Discuss the arguments for and against a critically charged and politically involved Public Sociology - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 8 Words: 2331 Downloads: 10 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Politics Essay Type Case study Did you like this example? It may be argued that sociology is of activist origins, propelled by a desire to comprehend, diagnose and ultimately administer solutions to societal ailments. However, with the advent of scientific discourse, especially the rise of so-called hard sciences, the discipline has been absorbed into the pedagogic realm of social-science which seeks to emulate its empirical cousin and take residence within the ivory tower of academia, virtuous in its efforts to seek objectivism, value-freedom and political abstinence. The purpose of this essay is to explore the proposition that sociology should reclaim its identity, expanding its imagination (Mills 1959) as a politically engaged agent tasked with improving society through a critical dialogue with various institutions and actors. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Discuss the arguments for and against a critically charged and politically involved Public Sociology" essay for you Create order This essay will consider the contention offered by some of sociologys founding fathers, particularly Marx and Engels (1848) and Durkheim (1972), that sociology should be at the vanguard of social engagement and change à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" a citadel of moral and intellectual purity, a philosopher king (Plato 1993: 109). By extension, this essay will include a critique of the academic milieu in which sociology resides, addressing the dispute that it has become colonised and thus compromised by wider market and political forces and thus incapable of functioning as an independent agent of knowledge and change. The proposition of a Public Sociology is not a recent phenomenon. In fact, the founding progenitors envisaged a discipline actively engaged with the political milieu and public lifeworld. Indeed, Durkheim (1972), conceiving of a social world underpinned by tangible laws à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" reiterating Comtes (1988: 33) science of society predicted that sociologists would become ai des-de-camp to the state, revered intellects who would influence policy and legislature. By contrast, Marx and Engels (1848) were interested in the dissemination of knowledge to the grass-roots or proletariat to reawaken their collective consciousness and engender a rebellious will-to-power (Nietzsche 2014) against the prevailing capitalist system. Importantly, despite its definition, sociology was less interested in the comprehension of social life per se: rather it was obsessed with the noxious configurations that comprised society, mournful of the crippling and incarcerating effects these had on humanitys potential and species-being (Marx and Engels 1991). This remains a dominating theme within sociology today: the field of critical theory has almost reached a level of theoretical saturation (Bryman 2004:544) inasmuch as abuses against civilisation on grounds of (for example) gender, class, race and creed have been researched and articulated repeatedly in pedagogic discourse, si mply restructured in linguistic hyperbole to pass as authentic. By contrast, Weber (1989) was concerned with maintaining abstinence from the political arena, endorsing scientific mastery and the conduct of research for its own virtue i.e. as a vocation (78); sociology held no greater esteem over the value-laden judgements of social-political discourse and must thereforelimit public discussion to the classrooms. The debate regarding sociologys public face was again revitalised by Mills (1959) who, acknowledging a gross depreciation in the social lifeworld, offered a critical assessment of his field, which had abandoned its public calling, instead becoming captivated by the power and prestige (including resources) offered by academia. The discipline had succumbed to institutionalisation, a servant of the university and its preoccupation with quantifiable (profitable) results, professionalism and its self-image as a reputable organisation. By extension, as a business, academia pande red to powerful organisations (purse holders) like the state and private shareholders; exploration was only authorised and noteworthy if it aligned with the demands and/or values of a minority who possess the architectural means of production (Zsolnai and Gasparski 2002). Also, Parker and Jary (1995) allude to the notion that sociology is subject to the McUniversity, whereby the fixation of budgets, time restraints and production of (quantifiable) articles, books and graduates has a detrimental effect on the vibrancy and eclecticism of its sociological imagination (Mills 1959), thereby crippling any possibility for politicking à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" scientific absence is the prevailing episteme or ideology (Gouldner 1971). Thus, sociology is not only accused of abandonment but also of participating in a form of symbolic violence inasmuch as it retains potentially empowering or life-giving knowledge, which it retrieves from an ailing world, to secure its own somewhat tentative (albeit pr ofitable) status as a soft ad-hoc science. As Luck (2007) ably posits, this negative label cast on the back of sociology is based on not so much its actions but failing to act (140). In addition, Gouldner (1971) had contended that, awkwardly aware of it betrayal and desperately seeking to generate a credible facade, sociology provides lip-service or commiseration and an imitated gesture of desire for social change. Yet some have argued that sociology has required time to solidify itself and create a scholarly community based not only on substantive research but also camaraderie, interdependency and trust (Adair-Toteff 1995) from which a new breed of intellect could arise, unfettered by self-interest, and rather concerned with improving society and seeking to reinvigorate and enhance its intellectual flare through public engagement. As Marx and Engels (1848: 3) asserted: philosophers have interpreted the world [à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦] the point however is to change it!. Therefore, sociol ogy should be less concerned with holding onto the tailcoats of so-called hard sciences, and focus on harnessing its own methodology to irradiate, disseminate and help transform the social milieu à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" to become a participatory agent in the (re)creation of society. Indeed, the political life of Boudieu (1993) is often regarded as a prime example of the kinds of dirty work sociologists should be engaged in; having witnessed the venomous social disparities of a failing and unjust French society, he took to the streets in numerous political protests. This constitutes a form of academic bricolage (Hebdige 1988) whereby normative procedures and forms of professionalism prolific within the pedagogic milieu designed to confine scholars to specific predefined scripts of conduct are broken or otherwise inverted. His actions as a scholarly activist serve as a template for todays sociologists; a reminded of their role involves dirty work or aligning themselves with ordinary peop le in a bid to better understand social angsts à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" thereby enhancing epistemologies and methodologies à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" and subsequently improve society. As a result, Bourdieu (1993) suggested that, only through public engagement could sociology develop an augmented, rich and powerful knowledge-base, otherwise it would simply be masquerading as a social-scientific field. Thus, Chomsky and Otero (2004) denote that we must fashion a more reflexive sociology (third-order understanding) à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" to analyse and remodify the pedagogic habitus à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" capable of comprehending often subtle and taken-for-granted interconnections, like the asymmetrical interplay of power, capital and playing fields within academia, that affect and hinder the discipline. Sociology must be aware of its own metaphorical blind spot its arrogances and handicaps à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" and critically engage in reciprocated policing within its various subfields and other interdepe ndent social-sciences. As Bourdieu (1988) advocated, being self-critical will facilitate a comfortability in ones own skin and ultimately strengthen the fields core. Indeed, as Murji (2007) argues, sociology remains a host to external asymmetries such that a white middle-class male continues to demarcate the archetypal modern-day sociologist. In a similar vein, as Ossewaarde (2007) alludes, sociological productions are overwhelmingly driven by and imbued with Westernised ideals, values and perspectives, specifically those fashioned in the United States: this is obviously indicative of wider societal inequalities that belittle or otherwise disadvantage other countries not befitting first-world status. Also, as Parenti (1995) suggests, the types of research revered most are typically those aligned with empiricism (e.g. statistics, quantification, reports) and policy-centred. As a result, somewhat idealistically, Burawoy (2005) advocates an academic revolution within sociology to gener ate a more equitable playing field. Despite the criticism inferred on sociology, concerning its diminished public identity and seeing it as a hotbed of malignance, many have come to its defence. For example, Hossfeld and Nyden (2005) have contended that an ASA Task Force has been created to reclaim sociological presence within the political, offering incentives and promotional positions to eligible scholars interested in disseminating the sociological imagination to wider audiences. Also, Kalleberg (2005) recognises the existing efforts made to produce jargon-free literature and broadcasts that pertain to parochial as well as (inter)national issues. Similarly, as Skeggs and Deem (2003) note, especially following the cultural turn, face-to-face and in-depth engagements with the public, including those disadvantaged groups such as women, the working-class and ethnic minorities, have intensified with the rise of qualitative methodologies. Hence, there remains active engagement and p articipation by sociologists with extra-academic cohorts, alluding to the fact that sociology can synthesise professionalism with public involvement; a by-product of this is the emancipatory and empowering effects such engagements can generate. However, proclaiming that sociologists should uproot and become heretical scholars is a monumental ask; one that threatens their very ontological wellbeing i.e. their reputation, financial security, friendships and way of life could be jeopardised in the process of transgression à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" one might even envisage a social death for those daring to try (Shilling 2003). By extension, such an act would invariably compromise the already fragile reputation of sociology; opening its doors to the public would risk its credibility and entice the stigmatised label (Goffman 1990) of just another fanatical ism to be discarded alongside the other failed idealistic enterprises, such as Marxism and Feminism (Brady 2004). In addition, given the f act that sociology is inhabited by a diverse and deeply opinionated cohort of intellects who occupy a range of paradigms, it is unlikely that (in the near future anyway) such individuals will collectively march in unison under the banner of a Public Sociology. Yet it might be plausible for sociology to formulate a democratically charged governing body that could represent the standpoints of a majority force; elected representatives may perhaps serve as champions charged with proliferating ideas and findings and leaving society to decide what, if anything, should be done with them. That said, Nielson (2004) makes the important point that there is a massive incongruence between the ideal and somewhat advanced heuristic devices and ideas generated within the pedagogic milieu and the realities of the social lifeworld; the latter remains a comparatively primitive figuration of ideologies and values incapable or unready to assimilate the ideas of the former. The mind is a cursed thing, it permits us to envisage infinitely wonderful (utopian) worlds where societal processes operate as a beautiful symphony unchecked by toxic social phenomena, histories, idiosyncrasies and other variants that make reality a constant work-in-progress of ebbs and flows, of civility and barbarism, of progress and regression (Parenti 1995). As a result, in true Weberian tradition, Nielson (2004) contends that sociology has no superior right of way (33) in public-political affairs. Instead, we should concern ourselves with aiding the present or aligning ourselves with the spirit of the times (zeitgeist). In the end, the question of sociologys public identity continues to be a hotly debated concept, its actual realisation requires a level of faith and risk and remains (in large) something to behold. This essay has sought to detail the various arguments for and against a politically engaged Public Sociology a controversy that has reigned since the subjects inception and one that continues in a somewhat recurring pattern throughout its development. Indeed, as sociology becomes increasingly self-reflexive and more substantiated in its understanding of social processes, the urge for argumentation regarding its identity and role within society becomes greater. As this essay shows, there is certainly a moral imperative or compulsion within sociology to irradiate asymmetrical discourses that cripple humanitys potential and subsequently assist in emancipating ourselves from them; this urge is expected given that we are sentient and empathic beings. However, this essay has also acknowledged the possible detriment that may befall sociology in such a venture. Moreover, we have explored the various external forces that contribute to the overall condition of the sociological paradigm; the discipline is imprinted with numerous inequalities and is persuaded greatly by market and political demands to the disadvantage of forming a Public Sociology. Finally, the issue of individual differences, whilst not extensively explored, will remain a long-lasting dilemma as we attempt to reconcile our differences, and harness our collective research and experiences to develop a legitimate and democratically-orientated discipline suitably equipped, confident and competent in participating within wider society. Bibliography Adair-Toteff, C. 1995. Ferdinand Tonnies: Utopian Visionary. Sociological Theory. Vol. 13, No. 1, pp. 58-65. Bourdieu, P. 1993. The field of cultural reproduction. Polity: Cambridge. Bourdieu, P. 1988. Homo Academicus. Polity: Cambridge. Brady, D. 2004. Why public sociology may fail. Social Forces. Vol. 82, No.4 pp. 1629-1638. Bryman, A. 2004. Social Research Methods. 2ND Edition. Oxford University Press: Oxford. Burawoy, M. 2005. The return of the repressed: recovering the public face of U.S. Sociology, One hundred years on. ANNALS. Vol 600, No. 1, pp. 68-85. Chomsky, N. Otero, C. 2004. Language and Politics. AK Press: London. Comte, A. 1988. Introduction to Positive Philosophy. Oxford University Press: Oxford. Durkheim, E. 1972. Emile Durkheim: Selected Writings, ed and trans. Giddens, A. Cambridge University Press. Goffman, I. 1990. Stigma: Notes on the Management of Spoiled Identity. Penguin Press Gouldner, A. 1971. The coming crisis of Western Soc iology. Heinemann: London. Hebdige, D. 1988. Subculture: the meaning of style. London: Routledge. Hossfeld,L. Nyden, P. 2005. Public Sociology: Research, Action, and Change. Sage Publications: London. Kalleberg, R. 2005. What is Public Sociology? Why and how should it be made stronger? The British Journal of Sociology. Vol. 56, No. 3, pp. 387-393. Luck, P. 2007. Sociology as a practice in humanity: Noam Chomsky, Howard Zinn, and Social Responsibility. Critical Sociology. Vol. 33, No. 5-6, pp. 937-956. Marx. K. Engels, F. 1991. The German Ideology. Lawrence and Wishart: London. Marx. K. Engels, F. 1848. The Communist Manifesto. Penguin Books: London Mills, C. 1959. The Sociological Imagination. Oxford University Press: New York. Murji, K. 2007. Sociological Engagements: Institutional Racism and Beyond. Sociology. Vol. 41, No. 5, pp. 843-855. Nielson, F. 2004. The vacant we: remarks on public sociology. Social Forces. Vol. 82, No.4, pp. 1619-1628. Nietzsc he, F. 2014. Beyond good and evil. Penguin Press. Ossewaarde, M. 2007. Sociology Back to the Publics. Sociology. Vol. 4, No. 5, pp. 799-812. Parenti, M. 1995. Against Empire. San Francisco: City Lights. Parker, M. Jary, D. 1995. The McUniversity: Organisation, management and academic subjectivity. Organisation. Vol. 2, No. 2, pp. 118-319. Plato. 1993. Republic. Oxford University Press: Oxford. Shilling, C. 2003. The body and social theory. 2nd edition. Sage Publications: London. Skeggs, B. Deem, R. 2003. Feminist research methods. Sage Publications: London. Weber, M. 1989. Science as a Vocation. Unwin Hyman: London. Zsolnai, L. Gasparski, W. 2002. Ethics and the future of capitalism, praxeology: The international annual of practical philosophy and methodology. Transaction Publishers: London.

Hidden Meanings Within Shakespeare s Midsummer Night s...

Helena: Hidden Meanings within Her Words. In many of Shakespeare’s literary works one can find multiple themes that reflect or question our reality. He accomplishes this by using figurative language such as metaphors and similes. Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream encompasses many themes and apply them to certain characters or through communication between multiple characters. Helena portrays themes of love, betrayal, jealousy, and gender norms in Midsummer Night’s Dream presenting them through her speech and behavior. She depicts the challenges of a woman and also the flaws of human nature. In Act 2 scene 1 and Act 3 scene 2 Helena uses a metaphor twice which emulates these themes presenting us a broader understanding of her representation within the play and the play as a whole. Following are lines from Helena. Act II.1 HELENA â€Å"I am your spaniel, and Demetrius. Line 204 The more you beat me, I will fawn on you. Use me but as your spaniel - spurn me, strike me, Neglect me, lose me; only give me leave Unworthy as I am to fallow you.† Occurring in Act 2 scene 1, Helena informs Demetrius of Hermia and Lysander’s plans to run away together in hopes of winning Demetrius’s heart. After hearing about their plan, Demetrius is determined to stop Hermia and pursues after her into the woods. Helena isn’t far behind and tries to reason with Demetrius. Once again she expresses her love for him and even offers him to do anythingShow MoreRelatedWilliam Shakespeare s A Midsummer Night s Dream904 Words   |  4 Pagesbecome lost within, or use as an escape from the binds of society. In A Midsummer Night s Dream, the scenes that take place in the woods are full of enchantment and mystery, but Shakespeare also uses the word wood in several very unique and distinct ways. The term is associated with several meanings and Shakespeare uses these differently throughout the play. The purpose of this essay is not to focus on the wood as a setting in the play, but how Shakespeare plays with the various meanings of w ord woodRead MoreWhy Did Freud Use Oedipis As Basis?1355 Words   |  6 PagesSHAKESPEARES PLAY-FREUD WHY DID FREUD USE OEDIPIS AS BASIS!! HAMLET Freudian theories are most prominent in Hamlet out of all Shakespeare’s plays. The most common repressed desire is that of Oedipus. In the myth Oedipus killed his father, and went on to marry his mother, without knowing who each of them were. In this myth the feelings are brought to light however in Hamlet they stay repressed. We only learn of it through the effects it causes. Hamlet is all about incest. After his father’s deathRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Sonnets : The Greatest Of All Love Poems1465 Words   |  6 Pagescome. â€Å"Shakespeare has completely dominated the English-speaking state over the last four hundred years.† When thinking of Shakespeare, his famous plays such Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet are usually the first to come to mind. However, very few people realize he was also one of the most significant writers of all time. â€Å"He [Shakespeare] was the most admired writer in the country by the time he was thirty and the owner of the grandest house in Stratford three years later† (Ashton 6). â€Å"Shakespeare livedRead MoreAnalysis Of Harold Pinter s The Lover2155 Words   |  9 Pages META-DRAMA IN HAROLD PINTER S THE LOVER (1962) AND ALFRED FARAG S GAWAZ ALA WARAQET TALAQ (MARRIAGE ON A DIVORCE CONTRACT) (1973) The main aim of this paper is to study the concept of meta-drama in Harold Pinter s The Lover (1962) and Alfred Farag s Gawz Ala Waraqet Talaq (Marriage on A Divorce Contract) (1973). This paper will first examine the apparent reality of each play as a whole. This picture will be mainly based on the impressions, or prejudices, which the audience carriesRead MoreDeveloping Management Skills404131 Words   |  1617 Pagesbuilt-in pretests and posttests, focus on what you need to learn and to review in order to succeed. Visit www.mymanagementlab.com to learn more. DEVELOPING MANAGEMENT SKILLS EIGHTH EDITION David A. Whetten BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY Kim S. Cameron UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN Prentice Hall Boston Columbus Indianapolis New York San Francisco Upper Saddle River Amsterdam Cape Town Dubai London Madrid Milan Munich Paris Montreal Toronto Delhi Mexico City Sao Paulo Sydney Hong Kong Seoul Singapore

Relevancy of Artificial Intelligence in the Age of Humanity Sample

Questions: 1.What is Artificial Intelligence2.To explore the Positive Negative factors that will affect Humanity after the Adoption of Artificial Intelligence. Answers: Introduction The replacement of the humans by the artificial intelligence is one of the major concerns in the present age. The artificial intelligence has taken over the spheres of modern world and it is dominating the various sectors. The use of machines and the diminishing of the use of human labor have affected the world economy. This situation as adversely affected the workplace operations (Ritchie et al., 2013). Viewing it from other perspective, the emergence of the artificial intelligence weapons has stalled the outpour of the human emotions. Herein, the humanitarian age attains an interrogative parameter. This research speculates the relevancy of artificial intelligence from the perspective of humanity (Bryman, 2015). The arbitrary interview between two people from the education and engineering sector will be discussed but before that a brief session of discussion on the impact of this phenomenon will be explained in the context of social issues. Discussion In this part of the essay a brief session will be conducted on explaining the issues of artificial intelligence and its effects on humanity and other fields that it has made an impact on. At first, the idea of artificial intelligence and its relevance has to be discussed. 1.Artificial Intelligence Artificial Intelligence is a very recent concept that has taken over the modern world and its inhabitants. It is actually something that is governed or dominated by the machines. The use of machines has become a very common trait in the recent years. As we know, the people have become busier than before and they have very little time to do their own works by applying effort. They tend to find some alternative medium that would help them to do their works in shorter amount of time and with a lesser effort (Denscombe, 2014). The machines are the only medium that could provide them with those advantages. Science and technology has advanced so far in this era that nothing seems to be impossible now (Monette, Sullivan DeJong, 2013). Machines have reduced the tasks of human beings and they are believed to take over the next generation world as well as read in the science fiction articles. It is interpreted that machines are able to perform all the cognitive tasks that human beings used to do manually. Machines are even liable to do more tasks in the given time and more swiftly (Punch, 2013). The working fields of the Artificial Intelligence are the works done through computers and computerized robots. Different Aspects of Artificial Intelligence Artificial intelligence has a large impact on the modern society. There have been various philosophies on the topic that are developed to cater to the machinery devices. Everyone knows that a human being can think and work rationally. Human beings can think with emotions and work with keeping various things in minds. It was thought that machines also can do the same works in little time but they must develop emotions and rational thinking powers (Frankish Ramsey, 2014). This thought gave the rise to invent machines with same intelligence level as human beings included. The aim behind inventing AI is to create expert systems that can act, demonstrate, to create human intelligence in the machines which would help the machines to think and act like the human beings (Cohen Feigenbaum, 2014). AI is basically a trait of science and technology that includes subjects like Computer Science, Psychology, Mathematics, Sociology, Philosophy and Biology. These traits are involved with human intelligence such as reasoning and solving problems. There are various applications of AI where one needs to focus on. These zones are gaming, natural language processing, expert systems and vision systems, speech recognition, handwriting recognition and making intelligent robots. Figure name: Artificial Intelligence Source: (Neuman Robson, 2012). 2.Impacts of Artificial Intelligence Impact on jobs Artificial intelligence has left a deep and long lasting impression on the society in different aspects. It may have shed its influence on the work culture but its impact on jobs and employment is something of great concern (Sarason, 2013). The most striking aspect of AI is to felt in the loss of jobs and a good amount of reduction in employment sectors. The probable sectors that would include in the reduction of jobs are likely to be the business services that deal with works like spotting of customer bases, its effects on the organizations, finding suitable job profiles for future employment, sales and marketing and many others. Many people will lose their jobs as there will be no need of human beings to operate the machines because the machines are going to be automatically driven. A machine can do similar works as can be performed by multiple men. It is better to invest on a machine than multiple men to get the desired outcomes. The jobs of the drivers will be affected as well be cause the new types of cars and trucks will be developed in such a manner that drivers will no longer be needed to drive the trucks (Ashrafian, Darzi Athanasiou, 2015). The jobs in manufacturing companies, insurance companies and stock trading companies might also face employment reductions. It is very apparent that introduction of AI will have large effects on jobs (Banks Zeitlyn, 2015). It is an interesting matter to note that that the impact of the AI is not going to be only the negative ones. It may have some positive points also. The companies and the organizations can rise to a higher position after a good amount of growth because of the fast improvement in various fields. The companies can use certain technologies and implement them to get faster results. Impact on Education Grading and taking tests on larger courses and making preparations for the examinations are one of the most important works of education sector (Hovy, Navigli Ponzetto, 2013). These works are generally done by the teachers. Human effort is necessary for this. The recent rise of AI has put doubts over the need of human effort in grading tasks. These things can be performed by the machines while teachers can focus more on the in-class activities and interacting more with the students. Another important impact of AI can be implication of various software applications in educational institutions. Students can be groomed by installing the software applications and they can be learnt many things by responding to the needs of the student, emphasizing on certain tough topics, repeating the topics that the student is yet to learn properly. AI has an added advantage of pointing out the areas where the learning courses should improve and the lacking of the students. There can be developed some online tutoring programs that will help the students understand the problems more and solve them. Indirect Impact on Military There have been many video games in the past that have shown many operations with weapons to capture a land or making them free for the security of the people. This can be turned into a reality if AI can be implemented in the security systems of a country. The military force and the commercial robots can be mixed to undertake various missions. It is a matter of thinking that machines are superior in some cases but in these cases where it requires judgment and knowledge, human beings only should be allowed to combat as the frontline involves uncertainty at every step. Another important aspect is that military systems may tend to incorporate autonomous weapon systems in their forces but it is still a concern that if these autonomous weapons can be relied on in case they are fire weapons. Improvement in Quality of Living The consequences of a implementing AI may have some positive effects. The robots may be useful for the home makers. The robots will be able to do the household works and they can do the works in very little time. They can very easily do all the hard tasks in the house and the members of the house can have some relief as they will get some space and time for spending more time in the house with other members. They will be able to lead a better and healthy life. The good points of AI will come to effect in these points. The home makers do not have to do all the things alone as the machines would do it for them. Different machines would do different tasks relieving the human beings. In the above points various matters have been discussed. In the case of impact of Artistic Intelligence, the cons of the matter are discussed as many people will lose their jobs and it will be very bad for the humanity. Jobless people will fill the planet and there will be severe consequences in the economy of the big countries. This may lead to draughts and homelessness and deaths. The introduction of AI in the military system can also prove to be fatal as it is still on an experimental basis. The security of a country cannot be compromised with anything. There are some pros as well because it will have a positive impact on the education system, helping the students to improve their skills. The lifestyle will be improved as well if it is implemented. Interview The following is an excerpt from the interview between student and an engineer, which enlivens the relevance of artificial intelligence in an age, where humanity is gradually becoming obsolete (Neuman Robson, 2012). In this part, an imaginary interview is going to be conducted for a thorough understanding of the entire matter. The two persons in the interview, the engineer and the student will have a discussion between them about the new things that are going to be introduced because of the introduction of the Artistic Intelligence. Student: Hello sir. Engineer: Hello. Student: Sir, what do you think of the performance of humans in the present age? Engineer (laughing): Performance of the humans! Now, it is the age of the machines. Student: Yes sir, I know but to operate the machines also we need the labors. .Engineer: You seem to be intelligent. Student: Thank you sir. Sir, nowadays, I have heard that there is a new concept called artificial intelligence. Can you enlighten me a little about it? Engineer: Sure. Student: Begin sir, I am all ears. Engineer: I will begin from the root level so that you can grasp the whole concept easily. Student: Yes sir that will be fine. Engineer: You are aware of the aspect of intellect. Student: Yes sir. When the teachers ask us questions, we try to answer it intellectually. Student: Can we substitute the artificial intelligence concept with the robots? Engineer: Well, yes, to some extent. This concept has become utmost importance in the workplace for carrying out the tasks in a modern way. You will be surprised; there are artificial intelligence weapons, which have brought efficiency in the business activities of the companies and organizations (Sarantakos, 2012). Student: Is it? Engineer: Yes. Due to the achievement of success through the artificial intelligence, the companies are now planning to boycott the human talents. Student: This issue questions the intellectual application of the employees to execute the roles and responsibilities allocated to them. Engineer: No. Student: Why? Engineer: I counter your interrogative perspective with the information that when there will be no recruitment, how can the individual talents can go unnoticed and unrecognized (Sarason, 2013). Student: Counter arguing your point, effective utilization of the devices by the staffs of the companies and organizations would substitute the functionality of the artificial intelligence weapons. What are your opinions? Engineer: You are right, but if there are no recruitments, there is no question of staffs and there is no question of their utilization of the devices. Another thing, which will surprise you, is that the scope and arena of this artificial intelligence is so widespread, that there will be no offices in the near future (Banks Zeitlyn, 2015). Student: (speechless) Engineer: There is more for you. The artificial intelligence weapons will create employment opportunities, which will benefit you. Student: Really? Engineer: Yes. To give you an example, by 2016, 21jobs have witnessed the presence of robots instead of staffs for carrying out the workplace operations. Engineer: Look, the robots with modern inbuilt features would automatically perform the operations. This will reduce the stress of the manual labor. Rather, it will nullify the need for labors. Student: Then, will the individual talents of the employees take a backseat? What will happen to the hard efforts put in by the employees for earning their daily bread? Engineer: Do you read newspapers? Student: Well, regularly. However, sometimes, I hardly get time, as there is pressure of projects and assignments. Student: Countering your argument, robots can be placed ahead of the humans, as they possess intellect, which is artificially created and manufactured. Engineer: You have grasped the subject. With this observation of yours, I think your rational application in terms of humanity is very strong and flexible. Student: Thank you sir, we have to make intellectual observations in the projects and assignments that we are allocated. Engineer: How? Student: We are so foolish, we have come a long way through our discussion and we have not introduced ourselves. Engineer: The issue of our discussion is so intensified that it contradicts the limitations in our existence and humanity. The robots have taken over our existence, which has and is gradually fading away our existence (Ingrand Ghallab, 2014). Student: This is one of the major concerns in the present age. In order to mitigate the intensity of this concern, I now feel that this artificial intelligence is needed. Engineer: Yes. This test helps the scientists to track the performance of the robots. In addition, do you know, where will this concept show its charisma? Student: Where, sir? Engineer: You will be surprised to know that the artificial intelligence weapons find its applicability in the automotive industry, especially in the aircrafts and cars (Ingrand Ghallab, 2014). Student: Please specify it to me sir. Engineer: Nowadays automatic technology is being installed in the cars and planes, which nullifies the need of the pilots and drivers. Student: What are you saying? Engineer: Yes, the scope and area of this technology is so widespread and advanced, that the cars and planes will run on their own (Ashrafian, Darzi Athanasiou, 2015). Student: What about accidents in the highways? Engineer: The design of the cars and planes are created I such a way that it will automatically stop before the accident-prone zone (Frankish Ramsey, 2014). Student: Indeed, it is very advanced. I lose in terms of the widespread charisma of science. What are the other applications of this wonder? Engineer: The artificial intelligence will also sow its wonder I the field of education. Student: You have told about this once, but I want to hear about it more. Student: Really? Engineer: Do not be disheartened. Debates and plans are on regarding the extension of the durability of the technology of artificial intelligence. Student: Sir, please look into the matter with due consideration. Engineer: Ok, let me divert you with some more interesting points about this technology. Student: Yes, sir. Engineer: As per the propositions of an article, several learning materials are to be introduced, which makes the learning process easier for the students like you (Sarantakos, 2012). Student: Really? Engineer: Yes. With the help of this technology, the students can establish contacts with their teachers through the means of video calling for solving their doubts regarding the execution of the assignments and projects. Along with this, they can participate in the global classrooms (Hovy, Navigli Ponzetto, 2013). Student: So many benefits! Engineer: Yes, dear, if you can make effective and judicious utilization of this technology, then you will find a modern touch to your lives (Bond Gasser, 2014). Student: Thank o so much sir, for your precious time. Engineer: Pleasure. Conclusion This research emerges successful in providing an insight into the widespread utilization of artificial intelligence technology. The conversation between a student and an engineer enlivens its usage in diversified fields. The reference to the newspaper and website articles acts as a typical example of what the companies and organizations are doing for adopting this technology. Rather, it reflects the approach towards the technology, which has reduced the individual efforts largely. In view of all the points put forward, stance can be taken in favor of relevancy of the artificial intelligence in the age of humanity. References Ashrafian, H., Darzi, A., Athanasiou, T. (2015). A novel modification of the Turing test for artificial intelligence and robotics in healthcare.The International Journal of Medical Robotics and Computer Assisted Surgery,11(1), 38-43. Banks, M., Zeitlyn, D. (2015).Visual methods in social research. Sage. Bond, A. H., Gasser, L. (Eds.). (2014).Readings in distributed artificial intelligence. Morgan Kaufmann. Brodie, M. L., Mylopoulos, J., Schmidt, J. W. (Eds.). (2012).On conceptual modelling: Perspectives from artificial intelligence, databases, and programming languages. Springer Science Business Media. Bryman, A. (2015).Social research methods. Oxford university press. Cohen, P. R., Feigenbaum, E. A. (Eds.). (2014).The handbook of artificial intelligence(Vol. 3). Butterworth-Heinemann. De Vaus, D. (2013).Surveys in social research. Routledge. Denscombe, M. (2014).The good research guide: for small-scale social research projects. McGraw-Hill Education (UK). Frankish, K., Ramsey, W. M. (Eds.). (2014).The Cambridge handbook of artificial intelligence. Cambridge University Press. Ghahramani, Z. (2015). Probabilistic machine learning and artificial intelligence.Nature,521(7553), 452-459. Hovy, E., Navigli, R., Ponzetto, S. P. (2013). Collaboratively built semi-structured content and Artificial Intelligence: The story so far.Artificial Intelligence,194, 2-27. Ingrand, F., Ghallab, M. (2014). Robotics and artificial intelligence: A perspective on deliberation functions.AI Communications,27(1), 63-80. Michalski, R. S., Carbonell, J. G., Mitchell, T. M. (Eds.). (2013).Machine learning: An artificial intelligence approach. Springer Science Business Media. Monette, D. R., Sullivan, T. J., DeJong, C. R. (2013).Applied social research: A tool for the human services. Cengage Learning. Neuman, W. L., Robson, K. (2012). Basics of social research: Qualitative and quantitative approaches. Nilsson, N. J. (2014).Principles of artificial intelligence. Morgan Kaufmann. Punch, K. F. (2013).Introduction to social research: Quantitative and qualitative approaches. Sage. Ritchie, J., Lewis, J., Nicholls, C. M., Ormston, R. (Eds.). (2013).Qualitative research practice: A guide for social science students and researchers. Sage. Sarantakos, S. (2012).Social research. Palgrave Macmillan. Sarason, I. G. (Ed.). (2013).Social support: Theory, research and applications(Vol. 24). Springer Science Business Media. Wenger, E. (2014).Artificial intelligence and tutoring systems: computational and cognitive approaches to the communication o

The Loewen Group Inc. was founded in 1969. The com Essay Example For Students

The Loewen Group Inc. was founded in 1969. The com Essay pany has two major headquarters in North America, one in Burnaby, British Colombia and a second in Cincinnati, Ohio. Loewen Group Inc. (L.G.I.) is the largest funeral services enterprise in Canada and is the second largest company in the North American Funeral Services Industry. L.G.I. owns 918 funeral homes and 269 cemeteries and also engages in the pre-need selling of funeral services including cemetery and cremation services. The company strives on respecting its Eagle Principle, which is displayed on the first page of its 1995 Annual Report:To soar to heights of possibilities one needs two equally healthy, strong wings one being that of people or service concerns, the other that of responsible planning and fiscal management. It is the balance of these wings that enables the eagle to soar beyond all heights1 In 1995, the company defended itself against two major lawsuits, as well as continued to negotiate acquisition agreements. The Loewen Group Inc. stresses that once an acquisi tion has been completed, local management is encouraged to remain and offers long term contracts to its key employees, rarely dismissing the other employees. L.G.I. provides many services to its acquired companies including offering training to new employees on its management information systems and covering costs for any renovations which are needed on the acquired locations. Each funeral home and cemetery is operated as a distinct profit centre, with monthly and annual financial performance monitored by regional and corporate management in accordance with budgeted projections. This report includes a study of The Canadian Funeral Services Industry practices, a review of the take-over attempt by Service Corporation International, an analysis of the Loewen Group Inc. 1995 Annual Report for the period ending December 31, 1995, and examination of the revenue recognition practices used by L.G.I.. We will write a custom essay on The Loewen Group Inc. was founded in 1969. The com specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now The Funeral Services IndustryAccording to a paper issued in August 1995, by Statistics Canadas Services, Science and technology Division Final Purchase, Growing Demand: The Canadian Funeral Services Industry, the funeral services industry, in comparison to other industries, has historically been considered a low risk industry. The Funeral service industry is not significantly affected by economic cycles. The stability of the industry is increased by future demographic trends. Individuals from the baby boomer generation are now entering their fifties and the death rate is growing slowly at 1.5% per year, compounded, as demonstrated in Appendix A: Deaths, Actual and Projected. The industry is characterised by above-average profitability and revenue growth. Public Health issues and consumer protection issues are primarily regulated at the provincial level of government. These regulations are implemented to protect the dignity of the deceased as well as his or her estate. These regulations are described in detail in the revenue recognition section. Loewen Group Inc. StrategiesThe Provident America Corporation lawsuit was settled in February, 1995 for US $19 million. On November 2nd, 1995, a jury in Jackson, Mississippi, awarded US $500 million in Breach-of-contract lawsuit brought by Gulf National. This amount is almost twenty-six times high than what was originally asked for. In order to appeal, Loewen was required to post a US $625 million bond, which was later reduced to US $125 million with the condition that there would be no significant change in assets or increases in dividends without prior notification to the court and the other party. No provision on was made on the financial statement at this point since the result was hard to predict on the appeal. On January 29th, 1996, Loewen settled the lawsuit for US $175 million and recorded US $135 million, present value of $175 million. Loewen decided to settle because of two reasons: the first is that the appeal would have a financial impact on the companys income and the se cond reason is that prolonging the lawsuits would create uncertainty and speculation amongst the companys shareholders. S.C.I. Take-over AttemptOn September 17, 1996 Service Corporation International (S.C.I.), the largest Funeral Service Company in the world, placed a $ 2.5. billion take-over bid for Loewen Group Inc. The bids share value is equivalent to US $ 43 each. Houston based S.C.I.s bid was considered to be fair by many analysts like Todd Richter of Dean Witter Reynolds Inc. (New York) and Ivar Leipens of Moss, Lawson ; Co. (Toronto). Another analyst, Dean Martin of TD securities Inc. (Toronto), stated that the bid was too low and that the a bid of US $ 50 would be fair. He noted that Chairman Ray Loewen and his management team retain 20 % (15 % + 5 % respectively) of the companys stock. Canadian institutional holders of the companys stock would be more likely to support the company because they must follow constraints such as a cap of 20 % on foreign holdings in regards to Canadian Pension funds. Therefore S.C.I. will has had a difficult time gaining the support of 75 % of Loewen Group Inc. s hareholders needed as per the Canadian securities law. In the week following the announcement of the take-over bid, the fourth largest company in the industry, Equity Corp. International, based in Lufkin, Texas had contacted the Federal Trade Commission in regards to how to become eligible to bid for divested properties if the take-over took place. Equity Corp. International is 40 % owned by Service Corp. International. Another company, Continua LLC, offered Loewen Group Inc. $ 500 million in exchange for some of Loewens southern US holdings. On September 27, 1996 the State of Florida launched an antitrust probe into the take-over bid. The state was worried about the impact it would have on Medicare issues, pricing and other areas. S.C.I. would raise the bid to US $ 45 per share before Loewen rejected the bid on October 10, 1996, while at the same time launching an antitrust lawsuit against S.C.I. and Equity Corp. International. The lawsuit accused the two companies of conspiring to eliminate L.G.I. from the industry. All companies in the Funeral Service Industry are continuing to reposition themselves as the industry continues to expand. If successful, S.C.I. would be able to monopolise the North American market. S.C.I.s take-over proposal is intended to eliminate the competition in North America. S.C.I. wanted to buy cheap after the one time event with the jury. By taking over Loewen, S.C.I. would become the preferred buyer in the industry. Loewen rejected their offer because of the following reasons:1) inadequate proposal which has a potential anti-competition effect in thecommonwealth of the industry. 2) Although both companies encourage the integration of new acquisitions in their structures, Loewen felt that its structure would not be preserved. 3) Loewen is considered as the preferred acquirer in the industry after the acquisition of two of its key assets: Prime Succession, and Ross Hill Memorial Park, two major cemeteries in the United States of America. Loewen decided that it is best to continue implementing the companys long term business plan as an independent company. Loewen has created a good corporate culture and has a record for caring for its employees, customers, and communities it serves. Annual Report AnalysisThe Loewen Group Incorporated 1995 Annual Report covers the period beginning January 1, 1994 and ending December 31st, 1995. This analysis will cover the following items: the report to the companys shareholders, the Striking a Balance section of the report and the operational highlights. The operational highlights analysis will include Managements Statement of Responsibility, the Auditors report to the Shareholders, a ratio analysis of the financial statements disclosed in the report as well as the pertinence of the notes regarding the financial statements. .u3a70c5644e75a15198bfda4fe930caef , .u3a70c5644e75a15198bfda4fe930caef .postImageUrl , .u3a70c5644e75a15198bfda4fe930caef .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u3a70c5644e75a15198bfda4fe930caef , .u3a70c5644e75a15198bfda4fe930caef:hover , .u3a70c5644e75a15198bfda4fe930caef:visited , .u3a70c5644e75a15198bfda4fe930caef:active { border:0!important; } .u3a70c5644e75a15198bfda4fe930caef .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u3a70c5644e75a15198bfda4fe930caef { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u3a70c5644e75a15198bfda4fe930caef:active , .u3a70c5644e75a15198bfda4fe930caef:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u3a70c5644e75a15198bfda4fe930caef .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u3a70c5644e75a15198bfda4fe930caef .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u3a70c5644e75a15198bfda4fe930caef .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u3a70c5644e75a15198bfda4fe930caef .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u3a70c5644e75a15198bfda4fe930caef:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u3a70c5644e75a15198bfda4fe930caef .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u3a70c5644e75a15198bfda4fe930caef .u3a70c5644e75a15198bfda4fe930caef-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u3a70c5644e75a15198bfda4fe930caef:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: When The Legends Die (769 words) EssayThe annual report stresses the companys belief in its Eagle Principle. In the report to the companys shareholders, The chairman and chief executive officer, Ray Loewen stresses that the company showed outstanding growth despite the inflicting costs associated with the two major lawsuits it dealt with. He thanked the shareholders for their support, then stated promising figures that were overshadowed by the above for mentioned events. He continued with the aspect of growth by discussing the companys acquisitions. Mr. Loewen concluded by promising to continue to uphold the companys standards in 1996. The Striking a Balance section of the annual reports purpose is to provide answers from management and executive members about questions shareholders might have about the Loewen Group Inc. beliefs, operations and structure. The topics ranged from the effect of the Gulf National lawsuit to how the services provided by Loewen benefit the communities it serves. This section does not disclose monetary figures, its responsibility lies in creating or restoring the trust of its potential shareholders and current shareholders before they analyse the financial statements in the following section of the annual report, by demonstrating the personal accountability of its staff . Operational HighlightsThe managements statement of responsibility states that management has presented fairly the financial position of the company while respecting the generally accepted accounting principles in Canada. Management also states that it maintains its control systems to assure that also transactions are com pleted and recorded properly. The letter conclusion indicates that the auditors selected are independent. The auditors report to the shareholders notes that the audits made by KPMG Peat Marwick Thorne (independent auditors) were based on the generally accepted auditing standards and summarises its criterion: finding evidence of amounts and disclosure policies and the manner in which the company adopted the generally accepted accounting principles. The auditors concluded upon the completion of the audits that the information provided in the consolidated financial statements to be presented fairly because the company applied generally accepted accounting principles consistently. Ratio Analysis of Financial StatementsAll ratios presented show 1995 in the first column and 1994 in the second column. As shown with the return on equity ratio. The dollar figures in the annual report are in American currency. Performance Ratios19951994Return on equity(76684)/614682 = (0.125)38494/411139 = 0.094Return on equity based on the Scott formula (Please refer to Appendix E: for complete figures)ROE=SR*AT+ ROA-IN *D/E1995(0.125) = (0.011) * 0.265+(0.003) 0.043 * 2.68219940.094= 0.146* 0.315+0.046- 0.025 * 2.226In 1995, $50 million of cash and 1.5 million Common shares are paid off to Gulf National. The settlement decreases Loewens 1995 net income and retained earnings while increasing their owners equity. Therefore the shareholders lost 12.5 % on their initial investment, compared to a gain of 9.4 % in 1994. Return on equity, calculated without the lawsuit settlement, shows a smaller decrease of 7.8 % from the previous year. This is primarily due to the increase in share capital of $210 million made by the company to cover the debts incurred through the litigation proceedings. Based on the Scott formula results, the decrease on the return on equity ratio was caused by a loss on overall operating return before interest cost and a high leverage return. Return on assets(72949)/2262980 = (0.032)95113/1326275 = 0.0717Total assets increased by 70.6 % however, the costs associated with the legal settlements ($165 million) resulted in a net loss. These occurrences resulted in a negative return on assets. The negative return on assets normally indicates trouble in ability to pay interests. Only $53 million of $165 million was paid in cash and the remainder was recorded as a long term liability without interest. We can also relate these figures to the decrease in credit ratings of Loewen Group Inc. by the following credit facilities: Duff Phelps Credit Rating, Standard Poors Rating Group and Moodys Investor Services as stated in the Current Credit Facilities and Credit Ratings section of the 1995 annual report.Sales return(76684)/599939 = (0.128)38494/417328 = 0.092In 1994, 9.2 % of all revenues ended up as profit, while in 1995, 12.8 % of all revenues were recorded as a loss. 0.080If the company would not have had to incur the costs relating to the lawsuit, 8 % of its revenues would have been profit. The costs relating to funeral homes and cemeteries expenditures exceeded the revenues they generated, because their revenues were not considered revenues of L.G.I. until the acquisitions were completed. Gross margin599939-373131/599939 = 0.378417328-258474/417328 = 0.381Average interest rate50913/1648298 = 0.03134203/91536 = 0.037The gross margin and the average interest rate both remained st eady. Cash flow to total assets39454/2262980 = 0.01711649/1326275 = 0.009Cash flow to total assets ratio shows an increase, because the new acquisitions generated more revenues. The majority of the costs related to the Gulf National lawsuit were not included in the ratio, since a large percentage of the costs were recorded as long term liabilities. These liabilities did not involve a cash transaction. Earnings per share(1.690)0.970Book value per share614682000/48167765 = $12.761 per share411139000/41015447 = $10.024 per sharePrice-earning ratio34.380/(1.690) = (20.343)36.750/0.970 = 37.887Dividend payout ratio0.050/(1.69) = (0.030)0.070/0.970 = 0.072Earnings per share shows a large decrease in percentage, since the company issued US $ 210 million dollars worth of new shares. Therefore the dividends were distributed to a larger number of shares. The value of shareholders equity per share increased from US $ 10.02 in 1994 to US $ 12.76 in 1995.The dividend payout ratio decreased becau se earnings per share decreased. The price earning ratio lowered due to the decrease in earnings per share, as well as the current market price per share. Activity RatiosTotal asset turnover599939/2262980 = 0.265417328/1326275 = 0.315The total asset turnover remained steady because of the new acquisitions off balanced the legal settlements and litigation cost. One American dollar of total assets generated US $ 0.27 in 1995, whereas in 1994, it generated US $ 0.32. Inventory turnover373131/27489+19673/2= 15.800210471/19673+15952/2= 11.820Collection ratio115953/599939/365 = 70.50070547/417328/365 = 61.700The inventory turnover was 15.8 times in 1995, an increase from 11.8 times in 1994.In 1995, it took 70.5 days to collect accounts receivables compared to 61.7 days in 1994. This has a negative impact on the companys liquidity. Financing RatiosDebt-equity ratio1648298/614682 = 2.682915136/411139 = 2.200Long-term debt-equity934509/614682 = 1.520516654/411139 = 1.260Debt to assets ratio1648298/2262980 = 0.728915136/1326275 = 0.690The companys reliance on debt increased because the costs it had to incur relating to the Gulf National lawsuit as well as the insurance liabilities incurred created by the two insurance companies it received during the acquisition of S.I. Acquisitions Associates, L.P. Liquidity and Solvency Warning RatioWorking capital ratio191081/241275 = 0.790109868/97665 = 1.125The working capital ratio lowered to 0.790 from 1.125 in 1994. This means that their current liabilities increased at a faster rate than their current assets in 1995. This is cause for concern because ideally this ratio should be at $ 2 of assets to $ 1 of liabilities. .u0b001b40d4c67af4fa9077bddc2a9c46 , .u0b001b40d4c67af4fa9077bddc2a9c46 .postImageUrl , .u0b001b40d4c67af4fa9077bddc2a9c46 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u0b001b40d4c67af4fa9077bddc2a9c46 , .u0b001b40d4c67af4fa9077bddc2a9c46:hover , .u0b001b40d4c67af4fa9077bddc2a9c46:visited , .u0b001b40d4c67af4fa9077bddc2a9c46:active { border:0!important; } .u0b001b40d4c67af4fa9077bddc2a9c46 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u0b001b40d4c67af4fa9077bddc2a9c46 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u0b001b40d4c67af4fa9077bddc2a9c46:active , .u0b001b40d4c67af4fa9077bddc2a9c46:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u0b001b40d4c67af4fa9077bddc2a9c46 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u0b001b40d4c67af4fa9077bddc2a9c46 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u0b001b40d4c67af4fa9077bddc2a9c46 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u0b001b40d4c67af4fa9077bddc2a9c46 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u0b001b40d4c67af4fa9077bddc2a9c46:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u0b001b40d4c67af4fa9077bddc2a9c46 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u0b001b40d4c67af4fa9077bddc2a9c46 .u0b001b40d4c67af4fa9077bddc2a9c46-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u0b001b40d4c67af4fa9077bddc2a9c46:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Poverty In America EssayAcid test ratio39454+115953/241275 = 0.64415349+70547/97665 = 0.880Interest coverage ratio72949-47178/50913 = 0.50624029+19738/34203 = 1.280Both the acid test ratio and the interest coverage ratio both fell from last year. The acid test ratio decrease was caused by larger increase in liabilities than assets. The interest coverage ratio decreased below to 0.506 which is below the ideal target of 1. The company is not generating sufficient income to cover its obligations as they become due. Revenue RecognitionThis analysis of the revenue recognition practices by Loewen Group Inc. is divided into two sections. The first section will concentrate on revenue recognition practices relating to funeral services and the second section will develop those relating to the cemetery operations of this company. We have included three Appendixes, Appendix B: Average Funeral Costs, Appendix C: Revenue by Source in the Funeral Service Industry and Appendix D: Total Revenue of the Funeral Service Industry by Sector for additional references .Funeral homes offer services, which include everything from the actual service and registration of the death of an individual to the sale of a casket. These services can be purchased at-need, which is considered as a purchase at the time of death, or pre-need, which is a prearranged contract established while the deceased is still living. Provincial regulations in Ontario protect the consumer with respect to pre-need funeral and cemetery services. In general, the regulations require a specific percentage of pre-paid funds to be deposited in trust. Ontario requires 100% deposits in trust on the sale of pre-arranged funeral services. This is required in order to protect the consumer from service non-delivery due to the closure or failure of the firm where they purchased the funeral services. Firms within the province of Ontario can not take the fullest financial advantage of pre-need services due to regulatory restrictions on the funds in question. However the firms still benefit, in that they are gaining control of future market share, and can be certain of future revenue flows. Payments made for pre-need contracts are either placed intrust by the company or are used on behalf of the purchaserof the pre-need contract to pay premiums on life insurance policies under which the company is the designated beneficiary. At the date of performance of a pre-arrangedservice, the company records as a funeral revenue the amount originally trusted or the insurance contract amount,together with all related insurance contract amount, together with all related accrued trust earnings and increased insurance benefits2 Pre-arranged funeral services are included in other assets and amortised over a period of ten years approximating the period the benefits are expected to be realised. The regulations regarding cemeteries focus on public health aspects and the care and maintenance of cemetery grounds. Funeral home companies are required to deposit a certain percentage from the proceeds of sales of interment rights (ie: the lot, crypt or riches for the final disposition of the remains). These perpetual care funds are held in perpetuity and is not considered an asset to the firm. The firm does however have the right to the interest earned on the funds in order to provide the care and maintenance of their cemeteries.The percentage required to be deposited into the perpetual care fund varies from 5% to 40%, depending on the area. In the event that the firm suspends its operation these funds can be made available through the province or municipality. The pre-need sale of interment rights and other related products is recorded as revenue when customer contracts are signed and, concurrently, related costs are recorded and an allowance is established for customers cancella tions and refunds based on managements estimated of expected cancellations.31995, was a controversial year for The Loewen Group Inc. The company showed its desire to expand within the funeral industry by acquiring funeral homes and cemeteries from Osiris Holding Corp., MHI Group as well as other companies. The speed in which they attempted to acquire new holdings made the company vulnerable to lawsuits. The company stated in its annual report that it has become more aware of this issue after the Gulf National incident. Although the company was severely affected financially by the settlement as demonstrated by the financing and liquidity ratios, the company showed its potential to maintain its position in the industry, as shown by the relative unchanged gross margin. The company now finds itself highly leveraged (as demonstrated by the Scott Formula calculations) and therefore has the potential for big earnings for shareholders. This has also made the company vulnerable to outsiders, as demonstrated by the Service Corporation Internationals attempt to take-over the company. If Loewen Group Incorporated is able to stop the take-over attempt, it will prove its stability.REFERENCES1. Loewen Group Incorporated, The Loewen Group Inc. 1995 Annual Report, H. MacDonald Printing.,1996, 1. 2. Loewen Group International Inc., online Available @ http://www.sec.gov/archives/edgar/data/845577/0000950109/09-96-003953.txt. 3. Ibid. BIBLIOGRAPHYFreiedman, Jack P., Dictionary of Business Terms, New York, Barrons Educational Series Inc., 1994. Gibbins, Michael, Financial Accounting: An Integrated Approach, 2nd Edition, Scarborough, Nelson Canada, 1995. Heimbecker, John, Final Purchase, Growing Demand, The Canadian Funeral Services Industry, Ottawa, Statistics Canada, 1995. The Loewen Group Inc., The Loewen Group Inc. 1995 Annual Report, Burnaby B.C.: H. MacDonald Printing, 1996. The Loewen Group International Inc., online Available @ http://www.sec.gov/archives/edgar/data/845577/0000950109/09-96-003953.txt. Milner, Brian. Loewen board rejects SCI takeover bid, The Globe and Mail, 11 October 1996, B13. Milner, Brian. Rivals target Loewen assets, The Globe and Mail, 23 Sepetember 1996, B1, B10. Schreiner, John. Loewen wont concede defeat without exacting a high price The Financial Post 19 September 1996: 1-2. Schreiner, John. U.S. giant bids for Loewen The Financial Post 18 September 1996: 1-2. APPENDIX A: Death, Actual and ProjectedSource: p.18 of Final Purchase, Growing Demand The Canadian Funeral Services Industry. APPENDIX B: Average Funeral CostsSource: p.13 of Final Purchase, Growing Demand The Canadian Funeral Services Industry. APPENDIX C: Revenue by Source in the Funeral Services IndustrySource: p.6 of Final Purchase, Growing Demand The Canadian Funeral Services Industry. APPENDIX D: Total Revenue of the Funeral Services Industry by SectorSource: p.4 of Final Purchase, Growing Demand The Canadian Funeral Services Industry. APPENDIX E: The Scott Formula (Expressed in thousands of U.S. Dollars)19951994SymbolsTotal assets22629801326275ATotal liabilities1648298915136LTotal equity614682411139ETotal revenue599939417328REVNet income(76684)38494NIInterest expense5091334203INTIncome tax rate(38.1) %33.9 %TRAfter-tax interest expense50913 * 1.381 = 7031134203 * .661 = 22608ATI = INT (1 TR)ROE (return on equity)(76684) / 614682 = (0.125)38494 / 411139 = 0.094NI / ESR (sales return before interest)(76684) + 70311 / 599939 = (0.011) 38494 + 22608 / 417328 = 0.146 NI + ATI / REVAT (asset turnover)599939 / 2262980 = 0.265417328 / 1326275 = 0.315REV / AROA (return on assets)(76684) + 70311 / 2262980 = (0.003) 38494 + 22608 / 1326275 = 0.046 NI + ATI / AIN (average interest rate after tax)70311 / 1648298 = 0.04322608 / 915136 = 0.025ATI / LD / E (debt-equity ratio)1648298 / 614682 = 2.682915136 / 411139 = 2.226L / E

Why University Admission Essays Get Denied

Why University Admission Essays Get Denied Why University Admission Essays Get Denied Every year thousands of university admission essays are reviewed by Toronto university boards. The purpose of these essays is to narrow the list of applicants to the students that meet stringent university standards. While no two schools share the same set of admission and essay criteria, these factors should be taken into consideration: GPA Your qualities as a student (including extracurriculars and strengths) Your future contribution to the university, if accepted These key elements can direct your outline as you draft your essay. Here are some reasons admission essays get rejected: Grades don’t meet university requirements. Many universities are academically competitive. For some hopeful candidates, their grade point average may be the reason their essays aren’t even read. Incomplete application. One institution may requires three essays on different topics and another may asks for only one essay, in addition to quantitative data like test scores. Some applicants make the mistake of â€Å"copying and pasting† the same application for different institutions without reading individual requirements. Read each university’s instructions carefully. Wordy essay. Every admissions board reviews hundreds of applications. They are likely to quickly dismiss essays that are filled with incoherent ramblings. Write in a clear and direct tone and delete unnecessary â€Å"flourishes.† Vague writing. An essay that glosses over or omits important details can lead to rejection of a candidate. Writing that fails to cite specific examples (or an essay loaded with general pronouncements that have little meaning) will be discarded. Multiple errors. If your essay is rife with spelling and grammatical mistakes, it gives the impression you pay little attention to detail. Proofread your work and ask your guidance counsellor or a trusted teacher to review your essay and give honest feedback. Limited enrollment. Sometimes there simply aren’t enough spots for qualified candidates. In this case, acceptance or rejection may seem somewhat arbitrary, but a polished essay will increase your likelihood of admission. An admissions essay is a tool that helps universities narrow their list of potential students accepted for the upcoming term. This essay can encapsulate a student’s academic profile and/or indicate their future potential. Some applicants may struggle to write multiple essays, which can be both frustrating and discouraging. in Toronto employs professional writers who have experience writing quality college admissions essays. Our friendly team of writers are more than happy to help you draft a college admissions essay. To increase your chances of getting accepted into your dream school,

Reflection Questions 5 †Education Essay question and answer (200 Level Course)

Reflection Questions 5 – Education Essay question and answer (200 Level Course) Free Online Research Papers Reflection Questions 5 Education Essay question and answer(200 Level Course) Q: Why is it important for teachers to know the history of American education? How might you use such knowledge? R: It is important for teachers to know the history of American education because our history is the foundation of our current formal system of education. To recognize a discipline, you must first consider the history in terms of its beginning structure and changes. A teacher could utilize this knowledge; in a teacher philosophy research paper, or as classroom world history project or you could assign a student to report on an individual topic from the history of American education, i.e. progressivism or essentialism, Horace Mann, the plight of minorities in the history of education. Q:How did the moral lessons you were taught in school compare with those taught in earlier American schools. R:Moral lesson that were taught in earlier American schools were based and centered on the bible, because the bible was the initial source for reading and text. The earlier moral lessons were duly based on the bible and religious training for the purpose of producing socially responsible citizens. In contrast to the moral lesson that I was taught in school, I would say that our moral standards were also based on the biblical principle and precepts. We were trained and held to a standard in school of honesty, fairness, love and respect. Research Papers on Reflection Questions 5 - Education Essay question and answer (200 Level Course)Standardized TestingBook Review on The Autobiography of Malcolm XComparison: Letter from Birmingham and CritoHip-Hop is ArtResearch Process Part OneBringing Democracy to AfricaRelationship between Media Coverage and Social andInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesCanaanite Influence on the Early Israelite ReligionMoral and Ethical Issues in Hiring New Employees

Visionary Leadership and Sustainability Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Visionary Leadership and Sustainability - Essay Example support of Sergey Brin presented a highly invented machine that organized world wide information in order to make it available and useful for the general public in the entire globe. As a result of which, the prosperity and results of business enhanced to a significant extent that amplified its profitability and brand image as compared to many others (Tehcrunch, 2013). c) According to me, Larry Page is recognized as one of the most popular leader in the entire globe as compared to others due to his ethical and honest qualities. Other than this, Larry Page is extremely crazy about innovativeness and desired to make a different perspective of internet in the entire globe. Due to which, he always desired to recruit creative and talented individual, irrespective of culture and creed so as to enhance the brand value of Google in the entire globe among others. Moreover, another remarkable aspect of Larry Page is that he always tried to communicate and coordinate among other employees of Google. Due to which, each and every person of the organization might easily communicate his requirements as well as suggestions to Larry Page that may be used for future developments. However, due to such type of democratic or participative leadership style, every individual liked and preferred him. Apart from this, I liked him also due to his supportive nature and high thinking power. He used to listen to the suggestions or ideas of the employees very vividly that enhanced his knowledge and skills. And due to his introvert nature, maximum extent of the employees, get motivated towards the assigned tasks and enhanced the brand value of Google among others (Tehcrunch, 2013). Furthermore, Larry Page is highly open-minded as well as unbiased person and offered high attention over intelligence and talent of the individual rather than caste or creed. Due to which, he became successful in enhancing the image and market share of the organization of Google that amplified its revenue and

Organizational Theory Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

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Affects of Capital Punishment on Society Essay Example for Free

Affects of Capital Punishment on Society Essay To take a life when a life has been lost is revenge, not justice ( qtd. in Anti-Death Penalty). Capital punishment, or the death penalty, has been around in some sort of variation for centuries. It is enforced upon criminals who have been convicted of the most heinous crimes, such as homicide. There have been debates throughout time as whether or not the death penalty is appropriate punishment. Valid arguments of support and contradiction of capital punishment have come up over time, making citizens believe it is a tough decision for lawmakers to choose whether or not to allow the death penalty. The decision is simple. Capital Punishment should be abolished throughout the country because it is an unfair and unnecessary way of castigation that contains many flaws and serves no justice for those involved. Executions have been held in the United States as far back as history recognizes. Beginning in 1976, states have begun to come to their senses and finally abolish the death penalty. The number of American civilians who oppose the death penalty have also more than double since then, showing that more than one-third of the population now oppose capital punishment ( 2001Jost 948). Since 1976, more that 1,000 executions have occurred in the United States. Between the thirty-eight states that approve of the death penalty, and the thirty-two that have used in since 1976, there are five different execution methods that are available, each having their disadvantages ( Friedman 85). The first of these execution styles is death by hanging. Until the late 1800s, this type of murder was the primary execution type in the united states. Many states have since stopped hangings, but it has not been gotten rid of completely. Currently, it is still used in Delaware, Washington, and New Hampshire. The last record execution hanging dates back to January 25, 1996 in Delaware, when Billie Bailey was hung for being convicted of the murder of an elderly couple. Hanging is just one of the several disturbing ways in which justice is served in America ( Friedman 74). Another way of performing the death penalty is by the use of lethal gas. It is arguably the least violent of execution methods, and it does not mar, or disfigure, the body. There is little pain involved, and it takes minimal time to perform. Several states use this type of execution, including California, Maryland, Mississippi, and Wyoming. The latest recorded execution by lethal gas was in 1999 in Arizona ( Friedman 74). If there were such a thing as the best execution method, this would be the one. The rarest of type of performing capital punishment is by the use of a firing squad. First, the convicted is led into an execution room where he will sit upon a blood absorbing chair. He is placed before five gunmen, holding four bullet guns and a blank, so that the killers would not be identified. After being covered with a black hood, members of the firing squad aim for the heart, instantly killing the criminal. The latest firing squad execution was in January of 1996, when John Albert Taylor of Utah was sentenced to the death penalty. Death by firing squad is very uncommon and is used only upon an inmates request ( Friedman 74). The most currently used method of capital punishment is lethal injection. The performance consists of three drugs entering the bloodstream. They include sodium pentothal, which knocks out the person, pancuronium bromide, which causes widespread paralysis, and lastly, potassium chloride, which induces a heart attack, killing the convicted criminal. Death penalty supporters believe this type of injection is the most humane, because it is said that once the first drug enters the bloodstream, that the victim drifts off to sleep and feels no pain. However, there is no proof backing this theory up, and taking into the consideration of the strength of potassium chloride, it is nearly impossible to believe that the person does not feel any pain ( Friedman 77). Lastly, electrocution is the fifth and final type of execution. First introduced in the 1880s, it is currently the second most common type of criminal murder behind lethal injection. The process begins with the criminal being thoroughly shaved to avoid interference with the electrical current. Then they are strapped into an electrocution chair. A saline-moistened sponge is placed upon the persons head to conduct the electric current that flows throughout the body. This is then covered by a metal hat. The prisoner is then blindfolded. A flip is then switched, sending anywhere from 500-2000 volts of electricity through the body, hoping to kill the person within seconds. Ten states allow this type of execution, and it is the only type of execution permitted in Nebraska. It is by far the most cruel type of criminal punishment, due to the fact that the prisoner is caused an immense amount of pain. A specific case involving this occurred in Alabama in 1983. John Louis Evans caught fire whi le being executed, and it took over 14 minutes before he was finally pronounced dead. All types of the death penalty are brutal murders, but electrocution by far is the worst ( Friedman 75). Because the current death penalty law, while neutral on its face, is applied in such a manner that people of color and the poor are disproportionately condemned to die, the law is legally and morally invalid ( qtd. in Friedman 61). Capital Punishment is a heinous type of punishment as it is, and the fact the majority of cases are unfair makes it even worse. If the death penalty is to continue, a better effort at least needs to be made to make sure that only defendants that by the lawmakers standards deserve to be killed shall be executed. Whether the situation involves racism, the region in which the crime is committed in, financial wealth, or mental capacity, the death penalty is being unfairly applied upon too many individuals. Racism is one of the most common ways in which Capital punishment is unfairly enforced. In the year 2000, a series of studies was done by the United States Department of Justice. Results from the study show that Caucasians were more than twice as likely to receive plea-bargains in homicide cases than black defendants. A separate study showed that it was at least twice as likely that the prosecution would seek the death penalty if a black person killed a white person, than if a white person killed a black person. A similar 3,900 case study by Jack Boger, a law professor at the University of North Carolina, confirms the statement that if a white human is murdered, it is twice as likely the prosecution will seek the death penalty ( Progressive 135-36). The amount of black criminals that are on death row are beyond all imaginations. Richard Dieter, executive director of the Washington Death Penalty Information Center, did a studying on criminal cases in which capital punishment was sought by the prosecution. Results showed that 72% of these cases involved a black defendant. Amnesty International is also one of the many organizations that believe too that the death penalty is racist. The organizations evidence shows that since 1977, the amount of black and white murder victims are nearly equal. However, over 80% of these homicides that received the death penalty involved having a white victim ( 2001Jost 952). Black people are unfairly treated when it comes to capital punishment, but they are definitely not the only ones. Secondly, the unfairness of capital punishment is brought out by a defendants wealth. Poor defendants receive attorneys who are inexperienced, underpaid, and unmotivated, giving them slim chances of having a chance of innocence. A statement from the United Nations Human Rights Commission stated that an poverty-stricken criminals chances of receiving the death penalty increase immensely compared to a rich person, only because of a poor defensive argument ( Parks 57). Amnesty International also reports that 95% of inmates on death row are not even wealthy enough to afford their own attorney, possibly being the reason that they are there ( 2010Jost 973). Although it is said that money cannot buy happiness, it sure has the ability to keep a convicted criminal alive. Over the past few decades, it has been evident that many parts of the country overuse the death penalty quite a bit. In a 2004 study by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, it shows that that the south has carried out 85% of the nations executions, with over half of executions in the United States coming from Virginia, Florida, and Texas, who leads the nation with over 375 executions since 1976 ( 2005Jost 789). Also, out of the top ten states in which capital punishment is used most, the furthest north is the state of Virginia. With all the evidence pointing towards the south becoming a safer place by executing vicious criminals, it is actually the exact opposite. The south has the highest crime rate throughout the country by far, and is the most dangerous region to live in. On the other hand, the northeast has performed the least number of executions. The region also has the lowest murder rate in the country ( Friedman 37). Evidence clearly shows that the south is executing way too many people, and it part of the explanation as to why the south has so many homicides. We shall never execute anybody who is mentally retarded (qtd. in Progressive 132). This quote made by President George W. Bush shows that the debate of whether or not mentally retarded criminals should be up for execution continues today. Before 2002, 36 states had prohibited the use of capital punishment on mentally retarded defendants. In June of 2002, the supreme court issued a ruling, ending the execution of those with intellectual disabilities. Although this may sound like good news, it still is not nearly enough. Regulations for states classification of an intellectual disabled person include a significantly limited amount of functioning and behavior, and some states include that the defendant must have an IQ below 65 to be considered mentally retarded. These limitations may prevent some executions for mentally slow people, but certainly not all. One of the most nationwide known cases of this involved Virginias Earl Washington. In 1983, Washington, having an IQ of 69, was convinced by police that he was guilty of the rape and murder of a Virginia woman. After confessing he was sentenced to execution. In 2000, just days before his execution date, Earl was pronounced innocent and released from prison ( Intellectual Disability). This is just one of the many examples of unknown injustices that occur when mentally slow persons are available to receive the death penalty, no matter what their IQ is. It is believed that there are still over 600 people on death row that can be considered in some way, mentally retarded ( Ross 84). Capital punishment in the United States has numerous problems that hurts the justice system immensely. While real criminals are executed and taken off the street, the pros of execution do not outweigh the disadvantages of it. Cost, exoneration, time spent on death row, and the fact that capital punishment does not deter murder are all major issues that need to be understood so that people fully understand why the death penalty should be abolished. The extra money spent on the death penalty could be spent on other means of achieving justice and making the community safer: compensation for victims, better lighting in crime areas, more police on streets, or longer periods of incarceration for certain offenders ( Friedman 12). Cost is a big issue when it comes to the choice between capital punishment or keeping a criminal behind bars for life. Many believe that execution saves the country a great deal of money. It actually is the exact opposite, causing states such as Florida and Indiana an extra forty million dollars on executions annually for each state. The average cost of an execution in the United States ranges anywhere from 2-5 million dollars. This includes the time spent on death row, plus the execution itself. The cost to keep a criminal in prison until death is around $760,000. This surprises many individuals and knowing more information on the death penalty may changes the Capital Punishment views of Americans ( Fagan) . The United States is known for being the most active state when it comes to executions. Those who believe this statement are absolutely correct, because the United States has more death row inmates than any other country in the world ( American Civil Liberties Union 126). All of these people on death row also spend an incredibly long time on death row, which is a main reason that the cost of an execution is so much. In most cases, a death row inmate will spend 10-20 years on average in prison before they are executed. This is due to several things. One is that the government wants to be absolutely sure that the criminal is guilty as charged, even though innocent people have still been executed. Another reason is the numerous appeals that these possibly innocent people file, trying to convince others of their innocence. These issues are important in showing that death row is full of inmates for years, where instead, the inmates could be at normal prisons serving a life sentence ( Frie dman 11). In August of 1993, Ruben Cantu of Texas was executed on charges of robbery and homicide. Later, new evidence, as well as a signed statement by the confessed murder, proved Cantus innocence. Many death row inmates have been exonerated through the history of Capital Punishment, and Ruben Cantu is one of many who have been wrongly executed. Another case involved Frank Lee Smith, who was convicted of raping and murdering an eight-year-old girl. Smith spend fourteen years on death row and died of cancer. It was later proven that he was innocent of all charges. Since 1989, there have been more than 180 post conviction exonerations, thanks to the use of DNA technology. The average person who has been exonerated in one of the 31 states where they have occurred has wrongfully spent twelve years behind bars ( Friedman 21). That is more than 180 too many, and not one of those wrongful convictions was necessary.

A Comparison of Illusion in The Cherry Orchard and A Dolls House Essay

Dangers of Illusion in The Cherry Orchard and A Doll's House   Ã‚  Ã‚   In the plays, The Cherry Orchard, by Anton Chekhov, A Doll's House, by Henrik Ibsen, and Galileo, by Bertolt Brecht, the protagonists' beliefs are a combination of reality and illusion that shape the plot of the respective stories.   The ability of the characters to reject or accept an illusion, along with the foolish pride that motivated their decision, leads to their personal downfall.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In The Cherry Orchard Gayev and Miss Ranevsky, along with the majority of their family, refuse to believe that their estate is close to bankruptcy.   Instead of accepting the reality of their problem, they continue to live their lives under the illusion that they are doing well financially.   The family continues with its frivolous ways until there is no money left (the final night they have in the house before it is auctioned, they throw an extravagant party, laughing in the face of impending financial ruin.) Even when Lopakhin attempts to rescue the family with ideas that could lead to some of the estate being retained, they dismiss his ideas under the illusion that the situation is not so desperate that they need to compromise any of their dignity. Lopakhin: As you know, your cherry orchards are being sold to pay your debts.   The auction is on the twenty second of August.   But there’s no need to worry, my dear.   You can sleep soundly.   There’s a way out.   Here’s my plan.   Listen carefully, please.   Your estate is only about twelve miles from town, and the railway is not very far away.   Now all you have to do is break up your cherry orchard and the land along the river into building plots and lease them out for country cottages.   You ¹ll then have an income ... ... 2.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   You have a good thesis statement that introduces a complex discussion.   3.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Your organization of the paper is also well developed.   However, you seem to begin new paragraphs too frequently. For example, in your discussion of A Doll’s House, you used several paragraphs to discuss the faults of Nora and her husband and then another paragraph for her growth.   All of the paragraphs discussing their faults could be condensed into one paragraph. 4.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   When citing a quote, you do not need to actually write the word â€Å"page† it is understood that the numbers are page numbers. 5.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Also when quoting, the punctuation of the last sentence should come after the parentheses of the citation and not before. 6.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Be careful with verb tenses.   If you begin your sentence using the past tense the rest of your sentence should remain in the past tense.

Pharmacy Tech Handout #1

Pharmacy Technician Certification Board, exam scoring requirements per www. ptcb. org The pharmacy technician performs activities related to three broad function areas. The specific responsibilities and activities that pharmacy technicians may perform within each function area are:   I. Assisting the Pharmacist in Serving Patients (66% of exam)   |   A. |   Receive prescription/medication order(s) from patient/patient’s representative, prescriber, or other healthcare professional 1.Accept new prescription/medication order from patient/patient’s representative, prescriber, or other healthcare professional 2. Accept new prescription/medication order electronically (for example, by telephone, fax, or electronic transmission) 3. Accept refill request from patient/patient’s representative 4. Accept refill authorization from prescriber or other healthcare professional electronically (for example, by telephone, fax, or electronic transmission) 5. Contact prescri ber/originator for clarification of prescription/medication order refill 6.Perform/accept transfer of prescription/medication order(s)|   B. |   Assist the pharmacist in accordance with federal rules and regulations in obtaining from the patient/patient’s representative such information as diagnosis or desired therapeutic outcome, disease state, medication history (including over-the-counter [OTC] medications and dietary supplements), allergies, adverse reactions, medical history and other relevant patient information, physical disability, and payor information (including both self-pay and third party reimbursement)|   C.   Assist the pharmacist in accordance with federal rules and regulations in obtaining from prescriber, other healthcare professionals, and/or the medical record such information as diagnosis or desired therapeutic outcome, disease state, medication history (including [OTC] medications and dietary supplements), allergies, adverse reactions, medical hi story and other relevant patient information, physical disability, and payor information (including both self-pay and third party reimbursement)|   D.   Collect and communicate patient-specific data (for example, blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol levels, therapeutic drug levels, immunizations) to assist the pharmacist in monitoring patient outcomes|   E. |   Collect and communicate data related to restricted drug distribution programs (for example, thalidomide, isotretinoin, and clozapine)|   F. |   Collect and communicate data related to investigational drugs|   G. |   Assess prescription or medication order for completeness (for example, patient's name and address), accuracy, authenticity, legality, and reimbursement eligibility|   H.   Update the medical record/patient profile with such information as medication history (including [OTC] medications and dietary supplements), disease states, compliance/adherence patterns, allergies, medication duplication, an d/or drug-disease, drug-drug, drug-laboratory, drug-dietary supplement and/or OTC, and drug-food interactions|   I. |   Assist the patient/patient's representative in choosing the best payment assistance plan if multiple plans are available to patient|   J. |   Process a prescription/medication order 1. Enter prescription/medication order information onto patient profile 2.Select the appropriate product(s) for dispensing (for example, brand names, generic substitutes, therapeutic substitutes, formulary restrictions) 3. Obtain pharmaceuticals, durable and non-durable medical equipment, devices, and supplies (including hazardous substances, controlled substances, and investigational products) from inventory 4. Calculate quantity and days supply of finished dosage forms for dispensing 5. Measure or count quantity of finished dosage forms for dispensing 6. Process and handle radiopharmaceuticals 7. Perform calculations for radiopharmaceuticals 8.Process and handle chemotherapeut ic medications commercially available in finished dosage forms (for example, Efudex, mercaptopurine) 9. Perform calculations for oral chemotherapeutic medications 10. Process and handle investigational products 11. Package finished dosage forms (for example, blister pack, robotic/automated dispensing vial) 12. Affix label(s) and auxiliary label(s) to container(s) 13. Assemble patient information materials (for example, drug information sheets, patient package inserts, Health Information Portability and Accountability Act [HIPAA] literature) 14.Check for accuracy during processing of the prescription/medication order (for example, National Drug Code [NDA] number, bar code, and data entry) 15. Verify the data entry, measurements, preparation, and/or packaging of medications produced by other technicians as allowed by law (for example, tech check tech) 16. Prepare prescription or medication order for final check by pharmacist 17. Prepare prescription or medication order for final check by pharmacy technician as allowed by law (for example, tech check tech) 18. Perform Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) required checks for radiopharmaceuticals|   K. Compound a prescription/medication order: 1. Assemble equipment and/or supplies necessary for compounding the prescription/medication order 2. Calibrate equipment (for example, scale or balance, total parenteral nutrition [TPN] compounder) needed to compound the prescription/medication order 3. Perform calculations required for preparation of compounded IV admixtures 4. Perform calculations for extemporaneous compounds 5. Compound medications (for example, topical preparations, reconstituted antibiotic suspensions) for dispensing according to prescription and/or compounding guidelines 6.Compound medications in anticipation of prescriptions/medication orders (for example, compounding for a specific patient) 7. Prepare sterile products (for example, TPNs, piggybacks, IV solutions, ophthalmic products) 8. Prepare radio pharmaceuticals 9. Prepare chemotherapy 10. Record preparation and/or ingredients of medications (for example, lot number, control number, expiration date, chemotherapy calculations, type of IV solution)|   L. |   Provide prescription/medication to patient/patient's representative: 1. Store medication prior to distribution 2.Provide medication and supplemental information (for example, package inserts) to patient/patient’s representative 3. Package and ship pharmaceuticals, durable and non-durable medical equipment, devices, and supplies (including hazardous substances and investigational products) to patient/patient's representative li>Place medication in dispensing system (for example, unit-dose cart, automated systems) 4. Deliver medication to patient-care unit 5. Record distribution of prescription medication 6. Record distribution of controlled substances 7. Record distribution of investigational drugs 8.Record distribution of restricted drugs (for example, isotretin oin, clozapine, thalidomide) 9. Record distribution of prescription/medication to patient's home|   M. |   Determine charges and obtain reimbursement for products and services|   N. |   Communicate with third-party payers to determine or verify coverage|   O. |   Communicate with third-party payers to obtain prior authorizations|   P. |   Communicate with third-party payers and patients/patient's representatives to rectify rejected third-party claims|   Q. |   Identify and resolve problems with rejected claims (for example, incorrect days supply, incorrect ID number)|   R.   Provide supplemental information (for example, disease state information, CDs) as requested/required|   S. |   Direct patient/patient's representative to pharmacist for counseling|   T. |   Perform drug administration functions under appropriate supervision (for example, perform drug/IV rounds, check pumps, anticipate refill of drugs/IVs)|   U. |   Process and dispense enteral products| II. Maintaining Medication and Inventory Control Systems (22% of exam)   Ã‚  |   A. |   Identify pharmaceuticals, durable and non-durable medical equipment, devices, and supplies (including hazardous substances and investigational products) to be ordered|   B.   Place routine orders for pharmaceuticals, durable and nondurable medical equipment, devices, and supplies (including hazardous substances and investigational products) in compliance with legal, regulatory, formulary, budgetary, and contractual requirements|   C. |   Place emergency orders for pharmaceuticals, durable and non-durable medical equipment, devices, and supplies (including hazardous substances and investigational products) in compliance with legal, regulatory, formulary, budgetary, and contractual requirements|   D.   Receive pharmaceuticals, durable and non-durable medical equipment, devices, and supplies (including hazardous substances and investigational products) and verify against specifications on original purchase orders|   E. |   Place pharmaceuticals, durable and non-durable medical equipment, devices, and supplies (including hazardous substances and investigational products) in inventory under proper storage conditions while incorporating error prevention strategies|   F.   Perform non–patient-specific preparation, distribution, and maintenance of pharmaceuticals, durable and non-durable medical equipment, devices, and supplies (including hazardous substances and investigational products) while incorporating error prevention strategies (for example, crash carts, clinic and nursing floor stock, automated dispensing systems)|   G. |   Remove from inventory expired/discontinued/slow moving/overstocked pharmaceuticals, durable and nondurable medical equipment, devices, and supplies (including hazardous substances and investigational products)|   H.   Remove from inventory recalled pharmaceuticals, durable and non-durable medical equip ment, devices, and supplies (including hazardous substances and investigational products)|    I. |   Dispose of or destroy pharmaceuticals or supplies (for example, hazardous substances, investigational products, controlled substances, non-dispensable products)|   J. |   Communicate changes in product availability (for example, formulary changes, recalls, shortages) to pharmacy staff, patient/patient’s representative, physicians, and other healthcare professionals|   K.   Implement and monitor policies and procedures to deter theft and/or drug diversion|   L. |   Maintain a record of controlled substances ordered, received, and removed from inventory|   M. |   Maintain a record of investigational products ordered, received, and removed from inventory|   N. |   Perform required inventories and maintain associated records|   O. |   Maintain record-keeping systems for repackaging, non-patient specific compounding, recalls, and returns of pharmaceutica ls, durable and non-durable medical equipment, devices, and supplies (including hazardous substances and investigational products)|   P.   Compound non-patient specific medications in anticipation of prescription/medication orders|   Q. |   Perform quality assurance tests on compounded medications (for example, end product testing and validation)|   R. |   Repackage finished dosage forms for dispensing (for example, unit dose, blister pack, oral syringes) Participate in quality assurance programs related to pharmaceuticals, durable and non-durable medical equipment, devices, and supplies (including hazardous substances and investigational products)| III.Participating in the Administration and Management of Pharmacy Practice (12% of exam)   |   A. |   Coordinate written, electronic, and oral communications throughout the practice setting (for example, route phone calls, faxes, verbal and written refill authorizations; disseminate policy and procedure changes)|   B . |   Update and maintain patient information (for example, insurance information, demographics, provider information) in accordance with federal regulations and professional standards (for example, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act [HIPAA])|   C.   Collect productivity information (for example, the number of prescriptions filled, fill times, payments collected, rejected claim status)|   D. |   Participate in quality assurance activities (for example, medication error prevention, customer satisfaction surveys, and internal audits of processes)|   E. |   Generate quality assurance reports (for example, compile or summarize data collected for evaluation or action plan development, root cause analysis)|   F. |   Implement and monitor the ractice setting for compliance with federal regulations and professional standards (for example, Materials Safety Data Sheet [MSDS], Occupational Safety Health Administration [OSHA], Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations [JCAHO], United States Pharmacopeia [USP])|   G. |   Implement and monitor policies and procedures for infection control|   H. |   Implement and monitor policies and procedures for the handling, disposal, and destruction of pharmaceuticals and supplies (for example, hazardous substances, investigational products, controlled substances, non-dispensable products, radiopharmaceuticals)|   I.   Perform and record routine sanitation, maintenance, and calibration of equipment (for example, automated dispensing equipment, balances, TPN compounders, and refrigerator/freezer temperatures)|   J. |   Update, maintain, and use manual or electronic information systems (for example, patient profiles, prescription records, inventory logs, reference materials) in order to perform job related activities|   K. |   Use and maintain automated and point-of-care dispensing technology|   L. Perform billing and accounting functions for products and service s (for example, self-pay, third-party adjudication, pharmaceutical discount cards, medication reimbursement)|   M. | Communicate with third-party payers to determine or verify coverage for products and services|   N. | Coordinate and/or participate in staff training and continuing education|   O. | Perform and/or contribute to employee evaluations and competency assessments|   P. | Participate in the establishment, implementation, and monitoring of the practice setting’s policies and procedures  |