal children do. The reason behind this was my worry of the children making more fun of me because I was fat. This issue affected me a lot as a child but as I grew up, I started to be more sociable with the people. Another challenge is to know and understand the quality of time. As a child, I always wanted to play and have fun. I never organized my time and never valued the quality of time. I always wanted to lose time when I was assigned for any job for my mother or finish my school work very quickly and not caring about my work at all. All I wanted is time for playing only. As I grew older, I had many commitments to do in life like studying to become an excellent student and get high grades that would allow me to enroll in one of the best universities in Abu Dhabi, being with my family by visiting them, living my personal and social life and others. Unfortunately, I realized that I couldn’t mange my time at all and I was eager for help. My family was very supportive. They got me books on time management and I started reading those books, learning the techniques on how to organize your time. After a period of time, I started organizing my time, appreciate and value the quality of time. Finally, meeting my family’s expectation was also one of my challenges in life. The reason behind it is that parents expect a lot from their children. They expect to be successful, talented, hard working, enthusiastic and many other things. You wouldn’t want to embarrass yourself in front of your parents, because they always think that they’ve raised a perfect child whereas no one is perfect and everyone has negative and positive side effects. In my childhood, my parents expectations to me was being an excellent students, getting high grades in my exams and quizzes. I felt overwhelmed, pressured and exhausted because I didn’t want embarrass myself with my parents and I didn’t want them to get angry and mad at me for not at least trying to reach their expectation. I was trying very hard to meet their expectations in any of the issues and expectations and eventually I did.

Challenges To Singapores Education

Challenges To Singapores Education At the Teachers Day Rally last September, Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong outlined the challenges to our education system. A key imperative was National Education. Many Singaporeans, especially pupils and younger Singaporeans, knew little of our recent history. They did not know how we became an independent nation, how we triumphed against long odds, or how todays peaceful and prosperous Singapore came about. This ignorance will hinder our effort to develop a shared sense of nationhood. We will not acquire the right instincts to bond together as one nation, or maintain the will to survive and prosper in an uncertain world. For Singapore to thrive beyond the founder generation, we must systematically transmit these instincts and attitudes to succeeding cohorts. Through National Education, we must make these instincts and attitudes part of the cultural DNA which makes us Singaporeans. The Prime Minister set up a committee, chaired by Mr Lim Siong Guan, to study how to introduce National Education into our education system. The Committee has worked out a plan to do so. To take the next step forward, we need the full commitment of every teacher and principal. National Education is not just a book subject. It must appeal to both heart and mind. Unless you are personally convinced of its importance, committed to the cause and have the knowledge and passion to teach National Education competently and whole-heartedly, the plan will fail. Lessons from Other Countries Singaporeans are not unique in needing National Education. Other countries take National Education as a matter of course. Japan is a tightly-knit, cohesive and group-oriented society, with a long history and a strong sense of unique identity. Yet Japanese schools start early to teach pupils Japanese culture, values, history and geography, and even the politics and economics of Japan. As pupils get older, they also learn about the cultures and histories of other countries. In so doing, they understand even better what makes them uniquely Japanese. Japanese schools go to great lengths to instill group instincts and a sense that every student is an equal member of the group. They have strict regulations on school uniforms, school bags and shoes. Students are grouped into teams called hans. Members of each han play together and eat together. They take turns to perform specific responsibilities, whether it is the daily cleaning of school premises or serving lunch. Academically stronger students are expected to help their weaker friends. Those who do not are ostracised. Students organise the school sports day themselves. Competition is based mainly on team events; there are few or no individual events. All students participate, including those with disabilities. Japanese schools do all this not because they believe that all students are the same in every respect or have identical abilities. But they want every student to be equally valued as a member of the group, recognised for his strengths, and for what he can contribute to the group. And so it goes for Japanese society. In US schools, every child is taught the American heritage George Washington, the Declaration of Independence, the US Constitution, the Civil War, and the Civil Rights movement. Students take part in community service. Learning to be a responsible citizen begins young. It is a deliberate inculcating of American political and social values and ideals, to ensure the next generation grows up with these ideas deeply ingrained. It is a process of indoctrination like any other, no less so because the children are brought up to cherish American values of individual liberty. And it is so successful that many Americans are completely convinced that American values are universal values of mankind. If countries like Japan and the US, with long histories and deep roots, have found it essential to pass on national instincts systematically from generation to generation, all the more Singapore, a young country barely one generation old, must make a concerted effort to imbue the right values and instincts in the psyche of our young. Objectives Of National Education National Education aims to develop national cohesion, the instinct for survival and confidence in our future. We cannot offer our next generation any fixed formula for success, or even any set goals in life. They will face new circumstances and problems. They will need to think through and work out their own solutions. But we must equip them with the basic attitudes, values and instincts which make them Singaporeans. This is the common culture that will give them a shared perception of life, and draw them closer together as one people when confronted with serious problems. This will give them a well-founded faith in the countrys future. This is the DNA to be passed from one generation to the next. There are four elements to achieving this objective. First, we must foster in our young a sense of identity, pride and self-respect as Singaporeans. This will strengthen their emotional attachment to the nation, and their sense of rootedness. We are proud of our country. We are proud of what we have achieved together our economic progress, our clean and green environment, our open and clean system of government, our way of life. We are proud that each of us, in his or her own way, contributes to Singapores success. But success must not lead to hubris. We must never be over-bearing or arrogant, or look down on people from other countries. We do not have all the answers for ourselves, much less for other countries. But neither have we any reason to be ashamed to say, I am a Singaporean. In fact, quite the contrary. Second, our young must know the Singapore Story how Singapore succeeded against the odds to become a nation. National Education is not an abstract sermon on general principles of nationhood. It is to do with a special story, our story. It is the story of Singapore, how we came to be one nation. We did not start off with this goal, or even as one people. Nobody imagined this would be the outcome. As a British colony, from 1942 to 1945 for 3Â ½ years of the Japanese Occupation we suffered a traumatic experience of cruelty, brutality, hunger, and deprivation. We lived through the post-war years of Communist-inspired unrest and upheaval. We then joined with the Federation of Malaya to form Malaysia. Despite pressure and intimidation we stood firm in Malaysia against the communalists. The issue was a fundamental one: equal basic rights and opportunities for all Malaysian citizens under the Malaysian Constitution, and no special rights for anyone in the State of Singapore on the basis of race, language and religion, as was agreed in the State Constitution of Singapore. As a result we suddenly found ourselves out on our own as an independent country, with few means to make a living or defend ourselves. Yet we developed our economy, built up the SAF, educated and housed our people, got them to work together, and gradually became one nation. Year by year we transformed Singapore int o what it is today. Knowing this history is part of being a Singaporean. It is the back-drop which makes sense of our present. It shows what external dangers to watch out for, and where our domestic fault lines lie. It explains what we stand for and believe in, and why we think and act the way we do. It gives us confidence that even when the odds look daunting, with determination and effort we will prevail. Thirdly, our young must understand Singapores unique challenges, constraints and vulnerabilities, which make us different from other countries. Singapore is not as other countries. We will always be small, we will always worry about our water supply, we will always have to work harder and do better than other countries. That is the hand which geography and history have dealt us. Overall it is not a bad hand, nor have we played it badly. We have compensated for these constraints by being more resolute and resourceful, more efficient and productive, and quicker and nimbler than other countries which are better endowed and have larger margins for error. And we have been so successful that sometimes we forget that the underlying realities endure, and have not gone away. Singaporeans need to understand these realities, to work together and support the policies that are necessary to deal with them. Knowing our constraints should make us more determined to overcome them. It is no cause for despair. We overcame more severe difficulties in our first years of nationhood, with far fewer resources, and in more dire circumstances. We are much better placed to tackle them now. Finally, we must instill in our young the core values of our way of life, and the will to prevail, that ensure our continued success and well being. Our core values include the system of meritocracy which guarantees fair and full opportunities for all, multi-racial and multi-religious harmony, and honest and competent government working for the long-term interests of all Singaporeans. We often take these for granted, because things have been this way in Singapore for a long time. But not new citizens, who often come with fresh direct experience of very different societies. Pupils must learn to treasure and uphold these social and political values. If we ever lose them, Singapore will quickly become a very different place. Strategies We need to develop national instincts among pupils at all levels. National Education will begin in schools and continue in post-secondary and tertiary institutions. After ten to fifteen years of education, all students should know the facts about Singapore and feel attached to Singapore, their best home. Those likely to go on to play leadership roles later should at least have had some preliminary preparation for their responsibilities. We will achieve this through both the formal and informal curricula. Formal Curriculum We will introduce National Education content across the formal curriculum. We can do more of this in some subjects than others. The main subjects will be Social Studies and Civics and Moral Education (CME) at the primary level; History, Geography and CME at secondary level; and the General Paper and CME at the Junior Colleges. In addition, Literature and the languages can also be used. Subjects at Primary level In primary schools, we will start teaching Social Studies earlier -beginning from Primary 1 instead of Primary 4. Social Studies will complement Civics and Moral Education. CME will emphasise teaching of values and correct individual behaviour, while Social Studies will give pupils an understanding of Singapore society. Pupils must start early to learn about the society around them, to feel a sense of belonging to family, school and community, to befriend and accept pupils of all races, and to develop a simple, unabashed pride in Singapore. They recite the pledge, sing Majullah Singapura, and recognise our flag. Later they will learn the meaning of the crescent and five stars. But long before that, when they see the helicopter flying past with the state flag on National Day, they should sense that it is a very special occasion. Subjects at Secondary level At secondary level, students currently learn the history of our independence period only in Secondary 1. The O level History syllabus stops in 1963, which perversely omits the vital period leading to our independence. We will extend the O level History syllabus for Singapore to 1971. The period of Merger, Separation and the early years of independence will also be taught in Secondary 2 instead of Secondary 1, so that the students will be a little more mature, and appreciate better what was at stake. At the upper secondary level, we will develop a new Social Studies subject. It will cover issues central to Singapores survival and success our principles of governance, the strategies that have brought Singapore here, the role of key institutions like the SAF, HDB, CPF, EDB and NTUC, and our future challenges. It will use examples from other countries to explain what works and what fails, and derive lessons for Singapore. Subjects at the JC level In the junior colleges, students should start to learn what leadership involves, and to develop a commitment to serve society. Through the General Paper and Civics lessons, they must acquire the sense that they can shape their own future and, more important, that it is their responsibility to shape Singapores future. They must be able to think independently and rationally, and reach informed conclusions about national issues. MOE will take 3-4 years to implement the new syllabi. As the school curriculum is already heavy, we will make the changes without increasing the curriculum load. We want the new syllabi to give teachers more time, not less, to engage in creative ways to bring issues to life for their students. Informal Curriculum National Education is much more than learning facts. Knowing facts in itself will not develop the group spirit and emotional instincts of nation-hood among pupils. This will depend on the informal curriculum. Attitudes and values picked up through team ECAs and group activities, and the rituals of school life, will sink in deeper than anything learnt in the classroom. Each year, schools will also commemorate a few key events that mark defining moments of our history. These will include: Total Defence Day on the 15th of February, the anniversary of the surrender of Singapore to the Japanese in 1942, as a reminder of every citizens responsibility to defend Singapore. Racial Harmony Day on the 21st of July, marking the day in 1964 when racial riots broke out, to remind pupils of the importance and fragility of racial harmony. International Friendship Day to stress the importance of good relations with our neighbours, and to remind pupils that such good relations cannot be taken for granted. The actual date will vary from year to year, to mark such occasions like the end of the Second World War in the Pacific, the day Singapore joined the United Nations, or the end of Confrontation and the establishment of diplomatic relations with Indonesia. And finally, National Day on the 9th of August. Schools will arrange regular visits to national institutions and economic facilities, such as Parliament, SAFTI, water treatment works, the port, or the stock exchange. These visits will help to build pride and confidence among our students, and show them how Singapore has overcome our constraints through sheer will and ingenuity. Community service will strengthen social cohesion and civic responsibility among our young. At the lower primary level, we will encourage pupils to do community service within their own school taking care of the school grounds, keeping common areas clean. For the upper primary and secondary levels, a school may adopt an orphanage or old folks home, or take on long-term community projects like keeping a park or a residents corner clean. The Challenge of Teaching National Education I do not underestimate the difficulty you will have teaching National Education in schools. This is not just another school subject for pupils, or another duty for overworked teachers. We seek from pupils not just intellectual comprehension or accumulation of facts, but a personal commitment to Singapore, and an emotional bonding and identification with their fellow Singaporeans. To achieve this, you must yourselves feel passionately for the country, and understand instinctively our collective interests and what we stand for. Only then can you teach with conviction, instill pride and confidence in your students, and help them to acquire the right instincts. The Singapore Story is based on historical facts. We are not talking about an idealised legendary account or a founding myth, but of an accurate understanding of what happened in the past, and what this history means for us today. It is objective history, seen from a Singaporean standpoint. Not all the history books have been written, because hitherto many documents have been locked away in archives. But now 30 years after our independence the archives are starting to be opened, and the documents for this period are becoming available to historians. Progressively, a more complete picture will emerge. But the Singapore Story is also a live story. It concerns not only events which are receding into the past, but developments which continue in the present. Both teachers and pupils must take an interest in current affairs. They should know what is happening in the world or in our region which can affect us; what economic, social and political developments are taking place in Singapore. They should know what the national debate is about, what is at issue. The most vivid lessons in National Education are to be found not in the books, but in what we live through and what we observe happening around us. I am not proposing that students should form mini-political parties in schools, or demonstrate on the streets, as Chinese school students manipulated by Communist agitators did in the 1950s and 1960s. But students and their teachers must be alive to events around them, so that when they later become adults and exercise their duty as citizens to decide the future of the country, they will decide wisely. From time to time, issues will arise which contain lessons for the future for example when Michael Fay had to be caned for vandalism, or Flor Contemplacion was hanged for murder. Whenever this happens, we must make a special effort to get Singaporeans to understand what is going on, why we did what we did, and what it all means for us. Each such episode will be another piece of the Singapore Story. This makes the Singapore Story harder to teach, but also more exciting and relevant. In teaching the Singapore Story, you will have to deal with delicate issues, especially race and religion, and sometimes relations with our neighbours. We must treat such issues sensitively, but we cannot gloss over them. Amnesia is not an option. We cannot pretend that incidents involving race and religion never happened. They are part of our history. This is not a unique problem for us. For example, in America descendants of Unionists and Confederates both study the American Civil War; descendants of slave owners and slaves both learn about slavery and the civil rights movement. America is the stronger country for acknowledging these divisions in its past and coming to terms with them. In Singapores case, different races, owing loyalties to different countries, lived in the same British colony. They were moulded into one Singaporean people by their experiences before and after independence. Two race riots took place in 1964, which had been deliberately instigated to intimidate Singapores Chinese population. Many Chinese and Malays were killed. Riots occurred again in 1969, after independence, a spillover from the May 13 riots in Malaysia. Race relations in Singapore took years to recover from the trauma of these events. Unless pupils know these facts, and learn what they mean, they will never understand why we emphasise racial harmony so strongly, and insist that the majority Chinese community should never make the minority communities feel oppressed. Such ignorance will pose a real risk of racial conflict happening again one day. All Singaporeans, whether Chinese, Malay, Indian or Eurasian, can identify with the ideal of a multi-racial, multi-religious society which Singapores leaders fought for while in Malaysia, and which we have tried to realise as an independent country since 1965. It is because Singaporeans of all races, and especially their leaders, stayed united and refused to be intimidated that we separated from Malaysia. The issues which led to Separation were fundamental, and remain so today. By teaching the history of how we became one people, we will draw our races closer together. But our aim is not to expunge the differences between the ethnic groups. Each community contributes its own unique characteristics and strengths to our society. If Chinese Singaporeans lose their Chinese cultural heritage, or Malay Singaporeans discard their traditional customs and Islamic values, we become a much weaker society. We must create unity in diversity. Conclusion This National Education programme is a major undertaking. Its effects are long term. We will not know for many years how well we have inculcated values, attitudes, and habits that emotionally bond our people to one another, as proud co-owners of their best home, Singapore. As teachers and principals, you carry most of the responsibility for giving your pupils a total education, and for their National Education. The Ministry will back you up with the resources, guidance, and materials that you need. For example, MOE will produce a monthly series of videos for schools, to keep teachers updated on current affairs. The National Education Web Page we are launching will provide more information and be a channel for teachers to discuss ideas and share resources. The moulding of the next generation is in your hands. You must imbue them with a strong sense of national identity and social responsibility. If we fail, all that we have painstakingly built up over decades can unravel and fall apart within a few years. But put our best effort into this vital task, and we will succeed.